Monitoring for Lead Pollution using Feathers of Feral Pigeons (Columba livia) from Korea

We investigated lead exposure conditions using unwashed feathers of feral pigeons as a monitor for lead pollution from rural, central urban, and four industrial complex areas in Korea with different ambient lead concentrations. Overall, the lead levels in the feathers increased when the atmospheric lead levels increased, so that the lead levels in the feathers from urban and industrial areas were two to four times greater than those in the rural area. However, there are no significant differences in the liver lead concentrations between rural and the other areas, suggesting that the lead originated from ingestion are not differences in locations. A positive correlation was found between the concentration of lead in livers and feathers from rural, indicating that the feather lead concentrations in this area seem to mainly reflect the internal tissue lead through the metabolic process. However, there are no significant correlations in the other areas, and we observed a relatively higher lead accumulation ratio of feathers to livers. It, therefore, indicates that external contamination onto the feather surface may be an important source for lead levels in feathers rather than transfer from internal tissue lead.     

Selection of product categories for a national eco-labelling scheme in developing countries: a case study of Vietnamese manufacturing sub-sectors

Although the selection of product categories is a deciding factor for the success of eco-labelling schemes, there are no consistent methods for determining selection factors and how to prioritise product categories for developing countries (DgCs). This paper attempts to identify appropriate factors for product category selection and formulate a prioritisation method applicable to DgCs. We first examined the selection factors currently utilised in schemes worldwide by conducting a questionnaire survey of representatives of foreign schemes. Selection factors were illustrated on a plot graph, which indicated the percentage of factors implemented in the schemes of DgCs and developed countries (DGs), and their plausibility assessed when utilised in the schemes of DgCs. In this way, we proposed three groups of factors: an exclusion factor, five core factors and seven operational factors. Then, under the conditions of DgCs, such as socioeconomic issues and availability of data, we used and modified some judging guidelines of the European Ecolabel (the EU Flower), e.g. determining the environmental impacts and potential of environmental improvements, in the scoring method to prioritise product categories by weighting factors. In light of our findings, we utilised the proposed factors and modified the scoring method to prioritise the screened primary list of product categories of Vietnamese manufacturing sub-sectors. By scoring factor-based questions and prioritising in three ways, i.e. following the scoring method of the EU Flower programme, totalling all values with equal weighting, and totalling all values but by doubling the weighting of core factors compared with operational factors, we observed that the weighted prioritisation differentiates priority product categories more clearly than the other methods. We propose the two highest potential candidates for eco-labelling in Vietnam, namely textile/garment and fishery products.     

A longitudinal study of mentor and protégé outcomes in formal mentoring relationships

This study examined relationships between mentoring functions offered and transformational leadership as a mentor outcome and affective well‐being and organizational commitment as mutual outcomes for both mentors and protégés. For this examination, we conducted a longitudinal field study by using 111 matched reports from both mentors and protégés collected at three different points in time over seven months in nine Korean companies that administered a standardized formal mentoring program. Study results showed that mentoring functions assessed at Time 2 were positively associated with mentors' and protégés' post‐mentoring outcomes at Time 3 after controlling for pre‐mentoring initial levels of those outcomes at Time 1. Study findings also revealed that relative effects of mentoring on the mentor and protégé outcomes differed by the types of mentoring functions. We discuss the theoretical, practical, and methodological implications from these results. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Factors Causing Variations of Lead and Cadmium Accumulation of Feral Pigeons (Columba livia)

In order to understand the factors causing variation of lead and cadmium accumulation in tissues of feral pigeons in Seoul and Ansan, Korea, we investigated their age, food items (crop and gizzard contents) as well as environmental factors such as soil, atmosphere, and local traffic density. The results indicate that concentrations of Pb and Cd were highly increased in the order of eggs < chicks < adults. In food analysis, supplementary foods (rice, small stones, domestic scraps, cements, hairs, Styrofoam, etc.) could be considered as factors considering the Pb concentration differences. Concentrations of Cd in foodstuffs, the proportion of crop contents as their major foods could have an influence on the difference of Cd levels from a nutritional viewpoint. The Pb levels in gizzard contents and soil had an effect on the tissue accumulations, these were associated with the volume of vehicular traffic. However, we could not find any differences of Cd concentrations in gizzard contents and soil, although there were significantly different Cd accumulations in target organs of adult pigeons between the study areas. The Pb and Cd levels in tissues did not correspond to atmospheric metal levels.     

Solvent extraction and tandem dechlorination for decontamination of soil

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) guidelines allow removal of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from soils via solvent extraction. This option holds promise for removal of other recalcitrant organic contaminants as well. A study was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of solvent extraction with two tandem degradation techniques. The degradation techniques were chemical dehalogenation with immobilized reagents and gamma-ray irradiation. The integrated approach was evaluated with contaminated soils from wood treatment and electric power substation sites. Evaluations were carried out on a bench scale in the laboratory and on a semi-pilot scale at a contaminated site. Binary solvent mixture of alkanes and alcohols yielded the highest extraction efficiencies. Extraction efficiencies in excess of 90% were obtained for PCBs, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Extracted PCBs were rapidly degraded through chemical dehalogenation or with high doses of the gamma-ray irradiation. The residual organics in the solvent mixture were removed with activated carbon, and the solvent was recycled for subsequent soil extractions. Contaminants adsorbed on the activated carbon were destroyed with a counter flow oxidation process.     

双酚A暴露对斑马鱼胚胎期代谢作用的影响

运用基于GC/MS的代谢组学方法,以受精卵在双酚A(BPA)中暴露4d后的斑马鱼胚胎为对象,研究了其体内挥发性和半挥发性代谢组分变化.暴露浓度设定为0,0.5,1.5,4.5mg/L,包括US EPA假定的“安全水平”(1.5mg/L).结果表明,1.5mg/L BPA暴露能使斑马鱼体内花生四烯酸和胆固醇的相对百分含量极显著降低,饱和脂肪酸、氨基酸、葡萄糖和肌糖的相对百分含量显著升高.因此,1.5mg/L BPA能干扰斑马鱼胚胎期的正常代谢.     

Enhanced degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by biodegradation combined with a modified Fenton reaction

A study has been conducted to enhance degradation of a mixture of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by combining biodegradation with hydrogen peroxide oxidation in a former manufactured gas plant (MGP) soil. An active bacterial consortium enriched from the MGP surface soil (0-2 m) biodegraded more than 90% of PAHs including 2-, 3-, and 4-ring hydrocarbons in a model soil. The consortium was also able to transform about 50% of 4- and 5-ring hydrocarbons in the MGP soil. As a chemical oxidant, Fenton's reagent (H2O2 + Fe2+) was very efficient in the destruction of a mixture of PAHs (i.e., naphthalene (NAP), fluorene (FLU), phenanthrene (PHE), anthracene (ANT), pyrene (PYR), chrysene (CHR), and benzo(a)pyrene (BaP)) in the model soil; noticeably, 84.5% and 96.7% of initial PYR and BaP were degraded, respectively. In the MGP soil, the same treatment destroyed more than 80% of 2- and 3-ring hydrocarbons and 20-40% of 4- and 5-ring compounds. However, the low pH requirement (pH 2-3) for optimum Fenton reaction made the process incompatible with biological treatment and posed potential hazards to the soil ecosystem where the reagent was used. In order to overcome such limitation, a modified Fenton-type reaction was performed at near neutral pH by using ferric ions and chelating agents such as catechol and gallic acid. By the combined treatment of the modified Fenton reaction and biodegradation, more than 98% of 2- or 3-ring hydrocarbons and between 70% and 85% of 4- or 5-ring compounds were degraded in the MGP soil, while maintaining its pH about 6-6.5.     

Impact of aquaculture on distribution of dissolved organic matter in coastal Jeju Island,Korea, based on absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In Jeju Island, multiple land-based aquafarms were fully operational along most coastal region. However, the effect of effluent on distribution and...