Tibouchina pulchra (Cham.) Cogn., a native Atlantic Forest species, as a bio-indicator of ozone: visible injury

Tibouchina pulchra saplings were exposed to carbon filtered air (CF), ambient non-filtered air (NF) and ambient non-filtered air+40 ppb ozone (NF+O3) 8 h per day during two months. The AOT40 values at the end of the experiment were 48, 910 and 12,895 ppb h(-1), respectively, for the three treatments. After 25 days of exposure (AOT40=3871 ppb h(-1)), interveinal red stippling appeared in plants in the NF+O3 chamber. In the NF chamber, symptoms were observed only after 60 days of exposure (AOT40=910 ppb h(-1)). After 60 days, injured leaves per plant corresponded to 19% in NF+O3 and 1% in the NF treatment; and the average leaf area injured was 7% within the NF+O3 and 0.2% within the NF treatment. The extent of leaf area injured (leaf injury index) was mostly explained by the accumulated exposure of ozone (r2=0.89; p<0.05).     

Real-world vehicle emissions: a summary of the Seventeenth Coordinating Research Council On-Road Vehicle Emissions Workshop

The Coordinating Research Council, Inc. (CRC) held its 17th On-Road Vehicle Emissions Workshop in March 2007, where results of the most recent on-road vehicle emissions research were presented. We summarize ongoing work from researchers who are engaged in improving our understanding of the role and contribution of mobile sources to ambient air quality and emission inventories. Participants in the Workshop discussed efforts to improve mobile source emission models, light- and heavy-duty vehicle emissions measurements, on- and off-road emissions measurements, effects of fuels and lubricating oils on emissions, as well as emerging issues and topics for future research.     

Distribution of volatile organic compounds in Madrid (Spain)

From November 1995 to October 1996, airborne concentrations of VOCs were measured in the Madrid area to study the organic pollution in general, and the correlation between different pollutants in relation to such parameters as location and season. Mean concentrations for up to 90 compounds were measured at four test sites, including both urban and suburban areas. At the urban sites, maximum concentrations occurred in the autumn and winter, whereas minimum concentrations were reached in summer and spring. Similar changes were obtained for the lesscontaminated site located in the SE of the city, whereas a different pattern was found at the site in the NW of the city due to meteorological aspects. Mean levels of hydrocarbons in Madrid were quite similar to those found in other European cities. Chemometrical techniques were applied to the set of data in order to assess the influence of such factors as traffic, temperature and seasonal variations on the VOC levels.     

Directions of Change in Land Cover and Landscape Patterns from 1957 to 2000 in Agricultural Landscapes in NW Spain

The aim of this work is the analysis of the dynamics in cultural landscapes, focused on the spatial distribution of changes in land cover and landscape patterns, and their possible linkages. These dynamics have been analyzed for the years 1957 and 2000 in a sector of the north of Galicia (NW Spain) characterized with diverse landscapes. Afforestation processes linked to agriculture abandonment and forestry specialization were the main processes observed in the study area, with the exception of the southern mountainous sector that was dominated by ploughing of scrubland for conversion into grassland, reflecting a specialization in livestock production. The structural changes that have taken place in most of the study area were related to the heterogeneity aspects, although the mountainous sectors were characterized by changes in heterogeneity and fragmentation. According to the tests performed, the comparison of the spatial distribution of both dynamics showed a certain statistical significance, reflecting the interrelationship between patterns and processes. This approach could be useful for the identification of areas with similar characteristics in terms of spatial dynamics so as to define more effective and targeted landscape planning and management strategies.     

Wastewater effects on a waterhyacinth marsh and adjacent impoundment

A waterhyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) marsh occupying two-thirds of the basin of a small Florida impoundment has received sewage effluent for nearly 20 years. Water from the marsh flows into an area that is maintained free of waterhyacinths, and is discharged through wells at the far end of the impoundment. A water budget for the basin was estimated, and phosphorus concentrations were measured monthly at three stations in the marsh and at the discharge wells in the lake. Productivity levels were measured monthly where the marsh joins the lake and at the discharge wells. Only 16% of the phosphorus that enters the basin is stored. Gross primary productivity levels in the open-water areas are very high (22 gO₂m²day), but high respiration rates appear to keep the lake in steady-state.     

Voltammetric and Spectroscopic Determination of Toxic Metals in Sediments and Sea Water of Salerno Gulf

In this present work the distribution of heavy metals in sea water and sediments of the Salerno Gulf is measured. The elements determined were Cu, Pb, Cd, Zn and Hg, employing, as instrumental techniques, either differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) or graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy (GFAAS). A comparison of the results of the two analytical techniques is also made. Mercury determination was carried out employing the cold vapour atomic absorption spectroscopy (CVAAS) technique, with SnCl₂ as the reducing agent. The sample digestion was performed by a new procedure using concentrated suprapure H₂SO₄–K₂Cr₂O₇ mixture. The accuracy and precision of the analytical procedure were evaluated employing Sea Water BCR-CRM 403 and Estuarine Sediment BCR-CRM 277 as reference materials. Accuracy, expressed as relative error e and precision, expressed as relative standard deviation s_r, were in order of 2 to 5%. For both matrices, the detection limits, for all the elements, were in the range g g_-1 to ng g_-1.     

An application of multivariate analysis to acid rain data in Northern Italy to discriminate natural and man-made compounds

This paper presents the preliminary results of a study, the aim of which was to analyse the pluviometric and chemical rain data, recorded by a wet only network located in Northern Italy.More in detail, precipitations were collected on a weekly basis and chemical analysis was performed on pH, electric conductivity and Ca, Mg, Na, K, NH₄, NO₃, SO₄, Cl concentrations.The Principal Components Analysis pointed out that the first three components are enough to explain more than 90% of the variability of the parameters. Moreover each component may have a different physical interpretation, that is the first one is mainly related to the precipitation amount, while the second to the man made and natural sources and the last one to the sea/soil contribution.     

Information and Willingness to Pay in a Contingent Valuation Study: The Value of S. Erasmo in the Lagoon of Venice

This paper reports on a contingent valuation (CV) study eliciting willingness to pay (WTP) for a public program for the preservation of lagoon, beach and infrastructure in the island of S. Erasmo in the Lagoon of Venice, Italy. We use split samples to investigate the effect of providing a summary of reasons for voting in favor and against the program before the referendum valuation question. Reminding respondents of the reasons for voting for or against the program increases WTP among less highly educated respondents, and decreases WTP among more highly educated respondents.     

Lessons learned for a more efficient knowledge and technology transfer to South American countries in the fields of solid waste and contaminated sites management.

The present paper describes the development, performance and conclusions derived from three know-how and technology transfer projects to South American countries. The first project comprised a collaborative study by European and South American universities to find sustainable solutions for Chilean and Ecuadorian leather tanneries which had underachieving process performances. The second project consisted of investigations carried out in a Brazilian municipality to enhance its municipal solid waste management system. The final collaborative programme dealt with the initial identification, evaluation and registration of suspected contaminated sites in an industrial region of Chile. The detailed objectives, methods and procedures applied as well as the results and conclusions obtained in each of the three mentioned projects are presented, giving special attention to the organizational aspects and to the practical approach of each programme, concluding with their main advantages and disadvantages for identifying a set of qualitative and quantitative suggestions, and to establish transferable methods for future applications.