Concentrations and speciation of arsenic in groundwater polluted by warfare agents

Groundwater polluted with phenylarsenicals from former warfare agent deposits and their metabolites was investigated with respect to the behavior of relevant arsenic species. Depth profiles at the estimated source and at about 1 km downgradient from the source zone were sampled. The source zone is characterized by high total arsenic concentrations up to 16 mg L⁻¹ and is dominated by organic arsenic compounds. The concentrations in the downgradient region are much lower (up to 400 μg L⁻¹) and show a high proportion of inorganic arsenic species. Iron precipitation seems to be an effective mechanism to prevent dispersion of inorganic arsenic as well as phenylarsonic acid. Reductive conditions were observed in the deeper zone with predominant occurrence of trivalent arsenic species. The inorganic species are in redox equilibrium, whereas the phenylarsenic compounds have variable proportions. Methylphenylarsinic acid was identified in groundwater in traces which indicates microbial degradation activity.     

Assessing the spatial distribution of grassland age in a marginal European landscape

Grassland age is increasingly recognised to be an indicator for present-day biodiversity, e.g. plant species richness, and is also important for other landscape functions. We developed a methodological approach to systematically assess the spatial distribution of grassland age in marginal European landscapes. This approach - applied to the Lahn-Dill Highlands (1270 km(2)), a marginal landscape in Hesse, Germany - comprises three steps: (1) in a two-stage stratification process, we pre-stratified the study area according to recent land-cover patterns and their changes between 1955 and 1995 (stratification I) and classified grassland types by combining data on soil moisture, base-richness, and elevation (stratification II). From 50 grassland types, we randomly selected 1000 representative grassland patches. (2) We determined the age of these patches by means of aerial photograph interpretation of a chronosequence dating back to 1953 and classified each patch with respect to the age classes young (<18 years), mid-aged (18-47 years), and old (>47 years). (3) Based on this information, we calculated grassland type-specific probabilities for grassland patches to belong to the respective age classes. These probabilities were projected to districts by direct extrapolation. An exemplary validation of extrapolation results for two test areas was performed. The results revealed that 49% of the investigated patches were old grassland. The remaining patches were mid-aged (36%) or young grassland (15%). The extrapolation results indicated accordingly a predominance of old grassland at the district scale. Occurrences of mid-aged grassland were concentrated in districts with a pronounced land-cover change, whereas young grassland is apparently evenly distributed across the study area. Validation results suggest that our approach is suitable for a realistic estimation of grassland age in marginal European landscapes. The method may be applied in landscape models of various disciplines that rely on large-scale information on grassland age.     

Bestimmung von Mineralölkohlenwasserstoffen in Bodenproben mit Hilfe der Dünnschichtchromatographie

A thin-layer chromatographic method for the determination of mineral oil hydrocarbons (aliphatic compounds and naphtenes) of medium and low volatility in soil samples is presented which is based on their separation and quantitative determination. The extraction of the soil samples is effected by means of an n-hexane-acetone mixture (10∶1) supported by ultrasonics. The evaluation can be made visually or densitometrically by means of a thin-layer scanner. The applicability and restrictions of the method are shown. The advantage of the method lies in its low requirements pertaining to apparatus and chemicals, as well as in its rapidness which makes it suitable for quick in-situ analyses as, for example, for the assessment of the mineral oil content of a contaminated site.     

Declines in migrant shorebird populations from a winter‐quarter perspective

Many long‐distance migrating shorebird (i.e., sandpipers, plovers, flamingos, oystercatchers) populations are declining. Although regular shorebird monitoring programs exist worldwide, most estimates of shorebird population trends and sizes are poor or nonexistent. We built a state‐space model to estimate shorebird population trends. Compared with more commonly used methods of trend estimation, state‐space models are more mechanistic, allow for the separation of observation and state process, and can easily accommodate multivariate time series and nonlinear trends. We fitted the model to count data collected from 1990 to 2013 on 18 common shorebirds at the 2 largest coastal wetlands in southern Africa, Sandwich Harbour (a relatively pristine bay) and Walvis Bay (an international harbor), Namibia. Four of the 12 long‐distance migrant species declined since 1990: Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres), Little Stint (Calidris minuta), Common Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula), and Red Knot (Calidris canutus). Populations of resident species and short‐distance migrants increased or were stable. Similar patterns at a key South African wetland suggest that shorebird populations migrating to southern Africa are declining in line with the global decline, but local conditions in southern Africa's largest wetlands are not contributing to these declines. State‐space models provide estimates of population levels and trends and could be used widely to improve the current state of water bird estimates.     

Umwelteigenschaften von Produkten Die Rolle der Ökobilanz in ISO Typ III Umweltdeklarationen

Goal and Scope

Type III Environmental declarations (Environmental product declarations, EPD) are intended to inform interested parties about the environmental performance characteristics of products. They are based mainly on LCA according to ISO 14040ff, provide its results as inventory or impact category indicators and thus describe the product system under investigation. ISO 14025 is out for ballot as FDIS. The concept of EPD has found a market in particular in the construction sector. It has a considerable part in the European Integrated Product Policy, e.g. documentation of improvement in design for environment, documentation of compliance with green procurement requirements.

Main Features

EPD are a means to communicate the results of a LCA-study according to ISO 14040ff in a comparable and harmonised way. ISO (FDIS) 14025 describes how to develop and document consistent and comparable data sets. This report exemplifies three levels in the development of EPD for which the standard provides requirements. 1. Framework for the development of an EPD program including verification procedures for EPD. 2. Defining the rules for conducting the LCA according to ISO 14040ff as well as additional information for defined product categories (product category rules). 3. Development and documentation of EPD according to the PCR.

Results and Conclusions

After quite a few years of standardisation work the new standard ISO (FDIS) 14025 will provide a systematic approach to documenting and communicating LCA results in an EPD. This will support propagating LCA from its academic origin to a practical tool for the assessment of the environmental performance of a product system. An essential part will be the participation of LCA experts in EPD programs.

Recommendations and Outlook

An enormous effort for developing appropriate conventions will have to be taken by all interested parties to come up with consistent and comparable EPD in different branches. In some areas defining such conventions has been shown to be possible. An important part is the development of quality criteria for modelling as well as for the databases used to calculate the LCA. To find sufficient credibility at economically acceptable conditions with a minimum of bureaucratic effort more practical experience will have to be gained. This holds especially for the trust in the EPD results based on the independence of the review, transparency of procedures and the participation of interested parties. There is a demand on education for SME developing EPD for their products as well as for the users of EPD on how to document EPD transparently and apply them properly.     

Reactively Compatibilized Cellulosic Polylactide Microcomposites

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) possesses a suite of favorable material properties that are enabling its penetration into diverse markets (e.g., as packaging material or textile fibers). In order to increase the range of applications for this material, it is necessary to modify its properties and for certain applications, reduce its cost. The introduction of fibers into a polymeric matrix is an established route towards property enhancement provided good dispersion and intimate interfacial adhesion can be achieved. In addition, cellulosic microfibers are obtainable at low to moderate cost. In this study, reactive compatibilization of cellulosic fibers with PLA is pursued. Hydroxyl groups available on the surface of cellulosic fibers are used to initiate lactide polymerization. Various processing strategies are investigated: (1) blending preformed PLA with the fiber material, (2) through a one-step process in which lactide is polymerized in the presence of the fibers alone, or (3) reactive compatibilization in the presence of preformed high molecular weight polymer. The results show that materials prepared by simultaneous introduction of lactide and preformed high molecular PLA at the beginning of the reaction possess superior mechanical properties compared to composites made by either purely mechanical mixing or solely polymerization of lactide in the presence of fibers. The modulus of materials containing 25% fibers which are prepared by reactive compatibilization of 30% preformed PLA and 70% lactide (30/70 P/L) improves by 53% compared to the homopolymer, whereas 36% reinforcement can be achieved upon purely mechanical mixing. A further increase to 35% fiber loading leads to a reduction in modulus due to an excess in initiating groups. The same trend was observed in systems containing 65% preformed PLA and 35% lactide (65/35 P/L) with an overall achievable reinforcement that was slightly lower.     

北京夏季高温高湿和降水过程对大气颗粒物谱分布的影响

2004-07-13～2004-08-23使用TDMPS-APS系统在线测量颗粒物的数浓度谱分布,并于07-16～07-18选取了高温闷热夜晚、日间高温高湿和雨后晴朗干洁3种天气条件,使用多级串联撞击式采样器(MOUDI)测量颗粒物的质量浓度谱分布,结果表明,高温高湿天气条件下颗粒物的污染、尤其细粒子污染严重,导致很低的能见度(2.5km);PM_1.8和PM₁₀的质量浓度分别为170.68μg/m³和249.35μg/m³,细粒子质量浓度占PM10的68%;粒径为50～100nm颗粒物的数浓度最高,为2×10⁴～3×10⁴个/cm³;降雨过程对粗粒子和细粒子均有去除作用,对细粒子的去除作用尤为明显;降雨后PM₁₀和PM_1.8浓度分别比降雨前降低3倍和6倍;降雨过后的晴朗干洁天气有利于新粒子(3～20nm)的生成,生成的新粒子快速长大到50～100nm;随着污染物的累积,以后几天内又变为污染天气.     

Geoelectrical methods for monitoring geological CO2 storage: First results from cross-hole and surface–downhole measurements from the CO2SINK test site at Ketzin (Germany)

The feasibility of monitoring CO₂ migration in a saline aquifer at a depth of about 650 m with cross-hole and surface–downhole electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) is investigated at the CO₂SINK test site close to Ketzin (Germany). The permanent vertical electrical resistivity array (VERA) consists of 45 electrodes (15 in the injection well Ktzi201 and 15 in each of the two observation wells Ktzi200 and Ktzi202), successfully placed on the electrically insulated casings, in the depth range of about 590–740 m with a spacing of about 10 m. The three Ketzin wells are arranged as perpendicular triangle with distances of 50 and 100 m.First synthetic modelling studies indicate an increase of the electrical resistivity of about 200% caused by CO₂ injection, corresponding to a bulk CO₂ saturation of 50%, which is in good agreement with laboratory studies. Finite difference inversion of field data delivers three-dimensional resistivity distributions between the wells which are consistent with the reservoir modelling studies.To increase the limited observation area provided by the cross-hole measurements, additional surface–downhole measurements were deployed. A main CO₂ migration in SE–NW direction is deduced from surface to downhole resistivity experiments.The first cross-hole time-lapse results show that the resolution and the coverage of the electrode array in the Ketzin setting are sufficient to resolve the expected resistivity changes on the characteristic length scale of the electrode array. Significant resistivity changes could be measured, however, detailed information on the CO₂ plume could not be resolved yet by VERA under the existing geological circumstances.     

Persistent halogenated organic contaminants and mercury in northern fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis) from the Canadian Arctic

Northern fulmars from two breeding colonies in the Canadian Arctic, Cape Vera and Prince Leopold Island, were analyzed for organochlorine pesticides, PCBs, perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) and total mercury (Hg). Hepatic concentrations of organochlorines and Hg were highest in the male fulmars from Cape Vera. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) concentrations did not vary significantly between sexes or colonies. However, concentrations of the perfluorinated carboxylates (PFCAs) were higher in fulmars from Cape Vera than Prince Leopold Island. The C₁₁-C₁₅ PFCAs averaged 90% of the PFCA profile at both colonies. Polychorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and non-ortho PCBs (NO-PCBs) were measured only in birds from Prince Leopold Island. Concentrations of PCDDs, PCDFs, NO-PCBs and Toxic Equivalents (TEQs) did not differ significantly between sexes. ΣTEQ was comprised mainly of ΣTEQ_PCDF. Concentrations of Hg and the persistent halogenated compounds reported in this study were below published toxicological threshold values for wild birds.     

Climate change stimulates the growth of the intertidal macroalgae <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ascophyllum nodosum</Emphasis> near the northern distribution limit

Ascophyllum nodosum is a foundation macroalgae of the intertidal zone that distributes across latitude 41.3–69.7°N. We tested the hypothesis that growth of A. nodosum near the northern distribution edge increases with warming. We retrospectively quantified the growth of eight A. nodosum populations at West Greenland and North Norway (from 64°N to 69°N). For seven populations, we measured growth rates since 1997–2002 and for one of them we extended the time series back to 1956 using published estimates. Individuals at northern populations elongated between 2.0 and 9.1 cm year^?1 and this variability correlated with temperature and annual ice-free days. A spatial comparison of A. nodosum growth across the species distribution range showed that Northern (and coldest) populations grew at the slowest rates. Our results demonstrate that arctic climate change enhances the growth of A. nodosum populations and suggest that their productivity may increase in response to projected global warming.