The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry Founded by: Otto Hutzinger – Publisher: Springer – Editors-in-chief: Damià Barceló · Andrey G. Kostianoy – ISSN: 1867-979X

BOOKS

The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry Founded by: Otto Hutzinger – Publisher: Springer – Editors-in-chief: Damià Barceló · Andrey G. Kostianoy – ISSN: 1867-979X     

Analysis of the toxicogenomic effects of exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in Slovakian girls: correlations between gene expression and disease risk

The chemical composition of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the environment is not uniform throughout the world, and these contaminants contain many structurally different lipophilic compounds. In a well-defined study cohort in the Slovak Republic, the POP chemicals present in the peripheral blood of exposed children were chemically analyzed. The chemical analysis data revealed that the relative concentration and profile of structurally different organic pollutants, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), 2,2′-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dichloroethylene (p,p′-DDE), 2,2′-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-1,1,1-trichloro-ethane (p,p′-DDT), hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and β-hexachlorocyclohexane (β-HCH), may vary from individual to individual, even within the same exposure area. These chemicals can be broadly classified into two groups. The first group, the PCB congeners, primarily originated from industrial compounds and their byproducts. The second group of compounds originated from or was commonly used in the agricultural sector (e.g., DDT, HCB). The objective of this study was to examine the effects of the two POP exposure profiles on gene expression. For the study population, we selected pre-pubertal girls (mean age of 46.2 ± 1.4 months) with high POP concentrations in their blood (> 75% tile of total POP) and classified them in the high ‘PCB’ group when the total PCB concentration was significantly higher than the total concentration of other POP components and in the ‘Other Than PCB’ (OTP) group, when the total PCB concentration was significantly lower than the concentration of the other major POP constituents. A matched control group of girls (< 25% tile of total POP) was selected for comparison purpose (n = 5 per group). Our aims were to determine whether there were any common effects of high POP exposure at a toxicogenomic level and to investigate how exposure may affect physiological functions of the children in two different exposure scenarios. Global gene expression analysis using a microarray (Affymetrix Gene Chip Human genome U133 Plus 2.0 Array) platform was conducted on the total RNA of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from the girls. The results were analyzed by Partek GS, Louis, MI, which identified twelve genes (ATAD2B, BIVM, CD96, CXorf39, CYTH1 ETNK1, FAM13A, HIRA, INO80B, ODG1, RAD23B, and TSGA14) and two unidentified probe sets, as regulated differentially in both the PCB and OTP groups against the control group. The qRT-PCR method was used to validate the microarray results. The Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) software package identified the possible molecular impairments and disease risks associated with each gene set. Connective tissue disorders, genetic disorders, skeletal muscular disorders and neurological diseases were associated with the 12 common genes. The data therefore identified the potential molecular effects of POP exposure on a genomic level. This report underscores the importance of further study to validate the results in a random population and to evaluate the use of the identified genes as biomarkers for POP exposure.     

Processing Stability and Biodegradation of Polylactic Acid (PLA) Composites Reinforced with Cotton Linters or Maple Hardwood Fibres

Polylactic acid (PLA) composites comprising up to 25 wt% cotton linter (CL) or up to 50 % maple wood fibre (WF) were prepared by compounding and injection moulding. A reduction of crystallinity in the PLA matrix was observed as a result of the thermal processing method. These PLACL and PLAWF composites provided excellent improvements in both stiffness (with increases in tensile and flexural modulus) and toughness (increases in notched impact strength) properties over the neat PLA resin, while the tensile and flexural strengths of the composites were generally unchanged, while the strain at break values were reduced in comparison to the neat PLA. DMA results indicated incorporating these fibres caused the mechanical loss factor (tan δ) to decrease, suggesting better damping capabilities were achieved with the composites. SEM analysis of the impact fractured surfaces of the PLACL composites showed debonding-cavitation at the matrix-fibre interface while the PLAWF composites showed good wetting along its matrix-fibre interface. The composting of these composites up to 90 days showed that the degradation onset time was increased when increasing the fibre loadings, but the maximum degree of degradation and the maximum daily rates of degradation were decreased compared to neat PLA. On a weight basis of fibre loading, the PLACL composites had a quicker onset of biodegradation, a higher maximum daily rate of biodegradation and, overall, a higher degree of biodegradation at 90 days than the PLAWF composites, possibly due to the quicker thermal hydrolysis observed in the PLA matrix of the PLACL composites during processing and composting.     

Chemical Stabilization of Mixed Organic and Metal Compounds: EPA SITE Program Demonstration of the Silicate Technology Corporation Process

In November 1990, the Silicate Technology Corporation's (STC) proprietary process for treating soil contaminated with toxic semivolatile organic and inorganic contaminants was evaluated in a Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluation (SITE) field demonstration at the Selma Pressure Treating (SPT) wood preserving site in Selma, California. The SPT site was contaminated principally with pentachlorophenol (PCP) and arsenic, as well as lesser amounts of chromium and copper. Because of their importance when selecting a remedy for the site, PCP and arsenic were identified as critical analytes to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment.

Evaluation of STC's treatment process was based on contaminant mobility, measured by numerous leaching tests, and structural integrity of the solidified material, measured by physical, engineering, and morphological tests. An economic analysis was also performed, using cost information supplied by STC and supplemented by information generated during the demonstration.

Conclusions drawn from this SITE demonstration evaluation are: (1) the STC process can chemically stabilize contaminated soils similar to those at the Selma site that contain both semivolatile organic and inorganic contaminants; (2) PCP was successfully treated as demonstrated by total waste analysis; (3) heavy metals such as arsenic can be immobilized successfully based on various leach-test criteria; (4) the short-term physical stability of the treated waste was good, with unconfined compressive strengths (UCS) well above landfill solidification standards; (5) treatment resulted in a volume increase of 59 to 75 percent (68 percent average) and a slight increase in bulk density; and (6) the process is expected to cost approximately $190 to $360 per cubic yard when it is used to treat 15,000 cubic yards of waste similar to that found at the STC demonstration site, assuming that on-site, in-place disposal is performed.     

Field Verification of Sound Attenuation Modeling and Air Emission Testing in Support of Missile Motor Disposal Activities

Abstract

The U.S. Department of Defense-approved activities conducted at the Utah Test and Training Range (UTTR) include both operational readiness test firing of intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) motors, as well as the destruction of obsolete or otherwise unusable ICBM motors through open burn/open detonation (OB/OD). Within the Utah Division of Air Quality, these activities have been identified as having the potential to generate unacceptable noise levels, as well as significant amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Hill Air Force Base, UT, has completed a series of field tests at the UTTR in which sound-monitoring surveillance of OB/OD activities was conducted to validate the Sound Intensity Prediction System (SIPS) model. Using results generated by the SIPS model to support the decision to detonate, the UTTR successfully disposed of missile motors having an aggregate net explosive weight (NEW) of 81,374 lb without generating adverse noise levels within populated areas. In conjunction with collecting noise-monitoring data, air emissions were collected to support the development of air emission factors for both static missile motor firings and OB/OD activities. Through the installation of 15 ground-based air samplers, the generation of combustion-fixed gases, VOCs, and chlorides was monitored during the 81,374-lb NEW detonation event. Comparison of field measurements to predictions generated from the US Navy energetic combustion pollutant formation model, POLU4WN, indicated that, as the detonation fire ball expanded, organic compounds, as well as CO, continued to oxidize as the combustion gases mixed with ambient air. VOC analysis of air samplers confirmed the presence of chloromethane, vinyl chloride, benzene, toluene, and 2-methyl-1-propene. Qualitative chloride analysis indicated that gaseous HCl was generated at low concentrations, if at all.     

Field Validation of Sound Mitigation Models and Air Pollutant Emission Testing in Support of Missile Motor Disposal Activities

Abstract

The U.S. Department of Defense approved activities conducted at the Utah Test and Training Range (UTTR) include both operational readiness test firing of intercontinental ballistic missile motors as well as the destruction of obsolete or otherwise unusable intercontinental ballistic missile motors through open burn/open detonation (OB/ OD). Within the Utah Division of Air Quality, these activities have been identified as having the potential to generate unacceptable noise levels, as well as significant amounts of hazardous air pollutants. Hill Air Force Base, UT, has completed a series of field tests at the UTTR in which sound-monitoring surveillance of OB/OD activities was conducted to validate the Sound Intensity Prediction System (SIPS) model. Using results generated by the SIPS model to support the decision to detonate, the UTTR successfully disposed of missile motors having an aggregate net explosive weight (NEW) of 56,500 lbs without generating adverse noise levels within populated areas. These results suggest that, under appropriate conditions, missile motors of even larger NEW may be detonated without exceeding regulatory noise limits. In conjunction with collecting noise monitoring data, air quality data was collected to support the development of air emission factors for both static missile motor firings and OB/OD activities. Through the installation of 15 ground-based air samplers, the generation of combustion fixed gases, hazardous air pollutants, and chlorides were monitored during the 56,500-lb NEW detonation event. Comparison of field measurements to predictions generated from the U.S. Navy’s energetic combustion pollutant formation model, POLU4WN, indicated that, as the detonation fireball expanded from ground zero, organic compounds as well as carbon monoxide continued to oxidize as the hot gases reacted with ambient air. Hazardous air pollutant analysis of air samplers confirmed the presence of chloromethane, benzene, toluene, 1,2-propadiene, and 2-methyl-1-propene, whereas the absence of hydrogen chloride gas suggested that free chlorine is not generated during the combustion process.     

成都市臭氧污染特征及气象成因研究

为研究成都市臭氧(O3)污染特征及其气象成因,对2014—2016年成都市6个国控环境监测站和同期气象台站逐小时地面观测数据进行了研究分析.结果表明:近4年来成都市O3污染日趋严重,O3年均浓度不断上升,较2013年升高51.2μg·m-3.O3浓度存在明显的季节变化特征:春、夏季较高,秋、冬季则较低,且各季节O3浓度变化具有很强的长期持续性特征.O3浓度日变化特征呈明显的单峰型分布,8:00出现最低值,15:00—16:00出现峰值,超标时段主要出现在13:00—17:00.O3浓度变化与紫外辐射、气温呈正相关关系,与相对湿度、风速呈负相关关系,且当紫外辐射大于12 MJ·m-2、气温高于15℃、相对湿度低于65%、西风或偏东北风控制时,成都市容易发生高浓度O3污染.     

The impacts of a global pandemic on the efficacy and stability of contemporary wildlife conservation: South Africa as a case study

Conservationists speculated on potential benefits to wildlife of lockdown restrictions because of the COVID-19 pandemic but voiced concern that restrictions impeded nature conservation. We assessed the effects of lockdown restrictions on biodiversity conservation in South Africa, a biodiverse country with economic inequality and reliance on wildlife resources. We solicited expert opinion using the IUCN’s Threats Classification Scheme to structure a questionnaire and illustrated responses with individual case studies from government parastatal and non-governmental conservation organisations. The most highly reported threats were biological resource use, residential/commercial developments, invasive species, and human intrusions. The trends reported by 90 survey respondents were supported by case studies using environmental compliance data from parastatal conservation organisations. Lack of tourism revenue and funding were cited as hindrances to conservation. Mechanisms to prevent environmental degradation in the face of global emergencies must be implemented and ‘ring-fenced’ to ensure conservation is not a casualty during future global crises.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13280-022-01814-z.     

Relationships between hope,optimism, and conservation engagement

The loss and degradation of nature can lead to hopelessness and despair, which may undermine engagement in conservation actions. Emerging movements, such as that behind the organization Conservation Optimism, aim to avert potential despair of those involved in conservation. Some argue that fostering positive states, such as hope or optimism, can motivate engagement and action; however, others question whether fostering hope or optimism may inadvertently undermine perceived gravity of conservation challenges. We examined this issue by quantifying dispositional hope and optimism with a representative sample of Australians (n = 4285) and assessing their relationship with indicators of conservation engagement. We used the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) in Australia as a case study. We asked participants what they could do to help the GBR, then classified their responses into 2 outcome variables: identifying climate actions (i.e., actions that tackle the main threat to the reef) and identifying plastic actions (i.e., actions that are popular among community members). We also quantified likelihood of performing these actions and appraisals of both threats and actions. One dimension of hope, hope pathways (defined by Snyder's hope theory as knowing different ways to act), was associated with greater capacity to identify climate-related behaviors (odds ratio [OR] = 1.44) and plastic reduction behaviors (OR = 1.22) and greater likelihood of adopting climate-related actions (β = 0.20). Optimism was associated with recognition of plastic reduction behaviors only (OR = 1.22). Neither hope nor optimism undermined appraisal of conservation threats. The effects of optimism were mediated by reduced action futility, and effects of hope pathways were mediated by stronger perceptions of threats to the reef (threat appraisal) and confidence in performing useful actions (coping appraisal). Our findings suggest that dispositional hope can strengthen, rather than undermine, appraisal of conservation challenges and solutions and thereby increase conservation engagement.