Investigations on indoor radon in Austria, Part 1: Seasonality of indoor radon concentration

In general, indoor radon concentration is subject to seasonal variability. The reasons are to be found (1) in meteorological influence on the transport properties of soil, e.g. through temperature, frozen soil layers and soil water saturation; and (2) in living habits, e.g. the tendency to open windows in summer and keep them closed in winter, which in general leads to higher accumulation of geogenic Rn in closed rooms in winter. If one wants to standardize indoor Rn measurements originally performed at different times of the year, e.g. in order to make them comparable, some correction transform as a function of measurement time which accounts for these effects must be estimated. In this paper, the seasonality of indoor Rn concentration measured in Austria is investigated as a function of other factors that influence indoor Rn. Indoor radon concentration is clearly shown to have seasonal variability, with higher Rn levels in winter. However, it is complicated to quantify the effect because, as a consequence of the history of an Rn survey, the measurement season maybe correlated to geological regions, which may introduce a bias in the estimate of the seasonality amplitude.     

Food availability and immune capacity in serin (Serinus serinus) nestlings

Parental feeding effort is an important determinant of chick development in birds. Quality and amount of food provided to each nestling, however, might affect the development of the immune system. Food availability around the nest site may account for part of the difference in body condition and immune capacity of nestlings. We tested this idea in the socially monogamous serin (Serinus serinus), investigating growth and immune capacity of nestlings in relation to food availability around the nest site. We used a set of immunological and serological assays, including antibody responses to sheep red blood cells (SRBCs), the T lymphocyte cell-mediated immune response (PHA), granulocyte:lymphocyte ratio (G:L), haematocrit and sedimentation rate. The results suggest that serins raised under poor environmental conditions were less immunocompetent. The immune response to PHA and SRBCs significantly increased with food availability. Haematocrit values were positively, sedimentation rate and the G:L ratio negatively correlated with food availability. Similar results were obtained when examining chick development in relation to the immunological and serological variables. However, there was a negative relationship between parental feeding rates and food availability, as well as between parental feeding rates and chick development. We conclude that body condition and immune capacity of nestlings are strongly correlated with the availability of food around the nest site.     

The use of commercial and industrial waste in energy recovery systems - A UK preliminary study

With 2020 energy targets set out by the EU fast approaching, the UK is trying to source a higher proportion of its energy from renewable resources. Coupled with this, a growing population and increasing trends in consumer demand have resulted in national waste loads increasing. A possible solution to both issues is energy-from-waste (EfW) technologies. Many studies have focused on municipal solid waste (MSW) as a potential feedstock, but appear to overlook the potential benefits of commercial and industrial waste (C&IW). In this study, samples of C&IW were collected from three North West waste management companies and Lancaster University campus. The samples were tested for their gross and net calorific value, moisture content, ash content, volatile matter, and also elemental composition to determine their suitability in EfW systems. Intra-sample analysis showed there to be little variation between samples with the exception two samples, from waste management site 3, which showed extensive variation with regards to net calorific value, ash content, and elemental analysis. Comparisons with known fuel types revealed similarities between the sampled C&IW, MSW, and refuse derived fuel (RDF) thereby justifying its potential for use in EfW systems. Mean net calorific value (NCV) was calculated as 9.47 MJ/kg and concentrations of sulphur, nitrogen, and chlorine were found to be below 2%. Potential electrical output was calculated using the NCV of the sampled C&IW coupled with four differing energy generation technologies. Using a conventional incinerator with steam cycle, total electrical output was calculated as 24.9 GWh, based on a plant operating at 100,000 tpa. This value rose to 27.0 GWh when using an integrated gasification combined cycle. A final aspect of this study was to deduce the potential total national electrical output if all suitable C&IW were to be used in EfW systems. Using incineration coupled with a steam turbine, this was determined to be 6 TWh, 1.9% of the national demand thereby contributing 6.5% towards the UK’s 2020 renewable electricity target.     

The effect of nitrate concentration on sulfide-driven autotrophic denitrification in marine sediment

Copepods have been widely used to evaluate toxicity of metals present in marine environments. However, a technical difficulty is to understand the possible routes of metal uptake and to identify in which tissues or organs metals are being accumulated. Traditional techniques are hard to be employed once each organ has to be analyzed separately. Autoradiography is an alternative technique to circumvent this limitation, since metal distribution in tissues can be visualized and quantified, even in small organisms like copepods. In the present study, accumulation and distribution of ⁶⁴Cu in the copepod Calanus hyperboreus was studied using autoradiography. Copepods were exposed for 2 h to copper (2.3 mg L⁻¹; 1.08 MBq ⁶⁴Cu mg⁻¹ Cu) and then allowed to depurate for 2 h in clean seawater. Total ⁶⁴Cu was determined by gamma-spectrometry after a metal exposure and a depuration period. ⁶⁴Cu distribution was determined based on images generated by autoradiography. Metal accumulation was observed on all external surfaces of the copepods, being accumulated mostly on the ventral region, followed by dorsal, urossoma and internal regions. After depuration, radioactivity levels had a decrease in the sum of external body surface. Our results show that copper uptake by C. hyperboreus is fast and that a non-negligible proportion of the accumulated metal can reach internal tissues, which may lead to detrimental physiological effects. Moreover, whole-body autoradiography was demonstrated to be an efficient technique to study copper accumulation and body distribution in a very small organism such as the copepod C. hyperboreus.     

Brief exposure to copper induces apoptosis and alters mediators of olfactory signal transduction in coho salmon

Pacific salmon are particularly susceptible to copper (Cu)-induced olfactory injuries that can ultimately inhibit neurobehaviors critical to survival. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying Cu-mediated olfactory impairment remain poorly understood. In the present study, we conducted a short-term Cu exposure at levels relevant to urban runoff (5, 25 and 50 ppb) , and investigated the roles of impaired olfactory signal transduction and induced apoptosis as underlying mechanisms of olfactory injury. Increased cell death in the olfactory epithelium was evident in coho receiving 4 h exposures to 25 and 50 ppb Cu. Expression of olfactory marker protein (omp), a marker of mature olfactory sensory neurons, also decreased at 50 ppb Cu. Immunohistochemical analysis of coho olfactory epithelium demonstrated a loss of type 3 adenylate cyclase (ACIII) in the apical olfactory epithelium cilia at all levels of Cu exposure, suggesting an inhibitory effect of Cu in olfactory signaling. Accompanying the loss of ACIII in Cu-exposed coho were reduced intracellular cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) levels in the olfactory rosettes. Collectively, these results support a linkage among the initial steps of olfactory signaling in Cu-induced salmon olfactory injury, and suggesting that monitoring olfactory cGMP levels may aid in the assessment of salmon olfactory injury.     

Green pre-concentration techniques during pesticide analysis in food samples

The ever-increasing demand for determining pesticides at low concentration levels in different food matrices requires a preliminary step of pre-concentration which is considered a crucial stage. Recently, the parameter of “greenness” during sample pre-concentration of pesticides in food matrices is as important as selectivity in order to avoid using harmful organic solvents during sample preparation. Developing new green pre-concentration techniques is one of the key subjects. Thus, to reduce the impact on the environment during trace analysis of pesticides in food matrices, new developments in pre-concentration have gone in three separate directions: the search for more environmentally friendly solvents, miniaturization and development of solvent-free pre-concentration techniques. Eco-friendly solvents such as supercritical fluids, ionic liquids and natural deep eutectic solvents have been developed for use as extraction solvents during pre-concentration of pesticides in food matrices. Also, miniaturized pre-concentration techniques such as QuEChERS, dispersive liquid–liquid micro-extraction and hollow-fiber liquid-phase micro-extraction have been used during trace analysis of pesticides in food samples as well as solvent-free techniques such as solid-phase micro-extraction and stir bar sorptive extraction. All these developments which are aimed at ensuring that pesticide pre-concentration in different food matrices is green are critically reviewed in this paper.     

A Comparison of Various Sources of Automotive Emissions

Chlorinated phenolic hydrocarbons are used as intermediate chemicals in the manufacture of 2,4-D (2,4-Dichlorophenoxy-acetic Acid) and related herbicides. These chemicals have an unusual odor with an extremely low threshold level of detection and consequently the manufacture and handling of these compounds poses a difficult odor control problem. Chipman Chemical Company at its Portland, Oregon plant has developed a system of fume collection and caustic soda solution scrubbing capable of removing phenolic compounds in the plant exhaust air to an acceptable level from an odor release standpoint. This article describes the development, present status, and projected future improvements of this odor control system.     

Instrumental Method Substitutes for Visual Estimation of Equivalent Opacity

Many air pollution control regulations limit the emission of visible effluents, based on the visual observation of “equivalent opacity.” Because of difficulties encountered in using visual observation, the Texas Air Control Board developed a method of calibration which made it possible to use an instrumental method for measuring visible emissions. A legal regulation based on this instrumental method has been in effect for almost two years. Despite minor difficulties in calibration and maintenance, results have been satisfactory. The use of the instrumental method avoids many of the difficulties inherent in using a regulation based on visual observation, and continued use of the instrumental method is anticipated.     

Consultant Guide/1978

Abstract

Biomarkers of methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) exposure and the partitioning of inhaled MTBE into the body were investigated in a human chamber study. Two subjects were exposed to an environmentally relevant nominal 5,011 µg/m³ (1.39 ppm) MTBE for 1 hour, followed by clean–air exposure for 7 hours. Breath and blood were simultaneously sampled, while total urine was collected at prescribed times before, during, and after the exposure. Mass–balance and toxicokinetic analyses were conducted based upon the time series measurement of multiple body–burden endpoints, including MTBE in alveolar breath, and MTBE and tertiary butyl alcohol (TBA) in venous blood and urine.

The decay of MTBE in the blood was assessed by fitting the post–exposure data to a 2– or 3–exponential model that yielded residence times (τ) of 2–3 min, 15–50 min, and 3–13 h as measured by alveolar breath, and 5 min, 60 min, and 32 h as evaluated from venous blood measurements. Based on observations of lower than expected blood and breath MTBE during uptake and a decreasing blood–to–breath ratio during the post–exposure decay period, we hypothesize that the respiratory mucous membranes were serving as a reservoir for the retention of MTBE. The decay data suggest that 6–9% of the MTBE intake may be retained by this non–blood reservoir. The compartmental modeling was further used to estimate important parameters that define the uptake of inhaled MTBE. The first of these parameters is f, the fraction of C_air exhaled at equilibrium, estimated as 0.60 and 0.46 for the female and male subject, respectively. The second parameter is the blood–to–breath partition coefficient (P) estimated as ～18. The product of these parameters provides an estimate of the blood concentration at equilibrium as 8–11 times the air concentration. Blood TBA lagged MTBE levels and decayed more slowly (τ = 1.5–3 h), providing a more stable indication of longer term integrated exposure.

The concentration ranges of MTBE and TBA in urine were similar to that of the blood, ranging from 0.37 to 15 µg/L and 2 to 15 µg/L, respectively. In urine, MTBE and TBA by themselves bore little relationship to the exposure. However, the MTBE:TBA ratio followed the pattern of exposure, with peak values occurring at the end of the exposure (20– and 60–fold greater than pre–exposure values) before decaying back to pre–exposure levels by the end of the 7–h decay period. Urinary elimination accounted for a very small fraction of total MTBE elimination (<1%).