An investigation on biological stability of product water generated by lab-scale and pilot-scale distillation systems

Material Disposal Area G is the primary low-levelradioactive waste disposal site at Los Alamos NationalLaboratory, New Mexico, and is adjacent to Pueblo of SanIldefonso lands. Pueblo residents and Los Alamos scientists areconcerned about radiological doses resulting from uptake of AreaG radionuclides by mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) andRocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus), then consumption ofdeer and elk meat by humans. Tissue samples were collected fromdeer and elk accidentally killed near Area G and were analyzedfor ³H, ⁹⁰Sr, total U, ²³⁸Pu, ^{239, 240}Pu,²⁴¹Am, and ¹³⁷Cs. These data were used to estimatehuman doses based on meat consumption of 23 kg y^-1. Humandoses were also modeled using RESRAD, and dose rates to deer andelk were estimated with a screening model. Dose estimates tohumans from tissue consumption were 2.9 × 10^-3 mSv y^-1and 1.6 × 10^-3 mSv y^-1 from deer and elk, respectively,and RESRAD dose estimates were of the same order of magnitude. Estimated dose rates to deer and elk were 2.1 × 10^-4 mGyd^-1 and 4.7 × 10^-4 mGy d^-1, respectively. Allestimated doses were significantly less than established exposurelimits or guidelines.     

A study on hexachromic ion selective electrode based on supported liquid membranes

An ion selective electrode (ISE) for determining Cr(VI) using supported liquid membranes (SLMs) containing trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO) was investigated in this study. TOPO, as a carrier, had a high selectivity for Cr(VI) against interfering ions such as sulfate, nitrate, nitrite, and chloride. The composition of the SLM was optimized as 0.193 g TOPO/1 mL NPOE (o-nitrophenyl octyl ether)/0.5 g poly (vinyl chloride) for detection of Cr(VI). The Cr(VI) concentration was measured in the range of1 × 10^-3 to 1 × 10^-6 M with the SLM prepared in the study. It seemed that Cr(VI) was transported in the SLM as a triply charged ion indicated by the slope of the emf response. Selectivity coefficients and detection limits of Cr(VI) in the presence of interfering ions were determined experimentally using the fixed interference method.     

Glacial-interglacial changes in the occurrence of Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn in Vostok Antarctic ice from 240 000 to 410 000 years BP

Lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) have been measured by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry in various sections of the 3623 m deep ice core drilled at Vostok, in central East Antarctica. The sections were dated from 240 to 410 kyear BP (Marine Isotopic Stages (MIS) 7.5 to 11.3), which corresponds to the 3rd and 4th glacial-interglacial cycles before present. Concentrations are found to have varied greatly during this 170 kyear time period, with high concentration values during the coldest climatic stages such as MIS 8.4 and 10.2 and much lower concentration values during warmer periods, such as the interglacials MIS 7.5, 9.3 and 11.3. Rock and soil dust were the dominant sources for Pb, whatever the period, and for Zn and Cu and possibly Cd during cold climatic stages. The contribution from volcanic emissions was important for Cd during all periods and might have been significant for Cu and Zn during warm periods.     

Establishing the link between ammonia emission control and measurements of reduced nitrogen concentrations and deposition

In the context of international efforts to reduce the impactsof atmospheric NH₃ and NH₄ ⁺ (collectively, NH_x), it is important to establish the link between NH₃emissions and monitoring of NH_x concentrations and deposition. This is equally relevant to situations where NH₃emissions changes are certain (e.g. due to changed source sectoractivity), as to cases where NH₃ abatement technologies havebeen implemented. Correct interpretation of adequate atmosphericmeasurements is essential, since monitoring data provide the onlymeans to evaluate trends in regional NH₃ emissions.These issues have been reviewed using available measurements and modelling from nine countries. In addition to historic datasets,the analysis here considers countries where NH₃ source sector activity changed (both increases and decreases) and countries where NH₃ abatement policies have been implemented.In The Netherlands an `ammonia gap' was identified between the expected reduction and results of monitoring, and was attributedinitially to ineffectiveness of the abatement measures. The analysis here for a range of countries shows that atmospheric interactions complicate the expected changes, particularly sinceSO₂ emissions have decreased at the same time, while at manysites the few years of available data show substantial inter-annual variation. It is concluded that networks need to beestablished that speciate between NH₃ and aerosol NH₄ ⁺, in addition to providing wet deposition, and sample at sufficient sites for robust regional estimates to be established. Such measurements will be essential to monitor compliance of the international agreements on NH₃ emission abatement.     

Metal deposition patterns in central Scotland,as determined by Lichen transplants

Lichen transplants of Hypogymnia physodes were used in a high-density network of sites for collecting airborne metals from the atmosphere in Armadale, a small industrial town in central Scotland. The mapping of the concentrations of various metals revealed a gradient of metal values which decreased outwards from the town's steel foundry. The findings were discussed in the context of a previous epidemiological investigation of lung disease in the town.     

Distributions of lead and cadmium in dust in the vicinity of a sewage sludge incinerator

The content of lead and cadmium in surface dust within a 4 km radius of a sewage sludge incinerator has been investigated. Particular attention was given to Pb and Cd in different size fractions of dust, an aspect not explored in previous studies, and the differences between expressions of contamination as concentration or loading were examined. Despite suggestions from reports that sludge incinerators may have difficulty in complying with emission standards, the present investigation found little evidence for a major contribution to local pollution by the incinerator. Certainly, the highest Cd level was found some 2.2 km downwind of the prevailing wind direction from the incinerator, suggesting some resultant contamination, although the levels do not appear to be excessive. Similar observations apply to Pb contamination of the area. While data of the type produced in this study contribute to an understanding of environmental quality, both loadings and levels need to be considered, as the implications of only consideration one of these may be limited and even misleading.     

Seasonal Variation of Chemical Composition in Fine Particles at Gosan, Korea

PM_2.5 aerosol samples were collected at Gosan in Jeju Island during six intensive measurement periods between November 2001 and August 2003. In order to investigate the chemical composition of fine particles, major ion components, trace elements, and elemental and organic carbon were analyzed. Quite different seasonal characteristic in the chemical composition of fine particles was observed. The concentration of most secondary aerosol components showed a summer minimum and a winter maximum with higher correlation between them at Gosan. This fact clearly reveals the possibility of long-range transport of such pollutants in winter. On the other hand, OC and EC had the highest concentration and good correlation with ion components, such as K⁺, Ca²⁺ in fall. It means that biomass burning could significantly influence the ambient fine carbonaceous particulate in fall, which was primarily long-range transported.     

Evaluation of Potential Molecular Markers for Urban Stormwater Runoff

Source specificity and persistence of several sulfur-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (S-PAHs), nitro-PAHs (N-PAHs), and triphenylene were examined via analyses of stormwater runoff and wastewater effluent samples and spiked samples upon exposure to sunlight. Samples were collected during the 1997/1998 wet weather season from two major storm channels and four major wastewater treatment plants in southern California. Among the target compounds examined, 2-(4-morpholinyl)benzothiazole, dibenzothiophene, and triphenylene/chrysene were detected in storm runoff only. However, 2-(4-morpholinyl)benzothiazole appeared to degrade rapidly in seawater and sediment after sunlight exposure, which might impede its use as a runoff indicator. Dibenzothiophene and triphenylene also degraded quickly in sunlight-exposed seawater samples, but remained fairly abundant in sediments after six months of exposure to sunlight. They are by far the most promising candidates of urban runoff markers based on the criteria of abundance, source specificity, and persistence, although more research efforts are needed to ensure that no other sources would also contribute significantly to their presence in the aquatic environment.     

Bacterial degradation of acetone in an outdoor model stream

Diurnal variations of the acetone concentration in an outdoor model stream were measured with and without a nitrate supplement to determine if the nitrate supplement would stimulate bacterial degradation of the acetone. Acetone loss coefficients were computed from the diurnal data using a fitting procedure based on a Lagrangian particle model. The coefficients indicated that bacterial degradation of the acetone was occurring in the downstream part of the stream during the nitrate addition. However, the acetone concentrations stabilized at values considerably above the limit of detection for acetone determination, in contrast to laboratory respirometer studies where the acetone concentration decreased rapidly to less than the detection limit, once bacterial acclimation to the acetone had occurred. One possible explanation for the difference in behavior was the limited 6-hour residence time of the acetone in the model stream.