Particle fluxes above forests: observations, methodological considerations and method comparisons

This paper reports a study designed to test, evaluate and compare micro-meteorological methods for determining the particle number flux above forest canopies. Half-hour average particle number fluxes above a representative broad-leaved forest in Denmark derived using eddy covariance range from -7x10(7) m(-2) s(-1) (1st percentile) to 5x10(7) m(-2) s(-1) (99th percentile), and have a median value of -1.6x10(6) m(-2) s(-1). The statistical uncertainties associated with the particle number flux estimates are larger than those for momentum fluxes and imply that in this data set approximately half of the particle number fluxes are not statistically different to zero. Particle number fluxes from relaxed eddy accumulation (REA) and eddy covariance are highly correlated and of almost identical magnitude. Flux estimates from the co-spectral and dissipation methods are also correlated with those from eddy covariance but exhibit higher absolute magnitude of fluxes.     

Elemental Mercury Control by Novel Oxidant and Sorbent in an Entrained-Flow System

An entrained-flow system has been designed and constructed to simulate in-flight mercury capture by sorbents in ducts of coal-fired utility plants. The test conditions of 1.5 s residence time, 140°C temperature, 4.5 ppbv inlet Hg⁰ concentration, and 0–20 lb/MMacf sorbent injection rates were chosen to simulate conditions in the ducts. Novel oxidants developed in previous fixed-bed tests and novel sorbents derived from the novel oxidants were tested for their Hg⁰ capture in the entrained-flow system to examine the possibility of using those sorbents in a full-scale system. Darco-FGD and Darco Hg-LH served as benchmark sorbents with which mercury control capability of the novel oxidants and novel sorbents could be compared. The test results showed that the novel oxidants have remarkable Hg⁰ oxidation capability, and the novel sorbents showed a better performance in Hg⁰ removal than Darco Hg-LH.     

Substance Flow Analyses of Organic Pollutants in Stockholm

This paper summarizes substance flow analyses for four organic substances in the City of Stockholm, Sweden: diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), alkylphenolethoxylates (APEO), polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDE) and chlorinated paraffins (CP). The results indicate that the stocks of APEO, PBDE and CP all are approximately 200–250 tonnes, whereas the DEHP stock is two orders of magnitude larger. Emissions can be linked to imported consumer goods such as electronics (PBDE) and textiles (APEO), and to construction materials (DEHP, CP). For several of the substances considerable amounts remain in the technosphere for a long time, even after use of the substance in new products has been eliminated. For example, the use of DEHP as plasticizer for PVC plastics in cables and floorings has more or less been phased-out, but still these applications make up a stock of some 20,000 tonnes (85% of the total DEHP stock in Stockholm) and emit 28 tonnes of DEHP annually (93% of overall emissions). Likewise, the use of chlorinated paraffins in sealants has been radically reduced, but there are 170 tonnes of CP in sealants in Stockholm making up 75% of the stock, and causing half of the emissions to water and air. These emissions are likely to continue for decades, and the stocks therefore have to be considered when analysing and managing the impact of urban substance flows on the environment.     

Material Flows in Sweden 2004

This paper presents and discusses the method and results of account for material flows in Sweden for the year 2004. The results show that it is possible to compile material flow data from existing sources in the Swedish statistical system. By using the European classification system of goods, the Combined Nomenclature, as the basic unit of the data collection, both data collection and aggregation into material flow categories were made possible. Although these data exist in the statistical system, they are not easily available for the scientific community. This is due to several reasons, such as the aggregation of data in the system of statistics not corresponding to the material flow account structure and the fact that data on import and export of materials are organised differently than data for domestic extraction. Almost 50% of the material flows in Sweden are flows of minerals, mainly construction minerals followed by iron ores. Most of the extracted iron ores are exported. In comparison with other European countries this generates a unique situation with Sweden as the only net exporter of iron ores. The flow of biomass in terms of wood is also considerable (26% of the Swedish material flows in 2004). The domestic material consumption (inflow) per capita in 2004 was 8 tonnes minerals, 6 tonnes biomass and almost 3 tonnes of fossil fuels. Of the material flows of fossil fuels petroleum and natural gas dominates with 90%.     

Adsorption of basic dye from aqueous solution onto fly ash

The fly ash treated by H₂SO₄ was used as a low-cost adsorbent for the removal of a typical dye, methylene blue, from aqueous solution. An increase in the specific surface area and dye-adsorption capacity was observed after the acid treatment. The adsorption isotherm and kinetics of the treated fly ash were studied. The experimental results were fitted using Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. It shows that the Freundlich isotherm is better in describing the adsorption process. Two kinetic models, pseudo-first order and pseudo-second order, were employed to analyze the kinetic data. It was found that the pseudo-second-order model is the better choice to describe the adsorption behavior. The thermodynamic study reveals that the enthalpy (ΔH⁰) value is positive (5.63 kJ/mol), suggesting an endothermic nature of the adsorption.     

Monitoring PCDD/Fs, PCBs and metals in the ambient air of an industrial area of Catalonia, Spain

In 2005 and 2006, the levels of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and metals (As, Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sn, Tl and V) were measured in air samples collected in an industrial area of Sant Adrià del Besòs (Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain) where a municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI) is placed, and in a background/control area. In general terms, concentrations of all environmental pollutants were higher at the industrial site. No significant seasonal/temporal variations were observed in any of the areas. No Pearson correlation was found between the PCDD/F concentrations and the environmental conditions of the two sampling periods considered. Principal component analyses (PCA) were performed to get information on the relationship among samples, pollutants, and emission sources. The results indicate that the MSWI of S. Adrià de Besòs is not a significant emission source of the above compounds for the area under its direct influence. Moreover, a notable difference in the PCDD/F congener profiles was found between ambient air and stack gas emissions, indicating that the current levels of PCDD/Fs are more related to other potential emissions sources rather than to those from the MSWI.     

The 2004 Madrid train bombings: an analysis of pre-hospital management

The terrorist train bombings in Madrid, Spain, on 11 March 2004 triggered a swift and massive medical response. This paper analyses the pre-hospital response to the attacks to gain insight into current trends in disaster management among Madrid's Emergency Medical Services (EMSs). To this end, the existing emergency planning framework is described, the basic structures of the different EMSs are presented, and the attacks are briefly depicted before consideration is given to pre-hospital management. Finally, an explanation of the main underlying misconceptions in emergency planning and management in Madrid is provided to aid understanding of the origins of some of the problems detected during the response. These are attributable mainly to inappropriate planning rather than to mistakes in field-level decision-making. By contrast, many of the successes are attributable to individual initiatives by frontline medics who compensated for the lack of clear command by senior managers by making adaptive and flexible decisions.     

Atmospheric dinitrogen fixation by benthic communities of Tikehau Lagoon (Tuamotu Archipelago, French Polynesia) and its contribution to benthic primary production

Acetylene reduction rates were measured in lagoonal sediments, cyanobacterial mats and limestone surfaces between 1991 and 1995 at many sites, depths and seasons; all the studied substrata contained cyanobacteria. The acetylene reduction/¹⁵N₂ fixation ratio was measured for the different communities and varied between 1.8 and 4.8, depending on substratum. Fixation rates were 1.7 to 7 times higher during daylight compared to night-time rates. N₂ fixation rates ranged from 0.4 to 3.9 mg N m^-2 day^-1 for the lagoonal sediment/mat communities, and the rate was about 2 mg N m^-2 day^-1 for the lagoonal limestone substrata. Total lagoonal benthic N₂ fixation contributed 24.4% of the total nitrogen requirement for the benthic primary production of benthic communities of the lagoon. The input of N₂ fixation by the microbial planktonic communities (including cyanobacteria) of the lagoon, which are highly productive, is unquantified but is likely to be large.     

Natural feeding activity of the crab Callinectes ornatus (Portunidae) in Ubatuba Bay (São Paulo, Brazil): influence of season, sex, size and molt stage

The natural diet of Callinectes ornatus in Ubatuba Bay, Ubatuba (SP), Brazil, was studied. Influence of season, sex, size and molt stage variation in the diet were also described. Specimens were collected monthly over a period of 1 year, in Ubatuba Bay, using a fishing boat equipped with a double rigged net. The relative degree of stomach fullness, frequency of occurrence, and quantitative scoring (percentage) were determined. Digested material, crustaceans, sediment and mollusks were the principal items of the diet. Echinoderms, annelids, plants, and fishes were also notable prey items, and other food categories (foraminiferans, cnidarians, worms and bryozoans) occurred in low percentages. A non-significant difference was found in many items during seasonal analysis, i.e. plants, foraminiferans, cnidarians, bryozoans and digested material were present at highest percentages during summer and autumn, while crustaceans and echinoderms were consumed in larger amounts during the spring and winter. Males and females consumed a similar diet, although ovigerous females showed a greater tendency to feed on items with soft tissues (fish, squid, shrimp). Juveniles fed more on sedentary and calcareous items than did adults, showing a significant tendency to reduce consumption of foraminiferans, annelids, bryozoans, echinoderms and sediment as the animal increased in size, accompanied by an elevation in the consumption of plants, crustaceans and fish. These crabs are opportunistic predators with a preference for crustaceans and mollusks that is correlated with the availability of prey and the ontogenetic phase of the predator. Received: 21 January 2000 / Accepted: 2 October 2000