Cost estimation for solid waste management in industrialising regions--precedents, problems and prospects

The importance of cost planning for solid waste management (SWM) in industrialising regions (IR) is not well recognised. The approaches used to estimate costs of SWM can broadly be classified into three categories - the unit cost method, benchmarking techniques and developing cost models using sub-approaches such as cost and production function analysis. These methods have been developed into computer programmes with varying functionality and utility. IR mostly use the unit cost and benchmarking approach to estimate their SWM costs. The models for cost estimation, on the other hand, are used at times in industrialised countries, but not in IR. Taken together, these approaches could be viewed as precedents that can be modified appropriately to suit waste management systems in IR. The main challenges (or problems) one might face while attempting to do so are a lack of cost data, and a lack of quality for what data do exist. There are practical benefits to planners in IR where solid waste problems are critical and budgets are limited.     

Novel materials for environmental remediation of tailing pond waters containing naphthenic acids

A nanofiltration strategy for tailing pond waters (TPWs) that utilizes cyclodextrin (CD)-based polymeric materials as supramolecular sorbents is proposed. Naphthenic acids (NAs) from the Athabasca TPWs are investigated as the target sorbate molecules.The sorption properties of several supramolecular porous materials were characterized using equilibrium sorption isotherms in aqueous solution wherein electrospray ionization mass spectrometry was used to monitor the concentration of NAs in aqueous solution. The characterization of the supramolecular sorbents was performed using ¹³C NMR and IR spectroscopy, while nitrogen porosimetry was used to estimate their surface area and pore structure properties. Independent estimates of surface area were obtained using a chromophore dye adsorption method in aqueous solution.The sorption results for NAs in solution were compared between a commercially available standard; granular activated carbon (GAC) and three types of synthetic materials. The sorption capacities for GAC ranged from 100 to 160 mg NAs/g of material whereas the polymeric materials ranged from 20 to 30 mg NAs/g of material over the experimental conditions investigated. In general, differences in the sorption properties between GAC and the CD-based sorbents were observed and related to differences in the surface areas of the materials and the chemical nature of the sorbents. The CD-based supramolecular materials displayed sorption capacities ranging from 36.2 to 657 m²/g as compared to that for GAC (795 m²/g).     

Tracking collaboration: forest planning and local participation on the San Juan National Forest,Colorado

The proliferation of community-based collaborative approaches to public land management and planning has spawned many questions regarding issues of community representation and the effects of participation for local residents. This paper presents a longitudinal assessment of local resident participation in collaborative forest planning on local community–forest relations in southwestern Colorado. Using survey data of participants involved in the San Juan National Forest's forest plan revision community study groups from 1998 to 2003, we assess participation in terms of community representation and the effects of community-based collaboration upon individuals' forest uses, forest values, and the level and form of involvement in forest management and planning activities. Results show that community representation remains slanted towards existing active stakeholders, and that while forest values, uses, and frequencies of involvement change little, participants cite positive effects in terms of the development of new knowledge, personal relationships, and greater confidence to engage in forest management affairs.     

Polymorphic ROS scavenging revealed by CCCP in a lizard

Ingestion of antioxidants has been argued to scavenge circulating reactive molecules (e.g., free radicals), play a part in mate choice (by mediating access to this important resource), and perhaps increase life span. However, recent work has come to question these relationships. We have shown elsewhere in the polychromatic lizard, Ctenophorus pictus, that diet supplementation of carotenoids as antioxidants does not depress circulating natural reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and leads to no corresponding improvement of color traits. However, a much stronger test would be to experimentally manipulate the ROS levels themselves and assess carotenoid-induced ROS depression. Here, we achieve this by using carbonyl cyanide 3-chlorophenylhydrazone, which elevates superoxide (SO) formation approximately threefold at 10 μM in this model system. We then look for depressing effects on ROS of the carotenoids in order to assess whether ‘super-production’ of SO makes carotenoid effects on elevated ROS levels detectable. The rationale for this treatment was that if not even such elevated levels of SO are reduced by carotenoid supplementation, the putative link carotenoids, ROS depression, and mate quality (in terms of antioxidant capacity) is highly questionable. We conclude that there is no significant effect of carotenoids on mean SO levels even at the induced ROS levels. However, our results showed a significant interaction effect between carotenoid treatment and male color, with red males having higher ROS levels than yellow males. We suggest that this may be because different pigments are differently involved in the generation of the integumental colors in the two morphs with concomitant effects on ROS depletion depending on carotenoid uptake or allocation to coloration and antioxidation.     

Isochromosome 5p mosaicism at prenatal diagnosis: observations and outcomes in six cases at chorionic villus sampling and one at amniocentesis

We present six cases of 47,+i(5p)/46 mosaicism diagnosed at chorionic villus sampling (CVS), this being the first prospective series to be reported. The clinical indication in each was advanced maternal age. Further prenatal studies in four (amniocentesis, plus fetal blood sampling in one) did not show the isochromosome. In one case, subsequent amniocentesis showed 1/48 in situ colonies with the isochromosome, but fetal blood was karyotypically normal. These five pregnancies resulted in phenotypically normal livebirths; further normal follow-up reports (from age 4 months through 4 years) are noted in four of these. Analysis of placental tissue in one case confirmed the presence of the i(5p) mosaicism. In the remaining case, in which 100% of CVS cultured cells had the i(5p), the pregnancy was terminated. Fetal skin fibroblasts did not show the i(5p). Thus, in none of these six cases was true fetal mosaicism detected, nor an abnormal phenotype noted. We suggest that a 47,+i(5p)/46 karyotype, detected at CVS, may frequently reflect confined placental mosaicism. In addition, we report a case of the primary diagnosis of 47,+i(5p)/46 mosaicism at amniocentesis. The infant appeared normal at birth, but a brain malformation was subsequently identified. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Political transition and emergent forest‐conservation issues in Myanmar

Political and economic transitions have had substantial impacts on forest conservation. Where transitions are underway or anticipated, historical precedent and methods for systematically assessing future trends should be used to anticipate likely threats to forest conservation and design appropriate and prescient policy measures to counteract them. Myanmar is transitioning from an authoritarian, centralized state with a highly regulated economy to a more decentralized and economically liberal democracy and is working to end a long‐running civil war. With these transitions in mind, we used a horizon‐scanning approach to assess the 40 emerging issues most affecting Myanmar's forests, including internal conflict, land‐tenure insecurity, large‐scale agricultural development, demise of state timber enterprises, shortfalls in government revenue and capacity, and opening of new deforestation frontiers with new roads, mines, and hydroelectric dams. Averting these threats will require, for example, overhauling governance models, building capacity, improving infrastructure‐ and energy‐project planning, and reforming land‐tenure and environmental‐protection laws. Although challenges to conservation in Myanmar are daunting, the political transition offers an opportunity for conservationists and researchers to help shape a future that enhances Myanmar's social, economic, and environmental potential while learning and applying lessons from other countries. Our approach and results are relevant to other countries undergoing similar transitions.     

Critical Review on the Public Health Impact of Norovirus Contamination in Shellfish and the Environment: A UK Perspective

We review the risk of norovirus (NoV) infection to the human population from consumption of contaminated shellfish. From a UK perspective, risk is apportioned for different vectors of NoV infection within the population. NoV spreads mainly by person-to-person contact or via unsanitary food handling. NoV also enters the coastal zone via wastewater discharges resulting in contamination of shellfish waters. Typically, NoV persists in the marine environment for several days, with its presence strongly linked to human population density, wastewater discharge rate, and efficacy of wastewater treatment. Shellfish bioaccumulate NoV and current post-harvest depuration is inefficient in its removal. While NoV can be inactivated by cooking (e.g. mussels), consumption of contaminated raw shellfish (e.g. oysters) represents a risk to human health. Consumption of contaminated food accounts for 3–11% of NoV cases in the UK (~74,000 cases/year), of which 16% are attributable to oyster consumption (11,800 cases/year). However, environmental and human factors influencing NoV infectivity remain poorly understood. Lack of standard methods for accurate quantification of infective and non-infective (damaged) NoV particles represent a major barrier, hampering identification of an appropriate lower NoV contamination limit for shellfish. Future management strategies may include shellfish quality assessment (at point of harvest or at point of supply) or harvesting controls. However, poor understanding of NoV inactivation in shellfish and the environment currently limits accurate apportionment and risk assessment for NoV and hence the identification of appropriate shellfish or environmental quality standards.     

Toxicity of fipronil and its enantiomers to marine and freshwater non-targets

Fipronil is a phenylpyrazole insecticide used in agricultural and domestic settings for controlling various insect pests in crops, lawns, and residential structures. Fipronil is chiral; however, it is released into the environment as a racemic mixture of two enantiomers. In this study, the acute toxicity of the (S,+) and (R,-) enantiomers and the racemic mixture of fipronil were assessed using Simulium vittatum IS-7 (black fly), Xenopus laevis (African clawed frog), Procambarus clarkii (crayfish), Palaemonetes pugio (grass shrimp), Mercenaria mercenaria (hardshell clam), and Dunaliella tertiolecta (phytoplankton). Results showed that S. vittatum IS-7 was the most sensitive freshwater species to the racemic mixture of fipronil (LC50 = 0.65 microg/L) while P. pugio was the most sensitive marine species (LC50 = 0.32 microg/L). Procambarus clarkii were significantly more sensitive to the (S,+) enantiomer while larval P. pugio were significantly more sensitive to the (R,-) enantiomer. Enantioselective toxicity was not observed in the other organisms tested. Increased mortality and minimal recovery was observed in all species tested for recovery from fipronil exposure. These results indicate that the most toxic isomer of fipronil is organism-specific and that enantioselective toxicity may be more common in crustaceans than in other aquatic organisms.