Light regime, riboflavin, and pH effects on 2,4-D photodegradation in water

A laboratory study was conducted to determine the effects of light regime, riboflavin, and pH on photodegradation of 2,4-D in aqueous solution. In controlled-environment chamber experiments, riboflavin sensitized 2,4-D photolysis in a concentration-dependent manner under both attenuated UV (-UV) and enhanced UV (+UV) light regimes. The photolysis half-life of 2,4-D in solutions containing 10 mg L-1 riboflavin was 9.7 and 12.5 h when exposed to +UV and -UV, respectively, compared to no photolysis in the absence of riboflavin. In contrast, the extrapolated half-life of 2,4-D in solutions containing 2.5 mg L-1 riboflavin was 46 h under +UV and 72 h under -UV. The rate of 2,4-D photolysis in the presence of riboflavin increased under both light regimes as initial pH of the solution was decreased from 7.5 to 4.5. The half-life of 2,4-D in the presence of 10 mg L-1 riboflavin at pH 4.5 and exposed to +UV was 1.6 h. Lumichrome, a principal photoproduct of riboflavin, did not photosensitize 2,4-D. Concentrations of 2,4-dichlorophenol formed as a result of riboflavin-sensitized 2,4-D photolysis were higher under the -UV than the +UV regime. These results indicate that riboflavin concentration, solution pH, and light regime are interacting factors that may be manipulated to enhance rates of aqueous 2,4-D photolysis.     

Phosphorus exchange in marine microplankton communities near Hawaii

Tracer exchange kinetics were consistent with the view that microplankton of waters near Hawaii produced and assimilated dissolved orthophosphate and dissolved compounds other than orthophosphate at roughly equal rates in experiments conducted in September, 1982. Using simple exchange models plus chemical measurements, we inferred that material other than orthophosphate could sometimes dominate the soluble molybdate-reactive pool (SRP), as is frequently the case in fresh waters. Where phosphorus exchange was most rapid, the tracer kinetics suggested that some fraction of the plankton community was disproportionately responsible for dissolved phophorus exchange. Comparisons against independent measurements of rapid phytoplankton turnover in these communities supported the conclusion that dissolved compounds other than orthophosphate were rapidly cycled and formed an important substrate for plankton growth.     

SEPTAGE QUALITY AND ITS EFFECT ON FIELD LIFE FOR LAND APPLICATIONS1

ABSTRACT: Maintenance of the more than 24 million septic tanks in the U.S. requires removal and disposal of septage. Disposal options include application to agricultural lands where the nutrients and organic matter can provide soil benefits. However, pathogens and contaminants are also contained in septage. An extensive search turned up very few data on septage quality, and those reveal high variability. The data used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in developing regulations had the lowest metal concentrations among the nine data sets that could be compared. Based on these data, EPA assumed that septage could be applied to agricultural land for more than 100 applications before reaching unacceptable cumulative loading of metals. They thus did not establish federal standards for metals in septage, and no monitoring is required under federal rules governing septage disposal. Analysis of the nine data sets we found showed that field site life would be reached in less than 100 applications for most septage and cumulative loading limits established by EPA for sewage sludges will be exceeded in 16 applications for some septage as opposed to the 100 application estimate used by EPA. Determination of acceptable cumulative loading depends on numerous technical and policy considerations. All septage sources reached the more restrictive loading limits such as those established by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and the recommendations in Cornell publications in less than 100 applications. In one case the cumulative limit for copper was exceeded in a single application. These findings suggest additional data are needed on septage quality and that the federal and state agencies responsible for regulating application of septage to agricultural land should reassess their standards.     

Traumatic work-related fatalities in forestry and sawmill workers in Australia

Work-related traumatic forestry and sawmill fatalities were studied as part of a larger study of all work-related traumatic fatalities in Australia from 1982 to 1984. Data on 79 cases were obtained from inspection of coroners' files. The fatality incidence per 100,000 person-years was extremely high for loggers (396), and high for forest service workers (52) and workers employed in sawmills (30), compared to the entire Australian workforce (8.1). Felling/trimming trees, traffic-related activities and operating heavy machinery (forestry workers) and loading/unloading logs and operating bench saws (sawmill workers) were the most common tasks being performed at the time of the fatal injury. Being struck by a falling tree, often one that had been disturbed by the tree being felled, was the most common mechanism of fatal injury. Isolation, poor work practice, errors of judgement, and equipment problems were the most common contributing factors to the fatal incidents. Emphasis on correct work practice and training (especially in felling), equipment maintenance, and availability of communication and medical retrieval in isolated areas are recommended.     

Marine diatoms grown in chemostats under silicate or ammonium limitation. III. Cellular chemical composition and morphology of Chaetoceros debilis,Skeletonema costatum,and Thalassiosira gravida

Three marine diatoms, Skeletonema costatum, Chaetoceros debilis, and Thalassiosira gravida were grown under no limitation and ammonium or silicate limitation or starvation. Changes in cell morphology were documented with photomicrographs of ammonium and silicate-limited and non-limited cells, and correlated with observed changes in chemical composition. Cultures grown under silicate starvation or limitation showed an increase in particulate carbon, nitrogen and phosporus and chlorophyll a per unit cell volume compared to non-limited cells; particulate silica per cell volume decreased. Si-starved cells were different from Si-limited cells in that the former contained more particulate carbon and silica per cell volume. The most sensitive indicator of silicate limitation or starvation was the ratio C:Si, being 3 to 5 times higher than the values for non-limited cells. The ratios Si:chlorophyll a and S:P were lower and N:Si was higher than non-limited cells by a factor of 2 to 3. The other ratios, C:N, C:P, C:chlorophyll a, N:chlorophyll a, P:chlorophyll a and N:P were considered not to be sensitive indicators of silicate limitation or starvation. Chlorophyll a, and particulate nitrogen per unit cell volume decreased under ammonium limitation and starvation. NH₄-starved cells contained more chlorophyll a, carbon, nitrogen, silica, and phosphorus per cell volume than NH₄-limited cells. N:Si was the most sensitive ratio to ammonium limitation or starvation, being 2 to 3 times lower than non-limited cells. Si:chlorophyll a, P:chlorophyll a and N:P were less sensitive, while the ratios C:N, C:chlorophyll a, N:chlorophyll a, C:Si, C:P and Si:P were the least sensitive. Limited cells had less of the limiting nutrient per unit cell volume than starved cells and more of the non-limiting nutrients (i.e., silica and phosphorus for NH₄-limited cells). This suggests that nutrient-limited cells rather than nutrient-starved cells should be used along with non-limited cells to measure the full range of potential change in cellular chemical composition for one species under nutrient limitation.Contribution No. 943 from the Department of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA.     

Local and regional air pollution in Ireland during an intensive aerosol measurement campaign

An intensive two month measurement campaign has been performed during a two year study of major component composition of urban PM10 and PM2.5 in Ireland (J. Yin, A. G. Allen, R. M. Harrison, S. G. Jennings, E. Wright, M. Fitzpatrick, T. Healy, E. Barry, D. Ceburnis and D. McCusker, Atmos. Res., 2005, 78(3-4), 149-165). Measurements included size-segregated mass, soluble ions, elemental carbon (EC) distributions, fine and coarse fraction organic carbon (OC) and major gases along with standard meteorological measurements. The study revealed that urban emissions in Ireland had mainly a local character and therefore were confined within a limited area of 20-30 km radius, without significantly affecting regional air quality. Gaseous measurements have shown that urban emissions in Ireland had clear, but fairly limited influence on the regional air quality due to favorable mixing conditions at higher wind speeds, in particular from the western sector. Size-segregated mass and chemical measurements revealed a clear demarcation size between accumulation and coarse modes at about 0.8 microm which was constant at all sites. Carbonaceous compounds at the urban site accounted for up to 90% of the particle mass in a size range of 0.066-0.61 microm. Nss SO4(2-) concentrations in PM2.5 were only slightly higher at the urban site compared to the rural or coastal sites, while NO3- and NH4+ concentrations were similar at the urban and coastal sites, but were a factor of 2 to 3 higher than at the rural site. OC was highly variable between the sites and revealed clear seasonal differences. Natural or biogenic OC component accounted for <10% in winter and up to 30% in summer of the PM2.5 OC at urban sites. A contribution of biogenic OC component to PM2.5 OC mass at rural site was dominant.     

Ecological effects of endocrine disruption: current evidence and research priorities.

An overview is presented of the main evidence for endocrine disruption in wildlife, focusing on reproductive effects. While there are a few clear examples of endocrine disruptive effects resulting from environmental chemical exposure, in most cases a causal link between the observed abnormalities and chemical exposure has not been established. In other cases there appears to be a link but the specific chemicals responsible for the observed effects, and the mechanisms involved, remain to be elucidated. Also it is largely unknown whether or not observed changes in individual animals lead to population-level effects. Priority research projects for the UK, ultimately aimed at determining the population-level significance of endocrine disruption, are described.     

Medium-Sulfur Coal and Fly Ash Resistivity

Electric generating plants burning medium-sulfur coal need a way to predict when ESP performance will be limited by high electrical resistivity of the collected fly ash. The main uncertainty in mathematical predictions of fly ash resistivity lies in the marginal effect of naturally occurring SO₃ vapor in the flue gas. This paper results from a project to expand the data base of SO₃/SO₂ concentrations and fly ash resistivities measured in utility fly ash precipitators. Complete data sets are presented from three plants in the Southern Company electric system. In situ resistivity data are compared with laboratory measurements and with two different mathematical predictions of resistivity based on coal and ash analyses. The revised version of the resistivity predictor gives results in good agreement with resistivity values measured both in situ and in the laboratory.     

Estimating net changes in life-cycle emissions from adoption of emerging civil infrastructure technologies

There is a net emissions change when adopting new materials for use in civil infrastructure design. To evaluate the total net emissions change, one must consider changes in manufacture and associated life-cycle emissions, as well as changes in the quantity of material required. In addition, in principle one should also consider any differences in costs of the two designs because cost savings can be applied to other economic activities with associated environmental impacts. In this paper, a method is presented that combines these considerations to permit an evaluation of the net change in emissions when considering the adoption of emerging technologies/materials for civil infrastructure. The method factors in data on differences between a standard and new material for civil infrastructure, material requirements as specified in designs using both materials, and price information. The life-cycle assessment approach known as economic input-output life-cycle assessment (EIO-LCA) is utilized. A brief background on EIO-LCA is provided because its use is central to the method. The methodology is demonstrated with analysis of a switch from carbon steel to high-performance steel in military bridge design. The results are compared with a simplistic analysis that accounts for the weight reduction afforded by use of the high-performance steel but assuming no differences in manufacture.