Photochemical Reactivities of Paraffinic Hydrocarbon-Nitrogen Oxide Mixtures Upon Addition of Propylene or Toluene

Effects associated with photochemical air pollution were measured during irradiation of n-butane-nitrogen oxide or n-butane-ethane-nitrogen oxide mixtures, with small amounts of propylene or toluene added. The effects measured including nitrogen dioxide and oxidant dosages, yields of formaldehyde and peroxy-acetyl nitrate, and eye irritation response. The results obtained clearly show that beneficial effects result from selective changes in hydrocarbon composition as well as from reduction of total hydrocarbon concenfration. Exclusion of olefins and alkylbenzenes was highly effective in reducing oxidant dosage, formaldehyde and peroxyacetyl nitrate concentrations, and eye irritation response. The only penalty was a modest increase in nitrogen dioxide dosage. A large reduction in nitrogen oxide concentration reduced nitrogen dioxide dosage and eye irritation response, but with the penalty of a large increase in oxidant dosage. The desirability of preferentially reducing olefins and alkylbenzenes rather than paraffinic hydrocarbons, acetylene, and benzene is strongly supported by this study. Research and development efforts should be directed toward preferential hydrocarbon control by mechanical or catalytic control     

Development of controlled release nanoformulations of carbendazim employing amphiphilic polymers and their bioefficacy evaluation against Rhizoctonia solani

Controlled release nanoformulations of carbendazim (Methyl 1H-benzimidazol-2-ylcarbamate), a systemic fungicide, have been prepared using laboratory synthesized poly(ethylene glycols) (PEGs)-based functionalized amphiphilic copolymers. The release kinetics of carbendazim from developed controlled release (CR) formulations was studied and compared with that of the commercially available 50% Wettable Powder (WP). Further, the bioefficacy evaluation of developed formulations was done against plant pathogenic fungi Rhizoctonia solani by the poison food technique method. The release of maximum amount of carbendazim from developed formulations was dependent on the molecular weight of PEGs and was found to increase with increasing molecular weights. The range of carbendazim release was found to be between 10th to 35th day as compared to commercial formulation which was up to 7th day. The diffusion exponent (n value) of carbendazim in water ranged from 0.37 to 0.52 in the tested formulations. The half-release (t_1/2) values ranged between 9.47 and 24.20 days, and the period of optimum availability (POA) of carbendazim ranged from 9.15 to 26.63 days. Also, ED₅₀ values of the developed formulations vary from 0.40 to 0.74 mg L^?1. These formulations can be used to optimize the release of carbendazim to achieve disease control for the desired period depending on the matrix of the polymer used.     

Isoprene emissions and climate

Biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) play an important role in atmospheric chemistry and the carbon cycle. Isoprene is quantitatively the most important of the non-methane BVOCs (NMBVOCs), with an annual emission of about 400–600 TgC; about 90% of this is emitted by terrestrial plants. Incorporating a mechanistic treatment of isoprene emissions within land-surface schemes has recently become a focus for the modelling community, the aim being to quantify the potential magnitude of associated climate feedbacks. However, these efforts are hampered by major uncertainties about why plants emit isoprene and the relative importance of different environmental controls on isoprene emission. The availability and reliability of observations of isoprene fluxes from different types of vegetation is limited, and this also imposes constraints on model development. Nevertheless, progress is being made towards the development of mechanistic models of isoprene emission which, in conjunction with atmospheric chemistry models, will ultimately allow improved quantification of the feedbacks between the terrestrial biosphere and climate under past and future climate states.     

The Impact of Air Pollution On Eastern White Pine: The Chlorotic Dwarf Disease

Chlorotic dwarf is a serious disorder of eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L) in young plantations. Diseased trees are stunted and possess only current mottled foliage. Investigations into this problem were to define its symptomatology and etiology and to develop measures for control. Previous work had shown that susceptibility to chlorotic dwarf is genetically controlled and that the disease results from an aerological agent acting directly upon the foliage. By controlling the atmospheres around chlorotic dwarf field trees, evidence was obtained to prove that chlorotic dwarf is effected by the injury of gaseous dispersoids on the foliage of susceptible individuals.     

Invasive Species Research to Meet the Needs of Resource Management and Planning

Abstract: As zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) continue to spread among inland lakes of the United States and Canada, there is growing interest from professionals, citizens, and other stakeholders to know which lakes are likely to be colonized by zebra mussels. Thus, we developed a classification of lake suitability for zebra mussels on the basis of measured or estimated concentrations of dissolved calcium in lake water and applied the classification to >11,500 lakes in Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The majority of lakes (58%) were classified as unsuitable (<10 mg/L Ca) for survival and reproduction of zebra mussels, 27% were identified as suitable (≥21 mg/L Ca), and 15% were classified as borderline suitable (≥10 and <21 mg/L Ca). Of the 77 inland lakes with confirmed zebra mussel records for which data on dissolved calcium were available, our method classified 74 as suitable and 3 as borderline suitable. To communicate this lake‐specific suitability information and to help prioritize regional efforts to monitor and prevent the expansion of zebra mussels and other invasive species, we developed a web‐based interface (available from http://www.aissmartprevention.wisc.edu/ ). Although we are still uncertain of how access to suitability information ultimately affects decision making, we believe this is a useful case study of building communication channels among researchers, practitioners, and the public.     

A review of mesocosm experiments on heavy metals in marine environment and related issues of emerging concerns

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Mesocosms are real-world environmental science tools for bridging the gap between laboratory-scale experiments and actual habitat studies on ecosystem...     

Enhanced activated persulfate oxidation of ciprofloxacin using a low-grade titanium ore under sunlight: influence of the irradiation source on its transformation products

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In this work, the activated persulfate oxidation of ciprofloxacin (CIP) using a low-grade titanium ore under sunlight or simulated sunlight were...     

Formation and weathering assessment of oil-suspended sediment aggregates through a laboratory investigation

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Formation of oil-suspended sediment aggregates (OSAs) is believed to be one of the natural cleaning processes in the marine environment. In this...