Evidence for Atmospheric Deposition Impacts On the Enchytraeid Worm Population of Uk Upland Ombrotrophic Peats

The results of four experiments on acidification effects upon the Enchytraeid worm populations of ombrotrophic peats are reported. in the first, populations were measured in peats from Calluna vulgaris-dominated microcosms collected from along a gradient in N deposition in the UK and subjected for 18 months to simulated precipitation with a solute composition appropriate for their site of collection. There was a significant decline in Enchytraeid population along the N deposition gradient for Calluna-dominant microcosms, but when grasses took over from the Calluna, Enchytraeid numbers increased significantly. in the second experiment, two sets of peat moorland microcosms from a single site, supporting Calluna and Calluna-grass mixed vegetation, were subjected for 12 months to ambient and 2- and 6-times the ambient N deposition. Additional N was added in two forms, as ammonium sulphate and as nitric acid. the high N treatments significantly reduced the Enchytraeid populations for both vegetation types. in a third experiment, the pH preference for the Enchytraeids was assessed using interconnected tubes of peat covering the pH range 2.2–8.7. the preferred pH range after 8 months was 2.7–3.7. in the final experiment, it was found that recolonization with Enchytraeids after initial removal was more rapid under grass dominant vegetation than under Calluna dominant vegetation.     

Regionalizing potential for microbial bypass flow through New Zealand soils

Microbial breakthrough curves of 12 soils, generated by the application of dairy shed effluent followed by continuous artificial rainfall for one pore volume at 5 mm h(-1) onto large undisturbed soil cores, have been ranked as high, medium, or low potential for microbial bypass flow. The ranking is based on the position of the peak in the breakthrough curve. Knowledge of soil properties that affect microbial transport through soil gained from the microbial breakthrough curves was linked to soil classes, or to their accessory properties, of the New Zealand Soil Classification. Spatial depiction of the ratings has been achieved via the national 1:50,000 scale soil map. Soils with a drainage impediment or those with well developed soil structure have a high potential for microbial bypass flow, whereas soils from tephra and Recent Soils with less developed, porous, soil structure have a low potential for microbial bypass flow. The risk rankings should be considered as maxima because management may change some rankings.     

A PRACTICAL MODEL INTEGRATING QUALITY ASSURANCE INTO ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING1

ABSTRACT: A model of comprehensive environmental monitoring process with integral quality assurance is presented. This model views the monitoring process as iterative cycles of a series of elements: design, plan, protocols, preparation, field liaison, sample collection, sample handling, laboratory analysis, data transmission, data validation, data approval, data provision, statistical analysis, and reporting. Quality assurance is linked to each element, not just to laboratory analysis. The program of quality assurance ensures that environmental monitoring data are compatible with the project goals, are comparable between various sampling agencies, and maintain a high degree of scientific credibility. The key characteristics of the overall quality assurance process are detailed documentation, timely resolution of problems, regular reporting, and routine independent audits.     

Perspectives on community health issues and the mining boom-bust cycle

The health of mining communities is becoming a priority for the mining industry, governments, and researchers. This paper describes an exploratory qualitative study into community health issues and mining activities (associated with the mining boom-bust cycle) from the perspective of health and social service providers in the northern Canadian coal mining community of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia. Health and social service providers report on increases in pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, and mine related injuries during booming mine activities. During bust times, mental health issues such as depression and anxiety were reported. Overarching community health issues prominent during both boom and bust periods include burdens to health and social services, family stress, violence towards women, and addiction issues. This paper concludes by providing recommendations as to how the industry can enhance community health made by this important stakeholder group.     

Solute transport and extraction by a single root in unsaturated soils: model development and experiment

A contaminant transport model was developed to simulate the fate and transport of organic compounds such as TNT (2,4,6-trinitrotoluene), using the single-root system. Onions were planted for this system with 50-ml plastic tubes. Mass in the soil, soil solution, root and leaf was monitored using 14C-TNT. Model parameters were acquired from the experiments in the single-root system and were used to simulate total TNT concentration in soil, providing the average concentrations in the rhizosphere and bulk soil as well as root and leaf compartments. Because the existing RCF (root concentration factor) and TSCF (transpiration stream concentration factor) equations based on logKow (octanol-water partition coefficient) were not correlated to TNT uptake, a new term, root uptake rate (Rur), and a new Tscf equation, based on the experimental data, were introduced in the proposed model. The results from both modeling and experimental studies showed higher concentrations of TNT in the rhizosphere than in the bulk soil, because mass transported from the surrounding soil into the rhizosphere was higher than that by root uptake.     

Heat and mass transfer in the vadose zone with plant roots

The vadose zone is the intermediate medium between the atmosphere and groundwater. The modeling of the processes taking place in the vadose zone needs different approaches to those needed for groundwater transport problems because of the marked changes in environmental conditions affecting the vadose zone. A mathematical model to simulate the water flow, and the fate and transport of recalcitrant contaminants was developed, which could be applied to various bioremediation methods such as phytoremediation and natural attenuation in the vadose zone. Two-phase flow equations and heat flux models were used to develop the model. Surface energy, balance equations were used to estimate soil surface temperature, and root growth and root distribution models were incorporated to represent the special contribution of plant mots in the vegetated soils. Interactions between the roots and environmental conditions such as temperature and water content were treated by incorporating a feedback mechanism that made allowance for the effects of water and temperature stresses on root distribution and water uptake by roots. In conducting the modeling study, Johnson grass and unplanted soil were simulated to compare the effect of root water uptake on soil water content. After the numerical experiments were conducted to investigate model behavior, the proposed model was applied to estimate actual water flow and heat flow in field lysimeter experiments over a 1-year period. Root growth and distribution for Johnson grass and rye grass were simulated to compare the warm season grass to the cold season grass. A significant agreement was observed between the simulations and measured data.     

Plant aided bioremediation in the vadose zone: model development and applications

Phytoremediation has the potential to enhance clean up of land contaminated by various pollutants. A mathematical model that includes a two-fluid phase flow model of water flow as well as a two-region soil model of contaminant reactions was developed and applied to various bioremediation scenarios in the unsaturated zone, especially to plant-aided bioremediation. To investigate model behavior and determine the main parameters and mechanisms that affect bioremediation in unplanted and planted soils, numerical simulations of theoretical scenarios were conducted before applying the model to field data. It is observed from the results that parameters affecting the contaminant concentration in the water phase, such as aqueous solubility, the octanol-water partition coefficient, and organic carbon content of the soil controlled the contaminant fate in the vadose zone. Simulation using the developed model also characterized the fate and transport of the contaminants both in planted and unplanted soils satisfactorily for field applications. Although phytoremediation has the potential for remediation of contaminated soils, results from both modeling and field studies suggested that plants may not always enhance the remediation efficiency when the soil already has a high microbial concentration, when the contaminant bioavailability is low, or when the overall reaction is mass transfer-limited. Therefore, other steps to increase contaminant bioavailability are needed in phytoremediation applications; natural purification mechanisms such as aging, volatilization, and natural bioremediation should be considered to maximize the plant effect and minimize the cost.