Generic values for soil-to-plant transfer factors of radiocesium

There is a need for soil-to-plant transfer factors of radionuclides that take into account all possible crops on all soil varieties to support dose assessment studies. Because only limited experimental data exist for worldwide soil systems, such values should necessarily have a generic character. This paper describes a generic system for 137Cs, mainly based on a reference soil-to-plant transfer factor which depends solely on soil properties such as nutrient status, exchangeable K-content, pH and moisture content. Crops are divided into crop groups, cereals serving as reference group. The transfer of other crop groups can be calculated by multiplying data for cereals by a conversion factor. Existing data present in the IUR (International Union of Radioecologists) databank and in large part the work of a FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation)/IAEA(International Atomic Energy Agency)/IUR project on tropical systems provided the basis for the derivation of the conversion factors and reference values.     

Removal of copper from water using limestone filtration technique. Determination of mechanism of removal

This paper discusses heavy metal removal from wastewater by batch study and filtration technique through low-cost coarse media. Batch study has indicated that more than 90% copper (Cu) with concentration up to 50 mg/l could be removed from the solution with limestone quantity above 20 ml (equivalent to 56 g), which indicates the importance of limestone media in the removal process. This indicates that the removal of Cu is influenced by the media and not solely by the pH. Batch experiments using limestone and activated carbon indicate that both limestone and activated carbon had similar metal-removal efficiency (about 95%). Results of the laboratory-scale filtration technique using limestone particles indicated that above 90% removal of Cu was achieved at retention time of 2.31 h, surface-loading rate of 4.07 m3/m2 per day and Cu loading of 0.02 kg/m3 per day. Analyses of the limestone media after filtration indicated that adsorption and absorption processes were among the mechanisms involved in the removal processes. This study indicated that limestone can be used as an alternative to replace activated carbon.     

Carbon nanotubes from waste cooking palm oil as adsorbent materials for the adsorption of heavy metal ions

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In this work, waste cooking palm oil (WCPO)-based carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with encapsulated iron (Fe) nanoparticles have been successfully produced...     

Evaluation of the potential of Sasobit® to reduce required heat energy and CO2 emission in the asphalt industry

Warm-mix asphalt (WMA) has been gaining popularity in the asphalt industry primarily because of its ability to lower the energy required to blend asphalt mixes, which in turn results in less fuel consumption, slower aging of the asphalt binder and reduced emission of greenhouse gases. This paper evaluates the effects of different quantities of a WMA additive known as Sasobit^® on the required heat energy and the amount of CO₂ produced to increase the temperature of two aggregates from three sources and one binder from 25 °C to the point of mixing. The results showed that incorporating 1% Sasobit^® can potentially reduce the required heat energy and amount of CO₂ produced by 2.8% and 3.0%, respectively, for all aggregate types and sources investigated. The paper also presented design charts that enable energy policy makers and engineers to select the appropriate Sasobit^® content to produce the most cost effective asphalt mixture with less environmental impact. The design charts show that 1.6% Sasobit^® content is the most suitable proportion to be blended into the asphalt binder without compromising pavement resistance against fatigue failure. Two similar aggregates from different sources may exhibit similar specific gravities, but their specific heat capacities can vary widely. These differences have a significant effect on the required heat energy, asphalt production cost and the amount of emissions released into the environment.     

Evaluation of food industry by-products as feed in semi-arid dairy farming systems: the case of Jordan

Dairy feeding systems in many semi-arid countries are based on imported concentrates and forages. This has economic and ecological implications given the increase in global feed prices and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from land use change. This paper aims to explore alternative dairy feeding systems under semi-arid conditions, using Jordan as an example. The feedings systems under investigation vary in their share of food industry by-products (replacing concentrates in the diet) and are compared against the current concentrate-based feeding systems. The systems are evaluated against three criteria: their nutritional value, their impact on the cost of milk production, and their GHG mitigation potential. Feed samples from eleven food industry by-products and ten conventional feeds were collected from food factories and from three typical dairy farms, representing the typical large-, medium- and small-scale farm types, respectively. Feed samples were analysed for their chemical composition and metabolisable energy contents. In addition, economic and production farm data were collected and entered into a model for GHGs calculation and economic evaluation. The results suggest that inclusion of locally available food industry by-products in the rations of milk cows in semi-arid production systems can be instrumental in reducing production costs and mitigating GHG emissions. Cost of milk production in the model farms can be lowered by up to 14 %; mitigation of CO₂ eq. emission ranged between 70 and 290 g CO₂ eq./kg milk. The degree to which these benefits can be reaped is positively related to the level of inclusion of by-product feeds in lactating cows’ diets.     

Key indicator tools for shallow slope failure assessment using soil chemical property signatures and soil colour variables

Slope failure has become a major concern in Malaysia due to the rapid development and urbanisation in the country. It poses severe threats to any highway construction industry, residential areas, natural resources and tourism activities. The extent of damages that resulted from this catastrophe can be lessened if a long-term early warning system to predict landslide prone areas is implemented. Thus, this study aims to characterise the relationship between Oxisols properties and soil colour variables to be manipulated as key indicators to forecast shallow slope failure. The concentration of each soil property in slope soil was evaluated from two different localities that consist of 120 soil samples from stable and unstable slopes located along the North-South Highway (PLUS) and East-West Highway (LPT). Analysis of variance established highly significant difference (P < 0.0001) between the locations, the total organic carbon (TOC), soil pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), soil texture, soil chromaticity and all combinations of interactions. The overall CIELAB analysis leads to the conclusion that the CIELAB variables lightness L*, c* (Chroma) and h* (Hue) provide the most information about soil colour and other related soil properties. With regard to the relationship between colour variables and soil properties, the analysis detected that soil texture, organic carbon, iron oxide and aluminium concentration were the key factors that strongly correlate with soil colour variables at the studied area. Indicators that could be used to predict shallow slope failure were high value of L*(62), low values of c* (20) and h* (66), low concentration of iron (53 mg kg^?1) and aluminium oxide (37 mg kg^?1), low soil TOC (0.5%), low CEC (3.6 cmol/kg), slightly acidic soil pH (4.9), high amount of sand fraction (68%) and low amount of clay fraction (20%).     

Effects of palm oil mill effluent media on cell growth and lipid content of Nannochloropsis oculata and Tetraselmis suecica

In this study, palm oil mill effluent (POME) was used as an alternative medium for algal biomass and lipid production. The influence of different concentrations of filtered and centrifuged POME in sea water (1, 5, 10 and 15%) on microalgal cell growth and lipid yield were investigated. Both Nannochloropsis oculata and Tetraselmis suecica had enhanced cell growth and lipid accumulation at 10% POME with maximum specific growth rate (0.21 d^–1 and 0.20 d^–1) and lipid content (39.1 ± 0.73% and 27.0 ± 0.61%), respectively, after 16 days of flask cultivation. The total Saturated Fatty Acid (SFA) (59.24%, 68.74%); Monounsaturated Fatty Acid (MUFA) (15.14%, 12.26%); and Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid (PUFA) (9.07%, 8.88%) were obtained for N. oculata and T. suecica, respectively, at 10% POME. Algal cultivation with POME media also enhanced the removal of Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) (93.6–95%), Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) (96–97%), Total Organic Compound (TOC) (71–75%), Total Nitrogen (TN) (78.8–90.8%) and oil and grease (92–94.9%) from POME.     

Pesticide risk assessment: A study on inhalation and dermal exposure to 2,4-D and paraquat among Malaysian paddy farmers

A cross-section analytical study was conducted to evaluate the risk of pesticide exposure to those applying the Class II pesticides 2,4-D and paraquat in the paddy-growing areas of Kerian, Perak, Malaysia. It investigated the influence of weather on exposure as well as documented health problems commonly related to pesticide exposure. Potential inhalation and dermal exposure for 140 paddy farmers (handlers of pesticides) were assessed. Results showed that while temperature and humidity affected exposure, windspeed had the strongest impact on pesticide exposure via inhalation. However, the degree of exposure to both herbicides via inhalation was below the permissible exposure limits set by United States National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Dermal Exposure Assessment Method (DREAM) readings showed that dermal exposure with manual spraying ranged from moderate to high. With motorized sprayers, however, the level of dermal exposure ranged from low to moderate. Dermal exposure was significantly negatively correlated with the usage of protective clothing. Various types of deleterious health effects were detected among users of manual knapsack sprayers. Long-term spraying activities were positively correlated with increasing levels of the gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) liver enzyme. The type of spraying equipment, usage of proper protective clothing and adherence to correct spraying practices were found to be the most important factors influencing the degree of pesticide exposure among those applying pesticides.     

Delayed neurotoxicity of cyanofenphos in chickens

Abstract

Delayed neurotoxic ataxia, similar to that caused by neurotoxic organophosphorous compounds, has been shown to occur in hens after oral administration of Cyanofenphos (O‐ethyl‐O‐Cyanophenyl phenyl phosphonothionate) following either single or repeated oral doses. Axonal and myelin degeneration affecting the long tracts in spinal cord, peripheral nerves and medulla was demonstrated. The distal fibers with large diameters were particularly affected. This finding is a new contribution which has not been previously recorded. It implies that a thorough study of the structure‐activity relationships of phosphonothionates regarding their delayed neurotoxic effect is warranted.