The flame retardant tetrabromobisphenol-A and its metabolite found in river and marine sediments in Japan

Tetrabromobisphenol-A (TBBP), used as a flame retardant, was detected in river sediments collected in Osaka, Japan, at a concentration range from 22 to 140 μg/kg (ppb), as determined on a dry weight basis. TBBP was also found in marine sediments collected at Osaka Bay, though the TBBP levels of these samples were much lower than those from river sediments. Dimethyl ether derivative of TBBP (TBBP-DM), thought to be a decomposition product from microbial methylation, was found in the river sediments but in none of the marine sediments. TBBP-DM residues were about one-hundredth of the TBBP levels.     

A simple and convenient empirical survey method with a soil electrical conductivity meter for incineration residue-derived soil contamination

To facilitate field surveys for identifying areas of incineration residue-derived soil contamination, a simple and convenient method with a soil electrical conductivity meter was examined. First, the leaching test specified by Notification No. 13 of the Ministry of the Environment, 1973, was conducted on 506 samples of 11 types of wastes and compost, and the relationship between the concentrations of toxic elements [total Hg (T-Hg), Cd, Pb, Cr⁶⁺, and As] and values of electrical conductivity (EC) was examined. The results showed that bottom ash and fly ash were wastes with high EC values and that these wastes indicated higher levels of toxic elements. Second, an estimation method for the soil EC value of contaminated soil (ECc) was proposed based on the EC values of noncontaminated soil, and its usefulness was examined. The results of field surveys conducted at sites whose soils were suspected of contamination by dioxins and other pollutants derived from incineration residues showed that the contaminated spots and areas were identified by using ECc values. Moreover, comparison of the elemental contents of soils in terms of Cr, Ni, Zn, Na, K, Ca, Fe, Mn, and others, in addition to the above-mentioned toxic elements (excluding Cr⁶⁺), with those of the potential sources of pollution was verified to be effective for identifying the source of soil contamination.     

Biological effect on blood cerebrospinal fluid barrier due to radio frequency electromagnetic fields exposure of the rat brain in vivo

Concerns on health effects of radiofrequency (RF) signals have been discussed. Particularly, the effect on the central nerve system is one of main interest among the general public. So far, there are lots of studies regarding the RF effect on the Blood Brain Barrier (BBB), but no study of the RF effect on the Blood Cerebrospinal fluid Barrier (BCB). In this study we explored the effect on BCB function by radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) exposure. To attain this purpose, we set about to make a real-time measuring system for BCB function using a micro-perfusion method and examined the short time exposure experiment using rats. Our data suggested the 30 min single exposure of 1.5 GHz RF-EMF at the brain average SARs of 9.5 W/kg for adult and 10.4 W/kg for juvenile, did not affect BCB function in rats under the experimental conditions.     

The choosing of sleeping position in the overnight aggregation by the solitary bees <Emphasis Type="Italic">Amegilla florea urens</Emphasis> in Iriomote Island of Japan

In addition to the process of joining the sleeping aggregation, the choice of sleeping position is an important night-time behaviour of small diurnal insects because of the increased risk for predator attacks as well as bad weather. The aggregation behaviour of the solitary bee Amegilla florea urens was investigated to elucidate the choice of sleeping position on substrates. Male and female constructed single-sex aggregations on hanging leaves during May and June, respectively. Most individuals tended to form aggregations with other individuals while few individuals slept alone. During the aggregation forming, both the number of individuals that tried to join the aggregation and the completion time of aggregation increased with the number of sleeping individuals, whereas the success rate of joining was unaffected. The sleeping positions of subsequent arrivals on the substrates were higher than those of the first arrivals in female aggregations. Therefore, the first female to arrive tended to be located near the bottom of a hanging substrate. Dissecting sleeping females showed that they contained mature oocytes, indicating that sexually mature individuals formed aggregations. In male aggregations, however, we could not find a clear relationship between the position on substrates and the arrival sequence. We suggest that the purpose for sleeping in aggregations might be a dilution effect for nocturnal predation and that the females that finished both nesting and foraging quickly could choose the optimal positions in the aggregation when they arrived on the sleeping substrates.     

A comprehensive review of domestic-open waste burning: recent trends,methodology comparison,and factors assessment

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - Open burning is a waste management practice performed by many people worldwide, especially in developing countries. Lack of detailed data of open...     

Woodchip-mixing porous mortar’s adsorption of cesium in aqueous media

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - The radioactive cesium (radio-Cs) released following the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident was unevenly distributed in soil, sediment,...     

Development of a Model for Predicting the Volatilization Flux from Unsaturated Soil Contaminated by Volatile Chemical Substances

Environmental Modeling & Assessment - This work developed a model for predicting the volatilization flux from the unsaturated soil contaminated by volatile chemical substances (VCSs) such as...