The value of Seasonal Correction Factors in assessing the health risk from domestic radon: a case study in Northamptonshire, UK

Following an intensive survey of domestic radon levels in the United Kingdom (UK), the former National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB), now the Radiation Protection Division of the Health Protection Agency (HPA-RPD), established a measurement protocol and promulgated Seasonal Correction Factors applicable to the country as a whole. Radon levels in the domestic built environment are assumed to vary systematically and repeatably during the year, being generally higher in winter. The Seasonal Correction Factors therefore comprise a series of numerical multipliers, which convert a 1-month or 3-month radon concentration measurement, commencing in any month of the year, to an effective annual mean radon concentration. In a recent project undertaken to assess the utility of short-term exposures in quantifying domestic radon levels, a comparative assessment of a number of integrating detector types was undertaken, with radon levels in 34 houses on common geology monitored over a 12-month period using dose-integrating track-etch detectors exposed in pairs (one upstairs, one downstairs) at 1-month and 3-month resolution. Seasonal variability of radon concentrations departed significantly from that expected on the basis of the HPA-RPD Seasonal Correction Factor set, with year-end discontinuities at both 1-month and 3-month measurement resolutions. Following this study, monitoring with electrets was continued in four properties, with weekly radon concentration data now available for a total duration in excess of three and a half years. Analysis of this data has permitted the derivation of reliable local Seasonal Correction Factors. Overall, these are significantly lower than those recommended by HPA-RPD, but are comparable with other results from the UK and from abroad, particularly those that recognise geological diversity and are consequently prepared on a regional rather than a national basis. This finding calls into question the validity of using nationally aggregated Seasonal Correction Factors, especially for shorter exposures, and the universal applicability of these corrections is discussed in detail.     

Assessment of ecological risk from bioaccumulation of PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs in a coastal lagoon

The ecological risk posed by dioxin-like PCBs and PCDD/Fs congeners mixtures in five organisms representative of the food web of the lagoon of Venice (Italy) was estimated by applying the US-EPA [US-EPA. Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment. EPA/630/R-95/002F. Final Report. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC; 1998.] procedure. Experimental concentrations of dioxin-like PCBs and PCDD/Fs in sediments, water, and organisms in six lagoon zones were used to define the spatial distribution of the pollutant homolog patterns. The Principal Component Analysis of homolog patterns in biota permitted to remark the difference between PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs bioaccumulation. Dioxin-like PCBs were found almost unaltered in all selected organisms, while PCDD/Fs homologs underwent an enrichment of low chlorinated furans in fish. The ecological risk for the dioxin-like PCBs and PCDD/Fs was estimated in the selected lagoon zones according to the Hazard Quotient approach by comparing the biota experimental concentrations in TEQ with an Internal No Effect Concentration of the 2,3,7,8-TCDD, estimated from both Ambient Quality Criteria and literature toxicity data. A high potential risk was found for benthic biota (i.e. clam and crab) and for mussel, while a negligible risk was estimated for fish. Moreover, the ecological risk resulted higher in the central part of the lagoon, and lower in the northern lagoon. Finally, the comparison between the TEQ concentrations of each homolog in biota and the estimated ecological risk highlighted that the risk was determined essentially by lower chlorinated PCDD/Fs (i.e. pentachloro and hexachloro PCDD/Fs), and by pentachloro-PCBs. These compounds should be regarded as homologs of concern and preferentially investigated in environmental monitoring of sediment, water, and biota.     

Presence, biotransformation and effects of sulfophenylcarboxylic acids in the benthic fish Solea senegalensis

The presence of linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS) and their degradation intermediates, sulfophenylcarboxylic acids (SPCs), with concentrations up to 100 ppb has been found in surface waters taken from the estuary of the river Guadalete (Cádiz, SW of Spain). Higher concentrations were found at the sampling site located adjacent to the discharge outlet of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). The concentrations decreased downstream to a few ppb as a result of dilution, sorption, and degradation processes, which were taking place along the estuary. Once the presence of both xenobiotics was confirmed in the environment, an in vivo assay was conducted to study their biotransformation and effects in the benthic fish Solea senegalensis. A flow-through system was employed, consisting of an exposure phase (120 h) with environmental levels of the surfactant (200, 500 and 800 microg/L of 2?C(10)LAS), followed by a depuration stage (72 h). The generation of SPCs has been quantified during these phases in both water and fish, with LAS biotransformation shown in all cases. The antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glutathione reductase (GR), the phase II enzyme glutathione S-transferase (GST), and the phase III acid and alkaline phosphatases (AcP, ALP) were also estimated and utilized as biomarkers.     

Distribution of organotin compounds in the bivalves of the Aegean Sea, Greece

Five bivalve species--Mytilus galloprovinciallis (Mediterranean mussels), Venus gallina (stripped venus), Modiola barbatus L. (bearded horse mussels), Pecten jacobeus (scallops) and Callista chione (hard clams)--were collected from seven areas in Aegean Sea, Greece, between August 2001 and January 2003 and analyzed for organotins (OTs). The concentrations (as geometric means) found were 17.1 ng g-1 for tributyltin (TBT), 18.8 ng g-1 for dibutytltin (DBT), 7.8 ng g-1 for monobutyltin (MBT) and 13.0 ng g-1 for triphenyltin (TPhT) (wet weight), which are at similar or lower levels than those reported worldwide. Studying OTs distribution between different bivalve species, lower concentrations were observed in mediterranean mussels, possibly due to their growth in water column (grown on sea net pens in mussel farms), in contrast to the free-ranging species, collected from fishing grounds. Concentrations of the OTs in the examined bivalves varied seasonally.     

The role of coalitions in disaster policymaking

Disasters have the potential to act as focusing events, which can increase the amount of attention on disaster‐related problems and encourage policy action. Understanding of the political characteristics of disaster policymaking is underdeveloped, yet it is known that these features may be dissimilar to those of non‐disaster policy areas, especially concerning the coalitions of policy actors engaged in the disaster policy process. Coalitions in the realm of disaster policy processes may be less likely to form, may look very different, and may have different goals than those in non‐disaster domains. Knowledge of the emergence, composition, and purpose of coalitions in disaster policy is lacking. This paper draws on prior theory and case observations to define and describe the characteristics of a disaster policy subsystem and to build a typology of coalitions that may appear within such a subsystem, providing a foundation upon which scholars can work to study coalition dynamics in disaster policy subsystems.     

Multiple values from the forest: contribution of non-timber forest products to livelihoods of local communities in Northeastern Thailand

Environment, Development and Sustainability - Local residents near forests often collect non-timber forest products (NTFPs) for a variety of reasons, including food, medicine, firewood, religious...     

A particle swarm optimization methodology to design an effective air quality monitoring network

Environment, Development and Sustainability - Good air quality is highly essential to the well-being of mankind, all living organisms and the environment. The quality of air is degrading at a...     

The moderating role of calling in the work–family interface: Buffering and substitution effects on employee satisfaction

This research seeks for improved understanding regarding the interaction of meaningful work and the work–family interface. Existing literature suggests that experiencing a sense of calling toward work makes the work domain particularly salient to employees compared to other life domains. In this article, we draw on this idea, rooted in identity theory, to hypothesize that a sense of calling toward work diminishes the effects of work–family conflict and work–family enrichment on employee's job and life satisfaction. We test these ideas in two studies. First, we surveyed an alumni sample of 598 employees from various jobs, industries, and job levels. Then, in a constructive replication, we surveyed 327 employees using a time-lagged design. Calling was found to significantly buffer the effect of work–family conflict on job satisfaction in Study 2, but not Study 1. Calling did not buffer the effect of conflict on life satisfaction in either study. However, both studies demonstrated that calling attenuated (substituted for) the effect of work–family enrichment on job satisfaction. Study 1 supported the idea that calling attenuates the effect of enrichment on life satisfaction; however, this interactive effect was reversed in Study 2, contrary to expectations. We discuss implications for theory and practice related to callings and career choices, as well as for the role of calling and work identity in the work–family interface.     

Characteristics that make trophy hunting of giant pandas inconceivable

In November 1928, Theodore Jr. and Kermit Roosevelt led an expedition to China with the expressed purpose of being the first Westerners to kill the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca). The expedition lasted 8 months and resulted in the brothers shooting a giant panda in the mountains of Sichuan Province. Given the concurrent attention in the popular press describing this celebrated expedition, the giant panda was poised to be trophy hunted much like other large mammals around the world. Today, however, the killing of giant pandas, even for the generation of conservation revenue, is unthinkable for reasons related to the species itself and the context, in time and space, in which the species was popularized in the West. We found that the giant panda's status as a conservation symbol, exceptional charisma and gentle disposition, rarity, value as a nonconsumptive ecotourism attraction, and endemism are integral to the explanation of why the species is not trophy hunted. We compared these intrinsic and extrinsic characteristics with 20 of the most common trophy-hunted mammals to determine whether the principles applying to giant pandas are generalizable to other species. Although certain characteristics of the 20 trophy-hunted mammals aligned with the giant panda, many did not. Charisma, economic value, and endemism, in particular, were comparatively unique to the giant panda. Our analysis suggests that, at present, exceptional characteristics may be necessary for certain mammals to be excepted from trophy hunting. However, because discourse relating to the role of trophy hunting in supporting conservation outcomes is dynamic in both science and society, we suspect these valuations will also change in future.     

Positioning human heritage at the center of conservation practice

Conservation projects subscribing to a community-based paradigm have predominated in the 21st century. We examined the context in which the phrase was coined and traced its growth over time. Community-based conservation first appeared in the literature in the early 1990s; but grew little until after the 5th World Parks Congress in 2003. Thereafter, publications describing community-based conservation approaches increased exponentially. The conference theme was Benefits Beyond Boundaries, and its goal was to provide an economic model based on revenue accrued from conservation fundraising and ecotourism to support ecosystems, wildlife, and people, particularly in the Global South. Such models tended not to incorporate, as a core principle, the heritage of local human communities. Human heritage varies substantially over time and space making generalization of conservation principles across scales challenging. Pitfalls that have grown out of the community-based conservation approaches in the Global South include fortress conservation, conservation militarism, consumptive and nonconsumptive ecotourism, and whiz-bang solutions. We propose 10 tenets in a human heritage-centered conservation framework (e.g., engage in conservation practices using local languages, thoughtfully propose and apply solutions consistent with human heritage, provide clear professional development pathways for individuals from local communities, and promote alternative revenue-generating programs centered in local communities, among others). Progressive philosophies can derive from authentic and ethical integration of local communities in conservation practice.