Metal concentrations in used engine oils: Relevance to site assessments of soils

Used engine oils contain metals, which upon entering soils may pose risks to human health or the environment. In this study, previously published concentrations of 23 metals in 213 used engine oil samples from the early 1970s to the mid-1990s are statistically evaluated. Neat (100%) used engine oils were found to contain relatively high concentrations of lead, calcium, and zinc, attributable to piston blow-by of leaded gasoline, calcium salt detergent additives, and zinc-bearing anti-corrosion/anti-oxidation additives, respectively. Wear metal concentrations were lower. The lead concentration in used engine oils in the U.S. declined between the 1970s and early 1990s, potentially providing a basis to constrain the “age” of used engine oil(s) in soils. The concentrations of 23 metals in used engine oils were compared to soil risk benchmarks in 15 representative jurisdictions in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and Europe. The maximum concentrations in neat (100%) used engine oil of eight metals – Be, Co, Fe, Mn, Ni, Se, Ag, and Ti – were lower than their collective minimum benchmarks in soils for the jurisdictions surveyed, indicating their concentrations in soils could not be reasonably expected to exceed any soil benchmarks. Nine metals (As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Sn, V and Zn), but particularly arsenic, cadmium, lead, tin, and zinc, were identified as potential contaminants of concern (PCOC) for soils from locations impacted with used engine oils, owing to their higher median concentrations (i.e., 2.5, 1.4, 1038, 5.0, and 922 mg/kg in oil, respectively) relative to most soil benchmarks. Site-specific benchmarks and metal concentrations at reasonable oil in soil concentrations require consideration when developing the suite of PCOC metal analytes for conducting site assessments of soils impacted by used engine oil.     

Organizational learning during policy implementation: lessons from U.S. forest planning

ABSTRACT

Learning is critical for land management agencies implementing new policies in the face of rapid social and ecological change. We investigated learning in the U.S. Forest Service as it implemented new planning regulations. Our research objectives were to: (1) identify collective learning processes and outcomes during this time, and (2) understand factors within the organization supporting or impeding learning. Based on participant observation and 25 interviews with planning personnel, we found evidence of collective learning on individual national forests and across the organization. Several factors helped the agency act as a ‘learning organization,’ including internal networks and tools for information sharing, and meetings for staff to exchange lessons learned. Learning was compromised by limited time and capacity, and lack of internal clarity about balancing the desire for innovation with the need to ensure legal compliance and meet deadlines. This work contributes to the empirical foundations of collective learning theory, allowing us to identify learning processes and outcomes at multiple levels in a public organization, and identifying topics for future research. Based on our exploration of organizational learning, we offer suggestions for how to effectively support learning during times of new policy implementation.     

Longitudinal variability in streamwater chemistry and carbon and nitrogen fluxes in restored and degraded urban stream networks

Stream restoration has increasingly been used as a best management practice for improving water quality in urbanizing watersheds, yet few data exist to assess restoration effectiveness. This study examined the longitudinal patterns in carbon and nitrogen concentrations and mass balance in two restored (Minebank Run and Spring Branch) and two unrestored (Powder Mill Run and Dead Run) stream networks in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. Longitudinal synoptic sampling showed that there was considerable reach-scale variability in biogeochemistry (e.g., total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), cations, pH, oxidation/reduction potential, dissolved oxygen, and temperature). TDN concentrations were typically higher than DOC in restored streams, but the opposite pattern was observed in unrestored streams. Mass balances in restored stream networks showed net uptake of TDN across subreaches (mean ± standard error net uptake rate of TDN across sampling dates for Minebank Run and Spring Branch was 420.3 ± 312.2 and 821.8 ± 570.3 mg m(-2) d(-1), respectively). There was net release of DOC in the restored streams (1344 ± 1063 and 1017 ± 944.5 mg m(-2) d(-1) for Minebank Run and Spring Branch, respectively). Conversely, degraded streams, Powder Mill Run and Dead Run showed mean net release of TDN across sampling dates (629.2 ± 167.5 and 327.1 ± 134.5 mg m(-2) d(-1), respectively) and net uptake of DOC (1642 ± 505.0 and 233.7 ± 125.1 mg m(-2) d(-1), respectively). There can be substantial C and N transformations in stream networks with hydrologically connected floodplain and pond features. Assessment of restoration effectiveness depends strongly on where monitoring is conducted along the stream network. Monitoring beyond the stream-reach scale is recommended for a complete perspective of evaluation of biogeochemical function in restored and degraded urban streams.     

Forage production and quality as influenced by amended quartz sand-tailings following phosphate mining

Quartz-sand tailings is a waste product from the Florida phosphate mining industry. Individual tailings disposal areas may occupy 20 to 60 ha and support no vegetation. A split plot field experiment was conducted on a sand tailings deposit to study the effect of various amendments on yield, quality, and mineral concentrations of Callie bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon var.aridus Harlan et de Wet) and Siratro [Macroptilium atropurpureum (DC) Urb]. The two species were established on nine treatments: one sand-tailings control (SC); three with air-dried phosphatic clay (PC) at 110, 225, and 340 Mg ha^-1; and three with overburden (OB) at 448, 1,120, and 1,800 Mg ha^-1. All PC and OB treatment rates contained air-dried sewage sludge (SS) at 45 Mg ha^-1 and were all roto-tilled to a 20 to 25 cm depth. There were two additional treatments of OB at 1800 Mg ha^-1 without SS, with and without roto-tilling into sand tailings. Callie established slower (P<0.05) on SC and OB, than on treatments containing SS and/or PC. However, after the root system developed, yields were similar on all sand-tailings treatments. Crude protein andin vitro organic matter digestion for Callie and Siratro did not differ between soil treatments, but Siratro was generally superior to Callie in forage quality. Forage concentrations of P, K, Ca. Mg, Mn, and Zn were adequate in both species for good cattle growth on all treatments. However, Cu tended to be low in Siratro for plant and cattle growth. Once root systems were well established, good yields of quality forage with suitable mineral concentrations were produced on regularly fertilized, quartz-sand tailings.Contribution of the University of Florida Agric. Res. and Ed. Ctr., Ona, FL 33865, and Soil Sci. Dept., Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611 as Journal Series No. 5575.     

Psychological capital development: toward a micro‐intervention

After first providing the meaning of psychological capital (PsyCap), we present a micro‐intervention to develop it. Drawn from hope, optimism, efficacy, and resiliency development, this PsyCap Intervention (PCI) is shown to have preliminary support for not only increasing participants' PsyCap, but also financial impact and high return on investment. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Latitudinal variability in spatial genetic structure in the invasive ascidian, Styela plicata

Increases in temperature can shorten planktonic larval durations, so that higher temperatures may reduce dispersal distances for many marine animals. To test this prediction, we first quantified how minimum time to settlement is shortened at higher temperatures for the ascidian Styela plicata. Second, using latitude as a correlate for ocean temperature and spatial genetic structure as a proxy for dispersal, we tested for a negative correlation between latitude and spatial genetic structure within populations, as measured by anonymous DNA markers. Spatial genetic structure was variable among latitudes, with significant structure at low and intermediate latitudes (high and medium temperatures) and there was no genetic structure within high-latitude (low temperature) populations. In addition, we found consistently high genetic diversity across all Australian populations, showing no evidence for recent local bottlenecks associated S. plicata’s history as an invasive species. There was, however, significant genetic differentiation between all populations indicating limited ongoing gene flow.     

A prospective study on rapid exome sequencing as a diagnostic test for multiple congenital anomalies on fetal ultrasound

Objective

Conventional genetic tests (quantitative fluorescent-PCR [QF-PCR] and single nucleotide polymorphism-array) only diagnose ~40% of fetuses showing ultrasound abnormalities. Rapid exome sequencing (rES) may improve this diagnostic yield, but includes challenges such as uncertainties in fetal phenotyping, variant interpretation, incidental unsolicited findings, and rapid turnaround times. In this study, we implemented rES in prenatal care to increase diagnostic yield.

Methods

We prospectively studied 55 fetuses. Inclusion criteria were: (a) two or more independent major fetal anomalies, (b) hydrops fetalis or bilateral renal cysts alone, or (c) one major fetal anomaly and a first-degree relative with the same anomaly. In addition to conventional genetic tests, we performed trio rES analysis using a custom virtual gene panel of ~3850 Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) genes.

Results

We established a genetic rES-based diagnosis in 8 out of 23 fetuses (35%) without QF-PCR or array abnormalities. Diagnoses included MIRAGE (SAMD9), Zellweger (PEX1), Walker-Warburg (POMGNT1), Noonan (PTNP11), Kabuki (KMT2D), and CHARGE (CHD7) syndrome and two cases of Osteogenesis Imperfecta type 2 (COL1A1). In six cases, rES diagnosis aided perinatal management. The median turnaround time was 14 (range 8-20) days.

Conclusion

Implementing rES as a routine test in the prenatal setting is challenging but technically feasible, with a promising diagnostic yield and significant clinical relevance.     

Long‐Term Contaminant Trends at the Picillo Farm Superfund Site in Rhode Island

Environmental disasters, such as the infamous Love Canal site or the Valley of Drums, have taken many years and consumed billions of dollars to investigate and remediate. In consequence, a large amount of geologic and hydrologic information has been gathered over the past few decades. Because of the difficulties involved with compiling this information, scientists and professionals rarely use the data to investigate the unique long‐term databases. This article presents for the first time the compilation of chemical fate and transport data from the Picillo Farm Superfund site in Rhode Island. The data cover a quarter of a century worth of geologic, hydrogeologic, and geochemical information and indicate significant changes in the contaminant inventory and the center of mass contaminant location over time. Many of these changes would have been missed if a data set of shorter duration were evaluated. Thus, compiling and evaluating data collected over many years can be extremely valuable in understanding the fate and transport of contaminants and determining the effectiveness of remediation. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.