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The fate of light non-aqueous phase liquids (LNAPLs) is significantly influenced by complex characteristics of actual soils in unsaturated zone. To systematically analyze the multiphase migration process of LNAPLs in such soils, a two-dimensional laboratory device was designed to conduct benzene injection and water leaching experiments in three soil types of silty loam, loam and sandy loam that collected from a chemical industrial park in China. In the unsaturated zone, the jagged and asymmetric edges of pollution halo were observed attributed to heterogeneity in the small pores of the sampled soils. Additionally, low permeability also resulted in a high horizontal-to-vertical ratio of above 2.2. Based on laboratory experiments, a numerical model was established to simulate multiphase fluid migration, volatilization, dissolution and adsorption processes. The measured values closely matched the simulated values. The simulation results indicated that that over 99% of benzene was entrapped, with less than 1% volatilizing during the benzene injection stage in the unsaturated zone. During the leaching process, a portion of the benzene dissolved with the water flow, accounting for 1.557–4.786%. Compared to volatilization, dissolution played a more significant role in mass transfer processes. Combined with the laboratory experiments and numerical models, this conclusion elucidates the mechanism of multiphase distribution of LNAPLs in actual sampled soils. These findings provide a theoretical basis for developing reasonable and effective remediation methods for actual contaminated sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Erosion and leaching of metal(loid)s from contaminated sites can spread pollution to adjacent ecosystems and be a source of toxicity for living organisms. Phytostabilization consists of selecting plant species accumulating little or no metal(loid)s in aerial parts to establish a vegetation cover and thus to stabilize the contaminants in the soil. Seeds of white lupin, common vetch, and buckwheat were sown in greenhouse on soils from former French mines (Pontgibaud and Vaulry) contaminated with metal(loid)s including high concentrations of As and Pb (772 to 1064 and 121 to 12,340 mg kg−1, respectively). After 3 weeks of exposure, the growth of white lupin was less affected than that of the 2 other species probably because metal(loid) concentrations in roots and aerial parts of lupins were lower (5–20 times less Pb in lupin leaves on Pontgibaud soil and 5–10 times less As in lupin leaves on Vaulry soil than in vetch and buckwheat). To limit oxidation and/or scavenge metal(loid)s, white lupin increased the content of proline and total phenolic compounds (TPC) in leaves and roots by a factor 2 whereas buckwheat stimulated the production of TPC by a factor 1.5–2, and non-protein thiols (NPT) by factors around 1.75 in leaves and 6–12 in roots. Vetch accumulated more proline than white lupin but less NPT than buckwheat and less TPC than the 2 other plant species. The level of oxidation was however higher than in control plants for the 3 species indicating that defense mechanisms were not completely effective. Overall, our results showed that white lupin was the best species for phytostabilization but amendments should be tested to improve its tolerance to metal(loid)s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High levels of heavy metal contamination in soil present substantial threats to human health and the environment, leading to severe health problems such as neurotoxicity, cancer, kidney issues, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and reduced life expectancy. This research aims to identify and analyze heavy metals in soil samples collected from Superfund sites in North Birmingham, Alabama, specifically in affected areas with zip codes 35207 and 35217 and control area 35214. These affected areas were previously used for mining, coal-fired power plants, coke furnaces, smelting, and other potential sources of heavy metal pollution. Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) was employed to study 60 soil samples systematically collected from affected and control areas. We found that by using LIBS, we could detect arsenic (As), lead (Pb), and manganese (Mn) in all soil samples from the affected areas. The limit of detection (LoD) was 29.5 mg/kg for Pb, 95.5 mg/kg for As, and 327 mg/kg for Mn using specific parameters of the detection system and/or argon gas purging at atmospheric pressure. The results were compared with ICP-MS measurements to validate the accuracy of the LIBS findings. The data showed good linearity for all calibration data at relatively low concentrations and a good correlation with ICP-MS measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The build-up of arsenic in agricultural soil through contaminated irrigational groundwater is a concern. Metagenomic analysis of such contaminated sites may provide a remarkable opportunity to extensively investigate the responses and adaptation of microbial communities to different levels of arsenic. The study focuses on the comparative analysis of microbial community composition and associated functions in paddy soil samples with a gradient of arsenic contamination (4.88 to 43.67 mg kg−1). Actinobacteria was found to dominate the bacterial phyla in all four samples with abundance ranging from 39.77% to 49.39% followed by Proteobacteria (20.71–38.24%). Whereas the fungal phylum Ascomycota (92.42–95.29%) dominated all the samples studied. In the study, bacteria were found to be abundant in the mid-level (15.89 and 24.84 mg kg−1) of arsenic, which included genera Gaiella, Nocardioides, Solirubrobacter, Microvirga, and Nitrospira. Fungi Beauveria, Talaromyces, Aspergillus, Pyrenophora, and Valsa were higher in relative abundance corresponding to soil arsenic concentration. Verticillium, previously reported for Pb, Zn, and Cd removal, was found in the soil sample with the mid-arsenic concentration (15.89 mg kg−1). The relative abundance of the arsenic metabolizing/ transport genes of native microbial communities also varied with the soil arsenic gradient, the genes arsJ, arsM, aioR, arsH, and arsC being the most affected. The study is the first report of Gaiella, Solirubrobacter, Beauveria, and Verticillium present in arsenic-contaminated soil, and further studies are required to explore their potential role in arsenic bioremediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollution from crude oil and its derivatives poses a serious threat to human health and ecosystems, with accidental spills causing substantial damage. Biodegradation, using microorganisms to break down these contaminants, presents a promising and cost-effective solution. Exploring and utilizing new bacterial strains from underexplored habitats could improve remediation efforts at contaminated sites. This study aimed to evaluate the hydrocarbon biodegradation capacity of bacteria isolated from agricultural soils in Huamachuco, Peru. Soil samples from Oca crops were collected and bacteria were isolated. Biodegradation assays were conducted using diesel as the sole carbon source in the Bushnell Haas Mineral medium. Molecular characterization of the 16S rRNA gene identified four strains. Diesel biodegradation assays at 1% concentration were performed under agitation conditions at 150 rpm and 30 °C, and monitored on day 10 by measuring cellular biomass (OD600), with hydrocarbons analyzed by gas chromatography. The results showed Pseudomonas protegens (PROM2) achieved the highest efficiency in removing total hydrocarbons (91.5 ± 0.7%). Additionally, Pseudomonas citri PROM3 and Acinetobacter guillouiae ClyRoM5 also demonstrated high capacity in removing several individual hydrocarbons. Indigenous bacteria from uncontaminated agricultural soils present a high potential for hydrocarbon bioremediation, offering an ecological and effective solution for soil decontamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we utilized the larvae of Cheumatopsyche sp. (Insecta, Trichoptera, Hydropsychidae) as a key component to assess heavy metal contamination in the waters of the Bone River, Gorontalo, Indonesia. To measure the concentrations of heavy metals, specifically lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg), an atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) was employed on both river sediments and the entire body of the Cheumatopsyche sp. larvae. Additionally, analysis was conducted using the SEM-EDX method to confirm the absorption of heavy metals in the larvae, particularly in the digestive tract. Sediment and larvae samples were collected from five sampling points along the main river, including reference sites in the upstream area. Our findings revealed that Hg and Cd levels were lower in the sediment compared to those in the larvae, while Pb levels were higher in the sediment. Examination of heavy metals in the digestive tract showed morphological abnormalities in larvae from the most contaminated sites. This research confirmed that Cheumatopsyche sp. larvae effectively absorb heavy metals, particularly Hg, validating their use as bioindicators in heavy metal bioassays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Production of green energy from landfill gas in a cogeneration system is considered optimal in terms of the use of local renewable energy resources, which in the production process generates hazardous waste. Yet, the production of renewable energy is not without environmental effects. The objective of the work was to analyse the operation of the installation for biogas energy generated at a municipal waste landfill and to carry out tests on the waste (mineral deposit) from a heat exchanger generated in the exhaust manifold of a gas engine of the cogeneration unit. The objective of the work was to test waste (mineral deposit) from the heat exchanger in the exhaust manifold of the gas engine of the cogeneration unit. The conducted research constitutes a significant contribution to the identification and classification of hazardous waste generated in a cogeneration unit powered by landfill gas. The results of the research showed that the waste contains high concentrations of ecotoxic elements, i.e. heavy metals (arsenic, chromium, copper, nickel, zinc), molybdenum, antimony, sulphates, which have carcinogenic activity. Pioneering research performed as part of the leaching test showed that the permissible concentrations were exceeded for 11 parameters in the case of storage in a hazardous waste landfill, and for 6 parameters in the case of storage in an underground hazardous waste landfill. The research and analyses performed in this work will serve as input material for defining the methods of hazardous waste disposal from the cogeneration unit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we assessed the suitability of using a standard reference material (SRM) other than National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) 2710a or NIST 2711a in USEPA Method 1340 to determine arsenic (As) and lead (Pb) in vitro bioaccessibility (IVBA) and the capabilities of Canadian‐based laboratories to perform the method. Five laboratories participated in an initial round robin study and analyzed NIST 2710a, NIST 2711a, BGS119, and Enviromat SS‐2. Intra‐ and inter‐laboratory variability were generally acceptable with percentage relative standard deviations (RSD) of less than 20%. The mean total As and Pb concentrations obtained for BGS119 (332 and 936 mg/kg, respectively) and the mean IVBA values (As = 14.3% and Pb = 78.1%) suggested it may be a suitable and acceptable SRM, whereas the concentration of As in Enviromat SS‐2 as received (3.2 mg/kg) was deemed too low. Ten soil samples from sites with varying land use were analyzed in a follow‐up round robin study using the modified IVBA method that included BGS119 as SRM. The concentrations of As and Pb in the IVBA extracts reported by the participating laboratories were comparable. The mean As IVBA values for the field‐collected samples ranged from 0.1% to 56.4%; for Pb, they ranged from 7.0% to 121%. The lowest IVBA values were measured in mine site samples; the highest values were associated with smelter‐affected soils. The low IVBA values correlated with high iron content. Intra‐ and interlaboratory reproducibility were acceptable (RSD < 30%). Based on the findings of the study, laboratories can use the modified method to provide reproducible and comparable As and Pb IVBA data. The use of BGS119 as an alternative SRM to assess contaminated sites in the province of British Columbia for regulatory purposes is recommended, as it is representative of As and Pb concentrations in contaminated soils in British Columbia. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:1486–1495. © 2024 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC). Key Points: Reproducible and comparable arsenic (As) and lead (Pb) in vitro bioaccessibility (IVBA) data were obtained by participating laboratories using the British Columbia Laboratory Manual method, which is based on USEPA Method 1340.In vitro bioaccessibility analyses, intralaboratory reproducibility for each participating laboratory based on the relative standard deviation was less than 30%, whereas the interlaboratory reproducibility for the pooled data was also equal to 30%, indicating good and acceptable precision.NIST 2711a can be used as an alternative standard reference material (SRM) for As IVBA assay in the province of British Columbia for regulatory purposes because it is representative of As concentrations in contaminated soils in the province.BGS119 can be used as an alternative SRM for As and Pb IVBA assay in the province of British Columbia for regulatory purposes because it is more representative of As and Pb concentrations in contaminated soils in the province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indigenous communities are disproportionately exposed to contaminated sites, and this poses unique challenges as many Indigenous peoples consider land as an integral part of their culture and economy. This scoping review aimed to identify and map information on contaminated sites and Indigenous peoples in Canada and the United States, namely (1) the relationship between contaminated sites and Indigenous peoples and their land and food systems; (2) strategies, challenges, and successes for contaminated sites assessment and management on Indigenous land; and (3) Indigenous leadership and inclusion in contaminated site assessment and management. We followed a PRISMA‐ScR (Transparent Reporting of Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses‐Extension for Scoping Reviews) checklist to collect data that could be categorized into these three objectives. Between October 2021 and July 2023, information from three data streams was retrieved: a systematic literature search; a grey literature search; and federal site data retrieval (Canada's Federal Contaminated Sites Inventory, USEPA's contaminated sites databases, including Superfund). This search yielded 51 peer‐reviewed articles, 21 grey literature articles, and 11 404 federal site records, evidencing the contamination of the lands of 875 Indigenous communities and the presence of 440 different contaminants or contaminant groups. The body of information was categorized into three themes within the above objectives: Objective 1: Indigenous communities and geographic patterns; Contaminated sites, sources, and media; Contaminated sites and Indigenous lands; Contaminated sites and Indigenous food systems; Contaminated sites and the health of Indigenous peoples; Objective 2: Site management and classification processes; Health risk assessment; Risk management; Long‐term management; and Objective 3: Collaborative research, Collaborative site management; Traditional knowledge and contaminated sites. Results highlighted a need to prioritize holism, efficiency, and Indigenous leadership in site assessment, management, and research, including a focus on community‐specific approaches to site assessment and management; a reconceptualization of risks that privileges Indigenous epistemologies; and greater collaboration between stakeholder networks. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:1306–1329. © 2023 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC). Key Points: Indigenous communities are disproportionately exposed to contaminated sites, and this poses unique challenges as many Indigenous peoples consider land as an integral part of their culture and economy.A systematic review approach yielded 51 peer‐reviewed articles, 21 grey literature articles, and 11 404 federal site records, evidencing the contamination of the lands of 875 Indigenous communities and the presence of 440 different contaminants or contaminant groups.Results highlight a need to prioritize holism, efficiency, and Indigenous leadership, a reconceptualization of risks that privileges Indigenous epistemologies, and a greater collaboration among stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widespread use of petroleum-based fuels poses a significant environmental problem due to the risks associated with accidental spills. Among the treatments available, phytoremediation is increasingly accepted as an effective and low-cost solution. This study aimed to evaluate the degradation of the aromatic fraction of biodiesel B10 and the soil fertility analysis in artificially contaminated soils treated with phytoremediation. The experimental design consisted of a 3x3 factorial, with three types of soil treatment: control, autoclaved, and planted with C. ensiformis L, and three levels of B10 biodiesel contamination: 0, 1, and 2%, to simulate spills of 30,000 and 60,000 L ha−1. The soil was analyzed at three depths: 0–10, 10–20, and 20–30 cm. The results indicated that aromatic compound degradation after phytoremediation was superior to 92,76% and 88,65% for 1% and 2% B10 soil contamination, respectively. The fuel contamination affected soil fertility, reducing the availability of phosphorus and zinc while increasing the Total Organic Carbon (TOC), pH, and the availability of manganese and iron for plants. NOVELTY STATEMENT: Numerous studies have been carried out on the phytoremediation of soils contaminated with diesel. However, the potential impact of biodiesel-diesel blends on soil fertility has not been fully explored, leading to a critical knowledge gap. This work investigates the novel effects of biodiesel-diesel blends on phytoremediation and soil fertility, allowing us to expand our understanding of the effectiveness of this approach to remediate contaminated sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed a strategic roadmap to address concerns related to PFAS chemicals, which are found in water systems across the U.S. The EPA is conducting monitoring to determine the levels of PFAS occurrence and their impact on communities, particularly those with environmental justice concerns. NGWA has provided input on PFAS regulation and highlighted the need for science-based decisions, accountability, and protection of disadvantaged communities. The EPA has taken various steps to mitigate PFAS contamination, including setting standards, monitoring, and enforcement actions. Groundwater systems are particularly affected, and NGWA emphasizes the importance of addressing PFAS presence in these systems. [Extracted from the article]

Contaminated sites with per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are the cause of environmental, health, and financial concerns. Understanding and addressing PFASs at their source areas is important for effective characterization, risk assessment, and remediation. This paper introduces a framework that relies on commonly available PFAS data to assist in identifying PFAS source areas and assess PFAS fate and transport considerations along flowpaths. Currently accepted PFAS physical and chemical behaviors have been incorporated into metrics that can be evaluated geospatially, and/or over time, to build a weight‐of‐evidence approach to refine conceptual site models (CSMs). Graphical representation of data according to a PFAS "family tree" is also proposed for more consistent interpretation and pattern recognition. Combined, these tools create a PFAS data evaluation framework (PFAS Framework) that consists of a tiered analysis approach based on data availability and site complexity. Case studies from real sites are presented to demonstrate the capabilities of the PFAS Framework in identifying source areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable remediation demonstrates that the benefit of undertaking remediation is more significant than its impact, and the optimum remediation solution is selected through a balanced decision-making process. Assessing sustainable remediation is site and project-specific and is strongly multifactorial across a wide range of categories, which may or may not be readily quantifiable. The applied socio-economic survey framework is based on the 2020 SuRF-UK guidance. The assessment was carried out in three steps. A small core team, an interim evaluation by the project of all beneficiaries, and a final assessment including the views of a broad range of external stakeholders developed an initial "pilot" sustainability assessment. The sustainability assessment process compared options across 45 individual criteria in 15 overarching "headline" categories: environmental, social, and economic. Members selected suitable criteria and the individual rankings of the project consortium from research, service providers and the site owner. The assessments compared Wetland+ with the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) and no-intervention scenario. Wetland+ outranked the use of WWTP, and both performed significantly better than the no-intervention scenario. The quantitative data from LCA confirmed the results devoted to environmental impact. Practical Applications: Remediation of contaminated sites is site-specific, and each site requires a specific targeted approach that should take into account not only the environmental benefits of the measures but also economic and social aspects. In the case of water contaminated with hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) substances, there are various methods of dealing with it, ranging from removal and relocation to a secure site-to-site encapsulation to various methods of contaminated water treatment. In the case of mega-sites, the solution often reduces to water treatment, as other solutions are not acceptable, especially economically, but also environmentally (transporting large volumes of materials) and socially (large construction and material handling). The present paper gives guidance on the selection of the most accepted water treatment option from a sustainability point of view. A three-step process based on a multiparametric assessment shows how the subjective approach of technologists, activists, or the public can be eliminated. The paper shows that a wetland-based solution is accepted significantly more than a WWTP or a no-action scenario. The approach will be further applied to similar localities with HCH contamination but can be generalized to a much broader set of contaminated sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many rural people in developing countries rely on herbal remedies, but these derive from plants which may be subject to heavy metal pollutants. Lead, cadmium and arsenic are confirmed carcinogens and may produce toxic effects if present above the recommended levels in medicinal herbs. The study assessed the uptake and associated health risk of Pb, Cd and As by Euphorbia prostrata exposed to different contaminating sources. The levels of Pb were within safe limits of the World Health Organization both in soil (200 mg/kg) and plant (10 mg/kg). Cadmium concentration in soil from all sites exceeded the allowable range (0.6 mg/kg), exceeding the safe permissible limit of 0.3 mg/kg in plants growing in contaminated sites. E. prostrata and other medicinal herbs growing in polluted sites should not be used therapeutically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study reflects on spontaneous nature's agency to reclaim abandoned urban areas in Italian urban brownfields, providing a focused analysis of the Metropolitan Area of Milan. These spaces are the products of phenomena, such as deindustrialization, demilitarization, and uncontrolled urban expansion, which have produced a compromised heritage and challenges to regeneration. Such abandonment sometimes produces new forms of urban nature, which suggests a possible path for ecological regeneration and coexistence, as affirmed by the multidisciplinary literature. The related informal urban biodiversity grows regardless of future planning provisions, triggering unexpected transformations of the urban environment and producing socio-ecological value, as demonstrated by citizens' recognition of these places. The present study maps informal urban biodiversity in the Milan territory, identifying the presence of large contaminated sites, relevant urban voids, vacant lots, and former agricultural spaces. This study also reflects on possible paths for urban planning and policies to integrate informal urban biodiversity within the urban ecological structure by analyzing the main features and challenges of the corresponding regeneration processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the research status and progress of remediation technology combination of contaminated soil and groundwater in petrochemical sites at home and abroad- This paper summarizes the advantages, disadvantages and application scenarios of each restoration technology combination, summarizes the existing problems of the restoration technology combination, such as unclear restoration mechanism, insufficient coordination of contaminated soil and groundwater restoration, and few pilot demonstration research results of actual contaminated sites. The development trend of restoration technology combination research and application is also prospected. In order to provide important reference for the development and application of low-cost and efficient remediation technology of contaminated soil and groundwater in petrochemical sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Theoretically grounded in queer death studies and environmental humanities, this article has a twofold aim. Firstly, it explores the somatechnics of environmental violence in the context of Northern and Eastern Europe, while paying attention to ongoing ecocide inflicted by Russia on Ukraine, and to the post-WW2 chemical weapon dumps in the Baltic Sea. Secondly, the article examines the concept of eco-grief in its close relation to artistic narratives on ecocide. By bridging the discussion on environmental violence and artistic renderings of eco-grief, the article hopes to contribute to a better understanding of the socio-cultural responses to more-than-human death and loss, and their accompanying ethical imaginaries and affordances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The burden of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is increasing worldwide with genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors being possibly responsible for the observed epidemiological figures. In the setting of environmental exposure, the city of Taranto, in Southern Italy, represents an interesting case study as it hosts well inside the city one of the biggest steel plants in Europe. This is a cross-sectional ecological study carried out in the year 2020 in the province of Taranto designed to estimate the burden of ASD in the municipalities of Taranto and Statte, classified as high environmental risk areas (Contaminated Site of National Interest—SIN), compared to the other 27 municipalities of the same province. Differences have been evaluated using the Chi Square Test. Children aged 6–11 years identified in SIN municipalities had a statistically significant higher prevalence of ASD than children of other municipalities (9.58 vs. 6.66/1000 respectively, p = 0.002). No statistically significant difference was observed for the 12–18 years group (3.41 vs. 2.54/1000, p = 0.12). The findings observed in this study are suggestive of the association between urban residential proximity to industrial facilities emitting air pollutants and higher ASD prevalence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For contaminated sites, conceptual site models (CSMs) guide the assessment and management of risks, including remediation strategies. Recent research has expanded diagrammatic CSMs with structural causal modeling to develop what are nominally called conceptual Bayesian networks (CBNs) for environmental risk assessment. These CBNs may also be useful for problems of controlling and preventing offsite contaminant migration, especially for sites containing dense nonaqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs). In particular, the CBNs provide greater clarity on the causal relationships between source term, onsite and offsite migration, and remediation effectiveness characterization for contaminated DNAPL sites compared to traditional CSMs. These ideas are demonstrated by the inclusion of modifying variables, causal pathway analysis, and interventions in CBNs. Additionally, several new extensions of the CBN concept are explored including the representation of measurement variables as lines of evidence and alignment with conventional pictorial CSMs for groundwater modeling. Taken as a whole, the CBNs provide a powerful and adaptable knowledge representation tool for remediating subsurface systems contaminated by DNAPL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytoremediation is an in situ remediation and eco-friendly technique employing accumulator plant species to remove trace elements (TEs) from contaminated sites. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that both natural and synthetic amendments can enhance trace elements (TEs) phytoremediation from polluted soils through bioenergy crops. This work assessed the synergistic impact of two tested biochar (BC) from data palm (B1) and Prosopis (B2) (1.5%/ kg), citric acid (CA, 1.5 mmol/kg) and vermiwash (VW, 20 ml/kg) to enhance the remediation of tested TEs (Mn, Zn, Cd, Pb, Ni, Cu, and Fe) from Mahad AD'Dahab mine-contaminated soil by sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.). The BC and CA amendments alone and combined with VW significantly augmented the proliferation and survival of sorghum grown in mine-contaminated soil. Considering the individual and combined applications of VW and BC, the influence on plant growth followed this order: K < VW < B2 < B1 < B1 + VW < B2 + VW < CA < CA + VW. Applying tested BC/CA and VW significantly increased chlorophyll compared to unamended soil. The outcomes revealed a substantial elevation in TE absorption in both shoot and root (p ≤ 0.05) with all tested treatments compared to the untreated soil (K). The combined application of CA and VW resulted in the most significant TE uptake of TEs at both the root and the shoot. Furthermore, adding CA or VW as a foliar spray enhanced the bioaccumulation factor (BCF) and translocation factor (TF) of studied metals. The combined addition of CA and foliar spraying of VW was more effective than the sole addition of CA or VW. Such increase reached 20.0%, 15.6%, 19.4%, 14.3%, 14.0%, and 25.6% of TF, and 13.7%, 11.9%, 8.3%, 20.9%, 20.5%,18.7%, and 19.8% of BCE for Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn, respectively. This study highlights the efficiency of combining CA/BC with VW as a more viable option for remediating mine-contaminated soil than individual amendments. However, future research should prioritize long-term field trials to assess the efficiency of using citric acid and vermiwash for restoring contaminated mining soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diagnosis and monitoring of contaminated sites have become progressively critical. The effectiveness of electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) has been demonstrated in the assessment of contaminated sites, and its resolution can be significantly improved by array optimization. Gradient array involves the deployment of multiple electrodes in an array configuration to measure the variation in electrical potential across the subsurface, whereas there are some improved arrays which can often provide more accurate measurements. This study investigates the conventional gradient and improved Compare Resolution protocol to identify an abandoned quarry pit where pharmaceutical wastes were dumped. The acquired results were subsequently validated with borehole sampling. The results obtained from the gradient protocol revealed the presence of low-resistivity area. Nevertheless, it is difficult to define the range of the contamination plume area. The results from the optimized array illustrated that the maximum lateral contamination range in the vertical direction appears at a depth of 9 m. A portion of the contaminated area shown in the profile is confined by bedrock. Considering the high cost, only four locations are chosen for drilling to collect samples. The findings revealed that low resistivity corresponds to contamination of inorganic substances. The resistivity and drilling results further clarify that the site has a three-layer structure. The spatial variability of the contaminated site has been ascertained by the high-resolution ERT, and further identify four contaminant sources. This study proves the effectiveness of the ERT method to avoid the drawbacks of costly drilling in bedrock and accomplishes an efficient assessment of contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil-bentonite (S-B) barriers have been widely used for heavy metal pollution containment. This study conducted batch adsorption tests and diffusion-through tests to evaluate how ionic strength and bentonite ratio influence the migration of Cr(VI) in natural clay-bentonite mixtures. The test results indicated that the adsorption of Cr(VI) exhibited an obvious anion adsorption effect, the pH of the soil mixture increased with the addition of bentonite, resulting in a decrease in the positive surface charge. This change led to a decrease in Cr(VI) adsorption capacity, from 775.19 mg/kg for pure clay to 378 mg/kg for mixture samples with excessive bentonite. Furthermore, as the ionic strength increases from 0 to 0.1 M, the Cr(VI) adsorption capacity increases slightly due to the weakening of electrostatic repulsion on the clay particle surface, but the effective diffusion coefficient (De) increases by 21.97%. The compression of the diffusion double layer (DDL) under high ionic strength conditions enlarges the diffusion path and enhances the migration of Cr(VI) through the pore flow paths. Moreover, hydrated bentonite effectively fills the interaggregate pores of natural clay, thus creating narrower and more tortuous flow paths. However, excessive bentonite increases the pH value and pore volume, resulting in changes to the soil microstructure and disrupting the continuous skeleton of natural clay, which is unfavorable for Cr(VI) containment. Based on the study of the Cr(VI) contaminated site, a bentonite ratio of 2:10 is recommended for optimal natural performance of the natural clay-bentonite barrier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document provides a calendar of upcoming events in the plastic film and sheeting industry, including conferences, symposiums, and webinars from September 2024 to March 2025. These events cover a wide range of topics such as coating science, foams, thermoplastics, additives, and sustainability. The document also includes information on process safety, including recent bulletins from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and a report from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board on a fatal well blowout incident in Texas. The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) is currently investigating two toxic chemical incidents in Louisiana in 2023, aiming to identify the causes and develop safety recommendations. DuPont has announced plans to separate its Water Solutions business into a standalone company, which focuses on providing clean water across various market segments. The separation is expected to be completed within 18 to 24 months and will not require a shareholder vote. The new company is expected to have a strong financial position and maintain an investment grade credit rating. [Extracted from the article]

CuFeO2 nanoparticles were decorated on biochar by one-step hydrothermal method to form the CuFeO2 /BC catalyst for persulfate (PS) activation and application of CuFeO2/BC in sulfadiazine (SDZ) contaminated soil was explored in this study. The influence of some key factors such as catalyst doses, PS concentration, initial pH and different soil types on degradation of SDZ were investigated. The results showed that CuFeO2/BC system has better catalytic performance and PS utilization efficiency compared with the pure CuFeO2. Under the condition of CuFeO2/BC dosage of 8 g/kg and PS addition of 3 g/kg, 91.72% SDZ (initial concentration of 20 mg/kg) could be removed from the soil within 120 minutes. Furthermore, the mechanism of the CuFeO2/BC/PS system was revealed by quenching experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) tests. It demonstrated that active species (SO4•-, HO•, O2•-) were involved in SDZ degradation, the weak EPR signal confirmed the existence of 1O2 but not participated in the degradation of SDZ. The steady-state concentrations of HO• and SO4•- were calculated by using free radical probes. Afterwards, the contribution rates of SO4•-, HO•, O2•- to the degradation of SDZ were obtained to be 43.89%, 32.87%, and 23.24%, respectively. Combined X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed that the high catalytic efficiency was attributed to the synergistic effect of Cu+/Cu2+ and Fe2+/Fe3+ redox cycles. These findings help to achieve more comprehensive understanding of the heterogeneous activation process of PS by CuFeO2 /BC to degrade SDZ in actual contaminated sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nano zero-valent iron (nZVI) acting as a high-cost disposable material in soil Cr(VI) remediation faces significant challenges due to its easily oxidizable nature and biological toxicity. In addressing this issue, the present study undertook the synthesis of a series of modified nZVI and combined the selected material with Cr(VI)-resistant filamentous fungus Penicillium oxalicum SL2 for real-site chromium pollution remediation. Adsorption experiments demonstrated that the inclusion of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) significantly enhanced the adsorption capacity of nZVI for Cr(VI) by 19.3% (from 73.25 to 87.4 mg/L), surpassing both biochar (37.42 mg/L) and bentonite modified nZVI (48.03 mg/ L). Characterization results validated the successful synthesis of the nano composite material. Besides, oxidative stress analysis explained the unique detoxification effects of CMC on SL2, acting as a free radical scavenger and isolating layer. In real-sites soil remediation experiments, a low dosage (0.4% w/ w) of nZVI/CMC@SL2 (CMC modified nZVI combined with SL2) exhibited an impressive reduction of over 99.5% in TCLP-Cr(VI) and completely transformed 18% of unstable Cr to stable forms. Notably, nZVI/CMC demonstrated its capability to facilitate SL2 colonization in highly contaminated soil and modulate the microbial community structure, enriching chromium-removing microorganisms. In summary, the synergistic system of nZVI/CMC@SL2 merges as a cost-effective and efficient approach for Cr(VI) reduction, providing meaningful insights for its application in the remediating contaminated site soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Noccaea praecox and Noccaea caerulescens (Brassicaceae) are nickel and zinc hyperaccumulators, native to Europe. To date, most studies have focused on metal accumulation in the leaves, whereas the distribution of metals in the inflorescences of hyperaccumulator plants remains largely unexplored, but of great interest in the context of adaptation to fertility and (insect) pollination. Samples of N. praecox from an ultramafic site and N. caerulescens from an industrially contaminated site were used for synchrotron‐based micro‐X‐ray fluorescence (μXRF) analysis. The results showed that nickel and zinc in the flowers of N. praecox are mainly distributed in the receptacle, ovary, and anthers, but at different concentrations. Similar results were found in N. caerulescens, with the greatest accumulation in the receptacle and ovary, especially in the walls, however at lower levels in the anthers. Although the leaves of N. praecox and N. caerulescens are the main deposition sites for nickel and zinc, significant concentrations of these elements were deposited in the flowers, especially in the pistils and anthers, indicating possible negative effects on fertility and pollinator species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human health risks associated with the consumption of water from groundwater sources in the vicinity of dumpsites in Orogwe, Nekede, and Ihiagwa in Owerri West were investigated for adults and children in this study. Groundwater samples were collected within 50-500 meters from solid waste dumpsites and subjected to In-situ analysis for fast-changing parameters such as temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen, and total dissolved solids using a Hanna multi-meter Probe. Heavy metals were measured using an Atomic absorption spectrophotometer while other parameters were examined using the American Public Health Association Method (APHA). Low pH levels were observed in the study area for wet and dry seasons. Conductivity levels and dissolved solids showed higher mean values in the wet season than dry season. The pollution index result was significant (=1) for Nekede and Ihiagwa in the dry season. Exposure doses were higher in children than adults while the non-carcinogenic results ranged from medium to high risk in all samples except the control point in the wet season. Nickel, iron, and lead had a high percentage contribution to the hazard risks in both seasons. Significant carcinogenic risk (>1.0E-4) for children recorded at Ihiagwa in the dry season is of great concern. In general, the groundwater quality in the vicinity of dumpsites was of poor quality (>100) and more vulnerable in the wet season than the dry season from the water quality index (WQI) result. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While in situ toxicity testing with caged organisms has been used to assess surface water and sediment contamination, no successful application to benthic organisms exposed to highly contaminated groundwater plumes discharging to surface waters has been reported. The objective of this study was to demonstrate and evaluate this application using four sets of tests performed at three previously reported contaminated groundwater sites, which include one river site affected by volatile organic contaminant plumes, and two sites, one pond and one small urban stream, impacted by landfill plumes. The study examined multiple cage designs and orientations and two test organisms: an amphipod (Hyalella azteca) and midge larvae (Chironomus riparius; only one study). Cages were deployed for between 5 and 28 days and assessed for organism survival and growth. At all sites and for some deployment conditions, cages exposed to high contaminant concentrations in the plume footprint had greater mortality compared to those exposed to lower or background concentrations. Organism growth was less clear as a metric of toxicity. Vertically oriented cages typically showed high mortality to plume contaminants, but some were also affected by other non-target groundwater conditions (e.g., low dissolved oxygen, other contaminant sources), while horizontally oriented cages were rarely responsive to either groundwater influence. A hybrid cage design showed much promise in its single study. Useful observations on the test organisms and on potentially problematic site conditions were also made. The informed use of in situ toxicity cages could be an additional beneficial tool for groundwater contaminated site assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Complex mixtures of chemicals present in groundwater at legacy-contaminated industrial sites can pose significant risks to adjacent surface waters. The combination of short-term molecular and chronic apical effect assessments is a promising approach to characterize the potential hazard of such complex mixtures. The objectives of this study were to: (1) assess the apical effects (survival, growth, development, and liver histopathology) after chronic exposure of early life stages (ELSs) of fathead minnows (FHM; Pimephales promelas) to contaminated groundwater from a legacy-contaminated pesticide manufacturing and packaging plant, and (2) identify possible molecular mechanisms responsible for these effects by comparing results to mechanistic outcomes previously determined by a short-term reduced transcriptome assay (EcoToxChips). This study revealed a significant increase in mortality and prevalence of spinal curvatures, as well as a significant reduction in the length of FHMs exposed to the groundwater mixtures in a concentration-dependent manner. There was an increasing trend in the prevalence of edema in FHMs, though not significantly different from controls. Additionally, no histopathological effects were observed in the liver of FHMs exposed to the groundwater mixtures. Short-term molecular outcomes determined in a parallel study were found to be informative of chronic apical outcomes, including cardiotoxicity, spinal deformities, and liver toxicity. Overall, the results observed in this study demonstrated that short-term transcriptomics analyses could support the hazard assessment of complex contaminated sites. Molecular outcomes were reflective of mortality and deformities, but uncertainties remained in the prediction of hepatotoxic effects at apical level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study attempted to develop a bacterial consortium which can degrade chlorpyrifos pesticide efficiently. Five morphologically different bacterial strains, capable to tolerate high chlorpyrifos concentration, were isolated from pesticide-contaminated soil. Further, possible combinations of the isolates were formed and each combination was screened and chlorpyrifos degradation percentage and half-lives were calculated. The consortium CON11, comprising of four isolates (CP28, CP30, CP31, and CP34) showed the highest chlorpyrifos degradation. The individual independent variables of chlorpyrifos degradation by CON11 viz. temperature (°C), pH, incubation time (days) and pesticide concentration (ppm) were optimized using one-factor at-a-time experiments. The consortium isolates were then identified by the molecular tools 16S rRNA gene typing and the sequences were submitted to GenBank. The four bacterial isolates thus identified are Bacillus amyloliquefaciens CP28 (MH667455), Bacillus pumilus CP30 (MH667456), Bacillus marisflavi CP31 (MN715880), and Bacillus subtilis CP34 (MH667458). These isolates which comprise CON11 consortium could degrade 91% of 100 ppm chlorpyrifos after 6 days of incubation at 30 °C and pH 7 with a half-life of 1.73 days indicating the promising potential of the consortium, CON11, in the cleanup of chlorpyrifos contaminated sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metal-enriched fly ash (FA) deposits are recognized as hazardous contaminated sites on the earth, which pollute our ecosystems. Consequently, the present investigation was carried out to explore the phytoremediation potential of naturally growing medicinal plants in the FA dumpsite. This present study chose two native medicinal plants i.e., Bacopa monnieri and Acmella oleracea found to be naturally colonizing abundantly on FA dumpsite to assess heavy metal accumulation. FA sample of B. monnieri thriving sites found to have metal content in order Mn (216.6)> Cr (39.27)> Zn (20.8)> Ni (16.1)> Cu (15.03)> Co (6.7)> Pb (5.43) whereas for A. oleracea FA dumpsites, the order of metal availability was Mn (750.3)> B (54.5)>Cr (37.2)>Zn (31.33)> Cu (18.7)> Ni (16.93)> Co (7.7)>Pb (4.23). In B. monnieri, higher concentrations of Cr and Mn were observed in the shoot in comparison to the root, indicative of its potential as a hyperaccumulator plant. Conversely, in A. oleracea, greater amounts of Pb were detected in the shoot relative to the root. Hence, it is recommended that B. monnieri and A. oleracea grow on such heavy metal-enriched substrates should be avoided for medicinal purposes; however, these plants can be used for phytoremediation purposes. Fly ash phytoremediation through natural colonizer plant species is limited. Native colonizing plant species on fly ash has a pivotal role in phytoremediation. Naturally colonizing medicinal plants were dominant over the Fly ash dumpsites. Bacopa monnieri and Acmella oleracea have phytoremediation potential on fly ash. Indeed, fly ash-grown medicinal plants should not be used by local communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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We examined the spatial concentration of public housing, demographic indicators of low socioeconomic status, and environmental locally unwanted land uses (LULUs) in eight populous U.S. cities. Using the updated EJScreen database and its geographic information systems capabilities, we, as expected, found subsidized housing to be disproportionately colocated in areas with poor and underserved residents. Underground storage tanks and high traffic density were consistently associated with the location of public housing, whereas Superfund sites were located near public housing in only half of the cities in the study. Increasing our understanding of the variables typically used to measure environmental and social justice is important to expand the discussion around a broader set of environmental measures that might be more relevant to the communities that live near them without ignoring the traditional ones that have marked the early legacy of the environmental justice movement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple and reproducible method which provides the simultaneous determination of PAHs and hetero-PAHs (N,S,O) and their metabolites in contaminated soils has been developed. Contaminants extracted from the soil sample were separated by polarity and acid-base characteristics using solid phase extraction (SPE) on silica gel and a strong basic anion exchange material. A subfraction containing PANHs and neutral metabolites was subsequently fractionated into neutral and basic compounds using a strong acidic cation exchange material. The identification and quantification was performed using different GC and HPLC methods. A method validation was carried out for 21 PAHs, 22 hetero-PAHs, and 19 metabolites in a five-level matrix calibration. Uncontaminated soil (AhA1-layer/compost mixture) was spiked with the chosen standard compounds. The method showed good linearity (coefficient of correlation) and high precision (coefficient of variation) for major and minor compounds over a wide range of concentration as well as high sensitivity (limit of detection). The method was successfully applied to different authentic tar oil contaminated sites. Aside from the typical tar oil PAHs, hetero-PAHs and metabolites predominantly with ketonic or quinonic structure were identified on a mg/kg concentration level.

Hazardous healthcare waste (HCW) management system is one of the most critical urban systems affected by the COVID-19 pandemic due to the increase in waste generation rate in hospitals and medical centers dealing with infected patients as well as the degree of hazardousness of generated waste due to exposure to the virus. In this regard, waste network flow would face severe problems without taking care of hazardous waste through disinfection facilities. For this purpose, this study aims to develop an advanced decision support system based on a multi-stage model that was combined with the random forest recursive feature elimination (RF-RFE) algorithm, the indifference threshold-based attribute ratio analysis (ITARA), and measurement of alternatives and ranking according to compromise solution (MARCOS) methods into a unique framework under the Fermatean fuzzy environment. In the first stage, the innovative Fermatean fuzzy RF-RFE algorithm extracts core criteria from a finite set of initial criteria. In the second stage, the novel Fermatean fuzzy ITARA determines the semi-objective importance of the core criteria. In the third stage, the new Fermatean fuzzy MARCOS method ranks alternatives. A real-life case study in Istanbul, Turkey, illustrates the applicability of the introduced methodology. Our empirical findings indicate that "Pendik" is the best among five candidate locations for sitting a new disinfection facility for hazardous HCW in Istanbul. The sensitivity and comparative analyses confirmed that our approach is highly robust and reliable. This approach could be used to tackle other critical multi-dimensional problems related to COVID-19 and support sustainability and circular economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The foam-blocking material formula was optimized through single factor and uniform mixing design experiment methods. The effect of foam material on blocking volatile organic compounds" VOCs) was estimated by VOCs release chamber combined with GC. The structure and stability of foam were characterized by dynamic foam analyzer. The result showed that the volatilization blocking rate of tetrachloroethylene- enemy-heptane and toluene by form was close to 100% within 5 hand the foam structure was stable after 5 h of foaming. The engineering application method of foam-blocking material was established through the engineering demonstration experiment on contaminated site. As the result showed that the foam block rate of VOCs pollutants was 98% within 5 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We provide a perspective on the ubiquity of PFAS (a suite of unique per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or 'forever chemicals') as toxic, pervasive and environmentally persistent more‐than‐human agents. We situate our discussion of these more‐than‐human contaminants in our location of Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ), a post‐production, post‐consumption contaminated site. We therefore make an Antipodean contribution to PFAS research—a predominantly North American/European body of work—providing an account of the specific landmasses, cultural contexts and regulation here, while also noting simultaneous entanglements with the global environment. In dealing with this group of contaminants, we identify opportunities for Aotearoa NZ's regulatory and management processes to consider the more‐than‐human theorising of aspects of 'the natural world', not for their utility but for the intrinsic value of more‐than‐human lives, and in order to do regulation, policy and practice differently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Builts buffer distance prediction framework under landfill performance degradation. • Buffer distance (BFD) needs to increase by 6 times as landfill performance degrades. • Demand for BFD increase for heavy metals is stronger than organics under degradation. • Proposes strategy to react to the cases when required BFD is impractical. Groundwater contamination by landfill leachate is a major concern. Ignoring the long-term increase in leakage caused by the aging of engineered materials may lead to underestimation of the buffer distance (BFD) demand of landfills. In this study, a long-term BFD prediction model was developed by coupling an engineering material aging and defect evolution module with leachate leakage and migration transformation model, and was applicated and validated. The results showed that under landfill performance degradation, the required BFD was 2400 m, i.e., 6 times higher than under undegraded conditions. With the degradation of the performance, the BFD required to attenuate the heavy metal concentrations of groundwater increases more than the BFD required to attenuate organic pollutants. For example, the BFD required for zinc (Zn) was 5 times higher than that required for undegraded conditions, while for 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-D), the BFD was 1 times higher. Considering the uncertainties of the model parameters and structure, the BFD should be greater than 3000 m to ensure long-term safe water use under unfavorable conditions such as large leachate production and leakage, weak degradation and fast diffusion of pollutants. If the actual BFD does not meet the demand due to landfill performance degradation, the landfill owner can reduce the reliance on the BFD by reducing the waste leaching behavior. For example, the landfill in our case study would require a BFD of 2400 m, but by reducing the leaching concentration of zinc in the waste from 120 to 55 mg/L, this requirement could be reduced to 900 m. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil–cement–bentonite (SCB) backfill has been widely used in constructing cut-off walls to inhibit groundwater movement in contaminated sites. This study prepares SCB backfill with fixed fluidity. We conducted a series of experiments to investigate the engineering characteristics and microscopic mechanism of the backfill. The results indicate that the water content in the slurry was more sensitive to the bentonite content. The unconfined compression strength (UCS) value increased with an increase in the cement content, and the change with an increase in bentonite content was not noticeable. The permeability coefficient decreased distinctly with an increase in the cement and bentonite contents. The porosity of the SCB backfill increased with increasing bentonite content and decreased with increasing cement content. The UCS of SCB backfill was linearly and negatively correlated with the porosity; the permeability coefficient was not significantly related to the porosity. The percentage of micro- and small-pore throats in the backfill increased with increasing bentonite and cement contents. As cement and bentonite content increased by 6% in the backfill, the proportion of micro- and small-pore throats increased by 0.7% and 1.2%, respectively. The percentage of micro- and small-pore throats is deduced to be more suitable as a characterization parameter for the permeability of the SCB backfill. The overall results of this study show that the reasonably proportioned SCB backfill has potential as an eco-friendly and cost-effective material. Based on the requirements of strength and permeability coefficient (UCS > 100 kPa, 28 days permeability coefficient <1 × 10−7 cm/s), we suggested using a backfill with 12% bentonite and 9% cement as the cut-off wall mix ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Hudson River (HR) Estuary has a long history of pollution with a variety of contaminants including PCBs and dioxins. In fact, 200 miles of the mainstem HR is designated a U.S. federal Superfund site, the largest in the nation, because of PCB contamination. The tidal HR hosts the southernmost spawning population of Atlantic tomcod, Microgadus tomcod, and studies revealed a correlation between exposure of juveniles to warm water temperature during summer to abundance of spawning adults of the same cohort in the following winter. Further, a battery of mechanistically linked biomarkers, ranging from the molecular to the population levels, were significantly impacted from contaminant exposures of the HR tomcod population. In response to xenobiotic insult, the HR tomcod population developed resistance to PCB and TCDD toxicity resulting from a deletion in the aryl hydrocarbon receptor2 (AHR2) gene. Furthermore, RNA-Seq analysis of global gene expression demonstrated that effects of the AHR2 polymorphism were far more pervasive than anticipated. The most highly PCB-contaminated sediments in the upper HR were dredged between 2009 and 2015 with the objective of lowering PCB concentrations in fishes in the lower HR. Success of the remediation project has been controversial. These observations suggest that tomcod provides an informative model to evaluate the efficacy of HR PCB remediation efforts on downriver fish populations and possible interactive effects between contaminant exposure and a warming environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction A variety of risk assessment techniques are being applied at hazardous waste sites worldwide. These methodologies are used to determine if remediation is necessary at a site and, if [...]

This research evaluated the vertical accuracy of two lidar-derived elevation datasets acquired from two different altitudes over a clay-capped hazardous waste site located on the Savannah River Site (sns), South Carolina, using the same Optech ALTM 2050 lidar sensor and Cessna 337 platform. Both missions provided adequate elevation estimates (low-altitude RMSEz ≈ 6 cm; high-altitude RMSEz ≈ 14 cm.) A quantitative comparison was performed to determine how decreasing platform altitude and increasing lidar posting density affected the vertical elevation accuracy. Higher posting densities did not significantly improve the vertical accuracy of lidar-derived elevation data. Conversely, acquiring the lidar-derived elevation data at a lower altitude had a significant influence on the mean vertical error present in the lidar-derived elevation data. Differences in mean vertical elevation error between the low- and high-altitude lidar data collection missions were primarily due to a systematic underestimation bias present in the high-altitude lidar data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to evaluate the impact of a polluted site on property values by using the hedonic price method. The case study concerns a lead foundry in a previously industrialised area in northern France. The results are fairly convincing. The impact is confirmed, but appears to be especially apparent at relatively close distances. More than one mile away, the impact is much weaker. Moreover, a chronological analysis, which includes interaction terms, allows one to demonstrate a significant variability in results, depending upon the years being examined. The results obtained are compared with those derived from US studies. It appears that more than one mile away, the calculated impact values are fairly similar, about 1-2% of the average value of a house. In contrast, bearing in mind the higher average property values in the USA, gradient prices in absolute values are, in general, higher in that country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]