Biodegradability standards for carrier bags and plastic films in aquatic environments: a critical review

Plastic litter is encountered in aquatic ecosystems across the globe, including polar environments and the deep sea. To mitigate the adverse societal and ecological impacts of this waste, there has been debate on whether ‘biodegradable’ materials should be granted exemptions from plastic bag bans and levies. However, great care must be exercised when attempting to define this term, due to the broad and complex range of physical and chemical conditions encountered within natural ecosystems. Here, we review existing international industry standards and regional test methods for evaluating the biodegradability of plastics within aquatic environments (wastewater, unmanaged freshwater and marine habitats). We argue that current standards and test methods are insufficient in their ability to realistically predict the biodegradability of carrier bags in these environments, due to several shortcomings in experimental procedures and a paucity of information in the scientific literature. Moreover, existing biodegradability standards and test methods for aquatic environments do not involve toxicity testing or account for the potentially adverse ecological impacts of carrier bags, plastic additives, polymer degradation products or small (microscopic) plastic particles that can arise via fragmentation. Successfully addressing these knowledge gaps is a key requirement for developing new biodegradability standard(s) for lightweight carrier bags

Occupational cooling practices of emergency first responders in the United States: A survey

This is an accepted manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Temperature on 29/07/2018, available online: https://doi.org/10.1080/23328940.2018.1493907 The accepted version of the publication may differ from the final published version.© 2018 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. Despite extensive documentation directed specifically toward mitigating thermal strain of first responders, we wished to ascertain the degree to which first responders applied cooling strategies, and what opinions are held by the various agencies/departments within the United States. An internet-based survey of first responders was distributed to the International Association of Fire Chiefs, International Association of Fire Firefighters, National Bomb Squad Advisory Board and the USA Interagency Board and their subsequent departments and branches. Individual first responder departments were questioned regarding the use of pre-, concurrent, post-cooling, types of methods employed, and/or reasons why they had not incorporated various methods in first responder deployment. Completed surveys were collected from 119 unique de-identified departments, including those working in law enforcement (29%), as firefighters (29%), EOD (28%) and HAZMAT technicians (15%). One-hundred and eighteen departments (99%) reported heat strain/illness to be a risk to employee safety during occupational duties. The percentage of departments with at least one case of heat illness in the previous year were as follows: fire (39%) HAZMAT (23%), EOD (20%) and law enforcement (18%). Post-cooling was the scheduled cooling method implemented the most (63%). Fire departments were significantly more likely to use post-cooling, as well as combine two types of scheduled cooling compared to other departments. Importantly, 25% of all departments surveyed provided no cooling whatsoever. The greatest barriers to personnel cooling were as follows–availability, cost, logistics, and knowledge. Our findings could aid in a better understanding of current practices and perceptions of heat illness and injury prevention in United States first responders. Abbreviations: EOD: explosive ordnance disposal; HAZMAT: hazardous materials.This project is financially supported by the United States Government through the United States Department of Defense (DOD).Published versio

Evaluation of cross-contamination of nylon bags with heavy loaded gasoline fire debris and with automotive paint thinner

Nylon bags are used for packaging fire debris in several countries, particularly in Europe. The possibility of cross-contamination during transport from the fire scene to the laboratory, in normal casework conditions in the UK, was studied for two brands of nylon bags, using simulated heavy loaded fire debris. Three experiments were carried out with each brand, using as sample a piece of cotton fabric soaked with gasoline. One experiment was carried out using automotive paint thinner (oxygenated solvent). Each sample was sealed in a nylon bag and stored in contact with eight empty bags. The empty bags were analysed at regular intervals for a period of time up to eight weeks, using SPME and GC/MS. Cross-contamination was found for components of gasoline (toluene and C2-alkylbenzenes) in the two brands of nylon bags used, after 4 days and 2 weeks. Cross contamination using automotive topcoat thinner was detected after 2 days

Challenges in the Analysis of Historic Concrete:Understanding the Limitations of Techniques, the Variability of the Material and the Importance of Representative Samples

The number of historically-significant concrete structures which require conservation and repair is ever-increasing. The use of unsuitable proprietary materials has led to poor quality repairs of historically-significant structures in the United Kingdom, some of which have resulted in damage to the historic character of the structure and accelerated deterioration of the substrate. As a result, the approach to the repair of historic concrete structures has shifted from the use of mass-produced proprietary repair materials to purpose-made ‘like-for-like’ replacements which, theoretically, have similar mechanical and aesthetic properties. In order to create like-for-like repair materials, the original mix proportions and water/cement (w/c) ratio of the substrate have to be established. However, there are concerns regarding the accuracy of existing techniques and standards used for the analyses of hardened concrete. Furthermore, due to a lack of available material, analyses are often carried out on samples that are much smaller than the minimum requirement for a representative sample, or from areas which are not representative. This paper discusses these issues and hopes to provide information to conservators and analysts on the limitations of techniques, the variability of the material and the importance of representative samples

Why short-term biochar application has no yield benefits; evidence from three field-grown crops

This study determines the impact of biochar, as a supplement, on soil nutrient availability and yields for three crops within commercial management systems in a temperate environment. Central to the suggestion of biochar benefits is an increase in soil nutrient availability and here we test this idea by examining crop nutrient uptake, growth and yields of field-grown spring barley, strawberry and potato. Biochar produced from Castanea sativa wood, was incorporated into a sandy loam soil at 0, 20 and 50 t ha-1 as a supplement to standard crop management practice. Fertiliser was applied normally for each of the three crops. The biochar contained substantial concentrations of Ca, Mg, K, P, but only K occurred at high concentration in water soluble analysis. The large concentration of extractable K resulted in a significant increase of extractable K in soil. The increased availability of K in biochar-treated soil, with the exception of spring barley grain and the leaves of strawberry during the second year, did not induce greater tissue concentrations. In general, biochar application rate had little influence on the tissue concentration of any nutrient, irrespective of crop or sampling date. There was, however, evidence of a biochar-induced increase in tissue Mo and a decrease in Mn, in strawberry, which could be linked to soil alkalinisation as could the reduction in extractable soil P. These experiments show a single rotational application of biochar to soil had no effect on the growth or harvest yield of any of these field-grown crops. Heavy metal analysis revealed small concentrations in the biochar (i.e. <10 µg g-1 biochar), with the largest levels for Ni, V and Cu

Active Amplification of the Terrestrial Albedo to Mitigate Climate Change: An Exploratory Study

This study explores the potential to enhance the reflectance of solar insolation by the human settlement and grassland components of the Earth's terrestrial surface as a climate change mitigation measure. Preliminary estimates derived using a static radiative transfer model indicate that such efforts could amplify the planetary albedo enough to offset the current global annual average level of radiative forcing caused by anthropogenic greenhouse gases by as much as 30 percent or 0.76 W/m2. Terrestrial albedo amplification may thus extend, by about 25 years, the time available to advance the development and use of low-emission energy conversion technologies which ultimately remain essential to mitigate long-term climate change. However, additional study is needed to confirm the estimates reported here and to assess the economic and environmental impacts of active land-surface albedo amplification as a climate change mitigation measure.Comment: 21 pages, 3 figures. In press with Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, N

Perceived complexity in Sauvignon Blanc wines: influence of domain-specific expertise

Background and Aims Complexity is a multidimensional and poorly defined term that is frequently employed to characterise wine sensorially. The present study aimed to investigate the sensorial nature of perceived complexity in wine as a function of domain-specific expertise. Methods and Results Eighty-seven French participants (16 wine professionals, 30 connoisseurs and 41 wine consumers) evaluated 13 Sauvignon Blanc wines. The wines were produced in New Zealand as part of a project aimed at increasing perceived complexity in Sauvignon wines. Participants evaluated the wines by free sorting and by judging complexity via a questionnaire. Sorting behaviour across groups was similar qualitatively, but significant differences were observed in variability between wine professionals and consumers. Complexity questionnaire data showed differences in ratings as a function of both participant expertise and wine. Conclusions The results are more in keeping with theories that perceived complexity is associated with aspects of harmony and wine balance, rather than with perceptual separability of wine components. Significance of the Study The current work reports innovative methodology and new information that furthers the field of sensory science, and specifically investigation of complexity in wine

Experimental and numerical analysis of short sisal fiber-cement composites produced with recycled matrix

"Published online: 02 Jan 2017"The proper use of renewable or recycled source materials can contribute significantly to reducing the environmental impact of construction industry. In this work, cement based composites reinforced with natural fibers were developed and their mechanical behavior was characterized. To ensure the composite sustainability and durability, the ordinary Portland cement matrix was modified by adding metakaolin and the natural aggregate was substituted by 10% and 20% of recycled concrete aggregate. Compression and splitting tensile tests indicated that mechanical strength did not seem to be affected by recycled content. Flat sheets were cast in a self-compacted cement matrix and bending tests were performed to determine the first crack, postpeak strength and cracking behavior of the composites. The use of short sisal fiber as reinforcement of recycled cement matrices results in a composite with multiple cracking and increment of strength after first crack. The modeling of composites using finite element method allowed to determine the tensile stress-strain behavior of material and to design possible applications of this new sustainable material.This research was supported by CAPES (PVE Program: Project 047/2012) and CNPqinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio