Monitoring metals in the population living in the vicinity of a hazardous waste incinerator

Hair samples of 134 school children (12-14 yr old) living in three residential zones in the vicinity of a new hazardous waste incinerator (HWI) (Constanti, Tarragona County, Catalonia, Spain) were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for arsenic (As), beryllium (Be), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), mercury (Hg), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), tin (Sn), thallium (Tl), and vanadium (V) concentrations. These concentrations were compared with those obtained in a baseline survey performed in the same area during the period of construction of the HWI. Current mean concentrations ranged from values under the respective limit of detection (As, Be, Cd, Tl, and V) to 0.70 and 0.86 microg/g for Hg and Pb, respectively. In comparison to the baseline survey, the levels of Cr, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Sn showed a significant reduction, whereas Hg concentrations were similar. No significant differences were observed according to the sex of the children. However, some differences were noted, especially for Pb and Cr, with respect to the specific zone of residence. In general terms, the current metal levels in hair of school children are similar or even lower than those recently reported for a number of industrial and residential areas of various regions and countries.     

Monitoring Metals in Blood and Hair of the Population Living Near a Hazardous Waste Incinerator: Temporal Trend

The concentrations of As, Be, Cd, Cr, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sn, Tl, and V were determined in hair of 96 school children and in blood of 144 adults living in the vicinity of a hazardous waste incinerator (HWI) (Constantí, Tarragona County, Catalonia, NE Spain). The results were compared with those obtained in previous (1998 and 2002) surveys performed in the same area. Data were analyzed in terms of age, sex, and specific place of residence. Current mean concentrations in hair ranged between not detected (ND) (As, Be, and Tl) and 1.31 μg/g for Cr. In blood, Be, Hg, Mn, Sn, and Tl levels were under the respective detection limits. The mean blood concentrations of the remaining elements ranged from 0.34 μg/dL for Cd, to 2.40 μg/dL for Pb. Significant differences in hair and blood in relation to gender were only noted for Pb in blood. In general terms, metal concentrations in hair and blood from subjects living in Tarragona County are lower than most levels reported for other countries in recent years.     

Concentrations of metals and PCDD/Fs and human health risks in the vicinity of a hazardous waste landfill: A follow-up study

In 2007, an environmental surveillance program to evaluate the impact of a hazardous waste landfill (HWL) located in Castellolí (Catalonia, Spain) was initiated. Between 2011 and 2014, samples of soil and air were collected inside the HWL as well as in nearby villages, and the concentrations of arsenic (As), some metals (cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), and lead (Pb)), and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) were analyzed. As expected, pollutant levels were higher inside the HWL than in the remaining points. In contrast, air concentrations were similar inside and outside the HWL. Furthermore, an increasing trend of the pollutant levels was not observed in any of the environmental monitors, either soil or air, when comparing with the results from the baseline (2007) and precedent surveys. The human exposure to those pollutants was estimated to contribute to 1–26% of the total exposure, after including the dietary intake. In any case, conclusions are partially limited by the scope of the investigation, which was conducted with a relatively low number of samples. Despite this limitation, it must be highlighted that health risks for the population living in the neighborhood of HWL were considered acceptable, according to international standards.     

Human exposure to metals through the diet in Tarragona, Spain

The concentrations of arsenic (As), beryllium (Be), cadmium (cd), chromium (Cr), mercury (Hg), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), tin (Sn), thallium (Tl), and vanadium (V) were determined in a number of food items purchased in zones of Tarragona, County (Catalonia, Spain) near a hazardous waste incinerator (HWI), which has been operating since 1999. Food samples corresponded to the following groups: meat, fish and seafood, pulses, cereals, vegetables, fruits, tubers, whole milk, yogurt, eggs, and sugar. Be and Tl were under their respective limits of detection in all samples. For the analyzed trace elements, the dietary intake by the general population of Tarragona was 458.5 μg/d for As, 14.3 μg/d for Cd, 88.3 μg/d for Cr, 5.3 μg/d for Hg, 2421.4 μg/d for Mn, 138.3 μg/d for Ni, 44.8 μg/d for Pb, 34.6 μg/d for Sn, and 28.9 μg/d for V. Results were compared with those found in a baseline survey carried out in the same area during the construction of the HWI (1996–1998). In general terms, the dietary intake of metals in 2003 was comparatively similar to those found in the baseline survey. For the most toxic elements (As, Cd, Hg, and Pb), it was under their respective Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake (PTWI) estabished by the FAO/WHO.     

Life cycle assessment of a pyrolysis/gasification plant for hazardous paint waste

Goal, Scope and Background Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) remains an important tool in Dutch waste management policies. In 2002 the new National Waste Management Plan 2002–2012 (NWMP) became effective. It was supported by some 150 LCA studies for more than 20 different waste streams. The LCA results provided a benchmark level for new waste management technologies. Although not new, operational techniques using combined pyrolysis/gasification are still fairly rare in Europe. The goal of this study is to determine the environmental performance of the only full scale pyrolysis/gasification plant in the Netherlands and to compare it with more conventional techniques such as incineration. The results of the study support the process of obtaining environmental permits. Methods In this study we used an impact assessment method based on the guidelines described by the Centre of Environmental Science (CML) of Leiden University. The functional unit is defined as treatment of 1 ton of collected hazardous waste (paint packaging waste). Similar to the NWMP, not only normalized scores are presented but also 7 aggegated scores. All interventions from the foreground process (land use, emissions, final waste) are derived directly from the site with the exception of emissions to soil which were calculated. Interventions are accounted to each of the different waste streams by physical relations. Data from background processes are taken from the IVAM LCA database 4.0 mostly originating from the Swiss ETH96 database and adapted to the Dutch situation. Allocation was avoided by using system enlargement. The study has been peer reviewed by an external expert. Results and Discussion It was possible to determine an environmental performance for the pyrolysis/ gasification of paint packaging waste. The Life Cycle Inventory was mainly hampered by the uncertainty occurred with estimated air emissions. Here several assumptions had to be made because several waste inputs and two waste treatment installations profit from one flue gas cleaning treatment thus making it difficult to allocate the emission values from the flue gasses. Compared to incineration in a rotary kiln, pyrolysis/gasification of hazardous waste showed better scores for most of the considered impact categories. Only for the impact categories biodiversity and life support the incineration option proved favorable due to a lower land use. Several impact categories had significant influence on the conclusions: acidification, global warming potential, human toxicity and terrestrial ecotoxicity. The first three are related to a better energy efficiency for pyrolysis/gasification leading to less fossil energy consumption. Terrestrial ecotoxicity in this case is related to specific emissions of mercury and chromium (III). A sensitivity analysis has been performed as well. It was found that the environmental performance of the gasification technique is sensitive to the energy efficiency that can be reached as well as the choice for the avoided fossil energy source. In this study a conservative choice for diesel oil was made whereas a choice for heavy or light fuel oil would further improve the environmental profile. Conclusions Gasification of hazardous waste has a better environmental performance compared to the traditional incineration in rotary kilns mainly due to the high energy efficiency. As was determined by sensitivity analysis the differences in environmental performance are significant. Improvement options for a better performance are a decrease of process emissions (especially mercury) and a further improvement of the energy balance by decreasing the electricity consumption for shredders and oxygen consumption or making more use of green electricity. Recommendations and Perspectives Although the life cycle inventory was sufficiently complete, still some assumptions had to be made in order to establish sound mass balances on the level of individual components and substances. The data on input of waste and output of emissions and final waste were not compatible. It was recommended that companies put more emphasis on data storage accounted to particular waste streams. This is even more relevant since more companies in the future are expected to include life cycle impacts in their environmental performance.     

Air Passive Sampling for the Screening of Inhalation Risks of POPs Near an Incineration Plant

The use of passive air samplers (PAS) in recent years to monitor the occurrence of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in air has been increasing, not only globally, but also at regional and/or local scales. The present study was aimed at analyzing the airborne concentrations of the POPs: polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) in the vicinity of a municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI) in Tarragona (Catalonia, Spain). Mean air levels of PCBs, PBDEs, and PCNs were 44.1, 65.0, and 6.65 pg/m³, respectively. No differences were noted according to the distance or direction from the plant for any chemical. Furthermore, this information was used to estimate the air inhalation of POPs for the local population. Environmental exposure to POPs through air accounted for only <2% of the total when compared with the dietary intake. The overall results indicate that the MSWI here assessed does not mean a relevant increase on human health risks derived from inhalation of POPs. PAS can also be utilized for human health risk assessment studies, being also suitable tools to control the environmental burden of non-regulated chemicals, for which no emission thresholds have yet been derived.     

Monitoring PCDD/Fs in Soil and Herbage Samples Collected Near a Hazardous Waste Incinerator: Health Risks for the Population Living Nearby

In 1998, we started a wide environmental surveillance program focused on evaluating the environmental impact of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PCDD/Fs) emitted by a new hazardous waste incinerator (HWI) (Tarragona County, Catalonia, Spain) and assessing the potential health risks for the population living nearby. The HWI began regular operations in 1999. Since then, periodical surveys have been performed. We report here the results concerning PCDD/F levels in 40 soil and 40 herbage samples collected in years 2004 and 2005, respectively, in the vicinity of the HWI. The human health risks derived from exposure to PCDD/Fs were also assessed. PCDD/F concentrations in soils ranged from 0.06 to 12.60 ng I-TEQ/kg, with median and mean values of 0.65 and 1.14 ng I-TEQ/kg, respectively. In herbage, PCDD/F concentrations ranged from 0.03 to 1.57 ng I-TEQ/kg, with median and mean values of 0.31 and 0.40 ng I-TEQ/kg, respectively. A comparison of these results with those from the baseline survey shows that, after six years of regular operation, the HWI did not significantly increase PCDD/F levels in soils and herbage in the surrounding environment. Moreover, PCDD/F emissions from the HWI do not mean additional significant risks for the health of the individuals living in the vicinity of the facility. The results of the current study together with those of recent investigations in municipal waste incinerators indicate that, when adequately controlled for PCDD/F emissions, modern waste incinerators should not portend any special concern for the populations living nearby.     

Biofilm population dynamics in a trickle-bed bioreactor used for the biodegradation of aromatic hydrocarbons from waste gas under transient conditions

The dynamics of a multispecies biofilm population in a laboratory-scale trickle-bed bioreactor for the treatment of waste gas was examined. The model pollutant was a VOC-mixture of polyalkylated benzenes called Solvesso 100. Fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) was applied in order to characterise the population composition. The bioreactor was operated under transient conditions by applying pollutant concentration shifts and a starvation phase. Only about 10% of the biofilm mass were cells, the rest consisted of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). The average fraction of Solvesso 100-degrading cells during pollutant supply periods was less than 10%. About 60% of the cells were saprophytes and about 30% were inactive cells. During pollutant concentration shift experiments, the bioreactor performance adapted within a few hours. The biofilm population exhibited a dependency upon the direction of the shifts. The population reacted within days after a shift-down and within weeks after a shift-up. The pollutant-degraders reacted significantly faster compared to the other cells. During the long-term starvation phase, a shift of the population composition took place. However, this change of composition as well as the degree of metabolic activity was completely reversible. A direct correlation between the biodegradation rate of the bioreactor and the number of pollutant-degrading cells present in the biofilm could not be obtained due to insufficient experimental evidence.     

Microbacterium isolates from the vicinity of a radioactive waste depository and their interactions with uranium

Three oligotrophic bacterial strains were cultured from the ground water of the deep-well monitoring site S15 of the Siberian radioactive waste depository Tomsk-7, Russia. They were affiliated with Actinobacteria from the genus Microbacterium. The almost fully sequenced 16S rRNA genes of two of the isolates, S15-M2 and S15-M5, were identical to those of cultured representatives of the species Microbacterium oxydans. The third isolate, S15-M4, shared 99.8% of 16S rRNA gene identity with them. The latter isolate possessed a distinct cell morphology as well as carbon source utilization pattern from the M. oxydans strains S15-M2 and S15-M5. The three isolates tolerated equal amounts of uranium, lead, copper, silver and chromium but they differed in their tolerance of cadmium and nickel. The cells of all three strains accumulated high amounts of uranium, i.e. up to 240 mg U (g dry biomass)(-1) in the case of M. oxydans S15-M2. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) analysis showed that this strain precipitated U(VI) at pH 4.5 as a meta-autunite-like phase. At pH 2, the uranium formed complexes with organically bound phosphate groups on the cell surface. The results of the XAS studies were consistent with those obtained by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX).     

Stable chromosome aberrations in the lymphocytes of a population living in the vicinity of the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site

SalomaTranslocation analysis using FISH (fluorescence in situ hybridization) chromosome painting was performed to evaluate the magnitude of exposure to ionizing radiation among the human population living close to the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site in Kazakhstan. We studied two generations of people living in villages that were in the path of the radioactive cloud from the first Soviet surface nuclear test performed in August 1949 and from later tests. The older generation (P(0)) lived in the area at the time of testing, and the younger generation (F(1)) was exposed to smaller doses from the residual fallout and later tests. In both P(0) and F(1) generations, similar translocation frequencies were observed in persons living in either the Semipalatinsk area or a noncontaminated area. Assuming translocation stability in peripheral blood lymphocytes over several decades, these findings suggest that on average, the magnitude of exposure of this cohort in the Semipalatinsk area has been considerably smaller than that reported in the literature. Previously reported doses of the order of 1-4.5 Gy (mean 2.9 Gy in the P(0) generation) cannot be confirmed by the present data.     

Monitoring the effective population size of a brown bear (Ursus arctos) population using new single-sample approaches

The effective population size (N(e) ) could be the ideal parameter for monitoring populations of conservation concern as it conveniently summarizes both the evolutionary potential of the population and its sensitivity to genetic stochasticity. However, tracing its change through time is difficult in natural populations. We applied four new methods for estimating N(e) from a single sample of genotypes to trace temporal change in N(e) for bears in the Northern Dinaric Mountains. We genotyped 510 bears using 20 microsatellite loci and determined their age. The samples were organized into cohorts with regard to the year when the animals were born and yearly samples with age categories for every year when they were alive. We used the Estimator by Parentage Assignment (EPA) to directly estimate both N(e) and generation interval for each yearly sample. For cohorts, we estimated the effective number of breeders (N(b) ) using linkage disequilibrium, sibship assignment and approximate Bayesian computation methods and extrapolated these estimates to N(e) using the generation interval. The N(e) estimate by EPA is 276 (183-350 95% CI), meeting the inbreeding-avoidance criterion of N(e) > 50 but short of the long-term minimum viable population goal of N(e) > 500. The results obtained by the other methods are highly consistent with this result, and all indicate a rapid increase in N(e) probably in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The new single-sample approaches to the estimation of N(e) provide efficient means for including N(e) in monitoring frameworks and will be of great importance for future management and conservation.     

A Conceptual Model for Analyzing the Risks Involved in the Transportation of Hazardous Goods: Implementation in a Geographic Information System

The transportation of hazardous goods by road implies a risk for both humans and the environment, in that an accident involving a vehicle transporting this kind of material may cause extensive material and environmental damage and might even endanger lives. For this reason, both public and private entities (e.g., insurance companies) have a growing interest in studies that assess the risks associated with hazardous goods transportation This article describes a method for calculating these risks. The risk is determined on the basis of a calculation of the probability of the occurrence of an accident and the gravity of the damage, which is in turn a function of the potential damage inherent in the goods being transported taken with the vulnerability of the environmental medium in which the accident takes place. The mathematical model proposed is easily implemented in a geographical information system that will produce risk maps delimiting the more potentially conflictive stretches of roadway.     

Detection of a population replacement at the Classic-Postclassic transition in Mexico

The Mexica Empire reached an outstanding social, economic and politic organization among Mesoamerican civilizations. Even though archaeology and history provide substantial information about their past, their biological origin and the demographic consequences of their settlement in the Central Valley of Mexico remain unsolved. Two main hypotheses compete to explain the Mexica origin: a social reorganization of the groups already present in the Central Valley after the fall of the Classic centres or a population replacement of the Mesoamerican groups by migrants from the north and the consequent setting up of the Mexica society. Here, we show that the main changes in the facial phenotype occur during the Classic-Postclassic transition, rather than in the rise of the Mexica. Furthermore, Mexica facial morphology seems to be already present in the early phases of the Postclassic epoch and is not related to the northern facial pattern. A combination of geometric morphometrics with Relethford-Blangero analyses of within- versus among-group variation indicates that Postclassic groups are more variable than expected. This result suggests that intense gene exchange was likely after the fall of the Classic and maybe responsible for the Postclassic facial phenotype. The source population for the Postclassic groups could be located somewhere in western Mesoamerica, since North Mexico and Central Mesoamerican Preclassic and Classic groups are clearly divergent from the Postclassic ones. Similarity among Preclassic and Classic groups and those from Aridoamerica could be reflecting the ancestral phenotypic pattern characteristic of the groups that first settled Mesoamerica.     

Microbial population in the biomass adhering to supporting material in a packed-bed reactor degrading organic solid waste

An anaerobic packed-bed reactor using carbon fiber textiles (CFT) as the supporting material was continuously operated using an artificial garbage slurry. 16S rRNA gene analysis showed that many bacteria in the biomass adhering to CFT were closely related to those observed from other anaerobic environments, although a wide variety of unidentified bacteria were also found. Dot blot hybridization results clarified that 16S rRNA levels of methanogens in the adhering biomass were higher than those in the effluent. Based on microscopic observation, the adhering biomass consisted of microorganisms, organic material, and void areas. Bacteria and Archaea detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization were distributed from the surface to the inner regions of the adhering biomass. Methanosarcina sp. tended to be more abundant in the inner part of the adhering biomass than at the surface. This is the first report to elucidate the structure of the microbial community on CFT in a packed-bed reactor.     

Morphological variability of the earlobe in a Spanish population sample

This article shows the morphological variability of the earlobe in a Spanish population of European origin. The frequencies of four lobe characteristics (attachment, contour, modeling, and size) and their degree of expression were studied. The relationship among the characteristics and the differences involving sex and laterality were also considered. The least frequent morphology, and of main use in solving forensic cases, was the very small size with triangle-pulled contour into the skin and crossed-discontinuous modeling. The most frequent morphology, and most clinically useful, was the medium-sized lobe with free-arched contour and eminent or cross-continuous modeling. The characteristics were all symmetric. Size and modeling showed sexual dimorphism. Some characteristics were associated with each other: attachment with contour and modeling and the contour with modeling and size. The least frequent peculiarities were sharp lobe and virgule. The literature is scarce on this matter, practically non-existent for some characteristics, especially modeling and peculiarities. For the first time, the associations of the ear characteristics were analyzed, and this information could be applied to forensic identification.     

Long‐term relationship between diet breadth and breeding success in a declining population of Egyptian Vultures Neophron percnopterus

Between 2000 and 2009 we studied the diet and breeding success of Egyptian Vultures Neophron percnopterus in southern Spain. Wild species accounted for 74.9% of prey items (n = 1071) with a predominance of mammals (62.3%), followed by birds (20.8%) and reptiles (13.1%). Spatially, the diet was highly varied and not restricted to carcasses of livestock; wild Rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus accounted for 54% of the overall remains. The spatial variability may reflect regional and local disparity in the availability of main prey. The temporal relationship between variation in trophic diversity and Vulture nesting productivity (both values showing a long‐term decrease) might suggest a causal link between variation in diet and reproductive output. We hypothesize that high turnover rates could explain productivity variation as a consequence of the recruitment of less experienced individuals to the breeding population. This could in turn generate covariation between diet and reproductive output.     

Dispersal as a means of inbreeding avoidance in a wild bird population

The long-term study of animal populations facilitates detailed analysis of processes otherwise difficult to measure, and whose significance may appear only when a large sample size from many years is available for analysis. For example, inbreeding is a rare event in most natural populations, and therefore many years of data are needed to estimate its effect on fitness. A key behaviour hypothesized to play an important role in avoiding inbreeding is natal dispersal. However, the functional significance of natal dispersal with respect to inbreeding has been much debated but subject to very few empirical tests. We analysed 44 years of data from a wild great tit Parus major population involving over 5000 natal dispersal events within Wytham Woods, UK. Individuals breeding with a relative dispersed over several-fold shorter distances than those outbreeding; within the class of inbreeding birds, increased inbreeding was associated with reduced dispersal distance, for both males and females. This led to a 3.4-fold increase (2.3-5, 95% CI) in the likelihood of close (f=0.25) inbreeding relative to the population average when individuals dispersed less than 200m. In the light of our results, and published evidence showing little support for active inbreeding avoidance in vertebrates, we suggest that dispersal should be considered as a mechanism of prime importance for inbreeding avoidance in wild populations.