33 CFR 148.720 - What are the siting criteria?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... prevent or minimize detrimental environmental effects; (b) Minimizes the space needed for safe and... gas exploration and production or transportation uses; (m) Takes advantage of areas already allocated...

33 CFR 148.720 - What are the siting criteria?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... prevent or minimize detrimental environmental effects; (b) Minimizes the space needed for safe and... gas exploration and production or transportation uses; (m) Takes advantage of areas already allocated...

33 CFR 148.720 - What are the siting criteria?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... prevent or minimize detrimental environmental effects; (b) Minimizes the space needed for safe and... exploration and production or transportation uses; (m) Takes advantage of areas already allocated for similar...

33 CFR 148.720 - What are the siting criteria?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... prevent or minimize detrimental environmental effects; (b) Minimizes the space needed for safe and... exploration and production or transportation uses; (m) Takes advantage of areas already allocated for similar...

33 CFR 148.720 - What are the siting criteria?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... prevent or minimize detrimental environmental effects; (b) Minimizes the space needed for safe and... exploration and production or transportation uses; (m) Takes advantage of areas already allocated for similar...

Measurement of Pyrethroids and Their Environmental Degradates in Fruits and Vegetables using a Modification of the Quick Easy Cheap Effective Rugged Safe (QuEChERS) Method

EPA Science Inventory

Pyrethroid insecticides are used extensively in agriculture and they, as well as their environmental degradates, may remain as residues on food products such as fruits and vegetables. Since pyrethroid degradates can be identical to the urinary markers used in human biomonitoring ...

Bipolar and Monopolar Lithium-Ion Battery Technology at Yardney

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Russell, P.; Flynn, J.; Reddy, T.

1996-01-01

Lithium-ion battery systems offer several advantages: intrinsically safe; long cycle life; environmentally friendly; high energy density; wide operating temperature range; good discharge rate capability; low self-discharge; and no memory effect.

Measurement of pyrethroids and their environmental degradation products in fresh fruits and vegetables using a modification of the quick easy cheap effective rugged safe (QuEChERS) method

EPA Science Inventory

Pyrethroid insecticides are used extensively in agriculture, and they, as well as their environmental degradates, may remain as residues on foods such as fruits and vegetables. Since pyrethroid degradates can be identical to the urinary markers used in human biomonitoring, it is ...

Proceedings of the American Medical Association Congress on Environmental Health Problems (1st, Chicago, Illinois, May 1-2, 1964).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

American Medical Association, Chicago, IL.

Included are the proceedings of the first Congress on Environmental Health. Topics related to air pollution include the extent of human exposure, its relation to disease, evaluating effects clinically, community control and the physician's role. Topics related to pesticides include treatment of poisonings, occurrence of poisonings, safe usage, and…

Identifying performance based measures for winter maintenance.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-05-01

One of the Vermont Agency of : Transportations (VTrans) primary missions is to keep Vermont state highways open and safe : for the transportation network users, while managing the system in a cost : - : effective and environmentally sensitive mann...

Negative impact of a cadmium concentration considered environmentally safe in Brazil on the cardiac performance of bullfrog tadpoles.

PubMed

Dal-Medico, S E; Rissoli, R Z; Gamero, F U; Victório, J A; Salla, R F; Abdalla, F C; Silva-Zacarin, E C M; Carvalho, C S; Costa, M J

2014-06-01

A drastic amphibian decline has been observed worldwide, which can be attributed (among other factors) to exposure to pollutants. Considering that cadmium corresponds to the most rapidly increasing trace metal in the environment, the aim of this work was to evaluate whether the exposure (2 and 16 days) of bullfrog tadpoles to this trace metal, at the concentration currently considered environmentally safe (at 1ppb) in class 1 and 2 waters by the Brazilian Environmental Council, can affect the cardiac performance of these animals. The acute exposure (2 days) of tadpoles to cadmium resulted in a marked bradycardic response, which was correlated with an incomplete cardiac relaxation, without any compensation by improved cardiac twitch force (Fc) or contraction velocity (TPT), nor even by cardiac hypertrophy. Indeed, after 16 days of exposure, the cardiac function of tadpoles became even more depressed due to a marked decrease in Fc, a prolongation of TPT, and also incomplete relaxation (i.e. increases in the ventricle resting tension), without changes in ventricle relative mass. Altogether, the cardiodepressive effects of cadmium (especially after more prolonged exposure periods) impose negative alterations on a tadpole׳s development and also impede adequate homeostatic adjustments to respond appropriately to the exposure to cadmium with increase in energetic demand to counteract the deleterious effects of the xenobiotic. These disturbances can impair tadpoles׳ growth, development and reproduction. It is a fact that allows us to strongly suggest that cadmium concentrations, which are currently considered environmentally safe in Brazil, should be revised. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Environmental Action Guide for New York City Schools.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Advocates for Children of New York, Inc., Long Island City.

The purpose of this guide is to inform parents, advocates, and school personnel about existing laws and resources available to ensure that every child and every school employee has an environmentally safe and healthy school that is clean and in good repair. An environmentally safe and healthy school is one of the principles adopted by the New York…

Advanced transportation systems program plan

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1995-10-01

The ATS Program is guided by : the goals established by Caltrans : in pursuing its mission and in realizing : the vision of effective, safe and environmentally : sound mobility for the people of : California. The mission and goals are defined : in th...

Salt effects on cranberry soils, plant growth, and productivity

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2005-06-30

The Massachusetts Highway Department (MassHighway) engages in Environmental Stewardship as part of its mission "To support the construction and maintenance activities that provide the Commonwealth with safe roads and bridges and to protect and where ...

The Right Chemistry. Lawn Care Project Brings Science down to Earth.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dollar, David

1992-01-01

At Southwest High School in Fort Worth, Texas, an applied learning project enables chemistry students to determine the most effective, economical, and environmentally safe fertilizer for the lawns of schools in the district. (SK)

User's manual for sustainable transportation performance measures calculator

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2010-08-01

Sustainable transportation can be viewed as the provision of safe, effective, and efficient : access and mobility into the future while considering economic, social, and environmental : needs. For the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to ass...

Resource Guide to Effective Utility Management and Lean

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Water and wastewater utilities are critical to the environmental, economic, and social well being of our nation’s communities, as they work to ensure that the public continues to enjoy the benefits of clean and safe water.

Erythritol, a Non-Nutritive Sugar Alcohol Sweetener and the Main Component of Truvia®, Is a Palatable Ingested Insecticide

PubMed Central

Baudier, Kaitlin M.; Kaschock-Marenda, Simon D.; Patel, Nirali; Diangelus, Katherine L.; O'Donnell, Sean; Marenda, Daniel R.

2014-01-01

Insecticides have a variety of commercial applications including urban pest control, agricultural use to increase crop yields, and prevention of proliferation of insect-borne diseases. Many pesticides in current use are synthetic molecules such as organochlorine and organophosphate compounds. Some synthetic insecticides suffer drawbacks including high production costs, concern over environmental sustainability, harmful effects on human health, targeting non-intended insect species, and the evolution of resistance among insect populations. Thus, there is a large worldwide need and demand for environmentally safe and effective insecticides. Here we show that Erythritol, a non-nutritive sugar alcohol, was toxic to the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. Ingested erythritol decreased fruit fly longevity in a dose-dependent manner, and erythritol was ingested by flies that had free access to control (sucrose) foods in choice and CAFE studies. Erythritol was US FDA approved in 2001 and is used as a food additive in the United States. Our results demonstrate, for the first time, that erythritol may be used as a novel, environmentally sustainable and human safe approach for insect pest control. PMID:24896294

Erythritol, a non-nutritive sugar alcohol sweetener and the main component of truvia®, is a palatable ingested insecticide.

PubMed

Baudier, Kaitlin M; Kaschock-Marenda, Simon D; Patel, Nirali; Diangelus, Katherine L; O'Donnell, Sean; Marenda, Daniel R

2014-01-01

Insecticides have a variety of commercial applications including urban pest control, agricultural use to increase crop yields, and prevention of proliferation of insect-borne diseases. Many pesticides in current use are synthetic molecules such as organochlorine and organophosphate compounds. Some synthetic insecticides suffer drawbacks including high production costs, concern over environmental sustainability, harmful effects on human health, targeting non-intended insect species, and the evolution of resistance among insect populations. Thus, there is a large worldwide need and demand for environmentally safe and effective insecticides. Here we show that Erythritol, a non-nutritive sugar alcohol, was toxic to the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. Ingested erythritol decreased fruit fly longevity in a dose-dependent manner, and erythritol was ingested by flies that had free access to control (sucrose) foods in choice and CAFE studies. Erythritol was US FDA approved in 2001 and is used as a food additive in the United States. Our results demonstrate, for the first time, that erythritol may be used as a novel, environmentally sustainable and human safe approach for insect pest control.

Investigation of synergistic effects of warm mix asphalt and high fractionated reclaimed asphalt for safe, environmentally sustainable highway.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-11-01

To increase RAP materials by up to 75% by binder replacement, a fractionation method was applied to the RAP stockpile by : discarding RAP materials passing No. 16 sieve. This fractionation method was effective in improving volumetric properties : of ...

A Procedure for Setting Environmentally Safe Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for Selenium

Treesearch

A. Dennis Lemly

2002-01-01

This article presents a seven-step procedure for developing environmentally safe total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) for selenium. The need for this information stems from recent actions taken by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that may require TMDLs for selenium and other contaminants that are impairing water bodies. However, there is no technical...

Two-phase anaerobic digestion of partially acidified sewage sludge: a pilot plant study for safe sludge disposal in developing countries.

PubMed

Passio, Luca; Rizzoa, Luigi; Fuchs, Stephan

2012-09-01

The unsafe disposal of wastewater and sludge in different areas of developing countries results in significant environmental pollution, particularly for groundwater, thus increasing the risk of waterborne diseases spreading. In this work, a two-phase anaerobic digestion process for post-treatment of partially acidified sewage sludge was investigated to evaluate its feasibility as a safe sludge disposal system. Pilot tests showed that an effective sludge stabilization can be achieved (total volatile solids content <65%, organic acid concentration <200 mg/L at flow rate = 50 L/d and hydraulic residence time = 18 d) as well as a relative low faecal coliform density (<1000 most probable number per g total solids), showing that land application of the sludge without restrictions is possible according to US Environmental Protection Agency criteria for safe sludge disposal. A biogas production as high as 390 L/d with a 60% methane content by volume was achieved, showing that energy production from biogas may be achieved as well.

Safe driving in a green world: a review of driver performance benchmarks and technologies to support 'smart' driving.

PubMed

Young, Mark S; Birrell, Stewart A; Stanton, Neville A

2011-05-01

Road transport is a significant source of both safety and environmental concerns. With climate change and fuel prices increasingly prominent on social and political agendas, many drivers are turning their thoughts to fuel efficient or 'green' (i.e., environmentally friendly) driving practices. Many vehicle manufacturers are satisfying this demand by offering green driving feedback or advice tools. However, there is a legitimate concern regarding the effects of such devices on road safety--both from the point of view of change in driving styles, as well as potential distraction caused by the in-vehicle feedback. In this paper, we appraise the benchmarks for safe and green driving, concluding that whilst they largely overlap, there are some specific circumstances in which the goals are in conflict. We go on to review current and emerging in-vehicle information systems which purport to affect safe and/or green driving, and discuss some fundamental ergonomics principles for the design of such devices. The results of the review are being used in the Foot-LITE project, aimed at developing a system to encourage 'smart'--that is safe and green--driving. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd and The Ergonomics Society. All rights reserved.

Developing sustainable transportation performance measures for TXDOT's strategic plan : technical report.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2009-04-01

For this research project, sustainable transportation can be viewed as the provision of safe, effective, and : efficient access and mobility into the future while considering economic, social, and environmental needs. : This project developed a perfo...

SOME PROBLEMS OF "SAFE DOSE" ESTIMATION

EPA Science Inventory

In environmental carcinogenic risk assessment, the usually defined "safe doses" appear subjective in some sense. n this paper a method of standardizing "safe doses" based on some objective parameters is introduced and a procedure of estimating safe doses under the competing risks...

40 CFR 745.81 - Effective dates.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) TOXIC SUBSTANCES CONTROL ACT LEAD-BASED PAINT POISONING PREVENTION IN CERTAIN RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES Residential Property Renovation § 745.81... during the renovation will not necessarily include all of the lead-safe work practices contained in EPA's...

40 CFR 745.81 - Effective dates.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) TOXIC SUBSTANCES CONTROL ACT LEAD-BASED PAINT POISONING PREVENTION IN CERTAIN RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES Residential Property Renovation § 745.81... during the renovation will not necessarily include all of the lead-safe work practices contained in EPA's...

40 CFR 745.81 - Effective dates.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) TOXIC SUBSTANCES CONTROL ACT LEAD-BASED PAINT POISONING PREVENTION IN CERTAIN RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES Residential Property Renovation § 745.81... during the renovation will not necessarily include all of the lead-safe work practices contained in EPA's...

40 CFR 745.81 - Effective dates.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) TOXIC SUBSTANCES CONTROL ACT LEAD-BASED PAINT POISONING PREVENTION IN CERTAIN RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES Residential Property Renovation § 745.81... during the renovation will not necessarily include all of the lead-safe work practices contained in EPA's...

Effectiveness of Hexazinone as a Forestry Herbicide

Treesearch

Jerry L. Michael

1985-01-01

Hexuinone has proven to be a useful herbicide in southern forestry. Its effectiveness in controlling many woody and herbaceour weeds at application rates tolerated by pines provides foresters with a selective vegetation management tool. Hexazinone is an environmentally safe chemical because lt is low in toxicity, is degraded readily, does not bioaccumulate; and does...

A review of drug delivery systems based on nanotechnology and green chemistry: green nanomedicine.

PubMed

Jahangirian, Hossein; Lemraski, Ensieh Ghasemian; Webster, Thomas J; Rafiee-Moghaddam, Roshanak; Abdollahi, Yadollah

2017-01-01

This review discusses the impact of green and environmentally safe chemistry on the field of nanotechnology-driven drug delivery in a new field termed "green nanomedicine". Studies have shown that among many examples of green nanotechnology-driven drug delivery systems, those receiving the greatest amount of attention include nanometal particles, polymers, and biological materials. Furthermore, green nanodrug delivery systems based on environmentally safe chemical reactions or using natural biomaterials (such as plant extracts and microorganisms) are now producing innovative materials revolutionizing the field. In this review, the use of green chemistry design, synthesis, and application principles and eco-friendly synthesis techniques with low side effects are discussed. The review ends with a description of key future efforts that must ensue for this field to continue to grow.

Laboratory and field studies on the effects of Bacillus thuringiensis on non-target lepidoptera

Treesearch

John Peacock; Stephen Talley; Taylor Williams; Richard. Reardon

1992-01-01

Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) is one of the insecticides considered effective for suppression of gypsy moth infestations, and it is considered to one of the most selective in terms of its effects on other insects. Although B.t. is touted to be "environmentally safe", there is a paucity of field data to support this claim, particularly as...

Waste water compliance: staying on the offense

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Cattlemen and regulators are interested in safe and effective environmental stewardship of beef production. Recent interest has focused on better management of runoff storage. Typically, storage ponds hold feedlot surface runoff until it can be applied to crops. While stored, the nutrient laden w...

ALTERNATIVES FOR OZONE-DEPLETING REFRIGERANTS

EPA Science Inventory

The paper gives results of tests of 2 of 11 compounds and several mixtures selected for intensive evaluation from about 40 new synthesized compounds that may serve as environmentally safe and effective refrigerant alternatives over the long term. he two compounds are: 1, 1, 1, 2,...

PROCESS DESIGN MANUAL: LAND APPLICATION OF SEWAGE SLUDGE AND DOMESTIC SEPTAGE

EPA Science Inventory

Land application of sewage sludge generated by domestic sewage treatment is performed in an environmentally safe and cost–effective manner in many communities. Land application involves taking advantage of the fertilizing and soil conditioning properties of sewage sludge by sp...

Non-aqueous cleaning solvent substitution

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Meier, Gerald J.

1994-01-01

A variety of environmental, safety, and health concerns exist over use of chlorinated and fluorinated cleaning solvents. Sandia National Laboratories, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories, and the Kansas City Division of AlliedSignal have combined efforts to focus on finding alternative cleaning solvents and processes which are effective, environmentally safe, and compliant with local, state, and federal regulations. An alternative solvent has been identified, qualified, and implemented into production of complex electronic assemblies, where aqueous and semi-aqueous cleaning processes are not allowed. Extensive compatibility studies were performed with components, piece-parts, and materials. Electrical testing and accelerated aging were used to screen for detrimental, long-term effects. A terpene, d-limonene, was selected as the solvent of choice, and it was found to be compatible with the components and materials tested. A brief history of the overall project will be presented, along with representative cleaning efficiency results, compatibility results, and residual solvent data. The electronics industry is constantly searching for proven methods and environmentally-safe materials to use in manufacturing processes. The information in this presentation will provide another option to consider on future projects for applications requiring high levels of quality, reliability, and cleanliness from non-aqueous cleaning processes.

Drinking-Water Standards and Regulations. Volume 2. Manual for 1982-88

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wang, L.K.; Wang, M.H.S.

1988-04-10

The following 11 important documents are compiled for Drinking Water Standards and Regulations: (1) U.S. Environmental Agency Water Programs, National Interim Primary Drinking Water Regulations; (2) New Jersey Safe Drinking Water Act; (3) Summary of New Jersey Drinking Water Standards; (4) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Safe Drinking Water Act of 1986 Amendments; (5) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency National Primary Drinking Water Standards; (6) Canadian National Health and Welfare Drinking Water Quality Guidelines--Maximum Acceptable Concentrations; (7) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Primary Drinking Water Regulations, Filtration and Disinfection Turbidity, Giardia Lamblia, Viruses, Legionella, and Heterotrophic Bacteria; (8) Public Water Supply Manual--Guidemore » to the Safe Drinking Water Program; (9) Public Water Supply Manual--Emergency Response; (10) U.S. EPA Approved Krofta Chemicals; (11) NY-DOH Approved Krofta Chemicals.« less

Applying Poultry Litter in the Fall to Fertilize Corn May not be Advisable Under Warm Climate

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Row crop farmers prefer to apply poultry litter in the fall or winter but whether this practice is safe environmentally and effective for production in regions with warm fall and winter months is not well researched and documented. Research in Mississippi tested the effectiveness of fall- versus spr...

40 CFR 35.101 - Environmental programs covered by the subpart.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

...) of the Safe Drinking Water Act). (5) Underground water source protection (section 1443(b) of the Safe... 104(b)(3) of the Clean Water Act). (17) Wetlands development grants program (section 104(b)(3) of the... 40 Protection of Environment 1 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Environmental programs covered by the...

40 CFR 35.101 - Environmental programs covered by the subpart.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

...) of the Safe Drinking Water Act). (5) Underground water source protection (section 1443(b) of the Safe... 104(b)(3) of the Clean Water Act). (17) Wetlands development grants program (section 104(b)(3) of the... 40 Protection of Environment 1 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Environmental programs covered by the...

40 CFR 35.101 - Environmental programs covered by the subpart.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

...) of the Safe Drinking Water Act). (5) Underground water source protection (section 1443(b) of the Safe... 104(b)(3) of the Clean Water Act). (17) Wetlands development grants program (section 104(b)(3) of the... 40 Protection of Environment 1 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Environmental programs covered by the...

Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program: Tier I Screening Battery

EPA Science Inventory

In response to emerging concerns that environmental chemicals may have adverse effects on human health by altering the function of the endocrine system,' the Food Quality Protection Act and subsequent amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act and Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic A...

Effectiveness of short-term, enhanced, infection control support in improving compliance with infection control guidelines and practice in nursing homes: a cluster randomized trial.

PubMed

Gopal Rao, G; Jeanes, A; Russell, H; Wilson, D; Atere-Roberts, E; O'Sullivan, D; Donaldson, N

2009-10-01

In this prospective cluster randomized controlled trial we evaluated the impact of short-term provision of enhanced infection control support on infection control practice in nursing homes in South London. Twelve nursing homes were recruited, six each in intervention (300 residents) and control (265 residents) groups. Baseline observations of hand hygiene facilities, environmental cleanliness and safe disposal of clinical waste showed poor compliance in both groups. Post-intervention observations showed improvement in both groups. There was no statistical difference between the two groups in the compliance for hand hygiene facilities (P=0.69); environmental cleanliness (P=0.43) and safe disposal of clinical waste (P=0.96). In both groups, greatest improvement was in compliance with safe disposal of clinical waste and the least improvement was in hand hygiene facilities. Since infection control practice improved in intervention and control groups, we could not demonstrate that provision of short-term, enhanced, infection control support in nursing homes had a significant impact in infection control practice.

Organophosphate degrading microorganisms and enzymes as biocatalysts in environmental and personal decontamination applications.

PubMed

Yair, Simo; Ofer, Butnaro; Arik, Eisenkraft; Shai, Shrot; Yossi, Rosman; Tzvika, Dushnitsky; Amir, Krivoy

2008-01-01

One of the major challenges in dealing with chemical warfare agent (CWA) dispersal, whether in the battlefield or after a terror act, is decontamination and rehabilitation of any contaminated area. Organophosphates (OPs) are considered to be among the deadliest CWAs to date. Other OPs are used as pesticides in modern agriculture, and are considered environmentally hazardous. Current methods for OP decontamination are either dangerous or insufficiently effective. As a promising solution for this problem, bioremediation--the use of biocomponents for environmental remediation--is a potentially effective, safe, and environment-friendly method. The technology relies on several enzymatic mechanisms, and can be applied in various ways. We will review recent achievements and potential applications, such as biocatalyst-containing foams and an enzymatic sponge, for environmental as well as personal exterior decontamination.

A review of drug delivery systems based on nanotechnology and green chemistry: green nanomedicine

PubMed Central

Jahangirian, Hossein; Lemraski, Ensieh Ghasemian; Webster, Thomas J; Rafiee-Moghaddam, Roshanak; Abdollahi, Yadollah

2017-01-01

This review discusses the impact of green and environmentally safe chemistry on the field of nanotechnology-driven drug delivery in a new field termed “green nanomedicine”. Studies have shown that among many examples of green nanotechnology-driven drug delivery systems, those receiving the greatest amount of attention include nanometal particles, polymers, and biological materials. Furthermore, green nanodrug delivery systems based on environmentally safe chemical reactions or using natural biomaterials (such as plant extracts and microorganisms) are now producing innovative materials revolutionizing the field. In this review, the use of green chemistry design, synthesis, and application principles and eco-friendly synthesis techniques with low side effects are discussed. The review ends with a description of key future efforts that must ensue for this field to continue to grow. PMID:28442906

"You're Really Gonna Kick Us All Out?" Sustaining Safe Spaces for Community-Based HIV Prevention and Control among Black Men Who Have Sex with Men.

PubMed

Garcia, Jonathan; Parker, Caroline; Parker, Richard G; Wilson, Patrick A; Philbin, Morgan M; Hirsch, Jennifer S

2015-01-01

Black men who have sex with men (BMSM) experience among the highest rates of HIV infection in the United States. We conducted a community-based ethnography in New York City to identify the structural and environmental factors that influence BMSMs vulnerability to HIV and their engagement with HIV prevention services. Methods included participant observation at community-based organizations (CBOs) in New York City, in-depth interviews with 31 BMSM, and 17 key informant interviews. Our conceptual framework shows how creating and sustaining safe spaces could be a critical environmental approach to reduce vulnerability to HIV among BMSM. Participant observation, in-depth and key informant interviews revealed that fear and mistrust characterized men's relation to social and public institutions, such as churches, schools, and the police. This fear and mistrust created HIV vulnerability among the BMSM in our sample by challenging engagement with services. Our findings suggest that to be successful, HIV prevention efforts must address these structural and environmental vulnerabilities. Among the CBOs that we studied, "safe spaces" emerged as an important tool for addressing these environmental vulnerabilities. CBOs used safe spaces to provide social support, to address stigma, to prepare men for the workforce, and to foster a sense of community among BMSM. In addition, safe spaces were used for HIV and STI testing and treatment campaigns. Our ethnographic findings suggest that safe spaces represent a promising but so far under-utilized part of HIV prevention infrastructure. Safe spaces seem integral to high impact comprehensive HIV prevention efforts, and may be considered more appropriately as part of HIV capacity-building rather than being nested within program-specific funding structures.

Khellin and visnagin, furanochromones from Amni visnaga (L.) Lam., as potential bioherbicides

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Plants constitute a source of novel and structurally diverse phytotoxic compounds to be explored in searching for effective and environmentally safe herbicides. From screening nearly 2400 plant extracts for their phytotoxicity, a dichloromethane extract of Ammi visnaga (L.) Lam. was selected for fur...

ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH IN THE OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT U.S. EPA: AN OVERVIEW OF NEW DIRECTIONS

EPA Science Inventory

In virtually every major environmental act, Congress has required that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) ensure not only that the air be safe to breathe, the water safe to drink, and the food supply free of contamination, but also that the environment be protect...

Safe School Design: A Handbook for Educational Leaders Applying the Principles of Crime Prevention through Environmental Design.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schneider, Tod; Walker, Hill; Sprague, Jeffrey

This document seeks to synthesize, integrate, and make available to school personnel solid information regarding Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED). Chapter 1, "The Changed Landscape of School Safety and Security," examines characteristics of safe and unsafe schools, causes of vulnerability, and the role of design and technology…

Fishing Quotas, Induced Allee Effect, and Fluctuation-Driven Extinction.

PubMed

Hastings, Harold M; Radin, Michael; Wiandt, Tamas

2017-01-01

We explore the potential of modifications to standard fishery models (for example Gordon-Schafer-Munro) to help understand events such as the collapse of the North Atlantic cod fishery. In particular we find that quota-driven and similar harvesting strategies induce an effective strong Allee effect (collapse if the population falls below a critical level). In the presence of environmental noise, fish population dynamics is similar to a random walk with (non-linear) drift. The expected survival time (first passage time to collapse) is shown to depend sensitively upon the amount of environmental noise and size of the 'safe zone' between the deterministic steady state population and the critical population level at which the system collapses; more precisely it is exponential in the cube of the size of the safe zone divided by the variance of the noise process. Similar scaling can be expected for more survival in more general systems with multiple steady states. Our calculations imply an amplification effect under which small increases in harvest yield large decreases in expected survival time, and one should be cautious in changes in harvesting, especially in fisheries with poor or limited data and fisheries affected by climate change.

Approaches for Sustainable Mitigation of Arsenic Calamity in Bangladesh: Search for Safe Drinking Water

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alauddin, M.; Bhattacharjee, M.; Zakaria, A. B.; Rahman, M. M.; Seraji, M. S.

2008-05-01

Arsenic contamination of groundwater in Gangetic plain of Bihar, West Bengal in India and Bengal delta plain Bangladesh is shaping up as the greatest environmental health disaster in the current century. About 450 million combined population in these regions are at risk of developing adverse health effects due to arsenic contamination in groundwater. For an effective and sustainable mitigation, it is essential that we improve our understanding of fundamental processes of arsenic mobilization in sediments, biogeochemistry of arsenic in aquifer sediments and weigh a wide range of options for arsenic safe water for the vast population. In this paper, aspects of arsenic removal technology from groundwater in affected areas, sustainable development of household water filtration systems, deep aquifer water as potential arsenic safe water will be presented. In addition, sustainable development of water purification systems such as pond sand filtration (PSF), river sand filtration (RSF), rain water harvesting (RWH), dug well and their acceptability by the community will be discussed. A recent development of indigenous technology by local masons involves searching safe water through bore hole sediment color. The viability of this option in certain areas of Bangladesh will be discussed. Also, one of the household filtration systems approved by the government and locally known as SONO filter was recognized recently by the National Academy of Engineering -Grainger Challenge Prize for sustainability. Over 30, 000 of this unit were deployed in arsenic affected areas of Bangladesh. The affordability, ease of maintenance, social acceptability and environmental friendliness of all options will be addressed in the presentation.

Brace for the Next Threat to a Safe School Environment.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Reecer, Marcia

1988-01-01

Outlines the environmental health hazard caused by radon gas percolating into buildings. Statistical data on school buildings tested for radon has found the levels low. Discusses how to test for the gas and effective ways to prevent buildup of the gas. Includes a sidebar describing radon. (MD)

Health Education Curriculum Guide, Grades 1-12.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Massachusetts State Dept. of Education, Boston. Bureau of Elementary and Secondary Education.

This health education curriculum guide has been developed to assist local school districts develop stronger, more effective, school health programs. The guide is organized into four broad areas of health education: physical health, mental and social health, consumer and environmental health, and safe living. Each of these areas is divided into…

Recovery of Trace and Heavy Metals from Coal Combustion Residues for Reuse and Safe Disposal: A Review

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumar, Ashvani; Samadder, Sukha Ranjan; Elumalai, Suresh Pandian

2016-09-01

The safe disposal of coal combustion residues (CCRs) will remain a major public issue as long as coal is used as a fuel for energy production. Both dry and wet disposal methods of CCRs create serious environmental problems. The dry disposal method creates air pollution initially, and the wet disposal method creates water pollution as a result of the presence of trace and heavy metals. These leached heavy metals from fly ash may become more hazardous when they form toxic compounds such as arsenic sulfite (As2S3) and lead nitrate (N2O6Pb). The available studies on trace and heavy metals present in CCRs cannot ensure environmentally safe utilization. In this work, a novel approach has been offered for the retrieval of trace and heavy metals from CCRs. If the proposed method becomes successful, then the recovered trace and heavy metals may become a resource and environmentally safe use of CCRs may be possible.

AN OVERVIEW OF THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY'S SMALL SYSTEMS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER AT THE EPA TEST AND EVALUATION FACILITY IN CINCINNATI, OHIO

EPA Science Inventory

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) landmark Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1996 promised to bring and provide safe drinking water to all Americans. Since that time many have not understood or appreciated EPA involvement in the research and development (...

Environmental effects of the US Antarctic Program`s use of balloons in Antarctica

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

McCold, L.N.; Eddlemon, G.K.; Blasing, T.J.

1995-06-01

The USAP uses balloons in Antarctica to conduct scientific research, to facilitate safe air transport, and to provide data for global weather predictions. However, there is the possibility that balloons or their payloads may adversely affect Antarctic fauna or flora. The purpose of this study is to provide background information upon which the USAP may draw when complying with its responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Antarctic Treaty, and the Madrid Protocol.

Environmental health in China: challenges to achieving clean air and safe water

PubMed Central

Zhang, Junfeng (Jim); Mauzerall, Denise L.; Zhu, Tong; Liang, Song; Ezzati, Majid; Remais, Justin

2014-01-01

The health effects of environmental risks, especially those of air and water pollution, remain a major source of morbidity and mortality in China. Biomass fuel and coal are routinely burned for cooking and heating in almost all rural and many urban households resulting in severe indoor air pollution that contributes greatly to the burden of disease. Many communities lack access to safe drinking water and santiation, and thus the risk of waterborne disease in many regions remains high. At the same time, China is rapidly industrializing with associated increases in energy use and industrial waste. While economic growth resulting from industrialization has improved health and quality of life indicators in China, it has also increased the incidence of environmental disasters and the release of chemical toxins into the environment, with severe impacts on health. Air quality in China's cities is among the worst in the world and industrial water pollution has become a widespread health hazard. Moreover, emissions of climate-warming greenhouse gases from energy use are rapidly increasing. Global climate change will inevitably intensify China's environmental health problems, with potentially catastrophic outcomes from major shifts in temperature and precipitation. Facing the overlap of traditional, modern, and emerging environmental problems, China has committed substantial resources to environmental improvement. China has the opportunity to both address its national environmental health challenges and to assume a central role in the international effort to improve the global environment. PMID:20346817

Cadmium, environmental exposure, and health outcomes

PubMed Central

Satarug, Soisungwan; Garrett, Scott H.; Sens, Mary Ann; Sens, Donald A.

2018-01-01

We provide an update of the issues surrounding health risk assessment of exposure to cadmium in food. Bioavailability of ingested cadmium has been confirmed in studies of persons with elevated dietary exposure, and the findings have been strengthened by the substantial amounts of cadmium accumulated in kidneys, eyes, and other tissues and organs of environmentally exposed individuals. We hypothesized that such accumulation results from the efficient absorption and systemic transport of cadmium, employing multiple transporters that are used for the body’s acquisition of calcium, iron, zinc, and manganese. Adverse effects of cadmium on kidney and bone have been observed in environmentally exposed populations at frequencies higher than those predicted from models of exposure. Population data raise concerns about the validity of the current safe intake level that uses the kidney as the sole target in assessing the health risk from ingested cadmium. The data also question the validity of incorporating the default 5% absorption rate in the threshold-type risk assessment model, known as the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI), to derive a safe intake level for cadmium. PMID:21655733

Effects of sevin-4-oil, dimilin, and orthene on forest birds in northeastern Oregon

Treesearch

Merle L. Richmond; Charles J. Henny; Randy L. Floyd; William R. Mannan; Deborah M. Finch; Lawrence R. DeWeese

1979-01-01

The possible harmful effect of insecticides on nontarget organisms should be a prominent concern in all attempts to control forest pests. Although all wildlife must be considered, birds are particularly vulnerable. The study reported here was part of the effort to find an environmentally safe method to control one of the major sources of insect damage to forest trees...

40 CFR 23.7 - Timing of Administrator's action under Safe Drinking Water Act.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... Safe Drinking Water Act. 23.7 Section 23.7 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY GENERAL JUDICIAL REVIEW UNDER EPA-ADMINISTERED STATUTES § 23.7 Timing of Administrator's action under Safe Drinking Water Act. Unless the Administrator otherwise explicitly provides in a particular promulgation...

40 CFR 23.7 - Timing of Administrator's action under Safe Drinking Water Act.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... Safe Drinking Water Act. 23.7 Section 23.7 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY GENERAL JUDICIAL REVIEW UNDER EPA-ADMINISTERED STATUTES § 23.7 Timing of Administrator's action under Safe Drinking Water Act. Unless the Administrator otherwise explicitly provides in a particular promulgation...

Restoring native riparian vegetation

Treesearch

Debbie Hughes

1996-01-01

In the lower Pecos Basin, an unusual coalition of conservationists, agriculture producers, business owners, and state agencies have joined together to save what is left of the once-naturally diverse Pecos River ecosystem. This organization is going to show a state-of-the-art, economical, effective, efficient, and environmentally safe method to control salt cedar and...

3 CFR 13605 - Executive Order 13605 of April 13, 2012. Supporting Safe and Responsible Development of...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... primary regulators of onshore oil and gas activities, the Federal Government has an important role to play... important for effective implementation of these programs and activities. To formalize and promote ongoing... Council on Environmental Quality; (xi) the Office of Science and Technology Policy; (xii) the Office of...

Progress and future direction for the interim safe storage and disposal of Hanford high-level waste

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kinzer, J.E.; Wodrich, D.D.; Bacon, R.F.

This paper describes the progress made at the largest environmental cleanup program in the United States. Substantial advances in methods to start interim safe storage of Hanford Site high-level wastes, waste characterization to support both safety- and disposal-related information needs, and proceeding with cost-effective disposal by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and its Hanford Site contractors, have been realized. Challenges facing the Tank Waste Remediation System (TWRS) Program, which is charged with the dual and parallel missions of interim safe storage and disposal of the high-level tank waste stored at the Hanford Site, are described. In these times ofmore » budget austerity, implementing an ongoing program that combines technical excellence and cost effectiveness is the near-term challenge. The technical initiatives and progress described in this paper are made more cost effective by DOE`s focus on work force productivity improvement, reduction of overhead costs, and reduction, integration and simplification of DOE regulations and operations requirements to more closely model those used in the private sector.« less

Analysis of the environmental and economic indicators of the industrial enterprise

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mikhailov, V. G.; Kiseleva, T. V.

2018-05-01

In the paper the features of the analysis of the environmental and economic indicators of the industrial enterprise are considered. The purpose of the study is to improve the system of environmental and economic analysis at the enterprise for more accurate forecasting of its main environmental and economic indicators. The study of the main approaches to the implementation of environmental and economic analysis based on the corresponding systems of indicators with identification of the most significant factors was carried out. The main result of the study is the choice of a system for analyzing the environmental and economic indicators, maximally oriented to a specific enterprise, taking into account its production specific features. The practical significance of the study consists in the selection of an adequate system of indicators at enterprises to improve the effectiveness from preparation of an environmentally safe management decision.

Biosafe inertization of municipal solid waste incinerator residues by COSMOS technology.

PubMed

Guarienti, Michela; Gianoncelli, Alessandra; Bontempi, Elza; Moscoso Cardozo, Sdenka; Borgese, Laura; Zizioli, Daniela; Mitola, Stefania; Depero, Laura E; Presta, Marco

2014-08-30

Municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI) residues can generate negative environmental impacts when improperly handled. The COlloidal Silica Medium to Obtain Safe inert (COSMOS) technology represents a new method to stabilize MSWI residues and to produce inert safe material. Here we report the results about aquatic biotoxicity of lixiviated MSWI fly ash and the corresponding inertized COSMOS material using a zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryo toxicity test. Quantitative assessment of waste biotoxicity included evaluation of mortality rate and of different morphological and teratogenous endpoints in zebrafish embryos exposed to tested materials from 3 to 72h post-fertilization. The results demonstrate that lixiviated MSWI fly ash exerts a dose-dependent lethal effect paralleled by dramatic morphological/teratogenous alterations and apoptotic events in the whole embryo body. Similar effects were observed following MSWI fly ash stabilization in classical concrete matrices, demonstrating that the obtained materials are not biologically safe. On the contrary, no significant mortality and developmental defects were observed in zebrafish embryos exposed to COSMOS inert solution. Our results provide the first experimental in vivo evidence that, in contrast with concrete stabilization procedure, COSMOS technology provides a biologically safe inert. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Brominated flame retardants: Recommendation for different listing under the Hong Kong Convention.

PubMed

Čulin, Jelena

2018-05-02

When the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, 2009 enters into effect, ships to be sent for recycling will be required to carry an Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM) on board, which identifies the hazardous materials contained in the ship's structure or equipment. In its current form, IHM covers two classes of brominated flame retardants (BFRs), namely polybrominated biphenyls and polybrominated diphenyl ethers. Emerging evidence from recent literature suggests that members of all classes of BFRs are present in all environmental compartments and that exposure to them is associated with a wide range of harmful effects in humans and animals, effects that include endocrine disruption. Despite a growing body of research, the necessary data to perform health and environmental risk assessment are still lacking. This paper reviews environmental and human health impacts and discusses some issues of BFR environmental management. It is suggested that based on a precautionary approach, the inclusion of all classes of BFRs in IHM is warranted. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Ubiquitous Wireless Smart Sensing and Control

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wagner, Raymond

2013-01-01

Need new technologies to reliably and safely have humans interact within sensored environments (integrated user interfaces, physical and cognitive augmentation, training, and human-systems integration tools). Areas of focus include: radio frequency identification (RFID), motion tracking, wireless communication, wearable computing, adaptive training and decision support systems, and tele-operations. The challenge is developing effective, low cost/mass/volume/power integrated monitoring systems to assess and control system, environmental, and operator health; and accurately determining and controlling the physical, chemical, and biological environments of the areas and associated environmental control systems.

Ubiquitous Wireless Smart Sensing and Control. Pumps and Pipes JSC: Uniquely Houston

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wagner, Raymond

2013-01-01

Need new technologies to reliably and safely have humans interact within sensored environments (integrated user interfaces, physical and cognitive augmentation, training, and human-systems integration tools).Areas of focus include: radio frequency identification (RFID), motion tracking, wireless communication, wearable computing, adaptive training and decision support systems, and tele-operations. The challenge is developing effective, low cost/mass/volume/power integrated monitoring systems to assess and control system, environmental, and operator health; and accurately determining and controlling the physical, chemical, and biological environments of the areas and associated environmental control systems.

Safe, Effective Use of Pesticides, A Manual for Commercial Applicators: Aquatic Pest Control.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Extension Service (USDA), Washington, DC.

This manual is intended to assist pesticide applicators in the area of aquatic pest control meet the requirements of the Michigan Department of Agriculture for certification. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Aquatic Pest Control Guide served as a basis for this manual. The six sections presented describe: (1) Aquatic pest control; (2)…

16 CFR 260.11 - Ozone-safe and ozone-friendly claims.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... 16 Commercial Practices 1 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 false Ozone-safe and ozone-friendly claims. 260.11... THE USE OF ENVIRONMENTAL MARKETING CLAIMS § 260.11 Ozone-safe and ozone-friendly claims. It is... friendly to, the ozone layer or the atmosphere. Example 1: A product is labeled “ozone-friendly.” The claim...

16 CFR 260.11 - Ozone-safe and ozone-friendly claims.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... 16 Commercial Practices 1 2014-01-01 2014-01-01 false Ozone-safe and ozone-friendly claims. 260.11... THE USE OF ENVIRONMENTAL MARKETING CLAIMS § 260.11 Ozone-safe and ozone-friendly claims. It is... friendly to, the ozone layer or the atmosphere. Example 1: A product is labeled “ozone-friendly.” The claim...

40 CFR 23.7 - Timing of Administrator's action under Safe Drinking Water Act.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 1 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Timing of Administrator's action under Safe Drinking Water Act. 23.7 Section 23.7 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY GENERAL JUDICIAL REVIEW UNDER EPA-ADMINISTERED STATUTES § 23.7 Timing of Administrator's action under Safe Drinking Water Act. Unless the...

40 CFR Appendix A to Part 45 - Environmental Protection Agency Training Programs

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... Office of Water: Water Pollution Control—Professional Training Grants X X Safe Drinking Water Professional Training Grants X Safe Drinking Water—Occupational Training X Office of Solid Waste and Emergency...

Associations between active trachoma and community intervention with Antibiotics, Facial cleanliness, and Environmental improvement (A,F,E).

PubMed

Ngondi, Jeremiah; Matthews, Fiona; Reacher, Mark; Baba, Samson; Brayne, Carol; Emerson, Paul

2008-04-30

Surgery, Antibiotics, Facial cleanliness and Environmental improvement (SAFE) are advocated by the World Health Organization (WHO) for trachoma control. However, few studies have evaluated the complete SAFE strategy, and of these, none have investigated the associations of Antibiotics, Facial cleanliness, and Environmental improvement (A,F,E) interventions and active trachoma. We aimed to investigate associations between active trachoma and A,F,E interventions in communities in Southern Sudan. Surveys were undertaken in four districts after 3 years of implementation of the SAFE strategy. Children aged 1-9 years were examined for trachoma and uptake of SAFE assessed through interviews and observations. Using ordinal logistic regression, associations between signs of active trachoma and A,F,E interventions were explored. Trachomatous inflammation-intense (TI) was considered more severe than trachomatous inflammation-follicular (TF). A total of 1,712 children from 25 clusters (villages) were included in the analysis. Overall uptake of A,F,E interventions was: 53.0% of the eligible children had received at least one treatment with azithromycin; 62.4% children had a clean face on examination; 72.5% households reported washing faces of children two or more times a day; 73.1% households had received health education; 44.4% of households had water accessible within 30 minutes; and 6.3% households had pit latrines. Adjusting for age, sex, and district baseline prevalence of active trachoma, factors independently associated with reduced odds of a more severe active trachoma sign were: receiving three treatments with azithromycin (odds ratio [OR] = 0.1; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.0-0.4); clean face (OR = 0.3; 95% CI 0.2-0.4); washing faces of children three or more times daily (OR = 0.4; 95% CI 0.3-0.7); and presence and use of a pit latrine in the household (OR = 0.4; 95% CI 0.2-0.9). Analysis of associations between the A,F,E components of the SAFE strategy and active trachoma showed independent protective effects against active trachoma of mass systemic azithromycin treatment, facial cleanliness, face washing, and use of pit latrines in the household. This strongly argues for continued use of all the components of the SAFE strategy together.

Students' Environmental Responsibility and Their Willingness to Pay for Green Buildings

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Attaran, Sharmin; Celik, Bilge Gokhan

2015-01-01

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore environmental attitudes and how such attitudes, when combined with a specific cost, can affect environmental behavior. Environmental attitudes are important to study due to the rising belief by building occupants that they are owed safe, healthy, environmentally responsible, and comfortable living…

Environmental aspects of large-scale wind-power systems in the UK

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Robson, A.

1983-12-01

Environmental issues relating to the introduction of large, MW-scale wind turbines at land-based sites in the U.K. are discussed. Areas of interest include noise, television interference, hazards to bird life and visual effects. A number of areas of uncertainty are identified, but enough is known from experience elsewhere in the world to enable the first U.K. machines to be introduced in a safe and environmentally acceptable manner. Research currently under way will serve to establish siting criteria more clearly, and could significantly increase the potential wind-energy resource. Certain studies of the comparative risk of energy systems are shown to be overpessimistic for U.K. wind turbines.

An Integrated Data-Driven Strategy for Safe-by-Design Nanoparticles: The FP7 MODERN Project.

PubMed

Brehm, Martin; Kafka, Alexander; Bamler, Markus; Kühne, Ralph; Schüürmann, Gerrit; Sikk, Lauri; Burk, Jaanus; Burk, Peeter; Tamm, Tarmo; Tämm, Kaido; Pokhrel, Suman; Mädler, Lutz; Kahru, Anne; Aruoja, Villem; Sihtmäe, Mariliis; Scott-Fordsmand, Janeck; Sorensen, Peter B; Escorihuela, Laura; Roca, Carlos P; Fernández, Alberto; Giralt, Francesc; Rallo, Robert

2017-01-01

The development and implementation of safe-by-design strategies is key for the safe development of future generations of nanotechnology enabled products. The safety testing of the huge variety of nanomaterials that can be synthetized is unfeasible due to time and cost constraints. Computational modeling facilitates the implementation of alternative testing strategies in a time and cost effective way. The development of predictive nanotoxicology models requires the use of high quality experimental data on the structure, physicochemical properties and bioactivity of nanomaterials. The FP7 Project MODERN has developed and evaluated the main components of a computational framework for the evaluation of the environmental and health impacts of nanoparticles. This chapter describes each of the elements of the framework including aspects related to data generation, management and integration; development of nanodescriptors; establishment of nanostructure-activity relationships; identification of nanoparticle categories; hazard ranking and risk assessment.

Validity and sensitivity of a model for assessment of impacts of river floodplain reconstruction on protected and endangered species

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nooij, R.J.W. de; Lotterman, K.M.; Sande, P.H.J. van de

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) must account for legally protected and endangered species. Uncertainties relating to the validity and sensitivity of EIA arise from predictions and valuation of effects on these species. This paper presents a validity and sensitivity analysis of a model (BIO-SAFE) for assessment of impacts of land use changes and physical reconstruction measures on legally protected and endangered river species. The assessment is based on links between species (higher plants, birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians, butterflies and dragon- and damselflies) and ecotopes (landscape ecological units, e.g., river dune, soft wood alluvial forests), and on value assignment to protectedmore » and endangered species using different valuation criteria (i.e., EU Habitats and Birds directive, Conventions of Bern and Bonn and Red Lists). The validity of BIO-SAFE has been tested by comparing predicted effects of landscape changes on the diversity of protected and endangered species with observed changes in biodiversity in five reconstructed floodplains. The sensitivity of BIO-SAFE to value assignment has been analysed using data of a Strategic Environmental Assessment concerning the Spatial Planning Key Decision for reconstruction of the Dutch floodplains of the river Rhine, aimed at flood defence and ecological rehabilitation. The weights given to the valuation criteria for protected and endangered species were varied and the effects on ranking of alternatives were quantified. A statistically significant correlation (p < 0.01) between predicted and observed values for protected and endangered species was found. The sensitivity of the model to value assignment proved to be low. Comparison of five realistic valuation options showed that different rankings of scenarios predominantly occur when valuation criteria are left out of the assessment. Based on these results we conclude that linking species to ecotopes can be used for adequate impact assessments. Quantification of sensitivity of impact assessment to value assignment shows that a model like BIO-SAFE is relatively insensitive to assignment of values to different policy and legislation based criteria. Arbitrariness of the value assignment therefore has a very limited effect on assessment outcomes. However, the decision to include valuation criteria or not is very important.« less

76 FR 37014 - Expedited Approval of Alternative Test Procedures for the Analysis of Contaminants Under the Safe...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-06-24

...; Analysis and Sampling Procedures AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY... Contaminants Under the Safe Drinking Water Act; Analysis and Sampling Procedures. 75 FR 32295. June 8, 2010...

EnviroSafe Finding of Violation

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

This document outlines the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reissuing an enclosed Finding of Violation (FOV) to Enviro-Safe Refrigerants, Inc. (you). We find that you have violated the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. § 7413(a) (the CAA).

Washing Out the Competition

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2001-01-01

AJT Associates, Inc. (AJT) worked with NASA to develop a revolutionary ozone-based laundry system. AJT's TecH2Ozone(R) wash system presents its customers with an energy-efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally safe way to perform commercial laundering. TecH2Ozone significantly reduces the amount of water and chemical used as compared to traditional commercial laundry systems. This reduction has resulted in lower cost and shorter wash cycles. And due to the reduced use of chemicals, a significant portion of the rinse water is recycled back into the system for reuse. TecH2Ozone customers, such as hotels and other large commercial laundry facilities, have felt the benefits of this equipment. Because of the reduced cycle times, fewer washers are needed and there is a notable increase in the cleanliness of the laundry. The reduction in chemical residues is a boon to customers with allergies and those prone to skin irritation from chemicals retained in regular laundry. AJT Associates, Inc. (AJT) worked with NASA to develop a revolutionary ozone-based laundry system. AJT's TecH2Ozone(R) wash system presents its customers with an energy-efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally safe way to perform commercial laundering.

Correlates of perceived effectiveness of the Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative.

PubMed

Ellis, Bruce; Alford, Aaron; Yu, Ping; Xiong, Sharon; Hill, Gary; Puckett, Marissa; Mannix, Danyelle; Wells, Michael E

2012-05-01

A three-level growth-curve model was applied to estimate perceived impact growth trajectories, using multi-year data from project and school surveys on outcome and program implementation collected from 59 sites and approximately 1165 participating schools in the Safe Schools and Healthy Students Initiative. Primary interest is to determine whether and how project-level and school-level correlates affect schools' perceptions of the Initiative's effectiveness over time when the effects of the pre-grant environmental conditions, grant operations, and near-term outcomes are considered. Coordination and service integration, comprehensive programs and activities for early childhood development, and change in school involvement were found to be significant predictors of school-perceived overall impact when the effect of poverty was considered. Partnership functioning, perceived importance of school resources, and school involvement were found to be significant predictors of school-perceived impact on substance use prevention when the effect of poverty was considered. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Strengthening Cost-Effectiveness Analysis for Public Health Policy.

PubMed

Russell, Louise B; Sinha, Anushua

2016-05-01

Although the U.S. spends more on medical care than any country in the world, Americans live shorter lives than the citizens of other high-income countries. Many important opportunities to improve this record lie outside the health sector and involve improving the conditions in which Americans live and work: safe design and maintenance of roads, bridges, train tracks, and airports; control of environmental pollutants; occupational safety; healthy buildings; a safe and healthy food supply; safe manufacture of consumer products; a healthy social environment; and others. Faced with the overwhelming array of possibilities, U.S. decision makers need help identifying those that can contribute the most to health. Cost-effectiveness analysis is designed to serve that purpose, but has mainly been used to assess interventions within the health sector. This paper briefly reviews the objective of cost-effectiveness analysis and its methodologic evolution and discusses the issues that arise when it is used to evaluate interventions that fall outside the health sector under three headings: structuring the analysis, quantifying/measuring benefits and costs, and valuing benefits and costs. Copyright © 2016 American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The effect of formulative parameters on the size and physical stability of SLN based on "green" components.

PubMed

Soddu, Elena; Rassu, Giovanna; Cossu, Massimo; Giunchedi, Paolo; Cerri, Guido; Gavini, Elisabetta

2016-01-01

Cocoa butter (CB) is a largely used excipient in pharmaceutical field. Aim of this work was to set formulative parameters for the preparation of SLN based on "green" lipid matrix for drug delivery as natural, both human and environmental safe systems. Double emulsion technique (w1/o/w2) was selected for SLN preparation. The effect on the dimensional properties of different surfactants (Tween 80 and PEG 40 monostearate) and co-surfactants (PEG400 monostearate, Emulium® Kappa2 and Plurol®Stearique) at different concentrations was evaluated. Stability tests were performed. SLN dispersions were exsiccated and the effect of the dried process on SLN size was evaluated. The influence of temperature on SLN dimensions was investigated at 37 °C. MTT test was performed on raw materials and formulations. The w1/o/w2 is suitable, rapid and economic technique for the preparation of CB SLN. Tween 80-Plurol Stearique combination gives the best results: particles size less than 400 nm and PI of about 0.4 are obtained when PS 2% is used. Both raw materials and formulations are safe. The importance to evaluate the effect of different surfactant and/or co-surfactant on the dimensional properties of SLN is evident by selecting substances with preferable safety profiles, and favorable environmental properties to develop stable "green" SLN.

Methionine as a safe and effective novel biorational mosquito larvicide.

PubMed

Weeks, Emma N I; Baniszewski, Julie; Gezan, Salvador A; Allan, Sandra A; Cuda, James P; Stevens, Bruce R

2018-06-11

Mosquito larvicides provide a source-reduction strategy to diminish adult females that bite and potentially spread pathogens. Demands are mounting for new and innovative effective biorational larvicides, due to the development of resistance to some currently utilized mosquito larvicides, undesirable non-target effects, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) restrictions. Methionine is a human nutrient essential amino acid that unexpectedly has been shown to be a valuable safe pest management tool against select insect pests that possess alkaline gut physiology. The present study evaluated larvicidal toxicity of methionine in several pestiferous mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) genera. Concentration-dependent DL-methionine kinetics assays of survival and pupation were conducted in larvae of Aedes albopictus Skuse, Anopheles quadrimaculatus Say, and Culex tarsalis Coquillett in glass jars. Higher concentrations of DL-methionine yielded 100% mortality for all test species and prevented pupation at a rate equivalent to Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) treatments. Concentration kinetics indicated that An. quadrimaculatus was 10-fold more sensitive to DL-methionine than Ae. albopictus and Cx. tarsalis. EPA regulations currently exempt methionine in pesticide formulations applied to agricultural crops. This study demonstrates that methionine is a highly effective mosquito larvicide that can provide a beneficial new biorational, environmentally sustainable tool to control pestiferous mosquitoes. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Art Safety.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

BCATA Journal for Art Teachers, 1991

1991-01-01

Advocating that Canadian art programs should use and model environmentally safe practices, the articles in this journal focus on issues of safe practices in art education. Articles are: (1) "What is WHMIS?"; (2) "Safety Precautions for Specific Art Processes"; (3) "Toxic Substances"; (4) "Using Clay, Glazes, and…

Environmental aspects of large-scale wind-power systems in the UK

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Robson, A.

1984-11-01

Environmental issues relating to the introduction of large, MW-scale wind turbines at land-based sites in the UK are discussed. Noise, television interference, hazards to bird life, and visual effects are considered. Areas of uncertainty are identified, but enough is known from experience elsewhere in the world to enable the first UK machines to be introduced in a safe and environementally acceptable manner. Research to establish siting criteria more clearly, and significantly increase the potential wind-energy resource is mentioned. Studies of the comparative risk of energy systems are shown to be overpessimistic for UK wind turbines.

Environmental Hazards in the Child Care Center.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gratz, Rene; Boulton, Pamla

1993-01-01

Presents research findings regarding the susceptibility of young children to various indoor environmental pollutants including cigarette smoke, heating and cooking equipment, art supplies, lead, and asbestos. Discusses assessment, management, and prevention of environmental hazards to provide guidelines for achieving a safe child care environment.…

Streamlined sample cleanup using combined dispersive solid-phase extraction and in-vial filtration for analysis of pesticides and environmental pollutants in shrimp

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

A new method of sample preparation was developed and is reported for the first time. The approach combines in-vial filtration with dispersive solid-phase extraction (d-SPE) in a fast and convenient cleanup of QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe) extracts. The method was appli...

Design of a safe cylindrical lithium/thionyl chloride cell

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Johnson, D. H.

1983-01-01

Cell design criteria were established which can result in a safe lithium/thionyl chloride cell. A cell vent, a low area internal anode cell, cell balance and composition of the cathode-electrolyte solution were found to be important factors in the design of a safe cell. In addition to routine testing, both undischarged and discharged cells were subjected to electrical abuse, environmental abuse and mechanical abuse without disassembly.

Tap versus bottled water consumption: The influence of social norms, affect and image on consumer choice.

PubMed

Etale, Anita; Jobin, Marilou; Siegrist, Michael

2018-02-01

What drives consumers to choose bottled water instead of tap water where the latter is safe, accessible, costs far less, and in spite of its environmental impacts? This research investigates the influence of hitherto unexplored psychological drivers in an attempt to generate a more holistic understanding of the phenomenon, and strategies for designing more effective consumption reduction campaigns. Using data from an internet survey of Swiss and German respondents (N = 849) we investigated the role of, social norms, affect and image on water consumption. Results suggest that these psychological factors play a role in water consumption choice. Convenience was the only contextual predictor - the inconvenience of transporting bottled water has a negative effect on its consumption, and a positive effect on tap water consumption. Although concern about the effect of bottled water on the environment was not a significant predictor of tap water consumption, we found that for some people, a link exists between environmental concern and consumption choice. Ways through which consumers may be more effectively influenced towards environmentally-friendly consumption are discussed. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical Risk Assessment: Traditional vs Public Health Perspectives

PubMed Central

Axelrad, Daniel A.; Bahadori, Tina; Bussard, David; Cascio, Wayne E.; Deener, Kacee; Dix, David; Thomas, Russell S.; Kavlock, Robert J.; Burke, Thomas A.

2017-01-01

Preventing adverse health effects of environmental chemical exposure is fundamental to protecting individual and public health. When done efficiently and properly, chemical risk assessment enables risk management actions that minimize the incidence and effects of environmentally induced diseases related to chemical exposure. However, traditional chemical risk assessment is faced with multiple challenges with respect to predicting and preventing disease in human populations, and epidemiological studies increasingly report observations of adverse health effects at exposure levels predicted from animal studies to be safe for humans. This discordance reinforces concerns about the adequacy of contemporary risk assessment practices for protecting public health. It is becoming clear that to protect public health more effectively, future risk assessments will need to use the full range of available data, draw on innovative methods to integrate diverse data streams, and consider health endpoints that also reflect the range of subtle effects and morbidities observed in human populations. Considering these factors, there is a need to reframe chemical risk assessment to be more clearly aligned with the public health goal of minimizing environmental exposures associated with disease. PMID:28520487

The effects of environmental chemicals on renal function.

PubMed

Kataria, Anglina; Trasande, Leonardo; Trachtman, Howard

2015-10-01

The global incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is increasing among individuals of all ages. Despite advances in proteomics, genomics and metabolomics, there remains a lack of safe and effective drugs to reverse or stabilize renal function in patients with glomerular or tubulointerstitial causes of CKD. Consequently, modifiable risk factors that are associated with a progressive decline in kidney function need to be identified. Numerous reports have documented the adverse effects that occur in response to graded exposure to a wide range of environmental chemicals. This Review summarizes the effects of such chemicals on four aspects of cardiorenal function: albuminuria, glomerular filtration rate, blood pressure and serum uric acid concentration. We focus on compounds that individuals are likely to be exposed to as a consequence of normal consumer activities or medical treatment, namely phthalates, bisphenol A, polyfluorinated alkyl acids, dioxins and furans, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls. Environmental exposure to these chemicals during everyday life could have adverse consequences on renal function and might contribute to progressive cumulative renal injury over a lifetime. Regulatory efforts should be made to limit individual exposure to environmental chemicals in an attempt to reduce the incidence of cardiorenal disease.

The effects of environmental chemicals on renal function

PubMed Central

Kataria, Anglina; Trasande, Leonardo; Trachtman, Howard

2015-01-01

The global incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is increasing among individuals of all ages. Despite advances in proteomics, genomics and metabolomics, there remains a lack of safe and effective drugs to reverse or stabilize renal function in patients with glomerular or tubulointerstitial causes of CKD. Consequently, modifiable risk factors that are associated with a progressive decline in kidney function need to be identified. Numerous reports have documented the adverse effects that occur in response to graded exposure to a wide range of environmental chemicals. This Review summarizes the effects of such chemicals on four aspects of cardiorenal function: albuminuria, glomerular filtration rate, blood pressure and serum uric acid concentration. We focus on compounds that individuals are likely to be exposed to as a consequence of normal consumer activities or medical treatment, namely phthalates, bisphenol A, polyfluorinated alkyl acids, dioxins and furans, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls. Environmental exposure to these chemicals during everyday life could have adverse consequences on renal function and might contribute to progressive cumulative renal injury over a lifetime. Regulatory efforts should be made to limit individual exposure to environmental chemicals in an attempt to reduce the incidence of cardiorenal disease. PMID:26100504

美国国家环境保护局 - 中文 (简体版)

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Environmental information translated into Simplified Chinese includes air quality, drinking water and fish consumption, pesticides and toxic substances, women's health, diabetes, safe waste disposal, and environmental justice.

Finding of No Significant Impact: Repair and Renovate Airborne Warning and Control System Maintenance Group Complex, Building 230 Tinker Air Force Base Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-02-01

BASE OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA An Environmental Assessment (EA) has been prepared to assess the potential effects on the human and natural...hangars, and associated administrative and shop areas to allow the 552d ACW to inspect, service, and maintain E-3 AWACS aircraft safely and effectively ...maintain Tinker AFB’s mission effectiveness and optimize the 552d ACW’s sortie generation rates. Implementing the Proposed Action would provide a

Chlorophyll derivatives for pest and disease control: Are they safe?

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Azizullah, Azizullah, E-mail: azizswabi@gmail.com; Murad, Waheed

2015-01-15

Chlorophyll derivatives are getting widespread acceptance among the researchers as natural photosensitizers for photodynamic control of pests and disease vectors; however, rare attention has been given to evaluation of their toxicity to non-target organisms in the environment. This perspective article highlights that chlorophyll derivatives may not be as safe as believed and can possibly pose risk to non-target organisms in the environment. We invite the attention of environmental biologists, particularly ecotoxicologists, to contribute their role in making the application of chlorophyll derivatives more environmentally friendly and publicly acceptable.

Water Quality and Sustainable Environmental Health

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Setegn, S. G.

2014-12-01

Lack of adequate safe water, the pollution of the aquatic environment and the mismanagement of resources are major causes of ill-health and mortality, particularly in the developing countries. In order to accommodate more growth, sustainable fresh water resource management will need to be included in future development plans. One of the major environmental issues of concern to policy-makers is the increased vulnerability of ground water quality. The main challenge for the sustainability of water resources is the control of water pollution. To understand the sustainability of the water resources, one needs to understand the impact of future land use and climate changes on the natural resources. Providing safe water and basic sanitation to meet the Millennium Development Goals will require substantial economic resources, sustainable technological solutions and courageous political will. A balanced approach to water resources exploitation for development, on the one hand, and controls for the protection of health, on the other, is required if the benefits of both are to be realized without avoidable detrimental effects manifesting themselves. Meeting the millennium development goals for water and sanitation in the next decade will require substantial economic resources, sustainable technological solutions and courageous political will. In addition to providing "improved" water and "basic" sanitation services, we must ensure that these services provide: safe drinking water, adequate quantities of water for health, hygiene, agriculture and development and sustainable sanitation approaches to protect health and the environment.

76 FR 10805 - Dan Kane; Denial of Petition for Rulemaking

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-02-28

... of no significant environmental impact, also known as the Waste Confidence Rule. (ADAMS Accession No... safely and without significant environmental impacts for at least 60 years after the licensed life of... supported by an Environmental Impact Statement) to assess the long-term storage of SNF and HLW. (ADAMS...

40 CFR 135.10 - Purpose.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) WATER PROGRAMS PRIOR NOTICE OF CITIZEN SUITS Prior Notice Under the Safe Drinking Water Act § 135.10 Purpose. Section 1449 of the Safe Drinking Water Act (the Act) authorizes any person to commence a civil action to enforce the Act against an...

The Safe Drinking Water Act First 180 Days

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lehr, Jay H.

1975-01-01

The Safe Drinking Water Act protects our drinking and ground water resources. The Water Advisory Council interprets and implements the law. Implementation principles include high priorities for public health, cost considerations, state and local participation, environmental impact, decentralized decision making, and use of federal and state…

40 CFR 135.10 - Purpose.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) WATER PROGRAMS PRIOR NOTICE OF CITIZEN SUITS Prior Notice Under the Safe Drinking Water Act § 135.10 Purpose. Section 1449 of the Safe Drinking Water Act (the Act) authorizes any person to commence a civil action to enforce the Act against an...

West Coast Region Home :: NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region

Science.gov Websites

Environmental Policy Act Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund Sovereign Relations Dolphin-safe Tuna Aquaculture -safe Tuna Sustainable Seafood Ecosystem-Based Management Hatcheries Resources Permits & . . . NOAA Fisheries researchers working to recover the critically endangered white abalone need to answer

Design, Qualification and Lessons Learned of the Shutter Calibration Mechanism for EnMAP Mission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schmidt, Tilo; Muller, Silvio; Bergander, Arvid; Zajac, Kai; Seifart, Klaus

2015-09-01

The Shutter Calibration Mechanism (SCM) Assembly is one of three mechanisms which are developed by HTS for the EnMAP instrument in subcontract to OHB System AG Munich. EnMAP is the Environmental Mapping and Analysis Program of the German Space Agency DLR.The binary rotary encoder of the SCM using hall-effect sensors was already presented during ESMATS 2011. This paper summarizes the main functions and design features of the Hardware and focuses on qualification testing which has finished successfully in 2014. Of particular interest is the functional testing of the main drive including the precise hall-effect position sensing system and the test of the fail safe mechanism. In addition to standard test campaign required for QM also a shock emission measurement of the fail safe mechanism activation was conducted.Test conduction and results will be presented with focus on deviations from the expected behaviour, mitigation measures and on lessons learned.

Space Environmental Effects on Materials and Processes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sabbann, Leslie M.

2009-01-01

The Materials and Processes (M&P) Branch of the Structural Engineering Division at Johnson Space Center (JSC) seeks to uphold the production of dependable space hardware through materials research, which fits into NASA's purpose of advancing human exploration, use, and development of space. The Space Environmental Effects projects fully support these Agency goals. Two tasks were assigned to support M&P. Both assignments were to further the research of material behavior outside of Earth's atmosphere in order to determine which materials are most durable and safe to use in space for mitigating risks. One project, the Materials on International Space Station Experiments (MISSE) task, was to compile data from International Space Station (ISS) experiments to pinpoint beneficial space hardware. The other project was researching the effects on composite materials of exposure to high doses of radiation for a Lunar habitat project.

APSIC Guidelines for environmental cleaning and decontamination.

PubMed

Ling, Moi Lin; Apisarnthanarak, Anucha; Thu, Le Thi Anh; Villanueva, Victoria; Pandjaitan, Costy; Yusof, Mohamad Yasim

2015-01-01

This document is an executive summary of APSIC Guidelines for Environmental Cleaning and Decontamination. It describes best practices in routine cleaning and decontamination in healthcare facilities as well as in specific settings e.g. management of patients with isolation precautions, food preparation areas, construction and renovation, and following a flood. It recommends the implementation of environmental hygiene program to keep the environment safe for patients, staff and visitors visiting a healthcare facility. Objective assessment of cleanliness and quality is an essential component of this program as a method for identifying quality improvement opportunities. Recommendations for safe handling of linen and bedding; as well as occupational health and safety issues are included in the guidelines. A training program is vital to ensure consistent adherence to best practices.

The development of an observational screening tool to assess safe, effective and appropriate walking aid use in people with multiple sclerosis.

PubMed

Eitzen, Abby; Finlayson, Marcia; Carolan-Laing, Leanne; Nacionales, Arthur Junn; Walker, Christie; O'Connor, Josephine; Asano, Miho; Coote, Susan

2017-08-01

The purpose of this study was to identify potential items for an observational screening tool to assess safe, effective and appropriate walking aid use among people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Such a tool is needed because of the association between fall risk and mobility aid use in this population. Four individuals with MS were videotaped using a one or two straight canes, crutches or a rollator in different settings. Seventeen health care professionals from Canada, Ireland and the United States were recruited, and viewed the videos, and were then interviewed about the use of the devices by the individuals in the videos. Interview questions addressed safety, effectiveness and appropriateness of the device in the setting. Data were analyzed qualitatively. Coding consistency across raters was evaluated and confirmed. Nineteen codes were identified as possible items for the screening tool. The most frequent issues raised regardless of setting and device were "device used for duration/abandoned", "appropriate device", "balance and stability", "device technique", "environmental modification" and "hands free." With the identification of a number of potential tool items, researchers can now move forward with the development of the tool. This will involve consultation with both healthcare professionals and people with MS. Implications for rehabilitation Falls among people with multiple sclerosis are associated with mobility device use and use of multiple devices is associated with greater falls risk. The ability to assess for safe, effective and efficient use of walking aids is therefore important, no tools currently exist for this purpose. The codes arising from this study will be used to develop a screening tool for safe, effective and efficient walking aid use with the aim of reducing falls risk.

Edward W. Jennings | NREL

Science.gov Websites

practices promoting a safe and supportive working environment. His research interests include environmental, safety, and health (ESH) and facility issues, he is responsible for implementing safe work plan; working directly with awardees by performing on-site validations to collect and analyze enzyme

78 FR 27392 - Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of Authority

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-05-10

... Office (AMSO) provides a safe, secure, healthy, and functional workplace environment for CDC staff by... provides the tools needed for workers to be safe, work in a healthy environment, and ensures environmental... Office of Security and Emergency Preparedness (CAJJ); Office of Safety, Health and Environment (CAJP...

Criminal Division - Alaska Department of Law

Science.gov Websites

Criminal Division The Criminal Division works to assure safe and healthy communities by prosecuting and live in safe and healthy communities. The day-to-day prosecution services are carried out by the implicated in environmental crimes from further operations that damage the environment. The ECU is partially

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kumar, Satish; Fisk, William J.

Research into indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and its effects on health, comfort and performance of occupants is becoming increasingly essential. Facility managers are interested in IEQ's close relationship to energy use. Employers hope to enhance employee comfort and productivity, reduce absenteeism and health-care costs, and reduce risk of litigation. The rising interest in this field has placed additional pressure on the research community for practical guidelines on creating a safe, healthy and comfortable indoor environment.

Resurgent vector-borne diseases as a global health problem.

PubMed Central

Gubler, D. J.

1998-01-01

Vector-borne infectious diseases are emerging or resurging as a result of changes in public health policy, insecticide and drug resistance, shift in emphasis from prevention to emergency response, demographic and societal changes, and genetic changes in pathogens. Effective prevention strategies can reverse this trend. Research on vaccines, environmentally safe insecticides, alternative approaches to vector control, and training programs for health-care workers are needed. PMID:9716967

Aquatic environmental safety assessment and inhibition mechanism of chemicals for targeting Microcystis aeruginosa.

PubMed

Yu, Xiao-Bo; Hao, Kai; Ling, Fei; Wang, Gao-Xue

2014-11-01

Cyanobacteria are a diverse group of Gram-negative bacteria that produce an array of secondary compounds with selective bioactivity against vertebrates, invertebrates, fungi, bacteria and cell lines. Recently the main methods of controlling cyanobacteria are using chemicals, medicinal plants and microorganism but fewer involved the safety research in hydrophytic ecosystems. In search of an environmentally safe compound, 53 chemicals were screened against the developed heavy cyanobacteria bloom Microcystis aeruginosa using coexistence culture system assay. The results of the coexistence assay showed that 9 chemicals inhibited M. aeruginosa effectively at 20 mg L(-1) after 7 days of exposure. Among them dimethomorph, propineb, and paraquat were identified that they are safe for Chlorella vulgaris, Scenedesmus obliquus, Carassius auratus (Goldfish) and Bacillus subtilis within half maximal effective concentration (EC50) values 5.2, 4.2 and 0.06 mg L(-1) after 7 days, respectively. Paraquat as the positive control observed to be more efficient than the other compounds with the inhibitory rate (IR) of 92% at 0.5 mg L(-1). For the potential inhibition mechanism, the chemicals could destroy the cell ultrastructure in different speed. The safety assay proved dimethomorph, propineb and paraquat as harmless formulations or products having potential value in M. aeruginosa controlling, with the advantage of its cell morphology degrading ability.

Research and Development initiative of Satellite Technology Application for Environmental Issues in Asia Region

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hamamoto, K.; Kaneko, Y.; Sobue, S.; Oyoshi, K.

2016-12-01

Climate change and human activities are directly or indirectly influence the acceleration of environmental problems and natural hazards such as forest fires, drought and floods in the Asia-Pacific countries. Satellite technology has become one of the key information sources in assessment, monitoring and mitigation of these hazards and related phenomenon. However, there are still gaps between science and application of space technology in practical usage. Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF) recommended to initiate the Space Applications for Environment (SAFE) proposal providing opportunity to potential user agencies in the Asia Pacific region to develop prototype applications of space technology for number of key issues including forest resources management, coastal monitoring and management, agriculture and food security, water resource management and development user-friendly tools for application of space technology. The main activity of SAFE is SAFE prototyping. SAFE prototyping is a demonstration for end users and decision makers to apply space technology applications for solving environmental issues in Asia-Pacific region. By utilizing space technology and getting technical support by experts, prototype executers can develop the application system, which could support decision making activities. SAFE holds a workshop once a year. In the workshop, new prototypes are approved and the progress of on-going prototypes are confirmed. Every prototype is limited for two years period and all activities are operated by volunteer manner. As of 2016, 20 prototypes are completed and 6 prototypes are on-going. Some of the completed prototypes, for example drought monitoring in Indonesia were applied to operational use by a local official organization.

Human and Environmental Toxicity of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS): Evidence for Safe Use in Household Cleaning Products.

PubMed

Bondi, Cara Am; Marks, Julia L; Wroblewski, Lauren B; Raatikainen, Heidi S; Lenox, Shannon R; Gebhardt, Kay E

2015-01-01

Environmental chemical exposure is a major concern for consumers of packaged goods. The complexity of chemical nomenclature and wide availability of scientific research provide detailed information but lends itself to misinterpretation by the lay person. For the surfactant sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), this has resulted in a misunderstanding of the environmental health impact of the chemical and statements in the media that are not scientifically supported. This review demonstrates how scientific works can be misinterpreted and used in a manner that was not intended by the authors, while simultaneously providing insight into the true environmental health impact of SLS. SLS is an anionic surfactant commonly used in consumer household cleaning products. For decades, this chemical has been developing a negative reputation with consumers because of inaccurate interpretations of the scientific literature and confusion between SLS and chemicals with similar names. Here, we review the human and environmental toxicity profiles of SLS and demonstrate that it is safe for use in consumer household cleaning products.

Human and Environmental Toxicity of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS): Evidence for Safe Use in Household Cleaning Products

PubMed Central

Bondi, Cara AM; Marks, Julia L; Wroblewski, Lauren B; Raatikainen, Heidi S; Lenox, Shannon R; Gebhardt, Kay E

2015-01-01

Environmental chemical exposure is a major concern for consumers of packaged goods. The complexity of chemical nomenclature and wide availability of scientific research provide detailed information but lends itself to misinterpretation by the lay person. For the surfactant sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), this has resulted in a misunderstanding of the environmental health impact of the chemical and statements in the media that are not scientifically supported. This review demonstrates how scientific works can be misinterpreted and used in a manner that was not intended by the authors, while simultaneously providing insight into the true environmental health impact of SLS. SLS is an anionic surfactant commonly used in consumer household cleaning products. For decades, this chemical has been developing a negative reputation with consumers because of inaccurate interpretations of the scientific literature and confusion between SLS and chemicals with similar names. Here, we review the human and environmental toxicity profiles of SLS and demonstrate that it is safe for use in consumer household cleaning products. PMID:26617461

Assessing the Environmental Safety of Engineered Nanomaterials

EPA Science Inventory

Nanotechnology research in the United States is coordinated under the National Nano-technology Initiative with the goal of fostering development and implementation of nanomaterials and products that incorporate them and assuring that they are environmentally safe. The environmen...

75 FR 37471 - Biweekly Notice; Applications and Amendments to Facility Operating Licenses Involving No...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-06-29

...,'' Revision 2, and Nuclear Energy [Institute] (NEI) 00- 01, ``Guidance for Post-Fire Safe-Shutdown Circuit... environmental impact statement or environmental assessment need be prepared for these amendments. If the...

Environmental management of acid water problems in mining areas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, Gurdeep; Bhatnagar, Mridula; Sinha, D. K.

1990-03-01

Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) originates from the oxidation and leaching of sulphide minerals present in coal and metalliferrous ore bodies and gives rise to several environmental degradation problems. An investigation has been carried out to combat the acidic water problems. Results of this investigation indicate that application of anionic surfactant (sodium lauryl sulphate) and food preservatives (sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate) effectively abate the acid formation at low concentration levels (15-40 ppm) as tested in laboratory as well as at pilot-scale levels. Acidity, sulphate and iron concentrations are found to reduce by over 70 percent and remained low for more than three months after treatment. Thus this investigation demonstrates the management of these problems in an environmentally safe manner by controlling acid formation at its source.

Microbiology operations and facilities aboard restructured Space Station Freedom

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cioletti, Louis A.; Mishra, S. K.; Pierson, Duane L.

1992-01-01

With the restructure and funding changes for Space Station Freedom, the Environmental Health System (EHS)/Microbiology Subsystem revised its scheduling and operational requirements for component hardware. The function of the Microbiology Subsystem is to monitor the environmental quality of air, water, and internal surfaces and, in part, crew health on board Space Station. Its critical role shall be the identification of microbial contaminants in the environment that may cause system degradation, produce unsanitary or pathogenic conditions, or reduce crew and mission effectiveness. EHS/Microbiology operations and equipment shall be introduced in concert with a phased assembly sequence, from Man Tended Capability (MTC) through Permanently Manned Capability (PMC). Effective Microbiology operations and subsystem components will assure a safe, habitable, and useful spacecraft environment for life sciences research and long-term manned exploration.

Chemical Risk Assessment: Traditional vs Public Health ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Preventing adverse health impacts from exposures to environmental chemicals is fundamental to protecting individual and public health. When done efficiently and properly, chemical risk assessment enables risk management actions that minimize the incidence and impacts of environmentally-induced diseases related to chemical exposure. However, traditional chemical risk assessment is faced with multiple challenges with respect to predicting and preventing disease in human populations, and epidemiological studies increasingly report observations of adverse health effects at exposure levels predicted from animal studies to be safe for humans. This discordance reinforces concerns about the adequacy of contemporary risk assessment practices (Birnbaum, Burke, & Jones, 2016) for protecting public health. It is becoming clear that to protect public health more effectively, future risk assessments will need to use the full range of available data, draw on innovative methods to integrate diverse data streams, and consider health endpoints that also reflect the range of subtle effects and morbidities observed in human populations. Given these factors, there is a need to reframe chemical risk assessment to be more clearly aligned with the public health goal of minimizing environmental exposures associated with disease. Preventing adverse health impacts from exposures to environmental chemicals is fundamental to protecting individual and public health. Chemical risk assessments

Sterilizable syringes: excessive risk or cost-effective option?

PubMed Central

Battersby, A.; Feilden, R.; Nelson, C.

1999-01-01

In recent years, many poorer countries have chosen to use disposable instead of sterilizable syringes. Unfortunately, the infrastructure and management systems that are vital if disposables are to be used safely do not exist. WHO estimates that up to 30% of injections administered are unsafe. The traditional sterilizable syringe had many disadvantages, some of which have been minimized through better design and the use of modern materials; others have been overcome because staff are able to demonstrate that they have performed safely. For example, the time-steam saturation-temperature (TST) indicator has enabled staff to demonstrate that a sterilizing cycle has been successfully completed. Health facility staff must be able to sterilize equipment, and the sterilizable syringe remains the least costly means of administering an injection. Data from countries that have acceptable systems for processing clinical waste indicate that safe and environmentally acceptable disposal, destruction and final containment cost nearly as much as the original cost of a disposable syringe. By careful supervision of staff behaviour and good management, some countries have demonstrated that they are able to administer safe injections with sterilizable syringes at a price they can afford. PMID:10593029

DEVELOPMENT OF A FRAMEWORK FOR METALS RISK ASSESSMENT

EPA Science Inventory

Many EPA programs are faced with deciding whether and how to regulate toxic metals. These decisions range from setting regulatory standards for environmental releases, to establishing safe levels in different environmental media, to setting priorities for regulatory or voluntary...

SAVANNAH RIVER SITE ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT FOR 2010

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mamatey, A.; Dunaway-Ackerman, J.

2011-08-16

This report was prepared in accordance with U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Order 231.1A, 'Environment, Safety and Health Reporting,' to present summary environmental data for the purpose of: (a) characterizing site's environmental management performance; (b) summarizing environmental occurrences and responses reported during the calendar year; (c) describing compliance status with respect to environmental standards and requirements; and (d) highlighting significant site programs and efforts. This report is the principal document that demonstrates compliance with the requirements of DOE Order 5400.5, 'Radiation Protection of the Public and the Environment,' and is a key component of DOE's effort to keep the publicmore » informed of environmental conditions at Savannah River Site (SRS). SRS has four primary missions: (1) Environmental Management - Cleaning up the legacy of the Cold War efforts and preparing decommissioned facilities and areas for long-term stewardship; (2) Nuclear Weapons Stockpile Support - Meeting the needs of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile through the tritium programs of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); (3) Nuclear Nonproliferation Support - Meeting the needs of the NNSA's nuclear nonproliferation programs by safely storing and dispositioning excess special nuclear materials; and (4) Research and Development - Supporting the application of science by the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) to meet the needs of SRS, the DOE complex, and other federal agencies During 2010, SRS worked to fulfill these missions and position the site for future operations. SRS continued to work with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to find and implement solutions and schedules for waste management and disposition. As part of its mission to clean up the Cold War legacy, SRS will continue to address the highest-risk waste management issues by safely storing and preparing liquid waste and nuclear materials for disposition, and by safely stabilizing any tank waste residues that remain on site.« less

Possibility of biological control of primocane fruiting raspberry disease caused by Fusarium sambucinum.

PubMed

Shternshis, Margarita V; Belyaev, Anatoly A; Matchenko, Nina S; Shpatova, Tatyana V; Lelyak, Anastasya A

2015-10-01

Biological control agents are a promising alternative to chemical pesticides for plant disease suppression. The main advantage of the natural biocontrol agents, such as antagonistic bacteria compared with chemicals, includes environmental pollution prevention and a decrease of chemical residues in fruits. This study is aimed to evaluate the impact of three Bacillus strains on disease of primocane fruiting raspberry canes caused by Fusarium sambucinum under controlled infection load and uncontrolled environmental factors. Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens were used for biocontrol of plant disease in 2013 and 2014 which differed by environmental conditions. The test suspensions were 10(5) CFU/ml for each bacterial strain. To estimate the effect of biological agents on Fusarium disease, canes were cut at the end of vegetation, and the area of outer and internal lesions was measured. In addition to antagonistic effect, the strains revealed the ability to induce plant resistance comparable with chitosan-based formulation. Under variable ways of cane treatment by bacterial strains, the more effective were B. subtilis and B. licheniformis demonstrating dual biocontrol effect. However, environmental factors were shown to impact the strain biocontrol ability; changes in air temperature and humidity led to the enhanced activity of B. amyloliquefaciens. For the first time, the possibility of replacing chemicals with environmentally benign biological agents for ecologically safe control of the raspberry primocane fruiting disease was shown.

Tobacco industry responsibility for butts: a Model Tobacco Waste Act

PubMed Central

Curtis, Clifton; Novotny, Thomas E; Lee, Kelley; Freiberg, Mike; McLaughlin, Ian

2017-01-01

Cigarette butts and other postconsumer products from tobacco use are the most common waste elements picked up worldwide each year during environmental cleanups. Under the environmental principle of Extended Producer Responsibility, tobacco product manufacturers may be held responsible for collection, transport, processing and safe disposal of tobacco product waste (TPW). Legislation has been applied to other toxic and hazardous postconsumer waste products such as paints, pesticide containers and unused pharmaceuticals, to reduce, prevent and mitigate their environmental impacts. Additional product stewardship (PS) requirements may be necessary for other stakeholders and beneficiaries of tobacco product sales and use, especially suppliers, retailers and consumers, in order to ensure effective TPW reduction. This report describes how a Model Tobacco Waste Act may be adopted by national and subnational jurisdictions to address the environmental impacts of TPW. Such a law will also reduce tobacco use and its health consequences by raising attention to the environmental hazards of TPW, increasing the price of tobacco products, and reducing the number of tobacco product retailers. PMID:26931480

Genetic Factors Involved in Fumonisin Accumulation in Maize Kernels and Their Implications in Maize Agronomic Management and Breeding

PubMed Central

Santiago, Rogelio; Cao, Ana; Butrón, Ana

2015-01-01

Contamination of maize with fumonisins depends on the environmental conditions; the maize resistance to contamination and the interaction between both factors. Although the effect of environmental factors is a determinant for establishing the risk of kernel contamination in a region, there is sufficient genetic variability among maize to develop resistance to fumonisin contamination and to breed varieties with contamination at safe levels. In addition, ascertaining which environmental factors are the most important in a region will allow the implementation of risk monitoring programs and suitable cultural practices to reduce the impact of such environmental variables. The current paper reviews all works done to address the influence of environmental variables on fumonisin accumulation, the genetics of maize resistance to fumonisin accumulation, and the search for the biochemical and/or structural mechanisms of the maize plant that could be involved in resistance to fumonisin contamination. We also explore the outcomes of breeding programs and risk monitoring of undertaken projects. PMID:26308050

Genetic Factors Involved in Fumonisin Accumulation in Maize Kernels and Their Implications in Maize Agronomic Management and Breeding.

PubMed

Santiago, Rogelio; Cao, Ana; Butrón, Ana

2015-08-20

Contamination of maize with fumonisins depends on the environmental conditions; the maize resistance to contamination and the interaction between both factors. Although the effect of environmental factors is a determinant for establishing the risk of kernel contamination in a region, there is sufficient genetic variability among maize to develop resistance to fumonisin contamination and to breed varieties with contamination at safe levels. In addition, ascertaining which environmental factors are the most important in a region will allow the implementation of risk monitoring programs and suitable cultural practices to reduce the impact of such environmental variables. The current paper reviews all works done to address the influence of environmental variables on fumonisin accumulation, the genetics of maize resistance to fumonisin accumulation, and the search for the biochemical and/or structural mechanisms of the maize plant that could be involved in resistance to fumonisin contamination. We also explore the outcomes of breeding programs and risk monitoring of undertaken projects.

40 CFR 145.13 - Requirements for enforcement authority.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.), Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300f et seq.), Clean Air Act (42... must provide when it brings an action under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Note: For example, this.... 145.13 Section 145.13 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) WATER...

40 CFR 145.13 - Requirements for enforcement authority.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.), Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300f et seq.), Clean Air Act (42... must provide when it brings an action under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Note: For example, this.... 145.13 Section 145.13 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) WATER...

40 CFR 145.13 - Requirements for enforcement authority.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.), Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300f et seq.), Clean Air Act (42... must provide when it brings an action under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Note: For example, this.... 145.13 Section 145.13 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) WATER...

40 CFR 145.13 - Requirements for enforcement authority.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.), Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300f et seq.), Clean Air Act (42... must provide when it brings an action under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Note: For example, this.... 145.13 Section 145.13 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) WATER...

77 FR 23480 - Massachusetts Marine Sanitation Device Standard-Receipt of Petition

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-04-19

.... S. Environmental Protection Agency, that adequate facilities for the safe and sanitary removal and... amended by Public Law 95-217 and Public Law 100-4, that adequate facilities for the safe and sanitary... and dock space for the recreational and commercial vessels. Mount Hope Bay is a shared waterbody...

Health Effects and Environmental Justice Concerns of Exposure to Uranium in Drinking Water.

PubMed

Corlin, Laura; Rock, Tommy; Cordova, Jamie; Woodin, Mark; Durant, John L; Gute, David M; Ingram, Jani; Brugge, Doug

2016-12-01

We discuss the recent epidemiologic literature regarding health effects of uranium exposure in drinking water focusing on the chemical characteristics of uranium. While there is strong toxicologic evidence for renal and reproductive effects as well as DNA damage, the epidemiologic evidence for these effects in people exposed to uranium in drinking water is limited. Further, epidemiologic evidence is lacking for cardiovascular and oncogenic effects. One challenge in characterizing health effects of uranium in drinking water is the paucity of long-term cohort studies with individual level exposure assessment. Nevertheless, there are environmental justice concerns due to the substantial exposures for certain populations. For example, we present original data suggesting that individuals living in the Navajo Nation are exposed to high levels of uranium in unregulated well water used for drinking. In 10 out of 185 samples (5.4 %), concentrations of uranium exceeded standards under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Therefore, efforts to mitigate exposure to toxic elements in drinking water are warranted and should be prioritized.

Pinellas Plant Environmental Baseline Report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

The Pinellas Plant has been part of the Department of Energy`s (DOE) nuclear weapons complex since the plant opened in 1957. In March 1995, the DOE sold the Pinellas Plant to the Pinellas County Industry Council (PCIC). DOE has leased back a large portion of the plant site to facilitate transition to alternate use and safe shutdown. The current mission is to achieve a safe transition of the facility from defense production and prepare the site for alternative uses as a community resource for economic development. Toward that effort, the Pinellas Plant Environmental Baseline Report (EBR) discusses the current andmore » past environmental conditions of the plant site. Information for the EBR is obtained from plant records. Historical process and chemical usage information for each area is reviewed during area characterizations.« less

Addition of CFCl 3 to Aromatic Aldehydes via in Situ Grignard Reaction

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Barkakaty, Balaka; Talukdar, Bandana; Lokitz, Bradley

In the case of synthetic modification of trichlorofluoromethane (CFCl 3) to non-volatile and useful fluorinated precursors, we realized that it is a cost-effective and an environmentally benign strategy for the safe consumption/destruction of the ozone depleting potential of the reagent. In our report, we present a novel method for in situ Grignard reaction using magnesium powder and CFCl 3 for synthesis of dichlorofluoromethyl aromatic alcohols.

Addition of CFCl 3 to Aromatic Aldehydes via in Situ Grignard Reaction

DOE PAGES

Barkakaty, Balaka; Talukdar, Bandana; Lokitz, Bradley

2015-08-18

In the case of synthetic modification of trichlorofluoromethane (CFCl 3) to non-volatile and useful fluorinated precursors, we realized that it is a cost-effective and an environmentally benign strategy for the safe consumption/destruction of the ozone depleting potential of the reagent. In our report, we present a novel method for in situ Grignard reaction using magnesium powder and CFCl 3 for synthesis of dichlorofluoromethyl aromatic alcohols.

ENVIRONMENTALLY SAFE, NO VOC AUTOMOTIVE COATING - PHASE II

EPA Science Inventory

The EPA recognizes that volatile organic compounds (VOCs) must be eliminated from automotive coating formulations to improve worker safety and reduce environmental pollution. The phase I project resulted in the production of a polymer-based coating material that was clear, ...

An Analysis of Federal Legislative Jurisdictional Responsibilities for Toxic and Hazardous Materials.

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-02-01

fungus killers), miticides (mite killers) and herbicides (plant killers). More than 60,000 pesticides products are registered with EPA. They are all...Water Act of 1977 ..................... 22 Federal Environmental Pesticide Control Act of 1972 .......... 23 Federal Environmental Pesticide Control Act...Amendments of 1975 ..... ................... ... 25 Federal Environmental Pesticide Control Act Amendments of 1978 ..................... 26 Safe

Nanotechnology-based water treatment strategies.

PubMed

Kumar, Sandeep; Ahlawat, Wandit; Bhanjana, Gaurav; Heydarifard, Solmaz; Nazhad, Mousa M; Dilbaghi, Neeraj

2014-02-01

The most important component for living beings on the earth is access to clean and safe drinking water. Globally, water scarcity is pervasive even in water-rich areas as immense pressure has been created by the burgeoning human population, industrialization, civilization, environmental changes and agricultural activities. The problem of access to safe water is inevitable and requires tremendous research to devise new, cheaper technologies for purification of water, while taking into account energy requirements and environmental impact. This review highlights nanotechnology-based water treatment technologies being developed and used to improve desalination of sea and brackish water, safe reuse of wastewater, disinfection and decontamination of water, i.e., biosorption and nanoadsorption for contaminant removal, nanophotocatalysis for chemical degradation of contaminants, nanosensors for contaminant detection, different membrane technologies including reverse osmosis, nanofiltration, ultrafiltration, electro-dialysis etc. This review also deals with the fate and transport of engineered nanomaterials in water and wastewater treatment systems along with the risks associated with nanomaterials.

BEST: Bilingual environmental science training: Grades 5--6

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

NONE

This booklet is one of a series of bilingual guides to environmental-science learning activities for students to do at home. Lesson objectives, materials required, procedure, vocabulary, and subjects integrated into the lesson are described in English. A bilingual glossary, alphabetized by English entries, with Spanish equivalents and definitions in both English and Spanish, follows the lesson descriptions, and is itself followed by a bibliography of English-language references. This booklet includes descriptions of ten lessons that cover the following topics: safe and unsafe conditions for chemical combinations; growth rates and environmental needs of plants; photosynthesis and effects of ozone-layer depletion; themore » circulatory system, the importance of exercise to the heart, and selected circulatory diseases; the nervous system; specific nutritional values of the different food groups; significance of including, reducing, or eliminating certain foods for a healthy diet; effects of some common chemicals on plant growth and animal life; plants` and animals` natural habitats; and dangers of non-biodegradable garbage.« less

Pest Control on the "Fly"

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2002-01-01

FlyCracker(R), a non-toxic and environmentally safe pesticide, can be used to treat and control fly problems in closed environments such as milking sheds, cattle barns and hutches, equine stables, swine pens, poultry plants, food-packing plants, and even restaurants, as well as in some outdoor animal husbandry environments. The product can be applied safely in the presence of animals and humans, and was recently permitted for use on organic farms as livestock production aids. FlyCracker's carbohydrate technology kills fly larvae within 24 hours. By killing larvae before they reach the adult stages, FlyCracker eradicates another potential breeding population. Because the process is physical-not chemical-flies and other insects never develop resistance to the treatment, giving way to unlimited use of product, while still keeping the same powerful effect.

Dealing with the aftermath of Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident: decontamination of radioactive cesium enriched ash.

PubMed

Parajuli, Durga; Tanaka, Hisashi; Hakuta, Yukiya; Minami, Kimitaka; Fukuda, Shigeharu; Umeoka, Kuniyoshi; Kamimura, Ryuichi; Hayashi, Yukie; Ouchi, Masatoshi; Kawamoto, Tohru

2013-04-16

Environmental radioactivity, mainly in the Tohoku and Kanto areas, due to the long living radioisotopes of cesium is an obstacle to speedy recovery from the impacts of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. Although incineration of the contaminated wastes is encouraged, safe disposal of the Cs enriched ash is the big challenge. To address this issue, safe incineration of contaminated wastes while restricting the release of volatile Cs to the atmosphere was studied. Detailed study on effective removal of Cs from ash samples generated from wood bark, household garbage, and municipal sewage sludge was performed. For wood ash and garbage ash, washing only with water at ambient conditions removed radioactivity due to (134)Cs and (137)Cs, retaining most of the components other than the alkali metals with the residue. However, removing Cs from sludge ash needed acid treatment at high temperature. This difference in Cs solubility is due to the presence of soil particle originated clay minerals in the sludge ash. Because only removing the contaminated vegetation is found to sharply decrease the environmental radioactivity, volume reduction of contaminated biomass by incineration makes great sense. In addition, need for a long-term leachate monitoring system in the landfill can be avoided by washing the ash with water. Once the Cs in solids is extracted to the solution, it can be loaded to Cs selective adsorbents such as Prussian blue and safely stored in a small volume.

Perchlorate Clinical Pharmacology and Human Health: A Review

PubMed Central

Soldin, Offie Porat; Braverman, Lewis E.; Lamm, Steven H.

2013-01-01

Summary Potassium perchlorate has been used at various times during the last 50 years to treat hyperthyroidism. Since World War II ammonium perchlorate has been used as a propellant for rockets. In 1997, the assay sensitivity for perchlorate in water was improved from 0.4 mg/L (ppm) to 4 µg/L (ppb). As a result, public water supplies in Southern California were found to contain perchlorate ions in the range of 5 to 8 ppb, and those in Southern Nevada were found to contain 5 to 24 ppb. Research programs have been developed to assess the safety or risk from these exposures and to assist state and regulatory agencies in setting a reasonable safe level for perchlorate in drinking water. This report reviews the evidence on the human health effects of perchlorate exposure. Perchlorate is a competitive inhibitor of iodine uptake. All of its pharmacologic effects at current therapeutic levels or lower are associated with inhibition of the sodium-iodide symporter (NIS) on the thyroid follicular cell membrane. A review of the medical and occupational studies has been undertaken to identify perchlorate exposure levels at which thyroid hormone levels may be reduced or thyrotropin levels increased. This exposure level may begin in the 35 to 100 mg/d range. Volunteer studies have been designed to determine the exposure levels at which perchlorate begins to affect iodine uptake in humans. Such effects may begin at levels of approximately 1 mg/d. Environmental studies have assessed the thyroidal health of newborns and adults at current environmental exposures to perchlorate and have concluded that the present levels appear to be safe. Whereas additional studies are underway both in laboratory animals and in the field, it appears that a safe level can be established for perchlorate in water and that regulatory agencies and others are now trying to determine that level. PMID:11477312

Investigation on the potential of waste cooking oil as a grinding aid in Portland cement.

PubMed

Li, Haoxin; Zhao, Jianfeng; Huang, Yuyan; Jiang, Zhengwu; Yang, Xiaojie; Yang, Zhenghong; Chen, Qing

2016-12-15

Although there are several methods for managing waste cooking oil (WCO), a significant result has not been achieved in China. A new method is required for safe WCO management that minimizes the environmental threat. In this context, this work was developed in which cement clinker and gypsum were interground with various WCOs, and their properties, such as grindability, water-cement ratio required to achieve a normal consistency, setting times, compressive strength, contents of calcium hydroxide and ettringite in the hardened paste, microstructure and economic and environmental considerations, were addressed in detail. The results show that, overall, WCO favorably improves cement grinding. WCO prolonged the cement setting times and resulted in longer setting times. Additionally, more remarkable effects were found in cements in which WCO contained more unsaturated fatty acid. WCOs increased the cement strength. However, this enhancement was rated with respect to the WCO contents and components. WCOs decreased the CH and AFt contents in the cement hardened paste. Even the AFt content at later ages was reduced when WCO was used. WCO also densify microstructure of the hardened cement paste. It is economically and environmentally feasible to use WCOs as grinding aids in the cement grinding process. These results contribute to the application of WCOs as grinding aids and to the safe management of WCO. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Description of the docking module ECS for the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Guy, W. W.; Jaax, J. R.

1973-01-01

The role of the Docking Module ECS (Environmental Control System) to be used on the Apollo-Soyuz Test mission is to provide a means for crewmen to transfer safely between the Apollo and Soyuz vehicles in a shirtsleeve environment. This paper describes the Docking Module ECS and includes the philosophy and rationale used in evaluating and selecting the capabilities that are required to satisfy the Docking Module's airlock function: (1) adjusting the pressure and composition of the atmosphere to effect crew transfer and (2) providing a shirtsleeve environment during transfer operations. An analytical evaluation is given of the environmental parameters (including CO2 level, humidity, and temperature) during a normal transfer timeline.

10 CFR 503.13 - Environmental impact analysis.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... 10 Energy 4 2014-01-01 2014-01-01 false Environmental impact analysis. 503.13 Section 503.13 Energy DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (CONTINUED) ALTERNATE FUELS NEW FACILITIES General Requirements for... Zone Management Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act; and (2...

10 CFR 503.13 - Environmental impact analysis.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 10 Energy 4 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Environmental impact analysis. 503.13 Section 503.13 Energy DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (CONTINUED) ALTERNATE FUELS NEW FACILITIES General Requirements for... Zone Management Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act; and (2...

10 CFR 503.13 - Environmental impact analysis.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... 10 Energy 4 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Environmental impact analysis. 503.13 Section 503.13 Energy DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (CONTINUED) ALTERNATE FUELS NEW FACILITIES General Requirements for... Zone Management Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act; and (2...

10 CFR 503.13 - Environmental impact analysis.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... 10 Energy 4 2012-01-01 2012-01-01 false Environmental impact analysis. 503.13 Section 503.13 Energy DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (CONTINUED) ALTERNATE FUELS NEW FACILITIES General Requirements for... Zone Management Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act; and (2...

10 CFR 503.13 - Environmental impact analysis.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... 10 Energy 4 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 false Environmental impact analysis. 503.13 Section 503.13 Energy DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (CONTINUED) ALTERNATE FUELS NEW FACILITIES General Requirements for... Zone Management Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act; and (2...

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gaba, J.M.

Three areas are addressed in this paper: generic issues that arise simply in the process of decision-making under environmental statutes; different decision-making standards under various environmental statutes; and efforts to legislate a {open_quotes}safe{close_quotes} or {open_quotes}acceptable{close_quotes} risk from exposure to carcinogenic chemicals.

Campaigning for bioremediation. [Pencillium citrinum, Acremonium falciforme, Alternaria alternata, Ulocladium tuberculatum, Fusarium sp

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Frankenberger, W.T. Jr.; Karlson, U.

Coaxing indigenous soil microorganisms to munch on toxics may prove the only permanent, cost-effective, and safe technique for cleanup of noxious pollutants like selenium, a widespread environmental contaminant in the western United States. The process from innovation in the laboratory to application in the field has taken more than bioremediation know-how. Media exposure and political and bureaucratic support have been necessary partners with sound science to bring Se cleanup technology as far along as it is today. Before describing their patented Se bioremediation process and chronicling the events that led to environmental cleanup in California, the authors give some backgroundmore » about Se, its geochemistry, and its biochemical and environmental behavior. The bioremediation process optimizes field conditions that allow soil fungi to methylate toxic Se compound to dimethylselenide, a non-toxic gas.« less

Halogenated flame retardants: do the fire safety benefits justify the risks?

PubMed

Shaw, Susan D; Blum, Arlene; Weber, Roland; Kannan, Kurunthachalam; Rich, David; Lucas, Donald; Koshland, Catherine P; Dobraca, Dina; Hanson, Sarah; Birnbaum, Linda S

2010-01-01

Since the 1970s, an increasing number of regulations have expanded the use of brominated and chlorinated flame retardants. Many of these chemicals are now recognized as global contaminants and are associated with adverse health effects in animals and humans, including endocrine and thyroid disruption, immunotoxicity, reproductive toxicity, cancer, and adverse effects on fetal and child development and neurologic function. Some flame retardants such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have been banned or voluntarily phased out by manufacturers because of their environmental persistence and toxicity, only to be replaced by other organohalogens of unknown toxicity. Despite restrictions on further production in some countries, consumer products previously treated with banned retardants are still in use and continue to release toxic chemicals into the environment, and the worldwide use of organohalogen retardants continues to increase. This paper examines major uses and known toxic effects of commonly-used organohalogen flame retardants, replacements for those that have been phased out, their combustion by-products, and their effectiveness at reducing fire hazard. Policy and other solutions to maintain fire safety while reducing toxicity are suggested. The major conclusions are: (1) Flammability regulations can cause greater adverse environmental and health impacts than fire safety benefits. (2) The current options for end-of-life disposal of products treated with organohalogens retardants are problematic. (3) Life-cycle analyses evaluating benefits and risks should consider the health and environmental effects of the chemicals, as well as their fire safety impacts. (4) Most fire deaths and most fire injuries result from inhaling carbon monoxide, irritant gases, and soot. The incorporation of organohalogens can increase the yield of these toxic by-products during combustion. (5) Fire-safe cigarettes, fire-safe candles, child-resistant lighters, sprinklers, and smoke detectors can prevent fires without the potential adverse effects of flame retardant chemicals. (6) Alternatives to organohalogen flame retardant chemicals include using less flammable materials, design changes, and safer chemicals. To date, before evaluating their health and environmental impacts, many flame retardant chemicals have been produced and used, resulting in high levels of human exposure. As a growing literature continues to find adverse impacts from such chemicals, a more systematic approach to their regulation is needed. Before implementing new flammability standards, decision-makers should evaluate the potential fire safety benefit versus the health and environmental impacts of the chemicals, materials, or technologies likely to be used to meet the standard. Reducing the use of toxic or untested flame retardant chemicals in consumer products can protect human and animal health and the global environment without compromising fire safety.

77 FR 61027 - Notice of Lodging of Proposed Consent Decree Under the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-10-05

... Decree resolves alleged violations of the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act at mobile home... provide drinking water at a number of its mobile home parks and illegally discharged sewage, failed to... environmental audits at each mobile home park, implementing corrective measures, conducting regular inspections...

76 FR 70479 - Draft Environmental Assessment and Safe Harbor Agreement for the Houston Toad Within Nine Texas...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-11-14

... (Service) for an enhancement of survival permit pursuant to a section of the Endangered Species Act of 1973..., restore, or maintain habitat benefiting species listed under the Endangered Species Act. Safe Harbor... listed species by assuring property owners they will not be subjected to increased property use...

Planetary boundaries: exploring the safe operating space for humanity

Treesearch

Johan Rockström; Will Steffen; Kevin Noone; Asa Persson; F. Stuart Chapin; Eric Lambin; Timothy M. Lenton; Marten Scheffer; Carl Folke; Hans Joachim Schellnhuber; Björn Nykvist; Cynthia A. de Wit; Terry Hughes; Sander van der Leeuw; Henning Rodhe; Sverker Sörlin; Peter K. Snyder; Robert Costanza; Uno Svedin; Malin Falkenmark; Louise Karlberg; Robert W. Corell; Victoria J. Fabry; James Hansen; Brian Walker; Diana Liverman; Katherine Richardson; Paul Crutzen; Jonathan Foley

2009-01-01

Anthropogenic pressures on the Earth System have reached a scale where abrupt global environmental change can no longer be excluded. We propose a new approach to global sustainability in which we define planetary boundaries within which we expect that humanity can operate safely. Transgressing one or more planetary boundaries may be deleterious or even catastrophic due...

77 FR 23246 - Public Water System Supervision Program Revision for the Commonwealth of Kentucky

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-04-18

... 40601; and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, Safe Drinking Water Branch, 61 Forsyth... Drinking Water Branch, at the address given above, by telephone at (404) 562-9845, or at [email protected] . Authority: Section 1413 of the Safe Drinking Water Act, as amended (1996), and 40 CFR part 142...

Dietary supplement intake during pregnancy; better safe than sorry?

PubMed

de Boer, Alie; Bast, Aalt; Godschalk, Roger

2018-06-01

Consumption of dietary supplements and specifically niche products such as supplements targeting pregnant women is increasing. The advantages of dietary supplementation during pregnancy with folic acid have been established, but health effects of many other supplements have not been confirmed. EU and US legislation on dietary supplements requires the product to be safe for the direct consumer, the mother. Long-term health effects for the fetus due to fetal programming (in utero adaptation of the fetal epigenome due to environmental stimuli such as supplementation) are not taken into account. Such epigenetic alterations can, however, influence the response to health challenges in adulthood. We therefore call for both conducting research in birth cohorts and animal studies to identify potential health effects in progeny of supplement consuming mothers as well as the establishment of a nutrivigilance scheme to identify favorable and adverse effects post-marketing. The acquired knowledge can be used to create more effective legislation on dietary supplement intake during pregnancy for safety of the child. Increasing knowledge on the effects of consuming supplements will create a safer environment for future mothers and their offspring to optimize their health before, during and after pregnancy. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

[Genetic and environmental effects on neuromodulation and the antinociceptive effect of dextromethorphan].

PubMed

Oestreicher, M K; Desmeules, J; Piguet, V; Allaz, A F; Dayer, P

1998-02-07

Administration of NMDA antagonists leads to attenuation or disappearance of some symptoms of central sensitization, such as secondary hyperalgesia. However, the side effects of NMDA antagonists to a large extent counterbalance the expected benefits, thus preventing wide or prolonged use. Dextromethorphan and its metabolite dextrophan, on the other hand, are established and safe drugs. Experimentally they both antagonize the NMDA receptor. This study evaluates the effects of dextromethorphan and its metabolite in pain models using electrical stimulation for testing the antinociceptive effect and capsaicin-induced hyperalgesia. Dextromethorphan shows clear antinociceptive as well as neuromodulary effects, both depending heavily on the cytochrome P450 2D6 phenotype (CYP2D6).

Environmental and toxicological planning in polymer production and disposal.

PubMed Central

Levinskas, G J

1975-01-01

There is neither a prescribed format nor a rigid sequence of testing to follow for the assessment of health and environmental effects of chemicals. Conventional animal toxicity tests plus medical surveillance and monitoring of exposed human populations will provide knowledge of the biological effects of chemicals and assurance that they can be handled safely. Useful information also can be derived from other test procedures. These include extraction studies to measure the amounts of additives which can leach from polymers, toxicity tests using aquatic organisms and birds, and determination of the biodegradability of materials and their potential for accumulation and magnification in biological systems. Current concern over pyrolysis products of polymers points up the need for defining the variables involved and development of test procedures by which meaningful evaluations of potential health hazards can be made. PMID:1175554

Evaluation of a GFP Report Gene Construct for Environmental Arsenic Detection

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Roberto, F.F.; Barnes, J.M.; Bruhn, D.F.

Detection of arsenic and other heavy metal contaminants in the environment is critical to ensuring safe drinking water and effective cleanup of historic activities that have led to widespread contamination of soil and groundwater. Biosensors have the potential to significantly reduce the costs associated with site characterization and long term environmental monitoring. By exploiting the highly selective and sensitive natural mechanisms by which bacteria and other living organisms respond to heavy metals, and fusing transcriptionally active components of these mechanisms to reporter genes, such as B-galactosidase, bacterial luciferase (lux), or green fluorescent protein (GFP) from marine jellyfish, it is possiblemore » to produce inexpensive, yet effective biosensors. This article describes the response to submicrogram quantities of arsenite and arsenate of a whole cell arsenic biosensor utilizing a GFP reporter gene.« less

Strand IV: Environmental and Community Health. Environmental and Public Health, Grades 4-6. Special Edition for Evaluation and Discussion.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

New York State Education Dept., Albany. Bureau of Elementary Curriculum Development.

This prototypic curriculum is designed to develop awareness of the challenges man faces in his crowded communities to insure clean water, pest control, waste removal, safe food handling and adequate community health facilities. It distinguishes between the prevention of future environmental abuse and compensation for past abuses. Both the gaining…

78 FR 48158 - Meeting of the National Drinking Water Advisory Council

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-08-07

... ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL-9843-4] Meeting of the National Drinking Water Advisory....S. Environmental Protection Agency is announcing a meeting of the National Drinking Water Advisory Council (Council), established under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). This meeting is scheduled for...

29 CFR 24.100 - Purpose and scope.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... PROTECTION PROVISIONS OF SIX ENVIRONMENTAL STATUTES AND SECTION 211 OF THE ENERGY REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1974... of Labor has been given responsibility pursuant to the following Federal statutes: Safe Drinking...; Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, 42 U.S.C. 5851; and Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation...

29 CFR 24.100 - Purpose and scope.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... PROTECTION PROVISIONS OF SIX ENVIRONMENTAL STATUTES AND SECTION 211 OF THE ENERGY REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1974... of Labor has been given responsibility pursuant to the following Federal statutes: Safe Drinking...; Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, 42 U.S.C. 5851; and Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation...

29 CFR 24.100 - Purpose and scope.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... PROTECTION PROVISIONS OF SIX ENVIRONMENTAL STATUTES AND SECTION 211 OF THE ENERGY REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1974... of Labor has been given responsibility pursuant to the following Federal statutes: Safe Drinking...; Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, 42 U.S.C. 5851; and Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation...

Stable isotope and trace element studies of black bear hair, Big Bend ecosystem, Texas and Mexico

USGS Publications Warehouse

Shanks, W.C. Pat; Hellgren, Eric C.; Stricker, Craig A.; Gemery-Hill, Pamela A.; Onorato, David P.

2008-01-01

Hair from black bears (Ursus americanus), collected from four areas in the Big Bend ecosystem, has been analyzed for stable isotopes of carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur to determine major food sources and for trace metals to infer possible effects of environmental contaminants. Results indicate that black bears are largely vegetarian, feeding on desert plants, nuts, and berries. Mercury concentrations in bear hair are below safe level standards (

Effects of Ammonium Dinitramide in Human Liver Slices: An EPR/Spin Trapping Study.

DTIC Science & Technology

1995-09-01

environmentally safe than AP. EPR/spin trapping studies with the spin trap N-tert-butyl-a-phenyl nitrone (PBN lOmM) for 5 min in the presence of ADN yielded...N-tert-butyl-a-phenyl nitrone PBN 17. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF REPORT UNCLASSIFIED 18. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF THIS PAGE UNCLASSIFIED... nitrone s second SCN- thiocyanate SD standard deviation Vll INTRODUCTION This is a study of the reactions of free radicals formed when ammonium

Environmentally Safe and Effective Processes for Paint Removal

DTIC Science & Technology

1995-04-01

Urea Formaldehyde 3.5 1.5 Type III Melamine Formaldehyde 4.0 1.5 Type IV Phenol Formaldehyde 3.5 1.5...Polyester 3.0 34 - 42 1.04 - 1.46 Type II Urea Formaldehyde 3.5 54 - 62 1.47- 1.54 Type III Melamine Formaldehyde 4.0 64- 72 1.47- 1.52 Type IV Phenol... Melamine Formaldehyde electronics industry and to remove coatings from fibreglass and composite materials. Melamine formaldehyde resin is produced

Biodegradable starch-based polymeric materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suvorova, Anna I.; Tyukova, Irina S.; Trufanova, Elena I.

2000-05-01

The effects of low-molecular-weight additives, temperature and mechanical action on the structure and properties of starch are discussed. Special attention is given to mixtures of starch with synthetic polymers, e.g., co-polymers of ethylene with vinyl acetate, vinyl alcohol, acrylic acid, cellulose derivatives and other natural polymers. These mixtures can be used in the development of novel environmentally safe materials (films, coatings, packaging materials) and various articles for short-term use. The bibliography includes 105 references.

Cleaner processing: a sulphide-free approach for depilation of skins.

PubMed

Ranjithkumar, Ammasi; Durga, Jayanthi; Ramesh, Ramakrishnan; Rose, Chellan; Muralidharan, Chellappa

2017-01-01

The conventional unhairing process in leather making utilises large amount of lime and sodium sulphide which is hazardous and poses serious waste disposal concerns. Under acidic conditions, sodium sulphide liberates significant quantities of hydrogen sulphide which causes frequent fatal accidents. Further, the conventional unhairing process involves destruction of the hair leading to increased levels of biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total dissolved solids (TDS) and total suspended solids (TSS) in the effluent. A safe approach is needed to overcome such environmental and health problems through an eco-benign process. The present study deals with a clean technology in which the keratinous body is detached from the dermis using enzymes produced from Bacillus crolab MTCC 5468 by solid state fermentation (SSF) as an alternative to noxious chemicals. Complete unhairing of skin could be achieved with an enzyme concentration of 1.2 % (w/w). The bio-chemical parameters of the spent liquor of the enzymatic process were environmentally favourable when compared with conventional method. The study indicates that the enzymatic unhairing is a safe process which could be used effectively in leather processing to alleviate pollution and health problems.

Modern air protection technologies at thermal power plants (review)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roslyakov, P. V.

2016-07-01

Realization of the ecologically safe technologies for fuel combustion in the steam boiler furnaces and the effective ways for treatment of flue gases at modern thermal power plants have been analyzed. The administrative and legal measures to stimulate introduction of the technologies for air protection at TPPs have been considered. It has been shown that both the primary intrafurnace measures for nitrogen oxide suppression and the secondary flue gas treatment methods are needed to meet the modern ecological standards. Examples of the environmentally safe methods for flame combustion of gas-oil and solid fuels in the boiler furnaces have been provided. The effective methods and units to treat flue gases from nitrogen and sulfur oxides and flue ash have been considered. It has been demonstrated that realization of the measures for air protection should be accompanied by introduction of the systems for continuous instrumentation control of the composition of combustion products in the gas path of boiler units and for monitoring of atmospheric emissions.

Code of Practice for Scientific Diving: Principles for the Safe Practice of Scientific Diving in Different Environments. Unesco Technical Papers in Marine Science 53.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Flemming, N. C., Ed.; Max, M. D., Ed.

This publication has been prepared to provide scientific divers with guidance on safe practice under varying experimental and environmental conditions. The Code offers advice and recommendations on administrative practices, insurance, terms of employment, medical standards, training standards, dive planning, safety with different breathing gases…

Solvent cleaning system and method for removing contaminants from solvent used in resin recycling

DOEpatents

Bohnert, George W [Harrisonville, MO; Hand, Thomas E [Lee's Summit, MO; DeLaurentiis, Gary M [Jamestown, CA

2009-01-06

A two step solvent and carbon dioxide based system that produces essentially contaminant-free synthetic resin material and which further includes a solvent cleaning system for periodically removing the contaminants from the solvent so that the solvent can be reused and the contaminants can be collected and safely discarded in an environmentally safe manner.

Public Perception of the Millennium Development Goals on Access to Safe Drinking Water in Cross River State, Nigeria

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Eni, David D.; Ojong, William M.

2014-01-01

This study evaluated the public perception of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of environmental sustainability with focus on the MDG target which has to do with reducing the proportion of people without access to safe drinking water in Cross River State, Nigeria. The stratified and systematic sampling techniques were adopted for the study,…

Chlorine and Solute Transport and Reactions in Drinking Water Distribution: The Role of Flow Hydrodynamics on Water Quality Changes and Multi-Criteria Compliance

EPA Science Inventory

Safe drinking water supply is one of the most notable modern engineering achievements in the 20th century. It is a centerpiece of the U.S. environmental protection effort under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and its amendments. In this chapter, water quality changes a...

78 FR 65981 - Meeting of the National Drinking Water Advisory Council

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-11-04

... ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL-9902-32-OW] Meeting of the National Drinking Water Advisory....S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing a meeting of the National Drinking Water Advisory Council (Council), established under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). The meeting is scheduled...

Sustainable Transport Systems: Linkages Between Environmental Issues, Public Transport, Non-Motorized Transport And Safety

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2000-10-01

A sustainable transport system must provide mobility and accessibility to all urban residents in a safe and end environmentally friendly mode of transport. This is a complex and difficult task when the needs and demands of people belonging to differe...

REFERENCE MATERIALS FOR WATER AND WASTEWATER ANALYSES IN USEPA (U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY)

EPA Science Inventory

The Environmental Monitoring and Support Laboratory at Cincinnati provides quality assurance support for EPA's water-related programs in response to the Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act, the Resources Conservation a...

Management of clandestine drug laboratories: need for evidence-based environmental health policies.

PubMed

Al-Obaidi, Tamara A; Fletcher, Stephanie M

2014-01-01

Clandestine drug laboratories (CDLs) have been emerging and increasing as a public health problem in Australia, with methamphetamine being the dominant illegally manufactured drug. However, management and remediation of contaminated properties are still limited in terms of regulation and direction, especially in relation to public and environmental health practice. Therefore, this review provides an update on the hazards and health effects associated with CDLs, with a specific look at the management of these labs from an Australian perspective. Particularly, the paper attempts to describe the policy landscape for management of CDLs, and identifies current gaps and how further research may be utilised to advance understanding and management of CDLs and inform public health policies. The paper highlights a significant lack of evidence-based policies and guidelines to guide regulatory authority including environmental health officers in Australia. Only recently, the national Clandestine Drug Laboratory Guidelines were developed to assist relevant authority and specialists manage and carry out investigations and remediation of contaminated sites. However, only three states have developed state-based guidelines, some of which are inadequate to meet environmental health requirements. The review recommends well-needed inter-sectoral collaborations and further research to provide an evidence base for the development of robust policies and standard operating procedures for safe and effective environmental health management and remediation of CDLs.

Pinellas Plant annual site environmental report for calendar year 1995

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

NONE

1996-05-01

Lockheed Martin Specialty Components, Inc., and the US Department of Energy are committed to successfully administering a high-quality Environmental, Safety and Health Program at the Pinellas Plant in Pinellas County, Florida. Part of this commitment includes accurately documenting and communicating to the Pinellas Plant stakeholders the results of the Pinellas Plant`s environmental compliance and monitoring activities. The Annual Site Environmental Report presents a comprehensive summary of the results of the Environmental Monitoring, Waste Management, and Environmental Restoration Programs at the Pinellas Plant for 1995. This report also includes the plant`s performance in the areas of compliance with applicable regulatory requirementsmore » and standards and identifies major Environmental, Safety and Health Program initiatives and accomplishments for 1995. As a result of the end of the Department of Energy`s Defense Programs mission (weapons production) on September 30, 1994, considerable changes at the Pinellas Plant are occurring. The Department of Energy`s Environmental Management is now the landlord of the Pinellas Plant to facilitate the plant`s new mission of transition to alternate use in support of economic development and safe shutdown. The Department of Energy sold the Pinellas Plant to the Pinellas County Industry Council in March 1995, and it is leasing back a portion of the plant through September 1997, to complete the safe shutdown and transition activities.« less

Environmental safety review of methoprene and bacterially-derived pesticides commonly used for sustained mosquito control.

PubMed

Lawler, Sharon P

2017-05-01

Some pesticides are applied directly to aquatic systems to reduce numbers of mosquito larvae (larvicides) and thereby reduce transmission of pathogens that mosquitoes vector to humans and wildlife. Sustained, environmentally-safe control of larval mosquitoes is particularly needed for highly productive waters (e.g., catchment basins, water treatment facilities, septic systems), but also for other habitats to maintain control and reduce inspection costs. Common biorational pesticides include the insect juvenile hormone mimic methoprene and pesticides derived from the bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis, Lysinibacillus sphaericus and Saccharopolyspora spinosa (spinosad). Health agencies, the public and environmental groups have especially debated the use of methoprene because some studies have shown toxic effects on non-target organisms. However, many studies have demonstrated its apparent environmental safety. This review critically evaluates studies pertinent to the environmental safety of using methoprene to control mosquito larvae, and provides concise assessments of the bacterial larvicides that provide sustained control of mosquitoes. The review first outlines the ecological and health effects of mosquitoes, and distinguishes between laboratory toxicity and environmental effects. The article then interprets non-target toxicity findings in light of measured environmental concentrations of methoprene (as used in mosquito control) and field studies of its non-target effects. The final section evaluates information on newer formulations of bacterially-derived pesticides for sustained mosquito control. Results show that realized environmental concentrations of methoprene were usually 2-5µg/kg (range 2-45µg/kg) and that its motility is limited. These levels were not toxic to the vast majority of vertebrates and invertebrates tested in laboratories, except for a few species of zooplankton, larval stages of some other crustaceans, and small Diptera. Studies in natural habitats have not documented population reductions except in small Diptera. Bacterial larvicides showed good results for sustained control with similarly limited environmental effects, except for spinosad, which had broader effects on insects in mesocosms and temporary pools. These findings should be useful to a variety of stakeholders in informing decisions on larvicide use to protect public and environmental health in a 'One Health' framework. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The rhesus (Macaca mulatta) and crab-eating (Macaca fascicularis) monkeys in cardiovascular and aerospace research

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Erickson, H. H.; Ritzman, J. R.

1977-01-01

Two nonhuman primate species were used to investigate the effects of gravitoinertial forces on pilot incapacitation and performance impairment, to define human physiologic tolerance and safe exposure limits to these environments, and to obtain data which can be used to evolve new methods to improve man's G tolerance to match the structural capability of new generation aircraft. The macaca fascicularis was used to study the effects of environmental stress and atheroscelerosis on cerebral blood flow and function agents on myocardial and cardiovascular function were studied in the macaca mulatta.

Blueprint for a Green School.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chase, Jayni

The 20 chapters in this book focus on the creation of environmentally safe and healthy school buildings and grounds and on what school administrators, teachers, maintenance staff, students, community leaders and parents can do to meet this goal. The guide functions as an introduction to environmental problems and issues relevant to schools,…

ARSENIC IN WATER USED FOR DRINKING - AN ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY VERIFICATION

EPA Science Inventory

In October 2001, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a new federal standard for concentrations of arsenic found in drinking water. The new standard was to be 10 parts-per-million (ppm). This new standard will be required by the Safe Drinking Water Act in...

Environmental--Access to Safe Water Learning Module. Development Education Program.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

World Bank, Washington, DC.

This learning module has two main goals: (1) to increase students' knowledge and understanding of the often complex relationship between sustainable development and the social, economic, and environmental conditions in a country; and (2) to strengthen students' ability to perform statistical calculations, make and interpret maps, charts, and…

30 CFR 910.817 - Performance standards-underground mining activities.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... with the Georgia Safe Dams Act and Rules for Safety of the Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division; the Solid Waste Management Rules of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division, Chapter 391-3-4; and the Georgia Seed Laws and Regulation 4. [47 FR 36399, Aug. 19, 1982...

30 CFR 910.816 - Performance standards-surface mining activities.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... except in compliance with the Georgia Safe Dams Act and Rules for Safety of the Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division; the Solid Waste Management Rules of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division, Chapter 391-3-4; and the Georgia Seed Laws and Regulation 4...

30 CFR 910.817 - Performance standards-underground mining activities.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... with the Georgia Safe Dams Act and Rules for Safety of the Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division; the Solid Waste Management Rules of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division, Chapter 391-3-4; and the Georgia Seed Laws and Regulation 4. [47 FR 36399, Aug. 19, 1982...

30 CFR 910.817 - Performance standards-underground mining activities.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... with the Georgia Safe Dams Act and Rules for Safety of the Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division; the Solid Waste Management Rules of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division, Chapter 391-3-4; and the Georgia Seed Laws and Regulation 4. [47 FR 36399, Aug. 19, 1982...

30 CFR 910.816 - Performance standards-surface mining activities.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... except in compliance with the Georgia Safe Dams Act and Rules for Safety of the Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division; the Solid Waste Management Rules of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division, Chapter 391-3-4; and the Georgia Seed Laws and Regulation 4...

30 CFR 910.816 - Performance standards-surface mining activities.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... except in compliance with the Georgia Safe Dams Act and Rules for Safety of the Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division; the Solid Waste Management Rules of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division, Chapter 391-3-4; and the Georgia Seed Laws and Regulation 4...

Safe Planet. The Guide to Environmental Film and Video.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Media Network, New York, NY.

Innovative and incisive films and videotapes exist which address the issues of toxic waste, agricultural pollutants, land and water use, energy production, and other important environmental topics. They provide in-depth analyses, alternative points of view, and specific suggestions for what ordinary citizens can do to help stop environmental…

Safety in passenger ships: The influence of environmental design characteristics on people's perception of safety.

PubMed

Ahola, Markus; Mugge, Ruth

2017-03-01

Although objective safety is a widely studied topic in ergonomics, subjective safety has received far less research attention. Nevertheless, most of human decision-making and behavior depends on how we perceive our environment. This study investigates the effects of various environmental design characteristics on people's safety perception in a passenger ship context. Five different environmental design characteristics were manipulated to increase the openness of the space or to create more clear navigation, resulting in 20 different cabin corridors for a passenger ship. Ninety-seven respondents were asked to rate these corridors on the perceived safety in an experiment. The results showed that people feel more safe when the corridors have a curved ceiling, when the walls do not have a split-level design, and when there is a view to the outside. Designers can use these insights when designing future environments. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Wastes and by-products - alternatives for agricultural use

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Boles, J.L.; Craft, D.J.; Parker, B.R.

1994-10-01

Top address a growing national problem with generation of wastes and by-products, TVA has been involved for several years with developing and commercializing environmentally responsible practices for eliminating, minimizing, or utilizing various wastes/by-products. In many cases, reducing waste generation is impractical, but the wastes/by-products can be converted into other environmentally sound products. In some instances, conversion of safe, value-added agricultural products in the best or only practical alternative. TVA is currently involved with a diversity of projects converting wastes/by-products into safe, economical, and agriculturally beneficial products. Environmental improvement projects have involved poultry litter, cellulosic wastes, used battery acid, ammonium sulfatemore » fines, lead smelting effluents, deep-welled sulfuric acid/ammonium bisulfate solutions, wood ash, waste magnesium ammonium sulfate slurry from recording tape production, and ammunition plant waste sodium nitrate/ammonium nitrate streams.« less

Supplemental design requirements document, Multifunction Waste Tank Facility, Project W-236A. Revision 1

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Groth, B.D.

The Multi-Function Waste Tank Facility (MWTF) consists of four, nominal 1 million gallon, underground double-shell tanks, located in the 200-East area, and two tanks of the same capacity in the 200-West area. MWTF will provide environmentally safe storage capacity for wastes generated during remediation/retrieval activities of existing waste storage tanks. This document delineates in detail the information to be used for effective implementation of the Functional Design Criteria requirements.

Effects of external electrical and magnetic fields on pacemakers and defibrillators: from engineering principles to clinical practice.

PubMed

Beinart, Roy; Nazarian, Saman

2013-12-24

The overall risk of clinically significant adverse events related to EMI in recipients of CIEDs is very low. Therefore, no special precautions are needed when household appliances are used. Environmental and industrial sources of EMI are relatively safe when the exposure time is limited and distance from the CIEDs is maximized. The risk of EMI-induced events is highest within the hospital environment. Physician awareness of the possible interactions and methods to minimize them is warranted.

Fatigue qualification of high thickness composite rotor components

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Raggi, M.; Mariani, U.; Zaffaroni, G.

Fatigue qualification aspects of composite rotor components are presented according with the safe life procedure usually applied by helicopter manufacturers. Test activities are identified at three levels of specimen complexity: coupon, structural element and full scale component. Particular attention is given to high thickness laminates qualification as far as environmental exposure is concerned. A practical approach for an accelerated conditioning procedure is described. The application to a main rotor tension link is presented showing the negligible effect of the moisture absorption on its fatigue strength.

Hot Oil Removes Wax

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Herzstock, James J.

1991-01-01

Mineral oil heated to temperature of 250 degrees F (121 degrees C) found effective in removing wax from workpieces after fabrication. Depending upon size and shape of part to be cleaned of wax, part immersed in tank of hot oil, and/or interior of part flushed with hot oil. Pump, fittings, and ancillary tooling built easily for this purpose. After cleaning, innocuous oil residue washed off part by alkaline aqueous degreasing process. Serves as relatively safe alternative to carcinogenic and environmentally hazardous solvent perchloroethylene.

Environmental Control and Life Support Systems Test Facility at MSFC

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2001-01-01

The Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) is responsible for designing and building the life support systems that will provide the crew of the International Space Station (ISS) a comfortable environment in which to live and work. Scientists and engineers at the MSFC are working together to provide the ISS with systems that are safe, efficient, and cost-effective. These compact and powerful systems are collectively called the Environmental Control and Life Support Systems, or simply, ECLSS. This photograph shows the development Water Processor located in two racks in the ECLSS test area at the Marshall Space Flight Center. Actual waste water, simulating Space Station waste, is generated and processed through the hardware to evaluate the performance of technologies in the flight Water Processor design.

Biorefineries of carbon dioxide: From carbon capture and storage (CCS) to bioenergies production.

PubMed

Cheah, Wai Yan; Ling, Tau Chuan; Juan, Joon Ching; Lee, Duu-Jong; Chang, Jo-Shu; Show, Pau Loke

2016-09-01

Greenhouse gas emissions have several adverse environmental effects, like pollution and climate change. Currently applied carbon capture and storage (CCS) methods are not cost effective and have not been proven safe for long term sequestration. Another attractive approach is CO2 valorization, whereby CO2 can be captured in the form of biomass via photosynthesis and is subsequently converted into various form of bioenergy. This article summarizes the current carbon sequestration and utilization technologies, while emphasizing the value of bioconversion of CO2. In particular, CO2 sequestration by terrestrial plants, microalgae and other microorganisms are discussed. Prospects and challenges for CO2 conversion are addressed. The aim of this review is to provide comprehensive knowledge and updated information on the current advances in biological CO2 sequestration and valorization, which are essential if this approach is to achieve environmental sustainability and economic feasibility. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

77 FR 3911 - Delegation of Authority and Assignment of Responsibility to the Assistant Secretary for...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-01-25

...)-(d). (n) Federal Water Pollution Control Act, 33 U.S.C. 1367. (o) Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 U....S.C. 2651; the International Safe Container Act, 46 U.S.C. 80507; the Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 U... Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, 42 U.S.C. 9610 (a)--(d); the Federal Water...

Management of Service Projects in Support of Space Flight Research

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Love, J.

2009-01-01

Goal:To provide human health and performance countermeasures, knowledge, technologies, and tools to enable safe, reliable, and productive human space exploration . [HRP-47051] Specific Objectives: 1) Develop capabilities, necessary countermeasures, and technologies in support of human space exploration, focusing on mitigating the highest risks to human health and performance. 2) Define and improve human spaceflight medical, environmental, and human factors standards. 3) Develop technologies that serve to reduce medical and environmental risks, to reduce human systems resource requirements (mass, volume, power, data, etc.) and to ensure effective human-system integration across exploration systems. 4) Ensure maintenance of Agency core competencies necessary to enable risk reduction in the following areas: A. Space medicine B. Physiological and behavioral effects of long duration spaceflight on the human body C. Space environmental effects, including radiation, on human health and performance D. Space "human factors" [HRP-47051]. Service projects can form integral parts of research-based project-focused programs to provide specialized functions. Traditional/classic project management methodologies and agile approaches are not mutually exclusive paradigms. Agile strategies can be combined with traditional methods and applied in the management of service projects functioning in changing environments. Creative collaborations afford a mechanism for mitigation of constrained resource limitations.

Future space development scenarios: Environmental considerations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tangum, Richard

1992-01-01

The formation of positive attitudes and values concerning the environment of space, as the basis for assuming a wise stewardship role, is becoming increasingly important as many nations begin their journeys into space. A strong emphasis should be placed on fostering an international space environmental ethics. The object of environmental assessment and management in space should be to define what interplanetary regulatory procedures are needed to avoid unnecessary environmental damage and to monitor the effectiveness of such avoidance. The first requirement for research is to narrow the field of concern to areas where there could be an increased scale of development in space in the immediate future. Research needs to be focused on methodologies for defining the environmental systems involved (e.g., the lunar surface) and then recognizing key variables in the system that are fragile and need to be respected. Criteria for environmental quality should emerge which identify, in the case of lunar surface, how much mining activity can be safely undertaken and what quantity of exhaust gases can be released over a given period of time. Only then will humans be most able to evaluate the likely consequences of ventures into space.

Biomedical waste management in India: Critical appraisal.

PubMed

Datta, Priya; Mohi, Gursimran Kaur; Chander, Jagdish

2018-01-01

The safe and sustainable management of biomedical waste (BMW) is social and legal responsibility of all people supporting and financing health-care activities. Effective BMW management (BMWM) is mandatory for healthy humans and cleaner environment. This article reviews the recent 2016 BMWM rules, practical problems for its effective implementation, the major drawback of conventional techniques, and the latest eco-friendly methods for BMW disposal. The new rules are meant to improve the segregation, transportation, and disposal methods, to decrease environmental pollution so as to change the dynamic of BMW disposal and treatment in India. For effective disposal of BMWM, there should be a collective teamwork with committed government support in terms of finance and infrastructure development, dedicated health-care workers and health-care facilities, continuous monitoring of BMW practices, tough legislature, and strong regulatory bodies. The basic principle of BMWM is segregation at source and waste reduction. Besides, a lot of research and development need to be in the field of developing environmental friendly medical devices and BMW disposal systems for a greener and cleaner environment.

No Safe Place: Environmental Hazards & Injustice along Mexico's Northern Border

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Grineski, Sara E.; Collins, Timothy W.; Aguilar, Maria de Lourdes Romo; Aldouri, Raed

2010-01-01

This article examines spatial relationships between environmental hazards (i.e., pork feed lots, brick kilns, final assembly plants and a rail line) and markers of social marginality in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Juarez represents an opportunity for researchers to test for patterns of injustice in a recently urbanizing metropolis of the Global South.…

Stimuli-Responsive/Rheoreversible Hydraulic Fracturing Fluids as a Greener Alternative to Support Geothermal and Fossil Energy Production

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jung, Hun Bok; Carroll, KC; Kabilan, Senthil

2015-01-01

Cost-effective yet safe creation of high-permeability reservoirs within deep bedrock is the primary challenge for the viability of enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) and unconventional oil/gas recovery. Although fracturing fluids are commonly used for oil/gas, standard fracturing methods are not developed or proven for EGS temperatures and pressures. Furthermore, the environmental impacts of currently used fracturing methods are only recently being determined. Widespread concerns about the environmental contamination have resulted in a number of regulations for fracturing fluids advocating for greener fracturing processes. To enable EGS feasibility and lessen environmental impact of reservoir stimulation, an environmentally benign, CO2-activated, rheoreversible fracturing fluidmore » that enhances permeability through fracturing (at significantly lower effective stress than standard fracturing fluids) due to in situ volume expansion and gel formation is investigated herein. The chemical mechanism, stability, phase-change behavior, and rheology for a novel polyallylamine (PAA)-CO2 fracturing fluid was characterized at EGS temperatures and pressures. Hydrogel is formed upon reaction with CO2 and this process is reversible (via CO2 depressurization or solubilizing with a mild acid) allowing removal from the formation and recycling, decreasing environmental impact. Rock obtained from the Coso geothermal field was fractured in laboratory experiments under various EGS temperatures and pressures with comparison to standard fracturing fluids, and the fractures were characterized with imaging, permeability measurement, and flow modeling. This novel fracturing fluid and process may vastly reduce water usage and the environmental impact of fracturing practices and effectively make EGS production and unconventional oil/gas exploitation cost-effective and cleaner.« less

Safety of Pseudomonas chlororaphis as a gene source for genetically modified crops.

PubMed

Anderson, Jennifer A; Staley, Jamie; Challender, Mary; Heuton, Jamie

2018-02-01

Genetically modified crops undergo extensive evaluation to characterize their food, feed and environmental safety prior to commercial introduction, using a well-established, science-based assessment framework. One component of the safety assessment includes an evaluation of each introduced trait, including its source organism, for potential adverse pathogenic, toxic and allergenic effects. Several Pseudomonas species have a history of safe use in agriculture and certain species represent a source of genes with insecticidal properties. The ipd072Aa gene from P. chlororaphis encodes the IPD072Aa protein, which confers protection against certain coleopteran pests when expressed in maize plants. P. chlororaphis is ubiquitous in the environment, lacks known toxic or allergenic properties, and has a history of safe use in agriculture and in food and feed crops. This information supports, in part, the safety assessment of potential traits, such as IPD072Aa, that are derived from this source organism.

Potential use of sludge cake from paper mill wastewater treatment as degradable flower pot.

PubMed

Kongmuang, Udomsak; Sritanaudomchai, Hathaitip; Morioka, Ikuharu

2016-07-01

Sludge cake produced in paper mill industries is disposed into a landfill and may cause the environmental and health problems. Now many researchers have tried to recycle rigid materials from it for the purpose of decreasing its volume. The aims of this study were to clarify three hypotheses: (1) whether a flower pot would be economically made from sludge cake, (2) whether it would be safe for environment, and (3) when vegetables would grow enough in it, whether they would be safe for human consumption. Sludge cake was mixed with soil (soil texture: heavy clay). The circular plaster mold was used as a fixed mold. As the toxicological testing, leaching test and seed germination test were used. Heavy metal concentrations in vegetables grown in the flower pot were measured. The flower pot was sufficiently formed by drying in natural open air. The results of leaching test showed three heavy metals, lead, nickel and copper, were lower than the standard in Thailand. The seed germination test suggested no negative effects of the flower pot on the germination of Chinese kale. Lead concentrations in the Chinese kale were higher than the recommended maximum level in leafy vegetables. The new flower pot can be made from sludge cake with soil. It has the possibility to have no negative effect on the environment. Although the vegetables grown in this flower pot are not suitable to eat, this flower pot has the possibility to solve the environmental and health problems.

Predicting behavioural responses to novel organisms: state-dependent detection theory.

PubMed

Trimmer, Pete C; Ehlman, Sean M; Sih, Andrew

2017-01-25

Human activity alters natural habitats for many species. Understanding variation in animals' behavioural responses to these changing environments is critical. We show how signal detection theory can be used within a wider framework of state-dependent modelling to predict behavioural responses to a major environmental change: novel, exotic species. We allow thresholds for action to be a function of reserves, and demonstrate how optimal thresholds can be calculated. We term this framework 'state-dependent detection theory' (SDDT). We focus on behavioural and fitness outcomes when animals continue to use formerly adaptive thresholds following environmental change. In a simple example, we show that exposure to novel animals which appear dangerous-but are actually safe-(e.g. ecotourists) can have catastrophic consequences for 'prey' (organisms that respond as if the new organisms are predators), significantly increasing mortality even when the novel species is not predatory. SDDT also reveals that the effect on reproduction can be greater than the effect on lifespan. We investigate factors that influence the effect of novel organisms, and address the potential for behavioural adjustments (via evolution or learning) to recover otherwise reduced fitness. Although effects of environmental change are often difficult to predict, we suggest that SDDT provides a useful route ahead. © 2017 The Author(s).

Environmental Management Model for Road Maintenance Operation Involving Community Participation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Triyono, A. R. H.; Setyawan, A.; Sobriyah; Setiono, P.

2017-07-01

Public expectations of Central Java, which is very high on demand fulfillment, especially road infrastructure as outlined in the number of complaints and community expectations tweeter, Short Mail Massage (SMS), e-mail and public reports from various media, Highways Department of Central Java province requires development model of environmental management in the implementation of a routine way by involving the community in order to fulfill the conditions of a representative, may serve road users safely and comfortably. This study used survey method with SEM analysis and SWOT with Latent Independent Variable (X), namely; Public Participation in the regulation, development, construction and supervision of road (PSM); Public behavior in the utilization of the road (PMJ) Provincial Road Service (PJP); Safety in the Provincial Road (KJP); Integrated Management System (SMT) and latent dependent variable (Y) routine maintenance of the provincial road that is integrated with the environmental management system and involve the participation of the community (MML). The result showed the implementation of routine maintenance of road conditions in Central Java province has yet to implement an environmental management by involving the community; Therefore developed environmental management model with the results of H1: Community Participation (PSM) has positive influence on the Model of Environmental Management (MML); H2: Behavior Society in Jalan Utilization (PMJ) positive effect on Model Environmental Management (MML); H3: Provincial Road Service (PJP) positive effect on Model Environmental Management (MML); H4: Safety in the Provincial Road (KJP) positive effect on Model Environmental Management (MML); H5: Integrated Management System (SMT) has positive influence on the Model of Environmental Management (MML). From the analysis obtained formulation model describing the relationship / influence of the independent variables PSM, PMJ, PJP, KJP, and SMT on the dependent variable MML as follows: MML = 0.13 + 0.07 PSM PJP PMJ + 0.09 + 0.19 + 0.48 KJP SMT + e

Climate Change, Human Rights, and Social Justice.

PubMed

Levy, Barry S; Patz, Jonathan A

2015-01-01

The environmental and health consequences of climate change, which disproportionately affect low-income countries and poor people in high-income countries, profoundly affect human rights and social justice. Environmental consequences include increased temperature, excess precipitation in some areas and droughts in others, extreme weather events, and increased sea level. These consequences adversely affect agricultural production, access to safe water, and worker productivity, and, by inundating land or making land uninhabitable and uncultivatable, will force many people to become environmental refugees. Adverse health effects caused by climate change include heat-related disorders, vector-borne diseases, foodborne and waterborne diseases, respiratory and allergic disorders, malnutrition, collective violence, and mental health problems. These environmental and health consequences threaten civil and political rights and economic, social, and cultural rights, including rights to life, access to safe food and water, health, security, shelter, and culture. On a national or local level, those people who are most vulnerable to the adverse environmental and health consequences of climate change include poor people, members of minority groups, women, children, older people, people with chronic diseases and disabilities, those residing in areas with a high prevalence of climate-related diseases, and workers exposed to extreme heat or increased weather variability. On a global level, there is much inequity, with low-income countries, which produce the least greenhouse gases (GHGs), being more adversely affected by climate change than high-income countries, which produce substantially higher amounts of GHGs yet are less immediately affected. In addition, low-income countries have far less capability to adapt to climate change than high-income countries. Adaptation and mitigation measures to address climate change needed to protect human society must also be planned to protect human rights, promote social justice, and avoid creating new problems or exacerbating existing problems for vulnerable populations. Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Environmental Management: the Ideology of Natural Resource Rational Use

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zolotukhin, V. M.; Gogolin, V. A.; Yazevich, M. Yu; Baumgarten, M. I.; Dyagileva, A. V.

2017-01-01

The article presents an analysis of the ontological and methodological principles of environmental management. These principles form the united ideology of natural resource rational use as the environment preservation basis. Consideration of environmental issues from the environmental management point of view is stipulated by the concern of the scientific community about the existence of mankind and the sphere of its inhabiting. The need to overcome the stereotypes existing in mass consciousness about safe and environmentally friendly consumption is stressed. The process of forming environmental management policy should contribute to the stabilization (balancing) of the consumers’ expectations and collective decision-making based on a public ecological consensus.

Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant - An Overview of the Current Efforts to Stabilize the Chornobyl Shelter and Establish an Environmentally Safe Site

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Couch, Daniel P.; Gronier, Serge; Heriot, Ian D.

2005-08-08

Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant ? An Overview of the Current Efforts to Stabilize the Chornobyl Shelter and Establish an Environmentally Safe Site Abstract?The 1986 accident at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine resulted in the destruction of the reactor core and most of the reactor building. The Chornobyl accident released an enormous quantity of radionuclides into the environment, significantly contaminating a large region around the plant. Within seven months of the accident, the damaged Unit 4 was encased in a massive concrete and steel enclosure known as the Shelter. Deterioration of the Shelter over time poses increasing risks. Themore » Shelter is subject to structural damage or collapse due to wind, snow loading, or seismic activity. Collapse could lead to the release of radioactive fallout. Leakage of rainwater into the Shelter has caused the accumulation of a large quantity of highly radioactive liquid, corrosion of extremely contaminated nuclear fuel debris, and creation of hazardous radioactive dust. To address these concerns, the government of Ukraine, the G7 nations, and additional donor countries adopted the Shelter Implementation Plan (SIP) in 1997. The SIP's objectives are to reduce the risk and potential consequences of accidental collapse of the Shelter; improve nuclear, industrial and environmental safety; and develop a long-term strategy for conversion to an environmentally safe site. Implementation of the SIP has made significant progress that will lead to the construction of a new confinement facility by 2009. (Full paper available by contacting lead author, Dan Couch)« less

Improving disclosure and consent: "is it safe?": new ethics for reporting personal exposures to environmental chemicals.

PubMed

Brody, Julia Green; Morello-Frosch, Rachel; Brown, Phil; Rudel, Ruthann A; Altman, Rebecca Gasior; Frye, Margaret; Osimo, Cheryl A; Pérez, Carla; Seryak, Liesel M

2007-09-01

The recent flood of research concerning pollutants in personal environmental and biological samples-blood, urine, breastmilk, household dust and air, umbilical cord blood, and other media-raises questions about whether and how to report results to individual study participants. Clinical medicine provides an expert-driven framework, whereas community-based participatory research emphasizes participants' right to know and the potential to inform action even when health effects are uncertain. Activist efforts offer other models. We consider ethical issues involved in the decision to report individual results in exposure studies and what information should be included. Our discussion is informed by our experience with 120 women in a study of 89 pollutants in homes and by interviews with other researchers and institutional review board staff.

Development of limb volume measuring system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bhagat, P. K.; Kadaba, P. K.

1983-01-01

The mechanisms underlying the reductions in orthostatic tolerance associated with weightlessness are not well established. Contradictory results from measurements of leg volume changes suggest that altered venomotor tone and reduced blood flow may not be the only contributors to orthostatic intolerance. It is felt that a more accurate limb volume system which is insensitive to environmental factors will aid in better quantification of the hemodynamics of the leg. Of the varous limb volume techniques presently available, the ultrasonic limb volume system has proven to be the best choice. The system as described herein is free from environmental effects, safe, simple to operate and causes negligible radio frequency interference problems. The segmental ultrasonic ultrasonic plethysmograph is expected to provide a better measurement of limb volume change since it is based on cross-sectional area measurements.

Environmental Modifications and 2-Year Measured and Self-reported Stair-Use: A Worksite Randomized Trial

PubMed Central

Linde, Jennifer A.; Cousins, Julie M.; Jeffery, Robert W.

2014-01-01

Environmental modifications have been shown to increase short-term stair use, longer-term success is unclear. This study assessed the 2-year effectiveness of an environmental intervention promoting worksite stair use. We assessed stair use at work by means of self-reports and infrared beam counters (which send a safe and invisible beam of infrared light from one side of a stairwell to a reflector on the other side; when an individual uses the stairs, the infrared beam is disrupted and an instance of stair use is recorded) at six worksites (three intervention, three control) in a group randomized, controlled worksite weight-gain prevention trial in Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN. Intervention modifications were signs encouraging stair use, music, and art posters in stairwells. We collected data before environmental modifications (2006–2007) and at the end of the 2-year intervention (2008–2009). The intervention had a significant positive effect on stair use measured both objectively and via self-report, with greatest increases reported among those participants who used the stairs least at baseline. Following 2-years of continuously-maintained stairwell modifications, increases in both objectively-measured and self-reported stair use were significantly larger at intervention than control worksites. Study findings suggest that the positive impact of environmental modifications on stair use persist over a longer time period than has been previously demonstrated. Results also indicate that infrequent stair users may be most amenable to the behavior changes encouraged by these environmental enhancements. PMID:23979097

Postfire environmental conditions influence the spatial pattern of regeneration for Pinus ponderosa

Treesearch

V. H. Bonnet; Anna Schoettle; W. D. Shepperd

2005-01-01

Regeneration of ponderosa pine after fire depends on the patterns of seed availability and the environmental conditions that define safe sites for seedling establishment. A transect approach was applied in 2002 to determine the spatial distribution of regeneration from unburned to burned areas within the landscape impacted by the Jasper Fire of 2000 in the...

The Household Detective Primer: Protecting Your Children from Toxins in the Home. CHEC's Guide to Environmental Childproofing.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schubert, Sandra; Zelinsky, Benjamin

Designed for parents, this primer presents information on threats to children's health that can be found in every American home, including disinfectants, art supplies, pesticides, and toxins in food and drinking water. The primer also provides practical information on safe and environmentally friendly household cleaners and disinfectants, outlines…

Goals and Objectives

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

The five goals related to the Border 2020 program: reducing air pollution, access to clean and safe water, promoting clean waste management, emergency preparedness and response, compliance assurance.and environmental stewardship

Paradigms for environmentally conscious manufacturing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Edinbarough, Immanuel A.; Wells, Wayne E.

2004-12-01

There are several stories involving the industries that pledge themselves for the environmentally conscious manufacturing practices. Paradigms for environmentally conscious manufacturing are associated with one of the aspects of environmental quality, protection, resource management, commitment or sustainability. The engineering rules of thumb that can easily be adopted by aspiring companies need identification. The underlying thread that unifies the efforts of environmentally conscious manufacturing companies, in offering the environmentally safe products to the world, is grouped and presented in the paper as paradigms for successful practices. The various ways in which a start up company, that wants to excel in environmentally conscious manufacturing, can position itself based on the paradigms is also discussed in the paper.

A Versatile and Scalable Approach toward Robust Superhydrophobic Porous Materials with Excellent Absorbency and Flame Retardancy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ruan, Changping; Shen, Mengxia; Ren, Xiaoyan; Ai, Kelong; Lu, Lehui

2016-08-01

The frequent oil spillages and the industrial discharge of organic contaminants have not only created severe environmental and ecological crises, but also cause a risk of fire and explosion. These environmental and safety issues emphasize the urgent need for materials that possess superior sorption capability and less flammability and thus can effectively and safely clean up the floating oils and water-insoluble organic compounds. Here we present the successful hydrophobic modification of the flame retardant melamine sponge with a commercial fluorosilicone, by using a facile one-step solvent-free approach and demonstrate that the resultant superhydrophobic sponge not only exhibits extraordinary absorption efficiency (including high capacity, superior selectivity, good recyclability, and simple recycling routes), but also retains excellent flame retardancy and robust stability. In comparison to conventional methods, which usually utilize massive organic solvents, the present approach does not involve any complicated process or sophisticated equipment nor generates any waste liquids, and thus is a more labor-saving, environment-friendly, energy-efficient and cost-effective strategy for the hydrophobic modification. Taking into account the critical role of hydrophobic porous materials, especially in the field of environmental remediation, the approach presented herein would be highly valuable for environmental remediation and industrial applications.

A Versatile and Scalable Approach toward Robust Superhydrophobic Porous Materials with Excellent Absorbency and Flame Retardancy

PubMed Central

Ruan, Changping; Shen, Mengxia; Ren, Xiaoyan; Ai, Kelong; Lu, Lehui

2016-01-01

The frequent oil spillages and the industrial discharge of organic contaminants have not only created severe environmental and ecological crises, but also cause a risk of fire and explosion. These environmental and safety issues emphasize the urgent need for materials that possess superior sorption capability and less flammability and thus can effectively and safely clean up the floating oils and water-insoluble organic compounds. Here we present the successful hydrophobic modification of the flame retardant melamine sponge with a commercial fluorosilicone, by using a facile one-step solvent-free approach and demonstrate that the resultant superhydrophobic sponge not only exhibits extraordinary absorption efficiency (including high capacity, superior selectivity, good recyclability, and simple recycling routes), but also retains excellent flame retardancy and robust stability. In comparison to conventional methods, which usually utilize massive organic solvents, the present approach does not involve any complicated process or sophisticated equipment nor generates any waste liquids, and thus is a more labor-saving, environment-friendly, energy-efficient and cost-effective strategy for the hydrophobic modification. Taking into account the critical role of hydrophobic porous materials, especially in the field of environmental remediation, the approach presented herein would be highly valuable for environmental remediation and industrial applications. PMID:27501762

Tobacco industry responsibility for butts: a Model Tobacco Waste Act.

PubMed

Curtis, Clifton; Novotny, Thomas E; Lee, Kelley; Freiberg, Mike; McLaughlin, Ian

2017-01-01

Cigarette butts and other postconsumer products from tobacco use are the most common waste elements picked up worldwide each year during environmental cleanups. Under the environmental principle of Extended Producer Responsibility, tobacco product manufacturers may be held responsible for collection, transport, processing and safe disposal of tobacco product waste (TPW). Legislation has been applied to other toxic and hazardous postconsumer waste products such as paints, pesticide containers and unused pharmaceuticals, to reduce, prevent and mitigate their environmental impacts. Additional product stewardship (PS) requirements may be necessary for other stakeholders and beneficiaries of tobacco product sales and use, especially suppliers, retailers and consumers, in order to ensure effective TPW reduction. This report describes how a Model Tobacco Waste Act may be adopted by national and subnational jurisdictions to address the environmental impacts of TPW. Such a law will also reduce tobacco use and its health consequences by raising attention to the environmental hazards of TPW, increasing the price of tobacco products, and reducing the number of tobacco product retailers. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.

The Evolution of Operational Satellite Based Remote Sensing in Support of Weather Analysis, Nowcasting, and Hazard Mitigation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hughes, B. K.

2010-12-01

The mission of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Environmental Data Information Service (NESDIS) is to provide timely access to global environmental data from satellites and other sources to promote, protect, and enhance America’s economy, security, environment, and quality of life. To fulfill its responsibilities, NESDIS acquires and manages America’s operational environmental satellites, operates the NOAA National Data Centers, provides data and information services including Earth system monitoring, performs official assessments of the environment, and conducts related research. The Nation’s fleet of operational environmental satellites has proven to be very critical in the detection, analysis, and forecast of natural or man-made phenomena. These assets have provided for the protection of people and property while safeguarding the Nation’s commerce and enabling safe and effective military operations. This presentation will take the audience through the evolution of operational satellite based remote sensing in support of weather forecasting, nowcasting, warning operations, hazard detection and mitigation. From the very first experiments involving radiation budget to today’s fleet of Geostationary and Polar Orbiting satellites to tomorrow’s constellation of high resolution imagers and hyperspectral sounders, environmental satellites sustain key observations for current and future generations.

Environmentally Safe and Effective Processes for Paint Removal (Les Procedes Efficaces et Ecologiques pour l’Enlevement des Peintures)

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-03-01

1992 sur tine coclule d’avion TRANSALL pointe A loexception des composites vner / dpoxy (inhtalla- avec In garame Airbus . don non robotisde, 2 buses...Los P.M.P. h AIRBUS INDUSTRIE page P.M.P, cii cabine (MATRASUR ct SCHLICK) pour l’onl~vormont des peinturos sur las 616ments md- Ril~ant suite h uno...dtudo sur las P.M.P. lancdo fin caziiquos (site do MARIGNANE) =* capacitd do iral. 1987, tine spcificatlun do pr ddwv Airbus Industrie tement : 1500 kg

Joint occupational and environmental pollution prevention strategies: a model for primary prevention.

PubMed

Armenti, Karla; Moure-Eraso, Rafael; Slatin, Craig; Geiser, Ken

2003-01-01

Occupational and environmental health issues are not always considered simultaneously when attempting to reduce or eliminate hazardous materials from our environment. Methods used to decrease exposure to hazardous chemicals in the workplace often lead to increased exposure in the environment and to the community outside the workplace. Conversely, efforts to control emissions of hazardous chemicals into the environment often lead to increased exposure to the workers inside the plant. There are government regulations in place that ensure a safe work environment or a safe outside environment; however, there is little integration of both approaches when considering the public's health as a whole. This article examines some of the reasons behind this dichotomy, focusing on the regulatory and policy frameworks with respect to workplace and environment that have resulted in the inability of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to coordinate their efforts to protect public health. The components of the Pollution Prevention Act and its potential to serve as a model for integrating occupational and environmental health are discussed. Limitations regarding enforcement of pollution prevention, as well as its disconnection from the work environment are equally highlighted. The article finishes by examining the barriers to integrating the occupational and environmental health paradigms and the promotion of primary prevention in public health.

Student Summary of the U.S. Department of Energy Portsmouth Annual Site Environmental Report (ASER) for 2013

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bryant, Shea; Develin, Thomas; Flores, Victor

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) conducts environmental monitoring at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant Site (PORTS) on an ongoing basis. Each year, the information collected is presented in a data volume and a comprehensive publication entitled the Annual Site Environmental Report (ASER). This year, a class at Waverly High School (WHS), located in Pike County, Ohio, developed this summary report. Both the ASER and this summary report are important as they allow DOE to clearly and concisely explain our environmental monitoring programs to our many stakeholders. The information presented in this summary shows that the PORTS site near Piketon,more » Ohio, is safe due in part to the Department’s focus on safety. The work at DOE facilities is highly detailed and technically complex, but DOE is committed to performing each of these activities safely. DOE’s first priority is to protect the well-being of our workers, the surrounding communities, and the environment. DOE would like to offer its sincerest appreciation to the students and faculty leader at Waverly High School who worked on this summary document. DOE congratulates each of you for your effort, enthusiasm, and willingness to support this project. DOE hopes you enjoy reading the PORTS 2013 Annual Site Environmental Report Summary.« less

[Earthquakes--a historical review, environmental and health effects, and health care measures].

PubMed

Nola, Iskra Alexandra; Doko Jelinić, Jagoda; Žuškin, Eugenija; Kratohvil, Mladen

2013-06-01

Earthquakes are natural disasters that can occur at any time, regardless of the location. Their frequency is higher in the Circum-Pacific and Mediterranean/Trans-Asian seismic belt. A number of sophisticated methods define their magnitude using the Richter scale and intensity using the Mercani-Cancani-Sieberg scale. Recorded data show a number of devastating earthquakes that have killed many people and changed the environment dramatically. Croatia is located in a seismically active area, which has endured a series of historical earthquakes, among which several occurred in the Zagreb area. The consequences of an earthquake depend mostly on the population density and seismic resistance of buildings in the affected area. Environmental consequences often include air, water, and soil pollution. The effects of this kind of pollution can have long-term health effects. The most dramatic health consequences result from the demolition of buildings. Therefore, quick and efficient aid depends on well-organized health professionals as well as on the readiness of the civil defence, fire department, and Mountain Rescue Service members. Good coordination among these services can save many lives Public health interventions must include effective control measures in the environment as secondary prevention methods for health problems caused by unfavourable environmental factors. The identification and control of long-term hazards can reduce chronic health effects. The reduction of earthquake-induced damages includes setting priorities in building seismically safe buildings.

Environmental health attitudes and behaviors: findings from a large pregnancy cohort study.

PubMed

Barrett, Emily S; Sathyanarayana, Sheela; Janssen, Sarah; Redmon, J Bruce; Nguyen, Ruby H N; Kobrosly, Roni; Swan, Shanna H

2014-05-01

Environmental chemicals are widely found in food and personal care products and may have adverse effects on fetal development. Our aim was to examine women's attitudes about these chemicals and ask whether they try to limit their exposure during pregnancy. A multi-center cohort of women in the first trimester of pregnancy completed questionnaires including items on attitudes and behaviors related to environmental chemicals. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine: (1) whether sociodemographic variables predict environmental health attitudes and behaviors; and (2) whether women's attitudes about environmental chemicals affect their lifestyle behaviors, particularly diet and personal care product use. Of the 894 subjects, approximately 60% strongly agreed that environmental chemicals are dangerous and 25% strongly felt they were impossible to avoid. Adjusting for covariates, educated women were more likely to believe that environmental chemicals are dangerous (OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.13, 2.66), and that belief, in turn, was associated with a number of healthy behaviors including choosing organic foods, foods in safe plastics, and chemical-free personal care products, and limiting fast food intake. Younger women were more likely to believe that environmental chemicals are impossible to avoid (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.00, 1.08). Women's attitudes about environmental chemicals may impact their choices during pregnancy. Overcoming a lack of concern about environmental chemicals, particularly among certain sociodemographic groups, is important for the success of clinical or public health prevention measures. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Environmental health attitudes and behaviors: findings from a large pregnancy cohort study

PubMed Central

Barrett, Emily S.; Sathyanarayana, Sheela; Janssen, Sarah; Redmon, J. Bruce; Nguyen, Ruby H.N.; Kobrosly, Roni; Swan, Shanna H.

2014-01-01

Objective Environmental chemicals are widely found in food and personal care products and may have adverse effects on fetal development. Our aim was to examine women’s attitudes about these chemicals and ask whether they try to limit their exposure during pregnancy. Study design A multi-center cohort of women in the first trimester of pregnancy completed questionnaires including items on attitudes and behaviors related to environmental chemicals. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine: (1) whether sociodemographic variables predict environmental health attitudes and behaviors; and (2) whether women’s attitudes about environmental chemicals affect their lifestyle behaviors, particularly diet and personal care product use. Results Of the 894 subjects, approximately 60% strongly agreed that environmental chemicals are dangerous and 25% strongly felt they were impossible to avoid. Adjusting for covariates, educated women were more likely to believe that environmental chemicals are dangerous (OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.13, 2.66), and that belief, in turn, was associated with a number of healthy behaviors including choosing organic foods, foods in safe plastics, and chemical-free personal care products, and limiting fast food intake. Younger women were more likely to believe environmental chemicals are impossible to avoid (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.00, 1.08). Conclusions Women’s attitudes about environmental chemicals may impact their choices during pregnancy. Overcoming a lack of concern about environmental chemicals, particularly among certain sociodemographic groups, is important for the success of clinical or public health prevention measures. PMID:24647207

Be Food Safe: Protect Yourself from Food Poisoning

MedlinePlus

... Emergency Preparedness & Response Environmental Health Healthy Living Injury, Violence & Safety Life Stages & Populations Travelers’ Health Workplace Safety & Health Features Media Sign up for Features Get Email Updates To ...

Environmental Lead (Pb) Exposure Versus Fatty Acid Content in Blood and Milk of the Mother and in the Blood of Newborn Children.

PubMed

Baranowska-Bosiacka, Irena; Kosińska, Ida; Jamioł, Dominika; Gutowska, Izabela; Prokopowicz, Adam; Rębacz-Maron, Ewa; Goschorska, Marta; Olszowski, Tomasz; Chlubek, Dariusz

2016-04-01

Significant progress in understanding the effects of the neurotoxic action of lead (Pb) in young organisms had led to reduction of "safe" level in the blood (Pb-B) to 5 μg/dL in children and pregnant women. Prolonged exposure to relatively low levels of Pb, generally asymptomatic and subclinical (i.e., microintoxication), is currently the dominant form of environmental poisoning, and its negative effects on health may appear after many years, e.g., secondary contamination from Pb bone deposits released in pregnancy. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of environmental exposure (urban areas) of mothers to Pb, on its levels in their milk and blood and in the blood of newborns. Moreover, the aim was to determine the fatty acid profile in the mothers' blood and milk and in the blood of newborns. We also wanted to find if infant birth weight depends on Pb blood levels, as well as on Pb and fatty acid levels in the blood and milk of the mothers. Finally, we examined if the mothers' weight and body mass index (BMI) before pregnancy influenced the concentration of Pb and fatty acid profile in the blood and milk of mothers and in the blood of their children. Analysis of fatty acids elaidic (C18:1, 9t), oleic (C18:1, 9c), vaccenic (C18:1, 11t), cis-vaccenic (C18:1, 11c), linoleic (C18:2, cis), γ-linolenic (C18:3, n-6), α-linolenic (C18:3, n-3), arachidonic (C20:4, n-6), eicosapentaenoic (C20:5, n-3), and docosahexaenoic (C22:6, n-3) was conducted by gas chromatography. The concentration of Pb in the whole blood and milk were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry with graphite furnace atomization and Zeeman correction. Our study established a significant and strong correlation between the content of Pb in the blood of the mother and the child. This supports the assumption that the transport of Pb through the placenta is neither regulated nor selective. Environmental maternal exposure to lead resulting in Pb-B levels considered safe for pregnant women had no effect on infant birth weight, the concentration of fatty acids in the blood and milk of mothers, or in the blood of newborns. Mothers' weight and BMI before pregnancy had no effect on the concentration of Pb and studied fatty acid profile.

The cardiovascular system and diving risk.

PubMed

Bove, Alfred A

2011-01-01

Recreational scuba diving is a sport that requires a certain physical capacity, in addition to consideration of the environmental stresses produced by increased pressure, low temperature and inert gas kinetics in tissues of the body. Factors that may influence ability to dive safely include age, physical conditioning, tolerance of cold, ability to compensate for central fluid shifts induced by water immersion, and ability to manage exercise demands when heart disease might compromise exercise capacity. Patients with coronary heart disease, valvular heart disease, congenital heart disease and cardiac arrhythmias are capable of diving, but consideration must be given to the environmental factors that might interact with the cardiac disorder. Understanding of the interaction of the diving environment with various cardiac disorders is essential to providing a safe diving environment to individual divers with known heart disease.

Effect of Safe Water on Arsenicosis: A Follow-up Study.

PubMed

Majumdar, Kunal K; Ghose, Aloke; Ghose, Nilima; Biswas, Anirban; Mazumder, D N Guha

2014-04-01

Arsenic pollution in groundwater, used for drinking purposes, has been envisaged as a problem of global concern. Treatment options for the management symptoms of chronic arsenicosis are limited. Mitigation option available for dealing with the health problem of ground water arsenic contamination rests mainly on supply of arsenic safe water in arsenic-endemic region of Indo-Bangladesh subcontinent. Limited information is available regarding the long-term effect of chronic arsenic toxicity after stoppage of consumption of arsenic-containing water. The current study was, therefore, done to assess, objectively, the effect of drinking arsenic safe water (<50 μg/L) on disease manifestation of arsenicosis. Manifestations of various skin lesions and systemic diseases associated with chronic arsenic exposure were ascertained initially by carrying on baseline study on 208 participants in Nadia (Cohort-I, with skin lesion and Cohort-II, without skin lesion) using a scoring system, as developed by us, and compared objectively at the end of each year for 3 year follow-up period. All the participants who had arsenic contaminated drinking water source in their houses were supplied with arsenic removal filters for getting arsenic-free water during the follow-up period. In participants belonging to Cohort-I, the skin score was found to improve significantly at the end of each year, and it was found to be reduced significantly from 2.17 ± 1.09 to 1.23 ± 1.17; P < 0.001 at the end of 3 year's intervention study indicating beneficial effect of safe water on skin lesions. The systemic disease symptom score was also found to improve, but less significantly, at the end of 3 years in both the cohorts. Most important observation during the follow-up study was persistence of severe symptoms of chronic lung disease and severe skin lesion including Bowen's disease in spite of taking arsenic-safe water. Further, death could not be prevented to occur because of lung cancer and severe lung disease. It is, therefore, an urgent need to make arrangement for availability of safe water source among the arsenic-affected people in the district. Many of the people in the affected villages are not aware of contamination of their home tube wells with arsenic. Awareness generation and motivation of the people for testing their drinking water sources for arsenic and environmental interventions like rain water harvesting, ground water recharge, and restricting excessive use of ground water for domestic and agricultural purposes are also important to prevent further exposure of arsenic to these people.

Multi-residue analysis of pharmaceuticals in aqueous environmental samples by online solid-phase extraction-ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry: optimisation and matrix effects reduction by quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe extraction.

PubMed

Bourdat-Deschamps, Marjolaine; Leang, Sokha; Bernet, Nathalie; Daudin, Jean-Jacques; Nélieu, Sylvie

2014-07-04

The aim of this study was to develop and optimise an analytical method for the quantification of a bactericide and 13 pharmaceutical products, including 8 antibiotics (fluoroquinolones, tetracyclines, sulfonamides, macrolide), in various aqueous environmental samples: soil water and aqueous fractions of pig slurry, digested pig slurry and sewage sludge. The analysis was performed by online solid-phase extraction coupled to ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (online SPE-UHPLC-MS-MS). The main challenge was to minimize the matrix effects observed in mass spectrometry, mostly due to ion suppression. They depended on the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) content and its origin, and ranged between -22% and +20% and between -38% and -93% of the signal obtained without matrix, in soil water and slurry supernatant, respectively. The very variable levels of these matrix effects suggested DOC content cut-offs above which sample purification was required. These cut-offs depended on compounds, with concentrations ranging from 30 to 290mgC/L for antibiotics (except tylosine) up to 600-6400mgC/L for the most apolar compounds. A modified Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe (QuEChERS) extraction procedure was therefore optimised using an experimental design methodology, in order to purify samples with high DOC contents. Its performance led to a compromise, allowing fluoroquinolone and tetracycline analysis. The QuEChERS extraction salts consisted therefore of sodium acetate, sodium sulfate instead of magnesium sulfate, and sodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA) as a ligand of divalent cations. The modified QuEChERS procedure employed for the extraction of pharmaceuticals in slurry and digested slurry liquid phases reduced the matrix effects for almost all the compounds, with extraction recoveries generally above 75%. The performance characteristics of the method were evaluated in terms of linearity, intra-day and inter-day precision, accuracy and limits of quantification, which reached concentration ranges of 5-270ng/L in soil water and sludge supernatant, and 31-2400ng/L in slurry and digested slurry supernatants, depending on the compounds. The new method was then successfully applied for the determination of the target compounds in environmental samples. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

NOAA Marine and Arctic Monitoring Using UASs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jacobs, T.; Coffey, J. J.; Hood, R. E.; Hall, P.; Adler, J.

2014-12-01

Unmanned systems have the potential to efficiently, effectively, economically and safely bridging critical observation requirements in an environmentally friendly manner. As the United States' Marine and Arctic areas of interest expand and include hard-to-reach regions of the Earth (such as the Arctic and remote oceanic areas) optimizing unmanned capabilities will be needed to advance the United States' science, technology and security efforts. Through increased multi-mission and multi-agency operations using improved inter-operable and autonomous unmanned systems, the research and operations communities will better collect environmental intelligence and better protect our Country against hazardous weather, environmental, marine and polar hazards. This presentation will examine NOAA's Marine and Arctic Monitoring UAS strategies which includes developing a coordinated effort to maximize the efficiency and capabilities of unmanned systems across the federal government and research partners. Numerous intra- and inter-agency operational demonstrations and assessments have been made to verify and validated these strategies. The presentation will also discuss the requisite sUAS capabilities and our experience in using them.

Environmental Action Guide for New York State Schools: Help for Parents and Others in the Absence of Standards Just for Children.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Barnett, Claire, Ed.

This guide addresses existing New York laws and available resources to ensure that every child and school employee has an environmentally safe and healthy school. Topics discussed involve indoor air quality; toxic and hazardous chemicals; pests and pesticides; mold, mildew, fungus, bacteria; asbestos; lead; radon; exhaust fumes from idling…

Safe Drinking Water and Satisfaction with Environmental Quality of Life in Some Oil and Gas Industry Impacted Cities of Nigeria

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ejechi, E. O.; Ejechi, B. O.

2008-01-01

The availability and safety of drinking water and the environmental quality of life was investigated in five cities located in an oil-producing area of Nigeria using questionnaire-based scales, discussion and laboratory tests. Polythene-packaged sachet water and commercial and non-commercial private boreholes largely met the drinking water…

An inventory of multipurpose avenue trees of urban Chandigarh, India

Treesearch

R. K. Kohli; H. P. Singh; Daizy R. Batish

2000-01-01

Trees in urban ecosystems play a very significant role in environmental protection by checking air and noise pollutants, abating wind, and handling many other functions, in India, Chandigarh is the most modern and environmentally safe city and qualifies to be called a GREEN CITY because of its rich tree component. This is so in spite of its high population density,...

78 FR 51186 - Proposed Consent Decree, Clean Air Act Citizen Suit

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-08-20

... Houston, California Communities Against Toxics, Coalition For A Safe Environment, Community In-Power and Development Association, Del Amo Action Committee, Environmental Integrity Project, Louisiana Bucket Brigade...

HealthLines: Heart-Safe Exercise

MedlinePlus

... funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Check Out Health-Helpful Web Sites MedlinePlus.gov and other NIH Web sites ...

Toxic effects of trace elements on newborns and their birth outcomes.

PubMed

Tang, Mengling; Xu, Chenye; Lin, Nan; Yin, Shanshan; Zhang, Yongli; Yu, Xinwei; Liu, Weiping

2016-04-15

Some trace elements are essential for newborns, their deficiency may cause abnormal biological functions, whereas excessive intakes due to environmental contamination may create adverse health effects. This study was conducted to measure the levels of selected trace elements in Chinese fish consumers by assessing their essentiality and toxicity via colostrum intake in newborns, and evaluated the effects of these trace elements on birth outcomes. Trace elements in umbilical cord serum and colostrum of the studied population were relatively high compared with other populations. The geometric means (GM) of estimated daily intake (EDI, mgday(-1)) of the trace elements were in the safe ranges for infant Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) recommended by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). When using total dietary intake (TDI, mgkg(-1)bwday(-1)), zinc (Zn) (0.880mgkg(-1)bwday(-1)) and selenium (Se) (6.39×10(-3)mgkg(-1)bwday(-1)) were above the Reference Doses (RfD), set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Multivariable linear regression analyses showed that Se was negatively correlated with birth outcomes. Our findings suggested that overloading of trace elements due to environmental contamination may contribute to negative birth outcomes. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The impact of incinerators on human health and environment.

PubMed

Sharma, Raman; Sharma, Meenakshi; Sharma, Ratika; Sharma, Vivek

2013-01-01

Of the total wastes generated by health-care organizations, 10%-25% are biomedical wastes, which are hazardous to humans and the environment and requires specific treatment and management. For decades, incineration was the method of choice for the treatment of such infectious wastes. Incinerator releases a wide variety of pollutants depending on the composition of the waste, which leads to health deterioration and environmental degradation. The significant pollutants emitted are particulate matter, metals, acid gases, oxides of nitrogen, and sulfur, aside from the release of innumerable substances of unknown toxicity. This process of waste incineration poses a significant threat to public health and the environment. The major impact on health is the higher incidence of cancer and respiratory symptoms; other potential effects are congenital abnormalities, hormonal defects, and increase in sex ratio. The effect on the environmental is in the form of global warming, acidification, photochemical ozone or smog formation, eutrophication, and human and animal toxicity. Thus, there is a need to skip to newer, widely accepted, economical, and environment-friendly technologies. The use of hydroclaves and plasma pyrolysis for the incineration of biomedical wastes leads to lesser environmental degradation, negligible health impacts, safe handling of treated wastes, lesser running and maintenance costs, more effective reduction of microorganisms, and safer disposal.

Estimating population heat exposure and impacts on working people in conjunction with climate change

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kjellstrom, Tord; Freyberg, Chris; Lemke, Bruno; Otto, Matthias; Briggs, David

2018-03-01

Increased environmental heat levels as a result of climate change present a major challenge to the health, wellbeing and sustainability of human communities in already hot parts of this planet. This challenge has many facets from direct clinical health effects of daily heat exposure to indirect effects related to poor air quality, poor access to safe drinking water, poor access to nutritious and safe food and inadequate protection from disease vectors and environmental toxic chemicals. The increasing environmental heat is a threat to environmental sustainability. In addition, social conditions can be undermined by the negative effects of increased heat on daily work and life activities and on local cultural practices. The methodology we describe can be used to produce quantitative estimates of the impacts of climate change on work activities in countries and local communities. We show in maps the increasing heat exposures in the shade expressed as the occupational heat stress index Wet Bulb Globe Temperature. Some tropical and sub-tropical areas already experience serious heat stress, and the continuing heating will substantially reduce work capacity and labour productivity in widening parts of the world. Southern parts of Europe and the USA will also be affected. Even the lowest target for climate change (average global temperature change = 1.5 °C at representative concentration pathway (RCP2.6) will increase the loss of daylight work hour output due to heat in many tropical areas from less than 2% now up to more than 6% at the end of the century. A global temperature change of 2.7 °C (at RCP6.0) will double this annual heat impact on work in such areas. Calculations of this type of heat impact at country level show that in the USA, the loss of work capacity in moderate level work in the shade will increase from 0.17% now to more than 1.3% at the end of the century based on the 2.7 °C temperature change. The impact is naturally mainly occurring in the southern hotter areas. In China, the heat impact will increase from 0.3 to 2%, and in India, from 2 to 8%. Especially affected countries, such as Cambodia, may have losses going beyond 10%, while countries with most of the population at high cooler altitude, such as Ethiopia, may experience much lower losses.

Environmental projects. Volume 6: Environmental assessment. New 34-meter antenna at Venus site

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kushner, L.

1988-01-01

The Jet Propulsion Lab has proposed replacing the 26-meter antenna at the Venus Station of the Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex with a new 34-meter antenna. An environmental impact assessment of this proposed change is presented. It is concluded that the proposed antenna and its operation would not result in significant adverse impacts to the physical or human environment. It will, however, be necessary to manage electromagnetic transmissions from the antenna in such a manner as to ensure safe operation.

Investigation of the environmental implications of the CNT switch through its life cycle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dahlben, Lindsay Johanna

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are unique allotropes of carbon that have high tensile strength, a high Young's modulus, good thermal conductivity, and depending on the CNT chirality can be metallic or semiconducting. These mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties make CNTs an attractive element in electronic applications such as conductive films, photovoltaics, non-volatile memory devices, batteries, sensors, and displays. Although commercialization of CNT-enabled products is increasing, there remains a significant lack of information regarding the health effects and environmental impacts of CNTs. Some studies have even shown that the behavior, toxicity, and persistence of CNTs may differ from bulk heterogeneous carbon. Given these uncertainties, it is prudent to assess the environmental attributes of CNT products and processes now to discover and potentially prevent adverse effects. This study investigates the environmental implications of a non-volatile bi-stable electromechanical CNT switch through its life cycle. Life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology is used to track the environmental impacts of the CNT switch through its fabrication and expected use and end-of-life (EOL) stages. Process parameters, energy consumption, input materials, output emissions, and yield efficiencies are determined for the laboratory and full-scale manufacture environments. The Ecoinvent(TM) inventory database and Eco-indicator 1999(TM) method are utilized for the impact assessment. Results for the fabrication stage are reported for highest contributions to environmental impact such as airborne inorganics, land use, and fossil fuels due to Au refining processes and electricity consumption. Extension of the LCA scope is evaluated for the potential replacement of CNT switches to current field-effect transistors (FETs) in flash memory for a cellular phone application. First-order predictions are made for the functionality and performance of the CNT switch during the use stage through an environmental perspective. Existing cellular phone EOL management options including recycling and direct disposal to landfill and incineration are evaluated for potential limitations, concerns, and environmental releases that may occur from the assimilation of CNT switch-enabled phones into the waste stream. In this manner, potential environmental effects of the CNT switch throughout its life cycle stages can be addressed alongside its technological development to ensure safe, sustainable, and successful CNT products.

Patient Safety: What You Can Do to Be a Safe Patient

MedlinePlus

... Personnel PPE Training Infection Control Assessment Tools Water Management Programs Map: HAI Prevention Activities Research CDC Supported Projects Prevention Epicenters (PE) Healthcare Safety Research (SHEPheRD) Environmental ...

75 FR 75721 - Environmental Impact Statement: Billings County, North Dakota

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-12-06

...- of-Way Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, 1471 Interstate Loop, Bismarck, North Dakota 58503... agricultural, commercial, and industrial vehicles and equipment. The safe and efficient movement of people and...

40 CFR 170.232 - Knowledge of labeling and site-specific information.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... requirements related to safe use of the pesticide, such as signal words, human hazard precautions, personal protective equipment requirements, first aid instructions, environmental precautions, and any additional...

40 CFR 170.232 - Knowledge of labeling and site-specific information.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... requirements related to safe use of the pesticide, such as signal words, human hazard precautions, personal protective equipment requirements, first aid instructions, environmental precautions, and any additional...

Pesticides and their effects on wildlife

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Driver, C.J.

1994-07-01

About 560 active ingredients are currently used as pesticides. Applications of these pesticides are made to agricultural lands and other areas inhabited by wildlife. Unfortunately, many agricultural-use pesticides also entail some measure of risk to organisms other than the pest species. Because testing of pesticides prior to registration cannot evaluate all the potential environmental-pesticide-wildlife/fish interactions, current methods of risk assessment do not always provide sufficient safety to nontarget organisms. This is evidenced by die-offs of fish and wildlife from applications of pesticides at environmentally {open_quotes}safe{close_quotes} rates, the linking of population declines of some species with agrochemical use, and observations ofmore » survival-threatening behavioral changes in laboratory and field animals exposed to typical field levels of pesticides. It is important to note, however, that the majority of pesticides, when properly applied, have not caused significant injury to wildlife. A brief summary of pesticide effects on wildlife and fish are presented for the common classes of pesticides in use today.« less

Treatment of waste printed wire boards in electronic waste for safe disposal.

PubMed

Niu, Xiaojun; Li, Yadong

2007-07-16

The printed wire boards (PWBs) in electronic waste (E-waste) have been found to contain large amounts of toxic substances. Studies have concluded that the waste PWBs are hazardous wastes because they fails the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) test with high level of lead (Pb) leaching out. In this study, two treatment methods - high-pressure compaction and cement solidification - were explored for rendering the PWBs into non-hazardous forms so that they may be safely disposed or used. The high-pressure compaction method could turn the PWBs into high-density compacts with significant volume reduction, but the impact resistance of the compacts was too low to keep them intact in the environment for a long run. In contrast, the cement solidification could turn the PWBs into strong monoliths with high impact resistance and relatively high compressive strength. The leaching of the toxic heavy metal Pb from the solidified samples was evaluated by both a dynamic leaching test and the TCLP test. The dynamic leaching results revealed that Pb could be effectively confined in the solidified products under very harsh environmental conditions. The TCLP test results showed that the leaching level of Pb was far below the regulatory level of 5mg/L, suggesting that the solidified PWBs are no longer hazardous. It was concluded that the cement solidification is an effective way to render the waste PWBs into environmentally benign forms so that they can be disposed of as ordinary solid wastes or beneficially used in the place of concrete in some applications.

Environmental stressors and cardio-metabolic disease: part I-epidemiologic evidence supporting a role for noise and air pollution and effects of mitigation strategies.

PubMed

Münzel, Thomas; Sørensen, Mette; Gori, Tommaso; Schmidt, Frank P; Rao, Xiaoquan; Brook, Jeffrey; Chen, Lung Chi; Brook, Robert D; Rajagopalan, Sanjay

2017-02-21

Traffic noise and air pollution together represent the two most important environmental risk factors in urbanized societies. The first of this two-part review discusses the epidemiologic evidence in support of the existence of an association between these risk factors with cardiovascular and metabolic disease. While independent effects of these risk factors have now clearly been shown, recent studies also suggest that the two exposures may interact with each other and with traditional risk factors such as hypertension and type 2 diabetes. From a societal and policy perspective, the health effects of both air pollution and traffic noise are observed for exposures well below the thresholds currently accepted as being safe. Current gaps in knowledge, effects of intervention and their impact on cardiovascular disease, will be discussed in the last section of this review. Increased awareness of the societal burden posed by these novel risk factors and acknowledgement in traditional risk factor guidelines may intensify the efforts required for effective legislation to reduce air pollution and noise. Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. © The Author 2017. For permissions please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Barriers to the implementation of the SAFE strategy to combat hyperendemic trachoma in Australia.

PubMed

Wright, Heathcote R; Keeffe, Jill E; Taylor, Hugh R

2010-12-01

Australia is the only developed country in the world that still has endemic levels of blinding trachoma. The SAFE (Surgery, Antibiotics, Facial cleanliness, Environmental improvement) strategy is an effective public health intervention that has been successfully used to eliminate blinding trachoma in some of the poorest countries of the world. Yet the SAFE strategy has not been systematically implemented in Australia. We undertook semi-structured interviews to identify some of barriers to the implementation of the SAFE strategy within remote indigenous communities of Australia. Health care professionals who were responsible for delivering trachoma control programs throughout the Northern Territory were asked to participate in a semi-structured interview. Quantitative analysis was performed using an existing strategic management framework. Fourteen individuals were interviewed. Responses were grouped into 19 categories; 12 from the existing strategic management framework and 7 additional categories that were created for ideas unique to the trachoma control program in Australia. A number of key themes emerged from the interview and are presented in a literary style. From these key themes critical success factors for the implementation of a sustainable trachoma control program were identified. With the election of the Rudd government there has been a renewed interest in "closing the gap" between the health of indigenous and non-indigenous Australians. A federal government funding package of $58 million over four years has just been announced to tackle trachoma. It is hoped that the findings of this research can assist in making sure that money achieves its goal.

49 CFR 237.31 - Adoption of bridge management programs.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... prevent the deterioration of railroad bridges by preserving their capability to safely carry the traffic to be operated over them, and reduce the risk of human casualties, environmental damage, and...

49 CFR 237.31 - Adoption of bridge management programs.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... prevent the deterioration of railroad bridges by preserving their capability to safely carry the traffic to be operated over them, and reduce the risk of human casualties, environmental damage, and...

49 CFR 237.31 - Adoption of bridge management programs.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... prevent the deterioration of railroad bridges by preserving their capability to safely carry the traffic to be operated over them, and reduce the risk of human casualties, environmental damage, and...

Staying on the Safe Side.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Diether, John W.

1999-01-01

Describes the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's curriculum to prevent student injuries on the job and in the lab. Includes a sidebar, "Environmentally Correct" by Joan Jouzaits and Lee MacMichael. (SK)

29 CFR 24.105 - Issuance of findings and orders.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... EMPLOYEE PROTECTION PROVISIONS OF SIX ENVIRONMENTAL STATUTES AND SECTION 211 OF THE ENERGY REORGANIZATION... employment; pay compensatory damages; and, under the Toxic Substances Control Act and the Safe Drinking Water...

29 CFR 24.105 - Issuance of findings and orders.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... EMPLOYEE PROTECTION PROVISIONS OF SIX ENVIRONMENTAL STATUTES AND SECTION 211 OF THE ENERGY REORGANIZATION... employment; pay compensatory damages; and, under the Toxic Substances Control Act and the Safe Drinking Water...

29 CFR 24.105 - Issuance of findings and orders.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... EMPLOYEE PROTECTION PROVISIONS OF SIX ENVIRONMENTAL STATUTES AND SECTION 211 OF THE ENERGY REORGANIZATION... employment; pay compensatory damages; and, under the Toxic Substances Control Act and the Safe Drinking Water...

Participatory action research methodology in disaster research: results from the World Trade Center evacuation study.

PubMed

Gershon, Robyn R M; Rubin, Marcie S; Qureshi, Kristine A; Canton, Allison N; Matzner, Frederick J

2008-10-01

Participatory action research (PAR) methodology is an effective tool in identifying and implementing risk-reduction interventions. It has been used extensively in occupational health research, but not, to our knowledge, in disaster research. A PAR framework was incorporated into the World Trade Center evacuation study, which was designed to identify the individual, organizational, and structural (environmental) factors that affected evacuation from the World Trade Center Towers 1 and 2 on September 11, 2001. PAR teams-comprising World Trade Center evacuees, study investigators, and expert consultants-worked collaboratively to develop a set of recommendations designed to facilitate evacuation from high-rise office buildings and reduce risk of injury among evacuees. Two PAR teams worked first separately and then collectively to identify data-driven strategies for improvement of high-rise building evacuation. The teams identified interventions targeting individual, organizational, and structural (environmental) barriers to safe and rapid evacuation. PAR teams were effective in identifying numerous feasible and cost-effective strategies for improvement of high-rise emergency preparedness and evacuation. This approach may have utility in other workplace disaster prevention planning and response programs.

Biomedical waste management in India: Critical appraisal

PubMed Central

Datta, Priya; Mohi, Gursimran Kaur; Chander, Jagdish

2018-01-01

The safe and sustainable management of biomedical waste (BMW) is social and legal responsibility of all people supporting and financing health-care activities. Effective BMW management (BMWM) is mandatory for healthy humans and cleaner environment. This article reviews the recent 2016 BMWM rules, practical problems for its effective implementation, the major drawback of conventional techniques, and the latest eco-friendly methods for BMW disposal. The new rules are meant to improve the segregation, transportation, and disposal methods, to decrease environmental pollution so as to change the dynamic of BMW disposal and treatment in India. For effective disposal of BMWM, there should be a collective teamwork with committed government support in terms of finance and infrastructure development, dedicated health-care workers and health-care facilities, continuous monitoring of BMW practices, tough legislature, and strong regulatory bodies. The basic principle of BMWM is segregation at source and waste reduction. Besides, a lot of research and development need to be in the field of developing environmental friendly medical devices and BMW disposal systems for a greener and cleaner environment. PMID:29403196

Review of TESS internal controls over financial management and procurement activities. [TRW Environmental Safety Syatems (TESS)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

1992-11-25

The Department of Energy's (DOE) civilian radioactive waste program is responsible for the safe disposal of highly radioactive nuclear waste. In February 1991, TRW Environmental Safety Systems (TESS) became the Management and operating contractor for this program. The value of the TESS contract was placed at $1 billion over a 10-year period. In October 1991, we made a review of financial controls in place at TESS. This audit was limited to an evaluation of the internal controls for financial management and procurement. We found that although TESS had made progress in establishing the necessary financial management structure, more effective controlsmore » were needed in certain areas. Specifically, TESS used a method for computing business license taxes that resulted in overpayment; they put into effect a policy to reimburse employees the maximum allowable rate for lodging rather than the actual costs; they did not always obtain the most economical airfares for travel; and, they did not utilize the most effective procurement methods. The Headquarters Procurement Office agreed with our findings and developed an action plan which addresses our recommendations.« less

Environmentally induced, occupational diseases with emphasis on chronic kidney disease of multifactorial origin affecting tropical countries.

PubMed

Wimalawansa, Shehani A; Wimalawansa, Sunil J

2016-01-01

Environmentally induced, occupational diseases are increasing worldwide, especially in rural agricultural communities. Poverty-associated malnutrition, environmental hazards and pollution, and lack of access to clean water, safe sanitation, and modern healthcare facilities are often associated with these chronic illnesses. The authors systematically reviewed occupational public health issues that have been related to the environment. General interpretations of results were included as per the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. Pertinent publications from research databases were reviewed on (A) the risk-benefits, (B) the prevalence of risk factors for various diseases, (C) the benefits of not ignoring the risk factors (i.e., broader evidence), and (D) the risks, effects, and outcomes of different types of interventions. The authors used chronic kidney disease of multifactorial origin (CKDmfo) as an example to explore the theme. Emphasis was given to the regions with emerging economies and developing countries located in the vicinity of the equator. Geographical, socio-economic and aetiological similarities exist for many chronic non-communicable diseases that are affecting tropical countries around the equator. The authors identified manufacturing, mining, and agriculture as the biggest polluters of the environment. In addition, deforestation and associated soil erosion, overuse of agrochemicals, and irresponsible factory discharge (e.g., chemicals and paint, from rubber and textile factories, etc.), all contribute to pollution. To decrease the escalating incidences of environmentally induced diseases, governments should work proactively to protect the environment, especially watersheds, and take steps to minimise harmful occupational exposures and strictly enforce environmental regulations. Creating public awareness of environmental issues and their relationship to public health is essential. This includes regular monitoring and periodic publication of the quality of water, air and soil; preventing deforestation and man-made soil erosion, increasing forest and ground cover, preventing occupational injuries, judicious and safe use of agrochemicals, sustainable agriculture and development programs, and implementing legislation to protect and conserve water heriage and the environment. These actions are essential both for a healthier environment and for the health of the people who live in that environment. Such measures would also decrease public health threats from such, including global-warming-related erratic environmental changes and the occurrence and the spread of non-communicable diseases, such as CKDmfo.

Response surface methodology as a tool for modeling and optimization of Bacillus subtilis spores inactivation by UV/ nano-Fe0 process for safe water production.

PubMed

Yousefzadeh, Samira; Matin, Atiyeh Rajabi; Ahmadi, Ehsan; Sabeti, Zahra; Alimohammadi, Mahmood; Aslani, Hassan; Nabizadeh, Ramin

2018-04-01

One of the most important aspects of environmental issues is the demand for clean and safe water. Meanwhile, disinfection process is one of the most important steps in safe water production. The present study aims at estimating the performance of UV, nano Zero-Valent Iron particles (nZVI, nano-Fe 0 ), and UV treatment with the addition of nZVI (combined process) for Bacillus subtilis spores inactivation. Effects of different factors on inactivation including contact time, initial nZVI concentration, UV irradiance and various aerations conditions were investigated. Response surface methodology, based on a five-level, two variable central composite design, was used to optimize target microorganism reduction and the experimental parameters. The results indicated that the disinfection time had the greatest positive impact on disinfection ability among the different selected independent variables. According to the results, it can be concluded that microbial reduction by UV alone was more effective than nZVI while the combined UV/nZVI process demonstrated the maximum log reduction. The optimum reduction of about 4 logs was observed at 491 mg/L of nZVI and 60 min of contact time when spores were exposed to UV radiation under deaerated condition. Therefore, UV/nZVI process can be suggested as a reliable method for Bacillus subtilis spores inactivation. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Ergonomic Intervention on the Occupational Stress of Selective Railway Workshop's Fitters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mukhopadhyay, Partha; Dey, Netai Chandra

2017-12-01

In India, progressively rigorous health, safety and environmental regulation, together with rapid technological advances have caused job demands of man machine interface. Any deviations in implementing rules and regulations leave many workers at severe risks. In different railway workshops where periodic overhauling (POH) of different coaches and locomotives are obtained, the exhaustive nature of work results strain within the workers. Unfortunately physiological work studies on railway workers are highly inadequate in India. The present study is aimed to relate the ergonomic intervention on the occupational stress of railway workshop's fitters. Working heart rate (WHR) is measured continuously during their work schedule by portable heart rate monitor. Recovery heart rate and other essential occupational stress indexes are also measured along with total working environmental details. The working heart rate (WHR) of the subjects are found as 138 beats/min (bpm) and 121 bpm for the junior (age < 40 years) and senior fitters (age > 40 years), respectively. Net cardiac cost (NCC) and relative cardiac cost (RCC) values exhibit their range in a non-safe zone. No recovery in resting heart rate denotes the hostile environmental effect on the worker's physiology. The effective temperature (ET) and wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) of work site cross the recommended value. Clear evidences of a direct relationship between occupational hazard and fatigue is found and it can be considered as an environmental stresses which, in conjunction with other environmental and host factors induced a chronic fatigue that lead to non-specific health disorders.

Familiarization and Detection of Green Monopropellants Image

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Coan, Mary R.

2015-01-01

Ammonium dinitramide (ADN) and hydroxyl ammonium nitrate (HAN) are green monopropellants which will be appearing at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) for processing in the next few years. These are relatively safe replacements for hydrazine as a monopropellant; however, little is known about methods of leak detection, vapor scrubbing, air emissions, or cleanup that will be required for safe and environmentally benign operations at KSC. The goal of this work is to develop leak detection and related technologies for the two new green monopropellants.

Familiarization and Detection of Green Monopropellants Project

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Coan, Mary Rachel (Compiler)

2014-01-01

Ammonium dinitramide (ADN) and hydroxyl ammonium nitrate (HAN) are green monopropellants which will be appearing at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) for processing in the next few years. These are relatively safe replacements for hydrazine as a monopropellant; however, little is known about methods of leak detection, vapor scrubbing, air emissions, or cleanup that will be required for safe and environmentally benign operations at KSC. The goal of this work is to develop leak detection and related technologies for the two new green monopropellants.

Application of Solid Phase Microextraction with Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry as a Rapid, Reliable, and Safe Method for Field Sampling and Analysis of Chemical Warfare Agent Precursors

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-03-01

in hair samples with analysis by GC-MS [41,42]. The research discussed here examined a polydimethylsiloxane polymer with 10% activated charcoal (PDMS...Field Sampling and Analysis of Chemical Warfare Agent Precursors” Name of Candidate: LT Douglas Parrish Doctor of Philosophy, Environmental...Microextraction with Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry as a Rapid, Reliable, and Safe Method for Field Sampling and Analysis of Chemical Warfare

4-Drug Nerve Block versus Plain Local Anesthetic for Knee and Hip Arthroplasty Analgesia in Veterans

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-10-01

level and for a use found to be safe, or agricultural chemical or environmental contaminant at or below the level found to be safe, by the Food and...research period, all team efforts entailed the management of regulatory requirements. These included: (i) Food and Drug Administration Investigational...events and severe adverse events will be reported to the IRBs (VA and Pitt), DSMB (Pitt), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA, related to this

Editorial. Recent advances and new challenges of occupational and environmental health of nanotechnology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsai, Chuen-Jinn; Pui, David Y. H.

2009-01-01

An overview of the special issue of the Journal of Nanoparticle Research on Occupational and Environmental Health of nanotechnology is presented. Papers published in this special issue show considerable progress in understanding nanoparticle toxicity, monitoring, generation, dustiness, filtration, and applications of nanoparticles. More research is needed to ensure safe handling of nanomaterials as nanotechnology continues to develop at an incredible pace.

Laboratory Reactor for Processing Carbon-Containing Sludge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Korovin, I. O.; Medvedev, A. V.

2016-10-01

The paper describes a reactor for high-temperature pyrolysis of carbon-containing sludge with the possibility of further development of environmentally safe technology of hydrocarbon waste disposal to produce secondary products. A solution of the urgent problem has been found: prevention of environmental pollution resulting from oil pollution of soils using the pyrolysis process as a method of disposal of hydrocarbon waste to produce secondary products.

Evaluation of Personal Multigas Monitors

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-05-01

Edward B. Overton E E T Uf Rene V. Arenas UA414 Louisiana State UniversitySJ~ Institute for Environmental Studies Baton Rouge, LA 70803 National...Name and Address 0. Work Unit No. (TRAIS) Louisiana State University National Oceanic and Atmospheric Institute for Environmental Studies...monitor simply tells the worker whether the environment is safe for continued work. In contrast to this, an advanced mode allows more complicated procedures

23 CFR 771.105 - Policy.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... offices as prescribed in 49 CFR part 7 and on their respective Web sites at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov and... safe and efficient transportation; of the social, economic, and environmental impacts of the proposed...

23 CFR 771.105 - Policy.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... offices as prescribed in 49 CFR part 7 and on their respective Web sites at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov and... safe and efficient transportation; of the social, economic, and environmental impacts of the proposed...

Re: Request for Correction: Drinking Water: Determination on Perchlorate

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Request for correction (RFC) of information developed and relied upon by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) to support its determination to regulate perchlorate under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).

29 CFR 24.105 - Issuance of findings and orders.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... PROTECTION PROVISIONS OF SIX ENVIRONMENTAL STATUTES AND SECTION 211 OF THE ENERGY REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1974... employment; pay compensatory damages; and, under the Toxic Substances Control Act and the Safe Drinking Water...

Patient Safety: Ten Things You Can Do to Be a Safe Patient

MedlinePlus

... Emergency Preparedness & Response Environmental Health Healthy Living Injury, Violence & Safety Life Stages & Populations Travelers’ Health Workplace Safety & Health Features Media Sign up for Features Get Email Updates To ...

Simon of Bolivar, Inc

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Simon of Bolivar, Inc. (“Simon”) has applied to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) under the provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act for a major modification of its Underground Injection Control (UIC) permit.

Method of preparation of removable syntactic foam

DOEpatents

Arnold, C. Jr.; Derzon, D.K.; Nelson, J.S.; Rand, P.B.

1995-07-11

Easily removable, environmentally safe, low-density, syntactic foams are disclosed which are prepared by mixing insoluble microballoons with a solution of water and/or alcohol-soluble polymer to produce a pourable slurry, optionally vacuum filtering the slurry in varying degrees to remove unwanted solvent and solute polymer, and drying to remove residual solvent. The properties of the foams can be controlled by the concentration and physical properties of the polymer, and by the size and properties of the microballoons. The suggested solute polymers are non-toxic and soluble in environmentally safe solvents such as water or low-molecular weight alcohols. The syntactic foams produced by this process are particularly useful in those applications where ease of removability is beneficial, and could find use in packaging recoverable electronic components, in drilling and mining applications, in building trades, in art works, in the entertainment industry for special effects, in manufacturing as temporary fixtures, in agriculture as temporary supports and containers and for delivery of fertilizer, in medicine as casts and splints, as temporary thermal barriers, as temporary protective covers for fragile objects, as filters for particulate matter, which matter may be easily recovered upon exposure to a solvent, as in-situ valves (for one-time use) which go from maximum to minimum impedance when solvent flows through, and for the automatic opening or closing of spring-loaded, mechanical switches upon exposure to a solvent, among other applications. 1 fig.

Method of preparation of removable syntactic foam

DOEpatents

Arnold, Jr., Charles; Derzon, Dora K.; Nelson, Jill S.; Rand, Peter B.

1995-01-01

Easily removable, environmentally safe, low-density, syntactic foams are disclosed which are prepared by mixing insoluble microballoons with a solution of water and/or alcohol-soluble polymer to produce a pourable slurry, optionally vacuum filtering the slurry in varying degrees to remove unwanted solvent and solute polymer, and drying to remove residual solvent. The properties of the foams can be controlled by the concentration and physical properties of the polymer, and by the size and properties of the microballoons. The suggested solute polymers are non-toxic and soluble in environmentally safe solvents such as water or low-molecular weight alcohols. The syntactic foams produced by this process are particularly useful in those applications where ease of removability is beneficial, and could find use in packaging recoverable electronic components, in drilling and mining applications, in building trades, in art works, in the entertainment industry for special effects, in manufacturing as temporary fixtures, in agriculture as temporary supports and containers and for delivery of fertilizer, in medicine as casts and splints, as temporary thermal barriers, as temporary protective covers for fragile objects, as filters for particulate matter, which matter may be easily recovered upon exposure to a solvent, as in-situ valves (for one-time use) which go from maximum to minimum impedance when solvent flows through, and for the automatic opening or closing of spring-loaded, mechanical switches upon exposure to a solvent, among other applications.

Low levels of graphene and graphene oxide inhibit cellular xenobiotic defense system mediated by efflux transporters.

PubMed

Liu, Su; Jiang, Wei; Wu, Bing; Yu, Jing; Yu, Haiyan; Zhang, Xu-Xiang; Torres-Duarte, Cristina; Cherr, Gary N

2016-01-01

Low levels of graphene and graphene oxide (GO) are considered to be environmentally safe. In this study, we analyzed the potential effects of graphene and GO at relatively low concentrations on cellular xenobiotic defense system mediated by efflux transporters. The results showed that graphene (<0.5 μg/mL) and GO (<20 μg/mL) did not decrease cell viability, generate reactive oxygen species, or disrupt mitochondrial function. However, graphene and GO at the nontoxic concentrations could increase calcein-AM (CAM, an indicator of membrane ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter) activity) accumulation, indicating inhibition of ABC transporters' efflux capabilities. This inhibition was observed even at 0.005 μg/mL graphene and 0.05 μg/mL GO, which are 100 times and 400 times lower than their lowest toxic concentration from cytotoxicity experiments, respectively. The inhibition of ABC transporters significantly increased the toxicity of paraquat and arsenic, known substrates of ABC transporters. The inhibition of ABC transporters was found to be based on graphene and GO damaging the plasma membrane structure and fluidity, thus altering functions of transmembrane ABC transporters. This study demonstrates that low levels of graphene and GO are not environmentally safe since they can significantly make cell more susceptible to other xenobiotics, and this chemosensitizing activity should be considered in the risk assessment of graphene and GO.

Arkansas People Participating in Lead Education (APPLE): results of a lead-safe training program.

PubMed

Ferguson, Alesia; Bursac, Zoran; Kern, David F

2011-06-01

Lead is still seen as one of the most harmful environmental toxins for young children, with the predominant source being deteriorating lead-based paint. Those at continued risk include those living in homes built before 1978, renovators and remodelers, and especially those with limited access to proper healthcare and diets. Proper training on lead-safe work practices focused on preventing and reducing the spread of lead dust can help reduce lead exposure. Presented in this paper are experiences in delivering lead-safe work practices training in six Arkansas cities, and results from pre- and post- surveys delivered before and immediately after the training. Pre- and post-surveys assess strong and weak areas of training. Participants demonstrated positive shifts in attitude and behavior towards lead-safe work practices following training. However, our research found that more emphasis should be focused on clarifying current lead exposure sources and routes for children.

Evaluation of AFBC co-firing of coal and hospital wastes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

1991-02-01

The purpose of this program is to expand the use of coal by utilizing CFB (circulating fluidized bed) technology to provide an environmentally safe method for disposing of waste materials. Hospitals are currently experiencing a waste management crisis. In many instances, they are no longer permitted to burn pathological and infectious wastes in incinerators. Older hospital incinerators are not capable of maintaining the stable temperatures and residence times necessary in order to completely destroy toxic substances before release into the atmosphere. In addition, the number of available landfills which can safely handle these substances is decreasing each year. The purposemore » of this project is to conduct necessary research investigating whether the combustion of the hospital wastes in a coal-fired circulating fluidized bed boiler will effectively destroy dioxins and other hazardous substances before release into the atmosphere. If this is proven feasible, in light of the quantity of hospital wastes generated each year, it would create a new market for coal -- possibly 50 million tons/year.« less

Visual tracking strategies for intelligent vehicle highway systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smith, Christopher E.; Papanikolopoulos, Nikolaos P.; Brandt, Scott A.; Richards, Charles

1995-01-01

The complexity and congestion of current transportation systems often produce traffic situations that jeopardize the safety of the people involved. These situations vary from maintaining a safe distance behind a leading vehicle to safely allowing a pedestrian to cross a busy street. Environmental sensing plays a critical role in virtually all of these situations. Of the sensors available, vision sensors provide information that is richer and more complete than other sensors, making them a logical choice for a multisensor transportation system. In this paper we present robust techniques for intelligent vehicle-highway applications where computer vision plays a crucial role. In particular, we demonstrate that the controlled active vision framework can be utilized to provide a visual sensing modality to a traffic advisory system in order to increase the overall safety margin in a variety of common traffic situations. We have selected two application examples, vehicle tracking and pedestrian tracking, to demonstrate that the framework can provide precisely the type of information required to effectively manage the given situation.

Assessing the risks of trace elements in environmental materials under selected greenhouse vegetable production systems of China.

PubMed

Chen, Yong; Huang, Biao; Hu, Wenyou; Weindorf, David C; Liu, Xiaoxiao; Niedermann, Silvana

2014-02-01

The risk assessment of trace elements of different environmental media in conventional and organic greenhouse vegetable production systems (CGVPS and OGVPS) can reveal the influence of different farming philosophy on the trace element accumulations and their effects on human health. These provide important basic data for the environmental protection and human health. This paper presents trace element accumulation characteristics of different land uses; reveals the difference of soil trace element accumulation both with and without consideration of background levels; compares the trace element uptake by main vegetables; and assesses the trace element risks of soils, vegetables, waters and agricultural inputs, using two selected greenhouse vegetable systems in Nanjing, China as examples. Results showed that greenhouse vegetable fields contained significant accumulations of Zn in CGVPS relative to rice-wheat rotation fields, open vegetable fields, and geochemical background levels, and this was the case for organic matter in OGVPS. The comparative analysis of the soil medium in two systems with consideration of geochemical background levels and evaluation of the geo-accumulation pollution index achieved a more reasonable comparison and accurate assessment relative to the direct comparison analysis and the evaluation of the Nemerow pollution index, respectively. According to the Chinese food safety standards and the value of the target hazard quotient or hazard index, trace element contents of vegetables were safe for local residents in both systems. However, the spatial distribution of the estimated hazard index for producers still presented certain specific hotspots which may cause potential risk for human health in CGVPS. The water was mainly influenced by nitrogen, especially for CGVPS, while the potential risk of Cd and Cu pollution came from sediments in OGVPS. The main inputs for trace elements were fertilizers which were relatively safe based on relevant standards; but excess application caused trace element accumulations in the environmental media. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Alleviation of chronic neuropathic pain by environmental enrichment in mice well after the establishment of chronic pain.

PubMed

Vachon, Pascal; Millecamps, Magali; Low, Lucie; Thompsosn, Scott J; Pailleux, Floriane; Beaudry, Francis; Bushnell, Catherine M; Stone, Laura S

2013-06-07

In animal models, the impact of social and environmental manipulations on chronic pain have been investigated in short term studies where enrichment was implemented prior to or concurrently with the injury. The focus of this study was to evaluate the impact of environmental enrichment or impoverishment in mice three months after induction of chronic neuropathic pain. Thirty-four CD-1 seven to eight week-old male mice were used. Mice underwent surgery on the left leg under isoflurane anesthesia to induce the spared nerve injury model of neuropathic pain or sham condition. Mice were then randomly assigned to one of four groups: nerve injury with enriched environment (n = 9), nerve injury with impoverished environment (n = 8), sham surgery with enriched environment (n = 9), or sham surgery with impoverished environment (n = 8). The effects of environmental manipulations on mechanical (von Frey filaments) heat (hot plate) and cold (acetone test) cutaneous hypersensitivities, motor impairment (Rotarod), spontaneous exploratory behavior (open field test), anxiety-like behavior (elevated plus maze) and depression-like phenotype (tail suspension test) were assessed in neuropathic and control mice 1 and 2 months post-environmental change. Finally, the effect of the environment on spinal expression of the pro-nociceptive neuropeptides substance P and CGRP form the lumbar spinal cord collected at the end of the study was evaluated by tandem liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. Environmental enrichment attenuated nerve injury-induced hypersensitivity to mechanical and cold stimuli. In contrast, an impoverished environment exacerbated mechanical hypersensitivity. No antidepressant effects of enrichment were observed in animals with chronic neuropathic pain. Finally, environmental enrichment resulted lower SP and CGRP concentrations in neuropathic animals compared to impoverishment. These effects were all observed in animals that had been neuropathic for several months prior to intervention. These results suggest that environmental factors could play an important role in the rehabilitation of chronic pain patients well after the establishment of chronic pain. Enrichment is a potentially inexpensive, safe and easily implemented non-pharmacological intervention for the treatment of chronic pain.

Screening for Cd-Safe Cultivars of Chinese Cabbage and a Preliminary Study on the Mechanisms of Cd Accumulation.

PubMed

Wang, Jingjie; Yu, Nan; Mu, Guangmao; Shinwari, Kamran I; Shen, Zhenguo; Zheng, Luqing

2017-04-07

With the rapid progress of industrialization, the effects of environmental contamination on plant toxicity, and subsequently on human health, is a growing concern. For example, the heavy metal pollution of soil such as that caused by cadmium (Cd) is a serious threat. Therefore, screening for pollution-safe edible plants is an essential approach for growing plants under heavy metal-contaminated soils. In the current study, 35 Chinese cabbage ( Brassica pekinensis L.) cultivars were selected with the aim of screening for Cd-safe cultivars (CSCs), analyzing their safety, and exploring the mechanism of Cd accumulation. Our field-culture experiments revealed that the Cd content in the edible parts of the cultivars were varied and were determined to possibly be CSCs. Hydroponics experiments were used to simulate six different degrees of soil contamination (high and low Cd concentrations) on possible CSCs. The results indicated a significant difference ( p < 0.05) in Cd concentration in the cultivars, and verified the safety of these possible CSCs. The analyses of the transport coefficient and expression levels showed that the differences in Cd accumulation among the Chinese cabbage cultivars were related to the expression of genes involved in absorption and transport rather than a root-to-shoot translocation limitation.

Screening for Cd-Safe Cultivars of Chinese Cabbage and a Preliminary Study on the Mechanisms of Cd Accumulation

PubMed Central

Wang, Jingjie; Yu, Nan; Mu, Guangmao; Shinwari, Kamran I.; Shen, Zhenguo; Zheng, Luqing

2017-01-01

With the rapid progress of industrialization, the effects of environmental contamination on plant toxicity, and subsequently on human health, is a growing concern. For example, the heavy metal pollution of soil such as that caused by cadmium (Cd) is a serious threat. Therefore, screening for pollution-safe edible plants is an essential approach for growing plants under heavy metal-contaminated soils. In the current study, 35 Chinese cabbage (Brassica pekinensis L.) cultivars were selected with the aim of screening for Cd-safe cultivars (CSCs), analyzing their safety, and exploring the mechanism of Cd accumulation. Our field-culture experiments revealed that the Cd content in the edible parts of the cultivars were varied and were determined to possibly be CSCs. Hydroponics experiments were used to simulate six different degrees of soil contamination (high and low Cd concentrations) on possible CSCs. The results indicated a significant difference (p < 0.05) in Cd concentration in the cultivars, and verified the safety of these possible CSCs. The analyses of the transport coefficient and expression levels showed that the differences in Cd accumulation among the Chinese cabbage cultivars were related to the expression of genes involved in absorption and transport rather than a root-to-shoot translocation limitation. PMID:28387709

Drug development and nonclinical to clinical translational databases: past and current efforts.

PubMed

Monticello, Thomas M

2015-01-01

The International Consortium for Innovation and Quality (IQ) in Pharmaceutical Development is a science-focused organization of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. The mission of the Preclinical Safety Leadership Group (DruSafe) of the IQ is to advance science-based standards for nonclinical development of pharmaceutical products and to promote high-quality and effective nonclinical safety testing that can enable human risk assessment. DruSafe is creating an industry-wide database to determine the accuracy with which the interpretation of nonclinical safety assessments in animal models correctly predicts human risk in the early clinical development of biopharmaceuticals. This initiative aligns with the 2011 Food and Drug Administration strategic plan to advance regulatory science and modernize toxicology to enhance product safety. Although similar in concept to the initial industry-wide concordance data set conducted by International Life Sciences Institute's Health and Environmental Sciences Institute (HESI/ILSI), the DruSafe database will proactively track concordance, include exposure data and large and small molecules, and will continue to expand with longer duration nonclinical and clinical study comparisons. The output from this work will help identify actual human and animal adverse event data to define both the reliability and the potential limitations of nonclinical data and testing paradigms in predicting human safety in phase 1 clinical trials. © 2014 by The Author(s).

Aqueous extracts of Mozambican plants as alternative and environmentally safe acid-base indicators.

PubMed

Macuvele, Domingos Lusitaneo Pier; Sithole, Gerre Zebedias Samo; Cesca, Karina; Macuvele, Suzana Lília Pinare; Matsinhe, Jonas Valente

2016-06-01

Indicators are substances that change color as the pH of the medium. Many of these substances are dyes of synthetic origin. The mulala plant (Euclea natalensis), which roots are commonly used by rural communities for their oral hygiene, and roseira (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis), an ornamental plant, are abundant in Mozambique. Currently, synthetic acid-base indicators are most commonly used but have environmental implications and, on the other hand, are expensive products, so the demand for natural indicators started. This study investigated the applicability of aqueous extracts of H. rosa-sinensis and E. natalensis as acid-base indicators. Ground on this work, the extracts can be used as acid-base indicators. On the basis of the absorption spectroscopy in both the UV-Vis region and previous studies, it was possible to preliminarily pinpoint anthocyanins and naphthoquinones as responsible for the shifting of colors depending on the pH range of aqueous extracts of H. rosa-sinensis and E. natalensis. These natural indicators are easily accessible, inexpensive, easy to extract, environmentally safe, and locally available.

Empowering Local Organizations and Decision-makers in a Changing Climate: EO-guided Environmental Surveillance of Cholera and Rotavirus for South Asia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akanda, A. S.; Hasan, M. A.; Jutla, A.; Aziz, S.; Alam, M.; Ahsan, G. U.; Huq, A.; Colwell, R. R.

2017-12-01

Despite significant advancements in scientific research, diarrheal diseases remain a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in the developing world. Although under-5 child mortality due to such diseases is dropping, prevalence of most diarrheal diseases has increased over past decades, exerting a terrible toll on global public health. Providing safe water and sanitation access, and a safe and clean environment in a sustainable manner remains a critical challenge in the face of rapid population growth, urbanization and increasing threats of natural hazards in a changing climate. We focus on the Bengal Delta region of South Asia, where Cholera and Rotavirus diarrhea continue to have a devastating impact on the public health burden. Climatic change and anthropogenic forcings have greatly affected available water quantity and quality, while the lack of effective institutions and capacity have greatly affected the water-sanitation and public health sectors. The region suffers from recurring dry season freshwater scarcity and temperature extremes, salinity intrusion in coastal areas, inland flooding during monsoons, and resulting water contamination across the delta region. We use earth observation (EO) datasets and techniques to develop a series of tools for surveillance, analysis and decision support to empower government, academic, and non-government stakeholder organizations in South Asia to monitor changes in environmental conditions related to the two most devastating diarrheal diseases, cholera and rotavirus. The developed tools will enable decision makers and stakeholders to significantly increase their understanding of the threats to public health and environmental and climatic conditions related to these diseases, ways to monitor future projections of disease risk, and help identify required policy interventions and strategies to strengthen prevention efforts and limit disease burden in near- (tactical) and long- (strategic) terms.

Cleaning and disinfecting environmental surfaces in health care: Toward an integrated framework for infection and occupational illness prevention.

PubMed

Quinn, Margaret M; Henneberger, Paul K; Braun, Barbara; Delclos, George L; Fagan, Kathleen; Huang, Vanthida; Knaack, Jennifer L S; Kusek, Linda; Lee, Soo-Jeong; Le Moual, Nicole; Maher, Kathryn A E; McCrone, Susan H; Mitchell, Amber Hogan; Pechter, Elise; Rosenman, Kenneth; Sehulster, Lynne; Stephens, Alicia C; Wilburn, Susan; Zock, Jan-Paul

2015-05-01

The Cleaning and Disinfecting in Healthcare Working Group of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, National Occupational Research Agenda, is a collaboration of infection prevention and occupational health researchers and practitioners with the objective of providing a more integrated approach to effective environmental surface cleaning and disinfection (C&D) while protecting the respiratory health of health care personnel. The Working Group, comprised of >40 members from 4 countries, reviewed current knowledge and identified knowledge gaps and future needs for research and practice. An integrated framework was developed to guide more comprehensive efforts to minimize harmful C&D exposures without reducing the effectiveness of infection prevention. Gaps in basic knowledge and practice that are barriers to an integrated approach were grouped in 2 broad areas related to the need for improved understanding of the (1) effectiveness of environmental surface C&D to reduce the incidence of infectious diseases and colonization in health care workers and patients and (2) adverse health impacts of C&D on health care workers and patients. Specific needs identified within each area relate to basic knowledge, improved selection and use of products and practices, effective hazard communication and training, and safer alternatives. A more integrated approach can support multidisciplinary teams with the capacity to maximize effective and safe C&D in health care. Copyright © 2015 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated Hazard Analysis

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Riddle, F. J.

2003-06-26

The Automated Hazard Analysis (AHA) application is a software tool used to conduct job hazard screening and analysis of tasks to be performed in Savannah River Site facilities. The AHA application provides a systematic approach to the assessment of safety and environmental hazards associated with specific tasks, and the identification of controls regulations, and other requirements needed to perform those tasks safely. AHA is to be integrated into existing Savannah River site work control and job hazard analysis processes. Utilization of AHA will improve the consistency and completeness of hazard screening and analysis, and increase the effectiveness of the workmore » planning process.« less

National Childhood Vaccine Injury Compensation Act of 1985. Hearing before the Committee on Labor and Human Resources, United States Senate, Ninety-Ninth Congress. First Session on S. 827 To Amend the Public Health Service Act To Provide for the Compensation of Children and Others Who Have Sustained Vaccine-Related Injuries, and for Other Purposes.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Congress of the U.S., Washington, DC. Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources.

Under examination at this hearing was the best mechanism for a system of compensation for vaccine injuries. Also considered was the applicability of environmental legislation to vaccines, and whether approval by the Federal Government means that a vaccine is, in effect, as safe as it could be. Statements were presented by representatives of the…

Safe disposal of cytotoxic waste: an evaluation of an air-tight system.

PubMed

Craig, Gemma; Wadey, Charlotte

2017-09-07

A 3-month evaluation was undertaken at the Kent Oncology Centre's chemotherapy day unit (CDU) to trial an air-tight sealing disposal system for cytotoxic waste management. Research has identified the potential risk to staff who handle waste products that are hazardous to health. Staff safety was a driving force behind a trial of a new way of working. This article provides an overview of the evaluation of the Pactosafe system in one clinical area, examining reviews by oncology healthcare workers, the practicalities in the clinical setting, training, cost effectiveness and the environmental benefits.

An environmentally safe and effective paint removal process for aircraft

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kozol, Joseph

2001-03-01

To reduce hazardous waste from fleet and depot aircraft paint stripping and to conform to regulations banning toxic chemical paint strippers, the U.S. Naval Air Systems Team (materials division, depots, and head-quarters) teamed with the U.S. Air Force at Warner Robins Air Logistics Center for concept development, characterization, and demonstration of a mature, advanced paint-removal system, the Boeing xenon/flashlamp CO2 (Flashjet®) process. Extensive metallic and composite-materials testing was conducted. This paper describes the development and characterization program leading to authorization of the process for use on fixed-wing navy aircraft.

SRNL Atmospheric Technologies Group

ScienceCinema

Viner, Brian; Parker, Matthew J.

2018-01-16

The Savannah River National Laboratory, Atmospheric Technologies Group, conducts a best-in class Applied Meteorology Program to ensure the Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site is operated safely and complies with stringent environmental regulations.

State transportation liaison funded positions study

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2009-10-01

The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), which was signed into law in August 2005, contained several provisions focused on streamlining the environmental review process. One of these provi...

40 CFR 149.1 - Purpose.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). ... 40 Protection of Environment 22 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Purpose. 149.1 Section 149.1 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) WATER PROGRAMS (CONTINUED) SOLE SOURCE...

40 CFR 149.1 - Purpose.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). ... 40 Protection of Environment 23 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Purpose. 149.1 Section 149.1 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) WATER PROGRAMS (CONTINUED) SOLE SOURCE...

Analysis of Published Hydrogen Vehicle Safety Research

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2010-02-01

Hydrogen-fueled vehicles (HFVs) offer the promise of providing safe, clean, and efficient transportation in a setting of rising fuel prices and tightening environmental regulations. However, the technologies needed to store or manufacture hydrogen on...

2017-17: JGJJG LLC

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) is providing notice of a proposed Consent Agreement and Final Order (“CA/FO”) for violations of Section 1423(b) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (“SDWA or Act”).

Requirements for, and benefits of, environmentally sound and economically viable management of battery recycling in the Philippines in the wake of Basel Convention trade restrictions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hoffmann, U.; Wilson, B.

The ban on the export of used lead-acid batteries (ULAB) from Annex VII to non-Annex VII countries pursuant to decision III/1 of the Basel Convention reduced the availability of imported scrap feedstock for battery recycling in the Philippines. As ULAB supply from other developing countries becomes scarcer, the ban is likely to encourage and enhance collection and recuperation for domestically generated scrap. From a short-term perspective, this study explores the technological and managerial opportunities for improving the environmental and occupational health performance of the formal battery recycling sector and unregulated reconditioning. From a medium- and long-term point of view, the study investigates restructuring the informal ULAB's collection and recycling sector. The objective has been to make the smaller battery recyclers and reconditioners in the informal sector part of an effective and efficient collection infrastructure that supports an environmentally sound secondary lead sector. This approach gradually phases out uncontrolled, inefficient and environmentally unacceptable methods of secondary lead recovery. Due attention has also been paid to the logistical peculiarities of an archipelago, in particular the regional spread of collection infrastructure, collection and shipment costs as well as the assurance of environmentally safe transport.

Environmental statutes, 1985 edition

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

1985-01-01

All major environmental laws are incorporated into a single book. The complete text of each statute as currently amended is included with a detailed Table of Contents for your quick referral. Contents: Clean Air Act; Federal Water Pollution Control Act; National Environmental Policy Act; Noise Control Act; FIFRA; Marines Sanctuaries Act; Occupational Safety and Health Act; Resource Conservation and Recovery Act including the new Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments of 1984 with the new Leaking Underground Storage Tank law; Safe Drinking Water Act; Toxic Substances Control Act; CERCLA/Superfund; and the Used Oil Recycling Act.

pH manipulation as a novel strategy for treating mucormycosis.

PubMed

Trzaska, Wioleta J; Correia, Joao N; Villegas, Maria T; May, Robin C; Voelz, Kerstin

2015-11-01

Mucormycosis is a fatal fungal disease caused by several organisms within the order Mucorales. In recent years, traumatic injury has emerged as a novel risk factor for mucormycosis. Current antifungal therapy is ineffective, expensive, and typically requires extensive surgical debridement. There is thus a pressing need for safe prophylactic treatment that can be rapidly and easily applied to high-risk patients, such as those with major trauma injuries. Acetic acid has been used as a topical treatment for burn wounds for centuries and has proven activity against Gram-negative bacteria. Here, we demonstrate that acetic acid is also highly effective against major pathogenic groups of Mucorales, even at very low concentrations (0.3%). This antifungal effect is not seen with other acids, such as hydrochloric and lactic acid, suggesting that acetic acid activity against Mucorales spores is not solely evoked by low environmental pH. In agreement with this, we demonstrate that the antifungal activity of acetic acid arises from a combination of its ability to potently lower intracellular pH and from pH-independent toxicity. Thus, dilute acetic acid may offer a low-cost, safe, prophylactic treatment for patients at risk of invasive mucormycosis following traumatic injury. Copyright © 2015, Trzaska et al.

A Golden Ticket to Future Occupational and Environmental Health Monitoring

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-10-01

by the BE career field, an assessment of the regulatory monitoring requirements and current detection capabilities was critical . The next step in...research criteria due to the inability to predict the cost of production for these detection systems. Until a standardization of mass scale production...the health risk assessment process and is critical to keeping the base population safe from occupational and environmental exposures. The predominant

Acquisition of an X-Ray Diffractometer with WAXS and SAXS for Materials Research

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-03-31

2. This ligand is known as a sensitizer for applications in dye -sensitized solar cells, and the presence of the amino groups could potentially...achieve different surface properties, thus making them excellent candidates for use as fillers in bio-based biodegradable composite materials...These CNCs are environmentally safe sustainable, biodegradable , carbon neutral, and have low environmental, health and safety risks. Figure 9 below

Identifying housing that poisons: a critical step in eliminating childhood lead poisoning.

PubMed

Reyes, Nimia L; Wong, Lee-Yang; MacRoy, Patrick M; Curtis, Gerald; Meyer, Pamela A; Evens, Anne; Brown, Mary Jean

2006-01-01

The purpose of our study was to develop a method to identify and prioritize "high-risk" buildings in Chicago that could be targeted for childhood lead poisoning prevention activities. We defined "high-risk" buildings as those where multiple children younger than 6 years with elevated blood lead levels (BLLs) had lived and where lead hazards were previously identified on environmental inspection. By linking 1997-2003 Chicago elevated blood lead surveillance, environmental inspection, and building footprint data, we found that 49,362 children younger than 6 years with elevated BLLs lived at 30,742 buildings. Of those, 67 were "high-risk" buildings and these were associated with 994 children with elevated BLLs. On average, 15 children with elevated BLLs had lived in each building (range: 10-53, median: 13). Almost two thirds (n = 43) of the high-risk buildings had two or more referrals for inspection to the same apartment or housing unit; of those, 40 percent (n = 17) failed to maintain lead-safe status after compliance. Linking blood lead surveillance, environmental inspection, and building footprint databases allowed us to identify individual high-risk buildings. This approach prioritizes lead hazard control efforts and may help health, housing, and environmental agencies in targeting limited resources to increase lead-safe housing for children.

Approaches for derivation of environmental quality criteria for substances applied in risk assessment of discharges from offshore drilling operations.

PubMed

Altin, Dag; Frost, Tone Karin; Nilssen, Ingunn

2008-04-01

In order to achieve the offshore petroleum industries "zero harm" goal to the environment, the environmental impact factor for drilling discharges was developed as a tool to identify and quantify the environmental risks associated with disposal of drilling discharges to the marine environment. As an initial step in this work the main categories of substances associated with drilling discharges and assumed to contribute to toxic or nontoxic stress were identified and evaluated for inclusion in the risk assessment. The selection were based on the known toxicological properties of the substances, or the total amount discharged together with their potential for accumulation in the water column or sediments to levels that could be expected to cause toxic or nontoxic stress to the biota. Based on these criteria 3 categories of chemicals were identified for risk assessment the water column and sediments: Natural organic substances, metals, and drilling fluid chemicals. Several approaches for deriving the environmentally safe threshold concentrations as predicted no effect concentrations were evaluated in the process. For the water column consensus were reached for using the species sensitivity distribution approach for metals and the assessment factor approach for natural organic substances and added drilling chemicals. For the sediments the equilibrium partitioning approach was selected for all three categories of chemicals. The theoretically derived sediment quality criteria were compared to field-derived threshold effect values based on statistical approaches applied on sediment monitoring data from the Norwegian Continental Shelf. The basis for derivation of predicted no effect concentration values for drilling discharges should be consistent with the principles of environmental risk assessment as described in the Technical Guidance Document on Risk Assessment issued by the European Union.

Methods and protocol of a mixed method quasi-experiment to evaluate the effects of a structural economic and food security intervention on HIV vulnerability in rural Malawi: The SAGE4Health Study.

PubMed

Weinhardt, Lance S; Galvao, Loren W; Mwenyekonde, Thokozani; Grande, Katarina M; Stevens, Patricia; Yan, Alice F; Mkandawire-Valhmu, Lucy; Masanjala, Winford; Kibicho, Jennifer; Ngui, Emmanuel; Emer, Lindsay; Watkins, Susan C

2014-01-01

Poverty and lack of a predictable, stable source of food are two fundamental determinants of ill health, including HIV/AIDS. Conversely, episodes of poor health and death from HIV can disrupt the ability to maintain economic stability in affected households, especially those that rely on subsistence farming. However, little empirical research has examined if, and how, improvements in people's economic status and food security translate into changes in HIV vulnerability. In this paper, we describe in detail the methods and protocol of an academic-NGO collaboration on a quasi-experimental, longitudinal study of the mechanisms and magnitude of the impact of a multilevel economic and food security program (Support to Able-Bodied Vulnerable Groups to Achieve Food Security; SAFE), as implemented by CARE. Primary outcomes include HIV vulnerability (i.e., HIV risk behaviors, HIV infection), economic status (i.e., income, household assets) and food security (including anthropometric measures). We recruited participants from two types of areas of rural central Malawi: traditional authorities (TA) selected by CARE to receive the SAFE program (intervention group) and TAs receiving other unrelated CARE programming (controls). In the intervention TAs, we recruited 598 program participants (398 women, 200 men) and interviewed them at baseline and 18- and 36-month follow-ups; we interviewed 301 control households. In addition, we conducted random surveys (n = 1002) in the intervention and control areas with a 36-month assessment interval, prior to and after implementation of SAFE. Thus, we are examining intervention outcomes both in direct SAFE program participants and their larger communities. We are using multilevel modeling to examine mediators and moderators of the effects of SAFE on HIV outcomes at the individual and community levels and determine the ways in which changes in HIV outcomes feed back into economic outcomes and food security at later interviews. Finally, we are conducting a qualitative end-of-program evaluation consisting of in-depth interviews with 90 SAFE participants. In addition to examining pathways linking structural factors to HIV vulnerability, this research will yield important information for understanding the impact of a multilevel environmental/structural intervention on HIV, with the potential for other sustainable long-term public health benefits.

Department of Defense meteorological and environmental inputs to aviation systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Try, P. D.

1983-01-01

Recommendations based on need, cost, and achievement of flight safety are offered, and the re-evaluation of weather parameters needed for safe landing operations that lead to reliable and consistent automated observation capabilities are considered.

Transportation, social and financial impacts of light and commuter rail.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2009-09-01

While transportation impacts are often masked by heavy growth in corridor traffic and latent travel demand, : modeling enables measuring the real transportation impacts of rail projects. Rail transit is both safe and : environmentally friendly. Rail ...

Public Notice 2017-13: Simon of Bolivar

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Simon of Bolivar, Inc. (“Simon”) has applied to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) under the provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act for a major modification of its Underground Injection Control (UIC) permit.

BACTERIAL SOURCE TRACKING

EPA Science Inventory

Fecal contamination of surface waters used for recreation, drinking water and aquaculture are a continuous environmental problem and pose significant human health risks. An alarming amount of the United States rivers/streams (39%), lakes (45%), and estuaries (51%) are not safe f...

DEVELOPMENT OF APTAMERS TO WATERBORNE PARASITES

EPA Science Inventory

The Safe Drinking Water Act Amendment of 1996 mandates that the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) evaluate public health risks associated with drinking water contaminants to include waterborne parasites, such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia. Additionally, the Agency est...

30 CFR 280.2 - What is the purpose of this part?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... prospecting activities or scientific research activities on the OCS in Federal waters related to hard minerals... activities or scientific research activities in a safe and environmentally sound manner so as to prevent harm...

30 CFR 251.2 - Purpose of this part.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... activities in a safe and environmentally sound manner so as to prevent harm or damage to, or waste of, any... and other aquatic life), property, or the marine, coastal, or human environment. (c) To inform you and...

UNDERSTANDING CHILDREN'S EXPOSURES TO CHEMICALS

EPA Science Inventory

The EPA has pledged to increase its efforts to provide a safe and healthy environment for children by ensuring that all EPA regulations, standards, policies, and risk assessments take into account special childhood vulnerabilities to environmental chemicals. In evaluating enviro...

SYNERGISTIC WOOD PRESERVATIVES FOR REPLACEMENT OF CCA

EPA Science Inventory

The objective of this project was to evaluate the potential synergistic combinations of environmentally-safe biocides as wood preservatives. These wood preservatives could be potential replacements for the heavy-metal based CCA.

Didecyldimethylammonium chloride [DDAC] was...

75 FR 32240 - Notice of Withdrawal of the Notice of Intent for Klingle Road Environmental Impact Statement...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-06-07

... Manager, Planning, Policy and Sustainability Administration, 2000 14th Street, NW., 7th Floor, Washington... constructed using context sensitive design, to provide safe non- motorized transportation and recreational...

Potential of insects as food and feed in assuring food security.

PubMed

van Huis, Arnold

2013-01-01

With a growing world population and increasingly demanding consumers, the production of sufficient protein from livestock, poultry, and fish represents a serious challenge for the future. Approximately 1,900 insect species are eaten worldwide, mainly in developing countries. They constitute quality food and feed, have high feed conversion ratios, and emit low levels of greenhouse gases. Some insect species can be grown on organic side streams, reducing environmental contamination and transforming waste into high-protein feed that can replace increasingly more expensive compound feed ingredients, such as fish meal. This requires the development of cost-effective, automated mass-rearing facilities that provide a reliable, stable, and safe product. In the tropics, sustainable harvesting needs to be assured and rearing practices promoted, and in general, the food resource needs to be revalorized. In the Western world, consumer acceptability will relate to pricing, perceived environmental benefits, and the development of tasty insect-derived protein products.

Impact of black carbon on the bioaccessibility of organic contaminants in soil.

PubMed

Semple, Kirk T; Riding, Matthew J; McAllister, Laura E; Sopena-Vazquez, Fatima; Bending, Gary D

2013-10-15

The ability of carbonaceous geosorbents (CGs) such as black carbon (BC) to extensively sorb many common environmental contaminants suggests that they potentially possesses qualities useful to the sequestration of harmful xenobiotics within contaminated land. Presently, however, there is limited understanding of the implications for the bioaccessibility, mobility and environmental risk of organic contaminants while sorbed to BC in soil and sediment, in addition to the inherent toxicity of BC itself to terrestrial flora and fauna. We review both the processes involved in and factors influencing BC sorption characteristics, and ultimately consider the impacts BC will have for bioavailability/bioaccessibility, toxicity and risk assessment/remediation of contaminated land. We conclude that while the application of BC is promising, additional work on both their toxicity effects and long-term stability is required before their full potential as a remediation agent can be safely exploited. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effectiveness of silica based sol-gel microencapsulation method for odorants and flavors leading to sustainable environment

PubMed Central

Ashraf, Muhammad Aqeel; Khan, Aysha Masood; Ahmad, Mushtaq; Sarfraz, Maliha

2015-01-01

Microencapsulation has become a hot topic in chemical research. Technology mainly used for control release and protection purposes. The sol-gel micro encapsulation approach for fragrance and aroma in porous silica-based materials leads to sustainable odorant and flavored materials with novel and unique beneficial properties. Sol-gel encapsulation of silica based micro particles considered economically cheap as capital investment in manufacturing is very low and environmentally friendly. Amorphous sol-gel SiO2 is non-toxic and safe, whereas the sol-gel entrapment of delicate chemicals in its inner pores results in pronounced chemical and physical stabilization of the entrapped active agents, thereby broadening the practical utilization of chemically unstable essential oils (EOs). Reviewing progress in the fabrication of diverse odorant and flavored sol-gels, shows us how different synthetic strategies are appropriate for practical application with important health and environmental benefits. PMID:26322304

Effectiveness of silica based sol-gel microencapsulation method for odorants and flavors leading to sustainable environment.

PubMed

Ashraf, Muhammad Aqeel; Khan, Aysha Masood; Ahmad, Mushtaq; Sarfraz, Maliha

2015-01-01

Microencapsulation has become a hot topic in chemical research. Technology mainly used for control release and protection purposes. The sol-gel micro encapsulation approach for fragrance and aroma in porous silica-based materials leads to sustainable odorant and flavored materials with novel and unique beneficial properties. Sol-gel encapsulation of silica based micro particles considered economically cheap as capital investment in manufacturing is very low and environmentally friendly. Amorphous sol-gel SiO2 is non-toxic and safe, whereas the sol-gel entrapment of delicate chemicals in its inner pores results in pronounced chemical and physical stabilization of the entrapped active agents, thereby broadening the practical utilization of chemically unstable essential oils (EOs). Reviewing progress in the fabrication of diverse odorant and flavored sol-gels, shows us how different synthetic strategies are appropriate for practical application with important health and environmental benefits.

Detection of Cardiopulmonary Activity and Related Abnormal Events Using Microsoft Kinect Sensor.

PubMed

Al-Naji, Ali; Chahl, Javaan

2018-03-20

Monitoring of cardiopulmonary activity is a challenge when attempted under adverse conditions, including different sleeping postures, environmental settings, and an unclear region of interest (ROI). This study proposes an efficient remote imaging system based on a Microsoft Kinect v2 sensor for the observation of cardiopulmonary-signal-and-detection-related abnormal cardiopulmonary events (e.g., tachycardia, bradycardia, tachypnea, bradypnea, and central apnoea) in many possible sleeping postures within varying environmental settings including in total darkness and whether the subject is covered by a blanket or not. The proposed system extracts the signal from the abdominal-thoracic region where cardiopulmonary activity is most pronounced, using a real-time image sequence captured by Kinect v2 sensor. The proposed system shows promising results in any sleep posture, regardless of illumination conditions and unclear ROI even in the presence of a blanket, whilst being reliable, safe, and cost-effective.

Detection of Cardiopulmonary Activity and Related Abnormal Events Using Microsoft Kinect Sensor

PubMed Central

Chahl, Javaan

2018-01-01

Monitoring of cardiopulmonary activity is a challenge when attempted under adverse conditions, including different sleeping postures, environmental settings, and an unclear region of interest (ROI). This study proposes an efficient remote imaging system based on a Microsoft Kinect v2 sensor for the observation of cardiopulmonary-signal-and-detection-related abnormal cardiopulmonary events (e.g., tachycardia, bradycardia, tachypnea, bradypnea, and central apnoea) in many possible sleeping postures within varying environmental settings including in total darkness and whether the subject is covered by a blanket or not. The proposed system extracts the signal from the abdominal-thoracic region where cardiopulmonary activity is most pronounced, using a real-time image sequence captured by Kinect v2 sensor. The proposed system shows promising results in any sleep posture, regardless of illumination conditions and unclear ROI even in the presence of a blanket, whilst being reliable, safe, and cost-effective. PMID:29558414

Waterborne Disease Case Investigation: Public Health Nursing Simulation.

PubMed

Alexander, Gina K; Canclini, Sharon B; Fripp, Jon; Fripp, William

2017-01-01

The lack of safe drinking water is a significant public health threat worldwide. Registered nurses assess the physical environment, including the quality of the water supply, and apply environmental health knowledge to reduce environmental exposures. The purpose of this research brief is to describe a waterborne disease simulation for students enrolled in a public health nursing (PHN) course. A total of 157 undergraduate students completed the simulation in teams, using the SBAR (Situation-Background-Assessment-Recommendation) reporting tool. Simulation evaluation consisted of content analysis of the SBAR tools and debriefing notes. Student teams completed the simulation and articulated the implications for PHN practice. Student teams discussed assessment findings and primarily recommended four nursing interventions: health teaching focused on water, sanitation, and hygiene; community organizing; collaboration; and advocacy to ensure a safe water supply. With advanced planning and collaboration with partners, waterborne disease simulation may enhance PHN education. [J Nurs Educ. 2017;56(1):39-42.]. Copyright 2017, SLACK Incorporated.

The Toxic Effects and Mechanisms of CuO and ZnO Nanoparticles

PubMed Central

Chang, Ya-Nan; Zhang, Mingyi; Xia, Lin; Zhang, Jun; Xing, Gengmei

2012-01-01

Recent nanotechnological advances suggest that metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs) have been expected to be used in various fields, ranging from catalysis and opto-electronic materials to sensors, environmental remediation, and biomedicine. However, the growing use of NPs has led to their release into environment and the toxicity of metal oxide NPs on organisms has become a concern to both the public and scientists. Unfortunately, there are still widespread controversies and ambiguities with respect to the toxic effects and mechanisms of metal oxide NPs. Comprehensive understanding of their toxic effect is necessary to safely expand their use. In this review, we use CuO and ZnO NPs as examples to discuss how key factors such as size, surface characteristics, dissolution, and exposure routes mediate toxic effects, and we describe corresponding mechanisms, including oxidative stress, coordination effects and non-homeostasis effects.

The effect of environmental pH on polymeric transfection efficiency.

PubMed

Kang, Han Chang; Samsonova, Olga; Kang, Sun-Woong; Bae, You Han

2012-02-01

Although polymers, polyplexes, and cells are exposed to various extracellular and intracellular pH environments during polyplex preparation and polymeric transfection, the impact of environmental pH on polymeric transfection has not yet been investigated. This study aims to understand the influence of environmental pH on polymeric transfection by modulating the pH of the transfection medium or the culture medium. Changes in the extracellular pH affected polymeric transfection by way of complex factors such as pH-induced changes in polymer characteristics (e.g., proton buffering capacity and ionization), polyplex characteristics (e.g., size, surface charge, and decomplexation), and cellular characteristics (e.g., cellular uptake, cell cycle phases, and intracellular pH environment). Notably, acidic medium delayed endocytosis, endosomal acidification, cytosolic release, and decomplexation of polyplexes, thereby negatively affecting gene expression. However, acidic medium inhibited mitosis and reduced dilution of gene expression, resulting in increased transfection efficiency. Compared to pH 7.4 medium, acidic transfection medium reduced gene expression 1.6-7.7-fold whereas acidic culture medium enhanced transfection efficiency 2.1-2.6-fold. Polymeric transfection was affected more by the culture medium than by the transfection medium. Understanding the effects of extracellular pH during polymeric transfection may stimulate new strategies for determining effective and safe polymeric gene carriers. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

"Championing GIS, Biostatistics, meteo, m-health and e-health approaches for tailored informed evidence-based agricultural, environment and health interventions in Rwanda"

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karame, P., Sr.

2016-12-01

"GIS-Biostatistics-Meteo for Health (GBMH), A consolidated approach"The environmental vulnerability rate due to human-induced threats and climate change has exceeded the capacity of ecosystems and species to adapt naturally. Drastic changes in seasonal and weather patterns have led to a severely intriguing imbalance ecosystem equilibrium, associated to habitat degradation, environmental pollution, shortage of ecosystem services production and shift in species distribution, food insecurity, invasive species and complex species associations. The consequences are particularly disturbing regarding health and wellbeing of human populations. Especially to Sub-Saharan Africa, informed evidence-based statistics are inappropriately if not at all used for developing and implementing coping measures. This makes a regrettable scenario for Rwanda, a research-driven economic transformation country in which mostly expensive long-term interventions remain meaningless and unknowingly approved effective. More important, no single sector can ultimately afford the most informative approaches providing evidence and guiding policy and decisions, due to limited resources. Rwanda dedicates substantial investment to sustain a conducive, robust and flourishing environment promoting research priorities most likely to deliver improved health outcomes. In this framework, the above mentioned approach supports cross-sectoral analyses to evaluate health care quality improvements through impact assessments, policy analysis and forecasting. This approach "Consolidating GIS, Biostatistics, meteo, mobile and e-health approaches (GBMH)" tailors disaster, disease control and prevention, farming options, effective planning, interventions and communication for safe health in sound environment. Under GBMH models, Integrated Time Series analysis completed in R Studio on health interventions from HMIS and DHS and DHSS systems (on environment and disaster management, farming practices and health sector indicators) is likely to provide missing links between science, policy, interventions and practical improvement for safe environment, food security and safer health in Rwanda.

"GIS, Biostatistics, meteo, m-health and e-health approaches for tailored informed evidence-based agricultural, environment and health interventions in Rwanda"

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karame, P., Sr.; Dushimiyimana, V.

2016-12-01

" Championing GIS-Biostatistics-Meteo for Health (GBMH), A consolidated approach"The environmental vulnerability rate due to human-induced threats and climate change has exceeded the capacity of ecosystems and species to adapt naturally. Drastic changes in seasonal and weather patterns have led to a severely intriguing imbalance ecosystem equilibrium, associated to habitat degradation, environmental pollution, shortage of ecosystem services production and shift in species distribution, food insecurity, invasive species and complex species associations. The consequences are particularly disturbing regarding health and wellbeing of human populations. Especially to Sub-Saharan Africa, informed evidence-based statistics are inappropriately if not at all used for developing and implementing coping measures. This makes a regrettable scenario for Rwanda, a research-driven economic transformation country in which mostly expensive long-term interventions remain meaningless and unknowingly approved effective. More important, no single sector can ultimately afford the most informative approaches providing evidence and guiding policy and decisions, due to limited resources. Rwanda dedicates substantial investment to sustain a conducive, robust and flourishing environment promoting research priorities most likely to deliver improved health outcomes. In this framework, the above mentioned approach supports cross-sectoral analyses to evaluate health care quality improvements through impact assessments, policy analysis and forecasting. This approach "Consolidating GIS, Biostatistics, meteo, mobile and e-health approaches (GBMH)" tailors disaster, disease control and prevention, farming options, effective planning, interventions and communication for safe health in sound environment. Under GBMH models, Integrated Time Series analysis completed in R Studio on health interventions from HMIS and DHS and DHSS systems (on environment and disaster management, farming practices and health sector indicators) is likely to provide missing links between science, policy, interventions and practical improvement for safe environment, food security and safer health in Rwanda.

Nanoparticle-plant interaction: Implications in energy, environment, and agriculture.

PubMed

Rai, Prabhat Kumar; Kumar, Vanish; Lee, SangSoo; Raza, Nadeem; Kim, Ki-Hyun; Ok, Yong Sik; Tsang, Daniel C W

2018-06-14

In the recent techno-scientific revolution, nanotechnology has gained popularity at a rapid pace in different sectors and disciplines, specifically environmental, sensing, bioenergy, and agricultural systems. Controlled, easy, economical, and safe synthesis of nanomaterials is desired for the development of new-age nanotechnology. In general, nanomaterial synthesis techniques, such as chemical synthesis, are not completely safe or environmentally friendly due to harmful chemicals used or to toxic by-products produced. Moreover, a few nanomaterials are present as by-product during washing process, which may accumulate in water, air, and soil system to pose serious threats to plants, animals, and microbes. In contrast, using plants for nanomaterial (especially nanoparticle) synthesis has proven to be environmentally safe and economical. The role of plants as a source of nanoparticles is also likely to expand the number of options for sustainable green renewable energy, especially in biorefineries. Despite several advantages of nanotechnology, the nano-revolution has aroused concerns in terms of the fate of nanoparticles in the environment because of the potential health impacts caused by nanotoxicity upon their release. In the present panoramic review, we discuss the possibility that a multitudinous array of nanoparticles may find applications convergent with human welfare based on the synthesis of diverse nanoparticles from plants and their extracts. The significance of plant-nanoparticle interactions has been elucidated further for nanoparticle synthesis, applications of nanoparticles, and the disadvantages of using plants for synthesizing nanoparticles. Finally, we discuss future prospects of plant-nanoparticle interactions in relation to the environment, energy, and agriculture with implications in nanotechnology. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

NASA-STD-3001, Space Flight Human-System Standard and the Human Integration Design Handbook

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Whitmore, Mihriban; Boyer, Jennifer; Holubec, Keith

2012-01-01

NASA-STD-3001 Space Flight Human-System Standard Volume 1, Crew Health, Volume 2, Human Factors, Habitability and Environmental Health, and the Human Integration Design Handbook (HIDH) have replaced the Man-Systems Integration Standards (MSIS), NASA-STD-3000. For decades, NASA-STD-3000 was a significant contribution to human spaceflight programs and to human-systems integration. However, with research program and project results being realized, advances in technology, and the availability of new information in a variety of topic areas, the time had arrived to update this extensive suite of standards and design information. NASA-STD-3001, Volume 2 contains the Agency level standards from the human and environmental factors disciplines that ensure human spaceflight operations are performed safely, efficiently, and effectively. The HIDH is organized in the same sequence and serves as the companion document to NASA-STD-3001, Volume 2, providing a compendium of human spaceflight history and knowledge. The HIDH is intended to aid interpretation of NASA-STD-3001, Volume 2 standards and to provide guidance for requirement writers and vehicle and habitat designers. Keywords Human Factors, Standards, Environmental Factors, NASA

The climate of Kazakhstan: an examination of current conditions and future needs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Russell, Andrew; Ali, Maged; Althonayan, Abraham; Akhmetov, Kanat; Gazdiyeva, Bella; Ghalaieny, Mohamed; Kurmanbayeva, Aygul; McCann, Meg; Mukanov, Yelzhas; Tucker, Allan; Zhumabayeva, Sara

2017-04-01

Environmental Health is an essential aspect of any successful society; indeed, it was recognised as a cornerstone of the UN's Agenda 21 action plan for sustainable development. Clean air and water, safe food, minimal exposure to toxic materials, disaster preparedness, planning for climate change and effective waste management are all fundamental to a healthy population and socio-economic progress. In recent years, particularly since 2000, Kazakhstan's economic development has been exceptional. However, health indicators such as life expectancy are lagging behind nations with similar economies. It is likely that this "health lag" is, to a large extent, caused or aggravated by the poor state of Kazakhstan's natural environment. In this paper, we focus on the role of recent and future climate change in Kazakhstan. We examine ECMWF re-analysis data, data derived directly from observations and CMIP5 climate projections for the region to understand how climate may impact environmental health in the country. This analysis is part of a larger project that aims to take a more holistic approach to the analysis of environmental health in a developing nation.

[Assessment of so called organic trace compounds in drinking water from the regulatory, health and aesthetic-quality points of view, with special consideration given to pharmaceuticals].

PubMed

Dieter, H H; Mückter, H

2007-03-01

More than 2500 chemically defined substances are approved as drugs in Germany. Unlike agricultural pesticides, these biologically active structures are not used in open environmental compartments and therefore their environmental toxicological data base is not nearly as complete. Nevertheless, some of them become environmental contaminants after their intended use. Therefore, from the viewpoint of environmental health protection, there are gaps in their health-related environmental risk assessment. Organic trace compounds that lack an adequate toxicological database, and their mixtures, in drinking water can be safely regulated and provisionally assessed by combining the "similar joint action" addition rule with the recommendation of the Federal Environment Agency of March 2003 "Assessing the presence of substances in drinking water without (adequate) toxicological database from the health point of view". The general precautionary value (Gesundheitlicher Orientierungswert GOW1=0.10 microg/l), which is a recommendation for weakly to not genotoxic compounds, re presents a workable compromise between preventive health protection, water management considerations and aesthetic quality claims (purity). Compliance with this value in the long term will only be possible if the chemical and biological degradation of pharmaceuticals and their metabolites in waste water and waste water treatment plants is effectively improved. Alternatively, there is the risk of drinking water degenerating into a sink for highly mobile, polar and persistent compounds. Their elimination at a stage as late as technical drinking water treatment would be neither close to the initial cause nor justifiable in terms of technical effectiveness. The risk assessment of their byproducts would give rise to further uncertainties. Possible conflicts with the therapeutic quality must be solved by developing substitute products which are environmentally sound.

A simple design for microwave assisted digestion vessel with low reagent consumption suitable for food and environmental samples

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gholami, Mehrdad; Behkami, Shima; Zain, Sharifuddin Md.; Bakirdere, Sezgin

2016-11-01

The objective of this work is to prepare a cost-effective, low reagent consumption and high performance polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) vessel that is capable to work in domestic microwave for digesting food and environmental samples. The designed vessel has a relatively thicker wall compared to that of commercial vessels. In this design, eight vessels are placed in an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) holder to keep them safe and stable. This vessel needs only 2.0 mL of HNO3 and 1.0 mL H2O2 to digest 100 mg of biological sample. The performance of this design is then evaluated with an ICP-MS instrument in the analysis of the several NIST standard reference material of milk 1849a, rice flour 1568b, spinach leave 1570a and Peach Leaves 1547 in a domestic microwave oven with inverter technology. Outstanding agreement to (SRM) values are observed by using the suggested power to time microwave program, which simulates the reflux action occurring in this closed vessel. Taking into account the high cost of commercial microwave vessels and the volume of chemicals needed for various experiments (8-10 mL), this simple vessel is cost effective and suitable for digesting food and environmental samples.

Proactive aquatic ecotoxicological assessment of room-temperature ionic liquids

USGS Publications Warehouse

Kulacki, K.J.; Chaloner, D.T.; Larson, J.H.; Costello, D.M.; Evans-White, M. A.; Docherty, K.M.; Bernot, R.J.; Brueseke, M.A.; Kulpa, C.F.; Lamberti, G.A.

2011-01-01

Aquatic environments are being contaminated with a myriad of anthropogenic chemicals, a problem likely to continue due to both unintentional and intentional releases. To protect valuable natural resources, novel chemicals should be shown to be environmentally safe prior to use and potential release into the environment. Such proactive assessment is currently being applied to room-temperature ionic liquids (ILs). Because most ILs are water-soluble, their effects are likely to manifest in aquatic ecosystems. Information on the impacts of ILs on numerous aquatic organisms, focused primarily on acute LC50 and EC50 endpoints, is now available, and trends in toxicity are emerging. Cation structure tends to influence IL toxicity more so than anion structure, and within a cation class, the length of alkyl chain substituents is positively correlated with toxicity. While the effects of ILs on several aquatic organisms have been studied, the challenge for aquatic toxicology is now to predict the effects of ILs in complex natural environments that often include diverse mixtures of organisms, abiotic conditions, and additional stressors. To make robust predictions about ILs will require coupling of ecologically realistic laboratory and field experiments with standard toxicity bioassays and models. Such assessments would likely discourage the development of especially toxic ILs while shifting focus to those that are more environmentally benign. Understanding the broader ecological effects of emerging chemicals, incorporating that information into predictive models, and conveying the conclusions to those who develop, regulate, and use those chemicals, should help avoid future environmental degradation. ?? 2011 Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.

TRU waste absorbent addition project at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory.

PubMed

Colson, R Griff; Auman, Laurence E

2003-08-01

ABSTRACT In order to meet a commitment to ship 3,100 m3 of transuranic waste to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL) developed a process to add absorbent to TRU waste drums that did not meet WIPP waste acceptance criteria. The development, implementation, and safe completion of this project contributed to the INEEL's success in meeting the commitment three months early.

International Space Station Environmental Control and Life Support System On-Orbit Station Development Test Objective Status

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Williams, David E.; Lewis, John F.; Gentry, Gregory

2003-01-01

The International Space Station (ISS) Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLS) system includes regenerative and non-regenerative technologies that provide the basic life support functions to support the crew, while maintaining a safe and habitable shirtsleeve environment. This paper provides a summary of the ECLS System On-Orbit Station Development Test Objective (SDTO) status from the start of assembly until the end of February 2003.

Hybrid Rocket Motor Test

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1994-01-01

A 10,000-pound thrust hybrid rocket motor is tested at Stennis Space Center's E-1 test facility. A hybrid rocket motor is a cross between a solid rocket and a liquid-fueled engine. It uses environmentally safe solid fuel and liquid oxygen.

MICROBIAL SOURCE TRACKING - 2005

EPA Science Inventory

Fecal contamination of surface waters used for recreation, drinking water and aquaculture are a continuous environmental problem and pose significant human health risks. An alarming amount of the United States rivers/streams (39%), lakes (45%), and estuaries (51%) are not safe f...

MICROBIAL SOURCE TRACKING GUIDE

EPA Science Inventory

Fecal contamination of surface waters used for recreation, drinking water and aquaculture are a continuous environmental problem and pose significant human health risks. An alarming amount of the United States rivers/streams (39%), lakes (45%), and estuaries (51%) are not safe f...

BACTERIAL SOURCE TRACKING

EPA Science Inventory

Fecal contamination of surface waters used for recreation, drinking water and aquaculture are a continuous environmental problem and pose significant human health risks. An alarming amount of the US rivers/streams (39%) lakes (45%), and estuaries (51%) are not safe for fishing an...

77 FR 58608 - Railroad Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC); Working Group Activity Update

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-09-21

... published on April 18, 2012 (77 FR 23159). Contact: Steve Clay, (202) 493-6259. Task 06-03--Medical... environmental, sanitary, and other working conditions in locomotive cabs affect the crew's health and the safe...

Smart Partnerships: A Shared Commitment to Improve Technology

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1999-01-01

Prepared ca. 1999. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), in striving to meet the Nation's need for the safe, efficient, and environmentally sound transport of people and goods, is continuing to work toward the creation and nurturing of leveragin...

40 CFR 141.1 - Applicability.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) WATER PROGRAMS (CONTINUED) NATIONAL PRIMARY DRINKING WATER REGULATIONS General § 141.1 Applicability. This part establishes primary drinking water regulations pursuant to section 1412 of the Public Health Service Act, as amended by the Safe...

40 CFR 141.1 - Applicability.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) WATER PROGRAMS (CONTINUED) NATIONAL PRIMARY DRINKING WATER REGULATIONS General § 141.1 Applicability. This part establishes primary drinking water regulations pursuant to section 1412 of the Public Health Service Act, as amended by the Safe...

40 CFR 142.1 - Applicability.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... amended by the Safe Drinking Water Act, Public Law 93-523, regulations for the implementation and... Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) WATER PROGRAMS (CONTINUED) NATIONAL PRIMARY DRINKING WATER REGULATIONS IMPLEMENTATION General Provisions § 142.1 Applicability. This part sets...

40 CFR 142.1 - Applicability.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... amended by the Safe Drinking Water Act, Public Law 93-523, regulations for the implementation and... Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) WATER PROGRAMS (CONTINUED) NATIONAL PRIMARY DRINKING WATER REGULATIONS IMPLEMENTATION General Provisions § 142.1 Applicability. This part sets...

ASRDI Oxygen Technological Survey. Volume 9; Oxygen Systems Engineering Review

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schmidt, H. W.; Forney, D. E.

1975-01-01

The design and safe operation of O2 systems at high pressures and temperatures are discussed. Data cover O2 reactivity with system materials, environmental limits, flow rate, contamination, and physical and chemical stresses of materials.

Space, time, and chemical risk assessment

EPA Science Inventory

Exposure to manufactured chemicals is a fact of contemporary life for both humans and wildlife. In many cases, these exposures occur at safe environmental concentrations. However, spectacular exceptions have occurred (e.g., DDT and eggshell thinning, monocrotophos and Swainson&r...

EPA's Safe and Sustainable Water Resources Research Program: Water Systems Research

EPA Science Inventory

Water systems challenged by limited resources, aging infrastructure, shifting demographics, climate change, and extreme weather events need transformative approaches to meet public health and environmental goals, while optimizing water treatment and maximizing resource recovery a...

Safe Disposal of Pesticides

MedlinePlus

... on the pesticide label. Check with your local solid waste management authority, environmental agency or health department to find out whether your community has a household hazardous waste collection program or a ... your local solid waste agency, Search the internet or look in ...

3 CFR 13580 - Executive Order 13580 of July 12, 2011. Interagency Working Group on Coordination of Domestic...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

...: Section 1. Policy. Interagency coordination is important for the safe, responsible, and efficient... agency or office, from: (i) the Council on Environmental Quality; (ii) the Office of Science and...

Topical Backgrounder: How Safe Am I? Helping Communities Evaluate Chemical Risks

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Part of the May 1999 Guides to Environmental Risk Management Series created by the National Safety Council. Explains how RMPs will help prevent emergency chemical releases, reduce risk from exposure to hazards, and minimize consequences.

Empowering the village communities for sustained observation of permafrost-related environmental changes, Upper Kuskokwim, Alaska

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Panda, S. K.; Kholodov, A. L.; Hanson, T.

2016-12-01

A suite of environmental changes are underway in the North directly affecting the socio-economic state of native communities in remote Arctic villages. We cannot possibly have enough scientists and professionals on the ground to timely predict and effectively respond to the major changes. We believe the most cost-effective and possibly sustainable approach to cover more ground for monitoring and prediction of changes is by building community capacity for monitoring and research, and supporting communities to use resulting data and new findings to address emerging environmental issues and ensuing socio-economic challenges. The goal of this project is to help the communities of Upper Kuskokwim region take the lead in assessing and responding to the environmental changes that are coming with warmer climate and thawing permafrost. The permafrost related societal impacts that the communities are aware of are a) drying of lakes which affect their fishing and trapping, b) lower water level in Rivers due to bank erosion which affect their main mode of transportation in summer, c) appearance of sinkholes that pose threat to the safety of the community members and their properties, and d) eruption of a sand dune in the middle of the Telida village air strip. In August 2016 we will spend ten days in the Nikolai and Telida communities to understand the community need for monitoring through a community survey. We will offer training workshop on climate science and landscape change, and in making scientific observation and data collection. Also, we will install sensors to monitor air temperature, soil temperature, soil moisture, and snow at 12 sites spread across different ecotypes and topographic settings. Also, we will survey sites of major change to help develop a geo-hazard map for the region to facilitate safe subsistence practices and land use. As broader impact, the project will offer the traditionally-underserved native communities of the Upper Kuskokwim region an opportunity to engage in scientific monitoring and research to study the impact of climate change on their environment and tribal lifestyle. Also, the data, skills, and understanding gained through this project will benefit the native communities in adaptive management of subsistence resources, implementation of safe land use practices, and planning for the future.

Estimating population heat exposure and impacts on working people in conjunction with climate change.

PubMed

Kjellstrom, Tord; Freyberg, Chris; Lemke, Bruno; Otto, Matthias; Briggs, David

2018-03-01

Increased environmental heat levels as a result of climate change present a major challenge to the health, wellbeing and sustainability of human communities in already hot parts of this planet. This challenge has many facets from direct clinical health effects of daily heat exposure to indirect effects related to poor air quality, poor access to safe drinking water, poor access to nutritious and safe food and inadequate protection from disease vectors and environmental toxic chemicals. The increasing environmental heat is a threat to environmental sustainability. In addition, social conditions can be undermined by the negative effects of increased heat on daily work and life activities and on local cultural practices. The methodology we describe can be used to produce quantitative estimates of the impacts of climate change on work activities in countries and local communities. We show in maps the increasing heat exposures in the shade expressed as the occupational heat stress index Wet Bulb Globe Temperature. Some tropical and sub-tropical areas already experience serious heat stress, and the continuing heating will substantially reduce work capacity and labour productivity in widening parts of the world. Southern parts of Europe and the USA will also be affected. Even the lowest target for climate change (average global temperature change = 1.5 °C at representative concentration pathway (RCP2.6) will increase the loss of daylight work hour output due to heat in many tropical areas from less than 2% now up to more than 6% at the end of the century. A global temperature change of 2.7 °C (at RCP6.0) will double this annual heat impact on work in such areas. Calculations of this type of heat impact at country level show that in the USA, the loss of work capacity in moderate level work in the shade will increase from 0.17% now to more than 1.3% at the end of the century based on the 2.7 °C temperature change. The impact is naturally mainly occurring in the southern hotter areas. In China, the heat impact will increase from 0.3 to 2%, and in India, from 2 to 8%. Especially affected countries, such as Cambodia, may have losses going beyond 10%, while countries with most of the population at high cooler altitude, such as Ethiopia, may experience much lower losses.

The perceptions of nurses towards barriers to the safe administration of medicines in mental health settings.

PubMed

Hemingway, Steve; McCann, Terence; Baxter, Hazel; Smith, George; Burgess-Dawson, Rebecca; Dewhirst, Kate

2015-12-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate perceptions of barriers to safe administration of medicines in mental health settings. A cross-sectional survey was used, and 70 mental health nurses and 41 students were recruited from a mental health trust and a university in Yorkshire, UK. Respondents completed a questionnaire comprising closed- and open-response questions. One item, which contained seven sub-items, addressed barriers to safe administration of medication. Seven themes--five nurse- and prescriber-focused and two service user-focused--were abstracted from the data, depicting a range of barriers to safe administration of medicines. Nurse- and prescriber-focused themes included environmental distractions, insufficient pharmacological knowledge, poorly written and incomplete medication documentation, inability to calculate medication dosage correctly, and work-related pressure. Service user-focused themes comprised poor adherence to medication regimens, and cultural and linguistic communication barriers with service users. Tackling medication administration error is predominantly an organizational rather than individual practitioner responsibility. © 2014 Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.

Impact of Quillaja saponaria saponins on grapevine ecosystem organisms.

PubMed

Fischer, Marc J C; Pensec, Flora; Demangeat, Gérard; Farine, Sibylle; Chong, Julie; Ramírez-Suero, Montserrat; Mazet, Flore; Bertsch, Christophe

2011-08-01

The control of grapevine pathogens is a rising concern in Vitis vinifera culture. The current international trend is toward banning chemicals that are highly toxic to the environment and human workers, and adopting tighter regulations. We evaluated the impact of saponins on three kinds of organisms found in grapevine culture. The ectoparasitic nematode Xiphinema index, the parasitic fungus Botrytis cinerea and various yeast strains representative of the must fermentation population were incubated on synthetic media supplemented with variable concentrations of Quillaja saponaria saponins. Saponins induced reduction in the growth of B. cinerea and showed nematicide effects on X. index. The control of X. index and Botrytis cinerea is discussed in the context of the potential use of these chemicals as environmentally-friendly grapevine treatments. With Saccharomyces cerevisiae and other yeasts, saponins showed higher toxicity against S. cerevisiae strains isolated from wine or palm wine whereas laboratory strains or strains isolated from oak exhibited better resistance. This indicates that Q. saponaria saponins effects against yeast microflora should be assessed in the field before they can be considered an environmentally-safe new molecule against B. cinerea and X. index.

Assessing the quality of cost management

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Fayne, V.; McAllister, A.; Weiner, S.B.

1995-12-31

Managing environmental programs can be effective only when good cost and cost-related management practices are developed and implemented. The Department of Energy`s Office of Environmental Management (EM), recognizing this key role of cost management, initiated several cost and cost-related management activities including the Cost Quality Management (CQM) Program. The CQM Program includes an assessment activity, Cost Quality Management Assessments (CQMAs), and a technical assistance effort to improve program/project cost effectiveness. CQMAs provide a tool for establishing a baseline of cost-management practices and for measuring improvement in those practices. The result of the CQMA program is an organization that has anmore » increasing cost-consciousness, improved cost-management skills and abilities, and a commitment to respond to the public`s concerns for both a safe environment and prudent budget outlays. The CQMA program is part of the foundation of quality management practices in DOE. The CQMA process has contributed to better cost and cost-related management practices by providing measurements and feedback; defining the components of a quality cost-management system; and helping sites develop/improve specific cost-management techniques and methods.« less

Geosynthetics in geoenvironmental engineering

PubMed Central

Müller, Werner W; Saathoff, Fokke

2015-01-01

Geosynthetics are planar polymeric products, which are used in connection with soil, rock or other soil-like materials to fulfill various functions in geoenvironmental engineering. Geosynthetics are of ever-growing importance in the construction industry. Sealing of waste storage facilities to safely prevent the emission of wastewater, landfill gas and contaminated dust as well as the diffusion of pollutants into the environment and coastal protection against storms and floods and reconstruction after natural disaster are important fields of application. We will give an overview of the various geosynthetic products. Two examples of the material problems related to geosynthetics are discussed in detail: the effect of creep on the long-term performance of geocomposite drains and the numerical simulation of the interaction of soil with geogrids. Both issues are of importance for the use of these products in landfill capping systems. The various functions, which geosynthetics may fulfill in the protection of coastal lines, are illustrated by case studies. The geosynthetic market is evaluated and economical and environmental benefits, as well as environmental side effects related to the use of geosynthetics, are discussed. PMID:27877792

Green remediation. Tool for safe and sustainable environment: a review

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, Mamta; Pant, Gaurav; Hossain, Kaizar; Bhatia, A. K.

2017-10-01

Nowadays, the bioremediation of toxic pollutants is a subject of interest in terms of health issues and environmental cleaning. In the present review, an eco-friendly, cost-effective approach is discussed for the detoxification of environmental pollutants by the means of natural purifier, i.e., blue-green algae over the conventional methods. Industrial wastes having toxic pollutants are not able to eliminate completely by existing the conventional techniques; in fact, these methods can only change their form rather than the entire degradation. These pollutants have an adverse effect on aquatic life, such as fauna and flora, and finally harm human life directly or indirectly. Cyanobacterial approach for the removal of this contaminant is an efficient tool for sustainable development and pollution control. Cyanobacteria are the primary consumers of food chain which absorbed complex toxic compounds from environments and convert them to simple nontoxic compounds which finally protect higher food chain consumer and eliminate risk of pollution. In addition, these organisms have capability to solve secondary pollution, as they can remediate radioactive compound, petroleum waste and degrade toxins from pesticides.

Gene Technology for Papaya Ringspot Virus Disease Management

PubMed Central

Azad, Md. Abul Kalam; Sidik, Nik Marzuki

2014-01-01

Papaya (Carica papaya) is severely damaged by the papaya ringspot virus (PRSV). This review focuses on the development of PRSV resistant transgenic papaya through gene technology. The genetic diversity of PRSV depends upon geographical distribution and the influence of PRSV disease management on a sequence of PRSV isolates. The concept of pathogen-derived resistance has been employed for the development of transgenic papaya, using a coat protein-mediated, RNA-silencing mechanism and replicase gene-mediated transformation for effective PRSV disease management. The development of PRSV-resistant papaya via post-transcriptional gene silencing is a promising technology for PRSV disease management. PRSV-resistant transgenic papaya is environmentally safe and has no harmful effects on human health. Recent studies have revealed that the success of adoption of transgenic papaya depends upon the application, it being a commercially viable product, bio-safety regulatory issues, trade regulations, and the wider social acceptance of the technology. This review discusses the genome and the genetic diversity of PRSV, host range determinants, molecular diagnosis, disease management strategies, the development of transgenic papaya, environmental issues, issues in the adoption of transgenic papaya, and future directions for research. PMID:24757435

Geosynthetics in geoenvironmental engineering.

PubMed

Müller, Werner W; Saathoff, Fokke

2015-06-01

Geosynthetics are planar polymeric products, which are used in connection with soil, rock or other soil-like materials to fulfill various functions in geoenvironmental engineering. Geosynthetics are of ever-growing importance in the construction industry. Sealing of waste storage facilities to safely prevent the emission of wastewater, landfill gas and contaminated dust as well as the diffusion of pollutants into the environment and coastal protection against storms and floods and reconstruction after natural disaster are important fields of application. We will give an overview of the various geosynthetic products. Two examples of the material problems related to geosynthetics are discussed in detail: the effect of creep on the long-term performance of geocomposite drains and the numerical simulation of the interaction of soil with geogrids. Both issues are of importance for the use of these products in landfill capping systems. The various functions, which geosynthetics may fulfill in the protection of coastal lines, are illustrated by case studies. The geosynthetic market is evaluated and economical and environmental benefits, as well as environmental side effects related to the use of geosynthetics, are discussed.

Gene technology for papaya ringspot virus disease management.

PubMed

Azad, Md Abul Kalam; Amin, Latifah; Sidik, Nik Marzuki

2014-01-01

Papaya (Carica papaya) is severely damaged by the papaya ringspot virus (PRSV). This review focuses on the development of PRSV resistant transgenic papaya through gene technology. The genetic diversity of PRSV depends upon geographical distribution and the influence of PRSV disease management on a sequence of PRSV isolates. The concept of pathogen-derived resistance has been employed for the development of transgenic papaya, using a coat protein-mediated, RNA-silencing mechanism and replicase gene-mediated transformation for effective PRSV disease management. The development of PRSV-resistant papaya via post-transcriptional gene silencing is a promising technology for PRSV disease management. PRSV-resistant transgenic papaya is environmentally safe and has no harmful effects on human health. Recent studies have revealed that the success of adoption of transgenic papaya depends upon the application, it being a commercially viable product, bio-safety regulatory issues, trade regulations, and the wider social acceptance of the technology. This review discusses the genome and the genetic diversity of PRSV, host range determinants, molecular diagnosis, disease management strategies, the development of transgenic papaya, environmental issues, issues in the adoption of transgenic papaya, and future directions for research.

Accounting for susceptibility in risk assessment: The need for full disclosure.

PubMed

Fowle Iii, J R

1997-12-01

Many Environmental Laws create the unrealistic expectation that science can be used to determine `safety'. The many uncertainties surrounding environmental risks, as well as individual, group and societal differences about what is considered `safe', make it inevitable that policy decisions must be made. It is appropriate that such decisions be shaped by politics and social issues, as well as be informed by science and economics, but care should be taken to distinguish between policy and fact. Not much is known about the nature and magnitude of environmental susceptibilities. Credible environmental decisions require that scientists, risk assessors and decision-makers acknowledge this, and that they take care to distinguish policy calls from scientific fact.

Spatial distribution and health risk assessment of toxic metals associated with receptor population density in street dust: a case study of Xiandao District, Changsha, Middle China.

PubMed

Li, Fei; Huang, Jinhui; Zeng, Guangming; Huang, Xiaolong; Liu, Wenchu; Wu, Haipeng; Yuan, Yujie; He, Xiaoxiao; Lai, Mingyong

2015-05-01

Spatial characteristics of the properties (dust organic material and pH), concentrations, and enrichment levels of toxic metals (Ni, Hg, Mn and As) in street dust from Xiandao District (Middle China) were investigated. Method of incorporating receptor population density into noncarcinogenic health risk assessment based on local land use map and geostatistics was developed to identify their priority pollutants/regions of concern. Mean enrichment factors of studied metals decreased in the order of Hg ≈ As > Mn > Ni. For noncarcinogenic effects, the exposure pathway which resulted in the highest levels of exposure risk for children and adults was ingestion except Hg (inhalation of vapors), followed by dermal contact and inhalation. Hazard indexes (HIs) for As, Hg, Mn, and Ni to children and adults revealed the following order: As > Hg > Mn > Ni. Mean HI for As exceeded safe level (1) for children, and the maximum HI (0.99) for Hg was most approached the safe level. Priority regions of concern were indentified in A region at each residential population density and the areas of B at high and moderate residential population density for As and the high residential density area within A region for Hg, respectively. The developed method was proved useful due to its improvement on previous study for making the priority areas of environmental management spatially hierarchical and thus reducing the probability of excessive environmental management.

Method of preparation of removable syntactic foam

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Arnold, C. Jr.; Derzon, D.K.; Nelson, J.S.

1995-07-11

Easily removable, environmentally safe, low-density, syntactic foams are disclosed which are prepared by mixing insoluble microballoons with a solution of water and/or alcohol-soluble polymer to produce a pourable slurry, optionally vacuum filtering the slurry in varying degrees to remove unwanted solvent and solute polymer, and drying to remove residual solvent. The properties of the foams can be controlled by the concentration and physical properties of the polymer, and by the size and properties of the microballoons. The suggested solute polymers are non-toxic and soluble in environmentally safe solvents such as water or low-molecular weight alcohols. The syntactic foams produced bymore » this process are particularly useful in those applications where ease of removability is beneficial, and could find use in packaging recoverable electronic components, in drilling and mining applications, in building trades, in art works, in the entertainment industry for special effects, in manufacturing as temporary fixtures, in agriculture as temporary supports and containers and for delivery of fertilizer, in medicine as casts and splints, as temporary thermal barriers, as temporary protective covers for fragile objects, as filters for particulate matter, which matter may be easily recovered upon exposure to a solvent, as in-situ valves (for one-time use) which go from maximum to minimum impedance when solvent flows through, and for the automatic opening or closing of spring-loaded, mechanical switches upon exposure to a solvent, among other applications. 1 fig.« less

SONARC: A Sea Ice Monitoring and Forecasting System to Support Safe Operations and Navigation in Arctic Seas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stephenson, S. R.; Babiker, M.; Sandven, S.; Muckenhuber, S.; Korosov, A.; Bobylev, L.; Vesman, A.; Mushta, A.; Demchev, D.; Volkov, V.; Smirnov, K.; Hamre, T.

2015-12-01

Sea ice monitoring and forecasting systems are important tools for minimizing accident risk and environmental impacts of Arctic maritime operations. Satellite data such as synthetic aperture radar (SAR), combined with atmosphere-ice-ocean forecasting models, navigation models and automatic identification system (AIS) transponder data from ships are essential components of such systems. Here we present first results from the SONARC project (project term: 2015-2017), an international multidisciplinary effort to develop novel and complementary ice monitoring and forecasting systems for vessels and offshore platforms in the Arctic. Automated classification methods (Zakhvatkina et al., 2012) are applied to Sentinel-1 dual-polarization SAR images from the Barents and Kara Sea region to identify ice types (e.g. multi-year ice, level first-year ice, deformed first-year ice, new/young ice, open water) and ridges. Short-term (1-3 days) ice drift forecasts are computed from SAR images using feature tracking and pattern tracking methods (Berg & Eriksson, 2014). Ice classification and drift forecast products are combined with ship positions based on AIS data from a selected period of 3-4 weeks to determine optimal vessel speed and routing in ice. Results illustrate the potential of high-resolution SAR data for near-real-time monitoring and forecasting of Arctic ice conditions. Over the next 3 years, SONARC findings will contribute new knowledge about sea ice in the Arctic while promoting safe and cost-effective shipping, domain awareness, resource management, and environmental protection.

Notice of Proposed Administrative Penalty Assessment for JGJJG LLC. Farmingdale, NY

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) is providing notice of a proposed Consent Agreement and Final Order (“CA/FO”) for violations of Section 1423(b) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (“SDWA or Act”).

View of EPA Farm Sioux silo, facing east. Radsafe trailer ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

View of EPA Farm Sioux silo, facing east. Rad-safe trailer is to the left - Nevada Test Site, Environmental Protection Agency Farm, Silo Type, Area 15, Yucca Flat, 10-2 Road near Circle Road, Mercury, Nye County, NV

How Safe Are Children?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Benke, Mary Schaefer

1988-01-01

Debates whether children are more susceptible to asbestos-related disease than adults. Addresses the issue of low-level exposure and disease. Discusses the regulatory measures taken by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Congress to protect children from the potential threat of asbestos exposure. (CW)

Anvil Mountain Site, Silverton CO: Technical Memorandum - Energy Efficiency for Affordable Housing at a Brownfield Redevelopment

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

This document illustrates how the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Brownfields Program empowers states, communities, and other stakeholders to work together to prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse brownfields.

29 CFR 1910.420 - Safe practices manual.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... Regulations Relating to Labor (Continued) OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDS Commercial Diving Operations General Operations Procedures § 1910.420..., equipment failure, adverse environmental conditions, and medical illness and injury. [42 FR 37668, July 22...

40 CFR 144.79 - General.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... subpart and elsewhere in this part are to protect underground sources of drinking water and are part of the Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program established under the Safe Drinking Water Act. This... Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) WATER PROGRAMS (CONTINUED) UNDERGROUND...

40 CFR 144.79 - General.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... subpart and elsewhere in this part are to protect underground sources of drinking water and are part of the Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program established under the Safe Drinking Water Act. This... Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) WATER PROGRAMS (CONTINUED) UNDERGROUND...

40 CFR 35.683 - Annual amount reserved by EPA.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... the underground water source protection funds each year for underground water source protection grants to Tribes under section 1443(b) of the Safe Drinking Water Act. ... ASSISTANCE STATE AND LOCAL ASSISTANCE Environmental Program Grants for Tribes Underground Water Source...

40 CFR 35.683 - Annual amount reserved by EPA.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... the underground water source protection funds each year for underground water source protection grants to Tribes under section 1443(b) of the Safe Drinking Water Act. ... ASSISTANCE STATE AND LOCAL ASSISTANCE Environmental Program Grants for Tribes Underground Water Source...

78 FR 29613 - Modification and Revocation of Air Traffic Service Routes; Jackson, MS

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-05-21

... structure as required to preserve the safe and efficient flow of air traffic. Environmental Review The FAA... Guthrie 156[deg] and Millsap, TX, 274[deg] radials; Millsap; Glen Rose, TX; Cedar Creek, TX; Quitman, TX...

Finger Lakes LPG

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Finger Lakes LPG Storage, LLC; Two Brush Creek Blvd, Suite 200; Kansas City; Missouri 64112 (Applicant) has applied to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C. 300f et. seq (the Act), for

78 FR 45277 - Notice of Intent to Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Development of a...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-07-26

... that are safe, humane, cost-efficient, and appropriately secure, and that provide work and other self-improvement opportunities to assist offenders in becoming law-abiding citizens. The Bureau accomplishes its...

Implementation of unmanned aircraft systems by the U.S. Geological Survey

USGS Publications Warehouse

Cress, J.J.; Sloan, J.L.; Hutt, M.E.

2011-01-01

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Project Office is leading the implementation of UAS technology in anticipation of transforming the research methods and management techniques employed across the Department of the Interior. UAS technology is being made available to monitor environmental conditions, analyse the impacts of climate change, respond to natural hazards, understand landscape change rates and consequences, conduct wildlife inventories and support related land management missions. USGS is teaming with the Department of the Interior Aviation Management Directorate (AMD) to lead the safe and cost-effective adoption of UAS technology by the Department of the Interior Agencies and USGS scientists.

Role of environmental cleanliness and decontamination in care homes.

PubMed

Cousins, Gary

2016-01-06

While it is widely accepted that the environment has an important role in transmission of healthcare-associated infections, there has been a paucity of empirical investigation in this area to date, and the majority of published literature relates to acute settings. People living in care homes come into contact with a communally used environment and communally used equipment daily. Equipment may include hoists, hoist slings, clinical monitoring equipment, commodes and shower chairs. In care homes, primary responsibility for decontamination lies with the healthcare team, most of whom are not nurses. The challenge for nurses working in care homes is their accountability for the provision of safe and effective care.

[Radiation ecological environment in the Republic of Kazakhstan in the vicinity of the reactors and on the territory of the Semipalatinsk Test Site].

PubMed

Kim, D S

2012-01-01

The results of research into the environmental conditions in the regions of location of the pressurized water reactor WWR-K, fast neutron breeder BN-350 and on the territory of the Semipalatinsk Test Site are represented. The effects of the exposure to aerosol emissions from WWR-K and BN-350 reactors on the environment are summarized. We present some arguments in favor of the safe operation of fission reactors in compliance with the rules and norms of nuclear and radiation protection and the efficient disposal of radioactive waste on the territory of the Republic.

Enhancing future resilience in urban drainage system: Green versus grey infrastructure.

PubMed

Dong, Xin; Guo, Hao; Zeng, Siyu

2017-11-01

In recent years, the concept transition from fail-safe to safe-to-fail makes the application of resilience analysis popular in urban drainage systems (UDSs) with various implications and quantifications. However, most existing definitions of UDSs resilience are confined to the severity of flooding, while uncertainties from climate change and urbanization are not considered. In this research, we take into account the functional variety, topological complexity, and disturbance randomness of UDSs and define a new formula of resilience based on three parts of system severity, i.e. social severity affected by urban flooding, environmental severity caused by sewer overflow, and technological severity considering the safe operation of downstream facilities. A case study in Kunming, China is designed to compare the effect of green and grey infrastructure strategies on the enhancement of system resilience together with their costs. Different system configurations with green roofs, permeable pavement and storage tanks are compared by scenario analysis with full consideration of future uncertainties induced by urbanization and climate change. The research contributes to the development of sustainability assessment of urban drainage system with consideration of the resilience of green and grey infrastructure under future change. Finding the response measures with high adaptation across a variety of future scenarios is crucial to establish sustainable urban drainage system in a long term. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

In vitro and environmental toxicity of reduced graphene oxide as an additive in automotive lubricants.

PubMed

Esquivel-Gaon, Margarita; Nguyen, Nhung H A; Sgroi, Mauro F; Pullini, Daniele; Gili, Flavia; Mangherini, Davide; Pruna, Alina Iuliana; Rosicka, Petra; Sevcu, Alena; Castagnola, Valentina

2018-04-05

Despite the ground-breaking potential of nanomaterials, their safe and sustainable incorporation into an array of industrial markets prompts a deep and clear understanding of their potential toxicity for both humans and the environment. Among the many materials with great potential, graphene has shown promise in a variety of applications; however, the impact of graphene based products on living systems remains poorly understood. In this paper, we illustrate that via exploiting the tribological properties of graphene nanosheets, we can successfully improve both the frictional behaviour and the anti-wear capacity of lubricant oil for mechanical transmission. By virtue of reducing friction and enhancing lubricant lifetimes, we can forecast a reduction in friction based energy loss, in addition to a decrease in the carbon footprint of vehicles. The aforementioned positive environmental impact is further strengthened considering the lack of acute toxicity found in our extensive in vitro investigation, in which both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells were tested. Collectively, our body of work suggests that by the use of safe nanoadditives we could contribute to reducing the environmental impact of transportation and therein take a positive step towards a more sustainable automotive sector. The workflow proposed here for the evaluation of human and environmental toxicity will allow for the study of nanosized bare graphene material and can be broadly applied to the translation of graphene-based nanomaterials into the market.

Biogeosystem technique as the way to certainty of soil, hydrosphere, environment and climate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kalinitchenko, Valery; Batukaev, Abdulmalik; Zarmaev, Ali; Startsev, Viktor; Chernenko, Vladimir; Dikaev, Zaurbek; Sushkova, Svetlana

2016-04-01

The modern technological platform awkwardly imitates the Nature. Teaching the Geosciences, development of technology, overcoming the problem of uncertainty of geospheres is impossible on the base of outdated knowledge. An emphasis is to be done not on the natural analogues, but on our new technologies - Biogeosystem Technique (BGT*). BGT* is a transcendental (not imitating the natural processes) approach to soil processing, regulation of fluxes of energy, gas, water, matter and biological productivity of biosphere: Intrasoil milling processing in 20-50 cm soil layer provides new soil disperse system, best conditions for stable evolution of techno-soil and plant growth in period up to 40 years after the single processing. Pulse intrasoil discrete irrigation provides an injection of small discrete dose of water which distributes in vertical soil cylinder. Lateral distance between successive injections is 10-15 cm. The water within 5-10 min after injection spreads in cylinder of diameter 2-4 cm at depth from 5 to 50 cm. The soil carcass around the cylinder is dry and mechanically stable. Mean thermodynamic soil water potential after watering is of -0.2 MPa. Stomatal apparatus is in a regulation mode, transpiration rate is reduced, soil solution concentration increased, plant nutrition rate and biological productivity are high. No excessive plant transpiration, evaporation and seepage of water from soil. Intrasoil environmentally safe waste return during intrasoil milling processing and (or) intrasoil pulse discrete plants watering with nutrition. Is provided the medically, veterinary and environmentally safe recycle of municipal, industrial, biological and agricultural wastes into the soil continuum. All applied substances transform to plant nutrients, not degrade to the greenhouse gas, or become the deposit of waste. Capabilities of intrasoil technologies of BGT* to correct and sustain the Nature: Correct soil evolution, long-term biological productivity of intrasoil processed soil of 150% higher compared to initial. Save of fresh water by intrasoil irrigation up to 20 times. Biological return of matter and high biological productivity of soil by environmentally safe intrasoil waste recycling. On the base of BGT* are opened the opportunities for: controlled, stable, safe, biologically effective soil, environment and landscape; improved equilibriums in soil, environment and landscape; reduced water consumption; improved waste management; reduced flux of nutrients to water systems; carbon transformation into the soil to the state of elements of plant nutrition; reducing degradation of biological matter to the state of greenhouse gases; increasing biologi al consumption of carbon dioxide by photosynthesis in terrestrial system; prolongation of the phase of carbon in terrestrial biological system for greenhouse gases sequestration; extension of the active area of biosphere on terrestrial part of the Earth; high rate oxidation of methane and hydrogen sulfide by oxygen, which is ionized in photosynthesis, and thus is biologically active; high biological product output of biosphere. The higher biomass on the Earth, the more ecologically safe food, raw material and biofuel can be produced, better conditions for technologies of Noosphere. Uncertainty of soil, hydrosphere, environment and climate will be reduced by the BGT* methods. Are available BGT* robotic systems of low cost and minimal consumption of energy and material.

The Green Synthesis and Evaluation of Silver Nanoparticles and Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gebear-Eigzabher, Bellsabel

Nanoparticle (NP) research has received exceptional attention as the field of study that contributes to transforming the world of materials science. When implementing NPs in consumer and industrial products, their unique properties improve technologies to the extent of significant game-changing breakthroughs. Conversely, the increased production of NPs, their use, their disposal or inadvertent release in the environment drove the need for processes and policies that ensures consumer and environmental safety. Mitigation of any harmful effects that NPs could potentially have combines methods of safe preparation, safe handling and safe disposal as well as containment of any inadvertent release. Our focus is in safe preparation of nanomaterials and we report green and energy efficient synthesis methods for metal NPs and metal oxide NPs of two popular materials: silver (Ag) and zinc oxide (ZnO). The thesis explained: 1) The impact of NPs in nowadays' world; 2) Synthesis methods that were designed to include environmentally-friendly staring materials and energy-saving fabrication processes, with emphasis on maintaining NPs final size and morphology when compared with existing methods; and 3) Nanoparticles characterization and data collection which allowed us to determine and/or validate their properties. Nanoparticles were studied using transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-Ray powder diffraction (XRD), low-voltage (5 keV) transmission electron microscopy (LV EM 5), Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), and Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy. We developed an aqueous-based preparation of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) using microwave-assisted chemistry to render a well-controlled particle size distribution within each set of reaction conditions in the range of 15 nm to 75 nm. We developed a scalable silver nanoparticles synthesis by chemical reduction methods. The NPs could be used in consumer products. The measurement tools for consumer products were also used on in-house synthesized Ag NPs. Commercially available silver nanoparticles have been compared with the in-house synthesized ones and characterized by Photothermal Lens (PTL) Spectroscopy. In respect to particle size and morphology, the Ag NPs synthesized by chemical reduction methods are similar to Ag nanoparticle solution available in the market. However, the synthesized nanoparticles are high in concentration and do not show signs of aggregation or agglomeration. It was concluded that our Ag NPs are superior to the commercially available ones by exhibiting large concentrations in ultra-stable dispersions.

The effect of wind direction and building surroundings on a marina bay in the Black Sea

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Katona, Cosmin; Safta, Carmen Anca

2017-01-01

The wind effect has usually a major importance in the marina bay. These environmental sites are an interplay between tourist and commercial activities, requiring a high-detailed and definition studies of the dynamic fluid in the harbor. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) has been used elaborately in urban surroundings research. However, most CFD studies were performed for harbors for only a confined number of wind directions and/or without considering the building surroundings effects. This paper presents the results of different simulations based on various wind flows and the CFD simulation of coupled urban wind flow and general wind directions upon a semi-closed area. Thus the importance of wind effects on the evaluation of the marina bay will be pointed out to achieve a safe and secure mooring at the berth and eventually a good potential of renewable energy for an impending green harbor.

Strategies to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Laparoscopic Surgery.

PubMed

Thiel, Cassandra L; Woods, Noe C; Bilec, Melissa M

2018-04-01

To determine the carbon footprint of various sustainability interventions used for laparoscopic hysterectomy. We designed interventions for laparoscopic hysterectomy from approaches that sustainable health care organizations advocate. We used a hybrid environmental life cycle assessment framework to estimate greenhouse gas emissions from the proposed interventions. We conducted the study from September 2015 to December 2016 at the University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania). The largest carbon footprint savings came from selecting specific anesthetic gases and minimizing the materials used in surgery. Energy-related interventions resulted in a 10% reduction in carbon footprint per case but would result in larger savings for the whole facility. Commonly implemented approaches, such as recycling surgical waste, resulted in less than a 5% reduction in greenhouse gases. To reduce the environmental emissions of surgeries, health care providers need to implement a combination of approaches, including minimizing materials, moving away from certain heat-trapping anesthetic gases, maximizing instrument reuse or single-use device reprocessing, and reducing off-hour energy use in the operating room. These strategies can reduce the carbon footprint of an average laparoscopic hysterectomy by up to 80%. Recycling alone does very little to reduce environmental footprint. Public Health Implications. Health care services are a major source of environmental emissions and reducing their carbon footprint would improve environmental and human health. Facilities seeking to reduce environmental footprint should take a comprehensive systems approach to find safe and effective interventions and should identify and address policy barriers to implementing more sustainable practices.

Strategies to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Laparoscopic Surgery

PubMed Central

Thiel, Cassandra L.; Woods, Noe C.

2018-01-01

Objectives. To determine the carbon footprint of various sustainability interventions used for laparoscopic hysterectomy. Methods. We designed interventions for laparoscopic hysterectomy from approaches that sustainable health care organizations advocate. We used a hybrid environmental life cycle assessment framework to estimate greenhouse gas emissions from the proposed interventions. We conducted the study from September 2015 to December 2016 at the University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania). Results. The largest carbon footprint savings came from selecting specific anesthetic gases and minimizing the materials used in surgery. Energy-related interventions resulted in a 10% reduction in carbon footprint per case but would result in larger savings for the whole facility. Commonly implemented approaches, such as recycling surgical waste, resulted in less than a 5% reduction in greenhouse gases. Conclusions. To reduce the environmental emissions of surgeries, health care providers need to implement a combination of approaches, including minimizing materials, moving away from certain heat-trapping anesthetic gases, maximizing instrument reuse or single-use device reprocessing, and reducing off-hour energy use in the operating room. These strategies can reduce the carbon footprint of an average laparoscopic hysterectomy by up to 80%. Recycling alone does very little to reduce environmental footprint. Public Health Implications. Health care services are a major source of environmental emissions and reducing their carbon footprint would improve environmental and human health. Facilities seeking to reduce environmental footprint should take a comprehensive systems approach to find safe and effective interventions and should identify and address policy barriers to implementing more sustainable practices. PMID:29698098

SESSION: EMERGING POLLUTANT ASSESSMENT TECHNIQUES TITLE: BACTERIAL SOURCE TRACKING

EPA Science Inventory

Fecal contamination of surface waters used for recreation, drinking water and aquaculture are a continuous environmental problem and pose significant human health risks. An alarming amount of the United States rivers/streams (39%), lakes (45%), and estuaries (51%) are not safe f...

Sustainable Agriculture: Cover Cropping

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Webster, Megan

2018-01-01

Sustainable agriculture practices are increasingly being used by farmers to maintain soil quality, increase biodiversity, and promote production of food that is environmentally safe. There are several types of sustainable agriculture practices such as organic farming, crop rotation, and aquaculture. This lesson plan focuses on the sustainable…

QUALITY ASSURANCE AND QUALITY CONTROL FOR WASTE CONTAINMENT FACILITIES. Project Summary

EPA Science Inventory

It is generally agreed that both quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) are essential to the proper installation and eventual performance of environmentally safe and secure waste containment systems. Even further, there are both manufacturing and construction aspects to...

Keys to a Safe, Secure School.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kennedy, Mike

2002-01-01

Outlines 10 steps that school administrators can take to make their schools safer and more secure for students and staff. These steps encompass crime prevention through environmental design, crisis planning, entrances, lighting, police presence, prevention programs, rapport with students, smaller schools, technology implementation, and staff…

CONTROLLING ORGANICS WITH GAC: A COST AND PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS

EPA Science Inventory

The amendments to the US Safe Drinking Water Act require extensive evaluation of the feasibility or removing organic compounds using granular activated carbon (GAC). To meet deadlines for this technology evaluation, the US Environmental Prtotection Agency has combined the use of ...

VERIFICATION OF THE PERFORMANCE OF DECONTAMINATION TECHNOLOGIES IN EPA'S SAFE BUILDINGS PROGRAM

EPA Science Inventory

The paper describes initial progress in identifying and testing technologies applicable for decontaminating workplaces and other buildings that may be subject to chemical or biological attack. The EPA is using the process established in its Environmental Technology Verification (...

40 CFR 143.1 - Purpose.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) WATER PROGRAMS (CONTINUED) NATIONAL SECONDARY DRINKING WATER REGULATIONS § 143.1 Purpose. This part establishes National Secondary Drinking Water Regulations pursuant to section 1412 of the Safe Drinking Water Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 300g-1...

42 CFR 65.1 - To what projects do these regulations apply?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

..., INTERNSHIPS, TRAINING NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES HAZARDOUS WASTE WORKER TRAINING § 65... for the purpose of providing training and education to hazardous materials employees regarding: the safe unloading, loading, handling, storage, and transportation of hazardous materials; and, emergency...

33 CFR 148.737 - What environmental statutes must an applicant follow?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... (ESA), Pub. L. 93-205, 16 U.S.C. 1531, et. seq.; Energy Efficiency and Water Conservation at Federal... Agencies to Protect Migratory Birds, E.O. 13186, 66 FR 3853; Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), Pub. L. 93-523...

33 CFR 148.737 - What environmental statutes must an applicant follow?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... Species Act of 1973 (ESA), Pub. L. 93-205, 16 U.S.C. 1531, et. seq.; Energy Efficiency and Water... Agencies to Protect Migratory Birds, E.O. 13186, 66 FR 3853; Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), Pub. L. 93-523...

ENVIRONMENTALLY SAFE NO/VOC AUTOMOTIVE COATINGS/PREVENTION AND CONTROLS OF VOCS - PHASE I

EPA Science Inventory

Automotive paints provide reasonable protection against the elements but release substantial amounts of dangerous volatile organic components (VOCs) to the atmosphere during application. Foster-Miller proposes to extend their successful development of No VOC aircraft coatings to ...

MATCON MODIFIED ASPHALT CONTAINMENT SYSTEM FOR MULTI-USE BROWNFIELDS

EPA Science Inventory

The concept of putting brownfield real estate back into safe and practical use is very appealing o both the owner and the neighborhood. Environmental regulations often preclude multi-use alterantives because traditional containment solutions rely on water barrier covers. These ar...

Environmental Remediation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

None

2017-04-11

At Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, we are a leader in subsurface science and remediation. We use our expertise in these areas to characterize subsurface contaminants and assess contaminant transport. We're also using our capabilities to restore the Hanford Site in southeastern Washington State to a safe, clean environment.

Public Notice 2017-11: Cargill, Incorporated

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Cargill, Incorporated, 518 East Fourth Street, Watkins Glen, New York 14891 has applied to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C. 300f et. seq (the Act), for a new Underground Injection

40 CFR 141.74 - Analytical and monitoring requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 22 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Analytical and monitoring requirements. 141.74 Section 141.74 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) WATER... listed below. Information regarding obtaining these documents can be obtained from the Safe Drinking...

U1A Complex

ScienceCinema

None

2018-01-16

Some of the most sophisticated experiments in the stockpile stewardship program are conducted in an environmentally safe manner, nearly 1000 feet below the ground at the site. The U1a complex a sprawling underground laboratory and tunnel complex is home to a number of unique capabilities.

A Decision Support Framework for Evaluation of Engineered ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Engineered nanomaterials (ENM) are currently being developed and applied at rates that far exceed our ability to evaluate their potential for environmental or human health risks. The gap between material development and capacity for assessment grows wider every day. Transformative approaches are required that enhance our ability to forecast potential exposure and adverse health risks based on limited information such as the physical and chemical parameters of ENM, their proposed uses, and functional assays reflective of key ENM - environmental interactions. We are developing a framework that encompasses the potential for release of nanomaterials across a product life cycle, environmental transport, transformations and fate, exposure to sensitive species, including humans, and the potential for causing adverse effects. Each component of the framework is conceive of as a sequential segmented model depicting the movement, transformations and actions of ENM through environmental or biological compartments, and along which targeted functional assays can be developed that are indicative of projected rates of ENM movement or action. The eventual goal is to allow simple predictive models to be built that incorporate the data from key functional assays and thereby allow rapid screening of the projected margin of exposure for proposed applications of ENM enabled products. In this way, cases where a substantially safe margin of exposure is forecast can be reduced in

Spray-applied waterproofing membranes: effective solution for safe and durable tunnel linings?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pisova, Barbora; Hilar, Matous

2017-09-01

What is the perfect tunnel lining? Cost efficient, easy and fast to build with acceptable environmental impact? How to construct a watertight and safe tunnel lining? Would it be possible to apply a waterproofing system directly onto the rock face just after the tunnel face opening? This might be the system of the future enabling all concrete applied to the rock face to remain permanent. For now though, we would like to focus on an optimisation and examination of currently available technologies and materials, such as tunnel linings with the use of spray-applied waterproofing membranes. In this paper, the failure mechanisms of a tunnel lining with a spray-applied waterproofing membrane are described, the behaviour of spray-applied waterproofing membrane under various conditions (dry, moist, wet) is challenged and the possibilities of interface numerical modelling are presented. Tunnel lining design is mainly dependent on the geological and hydrological conditions in the considered area. The application of tunnel linings with spray-applied waterproofing membrane in both hard rock and soft ground tunnelling, are studied.

Evaluation of AFBC co-firing of coal and hospital wastes. Technical report, January 1989--August 1990

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

1991-02-01

The purpose of this program is to expand the use of coal by utilizing CFB (circulating fluidized bed) technology to provide an environmentally safe method for disposing of waste materials. Hospitals are currently experiencing a waste management crisis. In many instances, they are no longer permitted to burn pathological and infectious wastes in incinerators. Older hospital incinerators are not capable of maintaining the stable temperatures and residence times necessary in order to completely destroy toxic substances before release into the atmosphere. In addition, the number of available landfills which can safely handle these substances is decreasing each year. The purposemore » of this project is to conduct necessary research investigating whether the combustion of the hospital wastes in a coal-fired circulating fluidized bed boiler will effectively destroy dioxins and other hazardous substances before release into the atmosphere. If this is proven feasible, in light of the quantity of hospital wastes generated each year, it would create a new market for coal -- possibly 50 million tons/year.« less

Improved fire protection system for underground fueling areas. Volume II. Final report Sep 77-Oct 81

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

McDonald, L.; Kennedy, D.; Reid, G.

1981-10-01

The objectives of this investigation were to (1) develop safe practice guidelines that will minimize the chance of fires in underground fueling areas and (2) to develop a low-cost, reliable, automatic fire control system (AFCS) for underground fueling areas. Volume I of the report covered the period from June 21, 1976, to September 30, 1977, and included (1) the preparation of safe practice guidelines for underground fueling areas; (2) preparation of recommended AFCS design concepts for underground fueling areas; and (3) the design, fabrication, and in-mine fire test of an AFCS at Pine Creek Mine, Bishop, Calif. Volume II ofmore » the report covers the period from September 30, 1977, to September 30, 1981, and includes (1) a long-term validation test of the AFCS in the Pine Creek Mine, (2) a study of the environmental effects of aqueous film-forming foam, (3) the design and installation of a system at AMAX Buick Mine, Boss, Mo., (4) the design of a system for enclosed fuel areas, and (5) the design of a system for semipermanent fueling areas.« less

The SAFE strategy for the elimination of trachoma by 2020: will it work?

PubMed Central

Bailey, R.; Lietman, T.

2001-01-01

WHO has recently launched a programme (GET 2020) for the elimination of trachoma, the leading cause of preventable blindness. GET 2020 has adopted the SAFE strategy, a comprehensive set of control measures (Surgery for entropion/trichiasis; Antibiotics for infectious trachoma; Facial cleanliness to reduce transmission; Environmental improvements such as control of disease-spreading flies and access to clean water). The present article reviews the strengths and weaknesses of each component of the strategy. Although significant hurdles remain to be overcome there is every reason to hope that GET 2020 will be successful. PMID:11285668

Implementing AORN recommended practices for a safe environment of care, part II.

PubMed

Kennedy, Lynne

2014-09-01

Construction in and around a working perioperative suite is a challenge beyond merely managing traffic patterns and maintaining the sterile field. The AORN "Recommended practices for a safe environment of care, part II" provides guidance on building design; movement of patients, personnel, supplies, and equipment; environmental controls; safety and security; and control of noise and distractions. Whether the OR suite evolves through construction, reconstruction, or remodeling, a multidisciplinary team of construction experts and health care professionals should create a functional plan and communicate at every stage of the project to maintain a safe environment and achieve a well-designed outcome. Emergency preparedness, a facility-wide security plan, and minimization of noise and distractions in the OR also help enhance the safety of the perioperative environment. Copyright © 2014 AORN, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The effects of prompting and reinforcement on safe behavior of bicycle and motorcycle riders.

PubMed

Okinaka, Takeru; Shimazaki, Tsuneo

2011-01-01

A reversal design was used to evaluate the effects of vocal and written prompts as well as reinforcement on safe behavior (dismounting and walking bicycles or motorcycles on a sidewalk) on a university campus. Results indicated that an intervention that consisted of vocal and written prompts and reinforcement delivered by security guards was effective at increasing safe behavior exhibited by bicycle and motorcycle riders. No differences were observed between vehicle type or gender with regard to engagement in safe behavior.

Nanomaterials in the environment: from materials to high-throughput screening to organisms.

PubMed

Thomas, Courtney R; George, Saji; Horst, Allison M; Ji, Zhaoxia; Miller, Robert J; Peralta-Videa, Jose R; Xia, Tian; Pokhrel, Suman; Mädler, Lutz; Gardea-Torresdey, Jorge L; Holden, Patricia A; Keller, Arturo A; Lenihan, Hunter S; Nel, Andre E; Zink, Jeffrey I

2011-01-25

One of the challenges in the field of nanotechnology is environmental health and safety (EHS), including consideration of the properties of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) that could pose dangers to the environment. Progress in the field of nanomaterial development and nanotoxicology was presented at the International Conference on the Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology at the California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI) on the UCLA campus on May 11-14, 2010. This event was cohosted by the University of California Center for the Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology (UC CEIN) and the Center for the Environmental Implications of NanoTechnology (CEINT) based at Duke University. Participants included scientists and scholars from various backgrounds, including chemistry, biology, engineering, nanomaterial science, toxicology, ecology, mathematics, sociology, and policy makers. The topics of discussion included safety evaluation of ENMs from an environmental perspective, nanotoxicology, ecotoxicology, safe design of ENMs, environmental risk assessment, public perception of nanotechnology, application of ENMs in consumer products, and many more. The UC CEIN presented data on their predictive toxicological approach to the assessment of ENM libraries, which were designed and synthesized to develop an understanding of the material properties that could lead to hazard generation at the cellular and organismal levels in the environment. This article will focus on the first metal oxide ENM library that was introduced to harmonize research activities in the UC CEIN, with particular emphasis on the safety assessment of ZnO on cells and organisms. Methods of decreasing the observed toxic effects will also be discussed as an integral component of the UC CEIN's activity in developing safer nanomaterials to lessen their environmental impacts.

Plasma vitrification of asbestos fibers

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Camacho, S.L.

Asbestos is a mineral in the form of long, thread-like fibers. Asbestos fibers have been among the best insulators of pipes, boilers, ducts, tanks, etc., in buildings, ships, and industrial furnaces. Over 150,000 metric tons of asbestos were consumed in the United States in 1984. The Environmental Protection Agency has declared asbestos fibers a known human carcinogen. And today, asbestos insulators are being replaced by manmade non-hazardous fibers. Millions of tons of replaced asbestos fiber insulators are in storage, awaiting the demonstration of effective alternative disposal technologies. Plasma vitrification has been demonstrated during May, June and July 1995 as amore » viable, cost-effective, safe technology for asbestos fiber disposal. A low-mass plasma arc heater is submerged under the waste asbestos insulating materials, and the intense heat of the plasma flame heats and melts the fibers. The by-product is dark, non-hazardous glass pellets. The vitrification process renders the asbestos waste safe for use as road construction aggregates or other fill materials. This paper will describe the results of start-up of a 1 ton-per-hour Plasma Mobile Asbestos Vitrification (MAV) Plant at a DOD Site in Port Clinton, Ohio. The Plasma MAV Plant is being demonstrated for the on-site disposal of 1.5 million pounds of Amosite asbestos fibers.« less

Toxicity evaluation of prodigiosin from Serratia marcescens in a Caenorhabditis elegans model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seah, Siew-Wei; Nathan, Sheila; Wan, Kiew-Lian

2016-11-01

Serratia marcescens produces several secondary metabolites, including a red antimicrobial pigment, prodigiosin. There is considerable interest in prodigiosin and its derivatives due to their anticancer and immunosuppressive properties. Prodigiosin has also become the main choice of red dye in textiles. As prodigiosin has potentially high commercial value, there is a demand to develop high-throughput and cost-effective bioprocesses for prodigiosin production. However little is still known about its toxicity. This study was carried out to investigate the toxicity effect of prodigiosin. To determine if prodigiosin was potentially toxic to eukaryotic systems, the S. marcescens ATCC 274 wild type (Sma 274) and the non-prodigiosin producer S. marcescens Bizio WF mutant ATCC 29635 (WF mutant) were grown under the optimised conditions for prodigiosin production and fed to the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. The mean time to death (TDmean) for Sma 274-infected worms assayed on agar was 112.6 hours while the WF mutant culture had a TDmean of 104.4 hours. However, the nematode killing kinetics were not significantly different between the prodigiosin-producing and non-producing S. marcescens strains (p>0.05). In lieu of its non-toxic property, prodigiosin has the potential to be developed for safe therapeutic applications and as a safe environmental friendly bio-dye.

Study on the effect of polymeric rheology modifier on the rheological properties of oil-based drilling fluids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, C.; Li, L.; Yang, Y. P.; Hao, W. W.; Zhang, Q.; Lv, J.

2018-01-01

A new type of polymeric rheology modifier was synthesized by suspension polymerization, and the effect of rheology modifier on the rheological properties of oil-based drilling fluids was investigated. The results indicated that the obtained polymer had good capacity of improvement of shearing force of oil-based drilling fluids under high temperature and high pressure conditions. Moreover, the obtained polymer can improve the stability of oil-based drilling fluids greatly. As a result, the obtained polymer is a good rheology modifier for oil-based drilling fluids, and it can optimize oil-based drilling fluid system with good rheological properties, good static suspension ability for cuttings and environmental protection function. It can play an essential role in safe drilling jobs and improvement of drilling efficiency.

Application and research of recyclable cables in foundation pit support engineering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zheng, Suping

2018-05-01

Anchoring cables are widely used in the construction of foundation pit as a temporary support structure. After the construction is completed, the anchor cables left in the ground will not only cause environmental pollution but also cause a great waste of resources. The emergence of recyclable cable technology, to avoid such problems, to achieve the secondary use of the anchor cable, excavation in the excavation project is more and more widely used. Combined with the design and construction of recoverable anchor cable in engineering practice, the application effect of recoverable anchor cable in foundation pit support is analyzed, and the conclusion that the support effect of recoverable anchor cable is stable and safe can be obtained Recyclable anchor cable in the future support projects to provide a reference.

Leveraging Social Science-Healthcare Collaborations to Improve Teamwork and Patient Safety.

PubMed

Fernandez, Rosemarie; Grand, James A

2015-12-01

Effective teamwork is critical to the provision of safe, effective healthcare. High functioning teams adapt to rapidly changing patient and environmental factors, preventing diagnostic and treatment errors. While the emphasis on teamwork and patient safety is relatively new, significant team-related foundational and implementation research exists in disciplines outside of healthcare. Social scientists, including, organizational psychologists, have expertise in the study of teams, multi-team units, and organizations. This article highlights guiding team science principles from the organizational psychology literature that can be applied to the study of teams in healthcare. The authors' goal is to provide some common language and understanding around teams and teamwork. Additionally, they hope to impart an appreciation for the potential synergy present within clinician-social scientist collaborations. Copyright © 2015 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

A longitudinal examination of improved access on park use and physical activity in a low-income and majority African American neighborhood park.

PubMed

Schultz, Courtney L; Wilhelm Stanis, Sonja A; Sayers, Stephen P; Thombs, Lori A; Thomas, Ian M

2017-02-01

This study sought to evaluate the impact of street crossing infrastructure modifications on park use and park-based physical activity in a low-income and African American community. A five-lane major highway created an access barrier between low-income housing units and the local neighborhood park in Columbia, Missouri. The installation of a signalized pedestrian crosswalk provided an opportunity to conduct a natural experiment to examine the effect of improved safe access upon community active living behaviors. Direct observation using SOPARC was collected prior to the crosswalk instillation in June 2012, after the crosswalk installation in June 2013 and again as a follow up in June 2014 during the same two-week period to assess changes in total park use and total energy expenditure by age, gender and race/ethnicity. Analysis of covariance models, controlling for temperature examined changes in total counts and total energy expenditure using pairwise Sidak post-hoc comparisons. Total park use increased from 2012 (n=2080) to 2013 (n=2275) and remained constant in 2014 (n=2276). However, despite increases in safe access and overall park use, there was a significant decrease in total energy expenditure following the installation of the crosswalk that was sustained in 2014. This study shows that increasing safe access to parks primarily positively influences park use but not park-based physical activity. While improved safe access is encouraging greater park use, there is a need for future research to examine additional factors such as social support, programming and environmental changes to engage community members in park-based physical activity. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Ocular Chlamydia trachomatis infection under the SAFE strategy in Amhara, Ethiopia, 2011-2015.

PubMed

Nash, Scott D; Stewart, Aisha E P; Zerihun, Mulat; Sata, Eshetu; Gessese, Demelash; Melaku, Berhanu; Endeshaw, Tekola; Chanyalew, Melsew; Chernet, Ambahun; Bayissasse, Belay; Moncada, Jeanne; Lietman, Thomas M; Emerson, Paul M; King, Jonathan D; Tadesse, Zerihun; Callahan, E Kelly

2018-05-05

WHO recommendations for starting and stopping mass antibiotic distributions are based on a clinical sign of trachoma, which is indirectly related to actual infection with the causative agent, Chlamydia trachomatis. This study aimed to understand the effect of SAFE (surgery, antibiotics, facial cleanliness, and environmental improvement) interventions on ocular chlamydia in Amhara, Ethiopia by describing the infection prevalence in a population-based sample of children ages 1-5 years. Population-based trachoma surveys were conducted in all districts of Amhara, from 2011 to 2015 following approximately 5 years of SAFE. Ocular swabs were collected from randomly selected children whose households were included in the surveys to estimate the zonal prevalence of chlamydial infection. The Abbott Realtime PCR assay was used to detect C. trachomatis DNA using the m2000 system. A total of 15,632 samples were collected across the 10 zones of Amhara. The prevalence of chlamydial infection in children ages 1-5 years was 5.7% (95% Confidence Interval: 4.2-7.3), zonal range 1.0% to 18.5%. Chlamydial infection and trachomatous-inflammation intense (TI) among children ages 1-9 were highly correlated at the zonal level, Spearman correlation(r)= 0.93; P<0.001, while chlamydial infection and trachomatous-inflammation follicular (TF) among children ages 1-9 years were moderately correlated, r= 0.57; P=0.084. After 5 years of SAFE there is appreciable ocular chlamydial infection in children ages 1-5 years, indicating that transmission has not been interrupted, and that interventions should continue. The sign TI was highly correlated with chlamydial infection and can be used as a proxy indicator of infection.

Amur tiger conservation education program: A pilot study on program effectiveness.

PubMed

Mukhacheva, Anna S; Derugina, Vasilissa V; Maksimova, Galina D; Soutyrina, Svetlana V

2015-07-01

Anthropogenic impacts are the primary threats to Amur tigers (Panthera tigris altaica) and their habitat. Villagers living in proximity to tigers tend to view them negatively and, often, as a source of revenue on black markets. We aim to reduce human-tiger conflict by working with young students of Ternei County in the heart of tiger habitat in Primorskii Krai (Province). To inform and influence Ternei County's future decision-makers, we developed "Safe Conduct", a year-long education program held in 6 villages, culminating in a multi-school conference. We tested the efficacy of Safe Conduct as a potential model for tiger conservation educational programs. We measured levels of student knowledge about tiger ecology, their attitude towards tigers, and their willingness to engage in tiger conservation activites prior to, immediately after and 6 months following the completion of our program. Results supported the fundamental premise of Safe Conduct that knowledge and attitude towards tigers are correlated. Knowledge of tiger ecology and attitude towards tigers increased by the project's completion; both remained high after 6 months. However, commitment to participation in conservation efforts rose temporarily post-program and then dropped. Results varied by village. We recommend that the reasons for the high performance measures of students in 2 villages be investigated, and that lessons learned be applied to villages that underperformed. Safe Conduct represents a potential model for environmental education programs in Ternei County and elsewhere to educate future generations, to eventually develop a strong commitment to Amur tiger conservation at the community level. © 2015 International Society of Zoological Sciences, Institute of Zoology/Chinese Academy of Sciences and Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.

Does ethnicity matter in male hormonal contraceptive efficacy?

PubMed Central

Ilani, Niloufar; Liu, Peter Y; Swerdloff, Ronald S; Wang, Christina

2011-01-01

The development of male hormonal contraception has progressed significantly during the last three decades. The ultimate goal is to produce an effective, safe and reversible male method of contraception that are within reach of and can be used by all men globally. This review aims to outline the recent developments in male hormonal contraception with special emphasis on how ethnicity influences acceptability, extent of sperm suppression, and rate of recovery of spermatogenesis. Baseline differences in testicular histomorphology and testosterone metabolism between East Asian and Caucasian men have been reported, but whether this contributes significantly to varying degrees of sperm suppression in response to exogenous testosterone therapy is less known. Testosterone alone male hormonal contraceptive regimens are effective and applicable for East Asian men, and less so for Caucasians. Combinations of progestins with androgens are sufficient to optimize effectiveness of suppression and applicability to all ethnicities. New compounds such as steroidal or non-steroidal selective androgen receptor modulators with dual androgenic and progestational activities are potential compounds for further development as male hormonal contraceptive methods. At the present time, combined androgen and progestin contraceptive regimens appear to be effective, safe, reversible and convenient to use for all men with ethnic, cultural and environmental differences. Further refinements on the hormonal agent, methods of delivery, and dose optimization of the androgen relative to the progestin are necessary. This goal mandates further investment and large clinical trials in multiethnic populations to better define safety and efficacy. PMID:21317912

Destruction of PCB Contaminated Fuel Oil in an Aluminum Melting Furnace

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sonksen, M. K.; Busch, Stephen P.

1985-02-01

Since the 1979 discovery that Alcoa Davenport Works' auxiliary fuel oil supply was contaminated with PCB's, facilities have been provided, and proven, to permit continued use of the oil in a production facility in an environmentally safe manner. This process has several significant benefits. These include energy conservation, with an overall savings of 2.3 × 1011 BTUs and the environmental benefit of destruction of the PCB. The process also eliminates the hazards of transport over long distances.

Thermoluminescent dosimetry in veterinary diagnostic radiology.

PubMed

Hernández-Ruiz, L; Jimenez-Flores, Y; Rivera-Montalvo, T; Arias-Cisneros, L; Méndez-Aguilar, R E; Uribe-Izquierdo, P

2012-12-01

This paper presents the results of Environmental and Personnel Dosimetry made in a radiology area of a veterinary hospital. Dosimetry was realized using thermoluminescent (TL) materials. Environmental Dosimetry results show that areas closer to the X-ray equipment are safe. Personnel Dosimetry shows important measurements of daily workday in some persons near to the limit established by ICRP. TL results of radiation measurement suggest TLDs are good candidates as a dosimeter to radiation dosimetry in veterinary radiology. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Environmental decontamination following occupancy of a burns patient with multiple carbapenemase-producing organisms.

PubMed

Garvey, M I; Bradley, C W; Jumaa, P

2016-06-01

Over the last decade, carbapenemase-producing organisms (CPOs) have spread worldwide, becoming a major public health concern. This article reports the authors' experience in dealing with a burns patient infected with CPOs, and the decontamination methods employed to render a burns shock room safe for re-use. The shock room was cleaned after being vacated, but environmental sampling cultured multiple CPOs. A second decontamination was undertaken comprising a detergent, steam and hypochlorite clean followed by hydrogen peroxide misting, and no CPOs were cultured after subsequent environmental sampling. A burns patient harbouring CPOs contaminates the surroundings heavily, so standard cleaning is insufficient to reduce the environmental bioburden. Copyright © 2016 The Healthcare Infection Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Appraisal of knowledge and attitude of Akwa Ibomites toward a sustainable environment in Nigeria.

PubMed Central

Ebong, Rosemary D

2002-01-01

Developing countries are constantly and continuously confronted with a myriad of health and environmental problems that threaten the efforts to establish and maintain safe air and water supplies. Nigeria, in general, and Akwa Ibom State, in particular, are not isolated from increasing health and sanitation problems. My goal in this study was to determine the knowledge base of men and women related to sanitation and environmental health in Akwa Ibom State. I found no differences in the attitudes of men and women toward the sustainability of health or a healthy environment in the state. However, more sanitation and environmental education is needed as part of long-term strategy for abating sanitation and environmental health problems in this state. PMID:11882469

Prescriptions for Sick Schools.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ornstein, Allan C.

1993-01-01

Increasing insulation in schools as an energy-saving measure has given rise to the Sick Building Syndrome (SBS), which afflicts roughly one-third of the nation's schools. This article examines asbestos, radon, electromagnetic radiation, and chemical pollutants and describes steps to make schools environmentally safe for students. School officials…

TECHNICAL GUIDANCE DOCUMENT: INSPECTION TECHNIQUES FOR THE FABRICATION OF GEOMEMBRANE FIELD SEAMS

EPA Science Inventory

Subtitle C of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) requires the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish a Federal hazardous waste management program. This program must ensure that hazardous wastes are handled safely from generation until final dispos...

10 CFR 34.101 - Notifications.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... written report to the NRC's Office of Federal and State Materials and Environmental Management Programs... shielded position and secure it in this position; or (3) Failure of any component (critical to safe... overexposure submitted under 10 CFR 20.2203 which involves failure of safety components of radiography...

40 CFR Appendix A to Part 45 - Environmental Protection Agency Training Programs

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... Protection Agency Training Programs Administering office Headquarters Regional Office of Air, Noise, and Radiation: Air Pollution Control Manpower Training Grants X Air Pollution Control—Technical Training X Office of Water: Water Pollution Control—Professional Training Grants X X Safe Drinking Water...

40 CFR Appendix A to Part 45 - Environmental Protection Agency Training Programs

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... Protection Agency Training Programs Administering office Headquarters Regional Office of Air, Noise, and Radiation: Air Pollution Control Manpower Training Grants X Air Pollution Control—Technical Training X Office of Water: Water Pollution Control—Professional Training Grants X X Safe Drinking Water...

40 CFR Appendix A to Part 45 - Environmental Protection Agency Training Programs

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... Protection Agency Training Programs Administering office Headquarters Regional Office of Air, Noise, and Radiation: Air Pollution Control Manpower Training Grants X Air Pollution Control—Technical Training X Office of Water: Water Pollution Control—Professional Training Grants X X Safe Drinking Water...

18 CFR 367.9090 - Account 909, Informational and instructional advertising expenses.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... protect health and safety, to encourage environmental protection, to utilize their equipment safely and..., billboards, and other similar forms of advertisement, and preparing and conducting informational motion... forms of advertisement, used in direct mailings. (4) Preparing informational window and other displays...

18 CFR 367.9090 - Account 909, Informational and instructional advertising expenses.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... protect health and safety, to encourage environmental protection, to utilize their equipment safely and..., billboards, and other similar forms of advertisement, and preparing and conducting informational motion... forms of advertisement, used in direct mailings. (4) Preparing informational window and other displays...

18 CFR 367.9090 - Account 909, Informational and instructional advertising expenses.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... protect health and safety, to encourage environmental protection, to utilize their equipment safely and..., billboards, and other similar forms of advertisement, and preparing and conducting informational motion... forms of advertisement, used in direct mailings. (4) Preparing informational window and other displays...

18 CFR 367.9090 - Account 909, Informational and instructional advertising expenses.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... protect health and safety, to encourage environmental protection, to utilize their equipment safely and..., billboards, and other similar forms of advertisement, and preparing and conducting informational motion... forms of advertisement, used in direct mailings. (4) Preparing informational window and other displays...

40 CFR 35.680 - Purpose.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... ASSISTANCE Environmental Program Grants for Tribes Underground Water Source Protection (section 1443(b)) § 35.680 Purpose. (a) Purpose of section. Sections 35.680 through 35.688 govern underground water source protection grants to Tribes and Intertribal Consortia under section 1443(b) of the Safe Drinking Water Act...

40 CFR 35.190 - Purpose.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... ASSISTANCE Environmental Program Grants Underground Water Source Protection (section 1443(b)) § 35.190 Purpose. (a) Purpose of section. Sections 35.190 through 35.198 govern Underground Water Source Protection Grants to States (as defined in section 1401(13)(A) of the Safe Drinking Water Act) authorized under...

40 CFR 35.190 - Purpose.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... ASSISTANCE Environmental Program Grants Underground Water Source Protection (section 1443(b)) § 35.190 Purpose. (a) Purpose of section. Sections 35.190 through 35.198 govern Underground Water Source Protection Grants to States (as defined in section 1401(13)(A) of the Safe Drinking Water Act) authorized under...

40 CFR 35.680 - Purpose.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... ASSISTANCE Environmental Program Grants for Tribes Underground Water Source Protection (section 1443(b)) § 35.680 Purpose. (a) Purpose of section. Sections 35.680 through 35.688 govern underground water source protection grants to Tribes and Intertribal Consortia under section 1443(b) of the Safe Drinking Water Act...

40 CFR 25.8 - Responsiveness summaries.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 1 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Responsiveness summaries. 25.8 Section 25.8 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY GENERAL PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN PROGRAMS UNDER THE RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND RECOVERY ACT, THE SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT, AND THE CLEAN WATER...

40 CFR 149.100 - Applicability.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 1424(e) and 1450 of the Public Health Service Act, as amended by the Safe Drinking Water Act, Pub. L... Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) WATER PROGRAMS (CONTINUED) SOLE SOURCE... drinking water source for the San Antonio area and which, if contaminated, would create a significant...

40 CFR 149.100 - Applicability.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 1424(e) and 1450 of the Public Health Service Act, as amended by the Safe Drinking Water Act, Pub. L... Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) WATER PROGRAMS (CONTINUED) SOLE SOURCE... drinking water source for the San Antonio area and which, if contaminated, would create a significant...

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS OF PLANTS MODIFIED TO CONTAIN INSECTICIDAL GENES

EPA Science Inventory

Genetically modified (GM) crops are being grown on large acreages in the United States. Before being approved for sale, sufficient scientific evidence allowed the EPA to determine that they are safe. The results of this research project will strengthen the scientific basis EPA u...

Water Reuse and Soil Column Studies for Alternative Water Resource Development

EPA Science Inventory

The National Risk Management Research Laboratory (NRMRL) of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Research and Development (ORD) has developed a holistic water research program in order to identify engineering and management options for safe and expanded use ...

10 CFR 1.41 - Office of Federal and State Materials and Environmental Management Programs.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... to the States as provided by section 274i of the Act and also to NRC staff and staff of the U.S. Navy... radioactive isotopes; (21) Oversees safe management and disposal of low-level radioactive wastes; (22) Plans...

10 CFR 1.41 - Office of Federal and State Materials and Environmental Management Programs.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... to the States as provided by section 274i of the Act and also to NRC staff and staff of the U.S. Navy... radioactive isotopes; (21) Oversees safe management and disposal of low-level radioactive wastes; (22) Plans...

10 CFR 1.41 - Office of Federal and State Materials and Environmental Management Programs.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... to the States as provided by section 274i of the Act and also to NRC staff and staff of the U.S. Navy... radioactive isotopes; (21) Oversees safe management and disposal of low-level radioactive wastes; (22) Plans...

10 CFR 1.41 - Office of Federal and State Materials and Environmental Management Programs.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... to the States as provided by section 274i of the Act and also to NRC staff and staff of the U.S. Navy... radioactive isotopes; (21) Oversees safe management and disposal of low-level radioactive wastes; (22) Plans...

10 CFR 1.41 - Office of Federal and State Materials and Environmental Management Programs.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... to the States as provided by section 274i of the Act and also to NRC staff and staff of the U.S. Navy... radioactive isotopes; (21) Oversees safe management and disposal of low-level radioactive wastes; (22) Plans...

40 CFR 63.1283 - Inspection and monitoring requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 11 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 true Inspection and monitoring requirements. 63.1283 Section 63.1283 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) AIR... plan that requires inspection of the equipment as frequently as practicable during safe-to-inspect...

PN 2017-24: Finger Lakes LPG

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Finger Lakes LPG Storage, LLC; Two Brush Creek Blvd, Suite 200; Kansas City; Missouri 64112 (Applicant) has applied to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C. 300f et. seq (the Act), for

Are green building features safe for preventive maintenance workers? Examining the evidence.

PubMed

Omar, Mohamed Shamun; Quinn, Margaret M; Buchholz, Bryan; Geiser, Ken

2013-04-01

Many newly constructed green buildings (GB) are certified using the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system for new construction and major renovation which focuses on architectural and mechanical design to conserve energy, reduce environmental harm, and enhance indoor quality for occupants. This study evaluated the preventive maintenance (PM) worker occupational safety and health (OSH) risks related to the design of GB. PM job hazard analyses (JHA) were performed on the tasks required to operate and maintain five GB features selected from 13 LEED certified GB. A 22-item JHA and OSH risk scoring system were developed. Potentially serious OSH hazards included: green roofs made of slippery material without fall protection; energy recovery wheels and storm water harvesting systems in confined spaces; skylights without guard rails; and tight geothermal well mechanical rooms constraining safe preventive practices. GB can present PM OSH risks and these should be eliminated in the building design phase. Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

[Italian Society of Hygiene (SItI) recommendations for a healthy, safe and sustainable housing].

PubMed

Signorelli, Carlo; Capolongo, Stefano; Buffoli, Maddalena; Capasso, Lorenzo; Faggioli, Antonio; Moscato, Umberto; Oberti, Ilaria; Petronio, Maria Grazia; D'Alessandro, Daniela

2016-01-01

As part of the strategies to promote health in urban areas, the Italian Society of Hygiene (SItI) has updated its recommendations for healthy, safe and sustainable housing. They were issued by an ad hoc SitI working group on the basis of the best available evidence retrieved from a review of the scientific and legal literature on the topic and in line with World Health Organisation, European Union, and other international bodies statements. SItI document includes recommendations for environmental comfort, mental and social wellbeing, environmental protection as well as the safety of people who dwell houses. In addition to typical issues (such as relative humidity parameters, ventilation, and safety rules), SItI recommendations address innovative aspects such as building compatibility between different functions, building safety management and green area design. In this context, SItI recommendations emphasise the need of a strengthened interaction between architects and public health experts to ensure the complete wellbeing in houses where people spend more than 50% of their lives.

[The global and national context regarding the challenges involved in ensuring adequate access to water for human consumption].

PubMed

Augusto, Lia Giraldo da Silva; Gurgel, Idê Gomes Dantas; Câmara Neto, Henrique Fernandes; de Melo, Carlos Henrique; Costa, André Monteiro

2012-06-01

The scope of this article is to analyze the challenges involved in ensuring access to water for human consumption taking the international and national context into consideration. Based on the UN declaration that access to safe and clean drinking water is a fundamental human right, vulnerabilities are identified that can consist in restrictions to access to adequate supplies. The distribution of water and the population across the planet, pollution, inadequate policies and management lead to environmental injustice. The iniquity of access to water constitutes the contemporary water crisis. From the 1980s onwards, the transnational water market emerged for private control that occurs at three main levels: surface and underground water sources; bottled water; and public water supply services. The conflicts of the multiple uses of water resources, the market and environmental problems have contributed to rendering the health of the population and ecosystems vulnerable. Adequate public policies are essential to ensure the basic human right to access to safe and clean drinking water.

Development of the Space Station Freedom Environmental Health System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Richard, Elizabeth E.; Russo, Dane

1990-01-01

The Environmental Health System (EHS), a subsystem of the Space Station Freedom (SSF) Crew Health Care System, was established to ensure that crewmembers will have a safe and healthy environment in which to live and work. EHS is comprised of six subsystems: Microbiology, Toxicology, Water Quality, Radiological Health, Vibroacoustics, and Barothermal Physiology. Each subsystem contributes to the overall functions of the EHS including environmental planning, environmental monitoring, environmental monitoring, environmental health assessments, and operations support. The EHS will provide hardware for monitoring the air, water, and internal surfaces of Freedom, including capabilities for inflight sample collection, processing, and analysis. The closed environment of SSF, and its dependence on recycled air and water, will necessitate a reliable monitoring system to alert crewmembers if contamination levels exceed the maximum allowable limits established to ensure crew health and safety. This paper describes the functions and hardware design status of the EHS.

75 FR 20854 - Medical Device Use in the Home Environment: Implications for the Safe and Effective Use of...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-04-21

...] Medical Device Use in the Home Environment: Implications for the Safe and Effective Use of Medical Device... related to the safe and effective use of medical device technology in the home environment. The workshop... the home environment. FDA will solicit feedback on: 1. The agency's current working definition of...

Effect of simulated acid rain on fluorine mobility and the bacterial community of phosphogypsum.

PubMed

Wang, Mei; Tang, Ya; Anderson, Christopher W N; Jeyakumar, Paramsothy; Yang, Jinyan

2018-06-01

Contamination of soil and water with fluorine (F) leached from phosphogypsum (PG) stacks is a global environmental issue. Millions of tons of PG is produced each year as a by-product of fertilizer manufacture, and in China, weathering is exacerbated by acid rain. In this work, column leaching experiments using simulated acid rain were run to evaluate the mobility of F and the impact of weathering on native bacterial community composition in PG. After a simulated summer rainfall, 2.42-3.05 wt% of the total F content of PG was leached and the F concentration in leachate was above the quality standard for surface water and groundwater in China. Acid rain had no significant effect on the movement of F in PG. A higher concentration of F was observed at the bottom than the top section of PG columns suggesting mobility and reprecipitation of F. Throughout the simulation, the PG was environmentally safe according the TCLP testing. The dominant bacteria in PG were from the Enterococcus and Bacillus genus. Bacterial community composition in PG leached by simulated acid rain (pH 3.03) was more abundant than at pH 6.88. Information on F mobility and bacterial community in PG under conditions of simulated rain is relevant to management of environmental risk in stockpiled PG waste.

A hybrid design methodology for structuring an Integrated Environmental Management System (IEMS) for shipping business.

PubMed

Celik, Metin

2009-03-01

The International Safety Management (ISM) Code defines a broad framework for the safe management and operation of merchant ships, maintaining high standards of safety and environmental protection. On the other hand, ISO 14001:2004 provides a generic, worldwide environmental management standard that has been utilized by several industries. Both the ISM Code and ISO 14001:2004 have the practical goal of establishing a sustainable Integrated Environmental Management System (IEMS) for shipping businesses. This paper presents a hybrid design methodology that shows how requirements from both standards can be combined into a single execution scheme. Specifically, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Fuzzy Axiomatic Design (FAD) are used to structure an IEMS for ship management companies. This research provides decision aid to maritime executives in order to enhance the environmental performance in the shipping industry.

Report of health and environmental effects of increased coal utilization by the Committee on Health and Environmental Effects of Increased Coal Utilization.

PubMed

1980-06-01

The National Energy Plan announced by President Carter on April 29, 1977 proposed a significant increase in the utilization of the vast domestic deposits of coal to replace the dwindling supplies of oil and natural gas, and increasingly expensive oil from foreign sources, to meet national energy needs. At the same time, in recognition of possible adverse health and ecological consequences of increased coal production and use, the President announced that a special committee would be formed to study this aspect of the National Energy Plan. The Committee held a series of public meetings during November and December 1977 to review a number of special papers on particular problems associated with increased coal utilization. These papers, which were prepared by scientists of the US Environmental Protection Agency; the Department of Energy; the HEW National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences; New York University; and Vanderbilt University; provided essential background information for the deliberations of the Committee and were published in EHP Vol. 33, pp. 127-314, 1979. One paper by A. P. Altschuler et al. is published in this volume of EHP. The Committee's basic finding was that it is safe to proceed with plans to increase the utilization of coal if the following environmental and safety policies are adhered to:* Compliance with Federal and State air, water, and solid waste regulations* Universal adoption and successful operation of best available control technology on new facilities* Compliance with reclamation standards* Compliance with mine health and safety standards* Judicious siting of coal-fired facilitiesThe Committee concluded that, even with the best mitigation policies, there will be some adverse health and environmental effects from the dramatic increase in coal use. However, these will not impact all regions and individuals uniformly. The Committee identified six major areas of uncertainty and concern requiring further investigation if the nation is to minimize undesirable consequences of increased coal utilization now, and in the future. Two critical health issues of concern are air pollution health effects and coal mine worker health and safety. Two critical environmental issues are global effects of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and acid fallout. Two additional important issues of concern are trace elements in the environment and reclamation of arid land.Finally, because of the inadequate data and methodology used in the study of these matters, the Committee strongly recommended the establishment of an improved national environmental data collection, modeling and monitoring system.

The Boston Safe Shops Project--preliminary findings of a case study in applying the 10 essential services of public health to building environmental health capacity.

PubMed

Shoemaker, Paul A; Skogstrom, Tiffany; Shea, John; Bethune, Leon

2007-01-01

Boston's more than 500 automotive shops, located primarily in low-income communities of color, are a source both of well-paying jobs and of potential hazardous exposures to employees and residents. The Safe Shops Project works to reduce occupational and environmental health hazards without having to close these businesses. Combining inspections, in-shop trainings, outreach, and technical/financial assistance, it brings shops into compliance with laws and promotes use of safer practices and alternative products. After 18 months, 254 workers at 61 of 124 participating shops had received training. Surveys showed improved worker knowledge: Pre-training, 24.2 percent of the worker survey respondents stated that they knew what an MSDS was, and post-training, 75 percent stated that they knew. The surveys also found improvement in work practices: Pre-training, 48 percent of workers indicated that they used safety goggles in their work, while post-training, 70 percent indicated proper use of safety goggles. The results also showed shops investing in capital improvements such as replacement of PCE-based brake cleaners with aqueous cleaners. The Safe Shops Project has a successfully modeled application of the 10-essential-services framework to the building of public health capacity and community collaboration, and this model can be adapted to other locations and industries.

Challenges and Opportunities for Tribal Waters: Addressing Disparities in Safe Public Drinking Water on the Crow Reservation in Montana, USA.

PubMed

Doyle, John T; Kindness, Larry; Realbird, James; Eggers, Margaret J; Camper, Anne K

2018-03-21

Disparities in access to safe public drinking water are increasingly being recognized as contributing to health disparities and environmental injustice for vulnerable communities in the United States. As the Co-Directors of the Apsaálooke Water and Wastewater Authority (AWWWA) for the Crow Tribe, with our academic partners, we present here the multiple and complex challenges we have addressed in improving and maintaining tribal water and wastewater infrastructure, including the identification of diverse funding sources for infrastructure construction, the need for many kinds of specialized expertise and long-term stability of project personnel, ratepayer difficulty in paying for services, an ongoing legacy of inadequate infrastructure planning, and lack of water quality research capacity. As a tribal entity, the AWWWA faces additional challenges, including the complex jurisdictional issues affecting all phases of our work, lack of authority to create water districts, and additional legal and regulatory gaps-especially with regards to environmental protection. Despite these obstacles, the AWWWA and Crow Tribe have successfully upgraded much of the local water and wastewater infrastructure. We find that ensuring safe public drinking water for tribal and other disadvantaged U.S. communities will require comprehensive, community-engaged approaches across a broad range of stakeholders to successfully address these complex legal, regulatory, policy, community capacity, and financial challenges.

Challenges and Opportunities for Tribal Waters: Addressing Disparities in Safe Public Drinking Water on the Crow Reservation in Montana, USA

PubMed Central

Doyle, John T.; Kindness, Larry; Realbird, James; Camper, Anne K.

2018-01-01

Disparities in access to safe public drinking water are increasingly being recognized as contributing to health disparities and environmental injustice for vulnerable communities in the United States. As the Co-Directors of the Apsaálooke Water and Wastewater Authority (AWWWA) for the Crow Tribe, with our academic partners, we present here the multiple and complex challenges we have addressed in improving and maintaining tribal water and wastewater infrastructure, including the identification of diverse funding sources for infrastructure construction, the need for many kinds of specialized expertise and long-term stability of project personnel, ratepayer difficulty in paying for services, an ongoing legacy of inadequate infrastructure planning, and lack of water quality research capacity. As a tribal entity, the AWWWA faces additional challenges, including the complex jurisdictional issues affecting all phases of our work, lack of authority to create water districts, and additional legal and regulatory gaps—especially with regards to environmental protection. Despite these obstacles, the AWWWA and Crow Tribe have successfully upgraded much of the local water and wastewater infrastructure. We find that ensuring safe public drinking water for tribal and other disadvantaged U.S. communities will require comprehensive, community-engaged approaches across a broad range of stakeholders to successfully address these complex legal, regulatory, policy, community capacity, and financial challenges. PMID:29561815

Polyfire project- an example of an industrial research project promoting safe industrial production of fire-resistant nanocomposites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vaquero, C.; López de Ipiña, J.; Galarza, N.; Hargreaves, B.; Weager, B.; Breen, C.

2011-07-01

New developments based on nanotechnology have to guarantee safe products and processes to be accepted by society. The Polyfire project will develop and scale-up techniques for processing halogen-free, fire-retardant nanocomposite materials and coatings based on unsaturated polyester resins and organoclays. The project includes a work package that will assess the Health and Environmental impacts derived from the manipulation of nanoparticles. This work package includes the following tasks: (1) Identification of Health and Environment Impacts derived from the processes, (2) Experimentation to study specific Nanoparticle Emissions, (3) Development of a Risk Management Methodology for the process, and (4) A Comparison of the Health and Environmental Impact of New and Existing Materials. To date, potential exposure scenarios to nanomaterials have been identified through the development of a Preliminary Hazard Analysis (PHA) of the new production processes. In the next step, these scenarios will be studied and simulated to evaluate potential emissions of nanomaterials. Polyfire is a collaborative European project, funded by the European Commission 7th Framework Programme (Grant Agreement No 229220). It features 11 partners from 5 countries (5 SMEs, 3 research institutes, 2 large companies, 1 association) and runs for three years (1st September 2009 - 31st August 2012). This project is an example of an industrial research development which aims to introduce to the market new products promoting the safe use of nanomaterials.

Environmental Augmentation with Bacteriophage Prevents Colibacillosis in Broiler Chickens

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Bacteriophages are viruses that kill bacteria. They are plentiful in nature, are safe having no known activity to human or animal cells, and are an attractive alternative to antibiotics. The objectives of this research were to establish an experimental model of colibacillosis induced by indirect e...

33 CFR 385.32 - Comprehensive Plan Modification Report

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... Preservation Act, the Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Clean Air Act, the Coastal Zone... of Engineers and the South Florida Water Management District, in consultation with the Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Commerce, the Seminole Tribe of...

33 CFR 385.32 - Comprehensive Plan Modification Report.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... Preservation Act, the Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Clean Air Act, the Coastal Zone... of Engineers and the South Florida Water Management District, in consultation with the Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Commerce, the Seminole Tribe of...

33 CFR 385.32 - Comprehensive Plan Modification Report.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... Preservation Act, the Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Clean Air Act, the Coastal Zone... of Engineers and the South Florida Water Management District, in consultation with the Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Commerce, the Seminole Tribe of...

DEVELOPING RELATIVE POTENCY FACTORS FOR PESTICIDE MIXTURES: BIOSTATISTICAL ANALYSES OF JOINT DOSE-RESPONSE

EPA Science Inventory

The 1996 Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) and the 1996 Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments (SDWAA) reaffirm previous Acts that mandate the EPA to evaluate risks posed by environmental chemical mixtures. The current report develops biological concepts and statistical procedures f...

REMOVING ORGANIC CONTAMINANTS OF REGULATORY INTEREST WITH MEMBRANE PROCESSES: USEPA'S SCREENING STUDIES

EPA Science Inventory

The 1996 amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act require the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) to establish a list of unregulated microbiological and chemical contaminants to aid in priority-setting for the Agency's drinking water program. This list, known as the Cont...

Public Notice: 2016-06, In the matter of National Fuel Gas Supply Corporation

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

National Fuel Gas Supply Corporation, 6363 Main Street, Williamsville, New York 14221 has applied to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C. 300f et. seq (the Act)

Node 3 CDRA Replacement

NASA Image and Video Library

2015-05-07

ISS043E181459 (05/07/2015) – NASA astronauts Scott Kelly (left) and Terry Virts (right) work on a Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) inside the station’s Japanese Experiment Module. The CDRA system works to remove carbon dioxide from the cabin air, allowing for an environmentally safe crew cabin.

Household Devices for Safe Drinking Water in Small Communities

EPA Science Inventory

In collaboration with the US EPA, the Inter American University of Puerto Rico Center for Environmental Education, Conservation and Research (CECIA-IAUPR) will sponsor the 9th CECIA-IAUPR Biennial Symposium on Potable Water Issues in Bayamon, Puerto Rico on March 10 and 11, 2011....