Limited data on microbial partitioning between the freely suspended and particulate attached phases during transport along overland flow pathways have resulted in high uncertainty in bacterial fate and transport models and the application of these models to watershed management plans. The objectives of this study were to examine differences in attachment between E. coli and enterococci in runoff from plots with highly and sparsely vegetated grassland; investigate relations between flow regime, total suspended solids, and E. coli and enterococci attachment; and identify the particle size categories to which the attached cells were associated. Two rainfall simulations were conducted on large field plots 3 m wide by 18.3 m long with highly and both highly and sparsely vegetated covers and treated with standard cowpats. Results from the first experiment representing pasture with highly vegetated cover indicate that the majority of E. coli and enterococci are transported from the fresh manure source in the unattached state with only 4.8% of E. coli and 13% of enterococci associated with particles. The second experiment which compared partitioning in runoff from both highly and sparsely vegetated covers found lower bacterial attachment rates: the average E. coli percent attached was 0.06% from plots with highly vegetated cover and 2.8% from plots with sparsely vegetated cover while the corresponding values for enterococci were 0.98% and 1.23%, respectively. The findings from this study provide the first set of data on bacterial partitioning in overland flow from large field plots, and results may be helpful for parameterizing water quality models and designing conservation practices.

Background. In rapidly developing regions of the world such as Southeast Asia, marked industrialization with insufficient regulation places children at increased risk for significant environmental exposures. Health care providers have a key role in identifying, treating and preventing environmentally-related illnesses. Objectives. The authors undertook a survey of pediatric health care providers in Vietnam in order to gain preliminary insight into environmental hazard knowledge, and attitudes and beliefs regarding the relative importance of environmental factors in child health that could guide future initiatives towards building up capacity for children’s environmental health in the region. Methods. A formal written and self-administered survey instrument was adapted from the World Health Organization’s Children’s Environmental Health Survey and translated into Vietnamese. The survey was administered via convenience sampling after formal introduction to children’s environmental health (CEH) was made through lectures or meetings with pediatric care providers affiliated with the major children’s hospitals and pediatric departments in Vietnam. Results. One hundred forty-one pediatric care providers completed the survey. Most indicated environmental factors are considered to be very important in child health (84%); 98% felt the magnitude of the problem is increasing; and air pollution is seen as the top environmental health issue facing the country. The most commonly identified problems in their clinical experience included: food poisoning due to microbiological agents (85%); pesticide poisoning (77%); tobacco smoke exposure (75%); and inadequate sanitation (60%). Although most (80%) endorsed asking about children’s environmental conditions in clinical practice, a little more than a third (39%) were confident taking an environmental exposure history. For most key topics, less than half had received specific training. A majority (63%) of survey respondents were very interested in more environmental health training. Conclusions. Pediatric health care providers in Vietnam believe that environmental hazards in child health is an important topic that is routinely encountered in their care of patients, but training, experience and self-efficacy in these topics are limited. Financial Disclosure. None reported

Background. Three villages in Yunnan Province were identified to have abandoned arsenic mines severely contaminating the local water supplies. Other villages in the Province had similar problems causing the Yunnan Environmental Protection Bureau (YEPB) to seek assistance in developing a remedial strategy. Objectives. Identify the immediate hazards, develop practical remedial approaches, with focus on human health impacts associated with contaminated drinking water. Develop a blueprint for dealing with other isolated mine pollution problems in the mountains of Yunnan. Materials & Methods. A technical team from Blacksmith Institute, TerraGraphics Environmental Engineering and Yunnan Environmental Protection Bureau (YEPB) visited the sites and conducted environmental sampling. TerraGraphics prepared a technical review of each site, a discussion of human health risks and objectives for remedial actions, using United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) guidance for waste site evaluations. From the recommended interventions for each site, YEPB selected a site for construction remediation. Results. Samples of wastes, soils and water indicated high metals contamination at all three sites. The closed arsenic refinery in Wenshan County was selected for a demonstration cleanup project. Subsequent analyses showed significant improvements in metals levels and achievement of remedial objectives. The site is recognized as a model for other mining sites in Yunnan. Conclusions. The success of the demonstration project was recognized and has provided direction and momentum for a wider effort by the Province to address mining pollution and water contamination challenges. It demonstrates the success of using known techniques for environmental remediation in the US, with local partners in China responding to their communities’ health and environmental problems.

As the barriers to access to routine vaccines for children in the poorest countries in the world are eroded by the contributions of a range of donors, these successes expose other factors that can impact the value of these interventions. This is especially so in those communities that are concurrently experiencing rapid industrial growth. Such growth is frequently associated with escalating environmental contamination that even the lowest levels is known to significantly impair fundamental immune functions. Maximizing the value of this new access to vaccines also must address the effects of existing and future environmental contamination. However, there remains a gap between science, public health policy and community access in understanding how this might impact a community and how best to deliver on creating an environment that optimizes the value of this improved access to new vaccines for children.

Background. This paper describes the impact of improper used lead-acid battery (ULAB) handling and disposal. A specific case study is presented describing the field assessment and remediation of lead contamination in a community in Senegal where at least 18 children died from lead poisoning. Objectives. The assessment and remediation process utilized to address the Senegal lead contamination has been used as a model approach to solving used lead-acid battery (ULAB) contamination in other economically depressed communities worldwide. This paper addresses exterior soil remediation with a future paper planned to address interior remediation and blood lead level declines as a marker for project success. Materials & Methods. A comprehensive field program was developed and implemented to delineate the extent of soil lead contamination. The lead-impacted soil was the source of elevated blood lead levels due to direct ingestion (children playing in impacted soil), dust migration and impacted soil tracking into homes, shops and schools. Soil lead concentrations in surface soil and at depth were determined during several site assessments. The soil lead data were collected in conjunction with blood lead testing and collection of dust wipe samples for laboratory analysis. Soil lead data were also collected during and after soil excavation activities to document remediation success. Results. The data showed widespread soil contamination throughout the community. Surface soil exhibited lead concentrations as high as approximately 20% lead (200,000 mg/ kg or parts-per-million as compared to the U.S. standard of 400 mg/kg). Blood lead levels in children were highly elevated and reached as high as 613.9 μg/dL (as compared to the U.S. standard of 10 μg/dL). Bulk dust samples from inside residences were as high as 26,889 mg/kg (2.7% lead). Post-excavation soil testing demonstrated that the majority of impacted soil was removed and the exterior exposure pathway was significantly reduced. Conclusions. Lead contamination in an economically depressed community resulted in the deaths of at least 18 infants. A coalition of local community members, local and federal government agencies, and international non-governmental organizations was able to develop and implement a comprehensive assessment and remediation strategy specifically focused on minimizing future risks to the local population with minimal disruption. The implemented soil removal plan resulted in site remediation without population relocation, spanning just over two years, and being completed under the budget of USD 200,000. Competing Interests. The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Background. A number of studies have shown how enhanced social capital can improve environmental outcomes through decreased transaction costs, increased knowledge and information flow, and improved monitoring and enforcement. Objectives. Social capital plays an important role in reducing adversarial perceptions of initial site assessments of toxic hotspots. It also mobilizes stakeholders to work together to come up with a holistic and comprehensive site assessment. This paper explains the role of social capital in the conduct of the Blacksmith Institute’s Global Inventory Project site assessment protocol in the Philippines. Methods. The study describes and analyzes the role of social capital in the conduct of the initial site assessment based on the actual experiences and observations of the authors and a review of discourse that took place during regular meetings of the Blacksmith Institute’s local investigative team. Results. As of June 2011, 105 polluted sites have been identified in the Philippines. Information on the location and background of these sites came from a variety of sources, including government, environmental NGOs, academic institutions, community groups and industry associations. Seventy percent of used lead-acid battery recycling sites assessed were referred by the industry. More than 40% of artisanal and gold-mining sites were referred by regional government and local contacts. Conclusions. Social capital has played an important role in the conduct of the Blacksmith Institute’s initial site assessment protocol. Relationships and networks within the group and among different organizations build and expand the social capital of the team and facilitate the site assessment process by making it easier to coordinate with local authorities and gain better access to research, data and key persons. It also encourages local stakeholders to take ownership of assessment findings, sometimes leading to the mobilization of various community sectors in reviewing and planning interventions to address specific health and pollution issues. Financial Disclosure. None reported

The analysis of gamma emitters natural radionuclides, i.e., 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K, has been carried out in soil, vegetation, vegetable, and water samples collected from some Northern area of Pakistan, using gamma-ray spectrometry. The γ-ray spectrometry was carried out using high-purity Germanium detector coupled with a computer-based high-resolution multi-channel analyzer. The activity concentrations in soil ranges from 24.7 to 78.5 Bq kg−1, 21.7 to 75.3 Bq kg−1, and 298.5 to 570.8 Bq kg−1 for 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K with the mean value of 42.1, 43.3, 9.5, and 418.3 Bq kg−1, respectively. In the present analysis, 40K was the major radionuclide present in soil, vegetation, fruit, and vegetable samples. The concentration of 40K in vegetation sample varied from 646.6 to 869.6 Bq kg−1 on dry weight basis. However, the concentration of 40K in fruit and vegetable samples varied from 34.0 to 123.3 Bq kg−1 on fresh weight basis. In vegetation samples, along with 40K, 226Ra, and 232Th were also present in small amount. The transfer factors of these radionuclides from soil to vegetation, fruit, and vegetable were also studied. The transfer factors were found in the order: 40K > 232Th ≈ 226Ra. The analysis of water samples showed activity concentrations values for all radionuclides below detection limit. The internal and external hazard indices were measured and found less than the safe limit of unity. The mean value of outdoor and indoor absorbed dose rate in air was found 64.61 and 77.54 nGy h−1, respectively. The activity concentrations of radionuclides found in all samples during the current investigation were nominal. Therefore, they are not associated with any potential source of health hazard to the general public.

The potential of ferrihydrite-modified diatomite as a phosphorus co-precipitant was investigated at a laboratory scale. Ferrihydrite-modified diatomite was demonstrated to effectively remove phosphorus from lake water as well as strongly bind phosphorus in sediment under anoxic conditions. Phosphorus removal from the lake water proceeded primarily through phosphorus adsorption onto ferrihydrite-modified diatomite and further phosphorus consumption by stimulated diatom growth. A total phosphorus removal efficiency of 85% was achieved when lake water was dosed with 250 mg/L ferrihydrite-modified diatomite; the residual total phosphorus concentration was 17.0 µg/L, which falls within the range for oligotrophic phosphorus levels. During a 30-day anoxic incubation period, total phosphorus concentrations in lake water treated with 400, 500, or 600 mg/L of ferrihydrite-modified diatomite slightly decreased and maximum total phosphorus concentrations remained below 15 µg/L. Addition of ferrihydrite-modified diatomite resulted in a marked increase in the iron-bound phosphorus fraction, a pronounced decrease in labile phosphorus and organic-bound phosphorus fractions, and stable aluminum-bound phosphorus, calcium-bound phosphorus, and residual phosphorus fractions in the anoxic sediments. Comparable iron-bound phosphorus concentration in the sediment treated by 400 mg/L of ferrihydrite-modified diatomite relative to that of the sediment treated by the combination of 400 mg/L of ferrihydrite-modified diatomite and alum solution at the concentration less than 532 mg/L indicated that ferrihydrite-modified diatomite exhibited a stable phosphorus-binding capacity when dosed at a similar amount. Ferrihydrite-modified diatomite had the potential to be used as an effective phosphorus co-precipitant.

This paper explores the regulation of water quality protection downstream from the Ranger Uranium Project in the Alligator Rivers Region, an area of high conservation value which is both World Heritage- and Ramsar-listed. Available historical monitoring data for surface water quality in Magela Creek downstream of Ranger have been compiled and analysed with respect to hydrologic data and the Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council–Agricultural and Resource Management Council of Australia and New Zealand (ANZECC–ARMCANZ) regulatory guidelines, introduced in late 2000. The paper focuses on the underlying scientific basis for the current approach and examines the complex inter-relationships of minesite water management, hydrology, climate, monitoring design, implementation and interpretation which are used to differentiate between natural variability and potential mine-derived solutes. The research found that the application of the ANZECC–ARMCANZ guidelines has clearly improved the regulation of water quality protection downstream from the Ranger Uranium Project. The scientific basis is more coherent than the previous regulatory regime; however, for U (a key parameter of indigenous Mirarr-Gundjeihmi and public concern), higher downstream concentrations are permitted than those observed through natural variability, leaving open the potential for an influence of mine-derived U loads while still being within regulatory limits. Another improvement that could be made to the current regulatory regime, to provide enhanced protection of the water quality in Magela Creek downstream of Ranger, would be to explicitly link the water quality monitoring regime with hydrologic flow conditions. The paper makes a valuable case study for the application of water quality guidelines, especially for controversial projects such as uranium mining surrounded by a World Heritage- and Ramsar-listed region on indigenous land—a context of clear relevance for many places around the world.