This is an expansion of the earlier Ocean Pollution (1996), revised by Sindermann (a former administrator at a number of ocean research laboratories of the US federal government) to be somewhat less technically daunting. The book considers the history and pathological consequences of coastal pollution living resource perspective. He first presents eight case studies of harms that have emerged at least partly as a consequence of coastal pollution. He then reviews the effects of coastal pollution on resource species and marine mammal, followed by a consideration of pollution's effects on humans. Annotation :2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com).

This study investigates the composition and concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in air-conditioned office space and low-level waste (LLW) repository sites of nuclear power plants located in Taiwan. Air samples were collected in the office space and technical rooms of administration buildings of the three nuclear power plants and in LLW repository site using canisters. Thirty-six toxic organic compounds including aromatics, CFCs and chlorinated hydrocarbons were identified and quantified using gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer (GC/MS). The results indicated that the concentrations of most determined species were similar to that in urban areas; however, the air at the LLW building contained abundant trichlorotrifluoroethane (CFC-113), trichloroethylene, toluene, 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene and CFC-12 in concentrations markedly higher than the background levels. Only toluene and 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene were detected with low concentrations in the air of LLW repository site. In addition, comparison of the ambient air concentration at several major industries and urban atmosphere revealed that the nuclear power plants emitted and/or leaked higher concentration of chlorinated hydrocarbons among them.

Characterizing sorption processes is essential to understand the environmental distribution and toxicity potential of endocrine disruptors in terrestrial and aquatic systems. The sorption behaviors of three endocrine disruptors (bisphenol A (BPA), 17β-estradiol (E2), and 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2)) on sediments were investigated using batch techniques. Samples were taken from some representative reaches in several major Chinese rivers. More attention has been paid to the effect of sediment organic components on the sorption of BPA, E2, and EE2. The results show that the sediment organic carbon-normalized partition coefficients (K oc (sed)) for three endocrine disruptors are in the order of EE2 > E2 > BPA, which corresponds to the octanol-water partitioning coefficients (logK ow) of the compounds. Moreover, the K oc values for humic substances (K oc (hs)) are comparable with the K oc (sed) values and highly dependent on the physico-chemical properties of humic substances in sediments. The UV absorptivity at 272 nm (A ₂₇₂), which suggests the abundance of aromatic rings in humic substance structure, correlates well with the K oc (hs) values. In addition, the infrared spectra of the humic substances extracted from sediments show four strong bands centered at 3,400 cm-¹, 1,625 cm-¹, 1,390 cm-¹, and 1,025 cm-¹. The K oc (hs) values have a positive linear relation with the peak area ratio for peak at 1,025 cm-¹ and a negative linear relation with the peak area ratio between peaks at 1,625 cm-¹ and 1,025 cm-¹. Hence, the hydrogen bonds play a critical role to the sorption of selected endocrine disruptors.

The presence of hexavalent chromium, Cr(VI), in soil is an environmental concern due to its effect on human health. The concern arises from the leaching and the seepage of Cr(VI) from soil to groundwater. In this paper, a stabilization technology to prevent this problem was simulated on an artificial soil contaminated with hexavalent chromium. The process is a physico-chemical treatment in which the toxic pollutant is physically entrapped within a solid matrix formed by the pozzolanic reactions of lime and fly ash to reduce its leachability and, therefore, its toxicity. This paper presents the optimum ratio of fly ash and lime in order to stabilize artificial soils contaminated with 0.4 wt.% of Cr (VI) in a brief term process. The degree of chromium released from the soil was evaluated using a modified Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) by US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Overall, experimental results showed reduced leachability of total and hexavalent chromium from soils treated with both fly ash and quicklime, and that leachability reduction was more effective with increasing amount of fly ash and quicklime. Stabilization percentages between 97.3% and 99.7% of the initial chromium content were achieved, with Cr(VI) concentration in the TCLP leachates below the US EPA limit for chromium of 5 mg/l. Adequate treatment was obtained after 1 day of curing with just 25% fly ash and 10% quicklime.

An in situ erosion flume was used to measure the stability of sediment deposits in Hamilton Harbour, Ontario, Canada. The flume consists of a rectangular duct with an opening at the bottom. A submerged pump attached to the downstream end of the flume circulates the ambient water through the flume, thereby generating turbulent shear flows inside the flume. When the flume rests on a sediment deposit, the exposed part of the sediment deposit is subjected to the flow shear stress. By applying a continually increasing flow shear stress on the sediment deposit and by measuring the amount of sediment erosion, it is possible to assess the erosional stability of the sediment deposits. An under water video camera was mounted on the flume to get visual images of the sediment erosion process. The flume was used at two sites in the Harbour. The erosional resistances measured by the flume for the two sites were different. Measurement of dry density of the sediment deposits using an ultrasonic device was carried out to explain the differences in the stability of sediment deposits from the two sites.

In August of 2003 a severe wildfire burnt the majority of Fishtrap Creek, a 170 km² catchment in central British Columbia, Canada. The objective of this study was to determine the short-term (15-month) influence of the wildfire on the amount and composition of fine sediment delivery and retention in the system and to compare it to a similar unburnt catchment. In the spring of 2004 automatic water samplers were installed at a gauging site on Fishtrap Creek to collect suspended sediments from the snowmelt runoff and gravel traps were deployed on the channel bed surface to collect composite samples of suspended fine sediment. Jamieson, the reference creek, exhibits similar geology and pre-burn vegetation and was sampled in the same manner for comparison. Composite suspended sediment collected in the traps was removed from the streams in mid-summer and early September. Quantitative estimates of the amount and particle size structure of the naturally stored fine sediment in, and on, the gravel creekbed were obtained in pre-melt, mid and late-summer conditions. Estimates of suspended sediment yields indicated that while the burnt system delivered 66% more material per unit area, the total seasonal suspended sediment yield was low (855 kg km-²) compared to other fire-disturbed systems. While the burnt catchment was primed to deliver sediment, the hydrologic drivers were not of sufficient magnitude to generate a substantial response, suggesting that in this first post-fire year the system was transport-limited, not supply-limited. Differences were noted in the spatial and seasonal composition of the <500 more OM% composite suspended sedimentswith the burnt catchment having significantly (P<=0.05) more OM%. Seasonally a significant increase of OM% in late summer samples was associated with instream biofilms and possible delivery of black carbon. The system's post-fire response was not geomorphically substantial but significant biological differences were noted in the short-term.

The objective of this study was to examine the chemistry of trace elements in coalbed methane (CBM) discharge water reacting with semi-arid ephemeral stream channels in Powder River Basin, Wyoming. The study area consisted of two ephemeral streams, Burger Draw and Sue Draw. These streams are tributaries to the perennial Powder River, Wyoming. Samples were collected bimonthly from three CBM discharge points and seven channel locations in Burger Draw and Sue Draw. Samples were also collected bimonthly from the Powder River above and below the confluence of Burger Draw. Before sample collection, pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO), and turbidity were measured in the field. Samples were transported to the laboratory and analyzed for dissolved trace elements including iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), boron (B), arsenic (As), selenium (Se), and fluoride (F). Results suggest pH of discharge water was 7.1 and increased significantly in the downstream channel of Burger Draw to 8.84 before joined with the Powder River. Temperature of CBM produced water at discharge points ranged between 20.3 and 22.7 [composite function (small circle)]C. Before discharge, DO concentrations of CBM produced water were between 1.42 and 1.5 mg/L. No significant differences in temperature, DO, and turbidity were found between Burger Draw flow and Powder River flow. However, significant differences were found within the sampling period in temperature and turbidity in flow of Burger Draw. The temperature, DO, and turbidity were all significantly different in Powder River within the sampling period. The CBM discharge water consisted of higher concentrations of F, Fe and B compared to other components. Significant changes were observed for Fe, Mn, and As; and seasonally for B. Dissolved Fe and Mn decreased, while As and Se increased in downstream channel flow. These findings will be useful in proper management of CBM produced water in semi-arid environments.

Litterfall can be an important flux of mercury (Hg) to soils in forested landscapes, yet typically the only available data to evaluate Hg deposition is from precipitation Hg monitoring. Litterfall was collected at 39 sampling sites in two small research watersheds, in 2003 and 2004, and analyzed for total Hg. Four vegetation classes were designated in this study as hardwoods, softwoods, mixed and scrub. The mean litter Hg concentration in softwoods (58.8 ± 3.3 ng Hg g-¹ was significantly greater than in mixed (41.7 ± 2.8 ng Hg g-¹ and scrub (40.6 ± 2.7 ng Hg g-¹, and significantly lower than in hardwoods (31.6 ± 2.6 ng Hg g-¹. In contrast, the mean weighted litter Hg flux was not significantly different among vegetation classes. The lack of a significant difference in litter Hg flux between hardwoods and softwoods was attributable to the large autumnal hardwood litter Hg flux being balanced by the higher softwood litter Hg concentrations, along with the higher chronic litterfall flux throughout the winter and spring in softwoods. The estimated annual deposition of Hg via litterfall in Hadlock Brook watershed (10.1 μg m-² and Cadillac Brook watershed (10.0 μg m-² was greater than precipitation Hg deposition and similar to or greater than the magnitude of Hg deposition via throughfall. These results demonstrate that litterfall Hg flux to forested landscapes can be at least as important as precipitation Hg inputs.

Lignite mining and processing has caused a pronounced impact both directly and indirectly on soils and ecosystems across large areas of the former GDR. We studied soils of pine forest ecosystems at sites affected by severe alkaline dust and sulphur deposition, stemming from lignite fired power plant emission, and at dumped sites from lignite mining. In this paper we summarize our main results and evaluate the long-term impact of lignite mining and combustion on the environment. The pine ecosystems on naturally developed soils show a clear effect of deposition history along a former deposition gradient with distinct changes in chemical properties of organic surface layers and mineral soil as well as in element turnover and cycling rates. Afforested sites on mining dumps are directly affected by the composition of the dumped substrates. Over a large area (800 km²) these substrates are dominated by Tertiary sediments with varying amounts of lignitic particles and pyrite that result in phytotoxic site conditions (pH < 3, high salt and metal contents). High amelioration doses of liming material (up to 200 t ha-¹) were applied for restoration purposes. We studied the development of these sites over a period of 60 years using a false-time series approach. Beside the extreme soil conditions, element budgets of these sites are characterized by very high element release rates over decades caused by pyrite oxidation and primary mineral weathering.

This study investigates the fate and behavior of lead (Pb), copper (Cu), antimony (Sb), and arsenic (As) in a shooting range soil. The soil samples were collected from the surface (0-15 cm) and the subsurface (15-40 cm and 40-55 cm) of a grassy and wood chip covered impact area behind a firing position. Optical microscopy images indicate significant amounts of corroded bullet fragments and organic wood chips in the surface soil. Analysis by X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) and scanning electron microscopy electron dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) showed that metallic Pb was transformed into lead oxides (litharge PbO and massicot PbO) and lead carbonates (hydrocerussite Pb₃(CO₃)₂(OH)₂, cerussite PbCO₃, and plumbonacrite Pb₅(CO₃)₃O(OH)₂). Rietveld quantification indicated the surface soil contained 14.1% metallic Pb, 17.9% hydrocerussite, 5.2% plumbonacrite, 5.9% litharge, and 3.9% massicot on a dry weight basis, or a total of 39.7% Pb, far in excess of lead concentrations typically found in US shooting range soils. Metallic Cu (bullet jacket material) appeared stable as no secondary minerals were detected in the surface soil. As and Sb concentrations were on the order of 1,057 mg/kg and 845 mg/kg respectively. The elevated soil pH coupled with high organic carbon content is thought to have caused downward migration of metals, especially for Pb, since 4,153 mg Pb/kg was observed at a depth of 55 cm. More than 60% of Pb was concentrated in the coarse soil (> 0.425 mm) fraction, suggesting soil clean-up possible by physical soil washing may be viable. The concentrations of Pb, As, and Sb in the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) extracts were 8,869 mg/L, 6.72 mg/L, and 6.42 mg/L respectively, were above the USEPA non-hazardous regulatory limit (As and Pb) of 5 mg/L. The elevated Sb and As concentrations draw concern because there is historically limited information concerning these metals at firing ranges and several values exceeded local soil cleanup criteria. As the high Pb concentrations appeared to be linked to the presence of organic-rich berm cover materials, the use of wood chips as berm cover to prevent soil erosion requires reconsideration as a shooting range management practice.