Good News and Bad News in Two Highly Industrialized Puget Sound, Washington (u.s.a.) Embayments

2017 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 372-388
Author(s):  
Ruth A. Martin ◽  
Elizabeth A. Nesbitt
Keyword(s):  
Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Environmental Remediation ◽  
Puget Sound ◽  
Washington State ◽  
Bad News ◽  
Good News ◽  
Metal Pollutants ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic ◽  
Washington State Department ◽  
Over Time

Abstract In this study, an offshoot of studies undertaken by the Washington State Department of Ecology (WDOE), the density and diversity of foraminiferal assemblages in Commencement and Elliott bays, two heavily industrialized embayments in Puget Sound, Washington (U.S.A) were compared and correlated with concentrations of metal pollutants and total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). Samples used in this study were collected by the WDOE between 1998 and 2014, allowing comparison over a temporal range encompassing the beginnings of environmental remediation in both bays. The composition of the foraminiferal assemblages is typical of polluted estuaries globally, with the major taxa being Elphidiella hannai, Cribroelphidium excavatum, Bucella frigida and Eggerella advena. Foraminiferal density and diversity showed negative correlations with pollutants, however, these correlations were significant for only a few pollutants, and trends could not be attributed to any single one. Both embayments showed increasing diversity over time, and both had high proportions of calcareous tests that displayed signs of dissolution, indicating corrosive conditions in the water. In Elliott Bay the percentage of partially dissolved tests increased over time, suggesting remediation efforts have not been successful in all areas.

scholarly journals Bioremediation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons from Industry Contaminated Soil Using Indigenous Bacillus spp.

Processes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 1606
Author(s):  
Prisha Mandree ◽  
Wendy Masika ◽  
Justin Naicker ◽  
Ghaneshree Moonsamy ◽  
Santosh Ramchuran ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Weight ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Control System ◽  
Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Contaminated Soil ◽  
Environmental Remediation ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Soil System ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic ◽  
Bacillus Spp

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are reportedly toxic, ubiquitous and organic compounds that can persist in the environment and are released largely due to the incomplete combustion of fossil fuel. There is a range of microorganisms that are capable of degrading low molecular weight PAHs, such as naphthalene; however, fewer were reported to degrade higher molecular weight PAHs. Bacillus spp. has shown to be effective in neutralizing polluted streams containing hydrocarbons. Following the growing regulatory requirement to meet the PAH specification upon disposal of contaminated soil, the following study aimed to identify potential Bacillus strains that could effectively remediate low and high molecular weight PAHs from the soil. Six potential hydrocarbon-degrading strains were formulated into two prototypes and tested for the ability to remove PAHs from industry-contaminated soil. Following the dosing of each respective soil system with prototypes 1 and 2, the samples were analyzed for PAH concentration over 11 weeks against an un-augmented control system. After 11 weeks, the control system indicated the presence of naphthalene (3.11 µg·kg−1), phenanthrene (24.47 µg·kg−1), fluoranthene (17.80 µg·kg−1) and pyrene (28.92 µg·kg−1), which illustrated the recalcitrant nature of aromatic hydrocarbons. The soil system dosed with prototype 2 was capable of completely degrading (100%) naphthalene, phenanthrene and pyrene over the experimental period. However, the accumulation of PAHs, namely phenanthrene, fluoranthene and pyrene, were observed using prototype 1. The results showed that prototype 2, consisting of a combination of Bacillus cereus and Bacillus subtilis strains, was more effective in the biodegradation of PAHs and intermediate products. Furthermore, the bio-augmented system dosed with prototype 2 showed an improvement in the overall degradation (10–50%) of PAHs, naphthalene, phenanthrene and pyrene, over the un-augmented control system. The following study demonstrates the potential of using Bacillus spp. in a bioremediation solution for sites contaminated with PAHs and informs the use of biological additives for large-scale environmental remediation.

scholarly journals Continued Age Shift of Confirmed Positive COVID-19 Incidence Over Time to Children and Young Adults: Washington State March - August 2020

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith Malmgren ◽  
Boya Guo ◽  
Henry G. Kaplan
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Cohort Analysis ◽  
Age Distribution ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Washington State ◽  
Older Age ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Lower Priority ◽  
Washington State Department ◽  
Over Time

AbstractBackgroundAs the coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic passed the initial infection peak in Washington State, phased re-opening lifted stay-at-home orders and restrictions leading to increased non-essential work, social activities and gathering, especially among younger persons.MethodsA longitudinal cohort analysis of Washington State Department of Health COVID-19 confirmed case age distribution 1) March-April 2020 (N=13,934) and 2) March-August 2020 (N=76,032) for proportional change over time using chi square tests for significance.ResultsFrom March 1st to April 19, 2020 COVID-19 case positive age distribution shifted with a 10% decline in cases age 60 years and older and a 20% increase in age 0-19/20-39 years (chi-square = 223.10, p <.001). Number of cases over the eight-week analysis period were 0-19 years n = 515, 20-39 years n = 4078, 40-59 years n =4788, 60-79 years n = 3221, 80+ years n = 1332. After the peak (March 22, 2020), as incidence declined in older age groups, the combined percentage of cases age 0-19 and 20-39 increased from 20% to 40% of total cases. During this time testing expanded with more testing among older age groups while case positivity shifted young. Percent positive cases by age through August 2020 increased to a consistent average of 60% less than age 40 [age 0-19 increased to 19% (N = 10257), age 20-39 increased to 42% (N = 30215)].ConclusionsAn increased share of COVID-19 incidence among children (age 0-19) and young adults (age 20-39) indicates their elevated role in propagating the epidemic by creating a reservoir of disease with risk of spillovers to more vulnerable older persons and those with comorbid conditions. Media savvy and age appropriate COVID-19 messaging may increase mitigation compliance among these less vulnerable, more mobile and lower priority vaccination age groups. As vaccines become available, mitigation will continue to be a priority to reduce overall population incidence.

scholarly journals COVID-19 Confirmed Case Incidence Age Shift to Young Persons Age 0-19 and 20-39 Years Over Time: Washington State March - April 2020

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith Malmgren ◽  
Boya Guo ◽  
Henry G. Kaplan
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Analysis ◽  
Age Distribution ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Washington State ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Department Of Health ◽  
Children And Young Adults ◽  
Washington State Department ◽  
Age Shift ◽  
Over Time

AbstractBackgroundAs the coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic passes the peak infection rate in some states and counties a phased re-opening with changes of stay-at-home restrictions and social distancing recommendations may lead to an increase of nonessential work, social activities and gathering, especially among younger persons.MethodsA longitudinal cohort analysis of Washington State Department of Health COVID-19 confirmed case age distribution March 1-April 19 2020 for proportional change over time using chi square tests for significance (N = 13,934).ResultsFrom March 1st to April 19, 2020 age distribution shifted with a 10% decline in cases age 60 years and older and a 20% increase in age 0-19/20-39 years (chi-square = 223.10, p <.001). Number of cases over the eight-week analysis period were 0-19 years n = 515, 20-39 years n = 4078, 40-59 years n =4788, 60-79 years n = 3221, 80+ years n = 1332. New cases increased steadily among 0-19 and 20-39-year olds. After the peak (March 22, 2020), there was no decline among age 0-19 and a lesser decline among age 20-39 than older groups. As incidence declined in older age groups, the combined percentage of cases age 0-19 and 20-39 increased from 20% to 40% of total cases.ConclusionsIncreased COVID-19 infection among children and young adults is not without serious morbidity and mortality risk to them and others they may come in contact with, indicating a targeted approach for awareness and safety measures is advisable to reduce incidence among the supposedly less vulnerable but more mobile young population age 0-19 and 20-39 years.

Distribution of organochlorines, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, phosphorus and 137Cs in sediment profiles from Ellen Brook in Western Australia

1995 ◽  
Vol 46 (5) ◽  
pp. 843 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Gerritse ◽  
F Hernandez ◽  
AS Murray ◽  
PJ Wallbrink ◽  
G Brunskill
Keyword(s):  
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Sediment Cores ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic ◽  
Sediment Profiles ◽  
Swan River ◽  
Catchment Inputs ◽  
Over Time ◽  
Similar Soil

Profile distributions are compared of organochlorines (OCs), unsubstituted polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phosphorus and 137Cs and 210Pb in sediment cores from Ellen Brook, a tributary of the Swan River in Western Australia. Distributions and concentrations of OCs, phosphorus and 137Cs clearly reflect changes in their inputs to the catchment over time, whereas the distribution and concentration of PAHs in sediments is more difficult to relate to catchment inputs. A comparison of areal concentrations of 137Cs, OCS and PAHs - calculated from concentrations in sediment profiles from Ellen Brook - suggests that 137Cs and OCs trace similar soil materials, whereas PAHs behave differently.

scholarly journals Experimenting with Career Concerns

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 260-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina Halac ◽  
Ilan Kremer
Keyword(s):  
Imperfect Information ◽  
Banking Industry ◽  
Public Information ◽  
Career Concerns ◽  
Bad News ◽  
Good News ◽  
Project Quality ◽  
Bad Loans ◽  
Over Time

A manager who learns privately about a project over time may want to delay quitting it if recognizing failure/lack of success hurts his reputation. In the banking industry, managers may want to roll over bad loans. How do distortions depend on expected project quality? What are the effects of releasing public information about quality? A key feature of banks is that managers learn about project quality from bad news, i.e., a default. We show that in such an environment, distortions tend to increase with expected quality and imperfect information about quality. Results differ if managers instead learn from good news. (JEL D82, D83, G21)

Sorption characteristics of phenanthrene and pyrene to surfactant-modified peat from aqueous solution: the contribution of partition and adsorption

2014 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
pp. 296-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanbo Zhou ◽  
Ruzhuang Zhang ◽  
Xiaochen Gu ◽  
Qing Zhao ◽  
Jun Lu
Keyword(s):  
Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Environmental Remediation ◽  
Sorption Process ◽  
Coefficient Of Determination ◽  
Partition Model ◽  
Freundlich Model ◽  
New Class ◽  
Sorption Ability ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic ◽  
Sorption Characteristics

In this paper, the sorption characteristics and mechanisms of phenanthrene and pyrene onto peat (PT) and surfactant-modified peat (MPT) were investigated. Sorption results fit closely to the Partition model and Freundlich model, the coefficient of determination (R2) were higher than 0.98 and 0.99, respectively. The contributions of partition and adsorption to the total sorption of phenanthrene and pyrene by PT and MPT were analyzed quantitatively. Results indicate that the sorption process is a combination of partition and adsorption, and partition plays a major role in the sorption process. The contribution of partition increased with the increasing of initial concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The sorption ability of phenanthrene and pyrene by PT and MPT followed the order of pyrene &gt; phenanthrene. MPT has demonstrated potential as a promising new class of materials for environmental remediation of organic pollutants.

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