Comparison of PFAS soil remediation alternatives at a civilian airport using cost-benefit analysis.

Contamination of soil and water systems by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) due to uncontrolled use of aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs) at firefighting training sites at civilian and military airports is a universal issue and can lead to significant human health and environmental impacts. Remediation of these sites is often complex but necessary to alleviate the PFAS burden and minimise the risks of exposure by eliminating the hotspot/source from which the PFAS spreads. This study presents a probabilistic cost-benefit analysis (CBA) for evaluating PFAS remediation alternatives, which includes monetisation of both direct costs and benefits as well as externalities. The method is applied for a case study to compare five remediation alternatives for managing PFAS contaminated soil at Stockholm Arlanda Airport in Sweden. The social profitability, or the net present value (NPV), of each remediation alternative was calculated in comparison to two reference alternatives - 'total excavation' of the site (Alt 0) or 'do nothing'. Sensitivity analyses and model scenarios were tested to account for uncertainties, including small or large PFAS spreading and simulating different values for the magnitude of annual avoided cost of inaction (i.e., aggregate benefit) from PFAS remediation. In comparison to total excavation, four of the five studied remediation alternatives resulted in a positive mean NPV. Excavation and stabilization/solidification of the hotspot on-site combined with stabilization using activated carbon for the rest of site (Alt 2) had the highest NPV for both spreading scenarios, i.e., Alt 2 was the most socially profitable alternative. Simulations of the annual avoided cost of inaction enabled estimation of the breakeven point at which a remediation alternative becomes socially profitable (NPV > 0) compared to 'do nothing'. Alt 2 had the lowest breakeven point: 7.5 and 5.75 millions of SEK/year for large and small spreading, respectively.

Contaminated landslide runout deposits in rivers - Method for estimating long-term ecological risks.

The potential catastrophic event of a landslide bringing contaminants to surface waters has been highlighted in public media, but there are still few scientific studies analyzing the risk of landslides with contaminated soil. The aim of this study is to present a method to estimate the risk of potential long-term ecological effects on water bodies due to contaminated soil released into a river through a landslide. The study constitutes further development of previous work focusing on the instantaneous (short-term) release of contaminants and associated effects. Risk is here defined as the probability of surface water failing to comply with environmental quality standards (EQS). The transport model formulation is kept simple enough to allow for a probabilistic analysis as a first assessment of the impact on the river water quality from a landslide runout deposit containing contaminated soil. The model is applied at a contaminated site located adjacent to the Göta Älv River that discharges into the Gothenburg estuary, in southwest Sweden. The results from the case study show that a contaminated runout deposit will likely cause contamination levels above EQSs in the near area for a long time and that it will take several years for the deposit to erode, with the greatest erosion at the beginning when water velocities are their highest above the deposit. A contaminated landslide runout deposit will thus act as a source of contamination to the downstream water system until all the contaminated deposit has been eroded away and the contaminants have been transported from the deposit to the river, and further to the river mouth - diluted but not necessarily negligible. Therefore, it is important to prevent landslides of contaminated soil or waste, and if such events were to occur, to remove the contaminated runout deposit as soon as possible.

Expert elicitation for deriving input data for probabilistic risk assessment of shipwrecks.

The necessity of having a process in place for adequate risk assessment of shipwrecks that pose a threat to the marine environment is today internationally acknowledged. However, retrieving the desired data for such a risk assessment can prove challenging. One means of addressing this problem is to make use of experts' knowledge and experience. The purpose of this paper is therefore to present and analyse data for risk assessment of shipwrecks derived by expert elicitation. The main outcome is the experts' estimations of (i) the generic probability of an opening in a shipwreck due to the occurrence of a number of activities and (ii) estimations of the degree to which site-specific and wreck-specific indicators affect the probability of opening. Results show that the derived information is applicable in probabilistic shipwreck risk assessment and that the VRAKA framework now contains needed information for integrating generic and site-specific information using Bayesian updating.

Cell proliferation, apoptosis, and B- and T-lymphocytes in Peyer's patches of the ileum, in thymus and in lymph nodes of preterm calves, and in full-term calves at birth and on day 5 of life.

Peyer's patches, thymus, and lymph nodes contain the majority of lymphocytes. We have studied proliferation rates, apoptosis rates, and numbers of B- and T-lymphocytes in Peyer's patches in ileum, thymus, and mesenterial and prescapular lymph nodes (LM and LP) in unfed preterm calves (GrP; born 13 d before expected normal term after dams were injected with prostaglandin F2alpha and glucocorticoids) and normal-term calves (GrF) immediately after birth and on d 5 of life after feeding colostrum for 4 d (GrC). Immunohistochemical methods in conjunction with incorporation of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine or terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated X-dUTP nick end labeling were used to evaluate cell proliferation rates and apoptosis rates, respectively. The number of T- and B-lymphocytes was determined with monoclonal antibodies directed against CD3 and CD79, respectively. In GrF compared with GrP, there were higher numbers of proliferating and apoptotic cells in LM and LP, of B-lymphocytes in paracortex and follicles of LM and LP, and of proliferating cells in cortex and medulla of thymus. In thymus cortex and medulla, numbers of proliferating cells were higher in GrC than in GrF. Apoptotic rates were generally smaller at all sites of Peyer's patches in GrC than in GrF, and proliferation rates increased from GrP to GrF in intrafollicular areas and from GrF to GrC in all tissues. Numbers of T-lymphocytes in Peyer's patches were higher in GrF than in GrP, but lower in GrC than in GrF, except in the domes. Numbers of B-lymphocytes did not change in Peyer's patches despite high proliferation and low apoptotic rates, suggesting that they leave Peyer's patches during the first days of life. In conclusion, proliferation and apoptosis rates and numbers of B- and T- lymphocytes in Peyer's patches in ileum, thymus, and LM and LP exhibited different developmental changes and were affected by feeding.

Effects of dexamethasone on lymphoid tissue in the gut and thymus of neonatal calves fed with colostrum or milk replacer.

An increased susceptibility to disease in neonatal calves may be attributable to high glucocorticoid levels that influence immune reactions. We tested whether dexamethasone (DEXA) administration influences the proliferation, apoptosis, and number of B- and T-lymphocytes in Peyer's patches (PP) and thymus in calves fed colostrum (C) or a milk-derived formula. All calves were subcutaneously administered bovine colostrum-derived immunoglobulin G and fed chicken-egg derived immunoglobulins that protected against rotavirus and pathogenic Escherichia coli. The DEXA (30 microg/kg of BW daily) was injected for 4 d into groups fed colostrum on the first 3 d (CD+) and those fed the formula that contained nutrients in amounts as in colostrum but no immunoglubulin G (FD+). Groups CD- and FD were fed the same as the other two groups, but did not receive DEXA. Immunohistochemical methods were used to evaluate cell proliferation rates (by labeling of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine), apoptosis rates (by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated X-dUTP nick end labeling). Numbers of T- and B-lymphocytes were determined with antibodies specific for CD3 and CD79 surface proteins. There were significant effects (P < 0.05) of DEXA treatment (decrease of cell proliferation rates in follicles of PP and thymus, increase of apoptotic rate in follicles of PP and thymus, decrease of B-lymphocyte numbers in follicles of PP, increase of B-lymphocyte numbers in domes of PP, increase of T-lymphocyte numbers in follicles of PP, and a decrease of intraepithelial T-lymphocyte numbers). There were significant effects (P < 0.05) of C feeding (decrease of cell proliferation rates in follicles of PP and of B-lymphocyte numbers in interfollicular areas, domes, and follicular-associated epithelium of PP, and an increase of cell proliferation rate in the thymus). A DEXA x feeding interaction (P < 0.001) was found for cell proliferation rate in the thymus. In conclusion, DEXA treatment decreased cell proliferation rates in follicles of PP and thymus and enhanced apoptotic rates in follicles of PP. Colostrum feeding decreased cell proliferation rates, likely of B-lymphocytes, in follicles of PP and numbers of B-lymphocytes in domes, follicular-associated epithelium, and interfollicular areas of PP and enhanced cell proliferation rates and selectively modified DEXA effects in the thymus.

Evidence of chromaffin oxygen sensing in neuroblastoma.

With the aid of IGF2 and VEGF in situ hybridization; tyrosine hydroxylase, chromogranin A, and Ki67 immunohistochemistry; and TUNEL staining applied to a large series of clinical neuroblastomas and to an animal model, we show here that stroma-poor neuroblastomas show evidence of chromaffin differentiation similar to that of type 1 small intensely fluorescent (SIF) cells and that this occurs in a vascular-dependent fashion, indicating a role for local tumor hypoxia in the differentiation process.

Apolipoprotein E genotype and its effect on duration and severity of early and late onset Alzheimer's disease.

BACKGROUND: The apolipoprotein E (ApoE) epsilon 4 allele is associated with an increased risk of senile and probably presenile Alzheimer's disease. It is not yet clear whether the epsilon 4 allele also influences the duration/rate of progress of illness and the severity of the dementia. METHOD: We have retrospectively examined a series of ApoE genotyped presenile and senile autopsy cases of Alzheimer's disease (AD) for length of illness and severity of pathology. RESULTS: We find no evidence that ApoE genotype affects the rate of progress of AD, but the degree of pathology at death may be increased. CONCLUSION: It appears that the rate of progress of AD as a whole is independent of the ApoE genotype.

Apolipoprotein E epsilon 4 allele is a risk factor for familial and sporadic presenile Alzheimer's disease in both homozygote and heterozygote carriers.

While apoliprotein E (ApoE) epsilon 4 allele is now a well established risk factor for familial and sporadic senile Alzheimer's disease (AD), its role in the development of the rarer presenile or early onset type is controversial. Early studies showed no association; later ones found enrichment for the epsilon 4 allele in familial or sporadic types or both. We have ApoE genotyped a series of Scottish people (n = 85) with early onset AD. We find highly significant enrichment for both homozygote and heterozygote ApoE epsilon 4 allele carriers in familial and sporadic early onset AD with a pattern closely resembling that in late onset AD.

Association between the CYP1A1 gene polymorphism and susceptibility to emphysema and lung cancer.

Aim-To investigate cytochrome P4501A1 (CYP1A1) polymorphism and susceptibility to emphysema and lung cancer.Methods-A novel polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for genotyping the CYP1A1 polymorphism, corresponding to putative low or high enzyme activity, was developed to genotype lung cancer resection samples which had been assessed macroscopically for the presence of centriacinar and panacinar emphysema. Samples were collected and genotyped from a group of patients with chronic obstructive airways disease. A control group of anonymous blood donations was genotyped to determine the basal levels of the polymorphism in the Scottish population.Results-The high activity allele of the CYP1A1 gene is associated with susceptibility to centriacinar emphysema and lung cancer but not panacinar emphysema. CYP1A1 polymorphism is not linked to lung cancer in the absence of emphysema, nor to chronic obstructive airways disease which is the clinical manifestation of emphysema, particularly of the panacinar type.Conclusions-Susceptibility to emphysema and lung cancer is associated with polymorphism of the P4501A1 gene. A trend towards damage of centriacinar pattern has been detected, which supports the theory that centriacinar emphysema results from local, direct damage to the respiratory bronchioles from exposure to cigarette smoke.

Apolipoprotein E epsilon 4 allele frequency in patients with Lewy body dementia, Alzheimer's disease and age-matched controls.

Genotypes of apolipoprotein E (ApoE) were determined by polymerase-chain reaction (PCR) amplification and restriction-sizing of brain DNA from 39 cases of Lewy body dementia (LBD), 68 senile Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and 47 neuropathologically validated non-demented controls. There was a 3-fold increase in the epsilon 4 allele frequency in both LBD and AD groups compared with controls. These results indicate that LBD and AD share the epsilon 4 allele of ApoE as a major risk factor for the development of disease and suggest a similarity in disease aetiology.

Anaerobic treatability of waste water from pulp and paper industries.

A black liquor evaporator condensate from a Kraft mill and a waste water from production of corrugating medium were anaerobically treated on a laboratory scale. The composition of the waste waters was determined before and after treatment in fixed bed reactors. Toxicity studies by the Microtox-method showed that both waste waters were highly toxic and a slight decrease in toxicity was achieved by anaerobic treatment. Despite the toxicity efficient anaerobic treatment was obtained. Major components of the condensate were methanol, ethanol, acetone, guaiacol, hydrogen sulfide and dimethyl disulfide. Anaerobic treatment reduced the concentration of the major components considerably with one exception. The concentration of hydrogen sulfide was unchanged. Organic overloading of the fixed bed reactor or a temperature drop resulted in an accumulation of acetone, although methanol and ethanol were degraded. Major components of the waste water from the production of corrugating medium were: Klason-lignin, acid-soluble lignin, carbohydrates, extractives and ash. When the fixed bed reactor was operated at a volumetric load of 1.6 kg COD/m(3).d the following reductions were obtained: Klason - lignin (solids fraction 84%; soluble and colloidal fraction 76%), acid-soluble lignin (solids fraction 56%; soluble and colloidal fraction 7%), carbohydrates (100%), extractives (71%), total-S (80%), COD (73%) and BOD(7) (78%). Kinetic studies showed that condensate was more easily degraded anaerobically than corrugating medium waste water.

Direct analysis of volatile organic compounds produced by fungi.

A gas chromatographic head-space technique has been developed for the analysis of volatile organic compounds produced by fungi. The method described is useful for establishing the pattern of volatile compounds emitted by an organism and for following the time course of production of volatile metabolites. Many of these volatile products are physiologically active and influence the growth and development of the same or other organisms.

Variation in average unit chain length of glycogen in relation to developmental stage in Blastocladiella emersonii.

Synchronous, single generations of Blastocladiella emersonii were grown along either the ordinary colorless or resistant sporangial plant pathways. Samples of cells were withdrawn at different developmental stages and glycogen was extracted, purified, debranched by isoamylase treatment, and its component unit chains separated by gel permeation chromatography. The elution profiles showed the distribution of unit chains. Average unit chain length was determined for plants at different developmental stages and shown to vary between 9 and 16. Some of these variations were correlated with other developmental events in the fungus.

Comparative biochemistry of alpha-glucan-utilization in Pseudomonas amyloderamosa and Pseudomonas saccharophila: physiological significance of variations in the pathway.

Growth patterns on and utilization of various alpha-glucans were investigated in Pseudomonas amyloderamosa and P. saccharophila. Maltose, maltodextrins (average chain length 7 glycosyl units) and glycogen supported excellent growth of both organisms and were extensively metabolized, although glycogen utilization in P. saccharophila was preceded by a prolonged lag phase. P. amyloderamosa produced limited growth on amylopectin and the carbohydrate was only partly degraded. It seemed likely that many of the unit chains liberated from amylopectin had a length exceeding the substrate range accepted by the maltodextrin permease (transport) system. A correlation was established between the pH of the medium and the utilization of glycogen and amylopectin for growth in P. amyloderamosa. The carbohydrates were at least partly utilizable at pH 6.0, whereas they could not support any growth at pH 6.5. Most likely, the lack of growth at the higher pH reflected the low activity of isolamylase at this pH. The enzyme patterns of maltodextrin catabolism in the two bacteria were established. Intracellularly, maltodextrin phosphorylase and 4-alpha-glucanotransferase occurred in both. Degradation of extracellular alpha-glucans was mediated by a mainly intracellular isoamylase in P. amyloderamosa, whereas P. saccharophila possessed an extracellular alpha-amylase and a firmly cell-bound pullulanase.