Chemical Spills Research Articles

REFLECTING ON THE DERAILMENT IN OHIO, USA.

Background: On February 3, 2023, a train derailment happened in Ohio, causing a massive chemical spill. The train was transporting several chemical compounds that are raw materials for the chemical industry, and due to the derailment, some wagons caught fire, and others were in danger of explosion due to overheating. Aims: This note aims to reflect on the study of the chemicals present in the derailment and whether it could be a different outcome. Methods: A simple survey was done on the internet, looking for information about the derailment and the main chemicals the train was carrying. The information about the chemicals was selected from the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) from regular suppliers of the products. Results: The information collected regarding the derailment was unclear about the reasons for the fact, and the literature regarding the chemicals pointed out that the situation could get worse or worse than it already was. Discussion: at the time of the study, no conclusive information was available regarding the reasons for the derailment. The spill of a carcinogenic agent turned the derailment scenario more difficult to operate. The combustion of vinyl chloride can create phosgene gas (apparently did it) and increase the horror show that unfolded at the derailment site. Conclusions: The local population was suffering at the time and waiting for real proper support. The locomotive crew followed the company regulations, and the personnel working on the ground followed orders. Therefore, those do not appear to be the reasons for the derailment.

Comparison of Optimal Machine Learning Algorithms for Early Detection of Unknown Hazardous Chemicals in Rivers Using Sensor Monitoring Data.

Water environment pollution due to chemical spills occurs constantly worldwide. When a chemical accident occurs, a quick initial response is most important. In previous studies, samples collected from chemical accident sites were subjected to laboratory-based precise analysis or predictive research through modeling. These results can be used to formulate appropriate responses in the event of chemical accidents; however, there are limitations to this process. For the initial response, it is important to quickly acquire information on chemicals leaked from the site. In this study, pH and electrical conductivity (EC), which are easy to measure in the field, were applied. In addition, 13 chemical substances were selected, and pH and EC data for each were established according to concentration change. The obtained data were applied to machine learning algorithms, including decision trees, random forests, gradient boosting, and XGBoost (XGB), to determine the chemical substances present. Through performance evaluation, the boosting method was found to be sufficient, and XGB was the most suitable algorithm for chemical substance detection.

A Framework for Assessing Environmental Incidents in Coastal Areas: A Case Study in the Southeastern Coastal Area of Vietnam

As developing dynamic regions, coastal areas have a high potential for environmental incidents, especially chemical spills, which may permanently threaten livelihoods and coastal ecosystems. Establishing an appropriate methodological framework for assessing environmental incidents in coastal areas, ensuring increased predictability and minimising potential consequences is a trend of interest to scientists. In this study, the environmental risk assessment model was applied to develop a framework for assessing environmental incidents in coastal areas due to chemical spills from the mainland based on hazard, exposure and vulnerability factors (i.e., sensitivity and adaptability). Using the multiple criteria decision-making (MCDM) method approach, suitable criteria, their optimal weights and the risk factors were determined. Modelling, remote sensing, and geographic information system (GIS) methods were used simultaneously for data collection, evaluation, and mapping. A case study was conducted in the coastal area of southeastern Vietnam, which comprises 27 subregions. These were classified into four environmental incident levels: low, medium, high, and extreme. Their prevalence was 70.37%, 3.70%, 7.41%, and 18.52% in the rainy season, and 74.07%, 7.41%, 7.41%, and 11.11% in the dry season, respectively. Based on analysis results and consultation with managers and experts, pertinent and practical solutions were proposed to reduce the risk of environmental incidents in subregions with high and extreme incident levels. Our results are expected to support policymakers in decision-making related to the sustainable development of the study area and complete the methodology framework for assessing environmental incidents in coastal areas due to multiple hazards.

No Evidence of Long-Term Effects on Physiological Stress or Innate Immune Functioning in Northern Map Turtles a Decade After a Freshwater Oil Spill

Environmental perturbations such as chemical spills often have immediate and obvious effects on the health of ecosystems and individual organisms. However, the long-term effects of such perturbations are less evident and often less well-understood. In July 2010, a ruptured pipeline spilled diluted bitumen into the Kalamazoo River in Michigan, USA, ultimately oiling 56 km of the river channel. During spill cleanup operations, the most common vertebrate species rescued from the oiled river channel was the Northern Map Turtle (Graptemys geographica), of which over 2000 individuals were captured, cleaned of oil, and released. We returned to areas along the 2010 spill gradient to determine whether turtles from locations that had experienced different magnitudes of oiling in 2010 differed in baseline stress levels or immune functioning in 2020, which was 10 yr after the oil spill. In 2020, we collected blood samples from 100 individual Northern Map Turtles along the 2010 spill gradient and subsequently quantified the heterophil:lymphocyte ratio, bactericidal capacity, and natural antibody agglutination. We found no correlation between turtles' 2020 capture locations relative to the origin of the 2010 oil spill and either mean stress level (heterophil:lymphocyte ratio) or immune functioning (bactericidal capacity and natural antibody agglutination ability). Thus, we found no evidence that Northern Map Turtles sampled along a gradient of oil exposure resulting from the 2010 Kalamazoo River oil spill experienced long-term effects on physiological stress levels or immune functioning. Importantly, our sampling did not include any individuals that may have died during 2010–2020 from poor health after the oil spill and therefore is biased toward healthy turtles remaining in the population. Interestingly, we found that a subset of turtles known to have been oiled in 2010 actually had higher natural antibody titers than turtles sampled from a control site that presumably had never been exposed to oil. We cannot exclude the possibility of other long-term effects of the oil spill on the Map Turtle population, such as decreased reproductive output. We recommend that long-term monitoring of populations and ecosystems be included in spill mitigation plans to track the recovery of populations and ecosystems over time and to document any effects that may become evident only years after the spill event.

Occupational Health Hazards and Safety Practises on Abattoir Workers in Owerri Metropolis, Imo State

The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of occupational health hazards and safety practises on abattoir workers in Owerri Metropolis, Imo State, Nigeria. For the study, three objectives and three questions were developed. This study used a descriptive survey design. The population of the study consisted of 232 abattoir workers recruited from the three major abattoirs in Owerri Metropolis, Imo State. The study's sample included all two hundred and thirty-two (232) abattoir workers from the three major abattoirs in Owerri Metropolis. At the 0.05 level of significance, inferential statistics of Chi square (x2) were used to analyse the data collected for hypotheses, while the objectives were presented in frequency and percentages. According to the findings, the major occupational health hazards include knife cuts, blood/waste splashes, noise, bone piercing, and chemical spill, burns, and irritation. Adopted safety practises include the use of an apron, gloves, boots, and pre- and post-mortem inspection. Based on the findings, it was recommended that the government, through the ministry of health and labour, develop or create survey instruments and conduct surveys on a regular basis to monitor the prevalence of occupational health diseases and the upkeep of safety practises in abattoirs.

Public Health Security

Public health security refers to the ability of a society to protect and promote the health of its population, particularly in the face of emerging health threats. Ensuring public health security is essential for the well-being of communities and is a key responsibility of government agencies and health care systems.
 One significant aspect of public health security is the ability to identify, track, and respond to emerging health threats. This includes diseases that are transmitted from person to person, such as infectious diseases like influenza, as well as diseases that are transmitted through the environment, such as waterborne illnesses. In order to effectively respond to these threats, it is important for public health agencies to have access to reliable data and surveillance systems, as well as the resources and capacity to implement effective interventions [1].
 Another important aspect of public health security is the ability to prepare for and respond to disasters and emergencies. This includes natural disasters, such as hurricanes and earthquakes, as well as man-made disasters, such as chemical spills or acts of terrorism. Ensuring that communities have the necessary resources and infrastructure in place to respond to these events can save lives and prevent further suffering.
 Finally, public health security also involves addressing social and environmental determinants of health, such as poverty, housing, and access to clean water and sanitation. These issues can have a significant impact on the health and well-being of communities and must be addressed in order to ensure the long-term health and security of the population [2].
 Public health security is a significant concern in Pakistan, as the country faces a range of health threats, including infectious diseases, environmental hazards, and natural disasters. One of the major public health challenges in Pakistan is the high burden of infectious diseases, such as malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS. The country also faces outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases, such as measles and polio, due to low vaccination rates and inadequate vaccination coverage. Pakistan is also vulnerable to natural disasters, such as earthquakes, floods, and cyclones, which can have a significant impact on the health of the population. In addition to infectious diseases and natural disasters, Pakistan also faces environmental health hazards, such as air pollution and water contamination. Poor air quality has been linked to a range of health problems, including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, while access to clean water is a major concern in many parts of the country.
 In conclusion, public health security is a critical issue that affects the well-being of communities around the world. Ensuring that we have the necessary systems and resources in place to identify, track, and respond to emerging health threats, as well as prepare for and respond to disasters and emergencies, is essential for the health and security of the population.

Mitigation of Chemical Reporting Liabilities through Systematic Modernization of Chemical Hazard and Safety Data Management Systems.

In the United States alone, approximately 2 billion tons of hazardous material products are manufactured each year for both household and industrial applications and contribute to thousands of worker chemical exposures with as many as 50,000 deaths from prolonged exposure each year. The potential hazards and impacts of these chemicals for human health and the environment are primarily communicated to the public through Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) from the chemical vendors or distributors. These documents provide a standardized approach for how and what information is provided to product users to assist them with assessment of precautionary measures, hazard mitigation, emergency response or cleanup procedures, and environmental, health, and safety (EHS) management. Despite the criticality for hazard communication (HAZCOM) precision, legacy SDS management and industry business practices leave the overall ability to effectively manage chemicals vulnerable to significant liability through a lack of full constituent disclosure, injection of data quality errors through various handling of SDS information and manual data entry, and the lack of direct SDS-to-product association. Chemical spills and accidents often require individuals to look for the appropriate SDS on a local computer, online, or in workplace binders; each of which results in information returned that is often found to be outdated or incorrect. Workplace HAZCOM violations remain among the top citations during EHS inspections by regulatory agencies. More important, however, is the lack of precise association of SDS to hazardous products that can occur through chemical management lifecycles. Incorrect SDSs can yield significant liability, as subsequent environmental and occupational health analyses and reporting are based upon incorrect and, in some cases, entirely different chemical formulations. This paper focuses on the need for a paradigm shift in our chemical management systems and how a standardized management system and various recent technological advances can be incorporated into Environmental Management System operations to reduce or eliminate these liabilities. The following advancements can be used to enhance the lifecycle management of workplace chemicals, reduce potential exposure and spill risks, reduce workplace hazards, and increase the efficiency and accuracy of environmental reporting through a more streamlined systems approach. EHS system enhancement applications discussed in this paper include the following: the need for a centralized universal SDS repository with full chemical disclosure of all product constituents and a nationally adopted machine language SDS standard. The use of artificial intelligence/machine learning in environmental systems and how they can be used as a medium to transition toward an automated standard by reverse-engineering and partitioning SDS components into machine-encoded text that can be validated and uploaded to a centralized repository. Algorithmic and meta-algorithmic approaches to SDS requirement and data validation, hazard characteristic code calculations, and determination of potentially less hazardous substitutions. Application of Natural Language Processing methods for real-time updates from scientific journals, regulatory agencies, and other reputable sources to produce "living" SDSs capable of informing users of relevant regulatory updates, news, and research. Embedded SDSs or SDS links in product barcodes with QR code reader technology to retrieve precise SDSs for each product in emergency situations. Use of advanced QR codes embedding authentication layers, authenticity verification, and alerts of potential product or inventory problems or discrepancies. Benefits of radio frequency identification technology in providing accurate SDS associations while also minimizing manual tracking of hazardous material and hazardous waste containers and monitoring for expired shelf life, incompatible storage, temperature sensitivities, and other inventory concerns.

A Standardized Procedure to Build a Spectral Library for Hazardous Chemicals Mixed in River Flow Using Hyperspectral Image

The occurrence of natural disasters as a consequence of accidental hazardous chemical spills remains a concern. The inadequate, or delayed, initial response may fail to mitigate their impact; hence, imminent monitoring of responses in the initial stage is critical. Classical contact-type measurement methods, however, sometimes miss solvent chemicals and invoke risks for operators during field operation. Remote sensing methods are an alternative method as non-contact, spatially distributable, efficient and continuously operatable features. Herein, we tackle challenges posed by the increasingly available UAV-based hyperspect ral images in riverine environments to identify the presence of hazardous chemical solvents in rivers, which are less investigated in the absence of direct measurement strategies. We propose a referable standard procedure for a unique spectral library based on pre-scanning hyperspectral sensors with respect to representative hazardous chemicals registered on the national hazardous chemical list. We utilized the hyperspectral images to identify 18 types of hazardous chemicals injected into the river in an outdoor environment, where a dedicated hyperspectral ground imaging system mounted with a hyperspectral camera was designed and applied. Finally, we tested the efficiency of the library to recognize unknown chemicals, which showed >70% success rate.

A Succession of diatom and Karenia brevis blooms on the West Florida Shelf following a chemical spill from a mining facility

A Succession of diatom and Karenia brevis blooms on the West Florida Shelf following a chemical spill from a mining facility

Multivalent Effect of Defect Engineered Ag2S/g-C3N4 3D Porous Floating Catalyst with Enhanced Contaminant Removal Efficiency.

Chlorophenols, as a major environmental pollutant, enter water systems through industrial wastewater, agricultural runoff and chemical spills, and they are stable, persistent under natural conditions, and highly hazardous to water resources. The objective of this article is to prepare Ag2S-modified C3N4 three-dimensional network photocatalyst by calcination method to use photocatalysis as an efficient, safe, and environmentally friendly method to degrade chlorophenols. Ag2S/C3N4 has an excellent visible light absorption range, low band gap, effective separation of photogenerated charges, and active free radicals production, all of which make for the enhancement of photocatalytic degradation performance of the Ag2S/C3N4 system. Under the light irradiation (λ ≥ 420 nm), the photocatalytic degradation efficiency of 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol reach 95% within 150 min, and the stable photocatalytic degradation activity can still be maintained under different pH water environment and four degradation cycles. When Ag2S is loaded on ACNs, more photogenerated electrons are generated and subsequent reactions produce highly reactive groups such as •O2- and •OH that will originally be able to continuously attack TCP molecules to degrade pollutants. Therefore, this study shows that the photocatalyst provides a novel research approach for realizing the application in the field of pollutant degradation.

Assessment of Safety Requirements and Their Practices Among Teaching Laboratories of Health Institutes.

Laboratory work provides students with the ability to process skills, perform experiments and tests, and interpret experimental data. Instead of traditional teaching methods, there are good laboratory experiences to develop a conceptual understanding of science. A lack of laboratory safety requirements and practice can affect the health of students, staff, and the environment. Therefore, the current study provides updated safety requirements and practice information. The purpose of this study was to evaluate safety requirements and practices among teaching laboratories at the Health Institute 2021. An institutional-based descriptive study design was conducted on November 15-20, 2020, among staff members of the Bule Hora University Institute of Health. Seventeen randomly selected academic staffs and laboratory assistants from 2 departments participated in the study. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire and an observational checklist. Finally, the data were coded and entered into Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 for analysis. Data were then analyzed using simple quantitative descriptions such as frequency counts and percentages. The data are presented in a table. Of the safety requirements evaluated, only 33.3% (6) were available in the laboratory. Of the safety practices evaluated, 44.6% were used all the time, 37.7% were used occasionally, and 17.6% were never practiced in the laboratory by the respondents. Of his respondents, 58.8% had never been regularly inspected for laboratory safety, and 77% had never received training in laboratory safety. Observations show that teaching laboratories in health organizations lack safety manuals/first aid diaries or guidelines, laboratory building drainage systems, adequate ventilation, water flow, and appropriate laboratory sizes. This study reveals poor laboratory safety practices and safety requirements in teaching laboratories. These limitations may cause health problems, environmental pollution, contamination, and chemical spills. Stakeholders should improve safety requirements and create awareness among staff, students, and lab assistants.

After-Action Reviews and the Big Black Hole of Improvement Processes

Abstract University and campus public safety departments deal with a wide range of planned events and incidents from felonious crimes, chemical spills, and other emergent incidents to routine activities that require consistent reviews like commencement ceremonies. After-Action reviews (AARs) are a standard process in several industries including public safety, yet there is little empirical research when it comes to how AARs are applied to campus public safety entities and their outcomes. The Indiana University Public Safety Department (IUPS) reviewed 153 AAR reports, from 2017 through 2020, across seven Indiana University campuses and two academic centres. We highlight the key empirical findings from that review and how they influenced policy and practice at IUPS. We also highlight the role of the researcher–practitioner partnership in the process. We present lessons learned from the project along with suggestions for agencies interested in implementing a robust AAR process.

Prioritizing toxic shock threats to sewage treatment plants from down-the-drain industrial chemical spills: the RAVEN STREAM online tool

The RAVEN STREAM online tool aims to help sewage treatment plants (STPs) identify and manage industrial chemicals used upstream that, if spilled, could cause a toxic shock to the STP microorganisms utilized in the wastewater treatment process.

Symbioses between Green Marketing Sustainability and Competition Law in Malaysia

Purpose: The urgency to control and reduce environmental disasters to the air and water as well as plastic pollution, acute deforestation, industrial waste, chemical spills, climate change and global warming calamity has triggered the universal Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) policy. Thus, diverting the attention of every level of human activity towards attaining a ‘sustainable’ environment. This universal war against such environmental disasters has developed a reason to incorporate SDG policy goals into the Competition Law and Policy (CLP) globally. This exploratory study aimed to determine the symbiosis between the competition law and United Nations (UN), SDG policy application under Competition Act 2010 for promoting and enhancing Green Marketing (GM) in Malaysia. 
 Methodology: The study examines viable options for competition regulators to address sustainability policy for green marketing (GM) benefits under the scope of CLP. The study applies qualitative analysis by way of comparative study to the European Union (EU) approach to determine GM marketing legitimacy for acclaiming SDG policy as a criterion within the exemption proviso in the Competition Act 2010, Malaysia.
 Findings: Competition Law can support GM sustainability initiatives to improve the environment since GM is not just about producing and marketing environmentally sustainable products but from a broader perspective contributes to innovation and consumer welfare. Hence, GM's social market and societal benefits towards sustainability objectives are arguably considered to outweigh its countervailing anticompetitive effects for sustainable exemption policy under the CLP. However, GM can only substantially contribute to addressing global warming and the environment under the SDG if applied legitimately. In addition, the GM must be also endorsed to incorporate broader environmental-related benefit policy within its competition law prohibition and exemption framework to resonate with the UN’s SDG.
 Implications/Originality/Value: The endorsement of GM sustainable benefits by way of exemption, exception or being pro-competitive allows a fair competitive advantage for GM industry growth. The research examines and proposes the exemption options for GM-related mergers, a collaboration by way of agreement and government exception policies under CA2010.

Symbioses between Green Marketing Sustainability and Competition Law in Malaysia

Purpose: The urgency to control and reduce environmental disasters to the air and water as well as plastic pollution, acute deforestation, industrial waste, chemical spills, climate change and global warming calamity has triggered the universal Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) policy. Thus, diverting the attention of every level of human activity towards attaining a ‘sustainable’ environment. This universal war against such environmental disasters has developed a reason to incorporate SDG policy goals into the Competition Law and Policy (CLP) globally. This exploratory study aimed to determine the symbiosis between the competition law and United Nations (UN), SDG policy application under Competition Act 2010 for promoting and enhancing Green Marketing (GM) in Malaysia. 
 Methodology: The study examines viable options for competition regulators to address sustainability policy for green marketing (GM) benefits under the scope of CLP. The study applies qualitative analysis by way of comparative study to the European Union (EU) approach to determine GM marketing legitimacy for acclaiming SDG policy as a criterion within the exemption proviso in the Competition Act 2010, Malaysia.
 Findings: Competition Law can support GM sustainability initiatives to improve the environment since GM is not just about producing and marketing environmentally sustainable products but from a broader perspective contributes to innovation and consumer welfare. Hence, GM's social market and societal benefits towards sustainability objectives are arguably considered to outweigh its countervailing anticompetitive effects for sustainable exemption policy under the CLP. However, GM can only substantially contribute to addressing global warming and the environment under the SDG if applied legitimately. In addition, the GM must be also endorsed to incorporate broader environmental-related benefit policy within its competition law prohibition and exemption framework to resonate with the UN’s SDG.
 Implications/Originality/Value: The endorsement of GM sustainable benefits by way of exemption, exception or being pro-competitive allows a fair competitive advantage for GM industry growth. The research examines and proposes the exemption options for GM-related mergers, a collaboration by way of agreement and government exception policies under CA2010.

Upscaling a chemical screening approach to assess impacts of shale, tight and deep gas development on unconfined aquifers

Study regionBeetaloo Sub-basin (Northern Territory) and Cooper Basin (Queensland and South Australia), Australia. Study focusA chemical screening approach was upscaled to regional scale to assess impacts of chemical spills on unconfined aquifers. Chemical dilution factors (DFs) were developed from hydrogeochemical modelling to predict the impact of hypothetical chemical spills as part of a hazard identification process from the potential development of shale, tight and deep gas in the Beetaloo Sub-basin and Cooper Basin. Advection and dispersion modelling (non-reactive HYDRUS 1-D) was used as a conservative screening approach to estimate DFs vertically through the unsaturated zone and laterally through the unconfined aquifers. The results were upscaled to basin scale, based on spatially distributed soil, groundwater and aquifer information, including the presence of karsts. The spatial approach successfully defined areas that required additional assessment prior to any future development. New hydrological insights for the regionFor chemical concentrations from surface spills to not exceed ecotoxicological thresholds at the water table, a DF of > 1000 was required. Screening areas with a DF of > 1000 constrained the area of concern for aquifer contamination from spills to 0.3 % and 14 % of the Beetaloo and Cooper regions respectively. The likelihood for long term impacts from potential undetected chemical leaks on groundwater dependent ecosystems was assessed to < 0.1 % of the Cooper region due to dilution in lateral groundwater flow, but 18 % of the Beetaloo region.

A new approach to chemicals warehouse risk analysis using computational fluid dynamics simulation and fuzzy Bayesian network

This study aims to assess the risk of chemicals warehouse using a Bayesian networks (BNs) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD). A methodology combining Bow-Tie (BT), fuzzy set theory (FST), and Bayesian network was employed, in which the BT was drawn for chemical spill scenarios. FST was utilized for the estimation of the basic events (BEs) occurrence probability, and the probability of interaction among a set of variables was obtained using BNs. Pool fire scenario radiation heat flux was evaluated using CFD code, fire dynamic simulator (FDS), and the solid flame model (SFM). Fail in forklift brake system (BE1), was the most significant cause for a chemical spill. Based on the CFD model, the heat flux is 31 kW/m2 at a distance of 3.5 m from the fire, decreasing to 6.5 m gradually. The maximum safety distance of 4 m is predicted by the CFD for heat flux that exceeds 12.5 kW/m2; however, SFM predicts approximately 4.5 m. According to the results, the amount of posterior risk is higher than the prior value. The framework presented in the chemicals warehouse for consequence analysis and dynamic risk assessment (DRA) of pool fire could be used for preventing the accidents and domino effects in the chemicals warehouse.

Sorry Doesn't Cut It, or Does It? Insights from Stock Market Responses to Corporate Apologies

This paper examines the stock market reaction to corporate apologies. We construct a comprehensive database of corporate apologies issued for major chemical disasters between 1985 and 2017. Results from event studies and cross-sectional regressions suggest that 1) on average there is no significant stock market response after a firm apologizes; but when we allow for heterogeneity in the type of apologies, we find that 2) some apologies are associated with significant abnormal returns. In particular, firms that shift the blame to others consistently experience positive abnormal returns, while firms that admit to making mistakes tend to face negative stock market reactions in the longer-term. Greater media coverage for the chemical spill and the apology is associated with a negative and positive stock market response, respectively. Our findings are consistent with a signaling theory of apologies and help shed light on corporate crisis management and understanding of what makes an effective apology.

Multiple stressor effects of a heatwave and a herbicide on zooplankton communities: Implications of global climate change

Aquatic ecosystems are exposed to pesticides through various pathways such as spray-drift, agricultural runoff, and chemical spills. Understanding the impact of pesticides on freshwater ecosystems requires not only understanding how pesticides affect aquatic organisms but also knowledge of their interactions with other stressors, such as those related to global climate change. Heatwaves are extended periods of temperature increase relative to the climatological mean. They are increasing in frequency and magnitude and pose an emerging threat to shallow freshwater ecosystems. In this study, we evaluated the single and combined effects of the herbicide terbuthylazine and a simulated heatwave on freshwater zooplankton communities using indoor microcosms. Terbuthylazine was applied at an environmentally relevant concentration (15 µg/L). The heatwave consisted of an increase of 6°C above the control temperature for a period of 7 days. When applied individually, the heatwave increased the total abundance of zooplankton by 3 times. The terbuthylazine exposure led to an indirect effect on the zooplankton community structure, reducing the relative abundance of some taxa. The combination of the heatwave and terbuthylazine had no significant impact on the zooplankton community, indicating additive effects dominated by the herbicide. The interaction between the two stressors increased chlorophyll-a concentrations and apparently changed the structure of the phytoplankton community, which may have benefitted cyanobacteria over green algae. Overall, this study shows that understanding the effects of chemical and non-chemical stressors on aquatic communities remains a challenging task. Further studies should be conducted to improve our mechanistic understanding of multiple stressor interactions at different levels of biological organisation.

A Combined Method For Determining The Contributing Factors To Chemical Spills In Port Areas During Maritime Dangerous Cargo Transport

A Combined Method For Determining The Contributing Factors To Chemical Spills In Port Areas During Maritime Dangerous Cargo Transport