Contaminants Of Potential Concern Research Articles

Laboratory Simulation of Groundwater Along Uranium-Mining-Affected Flow Paths Near the Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA

Mining of volumetrically small, but relatively enriched (average 0.6% U3O8) breccia pipe uranium (BPU) deposits near the Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA has the potential to affect groundwater and springs in the area. Such deposits also contain base metal sulfides that can oxidize to generate acid mine drainage and release trace metals. In this study, sequential batch experiments were conducted to simulate the geochemistry of local shallow groundwater that contacts BPU ore and then moves downgradient through sedimentary strata. The experiments simulated shallow groundwater in a carbonate aquifer followed by contact with BPU ore. The experiments subsequently simulated contact with sedimentary rocks and changing oxygen availability. Concentrations of several contaminants of potential concern became substantially elevated in the waters exposed to BPU ore, including As, Co, Ni, U, and Zn, and to a lesser extent, Mo. Of these, Co, Mo, Ni, and U were minimally attenuated by downgradient processes, whereas Zn was partially attenuated. Sb and Tl concentrations were more moderately elevated but also generally minimally attenuated. Although the mixture of elements is particular to these BPU ore deposits, sulfide oxidation in the ore and carbonate buffering of pH by sedimentary rocks generates patterns of water chemistry common in acid mine drainage settings. Ultimately, downgradient concentrations of elements sourced from BPU ore will also be strongly influenced by non-geochemical factors such as the quantities of water contacting BPU materials, heterogeneity of materials along flow paths, and mixing with waters that have not contacted BPU materials.

Literature review and meta-analysis of gastric and intestinal bioaccessibility for nine inorganic elements in soils and soil-like media for use in human health risk assessment.

When soils become contaminated, a human health risk assessment (HHRA) is beneficial for determining whether identified contaminants of potential concern (COPCs) pose a risk to human health. In certain jurisdictions, when calculating doses from soil ingestion during the exposure assessment step of a HHRA, validated bioaccessibility methods may be used to accurately represent a contaminant's relative absorption factor (RAF). Where validated methods do not exist, risk assessors must either a) conduct their own literature search (which can be time consuming), b) create their own validation study (also a time consuming process), or c) use default assumptions (i.e., a RAF of 1). This literature search and meta-analysis characterizes the past 28 years of published analysis for aluminum (Al), antimony (Sb), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), and mercury (Hg) from 13 different gastric and intestinal bioaccessibility methodologies. These elements were selected as they are often risk drivers in HHRAs and are sometimes identified as COPCs in HHRAs at contaminated sites. Results were compiled from soil deriving from a variety of sources and varying in physicochemical properties. The mean percent bioaccessibility and 95 percent upper confidence limit on the mean (95 UCL) were calculated to better inform further study and validation of methods for elements additional to Pb, As, and Cd, which may be applicable to future HHRAs. Although there has been plenty of study into effects of various soil and method parameters on elemental bioaccessibility, meta-analysis found limited evidence that these findings are generalizable. Meta-analysis was also limited by little variability in certain parameters, but a more targeted analysis identified some correlative influences of pH and particle size for well-studied elements within the dataset. High bioaccessibility variability indicates that moving away from default parameters to use percent bioaccessibility to represent contaminant RAF must still be completed on a site-specific basis. The study has identified that more bioaccessibility studies for Al, Cr, Sb, Fe, Mn, and Hg, particularly studies that seek to validate bioaccessibility testing of these elements, will be beneficial for more robust and informative future risk assessments.

Subsurface Containment of Injected Chemicals during In-Situ Bitumen Recovery from Oil Sands

Reservoir containment of the injected fluids is essential in the solvent-aided thermal recovery of bitumen from oil sands from an environmental perspective. Containment is particularly important when new chemicals/solvents, known as Contaminants of Potential Concern (CoPCs), are coinjected with steam to improve the recovery process. In this work, numerical simulations are conducted to study the fate of the injected CoPCs such as propane, butane, hexane, field condensates, ammonia, dimethyl ether, and ethyl acetate. The results reveal that among the CoPCs studied, hexane, field condensates, and ethyl acetate are contained in the oil sands formations, whereas other CoPCs could potentially migrate upward. While upward migration of water-soluble CoPCs such as dimethyl ether and ammonia is limited to the top vicinity of the oil sands formation, propane could migrate upward significantly and reach shallow groundwater resources. Our findings also reveal that injection of solvents/chemicals, such as hexane, field condensates, and ethyl acetate, and to a great extent butane, eliminates migration of the in situ generated gases such as methane. In contrast, other solvents/chemicals such as propane, dimethyl ether, and ammonia allow significant upward migration of methane. These findings improve our understanding of the long-term fate of the injected CoPCs. In addition, the results find applications in the design of cleaner recovery techniques, risk assessment, and the development of regulatory frameworks for improved control on CoPCs.

Fragrance materials (FMs) affect the larval development of the copepod Acartia tonsa: An emerging issue for marine ecosystems

Fragrance materials (FMs) are used in a variety of detergents and cosmetics, including household and personal care products. Despite their widespread use and the growing evidence of their occurrence in surface waters worldwide, very little is known about their toxicity towards marine species, including a key component of the marine food webs such as copepods. Thus, we investigated the toxicity of six of the more long-lasting and stable commercial fragrances, including Amyl Salicylate (AMY), Oranger Crystals (ORA), Hexyl Salicylate (HEX), Ambrofix (AMB), Peonile (PEO), and Benzyl Salicylate (BZS), to assess their ability to impair the larval development of the calanoid copepod Acartia tonsa. FMs inhibited the development of A. tonsa significantly at concentrations by far lower than the effect-concentrations reported in the literature for aquatic species. The more toxic FMs were HEX (EC50 = 57 ng L−1), AMY (EC50 = 131 ng L−1) and ORA (EC50 = 766 ng L−1), while the other three compounds exerted toxic effects at concentrations higher than 1000 ng L−1 (LOEC at 1000 ng L−1 for PEO and BZS, and at 10,000 ng L−1 for AMB). Early life-stage mortality was unaffected by FMs at all the tested concentrations. A comparison with water concentrations of FMs reported in the literature confirmed that FMs, especially HEX and AMY, may act as contaminants of potential concern in many aquatic habitats, including urban areas and remote and polar environments.

The Spider Exposure Pathway and the Potential Risk to Arachnivorous Birds.

There is growing concern over the health of North American birds, with evidence suggesting substantial population declines. Spiders are prominent dietary items for many bird species and mediate the transfer of contaminants to arachnivorous birds that consume them. Few studies have investigated the potential risk the spider exposure pathway poses to these birds because most studies have focused on piscivores. In the present study, we developed new chronic and acute As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Ni, Se, Zn, and MeHg spider-based avian wildlife values (SBAWVs) for multiple adult and nestling birds (primarily passerines) and then used the newly generated SBAWVs to characterize the risk to birds across 2 study areas: 1) 5 reaches in the southern Appalachian Mountains, an area with substantial mercury deposition but minimal anthropogenic impact, and 2) 4 reaches adjacent to the Emory River, an area impacted by the largest fly coal-ash spill in US history. We identified MeHg and Cu, Pb, Se, and Zn as contaminants of potential concern (COPC) at the Appalachian Mountain and Emory River study areas, respectively, based on dietary exposure of aquatic contaminants via riparian spiders. The identification of COPC at both study areas due to dietary spider exposure is notable not only because the spider exposure pathway has largely been uninvestigated at these sites but also because the aquatic systems in both areas have been studied extensively. Significant differences in MeHg concentrations were detected among spider taxa and suggest that the selection of spider taxa can impact risk characterization. These results indicate that the spider exposure pathway is important to consider when assessing potential risk, particularly for passerine birds. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020;39:2314-2324. © 2020 SETAC.

Metallic elements and oxides and their relevance to Laurentian Great Lakes geochemistry.

The Laurentian Great Lakes are the most studied system in lake geochemistry and have well-preserved chronological profiles. Metals play numerous critical roles in natural and anthropogenic characteristics of lake ecosystems, so patterns in the historical records of metals from sedimentary cores provide important information about environmental baselines and human impacts. Relevant studies of Great Lakes geochemistry are listed, and we follow with encyclopedic descriptions of metals and their oxides in the lakes. These descriptions include likely natural and anthropogenic sources of elements, their known history from previous paleoecological studies, and their status as potential contaminants of concern. Despite the well-studied geology of the Great Lakes catchment, sourcing elements was sometimes difficult due to materials often being moved long distances by glaciation and the global prevalence of atmospheric pollutants. We summarized available information on metals and their roles as geochemical indicators in the Great Lakes.

Impacts of Oil and Gas Production on Contaminant Levels in Sediments

Recent technological progresses have unlocked tremendous shale energy resources, leading to increased production of oil and gas and a variety of new environmental pollution issues in the United States. One such example is management of produced waters, which are often disposed of via deep well injection. Produced water injection has been linked to induced seismicity. Thus, there are strong incentives for alternative management strategies that come with new, uncertain environmental risks. This paper summarizes studies of sediment pollution due to oil and gas production. The goal is to highlight potential environmental risks associated with produced water management, including long-term contamination of sediments. Sediment contaminants from produced waters include organic and inorganic toxic compounds. Three different indicators have been developed for sediment pollution: the geoaccumulation index, pollution load index, and the enrichment factor. The main pollutants in sediments resulting from oil and gas production are heavy metals, salts, naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs), oil and grease (O&G), benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene (BTEX), total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs). These pollutants reach sediments and water resources via pipeline leaks, truck spills, improper waste disposal, and underground injection. Methods to decrease contaminant risks in sediments include surface capping, bioremediation, and phytoremediation. The shale oil and gas boom has exacerbated produced water management issues. As states consider regulation of treated produced waters, there is a strong need to consider potential contaminants of concern. Several case studies from the U.S., Middle East, Africa, Asia, and South America were used to assess levels of contamination around the world’s sediments in regions with high levels of oil and gas activity. Appropriate management of residual pollution from oil and gas operations should consider the nature of contaminants and sediments, the routes of contamination, the levels of contamination, the effect of contaminants on the sites, and methods for contaminant cleanup.

Chronic ammonia toxicity to juveniles of 2 tropical Australian freshwater mussels (Velesunio spp.): Toxicity test optimization and implications for water quality guideline values.

Freshwater mussels play key roles in aquatic ecosystems, but are experiencing a global decline. Although studies have reported high acute sensitivity of mussels to some contaminants, chronic toxicity data are lacking for deriving high-reliability water quality guideline values. Ammonia is a contaminant of potential concern in some catchments of tropical northern Australia, where freshwater mussels are important ecological and cultural components. The extremely soft waters (hardness < 5 mg/L) of these environments can result in increased toxicity of many contaminants including ammonia, and regionally relevant tropical guideline values are needed to adequately protect these unique ecosystems. An optimized 14-d toxicity test protocol was used to assess the chronic toxicity of ammonia for 2 species, the lotic Velesunio sp. and the lentic Velesunio angasi. Ammonia exposures were conducted at pH 6.0 and 27 ± 0.5 °C to represent local environmental conditions, using shell length growth rate as the endpoint. Chronic toxicity estimates indicated high sensitivity to ammonia, with mean median effect concentrations (in total ammonia nitrogen) being 7.0 mg/L for V. angasi from the semi-urbanized Lake Bennett, 9.2 mg/L for V. angasi from Sandy Billabong, and 11.3 mg/L for Velesunio sp. from Gulungul Creek. When the 10% effect concentration values were compared with other chronic ammonia data (normalized to pH 7.0 and 20 °C), Velesunio spp. were found to be more sensitive than 8 of 16 other temperate and 7 of 9 tropical invertebrate and fish species. These chronic toxicity estimates will be used to further inform regionally relevant and site-specific guideline values. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;38:841-851. © 2019 Commonwealth of Australia. Published by Wiley Periodicals Inc. on behalf of SETAC.

Metal concentrations in used engine oils: Relevance to site assessments of soils

ABSTRACTUsed engine oils contain metals, which upon entering soils may pose risks to human health or the environment. In this study, previously published concentrations of 23 metals in 213 used engine oil samples from the early 1970s to the mid-1990s are statistically evaluated. Neat (100%) used engine oils were found to contain relatively high concentrations of lead, calcium, and zinc, attributable to piston blow-by of leaded gasoline, calcium salt detergent additives, and zinc-bearing anti-corrosion/anti-oxidation additives, respectively. Wear metal concentrations were lower. The lead concentration in used engine oils in the U.S. declined between the 1970s and early 1990s, potentially providing a basis to constrain the “age” of used engine oil(s) in soils. The concentrations of 23 metals in used engine oils were compared to soil risk benchmarks in 15 representative jurisdictions in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and Europe. The maximum concentrations in neat (100%) used engine oil of eight metals – Be, Co, Fe, Mn, Ni, Se, Ag, and Ti – were lower than their collective minimum benchmarks in soils for the jurisdictions surveyed, indicating their concentrations in soils could not be reasonably expected to exceed any soil benchmarks. Nine metals (As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Sn, V and Zn), but particularly arsenic, cadmium, lead, tin, and zinc, were identified as potential contaminants of concern (PCOC) for soils from locations impacted with used engine oils, owing to their higher median concentrations (i.e., 2.5, 1.4, 1038, 5.0, and 922 mg/kg in oil, respectively) relative to most soil benchmarks. Site-specific benchmarks and metal concentrations at reasonable oil in soil concentrations require consideration when developing the suite of PCOC metal analytes for conducting site assessments of soils impacted by used engine oil.

Modelling the health risks of exposure to respirable crystalline silica from hydraulic fracturing operations in the USA shale plays

Respirable crystalline silica (RCS) is a known human carcinogen and a contaminant of potential concern. Proppants are used during the process of well stimulation (hydraulic fracturing) as additives in the fluid cocktail and sand is often used as a proppant which contains high percentage of silica determined by the quartz content. Empirical occupational exposure risk models were employed in this study to assess the potential health consequences from chronic RCS exposures based on RCS data from NIOSH and risk assessment formulas. Evaluating the lifetime (LT) excess cancer risk (LCR) potential, based on a risk target of 105, the job titles that are likely to experience any substantial potential effect of cancer induction are the sand mover (LCR = 16.1 × 105) and transfer belt (LCR = 19.2 × 105) operators. The sand truck driver and data Van operators are among the job functions with a cumulative disease burden of 7.2% that are unlikely to be affected by &lt; 2% carcinogenic disease burden. The chemical truck, sand mover and transfer belt (T-belt) operators may potentially be at risk of other occupational nonmalignant respiratory diseases with hazard quotient (HQ) of 0.65, 1.79, and 2.13 respectively. It is recommended that continuous occupational health monitoring of potentially exposed workers should be included as part of the project plan and the engineering risk controls that have been put in place should be ranked to highlight the effectiveness of any risk reduction/prevention methodology employed.

Trophic dynamics of U, Ni, Hg and other contaminants of potential concern on the Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site

The Department of Energy's Savannah River Site is a former nuclear weapon material production and current research facility located in South Carolina, USA. Wastewater discharges from a fuel and nuclear reactor target manufacturing facility released depleted and natural U, as well as other metals into the Tims Branch-Steed Pond water system. We investigated the current dynamics of this system for the purposes of environmental monitoring and assessment by examining metal concentrations, bioavailability, and trophic transfer of contaminants in seven ponds. Biofilm, detritus, and Anuran and Anisopteran larvae were collected and analyzed for stable isotopes (δ (15)N, δ (13)C) and contaminants of potential concern (COPC) with a focus on Ni, U, and Hg, to examine metal mobility. Highest levels of Ni and U were found in biofilms U (147 and 332mgkg(-1) DW, respectively), while highest Hg levels were found in tadpoles (1.1mgkg(-1) DW). We found intraspecific biomagnification of COPCs as expressed through stable isotope analysis. Biofilms were the best indicators for contamination and Anuran larvae with the digestive tract removed were the best indicators of the specific bioavailability of the focal metals. Monitoring data showed that baseline δ (15)N values differed between ponds, but within a pond, values were stable throughout tadpole Gosner stage, strengthening the case to use this species for monitoring purposes. It is likely that there still is risk to ecosystem integrity as COPC metals are being assimilated into lower trophic organisms and even low levels of this mixture has shown to produce deleterious effects to some wildlife species.

Prioritizing Contaminants of Potential Concern by Considering Compound Classes, Sources, and Treatment

Prioritizing Contaminants of Potential Concern by Considering Compound Classes, Sources, and Treatment

Is selenium a global contaminant of potential concern?

Selenium is not a new contaminant, but its environmental presence and significance are only now being evaluated. It has been and will continue to be "discovered" in a variety of water bodies generally due to improved analytical chemical detection limits. It has the potential to cause deleterious effects on aquatic life at environmentally relevant concentrations, and there is no definitive regulatory standard for chronic effects. The US Environmental Protection Agency (2004) has recognized the need for a tissue Guideline/criterion, but has not yet finalized such a value. A SETA Pellston Workshop (Pensacola, FL, USA, February 23-28, 2009) has determined the state-of-the-science related to ecological assessment of Se in the aquatic environment. The Workshop Executive Summary will shortly be forthcoming followed by a more detailed book published by SETAC Press. However, this workshop was constrained by the areas of the world (see above) where Se has been recognized as a contaminant of potential concern and for which information is available. Thus, by way of this Learned Discourse I solicit information from readers as to whether Se is present at concentrations of concern in other parts of the world than North America, Australia, and New Zealand and, if so, "So what?" (i. e., are there adverse effects to individuals and/or impacts to populations of fish, water birds, and/or amphibians?).

Applying Mental Models to Qualitative Risk Assessment at the Tar Creek Superfund Site

ABSTRACT Re-suspension of heavy metal residuals generated by former mining activities conducted at the Tar Creek Superfund site may result in exposures of nearby residents. Currently, remediation and mitigation activities include removal of yard soil containing high concentrations of heavy metals, removal of selected chat piles, and providing assistance for families with young children. Although these are important activities to reduce potential risks to Tar Creek residents, a qualitative assessment of the site that uses mental models identifies other potential contaminants of concern, transport, and exposure pathways that may require further investigation. Mental models structure judgments about hazards and risk by visually representing a contaminated site through the use of influence diagrams. A mental model was applied to the Mayer Ranch area of the Tar Creek Superfund site in Ottawa County, Oklahoma, to support a qualitative assessment of the health risks from heavy metals exposure. Documents were reviewed to develop influence diagrams illustrating the processes, interactions, and potential exposures that could subject a hypothetical individual recreating at Mayer Ranch to various health risks. The diagrams were modified to reflect expert judgments. The mental model includes four influence diagrams: source term, fate, and transport processes that may influence human health risks due to exposure to heavy metals; natural wetland processes that could remove heavy metals; net alkaline constructed wetland processes that could remove heavy metals; and potential future impacts from the removal of sediment and land development that could increase risk. Policies, regulations, and technologies that could most reduce the probability of exposures can be determined and evaluated by focusing on the environmental transport pathways and contaminants that pose the greatest potential risks and determining the difference between the risks. Also evident are the knowledge gaps with respect to the processes within wetlands.

Applications of Numerical Sediment Quality Targets for Assessing Sediment Quality Conditions in a US Great Lakes Area of Concern

Contaminated sediments are receiving increasing recognition around the world, leading to the development of various sediment quality indicators for assessment, management, remediation, and restoration efforts. Sediment chemistry represents an important indicator of ecosystem health, with the concentrations of contaminants of potential concern (COPCs) providing measurable characteristics for this indicator. The St. Louis River Area of Concern (AOC), located in the western arm of Lake Superior, provides a case study for how numerical sediment quality targets (SQTs) for the protection of sediment-dwelling organisms can be used to support the interpretation of sediment chemistry data. Two types of SQTs have been established for 33 COPCs in the St. Louis River AOC. The Level I SQTs define the concentrations of contaminants below which sediment toxicity is unlikely to occur, whereas the Level II SQTs represent the concentrations that, if exceeded, are likely to be associated with sediment toxicity. The numerical SQTs provide useful tools for making sediment management decisions, especially when considered as part of a weight-of-evidence approach that includes other sediment quality indicators, such as sediment contaminant chemistry and geochemical characteristics, sediment toxicity, and benthic macroinvertebrate community structure. The recommended applications of using the numerical SQTs in the St. Louis River AOC include: designing monitoring programs, interpreting sediment chemistry data, conducting ecological risk assessments, and developing site-specific sediment quality remediation targets for small, simple sites where adverse biological effects are likely. Other jurisdictions may benefit from using these recommended applications in their own sediment quality programs.

Organochlorine pesticides in elementary school yards along the Texas–Mexico border

A reconnaissance study was undertaken to determine potential contaminant exposures to children through soil from elementary school playgrounds. Soil samples were collected from areas along the Texas–Mexico border, inland areas (soils from elementary school yards in cities/towns within the state of Texas), and three National Parks (one on the border, one in Tennessee, and one in Washington). The present study focused on organochlorine (OC) pesticides as the potential contaminants of concern because of their historical (and possibly current) use, and their importance as persistent organic pollutants (POPs). DDE and heptachlor were the most frequently detected OCs (69 and 63%, respectively), although heptachlor concentrations in soil never exceeded 5 ppb. Relatively higher concentrations of DDE were observed in agricultural areas along the border (50–60 ppb in soils from McAllen, Palmview, and San Benito) than in other soils. However, a school yard in Lubbock, TX had the highest OC concentration observed (70 ppb dieldrin). These results may be due to historical agriculture activity prior to the banning of OC pesticides such as DDT in the early 1970s, as well as the more recent use of DDT in Central and South America for malaria control.

Initial Development and Evaluation of a Sediment Quality Index for the Great Lakes Region

A sediment quality index (SQI) based on the Canadian Water Quality Index was developed and applied to the assessment of sediment quality in two Great Lakes Areas Of Concern where metals are the primary contaminants of potential concern, Peninsula Harbour (Lake Superior) and Collingwood Harbour (Lake Huron). The SQI was calculated according to an equation incorporating two elements; scope—the number of variables that do not meet guideline objectives; and, amplitude—the magnitude by which variables exceed guideline objectives. Categorizations of sediment quality were developed based on SQI scores. The robustness of the SQI was evaluated through comparison of the relative rankings of sediment quality in the two test areas with results obtained from principle components analysis (PCA) incorporating reference sites, and calculations of hazard quotients (HQs). Trends and rankings in sediment quality determined by the SQI were similar to those calculated using PCA at both test areas. The HQs also appeared to be good indicators of sediment quality. Both the SQI and HQ methods are based on existing Sediment Quality Guidelines, but the SQI had the added benefit of allowing straightforward integration of multiple contaminants. The SQI and PCA analyses appeared complementary in that the SQI incorporated information on the number of variables exceeding guideline values and the degree to which these guidelines were exceeded. The PCA allowed a simple check of the SQI by relating test conditions to regional background. It is recommended that this analysis be performed concurrently with SQI to ensure that non-anthropogenic sources of contaminants (metals in this case) are not considered as representing an anthropogenic hazard.

Human health risk assessment case study: an abandoned metal smelter site in Poland

United States Environmental Protection Agency methodologies for human health risk assessment (HRA) were applied in a Brownfields Demonstration Project on the Warynski smelter site (WSS), an abandoned industrial site at Piekary Slaskie town, Upper Silesia, Poland. The HRA included the baseline risk assessment (BRA) and the development of risk-based preliminary remedial goals (RBPRGs). The HRA focused on surface area covered with waste materials, which were evaluated with regard to the potential risks they may pose to humans. Cadmium, copper, iron, manganese, lead, and zinc were proposed as the contaminants of potential concern (COPCs) at WSS based on archive data on chemical composition of waste located on WSS. For the defined future land use patterns, the industrial (I) and recreational (II) exposure scenarios were assumed and evaluated. The combined hazard index for all COPCs was 3.1E+00 for Scenario I and 3.2E+00 for Scenario II. Regarding potential carcinogenic risks associated with the inhalation route, only cadmium was a contributor, with risks of 1.6E−06 and 2.6E−07 for Scenario I and Scenario II, respectively. The results of the BRA indicated that the potential health risks at WSS were mainly associated with waste material exposure to cadmium (industrial and recreational scenarios) and lead (industrial scenario). RBPRGs calculated under the industrial scenario were 1.17E+03 and 1.62E+03 mg/kg for cadmium and lead, respectively. The RBPRG for cadmium was 1.18E+03 mg/kg under the recreational scenario. The BRA results, as well as RBCs, are comparable for both scenarios, so it is impossible to prioritize land use patterns for WSS based on these results. For choosing a future land use pattern or an appropriate redevelopment option, different factors would be decisive in the decision-making process, e.g., social, market needs, technical feasibility and costs of redevelopment actions or acceptance of local community.