Hazardous Chemical Sites Research Articles

Study on the Military Environmental Information Management with GIS

The application of GIS technology to Military Environmental Information(MEI) management will play a vital role in MEI management, and can lead to better decision-making. This paper discusses both the management method and the application fields. Case studies, like information management, pollution coverage evaluating, military transportation planning and monitoring, and decision-making supporting, are presented in this paper. Detailed digital basemap database, Digital Elevation Model(DEM) data, Digital OrthoImage Model(DOM) data, image database of Remote Sensing, Social economic element database, and other informations related to military features, can be integrated into MEI GIS, and will meet the needs for later query and statistics. Spatial analysis is the bridge that links fundamental data models to GIS technology. While buffer analysis can be used for identifying the locations of hazardous chemical storage sites in relation to residents living area, and can facilitate the evaluation of the threatened area in the event of a leak or spill of hazardous materials. Network analysis can be used in military transportation planning and monitoring. GIS is particularly useful in providing composite visual representation of fairly complex underlying model calculations, analysts can draw implicit and important conclusion from the already known geographical data. The study shows that the management of MEI using GIS technology is reasonable and feasible, and GIS is a highly efficient tool in MEI management.

Issues in monitoring hazardous chemicals in stormwater runoff/discharges from superfund and other hazardous chemical sites

AbstractDeficiencies in design and execution render stormwater‐runoff monitoring programs for many hazardous chemical sites inadequate for assessing the potential environmental quality and public health impacts of chemicals in the runoff. Two pervasive problems are the use of analytical methods that are inadequate for measuring certain hazardous chemicals at potentially hazardous concentrations, and the application of “criteria/standards” that are inappropriate for evaluating the environmental/public health impacts of chemicals. These concerns are most notable for carcinogens and chemicals that bioaccumulate in edible aquatic organisms, including arsenic, chromium, beryllium, mercury, dioxins, organochlorine pesticides (such as DDT), and polychlorinated biphenyls; unrecognized pollutants; and nanomaterials. In order to appropriately evaluate whether the runoff/discharge from a hazardous chemical site is a threat to human health, the analytical methods must be sufficiently sensitive in critical concentration ranges; sampling regimens need to be sufficiently rigorous to provide reliable characterization of the content of the runoff, receiving water, and, for bioaccumulatable chemicals, levels in edible organisms in receiving water. Proper sampling and analysis will then provide data to enable the appropriate criteria/standards to be applied. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Moderating effect of forest cover on the effect of proximity to chemical facilities on property values

Numerous studies on housing markets indicate that neighborhood amenities such as trees and open space increase property values while the presence of hazardous facilities, pollution and flooding risks decreases housing prices. However, previous studies have focused on the direct impacts of neighborhood characteristics on housing prices using the Hedonic Price Model (HPM). Potential interactive relationships among neighborhood characteristics have not been clearly tested. This study examines direct impacts of urban forest on property values and indirect impact on the relationship between Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) chemical facilities and tax base property values in Tarrant County, Texas. Distance to hazardous chemical sites and the amount of foliage coverage within neighborhoods are measured using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and regressed to tax base property values. To test the indirect impact of trees coverage on the relationship between TRI sites and property values, the moderation model is examined with more foliage coverage (MF) parcels and less foliage coverage (LF) parcels. The empirical result of this study confirms the findings of previous studies suggesting negative influences of hazardous facilities, and positive effects from trees on housing prices. Furthermore, this study uncovers that amount of tree coverage within a neighborhood have an indirect impact on housing values. Specifically, trees in neighborhood environments significantly reduce the negative influence of distance to TRI hazardous chemical facilities. Negative influences of TRI hazardous chemical facilities appear not to be significant in many-treed neighborhoods while hazardous chemical facilities show negative influences on housing values in neighborhoods less-covered by trees.

Superfund site remediation by landfilling—overview of landfill design, operation, closure, and postclosure issues

AbstractThis article discusses the appropriateness of using landfills as part of remediating hazardous chemical and Superfund sites, with particular emphasis on providing for true long‐term public health and environmental protection from the wastes and contaminated soils that are placed in the landfills. On‐site landfilling or capping of existing wastes is typically the least expensive approach for gaining some remediation of existing hazardous chemical/Superfund sites. The issues of the deficiencies in US EPA and state landfilling approaches discussed herein are also applicable to the landfilling of municipal and industrial solid “nonhazardous” wastes. These deficiencies were presented in part as “Problems with Landfills for Superfund Site Remediation” at the US EPA National Superfund Technical Assistance Grant Workshop held in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in February 2003. They are based on the author's experience in investigating the properties of landfill liners and the characteristics of today's landfills, relative to their ability to prevent groundwater pollution and to cause other environmental impacts. Discussed are issues related to both solid and hazardous waste landfills and approaches for improving the ability of landfills to contain wastes and monitor for leachate escape from the landfill for as long as the wastes in the landfill will be a threat. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Improving public health and environmental protection resulting from Superfund site investigation/remediation

AbstractA discussion of some of the deficiencies of Superfund and hazardous chemical site investigation and remediation is presented. Of concern is the adequacy of defining the constituents of concern; stormwater‐runoff monitoring; evaluating excessive bioaccumulation of hazardous chemicals in edible organisms; the extent and degree of groundwater pollution; modeling of pollutant transport in the vadose zone; translocation of subsurface pollutants to surface via plant roots, leaves, and flowers; protection of groundwater quality for nonpriority pollutants that impact aesthetic quality; and deficiencies in the quality of site data reports. Examples of these types of problems are discussed with suggestions on the approach that should be followed to improve the quality of site investigation and remediation. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Evaluation of surface water quality impacts of hazardous chemical sites

AbstractCommon deficiencies in the typical evaluation of the surface water quality impacts of hazardous chemical sites are discussed. Particular attention is given to deficiencies in monitoring stormwater runoff, as well as the input of contaminated groundwaters that lead to impairment of the beneficial uses of nearby surface waters because of site‐derived hazardous and deleterious chemicals. An alternative approach, Evaluation Monitoring, is presented in this paper. Evaluation Monitoring shifts the monitoring program from periodic sampling and analysis of stormwater runoff and ambient waters for a suite of chemical parameters, to examining the receiving waters to determine what, if any, water quality use impairments are occurring in surface waters due to the runoff‐associated constituents and shallow groundwater input.

Hazardous chemical site remediation through capping: Problems with long‐term protection

AbstractThe capping of waste management units and contaminated soils is receiving increasing attention as a low‐cost method for hazardous chemical site remediation. Capping is used to prevent further groundwater pollution by existing waste management units and contaminated soils through limiting the moisture that enters the wastes. In principle, for wastes located above the water table, the construction of an impermeable cap can prevent leaching of the wastes (leachate generation) and groundwater pollution. In practice, appropriately designed and constructed RCRA caps can provide for only short‐term prevention of groundwater pollution. Alternative approaches are available for capping of wastes that can be effective in preventing moisture from entering the wastes and concomitant groundwater pollution. These approaches recognize the inability of the typical RCRA cap to keep wastes dry for as long as waste constituents will be a threat and, most importantly, provide the necessary funds to effectively address all plausible worst‐case scenario failures that could occur at a capped waste management unit or contaminated soil area.

Assessment of reproductive disorders and birth defects in communities near hazardous chemical sites. I. birth defects and developmental disorders

Members of the workgroup on birth defects and developmental disorders discussed methods to assess structural anomalies, genetic changes and mutations, fetal and infant mortality, functional deficits, and impaired fetal and neonatal growth. Tier 1 assessments for all five adverse reproductive outcomes consist of questionnaires and reviews of medical records rather than laboratory testing of biologic specimens. The workgroup members noted a role for neurodevelopmental testing and for limited genetic studies, such as karyotyping in Tier 2 assessments. Emerging methodologies to identify chromosomal aberrations, DNA adducts, and repair inhibition were reserved for Tier 3.

Assessment of reproductive disorders and birth defects in communities near hazardous chemical sites: Introduction

Assessment of reproductive disorders and birth defects in communities near hazardous chemical sites: Introduction

Assessment of reproductive disorders and birth defects in communities near hazardous chemical sites. III. Guidelines for field studies of male reproductive disorders

Exposures to environmental toxicants can have detrimental effects on several aspects of human male reproduction: fertility, sexual function, hormone status, and pregnancy/birth outcomes. However, no simple prescreening methods are available for reliably identifying potential hazards; questionnaires alone are relatively imprecise and inefficient in the absence of field data. Multidisciplinary field studies are required that include detailed exposure information, health and reproductive histories, physical examinations, semen analyses, and possibly, hormone analyses. Semen analysis is a critical component of field studies for evaluating two aspects of male reproduction: 1) changes in sperm or seminal content, which may be indicative of adverse effects on the male reproductive system with possible implications for fertility potential; and 2) defects in sperm DNA or chromosomes, which may be associated with subsequent changes in viability during embryonic development and health risks to the offspring. Semen analyses may be tiered: 1) initially, each semen study may include conventional semen assays (concentration, motility, and morphology) as well as specific biomarkers indicated by the health effect of concern in the study cohort; and 2) archived samples (i.e., frozen, videotaped, or smeared) may be utilized in later second-tier analyses to further characterize specific findings. Before initiating any field study, it is cost effective to critically evaluate the suitability of the cohort by confirming exposure and determining that there are adequate numbers of male participants in each exposure category. Such evaluations must be based on the statistical sensitivities of the specific tissue biomarkers and health endpoints for detecting changes. This article summarizes the components of the ideal field study and identifies research needs for improving field studies of male effects and for understanding the mechanisms of male reproductive toxicity. Several promising semen methods currently under development are also discussed.

Assessment of reproductive disorders and birth defects in communities near hazardous chemical sites. II. Female reproductive disorders

Members of the workgroup on female reproductive disorders discussed methods to evaluate five principal functions: menstrual dysfunction, infertility, pregnancy loss, lactation disorders, and pregnancy complications. To test each function, a nested strategy was considered, based on progressive levels of effort available to conduct field investigations. This strategy was analogous to the three-tier classification of biomarkers used by other workshops. The lowest level of effort, corresponding to Tier 1, consists only of questionnaires, diaries, and reviews of maternal and infant medical records. The medium level of effort (Tier 2) collects data from questionnaires and diaries, and some biologic specimens. Suggested laboratory analyses included measurement of progesterone in saliva and several glycoprotein hormones in urine that evaluate menstrual dysfunction, infertility, and pregnancy loss. The highest level of effort (Tier 3) involves prospective collection of diary information and simultaneous collection of biological specimens.

Earnings Management of Chemical Firms in Response to Political Costs from Environmental Legislation

This paper examines the earnings management of chemical firms at the end of 1979 when Congress was considering legislation leading to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Recovery Act of 1980. This legislation gave the U.S. government the authority to remediate hazardous chemical waste sites and set up a Superfund, funded largely by the chemical industry, to cover cleanup costs. Unlike prior studies that use single, often crude, measures of political costs, we employ seven different measures of the firms' exposure to costs arising from Superfund. Additionally, using factor analysis, we construct a composite measure of political costs. There is some evidence from time-series tests that chemical firms took income-decreasing accruals in 1979 at the height of the Superfund debate but, as expected, they did not in the prior or preceding year. Cross-sectional tests show that the size of the earnings response is correlated negatively with four of the seven individual proxies for political costs. Also, the common factor for political cost is related significantly to the earnings response. Overall, the evidence is consistent with the political cost hypothesis.

Model on-site emergency plan. Case study: Toxic gas release from an ammonia storage terminal

Worldwide discussion of disaster management plans to cope with catastrophic injury to people and environmental destruction due to accidents in the chemical process industry was initiated after major chemically caused disasters at Seveso, Flixborough and Bhopal. An emergency plan is a formal written plan based on identified potential accidents together with their consequences. This plan describes how such accidents and their consequences should be handled both on- and off-site. The main aim of the plan is to limit the negative effects of an accident by being prepared with a plan and facilities ready to react without delay. The primary responsibility of the management of a hazardous chemical site is the prevention of accidents resulting in harm to human health, the environment or property. Thus, the plan for handling emergencies should describe all available help from the local professionals as well as governmental officials in order to supplement the company's own manpower. If a real emergency occurs and the personnel available do not have a well prepared written plan, the results could be far more serious than they would have been if a plan had been available. This paper provides an overview of release scenarios and affects area, response, organization, communications system, key personnel with specified responsibilities, work emergency procedures, emergency control centre, education and training, testing the plan/mock drill, performance review/observation and finalization.

Research Program for Neurotoxic Disorders and Other Adverse Health Outcomes at Hazardous Chemical Sites in the United States of America

Research Program for Neurotoxic Disorders and Other Adverse Health Outcomes at Hazardous Chemical Sites in the United States of America

The health effects of chemical waste in an urban community

This paper presents the results of a community health survey of people living near a hazardous chemical waste site in Kingston, Queensland. In comparison with a matched control group, people near the site were no more likely to report serious diseases, and reports of cancer and mortality rates did not differ in the two groups. Kingston residents reported higher rates of symptoms of general poor health, high levels of stress and anxiety and a higher incidence of miscarriages. The reports of poor physical health appear to be independent of proximity to the hazardous waste site and duration of residence in the area. Symptom prevalence and perceived recent decline in health correlate most strongly with the stress and anxiety measures. While long-term investigation is necessary, it appears at this stage that the chemical waste is not associated with an increase in major diseases as reported by those who were interviewed. When health in a broader sense is considered, however, it is clear that the situation has had a negative impact.

X-Ray Radiographic Investigation of Perchloroethylene Migration at the Livingston Derailment Site

Abstract X-ray radiography of soil cores was used as the primary test method to determine the reasons for the permeation of perchloroethylene into apparently impermeable clay layers at a hazardous chemical spill site. X-ray powder diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy, and chemical analysis were also performed to characterize the materials and structures observed in the soil cores through X radiography and to verify the presence or absence of perchloroethylene. X-ray radiography proved to be an invaluable tool in the examination of the soil structure and in the solution of the problem. Results showed the presence of a three-dimensional network of iron-lined fissures, concretions, and roots in otherwise low permeability clay. These conduits were responsible for the rapid permeation of the perchloroethylene.

Congress acting on hazardous waste bills

For the past several weeks Congress has been scurrying to meet its May 15 budget deadline, extended this year to noon Saturday, May 16, for reporting fiscal 1981 authorization bills. But it also found time for a number of bills dealing with hazardous wastes, both nuclear and chemical. For example, the Senate subcommittees on Environmental Pollution and Resource Protection broke a week-long deadlock late last month and approved for full committee action a bill, S. 1480, creating an $800 million superfund to pay for cleanup of hazardous chemical spills and hazardous waste dump sites. The bill provides for federal cleanup of releases from hazardous waste dump sites; sudden, episodic releases of chemicals into the environment, as from a truck or rail accident; and of any release that causes an imminent hazard to public health. The fund would be financed by fees in the amount of $700 million on petrochemical feedstocks, crude oil, and inorganic chemicals. ...