Need For Remedial Action Research Articles

The consumer behavior in the context of counterfeit products: A bibliometric analysis

This article aims to identify the main areas of works devoted to the topic of counterfeit goods/brands consumption and to present the dynamics of changes in researchers’ interest in this subject. The research method used in the article was bibliometric analysis, complemented by content analysis of literature selected from the Scopus database. Research results: The main areas of research on the issue of counterfeit product consumption focused on 1) online consumer behavior and ethical aspects, 2) consumption of counterfeit products and brands, and 3) social aspects of consumption of counterfeit products. The earliest publications focus on purchasing behavior in the context of buying counterfeit products, followed by researchers who have focused on the ethical aspects of consuming counterfeit goods. More recent studies focus on the consumption and trade of counterfeit goods on the Internet. Conclusions: The ever-expanding global trade in counterfeit products poses a major challenge — it erodes business revenue, undermines innovation, and hampers economic growth. To effectively mitigate these phenomena, it is essential to have up-to-date knowledge of the latest scientific advances in the field. Research into the buyer behavior in the context of counterfeit goods can provide useful information for manufacturers about the scale of the problem and the possible need for remedial action.

Duży problem z cienką linią – linia zabudowy w planach zagospodarowania przestrzennego największych miast Małopolski

The building line designated in local land development plan is one of the important instruments for shaping urban space and the creation of spatial order. The aim of the study is to analyze the potential and real influence of this instrument on the formation of the compositional values of space. The analysis covered land development plans of the 3 largest cities in Lesser Poland. The analysis included the methods of defining the building lines and determining their course, including in relation to the rules of property division established by the plan. The results of the study illustrate the immense liberalism in the use of the analyzed instrument and marginalization of its importance in shaping urban space. The study also indicates the need for remedial actions and attempts to indicate them.

Investigating the effect of Eh and pH on binding forms of Co, Cu, and Pb in wetland sediments from Zambia.

This study investigated binding forms of cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), and lead (Pb) in 28 sediment samples from inlet to outlet of three Zambian wetlands receiving mining effluents. Use was made of a modified Tessier metal binding fractions procedure. Due to storage artefacts, the original aim of investigating the effects of redox potential (Eh) changes, starting from extremely low Eh, was suspended. Instead, use was made of the new, not often explored opportunity for replicate sample division into three categories of varying redox potential and pH. Additionally, in line with the original research aim, two sediments from each wetland were investigated for their response to increasing Eh. The results showed overall high trace metal contents, with a need for remedial actions for Co and Cu in the first, Cu in the second, and Pb in the third wetland. Rather independent of Eh and pH, Co was often found in the residual fraction (F5), as well as in the oxidizable (F4) and reducible (F3) fraction. Cu was generally dominant in F5 and F4 fractions, with low F3 prevalence, indicating a high organic matter affinity. Pb distribution among binding forms showed small variations within and across wetlands, F5, F4, and F3 fractions dominating. In the above observations, statistical analysis showed that, among the 28 sediment samples across wetlands, the influence of Eh and pH on binding forms were generally found to be not significant, being 'overruled' by other sedimentological factors. With increasing Eh, the decrease in the oxidizable (F4) fraction was smaller than expected in eight of 18 tests. The Risk Assessment Code (RAC) method, based on the exchangeable fraction (F1) plus carbonate fraction (F2), showed that some sediments turned from "unsafe" to "safe," and vice versa, with increasing Eh. The "total metals method" does not show bioavailability, whereas RAC does not use the metal contents. Thus, the two methods should be used together to improve the prediction of potential toxicity.

Groundwater quality index assessment at Raebareli district: A part of Indo‐Gangetic Alluvium, India

The present study highlights the water quality of groundwater and associated health risks with the consumption in various parts of district Raebareli. The water quality at 16% of the total sampling sites was found to be under the ‘highly polluted’ category with high values of Total Hazard Index (THI). The values of fluoride exceeded the permissible limits at44% of the sites. A good correlation of fluoride with WPI and magnesium was seen in the study, with the impact of mild weathering of biotite as a potential cause. The severe health risks found in the study area raise an urgent need for remedial actions and authoritarian interventions.

Assessment of groundwater vulnerability using integrated remote sensing and GIS techniques for the West Bengal coast, India

Groundwater in the coastal districts of West Bengal, India is highly susceptible to various factors such as over-pumping, variations in rainfall, lower elevation and risk due to sea level rise. In addition to these factors, tropical cyclone induced storm surge and saltwater intrusion also induce potential risks to the quality of the coastal aquifers. There are several knowledge gaps, as many of these factors have not previously been systematically and rigorously analysed; furthermore, up-to-date information is either unavailable or insufficient. Accordingly, the present study analysed the groundwater vulnerability during the pre- and post-monsoon months for the period from 2001 to 2010 at three main coastal districts of West Bengal: East Midnapore, South 24 Parganas and North 24 Parganas (administrative regions). The GALDIT index-based model was employed to assess salt-water intrusion into the groundwater using Geographic Information System (GIS). Spatial distribution maps were also generated to identify highly vulnerable groundwater locations. Map removal and single parameter sensitivity analyses were performed to understand the sensitivity of the parameters. The study reveals that the depth of ground-water levels for the three districts increased and also the rainfall exerts a significant effect on the groundwater depth. The chemical constituents TDS and chloride contents in groundwater during the period 2004 to 2010 were analysed. The average TDS range values for pre- and post-monsoon seasons were observed to vary in the range between 100 and 3874 mg/l and 83–1929 mg/l respectively. Reports indicate that, groundwater in the area is highly saturated with iron containing minerals like Fe(OH)3, goethite, and hematite and is also moderately saturated with the calcite, chalcedony, dolomite and quartz, whereas under-saturated with anhydrite and gypsum. The implications of the research points to the urgent need for remedial action and appropriate responses at policy-level to protect groundwater.

Risk assessment implications of site-specific oral relative bioavailability factors and dermal absorption fractions for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface soils impacted by clay skeet target fragments

Risk assessment conclusions for a site may differ when using site-specific versus default values for the relative bioavailability factor (RBAF) and dermal absorption fraction (ABS.d), because these inputs affect both surface soil screening levels and risk/hazard estimates. Indeed, our case study demonstrates that different conclusions may be reached as to regulatory need for remedial action to protect human health when evaluating soil sampling data for seven carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) using site-specific versus default TCEQ and USEPA residential soil screening levels. Use of site-specific RBAF and ABS.d values increased carcinogenicity-based TCEQ and USEPA surface soil screening levels for PAHs by 4.4- and 6-fold on average, respectively. Soil screening levels for PAHs were more sensitive to changes in ingestion exposure route parameters than to changes in dermal exposure route parameters. Accordingly, site-specific RBAF and ABS.d information has important implications for screening chemicals at PAH-impacted sites, and in addition provides more realistic estimates of risks/hazards posed by PAHs in soil with reduced uncertainty compared to estimates based on default RBAF and ABS.d values. Although default values are generally deemed acceptable by regulatory agencies, use of risk/hazard estimates based on these default values may compel insufficiently justified remedial action in some instances.

Bioethical Issues in Biostatistical Consulting Study: Additional Findings and Concerns.

To determine the frequency and severity of 17 requests for inappropriate analysis and reporting of data that biostatisticians received from researchers in statistical consultations, as indirectly experienced (i.e., either heard about or observed being asked of other biostatisticians). A randomly drawn sample of 522 members of the American Statistical Association who self-identified as consulting biostatisticians were selected to participate in an online survey with the Bioethical Issues in Biostatistical Consulting Questionnaire, specifically developed for this study. Of the 522 consulting biostatisticians contacted, 390 (74.7%) completed the survey. The top 4 most frequently reported indirectly experienced inappropriate requests rated as "high severity" by at least 50% of the respondents were as follows: 1) proposing a study with a flawed design, including insufficient power; 2) setting aside values when the outcome turns on a few outliers; 3) reporting results of data analysis from only subsets of the data; and 4) overstating the statistical findings well beyond what the data support so that readers are misled. This article is a follow-up report to our recently published article on 18 directly experienced inappropriate and/or unethical requests by biomedical researchers of their consulting biostatisticians. These additional survey findings from the Bioethical Issues in Biostatistical Consulting Questionnaire on 17 indirectly experienced inappropriate requests show the following: 1) the widespread nature of inappropriate, if not, frankly unethical requests made by biomedical researchers of their consulting biostatisticians and 2) the urgent need to develop and offer educational programs for biomedical researchers in training to correct these behaviors-be they intentional or accidental. This report speaks to the urgency for developing training programs for new and existing researchers to reduce the frequency of these inappropriate bioethical requests during biostatistical consultations. The findings from this U.S. national survey of biostatisticians on inappropriate requests for data analyses by biomedical researchers strongly suggest a need for remedial actions, including 1) new educational modules for in-development and currently employed biomedical researchers, 2) improved institutional environments by research universities and companies regarding job and publication pressures, and 3) inclusion of a collaborating biostatistician as a working research team member from the early planning stages of all biomedical studies.

Asthma exacerbation prediction: recent insights.

Asthma attacks are frequent in children with asthma and can lead to significant adverse outcomes including time off school, hospital admission and death. Identifying children at risk of an asthma attack affords the opportunity to prevent attacks and improve outcomes. Clinical features, patient behaviours and characteristics, physiological factors, environmental data and biomarkers are all associated with asthma attacks and can be used in asthma exacerbation prediction models. Recent studies have better characterized children at risk of an attack: history of a severe exacerbation in the previous 12 months, poor adherence and current poor control are important features which should alert healthcare professionals to the need for remedial action. There is increasing interest in the use of biomarkers. A number of novel biomarkers, including patterns of volatile organic compounds in exhaled breath, show promise. Biomarkers are likely to be of greatest utility if measured frequently and combined with other measures. To date, most prediction models are based on epidemiological data and population-based risk. The use of digital technology affords the opportunity to collect large amounts of real-time data, including clinical and physiological measurements and combine these with environmental data to develop personal risk scores. These developments need to be matched by changes in clinical guidelines away from a focus on current asthma control and stepwise escalation in drug therapy towards inclusion of personal risk scores and tailored management strategies including nonpharmacological approaches. There have been significant steps towards personalized prediction models of asthma attacks. The utility of such models needs to be tested in the ability not only to predict attacks but also to reduce them.

Karst-specific composite model for informed resource management decisions on the Biosfera de la Reserva Selva el Ocote, Chiapas, Mexico

Abstract High permeability and rapid recharge in karst aquifers make them susceptible to contamination. We combined a groundwater vulnerability map with an environmental disturbance index to give an adaptable spatial tool for developing management strategies for a karst environment in the Reserva de la Biosfera Selva el Ocote (el Ocote), Chiapas, Mexico. Seventy-two per cent of the study area is classified as an area of least concern for management, with 60% falling within el Ocote. Consequently, although there are concerns regarding the vulnerability of the karst ecosystem, the lack of development and the natural protection of the ecosystem, the immediate need for remedial action by the area's managers is currently minimal. About 27% of the study area is classified by the composite model as of moderate concern, with 34% within el Ocote. This reflects a balance between areas of moderate and high vulnerability, but little disturbance. Based on the management zones created by this study, much of the sub-catchment is zoned as of least or moderate concern, where disturbance has not occurred. As such, the opportunity exists to prevent major human impacts on vulnerable areas and the entire ecosystem, but only if local stakeholders are incorporated into this process of limiting development.

Analysis of trichloroethene vapour in soil-gas samples using solid-sorbent tubes with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.

A sampling method for the determination of chlorinated contaminant vapor concentrations present in the vadose zone, specifically TCE, has been developed, and was applied at the Tucson International Airport Authority (TIAA) Superfund site. The method, modified from the NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods (NMAM) # 1022 for ambient-air sampling of TCE, is targeted to situations requiring cost effective sample collection, particularly for cases when concentrations are at or below maximum contaminant levels (MCLs). In the modified NIOSH method, TCE vapor is sampled using a solid sorbent tube. Gas Chromatography with Mass Spectrometry is used to confirm and quantify the presence of TCE. The results of laboratory tests demonstrate a maximum TCE vapor load of approximately 22 mg before breakthrough to the secondary sorbent tube section, and an extraction efficiency of approximately 97%. The results of a performance comparison test conducted in the field demonstrated that concentrations obtained with the sorbent tube samplers (~5 ug/L) were similar to those obtained with the use of standard Summa canisters (~3 ug/L). The quantitative detection limit for the new method was 0.03 ug/L under the operative conditions, a significant improvement to current regulatory analytical methods. The results indicate that use of the sorbent tube method will be effective for vapor sample collection at VOC-contaminated sites, particularly in characterizing low concentrations.

Iron amendments to reduce bioaccessible arsenic

Former sugarcane lands on the Island of Hawaii have elevated levels of soil arsenic (As) from historical use of arsenical pesticides. The bioaccessible fraction of total As (AsTOT), a measure of the potential for human As uptake by incidental ingestion of soil, is used in the assessment of human health risk and the determination of the need for remedial action. Ferric chloride plus lime and ferrous sulfate plus lime were applied to As-contaminated soils in a field plot setting to determine the potential for reducing in vitro bioaccessible As (AsIVBA) by increasing As sequestration by the formation of additional iron (Fe) oxyhydroxides. The two Fe sources performed similarly in reducing AsIVBA over a 2-year observation period, with 30–41% reduction in AsIVBA for 0.25wt% Fe dosing (dry soil basis) and 59–63% reduction for 0.5wt% Fe dosing. Addition of phosphate (PO4) to treated and untreated soils caused a significant increase in AsIVBA. Iron-treated and control soils showed more than twice the AsIVBA after the addition of 1500mgPkg−1. The cost of in situ treatment of As-contaminated soil with ferrous sulfate plus lime to lower AsIVBA was estimated to be an order of magnitude less than excavation and landfill disposal on the Island of Hawaii, making the technology a viable alternative when remedial action objectives were based on AsIVBA levels.

Identifying macro-environmental critical success factors and key areas for improvement to promote public-private partnerships in infrastructure

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify macro-environmental critical success factors (CSFs) and key areas for improvement for public-private partnerships (PPP) in infrastructure development, using Indonesia as a case study. Design/methodology/approach – The methodology includes the definition of CSFs based on the United Nations for Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific's self-assessment diagnostic tool and a survey on importance and performance attributes, the application of gap analysis (GA) and importance-performance analysis to prioritize areas needing urgent improvements, and the use of inter-rater agreement analysis to examine to what extent the ratings tend to converge on the same conclusions regarding importance and performance. Findings – Out of 40 possible success factors, a total of 16 are identified as CSFs in the context of Indonesia. GA suggests that no performance ratings exceed importance ratings for the identified CSFs, indicating the need for remedial actions. The factors requiring immediate improvements are all associated with commitments: to policy continuity, financial transparency, and corruption eradication. Practical implications – Although the paper discussing a specific country, the proposed approach is replicable and adaptable in different country contexts. Indonesia's experience can also be of value to governments facing similar problems in encouraging private investment in infrastructure. Originality/value – The paper contributes to the body of knowledge on PPP in infrastructure development by focussing exclusively on macro-environmental CSFs and Indonesia's PPPs, which are both rarely discussed in the existing literature.

Biological monitoring guidance values for chemical incidents

Biological monitoring is a useful tool to assess occupational and environmental exposure following a wide range of chemical incidents. Guidance values are available from international organisations to help interpret the result of biological monitoring. In addition, guidance values based on the 90th percentile of biological monitoring data obtained under conditions of good exposure control may help identify lapses in control and the need for remedial action to improve controls and reduce risk. In all cases interpretation of biomonitoring results following incidents needs care and in particular reference to the time of sample collection and basis of the guidance values. Biomonitoring guidance values specifically derived for chemical incident scenarios are not available but would be of great help to interpret biological monitoring results.

Combating educational disadvantage through early years and primary school investment

In 1965, following a review of second-level education in Ireland, the report Investment in Education was published. While a concern with educational inequality and disadvantage pre-dates this report, it clearly identified the significant socio-economic disparities in educational participation at the time and emphasised an urgent need for remedial action. However, while the discussions emanating from this seminal report are concerned with issues around educational disadvantage, less attention has been given to the processes at play in underlying such inequality. Moreover, it can be argued that overarching debates on educational investment over the last 50 years (as reflected in the papers in this special issue) have focused predominantly on post-primary and higher education, to the detriment of early education. Given the recent proliferation of research stemming from the USA around the significant human capital and societal gains of early years investment – which is especially pronounced for disadvantaged children – this paper argues that it is vitally important that early education is viewed as an important window of opportunity for increased public spending and treated on par with later educational investments.

Assessment of secondhand smoke in international airports in Thailand, 2013

ObjectiveTo assess secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure in Thai international airports using a fine particulate indicator, particulate matter ≤2.5 μm (PM2.5), and to compare with 2012 exposure findings in international airports...

Monitoring for metabolic syndrome in people with intellectual disability on antipsychotic medication

PurposePeople with intellectual disability are subject to increased health morbidity when compared to the general population. This paper assesses the monitoring of metabolic syndrome in people with an intellectual disability who have been prescribed antipsychotic medication.Design/methodology/approachA pre‐audit analysis was followed by an audit of 32 patients. The height, weight and body mass index was recorded in 34 per cent prior to initiation, which decreased to 22 per cent at the three monthly follow up. Blood pressure was recorded in 6 per cent of the patients at baseline, but there was no record during treatment. The biochemical parameters including plasma glucose and plasma cholesterol were measured in 40 per cent of the patients on initiation which decreased to 33 per cent at three monthly follow up in the first year. In total, 21 per cent of patients received four monthly monitoring of the biochemical parameters, i.e. their height and weight, 25 per cent of the patients had an annual monitoring of all parameters.FindingsThe results indicate inconsistent monitoring of metabolic syndrome in people with intellectual disability being treated with antipsychotic medication. While a proportion of patients may have been monitored in primary care, these data indicate the need for remedial action to improve the standard of metabolic syndrome detection in those people with intellectual disability receiving antipsychotic medication.Originality/valueThis study highlights the inadequate monitoring of biochemical and physical parameters of metabolic syndrome in people with an intellectual disability who are prescribed antipsychotic medication. National criteria for monitoring the prescription of antipsychotic medication in people with intellectual disability who are prescribed antipsychotic medication is proposed.

Baseline Ecological Risk Assessment of the Calcasieu Estuary, Louisiana: Part 3. An Evaluation of the Risks to Benthic Invertebrates Associated With Exposure to Contaminated Sediments

The sediments in the Calcasieu Estuary are contaminated with a wide variety of chemicals of potential concern (COPCs), including heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, phthalates, chlorinated benzenes, and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans. The sources of these COPCs include both point and non-point source discharges. As part of a baseline ecological risk assessment, the risks to benthic invertebrates posed by exposure to sediment-associated COPCs were assessed using five lines of evidence, including whole-sediment chemistry, pore-water chemistry, whole-sediment toxicity, pore-water toxicity, and benthic invertebrate community structure. The results of this assessment indicated that exposure to whole sediments and/or pore water from the Calcasieu Estuary generally posed low risks to benthic invertebrate communities (i.e., risks were classified as low for 68% of the sampling locations investigated). However, incremental risks to benthic invertebrates (i.e., compared with those associated with exposure to conditions in reference areas) were indicated for 32% of the sampling locations within the estuary. Of the three areas of concern (AOCs) investigated, the risks to benthic invertebrates were highest in the Bayou d'Inde AOC; risks were generally lower in the Upper Calcasieu River AOC and Middle Calcasieu River AOC. The areas showing the highest risks to sediment-dwelling organisms were generally located in the vicinity of point source discharges of COPCs. These results provided risk managers with the information required to make decisions regarding the need for remedial actions at the site.

Vapour intrusion from the vadose zone—seven algorithms compared

Vapours of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emanating from contaminated soils may move through the unsaturated zone to the subsurface. VOC in the subsurface can be transported to the indoor air by convective air movement through openings in the foundation and basement. Once they have entered the building, they may cause adverse human health effects. Screening-level algorithms have been developed, which predict indoor air concentrations as a result of soil (vadose zone) contamination. The present study evaluates seven currently used screening-level algorithms, predicting vapour intrusion into buildings as a result of vadose zone contamination, regarding the accuracy of their predictions and their usefulness for screening purpose. Screening aims at identifying contaminated soils that should be further investigated as to the need of remediation and/or the presence of an intolerable human health risk. To be useful in this respect, screening-level algorithms should be sufficiently conservative so that they produce very few false-negative predictions but they should not be overly conservative because they might have insufficient discriminatory power. For this purpose, a comparison is made between observed and predicted soil air and indoor air concentrations from seven reasonably well-documented sites, where the vadose zone was contaminated with aromatic or chlorinated VOCs. The seven screening-level algorithms considered were: Vlier–Humaan (Be), Johnson and Ettinger model (USA), VolaSoil (NL), CSoil (NL), Risc (UK) and the dilution factor models from Norway and Sweden. Calculations are presented in two scatter plots (soil air and indoor air), each containing the predictions versus the observations. Differences between predicted and observed VOCs concentrations were evaluated on the basis of three statistical criteria to establish their accurateness and the usefulness for screening purposes. Results from the applied criteria are presented in a table and figures. It was found that the screening-level algorithms investigated tended to overestimate soil air concentrations more than indoor air concentrations. Differences between predictions and observations were up to three orders of magnitude. The algorithms with the highest accuracy for predicting the soil air concentration are in ascending order the Johnson and Ettinger model (JEM), Vlier–Humaan and VolaSoil algorithms. For the indoor air, it is concluded that all algorithms have a tendency to overestimate the predicted indoor air concentrations, except for the JEM and Vlier–Humaan algorithms, which produced frequent underestimations. Several earlier studies have investigated the accuracy of some of the screening-level algorithms for vapour intrusion and the results presented in the present study agree with the findings. However, the present study presents the accuracy of vapour intrusion algorithms via three statistical criteria that allow their ranking. The present study also determines the suitability of screening-level algorithms as screening tool. It is found that algorithms may rank differently as to accuracy and suitability as a screening tool. The algorithms with the highest accuracy for predicting the indoor air concentration are the JEM and Vlier–Humaan algorithms. The most suitable algorithms to serve for screening purposes are CSoil, VolaSoil and Risc, since they are sufficiently conservative, have fewer false-negative predictions and still have sufficient discriminatory power. Given the over-predictions and under-predictions of the algorithms considered, a combination of modelling and measurements will often be required to produce multiple lines of evidence for the presence of an intolerable human health risk or the need for remedial actions at a site. Integrated programmes of modelling and field observations can reduce the uncertainty of predicted soil air and indoor air concentrations, and a tiered approach is presented in this study.

Atmospheric fall-out of metals around the Murano glass-making district (Venice, Italy)

Murano's glass-makers have held a monopoly on quality glass-making for centuries known all over the world. Artistic glass manufacture entails exposure to complex mixtures of pollutants, including metals. A few studies have reported high levels of trace elements in marine waters, sediments and mussels around Murano and shown that emissions from Murano glass-making workshops significantly influence air quality in the Venice area. Nevertheless, to date, there is very little information on atmospheric concentrations and virtually none on atmospheric deposition fluxes of trace elements around the island. This study presents data on the distribution of trace elements in the air and atmospheric depositions around Murano, based on a 2-year sampling period. Airborne PM10 particulate matter was collected daily in the period December 2001-June 2003 (254 air samples), and atmospheric depositions were collected every 19 +/- 6 days, in the period August 2001-July 2003 (38 samples) on the roof of the Experimental Glass Laboratory on the island of Murano. All samples were analysed by ICP-MS for As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se and Zn contents. Atmospheric concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, Se and Zn were 1-2 orders of magnitude greater on the island of Murano than in the nearest urban areas (Venice and Mestre), with values higher than those reported for European industrial sites. The atmospheric deposition fluxes of all elements were also higher in Murano than those detected by other studies in Venice and Mestre and in the Porto Marghera industrial zone, with As, Cd, Sb and Se 1-2 orders of magnitude higher. In order to study the spatial variability of the atmospheric fall-out, data from other sampling stations belonging to Venice atmospheric deposition monitoring networks were used. A decreasing gradient from Murano to the closer leeward stations was observed for As, Cd and Se. Pb and Zn deposition fluxes in Venice were also comparable to those observed in the Porto Marghera industrial zone, thus, indicating a similar or even higher level of contamination. Principal component analysis confirmed significant contamination from the glassworks. As shown by our study, atmospheric loadings of metals around Murano are significant. These observations confirm that emissions from Murano also significantly influence atmospheric deposition in the Venice area. Specifically, the mean daily Cd flux in the most affected area, which includes the whole of the historic city centre of Venice, is approximately 18 microg m(-2) day(-1), i.e. more than 65 times higher than the Dutch limit and more than three times higher than that of Germany. On the basis of our data, there is a clear-cut need for remedial action in the Lagoon of Venice. Monitoring is indispensable, so that the efficacy of remedial measures can be evaluated and appropriate information about risks for human health and well-being can be made available. The atmospheric compartment must also be considered by Italian and European law which, until now, has not yet established any standard for atmospheric deposition.

The response of burrow-nesting petrels and other vulnerable bird species to vertebrate pest management and climate change on sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island

Pest species management is causing rapid and significant changes to burrow-nesting petrel populations on sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island. The Weka, Gallirallus australis, was eliminated by 1989 and the Feral Cat, Felis catus, eradicated in 2000. The most abundant burrownesting petrel species currently, White-headed Petrels, Pterodroma lessonii, Antarctic Prions, Pachyptila desolata, and Sooty Shearwaters, Puffinus griseus, have yet to increase in numbers, but are expected to do so in the absence of cats. This study found evidence that Grey Petrels, Procell aria cinerea, began breeding again on the island in 1999, after an absence of over 100 years. Blue Petrels, Halobaena caerulea, and Fairy Prions, Pachyptila turtur, were found to be re-colonising Macquarie Island from offshore stacks after a similar absence. South Georgian Diving-Petrels, Pelecanoides georgicus, were also possibly recolonising the island. Despite the presence of Black Rats, Rattus rattus, most of the bird species discussed are considered capable of population increase. If European Rabbits, Oryctolagus cuniculus, are not eliminated or maintained in reduced numbers, some petrel populations will never fully recover. Climate change could have a negative impact on burrow-nesting petrels, and is likely to exacerbate the detrimental effects of the remaining pest species on vulnerable indigenous bird species, compounding the need for remedial action against rabbits in particular. Together with predictions that other petrel species will now return to breed, certain terrestrial bird species, alien to the region, may invade Macquarie Island as a consequence of the combination of pest eradication and changing climatic conditions.