Unintentional Release Research Articles

Long-Term Monitoring and Management of Genetically Modified Canola in Natural Environments: A 15-Year Study

The unintentional release of living modified organisms (LMOs) into natural environments poses potential ecological risks, particularly in terms of gene flow and biodiversity loss. Since 2009, the Ministry of Environment (MOE) in South Korea has conducted an extensive monitoring project to detect and manage LMOs, with a primary focus on LM canola. This study evaluates the outcomes of the LMO monitoring project over the past 15 years (2009–2023), analyzing the distribution, persistence, and management of LM canola across various environments. Our findings reveal that LM canola predominantly proliferates along roadsides, with occasional occurrences at festival and planting sites. Out of 10,571 monitored sites, 4326 suspicious samples were collected, with a significant increase observed in 2017, underscoring the ongoing risk of accidental releases. This study highlights the critical role of specific environments in the spread of LM canola, and assesses the effectiveness of post-management strategies in controlling these populations. The National Institute of Ecology (NIE) has developed and implemented advanced monitoring protocols and post-management systems tailored to the characteristics of the monitoring sites and the nature of the LMOs. These efforts have been effective in controlling the spread of LM canola, thereby helping to preserve the biodiversity of South Korea’s natural environments. In conclusion, the proactive and adaptive strategies employed by the NIE are essential for mitigating the ecological risks associated with LMOs. Our study emphasizes the importance of on-going vigilance and the continuous refinement of monitoring and management practices to safeguard biodiversity and ecosystems.

Inventory of Pollution Sources for The Lakes of Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia

Eutrophication affects freshwater systems worldwide. Eutrophication can occur naturally, but man-made causes are also common. Human activities that release phosphorus and nitrogen lead to anthropogenic eutrophication, which increases organic matter production. Lake eutrophication affects surface waters all over the world. Water pollution can be assessed regarding point sources (PS) and non-point sources (NPS). PS is the intentional or unintentional release of pollutants from industrial and wastewater facilities into waterways. Agriculture, urban development, and natural processes in the lake's catchment area can cause NPS pollution. NPS pollution has many causes, including precipitation, airborne deposition, infiltration, drainage, and fluctuations in water flow in the catchment. The pollution inventory was conducted in UTHM lakes such as Tasik Kemajuan, Tasik Teknologi (FKAAB), Tasik Teknologi (FPTV), and Tasik Pembangunan. The PS and NPS in the study area were assessed through an on-site investigation. The UTHM water discharge plan is being analyzed to determine the inflow sources into the lake. The PS pollutant inventory revealed that the cafeteria wastewater, business buildings, and faculty drainage systems pollute all lakes. Tasik Teknologi (FPTV) identified runoff from palm oil plantations as a source of pollutants that can increase the nutrient content of the lake. Leaves, grass clippings, and other garden waste were in the water in all the lakes analysed. The Tasik Kemajuan, the Tasik Teknologi (FKAAB), and the Tasik Teknologi (FPTV) received water discharges from other lakes transporting pollutants. The assessment of pollutant sources revealed that most NPS originate from surface runoff. Road runoff contains several pollutants. Stormwater runoff or surface runoff can carry these pollutants from roads into waterways. Stormwater washes fertilizers into storm drains and lakes. To summarise, all pollutant sources that contributed to the eutrophication of the Tasik Kemajuan, Tasik Teknologi (FKAAB), Tasik Teknologi (FPTV), and Tasik Pembangunan were identified through a pollutant source inventory.

Upscaling the production of sterile male mosquitoes with an automated pupa sex sorter.

Effective mosquito population suppression has been repeatedly demonstrated in field trials through the release of male mosquitoes to induce sterile mating with wild females using the incompatible insect technique (IIT), the sterile insect technique (SIT), or their combination. However, upscaling these techniques requires a highly efficient and scalable approach for the sex separation of mass-reared mosquitoes to minimize the unintentional release of females, which can lead to either population replacement or biting nuisance, a major bottleneck up to now. Here, we report the successful development of an automated mosquito pupa sex sorter that can effectively separate large numbers of males from females for population suppression of Aedes aegypti, A. albopictus, and Culex quinquefasciatus. The male production capacity of the automated sex sorter was increased by ~17-fold compared with manual sex separation with the Fay-Morlan sorter and enabled one person to separate 16 million males per week. With ~0.5% female contamination, the produced males exhibited high flight ability and mating performance. The field trial demonstrates that the quality of A. albopictus males produced using the automated sex sorter is suitable for inducing population suppression. These results indicate that the automated sex sorter offers the potential to upscale IIT and SIT against mosquito vectors for disease control.

Global scenarios of anthropogenic mercury emissions

Abstract. Anthropogenic mercury (Hg) emissions to the atmosphere are a long-lived hazard to human and environmental health. The UN Minamata Convention on Mercury is seeking to lower anthropogenic mercury emissions through a mix of policies from banning certain Hg uses to reducing unintentional Hg release from different activities. In addition to independent Hg policy, strategies to mitigate greenhouse gases, particulate matter (PM) and SO2 may also lower Hg emissions as a co-benefit. This study uses the Greenhouse Gas–Air Pollution Interactions and Synergies (GAINS) model to examine the effect of different clean air and climate policies on future global Hg emissions. The baseline scenario assumes current trends for energy use and Hg emissions as well as current legislation for clean air, mercury and climate policy. In addition, we explore the impact of the Minamata Convention, the co-benefits of climate and stringent air pollution policies, and maximum feasible reduction measures for Hg. Hg emission projections until 2050 show noticeable reductions in combustion sectors for all scenarios due to a decrease in global fossil fuel and traditional biomass use, leading to emission reductions of 33 % at baseline and up to 90 % when combining stringent climate controls and the most efficient Hg controls. Cement and non-ferrous metal emissions increase in all scenarios with current air pollution policy but could be reduced by up to 72 % and 46 %, respectively, in 2050 with stringent Hg-specific measures. Other emissions (including waste) are a significant source of uncertainty in this study, and their projections range between a 22 % increase and a 54 % decrease in 2050, depending on both climate and clean air policy. The largest absolute reduction potential for Hg abatement but also the largest uncertainties regarding absolute emissions lie in small-scale and artisanal gold production, where abatement measures could eliminate annual Hg emissions in the range of 601–1371 t (95 % confidence interval), although the uncertainties in the estimate are so high that they might eclipse reduction efforts in all other sectors. In total, 90 % of Hg emissions are covered by provisions of the Minamata Convention. Overall, the findings emphasize the necessity to implement targeted Hg control policies in addition to stringent climate, PM and SO2 policies to achieve significant reductions in Hg emissions.

Behaviour and Peculiarities of Oil Hydrocarbon Removal from Rain Garden Structures

The expansion of impervious areas in the context of climate change leads to an increase in stormwater runoff. Runoff from roads, petrol stations, and service stations is the most common form of unintentional release of petroleum hydrocarbons (PHs). Rain gardens are an important practice for removing PHs from stormwater runoff, but little data exist on the removal efficiency and behaviour of these substances within the system. The main objective of the study is to investigate the effectiveness of rain gardens in removing pollutants such as diesel fuel (DF) and used engine oil (UEO) in a laboratory setting, as well as to study the behaviours of these pollutants within the system. Eight experimental columns (7.164 dm3) were packed with soil (bulk density 1.48 kg/dm3), river sand (1.6 kg/dm3), and gravel. Plants of the Physocarpus opulifolia Diabolo species were planted in the topsoil to study their resistance to PHs. For 6 months, the columns were watered with model PHs followed by simulated rain events. The concentrations of PHs in the leachate and soil media of the columns were determined by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). The results of HPLC indicated the absence of UEO and DF components in the leachates of all experimental columns, which suggested 100% removal of these substances from stormwater. The chromatography results showed that 95% of the modelled PHs were retained in the surface layer of the soil medium due to the sorption process, which led to a change in hydraulic conductivity over time. Recommendations are proposed to increase the service life of rain gardens designed to filter PHs from stormwater.

Atmospheric emissions of hexachlorobutadiene in fine particulate matter from industrial sources

Hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD) is a concerning chemical that is included in the United States Toxic Substances Control Act, and the Stockholm Convention. Knowledge of the sources of HCBD is insufficient and is pivotal for accurate inventory and implementing global action. In this study, unintentional HCBD release and source emission factors of 121 full-scale industrial plants from 12 industries are investigated. Secondary copper smelting, electric arc furnace steelmaking, and hazardous waste incineration show potential for large emission reductions, which are found of high HCBD emission concentrations of > 20 ng/g in fine particulate matter in this study. The highest HCBD emission concentration is observed for the secondary copper smelting industry (average: 1380 ng/g). Source emission factors of HCBD for the 12 industries range from 0.008 kg/t for coal fire power plants to 0.680 kg/t for secondary lead smelting, from which an estimation of approximately 8452.8 g HCBD emissions annually worldwide achieved. The carcinogenic risks caused by HCBD emissions from countries and regions with intensive 12 industrial sources are 1.0-80 times higher than that without these industries. These results will be useful for formulating effective strategies of HCBD control.

Sustainable energy solutions: Well retrofit analysis and emission reduction for a net-zero future in the Intermountain West, United States of America

To achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, we need economic means of sequestering carbon dioxide (CO2) and reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). We analyze the sequestration potential of the Intermountain West (I-West) region, US, as a primary energy transition hub through analysis of wellbore retrofit potential and emission reduction in both fugitive gas abatement and flare gas. We selected the I-West region due to its abundant energy sources and oil and gas production legacy. Preliminary analysis hints that well retrofits can breathe new life into a well at a fraction of the cost of a new drill. With millions of potential candidates in the US, even a modest fraction (1% or less) suitable for retrofit could accelerate the shift to large-scale CO2 sequestration. Fugitive gas, the unintentional release of wellbore gases such as methane, is a significant emissions source. Through conservative analysis, it is estimated that wellhead leakage alone may account for 5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions. We conclude by assessing the CO2 emissions from flaring, which is the burning of associated gas during well operations, conservative analysis indicates flaring contributes another 2 million tonnes of CO2 emissions to the region. We find that with targeted retrofit and better controls on emissions sources, the I-West region can make a significant impact in the nation's push to become net-zero. This study outlines economic feasibility and actionable items to achieve the critical reductions in emissions and increases in sequestration necessary to attain net zero.

Current Concerns about Microplastics and Nanoplastics: A Brief Overview.

The widespread and increasing use of plastic-based goods in the present-day world has been raising many concerns about the formation of microplastics, their release, their impacts on the environment and, ultimately, on living organisms. These concerns are even greater regarding nanoplastics, i.e., nanosized microplastics, which may have even greater impacts. In this brief review, although without any claim or intention to exhaustively cover all the aspects of such a complex and many-sided issue, the very topical problem of the formation of microplastics, and the even more worrisome nanoplastics, from polymer-based products was considered. The approach is focused on a terse, straightforward, and easily accessible analysis oriented to the main technological engineering aspects regarding the sources of microplastics and nanoplastics released into the environment, their nature, some of the consequences arising from the release, the different polymers involved, their technological form (i.e., products or processes, with particular attention towards unintentional release), the formation mechanisms, and some possible mitigation pathways.

Explainable artificial intelligence modeling of internal arc in a medium voltage switchgear based on different CFD simulations

The internal arc represents an unintentional release of electrical energy within the switchgear industry. Manufacturers must address this electro-thermal issue in their switchgears. Over the past decades, various researchers and engineering groups have examined the internal arc pressure rise in switchgears to mitigate damages. The high variability in pressure rise among switchgears due to diverse factors such as design, manufacturing, and electrical parameters results in varying reported pressure increases. This issue motivates the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in interpreting internal arc modeling. The present paper explores the impact of manufacturing parameters such as total duct width (TDW), height (H), and ducts condition (DC), along with environmental parameters like initial pressure (IP) and initial temperature (IT), on the maximum pressure (MP) generated during an internal arc in a medium voltage (MV) switchgear. For this purpose, 54 different computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models were built using the parameters indicated. An extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) machine learning (ML) model was trained using different CFD models, with MP serving as the target variable for the ML model. The obtained results reveal a variation in the MP of the internal arc under the mentioned parameters, ranging from 17835.45 Pa to 144423.2 Pa. Using SHAP data revealed that IP, TDW, and DC were the most significant factors affecting the pressure increase of the internal arc phenomena.

Effectiveness of chemical inactivation of infectious liquid biological waste: A randomized sample study of research laboratories in Switzerland

Laboratory wastewater has been suggested as an important escape route for microorganisms from research environments. Likely reasons for the unintentional release of laboratory organisms are shortcomings in the handling of infectious liquid biological waste (LBW) and inadequate inactivation procedures. We developed an analytical approach to investigate the use of chemical inactivation (CI) procedures in Swiss research laboratories by on-site random sampling of presumably inactivated infectious LBW and testing it for the presence of infectious lentiviruses (HIV-1) and adenoviruses (AdV). In addition, standard operating procedures (SOPs) for CI were collected and evaluated, and laboratory-staff knowledge of CI processes was assessed using a questionnaire. Although we found several deficiencies in the technical knowledge and training of laboratory staff on the CI of LBW, as documented by 27 returned questionnaires, no infectious viruses were detected in the eight LBW samples collected. Whilst we acknowledge that the number of LBW samples and SOPs is small, we conclude that CI of LBW containing infectious lentiviruses and adenoviruses does not result in the systematic release of considerable amounts of infectious viruses into the environment from research laboratories in Switzerland.

Invasive Amazon sailfin catfish in Bangladesh: wild distribution, environmental and perceived socio-economic consequences

Amazon sailfin catfish are native to Latin Arica (Siluriformes: Loricariidae: Pterygoplichthys) and are popular around the world as ornamental fish. It is well-documented that these species are highly successful invaders and very prone to forming new geographical ranges. However, once established, eradicating a new population is a very challenging task. In Bangladesh, species of the genus Pterygoplichthys are expected to spread widely and have a severe detrimental impact on ecosystem health, biodiversity and economics. Here we provide new information on the future probable establishment of non-native populations of these species in the wild using a climate-matching analysis and highlight their potential area of occurrence. The potential socio-economic consequences are also discussed, as are the public perception of these species and probable economic damages caused. Control of the import of similar species, their culture and intentional or unintentional release into open water is urgently required.

Development of a Replication-Deficient Bacteriophage Reporter Lacking an Essential Baseplate Wedge Subunit.

Engineered bacteriophages (phages) can be effective diagnostic reporters for detecting a variety of bacterial pathogens. Although a promising biotechnology, the large-scale use of these reporters may result in the unintentional release of genetically modified viruses. In order to limit the potential environmental impact, the ability of these phages to propagate outside the laboratory was targeted. The phage SEA1 has been previously engineered to facilitate food safety as an accurate and sensitive reporter for Salmonella contamination. In this study, homologous recombination was used to replace the expression of an essential baseplate wedge subunit (gp141) in SEA1 with a luciferase, NanoLuc®. This reporter, referred to as SEA1Δgp141.NL, demonstrated a loss of plaque formation and a failure to increase in titer following infection of Salmonella. SEA1Δgp141.NL was thus incapable of producing infectious progeny in the absence of gp141. In contrast, production of high titer stocks was possible when gp141 was artificially supplied in trans during infection. As a reporter, SEA1Δgp141.NL facilitated rapid, sensitive, and robust detection of Salmonella despite an inability to replicate. These results suggest that replication-deficient reporter phages are an effective method to obtain improved containment without sacrificing significant performance or the ease of production associated with many phage-based diagnostic methods.

Germany’s first Action plan on the pathways of invasive alien species to prevent their unintentional introduction and spread

The increase in global trade and traffic networks contributes to the introduction and spread of invasive alien species, posing a threat to biodiversity. EU Regulation 1143/2014 addresses the prevention and management of invasive alien species and requires an action plan on the priority pathways of unintentional introduction and spread of invasive alien species by each member state. To this end, the first German action plan was developed for the German government in cooperation with relevant Ministries and authorities, scientists, administrative experts, stakeholder working groups and political as well as public deliberation processes. As a result, 14 priority pathways of unintentional introduction, escape or release and spread were identified, resulting in 24 targeted measures. Nineteen sectors will be involved in the implementation of these measures. Here we describe the development process and outcome of Germany’s first action plan. By this, we aim making the process public and transparent, which can facilitate a revision of the action plan required at least every six years, and trigger broader European as well as national cooperation in the future.

Hydrogen and deuterium permeation in Hastelloy N

Hastelloy N was chosen as the fluoride salt-contacting structural material for the Molten Salt Reactor Experiment due to its excellent compatibility with the fuel salt FLiBe. FLiBe is currently investigated for several advanced fusion and fission reactor concepts where tritium generation in the FLiBe is anticipated. Knowledge of hydrogen transport properties through Hastelloy N is important to understand how tritium would permeate through this material and result in an unintentional release. In this study, the hydrogen and deuterium permeability, diffusivity, and solubility were measured from 500 to 700 °C at a primary-side pressure of 10 kPa in a well-characterized sample of Hastelloy N. The prepared polycrystalline Hastelloy N had C and O impurities present on the surface. These impurities were investigated using Auger Emission Spectroscopy and Ar depth profiling. The adventitious C was removed upon the first Ar sputter cycle whereas O persisted deeper into the sample. For permeation experiments, applied deuterium pressures ranged from 13 Pa to 100 kPa and deuterium transport remained in the diffusion-limited regime (J ∝ P0.5) throughout the pressure range examined. Two methods are employed to measure the effective hydrogen and deuterium diffusivity: rise and decline. The decline method produced improved statistical model fits for calculating the effective diffusion coefficient compared to the rise method. The resultant transport properties compared well to published values for other nickel alloys.

Different mechanisms of X-ray irradiation-induced male and female sterility in Aedes aegypti

BackgroundAedes aegypti (Ae. aegypti) is the major vector that transmits many diseases including dengue, Zika, and filariasis in tropical and subtropical regions. Due to the growing resistance to chemical-based insecticides, biological control methods have become an emerging direction to control mosquito populations. The sterile insect technique (SIT) deploys high doses of ionizing radiation to sterilize male mosquitoes before the release. The Wolbachia-based population suppression method of the incompatible insect technique (IIT) involves the release of Wolbachia-infected males to sterilize uninfected field females. Due to the lack of perfect sex separation tools, a low percentage of female contamination is detected in the male population. To prevent the unintentional release of these Wolbachia-infected females which might result in population replacement, a low dose of X-ray irradiation is deployed to sterilize any female escapees. However, it remains unclear whether these irradiation-induced male and female sterilizations share common mechanisms.ResultsIn this work, we set out to define the minimum dose of X-ray radiation required for complete female sterilization in Ae. aegypti (NEA-EHI strain). Further results showed that this minimum dose of X-ray irradiation for female sterilization significantly reduced male fertility. Similar results have been reported previously in several operational trials. By addressing the underlying causes of the sterility, our results showed that male sterility is likely due to chromosomal damage in the germ cells induced by irradiation. In contrast, female sterility appears to differ and is likely initiated by the elimination of the somatic supporting cells, which results in the blockage of the ovariole maturation. Building upon these findings, we identified the minimum dose of X-ray irradiation on the Wolbachia-infected NEA-EHI (wAlbB-SG) strain, which is currently being used in the IIT-SIT field trial. Compared to the uninfected parental strain, a lower irradiation dose could fully sterilize wAlbB-SG females. This suggests that Wolbachia-carrying mosquitoes are more sensitive to irradiation, consistent with a previous report showing that a lower irradiation dose fully sterilized Wolbachia-infected Ae. aegypti females (Brazil and Mexican strains) compared to those uninfected controls.ConclusionsOur findings thus reveal the distinct mechanisms of ionizing X-ray irradiation-induced male or female sterility in Ae. aegypti mosquitoes, which may help the design of X-ray irradiation-based vector control methods.

Evaporation of anhydrous ammonia from small concrete coupons and implications regarding evaporation from a large accidental spill on concrete

AbstractAnhydrous ammonia is transported via ship, rail, and road everyday in the United States as a refrigerated liquid at ambient pressure. As a result, unintential release of a large amount of anhydrous ammonia could result from an accident during transportation. The aim of this paper is to provide a better understanding of the evaporation of anhydrous ammonia from porous media. In our investigation, laboratory‐scale concrete coupons were used as a surrogate for a larger concrete pad that could be present in an event involving an unintentional release of liquid anhydrous ammonia. Concrete coupons sized 5 cm × 5 cm × 1.9 cm were saturated in liquid anhydrous ammonia, and measurements of the subsequent evaporation from the coupons were made in an environmental chamber. The ambient air temperature within the chamber varied from 5 to 45°C, and the relative humidity varied from 5% to 75%. Mass‐difference calculation and Berthelot's reaction were used to determine the average evaporation rate from a concrete coupon across all trials, which was found to be 6.5 ± 1.9 mg/s. To validate these evaporation rates, the remaining ammonia in the concrete coupon was measured for each trial. We found that the time‐integrated calculated evaporation rates correlated well with the total mass of ammonia that was lost from the coupons. In addition, it was found that ambient air temperature and relative humidity had little influence on anhydrous ammonia evaporation from the concrete coupons.

Synthesis of PbxCu1−xBi2O4 composites with enhanced visible-light-responsive photocatalytic degradation performance

The unintentional release of highly toxic dyes from various industrial sectors into aquatic environments caused an imminent threat to the aquatic ecosystem and human health. Therefore, it is highly imperative to develop efficient and sustainable treatment technologies. In this work, we have constructed a novel PbxCu1−xBi2O4 nanostructured composite through a facile hydrothermal method. The atomic ratio of Pb to Cu was systematically investigated. The optimized sample of Pb0.10Cu0.90Bi2O4 has a higher visible light responsiveness for the degradation of Congo red (CR) dye than that of CuBi2O4. The results show that CuBi2O4 has the least degradation potential for CR under optimal conditions (catalyst = 0.4 g/L, [CR] = 30 mg/L, pH = 5.0, T = 25 ± 2 °C), and 83.39% degradation was achieved in 80 min under visible light irradiation. Meanwhile, Pb0.10Cu0.90Bi2O4 photocatalyst has shown 99.23% degradation of CR dye. This enhancement in the degradation of CR was considered due to the increase in the surface area of Pb0.10Cu0.90Bi2O4 (67.32 m2/g) and exposed active sites compared with that of pure CuBi2O4 (49.73 m2/g). The insertion of Pb metal ions into basic framework of the CuBi2O4 leads to increase in the specific surface area of the material, resulting in enhanced degradation. Furthermore, the insertion of Pb metal ions also lowered the optical bandgap energy of the catalytic material, which enhanced the degrading potential of Pb0.10Cu0.90Bi2O4. The effect factors were further examined, including catalyst dosage, initial dye concentration, pH, temperature, and agitation rate. In addition, the effect of humic acid and interfering anions on CR degradation was also investigated. The results of these experiments show that these factors also influence the photocatalytic degradation of CR dye. Therefore, appropriate treatment of these factors would increase the wastewater treatment efficiency by the as-prepared Pb0.10Cu0.90Bi2O4 photocatalyst.

Invasion potential of the aquarium pet snail Planorbella trivolvis in India: impact of certain abiotic and biotic factors.

Planorbella trivolvis (ramshorn snail) is one of India's most extensively sold exotic aquarium pet snails. The unintentional or deliberate release of P. trivolvis may result in the colonisation and establishment as an invasive snail in freshwater ecosystems. However, the successful invasion of P. trivolvis will depend on several abiotic and biotic factors of the concerned freshwater ecosystem. We have assessed the possibility of overcoming the opposing factors in P. trivolvis invasion through laboratory-based experiments and examined the effects of household-derived pollutants on egg hatchability, adult survivability and fecundity, and temperature (15 to 35°C) on growth, sexual maturity, and reproduction. Additionally, we have evaluated the potential of native predators as biotic resistance to invasion by prey-choice experiment. The results indicated that egg hatchability, adult survivability, and fecundity were reduced with increasing pollutant concentration. However, the same traits did not differ from a native freshwater snail, Indoplanorbis exustus. The fecundity of P. trivolvis increased with increasing body size, but no considerable differences at different temperature levels suggest a wide range of adaptation to temperature. Faster growth and the requirement of comparatively few days to attain sexual maturity were observed in the higher temperatures. The native predators, Glossiphonia weberi and Diplonychus rusticus, avoided P. trivolvis as prey over the alternative prey snails in most instances, suggestingthe masking ofbiotic resistance against the colonisation. Our observations indicate that the chance dispersal of P. trivolvis from household or commercial aquaria may lead to a possible invasion of freshwater ecosystems under suitable conditions.

Volunteer Plants' Occurrence and the Environmental Adaptability of Genetically Modified Fodder Corn upon Unintentional Release into the Environment.

The number of corn cultivars that have been improved using genetically modified technology continues to increase. However, concerns about the unintentional release of living-modified organisms (LMOs) into the environment still exist. Specifically, there are cases where LMO crops grown as fodder are released into the environment and form a volunteer plant community, which raises concerns about their safety. In this study, we analyzed the possibility of weediness and volunteer plants' occurrence when GMO fodder corn grains distributed in Korea are unintentionally released into the environment. Volunteer plants' occurrence was investigated by directly sowing grains in an untreated field. The results showed that the germination rate was extremely low, and even if a corn seed germinated, it could not grow into an adult plant and would die due to weed competition. In addition, the germination rate of edible and fodder grains was affected by temperature (it was high at 20 °C and 30 °C but low at 40 °C and extremely low at 10 °C), and it was higher in the former than in the latter. And the germination rate was higher in Daehakchal (edible corn grains) than in Gwangpyeongok (fodder corn grains). The environmental risk assessment data obtained in this study can be used for future evaluations of the weediness potential of crops and the development of volunteer plant suppression technology in response to unintentional GMO release.

Effectiveness of a Priority Management Scheme of Living Modified Organism Re-Collection Areas in Natural Environments of South Korea

Since 2009, the Ministry of Environment and the National Institute of Ecology in South Korea have been conducting a living modified organism (LMO) monitoring and post-management project in natural environments to prevent the unintentional release and spread of LMOs to natural ecosystems. The project surveyed six administrative districts of South Korea from 2009 to 2013 and collected 1960 LMO suspicious samples from 1850 monitoring sites. As a result, 113 LMOs were identified at 65 sites and removed for post-management. An analysis of the five-year LMO monitoring results showed that LMOs were re-collected in 38.4% of the 65 areas where they were initially collected. This result led to the establishment of a new LMO management system in 2014, with priority given to areas where LMOs had been re-collected twice or more within the last five years. Intensive surveys and post-management were conducted four times a year in these priority management areas. The results confirmed that the novel management system for LMO priority areas effectively prevented the continuous collection of LMOs in the same areas. In conclusion, establishing a safety management system for priority management areas, intensive surveys, and post-management efforts are crucial for protecting natural ecosystems from the putative risks of unintentionally released LMOs.