Induction of Oxidative Stress and Antioxidative Mechanisms in Arabidopsis thaliana after Uranium Exposure at pH 7.5

To evaluate the environmental impact of uranium (U) contamination, it is important to investigate the effects of U at ecologically relevant conditions. Since U speciation, and hence its toxicity, strongly depends on environmental pH, the present study aimed to investigate dose-dependent effects of U at pH 7.5. Arabidopsis thaliana plants (Mouse-ear Cress) were exposed for three days to different U concentrations at pH 7.5. In the roots, the increased capacities of ascorbate peroxidase and glutathione reductase indicate an important role for the ascorbate-glutathione cycle during U-induced stress. However, a significant decrease in the ascorbate redox state was observed after exposure to 75 and 100 µM U, indicating that those roots are severely stressed. In accordance with the roots, the ascorbate-glutathione cycle plays an important role in the antioxidative defence systems in A. thaliana leaves exposed to U at pH 7.5 as the ascorbate and glutathione biosynthesis were upregulated. In addition, small inductions of enzymes of the antioxidative defence system were observed at lower U concentrations to counteract the U-induced stress. However, at higher U concentrations it seems that the antioxidative defence system of the leaves collapses as reductions in enzyme activities and gene expression levels were observed.     

Advantages and challenges with using hypoxic air venting as fire protection

The use of hypoxic air venting system as fire protection is increasing and is sometimes used to replace traditional extinguishing systems. An oxygen level of 15% is generally used because a lower concentration could pose serious health risks. On the request of the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority, a literature review was conducted to determine advantages and challenges with the system and further research needs. The main advantages with a reduced oxygen environment are the reduced probability of ignition and lowered heat release rate. However, at 15% oxygen level, risk for fire still exists, and the system cannot be seen as an alternative to extinguishing systems. Reduced oxygen environment also results in higher production rates of soot and smoke, and there is limited knowledge regarding the effect of fuel configuration and fire behavior of products. In addition, a first evaluation of the test method specified in the hypoxic air venting standards was carried out through testing. The testing showed that the particleboard passed the test criteria at normal atmosphere even though it is commonly known that a particleboard burns in normal air. It is concluded that the test method has deficiencies, and there is clearly a need for development of the test method to guarantee safety levels. © 2013 The Authors. Fire and Materials published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Influence of Ignition Sources on Heat Release Rate in the Furniture Calorimeter

When measuring the production rates of heat and smoke of upholstered furniture the ignition source must not influence the test results. In this paper variations in the strength, application time and geometry of the ignition burner used in the furniture calorimeter are studied. Results from replicate furniture calorimeter chair test show that the burning behaviour is almost independent of the burner intensity in the applied regime. Tests on six different furniture items were performed in the furniture calorimeter. The test objects were exposed to three intensity levels of ignition source. The sources were: a large propane burner giving 30 kW during 120 s and a smaller propane burner used at two levels of heat output, 1.7 and 5.8 kW during 90 s. The results showed that the burning behaviour of the furniture was very similar regardless of which burner was used. This was especially evident when the time regime between 50 and 400 kW was studied. The length of this period is a measurement on how quick untenable conditions are developing in a single, well-ventilated compartment.     

Irreversible dilation of NaCl contaminated lime-cement mortar due to crystallization cycles

The mechanism of damage occurring in NaCl contaminated materials has not been clarified yet. Apart from crystallization pressure, other hypotheses have been proposed to explain the cause of decay. Irreversible dilation has been observed in a few cases but has never been studied in a more systematic way. The aim of the research is to contribute to the modeling of this phenomenon.In the present paper the effect of NaCl on the hydric and hygric behavior of a lime-cement mortar is extensively studied. The results indicate that NaCl influences the hydric and hygric dilation behavior of the material. The material contaminated with NaCl shrinks during dissolution and dilates during crystallization of the salt. This dilation is irreversible and sufficient to damage the material after few dissolution/crystallization cycles. This behavior is not restricted to NaCl, but is observed in the presence of other salts as well (NaNO₃ and KCl). Outcomes of electron microscopy studies suggest that salts causing irreversible dilation tend to crystallize as layers on the pore wall.     

Remediation of heavy metal contaminated soil washing residues with amino polycarboxylic acids

Removal of Cu, Pb, and Zn by the action of the two biodegradable chelating agents [S,S]-ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid (EDDS) and methylglycinediacetic acid (MGDA), as well as citric acid, was tested. Three soil samples, which had previously been treated by conventional soil washing (water), were utilized in the leaching tests. Experiments were performed in batches (0.3 kg-scale) and with a WTC-mixer system (Water Treatment Construction, 10 kg-scale). EDDS and MGDA were most often equally efficient in removing Cu, Pb, and Zn after 10–60 min. Nonetheless, after 10 d, there were occasionally significant differences in extraction efficiencies. Extraction with citric acid was generally less efficient, however equal for Zn (mainly) after 10 d. Metal removal was similar in batch and WTC-mixer systems, which indicates that a dynamic mixer system could be used in full-scale. Use of biodegradable amino polycarboxylic acids for metal removal, as a second step after soil washing, would release most remaining metals (Cu, Pb and Zn) from the present soils, however only after long leaching time. Thus, a full-scale procedure, based on enhanced metal leaching by amino polycarboxylic acids from soil of the present kind, would require a pre-leaching step lasting several days in order to be efficient.     

Use of the Cone Calorimeter and ConeTools software for development of innovative intumescing graphite systems

The Cone Calorimeter test method has been one of the most used small‐scale fire test method for years now and is at present widely spread over the world. In contrast to many other fire test methods, the Cone Calorimeter provides a range of data with sound scientific basis, which allows a wide range of applications. It can be used for modelling and also for enhanced product development. This paper describes the use of the Cone Calorimeter for the development of new innovative materials in combination with a mathematical model. As example, the cost effective development of an innovative intumescing graphite system for protecting particle board is explained. The performance goal of the project is to obtain the threshold values for a B class in the Single Burning Item (SBI) test method used for the newly developed Euroclass system. The focus of this paper is on the development tools and not on the chemical development of the protective system. During the research it was necessary to develop a new sample holder for the Cone Calorimeter. The results from the project show that the industry can save development time and resources by using the Cone Calorimeter in combination with a simple mathematical model. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Method of diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) compared with other soil testing methods to predict uranium phytoavailability

The measurement of diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) has been proposed as a surrogate for metal uptake by plants. A small-scale experiment was performed to test the predictive capacity of the DGT method with respect to uranium availability and uptake by ryegrass. Correlation analyses were performed to compare the results obtained with the DGT device with more conventional bioavailability indices - concentration of uranium in pore water or in selective extracts. Six soils with different uranium contamination history and with distinct soil characteristics were used for the availability tests and the uptake experiment. The four uranium bioavailability indices screened were highly correlated, indicating that at least partially comparable uranium pools were assessed. The uranium concentration in the pore water was a better predictor for uranium uptake by ryegrass than amounts of uranium recovered following extraction with 0.11 M CH3COOH or 0.4 M MgCl2, the fractions considered exchangeable according to, respectively, the BCR or NIST standardized sequential extraction methods. The DGT measured concentration, C(DGT), was also highly correlated with plant uptake but the significance level was sensitive to the value of the diffusion coefficient (pH depend or not) used to calculate C(DGT). From the results obtained it could not be concluded that the DGT method would have an additional value in assessing uranium bioavailability.