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PubMed2000

Health, safety and environmental protection in a biological research laboratory.

This manuscript summarizes the mandatory regulations for Health, safety and environmental protection (HSE) at the Novartis Forschungsinstitut-Vienna to ensure the safe and contained biological laboratory work especially with class II agents in the specialized biosafety level 2 (BL2) facilities available at this institute. These regulations apply to work practices conducted within these facilities; to special safe-containment features of these BL2 facilities; to containment and decontamination of biohazardous or potentially biohazardous materials of risk class II; and to the procedures in place to guarantee that these regulations are strictly carried out, and that only individuals with the appropriate training and approval have access to these facilities. The regulations governing BL2 facilities summarized here have been taken directly from CDC and NIH public documents; any special adaptations or additions to these regulations have been stated as such, in order to make these guidelines as transparent and nonredundant as possible.

Austria↗

PubMed2003

Development of processes for environmental protection based on self-propagating reactions.

The possibility of exploiting self-propagating reactions for environmental protection is discussed in this paper. In particular, results obtained at the laboratory scale and related to the fixation and consolidation of high level radioactive wastes, the recycling of silicon sludge and aluminum dross produced by semiconductor industries and aluminum foundries, the treating and recycling of a highly toxic solid waste from electrolytic zinc plants, and the degradation of chlorinated aromatics, are examined with particular emphasis on the latter case. Specifically, the self-propagating destruction of hexachlorobenzene and 2-(2-4-dichlorophenoxy)-propanoic acid with calcium hydride as reductive substrate is demonstrated. In fact, the heat liberated by the reactions involved is large enough to guarantee the self-sustaining character of the process within a wide range of reactants compositions. Moreover, no residual chlorinated organic compounds were found in the final solid product. Some reactor engineering aspects, as well as other significant future scientific and technological issues, are also addressed in view of large-scale applicability of processes based on self-propagating reactions. To date, the batch reactor technology seems to be more easily applicable, although the use of continuous reactors is not excluded in the next future.

2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid↗

PubMed2000

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's revised guidelines for carcinogen risk assessment: evaluating a postulated mode of carcinogenic action in guiding dose-response extrapolation.

There are new opportunities to using data from molecular and cellular studies in order to bring together a fuller biological understanding of how chemicals induce neoplasia. In 1996, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a proposal to replace its 1986 Guidelines for Carcinogen Risk Assessment to take advantage of these new scientific advances in cancer biology. The analytical framework within the new guidelines focuses on an understanding of the mode of carcinogenic action. Mode of action data come into play in a couple of ways in these new guidelines. For example, such information can inform the dose-response relationship below the experimental observable range of tumours. Thus, mode of action data can be useful in establishing more appropriate guidance levels for environmental contaminants. It is the understanding of the biological processes that lead to tumour development along with the response data derived from experimental studies that can help discern the shape of the dose-response at low doses (linear vs. nonlinear). Because it is experimentally difficult to establish "true thresholds" from others with a nonlinear dose-response relationship, the proposed guidelines take a practical approach to depart from low-dose linear extrapolation procedures when there is sufficient experimental support for a mode of action consistent with nonlinear biological processes (e.g., tumours resulting from the disruption of normal physiological processes).

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Modifications to United States Environmental Protection Agency methods 1622 and 1623 for detection of Cryptosporidium oocysts and Giardia cysts in water.

Collaborative and in-house laboratory trials were conducted to evaluate Cryptosporidium oocyst and Giardia cyst recoveries from source and finished-water samples by utilizing the Filta-Max system and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) methods 1622 and 1623. Collaborative trials with the Filta-Max system were conducted in accordance with manufacturer protocols for sample collection and processing. The mean oocyst recovery from seeded, filtered tap water was 48.4% +/- 11.8%, while the mean cyst recovery was 57.1% +/- 10.9%. Recovery percentages from raw source water samples ranged from 19.5 to 54.5% for oocysts and from 46.7 to 70.0% for cysts. When modifications were made in the elution and concentration steps to streamline the Filta-Max procedure, the mean percentages of recovery from filtered tap water were 40.2% +/- 16.3% for oocysts and 49.4% +/- 12.3% for cysts by the modified procedures, while matrix spike oocyst recovery percentages ranged from 2.1 to 36.5% and cyst recovery percentages ranged from 22.7 to 68.3%. Blinded matrix spike samples were analyzed quarterly as part of voluntary participation in the U.S. EPA protozoan performance evaluation program. A total of 15 blind samples were analyzed by using the Filta-Max system. The mean oocyst recovery percentages was 50.2% +/- 13.8%, while the mean cyst recovery percentages was 41.2% +/- 9.9%. As part of the quality assurance objectives of methods 1622 and 1623, reagent water samples were seeded with a predetermined number of Cryptosporidium oocysts and Giardia cysts. Mean recovery percentages of 45.4% +/- 11.1% and 61.3% +/- 3.8% were obtained for Cryptosporidium oocysts and Giardia cysts, respectively. These studies demonstrated that the Filta-Max system meets the acceptance criteria described in U.S. EPA methods 1622 and 1623.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Universal screening method for the determination of US Environmental Protection Agency phenols at the lower ng l(-1) level in water samples by on-line solid-phase extraction-high-performance liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry within a single run.

The applicability of a previously optimized method for the analysis of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations phenols, based on on-line solid-phase extraction coupled to liquid chromatography with mass spectrometric (MS) detection in different matrix loaded water samples is demonstrated. The comprehensive optimization of the mobile phase conditions and their influence on the ionization process in atmospheric pressure ionization is described in detail. In particular, MS detection of the weakly acidic phenols such as phenol, monochlorinated phenols and methylated phenols requires the absence of acidic mobile phase modifiers and buffers. Thus lower retention times and slight peak broadening of the more acidic dinitrophenols are obtained if the entire range of EPA phenols is analyzed within a single chromatographic run. The figures of merit for the method were determined and the applicability to real water samples was investigated. Limits of detection for phenols ranging from 40 to 280 ng l(-1) and relative standard deviations below 8% in SCAN mode are obtained for all phenols if only 10-ml river water samples with low dissolved organic carbon (DOC 5 mg C l(-1) concentrations are preconcentrated. The method was used to detect 2-nitrophenol and 4-nitrophenol in river water samples in the lower ng l(-1) range. The analysis of highly matrix-loaded samples (DOC 210 mg C l(-1)) requires a reduced enrichment volume resulting in decreased sensitivity. Still the method is capable of reaching excellent detection limits which demonstrates its excellent suitability for screening analysis.

Atmospheric Pressure↗

PubMed1996

Culture variability associated with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Tuberculocidal Activity Test Method.

Tuberculosis continues to be a major world health threat. The etiologic agent is among the vegetative organisms most resistant to chemical disinfection. Tuberculocidal efficacy testing for regulatory approval of chemical germicides has evolved considerably over the past decade. A method currently in use is the Environmental Protection Agency Tuberculocidal Activity Test Method, a suspension test using a Mycobacterium bovis culture grown under specific conditions and stored frozen until used. Differing tuberculocidal label claims on products with similar formulations have raised questions concerning the equivalence of test suspensions prepared by different laboratories. Five M. bovis suspensions from laboratories currently performing this test were compared against a battery of three disinfectants at a single test site. A significant difference between test cultures was found, with two of the five exhibiting a significant difference from the other three and also from each other. There was a significant culture-by-disinfectant interaction, indicating that the five cultures did not respond in a consistent manner across the different disinfectants used. However, these differences were due to cultures that were not prepared in accordance with the standard procedure or otherwise did not meet the test suspension criteria. In addition, a 0.55% sodium hypochlorite solution was found to be a sensitive indicator of culture variability. These data reinforce the need to adhere to published procedures and guidelines when growing and preparing a tuberculocidal test suspension and shed light on the variables associated with this type of testing.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed2000

Eliminating the chlorite interference in US Environmental Protection Agency Method 317.0 permits analysis of trace bromate levels in all drinking water matrices.

A post-column reagent (PCR) method for bromate analysis in drinking water with a method detection limit (MDL) and method reporting limit (MRL) of 0.1 and 0.5 microg/l, respectively, has been developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for future publication as EPA Method 317.0. The PCR method provides comparable results to the EPA's Selective Anion Concentration (SAC) method used to support the laboratory analysis of Information Collection Rule (ICR) low-level bromate samples and offers a simple, rugged, direct injection method with potential to be utilized as a compliance monitoring technique for all inorganic Disinfectants/Disinfection By-Products (D/DBPs). It has superior sensitivity for bromate compared to EPA Method 300.1, which was promulgated as the compliance monitoring method for bromate under Stage 1 of the D/DBP rule. This paper addresses elimination of the chlorite interference that was previously reported in finished waters from public water systems (PWSs) that employ chlorine dioxide as the disinfectant. An evaluation of Method 317.0 for the analysis of bromate in commercial bottled waters is also reported.

Bromates↗

PubMed2001

Indirect exposure assessment at the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

In the early 1980s, exposures and subsequent health impact assessments from contaminants emitted into the air from stationary sources focused on the inhalation pathway. This 'direct' pathway of exposure was thought to be the most critical pathway, as it is for many contaminants. However, by the latter 1980s, the focus at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shifted to contaminants that would persist in the environment and could bioaccumulate up the food chain. Consumption of impacted food products, and other 'indirect' pathways of exposure, such as soil-related exposures, were shown to result in exposures that exceeded inhalation exposures by two to up to four orders of magnitude. A historical background of indirect exposure assessment at EPA is provided in this paper, followed by an overview of modeling methodologies commonly used in indirect exposure assessments. These methodologies are demonstrated on a contaminant of primary focus for indirect exposure impact, dioxins. Two examples are provided. In the first, an air-to-beef model validation exercise is described. In the second, an indirect exposure assessment on a municipal solid waste incinerator in Ohio conducted by the EPA is summarized. This incinerator emitted very large amounts of dioxin, more than any single source known to EPA. Models were used to predict the movement of dioxins from the stack to a nearby hypothetical farm, where individuals in the farm family were exposed to dioxins from consumption of home-produced beef and milk. The predicted lifetime cancer risk of 2.8 x 10(-4) based on these food pathways was used by EPA's Region 5 to initiate regulatory activity on this incinerator.

Agriculture↗

PubMed2000

Systematic biases in measured PM10 values with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-approved samplers at Owens Lake, California.

From 1993 through 1998, Wedding or Graseby high-volume PM10 samplers were collocated with tapered element oscillating microbalance (TEOM) samplers at three sites at Owens Lake, CA. The study area is heavily impacted by windblown dust from the dry Owens Lake bed, which was exposed as a result of water diversions to the city of Los Angeles. A dichotomous (dichot) sampler and three collocated Partisol samplers were added in 1995 and 1999, respectively. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) operating procedures were followed for all samplers, except for a Wedding sampler that was not cleaned for the purpose of this study. On average, the TEOM and Partisol samplers agreed to within 6%, and the dichot, Graseby, and Wedding samplers measured lower PM10 concentrations by about 10, 25, and 35%, respectively. Surprisingly, the "clean" Wedding sampler consistently measured the same concentration as the "dirty" Wedding sampler through 85 runs without cleaning. The finding that the Graseby and Wedding high-volume PM10 samplers read consistently lower than the TEOM, Partisol, and dichot samplers at Owens Lake is consistent with PM10 sampler comparisons done in other fugitive dust areas, and with wind tunnel tests showing that sampler cut points can be significantly lower than 10 microns under certain conditions. However, these results are opposite of the bias found for TEOM samplers in areas that have significant amounts of volatile particles, where the TEOM reads low due to the vaporization of particles on the TEOM's heated filter. Coarse particles like fugitive dust are relatively unaffected by the filter temperature. This study shows that in the absence of volatile particles and in the presence of fugitive dust, a different systematic bias of up to 35% exists between samplers using dichot inlets and high-volume samplers, which may cause the Graseby and Wedding PM10 samplers to undermeasure PM10 by up to 35% when the PM10 is predominantly from coarse particulate sources.

Air Pollution↗

PubMed2000

Environmental health in environmental protection.

The health of the population and the environment are inextricably linked. To improve both, a holistic approach is required for environmental protection procedures. The primary approach for improvement is integration; more specifically an increase in communication between official departments and agencies, and mechanisms for stakeholder involvement from the inception of projects. There is also a need to combine HIAs and EIAs, and to apply them to wider issues, such as planning, policy or legislative changes, as well as traditional industrial development projects. It needs to be more widely appreciated that the economy and public health are ultimately substantially determined by the condition of the environment.

Australia↗

PubMed2003

Do U.S. Environmental Protection Agency water quality guidelines for recreational waters prevent gastrointestinal illness? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Despite numerous studies, uncertainty remains about how water quality indicators can best be used in the regulation of recreational water. We conducted a systematic review of this topic with the goal of quantifying the association between microbial indicators of recreational water quality and gastrointestinal (GI) illness. A secondary goal was to evaluate the potential for GI illness below current guidelines. We screened 976 potentially relevant studies and from these identified 27 studies. From the latter, we determined summary relative risks for GI illness in relation to water quality indicator density. Our results support the use of enterococci in marine water at U.S. Environmental Protection Agency guideline levels. In fresh water, (Italic)Escherichia(/Italic) coli was a more consistent predictor of GI illness than are enterococci and other bacterial indicators. A log (base 10) unit increase in enterococci was associated with a 1.34 [95% confidence intervals (CI), 1.00-1.75] increase in relative risk in marine waters, and a log (base 10) unit increase in E. coli was associated with a 2.12 (95% CI, 0.925-4.85) increase in relative risk in fresh water. Indicators of viral contamination were strong predictors of GI illness in both fresh and marine environments. Significant heterogeneity was noted among the studies. In our analysis of heterogeneity, studies that used a nonswimming control group, studies that focused on children, and studies of athletic or other recreational events found elevated relative risks. Future studies should focus on the ability of new, more rapid and specific microbial methods to predict health effects, and estimating the risks of recreational water exposure among susceptible persons.

Diarrhea↗

PubMed2000

Protecting environmental quality and human health: strategies for harmonisation.

In September 1999 the MRC Institute for Environment and Health hosted a multidisciplinary seminar on the harmonisation of strategies to protect environmental quality and human health. The objectives of the meeting were to share information about ways in which the protection of the environment and human health can be harmonised, and, by bringing together an audience representing a range of disciplines, interests and sectors, to explore how these may be integrated to inform policy, decision-making and the management of risks. Key conclusions from the seminar focused on the importance of sustainable development, harmonising risk assessment and the role of stakeholder involvement. The necessary move from an expert-based to a dialogue-based process will require concerted efforts on the part of scientists, policy-makers, regulators, industry and the public.

Environmental Pollution↗

PubMed1983

The sex-linked recessive lethal test for mutagenesis in Drosophila melanogaster. A report of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Gene-Tox Program.

The test for sex-linked recessive lethals (SLRL) in Drosophila melanogaster has been used to detect induced mutations since 1927. The advantage of the test for both screening and hazard evaluation is its objectivity in testing for transmissible mutations in the germ cells of a eukaryote. Statistical criteria for both positive and negative mutagenicity at the highest concentration tested under a particular exposure condition were developed by the Work Group, and a recommended protocol for future testing was agreed upon. For 421 compounds there were sufficient data available in the literature for analysis; 198 compounds were found to be positive and 46 negative at the highest concentration tested. Most experiments had been done for objectives of pure research rather than for deliberately screening for mutagenicity, although many of the 421 chemicals were selected for testing because of suspected mutagenicity. Therefore, the statement of 198 positive and 46 negative should not be taken as an example of the proportion of mutagens in the environment. In three sets of experiments with D. melanogaster that were done specifically for screening, one involving 40 compounds for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the others involving 13 for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), only 6 mutagens were discovered. After completion of the classification of compounds according to their response in the SLRL test, the compounds were classified as to their carcinogenic response according to the list of Griesemer and Cueto (1980). There were 62 compounds that could be classified as positive or negative for both carcinogenesis and mutagenesis. Of the 62 compounds, there was agreement between the carcinogenesis and mutagenesis classification in 56 (50 positive and 6 negative), or 90% would have been correctly classified as to carcinogenesis from only the SLRL test. Because of inadequate sample size, 177 compounds could not be classified as positive or negative according to the statistical criteria established by the Work Group. This large number of inadequately tested compounds reflects the fact that many of the experiments were not done for screening. Further work is needed on the compounds with inadequate sample size.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Environmental Protection Act: waste provisions. Waste Management Division, Department of the Environment.

This paper is a guide to the waste management provisions in Part II of the Environmental Protection Act relating to England and Wales. It is not an exhaustive guide; many of the provisions dealing with waste collection and recycling are excluded. Nor should it be treated as definitive; it contains simplifications, and for further clarification the Act itself should be consulted. With reference to LAWDCs, the paper expresses the current view, which may be subject to modification.

England↗

PubMed1990

Food production, environmental protection, and health effects in Mexican agriculture.

In countries like Mexico, where the need to increase agricultural productivity to satisfy an ever-increasing population is great, attention to environmental problems is recent. However, current public concern has forced the administration to consider environmental protection as a key strategy in the development model. The purpose of this paper is to present the efforts being made by the country, the state of research, legislation, and regulations, and the level of participation by agrichemical producers in aiming to balance protection of the environment and development in the agricultural sector, including intensive use of mechanization and agrichemicals.

Agriculture↗

PubMed2003

State of the marine environment reports--a need to evaluate their role in marine environmental protection and conservation.

This paper discusses the rationale behind the preparation of state of the marine environment (SOME) reports, and the need to evaluate their role in marine environmental protection and conservation. Many SOME reports exist, and are being planned or prepared, but are the intended audiences known, are the reports recognized for their many value-added benefits during preparation, and are they being used effectively when completed? It is proposed that a detailed evaluation is needed of SOME reporting and reports, covering audience(s), role(s), influence, and lessons learned or overall benefits.

Conservation of Natural Resources↗

PubMed2004

Radioactive waste disposal implications of extending Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act to cover radioactively contaminated land.

A short study has been carried out of the potential radioactive waste disposal issues associated with the proposed extension of Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to include radioactively contaminated land, where there is no other suitable existing legislation. It was found that there is likely to be an availability problem with respect to disposal at landfills of the radioactive wastes arising from remediation. This is expected to be principally wastes of high volume and low activity (categorised as low level waste (LLW) and very low level waste (VLLW)). The availability problem results from a lack of applications by landfill operators for authorisation to accept LLW wastes for disposal. This is apparently due to perceived adverse publicity associated with the consultation process for authorisation coupled with uncertainty over future liabilities. Disposal of waste as VLLW is limited both by questions over volumes that may be acceptable and, more fundamentally, by the likely alpha activity of wastes (originating from radium and thorium operations). Authorised on-site disposal has had little attention in policy and guidance in recent years, but may have a part to play, especially if considered commercially attractive. Disposal at BNFL's near surface disposal facility for LLW at Drigg is limited to wastes for which there are no practical alternative disposal options (and preference has been given to operational type wastes). Therefore, wastes from the radioactively contaminated land (RCL) regime are not obviously attractive for disposal to Drigg. Illustrative calculations have been performed based on possible volumes and activities of RCL arisings (and assuming Drigg's future volumetric disposal capacity is 950,000 m3). These suggest that wastes arising from implementing the RCL regime, if all disposed to Drigg, would not represent a significant fraction of the volumetric capacity of Drigg, but could have a significant impact on the radiological capacity with respect to 226Ra plus 232Th. The government's decision-making programme for managing solid radioactive wastes in the UK may possibly achieve a general consensus that the use of landfill for LLW from the RCL regime has a fundamental role to play. However, this is unlikely to change the situation within the next few years. No new national facility arising from this programme is likely to be available during the first decade of the operation of a new RCL regime. Hence it appears that Drigg will need to play an important role for some years to come.

Humans↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Economic development and environmental protection: an ecological economics perspective.

This paper argues on both theoretical and empirical grounds that, beyond a certain point, there is an unavoidable conflict between economic development (generally taken to mean 'material economic growth') and environmental protection. Think for a moment of natural forests, grasslands, marine estuaries, salt marshes, and coral reefs; and of arable soils, aquifers, mineral deposits, petroleum, and coal. These are all forms of 'natural capital' that represent highly-ordered self-producing ecosystems or rich accumulations of energy/matter with high use potential (low entropy). Now contemplate despoiled landscapes, eroding farmlands, depleted fisheries, anthropogenic greenhouse gases, acid rain, poisonous mine tailings and toxic synthetic compounds. These all represent disordered systems or degraded forms of energy and matter with little use potential (high entropy). The main thing connecting these two states is human economic activity. Ecological economics interprets the environment-economy relationship in terms of the second law of thermodynamics. The second law sees economic activity as a dissipative process. From this perspective, the production of economic goods and services invariably requires the consumption of available energy and matter. To grow and develop, the economy necessarily 'feeds' on sources of high-quality energy/matter first produced by nature. This tends to disorder and homogenize the ecosphere, The ascendance of humankind has consistently been accompanied by an accelerating rate of ecological degradation, particularly biodiversity loss, the simplification of natural systems and pollution. In short, contemporary political rhetoric to the contrary, the prevailing growth-oriented global development paradigm is fundamentally incompatible with long-term ecological and social sustainability. Unsustainability is not a technical nor economic problem as usually conceived, but rather a state of systemic incompatibility between a economy that is a fully-contained, growing, dependent sub-system of a non-growing ecosphere. Potential solutions fly in the face of contemporary development trends and cultural values.

Conservation of Natural Resources↗