Student Abstracts: Environmental Science

A Caparison of Water Chemistry between Natural, Modified, and Manmade Ponds within Brookhaven National Laboratory. PRISCILLA RANDOLPH (North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC, 27411) TIM GREEN (Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, 11973)

Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) is located in the center of the Long Island Pine Barrens. Within BNL’s 5,265-acre site there are 26 wetlands. Included are coastal plain ponds, vernal ponds, recharge basins, and streams, making it an ideal ecological site to study water chemistry. We tested water samples from seven coastal plain ponds on BNL: four natural (BP1, BP2, BP6, BP9), one man-modified (BP7), and two manmade (BP13a, Meadow Marsh). Five water samples were collected from each pond. An eTrex Vista Cx Global Positioning System (GPS) was used to mark each water sample point. An YSI 659 MDS meter fitted with a multiprobe was utilized to determine temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, and turbidity at each sample point. Water samples were analyzed for sulfate, nitrate, iron, phosphorus, chlorine, calcium, magnesium, copper, tannin-lignin, chromium, molybdenum, aluminum, and suspended solids using Hach DREL/2000 and CEL/890 water test kits. Water samples were also analyzed for eleven different elements using an ICP-AES. The pH in the anthropogenic ponds was found to be more basic than that of natural ponds. Phosphorous, tannin-lignin, and hardness were elevated in the natural ponds when compared to manmade and modified ponds, but only the difference in tannin-lignin content proved statistically significant. The natural ponds were shaded by the canopy of the surrounding forest while the manmade and modified ponds where located directly in the sun. This had a affect on water temperature. The results of this research will give environmental scientists an insight into water chemistry and interrelationships between abiotic and biotic factors and will enable BNL to optimize the management of amphibian and reptile habitats.

A Comparative Study of the Age Class Structures of Quercus alba, Quercus coccinea, Quercus velutina and Pinus rigida as an Indicator of Forest Health within the Long Island Pine Barrens Core Area. KATHRYN GUTLEBER (Connecticut College, New London, CT, 6320) TIM GREEN (Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, 11973)

Investigation of the age class structure of Quercus species and Pinus rigida within the Long Island Pine Barrens core area is an important aspect of monitoring the health of the Pine Barrens. The age class structures of Quercus alba, Quercus coccinea, Quercus velutina, and Pinus rigida are primary indicators of successful reproduction and the possibility of the successional change between community types. By comparing the numbers of seedlings, saplings and mature trees, the success of reproduction for these three Quercus species and Pinus rigida was analyzed. The numbers of seedlings and saplings were recorded through the use of four two-meter wide belt transects within 16 by 25 meter plots. These plots were located within the Pine Barrens subtargets of Pitch Pine, Pine-Oak, Oak-Pine, Coastal Oak, Scrub Oak and Dwarf Pine forests. This study found the success of reproduction for all the study tree species within the six community types to be varied. Q. alba, Q. coccinea and Q. velutina all displayed a low number of saplings in all community types surveyed, indicating that current reproduction is not very successful. In Coastal Oak and Oak-Pine communities, Q. alba was the most successful in reproduction. The reproduction of P. rigida was dominant within Pine-Oak, Pitch Pine and Pitch Pine-Scrub Oak Woodland communities. However, the low average number of P. rigida saplings found could possibly indicate the succession from pine-dominated forest to oak dominated forest. There are several factors that may influence these trends in reproduction, including exposure to light, levels of litter and duff, and deer browse. Although the current levels of reproduction for Quercus species and P. rigida are varied and range across the different community types, they are still an important indicator of forest succession within the Long Island Pine Barrens core area. Forest succession is an important factor in this ten-year longitudinal study of the Long Island Pine Barrens core area, as forest succession and species competition are primary indicators of forest health.

A Comparison of Litter Densities in Six Community Types of the Long Island Central Pine Barrens. DANA TIEVSKY (University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 14627) TIM GREEN (Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, 11973)

The vulnerability of major dams subjected to large transient loads is unknown since these loads were not considered during the design process of the dams. Due to the proprietary nature of the data in relation to dams, exact results cannot be shared. The complexity of these loads, in addition to the unique geometric and material properties of a dam, make it extremely difficult to assess a dam’s vulnerability. To overcome this obstacle, state of the art computational techniques such as finite element analysis must be utilized to assess the vulnerability of dams to these large transient loads. Use of a general finite element analysis program, ANSYS, allows the modeling of complex structures and loads. In order to construct these models, information is gathered from various sources such as structural plans and research papers about related engineering problems. Basic analyses of simplified models are run to determine which dams are more vulnerable and require further detailed study. The results from the detailed studies will reveal possible weaknesses and allowed corrective measures to be taken to secure the structure against this type of loading.

A Comparison of the Chemistry of Soil Surrounding Natural and Anthropogenic Ponds at Brookhaven National Laboratory. SHURRITA DAVIS (North Carolina A & T State University, Greensboro, OR, 27411) TIM GREEN (Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, 11973)

Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) is located in the Long Island Pine Barrens, an area formed through decomposition and reworking of glacial materials. BNL has many wetland structures including costal plain ponds, vernal ponds, recharge basins, and streams. Some of these serve as breeding grounds for tiger salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum), a species listed as endangered by the New York Natural Heritage Program. Anthropogenic habitats need to possess suitable characteristics with respect to soil and water chemistry in order to serve as successful breeding habitat for tiger salamanders. Soil is an important factor in controlling vegetation and water chemistry. In this study five ponds were selected for a study of soil chemistry: two natural and three anthropogenic. Nine soil samples were collected from each pond, eight around the perimeter and one from the pond bottom. Global Positioning System (GPS) was used to locate the sample points and ArcGIS was used to map the ponds and sample points. Soil samples were tested for pH, nitrate nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, aluminum, ferric iron, magnesium, sulfate, calcium, and chloride using LaMotte Combination Soil and LaMotte Soil Micronutrient Kits. Soil moisture content was also determined. Soil color, texture, structure, consistency, and mottling were also observed and recorded. Five of the nine soil samples from each pond were digested using EPA method 3050B for Acid Digestion of sediment, sludge, and soil and then tested for copper, iron, molybdenum, magnesium, cadmium, aluminum, chromium, manganese, potassium and lead using an Inductively Coupled Plasma - Atomic Emission Spectroscope (ICP-AES). The natural ponds were more acidic then the anthropogenic ponds. The soil temperature is higher around the anthropogenic ponds (BP7, BP13, MM) than the natural ponds (BP9, BP6). Nutrient levels were low and consistent across pond types. Though these differences exist, both types of ponds accomplish the goal of providing suitable breeding sites for tiger salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum). This information will serve as baseline data for BNL’s natural resource manager and enable BNL to optimize the management of amphibian and reptile habitats

A Miniature Quartz Crystal-based Device for Particulate Matter Monitoring with Real-time Data Acquisition. ZHUO HUANG (Sacramento State University, Sacramento, CA, 95819) MICHAEL APTE (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkley, CA, 94720)

Exposure to particulate matter (PM) through inhalation has been associated with adverse health problems. Accurately monitoring of the mass concentration and chemical composition of PM are necessary for exposure assessment. Many current instruments in use involve complex operation and labor-intensive work to obtain necessary data for studies, or involve costly systems to monitor a large population. One feasible solution to address these drawbacks is to develop low-cost, compact, and miniaturized real-time devices. The miniature system for particle exposure assessment (MSPEA) developed at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) is one approach available to the aerosol research community. MSPEA PM mass detection uses a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). All the components including the quartz crystals for this system are off-the-shelf items, and can be easily obtained. The particle deposition mechanism used by this device is thermophoresis, while particles are retained on the sensors using and van der Waals forces. The QCM is constructed using an unexposed reference crystal oscillator and a PM-exposed sensing crystal oscillator, and a mixing circuit to that combines the oscillators’ outputs into a beat frequency signal. A computer is used to incorporate the data acquisition operation, but eventually a microprocessor can replace the computer to miniaturize the device for personal monitoring at low-cost. Another monitoring feature of the MSPEA system employing ultraviolet and near-infrared optics is briefly discussed in this paper.

A Statistical-Based Analysis of Cloud Properties at Various Locations Across the Globe. PARMINDER SINGH (State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14214) SURABI MENON (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkley, CA, 94720)

The impact of anthropogenic activities (fossil-fuel combustion, biomass burning, and transportation) on climate includes contributions from both greenhouse gases (GHG) and aerosol particles. The warming associated with GHGs is well known but the negative forcing associated with aerosol-cloud interactions, also referred to as the aerosol indirect effect (AIE), is more difficult to evaluate. This forcing includes changes to cloud droplet number and cloud optical depth from an increase in aerosols that reduce droplet sizes and increase cloud reflectivity; and the impact on cloud water and lifetime that again increase cloud reflectivity. To understand these effects we use data from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer to analyze signatures of aerosol-cloud interactions over several regions across the globe for July 2000. The specific products we examined were: aerosol optical depth, cloud droplet effective radii, cloud optical depth, cloud top pressure, cloud top temperature and liquid water path (derived from cloud droplet effective radii and cloud optical depth). We choose 20 different ocean regions based on proximity to continental areas. Regions closer to the continent have higher aerosols in general (more polluted) than those farther away from the source (cleaner regions). We use cluster analysis, log-linear regressions, correlation coefficients, probability density functions and means to understand cloud response to aerosols at different locations. While features of both indirect effects were observed at most locations, for cleaner regions cloud property changes were more susceptible to aerosol effects. In more polluted regions, presence of dust or aerosols not conducive to cloud formation and liquid water variability may mask the signal we expect. The meteorological analysis of air mass origin and an independent measure of liquid water path can better constrain our analysis for future studies that would use this data to evaluate model representations of the AIE.

A Study of Seedling Numbers in Relation to Canopy Cover in Six Long Island Pine Barren Community Types. EMILY EFSTRATION (University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19717) TIM GREEN (Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, 11973)

Seedlings and saplings are important to forest health because they provide insight as to how the forest will develop and survive in the years to come. The canopy cover’s density has much to do with how these seedlings and saplings will develop and survive. Canopy cover, density and the amount of seedlings were studied in different forest communities to help predict the future of these forests. Using a Geographic Information System (GIS) and Global Positioning System (GPS), points were selected at random and twenty five by sixteen meter plots were analyzed. By using a densitometer, the canopy cover was determined in each plot along ten transects at randomly determined intervals. Seedlings and saplings were counted in four belt transects as well as noted in the entire plot. The different communities that were compared include Pine Oak, Oak Pine, Pitch Pine, Coastal Oak areas, Dwarf Pine and Pitch Pine-Scrub Oak Woodland/Shrubland. In the Coastal Oak community, where the cover was found to be 96% hardwood cover and no pine cover, no seedlings or saplings found. On the other hand, in a Pitch Pine plot, with 72% pine cover and 1.5% hardwood cover, approximately 86 seedlings and 85 saplings were found. When this study is redone in ten years to determine the progress of the forest, the investigators will determine if human intervention is needed to aid in forest growth. If adolescent trees were found healthy and growing, this would show the progression of the Pine Barrens and would also prove that the forest is capable of recuperating without human aid.

A Study of Variations in Soil and Water Chemistry of Selected Ponds at Brookhaven National Laboratory. JAMIE S. BRUNGARD, ROY COOMANS, NINA KEAN, & GEORGIA SAWYER (North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC, 27411) DR. TIM GREEN (Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, 11973)

Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), a 5,265 acre site, contains a variety of wetlands; included are coastal plain ponds, vernal ponds, recharge basins, and streams. Wetland habitats in Pine Barrens communities serve important ecosystem functions including providing critical habitat for the state endangered tiger salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum) and a number of other rare species. Survey techniques were used to gather information on soil and water chemistry of seven coastal plain ponds at BNL: four natural ponds, one man-modified pond, and two man-made ponds. Each pond was tracked using Global Positioning System (GPS) technology and mapped using ArcGIS. Five water samples were collected at each pond; nine soil samples were collected at five of the seven ponds. Water samples were analyzed for iron, sulfate, total chlorine, copper, aluminum, nitrate, phosphorus, tannin-lignin, suspended solids, hardness, total chromium, and molybdenum using HACH DREL/2000 and HACH CEL/890 water test kits. Soil samples were analyzed for pH, nitrate nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, aluminum, ferric iron, magnesium, sulfate, calcium, and chloride using LaMotte soil test kits. Soil temperature, color, texture, structure, and consistency were also determined. A YSI 650 MDS meter with multi-probe was used to field-test water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and conductivity at each sample point. Water samples and soil extracts were also analyzed using an ICP-AES. The pH and temperature of the soil around the natural ponds was significantly lower than that of the anthropogenic ponds. The pH of the water from the natural ponds was significantly more acidic and the tannin-lignin content significantly higher than that of the anthropogenic ponds. We propose that these differences in the soil and water chemistry of the ponds can be explained by the nature of the surrounding vegetation. The presence of a tree canopy and dense shrub layer around the natural ponds reduces their exposure to solar radiation and increases the amount of leaf litter being added to the soil and water. This results in lower soil and water temperatures, lower soil and water pH, and a higher tannin-lignin content in the water of the natural ponds versus the anthropogenic ponds. The results of this study provide baseline data for monitoring pond health in the future and for assessing the suitability of ponds as breeding sites for tiger salamanders.

Adsorbent-Coated Polyurethane Foam as a Denuder and Size-Selective Inlet for Ambient Air Samplers. JEFF DUARTE (University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616) LARA GUNDEL (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkley, CA, 94720)

For practical use, ambient air samplers for assessing human exposure to airborne particles must decrease in size and cost. One major step toward this change is replacement of large, adsorbent-coated glass denuders with small, cheaper adsorbent-coated PUF (polyurethane foam) denuders for capturing SVOC (semi-volatile organic compounds). The purpose of a denuder is to capture SVOC from the sampled air on its extractable adsorbent coat while allowing particles to pass through for collection on a filter. The purpose of this project was to determine if PUF could meet the latter requirement. It was hypothesized that PUF denuders could pass PM2.5 (particles with an aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 microns or less) and match or even exceed conventional glass denuders in SVOC capture because they have more surface area and are more compact. A bifurcated particle sampler that excluded particles larger than 2.5um was used on multiple 24-hour sampling runs in several configurations. Data were initially collected without any denuders, then in another configuration containing glass denuders on both sides to determine the variability of particle capture between the two columns, and then lastly with glass denuders on both sides as well as a PUF denuder on one side. The PUF denuder was placed downstream of the glass denuder so as to have normal SVOC capture. This allowed the focus to be solely on whether or not the PUF was allowing PM2.5 through. In earlier work with PUF denuders by M. T. Minjares, it was found that the filter downstream of the PUF had one third less mass then the filter with no PUF. Minjares had no upstream glass denuders, so her result was thought to be caused by either PM2.5 collection by the PUF or SVOC adsorption by the Teflon filter. In this follow-up experiment, upstream SVOC was collected by the glass denuders. The average PM2.5 concentration difference between the filters in the two columns in a non-denuded configuration was 8.6%. The average PM2.5 concentration difference between the two filters in the configuration with glass denuders on both sides and the PUF denuder on one side was 10.2%. With a mass measurement uncertainty of 3.6%, the difference between these two results is insignificant. The conclusions from this project are 1) the PUF does pass PM2.5 well and 2) the Teflon filter adsorbed SVOC. This is contrary to the prevailing belief that Teflon does not measurably adsorb SVOC, and it was causing the artifact that Minjares observed.

Amphibians of Wetland R at Argonne National Laboratory, Illinois: A Comparison to Other Area Wetlands. VANESSA KONIECKI (Elmhurst College, Elmhurst, IL, 60126) DR. KIRK LAGORY (Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL, 60439)

Wetlands are considered to be the most productive ecosystem. In August 1990, construction of the Advanced Photon Source began at Argonne National Laboratory, destroying three small wetlands and posing potential threats to a fourth. Wetland R, with an area of 1.8 acres, was created to replace the three small wetlands. The purpose of this baseline study was to assess and compare the amphibian diversity in Wetland R to two other area wetlands. Wetland 302, a natural wetland just northwest of Wetland R, and a retention pond behind building 900 at Argonne National Laboratory were used for comparison to Wetland R. Dipnetting, walk arounds of the standing water, tadpole sweeps, and anecdotal observations were made. Captured individuals were measured, weighed, and photographed. A timed walk around the standing water, in which the number of amphibians observed was tallied, was used to assess population size. Tadpole sweeps and anecdotal observations were used to assess the species present at each study area. Measurements of water surface area were taken weekly at Wetland R. There were a total of seven species observed. Four, possibly five, species were found at Wetland R, while only four species were found at the retention pond, and three species were found at Wetland 302. While numerous frogs were captured during anecdotal observations, frog populations declined when water levels receded. There was a correlation between water surface area and the number of frogs present. Furthermore, there were significantly more amphibians observed during walk arounds at the retention pond than there were at Wetlands R and 302. It is recommended that annual monitoring of Wetlands R and 302 and the retention pond be continued to assess amphibian diversity within natural and artificial area wetlands. More efficient methods for surveying will be needed to more accurately assess the species present.

An Alternative Nonvolatile Solvent to Dissolve Metals: The Mixture of Choline Chloride and Urea. DORRA KRIDIS (The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Sciences and Art, New York, NY, 10003) MARK FUHRMANN (Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, 11973)

The mixture of urea and choline chloride, two inexpensive, non-toxic, but high melting point organic solids in a specific ratio, produces an easy to make, colorless, and nonvolatile ionic liquid at 60°C. The prepared nonvolatile liquid is stable at room temperature. The goal of this experiment is to assess a comprehensive, environmentally friendly and efficient utilization of an ionic liquid (choline chloride and urea) and to determine the percentage of dissolved metal elements in the liquid; for example, aluminum, copper, iron, silica and zinc. In the present study, the Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-ASE) instrument is used to determine the concentration of dissolved metal in a diluted ionic liquid. The collected data is compared to the solubility of each metal in water at 25°C, 50°C and 70°C. The inexpensive ionic liquid is easily prepared where the number of moles of urea is half of the choline chloride. The reactants are the urea, and the choline chloride. The products present are an ionic liquid in the form of a salt and water. The novel ionic liquid chemical name is determined to be 3,5,5-triamino-4,6-dihydroxy-1,2,2-trimethylhexahydropyrimidin-1-ium chloride. The density of this salt is determined to be 1.14 g/ml. The solubility of metal oxides at 25°C, 50°C and 70 °C such as copper oxide, zinc oxide, aluminum oxide and quartz are greater in ionic liquid compared to water. Solubility of elemental zinc, iron and copper also show a greater percentage over those in water. Aluminosilicate minerals also show a greater solubility in an ionic liquid compared to water. The potential structures of the formed ionic liquid suggest that it may be useful in catalysis when metals are added. The solubility results also suggest that this ionic liquid could be applied to use as metal polishing and to remove metals from soil and other contaminated material.

Analysis of Secondary Organic Aerosols and Gas Phase Products from Ozonolysis of alpha-pinene in the Presence of an Organic Seed Aerosol. SHAUN GARLAND (University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616) LIZABETH ALEXANDER (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99352)

Ozonolysis of monoterpes such as alpha-pinene gives rise to not only primary oxidization products, like acetone, but also secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation. Understanding the mass budget of volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) converted into aerosols and what remains in the gas phase has impact in metropolitan areas, where ozone is in higher than normal ambient concentrations and presence of existing organic aerosols, in both air quality and models that deal with pollution. Previous studies have investigated the consequence of inorganic aerosols on aerosol yields. This study uses dioctyl phthalate (DOP) as a primary seed aerosol in an alpha-pinene/ozone reacting system to determine how its presence affects both SOA yield and gas phase concentrations compared to no-seed conditions. Concentrations of alpha-pinene and other primary oxidation products are tracked in real time by proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrometry to develop profiles that allow investigation into second order reaction rate constants. The presence of DOP was determined to lower organic aerosol mass yield as well as the gas phase yields of acetone. Second order reaction rates showed that DOP also does not have any kinetic impact on the alpha-pinene/ozone reaction. These results indicate that the presence of DOP aerosols provide a site for secondary reactions to take place, consuming organic matter that would normally form aerosols.

Analysis of the Habitat of Henslow's Sparrows Compared to Randomly Chosen Grassland Areas. ANITA NUNEZ (University of Illinois, Chicago, Il, 60607) ROD WALTON (Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, Batavia, IL, 60510)

The Henslow’s Sparrow is state endangered and is at risk of extinction as a breeding species in Illinois. The population of this species has been decreasing due to the degradation and loss of grassland habitat. This is the second year of an ongoing study of the Henslow’s habitat. It is important to study the vegetation of the Henslow’s Sparrow’s habitat in order to assess whether the land management plans at Fermilab are effective. Once the Henslow’s were located, the vegetation comprising the birds’ habitats was studied. Measurements of the maximum plant height, average plant height, and duff height were taken as well as ground coverage measurements (percents of grasses, forbs, duff and bare ground). For a control, randomly chosen grassland sites were located within Fermilab property. t-tests and two-sample variance tests were used to analyze the plant and duff height data, and Mann-Whitney Utests were used to analyze the ground cover data. The data suggested Henslow’s Sparrows prefer areas with shorter maximum plant height than was found in the randomly chosen sites. Further, the data suggested these grassland birds prefer more duff and less bare ground when compared to randomly chosen sites. The two-sample variance tests showed there is lower variation in the maximum plant height at sites Henslow’s prefer. This study’s findings are in agreement with the previous study, which found Henslow’s Sparrows prefer less bare ground as well as lower variance in the maximum plant height. The previous study also suggested that Henslow’s prefer more grasses in their areas when compared to randomly chosen sites. For further research, this study should be repeated to further support the findings. It would also be interesting to study how large the Henslow’s territories are.

ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAE INTERACTION WITH ROOTS OF WILD QUININE (Parthenium integrifolium), SMOOTH BLUE ASTER (Aster laevis) AND PRAIRIE DOCK (Silphium terebenthinaceum). MARY CARRINGTON (Governors State University, University Parkway, IL, 60466) RAYMOND MICHAEL MILLER (Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL, 60439)

We initiated a field experiment for investigation of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) colonization of roots and extramatrical for prairie dock (Silphium terebenthinaceum), wild quinine (Parthenium integrifolium) and smooth blue aster (Aster laevis), all prairie plant species in the family Asteraceae, but with different root architectures. Soil samples were collected, and fungal in-growth bags were buried, near two-year-old individuals of each species in the field. Live roots were separated from soil, and total root length was determined for each root sample. Root samples were then stained and mounted on microscope slides for determination of percent root length colonized by AM. Results are forthcoming on percent root length colonization by AM, and biomass of extramatrical fungi per unit soil volume. Both variables are expected to vary inversely with degree of fine root proliferation among the three plant species. Results from this study will be an important step toward improving results and predictability of prairie restoration efforts.

Arsenic Removal from Ground Waters: An Investigation of the Effects of Temperature. MARIA MELISSA QUEMADA (University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720) ASHOK J. GADGIL (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkley, CA, 94720)

Arsenic, a naturally occurring element is a major contaminant in ground waters. Approximately 40 million people in Bangladesh and tens of millions more in neighboring countries are being poisoned by arsenic in their drinking water. The World Health Organization has set a standard of 10-µg/L arsenic in drinking water, while Bangladesh standard remains 50-µg/L. In California, approximately 600,000 households use water with arsenic concentrations higher than the required standard. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has developed a technology for arsenic removal using coal ash coated with ferric hydroxide (media). This process enables the arsenic bind to the iron oxide complex that is coated around the ash particles, and thus lowers the arsenic concentration in drinking water. This technology has high efficacy and very cost effective. My goal in this project is to test the performance of this technology on U.S. waters over a range of temperature values and to test the arsenic removal capacity of the media using coal fly ash that are commonly found in the US. The temperature values I investigated were 4 and 35 degree Celsius. This was accomplished through a series of experiments that allowed me to find the time the process reaches equilibrium in the two temperature values I investigated. Once the equilibrium time was established, the process was repeated to obtain adsorption isotherm curves for the two different temperature values. The equilibrium times that were found were 4 and 16 hours for 4°C and 35°C respectively. The arsenic removal capacity was analyzed using an arsenic field kit test (Quick Test©) and the results were confirmed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy analysis.

Arsenic Removal Using Ferric Hydroxide Coated Coal Ash. CLETE READER (MiraCosta College, Oceanside, CA, 92056) ASHOK GADGIL (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkley, CA, 94720)

Chronic ingestion of arsenic (As), usually through contaminated drinking water, leads to serious health problems, including cancers, neural disorders, or failure of the kidneys and liver. The present project aims to address the crises in Bangladesh where an estimated 40 million people are consuming water with arsenic levels greater than the World Health Organization’s recommended maximum 10 µg As per liter of water (or 10 ppb). The technology is also being extended for applications in the U.S. regions of low population density where the small municipal water systems makes conventional approaches of arsenic removal impractical. The technology relies on the documented ability of Fe (III) to immobilize arsenic. A coating of the iron complex onto coal ash, which has a surface area of 600m²/g, provides abundant active sites for the adsorption to occur. This study investigates the effect of pH on the arsenic removal capacity of the coated coal ash media with the goal of providing an accurate prediction of the media’s performance at a range of pH levels and arsenic concentrations. It was first necessary to determine the time-to-equilibrium for the reaction, at different pH levels. This was achieved by mixing the media with synthetic ground water spiked with 50 ppb As (V) and analyzing the As concentrations in the water at times ranging from 0.5 – 15 hours using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry. Data on adsorption for various starting concentrations of As was generated in a similar manner, with time-to-equilibrium determined by above experiments. In the range of pH levels tested equilibrium occurred within 4 hours. Adsorption data were obtained for starting As concentrations of 50 and 150 ppb. Further experiments at additional concentrations will be conducted to develop an adsorption curve that will allow accurate prediction of performance. Preliminary results suggest that the removal capacity of the media is highest at mildly acidic (5.5) pH levels. The low cost, low input, nature of the technology makes it a viable alternative to other removal technologies; characterizing the effect of pH will allow for optimization across a range of pH levels and arsenic concentrations.

Aspen tree core mircro-cat analysis and mutation detection. ASHLEY NEIL (Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36830) LEE GUNTER (Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831)

Among clonal organisms the actual genetic mechanism used to maintain diversity within the species is unknown; however they are suspected to have a higher mutation rate than plants propagated by seed dispersal alone. Populus tremuloides (aspen), with its wide distribution, persistence in the environment and extensive clonal structure, is a good model for studying this mechanism in plants. In this project, its proposed using the number of estimated somatic mutations to determine the absolute age of clonal aspen stands within Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP). Several parameters needed to be examined in order to determine if aspen has a high somatic mutation rate relative to other organisms, such as clone age, number of somatic mutations, dominant genotype, as well as the geographic distribution pattern correlated with the genetic structure. In an effort to establish clone age, individual aspen ramets were analyzed using an ultra high resolution x-ray computer tomography system. The super resolution of this system generates a clear and easily differentiated image of the rings of the collected cores. Therefore, an estimate of the clone age will be determined based on the rings reading from the image and the tree diameters. Thus far approximately 300 ramets have been examined. A correlation between the ramet ages and the diameters will need to be determined in order to calculate the age of an individual tree from its diameter. From earlier studies, it has been demonstrated that this technique is the best one to yield satisfactory results. The major objective in the genetic component of this study is to attempt to determine the rate of somatic mutation, and, if successful, to use it to estimate the absolute ages of several aspen clones in the RMNP.

Assessing the Impact of the Apatite Injection Barrier on Benthic Macroinvertebrates and Periphyton at 100-N on the Hanford Reach of the Columbia River. BEN MILLER (Birmingham-Southern College, Birmingham, AL, 35244) ROBERT P. MUELLER (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99352)

100-N on the Hanford Site operated from 1963 until 1988. 100-N is unique from the other plutonium production reactors on the Hanford Site because of its multiple-pass cooling system, which circulated coolant through the reactor several times before depositing it into a series of liquid waste disposal facilities nearby. These multiple passes significantly magnified the contaminants present in the coolant, which has since leached into an unconfined aquifer adjacent to the Columbia River. In a remediation effort, an Apatite Injection Barrier (AIB) has been implemented along the shore at 100-N to impede an underground plume of Strontium-90. However, this technique is expected to release trace amounts of simple salts, as well as sodium phosphate and ammonium nitrate. To assess the impact of such a release on the Hanford Reach at 100-N, we collected communities of periphyton and macroinvertebrates from the nearshore region along vectors upstream, downstream, and adjacent to the site, as well as a reference area near the opposite shoreline of the Columbia River. A Phospholipid-Fatty Acid Analysis (PLFA) was also performed on the collected periphyton, along with a Shannon-Weiner diversity index. For the initial baseline calculations, we found very little significant difference in the composition of the benthic community between sample sites along the AIB and the reference sites across the river. Later collections of the macroinvertebrate and periphyton community will be assessed to understand what, if any, impact the AIB has on local biota.

Bacterial Diversity in Soil and Sediments From a Former Bombing Range (Vieques, PR). ERNIE PEREZ (University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez, Mayaguez, PR, 680) TERRY C. HAZEN (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkley, CA, 94720)

Bombing sites used for military training activities can have considerable amounts of contaminants and pose significant risks for people and the environment. Until 2003, the eastern part of Vieques, Puerto Rico, was used as a bombing range by the US Navy. Since then, leaching of explosive compounds from unexploded ordnance represents a serious threat to the marine ecosystem. The contribution of microbial populations to natural attenuation of explosives, including sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) has been demonstrated in soils but little is known about their contribution in marine environments. Characterization assays were employed to assess the effects of explosive compounds (TNT, RDX, HMX) on Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough and five novel SRB isolates from marine sediments in costal waters adjacent to the former military facilities. Pure cultures were combined with media in a covered 96-well micro plate and the opacity was monitored in real time as the bacteria grew in a temperature-controlled plate reader. A dose-response curve was used to estimate minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for TNT, RDX and HMX in 0, 1.5 and 3.0% (w/v) NaCl. Some of the bacterial isolates grew better in explosive-containing environments than in regular media. The chemotactic response to nitrocompounds was evaluated for D. vulgaris using a Palleroni chamber. D. vulgaris responded positively towards TNT, but not to RDX or HMX. Elucidating the diversity and behavior of SRBs to explosives in tropical sediments could help us understand the role of these microbial populations in explosive-contaminated marine environments.

Baseline pH and the Variability of pH within Plots and Community Types of the Central Pine Barrens. NEAL JACK (Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16801) TIM GREEN (Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, 11973)

The Long Island Central Pine Barrens (CPB) is a valuable natural resource for its beauty, natural water aquifer and for being the habitat of many endangered and threatened species of plants animals and insects. The Foundation for Ecological Research in the Northeast (FERN) is an organization committed to the preservation of the Pine Barrens ecosystem by maintaining or improving the health of the forests located in the CPB. FERN, in conjunction with other organizations, implemented a ten-year longitudinal study on the health of the CPB. Data collected on the pH of the soil will provide a piece of the baseline health record for this ten-year longitudinal study. To establish a baseline health record for each forest type, several 16 x 25m plots were set up, according to established protocols, within each forest community type. Using a Kelway HB-2 Soil pH meter / moisture tester the pH of the soil was taken at eight points within each plot. The average pH of the forest types were 6.3 for Coastal Oak, Pitch Pine 5.9, Pine-Oak 6.0, Oak-Pine 5.9, Pitch Pine Scrub Oak 6.1, and 6.1 for Dwarf Pine. Analyzing this data and data collected at the end of the ten-year study will be valuable in determine the long-term health of the forest as well as the effect of human intervention such as acid rain pollution.

Benchmark Report for Homeland Security: Standards, Guidelines and Fate. MEGAN WILLIAMS (University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, 70148) MARGARET MACDONELL (Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL, 60439)

Because of the rise in terrorist attacks throughout the world, pre-emptive and response procedures are being identified to assure the safety of Americans. Exposure guides are being developed to support health protection of Americans for more than 150 threat contaminants that could be released into the drinking water and air following a terrorist attack. The contaminants evaluated are deemed a potential health threat by the Environmental Protection Agency- National Homeland Security Research Center (EPA-NHSRC). They consist of toxic industrial chemicals (TIC), chemical warfare agents (CWA), radiochemical agents and bacterial agents. Exposure guides which we develop are risk based concentration (RBC) reports and provisional advisory levels (PALs) reports. The RBC report identifies pre-existing benchmarks, occupational limits, fate, toxicity use and degradation products for the contaminants. The RBC report focuses on benchmarks for chronic or repeat lifetime contaminant exposure. PALs are exposure guides that answer the questions of how, what, when, where and how a contaminant will effect the drinking water and air.

Biomarkers and Treatment for Potential Contamination Response. DANIEL RAHILL (University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IL, 46556) DR. MARGRET MACDONELL (Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL, 60439)

The creation of Provisional Advisory Levels (PALs) for specific chemicals of possible threat was to compile valuable information regarding potential risk in preparation for possible contaminations, including those induced by terrorists. As there is risk of exposure to the PAL chemicals, indicators of exposure and treatment outlines are of great importance. Biomarkers to quickly identify a chemical contamination event have been developed in this ongoing study. Once identified either to a specific chemical or a family of chemicals, treatments are available. Both immediate treatment and more extended medical treatments have been provided. The treatments have been categorized by both severity and symptom. The treatments account for sensitive populations, children in particular. The treatments are most complete for the organophosphates, which, for example, are treated with intermittent doses of atropine and pralidoxime. The ultimate goal of the biomarkers and treatment is to prepare all populations for all severity levels in the event of a potential chemical release. Another issue of importance was the quality assurance of the PAL reports. Particularly PAL reports for methyl paraoxon and VX contained errors that needed to be addressed and corrected. The methyl paraoxon PAL required several components of fate and toxicity to be developed, oral and inhalation PALs to be updated and corrected, and dermal PALs to be created. The VX PAL contained inhalation PAL values that should be revised. The VX document also contains improper citations with several other documents that need clarification. The corrections were flagged in this ongoing study.

Bombing sites used for military training activities can have considerable amounts of contaminants and pose significant risks for people and the environment. Until 2003, the eastern part of Vieques, Puerto Rico, was used as a bombing range by the US Navy. NATALIA RAMOS (University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez, PR, 727) TERRY C. HAZEN (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkley, CA, 94720)

Characterization of Immobilized Urease and the Potential for 90Sr Sequestration. DESIREE SWEET (University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712) YOSHIKO FUJITA (Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID, 83415)

A new technique for 90Sr sequestration in the subsurface is being investigated by the Idaho National Laboratory in collaboration with University of Idaho at Idaho Falls. The technique is based on the idea that urea hydrolysis, catalyzed by immobilized urease, will accelerate the rate of calcite precipitation in the subsurface. To prove the validity of this technique, the kinetics of the immobilized urease and calcite precipitation must be modeled. The effect of the precipitation on porosity and permeability must be seen, and it must be proven that the technique can capture 90Sr. Urea Hydrolysis refers to the reaction of urea and water catalyzed by the urease enzyme. The products of urea hydrolysis are ammonia and carbon dioxide. Urease is an enzyme produced by environmental microorganisms that currently exist in the subsurface. Consequently, many problems associated with injection of a reactant can be avoided. A result of urea hydrolysis is that it increases the carbonate alkalinity, thus it is a particularly attractive remediation technique in subsurface environments which are saturated with respect to calcite, as the likelihood of calcite precipitation becomes even greater. The urea hydrolysis accelerates the rate at which calcite can be precipitated, which accelerates the rate at which 90Sr may be coprecipitated, and removed from the subsurface.

Cold Flow Properties of Biodiesel. KAITLIN THOMASSEN (State University of New York at Geneseo, Geneseo, NY, 14454) DR. C. R. KRISHNA (Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, 11973)

Biodiesel has become one of the most promising alternative fuels; however, its relatively high cloud point (CP) temperature is one of the reasons limiting it from replacing the widespread use of fossil fuels in today’s society. Reducing the CP of biodiesel is one the last major obstacles scientists need to overcome before the fuel can be marketed for consumers. Unfortunately, not much is known about the cold flow properties of biodiesel, their dependence on the source material from which biodiesel is made, and about methods to reduce the CP temperature. Previously, scientists have theorized that the higher the percent of saturated fatty acids in the source material from which the biodiesel is made, the higher the CP temperature. As part of this research project, samples of biodiesel made from soy, tallow, canola, and yellow grease were blended in different percent ratios to test this theory. Tallow and soy were blended together at 20%, 50%, and 80% ratios. Separately, yellow grease was blended with soy and canola was blended with tallow at these same ratios. These biodiesel samples were chosen due to the large contrast in the percent saturation. Soy and canola contain a low percent saturation, while tallow and yellow grease have a high percent saturation. The test results showed that CP temperature increased linearly as the percent of saturated components increased in the biodiesel samples. In addition, the CP temperature was found for No.2 oil and biodiesel blends. B5, B20, B50, and B80 blends were made with yellow grease, canola, soy, and tallow-based biodiesel. The results showed that as the percent of No.2 oil increases in each sample the CP temperature decreases. The tests also concluded that making blends of No. 2 oil and biodiesel from different sources can yield a very different CP temperature. Furthermore, in the effort to reduce the CP temperature of biodiesel, a proprietary additive was blended with several types of neat and blended biodiesel samples. What was concluded from this proprietary additive is that CP was not effectively changed however, observation indicated that the pour point (PP) temperature seemed to have been lowered. In future research, the CP of different biodiesel types will be correlated with their chemical structure.

Comparison of the Populations of Common Wood-Nymph Butterflies in Burned Prairie, Unburned Prairie, and Old Field Grasses. MARLENE HAHN (Loyola University, Chicago, IL, 60626) ROD WALTON (Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, Batavia, IL, 60510)

Common wood-nymph butterflies are found throughout the United States and Canada. However, not much is known about how they overwinter or their preferences for particular grasses and habitats. In this study, the impact of prairie management plans on the abundance of the wood-nymph population was assessed as well as the preference of these butterflies to areas with native or non-native grasses. The abundance of common wood-nymph butterflies was determined using Pollard walks. The majority of the vegetation at each of the three sites was identified and documented. Using a 1 X 3 ANOVA, it was determined that there was a significant difference (p < 0.0005) between the abundance of common wood-nymphs in the European grasses site compared to the burned and unburned prairie sites. There was no significant difference between the burned and unburned treatments of the prairie on the common wood-nymph population. A multiple variable linear regression generated a model in which the temperature and weather affected the observed common wood-nymph butterflies per hour (p = 0.026). To verify these preliminary results, future studies need to repeat this experiment. Quadrat analysis of the vegetation from all three sites should be done in order to see if there is a correlation between common wood-nymph butterfly abundance per hour and the specific types or quantity of vegetation at each site. Another area of investigation is to determine how the observer’s visual field is affected by the density or height of vegetation at each site.

Creating Code for Automed Demand Response. ARRAN BLATTEL (Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305) MARY ANN PIETTE (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkley, CA, 94720)

Energy efficiency, conservation, and peak load management are important approaches to protecting the power grid, saving consumers money, and reducing impact on the environment. Demand Response (DR) is an attempt to curtail energy demand during the handful of days each year when the grid is strained. The local electric company, Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), created a voluntary program called Critical Peak Pricing (CPP), in which participants are asked to curb energy use for 12 independent summer days that PG&E deems are most likely to strain the grid. Participants receive lower electric rates on non-CPP days, but much higher rates during peak hours on CPP days, creating an incentive to reduce demand. Automated Demand Response (Auto-DR) is a novel approach focused on fully automating buildings participating in the CPP program, so during a CPP event their buildings will reduce its energy demands without any human interaction. The system works by using a computer program to continuously monitor CPP status posted on PG&E’s server. When the program detects a CPP event in progress, it triggers pre-programmed energy saving strategies to take affect in the building such as dimming lights and reducing AC use. For buildings that are currently automated, post-event surveys are conducted to measure occupants’ response to the changed environment from load reduction. This research also gives feedback to participants as soon as possible so they can see the correlation between their buildings’ energy saving actions and their electrical shed. The main focus of this research is on studying the electrical demand of participating buildings evaluating how much they reduced their energy consumption. Over the past three years, this research has come to show that Auto-DR is a viable form of dynamic energy conservation, by consistently providing load sheds during CPP days. Due to the inherent lack of manual labor required to operate in this program and no reliance upon present personnel, Auto-DR may prove to be more efficient and cost-effective than DR for certain buildings.

Creation of Exposure Advisory Levels via Standards and Guidelines, Toxicity, and Fate Data. KATHLEEN METTEL (University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801) MARGARET MACDONELL (Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL, 60439)

The purpose of this ongoing research project is to set provisional advisory levels (PALs) for priority contaminants from a set of over 200 threat contaminants that a terrorist could use to contaminate an air or water supply. Responders to such an attack will be able to act appropriately using the PAL levels set. PALs are set for various time durations (<1 day, 1 day-30 days, 30 days-2 years) and health threats (little/no effects, reversible effects, harmful/lethal effects). Draft PAL documents for the initial priority set of four contaminants with fate products were finalized for submission in late June and work has begun on a new set of priority contaminants. A major aspect of this project is to locate and assess the current available standards and guidelines for each contaminant developed for other programs. Various tables and figures were created to describe each standard and guideline and also to compare each contaminant’s newly set PAL values to the other available standards and guidelines.

Cumulative Risk Assessment: Environmental Fate, Physical-Chemical Properties, and Contaminant Toxicity. JESSICA ENGLEHART (University of Maine, Orono, ME, 4469) MARGARET MACDONELL (Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL, 60439)

In the event of a terrorist attack that utilizes chemical or biological weapons, the emergency response team needs a way to find information about the immediate risks and dangers present. In a scenario such as this, Provisional Advisory Levels (PALs) currently undergoing preparation by Argonne National Laboratory would be of great help. These PALs are specifically designed to provide exposure guidelines for chemicals that have been deemed potential homeland security threats. If one of these chemicals were to be released to the water or air, a PAL would help first responders (e.g. individuals without an extensive scientific background) make a health-based decision about the level of danger that is present. Each PAL report is chemical specific, and multiple routes of exposure are analyzed in every document. The values for each PAL are determined by using studies from medical and scientific journals, government research, and other research publications. When as much information as possible has been compiled about each chemical, the most applicable material is used to develop the calculated PAL values that regulate the exposure guidelines. Although the derived PAL values are the designated purpose of the PAL report, other important components of the document include the chemical identification, physical-chemical properties, environmental fate, and toxicology data. The environmental fate is especially important to the report because many of the contaminants can rapidly break down into other components and chemicals. The resulting byproducts may be inert or even more toxic than the parent chemical. Specifically, the environmental fate of the nematicide fenamiphos is undergoing analysis. While examining the fate of a chemical, it is understood that multiple chemicals may be present at any given time after a contamination occurs. This topic leads into the study of cumulative risk, which is an issue currently under national perusal. PALs are an invaluable resource in a time when chemical and biological warfare are legitimate fears; however, there is no guarantee that only one chemical will be present during a contamination or release. This is why it is vital to further investigate cumulate risk and how exposure to multiple contaminants should be handled in a time of crisis.

Data Analysis for Key Route Extrapolation of Organophosphate Toxicity. SARAH HODGINS (University of Maine, Orono, ME, 4469) MARGARET MACDONELL (Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL, 60439)

With the threat of chemical and biological warfare on the rise, the United States government needs a way to inform citizens of any contaminants and their potential health effects if released into the environment. Exposure guidelines for these contaminants should be established for the safety of all those who could be exposed and the possibility of evacuating, cleaning-up, and/or reentering an area. Provisional Advisory Levels, or PALs, are health-based exposure guides that represent levels that humans can be exposed to on the basis of the contaminant concentration, if introduced into the air or water, and the length of exposure. PALs are derived from toxicity studies of animals or humans that have been exposed to the contaminant at different dosages and different lengths of time. In addition to PALs importance to national security, they are also valuable for natural disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina, where large areas and water sources are contaminated with a multitude of substances for long periods of time. Unfortunately, there are some possible contaminants that do not have sufficient data for oral, inhalation, and dermal exposure. The data gaps leave a lot of questions regarding the ranges of exposure people can have to the contaminants. Organophosphates are a group of contaminants that have this problem. This project focuses on comparing each organophosphate with limited data to help fill the gaps.

Detection and Quantification of Dehalococcoides Strains from a Chloroethene-Contaminated. ALMA ZHOLI (University of Michigan Dearborne, Dearborne, MI, 48128) CHRISTOPHER SCHADT, SONIA TIQUIA (Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831)

Detection and Quantification of Dehalococcoides Strains from a Chloroethene-Contaminated Aquifer Using Quantitative Real-Time PCR (qPCR) Alma Zholi and Kelly Cho The University of Michigan, Dearborn, MI PROGRAM NAME (FaST Program) Faculty Adviser: Sonia M. Tiquia Mentor: Christopher W. Schadt Department of Natural Sciences Environmental Sciences Division The University of Michigan-Dearborn Oak Ridge National Laboratory Dearborn, MI 48128 Oak Ridge, TN 37128 ABSTRACT Chlorinated solvents such as tetrachloroethene (PCE) and trichloroethene (TCE) are some of the most prevalent contaminants in groundwater in the United States. Recent studies have revealed that PCE and TCE can be reductively chlorinated to non-toxic ethene by specific dehalo-respiring bacteria from the genus Dehalococcoides. While Dehalococcoides have been found at a significant number of sites, these microbes may not be present in all groundwater environments. Hence, to promote complete dehalogenation of TCE and PCE, Dehalococcoides are often added to contaminated sites in a process known as bioaugmentation. The present study aims to determine the presence and abundance of Dehalococcoides strains in TCE/PCE-contaminated aquifer samples from Dover Air Force Base (DAFB) in Delaware that have underwent various treatment strategies, including bioaugmentation. Five samples were tested for the presence and abundance of Dehalococcoides 16S rRNA genes using real-time PCR (qPCR). The composition of Dehalococcoides in the samples were also determined by cloning and sequencing using PCR primers directed toward conserved regions of the gene within the group Dehalococcoides. Results of the qPCR experiment revealed an abundance of Dehalococcoides in all aquifer samples examined, indicating that this microbe may be wide spread in groundwater from DAFB, and perhaps active under each of the remediation strategies. Database searches of 16S rRNA-Dehalococcoides partial sequences indicated that the samples were dominated by gene sequences related to Dehalococcoides ethenogenes, Dehalococcoides sp. CBDB1, and several uncultured Dehalococcoides spp. This project is part of a larger effort to contribute to research and development of microbiological systems that influence parameters important to the clean up environmental contaminants such as PCE and TCE.

Determining the Release Rate of Perfluorocarbon Tracers with Regards to Temperature. TASHA PICCOLO (Marist College, Poughkeepsie, NY, 12601) JOHN HEISER (Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, 11973)

Brookhaven National Laboratory uses perfluorocarbon tracers (PFTs) for atmospheric dispersion, leak detection, and measuring air ventilation rates in homes and commercial buildings. PFTs are used to tag air/gas and follow the movement of the air. PFTs are colorless, odorless compounds that consist of carbon and fluorine atoms joined by covalent single bonds. They are conserved, chemically inert, and biologically inactive. Therefore, they do not react with the atmosphere or other environments and are perfectly safe to use. One method of releasing PFTs to tag and track air is through the use of permeation sources. Permeation sources consist of a small glass vial partially filled with a PFT and fitted with a rubber membrane in its cap. The rubber membrane has a high solubility and diffusivity rate which allows PFTs to permeate through. A sampling of six different tracers were extracted and filled into permeation sources. The sources were divided into four groups; each group was contained in a constant temperature chamber with temperatures: 6°C, 20°C, 30°C, and 40°C. The 20°C temperature chamber held 15 of each tracer type, while the other temperature chambers held six of each tracer type. Every other day over a five week period, the PFT samples were weighed on a high precision balance to determine their rate of emission. The process of weighing each PFT determined the average weight loss at each weighing period and allowed calculation of the release rate at a specified temperature. As expected, the diffusion rate of each tracer was greatest in the 40°C temperature chamber. The greater release rate is due to higher vapor pressure produced in higher temperatures. By plotting the natural log (LN) of the release rate versus 1/Temperature (Kelvin), an equation was produced for each PFT which displayed the slope and y-intercept and expressed the specific release rate dependent on a given temperature. It is very important to determine the release rate of PFTs in regards to different temperatures so that the source term is well defined. Knowing the temperature dependency allows the calculation of the source term in a field experiment where the weather may change from very hot to very cold. This work is a small portion of other ongoing projects, such as the Urban Dispersion Project which uses PFTs to show how toxic gas might disperse throughout specific areas like New York City, and other projects using PFTs for ventilation and air exchange measurements in homes.

Developing U.S. Census Bureau-defined regional MARKAL modeling energy systems. CHRISTOPHER TEACHEY (Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794) VATSAL BHATT (Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, 11973)

The MARKAL family of technology-rich, mathematical models is used to represent a national, regional, state, or municipal energy system while supporting long-term strategic energy and environmental planning. Because of an interest in examining energy technology options to acquire regional differences including energy resource stockpiles, energy system organization and inter-regional issues such as optimal emissions permit trading between United States regional energy systems for the purpose of reducing environmental pollution, it’s now of concern to establish regional MARKAL models while using the United States Census Bureau divisions as a template . Using Microsoft Excel and the Visual Basic for Applications, the maintenance and collection of demand-side data from the Energy Information Administration’s Annual Energy Outlook energy forecasts were tailored and input into each of the regional MARKAL models and the development of dynamic spreadsheets was necessary and possible due to the extensive data to be aggregated periodically. This data was subdivided into the four primary sectors of demand which includes the residential, transportation, commercial, and industrial sectors. Among the demand data that was collected in each of these sectors includes forecasted energy projection figures and efficiencies of demand technologies. Once constructed and established, the multi-regional model will be used in an ongoing multi-year DOE project evaluating long-term impacts of the hydrogen production infrastructure on the U.S. energy market in addition to examining the key regional differences and inter-regional issues.

Development and Application of the Small Blade Fatigue Life Equivalency Test (SB-FLET) on the Southwest Windpower Skystream 3.7 Wind Turbine. WILLIAM RIDDLE (Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717) JASON COTRELL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO, 89401)

Development and Application of the Small Blade Ftigue Life Equivalancy Test on the Southwest Winpower Skystream 3.7 Wind Turbine. WILLIAM RIDDLE (Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59715) SCOTT HUGHES (National Wind Technology Center, Boulder, CO 80303). The Small Blade Fatigue Life Equivalency Test (SB-FLET) system is implemented by the structural testing group of the National Wind Technology Center (NWTC). The SB-FLET incorporates a test-loading fixture, designed to test wind turbine blade and rotor packages under fatigue loading. The system allows for testing multiple specimens at one time. The SB-FLET is used with industry partners as a tool to validate analytical design models of wind turbine blades and rotors for fatigue durability. A description of the SB-FLET method and application to the downwind, 1.8kW, 3.72m rotor diameter Southwest Windpower (SWWP) Skystream 3.7 turbine is presented in this paper. A lifetime of operational loading in the filed is transformed into an accelerated bending moment range that, when applied over 106 test cycles, represents 20 years of in-field service. Using representative blade data, a detailed dynamic (fatigue) model is created and subsequently used to specify SB-FLET parameters. The test is performed by mounting three blades to the rotor package and adding ballast weights to two spanwise locations on each blade. A hydraulic actuator applies a sinusoidal forcing function to the hub assembly, simulating out-of-plane test bending moments. Data from a static failure pre-test ensures that the range is within the ultimate strength of the blade and helps quantify potential structural sensitive areas of the blade. The test runs at the natural frequency of the system (blade, ballast weights, and hub). Typically the test is run for one million cycles with regular inspections intervals to monitor the behavior of the test articles. Strain gages are used as the primary health monitoring system. A total of 22 strain gages were implemented fro the SWWP test. Once the one-million cycle count is completed, testing is continued until failure to determine at what percentage of life the blade fails; i.e. failure at an additional 200,000 cycles would correspond to a120% damage equivalent design life.

Development of Historical Water Table Maps of the 200-West Area of the Hanford Site (1950-1970). TEENA KINNEY (Columbia Basin College, Pasco, WA, 99301) DUANE HORTON (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99352)

A series of detailed historical water table maps for the 200-West Area of the Hanford Site was made to aid interpretation of contaminant distribution in the upper aquifer. The contaminants are the result of disposal of large volumes of waste to the ground during Hanford operations which began in 1944 and continued on into the mid 1990s. Examination of the contaminant plumes that currently exist on site shows that the groundwater beneath the 200-West Area has deviated from its pre-Hanford west to east flow direction during the past 50 years. By using historical water-level measurements from wells around the 200-West Area it was possible to create water-table contour maps, which show probable historic flow directions. These maps are much more detailed than previously published water-table maps which encompassed the entire Hanford Site. The new water-table maps in this paper, focusing on just the 200-West Area, were contoured at one meter intervals and demonstrate the effects that specific waste disposal sites had on the water-table elevation and groundwater flow direction. Seven maps were created for years that would give the best representation of significant water-table changes. Time periods of significant changes were identified by examining historical water-level measurements that were taken periodically throughout the area. During the 1950s groundwater elevation and flow direction changed rapidly, so water table maps were made at two year intervals for the period 1950 to 1960. After the 1950s, far less rapid changes occurred in the water table, so maps were made at five year intervals from 1960 to 1970. The project ended with 1970 because detailed water-table maps of the 200-West Area already exist post-1970. The new series of maps show that groundwater flow direction has changed significantly over the past 50 years; shifting at some times and places 180 degrees from pre-Hanford flow directions. One may account for the past anomalies in groundwater flow direction beneath the 200-West Area by using a combination of the new map series and details about specific waste disposal sites. The new series of maps will be valuable as a reference during the clean up process of the Hanford Site.

DEVELOPMENT OF PRELIMINARY ACUTE ORAL PROVISIONAL ADVISORY LEVELS (PALs) FOR PHORATE. JENNIFER MATTLER (University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611) MARGARET MACDONELL (Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL, 60439)

Phorate is a highly toxic organophosphorus pesticide that inhibits acetylcholinesterase, an enzyme that degrades neurotransmitters that stimulate depolarization of nerves and muscles. Because it has been identified as a possible threat agent, concentration-based guidelines called Provisional Advisory Levels (PALs) have been developed for phorate. Draft PALs were developed using data such as the environmental fate, toxicokinetics, toxicodynamics, and symptoms of exposure in humans and animals. The preliminary PALs discussed were developed for oral exposure at three effect levels (no effect, moderate reversible effects, and lethality) for the acute (<24 hours) duration. Once a specific study dose was selected as the basis for the PAL, based on appropriateness for the given effect level it was scaled for a 70 kg adult who drinks 2 L of water per day and uncertainty factors (UFs) were applied to account for interspecies and human variation, database adequacy, exposure duration, and effect severity. The preliminary acute oral PALs 1, 2, and 3 for phorate were determined to be 0.3, 0.5, and 1.0 mg/L, respectively. These preliminary PALs are somewhat lower than the PALs for other organophosphorus (OP) compounds, which share a mechanism and general level of toxicity with phorate, indicating either possible over-conservatism in the preliminary PALs or greater toxicity for phorate compared to other OPs. With further study, the internal draft phorate PALs can be refined and also used to support extrapolations to determine PALs for other organophosphorus compounds that lack the necessary toxicological data.

Development of Sixth Grade Decomposition Curriculum to Meet National Science Education Standard: Science as Inquiry (Alternative Project). AMY MORRIS (Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235) MARGARET TORN (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkley, CA, 94720)

A curriculum on decomposition was developed to meet the National Science Education Standard: Science as Inquiry by helping students acquire abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry and understandings about scientific inquiry. Additionally, the curriculum was developed to collect data on changing decomposition rates across the nation for scientists studying climate change. To meet the Science as Inquiry Standard, the students will study the carbon cycle and feedback effects in relation to climate change to identify questions that can be answered through a scientific investigation of decomposition; conduct a scientific investigation to determine the decomposition rates of local leaf litter and a common substrate; use balances, ovens, probes, and computers to gather, analyze, and interpret data; use mathematics to make data tables, graphs, and equations to describe their data; use evidence to develop explanations and predictions; and present a final project to the class. To provide data on decomposition rates for scientists studying climate change, sixth grade classrooms across the nation to will follow a standard experimental protocol. The protocol will be repeated annually to provide data on how decomposition rates are changing. This summer, the experimental protocol was developed, as well as a timeline for executing the curriculum throughout the school year, sample worksheets to supplement the protocol, and a method for assessing students’ abilities to do scientific inquiry and understandings about scientific inquiry. Further development of activities to teach content and experimental skills to students is needed. Students will benefit from a year-long project that emphasizes the Science as Inquiry Standard and will be able to help their world by collecting data for professional scientists to use to study climate change.

Disease incidence of Ustilago bullata, Tilletia fusca, and Pyrenophora semeniperda on Bromus tectorum in the Hanford site. LUIS GARCIA (Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL, 61920) DR. JANELLE DOWNS (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99352)

In the wildland settings of the intermountain west Bromus tectorum is one of the most common invasive species, contributing to habitat degradation and increased wildland fire frequency. Control and eradication of cheatgrass in rangelands is a problem for many land management agencies and private land owners. Work described here is part of a cooperative effort to assess the potential use of indigenous fungal species as biocontrol organisms to this introduced annual grass. Ustilago bullata and Tilletia fusca are smut fungi that prevent seed set in infected cheatgrass plants and Pyrenophora semeniperda is an ascomycete fungus that kills cheatgrass seeds in the soil seed bank. To assess the incidence of the fungal pathogens in cheatgrass, three areas were surveyed in central Hanford and one site was surveyed on the Fitzner Eberhardt Arid Lands Ecology Reserve near Richland, Washington. To determine disease incidence for U. bullata and T. fusca we used a point intercept method, while extent of P. semeniperda infection will be assessed through examination of seed bank samples. We measured disease incidence from 40 plots at each site. No incidence of T. fusca was discovered at any of the sites surveyed. The average incidence of all sites of U. bullata was 15% and was highly variable ranging from 4%-20% and may be related to different environmental factors. Incidence of P. semeniperda will be determined when the seed bank samples are processed by the investigating scientist Dr. Susan Meyer at USDA Forest Service Shrub Laboratory, Provo, Utah. This research is a part of a larger study funded by the USDA Forest Service that combines data from other research areas in Washington, Idaho, and Utah.

Dynamic Web Page Report Development supporting Groundwater Analysis of Radioactive and Non-Radioactive Parameters. JOSEPH LANIER (Suffolk County Community College, Selden, NY, 11727) ALAIN DOMINGO (Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, 11973)

At Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), the quality of the groundwater is constantly monitored, using over 860 wells located in and around the site. In 2005, there were over 2,500 samples collected from these wells. These samples were tested for more than 200 compounds, which include both radioactive and non-radioactive parameters. BNL is required to interpret the results of these samples and report them to the Department of Energy and the Regulatory communities through annual reports. In order to do this, the data must be queried from an Oracle database using existing query tools currently available over BNLs intranet and formatted for presentation in the annual reports. The tables generated are divided by project and compound category. There are 35 projects and 10 compound categories. In order for the project to be successful, the time it takes to generate final tables was to be reduced from approximately 50-60 hours to less than 8 hours. In addition, the report generation code must be easy to maintain, with little or no changes needed each year. To begin, the various database tables were condensed into a single table. I then created 10 separate Active Server Pages (ASP). Doing so not only helped the pages load faster by not having to load unnecessary commands, but will also simplify any future changes for one table and not another. I began the ASP pages with what is known as a Cascading Style Sheet (CSS), which is the main focus for controlling the "look and feel" of the page. Using VBScript as the main programming language driving the ASP page, I created 2 arrays (one multidimensional and the other single dimensional). These two arrays are the main data structures of the program, which are used to arrange, validate, modify, and present the data in a timely fashion. A Portable Document Format (PDF) file of the different pages was also a requirement of the final output. Using Adobe Writer, I made a PDF of each individual page, and linked it up to a button at the bottom of each page. The PDF pages open in a separate window, allowing the user to minimize the window, making it easier for him/her to be able to multitask. This program now gives a seamless transfer of data from the various databases into a well-structured, pre-approved layout. These tables will be present on the Internet, as well as on CD for the BNL Groundwater Status Report, and the BNL Site Environmental Report.

Electrochemical Remediation of Arsenic Contaminated Groundwater. SCOTT MCLAUGHLIN (University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720) ASHOK GADGIL (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkley, CA, 94720)

Arsenic in drinking water impacts 100 million people worldwide, 50 million of whom are in danger of severe poisoning. The most dire situation is in Bangladesh, where 45 million cases of arsenic related poisoning makes it the largest case of mass poisoning in human history. Available methods of treating arsenic are too expensive, not effective enough, and often difficult to implement, making them inadequate for a poor, largely undeveloped country such as Bangladesh. Electrochemistry promises an innovative, effective, and inexpensive method for arsenic remediation of drinking water. The method is an improvement upon a known method of using Fe3+ to remove arsenic. The Fe3+ combines with As(V), forming an insoluble complex which then can be easily filtered out. The innovative step of electrochemistry allows for control over the amount of Fe3+ produced as well as electrochemical oxidation of the As(III) into reactive As(V) anion [H2AsO4]-, making the method far more effective. Tests on a simple laboratory setup show a drastic improvement in arsenic removal efficiency compared to arsenic removal based on simple rusting of metallic iron. Application of 70 mA current over 10 minutes in our electrochemical cell reduced the arsenic concentration in 850 mL synthetic ground-water from 1000 ppb to less than 5 ppb, even without system optimization. This is compared to a similar setup with a rusted iron coil without application of electrochemistry which only removed down to 250 ppb in an entire hour. We completed a major goal for this summer in understanding the effects of experimental conditions on the system so that reproducible and consistent results can be obtained. Currently, tests are being performed at various current densities and durations to find the optimal electrochemical parameters for efficient oxidation of Fe into Fe3+ and effective removal of arsenic. Once the process is well understood, the method will be able to be very efficiently applied to a water filter applicable to areas with arsenic in the groundwater.

Endocrine disrupter effects on fish reproduction: The evaluation of the toxicity of PFOA, PBDE-47, and its metabolite 3-OH BDE-47 in Fathead Minnows (Pimephales promelas). DANIEL HASKELL (University California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106) IRVIN SCHULTZ (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99352)

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are commonly used as flame retardants in many consumer products and reports of their occurrence in fish and humans has steadily increased. Tetra- and penta-bromo congeners such as PBDE-47 are more bioaccumulative, but may also be metabolized into hydroxylated forms such as the PBDE-47 metabolite 3-OH BDE-47. It is unknown whether PBDE hydroxylated metabolites are more toxic to fish. Another compound that has become ubiquitous in the environment is perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). It is also widely used in industrial and commercial applications such as stain resistant carpeting. PFOA is very stable and is not known to be metabolized in animals and wildlife. In this study, I measured the effects of these contaminants on reproduction in fathead minnow breeding pairs orally exposed to each test chemical. Each treatment group was dosed via controlled feedings of brine shrimp (Artemia sp.) that previously had been incubated with each test chemical. Fecundity was tracked daily and used as an endpoint to evaluate reproductive toxicity. At the end of the exposure minnows were dissected and the gonads removed. The gonado-somatic index (GSI) and the condition index (CI) were also recorded to determine if there were any differences between treatment groups. Analysis of the results indicated there was no effect on reproductive performance or CI and GSI.

Environmental Education Unit Plan. AMY WEST (Lesley University, Cambridge, MA, 2138) MARY CONNELLY (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkley, CA, 94720)

Research has shown that incorporating environmental education into a schools curriculum greatly affects student’s attitudes and motivation towards education. Further research into different methodologies will help conclude which techniques are most beneficial for students in the elementary school classroom when teaching about the environment. Studying several different types of environmental education camps at the Lawrence Hall of Science and the UC Botanical Gardens, will provide a strong background as to which methodologies work best in an elementary school setting. As a result of observing and participating in two environmental camps at Lawrence Hall of Science, one camp at the UC Botanical gardens and one camp in the Sierra mountains, the research has concluded that hands on, inquiry based learning is the best methodology to use when teaching environmental science. In conclusion, hands on, inquiry based environmental education in elementary school curriculum would be the best, most beneficial way to teach students about environmental science.

Environmentally-Preferable Office Furniture System Options for the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. REBECCA SCOTT (Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99163) KIMBERLY FOWLER (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99352)

The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is in the process of planning and designing approximately 786,000 square feet (sf) of new laboratory and office space. Those spaces will need new office furniture as PNNL’s current office furniture standard may not be the correct style or size for the new spaces. PNNL is committed to purchasing office furniture that meets the needs of the occupants and that is considered "environmentally preferable." Environmentally preferable purchasing is selecting materials and products based on life cycle impacts, including material selection, manufacturing, transportation, use, and disposition impacts [1]. Furthermore, "Part of life cycle impact consideration includes whether the material/product is made of renewable material, is reusable or recyclable, comes from a local manufacturer, etc." [1] Three environmentally preferable furniture systems will be selected to meet the current PNNL furniture specifications. These systems will be chosen according to their range of furnishing options, depth of available furniture and environmental information, and appropriateness for a commercial office. The selected "environmentally preferable" systems will be compared to our current furniture system (the baseline). They will be compared on the following: amount of available storage space, amount of usable counter space, cost, implementation cost, environmental impact-volatile organic compound (VOC) and formaldehyde content especially, durability, and color. Results will illustrate cost, environmental impact, and occupant impact. The conclusion will contain a recommendation and justification.

Evaluating Changes in Black Carbon Concentrations from California Diesel Emissions. JEFFERY AGUIAR (University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA, 95211) THOMAS KIRCHSTETTER (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkley, CA, 94720)

Environmental Science Abstracts: