RESUMEN
Steel slag is being used worldwide for a variety of applications, among which is underwater dyke reinforcement. In the present study the leaching and bioaccumulation of 18 inorganic compounds from basic oxygen furnace (BOF) steel slag were monitored in marine experimental ecosystems (mesocosms) for 12 wk. Triplicate mesocosms were installed at 2 refreshment rates, one reflecting the situation in the Oosterschelde estuary where BOF steel slag was applied and the other at a 35 times lower rate. Vanadium in both water and biota turned out to be the best tracer for the presence of BOF steel slag in the mesocosms. The mesocosm data helped to interpret the results of a 4-yr field sampling program in the Oosterschelde estuary where no elevated levels of vanadium in water or biota were found near locations where steel slag was applied. Also, no ecological impact could be established in the field, which was in line with the observations in the mesocosms. The present study shows the added value of a tailor-made mesocosm study for realistic risk assessment and provides support for applying this tool as a basis for designing efficient field monitoring programs. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:2499-2509. © 2021 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
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Acero , Vanadio , Ecosistema , Residuos Industriales/análisis , Oxígeno/química , Acero/química , Vanadio/toxicidad , AguaRESUMEN
Currently most Cumulative Impacts Assessments (CIAs) are risk-based approaches that assess the potential impact of human activities and their pressures on the ecosystem thereby compromising the achievement of policy objectives. While some of these CIAs apply actual data (usually spatial distributions) they often have to rely on categorical scores based on expert judgement if they actually assess impact which is often expressed as a relative measure that is difficult to interpret in absolute terms. Here we present a first step-wise approach to conduct a fully quantitative CIA based on the selection and subsequent application of the best information available. This approach systematically disentangles risk into its exposure and effect components that can be quantified using known ecological information, e.g. spatial distribution of pressures or species, pressure-state relationships and population dynamics models with appropriate parametrisation, resulting in well-defined assessment endpoints that are meaningful and can be easily communicated to the recipients of advice. This approach requires that underlying assumptions and methodological considerations are made explicit and translated into a measure of confidence. This transparency helps to identify the possible data-handling or methodological decisions and shows the resulting improvement through its confidence assessment of the applied information and hence the resulting accuracy of the CIA. To illustrate this approach, we applied it in a North Sea CIA focussing on two sectors, i.e. fisheries and offshore windfarms, and how they impact the ecosystem and its components, i.e. seabirds, seabed habitats and marine mammals through various pressures. The results provide a "proof of concept" for this generic approach as well as rigorous definitions of several of the concepts often used as part of risk-based approaches, e.g. exposure, sensitivity, vulnerability, and how these can be estimated using actual data. As such this widens the scope for increasingly more quantitative CIAs using the best information available.
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Ecosistema , Explotaciones Pesqueras , Animales , Conservación de los Recursos Naturales , Actividades Humanas , Humanos , Mar del NorteRESUMEN
With a foreseen increase in maritime activities, and driven by new policies and conventions aiming at sustainable management of the marine ecosystem, spatial management at sea is of growing importance. Spatial management should ensure that the collective pressures caused by anthropogenic activities on the marine ecosystem are kept within acceptable levels. A multitude of approaches to environmental assessment are available to provide insight for sustainable management, and there is a need for a harmonized and integrated environmental assessment approach that can be used for different purposes and variable levels of detail. This article first provides an overview of the main types of environmental assessments: "environmental impact assessment" (EIA), "strategic environmental assessment" (SEA), "cumulative effect assessment" (CEA), and "environmental (or ecological) risk assessment" (ERA). Addressing the need for a conceptual "umbrella" for the fragmented approaches, a generic framework for environmental assessment is proposed: cumulative effects of offshore activities (CUMULEO). CUMULEO builds on the principle that activities cause pressures that may lead to adverse effects on the ecosystem. Basic elements and variables are defined that can be used consistently throughout sequential decision-making levels and diverse methodological implementations. This enables environmental assessment to start at a high strategic level (i.e., plan and/or program level), resulting in early environmental awareness and subsequently more informed, efficient, and focused project-level assessments, which has clear benefits for both industry and government. Its main strengths are simplicity, transparency, flexibility (allowing the use of both qualitative and quantitative data), and visualization, making it a powerful framework to support discussions with experts, stakeholders, and policymakers. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2016;12:632-642. © 2015 SETAC.
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Ecosistema , Monitoreo del Ambiente/métodos , Conservación de los Recursos Naturales/métodos , Ecología , Actividades Humanas , Humanos , Medición de Riesgo/métodosRESUMEN
To estimate the impact of accidental oil-spills on cod fisheries a model framework is developed in which a Dynamic Energy Budget (DEB) model is applied to assess mortality caused by petroleum substances in early life stages. In this paper we report on a literature search and DEB analyses, aiming for cod specific DEB-parameters. Furthermore, we explored the relevance of Fathead minnow DEB-parameters as surrogate by comparing LC50 values calculated from DEB-parameters with literature. Cod specific DEB-parameters could not be estimated based on available literature. LC50 values calculated from Fathead minnow DEB-parameters were higher than literature LC50 for early life stages of fish. Applying an extrapolation factor of 50 to the DEB-parameters resulted in LC50 values that were below literature irrespective of life stage. Therefore, we propose to use the last as an estimate for early life stages in cod and recommend relevant experiments with individual petroleum substances on cod.
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Exposición a Riesgos Ambientales , Explotaciones Pesqueras , Gadus morhua/fisiología , Contaminación por Petróleo , Petróleo/toxicidad , AnimalesRESUMEN
The environmental impact of elevated carbon dioxide (CO2) levels has become of more interest in recent years. This, in relation to globally rising CO2 levels and related considerations of geological CO2 storage as a mitigating measure. In the present study effect data from literature were collected in order to conduct a marine ecological risk assessment of elevated CO2 levels, using a Species Sensitivity Distribution (SSD). It became evident that information currently available from the literature is mostly insufficient for such a quantitative approach. Most studies focus on effects of expected future CO2 levels, testing only one or two elevated concentrations. A full dose-response relationship, a uniform measure of exposure, and standardized test protocols are essential for conducting a proper quantitative risk assessment of elevated CO2 levels. Improvements are proposed to make future tests more valuable and usable for quantitative risk assessment.
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Dióxido de Carbono/análisis , Monitoreo del Ambiente , Agua de Mar/química , Contaminantes Químicos del Agua/análisis , Animales , Organismos Acuáticos/fisiología , Biología Marina , Medición de RiesgoRESUMEN
Oil spills, for example those due to tanker collisions and groundings or platform accidents, can have huge adverse impacts on marine systems. The impact of an oil spill at sea depends on a number of factors, such as spill volume, type of oil spilled, weather conditions, and proximity to environmentally, economically, or socially sensitive areas. Oil spilled at sea threatens marine organisms, whole ecosystems, and economic resources in the immediate vicinity, such as fisheries, aquaculture, recreation, and tourism. Adequate response to any oil spill to minimize damage is therefore of great importance. The common response to an oil spill is to remove all visible oil from the water surface, either mechanically or by using chemicals to disperse the oil into the water column to biodegrade. This is not always the most suitable response to an oil spill, as the chemical application itself may also have adverse effects, or no response may be needed. In this article we discuss advantages and disadvantages of using chemical treatments to reduce the impact of an oil spill in relation to the conditions of the spill. The main characteristics of chemical treatment agents are discussed and presented within the context of a basic decision support scheme.
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Restauración y Remediación Ambiental/métodos , Compuestos Orgánicos/química , Contaminación por Petróleo/prevención & control , Monitoreo del Ambiente , Restauración y Remediación Ambiental/efectos adversos , Compuestos Orgánicos/análisis , Contaminación Química del Agua/prevención & controlRESUMEN
Current European legislation has static water quality objectives for temperature effects, based on the most sensitive species. In the present study a species sensitivity distribution (SSD) for elevated temperatures is developed on the basis of temperature sensitivity data (mortality) of 50 aquatic species. The SSD applies to risk assessment of heat discharges that are localized in space or time. As collected median lethal temperatures (LT50 values) for different species depend on the acclimation temperature, the SSD is also a function of the acclimation temperature. Data from a thermal discharge in The Netherlands are used to show the applicability of the developed SSD in environmental risk assessment. Although restrictions exist in the application of the developed SSD, it is concluded that the SSD approach can be applied to assess the effects of elevated temperature. Application of the concept of SSD to temperature changes allows harmonization of environmental risk assessment for stressors in the aquatic environment. When a synchronization of the assessment methods is achieved, the steps to integration of risks from toxic and nontoxic stressors can be made.
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Mortalidad , Temperatura , Adaptación Fisiológica , Animales , Medición de Riesgo , Especificidad de la EspecieRESUMEN
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common complication of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), usually occurring on the second or third post-operative day. Post-operative AF is associated with prolonged hospital stay and increased costs. In several randomized trials, prophylactic oral beta-blocker reduced the incidence of post-operative AF. Theoretically, intravenous beta-blocker regimen with its rapid onset of action and ease of dose titration should be more efficacious than oral beta-blocker. We conducted an open-label randomized controlled pilot study, compared the efficacy of intravenous esmolol and an oral beta-blocker regimen for prevention of post-operative AF. Fifty patients at high-risk of developing post-operative AF (P wave duration >140 ms on signal averaged (SA) ECG) were randomized to either 24-hours of intravenous esmolol treatment post-CABG followed by oral beta-blocker or standard oral beta-blocker treatment. Seven (26%) out of 27 patients in the esmolol group and 6 (26%) out of 23 patients in the oral beta-blocker group developed post-operative AF (p = NS). The day of onset and duration of AF was similar between the two groups. In the esmolol group, 11 (41%) patients developed adverse effects, mostly hypotension, compared to only one patient (4%) in the oral beta-blocker group (p = 0.006). The result of this pilot study showed that intravenous esmolol compared to oral beta-blocker offers no advantage in preventing post-operative AF and is associated with increased adverse events. Thus, all patients without contraindication should receive oral beta-blocker before and after cardiac surgery to prevent post-operative AF.
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Antagonistas Adrenérgicos beta/administración & dosificación , Fibrilación Atrial/etiología , Fibrilación Atrial/prevención & control , Puente de Arteria Coronaria , Electrocardiografía , Complicaciones Posoperatorias/etiología , Complicaciones Posoperatorias/prevención & control , Administración Oral , Fibrilación Atrial/epidemiología , Humanos , Infusiones Intravenosas , Proyectos Piloto , Complicaciones Posoperatorias/epidemiología , Factores de RiesgoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Patients with prolonged signal-averaged ECG have four times higher risk for development of atrial fibrillation (AF) after coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG). Incidence of AF is reduced, but not eliminated by prophylaxis with beta-blockers. The limitations of prophylaxis with oral beta-blockers may be related to the delayed effect of oral therapy. We performed a pilot study of the efficacy of early intravenous esmolol and an oral beta-blocker regimen for prevention of postoperative AF. METHODS: Fifty patients referred for CABG and considered to be at high risk for postoperative AF on the basis of prolonged signal-averaged ECG P wave duration > 140 ms were randomized to receive either a 24-hour infusion of esmolol 6-18 hours after CABG, at an average dose 67 +/- 7 microg/kg/min, followed by oral beta-blockers versus oral beta-blockers only beginning on postoperative day 1. RESULTS: Seven of 27 patients (26%) in the esmolol group and 6 of 23 patients (26%) in the oral beta-blocker group developed postoperative AF, P = NS. The mean time of onset of AF (2.7 +/- 0.5 vs 2.7 +/- 0.3 postoperative day, P = NS) and the median duration of AF (10 [2192] vs 7 [1.16] hours, P = NS) were similar between the two groups. Eleven (41%) patients treated with esmolol developed adverse events (hypotension: 8, bradycardia requiring temporary pacing: 2, left ventricular failure:1 patient) as compared to only one patient (4%) in the beta-blocker group who developed hypotension, P = 0.006. CONCLUSIONS: This randomized controlled pilot study suggests that intravenous esmolol is less well tolerated and offers no advantages to standard beta-blocker in preventing AF after CABG.