[en] Device penetration into media such as metal and soil is an application of some engineering interest. Often, these devices contain internal components and it is of paramount importance that all significant components survive the severe environment that accompanies the penetration event. In addition, the system must be robust to perturbations in its operating environment, some of which exhibit behavior which can only be quantified to within some level of uncertainty. In the analysis discussed herein, methods to address the reliability of internal components for a specific application system are discussed. The shock response spectrum (SRS) is utilized in conjunction with the Advanced Mean Value (AMV) and Response Surface methods to make probabilistic statements regarding the predicted reliability of internal components. Monte Carlo simulation methods are also explored

[en] Former army bases and training areas in Poland have been strongly polluted with heavy metals and organic compounds such as fuel and other oil products. The effects of the organic contaminants on the properties of soil clay minerals were investigated. It was attempted to apply thermogravimetric and X-ray methods for the detection and identification of oil compounds in polluted soils. The X-ray diffraction patterns of polluted soils show a significant shift of the diffraction lines towards the lower angles. DTA curves of these samples are characterized by stronger exothermic effects in comparison with unpolluted samples. It was found that the cation exchange capacity of polluted samples changed significantly

[en] This report describes stabilization operations to control the spread of contamination and eliminate soil contamination area and contamination area postings at the 216-A-42 retention basin

[en] Directional traps, both horizontal and vertical, were used to assess the behavioural impact of phenanthrene application on soil springtail communities. Avoidance was not detected. Rather, a vertical attraction of the dominant species, Folsomia manolachei, was demonstrated, as well as a decrease in horizontal movements of Lepidocyrtus lanuginosus, another important species mainly captured at the soil surface. Ecological consequences of the results are discussed. - Soil springtails may be attracted to phenanthrene in dosing trials

[en] The influence of stress wasters over number of the most significant physiological groups has been studied. Introduction of petroleum into soil has no influence over the character of microbes cenosis change as a whole but influence over number of individual physiological groups. (author)

[en] It is currently evident that the environment is ailing. We are exposed to many human activities that are devastating to the environment and societies. Since the time the report, Our Common Future, from the UN World Commission on environment and Development (WCED) identified the problem in 1987, its effects are currently a reality. The report sought to recapture the spirit of the United Nations Conference on the Human environment. It placed environmental issues firmly on the political agenda. It also aimed to discuss the environment and development as a single issue. In it is advanced the view that, many countries with poor environmental governance systems are likely to have have conflicts and poor laws protecting the environment. This paper looks at this problem from an ethical perspective. Effects of lack of eco-ethics are numerous. Burning refuse affecting air quality, lack of space for dumping solid waste, the increasing cost of waste disposal and hazards to ground water. In Kenya, the situation of solid waste is a source of concern. In this paper a view is advanced that the problem starts with the product designer. In Kenya designers use flawed design process ignoring the ethical responsibility towards environment, leading to waste accumulation around Nairobi. The uncollected or illegally dumped wastes constitute a disaster for human health and causes environmental degradation (author)

[en] Soil response to contamination with 2,4,5-triclorophenol was studied to test the validity of the concept of Generic Reference Levels (GRL), the main criterion used to define soil contamination. Soil samples were artificially contaminated with doses between 0 and 5000 mg kg^-1 of 2,4,5-triclorophenol, and analysed by various tests. Where possible, the response of soils to the contaminant was modelled by a sigmoidal dose-response curve in order to estimate the ED₅₀ values. The tests provided different responses, but only microbial biomass-C and dehydrogenase and urease activities demonstrated soil deterioration in response to contamination. The results suggest that the diagnosis of soil contamination has been greatly simplified in the legislation by the provision of a single figure for each compound, and that the GRL concept could perhaps be substituted by measurement of ED₅₀ values, which better reflect the alteration of a soil due to the presence of a xenobiotic substance. - The concentration of a toxic substance present in a soil cannot be considered as the only criteria to classify such soil as contaminated

[en] This paper presents a case of soil contamination by chlorinated solvents, occurred in the outskirts of Milan (Italy) , successfully remedied by implementing the technique known as soil venting. Scope of the paper is to show how the subject technique can be performed by subsequent phases and how the design can affect the obtainable cleanup goals. The remediation was first implemented by means of four vertical wells driven to depths ranging from 21.0 to 30.5 m below grade. After this phase, which lasted about six months, it was necessary to redefine the cleanup approach in order to maximise the removal of the contaminants still present into the subsoil. Basing on a selective extraction test, the portion of soil which necessitated further treatment was defined. A trench equipped with horizontal drains was therefore created, aimed to remove the soil gas from the upper portion of the subsoil. At the end of this second extraction phase, the laboratory analyses carried out on soil samples indicated the virtual absence of chlorinated solvents in the unsatured subsoil

[en] A comparative research on the impact of organic meliorants on the uptake of heavy metals and quality of Oriental tobacco Krumovgrad 90 has been carried out. Experiments have been implemented in controlled conditions. The soil used in this experiment was sampled from the vicinity of the Lead-Zinc Complex near the town of Kardzali, Bulgaria (Ostovitsa village). The pot experiment was a randomized complete block design containing ten treatments and three replications (30 pots). The treatments consisted of a control (no organic meliorants) and compost, vermicompost and peat meliorants (added at 20 t/daa, 30 t/daa 40 t/daa, recalculated based on dry soil weight). Heavy metals were measured in roots, stems and leaves of Oriental tobacco Krumovgrad 90. Applicationof organic meliorants does not lead to effective immobilization of Pb, Zn and Cd phytoaccessible forms in soil. The effect of the meliorants used for the reduction of the heavy metal content in tobacco is negligible. The best results are obtained with the introduction of 40 t/daa of compost. Organic meliorants influence tobacco quality indicators (ash, protein and reducing sugars). The introduction of organic meliorants leads to increased minerals (pure ash) and protein levels, and reduces the amount of reducing sugars in tobacco leaves compared to the control. Adding compost and peat to soils leads to improved tobacco quality. However, the introduction of 30 t/daa and 40 t/daa of vermicompost into the soil results in lower quality tobacco (Schmuck number below 0.5).

[en] The American Petroleum Institute (API) is a trade association for the domestic petroleum industry in the USA, with over 2000 corporate and 5000 individual members. Subsurface research activities are managed by the API soil/groundwater technical task force, a committee made up of over 25 member company engineers, hydrologists, soil scientists, and chemists representing both the research and operations sectors of the petroleum industry. The research areas of the group have been divided into five principle areas: biodegradation processes, fate and transport, remediation, decision making tools for remediation, and detection/analytical methods. A summary of each of the current projects in these subject areas is presented