Search

Historical use of lead arsenate as a pesticide in former orchards of eastern Washington State (USA) has resulted in legacy lead (Pb) and arsenic (As) soil contamination. However, the impacts on plant growth in soils with residual Pb and As contamination have not yet been quantified. To this end, a comparative study of plant growth impacts was performed for native bluegrass (Poa secunda), invasive cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), and buttercrunch lettuce (Lactuca sativa). Using standard plant growth protocols, germination frequency and biomass growth were measured over a wide range of Pb and arsenate concentrations, with maximum concentrations of 3400 and 790 mg kg

The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, which is intended to prevent nuclear weapon test explosions and any other nuclear explosions, includes a verification regime, which provides monitoring to identify potential nuclear explosions. The presence of elevated 37Ar is one way to identify subsurface nuclear explosive testing. However, the naturally occurring formation of 37Ar in the subsurface adds a complicating factor. Prediction of the naturally occurring concentration of 37Ar can help to determine if a measured 37Ar concentration is elevated relative to background. The naturally occurring 37Ar background concentration has been shown to vary between less than 1 mBq/m3 to greater than 100 mBq/m3 (Riedmann and Purtschert, 2011). The purpose of this work was to enhance the understanding of the naturally occurring background concentrations of 37Ar, allowing for better interpretation of results. To that end, we present and evaluate a computationally efficient model for predicting the average concentration of 37Ar at any depth under transient barometric pressures. Further, measurements of 37Ar concentrations in samples collected at multiple locations are provided as validation of the concentration prediction model. The model is shown to compare favorably with concentrations of 37Ar measured at multiple locations in the Northwestern United States.

This study investigates the potential of DUSTRAN, a dust dispersion modeling system developed by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, to model the transport of sea salt aerosols (SSA). Results from DUSTRAN simulations run with historical meteorological data were compared against privately-measured chloride data at the near coastal Maine Yankee Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) and the Environmental Protection Agency-measured CASTNET data from Acadia National Park (NP). The comparisons have provided both encouragement as to the practical value of DUSTRAN’s CALPUFF model and suggestions for further software development opportunities. All modeled concentrations were within one order of magnitude of those measured and a few test cases showed excellent agreement between modeled and measured concentrations. However, there is a lack of consistency which may be due to inaccurate extrapolation of meteorological data, underlying model physics, and the source term. Future research will refine the software to better capture physical phenomena. Overall, results indicate that with parameter refinement, DUSTRAN has the potential to simulate atmospheric chloride transport from known sources to inland sites for the purpose of determining the corrosion susceptibility of various structures, systems, and components (SSC) at near coastal sites, and for other relevant air quality studies.

Slug tests performed using mini-piezometers with internal diameters as small as 0.43 cm can provide a cost effective tool for hydraulic characterization. We evaluated the hydraulic properties of the apparatus in a laboratory environment and compared those results with field tests of mini-piezometers installed into locations with varying hydraulic properties. Based on our evaluation, slug tests conducted in mini-piezometers using the fabrication and installation approach described here are effective within formations where the hydraulic conductivity is less than 1 × 10(-3) cm/s. While these constraints limit the potential application of this method, the benefits to this approach are that the installation, measurement, and analysis is cost effective, and the installation can be completed in areas where other (larger diameter) methods might not be possible. Additionally, this methodology could be applied to existing mini-piezometers previously installed for other purposes. Such analysis of existing installations could be beneficial in interpreting previously collected data (e.g., water-quality data or hydraulic head data).

It has been observed that large polyvinyl toluene (PVT)-based gamma-ray detectors can suffer internal “fogging” when exposed to certain outdoor environmental conditions over long periods of time. When observed, this change results in reduced light collection by photomultiplier tubes connected to the PVT. Investigation of the physical cause of these changes has been explored, and a root cause identified. Water penetration into the PVT from hot, high-humidity conditions results in reversible internal water condensation at room temperature, and permanent micro-fracturing of the PVT at very low environmental temperatures. Mitigation procedures and methods are being investigated.

The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, which is intended to prevent nuclear weapon test explosions and any other nuclear explosions, includes a verification regime, which provides monitoring to identify potential nuclear explosions. The presence of elevated

Soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) is a heterodimeric heme protein and the primary nitric oxide receptor. NO binding stimulates cyclase activity, leading to regulation of cardiovascular physiology and making sGC an attractive target for drug discovery. YC-1 and related compounds stimulate sGC both independently and synergistically with NO and CO binding; however, where the compounds bind and how they work remains unknown. Using linked-equilibria binding measurements, surface plasmon resonance, and domain truncations in Manduca sexta and bovine sGC, we demonstrate that YC-1 binds near or directly to the heme-containing domain of the beta subunit. In the absence of CO, YC-1 binds with Kd = 9–21 μM, depending on construct. In the presence of CO, these values decrease to 0.6–1.1 μM. Pfizer compound 25 bound ~10-fold weaker than YC-1 in the absence of CO whereas compound BAY 41–2272 bound particularly tightly in the presence of CO (Kd = 30–90 nM). Additionally, we found that CO binding is much weaker to heterodimeric sGC proteins (Kd = 50–100 μM) than to the isolated heme domain (Kd = 0.2 μM for Manduca beta H-NOX/PAS). YC-1 greatly enhanced CO binding to heterodimeric sGC, as expected (Kd = ~1 μM). These data indicate the alpha subunit induces a heme pocket conformation with lower affinity for CO and NO. YC-1 family compounds bind near the heme domain, overcoming the alpha subunit effect and inducing a heme pocket conformation with high affinity. We propose this high-affinity conformation is required for the full-length protein to achieve high catalytic activity.

Soluble guanylyl/guanylate cyclase (sGC) converts GTP to cGMP after binding nitric oxide, leading to smooth muscle relaxation and vasodilation. Impaired sGC activity is common in cardiovascular disease, and sGC stimulatory compounds are vigorously sought. sGC is a 150 kDa heterodimeric protein with two H-NOX domains (one with heme, one without), two PAS domains, a coiled-coil domain, and two cyclase domains. Binding of NO to the sGC heme leads to proximal histidine release and stimulation of catalytic activity. To begin to understand how binding leads to activation, we examined truncated sGC proteins from Manduca sexta (tobacco hornworm) that bind NO, CO, and stimulatory compound YC-1 but lack the cyclase domains. We determined the overall shape of truncated M. sexta sGC using analytical ultracentrifugation and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), revealing an elongated molecule with dimensions of 115 Å × 90 Å × 75 Å. Binding of NO, CO, or YC-1 had little effect on shape. Using chemical cross-linking and tandem mass spectrometry, we identified 20 intermolecular contacts, allowing us to fit homology models of the individual domains into the SAXS-derived molecular envelope. The resulting model displays a central parallel coiled-coil platform upon which the H-NOX and PAS domains are assembled. The β1 H-NOX and α1 PAS domains are in contact and form the core signaling complex, while the α1 H-NOX domain can be removed without a significant effect on ligand binding or overall shape. Removal of 21 residues from the C-terminus yields a protein with dramatically increased proximal histidine release rates upon NO binding.

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) has developed a dust transport model (DUSTRAN), which calculates atmospheric dust concentrations that result from both natural and human activity. DUSTRAN is a comprehensive dispersion modeling system, consisting of a dust-emissions module, a diagnostic meteorological model, and dispersion models that are integrated seamlessly into graphical information system (GIS) software. DUSTRAN functions as a console application and allows the user to interactively create a release scenario and run the underlying models. We have recently compared dust concentrations calculated by DUSTRAN with observations of wind erosion on the US Department of Energy's Hanford Site in southeastern Washington. In this paper we describe both DUSTRAN's algorithm for predicting the source strength of wind-blown dust and the comparison of simulated dust concentrations with data. The comparisons use observations of PM10 concentrations for three separate dust events on the Hanford Site in 2001. The dust measurements were made as part of an effort to monitor site recovery following a large range fire that occurred in 2000. The comparisons have provided both encouragement as to the practical value of the wind erosion module in DUSTRAN and examples of occasions when the simulations and observations diverge. In general, the maximum dust concentrations from the simulations and the observations for each dust event agreed closely. Because of the lack of soil moisture information, the model was run in a “dry” mode. However, certain discrepancies between the measured and simulated values relative to the timing of observed precipitation events suggest that soil moisture should be accounted for where possible. For low dust concentrations, DUSTRAN tends to overestimate PM10 levels. This may be a weakness in the form of the dust flux parameterization at low wind speeds. Overall, however, we have shown DUSTRAN to be an effective tool for simulating dust events due to wind erosion.

It has been observed that large polyvinyl toluene (PVT)-based gamma ray detectors can suffer internal “fogging” when exposed to outdoor environmental conditions over long periods of time. When observed, this change can result in reduced light collection and performance of the PVT. Investigation of the physical cause of these changes has been explored, and a root cause identified. Mitigation procedures and methods are being investigated.

Slug tests performed using mini-piezometers with internal diameters as small as 0.43 cm can provide a cost effective tool for hydraulic characterization. We evaluated the hydraulic properties of the apparatus in a laboratory environment and compared those results with field tests of mini-piezometers installed into locations with varying hydraulic properties. Based on our evaluation, slug tests conducted in mini-piezometers using the fabrication and installation approach described here are effective within formations where the hydraulic conductivity is less than 1 × 10(-3) cm/s. While these constraints limit the potential application of this method, the benefits to this approach are that the installation, measurement, and analysis is cost effective, and the installation can be completed in areas where other (larger diameter) methods might not be possible. Additionally, this methodology could be applied to existing mini-piezometers previously installed for other purposes. Such analysis of existing installations could be beneficial in interpreting previously collected data (e.g., water-quality data or hydraulic head data).

The overall objective of this research was to develop and use methods to measure and assess vehicle impacts on buried archaeological deposits. The need for this stems from the large number of archeological resources located on U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) sites where training includes vehicular activities. Specifically, the objectives of this research were to verify the quantitative relationship between soil compaction and changes in magnetic susceptibility, to develop a geotechnical model of subsurface compaction under a vehicle rut, to evaluate various compaction and deformation measurement methods in a controlled setting, to apply these measurements at the field scale, and to use magnetic modeling to interpret results. Multiple experiments were conducted, with each experiment building on the results of the previous ones. The first experiment was a core compaction test that verified the relationship between bulk density and magnetic susceptibility. Then a geotechnical model was developed, which provided a tool for estimating the compaction profile under a rut based on stress curves under footings with static loading. The accuracy and shortcomings of the geotechnical model were demonstrated in later tests. The first series of tests provided a detailed investigation of compaction of uniform soil within a large wooden box. These experiments were used to refine the measurement techniques, to verify the geotechnical model, and to develop a better understanding of the depth and distance that a surface impact could propagate into the subsurface. Overall, the results of the experiments demonstrated that cone penetrometer and down-hole volumetric magnetic susceptibility measurements could be used to accurately determine the magnitude of compaction, and that the geotechnical model accurately predicted compaction in the homogeneous soil.

Oxidation and loss of heme in soluble guanylyl/guanylate cyclase (sGC), the nitric oxide receptor, is thought to be a major contributor to cardiovascular disease and is the target of compounds BAY 58-2667 and HMR1766. Using spectroelectrochemical titration, we found a truncated sGC to be highly stable in the ferrous state (+234 mV) and to bind ferrous heme tightly even in the presence of NO, despite the NO-induced release of the proximal histidine. In contrast, oxidized sGC readily loses ferric heme to myoglobin (0.47 ± 0.02 hr−1). Peroxynitrite, the presumed cellular oxidant, readily oxidizes sGC in 5 mM glutathione.

We describe the use of a wind tunnel for conducting controlled passive hyperspectral imaging experiments. In recent years, passive hyperspectral detection of solids, minerals and ores has emerged as a very useful technique, for example for classifying land types, mineral deposits, and agricultural practices. Such techniques are also potentially useful for detecting explosives, solid-phase chemicals and other materials of interest from a distance so as to provide operator safety. The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory operates a wind tunnel facility that can generate and circulate artificial atmospheres whereby certain environmental parameters can be controlled such as lighting, humidity, temperature, aerosol and obscurant burdens. By selecting the appropriate fore-optics and sample size, one can conduct meaningful experiments under controlled conditions at relatively low cost when compared to typical field deployments. We will present recent results describing optimized sensing of solids over tens of meters distance using both visible and near-infrared cameras, as well as the effects of certain environmental parameters on data retrieval.

It is generally considered necessary to measure concentrations of contaminants-of-concern at a background location when conducting atmospheric environmental surveillance. This is because it is recognized that measurements of background concentrations can enhance interpretation of environmental monitoring data. Despite the recognized need for background measurements, there is little published guidance available that describes how to identify an appropriate atmospheric background monitoring location. This paper develops generic criteria that can guide the decision making process for identifying suitable locations for background atmospheric monitoring station. Detailed methods for evaluating some of these criteria are also provided and a case study for establishment of an atmospheric background surveillance station as part of an environmental surveillance program is described. While the case study focuses on monitoring for radionuclides, the approach is equally valid for any airborne constituent being monitored. The case study shows that implementation of the developed criteria can result in a good, defensible choice for a background atmospheric monitoring location.