scholarly journals Dispersants as marine oil spill treating agents: a review on mesoscale tests and field trials

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Francois Merlin ◽  
Zhiwen Zhu ◽  
Min Yang ◽  
Bing Chen ◽  
Kenneth Lee ◽  
...  

AbstractThe increasing oil demand and busy waterways highlight the importance of oil spill preparedness and responses. Dispersants attract attention as an effective response tool to manage the impacts of major spill incidents. Despite in-depth laboratory evaluations on the effectiveness of chemical dispersants and their impacts on the transportation and fate of spilled oils, how dispersant works at sea remains a question and calls for the tests with greater realism to validate laboratory results, bring in energy impacts, and evaluate dispersant application equipment. Mesoscale studies and field trials have thus been widely conducted to assist better spill response operations. Such research attempts, however, lack a systematic summary. This study tried to fill the knowledge gaps by introducing the mesoscale facilities developed to advance the understanding of dispersant effectiveness on various sea conditions. An up-to-date overview of mesoscale studies and field trial assessments of dispersant effectiveness has also been conducted. We ended this review by highlighting the importance of public perception and future research needs to promote the approval and application of dispersants in spill incidents.

2003 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 31 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Fairbridge ◽  
R Anderson ◽  
T Wilkes ◽  
G Pell

Field trials were undertaken in box-ironbark woodland at Puckapunyal Military Area (PMA) in central Victoria between January 2000 and April 2001 to assess bait uptake by the brushtailed phascogale (Phascogale tapoatafa) and other small mammals during simulated fox baiting exercises. The systemic marker Rhodamine B was used in non-toxic fox baits (Foxoff®) to detect non-target bait consumption. The trials demonstrated that free-living brush-tailed phascogales, yellow-footed antechinus (Antechinus flavipes), sugar gliders (Petaurus breviceps) and common brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) were capable of accessing non-toxic fox baits buried under 10 cm of sand. Rhodamine B markings were detected in six (15%) of 40 P. tapoatafa captured during the study period. The implications of these results and future research needs are discussed.


2001 ◽  
Vol 2001 (1) ◽  
pp. 597-603 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim Lunel ◽  
Louise Davies

ABSTRACT As a general “rule of thumb,” a dispersant response is not the most appropriate response to a spill of Intermediate Fuel Oil (IFO)-380 bunker fuel oil However, as with all rules of thumb, there are some exceptions. There has been increasing evidence that a limited number of oil spill dispersants can be used on certain types of oil spill where previously dispersants would not have been considered. A new dispersant tested in field trials carried out by AEA Technology in 1997 (Lunel and Lewis, 1999), indicated that there might be an opportunity to treat viscous emulsions and bunker fuel oils by dispersant spraying. Following these field trials, AEA Technology undertook a number of laboratory-based studies, including tests in France during the first week of the Erika spill, which indicate that IFO-180 and IFO-380 bunker fuel oils may be dispersible under favorable conditions when fresh and when lightly emulsified. At present, the authors conclude that the rule of thumb—a dispersant response is not likely to be the most appropriate response to most spills of IFO-380—holds. However, the authors believe that there may be some conditions when a dispersant response can be considered as part of a response to a spill of IFO-380 to reduce the volume of oil beaching. It has been recognized by most experts dealing with this issue that a field trial is needed to establish the validity of this assertion. In the absence of a field trial, the authors believe that a dispersant response to IFO-380 can be considered providing that:The reduction of volume beaching will result in a significant net environmental or economic benefit.The sea temperature is 10°–15°C or greater.The dispersant to be used is COREXIT®9500, Dasic Slickgone LTSW, Inipol 90, or Superdispersant 25.The characteristics of the IFO-380 are known and have been assessed by an oil spill expert at the time of the spill.In situ monitoring is in place to assess whether the response is effective.


2011 ◽  
Vol 62 (6) ◽  
pp. 518 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. A. Simpfendorfer ◽  
M. R. Heupel ◽  
W. T. White ◽  
N. K. Dulvy

Growing concern for the world’s shark and ray populations is driving the need for greater research to inform conservation management. A change in public perception, from one that we need to protect humans from sharks to one where we must protect sharks from humans, has added to calls for better management. The present paper examines the growing need for research for conservation management of sharks and rays by synthesising information presented in this Special Issue from the 2010 Sharks International Conference and by identifying future research needs, including topics such as taxonomy, life history, population status, spatial ecology, environmental effects, ecosystem role and human impacts. However, this biological and ecological research agenda will not be sufficient to fully secure conservation management. There is also a need for research to inform social and economic sustainability. Effective conservation management will be achieved by setting clear priorities for research with the aid of stakeholders, implementing well designed research projects, building the capacity for research, and clearly communicating the results to stakeholders. If this can be achieved, it will assure a future for this iconic group, the ecosystems in which they occur and the human communities that rely on them.


2015 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan W. McCreery ◽  
Elizabeth A. Walker ◽  
Meredith Spratford

The effectiveness of amplification for infants and children can be mediated by how much the child uses the device. Existing research suggests that establishing hearing aid use can be challenging. A wide range of factors can influence hearing aid use in children, including the child's age, degree of hearing loss, and socioeconomic status. Audiological interventions, including using validated prescriptive approaches and verification, performing on-going training and orientation, and communicating with caregivers about hearing aid use can also increase hearing aid use by infants and children. Case examples are used to highlight the factors that influence hearing aid use. Potential management strategies and future research needs are also discussed.


2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine Joseph ◽  
Suhasini Reddy ◽  
Kanwal Kashore Sharma

Locus of control (LOC), safety attitudes, and involvement in hazardous events were studied in 205 Indian Army aviators using a questionnaire-based method. A positive correlation was found between external LOC and involvement in hazardous events. Higher impulsivity and anxiety, and decreased self-confidence, safety orientation, and denial were associated with a greater number of hazardous events. Higher external LOC was associated with higher impulsivity, anxiety, and weather anxiety and with lower self-confidence, safety orientation, and denial. Internal LOC was associated with increased self-confidence, safety orientation, and denial. Hazardous events and self-confidence were higher in those involved in accidents than those not involved in accidents. Future research needs to address whether training can effectively modify LOC and negative attitudes, and whether this would cause a reduction in, and better management of, human errors.


Author(s):  
Lars-Christer Hydén ◽  
Mattias Forsblad

In this chapter we consider collaborative remembering and joint activates in everyday life in the case of people living with dementia. First, we review past research of practices that scaffolds the participation of persons with dementia in everyday chores under different stages of dementia diseases. We do so by suggesting three analytical types of scaffolding: when the scaffolding practices (i) frame the activity, (ii) guide actions, or (iii) are part of repair activities. Second, we review two aspects of collaborative remembering that are especially important in the case of dementia: training of scaffolding practices, and the sustaining and presentation of identities through collaborative storytelling. Finally, theoretical and methodological tendencies of the research field are summarized and future research needs are formulated.


2021 ◽  
Vol 167 ◽  
pp. 112313
Author(s):  
Zhaoyang Yang ◽  
Zhi Chen ◽  
Kenneth Lee ◽  
Edward Owens ◽  
Michel C. Boufadel ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
pp. 152483802098556
Author(s):  
Logan Knight ◽  
Yitong Xin ◽  
Cecilia Mengo

Resilience is critical among survivors of trafficking as they are mostly vulnerable populations who face multiple adversities before, during, and after trafficking. However, resilience in survivors of trafficking is understudied. This scoping review aims to clarify the current state of knowledge, focusing on definitions of resilience, how resilience has been studied, and factors associated with resilience among survivors. Five databases were searched using key words related to trafficking and resilience. Studies were included if they were published in English between 2000 and 2019 and focused on resilience with the study design including at least one of these four features: (a) use of standardized measures of resilience, (b) qualitative descriptions of resilience, (c) participants were survivors or professionals serving survivors, and (d) data sources such as case files or program manuals directly pertained to survivors. Eighteen studies were identified. Findings indicated that resilience was primarily described as emergent from interactions between the survivor and the environment. Resilience in trafficking appeared largely similar to resilience in other kinds of victimization. Nonetheless, trafficking survivors also may display resilience in alternative ways such as refusing treatment. Positive interpersonal relationships were the most commonly mentioned resilience factor. In addition, current research lacks studies featuring longitudinal designs, interventions, participatory methods, types of trafficking other than sexual trafficking, and demographic characteristics such as age, gender, and national origin. Future research needs to establish definitions and measures of resilience that are culturally and contextually relevant to survivors and build knowledge necessary for designing and evaluating resilience-enhancing interventions.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 933
Author(s):  
Maria E. Street ◽  
Karine Audouze ◽  
Juliette Legler ◽  
Hideko Sone ◽  
Paola Palanza

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are exogenous chemicals which can disrupt any action of the endocrine system, and are an important class of substances which play a role in the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) [...]


Author(s):  
Ana L. Patrício Silva ◽  
Joana C. Prata ◽  
Catherine Mouneyrac ◽  
Damià Barcelò ◽  
Armando C. Duarte ◽  
...  

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