Jerald L. Schnoor

Exponential increase of used and scrapped products has aroused worldwide attention, with various coping strategies regarding environmental protection and resource reutilization being considered and implemented. Among these, remanufacturing, processing used products environmentally and restoring them to like-new conditions, is preferred by nations around the world. China has been committed to developing and advancing the remanufacturing industry along with its products since 2013, however only a few residents are able to recognize and purchase remanufactured products at the present time. This paper aims to investigate the public awareness of Chinese residents on these emerging products by conducting a questionnaire survey and field research for data collection, and analyzing the results statistically. Results show that most Chinese residents are not familiar with remanufactured products, the superior attributes of such products, or the channels available to purchase them. This could be explained by insufficient publicity and promotion on the part of the government and business enterprises. Factors influencing the purchase intentions of customers are illuminated and potential problems are summarized, in response to which, respective recommendations are provided for both policy makers and firms to popularize remanufactured products.

The huge amount of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) has aroused global concern with its importance of environmental performance for resources reutilization being recognized. The incomplete collection management system is required to be improved for a more environmental and orderly recycling way. Based on the public survey, field research and information search on the Internet, we present the existing framework and problems of WEEE collection in China, according to which four innovative WEEE collection modes are put forward: (i) Unified collection channels mode; (ii) Manufacturer alliance mode; (iii) Innovative enterprise self-built network platform mode; and (iv) Third-party integrated network platform mode. The characteristics, merits and deficiencies of the four modes are compared and analyzed, combined with which, we match the four modes with regions of different economic levels and Internet application. Third-party integrated network platform integrating online and offline resources is expected to be generalized under rapid development of information technology and e-commerce in China. The purpose of our research is to explore appropriate innovative WEEE collection modes and give suggestions for countries or economies whose WEEE collection situation or system are similar with China. Besides, government support and laws implementation are emphasized in mode promotion.

Hormonally active compounds may move with agricultural runoff from fields with applied manure and biosolids into surface waters where they pose a threat to human and environmental health. Riparian zone plants could remove hormonally active compounds from agricultural runoff. Therefore, sorption to roots, uptake, translocation, and transformation of 3 estrogens (17β-estradiol, 17α-ethinylestradiol, and zeranol) and 1 androgen (trenbolone acetate) commonly found in animal manure or biosolids were assessed by hydroponically grown hybrid poplar, Populus deltoides x nigra, DN-34, widely used in riparian buffer strips. Results clearly showed that these hormones were rapidly removed from 2 mg L^–1 hydroponic solutions by more than 97% after 10 d of exposure to full poplar plants or live excised poplars (cut-stem, no leaves). Removals by sorption to dead poplar roots that had been autoclaved were significantly less, 71% to 84%. Major transformation products (estrone and estriol for estradiol; zearalanone for zeranol; and 17β-trenbolone from trenbolone acetate) were detected in the root tissues of all 3 poplar treatments. Root concentrations of metabolites peaked after 1 d to 5 d and then decreased in full and live excised poplars by further transformation. Metabolite concentrations were less in dead poplar treatments and only slowly increased without further transformation. Taken together, these findings show that poplars may be effective in controlling the movement of hormonally active compounds from agricultural fields and avoiding runoff to streams. Environ Toxicol Chem 2015;34:2906–2913. © 2015 SETAC

Maize (Zea mays) and soybean (Glycine max) were used as model food-chain plants to explore vegetative uptake of differently charged multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Three types of MWCNTs, including neutral pristine MWCNT (p-MWCNT), positively charged MWCNT-NH₂, and negatively charged MWCNT-COOH, were directly taken-up and translocated from hydroponic solution to roots, stems, and leaves of maize and soybean plants at the MWCNT concentrations ranging from 10.0 to 50.0 mg/L during 18-day exposures. MWCNTs accumulated in the xylem and phloem cells and within specific intracellular sites like the cytoplasm, cell wall, cell membrane, chloroplast, and mitochondria, which was observed by transmission electron microscopy. MWCNTs stimulated the growth of maize and inhibited the growth of soybean at the exposed doses. The cumulative transpiration of water in maize exposed to 50 mg/L of MWCNT-COOHs was almost twice as much as that in the maize control. Dry biomass of maize exposed to MWCNTs was greater than that of maize control. In addition, the uptake and translocation of these MWCNTs clearly exhibited cellular, charge, and size selectivity in maize and soybean, which could be important properties for nanotransporters. This is the first report of cellular, charge, and size selectivity on the uptake by whole food plants for three differently charged MWCNTs.

Three hydroxylated derivatives of PCBs, 2′-hydroxy-4-chlorobiphenyl (2′-OH-4-CB), 3′-hydroxy-4-chlorobiphenyl (3′-OH-4-CB), and 4′-hydroxy-4-chlorobiphenyl (4′-OH-4-CB), were transformed by the PCB degrader, Burkholderia xenovorans. When the bacterium was growing on biphenyl (biphenyl pathway-inducing conditions), all three hydroxylated isomers were transformed. However, only 2′-OH-4-CB was transformed by the bacterium growing on succinate (conditions non-inductive of the biphenyl pathway). Gene expression analyses showed a strong induction of key genes of the biphenyl pathway (bph) when cells were grown on biphenyl, which is consistent with the transformation of the three isomers by biphenyl-grown cells. When cells were grown on succinate, only exposure to 2′-OH-4-CB resulted in expression of biphenyl pathway genes, which suggests that this isomer was capable of inducing the biphenyl pathway. These results provide the first evidence that bacteria are able to metabolize PCB derivatives hydroxylated on the non-chlorinated ring.

A poplar tree‐phytoremediation system was installed at former refinery and tank farm sites in Cabin Creek, West Virginia, to clean‐up petroleum‐contaminated‐soils and groundwater. Groundwater and soils in both sites were sampled and analyzed on a regular basis to monitor changes in contaminant concentration since 1999. The concentration of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, and gasoline range organics (GRO) decreased an average of 81%, 90%, 67%, 78%, and 82%, respectively, in the lower soil horizons and 34%, 84%, 12%, 19%, and 59%, respectively, in groundwater. In addition, concentrations of oxygen, methane, and carbon dioxide in soil gas demonstrated that tree roots dewatered soils and allowed penetration of oxygen deep into the soil profile, creating necessary conditions for rhizosphere bioremediation. Although required clean‐up time can limit phytoremediation, it has proven to be a cost‐effective strategy for site improvement if imminent pathways for human exposure and risk are not an issue.

The manufacturing and testing of energetic compounds TNT, RDX and HMX for military purposes has led to widespread contamination of soils and groundwater in the United States and across Europe. The compounds have been shown to be toxic and are considered pollutants. Phytoremediation has been shown to provide a cost-effective alternative to classical technologies for cleaning up nitro-substituted explosive contaminated sites, which generally requires excavation followed by incineration or land filling. This research project investigated potential detoxification pathways of these compounds once they are taken up by poplar trees. Poplar trees are a model plant for phytoremediation. They have been well studied in phytoremediation research and make good candidates because of their high transpiration rate, their ability to tap into ground water, their fast growth rates, and the information available as a result of the completion of the genome sequence for Populus trichocarpa. Based on the high level of contamination of testing and training ranges, due to periodic inputs of energetic materials, the only reliable in-situ biological treatment method is phytoremediation. This project provides a better understanding of the metabolic pathways and catabolic enzymes underlying phytotransformation of nitro-substituted explosives. The project evaluated effects of the toxicity of TNT, RDX and HMX in relation to poplar trees and poplar plant tissues as well as analyzing gene expression and transformation products from poplar degradation of these explosive compounds.

Airmen in the U.S. Air Force Security Forces specialty have had to make significant adjustments since the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) began: new force protection missions, longer deployments, and more demanding workloads. Their success is critical to the success of the GWOT, and retaining well-trained, motivated troops is key to their success. Although retention goals in the Air Force since 9/11 have been met, this cannot be taken for granted as the stress and strain on Airmen and their families continue. Stretching deployments from 90 or 120 days to 179 days or more for Security Forces (SF) members may negatively affect their retention. This revised AEF rotation policy allows greater continuity for expeditionary commanders, but it may not be worth the potential effects on the SF community. A survey was administered to 2,824 SF Airmen in March 2005 to collect data on their intentions to reenlist in, separate from, or retire from the Air Force, and to determine the effects of deployments on their decisions. Although the data collected do not represent the entire SF population, the information provides insight into the reasons why many of the SF troops decide to separate rather than reenlist, why others decide to reenlist, and why still others decide to serve 20 or more years in the Air Force.