Chemicals - Pollution remediation

Title

Reference

Journal of Environmental Planning and Management
DOI: 10.1080/09640568.2011.632677

Author(s)

Doron Lavee

Study type

Peer Review Journal    

Abstract

This study examines the economic viability of relocating polluting industrial factories from densely populated residential areas to designated industrial zones. This solution requires a significant economic investment consisting of relocating and remediating costs. This solution has a direct financial benefit, due to the alternative value of the land on which the factory currently stands, as it can be converted to more attractive uses. In many cases, this direct benefit does not cover the costs, therefore it is not economically feasible to transfer the plant. However, it is possible that relocating a factory in these cases is economically feasible from a national perspective, as the factory's current location may cause a decline in nearby property values, while relocating it may result in an increase in property values. Nevertheless, in these cases, government intervention may be required. This paper presents a case study for such a situation – analysing the case of the Ta'as Magen factory, a severely polluted site located in the heart of Israel's main metropolitan area. This analysis reveals that the indirect benefits of relocating the factory and remediating the site are considerably greater than the direct benefits, and outweigh all required costs.

Policy theme(s)

Environmental economics >> Economic impacts of environmental change
Chemicals >> Management >> Remediation
Sustainable development and policy assessment >> Sustainable economic development >> Sustainable business and industry

Keywords

economic efficiency, direct and indirect benefits, remediation

Entry Source:

Shortlisted for Science for Environment Policy News Alert

View this study at:

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09640568.2011.632677
There is a fee to view this study in full    

Contact the study author at:

doron@pareto.co.il

Title

Fate of Dispersants Associated with the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

Reference

Environmental Science & Technology, 2011; : 110126010225058
DOI: 10.1021/es103838p

Author(s)

Elizabeth B. Kujawinski, Melissa C. Kido Soule, David L. Valentine, Angela K. Boysen, Krista Longnecker, Molly C. Redmond.

Study type

Peer Review Journal

Abstract

Response actions to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill included the injection of 771,000 gallons (2,900,000 L) of chemical dispersant into the flow of oil near the seafloor. Prior to this incident, no deepwater applications of dispersant had been conducted, and thus no data exist on the environmental fate of dispersants in deepwater. We used ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) to identify and quantify one key ingredient of the dispersant, the anionic surfactant DOSS (dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate), in the Gulf of Mexico deepwater during active flow and again after flow had ceased. Here we show that DOSS was sequestered in deepwater hydrocarbon plumes at 1000-1200 m water depth and did not intermingle with surface dispersant applications. Further, its concentration distribution was consistent with conservative transport and dilution at depth and it persisted up to 300 km from the well, 64 days after deepwater dispersant applications ceased. We conclude that DOSS was selectively associated with the oil and gas phases in the deepwater plume, yet underwent negligible, or slow, rates of biodegradation in the affected waters. These results provide important constraints on accurate modeling of the deepwater plume and critical geochemical contexts for future toxicological studies.

Policy theme(s)

Marine ecosystems >> Marine pollution
Chemicals >> Management >> Remediation of pollutants

Keywords

N/A

Entry Source:

Selected for Science for Environment Policy News Alert

Referred to in EC doc:

N/A

View this study at:

http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es103838p
There is a fee to view this study in full

Contact the study author at:

ekujawinski@whoi.edu