International Journal of Soil: Volume 1, Issue 1
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2008-23-07
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Deception and Fraud in the Publication of Scientific Research: Are There Solutions?
Teaf, Christopher M; Johnson, Barry L.
A number of events in the U.S. and abroad have refocused the scientific community on historical issues of whether, and how, integrity of our technical literature can be assured. Solutions to this problem are neither simple nor certain. Professional societies have addressed scientific misconduct, and effective responses by the research community will require cooperation of scientific publications. While the incidence of scientific fraud is difficult to estimate with precision and certainly varies with discipline, identified and publicized recent cases beg attention from editorial boards. Several egregious cases are described. The peer review system serves the function of examination and critique by scientists in relevant disciplines to assess submitted papers prior to publication. There is even a developing literature and several specific journals dedicated to the subject of fraud, professional integrity and ways to monitor or correct existing conditions. Underlying the field of professional and scientific publication is a fundamental assumption that data are real and that research actually occurred. Typically, the process is “blind” in both directions, although some journals permit “author-directed” reviews. A reviewer’s responsibilities include ensuring that text properly reflects data, that tables and figures are necessary/appropriate, and that conclusions fairly and reasonably reflect results and the body of information. Thus, existing peer review systems probably cannot detect anything but the most obvious fraud. In addition to imposing or perpetuating stringent review protocols, journals also can amend author guidelines to speak explicitly about publishing requirements. Cases of properly documented fraud warrant immediate public announcement, followed by official withdrawal or retraction. Reflection on these issues led editors of one journal to institute changes in editorial policies and develop a code of ethics for authors, reviewers, and editors. Prevention of dishonest research is already difficult, and we should ensure that this remains the case. Editors should formally commit reviewers/authors to ethical conduct in technical publications prior to publication and review.
Air Quality and the Public Trust
Anderson, Norman
This paper puts forward a practical strategy for protecting and improving our air quality by combining three inter-related political concepts: 1) ethical principles underlying a well-ordered democratic society; 2) the role of the State as guardian of the public trust; and 3) the importance of citizen action in defining the nature of this trust and ultimately ensuring its protection. It is not intended to be a rigorous legal or philosophical argument. Rather, from the perspective of a public health advocacy organization, it is intended to serve as a useful initial framework within which to consider an agenda to promote healthy air quality. It uses the specific example of outdoor wood boilers to illustrate why this framework is needed and how it can provide useful guidance.
Effects of Soil and Aging on the Dermal Bioavailability of Hydrocarbons and Metals in Soil
Turkall, Rita M.; Skowronski, Gloria A.; Abdel-Rahman, Mohamed S.
The potential health risk from exposure to chemically contaminated soil can be assessed from bioavailability studies. The aims of this research were: (a) to determine the dermal bioavailability of contaminants in soil for representatives of hydrocarbon classes of chemicals, namely, volatiles (toluene) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons [benzo(a)pyrene] as well as for heavy metals (arsenic, mercury, and nickel, respectively, as arsenic acid, mercuric chloride, and nickel chloride); and (b)to examine the effects of soil matrix and chemical sequestration in soil with time (“aging”) on their bioavailability. In vitro flow-through diffusion cell studies were performed utilizing dermatomed male pig skin and radioactive chemicals to measure dermal penetration. The volatility of toluene reduced the amount of the chemical available for dermal penetration. With soil contact, the penetration of toluene was 16-fold to 21-fold less than toluene without soil. Benzo(a)pyrene penetration was decreased faster in soil with a higher clay content than one with more organic carbon. The soil matrix as well as aging in soil lowered the dermal penetration of the metal compounds by 95-98%. This study provided evidence that the bioavailability from dermal exposure to the chemicals examined can be significantly reduced by soil matrix and aging in soil.
Evaluating the Impacts of Uncertainty in Geomorphic Channel Changes on Predicting Mercury Transport and Fate in the Carson River System, Nevada
Warwick, John J.; Carroll, Rosemary W.H.
The Carson River is one of the most mercury contaminated fluvial systems in North America. Most of its mercury is affiliated with channel bank material and floodplain deposits, with the movement of mercury through this system being highly dependent on bank erosion and sediment transport processes. Mercury transport is simulated using three computer models: RIVMOD, WASP5, and MERC4. Model improvements include the addition of a bank package that accounts for flow history. The rates at which river stages are rising or falling will, in turn, impart time-dependant and vertically variable MeHg concentrations within the channel banks along the Carson River. Also, Lahontan Reservoir’s geomorphic characteristics have been refined along with the explicit tracking of a temporally and spatially varying colloidal fraction. The augmented and refined modeling approach results in more accurate and realistic simulation of mercury transport and fate. An extensive uncertainty analysis, involving characterizing the co-variance of two calibration parameters used to define bank erosion and overbank deposition, will define the degree of expected variation in model predictions relative to limitations posed by available field data.
Municipal Solid Waste Used as Bioethanol Sources and its Related Environmental Impacts
Li, Aiduan; Khraisheh, Majeda
An investigation into the possibility of replacing the conventional biomass with biodegradable municipal solid waste, which provides an alternative solution for preventing the biodegradable fraction of municipal solid waste (BMSW) going into landfill required by EU Landfill Directives (1999/31/EC) was carried out. However, as every type of energy have some advantages as well as disadvantages. The use of BMSW as biomass sources for the production of bio-ethanol was investigated. The experimental results have shown that more than 90% of the cellulose from the waste can be converted to glucose which can be easily fermented to ethanol production. The potential impacts on related environmental issues, such as sustainable waste management, climate change, water issues, land use and biodiversity, are discussed. Sustainable waste management solutions are also discussed under different environmental, economic, and social scenarios.