Pollution-fueled "biodeterioration" threatens historic stone

Article Abstract:

Microbial metabolic activities threaten to destroy historic buildings and artwork. Recent studies have found that air pollution resulting from industrialization fuels these microbes and hastens the biodeterioration of artworks and cultural artifacts in many regions of the world, including India's Taj Mahal, Greece's Delos Sanctuary and the Acropolis, Japan's stone Buddhas, Europe's cathedrals and ancient temples in Cambodia, Vietnam and Central America. The damage is caused largely by the metabolic products released by microbes, such as surface deposits, discoloration, pitting and rapid weathering.

Microorganisms, Maintenance and repair, Historic buildings

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The "new science" of wetland restoration

Article Abstract:

Scientists appear to be gaining headway in understanding natural wetlands and their functions. An understanding of natural wetlands will be helpful in efforts toward constructing wetlands that can duplicate the functioning of natural ones. The restoration project for the Florida Everglades and work to restore habitat in San Diego Bay represent efforts to search for clues about the functioning of these 'nature's kidneys.' The $685 million Everglades project involves a series of six constructed wetlands designed to remove phosphorus from agricultural runoff entering the Everglades.

Research, Wetlands, Everglades, Constructed wetlands

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Active sites and the non-steady-state dissolution of hematite

Article Abstract:

Data on transient hematite dissolution rate responses to pH changes show that dissolution rates jump up and then decay to a new steady state within 36 hours for every downward jump in pH. Data also show that the reservoir of iron active sites are gradually depleted for every downward jump in pH but may be regenerated with returns to a higher pH. The model generated and the data may also be applicable to other compounds.

Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences, All Other Basic Inorganic Chemical Manufacturing, Ecological Sciences, Industrial inorganic chemicals, not elsewhere classified, Iron Compounds NEC, Environmental sciences, Iron compounds, Solubility

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