Removal of the endocrine disrupter butyl benzyl phthalate from the environment

Butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), an aryl alkyl ester of 1,2-benzene dicarboxylic acid, is extensively used in vinyl tiles and as a plasticizer in PVC in many commonly used products. BBP, which readily leaches from these products, is one of the most important environmental contaminants, and the increased awareness of its adverse effects on human health has led to a dramatic increase in research aimed at removing BBP from the environment via bioremediation. This review highlights recent progress in the degradation of BBP by pure and mixed bacterial cultures, fungi, and in sludge, sediment, and wastewater. Sonochemical degradation, a unique abiotic remediation technique, and photocatalytic degradation are also discussed. The degradation pathways for BBP are described, and future research directions are considered

Analysis and modeling of dsrc service over-reach inside an arched transportation tunnel

The prediction of received power in the adjacent zone of a Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) system operating inside an arched transportation tunnel is discussed. Wideband directional channel sounding was conducted inside the tunnel, and the gain, angleof- arrival and delay of each propagation path were estimated from the measured data. By simulating application antennas according to the DSRC standard, the received power was predicted for 2 road-side unit antenna positions. The dominant scatterers causing the overreach of radiated power to the adjacent zone were identified and attributed to the ground and sidewalk. The effect of these scatterers were modeled using their scattering losses