How clean is clean: a review of the social science of environmental cleanups

Defining community revitalization in Great Lakes Areas of Concern and investigating how revitalization can be catalyzed through remediation and restoration

An international effort to restore contaminated areas across the Great Lakes has been underway for over 50 years. Although experts have increasingly recognized the inherent connections between ecological conditions and community level benefits, Great Lakes community revitalization continues to be a broad and complex topic, lacking a comprehensive definition. The purpose of this study was to generate a testable "AOC-Revitalization Framework" for linking remediation and restoration success, represented by Beneficial Use Impairment (BUI) removal in U.S. Great Lakes Areas of Concern (AOC), to community revitalization. Using directed content analysis, we conducted a literature review and identified 433 potential revitalization metrics and indicators and grouped them into 15 broader community revitalization attributes to develop the following definition of Great Lakes community revitalization: "locally driven community resurgence resulting in resilient and equitable enhancements to social, economic, and environmental community structures." We surveyed experts within the Great Lakes AOC program on the likelihood remediation and restoration success, would positively impact revitalization attributes. Focus groups triangulated survey results. Results identified BUI removal was expected to positively affect revitalization, but the type of revitalization outcome was based on the BUI being removed. The AOC-Revitalization Framework is the first to empirically outline these possible linkages, providing a clear testable structure for future research; it can be used to better understand how environmental improvements are or are not leading to community revitalization and more accurately identify components of revitalization impacted, thus supporting more equitable representation, communication, and measurement of the relationship.

The three R's of reasonable in radiological protection: relationships, rationale, and resources

Central to applying the principle of optimisation in the system of radiological protection is the evaluation of what level of radiation exposure should be considered 'as low as reasonably achievable' (ALARA), after taking into account the prevailing circumstances. Determining what is 'reasonable' is an abstract, although somewhat intuitive concept with many potential interpretations depending on both the situation and those involved, whether individuals or organisations. There are common themes in the types of considerations that need to be addressed to determine 'reasonableness' regardless of the exposure situation. However, despite the consistent and agreeable nature of these themes, there remains a gap in how to apply them in real situations. For example, without measurable goalposts (or a clear process for setting such goalposts) for determining what constitutes ALARA, we can find ourselves misinterpreting the optimisation process as keeping exposures 'as low as possible'. We propose herein, by consolidating and building on existing ideas, an easily understandable and actionable 'reasonableness' framework. This simple, yet broadly applicable tool is intended to help radiation protection experts in the systematic, deliberative, and collaborative reflection on all of the factors that make up 'reasonable' before making a decision-whether it be a proposed medical treatment or clean-up of a contaminated site. Each process execution and decision itself will necessarily retain the complexity of the prevailing circumstance. The proposed 'Rs' of Reasonable represent Relationships (stakeholders, empathy, and trust), Rationale (contextual, technical, and ethical), and Resources (technological, financial, and time).

Environmental, public health, and economic development perspectives at a Superfund site: A Q methodology approach

Environmental remediation and restoration at hazardous waste sites is important for reducing risks and sustaining local economies. Navigating trade-offs between diverse and conflicting stakeholder perspectives to identify practical and affordable ways forward is important for sustaining objectives and goals. Differences in stakeholder perspectives are informed by their affiliations and roles and their views towards environmental, economic development, and public health issues. We used Q methodology, an approach that combines priority sorting and interviews, to elicit and interpret the perspectives of 28 stakeholders, representing government entities, non-profits, and industries at a mining-impacted Superfund site in the Coeur d'Alene Basin of Idaho, USA. Four primary perspectives were distinguished by their prioritization of: 1) government intervention, 2) the Superfund remediation, 3) local concerns, and 4) public-private partnerships. Participants' roles and affiliations played an influential role in informing primary perspectives. Overall, collaboration was viewed more favorably when it was associated with concrete implementation pathways.

The sedimented social histories of environmental cleanups: An ethnography of social and institutional dynamics

The scrutiny of environmental cleanups within the United States has been a growing area of interest for social scientists. Scholars have used case studies and modeling to analyze struggles for environmental justice and the economics of stigma associated with Superfund sites. This research has primarily analyzed community perspectives on remediation and removal, such as local strategies for participating in cleanup decisions. There has been less work on analyzing organizational perspectives on the social and institutional dynamics at play during cleanups. Our study addresses this gap by analyzing insights gained through interviewing U.S. Environmental Protection Agency staff who do cleanup work in brownfields, Superfund, and emergency response. This ethnographic research excavates the sedimented layers of social histories of contaminated sites: local and regional contexts, institutional power and authority, and stakeholder relationships and networks. It interrogates how these sedimented social histories affect cleanup decisions, including the temporal and spatial boundaries of sites themselves. We find that the making of relationships is as important to cleanup strategies and outcomes as the scientific and technical aspects of cleanup are. This finding highlights the importance of tools and resources to excavate these social histories during environmental remediation, removal, and decontamination work.

Institutional insights on integrating social and environmental science for solutions-driven research

Solving complex environmental problems requires interdisciplinary research involving the social and environmental sciences. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is working toward solutions-driven research and interdisciplinary integration within its Office of Research and Development. This article details the history of this process and discusses lessons learned from other federal agencies seeking to integrate social and biophysical research: finding the right combination of top down and bottom up approaches; balancing objectives of advancing science and/or supporting programmatic operations; using social science methods to inform the process; and engaging multiple stakeholders. Attention to the social context of scientific practice, including research processes and research use, fosters success. Three strategies for integrating social sciences to support solutions-driven environmental research are: weaving social science throughout the research process, strengthening social networks, and fostering interdisciplinary hubs. Integration into planning and carrying out research has greater transformative potential than integration into product development and distribution. This article provides insights into institutional considerations for advancing interdisciplinarity and the social context of scientific practice in government agencies. It illustrates the multiple decision contexts and inclusion of social science at the science-policy interface.

Macroporous Oil-Sorbents with a High Absorption Capacity and High-Temperature Tolerance Prepared through Cryo-Polymerization

The facile preparation and admirable performance of macro-porous poly(lauryl acrylate)-based oil-sorbents for organic solvents and oils are reported in this manuscript. Cryo-polymerizations of lauryl acrylate (LA) with ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as the cross-linker were carried out at temperatures below the freezing point of the polymerization mixture. The polymerization medium and pore-forming agent was 1,4-dioxane. The influences of the total monomer concentration, EGDMA content and cryo-polymerization temperature on the structure of the obtained P(LA-co-EGDMA) cryogels were investigated with the techniques of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, contact angle measurement and thermo-gravimetric analysis. Through the modulation of the crosslinking density and porosity of these cryogels, the P(LA-co-EGDMA) oil-sorbents demonstrated a high absorption capacity for organic solvents and oils, recyclability and high-temperature tolerance. The absorption capacity reached 20-21 and 16-17 g/g for toluene and gasoline oil, respectively. Those fabricated sorbents survived high temperatures up to 150 °C without any change in absorption capacity as well as porosity. Considering the convenient synthesis process and absorption performance, the present work offers a remarkable opportunity to bring polymer cryogels to practical application in waste oil clean-up.