This paper reviews research into the potential environmental impacts of leakage from geological storage of CO 2 since the publication of the IPCC Special Report on Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage in 2005. Possible impacts are considered on onshore (including drinking water aquifers) and offshore ecosystems. The review does not consider direct impacts on man or other land animals from elevated atmospheric CO 2 levels. Improvements in our understanding of the potential impacts have come directly from CO 2 storage research but have also benefitted from studies of ocean acidification and other impacts on aquifers and onshore near surface ecosystems. Research has included observations at natural CO 2 sites, laboratory and field experiments and modelling. Studies to date suggest that the impacts from many lower level fault-or well-related leakage scenarios are likely to be limited spatially and temporarily and recovery may be rapid. The effects are often ameliorated by mixing and dispersion of the leakage and by buffering and other reactions; potentially harmful elements have rarely breached drinking water guidelines. Larger releases, with potentially higher impact, would be possible from open wells or major pipeline leaks but these are of lower probability and should be easier and quicker to detect and remediate.
In a prospective, controlled study 58 patients aged under 60 years with Colles' fractures were treated either by a forearm plaster or by the application of an external fixator. In 94% of those treated by a fixator it was possible to insert the distal pins of the frame into the fracture fragment, the fixation obtained being sufficient to forgo additional splintage. The external fixator proved more effective at holding the manipulated position, and the radiological loss of position during fracture union was minimal compared with that seen in patients treated in plaster.
International audienceCO 2 capture and sto rage in deep saline aquifers or depleted gas and oil reservoirs offer is one option for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Our study aims at investigating the environmental impact of CO 2 leakage from deep reservoirs into near-surface terrestrial environmen ts. To understand the effect of unlikely, but potential CO2 release on such an ecosystem, detailed knowledge on the abundance and diversity of plants and microorganisms is essential. Therefore, an ecosystem study has been conducted within the N etwork of Excellence “ CO2GeoNet” on a natural CO2 vent at the Laacher See, Germany. The investigation of environmentally important microbial communities in the soil samples show ed significant differences between the CO 2-rich (>90 % of soil gas) , the medium CO 2 (20%) , and the control site with background CO 2 concentrations. The ecosystem appears to have adapted to the different conditions through species substitution or adaptation, showing a shift towards anaerobic and acidophilic species under elevated CO 2 con centrations. At the end, this study should identify possible candidates in the botanical and microbial kingdoms, whose presence or absence provide easily detectable indicators for the leakage of CO 2 fro m deep reservoirs into near-surface terrestrial ecosystems
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