Assessment of metal contamination using X-ray fluorescence spectrometry and the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) during remediation of a waste disposal site in Antarctica

The remediation of the Thala Valley landfill, Casey Station, East Antarctica, is part of efforts to clean-up contaminated sites associated with the Australian Antarctic Program. These sites, ranging from abandoned rubbish dumps to fuel spills, are contaminated principally with metals and petroleum hydrocarbons. Remediation success depends on accurate, cost-effective and timely--fit-for-purpose--chemical analysis of soil and water samples from the site, which is required to guide excavation, the in situ or off-site treatment and disposal of contaminated material, and to validate satisfactory remediation. Owing to the remote location of Antarctica, it is necessary to carry out chemical analyses on-site. Waste and soil contaminated with Pb, Zn, Cd, and Cu were excavated from Thala Valley for removal to Australia, treatment and disposal. Analysis of total metal concentrations in soil was performed at Casey Station with a transportable energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) spectrometer. Soil samples were prepared using a simple size-fractionation method to expedite sample throughput. A method for assessing contaminant mobility in solid waste (toxicity characteristic leaching procedure, TCLP) was also used to characterise soil. Although this was more labour-intensive and time-consuming than the total metals analysis, it was of great utility because leachable metals were often significant determinants in the assessment of contaminated soil. The combined data helped managers during remediation, directing excavation and allowing waste to be classified for treatment and disposal before its return to Australia.     

Toxicity Testing of Leachate from Waste Landfills Using Medaka (Oryzias Latipes) for Monitoring Environmental Safety

To investigate the environmental safety of waste disposal landfill sites and of land reclaimed from such sites, we evaluated the toxicity of leachate from these sites by a combination of bioassays in the Japanese killifish medaka Oryzias latipes. We tested for lethal toxicity in adult and larval medaka and for hatching inhibition of embryos from eggs. As biochemical evidence of the effects of leachate exposure, CYP1A (EROD activity) and vitellogenin (Vtg) were induced. We also bioassayed water-treated leachate and downstream river water. Leachate solution was lethal to larval and adult medaka. Embryo hatchability was inhibited, and abnormal hatching, spinal deformity and anisophthalmia occurred in embryos exposed to leachate solution. CYP1A was induced by exposure to leachate solution diluted to 1.0%, and EROD activity was significantly higher than in control. Vtg and unknown proteins were induced in the sera of male medaka exposed to the diluted leachate solution. Conventional water treatments worked effectively to remove toxic compounds but did not work well to remove element ions, including heavy metals. Treated leachate produced neither lethal toxicity nor hatching abnormalities during the exposure period. Fish toxicity tests for leachate would be useful for monitoring the environmental safety of landfill sites.     

一体化生活污水处理构筑物的设计思路与实践

根据生活水一体化处理设备的原理及构思，将通用设备替代为组合的一体化构筑物形式，应用于生活污水处理中，取得了良好的经济效果和较优的技术稳定性，达到了水处理单元优化设计的目的。     

Monitoring quantity and characteristics of municipal solid waste in Dhaka City

A reliable estimate of the quantity of solid waste generation in the city is very important for proper solid waste planning and management. However, reported estimates of solid waste generation vary widely and lead to questionability. The reported values have been derived on the assumption of demography, standard rate of waste generation by households, density values, number of trucks engaged for waste transportation and monitoring of truck movement at dump sites, etc. This diverse nature of the available data and the question of accuracy necessitate a rigorous study that has tried to document the waste quantity in the recently formulated master plan of Dhaka City. The socio-economic parameters, behavioral characteristics, generation sources, seasonality, and per capita growth rate are considered in estimating the waste quantity along with its future projections. The findings from the estimation of waste quantities state that seasonal differences in the municipal solid waste stream are not substantial. The most seasonably variable material in the municipal solid waste stream is food waste. Residential waste is relatively homogeneous. Although there are some differences in waste generation depending on demographic and other local factors, most households dispose of essentially similar types of wastes. Variation occurs in waste composition dependent upon income levels and category of sources. Variation also occurs based upon the extent of source reduction and recycling opportunities. As opportunities exist to recycle wastes, the recycling facilities might have to grow at a similar pace to the generation of waste. Physical and chemical characteristics of solid waste are important to implement the waste disposal and management plan for the selection of resource and energy recovery potentials. A number of studies have been conducted to determine the composition of wastes including moisture content and calorific value. The data show that the moisture content in city waste is significantly higher and the calorific value is much lower, which determines the viability of composting or anaerobic digestions rather than waste combustion.     

新型冠状病毒肺炎疫情医疗废物应急管理与处置

基于我国新型冠状病毒肺炎疫情医疗废物应急管理与处置体系建立过程，分析疫情初期医疗废物管理与处置短板，预测医疗废物产生量随患者人数发展的变化，提出医疗废物突出问题的解决方案。结果表明：及时构建重大疫情医疗废物全过程应急管理与处置技术体系有利于促进医疗废物分类分流管理与处置，迅速提升医疗废物应急处置能力；修正湖北省涉疫情医疗废物和医疗废物平均产生系数分别为3.35 kg/（人·d）和5.15 kg/（人·d）；截至2020年6月6日，全国医疗废物处置能力从疫情前的4 902.8 t/d增至6 245.4 t/d，湖北省具备的医疗废物处置能力由疫情前的180 t/d增至667.4 t/d；疫情期间积累的医疗废物应急管理与技术经验对后疫情时期建立和强化医疗废物应急管理与处置机制具有借鉴意义。     

北京市废弃物处理温室气体排放特征

基于《2006年IPCC国家温室气体清单指南》推荐的方法，结合《省级温室气体清单编制指南（试行）》和《城市温室气体核算工具指南》的部分数据与核算范围，针对固体废弃物填埋、焚烧和废水处理等过程，核算了北京市2005-2014年废弃物处理过程中温室气体总排放量。结果表明：2005-2014年北京市废弃物处理过程温室气体总排放量呈逐渐上升趋势，2014年温室气体总排放量比2005年增长98%。10年间，固体废弃物填埋过程一直是最主要的温室气体排放源，到2014年排放量达到最大，为416.3×10⁴t二氧化碳当量（CO₂e）。废弃物填埋、废水处理和废弃物焚烧过程占总排放量的比例分别为78.5%（CO₂e质量分数，下同）、13.5%和8%。结合已有研究，系统优化国内7个典型城市废弃物处理温室气体排放因子，核算7个城市排放情况，并对比分析了北京市排放情况。     

Identification of soil contamination hotspots with veterinary antibiotics using heavy metal concentrations and leaching data—a field study in China

In regions with high livestock densities, the usage of antibiotics and metals for veterinary purposes or as growth promoters poses a risk in manured soils. We investigated to which degree the concentrations and depth distributions of Cu, Zn, Cr and As could be used as a tracer to discover contaminations with sulfonamides, tetracyclines and fluoroquinolones. Besides, we estimated the potential vertical translocation of antibiotics and compared the results to measured data. In the peri-urban region of Beijing, China, soil was sampled from agricultural fields and a dry riverbed contaminated by organic waste disposal. The antibiotic concentrations reached 110 μg kg^?1 sulfamethazine, 111 μg kg^?1 chlortetracycline and 62 μg kg^?1 enrofloxacin in the topsoil of agricultural fields. Intriguingly, total concentrations of Cu, Zn, Cr and As were smaller than 65, 130, 36 and 10 mg kg^?1 in surface soil, respectively, therewith fulfilling Chinese quality standards. Correlations between sulfamethazine concentrations and Cu or Zn suggest that in regions with high manure applications, one might use the frequently existing monitoring data for metals to identify potential pollution hotspots for antibiotics in topsoils. In the subsoils, we found sulfamethazine down to ≥2 m depth on agricultural sites and down to ≥4 m depth in the riverbed. As no translocation of metals was observed, subsoil antibiotic contamination could not be predicted from metal data. Nevertheless, sulfonamide stocks in the subsoil could be estimated with an accuracy of 35–200 % from fertilisation data and potential leaching rates. While this may not be sufficient for precise prediction of antibiotic exposure, it may very well be useful for the pre-identification of risk hotspots for subsequent in-depth assessment studies.     

生态环境监测全过程病原微生物安全风险识别评估及个体防护

生态环境监测人员在工作中面临病原微生物安全风险。调研发现,已颁布的相关法律法规、标准和规定,多侧重于实验室及医务人员的病原微生物安全防护,缺少生态环境监测人员在采样、样品运输和交接、废弃物处置等过程中的病原微生物安全规范,新冠肺炎疫情期间的防护指导文件比较笼统。笔者在已颁布的法律法规和各项标准基础上,识别和评估生态环境监测全过程病原微生物安全风险,提出相应的监测要求和人员防护建议,针对采样、样品运输和交接、实验室分析和废弃物处置过程提出个人防护措施及突发情况下的应急防护措施。     

Municipal solid waste generation in growing urban areas in Africa: current practices and relation to socioeconomic factors in Jimma, Ethiopia

As one of cities in the developing countries, a rapid population growth and industrial activities pose many environmental challenges for Jimma city, Ethiopia. One aspect of urban growth posing a threat on sustainable development is poor solid waste management, which results in environmental pollution. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the quantity, composition, sources of waste generated, their current disposal practices, and to recommend appropriate management technologies. The total waste generated daily in Jimma city was ca. 88,000 kg, and the average per capita generation rate was 0.55?±?0.17 kg/capita/day. Eighty-seven percent of the waste was produced by households and 13% by institutions, and a negligible fraction (0.1%) was generated by street sweepings. During the rainy season, 40% more waste was generated than in the dry season because of the increased availability of agricultural food product. Further analysis showed that biodegradable organic waste constitutes 54% by weight with an average moisture content of 60% that falls within the required limits for composting. The nonbiodegradable components constitute 46% of which 30% of it was nonrecyclable material. Only 25% of the community uses municipal containers for disposal at the selected landfill site. Fifty-one percent of the households disposed their waste in individually chosen spots, whereas 22% burned their waste. Finally 2% of households use private waste collectors. The socioeconomic analysis showed that higher family income and educational status is associated more with private or municipal waste collection and less with the application of backyard or open dumping. These insights into generated waste and management practice in Jimma city allow making suggestions for improved collection, treatment, and disposal methods. A primary conclusion is that the biodegradable waste is a major fraction having suitable properties for recycling. As such an economic benefit can be obtained from this waste while avoiding the need for disposal.     

东莞市城市功能区噪声自动监测点位布设初探

依据功能区环境噪声普查数据和城市环境噪声功能区分布特征,进行环境噪声自动监测点位布设.研究的原则和方法,对环境噪声自动监测点位选取具有一定的参考价值和指导意义.     

Detection of metal contamination in wild asparagus near a waste disposal site

Estimating contaminant distributions in environmental media is necesary to evaluate human and ecological hazards. Because of uncertainties in release histories and transport, traditional sampling and statistical techniques applicable to the experimental sciences may not be suitable for exploratory studies at hazardous waste sites. An approach that relies on cluster analysis of principal components (PCA) was used to identify contaminated wild asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) growing in the vicinity of waste disposal sites along the Columbia River at the U.S. Department of Energy's Hanford Site in southeast Washington state. Metals in soil samples taken from the sites contained elevated levels of Ag, Al, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Sb, Zn, and V. Samples of asparagus tissue were collected from the river near the waste site, from Hanford old fields abandoned 52 years ago, and from commercial fields in the neighboring communities. Dried tissues were analyzed for metals content by ICP-mass spectrometry, furnace AA, and cold vapor AA. Tissue concentrations of elements varied over 5 orders of magnitude, from K at 46 900 ppm to As and Ag at maximum concentrations below 1 ppm. PCA produced four components that accounted for 66.2% of the metals variance. Subsequent cluster analysis using Ward's minimum variance separated the data into Columbia River and old-field groups, with the River group further divided into three clusters: plants primarily upriver from the waste sites, plants primarily downriver, and plants growing in or near the waste sites. The clustering showed that the more soluble components of the discharges (Ba and Ca) showed a pattern of distribution in the asparagus plants consistent with the ground water flow pattern, in that these elements were found far downriver of the disposal sites themselves. In contrast, the less mobile elements Al, Cd, Cr, Fe, Mn, Tl, and Zn were elevated only near the most-recently used waste disposal area. Asparagus from agricultural fields, including fields abandoned 50 years ago, contained higher concentrations of Fe, Cu, Pb, K, and Ni than did the wild riverine plants.The U.S. Governments right to retain a non-exclusive royalty free licence in and to any copyright is acknowledged.     

石油炼制项目竣工环保验收监测检查常见问题

根据建设项目竣工环境保护验收监测相关标准规范要求和实践经验,总结了石油炼制项目竣工环境保护验收监测实践工作中的若干常见问题。根据石油炼制项目污染物来源和特点,分析了加热炉废气监测、恶臭VOCs治理、含油污水监测、防渗措施和地下水监测以及污水处理"三泥"(含油污泥、气浮浮渣、剩余的废活性污泥)和碱渣处置等常见重点难点问题,在此基础上提出了一些对策和建议,为今后开展验收监测检查工作提供借鉴。     

关于建立区域水环境质量监测网络定期优化机制的思考

水环境质量监测网络是水环境风险监控体系的重要基础。随着社会经济结构发生改变,河流的水文情况、纳污状况及水功能区划发生了很大变化,现有的监控断面很难满足管理的需求。以河北省为例,提出了区域性地表水环境监测网络存在覆盖面严重不足、监测资源浪费、调整不系统、信息不完整等问题,阐述了定期优化全流域水环境质量监测网络是保证监测网络代表性,提高网络综合利用率等的重要手段之一。     

Soil water, salt, and groundwater characteristics in shelterbelts with no irrigation for several years in an extremely arid area

This paper is based on long-term monitoring data for soil water, salt content, and groundwater characteristics taken from shelterbelts where there has been no irrigation for at least 5 years. This study investigated the distribution characteristics of soil water and salt content in soils with different textures. The relationships between soil moisture, soil salinity, and groundwater level were analyzed using 3 years of monitoring data from a typical oasis located in an extremely arid area in northwest China. The results showed that (1) the variation trend in soil moisture with soil depth in the shelterbelts varied depending on soil texture. The soil moisture was lower in sandy and loamy shelterbelts and higher in clay shelterbelts. (2) Salinity was higher (about 3.0 mS cm^?1) in clay shelterbelts and lower (about 0.8 mS cm^?1) in sandy shelterbelts. (3) There was a negative correlation between soil moisture in the shelterbelts and groundwater level. Soil moisture decreased gradually as the depth of groundwater table declined. (4) There was a positive correlation between soil salinity in the shelterbelts and the depth of groundwater table. Salinity increased gradually as groundwater levels declined.     

Classification of moisture and aeration regimes in sub-boreal forest soils

One hundred and two white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) stands were studied in the Sub-boreal Spruce zone of British Columbia and were quantitatively classified into seven soil moisture regimes (moderately dry, slightly dry, fresh, moist, very moist, wet, and very wet) according to actual/potential evapotranspiration ratio, depth to gleyed layer or prominent mottling, and depth to groundwater table. The delineated soil moisture regimes demonstrated strong relationships with the composition of understory vegetation and white spruce foliar nutrients and site index. These relationships implied that the three differentiating characteristics used in the classification provided a good estimation of growing-season soil water supply. In addition to soil moisture regimes, three soil aeration regimes (adequate, restricted, and deficient) were delineated according to presence or absence of gleyed horizons and groundwater table, slope gradient, and soil texture. These soil aeration regimes helped in explaining the variation in white spruce site index, especially on water-surplus sites. Thus, an integrated classification of soil moisture-aeration regimes was proposed to explain the effect of soil moisture and aeration on white spruce productivity.The results of this study gave further evidence that soil moisture and aeration regimes, differentiated on the basis of climatic data and soil morphological properties, are useful measures of soil moisture and aeration conditions in sub-boreal forest soils.     

Integrated studies for automobile wastes management in developing countries; in the concept of environmentally friendly mechanic village

More cities in developing countries now consider mechanic village (MV) as superior to the city wide auto-workshop practice following the increasing influx of used or waste automobile from industrialized nations. This is because of the numerous advantages of the mechanic village concept as a capacity building, and in poverty alleviation. Nevertheless, mechanic villages are poorly developed with no waste management plan. They are now identified with severe to excessive heavy metal soil pollution, causing ecological and public health hazards. This paper has a wider explanation of what it takes for a mechanic village to be environmentally friendly based on spectroscopic analysis and physical measurements conducted in three MVs. Heavy metal concentrations (mg kg(?-1)) above background levels in the upper 100 cm soil profiles of the Okigwe, the Orji, and the Nekede MVs in the Imo River basin collectively range 748-70,606 for Fe; 99-1,090 for Pb; 186-600 for Mn; 102-1,001 for Cu; 8-23 for Cd; 4-27 for Cr; and 3-10 for Ni. The most abundant metals of environmental concerns are Pb, Mn, and Cu, in the order of Pb > Mn > Cu. Three-phase storm water treatment, emission testing, minimum safe farming distance (350 m), extended producer responsibility for disposal or recycling of used motor oil, phyto-remediation using local plants, groundwater monitoring wells, and continuous education of mechanics are recommended. Exporters of waste automobiles to developing countries and the United Nations may assist developing countries in establishing environmentally friendly MVs.     

南方炼油污水优化处理新措施

根据南方的气候特点,着重阐述了茂名石化公司炼油厂污水优化处理的两项新措施。其结果,降低了污水处理能耗,提高了污水处理效率。     

Climate-induced water availability changes in Europe

Water availability changes in Europe are discussed in this paper, as seen in a perspective of climatic change. Such changes will be assessed in terms of the shifts in the watering of terrestrial ecosystems, as well as the shifts in the availability in terrestrial freshwater systems. A changing climate will have a major impact on the availability of water. Both wetter and drier conditions will have major implications for societal activities and land use patterns (e.g., agriculture, urban activities, waste water disposal, etc.).Some future research and monitoring activities are proposed by the authors to assess linkages in hydrological shifts to changes in land use patterns.     

Municipal solid waste management in Thailand and disposal emission inventory

The increasing municipal solid waste (MSW) generation along with the high fraction of organic waste and a common disposal of open dumping is the current scenario in many areas in Thailand. As a response to this problem, the country’s Pollution Control Department (PCD) aims to reduce the MSW generation rate to less than 1 kg/capita/day, increase the collection efficiency, and improve the recovery of recyclables. For many years, more than 60% of the solid waste disposal system in Thailand has been carried out by open dumping. According to the survey conducted by this study, in 2004 there were 425 disposal sites (95 landfills; 330 open dumps) in Thailand and an estimated methane emission of 115.4 Gg/year was generated based on this practice. It has been estimated that the anticipated methane emission in Thailand will rise from 115.4 Gg/year to 118.5 Gg/year if the largest open dumpsites in provinces with no existing landfill are upgraded to sanitary landfill; and it will increase to 193.5 Gg/year if the existing sanitary landfill is upgraded to integrated waste management facilities. Moreover, Bangkok metropolitan have the highest methane emission (54.83 Gg/year) among all the regions in Thailand. The methane emission forecast of 339 Gg/year by 2020 (based on LandGEM methodology) provides a stimulus to create a comprehensive plan to capture and utilize methane as an energy source.     

The use of Landsat to monitor Deep Water Dumpsite 106

Since the early 1970's, remote sensing has been used to study ocean dumping at some of the hearshore ocean dump sites off the coast of the United States, but little remote sensing had been done over the deep water ocean disposal sites. This report summarizes what has been learned from the remote sensing of ocean dumping by the Landsat satellites at Deep Water Dumpsite 106. Of the three major types of waste material discharged at Deep Water Dumpsite 106, only the titanium pigment process acid waste has been sighted. From early in 1977 to May 1979, 11 acid dumps were observed by Landsat. All five of the dumps sighted in 1977 occurred within warm core Gulf Stream eddies and the plumes moved clockwise within the eddies. Four of those dumps were seen to be located northeast of the original dump location while the fifth one was sighted south of the original dump location. The six remaining observed dumps, discharged in the absence of an eddy, were seen to be located generally south of the original dumping locations. The average speed of the dump movement was 0.68 kt with a range from 0.17 to 1.17 kts. Plume dispersion showed a tendency toward greater dispersion as the plume got older with the widest plume cross section measured on the order of 2100 m.