Assessment of 2010 air quality in two Alpine valleys from modelling: Weather type and emission scenarios

Alpine valleys are sensitive to anthropogenic emissions. Local atmospheric dynamics are a key factor that may lead to an accumulation of pollutants in the bottom of the Chamonix and Maurienne valleys. Assessment of 2010 pollutant concentrations variability needs to take these specificities into account. A meteorological data classification is combined with different emission scenarios in order to run an air quality model. Using simulations of representative scenarios rather than complete years allows for a fine spatial and temporal representation of local atmospheric dynamics and gives access to detailed chemical breakdowns. Results demonstrate the variability of primary and secondary species due to emissions and the predominance of local effects on pollutant concentrations.     

Assessment of air quality benefits from national air pollution control policies in China. Part I: Background,emission scenarios and evaluation of meteorological predictions

Under the 11th Five Year Plan (FYP, 2006–2010) for national environmental protection by the Chinese government, the overarching goal for sulfur dioxide (SO₂) controls is to achieve a total national emissions level of SO₂ in 2010 10% lower than the level in 2005. A similar nitrogen oxides (NO_x) emissions control plan is currently under development and could be enforced during the 12th FYP (2011–2015). In this study, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S.EPA)’s Community Multi-Scale Air Quality (Models-3/CMAQ) modeling system was applied to assess the air quality improvement that would result from the targeted SO₂ and NO_x emission controls in China. Four emission scenarios — the base year 2005, the 2010 Business-As-Usual (BAU) scenario, the 2010 SO₂ control scenario, and the 2010 NO_x control scenario—were constructed and simulated to assess the air quality change from the national control plan. The Fifth-Generation NCAR/Penn State Mesoscale Model (MM5) was applied to generate the meteorological fields for the CMAQ simulations. In this Part I paper, the model performance for the simulated meteorology was evaluated against observations for the base case in terms of temperature, wind speed, wind direction, and precipitation. It is shown that MM5 model gives an overall good performance for these meteorological variables. The generated meteorological fields are acceptable for using in the CMAQ modeling.     

Greenhouse gas emission from small clinics solid waste management scenarios in an urban area of an underdeveloping country: A life cycle perspective

This study aimed to investigate the effects on the environment of small clinics solid waste management by applying a life cycle analysis approach. Samples were collected from 371 private clinics situated in densely populated areas of Hyderabad, Pakistan. The solid waste from surveyed clinics was categorically quantified on daily basis for 30 consecutive days. The functional unit for waste was defined as 1 tonne. System limitations were defined as landfilling, incineration, composting, material recovery, and transportation of solid waste. The treatment and disposal methods were assessed according to their greenhouse gas emission rate. For the evaluation, three different scenarios were designed. The second scenario resulted in the highest emission value of 1491.78 kg CO₂ eq/tonne of solid waste due to mixed waste incineration, whereas the first scenario could not offer any saving because of uncovered landfilling and 67.5% higher transport fuel consumption than the proposed network. The proposed third scenario was found to be a better solution for urban clinics solid waste management, as it resulted in savings of 951.38 kg CO₂ eq/tonne of solid waste. This integrated design is practicable by resource-constrained economy. This system consists of composting, material recovery, and incineration of hazardous waste. The proposed system also includes a feasible transportation method for urban area collection networks. The findings of the present study can play a vital role in documenting evidence and for policymakers to plan the solid waste management of clinics, as previously no studies have been conducted on this particular case.

Implications: This study aims to highlight the impact of small clinics solid waste management scenarios on the environment in a developing country’s urban area. Life cycle analysis is used for comparison of greenhouse gase emission from different scenarios, including the purposed integrated method. Small clinics play a very important role in health care, and their waste management is a very serious issue; however, there are no previous studies on this particular case to the best knowledge of the authors. This study can be considered as forerunner effort to quantify the environmental footprint of small clinics solid waste in urban areas of a developing country.     

建筑陶瓷行业SO2污染物评价及总量控制实用方法

采用高斯点源模型对建陶生产造成的SO2地面浓度增量进行计算.利用比例下降模型计算建陶业的SO2允许排放总量,并根据企业的设备生产能力进行了总量分配,在方法上具有较强的可操作性,计算结果表明,可有效降低所在地区的SO2地面浓度.     

水泥厂氨排放标准存在的问题及氨排放控制

为控制水泥脱硝工程产生的氨排放问题,中国发布《水泥工业大气污染物排放标准》(GB 4915—2013)对水泥企业氨排放限值提出明确要求。但水泥脱硝设施同步配套的氨在线检测仪记录数据表明,多数水泥厂脱硝后的氨排放浓度远超过标准限值。为此,对照火电厂相关标准和技术规范,指出了水泥工业氨排放标准和技术规范文件中存在的问题。结合实际检测数据和国外相关文献,确认水泥工业存在"本底氨"排放,水泥原料、协同处理废弃物、生产工况变化是导致本底氨排放的主要原因。选择性非催化还原(SNCR)脱硝设施产生的氨逃逸将增加氨排放浓度,反应温度窗口、停留时间、氨/氮摩尔比(NSR)、喷射方案等均会影响氨逃逸浓度。优化水泥生产工艺、SNCR脱硝工艺或配套选择性催化还原(SCR)脱硝系统等方式可有效控制水泥厂本底氨及氨逃逸。     

Theoretical evaluation of a method for locating gaseous emission hot spots

This paper describes and theoretically evaluates a recently developed method that provides a unique methodology for mapping gaseous emissions from non-point pollutant sources. The horizontal radial plume mapping (HRPM) methodology uses an open-path, path-integrated optical remote sensing (PI-ORS) system in a horizontal plane to directly identify emission hot spots. The radial plume mapping methodology has been well developed, evaluated, and demonstrated. In this paper, the theoretical basis of the HRPM method is explained in the context of the method's reliability and robustness to reconstruct spatially resolved plume maps. Calculation of the condition number of the inversion's kernel matrix showed that this method has minimal error magnification (EM) when the beam geometry is optimized. Minimizing the condition number provides a tool for such optimization of the beam geometry because it indicates minimized EM. Using methane concentration data collected from a landfill with a tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS) system, it is demonstrated that EM is minimal because the averaged plume map of many reconstructed plume maps is very similar to a plume map generated by the averaged concentration data. It is also shown in the analysis of this dataset that the reconstructions of plume maps are unique for the optimized HRPM beam geometry and independent of the actual algorithm applied.     

生活垃圾卫生填埋场甲烷减排与控制技术研究

系统地研究了生物氧化、生物抑制和风力驱动准好氧填埋的生活垃圾卫生填埋场甲烷减排集成技术.研究表明,喷洒了NMS营养液(80 mL/kg)的矿化垃圾为甲烷氧化覆盖层,可以持续氧化甲烷,第23天后甲烷氧化率稳定在75%左右;当氯仿质量浓度为20 mg/kg或乙炔体积分数达到1.2%时,甲烷产量极少,产甲烷菌几乎被完全抑制;采用风帽技术的改进型准好氧填埋可以利用风速0.5 m/s的自然风,在不增加成本的前提下大幅减少甲烷排放.     

Development and application of a regional-scale atmospheric mercury model based on WRF/Chem: a Mediterranean area investigation

The emission, transport, deposition and eventual fate of mercury (Hg) in the Mediterranean area has been studied using a modified version of the Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with Chemistry (WRF/Chem). This model version has been developed specifically with the aim to simulate the atmospheric processes determining atmospheric Hg emissions, concentrations and deposition online at high spatial resolution. For this purpose, the gas phase chemistry of Hg and a parametrised representation of atmospheric Hg aqueous chemistry have been added to the regional acid deposition model version 2 chemical mechanism in WRF/Chem. Anthropogenic mercury emissions from the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme included in the emissions preprocessor, mercury evasion from the sea surface and Hg released from biomass burning have also been included. Dry and wet deposition processes for Hg have been implemented. The model has been tested for the whole of 2009 using measurements of total gaseous mercury from the European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme monitoring network. Speciated measurement data of atmospheric elemental Hg, gaseous oxidised Hg and Hg associated with particulate matter, from a Mediterranean oceanographic campaign (June 2009), has permitted the model’s ability to simulate the atmospheric redox chemistry of Hg to be assessed. The model results highlight the importance of both the boundary conditions employed and the accuracy of the mercury speciation in the emission database. The model has permitted the reevaluation of the deposition to, and the emission from, the Mediterranean Sea. In light of the well-known high concentrations of methylmercury in a number of Mediterranean fish species, this information is important in establishing the mass balance of Hg for the Mediterranean Sea. The model results support the idea that the Mediterranean Sea is a net source of Hg to the atmosphere and suggest that the net flux is ≈30 Mg year^?1 of elemental Hg.     

Performance evaluation of laser-induced breakdown spectrometry as a multimetal continuous emission monitor

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) has been evaluated as a multimetal continuous emissions monitor (CEM) at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rotary kiln incinerator simulator (RKIS) facility in Raleigh, NC. Two detection systems with a bifurcated optical fiber bundle were used for simultaneously monitoring the concentrations of Be, Cd, Cr, and Hg in the test. Two calibration techniques were evaluated in the laboratory for the field measurements. On-line calibration of relative metal concentration was also performed in the simulated incinerator gas stream. Toxic metal concentrations measured with LIBS have been compared with the EPA reference method (RM) results.     

Trace metals in seagrass, algae and molluscs from an uncontaminated area in the Mediterranean

The concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn were measured in specimens of four marine organisms--the seagrass Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile, the brown algae Padina pavonica (L.) Thivy, and the two gastropod molluscs Monodonta turbinata Born and Patella caerulea L.--selected as possible cosmopolitan biomonitors of trace metals in the Mediterranean area. The organisms were collected at five coastal sites in Favignana Island (Sicily, Italy), an area virtually uninfluenced by anthropogenic activities. In order to gain a more complete picture of both the environmental conditions of the experimental area and the bioaccumulation patterns of the selected organisms, soluble and total metal concentrations were determined in coastal water samples collected at the same stations. The picture of bioavailable metal loads in the different sites of the selected area provided by the four species was rather univocal. An overall trend of increased metal concentrations at the station in which the local harbour is located was clear. On the other hand, the metal concentrations recorded at the 'clean' stations generally fall in the range of the lowest values available in the literature and may be considered as useful background levels to which to refer for intraspecific comparison within the Mediterranean area. Implications in biomonitoring of the observed accumulation patterns, especially in the different tissues of Posidonia oceanica, are discussed.     

Calibration and validation of a dynamic water model in agricultural scenarios

A dynamic aquatic model (DynA model) was previously developed to predict the fate of a chemical in aquatic scenarios characterized by daily or periodic changes in several input parameters. DynA model is here calibrated with data obtained from the literature in specific unsteady state scenarios, such as those of rice fields. The results obtained for two herbicides (cinosulfuron and pretilachlor) in rice paddy scenarios revealed the capability of the model to accurately predict water and sediment concentrations, as shown by some statistical indicators. Modelling efficiency (EF) values of 0.86-0.99 for the water compartment and of 0.77-0.84 for sediment show the good agreement between predicted and measured concentrations. An "external validation" was performed using measured data for a different herbicide (molinate) applied in a Portuguese paddy rice scenario. A sensitivity analysis for this volatile chemical revealed the influence of some climatic parameters (e.g. temperature) to the model outcomes, such as water and sediment concentrations. This confirmed the capability of DynA model as an efficient tool for the pesticide risk assessment in dynamic scenarios.     

Occurrence and removal of pharmaceuticals in wastewater treatment plants at the Spanish Mediterranean area of Valencia

A survey on the presence of pharmaceuticals in urban wastewater of a Spanish Mediterranean area (Castellon province) was carried out. The scope of the study included a wide variety of pharmaceuticals belonging to different therapeutical classes. For this purpose, 112 samples, including influent and effluent wastewater, from different conventional wastewater treatment plants were collected. Two monitoring programmes were carried out along several seasons. The first was in June 2008 and January 2009, and the second in April and October 2009. During the first monitoring, the occurrence of 20 analytes in 84 urban wastewater samples (influent and effluent) was studied. The selection of these pharmaceuticals was mainly based on consumption. From these, 17 compounds were detected in the samples, with analgesics and anti-inflammatories, cholesterol lowering statin drugs and lipid regulators being the most frequently detected groups. 4-Aminoantipyrine, bezafibrate, diclofenac, gemfibrozil, ketoprofen, naproxen and venlafaxine were the compounds most frequently found. In the highlight of these results, the number of analytes was increased up to around 50. A lot of antibiotic compounds were added to the target list as they were considered “priority pharmaceuticals” due to their more potential hazardous effects in the aquatic environment. Data obtained during the second monitoring programme (spring and autumn) corroborated the results from the first one (summer and winter). Analgesics and anti-inflammatories, lipid regulators together with quinolone and macrolide antibiotics were the most abundant pharmaceuticals. Similar median concentrations were found over the year and seasonal variation was not clearly observed. The removal efficiency of pharmaceuticals in the wastewater treatment plants was roughly evaluated. Our results indicated that elimination of most of the selected compounds occurred during the treatment process of influent wastewater, although it was incomplete.     

Hydrogeochemical evaluation of calcareous eolianite aquifer with saline soil in a semiarid area

The aim of this study is to evaluate the groundwater geochemistry in Burg Elarab area as an example of a calcareous eolianite aquifer that is covered with saline soil in a semiarid climatic condition. To conduct this study, 37 groundwater samples were taped from the production wells in addition to two surface water samples from Mallahet Mariut Lake and Bahig Canal. To elucidate the origin of dissolved ions and the geochemical processes influencing this groundwater, combinations of geomorphological, pedological, hydrogeological, hydrochemical, and statistical approaches were considered. Results suggest that the groundwater flows from both sides of the plain to the central area. Soil type and salinity and the intruded brackish lake water are the main factors controlling the groundwater chemistry. Chemically, the groundwater samples were classified into three groups. Group 1 samples have higher salinity range and characterize the area close to Mallahet Mariut and are influenced by cation exchange processes. Group 2 samples have an intermediate salinity range, occupy most of the plain area, and receive water from direct infiltrations and mixing between different recharge sources. Group 3 samples have low salinity range and limited areal extent and characterize the groundwater flowing from the Mariut Tableland. Reverse ion exchange is the predominant process in the latter group. Calcite precipitation is a general phenomenon characterizing all the groundwater types in the study area.     

Arsenic distribution and pathway scenarios for sediments and water in a peri-urban Mongolian small-scale coal mining area (Nalaikh District,Ulaanbaatar)

The distribution of arsenic (As) in environmental compartments is investigated in the Nalaikh Depression of N-Mongolia. In Nalaikh, lignite coal is mined by artisanal small-scale mining (ASM) approaches. Because As is often associated with sulfuric minerals in coal, it was hypothesized that enrichment of As is related to coal ASM. A second hypothesis considered coal combustion in power plants, and stoves are a key source of As in the local environment. Three mobilization and distribution scenarios were developed for potential As pathways in this semiarid environment. About 43 soil and 14 water sites were analyzed for As concentrations and meaningful parameters in soil and water. About 28 topsoil samples were analyzed in surface-subsurface pairs in order to identify potential eolian surface enrichment. Additionally, fluvial-alluvial sediments and geogenic and anthropogenic deposits were sampled. Water was sampled as surface water, groundwater, precipitation, and industrial water. Results show that As does not pose a ubiquitous risk in the Nalaikh Depression. However, locally and specifically in water, As concentrations may exceed the WHO guideline value for drinking water by up to a factor of 10. A carefully selected sampling strategy allows the evaluation of the distribution scenarios, which reveals a combination of (a) geogenic As in groundwater and distribution via surface water with (b) anthropogenic As redistribution via eolian pathways. An immediate linkage between As redistribution and coal mining is not evident. However, As distribution in fly ash from coal combustion in the local power plant and yurt settlements is the most likely As pathway. Hence, the results indicate the potential influence of diffuse, low-altitude sources on As emission to the environment. As such, this study provides a good example for As distribution under semiarid climate conditions influenced by geogenic and anthropogenic factors.

     

Development and preliminary evaluation of a particulate matter emission factor model for European motor vehicles

Although modeling of gaseous emissions from motor vehicles is now quite advanced, prediction of particulate emissions is still at an unsophisticated stage. Emission factors for gasoline vehicles are not reliably available, since gasoline vehicles are not included in the European Union (EU) emission test procedure. Regarding diesel vehicles, emission factors are available for different driving cycles but give little information about change of emissions with speed or engine load. We have developed size-specific speed-dependent emission factors for gasoline and diesel vehicles. Other vehicle-generated emission factors are also considered and the empirical equation for re-entrained road dust is modified to include humidity effects. A methodology is proposed to calculate modal (accelerating, cruising, or idling) emission factors. The emission factors cover particle size ranges up to 10 microns, either from published data or from user-defined size distributions. A particulate matter emission factor model (PMFAC), which incorporates virtually all the available information on particulate emissions for European motor vehicles, has been developed. PMFAC calculates the emission factors for five particle size ranges [i.e., total suspended particulates (TSP), PM10, PM5, PM2.5, and PM1] from both vehicle exhaust and nonexhaust emissions, such as tire wear, brake wear, and re-entrained road dust. The model can be used for an unlimited number of roads and lanes, and to calculate emission factors near an intersection in user-defined elements of the lane. PMFAC can be used for a variety of fleet structures. Hot emission factors at the user-defined speed can be calculated for individual vehicles, along with relative cold-to-hot emission factors. The model accounts for the proportions of distance driven with cold engines as a function of ambient temperature and road type (i.e., urban, rural, or motorway). A preliminary evaluation of PMFAC with an available dispersion model to predict the airborne concentration in the urban environment is presented. The trial was on the A6 trunk road where it passes through Loughborough, a medium-size town in the English East Midlands. This evaluation for TSP and PM10 was carried out for a range of traffic fleet compositions, speeds, and meteorological conditions. Given the limited basis of the evaluation, encouraging agreement was shown between predicted and measured concentrations.     

Sources and trends of trace elements and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in a shallow lake in the Mediterranean area from sediment archives of the Anthropocene

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In this study, the anthropogenic contamination in Trasimeno lake (Central Italy) was investigated using three sediment cores spanning over the last...     

Potential of biofiltration for VOCs emission control and safety aspects

Directive 99/13/EC on the emission of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) is impacting on several industries in Italy, as well in other EU countries. Many small enterprises have to invest in new control systems and need to be helped to choose an appropriate and safe technology. As VOCs are highly flammable compounds, high concentrations in emission flows can pose a fire and explosion hazard if control systems are not properly designed and proper procedures are not implemented. Biofiltration may be considered as a suitable solution for VOC emissions control, as investment and operation costs are lower and performances are comparable with other abatement systems and comply with permit requirements. Furthermore, mild exercise conditions allow safer operations.     

Relevance of coplanar PCBs for TEQ emission of fluidized bed incineration and impact of emission control devices

Five fluidized bed incinerators combusting municipal solid waste were assessed for the impact of coplanar PCBs on total TEQ emission. In 17 stack measurements, the coplanar PCBs contributed on average less than 3% to total TEQ with a maximum contribution of 7.5% to total TEQ in one measurement. Differences in the design of the flue gas cooling section did not show an effect on the impact of coplanar PCBs on total TEQ. The effect of emission control devices on the impact of coplanar PCBs on the total TEQ was studied in more detail at one incinerator. The relative contribution of PCBs to total TEQ increased along the flue gas line. This was caused by a slightly higher removal efficiency for TEQ relevant PCDDs/PCDFs compared to coplanar PCBs by the bag filters and a higher destruction efficiency for PCDDs/PCDFs compared to PCBs by the SCR catalyst. Additionally, the removal efficiencies of the emission control devices (bag filters and catalyst) for other chlorinated aromatic compounds which have been proposed as TEQ indicator compounds (polychlorinated benzenes and polychlorinated phenols) were compared with those for PCDDs/PCDFs and coplanar PCBs. Removal efficiencies for polychlorinated benzenes or polychlorinated phenols considerably differed from those of PCDD/PCDF and coplanar PCBs. Implications for TEQ assessments using indicator compounds as proposed in the literature are discussed.     

Assessing heavy metal sources in agricultural soils of an European Mediterranean area by multivariate analysis

According to the European Thematic Strategy for Soil Protection, the characterization of the content and source of heavy metals in soils are necessary to establish quality standards on a regional level that allow the detection of sampling sites affected by pollution. In relation to this, the surface horizons of 54 agricultural soils under vegetable crops in the Alicante province (Spain), a representative area of the European Mediterranean region, were sampled to determine the content of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn. Analytical determinations were performed by atomic absorption spectroscopy after microwave sample digestion in acid solution. Results indicated that heavy metal levels were similar to those reported by authors working on agricultural soils from other parts of the Mediterranean region, with the exception of Cu and Pb in some samples. Multivariate analysis (principal component analysis and cluster analysis) was performed to identify a common source for heavy metals. Moreover, soil properties were determined in order to characterize agricultural soils and to analyze relationships between heavy metal contents and soil properties. The content of Co, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn were associated with parent rocks and corresponded to the first principal component called the lithogenic component. A significant correlation was found between lithogenic metals and some soil properties such as soil organic matter, clay content, and carbonates, indicating an important interaction among them. On the other hand, elements such as Cd, Cu and Pb were related to anthropic activities and comprised the second (Cu and Pb) and third principal components (Cd), designated the anthropogenic components. Generally, Cd, Cu and Pb showed a lower correlation with soil properties due to the fact that they remain in available forms in these agricultural soils. Taking into account these results and other achieved in other parts of the European Mediterranean region, it can be concluded that soil quality standards are highly needed to declare soils affected by human induced pollution. This is particularly relevant for anthropogenic metals (Cd, Cu and Pb, and in some areas also Zn). Further research in other agricultural areas of the region would improve the basis for proposing such soil quality standards.