Convenient substitute indices to toxic equivalent quantity for controlling and monitoring dioxins in stack gas from waste incineration facilities

It is necessary to develop technical systems for controlling and monitoring dioxins in stack gas from waste incineration facilities. However, it required much labor, high technical skill and extreme cost to measure dioxins for obtaining the toxic equivalent quantity (TEQ) values. In this study, the positive correlations of the WHO-TEQ values of PCDDs/PCDFs/Co-PCBs or PCDDs/PCDFs with the conventional I-TEQ values of PCDDs/PCDFs were confirmed beforehand for a large number of incineration facilities in a wide concentration range of a hundred thousand times. The relationships between the TEQ values and the concentrations of total PCDDs/PCDFs, each toxic isomer of PCDDs/PCDFs, total Cl4-6BZs, or each homologue of Cl4-6BZs were investigated for various incineration facilities. And it was found that positive correlations of the TEQ values with the concentrations of total PCDDs/PCDFs, 2,3,4,7,8-P5CDF, or Cl5BZ for a large number of different incineration facilities and in a wide concentration range. Consequently, the concentrations of total PCDDs/PCDFs, 2,3,4,7,8-P5CDF and Cl5BZ, whose measuring methods are much easier than that of obtaining the TEQ values, could be used as convenient substitute indices to the TEQ values for controlling and monitoring dioxins in stack gas from various waste incineration facilities.     

A measuring method of chlorobenzenes as a convenient substitute index of dioxins in stack gas from waste incineration facilities

Much labor, high technical skill and extreme cost are required to measure dioxins for obtaining the toxic equivalent quantity (TEQ) values. On one side, it was found that there were high amounts of chlorobenzenes (CBZs) in the flue gas from waste incineration facilities, and they are also thought to be one of the principal precursors for dioxins. The concentrations of CBZs could be used as a convenient substitute index to the TEQ values for controlling and monitoring dioxins in stack gas from waste incineration facilities as shown in another report. In this study, collection efficiencies in the sampling performed by a convenient train which was composed of two bottles containing water and diethylene glycol in a cooling box, recoveries in the evaporation of the extract by an evaporator, proper procedure of the concentration by nitrogen purge were investigated for measuring CBZs. It was found that tetra-, penta-, and hexa-chlorobenzenes (Cl4-6BZs) whose boiling points are higher than ca. 240 degrees C could be sufficiently collected and recovered in the sampling and the evaporation. For sufficient recoveries of Cl4-6BZs in the concentration by the nitrogen purge, the final volume should be larger than 200 microliters with a proper receiver of the K-D concentrator at 35 degrees C. However, Cl1-3BZs were lost in each of the procedures.     

Coexistence of Cr and Ni in anthropogenic soils and their chemistry: implication to proper management and remediation

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In anthropogenic soils, there have been relatively limited studies focusing on Cr and Ni contaminants because they exhibit less toxic effects to...     

Synergetic effect of complex soil amendments to improve soil quality and alleviate toxicity of heavy metal(loid)s in contaminated arable soil: toward securing crop food safety and productivity

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Globally, various types of soil amendments have been used to improve the fertility and quality of soils in agricultural lands. In heavy metal(loid)...     

Intertidal slope of coral sand beach as a unique habitat for fish: meiobenthic diet of the transparent sand dart, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Kraemeria cunicularia</Emphasis> (Gobiidae)

Coral sand beaches harbor gobiid sand darts (genus Kraemeria), the only fish known to live in the sand throughout their adult life. Despite the uniqueness of sand-dwelling habitat as a vertebrate, the biology of this fish remains unclear. To explore how this unique fish utilize an unusual habitat, we investigated diurnal patterns of microhabitat use and prey consumption by the transparent sand dart, Kraemeria cunicularia, at a sandy beach on Iriomote Island, the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan. Sand darts were found in sediment in the lower intertidal zone throughout the daytime regardless of changes in tidal level, whereas at nighttime these fish were found swimming. Gut content analyses revealed that the sand dart diet was dominated by harpacticoid copepods throughout the day. Analyses of meiobenthic distribution indicated that these copepods were most abundant at lower intertidal zones where highest numbers of sand darts were found during the daytime; thus, it is possible that microhabitat use of the fish is largely determined by food availability. An extensive distributional survey throughout the Ryukyu Archipelago further indicated that sand darts prefer sandy beaches with well-sorted, coarse sand. These results provide novel insights into how sand darts respond to the tidal rhythm and highlight putative key environmental factors that determine their distribution at both regional and microhabitat scales. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Integrated measures for preservation, restoration and improvement of the environmental conditions of the Lagoon Olho d'Água basin

The Lagoon Olho d'Água in Pernambuco State, Northeast Brazil has received increasing environmental concern due to significant stress from pollution in the catchment. The existing environmental problems are the result of great pressure from a broad range of human activities, especially in the last 10 years. Serious pollution exists mainly from some industrial and urban activities, which increased intensively after the eighties. There is a strong social and economical pressure for housing and construction near the lagoon, due to the available land nearby beaches and estuarine zone, and recently by growing tourism activities. Uncontrolled land use by low-income communities and the pressure for construction by developers have led to landfilling and to deterioration of water quality in the lagoon catchment. Improvement of the environmental conditions in the catchment needs integrated measures. Guidelines and some specific actions involving several institutions have been established and refer to sanitation and urban infrastructure as the main priorities. A main target is the construction of low-cost sewage system with smaller and decentralised treatment plants.     

Influence of Indigenous Knowledge and Scientific Climate Forecasts on Arable Farmers’ Climate Adaptation Methods in the Rwenzori region,Western Uganda

Environmental Management - This paper investigates the influence of using indigenous forecasts (IF) and scientific forecasts (SF) on arable farmers’ adaptation methods in the Rwenzori region,...     

Studies on automated survey system of environmental chemicals by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-computer II. Three dimensional mass chromatography

A three dimensional mass chromatography (TDMC), which is the extended method of mass chromatography, has been developed for the analysis of environmental chemicals. A considerable performance was suggested by the combination of TDMC to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-computer system.