Environmental forensic investigation of the air pollution from a cement manufacturing unit

Abstract

Cement manufacturing is a process that results in the emission of significant quantities of suspended particulate matter (SPM) to the ambient air. An environmental forensic investigation was carried out in the surroundings of a major cement manufacturing unit at a place called Coimbatore in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The investigation was carried out to identify the contribution of the cement manufacturing unit to the SPM concentration of the surrounding air environment. The sampling points’ selection and sample collection were done following the principles outlined in the INTERPOL Manual for Pollution Crime Forensic Investigation. On-site monitoring of the air samples was carried out using Mini Laser Aerosol Spectrometer (GRIMM, Mini-LAS Model 11R). The instrument was capable of measuring particles ranging from 0.25 to 32 µm and classifying them into 31 size channels. The test results at majority of the monitoring locations were well above the limits specified in the National Ambient Air Quality Standards of India. Microscopic studies of the dust samples were carried out for surface texture and particle shape. The spatial distribution of particles was analysed using geographic information system (GIS) for the visual identification of the extent of the pollution by keeping the cement factory as the focal point. The results from the GIS and microscopic analysis established the role of the cement factory in the particulate matter pollution of its surroundings, specifically in the areas North-West of the factory. The successfully adopted procedure can serve as a guideline for the environmental forensic investigation of similar pollution incidences.     

金属粉尘湿法处理系统的设计和除尘效果分析

为改善金属抛光操作人员的工作环境、降低抛光金属粉尘的爆炸风险，设计一种金属粉尘湿法处理系统，并通过建立多相流动数值模型，探究其内部流场特征与金属粉尘运动规律，分析金属粉尘湿法处理系统的除尘效率。研究结果表明:大粒径的金属粉尘直接重力沉降至水槽中；小粒径(PM10)的金属粉尘易随气流进入风道，进而通过水雾脱除；采用洁净进气源，可以有效降低工人操作环境的粉尘浓度；增加细水雾，可以有效提高金属粉尘湿法处理系统的除尘效率，对PM10的除尘效率从30%提升至82%。     

Utilization of MSWI fly ash as partial cement or sand substitute with focus on cementing efficiency and health risk assessment

• Washed MSWI fly ash was used as partial cement or sand substitute. • Sand replacing is beneficial for strength, while cement replacement reduces strength. • Cementing efficiency factor and mortar pore structure explain the strength results. • Health risk assessment was conducted for MSWI fly ash blended cement mortar. • CR and HI contributed by different exposures and heavy metals were analyzed. The strength of cement substituted mortar decreases with the increase in fly ash amount, whereas the strength increases when the fly ash is blended as sand substitute. A mortar with highest strength (compressive strength= 30.2 Mpa; flexural strength= 7.0 Mpa) was obtained when the sand replacement ratio was 0.75%. The k value (cementing efficiency) of fly ash varied between 0.36 and 0.15 for the fly ash fraction in binder between 5% and 25%. The k values of fly ash used for sand replacement were all significantly above that used for cement substitution. The macropores assigned to the gaps between particles decreased when the fly ash was used as sand replacement, providing an explanation for the strength enhancement. The waste-extraction procedure (toxicity-sulphuric acid and nitric acid method (HJ/T 299-2007)) was used to evaluate metal leaching, indicating the reuse possibility of fly ash blended mortar. For the mortar with the mass ratio of fly ash to binder of 0.5%, the carcinogenic risks (CR) and non-carcinogenic hazard quotient (HQ) in sensitive scenario for blended mortar utilization were 9.66 × 10^-7 and 0.06, respectively; these results were both lower than the threshold values, showing an acceptable health risk. The CR (9.89 × 10^-5) and HQ (3.89) of the non-sensitive scenario for fly ash treatment exceeded the acceptable threshold values, indicating health risks to onsite workers. The main contributor to the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk is Cr and Cd, respectively. The CR and HQ from inhalation was the main route of heavy metal exposure.     

我国高速公路周边土壤重金属污染现状及研究进展

以我国高速公路周边土壤重金属为研究对象，综述了我国高速公路周边土壤重金属污染特征、影响因素、来源、环境风险及其研究进展。高速公路周边土壤主要受Pb、Cd、Cr、Cu、Zn等重金属污染，主要呈现指数分布、偏态分布和两者混合分布等特点，并且受到土地利用、风向、地形、车流量等多种因素的综合影响。土壤重金属的来源除了受成土母质等自然因素影响以外，公路交通和周边工农业活动也会对其来源产生较大影响。传统的土壤重金属评价方法主要采用单因子指数法、地累积指数法、生态风险评价法等对重金属的污染等级和环境风险进行评价。未来的研究应将重金属形态分析、空间和地统计分析、重金属稳定同位素示踪和源解析模型以及预测模型等多种手段相结合，开展高速公路周边土壤重金属的污染特征、时空分布、来源及预测预警研究等，为我国高速公路沿线工农业生产布局及其土壤重金属污染防控提供科学依据和决策支撑。     

污染农田土壤修复产业发展面临的问题及建议

随着经济的发展,我国的农业建设也迎来了新的发展机遇,但是目前我国的农业发展过程中存在着严重的土壤污染问题,污染农田土壤修复的问题有待解决。本文围绕污染农田土壤修复这一问题展开研究,望有所助益。     

基于第二次全国污染源普查质量保证的思考及体系建设初探

通过对清查数据的结果分析,确定第二次全国污染源入户普查的对象,基于企业填报、现场入户、资料收集审核、数据核查等具体工作的实施与开展,思考和归总普查工作中影响数据质量的现实问题和难点,初步构建污染源普查质量保证体系,以期为全国污染源普查数据质量保证提供有益参考。     

环境规制、省际产业转移对污染迁移的空间溢出效应

目前我国正在积极地探寻经济增长高质量发展,生态环境与经济持续、稳定的和谐发展至关重要。虽然政府制定了相关的环境治理政策,但我国环境治理整体效果仍然欠佳。自从分税制改革以来,地方政府为了获得较高经济效益,会放松对环境管理,导致环境治理高投入低成效。同时,由于区域经济发展不平衡导致政府在制定相关环境治理政策时带有区域性特点,迫使高污染高能耗企业迁移至环境规制相对薄弱的地区,由此产生污染迁移的现象。基于此,对2003—2017年30个省区市(港澳台和西藏除外)环境污染总指数的空间溢出效应进行探讨,构建动态空间杜宾模型研究环境规制、省际产业转移对污染迁移的影响。研究结果表明:①环境规制总体上对环境污染具有显著直接效应且存在正向空间溢出效应,当某省环境规制强度增加,环境污染总指数会降低,从而引起污染向相邻省份转移,造成相邻省份的环境污染总指数上升。②省际产业转移整体上对环境污染具有显著直接效应且存在负向空间溢出效应,当某省的产业转移到相邻省份时,会缓解本省环境污染,却加重相邻省份的环境污染程度。这就需要中央政府加强对于各省区市的环境管控,统筹各区域的联防联治机制。产业转移承接省份在招商引资的过程中不仅要考虑本省环境承载能力和环境治理能力,还要考虑入驻企业自身污染排放处理能力,并将污染排放指数纳入筛选条件。同时,产业转移承接省份要引入企业的生产工艺、技术、研发团队等,运用技术溢出效应提升区域环境治理水平。     

西北地区水窖水质的污染原因及防治措施

文章结合我国西北地区雨水集蓄利用工程水质的基本情况,对典型地区水窖水质的检测数据、结果和污染成因作了分析,并提出了水窖防治水质污染的措施。     

江苏里下河腹部地区农村水污染防治的问题和对策

为策应江苏省生态建设和农村环境质量的改善,及早实现环境保护参与农村农业社会经济发展综合决策和提升环保管理水平的目标,本文着重对江苏里下河腹部地区水环境状况进行了调查与分析,揭示出乡镇企业、农业面源、水产畜禽养殖、生活污水和废弃污染物排放,造成水环境污染以及对社会、经济、环境建设与发展的影响,有较强的真实性、针对性和代表性。首次研究了改善江苏里下河腹部地区农村水污染防治的对策和措施,不仅为里下河地区＂十二五＂期间水环境污染防治与管理提供依据还为江苏省乃至全国低洼水域的农村污染物控制和管理起到启示。     

关于内蒙古河套灌区面源污染防治的几点建议

河套灌区的主体为后套平原,总土地面积为1万平方公里,主要为黄河冲积平原。由于化肥、农药的大量使用,致使河套地区地表水体和地下水氮、磷普遍超标。本文针对河套面源污染问题,提出了几点防治措施。