Integration of ozonation and an anaerobic expanded granular sludge bed reactor for micropollutant removal from sewage

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Conventional sewage treatment systems are generally not designed to remove micropollutants, requiring the development of new technologies, such as the...     

Using textile industrial sludge,sewage wastewater,and sewage sludge as inoculum to degrade recalcitrant textile dyes in a co-composting process: an assessment of biodegradation efficiency and compost phytotoxicity

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Recalcitrant dyes found in textile wastewater represent a threat for sustainable textile production due to their resistance to conventional...     

Prenatal diagnosis of SMPD4 loss - A neurodevelopmental disorder with microcephaly,arthrogryposis and structural brain anomalies

SMPD4 loss is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder that leads to severe mental and physical disability and early death in infancy. Most cases of this genetic condition have been diagnosed postnatally. This article focuses on the prenatal findings of affected fetuses. The phenotypes can include growth restriction, arthrogryposis (clenched hands, foot deformity), as well as cerebral abnormalities (simplified gyral pattern/lissencephaly, cerebellar hypoplasia, corpus callosum deformity). SMPD4 loss is detectable via exome sequencing. Here, two fetuses displayed a homozygotic pathogen variant in the SMPD4 gene, encoding for the enzyme Sphingomyelinase-4. Both parents were heterozygous carriers of the pathogenic variant. On detection of the above mentioned signs exome sequencing is indicated, with focus on the SMPD4 gene.     

Fish Mercury and Surface Water Sulfate Relationships in the Everglades Protection Area

Few published studies present data on relationships between fish mercury and surface or pore water sulfate concentrations, particularly on an ecosystem-wide basis. Resource managers can use these relationships to identify the sulfate conditions that contain fish with health-concerning total mercury (THg) levels and to evaluate the role of sulfate in methyl-mercury (MeHg) production. In this study, we derived relationships between THg in three fish trophic levels (mosquitofish, sunfish, and age-1 largemouth bass) and surface water sulfate from 1998 to 2009 for multiple stations across the Everglades Protection Area (EPA). Results show the relationship between sulfate and fish THg in each fish type is nonlinear and largely skewed, similar to the relationship between MeHg production and sulfate concentration in peatland sediment pore water identified by other researchers. Peak fish THg levels occurred in ~1 to 12 mg/L sulfate conditions. There was significant variability in the fish THg data, and there were several instances of high-fish THg levels in high-sulfate conditions (>30 mg/L). Health-concerning fish THg levels were present in all surface water sulfate conditions; however, most of these levels occurred in 1–20 mg/L sulfate. The data in this study, including recent studies, show consistent and identifiable areas of high- and low-fish THg across the spectrum of surface water sulfate concentration, therefore, applying an ecosystem-wide sulfur strategy may be an effective management approach as it would significantly reduce MeHg risk in the EPA.     

Cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc in Mugil cephalus from seven coastal lagoons of NW Mexico

The increasing order of the mean concentrations of Cd, Cu, and Zn in the tissues of Mugil cephalus of seven coastal lagoons of Sinaloa State (NW Mexico) was liver > gills > muscle, while for Pb it was gills > muscle ≥ liver. There were no differences between the mean concentrations of Cd and Pb of the three tissues determined in the samples of the seven lagoons and, although there were some significant differences, there was no indication of a latitude-related trend in the distribution of Cu and Zn: the Cu content of the muscle tended to be higher in the northern than in the southern lagoons, although in the case of the gills the highest and lowest mean values indicated an opposite trend, with the highest and lowest values in one southern and one northern lagoon. In the case of the liver, there were no differences and no indication of a regional trend. There were no differences in the mean Zn contents of muscle and gills; in the case of the liver, one of the lagoons of the central part of the state had a significantly higher value than one of the southern lagoons and all the rest had similar values. In addition, there was no clear indication of season-related differences in any of the three tissues. According to our results, the metal contents of the muscle of this species are not of concern for human health, since the allowable ingestion would be in the order of 0.9 kg/day.     

Operational Evapotranspiration Mapping Using Remote Sensing and Weather Datasets: A New Parameterization for the SSEB Approach

The increasing availability of multi‐scale remotely sensed data and global weather datasets is allowing the estimation of evapotranspiration (ET) at multiple scales. We present a simple but robust method that uses remotely sensed thermal data and model‐assimilated weather fields to produce ET for the contiguous United States (CONUS) at monthly and seasonal time scales. The method is based on the Simplified Surface Energy Balance (SSEB) model, which is now parameterized for operational applications, renamed as SSEBop. The innovative aspect of the SSEBop is that it uses predefined boundary conditions that are unique to each pixel for the “hot” and “cold” reference conditions. The SSEBop model was used for computing ET for 12 years (2000‐2011) using the MODIS and Global Data Assimilation System (GDAS) data streams. SSEBop ET results compared reasonably well with monthly eddy covariance ET data explaining 64% of the observed variability across diverse ecosystems in the CONUS during 2005. Twelve annual ET anomalies (2000‐2011) depicted the spatial extent and severity of the commonly known drought years in the CONUS. More research is required to improve the representation of the predefined boundary conditions in complex terrain at small spatial scales. SSEBop model was found to be a promising approach to conduct water use studies in the CONUS, with a similar opportunity in other parts of the world. The approach can also be applied with other thermal sensors such as Landsat.     

Reduced sulfur compounds in gas from construction and demolition debris landfills

The biological conversion of sulfate from disposed gypsum drywall to hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) in the anaerobic environment of a landfill results in odor problems and possible health concerns at many disposal facilities. To examine the extent and magnitude of such emissions, landfill gas samples from wells, soil vapor samples from the interface of the waste and cover soil, and ambient air samples, were collected from 10 construction and demolition (C&D) debris landfills in Florida and analyzed for H(2)S and other reduced sulfur compounds (RSC). H(2)S was detected in the well gas and soil vapor at all 10 sites. The concentrations in the ambient air above the surface of the landfill were much lower than those observed in the soil vapor, and no direct correlation was observed between the two sampling locations. Methyl mercaptan and carbonyl sulfide were the most frequently observed other RSC, though they occurred at smaller concentrations than H(2)S. This research confirmed the presence of H(2)S at C&D debris landfills. High concentrations of H(2)S may be a concern for employees working on the landfill site. These results indicate that workers should use proper personal protection at C&D debris landfills when involved in excavation, landfill gas collection, or confined spaces. The results indicate that H(2)S is sufficiently diluted in the atmosphere to not commonly pose acute health impacts for these landfill workers in normal working conditions. H(2)S concentrations were extremely variable with measurements occurring over a very large range (from less than 3 ppbv to 12,000 ppmv in the soil vapor and from less than 3 ppbv to 50 ppmv in ambient air). Possible reasons for the large intra- and inter-site variability observed include waste and soil heterogeneities, impact of weather conditions, and different site management practices.     

Speciation study of lead and manganese in roadside dusts from major roads in Ile-Ife,South Western Nigeria

A speciation study of Pb and Mn in roadside dust along major roads in Ile-Ife, South Western Nigeria, was investigated. Pb and Mn values obtained by total digestion ranged from 22.23 ± 3.52 to 43.48 ± 3.05 μg/g and 35.93±0.15 to 83.76 ± 0.06 μg/g, respectively. The results of speciation analysis of Pb and Mn in the samples showed that the mean levels of these metals in the various fractions followed the order: organic matter>residual>Fe-Mn>carbonate>exchangeable and organic matter-bound>exchangeable>carbonate-bound>residual>Fe-Mn oxide-bound respectively. The speciation study therefore revealed that most of the Pb and Mn were associated with the organic matter fraction and that they were least available in the exchangeable and Fe-Mn oxide fractions, respectively. The apparent mobility and potential bioavailability for these metals in the road dust was Mn>Pb. There is a significant difference between the means of Pb and Mn in the road dust of the study area at p≤0.05, which strongly suggests that they may not have come from the same source; different sources may be responsible, which may be anthropogenic, such as tyre wear, vehicular emission, brake linings and natural.     

A PARTICIPATORY APPROACH TO WATERSHED MANAGEMENT: THE BRAZILIAN SYSTEM1

ABSTRACT: Brazil is currently facing the challenge of implementing a new water resources management system to promote the rational and sustainable use of the country's waters. This system is based on the following principles of water management: (2) stakeholders' participation; (2) the watershed as the planning and management unit; and (3) the economic value of water. Stakeholders' participation and the involvement of civil society in the decision making process is guaranteed by permanent seats in the watersheds' management committees. These committees are the highest decision level for the establishment of water policy and for planning its use. The executive branch of the committees is the watershed agency or the water agency. This paper presents the recently approved Brazilian water resources management system and discusses the participatory approach followed to validate and to ensure prompt response to decisions regarding water use by all stakeholders. The formulation of the National Water Law (January/1998) was also supported by extensive consultation with civil society, professional associations, state and municipal governments as well as with federal governmental agencies and private sector organizations. It also presents an overview of the formulation of the National Water Law. Finally, as watershed committees have been created and are already operating in a limited number of watersheds, some of the major obstacles to the success of the new system are discussed along with alternatives for overcoming such obstacles.