Validation of a Lagrangian dispersion model implementing different kernel methods for density reconstruction

In this paper the inert version of a Lagrangian particle model named photochemical Lagrangian particle model (PLPM) is described and validated. PLPM implements four density reconstruction algorithms based on the kernel density estimator. All these methods are fully grid-free but they differ each other in considering local or global features of the particles distribution, in treating the Cartesian directions separately or together and in being based on receptors or particles positions in space. Each kernel has been shown to have both advantages and disadvantages, but the overall good performances of the model when compared with the well known Copenhagen and Kincaid data sets are very encouraging in view of its extension to fully chemically active simulations, currently under development.     

From mixed to separate collection of solid waste: Benefits for the town of Zavidovići (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

In Bosnia and Herzegovina only 50% of the municipalities have a well-organized service for (mixed) waste collection and disposal. Illegal dumping is very common, in particular in rural areas, which are not regularly served by any service of collection. This situation leads to serious risks for public health and has dangerous environmental impacts. In Zavidovi?i the municipality is trying to meet high standards in the delivery of services of waste collection, but is constrained by scarce financial and technical resources. Different scenarios for the implementation of a system of separate collection in Zavidovi?i were elaborated in order to provide a useful tool for decision making by comparing costs and environmental & economic benefits of each scenario. Six scenarios were considered, based on different recovery rates for plastic, paper & cardboard, and metals. Benefits resulting from the implementation of each of the proposed scenarios are compared in terms of savings of landfill volume and costs. The study concludes that the adoption of a system of separate collection could generate positive impacts on all the stakeholders involved in the solid waste management sector in Zavidovi?i and could contribute to the compliance of European standards in many Central and Eastern European countries as established by a number of national environmental protection strategies.     

Monitoring the sustainability of Russia's energy development

This article presents an assessment of Russia's energy sector, its current state and planned future direction. The analysis of Russia's energy trends is based on a set of indicators for sustainable energy development (ISED), developed under the leadership of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The article discusses Russia's Energy Strategy to 2020, and outlines major developments and challenges of the country's energy system. Russia's energy priorities, captured in the Strategy to 2020, emphasize securing a stable and uninterrupted energy supply; reducing energy intensity and improving energy efficiency; developing the domestic energy resource base; reducing negative environmental impacts; and ensuring affordable energy for the poorer segments of the population. Energy needs and challenges are discussed in relation to the three aspects of sustainability as defined in Agenda 21: economic, social and environmental. Concerns are expressed regarding environmental repercussions of energy development, in particular since Russia's 1998 economic rebound. There are also concerns, despite the economic recovery, that anticipated increases in energy tariffs may exceed the affordability of poorer segments of the population.     

Determination of organic micropollutants in rain water for laboratory screening of air quality in urban environment

Rain water may collect organic air pollutants, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phthalate ester (PEs), pesticides, and polychrorinated biphenyls (PCBs), that could be present in air in consequence of different factors. The determination of these compounds in rain water samples consequently may be interesting for a first screening of air quality in urban and/or industrial areas. For this purpose, 3 areas of the city of Rieti (central Italy) were selected for rain water sampling: a) the city center, densely populated and with high road traffic; b) a suburban residential area; c) the industrial area, about 3 km out of the city center and along the state road. Wet-only precipitation collectors were used for sampling; solid-phase microextraction or liquid-liquid microextraction techniques followed by GC/MS determinations were applied for sample analysis. PCBs and pesticides were never found in the samples collected. On the contrary, some polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and phthalates were always found. Significant and seasonal differences in PAH levels were observed in the 3 different sampling areas, with higher values always found in the city center and during the winter period; on the contrary, PEs levels remained unchanged.     

Slow growth of Empetrum nigrum in industrial barrens: combined effect of pollution and age of extant plants

We studied the impact of industrial pollution on population demography (age structure), growth and reproduction of crowberry, Empetrum nigrum L. Crowberry growing in severely polluted sites near non-ferrous smelters (at Harjavalta, Monchegorsk and Nikel) was on average twice as old as in unpolluted habitats, as indicated by the number of annual rings at root collar. Shoot length decreased both with plant ageing and due to pollution impact, while neither the proportion of generative plants nor berry production was affected by pollution or plant age. Our results suggest that death of the extant individuals of E. nigrum near the non-ferrous smelters is to a large extent explained by age-related damage of the main stem accelerated by pollution. Since vegetative propagation, seed germination and seedling establishment are hampered by soil toxicity, E. nigrum populations near the smelters continue to decline with ageing in spite of the gradual decline of emissions.     

Nonylphenols in freshwaters of the hydrologic system of an Italian district: association with human activities and evaluation of human exposure

A sampling campaign for the determination of concentrations of nonylphenol isomers (NPs) in freshwaters and sediments of the hydrologic system of the Rieti district (central Italy) was conducted from 2002 to 2003. Eighteen sampling points, selected on the basis of the different human activities in the vicinity, were monitored; six series of water samples (from June 2002 to February 2003) and one of sediment samples (summer 2002) were analyzed by GC/MS.

There was a direct relationship between concentrations of NPs and the presence of urban or industrial activities near the sampling point. However, concentrations of NPs in water were in the range of <0.1–1.4 μg l⁻¹, and their presence limited to short distances from the sources of contamination. Accumulation factors in sediment samples ranged from 10² to 5 × 10³.     

Agricultural waste as household fuel: Techno-economic assessment of a new rice-husk cookstove for developing countries

In many rural contexts of the developing world, agricultural residues and the organic fraction of waste are often burned in open-air to clear the lands or just to dispose them. This is a common practice which generates uncontrolled emissions, while wasting a potential energy resource. This is the case of rice husk in the Logone Valley (Chad/Cameroon). In such a context household energy supply is a further critical issue. Modern liquid fuel use is limited and traditional solid fuels (mainly wood) are used for daily cooking in rudimentary devices like 3-stone fires, resulting in low efficiency fuel use, huge health impacts, increasing exploitation stress for the local natural resources. Rice husk may be an alternative fuel to wood for household energy supply. In order to recover such a biomass, the authors are testing a proper stove with an original design. Its lay-out (featuring a metal-net basket to contain the fuel and a chimney to force a natural air draft) allows a mix of combustion/gasification of the biomass occurring in a completely burning fire, appropriate for cooking tasks. According to results obtained with rigorous test protocols (Water Boiling Test), different lay-outs have been designed to improve the performance of the stove. Technical and economic issues have been addressed in the development of such a model; building materials have been chosen in order to guarantee a cost as low as possible, using locally available items. The feasibility of the introduction of the stove in the studied context was assessed through an economic model that keeps into account not only the technology and fuel costs, but also the energy performance. According to the model, the threshold for the trade-off of the stove is the use of rice husk to cover 10–15% of the household energy needs both with traditional fireplaces or with improved efficiency cookstoves. The use of the technology proposed in combination with improved woodstove would provide householders with an appropriate and convenient cooking technology portfolio, increasing the opportunities of choice of the preferred energy system for the user and allowing significant savings for the family budget (up to 50% of the total annual cooking energy expenditure). The proposed model may be used also as a tool for the evaluation of the affordability or for the comparison of different cooking technologies also in other similar contexts, given their specific techno-economic parameter values.     

Valorisation of crude earth as sustainable building material: a case of international cooperation in the Logone Valley (Chad–Cameroon)

Deforestation is one of the most dramatic threats to environmental equilibrium and food safety in many regions of the world, and particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. It is enhanced by many kinds of human activities, among which is the earth brick-firing process that needs large amounts of wood for attaining and maintaining temperatures required during this process. In order to reduce deforestation, the present study investigated from different points of view the potential of crude earth to be used as building material, taking as a case study the Logone Valley located at the border between Chad and Cameroon. First, an on-site investigation was made to verify the state-of-the-art of brick production technologies and to evaluate their impact on the environment. Subsequently, morphological and geotechnical analyses on soil samples collected from different sites of the Logone Valley were carried out, to evaluate their suitability to brick production. Finally, a pilot plant for crude earthen brick production was set, particularly based on a new press designed for this purpose.     

Assessing indoor air quality of school environments: transplanted lichen <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudovernia furfuracea</Emphasis> as a new tool for biomonitoring and bioaccumulation

The aim of this research is to evaluate the ability of transplanted lichen Pseudovernia (P). furfuracea to biomonitor and bioaccumulate in urban indoor environments. The elements As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni and Pb and 12 selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were used to assess P. furfuracea as a biomonitoring tool for the indoor air quality of school environments. To achieve this purpose, lichen samples were exposed for 2 months in the outdoor and indoor environments of five school settings located in urban and rural areas. The results demonstrated that transplanted lichen P. furfuracea is a suitable biomonitoring tool for metals and PAHs in indoor settings and can discriminate between different levels of air pollution related to urbanisation and indoor conditions, such as those characterised by school environments. A transplanted lichen biomonitoring strategy is cost-effective, “green”, educational for attending children and less “invasive” than traditional air sampling methods. The feasibility of indoor monitoring by P. furfuracea is a relevant finding and could be a key tool to improve air quality monitoring programmes in school scenarios and thus focus on health prevention interventions for children, who are one of the most susceptible groups in the population.