Integrated approach of environmental impact and risk assessment of Rosia Montana Mining Area, Romania

The environmental impact assessment of mining sites represents nowadays a large interest topic in Romania. Historical pollution in the Rosia Montana mining area of Romania caused extensive damage to environmental media. This paper has two goals: to investigate the environmental pollution induced by mining activities in the Rosia Montana area and to quantify the environmental impacts and associated risks by means of an integrated approach. Thus, a new method was developed and applied for quantifying the impact of mining activities, taking account of the quality of environmental media in the mining area, and used as case study in the present paper. The associated risks are a function of the environmental impacts and the probability of their occurrence. The results show that the environmental impacts and quantified risks, based on quality indicators to characterize the environmental quality, are of a higher order, and thus measures for pollution remediation and control need to be considered in the investigated area. The conclusion drawn is that an integrated approach for the assessment of environmental impact and associated risks is a valuable and more objective method, and is an important tool that can be applied in the decision-making process for national authorities in the prioritization of emergency action.     

海洋环境污染监测方案设计研究

海洋环境污染监测方案是一项复杂的系统工程。中国经过２０多年海洋环境污好监测的实践活动，积累了丰富的经验。但是，由于未能对海洋环境污染监测方案进行深入细致的研讨，致使今天我国海洋环境污染监测尚停留在定性或半定量描述阶段。该文第一次把有关海洋环境污染监测相结合，通过运用逻辑构思方法和监测方法学，详细分析监测方案设计中的各个阶段，监测目标的提出，到方案的实施；从监测数据的加工，到监测信息的发布都进行了辩证的分析。本文既是中国海洋环境污染监测方案的设计指南，也是中国海洋环境污染监测工作的集大成。     

Combination of beehive matrices analysis and ant biodiversity to study heavy metal pollution impact in a post-mining area (Sardinia, Italy)

Mining activities represent a major source of environment contamination. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of bees and ants as bioindicators to detect the heavy metal impact in post-mining areas. A biomonitoring programme involving a combination of honeybee hive matrices analysis and ant biodiversity survey was conducted over a 3-year period. The experimental design involved three monitoring stations where repeated sampling activities focused on chemical detection of cadmium (Cd), chrome (Cr) and lead (Pb) from different matrices, both from hosted beehives (foraging bees, honey and pollen) and from the surrounding environment (stream water and soil). At the same time, ant biodiversity (number and abundance of species) was determined through a monitoring programme based on the use of pitfall traps placed in different habitats inside each mining site. The heavy metal content detected in stream water from the control station was always below the analytical limit of quantification. In the case of soil, the content of Cd and Pb from the control was lower than that of mining sites. The mean heavy metal concentrations in beehive matrices from mining sites were mainly higher than the control, and as a result of regression and discriminant analysis, forager bee sampling was an efficient environmental pollution bioindicator. Ant collection and identification highlighted a wide species variety with differences among habitats mostly associated with vegetation features. A lower variability was observed in the polluted landfill characterised by lack of vegetation. Combined biomonitoring with forager bees and ants represents a reliable tool for heavy metal environmental impact studies.     

From chemical risk assessment to environmental resources management: the challenge for mining

On top of significant improvements and progress made through science and engineering in the last century to increase efficiency and reduce impacts of mining to the environment, risk assessment has an important role to play in further reducing such impacts and preventing and mitigating risks. This paper reflects on how risk assessment can improve planning, monitoring and management in mining and mineral processing operations focusing on the importance of better understanding source–pathway–receptor linkages for all stages of mining. However, in light of the ever-growing consumption and demand for raw materials from mining, the need to manage environmental resources more sustainably is becoming increasingly important. The paper therefore assesses how mining can form an integral part of wider sustainable resources management, with the need for re-assessing the potential of mining in the context of sustainable management of natural capital, and with a renewed focus on its the role from a systems perspective. The need for understanding demand and pressure on resources, followed by appropriate pricing that is inclusive of all environmental costs, with new opportunities for mining in the wastes we generate, is also discussed. Findings demonstrate the need for a life cycle perspective in closing the loop between mining, production, consumption and waste generation as the way forward.     

Relationship embedding and environmental governance performance research of pollution in a mining area,China

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The aim of this study was to explore the enterprises in the mining area, in the face of environmental pollution, to use relationship embedding to...     

A general procedure to identify indicators for evaluation and monitoring of nature-based solution projects

In the last years, the idea of using natural elements or nature-based solutions (NbS) to mitigate the impacts of cities on climate, biodiversity and citizens'' health became more popular in research and practice. Nevertheless, there are currently uncertainties in finding and selecting appropriate criteria and indicators for monitoring and evaluating the impact and performance of NbS and its co-creation processes. This paper proposes an easy-to-use and structured procedure for selecting appropriate criteria and indicators for monitoring and evaluating any kind of NbS project. The user is guided step by step in selecting meaningful metrics. The procedure is tested using a real case study from the Horizon 2020 research project CLEVER Cities as an example. The test shows that by following the indicated procedure, the criteria and indicator selection process is speeded up and reproducible.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13280-022-01740-0.     

Critical loads and their exceedances at intensive forest monitoring sites in Europe

Intensive forest monitoring by means of harmonised methods has been conducted in Europe for more than a decade. Risks of atmospheric nitrogen and sulphur deposition are assessed by means of calculations of critical loads and their exceedances. In the present study throughfall and bulk deposition of nitrate (N-NO(3)), ammonium (N-NH(4)) and sulphate (S-SO(4)) show marked spatial patterns and temporal trends. In the period of observation (1999-2004), sulphate deposition on intensive monitoring plots decreased by about one quarter. This is in line with the reduction of S deposition by 70% since 1981 in Europe as a result of successful air pollution control politics under the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP). However, sulphate and especially nitrate and ammonium deposition were found to still exceed critical loads at many forest sites, indicating a continued need for further implementation of air pollution abatement strategies.     

An overview of selected emerging outdoor airborne pollutants and air quality issues: The need to reduce uncertainty about environmental and human impacts

ABSTRACT

According to the literature, it is estimated that outdoor air pollution is responsible for the premature death in a range from 3.7 to 8.9 million persons on an annual basis across the world. Although there is uncertainty on this figure, outdoor air pollution represents one of the greatest global risks to human health. In North America, the rapid evolution of technologies (e.g., nanotechnology, unconventional oil and gas rapid development, higher demand for fertilizers in agriculture) and growing demand for ground, marine and air transportation may result in significant increases of emissions of pollutants that have not been carefully studied so far. As a result, these atmospheric pollutants insufficiently addressed by science in Canada and elsewhere are becoming a growing issue with likely human and environmental impacts in the near future. Here, an emerging pollutant is defined as one that meets the following criteria: 1) potential or demonstrated risk for humans or the environment, 2) absence of Canada-wide national standard, 3) insufficient routine monitoring, 4) yearly emissions greater than one ton in Canada, 5) insufficient data concerning significant sources, fate, and detection limit, and 6) insufficiently addressed by epidemiological studies. A new methodology to rank emerging pollutants is proposed here based on weighting multiple criteria. Some selected emerging issues are also discussed here and include the growing concern of ultrafine or nanoparticles, growing ammonia emissions (due to rapid expansion of the agriculture), increased methane/ethane/propane emissions (due to the expanding hydraulic fracturing in the oil and gas sector) and the growing transportation sector. Finally, the interaction between biological and anthropogenic pollution has been found to be a double threat for public health. Here, a multidisciplinary and critical overview of selected emerging pollutants and related critical issues is presented with a focus in Canada.

Implications: This overview paper provides a selection methodology for emerging pollutants in the atmospheric environment. It also provides a critical discussion of some related issues. The ultimate objective is to inform about the need to 1) address emerging issues through adequate surface monitoring and modeling in order to inform the development of regulations, 2) reduce uncertainties by geographically mapping emerging pollutants (e.g., through data fusion, data assimilation of observations into air quality models) which can improve the scientific support of epidemiological studies and policies. This review also highlights some of the difficulties with the management of these emerging pollutants, and the need for an integrated approach.     

基于大数据方法的垃圾焚烧发电厂环境执法监管数据预测模型探究

在垃圾焚烧发电厂运行系统负荷特性统计指标和污染源监督性监测数据积累的大数据背景下,有效提取数据之间的关联特征对于垃圾焚烧系统规划运行和执法监管具有重大意义。首先,通过Pearson关联分析获得运行负荷特性指标和排放特征指标任意2因素之间的相关性特征;然后利用SPSS及Python软件,构建用以预测烟气污染因子排放量的多元线性回归模型及BP神经网络模型。对模型预测结果进行了比较,结果表明,多元线性回归模型和BP神经网络模型都能应用于烟气污染因子排放量的预测,进一步得出的BP神经网络模型的预测效果优于多元线性回归模型。本研究对于探究工业污染源环境执法建模和定量分析污染源排放水平具有参考价值。     

Involving the public in local air pollution assessment: a citizen participation case study

The central theme of this paper is that the assessment of environmental issues requires citizen participation for several reasons, including access to local knowledge, quality assurance and to reveal values and agendas. One methodology for involving the public is presented, based around the case of air pollution assessment in Sheffield. The study procedure of using citizen groups is described, and an analysis of the material from the groups is given. The final section argues that group discussions can be an appropriate methodology for involving the public in environmental assessment, and that the participants were able to comment on the validity and quality of such technical activities as continuous monitoring and computer modelling of air pollution in an urban environment.     

水污染治理工程的环境绩效审计

环境绩效审计的作用之一就是检查投入到环境治理上的资金到底发挥了多大的效益。本研究以五里湖综合整治工程效益审计案例为基础,提出环境效益评估的程序,将条件评估法应用于水污染治理工程项目审计案例中,分析了无锡市居民为改善水环境质量和对周边房产的支付意愿,并计算出五里湖水环境改善的效益和周边房产的增值效益。结果表明,综合整治工程实施后会带来可观的经济效益。最后,对条件评估法在政府环境绩效审计中应用存在的问题进行了讨论,以期为政府环境审计提供技术支持。     

环保绞吸船清淤作业过程对湖泊水环境的影响

有效控制和减轻环保清淤施工过程对周边水体的影响,是减少二次污染和加强工程质量控制的关键措施。以长荡湖环保清淤四期工程中实施清淤作业的环保绞吸船为研究对象,通过现场监测和模拟实验,探究了环保绞吸船在水下施工过程中对周边水体水质的时空影响。结果表明,绞吸船作业对周边水体的总悬浮颗粒物 (TSS) 质量浓度影响最为显著,其影响范围约为50 m。通过模拟绞吸船施工后的底泥沉降过程,发现在停止扰动4 h后,上覆水中总氮 (TN) 、总磷 (TP) 和TSS分别下降至初始值的20%、7%和5%。底泥再悬浮扰动停止8 h后,绞吸船施工对周边水体影响基本消除。比较绞吸船作业前后柱状底泥中污染物质量分数的变化,清淤前后0~20 cm表层底泥中TN、TP、有机质 (OM) 和镉 (Cd) 等4种污染物的去除率分别为70%、73%、72%和85%。建议根据实际工况条件合理调整绞吸船施工扩散距离限制阈值;对于浅水湖泊应重点关注风浪和绞吸船施工影响叠加对于敏感水体的潜在不利影响。该研究结果可为类似湖泊环保清淤工程设计提供参考。     

The use of vegetation,bees, and snails as important tools for the biomonitoring of atmospheric pollution—a review

The continuous discharge of diverse chemical products in the environment is nowadays of great concern to the whole world as some of them persist in the environment leading to serious diseases. Several sampling techniques have been used for the characterization of this chemical pollution, although biomonitoring using natural samplers has recently become the technique of choice in this field due to its efficiency, specificity, and low cost. In fact, several living organisms known as biomonitors could accumulate the well-known persistent environmental pollutants allowing their monitoring in the environment. In this work, a review on environmental biomonitoring is presented. The main sampling techniques used for monitoring environmental pollutants are first reported, followed by an overview on well-known natural species used as passive samplers and known as biomonitors. These species include conifer needles, lichen, mosses, bees and their byproducts, and snails, and were widely used in recent research as reliable monitors for environmental pollution.

     

Assessment of trace element pollution and ecological risks in a river basin impacted by mining in Colombia

Trace element pollution in rivers by anthropogenic activities is an increasing problem worldwide. In this study, the contamination and ecological risk by several trace elements were evaluated along a 100-km stretch of the San Jorge River in Colombia, impacted by different mining activities. The increase of average concentration levels and range of trace elements in sediments (in μg/g) was as follows: Cu 6656 (454–69,702) > Cd 1159 (0.061–16,227) > Zn 1064 (102–13,483) > Ni 105 (31–686) > Pb 7.2 (5.1–11.7) > As 1.8 (1.0–3.2) > Hg 0.31 (0.12–1.37). Results showed that surface sediments could be classified as very high ecological risk index (RI > 600), associated with high contamination of Hg, Cd, and Cu, in stations close mining activities. Values for pollution load index indicate an environmental deterioration (PLI > 1), and sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) suggested that Cu, Ni, Zn, and Hg caused adverse biological effects. We further used pollution indices such as contamination factor (CF), enrichment factor (EF), and geoaccumulation index (Igeo) to assess the extent of contamination. According to these indices, discharges of hazardous chemicals over many years have resulted in a high degree of pollution for Cu, Pb, and Cd, with critical values in stations receiving wastes from mining activities. Multivariate statistical analysis suggested that Hg, Cd, Cu, and Zn derived from gold and coal mining, Ni and As were related from the mining of ferronickel and coal, respectively, whereas the high Pb load was attributed to diffuse source of pollution. In sum, our study provided the first detailed database on metal concentration and ecological risks to organisms in sediments of the San Jorge River Basin, and the current results also suggested future research for public health action.

     

变电站吸隔声屏体的研制及工程实践

低频噪声污染是输变电工程建设重点关注的环境问题。基于对南通地区变电站噪声样本的频谱特性分析,研发了对低频噪声具有良好吸隔声性能的复合声屏障屏体,并应用于110 kV变电站噪声治理工程实践。声学仿真和验收监测结果表明,声屏障降噪效果明显,周围敏感建筑的声环境质量可满足相关环保标准要求。     

南水北调中线水源地小流域面源污染生态阻控

丹江口水库作为南水北调中线工程的水源地,水质保护极其重要,以小流域为单元建设面源污染生态阻控系统是控制库区氮磷输入的重要途径。结合丹江口库区现状,提出“控山”“净水”“护林”“保田”“治村”五位一体的小流域面源生态阻控总体思路,将汇水流域、汇水沟道、塘洼节点等区域的措施耦合衔接,功能上互补,形成生态阻控系统。小流域面源生态阻控技术的实施包括本底调查和问题识别、措施布局设计、工程建设和运行监测等步骤。该技术方法在丹江口库周的钱家沟小流域开展了应用实践,阻控系统建设完毕后的监测结果显示,小流域TN平均下降33.9%,TP平均下降49.1%,总体阻控效果较好,可为南水北调中线水源地小流域的面源治理提供参考。     

流域突发水污染事件应急处置工程削污技术

针对我国重大环境污染事件应急处置需求,系统分析总结了典型水环境污染应急处置案例,经凝练、集成和应用验证,形成并完善了流域突发水污染事件应急处置工程削污技术。从必要性、可行性等角度论述了工程削污技术的选择原则,总结了流域突发环境事件中重金属和类金属、有机物和还原性污染物等典型污染物的削减和应急处置方法,归纳了应急处置工程中实施削污措施的技术要点,形成了流域突发环境污染事件应急处置工程削污技术储备库,将为今后流域突发环境事件应急处置和管理提供支撑。     

The integrated biomarker response revisited: optimization to avoid misuse

The growing need to evaluate the quality of aquatic ecosystems led to the development of numerous monitoring tools. Among them, the development of biomarker-based procedures, that combine precocity and relevance, is recommended. However, multi-biomarker approaches are often hard to interpret, and produce results that are not easy to integrate in the environmental policies framework. Integrative index have been developed, and one of the most used is the integrated biomarker response (IBR). However, an analysis of available literature demonstrated that the IBR suffers from a frequent misuse and a bias in its calculation. Then, we propose here a new calculation method based on both a more simple formula and a permutation procedure. Together, these improvements should rightly avoid the misuse and bias that were recorded. Additionally, a case study illustrates how the new procedure enabled to perform a reliable classification of site along a pollution gradient based on biomarker responses used in the IBR calculations.     

The effect of fiscal decentralization,environmental regulation,and economic development on haze pollution: empirical evidence for 270 Chinese cities during 2007–2016

The current discourse addresses fiscal issues, financial decentralization, and environmental quality and significantly affects economic development and sustainability. This investigation aims to address the research gap in fiscal decentralization and haze pollution for innovation and sustainable growth. This study uses the annual data of 270 Chinese cities from 2007 to 2016 for comprehensive analysis and employs spatial regression methods. The key findings imply that haze pollution in neighbouring cities causes further ecological issues. While the environmental regulations of China tend to have negative impacts on pollution, fiscal decentralization was found to be a key contributor to environmental pollution in Chinese cities. Overall, the study supports the validity of the pollution refuge hypothesis in China. Lastly, the conclusions allow us to conclude that China might need micro-level reforms regarding fiscal decentralization, environmental tax laws, and encouragement of cleaner production technologies.

     

韶关市翁源县铁龙林场土壤重金属修复

农田土壤重金属污染已成为影响我国社会经济全面发展的突出问题之一。以韶关市翁源县铁龙林场土壤修复示范工程为案例,分析了矿区重金属污染农田工程修复的设计流程、工程实施中的重点与难点、修复技术的筛选以及修复效果评估。其中重度污染区通过种植桑树降低土壤中重金属含量,并开展养桑产业链阻止重金属进入人体的研究,每年可收益9.0万～10.2万元·hm-2;而中轻度污染区通过采用钝化修复技术及低吸收作物品种筛选,有效降低农作物对重金属的吸收,保障农产品安全。为我国矿区重金属污染农田修复工程技术和管理提供参考。