Assessment of PCDD/F risk after implementation of emission reduction at a MSWI

Municipal solid waste incinerators (MSWIs) have been shown to be important sources of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs). The emission of PCDD/Fs by MSWIs is a controversial subject in human health risk assessment. In this study the effect of a MSWI on a residential area was assessed before and after the installation of an additional treatment system for flue gas. This additional treatment system resulted in a dramatic decrease in PCDD/F concentrations in stack flue gas samples by 99.98%, while the concentrations in air decreased by approximately 50% (36,500 and 0.75 pg I-TEQ m(-3) for air in 1999; 3.5 and 0.38 pg I-TEQ m(-3) in 2002; 1.6 and 0.076 pg I-TEQ m(-3) in 2005 for stack gas and air, respectively). Considering the congener distributions of PCDD/Fs between stack flue gas and air samples, the study area seemed to have been contaminated by other urban sources as well as the MSWI. ISC3 model results support the conclusion that this incinerator became only a minor contributor to the study area after installation of the supplementary systems. This resulted from both proper MSWI operation using modern technology and additional sources of contaminants in this region. Finally, PCDD/F uptake by humans through inhalation of contaminated air was estimated. Assuming that inhalation exposure contributes 10% of total exposure, total exposure was lower than WHO guidelines. These results confirm that proper operation and maintenance of the incinerator led to a reduction in emissions and potential health impacts of PCDD/Fs.     

Demonstration of innovative remedial action technologies at United States military dioxin contaminated sites

The United States Air Force is currently seeking to resolve problems associated with soils contaminated with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlordibenzo-p-dioxin (dioxin). Air Force use of the phenoxy herbicide formulation known as Herbicide Orange has resulted in soil contamination of three military sites in the Continental United States. To resolve these problems, the U.S. Air Force Engineering and Services Laboratory and its prime contractor, EG&G Idaho, have initiated a research program to evaluate, under field conditions, technologies that may reduce the level of dioxins in contaminated soils. Two pilot-scale technologies: (1) advanced electric reactor, developed by the J.M. Huber Corp., Borger, Texas, and (2) thermal desorption/U.V. destruction, developed by the I.T. Corp., Knoxville, Tennessee, have been tested at a military installation in the Southeastern United States. Although independent confirmation of technology success is pending, preliminary test results indicate that both technologies are capable of reducing the levels of dioxin in contaminated soils from 240 parts per billion to less than 1 part per billion. These data suggest that either of the technologies could be employed for full-scale site restoration. Field trials of two additional technologies are scheduled for late 1985.     

华北山区环境综合整治与生态建设

华北山区位于华北平原与陕甘黄土高原以及内蒙古高原之间，是我国经济欠发达地区之一。它又是我国华北平原、京津唐等大城市工农业和生活用水的主要源地，生态环境类型复杂多样，但由于人类活动频繁，自然植被破坏严重，生态系统结构紊乱，功能脆弱，自身恢复能力较弱。积极开展华北山区的环境综合整治与生态建设不仅对解决当地人民的生活和生存问题具有重要的意义，而且对于我国华北地区经济的发展也具有重要的战略意义。本文详细分析了华北山区的生态系统特点和存在的问题，并在此基础上提出在该区环境综合整治与生态建设的具体措施和途径。     

双区式电凝并技术对提高细微粉尘凝并效率的影响

为了进一步提高电凝并装置对细微粉尘的凝并效率,降低细微粉尘对人体的危害,设计一种由双极芒刺预荷电区和平行板收尘区组成的双区芒刺式电凝并装置,通过实验探究了安装双区芒刺预荷电装置、极配间距、外加电压3个凝并参数对细微粉尘凝并效率的影响。结果表明：当外加电压≤13 kV时,细微粉尘的凝并效率随外加电压的升高而增大,而当外加电压>13 kV时,电凝并效率无明显提高;安装双极芒刺预荷电装置和缩短极配间距都可以有效提高细微粉尘凝并效率,当外加电压为13 kV时,极配间距由0.03 m缩短至0.02 m,各粒径粉尘的凝并效率均有10%以上的提高。根据实验结果可以得出,细微粉尘电凝并最优实验参数为安装双极芒刺预荷电装置、极配间距0.02 m、外加电压13 kV。以上研究结果可为电凝并技术的推广及工业应用提供参考。     

Economic Comparison of Selected Scenarios for Electrostatic Precipitators and Fabric Filters

Compliance with particulate standards for utility boilers burning low sulfur western coal has resulted in the installation and proposed installation of several fabric filter collectors where cold or hot electrostatic precipitators would have traditionally been applied. Recently, SO3 conditioning has been used to improve cold precipitator performance resulting in considerable reduction in specific collection area (SCA). All this suggests that trade-offs exist indicating ranges of SCA, A/C ratio, and power plant size (Mw) where fabric filters become competitive with electrostatic precipitators. Conceptual cost models are presented which indicate total capital investment and annual costs for the control devices. Precipitator costs are correlated with collecting area, gas flow rate, and power input and are presented as functions of SCA and Mw. Fabric filter costs are keyed to gross filter area, pressure drop, and gas flow rate. Fabric filters become competitive when a cold precipitator requires SCAs in excess of 600 to 800 and competitive when a hot precipitator requires equivalent cold precipitator SCAs in excess of 600 to 1000 depending on A/C ratio, Mw, and hot precipitator SCA credit allowance. The S0₃ conditioned precipitator scenario is shown to be economically competitive with fabric filters.     

Electrostatic Precipitation Of Fly Ash Reaches Fiftieth Anniversary

Fifty years ago electrostatic precipitation, which had been used successfully for collection of sulfuric acid mist, was first applied to a power plant installation for control of fly ash from pulverized fuel. This is the history of the design and application of the principle as the power generation industry adapted to changing environmental problems and concerns.     

Chlorinated solvents: will the alternatives be safer?

Over the next decade, use of chlorinated solvents, a widely employed class of chemicals, will decline significantly because of increasingly stringent environmental regulations. These solvents pose certain health and environmental problems and they have been heavily scrutinized. The alternatives to the solvents are being adopted without controls. In some cases, these substances will pose other health and environmental problems that are likely to be as serious; in other cases, the alternatives have not been examined for their health and environmental effects at all. This case study demonstrates that regulations on chlorinated solvents and their potential alternatives are inconsistent with one another and conflicting.     

Chlorinated Solvents: Will the Alternatives be Safer?

Over the next decade, use of chlorinated solvents, a widely employed class of chemicals, will decline significantly because of increasingly stringent environmental regulations. These solvents pose certain health and environmental problems and they have been heavily scrutinized. The alternatives to the solvents are being adopted without controls. In some cases, these substances will pose other health and environmental problems that are likely to be as serious; in other cases, the alternatives have not been examined for their health and environmental effects at all. This case study demonstrates that regulations on chlorinated solvents and their potential alternatives are inconsistent with one another and conflicting.     

平原河网地区不同类型农村小管径排水管道数值模拟

农村污水未经处理直接排放导致农村环境受到污染,目前我国大部分农村缺乏完善的污水收集系统,已经铺设排水系统的农村大多存在管网设计与农村排水特点不符、管网建设资金过大等问题。为了解决上述问题,建议在农村建设小管径排水系统进行污水收集,针对平原、丘陵及山区3种类型的农村排水管网的水力学特性进行了探讨,选取其中的管段进行了数值模拟。结果表明：弯管部分压力变化趋势与速度变化趋势相反,弯管处湍动能较大;平原和丘陵的管道设计充满度为0.3~0.9,设计流速为0.7~0.9 m·s⁻¹,山区的管道设计充满度为0.1~0.3,设计流速约为1 m·s⁻¹。上述研究丰富了对小管径排水系统管道内部流态的认识,可为更合理的农村排水管网设计及风险位点的预测提供参考。     

Coke Oven Pushing Emission Control System

This report deals with the entrapment, pickup, and transfer of hot gases during a typical coke oven push. Background information that led to the development of the Great Lakes Coke Oven Pushing Emission Control System is presented along with the problems that were encountered and solved during the design, construction, installation, and start-up of a pilot plant entrapment structure on a battery of 40 Simon Carves coke ovens. This unique entrapment structure has operated successfully since April 1972, and has been visited by representatives from almost all coke manufacturers in the U.S., as well as interested groups from several foreign countries. In addition to these operation groups, we have been visited by various state and federal pollution authorities, such as the Environmental Protection Agency, Battelle Institute, and National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health. At the present time we are erecting a similar entrapment structure on the north side of our plant, comprising 18 Koppers and 35 Wilputte ovens.     

A Comprehensive Strategy to Reduce Residential Wood Burning Impacts in Small Urban Communities

Paniculate control strategies in the U.S. have historically focused on the reduction of industrial emissions. In recent years, however, area sources such as residential wood combustion have been recognized as significant and rapidly increasing sources of particulate emissions. In some areas of the country it will be necessary to substantially reduce residential wood burning emissions in order to attain or maintain acceptable levels of total and respirable particulate matter. A comprehensive strategy to reduce residential wood burning impacts has been developed for the Medford-Ashland area, 1 a community of about 100,000 population situated in a poorly ventilated valley in Oregon. Portions of this strategy will be applied in other areas of Oregon. The strategy may be applicable to urban communities in other states as well.     

苯胺污染事故应急处置技术评估体系及其应用

苯胺所造成的环境污染问题日益严重,如何正确地选择处理处置技术,对降低化学品所造成的影响有着极其重要的意义。为了在事故发生后能够最短时间内有效地消除污染物对环境的影响,选取最适合的处理处置技术,提出了苯胺污染事故处理处置技术评估指标体系,从技术性能、经济成本、环境影响和社会影响4个方面进行了评估指标选取;另外,采用基于群决策的层次分析法(AHP)进行了数据处理,以降低评估过程中专家的主观性对评估结果的影响,结合评分标准最终获得最佳的应急处理处置技术方案,可为苯胺环境污染事故应急预案的制定与事故应急处理处置技术的选取提供参考。     

杭州西湖水生高等植物的恢复与水生生态修复

在过去的50年，西湖一直被富营养化问题所困扰。迄今为止，采用了各种工程措施进行治理，耗资数亿，但收效不明显。为了进一步解决西湖富营养化问题，提出需要用生态方法去解决生态问题，通过生态学手段，恢复、重建高等水生植物带落，增加水生生物多样性，改善西湖水生生态系统的结构和功能，控制藻类来修复西湖水生生态系统。科学地选择先锋种类组合、消除草食性鱼类的影响、合理地控制水位是西湖水生植被恢复过程中的三个重要措施。     

A Method for Determining Source Reduction Required to Meet Air Quality Standards

Governmental boundaries which divide our states frequently do not coincide with the natural geographic and atmospheric conditions affecting regional air pollution problems. Moreover, the control regulations of one state may vary from those of its neighbors. Such areal synthesis of air pollution control measures might only minimally curb the difficulties.

Continuity of control will require cooperation among contiguous states. In this study the attitudes of incumbent elected officials and air pollution experts (both from within the Philadelphia metropolitan area) toward governmental responsiveness have been investigated. It was hypothesized that politicians would want to demonstrate a status quo approach while experts would advocate the creation of an environmental agency for the Philadelphia region’s pollution problems. However, both sample groups responded to the questionnaire survey affirming that they want government to establish an environmental regional control agency, based upon an interstate compact, that has authority strong enough to be a strict enforcing agent. This regional agency should meet all federal conditions and thus receive maximum federal financial assistance. The policy level officials of this agency should be appointed experts—so as to avoid partisan politics, and to acquire the most qualified personnel.     

除藻剂应急治理玄武湖蓝藻水华实验研究

湖泊富营养化是中国目前及今后相当长一段时期内的重大水环境问题,研究蓝藻水华治理的关键技术具有重要的生态和环境意义.2005年9月在南京玄武湖开展了化学除藻剂治理蓝藻水华的实验研究,除藻剂平均用量为26.87 g/m2,治理后实验区藻类总量下降了82.8%;水体各项理化指标得到一定改善,但停止洒药后部分指标回升;浮游动物未出现显著变化.实验结果表明,除藻剂可能在短时间内除抑蓝藻,但不能从根本上解决湖泊富营养化问题.     

An Example of Planning for Pollution Control in Kraft Pulping

Two factors have contributed to the preparation of this paper. The first stemmed from Morton Sterling’s remarks in his address to the Houston Meeting. Therein he suggested the value of industry making public the progress made in overcoming pollution problems. Interest in Kraft Pulping Pollution problems on a wider scale constituted the second factor. This is well illustrated by the U.S.P.H.S. annotated bibliography, “Air Pollution and the Kraft Pulping Industry.” This paper will not contribute any new technology. It will, however, indicate how an established plant, in a large urban area, has planned and taken action to solve a pollution problem. Planning in this situation is used in a broad sense. It includes education and training of personnel, changes in process, capital expenditure and new installations, constant attention to maintenance and control, utilization of research and development from all sources, and relations with the public and regulatory agencies.     

Ballast water treatment systems: design,regulations, and selection under the choice varying priorities

This paper investigates the role of ballast water treatment systems (BWTSs) and proposes a selection procedure for conventional merchant ships based on the financial, legal, and operational circumstances. Through the metallurgical revolution of the nineteenth century, commercial ships are converted to steel hull from wooden structures. By this innovative shift, use of ballast water became an essential part of ships for improving propulsion and stability while reducing stress on hull (instead of rocks). However, the content of ballast water is emerged since it relocates marine species from an ecological composition (usually cargo discharging port) to another one (loading port). Uncontrolled relocation of marine species may cause severe damage to existing ecological basis on ballast discharging area. BWTSs are developed for ships to eliminate marine species (i.e., aquatic invasive species) content by using a filtering device. It ensures an eco-friendly ballasting and de-ballasting process. The selection of proper BWTS is another debate since the BWTSs are designed with cost-quality and cost (eco)-performance variations. The proposed approach denoted that both tonnage and the age of ship are indicative factors on selection. The cost of installation varies based on installation space and active vs. project vessel cases.     

Air pollution and mortality: A history

Mortality is the most important health effect of ambient air pollution and has been studied the longest. The earliest evidence relates to fog episodes but with the development of more precise methods of investigation it is still possible to discern short-term temporal associations with daily mortality at the historically low levels of air pollution that now exist in most developed countries. Another early observation was that mortality was higher in more polluted areas. This has been confirmed by modern cohort studies that account for other potential explanations for such associations. There does not appear to be a threshold of effect within the ambient range of concentrations. Advances in the understanding of air pollution and mortality have been driven by the combined development of methods and biomedical concepts. The most influential methodological developments have been in time-series techniques and the establishment of large cohort studies, both of which are underpinned by advances in data processing and statistical analysis. On the biomedical side two important developments can be identified. One has been the application of the concept of multifactorial disease causation to explaining how air pollution may affect mortality at low levels and why thresholds are not obvious at the population level. The other has been an increasing understanding of how air pollution may plausibly have pathophysiological effects that are remote from the lung interface with ambient air. Together, these advances have had a profound influence on policies to protect public health. Throughout the history of air pollution epidemiology, mortality studies have been central and this will continue because of the widespread availability of mortality data on a large population scale and the weight that mortality carries in estimating impacts for policy development.     

Assessing spatial variability of SO2 field as detected by an air quality network using Self-Organizing Maps,cluster, and Principal Component Analysis

In Bilbao (Spain), an air quality network measures sulphur dioxide levels at 4 locations. The objective of this paper is to develop a practical methodology to identify redundant sensors and evaluate a network's capability to correctly follow and represent SO₂ fields in Bilbao, in the frame of a continuous network optimization process.The methodology is developed and tested at this particular location, but it is general enough to be useable at other places as well, since it is not tied neither to the particular geographical characteristics of the place nor to the phenomenology of the air quality over the area.To assess the spatial variability of SO₂ measured at 4 locations in the area, three different techniques have been used: Self-Organizing Maps (SOMs), cluster analysis (CA) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The results show that the three techniques yield the same results, but the information obtained via PCA can be helpful not only for that purpose but also to throw light on the major mechanisms involved. This might be used in future network optimization stages. The main advantage of cluster analysis and SOMs is that they provide readily interpretable results. All the calculations have been carried out using the freely available software R.     

侧入式搅拌槽中多相流流场特性的数值模拟

运用计算流体力学(CFD)技术对不同安装偏角的侧入式搅拌反应器中单相及多相流场进行了数值模拟。模拟结果表明,典型安装偏角下,搅拌槽内流场是由内部围绕搅拌槽中心的高速环形上升流和外部沿搅拌槽壁面的低速下降流组成的大循环流。水平偏角既增加了整个搅拌槽流场的平均速度,有利于固体颗粒在整个搅拌槽内的悬浮性能,又增大了槽底高速流体区域的面积,因而改善了槽底固相沉积状况。竖直偏角增大了槽底高速流体区域的面积,并对槽底施加一定的冲刷作用,从而进一步降低了槽底固相沉积的可能性。无安装偏角时槽底固含率最多的地方主要积聚在搅拌器下方区域。搅拌器在水平偏角θ=10°,竖直偏角φ=5°时槽底大部分区域的固含率分布较均匀,仅在槽底搅拌器右侧的壁面区域存在小面积的固含率较高区域,在该安装偏角下整个搅拌槽的固液悬浮性能及防止底部固相沉积性能达到最佳。