A human health assessment of hazardous air pollutants in Portland, OR

Ambient air samples collected from five monitoring sites in Portland, OR during July 1999 to August 2000 were analyzed for 43 hazardous air pollutants (HAP). HAP concentrations were compared to carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic benchmark levels. Carcinogenic benchmark concentrations were set at a risk level of one-in-one-million (1x10(-6)). Hazard ratios of 1.0 were used when comparing HAP concentrations to non-carcinogenic benchmarks. Emission sources (point, area, and mobile) were identified and a cumulative cancer risk and total hazard index were calculated for HAPs exceeding these health benchmark levels. Seventeen HAPs exceeded a cancer risk level of 1x10(-6) at all five monitoring sites. Nineteen HAPs exceeded this level at one or more site. Carbon tetrachloride, 1,3-butadiene, formaldehyde, and 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane contributed more than 50% to the upper-bound lifetime cumulative cancer risk of 2.47x10(-4). Acrolein was the only non-carcinogenic HAP with hazard ratios that exceeded 1.0 at all five sites. Mobile sources contributed the greatest percentage (68%) of HAP emissions. Additional monitoring and health assessments for HAPs in Portland, OR are warranted, including addressing issues that may have overestimated or underestimated risks in this study. Abatement strategies for HAPs that exceeded health benchmarks should be implemented to reduce potential adverse health risks.     

Estimating maquiladora hazardous waste generation on the U.S./Mexico border

Maquiladoras, manufacturing plants that primarily assemble foreign components for reexport, are located in concentrations along the northern frontier of the US/Mexico border. These plants process a wide variety of materials using modern industrial technologies within the context of developing world institutions and infrastructure. Hazardous waste generation by maquiladoras represents a critical environmental management issue because of the spatial concentration of these plants in border municipalities where the infrastructure for waste management is nonexistent or poor. These border municipalities contain rapidly increasing populations, which further stress their waste handling infrastructure capacities while exposing their populations to greater contaminant risks. Limited empirical knowledge exists concerning hazardous waste types and generation rates from maquiladorsas. There is no standard reporting method for waste generation or methodology for estimating generation rates at this time. This paper presents a method that can be used for the rapid assessment of hazardous waste generation. A first approximation of hazardous waste generation is produced for maquiladoras in the three municipalities of Nogales, Sonora, Mexicali, Baja California, and Cd. Juarez, Chihuahua, using the INVENT model developed by the World Bank. In addition, our intent is to evaluate the potential of the INVENT model for adaptation to the US/Mexico border industrial situation. The press of border industrial development, especially with the recent adoption of the NAFTA, make such assessments necessary as a basis for the environmental policy formulation and management needed in the immediate future.     

A qualitative examination of factors shaping high and low exposures to hazardous air pollutants among Hispanic households in Miami

Hispanic residents suffer disproportionately from exposure to toxic pollution hazards, but little is known about why some Hispanic residents live in high-risk neighbourhoods while others are protected from similar risks. This study uses comparative interview-based methods to further understanding of Hispanic people’s residential decision-making and their associated exposures to hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) in the Miami Metropolitan Statistical Area (Florida), which is home to one of the most diverse Hispanic populations in the U.S. We use 22 in-depth interviews conducted with Hispanic householders living at high and low risk to HAPs, selected from a larger representative phone survey of 650 local residents. For Hispanic households at high risk, economic constraints, family ties, desiring a central location, a sense of community, and comfort in a shared culture contributed to their residences in high risk locations. In contrast, protective factors for Hispanic households living at low risk included the desire to live in an ethnically diverse setting, the ease of finding service work, and preferring environmental amenities and exclusivity. Findings demonstrate that there are considerable differences in factors shaping residential decision-making of low- and high-risk Hispanic residents, but that all were influenced by economic, socio-cultural, and environmental considerations to varying degrees.     

Examining the technology acceptance for dismantling of waste printed circuit boards in light of recycling and environmental concerns

The dismantling of printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs) and the recovery of their useful materials can lead to serious environmental impacts mainly due to their complicated physical structure and the variety of toxic elements contained in their material composition. So far, less attention has been paid to their responsible recycling compared to that of bare printed circuit boards. Combined with other materials recovery process, proper dismantling of PCBAs is beneficial to conserve scarce resources, reuse the components, and eliminate or safely dispose of hazardous materials. In analyzing the generation, resources potential and hazardous risk of scrap PCBAs, technologies used for the dismantling of waste PCBAs have been widely investigated and reviewed from the aspects of both industrial application and laboratory-scale studies. In addition, the feasibility of PCBA dismantling has been discussed, the determinants of which, including the heating conditions and mechanical properties have been identified. Moreover, this paper evaluates the environmental consequences caused by the dismantling of PCBAs.     

Environmental benefits of substituting talc by sugarcane bagasse fibers as reinforcement in polypropylene composites: Ecodesign and LCA as strategy for automotive components

The auto industry is compelled to improve its environmental performance, namely by making use of renewable materials and cleaner manufacturing processes with lower energy intensity, and at the end-of-life of the auto, recyclable products and materials are desirable specifications that need to be considered at an earlier design stage, i.e., promoting the ecodesign. This paper provides an analysis of such a strategy for a material that is used extensively in the auto industry, namely polypropylene composites, as we have quantified the environmental impacts when sugarcane bagasse-reinforced polypropylene substitutes for talc-filled polypropylene (PP). To achieve these goals, a comparative Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was performed for the two alternatives, from raw extractions to the end-of-life (EOL) phase of sugarcane bagasse-PP and talc-PP composite, where data gathered in different industries in Brazil were included in the LCA GaBi software. Our analysis shows that in addition to similar mechanical performance, natural fiber composites showed superior environmental performance throughout the entire life cycle. This superior performance is because: (1) in the cultivation phase, sugarcane absorbs carbon through the photosynthesis process while growing, thus reducing the global warming impact of the materials used; (2) the production process is cleaner; (3) sugarcane bagasse-reinforced composites are lighter for equivalent performance, which reduces the amount of polypropylene used; and (4) the economic reuse proposed for the EOL sugarcane bagasse-PP composite was the best alternative to minimize environmental impacts.     

我国废铅酸蓄电池污染防治技术及政策探讨

废铅酸蓄电池回收环节产生的废渣、铅酸污泥等属于危险废物,必须按照危险废物进行管理;而废铅酸蓄电池铅回收过程也会产生二次污染,其生产过程和管理不当会产生严重的环境污染。本文在分析我国再生铅生产工艺技术现状、废铅酸蓄电池资源再生过程污染源的基础上,对废铅酸蓄电池资源再生过程污染源治理和污染预防措施以及目前废铅酸蓄电池铅回收相关政策和管理要求进行了较为系统的分析和总结。     

Applying the baldrige quality criteria to environmental performance: Lessons from leading organizations

Over the last thirty years, we have seen a dramatic shift in values that people and corporations place on environmental responsibility. People have become more aware of how the earth's limited resources are being rapidly depleted. High levels of consumption have resulted in increasing manufacturing and transportation needs which in turn lead to greater energy use, higher usage of hazardous and toxic substances, and decreased air and water quality. Leadership for environmental protection has shifted from vocal environmental advocacy groups to corporate executives. Driven by shifting customer requirements, competitive pressures, and resource conservation technologies, environmental issues are becoming embedded in the fundamental business strategies. In this article we will describe the application of the Malcolm Baldrige quality award criteria to environmental management and show how the focus on quality principles and tools can improve profitability. Examples from the Xerox Corporation and other companies will be provided to illustrate the breadth of environmental improvement initiatives that are being implemented.     

Chemical Warfare Materiel: Unique Regulatory Issues

In those states that have not included CWM as hazardous materials in their RCRA programs, the RCRA requirements for management of hazardous waste would not strictly apply to any of the CWM. The Army has historically implemented procedures requiring that chemical warfare agents be managed as RCRA hazardous waste regardless of the concentration, physical form, or configuration of the agent. Such application of strict hazardous waste requirements to management of potentially nonhazardous CWM can result in remedial costs well out of proportion to potential human health and environmental benefits. Recent development of chronic toxicity values for the CWM has opened the door for development of cleanup and waste management standards for waste streams or media containing small residual amounts of CWM. Implementation of this health-based approach to management of CWM remediation wastes may, in part, help to reduce potentially unnecessary hazardous waste management costs for the nonhazardous CWM.     

基于物联网的杭州市危险废物智能监管平台设计与应用

为满足危险废物监管各种业务管理工作的需求,开展物联网技术在危险废物产生、转移、处置等过程中应用的研究,设计基于物联网技术的危险废物智能监管平台,建成由管理部门门户、产废单位门户、运输单位门户、处置单位门户等四大门户统领,危废监督管理系统、电子联单系统、GIS监控管理系统、污泥刷卡转运管理系统、危废视频监控系统、固废超市管理系统等六大系统组建的统一管理平台,在传统管理模式的基础上,以业务需求结合先进的物联网、移动互联、二维码、NFC、GPS等技术,创新性地形成"移动端电子联单模式、GPRS监管预警模式、IC卡刷卡转运模式、固废超市微循环管理模式"四大管理模式,实现涉危单位内部微循环管理,转运过程多手段监控,让危险废物从最初产生到最终处置的全过程业务流程呈现精细化、实时化的全闭环管理,实现对危险废物从"摇篮"到"坟墓"的全过程跟踪,并以此为基础建立一支业务处理迅速、信息统计分析及时、办事高效、危废监管全面的信息化管理队伍,为环保部门真实、细致、及时、动态地掌握危险废物的转移情况提供技术手段,为领导决策提供辅助支持。     

Evaluation of recycling efforts of aircraft companies in Wichita

The number of manufactured aircraft has been continuously increasing worldwide because of the high demand for airline transportation. During manufacturing, many advanced materials and devices are used to build various sizes and shapes of aircraft. However, most of these materials and devices require considerable energy and labor to produce, so reusing these at any life stage of the aircraft offers many economic and environmental benefits, and is considered lucrative and environmentally responsible. Several recyclable materials—composites, metals and alloys, wires, wood, paper, plastics, electronics, and avionics—emerge as waste streams during the manufacturing of aircraft. Many aircraft companies have been recycling these materials to remanufacture aircraft parts or other products for more sustainable production. In the present study, we evaluated the recycling efforts of local aircraft companies in Wichita, KS. These efforts were considered in terms of recycling efficiency/rate and environmental benefits. These included cradle-to-gate (CTG) life-cycle inventory analysis of the materials, carbon dioxide emissions, virgin material replacement with recycled materials, and natural resources usage. Our findings show that there exists a significant potential for contributions to sustainability as well as environmental and health benefits in the region from recycling by aircraft manufacturing plants.     

Application of recycled paper sludge and biomass materials in manufacture of green composite pallet

Rice straw, rice husk and paper sludge are by-products and industrial waste, and are beneficial resources as raw biomass materials used for manufacturing value-added composite products. We investigated the effect on selected mechanical properties of adding rice straw, rice husk and paper sludge to wood composites to replace wood particles for manufacturing green pallets. Results showed that increasing the contents of rice straw and rice husk dramatically decreased the mechanical strength of the composites. This is because the wax and silicate coating of these materials obstructed the strong bonding with UF resin. When 10 wt.% of wood particle was replaced with 10 wt.% of paper sludge, the wood–paper sludge composites showed similar mechanical properties to those of wood particle. Wood particle can be replaced by 10 wt.% of dried paper sludge in accordance with the minimum requirement recommended by standards in green pallet manufacturing.     

环境友好新型聚乳酸复合材料的研究及应用

聚乳酸(PLA)复合材料是一类重要的环境友好新型可降解材料。该材料通常是以PLA高分子为基体,以无机钙质成分(如羟基磷灰石、磷酸钙、珊瑚、珍珠层)、碳纤维、生物活性成分、有机物等为增强材料复合而成。概述了近年来国内外通过共聚、共混、复合等改性方法获得PLA复合材料的研究进展;论述了PLA复合材料的制备方法、生物相容性、力学性能、开发现状及应用等;指出使用新型的复合工艺、采用超细的无机粒子或纳米增强材料或加入特殊填料,同时开发新型增强物质是PLA复合材料的发展趋势;展望了PLA复合材料的应用前景。     

Binational management of hazardous waste: The maquiladora industry at the US-Mexico border

Foreign-owned industry in the form of assembly plants, termed maquiladora, has become very important in Mexico to the extent that it represents the second largest source of foreign exchange and is a valuable source for employment and regional development. The economic prosperity gained from the rapid growth of the maquiladora industry has been accompanied by increased environmental and human health risks associated with generation of hazardous waste. Diversification of industry has resulted in the predomination of those sectors that likely use hazardous substances. The Mexicali-Calexico border region was selected to demonstrate the potential for environmental and health risks associated with the generation of hazardous waste. Estimates for the generation of hazardous waste were obtained from 34 maquiladora plants in Mexicali, represented by the electronic and electrical equipment and parts, mechanical and transportation equipment, and toys and sporting equipment sectors. Repeated detection of volatile organic compounds in the New River at the US-Mexico border suggests that hazardous waste from the printed circuit board industry in Mexicali is not being disposed of in a proper manner. Potential adverse health effects, such as carcinogenic and mutagenic responses associated with the detected volatiles, are discussed. US and Mexico national legislation and the Binational Environmental Agreement were examined for their adequacy to ensure proper management of hazardous waste generated by the maquiladora industry. Environmental policy options are presented that focus on: (1) increased environmental accountability of US parent companies for their maquiladora assembly plants in Mexico; and (2) more integration between US Customs and border states with the US Environmental Protection Agency to improve the binational management of hazardous waste generated by the maquiladora industry.     

关于环境保护税法(草案)几个问题的探讨

《环境保护税法(草案)》已经初次审议并公布草案全文征求意见,本文对草案中有关问题进行了探讨,期望这些建议能为修改法律草案条文提供参考。关于水污染物环境保护税的纳税人,建议按照直接向环境排放污水的企业事业单位和其他生产经营者、城镇污水集中处理设施、园区污水集中处理设施等三类区分;关于大气污染物、水污染物的征税范围与方法,建议近期将大气污染物中的重金属项目也纳入应税污染物,与水污染物征税范围保持一致,远期考虑与排放标准脱钩,重新审视、确定应税污染物的范围、筛选原则与当量值;关于综合利用固体废物征收环境保护税问题,建议对综合利用过程在满足环保标准要求条件下,免征环境保护税,而综合利用形成的原材料或产品则不适用本法。另外本文还提出了未来环境保护税应覆盖产品全生命周期的生产、使用、废弃等环节的观点。     

Waste minimization study in a solvent-based paint manufacturing plant

Solvent-based paint manufacturing plants produce significant quantities of hazardous waste, which must be properly treated before it can be disposed. Since the cost for treating this waste is high, reducing the quantity of waste has become a crucial issue in this industry.Waste minimization options are beneficial for the owner of the plant as well as for the environment. The quantity of hazardous waste can be minimized by changing the plant's technology or by substituting hazardous substances, which are used in the paint manufacturing process, with environmentally friendly ones. Furthermore, separating the various waste streams makes it easier to recover raw materials and enhances the possibility of their reuse within the production process. This will decrease operational costs for the plant.This paper presents a case study of waste minimization in a solvent-based paint manufacturing plant. Source reduction, recovery, and recycling methods are taken into consideration. Its aim is to develop an understanding of the facility's waste generating processes, to suggest ways to reduce the waste production, and finally to select an appropriate waste minimization option to suggest to the plant. Some of the suggested methods are currently being practiced while others are at initial stage of development.     

我国应急事故水池现状剖析与改进的研究

通过统计分析国家和行业标准以及现场勘察发现,目前在应急事故水池的定义、功能、布局、类型、容积、消防历时和降雨量等方面存在许多问题,也无法满足突发环境事件中各种污水的收集与处理。因此,应尽快研究并制定适用于各类企事业单位、工业园区的应急事故水池技术规范。研究表明:凡是生产、使用、储存危险化学品和环境风险物质并且所排放的污染物可能造成环境质量显著下降、危及公众身体健康的企事业单位,均应设置应急事故水池。应急事故水池应具有永久性、专一性、自流式、池容大、防腐蚀、防渗漏等基本属性。消防历时对应急事故水池容积的影响最大,一般应取最大设计值。对应急事故水池容积影响较大的最大降雨量,应参考最大设计消防历时或按8~12h的降雨量统计计算。工业园区应急事故水池应选择在便于收集的地势低洼之处,其容积应充分考虑近年来实际案例的消防水量。而构建企业间联用和工业园区公共应急事故水池三级防御体系,才能更有效地应对突发水污染事件。     

清罐油泥资源化综合利用技术应用

采用清罐含油污泥资源化综合利用技术,处理后的含油污泥经检测其灰渣重金属含量均小于我国GB 15618-1995《土壤环境质量标准》和GB 4284-84《农用污泥中污染物控制标准》,灰渣浸出液达到GB5085.3-2007《危险废物鉴别标准浸出毒性鉴别》二级标准、燃烧后产生的废气和烟尘达到GB 13271-2001《锅炉大气污染物排放标准》。解决了清罐油泥处理难的问题,同时符合国家推行清洁生产,大力发展循环经济的要求,使生产过程中的废物减量化、资源化、无害化,减小了油泥排污费用,具有显著环境效益和社会效益。     

The Influence of Road Infrastructure and Traffic on Soil,Water, and Air Quality

Polluting substances are spread as a consequence of the construction and use of roads. This article provides a summary of the substances with which traffic pollutes the environment on a local, regional and global level. The mechanisms of dispersion of pollutants to soil and groundwater are described. Based on environmental quality requirements established in rules and regulations in the Netherlands, the paper discusses mitigating measures necessary to limit the distribution of pollutants along highways. Most of the data in this article come from original research carried out by or by order of the Road and Hydraulic Institute. For comparison, other data from the Netherlands have been included. It is shown that source-oriented measures (volume and technical) will have more effect on environmental quality than measures with regard to treating runoff. The use of porous asphalt instead of nonporous asphalt on highways in the Netherlands has environmental benefits. The article also pays attention to combined use of the roadside verges for treatment of runoff using ecological engineering techniques in the form of natural processes in helophyte filter systems in combination with enhancement of ecological values along highways.     

Evaluating opportunities to improve material and energy impacts in commodity supply chains

When evaluated at the scale of individual processes, next-generation technologies may be more energy and emissions intensive than current technology. However, many advanced technologies have the potential to reduce material and energy consumption in upstream or downstream processing stages. In order to fully understand the benefits and consequences of technology deployment, next-generation technologies should be evaluated in context, as part of a supply chain. This work presents the Materials Flow through Industry (MFI) supply chain modeling tool. The MFI tool is a cradle-to-gate linear network model of the US industrial sector that can model a wide range of manufacturing scenarios, including changes in production technology and increases in industrial energy efficiency. The MFI tool was developed to perform supply chain scale analyses in order to quantify the impacts and benefits of next-generation technologies and materials at that scale. For the analysis presented in this paper, the MFI tool is utilized to explore a case study comparing three lightweight vehicle supply chains to the supply chain of a conventional, standard weight vehicle. Several of the lightweight vehicle supply chains are evaluated under manufacturing scenarios that include next-generation production technologies and next-generation materials. Results indicate that producing lightweight vehicles is more energy and emission intensive than producing the non-lightweight vehicle, but the fuel saved during vehicle use offsets this increase. In this case study, greater reductions in supply chain energy and emissions were achieved through the application of the next-generation technologies than from application of energy efficiency increases.     

典型染料医药化工园区清洁生产与循环经济发展路径研究

本研究以典型染料医药精细化工园区HSEDA为对象,从四个方面分析其近17年来产学研政合作推行清洁生产与发展循环经济的技术路径与创新实践、所取得的减污降碳绩效,以及未来展望。研究发现,HSEDA绿色低碳循环发展有四个特征：(1)突出园区精细化物质流能量流管理,自下而上理清多产品、多元素、多层级物质能量代谢结构、路径和过程,定量揭示全生命周期环境影响,设计清洁生产和循环经济靶向措施;(2)染料行业自主开发了连续硝化、催化加氢、重氮化,高效分离、传热传质偶合等清洁技术,提效减排绩效显著;(3)医药行业开发了维生素、喹诺酮关键中间体短流程绿色合成技术,提高了原子经济性;(4)园区定量分析反应、工艺及物料全生命周期安全特性和风险,系统设计,提高本质安全。2006—2019年,HSEDA实现经济与资源、能源、环境脱钩发展。在“双碳”战略下,从系统角度提出园区“一核六驱”绿色低碳循环发展新模式。