Methane and carbon dioxide emissions from Shan-Chu-Ku landfill site in northern Taiwan

To investigate the methane and carbon dioxide emissions from landfill, samples were taken of material up to 5 years old from Shan-Chu-Ku landfill located in the northern part of Taiwan. Atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide ranged from 310 to 530, 2.64 to 20.16 and 0.358 to 1.516 ppmv with the measurement of gas-type open-path Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy during February 1998 to March 2000, respectively. Average methane emission rate was 13.17, 65.27 and 0.99 mgm(-2)h(-1) measured by the gas chromatography chamber method in 1-2, 2-3 and 5 year-old landfill, respectively. Similarly, average carbon dioxide emission rate was 93.70, 314.60 and 48.46 mgm(-2)h(-1), respectively. About 2-3 year-old landfill had the highest methane and carbon dioxide emission rates among the tested areas, while 5 year-old landfill was the least. Methane emission rate at night in most tested locations was higher than that in the daytime. Total amount of methane and carbon dioxide emission from this landfill was around 171 and 828 ton in 1999, respectively.     

Microplastic emissions from household washing machines: preliminary findings from Greater Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Microplastics have been recognized as emerging pollutants with potential ecotoxicological impact. The contribution of washing machine use to...     

Black carbon (BC) in urban and surrounding rural soils of Beijing, China: spatial distribution and relationship with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)

The concentrations of black carbon (BC), total organic carbon (TOC) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been determined in soils from urban and rural areas of Beijing. The rural area can be divided into plain and mountainous areas which are close to and relatively far from the urban area, respectively. Concentration of BC (5.83 ± 3.05 mg g⁻¹) and BC/TOC concentration ratio (0.37 ± 0.15) in Beijing’s urban soil are high compared with that in world background soils and rural soils of Beijing, suggesting the urban environment to be an essential source and sink of BC. Concentration of BC in the urban area decreases from the inner city to exterior areas, which correlates with the urbanization history of Beijing and infers accumulation of BC in old urban soils. Black carbon in Beijing soils mainly comes from fossil fuel combustion, especially traffic emission. Median PAH concentration in the urban area (502 ng g⁻¹) is one order of magnitude higher than that in the rural plain (148 ng g⁻¹) and mountainous area (146 ng g⁻¹) where PAHs are supposed to mainly come from atmospheric deposition from the urban area. Concentrations of BC correlate significantly with those of PAHs (p < 0.01, except naphthalene) in the urban area and with those of heavier 4-, 5- and 6- ring PAHs (p < 0.01) in the adjacent rural plain area, while there is no significant correlation with any PAH in the farther rural mountainous area.     

Biomonitoring of pyrethroid exposure among rural and urban populations in northern Poland

The aim of this study was to determine for the first time in Poland, levels of exposure to synthetic pyrethroids in preschool and school age children and their parents living in urban and rural areas. For this purpose concentrations of pyrethroid metabolites: 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA), 2,2-dibromovinyl-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid (Br₂CA), cis-3-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (cis-Cl₂CA) and trans-3-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (trans-Cl₂CA) were determined in 374 urine samples using a validated GC–MS method.     

Spatio-temporal distribution of metals in household dust from rural,semi-urban and urban environments in the Niger Delta,Nigeria

Concentrations of metals in household dust samples from rural, semi-urban and urban zones of the Niger Delta in Nigeria were measured during both 2009 and 2014 with the aim of providing information on changes in the concentrations, distribution patterns, sources and risks of metals in these zones. The concentrations of metals in the dust samples were quantified by using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrophotometry (ICP-AES) after digestion with aqua regia. The measured concentrations (mg kg^?1) of metals in the three zones within the study periods were as follows: <LOQ–21.2; <LOQ–182; 7.90–265; <LOQ–117; <LOQ–471; 3.37–2310; 0.35–7.9; 4.25–365; 6.78–61,600; 219–37,700; and 1180–18,000 for Cd, Pb, Ba, Cr, Ni, Cu, Co, Mn, Zn, Fe and Al, respectively. The results from the two periods indicate significant changes in the concentrations, distribution patterns and risk factors which reflects a deterioration of the quality of the household environment over this time span. The hazard index (HI) values calculated for children were greater than 1 indicating significant non-cancer risks for these subjects in these areas. The HI values for adults were less than 1 and consequently do not pose a significant risk. The carcinogenic risk levels for exposure to metals for both adults and children in these zones were below the range specified as safe by the US EPA (×10^?6 and ×10^?4) thereby indicating a low cancer risk. The sources of metals in household dust from these zones include emissions from industries, traffic, artisanal workshops and releases from household furniture, metal-based fittings, metal roofing and pesticides.     

Greenhouse gas emissions from dairy open lot and manure stockpile in northern China: A case study

The open lots and manure stockpiles of dairy farm are major sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in typical dairy cow housing and manure management system in China. GHG (CO₂, CH₄ and N₂O) emissions from the ground level of brick-paved open lots and uncovered manure stockpiles were estimated according to the field measurements of a typical dairy farm in Beijing by closed chambers in four consecutive seasons. Location variation and manure removal strategy impacts were assessed on GHG emissions from the open lots. Estimated CO₂, CH₄ and N₂O emissions from the ground level of the open lots were 137.5±64.7 kg hd^-1 yr^-1, 0.45±0.21 kg hd^-1 yr^-1 and 0.13±0.08 kg hd^-1 yr^-1, respectively. There were remarkable location variations of GHG emissions from different zones (cubicle zone vs. aisle zone) of the open lot. However, the emissions from the whole open lot were less affected by the locations. After manure removal, lower CH₄ but higher N₂O emitted from the open lot. Estimated CO₂, CH₄ and N₂O emissions from stockpile with a stacking height of 55±12 cm were 858.9±375.8 kg hd^-1 yr^-1, 8.5±5.4 kg hd^-1 yr^-1 and 2.3±1.1 kg hd^-1 yr^-1, respectively. In situ storage duration, which estimated by manure volatile solid contents (VS), would affect GHG emissions from stockpiles. Much higher N₂O was emitted from stockpiles in summer due to longer manure storage.

Implications: This study deals with greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from open lots and stockpiles. It’s an increasing area of concern in some livestock producing countries. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) methodology is commonly used for estimation of national GHG emission inventories. There is a shortage of on-farm information to evaluate the accuracy of these equations and default emission factors. This work provides valuable information for improving accounting practices within China or for similar manure management practice in other countries.     

The effectiveness and heterogeneity of carbon emissions trading scheme in China

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Some developed economies have run emission trading scheme (ETS) to mitigate carbon emissions. However, we know little about the effectiveness and...     

Polymer types ingested by northern fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis) and southern hemisphere relatives

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Although ingestion of plastic by tubenosed seabirds has been documented regularly, identification of the polymer composition of these plastics has...     

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDF) in emissions from an urban incineratop. 1. Average and peak values

Gas chromatography-low resolution mass spectrometry was used to quantitate PCDD and PCDF emitted from an urban incinerator. The amounts were determinated in 17 samples collected over 9 months. Wide variability in the different sample concentrations, ranging from 2.3 mg/h to 348 mg/h for PCDD and from 3.9 mg/h to 324 mg/h for the PCDF, was observed.     

Levels and seasonal variations of organochlorine pesticides in urban and rural background air of southern Ghana

Urban, suburban and rural background air samples were collected in southern Ghana in 2008 employing polyurethane foam disc passive air samplers (PAS). PAS were analysed for organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), namely hexachlorocyclohexanes (α-, β-, γ- and δ-hexachlorocyclohexane), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane including metabolites (o,p'- and p,p'-DDT, DDE and DDD), hexachlorobenzene, pentachlorobenzene, aldrin, dieldrin, endrins (endrin, endrin aldehyde and endrin ketone), isodrin, heptachlors (heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide A and heptachlor epoxide B), chlordanes (α-, β-chlordane, oxychlordane and trans-nonachlor), endosulfans (α- and β-endosulfan and endosulfan sulphate), methoxychlor and mirex using a gas chromatograph coupled to a mass spectrometer. The levels of OCPs ranged for the individual pesticides from below limit of quantification to 750 pg m(-3) (for α-endosulfan), and current agricultural application seemed to be the main primary source of most abundant pesticides. Re-volatilization of previously used pesticides from contaminated soils could not be ruled out either as potential secondary source of contamination, especially in warm and dry seasons and periods of intensive agricultural activities. Higher atmospheric concentrations were observed in November and December during the dry season compared to lower concentrations observed in June, July and August when the country experiences heavy rains. The highest seasonal variation was observed for currently used pesticides as α-endosulfan. A p,p'-DDT/p,p'-DDE ratio suggested recent inputs of fresh technical DDT.     

Different sources of rural household energy consumption and influencing factors in Dazu,China

Rural household energy consumption is an important component of national energy consumption. This paper explores the rural household energy consumption status and influencing factors on different sources of rural household energy consumption in western China. Using data from a survey of 240 households conducted in 2017, this study finds that rural households’ energy consumption structure in the study area is a combination of traditional biomass energy and commercial energy sources. Fuelwood is the most commonly used fuel in the study area, while modern energy sources only occupy a low proportion. Rural household energy consumption is influenced by various factors. Individual perceptions of climate change, social trust and networks, and households’ socio-economic and demographic factors (gender, age, education, income per capita, household size, household location, and number of household appliances) are identified as having significant effects on rural households’ consumption of biomass and commercial energies. The research results provide implications for policy makers to formulate related rural energy policies to improve the rural energy consumption structure and future energy policy design in China and other developing countries.

     

Industrial digitization and synergy between pollution and carbon emissions control: new empirical evidence from China

Industrial digital transformation is a key engine to help developing countries reduce pollution and carbon emissions. We used the composite system synergy model (CSSM) and modified entropy weight method to measure the degree of synergy between pollution and carbon emissions control (SPCEC) and the level of industrial digitization in each province and city based on the Chinese inter-provincial panel data from 2011 to 2020. We then used the two-way fixed effects and panel quantile regression models to test the heterogeneous influence of industrial digitization on the SPCEC. We found that: (1) industrial digitization had a positive contribution to the SPCEC. (2) Digitization of industry contributes more to the SPCEC level than the digitization of agriculture and services. (3) The promotion of SPCEC by industrial digitization is significant in the western region, but not in the eastern, central and northeastern regions. (4) In provinces and municipalities with lower level of SPCEC, the contribution of industrial digitization to the SPCEC is higher. This paper reveals the impact of industrial digitization on the SPCEC and can provide a policy reference for the realization of the SPCEC from the perspective of the integration of industry and digitization.

     

Wind and wind power characteristics of the eastern and southern coastal and northern inland regions,South Africa

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The objective of this work is to understand the fluctuating nature of wind speed characteristics on different time scales and to find the long-term...     

Forecasting the carbon dioxide emissions in 53 countries and regions using a non-equigap grey model

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Non-equigap GM(1,1) model with conformable fractional accumulation (CFNGM(1,1)) is proposed to analyze the relationship between energy consumption and...     

Methane and carbon dioxide emissions from closed landfill in Taiwan

The atmospheric concentrations and emission rates of CH(4) and CO(2) were studied at three sites of the Fu-Der-Kan closed landfill and after as the multi-use recreational park in northern Taiwan. Atmospheric CH(4) and CO(2) concentrations of closed landfill were 1.7-4.6 and 324-409ppm, respectively. CH(4) and CO(2) emission rates ranged from 8.8 to 163mg m(-2)h(-1) and from 495 to 1531mg m(-2)h(-1), respectively. Diurnal variation was noted with higher values at night than those in daytime. After creation of the park, atmospheric CH(4) and CO(2) concentrations were 1.8-3.1 and 332-441ppm, respectively. CH(4) and CO(2) emission rates ranged from -1.1 to 2.3mg m(-2)h(-1) and from -135 to 301mg m(-2)h(-1), respectively. There were no notable diurnal variations in either atmospheric concentrations or emission rates.     

Revised estimates of construction activity and emissions: Effects on ozone and elemental carbon concentrations in southern California

Emissions from diesel-powered construction equipment are an important source of nitrogen oxides (NO_x) and particulate matter (PM). A new emission inventory for construction equipment emissions is developed based on surveys of diesel fuel use; the revised inventory is compared to current emission inventories. California's OFFROAD model estimates are 4.5 and 3.1 times greater, for NO_x and PM respectively, than the fuel-based estimates developed here. The most relevant uncertainties are the overall amount of construction activity/diesel fuel use, exhaust emission factors for PM and NO_x, and the spatial allocation of emissions to county level and finer spatial scales. Construction permit data were used in this study to estimate spatial distributions of emissions; the resulting distribution is well correlated with population growth. An air quality model was used to assess the impacts of revised emission estimates. Increases of up to 15 ppb in predicted peak ozone concentrations were found in southern California. Elemental carbon and fine particle mass concentrations were in better agreement with observations using revised emission estimates, whereas negative bias in predictions of ambient NO_x concentrations increased.     

Migration of manufacturing industries and transfer of carbon emissions embodied in trade: empirical evidence from China and Thailand

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - At present, China’s carbon emissions rank first in the world, which not only brings huge challenges to the sustainable development of...     

The comparison of fossil carbon fraction and greenhouse gas emissions through an analysis of exhaust gases from urban solid waste incineration facilities

In this study, in order to understand accurate calculation of greenhouse gas emissions of urban solid waste incineration facilities, which are major waste incineration facilities, and problems likely to occur at this time, emissions were calculated by classifying calculation methods into 3 types. For the comparison of calculation methods, the waste characteristics ratio, dry substance content by waste characteristics, carbon content in dry substance, and ¹²C content were analyzed; and in particular, CO₂ concentration in incineration gases and ¹²C content were analyzed together. In this study, 3 types of calculation methods were made through the assay value, and by using each calculation method, emissions of urban solid waste incineration facilities were calculated then compared. As a result of comparison, with Calculation Method A, which used the default value as presented in the IPCC guidelines, greenhouse gas emissions were calculated for the urban solid waste incineration facilities A and B at 244.43 ton CO₂/day and 322.09 ton CO₂/day, respectively. Hence, it showed a lot of difference from Calculation Methods B and C, which used the assay value of this study. It is determined that this was because the default value as presented in IPCC, as the world average value, could not reflect the characteristics of urban solid waste incineration facilities. Calculation Method B indicated 163.31 ton CO₂/day and 230.34 ton CO₂/day respectively for the urban solid waste incineration facilities A and B; also, Calculation Method C indicated 151.79 ton CO₂/day and 218.99 ton CO₂/day, respectively.

Implications: This study intends to compare greenhouse gas emissions calculated using ¹²C content default value provided by the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) with greenhouse gas emissions calculated using ¹²C content and waste assay value that can reflect the characteristics of the target urban solid waste incineration facilities. Also, the concentration and ¹²C content were calculated by directly collecting incineration gases of the target urban solid waste incineration facilities, and greenhouse gas emissions of the target urban solid waste incineration facilities through this survey were compared with greenhouse gas emissions, which used the previously calculated assay value of solid waste.     

Variables affecting emissions of PCDD/Fs from uncontrolled combustion of household waste in barrels

The uncontrolled burning of household waste in barrels has recently been implicated as a major source of airborne emissions of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs). A detailed, systematic study to understand the variables affecting emissions of PCDD/Fs from burn barrels was performed. The waste composition, fullness of the barrel, and the combustion conditions within the barrel all contribute significantly to determining the emissions of PCDD/Fs from burn barrels. The study found no statistically significant effect on emissions from the Cl content of waste except at high levels, which are not representative of typical household waste. At these elevated Cl concentrations, the impact of Cl on PCDD/F emissions was found to be independent of the form of the Cl (inorganic or organic). For typical burn conditions, most of the PCDD/F emissions appear to be associated with the later stages of the burn when the waste is smoldering. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were also measured for a subset of the tests. For the nominal waste composition, the average emissions were 76.8 ng toxic equivalency units (TEQ)WHO98/kg of waste combusted, which suggests that uncontrolled burning of household waste could be a major source of airborne PCDD/Fs in the United States.     

Seasonal variation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) emissions in China

A regression model based on the provincial energy consumption data was developed to calculate the monthly proportions of residential energy consumption compared to the total year volume. This model was also validated by comparing with some survey and statistical data. With this model, a PAHs emission inventory with seasonal variation was developed. The seasonal variations of different sources in different regions of China and the spatial distribution of the major sources in different seasons were also achieved. The PAHs emissions were larger in the winter than in the summer, with a difference of about 1.3-folds between the months with the largest and the smallest emissions. Residential solid fuel combustion dominated the pattern of seasonal variation with the winter-time emissions as much as 1.6 times as that in the summer, while the emissions from wild fires and open fire straw burning was mainly concentrated during the spring and summer.