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.     

The management of household hazardous waste in the United Kingdom

Waste legislation in the United Kingdom (UK) implements European Union (EU) Directives and Regulations. However, the term used to refer to hazardous waste generated in household or municipal situations, household hazardous waste (HHW), does not occur in UK, or EU, legislation. The EU's Hazardous Waste Directive and European Waste Catalogue are the principal legislation influencing HHW, although the waste categories described are difficult to interpret. Other legislation also have impacts on HHW definition and disposal, some of which will alter current HHW disposal practices, leading to a variety of potential consequences. This paper discusses the issues affecting the management of HHW in the UK, including the apparent absence of a HHW-specific regulatory structure. Policy and regulatory measures that influence HHW management before disposal and after disposal are considered, with particular emphasis placed on disposal to landfill.     

Characterization of pollutants in Florida street sweepings for management and reuse

Disposal and beneficial-use options for street sweeping residuals collected as part of routine roadway maintenance activities in Florida, USA, were assessed by characterizing approximately 200 samples collected from 20 municipalities. Total concentrations (mg/kg or μg/kg) and leachable concentrations (mg/L or μg/L) of 11 metals and a number of organic pollutant groups (volatile organics, semi-volatile organics, pesticides, herbicides, carbamates) in the samples were measured. The synthetic precipitation leaching procedure (SPLP) was performed to evaluate the leachability of the pollutants. From the total metal analysis, several metals (e.g., arsenic, barium, chromium, copper, nickel, lead, and zinc) were commonly found above their detection limits. Zinc was found to have the highest mean concentration of all metals measured (46.7 mg/kg), followed by copper (10.7 mg/kg) and barium (10.5 mg/kg). The metal with the smallest mean concentration was arsenic (0.48 mg/kg). A small fraction of the total arsenic, barium, lead, and zinc leached in some samples using the SPLP; leached concentrations were relatively low. A few organic compounds (e.g., 4,4′-DDT, endrin, and endosulfan II) were detected in a limited number of samples. When the total and leaching results were compared to risk-based Florida soil cleanup target levels and groundwater cleanup target levels, the street sweepings were not found to pose a significant human-health risk via direct exposure or groundwater contamination.     

Risk assessment as a management tool for inactive hazardous materials disposal sites

A protocol for risk assessment at inactive hazardous material disposal sites has been developed by using mathematical modeling and estimation techniques. Compared with ranking models, the protocol yields quantitative results with a minimum of input data that may be used to select among management, scientific, or engineering alternatives for the site. This article reviews the background, presents the protocol, illustrates the application of the protocol, and demonstrates the use of the protocol in conjunction with thecritical environmental area concept. Comparisons are also presented with other model systems such as the EPA HRS.     

Policy for management of water resources in Greece

The quantities of water are not distributed uniformly in space and time. Greece compared to some other Mediterranean countries is found in advantageous position regarding the availability of water resources. However, there are regions with great in quantity water reserves and others with intense deficiencies. The management of water resources in Greece is concentrated in the systematic spatiotemporal monitoring and forecast of two basic multidimensional parameters, the availability of water resources and the water demand, as well as, in the implementation of necessary measures for the satisfaction of needs, regarding the fields of economy and environment. This work describes and analyses the existing status of water resources in Greece, as well as, the framework of applied policy. Furthermore, measures and actions for the management of water resources are proposed.     

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.     

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.     

Policy planning for air quality management: global and local perspectives

An increasing number of environmental regulators in developed and developing countries have embarked on programmes for the promotion of environmentally sound and sustainable development strategies. Air pollution is among the most important environmental issues that need to be managed since it reflects directly and indirectly on the different aspects of human life. This paper presents an assessment of the evolution of air pollution control philosophies at the global level, and it describes advantages and disadvantages of alternate environmental strategies that can be considered in the development of an integrated and comprehensive plan for air quality management at the local level, with Lebanon as a case study of a typical developing country. The proposed strategy considers short-, medium- and long-term schemes that make use of regulatory and market-based instruments, such as pollution charges, and market creation and usage. The short-term scheme identifies serious polluters and improves environmental performance by adopting and enforcing updated environmental standards. Economic incentive concepts constitute the principal philosophy for medium-term application of a comprehensive environmental strategy, mostly applicable at the level of the transportation and energy sectors. Long-term strategies, targeting the industrial sector, aim at achieving a flexible free market in which polluters would compete on the basis of market forces and governmental incentives to attain better environmental performance and increase potential cost savings. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Future solutions for the treatment and disposal of hazardous wastes in China

The current status of the treatment and disposal of hazardous wastes in China is summarized on the basis of the results of the Declaring and Registration Project initiated nationally in 1995. A principle framework for the sound management of hazardous wastes is proposed, which includes three levels of technical solutions. Large-scale enterprises are encouraged to recycle, to treat, and to dispose of wastes by means of constructing facilities, and to have their extra capacities available to the public for a reasonable fee. Municipal governments, provincial governments, and the Central Government are to plan and construct centralized facilities to recycle, treat, and dispose of wastes. For a solution at the manufacturing level, recycling is identified as the main approach. Centralized facilities at the municipal level will mainly focus on special wastes that are unsuitable to transport and store, such as hospital waste, and for the technical solution at this level, incineration and recycling are identified as the main approaches. For the technical solution at the provincial and national levels, landfill and incineration are identified as the main approaches. Based on this principle and the current available data on hazardous wastes, a preliminary plan for the spatial distribution of cross-provincial centralized treatment and disposal facilities of hazardous wastes is presented. The construction of approximately nine cross-provincial comprehensive facilities is proposed. A priority list for the construction of these planned facilities is also presented.     

Risk characterization, assessment, and management of organic pollutants in beneficially used residual products

A wide array of organic chemicals occur in biosolids and other residuals recycled to land. The extent of our knowledge about the chemicals and the impact on recycling programs varies from high to very low. Two significant challenges in regulating these materials are to accurately determine the concentrations of the organic compounds in residuals and to appropriately estimate the risk that the chemicals present from land application or public distribution. This paper examines both challenges and offers strategies for assessing the risks related to the occurrence of organic compounds in residuals used as soil amendments. Important attributes that must be understood to appropriately characterize and manage the potential risks for organic chemicals in biosolids include toxicity and dose response, transport potential, chemical structure and environmental stability, analytical capability in the matrix of interest, concentrations and persistence in waste streams, plant uptake, availability from surface application versus incorporation, solubility factors, and environmental fate. This information is complete for only a few chemicals. Questions persist about the far greater number of chemicals for which toxicity and environmental behavior are less well understood. This paper provides a synopsis of analytical issues, risk assessment methodologies, and risk management screening alternatives for organic constituents in biosolids. Examples from experience in Wisconsin are emphasized but can be extrapolated for broader application.     

弹药装药行业水污染物排放标准

(GB 14470.3-2011代替GB 14470.3-20022012-01-01实施)为贯彻《中华人民共和国环境保护法》、《中华人民共和国水污染防治法》、《中华人民共和国海洋环境保护法》、《国务院关于落实科学发展观加强环境保护的决定》等法律、法规和     

A novel extractant for removal of hazardous metals from preservative-treated wood waste

The purpose of this study was to develop a one-step metal extraction process that would effectively remove hazardous elements from wood powder or chips of western hemlock [Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.] treated with chromated copper arsenate (CCA) preservative. In addition, we tested this method for wood treated with other copper-based preservatives such as ammoniacal copper quaternary (ACQ) and copper, boron, and azole (CuAz). A bioxalate solution consisting of 0.125 M oxalic acid adjusted to pH 3.2 with sodium hydroxide was tested for its ability to extract chromium, copper, and arsenic from wood treated with CCA and copper from ACQ, CuAz, or a mixture of CCA-, ACQ-, and CuAz-treated wood in single step. The extraction proceeded efficiently with 6 h of treatment, and was insensitive to the differences in chemical characteristics, including solubility of individual elements. After 6 h of treatment, approximately 90% of chromium, copper, and arsenic were effectively removed from wood treated with CCA or a mixture of CCA, ACQ, and CuAz and 90% of copper from ACQ- and CuAz-treated wood. These results demonstrate that the solvent extraction technique using pH-adjusted bioxalate solution with sodium hydroxide is a promising method for pollution minimization by various types of wastes contaminated with heavy metals and arsenic.     

On the choice of farm management practices after the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy in 2003

The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) was fundamentally reformed in 2003. From 2005, farmers will receive decoupled income support payments instead of production premiums if basic standards for environment, food safety, animal health and welfare are met. Farmers are likely to adjust production and management practices to the new policy framework. We describe how this reform fits into the EU strategy of making agricultural production more environmentally friendly by concentrating on the financial aspects of the reforms. Using an agricultural sector model for Austria, we show that the reform will further decrease agricultural outputs, reduce farm inputs, lessen nitrogen surpluses and make environmentally friendly management practices more attractive for farmers.     

The role of local governments before and during chemical accidents,focusing on changes in hazardous chemical management systems

ABSTRACT

Disaster management spans actions before, during, and after disaster events. Changes in the roles and functions of local governments before a disaster can influence other stages of disaster management. After a chemical spill in 2012, South Korean hazardous chemical management tasks were returned to the central government and local governments’ roles and functions were reduced. To identify associated issues and enhance the hazardous chemical management system, this study analyzed changes in laws and policies and conducted interviews with stakeholders. While the changes helped with centralization, reinforcement, and specification, some loopholes were discovered. The information and human resource capacities of local governments and intra – and intergovernmental relations issues have hindered their active participation before and during chemical disasters. These loopholes can be addressed through institutional enhancements for local governments, such as including them in monitoring hazardous chemical handling facilities, developing codes articulating the division of tasks among departments within them, and providing adequate incentives for them to increase their personnel. This study provides empirical data that informs ongoing debates about the centralization and devolution of disaster management by linking local governments’ ordinary management systems to their disaster management activities.     

Suitability of the vegetation types in Mexico's Tamaulipas state for the siting of hazardous waste treatment plants

A land suitability study was carried out by applying a multiple-criteria technique to 12 different vegetation types in Mexico's Tamaulipas state to help select potentially suitable sites for hazardous waste treatment plants. Species richness, spatial distribution, and uniqueness were selected as the criteria for estimating a vegetation type's suitability. Using the analytical hierarchy process, we ranked and mapped vegetation types, then compared the results with rankings of the same vegetation types based only on their number of endemic species. The suitabilities of the various vegetation types were ordered in more or less the same way by both methods, except in two cases for which the results were very different. The method proved to be a useful tool despite the availability of only partial (mostly qualitative) information; under such circumstances, expert experience can be incorporated in the evaluation process to a limited degree. The technique described in this paper has a high potential to aid decisions when many opinions and options must be considered simultaneously.     

A framework for policy formulation for small-scale mines: the case of coal in China

The effective management of small-scale mines is one of the major challenges for governments in the mining sector. Small-scale mining may bring tangible, short-term benefits to the communities involved. However, these benefits are frequently outweighed by the costs incurred in terms of illness, injury, pollution, waste of natural resources and market distortions. Governments, international agencies and advisers are generally able to draw up lists of actions which are required to regulate and manage small-scale mines more effectively, but turning plans into sustained action has proved more difficult. Two aspects of policy implementation are crucial to success: the alignment of interests, and the attitude and effectiveness of government. Using a case study of township and village coal mines in China, this article develops an approach to analysing these issues that could assist regional policy makers and advisers in formulating policy, in identifying key obstacles to policy implementation, and in identifying particular parties which need to be infiuenced or educated in order for the policy to succeed.     

Developing environmental quality standards for various pesticides and priority pollutants for French freshwaters

The French Ministry of the Environment and Water Agencies have derived environmental quality standards following the existing French framework called SEQ-Eau, for 28 pesticides and seven priority substances listed in the Water Framework Directive. Like other existing frameworks, SEQ-Eau relies upon the use of standard toxicity test results and assessment factors. This approach made it possible to derive the desired quality standards, but due to the lack of chronic toxicity data many of the standards are only provisional. In addition, emerging issues such as endocrine disruption should be taken into account in this framework. Depending on the available data, more flexible derivation approaches, such as the statistical distribution of NOECs, are recommended for future versions of SEQ-Eau. A comparison is made using SEQ-Eau and the methodology currently being discussed in Europe to develop environmental quality standards, showing that the European approach is more conservative. Conversely, the proposed approach under the Water Framework Directive does not cover the entire range of required quality classes.