Fluoride in drinking water exacerbates glomerulonephritis and induces liver damage in ICR-derived glomerulonephritis mice

To evaluate the effects of fluoride on the kidney and the liver of ICR-derived glomerulonephritis (ICGN) mice by using laboratory tests and pathological examinations, fluoride was administered to the ICGN mice at 0, 25, 50, 100, and 150?ppm in drinking water for 4 weeks and to the ICR mice, which have normal kidney function at 0 and 150?ppm. The BUN, creatinine, GOT, and GPT in the serum of each mouse were determined. When a mouse died, the sample from the day closest to the death was assigned for the mean. Pathological changes in the kidney were examined after PAS (periodic acid-Schiff) staining. All of the ICGN mice in the 150?ppm group and one of seven in the 100?ppm group died before the end of week 4, but no ICR mice died. For ICGN mice, the mean value of body weight in the 150?ppm group was significantly lower than those in 0?ppm group and other fluoride-administered groups. The mean values of relative liver and kidney weights in the 100 and 150?ppm groups were significantly lower than those in the control. The mean values of BUN, creatinine, and GPT in the 150?ppm group were significantly higher than those in the control. The thickness of the glomerular capillary wall and the increased mesangial matrix in the kidney were prominent in the fluoride-administered ICGN mice. These results suggested that fluoride severely exacerbated glomerulonephritis and tublar-intestitial changes in ICGN mice.     

Evaluation of Brasilia wastewater sludge as a biomass resource for the production of energy by gasification simulation

This work evaluated the sludge potential of the Wastewater Treatment Plant (ETA) in the city of Brasília to be used as a fuel by gasification. It is known that ETA sludge is a significant environmental liability, since current legislation restricts its final disposal. For this, the chemical characterisation of ETA sludge was performed by immediate and elemental analysis. No traces of heavy metals were observed, and the moisture (ω) and ash contents were 31.17 and 51.77%, respectively, different from those already reported in the literature because the composition depends on the water treatment technology employed. The gasification process was numerically simulated; once dry, it constitutes a residue with an energy content (HHV) of 22.4498 MJ kg^?1, comparable with other types of biomass currently used for large-scale energy generation by thermochemical processes (e.g. agricultural residues, wood and sugar cane bagasse). For the numerical simulation with an equivalence ratio (Φ) near 3, higher concentrations of CO and H₂ can only be achieved with ω lower than 15%. The results showed that gasification can be an attractive option for the disposal and use of a renewable waste resource, such as ETA sludge, in an environmentally safe way, and it is allowed by local legislation.     

Hospital admissions in Iran for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases attributed to the Middle Eastern Dust storms

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The main objective of this study was to assess the possible effects of airborne particulate matter less than 10 μm in diameter (PM10)...     

Partitioning between soluble and insoluble fractions of major and trace elements in size-classified airborne particulate matter collected in Tokyo

Airborne particulate matter (APM) is a major air pollutant, and the effect on human health of fine APM (PM2.5) deposited deep inside the lungs has recently become a serious concern. Moreover, soluble constituents may leach from APM, and intensify some health disorders. To identify the soluble chemical constituents of APM, size-classified APM was sampled in central Tokyo, and the elemental compositions of the water-soluble, acid-soluble and insoluble fractions were investigated. The extraction procedure was validated by calculating the mass balance of soluble and insoluble fractions of a standard APM reference material (NIST SRM 1648). Among the major elements, Fe and Ti in APM of all size classes and K in coarse APM were distributed primarily in the insoluble fraction and were inferred to be present as oxides or silicates, whereas Na and Mg in all size classes and K in fine APM were primarily in the water-soluble fraction and were inferred to be have originated mainly from sea salt. Among the trace elements, Zn and Cd in the fine APM (d < 2 microm) had large enrichment factors, indicating an anthropogenic origin, and were distributed primarily in the water-soluble fraction. When fine anthropogenic APM enters into the lungs, leached toxic elements, such as Cd, may adversely affect health. The higher the bonding energy of the monoxide molecule of the element was, the higher its distribution ratio was in the water-soluble fraction. Therefore, many metallic elements in APM were inferred to be present as oxygen-bonded compounds.     

Assessment of indoor and outdoor particulate air pollution at an urban background site in Iran

The relationship between indoor and outdoor particulate air pollution was investigated at an urban background site on the Payambar Azam Campus of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences in Sari, Northern Iran. The concentration of particulate matter sized with a diameter less than 1 μm (PM_1.0), 2.5 μm (PM_2.5), and 10 μm (PM₁₀) was evaluated at 5 outdoor and 12 indoor locations. Indoor sites included classrooms, corridors, and office sites in four university buildings. Outdoor PM concentrations were characterized at five locations around the university campus. Indoor and outdoor PM measurements (1-min resolution) were conducted in parallel during weekday mornings and afternoons. No difference found between indoor PM₁₀ (50.1 ± 32.1 μg/m³) and outdoor PM₁₀ concentrations (46.5 ± 26.0 μg/m³), indoor PM_2.5 (22.6 ± 17.4 μg/m³) and outdoor PM_2.5 concentration (22.2 ± 15.4 μg/m³), or indoor PM_1.0 (14.5 ± 13.4 μg/m³) and outdoor mean PM_1.0 concentrations (14.2 ± 12.3 μg/m³). Despite these similar concentrations, no correlations were found between outdoor and indoor PM levels. The present findings are not only of importance for the potential health effects of particulate air pollution on people who spend their daytime over a period of several hours in closed and confined spaces located at a university campus but also can inform regulatory about the improvement of indoor air quality, especially in developing countries.     

An international comparative study of end-of-life vehicle (ELV) recycling systems

End-of-life vehicles (ELV) have become a global concern as automobiles have become popular worldwide. An international workshop was held to gather data and to discuss 3R policies and ELV recycling systems, their background and present situation, outcomes of related policies and programs, the framework of recycling and waste management, and case studies on related topics in several countries and regions, as well as the essential points of the comparison. Legislative ELV recycling systems are established in the EU, Japan, Korea, and China, while in the US, ELV recycling is managed under existing laws on environmental protection. Since automobile shredding residue (ASR) has a high calorific value and ash content, and includes heavy metals as well as a mass of unclassified fine particles, recycling ASR is considered highly difficult. Countries with a legislative ELV system commonly set a target for recovery rates, with many aiming for more than 95 % recovery. In order to reach this target, higher efficiency in ASR recovery is needed, in addition to material recycling of collectable components and metals. Environmentally friendly design was considered necessary at the planning and manufacturing stages, and the development of recycling systems and techniques in line with these changes are required for sound ELV management.     

Nitrification/denitrification in an intermittent aeration process for swine wastewater

Abstract

Nitrogen removal by a methane fermentation plus activated sludge process with the intermittent aeration was presented based upon a full‐scale pig farm experiment. Swine wastewater had a T‐N/BOD ratio from 0.2–0.29. The BOD concentration input to the process ranged from 1050–1608 mg l^‐1 and the T‐N concentration from 273–350 mg l^‐1. More than 90% of organic carbon was removed in each experimental run. Only small concentrations of NO₃‐N were found in the effluent and higher than 60% of the T‐N and 73% of NH₄‐N which were loaded to the intermittent aeration tank was removed. The nitrogen balance of each run was calculated. Denitrification was estimated to be accountable for 45–90% of the T‐N removed in the intermittent aeration tank. Denitrification rate increased as the BOD concentration increased (> 1300 mg l^‐1). The T‐N removal percentage was a function of the T‐N/BOD ratio of the influent. Although higher DO concentration (> 3 mg l^‐1) did not enhance the denitrification rate, nitrification did maintain at relative higher rates at a lower DO concentration (ave. 1.5 mg l^‐1). An operational condition of intermittent interval of aeration/nonaeration at 1:1 hr is better than that of the condition at 3:1 hr. As a result, T‐N and NH4‐N were removed up to 30% and 40% respectively, and the denitrification rate reached 79% in the intermittent aeration tank. An experimental run in a pilot plant on treating anaerobically pretreated swine wastewater was observed to verify simultaneous nitrification/denitrification. The results of the full‐scale plant experimentation seem to be confirmed by those obtained from the pilot plant runs.     

A pilot plant two-phase anaerobic digestion system for bioenergy recovery from swine wastes and garbage

A pilot plant bioenergy recovery system from swine waste and garbage was constructed. A series of experiments was performed using swine feces (SF); a mixture of swine feces and urine (MSFU); a mixture of swine feces, urine and garbage (MSFUG); garbage and a mixture of urine and garbage (AUG). The system performed well for treating the source materials at a high organic loading rate (OLR) and short hydraulic retention time (HRT). In particular, the biogas production for the MSFUG was the highest, accounting for approximately 865-930Lkg(-1)-VS added at the OLR of 5.0-5.3kg-VSm(-3)day(-1) and the HRT of 9 days. The removal of VS was 67-75%, and that of COD was 73-74%. Therefore, co-digestion is a promising method for the recovery of bioenergy from swine waste and garbage. Furthermore, the results obtained from this study provide fundamental information for scaling up a high-performance anaerobic system in the future.     

Solid waste generated from ships: a case study on ship-waste composition and garbage delivery attitudes at Haiphong ports,Vietnam

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - Ports and marine transportation play important roles in the development of Vietnam, but there are increasing concerns over environmental issues...