Uranium in Kosovo’s drinking water

The results of this paper are an initiation to capture the drinking water and/or groundwater elemental situation in the youngest European country, Kosovo. We aim to present a clear picture of the natural uranium concentration in drinking water and/or groundwater as it is distributed to the population of Kosovo. Nine hundred and fifty-one (951) drinking water samples were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS). The results are the first countrywide interpretation of the uranium concentration in drinking water and/or groundwater, directly following the Kosovo war of 1999. More than 98% of the samples had uranium concentrations above 0.01 μg L⁻¹, which was also our limit of quantification. Concentrations up to 166 μg L⁻¹ were found with a mean of 5 μg L⁻¹ and median 1.6 μg L⁻¹ were found. Two point six percent (2.6%) of the analyzed samples exceeded the World Health Organization maximum acceptable concentration of 30 μg L⁻¹, and 44.2% of the samples exceeded the 2 μg L⁻¹ German maximum acceptable concentrations recommended for infant food preparations.     

Environment Simulation for Studying the Effects of Air Pollutants on Computers

This paper describes a study directed towards the laboratory simulation of parameters of the office environment related to air borne gaseous and particulate pollutants and initial operating experience of a particulate test chamber, instrumentation, and control techniques. Also discussed is the design of a simple gaseous test chamber being constructed. Gas dilution procedures, control and general operating approach are described.     

The Effects Of Ozone On Tobacco And Pinto Bean as Conditioned by Several Ecological Factors

The sensitivity of tobacco and/or pinto bean to ozone, as an air pollutant, is increased by growing plants in a shortened photoperiod under reduced light intensity and in a light potting mix. Sensitivity also is influenced by carbon dioxide concentration, time of day, and age of plant at time of exposure. Plants are more severely injured by a given dose under continuous exposure than when the exposure is split into two time periods. Tobacco shows cumulative development of injury when exposed to low concentrations intermittently over several days.     

Interactions of Environmental Factors on the Sensitivity of Plants to Air Pollution

Before potential damage to vegetation can be adequately forecast, even after an air pollution alert has been placed in effect, a clear understanding of the interactions of environment on plant sensitivity must be ascertained. This involves detailed study of single factors and then multiple factors using the phytotoxicants in question. Factors studied or suggested include light (quality, intensity, and duration), temperature, carbon dioxide concentration, humidity, wind, soil moisture, soil aeration, nutrient levels, and soil texture. This paper presents a review of the work relating plant injury to specific air pollutants as conditioned by several environmental conditions supported by research on the interactions of ozone with these environmental conditions.     

Forecasting COH Levels at Six Outlying Sampling Stations in Allegheny County Using Statistical Correlations Derived from the Downtown Station

Verification of forecasts of COH levels at the Downtown Sampling Station using our objective forecast method developed in conjunction with the Allegheny County Bureau of Air Pollution Control gave excellent results. The next step was to expand the area of forecast coverage.

COH data taken from July 1968 through June 1969 from six sampling stations located roughly in a large concentric arc around the Downtown Station were studied. Three of the stations are located in river valleys near large industrial plants and the other three are located on higher terrain in suburban areas.

COH levels of Low, Moderate, High, and Very High (where Low = 0–0.9, Moderate = 1.0–1.9, High = 2.0–3.0, and Very High = >3.0) were used.

The total number of occurrences of High and Very High COHS at the Downtown Station was 10.7% of the total data sample. This was more than twice the frequency of any of the outlying stations.

An evaluation of the statistical frequencies indicate the Downtown Station can safely be used as a “control station” in forecasting Low or Moderate COH levels for the six surrounding stations. However, the occurrence of High or Very High COH levels at the six outlying stations do not occur with a high enough statistical consistency to be predicted by using the forecast value of the Downtown Station.

The valley stations exhibit the characteristics of separate sub air basins particularly during a period in which morning inversions occur for two or more consecutive days and the average daily wind speed does not exceed 4 m/sec.

The results show it is possible to forecast only Low or Moderate COH levels for each of the six outlying stations by using statistical correlations derived from the Downtown Station. Separate objective forecasts which relate the pollution buildup in each valley sub air basin must be used when High or Very High COHS are forecast at the Downtown Station.     

Recent Electrostatic Precipitator Experience with Ammonia Conditioning of Power Boiler Flue Gases

Motivated by heightened recent interest, Koppers Co. has been experimenting with ammonia conditioning of power boiler flue gases for the purpose of improving the precipitability of the emitted fly ash. Chemical reactions resulting from ammonia injection are postulated. Measurements on three pulverized coal and two cyclone fired boilers, all of which emit acidic ash, are described. In all five cases, considerable but varying, increase in precipitator power input and collection efficiency resulted when gaseous ammonia in the amount of 1 5 ppm was injected between the economizer and air preheater. The conditioned fly ash showed decreased acidity and inconsistent change in electrical resistivity. Unless air heater temperatures were unusually high (>400°F), tendency of the air heater to plug was an additional, but unwanted, result. At one station with high air heater outlet temperature ammonia injection has been adopted as a permanent solution to community pressure for reduction of stack discharge. Ammonia injection downstream of the air heater produced no effect. Future plans are presented to continue the program beyond results described here.     

Objective Evaluation of Emergency Plans for Oxidant Control

Emergency plans for oxidant controls provide the basis for taking preventive action to protect public health. Historic oxidant data (1970 to Sept. 1974) from the South Coast Air Basin (SCAB), were evaluated to assess episode characteristics in an area where emergency strategies are most likely to be enforced. These findings, together with an objective study of a test case episode (June 1974) using a photochemical air quality simulation model, suggest that the currently conceived emergency plans for oxidant control are unlikely to be effective. It is concluded that, because of the chemical and mefeorofogfcal complexities of the episodes, they are extremely difficult both to predict and concurrently to control over their short-lived duration.     

A Cyclone for Size-Selective Sampling of Ambient Air

A cyclone with a 47 mm after-filter has been developed for ambient air size-selective monitoring. It has been extensively evaluated with laboratory-generated aerosol. Variation of the pressure drop and 50% cut point with flow rate show that the cyclone operates in a single flow regime with a vortex in the outlet flow. The particle size cutoff curve is comparable in sharpness to a cascade impactor and is the same for solid or liquid particles. At 21.7 L/min, D ₅₀ is 2.5μm and at 15.4 L/min, D ₅₀ is 3.5 μm. Collection efficiency data for flow rates from 8 to 27 L/min fit a universal curve when plotted vs. the normalized particle diameter, (D-D ₅₀)/D ₅₀ Reentrainment of previously deposited particles is less than 1 % of the loading per day. In field tests the cyclone has proved to be a very satisfactory size-selective sampler.     

1985 Update,Operating History and Current Status of Fabric Filters in the Utility Industry

Stringent particulate emissions limits and increasing awareness of stack opacity is leading the utility industry to use high efficiency particulate control systems. In response to this trend, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) is conducting several research programs aimed at improving the operation, maintenance and performance of particulate control systems. One of these programs, RP-1401, “Reliability Assessment of Particulate Control Systems,” is developing operation, maintenance and design data bases for both electrostatic precipitators and fabric filters. This paper discusses some of the intermediate findings of the work done on fabric filters.     

Charge-based fractionation of oxyanion-forming metals and metalloids leached from recycled concrete aggregates of different degrees of carbonation: A comparison of laboratory and field leaching tests

The release and charge-based fractionation of As, Cr, Mo, Sb, Se and V were evaluated in leachates generated from recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) in a laboratory and at a field site. The leachates, covering the pH range 8.4-12.6, were generated from non-carbonated, and artificially and naturally carbonated crushed concrete samples. Comparison between the release of the elements from the non-carbonated and carbonated samples indicated higher solubility of the elements from the latter. The laboratory leaching tests also revealed that the solubility of the elements is low at the “natural pH” of the non-carbonated materials and show enhancement when the pH is decreased. The charge-based fractionation of the elements was determined by ion-exchange solid phase extraction (SPE); it was found that all the target elements predominantly existed as anions in both the laboratory and field leachates. The high fraction of the anionic species of the elements in the leachates from the carbonated RCA materials verified the enhanced solubility of the oxyanionic species of the elements as a result of carbonation. The concentrations of the elements in the leachates and SPE effluents were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).