Health risk assessment of emissions of dioxins and furans from a municipal waste incinerator: comparison with other emission sources

The aim of this study was to calculate the incremental lifetime-risk to dioxins and furans (PCDD/Fs) for the population living in the surroundings of a municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI), as well as to establish the potential reduction on human health risks as a consequence of the adaptation to the EU legislation on pollutant emissions from the MSWI stack. Analytical and modelled results were obtained. PCDD/F concentrations in environmental media were determined by means of a simple-compartment-multimedia model (air-soil-vegetation model). Predicted and measured PCDD/F concentrations in soils and vegetation were compared, and the effects of MSWI emissions in the environmental media were determined. Human health risks due to PCDD/F emissions from the MSWI were also estimated based on I-TEQ measured and modelled in various environmental media. Cancer risks due to PCDD/F emissions of the plant were 1.07E-07 and 3.08E-09, before and after installation of the clean air system, respectively. On the other hand, cancer risks due to other PCDD/F emission sources in the area were 5.54E-06 and 1.86E-06. Total PCDD/F cancer risks (including those from diet) for the population living in the vicinity of the MSWI were 1.3E-04 and 4.25E-05, respectively (67.6% of reduction). Hazard ratio for total PCDD/F exposure (including diet) decreased during the last 5 years from 1.16 to 0.38. The above data show that other emission sources of PCDD/Fs also have a notable environmental impact on the area under direct influence of the MSWI.     

Assessment of application-rate dependent effects of a long-term fire retardant chemical (Fire Trol 934) on Typha domingensis germination

Although long-term fire retardants (LTR) gain increasingly acceptance as effective tools for wildfire management, recent studies indicate their potential harmfulness in the environment, especially in aquatic ecosystems. This study comprises a first laboratory impact assessment of LTR action in temporal Mediterranean wetlands, using seed germination of Typha domingensis as indicator of impact. Our aim was to identify application rates upon which seed germination could be significantly affected. We tested for low (1 l m(-2)) and high (3 l m(-2)) application rates of Fire Trol 934 which are recommended by the manufacturers as a function of fuel characteristics. In addition, we simulated the impact of a higher application rate of 5 l m(-2) because inhomogeneous dispersal of the LTR during fire control and prevention operations can result in locally elevated applications. Results of a microcosm experiment indicate that application rates of 1 or 3 l m(-2) can impact Typha germination rates in the short-term via indirect LTR-mediated effects on water quality, which suppressed necessary cues for germination. However, a subsequent experiment with Petri dishes, using seeds isolated from the LTR treated sediments did not show significantly different germination rates between the control and the treatments with application rates of 1 or 3 l m(-2). This suggests that retardant pre-application germination success could be recovered in nature once the retardant is eliminated. By contrast, seeds almost completely failed to germinate in the microcosm experiment and the subsequent Petri dish essay when an application rate of 5 l m(-2) was used. This suggests a critical level upon which Typha seed germination may be perpetually limited. Research should be extended to other plant species to provide fire managers with guidelines for environmentally safe use of LTR in the Mediterranean region.     

闪火灾害的后果分析

闪火是可燃性气体或蒸气泄漏到空气中并与之混合被点燃而发生的一种非爆炸性的蒸气云燃烧,其主要危害是热辐射和火焰直接灼烧。闪火的热辐射计算包括闪火动力特性及热通量计算。热辐射的大小由火焰的辐射能,视角系数和大气传输率所决定。运用Pietersen(1990)热辐射的伤害－破坏理论,分析计算了一起闪火灾害热辐射造成人的伤害后果和对建筑物的破坏后果。     

A simulation model for projecting changes in salinity concentrations and species dominance in the coastal margin habitats of the Everglades

Sharp boundaries typically separate the salinity tolerant mangroves from the salinity intolerant hardwood hammock species, which occupy the similar geographical areas of southern Florida. Evidence of strong feedback between tree community-type and the salinity of the unsaturated (vadose) zone of the soil suggests that a severe disturbance that significantly tilts the salinity in the vadose zone might cause a shift from one vegetation type to the other. In this study, a model based upon the feedback dynamics between vegetation and salinity of the vadose zone of the soil was used to take account of storm surge events to investigate the mechanisms that by which this large-scale disturbance could affect the spatial pattern of hardwood hammocks and mangroves. Model simulation results indicated that a heavy storm surge that completely saturated the vadose zone at 30 ppt for 1 day could lead to a regime shift in which there is domination by mangroves of areas previously dominated by hardwood hammocks. Lighter storm surges that saturated the vadose zone at less than 7 ppt did not cause vegetation shifts. Investigations of model sensitivity analysis indicated that the thickness of the vadose zone, coupled with precipitation, influenced the residence time of high salinity in the vadose zone and therefore determined the rate of mangrove domination. The model was developed for a southern Florida coastal ecosystem, but its applicability may be much broader.     

广州帽峰山林区空气负离子动态及与环境因子的关系

采用定位连续观测方法,研究了广州帽峰山森林公园负离子含量近5年的年、季、月变化及不同天气的变化规律,并以此对帽峰山森林公园的空气质量进行了计量评价.分析了空气负离子含量与环境因子的相关关系.结果表明:林区不同观测区的负离子含量差异较大,山下瀑布空间负离子含量最高.平均水平达达2l 729 ions.cm-3;林内负离子含量年间及月间变化不大,沟谷小溪和山中部瀑布空间由于人为干扰,负离子含量年动态呈现降低趋势,山下瀑布空间年负离子含量维持在20000 iotis·cm-3左右;负离子含量的季节差异显著,春夏季大于冬秋季,夏季最高、冬季最低.空气质量评价系数CI的最低在2月份、最高在8月份.不同天气条件下负离子含量大小顺序为下雨>晴天>阴天.负离子含量与空气温度呈正相关,与空气湿度呈正相关.与空气气压呈负相关.     

重金属污染土壤植物修复研究进展

土壤重金属污染是当今世界面临的主要环境问题之一.植物修复定义为利用绿色植物去除环境中的污染物或使其无害化的生物技术.与传统环境修复技术相比,植物修复技术具有治理成本的低廉性,环境美学的兼容性,治理过程的原位性.本文主要对超富集植物的概念和特征、土壤重金属污染植物修复的方法和原理以及土壤重金属植物修复技术的强化措施进行了综述,并对植物修复的近期研究工作进行了展望.     

On-line controlling system for nitrogen and phosphorus removal of municipal wastewater in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR)

The objectives of this study were to establish an on-line controlling system for nitrogen and phosphorus removal synchronously of municipal wastewater in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR). The SBR for municipal wastewater treatment was operated in sequences: filling, anaerobic, oxic, anoxic, oxic, settling and discharge. The reactor was equipped with on-line monitoring sensors for dissolved oxygen (DO), oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) and pH. The variation of DO, ORP and pH is relevant to each phase of biological process for nitrogen and phosphorus removal in this SBR. The characteristic points of DO, ORP and pH can be used to judge and control the stages of process that include: phosphate release by the turning points of ORP and pH; nitrification by the ammonia valley of pH and ammonia elbows of DO and ORP; denitrification by the nitrate knee of ORP and nitrate apex of pH; phosphate uptake by the turning point of pH; and residual organic carbon oxidation by the carbon elbows of DO and ORP. The controlling system can operate automatically for nitrogen and phosphorus efficiently removal.     

一体化A/O生物膜反应器脱氮特性研究

根据传统好氧硝化和缺氧反硝化生物脱氮的工艺原理,设计并制作了一体化 A/O生物膜反应器,并就其对模拟生活污水的脱碳、脱氮处理效果进行了试验。结果表明,该一体化反应器在水力停留时间 HRT=24h时,COD的去除率达到 97%以上,硝化率和 TN的去除率分别达到92%和82%。出水NO3-N和NO2-N浓度保持在7.4mg/L和0.2mg/L左右。对各区污泥进行的硝化活性试验结果表明,该一体化反应器的缺氧区内存活有一定数量的具有硝化活性的细菌。