Progress Toward a Uniform Air Pollution Index

Recently, various authors^1–4 have indicated that a need exists to establish a uniform air pollution index for communities throughout the nation.Although the literature reveals several attempts to develop air pollution indices,^5–7 none of these indices has received widespread acceptance by state and local air pollution control agencies, probably because none has received the active support or endorsement of the federal government. We now wish to report that significant progress has been made at the federal level toward the goal of a recommended national air pollution index.     

Analysis of Industrial Boiler Solid Waste Impacts

This paper presents an examination of industrial coal-fired boiler waste products. Presently the atmospheric emissions from all new boilers larger than 250 × 10⁶ Btu/hr are controlled by existing New Source Performance Standards, and boilers smaller than 250 × 10⁶ Btu/hr are controlled to levels required by the regulations of the particular state in which the facility is located. The 1977 Clean Air Act Amendments, however, specify categories of sources for which EPA must develop revised New Source Performance Standards. Industrial coal-fired boilers are included as one of these categories, and a relevant issue concerns the potential amount of solid waste generated as a result of tightened emission standards that require flue gas desulfurization. This paper examines the air quality and solid waste impacts of moderate and stringent emission controls for particulate and SO₂ emissions from industrial coal-fired boilers.

Comparisons are presented of physical and chemical characterizations of the emissions and solid wastes produced when boilers are equipped with particulate and SO₂ control equipment. The SO₂ systems examined are lime spray drying, lime/limestone, double alkali, sodium throwaway, physically cleaned coal, and fluidized-bed combustion. The solid waste disposal alternatives and the disposal costs are discussed. The most common disposal methods used are landfill for dry wastes and impoundment for sludges, with special wastewater treatment requirements for the sodium throwaway aqueous wastes.     

Idle Emissions from Heavy-Duty Diesel Vehicles: Review and Recent Data

Abstract

Heavy-duty diesel vehicle idling consumes fuel and reduces atmospheric quality, but its restriction cannot simply be proscribed, because cab heat or air-conditioning provides essential driver comfort. A comprehensive tailpipe emissions database to describe idling impacts is not yet available. This paper presents a substantial data set that incorporates results from the West Virginia University transient engine test cell, the E-55/59 Study and the Gasoline/Diesel PM Split Study. It covered 75 heavy-duty diesel engines and trucks, which were divided into two groups: vehicles with mechanical fuel injection (MFI) and vehicles with electronic fuel injection (EFI). Idle emissions of CO, hydrocarbon (HC), oxides of nitrogen (NO_x), particulate matter (PM), and carbon dioxide (CO₂) have been reported. Idle CO₂ emissions allowed the projection of fuel consumption during idling. Test-to-test variations were observed for repeat idle tests on the same vehicle because of measurement variation, accessory loads, and ambient conditions. Vehicles fitted with EFI, on average, emitted [~20 g/hr of CO, 6 g/hr of HC, 86 g/hr of NO_x, 1 g/hr of PM, and 4636 g/hr of CO₂ during idle. MFI equipped vehicles emitted ~35 g/hr of CO, 23 g/hr of HC, 48 g/hr of NO_x, 4 g/hr of PM, and 4484 g/hr of CO₂, on average, during idle. Vehicles with EFI emitted less idleCO, HC, and PM, which could be attributed to the efficient combustion and superior fuel atomization in EFI systems. Idle NO_x, however, increased with EFI, which corresponds with the advancing of timing to improve idle combustion. Fuel injection management did not have any effect on CO₂ and, hence, fuel consumption. Use of air conditioning without increasing engine speed increased idle CO₂, NO_x, PM, HC, and fuel consumption by 25% on average. When the engine speed was elevated from 600 to 1100 revolutions per minute, CO₂ and NO_x emissions and fuel consumption increased by >150%, whereas PM and HC emissions increased by ~100% and 70%, respectively. Six Detroit Diesel Corp. (DDC) Series 60 engines in engine test cell were found to emit less CO, NO_x, and PM emissions and consumed fuel at only 75%of the level found in the chassis dynamometer data. This is because fan and compressor loads were absent in the engine test cell.     

Application of Aerial Photography and Photogrammetry in Environmental Forensic Investigations

Historical aerial photography can be a powerful tool in environmental forensic investigations. Historical aerial photography is available for many sites from the 1930s on. It is researched and obtained from both public and private sources. Most of the photography consists of vertical stereoscopic film annotated with the date of the photomission. A current photomission can be flown using airborne GPS for precise registration of the photomosaics. The photography is scanned at a very high resolution and registered in a coordinate system using a digital stereoplotter that removes terrain distortion and allows the precise measurement of objects. The digital stereoplotter is used to produce photomosaics and to interpret environmentally significant features in the photography. The accuracy of the environmental interpretations is dependent on the skill and experience of the interpreter as well as the resolution of the photography and quality of the equipment used. The photomosaics are then registered in a geographic information system along with the interpretations of environmentally significant features. In a similar manner, historic maps are scanned and registered into the same coordinate system. The interpreted images and maps form a significant part of the expert report. A computer projection system is used to show the interpreted images at trial.     

Experimental evidence for a dual pathway model analysis of coping with the climate crisis

Two experiments examined the psychological power of fear and group efficacy beliefs to increase environmental action intentions against the climate crisis. Extending a dual pathway model of coping with collective disadvantage, results showed evidence for emotion-focused approach coping: Environmental action intentions were increased by individuals' manipulated fear of the negative future consequences of the climate crisis (Experiments 1–2). Additionally, results showed evidence for problem-focused approach coping: Individuals' measured (Experiment 1) and manipulated group efficacy beliefs (Experiment 2) increased environmental action intentions. The results thus suggest that the dual pathway model can be successfully applied to a psychological analysis of emotion- and problem-focused approach coping with the climate crisis. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of these results.     

A practical scientific approach to riparian vegetation rehabilitation in Australia

The clearance of indigenous riparian vegetation and removal of large woody debris (LWD) from streams combined with the planting of exotic plant species has resulted in widespread detrimental impacts on the fluvial geomorphology and aquatic ecology of Australian rivers. Vegetation exerts a significant influence on fluvial geomorphology by affecting resistance to flow, bank strength, sediment storage, bed stability and stream morphology and is important for aquatic ecosystem function. As the values of indigenous riparian vegetation are becoming better recognised by Australian river managers, large amounts of money and resources are being invested in the planting of indigenous riparian vegetation as part of river rehabilitation programs. This paper summarises the results of an investigation into the survival, growth and regeneration rates of a series of trial native riparian vegetation plantings on in-channel benches in the Hunter Valley of southeastern Australia. The trials were poorly designed for statistical analysis and the paper highlights a number of shortcomings in the methods used. As a result, a new approach to riparian vegetation rehabilitation is outlined that promotes the use of scientific principles and understanding. Appropriate species should be selected using a combination of remnant vegetation surveys, historical records, palynology and field trials. A number of important factors should be considered in the rehabilitation of riparian vegetation to achieve worthwhile results. These include flood disturbance, vegetation zonation, vegetation succession, substrate composition, corridor planting width, planting techniques, native plant regeneration, LWD recruitment and adaptive ecosystem management. This approach, if adopted, revised and improved by river managers, should result in greater success than has been achieved by previous riparian vegetation rehabilitation efforts in Australia.     

A Drinking Water Crisis in Lake Taihu, China: Linkage to Climatic Variability and Lake Management

In late May, 2007, a drinking water crisis took place in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, China, following a massive bloom of the toxin producing cyanobacteria Microcystis spp. in Lake Taihu, China’s third largest freshwater lake. Taihu was the city’s sole water supply, leaving approximately two million people without drinking water for at least a week. This cyanobacterial bloom event began two months earlier than previously documented for Microcystis blooms in Taihu. This was attributed to an unusually warm spring. The prevailing wind direction during this period caused the bloom to accumulate at the shoreline near the intake of the water plant. Water was diverted from the nearby Yangtze River in an effort to flush the lake of the bloom. However, this management action was counterproductive, because it produced a current which transported the bloom into the intake, exacerbating the drinking water contamination problem. The severity of this microcystin toxin containing bloom and the ensuing drinking water crisis were attributable to excessive nutrient enrichment; however, a multi-annual warming trend extended the bloom period and amplified its severity, and this was made worse by unanticipated negative impacts of water management. Long-term management must therefore consider both the human and climatic factors controlling these blooms and their impacts on water supply in this and other large lakes threatened by accelerating eutrophication.