The forecasting of municipal waste generation using artificial neural networks and sustainability indicators

The feasibility of modeling municipal waste generation (MWG) for countries at different levels of development using artificial neural networks (ANN) and selected generic indicators of sustainability was investigated. The main goals of this research were to develop ANN-based models for predicting MWG, to overcome the problem of incomplete MWG data, which is notable in developing countries, and to provide a new method for the planning of municipal solid waste management systems as well as for the simulation of various other scenarios. Data from 26 European countries was used in this study as training, test and validation datasets for the developing of ANN models. Since this kind of modeling is particularly important for developing countries where MWG data is missing or incomplete, emphasis was placed on modeling of MWG for Bulgaria and Serbia. Based on a comparison of actual MWG data with predictions given by the model, we show that ANNs can be applied successfully to modeling and forecasting MWG on a national scale. Moreover, the scope for possible application of the model is broad, since it uses generic indicators of sustainability such as gross domestic product, domestic material consumption and resource productivity, and performs well for countries with highly diversified levels of economic development, industrial structure, productivity and output.     

A field study of interfacial friction and entrainment in a microtidal salt-wedge estuary

Environmental Fluid Mechanics - The interfacial friction and entrainment were investigated in a microtidal salt-wedge estuary. A detailed sampling campaign was conducted in the Rječina River...     

Application of UV-activated persulfate and peroxymonosulfate processes for the degradation of 1,2,3-trichlorobenzene in different water matrices

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The presence of a large number of micropollutants in the environment, including priority and emerging substances, poses a significant risk to surface...     

X-ray diffraction study of calcification processes in embryos and larvae of the brooding oyster Ostrea edulis

X-ray powder diffraction was used to study shell calcifications of the oyster Ostrea edulis, sampled in the Limski Kanal, Istria (Adriatic Sea), in May 1992. All the developmental stages were followed, from the embryonic stage through the transition between the trochophore and veliger larva (prodissoconch I and II) and later, after swarming, the pelagic free-swimming larval stages, up to their settlement and attachment (from the D-shaped to the fully formed pediveliger larva), and finally during metamorphosis and juvenile stages (dissoconch). In the first gastrula stage, only an amorphous tissue is present (a periostracum and organic matrix). The beginning of shell formation (at the end of gastrulation) in early trochophores is manifested by the appearance of calcite (up to 1–7% of total volume) and then aragonite (about 1%). In the later stage of the veliger larva the fraction of calcite decreases as well as the amorphous fraction, while the fraction of aragonite rapidly increases. In the prodissoconch II stage and during the whole pelagic period aragonite is dominant, accompanied by a very small amorphous fraction and traces of calcite. The shell mineral composition does not change until metamorphosis, whereupon the fraction of calcite rapidly increases and the fraction of aragonite decreases. The postmetamorphic valves of the juvenile and adult oyster consist mainly of calcite, except the resilium and myostracum which remain aragonitic, possibly as a continuation of the inner layer of the larval shell. Received: 28 May 1997 / Accepted: 1 July 1997     

Organic matter in the bulk precipitations in Zagreb and Šibenik,Croatia

Dissolved organic carbon (DOC), surface active substances (SAS) and copper complexing capacity (CuCC) were studied in bulk precipitations collected periodically from 2003 to 2007 in the continental city of Croatia (Zagreb: n = 27) and in the city at the Adriatic coast (?ibenik: n = 38). DOC concentrations (Zagreb: 0.67–4.03 mgC/L with average concentration of 1.93 ± 0.76 mgC/L; ?ibenik: 0.44–4.13 mgC/L with average concentration of 1.83 ± 0.83 mgC/L) are similar to those measured in other samples of continental rainwater in the northern hemisphere. The concentrations of SAS in samples from Zagreb ranged from 0.055 to 0.45 eq. Triton-X-100 mg/L with average concentration of (0.14 ± 0.06) eq. Triton-X-100 mg/L. SAS fractions were of a similar range in ?ibenik (0.02–0.60 eq. Triton-X-100 mg/L) with an average concentration of 0.11 ± 0.06 eq. Triton-X-100 mg/L. However, the lowest values of SAS (between 0.02 and 0.04 eq. Triton-X-100 mg/L) were observed only in ?ibenik (27%). We have estimated that the higher pH values were responsible for lower surface activity of organic matter in bulk samples from ?ibenik. DOC may form complexes that control the transport and solubility of heavy metals in natural water. CuCC measured in ?ibenik in the range 0.066–1.4 μM Cu²⁺ was in general higher, compared to the one in Zagreb (0.010–0.586 μM Cu²⁺) which is the result of biogenically driven organic contribution to the precipitation, especially in the warmer period of the year.     

Protein futures for Western Europe: potential land use and climate impacts in 2050

Multiple production and demand side measures are needed to improve food system sustainability. This study quantified the theoretical minimum agricultural land requirements to supply Western Europe with food in 2050 from its own land base, together with GHG emissions arising. Assuming that crop yield gaps in agriculture are closed, livestock production efficiencies increased and waste at all stages reduced, a range of food consumption scenarios were modelled each based on different ‘protein futures’. The scenarios were as follows: intensive and efficient livestock production using today’s species mix; intensive efficient poultry–dairy production; intensive efficient aquaculture–dairy; artificial meat and dairy; livestock on ‘ecological leftovers’ (livestock reared only on land unsuited to cropping, agricultural residues and food waste, with consumption capped at that level of availability); and a ‘plant-based eating’ scenario. For each scenario, ‘projected diet’ and ‘healthy diet’ variants were modelled. Finally, we quantified the theoretical maximum carbon sequestration potential from afforestation of spared agricultural land. Results indicate that land use could be cut by 14–86 % and GHG emissions reduced by up to approximately 90 %. The yearly carbon storage potential arising from spared agricultural land ranged from 90 to 700 Mt CO₂ in 2050. The artificial meat and plant-based scenarios achieved the greatest land use and GHG reductions and the greatest carbon sequestration potential. The ‘ecological leftover’ scenario required the least cropland as compared with the other meat-containing scenarios, but all available pasture was used, and GHG emissions were higher if meat consumption was not capped at healthy levels.     

Environmental concentrations of Roundup in combination with chlorpromazine or heating causes biochemical disturbances in the bivalve mollusc Unio tumidus

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Bivalve molluscs represent the most recognized bioindicators of freshwater pollution. However, their ability to indicate specific xenobiotics in...