Movement of unlined landfill under preloading surcharge

As organic solid waste is decomposed in a landfill and mass is lost due to gas and leachate formation, the landfill settles. Settlement of a landfill interferes with the rehabilitation and subsequent use of the landfill site after closure. This study examined the soil/solid waste movement at the Al-Qurain landfill in Kuwait after 15 years of closure as plans are underway for redevelopment of the landfill site that occupies about a km(2) with an average depth of 8-15m. Field experiments were conducted for 6 mo to measure soil/solid waste movement and water behavior within the landfill using two settlement plates with a level survey access, Casagrande-type piezometers, pneumatic piezometers, and magnetic probe extensometers. Previous results obtained indicated that biological decomposition of refuse continued after closure of the landfill site. The subsurface water rise enhanced the biological activities, which resulted in the production of increasing quantities of landfill gas. The refuse fill materials recorded a high movement rate under the imposed preloading as a result of an increase in the stress state. Up to 55% of the total movement was observed during the first 2 weeks of fill placement and increased to 80% within the first month of the 6-mo preloading test. Pneumatic piezometers showed an increase in water head, which is attributed to the developed pressure of gases escaping during the preloading period.     

Polycentric agglomeration and haze pollution: evidence from China

Polycentric agglomeration has gradually become a salient feature of rapid growth in urbanization in China. Using province-level balanced panel data over the period 2000–18, we examine the impact of polycentric agglomeration on haze pollution and its mechanism of action. The results show that the impact of polycentric agglomeration on haze pollution exhibits a significant inverted U-shaped feature. Nevertheless, except for a few provinces where polycentric agglomeration exceeds the turning point, the degree of polycentric concentration in most provinces lies to the left of the turning point. Further, a mediating effect model illustrates that industrial structure rationalization and technological progress are effective paths through which polycentric agglomeration affects haze pollution. Finally, we demonstrate that the effect of polycentric agglomeration on haze pollution is influenced by transportation and communication infrastructure; improved transportation and communication infrastructure contributes to the haze control effect of polycentric agglomeration.

     

Deciphering the impact of novel coronavirus pandemic on agricultural sustainability,food security,and socio-economic sectors—a review

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The Spanish flu, Asian flu, Hong Kong flu, HIV/AIDS, SARS, Ebola, and Swine flu, among others, have had a significant impact on agriculture,...     

开都河下游绿洲耕地土壤重金属污染及潜在生态风险

开都河下游绿洲采集98个耕地土壤样品,测定其中As、Cd、Cr、Cu、Mn、Ni、Pb和Zn等8种重金属元素的含量.基于地统计法,污染负荷指数法和潜在生态风险指数法研究耕地土壤重金属污染和潜在生态风险,并对重金属的来源进行讨论.结果表明:(1)研究区Cd含量平均值超出《国家土壤环境质量标准》中Ⅱ级标准的11.08倍.Cd、Cr、Ni、Pb和Zn含量的平均值分别超出新疆灌耕土背景值的55.42、1.32、1.36、3.40和5.14倍.重金属元素空间分布各不相同,部分区域出现高值区,表明人类活动对耕地土壤环境具有负面效应.(2)研究区耕地土壤Cd呈现重度污染,Pb呈现中度污染,Cr、Cu、Ni和Zn呈现轻度污染,As和Mn呈现无污染态势.Cd是污染面积最大,污染程度最高的元素.研究区污染负荷指数PLI的平均值为1.68,呈现轻度污染.(3)各重金属元素单项生态风险指数(E)的平均值从大到小依次为:Cd、Ni、As、Cu、Pb、Cr与Zn.研究区综合生态风险指数(RI)的平均值为355.31,属于较强生态风险.(4)研究区耕地土壤As、Cd、Pb和Zn主要受到人类活动的影响,Cr、Cu、Mn和Ni主要受到土壤地球化学特征的控制.Cd是研究区耕地土壤主要的污染因子,对PLI和RI的贡献很大,耕地土壤中Cd污染必须关注.     

乌鲁木齐市安宁渠蔬菜基地土壤重金属污染现状及潜在生态风险评价

为了认识蔬菜产地土壤重金属富集现状，探索其解决途径，为污染防治措施提供科学依据，促进无公害蔬菜生产，确保蔬菜质量安全。在乌鲁木齐北郊蔬菜地采集26个土壤样品和7个水体样品，分别测定样品中Hg、As、Cr、Cd、Pb和Zn 6种重金属的含量。采用地积累指数（I_geo）、污染负荷指数（PLI）、潜在生态风险评价（RI）对蔬菜地土壤重金属污染及潜在生态风险进行分析。通过土壤与水样的结合，采用主成分分析法进行污染来源分析，结果表明：（1）乌鲁木齐安宁渠蔬菜基地土壤中Hg、Cr和Zn重金属含量的均值分别为新疆土壤背景值的5.74、1.74、1.52倍，其中Cd含量的均值是国家二级标准的2.69倍。地下水中Cr含量均值超过国家灌溉水限制标准，是其8.89倍。（2）6种重金属I_geo的平均值依次为Cd > Hg > Cr > Zn > As > Pb，其中Cd属于中-强度污染，Hg为中度污染，Cr为轻度污染，Zn、As和Pb均为清洁水平。研究区土壤区域污染负荷指数PLI_zone为1.91，属于中度污染，其中Cd的贡献率最大，为56%，其次是Hg，贡献率为22%。土壤RI均值为673.1，属于严重潜在生态风险态势。（3）研究区土壤Pb、Cr和Zn，主要来自交通和农业活动等人为污染，As、Cd主要受自然母质和大气沉降的影响。该蔬菜基地潜在生态风险主要来自Cd和Hg，建议在农业生产中防范Cd、Hg的污染。     

Oasis land-use change and its effects on the oasis eco-environment in Keriya Oasis,China

Land-use change in oases of arid zones play a significant role in the sustainable development and stability of oases. This paper presents a typical case of successful efforts to mitigate land-use change, its drivers and effects on the oasis eco-environment at Keriya Oasis in the western arid zone of China using remotely-sensed data, official statistics, and data collected by field investigation. Mathematical models were developed to quantify important elements related to land-use change, including net change and total change. The results indicate that: (1) approximately 17% of land-use types of Keriya Oasis changed between 1991 and 2002; (2) socioeconomic development, climate change, and economic polices contributed to land-use change in the oasis; (3) inappropriate human activities were the main cause of land-use change and eco-environmental degradation in the oasis; and (4) the stability of the oasis is threatened by land-use change and unexpected eco-environmental changes in the oasis and oasis–desert ecotone. The study suggests irrational human activity in arid zones, and that caution should be exercised to maintain stability and sustainable development of oases.     

Assessment and analysis of industrial liquid waste and sludge disposal at unlined landfill sites in arid climate

Municipal solid waste disposal sites in arid countries such as Kuwait receive various types of waste materials like sewage sludge, chemical waste and other debris. Large amounts of leachate are expected to be generated due to the improper disposal of industrial wastewater, sewage sludge and chemical wastes with municipal solid waste at landfill sites even though the rainwater is scarce. Almost 95% of all solid waste generated in Kuwait during the last 10 years was dumped in five unlined landfills. The sites accepting liquid waste consist of old sand quarries that do not follow any specific engineering guidelines. With the current practice, contamination of the ground water table is possible due to the close location of the water table beneath the bottom of the waste disposal sites. This study determined the percentage of industrial liquid waste and sludge of the total waste dumped at the landfill sites, analyzed the chemical characteristics of liquid waste stream and contaminated water at disposal sites, and finally evaluated the possible risk posed by the continuous dumping of such wastes at the unlined landfills. Statistical analysis has been performed on the disposal and characterization of industrial wastewater and sludge at five active landfill sites. The chemical analysis shows that all the industrial wastes and sludge have high concentrations of COD, suspended solids, and heavy metals. Results show that from 1993 to 2000, 5.14+/-1.13 million t of total wastes were disposed per year in all active landfill sites in Kuwait. The share of industrial liquid and sludge waste was 1.85+/-0.19 million t representing 37.22+/-6.85% of total waste disposed in all landfill sites. Such wastes contribute to landfill leachate which pollutes groundwater and may enter the food chain causing adverse health effects. Lined evaporation ponds are suggested as an economical and safe solution for industrial wastewater and sludge disposal in the arid climate of Kuwait.     

Qualitative evaluation of the mineralogical and chemical composition of dry deposition in the central and southern highlands of Jordan

The chemical and mineralogical composition of dry deposition in the western highlands of central and south Jordan at the end of the summer season 2000, reflect the composition of soils in addition to anthropogenic activities at these areas. Calcite predominated in the central region whereas calcite and quartz are the dominant minerals in south Jordan. The concentrations of Hg, Cr, Ni, Cu, Pb and Zn were higher in central Jordan, which might be attributed to higher anthropogenic activities than south. On the other hand, Fe, Mn, Ti, Ba, Sr, Y and Rb were higher in the south of Jordan reflecting the composition of soil at these sites. At Aqaba city, the only port of Jordan, where Cr, Cd, As and S were higher than other areas. This variation might be attributed to the contribution of phosphate dust in the atmosphere through handling processes.