Cytotoxicity of municipal solid waste incinerator ash wastes toward mammalian kidney cell lines

In this study, three municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI) ash wastes-bottom ash, scrubber residue, and baghouse ash-were extracted using a toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) extractant. These so-called final TCLP extracts were applied to African green monkey kidney cells (Vero), baby hamster kidney cells (BHK-21), and pig kidney cells (PK-15), multi-well absorption reader analysis was performed to test how the cytotoxicity of the incineration ashes would affect the digestive systems of animals. Ion-coupled plasma analyses indicated that the baghouse ash extract possessed the highest pH and heavy metal concentration, its cytotoxicity was also the highest. In contrast, the bottom ash and the scrubber residue exhibited very low cytotoxicities. The cytotoxicities of mixtures of baghouse ash and scrubber residue toward the three tested cell lines increased as the relative ratio of the baghouse ash increased, especially for the Vero cells. The slight cytotoxicity of the scrubber residue arose mainly from the presence of Cr species, whereas the high cytotoxicity of the baghouse ash resulted from its high content of heavy metals and alkali ions. In addition, it appears that the dissolved total organic carbon content of these ash wastes can reduce the cytotoxicity of ash wastes that collect in animal cells.     

Evaluation of the multiple-ion competition in the adsorption of As(V) onto reclaimed iron-oxide coated sands by fractional factorial design

This study describes the competitive effects of selected ions and natural organic matter on As(V) removal using reclaimed iron-oxide coated sands (RIOCS) in the single- and multi-ion systems. A 2(7-3) factional factorial experimental design (FFD) was employed for screening main competitive factors in this adsorption process. As a result, the inhibitive competition effects of the anions on As(V) removal in the single ion system were in the following sequence: PO(4)(3-)>SiO(3)(2-)>HCO(3)(-)>humic acid (HA)>SO(4)(2-)>Cl(-), whereas the cation Ca(2+) was observed to enhance the As(V) removal. In addition, the optimum initial pH for As(V) removal in single-ion system was 5. Based on the estimates of major effects and interactions from the FFD, PO(4)(3-), SiO(3)(2-), Ca(2+) and HA were important factors on As(V) removal in the multi-ion system. The promoters for the As(V) removal were found to be Ca(2+) and, to a lesser extent, SO(4)(2-). The competitive effects of these ions on As(V) removal were in the order of PO(4)(3-), SiO(3)(2-), HA, HCO(3)(-), and Cl(-). In the single ion system, the efficiencies of As(V) removal range from 75% to 96%, much higher than those in the multi-ion system (44%) at the initial pH 5. Clearly, there were some complex anion interactions in the multi-ion system. To promote the removal of As(V) by RIOCS, it is proposed to lower the pH in the single-ion system, while in the multi-ion system, the increase of the Ca(2+) concentration, or decreases of PO(4)(3-), SiO(3)(2-) and HA concentrations is suggested.     

Data mining for occupational injuries in the Taiwan construction industry

There is a higher rate of occupational injury in the construction industry than most other industries on average. However, steps can be taken to reduce worker risk through effective injury prevention strategies. In this article, association rule mining is employed in identifying the characteristics of occupational injuries in the construction industry. Accident reports during the period 1999–2004 are extracted from case reports of the Northern Region Inspection Office of the Council of Labor Affairs of Taiwan. In addition to general factors, several factors related to weather conditions are included in this article. The results show that there are some patterns of occupational injuries in the construction industry. The effect of rain on the occurrence of fatalities is of great significance. Proposed inspection plans should be in accordance with the type of construction and environmental evaluation. The findings identified in this article provide a direction for more effective inspection strategies and injury prevention programs.     

Construction and comparison of fluorescence and bioluminescence bacterial biosensors for the detection of bioavailable toluene and related compounds

Environmental pollution with petroleum products such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) has garnered increasing awareness because of its serious consequences for human health and the environment. We have constructed toluene bacterial biosensors comprised of two reporter genes, gfp and luxCDABE, characterized by green fluorescence and luminescence, respectively, and compared their abilities to detect bioavailable toluene and related compounds. The bacterial luminescence biosensor allowed faster and more-sensitive detection of toluene; the fluorescence biosensor strain was much more stable and thus more applicable for long-term exposure. Both luminescence and fluorescence biosensors were field-tested to measure the relative bioavailability of BTEX in contaminated groundwater and soil samples. The estimated BTEX concentrations determined by the luminescence and fluorescence bacterial biosensors were closely comparable to each other. Our results demonstrate that both bacterial luminescence and fluorescence biosensors are useful in determining the presence and the bioavailable fractions of BTEX in the environment.     

用电石渣浆制备烟气脱硫剂

采用电石渣浆经处理后配制成的电石渣试样作为脱硫剂,对除尘后锅炉烟气进行脱硫实验,在烟气巾s与c质量比约为1：30、吸收体系pH为7～8、温度为15℃的条件下,平均脱硫率达96．35％。采用电石渣浆上层清液作脱硫剂对锅炉烟气进行脱硫的工业试验,在烟气流速为2．8～4．2m／s、脱硫塔内nCa：n5=1．2：1、体系pH为7～8的条件下,平均脱硫率达90．66％,且脱硫塔出气口处SO2质量浓度明显低于GB13271-2001《锅炉大气污染物排放标准》。     

Temporal dynamics of microcystins in two reservoirs with different trophic status during the early growth stage of cyanobacteria

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Harmful cyanobacterial blooms are increasing in frequency and severity, which makes their toxic secondary metabolites of microcystins (MCs) have been...     

Heavy metal characteristics in porewater profiles,their benthic fluxes,and toxicity in cascade reservoirs of the Lancang River,China

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The construction of cascade reservoirs on the Lancang River (the upper Mekong) has an important influence on the distribution and accumulation of...     

页岩气油基钻屑脱油灰渣资源化利用进展

针对页岩气开发过程中产生的油基钻屑在堆放、运输和处理过程中均有可能对环境造成危害的问题,研究油基钻屑脱油灰渣的处置和资源化利用现状。在实际应用中,各种资源化利用技术由于政策、环保标准、经济性等原因,除水泥窑协同处置技术外,很多技术还不能大量推广应用。文章通过系统调研,阐述了各项技术的原理、优缺点及资源化利用所面临的政策障碍、实际应用及二次污染等问题,指出了资源化利用技术在开发过程中需要加强过程污染控制、开展相关政策和标准制定、提高产品高附加值等方面研究。     

Novel Layered Double Hydroxides@carboxymethyl Cellulose Composite Aerogel Towards Co(II) Absorption

Journal of Polymers and the Environment - Cobalt (Co) ion is a common heavy metal ion and the main metal ion in nuclear wastewater. However, the study on the absorption for Co(II) is not...     

Effectiveness of cascading time series models based on meteorological factors in improving health risk prediction

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Meteorological factors, which are periodic and regular in a long run, have an unignorable impact on human health. Accurate health risk prediction...