Integral approach to industrial effluent quality control in favour of preventing the Rijeka bay pollution

Abstract

INA‐Petrochemical Industry Omi?alj, Yugoslavia is currently producing low density polyethylene, vinyl chloride monomer and ethylene dichloride.

Because of a potentially great hazard for environmental pollution, particularly by low molecular weight chlorinated hydrocarbons, the company has been putting significant effort into its anti‐pollution programme.

Modern technology, polyfunctional organization and proper control of all waste materials has enabled, thus far, no evident or noticable impact on the environment.

Wastewater treatment from the source to final discharged effluent and environmental control results are described.     

Gatekeepers of island communities: exploring the pillars of sustainable development

Sustainable development (SD) is generally recognised as having three dimensions, ecological, economic and social. Yet, its implementation is burdened with resistance and conflict rooted in the short-term ‘business as usual’ development model, opposed to the long-term sustainable benefit of local communities. Hence, the development of strategies to implement SD projects may require further differentiation of these dimensions in relation to the contextual situation in which the project resides. In two studies of SD projects on the Croatian islands, we identify five interlocking spheres of importance, Spiritual, Political, Economic, Educational and Health, in addition to Ecological. Each of these spheres is accessible through gate-keepers, individuals or a group of people who have the authority over the sector and as such, significantly influence public opinion. We suggest that in this particular island context the sustainability of these projects may lie with those gate-keepers. Hence, initiating and maintaining SD projects in these contexts requires a structured and targeted lobbying of these gate-keepers.     

Soil Contamination by Pb, Zn and Cn from a Lead Smeltery

In the environment of a lead smeltery contamination with lead, zinc and cadmium was measured over a 15-year period. Efficient bag filters were installed in order to remove dust from the flue gases. This measure of improvement resulted in a drastic reduction of lead, zinc and cadmium content in suspended particles (by 92, 94 and 89%), to a lesser extent in depositions (by 79, 75 and 68%), whereas in household dust the reduction was considerably lower (by 53, 55 and 70%). It can be assumed that household dust contains also redispersed soil particles on which the dust from the smeltery flue gases has deposited over years. To determine to what extent contaminated soil continues to cause increased population exposure directly or through plants or pastures, in the period 1981–1985 the content of metallic ions in the soil was measured at three depths. Selective solubility of soil metallic compounds was analysed in water, in 1 mol ammoniumacetate solution and in 0.05 mol ethylenediaminetetra-acetic acid (EDTA) solution in relation to their solubility in suspended particles, depositions and household dust. A considerably low portion of soluble metallic compounds was found in the soil and physico-chemical characteristics of the soil and portion of metallic ions bound to fulvice and humic acids were determined. The behaviour of metallic ions in contact with soil samples was studied in laboratory and it was found that approximately 50% of lead, 70% of zinc and 7% of cadmium ions change into non-soluble or poorly soluble compounds. By qualitative phase analysis in the non-soluble fraction PbO₂, Pb₃P₄O₁₃, Zn(OH)₂, ZnO, Fe₂O₃ and Cd(OH)₂ were identified.     

Imazethapyr persistence in sandy loam detected using white mustard bioassay

Field experiments were conducted during two years at Srem region to investigate the influence of meteorological conditions, time and rate of application on soil persistence of imazethapyr in sandy loam type of soil. Imazethapyr was applied PRE- and POST-EM and in both cases in three application rates: 80, 120 and 160 g a.i./ha. Soil samples were collected from the day of herbicide application in predetermined intervals up to one year after application and residual concentrations were determined with a white mustard root bioassay. Imazetapyr persistence was significantly influenced by meteorological conditions with average half-life being 6 days longer in season with lower precipitation level. Time of application induced slower imazethapyr dissipation resulting in higher average t_1/2 (seven and nine days in first and second year of examination, respectively). Application rates had no consistent effect on imazethapyr persistence. Imazethapyr residue level one year after application caused no visible injuries on white mustard shoots, while root growth reduction ranged from 4.6 to 27.7%. Obtained residue levels were further compared with known data on crop sensitivity in order to assess possibility of crop injuries one year after imazethapyr application.     

Management of hazardous medical waste in Croatia

This article provides a review of hazardous medical waste production and its management in Croatia. Even though Croatian regulations define all steps in the waste management chain, implementation of those steps is one of the country's greatest issues. Improper practice is evident from the point of waste production to final disposal. The biggest producers of hazardous medical waste are hospitals that do not implement existing legislation, due to the lack of education and funds. Information on quantities, type and flow of medical waste are inadequate, as is sanitary control. We propose an integrated approach to medical waste management based on a hierarchical structure from the point of generation to its disposal. Priority is given to the reduction of the amounts and potential for harm. Where this is not possible, management includes reduction by sorting and separating, pretreatment on site, safe transportation, final treatment and sanitary disposal. Preferred methods should be the least harmful for human health and the environment. Integrated medical waste management could greatly reduce quantities and consequently financial strains. Landfilling is the predominant route of disposal in Croatia, although the authors believe that incineration is the most appropriate method. In a country such as Croatia, a number of small incinerators would be the most economical solution.     

High natural radiation exposure in radon spa areas: a detailed field investigation in Niska Banja (Balkan region)

The measurement campaigns have been done in the rural community of Niska Banja, a spa town located in southern Serbia, to evaluate population exposure to natural radioactivity. After a screening survey in 200 houses, annual radon and thoron concentrations were measured in 34 houses, and in 2004 a detailed investigation was carried out at six houses with elevated indoor radon concentrations. The paper presents the results of these detailed measurements. The complementary techniques were applied to determine radon and thoron concentrations in indoor air, in soil gas, radon exhalation from soil, soil permeability, and indoor and outdoor gamma doses. Soil and water samples were collected and analysed in the laboratory. Indoor radon and thoron concentrations were found to be more than 1kBqm(-3) and 200Bqm(-3), respectively. Extremely high concentrations of soil-gas radon (>2000kBqm(-3)) and radon exhalation rates (1.5mBqm(-2)s(-1)) were observed. These results will be utilised to set up the methodology for a more systematic investigation.     

Assessment of GC–MS response of selected pesticides in apple matrices related to matrix concentration

A uniform analyte response is required for GC–MS analysis in order to obtain acceptable quantitative results. The response of pesticides in complex matrices is susceptible to variation due to the interactions of co-extractives, both with pesticides or with GC–MS system. This study was conducted to determine the magnitude of the interactions, called matrix effect, and their behavior with the matrix dilution. The response of pyrimethanil (4,6-dimethyl-N-phenylpyrimidin-2-amine), cyprodinil (4-cyclopropyl-6-methyl-N-phenylpyrimidin-2-amine), trifloxystrobin (methyl-(2Z)-2-methoxyimino-2-[2-[[(E)-1-[3(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]ethylidene amino]oxymethyl]phenyl]acetate) and bifenthrin(2-methyl-3-phenylphenyl)methyl-3-[(Z)-2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoroprop-1-enyl]-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane-1-carboxylate), used in apple crops protection, was evaluated in different concentrations of peel and flesh extracts of Granny Smith, Golden Delicious and Demi Rouge, selected as representatives of different matrix types. The matrix effect ranged from ?0.05 to 146.14%, depending on matrix type and pesticide. The highest response variation was observed in extracts of Granny Smith—an enhancement in flesh and suppression in peel extract. With the dilution, the matrix effect decreased with different magnitudes, but for Granny Smith peel extract an inverted effect was observed. The presence of the matrix effect in GC–MS pesticides analysis was obvious, requiring the application of matrix-matched calibration in quantification procedures for each variety, with calibration standards matched by the matrix concentration.     

Investigation of interactions between surface water and petroleum-type pollutants

Background, Aims and Scope In oil spill investigations, one of the most important steps is a proper choice of approaches that imply an investigation of samples taken from different sedimentary environments, samples of oil contaminants taken in different periods of time and samples taken at different distances from the oil spill. In all these cases, conclusion on the influence of the environment, microorganisms or migration on the oil contaminants' composition can be drawn from the comparison of chemical compositions of the investigated contaminants. However, in case of water contaminants, it is very important to define which part of organic matter has been analyzed. Namely, previous investigations showed that there were some differences in chemical composition of the same oil contaminant depending on the intensity of its contact with ground water. The aim of this work is to define more precisely the interactions between oil contaminant and water, i.e. the influence of the intensity of interaction between the oil contaminant and water on its chemical composition. The study was based on a comparison of four fractionated extracts of an oil pollutant, after they had been analyzed in details. Methods Oil polluted surface water (wastewater canal, Pančevo, Serbia) was investigated. The study was based on a comparison of four extracts of an oil contaminant: extract 1 (decanted part), and extracts 2, 3 and 4 (extracted by shaking for 1 minute, 5 minutes and 24 hours, respectively). The fractionated extracts were saponified with a solution of KOH in methanol, and neutralized with 10% hydrochloric acid. The products were dissolved in a mixture of dichloromethane and hexane, and individually fractionated by column chromatography on alumina and silica gel (saturated hydrocarbon, aromatic, alcohol and fatty acid fractions). n-Alkanes and isoprenoid aliphatic alkanes, polycyclic alkanes of sterane and triterpane types, alcohols and fatty acids were analyzed using gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). δ13CPDB values of individual n-alkanes in the aliphatic fractions were determined using gas chromatography-isotope ratio monitoring-mass spectrometry (GC-irmMS). Results and discussion. Extracts 1 and 2 are characterized by uniform distribution of n-alkanes, whereas extract 3 is characterized by an even-numbered members dominating the odd-ones, and extract 4 showed a bimodal distribution. Extract 1 is characterized by the least negative δ13CPDB values of C19-C26 n-alkanes. Sterane and triterpane analysis confirmed that all extracts originated from the same oil contaminant. n-Fatty acids, C19-C24, in all extracts are very low, being somewhat higher in extract 4. Even-numbered n-alcohols, C12–C16, were identified in the highest concentration in extract 3. It was assumed that algae were responsible for the composition of extract 3. Furthermore, a possible reason for higher concentrations of C19–C26 n-alkanes and C19–C24 fatty acids in extract 4 is the formation of inclusion compounds with colloidal micelles formed between the oil contaminant's NSO-compounds and water. Conclusion It was undoubtedly confirmed that there were specific differences in the compositions of the different extracts depending on the intensity of the interaction between the oil contaminant and the surface water. Recommendation and Outlook. When comparing the composition of oil contaminants from different water samples (regardless of the ultimate investigation goal) it is necessary to compare the extracts isolated under the same conditions, in other words, extracts that were in the same or very similar interaction with water.