MUNICIPAL RESPONSES TO VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS IN WISCONSIN GROUND WATER1

ABSTRACT: Contamination of ground water supplies with volatile organic compounds is a new and significant problem. Municipalities and their community water systems are often the first to discover ground water contamination because of the monitoring programs they are required to carry out. When contamination exceeds standards, some action is required. The responses of Wisconsin municipalities to volatile organic compounds that exceed standards in their ground water sources is described. Actions to protect human health are prompt, but the survey results indicate plumes of contaminated ground water are usually not treated. They may continue to migrate and contaminate other private and public wells.     

五氯酚对环境污染及居民健康影响研究

中国长期以来使用五氯酚纳盐杀灭亡血吸虫的中间宿主──—钉螺．为评价它对环境的污染及居民健康危害，１９９０－１９９３年在我省开展了五氯酚环境污染及对居民健康影响研究．在研究区采集环境样品（空气、水体、土壤及底泥、蔬菜、肉、蛋、鱼等）共１７３份；生物材料（人血、尿）共４５７份，分析五氯酚浓度．结果在明，在五氯酚使用区，环境中ＰＣＰ浓度稍高于对照区，而生物材料尿、血中ＰＣＰ浓度明显高于对照区．全血胆碱脂酶活性用药区明显低于对照区，统计学分析有显著差异（Ｐ＜０．００１），证实了长期低剂量使用可造成环境及生物蓄积．     

大巴山区化学药剂防治与农业生态环境保护对策

本文对大巴山区农业生产中用化学药剂防治状况及存在的主要问题进行了分析研究。在此基础上，提出开展农药区划和区域性宏观调控，建立农药污染监测管理机制，进一步提高综合防治技术水平和专业化防治程度，加强防止污染微观技术的研究与推广控制策略和措施，以实现对化学药剂防治与农业生态环境保护。把农业环境保护工作纳入农业发展和国家农业环境保护的总体规划。     

双流区域地下水污染现状及评价

本文在双流区域地下水污染调查基础之上，选用了主要反映工业生活污染的综合指标ＣＯＤ、ＢＯＤ５和反映农业污染程度的ＮＨ３－Ｎ，ＮＯ３－Ｎ，ＮＯ２－Ｎ作为评价因子，研究了双流地下水污染现状，采用了综合指数法和点群分析法分类并评价了区域地下水污染对饮用水源地的影响程度。     

TEODORO ARDEMANS PIONEER WATER-SUPPLY ENGINEER OF SPAIN1

ABSTRACT: Teodoro Ardemans, first post-Renaissance water expert of Spain, recognized problems of ground-water contamination, influence of minerals on water quality, and mutual interference between closely spaced wells. He is also noted for his achievements in architecture and the writing of the first comprehensive building code for Madrid.     

Influence of organic loading on an anaerobic sequencing biofilm batch reactor (ASBBR) as a function of cycle period and wastewater concentration

The effect of organic loading on the performance of a mechanically stirred anaerobic sequencing biofilm batch reactor (ASBBR) has been investigated, by varying influent concentration and cycle period. For microbial immobilization 1-cm polyurethane foam cubes were used. An agitation rate of 500 rpm and temperature of 30+/-2 degrees C were employed. Organic loading rates (OLR) of 1.5-6.0gCODl(-1)d(-1) were applied to the 6.3-l reactor treating 2.0 l synthetic wastewater in 8 and 12-h batches and at concentrations of 500-2000mgCODl(-1), making it possible to analyze the effect of these two operation variables for the same organic loading range. Microbial immobilization on inert support maintained approximately 60 gTVS in the reactor. Filtered sample organic COD removal efficiencies ranged from 73 to 88% for organic loading up to 5.4gCODl(-1)d(-1). For higher organic loading (influent concentration of 2000mgCODl(-1) and 8-h cycle) the system presented total volatile acids accumulation, which reduced organics removal efficiency down to 55%. In this way, ASBBR with immobilized biomass was shown to be efficient for organic removal at organic loading rates of up to 5.4gCODl(-1)d(-1) and to be more stable to organic loading variations for 12-h cycles. This reactor might be an alternative to intermittent systems as it possesses greater operational flexibility. It might also be an alternative to batch systems suspended with microorganisms since it eliminates both the uncertainties regarding granulation and the time necessary for biomass sedimentation, hence reducing the total cycle period.     

Assessment of contamination by heavy metals and petroleum hydrocarbons in sediments of Montevideo Harbour (Uruguay)

As part of the first environmental assessment within Montevideo Harbour, in summer and winter of 1998, sediments samples were collected at eight locations to determine the spatial distribution of anthropogenic pollutants. Muddy sediments with high organic matter content dominate the study area. Heavy metal levels indicated that sediments were highly polluted with Zn (overall mean: 312+/-102 microg g(-1) dry sediment), Pb (85+/-31), Cu (89+/-25), Cr (162+/-62), and Hg (0.63+/-0.3) and moderately with Ni (30+/-2) and Ag (1.2+/-0.4). Depending on location and season, aliphatic hydrocarbons reached from 21 to 120 microg g(-1), while the unresolved complex mixture represented up to 76% of the total aliphatic fraction. Total PAH concentrations ranged from 1.56 to 90.44 microg g(-1); except at one location, petroleum derivatives were identified as main local source. The results pointed out that almost all the harbour area presented some substances that can cause adverse biological effects, especially in the inner region where all metals are above PEL levels. Principal components analysis confirmed that the inner harbour region is most severely affected by the pollutants and it was possible to differentiate three regions according to their environmental quality.     

Environmental changes in Sepetiba Bay,SE Brazil

Sepetiba Bay is an example of an aquatic environment that has been severely impacted by human occupation and industrial activities in its basin. Some 400 industries including metallurgical, petrochemical and pyrometallurgical smelters, which emitted pollutants to air, soil and water, were established in Sepetiba Basin during the past 30 years. Apart from these point sources, changes in land use have also resulted in a large remobilization of pollutant deposition on Sepetiba Bay Basin. Studies have pointed out significant changes in sedimentation rates, concentrations of inorganic pollutants (Zn, Cd, Pb and Hg) and more recently, eutrophication, pointing to this area as an example of an impacted coastal zone. Notwithstanding local sources, Sepetiba Bay also suffers environmental impacts caused by diversion of river waters from adjacent basins, with some 30% of the total Hg flux to Sepetiba Bay and a 10-fold increase in water and sediment fluxes resulting from this. Decreasing environmental quality compromises both the large biodiversity and the potential economic uses of Sepetiba Bay, including fisheries and tourism. Monitoring of heavy metal levels in organisms (algae, mollusks, crustaceans and oysters) often shows concentrations well above the limits allowed following Brazilian legislation for food quality. Historical evolution of these concentrations suggests a worsening of the situation. Failure to monitor the effect of land-based activities, including those from other basins artificially associated with Sepetiba Bay has resulted in poor scenario construction and proper management planning.     

Contamination of Oxygen-Consuming Organics in the Yellow River of China

Contamination of oxygen-consuming organics (OCOs) was one of the most serious problems in the Yellow River of China. This study was conducted to analyze monitoring of the data on OCOs contamination for the river in 1980 and during 1992–1999 as well as examining the effect of suspended solids (SS) on chemical oxygen demand (COD_Mn) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD₅) of river water. Several significant results have arisen from the study. First, COD_Mn and BOD₅ of the river water showed an increasing trend from the upper to the lower reaches of the mainstream. BOD₅ values of river water in 1992 were significantly higher than those in 1980 and showed an increasing trend during 1992–1999. Second, OCOs in river water of the mainstream was attributed mainly to point sources; the ratio of point to non-point sources of BOD₅ was about 2.81. The load from point sources showed an increasing trend during 1992–1998. In contrast, the load from non-point sources manifested a decreasing trend during this period; this was caused by the decreasing trend of SS content in river water. The total load of BOD₅ from point and non-point sources displayed an increasing trend during 1992–1998. Third, as the humic substances in SS can hardly be biologically oxidized in natural conditions but can be oxidized by chemical oxidants such as potassium permanganate, COD_Mn was not suitable for being regarded as a parameter reflecting the pollution degree of OCOs in river water with a high SS content.