Field investigation of the quality of fresh and aged leachates from selected landfills receiving e-waste in an arid climate

The management of electronic waste (e-waste) is a serious problem worldwide and much of it is landfilled. A survey of four selected landfills in an arid region of South Australia was conducted to determine the proportion of e-waste in municipal waste and the properties of each landfill site. Leachate and groundwater samples were collected upgradient and downgradient of the landfills for analysis of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and 14 metals and metalloids, including Al, As, Ba, Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, Sb, V and Zn. Our data demonstrate that the selected landfills in South Australia continue to receive municipal waste containing in excess of 6%, or 25,000 tonnes per year, of e-waste. The leachates and groundwater collected from the landfills contained significantly elevated concentrations of Pb with the highest concentration in groundwater of 38 μg/l, almost four times higher than the Australian drinking water guideline of 10 μg/l. The presence of PBDEs was detected in both leachate and groundwater samples. Total PBDEs values of 2.13–59.75 ng/l in leachate samples were 10 times higher than in groundwater samples, which recorded a range of 0.41–6.53 ng/l at all sites. Moreover, the concentrations of metals and metalloids in sampled groundwater contained elevated levels of Al, As, Fe, Ni and Pb that exceeded Australian drinking water guideline values. For these reasons potential leaching of these contaminants is of concern and while difficult to attribute elevated contaminant levels to e-waste, we do not recommend continued disposal of e-waste in old landfills that were not originally designed to contain leachates. The survey also revealed temporal variation in the electrical conductivity and concentrations of As, Cd and Pb present in leachates of landfills in arid Mediterranean climates. These results are consistent with the marked variations in rainfall patterns observed for such climates. The solute concentration (EC and other ions including As, Cd and Pb) declines in the leachates during wet winter months (June to September), in contrast to tropical countries where such changes are observed during wet summer months.     

华北平原地下水有机污染特征初步分析

各种污染造成地下水中有害物质逐年增加,地下水水质逐渐下降,严重危及了饮用水安全。针对此情况,按照相关的要求,采集了245组水样。样品由有资质的测试单位测定。依据对地下水质调查的初步分析,华北平原地下水中已有机物检出。对所有水样测试结果的统计显示：检出的有机污染物共有32种。检出率大于4.5%的有氯仿、甲苯、四氯乙烯、苯并[a]芘、氯苯、苯和1,2-二氯苯,其中个别水样中的四氯化碳、苯并[a]芘和挥发性酚类三项超过了饮用水标准（据地下水质量标准报批稿,中国地质调查局,2007）,超标率分别为1.22%、2.45%和1.90%。个别在深层地下水样品中也检出了微量有机污染物,这可能与取样井的混合开采、止水不佳有关。从区域上来看,在人类活动相对强烈的城镇地区地下水中,有机物检出率相对较高,特别是在渗透性好的山前地带,污染物较易进入到地下水中。通过分析发现,地下水有机物的高检出率与地下水硬度的升高有一定相关性。由于地下水有机污染在时间和空间上差异一般较大,建议对已发现的异常点进行重复取样测试,积累水质数据,以利于将来的综合分析。     

Headcut erosive regimes influenced by groundwater on disturbed agricultural soils

A series of simulated rainfall experiments, testing several soils and slope gradients in a 10 m × 0.8 m laboratory flume, displayed close correlations between initial development of a water table at a 10 cm depth and highly erosive headcut formation. On some soils and gradients, highly erosive headcuts formed consistently and predictably within minutes or seconds of initial water table rise. However, headcuts alone were not good indicators of increased erosion. In most experiments some headcuts formed early, often when surface hydraulic parameter values reached established rill initiation thresholds, but resulted in little or no erosion increase. Later, at initial water table rise, other headcuts formed coincident with major erosion increase, often with surface hydraulic values then less than rill initiation thresholds. On the four soils tested, highly erosive headcuts never formed without groundwater development, except on steep 9° slopes.     

新疆奎屯地区高砷地下水DOM三维荧光特征

新疆奎屯地区是中国大陆第一个地方性砷（As）中毒病区,为了解析该地区高As地下水中溶解性有机物（DOM）的组分和来源,探索其在As迁移转化过程中的作用,利用三维荧光光谱结合平行因子分析法对奎屯地区水样进行研究.结果表明：该地区地下水As含量范围在1.30~400.68μg/L,平均值为61.18μg/L,有68.99%的地下水为高As地下水.地下水中DOM含有3种组分：类腐殖质C1（260（325） nm/425nm）,占2.78%;类色氨酸C2（275nm/350nm）,占18.74%;微生物源的还原性醌类C3（260（375） nm/475nm）,占54.12%.研究区水体DOM的荧光指数在1.2~1.52之间,均值为1.36,水中DOM以陆源为主.该地区地下水整体呈现还原-弱碱性环境,地下水中As的释放过程主要有铁氧化物矿物还原和脱硫酸作用,水中的DOM参与了铁、硫酸盐的还原反应过程,类色氨酸C2主要在微生物呼吸过程中充当电子供体角色,还原性醌类C3担任了电子飞行过程中的电子穿梭体,增强了As从含水层沉积物中释放到地下水的迁移性能.     

煤矿开采对地下水资源的影响及对策

煤矿开采通常会对地下水环境产生重要影响,本文根据崔木井田地下水的赋存特征,通过分析煤矿开采过程对地下水资源的影响程度,提出了保护具有区域供水意义的洛河组含水层的控制对策。     

卫生填埋场水平防渗系统各结构单元设计深度探讨

结合《生活垃圾卫生填埋场防渗系统工程技术规范》（CJJ113－2007）和《生活垃圾填埋场污染控制标准》（GB16889－2008）,在此基础上进一步探讨卫生填埋场水平防渗系统各结构单元的组成详细设计。     

Kinetics of nitrobenzene degradation coupled to indigenous microorganism dissimilatory iron reduction stimulated by emulsified vegetable oil

Widespread contamination by nitrobenzene(NB) in sediments and groundwater requires better understanding of the biogeochemical removal process of the pollutant. NB degradation, coupled with dissimilatory iron reduction, is one of the most efficient pollutant removal methods. However, research on NB degradation coupled to indigenous microorganism dissimilatory iron reduction stimulated by electron donors is still experimental. A model for remediation in an actual polluted site does not currently exist.Therefore, in this study, the dynamics was derived from the Michaelis–Menten model(when the mass ratio of emulsified vegetable oil and NB reached the critical value 91:1). The effect of SO_4~(2-), NO_3~-, Ca~(2+)/Mg~(2+), and the grain size of aquifer media on the dynamics were studied, and the NB degradation dynamic model was then modified based on the most significant factors. Utilizing the model, the remediation time could be calculated in a contaminated site.     

Potential for natural and enhanced attenuation of sulphanilamide in a contaminated chalk aquifer

Understanding antibiotic biodegradation is important to the appreciation of their fate and removal from the environment. In this research an Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry(IRMS)method was developed to evaluate the extent of biodegradation of the antibiotic,sulphanilamide, in contaminated groundwater. Results indicted an enrichment in δ~(13)C of8.44‰ from-26.56(at the contaminant source) to-18.12‰(300 m downfield of the source).These results confirm reductions in sulphanilamide concentrations(from 650 to 10 mg/L)across the contaminant plume to be attributable to biodegradation(56%) vs. other natural attenuation processes, such as dilution or dispersion(42%). To understand the controls on sulphanilamide degradation ex-situ microcosms assessed the influence of sulphanilamide concentration, redox conditions and an alternative carbon source. Results indicated, high levels of anaerobic capacity(~50% mineralisation) to degrade sulphanilamide under high(263 mg/L), moderate(10 mg/L) and low(0.02 mg/L) substrate concentrations. The addition of electron acceptors; nitrate and sulphate, did not significantly enhance the capacity of the groundwater to anaerobically biodegrade sulphanilamide. Interestingly, where alternative carbon sources were present, the addition of nitrate and sulphate inhibited sulphanilamide biodegradation. These results suggest, under in-situ conditions, when a preferential carbon source was available for biodegradation, sulphanilamide could be acting as a nitrogen and/or sulphur source. These findings are important as they highlight sulphanilamide being used as a carbon and a putative nitrogen and sulphur source, under prevailing iron reducing conditions.     

Scientists’ warning to humanity on the freshwater biodiversity crisis

Freshwater ecosystems provide irreplaceable services for both nature and society. The quality and quantity of freshwater affect biogeochemical processes and ecological dynamics that determine biodiversity, ecosystem productivity, and human health and welfare at local, regional and global scales. Freshwater ecosystems and their associated riparian habitats are amongst the most biologically diverse on Earth, and have inestimable economic, health, cultural, scientific and educational values. Yet human impacts to lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands and groundwater are dramatically reducing biodiversity and robbing critical natural resources and services from current and future generations. Freshwater biodiversity is declining rapidly on every continent and in every major river basin on Earth, and this degradation is occurring more rapidly than in terrestrial ecosystems. Currently, about one third of all global freshwater discharges pass through human agricultural, industrial or urban infrastructure. About one fifth of the Earth’s arable land is now already equipped for irrigation, including all the most productive lands, and this proportion is projected to surpass one third by midcentury to feed the rapidly expanding populations of humans and commensal species, especially poultry and ruminant livestock. Less than one fifth of the world’s preindustrial freshwater wetlands remain, and this proportion is projected to decline to under one tenth by midcentury, with imminent threats from water transfer megaprojects in Brazil and India, and coastal wetland drainage megaprojects in China. The Living Planet Index for freshwater vertebrate populations has declined to just one third that of 1970, and is projected to sink below one fifth by midcentury. A linear model of global economic expansion yields the chilling prediction that human utilization of critical freshwater resources will approach one half of the Earth’s total capacity by midcentury. Although the magnitude and growth of the human freshwater footprint are greater than is generally understood by policy makers, the news media, or the general public, slowing and reversing dramatic losses of freshwater species and ecosystems is still possible. We recommend a set of urgent policy actions that promote clean water, conserve watershed services, and restore freshwater ecosystems and their vital services. Effective management of freshwater resources and ecosystems must be ranked amongst humanity’s highest priorities.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s13280-020-01318-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Assessment of aerobic biodegradation of lower-chlorinated benzenes in contaminated groundwater using field-derived microcosms and compound-specific carbon isotope fractionation

Biodegradation of lower chlorinated benzenes (tri-, di- and monochlorobenzene) was assessed at a coastal aquifer contaminated with multiple chlorinated aromatic hydrocarbons. Field-derived microcosms, established with groundwater from the source zone and amended with a mixture of lower chlorinated benzenes, evidenced biodegradation of monochlorobenzene (MCB) and 1,4-dichlorobenzene (1,4-DCB) in aerobic microcosms, whereas the addition of lactate in anaerobic microcosms did not enhance anaerobic reductive dechlorination. Aerobic microcosms established with groundwater from the plume consumed several doses of MCB and concomitantly degraded the three isomers of dichlorobenzene with no observable inhibitory effect. In the light of these results, we assessed the applicability of compound stable isotope analysis to monitor a potential aerobic remediation treatment of MCB and 1,4-DCB in this site. The carbon isotopic fractionation factors (ε) obtained from field-derived microcosms were -0.7‰ ± 0.1 ‰ and -1.0‰ ± 0.2 ‰ for MCB and 1,4-DCB, respectively. For 1,4-DCB, the carbon isotope fractionation during aerobic biodegradation was reported for the first time. The weak carbon isotope fractionation values for the aerobic pathway would only allow tracing of in situ degradation in aquifer parts with high extent of biodegradation. However, based on the carbon isotope effects measured in this and previous studies, relatively high carbon isotope shifts (i.e., ∆δ¹³C > 4.0 ‰) of MCB or 1,4-DCB in contaminated groundwater would suggest that their biodegradation is controlled by anaerobic reductive dechlorination.