Toxicological characterization of the landfill leachate prior/after chemical and electrochemical treatment: A study on human and plant cells

In this research, toxicological safety of two newly developed methods for the treatment of landfill leachate from the Piškornica (Croatia) sanitary landfill was investigated. Chemical treatment procedure combined chemical precipitation with CaO followed by coagulation with ferric chloride and final adsorption by clinoptilolite. Electrochemical treatment approach included pretreatment with ozone followed by electrooxidation/electrocoagulation and final polishing by microwave irradiation. Cell viability of untreated/treated landfill leachate was examined using fluorescence microscopy. Cytotoxic effect of the original leachate was obtained for both exposure periods (4 and 24 h) while treated samples showed no cytotoxic effect even after prolonged exposure time. The potential DNA damage of the untreated/treated landfill leachate was evaluated by the comet assay and cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assay using either human or plant cells. The original leachate exhibited significantly higher comet assay parameters compared to negative control after 24 h exposure. On the contrary, there was no significant difference between negative control and chemically/electrochemically treated leachate for any of the parameters tested. There was also no significant increase in either CBMN assay parameter compared to the negative control following the exposure of the lymphocytes to the chemically or electrochemically treated landfill leachate for both exposure periods while the original sample showed significantly higher number of micronuclei, nucleoplasmic bridges and nuclear buds for both exposure times. Results suggest that both methods are suitable for the treatment of such complex waste effluent due to high removal efficiency of all measured parameters and toxicological safety of the treated effluent.     

Long-term geochemical evolution of the near field repository: insights from reactive transport modelling and experimental evidences

The KBS-3 underground nuclear waste repository concept designed by the Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Co. (SKB) includes a bentonite buffer barrier surrounding the copper canisters and the iron insert where spent nuclear fuel will be placed. Bentonite is also part of the backfill material used to seal the access and deposition tunnels of the repository. The bentonite barrier has three main safety functions: to ensure the physical stability of the canister, to retard the intrusion of groundwater to the canisters, and in case of canister failure, to retard the migration of radionuclides to the geosphere. Laboratory experiments (< 10 years long) have provided evidence of the control exerted by accessory minerals and clay surfaces on the pore water chemistry. The evolution of the pore water chemistry will be a primordial factor on the long-term stability of the bentonite barrier, which is a key issue in the safety assessments of the KBS-3 concept.In this work we aim to study the long-term geochemical evolution of bentonite and its pore water in the evolving geochemical environment due to climate change. In order to do this, reactive transport simulations are used to predict the interaction between groundwater and bentonite which is simulated following two different pathways: (1) groundwater flow through the backfill in the deposition tunnels, eventually reaching the top of the deposition hole, and (2) direct connection between groundwater and bentonite rings through fractures in the granite crosscutting the deposition hole. The influence of changes in climate has been tested using three different waters interacting with the bentonite: present-day groundwater, water derived from ice melting, and deep-seated brine. Two commercial bentonites have been considered as buffer material, MX-80 and Deponit CA-N, and one natural clay (Friedland type) for the backfill. They show differences in the composition of the exchangeable cations and in the accessory mineral content. Results from the simulations indicate that pore water chemistry is controlled by the equilibrium with the accessory minerals, especially carbonates. pH is buffered by precipitation/dissolution of calcite and dolomite, when present. The equilibrium of these minerals is deeply influenced by gypsum dissolution and cation exchange reactions in the smectite interlayer. If carbonate minerals are initially absent in bentonite, pH is then controlled by surface acidity reactions in the hydroxyl groups at the edge sites of the clay fraction, although its buffering capacity is not as strong as the equilibrium with carbonate minerals. The redox capacity of the bentonite pore water system is mainly controlled by Fe(II)-bearing minerals (pyrite and siderite). Changes in the groundwater composition lead to variations in the cation exchange occupancy, and dissolution–precipitation of carbonate minerals and gypsum. The most significant changes in the evolution of the system are predicted when ice-melting water, which is highly diluted and alkaline, enters into the system. In this case, the dissolution of carbonate minerals is enhanced, increasing pH in the bentonite pore water. Moreover, a rapid change in the population of exchange sites in the smectite is expected due to the replacement of Na for Ca.     

北京核与辐射恐怖事件风险分析

采用风险分类-要素分析-风险排序的思路,对北京市核与辐射恐怖事件风险进行分析。根据国际上1998—2006年该类恐怖事件的实例,从事件所涉及的材料、场所角度将核与辐射恐怖事件分为6大类。结合北京市的实际情况进行涉核恐怖事件的要素分析,将北京市各类场所划分为4类敏感区并与5类涉核恐怖事件结合起来,得到北京市核与辐射恐怖事件风险构成图。通过风险分析,笔者认为北京市发生核与辐射恐怖事件风险最大的场所为核研究机构,最容易发生的核与辐射恐怖事件类型为涉及放射源的恐怖事件,结合分析结果对从阻止、探测、响应3个层次上提出了奥运核安保工作的反核恐工作建议。     

南通台核旋观测干扰的排除

针对南通地震台核旋观测的干扰 ,通过多种试验最终加以排除。这项工作表明 ,地震台站环境改造中要注意监测环境的保护 ,特别是铠装电缆的铺设要考虑到对磁、电观测的影响 ,并就如何进一步提高核旋的观测质量提出建议。     

徐州市辐射环境质量现状分析

按照江苏省辐射环境质量监测实施方案,徐州市对大气、水、土壤进行了布点监测,通过分析2007—2011年辐射环境监测数据,得出结论为:徐州市辐射环境整体质量为良好,且相对稳定,在未来几年内,仍将保持良好的状态。     

南京市通讯辐射环境调查

通过对南京市区进行网格式布点监测,并重点监测典型区域和典型基站,采用基于MapInfo构建的电磁辐射环境评价系统进行现状评价。结果表明,南京市电磁辐射水平总体较低,处于安全水平,部分电磁辐射水平相对较高的区域主要受电视发射塔和广播电台的影响,是南京市电磁辐射环境保护和移动通信基站建设应关注的重点。     

泉州市移动通信基站电磁辐射环境影响分析

对泉州市移动通信GSM基站和TD—SCDMA基站电磁辐射状况进行监测与分析。通过理论计算预测基站电磁辐射安全距离,对典型敏感目标、典型基站进行电磁辐射的监测,结果与理论预测情况相符。选取302个GSM基站和306个TD—SCDMA基站进行电磁辐射的监测,结果表明,各基站电磁辐射满足单个项目管理低于目标限值0．08W／m2的标准。分析表明,基站在正常运行时,对周围的电磁辐射环境影响能满足国家相应标准的要求。     

北京市某高层建筑高空电磁辐射环境影响分析

选取北京市某代表性高层居民楼顶平台作为高空电磁辐射环境水平监测点进行综合场强和选频监测,评价总体电磁辐射环境水平,并分析监测区域电磁辐射能量的来源。结果表明：该高空监测区域的电磁辐射环境总体水平低于国家规定的公众照射导出限值,但高于地面水平。监测区域主要受30 km 外的中波台影响,其次是9 km 外的中央电视塔。影响最大的是639 kHz频率的中波信号,占100 kHz～300 MHz总场强的95％以上,其次是1．28 MHz频率的中波信号。提出,开展敏感建筑物规划建设时,应考虑中波的传播特性和对环境的影响。     

一种移动通信基站发射天线非轴向功率密度预测模式

以移动通信基站轴向功率密度计算公式为基础,根据非轴向方向上实际监测点位和轴向方向的相对位置,对轴向功率密度计算公式参数进行系列修正,从而建立一种简单适用的移动通信基站非轴向方向上功率密度预测模式.     

乌鲁木齐市电磁辐射污染的调查及分析

报道了乌鲁木剂市电磁辐射污染的调查结果,阐明了乌鲁木齐市电磁污染的现状和分析状况,并依据调查结果对各类污染源的电磁泄漏进行了分析讨论。