GIS-based multi-criteria evaluation for olive mill wastewater disposal site selection

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - The installation of an olive mill wastewater (OMW) disposal site without well-defined standards and constraints may cause undesirable long-term...     

In vitro activity of antimicrobial agents against Legionella isolated from environmental water systems: first results from Turkey

We evaluated the in vitro activity of antimicrobial agents against Legionella obtained from hotel and hospital water systems in three different regions of Turkey. Sixty-five Legionella strains (Legionella pneumophila serogroup 6 [n?=?32], L. pneumophila serogroup 1 [n?=?27], L. pneumophila serogroup 3 [n?=?2], and Legionella spp. [n?=?4]) were tested against levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, clarithromycin, azithromycin, and rifampicin. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of each antimicrobial agent for these strains was determined by the microdilution method using buffered yeast extract medium supplemented with 0.1% ketoglutarate broth. L. pneumophila ATCC 33152, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, and Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 were used as controls. Minimum inhibitory concentration values were in the following ranges: clarithromycin 0.001–0.5 mg/L, azithromycin 0.001–0.5 mg/L, levofloxacin 0.001–0.5 mg/L, ciprofloxacin 0.001–0.125 mg/L, and rifampicin 0.001– 0.5 mg/L. The MIC₉₀ for rifampicin, levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, azithromycin, and clarithromycin were 0.015, 0.125, 0.06, 0.125, and 0.06 mg/L, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to determine in vitro activities of antimicrobial agents against Legionella species in Turkey. Rifampicin had the lowest MIC₉₀ value. It would seem that azithromycin and clarithromycin exhibit good activity as well as levofloxacin and ciprofloxacin against Legionella isolated from environmental water systems in Turkey.     

环境空气SO2自动监测仪的维护

分析环境空气二氧化硫（SO2）自动监测仪故障产生原因,提出判断和处理故障的维修方法。     

Performance evaluation of oil spill software systems in early fate and trajectory of oil spill: comparison analysis of OILMAP and PISCES 2 in Mersin bay spill

The aim of this study is to evaluate the performance level of two advanced oil spill software systems in early transport and fate of oil spill through algorithms accepted in oil spill literature. To do this, the performance level of software systems mostly used in real cases have been compared. OILMAP (the oil spill prediction modeling system) and PISCES 2 (potential incident simulation, control and evaluation system) have been used for spill trajectory in the light of four spill scenarios. The findings reveal that the OILMAP has predicted a relatively larger area of spill. In addition, OILMAP has achieved closer results to the calculations of approaches adopted in the literature for evaporation calculations. Besides, OILMAP software has provided highly reliable results in the evaporation rates of oil compared to the calculations of PISCES 2. On the other hand, as for the determination of the risky area, both software systems have yielded results with high reliability values, which could be used in taking precautions against oil spill in such areas.     

Characterization and pollution potential assessment of Tunceli, Turkey municipal solid waste open dumping site leachates

Environmental monitoring of leachate quality from an open municipal solid waste dumping site in Tunceli, Turkey was studied in this research. The most commonly examined pollution parameters were determined on a seasonal basis. The annual average 5-day biological oxygen demand (BOD₅) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) values of station points were measured as 70 and 425 mg/L, respectively, and also the average BOD₅/COD ratio (a measure of biodegradability) was calculated as 0.20. The low ratio of biodegradability and slightly alkaline pH values in the leachate samples indicated that the site was characterized by methanogenic conditions. The mean ammonium-nitrogen (NH₄ ⁺-N) and corresponding phosphate (orthophosphate) values were assayed as 70 and 11 mg/L, respectively. The average solids content in the leachates was measured as 4,681 mg/L (total solids) and 144 mg/L (suspended solids). Very low concentrations of iron, manganese, copper, and zinc in the leachate samples were found and the concentration of cadmium was measured below detection limits. Excessive amount of nutrients and high organic and inorganic pollutant content in the leachates pose serious pollution potential to the environment. Since no drainage system or bio treatment exists in this open dumping site, high permeability of natural soil at the site and in the surrounding area and very fractured and crackled rocks under natural soil are indicators of high groundwater pollution potential in this site.     

Household bush burning practice and related respiratory symptoms in Grenada,the Caribbean

The practice of household bush burning in Grenada occurs frequently, though it is not well documented. The effects of the emissions from bush burning on respiratory health of the population have never been researched in Grenada. The goal of the study was to measure the frequency of bush burning and to investigate the relationship between bush burning practice and respiratory health in Grenada. In this cross-sectional study, a questionnaire was used to gather information from households in the parishes of St. George and St. Andrew, Grenada. In total, 225 participants were recruited and their responses on household bush burning and respiratory symptoms were analyzed. Self-reported data showed that the practice of bush burning was conducted by 43% (n = 96) of the participants as a regular practice (every month) and 86% (n = 192) of participants stated that their neighbors burn bush regularly. The most common lower respiratory symptom associated with bush burning was dry cough (31.4%). The participants who engage in the practice of bush burning had a statistically significant, higher prevalence of sinusitis symptoms (OR: 2.1, CI 95%: 1.1–3.9) and had slightly higher prevalence of cough (OR: 1.6, CI 95%: 0.9–2.8). Prevalences of physician-diagnosed asthma and sinusitis were 12.3% and 31.2%, respectively. Conducting studies on the health effects of bush burning in different settings and with different practices, such as the household bush burning in our current study, could help to improve public health in the developing world.

Implications:?Household disposal of waste is a significant issue in the developing world. In particular, residential bush burning is a common practice in tropical regions. This study demonstrates that the common practice of bush burning in the Caribbean is associated with respiratory symptoms and demonstrates the need for better management of residential yard waste. Burning of yard waste results in potentially significant exposures to air pollution and therefore alternative disposal practices need to be available. There is a need to increase awareness of the importance of avoiding exposure to the air pollutants generated during bush burning among communities in the Caribbean.     

高锰酸盐指数测定质量控制和数据处理

在环境水的测定中欲得到可靠和准确的高锰酸盐指数测定值,就必须进行质量控制和数据处理。     

铝粉超细化对KClO3/Al/S配方药剂特性的影响

为研究铝粉超细化后对烟火药剂性能的影响,将普通铝粉和纳米铝粉分别与氯酸钾、硫黄粉按照零氧平衡的同一配比(17%Al+63%KClO3+20%S)配制成烟火药剂,分别用0#样品和1#样品表示。用ARC、WL-1型落锤仪和MGY-1型摆式摩擦感度仪等试验装置从热安全性、撞击感度和摩擦感度等方面进行对比试验。结果表明,与含普通铝粉的0#样品相比,含纳米铝粉的1#烟火药剂热分解的初始反应温度明显降低(118.67℃<123.3℃),反应到达最大温升速率所需的时间明显延长(4.94min>0.13 min),反应所能达到的最高压力明显降低(2.77 MPa/g<3.14 MPa/g),反应动力学因子明显降低(361.85 kJ/mol<409.41 kJ/mol),撞击感度明显下降(12%<100%)。这说明铝粉粒径对药剂的性能有一定的影响。纳米铝粉的加入在加速烟火药剂反应进程的同时,可有效降低其反应的激烈程度、压力危险性和撞击危险性,即铝粉超细化后可以有效改善烟火药剂的性能,提高其安全性。