Search results

The current situation in India concerning the implementation of the Stockholm Convention on persistent organic pollutants (POPs), aimed at regulating their production and use has been examined. The purpose of this paper is to present data on the quantities of POPs generated and accumulated in the country. Measures for environmental sound management of POPs and effective implementation of the Stockholm Convention have been recommended.

A national implementation plan (NIP), presenting the status and inventory of POPs in India was developed. Ground-level situation of 12 POPs were assessed through inventorization, samples collection, analysis and interpretations.

As per the inventory of POPs; to date, the total amount of polychlorinated biphenyls is assessed as up to 28,000 MT in the power sector and total quantity of date-expired obsolete pesticides stock was around 47,000 kg. The total emission of dioxins was estimated to be ∼8.7 kg toxic equivalent, with the main contributions coming from waste incineration followed by ferrous and non-ferrous metal production. There are gaps in the implementation, in terms of existing legal and regulatory framework and Stockholm Convention requirements.

The analysis, results and recommendations presented would be useful for other developing countries in a comparable position to India confronting similar challenges of POPs management.

During the development of the NIP, primary data on POPs were collected and assessed. This perhaps is the first research paper from India on the status and environmental management framework of POPs listed under various Annexes of the Stockholm Convention.

A novel ternary flocculant was prepared by a simple compounding method to achieve efficient and rapid mud-water separation. This paper aims to discuss the possible mud-water separation mechanism.

This experimental study aims to investigate the effects of different types of flocculants on the separation of waste mud water and the degradation of flocculants in the supernatant. The flocculating component, the ratio of the flocculating accelerator to the flocculant and the addition amount of the novel ternary flocculant were optimized.

The experimental results show that the composition of the new ternary flocculant is cationic polyacrylamide (CP-02), grafted starch (GS-501) and flocculation sedimentation accelerator, the best effect, the mass ratio is 1:0.5: 0.75. According to 0.25:1 (volume ratio), the new ternary flocculant is pre-configured into a solution with a concentration of 3 kg/m³ to achieve efficient and rapid mud-water separation.

The new ternary flocculant is used for the separation of mud and water in the underground continuous wall waste mud, improving the level of civilized construction.

The purpose of this paper is to point out some important elements that can be useful to minimize the impacts and the results can possibly inform business and policy makers about how to minimize the impacts associated to the municipal solid waste (MSW) collection.

The present work faces with the problem of transport, placing attention to the relationship of emissions from scenarios that has been selected between real systems of management.

The choices related to the typology of treatment has the same importance to the item concerning the correct localization of the plant for the implications related to the environmental pressure due to the transport of waste.

An important aspect that has to be considered in terms of MSW management is the stage of collection. The emissions generated from these systems can arrive to values that are of the same order of magnitude of emissions from combustion of waste in waste-to-energy plants according to some scenarios.

The objective was to outline a process for selecting hazardous substances as pollution indicators that imply a chemical risk for the recycling of wastewater residues on arable land and for wastewater discharge into receiving waters. The reviewed methodologies showed one commonality: grouping of various characteristics that symbolise hazardous properties. From each group, one or several indicator substances were selected to represent the hazardous property of that specific group. The selected set of indicator substances represented the chemical risk characteristics as a whole. One conclusion is that it is difficult to create a comprehensive list of indicator substances for the monitoring of chemical risks in wastewater and residues. Due to the insufficiency of knowledge about the chemical risks from complex systems such as a wastewater system and the methodology for selecting indicator substances, many simplifications have to be accepted. The 100,000 substances present in the technosphere, of which 30,000 are regarded as “everyday” chemicals, may end up in wastewater systems. We have a limited knowledge of many of these substances, thereby providing a weak base for assessing the true chemical risks in wastewater and residues for reuse on arable land. Although the pollution situation will not entirely be understood by measuring the status of only a few substances (important substances may be overlooked), detected substances indicate a specific pollution situation in wastewater or sludge, thus increasing our knowledge about the current concentrations.

This study aims to better understand the morphological characteristics of single particle and the health risk characteristics of heavy metals in PM_2.5 in different functional areas of Handan City.

High resolution transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the aerosol samples collected from different functional areas of Handan City. The morphology and size distribution of the particles collected on hazy and clear days were compared. The health risk evaluation model was applied to evaluate the hazardous effects of particles on human health in different functional areas on hazy days.

The results show that the particulate matter in different functional areas is dominated by spherical particles in different weather conditions. In particular, the proportion of spherical particles exceeds 70% on the haze day, and the percentage of soot aggregates increases significantly on the clear day. The percentage of each type of particle in the teaching and living areas varied less under different weather conditions. Except for the industrial area, the size distribution of each type of particle in haze samples is larger than that on the clear day. Spherical particles contribute more to the small particle size segment. Soot aggregate and other shaped particles contribute more to the large size segment. The mass concentrations of hazardous elements (HEs) in PM_2.5 in different functional areas on consecutive haze pollution days were illustrated as industrial area > traffic area > living area > teaching area. Compared with the other functional areas, the teaching area had the lowest noncarcinogenic risk of HEs. The lifetime carcinogenic risk values of Cr and As elements in each functional area have exceeded residents’ threshold levels and are at high risk of carcinogenicity. Among the four functional areas, the industrial area has the highest carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic risks. But the effects of HEs on human health in the other functional areas should also be taken seriously and continuously controlled.

The significance of the study is to further understand the morphological characteristics of single particles and the health risks of heavy metals in different functional areas of Handan City. the authors hope to provide a reference for other coal-burning industrial cities to develop plans to improve air quality and human respiratory health.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the use of phragmites australis ash (PAA) in cementitious systems to achieve sustainable construction.

In this paper, the properties of mortar containing PAA as partial cement replacement are determined. The PAA is produced through slow burning in a closed system to minimize the CO₂ emission. A total of four mortar mixes are prepared with PAA replacement levels ranging from 0% to 30% by weight. The water to binder and the proportions of binder to sand are 0.55 and 1:3 by weight, respectively. The properties tested are density, compressive strength, flexural strength, ultrasonic pulse velocity, water absorption by total immersion and capillary rise. Testing is conducted at 1, 7, 28 and 90 days.

While there is a decrease in strength as the amount of PAA increases, there is strong indication of pozzolanic reaction in the presence of PAA. This is in agreement with the results reported by Salvo et al. (2015), where they found noticeable pozzolanic activities in the presence of straw ash, which is rich in SiO₂ and relatively high K₂O content. At 90 days of curing, there is a decrease of 5% in compressive strength at 10% PAA replacement. However, at 20% and 30% replacement, the reduction in compressive strength is 23% and 32%, respectively. The trend in flexural strength and ultrasonic pulse velocity is similar to that in compressive strength. The water absorption by total immersion and capillary rise tends to increase with increasing amounts of PAA in the mix. There seems to be a linear relationship between water absorption and compressive strength at each curing age.

The Phragmites australis plant used in this investigation is obtained from one location and this present a limitation as the type of soil may change the properties. Also one method of slow burning is used. Different burning methods may alter the composition of the PAA.

This outcome of this research will contribute towards sustainable development as it will make use of the waste generated, reduce the amount of energy-intensive cement used in construction and help generate local employment in the area where the Phragmites australis plant grows.

To the best knowledge of the authors, the ash from the Phragmites australis plant has not been used in cementitious system and this research can be considered original as it examines the properties of mortar containing PAA. Also, the process of burning in a closed system using this material.

Cement industry for both developed and developing countries is important from the economic point of view. It is playing a vital role in economic development of a developing country like Pakistan. However, these industries are posing threat to the environment, human health and plant species. The purpose of this paper is to identify the most critical factors of cement industry that have a negative impact on the environment, human health and plant species in the context of Pakistan.

The factors are categorized into air pollution, noise pollution, soil pollution, human health and plant species. These factors are categorized on the basis of previous literature and environmental safety reports. Air pollution is caused by iron and sulphur while noise pollution is mainly caused by crusher room and rotatory kiln end. The soil is being polluted by zinc and lead while human health and plant species are being damaged by sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide. For the analysis purpose, a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) technique, i.e., decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) is used.

The result shows that the major cause of air pollution is “sulphur” while “crusher room and rotatory kiln end” are responsible for noise pollution. On the other hand, “mercury” is responsible for causing soil pollution while human health and plant species are influenced by the toxic effect of “nitrogen dioxide.”

The results obtained are specific to cement manufacturing industry of Pakistan and cannot be generalized for any other manufacturing sector.

The proposed methodology shows the most critical factors toward which concertation should be given for mitigating their impact. This study will help the government and the cement industry to focus on all those elements that are the most responsible for causing different types of pollution.

No such work is reported in previous research that proposes a framework using DEMATEL technique for analysis of critical factors of cement industries that have a dangerous impact on the environment and human health, especially in a developing country, like Pakistan.

The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview on the e‐waste topic, highlight the economic arguments for dumping e‐waste in developing countries and examine the issues around the e‐waste problems in Nigeria.

The methodology adopted is based on a review of existing literature, personal observation and interviews.

Electronic waste, or e‐waste, has emerged as a major problem in quite a number of developing countries, as well as an opportunity for development and economic growth. As a result of its high toxic content, it creates problems of environmental pollution and is a hazard to human health when not handled properly. However, there is a huge demand for good quality, second‐hand equipment in developing countries and there seem to be strong economic arguments for exporting scrap electronic and electrical equipment to those countries. The e‐waste trade has grown in Nigeria, causing several socio‐economic problems.

The paper contributes to the growing body of knowledge on e‐waste in developing countries, especially Nigeria. It provides insight into the economic arguments that encourage the continuance of the e‐waste problem.

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the historical pollution of the Hostivar Reservoir (largest reservoir in Prague) sediment by metals, polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and identify the trends in pollution of aquatic environment.

Core samples, 140 cm long, recording the 45-year history of the reservoir, were separated to 5 cm width subsamples (approximately 1.5 years of sedimentation) and analyzed for metals (Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, Cr, Ni, Al), PAH and PCB. Following methods were used: US EPA 3051 for metals, US EPA 505 and US EPA 8082 A for PCB, and ISO 18287:2006 for PAH.

Most of the contaminants had the highest concentration at the beginning of the existence of the reservoir, suggesting that the contamination results from construction activities. Significant decrease of Pb occurred in the second half of the 1990s. It was caused by termination of the addition of lead as a detonation suppressant to the gasoline. Most concentrations of PAHs, PCBs and metals, except copper do not present eco-toxicological risk.

The results show the volume of priority pollutants removed from the reservoir by sediment extraction, and point risk to the terrestrial environment due to application of the sediment in the construction of a noise protecting wall.

The paper presents unique data about historical contamination of the largest reservoir in Prague, the capital of Czech Republic. It shows how the watershed and the construction phase of the dam cause a pollution of the reservoir sediment and possible environmental risk for aquatic biota.

The purpose of this paper is to determine the amount of different kinds of solid wastes produced, segregated, collected, stored, transported and disposed off in the governmental hospitals of Kuwait.

The research in this paper shows that all governmental hospitals were assessed in a period of six months (September, 2005 through December, 2005 and June, 2006 through July, 2006). The weight fraction of each component in the sorting sample was calculated by the weights of the components. The amount of non‐infectious and infectious waste generated in kg/day in each ward and various hospital blocks were determined and recorded.

The findings in this paper indicated that the waste generation rate is between 3.87 kg/bed/day and 7.44 kg/bed/day. Subsequently, this waste consists of 10,534.5 kg (71.44 percent) of domestic waste, 4,099.4 kg (27.8 percent) of hazardous/infectious waste, and 112.1 kg (0.76 percent) of sharps. Hospital waste makes up approximately 30 percent of all the hazardous waste generated in Kuwait. Segregation of the different types of wastes is practiced in nearly all of the hospitals. All infectious/medical wastes are finally disposed of through incineration.

The paper shows that the hospitals under study do not organize training courses on hospital waste management and the hazards associated with them. There is a need to establish a detailed database regarding the quantity and quality of the waste generated by the various hospitals.

This paper systematically assesses the obstacles in the existing hospital solid waste management system in all governmental hospitals in Kuwait. Subsequently, recommendations and improvements are suggested.