Pub Date : 2024-08-02DOI: 10.3390/environments11080164
Mark L. Brusseau
A framework for developing predictive models for PFAS physical–chemical properties and mass-partitioning parameters is presented. The framework is based on the objective of developing tools that are of sufficient simplicity to be used rapidly and routinely for initial site investigations and risk assessments. This is accomplished by the use of bespoke PFAS-specific QSPR models. The development of these models entails aggregation and curation of measured data sets for a target property or parameter, supplemented by estimates produced with quantum–chemical ab initio predictions. The application of bespoke QSPR models for PFAS is illustrated with several examples, including partitioning to different interfaces, uptake by several fish species, and partitioning to four different biological materials. Reasonable correlations to molar volume were observed for all systems. One notable observation is that the slopes of all of the regression functions are similar. This suggests that the partitioning processes in all of these systems are to some degree mediated by the same mechanism, namely hydrophobic interaction. Special factors and elements requiring consideration in the development of predictive models are discussed, including differences in bulk-phase versus interface partitioning processes.
{"title":"A Framework for Developing Tools to Predict PFAS Physical–Chemical Properties and Mass-Partitioning Parameters","authors":"Mark L. Brusseau","doi":"10.3390/environments11080164","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11080164","url":null,"abstract":"A framework for developing predictive models for PFAS physical–chemical properties and mass-partitioning parameters is presented. The framework is based on the objective of developing tools that are of sufficient simplicity to be used rapidly and routinely for initial site investigations and risk assessments. This is accomplished by the use of bespoke PFAS-specific QSPR models. The development of these models entails aggregation and curation of measured data sets for a target property or parameter, supplemented by estimates produced with quantum–chemical ab initio predictions. The application of bespoke QSPR models for PFAS is illustrated with several examples, including partitioning to different interfaces, uptake by several fish species, and partitioning to four different biological materials. Reasonable correlations to molar volume were observed for all systems. One notable observation is that the slopes of all of the regression functions are similar. This suggests that the partitioning processes in all of these systems are to some degree mediated by the same mechanism, namely hydrophobic interaction. Special factors and elements requiring consideration in the development of predictive models are discussed, including differences in bulk-phase versus interface partitioning processes.","PeriodicalId":11886,"journal":{"name":"Environments","volume":"49 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141885312","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-08-02DOI: 10.3390/environments11080163
Spyridon Mavroulis, Maria Mavrouli, Efthymios Lekkas, Athanasios Tsakris
The storm Daniel and subsequent floods hit the Region of Thessaly (Greece) in early September 2023, causing extensive damage to the built environment (buildings, networks, and infrastructure), the natural environment (water bodies and soil), and the population (fatalities, injured, homeless, and displaced people). Additionally, the conditions and factors favorable for indirect public health impact (infectious diseases) emerged in the flood-affected communities. The factors had to do with infectious diseases from rodents and vectors, injuries, respiratory infections, water contamination, flood waste and their disposal sites as well as structural damage to buildings and the failures of infrastructure. The conditions that evolved necessitated the mobilization of the Civil Protection and Public Health agencies not only to cope with the storm and subsequent floods but also to avoid and manage indirect public health impact. The instructions provided to affected residents, health experts, and Civil Protection staff were consistent with the best practices and lessons learned from previous disasters. The emphasis should be on training actions for competent agencies, as well as education and increasing the awareness of the general population. Non-structural and structural measures should be implemented for increasing the climate resilience of infrastructures including the health care systems within a One Health approach.
{"title":"Impact of the September 2023 Storm Daniel and Subsequent Flooding in Thessaly (Greece) on the Natural and Built Environment and on Infectious Disease Emergence","authors":"Spyridon Mavroulis, Maria Mavrouli, Efthymios Lekkas, Athanasios Tsakris","doi":"10.3390/environments11080163","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11080163","url":null,"abstract":"The storm Daniel and subsequent floods hit the Region of Thessaly (Greece) in early September 2023, causing extensive damage to the built environment (buildings, networks, and infrastructure), the natural environment (water bodies and soil), and the population (fatalities, injured, homeless, and displaced people). Additionally, the conditions and factors favorable for indirect public health impact (infectious diseases) emerged in the flood-affected communities. The factors had to do with infectious diseases from rodents and vectors, injuries, respiratory infections, water contamination, flood waste and their disposal sites as well as structural damage to buildings and the failures of infrastructure. The conditions that evolved necessitated the mobilization of the Civil Protection and Public Health agencies not only to cope with the storm and subsequent floods but also to avoid and manage indirect public health impact. The instructions provided to affected residents, health experts, and Civil Protection staff were consistent with the best practices and lessons learned from previous disasters. The emphasis should be on training actions for competent agencies, as well as education and increasing the awareness of the general population. Non-structural and structural measures should be implemented for increasing the climate resilience of infrastructures including the health care systems within a One Health approach.","PeriodicalId":11886,"journal":{"name":"Environments","volume":"75 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141885311","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-08-01DOI: 10.3390/environments11080162
Mehdi Lamssali, Shobha Mantripragada, Dongyang Deng, Lifeng Zhang
The swine industry generates millions of gallons (thousands of cubic meters) of wastewater every day, posing significant environmental risk due to high concentrations of organics and nutrients. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of attached-growth anaerobic bioreactors for treating swine wastewater by utilizing sulfate-reducing bacteria, focusing on the impact of chemical oxygen demand (COD)/sulfate mass ratios on organics degradation. A series of lab-scale anaerobic bioreactors were employed to treat swine wastewater for a 14-day period. The study evaluated changes in pH, acidity, alkalinity, COD, sulfate, and various nutrients along with total suspended solids (TSS) and volatile suspended solids (VSS) before and after treatment. At a COD/sulfate mass ratio of 2:1, the bioreactors achieved optimum removal efficiencies of 80% for TSS, 83% for VSS, 86–88% for COD, 82–87% for sulfate, 73% for sulfide, and 73% for sulfite. The nutrient removal efficiency was 67% for nitrate and 72% for nitrite. The acidity and alkalinity were effectively controlled, with alkalinity values reaching up to 2161 ± 92.5 mg/L and pH within the range of 7–7.24. The findings demonstrated that anaerobic bioreactor at a COD/sulfate mass ratio of 2:1 significantly enhanced the degradation of organic matter coupling with sulfate reduction in swine wastewater, providing an efficient and sustainable treatment method.
{"title":"Enhancing Swine Wastewater Treatment: A Sustainable and Systematic Approach through Optimized Chemical Oxygen Demand/Sulfate Mass Ratio in Attached-Growth Anaerobic Bioreactor","authors":"Mehdi Lamssali, Shobha Mantripragada, Dongyang Deng, Lifeng Zhang","doi":"10.3390/environments11080162","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11080162","url":null,"abstract":"The swine industry generates millions of gallons (thousands of cubic meters) of wastewater every day, posing significant environmental risk due to high concentrations of organics and nutrients. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of attached-growth anaerobic bioreactors for treating swine wastewater by utilizing sulfate-reducing bacteria, focusing on the impact of chemical oxygen demand (COD)/sulfate mass ratios on organics degradation. A series of lab-scale anaerobic bioreactors were employed to treat swine wastewater for a 14-day period. The study evaluated changes in pH, acidity, alkalinity, COD, sulfate, and various nutrients along with total suspended solids (TSS) and volatile suspended solids (VSS) before and after treatment. At a COD/sulfate mass ratio of 2:1, the bioreactors achieved optimum removal efficiencies of 80% for TSS, 83% for VSS, 86–88% for COD, 82–87% for sulfate, 73% for sulfide, and 73% for sulfite. The nutrient removal efficiency was 67% for nitrate and 72% for nitrite. The acidity and alkalinity were effectively controlled, with alkalinity values reaching up to 2161 ± 92.5 mg/L and pH within the range of 7–7.24. The findings demonstrated that anaerobic bioreactor at a COD/sulfate mass ratio of 2:1 significantly enhanced the degradation of organic matter coupling with sulfate reduction in swine wastewater, providing an efficient and sustainable treatment method.","PeriodicalId":11886,"journal":{"name":"Environments","volume":"9 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141885310","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-07-26DOI: 10.3390/environments11080161
Joana C. Prata, Paulo Martins da Costa
The One Health approach recognizes the interconnectedness between human, animal, and environmental health. Honeybees (Apis mellifera) embody this framework due to their crucial role in ecosystems, food production, and susceptibility to contaminants. Despite their suitability for a One Health approach, there is a lack of research showcasing the multidisciplinary impacts and contributions of bees. The objective of this work is to explore the application of the One Health approach to bees through a narrative review. This work highlights the contribution of bees to history and culture, economy, medicine, nutrition, food security, and the functioning of ecosystems. It also demonstrates that bee health is affected by land management, agricultural practices, environmental contaminants, nutritional resource availability, predators and diseases, weather, climate patterns, and beekeeping practices. This complex system is highly influenced by policy and beekeeping practices, which will benefit animal health directly and environmental and human health indirectly. Thus, the protection of bees should be prioritized.
{"title":"Honeybees and the One Health Approach","authors":"Joana C. Prata, Paulo Martins da Costa","doi":"10.3390/environments11080161","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11080161","url":null,"abstract":"The One Health approach recognizes the interconnectedness between human, animal, and environmental health. Honeybees (Apis mellifera) embody this framework due to their crucial role in ecosystems, food production, and susceptibility to contaminants. Despite their suitability for a One Health approach, there is a lack of research showcasing the multidisciplinary impacts and contributions of bees. The objective of this work is to explore the application of the One Health approach to bees through a narrative review. This work highlights the contribution of bees to history and culture, economy, medicine, nutrition, food security, and the functioning of ecosystems. It also demonstrates that bee health is affected by land management, agricultural practices, environmental contaminants, nutritional resource availability, predators and diseases, weather, climate patterns, and beekeeping practices. This complex system is highly influenced by policy and beekeeping practices, which will benefit animal health directly and environmental and human health indirectly. Thus, the protection of bees should be prioritized.","PeriodicalId":11886,"journal":{"name":"Environments","volume":"31 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141770898","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-07-23DOI: 10.3390/environments11080160
Caterina Maria Antognazza, Fausto Ramazzotti, Antonia Bruno, Andrea Galimberti, Monica Di Francesco, Serena Zaccara
Beluga sturgeon (Huso huso Linnaeus, 1758, acipenseridae) and Adriatic sturgeon (Acipenser naccarii, Bonaparte, 1836, acipenseridae) within the Po River basin have been recently assessed for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and were found to be Extinct in the Wild and Critically Endangered, respectively. Significant declines in both species’ abundance have spurred major research efforts and management actions in recent decades. Recently, specific actions have been conducted to recover habitat connectivity through projects of river defragmentation and reintroduction plans have been implemented for both sturgeon species. To manage effective conservation efforts, knowledge of a species’ distribution and abundance is critical, especially for adult sturgeon that are able to move hundreds of kilometers away from release sites. Here, two new quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays to detect beluga sturgeon and Adriatic sturgeon environmental DNA (eDNA) in water samples have been developed with the goal of providing an alternative method to monitor their presence. Two Taqman-based assays targeting the mitochondrial cytochrome b region were developed and showed no amplification of other related and co-occurring fishes. A mesocosm within the Ticino Park on the Ticino River (a main tributary of the Po River), where both species are bred, was used to develop and validate the assays. The LOQ for H. huso assay corresponded to Ct = 41 (7.33 × 107 DNA counts/µL of reaction) and for A. naccarrii it was Ct = 37 (2.23 × 1016 DNA counts/µL of reaction). Additionally, water samples were taken from the discard drainage, which flows directly into the Ticino River, testing positive detection of eDNA within a distance of up to 2 km. Overall, the results suggested that the two assays developed in this study could represent a promising new tool for monitoring both beluga and Adriatic sturgeon.
{"title":"A Novel eDNA-Based Approach for the Monitoring and Management of the Endangered Beluga (Huso huso, Linnaeus, 1758) and Adriatic (Acipenser naccarii, Bonaparte, 1836) Sturgeon","authors":"Caterina Maria Antognazza, Fausto Ramazzotti, Antonia Bruno, Andrea Galimberti, Monica Di Francesco, Serena Zaccara","doi":"10.3390/environments11080160","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11080160","url":null,"abstract":"Beluga sturgeon (Huso huso Linnaeus, 1758, acipenseridae) and Adriatic sturgeon (Acipenser naccarii, Bonaparte, 1836, acipenseridae) within the Po River basin have been recently assessed for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and were found to be Extinct in the Wild and Critically Endangered, respectively. Significant declines in both species’ abundance have spurred major research efforts and management actions in recent decades. Recently, specific actions have been conducted to recover habitat connectivity through projects of river defragmentation and reintroduction plans have been implemented for both sturgeon species. To manage effective conservation efforts, knowledge of a species’ distribution and abundance is critical, especially for adult sturgeon that are able to move hundreds of kilometers away from release sites. Here, two new quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays to detect beluga sturgeon and Adriatic sturgeon environmental DNA (eDNA) in water samples have been developed with the goal of providing an alternative method to monitor their presence. Two Taqman-based assays targeting the mitochondrial cytochrome b region were developed and showed no amplification of other related and co-occurring fishes. A mesocosm within the Ticino Park on the Ticino River (a main tributary of the Po River), where both species are bred, was used to develop and validate the assays. The LOQ for H. huso assay corresponded to Ct = 41 (7.33 × 107 DNA counts/µL of reaction) and for A. naccarrii it was Ct = 37 (2.23 × 1016 DNA counts/µL of reaction). Additionally, water samples were taken from the discard drainage, which flows directly into the Ticino River, testing positive detection of eDNA within a distance of up to 2 km. Overall, the results suggested that the two assays developed in this study could represent a promising new tool for monitoring both beluga and Adriatic sturgeon.","PeriodicalId":11886,"journal":{"name":"Environments","volume":"67 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141770763","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-07-23DOI: 10.3390/environments11080159
Andres Mata, Junsong Zhang, Joshua Pridemore, Kevin Johnson, Nathan Holliday, Art Helmstetter, Mingming Lu
As byproducts generated by commercial and domestic food-related processes, FOGs (fats, oils, and grease) are the leading cause of sewer pipe blockages in the US and around the world. Grease trap waste (GTW) is a subcategory of FOG currently disposed of as waste, resulting in an economic burden for GTW generators and handlers. This presents a global need for both resource conservation and carbon footprint reduction, particularly through increased waste upcycling. Therefore, it is critical to better understand current GTW handling practices in the context of the urban food–energy–water cycle. This can be accomplished with firsthand data collection, such as onsite visits, phone discussions, and targeted questionnaires. GTW disposal methods were found to be regional and correspond to key geographical locations, with landfill operations mostly practiced in the Midwest regions, incineration mainly in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, and digestion mainly in the West of the US. Select GTW samples were analyzed to evaluate their potential reuse as low-cost feedstocks for biodiesel or renewable diesel, which are alternatives to petroleum diesel fuels. Various GTW lipid extraction technologies have been reviewed, and more studies were found on converting GTW into biodiesel rather than renewable diesel. The challenges for these two pathways are the high sulfur content in biodiesel and the metal contents in renewable diesel, respectively. GTW lipid extraction technologies should overcome these issues while producing minimum-viable products with higher market values.
{"title":"A Review of Grease Trap Waste Management in the US and the Upcycle as Feedstocks for Alternative Diesel Fuels","authors":"Andres Mata, Junsong Zhang, Joshua Pridemore, Kevin Johnson, Nathan Holliday, Art Helmstetter, Mingming Lu","doi":"10.3390/environments11080159","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11080159","url":null,"abstract":"As byproducts generated by commercial and domestic food-related processes, FOGs (fats, oils, and grease) are the leading cause of sewer pipe blockages in the US and around the world. Grease trap waste (GTW) is a subcategory of FOG currently disposed of as waste, resulting in an economic burden for GTW generators and handlers. This presents a global need for both resource conservation and carbon footprint reduction, particularly through increased waste upcycling. Therefore, it is critical to better understand current GTW handling practices in the context of the urban food–energy–water cycle. This can be accomplished with firsthand data collection, such as onsite visits, phone discussions, and targeted questionnaires. GTW disposal methods were found to be regional and correspond to key geographical locations, with landfill operations mostly practiced in the Midwest regions, incineration mainly in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, and digestion mainly in the West of the US. Select GTW samples were analyzed to evaluate their potential reuse as low-cost feedstocks for biodiesel or renewable diesel, which are alternatives to petroleum diesel fuels. Various GTW lipid extraction technologies have been reviewed, and more studies were found on converting GTW into biodiesel rather than renewable diesel. The challenges for these two pathways are the high sulfur content in biodiesel and the metal contents in renewable diesel, respectively. GTW lipid extraction technologies should overcome these issues while producing minimum-viable products with higher market values.","PeriodicalId":11886,"journal":{"name":"Environments","volume":"39 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141770760","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-07-22DOI: 10.3390/environments11070158
Nwabueze Emekwuru
Information on associated gas flaring in the Niger Delta is analyzed to characterize the various stages in the lifecycle of an oil exploration and production facility through which gas flaring is introduced into an area, leading to ecological, health, and economic impacts, and possible policies and implementation strategies for the reduction of the flared gas are offered. Gas flaring is currently occurring at a rate of 5318 million m3 per year in the Niger Delta region. The impacts of gas flaring on the ecological, human, and economic systems include poor air quality, acid rain, and soil degradation. Other impacts include decreased crop yield, increased incidences of respiratory diseases amongst inhabitants in the area, and losses of billions of USD yearly in economic costs. Three dominant stages in the introduction of gas flaring are characterized in this study, using the concept of the management of the invasion of non-native species into an ecosystem and it is determined that the cheapest method of minimizing gas flaring is to incorporate mitigation measures during the design stage of the oil exploration/production facility, rather than after flaring has commenced, as is the common emphasis. During the early periods of oil production, gas flaring is largely localized, and the gas utilization measures can still be implemented to good effect. However, once the facility is established, gas flaring becomes pervasive, stretching kilometers beyond the flare points. Current policies like the imposition of flare-out years on the oil producers have helped, but they have been insufficient as the intensity of gas flaring in the region continues at double the average global levels. Working with relevant stakeholders, a realistic flare-out deadline should be agreed upon, clear and specific gas flaring legislation should be drawn up that includes measures to mitigate gas flaring for each proposed oil facility, and proper data collection and management services would enable the implementation of the policies to be based on robust evidence. These policies would shift the costs of gas flaring away from the inhabitants of the region back to the operators of the facilities that are the sources of the flares.
{"title":"Characterization of the Dominant Stages at Which Gas Flaring Is Introduced: Impacts and Policy Options to Ameliorate Them","authors":"Nwabueze Emekwuru","doi":"10.3390/environments11070158","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11070158","url":null,"abstract":"Information on associated gas flaring in the Niger Delta is analyzed to characterize the various stages in the lifecycle of an oil exploration and production facility through which gas flaring is introduced into an area, leading to ecological, health, and economic impacts, and possible policies and implementation strategies for the reduction of the flared gas are offered. Gas flaring is currently occurring at a rate of 5318 million m3 per year in the Niger Delta region. The impacts of gas flaring on the ecological, human, and economic systems include poor air quality, acid rain, and soil degradation. Other impacts include decreased crop yield, increased incidences of respiratory diseases amongst inhabitants in the area, and losses of billions of USD yearly in economic costs. Three dominant stages in the introduction of gas flaring are characterized in this study, using the concept of the management of the invasion of non-native species into an ecosystem and it is determined that the cheapest method of minimizing gas flaring is to incorporate mitigation measures during the design stage of the oil exploration/production facility, rather than after flaring has commenced, as is the common emphasis. During the early periods of oil production, gas flaring is largely localized, and the gas utilization measures can still be implemented to good effect. However, once the facility is established, gas flaring becomes pervasive, stretching kilometers beyond the flare points. Current policies like the imposition of flare-out years on the oil producers have helped, but they have been insufficient as the intensity of gas flaring in the region continues at double the average global levels. Working with relevant stakeholders, a realistic flare-out deadline should be agreed upon, clear and specific gas flaring legislation should be drawn up that includes measures to mitigate gas flaring for each proposed oil facility, and proper data collection and management services would enable the implementation of the policies to be based on robust evidence. These policies would shift the costs of gas flaring away from the inhabitants of the region back to the operators of the facilities that are the sources of the flares.","PeriodicalId":11886,"journal":{"name":"Environments","volume":"12 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141770759","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-07-21DOI: 10.3390/environments11070157
Michael E. Deary, Simon D. Griffiths
Industrial fires at facilities including waste management sites, warehouses, factories, chemical works, and fuel storage depots are relatively frequent occurrences. Often, these fires occur adjacent to urban communities and result in ground-level airborne pollutant concentrations that are well above guideline values. Land, water, livestock, and crops may also be contaminated by the emissions and by firefighting activities. Moreover, impacted communities tend to have a higher proportion of minority ethnic populations as well as individuals with underlying health vulnerabilities and those of lower socio-economic status. Nevertheless, this is an aspect of air quality that is under-researched, and so this review aims to highlight the public health hazards associated with industrial fires and the need for an effective, coordinated, public health response. We also review the range of monitoring techniques that have been utilised in such fires and highlight the role of dispersion modelling in predicting plume trajectories and in estimating population exposure. We recommend establishing 1 h guideline values for particulate matter to facilitate timely public health interventions, and we highlight the need to review regulatory and technical controls for sites prone to fires, particularly in the waste sector.
包括废物管理场所、仓库、工厂、化工厂和燃料储存库在内的设施发生工业火灾的频率相对较高。这些火灾通常发生在城市社区附近，导致地面空气中的污染物浓度远高于指导值。土地、水、牲畜和农作物也可能受到排放物和灭火活动的污染。此外，受影响的社区往往有更多的少数民族人口、有潜在健康隐患的人和社会经济地位较低的人。尽管如此，这仍是空气质量研究不足的一个方面，因此本综述旨在强调与工业火灾相关的公共健康危害，以及采取有效、协调的公共健康应对措施的必要性。我们还回顾了在此类火灾中使用的各种监测技术，并强调了扩散模型在预测烟羽轨迹和估计人口暴露量方面的作用。我们建议制定颗粒物 1 h 指导值，以便及时采取公共卫生干预措施，并强调有必要审查对火灾易发地点的监管和技术控制措施，特别是在废物处理部门。
{"title":"The Impact of Air Pollution from Industrial Fires in Urban Settings: Monitoring, Modelling, Health, and Environmental Justice Perspectives","authors":"Michael E. Deary, Simon D. Griffiths","doi":"10.3390/environments11070157","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11070157","url":null,"abstract":"Industrial fires at facilities including waste management sites, warehouses, factories, chemical works, and fuel storage depots are relatively frequent occurrences. Often, these fires occur adjacent to urban communities and result in ground-level airborne pollutant concentrations that are well above guideline values. Land, water, livestock, and crops may also be contaminated by the emissions and by firefighting activities. Moreover, impacted communities tend to have a higher proportion of minority ethnic populations as well as individuals with underlying health vulnerabilities and those of lower socio-economic status. Nevertheless, this is an aspect of air quality that is under-researched, and so this review aims to highlight the public health hazards associated with industrial fires and the need for an effective, coordinated, public health response. We also review the range of monitoring techniques that have been utilised in such fires and highlight the role of dispersion modelling in predicting plume trajectories and in estimating population exposure. We recommend establishing 1 h guideline values for particulate matter to facilitate timely public health interventions, and we highlight the need to review regulatory and technical controls for sites prone to fires, particularly in the waste sector.","PeriodicalId":11886,"journal":{"name":"Environments","volume":"30 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141738565","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-07-20DOI: 10.3390/environments11070156
George V. Theodorakopoulos, Michalis K. Arfanis, Tadej Stepišnik Perdih, Simos Malamis, Dimitrios Iatrou, George Em. Romanos, Polycarpos Falaras
Industrial activities generate enormous quantities of polluted effluents, necessitating advanced methods of wastewater treatment to prevent potential environmental threats. Thus, the design of a novel photocatalytic reactor for industrial water decontamination, purification, and reuse is proposed as an efficient advanced oxidation technology. In this work, the development of the active reactor components is described, utilizing a two-step sol–gel technique to prepare a silica-titania trilayer coating on 3D-printed polymeric filters. The initial dip-coated SiO2 insulator further protects and enhances the stability of the polymer matrix, and the subsequent TiO2 layers endow the composite architecture with photocatalytic functionality. The structural and morphological characteristics of the modified photocatalytic filters are extensively investigated, and their performance is assessed by studying the photocatalytic degradation of the Triton X-100, a common and standard chemical surfactant, presented in the contaminated wastewater of the steel metal industry. The promising outcomes of the innovative versatile reactor pave the way for developing scalable, cost-effective reactors for efficient water treatment technologies.
工业活动会产生大量的污染废水，因此需要采用先进的废水处理方法来防止潜在的环境威胁。因此，我们提出设计一种新型光催化反应器，作为一种高效的高级氧化技术，用于工业用水的去污、净化和回用。这项工作介绍了活性反应器组件的开发，利用两步溶胶-凝胶技术在 3D 打印聚合物过滤器上制备二氧化硅-钛三层涂层。最初浸涂的二氧化硅绝缘体可进一步保护和增强聚合物基体的稳定性，而随后的二氧化钛层则赋予了复合结构光催化功能。我们广泛研究了改性光催化过滤器的结构和形态特征，并通过研究钢铁金属工业污染废水中常见的标准化学表面活性剂 Triton X-100 的光催化降解来评估其性能。创新型多功能反应器取得的可喜成果为开发可扩展的、具有成本效益的高效水处理技术反应器铺平了道路。
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Pub Date : 2024-07-19DOI: 10.3390/environments11070155
Natalia Shiu, Hui Guo, Younggy Kim
Nutrient removal in conventional wastewater treatment systems is expensive due to the high aeration costs. An alternative method for effective and sustainable nitrogen removal in wastewater treatment is anaerobic ammonium oxidation (Anammox) implemented with other innovative technologies, such as membrane-aerated biofilm reactors (MABRs). A major challenge associated with the Anammox process is effective control of nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB). High temperature operation in wastewater treatment systems can promote Anammox bacterial growth and inhibit NOB activity. This research aims to investigate the feasibility of integrating Anammox processes with a lab-scale MABR and to examine the effects of high temperature aeration supplied to MABR systems on Anammox bacterial growth and NOB suppression. Experimental results indicate that the membrane’s air permeability was a critical parameter for the successful operation of Anammox-integrated MABR systems due to its influence on the system’s dissolved oxygen concentration (0.41 ± 0.39 mg O2/L). The ammonia removal by AOB and Anammox bacteria was determined to be 7.53 mg N/L·d (76.5%) and 2.12 mg N/L·d (23.5%), respectively. High temperature aeration in MABRs with the Anammox process shows a promising potential for improving energy consumption and sustainable nitrogen removal in wastewater treatment systems.
{"title":"Heated Aeration for Nitrite-Oxidizing Bacteria (NOB) Control in Anammox-Integrated Membrane-Aerated Biofilm Reactors (MABR)","authors":"Natalia Shiu, Hui Guo, Younggy Kim","doi":"10.3390/environments11070155","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11070155","url":null,"abstract":"Nutrient removal in conventional wastewater treatment systems is expensive due to the high aeration costs. An alternative method for effective and sustainable nitrogen removal in wastewater treatment is anaerobic ammonium oxidation (Anammox) implemented with other innovative technologies, such as membrane-aerated biofilm reactors (MABRs). A major challenge associated with the Anammox process is effective control of nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB). High temperature operation in wastewater treatment systems can promote Anammox bacterial growth and inhibit NOB activity. This research aims to investigate the feasibility of integrating Anammox processes with a lab-scale MABR and to examine the effects of high temperature aeration supplied to MABR systems on Anammox bacterial growth and NOB suppression. Experimental results indicate that the membrane’s air permeability was a critical parameter for the successful operation of Anammox-integrated MABR systems due to its influence on the system’s dissolved oxygen concentration (0.41 ± 0.39 mg O2/L). The ammonia removal by AOB and Anammox bacteria was determined to be 7.53 mg N/L·d (76.5%) and 2.12 mg N/L·d (23.5%), respectively. High temperature aeration in MABRs with the Anammox process shows a promising potential for improving energy consumption and sustainable nitrogen removal in wastewater treatment systems.","PeriodicalId":11886,"journal":{"name":"Environments","volume":"2 21","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141822492","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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