INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH (IJER)
Year:2012 | Volume:6 | Issue:4|Papers Count:24

Cosmic rays in the upper troposphere (9000 meters to 15000 meters) initiate the following nuclear chemical reaction: 1n+14N=>14C+1H. Previous research has shown a strong effect of latitude on the abundance of neutrons from cosmic rays. However, to date, there has been little exploration of the relationship between the latitude effect for cosmic-ray neutrons and latitudinal variations of stable isotope ratios in aerosols and foliage. In this study, aerosol samples (PM 4.5) and foliage samples were collected in Singapore in November 2009, February and July 2010 and in Fairbanks, Alaska, U.S.A. in January, April and September 2010. The average value of delta 15/14N in foliage in Fairbanks was -1.84 [per mil], whereas the average value in Singapore was -1.3 [per mil]. These results show a clear latitude effect on delta 15/14N in foliage. Furthermore, the average value of delta 15/14N in the nitric-oxide substances in the aerosol samples in Fairbanks was -2.70 [per mil], whereas the average value in Singapore was+7.61 [per mil], demonstrating that delta 15/14N in nitric-oxide substances from aerosol samples also experiences a latitude effect. In both Singapore and Fairbanks, it was observed that values of delta 15/14N in nitric-oxide substances from aerosols were correlated with declination. The value of delta 15/14N in nitric-oxide substances from aerosols in Fairbanks increased with increasing declination due to more active conversions from14N to 14C by neutron bombardment.

The Spanish turbot aquaculture sector holds a top position in the international market. This activity is mainly developed along the Galician coast (NW Spain). This article evaluates the environmental performance of Galician turbot aquaculture according to the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology. Previously, on account of the expected relevance of feed for aquaculture, marine aquafeed production was assessed from an LCA perspective. Environmental characterization results for marine feed production led to identify aquafeed formulation as the focus for improvement actions. Furthermore, the environmental profile of feed for continental aquaculture was estimated and compared to that of marine aquafeed. The LCA of marine aquafeed was then implemented into the case study of Galician turbot aquaculture. Electricity use in hatching facilities arose as the main hot spot, ahead of aquafeed and diesel use in ongrowing plants. LCA proved to be a useful tool to provide chain transparency and accountability throughout these case studies.

This study was performed during the abatement of two asbestos-containing materials (ACM): baumlite board (cement flat board) and ceiling textile. The concentrations of total dust for personal sampling were 0.28 and 1.70 mg/m3 during baumlite board and ceiling textile abatements, respectively, when calculated with 8-hr time-weighted average (TWA). The geometric mean (GM) asbestos concentrations were 0.005±1.9 and 0.007±1.6 f/cc for personal sampling and 0.004±1.1 and 0.008±1.6 f/cc for area sampling with 8-hr TWA, respectively. Asbestos exposure concentrations were not significantly different during abatement of the two materials (p>0.05). Further, no statistical difference existed between personal and area samples during the two abatements (p>0.05). The concentrations of personal and area samples during both abatements were below the occupational exposure limit (OEL: 0.1 f/cc) of the Korean Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL). The correlation between total dust and asbestos concentrations was low throughout both abatements.

Nitrate contamination is one of the main risks for groundwater in agricultural areas. The evaluation of the effect of agricultural practices on groundwater nitrate concentration, especially in highly sensitive areas, is crucial for a correct land planning, and a good agronomic intervention scheduling. Aim of this paper is to map the probability to exceed nitrate regulatory threshold applying a non-parametric geostatistical approach, the Indicator Kriging (IK). A study in the Fucino Plain (Abruzzo, Central Italy), characterized by highly profitable intensive agriculture with mainly irrigated horticultural and short rotation crops, was carried out. The Plain has a shallow and controlled groundwater table, and channels draining the surplus water during winter. Water samples were collected monthly from piezometers and analysed for nitrate. IK provided a model of spatial uncertainty, representing the probability that the threshold of 50 mg/L fixed by the European Nitrate Directive is exceeded, and results were transferred into a GIS. Maps obtained for each month showed how the probability to exceed the threshold changes during an average year. The methodology can provide an effective operative tool to support decision-makers for the identification and the designation of nitrate vulnerable zones.

The trend of sustainable use of available water resources encourages textile finishing enterprises to implement efficient wastewater treatment technologies that enable water recycling, and not just it's discharging into the local wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). This paper presents the results obtained from the H2O2/UV treatment of wastewater from Slovene textile finishing company. Laboratory scale decolouration experiments were performed on the most representative wastewater samples, collected in three months period. In general 80% decolouration and 86% total organic carbon (TOC) reduction was achieved. On the other hand, the use of ultraviolet (UV) radiation to degrade and destroy organic pollutants in textile wastewater could lead to the formation of toxic dioxins and dioxin-like compounds, groups of persistent organic pollutants, especially due to the presence of halogenated compounds in textile finishing processes. For these reasons, textile wastewater samples were analysed for any content of dioxins before and after the treatment with H2O2/UV.

7500 tons of municipal solid waste produced in Tehran city is land-filled in Kahrizak disposal site. The leachate of the waste has created a lake with 180000m3 in volume. A plant is under construction to treat the leachate. A significant amount of biogas can be produced in anaerobic digestion phase in the treatment plant reactor. The designing process of a power plant in accordance with the produced biogas has been discussed in the present study. In the present investigation the air pollution from power plant has also been modeled. The leachate organic load (BOD=34400 mg/L and COD=53900 mg/L) is considerably higher when compared with other countries due to higher amount of organics available in Tehran wastes. The results indicate that an amount of 33504 m3/d biogas can be produced in Tehran's landfill that eventually would be sufficient to run a power plant of 3.4 MW capacities. The plant which is designed by Thermo flow software is consisted of two gas turbine units with 2 MW capacities so that the total capacity is 4MW. About 10% of the generated power is for in-plant consumption and the rest can be sold. The results of the air pollution modeling using Screen 3 software reveal that CO and PM amounts are in allowed range but N2O exceeds the standard limits. The high temperature of the outlet gases emitted from gas turbines makes it possible to warm up water and regulate the anaerobic reactors temperature.

The present study aims to simulate the spatial pattern of land use change in Lisar protected area, Iran. Land cover maps for 1989, 2000, and 2007 were depicted using TM, ETM+, and IRS LISS-III images of the area at stake. Images were classified using a merge of unsupervised and supervised classification. CA-Markov model was used to predict land cover maps as a top-down approach in investigating land use change. A comparison was made between the predicted and actual land use map of 2007 in order to examine the precision of the predicted map and the validation of the CA-Markov model. Finally, by computing the rate of land use change on wildlife habitats, we examined the possible impacts of land use change on wildlife habitats. Meanwhile, the impact of variables on degradation in the region was studied to develop a bottom-up model, which enabled us to predict the possible impact of socio-economic drivers on protected areas. The findings of the study suggest that the region will experience a degradation of at least 5 hectares where the population increases by 0.71 or more in the predicted period of time. Moreover, if the trend of land exploitation and current management policy of the region continue as before, the region will experience at least 5.2 hectares degradation on the sensitive habitats.

Water samples were collected from five selected mangrove ecosystems along Kerala coast, North of Cochin, on seasonal basis and analysed for various hydrographic parameters. To explain spatiotemporal variations and the processes controlling their distribution, ANOVA (two factor without replication), correlation and principal component analysis were carried out. Concentration of total nitrogen varied from 10.26 to 188.38 mM and total phosphorous from 1.53 to 22.88 mM, with comparatively higher concentration in monsoon season which could be attributed by land run off. Chlorophyll pigments recorded significant seasonal variation ranging from ND to 40.86 mg/L (chlorophyll a), ND to 6.00 mg/L (Chlorophyll b) and ND to 13.80 mg/L (Chlorophyll c). Both monsoon and post monsoon seasons recorded higher concentration of pheophytin compared to Chlorophyll a and the maximum concentration of chlorophyll was observed during pre monsoon. Station 2 (Pappinissery) exhibited elevated concentration of nutrients (especially NH4+) and lower DO content which pointed towards the reducing environment by anthropogenic stress. Factor analysis revealed six components which explained 92.77% of the total variance. It also described the processes like diagenesis, sediment remineralisation, anthropogenic activities, tidal and river influx which make the ecosystem highly complex.

Presence of heavy metals in the aquatic systems has become a serious problem. As a result, there has been a great deal of attention given to new technologies for removal of heavy metal ions from contaminated waters. Adsorption is one of the effective methods for removal of toxic heavy metal such as chromium (VI). In the present study, adsorbent is prepared from rice husk, a low cost by product from a rice mill. The rice husk carbon is activated using H3PO4 (40%). The stock solution of Cr (VI) is prepared by dissolving 2.828 gm of potassium dichromate (Central Drug House (CDH), India) in 1 litre of demineralized water. Batch mode experiments are done. The effect of various parameters like adsorbent dose, pH and contact time are studied. The studies demonstrate that the Rice Husk Carbon (RHC) has a significant capacity for adsorption of Cr (VI) from aqueous solution. The RHC characteristics are reported as FTIR and other physical properties are tabulated average. The break through capacity for Cr (VI) (100 mg/l, pH 2) is on average 38.1 mg/g. The adsorption of chromium (VI) was found to be maximum (93-94%) at low values of pH (around 2) for the carbon dosage of 1000mg/L and nearly 100% for carbon dosage of 1200mg/L. RHC exhibits high degree of selectivity for Cr (VI) adsorption. The adsorbent prepared from rice husk carbon is efficient and it is proposed that it can be conveniently employed as a low cost alternative in the treatment of industrial waste water.

Biosolids must be stabilized in order to reduce odors, which have been noted as a major concern with respect to alkaline stabilization. Stabilization is designed to address potential putrefaction processes, odiferous releases and vector attraction concerns. Also, most alkaline processes are open systems in which temperature and mixing are more difficult to control, and factors such as increased pressure or bactericidal action of un-ionized ammonia are not present to aid in disinfection. The purpose of this project was to begin assessment of the long-term stability of an advanced alkaline product resulting from operating conditions established by testing previously conducted and approved by EPA's Pathogen Equivalency Committee. The conditions formerly established as optimum to achieve required pathogen destruction resulted in the ability of advanced alkaline system to operate at a lower temperature of 55oC as opposed to the temperature of 70oC required by the U.S. EPA 40CFR Part 503 Final Rule Standards for the Use or Disposal of Sewage Sludge. All previous data collected regarding the ability of the advanced alkaline product to remain stabilized over long periods of time were related to the material produced at the higher temperatures which indicated no significant decline in pH over a time of 5 years. The goal of this research is to obtain better understanding of the stabilization of biosolids over time, lower costs, reduce odor formation and to reduce vector and pathogen attraction so to comply with the current requirements.

The adsorption of lead (11) and copper (11) in a fixed bed column using activated carbon prepared from nipa palm nut was investigated. Thomas model and Yoon and Nelson kinetic models were used to analyze the column performance. The rate constant for Thomas model increased with increase in flow rate and initial ion concentration but remained constant at varying bed height. Adsorption capacity for the adsorption of copper (11) obtained from Thomas model ranged from 3.417 to 17.224 mg/l for Thomas model and from 3.02 to 11.92mg/l for Yoon and Nelson model. Also the adsorption capacity for lead (11) adsorption calculated from Thomas model ranged from 6.937 to 75.59 mg/l and from 12.10 to 47.24 mg/l for Yoon and Nelson model. The maximum adsorption capacity increased with increase in flow rate and initial ion concentration but decreased with increase in bed height. For Yoon and Nelson model, the rate constant increased with increase in flow rate, initial ion concentration and bed height. The time required for 50% breakthrough decreased with increase in flow rate, bed height and initial ion concentration. The kinetic data fitted well to both models. The comparison of the experimental breakthrough curves to the breakthrough profiles calculated by Yoon and Nelson method showed a satisfactory fit for activated carbon prepared from nipa palm nut.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the brain activation patterns in response to the human color preference by using a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). A total of 31 healthy humans without color blindness were participated in this study. The brain activation was induced by viewing of eight different colors: black, gray, blue, green, earthy yellow, red, yellow and white. The questionnaires for color preference showed that green color was mostly favorite to the subjects, whereas the black color was mostly unfavorite. During the visual stimulation with favorite colors, the brain areas dominantly activated included the pons, supramarginal gyrus, paracentral lobule, midbrain and globus pallidus. During the stimulation with unfavorite colors, on the other hand, the predominantly activated brain areas included the body of the caudate nucleus, parahippocampal gyrus, anterior cingulate gyrus, splenium of the corpus callosum, hippocampus, orbitofrontal gyrus, amygdala, thalamus and angular gyrus. The differential brain activation patterns associated with color preference are assumed to reflect the human emotional response and status being assessed.

The emerging contaminants are commonly derived from municipal, agricultural, and industrial wastewater sources and pathways. These compounds are polar and poorly biodegradable. The dynamic removal of atenolol from aqueous solutions by activated carbon in fixed bed column systems was investigated. As far as we know, this is the first study reporting the decontamination by adsorption in fixed bed of solutions containing atenolol, as model compound of b-blockers, which are pharmaceutical pollutants with a high occurrence in natural waters. The performance of fixed bed columns was described through the breakthrough curves obtained from column experiments. The Bohart-Adams, Thomas and Yoon-Nelson models were applied to predict different parameters of the column like service time (Bohart-Adams model), adsorption capacity (Thomas model) and time required for 50% breakthrough (Yoon-Nelson model). Also, the theoretical breakthrough adsorption curve has been obtained. For the last, an industrial scale adsorber was designed from characteristic parameters of the breakthrough curves obtained from experimental data.

The tanning industry has for a long time been associated as the primal source of pollution to various ecosystems wherever they are sited. Effluent spewed by these leather industries including particulate matter has remained very complex requiring more advanced techniques to examine. One such avenue is the use of ecotoxicological diagnosis of the tanning sector to comprehend the underlying environmental impact. Thus recent advances in biotechnology brought to the fore the relevancy and appropriateness of biosensors in determining pollution load and associated impact to the atmospheric, terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Indeed other investigations on Lead, Arsenic and complex anthropogenic and xenobiotics have spurred the development of specific genetically modified organism to facilitate in such investigation. Thus in this paper review the relevancy and advances of the application of biosensors is addressed for purposes of recording, some of the achievements so far attained towards the tanning industry are discussed. However it should be realized that the application of biosensors in evaluating tanning industry effluent is very recent but very opportune area that requires an in-depth ecotoxicological diagnosis through of established biotechnological advances.

Dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) can react with disinfectants to produce numerous disinfection byproducts (DBPs), particularly nitrogen-containing DBPs (N-DBPs), and produce serious adverse effects on public health. Widely used biological processes in drinking water treatment can increase DON in effluents, and enhance these ill effects. This study investigated DON in a full-scale two-stage ozonation-biological activated carbon (O3-BAC) filtration system. DON concentrations generally increased as media depth increased. There was an ebb and flow pattern between DON and NO3-_N along the media depth in the absence of NH4+_N and NO2-_N. This suggests that NO3-_N is the nitrogen source for DON. Ozonation and nutrient availability significantly impacted microbial biomass and microbial activity. Microbial biomass and microbial activity were both very important to DON formation as they affected the release of soluble microbial products (SMPs). Typical SMPs such as tyrosine/tryptophan amino acids and proteins were found to be formed during biofiltration, and this formation correlated well with DON from the same sampling ports. In order to balance the mass difference between the increased DON and disappeared NO3-_N, a hypothesis on the generation and consumption equilibrium of DON and NO3-_N was posited. This hypothesis involves the existence of nitrogen in the influent, effluent, and backwashing water, and the synthesis of said nitrogen by microorganisms.

The silica gel waste (SGW), after its collection from a local factory (Kolkata, India) was modified with cationic surfactant and was utilized as an adsorbing media for the removal of 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2, 4-D) from agricultural runoff of a tea garden. Characterization of base adsorbent and modified adsorbent was carried out. The efficacy of the adsorbent was evaluated through both batch and fixed bed mode. Kinetics and isotherm study were conducted and the parameters were compared with 2, 4-D bearing distilled water samples. The values of diffusion coefficients were determined. Presence of electrolyte and solution pH was found to affect the performance of the adsorbent significantly. The removal efficiency of surfactant modified silica gel waste (SMSGW) in case of wastewater was found to be lower than the 2, 4-D bearing distilled water sample. The data of column run was analyzed using Logit model. Batch desorption study was carried out using ethanol and acetone. The studies revealed surfactant coated SGW to be an efficient adsorbing media for 2, 4-D removal.

In this study we analyze the effects of environmental performance on the generation of firm value from Dow Jones Sustainability Index Europe. We use a sample of 122 firms from different sectors, except financial one, which belong to this Index for the years 2007 through 2009. The expected results, taking into account our hypotheses, should show a positive relationship between the generation of value and the environmental performance. Therefore, one of our main findings would be the importance of these behaviors in order to improve the economic performance, due to the better utilization of resources. These relationships are not demonstrated by recognition by the stock market, short-term.

A combination of an acidification reactor and an up-flow staged sludge bed (USSB) reactor was applied to treatment of molasses wastewater. The USSB, equipped with three gas solid separators, was selected because of superior organic removal by means of good retention of granular sludge. The combined system was continuously operated at mesophilic (35oC) conditions for 600 days. The USSB achieved a high organic removal rate of 37 kgCOD/m3 day (organic loading rate of 43 kgCOD/m3 day with 86.2% COD removal). The USSB retained high sludge concentration of approximately 58 gVSS/L based on the reactor volume. The retained granular sludge had good settle-ability with a sludge volume index (SVI) of 4 to 20 ml/ gSS. The retained sludge possessed a sufficient level of methanogenic activities for acetate (1.2 gCOD/gVSS day) and for hydrogen (1.7 gCOD/gVSS day). Analysis of microbial community revealed that genus Methanobacterium as hydrogen utilizing methanogen and order Methanosarcinales as acetate utilizing methanogen were detected in the retained sludge of the USSB reactor. The superior performance of the USSB was attributed to good retention of a large amount of granular sludge with high methanogenic activity.

In Italy, several policy measures have been implemented in order to increase energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions especially concerning the household sector. However, in order to design and implement these policy measures efficiently, it is necessary to get a better understanding of the factors influencing household energy behavior. In this paper, by using disaggregated data from the 2009 Italian Household Budget Survey, we firstly identify the factors which have a strong effect on the choice of a specific fuel by using a multinomial logit model taking into account the heterogeneity of households in the Italian regions. Secondly, we focus on the analysis of the determinants of space heating expenditure bearing in mind the possible influence of the choice of fuel on energy consumption. Finally, by using the results of the multinomial logit model we examine the implications of a simulated scenario concerning tax incentives for energy efficiency improvement. Many of the variables concerning the socio-economic characteristics of households (i.e. family income and type of family) and the characteristics of the dwellings (i.e. year of construction) prove to be important determinants of the choice of space heating technologies and of energy consumption. Altogether, our results help to identify the determinants of household heating behaviour in Italy. Designing and developing target oriented policy measures focusing on specific determinants will help policy makers to achieve the main objectives of Italy's energy policy which are to increase energy efficiency and lower energy consumption thus reducing carbon emissions.

Concern for the environment is a constantly growing phenomenon. Awareness of most people and governments in the world with regard to this question has risen. Sometimes, this position is inversely proportional to economic growth, leading to a situation where a more environmental stance on the part of end users has often not been supported by more restrictive environmental protection laws. This study is intended to analyse the importance individual behaviours, attitudes and values have in relation to the environmental actions of various countries, using the information supplied by the World Values Survey Association. Empirical analysis is approached using a model of structural equations in which the intensity and sign of relationships can be seen.

Bioaccumulation of heavy metals in the skulls of black-striped field mice (Apodemusagrarius) was compared for two localities in Serbia differing in the level of pollution. Eight heavy metals: Fe, Mn, Co, Cd, Zn, Ni, Pb and Cu, were quantitatively analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry.Four of them (Mn, Cd, Fe and Ni) showed significantly higher concentrations at the polluted location than in the relatively unpolluted one. Concentrations of heavy metals in three age categories exhibited opposite patterns depending on pollution levels. At the unpolluted locality heavy metal concentrations were the highest in the youngest group and lower in older animals. In contrast, bone metal concentrations increased with age class at the more polluted site. At the same time, we found that young animals from the polluted location had a statistically significant lower relative body mass (RBM) than those from the unpolluted area (t=7.155, p<0.001), which may have been caused by heavy metals or other factors associated with pollution. In general, we found that age is a critical factor for estimating the level of heavy metal pollution, so proper investigations should account for the age structure of the samples.

A new way of thinking is influencing the behaviour of both consumers and firms: any tourism activity has a sizeable environmental impact and the roots of environmental problems in this industry lie in human behaviour. Accordingly, in recent years tourists have been taking into account the environment as a factor in their purchasing decisions and firms are using this factor in their competitive positioning. Using a hotel database created by the Quality, Productivity and Competitiveness in the Hospitality Industry in Andalusia project, this paper has two aims: first, we classify the hotels in Andalusia (Spain) -using the variable environment as a factor in its competitive positioning-into strategic groups, and, second, we measure theeconomic performance of thestrategy usedby establishments in each group. We obtained two main results: first, we demonstrated the existence offour strategic groups based on their position toward the environment and a positive association between proactive environmental strategies and the economic performance of hotels in Andalusia, secondly, our results show that strategies that make clients aware of the environmental measures implemented by hotels may improve occupancy levels, and increase sales and the added value generated by the establishment.

In this study, oxic and anoxic microcosms were constructed with aquifer sediment collected from the vicinity of a municipal solid waste composting site. Phenanthrene was used as a model PAH compound.The changes of bacterial and archaeal communities in microcosms were characterized with terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism.16S rRNA gene clone library analysis was also used to investigate phylogenetic composition of the microbial communities when phenanthrene significantly depleted. Results showed that the phenanthrene could be significantly degraded under both oxic and anoxic conditions. Phenanthrene addition had significant impact on bacterial and archaeal community structures, depending on redox conditions. After a significant depletion of phenanthrene, the bacteria in the oxic microcosm were mainly composed of b- proteobacteria, a- proteobacteria and d- proteobacteria, in contrast, g- proteobacteria was the major bacterial type in the anoxic microcosm. Moreover, Euryarchaeota was detected as the major archaeal community in the anoxic microcosm, however, sample from the oxic microcosm was not successfully amplified with archaeaspecific primers. Bacterial family Enterobacteriae and archaeal genus Methanosarcina might play important roles in phenanthrene degradation under anoxic conditions. This work does add new insights on how to bioremediate PAHs in aquifer sediment.

The growing importance of the environmental and social policies in the Spanish savings banks and the large differences between them, take us to delve into those factors that influence on the amounts spent on environment and welfare fund. In this line, we have analyzed all the Spanish Savings Banks, over the period 2004-2008 and using the methodology of panel data, the effect that the composition of the Board of Directors and the Supervisory Committee has on the percentage of income spent on Environment and Welfare Fund. Specifically, such as variables of Board´ composition, we used the presence of women and the existence of a political representative. In view of the results obtained, we can draw as general conclusions that the amount of the Welfare Fund that is spent on Environment depends positively on the presence of women in the Board of Directors, while the variable that have a big positive influence on the Welfare Fund is the existence of a political representative in the Board.