Studied the content and distribution of 18 environmental hazardous trace elementsin the lignite, fatty coal, anthracite and its burnt products by combustion simulatingexpriment in the one-dismensinal boiler.The transf...Studied the content and distribution of 18 environmental hazardous trace elementsin the lignite, fatty coal, anthracite and its burnt products by combustion simulatingexpriment in the one-dismensinal boiler.The transformations and concentration of 18 traceelements during different coal combustion were discussed.The results show that there aresome content distribution of 18 hazardous trace elements in every burnt product, but thelaw of concentration and dispersion of every trace element during different coal combustionis very different.Experiment results indicate that the transformation and concentrationof trace elements during coal combustion are related to the element contents and occur-rencesof trace elements in raw coal, but are also affected by some man-made factorssuch as the combustion method of boiler, combustion temperature and atmosphere, thetype of precipitators and so on.展开更多
Africa is a developing economy and as such, emphasis has been placed on the achievement of revolutionary goals that will place her on a similar rank as the developed economies. Pertaining to this objective, Heads of S...Africa is a developing economy and as such, emphasis has been placed on the achievement of revolutionary goals that will place her on a similar rank as the developed economies. Pertaining to this objective, Heads of States and government all over Africa instigated the African Union (AU) Agenda 2063, which is a framework put in place to achieve a continental transformation over the next 40 years. The use of satellites has been proven to be a major influence on economic growth since it facilitates the exchange of information. Environmental hazards such as climate changes, pollution, and inefficient waste management can be classified as one of the drawbacks to achieving this economic growth we hope to accomplish. The purpose of this paper is to analyze and examine satellite communication as a tool for the attainment of an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa by means of combatting environmental hazards in the continent.展开更多
Agricultural environmental pollution emergencies have become a hot research topic because of the high incidence and influence depth.This paper introduces classification and features of agricultural environmental pollu...Agricultural environmental pollution emergencies have become a hot research topic because of the high incidence and influence depth.This paper introduces classification and features of agricultural environmental pollution emergencies:by pollutant type,it falls into organic pollution emergencies and inorganic pollution emergencies;by the approach of entering agricultural environment,it falls into water resource agricultural environmental pollution emergencies and non-water resource agricultural environmental pollution emergencies.Hazards of agricultural environmental pollution emergencies are analyzed from 4 perspectives:personal security,indirect loss,ecological environment and social stability.In view of the hazards,countermeasures are given to deal with the pollution emergencies as(i)establishing a risk evaluation mechanism for agricultural environment;(ii)enhancing the capacity of handling agricultural environmental pollution emergencies;(iii)introducing new management concepts for environmental emergencies,and cultivating keen emergency management consciousness.展开更多
Geomorphically, Huzhou, which is on the Yangtze River delta is characterized mainly by plains, with small hills. This paper presents a detailed analysis of the environmental geological hazards both natural and those i...Geomorphically, Huzhou, which is on the Yangtze River delta is characterized mainly by plains, with small hills. This paper presents a detailed analysis of the environmental geological hazards both natural and those incurred by human activities in different morphologic units. The authors point out that most of the regional environmental geological problems in the natural geologic-morphologic conditions, such as crustal stability, foundation of soft soil, soil waterlogging and soil erosion, have insignificant effects to the society, or related countermeasures of prevention and control have been adopted. But environmental geological problems incurred by human being's economic activities become more and more severe, for example, water and soil pollution and land subsidence in plain areas resulting from overexploitation of groundwater, and landslides, karst collapses and water and soil loss etc. caused by quarrying in hilly areas.展开更多
Objective:To examine the effects of various hazardous factors in working environments on burnout in a cohort of clinical nurses in Macao.Methods:A cross-sectional survey was used to examine specific workplace hazards ...Objective:To examine the effects of various hazardous factors in working environments on burnout in a cohort of clinical nurses in Macao.Methods:A cross-sectional survey was used to examine specific workplace hazards for burnout in qualified nurses(n=424)in Macao.Structural equation modeling(SEM)was used to analyze relationships between specific hazards and manifestations of burnout.Results:In the final model,workplace hazards accounted for 73%of the variance of burnout with a standardized regression weight of 0.85.The measures of the model fit were acceptable.Bodily hazards,threats of violence,and physical environmental hazards were found to significantly contribute to two major determinants of burnout,emotional exhaustion and depersonalization.Conclusions:Workplace environmental hazards increased the risk of burnout amongst clinical nurses in Macao.Better management of these factors may help to protect nursing staff and reduce the risk of burnout and attrition from the nursing profession.展开更多
The Taihang Mountains area is an area in North China where serious mudflow hazards take place frequently. The hazards often obstrust traffic and make it difficult to carry out conventional ground investigations of the...The Taihang Mountains area is an area in North China where serious mudflow hazards take place frequently. The hazards often obstrust traffic and make it difficult to carry out conventional ground investigations of the mudflow hazards. This paper introduces the feasibility study of mudflow hazards by using Landsat-5TM data. The study has achieved a great success through adopting both the faint spectral enhancement technique for mudflow fans (or other depositional areas) and comprehensive study of the environmental background of pregnant mudflows. Thus, remote sensing as a fast, convenient, low-cost and effective technical method can be used to recognise the situation of mudflow hazards so that effective rescue can be provided.展开更多
The problem investigated in this research is about the potential risk of technological hazards, which poses a perilous threat to humankind and the environment. Rapid urbanization has been increasing the population den...The problem investigated in this research is about the potential risk of technological hazards, which poses a perilous threat to humankind and the environment. Rapid urbanization has been increasing the population density in an area, elevating the risk of exposure to technological disasters. Therefore, it is necessary to detect the areas with higher chemical risk to spread awareness about the potential risk zones and reduce actual damage and casualties resulting from the hazardous substance events. The basic design of the study utilizes geospatial analysis to map the TRI (Toxics Release Inventory) facilities in the communities of Texas to establish a relationship between potential </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">hazardous material release zones and the human population at risk. The</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> study identified the vulnerable counties as well as investigated how those risk areas are related to race/ethnicity, income and education. The research would contribute to the policymakers acting on the hazard situation and keep them better prepared for</span><span style="color:red;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">chemical hazards. In addition, it would help the residents and emergency managers to better understand the circumstance to mitigate the consequences as well as increase their awareness to be ready for the uncertainties in the hotspots involved in high risk of the hazards.展开更多
This study tests the influence of environmental risks associated with floods, hurricanes, and hazardous material releases on human migration behavior. With close attention to a function of environmental risk factors, ...This study tests the influence of environmental risks associated with floods, hurricanes, and hazardous material releases on human migration behavior. With close attention to a function of environmental risk factors, socio-demographic attributes, hazard risk and locational attributes were measured and correlated to the standardized number of recent arrivals and long term residents at the census tract level. Two groups (i.e., recent arrivals and long-term residents) were created to compare their moving behavior. The results indicate that flood risk showed little relationship to either recent arrivals or long-term residents. These results are consistent with past research which suggests that people tend to ignore their vulnerability to natural hazards. However, both groups had negative relationships to the risk from hurricanes and hazardous material releases. This counter-intuitive result suggests that other factors, such as proximity to employment opportunities or property tax advantages, need to be examined. In particular, the recent arrivals were negatively related to chemical risk while long-term residents were positively related to chemical risks, indicating that people that just arrived and old residents are somewhat different in perceiving environmental risks. In addition, the results of this study suggest that people are objective about environmental risks in selecting their habitat. However, once the habitat is settled, people’s perception of the risks may be interfered or reduced by other factors.展开更多
This paper deals briefly with the pollution caused by hazardous wastes in China, the hazardous waste management at present and the strategy that should be taken for hazardous waste management in the future. Hazardous ...This paper deals briefly with the pollution caused by hazardous wastes in China, the hazardous waste management at present and the strategy that should be taken for hazardous waste management in the future. Hazardous waste problem has become one of the important environmental concerns in China. Hazardous waste have resulted in ecological and environmental destruction, caused damage to human health, and restricted economic development. Although a great effort has been devoted to the management of hazardous wastes, there remain many issues in legislation, experience, technology and finance to be solved. Some recommendations are made on the strategic measures for improving the hazardous waste management in China, particularly relating to legislation, technical development and international cooperation.展开更多
This paper concerns two important environmental problems in China's coastal zone, i.e.,Sea Level Rise (SLR) and Groundwater Table Decline, as the response to climatic chanes/globalwarming due to greenhouse effect....This paper concerns two important environmental problems in China's coastal zone, i.e.,Sea Level Rise (SLR) and Groundwater Table Decline, as the response to climatic chanes/globalwarming due to greenhouse effect. on the basis of possible twacts of these two problems on theregional natural, environmental and social systems, some response strategies were advised.展开更多
From an environmental protection perspective, the crucial issues pertaining to the policing of hazardous waste relate to both the vulnerabilities and limitations of current practices, and the potential issues that dem...From an environmental protection perspective, the crucial issues pertaining to the policing of hazardous waste relate to both the vulnerabilities and limitations of current practices, and the potential issues that demand attention in the here and now, to alleviate future calamity. This paper describes the process involved in developing a vulnerabilities and limitations checklist that provides a relatively simple yet multi-pronged approach to assessing present and future environmental harms and crimes within the hazardous waste sector. Although it was not the intention of the authors to develop a generic checklist, this tool may prove useful to other industry sectors.展开更多
A sustainable waste management system requires the beneficial uses of waste residues, such as sludge and incineration ashes, generated from environmental treatments. Among the use strategies, the practices of mixing h...A sustainable waste management system requires the beneficial uses of waste residues, such as sludge and incineration ashes, generated from environmental treatments. Among the use strategies, the practices of mixing hazardous metal-bearing solids with clay materials to produce ceramic products are often found with significant improvement in reducing the metal leach ability from products. However, relatively much fewer studies have clearly answered the questions of "What are the metal stabilization mechanisms other than simply the dilution effect and the encapsulation of metals?"; "What are the mineral phases of metals and how much are they in the products?"; and "How thermal conditions can effetely promote the transformations of metal-hosting mineral phases?". As many sustainability movements have increasingly promoted the adoption of those products generated from the beneficial use of waste materials, quantitative understandings of the metal incorporation efficiencies are important to facilitate the design of safe and reliable waste-to-resource strategies. Current findings on the metal incorporation mechanisms between common alumino silicates and hazardous metals (nickel, copper, and zinc) under different thermal conditions will be presented, and the results show the important role of forming aluminates and ferrites to significantly reduce the metal leach ability from the products. In the study, the technique of quantitative X-ray diffraction (QXRD) was applied to report the metal incorporation efficiencies through a 3-hour sintering process, aiming to stabilize the hazardous metals and also to turn the waste residues for usable ceramic products. Prolonged leach tests for potential metal-containing phases were carried out in acidic environments to evaluate the durability of thermally treated products. Both aluminate and ferrite spinels proved superior for thermomobilization of hazardous metals. With the information reported, this study has identified the key mechanisms of stabilizing the hazardous metals when thermally treated with common ceramic raw materials, and also demonstrates the importance of quantitative understanding in the development of a safe waste-to-resource strategy.展开更多
In earlier published studies it was shown that an anomalous degree of human physiological ailments and a psychology of sustained anger and violence exist in highly populated countries located on boundaries of collidin...In earlier published studies it was shown that an anomalous degree of human physiological ailments and a psychology of sustained anger and violence exist in highly populated countries located on boundaries of colliding Tectonic Plates in three continents at Latitude 34° north. The Valley of Kashmir in Northern India is also located exactly on this latitude, hence chosen for detailed experimental verification of this phenomenon. This region also suffers from chronic public health hazards. Infrasound is very low frequency acoustic wave with frequencies ranging from 0.01 Hz to 20 Hz. It emanates from earthquakes, geological Faults, colliding tectonic plates and atmospheric wind turbulence. Hearing protections like ear muffs and ear plugs offer little protection. One single earthquake can cause multiple infrasound sources in a region. It is shown how regional geomorphology in the Kashmir Valley enhances and sustains this phenomenon. Both the percentage of population with hearing disabilities;and casualties due to social violence increase or decrease in proportion to frequency of earthquakes. Infrasound is shown to be the causal linkage. Public health hazards due to environmental infrasound closely resemble public health hazards actually being suffered by the population in Kashmir as established by formal and extensive medical investigations. Hence a Field Study was carried out to locate and record infrasound emissions in ten locations near 34°N latitude in Kashmir Valley. An analytical technique was developed to integrate infrasound spectrum in specific locations with public health hazards. It was discovered that infrasound recorded in South Kashmir around 34°N latitude at the locations of highest amplitude lies in proximity of Active Faults from earthquake ruptures;and in proximity to a large field of past earthquakes that took place in 2006-2012. A comprehensive public health security system needs to be set up very urgently. Technological measures are identified and appropriate technologies suggested cordoning off and mitigating this natural environmental hazard in the Kashmir Valley.展开更多
Bangladesh is an agricultural country facing severe natural hazards in recent times. This results in agricultural damage, ecological damage, economic damage and human health damage. Keshabpur upazilla, Jashore distric...Bangladesh is an agricultural country facing severe natural hazards in recent times. This results in agricultural damage, ecological damage, economic damage and human health damage. Keshabpur upazilla, Jashore district is considered one of the most arsenic prone areas in Bangladesh. However, there was no research data found regarding presence of arsenic in ground water and its transfer to crops and impacts on human health. A questionnaire-based research was conducted to evaluate the present scenario of this area. However, two representative water samples were collected and analyzed. The data showed that 24% people didn’t know about As, 27% people didn’t know about arsenic effects on human health, 61% people depends on neighbor’s deep tubewell (600 - 750 feet depth) for drinking water, 40% people depend on government-provided deep tubewell for irrigation water, 19% peoples are suffering water scarcity in dry season because groundwater level decreased at that time and people mostly suffered with fever. The other diseases were headache, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach ache, allergy, water pox and asthma. Doctors are providing general treatments but never try to find out the reasons based on As. Therefore, it is still unknown to them about which diseases are caused by As. Water analysis data showed that free CO2, EC, BOD, NH4+, NO3−, Ca2+, Mg2+, As and Fe for drinking water and NH4+, NO3-, As and Fe for irrigation water were found to be higher than the DoE permitted safe water standards. The soil data collected from SRDI also supported the present research data. Continuous irrigation with water builds higher concentration of Ca, Mg, Cu, Fe and Mn in the soil. Unfortunately, no data on As was found from SRDI. This research might work as a baseline research for policy makers and researchers to apply proper management plan in this area.展开更多
The paper formulates new principles that should form the basis for the development and creation of new environmental monitoring based on heavy UAVs and high-altitude so-called pseudo-satellites capable of operating fo...The paper formulates new principles that should form the basis for the development and creation of new environmental monitoring based on heavy UAVs and high-altitude so-called pseudo-satellites capable of operating for a long time at altitudes of 25 - 30 km. In order to develop such principles, this paper analyzes the radioecological situation in the territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine for rapid and high-quality environmental cleanup and rehabilitation of areas with detected critical levels of environmentally hazardous pollutants. In order to quickly obtain fundamentally new environmental information, it is necessary to conduct multi-parameter, high-precision integrated monitoring of the Earth’s geospheres based on the latest methods and equipment for ground and remote environmental measurements, and new methods and technological means of clean, environmentally safe processing and final disposal. As the most appropriate technology, we propose mobile installations for plasma-chemical pyrolysis of medical waste directly at the place of its generation.展开更多
Twenty-eight environmental samples (eight well water, sixteen granitic rocks and four soils) were collected from different parts of Adham governorate (Adham, Haqal and Al-Jaizah), to assess the radiological hazard and...Twenty-eight environmental samples (eight well water, sixteen granitic rocks and four soils) were collected from different parts of Adham governorate (Adham, Haqal and Al-Jaizah), to assess the radiological hazard and cancer risk from different perspectives. Adham is situated in a valley between two granitic mountain chains, where much of water supply for drinking, house use and irrigation comes from wells collecting water rains. The activity concentrations of naturally occurring <sup>40</sup>K, <sup>226</sup>Ra and <sup>232</sup>Th and radionuclides were measured by gamma-ray spectrometry for all samples using RGK-1, RGU-1 and RGTh-1, IAEA reference standards issued by the International Atomic Energy Agency, for detector efficiency calibration. The measured values were utilized to evaluate the internal and external exposures both outdoors and indoors. Different standard room models were adopted for this respect to evaluate the indoor gamma-rays exposure from construction materials as well as internal exposure to radon gas emanating from them. Radon concentration indoors, exceeded the upper reference level in dwellings set at 300 Bq/m<sup>3</sup> by the world health organization, in many scenarios. The mean value of the total excess lifetime cancer risk (due to external exposure from gamma-rays) was 2.29 × 10<sup>-3</sup>, above the world average value of 1.45 × 10<sup>-3</sup>. Furthermore, the measured radon concentrations in all water samples exceeded the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) 11.1 Bq·L<sup>-1</sup> standard for drinking water, ranging from 12 to 38 Bq·L<sup>-1</sup> with a mean value of 27 Bq·L<sup>-1</sup>. The total annual effective dose (due to inhalation and ingestion) from radon in water, ranged from 58 to 192 μSv/y (for adults) exceeding the international permissible limit of 100 μSv/y, in seven out of eight samples. According to obtained results, the internal exposure from radon in directly used water from wells, might be the major reason of any suspected radiological health hazard especially in Haqal. The second reason might be the internal exposure from indoor radon gas inhalation in poorly ventilated dwellings.展开更多
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Key Foundation of China(40133010)Natural Science Foundation of China of Anhui University of Science and Technology for ph.D to Research(DG414)
文摘Studied the content and distribution of 18 environmental hazardous trace elementsin the lignite, fatty coal, anthracite and its burnt products by combustion simulatingexpriment in the one-dismensinal boiler.The transformations and concentration of 18 traceelements during different coal combustion were discussed.The results show that there aresome content distribution of 18 hazardous trace elements in every burnt product, but thelaw of concentration and dispersion of every trace element during different coal combustionis very different.Experiment results indicate that the transformation and concentrationof trace elements during coal combustion are related to the element contents and occur-rencesof trace elements in raw coal, but are also affected by some man-made factorssuch as the combustion method of boiler, combustion temperature and atmosphere, thetype of precipitators and so on.
文摘Africa is a developing economy and as such, emphasis has been placed on the achievement of revolutionary goals that will place her on a similar rank as the developed economies. Pertaining to this objective, Heads of States and government all over Africa instigated the African Union (AU) Agenda 2063, which is a framework put in place to achieve a continental transformation over the next 40 years. The use of satellites has been proven to be a major influence on economic growth since it facilitates the exchange of information. Environmental hazards such as climate changes, pollution, and inefficient waste management can be classified as one of the drawbacks to achieving this economic growth we hope to accomplish. The purpose of this paper is to analyze and examine satellite communication as a tool for the attainment of an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa by means of combatting environmental hazards in the continent.
基金Supported by Humanities and Social Science Fund of Henan Provincial Department of Education(2013-QN-027)Doctoral Fund of Henan Polytechnic University(B2012-008)
文摘Agricultural environmental pollution emergencies have become a hot research topic because of the high incidence and influence depth.This paper introduces classification and features of agricultural environmental pollution emergencies:by pollutant type,it falls into organic pollution emergencies and inorganic pollution emergencies;by the approach of entering agricultural environment,it falls into water resource agricultural environmental pollution emergencies and non-water resource agricultural environmental pollution emergencies.Hazards of agricultural environmental pollution emergencies are analyzed from 4 perspectives:personal security,indirect loss,ecological environment and social stability.In view of the hazards,countermeasures are given to deal with the pollution emergencies as(i)establishing a risk evaluation mechanism for agricultural environment;(ii)enhancing the capacity of handling agricultural environmental pollution emergencies;(iii)introducing new management concepts for environmental emergencies,and cultivating keen emergency management consciousness.
文摘Geomorphically, Huzhou, which is on the Yangtze River delta is characterized mainly by plains, with small hills. This paper presents a detailed analysis of the environmental geological hazards both natural and those incurred by human activities in different morphologic units. The authors point out that most of the regional environmental geological problems in the natural geologic-morphologic conditions, such as crustal stability, foundation of soft soil, soil waterlogging and soil erosion, have insignificant effects to the society, or related countermeasures of prevention and control have been adopted. But environmental geological problems incurred by human being's economic activities become more and more severe, for example, water and soil pollution and land subsidence in plain areas resulting from overexploitation of groundwater, and landslides, karst collapses and water and soil loss etc. caused by quarrying in hilly areas.
文摘Objective:To examine the effects of various hazardous factors in working environments on burnout in a cohort of clinical nurses in Macao.Methods:A cross-sectional survey was used to examine specific workplace hazards for burnout in qualified nurses(n=424)in Macao.Structural equation modeling(SEM)was used to analyze relationships between specific hazards and manifestations of burnout.Results:In the final model,workplace hazards accounted for 73%of the variance of burnout with a standardized regression weight of 0.85.The measures of the model fit were acceptable.Bodily hazards,threats of violence,and physical environmental hazards were found to significantly contribute to two major determinants of burnout,emotional exhaustion and depersonalization.Conclusions:Workplace environmental hazards increased the risk of burnout amongst clinical nurses in Macao.Better management of these factors may help to protect nursing staff and reduce the risk of burnout and attrition from the nursing profession.
文摘The Taihang Mountains area is an area in North China where serious mudflow hazards take place frequently. The hazards often obstrust traffic and make it difficult to carry out conventional ground investigations of the mudflow hazards. This paper introduces the feasibility study of mudflow hazards by using Landsat-5TM data. The study has achieved a great success through adopting both the faint spectral enhancement technique for mudflow fans (or other depositional areas) and comprehensive study of the environmental background of pregnant mudflows. Thus, remote sensing as a fast, convenient, low-cost and effective technical method can be used to recognise the situation of mudflow hazards so that effective rescue can be provided.
文摘The problem investigated in this research is about the potential risk of technological hazards, which poses a perilous threat to humankind and the environment. Rapid urbanization has been increasing the population density in an area, elevating the risk of exposure to technological disasters. Therefore, it is necessary to detect the areas with higher chemical risk to spread awareness about the potential risk zones and reduce actual damage and casualties resulting from the hazardous substance events. The basic design of the study utilizes geospatial analysis to map the TRI (Toxics Release Inventory) facilities in the communities of Texas to establish a relationship between potential </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">hazardous material release zones and the human population at risk. The</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> study identified the vulnerable counties as well as investigated how those risk areas are related to race/ethnicity, income and education. The research would contribute to the policymakers acting on the hazard situation and keep them better prepared for</span><span style="color:red;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">chemical hazards. In addition, it would help the residents and emergency managers to better understand the circumstance to mitigate the consequences as well as increase their awareness to be ready for the uncertainties in the hotspots involved in high risk of the hazards.
文摘This study tests the influence of environmental risks associated with floods, hurricanes, and hazardous material releases on human migration behavior. With close attention to a function of environmental risk factors, socio-demographic attributes, hazard risk and locational attributes were measured and correlated to the standardized number of recent arrivals and long term residents at the census tract level. Two groups (i.e., recent arrivals and long-term residents) were created to compare their moving behavior. The results indicate that flood risk showed little relationship to either recent arrivals or long-term residents. These results are consistent with past research which suggests that people tend to ignore their vulnerability to natural hazards. However, both groups had negative relationships to the risk from hurricanes and hazardous material releases. This counter-intuitive result suggests that other factors, such as proximity to employment opportunities or property tax advantages, need to be examined. In particular, the recent arrivals were negatively related to chemical risk while long-term residents were positively related to chemical risks, indicating that people that just arrived and old residents are somewhat different in perceiving environmental risks. In addition, the results of this study suggest that people are objective about environmental risks in selecting their habitat. However, once the habitat is settled, people’s perception of the risks may be interfered or reduced by other factors.
文摘This paper deals briefly with the pollution caused by hazardous wastes in China, the hazardous waste management at present and the strategy that should be taken for hazardous waste management in the future. Hazardous waste problem has become one of the important environmental concerns in China. Hazardous waste have resulted in ecological and environmental destruction, caused damage to human health, and restricted economic development. Although a great effort has been devoted to the management of hazardous wastes, there remain many issues in legislation, experience, technology and finance to be solved. Some recommendations are made on the strategic measures for improving the hazardous waste management in China, particularly relating to legislation, technical development and international cooperation.
文摘This paper concerns two important environmental problems in China's coastal zone, i.e.,Sea Level Rise (SLR) and Groundwater Table Decline, as the response to climatic chanes/globalwarming due to greenhouse effect. on the basis of possible twacts of these two problems on theregional natural, environmental and social systems, some response strategies were advised.
文摘From an environmental protection perspective, the crucial issues pertaining to the policing of hazardous waste relate to both the vulnerabilities and limitations of current practices, and the potential issues that demand attention in the here and now, to alleviate future calamity. This paper describes the process involved in developing a vulnerabilities and limitations checklist that provides a relatively simple yet multi-pronged approach to assessing present and future environmental harms and crimes within the hazardous waste sector. Although it was not the intention of the authors to develop a generic checklist, this tool may prove useful to other industry sectors.
文摘A sustainable waste management system requires the beneficial uses of waste residues, such as sludge and incineration ashes, generated from environmental treatments. Among the use strategies, the practices of mixing hazardous metal-bearing solids with clay materials to produce ceramic products are often found with significant improvement in reducing the metal leach ability from products. However, relatively much fewer studies have clearly answered the questions of "What are the metal stabilization mechanisms other than simply the dilution effect and the encapsulation of metals?"; "What are the mineral phases of metals and how much are they in the products?"; and "How thermal conditions can effetely promote the transformations of metal-hosting mineral phases?". As many sustainability movements have increasingly promoted the adoption of those products generated from the beneficial use of waste materials, quantitative understandings of the metal incorporation efficiencies are important to facilitate the design of safe and reliable waste-to-resource strategies. Current findings on the metal incorporation mechanisms between common alumino silicates and hazardous metals (nickel, copper, and zinc) under different thermal conditions will be presented, and the results show the important role of forming aluminates and ferrites to significantly reduce the metal leach ability from the products. In the study, the technique of quantitative X-ray diffraction (QXRD) was applied to report the metal incorporation efficiencies through a 3-hour sintering process, aiming to stabilize the hazardous metals and also to turn the waste residues for usable ceramic products. Prolonged leach tests for potential metal-containing phases were carried out in acidic environments to evaluate the durability of thermally treated products. Both aluminate and ferrite spinels proved superior for thermomobilization of hazardous metals. With the information reported, this study has identified the key mechanisms of stabilizing the hazardous metals when thermally treated with common ceramic raw materials, and also demonstrates the importance of quantitative understanding in the development of a safe waste-to-resource strategy.
文摘In earlier published studies it was shown that an anomalous degree of human physiological ailments and a psychology of sustained anger and violence exist in highly populated countries located on boundaries of colliding Tectonic Plates in three continents at Latitude 34° north. The Valley of Kashmir in Northern India is also located exactly on this latitude, hence chosen for detailed experimental verification of this phenomenon. This region also suffers from chronic public health hazards. Infrasound is very low frequency acoustic wave with frequencies ranging from 0.01 Hz to 20 Hz. It emanates from earthquakes, geological Faults, colliding tectonic plates and atmospheric wind turbulence. Hearing protections like ear muffs and ear plugs offer little protection. One single earthquake can cause multiple infrasound sources in a region. It is shown how regional geomorphology in the Kashmir Valley enhances and sustains this phenomenon. Both the percentage of population with hearing disabilities;and casualties due to social violence increase or decrease in proportion to frequency of earthquakes. Infrasound is shown to be the causal linkage. Public health hazards due to environmental infrasound closely resemble public health hazards actually being suffered by the population in Kashmir as established by formal and extensive medical investigations. Hence a Field Study was carried out to locate and record infrasound emissions in ten locations near 34°N latitude in Kashmir Valley. An analytical technique was developed to integrate infrasound spectrum in specific locations with public health hazards. It was discovered that infrasound recorded in South Kashmir around 34°N latitude at the locations of highest amplitude lies in proximity of Active Faults from earthquake ruptures;and in proximity to a large field of past earthquakes that took place in 2006-2012. A comprehensive public health security system needs to be set up very urgently. Technological measures are identified and appropriate technologies suggested cordoning off and mitigating this natural environmental hazard in the Kashmir Valley.
文摘Bangladesh is an agricultural country facing severe natural hazards in recent times. This results in agricultural damage, ecological damage, economic damage and human health damage. Keshabpur upazilla, Jashore district is considered one of the most arsenic prone areas in Bangladesh. However, there was no research data found regarding presence of arsenic in ground water and its transfer to crops and impacts on human health. A questionnaire-based research was conducted to evaluate the present scenario of this area. However, two representative water samples were collected and analyzed. The data showed that 24% people didn’t know about As, 27% people didn’t know about arsenic effects on human health, 61% people depends on neighbor’s deep tubewell (600 - 750 feet depth) for drinking water, 40% people depend on government-provided deep tubewell for irrigation water, 19% peoples are suffering water scarcity in dry season because groundwater level decreased at that time and people mostly suffered with fever. The other diseases were headache, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach ache, allergy, water pox and asthma. Doctors are providing general treatments but never try to find out the reasons based on As. Therefore, it is still unknown to them about which diseases are caused by As. Water analysis data showed that free CO2, EC, BOD, NH4+, NO3−, Ca2+, Mg2+, As and Fe for drinking water and NH4+, NO3-, As and Fe for irrigation water were found to be higher than the DoE permitted safe water standards. The soil data collected from SRDI also supported the present research data. Continuous irrigation with water builds higher concentration of Ca, Mg, Cu, Fe and Mn in the soil. Unfortunately, no data on As was found from SRDI. This research might work as a baseline research for policy makers and researchers to apply proper management plan in this area.
文摘The paper formulates new principles that should form the basis for the development and creation of new environmental monitoring based on heavy UAVs and high-altitude so-called pseudo-satellites capable of operating for a long time at altitudes of 25 - 30 km. In order to develop such principles, this paper analyzes the radioecological situation in the territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine for rapid and high-quality environmental cleanup and rehabilitation of areas with detected critical levels of environmentally hazardous pollutants. In order to quickly obtain fundamentally new environmental information, it is necessary to conduct multi-parameter, high-precision integrated monitoring of the Earth’s geospheres based on the latest methods and equipment for ground and remote environmental measurements, and new methods and technological means of clean, environmentally safe processing and final disposal. As the most appropriate technology, we propose mobile installations for plasma-chemical pyrolysis of medical waste directly at the place of its generation.
文摘Twenty-eight environmental samples (eight well water, sixteen granitic rocks and four soils) were collected from different parts of Adham governorate (Adham, Haqal and Al-Jaizah), to assess the radiological hazard and cancer risk from different perspectives. Adham is situated in a valley between two granitic mountain chains, where much of water supply for drinking, house use and irrigation comes from wells collecting water rains. The activity concentrations of naturally occurring <sup>40</sup>K, <sup>226</sup>Ra and <sup>232</sup>Th and radionuclides were measured by gamma-ray spectrometry for all samples using RGK-1, RGU-1 and RGTh-1, IAEA reference standards issued by the International Atomic Energy Agency, for detector efficiency calibration. The measured values were utilized to evaluate the internal and external exposures both outdoors and indoors. Different standard room models were adopted for this respect to evaluate the indoor gamma-rays exposure from construction materials as well as internal exposure to radon gas emanating from them. Radon concentration indoors, exceeded the upper reference level in dwellings set at 300 Bq/m<sup>3</sup> by the world health organization, in many scenarios. The mean value of the total excess lifetime cancer risk (due to external exposure from gamma-rays) was 2.29 × 10<sup>-3</sup>, above the world average value of 1.45 × 10<sup>-3</sup>. Furthermore, the measured radon concentrations in all water samples exceeded the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) 11.1 Bq·L<sup>-1</sup> standard for drinking water, ranging from 12 to 38 Bq·L<sup>-1</sup> with a mean value of 27 Bq·L<sup>-1</sup>. The total annual effective dose (due to inhalation and ingestion) from radon in water, ranged from 58 to 192 μSv/y (for adults) exceeding the international permissible limit of 100 μSv/y, in seven out of eight samples. According to obtained results, the internal exposure from radon in directly used water from wells, might be the major reason of any suspected radiological health hazard especially in Haqal. The second reason might be the internal exposure from indoor radon gas inhalation in poorly ventilated dwellings.
