Assessing the Feasibility of Nutrient Trading Between Point Sources and Nonpoint Sources in the Chao Lake Basin Final

This pilot project will determine the Feasibility of an effective point-nonpoint source nutrient trading program could be established in the Lake Chao Basin, Program's potential benefits, Framework and necessary elements for such a program

Low-Cost Air Quality Monitoring Tools: From Research to Practice (A Workshop Summary).

In May 2017, a two-day workshop was held in Los Angeles (California, U.S.A.) to gather practitioners who work with low-cost sensors used to make air quality measurements. The community of practice included individuals from academia, industry, non-profit groups, community-based organizations, and regulatory agencies. The group gathered to share knowledge developed from a variety of pilot projects in hopes of advancing the collective knowledge about how best to use low-cost air quality sensors. Panel discussion topics included: (1) best practices for deployment and calibration of low-cost sensor systems, (2) data standardization efforts and database design, (3) advances in sensor calibration, data management, and data analysis and visualization, and (4) lessons learned from research/community partnerships to encourage purposeful use of sensors and create change/action. Panel discussions summarized knowledge advances and project successes while also highlighting the questions, unresolved issues, and technological limitations that still remain within the low-cost air quality sensor arena

Greywater irrigation as a source of organic micro-pollutants to shallow groundwater and nearby surface water

Increased water demands due to population growth and increased urbanisation have driven adoption of various water reuse practices. The irrigation of greywater (water from all household uses, except toilets) has been proposed as one potential sustainable practice. Research has clearly identified environmental harm from the presence of micro-pollutants in soils, groundwater and surface water. Greywater contains a range of micro pollutants yet very little is known about their potential environmental fate when greywater is irrigated to soil. Therefore, this study assessed whether organic micro-pollutants in irrigated greywater were transferred to shallow groundwater and an adjacent surface waterway. A total of 22 organic micro-pollutants were detected in greywater. Six of these (acesulfame, caffeine, DEET, paracetamol, salicylic acid and triclosan) were selected as potential tracers of greywater contamination. Three of these chemicals (acesulfame, caffeine, DEET) were detected in the groundwater, while salicylic acid was also detected in adjacent surface water. Caffeine and DEET in surface water were directly attributable to greywater irrigation. Thus the practice of greywater irrigation can act as a source of organic micro-pollutants to shallow groundwater and nearby surface water. The full list of micro-pollutants that could be introduced via greywater and the risk they pose to aquatic ecosystems is not yet known

Assurance of guaranteed atmosphere air quality for a point emission source

Purpose. To solve the task of assessing the components of the guaranteed atmosphere air quality PMPj, PMP depending the maximum pollutant concentrations for a point source of emissions at the stage of designing in various industries (mining, metallurgical, chemical, electric power and others). Methods. The distribution of pollutant concentrations is represented as a vector random field, which at a given point of the area is turned into a vector random variable of concentrations and is characterized by a multi-dimensional density of distribution. To determine the density, the mathematical Berland’s model of the concentrations distribution is applicable in Ukraine, in which the concentration arguments (design parameters of the source and environmental characteristics) are considered as random variables. Having assumed that the distribution density follows the normal law, using the method of function linearization of the random arguments based on the limit theorems of probability theory, its numerical characteristics have been obtained: mathematical expectations of concentrations, its mean square deviations, and correlation coefficients between concentrations. Findings. A new concept has been introduced of guaranteed air quality for populated areas. Based on predictive assessment, the studies have been carried out to ensure it at the stage of designing the facilities that have a point source of pollutant emissions. In accordance with the methodology, a mathematical model of the task of assessing and ensuring the guaranteed quality of atmosphere air has been obtained. According to the determination of the guaranteed atmosphere air quality, its measure is presented as a multi-dimensional probability integral of non-exceedance by the concentrations of at least one pollutant of its maximum one-time permissible concentrations with obtaining the numerical characteristics. Originality. As a result of studies, a mathematical model has been developed for the first time of the task of assessing and ensuring the guaranteed quality of atmosphere air, characterized by the probability values PMP, PMPj, when it is polluted by emissions from a point source. The control of the probability value PMP is performed by selecting the design source parameters so that its value is close to 1. Practical implications. The implementation of the developed model in construction projects with high probability, close to 1, ensures that at least one pollutant by its concentration will not exceed its normative maximum one-time permissible concentration, that is not implemented now. According to the maximum permissible concentration MPCMPj, determination, it is guaranteed the absence of the pollution effect on a person and the occurrence of corresponding diseases.Мета. Рішення задачі оцінки складових гарантованої якості атмосферного повітря PMPj, PMP від максимальних концентрацій забруднюючих речовин для точкового джерела викидів на етапі проектування в різних галузях промисловості (гірничодобувній, металургійній, хімічній, енергетичній та інших). Методика. Розповсюдження концентрацій забруднюючих речовин представлено у вигляді векторного випадкового поля, що в заданій точці місцевості перетворюється у векторну випадкову величину концентрацій і характеризується багатомірною щільністю розподілу. Для визначення щільності використана діюча в Україні математична модель розповсюдження концентрацій Берлянда, в якій аргументи концентрацій (проектні параметри джерела та характеристики навколишнього середовища) розглянуті як випадкові величини. Припускаючи, що щільність розподілу підпорядкована нормальному закону, за допомогою методу лінеаризації функції випадкових аргументів на основі граничних теорем теорії ймовірностей, отримано її числові характеристики: математичні сподівання концентрацій, її середньоквадратичні відхилення, коефіцієнти кореляції між концентраціями. Результати. Введено нове поняття гарантованої якості атмосферного повітря для населених місць. Проведені дослідження за прогнозною оцінкою для її забезпечення на етапі проектування об’єктів, що мають точкове джерело викидів забруднюючих речовин. Відповідно до методики, отримано математичну модель задачі оцінки і забезпечення гарантованої якості атмосферного повітря. Згідно визначення гарантованої якості атмосферного повітря її міра представлена як багатомірний інтеграл ймовірності неперевищення концентраціями хоча б однієї забруднюючої речовини своїх максимально разових гранично допустимих концентрацій з отриманими числовими характеристиками. Наукова новизна. В результаті досліджень вперше розроблена математична модель задачі оцінки і забезпечення гарантованих якостей атмосферного повітря, що характеризуються величинами ймовірностей PMP, PMPj, при забрудненні його викидами від точкового джерела. Управління величиною ймовірності PMP виконується шляхом вибору проектних параметрів джерела так, щоб величина її була близькою до 1. Практична значимість. Впровадження розробленої моделі у проектах будівництва з високою ймовірністю, близькою до 1, забезпечує відсутність перевищення концентрацією хоча б однієї забруднюючої речовини своєї нормативної максимальної разової гранично допустимої концентрації, що зараз не виконується. Відповідно до визначення ГДКМРj при цьому гарантується відсутність впливу забруднень на людину і виникнення відповідних захворювань.Цель. Решение задачи оценки составляющих гарантированного качества атмосферного воздуха PMPj, PMP от максимальных концентраций загрязняющих веществ для точечного источника выбросов на этапе проектирования в различных отраслях промышленности (горнодобывающей, металлургической, химической, энергетической и других). Методика. Распространение концентраций загрязняющих веществ представлено в виде векторного случайного поля, которое в заданной точке местности превращается в векторную случайную величину концентраций и характеризуется многомерной плотностью распределения. Для определения плотности использована действующая в Украине математическая модель распространения концентраций Берлянда, в которой аргументы концентраций (проектные параметры источника и характеристики окружающей среды) рассмотрены как случайные величины. Предполагая, что плотность распределения подчинена нормальному закону, с помощью метода линеаризации функции случайных аргументов на основе предельных теорем теории вероятностей, получено ее числовые характеристики: математические ожидания концентраций, ее среднеквадратичные отклонения, коэффициенты корреляции между концентрациями. Результаты. Введено новое понятие гарантированного качества атмосферного воздуха для населенных мест. Проведенные исследования по прогнозной оценке для ее обеспечения на этапе проектирования объектов, имеющих точечный источник выбросов загрязняющих веществ. Согласно методике, получена математическая модель задачи оценки и обеспечения гарантированного качества атмосферного воздуха. Согласно определению гарантированного качества атмосферного воздуха ее мера представлена как многомерный интеграл вероятности непревышения концентрациями хотя бы одного загрязняющего вещества своих максимально разовых предельно допустимых концентраций с полученными числовыми характеристиками. Научная новизна. В результате исследований впервые разработана математическая модель задачи оценки и обеспечения гарантированных качеств атмосферного воздуха, характеризующихся величинами вероятностей PMP, PMPj, при загрязнении его выбросами от точечного источника. Управление величиной вероятности PMP выполняется путем выбора проектных параметров источника так, чтобы величина ее была близка к 1. Практическая значимость. Внедрение разработанной модели в проектах строительства с высокой вероятностью, близкой к 1, обеспечивает отсутствие превышения концентрации хотя бы одного загрязняющего вещества своей нормативной максимальной разовой предельно допустимой концентрации, что сейчас не выполняется. Согласно определению ГДКМРj при этом гарантируется отсутствие влияния загрязнений на человека и возникновение соответствующих заболеваний.The work has been performed without the financial support of any grant or a scientific project. The authors express their gratitude to reviewers for relevant comments and recommendations on improving the article quality

Chemical and Toxicological Analyses of Lake Calumet (Cook County, Illinois) Sediments

HWRIC Project 88-048NTIS PB90-16072

Environmental public health tracking of childhood asthma using California health interview survey, traffic, and outdoor air pollution data.

BackgroundDespite extensive evidence that air pollution affects childhood asthma, state-level and national-level tracking of asthma outcomes in relation to air pollution is limited.ObjectivesOur goals were to evaluate the feasibility of linking the 2001 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), air monitoring, and traffic data; estimate associations between traffic density (TD) or outdoor air pollutant concentrations and childhood asthma morbidity; and evaluate the usefulness of such databases, linkages, and analyses to Environmental Public Health Tracking (EPHT).MethodsWe estimated TD within 500 feet of residential cross-streets of respondents and annual average pollutant concentrations based on monitoring station measurements. We used logistic regression to examine associations with reported asthma symptoms and emergency department (ED) visits/hospitalizations.ResultsAssignment of TD and air pollution exposures for cross-streets was successful for 82% of children with asthma in Los Angeles and San Diego, California, Counties. Children with asthma living in high ozone areas and areas with high concentrations of particulate matter < 10 microm in aerodynamic diameter experienced symptoms more frequently, and those living close to heavy traffic reported more ED visits/hospitalizations. The advantages of the CHIS for asthma EPHT include a large and representative sample, biennial data collection, and ascertainment of important socio-demographic and residential address information. Disadvantages are its cross-sectional design, reliance on parental reports of diagnoses and symptoms, and lack of information on some potential confounders.ConclusionsDespite limitations, the CHIS provides a useful framework for examining air pollution and childhood asthma morbidity in support of EPHT, especially because later surveys address some noted gaps. We plan to employ CHIS 2003 and 2005 data and novel exposure assessment methods to re-examine the questions raised here

Addressing Uncertainty in TMDLS: Short Course at Arkansas Water Resources Center 2001 Annual Conference

Management of a critical natural resource like water requires information on the status of that resource. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported in the 1998 National Water Quality Inventory that more than 291,000 miles of assessed rivers and streams and 5 million acres of lakes do not meet State water quality standards. This inventory represents a compilation of State assessments of 840,000 miles of rivers and 17.4 million acres of lakes; a 22 percent increase in river miles and 4 percent increase in lake acres over their 1996 reports. Siltation, bacteria, nutrients and metals were the leading pollutants of impaired waters, according to EPA. The sources of these pollutants were presumed to be runoff from agricultural lands and urban areas. EPA suggests that the majority of Americans-over 218 million-live within ten miles of a polluted waterbody. This seems to contradict the recent proclamations of the success of the Clean Water Act, the Nation\u27s water pollution control law. EPA also claims that, while water quality is still threatened in the US, the amount of water safe for fishing and swimming has doubled since 1972, and that the number of people served by sewage treatment plants has more than doubled

Evaluation of three pollutant dispersion models for the environmental assessment of a district in Kocaeli, Turkey

Air Quality Modeling is a method used to manage urban air quality. Various pollutant dispersion models are available, and each of these models is characterized by its own advantages and disadvantages. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of the models and to determine their performance by applying them to a specific district. This study also enabled the determination of the contribution of pollution sources to the total pollution and the current air quality of the study area according to the selected pollutants. In this study, both steady-state models (the American Meteorological Society/Environmental Protection Agency Regulatory Model-AERMOD and the Industrial Source Complex Short Term Model-ISCST-3) and the Lagrangian model (the California Puff Model-CALPUFF) were used as the dispersion models. The Korfez district of Kocaeli was selected as the study area. SO2 and PM10 emissions were observed as pollutants. The statistical methods of mean squared error (MSE) and fractional bias (FB) were employed to evaluate the performance of these models. The results of the study revealed that the highest concentration varied according to the models and time options. However, when the modeling results for all of the sources were examined, the highest concentration was calculated by ISCST-3. The effect of the line source was less than the other sources (point and area). The contributions of the pollution sources differed according to each modeling program. The results of the statistical methods, which were used for evaluating the performance of the models, varied according to both the pollutant type and the time option. An overall ranking regarding modeling performance is as follows: CALPUFF > AERMOD > ISCST-3 for PM10 and ISCST-3 > CALPUFF > AERMOD for SO2. The MSE/FB results demonstrated that the predicted values were lower than the measured outcomes. Similarly, a comparison of the predicted and measured values with national and international limits revealed that various measures are necessary to reduce SO2 and PM10