A review of the distribution of particulate trace elements in urban terrestrial environments and its application to considerations of risk

We review the evolution, state of the art and future lines of research on the sources, transport pathways, and sinks of particulate trace elements in urban terrestrial environments to include the atmosphere, soils, and street and indoor dusts. Such studies reveal reductions in the emissions of some elements of historical concern such as Pb, with interest consequently focusing on other toxic trace elements such as As, Cd, Hg, Zn, and Cu. While establishment of levels of these elements is important in assessing the potential impacts of human society on the urban environment, it is also necessary to apply this knowledge in conjunction with information on the toxicity of those trace elements and the degree of exposure of human receptors to an assessment of whether such contamination represents a real risk to the city’s inhabitants and therefore how this risk can be addressed

Behaviour mechanisms and correlation between lead (Pb) and its isotope 210Pb in industrial residue as an indicator for waste characterization

PubMed ID: 27144415Total lead and 210Pb concentrations were determined in various ash fractions (collected from two of the world’s largest oil shale-fired power plants) by inductively coupled plasma mass-spectrometry (ICP-MS) and gamma spectrometry. Results show a clear increase in total lead (values up to 193 ppm in filter ashes) and 210Pb (values up to 148 Bq kg-1 in filter ashes) concentrations in the ash fractions from the furnace towards the filter ashes. A strong positive linear correlation (Pearson’s bivariate correlation remained between 0.86 and 0.99) was determined between total lead concentration (ppm) and 210Pb activity concentration (Bq kg-1) within all the boilers under observation. The constant concentration ratio between total lead and 210Pb remained around one (with minor exceptions), independent of the sampling location and the used combustion technology. The determined concentration ratio can be applicable as an indicative tool in waste material characterization. It also provides multiple additions to the general material characterization approach, by integrating radiological and elemental studies and providing an option to rapidly obtain initial indicative information about the residues. This in turn helps to generate the initial information to work out the next steps in waste material management. © 2016 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.Citrus Research and Development Foundation EMP-45 National Science Foundation: 22/2011, OISE-9531011 Eesti Teadusagentuur: ETF9304 ESP1-7030-TR-11This work was supported by the EEA Financial Mechanism and Norwegian Financial Mechanism [grant number EMP-45]; Estonian Research Council award [grant number ETF9304]; CRDF Global and Estonian Science Foundation 2010 Energy Research Competition grant CRDF-ETF II, including CRDF [grant number ESP1-7030-TR-11] (National Science Foundation cooperative agreement OISE-9531011) and ETF award [22/2011]. -

Lithology and diagenesis of the poorly consolidated Cambrian siliciclastic sediments in the northern Baltic Sedimentary Basin

The present study discusses lithology and diagenetic characteristics of the siliciclastic Cambrian and the enclosing Ediacaran and Ordovician deposits in the northern Baltic Sedimentary Basin (BSB). The Neoproterozoic and Lower Palaeozoic sediments are despite their age unconsolidated with primary porosity of 20-25% for both shales and sandstones. The sparse Fe-dolomite cementation of arenitic and subarenitic sandstones and siltstones occurs mainly at lithological contacts with the massive Ediacaran and Lower Cambrian claystones and is probably related to ions released during llitization. In contrast to weak mechanical and chemical compaction of sandstone, the clay mineral diagenesis of Cambrian deposits is well advanced. The highly illitic (80-90%) nature of illite-smectite (I-S) suggests evolved diagenetic grade of sediments which conflicts with shallow maximum burial and low compaction. Smectite-to-illite transformation has resulted in formation of diagenetic Fe-rich chlorite in claystones. Some porosity reduction of sandstones is due to formation of authigenic kaolinite at the expense of detrital mica or K-feldspar

TRANSFORMATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS IN MOSCOW: SOCIOLOGICAL DIMENSION

The paper assesses transformation of environmental situation in Moscow and citizens’ attitude toward those changes. It analyzes a mass poll of 800 Moscovites conducted in June–July 2015. The research was aimed at identifying the correlation between subjective perception of residents and objective spatial and environmental differentiation in Moscow as well as assessing the potential of Moscovites’ involvement in solution of environmental problems. Air pollution caused by production enterprises and cars, solid household waste and waste incineration plants were given special consideration. The article analyzes how Moscovites perceive problems of the whole city and of their own districts

Urban geochemical mapping studies : how and why we do them

Geochemical mapping is a technique rooted in mineral exploration but has now found worldwide application in studies of the urban environment. Such studies, involving multidisciplinary teams including geochemists, have to present their results in a way that nongeochemists can comprehend. A legislatively driven demand for urban geochemical data in connection with the need to identify contaminated land and subsequent health risk assessments has given rise to a greater worldwide interest in the urban geochemical environment. Herein, the aims and objectives of some urban studies are reviewed and commonly used terms such as baseline and background are defined. Geochemists need to better consider what is meant by the term urban. Whilst the unique make up of every city precludes a single recommended approach to a geochemical mapping strategy, more should be done to standardise the sampling and analytical methods. How (from a strategic and presentational point of view) and why we do geochemical mapping studies is discussed. Keywords Background - Baseline - Geochemical mapping - Heavy metals - Pollution - Soil - Urba