A Review of Environmental Implications of Dredging Activities

Dredging is a global anthropogenic excavation activity of removing sediments from water bodies and depositing it elsewhere. It is a mixed blessing as it has both beneficial and adverse impacts. This paper is on a review of environmental implications of dredging. The objective of the paper is to review previous works by researchers on the environmental consequences of dredging. The method used is a review of academic/journal articles, internet materials, conference / workshop papers, textbooks, bulletins and publicly available materials on dredging activities. The results of the study revealed that previous authors whose works were reviewed have a convergent view that apart from the beneficial impacts of dredging (e.g. keeping waterways navigable, flood and storm protection and provision of materials for road construction and building), it has lots of adverse environmental impacts, including environmental pollution, erosion, widespread hydrological changes, reduction in the population of aquatic lives like destruction of fish spawning grounds and benthic organisms and resuspension of particulate matter column that has elevated levels of lead, copper, zinc and nickel in Phytoplankton. Recommendations of the study include: (1) establishment of environmental legislations and regulations for dredging operation; (2) use of green technology in dredging activities to minimize suspension of sediments and contamination/pollution of dredging environments; and (3) creation of awareness among dredging contractors, regulators and marine communities where dredging take place on the economic and ecological values of the marine ecosystems that are usually very sensitive, fragile and productive

METHODS OF ASTM G16 AND CONFLICTS IN CORROSION TEST DATA: CASE STUDY OF NANO2 EFFECTIVENESS ON STEEL-REBAR CORROSION

In this paper, applications of the methods of ASTM G16 for addressing inherent conflicts in laboratory measurements of corrosion test data were studied, using the inhibiting effect of NaNO2 on the corrosion of concrete steel-rebar for the case study. For this, electrochemical monitoring techniques were employed for studying effectiveness of different concentrations of NaNO2 admixture in replicated concrete samples immersed in NaCl and in H2SO4 media for an experimental period of sixty-eight days. The corrosion test data from this experimental setup were subjected to the probability density fittings of the Normal and the Weibull functions as well as to significance testing methods of ASTM G16-99 R04 specifications. Results identified 10g (0.1208M) NaNO2 admixture with optimal inhibition efficiency model, η = 88.38±4.62%, in the saline/marine simulating environment and the 8 g (0.0966M) NaNO2 admixture with optimum effectiveness, η = 13.51±83.48%, in the acidic environment. The techniques of ASTM G16 adequately identified and addressed conflicting effectiveness from the test data of NaNO2 admixtures in the studied test environments

Technologies for removing pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) from aqueous solutions: Recent advances, performances, challenges and recommendations for improvements

In recent years, the removal of pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) from aqueous solutions has been gaining a lot of attention from researchers throughout the world. This is particularly due to the concern about their potential hazards and toxicities, as they are classified as emerging contaminants. Thus, there is an increasing need to investigate removal technologies for PPCPs at a deeper and more holistic level. This review aims to provide the latest developments in removal technologies for PPCPs. It first succinctly describes the types, characteristics, and hazards of PPCPs on the environment and human health. It then comprehensively covers a wide range of technologies for removing PPCPs from aqueous solutions, comprising the adsorption process (using carbon-based adsorbents, plant biomasses, clay and clay minerals, silica-based adsorbents, zeolite-based adsorbents, polymers and resins, and hybrid adsorbents), advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) (photocatalysis, Fenton or photo-Fenton or electro-Fenton, ozonation, ultrasonication, electrochemical oxidation, persulfate oxidation), membrane separation processes (ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, reverse osmosis), biodegradation processes (bacteria, fungi, and algae), and hybrid treatment (adsorption-AOP, AOP-membrane, membrane-biodegradation, and others). According to the specific experimental conditions, the reported removal efficiencies for adsorption, AOPs, membrane processes, biodegradation processes and hybrid treatment were 40–100%, 40–100%, 3–100%, 14–100% and 5–100%, respectively. This review paper also highlights the challenges in this field of research, particularly incomplete removal of certain PPCPs, high costs of some treatment technologies and generally insufficient understanding on the removal kinetics and mechanisms of PPCPs. This review offers recommendations for future works to further advance the technical performances to eventually realize the wider application of these technologies at the industrial scale

Ethical and legal implications of whole genome and whole exome sequencing in African populations

BACKGROUND: Rapid advances in high throughput genomic technologies and next generation sequencing are making medical genomic research more readily accessible and affordable, including the sequencing of patient and control whole genomes and exomes in order to elucidate genetic factors underlying disease. Over the next five years, the Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa) Initiative, funded by the Wellcome Trust (United Kingdom) and the National Institutes of Health (United States of America), will contribute greatly towards sequencing of numerous African samples for biomedical research. DISCUSSION: Funding agencies and journals often require submission of genomic data from research participants to databases that allow open or controlled data access for all investigators. Access to such genotype-phenotype and pedigree data, however, needs careful control in order to prevent identification of individuals or families. This is particularly the case in Africa, where many researchers and their patients are inexperienced in the ethical issues accompanying whole genome and exome research; and where an historical unidirectional flow of samples and data out of Africa has created a sense of exploitation and distrust. In the current study, we analysed the implications of the anticipated surge of next generation sequencing data in Africa and the subsequent data sharing concepts on the protection of privacy of research subjects. We performed a retrospective analysis of the informed consent process for the continent and the rest-of-the-world and examined relevant legislation, both current and proposed. We investigated the following issues: (i) informed consent, including guidelines for performing culturally-sensitive next generation sequencing research in Africa and availability of suitable informed consent documents; (ii) data security and subject privacy whilst practicing data sharing; (iii) conveying the implications of such concepts to research participants in resource limited settings. SUMMARY: We conclude that, in order to meet the unique requirements of performing next generation sequencing-related research in African populations, novel approaches to the informed consent process are required. This will help to avoid infringement of privacy of individual subjects as well as to ensure that informed consent adheres to acceptable data protection levels with regard to use and transfer of such information

Some experience in measuring pore water suction in Dublin glacial till

Several recent articles and discussions in GIN, by Penman (2002), Thomann et al. (2003), Ridley (2003) and Sellers et al. (2003) highlight the importance of pore water pressure and suctions and in particular the difficulties associated with measuring suction. This article outlines some recent experience in measuring suctions, which were developed in cut slopes in a very stiff glacial till during the Dublin Port Tunnel (DPT) project in Ireland. A particular feature of the project was the execution of a fully instrumented 12m deep trial excavation (Menkiti et al., 2004). Initially some background to the project and to the problem will be given. Then some details of the specification, installation technique and some examples of the measurements obtained will be outlined. Finally some conclusions will be made on the lessons learned and recommendations will be made for future similar applications.Not applicabl

Performance of soil nails in Dublin glacial till

Soil nailing is being used in many projects in glacial tills in Ireland, particularly to provide temporary support to steep slopes. Little design guidance is available for such materials and it is known that application of design procedures developed for other material is conservative. Detailed nail instrumentation and field monitoring during large scale soil nailing works for the Dublin Port tunnel project has been undertaken. It was found that the short-term behaviour of nails was the reverse of that assumed in current design methods. Most load was induced due to drilling and nailing the lift immediately below the nail being monitored, rather than due to excavation induced stress relief. The highest forces were developed in the upper nails, where the largest ground movements occur. This is the reverse of most current design methods where the highest soil-nail bond is assigned to the deepest nails. It would seem that the observed short-term, pre-failure behaviour of nailed slope is governed more by the deformation pattern of the slope rather than by large scale development of failed wedges. Current design procedures should be reviewed. Despite this the trial confirmed that the currently used procedures are highly conservative for Dublin glacial till.Not applicabl

Geotechnical properties of Dublin boulder clay

Geotechnical characteristics of Dublin Boulder Clay (DBC) based on detailed site investigation and site experience from some recent large projects in Dublin are presented. This paper attempts to synthesise available information in parallel with recent work by Skipper et al (2005), who provide an updated understanding of the geology of the DBC. Having assessed the effects of sampling disturbance, the paper characterises the various formations and sub-units of the DBC. The interpreted material behaviour is related to observed engineering performance. It was found from the behaviour of earth retained structures that intact, clayey, DBC formations are 2 to 3 times stiffer than assessed from high quality laboratory tests on block samples. DBC is shown to be significantly stiffer than other well-characterised tills. Relatively inexpensive Multi Channel Surface Wave techniques (MASW) can give very reliable estimates of in situ small strain stiffness. High undrained triaxial compression strengths were measured and it appears that simple UU tests on high quality specimens give good results. Significant strength anisotropy was suggested by undrained triaxial extension strengths that were only 30% to 50% of the triaxial compression strengths. Field horizontal permeability values of the intact clayey till units have a representative mean of about 10-9 m/s and when compared to laboratory values suggest that the material may exhibit some degree of anisotropy of permeability. Overall, the measured engineering parameters for the DBC are favourable for many construction projects. Further work is required in order to understand the in situ horizontal stress profile and the stiffness anisotropy of the till. KEYWORDS: Glacial soils, In situ testing, laboratory tests, site investigation, strength, stiffness.Not applicabl