Discharge quality from municipal wastewater treatment plants and the Sludge Biotic Index for activated sludge: integrative assessment

Abstract Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are scrutinized by Environmental Authorities particularly regarding the compliance to discharge limit values fixed by national and local regulations. An integrated approach is necessary to achieve the objectives established with Directive 2000/60/EC (WFD) considering the ecological status of the receiving water body and the quality of the discharge. Specifically, documentary, technical, management and analytical controls should be developed. Moreover, integrative information on the behaviour of the activated sludge in the aeration tank can be useful for plant managers as well as for the regulating Authorities. The study presents the experience concerning WWTP regulation considering the analytic assessment of the discharge as well the monitoring of the Sludge Biotic Index (SBI) for activated sludge. Data from monitoring during the period 2008–14 on SBI values and chemical and microbiological data on the discharges of a sample of 35 WWTPs in the province of Venice (north-east Italy, Veneto region) are presented and discussed. Together with chemical and microbiological analysis, the SBI appears to be a highly useful index for the integrative assessment of plant functionality, in particular when monitoring and identifying critical situations that can determine the exceedance of discharge limit values. The SBI method, in an integrated control approach, can be used for small and medium sized WWTPs that only treat domestic wastewaters. In a case by case assessment this may even substitute part of the analytical monitoring carried out in the WWTPs' control process

Trace elements: critical insights from 15 years of monitoring in the Venice Lagoon catchment basin (Italy)

The study focused on selected trace elements (As, Cd, Cr, Hg, Ni, Pb) monitored in surface waters of the Venice Lagoon catchment basin (North East Italy) over the period 2000-2015. The monitoring was undertaken to verify the achievement of the quality objectives set by the European and national legislations. The available results have been analyzed to evaluate the chemical status of water bodies. The limit of quantification (LOQ) of the applied analytic techniques appears critical for the adequate water monitoring; for some parameters, the percentage of not visible values due to non-satisfactory LOQ was higher in the beginning of the period; the subsequent improvement of LOQ allowed assessing the respect of environmental quality standards (EQSs). The study analyzes time trends in single stations and the differences between detected concentrations in the considered stations. Moreover, maximum concentrations and water flows have been considered to understand the potential correlation. Cumulated frequency curves for the most critical parameters have been built to identify situation of potential overtaking of the EQSs in force. The most polluted sampling stations of the drainage basin for the six trace elements were found in Cuori and Fiumazzo rivers. Although LOQs changed over time, the recorded trends show a quality improvement and a good compliance with respect to EQSs set by European legislation, while considering EQSs set by local special legislation, the objectives are not yet satisfied. Arsenic is ubiquitous; thus, it can be supposed to be originated as a background environmental concentration, while nickel appears of industrial origin according to its point and local presence

Integrity model for surface waters as decision support system: methodological proposal according to directive 2000/60/EC

Summary: The implementation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) 2000/60/EC to achieve a good status of surface water and groundwater bodies within the year 2015 suggests to follow the approach of the River Basin Management Planning implementation by using a model that works as support for decisions (DPSIR – Driving forces, Pressures, State, Impacts, Responses is an example). According to the model, the state of waters should be monitored and pressure sources, due to human impacts, identified. Therefore in this work the suggestions established by the WFD has been interpreted by developing a mathematical model named “Integrity Model” that represents a valid support for assessing the efficiency of the planned interventions that can directly or indirectly play a role in enhancing the quality of surface waters at the basin scale. Results of a preliminary application on Raba River Basin in the Southern area of Poland are presented

Characterization of telomere maintenance and chromosomal integrity in human fibroblasts and keratinocytes

In spite of the significant progress in cancer biology and modern radiation biology in the last decades, it is still an open question how exactly different human cell types respond to ionizing radiation. The majority of studies have been done on two types of human cells: skin fibroblasts and peripheral blood lymphocytes. The main reason for this is the relatively easy access to these cells in individuals. Other cell types, such as normal epithelial cells, have been used on a much smaller scale and consequently there is relatively little data on how normal epithelial cells respond to ionizing radiation in comparison with fibroblasts. The study of epithelial cells is highly relevant for the elucidation of radiation-induced carcinogenesis as the majority of human solid cancers will develop from epithelial cells. The work presented here is the characterization of karyotypes and telomere loss in non-irradiated fibroblast and keratinocyte populations from the same donor during the different stages of proliferation in vitro and results for the response of fibroblasts to five doses of γ-radiation spanning the range 10-2000 mGy with respect to cell proliferation and kinetics of γH2AX foci. An increase in the incidence of telomere loss with doublings in vitro was noted; however, it followed different kinetics in the two cell types. An increase in clonal and de novo chromosomal aberrations was observed in both fibroblasts and keratinocytes as proliferation progressed into senescent phases. Clonal emergence from the second senescent plateau characterized by progressive instability of the genome and different kinetics of telomere maintenance, was observed in keratinocytes. Fibroblasts and keratinocytes showed different kinetics of γH2AX foci, with apparent higher initial induction in fibroblasts, but faster disappearance of the induced foci. The radiosensitivity and the transmission of radiation-induced damage could largely differ according to the cell type status at irradiation (fibroblasts/ keratinocytes, young/ senescent) and their role in the long-term occurrence of radiation-induced tumours needs to be characterized

Contamination of groundwater: obligations of non-responsible parties

In the context of the National Interest Site (NIS) of Venice (North East, Italy), one of the largest petrochemical settlements in Europe, the presence of various significant historical contaminations of soils and groundwater as well as the proximity of different productive sites, have given rise to several complex situations when defining the responsibility for the contamination of groundwater. The identification of the site owner/operator’s duties is of primary importance in defining civil and penal liabilities. In order to favor the recovery of dismissed former production sites, and avoid the propagation of contaminated groundwater in adjacent sites, to highlight any contamination caused by background values (natural contamination) and to apply the European regulation on environmental crimes [EU-Directive 2008/99/EC of 19/11/2008 on the protection of the environment through criminal law. EU O.J. no. L328 6/12/2008], it is fundamental to present a clear operational framework of the prevention measures to be implemented. This also extends to any environmental safety measures that need to be applied and the specific liabilities incurred in view of the decision of the European Court of Justice of 4/03/2015 [ECJ (European Court of Justice). 2015. Decision no. 534 del 4/03/2015. Case C-534/13] which states the need to apply the EU Polluter Pays Principle (PPP). Moreover a historical outlook of the activities carried out on the site and the identification of specific tracers of the contamination source appear to be key elements. The case study of an area heavily contaminated with organo-chlorinated compounds in the NIS of Venice has been chosen, given the different interests of the owners and their concurrent duties, as well as the economic, administrative and technical impediments to recovering the areas for productive use. Organo-chlorinated solvents had been extensively used and can currently supply a fingerprint of the source of contamination. The analytic method applied for this study refers to Italian National guidelines [CNR–IRSA, APAT (Italian National Environmental Protection Agency). 2003. Analytical methods for water, no. 29/2003, Rome. (accessed January 30, 2019)], based on the Gas chromatography technique. The main contaminants detected are the following: Trichlorethylene and Tetrachloroethylene, Vinyl Chloride, 1,1- Dichlorethylene and 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane. Remediation appears bound to complex technical and legal issues which have been analysed in the Italian and EU context of environmental forensics practices