The performance of a natural treatment system for landfill leachate with special emphasis on the fate of organic pollutants

A natural treatment system for the treatment of leachate was Studied at Moskogen landfill in southern Sweden. This facility consists of three consecutive ponds and a soil-plant (SP)system. A test area, receiving water from the third pond with the same hydraulic load as the SP-systern, was Used for estimation of the latter system. Quality parameters including biochemical oxygen demand, total organic carbon, ammonium, nitrate, orthophosphate, and total suspended solids along the treatment line were determined as well as Soluble metals (Cu, Cd, Zn, Cr, Ni, and Pb). In addition a thorough investigation along the treatment tine has also been performed concerning volatile organic Compounds and semi-volatile organic Compounds. Non-polar organic compounds were investigated using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Quantification was based on the assumption of equal response for the compounds found in comparison with the chosen marker Substances. For polar, water-soluble Compounds the measurements were restricted to phenolic compounds using high-performance liquid chromatography. Several different types of organic compounds were found in the raw leachate including aromatics, benzene-sulfonamides, biphenyls, naphthalene, organic phosphates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, phenols and phthalates. The treatment system efficiently reduced organic Pollutants, heavy metals, and nitrogen/phosphorous compounds. Most metals and organic compounds in the leachate were already significantly reduced to a low level in the treatment ponds and ammonium-N was efficiently transformed to nitrate-N in the SP-system

Exposure to Metalworking Fluid Aerosols and Determinants of Exposure

Metalworking fluid (MWF) aerosols are associated with respiratory disorders including asthma and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. The aims of this study were to describe exposure to inhalable MWF aerosols and volatile compounds in machine shops, to estimate the influence of important determinants of exposure and to compare different sampling techniques for MWF aerosols. Personal full-shift air samples of inhalable aerosol (PAS-6 sampler) and total aerosol (open-faced sampler) were collected on operators in five medium to big-sized machine shops in three companies. The filters were analysed gravimetrically and extracted by supercritical fluid extraction for MWF aerosol and triethanolamine content. In addition, personal measurements were taken for formaldehyde and volatile compounds on adsorbent samplers. Continuous dust measurements were performed with a real-time instrument (DataRAM) during 2 h periods, using 1-min average values. In total, 95 measurements of inhalable aerosol and extracted MWF aerosols on 51 operators were conducted. Within the companies, the average exposure to inhalable aerosol ranged from 0.19 to 0.25 mg m(-3) with geometric standard deviations from 1.56 to 1.79. On average, the extracted fraction of MWF aerosol was 67% of the inhalable aerosol concentration. The exposure levels of triethanolamine, formaldehyde and volatile compounds were generally low. About 45% of the between-worker variance could be explained by use of compressed air, lack of complete enclosure of machines or grinding as cutting task. In 21 workers with continuous aerosol measurements, short-term peak exposures during 6% of the work time contributed to similar to 25% of the average concentration of inhalable MWF aerosol. Inhalable MWF aerosol concentration measured with the PAS-6 sampler was a factor 2 higher than the concentrations derived from the open-faced sampler. These findings suggest that control measures, such as full enclosure of machines and the elimination of the use of compressed air as cleaning technique, are required to reduce the exposure to MWF aerosols to levels below the expected threshold for adverse respiratory health effects

Índice de qualidade ambiental suinícola (IQAS): Aspectos conceituais e metodológicos e aplicação Swine environmental quality index (SEQI): Conceptual and methodological aspects and case studies

O IQAS é uma ferramenta que avalia as condições nos sistemas de produção de suínos em relação ao meio ambiente, através de indicadores com pesos para identificação, exame e avaliação das características do local, da infra-estrutura e das formas de manejo. Os sistemas de produção avaliados se encontram na bacia hidrográfica do rio Toledo, estado do Paraná. A coleta de dados através de visitas técnicas atendeu ao conjunto de indicadores do IQAS. Com as informações realizaram-se simulações, classificando-se as unidades na faixa regular, irregular e crítica. Para as propriedades de pequeno porte, as que sofreram reformas nos bebedouros, cochos basculantes, esterqueiras e na rede coletora, se classificaram na faixa regular, na qual se enquadraram, também, as que possuem equipamentos para aplicação nas culturas, responsável pelas atividades e área disponível, representando 16,13%. Na faixa crítica, estas se encontram próximas aos recursos hídricos e residências, com esterqueiras em solo e baixa capacidade de armazenamento, com taxas de aplicação acima de 60 m³ ha-1, além de resíduos na área, com 32,26%. As demais unidades, 51,61%, se enquadraram como irregular o que implica em risco de poluição das águas.<br>SEQI is a tool that evaluates the conditions in swine production systems in relation to environment, by using indicators with weights for identification, examination and evaluation of the characteristics of location, infrastructure and farm management procedures. The production systems evaluated in this study are located in the Toledo River basin, Paraná state, Brazil. The collection of data through technical visits met the set of SEQI indicators. With the information, simulations were performed and the units were classified in three groups: regular, irregular and critical. For small farms, the ones that reformed their water nipples, storage tanks, feeding devices and pipe installations, were classified as regular, as well as the ones that have their own equipments for applying manure, a worker responsible for the activities and available area, representing 16.13%. In the critical level, 32.26% of the farms are located near water resources and housings, with manure in the ground and low storage capacity, with application rates above 60 m³ ha-1, besides presenting residues in the area. The other units (51.61%) were classified as irregular, which implies a risk of water pollution