General Concepts of Pollution and Pollutants and Their Nature (Natural and Man-Made Sources of Pollution of the World’s Oceans)

The growth in horticultural and some industrial development in selected areas of Northland has led to a need for more specific and careful planning and control of limited resources in a number of major catchments. The potential irrigation demands for horhculture comprise over 60% of Northland's potential water requirements. By contrast, farm water supply needs are only 11% of these needs. Because of their importance to the Northland economy, and in the legislation these needs are given a high priority in water resource management planning. Land uses, including pastoral farming, require careful operation to reduce diffuse sources of pollution.

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ЭКОЛОГО-ГЕОХИМИЧЕСКОЕ РАЙОНИРОВАНИЕ ТЕРРИТОРИИГ. БИРОБИДЖАНА ПО УРОВНЮ ЗАГРЯЗНЕНИЯ СНЕЖНОГО ПОКРОВА

10.33833/tig.2019.81.41.013 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

V.B. Kalmanova

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Snow Cover ◽

Urban Area ◽

Constructive Method ◽

Comparative Characteristic ◽

Ecological State ◽

Sources Of Pollution ◽

Mobile Sources ◽

Arcview Gis ◽

Very High

В статье представлены результаты исследования экологогеохимического состояния снежного покрова как индикатора качества атмосферного воздуха г. Биробиджана. Выявлены основные природные и антропогенные факторы, предопределяющие экологическое состояние городской территории в зимний период (климатические, планировочная структура, стационарные и мобильные источники загрязнения). Определено, что выбросы основных загрязнителей во время отопительного сезона превышает летний в 6,5 раз. Проведены геохимические исследования снежного покрова на 60 экспериментальных площадках, заложенных в различных функциональных зонах города. Выявлено значительное превышение тяжелых металлов над фоновым уровнем: железа до 60, марганца до 50, меди до 40, цинка до 20, никеля до 12, свинца до 10, кобальта до 6 раз. С 2003 по 2018 годы содержание химических элементов в снеге увеличилось в 2 раза за счет мобильных источников загрязнения, ТЭЦ, котельных. Проведена сравнительная характеристика накопления тяжелых металлов в снеге за 2003 и 2018 годы и установлен ранжированный ряд загрязняющих токсичных веществ. Разработана шкала оценки загрязнения депонирующих сред по суммарному показателю концентрации тяжелых металлов, согласно которой в Биробиджане выявлено 5 уровней загрязнения снежного покрова. В целом экологическое состояние урбанизированной территории признано неудовлетворительным (8 площади территории относится к очень высокому, 14 к высокому, 21 к выше среднему, 27 к среднему уровням загрязнения, 30 к относительно чистым районам города). По полученным результатам разработана карта в программе ArcView GIS Экологогеохимическое районирование территории г. Биробиджана по уровню загрязнения снежного покрова с выделением наиболее загрязненных участков (70 от общей площади города является загрязненной). По результатам проведенных исследований предложены конструктивные методы планирования урбанизированной территории с целью улучшения ее экологического состояния: проведение геомониторинга (контроль загрязнения снежного покрова и своевременный его вывоз на специально оборудованные полигоны). Snow cover is taken as an indicator of air quality using Birobidzhan, a middlesize city in the Russian Far East, as a case study. The main natural and manmade determinants influencing the ecological state of the urban area in winter are identified: climate, a planning structure, and the stationary and mobile sources of pollution. During the heating season the emission of major pollutants exceeds the summer level by 6.5 times. The geochemical study of snow cover was performed at 60 experimental sites in different functional urban areas. A significant excess of heavy metals over the regional background level was revealed: iron up to 60 times, manganese up to 50, copper up to 40, zinc up to 20 , nickel up to 12, lead up to 10, cobalt up to 6 times. From 2003 to 2018 the content of chemical elements in snow increased in 2 times due to the mobile sources of pollution, thermal power plants, and boilers. The comparative characteristic of accumulation of heavy metals in snow for 2003 and 2018 is carried out, and the ranked number of polluting toxic substances is established. The scale of pollution assessment in depositing environments was developed using the cumulative indicator of heavy metal concentration. Five levels of snow cover pollution are found in Birobidzhan: low, moderate, above moderate, high and very high. As a whole, the ecological state of the urban area is considered as unsatisfactory (8 of the area with a very high level of pollution, 14 with high, 21 above moderate, 27 a moderate level of pollution, 30 a relatively clean area). According to the results, a map was developed in the ArcView GIS program Ecological and geochemical zoning of Birobidzhan, using the level of the snow cover pollution with the allocation of the most polluted areas (70 of the total area of the city is polluted). According to the results, a constructive method of planning in an urban area is proposed in order to improve its environmental condition: geomonitoring as a control of pollution in snow cover and its prompt removal to specially equipped landfills.

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VALORIZATION OF THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT OF SOUTH SERBIA FROM THE AIR QUALITY ASPECT

Knowledge International Journal ◽

10.35120/kij28041329m ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 28 (4) ◽

pp. 1329-1333

Author(s):

Miodrag Šmelcerović

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Air Quality ◽

Urban Environment ◽

Pollution Sources ◽

Anthropogenic Sources ◽

Anthropogenic Factors ◽

Limit Values ◽

Cause And Effect ◽

Sources Of Pollution

The protection of the environment and people’s health from negative influences of the pollution of air as a medium of the environment requires constant observing of the air quality in accordance with international standards, the analysis of emission and imission of polluting matters in the air, and their connection with the sources of pollution. Having in mind the series of laws and delegated legislations which define the field of air pollution, it is necessary to closely observe these long-term processes, discovering cause-and-effect relationships between the activities of anthropogenic sources of emission of polluting matters and the level of air degradation. The relevant evaluation of the air quality of a certain area can be conducted if the level of concentration of polluting matters characteristic for the pollution sources of this area is observed in a longer period of time. The data obtained by the observation of the air pollution are the basis for creation of the recovery program of a certain area. Vranje is a town in South Serbia where there is a bigger number of anthropogenic pollution sources that can significantly diminish the air quality. The cause-and-effect relationship of the anthropogenic sources of pollution is conducted related to the analysis of systematized data which are in the relevant data base of the authorized institution The Institute of Public Health Vranje, for the time period between the year of 2012. and 2017. By the analysis of data of imission concentrations of typical polluting matters, the dominant polluting matters were determined on the territory of the town of Vranje, the ones that are the causers of the biggest air pollution and the risk for people’s health. Analysis of the concentration of soot, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides indicates their presence in the air of Vranje town area in concentrations that do not exceed the permitted limit values annually. The greatest pollution is caused by the soot content in the air, especially in the winter period when the highest number of days with the values above the limit was registered. By perceiving the influence of natural and anthropogenic factors, it is clear that the concentration of polluting matters can be decreased only by establishing control over anthropogenic sources of pollution, and thus it can be contributed to the improvement of the air quality of this urban environment.

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Methodology of Research in Micropollutants – Heavy Metals

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.1982.0037 ◽

1982 ◽

Vol 14 (12) ◽

pp. 107-125 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Roland Wollast

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Mathematical Models ◽

Aqueous Phase ◽

Suspended Matter ◽

Solid Phase ◽

Aquatic Organisms ◽

Biological Processes ◽

Particulate Phase ◽

Sources Of Pollution ◽

Adsorption Desorption

A comparison of the concentration of dissolved and of particulate heavy metals in the aquatic system indicates that these elements are strongly enriched in the suspended matter. The transfer between the aqueous phase and the solid phase may be due to dissolution-precipitation reactions, adsorption-desorption processes or biological processes. When these processes are identified, it is further possible to develop mathematical models which describe the behaviour of these elements. The enrichment of heavy metals in the particulate phase suspended or deposited and in aquatic organisms constitutes a powerful tool in order to evaluate sources of pollution.

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Pollution of the North Sea by West European Rivers

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.1991.0277 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 24 (10) ◽

pp. 69-75 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

R. Hupkes

Keyword(s):

North Sea ◽

The North ◽

Sources Of Pollution ◽

The North Sea ◽

Pollution Loads ◽

West European

The pollution loads of the major rivers flowing into the North Sea are calculated over the period of 1984 to 1987. The loads were calculated on the basis of data as provided by the measuring authorities concerned. For several substances the loads are compared with other sources of pollution. In general it can be stated that the reliability of the loads is rather low. Changes in the annual loads are seldom statistically significant over the period of four years. The highest concentrations are, in most of the cases, found in the river Scheldt. When loads are considered the Rhine and Elbe contribute the largest loads for most of the substances.

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Origins and characteristics of urban wet weather pollution in combined sewer systems: the experimental urban catchment “Le Marais” in Paris

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.1998.0010 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 37 (1) ◽

pp. 35-43 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Marie-Christine Gromaire-Mertz ◽

Ghassan Chebbo ◽

Mohamed Saad

Keyword(s):

Waste Water ◽

Sewer System ◽

Urban Catchment ◽

Rainfall Events ◽

Sources Of Pollution ◽

Sewer Systems ◽

Combined Sewer ◽

Wet Weather ◽

Wet Weather Flow ◽

Different Sources

An experimental urban catchment has been created in the centre of Paris, in order to obtain a description of the pollution of urban wet weather flows at different levels of the combined sewer system, and to estimate the contribution of runoff, waste water and sewer sediments to this pollution. Twenty-two rainfall events were studied from May to October 1996. Dry weather flow was monitored for one week. Roof, street and yard runoff, total flow at the catchment outlet and waste water were analysed for SS, VSS, COD and BOD5, on both total and dissolved fraction. Results show an evolution in the characteristics of wet weather flow from up to downstream: concentrations increase from the catchment entry to the outlet, as well as the proportion of particle-bound pollutants and the part of organic matter. A first evaluation of the different sources of pollution establishes that a major part of wet weather flow pollution originates from inside the combined sewer, probably through erosion of sewer sediments.

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A Simple Device for the On-Site Photodegradation of Pesticide Mixes Remnants to Avoid Environmental Point Pollution

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app11083593 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (8) ◽

pp. 3593

Author(s):

Biagio Esposito ◽

Francesco Riminucci ◽

Stefano Di Marco ◽

Elisa Giorgia Metruccio ◽

Fabio Osti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vibrio Fischeri ◽

Analytical Data ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Freshwater Ecosystems ◽

Point Sources ◽

Pseudokirchneriella Subcapitata ◽

Parent Molecule ◽

Oxidation Processes ◽

Sources Of Pollution ◽

Pesticides In Water

The worldwide increase in the number and use of agrochemicals impacts nearby soil and freshwater ecosystems. Beyond the excess in applications and dosages, the inadequate management of remnants and the rinsing water of containers and application equipment worsen this problem, creating point sources of pollution. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) such as photocatalytic and photo-oxidation processes have been successfully applied in degrading organic pollutants. We developed a simple prototype to be used at farms for quickly degrading pesticides in water solutions by exploiting a UV–H2O2-mediated AOP. As representative compounds, we selected the insecticide imidacloprid, the herbicide terbuthylazine, and the fungicide azoxystrobin, all in their commercial formulation. The device efficiency was investigated through the disappearance of the parent molecule and the degree of mineralization. The toxicity of the pesticide solutions, before and during the treatment, was assessed by Vibrio fischeri and Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata inhibition assays. The results obtained have demonstrated a cost-effective, viable alternative for detoxifying the pesticide solutions before their disposal into the environment, even though the compounds, or their photoproducts, showed different sensitivities to physicochemical degradation. The bioassays revealed changes in the inhibitory effects on the organisms in agreement with the analytical data.

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Causes of variations of trace and rare earth elements concentration in lakes bottom sediments in the Bory Tucholskie National Park, Poland

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-020-80137-z ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Mariusz Sojka ◽

Adam Choiński ◽

Mariusz Ptak ◽

Marcin Siepak

Keyword(s):

Rare Earth ◽

Rare Earth Elements ◽

Spatial Variability ◽

Bottom Sediments ◽

National Park ◽

Anthropogenic Sources ◽

Geochemical Processes ◽

Natural Processes ◽

Sources Of Pollution ◽

Geochemical Indices

AbstractThe objective of this study was to analyse spatial variability of the trace elements (TEs) and rare earth elements (REEs) concentration in lake bottom sediments in Bory Tucholskie National Park (BTNP); Poland. The following research questions were posed: which factors have a fundamental impact on the concentration and spatial variability of elements in bottom sediments, which of the elements can be considered as indicators of natural processes and which are related to anthropogenic sources. The research material was sediments samples collected from 19 lakes. The concentrations of 24 TEs and 14 REEs were determined. The analyses were carried out using the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-QQQ). Cluster analysis and principal component analysis were used to determine the spatial variability of the TEs and REEs concentrations, indicate the elements that are the indicators of natural processes and identify potential anthropogenic sources of pollution. The geochemical background value (GBV) calculations were made using 13 different statistical methods. However, the contamination of bottom sediments was evaluated by means of the index of geo-accumulation, the enrichment factor, the pollution load index, and the metal pollution index. The BTNP area is unique because of its isolation from the inflow of pollutants from anthropogenic sources and a very stable land use structure over the last 200 years. This study shows high variability of TE and REE concentrations in lake sediments. The values of geochemical indices suggest low pollution of lakes bottom sediments. It was found that TEs originated mainly from geogenic sources. However, the concentrations of Li, Ni, Sc, Se, Be, Se, Ag, Re, Tl, Cd, Sb and U may be related to the impact of point sources found mainly in the Ostrowite Lake. Almost all REEs concentrations were strongly correlated and their presence was linked to with geochemical processes. The elements allowing to identify natural processes and anthropogenic pollution sources were Cr, Co, Cu, Ag, Cd, Zn, Bi, Re, Ba, Al and Rb in TEs group and Nd, Gd, Yb, Lu, Eu, Dy and Ce in REEs group. The analysis shows high spatial variability of TE and REE concentrations in lake sediments. The values of geochemical indices point to low pollution of lakes sediments. The anthropogenic sources only for two lakes had an impact on concentrations of selected TEs and REEs. The analyses allowed to identify elements among TEs and REEs documenting geochemical processes and those indicating anthropogenic sources of pollution.

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Morpho-Physio-Biochemical Attributes of Roadside Trees as Potential Tools for Biomonitoring of Air Quality and Environmental Health in Urban Areas

Land ◽

10.3390/land10030236 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 236

Author(s):

Ha Na You ◽

Myeong Ja Kwak ◽

Sun Mi Je ◽

Jong Kyu Lee ◽

Yea Ji Lim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Air Quality ◽

Environmental Health ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Biochemical Parameters ◽

Lipid Peroxide ◽

Platanus Occidentalis ◽

Physiological Variables ◽

Sources Of Pollution ◽

Species Specific

Environmental pollution is an important issue in metropolitan areas, and roadside trees are directly affected by various sources of pollution to which they exhibit numerous responses. The aim of the present study was to identify morpho-physio-biochemical attributes of maidenhair tree (Ginkgo biloba L.) and American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis L.) growing under two different air quality conditions (roadside with high air pollution, RH and roadside with low air pollution, RL) and to assess the possibility of using their physiological and biochemical parameters as biomonitoring tools in urban areas. The results showed that the photosynthetic rate, photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiencies, and photochromic contents were generally low in RH in both G. biloba and P. occidentalis. However, water-use efficiency and leaf temperature showed high values in RH trees. Among biochemical parameters, in G. biloba, the lipid peroxide content was higher in RH than in RL trees, but in P. occidentalis, this content was lower in RH than in RL trees. In both species, physiological activities were low in trees planted in areas with high levels of air pollution, whereas their biochemical and morphological variables showed different responses to air pollution. Thus, we concluded that it is possible to determine species-specific physiological variables affected by regional differences of air pollution in urban areas, and these findings may be helpful for monitoring air quality and environmental health using trees.

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The Assessment of the Sewage and Sludge Contamination by Phthalate Acid Esters (PAEs) in Eastern Europe Countries

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13020529 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 529

Author(s):

Olga Anne ◽

Tatjana Paulauskiene

Keyword(s):

Water Samples ◽

Raw Materials ◽

Phthalate Esters ◽

Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽

Sediment Samples ◽

Toxicological Effects ◽

Sources Of Pollution ◽

Eastern European Countries ◽

Acid Esters ◽

Phthalate Acid Esters

Phthalate acid esters (PAEs) are widely used as raw materials for industries that are well known for their environmental contamination and toxicological effects as “endocrine disruptors”. The determining of PAE contamination was based on analysis of dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), dipropyl phthalate (DPP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), diisobutyl phthalate (DiBP), dicyclohexyl phthalate (DCHP) and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) in wastewater and sediment samples collected from city sewer systems of Lithuania and Poland, and Denmark for comparison. The potential PAE sources as well as their concentrations in the wastewater were analyzed and discussed. The intention of the study was to determine the level and key sources of pollution by phthalates in some Eastern European countries and to reveal the successful managerial actions to minimize PAEs taken by Denmark. Water and sludge samples were collected in 2019–2020 and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The highest contamination with phthalates in Lithuania can be attributed to DEHP: up to 63% of total PAEs in water samples and up to 94% of total PAEs in sludge samples, which are primarily used as additive compounds to plastics but do not react with them and are gradually released into the environment. However, in water samples in Poland, the highest concentration belonged to DMP—up to 210 μg/L, while the share of DEHP reached 15 μg/L. The concentrations of priority phthalate esters in the water samples reached up to 159 μg/L (DEHP) in Lithuania and up to 1.2 μg/L (DEHP) in Denmark. The biggest DEHP concentrations obtained in the sediment samples were 95 mg/kg in Lithuania and up to 6.6 mg/kg in Denmark. The dominant compounds of PAEs in water samples of Lithuania were DEHP > DEP > DiBP > DBP > DMP. DPP and DCHP concentrations were less than 0.05 μg/L. However, the distribution of PAEs in the water samples from Poland was as follows: DMP > DEHP > DEP > DBP, and DiBP, as well as DPP and DCHP, concentrations were less than 0.05 μg/L. Further studies are recommended for adequate monitoring of phthalates in wastewater and sludge in order to reduce or/and predict phthalates’ potential risk to hydrobiots and human health.

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