An Integrated Approach for Identifying Sources of Pollution: The Example of Cadmium Pollution in the Rhine River Basin

1994 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 61-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Anderberg ◽  
W. M. Stigliani
Keyword(s):  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Point Sources ◽  
Chemical Pollution ◽  
Rhine River ◽  
Systematic Analysis ◽  
Diffuse Sources ◽  
Cadmium Pollution ◽  
Sources Of Pollution ◽  
Production And Consumption ◽  
Industrial Metabolism

IIASA' s project, Sources of Chemical Pollution in the Rhine Basin, is a comprehensive analysis of the sources of toxic materials in the Basin 1950–2010. The study employs the concept of industrial metabolism. This approach provides a comprehensive view of production and consumption processes and their effects on the environment. It entails a systematic analysis of all sources of a given material, its pathways through the industrial economy, and the mechanisms by which it is transformed into outputs to be adsorbed and processed by the environment. Losses to air, water and soil are estimated. In this paper we present the results obtained for the historical development of cadmium pollution. The historical evolution of cadmium pollution is more or less representative of the overall trends for the other heavy metals. The results indicate that the Rhine river has experienced a significant decline in the load of cadmium over the last 20 years. Another observed trend is that while the absolute load to the river has decreased, the relative shares of the load contributed by point sources and diffuse sources have been reversed compared to 20 years ago. While point sources dominated emissions in the early 1970s, now diffuse sources are more important. These sources may be more difficult to control, however, since they are much more numerous than point sources, are related to dissipative consumptive uses which cannot be easily monitored or regulated, and in many cases the pathways and sources of emissions have not been identified.

scholarly journals Policies to combat nitrogen pollution in South Asia: Gaps and opportunities

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anastasia Lucy Yang ◽  
N Raghuram ◽  
Tapan Kumar Adhya ◽  
Stephen D. Porter ◽  
Ananta Narayan Panda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Asia ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Global Analysis ◽  
Policy Instruments ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Nitrogen Pollution ◽  
Point Sources ◽  
Policy Action ◽  
Sources Of Pollution ◽  
New Policies

Abstract Assessing and managing nitrogen sustainably is imperative for achieving the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targeted for 2030. South Asian countries, aware of the environmental and health impacts of nitrogen pollution, regionally as well as globally, piloted the 2019 UN resolution on Sustainable Nitrogen Management, calling for urgent policy action. This paper assists South Asia policy development by providing new insights into nitrogen-related policies in the region; it makes a step-change advance on an existing global analysis and database. We built on available methods to better identify, classify and analyse 966 nitrogen-related policies for the region. We compared the global and regional nitrogen policy landscapes to explain the benefits of a deeper policy assessment. The policies we classified as having ‘higher’ relevance – those with direct reference to nitrogen and/or its potential impacts – represent the current nitrogen policy landscape for South Asia. We show that a small proportion of policies (9%) consider multiple pollution sources, sectors, nitrogen threats and impacts, with integrative policy instruments. 5% of policies also consider both non-point and point sources of pollution, representing standout policies. More such policies with an integrated approach are vital in addressing the complexities of nitrogen pollution. Adapting existing and drafting new policies are both required to deal with other current and emerging nitrogen issues. Our analysis provides evidence for a roadmap for sustainable nitrogen policy in South Asia and beyond and supports efforts to reduce the threats posed by nitrogen pollution to achieve the SDGs.

Nitrogen and phosphorus in the Vistula River, Poland -- changes from source to mouth

1994 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 177-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karin Sundblad ◽  
Andrzej Tonderski ◽  
Jacek Rulewski
Keyword(s):  
Central Region ◽  
Northern Region ◽  
Point Sources ◽  
Nutrient Loss ◽  
Phosphorus Concentration ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽  
Concentration Data ◽  
Diffuse Sources ◽  
Vistula River ◽  
South Central

Nitrogen and phosphorus concentration data representing samples collected once a month for nine months at 13 locations along the Vistula River are considered in a preliminary discussion of the sources of the nutrients transported to the Baltic Sea. Concentrations in relation to flow data indicated substantial differences between subbasins. Based on those differences, on the area-specific nutrient loss for a six-month period and on the wastewater discharge in each subbasin, four regions could be recognized in the river basin: i) the southern region with a large impact of point sources, ii) the south central region, where diffuse sources seemed to be of major importance, iii) the north central region with a combined effect of point and diffuse sources, and retention in two reservoirs, iv) the northern region where point sources seemed to be the dominating source, at least for phosphorus. Our results illustrate the importance of differences in phosphorus retention between the basins. Long-term retention along the course of the river, particularly in the two reservoirs, must be estimated to allow proper source apportionment in the Vistula basin. Concentration decreases in the Wloclawek Reservoir varied between 44 and 68% for P, and 11 to 37% for N, in the months with significant retention. In some months, however, concentrations increased, indicating a release of nutrients.

Sources and transport of phosphorus in the Vltava river basin (Czech Republic)

1996 ◽  
Vol 33 (4-5) ◽  
pp. 137-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josef Hejzlar ◽  
Vojtech Vyhnálek ◽  
Jirí Kopácek ◽  
Jirí Duras
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Population Density ◽  
Atmospheric Deposition ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Point Sources ◽  
Diffuse Sources ◽  
River Elbe ◽  
Municipal Wastewaters ◽  
Total P

Export and sources of P in the Vltava basin (subbasin of upper Elbe: total area – 28,093 km2; population density – 115 km−2; forests – 35%, farmland – 51%) were evaluated during 1972–1993. Annual export rates of total P from the basin to the river Elbe ranged between 38 and 68 kg km−2 a−1. Reservoirs with hydraulic retention times longer than 15 days were efficient traps for phosphorus retaining 20 to 30% of total P loading into the watercourses. Point sources (municipal wastewaters) were most important throughout the period and their share varied from approximately 60% in wet years to more than 90% in dry years. Export from diffuse sources (dominated by output from farmland) was highly dependent on discharge and fluctuaded between 5 and 40 kg km−2 a−1 in dry and wet years, respectively. Only about 2% of the P input into the basin from the fertilisation of farmland and from the atmospheric deposition was exported to the watercourses.

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

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.

scholarly journals Hauled liquid waste as a pollutant of soils and waters in Poland

2016 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 111-122
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Karczmarczyk
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Municipal Wastewater ◽  
System Analysis ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Ecological Status ◽  
Liquid Waste ◽  
Point Sources ◽  
Wastewater Management ◽  
Municipal Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Sources Of Pollution

Abstract Hauled liquid waste as a pollutant of soils and waters in Poland. Improperly maintained holding tanks are often underestimated source of contamination of soil, groundwater and surface water. As a rule, wastewater stored in holding tanks, should be transported and treated in municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). There are 2,257,000 holding tanks in Poland, located mainly in rural areas. The article presents the results of analysis of wastewater management in 20 rural and urban-rural communes, which were chosen at random from the total number of 2,174 communes in Poland. The only criterion of commune selection was total or partial lack of sewerage system. Analysis of the collected data showed that on average only 27% of liquid waste from holding tanks ended at the WWTPs. The median is even lower and amounts to 17.5%. More than 4,000 Mg of P and 26,000 Mg of N is dispersed in the environment in uncontrolled manner. Those diffuse point sources of pollution may be one of the reasons in the difficulty of achieving of good ecological status of rivers and affect the quality of the Baltic Sea.

scholarly journals Presence of Pathogens and Indicator Microbes at a Non-Point Source Subtropical Recreational Marine Beach

2009 ◽  
Vol 76 (3) ◽  
pp. 724-732 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amir M. Abdelzaher ◽  
Mary E. Wright ◽  
Cristina Ortega ◽  
Helena M. Solo-Gabriele ◽  
Gary Miller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Point Source ◽  
High Tide ◽  
South Florida ◽  
Point Sources ◽  
Fecal Coliforms ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Ocean Water ◽  
Solar Insolation ◽  
Sources Of Pollution ◽  
Water Detection

ABSTRACT Swimming in ocean water, including ocean water at beaches not impacted by known point sources of pollution, is an increasing health concern. This study was an initial evaluation of the presence of indicator microbes and pathogens and the association among the indicator microbes, pathogens, and environmental conditions at a subtropical, recreational marine beach in south Florida impacted by non-point sources of pollution. Twelve water and eight sand samples were collected during four sampling events at high or low tide under elevated or reduced solar insolation conditions. The analyses performed included analyses of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) (fecal coliforms, Escherichia coli, enterococci, and Clostridium perfringens), human-associated microbial source tracking (MST) markers (human polyomaviruses [HPyVs] and Enterococcus faecium esp gene), and pathogens (Vibrio vulnificus, Staphylococcus aureus, enterovirus, norovirus, hepatitis A virus, Cryptosporidium spp., and Giardia spp.). The enterococcus concentrations in water and sand determined by quantitative PCR were greater than the concentrations determined by membrane filtration measurement. The FIB concentrations in water were below the recreational water quality standards for three of the four sampling events, when pathogens and MST markers were also generally undetectable. The FIB levels exceeded regulatory guidelines during one event, and this was accompanied by detection of HPyVs and pathogens, including detection of the autochthonous bacterium V. vulnificus in sand and water, detection of the allochthonous protozoans Giardia spp. in water, and detection of Cryptosporidium spp. in sand samples. The elevated microbial levels were detected at high tide and under low-solar-insolation conditions. Additional sampling should be conducted to further explore the relationships between tidal and solar insolation conditions and between indicator microbes and pathogens in subtropical recreational marine waters impacted by non-point source pollution.

scholarly journals Contemporary large-scale international design competitions1 in China. A case study of Baietan, Guangzhou

2013 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zheng Liang ◽  
Raine Mäntysalo
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Public Access ◽  
Systematic Analysis ◽  
Planning And Design ◽  
Trading Zones ◽  
Culture Gap ◽  
Urban Planning And Design ◽  
Competition Rules ◽  
Political Background

The importance of contemporary design competitions has been increasingly recognized in fast-growing China in the course of World Trade Organization (WTO) integration and globalization. However, scientific and systematic analysis is rare on how international design competitions are introduced, and how they interact and transplant in the Chinese context. The well-known Chinese-Western culture gap and complicated social and political background make this topic more challenging. Herein, the authors focus on how the international design competitions were “translated” into both international and local perspectives with a compara­tive analysis on development of international design competitions between the Chinese and the Finnish model. To fully exemplify the design-completion procedure and the different roles of Chinese stakeholders and their perspectives on design competitions, the authors study the Baietan case, which was chosen due to its specific relationship with the city’s strategic plan, its representativeness in using international design competitions in connection to large-scale urban projects in China and its public access to the relevant documentation. The preliminary findings suggest that Chinese-style design competitions, acting as ‘designed trading zones’, with less-defined competition rules compared to the Finnish model, may foster the settings of local transformation in adopting international urban planning and design knowledge. However, an integrated approach is required to address subsequent implementation.

Region-wide assessment of the land-based sources of pollution of the black sea

1999 ◽  
Vol 39 (8) ◽  
pp. 193-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Z. Sarikaya ◽  
M. F. Sevimli ◽  
E. Çitil
Keyword(s):  
Black Sea ◽  
Oil Pollution ◽  
Rapid Assessment ◽  
Point Sources ◽  
The Black Sea ◽  
International Rivers ◽  
Sources Of Pollution ◽  
River Danube ◽  
And Control ◽  
Pollution Loads

Black Sea riparian countries have committed to prevent, reduce and control pollution of the marine environment of the Black Sea from land-based sources in accordance with Article VII of the Bucharest Convention. Gathering information on the sources of pollution was one of the basic requirements of the Odessa Ministerial Declaration of the Black Sea countries. This paper presents a summary of the outcome of the studies conducted to fulfil this obligation. The aim of this study has been limited to the point sources of wastewater discharges including domestic as well as industrial discharges. The inputs through main rivers were also included in the scope. Solid wastes directly or indirectly discharged or dumped into the Black Sea were not included in this study. Diffuse sources, surface runoff (storm water) and air emissions were not included in the scope of the study. In this paper, total domestic, industrial and riverine pollution loads of the major pollutants such as BOD, TSS, TN and TP were presented for each of the six Black Sea riparian countries after compilation of the data. Rapid assessment techniques of WHO were adopted in the study to estimate the pollutant loads of the point sources. The major source of contamination to the Black Sea arises as a result of the inputs of contaminants from international rivers, especially the River Danube. The other international rivers are also crucial in the pollution of the Black Sea, although the River Danube is the dominant pollutant source. The fact that the total riverine input is about 85% of the total pollution load of BOD demonstrates the significance of the control of the riverine sources. Total pollution loads of each Black Sea country and their breakdown as domestic, industrial and riverine inputs were presented both in graphical and in tabulated forms. Furthermore, the contribution of the oil pollution and pollution exchange through straits (Kerch and Bosphorus Straits) are also given.

Systems approach to effective water quality management in the Republic of South Africa, existing situation and expected future developments

1998 ◽  
Vol 38 (11) ◽  
pp. 77-85
Author(s):  
P. Marjanovic ◽  
M. Miloradov ◽  
F. van Zyl
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Water Quality ◽  
Quality Management ◽  
Water Policy ◽  
Systems Approach ◽  
Water Quality Management ◽  
Water Quality Monitoring ◽  
Point Sources ◽  
Sources Of Pollution ◽  
Management Functions

The new National water policy will change the way water quality is managed in South Africa. The paper considers the water policy and the repercussions it will have for water quality management in South Africa and proposes a system that can be used to come up with optimum solutions for water quality management. The proposed solution integrates policy and institutional arrangements with the Cadastral system for point and non point sources of pollution and optimisation tools to ensure optimal management of water quality at any given time. The water quality management functions catered for by the proposed system are: resource allocation for pollution discharge, water quality protection, water quality monitoring, planning, development and operation.

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