scholarly journals Marine Sediments from a Contaminated Site: Geotechnical Properties and Chemo-Mechanical Coupling Processes

Geosciences ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 333 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca Sollecito ◽  
Claudia Vitone ◽  
Daniela Miccoli ◽  
Michael Plötze ◽  
Alexander M. Puzrin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Data Interpretation ◽  
Environmental Crisis ◽  
Contaminated Site ◽  
Standard Equipment ◽  
Mechanical Coupling ◽  
Industrial Sites ◽  
The Rich ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Coupling Processes

The city of Taranto in the south of Italy is one of the areas declared as “at high risk of environmental crisis” by the Italian government because it represents one of the most complex industrial sites in Europe, located near urban areas of high population density. The rich ecosystem of the Mar Piccolo basin, located at north of Taranto, started exhibiting unconfutable signs of environmental pollution, confirmed by the high concentrations of organic and inorganic contaminants. Among the different aspects involved in the environmental studies aiming at the basin remediation, this paper focuses on submarine sediments and reports some results of the geotechnical laboratory investigations which made also use of non-standard equipment and revised procedures for data interpretation in order to take account of the sediments’ contamination and heterogeneities. The geotechnical laboratory tests show that, despite the Mar Piccolo recent Holocene sediments having similar origin and composition to those of the Sub-Apennine clay basic formation, their behavioral facets appear to be altered by the presence of contaminants of both natural and anthropogenic origin. Results of washing tests are also presented as a first attempt to quantify the effects of chemo-mechanical coupling processes on the plasticity properties of the shallow sediments.

scholarly journals Effects of bio-chemo-mechanical processes on the properties of contaminated marine sediments

Géotechnique ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-41
Author(s):  
Francesca Sollecito ◽  
Michael Plötze ◽  
Alexander M. Puzrin ◽  
Claudia Vitone ◽  
Daniela Miccoli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Marine Sediments ◽  
Environmental Crisis ◽  
Hydraulic Permeability ◽  
Mechanical Coupling ◽  
Industrial Sites ◽  
Multi Scale ◽  
Soil Skeleton ◽  
Marine Basin ◽  
Contaminated Marine Sediments

A detailed multi-scale investigation of the geotechnical, chemical and mineralogical properties was conducted on contaminated sediment samples collected within the Mar Piccolo, a marine basin in south of Italy. The basin is located close to one of the most important industrial sites in Europe also declared ‘at high risk of environmental crisis’ and prioritised for remediation activities. A multidisciplinary investigation campaign showed that the samples collected close to the seafloor are characterized by high values of both heavy metals and organic pollutants and by the presence of significant amount of organic matter. Several samples in the top layer exhibited peculiar geotechnical properties, in terms of plasticity and activity indexes, compressibility and hydraulic permeability. While the prime suspect for such unconventional behaviour was the chemo-mechanical coupling between soil skeleton and contaminants, it turned out that the biogeochemical degradation of organic matter and the presence of microfossils and diatoms is likely to affect significantly the micro to macro behaviour of polluted marine sediments.

An expert system for real-time well field management

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 699-706 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. S. Marti ◽  
G. Bauser ◽  
F. Stauffer ◽  
U. Kuhlmann ◽  
H.-P. Kaiser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Expert System ◽  
Knowledge Base ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Industrial Sites ◽  
Water Wells ◽  
Well Field ◽  
Field Management ◽  
Historical Management

Well field management in urban areas faces challenges such as pollution from old waste deposits and former industrial sites, pollution from chemical accidents along transport lines or in industry, or diffuse pollution from leaking sewers. One possibility to protect the drinking water of a well field is the maintenance of a hydraulic barrier between the potentially polluted and the clean water. An example is the Hardhof well field in Zurich, Switzerland. This paper presents the methodology for a simple and fast expert system (ES), applies it to the Hardhof well field, and compares its performance to the historical management method of the Hardhof well field. Although the ES is quite simplistic it considerably improves the water quality in the drinking water wells. The ES knowledge base is crucial for successful management application. Therefore, a periodic update of the knowledge base is suggested for the real-time application of the ES.

International Institutions and the Environmental Crisis: A Look Ahead

1972 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 469-478 ◽  
Author(s):  
David A. Kay ◽  
Eugene B. Skolnikoff
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
International Institutions ◽  
Modern Technology ◽  
Environmental Crisis ◽  
Widespread Application ◽  
Human Environment ◽  
Look Ahead ◽  
International Issue ◽  
Surrounding Areas

In the industrialized northern hemisphere we are assaulted daily with evidence of the deteriorating quality of the human environment: Rivers are closed to fishing because of dangerous levels of contamination; the safety of important foods is challenged; the foul air that major urban areas have been forced to endure is now spreading like an inkblot into surrounding areas. Lack of early concern about the implications for the environment of the widespread application of modern technology has allowed the problem to grow rapidly into a critical domestic and international issue.

scholarly journals Transformation Directions of Brownfields: The Case of the Górnośląsko-Zagłębiowska Metropolis

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 2075
Author(s):  
Sławomir Pytel ◽  
Sławomir Sitek ◽  
Marta Chmielewska ◽  
Elżbieta Zuzańska-Żyśko ◽  
Anna Runge ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Economic Transformation ◽  
Functional Changes ◽  
Industrial Sites ◽  
Mine Dumps ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Post Industrial ◽  
Settling Ponds ◽  
Depth Interviews

Brownfields are remnants of the functional and spatial transformations of urban areas in Poland. They are particularly abundant in old industrial districts, based on coal mining and metallurgy. The aim of this study is to identify the transformation directions and functional changes of brownfields in the former Upper Silesian Industrial Region in southern Poland, which has evolved into the Górnośląsko-Zagłębiowska Metropolis (GZM) through the process of socio-economic transformation. The study makes use of the χ2 test of independence and Cramer’s V as a post-test, and the method of in-depth interviews. The results indicate that the most popular new functions of post-industrial sites are production and services. When we consider large brownfields such as, in particular, disused mine dumps, dumping sites, settling ponds and workings, the most popular new form of land use is green spaces. Moreover, the study shows that the size of brownfields impacts their new forms of land use.

Night-time chemistry of biomass burning plumes in urban areas: A dual mobile chamber study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Spiro Jorga ◽  
Kalliopi Florou ◽  
Christos Kaltsonoudis ◽  
John Kodros ◽  
Christina Vasilakopoulou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Mass Spectra ◽  
Prescribed Burning ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Photochemical Activity ◽  
Organic Nitrate ◽  
Night Time ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
High Concentrations

<p>Biomass burning including residential heating, agricultural fires, prescribed burning, and wildfires is a major source of gaseous and particulate pollutants in the atmosphere. Although, important changes in the size distributions and the chemical composition of the biomass burning aerosol during daytime chemistry have been observed, the corresponding changes at nighttime or in winter where photochemistry is slow, have received relatively little attention. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that nightime chemistry in biomass burning plumes can be rapid in urban areas using a dual smog chamber system.</p><p> </p><p>Ambient urban air during winter nighttime periods with high concentrations of ambient biomass burning organic aerosol is used as the starting point. Ozone was added in the perturbed chamber to simulate mixing with background air (and subsequent NO<sub>3</sub> production and aging) while the second chamber was used as a reference. Following the injection of ozone rapid organic aerosol (OA) formation was observed in all experiments leading to increases of the OA concentration by 20-70%. The oxygen to carbon ratio of the OA increased by 50% on average and the mass spectra of the produced OA was quite similar to that of the oxidized OA mass spectra reported during winter in urban areas. Good correlation was also observed with the produced mass spectra from nocturnal aging of laboratory biomass burning emissions showing the strong contribution of biomass burning emissions in the SOA formation during cold nights with high biomass burning activities. Concentrations of NO<sub>3</sub> radicals as high as 25 ppt were measured in the perturbed chamber with an accompanying production of 0.2-1.2 μg m<sup>-3</sup> of organic nitrate. These results strongly indicate that the OA in biomass burning plumes can evolve rapidly even during wintertime periods with low photochemical activity.</p>

scholarly journals FTIR PHYTOCHEMICAL FINGERPRINTING AND ANTIOXIDANT ANLYSES OF SELECTED INDOOR NON-FLOWERING INDOOR PLANTS AND THEIR INDUSTRIAL IMPORTANCE

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 37
Author(s):  
Jayaprada Rao Chunduri ◽  
Hetwi R. Shah
Keyword(s):  
Reducing Power ◽  
Antibiotic Sensitivity ◽  
Antibacterial Activities ◽  
Phytochemical Analysis ◽  
Zone Of Inhibition ◽  
Ph Indicator ◽  
Sensitivity Testing ◽  
Indoor Plants ◽  
The Rich ◽  
High Concentrations

Objective: phytochemical screening and antioxidant activity analyses of selected indoor plants and to evaluate commercial applications.Methods: Qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analyses of alcoholic and aquatic crude extracts of leaves of selected non-flowering indoor plants were assessed using standard protocols and later compared with FTIR analyses. Antioxidant and antibacterial activities of the extracts were studiedResults: Phytochemical analysis of polar solvent extractions of the four selected plants Pedilanthus tithymaloides, Cordyline terminalis, Tradescantia zebrine and Rhoeo discolou. Indicated the presence of tannins in all four varieties terpenoids in 3, flavonols, phytosterols and phenols in two plants, followed by alkaloids. The phytochemical analyses were supported by FTIR reports. Quantitative studies indicated variations in flavonol, tannin and phenols concentrations among the four species. High concentrations of Total flavonols (P. tithymaloides) and Tannins (C. terminalis) were observed. C. terminalis extract showed comparatively highest reducing power followed by R. discolour and P. tithymaloides extracts. Antibiotic Sensitivity Testing indicated P. tithymaloides showed a maximum zone of inhibition compared to R. discolor. C. terminalis plant leaf extract showed a faint zone of inhibition against E. fecalis while others couldnot. Intense colors of C. terminalis and T. zebrine plants could be used as a natural dye as well as pH indicator. Conclusion: The rich concentrations of the tannins from non-flowering indoor plants could be the future option of dyes and dyeing industry as natural colorants as well as pH indicators. These plants were rich sources of phytochemicals (phenols, flavonols, tannins, and phytosterols), with antioxidant and antibacterial activity.

scholarly journals Measurements in a highly polluted Asian mega city: observations of aerosol number size distribution, modal parameters and nucleation events

2005 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Mönkkönen ◽  
I. K. Koponen ◽  
K. E. J. Lehtinen ◽  
K. Hämeri ◽  
R. Uma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Size Distribution ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Geometric Mean ◽  
Formation Rate ◽  
Geometric Standard Deviation ◽  
Modal Parameters ◽  
Number Size Distribution ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Rural Sites ◽  
Aitken Mode

Abstract. Diurnal variation of number size distribution (particle size 3-800nm) and modal parameters (geometric standard deviation, geometric mean diameter and modal aerosol particle concentration) in a highly polluted urban environment was investigated during October and November 2002 in New Delhi, India. Continuous monitoring for more than two weeks with the time resolution of 10min was conducted using a Differential Mobility Particle Sizer (twin DMPS). The results indicated clear increase in Aitken mode (25-100nm) particles during traffic peak hours, but towards the evenings there were more Aitken mode particles compared to the mornings. Also high concentrations of accumulation mode particles (>100nm) were detected in the evenings only. In the evenings, biomass/refuse burning and cooking are possible sources beside the traffic. We have also shown that nucleation events are possible in this kind of atmosphere even though as clear nucleation events as observed in rural sites could not be detected. The formation rate of 3nm particles (J3) of the observed events varied from 3.3 to 13.9cm-3s-1 and the growth rate varied from 11.6 to 18.1nmh-1 showing rapid growth and high formation rate, which seems to be typical in urban areas.

scholarly journals Migration and Rural Differentiation: Evidence from a Vietnamese Village

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 106
Author(s):  
Thi Minh Khue Nguyen ◽  
Thi Dien Nguyen ◽  
Thi Minh Hop Ho ◽  
Philippe Burny ◽  
Thomas Dogot ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Social Differentiation ◽  
Cash Income ◽  
Positive Contribution ◽  
Diversification Strategy ◽  
Circular Pattern ◽  
The Rich ◽  
Industrial Zones

This paper explores the links between migration and social differentiation in rural Vietnam after the reform period (2005–2015) through a case study of Maithon village, Chilang District, Bacninh Province. Since 2005, many villagers have left Maithon to work in cities, industrial zones or to find employment abroad. The migration process has transformed labour and income structures and supply in many households. However, 90 percent of Maithon households claimed on the positive contribution of remittance, while at the same time, they did not suffer from labour shortage due to the circular pattern of the migration. Therefore, rural out-migration is one of the diversification strategy which enables the villager to gain access to cash income in urban areas while still keep position in rural areas. It has resulted in the increase in the size of the middle class, rather than the generation of the gap between the rich and the poor. Through this process, migration becomes a developmental strategy, as a means for upward mobility rather than mechanism of social differentiation.

Letter To The Editor

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1970 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 340-341
Author(s):  
Alfred Yankauer
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
New England ◽  
Private Practice ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Young Men ◽  
Government Programs ◽  
Large Cities ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Letter To The Editor ◽  
The Rich

Dr. Yankauer wrote: Dr. Marks' point is moot. It has been raised previously in a Pediatrics Commentary. At about the same time a New England practitioner complained that private practice was being ignored in government programs. The question of whether young men finishing their residencies will "go where they are needed" can only be answered by time. The problem is that they are needed just about everywhere (by the rich as well as the poor) because of mounting manpower shortages.3 It is worth mentioning that in urban areas outside of the large cities, where money does not lead to such sharply segregated residential districts and hospital out-patient departments are underdeveloped, practicing pediatricians are virtually the only source of health care.

scholarly journals Nitrate-Utilizing Microorganisms Resistant to Multiple Metals from the Heavily Contaminated Oak Ridge Reservation

2019 ◽  
Vol 85 (17) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael P. Thorgersen ◽  
Xiaoxuan Ge ◽  
Farris L. Poole ◽  
Morgan N. Price ◽  
Adam P. Arkin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Metal Contamination ◽  
Nitrate Removal ◽  
Nitrate Contamination ◽  
Contaminated Site ◽  
Sequence Variant ◽  
Oak Ridge ◽  
Global Issue ◽  
16S Rna ◽  
High Concentrations

ABSTRACTContamination of environments with nitrate generated by industrial processes and the use of nitrogen-containing fertilizers is a growing problem worldwide. While nitrate can be removed from contaminated areas by microbial denitrification, nitrate frequently occurs with other contaminants, such as heavy metals, that have the potential to impede the process. Here, nitrate-reducing microorganisms were enriched and isolated from both groundwater and sediments at the Oak Ridge Reservation (ORR) using concentrations of nitrate and metals (Al, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Cd, and U) similar to those observed in a contaminated environment at ORR. Seven new metal-resistant, nitrate-reducing strains were characterized, and their distribution across both noncontaminated and contaminated areas at ORR was examined. While the seven strains have various pH ranges for growth, carbon source preferences, and degrees of resistance to individual and combinations of metals, all were able to reduce nitrate at similar rates both in the presence and absence of the mixture of metals found in the contaminated ORR environment. Four strains were identified in groundwater samples at different ORR locations by exact 16S RNA sequence variant analysis, and all four were found in both noncontaminated and contaminated areas. By using environmentally relevant metal concentrations, we successfully isolated multiple organisms from both ORR noncontaminated and contaminated environments that are capable of reducing nitrate in the presence of extreme mixed-metal contamination.IMPORTANCENitrate contamination is a global issue that affects groundwater quality. In some cases, cocontamination of groundwater with nitrate and mixtures of heavy metals could decrease microbially mediated nitrate removal, thereby increasing the duration of nitrate contamination. Here, we used metal and nitrate concentrations that are present in a contaminated site at the Oak Ridge Reservation to isolate seven metal-resistant strains. All were able to reduce nitrate in the presence of high concentrations of a mixture of heavy metals. Four of seven strains were located in pristine as well as contaminated sites at the Oak Ridge Reservation. Further study of these nitrate-reducing strains will uncover mechanisms of resistance to multiple metals that will increase our understanding of the effect of nitrate and metal contamination on groundwater microbial communities.

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