Mobile and bound forms of trace metals in sediments of the lower ganges

Mobile and bound trace metals associated with sediment components (viz. exchangeable, carbonate, organic, Fe/Mn oxide and residual fractions) were determined at five locations on the River Ganges in the lower reaches. In the exchangeable phase, 5–22% of Pb, 5–14.4% of Cr, 3–16.4% of Cd, 3–16% of Zn and 1–13.5% of Cu were found, and in the carbonate phase 73–87% of Zn, 38–41% of Cd, 13–27% of Ni and 3–10.1% of Pb were found. The Fe/Mn oxide phase retained about 79–83% of Mn, 30–40% of Cr and Fe, 22–25% of Cu, 14–16% of Ni and 9–11% of Pb. In the organic phase about 36–47% of Cd, 22–28% of Cu and 10–15% of Pb were found. The order of release of metals was Cd > Cr > Pb > Cu > Zn > Ni > Mn > Fe, and the order of adsorption characteristics of most of the mobile metal fractions was Fe/Mn oxide > organic > clay. Correlations of the physico-chemical parameters with adsorption characteristics were also determined and a good correlation (r = 0.7) of cation exchange capacity with the clay fraction was found. I_geo (geoaccumulation indices) of metals in the sediments were also evaluated. Results showed a considerable enrichment of trace metals in the sediment phase at almost all the sites.     

Influence of inter-annual variations in climatic factors on fecal coliform levels in Mississippi Sound

Information on the effects of inter-annual variations in climatic factors on fecal coliform levels in coastal waters is scarce. We used 11 years (1990–2001) of rainfall, water temperature, Pearl River stage and salinity data to assess the effects of the 1991–1992 and 1997–1998 El Niño events on fecal coliform levels in Mississippi Sound. El Niño-Southern Oscillation had major effects on Pearl River stage and water quality in the Sound. The geometric mean fecal coliform number differed among years (P=0.0001), being highest during 1991–1992 El Niño years (14.22 MPN per 100 ml) and lowest during 1999–2000 La Niña years (<1.8 MPN per 100 ml). Mean salinity varied among years (P=0.0001) from 9 ppt (1991–1992) to 21 ppt (1999–2000). Mean water temperature was lowest in 1997–1998 (14.5 °C) and highest in 1998–2000 (19.4 °C). Pearl River stage differed among years (P=0.0001), ranging from 1.96 m (1999–2000) to 3.57 m (1997–1998). Inverse relationships were observed between fecal coliform levels and salinity (r²=0.74; P=0.001) and water temperature (r²=0.69; P=0.001), whereas positive relationships were obtained with total rainfall (r²=0.52; P=0.013) and Pearl River stage (r²=0.90; P=0.0001). These relationships are useful for evaluating the potential effects of climate change on water quality and classification of shellfish growing waters in order to protect humans from consuming contaminated shellfish in shallow river-influenced estuaries.     

Compaction and deformation characteristics of collapsible soil in the hydroblasting method

Conclusions 1. In the accelerated hydroblasting method, the process of compaction of collapsible masses is characterized by three phases, and the total deformation amounts to 10–12% of the collapsible mass thickness. In this connection, the collapse in phase I amounts to 25–30%, in phase II to 40–45%, and in phase III to 30–35% of the total compaction deformation.2. In the compaction of collasible loess soils by the hydroblasting method, the critical factor is the degree of saturation s _r ^cr =0.75, for which there is swelling of the camouflaged hollow, and the optimal is s _r ^opt =0.85, for which the maximum effect is reached.3. In contrast with the usual soaking method, in the hydroblasting method compaction of the collapsible mass below a depth of 3–5 m takes placed quite uniformly, with increase in the dry density of the soil to 1.60–1.65 tons/m³.Translated from Osnovaniya, Fundamenty i Mekhanika Gruntov, No. 5, pp. 11–13, September–October, 1991.     

Housing density as an indicator of spatial patterns of reported human–wildlife interactions in Northern New York

Compromises in biodiversity and biotic integrity from human development alter native wildlife communities. Anecdotal evidence suggests that increases in residential development contribute to increases in human–wildlife interactions; however, little empirical research has addressed this issue. We tested whether housing density could be used to indicate patterns of reported human–wildlife interactions in Northern New York. We used a novel application of univariate and bivariate K-functions to assess the spatial relationship of reported human–wildlife interactions along a gradient of housing densities. We found that reported human–wildlife interactions are not completely spatially random in Northern New York State and the reports tend to cluster more in areas dominated by suburban and exurban housing densities compared to areas with urban or wildland housing densities. Low-density developments have unintended ecological consequences including an increase in reported human–wildlife interactions. Further work is needed to determine specific reasons for clustering of reported human–wildlife interactions in suburban and exurban areas. However, planners should consider human–wildlife interactions as a potential negative outcome of low-density development and devise development designs, such as clustering, to reduce future human–wildlife conflicts.     

Determination of the zone of distribution of deformations in soil masses

Conclusion The zone of distribution of deformations in a soil mass depends on the dimensions of the loading surface and on the magnitude of the load, and for pressures not exceeding 2 kg/cm² it is approximately equal to 0.8–1.2 D.Translated from Osnovaniya, Fundamenty i Mekhanika Gruntov, No. 3, pp. 11–12, May–June, 1968.     

Uptake of cadmium, zinc, copper, lead and chromium in the pacific oyster. Crassostrea gigas. Grown in the tamar river. Tasmania

Hundreds of oysters and mud samples from 15 sites along the Tamar River were analysed for cadmium, copper, zinc, lead and chromium. The widely accepted concept of enrichment factors of up to several hundred thousand, describing accumulation by oysters of cadmium, zinc and copper from seawater has been found to be grossly misleading. Concentrations found for these three metals in oysters were only 10–40 times the concentrations in inhabited muds. Concentrations of metals in muds may be used to indicate whether a potential oyster bed would produce oysters that were grossly contaminated. Approximately 1 ppm cadmium in mud could result in oysters containing at least 25 ppm, i.e. 4–5 ppm wet wt. Similarly. 100 ppm zinc in mud could produce oysters containing at least 4000 ppm. i.e. 800–1000 ppm wet wt. Three heavy metal accumulation processes were discernible. Copper and chromium appeared to be absorbed up to a maximum weight that was limited by the size of the oyster and was independent of the amount of metal in the mud. Lead was not absorbed through any physiological demand, but was randomly incorporated at sites containing high concentrations in the mud. Zinc and cadmium were accumulated by a process that depended primarily on the concentrations of these metals in the mud at each site. Mean dry wt concentrations of metals in oysters and mud samples ranged from: 4.2–134 ppm and 0·4 to 5·7 ppm cadmium; 200–1700 ppm and 3–224 ppm copper: 0 135 ppm and 4–1500 ppm lead: 1–37 ppm and 2–88 ppm chromium; 1700 14.000 ppm and 20–500 ppm zinc. respectively.     

Results of observations on settlements of filled-up bases in Yakutsk

Translated from Osnovaniya, Fundamenty i Mekhanika Gruntov, No. 1, pp. 10–13, January–February, 1990.     

Analysis of volatile halogenated organic compounds in fish

A method for the analysis of volatile halogenated hydrocarbons in biological samples has been developed. Extraction efficiencies for various C₁ and C₂ halocarbons were found to be in the range of 63–82%, and recoveries were faitly good. The detection limits lie in the sub-ppb range (0.1–1 ppb).The method has been used to analyse fish samples from both unpolluted and polluted areas in Norway. The compounds most frequently found were chloroform, trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene in concentrations ranging from 10–1000 ppb. From one area, corresponding water and fish samples were analysed which made it possible to estimate accumulation factors for chloroform and trichloroethylene, which were found to be 200–500 and 1400 respectively.     

Determination of the bearing capacity of piles in permafrost by static penetration

Conclusions 1. The tests that we conducted demonstrated the technical feasibility of the static penetration of plastically frozen soils with temperatures of 0 to –0.4°C by series-produced type SP-59 and SP-72 apparatus.2. According to penetration data, computation of the bearing capacity of piles in plastically frozen soils using the method proposed by Ladanyi indicate good convergence with data derived from the field testing of piles.3. Penetration makes it possible to determine the bearing capacity of piles in plastically frozen soils with a temperature above –0.3°C on which there are no data for the computation in SNiP II-18-76, and the increase their bearing capacity by 25–30% as compared with the SNiP for soils with temperatures of –0.3 to 0.4°C.4. Further research on the development of a technology and methodology for static penetration of plastically frozen soils of different lithologic composition and temperature, and also a more precise definition of a number of parameters , n, and m, which are used in computations of pile bearing capacity, are necessary.State Institute for the Design and Planning of Beds and Foundations. Translated from Osnovaniya, Fundamenty i Mekhanika Gruntov, No. 2, pp. 18–20, March–April, 1986.     

Variation of ATP content in Scenedesmus dimorphus cells grown in a chemostat culture and its comparison with chlorophyll-A content

The variations of ATP and chl-a contents in Scenedesmus dimorphus cells grown in a chemostat culture under nutrient limitation were investigated. ATP and chl-a contents per algal dry weight varied in the ranges of 0.15–1.64 μg mg⁻¹ (0.33–3.82 μg mg⁻¹ as ATP/C ratio) and 0.32–1.32% (7.8–30.8 μg mg⁻¹ as chl-a/C ratio), respectively, under the conditions of T-N/T-P ratio of 2–50 by weight and dilution rate of 1–4 per day. At every T-N/T-P ratio, both ATP and chl-a contents increased as dilution rate increased. At a given dilution rate, ATP content decreased systematically as T-N/T-P ratio increased, with the only exception at dilution rate of 4 per day. It was considered based on the result that ATP or chl-a can hardly be used successfully as an indicator of algal biomass.     

Method of consruction in a prefrozen limited soil mass

Translated from Osnovaniya, Fundamenty i Mekhanika Gruntov, No. 3, pp. 17–19, May–June, 1990.     

An approach to reliability assessment in engineering calculations of foundation beds

Translated from Osnovaniya, Fundamenty i Mekhanika Gruntov, No. 1, pp. 24–26, January–February, 1990.     

The growth inhibition of planktonic algae due to surfactants used in washing agents

A survey of inhibitory effects of nonionic and anionic surfactants, including a soap, used in washing agents, on the growth on three species of freshwater phytoplankton, Selenastrum capricornutum, Nitzschia fonticola and Microcystis aeruginosa was conducted. Based on the specific growth rate, μu estimated from a short period (2 or 3 days) cultivation of test algae, the growth inhibition was determined using EC₅₀ values where μu in the culture medium with surfactant decreased 50% of that without surfactant.The EC₅₀ values of nonionic and anionic surfactants tested here for S. capricornutum ranged from 2 to 50 mg l⁻¹ and from 10 to 100 mg l⁻¹, respectively. The tolerances of three species of algae tested with three surfactants, LAS, AE (EO:9) and soap, were different and the inhibitory effects were species specific. EC₅₀ values of LAS, AE (EO:9) and soap for S. capricornutum were 50–100, 4–8 and 10–50 mg l⁻¹, respectively. Those for N. fonticola were 20–50, 5–10 and 20–50 mg l⁻¹, and those for M. aeruginosa were 10–20, 10–50 and 10–20 mg l⁻¹, respectively.     

Generalization of results for chemical stabilization of soils in bases of buildings in volgodonsk

The writers present a generalization of large-scale experience with use of the method of single-solution silicate injection for improvement of collapsible bases of buildings in Volgodonsk. They show the effectiveness of the method under conditions of constant rise of the groundwater level.Translated from Osnovaniya, Fundamenty i Mekhanika Gruntov, No. 3, pp. 18–21, May–June, 1992.     

Health benefits of improving air quality in the rapidly aging Korean society

Korea is experiencing an extraordinarily rapid demographic transition. We investigated the short-term association between air pollution and mortality and assessed the impact of improved air quality on mortality in a rapidly aging city, Seoul, Korea.The generalized additive model (GAM) was used to estimate the relative risks (RR) of mortality associated with changes in air pollution. The time trends, seasonal variations, day of the week effects, and weather effects were controlled in the models. To estimate the health benefits, we used the US Environmental Protection Agency's BenMAP.For people 0–64 years of age, elderly people (65+ years), and all age groups, an increase of 10 μg/m³ in PM₁₀ was associated with increases in daily death counts of 0.27% (95% CI: 0.04–0.50), 0.45% (95% CI: 0.27–0.64), and 0.37% (95% CI: 0.23–0.52), respectively. For ages 0–64 years, elderly people, and all age groups, a 10 ppb increase in 1-hour maximum ozone concentration resulted in an increased risk of daily death counts of 0.28% (95% CI: − 0.19–0.74), 0.96% (95% CI: 0.46–1.47), and 0.81% (95% CI: 0.35–1.26), respectively.For elderly people, it was estimated that the health benefits of attaining the World Health Organization's (WHO) air quality guidelines (AQGs) for PM₁₀ (24-hour average 50 μg/m³) would suggest an annual reduction of 964 (95% CI: 564–1366) premature deaths, and 329 (95% CI: 159–500) premature deaths could be prevented annually in 2015 from attaining the WHO's guidelines for ozone (8-hour average 100 μg/m³).The rapid increase of the elderly population has major consequences and implications for society and public health. This study showed that elderly people are at higher risk for the acute mortality effects of air pollution. Therefore, cleaner air will substantially contribute to improved public health in Seoul, given the growing concern about the adverse effects of air pollution for elderly people.     

Experience with construction and operation of residential buildings on shell-foundations in Igarka

Translated from Osnovaniya, Fundamenty i Mekhanika Gruntov, No. 3, pp. 4–7, May–June, 1990.     

Determination of shape and dimensions of compacted soil widelings and zones in punched holes

Translated from Osnovaniya, Fundamenty i Mekhanika Gruntov, No. 5, pp. 2–4, September–October, 1989.     

Calculation of a plate of finite stiffness in an elastic half space with allowance for bed discontinuity

Translated from Osnovaniya, Fundamenty i Mekhanika Gruntov, No. 5, pp. 20–21, September–October, 1991.     

Design of a foundation wall placed in an elastically creeping bed

Translated from Osnovaniya, Fundamenty i Mekhanika Gruntov, No. 5, pp. 23–24, September–October, 1989.     

Equivalent Mohr–Coulomb and generalized Hoek–Brown strength parameters for supported axisymmetric tunnels in plastic or brittle rock

The evaluation of equivalent Mohr–Coulomb (M–C) strength parameters to the prototype Hoek–Brown (H–B) ones for tunnels has been tackled in different ways for many years. The extension of the H–B criterion to the generalized one has made the challenge even greater. Most of the latest methods did not account for the effect of the support pressure and none gave formulae for equivalent parameters of supported or brittle rock. Here, an almost exact explicit solution for the evaluation of the critical pressure, of a tunnel in a rock mass satisfying the generalized H–B criterion, is initially investigated. Then, formulae are derived for the evaluation of equivalent parameters, of either elastoplastic or elastic–brittle plastic rock. They are based either on a best fitting procedure of the two envelopes or on the equation of selected responses of the models. Supported tunnels in equivalent M–C rock masses are then validated against those excavated in the prototype H–B rock masses.