Mercury contamination in fish from gold mining areas in Indonesia and human health risk assessment

This study investigates the effects on fish and assesses human health hazards from mercury released in two gold mining areas in Indonesia: Tatelu (North Sulawesi Province) and Galangan (Katingan District, Central Kalimatan Province). In Tatelu, 154 fish specimens of 10 freshwater species were collected, as well as five marine species from the fish market. The mean concentration of total mercury in muscles of freshwater fish from this area was 0.58+/-0.44 microg/g, with more than 45% of fish having Hg levels above the WHO guideline for human consumption of 0.5 microg/g. In Galangan, where 263 fish specimens of 25 species were collected, the total mercury in muscles averaged 0.25+/-0.69 microg/g. Excluding data from flooded open pits in sub-area P4, mean Hg levels in fish from Galangan were 2 to 4 times lower than 0.5 microg/g, while fewer than 10% of fish from Galangan exceeded WHO guidelines. The Hazard Quotient (HQ) was applied to both areas to determine the threat of MeHg exposure for communities in both areas. The HQ is a risk assessment indicator which defines the ratio of exposure level to a single substance in relation to a reference dose. Samples from Tatelu (excluding marine species) had an HQ above one, while those from Galangan resulted in values of 2.4 for the whole area and 9.9 for sub-area P4, pointing to potentially harmful fish consumption for the local population. By using the single-compartment model to estimate mercury levels in blood and hair from daily intake dose, sub-area P4 showed the highest levels, higher than the upper limit guideline for pregnant women, but still lower than threshold levels associated with observed clinical effects.     

Detection of enteric viruses, Giardia and Cryptosporidium in two different types of drinking water treatment facilities

In this study, two types of drinking water treatment facilities (two conventional drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) and two compact units (Cus)) were compared referring to their production capacity. Water samples were collected from three main points: (a) different water treatment steps (b) washings of sand filters and (c) distribution system at different distances from the water treatment plants. Both viruses and protozoa were concentrated from each water sample by adsorption and accumulation on the same nitrocellulose membrane filters (0.45 microm pore size). Enteroviruses were detected by plaque infectivity assay in BGM cells and HAV, HEV and Norovirus were detected by RT-PCR. Giardia and Cryptosporidium were detected by conventional staining methods and PCR. The results revealed that enterovirus load at the intake ranged between 10-15 PFU/L for the two compact units and between 4.5 and 75 PFU/L for the two conventional DWTPs. The virus load in distribution system of the first type DWTPs at 1 km from the plant was the same as that of the intake. Viruses in the other type of treatment plants CUs at 1, 5 and 7 km, were much reduced. Investigation of raw water sediments of the two DWTPs showed enterovirus counts between 12 and 17.5 PFU/L. Virus count was reduced in sand of filters after washing. Giardia cysts were equally detected by microscopy and PCR in only intake samples of EL-Hawamdia CU (33.3%) and Meet Fares DWTP (50%). Cryptosporidium oocysts were equally detected by microscopy and PCR in intake samples of Abo EL-Nomros CU (100%), EL-Hawamdia CU (66.7%) and Fowa DWTP (50%). At Meet Fares DWTP three positive intake samples for Cryptosporidium were detected by PCR, compared with only two positive samples by microscopy. Giardia cysts and Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected in raw water sediment and sand of filters before washing. Only one sample from Meet Fares DWTP sand of filters after washing was positive for both Giardia and Cryptosporidium. It can be concluded that the poor microbial quality of the water may be due to improper operational skills and management of the various water treatment plants (especially at the two high capacity treatment plants).     

社区环境管理取得成果的要素:美国酸性矿物废水治理的经验教训

1980年代,社区环境管理(CBEM:community-based environmental management)作为处理棘手环境问题的创新途径在美国开始出现.CBEM指的是地方团体采用与各类代理机构、地方政府或其他组织以合作方式处理环境问题.为更好地理解这一流行的环境管理手段,本文首先回顾环境管理制度的演变以及影响CBEM过程的资源变化,在此基础上,本文建构了关于CBEM过程的评估框架,并列举了两个通过发起CBEM来治理酸性矿物废水对流域污染的案例.     

Fluid filling of a membrane tube with self-weight

The filling of a membrane tube with self-weight by a fluid is studied theoretically for the first time. The fundamental problem depends on two non-dimensional parameters, $\beta$ and $\gamma$ which represent the importance of internal pressure and membrane self-weight respectively. The nonlinear equations are solved by an efficient numerical integration method. It is found that membrane self-weight has considerable effect on the tube geometry and the tension of the membrane at low filling pressures.     

Observations on the changes in nitrate concentrations along streams in seven upland moorland catchments in Northeast Scotland

River water has been sampled under baseflow conditions in both summer and winter at c. 250-m intervals along the length of each of seven rivers in northeast Scotland, and the nitrate contents have been determined. The resultant data have been examined in the context of the nitrogen saturation hypothesis. Capacity of the catchment soils to retain nitrate was generally minimal in winter. Although biological uptake of nitrate was evident in summer, in the upper part of each catchment substantial nitrate leaching still occurred. The phenomenon was most marked in water draining from hill peats, except where these were conspicuously waterlogged. The results are discussed in the context of possible nitrogen saturation effects on upper catchment slopes.     

Mesure en place de la permeabilite des sols fins

Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment - La mesure en place de la perméabilité k des sols fins est un moyen d'améliorer la prévision des vitesses de tassement...     

Protocatechuic acid ozonation in aqueous solutions

The oxidation of protocatechuic acid with ozone in aqueous solution has been studied varying the temperature, pH, ozone partial pressure and initial acid concentration. A stoichiometric ratio of 2 mol of ozone consumed per mol of protocatechuic acid reacted is deduced from homogeneous experiments in a discontinuous tank reactor.In the ozonation experiments, the influence of the operating variables was established and the kinetic regime of ozone absorption was shown to be fast and pseudo m-order with respect to ozone, except at pH 2, when the reaction develops in the moderate kinetic regime. After applying a mass transfer with chemical reaction model, the reaction orders are deduced and the kinetic rate constants are determined as a function of pH and temperature. A modified Arrhenius expression is proposed to correlate them.     

Compartment tests of polyurethane foam seating assemblies

Data from compartment tests of polyurethane foam seating assemblies are reported. Results show that the behavior of such assemblies during fires is strongly dependent on the type and position of interliners and upholstery fabrics. An incidental comparison of peak rate of heat release obtained in a compartment test with a predictive model equation is made and selected data from the tests are presented.     

Geomechanical model simulation for the varied rock formations of the Kadana dam foundation,Gujarat, India

Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment - Precambrian layered rocks consisting of quartzites, phyllites and metagreywackes of the Aravallis having a large variation in thickness,...