Trace metals in Phragmites australis and Phalaris arundinacea growing in constructed and natural wetlands

Constructed wetlands with horizontal subsurface flow (HF CWs) designed for treatment of municipal sewage have been monitored extensively with respect to removal of organics, suspended solids, nitrogen, phosphorus and bacteria. However, the information on the removal of various metals and metalloids in these systems is very limited. During the period 2002-2004 aboveground and belowground biomass of Phragmites australis (common reed) and Phalaris arundinacea (reed canarygrass) were sampled in three HF CWs in the Czech Republic. Concentrations of monitored elements in both aboveground and belowground plant tissues were similar to those found in plants growing in natural stands. The concentrations were much lower as compared to those found in plants growing in wetlands receiving acid mine drainage waters, waters from smelters or highway runoff. Concentrations decrease in the order of roots>rhizomes>leaves>stems. The leaf:stem concentration ratios were quite similar for all monitored elements ranging between 1.0 and 1.9. The root:leaf concentration ratio varied widely between 1.5 (Cu) and 54 (Cr) with a mean value of 20.0. Belowground/aboveground plant tissue concentration ratios varied from 2.2 (Cu) to 32 (Cr) with the average value of 9.9.     

Segmentbrücke aus textilbewehrtem Beton: Konstruktion,Fertigung, numerische Berechnung

Segmental Textile Reinrorced Concrete Bridge Design, Manufacturing and Numerical Simulation Concrete provides a brought variety of construction and design possibilities. The low tensile capacity of concrete is taken by reinforcement of steel, short fibres or textile fabrics. Textile reinforced concrete (TRC) is a high performance composite in which technical textiles made of high performance fibers are embedded in a fine‐grained concrete matrix. Because of the corrosion resistance of the textile materials, thick concrete covers as known in ordinary reinforced concrete are no longer needed. Slender new concrete elements extend concrete application to completely new fields and gives architects and engineers more design possibilities. Design, reinforcement concept, production, approval tests, and numerical simulations considering uncertain data are demonstrated for the first bridge made of textile reinforced concrete. It is shown that application of this new, sophisticated composite material is already possible, although more research is needed.     

Strength and failure modes of rock mass models with non-persistent joints

Most problems faced by the practicing rock engineer involve the evaluation of rock mass strength and deformability. The theoretical evaluation of the mechanical properties of fractured rock masses has no satisfactory answer because of the great number of variables involved. One of these variables, the influence of which over rock mass behavior is poorly documented, is the degree of fracture persistence. This paper presents the results of biaxial tests performed on physical models of rock with non-persistent joints. The failure modes and maximum strengths developed were found to depend on, among other variables, the geometry of the joint systems, the orientation of the principal stresses, and the ratio between intermediate stress and intact material compressive strength (σ₂/σ_c). Tests showed three basic failure modes: failure through a planar surface, stepped failure, and failure by rotation of new blocks. Planar failure and stepped failure are associated with high strength behavior, and small failure strains, whereas rotational failure is associated with a very low strength, ductile behavior, and large deformation.     

Impacts of green roofs and rain water use on the water balance and groundwater levels in urban areas

Ohne Zusammenfassung

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Impacts of green roofs and rain water use on the water balance and groundwater levels in urban areas

     

Xenobiotics in groundwater and surface water of the city of Leipzig

Xenobiotics are increasingly being considered as ecotoxicologically relevant for the aquatic environment and human health. Their behaviour and the effects on the environment have not yet been comprehensively investigated and, therefore, are currently the subject of the project WASSER Leipzig initiated by the UFZ. The results of this article are based on groundwater and surface water analyses of a watershed within the town of Leipzig. Here the industrial chemicals bisphenol-A and t-nonylphenol, the polycyclic fragrances galaxolide and tonalide, the antiepileptic drug carbamacepine and caffeine where investigated. Xenobiotics showed ubiquitous occurrence in the rivers, which were contaminated from treated and untreated sewage, as well as in groundwater, contaminated by leaky sewers. Mean concentrations up to several hundred ng/l were found in the rivers, while groundwater concentrations, except for bisphenol-A, tended to be lower. Applying the statistical factor analysis on the hydrochemical measurements, a differentiation of the xenobiotics with regard to their hydrochemical behaviour in groundwater was performed.     

Groundwater quality and modelled chemical composition of water in lignite overburden dump aquifers (surface mine Inden, Germany)

The future chemical composition of water in a lignite mining dump aquifer (surface mine Inden II) and in a proposed mine pit lake are modelled. The conceptual geochemical model was verified by means of measured data, which were obtained from a nearby overburden heap. The investigations indicate a decomposition of geogenic pyrites, which is caused by a change in redox conditions and which affects 14?% of the total pyrite content (approx. 0.07 wt.?%). Furthermore, the decomposition results in sulphate concentrations in the groundwater from 1,300 to 1,500 mg/l. The dissolution of calcite and dolomite prevents acidification of the groundwater. Under near-neutral pH-conditions, the dissolution of feldspars is less important and provides only about 1/65 of the alkalinity allocated by carbonate weathering. Precipitation of siderite retains up to 85?% of the liberated ferrous iron, so that iron concentrations in the proposed dump lake should be low and should be accompanied by neutral pH-values.     

Global–local interaction and its impact on cities

This introduction paper to the special issue of Journal of Housing and the Built Environment explores the interrelations among ‘globalization, urban systems, and local development’ by focusing on global-local interactions and their impacts on cities. After tackling the idea that globalization is about the spread of capitalism and capitalist principles throughout the world, the paper introduces the questions that each article intends to answer. The issues addressed by these questions were grouped under four headings: global versus local forces and urban change; urban systems within the global network of cities; globalization and property markets; and governance of globalizing cities.