Sediment-associated metals levels along the sewer-natural treatment wetland continuum,Phnom Penh,Cambodia

Sediment deposited within open sewers of Phnom Penh and the natural wetland that treats the waste was sampled and analyzed by X-ray fluorescence (XRF). Mean levels of Pb, Zn (P < 0.05), and Cu (P = 0.08) were greater in the sewer samples than the wetland, while As was not different (P>0.2), and Mn was greater (P < 0.06) in the wetland. Pb, Cu, and Zn levels generally were lower at the wetland outlet and in quiescent areas, suggesting deposition occurs along the sewer/wetland continuum. Background (natural) levels of Mn and As are higher in soils/sediments of this region and levels in the wetland likely reflect these background levels than enrichment from anthropogenic activity. Although 60% of all metals levels in the wetland samples exceeded USEPA threshold effect concentrations, results of recent studies that analyzed fish and vegetables from the wetland showed a small health risk associated with consumption. The XRF was a good tool for environmental analysis in a developing country.     

Supersudaca’s Asia Stories (aka at Home in the First,Second, Third,Fourth and Fifth Worlds)

The architecture network Supersudaca is best known for its research projects on Latin America and the Caribbean. Here they describe their experiences as they shifted their focus to Asia and the Middle East in a super-tour that took in Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, Dubai, Mumbai, Dhaka, Phnom Penh, Singapore and China. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

金边麦冬人工湿地对含铅废水的处理研究

研究了以土壤为基质材料所构建的金边麦冬人工湿地对含铅废水的净化效率,并探讨了含铅废水的流量对铅去除效率的影响。实验结果表明:金边麦冬人工湿地对含铅废水中的铅具有较好的去除效果,在流量为3 L/d时,金边麦冬人工湿地对铅的去除率最高,可达到98.30%;在流量为18 L/d时,去除率仍可达到82.63%。     

Perceived health problems among users of wastewater for aquaculture in Southeast Asian cities

To obtain essential information for the planning of epidemiological studies on health risks of exposure to wastewater in aquaculture, a total of 3089 people from 606 households involved in aquaculture in Phnom Penh, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City were interviewed in a cross-sectional survey in May 2004. In this study household members were asked about health problems that they had experienced. Our results indicate that the most important health problem associated with wastewater exposure was skin problems, reported by 4% of all people surveyed. Contact with wastewater was an important factor associated with self-reported skin problems. The study suggests that exposure to wastewater is a risk factor for skin problems.