Environmental Monitoring and Assessment

Risk assessment of heavy metal contamination of paddy soil and rice ( Oryza sativa ) from Abakaliki, Nigeria Abstract The study assessed the concentration and bioavailability of Pb, Cd, Zn, Cr and Fe metals in soil from rice fields in Abakaliki, Nigeria. The concentrations of these heavy metals in rice grains were also determined, with a view to assessing their human health risk on consumers. Heavy metal concentrations in soil and rice were determined using FAAS after digestion with 5:1 HNO3:HClO4 while Tessier's sequential extraction method was used to obtain the fractionated soil digests. The mean concentrations (μg/g) of the total heavy metal ranged from 1.036 ± 1.86 (Cd) to 6900.537 ± 734.82 (Fe) in soil while that of rice grains ranged from 0.024 ± 0.07 (Cd) to 101.446 ± 75.26 (Fe).The concentrations of Fe and Cd in most of the soil samples and Pb in rice grains exceeded some Nigerian and International standards. The heavy metal sequential extractions of soil samples showed that lead and zinc were less mobile in the soil and are bioavailable for plant uptake. The estimated daily intake of the metals was below the tolerable daily intake. The hazard quotient and the total hazard index were less than one showing that at present, there is no possible adverse health effect on rice consumers.

Optimization of treating phenol from wastewater through the TiO 2 -catalyzed advanced oxidation process and response surface methodology Abstract The use of dispersed catalysts in aqueous medium inside reactors in advanced oxidative processes is common among researchers. However, due to the difficult separation of these species after treatment, in many cases, the treatment process is unfeasible. In this context, the main target of the work was the evaluation of degradation of the phenolic solution by ozonation titanium dioxide (TiO2/P25), supported on zeolite spheres. The process was investigated through the response surface methodology (RSM) and optimized by the generalized reduced gradient (GRG) algorithm. The effects of various operating parameters including pH, power ozone (O3) generation, flow rate, and treatment time were investigated, using as a response to removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD). It was made in optimum conditions the ratio of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)/chemical oxygen demand to check the increasing biodegradability, aiming ozonation as preliminary treatment, with the possibility of subsequent biological treatments. There was an increase in this ratio from 0.17 to 0.50 in 48 min, which would facilitate the use of the subsequent biological process. The proposed model showed good fit to the experimental data with R2 and R2adj correlation coefficients of 0.9964 and 0.9932, respectively.

Assessing water-quality changes in US rivers at multiple geographic scales using results from probabilistic and targeted monitoring Abstract Two commonly used approaches for water quality monitoring are probabilistic and targeted. In a probabilistic approach like the US Environmental Protection Agency's National Rivers and Streams Assessment, monitoring sites are selected using a statistically representative approach. In a targeted approach like that used by many monitoring organizations, monitoring sites are chosen individually to answer specific questions. One important goal of both approaches is documenting long-term changes in water quality. Here, we compare chloride change results in US rivers and streams between the early 2000s and early 2010s from both approaches. The probabilistic approach provided an unbiased representation of change in all US rivers and streams, but was designed to measure low-streamflow conditions within a spring/summer index period during periodic survey years. The targeted approach was focused on larger, more developed watersheds but samples were collected frequently throughout the assessment period in different seasons and streamflows. The probabilistic results showed a small decrease in chloride concentrations in rivers and streams with the lowest concentrations, but no consistent increase or decrease in the remainder. The increased granularity of the targeted results showed that there was, in fact, a mix of changes occurring, with increases at 132 sites, decreases at 112 sites, and relatively stable conditions at 55 sites. The combined results suggest that chloride is not responding to a widespread, common driver across the USA and that management of chloride would be most effective when targeted regionally or locally.

Assessment of Typha capensis for the remediation of soil contaminated with As, Hg, Cd and Pb Abstract The use of macrophytes has been identified as one of the eco-friendly means of remediating soils contaminated with heavy metal(loid)s. This study sought to ascertain the synergistic influences of Hg, As, Cd and Pb on the uptake capacity of Typha capensis in remediating soils contaminated with these pollutants. Uptake of Hg, As, Cd and Pb by this aquatic plant species in metal(loid)-contaminated water and soil was studied in batch culture experiment. The plants were irrigated with standard heavy metal(loid)-simulated solutions. After 20, 40 and 60 days, plant samples were subjected to heavy metal(loid) analysis by a Unicam 969 atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS). The macrophytes were able to remediate all the four selected heavy metal(loid)s when they either existed as individual or when all the four were in the solution; however, the level of uptake by the plant was inhibited when either two of the heavy metals existed in the solution. Typha capensis performs better in the absorption of mercury, arsenic, cadmium and lead in large quantities from polluted water and soil.

Multi-criteria decision model for assessing groundwater pollution risk in the urban-rural interface of Mar del Plata City (Argentina) Abstract In developing countries, conflict between the objectives of environmental policies and those focused on economic development, a low availability of human resources and infrastructure, and the lack of continuity and incentives, contribute to the inability to successfully implement environmental policies. Moreover, in these countries, population growth in the peri-urban areas has resulted in serious water pressures, poor water management, and severe non-point source pollution. The aim of this paper is to implement a procedure of aquifer pollution risk assessment for identifying priority areas in an urban-rural interface based on multi-criteria decision tools. In this sense, a multi-criteria decision model was designed, in terms of environmental and socio-economic criteria and sub-criteria relevant to water resource management, by using the software Criterium Decision Plus 4.0. This model was applied to the northwestern peri-urban area of Mar del Plata City, Argentina, which is embedded in the second most important fruit-horticultural belt of the country. Here, groundwater is the only source of water supply. The proposed decision model allowed establishing a ranking of priority areas for defining action guidelines in order to minimize the risk of pollution of the aquifer. Aquifer pollution hazard criterion mainly contributes to alternatives classified as very high priority whilst in the case of low and very low priority classes, social vulnerability criterion mostly influences the final results. The first alternatives will require an intervention in a short-term time horizon, and the last ones must be monitored in order to avoid their shift to a worse environmental condition.

Distribution characteristics and health risk assessment of heavy metals and PAHs in the soils of green spaces in Shanghai, China Abstract The environmental sustainability of megacities is a global problem, and megacities are experiencing increasing pressure and challenges with regard to providing a suitable living environment for people. Urban green space plays a crucial role in protecting urban ecological environments and in maintaining the physical and mental health of residents. In this study, a total of 94 soil samples from green spaces in Shanghai, including park green spaces and road green spaces in the eight central urban districts, were collected, and the contents of heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were analyzed to determine the distribution characteristics and influencing factors and to assess the associated health risks. The accumulation of heavy metals was greater in park green space soils than in road green space soils, although the variation coefficient of the former was lower than that of the latter. Conversely, the accumulation of PAHs was lower in park green space soils than that in road green space soils, although the variation coefficient of the former was higher than that of the latter. In particular, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, As, and PAHs have accumulated in Shanghai green space soils. With increasing soil depth (0–2 cm, 2–5 cm, 5–10 cm, and 10–30 cm), the PAH content increased in the park green space soils but decreased in the road green space soils. According to the "Technical guidelines for risk assessment of contaminated sites (MEP of China 2014)," the overall health risk posed by green space soils in urban areas in Shanghai can be considered safe, except at individual sampling sites. The PAH, Cu, and Zn contents of park green space soils might be related to the application of organic materials and to traffic and industry emissions. However, the soil pollutants in road green spaces are predominantly related to traffic and industrial emissions. Therefore, the monitoring and management of soil environmental quality must be strengthened.

Runoff simulation of two typical urban green land types with the Stormwater Management Model (SWMM): sensitivity analysis and calibration of runoff parameters Abstract The characteristics of surface runoff and the infiltration properties of urban green land are important to determine the effects of runoff reduction by low-impact development (LID) facilities. In this paper, two typical types of urban green land (lawn and shrub) in Shanghai were selected to study the runoff characteristics under eight rainfall events. The sensitivity of the runoff parameters was analyzed, and then, the optimal parameters were determined using the Stormwater Management Model (SWMM). The results showed that the interception and infiltration capacities of shrub were greater than those of lawn. The rainfall intensity and rainfall pattern were the major factors that influenced the interception and infiltration of rainwater. The threshold value that generates runoff varied across the eight rainfall events ranged from 1.6 to 28.5 mm for lawn and 4.5 to 32.0 mm for shrub. The maximum reduction ratios of runoff and peak flow for shrub were 52 and 57% higher than them for lawn, respectively. The parameters for shrub were more sensitive to runoff and peak flow compared with those for lawn. Under light rainfalls with a short duration, the maximum infiltration rate and depression storage were more sensitive than those under heavy rainfalls with a long duration. Antecedent dry weather period was not found to be a sensitive parameter except for the shrub under light rainfalls. The relative errors of runoff and dynamic mean runoff (60 min) for lawn and shrub were within ± 9.5%. The errors of peak flow ranged between − 21 and 16.6%. The dynamic runoff characteristics and the parameters for lawn and shrub determined in this study can provide references for simulating urban runoff and planning LID areas.

Effects of intercropping with Bidens species plants on the growth and cadmium accumulation of Ziziphus acidojujuba seedlings Abstract To study the effects of intercropping with accumulator plants on heavy metal accumulation of fruit trees, plants of three Bidens species (Bidens pilosa, Bidens biternata, and Bidens parviflora) were intercropped with Ziziphus acidojujuba seedlings under cadmium (Cd)-contaminated conditions (5 mg kg−1). Intercropping with Bidens species increased the biomass and chlorophyll b content of Z. acidojujuba seedlings compared with monoculture, but decreased their carotenoid content. Intercropping with Bidens species also improved the activity of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase in Z. acidojujuba seedlings compared with monoculture. Intercropping with Bidens species decreased the Cd content in the roots of Z. acidojujuba seedlings compared with monoculture. Conversely, when intercropped with B. pilosa, B. biternata, and B. parviflora, the Cd content in the shoots of Z. acidojujuba seedlings increased by 62.18%, 60.10%, and 62.18%, respectively, compared with that of those monocultured. When intercropped with Z. acidojujuba seedlings, the Cd accumulation amount of three Bidens species plants were ranked B. parviflora > B. biternata > B. pilosa. Therefore, intercropping with plants of three Bidens species is not suitable for Cd-contaminated jujube orchards.

Optimizing stormwater low-impact development strategies in an urban watershed considering sensitivity and uncertainty Abstract Stormwater management in an urban environment is beset by uncertainties about future development. Dynamic strategies must be devised to cope with such uncertain environment. This work proposes a simulation–optimization model that minimizes the costs of low-impact development (LID) measures for mitigating impacts of future urban development on runoff. This paper's methodology is tested in an urban watershed in Tehran, Iran, relying on the stormwater management model (SWMM) coupled with the genetic algorithm (GA) to function as a simulation–optimization method for urban–runoff control by means of LID stormwater control measures. A sensitivity analysis of the calculated optimal solution revealed the impacts the most sensitive LIDs would have on runoff considering a set of plausible future development scenarios in the urban catchment. A comparison of the results from two different scenarios of future development with the existing stormwater system's performance shows the cost increase in redesigning the existing system to make it LID sensitive would equal 20% of the existing system's cost. The additional cost of redesigning the existing system without LID features would be 45% of the existing system's cost. These results demonstrate the importance of assessing the sensitivity of designed units in a stormwater management system and studying the trade-offs between possible decisions and future uncertainties concerning development in the watershed.

Magnetic cobalt particle–assisted solid phase extraction of tellurium prior to its determination by slotted quartz tube-flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry Abstract The emergence of magnetic materials has opened up doors to numerous applications including their use as sorbents for preconcentration of trace elements. Magnetic materials exhibit many unique advantages in sample preparation such as easy separation from the sample, high preconcentration factor, and short operation period. In the present study, magnetic cobalt material was synthesized, characterized, and used as an effective sorbent in a solid phase extraction process. Experimental variables of the extraction process including pH and volume of buffer solution, eluent concentration and volume, mixing type and period, and sorbent amount were optimized to achieve maximum extraction efficiency. Instrumental variables of flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry and the type of slotted quartz tube were also investigated. Under the optimum conditions, the combined method provided a wide linear range between 50 and 200 ng/mL with detection and quantification limits of 15.4 ng/mL and 51.3 ng/mL, respectively. Relative standard deviations of the proposed method were less than 5.0% and a high enrichment factor of 86.7 was obtained. The proposed method was successfully applied to soil samples for the determination of trace tellurium.