Heavy metal exposure from co-processing of hazardous wastes for cement production and associated human risk assessment

This study was carried out to determine the concentration of heavy metals (Cd, Ni, Pb, Cr, Ni and Zn) in ordinary Portland cement (OPC) produced from the co-processing with hazardous waste in comparison with OPC produced using natural raw materials. The results showed that the concentration of heavy metals in cement produced from natural raw material was in the order of Zn > Pb > Cr > Ni > Cu > Cd. Zn and Cd were the highest and the lowest concentrations, respectively, in cements produced from the co-processing activity. The difference between heavy metals concentrations in OPC produced with and without co-processing was found to be statistically significant. The concentration of heavy metals in the cement produced is generally factory dependent. The human risk assessment associated with the heavy metals for non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks has been evaluated. The calculated hazard index (HI) and total lifetime cancer risks (LCR) were lower than the acceptable threshold reference values, HI < 1 and LCR < 1 × 10^?4, respectively. Thus, it is anticipated that there is no potential of non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks for both adult and children. However, the findings indicated that there is a need for regulatory monitoring. The exposure pathway for both non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks are both in the order of ingestion > dermal > inhalation.     

Thrust controlled lineaments of the Aravalli-Delhi fold Belt, Rajasthan, India mapped from landsat TM image

The litho-units of the area between Chawand to Kotra across the Aravalli-Delhi Fold Belt are referable to Bhilwara, Aravalli and and Delhi Supergroups. Earlier workers considered the sequence as progressively younger toward west across the Avavalli Orographic axis. Two-dimensional trend mapping of the planar tectonic anisotropy was carried out to map lineaments from landsat TM Image. Ground checks of the lineament along Chawand-Kotra section suggest that lineaments are tectonic dislocations, morphotectonically controlled by thrusts and ductile shears within the Aravalli-Delhi Fold Belt. The recognition of thrust bounded litho-tectonic units from interpretation of satellite remotely sensed data may necessitate reassessment of the Precambrian lithostraligraphy of the Aravalli and Delhi supergroups in the study area. The paper reports thrust tectonics from Aravalli-Delhi Fold Bell. The Antalia Schuppean Belt is possible duplex; imbricate thrusts are connected with base thrust and continuity with roof thrust has been punctuated by transverse faulting and erosion.     

The earthquake sequence of May 1951 at Jucuapa, El Salvador

Three earthquakes that happened over two days in May 1951 caused extensive damage to villages in a small area of eastern El Salvador (Central America). Contemporary hypocentral solutions indicated focal depths, confirmed by re-calculations using available seismic data, of the order of 90 km, suggesting events associated with the subducted Cocos plate. Macroseismic observations strongly indicate that the earthquakes were of very shallow focus and this is supported by wave-form modeling and the appearance of seismograms recorded in Guatemala. A re-evaluation of the location and source characteristics for these events is presented, together with a fault plane solution and additional macroseismic evidence. The implications for seismic hazard and risk assessment in Central America, where shallow earthquakes of moderate magnitude, frequently occurring in clusters, pose the greatest threat to settlements which, like the area affected by these events, are concentrated along the axis of Quaternary volcanoes.     

次天气尺度与中尺度暴雨间相互作用的研究综述

参考了近年来有关次天气尺度与中尺度暴雨间相互作用的文献,主要论述了低空急流与中尺度暴雨、高低空急流耦合与中尺度暴雨之间的关系。指出暴雨的研究主要是使用滤波、数值模拟及诊断分析;暴雨的诊断研究还是集中在垂直速度、水汽通量、辐合辐散等方面,有必要寻找并研究新的指数和物理量。     

Intermediate and deep earthquakes in Spain

Recent improvements in the seismological networks on the Ibero-Maghrebian region have permitted estimation of hypocentral location and focal mechanisms for earthquakes which occurred at South Spain, Alboran Sea and northern Morocco of deep and intermediate depth, with magnitudes between 3.5 and 4.5. Intermediate depth shocks, range from 60 to 100 km, with greater concentration located between Granada and Málaga. Fault-plane solutions of 5 intermediate shocks have been determined; they present a vertical plane in NE-SW or E-W direction. Seismic moments of about 10¹⁵ Nm and dimensions of about 1 km have been determined from digital records of Spanish stations.P-wave forms are complex. This may be explained by the crustal structure near the station, discontinuities in the upper mantle and inhomogeneities near the source. Deep activity at about 650 km has only 3 shocks since 1954 (1954, 1973, 1990). Shocks are located at a very small region. Fault-plane solutions show a consistent direction of the pressure axis dipping 45° in E direction. For the 1990 shock seismic moment is 10¹⁶ Nm and dimensions 2.6 km. TheP-waves are of simpler form with a single pulse. The intermediate and deep activities are not connected and no activity has been detected between 100 and 650 km. The intermediate shocks may be explained in terms of a recent subduction from Africa under Iberia in SE direction. The very deep activity must be related to a sunk detached block of lithospheric material still sufficiently cold and rigid to generate earthquakes.     

Extrusive Carbonatites from the Uyaynah Area, United Arab Emirates

Carbonatites occur in the Uyaynah area, United Arab Emirates,within a tectonic window of oceanic metasediments beneath theSemail Ophiolite Complex at the northern end of the Oman Mountains.The carbonatites form conformable layers, pods, and lenses,up to 10 m thick, associated with deep-sea sediments that includeradiolarian cherts and pillow lavas. Although disrupted duringdeformation, the carbonatites are internally undeformed andcontain abundant lapilli, indicating an extrusive, subaerialorigin, probably on a small volcanic island. The lapilli comprisecalcite, abundant Sr-bearing apatite and iron oxides in a calcitematrix. Alkali amphiboles, biotite, chlorite, and allanite wereproduced as a result of metamorphism but otherwise the primaryigneous carbonatite mineralogy remains. One distinct group ofrocks also contains primary calcic amphibole and biotite. Niobiantitanite, strontian baryte, and albite are also present, andrare earth elements are held in abundant allanite-(Ce) and raremonazite-(Ce). Analyses of 26 rocks define two groups whichare distinguishable in the field. One group consists of silico-carbonatitescontaining primary calcic amphibole, biotite, and abundant allanite,and is chemically similar to average intrusive ferrocarbonatite.The other group corresponds chemically to average intrusivecalciocarbonatite. Unlike other extrusive carbonatites describedin the literature, the Uyaynah carbonatites have higher incompatibleelement abundances than average intrusive carbonatites and arenotably rich in rare earth elements (up to 2?6 wt.%) and P2O5(average > 7 wt.%). The two carbonatite groups are consideredto be related magmatically one to the other, and the presenceof rare ferroan chromian spinel is interpreted as evidence fora direct mantle origin.     

气候变暖背景下祁连山西部山区水循环要素的变化——以疏勒河干流上游山区为例

根据祁连山区西部托勒气象站与疏勒河上游昌马堡水文站、鱼儿红雨量站的气温、降水、径流等观测数据,对近50年来疏勒河山区流域气温、降水、径流等水循环要素的变化特征与趋势进行了分析.结果表明,近50年来祁连西部山区年平均气温呈持续上升的态势,并在1990年代中期后出现一个突变,突变后气温上升速率较突变前明显加快.从气温的季节变化上看,冬季升温的幅度明显大于其他各季,从气温的区域变化来看,中低山地带的气温升幅要大于中高山地带.分析结果还显示,祁连山区西部年降水量总体上亦呈增长的态势,但年际波动比较剧烈.少雨年主要在1990年代以前,多雨年在近20 a;从季节变化上看,夏季降水量变化比较稳定,增减趋势不明显,其他各季降水量均有明显的上升趋势,冬季降水量增幅明显.受降水与气温加速上升所带来的冰雪融水增加的影响,疏勒河出山径流的年平均与四季流量亦呈显著增加的态势.考虑到山区夏季降水并未增加,故占年径流量比重较大的夏季径流量的增加主要是冰雪融水的贡献.     

Large Earthquakes at the Ibero-Maghrebian Region: Basis for an EEWS

Large earthquakes (M_w > 6, I_max > VIII) occur at the Ibero-Maghrebian region, extending from a point (12ºW) southwest of Cape St. Vincent to Tunisia, with different characteristics depending on their location, which cause considerable damage and casualties. Seismic activity at this region is associated with the boundary between the lithospheric plates of Eurasia and Africa, which extends from the Azores Islands to Tunisia. The boundary at Cape St. Vincent, which has a clear oceanic nature in the westernmost part, experiences a transition from an oceanic to a continental boundary, with the interaction of the southern border of the Iberian Peninsula, the northern border of Africa, and the Alboran basin between them, corresponding to a wide area of deformation. Further to the east, the plate boundary recovers its oceanic nature following the northern coast of Algeria and Tunisia. The region has been divided into four zones with different seismic characteristics. From west to east, large earthquake occurrence, focal depth, total seismic moment tensor, and average seismic slip velocities for each zone along the region show the differences in seismic release of deformation. This must be taken into account in developing an EEWS for the region.