快速堆肥对污泥中重金属的影响

对上海曲阳污水厂污泥及其快速堆肥产物中的Zn．Cu，Ni．Cd，Pb，Cr等六种重金属进行了含量及化学形态分析。分析结果表明堆肥过程不会改变污泥中各重金属元素的含量．堆肥前后重金属主要以稳定的形态存在，但堆肥过程进一步提高了重金属元素稳定形态的比例。变化最为显著的是污泥中含量较高的Zn，其不稳定形态的比例由37％降为16％．使得Zn的活性与毒性大大降低。经过快速堆肥．考察的六种重金属元素的稳定性得到了提高，减小了污泥土地利用时重金属的环境危害。     

Sequential extraction of heavy metals during composting of urban waste

In urban waste （the first matter of compost）, elements such as copper, nickel and lead may be found in metallic state （wire, pile, accumulator, etc.）, which is considered as non-dependent state. The work undertaken at the laboratory of composting of the INRST in Henchir Lihoudia （Tunis） showed that the produced compost does not contain any mobile metallic element and the portion related to organic fraction （bioavailable） is tiny in size. We supposed that many reactions involving decomposition and complexation from elements related to the matrix components occurred during composting. The existence and importance of this phenomenon can be evaluated by studying the evolution of metal contents in the different fractions extracted sequentially during composting process.     

黑龙江双阳河流域土壤-作物-人体系统中硒元素及生态环境与人体健康评价

【研究目的】典型黑土地分布区土壤硒自然禀赋、成因来源、生态环境效应及人体健康评价为健康地质研究焦点，开展双阳河流域土壤-作物-人体系统中硒迁移与累积的定量研究，对黑土地富硒农产品开发和地方病防治具有重要意义。【研究方法】测定成土母质、土壤、大气降尘、灌溉水、作物籽实和人发等多介质硒含量，运用GIS、SPSS软件对测试结果统计分析及评价。【研究结果】划定富硒土地46.4 km²，主要沿双阳河及其支流分布；硒以人为成因为主，主要来源于大气降尘补充，输入通量为0.21~1.47 kg/km² · a。土壤、大豆、水稻、玉米和人发硒含量均值为0.305 mg/kg、0.0352 mg/kg、0.0287 mg/kg、0.0198 mg/kg和0.145 mg/kg；作物对土壤硒的富集系数（0.120）远小于1，人发对作物硒的富集系数（4.834）大于1，揭示人发对硒具有较强的浓缩和放大作用，硒在土壤-作物-人体系统中的迁移与积累呈“V”字型模式。【结论】土壤硒含量整体为足硒或富硒，无硒潜在环境风险。大豆、水稻富硒占比为28.4%、9.4%，未发现硒超标情况，无生物硒中毒风险。人发硒含量明显低于参考值0.20~0.60 mg/kg，人体处于缺硒状态，随年龄增长呈递减趋势，可能存在一定的健康风险，应引起地方相关部门关注。创新点：基于系统的生态地球化学数据，运用统计分析学原理，开展典型黑土区土壤-作物-人体系统中硒迁移与积累研究，为富硒农产品开发和地方病防治提供科学依据。     

Environmental pollution induced by heavy metal(loid)s from pig farming

The development of intensive and large-scale livestock farming, such as pig husbandry, is significantly increasing the amount of manure globally. Mineral additives are commonly used in animal feed, and heavy metal(loid)s (HMs) are introduced to the feed via incomplete purification processes of those mineral additives, which leads to inevitable environmental pollution by HMs in conjunction with manure production. When these toxic-metal-containing manures are used as fertilizer, the HMs accumulate in soils and crops, which further causes potential risks to human health and the ecological environment. In this review, the focus is on seven HMs that are related to human activities or frequently contained in animal feed, including copper, zinc, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, and arsenic. The toxicities of these HMs and the elimination methods to reduce the HM toxicity of pig manure when it is added to soil, i.e., liquid–solid separation, adsorption, bioleaching, and composting, are summarized. The ultimate aim of this review is to outline the systematic pollution management strategies for HMs from pig farming.     

Composting of olive processing wastes and tomato stalks together with sewage sludge or dairy manure

In this study, composting of olive pomace from three-phase oil production system, sewage sludge, dairy manure, and tomato stalks were carried out. The effects of carbon/nitrogen ratio on decomposition rate of composting were investigated with constant free air spaces of composting mixtures. Composting process was carried out in the aerobic reactors made of stainless steel which were monitored for 32 days. Temperature-controlled feedback system was operated based on the Rutgers strategy. Temperature, moisture, organic matter, pH, electrical conductivity total carbon, total nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen, total phosphorus as well as potassium were monitored during the composting process. In addition, mass and volume changes of the mixtures were determined. The highest degree of decomposition was determined for the mixture (carbon/nitrogen ratio of 20) based on the dry matter loss where the maximum amount of sewage sludge was used. On the other hand, maximum decomposition occurred at a carbon/nitrogen ratio of 23 for mixtures containing dairy manure. The increase in the use of olive pomace in mixtures had adverse effects on the decomposition process. The stabilization process in the mixture containing dairy manure lasted shorter than the mixtures containing sewage sludge.     

Depositional characteristics of uranium tailings from Saskatchewan,Canada

The management of uranium tailings, generated as a by-product of ore processing, is particularly important to minimize the environmental footprint of the industry. A clear understanding of tailings slurry behavior is required at the time of deposition to help evaluate the storage capacity and life span of the containment facilities. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the segregation and self-weight settling properties of uranium tailings. Detailed laboratory investigations were conducted on tailings from 4, 5, and 6 % nominal mill feeds (high-grade McArthur River ores blended with special wastes on site) from the Cameco Key Lake operation. The results indicate that the three uranium tailings can be characterized as a sandy silt material with a negligible amount of clay. Their depositional behavior is governed by the initial solids content of the slurry. The investigated tailings showed insignificant segregation between 25 and 40 % initial solids content. The initial hydraulic conductivity during settling was about 10^?4 m/s at a void ratio of 4 and was increased by half an order of magnitude for the 4 % mill feed, and by almost two orders of magnitude for the 5 and 6 % mill feeds at a void ratio of 8. Over the same range of initial void ratio, the settling potential increased threefold: from 8 to 24 % for the 4 % mill feed and from 12 to 36 % for the 5 and 6 % mill feeds. The better rate and amount of dewatering of future high mill feed tailings as compared to the current low mill feed tailings means that the onsite containment facility can store more tailings thereby supporting a longer life span of the mill.     

黑河流域人类活动强度的定量评价

人类活动强度的定量评价是分析人类活动对水循环演化影响的基础,也是寻找流域生态环境退化原因的依据。针对黑河流域人类活动对水循环演化影响的特点,选择人口、耕地面积、水库总数、引水渠总长度和开采井总数等因子作为衡量人类活动强度的指标,采用指数加权法定量表达人类活动强度,据此计算的上、中、下游的人类活动强度分别为1％、87％和12％,说明中游人类活动强度最大,对水循环的影响也最大;上游人类活动强度很弱,可以认为上游水循环的演化只受自然因素的影响。而下游人类活动强度较上游大得多,说明影响下游水循环演化的因素中当地人类活动的作用不可忽视。计算的中游平原张掖地区近50年来3个阶段即20世纪50年代、60～70年代和80～90年代的人类活动强度分别为18％、28％和54％,80～90年代人类活动强度是50年代的3倍,60～70年代的2倍。人类活动强度经过50年代和60～70年代2个时段的发展和积累,到80～90年代达到最大,因此,这时段人类活动对水循环的影响也最大。研究方法对类似地区或相似问题具有借鉴作用。     

Presence of fluoroquinolones and sulfonamides in urban sewage sludge and their degradation as a result of composting

The concentrations of some widely used pharmaceuticals, namely fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin C₁₇ H₁₈FN₃O₃, norfloxacin C₁₇ H₁₈FN₃O₃ and ofloxacin C₁₈ H₂₀FN₃O₄ and sulfonamides (sulfadimethoxine C₁₂ H₁₄N₄O₄s and sulfamethoxazole C₁₀ H₁₁N₃O₃S were determined in urban sewage sludge utilized for making compost. The levels of degradation of these pharmaceuticals resulting from sludge treatment were assessed. The concentrations of the studied pharmaceuticals sufficiently varied both in sewage sludge and in compost and due to this phenomenon the possible danger resulting from the presence of pharmaceuticals in sewage sludge, used for composting, can not be ignored. The concentrations of the studied pharmaceuticals were lower in compost, if compared to the relevant concentrations in sewage sludge. The highest pharmaceutical concentration in sewage sludge — 426 μg/kg — was detected in the case of ciprofloxacin. The highest concentrations present in compost were 22 μg/kg of norfloxacin and 20 μg/kg of ciprofloxacin. Results show that before using the sewage sludge for making compost or before using the compost a fertilizer for food plants, they should be carefully tested against the content of commonly used pharmaceuticals.     

Selenium distribution in the local environment of selected villages of the Keshan Disease belt,Zhangjiakou District,Hebei Province,People's Republic of China

The distribution of Se in cultivated topsoils, grains, human hair and drinking water has been studied in 15 villages from a Keshan disease area of the People's Republic of China, villages being classified into 3 groups according to the Keshan disease incidence in the local population. In grain, hair and water the total Se follows expected trends; i.e. the highest concentrations are found in the villages where there is no incidence of Keshan disease. However, the soils from the high-incidence Keshan disease villages have the highest total Se content, an apparent contradiction, as Keshan disease is a response to a Se deficient environment. Soil analyses suggest that the organic content of the soils is a major factor in controlling the availability of Se and it is the high-incidence Keshan disease villages that have the most organic-rich soils. Although higher in total Se, the organic-rich soils have little bioavailable Se resulting in a Se deficient food chain. Soil pH is also seen to be a related factor in restricting the availability of Se and all the grain samples collected on soils with a pH <7.6 had a total Se content of less than 10% of the total soil Se. In an environment that can be classified as Se deficient small changes in the soil organic content and pH can have a critical affect on the Keshan disease status of a village.     

The Inka mummy from Mount Aconcagua: Decoding the geographic origin of the “Messenger to the Deities” by means of stable carbon,nitrogen, and sulfur isotope analysis

Human sacrifices were a ritual practice during the expansion of the Inka Empire. Nevertheless, the homeland of the victims has never been clearly determined. A mummy recently found in a mediterranean environment in the Andes of Argentina provides a unique opportunity to shed some light on the matter. His clothing and funerary trousseau give no evidence regarding his ethnic filiation, geographic origin, nor whether he belonged to the local population or to the Inka elite. Therefore, a decodification of his geographic origin was attempted. This was done through the reconstruction of his palaeodiet: A diet based on continental products would indicate a local origin whereas one including marine food would suggest ties with the Pacific littoral and, indirectly, a foreign origin. Carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur isotope ratios of the mummy's bone collagen and hair were compared with values from archaeological populations from littoral and altiplanic environments of South America. The carbon and nitrogen isotopic values of bone collagen were ambiguous tracers, indicating either a continental diet with a high percentage of maize, one including a certain amount of marine products, or a combination of both. The carbon and sulfur isotopic values of hair were conclusive, indicating a clear continental origin of the diet, at least during the period of a year and a half before death. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Arsenic in the Muteh gold mining district, Isfahan, Iran

Following the appearance of symptoms of arsenic toxicity in the inhabitants of villages in the Muteh gold mining region, central Iran, the concentration of this element in various parts of biogeochemical cycle is investigated. For this purpose, rock, groundwater, soil, plant, livestock hair and wool, and human hair samples are collected and analysed. Total arsenic content ranges from 23 to 2,500?mg/kg in rock samples, 7?C1,061???g/l in water, 12?C232?mg/kg in soil, 0.5?C16?mg/kg in plant samples, 4.10?C5.69?mg/kg in livestock hair and wool, and 0.64?C5.82?mg/kg in human hair. Arsenic concentration in various parts of biogeochemical cycle near the gold deposit in a metamorphic complex, and also close to the gold-processing plant, is very high and decreases exponentially with increasing distance from them. Arsenic concentration in water from a well close to the Muteh gold mine is above 1?mg/L. Arsenic in hair samples taken from local inhabitants is above the recommended levels, and the control samples in Shahre-Kord city. Arsenic concentration is higher in male population and correlates positively with age. It is suggested that arsenic resulting from the decomposition of ore mineral such as orpiment (As₂S₃), realgar (As₂S₂) and arsenopyrite (FeAsS) is responsible for polluting natural resources and the human intake via drinking water and the food chain. Gold mining and processing has undoubtedly enhanced the release of arsenic and intensified the observed adverse effects in Muteh area.     

Impact of biochar,bentonite, and compost on physical and chemical characteristics of a sandy soil

In this study, bentonite (Ben), compost (Com), and biochar (Bio) were used as soil amendments to enhance sandy soil physical properties. A soil column experiment was conducted in a laboratory. Application rates were 3% (weight/weight) of Bio (T₁), Ben (T₂), and Com (T₃). Furthermore, mixtures 1.5% and 1.5% of Bio and Ben (T₄), Ben and Com (T₅), and Bio and Com (T₆), and a mixture 1%, 1%, and 1% of Bio, Ben, and Com (T₇) in addition to control treatment were adopted. The mixtures of amendments and sandy soil were concentrated at the top 10 cm of columns. Results revealed that the cumulative evaporation was reduced by 2.3% and 5.7% as a result of using T₃ and T₅, respectively. However, the remaining treatments enhanced the cumulative evaporation. The application of amendments increased the capacity of the soil to maintain water by 35.4%, 24.4%, 13.3%, and 10.2%, for soils treated with T₅, T₃, T₇, and T₄, respectively. The water content at field capacity had the highest increase in the top 10 cm when treatment T₃ was used. Although T₃ (compost) was the most efficient for enhancing soil physical properties, this study recommends T₅ and T₇ to improve hydraulic properties of sandy soils. This is due to the fact that biochar and bentonite remain in the soil for a longer period and resist biodegradation while compost overcomes the negative impact of soil chemical properties as a result of biochar and bentonite additions.     

Arsenic levels in human hair,Kandal Province,Cambodia: The influences of groundwater arsenic,consumption period,age and gender

This study focused on the analysis of As levels in human hair samples collected from six villages in the Kandal Province of Cambodia. Of interest were the influence of, and interactions among, certain factors affecting As intake into the human body: As concentrations in groundwater, period of groundwater consumption, age and gender. The results revealed As levels in human hair ranging from 0.06 to 30 μg g⁻¹ with median and arithmetic mean values of 0.61 and 3.20 μg g⁻¹ (n = 68), respectively. Furthermore, a linear relationship was found between As concentrations in human hair and in the local groundwater. Arsenic (III) is the dominant species in Kandal groundwater, constituting in most cases at least 60% of the total As. Arsenic concentration ranged from 5 to 1543 μg L⁻¹, with the median value 348 μg L⁻¹ and arithmetic mean 454 μg L⁻¹. In large rural, poor areas holding most of Kandal’s 1.1 million people, up to 2 in 1000 people are believed to be at risk of cancer through the As-enriched water they drink. A toxicity risk assessment provides a hazard quotient (HQ) equaling 5.12, also a clear indication of non-carcinogenic exposure risk. On the authors’ visit to Kampong Kong commune, Kandal Province, cases of arsenicosis were diagnosed in patients as a result of drinking As-enriched groundwater.     

Comparison of the effects of conventional organic amendments and biochar on the chemical, physical and microbial properties of coal fly ash as a plant growth medium

The bulk of fly ash (an inorganic waste of coal-fired power generation) produced is deposited in disposal areas where it needs to be revegetated. The effects of addition of three conventional organic amendments (biosolids, poultry manure, green waste compost), or poultry manure-derived biochar, to coal fly ash (at two rates) on some key chemical, physical and microbial properties and on growth of Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) was studied in a laboratory incubation/greenhouse study. Addition of all amendments, including biochar, increased concentrations of extractable Mg, K, Na and P and CEC_{(pH 7.0)}. Additions of poultry manure, and particularly biosolids, also greatly increased levels of extractable NH₄ ⁺ and NO₃ ⁻-N. Addition of biosolids, green waste compost and biochar resulted in a decrease in macroporosity, a concomitant increase in mesoporosity and, at the high rate of addition, an increase in available water-holding capacity. Basal respiration was very low in fly ash and was increased by addition of all amendments; metabolic quotient was markedly greater in control than amended treatments. Biosolids, poultry manure and green waste compost additions all increased microbial biomass C. Growth of Rhodes grass was extremely low under unfertilized conditions in control, biochar and, to a lesser extent, green waste compost treatments but addition of poultry manure and the lower rate of biosolids resulted in large increases in yields. Although biochar additions increased extractable Ca, K, P, Cu, Zn and Mn, CEC, mesoporosity and water-holding capacity, they had a little or no stimulatory effect on the size of the soil microbial community, N fertility or plant growth. This was attributable to the lack of metabolisable C and an insignificant N-supplying capacity.     

Selenium in environment and Kaschin-Beck disease

Human hair samples were collected from various areas and analyzed for multi-element contents. A correlation analysis was made to determine the relation between trace element contents in human hairs and the incidence of Kaschin-Beck disease. It has been shown that selenium deficiency in the environment is one of the important factors causing the disease. The same conclusion has been reached from both epidemiological investigation and geochemical study. The other possible factors are also discussed in the present paper.     

Assessment of mercury contamination and human exposure associated with coastal disposal of waste from a cinnabar mining operation, Palawan, Philippines

 An integrated geochemical and toxicological assessment of environmental mercury contamination and attendant human exposure in Honda Bay, Palawan was undertaken in 1995 following a nationally reported pollution scare centered on a coastal jetty, Sitio Honda Bay, constructed using approximately 1 million tons of tailings and beneficiation waste from a cinnabar mine. Mercury (Hg) data for marine and fluvial sediments, fish tissues and human hair indicate that the toxicological hazard is considerably lower than initially reported by state environment and health officials. Typical Hg concentrations in surficial Honda Bay sediments were found to lie within the global background range (<60 μg/kg). Downcore profiles provide no evidence of enhanced Hg fluxes coincident with the onset of mining and/or coastal tailings disposal. The mean and median Hg concentrations recorded in tissues of six species of Honda Bay fish are compliant with thresholds established by the US Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA) for marketable stocks. Earlier reports of 'Minamata range' Hg concentrations in fish and shellfish from Honda Bay remain unsubstantiated. Geochemical analyses of samples of the Sitio Honda Bay substrate have confirmed the prevalence of solid-phase Hg concentrations to ca. 340 mg/kg. The speciation of Hg is, however, dominated by secondary oxides of low bioavailability. The mean Hg concentration in hair from Sitio Honda Bay residents (4.41 mg/kg) was found to be statistically analogous to that for a neighbouring coastal community unimpacted by the coastal disposal of mine waste. A negligible residential exposure factor is thus inferred for the former. Relatively high hair Hg burdens prevail throughout the coastal Honda Bay population, consistent with significant methyl Hg ingestion through daily fish consumption. The data presented provide no environmental or toxicological justification for immediate remedial action. Received: 14 May 1998/Accepted: 1 September 1998     

辽河流域人发中重金属元素分布特征

对辽河流域人发中重金属元素含量分布、分配规律研究结果表明：重金属元素尤其是铅、镉、汞、砷、铬元素，分布规律有很大相同之处，高含量数据点均围绕沈阳、锦州等重工业城市及阜新、柴河铅矿及其下游等地区分布，且城市居民平均含量明显高于乡村居民平均水平。通过进一步对典型污染区的研究发现：人发分布特征与背景环境有很大相关性，即土壤、浅层地下水、作物中重金属含量高的地区，人发中重金属含量亦较高。     

Assessment of cadmium,zinc and lead contamination in leaf and root of four various species

Heavy metals toxicity is a significant problem for ecological, evolutionary, nutritional and environmental reasons. This study was carried out to evaluate the amount of cadmium, zinc and lead absorption in leaf and root of pine, cypress, plantain and ash in Isfahan, Iran, in 2013. For this purpose, three heavy metals (Cd, Pb and Zn) and three sites (heavy traffic, moderate traffic and control) were chosen based on their effects on human health. The results indicated that the highest and lowest lead and cadmium concentrations belonged to heavy traffic site and control site, respectively. Cd in leaf versus Pb in leaf and Cd in root versus Pb in root had the highest correlation coefficient among the traits indicating positive influence of leaf and root on absorbing Cd and Pb from soil, water and air. In all the studied species, the concentration of Pb was higher than that of Cd and Zn. This was certainty due to the vehicle traffic emitting much more lead than cadmium and zinc. In all the studied species, metal concentration in leaves was higher than in roots, which may be due to high concentration of heavy metals in air than in soil. In this study, Pinus eldarica Medw. tree was found to be the best species to monitor polluted sites in Isfahan city.     

Initial air pressure influence on in-vessel composting for the biodegradable fraction of municipal solid waste in Morocco

This study aimed to determine the initial air pressure influence on the in-vessel composting for the biodegradable fraction of municipal solid waste in Morocco. For this purpose, representative composting mixture was prepared in which C/N ratio was 26 and moisture content was 70 %. The in-vessel bioreactor was designed and used specially to evaluate the initial air pressure effect on composting process in this study. Thus, daily changes of internal air pressure and temperature were monitored, and physicochemical properties of different composts obtained were also analyzed and compared. Experimental results showed a significant increase in internal pressure corresponding to the initial air pressure of 0.6 bar and a slight increase for the other initial air pressures. The initial air pressure which equal to 0.6 bar allowed maximum value of temperature and final composting product with good physicochemical properties as well as higher organic matter degradation and higher gas production. Composts obtained from experiments under 0.4 and 0.8 bar showed good maturity levels and may also be used for agricultural applications.     

Municipal compost-based mixture for acid mine drainage bioremediation: Metal retention mechanisms

An upflow packed column was operated to evaluate the potential of a mixture of municipal compost and calcite to promote sulphidogenesis in the remediation of a simulated mine water at high flows (>0.1 m d⁻¹). Results showed that the pH was neutralised and metals (Fe, Al, Zn, Cu) were significantly removed. Metal removal was attributed to the combined result of precipitation as metal (oxy)hydroxides and carbonates, co-precipitation with these (oxy)hydroxides and sorption onto the compost surface rather than to precipitation as metal sulphides. The two last mechanisms are especially significant for Zn, whose hydroxide is not expected to precipitate at pH 6–7. Before the saturation of compost sorption sites, 60% of the influent Zn was estimated to have been removed by co-precipitation with Fe- and Al-(oxy)hydroxide and 40% by sorption onto the municipal compost.