Work-related stress levels and musculoskeletal disorders among municipal solid waste collectors in Ankara.

BACKGROUND: Industrialization and rising standards of living have contributed to a growing amount of solid waste and consequent disposal problems. Solid waste collection is among the occupations with the highest risk for musculoskeletal disorders. OBJECTIVE: We have conducted this study to assess musculoskeletal complaints and work-related stress levels among municipal solid waste (MSW) collectors. METHODS: The subjects were all currently employed at the MSW Department of the City of Ankara, Turkey. Validated questionnaires were completed by 267 MSW collectors. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software (22.0 version). RESULTS: Upper back pain rate was 89.1% among the collectors. 47.9% of collectors reported having had upper back pain during the last 12 months and 38.7% had experienced it during the last month. 80.9% of the sample complained of shoulder pain. Wrists/hands and neck pain rates were found at rates of 78.7% and 67.8% respectively. Psychological demands, were significantly higher among MSW collectors living with moderate-severe pain. CONCLUSIONS: Ergonomics education, healthy work habits, occupational safety training and improvements in the psychosocial work environment should be considered.

Risk perception in the population living near the Turin municipal solid waste incineration plant: survey results before start-up and communication strategies.

BACKGROUND: The start-up of the Turin municipal solid waste incineration plant (2013) was accompanied by surveillance of health effects, which included a human biomonitoring campaign. Here we present the results of the risk perception survey of local residents before the plant went into operation. METHODS: The survey sample was 394 local residents: 198 residing near the plant (exposed group) and 196 residing in an area distant from the plant site (unexposed group). The survey questionnaire investigated awareness of environmental and health issues, including a section on the perception of environmental health risks. Multivariate Poisson regressions were performed to determine the differences in risk perception between the two groups (exposed vs. unexposed). RESULTS: The exposed group was more concerned about natural hazards (prevalence ratio [PR] 1.61; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.99-2.61), anthropogenic hazards (PR 1.35; 95% CI 1.03-1.77), and waste management (PR 1.19; 95% CI 0.94-1.50). There were no significant differences in opinions about environmental pollution-related diseases between the two groups, though the exposed considered themselves to be at risk for developing these diseases. The survey population placed its trust more in health care providers than in any other category. CONCLUSIONS: The risk perception survey questionnaire yielded data that enabled a better understanding and interpretation of the social context: residents living near the incineration plant were more concerned than those living distant from it, especially about anthropogenic hazards. This information was subsequently incorporated into the design the communication tools.

Influences of P-N-containing inhibitor and memory effect on PCDD/F emissions during the full-scale municipal solid waste incineration.

Influence of inhibition and memory effect on PCDD/Fs are carried out in a full-scale (23 t h-1) municipal solid waste (MSW) incinerator under three conditions. Ammonium dihydrogen phosphate (ADP) is injected into the post combustion zone of incinerator. The results show that the inhibition efficiency of PCDD/Fs in flue gas was 53.34% (71% for TEQ), and ADP possibly also didn't have effect on the chlorination reaction of PCDD/F formation. The memory effect phenomenon, PCDD/F adsorption/desorption, is clearly discovered in the wet scrubber system (WSS), resulting in PCDD/F concentration increased by 6.2-19.9 times. Memory effect also changes the distribution of PCDD/Fs by increasing the proportions of low-chlorinated PCDD/Fs, which is easily to be desorbed because of their higher vapor pressure comparing with the high-chlorinated PCDD/Fs. After renewing the scrubbing solution and cleaning the bottom sludge in WSS, the PCDD/F TEQ concentrations decreases from 0.51 to 0.24 ng I-TEQ Nm-3, further mitigating but still not enough to eliminate the memory effect because the PCDD/F desorption of wall and scrubber fillings in the WSS. The results are paving the way for further industrial optimized design of WSS and assist in controlling the PCDD/F emissions from MSWI.

Potential interaction between plastic litter and green turtle Chelonia mydas during nesting in an extremely polluted beach.

This study examines the extent of macroplastic pollution on Samandag beach and the potential effects on green sea turtles during nesting. For this purpose, a total of 39 different turtle tracks were studied. Mean plastic concentration was found to be 19.5 ±â€¯1.2 pcs m-2. Among the different types of crawling, the highest concentrations of plastics were found on the tracks of turtles that did not attempt to dig nests (25.9 ±â€¯8.4 pcs m-2). In total, 7 different types of plastics (disposable, film, fishing-related, foam, fragments, miscellaneous, and textile) were found, with film-type plastics being the most prevalent (11 pcs m-2). Samandag beach was found to be greatly more polluted than any other beach in the Mediterranean Sea. We concluded that this pollution can cause negative effects, especially entanglement and entrapment, on green sea turtle females and hatchlings.

Interaction of the Atlantic ghost crab with marine debris: Evidence from an in situ experimental approach.

Sandy beaches pollution by marine debris imposes arguably threats for the biodiversity, but interaction of beach bioindicators (e.g., ghost crabs) with debris has been rarely assessed. We aimed to test whether the Atlantic ghost crab Ocypode quadrata (Fabricius, 1787) misidentifies marine debris as food sources. Cigarette butts, straws, popsicle sticks, paper napkins and styrofoams were mixed into solutions with odour of natural and industrialized food. The debris were placed around burrows on beaches with distinct human pressures (low, medium and high-impact). The species interacted with marine debris more frequently in situations of lower human impact, lower prey abundance and larger burrow diameter. These results indicate that in areas with low prey availability and larger individuals, interactions between ghost crabs and debris left by beach visitors and/or transported by winds and currents to low-impact beaches are more likely to occur, mainly near to urbanized areas.

Interactions between anthropogenic litter and birds: A global review with a 'black-list' of species.

The interaction of anthropogenic litter (by incorporation litter in nests, ingestion, and entanglement) with birds was systematically reviewed using Google Scholar database. A 'black-list' of 258 species was compiled. Among them 206 (79.8%) were seabirds. Four seabird orders (Gaviiformes, Phaetontiformes, Procellariformes, Sphenisciformes) showed the highest percentage of interacting species. At family level, >70% of species of Gaviidae, Diomedeidae, Sulidae, Stercoraridae and Alcidae were involved in interactions with litter. We observed (i) a significant correlation between Scholar recurrences and species citations about anthropogenic litter only when considering seabirds; (ii) a low number of references before 1981 with a bimodal pattern showing a first peak in 1986-90 and a progressively increasing trend in the 2000s. Regarding the type of interaction, there was a significantly higher percentage of species involved in ingestion when compared to the percentage involved in entanglement. We suggest the use of consolidated standardized litter nomenclature and characterization and the adoption of a logical causal chain helping researchers in defining suitable frameworks.

Indicadores de saúde ambiental nos assentamentos do município de Cáceres: faixa fronteiriça Brasil/Bolívia / Environmental health indicators in the settlements of the county of Cáceres: border strip Brazil/Bolivia / Indicadores de salud ambiental em los asentamientos del município de Cáceres: banda fronteriza Brasil/Bolívia

Objetivo: propor e avaliar indicadores de saúde ambiental dos assentados na faixa fronteiriça cacerense. Método: utilizou-se o estudo descritivo, explicativo, quanti-qualitativo e censo, abrangendo todos os responsáveis pelas propriedades (lotes) dos assentamentos Jatobá, Nova Esperança, Rancho da Saudade, Sapicuá, Corixo, Bom Sucesso e Katira. Para coleta de dados foi aplicado um formulário semiestruturado, no período de março a julho de 2016, a 136 agricultores. Na construção dos indicadores utilizou-se a abordagem derivada do modelo Pressão-Estado-Impacto-Resposta. Os indicadores propostos foram: destinação do lixo, qualidade da água e casos de diarreia em crianças. As fontes de captação de água foram submetidas a quatro análises físico-química e microbiológica. Resultados: na destinação do lixo doméstico predominou a categoria queima com 80,9%, seguida das categorias enterra com 8,8% e queima e enterra com 10,3%. Verificou-se que a água não atende as exigências do Ministério da Saúde, devido à presença de Coliformes Totais. O número de crianças nos assentamentos foi 69, destas 88,40% consomem água dos poços coletivos, 52,45% apresentaram episódios de diarreia. Conclusão: os indicadores mostraram-se eficazes, sendo necessárias ações coletivas de orientações referentes aos cuidados com a destinação do lixo e o isolamento no entorno dos poços, e análises periódicas das águas destes assentamentos.(AU)

Objective: to propose and evaluate indicators of environmental health of the settlers in the border area of Caceres. Method: the descriptive, explanatory, quantitative-qualitative and census study was used, covering all those responsible for the properties (lots) of the Jatobá, Nova Esperança, Rancho da Saudade, Sapicuá, Corixo, Bom Sucesso and Katira settlements. For data collection, a semistructured form was applied, from March to July 2016, to 136 farmers. In the construction of the indicators we used the approach derived from the Pressure-State-Impact-Response model. The proposed indicators were: waste disposal, water quality and cases of diarrhea in children. The sources of water abstraction were submitted to four physical-chemical and microbiological analyzes. Results: domestic waste disposal predominated in the category burned with 80.9%, followed by the categories burial with 8.8% and burning and burial with 10.3%. It was verified that the water does not meet the requirements of the Ministry of Health, due to the presence of Total Coliforms. The number of children in the settlements was 69, of whom 88.40% consume water from the collective wells, 52.45% had episodes of diarrhea. Conclusion: the indicators were effective, requiring collective actions of guidelines regarding waste disposal and isolation in the vicinity of the wells, and periodic analysis of the waters of these settlements.(AU)

Objetivo: proponer y evaluar indicadores de salud ambiental de los asentados en la franja fronteriza cacerense. En el presente trabajo se analizaron los resultados obtenidos en el análisis de los resultados obtenidos en el análisis de los resultados obtenidos. Método: para la recolección de datos se aplicó un formulario semiestructurado, en el período de marzo a julio de 2016, a 136 agricultores. En la construcción de los indicadores se utilizó el abordaje derivado del modelo Presión-Estado-Impacto-Respuesta. Los indicadores propuestos fueron: destino de la basura, calidad del agua y casos de diarrea en niños. Las fuentes de captación de agua se sometieron a cuatro análisis físico-químicos y microbiológicos. Resultados: en la destinación de la basura doméstica predominó la categoría quema con 80,9%, seguida de las categorías enterra con 8,8% y quema y enterra con el 10,3%. Se verificó que el agua no atiende las exigencias del Ministerio de Salud, debido a la presencia de Coliformes Totales. El número de niños en los asentamientos fue 69, de estas 88,40% consumen agua de los pozos colectivos, 52,45% presentaron episodios de diarrea. Conclusión: los indicadores se mostraron eficaces, siendo necesarias acciones colectivas de orientaciones referentes a los cuidados con la destinación de la basura y el aislamiento en el entorno de los pozos, y análisis periódicos de las aguas de estos asentamientos.(AU)

Chemometric Assessment and Best-Fit Function Modelling of the Toxic Potential of Selected Food Packaging Extracts.

Food packaging materials constitute an ever more threatening environmental pollutant. This study examined options to specifically assess the ecotoxicity of packaged wastes, such as cans, subjected to various experimental treatments (in terms of extraction media, time of exposure, and temperature) that imitate several basic conditions of the process of food production. The extracts were studied for their ecotoxicity with bioluminescent Vibrio fischeri bacteria. The first objective of this study was to find patterns of similarity between different experimental conditions; we used multivariate statistical methods, such as hierarchical cluster analysis, to interpret the impact of experimental conditions on the ecotoxicity signals of the package extracts. Our second objective was to apply best-fit function modelling for additional data interpretation, taking into account, that ecotoxicity for various temperature conditions is time- and temperature dependent. We mathematically confirmed that chemometric data treatment allows for better understanding how different experimental conditions imitating the real use of food packaging. We also demonstrate that the level of ecotoxicity depends on different extraction media, time of exposure, and temperature regime.

A new strategy to control the proliferation of microorganisms in solid hospital waste and the diffusion of nosocomial infections.

A possible tool to reduce nosocomial infections is to identify unknown sources of contamination and then to provide a measure for controlling the related infections. In this study, solid hospital waste was considered a potential source of contamination, and a strategy to reduce the potential risk of pathogen contamination was tested. This paper describes a novel technique for waste management in healthcare settings with a view to facilitating infection prevention and control. We explored the innovative use of sodium dichloroisocyanurate (NaDCC) by investigating the microbicidal activity of chlorine, which derives from the hydrolysis of NaDCC mediated by humidity, and by testing its effect on the inhibition of microorganism growth. NaDCC was inserted in a solid hospital waste bin containing also Lauria-Bertani agar plates, with different dilutions of a known titre of three different microorganisms, namely Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Aspergillus brasiliensis. The plates were incubated in the container with or without the antimicrobial agent (control, CNT) at room temperature for 5 days. The number of colony-forming units (CFUs) present on each plate was then counted. Microorganisms capable of proliferating in the CNT waste bin were not able to grow in the presence of NaDCC. Furthermore, the molecular chlorine which developed and was released in the waste bin under the experimental conditions (T=20°C, t=5 days) was quantified using iodometric titration. NaDCC hydrolysis, mediated by humidity, has a strong and long-lasting microbicide effect. The proliferation of tested bacteria and fungi is totally inhibited. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of NaDCC in controlling and/or inhibiting microbial proliferation and support its possible use in the treatment of hospital waste to control the spread of nosocomial contamination.

Comparative study of resilience engineering in solid waste treatment plants: A case study in two European cities.

BACKGROUND: Municipal solid waste treatment plants are industrial facilities with important occupational health and safety issues. Hence, a risk assessment system would be very useful to help workers to cope successfully with complexity when they are under pressure situations, such as loss of control or failures of the system safety. In recent years, Resilience Engineering has come up as a new proactive approach to improve and keep safety the complex systems. To evaluate Resilience Engineering the methods at our disposal are mostly qualitative, which are complex and difficult to compare due to their external validity. OBJECTIVE: The present research proposes a method for the quantitative assessment of Resilience Engineering in the municipal solid waste treatment sector. METHODS: The study was carried out as part of an EU SAFERA project in two European cities. The data were obtained from a survey of a sample of 328 workers of treatment plants. RESULTS: The results indicated that priority must be given to improving top-level commitment, culture, preparedness and learning culture, while awareness and opacity emerges as positive results. Significant differences can be seen in the Resilience Engineering evaluation for different posts. CONCLUSION: These findings allow practitioners and management with a view to implementing appropriate corrective measures to achieve high Resilience Engineering in the plant.

Resilience of the resident soil microbiome to organic and inorganic amendment disturbances and to temporary bacterial invasion.

BACKGROUND: Vinasse, a by-product of sugarcane ethanol production, is recycled by sugarcane plantations as a fertilizer due to its rich nutrient content. However, the impacts of the chemical and microbial composition of vinasse on soil microbiome dynamics are unknown. Here, we evaluate the recovery of the native soil microbiome after multiple disturbances caused by the application of organic vinasse residue, inorganic nitrogen, or a combination of both during the sugarcane crop-growing season (389 days). Additionally, we evaluated the resistance of the resident soil microbial community to the vinasse microbiome. RESULTS: Vinasse applied alone or 30 days prior to N resulted in similar changes in the soil microbial community. Furthermore, the impact of the application of vinasse together with N fertilizer on the soil microbial community differed from that of N fertilizer alone. Organic vinasse is a source of microbes, nutrients, and organic matter, and the combination of these factors drove the changes in the resident soil microbial community. However, these changes were restricted to a short period of time due to the capacity of the soil community to recover. The invasive bacteria present in the vinasse microbiome were unable to survive in the soil conditions and disappeared after 31 days, with the exception of the Acetobacteraceae (native in the soil) and Lactobacillaceae families. CONCLUSION: Our analysis showed that the resident soil microbial community was not resistant to vinasse and inorganic N application but was highly resilient.

Concentrations, spatial distributions, and congener profiles of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans around original plastic solid waste recovery sites in China.

The concentrations, profiles, and spatial distributions of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) in soil and sediment samples from several typical plastic solid waste (PSW) recovery sites (particularly from areas in which PSW is burned openly) in China were investigated. The results showed that burning PSW directly influenced PCDD/F concentrations immediately around the burning area. All of the samples in which soil contained black burning residue, collected from immediately around burning areas, had PCDD/F concentrations (mean 21708 ng kg-1) and toxic equivalent (TEQ) concentrations (mean 2140 ng I-TEQ kg-1 or 1877 ng WHO2006-TEQ kg-1) more than 100 times higher than the concentrations in samples collected away from burning areas (mean 222 ng kg-1, 8.75 ng I-TEQ kg-1, 7.96 ng WHO2006-TEQ kg-1). Principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis indicated that the PCDD/F concentrations in seven soil samples from near PSW burning areas were influenced by PSW burning but that the PCDD/Fs in these soil samples may have had other or multiple sources. PCDD/F distributions at PSW recovery sites have been investigated in few previous studies. The results presented here indicate that appropriate measures should be taken to decrease the ecological risks posed by PSW recovery and to prevent, control, and remediate PCDD/F and other chemical contamination caused by PSW recovery.

Influence of solid waste and topography on urban floods: The case of Mexico City.

Floods in cities are increasingly common as a consequence of multifactor watershed dynamics, including geomorphology, land-use changes and land subsidence. However, urban managers have focused on infrastructure to address floods by reducing blocked sewage infrastructure, without significant success. Using Mexico City as a case study, we generated a spatial flood risk model with geomorphology and anthropogenic variables. The results helped contrast the implications of different public policies in land use and waste disposal, and correlating them with flood hazards. Waste disposal was only related to small floods. 58% of the city has a high risk of experiencing small floods, and 24% of the city has a risk for large floods. Half of the population with the lowest income is located in the high-risk areas for large floods. These models are easy to build, generate fast results and are able to help to flood policies, by understanding flood interactions in urban areas within the watershed.

Occupational hazards of Brazilian solid waste workers: a systematic literature review / Riscos ocupacionais em trabalhadores da limpeza urbana no Brasil: uma revisão sistemática da literatura

Background: In Brazil, urban cleaning professionals play an important role within a context characterized by annual increase of the garbage production. However, the job exposes such workers to various occupational hazards, an issue little discussed in the literature. Objective: To identify occupational hazards to which Brazilian solid workers are exposed, as well as factors associated with their minimization. Methods: A systematic review of the literature was performed in databases Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences (LILACS), and PubMed. Gray literature was also searched through Google Scholar and included studies published along a ten-year period (2006-2016) in Portuguese, English, and Spanish. Results: Twelve studies were located; the results showed that waste workers were exposed to biological, accidental, chemical, ergonomic, physical, and psychosocial risks. The risks declined with adherence to use of personal protective equipment and guidance for workers, employers, and population. Conclusions: Given the few studies in this field, more evidence-based research is necessary to serve as grounds for the development and implementation of public health policies aiming at reducing occupational risks among the studied population.

Contexto: No Brasil, os profissionais de limpeza urbana desempenham um papel importante em um contexto em que a produção de lixo no país aumenta consideravelmente a cada ano. No entanto, esse trabalho expõe tais trabalhadores a vários riscos ocupacionais, sendo essa questão pouco discutida na literatura. Objetivo: Identificar os riscos ocupacionais aos quais esses trabalhadores estão expostos e fatores associados à sua minimização. Métodos: Realizou-se uma revisão sistemática da literatura utilizando as bases de dados Scientific Scielo, Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde (LILACS) e PubMed. A literatura cinza também foi consultada através do Google Scholar e incluiu estudos publicados em um recorte de dez anos (2006-2016) em português, inglês e espanhol. Resultados: Doze estudos foram identificados e seus resultados mostraram que os trabalhadores de resíduos estão expostos a riscos biológicos, de acidentes, químicos, ergonômicos, físicos e psicossociais. Os riscos diminuem com a aderência a Equipamentos de Proteção Individual e orientação aos trabalhadores, empregadores e população. Conclusão: Dada a escassez de estudos neste campo, há a necessidade de mais pesquisas baseadas em evidências que possam servir de subsídio para o desenvolvimento e implementação de políticas públicas de saúde visando a redução dos riscos ocupacionais no grupo estudado.

Toxicity evaluation of vinasse and biosolid samples in diplopod midgut: heat shock protein in situ localization.

Large amounts of residues generated by agricultural, urban and industrial activities are dumped daily on the soil. This practice deserves special attention because it causes serious environmental problems. This study evaluated the toxic potential of the sugarcane vinasse, a by-product of the sugar-alcohol industry, and the biosolid, a residue produced by wastewater treatment plants, both widely used as fertilizers. The evaluation was performed through bioassays using a typical soil bioindicator, the diplopod Rhinocricus padbergi. The specimens were exposed to soils containing these residues in concentrations that are compatible with the Brazilian regulation for agricultural use. Semi-quantitative immunolabelling analyses of the stress protein HSP70 were performed on the midgut of the studied diplopods. There was a significant increase in the immunolabelling of HSP70 proteins as a response to xenobiotics from both residues, particularly in regions where the function of the cells is the detoxification of the organ (e.g. the hepatic cell layer and specific regions of the epithelium). Higher immunolabelling was observed in the specimens exposed to vinasse in comparison with the biosolid exposure. This demonstrates that the substances in the tested residues had proteotoxic action in the exposed animals and induced a cytoprotective response, which led to higher stress protein immunolabelling. Therefore, caution is needed for the use of such residues in agriculture.

Antibiotic resistance of bacteria isolated from heavy metal-polluted soils with different land uses.

OBJECTIVES: The main objective of this study was to determine the relationship between the antibiotic and heavy metal tolerance of culturable bacteria isolated from mining waste, pasture, and agricultural soils containing different levels of heavy metals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The populations of total culturable bacteria, and heavy metal- and antibiotic-tolerant bacteria in the soils were enumerated on nutrient agar, nutrient agar amended with metals, and Mueller-Hinton agar amended with antibiotics, respectively. The multiple antibiotic resistance index, and patterns of antibiotic resistance and heavy metal-antibiotic co-resistance were determined for 237 isolates. RESULTS: Among all the samples, those of the tailings of mines with higher levels of heavy metals had the lowest number of bacteria, but a relatively higher abundance of heavy metal- and antibiotic-resistant bacteria. A high degree of resistance was observed for ampicillin and amoxicillin in the isolates from all soils. The agricultural soil isolates had a high prevalence of resistance towards vancomycin, tetracycline, and streptomycin. Among all the tested antibiotics, gentamicin was the most potent. The most frequent pattern of multiple antibiotic resistance in the isolates from agricultural soils was amoxicillin, ampicillin, streptomycin, vancomycin, tetracycline, and doxycycline. The percentage of isolates with multiple antibiotic resistance was considerably higher in the agricultural soils than in the mining waste soils. A high rate of co-resistance towards Hg and antibiotics was observed among the gram-negative isolates, and towards Zn, Ni, Hg, and the beta-lactam antibiotics among the gram-positive isolates. CONCLUSIONS: The higher percentage of isolates with multiple antibiotic resistance in the agricultural soils that in the mining waste soils may be related to (1) the level of soil heavy metals, (2) the population and diversity of soil bacteria, (3) the application of manures, and (4) other factors affecting gene transfer between bacteria.

Stabilization of lead in incineration fly ash by moderate thermal treatment with sodium hydroxide addition.

Municipal solid waste (MSW) incineration fly ash (IFA) can be potentially reused as a substitute for some raw materials, but treatment for detoxification is indispensable owing to high contents of heavy metals in fly ash. In the present work, due to excessive leaching concentration of lead (Pb), a moderate thermal treatment with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) addition was employed to stabilize Pb in IFA. The moderate thermal treatment was performed under relatively low temperature ranging from 300 to 500°C and at retention time from 1 to 3 h with NaOH addition in a range of 1 to 9%. Leaching results showed that leaching concentrations of Pb in IFA leachates decreased below the standard for hazardous waste identification (5 mg/L) in China under all treatment scenarios. With the increase of temperature, retention time and the amount of NaOH, the concentration of Pb were further suppressed in IFA leachates. Especially, at 500°C for 3 h with 9% NaOH addition, the concentration of Pb dropped to 0.18 mg/L, which was below the standard for sanitary landfill (0.25 mg/L) in China. In thermal process, needle-like crystallites melted to form granules and clumps with compacter structure and less pores. After the thermal treatment, water-soluble and exchangeable fractions of Pb significantly decreased. Therefore, the thermal treatment coupled with NaOH could be applied to realize the environmentally sound management of MSW IFA.

Characteristic accumulation of PCDD/Fs in pine needles near an MSWI and emission levels of the MSWI in Pearl River Delta: A case study.

Pine needle samples were collected near a municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI) in Pearl River Delta, southern China, as well as the stack gas and dust samples of the MSWI were simultaneously collected. Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) were analyzed following the USEPA Method 1613B. The concentration of PCDD/Fs in the pine needles (137-625 ng/kg, 25-51 ng I-TEQ/kg) is the highest level ever detected in China. Congener profile comparison and principal component analysis (PCA) confirmed the MSWI as an important emission source of environmental PCDD/Fs. The PCDD/Fs in the pine needles mainly depended on the atmospheric concentration, exposure time and also the wind direction. The accumulation of PCDD/Fs in this species did not occur at a steady rate, and the total concentrations covered up the actual photolysis information. Gas-phase partitioning of compounds in the atmosphere was the dominant process through which PCDD/Fs were adsorbed onto the pine needle surface in contrast with particle-phase deposition, and subsequent environmental behavior varied between the congeners. Photo-degradation was the major transformation process as PCDD/Fs were adsorbed onto the pine needle surfaces. Higher chlorinated PCDD/Fs were more recalcitrant to photo-degradation than those that were less chlorinated, and PCDDs were more resistant to photo-degradation than PCDFs. On the other hand, the strong ability of lipid-rich pine needles to accumulate dioxin compounds indicates they can be used as the absorption sink of PCDD/Fs in heavily polluted areas because it is easier to dispose of pine needles than it is to clean contaminated air.

A systematic critical review of epidemiological studies on public health concerns of municipal solid waste handling.

AIMS: The ultimate aim of this review was to summarise the epidemiological evidence on the association between municipal solid waste management operations and health risks to populations residing near landfills and incinerators, waste workers and recyclers. To accomplish this, the sub-aims of this review article were to (1) examine the health risks posed by municipal solid waste management activities, (2) determine the strengths and gaps of available literature on health risks from municipal waste management operations and (3) suggest possible research needs for future studies. METHODS: The article reviewed epidemiological literature on public health concerns of municipal solid waste handling published in the period 1995-2014. The PubMed and MEDLINE computerised literature searches were employed to identify the relevant papers using the keywords solid waste, waste management, health risks, recycling, landfills and incinerators. Additionally, all references of potential papers were examined to determine more articles that met the inclusion criteria. RESULTS: A total of 379 papers were identified, but after intensive screening only 72 met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed. Of these studies, 33 were on adverse health effects in communities living near waste dumpsites or incinerators, 24 on municipal solid waste workers and 15 on informal waste recyclers. Reviewed studies were unable to demonstrate a causal or non-causal relationship due to various limitations. CONCLUSION: In light of the above findings, our review concludes that overall epidemiological evidence in reviewed articles is inadequate mainly due to methodological limitations and future research needs to develop tools capable of demonstrating causal or non-causal relationships between specific waste management operations and adverse health endpoints.