Environmental health risks perception, attitude, and avoidance behaviour toward municipal solid waste incinerator.

This study aims to assess the relationship between risk perception, attitude, and avoidance among residents toward an urban incinerator in Taichung, Taiwan. A cross-sectional study was conducted and three schools were enrolled. The case group was composed of 514 residents who live near an incinerator. The control group was composed of 264 people nearly the same age and who have lived in that area basically the same period of time. All participants were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Results of this study showed that there was no significant difference between the exposure group and the control group in risk perception and attitude regarding the incinerator. However, the exposure group showed a significantly higher desire to move within one year or move sometime in the future than the control group. Therefore, these people should encourage the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) to do everything it can to make sure that the incinerator operates safely.

Relationship between lead uptake by lettuce and water-soluble low-molecular-weight organic acids in rhizosphere as influenced by transpiration.

The relationship between Pb uptake by leaf lettuce ( Lactuca sativa L.) and water-soluble low-molecular-weight organic acids (LMWOAs) in rhizosphere, as influenced by transpiration (high and low), has been studied. Studies were carried out by culturing lettuce plants grown for 2 weeks in pots filled with quartz sand mixed with anion-exchange resin and then for 30 days in a greenhouse. The potted lettuce plants were subjected to stress by the addition of Pb(NO 3) 2 solutions (100, 200, and 300 mg of Pb L (-1)) and by high and low transpiration treatments for another 10-day period. Blank experiments (without addition of Pb(NO 3) 2 solutions to the pots) were also run. There were no significant differences in the growth of the plants with the addition of Pb(NO 3) 2 solutions in either of the transpirations studies. Uptake of Pb by the shoots and roots of the plants was found to be proportional to the concentration of Pb solutions added, and more accumulation was observed in the roots than in the shoots at the end of days 3 and 10. High transpiration caused more Pb uptake than did low transpiration. One volatile acid (propionic acid) and nine nonvolatile acids (lactic, glycolic, oxalic, succinic, fumaric, oxalacetic, d-tartaric, trans-aconitic, and citric acids) in rhizosphere quartz sand or anion-exchange resin were identified and quantified by gas chromatography analysis with a flame ionization detector. The amount of LMWOAs in rhizosphere quartz sand or anion-exchange resin increased with higher amounts of Pb in quartz sand solution and also with longer duration of the study. The total quantities of the LMWOAs in the rhizosphere quartz sand or anion-exchange resin were significantly higher under high and low transpiration with a 300 mg of Pb L (-1) solution addition at the end of day 10. Compared with our previous related studies (published work), the present study shows that the presence of LMWOAs in rhizosphere does not significantly affect Pb uptake by lettuce plants under high and low transpiration. A physiological mechanism of the roots of lettuce plants governing the relationship between Pb contamination level and quantity of water-soluble LMWOAs in rhizosphere quartz sand and resin, as influenced by transpiration, was proposed.

Remediation of soil contaminated with pyrene using ground nanoscale zero-valent iron.

The sites contaminated with recalcitrant polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are serious environmental problems ubiquitously. Some PAHs have proven to be carcinogenic and hazardous. Therefore, the innovative PAH in situ remediation technologies have to be developed instantaneously. Recently, the nanoscale zero-valent iron (ZVI) particles have been successfully applied for dechlorination of organic pollutants in water, yet little research has investigated for the soil remediation so far. The objective in this work was to take advantage of nanoscale ZVI particles to remove PAHs in soil. The experimental factors such as reaction time, particle diameter and iron dosage and surface area were considered and optimized. From the results, both microscale and nanoscale ZVI were capable to remove the target compound. The higher removal efficiencies of nanoscale ZVI particles were obtained because the specific surface areas were about several dozens larger than that of commercially microscale ZVI particles. The optimal parameters were observed as 0.2 g iron/2 mL water in 60 min and 150 rpm by nanoscale ZVI. Additionally, the results proved that nanoscale ZVI particles are a promising technology for soil remediation and are encouraged in the near future environmental applications. Additionally, the empirical equation developed for pyrene removal efficiency provided the good explanation of reaction behavior. Ultimately, the calculated values by this equation were in a good agreement with the experimental data.

Using nanoscale zero-valent iron for the remediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons contaminated soil.

The sites contaminated with recalcitrant organic compounds, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with multiple benzene rings, are colossal and ubiquitous environmental problems. They are relatively nonbiodegradable and mutagenic, and 16 of them are listed in the U.S. Environment Protection Agency priority pollutants. Thus, the efficient and emerging remediation technologies for removal of PAHs in contaminated sites have to be uncovered urgently. In this decade, the zero-valent iron (ZVI) particles have been used successfully in the laboratory, pilot, and field, such as degradation of chlorinated hydrocarbons and remediation of the other pollutants. Nevertheless, as far as we know, little research has investigated for soil remediation; this study used nanoscale ZVI particles to remove pyrene in the soil. The experimental variables were determined, including reaction time, iron particle size, and dosage. From the results, both the micro- and nanoscales of ZVI were capable of removing the target compound in soil, but the higher removal efficiencies were by nanoscale ZVI because of the massive specific surface area. The optimal operating conditions to attain the best removal efficiency of pyrene were obtained while adding nanoscale ZVI 0.1 g/g soil within 60 min and 150 rpm of mixing. Thus, nanoscale ZVI has proved to be a promising remedy for PAH-contaminated soil in this study, as well as an optimistically predictable application for additional pilot and field studies.

Effect of Cl-, SO4(2-), and fulvate anions on Cd2+ free ion concentrations in simulated rhizosphere soil solutions.

The binding between heavy metals and corresponding ligands affects their chemical behavior and toxicity in soil environments. The mechanisms of competitive complexation and/or chelation between Cd(2+) free cations and preferential concentrations of Cl(-), SO(4)(2-), and fulvate anions were investigated in simulated soil solutions at pH 4.00, 5.00 and 6.00. The Cd(2+) concentrations were calculated by a proposed equation, simulated by MINTEQ software, and directly determined by ion chromatography (IC). When Cl(-)/Cd or Cl(-)/Cd with SO(4)(2-)/Cd molar ratios of 3.18 and 4.05, the differences among Cd(2+) concentrations calculated by equation, simulated by MINTEQ software, and directly determined by IC were not significant, but their differences were pH independent for considering Cl(-)/Cd molar ratio and pH dependent for Cl(-)/Cd and SO(4)(2-)/Cd molar ratios. When Cl(-)/Cd, SO(4)(2-)/Cd, and additional FA/Cd molar ratios of 3.18 and 4.05, the Cd(2+) concentrations calculated by equation were significantly larger than those simulated by MINTEQ and determined by IC because in simulation and determination of Cd(2+) concentrations by IC, the complexation of Cd(2+) with ligands to form CdCl(+), CdSO(4), FACd(+) and FA(2)Cd had been considered, whereas in calculation this complexation aspect was ignored. Though IC can be used to determine Cd(2+) concentration in rhizosphere soil solutions ion chromatographic peak of Cd(2+) in 0.1M HCl saturation extract of slightly acidic soil and in deionized distilled water saturation extract of acidic soils still may be shielded by the vicinal chromatographic peaks of Mg(2+) and Mn(2+), respectively. The Cd(2+) concentrations in rhizosphere soil solutions of acidic or slightly acidic soils calculated by equation and/or simulated by Model may thus be used as potential alternatives for those determined by IC.