In this paper, preliminary investigation was conducted to evaluate the potential ecological risk of heavy metals contamination in cemetery soils. Necrosol samples were collected from within and around the vicinity of the largest mass grave in Rwanda and analyzed for heavy metal concentrations using total digestion–inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and instrumental neutron activation analysis. Based on the concentrations of As, Cu, Cr, Pb, and Zn, the overall contamination degree (C dₑg) and potential ecological risks status (RI) of the necrosols were determined. The preliminary results revealed that the associated cemetery soils are only contaminated to a low degree. On the other hand, assessment of the potential ecological risk index (RI) revealed that cumulative heavy metal content of the soil do not pose any significant ecological risks. These findings, therefore, suggest that, while cemetery soils may be toxic due to the accumulation of certain heavy metals, their overall ecological risks may be minimal and insignificant.

Understanding denitrification rates in groundwater ecosystems can help predict where agricultural reactive nitrogen (N) contributes to environmental degradation. In situ groundwater denitrification rates were determined in subsoil, at the bedrock interface and in bedrock at two sites, grassland and arable, using an in situ 'push-pull' method with 15N-labelled nitrate (NO3 --N). Measured groundwater denitrification rates ranged from 1.3 to 469.5 μg N kg-1 day-1. Exceptionally high denitrification rates observed at the bedrock interface at grassland site (470 ± 152 μg N kg-1 day-1; SE, standard error) suggest that deep groundwater can serve as substantial hotspots for NO 3 --N removal. However, denitrification rates at the other locations were low and may not substantially reduce NO3 --N delivery to surface waters. Denitrification rates were negatively correlated with ambient dissolved oxygen, redox potential, k s and NO3 - (all p values, p < 0.01) and positively correlated with SO4 2- (p < 0.05). Higher mean N 2O/(N2O + N2) ratios at an arable (0.28) site than the grassland (0.10) revealed that the arable site has higher potential to indirect N2O emissions. Identification of areas with high and low denitrification and related site parameters can be a tool to manage agricultural N to safeguard the environment. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.

An electrokinetic technique was used to remediate As-, Cu-, and Pb-contaminated paddy soil in a real field on a pilot scale. A hexagonal electrode placement with one anode at the center and six cathodes at the vertices of the hexagon was installed in the field. After operation for 4 weeks, the average removal of Pb was 64.9 % in the top layer (0–0.4 m), 81.2 % in the middle layer (0.4–0.8 m), and 66.9 % in the bottom layer (0.8–1.2 m). The removal of As was 28.2 % in the top layer, 43.2 % in the middle layer, and 24.5 % in the bottom layer. The removal of Cu was 17.7 % in the middle layer and was not observed in the other layers. The relatively high removal of Pb might come from the more labile fraction of Pb in soil compared to As and Cu. However, the circulation of anolyte using an alkaline solution to enhance removal of As failed because the electrolyte leaked between the anode and surrounding soil. Effective circulation might enhance the performance of the electrokinetic process.

This study investigated how forest soil acidification is affected by edge proximity. We measured pH(KCl) and exchangeable K, Ca, Mg and Al concentrations of the mineral topsoil (0–30 cm) from the exposed edge to the interior (128 m from the edge) of three deciduous and four coniferous forest stands. From the front edge to the interior of the deciduous stands, the pH(KCl) values decreased at 0–5 cm soil depth (from 3.07 to 2.98) but increased at 5–10 cm (from 3.26 to 3.32) and 10–30 cm (from 3.48 to 3.75) depth. In the coniferous stands, pH(KCl) values declined from edge to interior at all soil depths, i.e. from 3.10 to 2.89, from 3.26 to 3.06 and from 3.54 to 3.31 at 0–5, 5–10 and 10–30 cm, respectively. The concentrations of exchangeable cations decreased from edge to interior, with larger differences in the coniferous (of up to 265 %) than in the deciduous stands (up to 99 %). At forest edges, enhanced soil acidification due to higher potentially acidifying deposition could be counteracted in the upper mineral soil by higher base cation throughfall and litterfall, faster litter decomposition, higher soil organic matter content, lower nitrate leaching from the soil and/or lime fertiliser drift. Nonetheless, deeper in the soil of the deciduous stands, these buffer processes seem unable to counteract soil acidification due to potentially acidifying deposition at the edges. Edge effects on soil acidity are important since they can translate into effects on plant communities, soil biota, nitrogen cycling and carbon sequestration.

The present study analyzes the acute and behavioral toxicity of two commercial formulations of endosulfan and atrazine (Gesaprim 90 WDG® and Zebra Ciagro®, respectively) on the cyclopoid copepod Mesocyclops longisetus. The studied behavior was the “escape ability” because of its ecological importance in natural predator–prey interactions. This was investigated using two experimental designs: (1) a simulated predator (applying a hydraulic device) and (2) a real one (the zooplanktophagous fish Cnesterodon decemmaculatus). Both pesticides resulted highly toxic to adults and nauplii at even relatively low concentrations and similar to those found in field studies. Copepods’ survival was not only directly affected but also indirectly through altering their escape behavior, which may have increased their vulnerability to predation. The escape ability, measured with the simulated predator was stimulated early (up to 6 h of exposition) but inhibited later (after 24 h of exposition). The predation experiments with the real predator were in accordance with these results. The comparison of both experimental designs corroborates the effectiveness of the hydraulic mechanism as a testing method.

Anaerobic digestion is one of the most effective means for the stabilisation of sludge. However, it has a very slow rate-limiting hydrolysis phase which is attributed to the low biodegradability of cell walls and the presence of extracellular biopolymers. This study aims at investigating the effect of ultrasonic, microwave and combined microwave–ultrasonic treatment on biogas production, solids removal and dewaterability of anaerobically digested sludge. A comparison was made between the three pretreatment techniques conducting the digestion tests under similar conditions on the same synthetic sludge sample inoculated by digested sewage sludge. The experimental results depict that the combined microwave–ultrasonic treatment (2,450-MHz, 800-W and 3-min microwave treatment followed by 0.4-W/ml and 10-min ultrasonication) resulted in better digester performance than ultrasonic or microwave treatment. Mesophilic digestion of combined microwave–ultrasonic-pretreated sludge produced a significantly higher amount of methane (147 ml) after a sludge retention time of 17 days, whereas the ultrasonic- and microwave-treated sludge samples produced 30 and 16 ml of methane, respectively. The combined microwave–ultrasonic treatment resulted in total solids reduction of 56.8 % and volatile solid removal of 66.8 %. Furthermore, this combined treatment improved dewaterability of the digested sludge by reducing the capillary suction time (CST) down to 92 s, as compared to CST of 331 s for microwave-treated and 285 s for ultrasonically treated digested sludge samples. Optimisation tests were also carried out to determine the best combination.

Dual-effects of adsorption and photodegradation over titania, silica embedded titania, silica and commercial Degussa P-25 samples were studied for the decolourization of methylene blue in aqueous medium. Silica embedded titania and silica were prepared using inexpensive polymeric version of ethyl silicate as a source of silica. Catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy and low temperature (77 K) nitrogen adsorption measurements. Among all the catalysts, silica embedded titania has exhibited faster decolourization of methylene blue solution on account of the enhancement of adsorption followed by degradation. An amount of the catalyst and the initial dye concentration of MB solution were found to influence the decolourization activity. Compared to titania catalyst, silica embedded titania and Degussa P-25 have shown the red shift in their UV-Vis spectrum. The experimental data of the reaction fitted well to the pseudo first order kinetic model. In present studies, the adsorption mechanism for the decolourization of MB solution was found to be applicable for an intra particle diffusion model. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.

The ubiquitous presence of chlorophenols (CPs) continues to be a cause of concern, owing to their recalcitrant nature. In this context, the present work investigated the degradation of model compounds, 4-chlorophenol, 2,4-dichlorophenol, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol, and pentachlorophenol, by an organic oxidant, methyl ethyl ketone peroxide (MEKP) coupled with ultraviolet irradiation in basic media. Chemical analysis was followed by high-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Despite exhibiting varied patterns of decline, chemical oxygen demand was eventually noted to decrease to the extent of up to 70 %. Simultaneous increase/decrease in the release of chloride ions and decrease in pH indicated that parallel reactions were occurring, which led to the formation of acidic reaction products. First-order dynamics was approximated for all CP congener degradation. The degraded compounds showed absolutely no presence of chlorine atoms, which was a noteworthy feature testifying to the fact that MEKP action was capable of detoxification of CP congeners.

The study of atmospheric concentration levels at a local scale is one of the most important topics in environmental sciences. Multivariate analysis, fuzzy logic, and neural networks have been introduced in forecasting procedures in order to elaborate operational techniques for level characterization of specific atmospheric pollutants at different spatial and temporal scales. Particularly, approaches based on artificial neural networks (ANNs) have been proposed and successfully applied for forecasting concentration levels of PM, NO, SO, CO, and O. The present study explores the development and application of ANN models for forecasting, 24 h ahead, not only the daily concentration levels of PM but also the number of hours exceeding the PM concentration threshold during the day in five different regions within the greater Athens area (GAA). The ANN modeling was based on measurements and estimates of the mean daily PM concentration, the maximum hourly NO concentration, air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and the mode daily value of wind direction from five different monitoring stations for the period 2001-2005. The evaluation of the model performance showed the risk of daily PM concentration levels exceeding certain thresholds as well as the duration of the exceedances can be successfully predicted. Despite the limitations of the model, the results indicate that ANNs, when adequately trained, have considerable potential to be used for 1 day ahead PM concentration forecasting and the duration within the GAA.

The subalpine and alpine areas in North-Western Italy and Southern Switzerland (Canton Ticino) receive high deposition of atmospheric pollutants transported from emission sources in the Po Valley. Long-term studies on high-altitude lakes in these areas indicate widespread recovery from acidification, even though most of them are still substantially affected, especially by deposition of nitrogen compounds. We analysed long-term trends of the major chemical compounds in a sample (n = 41) of high-altitude lakes, both at the site and regional levels, with the aim to assess the response of water chemistry to changes in atmospheric deposition and climate. These lakes have been studied since the early 1980s in the context of research programmes on acidification and atmospheric pollution. The significant decrease of sulfate and acidity in atmospheric deposition led to acidification recovery in the majority of the lakes. However, some lakes are still acidic or show a high sensitivity to acidification. This sensitivity is particularly evident at the snowmelt, when alkalinity is still fully depleted in some lakes. At present, nitrate is the dominant acidifying agent in the studied lakes, due to the high input of nitrogen compounds from atmospheric deposition. Our study also demonstrated that climatic factors interact with atmospheric deposition affecting the long-term changes in lake water.