Environmental Protection Research

Organochlorine Pesticide and Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon Pollution of Ilaje Coastal River Sediments, Ondo State, Nigeria

2023-11-29T09:38:14+08:00

We investigated the presence of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) on the surface sediments sampled at the Ilaje coastal river in Ondo State, Nigeria. The samples were taken at five locations along the coast to determine their distribution in surface sediments and identify the input of industrial activities. The identified OCPs included G-BHC, d-BHC, chlorothalonil, alachlor, aldrin, dacthal, heptachlor-epoxide, g-chlordane, and trans-nonachlor, accounting for roughly 99% of the total detectable in the samples. The pesticide concentrations (dry weight) were ≤ 326.98 ng/g, with an average value of 15.49 ng/g. The pesticide levels at the various studied locations were in this order: Idiogba Police > Igbokoda > Idiogba Subu > Ayetoro > Eyunona. Furthermore, considerable negative and positive correlations exist between the various components of chlorinated pesticides. Based on the dry weight, TPH values in the samples ranged from 5.42 to 22.53 ng/g, in the order Eyunona > Idiogba Police > Idiogba Subu > Ayetoro > Igbokoda. Our data suggest that the hydrocarbons in the sediment matrices arise from anthropogenic causes other than oil spillage, such as water transportation and residential waste discharge, storm waters, rural runoff, etc. Although pollution levels are generally low, there is a need for regular monitoring and enforcement of stringent implementation of environmental laws and standards designed to curb any potential environmental pollution arising from oil spills and indiscriminate waste disposals in the coastal community.

Municipal Solid Waste Status in Iran: From Generation to Disposal

2023-09-26T09:26:01+08:00

The crucial step in policymaking and planning for local governments to select appropriate waste management methods and accomplish the required programs and projects is having comprehensive information on solid waste generation. Since there has not been a comprehensive study on waste management practices at a nationwide level in the last decade, this paper aims to present an overview of the current solid waste generation, characteristics, and disposal methods, covering all 31 provinces of Iran based on available information and regional integrated waste management plans. This study is applied research using the descriptive-case study method with quantitative data. The results show the average of solid waste generation (urban and rural) throughout the country is 0.63 kg/capita/day. Although this is 10% higher than its level in the past decade, it is still lower than the global average per capita (0.74 kg/day). Solid waste composition in Iran comprises primarily organic, with 70%, followed by paper and plastic, which account for 7% of the waste stream. In addition, on average, over 90% of the generated solid waste in Iran is still openly dumped, increasing health and environmental risks. To obtain accurate and reliable data, it is essential to establish a comprehensive waste monitoring plan at the national level. This plan should include the determination and periodic updating, through a standardized method, of waste composition and generation rates. According to the data from this research, planning and financial support for source separation can decrease environmental, economic, and social problems in current solid waste management systems.

Impact of Land Use and Land Cover Change on Deforestation in the Central Taraba State: A Geographic Information System and Remote Sensing Analysis

2023-08-21T13:39:23+08:00

Deforestation, the widespread clearance of forests for various land uses, has become a significant global environmental issue with far-reaching consequences. Deforestation in the study area was identified, categorized, assessed, and interpreted using Landsat 5, 7, and 8 from the years 2008, 2014, and 2020, respectively. A geographic information system (GIS) database of land use and land cover categories and their changes were created. The results showed that several anthropogenic human activities, including agriculture and wood harvesting, were driving a general retreat of the forest area. The study further shows that between 2008 and 2020, forest area decreased by 8.5% with an annual rate of 0.33%, other vegetative areas increased by 2% with an annual rate of 0.077%, and non-vegetative areas increased by 1.5% with an annual rate of 0.58%. The hotspot map shows that the rate at which the reserve is deteriorating and the conversion of the forest area to other vegetation and bare ground are only a matter of time. The study recommended that the government should adopt rigorous policies to protect forest reserves from unauthorized habitation by encouraging the use of alternative firewood fuel sources to reduce the pressure on the forest.

Defining Best Available Technique Performances for Urban Wastewater Plants: A French Application

2023-11-22T10:03:36+08:00

The treatment of wastewater (WW) and the resulting sludge in urban WW treatment plants (UWWTPs) is accompanied by a significant consumption of resources as well as the concomitant emission of pollutants into the environment. One of the objectives of the NEXT (next generation of wastewater treatment plants) project is to identify sufficiently long-term optimization opportunities for processes to be selected as best available techniques (BATs) within the meaning of the industrial emissions directive (IED). The methodological framework used in this article is based on multi-criteria statistical tools, processing data from industrial plants to classify the sites studied and identify the reference plants in order to propose BAT references and associated emission levels that are reachable. Two public databases available on the internet were used, and 1,010 plants served as samples. The application and results demonstrated the applicability of the methodology and validated the mathematical approach used, as the thresholds comply with current French and European regulations. In the framework of the analysis conducted, five techniques (membrane bioreactor, bacterial bed, sand filter, and high-load or medium-load activated sludge) were identified as BAT according to the range of regulatory classification requirements for WW treatment plants (WWTPs). In addition, an example of reference values that may constitute a possible basis for the regulatory thresholds has been proposed. In parallel, a few discussion points were identified, including the choice of the metric for the reference values, the lack of data for the sludge line limiting identification of the BATs to the water line alone, the approximate characterization in the databases of certain parameters, as well as the problem of technique coupling due to the identification of one main technique.

The Impact of Climate Change and Urbanization on Groundwater Levels: A System Dynamics Model Analysis

2023-11-01T13:58:17+08:00

Climate change and population growth have placed increasing stress on groundwater resources. Effective management of groundwater resources is crucial for promoting sustainable development, especially in areas heavily reliant on groundwater supply. However, sustainable groundwater management is more complex due to various factors affecting key drivers and their feedback interactions. In this regard, this study aims to examine the key driving forces and their interplay concerning fluctuations in groundwater levels within a study area in Illinois, United States, which heavily relies on groundwater for water supply. To achieve this objective, a system dynamics (SD) simulation model was developed, utilizing hydrology, climate, and urbanization data spanning from 2010 to 2020. Through calibration and validation of the SD model with historical data, the model demonstrated reliable simulation capabilities for groundwater levels. Additionally, sensitivity analysis and exploration of water resource scenarios were conducted to evaluate the critical factors influencing groundwater levels. Results revealed that population dynamics, agricultural land, and groundwater recharge were analyzed as key drivers influencing the change in groundwater level for the study area, among the climate and urbanization factors that had different contributions to the groundwater dynamics. A 10% increase in population, agricultural land, and groundwater recharge led to a decrease of approximately 5.5% and increases of 4.5% and 4.27% in groundwater levels, respectively. The results of the four-scenario analysis indicated that both climate change and urbanization exerted significant and adverse impacts on the groundwater level in the study area. These scenarios represented prominent and worst-case situations, highlighting the potential challenges and risks associated with the combination of these factors, which resulted in about a 77 mm decrease in groundwater levels by 2030. Overall, given limited data availability for SD model parameterization, the study emphasizes the need to consider the effects of both urbanization and climate change on groundwater supplies in decision-making for sustainable groundwater management, as well as the need for adequate management measures to maintain the long-term usage of groundwater resources.