Cleanup Project Research Articles

Stranger Things": Exploring the Infrastructures of Pollution in Columbia, SC

abstract: In 2010, a toxic tar-like material (TLM) was discovered in the riverbed of a popular Congaree River boat launch site near downtown Columbia, South Carolina. In this article, we examine the novel infrastructural form that emerged to deal with this waste, a temporary cofferdam that was built in 2022 as an integral element in the Congaree River Sediment Cleanup project. In doing so, we consider what we call the short and long histories of the cofferdam's construction. These histories provide a way of glimpsing into how post-industrial landscapes and infrastructures are shaped by an inexhaustible list of potentially impactful factors both within and beyond contaminated spaces. We argue that the short history of the cofferdam's size, shape, composition, and age have been shaped by its long history of factors that include potential unexploded Civil War ordnance, the presence of threatened and endangered species, and state and non-state actor relationships. This case study invites us to think more broadly about the presence of coal tar as an index, object, and constituent of different environment infrastructural forms.

Socio-economic baseline for oil-impacted communities in Ogoniland: towards a restoration framework in Niger Delta, Nigeria

This study documents the socio-economic baselines in selected oil-impacted communities prior to the commencement of the Ogoni clean-up and restoration project. Adopting mixed approach consisting of semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions (FGDs), key informant interviews (KIIs), and household surveys, we surveyed the pre-remediation socio-economic conditions in the Ogoniland communities between July 2018 and March 2019. Results indicated that almost all respondents (99.6%) agreed that the smell of petroleum products or crude oil was evident in the air they breathed even as there were visible black particles (soot) in the respondents’ nostrils, on their clothes, and in water. The respondents described the ambient air as smoky and choked with an offensive smell. The household waters were smelly, brownish, or oily, and most respondents (76%) cannot afford to treat their water. Forty-two percent of the respondents who relied on fishing and farming for a living sought for alternative means of subsistence and acknowledged that oil pollution caused stunted growth and low crop yield. The majority of respondents (91%) reported falling fish catches, while the fish caught smell and taste of oil, lowering their market value and posing a potential health risk to consumers. It is evident that oil pollution has impacted the socio-ecological values and sustainable livelihood in Ogoniland. This study provides baseline data for monitoring post-remediation socio-economic improvements in Ogoniland. It also highlights areas of urgent intervention to improve livelihood, and access to basic amenities (e.g., potable drinking water), waste management infrastructure, and statutory policy changes for sustainable development in Ogoniland.

Metadata remediation through migration, post-migration or necessary clean-up: A roadmap for success

Metadata clean-up (or remediation) projects can be time-consuming, stressful and, at some point, inevitable if metadata are retained. Having a plan before starting is paramount not only to a successful project, but also to prevent the waste of valuable resources. As this paper will show, determining which aspects of a clean-up project are most important is the key to ending the project with quality metadata — regardless of the metadata schema or metadata management system or the rationale for the clean-up.

Stranger Things: Exploring the Infrastructures of Pollution in Columbia, SC

In 2010, a toxic tar-like material (TLM) was discovered in the riverbed of a popular Congaree River boat launch site near downtown Columbia, South Carolina. In this article, we examine the novel infrastructural form that emerged to deal with this waste, a temporary cofferdam that was built in 2022 as an integral element in the Congaree River Sediment Cleanup project. In doing so, we consider what we call the short and long histories of the cofferdam’s construction. These histories provide a way of glimpsing into how post-industrial landscapes and infrastructures are shaped by an inexhaustible list of potentially impactful factors both within and beyond contaminated spaces. We argue that the short history of the cofferdam’s size, shape, composition, and age have been shaped by its long history of factors that include potential unexploded Civil War ordnance, the presence of threatened and endangered species, and state and non-state actor relationships. This case study invites us to think more broadly about the presence of coal tar as an index, object, and constituent of different environment infrastructural forms.

Cost-Benefit Analysis of Urban Green Infrastructures: A Case Study of the LiuChuan River Corridor, Taichung City, from Linsenliu Bridge to Minquanliu Bridge

Green infrastructure has been shown to play the role of adaptation and adjustment under the effect of harsh climate. The creation of urban green infrastructure is an important indicator of sustainable urban development, and determining the cost-effectiveness of green infrastructure is a necessary step to help investment decisions. The whole economic worth of Taichung City’s Liuchuan pollution cleanup and environmental improvement project is examined using cost-benefit analysis from three perspectives: investment value, tangible value, and intangible value. The study findings demonstrate that green infrastructure has long-term development value and can help the sustainable development of cities.

Cadmium exposure is associated with chronic kidney disease in a superfund site lead smelter community in Dallas, Texas

Background: The study was conducted in a Dallas lead smelter community following an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Superfund Cleanup project. Lead smelters operated in the Dallas community since the mid-1930s.Aim: To test the hypothesis that cadmium (Cd) exposure is associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) ≥ stage 3.Subjects and methods: Subjects were African American residents aged ≥19 to ≤ 89 years (n=835). CKD ≥ stage 3 was predicted by blood Cd concentration with covariates.Results: In logistic regression analysis, CKD ≥ stage 3 was predicted by age ≥ 50 years (OR = 4.41, p < 0.0001), Cd level (OR = 1.89, p < .05), hypertension (OR = 3.15, p < 0.03), decades living in the community (OR = 1.34, p < 0.003) and T2DM (OR = 2.51, p < 0.01). Meta-analysis of 11 studies of Cd and CKD ≥ stage 3 yielded an ORRANDOM of 1.40 (p < 0.0001). Chronic environmental Cd exposure is associated with CKD ≥ stage 3 in a Dallas lead smelter community controlling covariates.Conclusion: Public health implications include screening for heavy metals including Cd, cleanup efforts to remove Cd from the environment and treating CKD with newer renal-sparing medications (e.g., SGLT-2 inhibitors, GLP-1s).

Melting behaviour of simulated radioactive waste as functions of different redox iron-bearing raw materials

Improved understanding of the mechanisms by which foaming occurs during vitrification of high-level radioactive waste feeds prior to operation of the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant at the Hanford Site, USA, will help to obviate operational issues and reduce the duration of the clean-up project by enhancing the feed-to-glass conversion. The HLW-NG-Fe2 high-iron simulated waste feed has been shown to exhibit excessive foaming, and the most recent predictive models overestimate the feed melting rate. The influence of delivering iron as a Fe2+-bearing raw material (FeC2O4·2H2O), rather than a Fe3+ (Fe(OH)3) material, was evaluated in terms of the effects on foaming during melting, to improve understanding of the mechanisms of foam production. A decrease of 50.0 ± 10.8% maximum generated foam volume is observed using FeC2O4·2H2O as the iron source, compared with Fe(OH)3. This is determined to be due to a large release of CO2 before the foam onset temperature (the temperature above which the liquid phases forming are sufficiently viscous to trap the gases) and suppression of O2 evolution during foam collapse. Structural analyses of simulated waste feeds after different stages of melting show that the remaining Fe2+ in the modified feed is oxidised to Fe3+ at temperatures between 600 and 800 °C. This feed was tested in a Laboratory Scale Melter with no excessive foaming or feeding issues. Analysis of the final glass products indicates that the glasses produced using the original HLW-NG-Fe2 feed using Fe(OH)3 and the feed made with FeC2O4·2H2O are structurally similar but not identical: the difference in the structure converges when the glass is melted for 24 h, suggesting a transient structure slightly different to that of the baseline in the glass produced using the reduced raw material.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONFLICT AND UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME (UNEP) REPORT: AN APPRAISAL OF THE CLEAN-UP IN OGONI

The people of Ogoni over the years have been at logger heads with the federal government of Nigeria and the Multinational Company, Shell over the long period of oil exploration and exploitation on their land without any noticeable development, instead the environment was polluted. This is revealed by UNEP and shows that the Ogoni people have suffered grave consequences owing to the oil pollution of their land. Upon the recommendations of UNEP, the Federal Government agreed to clean up Ogoniland so as to save the people’s lives and their environment. Against, this background, this study examined the environmental conflict and UNEP report in Ogoniland, with a view to appraising the clean-up projects in Ogoni. The study was exploratory and descriptive in design, thus the study relied on content analysis. Max Weber’s strand of conflict theory was adopted as theoretical guide. Four objectives and corresponding four research questions were posed. In proffering answers to the questions, it was revealed that the several years of oil pollution in Ogoni breeds environmental pollution and grave dangers for the Ogonis. Thus, the clean-up was meant to clean the environment and restore the economy, wealth and health of the Ogonis. However, the present state of the clean-up is slow, delayed and reveals a lackadaisical attitude of the government which implies that the Ogonis are continuously affected by the hazard on daily basis.

The renewability of the groundwater resource in clean-up interventions: legal assumptions and technical implications of environmental sustainability

[This Technical Note highlights some legal aspects and technical principles closely related to the concept of ground water renewability, in as far as this concept is considered when designing and implementing environmental clean-up projects and works. After outlining the quantitative importance of groundwater in meeting Italian water demand, some key points of the current regulations are commented on, and some practical guidelines are proposed which could be adopted during remediation of groundwater at contaminated sites, aiming at the protection and qualitative-quantitative restoration of the aquifers as an indication of sustainability]. [In Italian]

The role of citizen science in addressing plastic pollution: Challenges and opportunities

Globally, the number of citizen science clean-up projects, such as beach cleans, is increasing in an effort to reduce the amount of plastic pollution in the environment. Such activities offer the opportunity to gather insightful data on plastic abundance, distribution and composition. This information is key for informing effective management strategies aimed at reducing input but little work has been conducted to examine the challenges faced by existing citizen science projects, or the potential opportunities for maximising their impact. Here, we present the results of a questionnaire survey and follow-up workshop to explore the opinions of representatives from 20 organisations that deal with the issue of plastic pollution in the environment. Our results show that, of the organisations that conduct clean-up activities in the United Kingdom (UK), the majority collect data on plastic pollution to some extent. To ensure these data are scientifically meaningful and the necessary levels of public engagement are maintained, participants felt that survey protocols should be standardised across organisations and data submission should be as simple and easy as possible. The participants considered communication, inclusivity and volunteer diversity to be key for enhancing citizen engagement and improving data quality. Many organisations were unclear about how the information they hold can be most effectively used to help inform policies relating to managing plastic pollution. Moving forwards, there is a clear desire from clean-up organisations to collaborate with other sectors, such as commercial, policy, waste and recycling, education and technology stakeholders, as well as other non-governmental organisations and scientific researchers, to enhance the value and impact of citizen science in tackling the issue of plastic pollution.

Artisanal refining of crude oil in the Niger Delta: A challenge to clean-up and remediation in Ogoniland

While the activities of multinational oil corporations contribute significantly to oil pollution and environmental degradation in most oil-producing countries, the extent to which illegal artisanal refineries contribute to the environmental problems in Niger Delta remains unclear. Extant literature attributes this to the expanding activities of the artisans as well as the use of crude technology in illegal oil refining. Given the widespread nature of the artisanal oil-refining economy in the Niger Delta region, we assess its contribution to the growing environmental pollution in the region. By artisanal oil refining, we mean small-scale crude oil processing or subsistent distillation of petroleum that is often outside the boundaries of the state law. This study links the continual failure of the clean-up programme in the Niger Delta to the booming artisanal crude oil-refining economy in the region. Using predominantly qualitative methods of data collection and content analysis, we adopted the enterprise value chain analysis to underscore the underlying local economic interests and external economic opportunities that sustain oil bunkering, oil theft and petro-piracy. We conclude that these illegal refining processes significantly undermine the Ogoniland clean-up project and make the remediation programme unsustainable in Nigeria.

Regional Cooperation in Marine Plastic Waste Cleanup in the South China Sea Region

This paper uses countries in the South China Sea Region (SCSR) as examples to study the level of regional cooperation in the marine plastic waste cleanup initiative. We designed a cooperation model to investigate the “cleanup system” from the Ocean Cleanup initiative to reduce marine plastic pollution. The non-cooperative game theory was applied to regional cooperation. The simulation results indicate that the plastic waste cleanup cooperation in the SCSR is related to the plastic trade network structure, the influence parameters of the Experience-Weighted Attraction learning model, and the economic effects. The results suggest that regional cooperation in the cleanup system in the SCSR is feasible, and it could create a significantly larger investment in the cleanup project than the current project attracts. Therefore, countries in the SCSR should adjust their laws and policies to make a good cooperative environment and to maximize the contribution to the marine plastic waste cleanup.

SCAT Delineation of Oiling, Cleanup Verification, Chemical Sampling, Coring, and Mangrove Test Planting, Bodo, Eastern Niger Delta, Nigeria

Abstract The Shoreline Cleanup Assessment Technique (SCAT) was effectively applied from 2015 to 2019 during the first stage (Phase 1) of assessment and cleanup of 1000 ha (2471 acres) of intertidal dead mangroves and oiled shorelines in Bodo, Eastern Niger Delta. New SCAT methods and Phase 1 cleanup criteria were developed to delineate oil levels very soft intertidal mud and to monitor clean up efforts. The end goal of Phase 1 was to reduce subsurface oiling less than 35% as visually observed on the water infilling a pit 25–40 cm deep. Oiling levels and cleanup status were documented at 1065 locations with heaviest oil concentrations found in soft muds lining the intertidal channels (2 m tide range). A large-scale chemical sampling program provided contemporaneous pit observations and measured hydrocarbons at 0–5 cm and 15–25 cm depths at 322 sites. There was poor conformance between hydrocarbon analyses and SCAT observations for surface sediments, but better conformance with subsurface chemistry as black and / or brown oil was clearly visible in the pits. Results of SCAT observations and chemical sampling show very high variations throughout the spill affected area and over short distances (5–10 m). A coring study at 30 sites to 2–3 m depths with chemical sampling indicated that oiling is primarily restricted to the upper 40 cm due to water saturated compact deeper sediments inhibiting oil penetration with depth. Lastly, SCAT developed and monitored a mangrove planting program. In spite of high oil levels (TPH over 40,000 at 6 of 7 sites), results from the first year show plant survival at 82% with 46% height growth of the surviving plants. The SCAT Phase 1 findings enabled the definition of the wider scope for remediation and revegetation of the former mangrove areas and will run through the life-cycle of the clean-up project. However, re-pollution remains a challenge to be managed to achieve success.

When, where, and how to intervene? Trade-offs between time and costs in coastal nutrient management.

Policies and regulations designed to address nutrient pollution in coastal waters are often complicated by delays in environmental and social systems. Social and political inertia may delay implementation of cleanup projects, and even after the best nutrient pollution management practices are developed and implemented, long groundwater travel times may delay the impact of inland or upstream interventions. These delays and the varying costs of nutrient removal alternatives used to meet water quality goals combine to create a complex dynamic decision problem with trade-offs about when, where, and how to intervene. We use multi-objective optimization to quantify the trade-offs between costs and minimizing the time to meet in-bay nutrient reduction goals represented as a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL). We calculate the impact of using in-bay (in-situ) nutrient removal through shellfish aquaculture relative to waiting for traditional source control to be implemented. We apply these methods to the Three Bays Watershed in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. In gross benefit terms, not accounting for any social costs, this equates to an average value of 37¢ (2035 TMDL target date) and 11¢ (2060 TMDL target date) per animal harvested over the plan implementation period. Our results encourage the consideration of alternative and in-situ approaches to tackle coastal pollution while traditional source control is implemented and its effects realized over time.

Small Environmental Actions Need of Problem-Solving Approach: Applying Project Management Tools to Beach Litter Clean-Ups

Clean-ups can be considered real conservation actions since beach litter may impact many ecosystem components. However, although these actions are quite easy to carry out, we think that they need to follow specific criteria and clear planning. Contrariwise, an unplanned clean-up could lead to counter-productive—or even harmful—consequences to the fragile dune ecosystem; e.g., excessive trampling and/or extreme sand removal. Here, we defined a road map for implementing beach clean-ups according to the logic of problem solving and project management, also adding a flow chart. More particularly, we subdivided the clean-up project into different steps as follows: context analysis, input and planning, process, monitoring (outputs and outcomes) and adaptation.

Evaluating The Ocean Cleanup, a Marine Debris Removal Project in the North Pacific Gyre, Using SWOT Analysis

Plastic pollution in oceans, also known as marine debris, is a growing problem at local and global scales. Anthropogenic marine debris poses a serious threat to many marine species, both through physical harm such as ingestion or entanglement and by carrying toxins and pathogens. This debris accumulates in oceanic gyres, concentrating these effects in some specific areas. In addition, marine debris may have devastating impacts on tourism and fishing-based economies, especially where ocean currents direct this debris. Recently, a nonprofit organization called The Ocean Cleanup proposed the first large-scale in situ marine debris removal project. The Ocean Cleanup is a project attempting to use large, floating, semi-fixed screens to harness ocean currents and accumulate debris, where it can be efficiently collected and disposed of or recycled. The project currently is working on implementing itself in the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch,” in the North Pacific Gyre. We examine this project case, as it is the first organization attempting to clean up marine debris at this scale. Understanding the potential efficacy and limitations of The Ocean Cleanup Project as a case study can give critical insights into how other projects could be created in the future to address marine plastic pollution worldwide. Using SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis to assess a marine debris cleanup can inform both a nuanced evaluation of the specific case as well as provide a means to explore marine debris as a complex, global environmental problem.

A nationwide assessment of litter on China’s beaches using citizen science data

China is the largest plastic consumer in the world. Despite its plastic waste import ban in 2017, this populous economy inevitably generates a large amount of waste, including plastic waste, a considerable part of which has become marine litter. Data from the 2018 National Coastal Cleanup and Monitoring Project, the largest beach litter monitoring activities using the citizen science approach in China, have been retrieved and analyzed to understand spatial patterns, composition, and original usage of marine litter. Within this project, 24 beaches were surveyed every two months. As a result, the mean density was 3.85 ± 5.39 items m−2, much higher than that reported by previous studies in China. There were great differences in the spatial distribution of litter. The highest densities appeared in the runoff-affected area of the Yangtze River, which was another difference from previous studies. Low-density, easy-to-transport foamed plastics were the major contributor to marine litter in these areas. Along China’s coast, approximately 90% of litter was from land-based sources, and over half of that originated from domestic sources. Including foamed plastic products, plastic litter with low recycling value dominated. Both natural and human factors influencing the spatiotemporal distribution and composition of litter are discussed. Socioeconomic factors, such as the lifestyle and consumption levels of citizens and local waste management systems, are possible explanations for the low-value characteristic of marine litter. The deviation between previous data and citizen science data in this study may be caused by many factors. Based on the discussion on these factors, some suggestions for citizen science research in China are also put forward.

Polyneuritis and Rare Sequelae of Leptospirosis Contracted While on an Urban Clean-Up Mission in Detroit : A Case Report of Weil’s Disease and Literature Review

Leptospirosis is a common zoonosis, an infectious disease that infects both humans and animals, which is caused by spirochete bacteria from genus Leptospira . Approximately 30% of children in urban Detroit and 16% of adults in Baltimore demonstrated serologic evidence of previous leptospirosis infections. The Detroit study showed correlation between degree of rat infestation and seropositivity rates. This finding suggests rats are major vectors for human leptospirosis in mainland United States. The leptospires from infected animals survive best in fresh water, damp alkaline soil, vegetation, and mud with temperatures higher than 22 °C. Although leptospirosis is a well documented clinical condition, the sequelae of polyneuritis has not yet been reported to our knowledge. The following case is an example of such an occurrence. A 49-year-old Caucasian female presented to the emergency department with flu-like symptoms after volunteering in an urban Detroit neighborhood clean-up project. She admitted to picking up wood from stagnant water without wearing personal protective equipment. The primary differential diagnosis being Weil’s disease from leptospirosis and was proven positive with serologic testing via the Center for Disease Control. A computed tomography (CT) abdomen and pelvis demonstrated lymphadenopathy throughout the abdomen and near the spinal column. She was treated with ceftriaxone and doxycycline for 12 days but developed chronic neuralgia and polyneuritis. Leptospires are known to cause vasculitis. This patient developed polyneuritis either from direct invasion of the nerves from leptospires or compromised blood supply to the nerves. In addition to antibiotics, patients with severe cases of leptospirosis also require supportive therapy and careful management of renal, hepatic, hematologic, and central nervous system complications. If renal failure ensues, early initiation of hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis may reduce mortality. Rapid identification of symptoms and a high clinical suspicion are paramount because early intervention can save their life. J Med Cases. 2019;10(6):183-187 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jmc3320

Gateway of Landfilled Plastic Waste Towards Circular Economy in Europe

For decades, significant work has been conducted regarding plastic waste by dealing with rejected materials in waste masses through their accumulation, sorting and recycling. Important political and technical challenges are involved, especially with respect to landfilled waste. Plastic is popular and, notwithstanding decrease policies, it will remain a material widely used in most economic sectors. However, questions of plastic waste recycling in the contemporary world cannot be solved without knowing the material, which can be achieved by careful sampling, analysis and quantification. Plastic is heterogeneous, but usually all plastic waste is jointly handled for recycling and incineration. Separation before processing waste through the analytical approach must be applied. Modern landfill mining and site clean-up projects in contemporary waste management systems require comprehensive material studies ranging from the macro-characterization of waste masses to a more detailed analysis of hazardous constituents and properties from an energy calorific standpoint—where, among other methods, thermogravimetric research coupled with life cycle assessment (LCA) and economic assessment is highly welcomed.

How much innovation is needed to protect the ocean from plastic contamination?

Plastics are non-biodegradable, and increasing accumulation of plastic debris in the ocean is a major cause for concern. The World Economic Forum, Ellen MacArthur Foundation, and McKinsey & Company claimed in 2016 that technological innovations can solve the plastic problem. Such a claim raises an as yet unanswered question: how much technological innovation is needed and is it economically feasible? We offer answers to this question via a system dynamics model that we developed to simulate different scenarios aimed at controlling plastic debris entering the global ocean. Our results show that ocean cleanup technologies could achieve a 25% reduction in the level of plastic debris in the ocean below 2010 levels in 2030. However, this would require removing 15% of the stock of plastic debris from the ocean every year over the period 2020–2030, which equates to 135 million tons of plastic in total (metric tons). The implementation cost of such an ocean cleanup effort would amount to €492 billion-€708 billion, which represents 0.7%–1.0% of the world GDP in 2017 – this calculation is based on unit costs in €/kg estimated in The Ocean Cleanup project feasibility study. The Ocean Cleanup project alone is designed to collect 70,320 tons of plastic debris over a 10 year period. Removing 135 million tons of plastic debris would require investing in 1924 similar cleanup projects. These results help to assess the economic feasibility of removing such large volume of plastics. Moreover, our results provide quantitative confirmation that technological solutions alone are not sufficient to solve plastic pollution issues. A portfolio of diverse solutions – not only technological ones – is likely to have greater technical, political and economic feasibility. Our model shows that such a combined portfolio implemented over the period 2020–2030 could reduce the ocean plastic stock to 2013 levels (94 million tons) by 2030.