Water Environmental Quality Standards Research Articles

Water quality evaluation based on water quality index and multiple linear regression: A research on Hanyuan Lake in southern Sichuan Province, China.

This study aims to understand the changes in the water quality of Hanyuan Lake and to show these changes over time. In this study, monthly sampling was conducted at three sampling sites in Hanyuan Lake, and water samples were measured for water quality indicators in the laboratory according to the methods specified in the Environmental Quality Standards for Surface Water (GB3838-2002). Based on the monitoring data from January to December 2019, the WQI comprehensive evaluation method was used to conduct multiple linear stepwise regression analysis, extract key indicators, and establish the WQImin model. The results show that according to the WQI comprehensive evaluation method, the WQI values of Hanyuan Lake are all above 90, and the grade is excellent. The overall water quality of Hanyuan Lake is excellent, and most of the water quality indexes reach the Class I standard in the Environmental Quality Standards for Surface Water (GB3838-2002). WQImin1 (R2 = 0.86, p < 0.001, PE = 4.28) as the best WQImin model. In this study, a model with fewer parameters was established by multiple linear regression method, which is conducive to better monitoring of water quality at monitoring stations while saving costs. PRACTITIONER POINTS: According to the WQI comprehensive evaluation method, the WQI values of Hanyuan Lake are all above 90, the rating is excellent. From January 2019 to September 2020, the monthly change trend of each section is roughly the same, showing a trend of first decreasing, then rising, then decreasing, and finally rising and flattening. The WQImin model was developed to completely describe the change in the water body.

Promising membrane photobioreactor for continuous flow treatment of Low C/N wastewater: Treating process, community structure, and cooperation mechanism

Low carbon/nitrogen (C/N) wastewater treatment is an emerging issue for conventional treatment technologies. To achieve this goal, a novel membrane photobioreactor (MPBR), integrating microalgae consortium (MC) and activated sludge (AS) phases, was investigated. The separation of the MC and AS phases could improve the removal of pollutants in low C/N wastewater, which could achieve the rapid denitrogenation through NH4+-N assimilation in MC phase, and effectively reduce organic matter concentration in AS phase, resulting in better nutrient recovery, lower costs, and stable pH. The results in phase I showed that the pollutants, such as chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonium (NH4+-N), and total phosphorus (TP), met the Environmental Quality Standards for Surface Water (GB3838–2002) by MPBR. The AS phase with low DO, which could enrich heterotrophic bacteria (e.g., Bacteroidetes vadinHA17, Spirochaeta and Ahniella) and nitrogen cycling bacteria (e.g., Mycobacterium, Bacillus and Ellin6067), could promote the removal of COD and NO3--N in the continuous effluent. Based on the co-occurrence pattern analysis, the main influencing factor of MC and AS phases was the reduction of COD, which also illustrated the synergistic removal of organic matter by the cooperative interaction of microalgae and heterotrophic bacteria. From a genetic perspective, the internal circulation mode also enhanced microbial nitrogen metabolism in the MPBRs, with higher abundances of nitrification- and denitrification-related functional genes in the MC phase, and higher abundances of nitrification, dissimilatory nitrate reduction, and denitrification genes in the AS phase. This study provided an experimental and theoretical basis for MPBR in low-C/N wastewater treatment.

Biochar accelerated Fenton process for roxarsone oxidation, inorganic arsenic adsorption and simultaneous immobilization of arsenic-iron sludge

Complete remediation of organoarsenics from environmental matrix hits the bottleneck, that is, the sluggish efficiency of oxidative degradation towards organoarsenics and unsatisfying immobilization performance towards generated inorganic arsenic. Herein, we establish a biochar accelerated Fenton (BA-Fenton) process to decontaminate water from roxarsone (ROX). In comparison with Fe2+/H2O2 process (10 μΜ/0.2 mM), the incorporation of 0.5 g L-1 biochar promoted ROX degradation from 48.2% to 98.2% and total arsenic elimination from 67.6% to 97.3%, respectively. In BA-Fenton process, •OH as the dominant reactive oxygen species (ROS), exhibited a cumulative concentration of 0.42 mM, three times higher than that in classical Fenton process. Crucially, the presence of biochar in Fenton process significantly enhanced the stability of arsenic-iron sludge, whereas the secondary leaching of total arsenic decreased from 433.8 μg-As L-1 to 13.9 μg-As L-1, meeting the prescribed environmental quality standards for surface water in China (50 μg-As L-1, GB 3838-2002). Mechanistic studies unveiled ROX remediation mechanism by BA-Fenton process, highlighting the dual functionality of biochar. On one hand, biochar efficiently reduced Fe3+ to Fe2+ with a rate constant of 0.225 min-1, overcoming the rate-determining step of classical Fenton process for •OH production, consequently promoting the transformation of ROX to As(V). On the other hand, molecular spectroscopy analysis elucidated that in-situ formed As(V) was adsorbed by ferric hydroxides with the formation of arsenic-iron sludge. Subsequently, biochar immobilized arsenic-iron sludge through hydrogen bonds, electrostatic attraction and surface complexation. Furthermore, real water studies demonstrated the effective remediation of organoarsenics by BA-Fenton process in tap water, lake water and chicken manure leachate. This “Two Birds with One Stone” strategy with low-cost, environmental-friendly and sustainable biochar holds great promise for the ultimate disposal of industrial wastewater containing organoarsenics.

Highly stable removal of low concentration phosphorus by mechanically activated FeCO3: In situ synergistic mechanisms

Excess phosphorus (P) in surface water poses a serious threat to ecological safety. However, current methods for effectively removing low concentrations of phosphorus are complicated and expensive. Herein, we used one-step mechanical activation to enhance the release of alkalinity from carbonates and to stimulate ferrous activity in situ, thus achieving efficient and stable removal of phosphorus at low concentrations. The resultant activated FeCO3 was demonstrated to be a high-performance material, which can remove more than 92 % of the actual low concentration of phosphorus pollution within 30 min, and the concentration of the effluent steadily met the requirements of Chinese Class I environmental quality standards for surface water (0.02 mg/L). In addition, mechanistic investigation showed that mechanical activation significantly enhanced the reactivity and phosphorus removal performance of MgCO3. Moreover, one-step mechanical activation simultaneously stimulates the release of alkaline and ferrous ionic groups from iron-rich FeCO3, which can produce highly active trivalent iron oxides in situ, leading to efficient and stable phosphorus removal at low concentrations. The present work provides a new insight and direction for developing high-performance materials to remediate low concentration phosphorus polluted waters.

Assessing the hepatotoxicity of phosphogypsum leachate in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

The improper disposal of large amounts of phosphogypsum generated during the production process of the phosphorus chemical industry (PCI) still exists. The leachate formed by phosphogypsum stockpiles could pose a threat to the ecological environment and human health. Nevertheless, information regarding the harmful effects of phosphogypsum leachate on organisms is still limited. Herein, the physicochemical characteristics of phosphogypsum leachate were analyzed, and its toxicity effect on zebrafish (Danio rerio), particularly in terms of hepatotoxicity and potential mechanisms, were evaluated. The results indicated that P, NH3-N, TN, F−, As, Cd, Cr, Co, Ni, Zn, Mn, and Hg of phosphogypsum leachate exceeded the V class of surface water environmental quality standards (GB 3838–2002) to varying degrees. Acute toxicity test showed that the 96 h LC50 values of phosphogypsum leachate to zebrafish was 2.08 %. Under exposure to phosphogypsum leachate, zebrafish exhibited concentration-dependent liver damage, characterized by vacuolization and infiltration of inflammatory cells. The increased in Malondialdehyde (MDA) content and altered activities of antioxidant enzymes in the liver indicated the induction of oxidative stress and oxidative damage. The expression of apoptosis-related genes (P53, PUMA, Caspase3, Bcl-2, and Bax) were up-regulated at low dosage group and down-regulated at medium and high dosage groups, suggesting the occurrence of hepatocyte apoptosis or necrosis. Additionally, phosphogypsum leachate influenced the composition of the zebrafish gut microbiota by reducing the relative abundance of Bacteroidota, Aeromonas, Flavobacterium, Vibrio, and increasing that of Rhodobacter and Pirellula. Correlation analysis revealed that gut microbiota dysbiosis was associated with phosphogypsum leachate-induced hepatotoxicity. Altogether, exposure to phosphogypsum leachate caused liver damage in zebrafish, likely through oxidative stress and apoptosis, with the intestinal flora also playing a significant role. These findings contribute to understanding the ecological toxicity of phosphogypsum leachate and promote the sustainable development of PCI.

Chemical characteristics, distribution patterns, and source apportionment of particulate elements and inorganic ions in snowpack in Harbin, China

Snowpack, which serves as a natural archive of atmospheric deposition of multiple pollutants, is a practical environmental media that can be used for assessing atmospheric records and input of the pollutants to the surface environments and ecosystems. A total of 29 snowpack samples were collected at 20 sampling sites covering three different functional areas of a major city (Harbin) in Northeast China. Two samples at the “snow layer” and one or two samples at the “particulate layer” were collected at each sampling site in the industrial areas characterized by multi-layer snowpack, and only one sample at the “snow layer” was collected at each sampling site in the cultural and recreational as well as agricultural areas. The snow contents of 31 elements (Na, Mg, Al, K, Ca, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Y, Cd, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, and Pb) and six major water-soluble inorganic ions (WSIIs, NH4+, K+, Ca2+, NO2−, NO3−, and SO42−) were analyzed. The total mass of the measured elements is dominated (95.8%–99.2%) by crustal elements. Heavy metals only account for 0.77%–4.07% of the total mass of the elements, but are occasionally close to or even above the standard limit in the “Environmental Quality Standards for Surface Water” of China (GB3838-2002). SO42− and Ca2+ are the main anion and cation, accounting for 34.9%–81.1% and 1.43%–29.9%, respectively, of the measured total ions. Total atmospheric deposition of crustal elements and heavy metals is dominated by wet deposition in areas near the petrochemical plant and by dry deposition in areas near the cement plant. Coal combustion, industrial emissions, and traffic-related activities lead to the enrichment of heavy metals in the snowpacks of urban and suburban areas, while coal combustion and biomass burning contribute to pollution in rural areas. The cities and regions situated in the western, northwestern, northern, and northeastern directions from Harbin are potential source regions of these pollutant species.

Rapid and clean dewatering of dredged sediment via coupling of a two-step flocculation and geotextile filtration

The use of flocculation processes coupled with geotextile technology for dredged sediment dewatering is promising in recent years. However, two main issues are encountered: firstly, the occurrence of clogging resulting in reduced dewatering rate, and secondly, contamination of the residual water, necessitating additional treatment, consequently leading to an increase in operational costs. Therefore, this study proposed an innovative approach employing a two-step flocculation combined with geotextile filtration method to achieve rapid and clean dewatering of dredged sediment. The jar test implementation of a two-step flocculation process at the optimal flocculation dosages resulted in a dewatering rate that was about 16.7 times compared to commercial flocculant (APAM) conditioning. The increased dewatering rate is mainly attributed to the formation of large and compact flocs aggregates (d50 > 160 μm) formed through the two-step flocculation. These aggregates facilitate the formation of a filter cake with a high porosity of 45 %, a low tortuosity of 1.53, a uniform pore-throat structure, and excellent connectivity of pore space. Compared with APAM, the value of turbidity, COD, NH4+-N, and phosphorus in the residual water can be decreased from 36.4 to 3.8 NTU, 28.6 to 8.3 mg/L, 2.3 to 1.6 mg/L, 0.15 to 0.04 mg/L, respectively, which meet the environmental quality standards for surface water (type V) in China. In addition, the technology is proven to be economical as the cost of flocculants is less than half the cost of other reported flocculants. Overall, this work presents a new and cost-effective approach for achieving both rapid and clean dewatering of dredged sediments, which is very promising for practical applications.

Research on Advanced Treatment Technology of Fluorine Containing Wastewater from Graphite Production

With the gradual improvement of environmental emission requirements in China, the graphite industry is facing environmental pressure from advanced treatment. This article first conducted a study on the current status of advanced treatment technology for fluorinated wastewater. Subsequently, a single defluorination agent experiment was conducted, and it was found that compared to several agents used in the experiment, such as PAC, PAFS, and CaCl2, PAC had the best defluorination effect. The optimization of PAC conditions showed that its optimal reaction pH was 7, and equilibrium could be achieved after 3 minutes of reaction. The study also conducted orthogonal experiments with mixed salts, and the best conditions for the combination of fluoride removal agents were found to be PAC adding 400 mg/L, CaCl2 adding 400 mg/L, PAFS adding 200 mg/L, which can remove fluoride to 0.92 mg/L, below 1 mg/L, meeting the Class III water standard in the " Environmental quality standards for surface water ".The SEM image of the sludge generated by the reaction between the composite fluoride removal agent and fluoride containing wastewater shows a larger particle size of up to 50 μm which is beneficial for the separation and removal of sludge. The generated sediment sludge is mainly composed of Al, Fe, Ca, O, and Si according to EDS results, and belongs to general industrial solid waste.

Crab-Aquatic Plant System: A Model for Taking Ecological and Economical Care of the Lakes in Yellow River Delta, China

The lakes, including reservoirs and ponds in the Yellow River Delta, are characterized by many fragile ecosystems and low economic values. How to take into account both ecology restoration and the economic benefits of the lakes in this region is a complex problem. The Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis)-aquatic plant system may have this potential. In this study, we planted aquatic plants, e.g., Elodea nuttallii, Hydrilla verticillate, and Vallisneria natans, with the crabs and investigated geochemical parameters in the ponds. The concentration of NH4+-N was lower than 0.5 mg/L, the pH of the breeding peiponds was 8.274-9.365, and the dissolved oxygen was 3.554-6.048mg/L, which was better than the class II environmental quality standards for surface water. The more extensive specifications ( &gt; 150g/pcs) of the crab growth with the aquatic plants account for &gt;35% of the total production. This model is significant to the ecological utilization of reservoirs in the Yellow River Delta but has low promotion. Therefore, some compulsory breeding policies and breeding standards must be proposed. It is the current ecological needs of the ecological protection Yellow River Delta.

Grey Systems Model to Assess Water Quality in Mantaro River in Peru

The section of the Mantaro River that flows through the department of Huancavelica, Peru, has been affected by toxic wastes and mineral residues from industrial and mining activities, which have directly impacted the water quality. In this work, a grey system model, based on the grey clustering method, was used to assess water quality. The grey clustering method was applied using the central point of triangular whitening weight functions (CTWF). In addition, the Prati index and the Environmental Quality Standards for water from the Peru government were revised and used for this study. In the case study, six physicochemical parameters, pH, DO, BOD, Cd, As, and Pb, at nine monitoring points were assessed along the Mantaro River. The results showed that the sixth monitoring point (P6), which is influenced by mining activity, was highly contaminated, while the other points were classified as noncontaminated. Finally, the results obtained by applying the grey clustering method can be useful to competent authorities, for decision making on water management in this watershed.

Formulation of water pollutant discharge limits for malathion based on nonsensitive aquatic organism protection

The “Integrated Wastewater Discharge Standard” was implemented for water pollutant discharge in China’s pesticide industry, which has no control requirements for particular wastewater pollutants in the industry. In the standard, certain pollutants discharge limits are limited strictly or loosely, resulting in practical management implementation difficulties. In view of the highly selective targeting characteristics of organic pesticide active ingredients in fungicides, insecticides, and herbicides, a method for deriving discharge limits based on the water quality criteria for pesticides for the protection of nonsensitive species is established based on the idea of fully protecting aquatic organisms beyond sensitive objects. Through the use of malathion as an example, by screening its toxicity data in different species of aquatic organisms, the sequence point with the most significant change in the acute toxicity sensitivity of the species is taken as the variation point in the cumulative frequency of the sensitive and nonsensitive species to derive the water quality criteria, using the species sensitivity distribution method as the scientific basis for determining the discharge limits. After a comparative analysis of different simulation models, the sigmoid model, with the best fit, is selected to determine that the sensitive species hazard concentration (HCs) of malathion to aquatic organisms in China is 46.4 µg/L, and the discharge limit derived from the HCs based on the relationship between the environmental capacity and emissions is rounded to 250 µg/L. Studies showed that the relationship between the emissions limit derived from the water quality criteria for protecting nonsensitive species and malathion limit stipulated in the “Environmental Quality Standards for Surface Water” conforms to the corresponding relationship of the quality standard and discharge standard, which can be achieved by current pollution control technology, combined with water quality improvement. The discharge limit offers the advantages of technical accessibility and economic rationality.

Effects of Nitrogen Speciation Transformation on Microbial Community Succession in Input Rivers of Miyun Reservoir

The Miyun Reservoir is the major source of surface drinking water in Beijing. However, the total nitrogen (TN) concentrations in the Miyun Reservoir and inflowing rivers have recently been increasing. In this study, the Mangniu River, a typical inflow river in the upper reaches of the Miyun Reservoir, was selected as the study area to investigate the spatial distribution and transformation of various nitrogen forms from the perspective of microbial community composition and predicting function, aimimg at providing a scientific reference for nitrogen pollution control of the Miyun Reservoir. The results indicated that except for TN, all the other physical and chemical water quality indicators in the upper reaches of the Miyun Reservoir met the Class II criteria of the environmental quality standards for surface water in China (GB 3838-2002). Additionally, NO3--N was the primary constituent of TN, ranging from 77.7% to 92.9%. Banchengzi Reservoir has a certain self-purification ability because its high C/N ratio promotes denitrification. Significant differences in microbial community structure were observed between the water and sediments of Mangniu River along with spatial distribution. High NO3--N concentration was the major environmental factor affecting the succession of microbial community structure. Many nitrification and denitrification microorganisms existed in Mengniu River, and the relative abundance of denitrification bacteria (DNB) was higher than that of nitrification bacteria, and that in the sediments was slightly higher than that in the water. Nitrosopumilus and Pseudomonas were the dominant nitrification and denitrification bacteria in Mengniuhe River, respectively. The results of phylogenetic investigation of communities by the reconstruction of unobserved states (PICRUSt2) showed that NO3--N reduction module was the major nitrogen metabolism module, which primarily occurred in water. The abundance of the functional genes for nitrification (i.e., narGH) was the highest in water, and the major functional gene involved in NO3--N reduction was nirBD of DNRA, which was primarily present in the sediments; however, the main functional gene involved in denitrification was nirK.

Heavy Metal Content in Macroalgae as a Tool for Environmental Quality Assessment: The Eastern Gulf of Finland Case Study

Macroalgae are widely used for bioindication and assessment; however, in the case of pollutants of different origin, it is still unclear which contaminants in thalli can be regarded as indicative because too many factors influence the ability of algae to uptake them. The present study is a part of an international HAZLESS project and was conducted in the eastern Gulf of Finland (GoF). The main goal of our study was the application of metal concentrations in macroalgae as a tool for environmental quality assessment. To achieve this goal, we calculated the threshold metal concentrations in macroalgae (Cladophora glomerata) and compared our obtained values with actual concentrations. We found significant Spearman correlations in May between metals in sediments and pore water (−0.73 for Zn, −0.62 for Cd, 0.85 for Pb) and also between metals in algae and metals in pore water (1 for Cu and Cd, 0.98 for Zn and Pb). In July, Pb in algae were significantly correlated with Pb in pore water (0.88). The application of the calculated environmental quality standard (EQSMPC) for macroalgae has shown moderate pollution by Cu and Pb in the coastal zone of the eastern GoF. This was confirmed by an assessment based on the comparisons of metal concentrations in water with Environmental Quality Standards for water (EQSw). However, differences in the bioaccumulation factor and EQSMPC between May and July have shown that it is necessary to compare samples taken during the same period every year for adequate results in long-term monitoring. Considering the sensitivity of accumulating processes to the surrounding environment, we believe that in the case of habitats with diverse conditions, even for the same species of algae, threshold values should be calculated and used individually for every habitat. Our results have shown that this approach can be widely used for an assessment of environmental quality via metal concentrations in opportunistic macroalgae and can be recommended for further use.

Efficient low-concentration phosphate removal from sub-healthy surface water by adsorbent prepared based on functional complementary strategy

The remediation of low-concentration phosphorus polluted surface water (LP-SW) is one of most challenging environmental issues worldwide. Adsorption is more suitable for LP-SW remediation due to its low cost and operability. Based on the strategy of functional complementation among industrial solid wastes (ISWs), ISW-based phosphate absorbent material (PAM) was prepared from coal ash (CA, binder), rich‑calcium (Ca) carbide slag (CS, active component) and iron salt (functional reagent) by optimizing materials ratios and roasting conditions. PAM prepared under optimal conditions (Fe/CC-2opt) had good phosphate adsorption efficiency. Notably, Fe/CC-2opt not only ensured that the effluent met Environmental Quality Standards for Surface Water (pH = 6.0–9.0), but also facilitated the formation of brushite instead of hydroxyapatite due to FeSO4 addition. Compared with hydroxyapatite, brushite had greater potential application value as fertilizer due to its solubility and high P/Ca ratio. The possible mechanisms of phosphate adsorption by PAM included surface precipitation, surface complexation, electrostatic adsorption and release of Ca2+/OH−. Preparation cost of PAM was 80 US$/ton, and treatment cost was 0.07 US$/g P. Regeneration efficiency of PAM was still above 80 % after five cycles. The design idea and result of this study provide theoretical basis and technical support for the preparation of PAM with low cost, commercial production and great adsorption capacity.

Distribution, Site-Specific Water Quality Criteria, and Ecological Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Surface Water in Fen River, China.

Due to a lack of toxicity reference values that match the regional environmental characteristics, the ecological risk of metals in water bodies cannot be accurately assessed. The Fen River is the second-largest tributary of the Yellow River in China, and the sustainability of this area is threatened by heavy metal pollution caused by intensive industrial and agricultural activities. In this study, site-specific water quality criteria (WQCs) for heavy metals in the Fen River were derived considering toxicity data from native aquatic organisms and regional water quality factors (e.g., water hardness). Short-term WQCs for Mn, Cu, Cd, Zn, Cr, Pb, and Ni were 2026.15, 98.62, 10.02, 63.07, 6.06, 166.74, and 132.73 μg/L, respectively, and long-term WQCs were 166.53, 29.71, 2.18, 19.29, 4.15, 6.38, and 14.76 μg/L, respectively. The distribution characteristics of these metals during the wet season in 2020 were explored, and their average concentrations in the river water did not exceed the environmental quality standards for surface water in China but were higher than the world average levels. Cr was the main pollutant in the sampling sites of Yaodu region, Hongdong Shitan, Xiao River, and Duanchun River, as was Pb in Duanchun River. Based on the site-specific WQCs, using hazardous quotient (HQ) and margin of safety (MOS10) approaches, a high risk of Pb was identified in the Duanchun River, and a medium risk of Cr might occur at midstream and downstream of Yaodu and Xiaodian. The results will provide a reference basis for heavy metal pollution control and water quality management in the Fen River.

Cooling and purification effect of permeable pavements

Abstract Permeable pavement is a widely used stormwater runoff blocking technology in sponge city construction. Its application to urban motorized/non-motorized roads is expected to reduce runoff and pollution loads. This study aimed to analyze the nutrient pollution, thermal pollution reduction efficiency and removal pathways of cement permeable bricks (CP-B-Cement), steel slag permeable bricks (SP-B), ceramic permeable bricks (CP-B-Ceramic) and permeable asphalt pavement (PAP) under different pollution loads and rainfall intensities by simulating the different stormwater runoffs. Results indicated that the effluent concentration of different permeable pavements increased with the extension of rainfall duration. Compared with impermeable pavements, the infiltration and water storage capacities of permeable pavements could effectively remove typical pollutants from stormwater runoff. However, the effluent concentrations of all pollutants did not reach the threshold of Class V according to the Environmental Quality Standards for Surface Water except for TP and Zn. Meanwhile, the thermal pollution removal capacity of the permeable pavements ranking from the highest to the lowest was SP-B &amp;gt; CP-B-Cement &amp;gt; CP-B-Ceramic &amp;gt; PAP. The findings in this study provide references for the selection of stormwater source reduction facilities and the development of surface source pollution countermeasures.

Micropollutants in surface waters and in wastewater treatment: Proposals of the European Commission for the revision of the directive setting environmental quality standards for water and the urban wastewater treatment directive

Micropollutants in surface waters and in wastewater treatment: Proposals of the European Commission for the revision of the directive setting environmental quality standards for water and the urban wastewater treatment directive

The synergistic hydration mechanism and environmental safety of multiple solid wastes in red mud-based cementitious materials

Red mud (RM) is a solid waste material with high alkalinity and low cementing activity component. The low activity of RM makes it difficult to prepare high-performance cementitious materials from RM alone. Five groups of RM-based cementitious samples were prepared by adding steel slag (SS), grade 42.5 ordinary Portland cement (OPC), blast furnace slag cement (BFSC), flue gas desulfurization gypsum (FGDG), and fly ash (FA). The effects of different solid waste additives on the hydration mechanisms, mechanical properties, and environmental safety of RM-based cementitious materials were discussed and analyzed. The results showed that the samples prepared from different solid waste materials and RM formed similar hydration products, and the main products were C–S–H, tobermorite, and Ca(OH)2. The mechanical properties of the samples met the single flexural strength criterion (≥ 3.0 MPa) for first-grade pavement brick in the Industry Standard of Building Materials of the People's Republic of China-Concrete Pavement Brick. The alkali substances in the samples existed stably, and the leaching concentrations of the heavy metals reached class III of the surface water environmental quality standards. The radioactivity level was in the unrestricted range for main building materials and decorative materials. The results manifest that RM-based cementitious materials have the characteristics of environmentally friendly materials and possess the potential to partially or fully replace traditional cement in the development of engineering and construction applications and it provides innovative guidance for combined utilization of multi-solid waste materials and RM resources.

Comprehensive Monitoring and Ecological Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Soil and Surface Water of Chishui River Basin in Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River

Chishui River is an important ecological security barrier area in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River in China. Therefore, it is of great significance to conduct research on soil and water ecological risks in the Chishui River basin. In this paper, the risk of heavy metals pollution and its control factors was evaluated systematically by using surface water and soil samples from 16 tributaries in the Yunnan section of the Chishui River basin. The method of soil environmental capacity and ecological risk index were studied. The results showed that the average concentration of heavy metals in the surface water of the main stream was in the order of Fe &gt; Mn &gt; Zn &gt; Cu &gt; Pb &gt; Cd &gt; Hg. Except for Hg, all the concentrations of heavy metals were far lower than the Class I water limits in the Environmental Quality Standards for Surface Water (GB3838-2002) issued by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, PRC. The average concentration of Hg concentration was 0.056 μg·L−1, which was slightly higher than the limit value of Class II. Heavy metals in the surface water were distributed in a point-like manner in the main stream of the Chishui River, which was mainly affected by mining drainage, township sewage, and human production activities. Meanwhile, the environmental capacity study showed that the heavy metals in soil were in the order of Zn &gt; Pb &gt; Cr &gt; Ni &gt; As &gt; Hg &gt; Cu &gt; Cd, and the environmental capacity were significant differences among different soils: purple soil &gt; limestone soil &gt; loess &gt; yellow-brown soil. Soil Cd tended to migrate out of the soil under the control of the occurrence form, vegetation coverage, and human production activities, while Cr, Cu, and Ni tended to accumulate in the soil. The average comprehensive ecological risk index (RI) of heavy metals in all tributaries ranged from 44.86 to 154.15, mainly distributed in medium and low ecological risk. Therefore, it is recommended to dynamically monitor and control these pollution points in the Chishui River basin to prevent the risk of heavy metals from escalating.

A practice study of land and water comprehensive remediation in urban-rural fringe-with Sichuan River Shaanxi Province, Northwest China, as an example.

Urban-rural fringe area (URFa) is an active and expansive region, and its environment is complex and frangible. Previous studies have focused on the landscape spatial pattern changes, the spatial-temporal variability of soil pollutants and the land management and policy issues, etc., but it is lack of the practice study of land and water comprehensive remediation in URFa. This article is taking the Sichuan River, a typical URFa, as an example. Based on field investigation and lab tests, the main characteristic form of the URFa and land and water comprehensive remediation measures are summarized in this paper. The results show that it is feasible to turn wasteland, low-efficiency land, and old deserted beach into farm land, residential land, and ecological land by comprehensive land improvement. For the farm land reconstruction, the texture is an important indicator. The content of soil organic matter (SOM), carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus has increased after remediation. For the SOM, 58.3% are more than 10.0g·kg-1, and 79.2% are more than 8.0g·kg-1. For the frequent dry-off and polluted low flow river channels in URFa, the river bottom consolidation and water purification is the important measures. The water quality meets IV standard of the "Environmental Quality Standards for Surface Water" (GB3838-2002) (State EPA of China, 2002) by pollution treatment after remediation, and water volume keeps balance. The findings of this study are expected to provide support for better construction practices in arid and semiarid area in China and for the improvement of the ecological environment in URFa.