Industrial Waste Pollution Research Articles

The use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) for the determination of pollutants in environmental and industrial wastes

Twelve enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), for the determination of surfactants [linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS), alkyl ethoxylates (AE), and alkylphenol ethoxylates (APE)], endocrine disruptors [alkylphenol (AP), AP + APE, and bisphenol A (BPA)], estrogens [17beta-estradiol (E2), estrone (El), estrogen (ES: El + E2 + estriol (E3)), 1 7alfa-ethynylestradiol (EE2)], dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), were validated on environmental water and industrial wastes. The lowest quantification limits of these ELISAs were 0.05 microg/L (BPA, E2, El, ES and EE2), 2 microg/L (AE), 3 microg/L (dioxins and PCBs), 5 microg/L (AP, AP + APE) and 20 microg/L (LAS and APE). To apply these ELISAs to environmental or industrial waste samples, simple and appropriate pre-treatment methods were also developed for each ELISA. With optimized pre-treatments, the values of ELISAs were well co-related, in all cases, to those of instrumental analytical methods such as liquid chromatography (HPLC), liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), and high-resolution gas chromatography mass spectrometry (HR-GC-MS), etc.

Implications of wetlands degradation for water resources management: Lessons from Nigeria

Nigeria is a country richly endowed with both coastal and inland wetlands, which altogether cover about 3% of the country's land surface. These wetlands are of ecological, economic, socio-cultural, scientific and recreational significance. Nevertheless, Nigeria's wetland resources are currently being threatened by certain anthropogenic and biogeophysical factors. Notable among such factors are population pressure, rapid rate of urbanization, mining, oil and industrial waste pollution, uncontrolled tilling for crop production, over-grazing, logging, unprecedented land reclamation, construction of dams, transportation routes and other physical infrastructure, marine and coastal erosion, subsidence, ocean water intrusion, invasion by alien floral and faunal species, sand storm, desertification, and droughts. The alarming rate at which the country's wetlands are vanishing obviously portends some dire consequences. In particular, wetlands destruction is affecting water supply and water resources management in various parts of the country. Wetlands perform some vitally important hydrological functions in the country. For instance, apart from being quite instrumental to flood protection, wetlands equally maintain stream flow during the dry season in the semi-arid region of northern Nigeria. Importantly, they also help in regulating surface water quality and volume, as well as in replenishing and sustaining groundwater. There is no gainsaying, therefore, that the degradation of wetland ecosystems in Nigeria increases the task of water resources management in the country. Thus, the country's wetland resources need to be properly identified and mapped. Moreover, the right legislation and policy framework has to be put in place and enforced to safeguard the remaining wetlands from the ongoing wanton destruction.

Government policies for encouraging industrial waste reuse and pollution prevention in Taiwan

In order to conservatively utilize natural resources, Taiwan’s Environmental Protection Administration (EPA), in cooperation with the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), has mandated the regulatory system and promotion programs for industrial waste reuse and pollution prevention. The newly-designated 43 items for reuse were promulgated by the MOEA under the authorization of the Waste Disposal Act (WDA) in January 2002. Also, joint efforts at industrial waste minimization (IWM) have made noteworthy progress towards the promotion of reusing/reducing industrial waste since 1990. The IWM program not only provides technical assistance and financial incentives, but also enhances resource reuse and conservation through Industrial Waste Exchange Information Service Center. These measures have brought significant benefits by saving treatment/disposal costs and improving productivity. This paper presents the regulatory system and implementation promotion on industrial waste reuse and pollution prevention in Taiwan.

Impact of trace metals and nutrients levels on phytoplankton from the Kuwait Coast

The impact of marine pollution was estimated from seven stations of Kuwait coastal waters. The mean concentrations of all trace metals in seawater (0.07–7.04 μg/l) and in phytoplankton (14.90–52.01 μg/g) revealed less phytoplankton abundance in Stations IV–VI during the four seasons. However, a relative surge in the phytoplankton abundance, with an increase in the mean concentrations of all trace metals in seawater (0.15–8.94 μg/l) and phytoplankton (22.82–61.25 μg/g), was observed in Station II. A low phytoplankton abundance was noted in Stations I, III, and VII despite low mean concentrations of all the trace metals in seawater (0.11–5.77 μg/l) and phytoplankton (1.40–20 μg/g) during the four seasons. Statistical tests revealed significant difference in Fe, Ni, and Pb between the four seasons in seawater and Fe and Co in phytoplankton. No significant difference in trace metals between locations was observed in seawater and in phytoplankton. The major nutrients in all the four seasons were found in the magnitude of SiO 3>NO 3>PO 4 in all the stations, and thus, support the presence of rich diatoms and dinoflagellates than other phytoplankton groups. The seven stations also represented indicator species of oil and industrial waste pollution.

Cellular Method for Evaluation of Noxiousness of Inorganic Pollutants in Industrial Wastes: Calculation of a Safety Index for Monitoring Sludge Discharge

This article deals with a biological test of safety applicable to industrial wastes. The test is based on the measurement of the growth rate of cultured human cells exposed to waste samples with different dilutions. As a first approach, 15 chemicals in which discharge concentrations are submitted to sanitary regulations were tested one by one. For Zn, Cu, Ni, Cd, Ag, Co, Mg, sulfates, and fluorides, it was possible to detect concentrations that are below the allowed limit. For Hg, Al, As(V), Cr(III), Fe, and Pb, the concentrations that affect cell growth are higher than the allowed limit. Tests were also performed using actual samples (liquid effluent from a laundry and sludge from waste-water treatment plants). Results indicate that, in contrast to chemical analyses, the current biological test has the advantage of providing an indication of global toxicity, integrating all substances and factors that can be harmful to life processes. From the sludge data and the observed threshold of concentration that does not affect cell growth, a numeric safety index has been calculated which indicates the amount of sludge that could be dispersed, as a fertilizer, per hectare of agricultural soil. Such an index could be conveniently used for designing sewage sludge disposal strategies.

Industrial waste pollution in the Kano river basin

Kano River basin, which serves as the main source of water supply to metropolitan Kano, is also used as receiving body for industrial wastes from Sharada and Challawa industrial estates. Of the three major rivers in this basin, the Salanta river was found to receive the highest pollution from the industrial discharges with COD of 8,557.4mg/l, total solids of 16,934.6mg/l, hardness of 1,349.6mg/l CaCO3, and ammonia nitrogen of 5,150.0mg/l. The Challawa river had COD of 598.7mg/l, total solids of 1,609.9mg/l, hardness of 1,332.0mg/l CaCO3 and ammonia‐nitrogen 400mg/l. Both empty into the Kano river where the COD was 1,166.9mg/l, total solids 1,458.0mg/l, hardness 2,506.8mg/l and ammonia‐nitrogen 530mg/l. Although these rivers are being used extensively for water supply, irrigation, and fishing, the quality of the water was found to be unsuitable for these purposes. The paper suggests that waste water pre‐treatment by all industries, imposition of direct charges on industrial effluents by the regulating agency, as well as continuous monitoring and surveillance are required to ensure the protection of the water resources in the basin.

Industrial waste minimization initiatives in Thailand: concepts, examples and pilot scale trials

Industrial waste pollution control is a major issue in waste management. To comply with the specific effluent standards, industries are forced to treat their waste before discharge. This is neither a cost effective nor an environmentally friendly solution. The first part of this paper presents different techniques by which the waste minimization can be achieved with examples. The second part of the paper highlights the waste minimization efforts made in three different types of industries, namely paper and pulp, tapioca starch and palm oil.

Ecology of yeasts in polluted water.

The general size and composition of the extant yeast populations in 13 polluted freshwater habitats were surveyed. Subsequently the yeast populations in three of the 13 locations were quantitatively determined and compared. The three locations had (A) low pollution levels, (B) heavy industrial waste pollution, and (C) heavy domestic waste pollution.

Lake Michigan Pollution and Chicago's Supply

The Chicago Department of Water and Sewers has been requested to develop recommendations for desirable quality criteria goals for various parameters for Lake Michigan water received at its intakes. This article describes Lake Michigan water as an excellent source of water supply that is easily treated in conventional rapid sand treatment plants to produce a superior quality water for domestic and industrial use. It is only during periods when industrial and sewage pollution of the water is present that it becomes difficult to produce the customary high quality water. Furthermore, increased nutrients in the water definitely help bring about biologic degradation of the lake. The article discusses recommendations by the department for achieving the maximum goals in various parameters of quality. The parameter threshold odor number has been omitted because of differences in the effectiveness of treatment. It is therefore suggested that natural algae odors be omitted from these parameters and that a maximum goal of a threshold odor number of 6 be set for the intake water for odors produced by industrial waste pollution.

Proposed Plan for Ammonia‐Chlorine Treatment in Chicago

To meet the lake pollution situation, Chicago is preparing to change the method of treating the water for the south side from chlorination at the three pumping stations to the use of ammonia and chlorine at the 68th Street and Dunne cribs. The principal reason for this new policy is because pollution of the lake in the vicinity of these cribs has increased to such an extent that the chlorination equipment at the pumping stations is taxed at times almost to capacity to provide sufficient chlorine for effective disinfection. The bacterial pollution of the southern end of Lake Michigan in the vicinity of these cribs increased from 1927 to 1930, as shown in figure 1. Since 1931 there has been a slight drop in bacterial pollution, due to the decline in industrial activities in the Calumet region, but the industrial waste pollution has in the last two years become a serious problem. The industrial wastes, principally those from the oil refineries, caused a prolonged period of offensive taste in Chicago water late in December, 1932 and in the early part of January, 1933. During some of these taste periods the water had the property of absorbing large quantities of chlorine, necessitating high chlorine dosages in order to obtain sufficient residual chlorine for effective disinfection. It is expected that pollution will increase to even a greater extent in a few years when a decree of the U. S. Supreme Court becomes effective which requires that diversion from Lake Michigan into the Drainage Canal be reduced from 6500 to 5000 c.f.s. on December 31, 1935 and to 1500 c.f.s. on December 31, 1938. When these reductions in diversion become effective frequent reversals of the Calumet and Chicago rivers may be expected, discharging pollution into the lake waters. At most of the Chicago pumping stations the water pumped into the distribution system reaches the first consumers only a few minutes

Coöperative State Control of Phenol Wastes on the Ohio River Watershed

Excessive rainfall on the watershed of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers has at this time brought about the most disastrous floods in history of the valley of the Mississippi River. Loss of lives and destruction of property mounting into billions of dollars will focus the attention upon the need of flood prevention measures to forestall another such disaster. On the Ohio River, a large tributary of the Mississippi, great damage to certain public water supplies was imminent five years ago, not from excessive floods, as is now the case on the Mississippi River, but on account of a new type of industrial waste pollution discharged in increasing amounts into streams on the Ohio River watershed. The phenol and tar acid wastes from by-product coke plants had a power of enormous penetration and in extraordinarily great dilution caused offensive tastes and odors in public water supplies taken from the streams into which these wastes were discharged. In the State of Ohio alone in 1922 this new type of trade waste pollution bid fair to damage 40 per cent of the public water supplies and to affect detrimentally more than 50 public water supplies in the six states down stream. The purpose of this brief paper is threefold: