Landfilling is the main method of waste disposal in Poland as well as in most countries all over the world. Leachate originating during waste deposition may be a source of ground water pollution. The aim of the paper was to characterize and compare the composition of leachate originating from three landfills in Lublin Province (Poland) and differing in their methods of waste pre-treatment. Ozonation was used in the initial trials to treat landfill leachate. Experiments were carried out to determine whether ozonation using a single dose of 1.8 gO,lm3 has the same effect on the efficiency of organic removal from leachates characterized by different ages and degrees of solid waste pretreatment. From analyses (BOD5, COD, N-NH,, heavy metals) it was concluded, that excluding some fractions (glass, paper, plastics, aluminum, fine organic fraction) from the waste mass affects the leachate quality. The studied oxidizing method was found to influence the BOD5 and COD levels

The aim of this paper is to show the basic principles of the anaerobic digestion process. All the stages of degradation, such as hydrolysis, acidogenesis, acetogenesis and methanogenesis are characterized. Biodegradable organic matter consists of three main types of substances: carbohydrates, proteins and lipids; the metabolic pathways of their decomposition are described. The last part of the paper presents the co-digestion process, its benefits and technological parameters required to make that process attractive from an economical and environmental point of view.

In some areas of the United States (US), asthma prevalence has reached historically unprecedented highs. Three peer-reviewed studies in New York City found prevalence rates among children from 25% to 39%. That is not true in all places. For example, prevalence in Miami, Florida, was estimated to be only 6-10%. A recent study in major cities in Georgia found only 8.5%. One study in California found asthma prevalence was unrelated to local concentrations of criterion pollutants. In the US, all criterion pollutants, including PM2.5, show a downward trend over the last two decades. These facts argue against any significant influence of criterion pollutants in this crisis.These facts suggest that an unrecognized ambient pollutant may be the cause. One important study in southern California in mid-summer measured pulmonary function in children as it was related to outdoor ozone pollution. They found a negative association; higher levels of ozone were associated with improved respiratory function. We call this a "Paradoxical Ozone Association" (POA). Further evidence for a POA appears in seven other studies in Los Angeles, London, Scotland, and southeastern Canada.One plausible explanation for these observations would be the production of methyl nitrite (MN) as an exhaust product of MTB E in gasoline. Unlike ozone, MN is rapidly destroyed by sunlight. All of the POA studies were done in regions with significant methyl ether in gasoline. This explanation is strengthened by the observation that a POA has not been seen in regions without ether in gasoline.A previous A WMA paper proposed a plausible chemical model predicting that MTBE in gasoline will create MN in the exhaust. MN is highly toxic and closely related alkyl nitrites are known to induce respiratory sensitivity in humans. Funding to measure MN has not been available

In the degraded red soil of subtropical China, restoration activities during the last century have mainly relied on extensive plantations of Pinus massonian. We analyze the changes in the soil macroarthropods in P. massonian plantations and the possible relationships between these changes and soil chemical parameters. The study revealed significant differences in the abundance of soil macroarthropods between the P. massonian plantations and the natural regenerated mesophilous herbosa (NJ). The sharply differentiated pattern of soil macroarthropods seems closely linked to soil chemistry. Significant correlations of the abundance of soil macroarthropods with soil parameters suggest that their populations could have been affected by P massonian. The total abundance, the abundance of Hymenoptera and Termite were less in the P. massonian plantations when compared to the natural regenerated mesophilous herbosa (N 1 ). This survey showed that P.massonian could adversely affect the decomposer community which could lower the nutrient cycling rate, thus Pimassonian may not be an ideal plantation for restoration of eroded Ultisol, Subtropical China.

This work presents results of the release of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) from granules composed of fly ashes, which are the product of hard and coal combustion and sewage sludge. 3 types of granulates by a weight ratio of ash to sludge 3:7 and 1: 1 were used. The research of PAH leaching was conducted within a simulated period of 24 months, with the examination of PAH washing out every three months. The highest amounts of PAH (297 - 330 μg/kg dw.) were obtained_from granulates containing 7 parts by weights of sewage sludge (3 times higher in comparison with the granulate containing ash and sludge in ratio of I: 1 ). The maximum PAH release from all the examined granulates took place in the 9th month of the research. Benzo(k)fluoranthene revealed the highest fraction (67.4-76.0%) of all examined compounds.

Polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and dibenzofurans are present in the air either adsorbed on particulate matter or as vapor (minor part). They are most known carcinogens and mutagens. In this study dust samples from Lublin were being collected for 12 months and analyzed for the PCDD/Fs content. For the analysis of these samples classical extraction with Soxhlet apparatus, double step clean-up based on SEC and charge-transfer interactions chromatography, and finally analysis with GC-MS were applied. Results of the determinations were compared with results obtained by other authors.

The literature on membrane distillation and forward osmosis for treating natural and recovered wastewaters is reviewed. There is renewed interest in these membrane technologies as alternatives to pressure driven processes such as reverse osmosis, which are expensive in both capital and energy, and generally require pre-treatment of the feed water. Membrane distillation with hydrophobic microfiltration membranes can make use of low-grade heat energy, and give higher yields of product water from concentrated feed waters. Forward osmosis uses hydrophilic membranes akin to reveres osmosis, and needs a draw solution that is appropriate in the product water. or must be recovered and reused in large-scale operation. Although they show great promise as simple low energy systems, no large-scale installation of either process exists as yet. Membrane distillation has considerable potential for desalination to produce drinking water, whereas FO is currently confined to small-scale systems, especially as a source of energy drinks in emergency situations.