Seafood processing wastewater containing high concentrations of phosphate was evaluated for its composition, applicability for reuse and recycle, and treatability for phosphate removal. Wastewater from two seafood processing industries was characterized for orthophosphate (OP), condensed phosphate (CP), total phosphate (TP), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total organic carbon (TOC), pH, and total suspended solids (TSS). Shrimp wastewater from industry one had an average pH of 6.06, COD of 4,750 mg/L, TSS of 270 mg/L, TOC of 1,990 mg/L, TP of 221,700 mg/L, CP of 201,200 mg/L and an average OP of 20,500 mg/L. Scallop wastewater from industry two had an average pH of 7.61, COD of 7,620 mg/L, TOC of 4,240 mg/L, TSS of 550 mg/L, OP of 100,000 mg P/L, CP of 1,137,000 mg P/L, and an average TP of 1,237,000 mg P/L. Stock solutions of sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) were prepared to evaluate the applicability of reuse and recycle of scallop and shrimp STPP soak solutions. Based on assays of total coliforms, fecal coliforms, and total plate count, in addition to the slow rate of hydrolysis, it appears that recycling and reuse of STPP soak solution waters is feasible for the seafood processing industry. The effectiveness of alum, lime, feme chloride and chitosan were evaluated for phosphate removal efficiencies on the phosphate laden wastewater. Due to the required precipitant dose and interferences to precipitation within the wastewater, chemical precipitation of phosphate from the industrial seafood wastewaters evaluated is not economically or practically feasible. / Master of Science

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent organic pollutants which were not produced in Turkey, however both national and international studies illustrate a measurable amount of PCB pollution in receiving environments, aquatic fauna and people. In this study, various information sources such as the national and international scientific literature, official records and reports are investigated to obtain information regarding PCB pollution in Turkey. Furthermore, various PCB pollution analysis techniques for soil/sediment samples are investigated and the selected methods are established in the laboratories of METU. Satisfactory recoveries are obtained for methods for the extraction of PCBs, clean-up of extract and gas chromatographic (GC/ECD) analysis of the sample. Finally, field studies are performed in two locations in Ankara. The first one is a preliminary pollution investigation study around Lake Eymir. Lake Eymir is suspected to be contaminated with PCBs due to a nearby transformer repair facility. The second, more detailed study is performed for a 25 km reach of Ankara Creek, passing through the Industrial Zone, Sincan Dumpsite and Ankara Central Wastewater Treatment Plant. Total- PCB concentrations are in the range of 0.2 and 777 ng/g with the median of 37.1 ng/g. Toxic Equivalent Concentrations (TEQ) are assessed for dioxin-like congeners and Aroclor 1016/1260 basis. A Chemical Mass Balance Model is used to identify and apportion the sources of PCBs for Ankara Creek samples. Typically highly chlorinated Clophen mixtures are identified in sediments as the pollution sources.

In this study, it is aimed to develop a database on Seyhan River Basin / and an environmental pollution index for the middle section of Seyhan Basin by combining different pollution indices such as water, and air. Water and air pollution indices are developed for the selected quality monitoring stations and the selected years. Water pollution index is calculated by using the method suggested by National Sanitation Foundation of United States, and air pollution index is developed according to the modified Environmental Protection Agency&rsquo / s air pollution index. As aggregation method, weighted arithmetic mean function is used for development of indices. After development of separate water and air pollution indices, environmental pollution index is developed for the year 2008 by two aggregation methods, one based on linguistic interpretation and the other again on weighted arithmetic mean function. The water pollution index for the middle section of the basin is determined as &ldquo / good&rdquo / , and air pollution index as &ldquo / low pollution&rdquo / . According to calculated water and air pollution indices, environmental pollution index is calculated with two methods and obtained the index equal to 4, which is classified as &ldquo / good&rdquo / . Although, both of the methods give same result in development of environmental pollution index, the second method based on weighted arithmetic mean function concluded to be more user friendly.

An understanding of solute-solute interactions is essential for aquatic systems as this can affect the fate and behaviour of micropollutants in the environment and engineered systems. Despite the importance of solute-solute interactions there is a general lack of understanding which may be attributed to the fact that many engineering models overlook solute-solute interactions and that the quantification of such interactions is inherently difficult. When solute-solute interactions are considered, they are often studied at unrepresentative concentrations and do not consider the influence of organic matter type or solution chemistry. Steroidal hormones, such as estradiol and estrone, were selected as model micropollutants as they are ubiquitous in the aquatic environment due to constant introduction of wastewater effluent, and can have implications for growth and development of organisms including impaired fertility and behavioural abnormalities. The purpose of this study was to develop a methodology to quantify solute-solute interactions at environmental concentrations, and to determine the implications of such interactions in membrane filtration. A solid-phase microextraction (SPME) technique was developed to quantify solutesolute interactions at environmental (low) concentrations. Using SPME, organic matter-water partition coefficients (log KOM) were measured for a range of steroidal hormones including estradiol, estrone, progesterone and testosterone with different organic matter types such as humic acid. The dominant mechanism of hormoneorganic matter interactions was identified as hydrogen bonding. In the case of estrone and progesterone the log KOM values were significantly influenced by organic matter type and concentration, as well as solution chemistry. No difference was observed for estradiol and testosterone due to generally weaker sorption to organic matter. Previous studies have indicated that the presence of organic matter can alter micropollutant retention in membrane filtration. Much of the current literature focuses on solute-membrane interactions, as the influence of solute-solute interactions are typically difficult to determine in membrane filtration. Therefore, hormone-organic matter interactions were studied to determine if this interaction had an influence on hormone removal by ultrafiltration (UF) using a range of molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) membranes. The results indicated increased retention of estrone in the presence of humic acid, while organic matter concentration and solution chemistry influenced retention by affecting solute-solute interactions. The findings of this study indicate the importance of solute-solute interactions in membrane filtration and experimental log KOM results were used to quantify the findings and elucidate the influences of 1) membrane sorption, 2) solute-solute interactions and 3) solute-foulant interactions. Further, the removal of steroidal hormones using a magnetic ion exchange (MIEX®) resin with a range of MWCO UF membranes was studied as such sorbents can be used to improve micropollutant removal in wastewater treatment. Greater removal with IX-UF was observed compared to UF alone and the main hormone removal mechanisms were sorption to MIEX® and solute-fouling interactions. The findings of this study indicate that it is indeed possible to quantify solute-solute interactions at environmental concentrations using SPME, with hydrogen bonding being the main mechanism of interaction for steroidal hormones and organic matter. Further, micropollutant retention by membrane filtration can be influenced by solutesolute interactions.

This thesis essentially constitutes an analysis of laws designed to protect the marine environment from the pollution arising from the exploitation of offshore oil and gas reserves, Chapter 2 addresses not only the origin and nature of oil and gas, but also the techniques employed in surveying for and producing these energy forms. Chapters 3 and 4, in turn, outline the history of offshore operations in South Africa and the UK, respectively, with regard, <i>inter alia</i>, to the location, size and economic significance of these operations. In order to properly address the South African legal framework's failure to adequately regulate pollution arising from offshore upstream operations, an explanation of the nature and forms of such pollution must first be set out. Chapter 5 analyses the concept of pollution from a legal perspective, while also giving detailed consideration to the various forms of pollution that may arise at each of the three stages of offshore oil and gas operations, which are surveying, drilling and production, and decommissioning. Chapter 6 has a dual focus. Firstly, it discusses particular environmental principles that underpin the development and application of environmentally orientated laws. Secondly, it considers various regulatory techniques and their suitability to environmental regulation of the offshore industry. Chapter 7 provides a detailed overview of the international legal framework applicable to offshore oil and gas operations. Chapters 8 and 9 consider the aspects of the UK's and South Africa's domestic legislation that provide for the environmental regulation of offshore oil and gas operations. Both chapters are structured so as to identify enviro-legal considerations relevant to each stage of offshore upstream operations. Both also contain critiques of the manner in which the relevant South African environmental law compares to that of the UK. To this end, legal lacunae and differences in regulatory approaches are identified and various suggestions are made for improving the current South African state of affairs. An argument is submitted for the formulation of a statutory solution to the South African predicament, particularly by means of the promulgation of an entirely new Act specifically designed to regulate the country's rapidly escalating offshore oil and gas industry.

O presente trabalho tem por objetivo apresentar uma proposta para a implantação de um sistema de financiamento para controle de poluição ambiental. Assim, o trabalho é composto de quatro partes básicas. A primeira compreende uma abordagem introdutória, na qual são apresentados os principios e conceitos relacionados à poluição ambiental. Na segunda parte é descrita a evolução do controle da poluição ambiental no Estado de sio Paulo, abrangendo períodos, legislação, atribuições e aspectos institucionais. O programa de financiamento para controle de poluição ambiental de origem industrial para o Estado de são Paulo, como exemplo, é detalhado na terceira parte do trabalho abordando suas características, a evolução do programa, as estruturas legal e administrativa utilizadas em seu desenvolvimento e diversos resultados obtidos em termos físico-ambientais e econômico-sociais, caracterizando a implantação e o desenvolvimento do programa considerado. A quarta parte apresenta então uma proposta para implantação de sistema de financiamento para controle de poluição ambiental, em condições de ser utilizado nos diversos níveis do Governo, particularmente a nivel de Estado. O trabalho realizado permite considerar a importância do sistema de financiamento do tipo descrito como instrumento de apoio às ações de controle de poluição, estimulador de estudos para determinação de custos de controle de poluição e, consequentemente, fator de indução para a formulação de política de controle de poluição ambiental clara e definida, adequada às situações locais e regionais, conduzindo à melhoria de suas condições ambientais e, em decorrência, da qualidade de vida. / The aim of this paper is to present a proposal to implement a financing system for environmental pollution control program. Thus, this paper is made up of four basic parts. The first one includes an introductory approach, in which principles and concepts related to environmental pollution are presented. In the second part, the evolution of industrial pollution control in the State of Sao Paulo involving periods of time, legislation, responsabilities and institutional aspects is described. For instance, the financing program for environmental pollution control in the State of Sao Paulo is detailed in the third part of the paper, approaching its characteristics, evolution of the program, legal and administrative structures used in its development and some results obtàined in environmental, social and economical terms and in the development of the program taken into account. The fourth part presents a proposal to implement a financing system to control environmental pollution, that can be used in the various levels of government, particularly in the State level. This paper makes it possible to consider the importance of the financing system, as described, as a supporting to the actions of pollution control, estimulator of studies to determine pollution control costs and, consequently, inducing factor to set up a clear and defined environmental pollution control policy suited to local and regional situations, leading to the improvement of the environmental conditions and, consequently, of life quality.

O presente trabalho tem por objetivo apresentar uma proposta para a implantação de um sistema de financiamento para controle de poluição ambiental. Assim, o trabalho é composto de quatro partes básicas. A primeira compreende uma abordagem introdutória, na qual são apresentados os principios e conceitos relacionados à poluição ambiental. Na segunda parte é descrita a evolução do controle da poluição ambiental no Estado de sio Paulo, abrangendo períodos, legislação, atribuições e aspectos institucionais. O programa de financiamento para controle de poluição ambiental de origem industrial para o Estado de são Paulo, como exemplo, é detalhado na terceira parte do trabalho abordando suas características, a evolução do programa, as estruturas legal e administrativa utilizadas em seu desenvolvimento e diversos resultados obtidos em termos físico-ambientais e econômico-sociais, caracterizando a implantação e o desenvolvimento do programa considerado. A quarta parte apresenta então uma proposta para implantação de sistema de financiamento para controle de poluição ambiental, em condições de ser utilizado nos diversos níveis do Governo, particularmente a nivel de Estado. O trabalho realizado permite considerar a importância do sistema de financiamento do tipo descrito como instrumento de apoio às ações de controle de poluição, estimulador de estudos para determinação de custos de controle de poluição e, consequentemente, fator de indução para a formulação de política de controle de poluição ambiental clara e definida, adequada às situações locais e regionais, conduzindo à melhoria de suas condições ambientais e, em decorrência, da qualidade de vida. / The aim of this paper is to present a proposal to implement a financing system for environmental pollution control program. Thus, this paper is made up of four basic parts. The first one includes an introductory approach, in which principles and concepts related to environmental pollution are presented. In the second part, the evolution of industrial pollution control in the State of Sao Paulo involving periods of time, legislation, responsabilities and institutional aspects is described. For instance, the financing program for environmental pollution control in the State of Sao Paulo is detailed in the third part of the paper, approaching its characteristics, evolution of the program, legal and administrative structures used in its development and some results obtàined in environmental, social and economical terms and in the development of the program taken into account. The fourth part presents a proposal to implement a financing system to control environmental pollution, that can be used in the various levels of government, particularly in the State level. This paper makes it possible to consider the importance of the financing system, as described, as a supporting to the actions of pollution control, estimulator of studies to determine pollution control costs and, consequently, inducing factor to set up a clear and defined environmental pollution control policy suited to local and regional situations, leading to the improvement of the environmental conditions and, consequently, of life quality.

Thesis (Ph.D (Zoology)) --University of Limpopo, 2018 / Freshwater ecosystems are the most threatened systems globally, suffering from channel modification, over extraction of water and, of particular concern, pollution. In South Africa, Olifants River is categorised as the third most polluted river system. Acid mine drainage seeping from derelict and abandoned mines has been described as the primary stressor in the upper Olifants catchment. The increase of metal concentration in the water, sediment and fish tissues has been evident over the past few decades. As a result, there has been an increasing concern regarding the effects of increased metal concentrations on the health of fish and the safety of communities consuming fish from the polluted Olifants River system. This study used enzymatic and histopathologic biomarkers to assess the physiological response of Oreochromis mossambicus and Labeo rosae to environmental contaminants. The study further investigated the metal accumulation trend of across different fish tissues and assessed the edibility of O. mossambicus and L. rosae from Loskop and Flag Boshielo dams. Water, sediment and fish samplings were carried out concurrently during low flow and high flow seasons in 2014. Water and sediment sampling were done at the inflow, middle and dam wall. A minimum of 10 fish specimens for each species were collected from Loskop and Flag Boshielo dams during each sampling. For bioaccumulation analysis, liver, gill and muscle tissues were dissected out, wrapped with aluminium foil and frozen. Frozen samples were sent to SANAS accredited laboratory for metal analysis. For Histopathology, tissues were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin prior processing. Tissue processing was done at the Pathology laboratory of the University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort campus. For biomarker analysis, liver and brain tissues were fixed in liquid nitrogen in the field and transferred to the -80°C biofreezer at the University of Limpopo, Biotechnology Unit laboratory. Metal concentrations in the muscle tissue were used to calculate hazard quotient for human health risk assessment which was based on the assumptions that an adult weighting 70 kg consume 150 g portion once per week. Alkaline pH was observed in the water throughout the study. Most water constituents were within the guidelines at both dams. The water at Flag Boshielo Dam was oligotrophic with Loskop Dam showing mesotrophic conditions. Concentrations were below detection level for most metals; however, significant concentrations were recorded in the bottom sediment. Although Loskop Dam is being described as a repository for pollutants from the upper Olifants catchment, no significant differences (p>0.05) were observed for metal concentrations in sediment between the two dams. Coinciding with sediment metal concentrations, liver, gills and muscle have shown notable concentrations for both species at Loskop and Flag Boshielo dams. The common trend of liver accumulating higher metal concentration followed by gill and muscle (liver>gills>muscle) was observed for most metals on O. mossambicus and L. rosae at both dams. In contrast, lead, strontium and manganese showed higher concentrations in the gills. Muscle exhibited lowest concentrations for most metals. Remarkable trends on the activities of biomarkers, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) were detected for both species at Loskop and Flag Boshielo dams. Labeo rosae population have shown a significantly high (p<0.05) LDH activities at Loskop Dam and no significant difference (p>0.05) was observed for Oreochromis mossambicus. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activities exhibited no significant difference (p>0.05) for both species between the two dams. Labeo rosae have shown a significantly high (p<0.05) GST activities at Loskop Dam whereas Oreochromis mossambicus exhibited no significant difference (p>0.05) between the two dams. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) has shown no significant difference (p>0.05) for both species between the Loskop and Flag Boshielo dams. LDH, G6PDH and GST activities have shown relationship with metal concentrations, which makes them good biomarkers of metal exposure.The condition factor indicated that overall conditions of O. mossambicus and L. rosae from Loskop and Flag Boshielo dams were good. Hepatosomatic index results were not conclusive. Most histopathological alterations were recorded on both species at both dams, but with different magnitude of severity. Regressive changes were more prominent in the liver and gills of both species at Loskop and Flag Boshielo dams followed by progressive change. Gills of Oreochromis mossambicus exhibited moderate modifications (score >20) at Loskop Dam and slight modification (score <20) at Flag Boshielo Dam. Labeo rosae populations have shown slight modifications (score <20) in the gills at both dams. Both species have shown significant difference (p<0.05) on the gill index between the two dams. Liver index has also exhibited significant difference (p<0.05) for each species between Loskop and Flag Boshielo dams. Slight modifications (score <20) were observed in the liver for both species at Loskop and Flag Boshielo dams. Both species have shown to accumulate metals within their tissues with liver accumulating higher concentration for most metals, followed by gills and muscle, respectively. Although muscle showed to accumulate lesser metal concentrations, it still raise a serious concern as it is the tissue consumed by human. Lead, chromium, cobalt and antimony concentrations have been the only metals of concern in this river system over the past few years; nevertheless, the present study has shown that other metals viz. arsenic, silver and selenium have exceeded international levels for safe consumption. Given the metal concentration trend reported over the past two decade in fish tissues, there is a need for urgent intervention to address the acid mine drainage problem to ensure sustainable development of the Olifants River and safety of communities depending on it for their livelihood. / NRFand RAD

The purpose of this study was to determine children's awareness of environmental pollution and the effect of environmental education on the awareness of preschool children. Data for this study were collected by individually interviewing 20 preschool, 20 first grade and 20 third grade children. These 60 children were presented 15 colored slides and 9 words denoting various types of pollution and environmental symbols and slogans. The slides varied from litter on a beach, chimneys emitting black smoke, and polluted water to such environmental symbols as Smokey Bear, Johnny Horizon, and Woodsy Owl. In addition, the environmental symbols were also presented verbally, accompanied by such words as litter, pollution, and ecology. The children's responses were evaluated and used to indicate the effect of age and sex upon children's awareness, the relationship between children's responses to pictorial and verbal stimuli, and the effects of an environmental education program on the awareness of preschool children. The findings of this study indicate that there are differences in awareness of environmental pollution between d1fferent ages of children, but not between males and females. As children become older, there is both an increasing awareness of environmental pollution and an increasing correlation between the recognition of visual and verbal stimuli. An environmental education unit was also found to influence the environmental awareness of preschool children. While the experimental group, which was involved in an environmental education unit showed significant increases in environmental awareness, the control group did not.

A series of physical and chemical analyses were conducted over a fifteen month period to establish the ecological risk, if any, of discharging minewater into aquatic ecosystems. Organic and inorganic analyses were used to determine the extent of contamination of minewater with soluble hydraulic fluids and other contaminant species. Throughout the sampling period the pithead discharge water exhibited a neutral pH and low levels of iron, manganese, zinc and potassium were found. Parallel toxicological and chemical studies identified elevated zinc levels above published toxicity levels for the test species Ceriodaphnia Dubia, but were not confirmed by subsequent study. The presence of organic species in the pit head discharge water was also identified, but the levels were found to be quite variable. Treatment processes involving the detention of the surface minewater and subsequent passage through wetlands exhibited a beneficial effect in reducing pollutant levels prior to disposal. Comparisons of the chemical composition of the minewater discharge with those of local waters were carried out and found to be similar in nature. / Master of Science (Hons)