The screening evaluation of environmental odors: a new dispersion modelling-based tool.

Odor pollution is the biggest source of complaints from citizens concerning environmental issues after noise. Often, the need for corrective actions is evaluated through simulations performed with atmospheric dispersion models. To save resources, air pollution control institutions perform a first-level odor impact assessment, for screening purposes.

Carbon dot/polylactic acid nanofibrous membranes for solar-mediated oil absorption/separation: Performance, environmental sustainability, ecotoxicity and reusability.

Carbon dots (CDs) are promising photothermal nanoparticles that can be utilized in environmental treatments. They exhibit favorable physicochemical properties, including low toxicity, physical and chemical stability, photo-dependant reversible behaviour, and environmentally friendly synthesis using benign building blocks. Here, we synthesized innovative CDs/polylactic acid (PLA) electrospun composite membranes for evaluating the removal of hydrophobic compounds like long-chain hydrocarbons or oils in biphasic mixtures with water.

Calcium phosphates from fish bones in sunscreen: An LCA and toxicity study of an emerging material for circular economy.

The use of sustainable and natural materials is an ever-increasing trend in cosmetic. Natural calcium phosphate (CaP-N) from food by-products and especially from fisheries (i.e.

A comparative life cycle assessment of centralised and decentralised wood pellets production for residential heating.

Recently, wood pellets have become a reliable and clean renewable fuel for residential heating, replacing fossil fuels and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Wood pellets are normally produced in industrial pellet plants (centralised production), but decentralised small-scale local production also occurs. This study applies Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to quantify and compare the environmental profile of one centralised and two decentralised alternatives for wood pellet production for residential heating in Portugal: (1) industrial wood pellets production (centralised), (2) wood pellets production at sawmills (decentralised) and (3) wood pellets production at households (decentralised).

Comparative life cycle assessment of microalgae cultivation for non-energy purposes using different carbon dioxide sources.

The ability of microalgae to sequester carbon and at the same time synthesise valuable compounds with potential applications in nutraceutical, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries makes them attractive for commercial deployment, especially in view of a blue bioeconomy. Among microalgae, the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum is considered as an important potential source of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as eicosapentanoic acid, an essential polyunsaturated fatty acid with anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. The aim of this study was to perform the Life Cycle Assessment of the cultivation of P.

Historical record of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the continental shelf of the Korea Strait.

The vertical distribution of PCBs was measured in a dated core from the continental shelf of the Korea Strait. The historical trend of deposition and fluxes of individual and total PCB agreed well with the dynamics of historical tendencies of PCBs consumption in South Korea up to mid-1980 and a peak of total PCBs of 810 ng kg was recorded at the turn of the 1960s. A second period of deposition, when concentrations of total PCB up to 1007 ng kg were reached, was evidenced between 1989 and 2010 after the ban of PCBs.

Greenhouse gas savings and energy balance of sewage sludge treated through an enhanced intermediate pyrolysis screw reactor combined with a reforming process.

A life cycle thinking approach focusing on energy and greenhouse gas savings has been applied to study the potential for energy recovery and organic matter reclamation from Waste Activated Sludge produced in Waste Water Treatment Plants by means of a catalytic thermo-chemical process. A generic Basic Sludge Processing line has been modelled following common waste water and sludge treatment stages found in several European plants. This has served to identify and divide generic sludge treatment units in order to compare the performance of different industrial configurations where a specific thermo-chemical technology treatment unit and related cogeneration was substituted or added to reference units.

PestLCI 2.0 sensitivity to soil variations for the evaluation of pesticide distribution in Life Cycle Assessment studies.

Pesticides are commonly applied in conventional agricultural systems, but they can lead to serious environmental contamination. The calculation of on-field pesticide emissions in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies is challenging, because of the difficulty in the calculation of the fate of pesticides and, therefore, several literature approaches based on different dispersion models have been developed. PestLCI 2.

Life Cycle Assessment of high ligno-cellulosic biomass pyrolysis coupled with anaerobic digestion.

A Life Cycle Assessment is conducted on pyrolysis coupled to anaerobic digestion to treat corn stovers and to obtain bioenergy and biochar. The analysis takes into account the feedstock treatment process, the fate of products and the indirect effects due to crop residue removal. The biochar is considered to be used as solid fuel for coal power plants or as soil conditioner.

A DOSE CALCULATION MODEL APPLICATION FOR INDOOR EXPOSURE TO TWO-LAYER WALLS GAMMA IRRADIATION: THE CASE STUDY OF CERAMIC TILES.

A calculation model for determining the indoor dose due to building materials with significant concentration of radioactivity has been applied to the case study of ceramic tiles; the model allows the contribution of bearing walls and wall covering materials to be calculated. The model is implemented in FORTRAN 77 and provides a quantification of the gamma radiation field (in terms of external dose rate in air, nGyh) inside a room with known dimensions. Application model results have been validated both by comparison with the results obtained by other authors and by experimental measurements.

Does the exposure mode to ENPs influence their toxicity to aquatic species? A case study with TiO2 nanoparticles and Daphnia magna.

Recent studies suggest that the ecotoxicity of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) is dependent upon the treatment of ENPs in suspensions (e.g. sonication or use of solvents) and on the mode of exposure to test organisms.

Freshwater ecotoxicity characterisation factor for metal oxide nanoparticles: a case study on titanium dioxide nanoparticle.

The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology is widely applied in several industrial sectors to evaluate the environmental performance of processes, products and services. Recently, several reports and studies have emphasized the importance of LCA in the field of engineered nanomaterials. However, to date only a few LCA studies on nanotechnology have been carried out, and fewer still have assessed aspects relating to ecotoxicity.

Combining life cycle assessment and qualitative risk assessment: the case study of alumina nanofluid production.

In this paper the authors propose a framework for combining life cycle assessment (LCA) and Risk Assessment (RA) to support the sustainability assessment of emerging technologies. This proposal includes four steps of analysis: technological system definition; data collection; risk evaluation and impacts quantification; results interpretation. This scheme has been applied to a case study of nanofluid alumina production in two different pilot lines, "single-stage" and "two-stage".

Radiation exposure related to the shipment of fertilisers to and from commercial ports: the case study of the seaport of Ravenna (Italy).

This paper presents the results of a study of radiological impacts related to the shipment of fertilisers to and from the commercial port of Ravenna (NE Italy). In particular, the effective doses to the port workers and members of the population surrounding the port area have been estimated. The study has included different types of measurement and assessment.

Natural radioactivity and radon exhalation in building materials used in Italian dwellings.

Forty-two samples of building materials commonly used in Italian dwellings were surveyed for natural radioactivity. External (gamma), as defined and used by the European Commission, and internal (alpha) hazard indexes were calculated and radon specific exhalation rate and emanation fraction were measured. The accumulation method, by using the E-PERM electret ion chambers, was employed to determine specific exhalation rates of 222Rn.

Assessment of the radiological impacts of a zircon sand processing plant.

The paper presents the results of a study on radiological impacts resulting from a zircon sand processing plant located in the North-Eastern part of Italy. Activity concentrations of radionuclides found in materials associated with this industrial process are presented as well as the results of the assessment of the annual effective doses to the workers and the members of the public. Gamma-spectrometric analyses were performed on "raw" sands, end-products, and soils sampled near the plant.

Health and environmental impacts of a fertilizer plant--Part II: assessment of radiation exposure.

In the previous paper the authors have studied the radioactive pollution caused by a complex fertilizers production plant. In this paper, the effective doses to the plant workers and to members of the population surrounding the industrial site are estimated. The authors have considered external irradiation, inhalation and ingestion of dust and inhalation of radon and radon daughters as the main occupational exposure routes.

Health and environmental impacts of a fertilizer plant--Part I: assessment of radioactive pollution.

The aim of the first part of this investigation is to assess the radioactive pollution caused by a production plant of complex fertilizers (that is to say containing nitrogen, phosphorus and, in some cases, potassium). Firstly, the authors determine the concentrations of natural radioactivity present in raw materials, end products and wastes of the industrial plant. Then, they carry out an assessment of radioactive releases into the atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere as well as of their significance from the environmental point of view.

Carbon and nitrogen distribution in the sediments of lagoon of Ravenna (Italy).

The distribution and the origin of carbon and nitrogen in sediments of an Italian lagoon--located north-east of Ravenna town--were investigated. From 1957 to 1976, the lagoon had been affected by a strong industrial pollution due to an important petrochemical complex. At present, industrial and domestic waste waters undergo a treatment process before being discharged into the lagoon.