AQUATIC POLLUTION

A standardised environmental assessment and
pollution control methodology was developed to
monitor and reduce the impact of leachate discharge
on its receiving waters. A landfill site in South
Wales, U.K. was used as a case study for the
investigation. Application of a biological stream
survey identified that the leachate caused localised
pollution of the associated waterway. An in-situ and
ex-situ toxicity testing programme was undertaken
using Gammarus pulex and Asellus aquaticus macro-
invertebrates to establish pollution boundaries. It
was revealed that the leachate held acute and sub-
lethal toxicity to both test species. The
treatability of the leachate with respect to removal
of the environmentally toxic component(s) then was
assessed by aerobic digestion, air stripping and
reed bed technologies. Of the three applied
techniques, air stripping would best protect the
integrity of the connecting waterway. However,
health issues need to be taken into consideration
when stripping a leachate that contains substance(s)
with such obvious properties of toxicity as such, it
would be inappropriate to rely on known fail-safe
systems.

Autorentext

Dr Michelle C. Bloor completed her PhD in 2004 at the School of Civil Engineering and the Environment, University of Southampton. Since then, she has worked as a Research Fellow within the same University School and at the Fisheries Research Service, Scotland. Currently, she works as a Senior Lecturer at the University of Portsmouth.

Klappentext

A standardised environmental assessment and pollution control methodology was developed to monitor and reduce the impact of leachate discharge on its receiving waters. A landfill site in South Wales, U.K. was used as a case study for the investigation. Application of a biological stream survey identified that the leachate caused localised pollution of the associated waterway. An in-situ and ex-situ toxicity testing programme was undertaken using Gammarus pulex and Asellus aquaticus macro-invertebrates to establish pollution boundaries. It was revealed that the leachate held acute and sub-lethal toxicity to both test species. The treatability of the leachate with respect to removal of the environmentally toxic component(s) then was assessed by aerobic digestion, air stripping and reed bed technologies. Of the three applied techniques, air stripping would best protect the integrity of the connecting waterway. However, health issues need to be taken into consideration when stripping a leachate that contains substance(s) with such obvious properties of toxicity as such, it would be inappropriate to rely on known fail-safe systems.