Publications
184 results found
Plant J, Mckinlay AR, Voulvoulis N, 2008, Endocrine disrupting substances in the late anthropocene and breast and prostate cancer, 8th International Symposium on the Geochemistry of the Earths Surface (GES-8), Publisher: MINERALOGICAL SOC, Pages: 487-487, ISSN: 0026-461X
Pan J, Oates C, Ihlenfeld C, et al., 2008, Inorganic substances screening and prioritization (ISSP) in risk assessment for mining operations, 8th International Symposium on the Geochemistry of the Earths Surface (GES-8), Publisher: MINERALOGICAL SOC, Pages: 477-481, ISSN: 0026-461X
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- Citations: 1
Ohandja D-G, Gronow J, Voulvoulis N, 2008, Will Food Waste Disposal Units Help us Meet Landfill Diversion Targets, Second International Symposium on Energy from Biomass and Waste, Venice, Italy, 17 Nov 2008 - 20 Nov 2008
Ohandja D-G, Constantinou A, Edwards M, et al., 2008, Household Food Waste Disposers in the UK: Should the Water Industry Grin and Bear it?, Waste 2008, Stratford-upon-Avon, UK
Rich C, Gronow J, Voulvoulis N, 2008, The potential for aeration of MSW landfills to accelerate completion., Waste Management, Vol: 28, Pages: 1039-1048, ISSN: 0956-053X
Landfilling is a popular waste disposal method, but, as it is practised currently, it is fundamentally unsustainable. The low short-term financial costs belie the potential long-term environmental costs, and traditional landfill sites require long-term management in order to mitigate any possible environmental damage. Old landfill sites might require aftercare for decades or even centuries, and in some cases remediation may be necessary. Biological stabilisation of a landfill is the key issue; completion criteria provide a yardstick by which the success of any new technology may be measured. In order for a site to achieve completion it must pose no risk to human health or the environment, meaning that attenuation of any emissions from the site must occur within the local environment without causing harm. Remediation of old landfill sites by aerating the waste has been undertaken in Germany, the United States, Italy and The Netherlands, with considerable success. At a pilot scale, aeration has also been used in newly emplaced waste to accelerate stabilisation. This paper reviews the use of aerobic landfill worldwide, and assesses the ways in which the use of aerobic landfill techniques can decrease the risks associated with current landfill practices, making landfill a more sustainable waste disposal option. It focuses on assessing ways to utilise aeration to enhance stabilisation. The results demonstrated that aeration of old landfill sites may be an efficient and cost-effective method of remediation and allow the date of completion to be brought forward by decades. Similarly, aeration of newly emplaced waste can be effective in enhancing degradation, assisting with completion and reducing environmental risks. However, further research is required to establish what procedure for adding air to a landfill would be most suitable for the UK and to investigate new risks that may arise, such as the possible emission of non-methane organic compounds.
Martin OV, Boobis AR, Voulvoulis N, 2008, Xenoestrogens in sewage effluent: a systematic review of the compounds detected in European sewage effluents in the last 10 years, Platform presentation at SETAC UK Students and Young Researchers, Reading, Jul 2008
Hall M, Voulvoulis N, 2008, Turning Sustainability from an Art to a Science, CIWEM Conference - Developing Sustainability: Drivers, Techniques and Case Studies, London, 19 Nov 2008
Donovan S, Gronow J, Voulvoulis N, 2008, The global warming potential of biodegradable municipal waste management options, Waste 2008: Waste and Resource Managment - a shared responsibility, Stratford-upon-Avon, England, 16 Sep 2008 - 17 Sep 2008
Martin OV, Lester JN, Voulvoulis N, et al., 2007, Human health and Endocrine disruption: A simple multicriteria framework for the qualitative assessment of end point-specific risks in a context of scientific uncertainty, Toxicological Sciences, Vol: 98, Pages: 332-347, ISSN: 1096-6080
Endocrine disruption remains one of the most controversial contemporary environmental issues. While the desired level of protection is ultimately a societal choice, endocrine toxicity could result in a wide spectrum of adverse health effects. Although the application of the causal framework of weight-of-evidence approaches to complex toxicological issues has incited much interest, no international criteria or guidance have yet been developed. In this context, the evidence on end point-specific risks to human health contained in the International Program on Chemical Safety Global assessment of the State-of-Science on Endocrine Disruptors report was updated and assessed qualitatively using three simple criteria relevant to the practical application of the precautionary principle (PP): incidence trends, association, and consequence. The current degree of knowledge was then ranked according to ignorance, uncertainty, and risk. The main sources of scientific uncertainty in relation to incidence trends were associated with the evolution of diagnostic criteria or diagnostic tests, while genetic susceptibility is often proposed as an explanation for the wide geographic variations in the incidence of some diseases. Such genetic polymorphisms are also offered as a potential explanation for some of the inconsistent findings or lack of clear dose-response gradients described under the association criterion. The methodology yielded a relative paucity of data addressing directly the impact for adverse human health effect from both individual and public health perspectives. Results are discussed within the context of the application of the PP. Within a participatory context, this simple framework could provide a useful decision-making tool to both communicate scientific uncertainty to the wider public and manage uncertain risks.
Oates CJ, Hart S, Plant JA, et al., 2007, Geochemical mapping of the Collahuasi District, N. Chile: A pilot study for a geochemical atlas of the Andes, 17th Annual V M Goldschmidt Conference, Publisher: PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD, Pages: A727-A727, ISSN: 0016-7037
Jones OA, Green PG, Voulvoulis N, et al., 2007, Questioning the excessive use of advanced treatment to remove organic micropollutants from wastewater., Environmental Science and Technology, Vol: 41, Pages: 5085-5089, ISSN: 0013-936X
Pollution from endocrine disrupting compounds and related micropollutants is widely regarded as a major environmental issue on both a regional and a global scale, largely due to concerns over risks to human and ecological health. Between 2005 and 2010, the United Kingdom is conducting a demonstration program, costing approximately 40 million (approximately $80 million atthe time of writing), to evaluate technologies to remove these compounds from wastewater. However, while such advanced treatment techniques will undoubtedly reduce the discharges of micropollutants, they will also inevitably result in large financial costs, as well as environmentally undesirable increases in energy consumption and CO2 emissions. Here we calculate the price of treating urban sewage with two of the major options specifically proposed in the U.K. demonstration program: (i) granular activated carbon and ozone and (ii) membrane filtration and reverse osmosis. Economic analysis indicates thattreating wastewater with these advanced technologies may be economically and environmentally undesirable due to the increased energy consumption and associated economic costs and CO2 emissions. Since the costs of advanced treatment of sewage would most likely have to be passed on to customers (both domestic and industrial), we propose that national demonstration programs should not only compare and contrast the most advanced treatment methods but also consider alternative techniques, such as increased sludge ages and hydraulic retention times in conjunction with nutrient removal stages and the varying redox conditions associated with them, which potentially may be almost as effective but with much lower environmental and financial costs.
Slack RJ, Bonin M, Gronow JR, et al., 2007, Household hazardous waste data for the UK by direct sampling., Environmental Science and Technology, Vol: 41, Pages: 2566-2571, ISSN: 0013-936X
The amount of household hazardous waste (HHW) disposed of in the United Kingdom (UK) requires assessment. This paper describes a direct analysis study carried out in three areas in southeast England involving over 500 households. Each participating householder was provided with a special bin in which to place items corresponding to a list of HHW. The amount of waste collected was split into nine broad categories: batteries, home maintenance (DIY), vehicle upkeep, pesticides, pet care, pharmaceuticals, photographic chemicals, household cleaners, and printer cartridges. Over 1 T of waste was collected from the sample households over a 32-week period, which would correspond to an estimated 51,000 T if extrapolated to the UK population for the same period or over 7,000 T per month. Details of likely disposal routes adopted by householders were also sought, demonstrating the different pathways selected for different waste categories. Co-disposal with residual household waste dominated for waste batteries and veterinary medicines, hence avoiding classification as hazardous waste under new UK waste regulations. The information can be used to set a baseline for the management of HHW and provides information for an environmental risk assessment of the disposal of such wastes to landfill.
Slack RJ, Gronow JR, Hall DH, et al., 2007, Household hazardous waste disposal to landfill: using LandSim to model leachate migration., Environmental Pollution, Vol: 146, Pages: 501-509, ISSN: 0269-7491
Municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill leachate contains a number of aquatic pollutants. A specific MSW stream often referred to as household hazardous waste (HHW) can be considered to contribute a large proportion of these pollutants. This paper describes the use of the LandSim (Landfill Performance Simulation) modelling program to assess the environmental consequences of leachate release from a generic MSW landfill in receipt of co-disposed HHW. Heavy metals and organic pollutants were found to migrate into the zones beneath a model landfill site over a 20,000-year period. Arsenic and chromium were found to exceed European Union and US-EPA drinking water standards at the unsaturated zone/aquifer interface, with levels of mercury and cadmium exceeding minimum reporting values (MRVs). The findings demonstrate the pollution potential arising from HHW disposal with MSW.
Pan J, Voulvoulis N, 2007, The role of mechanical and biological treatment in reducing methane emissions from landfill disposal of municipal solid waste in the United Kingdom, Journal of the Air and Waste Management Association, Vol: 57, Pages: 155-163, ISSN: 1047-3289
In Europe, the European Union Landfill Directive aims to reduce the negative environmental impacts of landfilling. This is mainly to be achieved by reducing the quantity of organic matter deposited, through measures such as the separate collection and recycling of the organic waste stream or pretreatment of residual wastes before landfilling. Other than incineration or other thermal processes, mechanical biological treatment is playing an increasingly important role. This study was conducted to seek the benefits of municipal solid waste (MSW) pretreatment, as well as the differences in methane production from the landfilling of untreated and mechanically/biologically treated (MBT) MSW using GasSim simulation. Results demonstrated that methane production rates vary significantly among waste fractions. Those that contribute most to methane generation (organic material and potentially reusable or recyclable material) could be targeted and treated before landfilling. The statistic relationship from the first phase of the study indicated that to match the increasingly stringent landfill waste organic content allowance, local councils should prioritize the reduction/sorting of certain targeted fractions, such as paper, card, green waste, and other putrescibles from MSW. Moreover, mechanical treatment alone produces organic-rich waste called mechanically sorted organic residues (MSORs), which can be viewed as an organic content concentration process. Mechanically and biologically pretreated waste, on the other hand, differs significantly from untreated MSW and MSORs. This work demonstrated that if efficient mechanical-biological treatment is used, considerable reductions in biological activity, landfill gas production, and energy content/total organic carbon could be achieved. Using GasSim, reductions in methane production of > 74% have been simulated if a 90% organic content reduction can be achieved during biological treatment on MSORs. A 50-60% organic content reduct
Jones OA, Voulvoulis N, Lester JN, 2007, The occurrence and removal of selected pharmaceutical compounds in a sewage treatment works utilising activated sludge treatment., Environmental Pollution, Vol: 145, Pages: 738-744, ISSN: 0269-7491
Pharmaceutical substances have been detected in sewage effluents as well as receiving waters in many parts of the world. In this study, the occurrence and removal of a number of drug compounds were studied within a large sewage treatment plant in the south of England. Samples were processed using solid phase extraction and analysed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results demonstrate that ibuprofen, paracetamol, salbutamol and mefenamic acid were present in both the influent and effluent of the works while propranolol-HCl was not found above the limit of quantification in any sample. Elimination rates were circa 90% for each compound but several hundred nanograms per litre were still present in the final effluent.
Balasubramaniam A, Boyle AR, Voulvoulis N, 2007, Improving petroleum contaminated land remediation decision-making through the MCA weighting process, CHEMOSPHERE, Vol: 66, Pages: 791-798, ISSN: 0045-6535
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- Citations: 19
Jones OAH, Voulvoulis N, Lester JN, 2007, Ecotoxicity of pharmaceuticals, ANALYSIS, FATE AND REMOVAL OF PHARMACEUTICALS IN THE WATER CYCLE, Editors: Petrovic, Barcelo, Publisher: ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV, Pages: 387-424, ISBN: 978-0-444-53052-3
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- Citations: 3
Voulvoulis N, Jones OAH, Lester JN, 2007, Chapter 3.3 Ecotoxicity of pharmaceuticals, Analysis, fate and removal of pharmaceuticals in the water cycle, Editors: Petrovic, Barcelo, Oxford, Publisher: Elsevier
Oates CJ, Hart S, Plant JA, et al., 2007, Geochemical mapping of the Collahuasi District, N Chile: A pilot study for a geochemical atlas of the Andes, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, Vol: 71, Pages: A727-A727
Koutiva I, Makropoulos CK, Voulvoulis N, 2007, Administrative challenges in implementing the water framework directive in Greece: Stakeholder engagement, 10th Conference on Environmental Science and Technology, Pages: A747-755
Pan J, Plant J, Ragnarsdottir KV, et al., 2007, Trace elements levels and cancer incidence in Europe, Conference of the International Society for Trace Element Research in Humans (ISTERH), the IXth Conference of the Nordic Trace Element Society (NTES), and the VIth Conference of the Hellenic Trace Element Society (HTES)
Tomprou MO, Makropoulos CK, Voulvoulis N, et al., 2007, Water Framework Directive, Significant Pressures and Preliminary Risk Assessment, 10th Conference on Environmental Science and Technology, Pages: A1423-1432
Voulvoulis N, Lester JN, 2006, Fate of organotins in sewage sludge during anaerobic digestion., Science of the Total Environment, Vol: 371, Pages: 373-382, ISSN: 0048-9697
Adsorption onto sewage sludge is an important process for the elimination of tributyltin (TBT) from wastewater. However as the disposal of sewage sludge to agricultural land is a significant route for recycling biosolids, there exists an issue as to whether the potential long-term build-up of organotins in agricultural soil is acceptable, from a human health and environmental point of view. For the sustainable use of biosolids in agriculture it is essential to control and reduce the quantities of persistent pollutants such as organotins in sewage sludge. In this study, a sampling program was designed to establish the levels of TBT (and other organotins) in sewage sludge and their reduction during anaerobic treatment and processing prior to disposal. Experiments were also undertaken to assess the fate of TBT in laboratory scale anaerobic digesters where the influence of digester operating parameters could be evaluated. Organotin concentrations were determined using capillary gas chromatography with flame photometric detection. The results demonstrated that the majority of TBT remained concentrated in the solid phase (sewage sludge). Concentrations of TBT in sewage sludge were approximately 18 mg kg(-1) (dry weight) and both laboratory experiments and fieldwork demonstrated that degradation of TBT during anaerobic digestion of sludge was minimal.
Voulvoulis N, 2006, Antifouling paint booster biocides: Occurrence and partitioning in water and sediments, Antifouling paint booster biocides, Publisher: Springer Verlag.
Li G, Xia X, Yang Z, et al., 2006, Distribution and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River, China., Environmental Pollution, Vol: 144, Pages: 985-993, ISSN: 0269-7491
In this study, concentrations, distribution between different phases, transition along the Middle and Lower reaches of the Yellow River and possible sources of PAHs were assessed. Results demonstrated that the relative proportions of 15 PAHs in all stations of the main River were similar, with concentrations of benzo[a]pyrene all above drinking water standards in most of the stations sampled. PAHs concentrations in tributaries were higher than those in the corresponding sites in the main River. PAHs concentrations of suspended particles were mainly correlated with contents of total organic carbon. However, PAHs concentrations in sediments were mainly correlated to the volume of particles with size smaller than 0.01 mm. The distribution of PAHs in all media sampled indicated that sediments could act as a sink/source for PAHs in different sections and source analysis revealed that PAHs mainly originated from coal burning, although in some tributaries PAH inputs could come from combustion of petroleum.
Bound JP, Voulvoulis N, 2006, Predicted and measured concentrations for selected pharmaceuticals in UK rivers: implications for risk assessment., Water Research, Vol: 40, Pages: 2885-2892, ISSN: 0043-1354
Predicted environmental concentrations for five commonly used pharmaceuticals were calculated using data from the UK Department of Health according to risk assessment guidelines proposed by the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products. Surface waters from the South-East of England were analysed and results were compared with predicted concentrations and findings from other studies from the UK and Europe. It was found that the efficacy of these predictions varied and was hampered by a shortage of data for many of the drugs. Ibuprofen, paracetamol and salbutamol were detected and quantified in all locations sampled. Ibuprofen was consistently found at the highest concentrations (up to 3 microg l(-1)). Levels up and downstream of two wastewater treatment works were compared in order to investigate the link between sewage discharge and environmental concentrations of pharmaceuticals. Results from one site demonstrated a considerable increase in concentrations of ibuprofen, salbutamol and paracetamol downstream from the treatment works; however, no link was established for a second works.
Bound JP, Kitsou K, Voulvoulis N, 2006, Household disposal of pharmaceuticals and perception of risk to the environment, Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology, Vol: 21, Pages: 301-307, ISSN: 1382-6689
The presence of pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment has become a cause for increasing concern in recent years. A wide range of pharmaceuticals have been discovered in fresh and marine waters and it has recently been shown that even in small quantities these compound,,, have the potential to cause harm to aquatic life. Their main pathway into the environment is through household use, and the disposal of unused or expired pharmaceuticals as manufacture is well-regulated. This work aimed to investigate the link between risk perception and household disposal. A survey was carried out, and around 400 householders, predominantly from the South-East of England, were interviewed. Information on when and how they disposed of unfinished pharmaceuticals was gathered. These responses were cross referenced with data oil personal information and attitudes in order to determine the factors affecting the methods of disposal that are chosen. Although a link between perception of risk and the choice of disposal methods was not proved, findings demonstrated that perceived environmental awareness had an impact on the method of disposal chosen. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Jones OA, Voulvoulis N, Lester JN, 2006, Partitioning behavior of five pharmaceutical compounds to activated sludge and river sediment., Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, Vol: 50, Pages: 297-305, ISSN: 0090-4341
Pharmaceutical substances have been detected in sewage effluents as well as receiving waters in many parts of the world. To assess the fate and removal of these compounds within sewage treatment plants, an understanding of their partitioning behavior between the solid and aqueous phases is critical. Therefore, a preliminary study was conducted to ascertain an understanding of the binding behavior of five drug substances sorbing to the solid phase in a laboratory scale-activated sludge plant (Husmann unit). For comparison, uncontaminated river sediment was also used as a substrate. All of the compounds tested partitioned more readily to the sludge than the sediment, likely because of the former's higher organic carbon content. Partitioning to the solid phase correlated roughly with predicted log Kow values. A period of initial sorption was followed by a phase of desorption, and net absorption of the selected drugs (with the exception of mefenamic acid) after 5 hours of mixing was minimal.
Bound JP, Voulvoulis N, 2005, Household disposal of pharmaceuticals as a pathway for aquatic contamination in the United kingdom, Environmental Health Perspectives, Vol: 113, Pages: 1705-1711, ISSN: 0091-6765
Pharmaceuticals are produced and used in increasingly large volumes every year. With this growth comes concern about the fate and effects of these compounds in the environment. The discovery of pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment has stimulated research in the last decade. A wide range of pharmaceuticals has been found in fresh and marine waters, and it has recently been shown that even in small quantities, some of these compounds have the potential to cause harm to aquatic life. The primary pathway into the environment is the use and disposal of medicines; although much of the research in the area currently focuses on the removal of pharmaceuticals during sewage treatment processes, disposal via household waste might be a significant pathway requiring further research. To investigate the household disposal of unused and expired pharmaceuticals as a source of pharmaceutical compounds in the environment, we carried out a survey and interviewed members of 400 households, predominantly from southeastern England. We used the information on when and how they disposed of unfinished pharmaceuticals to construct a conceptual model to assess the pathways of human pharmaceuticals into the environment. The model demonstrated that disposal of unused pharmaceuticals, either by household waste or via the sink or toilet, may be a prominent route that requires greater attention.
Balasubramaniam A, Voulvoulis N, 2005, The appropriateness of multicriteria analysis in environmental decision-making problems, Environmental Technology, Vol: 26, Pages: 951-962, ISSN: 0959-3330
Environmental decision-making occurs in numerous environmental sectors and covers a diverse range of problems. Of the various decision tools available not all of them may be appropriate for any single decision problem, and any particular decision-aid may not be applicable in all decision problems. This article reviews applications of MCA, and considers the appropriateness of Multicriteria Analysis (MCA) in environmental decision-making problems. Due to natural and decision environments being multidimensional, environmental decision-making is characterized by complexity. Consequently MCA has commonly been used in this area. In Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) the multiple dimensions of the impacts evaluated have been easily represented in MCA as multiple criteria. Waste management and water resource planning problems involving public participation have been facilitated by MCA, through the structuring and articulation of the public's values. MCA has also been applied in water quality problems, allowing the incorporation of incommensurable criteria into evaluations. The appropriateness of MCA for environmental decision problems can be viewed in the context of a typical decision-making process, making it easier to identify the contribution MCA can make at various decision-making stages. MCA can be particularly appropriate when the decision-making context is characterized by multiple objectives and multiple criteria, incommensurable criteria, mixed data and the need for ease of use, and the analysis context is characterized by multiple participants.
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