Saulius Vasarevičius

Remediation technologies for soils contaminated with heavy metals

Abstract Heavy metals, such as lead, chromium, zinc, cadmium and cooper may cause hazardous harm to human health and the environment because of their dissolubility and mobility. Selection of the most appropriate soil remediation method depends on site characteristics, concentration, types of pollutants to be removed and the final use of a contaminated medium. This paper reviews soil remediation technologies, such as isolation and containment, solidification/ stabilization technologies, soil washing and flushing technologies, electrokinetics and phytoremediation.

Modelling of motor transport exhaust gas influence on the atmosphere

Santrauka Pagrindiniai atmosferos tarsos saltiniai miestuose yra mobilūs (automobiliu transportas), taip pat ir pramones bei energetikos tarsos saltiniai. Automobiliu transporto ismetami tersalai duoda didžiausia emisija i aplinka. Tyrimais nustatyta, kad daugiausia tersalu yra ismetama rytinio ir vakarinio piko valandomis, kai automobiliu transporto eismo intensyvumas mieste yra pats didžiausias. Automobiliu transporto ismetalai yra ypac dideli intensyvaus eismo miesto gatvese ir 2–5 m atstumu nuo važiuojamosios kelio dangos, o esant 6–10 m atstumui ju kiekiai staigiai sumažeja. Nustatyta, kad CO, NOx, CHx, SO2 koncentracijos tiesiogiai priklauso nuo automobiliu transporto eismo intensyvumo. Koncentracija tolygiai mažeja didejant atstumui nuo gatves važiuojamosios dalies. Tyrimai atlikti Vilniaus mieste 14 Žirmūnu gatviu vietu, kur skaiciuotas važiuojancio automobiliu transporto (lengvuju, vidutinio lengvumo, sunkiuju automobiliu) skaicius, pagal tai su COPERT programa nustatytos rytinio ir vakarinio pik...

Clogging test of landfill leachate drainage using different fillers

Abstract Municipal waste landfill leachate formed at different stages of the operation of the landfill, has a negative impact on the natural environment. According to the newly implemented waste management policy on modern solid waste deposit sites, landfill leachate has to be monitored. Five experimental columns were constructed in size of 500 mm long and 200 mm in diameter. They were filled with different fillers. The flow of leachate allowed for calculation of the leachate volume per year in a landfill, where it was taken. The experiment was carried out for 365 days. Significant change of the porosity was determined in all columns. Although the landfill for this period represents only 1/50 or less of the operation time, the laboratory tests found that the drainage layer bandwidth of reduction in one year can have a negative impact in the long run of time, which will only increase congestion. For higher porosity value of the test substance, allowing for more impairment, a 2% points decrease in the value...

Investigation and evaluation of soil pollution with oil products in the most intensively used territories of gaižiūnai military training ground

Abstract Recently environmental pollution became a problem of a special significance. Removal of pollutants from territories suffering from intensive use in the past and at present attracts major concern. Extensive pollution of the soil with materials of organic origin (oil and its products) was detected in the areas of the former military bases of different operation types. The surface soil is the first natural system to be directly affected by any level of pollution and it accumulates pollutants. Water dissolves and washes out materials from the soil saturated with oil hydrocarbons and it is also polluted with oil products. The present paper describes the evaluation of environmental pollution caused by military activity in the operating Rukla‐Gaižiūnai Military Training Ground. After investigation of soil pollution with oil products was performed, it was possible to analyse particularly the present soil condition and assess the most contravened places referring to the obtained results.

Investigation and evaluation of H2S emissions from a municipal landfill

Abstract The aim of investigation was to evaluate the degree of pollution caused by a municipal landfill and determine the dependence of the amounts of emissions of the odorant hydrogen sulphide (H2S) on different parameters of the environment. The Jerubaiciai landfill in Plungė district was selected for the investigation. Measurements were recorded at 59 points and 2 monitoring wells. The measurement points and places were selected so that the landfill places generating the largest amounts of H2S and the directions of pollutant movement are identified. It was determined that the amounts of H2S varied from 0.9 ppm (in February) to 8.6 ppm (in August) in different places of the landfill. The largest amounts of H2S were identified in the areas of freshly-tipped waste. Odorants in these zones are generated during waste tipping out of trucks or waste pushing. H2S generation in the top layer of waste changes during the day and different seasons of the year. It is mainly influenced by air temperature. No depend...

Comparison of requirements for environmental protection and a model for evaluating contaminated sites in Lithuania

Abstract This work is aimed at addressing attention to the situation of contaminated sites and emphasizing importance and need for their rehabilitation. The study presents the experience gained by European countries evaluating contaminated sites and rehabilitation framework. A model of assessing contaminated sites in Lithuania consisting of two main stages – preliminary and detailed investigation has been developed. The first one is used for collecting preliminary information on the contaminated site and for evaluating the need for detailed analysis. The second is subjected to a comprehensive risk assessment of the site shifting focus on the environment and human health. The model for evaluating contaminated sites involves organic chemical materials and metals. Risk assessment depends on the sensitivity of a site to contamination. Equations for establishing the level of contamination involve the content of soil organic matter and clay. Correction coefficients used for calculating the level of contaminatio...

Investigation and evaluation of landfill leachate permeability in the soil

Abstract Today waste management is one of the most important environmental problems, danger that used landfills and their collected leachate can cause. This paper analyses the filtration coefficient of soils typical of landfill assessment by air conditions and different density of soils. Heavy metal concentrations were determined by using the flame absorption spectrometric method. Besides, the results of modeling heavy metal permeability are presented here. Dependence of heavy metal permeability characteristics on soil density are described. Experimental investigation and modeling of heavy metal permeability in the soil allowed us to determine that the least permeable soil is dusty sandy grit.

Dispersion modelling of solid particles from vehicle exhaust into the atmosphere@@@Autotransporto į atmosferą išskiriamų kietųjų dalelių sklaidos modeliavimas

Department of Environmental Protection, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Saulėtekio al. 11, LT-10223, Vilnius, Lithuania E-mail: vaitiek@ap.vgtu.lt Th e research carried out in major towns has revealed that the highest level of pollution is registered during the morning and aft ernoon rush hours when traffi c intensity is the greatest. Traffi c pollutant emissions are very concentrated in streets of high traffi c intensity, but at a distance of 1–2 meters and especially 4–6 meters from the carriageway their amount is sharply reduced. Th e concentration of aerosol particles is directly dependent on the intensity of the traffi c fl ow. Th eir concentration is evenly reduces with the distance from the carriageway, and at a distance of 300 m particles tend to deposit on the ground surface. Th e research was carried out at 14 selected points of Vilnius, Žirmūnai neighbourhood streets, where the number of vehicles passing by (light, medium, heavy traffi c) has been counted. Th e obtained results have been applied to determine the mean concentrations of solid particles (SP) in the morning and aft ernoon rush hours. Th e data were used for the mathematical modelling of solid particle dispersion in Žirmūnai neighbourhood. In some cases, the maximum allowable concentration (MAC) of solid particles was exceeded.

Experimental research into leaching of metals from immobilized CIS solar module waste

AbstractThe aim of this research is to determine metal leaching from concrete specimens containing different quantities of waste recovered from copper indium selenide (CIS) solar module by replacing a certain share of sand aggregate. During the first stage of research the CIS solar module was shredded and leaching tests were performed on recovered waste by analysing six metals – Na, Mg, Fe, Cd, Cu and Zn. It has been determined that out of all metals analysed, the highest leaching was observed for sodium, while the highest leaching out of the heavy metals was found for zinc. In Phase II of the study concrete specimens with shredded CIS module waste were made and the physical properties of these specimens as well as the leaching of the same metals was determined. The results have shown that three metals, namely Fe, Cd, Zn, were successfully immobilised and did not leach from the specimens.

Research and evaluation of the intensity parameters of electromagnetic fields produced by mobile communication antennas

Abstract As the network of cellular mobile phones has recently expanded and in particular after the digital GSM 900/1800/2100 systems have been introduced, the potential effect on human health of electromagnetic radiation from the base stations of these systems has become of great concern to European countries. There have been requests made in some countries for areas free from mobile phones in which installation of base stations would not be permitted and for considerable reduction of the maximum authorised exposure or other restrictions. The European Commissions Recommendation adopted on 12 July 1999 requires that the maximum field strength for electromagnetic radiation (0–300 GHz) is established and that information about populations exposure to EMF and the measures taken to reduce it is provided. The article presents and analyses EMFs produced by mobile communication antennas in a residential area. Measurements of the electric strength, magnetic strength and EMF power density were performed and comp...