Instrumentation for measuring equivalent ambient dose in urban buildings using TLDs.

The Thermoluminescent dosimeter is a solid material used as instrumentation for environmental monitoring through determining environmental equivalent dose H∗(10). This work presents the calibration methodology for TLDs LiF:Mg, Cu, P dosimeters and their application to measure H∗(10) in internal buildings occupied by inhabitants of an urban area. The calibration factor and type tests were made according to ISO 4037-3 and IEC 62387, and the uncertainty was determined. The values found are under the reference values. Therefore, the dosimeters can be applied.

Simple mid-depth transverse baffles to improve bacterial disinfection in a shallow maturation pond - performance evaluation and CFD simulation.

Sunlight-mediated disinfection in wastewater treatment ponds is widely recognised as the main role for disinfection, but pathogen removal can be limited by poor light penetration in the water column. The aim of this research is to evaluate a different and simple type of intervention for improving bacterial disinfection, by placing mid-depth transverse baffles perpendicular to the theoretical flow in an existing shallow maturation pond, aiming at increasing the opportunity for bacteria to receive radiation at the upper layers of the pond. In order to understand the hydrodynamic mechanisms and evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed intervention, a 3D Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) model was applied, including the transverse baffles and a particle-tracking model. This was complemented by monitoring E. coli in the pond, in the phase before and after inclusion of the transversal baffles. Overall, the transverse baffles increased disinfection efficiency by moulding/re-routing the hydrodynamic flow and increasing microorganism exposure to the sunlight.

Exploratory assessment of the occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 in aerosols in hospital facilities and public spaces of a metropolitan center in Brazil.

Although much has been discovered regarding the characteristics of SARS-CoV-2, its presence in aerosols and their implications in the context of the pandemic is still controversial. More research on this topic is needed to contribute to these discussions. Presented herein are the results of ongoing research to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA in aerosol in different hospital facilities (indoor environments) and public spaces (outdoor environments) of a metropolitan center in Brazil. From May to August 2020, 62 samples were collected using active sampling method (air samplers with filters) and passive method (petri dishes) in two hospitals, with different occupancies and infrastructure for contamination control. Outdoor public spaces such as sidewalks and a bus station were also investigated. Five air samples from four facilities in a hospital tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 in suspended and sedimentable particles. SARS-CoV-2 was found in aerosols inside the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), in the protective apparel removal room, in the room containing patient mobile toilets and used clothes (room with natural ventilation) and in an external corridor adjacent to the ICU, probably coming from infected patients and/or from aerosolization of virus-laden particles on material/equipment. Our findings reinforce the hypothesis of airborne transmission of the new coronavirus, contributing to the planning of effective practices for pandemic control.

Hydrodynamic evaluation of a full-scale facultative pond by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and field measurements.

Knowledge of the hydraulic behaviour is very important in the characterization of a stabilization pond, since pond hydrodynamics plays a fundamental role in treatment efficiency. An advanced hydrodynamics characterization may be achieved by carrying out measurements with tracers, dyes and drogues or using mathematical simulation employing computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The current study involved experimental determinations and mathematical simulations of a full-scale facultative pond in Brazil. A 3D CFD model showed major flow lines, degree of dispersion, dead zones and short circuit regions in the pond. Drogue tracking, wind measurements and dye dispersion were also used in order to obtain information about the actual flow in the pond and as a means of assessing the performance of the CFD model. The drogue, designed and built as part of this research, and which included a geographical positioning system (GPS), presented very satisfactory results. The CFD modelling has proven to be very useful in the evaluation of the hydrodynamic conditions of the facultative pond. A virtual tracer test allowed an estimation of the real mean hydraulic retention time and mixing conditions in the pond. The computational model in CFD corresponded well to what was verified in the field.

Performance evaluation and spatial sludge distribution at facultative and maturation ponds treating wastewater from an international airport.

This paper presents a performance evaluation of facultative and maturation ponds in series treating wastewater from a large and intensively used international airport in Brazil, based on 16 years of regular monitoring. The wastewater from the airport showed similar or slightly lower concentrations compared to typical domestic sewage for most of the quality parameters. The contribution of effluents with possible industrial features (aircraft toilets and hangar effluent) did not seem to have adversely affected the characteristics of the influent in terms of aptitude to biological treatment. Overall, the ponds operated under very underloaded conditions (mean loading rate of 44 kg biochemical oxygen demand/ha.d in the facultative pond) and presented a satisfactory quality in terms of effluent concentrations for most parameters. A bathymetric survey of the ponds was done manually by a low-cost measurer constructed specifically for this purpose. After 27 years of operation, only 25% and 18% of the volumes of the facultative and maturation ponds were occupied by sludge. Specific sludge accumulation rates were 0.0071 m³/passenger.year for the facultative pond and 0.00017 m³/passenger.year for the maturation pond.