Sludge generated from water treatment plants in two different paint and pigment manufacturing industries, one manufacturing CPC Green (copper phthalocyanine green) and the other acrylic (pure and styrene) washable distempers, synthetic enamels, fillers and putties, were used for culturing earthworms (Eisenia foetida Savigny). The possibility of getting a quality vermicompost was also explored. The sludges were used pure and mixed with month-old cow dung at 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 2:1 and 3:1 ratios (sludge:cow dung). In pure sludges and in the 3:1 ratio, earthworms did not survive. Earthworms had very low survival in CPC Green sludge and its mixtures while acrylic paint sludge was very efficient in supporting worm growth and worm castings were generated quickly. Both sludges were alkaline, non-saline, but had appreciable Ca, Al, Pb, Zn, and Mn. CPC Green had high Cu (12,900 mg kg^—1) and acrylic paint sludge had high total Cr (155 mg kg^—1). High Ca and Al in both came from water treatment chemicals (lime and alum), while CPC Green itself is a copper-based pigment. The sludges were suitable for land application with regard to their metal contents, except for Cu in CPC Green. CPC Green did not support proper growth of plants (green gram, Vigna radiata (L). R. Wilcz.), while acrylic paint sludge supported growth in pure form and mixtures with soil.

Dioxins are highly toxic halogenated organic compounds formed as an unintentional by-product of many industrial processes involving chlorine and combustion. At the Negev Monte Carlo Research Center (NMCRC) and the Green Processes Center at the Shamoon College of Engineering (SCE), Israel, we have developed a code for the first-order estimation of dioxin emissions from waste incinerators and the subsequent atmospheric dispersion. The NMCRC-ATMOS (Atmospheric Evaluator) program will allow public planners and facility operators to estimate and predict the effect of current and potential waste incineration facilities on nearby population centres. This information can also be used by plant operators to decide whether to run the facilities at maximum capacity based on weather conditions. With the NMCRC-ATMOS tool, the user has the ability to easily establish location-based fallout from the average conditions (both facility and atmospheric) surrounding the waste incineration plant. This program currently focuses on dioxin emissions from waste incinerators, but can eventually be expanded to include other emission sources and atmospheric effects, as well as internet connectivity for real-time data acquisition. NMCRC-ATMOS is a Windows^® program that has been tested on Windows XP Service Pack 2 with the .NET Framework 2.0 installed.

This study investigated the dental waste management practices and safety measures implemented by dentists in the Nablus district, Palestine. A comprehensive survey was conducted for 97 of the 134 dental clinics to assess the current situation. Focus was placed on hazardous waste produced by clinics and the handling, storage, treatment and disposal measures taken. Mercury, found in dental amalgam, is one of the most problematic hazardous waste. The findings revealed that there is no proper separation of dental waste by classification as demanded by the World Health Organization. Furthermore, medical waste is often mixed with general waste during production, collection and disposal. The final disposal of waste ends up in open dumping sites sometimes close to communities where the waste is burned. Correct management and safety procedures that could be effectively implemented in developing countries were examined. It was concluded that cooperation between dental associations, government-related ministries and authorities needs to be established, to enhance dental waste management and provide training and capacity building programs for all professionals in the medical waste management field.