Hidrológiai Közlöny 1971 (51. évfolyam)
1. szám - Dr. Bolberitz Károly: Természetes vizekben előforduló mikroszennyező anyagok fajtái és hatásai
36 Hidrológiai Közlöny 1971. 1. sz. Special Conference Number, Szebellédy, L. L. Ádám, Mrs. Kakasy and Mrs. Pallós was to develop a possibly simple and inexpensive method for the treatment of low-activity, liquid wastes from plants using radioactive substances. The prerequisite of treatment consists, naturally, of collecting the radioactive wastewaters separa.tely from the other wastes. The aim was to find adsorbents providing an effective adsorbing volume not larger than one-hundredth of the wastewater to be treated, adequate resistance to corrosion and safe transportation once the radiating components are removed from water. The relevant experiments have been conducted with wastes containing Sr-90 and Cs-137 isotopes, using rhyolite tuffs containing clinoptilite and bentonite of high montmorillonite content as adsorbent. It was concluded that in these mineral substances ion exchange is accompanied by adsorption combining alsó large quantities of ion. The ion-combining capacity was found to increase as the partiele size decreased. Considerably smaller proportions of the Cs + ions were found to be combined than of Sr 2 + ions. However, by treating the finely- ground mineral with NaCl, i.e., by exchanging the Ca 2 + ions for Na + ions, the proportion of Cs + ions combined was raised to approximately 100%. These studies open the way for the efficient treatment of radioactive wastes originating from laboratories, institutes and industries. Many experiences of considerable practical interest on the fluoride treatment of water are compiled in the paper by Hádek. The addition of fluorine, widely used for controlling caries raises several problems, the majority of which are of technological character. Reliable, accurate fluorine feeding is, however, of great sanitary importance. Whereas it is true that fluorine occurs in natural waters alsó, and up to concentrations of 1 mg/l its presence is beneficial, at higher concentrations this valuable preventive substance becomes a pollutant with detrimental effects alsó at low concentrations. Reliable, accurate feeding and uniform mixing of the fed substance are essential prerequisites of unimpaired quality, which however, must be supplemented by monitoring equipment emitting warning signals immediately as the feed turns into pollution. Valuable information is presented by Hádek in these respeets. Summarizing the conclusions of the papers submitted it is stated that these contributed in several fields to a better understanding of the problems related to micro-pollution, but at the same time it must emphasised again that the number and scope of the problems seems to increase at a faster rate than the research aiming to solve them. A further factor aggravating the situation is that research cannot be started before troubles are encountered in practice. This situation cannot be altered, but research work and monitoring activities can be extended and intensified and attention is called emphatically to this fact. However thorough research and extensive monitoring may be, they will prove useless, unless utilized in practice. To accomplish this, close cooperation is necessary between researchers, engineers, economists and legal experts. The responsibility of scientists is to examine the detrimental effects of new pollutants, to determine the extent of pollution in practice and to explore the possibilities for its removal. The responsibility of engineers lies in the planning of practical realizations and in the supervision of operations. The responsibility of economists is to determine which of the solutions is most economical for controlling pollution, treatment, the use of less dangerous materials, the improvement of technology, or other solutions. The responsibility of legal experts is finally the promulgation of suitable laws in order to ensure the practical realization of the solution which has been found most successful as far as both benefits and costs are concerned. Considering the variety of possibilities for eliminating the increasing occurrence of micro-pollutants, one particular aspect—little observed in the past— should be remembered. This consists in forcing producers and consumers alike to stop pollution altogether, since the elimination of pollution is not only an ideál solution, but usually the cheapest one in practice. As striking examples from the recent past the development of soft detergents and the marketing of short-life pesticides in replacement to persistent ones are worthy of being mentioned. In many instances manufacturing technologies have been modified to prevent harmful industrial wastes from being produced. In recent times the outlines of a welcome new policy began to emerge, according to which the prevention of pollution at its very source is encouraged by suitable legislation, penalties, design contests and bonuses. The correct implementation of this policy is impossible, unless supported by intensified research and supervision work, consequently it is considered essential to increase the extent and scope of similar activities in the future. In compiling this report materiái contained in the following papers submitted to the Symposium has been used: 1. Ádám, L.—Kahasyné—Pallósné: Vizek radioaktív szennyezésének tisztítása hazai természetes előfordulású anyagokkal. (Removal of radioactive pollutants from wastewaters using natural substances of domestic occurrence.) 2. Dr. Berencsi, Gy.: A természetes vizekben előforduló mikro-szennyező anyagok egészségügyi jelentősége. (The public-health significance of micro-pollutants in natural recipients.) 3. Borneff, J.: Die Entfernung von kanzerogenen Substanzen aus dem Wasser. (Removal of cancerogeneous substances from water.) 4. Dr. Kertai, P.: A vízellátásban használt műanyagok toxikológiai vizsgálata. (Toxicological studies on plastics used in water supply.) 5. Dr. Papp, Sz.: A természetes vizekben előforduló mikroszennyeződések, különös tekintettel a peszticidekre. (Micro pollutants in natural waters, with special regard to pesticides.) 6. Popovska, P.: Causes of odour occurence in the water of the Klicava Reservoir. 7. Six, L.-né: Mikroszennyező anyagok vizsgálata a Mosoni-Dunából 1965—1969. években. (Study of micro-pollutants in the Moson Branch of the Danube River, in 1965 to 69.) 8. Szebellédy L.-né—Litheráty, P.: Mikroszennyező anyagok vizsgálata a Duna magyarországi szakaszán (Study of micro-pollutants over the Hungárián reach of the Danube River.)
