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About David L. Russell, PE
(Top Expert on this page)

Expertise
I`m a Chemical,Civil and Environmental Engineer and have a number of projects in all phases of the environment. I have worked in the chemical industry and am active in professional societies, and am currently on an industrial wastes committee for the Water Environment Federation, and have taught courses in remediation in the US and abroad. I have written one book on Remediation of petroleum Contaminated Sites, and have a second book on PRACTICAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT to be published by John Wiley in September, 2006. I've also written over 30 articles on various elements of environmental problems and cleanup. Most Recently, I have addressed a NATO Scientific and Techical Conference on Ecoterrorism, and have worked with the same group on remediation of sites contaminated with Chemical Warfare Agent materials and othe materials as well. . I can answer q`s about Chemical and Environmental Engineering, land development, air pollution, water pollution, soil and water cleanup, combustion, international environmental problems, industrial processes chemical processes. Civil and Environmental and Chemical Engineering. Overall, I have over 35 years of experience in this area. Note: I do not answer homework questions

Experience
I love work in the third world and developing areas because it is challenging and one can get a sense of accomplishment.

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Questions Answered By Expert David L. Russell, PE
In Category Environmental Science

Subject	Date Asked

Ice Engine	7/11/2009
Q: Will you please help me with some suggestions on how to build my invention, the ICE ENGINE? Here ... A: MIKE: What you need is some way to store the energy of expansion. For example,a very fine tooth set ...
reaction of butanol and water	6/26/2009
Q: C4H9OH + 7H2O = 4CO2 + 12H2 under what conditions does the foll reaction take place? I searched and ... A: I don't quite know myself. I can speculate that the temperature would be somewhere near the ...
sewerage waste	6/12/2009
Q: When toilet tissue does not disintegrate before reaching a treatment plant, and is removed as ... A: Here's an answer but it will not necessarily be satisfying. Toilet tissue does disintegrate in the ...
Testing Water	5/27/2009
Q: I am a grade 11 chemistry student. For my assignment i must test the water qualities of two ... A: There are a couple of things you can do to test the water quality. You may have to go to a local ...
Less Rain Fall	5/26/2009
Q: when there is very less rainfall in an area or country what the system is called. i mean what is the ... A: When there is less than normal rainfall in an area, the correct term is, I belive, drought. The ...
sewerage treatment	5/23/2009
Q: What is the 1st priority treatment for sewerage water which must be done before any other ... A: The first two orders of the day in dealing with sewerage are removal of the coarse solids by a bar ...
Mystery Chemical Odor in the Home	5/20/2009
Q: Four days ago I returned home from a week long trip to find a strong, chemical-like, toxic-smelling ... A: First, let me try and save you some money. If the AC repairman said that it is not the AC unit, I'd ...
Diesel Gasoline and Plastic material	5/14/2009
Q: I've read your answer about oil spill, the beach, the cooking oil and the motor oil and I like it ... A: Unfortunately for you, I believe that the supplier may be correct, although it may depend upon the ...
Heavy water	5/14/2009
Q: What are the different types of heavy/semiheavy water? Which are toxic? What are the effects of the ... A: If you trouble to look up "heavy water" in Wikipedia.com, it will answer all your questions, ...
scientific discovery	5/9/2009
Q: Back in early school days I used to hear about that lone scientist who bucked the establishment and ... A: The field of science is full of many independent thinker success stories. However, it often depends ...
septic tanks and detergents.	5/1/2009
Q: I read your information about this subject and found it helpful. However, I should like to check out ... A: My answer may seem a bit convoluted, but bear with me. Most bacteria, of the type that are in your ...
Sustainable energy	4/21/2009
Q: Do you believe that oil producing countries could sabotage the development of renewable energies by ... A: The short answer to your question is YES. Renewables are generally uncompetitive now. However, ...
Coal Gen	4/19/2009
Q: I have heard a lot about coal gen. I tried to research coal gen, and I'm confused. Is coal gen a ... A: There seem to be two schools of thought on Coal Gen. One is the gassification school and the other ...
Carbon footprint from municipal WWT	4/10/2009
Q: Russell, Do you have any sense of the carbon emissions from treatment of municipal wastewater? Of ... A: There are several studies on this topic. Some of the best information is probably from NYSERDA ...
determination of Aluminum	3/27/2009
Q: I am working on a laboratory project to determine the content of aluminum in water. Could you tell ... A: The most common method is Atomic Absorption. There are colormetric methods as well but they may be ...
Embedded carbon emissions in ww solids polymers	3/6/2009
Q: I noted an earlier post that seemed to be about estimating the carbon emissions embedded in polymers ... A: Your question was interesting. I did some further research and I'm working on something for an ISO ...
Embedded carbon emissions in ww solids polymers	3/6/2009
Q: I noted an earlier post that seemed to be about estimating the carbon emissions embedded in polymers ... A: I'm the puzzled one. Can you point me to the question so that I can get the context? There should ...
treatment/disposal of aircraft waste	3/3/2009
Q: I noted an old (2007) string of Q&A on this website concerning the disposal of aircraft waste + ... A: I did a bit of checking and most of the deodoizers used in planes are biodegradable. You will ...
plastics	2/9/2009
Q: i know certain plastics are more toxic than others, the plastics that are not as harmful are the ... A: The following website will help answer your questions: ...
lake problem	1/28/2009
Q: It seems as if you just might be the person to help answer a question for me. Have 2 man made lakes ... A: Tell me a bit about the soil. That may be your problem. If you have fine grained (clay) soils they ...
NOx	1/28/2009
Q: what is the conversion factor for nox emissions per litre of fuel burned for both petrol and diesel ... A: Offhand, I don't know but here's the best information I have. It depends on the fuel economy. In ...
Environmental issue topic!	1/27/2009
Q: I need to look for recent law, bill or amendment to a law that addresses an environmental issue. It ... A: Sherry: Try reading the Kyoto treaty on the environment. Then compare it with the IPCC report, and ...
House smells	1/24/2009
Q: Hey Russell, Our house seems to smell like rotten eggs - worse, usually, during the winter time. ... A: The rotten egg odor is hydrogen sulfide. It can come from a variety of sources including a broken, ...
Home odor	1/24/2009
Q: "The test is one of two. Let me be as specific as possible. First about the sample gathering. ... A: Any good odor control lab should be able to help, but here are some names: ...
hooker chemical dump sites	1/20/2009
Q: Do you know where I can get a list of the hooker chemical dumpsites? Back in 2001 I found a web site ... A: I used to work for Hooker Chemical. I don't know where the old dump sites are. You should check ...
renewable energy	1/18/2009
Q: Russell, my name is michael i am 24 and will be attending a university somewhat close to Albany ... A: Apologies for the late reply. First, you are fighting chemical thermodynamics. It takes more energy ...
styrene	12/4/2008
Q: Russell, I searching chemical or biological degradation characteristics of styrene. This is ... A: The short answer is that the easiest way to degrade styrene is oxidation. It burns readily and has ...
Enviro Loo	11/24/2008
Q: I would value you your opinion on this product, the Enviro Loo. www.swsloo.com Thanks, Bev ... A: Bev: 1. The enviro loo cannot really heat up to disinfection temperatures without melting the ...
Enviro Loo	11/24/2008
Q: I would value you your opinion on this product, the Enviro Loo. www.swsloo.com Thanks, Bev ... A: Interesting technology. It appears that the thing making it work is the tall stack and the rotating ...
air quality	11/21/2008
Q: i am doing my science fare project and i have to explain about the holes in my topic air quality. i ... A: Yes, we can measure the air quality by measurement of the chemicals in it. In most cases, there are ...
Hydroelectricity	11/17/2008
Q: I am writing a report and creating a powerpoint for my Ecology class in high school. I am 16 and a ... A: Kat: Hydroelectrictiy is water power, also called hydroelectrictiy. You should look at the Hoover ...
Thermoelectricity	11/11/2008
Q: Russell Hello. I just came upon a very interesting topic; thermoelectricty. I'm thinking of using ... A: try this site: http://peswiki.com/energy/Directory:Thermal_Electric they seem to have some ...
bioremediation	11/6/2008
Q: I wanted to do a science project on bioremediation or anything related to that such as ... A: The easiest would be to get some sand, some manure, a bit of fertilizer, a scale and some pans. ...
pollution footprint of producing liquid air/nitrogen compared with...	11/1/2008
Q: If billions of people on the planet were in biostasis via cryogenic storage, would that large ... A: I attempted to answer your question. I indicated that I did not have the data to give you the ...
carbon footprint of manufacturing liquid nitrogen	10/31/2008
Q: If billions of people on the planet were in biostasis via cryogenic storage, would that large ... A: Nitrogen is "manufactured" by condensing it from air. It is formed when air is cooled to - 196 C. By ...
Nitrobenzene	10/30/2008
Q: Our problem is about dissolving nitrobenzene in water and measure as COD. Can we prepare a ... A: Interesting Question. The solubility of nitrobenzene is about 0.19 gm/L. The best way to calculate ...
effect of rain on salinity	10/16/2008
Q: I might have sent this already, but I messed up. I'm a sixth grader and I'm doing a science ... A: 1, No rainwater does not have salts because it is formed by evaporation and condensation and the ...
environmental engineering job questions	9/30/2008
Q: I am a 10th grader doing a project for my principles of engineering course and I was wondering if ... A: I'll take your questions in order... What are the duties and responsibilities of someone working in ...
House odor source	9/29/2008
Q: We have an odor in our house that we are quite confident we have finally isolated with the help of a ... A: I have a different idea. First, however, let's talk about your concrete idea. It might be able to ...
Oil Spill Clean Up	9/18/2008
Q: my friend and I are in the 12th grade and currently in the process of doing a research project for ... A: Sure: You will first need some salt water (try looking at the CRC Handbook of Physics and Chemistry ...
Waste management	8/28/2008
Q: I came across a website stating <<http://www.environmental-waste.com/rewards-income-potential.html>> ... A: I don't know why they want $25,900 for what is essentially a sales job? I'm suspicious because they ...
Man-made lake safety	8/25/2008
Q: Mr. Russell, My parents live on a small man-made lake (55 acres) fed by a spring which doesn't get ... A: Rob: you are in a tough situation. The problem you describe with the growth and plants are caused by ...
Contaminated well water	8/25/2008
Q: We put in a new well about 12 years ago. At that time, we had contamination with "enterobacter ... A: Laura: I'm not a bacteriologist, but I do know that your bacteria is a natural soil bacteria. Over ...
unusual outdoor odor	8/22/2008
Q: I'm hoping that somebody can give me an answer to a problem I'm having in my yard. Around my patio ... A: There are some interesting possibilities. Do you have a septic system? If so, has it been pumped ...
COD	8/22/2008
Q: David, We have SBR system treatment plant. The plant had been operating for 2 year yt we fail to ... A: First, your influent COD is quite high. Have you looked at the balance or C:N:P ratio of your ...
caves	8/18/2008
Q: I am writing a novel and would like some logistical help. Can a person or group of people find ... A: What you ask depends upon the situation. There are a number of accounts of foresters fighting a fire ...
How can I contact the manufactuer of biodegradable toilet paper?	8/14/2008
Q: How can I contact the manufactuer of biodegradable toilet paper? my e-mail is lidaus@kmdali.com A: I looked for specifics, and the only thing I can recommend is that you contact REI because they have ...
Blue Vitriol	7/20/2008
Q: We are using Blue Vitriol (Copper Sulfate )as fugicidal in a natural pool in our country house.I ... A: because it is a fungicide, it will be slightly harmful to other plants and trees. Specifically, I do ...
Retention Pond	7/12/2008
Q: My step-son is building a home in Orange County, Florida where, when he began 8 months ago, there ... A: My guess is that the orange grove is not responsible for the lake going dry. However, you should ...
WATER POLLUTION	7/9/2008
Q: Mr.David L.Russell, Dear sir,we are a group of Biology trainers in the world links program. In ... A: The following information reached my in box this morning. Hope that it helps you. The Clarke Prize ...
Aluminum salt cake waste w ammonia	7/8/2008
Q: A project that I haven't been involved with in over a year was to find a landfill to accept RCRA ... A: Here are a couple of possible solutions. If you can raise the pH to over 8.3 you can recover the ...
hydrogen	7/2/2008
Q: I am experimenting with electrolysis but then I am confused on how to gather the hydrogen without ... A: Your challenge will be to separate the other compounds, other than hydrogen and oxygen. I would ...
ENERGY	6/27/2008
Q: Scientists claim that towards the end of the century a solution to the serious energy problem will ... A: It depends upon how much you believe in science fiction. If one could build a magnetic bottle and ...
ENERGY	6/15/2008
Q: Scientists claim that towards the end of the century a solution to the serious energy problem will ... A: Who knows what the future will bring. There are a few possibilities. 1. a breakthrough which will ...
clay/sand ratio	6/2/2008
Q: Can you tell me what the common ratio for clay and sand is as a fill in, like in boulevards and ... A: Jesse: Fill is an unregulated material so there are no specifications. Ideally, a soil should have ...
Oil Spill in the backyard	6/1/2008
Q: My husband changes the oil in our vehicles. He disposes of the oil at al local motor repair shop. ... A: don't be too concerned about a small patch of oil. Although, I'm sure Mother Nature appreciates your ...
Locality environmental condition	5/30/2008
Q: What are the usual : Developments maintenances environmental problems Government Initiatives for ... A: Sorry, but I'm in the US, and have no idea. Your best bet would be to contact the environmental ...
Global Warming	5/26/2008
Q: Sir, I am a Research Associate from INDIA and carrying out my research on Global Warming. Actually ... A: A few terms first and then I'll tell you why I may not be the one to answer your question, but by ...
Sundarbans	5/25/2008
Q: Why should the Sundarbans be conserved? Please give details. A: I have no idea, and have never heard of the term before your question. Apparently it is some attempt ...
Sundarbans	5/25/2008
Q: Why is sundarbans known as a Biospher Reserve? When did the Biosphere Reserve in Sundarban start? ... A: I have never heard of the Sundarban before your question. Apparently is an UNESCO program (I ...
hydrocarbons	5/15/2008
Q: What makes biogenically-produced hydrocarbons important in relation to tropospheric O3? Can they ... A: Rick: Almost all hydrocarbons are associated with some type of biological process. Organic chemistry ...
Energy	5/13/2008
Q: I wanted to know if it is feasible to put wind turbines on farm silos to supplement our energy ... A: YES. There are structural considerations to a turbine or a foundation for a silo, and some constant ...
Odor Detection	5/6/2008
Q: We have lived in our home for 23 years which borders a strip of land next to portable classrooms. ... A: Erin: You pose a tough question. I would look for a couple of things. Pick a still day, and see if ...
Turbulence	5/1/2008
Q: Could you please describe me what is Sediment Induced Buoyancy Effect? I cannot understand what does ... A: Here's a thought. I'm not totally familar with the velocimeter, but I believe that it resolves the ...
Sediment	4/17/2008
Q: Could you please describe me what is Sediment Induced Buoyancy Effect? I cannot understand what does ... A: The effect you describe is caused by the "rapid" downward movement of large groups of sediment. The ...
town reservoirs	4/10/2008
Q: why are town reservoirs placed at higher parts of town A: Town reservoirs are located at elevation for one principal reason. Water flows downhill, and with ...
seawater into drinking water	4/9/2008
Q: how can i do a science experiment to change seawater into drinkable water at home? carbon ... A: The easiest way to make the transformation is by evaporation. I suggest that you use a solar still. ...
average day?	4/4/2008
Q: i have a little brother whose about to graduate high school and he was just wondering what is a ... A: Jesse: There are any number of areas of environmental engineering he can get involved in. Take a ...
Cremation of human body	4/3/2008
Q: If heat transfer for cremation of 150-pound human body is by radiation only and such cremation must ... A: I don't know enough about nuclear energy to know if that is possible. Assume a 10kg mass of nuclear ...
Cremation of human body	4/2/2008
Q: If heat transfer for cremation of 150-pound human body is by radiation only and such cremation must ... A: The problem is that there are several assumptions in the premisis which make it problematical. ...
Cremation of human body	4/2/2008
Q: If heat transfer for cremation of 150-pound human body is by radiation only and such cremation must ... A: First, I don't think that the standard includes only radiation and second I don't believe that it is ...
pressuring gov	3/23/2008
Q: A few years ago I was in the Dominican Republic staying in my vacation home when all our ... A: No, unfortunately, I don't track international environmental groups, especially those in the ...
Environmentally Safe Detergents	3/16/2008
Q: Are there brands of detergents, or generic types of them, that are safer than others on the aquifer? ... A: Frank: Since you are interested in the topic you may want to visit the following web site: ...
Environmentally Safe Detergents	3/16/2008
Q: Are there brands of detergents, or generic types of them, that are safer than others on the aquifer? ... A: Frank: You pose a very interesting question. The answer unfortunately, depends upon the amount of ...
oil pan leaks	3/8/2008
Q: Is there any way to know how much oil leaks from vehickle oil pans in the U.S. including Alaska ... A: Given that there are several million cars in the US, ( I don't know how many - but for the sake of ...
Odor in house	2/29/2008
Q: Our house (9 years old)is a single story structure with concrete walls on a concrete slab. Our ... A: Ed: This is a tough one. Depending upon what is used on the outside of your house, and the direction ...
Granite	2/20/2008
Q: I have a nagging concern about what mining is doing to our environment with the increasing ... A: You probably won't enjoy my answer because it's obvious. It depends upon where the granite is mined ...
bottled water	1/21/2008
Q: I have a question regarding the purity of supposedly pure artesian water. I was recently drinking a ... A: bottled water is of variable quality. Artesian is a hydraulic term which just means that the water ...
Cremation versus Burial	1/8/2008
Q: I am a freelance writer and a graduate student at Columbia University's Journalism School. I am ... A: Katherine: Certainly I have an opinion. Cremation! I recently lost my wife (April 2007) and she ...
The air we breath	1/2/2008
Q: I have heard that if mother nature failed to clean our air daily, by means of snow, rain or dew that ... A: Your premises is faulty. I would suggest that you hit the library and talk to the librarian about ...
Carbon footprint for Polyelectrolytes	12/17/2007
Q: I am working on a project to determine the Carbon Footprint for sludge treatment. Do you have any ... A: Whew! it's a tough question, and I'll take a chance on answering. More through methodology rather ...
Water pollution	12/14/2007
Q: I am an 8th grade student. I would like to do a project on water pollution in the U.S. vrs. water ... A: Try contacting your science teacher and see if he can help. The simplest test I can think of ...
Vapor concentration in the air	12/1/2007
Q: I have questions for you regarding respirator use. When I looked at MSDS I see all this TLV. I know ... A: The TLV is the Threshold Limit Value, above which respiratory protection is recommended. The TWA and ...
trying to reduce heat created and air conditioner use.	11/30/2007
Q: my house has 3 grey concrete block external walls,one of which gets direct sun.What level of heat ... A: My source for this is the Architectural Graphic Standard. Depending upon your latitude, and time of ...
Environmental Management	11/27/2007
Q: I was wondering what "non-market evaulation technique" is... Used in the sentance "Find a research ... A: Karl: I'm not quite sure of the meaning either. But I'll take a stab at it. It depends upon the ...
deep sea drilling	11/22/2007
Q: what happens to the voids we create in the earth when we extract millions of gallons of oil A: It depends upon how deep we are when we drill. For every barrel (42 gallons) of oil we remove, we ...
disposing of harmful chemicals	11/12/2007
Q: Recently I've felt compelled to make more ecologically friendly decisions about the products I use. ... A: The answer lies in the chemical formulation. It takes bacteria some time to develop enzymes for ...
Pipelines	11/2/2007
Q: Can I know why is it important to monitor the iron and copper concentration found in pipe lines? I ... A: Copper is a potential toxin, and Iron is a nuisance. Go to the EPA website and research the drinking ...
Re: your book	10/29/2007
Q: To; David L Russell Dear Mr. Russell, I have your very informative book which has been a valuable ... A: Carol: The book was written in 92 so it's a bit creaky and I've been approached to provide a second ...
Need research help	10/27/2007
Q: How to design an exhibit that emphasizes the importance of biodiversity In South East Asia. How I ... A: First, how much space do you have? How big is the exhibit, and how much do you want to spend on it? ...
Sporocidin Product	10/24/2007
Q: My company is using Sporocidin to sterilize 2 separate facilities that have known cases of MRSA. I ... A: Theresa: I did a bit of quick research on MRSA, and here's some info which may be of help from ...
how to treat the airplane toilet waste	10/22/2007
Q: I'm working in an airport in Viet Nam & we use a green liquid to disintegrate the waste in toilet of ... A: Follow up: I called the manufacturer today. here is his response: Dear David Please find ...
how to treat the airplane toilet waste	10/15/2007
Q: I'm working in an airport in Viet Nam & we use a green liquid to disintegrate the waste in toilet of ... A: I'D BE HAPPY TO HELP. Please provide the name of the chemical. Get it off the label. It would ...
Environmental Science	10/10/2007
Q: Concentration of free cyanide in gold tailings water detoxication process, using hydrogen peroxide ... A: I assume that your question is why is the concentration of free cyanide increasing, but I'm not ...
Air Pollution	10/10/2007
Q: David, I have currently finished a environmental science lab on air pollutants. The procedure of my ... A: Check with your science teacher and see if you can gain access to some Sodium Hydroxide to absorb ...
Opposite of Hormesis?	9/24/2007
Q: (There's no expert in the Toxicology section, so I hope you don't mind my asking you this most ... A: The word you need is synergistic effects. There is a substantial body of research on synergy of ...
vegan & environmentally safe	9/21/2007
Q: Are pleather, vinyl and PVC as bad as people are claiming? When shopping for clothes, purses, etc ... A: If you are concerned, try natural fibers such as cotton and linnen and wool. To answer your ...
soil/water	9/15/2007
Q: Can u tell me whut websites will help me with my science fair project on soil and water?For my ... A: Sorry but you are wasting your time. Select another project or modify the one you have quickly. The ...
Environment	9/10/2007
Q: im a college student and wondering about the damage we our doing to our environment.Do you feel we ... A: Sara: Some pollution is inevitable. Yours is a very broad question. The amount of pollution, which ...
toxix effects of acrylic paint	9/6/2007
Q: do you know of any toxic effects of acrylic paint. I have painted the leaves of some plants with ... A: Depending upon the type of paint, the answer to toxicity is generally no, but there are some ...
Carbon Footprint	8/30/2007
Q: We're about to commence building a house and we'd like to work out the carbon footprint. We can work ... A: Not my usual type of question, but here goes. The carbon content of wood is between 45 and 55%. So ...
Foul odor	8/22/2007
Q: We recently purchased a condo where there is an entryway leading to a foyer for the elevator. Almost ... A: Sure a broken sewer line or back pressure in the building could cause the odor. You might also want ...
Foul odor	8/22/2007
Q: We recently purchased a condo where there is an entryway leading to a foyer for the elevator. Almost ... A: Joe: Try getting close to the elevator. I suspect that what you are smelling may be coming from a ...
Resettlement	5/28/2007
Q: What is resettlement? Can you please give me some links on the internet which would give me more ... A: Not really, as I understand it. Resettlement is usually applied to relocation of one group or class ...
Resettlement	5/28/2007
Q: What is resettlement? Can you please give me some links on the internet which would give me more ... A: Resettlement, as I understand the term, is a political term for the moving of populations from one ...
Refreezing the Polar Ice Caps	5/6/2007
Q: David, I read your answer regarding the above referenced subject and have a question regarding ... A: Unfortunately, no. It's a matter of thermodynamics rather than anything else. It requires about 80 ...
Dam Project	4/26/2007
Q: First of all I am grade 11 student and this question is reagarding to my physics course. To be ... A: With many large public works projects, it often depends upon who is getting hurt or displaced, who ...
Love Canal	4/23/2007
Q: I was wondering if you could help clear something up for me. What was the final outcome of the love ... A: As best as I can recall, the judge in the case forced settlement for around $100,000,000 some time ...
los angeles pollution	4/17/2007
Q: i am designing a building for a los angeles beach and i am trying to research ways of making it ... A: UV is a strong bleaching agent. You need to contact some of the professional coatings manufacturers ...
los angeles pollution	4/12/2007
Q: i am designing a building for a los angeles beach and i am trying to research ways of making it ... A: You need to pay attention to your air handling system and the air quality. Most of the pollution ...
acid rain	4/3/2007
Q: i am doing a debate in science class. what are some plus sides to acid rain? A: Unfortunately, there are few plus sides to acid rain. However, rain is already slightly acidic, as ...
polar ice caps	4/2/2007
Q: is there anyway to refreeze the large bodies of water surrounding the ice caps? Some kind of giant ... A: the short answer is NO! The energy required would be enormous! The engineering required would be ...
question for prject	3/21/2007
Q: I have to ask an expert some questions for my research to be done. I'm going to send you 2 questions ... A: 1. What do you think about oil spills? I feel that the worst and first problem is that they are ...
love canal	2/27/2007
Q: Do you know anything on the love canal. Do you know anything about the effect of chemicals like ... A: Yes, I worked for the company that brought the world the Love Canal. There are many stories and ...
oil spills	2/5/2007
Q: I am in sixth grade and I did a science fair project on oil spills. I tested which matieral would ... A: the soap emulsified and chemically reacted with the oil to hydrolyze it so that it would wash up. ...
oil spills	2/5/2007
Q: How long does it take to clean an oil spill? A: That depends upon the size of the spill, where the spill is located, and wind, waves, type of spill ...
oil spills	2/2/2007
Q: What do scientists use to clean up oil in the ocean? A: A variety of things, but mostly floating skimmers to trap the oil, and then they rely on gravity ...
Fertilizer	1/14/2007
Q: Some regions wtih high concentration of livestock farming that are fertilized by manure may become ... A: Good Question. Unfortunately, I have only part of the answer. Your premises is also slightly in ...
Environmental Engineer	1/14/2007
Q: I am considering going the route of environmental engineering. I am wondering what the duties of an ... A: Jessica: Environmental Engineering is an interesting profession. It is so broad that you can stay in ...
Population growth	1/4/2007
Q: Is population growth desirable? A: The answer depends upon timing. In certain parts of the world it is desirable and in other parts of ...
How can I measure air pollution concentration?	12/24/2006
Q: However, what pollutants does this experiment gather? I already am trying to get dust particles by ... A: I checked a couple of sources for equipment. You can measure CO2 in the atmosphere relatively ...
How can I measure air pollution concentration?	12/24/2006
Q: Grade: 8th Course: Earth Science (Regents/Honors) So far, I am only able to come up with measuring ... A: Try this: it's a qualitative measure of air pollution. Obtain some plastic buckets, approximately ...
Strange Odor in Home	12/17/2006
Q: Someone that wrote you asking about strange odors in the house, said they could not afford the ... A: The test is one of two. Let me be as specific as possible. First about the sample gathering. That's ...
volitile odor	12/2/2006
Q: if there are phenates left... How long does it take for it to disappear and what is the protocol? ... A: A little phenol goes a long way. The application may still be in the walls, floor joints, etc, so ...
volitile oder	12/1/2006
Q: Last year I had extensive mold remediation done in miami condo before I purchased it.. It is on the ... A: I looked at the MSDS for sporocidin and it may have some phenates left in it which are causing you ...
3/4 of the world's resources...	12/1/2006
Q: I am a student majoring in Journalism at San Jose State, and have voluntarily decided to write an ... A: I'm happy to answer your question but don't be surprised if you don't like the answer because of the ...
Cremation - energy used	11/28/2006
Q: How much energy (natural gas) is consumed to burn a body in a crematorium? A: Roger: Here's a back of the envelope estimate: The human body is about 95% water. In order to burn, ...
void where oil is taken out of the earth	11/12/2006
Q: this is a 2 part question. first what is happening to the void left after the oil is taken out of ... A: I'll answer the second question first. No one knows because we are always finding new sources of ...
could i interview you?	11/11/2006
Q: I'm working on a senior paper about the causes and effects of water pollution and I was wondering if ... A: I would be happy to be interviewed. However you may not need to do that. My contact information, ...
Water Quality Project	8/28/2006
Q: My name is Stephanie and I am 11 years old and just starting the 6th grade. I live in Michigan. ... A: First, pH is only slightly temperature dependent. If someone at the high school has a pH meter, they ...
Phosphate control	8/19/2006
Q: Goodday, In an activated sludge wastewater treatment system,nitrates are being taken care of. What ... A: If not removed, the phosphates will cause algal blooms, so they need to be treated. There are a ...
Ozone Hole naturally occurs in Soth Pole?	8/18/2006
Q: For years I have come across articles about the Ozone hole in Antarctica. Ozone is a negative ... A: It is because the electrostatic forces are much weaker than the magnetic forces. The magnetic forces ...
global warming	8/12/2006
Q: sorry to bother you again, but do you think it would be a temperature that allows us to live?If all ... A: What you are asking is for opinion not science. Having indicated that I am not qualified to answer ...
stable ecosystem	8/7/2006
Q: I am a student and I have to do a project in summer vocation, my project is designing a stable close ... A: The only way to determine whether your ecosystem is stable is to count the species and numbers, or ...
Mold	8/5/2006
Q: I have a Cladosporium spore M3 count of 160 inside/120 outside, Penn/Asp is 280 inside/80 outside ... A: I would guess from the numbers that you may be right, but then I have seen numbers on mold all over ...
investigatory project	8/4/2006
Q: ahm.actually i need an investigatory project. i chose the topic about our environmental issue. And i ... A: Why not look at the accuracy of the various climatological models which are projecting long term ...
Enviroment	8/1/2006
Q: . Iam currently research about air pollution in our environment. Can I please get your advises ... A: I'm not a medical doctor, but bad health effects include emphsyma, acute asthma attacks, poor plant ...
U.V TREATED WATER	7/25/2006
Q: There is some school of thought, which says, Ultra violet treated water is harmful for human ... A: Short answer is no. However, UV treated water has no residual, and if there is any possiblity of the ...
COD	7/25/2006
Q: Congrats to you.What a qualification and how crisp and simple are your answers.No tall talks. ... A: There may be an dissolved component to your COD. The test measures oxidizable substances, and as ...
global warming	7/22/2006
Q: If all the ice caps did melt, obviously we would lose their reflection of the sun, and the dark sea ... A: That is an unproven assumption. I really don't have a clue about the answer to your question. ...
project for wildlife	7/21/2006
Q: I would like to know whether there is any project for wildlife conservation that can be done by one ... A: Certainly there are organizations which can and do rescue wildlife and perform conservation. For ...
Lake water testing	7/17/2006
Q: My name is ryan and i work at Woodlawn Beach State Park, right outside Buffalo, NY. We currently ... A: As a former Buffalo resident, I know where you are. (I used to live in Williamsville). Your local ...
to choose one proffession	7/9/2006
Q: i am aiming to be some thing about environmetal science. plese tell me what are the proffessions for ... A: You may want to start with Chemical Engineering as an undergraduate and take courses in ...
Ultra-Violet Disenfection	7/8/2006
Q: Does UV light kill or inactivate all organisms that would show up in a Total Coliform ... A: The answer is yes to both. The principal mechanism is via disruption of the DNA by light at with a ...
political ecology	6/21/2006
Q: what is third world political ecology? A: I'm not sure myself, but I would interpret the term to be a use of the protection of the environment ...
Urinating in the ocean and the environment	6/19/2006
Q: I have a serious question about urinating in the ocean. In your opinion, what effect ... A: Urine contains ammonia and uric acid (an amine) and some chlorides. Your friend is correct, by and ...
Glycol's ability to absorb water moisture	6/14/2006
Q: I am a student and I came across the idea of using glycol to remove moisture from a hydrogen/oxygen ... A: Let's address the problems in reverse order. Separation is near to impossible unless you have a ...
Global warming	6/13/2006
Q: What do you think the U.S. government should do to help stop global warming for good? A: Your question implies that the Federal Government really can do something or needs to do something ...
recycled	6/10/2006
Q: which material is recycled the most in U.S? glass or aluminum or steel or plastic? A: Steel by far is the most recycled. The junk yard business has been around for a long time. Aluminum ...
burn garbage for energy?	6/9/2006
Q: Has it been considered that garbage combustion could be used as an alternative source of energy? ... A: Depending upon where you live, garbage may already be a source of energy for your power. However it ...
Waste water treatment	6/6/2006
Q: I am amateur researcher now days researching on the subject of waste water treatment of the city of ... A: you are correct that what you propose will help the contamiation of the river and even a lake. ...
endangered species act	5/23/2006
Q: who wrote the endangered species act A: In 1973, Congress passed the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to protect and recover imperiled species ...
not homework!!!!	5/22/2006
Q: how do large cities create heat pollution? A: Amy: Cities are heat island because of inefficiencies in their processes. You live in an air ...
Dissolved Oxygen	5/17/2006
Q: and I am studying Dissolved Oxygen. I would like to know how a professional does this work on a more ... A: Gabriel: You are starting out correctly. Oxygen is about the 4th most abundant element found on the ...
Specific gravity of soil	5/16/2006
Q: After looking at my data from this year and all of my soil samples, I can not see any pattern in my ... A: Mandy: There are a couple of factors. Density of soils is not an absolute in the metric sense of ...
Global warming	4/18/2006
Q: I am a journalism student at SDSU in California. I am writing a story on global warming. Recent ... A: First, check out my website for my qualifications, lest I be taken for a "politically incorrect ...
Behaviour of wood smoke	4/13/2006
Q: we would like to ask a question about wood smoke pollution. Our neighbour has a wood smoke heater ... A: Yes, a taller chimney would do two things. 1 increase the draft for the fireplace, and 2 disperse ...
Fox River	4/4/2006
Q: David, I live on the Fox River in Green Bay and they (many organizations) talk of cleaning up the ... A: The term half life refers to a natural decay of the product in the environment.Half life is the time ...
another strange odor!	3/31/2006
Q: I read with interest the posting from 3-8 about a smell around a house. My elderly mother has the ... A: I'm afraid I don't have even a clue of what a meth lab smells like, guess that I live too clean a ...
Odor Detection	3/8/2006
Q: I have a constant odor in my household (over 6 months)that effects some people by tingle in their ... A: There are not enough specifics about your house in your post to enable me to make a reasonable ...
Mercury Toxicity	3/2/2006
Q: A lot of fellow members of an alternative diet group are concerned with the issue of mercury ... A: Geoff: I'm not sure that I can be of a lot of help. However, I believe that if you look up the issue ...
Your job	2/18/2006
Q: Interview Hi. I'm in the 8th grade, I attend to John Adams Middle School and I'm doing an ... A: In high school I was a solid but not spectacular student, mostly B's and A's but at the time, the ...
environmental science	2/17/2006
Q: what type of gas does the us produce 13 million tons of per year? ps. its not a homework question, ... A: Apologies then. I get a number of homework questions. The gas, I believe is carbon dioxide, but ...
tides	2/15/2006
Q: I live in Ohio. I am taking a trip to the Puget Sound area. I am not at all familiar with tides but ... A: The datum is mean sea level which is the universal zero elevation all over the world. So low tide is ...
Fertilizers	1/11/2006
Q: My son is in 4th grade he needs some info on chemical and natural fertilizers. Thanks A: My first response would be to look at the following websites: www.tfi.org ...
Solar Energy - Water	1/5/2006
Q: Do you know who the inventor was for creating a solar still or possibly a good website or book where ... A: Felicity: Solar evaporation technology is extremely old and there is, as far as I know, no single ...
SEWER	12/30/2005
Q: im back!hope you can still help me with this. why do dry weather flow need to be separated from ... A: Think about what's in dry weather flow-- human wastes! Nasty stuff that! You don't want it spread ...
WASTE COLLECTION	12/28/2005
Q: I am assigned to report about waste disposal. i would just like to ask an opinion from a ... A: Jerah: The question is very straight forward. But I believe that you haave mis stated it. Think ...
Automobile Emissions	12/24/2005
Q: but I have a few more questions. When was automobile pollution seen as a problem in the United ... A: The problems with automobile emissions and air pollution was first noticed in Los Angeles, ...
domestic water use	12/20/2005
Q: my name is david dewane and i work for a architecture office in austin, texas and am wondering if ... A: David: Contact your local water utility or the state DNR and get the figures from them. YOu won't ...
Automobile Emissions	12/19/2005
Q: What are the best alternatives to gasoline powered vehicles? What are the long-term effects of ... A: Sorry for the delay but I have answered this question about 3 times and the server and all experts ...
Soil Depletion	12/16/2005
Q: There's a lot of talk on my alternative diet groups re this new idea that scientific studies from ... A: While I do not doubt your source for information, and I really don't have the expertise or knowledge ...
the effect of pigments on the industrial human eating foods.	11/30/2005
Q: what is the effect of pigments on the industrial human eating foods? A: Pigments are used as coloring agents, and are not used in foods. Most often we associate pigments ...
the effect of the LED (pb) on the drinking water	11/30/2005
Q: what is the effect of the LED (pb) on the drinking water? A: You may have made a spelling mistake in your question. I cannot tell whether you are discussing ...
Energy accumulated in Earth?	11/20/2005
Q: i have always had thisIs all the energy that the Earth recieves from the Sun dayly being ... A: The energy is accumulated and trapped by the atmosphere, carbon dioxide, and water vapor. However, a ...
degradation of nicotine	11/13/2005
Q: I'd like to konw Henry's constant of nicotine and biodegradation of nicotine.I wonder if you could ... A: For the Henry's Constants, I always use http://www.mpch-mainz.mpg.de/~sander/res/henry.html as a ...
soil pH project	10/27/2005
Q: i need help!i need a reaserch paper topic out-line,and my experiment is on which mulch raises the pH ... A: I believe that you have made a mistake in your premises. Oyster shells are calcinic and quite ...
Can the earth survive a nuclear war?	10/26/2005
Q: I hope you can help...I was wondering if a total nuclear war destroyed the earth as we know it, i.e. ... A: The answer is yes, but that's speculation. If you kill off the higher species, you may be back to ...
Air pollution; Ozone in Plants	9/28/2005
Q: I am a freshman in highschool taking earth science. I have a year long project to complete, and I am ... A: The damage from ozone has been reliably measured. You need to start with the EPA website and look ...
water pollution	9/25/2005
Q: I would begreatful if you answer my questions 1-What chemical and biological substances that are ... A: That question is extremely broad, and it depends upon what the substance contains. It also depends ...
Waste composition	9/23/2005
Q: thorough and informative reply. I've had a read through and it's been very useful and given me some ... A: Reread the information I sent you. The initial survey can be a random sampling and can be used to ...
calcium chloride	9/22/2005
Q: David, This may be a duplicate of my previous question. If so, sorry. I meant to say in my previous ... A: Calcium chloride has been used on roads for years. It is a more acceptable form of salt and ...
Waste composition	9/22/2005
Q: I was wondering if you could help me. I am currently required to complete a task for a job interview ... A: Wow what a question. First, a quick perusal of the document suggests that your answer is in the ...
Environmental Engineering	9/6/2005
Q: This is not an EXACT homework question but it is one like a homework question. I'm not wanting the ... A: First: you have expressed the formula differently in each of your posts. I'm using the values in ...
Environmental Engineering	9/5/2005
Q: Suppose I am given 40 mg/L of C7 H13 O N2. How do I find the Org-N (mg/L), NH3-N (mg/L), Totatl ... A: you first have to balance the formulation, to find out how many Ammonia's there are. Then convert ...
Global warming evidence	8/31/2005
Q: Russel, I do not quite understand the evidence for global warming. Although I don't doubt that there ... A: Here's an answer: 1. The evidence for global warming is political and scientific. The science part ...
crude (oil)	8/21/2005
Q: How do "they" know crude is finite and when did nature stop making it? Thanks A: The petroleum professionals, read oil companies, are always searching for more crude oil because it ...
The origin of water	8/7/2005
Q: Is it possible to estimate how much 'new' water would develop from the natural combination of H & ... A: first of all, it is 2 parts of Hydrogen and one part Oxygen. You need to do a bit more research. I ...
The origin of water	8/5/2005
Q: Given that the earth is enclosed by its own atmosphere where does water come from? I realize it is ... A: It is the same water, and a relatively or precisely constant amount on the Earth. It evaporates, and ...
Mecury , metals..etc..	8/2/2005
Q: Is there a laboratory anywhere that a person can send samples or be tested their self for Mecury, ... A: Any good hospital laboratory will have the ability to test for several metals. Some commercial ...
Dear Sir, I would like...	7/27/2005
Q: I would like to know what are environmental science processes and their relationship? How much ... A: I'm not sure that I understand your question. YOu need to be more specific. The environment is an ...
Environmental and food	5/21/2005
Q: my name is amber. Pleas ehelp me. I am 13 and my mother would not help me with my assignment and ... A: I normally don't do homework questions. Check on what the Sate of California Grows against your ...
Global Warming and Glaciers	5/11/2005
Q: My science teacher wants us to ask experts a question pertaining to the effect of global warming on ... A: You may have the question backwards. The loss of glaciers is a result of the warming, not the other ...
Global Warming	4/24/2005
Q: My name is Stacey and I am in grade 11. I have been researching the greenhouse effect and global ... A: First, Don't believe everything you read or see coming out of hollywood! Second, there is a new ...
Toilet paper biodegradabilty	2/11/2005
Q: What is the difference between biodegradable toilet paper and normal toilet paper? Does it have to ... A: As far as I know, neither. I believe it to be a marketing ploy. The cellulose is generally ...
ocean pollution/oil spills	1/26/2005
Q: I was wondering three things. 1 when an oil spill happens and is cleaned up can we or do we use ... A: Jimmy: 1. Some times the oil is re-used if it has been in contact with the ocean only. However if ...
land problems in Brazil (this is not a homework question)	1/23/2005
Q: Can you please tell me what is the seeming dilemma faced by Brazil: land for the landless at the ... A: I apologize that I cannot answer this question. All that I can do is speculate. Much of Brazil is ...
oil spill clean up	1/20/2005
Q: I am in grade six and I have done research on water pollution but I couldn't find anything on oil ... A: The difficulty of cleaning up a spill depends on what was spilled and what it was spilled on. If you ...
ocean pollution/oil spills	1/19/2005
Q: in grade six, I've been doing a reaserch project on ocean pollution/oil spills. I was wondering ... A: There is some oil in the ocean but it is extremely small and the bacteria tend to eat it up. It is ...
Wildlife in Canada	12/25/2004
Q: Why do the terms food chain and food pyramid seem to be appropriate for the relationships between ... A: Think about the number of simpler life forms as compared to the number of higher life forms. ...
can you help	11/28/2004
Q: i think they are considering boring under the river bank appearently they would dig down on one side ... A: Generally the distance from the bank is decided by soil conditions and local environmental ...
can you help	11/27/2004
Q: the local electricty company want to run a high voltage cable under the local river bed , ie the say ... A: The construction of the underground and under-river crossing is likely to be your greatest concern. ...
chemistry in the community	11/22/2004
Q: yesterday,a barge wood pulp to Potlatch Paper Company in Lewiston Idaho hit a sandbar in the ... A: This sounds suspiciously like a "HOMEWORK" QUESTION which I don't normally answer. However, Diesel ...
Environmental Relief Valves at the side of the road ??	11/8/2004
Q: Often when travelling along the motorway (in the UK) you see a sign reading "Environmental Valve" or ... A: I am guessing! But it is probably in a sewer line (force main) under pressure and that valve is ...
Separating Hydrogen from the water molecule	10/8/2004
Q: I am in the 8th grade and I am doing a science project on the electrolysis of Hydrogen from water ... A: Patrick: You will get hydrogen at one electrode, and oxygen at the other. You will also get ...
Sience fair experiment.	9/22/2004
Q: What color paper will burn fastest using a magnifying glass? A: This is a homework question. I suggest that you look at something called black body emissions and ...
water	8/20/2004
Q: so the main question is what would be harder if i hit it at any speed ? so if i hit water would that ... A: The water will give, but if you hit it hard enough you will never feel the difference. Try doing a ...
Respeced sir, My self bhavinkumar...	8/20/2004
Q: Respeced sir, My self bhavinkumar m patel, i am PG student in chemical engineering having ... A: If you will contact me through my regular e'mail address I will attempt to answer your questions. ...
Vehicular air pollutants	8/10/2004
Q: Analysis of variations of vehicular air pollutants. A: Is this a question or a statistical dissertation? I'll need more information about your specific ...
Machine Dishwashing processes	8/7/2004
Q: What is the detailed mechanism of "glass corrosion" in machine dishwashing procedures? My wife ... A: This is not my area, but this is an attempt to answer your question anyway. I believe that there are ...
Ecuador environmental issue	7/31/2004
Q: I am presently doing a report on Texaco environmental issue in Ecuador. I would like to show some ... A: The remediation will take years. Based upon examinations of the area, and the locations and types of ...
Ecuador environmental issue	7/30/2004
Q: I am presently doing a report on Texaco environmental issue in Ecuador. I would like to show some ... A: There is a cost estimate of about $6 billion dollars for Ecuador. The cost estimate contains some ...
What is this substance that seems stronger than SuperMan?	7/27/2004
Q: First“What (gas, liquid, solid, or what?) can penetrate plastic, ceramic, glass, metal, and ... A: The only thing that I'm aware of is Helium. It is extremely non-viscous, and in high end ...
effluent treatment	7/19/2004
Q: Sir, I am working in a malt process industry, recently we have gone for some water treatment ... A: Polyelectrolytes are high moleculear weigh starches, polymers, or even synthetic plastics, which ...
Genetically Modified Orgonisms	5/6/2004
Q: First of all, thank you for responding so quickly! I have the questions ready to go...here they are: ... A: 1. GMO's have been around for a lot longer than many people give them credit for. What is the ...
Genetically Modified Orgonisms	5/5/2004
Q: David, Hello, I am a student from Mendocino College. THIS IS NOT A HOMEWORK QUESTION! I am doing a ... A: and don't worry, I knew from your response that it was not a homework question, I put that there to ...
Trees and the Effect on the Carbon-Oxygen Cycle	5/1/2004
Q: I hear that large tracts of rain forests are being cleared in (South)America. What effect will this ... A: Yes, but the net effect is unknown. The rain forest has been decimated for years, and greenhouse ...
Rubber from tires	7/20/2003
Q: "As you know tires wear down, where does the rubber go? Does it go into particles in the air that ... A: The rubber from tire wear goes into the general dust in the area. Naurally some of it breaks down ...
Interfearance from Hydrocarbons in floccuation process	5/7/2003
Q: I am interestedin finding an answer to a question that has been bothering me recently. I am a ... A: A bit of clarification first. I'm assuming that you are in the US. The reason you are having ...
SOx Emissions	4/22/2003
Q: Sir, I would like to know that how can we calculate SOx and NOx emissions of Oil fired power plants ... A: SOx is calculated as SO2 and NOx is calculated as NO2, so if S is 32 MW and N is 14 MW and O2 is 32 ...
increased BTEX with high water table	3/5/2003
Q: I'm pursuing monitored natural attenuation at a leaky gasoline UST site. BTEX previously was ... A: The problem with monitored natural attenuation is that it doesn't often work as we would wish. The ...
Environmental question.	3/4/2003
Q: Greetings David Russell, I was hoping that you would be able to help me out or point me in the ... A: You might start by looking up Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. Keep in mind that environmental ...

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