Citation: Amberber M, Addis Y (2017) Paper Burning and Associated Pollution Problems in Higher Educational Institutions of Ethiopia; The Need and Potential for Recycling. Int J Waste Resour 7: 290. doi: 10.4172/2252-5211.1000290
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Concentration (ppm)
Paired sample t-test result
Guide line concentration (ppm)
Pollutants
Exposure duration
White paper
Printed paper
t-value
p-value
9
8 hours 1 hour
CO
84.67 ± 10.21
119.67 ± 26.31
2.917
0.100
35
CO 2
384.33 ± 35.02
1700 ± 157.16
14.66
0.005
0.20 0.08 0.02
1 hour
SO 2
0.37 ± 0.16
0.38 ± 0.14
0.111
0.922
24hours
1 year
VOCs
3047 ± 104.93
3749.33 ± 229.01
3.647 1.110
0.068
NO x
BDL
0.19 ± 0.03 0.383 Table 1: Pollutants measured during paper burning.
Emission of CO, CO 2 , SO 2 , Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) were determined. These gases are selected as they are considered to be the criteria air pollutants (commonly emitted and detrimental to health) except CO 2 . CO 2 is considered as it is the common greenhouse gas that has been given attention by the scientific community. As it can be seen from Table 1, the concentration of the air pollutants in this study is higher than the values in the guideline. If one is obliged to burn a paper, it is better to keep far away to minimizing the duration of exposure once it is ignited. Generally, the concentrations of each of the gaseous pollutants in burnt assessment papers are high enough to pose health risks. Therefore, it is better to recycle such papers than burning. In addition, the concentration of each of the air pollutants emitted while burning the printed paper is larger than the non-printed one. This might be due to the additional pollutant produced by the printing ink. However, the difference is statistically significant (p<0.05) only for CO 2 and NOx (Table 1). This indicates that much of the ingredients in the printing ink are converted to CO 2 and oxides of nitrogen (NOx). Total projected emission The amount of gaseous pollutants released to the atmosphere annually is estimated by considering the total amount of assessment papers, and their potential concentration for the consecutive six years and the result is presented in Figure 2. Estimated total emission of heavy metals per year Not only air pollutants but also heavy metals on ash of burned assessment papers that could be mixed to soil were determined and results are shown in Table 2. It was found that the concentration of Pb and Cd in printed paper is significantly higher (p<0.05) than their corresponding concentration on white paper. The source for the additional concentration on printed paper could be the ink. Pb and Cd are among toxic heavy metals that results in detrimental health effects. Pb has a number of toxic effects, including inhibition of the synthesis of hemoglobin and adversely affects the central and peripheral nervous systems and the kidneys. Cd adversely affects several important enzymes; it can also cause painful osteomalacia (bone disease) and kidney damage. Inhalation of cadmium oxide dusts and fumes results in cadmium pneumonitis characterized by edema and pulmonary epithelium necrosis (death of tissue lining lungs) [10]. This shows that assessment papers had better be recycled than be burnt to prevent toxic metal exposure and the associated risks. pH and macro-nutrients The result showed that the pH of white paper is slightly alkaline (7.98) and that of the printed paper sample is quite alkaline with an average pH of 9.07 (Table 3). The pH, total nitrogen (TN), total
600
Amount paper (ton)
480.02484.81485.1
500
Concentra Ɵ on (kg/amount burned) CO Concentra Ɵ on (kg/amount burned) CO2 Concentra Ɵ on (kg/amount burned) SO2 Concentra Ɵ on (kg/amount burned) VOCs
390.26
400
300
239.43
200
154.47
100
19.49 20.99 22.4 22.49
0
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Year
Figure 2 : Annual projected gaseous pollutant emissions.
Paired sample t-test test result
Heavy Metal
Concentration (ppm)
White paper 0.39 ± 0.13
Printed paper 0.84 ± 0.16
t-value 4.041
p-value
Pb
0.046
15.11
Cd
0.33 ± 0.25
0.47 ± 0.24
0.004
Table 2 : Heavy metal concentration on paper ash.
Paired sample t-test test result t-value p-value
Value
Heavy Metal
White paper Printed paper 7.98 ± 0.32 9.07 ± 0.24 3.39 ± 0.15 2.89 ± 0.04 0.17 ± 0.09 0.83 ± 0.06
pH
2.092 0.172
Moisture content (%)
-
TN (%)
15.684 0.004
TP (ppm) K (ppm)
23.49 ± 0.69 40.88 ± 1.38 36.039 0.001
70.54 ± 1.83 83.68 ± 1.93 118.850 0.000 Table 3: pH and macronutrient level of white paper and printed paper. phosphorus (TP) and potassium (K) content of the printed paper are higher than the one on the white paper. The paired sample t-test result indicated that the difference on the values of macro-nutrients on printed and white paper is significantly (p<0.05). This indicates that printed paper could be composted and used to fertilize acidic soils that contain sulfur which utilize Pb and Cd to precipitate in the form of PbS and CdS, respectively. Instructors’ perception and willingness on assessment paper handling A total of 100 lecturers (46 and 54 work at KMU and ECSU, respectively) were participated in this assessment. Their perception on the use of assessment papers is presented in Figure 3. As it is indicated in Figure 3, only12 (12%) of the respondents were experienced in
Int J Waste Resour, an open access journal ISSN: 2252-5211
Volume 7 • Issue 3 • 1000290
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