This paper summarises the results of radon diffusion coefficient measurements in 360 common waterproof materials available throughout Europe. The materials were grouped into 26 categories according to their chemical composition. It was found that the diffusion coefficients of materials used for protecting houses against radon vary within eight orders from 10(-15) to 10(-8) m(2) s(-1). The lowes...

Bitumen from north-eastern Mesopotamian seeps was exchanged across the Tigris and Euphrates in antiquity. Nonetheless, recent research proposed a decline its trade during Bronze Age alongside boost of central (Hit) trade. This paper presents new provenance studies ancient bitumen recovered at Tell Lashkir, 4th-2nd millennium BC settlement between lower upper Zab tributaries. The novel applicati...

We quantified the wholesale transformation of the boreal landscape by open-pit oil sands mining in Alberta, Canada to evaluate its effect on carbon storage and sequestration. Contrary to claims made in the media, peatland destroyed by open-pit mining will not be restored. Current plans dictate its replacement with upland forest and tailings storage lakes, amounting to the destruction of over 29...

Landfill sites are becoming over crowded and expensive for waste disposal, efforts are made to minimize the quantities of materials that are delivered to landfills. The threat due to leaching of non-biodegradable materials like waste plastics, scrap tyres. e-waste may contaminate the soil and ground water. If the production of waste cannot be prevented, then it is attractive to create an altern...

The present study examines the effects of exposure to oil sands on the early life stages (ELS) of fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas). Sediments within and outside natural oil sand deposits were collected from sites along the Athabasca River (AB, Canada). The ELS toxicity tests were conducted with control water, natural oil sands, reference sediments, and oil-refining wastewater pond sediment...

In this study, different contents of Nano-silica, 2 wt.%, 4 wt.% and 6 wt.%, have been added to bitumen to modify the physical, mechanical and rheological properties of warm mix asphalt (WMA). WMA is containing 2 wt.% of Sasobit (mixture of long-chain hydrocarbons). Various quality control tests have been carried out to characterize the modified bitumen and WMA. The rheo...