Evaluation of the Stone and Marble Industry in Palestine: environmental,geological, health,socioeconomic, cultural,and legal perspectives,in view of sustainable development

The Stone (limestone) and Marble (trade name) Industry (SMI) is one of the most important and active industries in Palestine, as being economically and financially rewarding and greatly beneficial to the public and private sectors. This industry, which employs about 15,000–20,000 workers, contributes 20–25% to the total industrial revenues of Palestine, and 4.5% to the total gross national product. Despite its benefits, SMI has adverse effects on public health, the environment, biodiversity, water systems (both surface and underground), green cover, and ecosystems in general, as it is considered one of the most air- water-, soil-, and noise-polluting sources. To achieve the purpose of this research paper, available data and literature are analyzed, evaluated, and used, in order to provide a comprehensive understanding of the status of SMI, in light of sustainable development. This relates to various perspectives, including limestone geology, geopolitics, socioeconomics, culture, technology, legislation, as well as climate change, acid rain, and harmful effects of the SMI scale on public health and safety, environmental well-being, and challenges facing the industry. Two field studies, carried out in northern and southern West Bank, dealing with particulate matter (PM₁, PM_2.5, PM₇, PM₁₀, and TSP) and environmental pollution, were analyzed, and their results were compared with each other, as well as with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) guidelines. It is found that both West Bank’s areas are heavily polluted, resulting in considerable adverse impacts on public health, the environment, and green cover. Based on the findings of this paper, it is recommended that SMI should properly adhere to WHO guidelines and international standards to make the industry safer and more durable and sustainable, with fewer negative impacts on public health, the environment, and green cover.

     

Adsorption, transformation, and bioavailability of the fungicides carbendazim and iprodione in soil, alone and in combination

When studying the effect of mixtures of toxic substances on soil organisms, attention must be paid to peculiarities in exposure to mixtures as opposed to that of single toxicants. The fungicides carbendazim and iprodione compete in the adsorption to soil. The presence of iprodione reduced the adsorption of carbendazim by 30%, while carbendazim reduced the adsorption of iprodione by 70%. Iprodione had little effect on the transformation rate of carbendazim in soil. However, carbendazim retarded the transformation of iprodione in soil by 26%. The concentration of the fungicides in pore water was found to be substantially higher for mixtures than when a fungicide alone was present in the soil. The effect of the additional fungicide on the concentration is especially apparent in the period following the first 1 to 2 weeks of the incubation. The inclusion of copper in the mixture has little additional effect on the concentration of the fungicides in pore water.     

Migration,remittances, livelihood trajectories,and social resilience

We argue that all aspects of demographic change, including migration, impact on the social resilience of individuals and communities, as well as on the sustainability of the underlying resource base. Social resilience is the ability to cope with and adapt to environmental and social change mediated through appropriate institutions. We investigate one aspect of the relationship between demographic change, social resilience, and sustainable development in contemporary coastal Vietnam: the effects of migration and remittances on resource-dependent communities in population source areas. We find, using longitudinal data on livelihood sources, that emigration and remittances have offsetting effects on resilience within an evolving social and political context. Emigration is occurring concurrently with, not driving, the expansion of unsustainable coastal aquaculture. Increasing economic inequality also undermines social resilience. At the same time diversification and increasing income levels are beneficial for resilience.     

Physiology, morphology, and ozone uptake of leaves of black cherry seedlings, saplings, and canopy trees

Patterns of ozone uptake were related to physiological, morphological, and phenological characteristics of different-sized black cherry trees (Prunus serotina Ehrh.) at a site in central Pennsylvania. Calculated ozone uptake differed among open-grown seedlings, forest gap saplings, and canopy trees and between leaves in the upper and lower crown of saplings and canopy trees. On an instantaneous basis, seedling leaves had the greatest ozone uptake rates of all tree size classes due to greater stomatal conductance and higher concentrations of ozone in their local environment. A pattern of higher stomatal conductance of seedlings was consistent with higher incident photosynthetically-active radiation, stomatal density, and predawn xylem water potentials for seedlings relative to larger trees. However, seedlings displayed an indeterminate pattern of shoot growth, with the majority of their leaves produced after shoot growth had ceased for canopy and sapling trees. Full leaf expansion occurred by mid-June for sapling and canopy trees. Because many of their leaves were exposed to ozone for only part of the growing season, seedlings had a lower relative exposure over the course of the growing season, and subsequently lower cumulative uptake, of ozone than canopy trees and a level of uptake similar to upper canopy leaves of saplings. Visible injury symptoms were not always correlated with patterns in ozone uptake. Visible symptoms were more apparent on seedling leaves in concurrence with their high instantaneous uptake rates. However, visible injury was more prevalent on leaves in the lower versus upper crown of canopy trees and saplings, even though lower crown leaves had less ozone uptake. Lower crown leaves may be more sensitive to ozone per unit uptake than upper crown leaves because of their morphology. In addition, the lower net carbon uptake of lower crown leaves may limit repair and anti-oxidant defense processes.     

Impact of coexistence of carbendazim, atrazine, and imidacloprid on their adsorption, desorption, and mobility in soil

The effect of coexisting pesticide on adsorption/desorption and mobility of another one was investigated with carbendazim (CBD), imidacloprid (IDP), and atrazine (ATR). The data indicated that adsorption of CBD, ATR, and IDP on the tested soil was fitted well by Freundlich equation and increased with an order of IDP < ATR ? CBD. Adsorption of a pesticide was decreased by the coexistence of another one through their competitive adsorption. The presence of coexisting solute of the more adsorbability played a more important role than that of the lesser adsorbability. The adsorption of IDP and ATR was easier to be affected by 28.9–52.0 % and 31.1–60.7 % with the addition of CBD, while that of CBD was much less influenced by 3.4–18.1 % and 6.9–31.8 % with the presence of ATR and IDP, respectively. An adsorbability-related enhancement in desorption of the three pesticides by the co-adsorbed solute was also observed. As a result of competitive adsorption/desorption, the mobility of the pesticides estimated from soil thin-layer chromatography was altered. The results clearly illustrated that adsorbability and concentration-related alteration in adsorption/desorption and mobility will be caused by the coexistence of pesticides.     

Changes of emissions and atmospheric deposition of mercury,lead, and cadmium

This paper reviews the information on trends of past emissions of mercury, lead, and cadmium in Europe, as well as examines current levels and future scenarios of these emissions. The impact of various factors on emission changes is discussed including the implementation of various strategies of emission controls in Europe. Future emissions are forecasted on the basis of various scenarios of economy growth in Europe, implementation of European and global legislation (e.g. the Kyoto agreement), population changes, etc.Changes of emissions of mercury, lead, and cadmium are then related to the changes of concentrations of these contaminants in air and precipitation samples at selected stations in Europe. It can be concluded that the reduction trends of anthropogenic emissions of cadmium and lead in Europe are similar to the reduction trends of air concentrations of these metals during the last 2 decades. Somewhat different relationship has been noted for changes in emissions and precipitation. In general for Europe, 60% reduction of Cd emissions was met by about 45% reductions of Cd concentrations in precipitation at the studied stations during the last 2 decades.There is a potential for further reduction of these emissions until the year 2010 up to about 37% for Cd, 51% for Pb, and 49% for Hg as estimated within various emission scenarios presented in the paper.     

Modelling equilibrium adsorption of single,binary, and ternary combinations of Cu,Pb, and Zn onto granular activated carbon

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Elevated concentrations of heavy metals in water can be toxic to humans, animals, and aquatic organisms. A study was conducted on the removal of Cu,...     

Poverty, economic growth, deprivation, and water: the cases of Cambodia and Vietnam

Poverty reduction decorates all development agendas, but the complexity of the poverty issue is too often hidden behind simplistic indicators and development goals. Here, a closer look is taken at the concepts of "deprivation" and "vulnerability" as outcomes of poverty. Deprivation leads typically to social exclusion and marginalization; such groups are particularly weak in getting themselves out of poverty by "self-help," and economic growth does not trickle down to these people. When looking at the connections between poverty reduction and economic growth, special emphasis should be put on the differences between modern and more traditional sectors: development of the modern sector should not marginalize and exclude those dependent on more traditional livelihoods. Two case studies--The Tonle Sap area, Cambodia, and the Mekong Delta, Vietnam--reveal that investment in education, empowerment of small-scale entrepreneurship and other means of microeconomic environment, along with good governance, infrastructure, and income distribution can ensure that economic growth includes the poorer echelons of society.     

Analysis and fate of acephate and its metabolite,methamidophos, in pepper and cucumber

Abstract

Levels of acephate (Orthene^R) and its principle metabolite, methamidophos, in/on greenhouse‐grown pepper and cucumber fruits and leaves in relation to the applied methamidophos were monitored. Dislodgeable and total residues of acephate and methamidophos were determined by gas‐liquid chromatography equipped with a flame ionization detector (GC‐FID) and were confirmed by nitrogen phosphorus detector (GC‐NPD). The dissipation curves of the residues followed first‐order kinetics (R²> 0.96). Initial residues of acephate on fruits varied between pepper (15.12 ppm) and cucumber (2.16 ppm) . Total residues in fruits and leaves determined at intervals following application revealed the greater persistence of acephate on pepper fruits (half‐life [t_1/2] of 6 d) than on cucumber fruits (t_1/2 was 3.7 d) . T_1/2 values for the applied methamidophos were 4.7 and 5.3 d on pepper and cucumber fruits, respectively. Deacety‐lation of acephate (formation of its metabolite) was detectable 1 d following acephate treatment and reached a maximum of 2.05% of initial acephate residues 3 d after application on pepper fruits. On cucumber fruits, acephate metabolite reached a maximum of 2.12% one wk following application. No acephate residues were detected above the limit of detection of 0.001 ppm in pepper fruits 50 d following acephate application while its metabolite was detectable at that time (detectability limit was 0.0001 ppm).     

Toxicity, dioxin-like activities, and endocrine effects of DDT metabolites—DDA, DDMU, DDMS, and DDCN

Background, aim, and scope  

2,2-bis(chlorophenyl)-1,1,1-trichloroethane (DDT) metabolites, other than those routinely measured [i.e., 2,2-bis(chlorophenyl)-1,1-dichloroethylene (DDE) and 2,2-bis(chlorophenyl)-1,1-dichloroethane (DDD)], have recently been detected in elevated concentrations not only in the surface water of Teltow Canal, Berlin, but also in sediment samples from Elbe tributaries (e.g., Mulde and Havel/Spree). This was paralleled by recent reports that multiple other metabolites could emerge from the degradation of parent DDT by naturally occurring organisms or by interaction with some heavy metals. Nevertheless, only very few data on the biological activities of these metabolites are available to date. The objective of this communication is to evaluate, for the first time, the cytotoxicity, dioxin-like activity, and estrogenicity of the least-studied DDT metabolites.     

Implications of climate and land-use change for landscape processes,biodiversity, ecosystem services,and governance

This introduction to the Special Issue summarizes the results of 14 scientific articles from the interdisciplinary research program Ekoklim at Stockholm University, Sweden. In this program, we investigate effects of changing climate and land use on landscape processes, biodiversity, and ecosystem services, and analyze issues related to adaptive governance in the face of climate and land-use change. We not only have a research focus on the 22 650 km² Norrström catchment surrounding lake Mälaren in south-central Sweden, but we also conduct research in other Swedish regions. The articles presented here show complex interactions between multiple drivers of change, as well as feedback processes at different spatiotemporal scales. Thus, the Ekoklim program highlights and deals with issues relevant for the future challenges society will face when land-use change interacts with climate change.     

Assessment of the content,occurrence, and leachability of arsenic,lead, and thallium in wastes from coal cleaning processes

The aim of the study was to evaluate the content, occurrence, and leachability of arsenic (As), lead (Pb), and thallium (Tl) in wastes from coal cleaning processes with respect to the safe management of this waste. The study focused on wastes resulting from the wet gravitation and flotation processes employed for the purposes of coking coal cleaning in four coal mines situated in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin (Poland). The scope of the study included (i) determination of the content of these elements in the investigated wastes using atomic absorption spectrometry, (ii) evaluation of their mode of occurrence using electron microprobe analysis, and (iii) preliminary assessment of their leachability in deionized water. The content of the analyzed elements in the examined samples of coal waste was twice as high as the average content of these elements in the Earth’s crust. The contents of As and Pb, however, did not exceed their permissible contents in inert waste in accordance with Polish legal regulations based on EU directives. The limit on the content of Tl is not specified by these regulations, but its amount in the examined samples was similar to that occurring in the soils. Moreover, leaching tests have shown that these elements are hardly eluted from the analyzed material. Their content in the water leachates was generally lower than the detection limit of the analytical method, complying with the standards for good and very good water quality. Low leachability of these elements most probably results from their mode of occurrence in the investigated wastes. The chemical analysis using an electron microprobe and the analysis of the correlation between these elements, e.g., total and pyritic sulfur, have shown that Pb, As, and Tl are mainly found in sulfide minerals which are characterized by negligible solubility. In conclusion, the investigated hard coal processing waste does not constitute a threat to the environment and can be commercially used or safely neutralized, e.g., by landfilling.

     

Behavior of pyrimethanil,pyraclostrobin, boscalid,cypermethrin and chlorpyrifos residues on raspberry fruit and leaves of Laszka variety

The purpose of the research conducted was to investigate and evaluate the behavior of pyrimethanil, pyraclostrobin, boscalid, cypermethrin and chlorpyrifos, the active ingredients of selected fungicides and insecticides, on ripe fruit and in fully developed leaves of raspberry of the Laszka variety. The field trial was carried out in the period of one month starting from the first fruit picking. The results obtained indicated that residue levels on the day of the first crop picking did not even approximate the corresponding EU-MRLs (http://ec.europa.eu/sanco_pesticides). Individual substances in raspberry fruits and leaves disappeared at a similar rate. As a result of chlorpyrifos application to the soil, its residue in fruits and leaves occurred for the whole period of fruit bearing, though in fruit they dropped successively. To produce raspberries with residues below or equal to 0.01 μg g^?1, the application of pesticides should be stopped at least 2–3 weeks before the first crop picking, and on condition that an appropriate preparation (active in low doses) is applied to the last treatments.     

Poverty,development, and Himalayan ecosystems

The Himalayas are rich in biodiversity but vulnerable to anthropogenic pressures. They are also host to growing number of rural poor who are dependent on forest and ecosystem services for their livelihood. Local and global efforts to integrate poverty alleviation and biodiversity conservation in the Himalayas remain elusive so far. In this work, we highlight two key impediments in achieving sustainable development in the Himalayas. On the positive side, we also highlight the work of Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), a research organization based in India that seeks to integrate biodiversity concerns with livelihood security. For impediments, we draw on two examples from the Darjeeling district, India, in Eastern Himalayan region to illustrate how development organizations are failing to simultaneously address poverty and environmental issues. Based on the success of ATREE, we then propose a conceptual framework to integrate livelihood generating activities with sustainable and equitable development agenda. We recommend developing a Hindu-Kush Himalayan Ecosystem Services Network in the region to formulate a strategy for further action. We conclude by offering measures to address the challenge of integrating livelihood and environment issues through this network.     

Chemical, biological, and ecotoxicological assessment of pesticides and persistent organic pollutants in the Bahlui River, Romania

Background, aim, and scope  

Current knowledge on environmental impacts of industrial activities in Romania, particularly persistent organic pollutants (POPs), indicates that environmental standards of the European Union are not systematically met. In our study area, additional sources of POPs are agriculture and domestic wastes. Very scarce information is available upon environmental contaminations and effects. In the present study, we investigated the chemical pollution and their eventual impact on the ecosystem by measuring POPs and by using biological indicators of pollution.     

Cadmium,chromium and lead contamination of Athene noctua,the little owl,of Bologna and Parma,Italy

A study was conducted to determine cadmium, chromium and lead concentrations in liver and brain of 52 little owls (Athene noctua) from two provinces of Emilia Romagna region, with the aim of furnishing indirect information concerning contamination of their habitat, also considering possible environmental dispersion of the metals. Metal analysis was performed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry with graphite furnace. Variance analysis with sampling area, gender and age shows that no statistical difference was found for gender, while a significant difference (P<0.05) was found for cadmium and lead, but not for chromium, when sampling areas and age were of concern. For all metals highest mean concentrations were found in liver (170 ppb for cadmium, 297 ppb for chromium and 312 ppb for lead). These levels can be considered as indicative of chronic exposure to low and "background" amounts of pollutants and they are of no toxicological concern, as they are always well below the toxic thresholds defined for each metal. The present study can be considered as a starting point for further analyses, aimed to the definition of any possible subtle effect (e.g. effects on enzymes activity) and of any possible correlation between levels of pollutants and appearance of possible adverse effects. It also furnished useful data for diagnostic cases and potentially for monitoring local contamination.     

Analysis of essential,toxic, rare earth,and noble elements in maternal and umbilical cord blood

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Progressive industrialization in recent decades has contributed to the increase of metal levels in the environment, which has a dangerous impact on...     

Comparison of in vitro activities of amphotericin, clotrimazole, econazole, miconazole, and nystatin against Fusarium oxysporum.

The inhibitory activity of amphotericin B, clotrimazole, econazole, miconazole and nystatin was compared against Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. radicis-cucumerinum. The most efficient antifungal agent against the growth of Fusarium oxysporum was econazole, followed by clotrimazole, miconazole, amphotericin and nystatin. The ED50 and ED90 values were 0.053 and 1.002 ppm for econazole, 0.088 and 1.100 ppm for clotrimazole, 0.173 and 3.210 ppm for miconazole, 0.713 and greater than 48 ppm for amphotericin and 3.860 and 16.702 ppm for nystatin. The ED50 values of nystatin and amphotericin against spore germination of Fusarium oxysporum were determined at 3.1427 ppm and 8.3990 ppm respectively, nystatin was 2.76 times more effective than amphotericin, while no effect was observed after the addition of econazole, clotrimazole and miconazole. The tested azoles were more effective than amphotericin and nystatin on growth inhibition of Fusarium oxysporum but amphotericin and nystatin acted significantly better on spore germination of Fusarium.     

Global Urban Growth and the Geography of Water Availability,Quality, and Delivery

Globally, urban growth will add 1.5 billion people to cities by 2030, making the difficult task of urban water provisions even more challenging. In this article, we develop a conceptual framework of urban water provision as composed of three axes: water availability, water quality, and water delivery. For each axis, we calculate quantitative proxy measures for all cities with more than 50,000 residents, and then briefly discuss the strategies cities are using in response if they are deficient on one of the axes. We show that 523 million people are in cities where water availability may be an issue, 890 million people are in cities where water quality may be an issue, and 1.3 billion people are in cities where water delivery may be an issue. Tapping into groundwater is a widespread response, regardless of the management challenge, with many cities unsustainably using this resource. The strategies used by cities deficient on the water delivery axis are different than for cities deficient on the water quantity or water quality axis, as lack of financial resources pushes cities toward a different and potentially less effective set of strategies.     

Characteristics of photocatalytic oxidation of toluene, benzene, and their mixture

The investigation of the photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) of multicomponent volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is very important to the application of PCO technology, because there is seldom a single VOC component in indoor air. In this paper, the characteristics of binary indoor VOCs, toluene and benzene, were experimentally studied using a mass transfer based method that we developed. The concentration ranges for toluene and benzene were 4.48-27.4 mg/m3 and 1.82-4.08 mg/m3, respectively. We found the following: (1) the PCO of each individual contaminant studied obeys the unimolecular form of the Langmuir-Hinshelwood (L-H) rate form; (2) the PCO of the binary contaminants follow the competitive adsorption L-H rate form; (3) the reaction-coefficient for PCO of individual contaminants differs from that in the competitive adsorption L-H rate form; and (4) the component impact factor of A to B, put forward in this paper, is a useful parameter describing the influence of A on the reaction coefficient of B, and it was found that the impact factor of toluene (a chemically active component) on benzene (a chemically stable component) is high, and the impact factor of benzene on toluene is low.