Reducing environmental impacts through socioeconomic transitions: critical review and prospects

● Reducing environmental impacts through socioeconomic structural transitions. ● Simulation of looping the dynamic material cycle should be concerned. ● Transboundary effects of socioeconomic transitions need to be analyzed. ● Facilitating interregional cooperation and synergetic control mechanisms. Rapid socioeconomic development has caused numerous environmental impacts. Human production and consumption activities are the underlying drivers of resource uses, environmental emissions, and associated environmental impacts (e.g., ecosystem quality and human health). Reducing environmental impacts requires an understanding of the complex interactions between socioeconomic system and environmental system. Existing studies have explored the relationships among human society, economic system, and environmental system. However, it is unclear about the research progress in the effects of socioeconomic activities on environmental impacts and the potential directions of future research. This critical review finds that existing studies have identified critical regions, sectors, and transmission pathways for resource uses, environmental emissions, and environmental impacts from supply chain perspectives. Moreover, scholars have characterized the impacts of socioeconomic transitions on resource uses and environmental emissions. However, existing studies overlook the dynamic nature of the interconnections among human society, economic system, and environmental system. In addition, the effects of socioeconomic structural transitions on environmental impacts remain unknown. This review proposes four prospects and possible solutions that will contribute to a better understanding of the complex interactions among human society, economic system, and environmental system. They can help identify more effective solutions to reduce environmental impacts through socioeconomic transitions.     

Sulfur recycling into value-added materials: a review

Environmental Chemistry Letters - About 70 million tons of sulfur are produced yearly as a by-product of petroleum refining, and 10 millions are overproduced and accumulated, thus requiring...     

Chronic exposure of arsenic via drinking water and its adverse health impacts on humans

Worldwide chronic arsenic (As) toxicity has become a human health threat. Arsenic exposure to humans mainly occurs from the ingestion of As contaminated water and food. This communication presents a review of current research conducted on the adverse health effects on humans exposed to As-contaminated water. Chronic exposure of As via drinking water causes various types of skin lesions such as melanosis, leucomelanosis, and keratosis. Other manifestations include neurological effects, obstetric problems, high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, diseases of the respiratory system and of blood vessels including cardiovascular, and cancers typically involving the skin, lung, and bladder. The skin seems to be quite susceptible to the effects of As. Arsenic-induced skin lesions seem to be the most common and initial symptoms of arsenicosis. More systematic studies are needed to determine the link between As exposure and its related cancer and noncancer end points.     

Lichens as Bioindicators of Atmospheric Heavy Metal Pollution in Singapore

Lichens have been used as bioindicators in various atmospheric pollution assessments in several countries. This study presents the first data on levels of heavy metals (As, Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in lichens at different locations in Singapore, Southeast Asia. Singapore is a fully industrialised island nation, with a prevailing tropical climate and a population of 4 million people within a confined land area of less than 700 km². The ubiquitous lichen species, Dirinaria picta was collected from six sample sites across Singapore and analysed for heavy metals using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS). No significant relationship existed between metal levels in lichen and soil, indicating that accumulated metals in lichen are primarily derived from the atmosphere. Peak concentrations of zinc (83.55 μg g⁻¹), copper (45.13 μg g⁻¹) and lead (16.59 μg g⁻¹) in lichens were found at Sembawang, Jurong and the National University of Singapore campus which are locations associated with heavy petroleum and shipping industries, and road traffic respectively. The mean heavy metal levels of lichen samples in Singapore were found to be at the upper range of values reported in the literature for temperate countries.     

Sustainable production in circular economy: aerogel upscaling production

Environmental Science and Pollution Research -     

超高压液相色谱/质谱联用法测定地表水中特定污染物

采用超高压液相色谱/质谱联用法测定地表水特定项目中包括微囊藻毒素-LR在内的13种污染物,对测定条件进行优化,使得各目标化合物均能在3min内检测完毕.试验表明,方法在各测定范围内线性良好,相关系数均〉0.99,各目标化合物的方法检出限为0.12μg/L～8.40μg/L,地表水样的加标回收率在62.0% ～104%之间,6次平行测定的RSD〈6%.用该方法测实际水样,阿特拉津和马拉硫磷被检出,质量浓度分别为0.6μg/L和0.7μg/L.     

Accelerated sunlight photocatalysis through improved electron mobility between g-C3N4 and BiPO4 nanomaterial

Herein, we report a detailed study on creating heterojunction between graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) and bismuth phosphate (BiPO₄), enhancing the unpaired free electron mobility. This leads to an accelerated photocatalysis of 2,4-dichlorophenols (2,4-DCPs) under sunlight irradiation. The heterojunction formation was efficaciously conducted via a modest thermal deposition technique. The function of g-C₃N₄ plays a significant role in generating free electrons under sunlight irradiation. Together, the generated electrons at the g-C₃N₄ conduction band (CB) are transferred and trapped by the BiPO₄ to form active superoxide anion radicals (?O₂^?). These active radicals will be accountable for the photodegradation of 2,4-DCPs. The synthesized composite characteristics were methodically examined through several chemical and physical studies. Due to the inimitable features of both g-C₃N₄ and BiPO₄, its heterojunction formation, 2.5wt% BiPO₄/g-C₃N₄ achieved complete 2,4-DCP removal (100%) in 90 min under sunlight irradiation. This is due to the presence of g-C₃N₄ that enhanced electron mobility through the formation of heterojunctions that lengthens the electron-hole pairs’ lifetime and maximizes the entire solar spectrum absorption to generate active electrons at the g-C₃N₄ conduction band. Thus, this formation significantly draws the attention for future environmental remediation, especially in enhancing the entire solar spectrum’s harvesting.

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Sustainable ternary cement blends with high-volume ground granulated blast furnace slag–fly ash

Environment, Development and Sustainability - Coal fly ash and granulated ground blast furnace slag (GGBS) are more widely used as supplementary cementitious materials in cement production. This...     

Recovery of precious metals from e-wastes through conventional and phytoremediation treatment methods: a review and prediction

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - E-waste, also known as waste from electrical and electronic equipment, is a solid waste that accumulates quickly due to high demand driven by the...