Novel two-step vapor-phase synthesis of UV–Vis light active Fe2O3/WO3 nanocomposites for phenol degradation

Supported Fe₂O₃/WO₃ nanocomposites were fabricated by an original vapor phase approach, involving the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of Fe₂O₃ on Ti sheets and the subsequent radio frequency (RF)-sputtering of WO₃. Particular attention was dedicated to the control of the W/Fe ratio, in order to tailor the composition of the resulting materials. The target systems were analyzed by the joint use of complementary techniques, that is, X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), and optical absorption spectroscopy. The results showed the uniform decoration of α-Fe₂O₃ (hematite) globular particles by tiny WO₃ aggregates, whose content could be controlled by modulations of the sole sputtering time. The photocatalytic degradation of phenol in the liquid phase was selected as a test reaction for a preliminary investigation of the system behavior in wastewater treatment applications. The system activity under both UV and Vis light illumination may open doors for further material optimization in view of real-world end-uses.

     

A wind-solar PV hybrid power system with battery backup for water pumping in remote localities

After energy, water is the most critical commodity to be made available to people to keep them alive. Saudi Arabia has vast land and people are living in all regions. Most of these are connected to national grid but some are not, especially in remote areas like in the north, south, and west south. Pumping water in remote areas for domestic needs like agriculture and animals beside human needs is essential and require regular power supply. The present idea of wind-PV-Battery hybrid power system based on 100% renewable source is being proposed to utilize and tested in some of the regions on experimental bases. Of the five locations chosen for the purpose, namely Dhahran, Riyadh, Jeddah, Guriat and Nejran, some are good from both wind and solar intensity point of view some have good winds only and some good solar only. Nearly optimal size of PV-Wind water pumping system is determined for each of these sites considering the availability of solar and wind energy distributions throughout the year in these sites. It is shown that the monthly total water pumping capacity when using nearly optimal PV-Wind water pumping system is fairly uniform throughout the year except for the sites of Guriat and Riyadh. In these sites higher water pumping capacity is observed during the spring and summer months. On the other hand the cost of underground water pumping is found to vary between 6 to 12 US¢/m³ for the five sites considered.     

Exposure of lead to mothers and their new born infants,residents of industrial and domestic areas of Pakistan

Prenatal and early-life exposure to lead (Pb) is hypothesized to have adverse effects on childhood health. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prenatal exposure to Pb and its adverse effects on mothers and their infants who are residents of industrial (exposed) and domestic areas (referents) in Karachi, Pakistan. The biological samples (scalp hair and blood) of mother–infants pairs were analyzed for Pb levels by atomic absorption spectrometry after microwave-assisted acid digestion method. The Pb levels in scalp hair and blood samples of exposed mothers were found in the range of 7.52–8.70 μg/g and 115–270 μg/L, respectively, which were significantly higher than those values obtained for referent mothers (p?<?0.001). The Pb levels in the blood (umbilical cord) and hair of neonates of exposed mother that were found in the range of 83–178 μg/L and 4.95–7.23 μg/g, respectively, were significantly higher than the obtained values of referent neonates (p?>?0.001). The correlation between maternal and cord blood of both groups was found in the range of 0.708–0.724 (p?<?0.01). It was observed that there were higher Pb burdens in exposed mothers and their infants as compared to referent mothers–neonates.     

Former DDT factory in Pakistan revisited for remediation: severe DDT concentrations in soils and plants from within the area

A factory in Amman Garh near Nowshera, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, produced dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) from 1963–1994. Consequently, earlier papers reported a soil contamination in the per mille range inside the former factory wall (88 m?×?106 m) and up to 10 mg/kg of DDT in the surroundings in 2005–2007. The site within the factory wall was remonitored systematically in 2011 to complement the earlier data as a prerequisite for remediation, to put them in exposure context in a population developing area, and to suggest and evaluate the optimal remediation technique for the site. The contamination was drastically higher than the earlier published data, and the sum of DDT and its metabolites (ΣDDT) was up to 65 % in the soil. Grasses, shrubs, and trees growing in this severely contaminated site had 50–450 mg/kg_dw of ΣDDT. Thus, people living nearby and husbandry as well as wild animals are heavily exposed to DDT. The semiarid climate favors wind drift and deposition of the pollutant. Additionally, DDT from products of herbivore animals feeding on the contaminated plants will enter the food web. To overcome the exposure and distribution of the DDT, the site within the factory wall was capped with 1.5 m of soil. This remediation technique represents the easiest and least expensive solution. Nevertheless, DDT can still evaporate or leach, and groundwater can rise in this flood-prone area and thereby become contaminated, especially because a binding layer is missing.     

Cytotoxic and genotoxic evaluation of bisphenol S on onion root tips by Allium cepa and comet tests

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Bisphenol S (BPS) is an analog of bisphenol A, which is used as substitute of BPA in many products like airport luggage tags, baby bottles, plastics,...     

Spatial analysis of logistics ecological efficiency and its influencing factors in China: based on super-SBM-undesirable and spatial Dubin models

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Improving the logistics ecological efficiency (LEE) has become a significant part of ensuring a sustainable development and tackling environmental...     

Correction to: Sustainable supply chain management and green technologies: a bibliometric review of literature

Environmental Science and Pollution Research -     

Biochemical profiling of lead-intoxicated impaired lipid metabolism and its amelioration using plant-based bioactive compound

The aim of this study was to investigate the lead (Pb)-induced lipid metabolism impairment and its amelioration using plant-based therapeutic interventions. Pb-induced hepatotoxicity can disturb the normal levels of natural antioxidant enzymes including glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) exerting a crucial impact on membrane unsaturated fatty acids (FA), hence leading to lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, Pb toxicity can also alter the regulation of various hormones involved in the synthesis of 3-hydroxy-methyl glutaryl CoA (HMG-CoA reductase), leading to an impairment in normal levels of serum cholesterol and other associated conjugated lipid molecules such HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and VLDL-cholesterol. In this study, the lipoprotein fractions, cholesterol, triglyceride (TGs) and biomarkers of liver functions were estimated by employing respective assay kits. The levels of antioxidant enzymes, FFAs and HMG-CoA reductase were determined by employing sandwich ELISA method. The administration of PbAc in experimental rats induced a significant disturbance in lipid profile (P < 0.05) accompanying a significant reduction in natural antioxidant defence system (P < 0.05). The significant alteration in the levels of serum antioxidant enzymes can lead to membrane lipid peroxidation that is reflected by a significantly (P < 0.05) high level of serum MDA in PbAc-induced experimental rats. However, the administration of resveratrol proved therapeutically effective in the treatment of Pb toxicity. Overall, the results of this study accompanying histopathological examination had proved the ameliorating effect of resveratrol in Pb-induced lipid metabolism impairment by adopting vitamin C as a standard therapeutic intervention.

     

Types,sources, socioeconomic impacts,and control strategies of environmental noise: a review

Noise exposure has reached an alarming degree over the years because of rapid growth in the industry, transportation, and urbanization. Therefore, it is a dire need to provide awareness of the sources and mitigation strategies of noise, and to highlight the health, and socio-economic impacts of noise. A few research studies have documented this emerging issue; however, there is no comprehensive document describing all types of noise, their impacts on living organisms, and control strategies. This review article summarizes the sources of noise; their effects on industrial workers, citizens, and animals; and the value of property in noisy areas. The plethora of literature is showing an increased level of noise in various cities of the world, which have various health consequences such as high blood pressure, insomnia, nausea, heart attack, exhaustion, dizziness, headache, and triggered hearing loss. Apart from humans, noise also affects animal habitat, preying, and reproduction ability; increases heart rate and hearing loss to even death and loss in property value; and impairs the hospital environment. Finally, we have discussed the possible strategies to mitigate the noise problem, policy statements, and regulations to be followed, with future research directions based on the identified research gaps.

     

Evaluation of suitability of wind speed probability distribution models: a case study from Tamil Nadu,India

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The optimal design and performance monitoring of wind farms depend on the precise assessment of spatial and temporal distribution of wind speed. The...