Trends in Fenton and photo-Fenton processes for degradation of antineoplastic agents in water matrices: current knowledge and future challenges evaluation using a bibliometric and systematic analysis

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Antineoplastic agents present potential hazards to human health and the environment. For this reason, these compounds have attracted a great deal of...     

逐步发展的生态旅游同盟保护科隆群岛的生物多样性

经营不善的旅游导致环境污染 , 扰乱野生动植物生长 , 并对一度与外界隔离的群落带来诸多 不利影响 . 生态旅游是自然保护主义者为当地居民提供的一种选择 , 居民们致力于保护其生 态 , 又致力于经济受益以维系社会与生产结构 . SmartVoyagerTM认证的强大潜能通过该项目 支持在科隆群岛实施的各项自然保护运动来说明 (其实施过程的评估与预先制定的环境与社会准则一致 ).     

Severe Wind Hazard Assessment using Monte Carlo Simulation

A Monte Carlo-based model to assess severe wind hazard is presented. Synthetic wind datasets for hazard analysis have been generated using Monte Carlo simulation of the physics of severe wind gust generation, to overcome the limitations of data-based statistical models. These statistical models consider extreme wind gust speeds to calculate the average probability of exceedance of a given wind speed in a single year (return period), and hence the return period is calculated using extreme value distributions. Monte Carlo wind hazard results are shown to be comparable to those produced by data-based statistical methods. They are similar to the results reported by Holmes (Australian Journal of Structural Engineering 4(1):29–40, 2002) and also to the prescribed wind gust speeds of the Australian/NZ standards for wind loading of structures in Region A (non-cyclonic regions) of Australia (AS/NZS 1170.2 2002).     

Potential impacts of early twenty-first century changes in temperature and precipitation on rainfed annual crops in the Central Andes of Peru

Smallholder agriculture in the Central Andes of Peru is based to large extent on rainfed cropping systems, is exposed to climatic risks and is expected to respond sensitively to increasing temperatures and shifts in the precipitation regime. Here, we examine the potential implications of early twenty-first century climate change scenarios for the cultivation of potato, maize, wheat, barley and broad bean, five annual crops that account for 50 % of the cultivated area in the Department of Cusco and Apurímac and provide the dietary backbone for a large share of the local population. The scenarios disclose a regionally coherent increase in temperature of the order of 1 °C but overall only moderate changes in growing season precipitation by 2030. A simple crop model is used to assess the effects of these changes on crop phenology and development. The results show earlier harvest dates, shorter cropping seasons and, in a few cases, a slightly higher risk of planting failure in the near future. This suggests that a better understanding of changes in the precipitation regime at the onset of the cropping season is required to evaluate short-term needs and possibilities for adaptation. However, as the scenarios are highly uncertain, these conclusions should be verified.     

GROUPWISE MODELING STUDY OF BACTERIALLY IMPAIRED WATERSHEDS IN TEXAS: CLUSTERING ANALYSIS1

ABSTRACT: Under the Clean Water Act (CWA) program, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) listed 110 stream segments in the year 2000 with pathogenic bacteria impairment. A study was conducted to evaluate the probable sources of pollution and characterize the watersheds associated with these impaired water bodies. The primary aim of the study was to group the water bodies into clusters having similar watershed characteristics and to examine the possibility of studying them as a group by choosing models for total maximum daily load (TMDL) development based on their characteristics. This approach will help to identify possible sources and determine appropriate models and hence reduce the number of required TMDL studies. This in turn will help in reducing the effort required to restore the health of the impaired water bodies in Texas. The main characteristics considered for the classification of water bodies were land use distribution within the watershed, density of stream network, average distance of land of a particular use to the closest stream, household population, density of on‐site sewage facilities (OSSFs), bacterial loading from different types of farm animals and wildlife, and average climatic conditions. The climatic data and observed instream fecal coliform bacteria concentrations were analyzed to evaluate seasonal variability of instream water quality. The grouping of water bodies was carried out using the multivariate statistical techniques of factor analysis/principal component analysis, cluster analysis, and discriminant analysis. The multivariate statistical analysis resulted in six clusters of water bodies. The main factors that differentiated the clusters were found to be bacterial contribution from farm animals and wildlife, density of OSSFs, density of households connected to public sewers, and land use distribution.     

An evaluation of the environmental costs and benefits of conservation tillage

Every production practice, including conservation tillage, has positive or negative environmental consequences that may involve air, land, water, and/or the health and ecological status of wildlife. The negative impacts associated with agricultural production, and the use of conventional tillage systems in particular, include soil erosion, energy use, leaching and runoff of agricultural chemicals, and carbon emissions. Several of these impacts are quantified. The conclusions suggest that the use of conservation tillage does result in less of an adverse impact on the environment from agricultural production than does conventional tillage, because of reduced surface water runoff and wind erosion. Wildlife habitat will be enhanced to some extent with the adoption of conservation tillage. The benefits to be gained from carbon sequestration will depend on the soil remaining undisturbed. Expansion of conservation tillage on highly erodible land will unquestionably result in an increase in social benefits, but the expected gains will be modest.     

逐步发展的生态旅游同盟保护科隆群岛的生物多样性

经营不善的旅游导致环境污染 , 扰乱野生动植物生长 , 并对一度与外界隔离的群落带来诸多 不利影响 . 生态旅游是自然保护主义者为当地居民提供的一种选择 , 居民们致力于保护其生 态 , 又致力于经济受益以维系社会与生产结构 . SmartVoyagerTM认证的强大潜能通过该项目 支持在科隆群岛实施的各项自然保护运动来说明 (其实施过程的评估与预先制定的环境与社会准则一致 ).     

Simultaneous E. coli inactivation and NOM degradation in river water via photo-Fenton process at natural pH in solar CPC reactor. A new way for enhancing solar disinfection of natural water

Bacteria inactivation and natural organic matter oxidation in river water was simultaneously conducted via photo-Fenton reaction at “natural” pH (6.5) containing 0.6 mg L⁻¹ of Fe³⁺ and 10 mg L⁻¹ of H₂O₂. The experiments were carried out by using a solar compound parabolic collector on river water previously filtered by a slow sand filtration system and voluntarily spiked with Escherichia coli. Fifty five percent of 5.3 mg L⁻¹ of dissolved organic carbon was mineralized whereas total disinfection was observed without re-growth after 24 h in the dark.     

Environmental Biotechnology Research: Challenges and Opportunities in Latin America

Latin American countries have an extensive biological diversity and a tropical or subtropical climate. This condition has advantages for development and for the implementation of biotechnological solutions for environmental problems. Environmental biotechnology could be used to enhance biodegradation, waste recovery, and also for the development of biotechnology-based products to diagnose and reduce environmental impacts such as biosensors, biopesticides, biofertilizers and biofuels. To generate new environmental biotechnological products, Latin American countries must not only overcome the known limitations associated with investment in science and technology and in human resource training, but also develop their own vision of using environmental biotechnology, adapted to the economic, and environmental context. Biotechnology used wisely as a tool for promoting sustainable development in Latin American countries may also contribute to the solution of problems that represent potential risks to society and the environment in general. This document discusses the context of the research and innovation in Latin American countries around environmental biotechnology and also reviews perspectives for the improvement of these developments.