Composting of municipal solid waste by different methods improved the growth of vegetables and reduced the health risks of cadmium and lead

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Reutilization of putrescible municipal solid wastes (MSW) in agriculture can provide valuable plant nutrients. However, it may pose serious...     

Myco- and phyco-remediation of polychlorinated biphenyls in the environment: a review

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are toxic organic compounds and pose serious threats to environment and public health. PCBs still exist in different...     

Environment polluting conventional chemical control compared to an environmentally friendly IPM approach for control of diamondback moth, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Plutella xylostella</Emphasis> (L.), in China: a review

The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella, is recognized as a widely distributed destructive insect pest of Brassica worldwide. The management of this pest is a serious issue, and an estimated annual cost of its management has reached approximately US$4 billion. Despite the fact that chemicals are a serious threat to the environment, lots of chemicals are applied for controlling various insect pests especially P. xylostella. An overreliance on chemical control has not only led to the evolution of resistance to insecticides and to a reduction of natural enemies but also has polluted various components of water, air, and soil ecosystem. In the present scenario, there is a need to implement an environmentally friendly integrated pest management (IPM) approach with new management tactics (microbial control, biological control, cultural control, mating disruption, insecticide rotation strategies, and plant resistance) for an alternative to chemical control. The IPM approach is not only economically beneficial but also reduces the environmental and health risks. The present review synthesizes published information on the insecticide resistance against P. xylostella and emphasizes on adopting an alternative environmentally friendly IPM approach for controlling P. xylostella in China.     

Effect of slow release nitrogenous fertilizers and biochar on growth,physiology, yield,and nitrogen use efficiency of sunflower under arid climate

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Sunflower plants need nitrogen consistently and in higher amount for optimum growth and development. However, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of...     

Sugarcane monoculture drives microbial community composition,activity and abundance of agricultural-related microorganisms

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Sugarcane monoculture (SM) often leads to soil problems, like soil acidification, degradation, and soil-borne diseases, which ultimately pose a...     

Impact of invasive ant species on native fauna across similar habitats under global environmental changes

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Biotic invasions can predominantly alter the dynamics, composition, functions, and structure of natural ecosystems. Social insects, particularly ants,...     

Adsorption kinetics and modeling of H2S by treated waste oil fly ash

Waste oil fly ash (OFA) collected from disposal of power generation plants was treated by physicochemical activation technique to improve the surface properties of OFA. This synthesized material was further used for potential hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) adsorption from synthetic natural gas. The raw OFA was basically modified with a mixture of acids (20% nitric acid [HNO₃] and 80% phosphoric acid [H₃PO₄]), and it was further treated with 2 M potassium hydroxide (KOH) to enhance the surface affinity as well as surface area of synthesized activated carbon. Correspondingly, it enhanced the adsorption of H₂S. Crystallinity, surface morphology, and pore volume distribution of prepared activated carbon were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analyses. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) study was also performed to identify the functional groups during different synthesis stages of modified activated carbon. The Langmuir, Freundlich, Sips, and dual-site Langmuir (DSL) models were used to study the kinetic and breakthrough behavior of H₂S adsorption over alkali-modified activated carbon. Modeling results of isotherms indicated that OFA has dual sites with high and low affinity for H₂S adsorption. The Clark model, Thomas model, and Yoon-Nelson model were used to examine the effects of flow rate and inlet concentration on the adsorption of H₂S. Maximum uptake capacity of 8.5 mg/g was achieved at 100 ppm inlet concentration and flow rate of 0.2 L/min.

Implications: Utilization of worthless oil fly ash from power plant is important not only for cleaning the environment but also for solid waste minimization. This research scope is to eradicate one pollutant by using another pollutant (waste ash) as a raw material. Chemical functionalization of synthesized activated carbon from oil fly ash would lead to attachment of functional groups of basic nature to attract the acidic H₂S. Such type of treatment can enhance the uptake capacity of sorbent several times.     

A review of global outlook on fluoride contamination in groundwater with prominence on the Pakistan current situation

Several million people are exposed to fluoride (F^?) via drinking water in the world. Current review emphasized the elevated level of fluoride concentrations in the groundwater and associated potential health risk globally with a special focus on Pakistan. Millions of people are deeply dependent on groundwater from different countries of the world encompassing with an elevated level of fluoride. The latest estimates suggest that around 200 million people, from among 25 nations the world over, are under the dreadful fate of fluorosis. India and China, the two most populous countries of the world, are the worst affected. In Pakistan, fluoride data of 29 major cities are reviewed and 34% of the cities show fluoride levels with a mean value greater than 1.5 mg/L where Lahore, Quetta and Tehsil Mailsi are having the maximum values of 23.60, 24.48, > 5.5 mg/L, respectively. In recent years, however, other countries have minimized, even eliminated its use due to health issues. High concentration of fluoride for extended time period causes adverse effects of health such as skin lesions, discoloration, cardiovascular disorders, dental fluorosis and crippling skeletal fluorosis. This review deliberates comprehensive strategy of drinking water quality in the global scenario of fluoride contamination, especially in Pakistan with prominence on major pollutants, mitigation technologies, sources of pollution and ensuing health problems. Considering these verities, health authorities urgently need to establish alternative means of water decontamination in order to prevent associated health problems.     

Metal contamination of surface soils of industrial city Sialkot,Pakistan: a multivariate and GIS approach

In this study concentrations of selected metals viz., Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Na, Ni, Pb and Zn in surface soils of Sialkot city known worldwide for tanneries and pharmaceutical industries were measured to assess the status of urban soil pollution and to identify sources of contamination. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HACA) indicated concentrations of Mg and Ca related to parent rock material, Cd, Co, and Pb with traffic related activities, Cr, Cu, Ni and Zn either associated with automobiles activities or industrial pollution and Fe, K and Na related with anthropogenic activities or lithogenous materials. Correlation analyses and principal component analysis based on factor analysis confirmed the results of HACA. Spatial distribution maps exhibited relatively higher concentrations of Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb, Cr and Zn along traffic routes in the city and streams. The results highlighted concentration of Cd, Ni, Cr, Zn, and Pb measured in urban soil exceeded the permissible limit of surface soils and advocated an imperative need for detailed baseline investigations of spatial distribution of heavy metals and other contaminants for the formulation of geochemical database that should be made available to stakeholder involved in monitoring, assessment and conservation of soil contamination for future planning and management of the Sialkot city.