Direct capture of carbon dioxide from air via lime-based sorbents

Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change - Direct air capture (DAC) is a developing technology for removing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere or from low-CO2-containing...     

Developing a SINTACS-based method to map groundwater multi-pollutant vulnerability using evolutionary algorithms

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In this study, the modified SINTACS method, a rating-based groundwater vulnerability approach, was applied to data from the Campanian Plain, southern...     

Sustainable forest management in Iran: a factor analysis

Since 1996, several Forest Resources Management Plans (FRMPs) have been launched by the Iranian government in order to approach sustainable forest management in the Zagros area in west and south-west Iran. This survey study aimed to provide some policy recommendations in order to launch more successful FRMPs. Using a proportional cluster random sampling method, data were collected from 208 forest-dwellers (beneficiaries) and 90 practitioners. The results showed that the FRMPs are far from satisfactory. There are several reasons for this failure. First, the financial resources allocated to these plans are being used for other purposes. Second, the inputs and supplies needed for effective forest management interventions were not in place in a timely manner. Third, the forest management in the area is far from being decentralized. Both the beneficiaries and practitioners believe that forest-dwellers play a weak role in forest management interventions. Factor analysis revealed that three main factors influencing the Zagros management effectiveness are “the management capabilities of forest-dwellers”, “the professional capabilities of practitioners in forest management”, and “public support for forest-dwellers”. The correlation analysis revealed that all the three factors are also positively and significantly associated with the success of the government’s forestry programs. Accordingly, the main recommendation of this study was to reformulate forest management policies in the Zagros area by highlighting participatory approaches, not only as a tool, but also as a goal of FRMPs.     

Evaluation of nitrate and trace elements concentration in drinking water:Bottled,tap and well

Concentrations of nitrate and trace elements such as arsenic,cadmium,chromium,copper,manganese,nickel,lead,selenium,antimony and mercury in 18 different brands of bottled water were investigated.For comparison,samples of tap and well water from three different places of Tehran were also analyzed.UV/VIS spectrophotometer and Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometer were used for the analysis of nitrate and trace elements,respectively.Results obtained were compared to Iranian,World Health Organization(WHO)and Environmental Protection Agency(EPA)guideline for drinking water.Nitrate concentration in bottled,tap and well water samples were in maximum safe nitrate concentration of Iranian and WHO standards.However,70%of bottled water samples and one sample of tap water were below the standard level proposed by EPA and probably remedial action should be taken.Concentration levels of all analyzed elements investigated in all examined water samples were below the maximum contaminant level prescribed by Iranian,WHO and EPA regulations.     

Discovering and characterizing farm households’ resilience under water scarcity

Water scarcity at an alarming rate has been a limiting factor for sustainable agriculture in arid and semi-arid environments of the world. It has resulted in a number of problems such as poverty and food insecurity among farm households. Therefore, building and improving resilience, as a way to mitigate the impacts of water scarcity, is important for farm households. But one of the significant steps for planning to improve farm households’ resilience under water scarcity is investigation of the current level of resilience of these households and understanding their variances. Therefore, this study offers a classification of farm households’ diversity based on resilience. Primary data were collected from 260 randomly selected farm households in 21 villages around Parishan wetland, Iran. Farm Household Resilience Scale was used to measure resilience. Cluster analysis suggested three groups: highly, medium-, and low-resilient farm households. The results of comparing three groups revealed that highly resilient farm households characterize with higher risk management, more agricultural water security, more positive psychological traits, and better knowledge management. Also, they had better water quality, attended more agricultural extension activities, and used modern irrigation systems. Farm households’ resilience map using GIS software illustrated that there is a relationship between resilience and farm location from the wetland. The findings of this study could be used by planner and policy-makers to improve farm households’ resilience in arid and semi-arid environments. Improvement in knowledge management system is recommended as one of the most effective policy instruments in building resilience.     

Foliar application of silicon nanoparticles affected the growth,vitamin C,flavonoid, and antioxidant enzyme activities of coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) plants grown in lead (Pb)-spiked soil

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Lead (Pb) is among the most abundant toxic trace elements which causes direct and indirect negative effects on humans, animals, and plants. Thus,...     

A time series analysis of environmental and metrological factors impact on cutaneous leishmaniasis incidence in an endemic area of Dehloran,Iran

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the environmental and metrological variables and cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) transmission and its prediction in a region susceptible to this disease prevalence using a time series model. The accurate locations of 4437 CL diagnosed from 2011 to 2015 were obtained to be used in the time series model. Temperature, number of days with temperature over 30 °C, and number of earthquake were related to CL incidence using the Seasonal Auto-correlated Integrated Moving Average (SARIMA) model according to the Box-Jenkins method. In addition, the relationship between land use and surface soil type in 500- and 1000-m radius around the CL patients were investigated. The SARIMA models showed significant associations between environmental and meteorological variables and CL incidence adjusted for seasonality and auto-correlation. The result indicated that there are need more robust preventive programs in earthquake-prone areas with high temperature and inceptisol soil type than other areas. In addition, the region with these characteristics should be considered as high-risk areas for CL prevalence.     

The Float-Sink Behavior of Selected Pre-microwave Irradiated Plastics by Surface Adsorption of Several Dual Depressants

Journal of Polymers and the Environment - The influential separation of an individual plastic from a mixture of waste plastics is a crucial factor for the quality evaluation of the recycled...