The persistence of green goodwill

Civil coercion has its limitations, government regulation is only as effective as enforcement and investors base their estimates of firm value on information available from the firms themselves and from other sources. While voluntary disclosure is construed as being selective or incomplete, negative non-financial news such as details of fines imposed for environmental violation is reflected in lower stock prices for a short duration. This paper evaluates the persistence of goodwill capital for a sample of Indian companies from select industries, graded by their environmental performance. We conclude that investor concern differs across industries and that the correlation of environmental performance with firm valuation is, at best, weak and short-lived. Periodic scrutiny and announcement of industry environmental performance by appropriately equipped independent agencies could help coordinate and sustain stake-holder pressure on industry.     

Seasonal variability and source apportionment of metals in the atmospheric deposition in Belgrade

The primary objective of this study is to assess anthropogenic impacts on the environment by determination of element atmospheric depositions. Bulk depositions were collected monthly, from June 2002 to December 2006, at three urban locations in Belgrade. Concentrations of Al, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry and the current deposition fluxes of atmospheric metals were established. Fourier analysis was applied in order to investigate seasonal variation of the monthly data set. Nickel, V, Fe and Al showed pronounced seasonal dependence, while seasonal variation of the other elements was not evident. The enrichment factors of Pb, Zn, Cd and Cu were obviously above those who could have been caused by natural processes, indicating a mainly anthropogenic origin. Nickel was intermediately enriched suggesting participation of both natural and anthropogenic sources. The multivariate receptor model, Unmix, was used to analyze a 5-yr element atmospheric depositions data set. Three main source profiles (mixed road dust, oil combustion and metal processing) were identified and the overall average percentage source contributions determined.     

Physiological response of the lichen Phaeophyscia hispidula (Ach.) Essl., to the urban environment of Pauri and Srinagar (Garhwal), Himalayas, India

The present study was designed with an aim to observe the effect of increasing urbanization and traffic activity on the physiology of a foliose lichen, Phaeophyscia hispidula (Ach.) Essl., collected from 13 different localities, growing in their natural habitat, in Pauri and Srinagar, two cities in the Himalayas. Six parameters i.e., Chl. a, Chl. b, total pigment, chlorophyll degradation, carotenoid and total protein content, proved the most useful to assess air pollution, were measured. Chlorophyll content and protein content are an efficient parameter to measure the air quality of a region. The study indicates that P. hispidula is pollution tolerant (adaptation) and able to withstand local emissions from vehicle exhausts.     

Autoantibodies and autoimmune disorders in SARS-CoV-2 infection: pathogenicity and immune regulation

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease associated with the respiratory system caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The aim of this...     

Capital allowance schemes for mining projects in LDCs

The capital allowance structure for mining projects in developing countries affects the supply price of investment by determining the payback period, reinvestment and the timing of government receipts. Using the capital allowance structures of Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Zambia, Botswana, Papua New Guinea and Malaysia, the article develops a financial model and examines the effect of capital allowances on foreign investor and host government cash flows under various cost-price conditions. The study stresses the importance to governments of making accelerated depreciation a flexible tool to trade off against other elements in the fiscal package. From the government viewpoint, faster write-offs of capital are preferable to a tax holiday. The article places particular emphasis on evaluating the relationship between capital allowances, income tax and a rent resource tax.     

A novel use of TiO2 fiber for photocatalytic ozonation of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid in aqueous solution

More efficient oxidation methods are needed to degrade especially newly emerging recalcitrant organic contaminants at low concentrations in the water environment. Reduced photonic efficiency of immobilized TiO2 is a major challenge in TiO2-assisted advanced oxidation processes (AOP). Mineralization of 2,4-dichllorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) in low aqueous solution by O3/UV/TiO2 using the world's first high-strength TiO2 fiber was investigated and compared with O3, UV/TiO2, and O3/TiO2 in laboratory batch ex...     

Heavy metals accumulation in tree leaves from urban areas

Higher plants may be used as biomonitors for the assessment of atmospheric heavy metal pollution by means of their bioaccumulative properties. We evaluated the reliability of biomonitoring heavy metal pollution by horse chestnut and linden leaves, common species found in Belgrade city parks. The results show that the highest concentrations of heavy metals were found in horse chestnut leaves at Studentski Park site, amounting to 110.2, 20.3 and 4.9 g g^–1 dry weight for Cu, Pb and Cd, respectively, which are considered above toxic levels for plants.Selected article from the Regional Symposium on Chemistry and Environment, Krusevac, Serbia, June 2003, organised by Dr. Branimir Jovancicevic.     

Evaluation of the levels and sources of trace elements in urban particulate matter

An assessment of air quality of Belgrade, Serbia, was performed by determining the trace element content in airborne daily PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 samples collected from a central urban area. The ambient concentrations of Zn were the highest in PM_2.5 (1,998.0 ng m⁻³). Multivariate receptor modelling (principal component analysis and cluster analysis) has been applied to determine the contribution of different sources of specific metallic components in airborne particles. The obtained results showed that vehicle traffic and fossil fuel combustion in stationary objects were the main sources of trace metals in Belgrade urban aerosols.