Effects of gasoline engine emissions on health status of auto rickshaw drivers at DIR (L) Khyber Pukhtunkhwa

A total of 50 blood samples were collected from auto rickshaw drivers who were exposed to environmental gasoline in different sites of Dir (L), Khyber Pukhtunkhwa, Pakistan, in July and August, 2009. Control group was selected among the individuals who were not regularly exposed to gasoline emissions. The samples were analyzed for calcium, cholesterol, glucose, phosphorus, potassium, and triglycerides levels. A significant increase was found in the blood levels of calcium, glucose, phosphorus, and triglycerides. A significant decrease was detected in the blood levels of potassium without any significant effect on the blood levels of cholesterol and magnesium.     

Biomarkers of oxidative stress as indicators of water pollution in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) from a water reservoir in Riyadh,Saudi Arabia

Antioxidant enzyme activities of fish (Oreochromis niloticus) were determined in order to assess the status of pollution in the Wadi Namar (WN), near Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Activities of four antioxidant enzymes as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and concentrations of glutathione (GSH) and oxidant malondialdehyde (MDA) were selected as bioindicators. Fish (n = 14) were sampled in the month of April 2013 from WN and a control site (CS). SOD activity was increased by 37.9%, 47%, and 29% in kidney, liver, and heart, respectively, while a significant decrease (36.4%) was observed in gills of O. niloticus from WN as compared to fish from CS. CAT activity was reduced by 51%, 55%, 47%, and 35% in kidney, liver, heart, and gills of O. niloticus from WN. The GST activities in kidney, liver, and heart of O. niloticus from WN were elevated by 34%, 48%, and 32%, respectively. However, significant fall (49%) in gills of fish was noted from WN compared to fish from CS. GSH levels were increased by 44%, 36%, and 38% in kidney, liver, and heart, respectively, but decreased by 30% in gills. MDA levels of O. niloticus were significantly increased in kidney, liver, and heart in fish from WN. Data indicated that WN is polluted mainly by industrial and urban discharge of liquid waste products.     

Graphene Oxide Caged Biopolymer Nanocomposite for Purification of Rare Earth Elements from High Grade Egyptian Monazite Concentrate

Journal of Polymers and the Environment - Rare earth elements (REEs) play a critical role in the applications of advanced materials. In this respect, an eco-friendly calcium/alginate-graphene oxide...     

Hepatitis B virus infection among health care workers in Public Teaching Hospitals in Khartoum State, Sudan

Background

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a global public health problem. It is estimated that there are more than 300 million HBV carriers in the world.

Aim

The study aimed to examine the sero-prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers among health care workers (HCWs) in Public Teaching Hospitals in Khartoum State, in the year 2004.

Methods

The study is an observational, cross sectional, facility-based study. It was conducted on stratified two-stage cluster random sample of 843 subjects. The study followed non-parametric statistical methods, using Z-test for single proportion.

Results

Among the 843 subjects tested for all HBV markers (Anti-HBc, HBsAg, HBsAb, and HBeAg), the prevalence of Anti-HBc, HBsAg, HBsAb, and HBeAg was found to be 57% (CI 95%:53-60%), 6% (CI 95%:4.0-8.0%), 37% (CI 95%:34-40%) and 9% (CI 95%:7-11%) respectively. P < 0.05.

Conclusion

Seroprevalence of all HBV markers (P < 0.05) was found to be significantly high, while the rate of immunity against HBV infection was low among health care workers In Public Teaching Hospitals in Khartoum State, Sudan.     

Fate of selenium in biofortification of wheat on calcareous soil: an isotopic study

Selenium (Se) biofortification of staple cereal crops can improve the Se nutritional status of populations. A field trial employing an enriched stable isotope of Se (⁷⁷Se) was undertaken over three consecutive cropping seasons in a coarse-textured, calcareous soil in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. The objectives were to (1) assess the feasibility and efficiency of Se biofortification, (2) determine the fate of residual Se, and (3) assess the consequences for dietary Se intake. Isotopically enriched ⁷⁷Se (⁷⁷Se_Fert) was applied, either as selenate or as selenite, at three levels (0, 10, and 20 g ha^?1) to a wheat crop. Residual ⁷⁷Se_Fert availability was assessed in subsequent crops of maize and wheat without further ⁷⁷Se_Fert addition. Loss of ⁷⁷Se_Fert was c.35% by the first (wheat) harvest, for both selenium species, attributable to the practice of flood irrigation and low adsorption capacity of the soil. No ⁷⁷Se_Fert was detectable in subsequent maize or wheat crops. The remaining ⁷⁷Se_Fert in soil was almost entirely organically bound and diminished with time following a reversible (pseudo-)first-order trend. Thus, repeat applications of Se would be required to adequately biofortify grain each year. In contrast to native soil Se, there was no transfer of ⁷⁷Se_Fert to a recalcitrant form. Grain from control plots would provide only 0.5 µg person^?1 day^?1 of Se. By contrast, a single application of 20 g ha^?1 Se^VI could provide c. 47 µg person^?1 day^?1 Se in wheat, sufficient to avoid deficiency when combined with dietary Se intake from other sources (c. 25 µg day^?1).

     

Spongy Ni/Fe carbonate-fluorapatite catalyst for efficient conversion of cooking oil waste into biodiesel

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Biodiesel produced from animal and plant fat oils is sustainable, but there is a need for efficient heterogeneous catalysts for transesterification of crude oils...     

Photodegradation of Ibuprofen,Cetirizine, and Naproxen by PAN-MWCNT/TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>–NH<Subscript>2</Subscript> nanofiber membrane under UV light irradiation

Background

In this study, the photodegradation of three pharmaceuticals, namely Ibuprofen (IBP), Naproxen (NPX), and Cetirizine (CIZ) in aqueous media was investigated under UV irradiation. The photocatalyst used in this work consists of surface functionalized titanium dioxide (TiO₂–NH₂) nanoparticles grafted into Polyacrylonitrile (PAN)/multi-walled carbon nanotube composite nanofibers. Surface modification of the fabricated composite nanofibers was illustrated using XRD, FTIR, and SEM analyses.

Results

Sets of experiments were performed to study the effect of pharmaceuticals initial concentration (5–50 mg/L), solution pH (2–9), and irradiation time on the degradation efficiency. The results demonstrated that more than 99% degradation efficiency was obtained for IBP, CIZ, and NPX within 120, 40, and 25 min, respectively.

Conclusions

Comparatively, the photocatalytic degradation of pharmaceuticals using PAN-CNT/TiO₂–NH₂ composite nanofibers was much more efficient than with PAN/TiO₂–NH₂ composite nanofibers.

     

Cost,environmental impact,and resilience of renewable energy under a changing climate: a review

Energy derived from fossil fuels contributes significantly to global climate change, accounting for more than 75% of global greenhouse gas emissions and approximately 90% of all carbon dioxide emissions. Alternative energy from renewable sources must be utilized to decarbonize the energy sector. However, the adverse effects of climate change, such as increasing temperatures, extreme winds, rising sea levels, and decreased precipitation, may impact renewable energies. Here we review renewable energies with a focus on costs, the impact of climate on renewable energies, the impact of renewable energies on the environment, economy, and on decarbonization in different countries. We focus on solar, wind, biomass, hydropower, and geothermal energy. We observe that the price of solar photovoltaic energy has declined from $0.417 in 2010 to $0.048/kilowatt-hour in 2021. Similarly, prices have declined by 68% for onshore wind, 60% for offshore wind, 68% for concentrated solar power, and 14% for biomass energy. Wind energy and hydropower production could decrease by as much as 40% in some regions due to climate change, whereas solar energy appears the least impacted energy source. Climate change can also modify biomass productivity, growth, chemical composition, and soil microbial communities. Hydroelectric power plants are the most damaging to the environment; and solar photovoltaics must be carefully installed to reduce their impact. Wind turbines and biomass power plants have a minimal environmental impact; therefore, they should be implemented extensively. Renewable energy sources could decarbonize 90% of the electricity industry by 2050, drastically reducing carbon emissions, and contributing to climate change mitigation. By establishing the zero carbon emission decarbonization concept, the future of renewable energy is promising, with the potential to replace fossil fuel-derived energy and limit global temperature rise to 1.5 °C by 2050.

     

Optimizing biomass pathways to bioenergy and biochar application in electricity generation,biodiesel production,and biohydrogen production

The current energy crisis, depletion of fossil fuels, and global climate change have made it imperative to find alternative sources of energy that are both economically sustainable and environmentally friendly. Here we review various pathways for converting biomass into bioenergy and biochar and their applications in producing electricity, biodiesel, and biohydrogen. Biomass can be converted into biofuels using different methods, including biochemical and thermochemical conversion methods. Determining which approach is best relies on the type of biomass involved, the desired final product, and whether or not it is economically sustainable. Biochemical conversion methods are currently the most widely used for producing biofuels from biomass, accounting for approximately 80% of all biofuels produced worldwide. Ethanol and biodiesel are the most prevalent biofuels produced via biochemical conversion processes. Thermochemical conversion is less used than biochemical conversion, accounting for approximately 20% of biofuels produced worldwide. Bio-oil and syngas, commonly manufactured from wood chips, agricultural waste, and municipal solid waste, are the major biofuels produced by thermochemical conversion. Biofuels produced from biomass have the potential to displace up to 27% of the world's transportation fuel by 2050, which could result in a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by up to 3.7 billion metric tons per year. Biochar from biomass can yield high biodiesel, ranging from 32.8% to 97.75%, and can also serve as an anode, cathode, and catalyst in microbial fuel cells with a maximum power density of 4346 mW/m². Biochar also plays a role in catalytic methane decomposition and dry methane reforming, with hydrogen conversion rates ranging from 13.4% to 95.7%. Biochar can also increase hydrogen yield by up to 220.3%.

     

Artificial intelligence-based solutions for climate change: a review

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Climate change is a major threat already causing system damage to urban and natural systems, and inducing global economic losses of over $500 billion. These issues...