How do climatic change,cereal crops and livestock production interact with carbon emissions? Updated evidence from China

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Carbon dioxide emission and climatic variation have a detrimental influence on the atmosphere as well as on agriculture production. The key aim of the...     

Physico-chemical removal of iron from semi-aerobic landfill leachate by limestone filter

Limestone has been proven effective in removing metals from water and wastewater. A literature review indicated that limestone is capable of removing heavy metals such as Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Ni, Cr, Fe and Mn are through a batch process or by filtration technique. The removal capability is reported at up to 90%. However, to date most of the studies have been focused on synthetic wastewater. The present study attempts to investigate the suitability of limestone to attenuate total iron (Fe) from semi aerobic leachate at Pulau Burung Landfill Site in Penang, Malaysia. Iron was found in significant quantities at the landfill site. The study also aims to establish the Fe isotherm and breakthrough time of the proposed limestone filter for post-treatment to the migrating landfill leachate before its release to the environment. The Fe isotherms were established using a batch equilibrium test, while the breakthrough characteristics were determined using continuous flow permeating through a limestone column. The latter was used in order to simulate the continuous flow of leachate that would occur in the proposed limestone filter. The limestone media used in the experiment contain more than 90% CaCO3 with particle sizes ranging from 2 to 4 mm. Four filter columns (each 150 mm in diameter and 1000 mm depth) were installed at the landfill site. Metal loadings were kept below 0.5 kg /m3 day and the experiment was run continuously for 30 days. Initial results indicated that 90% of Fe can be removed from the leachate based on retention time of 57.8 min and surface loading of 12.2 m3/m2 day. For the batch study on the Fe isotherm, the results indicated that limestone is potentially useful as an alternative leachate treatment system at a relatively low cost.     

Marble industry effluents cause an increased bioaccumulation of heavy metals in Mahaseer (Tor putitora) in Barandu River,district Buner,Pakistan

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The present study was conducted to evaluate the impact of marble industry effluents on the accumulation of heavy metals in selected tissues of...     

城市能源管理：马来西亚的举措

无论遵循哪种发展模式,城市的增长都会给能源的使用和管理施加巨大的压力.基于可持续性的城市发展需要使这些模式具有有效性,包括考虑它们已经产生的影响.有一点是可以说服人的,城市能源问题的解决办法（比如能源效率和减少使用化石燃料）需要基于适合可持续发展的经济和商业原则.     

Correction to: Ecotoxicological assessment of oil-based paint using three-dimensional multi-species bio-testing model: pre- and post-bioremediation analysis

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The original publication of this paper contains a mistake.     

Synergistic Effect of Oil Palm Based Pozzolanic Materials/Oil Palm Waste on Polyester Hybrid Composite

This research work aims to investigate the synergistic effect of pozzolanic materials such as oil palm ash (OPA) and oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) on the developed hybrid polymer composites. The OPEFB and OPA fillers of different particle sizes (250, 150, and 75 µm) were mixed at OPEFB:OPA ratios of (0:100; 20:80; 40:60; 60:40; 80:20 and 100:0) and incorporated into an unsaturated polyester resin. Furthermore, both mechanical and morphological properties of the composites were analyzed and it was found that tensile, flexural, and impact properties were significantly improved at OPEFB:OPA of 75 µm particle size hybridization of the polymer. The increase of OPEFB to OPA filler ratio up to 80:20 significantly improved the tensile properties of the composites while 40:60 ratio of 75 µm gave the optimum filler ratio to obtain the highest flexural and impact properties of the composites among all studied samples. Scanning electron micrograph images showed strong particle dispersion of the embedded fillers with resin which explained the excellent mechanical strength enhancement of the composite.     

Potential recyclable materials derived from riverine litter at log boom Sungai Batu in Kuala Lumpur

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - Monitoring the riverine litter was essential for the aesthetical value and reducing the negative impacts toward the human health, environment and...     

Arsenic toxicity in mice and its possible amelioration

Oral administration of arsenic trioxide(3 and 6 mg/kg body weight/d) for 30 d caused, as compared with vehicle control, dose-dependent significant reductions in body weight, absolute weight, protein, glycogen, as well as, total, dehydro and reduced ascorbic acid contents both in the liver and kidney of arsenic-treated mice. Succinic dehydrogenase(SDH) and phosphorylase only in the liver activities were significantly reduced in a dose-dependent manner. Acid phosphatase activity was significantly decreased in the liver of low dose arsenic-treated animals;however, significant rise in its activity was observed in high dose group. As compared with vehicle control, treatment also caused significant dose-dependent reductions in SDH, alkaline phosphatase and acid phosphatase activities in the kidney of mice. Vitamin E cotreatment as well as, 30 d withdrawal of arsenic trioxide treatment with or without vitamin E caused significant amelioration in arsenic-induced toxicity in mice. Administration of vitamin E during withdrawal of treatment also caused significant amelioration as compared from only withdrawal of the treatment. It is concluded that vitamin E ameliorates arsenic-induced toxicities in the liver and kidney of mice.     

Monitoring of growth and physiological activities of biofilm during succession on polystyrene from activated sludge under aerobic and anaerobic conditions

The present research work monitored the successive biofilm development and its catabolic role in the degradation of polystyrene (PS). PS material was artificially colonized with biofilm by incubating it with activated sludge under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Biofilm formation was monitored by gravimetric weight analysis, spectrophotometric absorbance technique, heterotrophic plate count, and scanning electron microscopy under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The wet weight (1.59 and 1.17 g) and dry weight (0.41 and 0.08 g) of a biofilm showed a significant constant increase under aerobic and anaerobic conditions, respectively, from first till 9 weeks of incubation. Plate count of the selected bacteria (Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Shigella dysenteriae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) considerably declined (90–99 %) in the biofilm after seventh and fifth weeks of incubation under aerobic and anaerobic conditions, respectively, indicating a positive shift from pathogenic to beneficial microbial community. While most probable number index of fecal coliforms and E. coli in the sludge showed more reduction (98 and 99 %) under aerobic as compare to anaerobic conditions (86 and 91 %) after 9 weeks of biofilm formation on PS cubes. Correspondingly, the decreasing levels of chemical oxygen demand and biochemical oxygen demand (up to 73 %) showed signs of sludge digestion. Scanning electron microscope coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscope revealed nature of PS media containing high carbon content. However, biofilm development proved to be involved in the biochemical transformation of the PS medium as indicated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.