Revitalization of tourism and hospitality sector: preempting pandemics through lessons learned

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have left many repercussions for the tourism industry to preempt any future catastrophe of this...     

Industrial hygiene and toxicity studies in unorganized bone-based industrial units

A large variety of ornamental and decorative items are manufactured from bone waste by various unorganized sectors in India. An initial survey indicated that workers were exposed at various phases of final product. The subjects (12 industrial units) were tested for total suspended particulate matter (TSPM), particulate matter <10  $\upmu $ m (PM₁₀), and particulate matter <2.5  $\upmu $ m (PM_2.5). Prevalent levels of TSPM ranged between 2.90 and 5.89 mg m^???3. Respirable fractions of occupational dust as PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 were found in the range of 0.30?C2.08 and 0.26?C0.50 mg m^???3, respectively. Cytotoxicity study was conducted using hemolysis as a sensitive marker. In an in vitro study, rat RBCs were exposed to the concentration of 25?C1,000  $\upmu $ g/ml for 15?C120 min. A considerable variation was observed in the hemolytic activity of samples collected from different areas. At 500  $\upmu $ g/ml concentration, the hemolytic activity (12 h) was found to be in the range of 18?C25%. Due to limitation in sample mass of respirable fractions, only one concentration (100  $\upmu $ g/ml/2 h) was used for comparative study on hemolysis of RBCs caused by PM₁₀ and PM_2.5. Interestingly, the hemolytic activity was more at PM_2.5 than PM₁₀ and TSPM. These results suggest that the respirable particles are capable of reaching deep into the respiratory system. The finding is significant notably when there are no standards available in occupationally exposed populations. This is the first such study. Data could be of importance to policy makers and regulators.     

Anguilla anguilla L. oxidative stress biomarkers: an in situ study of freshwater wetland ecosystem (Pateira de Fermentelos, Portugal)

Pateira de Fermentelos (PF) is a natural freshwater wetland in the central region of Portugal. In the last decade, the introduction of agricultural chemicals, heavy metals, domestic wastes, as well as eutrophication and incorrect utility of resources resulted in an increased water pollution. The present research work was carried out to check the various oxidative stress biomarker responses in European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.) gill, kidney and liver due to this complex water pollution. Eels were caged and plunged at five different PF sites (A-E) for 48h. A reference site (R) was also selected at the river spring where no industrial contamination should be detected. Lipid peroxidation (LPO), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glutathione S-transferase (GST) and reduced glutathione (GSH) were the oxidative stress biomarkers studied. In gill, site A exposure induced a significant GST activity increase and site B exposure induced CAT activity increase when compared to R. Site C exposure showed a significant CAT and GPX activity increase. Data concerning site D exposure were not determined due to cage disappearance. Site E exposure displayed a significant CAT and GST activity increase. In kidney, site A exposure induced a significant CAT and GPX decrease as well as a GST increase. Site B exposure showed a significant decrease in GPX activity and GSH content. However, site C exposure demonstrated a significant increase in CAT and a decrease in GPX. Site E exposure showed a significant decrease in GPX and increase in GST. In liver, site A exposure showed a significant GST activity decrease as well as GSH content increase. Site B exposure showed a significant CAT, GST and LPO decrease. Site C exposure showed only GST activity decrease, while site E exposure induced a significant increase in GPX. These investigation findings provide a rational use of oxidative stress biomarkers in freshwater ecosystem pollution biomonitoring using caged fish, and the first attempt reported in Portugal as a study of this particular watercourse under the previous conditions. The presence of pollutants in the PF water was denunciated even without a clear relation to the main pollution source distance. The organ specificity was evident for each parameter but without a clear pattern.     

Calorimetric studies on the thermal stability of methyl ethyl ketone peroxide (MEKP) formulations

The energetic decomposition of methyl ethyl ketone peroxide (MEKP) and its formulations have long been known to present a significant risk. Indeed, MEKP has the highest number of reported decomposition incidents of all organic peroxides, many of which have led to significant numbers of fatalities, injuries and damage. It is noteworthy that incidents have been reported at all stages of the product lifecycle.This paper is derived from incident-investigation work and provides a summary of serious incidents involving MEKP, followed by details of calorimetric experiments performed to investigate thermal stability of representative MEKP formulations containing varying amounts of MEKP monomer. In particular we report the wide degree of variation that exists between commercial MEKP formulations, even between materials that are of the same nominal formulation. Such variations are detectable using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).Follow-up studies performed on a representative MEKP formulation containing MEKP monomer indicate that a risk of decomposition exists at temperatures well below the reported self-accelerating decomposition temperature (SADT) of the products. As such, the experimental results reported here suggest that lower storage temperatures (commonly recommended by manufacturers to maximise shelf life) should be considered as being essential throughout the product lifecycle to reduce the risk of accidents in storage and transportation.     

Mapping green technologies literature published between 1995 and 2019: a scientometric review from the perspective of the manufacturing industry

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - This study presents a comprehensive literature review and gives an insight into the increasing research trends that are based on the discipline of...     

A review on detection of heavy metals from aqueous media using nanomaterial-based sensors

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The extensive release of heavy metals into the natural water bodies has become globally prevalent from past few decades. Heavy metal toxicity is...     

CO2 separation by supported liquid membranes synthesized with natural deep eutectic solvents

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Betaine-based natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs), a new class of green solvents, were immobilized into a porous polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)...     

Do higher education research and development expenditures affect environmental sustainability? New evidence from Chinese provinces

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Even though higher education R&amp;D expenditures (HEEXP) are important determinants of economic growth that facilitate science, technology, new...     

Arsenic and lead in the indoor residential settings of different socio-economic status; assessment of human health risk via dust exposure

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In the present study, occurrence of arsenic (As) and lead (Pb) is reported in rural and urban household dust (floor and AC filter dust) of the Kingdom...