Do transportation taxes promote pro-environmental behaviour? An empirical investigation

The transportation sector is a crucial driver of energy intensity and environmental degradation. Therefore, we aim to explore the nexus of transportation taxes, energy intensity, and CO₂ emissions for the BICS economies. The econometric approaches, CS-ARDL and PMG-ARDL, have been employed to compute the estimates. The long-run estimates of the green transportation tax variable are negatively significant in both energy intensity and CO₂ emissions models irrespective of the estimation technique. These findings imply that green transportation taxes help reduce energy intensity and CO₂ emissions in BICS economies. Conversely, in the short-run, the effects of transportation taxes on energy intensity and CO₂ emissions are mixed and inconclusive. Hence, transportation taxes are necessary to keep the polluters under control not only from the transport sector but also serve as a deterrent for other sectors as well.

     

Spatial modeling of rat bites and prediction of rat infestation in Peshawar valley using binomial kriging with logistic regression

In this study, we propose to develop a geostatistical computational framework to model the distribution of rat bite infestation of epidemic proportion in Peshawar valley, Pakistan. Two species Rattus norvegicus and Rattus rattus are suspected to spread the infestation. The framework combines strengths of maximum entropy algorithm and binomial kriging with logistic regression to spatially model the distribution of infestation and to determine the individual role of environmental predictors in modeling the distribution trends. Our results demonstrate the significance of a number of social and environmental factors in rat infestations such as (I) high human population density; (II) greater dispersal ability of rodents due to the availability of better connectivity routes such as roads, and (III) temperature and precipitation influencing rodent fecundity and life cycle.     

First evaluation of the possibility of testing for drugged driving using exhaled breath sampling

Objective: Driving under the influence of psychoactive drugs causes an increased risk for accidents. In combating this, sobriety tests at the roadside are common practice in most countries. Sampling of blood and urine for forensic investigation cannot be done at the roadside and poses practical problems associated with costs and time. An alternative specimen for roadside testing is therefore warranted and the aerosol particles in exhaled breath are one such alternative.

Methods: The present study investigated how the exhaled breath sample compared with the routine legal investigations of blood and urine collected from suspects of drugged driving at 2 locations in Sweden. Exhaled breath was collected using a simple filter collection device and analyzed with state-of-the-art mass spectrometry technique.

Results: The total number of cases used for this investigation was 67. In 54 of these cases (81%) the results regarding a positive or negative drug test result agreed and in 13 they disagreed. Out of these, the report from the forensic investigation of blood/urine was negative in 21 cases. In 6 of these, analytical findings were made in exhaled breath and these cases were dominated by the detection of amphetamine. In 7 cases a positive drug test from the forensic investigation was not observed in the breath sample and these cases were dominated by detection of tetrahydrocannabinol in blood. In total, 45 samples were positive with breath testing and the number of positives with established forensic methods was 46.

Conclusion: The promising results from this study provide support to exhaled breath as a viable specimen for testing of drugged driving. The rapid, easy, and convenient sampling procedure offers the possibility to collect a drug test specimen at the roadside. The analytical investigation must be done in a laboratory at present because of the need for a highly sensitive instrument, which is already in use in forensic laboratories. The analytical work is not more challenging than for blood or oral fluid and should not cause an increase in cost. However, more studies need to be done before exhaled breath drug testing can be applied routinely for drugged driving investigation.     

Minimizing human health effects of urban air pollution through quantification and control of motor vehicular carbon monoxide (CO) in Lahore

Impact of urban air pollution has variety of focuses such as urban ecology, human health, economy, etc. But human health is always given priority. Air pollution is threat to the lives of people living in big cities of Pakistan. In Lahore only there die 1,250 people annually because of air pollution. A strong correlation exists between urban air pollution and human health in Lahore. Growth of COPD is highest among other air pollution borne diseases. Existing mass transit system (one of driving forces behind motor vehicular emission) in Lahore due to frequent stoppages, entering and exit in flow of traffic causes excess discharge of motor vehicular carbon monoxide (CO) which is a hazardous to human health. Quantification and enumeration of this discharge is essential for environmental management. The paper is an attempt to highlight human health effects of urban air pollution through correlation and regression analysis. Further it is focused upon quantifying excess motor vehicular carbon monoxide through application of simplified mobile emission model. In light of results emission control measures are recommended.     

Erroneous mass transit system and its tended relationship with motor vehicular air pollution (An integrated approach for reduction of urban air pollution in Lahore)

Air pollution is threat to the lives of people living in big cities of Pakistan. In Lahore 1,250 people die annually because of air pollution.Mass transit system that can be put forth as solution to urban air pollution is contingent with right choice of system and its affiliation with motorized vehicles and nature of urban air pollution.Existing mass transit system in Lahore due to untrue operation causes surfeit discharge of motor vehicular carbon monoxide. Tended relationships of mass transit system with motorized vehicles and urban air pollution are quite noteworthy. The growing motor vehicles (a consequence of flawed public mass transit system) are potential source of urban air pollution. This paper attempts to highlight correlations and regression curves of existing mass transit system. Further it recommends a two facet approach for reduction of motor vehicular air pollution in Lahore.     

Impact of economic freedom on air pollution: configuration analysis of Asia-Pacific region

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Air pollution brings uncountable serious influences on human life during the last decade. This study is an attempt to compare economic liberalism with...     

Graphene and its derivatives: synthesis,modifications, and applications in wastewater treatment

Graphene was discovered in 2004 and has attracted intensive interests because of its unique mechanical, electric, thermal, optical, and structural properties, which makes graphene a potential candidate for various applications. Graphene is being used as a composite or filler material with metals, metal oxides, and polymers for potential advanced applications in solar cells, lithium-ion batteries, photocatalysis and sensing. These applications depend upon the distinctive properties of graphene, which in turn depend on the adopted synthetic approach. This article reviews the recent developments in synthesis of graphene and related composite materials. The synthesis of graphene through exfoliation, epitaxial growth and direct growth via carbon source, and modification approaches by covalent and noncovalent methodologies are discussed. Graphene-based metal and metal oxide composites for the purification of wastewater using photolytic process are also presented.     

PBDEs and PCDD/Fs in surface soil taken from the Taizhou e-waste recycling area,China

The emerging issue of electronic wastes (e-waste) and the associated environmental problems has gained considerable attention from the scientific community in recent decades. In the present study, the levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) in the surface soil obtained from the Taizhou e-waste recycling area of China were investigated. Also the correlation among these chemicals and previously published data of heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and polychlorinated biphenyls was analysed. We determined that the pollution levels of eight PBDEs congeners were serious, ranging from 27.9 to 3128.4 μg/kg. The concentration of PCDD/Fs was in the range of 218.3–3122.2 pg/g with a mean value of 659.5 pg/g. The PBDEs were not well-correlated with organic pollutants (PAHs and PCBs) in soil, whereas PCDD/Fs exhibited a significant positive correlation with the PCBs. The higher levels of persistent organic pollutants may pose potential adverse effects to soil quality and human beings and needs to be properly managed and remediated.     

Heavy metals in water, sediments, plants and fish of Kali Nadi U.P. (India)

The distribution of heavy metals viz., Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn in the water, sediments, plants and fish samples collected from the Kali Nadi (India) have been determined. The studies have shown that there was considerable variation in the concentration of heavy metals from one sampling station to the other which may be due to the variation in the quality of industrial and sewage wastes being added to the river at different places. The orders of the concentration of heavy metals in water, sediments, plants (Eicchornia crassipes) and fish (Heteropnuestes fossilis) were Fe > Zn > Cu > Mn > Cr > Ni > Pb > Co > Cd; Fe > Zn > Mn > Ni > Cr > Co > Cu > Pb > Cd; Fe > Mn > Zn > Cu > Ni > Co > Pb > Cr > Cd and Fe > Zn > Mn > Ni > Pb > Co > Cr > Cu > Cd, respectively.