Carbon nanotubes from waste cooking palm oil as adsorbent materials for the adsorption of heavy metal ions

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In this work, waste cooking palm oil (WCPO)-based carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with encapsulated iron (Fe) nanoparticles have been successfully produced...     

The impact of financial development and globalization on environmental quality: evidence from South Asian economies

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Climate change resulting from the higher concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is a threat to the sustainability of life on earth. To...     

Investigating the tipping point of crop productivity induced by changing climatic variables

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - South Asia is comprised of several countries, including Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, and Sri Lanka, all ranked highly at risk of climatic variability....     

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...     

Bacteriological study of Upper Lake of Bhopal, India

In order to assess the water quallty of the upper lake of Bhopal (India) after the leakage of methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas from the Union Carbide factory, Bhopal, bacteriological study of the lake water was carried out. Water samples were collected from eight different sampling stations from the eastern, western, northern and southern sides of the lake. The study has revealed that the coliform bacteria are increased (24000/mL) at the onset of summer and are dropped to a minimum (120/mL) during monsoon season against the permissible limit of 100/mL recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for water to be used for drinking purposes. The data collected show that the water quality of the Upper lake is deteriorated and is gradually becoming unfit for drinking.     

Investigating the impact of Glyoxal retrieval from MAX-DOAS observations during haze and non-haze conditions in Beijing

This study presents the Multi Axis Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy(MAXDOAS) measurements for Glyoxal(CHOCHO) in Beijing, China(39.95°N, 116.32°E). CHOCHO is the smallest compound of di-carbonyl group. As a primary sink of CHOCHO, its photolysis with NOx(oxides of nitrogen) results in the production of tropospheric ozone. Therefore,the focus of CHOCHO DOAS measurements is increasing in trend. We did the measurements from 09 May 2017 to 09 September 2017. The study was conducted to compare different retrieval settings in order to reveal best DOAS fit settings for CHOCHO;furthermore, effect of haze and non-haze days on CHOCHO concentration was examined.The root mean square of residual and Differential Slant Column density(dSCD) error was reduced when measurements were done with lower wavelength limit around 432–438 nm and upper intervals around 455–460 nm. Thus, lower wavelength intervals around432–438 nm and upper intervals around 457–460 nm were best for the retrieval of dSCDs for CHOCHO. Meteorological conditions like haze or non-haze days did not have significant effect on DOAS fit parameters. The CHOCHO vertical column densities range from 1.33 E +14 to 9.77 E + 14 molecules/cm2 during the study period with average of 6.16 E +14 molecules/cm2. The results indicated that during haze days CHOCHO concentration was higher because of lower rate of photolysis and atmospheric oxidation potential. Our results did not show any significant weekend effect on CHOCHO atmospheric concentration.     

Precipitation Amount and Intensity Trends Across Southwest Saudi Arabia

This study examines precipitation accumulation and intensity trends across a region in southwest Saudi Arabia characterized by distinct seasonal weather patterns and mountainous terrain. The region is an example of an arid/semiarid area faced with maintaining sustainable water resources with a growing population. Annual and seasonal trends in precipitation amount were examined from 29 rain gages divided among four geographically unique regions from 1945/1946 to 2009. Two of the regions displayed significantly declining annual trends over the time series using a Mann‐Kendall test modified for autocorrelation (α < 0.05). Seasonal analysis revealed insignificant declining trends in at least two of the regions during each season. The largest and most consistent declining trends occurred during wintertime where all regions experienced negative trends. Several intensity metrics were examined in the study area from four additional stations containing daily data from 1985 to 2011. Intensity metrics included total precipitation, wet day count, simple intensity index, maximum daily annual rainfall, and upper/lower precipitation distribution changes. In general, no coherent trends were found among the daily stations suggesting precipitation is intensifying across the study area. The work represents the first of its size in the study area, and one of few in the region due to the lack of available long‐term data needed to properly examine precipitation changes.     

Occupational health and safety issues in the informal economic segment of Pakistan: a survey of construction sites

This research covers the current status of occupational health and safety (OHS)-related practices in the informal construction segment of Pakistan. Data were collected, through interviews, from 316 construction sites employing 3577 workers. The results of the study reveal that both employers and workers lack knowledge of OHS laws/standards and no practices of this nature are enacted at these construction sites. Alarmingly, work-related accidents, whenever they happen, are not given due attention and there is no formal injury-report system. The informal construction industry employs a huge portion of the informal workforce, and lack of OHS happens at tremendous human cost. These research findings may thus play their role in strengthening the case for reforms in the sector. This study, if properly utilized, may also enable employers of the sector by increasing their knowledge about OHS practices and, as a result, trying to offer safer environments for their workers.     

A novel nano-sized Co3O4@C catalyst derived from Co-MOF template for efficient Hg0 removal at low temperatures with outstanding SO2 resistance

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Co3O4 is a promising Hg0 removal catalyst for industrial application. Operating temperature and low sulfur resistance are two of the main problems...