The impact of mucormycosis (black fungus) on SARS-CoV-2-infected patients: at a glance

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The emergence of various diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic made health workers more attentive, and one of the new pathogens is the black fungus...     

A washing procedure to mobilize mixed contaminants from soil: I. Polychlorinated biphenyl compounds

We conducted a laboratory study to assess the feasibility of a washing process with nonionic and anionic surfactants in combination with ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA) for the simultaneous mobilization of heavy metals and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from a field-contaminated soil. Unit processes consisting of complexometric extraction and surfactant-assisted mobilization were combined with reagent regeneration and detoxification steps to generate innocuous products. Ten minutes of ultrasonic mixing of the soil with a combination of 30 mL L(-1) surfactant suspension and a sparing quantity (2 mmol) of EDTA mobilized appreciable quantities of PCBs, virtually all of the available Cd, Cu, Mn, and Pb, and lesser amounts of the Zn, Ni, and Cr but only small quantities of Al and Fe. Relative to individual reagents, combinations of surfactant (Brij 98, Triton X-301, or Triton XQS-20) with EDTA did not influence PCB extraction efficiencies perceptibly. Of the three surfactants, the Brij 98 proved to be the most efficient for three successive extractions with a single charge, mobilizing 83% of the PCBs, whereas companion extractions that used fresh reagent each time mobilized 87% of the soil PCB content. The decreased PCB mobilization with the same quantity of anionic surfactant (71 or 68%) resulted from losses during the EDTA regeneration process with zero-valent Mg. In toto, these studies demonstrate that PCB compounds and selected heavy metals can be coextracted efficiently from soil with three successive washes with the same washing suspension containing EDTA and a nonionic surfactant.     

A washing procedure to mobilize mixed contaminants from soil: II. Heavy metals

We conducted a laboratory study to assess the efficiency of nonionic and anionic surfactants in combination with a sparing quantity of ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA) to simultaneously extract heavy metals (HMs) and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) compounds from a field-contaminated soil. A soil wash that mobilized both HMs and PCBs was combined with back-extraction with hexane to remove PCBs from the aqueous wash. The aqueous washing suspension was then regenerated by precipitation of the HMs induced by corrosion and hydrolysis of zero-valent Mg to provide a cleaned soil and innocuous extract. Finally, the washing suspension was recycled twice to mobilize more contaminants from the soil particulate fraction. After ultrasonic equilibration, EDTA in admixture with a nonionic surfactant did not appreciably change the efficiency of mobilization of most heavy metals (Al, Cd, Cr, Fe Mn, Ni, and Zn), but did increase the recovery of Cu and Pb. The release of EDTA from HM complexes was efficient for most metals (99%) but was influenced by the chemical characteristics of the surfactant. The EDTA recovery (62-65%) after three cycles of soil washing, hexane back-extraction, and Mg(0) treatment was similar for all reagent combinations. In toto, these studies demonstrate that after treatment with ultrasound, selected heavy metals can be coextracted efficiently from soil with a single washing suspension containing EDTA and a nonionic surfactant.     

Exposure of lead to mothers and their new born infants,residents of industrial and domestic areas of Pakistan

Prenatal and early-life exposure to lead (Pb) is hypothesized to have adverse effects on childhood health. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prenatal exposure to Pb and its adverse effects on mothers and their infants who are residents of industrial (exposed) and domestic areas (referents) in Karachi, Pakistan. The biological samples (scalp hair and blood) of mother–infants pairs were analyzed for Pb levels by atomic absorption spectrometry after microwave-assisted acid digestion method. The Pb levels in scalp hair and blood samples of exposed mothers were found in the range of 7.52–8.70 μg/g and 115–270 μg/L, respectively, which were significantly higher than those values obtained for referent mothers (p?<?0.001). The Pb levels in the blood (umbilical cord) and hair of neonates of exposed mother that were found in the range of 83–178 μg/L and 4.95–7.23 μg/g, respectively, were significantly higher than the obtained values of referent neonates (p?>?0.001). The correlation between maternal and cord blood of both groups was found in the range of 0.708–0.724 (p?<?0.01). It was observed that there were higher Pb burdens in exposed mothers and their infants as compared to referent mothers–neonates.     

Cytotoxic and genotoxic evaluation of bisphenol S on onion root tips by Allium cepa and comet tests

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Bisphenol S (BPS) is an analog of bisphenol A, which is used as substitute of BPA in many products like airport luggage tags, baby bottles, plastics,...     

The role of green innovations,environmental policies and carbon taxes in achieving the sustainable development goals of carbon neutrality

The green innovations, environmental policies, and carbon taxes are the tools to achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs) in the mitigation process. This study is intended to examine the impact of innovation, carbon pricing (CTAX), environmental policies (EP), and energy consumption (ECON) on PM_2.5 and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission for Central-Eastern European countries. The panel effect during 2000–2018 is tested using a dynamic panel data model while the Granger causality approach obtains country-related outcomes. The outcomes reveal that eco-friendly innovations have a more profound effect on carbon mitigation. Environmental policies reduce emissions by 2.7% in the short run and 17.4% in the long run. Similarly, CTAX mitigates GHG emissions by 8.6% in the short-run and PM2.5 by 0.9% and 5.7% in the short and long run. However, urbanization, energy consumption and trade openness are the leading polluters in the region. The main findings remain dominant in the country-specific results and find unidirectional and bidirectional causality evidence among variables. The research concludes that green innovations and strict environmental policy can lead towards achieving sustainable development goals using carbon taxes as a tool on the way.

Graphical abstract

     

SARS-COV-2/COVID-19: scenario,epidemiology, adaptive mutations,and environmental factors

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The coronavirus pandemic of 2019 has already exerted an enormous impact. For over a year, the worldwide pandemic has ravaged the whole globe, with...     

Life cycle assessment of different municipal solid waste management options: a case study of Algiers (Algeria)

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - This paper examines four strategies of municipal solid waste management (MSWM) for Algiers city using life cycle assessment methodology. Analyzed...