Problems and prospectus of utilization of sewage and industrial wastewaters in agriculture

The basic objective of this study was to compile the available information on the composition of sewage and industrial wastewaters in India and their effect on soil–plant health upon their use in agricultural fields. The composition of sewage water is quite variable depending upon the contributing source, mode of collection, and treatment provided. The composition of sewage water varied from site to site which was in accordance with the type of industries present in that area. Continuous use of sewage and industrial wastewater irrigation recorded improvement in water retention, hydraulic conductivity, organic C and build-up of available N, P, K, micronutrient status, and soil microbial count. The electrical conductivity although increased due to sewage irrigation, it was within the tolerance limit to cause any soil salinity hazard. The toxic metals like Cd, Cr, Pb, and Ni were found to be accumulated in soil and plant due to long-term use of sewage and industrial wastewater irrigation. The concentration of these metals was higher in leafy vegetables than in grain crops. This warrants the potential hazard to soil–plant health suggesting necessity of their safe use after pretreatment as a cheap potential alternative source of plant nutrients in agriculture.     

Zooplankton responses to hydrological and trophic variability in a Mediterranean coastal ecosystem (Lesina Lagoon,South Adriatic Sea)

Spatial and temporal variability in zooplankton was studied at eight stations located in the Lesina Lagoon (South Adriatic Sea) Salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen and chlorophyll a (in the lagoon) at these stations were also assessed. The zooplankton community was characterised by clear seasonal oscillations and mostly represented by copepods and their larvae. The dominant copepod species were Calanipeda aquaedulcis and Acartia tonsa, which exhibited spatial–temporal segregation in the lagoon. C. aquaedulcis copepodites seemed to be better adapted to oligotrophic and oligohaline conditions compared with the A. tonsa population. The invasive species A. tonsa has completely replaced the formerly abundant Acartia margalefi. A positive correlation was found between abundances, total species numbers and trophic state. An increasing abundance trend was shown from the lagoon towards the sea. The highest diversity indices were recorded at the two channel inlets, during high tide due to the absence of a clear dominance of one or more coastal species and the co-occurrence of species of lagoon and marine origin.     

Adsorption of caesium from aqueous solution using cerium molybdate–pan composite

In this study, a cerium molybdate–polyacrylonitrile (CM–PAN) composite ion exchanger was synthesised and its characteristics were determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetry (TGA), specific area measurement (BET), X-ray fluorescence and CHN elemental analyses. The adsorption of caesium from aqueous solutions by CM–PAN composite was investigated under batch and continuous conditions. The distribution coefficient of caesium on the composite sorbent was studied as a function of pH, solution temperature and the presence of interfering cations, and the optimum conditions for a batch system were determined. Pseudo-first- and second-order sorption kinetic models were used to investigate the kinetics of adsorption and the results pointed to the pseudo-second-order model for caesium sorption kinetics. The intraparticle diffusion model was used to the predict rate-limiting step of the ion exchange process in order to specify the sorption mechanism. Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin–Radushkevich (D–R) isotherm models were fitted to the experimental sorption data, where the Freundlich model showed a good agreement. The adsorption thermodynamic parameters, standard enthalpy, entropy and Gibbs’ free energy were calculated and the reaction was found to be endothermic and spontaneous. Finally, the dynamic sorption capacities of the sorbent at two breakthroughs were calculated from the continuous system.     

Study on particulate and metallic elements variation at daytime and nighttime period in urban atmosphere

Daily PM_2.5, PM_2.5–10 and TSP have been collected by Universal and PS‐1 sampler simultaneously at a site within Taichung between February and March 1999. The filters were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry for the elemental analysis of Ca, Fe, Mn, Pb, Cu, Zn and Cr. In general, the concentration of these metallic elements are higher in fine particles than in coarse particles. On average, PM₁₀ accounted for 67% of the TSP at daytime, while at nighttime PM₁₀ accounted for only 44% of the TSP. For PM_2.5, PM₂._5–10 and TSP concentrations, there were no significant differences between day and night period. The averaged concentrations of metallic elements in PM_2.5 at daytime were all higher than that at nighttime. Ca, Fe and Zn have large and variable PM_2.5 concentrations at both daytime and nighttime. For the daytime Zn and Pb account for the largest portion of the heavy metal elements. For the nighttime, Zn and Cr make the largest portion of the heavy metal elements. The concentrations of Mn were higher on fine particulates. The trace metals Cu and Cr in Taichung are probably due to particulates emitted by Taichung Fire Power Plants transported into the sampling area by the prevailing northwesterly wind.     

Evaluating poverty–environment dynamics

Developing indicators to more effectively evaluate poverty–environment dynamics and inform policy is an urgent research priority. It is critical that these indicators are used in ways that accurately represent the relationship they are meant to inform. This article evaluates the theory and use of poverty–environment indicators, a relatively new tool developed to aid in the design and evaluation of poverty reduction strategies in the context of environmental change. We argue that while they have great potential, in their current form and use, poverty–environment indicators may contribute to critical misunderstandings of processes on the ground. These issues stem from a problematic and largely unacknowledged process of simplifying particular poverty–environment relationships. This article lays out the problematic character of this simplification process, and suggests how we might address these problems to create more useful understandings of poverty–environment dynamics to inform policy.     

Exploring co-investments in sustainable land management in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia

In Ethiopia, not only farmers but also the public and private sector partners are still hesitant to invest in sustainable land management (SLM). This study focuses on the Central Rift Valley and explores the potential for co-investments in SLM, where public and private sector partners support farmers with material, capital, knowledge, etc. A survey revealed current bottlenecks for co-investments and requirements needed to collaboratively invest in SLM. It covered 165 public sector partners (micro-, meso- and macro-level institutions) and 42 private sector partners (banks, exporters and local traders). Results for the public sector show a gap between macro- and micro-/meso-level actors concerning co-investments in SLM. Macro-level institutions do not acknowledge the bottlenecks identified by micro- and meso-level institutions (e.g. lack of accountability, top-down approaches and lack of good leadership). Similarly, opinions on requirements for co-investments in SLM differ considerably, showing that bridging the institutional micro–macro gap is crucial to co-investments. Most factors are related to the wider governance context and to different perceptions among micro- and macro-level actors as to the critical pre-conditions to co-investment in SLM. Improving governance at all institutional levels, capacity building and enhancing a common understanding on barriers to SLM is required. Results for the private sector reveal that economic bottlenecks limit possibilities to co-invest in SLM, and that enabling policies in the public sphere are required to trigger private investments. Hence, the potential for co-investments in SLM is available in Ethiopia at micro- and meso-level and within the private sector, but profound commitment and fundamental policy changes at the macro-level are required to exploit this potential.     

Influence of inoculating earthworms on removal of pyrene in soils growing Festuca arundinacea

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to examine the potential of inoculating earthworms (Pheretima sp.) in order to enhance phytoremediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) present in soils with the use of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea). In particular, experiments with or without inoculating earthworms for removal of pyrene was investigated. Results showed that planting of F. arundinacea enhanced the removal of pyrene at initial content over 70 days approximately 54%–80% but only 12%–24% occurred in non-planted soils. After inoculating earthworms, the dissipation rates of pyrene in planted soils were increased up to 61%–86%, which was 6%–12% higher than those in corresponding soils without inoculating earthworms. Among all possible pathways, the contribution of plant--microbial interactions on removal of pyrene was predominant, either with (46%) or without inoculating earthworms (52%), is the primary mechanism of contaminant removal. Data suggest inoculating earthworms may be a feasible way for reinforcing removal of PAH in contaminated sites.     

Climate change and urban land systems: bridging the gaps between urbanism and land science

ABSTRACT

Land science has generated critical knowledge about how humans modify Earth’s surface and has advanced our understanding of land as a coupled human–environment system. However, to date, most work has been in frontier environments with less attention – both conceptually and empirically – on how urban land systems affect the carbon cycle. Much of what is known about urban areas and the carbon cycle is limited to aggregate levels of activities within urban areas, usually by sector, with little focus on how the spatial configuration of urban land systems affects carbon-emitting activities. Given that urban areas produce about 70% of global energy-related CO₂ emissions, it is crucial to understand the relationship between urban environments, the activities they influence, and the resulting carbon emissions. This paper summarizes the current state of knowledge of how urban land systems affect carbon emissions and vulnerability, and identifies research gaps and opportunities for urban land science to contribute to climate change science, particularly through land architecture. We argue that more attention to urban land science conceptualization, measurement, and analysis would contribute to both fundamental knowledge about urban systems, as well as help identify policies and strategies for mitigation and adaptation to climate change at the urban scale.     

Work–family conflict and neck and back pain in surgical nurses

Objective. Surgical nurses’ work is physically and mentally demanding, possibly leading to work–family conflict (WFC). The current study tests WFC to be a risk factor for neck and lower back pain (LBP). Job influence and social support are tested as resources that could buffer the detrimental impact of WFC. Methods. Forty-eight surgical nurses from two university hospitals in Germany and Switzerland were recruited. WFC was assessed with the Work–Family Conflict Scale. Job influence and social support were assessed with the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire, and back pain was assessed with the North American Spine Society Instrument. Results. Multiple linear regression analyses confirmed WFC as a significant predictor of cervical pain (β?=?0.45, p?β?=?0.33, p?=?0.012). Job influence and social support did not turn out to be significant predictors and were not found to buffer the impact of WFC in moderator analyses. Conclusion. WFC is likely to affect neck and back pain in surgery nurses. Work–life interventions may have the potential to reduce WFC in surgery nurses.     

What makes for good and bad neighbours? An emerging research agenda in the study of Chinese environmental politics

Tackling China’s grave environmental problems increasingly turns on questions of sub-national interjurisdictional relations. What are the conditions under which neighbouring localities cooperate in stewardship of the natural environment? What factors give rise to interjurisdictional conflict such as pollution spillovers? Through a combination of empirical and theoretical reflections, a research agenda to better understand these issues is outlined. First, China’s recent innovative approaches to the promotion of interjurisdictional cooperation are examined. An in-depth case study of interjurisdictional ecological protection ‘redline’ zones underscores the difficulties of inculcating environmental neighbourliness between local governments. Yet, a precise diagnosis of the problem remains elusive because too little is known about the underlying drivers of interjurisdictional relations in China. An analytical framework that draws insight from contemporary China studies and comparative environmental governance scholarship is offered for the study of interjurisdictional environmental relations in China.