The COVID-19 puzzle: a global nightmare

Environment, Development and Sustainability - In December 2019, WHO was informed with several unknown pneumonia cases and later it was found as highly contagious, transmittable and pathogenic viral...     

dry coke quenching,air pollution and energy: a status report

Dry quenching of incandescent coke after it has been pushed from the coking ovens is a proved, reliable process that is presently being used in several industrialized countries. Foremost among dry quenching’s advantages are: (1) virtual elimination of air pollutants emitted during quenching; (2) elimination of potential water pollution associated with wet quenching; (3) improvements in the working environment; (4) saving substantial amounts of energy in usable forms; (5) producing more usable coke that is superior to wet-quenched coke. By continuously circulating inert gases through a cooling chamber that contains hot coke, dry quenching recovers waste-heat energy that can be used to produce steam, to produce electricity, to preheat combustion air, to preheat coal, to dry coal, and to preheat feed water supplied to fuel-fired boilers. The pay-out period on the capital investment (approximately $7,100,000) for an installation capable of processing 5500 tons of coke/day is less than four years.     

Composting of municipal solid waste by different methods improved the growth of vegetables and reduced the health risks of cadmium and lead

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Reutilization of putrescible municipal solid wastes (MSW) in agriculture can provide valuable plant nutrients. However, it may pose serious...     

The impact of environment degrading factors and remittances on health expenditure: an asymmetric ARDL and dynamic simulated ARDL approach

This paper investigates the impact of CO₂ emissions, air pollution (PM2.5) exposure, foreign remittances, energy consumption, renewable energy consumption, trade openness, and gross domestic product per capita on health expenditure in a panel of the 27 highest emitting countries from 2000 to 2019. Focusing on objectives, panel ARDL, and dynamic simulated ARDL models are used to examine the short-run and long-run impact of the variables on health expenditure. An asymmetric or nonlinear ARDL model is used to test the asymmetric effect of CO₂ emissions, air pollution exposure, and foreign remittance inflows on health expenditure. The results show that environment-degrading factors, remittances, and GDP per capita significantly impact health expenditure. There is an asymmetric effect of remittances, CO₂ emissions, and air pollution (PM2.5) exposure on health expenditure. Based on the results, the study suggests policymakers should make policies regarding environment-degrading elements as these factors cause huge increases in health spending in a country. Consumption of renewable energy helps reduce health expenditure as it does not cause environmental degradation, irrespective of other forms of energy, and it is suggested that policies relating to foreign remittance inflows should be encouraged and made efficient.

     

Mechanistic aspects of the thermal formation of halogenated organic compounds including polychlorinated dibenzo‐p‐dioxins part III†: Thermodegradation of organometallics and polymers

Thermodegradation of organometallics viz. RMX (where M = Mg, Ti, Pd, Sn, Si, Al; and X =halogen atom) provides corresponding haloorganics i.e. RX. 1,2‐Shifts of H and Cl on the carbene species like CH₂F. CF and CFCL₂, CF produced from R. CF. Si F₃ (R = CH₂F, CFCl₂) are preferred to that of fluorine. The thermolysis of R.CF₂. Si Cl₃ (R = CH₂F) produces chloroolefins via halogen exchange. Major products of thermal degradation of poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC) are HCl and benzene but the mechanism of PVC thermodegradation is still a matter of dispute. The thermal cracking of lignins yields substituted phenols.     

Humic substances. Part II†: Photophysical,photochemical and free radical characteristics

The effects of mercury (HgCl₂) on cell population, chlorophyll a concentration and rates of photosynthesis and excretion were investigated in the phytoplanktonic species Dunaliella minuta in laboratory cultures. Mercury, above 25ppb inhibited both cell population and chlorophyll a concentration approximately to the same extent, whereas the photosynthetic rate was inhibited to a significantly lesser degree. Although, the total photosynthetic rate of the tested organism was reduced, above a threshold concentration, the photosynthetic activity was not reduced under these conditions, but it was in fact significantly greater than that in the control culture. This may suggest that in D. minuta the inhibitory effect of mercury is primarily on cell division rather than cellular photosynthesis, which is enhanced by the fact mercury caused a significant increase of the mean cell volume. Mercury, also, decreased the growth rate and final cell yield. The excretory rate was markedly increased at concentrations ≥ 250 ppb of mercury, but at lower concentrations it tended to depend more on the physiological state of cells than on mercury concentration. In the different cultures, the photosynthetic activity showed variations which occurred without major changes in the chlorophyll a content per cell, which remained almost constant and independent of variations in cell size and growth conditions.     

基于LUCC的艾比湖区域生态风险评价及预测研究

以新疆内陆艾比湖流域典型区域为研究区,基于RS和GIS技术分析1998、2013年土地利用变化,尝试用CA-Markov模型预测2028年土地利用/覆盖变化.借助Fragstats3.4软件,基于土地利用/覆盖变化构建景观生态风险评价模型,分析1998~2028年景观生态风险的时空分异特征.结果表明：（1）1998~2013年,研究区土地类型面积变化明显.耕地面积增加量最大,增加的面积为152139hm²,而未利用地面积减少量最大,减少的面积为67605hm².2013~2028年,耕地和裸露的河床及盐渍地的面积增加明显,增加的面积分别为30730hm²,12427hm²,而未利用地和水体的面积分别从954376hm²和44889hm²,减至921079hm²和37157hm².（2）1998~2028年,研究区生态风险等级空间分布差异明显.高生态风险区面积变化较为显著,其面积分别约占总面积的36.6%,7.3%,23.7%.1998~2028年,全局Moran's Ⅰ值分别为0.436962,0.442202,0.506622,表现为一定程度的正相关.（3）1998~2028年,耕地分布在低,较低生态风险的比重上升,所占百分比分别为58.46%,78.58%,79.9%.林、草地类型的各生态风险等级的所占的比重的波动较大.     

Risk assessment of heavy metal(loid)s via Spinacia oleracea ingestion after sewage water irrigation practices in Vehari District

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The use of sewage water as an irrigation source can be beneficial in agricultural practices, however, it may result in human health risks due to the...     

Sustainability of Current Agricultural Practices in The Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

Cameron Highlands is a mountainous region with steep slopes. Gradients exceeding 20^∘ are common. The climate is favourable to the cultivation of tea, sub-tropical vegetables and flowers (under rain-shelter). Crop production is sustained by high fertiliser and manure applications. However, agriculture in this environment is characterised by high levels of soil erosion and environmental pollution. A study on the sustainability of these agro-ecosystems was conducted. Results indicated that soil loss was in the range of 24–42 ton/ha/yr under vegetables and 1.3 ton under rain-shelter. Sediment load in the vegetable sub-catchment reached 3.5 g/L, 50 times higher than that associated with flowers under rain-shelter and tea. The sediments contained high nutrient loads of up to 470 kg N/ha/yr. The N, P and K lost in runoff from cabbage farms was 154 kg/season/ha, whereas in chrysanthemum farms it was 5 kg. In cabbage farms, the N, P, and K lost through leaching was 193 kg/season/ha. The NO₃–N concentration in the runoff from the cabbage farms reached 25 ppm but less than 10 ppm in runoff from rain-shelters. Inorganic pollution in the rivers was within the acceptable limit of 10 ppm. The sustainability of the agro-ecosystems is in the order of tea { > } rain–shelter ≫ vegetables.     

A review of global outlook on fluoride contamination in groundwater with prominence on the Pakistan current situation

Several million people are exposed to fluoride (F^?) via drinking water in the world. Current review emphasized the elevated level of fluoride concentrations in the groundwater and associated potential health risk globally with a special focus on Pakistan. Millions of people are deeply dependent on groundwater from different countries of the world encompassing with an elevated level of fluoride. The latest estimates suggest that around 200 million people, from among 25 nations the world over, are under the dreadful fate of fluorosis. India and China, the two most populous countries of the world, are the worst affected. In Pakistan, fluoride data of 29 major cities are reviewed and 34% of the cities show fluoride levels with a mean value greater than 1.5 mg/L where Lahore, Quetta and Tehsil Mailsi are having the maximum values of 23.60, 24.48, > 5.5 mg/L, respectively. In recent years, however, other countries have minimized, even eliminated its use due to health issues. High concentration of fluoride for extended time period causes adverse effects of health such as skin lesions, discoloration, cardiovascular disorders, dental fluorosis and crippling skeletal fluorosis. This review deliberates comprehensive strategy of drinking water quality in the global scenario of fluoride contamination, especially in Pakistan with prominence on major pollutants, mitigation technologies, sources of pollution and ensuing health problems. Considering these verities, health authorities urgently need to establish alternative means of water decontamination in order to prevent associated health problems.