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Dissolved Iron and Organic Matter in Boreal Rivers across a South–North Transect Environments Pub Date : 2024-03-26 Alisa Aleshina, Maria-Anna Rusakova, Olga Y. Drozdova, Oleg S. Pokrovsky, Sergey A. Lapitskiy
Iron (Fe) is one of the main nutrients present in dissolved, suspended, and colloidal states in river water. Predicting the composition and size of dissolved Fe compounds is crucial for assessing water quality. In this stud, we used a combination of physical methods (filtration), chemical techniques (ion exchange chromatography), and thermodynamic modeling (Visual MINTEQ) to characterize dissolved
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Impacts on Urban VOCs and PM2.5 during a Wildfire Episode Environments Pub Date : 2024-03-24 Zhong-Min Wang, Ping Wang, Jeff Wagner, Kazukiyo Kumagai
This study focuses on the impact of wildfire smoke emissions on regional, urban air quality during a wildfire event. We measured volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the San Francisco Bay Area to assess air quality during a wildfire event and compared them to those in a later non-wildfire period. VOCs were collected using thermal desorption tubes and quantified using
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Biosurfactant-Assisted Phytoremediation of Diesel-Contaminated Soil by Three Different Legume Species Environments Pub Date : 2024-03-25 Rimas Meištininkas, Irena Vaškevičienė, Austra Dikšaitytė, Nerijus Pedišius, Jūratė Žaltauskaitė
This study aims to assess the impact of HydroBreak PLUS biosurfactant on the phytoremediation of diesel-contaminated soil by three legume plant species: Medicago sativa, Lotus corniculatus, and Melilotus albus. Legumes were grown in soil contaminated with diesel (4.0 g kg−1, 6.0 g kg−1) for 90 days, and the changes in soil diesel and nutrient concentrations, plant growth, and physiological parameters
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Correlating Quantitative and Genomic SARS-CoV-2 Wastewater Data with Clinical Metrics in Metropolitan Perth, Western Australia Environments Pub Date : 2024-03-24 Jake Gazeley, Terence Lee, Daniel R. Knight, Alexander Shivarev, Cameron Gordon, David Speers, Dylan D. Barth, Jelena Maticevic, Meredith Hodge, Paul Armstrong, Paul Knight, Sandra Sjollema, Avram Levy
Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has emerged as a key method for the continuous monitoring of COVID-19 prevalence including circulating SARS-CoV-2 lineages. WBE addresses the limitations of traditional clinical COVID-19 surveillance such as clinical test availability, fluctuating testing rates, and increased reliance on rapid antigen tests. Our study in Perth, Western Australia found a significant
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Collaborative Monitoring of Plant Biodiversity and Research on Sweet Acorn Oaks within Paths of Knowledge and Sustainability Education Environments Pub Date : 2024-03-20 Antonino Soddu Pirellas, Mauro Ballero, Sebastiano Porcu, Giovanna Serra, Francesco Sanna, Michele Puxeddu
Numerous studies have shown the multiple benefits of plant biodiversity and the crucial role of residents’ awareness of conservation and land management. Plant biodiversity was investigated in an analytical monitoring report conducted jointly with the local population engaged in livestock activities and young residents who were shifting toward hospitality and tourism. The study area, covering over
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Evaluation of the Effects of Environmental Factors on Seasonal Variations in Fish Diversity on a Coastal Island in Western Japan Environments Pub Date : 2024-03-20 Nguyen Hong Nhat, Mitsuyo Saito, Mayuko Hamada, Shin-ichi Onodera
Coastal habitats are crucial for supporting ecological processes and serve as vital ecosystems for diverse fish species, providing essential functions such as feeding, nursery provision, and reproductive habitats. Fish communities are ecologically important components of coastal ecosystems and are affected by multiple environmental factors. Despite their importance, determining the effects of environmental
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Multi-Endpoint Analysis of Cerium and Gadolinium Effects after Long-Term Exposure to Phaeodactylum tricornutum Environments Pub Date : 2024-03-18 Antonietta Siciliano, Marisa Spampinato, Giovanna Salbitani, Marco Guida, Simona Carfagna, Antonios Apostolos Brouziotis, Marco Trifuoggi, Rosanna Bossa, Lorenzo Saviano, Edith Guadalupe Padilla Suarez, Giovanni Libralato
The significantly increasing levels of Rare Earth Elements (REEs) in seawater are largely due to multiple anthropogenic activities. Their effects on marine primary producers such as Phaeodactylum tricornutum have not been fully assessed. This study focused on examining the long-term impacts of these two commonly occurring REEs, cerium (Ce) and gadolinium (Gd), on marine diatoms by 28 d of exposure
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Accumulative Heat Stress in Ruminants at the Regional Scale under Changing Environmental Conditions Environments Pub Date : 2024-03-14 Jean-Philippe Aurambout, Kurt K. Benke, Garry J. O’Leary
Environmental heat stress is implicated in various animal health issues in ruminants, including reproduction rates, mortality rates, and animal physical quality. During extremely hot weather, there is often no overnight equilibration of animal temperature with its cooling effect, and the accumulated heat load becomes an important factor in animal health for ruminants such as sheep. Using the heat load
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Effect of Irrigation Regime and Soil Nutrients on the Growth of the Paddy Weed Heteranthera reniformis and Rice Grain Yield Environments Pub Date : 2024-03-14 Srijana Thapa Magar, Takeshi Fujino, Thant Ko Ko Han
The growth of Heteranthera reniformis, an invasive alien paddy weed, can be affected by cultivation practices. The experiments were conducted using herbicide-free soil to understand the effects of irrigation regimes and nutrient treatments on the growth of H. reniformis, as well as yield parameters while competing with a pre-existing seedbank. The pot experiments were conducted in a randomized complete
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Inoculation with Biofilm of Bacillus subtilis Is a Safe and Sustainable Alternative to Promote Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) Growth Environments Pub Date : 2024-03-11 Gabriela Cristina Sarti, Mirta Esther Galelli, Josefina Ana Eva Cristóbal-Miguez, Eliana Cárdenas-Aguiar, Hugo Daniel Chudil, Ana Rosa García, Antonio Paz-González
Over-fertilization and agrochemicals adversely affect soil quality and agricultural ecosystem sustainability. Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is ranked as an important crop due to its high profitability and nutritional value. In Argentina, tomato is mainly produced in horticultural belts at peri-urban areas, whose soils frequently are contaminated by heavy metals and/or agrochemicals. To explore safer
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Investigating the Sorption/Desorption of the Cationic Herbicide Paraquat in Clay Minerals Using Batch and Electro–Ultrafiltration Techniques Environments Pub Date : 2024-03-09 Stefano Salvestrini, Eleonora Grilli, Elio Coppola
The sorption/desorption processes of the cationic herbicide paraquat (PQ) onto various clays, namely, kaolinite (KLN), illite (ILT), and montmorillonite (MNT), were investigated. After the attainment of sorption equilibrium, PQ was extracted from the clays by a double-stage desorption process utilizing an electro–ultrafiltration (EUF) procedure. The Freundlich isotherm model and a pseudo-first kinetic
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Development of Cellulose Air Filters for Capturing Fine and Ultrafine Particles through the Valorization of Banana Cultivation Biomass Waste Environments Pub Date : 2024-03-07 Yumara Martín-Cruz, Pablo Bordón, Elisenda Pulido-Melián, Teresa Saura-Cayuela, Mario Monzón
Outdoor and indoor atmospheric pollution is one of the major problems that humanity continues to face. As a mitigation pathway, numerous technologies have been developed for air purification, including the use of fibrous filters. In this study, the particle capture efficiencies and pressure drops of air filters manufactured with cellulose pulp extracted from banana pseudostems were studied across three
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An Effective Biomonitor of Potentially Toxic Elements in Marine Ecosystems: The Brown Alga Dictyota spiralis Environments Pub Date : 2024-03-08 Maria Antonietta Nitopi, Daniela Baldantoni, Vincenzo Baldi, Floriana Di Stefano, Alessandro Bellino
Coastal marine areas are threatened by different forms of pollution, among which potentially toxic elements (PTEs) represent a primary hazard. In this study, 16 Mediterranean macroalgae colonizing the upper eulittoral and infralittoral zones were studied for their PTE accumulation capabilities in order to identify possible biomonitors that could replace the use of Posidonia oceanica, a protected species
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The Case for Carbon Capture and Storage Technologies Environments Pub Date : 2024-03-08 Gal Hochman, Vijay Appasamy
In this paper, we use the literature to help us better understand carbon capture costs and how these estimates fare against those of avoided costs, focusing on bioenergy carbon capture and storage (BECCS), carbon capture and storage (CCS), as well as direct air capture technologies. We approach these questions from a meta-analysis perspective. The analysis uses meta-analysis tools while applying them
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Reuse of Soils Fertilized with Ash as Recycling Derived Fertilizer Revealed Strong Stimulation of Microbial Communities Involved in P Mobilization in Lolium perenne Rhizospheres Environments Pub Date : 2024-03-04 Lea Deinert, Achim Schmalenberger
Circular economy recycling-derived fertilizers (RDF) have the potential to replace linear economy fertilizers such as unsustainable superphosphates. Here, effects of ash RDF treatments in Irish grassland cultivation were investigated in a simulated second growing season. Soil fertilized in a preceding pot trial with superphosphate (SP), poultry-litter ash (PLA) and sewage-sludge ash (SSA) at P concentration
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Development of Method for the Measurement of Dermal Exposure on a Lifelike Cow Dummy to Assess the Risk of Using a Urease Inhibitor (Atmowell®) to Reduce NH3 Emissions in Cattle Farming Environments Pub Date : 2024-02-29 Annika Ehmke, Jens Karl Wegener, Andreas Melfsen, Eberhard Hartung
Up to 58% of NH3 emissions can be reduced through the use of the urease inhibitor Atmowell® in cattle farming. Automated manure scraper and drag hose systems should be used to apply urease inhibitors (UIs) to stable floors. Proof of safe use is also needed. A risk assessment of the urease inhibitor PPDA was conducted utilising estimated and calculated exposure data along with established and verified
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BioWin Modeling of CalPrex Phosphorus Recovery from Wastewater Predicts Substantial Nuisance Struvite Reduction Environments Pub Date : 2024-02-29 Donald Vineyard, K.G. Karthikeyan, Phillip Barak
The wastewater treatment industry could benefit from new technologies for the removal and recovery of phosphorus (P). The CalPrex precipitation reactor has the potential to recover P in a readily land-applicable form by treating organic acid digestate with calcium hydroxide to produce brushite. Using data from a pilot-scale reactor at the local Nine Springs Wastewater Treatment Plant in Madison, WI
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Biomass Production and Metal Remediation by Salix alba L. and Salix viminalis L. Irrigated with Greywater Treated by Floating Wetlands Environments Pub Date : 2024-02-26 Suhad A. A. A. N. Almuktar, Suhail N. Abed, Miklas Scholz
As an alternative wood source for biochar and a cost-effective renewable energy source, sustainable biomass production based on fast-growing willows irrigated with treated wastewater has been explored. Salix alba L. and Salix viminalis L. were selected for assessment of their potentially high woody biomass productivity and phytoremediation efficiency when irrigated with greywater treated by floating
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Linking Clusters of Micropollutants in Surface Water to Emission Sources, Environmental Conditions, and Substance Properties Environments Pub Date : 2024-02-28 Tessa E. Pronk, Elvio D. Amato, Stefan A. E. Kools, Thomas L. Ter Laak
Water quality monitoring programs yield a wealth of data. It is often unclear why a certain substance occurs in higher concentrations at a certain location or time. In this study, substances were considered in clusters with co-varying concentrations rather than in isolation. A total of 196 substance clusters at 19 monitoring sites in the rivers Rhine and Meuse were identified. A total of nine clusters
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The Application of Cyanobacteria as a Biofertilizer for Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) Production with a Focus on Environmental and Ecological Sustainability Environments Pub Date : 2024-02-27 Saoli Chanda, Sanku Dattamudi, Krishnaswamy Jayachandran, Leonard J. Scinto, Mahadev Bhat
Cyanobacteria, an important addition to biofertilizers, are gaining popularity for their multifaceted benefits in sustainable agriculture and ecosystem restoration. However, harmful algal blooms (HABs) in freshwater, predominantly caused by cyanobacteria, prevent sunlight penetration into the water and develop hypoxic and anoxic conditions. We collected cyanobacteria slurry from Lake Jesup (Central
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Lead (Pb) Pollution in Soil: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Contamination Grade and Health Risk in Mexico Environments Pub Date : 2024-02-25 Jorge Briseño-Bugarín, Xelha Araujo-Padilla, Victor Manuel Escot-Espinoza, Jaime Cardoso-Ortiz, Juan Armando Flores de la Torre, Argelia López-Luna
Lead (Pb) is a toxic metal associated with several health disorders. The mining and Pb battery industry are related to Pb increase in air, water, and soil. Mexico is an important worldwide Pb producer; however, reviews on environmental Pb contamination in Mexico are insufficient. Since Pb remains stable in soil and its concentration is an indicator of Pb exposure, this systematic review focused on
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Low Abundant Bacteria Reflect Soil Specificity—Analysis of Bacterial Communities from Archaeological Investigation of Pre-Industrial Saline Ash Deposits of Bad Dürrenberg (Germany) Environments Pub Date : 2024-02-23 Johann Michael Köhler, Linda Ehrhardt, Peter Mike Günther, Manfred Böhme, Jialan Cao
Six soil samples from three layers of an archaeological investigation profile from a pre-industrial ash deposit place have been investigated by NGS analyses of 16 S rRNA. The three pairs of sample originate from top soil (internal reference), from an intermediate ash layer and from a lower ash layer, formed about two centuries ago. In addition to general abundant bacteria, special genera known as halophilic
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Technological Advances in Mechanical Recycling Innovations and Corresponding Impacts on the Circular Economy of Plastics Environments Pub Date : 2024-02-21 Kunle Babaremu, Adedapo Adediji, Nmesoma Olumba, Silifat Okoya, Esther Akinlabi, Muyiwa Oyinlola
The impact of plastic pollution on the world and its inhabitants is yet to be fully measured. Significant quantities of microplastics and nanoplastics have been found in human organs, and many diseases have been traced to their presence. Even human placentas have been found to contain microplastics. This study examines the recycling landscape, advanced reprocessing techniques, and technical challenges
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Digital Opportunity or a Threat? Adoption of Internet of Things (IoT) Monitoring Systems for Natural Resources in Germany Environments Pub Date : 2024-02-21 Tanya Baycheva-Merger, Andy Selter, Chris Seijger, Sabeth Häublein
In Germany, modern digital technologies like Internet of Things (IoT) have been increasingly promoted for better environmental and natural resources management through “smart” monitoring and real-time data. However, adopting such advanced technologies is complex and brings a wide array of risks and challenges, and it remains unclear whether local actors are in fact willing and sufficiently equipped
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Stream Chemistry and Forest Recovery Assessment and Prediction Modeling in Coal-Mine-Affected Watersheds in Kentucky, USA Environments Pub Date : 2024-02-21 Oguz Sariyildiz, Buddhi R. Gyawali, George F. Antonious, Kenneth Semmens, Demetrio Zourarakis, Maya P. Bhatt
Kentucky is one of the largest coal-producing states; surface coal mining has led to changes in natural land cover, soil loss, and water quality. This study explored relationships between actively mined and reclaimed areas, vegetation change, and water quality parameters. The study site evaluated 58 watersheds with Landsat-derived variables (reclamation age and percentage of mining, reclaimed forest
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Exposure of Zebrafish Embryos to Urea Affects NOS1 Gene Expression in Neuronal Cells Environments Pub Date : 2024-02-21 Pietro Cacialli, Serena Ricci, Flavia Frabetti, Sara Ferrando, Valeria Franceschini
Nitrogen-based fertilizers represent the most common fertilization tools, particularly used in crop food agriculture, despite the low cost-efficiency and the high negative environmental impact. At present, there is still inadequate information available about the effects of urea on human health; nevertheless, previous studies in animals observed that high urea concentration exposure can damage different
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Statistical Characterization of Full-Scale Thermophilic Biological Systems to Inform Process Optimization Environments Pub Date : 2024-02-17 Maria Cristina Collivignarelli, Stefano Bellazzi, Francesca Maria Caccamo, Marco Sordi, Barbara Crotti, Alessandro Abbà, Marco Baldi
This paper focuses on using a novel approach to assess the statistical variability of management data from an aerobic thermophilic biological plant (AWTP) utilizing a fluidized bed biological reactor. A proper statistical characterization of full-scale thermophilic biological systems, in fact, may inform process optimization in the light of a future automation of treatment plants. We present a case
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Effects of Reduced Seawater pH and Oil Contamination on Bacterial Communities and Biochemical Markers of Estuarine Animal Hosts Environments Pub Date : 2024-02-17 António Louvado, Victor Galhano, Fernanda Lima, Daniel F. R. Cleary, Isabel Lopes, Newton C. M. Gomes, Francisco J. R. C. Coelho
Ecosystem functioning depends on complex interactions between microorganisms, hosts, and the environment. Changes in environmental conditions (e.g., ocean acidification) in combination with anthropogenic pollution have been shown to affect the composition and function of free-living microbial communities, but little is known about the effects these stressors on host-associated communities. This study
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The Use of Constructed Wetlands to Treat Effluents for Water Reuse Environments Pub Date : 2024-02-14 Sandro Xavier de Campos, Manuel Soto
Constructed wetland systems (CWs) are technologies based on natural processes for pollutant removal and have been more and more accepted in the treatment of domestic and industrial wastewater. This study selected and reviewed articles published in the last six years involving the use of different CW conceptions and their association with other technologies to treat different effluents and evaluated
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Concentrations of Potentially Toxic Elements in Topsoils of Urban Agricultural Areas of Rome Environments Pub Date : 2024-02-11 Monica Shree Chandramohan, Isabel Martinho da Silva, Joaquim Esteves da Silva
Urban agricultural soils have important social, environmental, and economic roles in big cities, contributing to their sustainability. However, food production in urban soils may be compromised due to soil pollution that resulted from decades of industrial, non-regulated environmental activity and mobile transport. In this study, 12 soils from the urban agricultural area of Rome (Italy) were analyzed
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Global Environmental Systems—A Spatial Framework for Better Understanding the Changing World Environments Pub Date : 2024-02-10 Aleš Hrdina, Dušan Romportl
Purely natural land formations are increasingly rare in today’s world, as most areas have been shaped, to varying degrees, by human influence over time. To better understand ongoing changes in the natural environment, we adopted an approach that involves identifying global systems with a significant anthropogenic component. In this study, we developed a new classification of Global Environmental Systems
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Influence of Blending High-Calcium Additive on Environmental Safety of B, F, and Se: A Case Study from Thermodynamic Calculation Environments Pub Date : 2024-02-04 Ulung Muhammad Sutopo, Erda Rahmilaila Desfitri, Yukio Hayakawa, Shinji Kambara
Coal remains an important fuel for use in thermal power plants. However, coal-burning power plants produce large amounts of CFA, which contains TEs such as B, F, and Se, which are leached upon contact with water and act as potential polluters of aquifer systems and soil. To study the transformation of TEs, a thermodynamic calculation (FactSage 7.2) was used. Paper sludge ash was used as a calcium compound
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Celerity of Ice Breakup Front in the Regulated Peace River, Canada, and Implications for the Recharge of the Peace–Athabasca Delta Environments Pub Date : 2024-02-01 Spyros Beltaos
Timely release of flow from upstream hydropower generation facilities on the Peace River can enhance potential ice-jam flooding near the drying Peace–Athabasca Delta (PAD), a Ramsar wetland of international importance and homeland to Indigenous Peoples. An important consideration in deciding whether and when to commence a release is the celerity of the breakup front as it advances along the Peace River
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The Environmental Impact of E-Waste Microplastics: A Systematic Review and Analysis Based on the Driver–Pressure–State–Impact–Response (DPSIR) Framework Environments Pub Date : 2024-02-03 Joana C. Prata
Microplastics resulting from the fragmentation of plastics in electronic waste (e-waste) are an emerging but understudied environmental concern. This systematic review employs a Driver–Pressure–State–Impact–Response (DPSIR) framework to investigate the sources, prevalence, and environmental effects of e-waste microplastics, identifying knowledge gaps. The available literature on e-waste microplastics
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Improving BioWin Modeling of Phosphorus Solubilization in Acid-Phase Digesters Environments Pub Date : 2024-02-03 Donald Vineyard, K.G. Karthikeyan, Christy Davidson, Phillip Barak
BioWin 6.0 does not accurately predict phosphorus (P) speciation in acidogenic anaerobic digesters under default kinetics characterization and parameterization. The accurate modeling of acid-phase digestion is needed to predict the performance of novel nutrient recovery technologies that act on these digester effluents. The main thrust of this work was to identify and correct the causes of inaccurate
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Zeolite and Winery Waste as Innovative By-Product for Vineyard Soil Management Environments Pub Date : 2024-02-02 Serena Doni, Grazia Masciandaro, Cristina Macci, Davide Manzi, Giovan Battista Mattii, Eleonora Cataldo, Maria Gispert, Francesca Vannucchi, Eleonora Peruzzi
In semiarid environments, vine cultivation is a land use with a high impact with regard to soil erosion, loss of organic matter and biodiversity, contamination, and compaction. In addition, the wine supply chain produces a considerable quantity of organic waste, which remains as residues in the ecosystem. Within this context, we developed a sustainable vine management system to improve the efficient
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Analyzing Important Disaster Risk Factors for Enhanced Policy Responses in Perceived at-Most-Risk African Countries Environments Pub Date : 2024-01-31 Emmanuel Eze, Alexander Siegmund
The foremost priority of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) is the increased understanding of disaster risk and strengthening its management. Detailed insights into African disaster risk drivers and assessment of policies for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) are sparse, hence this study. Using the Index for Risk Management (INFORM) data for 2022, this study determines important disaster
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Rare Earth Elements (REE): Origins, Dispersion, and Environmental Implications—A Comprehensive Review Environments Pub Date : 2024-01-24 Manfred Sager, Oliver Wiche
The rare earth elements (REE) comprise a group of 16 chemically very similar elements that occur widespread in rocks, soils, and water bodies, share similar ionic radii to the essential element Ca2+, and consequently also occur in biota. Given that REE form mainly trivalent cations, they also share similarities to Al3+. Compared to their chemical cognate Ca, they have a higher reactivity. Thus, their
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Recycling, Material Flow, and Recycled Content Demands of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Bottles towards a Circular Economy in Korea Environments Pub Date : 2024-01-25 Chonghee Lee, Yong-Chul Jang, Kyunghoon Choi, Byeonghwan Kim, Hakyun Song, Youngsun Kwon
The recycling and proper management of PET bottles is needed to avoid plastic pollution, as well as to achieve a plastic circular economy. In this study, we examined the recycling system of PET bottles and their material flows by life cycle, from production to recycling and disposal under different scenarios with reduced consumption for PET bottles. In Korea, PET bottle recycling has been managed by
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Tungsten Bioaccessibility and Environmental Availability in Tungsten-Spiked Agricultural Soils Environments Pub Date : 2024-01-26 Gianniantonio Petruzzelli, Francesca Pedron
Tungsten is an essential element for many cutting-edge industries. Its use is increasing, so much that it has become a “critical element”. With the increase in the use of tungsten, a possible increase in its presence in environmental matrices including soil is expected. In this research, we assessed the environmental availability and bioaccessibility of W in relation to soil properties. Four representative
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Fungal Arsenic Tolerance and Bioaccumulation: Local Strains from Polluted Water vs. Allochthonous Strains Environments Pub Date : 2024-01-22 Laura Canonica, Grazia Cecchi, Vittorio Capra, Simone Di Piazza, Alessandro Girelli, Sandro Zappatore, Mirca Zotti
The paper deals with the possible use of fungi to decontaminate polluted waters. Specifically, the focus is the selection of the most promising fungal strain capable of bioaccumulating arsenic, which is a globally widespread environmental contaminant. To this aim, allochthonous fungal strains from the ColD UNIGE JRU MIRRI strains collection were selected. Their capability to survive and accumulate
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Copper Speciation in Wine Growing-Drain Waters: Mobilization, Transport, and Environmental Diffusion Environments Pub Date : 2024-01-19 Valentin De Carsalade du Pont, Amani Ben Azzouz, Hind El Hadri, Philippe Chéry, Gaëtane Lespes
Copper (Cu) has been used to treat vines for a long time, which has led to its accumulation in vineyard soils. In the present work, the mobilization of copper from these soils and its transport, and diffusion outside the plots by drain water were investigated. For this, the distribution of copper between the dissolved and colloidal phases, and within the colloidal phase, of these waters was determined
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Ecological Analysis and Opportunities for Enhancement of the Archaeological Landscape: The Vascular Flora of Seven Archaeological Sites in Greece Environments Pub Date : 2024-01-16 Electra Kanellou, Maria Papafotiou, Costas Saitanis, Garifalia Economou
Spontaneous plants are an integral part of the archaeological landscape. The indigenous vegetation of the archaeological landscape can play a significant role in preserving the atmosphere of a place, as well as an additional element for education and recreation. Spontaneous vegetation was recorded in seven archaeological sites around Greece. Field surveys were conducted over two vegetative seasons
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Dissipation Kinetics, Leaching, and Ecological Risk Assessment of S-Metolachlor and Benfluralin Residues in Soil Environments Pub Date : 2024-01-18 Paraskevas Parlakidis, George S. Adamidis, Georgios D. Gikas, Sofia Vasiliou, Melpomeni Kissa, Konstantinos Doitsinis, Christos Alexoudis, Zisis Vryzas
The use of selective herbicides is one of the best methods for weed management. However, the extensive use of herbicides can have adverse impacts on non-target organisms. The goals of this study were to assess the dissipation kinetics, leaching, and ecological risk assessment of S-metolachlor and benfluralin residues in silty loam soil planted with chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). The experimental setup
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The Effect of Using a Geopedological Approach in Determining Land Quality Indicators, Land Degradation, and Development (Case Study: Caspian Sea Coast) Environments Pub Date : 2024-01-19 Ramin Samiei-Fard, Ahmad Heidari, Patrick J. Drohan, Shahla Mahmoodi, Shirin Ghatrehsamani
This study addresses the escalating global concern surrounding land degradation (LD) and its far-reaching implications on water and nutrient availability, as well as on human health and well-being. Focused on the southeastern Caspian Sea region, this research employs a novel remote sensing geo-pedological methodology to comprehensively assess soil and land quality dynamics, particularly influenced
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Spatiotemporal Assessment of Soil and Vegetation Pollution with Toxic Metals from Road Traffic along the First Romanian Highway Environments Pub Date : 2024-01-20 Luoana Florentina Pascu, Bogdan Adrian Stănescu, Marian Gabriel Gâsnac, Lidia Kim
The present study is dedicated to the assessment of soil and vegetation pollution with toxic metals on a section of the oldest highway in Romania, which has been in operation for more 50 years. In the assessment, the limits of the national legislation were complied with, and the analysis was related to locally identified reference levels at a distance from the road, the main potential source of pollution
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Evolution of Freshwater Runoff in the Western Adriatic Sea over the Last Century Environments Pub Date : 2024-01-20 Teresa Sani, Mauro Marini, Alessandra Campanelli, Mariana Machado Toffolo, Stefano Goffredo, Federica Grilli
The evaluation of the hydrography and biogeochemistry of the Adriatic Sea over the last century was summarized in this review to point out any changes in river runoff and provide an overview of the cause and effect of these trends on marine ecosystems. Although several rivers flow into the Adriatic, the most affected area is the northern Adriatic, where the Po River loads into the basin half of the
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Potential Use of Biochar as a Mitigation Strategy for Salinity-Related Issues in Tomato Plants (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Environments Pub Date : 2024-01-17 Eleonora Coppa, Giulia Quagliata, Rachele Venanzi, Alessandro Bruschini, Leonardo Bianchini, Rodolfo Picchio, Stefania Astolfi
The continuous growth of the population, along with climate change and the resulting surge in food demand, requires the development of alternative crop cultivation strategies that reduce the excessive use of freshwater for agricultural purposes. Biochar, which is a carbon-rich material made from organic waste through pyrolysis, has been recommended as a potential soil amendment to mitigate the negative
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Co-Valorisation Energy Potential of Wastewater Treatment Sludge and Agroforestry Waste Environments Pub Date : 2024-01-09 Amadeu D. S. Borges, Miguel Oliveira, Bruno M. M. Teixeira, Frederico Branco
The growing demand for sustainable and environment-friendly energy sources resulted in extensive research in the field of renewable energy. Biomass, derived from organic materials such as agricultural waste, forestry products, and wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) sludge, holds great potential as a renewable energy resource that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and offer sustainable solutions for
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Application of Wood and Vegetable Waste-Based Biochars in Sustainable Agriculture: Evaluation on Nitrate Leaching, Pesticide Fate, Soil Properties, and Brassica oleracea Growth Environments Pub Date : 2024-01-06 Daniela Losacco, Claudia Campanale, Mariangela Triozzi, Carmine Massarelli, Vito Felice Uricchio
Environmental pollution is caused by the unsustainable use of nitrogen (N) fertilizers and pesticides. Biochar (BC) is a carbon-based material applied to remove excess nutrients and pesticides from the environment. In pot experimental research, N fertilizer and pesticides alone and different biochar types were applied in the soil to evaluate cauliflower growth, soil quality, and leaching of agricultural
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Effects of Exposure to Urban Atmospheric Particulate Matter Suspended in Seawater on the Mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis Environments Pub Date : 2024-01-05 Inês Rodrigues, Inês João Ferreira, Regina M. B. O. Duarte, Mário Diniz
Atmospheric particulate matter (PM) contains numerous constituents, including organic molecules, inorganic ions, and metals, with some of them possessing hazardous properties. Although mainly associated with air pollution, PM can rapidly be transferred from air and land to aquatic ecosystems, and consequently poses a risk to marine biota. The aim of this work was to evaluate how urban atmospheric PM
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Assessment of the Impact of War on Concentrations of Pollutants and Heavy Metals and Their Seasonal Variations in Water and Sediments of the Tigris River in Mosul/Iraq Environments Pub Date : 2024-01-03 Zena Altahaan, Daniel Dobslaw
The war-related contamination of water and sediment of the Tigris River within the urban area of Mosul leads to seasonally independent exceedances of the WHO limit values for Cd, Pb, Cr, and Ni in water and sediments. Furthermore, exceedances consistently occur for conductivity, PO43−, and SO42−, as well as sporadically for salinity and COD in water samples, and consistently for salinity in sediment
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The Impact of Exposure to Hexavalent Chromium on the Incidence and Mortality of Oral and Gastrointestinal Cancers and Benign Diseases: A Systematic Review of Observational Studies, Reviews and Meta-Analyses Environments Pub Date : 2024-01-04 Konstantinos Katsas, Dimitrios V. Diamantis, Athena Linos, Theodora Psaltopoulou, Konstantinos Triantafyllou
Background: Limited evidence suggests a possible connection between natural or occupational exposure to chromium and an increased risk of gastrointestinal cancer. The main objective of this study is to investigate the literature regarding chromium exposure and gastrointestinal health issues (i.e., cancer). Methods: A systematic literature search was performed using PubMed, Google Scholar and ScienceDirect
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Sustainability Assessment of Highly Fluorescent Carbon Dots Derived from Eucalyptus Leaves Environments Pub Date : 2024-01-01 Archana Johny, Luís Pinto da Silva, Carlos M. Pereira, Joaquim C. G. Esteves da Silva
Biomass-derived carbon dots (CDs) are gaining much interest in recent times, as they provide a sustainable option with abundant availability, a low cost and tunable luminescence. Herein, we report a simple green synthesis method to produce highly fluorescent CDs from Eucalyptus globulus leaves using the one-pot hydrothermal approach. The fabricated CDs exhibit strong blue fluorescence with an excitation
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Composted Sewage Sludge as a Substrate for Commercial Seedlings of Peltophorum dubium (Spreng.) Taub. Environments Pub Date : 2024-01-02 Laura Oliveira Cleto da Silva, Aline Cássia da Fonseca, Deicy Carolina Lozano Sivisaca, Roberto Lyra Villas Boas, Magali Ribeiro da Silva, Gian Franco Capra, Antonio Ganga, Iraê Amaral Guerrini
Sewage sludge in natura is rich in nutrients, water, and organic matter and is essential for plant development. However, sewage sludge is diluted with water when composted, which could hamper plant growth. Therefore, supplementation with chemical fertilization may be necessary. This study evaluated the performance of composted sewage sludge (CSS) in producing Peltophorum dubium (Spreng.) Taub. seedlings
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Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Green Infrastructure: A Systematic Exploration of Definitions and Their Origins Environments Pub Date : 2024-01-02 Tolulope Adesoji, Annie Pearce
Green Infrastructure (GI) is rooted in ecology and cuts across multiple disciplines, including landscape architecture, environmental sciences, planning, policy, and engineering. Likewise, the definition of this concept also cuts across disciplines, which creates ambiguity around what GI is and what makes up GI in practice—for example, mistaking bioswales for regular tree planters or green space within
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Determination of Ozone Concentration Levels in Urban Environments Using a Laser Spectroscopy System Environments Pub Date : 2024-01-02 Mioara Petrus, Cristina Popa, Ana-Maria Bratu
In urban areas, there has been a recent rise in ground-level ozone. Given its toxicity to both humans and the environment, the investigation of ozone pollution demands attention and should not be overlooked. Therefore, we conducted a study on ozone concentration in three distinct locations within the city of Magurele, Romania. This investigation considered variations in both structure and location
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A Dynamic Multiple Reaction Monitoring Analytical Method for the Determination of Fungicide Residues in Drinking Water Environments Pub Date : 2023-12-26 Aggelos Arvanitidis, George S. Adamidis, Paraskevas Parlakidis, Georgios D. Gikas, Christos Alexoudis, Zisis Vryzas
The extensive use of fungicides causes their continuous release into the environment through spraying, soil seepage, leaching, and runoff. It has been observed that their residues can be found in foods and a variety of environmental compartments, such as wastewater, lakes, rivers, sediments, drinking water sources (groundwater and surface water), treated water, and drinking water. A sensitive GC-MS/MS
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Effect of Bark Biochars on Properties of Steam-Activated Carbons Environments Pub Date : 2023-12-20 Umut Şen, Catarina Nobre, Marta Martins, Margarida Gonçalves, Helena Pereira
Bark is a heterogeneous solid material comprising mainly of phloem and cork fractions. These fractions differ in chemical composition and anatomical structure, and value-added activated carbons produced from these fractions have different surface properties. Low-temperature pyrolysis was shown to be a promising method for producing activated carbon precursors from bark fractions at higher yields than
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Adult Chironomid (Chironomidae: Diptera) Positive Phototactic Behaviour—A Cue for Adult Population Management and Impact on Insect Biodiversity at Lake Trasimeno, Central Italy Environments Pub Date : 2023-12-19 Matteo Pallottini, Sarah Pagliarini, Marianna Catasti, Leonardo Giontella, Gianandrea La Porta, Roberta Selvaggi, Elda Gaino, Leonardo Spacone, Alessandro Maria Di Giulio, Arshad Ali, Enzo Goretti
The positive phototaxis showed by adults of some pestiferous chironomid species, annoying to waterfront residents and businesses, was investigated at Lake Trasimeno (Italy) to develop a strategy against their massive swarms. Two experimental devices (ChiroTraps), located at Passignano sul Trasimeno (PA) and at Sant’Arcangelo (SA), were employed in 2019 and 2020. The total biomass attracted by the traps