Hasil untuk "Environmental effects of industries and plants"

Antoine Dechezleprêtre, Misato Sato

This article reviews the empirical literature on the impacts of environmental regulations on firms’ competitiveness as measured by trade, industry location, employment, productivity, and innovation. The evidence shows that environmental regulations can lead to statistically significant adverse effects on trade, employment, plant location, and productivity in the short run, in particular in a well-identified subset of pollution- and energy-intensive sectors, but that these impacts are small relative to general trends in production. At the same time, there is evidence that environmental regulations induce innovation in clean technologies, but the resulting benefits do not appear to be large enough to outweigh the costs of regulations for the regulated entities. As measures to address competitiveness impacts are increasingly incorporated into the design of environmental regulations, future research will be needed to assess the validity and effectiveness of such measures and to ensure they are compatible with the environmental objectives of the policies.

Angela Martina, Lorenzo Ferroni, E. Marrocchino

Rare earth elements (REEs) are increasingly present in the environment owing to their extensive use in modern industries, yet their interactions with plants remain poorly understood. This review explores the soil–plant continuum of REEs, focusing on their geochemical behavior in soil, the mechanisms of plant uptake, and fractionation processes. While REEs are not essential for plant metabolism, they interact with plant structures and interfere with the normal functioning of biological macromolecules. Accordingly, the influence of REEs on the fundamental physiological functions of plants is reviewed, including calcium-mediated signalling and plant morphogenesis. Special attention is paid to the interaction of REEs with photosynthetic machinery and, particularly, the thylakoid membrane. By examining both the beneficial effects at low concentrations and toxicity at higher levels, this review provides some mechanistic insights into the hormetic action of REEs. It is recommended that future research should address knowledge gaps related to the bioavailability of REEs to plants, as well as the short- and long-range transport mechanisms responsible for REE fractionation. A better understanding of REE–plant interactions will be critical in regard to assessing their ecological impact and the potential risks in terms of agricultural and natural ecosystems, to ensure that the benefits of using REEs are not at the expense of environmental integrity or human health.

Itzel Y. López-Pacheco, Arisbe Silva-Núñez, C. Salinas-Salazar et al.

Existence of anthropogenic contaminants (ACs) in different environmental matrices is a serious and unresolved concern. For instance, ACs from different sectors, such as industrial, agricultural, and pharmaceutical, are found in water bodies with considerable endocrine disruptors potency and can damage the biotic components of the environment. The continuous ACs exposure can cause cellular toxicity, apoptosis, genotoxicity, and alterations in sex ratios in human beings. Whereas, aquatic organisms show bioaccumulation, trophic chains, and biomagnification of ACs through different entry route. These problems have been found in many countries around the globe, making them a worldwide concern. ACs have been found in different environmental matrices, such as water reservoirs for human consumption, wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs), groundwaters, surface waters, rivers, and seas, which demonstrate their free movement within the environment in an uncontrolled manner. This work provides a detailed overview of ACs occurrence in water bodies along with their toxicological effect on living organisms. The literature data reported between 2017 and 2018 is compiled following inclusion-exclusion criteria, and the obtained information was mapped as per type and source of ACs. The most important ACs are pharmaceuticals (diclofenac, ibuprofen, naproxen, ofloxacin, acetaminophen, progesterone ranitidine, and testosterone), agricultural products or pesticides (atrazine, carbendazim, fipronil), narcotics and illegal drugs (amphetamines, cocaine, and benzoylecgonine), food industry derivatives (bisphenol A, and caffeine), and personal care products (triclosan, and other related surfactants). Considering this threatening issue, robust detection and removal strategies must be considered in the design of WWTPs and DWTPs.

Rodrigo A. Contreras, Karla Sepúlveda, Gustavo E. Zúñiga

The Antarctic vascular plant Colobanthus quitensis has developed unique mechanisms to survive in extreme environmental conditions, such as high UV-B radiation and nutrient scarcity. This study evaluated the effects of immersion frequency in a temporary immersion bioreactor (TIB) on biomass growth, phenolic compound accumulation, and flavonoid synthesis. Plants subjected to 24-hour immersion pulses exhibited the highest biomass yield (192.7%), phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activity (52 μkats/kg protein), and total phenolic content (TPC; 40 mg GAE/g dry weight). Flavonoids such as neoschaftoside, saponarin, and schaftoside significantly accumulated under these conditions, demonstrating the metabolic shift induced by controlled nutrient deprivation and improved aeration. The findings highlight that intermittent stress optimises secondary metabolite production, providing a sustainable pathway for bioactive compound extraction. These phenolic metabolites have potential applications in agriculture as antifungal agents, in cosmetics for UV-B protection, and functional foods as antioxidants. This study underscores the relevance of TIB systems as scalable and efficient tools for enhancing plant-derived bioactive compounds, contributing to sustainability across various industries.

Bahman Massoumi Nejad, Sara Enferadi, Robbie Andrew

Direct emissions from the cement industry account for 7%–8% of global anthropogenic CO₂ emissions, primarily from thermal decomposition of carbonates (i.e., calcination) during clinker production. Iran ranks among the world's top ten cement producers and is the seventh-largest CO₂ emitter globally. Despite its significant contribution to global emissions, Iran's process-related CO2 emissions (i.e., chemically derived CO2 from calcination) remain underreported in international datasets. This study addresses this gap by analyzing CO₂ emissions from carbonate decomposition in 77 Iranian cement plants from 2013 to 2023, highlighting regional and plant-specific emission factors. Utilizing plant-specific clinker data, the study applied methodologies aligned with the 2006 IPCC Guidelines and the WRI/WBCSD Greenhouse Gas Protocol to calculate emission factors and CO2 emissions. The findings show notable geographical variations and a substantial national trend, with emissions rising from 28.75 million tonnes (Mt) in 2016 to 39.33 Mt in 2023. A primary contributor is Iran's high clinker-to-cement ratio, averaging 94.1% in 2023, underscoring the urgent need for sustainable production practices, particularly through the adoption of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) like pozzolans and industrial by-products. To address this, the study recommends a two-pronged policy approach: reducing clinker content in cement by promoting blended alternatives, such as Portland Composite Cement (PCC) and Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC), through regulatory controls and economic incentives. These results emphasize the importance of targeted, data-driven policies for sustainable cement production, offering critical insights for stakeholders and policymakers aiming to align Iran's cement sector with global emissions reduction goals.

Princy Rajput, Shashank Benjwal and Rohit Pandey

Heavy metal contamination, along with other pollutants, presents significant environmental hazards. These substances not only endanger human health but also disrupt natural ecosystem. Bioremediation emerges as a sustainable and economically viable approach to tackling pollution. It harnesses the capabilities of microorganisms, plants, and their enzymes to degrade or neutralize pollutants. This paper categorizes bioremediation into two primary types: ex-situ and in-situ. Ex-situ bioremediation treats contaminated material away from its original location, while in-situ bioremediation addresses contamination directly at the site. This paper also explores how microbes tolerate heavy metals through various mechanisms. These mechanisms encompass extracellular barriers, efflux pumps, enzymatic reduction, and intracellular sequestration. Extracellular barriers function to block the entry of metals into the cell, whereas efflux pumps work actively to expel metals from the cell. Enzymatic reduction facilitates the conversion of metals into less harmful forms, while intracellular sequestration involves storing metals within the cell. Moreover, the paper examines diverse applications of bioremediation in environmental restoration. These applications encompass natural attenuation, enhanced reductive dechlorination, sewage treatment, bioleaching, biosorption, constructed wetlands, biostimulation, and bioaugmentation. This paper emphasizes the need for further research to optimize bioremediation technologies for broader real-world environmental management applications.

Kaiwen Chang, Ruini Qu, Umit Bititci et al.

This study highlights the critical role of consumer behaviour in advancing the UK's transition to a Circular Chemical Economy (CCE), a sector heavily reliant on fossil fuels and a major contributor to CO2 emissions. While most existing studies focus on the technological and economic viability of a CCE, we explore the less examined dimension of consumer perceptions and behavioural responses to circular products and recycling practices. By leveraging the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), we analyse unique survey data from 2,418 UK participants. The findings reveal that consumer attitude, and societal impact significantly influence consumers' willingness to pay (WTP) for circular products, while perceived behavioural control emerges as the most influential factor in their willingness to recycle (WTR). These insights are vital for policymakers and industry stakeholders aiming to stimulate behavioural change. The study offers several recommendations, including enhancing awareness and understanding of CCE products and recycling practices, fostering collaboration and partnerships, promoting the use of clear and standardised labelling, and designing effective incentives. Although our results are based on extensive UK-based data, they offer valuable insights for countries with similar socio-economic characteristics.

Ivan Puga-Gonzalez, Larissa L. Lima, Patrycja Antosz et al.

Food loss and waste are increasingly recognized as the outcomes of complex, interconnected social and environmental dynamics rather than isolated individual choices. In this study, we adopt a complex systems approach to explore how micro-level behaviors and interactions within commercial dining settings give rise to emergent patterns of food waste. We present an agent-based model that integrates a psychologically realistic representation of individual decision-making, grounded in the HUMAT socio-cognitive architecture. Here, artificial agents balance multiple motives — including social, experiential, and values-based drivers — while operating within a context shaped by the Motivation, Opportunities, and Abilities (MOA) framework from the social sciences. The simulated population represents diners in buffet-style environments. Individuals follow rules influenced by their motivations, opportunities, and abilities, which dictate factors such as the timing of their meal, portion sizes, frequency of servings, and amount of leftovers on their plates. Results highlight that the motives of conformism and sustainability have the strongest impact on food waste levels, with higher values drastically reducing leftovers. The model also shows that extra servings—particularly in scenarios with normal plate sizes—are strongly associated with increased waste. These findings underscore how behavioral drivers and situational constraints interact to shape food waste patterns, supporting the model's application in simulating context-sensitive interventions for promoting sustainable and responsible consumption.

Muhammad Mujahid, Qi Adlan, Iis Diatin et al.

Abandoned mine quarries are a growing concern in many developing countries, especially in the Indonesian archipelago, where challenging geography often hinders regulatory inspections. Repurposing quarry settling ponds for fish culture poses a challenge because, while these ponds offer an opportunity to convert post-mining geological assets into sustainable resources, not all fish species can survive the poor water conditions typical of these ponds. Reclaiming post-mining land offers an opportunity to convert these geological sites into productive fish culture areas. In this study, a settling pond at a post-mining site in Sukabumi, West Java, Indonesia, was treated, and fish species were selected using a Multi-Criteria Decision-Making method to ensure survivability and economic sustainability. The three best species were tested in a 1.5 m x 1 m x    1 m floating net cage with 200 fish stocked per cage, with a culture time of 70 days. The selected fish species cultured were catfish (Clarias gariepinus), common carp (Cyprinus carpio), and tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Survival rates ranged from 53.5 to 86%, showing the pond’s potential for fish farming. Catfish and tilapia exhibited the highest growth, survival, and production rates, more than twice that of common carp, highlighting their suitability for sustainable fish culture in reclaimed settling ponds.

Alen Joy, Chandni Thiruthikkatt

Heavy metals are an important category of elements that are commonly used in the industrial sector. Among these elements, cadmium is utilized in various types of industries. It may accumulate in the environmental systems such as water and soil as a result of industrial activities. Exposure to cadmium may evoke several ill effects on human, plant, and animal life. The well water sources in the industrial areas face a major threat from the exposure of cadmium used by the industries. The guidelines of the World Health Organization only permit a maximum amount of 3μg per liter of drinking water. In this study, 14 well water samples from the industrial area of Ollur in the Thrissur district of Kerala, India are collected and the concentration of cadmium is identified. The analysis was conducted by using an inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscope (ICP-OES), which is a highly sensitive instrument used in the identification of trace elements. Among the 14 samples analysed, several samples exceeded the maximum accepted concentration of cadmium according to the guidelines of WHO.

Georges Dubourg, Zoran Pavlovic, B. Bajac et al.

The application of metal oxide nanomaterials (MOx NMs) in the agrifood industry offers innovative solutions that can facilitate a paradigm shift in a sector that is currently facing challenges in meeting the growing requirements for food production, while safeguarding the environment from the impacts of current agriculture practices. This review comprehensively illustrates recent advancements and applications of MOx for sustainable practices in the food and agricultural industries and environmental preservation. Relevant published data point out that MOx NMs can be tailored for specific properties, enabling advanced design concepts with improved features for various applications in the agrifood industry. Applications include nano-agrochemical formulation, control of food quality through nanosensors, and smart food packaging. Furthermore, recent research suggests MOx's vital role in addressing environmental challenges by removing toxic elements from contaminated soil and water. This mitigates the environmental effects of widespread agrichemical use and creates a more favorable environment for plant growth. The review also discusses potential barriers, particularly regarding MOx toxicity and risk evaluation. Fundamental concerns about possible adverse effects on human health and the environment must be addressed to establish an appropriate regulatory framework for nano metal oxide-based food and agricultural products.

Yavuz Agan, Cemil Kuzey, M. F. Acar et al.

A. Arabia, Núria Pallarés, Sergi Munné‐Bosch et al.

Abstract BACKGROUND Fluctuations in environmental conditions within fields and crop plant performance can greatly affect production and quality standards. These factors are particularly relevant for producers, who require sustained optimal production to profit from small margins. Fluctuations might be exacerbated at the end of the crop season, where neither of the aforementioned factors are optimal. In the present integrated study, we assess strawberries' nutritional quality and the impact of harvest timing, tunnel conditions and inter‐individual variability in a Mediterranean production tunnel divided into blocks, where two harvests were performed 3 weeks apart. In addition, the effects of sprayed melatonin at the end of productive season were also evaluated. RESULTS End‐season harvesting negatively impacted fruit hydration, antioxidant capacity and ripening‐related hormones in strawberry fruits. Additionally, tunnel distribution influenced fruit nutritional quality, with light radiation being the main variable factor disturbing antioxidant contents. Nutrients exhibited high inter‐individual plant variability, accounting for 20% variation, and were strongly correlated with fruit hydration and ripening‐related phytohormones. Finally, melatonin applications affected neither fruit production, nor nutritional parameters, for which the effects were masked by the intrinsic strawberry variability. Overall, the results underline the limitations of this type of application for field implementation. CONCLUSION Fruit quality variation in strawberry fields is explained by environmental and inter‐individual variability. Likewise, the implementation of regulatory molecules such as melatonin in field applications relies on crop homogeneity and might have limited applicability in heterogeneous productive systems. Consequently, identifying and reducing microclimate variability in productive fields is paramount for advancing agricultural practices to uphold unwavering standards on fruit quality. © 2024 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Fransiscus Suramas Rembon, Laode Muhammad Harjoni Kilowasid, La Ode Afa et al.

The quality of acidic soil is determined by organic C content produced from rice straw biochar in agriculture. In this context, liquid extract from Kappapychus alvarezii (K-sap) is used as a biochar enrichment agent. Therefore, this research aimed to (i) analyze the character of K-sap enriched rice straw biochar with different volumes, as well as (ii) evaluate the impact on soil water holding capacity, size class distribution, aggregate stability index, respiration rate, and acidic soil chemical characters. The treatment tested was the volume of K-sap kg-1 biochar, namely (i) without biochar, (ii) 0 mL, (iii) 500 mL, (iv) 1,000 mL, and (v) 1,500 mL. Each treatment was repeated three times and placed according to a randomized block design procedure. The area covered by K-sap, pore size, and amorphous degree increased while the pore volume of the biochar surface decreased. The addition of 1,000 mL of K-sap kg-1 biochar released a new peak number associated with the aliphatic and aromatic groups. The K-sap enriched biochar increased the proportion of soil aggregate size of 1-2 mm, water holding capacity, carbon storage, pH, total N, available P and K, exchangeable base cations as well as base saturation. Meanwhile, the concentration of Al3+ and H+ were decreased in the acidic soil solution. The results showed that the performance of rice straw biochar, K-sap volumes, soil chemical quality, water holding capacity, and ability to store carbon of the acidic soil was improved by adding K-sap volume.

Cosette M. Joyner Martinez, Samira Iran, Jessica F. Dao

Fashion consumption seems predestined for disenchantment, demarcated by low utilization levels and a consumption cycle that is too short to foster emotional attachment. To be sure, what occurs after purchase when clothing is taken home for use is a carbon intensive phase of the product's lifespan that is squarely within the clothing user's control and responsibility. Decreasing the purchase of new garments has the greatest potential to reduce the global carbon emissions associated with fashion consumption, and prolonging clothing's utilization are consumer habits considered critical to this aim. Clothing use, manifest in the wear, care, and repair practice, are a linchpin in determining how much and how quickly fashion becomes waste. Though these use behaviors clearly advance sustainable clothing consumption, the least is known about what occurs between purchase and disposal or why. It is also important to develop a method to measure sustainable use practice and explore the influence of personal factors that determine engagement in such. This research study examined how personal factors (including fashion trend sensitivity, style orientation, frugality) influence sustainable clothing use practices (wear, care, and repair). A quantitative questionnaire was administered online to a representative sample of 420 U.S. consumers. A multi-level path analysis was used to test a proposed model. The results indicate that fashion trend sensitivity, style orientation, and frugality positively influence sustainable clothing use practices. Further, findings reveal that these personal factors explain 80% of the variance in sustainable clothing use, highlighting the critical role of use practice in shaping sustainable clothing behavior.

Louise Lynn Trudsø, Maria Bille Nielsen, S. Hansen et al.

The interest in tire wear particles (TWPs), generated from abrasion of tires, have gained traction over the past few years, both in regards to quantifying particulate emissions, leaching of different compounds, toxicity, and analytical methods. The life of a tire, from cradle to end-of-life, crosses over different scenarios during its lifetime and transcends environmental compartments and legislative areas, underlining the need for a collective approach. Sustainability for a tire encompasses the use of raw materials, recycling of raw materials, circular economy and material sourcing. The tire industry is currently making significant efforts towards a greener and more sustainable production considering reduction of CO2-emissions, recycling, material sources and implementing the use of biomass from plants rather than oil-derived alternatives. In this paper, we aim to analyze and discuss the need for environmental regulation of tires in order to provide a series of targeted recommendations for future legislation. Our study shows that the numerous regulations related to tires focus on chemicals, manufacturing, raw materials, use of tires on roads, waste handling, safety and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in different life cycle stages of a tire. However, none directly addresses the contribution of TWPs to the environment. Despite the overall good intentions of the existing regulations, there is a lack of focus on the compounds that partition from the tire and disperse in the environment, their mixture effects, and the transformative products from the parent compounds in the environment. Therefore, a renewed focus is needed on risk assessment of complex mixtures like TWPs. Thus, transparency in regard to use of chemicals in TWP, mixtures, minimization of emissions, and capture of particulate pollution should be a priority.

Sarah E. Donaher, P. van den Hurk

Davis D. Harmon, Hsuan Chen, David Byrne et al.

Roses (Rosa spp. L.) are valuable horticultural crops with global production, markets, and utilization. Cytogenetics of roses can be complicated with variation in ploidy among species and hybrids and occurrence of unreduced gametes, unbalanced (canina) meiosis, and aneuploidy. Most modern rose cultivars are complex, interspecific hybrids with unknown ploidy. Despite most breeding efforts being focused on crossing cultivated varieties, the genome size information is often only available at the generalized species level. The goal of this study was to survey cultivars and breeding lines to determine relative genome sizes and ploidy levels. Flow cytometry was used to determine relative genome size and ploidy levels of 174 accessions of shrub, hybrid tea, grandiflora, floribunda, polyantha, R. chinensis, and R. rugosa cultivars and breeding lines. Chromosome counts were performed to calibrate relative genome size to ploidy level and confirm previously published ploidy reports. 1Cx relative genome size ranged from 0.46 to 0.64 pg and the 2C relative genome size ranged from 0.96 pg to 1.28 pg for diploids, 1.38 to 1.86 pg for triploids, and 1.87 to 2.50 pg for tetraploids when using DAPI fluorochrome and Pisum sativum 'Ctirad' as the internal standard. Chromosome counts further substantiated these ranges and confirmed ploidy of cultivars that were in disagreement with earlier reports for three cultivars. These results provide an extensive database of genome sizes and ploidy for diverse cultivars and breeding lines of rose and establish/validate flow cytometry methods for future applications.

Mukhoriyah Mukhoriyah, Samsul Arifin, Dony Kushardono et al.

The Upstream Citarum watershed has a critical essential role in maintaining the quality and quantity of its water resources, which are a source of drinking water, agriculture, fisheries, irrigation, and electricity generation. The upstream watershed acts as a water catchment area that contributes as a place to accommodate the availability of water, especially during the dry season, and also as a protector of the entire area, both downstream and middle, so that the carrying capacity of the ecological balance can be protected. The increasing total population was inversely related to the condition of land use which is decreasing in quality, so to fulfill these needs, there was a land conversion that caused changes in land use. The Landsat-8 satellite imagery, SPOT 7, and spatial planning maps were used to analyze the suitability and incompatibility of land use with spatial pattern plans, evaluation, and directions for controlling the use of space. The result of the most extensive existing land use in the Upstream Citarum watershed in 2021 used for fields is 30% of the total area of 66,831.66 ha. Meanwhile, the spatial pattern plan was classified into protected and cultivated areas. The built-up area has the largest area, 35% or 75,223.96 ha. The results of the suitability of land use classes obtained that the level of suitability between the existing land use and the spatial pattern plan from the Maps of Regional Spatial Planning with the appropriate class was 52.50% or 96,205.43 ha, and the unsuitable class was 47.50% or 87,028.75 ha.

Qiuwei Zhang, J. White

Simple Summary Endophytes are microbes that live inside plants without causing negative effects in their hosts. All land plants are known to have endophytes, and these endophytes have the capacity to be transferred between plants. Taking endophytes from desert plants, which grow in low-nutrient, high-stress environments, and transferring them to crop plants may alleviate some of the challenges being faced by the agricultural industry, such as increasing drought frequency and rising opposition to chemical use in agriculture. Studies have shown that desert endophytes have the capacity to increase nutrient uptake and increase plant resistance to drought and heat stress, salt stress, and pathogen attack. Currently, the agricultural industry focuses on using irrigation, chemical fertilizers, and chemical pesticides to solve such issues, which can be extremely damaging to the environment. While there is still a lot that is unknown about endophytes, particularly desert plant endophytes, current research provides evidence that desert plant endophytes could be an environmentally friendly alternative to the conventional solutions being applied today. Abstract Deserts are challenging places for plants to survive in due to low nutrient availability, drought and heat stress, water stress, and herbivory. Endophytes—microbes that colonize and infect plant tissues without causing apparent disease—may contribute to plant success in such harsh environments. Current knowledge of desert plant endophytes is limited, but studies performed so far reveal that they can improve host nutrient acquisition, increase host tolerance to abiotic stresses, and increase host resistance to biotic stresses. When considered in combination with their broad host range and high colonization rate, there is great potential for desert endophytes to be used in a commercial agricultural setting, especially as croplands face more frequent and severe droughts due to climate change and as the agricultural industry faces mounting pressure to break away from agrochemicals towards more environmentally friendly alternatives. Much is still unknown about desert endophytes, but future studies may prove fruitful for the discovery of new endophyte-based biofertilizers, biocontrol agents, and abiotic stress relievers of crops.