Hasil untuk "Environmental effects of industries and plants"

W. Gwenzi, L. Mangori, C. Danha et al.

Recent studies show that high-technology rare earth elements (REEs) of anthropogenic origin occur in the environment including in aquatic systems, suggesting REEs are contaminants of emerging concern. However, compared to organic contaminants, there is a lack of comprehensive reviews on the anthropogenic sources, environmental behaviour, and public and ecological health risks of REEs. The current review aims to: (1) identify anthropogenic sources, transfer mechanisms, and environmental behaviour of REEs; (2) highlight the human and ecological health risks of REEs and propose mitigation measures; and (3) identify knowledge gaps and future research directions. Out of the 17 REEs, La, Gd, Ce and Eu are the most studied. The main sources of anthropogenic REE include; medical facilities, petroleum refining, mining and technology industries, fertilizers, livestock feeds, and electronic wastes and recycling plants. REEs are mobilized and transported in the environment by hydrological and wind-driven processes. Ecotoxicological effects include reduced plant growth, function and nutritional quality, genotoxicity and neurotoxicity in animals, trophic bioaccumulation, chronic and acute toxicities in soil organisms. Human exposure to REEs occurs via ingestion of contaminated water and food, inhalation, and direct intake during medical administration. REEs have been detected in human hair, nails, and biofluids. In humans, REEs cause nephrogenic systemic fibrosis and severe damage to nephrological systems associated with Gd-based contrast agents, dysfunctional neurological disorder, fibrotic tissue injury, oxidative stress, pneumoconiosis, cytotoxicity, anti-testicular effects, and male sterility. Barring REEs in medical devices, epidemiological evidence directly linking REEs in the environment to human health conditions remains weak. To minimize health risks, a conceptual framework and possible mitigation measures are highlighted. Future research is needed to better understand sources, environmental behaviour, ecotoxicology, and human epidemiology. Moreover, research on REEs in developing regions, including Africa, is needed given prevailing conditions predisposing humans to health risks (e.g., untreated drinking water).

Randy A. Becker, V. Henderson

Wei Wu, Wenhua Chen, Shiyu Liu et al.

Plants benefit extensively from endophytic bacteria, which live in host plant tissues exerting no harmful effects. Bacterial endophytes promote the growth of host plants and enhance their resistance toward various pathogens and environmental stresses. They can also regulate the synthesis of secondary metabolites with significant medicinal properties and produce various biological effects. This review summarizes recent studies on the relationships between bacterial endophytes and medicinal plants. Endophytic bacteria have numerous applications in agriculture, medicine, and other industries: improving plant growth, promoting resistance toward both biotic and abiotic stresses, and producing metabolites with medicinal potential. Their distribution and population structure are affected by their host plant’s genetic characteristics and health and by the ecology of the surrounding environment. Understanding bacterial endophytes can help us use them more effectively and apply them to medicinal plants to improve yield and quality.

Yi-Gong Chen, Xinglishang He, Jia-Hui Huang et al.

Heavy metals are widely distributed in the environment due to the natural processes and anthropogenic human activities. Their migration into no contaminated areas contributing towards pollution of the ecosystems e.g. soils, plants, water and air. It is recognized that heavy metals due to their toxicity, long persistence in nature can accumulate in the trophic chain and cause organism dysfunction. Although the popularity of herbal medicine is rapidly increasing all over the world heavy metal toxicity has a great impact and importance on herbal plants and consequently affects the quality of herbal raw materials, herbal extracts, the safety and marketability of drugs. Effective control of heavy metal content in herbal plants using in pharmaceutical and food industries has become indispensable. Therefore, this review describes various important factors such as ecological and environmental pollution, cultivation and harvest of herbal plants and manufacturing processes which effects on the quality of herbal plants and then on Chinese herbal medicines which influence human health. This review also proposes possible management strategies to recover environmental sustainability and medication safety. About 276 published studies (1988-2021) are reviewed in this paper.

Guozhe Zhang, Yu Zhao, Zhiqiang Wu et al.

Lagerstroemia indica is popular for its bright flower colors and long bloom period. However, although L. indica has a long flowering period, the flowering time of a single flower is short, lasting only 1−2 d. Petal expansion is a key process that affects the length and ornamental quality of the flowering period. However, the molecular mechanism of petal expansion in L. indica remains unclear. The molecular mechanisms underlying flower opening in L. indica were investigated through transcriptome sequencing of flower buds and blooms at four developmental stages. Analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) indicated enrichment in cellular processes, metabolic regulation, and biological signaling pathways. KEGG pathway analysis revealed significant roles for carbohydrate, lipid, and amino acid metabolism in the flowering process. Additional pathway analysis identified key genes and processes related to carbohydrate utilization, hormone signaling, water transport, and cell wall expansion that contribute to petal opening regulation. A comprehensive examination of the expansin gene family proteins, known for promoting cell wall loosening and extension, identified 27 expansin genes in L. indica, which were categorized into four subfamilies with conserved structures and motifs. Of these, LiEXPA10, LiEXPA19, LiEXLA1, and LiEXLA2 showed heightened expression in the later stages of flowering (S3−S4), suggesting a central role in petal expansion. Functional validation in Arabidopsis thaliana demonstrated that LiEXLA1 and LiEXLA2 promote accelerated flowering and enhanced petal expansion in transgenic lines. These findings offer new insights into the genetic and molecular basis of flower opening in L. indica and provide a foundation for breeding strategies aimed at improving ornamental traits.

Ahsan Waqar, Fadia Al Hajj, Muhammad Danish et al.

Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) have emerged as transformative strategies for enhancing sustainability, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness in the construction sector. This study investigates the influence of MMC on the economic, social, and environmental dimensions of sustainable construction performance. A quantitative research approach was employed, collecting data through structured questionnaires distributed to industry professionals. Statistical analyses, including reliability testing, descriptive statistics, and regression modeling, were conducted to evaluate stakeholder perceptions and the interrelationships among key variables such as cost reduction, stakeholder satisfaction, innovation, and environmental impact. The results indicate that MMC significantly contributes to cost efficiency and social performance, while its influence on environmental outcomes and technology implementation is more nuanced. The findings support the integration of MMC within sustainability-driven construction frameworks and highlight the importance of organizational readiness, innovation capacity, and procurement adaptation. This study contributes empirical evidence to the ongoing discourse on construction modernization and offers strategic insights for enhancing sustainable outcomes through MMC adoption.

Wanjai Lamprom, Surasak Jotaworn, Nuttakit Iamsomboon et al.

The conservation of the Chao Phraya River faces significant challenges, including environmental degradation, limited community participation, and insufficient integration of circular economy principles. This study aims to identify factors influencing pro-environmental behaviors and develop guidelines for enhancing community participation in river conservation. A quantitative cross-sectional approach was employed, collecting data from 402 respondents in Ang Thong Province through structured questionnaires. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied to analyze relationships between socio-economic factors, knowledge, opinions, awareness, and waste management behaviors. The results revealed a strong correlation between knowledge of circular economy principles and effective waste management behaviors (r = 0.620). In addition, high awareness, gaps in practical implementation, particularly in waste donation and recycling, were observed. By addressing these challenges, this research offers actionable recommendations, including targeted education campaigns, incentive structures, and policy integration. The study contributes to the understanding of how socio-economic and cognitive factors drive pro-environmental behaviors, while practically, it provides a framework for sustainable conservation strategies applied to urban riverside communities.

Xiuming Chen, Qin Wang, Fei Wang et al.

The Moth orchid is globally recognized as one of the most popular and important ornamental species. However, due to the complicated history of hybridization, long growth cycles, and industrial vegetative propagation, there are huge challenges in cultivar identification and protection leading to market issues. Consequently, it is important to develop effective and stable markers to identify and preserve core Phalaenopsis cultivar resources. In this study, we collected 53 commercially prevalent Phalaenopsis cultivars in China. Through detailed phenotypic observations, morphological genetic diversity was measured in 19 quantitative and 15 qualitative traits. By genome skimming and the subsequent SNP calling pipeline, we discovered 5,984 high-quality single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and constructed a comprehensive Phalaenopsis SNP database of cultivars. These SNPs got a high correlation with variation for quantitative traits ranging from 16.09% to 154.60%, while those for qualitative traits spanned from 20.54% to 130.81%. This database demonstrated a high degree of genetic diversity and a robust capacity for identifying polymorphisms and distinguishing among current varieties. These discovered SNPs consist of 12 types, C/T (23.86%), G/A (22.31%), A/G (8.89%), and T/C (7.84%). The ratio of transition to transversion was approximately 1.70. 70.91% of the SNP loci were in intergenic regions, 9.61% in upstream regions, and 9.37% within intronic regions. Fifty three cultivar PCAs could serve as three groups, which was matched with trait clusters. Based on 5,984 SNP sites, we conducted secondary screening and screened out 14 core sites. The clustering results of the NJ tree based on 14 core SNP loci and the NJ tree based on 5,984 whole genome SNP loci were consistent among 53 Phalaenopsis cultivars. Besides, each variety was then encoded with a unique barcode by 14 core SNP markers. This preliminary approach offers a putative and effective tool for variety identification, genetic analysis, and further development of Phalaenopsis germplasm resources.

Fangdi Chang, Hongyuan Zhang, Peiyi Zhao et al.

The growing global demand for grain drives a greater need for nitrogen (N) input. Yet, it contributes to nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, aggravating global climate change. To tackle this dual challenge of fulfilling crop demands while maintaining or reducing N2O emissions, a field study was performed in wheat-green manure cropping system to assess the effects of varying fertilizer application (N100, N90 and N80: N fertilizer reduced by 0%, 10% and 20%) combined with green manure return strategy (GMR: green manure roots return, GMRS: green manure roots and shoots return), and wheat fallow after harvest (CK) on wheat yield and yield stability from 2020 to 2024, N2O emissions, as well as N2O emission intensity from 2022 to 2024. Results showed that, although N fertilizer combined with green manure return strategy increased spring wheat yield by 8%–22% by increasing soil mineral N contents, it decreased yield stability compared with CK. Soil N2O emissions were mainly negatively and positively regulated by pH and NO3−-N content in saline-alkali soil, respectively. N80 decreased cumulative soil N2O emission and N2O intensity by 20% and 10% compared with N100, respectively. Irrespective of the variations in N fertilizer levels, GMR decreased cumulative N2O emission and N2O intensity by 20%–34% and 22%–38% compared with GMRS, respectively. Overall, the findings highlighted N fertilizer reduced by 20% (160 kg N ha −1) with green manure roots returned in relative to normal rate (200 kg N ha −1) is a viable option to ensure spring wheat yield and alleviate soil N2O emission in saline-alkali agroecosystem.

Sonali Kadam, Sangram Patil, Kavita Sawant, Sae Jamdade, Apurva Gadilkar, Chahal Ohri, Namrata Rathi and Jotiram Gujar

Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) classification is essential for monitoring environmental changes, managing resources, and planning sustainable development. However, accurate classification remains challenging because of the diversity of landscapes and the computational demands of processing large datasets. Among various machine learning (ML) algorithms, such as Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN), Support Vector Machines (SVM), Random Forest (RF), and Classification and Regression Trees (CART), RF and CART were chosen for this study because of their robustness, simplicity, and efficiency in handling complex LULC classification tasks. This study focuses on the Brahmani-Baitarani River Basin, a region known for its environmental significance and susceptibility to land-use changes. Using remote sensing data from Landsat 8, Landsat 9, and Sentinel-2 satellites, a comparative analysis of RF and CART was conducted to evaluate their LULC mapping performance. The datasets were processed and analyzed on the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform using multi-temporal image data and advanced filtering techniques. The results revealed that RF consistently delivered higher classification accuracy than CART, making it a reliable choice for LULC studies in dynamic and heterogeneous landscapes. By integrating high-resolution satellite imagery with ML algorithms, this study provided detailed insights into the spatial distribution of land use across the Brahmani-Baitarani Basin. These findings have practical applications in urban planning, natural resource management, and environmental conservation, and offer valuable information for decision-makers and researchers working to address global environmental challenges.

Ayu Washizu, Ita Sayaka

There remains a lack of theoretical understanding regarding the effects of smart systems on people's eating habits. Furthermore, few empirical studies have comprehensively analyzed the impact of smart food systems on users, considering the users' environmental orientation. To address this gap, we conducted an empirical analysis using a uniquely designed questionnaire survey and investigated the influence of smart social background and smart consciousness and behavior on cooking effort indicators among cooks utilizing convenience foods. Our analysis employed a theoretical model based on the household production function. Our empirical findings show that smart social background, consciousness, and behavior, along with increased environmental orientation, amplify convenience food use reducing cooking efforts among cooks. Our theoretical model suggests that cooks with smart and environmentally oriented behaviors tend to have more comprehensive eating habits and value on their cooking efforts, allowing them to choose their level of engagement wisely. However, if cooks aim to reduce their environmental impact without awareness of superior convenience food options, they might exert more effort. Smarter eating habits consistently improve cooks' well-being, particularly when combined with an environmental orientation towards convenience foods. Providing environmentally oriented cooks with guidance on the appropriate use of convenience foods emerges as a critical policy consideration. Furthermore, currently available convenience foods do not alleviate the burden on cooks when making menu decisions. Thus, it is essential to develop policies addressing these challenges. This study confirmed that smarter eating habits and an environmental orientation experience consistently improve the well-being of cooks.

Sitti Leomo, Syamsu Alam, Muhidin et al.

The utilization of rhizobacteria and cover crop residue for improving plant productivity has been widely applied in agricultural land. However, the effectiveness of those treatments for increasing the growth performance of crops in the post-mining soil is still not evaluated. This study investigated the potential use of rhizobacteria and cover crop residue for improving the growth of Sorghum sp. developed in the post-mining soil in Southeast Sulawesi. An experiment was established at the laboratory level using a completely randomized design with three replicates for every treatment. Four treatments were examined in this trial comprising of CE (control+Eleusine indica), CC (control+Centrosema sp.), BE (Bacillus sp.+Eleusine indica), and BC (Bacillus sp.+Centrosema sp.). Some parameters were observed to evaluate the growth of Sorghum sp., namely diameter, height, total leaves, leaf area, and biomass. The results demonstrated the use of rhizobacteria and cover crop residue potentially improves the growth of Sorghum sp. in the post-mining soil even though there was not a significant difference among treatments statistically. The highest average biomass of Sorghum sp. was noted in BE (3.72±1.06 g), BC (3.20±0.50 g), CC (2.95±1.40 g), CE (2.81±0.33 g). These findings indicated that the treatment of BE was the best way to improve the growth performance of Sorghum sp. at the post-mining. According to the results, this study concluded that rhizobacteria and cover crops play a key role in soil fertility. The utilization of rhizobacteria and cover crop residue has the potential to support the growth of Sorghum sp. developed in the post-nickel mining soil.

Albert Boaitey, Beth Clark, Pattanapong Tiwasing

Reductions in the consumption of livestock products in Western diets are considered necessary to mitigate some of animal productions' impacts on human health, animal welfare and the environment. Whilst several alternative protein products are on the market or being developed, the motivations for consumer decision-making are not well-understood. In particular, given the focus on improved sustainability as justification for these alternative proteins, understanding the relationship between sustainability considerations and willingness to try (WTT) remains important. This study uses data from 1929 UK individuals to evaluate the potential role of sustainability considerations (health, animal welfare, environmental, financial) on WTT three alternative protein products: plant-based, cultured meat, and edible insects. Ordered probit and quantile regression models are used to explore WTT, with controls for respondents' sociodemographic characteristics and level of awareness. The findings show that sustainability considerations particularly ethical and environmental concerns remain relevant in the WTT alternative proteins in the UK. Their potential role however varies across products and consumer segments. There is also significant variation in WTT due to factors related to familiarity with specific alternative protein types and respondent's socio-demographic characteristics (i.e., gender, education, age, marital status, household size, number of children and household income). Recommendations are made for strategies to promote the alternative protein products examined based on these findings.

Nikhil Kumar

R. Direito, S. Barbalho, B. Sepodes et al.

There is a growing trend among consumers to seek out natural foods and products with natural ingredients. This shift in consumer preferences had a direct impact on both food and pharmaceutical industries, leading to a focus of scientific research and commercial efforts to meet these new demands. The aim of this work is to review recent available scientific data on foods of interest, such as the artichoke, gooseberry, and polygonoideae plants, as well as olive oil and red raspberries. Interestingly, the urgency of solutions to the climate change emergency has brought new attention to by-products of grapevine bunch stem and cane, which have been found to contain bioactive compounds with potential health benefits. There is a pressing need for a faster process of translating scientific knowledge from the laboratory to real-world applications, especially in the face of the increasing societal burden associated with non-communicable diseases (NCDs), environmental crises, the post-pandemic world, and ongoing violent conflicts around the world.

Joseph H. Kadigi, B. I. Muzzo, Sebastian J Schreiber

Tannins are naturally occurring polyphenolic compounds increasingly recognized for their potential benefits to ruminants. Tannins can be extracted from plants' roots, bark, leaves, and seed husks. Management of plant communities to produce a diverse array of secondary compounds, particularly tannins, is a promising strategy for holistically enhancing agroecosystems on rangelands and benefiting free grazing ruminant animals. Deterioration of rangelands constrains plant diversity, reducing tanniferous forage plants and limiting tannin availability to free-grazing ruminants. Ruminants supplemented with tannin extracts in confined feeding operations have gained several reported benefits. Commercial industries are also expanding to extract and process tannin extracts. The beneficial effects of tannins depend on many factors, including plant species, plant part, tannin type (condensed tannins (CTs) or hydrolyzable tannins (HTs), and dose. Tannin binds with proteins, enhances the diversity and abundance of amino acids in the small intestine, and improves overall protein absorption and utilization. Compiled with other mechanisms, tannins can improve the quality, quantity, shelf life, and consumer preference of meat and milk products. Tannins also possess antimicrobial, anti-parasitic, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and anti-inflammatory properties. CTs also impact rumen microbial populations, decreasing methane production, improving ruminal microbiota diversity, and lowering ammonia nitrogen production. Therefore, the use of tannin from tannin extracts and tanniferous forage plants presents a promising avenue for enhancing confined and free-grazing ruminant animals' health, productivity, and environmental sustainability.

Vandna, Vasundhara Sharma, Kalidindi Usha, Dalveer Singh, Ranjan Gupta, V. K. Gupta and Bhupinder Singh

Judicious application of nitrogen (N) fertilizers in crop production is critical for reducing the nitrate pollution of groundwater and greenhouse gas emissions. It is, thus, important to improve the nitrogen use efficiency under the reduced application of nitrogen. A genotypic variation in N-uptake and N-use efficiency particularly under low N-input conditions exists across crops that can be deciphered and exploited for environmentally sustainable farming without any significant penalty of yield and quality. The present research conducted under the nutrient solution culture aimed to explore the inherent variability in the growth response of ten genetically diverse wheat varieties to low fertilizer N-application (N-, 10 μM N) in comparison to N sufficient control (N+, 8.5 mM N) viz., a viz., the activity of various key N-assimilating enzymes and to delineate the indirect effect of low N on uptake and partitioning of other major macronutrients viz., P, K, S, which may indirectly regulate the N-use efficiency. A notable increase in sulfur, potassium, and phosphorus content was observed under nitrogen-deficient conditions. Varieties such as Carnamah and HD 2824 exhibit a significant increase in shoot phosphorus content, emphasizing their potential to optimize phosphorus acquisition and utilization efficiency under nutrient-limited conditions. The findings highlight the complex interplay between nutrient availability and plant responses, showcasing varietal-specific adaptations to nitrogen limitations.

S. Rehman, F. De Castro, Paolo Marini et al.

Environmental pollution has become a pressing concern worldwide due to the accumulation of pollutants from industries and agricultural sectors in soil and water environments. Heavy metals pose severe hazards to the environment, plants, and human health. Consequently, an eco-friendly technique is needed to combat environmental pollutants. Vermibiochar, a product prepared through the combined action of earthworms and biochar, demonstrates great potential in reducing heavy metal concentrations in contaminated soil. Its large surface area and high cation exchange capacity enhance the sorption of contaminants onto the vermibiochar surface, reducing their bioavailability. This review highlights the roles played by earthworms and biochar in heavy metal detoxification and immobilization. It discusses the current methods of remediation, vermibiochar production, its effects on soil properties and plant growth, and biochar’s impact on earthworm growth and reproduction. The studies reviewed suggest that vermibiochar is a novel strategy for addressing heavy metal contamination.

Silvia Lomartire, João Cotas, D. Pacheco et al.

Seaweeds are a potential source of bioactive compounds that are useful for biotechnological applications and can be employed in different industrial areas in order to replace synthetic compounds with components of natural origin. Diverse studies demonstrate that there is a solid ground for the exploitation of seaweed bioactive compounds in order to prevent illness and to ensure a better and healthier lifestyle. Among the bioactive algal molecules, phenolic compounds are produced as secondary metabolites with beneficial effects on plants, and also on human beings and animals, due to their inherent bioactive properties, which exert antioxidant, antiviral, and antimicrobial activities. The use of phenolic compounds in pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, cosmetics, and food industries may provide outcomes that could enhance human health. Through the production of healthy foods and natural drugs, bioactive compounds from seaweeds can help with the treatment of human diseases. This review aims to highlight the importance of phenolic compounds from seaweeds, the scope of their production in nature and the impact that these compounds can have on human and animal health through nutraceutical and pharmaceutical products.

Tobias Dalhaus, Junjie Wu, Niklas Möhring