Purpose – This research aims to explore the role of awareness of harm and responsibility for environmental protection in reducing pollution from single-use plastic bags (SPBs) in coastal communities (CCs). To this end, this study develops and tests a unique model that explains residents’ intention to reduce the use of SPBs in coastal regions. Design/methodology/approach – A questionnaire was used to collect data from 721 coastal residents in Vietnam. Structural equation modeling and moderation analysis were applied to test the proposed hypotheses. Findings – The results show that awareness of the impact of SPBs on the environment and human health and awareness of the responsibility to protect the coastal environment significantly affect attitudes and intentions to reduce the use of SPBs. Moreover, such awareness of responsibility strengthens the attitude-intention relationship. Practical implications – The findings suggest that CCs should not receive a lower priority in campaigns and efforts to reduce SPBs. In this regard, providing residents with free environmentally friendly bags and education programs on the impact of SPBs could be implemented. Originality/value – CCs are directly impacted by pollution from SPBs. However, little is known about how this affects their polluting behavior. This study shows that CCs are not immune to polluting behaviors and that SPBs can be significant among residents. It also demonstrates that awareness of harm and feeling responsible for the environment are essential drivers of (intended) sustainable behaviors.
<i>Brevibacillus laterosporus</i> (<i>B. laterosporus</i>) is widely distributed in nature and demonstrates significant potential for applications in biological control, environmental protection, agricultural production, and clinical medicine. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the applications of <i>B. laterosporus</i> in crop cultivation and animal feeding, as well as an examination of the antimicrobial peptides produced by <i>B. laterosporus</i> and their antibacterial mechanisms. <i>B. laterosporus</i> enhances crop cultivation by secreting hydrolases to improve nutrient absorption capabilities, synthesizing hormones to promote crop growth, and producing proteins to inhibit the reproduction of harmful organisms. <i>B. laterosporus</i> has been used to improve animal production by regulating the structure of the intestinal microbiota and inhibiting the growth of pathogenic bacteria through the secretion of various antimicrobial peptides. The bactericidal activity of Brevilaterins secreted by <i>B. laterosporus</i> is attributed to their ability to bind to lipopolysaccharide/lipid II molecules on the cell membrane, thereby altering permeability. Brevilaterins also inhibit bacterial reproduction by affecting relevant gene pathways in the cell membranes of pathogenic bacteria. These pathways include ATP synthesis, peptidoglycan biosynthesis, membrane transport, and cellular metabolism. In conclusion, <i>B. laterosporus</i> exhibits substantial potential as a probiotic activity in crop and animal production. However, applications of <i>B. laterosporus</i> in animal production could be improved, necessitating further research to elucidate the underlying probiotic mechanisms.
<p>Determining the timing and extent of Quaternary glaciations around the globe is critical to understanding the drivers behind climate change and glacier fluctuations. Evidence from the southern mid-latitudes indicates that local glacial maxima preceded the global Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), implying that feedbacks in the climate system or ice dynamics played a role beyond the underlying orbital forcings. To shed light on these processes, we investigated the glacial landforms shaped and deposited by the Lago Argentino glacier (50° S), an outlet lobe of the former Patagonian Ice Sheet, in southern Argentina. We mapped geomorphological features on the landscape and dated moraine boulders and outwash sediments using <span class="inline-formula"><sup>10</sup>Be</span> cosmogenic nuclides and feldspar infrared stimulated luminescence (IRSL) to constrain the chronology of glacial advance and retreat. We report that the Lago Argentino glacier lobe reached more extensive limits prior to the global LGM, advancing during the middle to late Pleistocene between 243–132 <span class="inline-formula">ka</span> and during Marine Isotope Stage 3 (MIS 3), culminating at 44.5 <span class="inline-formula">±</span> 8.0 and at 36.6 <span class="inline-formula">±</span> 1.0 <span class="inline-formula">ka</span>. Our results indicate that the most extensive advance of the last glacial cycle occurred during MIS 3, and we hypothesize that this was a result of longer and colder winters, as well as increased precipitation delivered by a latitudinal migration of the Southern Westerly Winds belt,<span id="page1862"/> highlighting the role of local and regional climate feedbacks in modulating ice mass changes in the southern mid-latitudes.</p>
Purpose: The purpose of this research is to evaluate the insecticidal efficacy of cedar (Cedrus libani A. Rich.) tar against adults of the cat flea Ctenocephalides felis Bouché, a significant ectoparasite affecting both domestic and stray animals. Methods: Tar was obtained through traditional pyrolytic decomposition of cedar wood in the Elmali district of Antalya, Türkiye. The volatile compounds in the tar were characterized using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The tar was tested at various concentrations-100 % (pure tar), 50 % tar, 25 % tar, and 10 % tar. Its efficacy was compared to a 0.5 % concentration of fipronil. Fleas were collected from six locations and exposed to treated filter papers for 1 h. Mortality was assessed after 24 h, and statistical analyses, including one-way ANOVA and probit analysis, were performed to determine LC50 and LC90 values. Results: The major components of Ced. libani tar identified were β-himachalene (29.16 %) and α-atlantone (28.70 %). The effectiveness of tar was concentration-dependent, with higher concentrations showing flea mortality rates comparable to fipronil. In Kepez-Teomanpaşa, LC50 and LC90 values were 8.52 % tar and 20.24 % tar respectively, indicating high sensitivity, whereas in Konyaaltı-Pınarbası, LC50 and LC90 values were 19.48 % tar and 46.91 % tar, suggesting reduced susceptibility. The highest concentration (pure tar) resulted in 100 % mortality across all locations, similar to fipronil. Conclusion: Ced. libani tar demonstrates significant potential as an eco-friendly alternative to chemical insecticides for controlling flea infestations, with its efficacy varying by region. The findings highlight the need for considering regional differences in susceptibility when developing pest control strategies.
Łukasz Jan Orman, Luiza Dębska, Lidia Dąbek
et al.
The present paper experimentally analyses the subjective assessment of indoor environment comfort based on a questionnaire survey conducted in a climate chamber located at Kielce University of Technology (Poland), if two types of face masks are worn by the respondents: thin (medical) and thick (cotton-made) masks. Air temperature and relative humidity in the chamber ranged from around 19 to 28oC and 20 – 70%, respectively. Precise measurement of the microclimate parameters was obtained with a microclimate meter, which recorded air temperature and relative humidity at the moment of completing the questionnaires. The respondents were of similar age (22 – 31 years old) and wore two types of clothing during the experiments: summer and winter, which differed by thermal resistance. This value amounted to 0.5 clo for the summer outfit and 0.8 clo for the winter one.In total 960 questionnaires were analysed in the study. The results indicate that the increase in air temperature led to poorer overall comfort, while the largest comfort sensation was recorded for the most favourable thermal sensation range. In general, thicker masks provided lower overall comfort than thinner masks for all relative humidity values.
Wenzhen Zhao, Xiuzhen Li, Micheli D.P. Costa
et al.
Spatial quantification of blue carbon ecosystem stocks is crucial for developing policies to mitigate climate change, especially in regions experiencing ongoing wetland disturbance from biological invasions. We integrated multiple machine learning models with the space-for-time substitution method to quantify the spatiotemporal impact of Spartina alterniflora invasion on tidal marsh sediment blue carbon (soil organic carbon – 'SOC') stocks at 100 cm depth in the Yangtze Estuary. Our results show that the invasive S. alterniflora contributed more than half of the total SOC stocks (2,056 ± 379 Gg C, 1 Gg = 106 kg) in the 27,600 ha tidal marshes of the Yangtze Estuary, which were estimated to be 1,107 ± 176 Gg C. S. alterniflora increased the SOC stocks in the Yangtze Estuary within the first 15 years, but this gain was not sustained in the long term, with a gradual decline (by 13.14 Mg C/ha) observed after 15 years of S. alterniflora growth. We found that sediment salinity, tidal range, and human accessibility were strong indicators for modeling and predicting SOC stocks, with Random Forest providing the best simulation of tidal marsh SOC stocks (R2 = 0.894, RMSE=7.646 Mg C/ha, and MAPE=9.469 %). Our study provides much needed information on blue carbon stocks in the Yangtze Estuary under biological invasion stress, and offers guidance for targeted S. alterniflora management actions in the future.
BACKGROUND As the significant factor of the accumulation of heavy metals in farmland soils, mineral activities such as mining, traffic and mineral processing and smelting allow heavy metals to spread into the surrounding environment by water or atmospheric deposition, and finally collected into the soil, causing heavy metal pollution in the surrounding farmland soil. Heavy metals pollution in soils especially in farmland soils around the mining area thus has received great attention in the field of environmental pollution. Located in the middle reaches of the Yellow River watershed, the gold mining area in western Henan is an extremely important gold deposit area with great prospecting potential in China for the strong late Yanshan acidic magmatic activity and the extremely favorable metallogenic geological conditions, in which more than 40 large, medium or small gold deposits have been discovered. Under the background of ecological protection and high-quality development in the Yellow River watershed, the western Henan gold mining area, with a long history of gold mining development, lacks more attention to the accumulation, spatial distribution and ecological risk of heavy metals in farmland soil around the mining area during the years of mining, beneficiation and processing. It is particularly necessary to study the heavy metal pollution in soil, find out the impact of mining activities on heavy metals in surrounding farmland soil, and provide a scientific basis for prevention and control of heavy metal pollution in farmland soil. OBJECTIVES To clearly understand the impact of mining activities in the western Henan mining area on heavy metals in the surrounding farmland soil, provide necessary basic data for supporting the safe production of key mineral resources, the surrounding agricultural safety, and prevent and control heavy metal pollution in farmland soil. METHODS 375 topsoil samples from the farmland around the western Henan gold mining area at a depth of 0-20cm were systematically investigated and analyzed with reference to Code of Practice for Soil Geochemical Survey (DZ/T 0145—2017). The contents and spatial distribution characteristics of Cd, Cu, Zn, Pb, Hg, As, Cr, Ni were analyzed. The heavy metal pollution and ecological risk were evaluated by the geo-accumulation index method and potential ecological risk index method. RESULTS (1) The contents variation range of Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, As, Hg, Cd, Cr are 1.00-71.72, 2.00-524.79, 8.00-320.37, 2.00-52.77, 2.29-24.64, 0.0067-0.268, 0.04-1.30, 28.20-107.93, respectively, and the average are 35.33, 74.43, 137.69, 31.60, 12.39, 0.064, 0.43, 76.27, respectively, showing significant differences between the 8 heavy metals. Compared with the soil background value in the middle reaches of the Yellow River, the average contents of Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, As, Hg, Cd, Cr are 1.47, 3.24, 2.06, 1.05, 1.03, 1.52, 2.77 and 1.07 times of them, respectively, but lower than the value of risk screening values for soil contamination of agricultural land.(2) The characteristics of coefficients of variation show that Pb(90.72%)>Hg(85.25%)>Cd(65.65%)>Zn(44.0%)>Cu(33.66%)>As(31.72%)>Ni(24.23%)>Cr(13.61%), the Pb, Hg, Cd are the primary factors causing the soil pollution as the external input by mineral activities for the high coefficients of variation and special relation with mining. The main ore-forming elements in the gold deposit area are Au and Mo, and the associated elements are Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, As, Hg, Cd, which may diffuse into the surrounding environment during ore transportation, waste rock and slag piling along the river, and processing. Alongside the Daping River, the two gold mining areas and concentrators are distributed around the farmland, and the gold ore heap leaching site on the east side is located at the top of the hillside and hill. The heavy metals produced by mining activities can diffuse in the downstream agricultural areas through atmospheric deposition, rainwater leaching, river drainage, and can accumulate in the surrounding agricultural soil, causing heavy metal pollution in the agricultural soil around the mining area.(3) The geo-accumulation index of 8 heavy metals is -0.1, 0.74, 0.33, -0.56, -0.60, -0.29, 0.62, -0.49 with the order Pb>Cd>Zn>Cu>Hg>Cr>Ni>As, in which Cu, Hg, Cr, Ni, As show no influence to the quality of soils for the average geo-accumulation index lower than 0, and Pb, Cd, Zn show moderate pollution for the average geo-accumulation index between 0-1. Among them, the proportion of samples with a Cd element of medium or higher impact grade is 20.27%, the proportion of samples with medium to strong impact grade is 7.73%, and the proportion of samples with strong impact grade is 1.07%. The proportion of samples with a Pb element above the moderate impact level is 18.93%, and the proportion of samples with moderate to strong impact level is 10.40%. Hg and Zn also have 7.46% and 13.33% of the samples reaching the moderate impact level, indicating that Hg, Cd and Pb in the soil at local sampling sites have different degrees of impact on farmland soil quality.(4) The average value of the single-factor potential ecological risk index of eight heavy metals is between 2.06 and 83.62, among which the single-factor potential ecological risk index of As, Cr, Ni, Cu and Zn is a slight potential ecological risk. Pb is mainly subject to slight potential ecological risks for 92% of samples, moderate potential ecological risks for 7.47% of samples and strong potential ecological risks for 0.53% of samples. Cd is dominated by moderate potential ecological risks, with 46.14% of samples, and there are 25.33% and 10.93% of samples reaching strong and very strong potential ecological risks respectively. For the ecological risk index of Hg, there are 35.47%, 11.46%, 4.27% and 3.20% of the samples that reach moderate, strong, very strong and very strong degree. The comprehensive potential ecological risk index (RI) ranges from 51.66 to 689.64, with an average of 192.07. The proportion of samples with slight, moderate, strong and very strong impact degree is 46.40%, 41.07%, 11.20% and 1.33%, respectively. The overall comprehensive potential ecological risk index shows moderate potential ecological risks. CONCLUSIONS Compared with the risk screening values for soil contamination of agricultural land, the contents of Cd, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cr, Ni, As, Hg are all lower than the standard, indicating low risk for the soil environment. There were different degrees of accumulation surrounding the intense mining area of Cd, Pb, and Zn by longtime mineral development. Cu, Ni, As, Hg, and Cr were influenced by the natural factor. The farmland area with strong and very strong comprehensive potential ecological risks is 349.4 hectares and 11.71 hectares, respectively. Cd and Hg are the main contributing elements, with higher risk to the soil ecology, which should be monitored and controlled from source to avoid the further accumulation of heavy metal elements in the soil.
Andreea Luca, Isabella Nacu, Sabina Tanasache
et al.
The aim of the present work was to obtain drug-loaded hydrogels based on combinations of dextran, chitosan/gelatin/xanthan, and poly (acrylamide) as a sustained and controlled release vehicle of Doxorubicin, a drug used in skin cancer therapy that is associated with severe side effects. Hydrogels for use as 3D hydrophilic networks with good manipulation characteristics were produced using methacrylated biopolymer derivatives and the methacrylate group’s polymerization with synthetic monomers in the presence of a photo-initiator, under UV light stimulation (365 nm). Transformed infrared spectroscopy analysis (FT-IR) confirmed the hydrogels’ network structure (natural–synthetic composition and photocrosslinking), while scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis confirmed the microporous morphology. The hydrogels are swellable in simulated biological fluids and the material’s morphology regulates the swelling properties: the maximum swelling degree was obtained for dextran–chitosan-based hydrogels because of their higher porosity and pore distribution. The hydrogels are bioadhesive on a biological simulating membrane, and values for the force of detachment and work of adhesion are recommended for applications on skin tissue. The Doxorubicin was loaded into the hydrogels and the drug was released by diffusion for all the resulting hydrogels, with small contributions from the hydrogel networks’ relaxation. Doxorubicin-loaded hydrogels are efficient on keratinocytes tumor cells, the sustained released drug interrupting the cells’ division and inducing cell apoptosis; we recommend the obtained materials for the topical treatment of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.
Andhini Wahyu Putri, Nugroho Darmawan Ari, Kurniawan M. Prasetya
Handling café business waste is essential for environmental protection, especially for organic food waste. After all, organic food waste decomposes quickly and produces methane gas, which has a pungent odor if not appropriately managed. This research analyzes and describes the waste management activities of specialty café businesses, starting with showing the development potential for managing by-product waste to increase added value and increase customer awareness. The research method used is descriptive qualitative analysis based on literature study, observation, interviews, and analysis of other supporting documents. The practice of waste management can positively impact the amount of waste generated from the café business because the amount of waste that must be submitted to the landfill can be reduced and provide by-products to increase income and café aesthetics. Waste management can be implemented by collecting and sorting waste and then processing it into by-products, one of which is by making eco-enzymes. The impact of this activity is that café businesses can educate employees and consumers to care more about the environment through simple waste management. The limitation of this study is that the research was conducted without a waste treatment trial process. Although this research is locally focused and qualitative, the results and methods of this research can be used to guide the implementation of wiser and more sustainable café business waste management.
The white-headed black langur (Trachypithecus leucocephalus) is exclusively distributed in the karst forests and is critically endangered owing to habitat fragmentation. Gut microbiota can provide physiological data for a comprehensive study of the langur’s response to human disturbance in the limestone forest; to date, data on spatial variations in the langurs’ gut microbiota are limited. In this study, we examined intersite variations in the gut microbiota of white-headed black langurs in the Guangxi Chongzuo White-headed Langur National Nature Reserve, China. Our results showed that langurs in the Bapen area with a better habitat had higher gut microbiota diversity. In the Bapen group, the Bacteroidetes (13.65% ± 9.73% vs. 4.75% ± 4.70%) and its representative family, Prevotellaceae, were significantly enriched. In the Banli group, higher relative abundance of Firmicutes (86.30% ± 8.60% vs. 78.85% ± 10.35%) than the Bapen group was observed. Oscillospiraceae (16.93% ± 5.39% vs. 16.13% ± 3.16%), Christensenellaceae (15.80% ± 4.59% vs. 11.61% ± 3.60%), and norank_o__Clostridia_UCG-014 (17.43% ± 6.64% vs. 9.78% ± 3.83%) were increased in comparison with the Bapen group. These intersite variations in microbiota diversity and composition could be accounted for by differences in food resources caused by fragmentation. Furthermore, compared with the Banli group, the community assembly of gut microbiota in the Bapen group was influenced by more deterministic factors and had a higher migration rate, but the difference between the two groups was not significant. This might be attributed to the serious fragmentation of the habitats for both groups. Our findings highlight the importance of gut microbiota response for the integrity of wildlife habitats and the need in using physiological indicators to study the mechanisms by which wildlife responds to human disturbances or ecological variations.
RUTH NKIRUKA NNAJI, MUIDEEN ADEBAYO BODUDE, DAVID EHIGIE ESEZOBOR
Conventionally employed zinc-rich paints and coatings for marine corrosion protection of steel still comprise environmentally unfriendly compounds such as zinc phosphate. This paper is focused on developing eco-friendly zinc ternary composite coatings of Zn-ZnO-CaCO3 utilizing CaCO3 additives derived from tympanotonus fuscatus (periwinkle) shell and calcareous eggshell respectively on low-carbon steel using electrodeposition technique. This is aimed at improving not only the surface corrosion resistance of steel structures in marine environment but also the sustainability of raw materials and minimal environmental pollution. Corrosion studies of uncoated and coated steel samples in simulated marine environment were done using linear polarization technique. Results obtained suggested that CaCO3 (i.e., calcareous eggshell) additive in the composite coating significantly improved the corrosion performance of the substrate. Steel coated with calcareous eggshell additive displayed superior corrosion performance having highest polarization resistance, Rp (156090 Ω), lowest corrosion rate, CR (0.01 mm/year) and highest coating efficiency, Ceff (97%) as against those of uncoated, zinc oxide, and tympanotonus fuscatus shell additives after 30 minutes deposition time. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS) results of selected developed coatings indicated presence of a homogeneous surface morphology and a significant amount of calcium in the calcareous eggshell coating.
Soil microorganisms promote the recovery of contaminated soil by influencing the cyclic transformation of various substances. In this study, we investigated the impact of mercury pollution on the structure, composition, and main populations of soil microbial communities using a high-throughput sequencing method and observed that mercury pollution significantly influenced the diversity, structure, and distribution pattern of microbial communities. Furthermore, during mercury pollution, the Shannon and Chao indices decreased for the bacterial communities and increased for the fungal communities. Mercury pollution mainly reduced the relative abundances of Proteobacteria (16.2–30.6%), Actinomycetes (24.7–40.8%), and other dominant bacterial phyla. The relative abundance of Ascomycota decreased by 17.4% and 16.7% in alkaline and neutral soils, respectively, whereas the relative abundance of unclassified_k_Fungi increased by 26.1% and 28.6%, respectively. In acidic soil, Ascomycota increased by 106.3% and unclassified_k_Fungi decreased by 71.2%. The results of redundancy and correlation analyses suggested that soil microbial diversity was significantly correlated with soil properties such as pH, cation exchange capacity, soil organic carbon, and total nitrogen (<i>p</i> < 0.05) under different treatments. Our findings highlight the impact of Hg pollution on soil microbial communities, thereby providing a theoretical foundation for the bioremediation of soil Hg pollution.
The management of coastal and marine areas is a dynamic and complex one, which must take into account ways of balancing resource use and promoting the sustainable growth of the maritime economy. The MSP Directive (2014/89/EU) requires the Member States to consider economic,
social, and environmental aspects in order to support sustainable development and the growth of the maritime sector, taking into account the interactions between land and sea. Thus, the aim of this article is to carry out an assessment of stakeholders' perceptions of land-sea interactions’ impact on the port and coastal protection activities in the Romanian Black Sea coastal area, from the point of view of their priorities: ecological, economic, and social. The analysis was performed on the basis of a questionnaire drafted within the MARSPLAN BS II project, to which MSP stakeholders, public and private entities, responded, the variables being grouped according to the scale on which the participating organization is operating: international, local and national.
Ecological uniqueness has important theoretical and practical significance for biodiversity conservation, and it has become a popular research topic in recent years. Species richness and soil nutrients play important roles in ecological uniqueness, but it is still unclear how different life forms, multiple biodiversity attributes, and environmental factors affect ecological uniqueness. In this study, we conducted a community investigation to combine species diversity, functional diversity, phylogenetic diversity, and soil factors to evaluate the impact of biotic and abiotic factors on ecological uniqueness. We verified these different relationships in woody and herbaceous plants. Our results showed that the species contribution to beta diversity (SCBD) of herbaceous plants was higher than that of other species, and SCBD had a strong correlation with species abundance and leaf thickness. Ecological uniqueness can be explained by soil factors and community characteristics, but the relative importance and interpretation of these characteristics differ between communities and between woody and herbaceous plants. Soil factors and community characteristics explained more of the ecological uniqueness in woody plants than herbaceous plants and communities. The community ecological uniqueness was mainly affected by soil pH. Soil moisture content and phylogenetic diversity had extremely significant positive effects on the ecological uniqueness of woody plants, while species richness and functional richness had significant negative effects. pH had a significant positive effect on the ecological uniqueness of herbaceous plants, and soil moisture indirectly affected the herb ecological uniqueness by affecting pH. In brief, the result showed that SCBD is significantly related to plant abundance, functional traits and leaf nutrients. In addition to focusing on sites with high species richness, functional diversity, and phylogenetic diversity, a comprehensive analysis from the perspective of different life forms can fully reflect the ecological uniqueness and proceed with species protection.
Abstract Sulfate, nitrate, ammonium, organic carbon (OC) and black carbon (BC) are the key components of PM2.5, but predicting their concentrations remains a challenge because of high uncertainties in the modeling. Employing the Nested Air Quality Prediction Modeling System (NAQPMS) developed by the Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, this study investigated the uncertainties in Monte Carlo simulations of these aerosols in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region during 2015. 50 ensemble simulations with a 15 km horizontal resolution were derived by perturbing the emission data for sulfate, nitrate, ammonium, OC and BC from an emission inventory, which is one of the largest sources of uncertainty. Then, surface observations of these species collected from 10 sites across the region for 1 year were used to evaluate the performance of the ensemble simulations. The high correlation coefficients (> 0.74) and low mean biases (< 2 µg m−3) between the mean values of the ensemble and the observation data suggested that the model fairly accurately reproduced spatial and temporal variations in the nitrate, ammonium, OC and BC. However, the predicted sulfate concentrations, which displayed a correlation coefficient of 0.26, were far less reliable, particularly owing to the significant underestimation during winter. Further analysis revealed that uncertainties in the emission data explained most of the discrepancies for the OC and BC, but the mean biases for the sulfate and ammonium, especially during winter, probably stemmed from uncertainties in the heterogeneous reaction modeling.