Hasil untuk "Environmental protection"

J. Hahladakis, C. Velis, R. Weber et al.

Over the last 60 years plastics production has increased manifold, owing to their inexpensive, multipurpose, durable and lightweight nature. These characteristics have raised the demand for plastic materials that will continue to grow over the coming years. However, with increased plastic materials production, comes increased plastic material wastage creating a number of challenges, as well as opportunities to the waste management industry. The present overview highlights the waste management and pollution challenges, emphasising on the various chemical substances (known as "additives") contained in all plastic products for enhancing polymer properties and prolonging their life. Despite how useful these additives are in the functionality of polymer products, their potential to contaminate soil, air, water and food is widely documented in literature and described herein. These additives can potentially migrate and undesirably lead to human exposure via e.g. food contact materials, such as packaging. They can, also, be released from plastics during the various recycling and recovery processes and from the products produced from recyclates. Thus, sound recycling has to be performed in such a way as to ensure that emission of substances of high concern and contamination of recycled products is avoided, ensuring environmental and human health protection, at all times.

Xiqian Cai, Yi Lu, Mingqin Wu et al.

N. Mitter, Elizabeth A. Worrall, K. Robinson et al.

A. Singer, H. Shaw, Vicki Rhodes et al.

The environment is increasingly being recognized for the role it might play in the global spread of clinically relevant antibiotic resistance. Environmental regulators monitor and control many of the pathways responsible for the release of resistance-driving chemicals into the environment (e.g., antimicrobials, metals, and biocides). Hence, environmental regulators should be contributing significantly to the development of global and national antimicrobial resistance (AMR) action plans. It is argued that the lack of environment-facing mitigation actions included in existing AMR action plans is likely a function of our poor fundamental understanding of many of the key issues. Here, we aim to present the problem with AMR in the environment through the lens of an environmental regulator, using the Environment Agency (England’s regulator) as an example from which parallels can be drawn globally. The issues that are pertinent to environmental regulators are drawn out to answer: What are the drivers and pathways of AMR? How do these relate to the normal work, powers and duties of environmental regulators? What are the knowledge gaps that hinder the delivery of environmental protection from AMR? We offer several thought experiments for how different mitigation strategies might proceed. We conclude that: (1) AMR Action Plans do not tackle all the potentially relevant pathways and drivers of AMR in the environment; and (2) AMR Action Plans are deficient partly because the science to inform policy is lacking and this needs to be addressed.

J. Oláh, Nemer Aburumman, J. Popp et al.

Industry 4.0 is a concept that originated from the German industry, and whose essence is the use of technology for efficient production. In business today, the emergence of Industry 4.0 for production, and its related technologies, such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and cyber-physical systems, amongst others, have, however, a negative impact on environmental sustainability as a result of air pollution, the poor discharge of waste, and the intensive use of raw materials, information, and energy. The method used in this study is an analysis of a literature review of manuscripts discussing topics related to Industry 4.0 and environmental sustainability published between 2000 and 2020. There is currently a gap existing between the actual and the desired situation, in that production occurs in a weak sustainability model, and, therefore, this research debates the effects on environmental sustainability and the challenges facing Industry 4.0. Four scenarios are discussed: a deployment scenario, an operation scenario, integration and compliance with sustainable development goals, and a long-run scenario. The results indicate that there is a negative relationship related to the flow of the production process from the inputs to the final product, including raw materials, energy requirements, information, and waste disposal, and their impacts on the environment. However, the integration of Industry 4.0 and the sustainable development goals enhance environmental sustainability to create ecological support that guarantees high environmental performance with a more positive impact than before. This paper will help stakeholders and companies to provide solutions to the existing environmental challenges that can be mediated through adopting new technologies. The novelty of this study is its depiction of Industry 4.0 and its technologies integrated with sustainable development goals to create a sustainable Industry 4.0 combining environmental protection and sustainability.

Jun Li, Yanqiu Pei, Shaohua Zhao et al.

The natural environment is essential for human survival and development since it provides water resources, land resources, biological resources and climate resources etc. As a developing country, China has witnessed a significant change in the natural environment in recent decades; and therefore, monitoring and mastering the status of the environment is of great significance. Due to the characteristics of large-scale and dynamic observation, remote sensing technology has been an indispensable approach for environmental monitoring. This paper reviews the satellite resources, institutions and policies for environmental monitoring in China, and the advances in research and application of remote sensing from five aspects: ecological index retrieval, environmental monitoring in protected areas, rural areas, urban areas and mining areas. The remote sensing models and methods for various types of environmental monitoring, and the specific applications in China are comprehensively summarized. This paper also points out major challenges existing at the current stage: satellite sensor problems, integrated use challenges of datasets, uncertainty in the retrieval process of ecological variables, scaling effect problems, a low degree of automation, the weak ability of forecasting and comprehensive analysis, and a lack of computational power for massive datasets. Finally, the development trend and future directions are put forward to direct the research and application of environmental monitoring and protection in the new era.

Siyu Ren, Y. Hao, Haitao Wu

D. Petrescu, Iris Vermeir, R. Petrescu-Mag

The last few decades testify that consumers’ concerns for healthier lifestyles and environment care are driving forces for reshaping food buying intentions and their perspectives on food quality. The present study identifies the importance that consumers attach to quality, health, and environment selected cues of purchased food products. More precisely, to elicit preferences for social, environmental, and qualitative food cues, a survey instrument was developed and applied on 797 Belgian and Romanian consumers. Our findings suggest that investigated consumers most frequently use freshness, taste, and appearance to evaluate food quality. The use frequency of food quality cues related to health is primarily influenced by the attention paid to food quality. The most relevant cues of food healthiness are ingredients, nutrition facts, and additives and for food environmental impact are packaging, food origin, and production type. It is concluded that food quality receives high attention both from Belgian and Romanian consumers and health and environment related cues can be used as a means of improving consumer health and environmental protection.

Talia Schoonees, A. G. Mancheño, B. Scheres et al.

Abdulaziz M. Al-Abdulla, Nafis Mahmud, Sabla Y. Alnouri et al.

Produced water, generated as a byproduct of oil and gas extraction, is a complex mixture characterized by high salinity and the presence of hydrocarbons, heavy metals, salts, and production-related chemicals. Its large volume and pollutant load pose significant environmental and operational challenges, making effective treatment and disposal essential for environmental protection. This study presents a systematic bibliometric analysis of produced water treatment research based on the Scopus database. It examines seven key dimensions of the research landscape: publication growth, keyword patterns, productive countries, institutions, and influential journals. A total of 1423 Scopus-indexed articles published between 1977 and 2024 were reviewed using a targeted search strategy focused on produced water in the oil and gas sector. The analysis highlights the most active contributors in terms of publication output and citations. Additionally, VOSviewer software was used to identify research trends and map networks among keywords and citations. Bibliometric trends indicate that future research should prioritize environmental impact, techno-economic assessment, and life-cycle analysis of produced water treatment. Emerging technologies, such as electrochemical and biological treatments, as well as monetizing produced water through the recovery of valuable minerals are gaining attention. The insights from this bibliometric review help to identify active research areas in produced water treatment and provide a valuable resource for researchers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders working toward more effective and sustainable treatment solutions.

Xie Yuanhao

In the context of the dual carbon policy, environmental protection has become pressing need of the times. Polyester fiber asphalt mixture is gradually replacing traditional inefficient ordinary asphalt mixture due to its excellent performance. However, the production process of polyester fiber asphalt mixture involves a large number of chemical reagents and greenhouse gas emissions, seriously polluting the environment. At present, there is insufficient research on the environmental impact of polyester fiber asphalt mixtures. This article is mainly based on the research status of various properties of polyester fiber asphalt mixture and the effective recycling methods in the research. Through LCA life cycle assessment combined with ICCS evaluation method, the environmental impact is quantitatively analyzed from three indicators: fossil consumption, land use, and biological impact. The environmental benefits of 1kg polyester fiber and asphalt lifecycle were approximately calculated. Finally, based on this, a simple linear calculation model for the environmental impact of polyester fiber asphalt mixture was proposed.

Shaojun Jiang, Hao Xiao, Xue Xiao et al.

This study investigates the impact of tire wear particles (TWPs) and their dissolved organic matter (DOM) on soil DOM dynamics and heavy metal behavior. Through short-term incubation experiments under simulated natural conditions with TWPs of varying particle sizes, we analyzed ecological changes in soil. Using three-dimensional excitation–emission matrix (3D-EEM) spectroscopy coupled with parallel factor analysis, we monitored the photochemical properties and compositional evolution of soil dissolved organic matter. Results demonstrate that TWP amendment substantially alters soil DOM molecular characteristics, inducing a sharp decrease in protein-, carbohydrate-, and lipid-like components, the degradation of low-aromaticity unstable dissolved organic matter, and an overall increase in aromaticity. Furthermore, TWP input directly modified soil properties, triggering the transformation of soil aggregates: the proportion of large aggregates significantly decreased while that of small aggregates increased, thereby reducing overall aggregate stability. The bioaccessibility of heavy metals (HMs) (Cd, Cu, and Zn) extracted by CaCl₂ increased, primarily due to the release of endogenous metals from TWPs, compounded by the disruption of soil aggregates. In contrast, Pb tended to transform into more stable fractions under TWP stress, reducing its bioaccessibility. Further correlation analysis indicated that TWPs indirectly affected HM (Cd, Cu, and Zn) fractionation by influencing the soil dissolved organic matter properties and soil properties. This study provides a new perspective for elucidating the interplay between dissolved organic matter and HMs in urban soils, as mediated by tire wear particles (TWPs).

Ansori Isa, Nur Aini Annisa, Kuncoro Widagdo Andika et al.

This research examines the relationship between Digital Learning Engagement (DLE) and Environmental Protection Attitudes (EPA) as a foundation for fostering environmental advocacy among students in culinary and tourism programs. The study aims to explore how students’ involvement in digital learning may encourage positive attitudes toward sustainability and environmental protection, which in turn could strengthen their awareness and participation in environmental advocacy within higher education. A quantitative approach with an ex post facto design was applied. The study involved 123 students drawn from both programs through proportional random sampling. Data were collected using Likert-scale questionnaires designed to measure digital engagement and environmental protection attitudes. The analysis used Pearson’s correlation and simple linear regression, processed with SPSS version 25. The findings revealed a significant positive relationship between DLE and EPA (r = 0.401, p < 0.001), with a determination value of 16.1%. This suggests that students who are more actively engaged in digital learning tend to show stronger awareness and more positive attitudes toward environmental protection. Such engagement plays a meaningful role in shaping pro-environmental values that can become the groundwork for future advocacy efforts. The results highlight the importance of integrating sustainability principles into digital learning design to nurture ecological literacy and environmental advocacy among students.

Radosław Balwierz, Katarzyna Kasperkiewicz, Martyna Straszak et al.

Propolis is a valuable natural product whose chemical composition and bioactivity are strongly dependent on its geographical and botanical origin. This study presents a comprehensive comparative analysis of the volatile profiles and antibacterial properties of propolis from Romania, Australia, and Uruguay, benchmarked against previously published data from samples from Poland and Turkey. Volatile compounds were profiled using headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The resulting data were interrogated using multivariate chemometric analyses (HCA, PCA), and antibacterial activity was assessed via the disk diffusion method against five bacterial strains. Chemometric analysis revealed a clear demarcation into two primary chemotypes: a European type (Poland, Romania, Turkey) dominated by aromatic compounds such as benzoic acid, and a non-European type (Australia, Uruguay) characterized by a high abundance of terpenes. The Australian propolis exhibited a complex terpene profile rich in α-copaene and pinenes, while the Uruguayan sample was distinguished by an exceptionally high concentration of α-pinene. All active extracts showed selective, concentration-dependent inhibition against Gram-positive <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> and <i>Streptococcus mutans</i>. The terpene-rich Australian propolis displayed the highest antibacterial potency, particularly against <i>S. mutans</i>. Crucially, Pearson correlation analysis revealed a counter-intuitive relationship: the most abundant terpenes in the non-European samples (e.g., α-pinene, verbenone) were significantly negatively correlated with antibacterial activity (r ≈ −0.99). Conversely, less abundant compounds, including linalool and acetic acid, were identified as strong positive predictors of inhibition (r > 0.90). These findings underscore a complex geography-chemotype-bioactivity relationship, where the overall synergistic effect of a mixed chemical profile, rather than the dominance of a single compound, determines antibacterial potency. The initially proposed markers provide a basis for origin-based standardization and highlight Australian propolis as a promising source of natural antibacterial agents.

Tessa R. Bloomquist, Abigail Gaylord, Whitney Cowell et al.

Ho Kyong Shon, Veeriah Jegatheesan, Li Shu et al.

Hokyong Shon, Veeriah Jegatheesan, Sherub Phuntsho et al.

Evgenia S. Soboleva, Kirill M. Kirilenko, Valentina S. Fedorova et al.

The Maculipennis subgroup of malaria mosquitoes includes both dominant malaria vectors and non-vectors in Eurasia. Understanding the genetic factors, particularly chromosomal inversions, that differentiate <i>Anopheles</i> species can provide valuable insights for vector control strategies. Although autosomal inversions between the species in this subgroup have been characterized based on the chromosomal banding patterns, the number and positions of rearrangements in the X chromosome remain unclear due to the divergent banding patterns. Here, we identified two large X chromosomal inversions, approximately 13 Mb and 10 Mb in size, using fluorescence in situ hybridization. The inversion breakpoint regions were mapped by hybridizing 53 gene markers with polytene chromosomes of <i>An. messeae</i>. The DNA probes were designed based on gene sequences from the annotated <i>An. atroparvus</i> genome. The two nested inversions resulted in five syntenic blocks. Only two small syntenic blocks, which encompass 181 annotated genes in the <i>An. atroparvus</i> genome, changed their position and orientation in the X chromosome. The analysis of the <i>An. atroparvus</i> genome revealed an enrichment of gene ontology terms associated with immune system and mating behavior in the rearranged syntenic blocks. Additionally, the enrichment of DNA transposons was found in sequences homologous to three of the four breakpoint regions. This study demonstrates the successful application of the physical genome mapping approach to identify rearrangements that differentiate species in insects with polytene chromosomes.

S Evans, MJ Schulze, M Brown et al.

Decreasing body size in nesting sea turtles has been documented globally in recent decades and attributed to a combination of environmental, ecological, and demographic changes, along with concerns about potential negative consequences for reproductive output. Our study examines long-term trends in body size of nesting hawksbill turtles Eretmochelys imbricata in the Seychelles and the likely demographic factors that may be responsible. The average curved carapace length (CCL) declined significantly from 1974-2022 (0.05 cm yr-1) for females nesting at 2 neighbouring islands, Cousine and Cousin. At Cousine Island, adult growth rates were calculated, and neophyte (recruit) and remigrant nesters were distinguished from 2002-2022. Growth was significantly different from 0 (0.18 cm yr-1). Neophyte CCL declined significantly (0.19 cm yr-1), while CCL of returning remigrants increased significantly (0.12 cm yr-1). The annual number and proportion of neophytes and remigrants fluctuated throughout 2002-2022, but the proportion of neophytes significantly increased from 2013 onward, approximately 20 yr after complete protection and increased hatchling production began at Cousine. Clutch size correlated positively with CCL, and annual clutch numbers have been increasing significantly since 1992. We conclude that overall declining trends in body size likely result from declining neophyte CCLs combined with increasing proportions of neophytes over the last decade. Meanwhile, conservation measures have enabled neophytes to survive to breed repeatedly during multiple nesting seasons and, over time, to grow bigger, produce larger egg clutches, and ultimately enhance the reproductive output of the entire population.

C. L. Schollaert, M. E. Marlier, J. D. Marshall et al.

Abstract Wildfires, prescribed burns, and agricultural burns all impact ambient air quality across the Western U.S.; however, little is known about how communities across the region are differentially exposed to smoke from each of these fire types. To address this gap, we quantify smoke exposure stemming from wildfire, prescribed, and agricultural burns across Washington, Oregon, and California from 2014 to 2020 using a fire type‐specific biomass burning emissions inventory and the GEOS‐Chem chemical transport model. We examine fire type‐specific PM2.5 concentration by race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and in relation to the Center for Disease Control's Social Vulnerability Index. Overall, population‐weighted PM2.5 concentrations are greater from wildfires than from prescribed and from agricultural burns. While we found limited evidence of exposure disparities among sub‐groups across the full study area, we did observe disproportionately higher exposures to wildfire‐specific PM2.5 exposures among Native communities in all three states and, in California, higher agricultural burn‐specific PM2.5 exposures among lower socioeconomic groups. We also identified, for all three states, areas of significant spatial clustering of smoke exposures from all fire types and increased social vulnerability. These results provide a first look at the differential contributions of smoke from wildfires, prescribed burns, and agricultural burns to PM2.5 exposures among demographic subgroups, which can be used to inform more tailored exposure reduction strategies across sources.