Resources Environment and Sustainability最新文献

Pyrolysis technology is a green and efficient method for recycling enameled wires. However, since waste enameled wires are typically recovered from electronic waste, they often contain small amounts of wires and cables. Therefore, during the pyrolysis process of waste enameled wires, it is inevitable for the paint film and the cable sheath to undergo co-pyrolysis. Polyesterimide enameled wires (EPEsI) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) were chosen as represent enameled wires and cable sheath materials, respectively. Using thermogravimetric analysis with various pyrolysis kinetic analysis methods, the pyrolysis characteristics and kinetics of EPEsI and Mixture (mixture of EPEsI and PVC) were studied. Through synergy analysis and pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis, the influence of PVC on the pyrolysis of EPEsI was elucidated from aspects such as pyrolysis characteristics and product distribution. Based on density functional theory calculations and wave function analysis, the role of endogenous metal Cu in EPEsI on the pyrolysis processes of PEsI and PVC, as well as the mechanism of HCl from PVC on the pyrolysis of PEsI, were clarified.

Population and agricultural resource distribution disparities drive the multidimensional challenge of ensuring food security, especially in large and diverse nations like China. Agricultural practices and trade patterns have profound implications not only for national food security but also for global environmental and health outcomes. Although regional agricultural trade has great potential to alleviate food supply pressures, little is known about the environmental and health consequences of agricultural trade on a national scale in China. This study firstly estimated ammonia (NH₃) emissions, a precursor of PM${}_{\mathrm{2.5}}$, driven by interprovincial grain and meat trade (GMT) for 2017 in mainland China. Then, PM${}_{\mathrm{2.5}}$ pollution and associated health risks induced by GTM were simulated using a coupled meteorology atmospheric chemistry model and integrated exposure–response model. We found that approximately 30% of NH₃ emissions from grain and meat production were trade-related, demonstrating a dramatic virtual transfer from Northern China to Southern China. Interprovincial GMT dramatically reduced PM${}_{\mathrm{2.5}}$ levels and the associated health burden in Southern China, but enhanced in Northern China. Given higher population intensity and reduced PM${}_{\mathrm{2.5}}$ levels in Southern China, interprovincial GMT was estimated to avoid 4,851 (95% confidence interval: 3,444–5,870) premature deaths in China in 2017. Our results illustrate the need for rethinking trade patterns for optimality to minimize the mixed impacts of the GWT on the environment, human health, and food security, and to provide supports to the development of more effective policies to achieve these goals.

Durum wheat is a crucial staple crop in many arid and semi-arid regions around the world, significantly contributing to local food security. This review paper aims to explore the current status of durum wheat productivity and the potential impacts of future climatic conditions on its cultivation. Various drivers and constraints affecting durum wheat yield are examined, including biotic and abiotic stressors, CO₂ concentrations and agronomic practices. Drought and heat stress were identified as the primary yield limiting factors. Furthermore, the influence of climate change on durum wheat is evaluated, focusing on altered precipitation patterns, temperature extremes, and increased atmospheric CO₂ levels. Most prominent quantification methods for climate change impact on yields are explored. The paper provides a summary of the current state of research, which reveals some contradictory results for future durum wheat yields. On the one hand, significant increases in productivity due to the fertilization effect of higher CO₂ levels are predicted. On the other hand, the crop failures are foreseen as consequence of elevated heat and drought stress as part of climate change. Overall, this paper underlines the importance of understanding the complex interactions between climate change and durum wheat productivity and highlights the urgency to explore sustainable adaptation strategies to ensure future food security.

The Planetary Boundaries (PBs) pioneering approach defines environmental sustainability in terms of a Safe Operating Space (SOS) for human’s society to develop and thrive. The approach has found fertile ground in combination with Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) - a standardised method for assessing the environmental impacts of product systems. In this article, we conduct a detailed review of existing approaches to embed PBs in LCA. We start by exploring the links between PBs control variables and LCA impact categories and then focus on reviewing three approaches (i) absolute environmental sustainability assessment (AESA), (ii) PBs-based normalisation and (iii) PBs-based weighting. We examine four key methodological aspects covering harmonisation of units (between PBs control variables and LCA indicators), definition and allocation of the SOS, regionalisation of boundaries and temporal aspects. We conclude the review with a discussion on applicability, limitations, policy implications and conclusions.