Michael Christian, Suryo Wibowo, Henilia Yulita, Rima Melati, Sunarno Sunarno, Fitriana Titis Perdini
Background: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic affects several aspects of food safety and food delivery hygiene for online food delivery applications (OFDAs). Several previous studies conducted at various times during the COVID-19 pandemic have yielded interesting results. This study aimed to determine and analyze whether perceptions of food safety and food delivery hygiene are short-term and long-term predictors of behavioral intention to use OFDAs. Methods: A quantitative approach and structural modeling were used in this study. SmartPLS is used to analyze five direct and two mediating effects of the variables used in this study. The data sample consists of OFDA users in Greater Jakarta during the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: Perceived food safety has a significant effect on behavioral intention to use these applications but does not affect behavioral intention to continue using these applications. Perceived food delivery hygiene does not influence using these apps for either short-term or long-term behavioral purposes. Experience with these apps related to food safety and food delivery hygiene during a pandemic can be indicative of their long-term viability. The mediating effect of behavioral intention to use on behavioral intention to continue using these apps affects perceived food safety but not food delivery hygiene. Conclusion: By emphasizing vaccination and boosting against COVID-19, providing hand sanitizer, and preserving the cleanliness and integrity of food packaging, the findings of this study can be put into practice towards the sustainable usage of OFDAs.
{"title":"Two phases of online food delivery app users’ behavior in Greater Jakarta during the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic: Perceptions of food safety and hygiene","authors":"Michael Christian, Suryo Wibowo, Henilia Yulita, Rima Melati, Sunarno Sunarno, Fitriana Titis Perdini","doi":"10.34172/ehem.2023.28","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34172/ehem.2023.28","url":null,"abstract":"Background: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic affects several aspects of food safety and food delivery hygiene for online food delivery applications (OFDAs). Several previous studies conducted at various times during the COVID-19 pandemic have yielded interesting results. This study aimed to determine and analyze whether perceptions of food safety and food delivery hygiene are short-term and long-term predictors of behavioral intention to use OFDAs. Methods: A quantitative approach and structural modeling were used in this study. SmartPLS is used to analyze five direct and two mediating effects of the variables used in this study. The data sample consists of OFDA users in Greater Jakarta during the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: Perceived food safety has a significant effect on behavioral intention to use these applications but does not affect behavioral intention to continue using these applications. Perceived food delivery hygiene does not influence using these apps for either short-term or long-term behavioral purposes. Experience with these apps related to food safety and food delivery hygiene during a pandemic can be indicative of their long-term viability. The mediating effect of behavioral intention to use on behavioral intention to continue using these apps affects perceived food safety but not food delivery hygiene. Conclusion: By emphasizing vaccination and boosting against COVID-19, providing hand sanitizer, and preserving the cleanliness and integrity of food packaging, the findings of this study can be put into practice towards the sustainable usage of OFDAs.","PeriodicalId":51877,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Health Engineering and Management Journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136241401","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Background: Natural wastewater treatment systems (NWTSs) in small villages are a major challenge for European water authorities. With growing social demands for environmental practices, evaluating the feasibility and environmental impact of low-cost treatment systems for small residential areas is essential. Methods: To address this challenge, this study was conducted to evaluate 10 NWTSs seasonally in rural areas of Bursa, Turkey. Authorities over the facilities permitted the examination of workable, low-cost effluent management options. Also, using Open-LCA software based on ReCiPe MidPoint (H) version 1.67, these plants’ effects on global warming, Phosphorus-depletion, human toxicity, marine eutrophication, and freshwater eutrophication were examined. Results: According to the LCA findings, Deydinler NWTS had a greater impact across all three effect areas (freshwater eutrophication, marine eutrophication, and human toxicity), ranging from 11 to 41%. Pinar and Yenice facilities, however, had 26% and 27% larger impacts in the same two impacts (marine eutrophication and human toxicity). These systems performed on average at 67%, 50%, and 58% chemical oxygen demand (COD), total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) elimination, respectively. Conclusion: According to the findings, 10 NWTSs have a treatment efficiency of about 70%. NWTSs are possibilities for decentralized wastewater treatment in small residential areas that are both cost-effective and environmentally favorable. By treating organic pollution naturally, without chemicals, and with minimal energy use, they lessen their negative environmental effects. The main findings of this study will be useful for academics in determining future research areas and identifying whom they might consult to help design carbon footprint of NWTS and future carbon reduction objectives.
{"title":"Feasibility of natural wastewater treatment systems and life cycle assessment (LCA) for aquatic systems","authors":"Berrak Erol Nalbur, Özcan Yavaş","doi":"10.34172/ehem.2023.37","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34172/ehem.2023.37","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Natural wastewater treatment systems (NWTSs) in small villages are a major challenge for European water authorities. With growing social demands for environmental practices, evaluating the feasibility and environmental impact of low-cost treatment systems for small residential areas is essential. Methods: To address this challenge, this study was conducted to evaluate 10 NWTSs seasonally in rural areas of Bursa, Turkey. Authorities over the facilities permitted the examination of workable, low-cost effluent management options. Also, using Open-LCA software based on ReCiPe MidPoint (H) version 1.67, these plants’ effects on global warming, Phosphorus-depletion, human toxicity, marine eutrophication, and freshwater eutrophication were examined. Results: According to the LCA findings, Deydinler NWTS had a greater impact across all three effect areas (freshwater eutrophication, marine eutrophication, and human toxicity), ranging from 11 to 41%. Pinar and Yenice facilities, however, had 26% and 27% larger impacts in the same two impacts (marine eutrophication and human toxicity). These systems performed on average at 67%, 50%, and 58% chemical oxygen demand (COD), total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) elimination, respectively. Conclusion: According to the findings, 10 NWTSs have a treatment efficiency of about 70%. NWTSs are possibilities for decentralized wastewater treatment in small residential areas that are both cost-effective and environmentally favorable. By treating organic pollution naturally, without chemicals, and with minimal energy use, they lessen their negative environmental effects. The main findings of this study will be useful for academics in determining future research areas and identifying whom they might consult to help design carbon footprint of NWTS and future carbon reduction objectives.","PeriodicalId":51877,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Health Engineering and Management Journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135619069","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Background: Today, the usage of artificial intelligence systems and computational intelligence is increasing. This study aimed to determine the fuzzy system algorithms to model and predict the amount of air pollution based on the measured data in subway stations. Methods: In this study, first, the effective variables on the concentration of particulate matter were determined in metro stations. Then, PM2.5, PM10, and total size particle (TSP) concentrations were measured. Finally, the particles’ concentration was modeled using fuzzy systems, including the fuzzy inference system (FIS) and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS). Results: It was revealed that FIS with modes gradient segmentation (FIS-GS) could predict 76% and ANFIS-FCM with modes of clustering and post-diffusion training algorithm (CPDTA) could predict 85% of PM2.5, PM10, and TSP particle concentrations. Conclusion: According to the results, among the models studied in this work, ANFIS-FCM-CPDTA, due to its better ability to extract knowledge and ambiguous rules of the fuzzy system, was considered a suitable model.
{"title":"Modeling the concentration of suspended particles by fuzzy inference system (FIS) and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) techniques: A case study in the metro stations","authors":"Zahra Sadat Mousavi Fard, Hassan Asilian Mahabadi, Farahnaz Khajehnasiri, Mohammad Amin Rashidi","doi":"10.34172/ehem.2023.35","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34172/ehem.2023.35","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Today, the usage of artificial intelligence systems and computational intelligence is increasing. This study aimed to determine the fuzzy system algorithms to model and predict the amount of air pollution based on the measured data in subway stations. Methods: In this study, first, the effective variables on the concentration of particulate matter were determined in metro stations. Then, PM2.5, PM10, and total size particle (TSP) concentrations were measured. Finally, the particles’ concentration was modeled using fuzzy systems, including the fuzzy inference system (FIS) and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS). Results: It was revealed that FIS with modes gradient segmentation (FIS-GS) could predict 76% and ANFIS-FCM with modes of clustering and post-diffusion training algorithm (CPDTA) could predict 85% of PM2.5, PM10, and TSP particle concentrations. Conclusion: According to the results, among the models studied in this work, ANFIS-FCM-CPDTA, due to its better ability to extract knowledge and ambiguous rules of the fuzzy system, was considered a suitable model.","PeriodicalId":51877,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Health Engineering and Management Journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135936712","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mahdieh Abedi, Amir Hossein Baghaie, Hamid Toranjzar
Background: Nutrient deficiency in soils contaminated with heavy metals is one of the main environmental problems. This research was done to investigate the inoculation of plants with Piriformospora indica and organic and inorganic Zn sources on the Cd concentration in the plants cultivated in the Cd-polluted soil. Methods: Treatment consisted of applying organic and inorganic Zn fertilizers in the form of Zn sulfate, Zn oxide, and Zn-EDTA sources at the rates of 0, 20, and 40 kg Zn/ha in the Cd-polluted soil (0, 5, and 10 mg Cd/kg soil) under cultivation of plants inoculation with P. indica. After 90 days, plants were harvested and Zn and Cd concentrations in the plants were measured using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). In addition, the ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and peroxidase (POX) enzyme activity was also measured. Results: Inoculation of plants with P. indica significantly decreased the Cd concentration of plants cultivated in the Cd-polluted soil (10 mg Cd/kg soil) by 17.1%. Furthermore, applying 40 kg Zn/ha from the Zn-EDTA source significantly decreased and increased the Cd and Zn concentrations in the plants by 12.2% and 15.1%, respectively. Although, the application efficiency of this fertilizer was lower in the soils contaminated with heavy metals. Conclusion: Plant inoculation with P. indica and using organic and inorganic Zn fertilizer had an additive effect of increasing and decreasing the Zn and Cd concentrations in plants. However, the role of the plants’ physiological characteristics and the type of soil pollutant should not be ignored.
背景:重金属污染土壤的养分缺乏是主要的环境问题之一。本试验研究了在镉污染土壤中接种梨形孢子菌和有机、无机锌源对植物体内镉浓度的影响。方法:在Cd污染土壤(0、5、10 mg Cd/kg土壤)中接种籼稻种植,分别以硫酸锌、氧化锌和edta锌为源,以0、20、40 kg Zn/ha的速率施用有机和无机Zn肥料。90 d后收获植株,采用原子吸收光谱法测定植株中Zn和Cd的浓度。测定抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)和过氧化物酶(POX)活性。结果:在Cd污染土壤(10 mg Cd/kg土壤)中,接种籼稻可显著降低植株Cd浓度17.1%。施用40 kg Zn/ hm2 Zn- edta能显著降低和提高植株Cd和Zn浓度,分别降低12.2%和15.1%。但在重金属污染土壤中,该肥料的施用效率较低。结论:接种籼稻与施用有机和无机锌肥具有增加和降低植株Zn、Cd浓度的加性效应。但植物生理特性和土壤污染物类型的作用也不容忽视。
{"title":"Plant inoculation with <i>Piriformospora indica</i> fungus and additive effects of organic and inorganic Zn fertilize on decreasing the Cd concentration of the plants cultivated in the Cd-polluted soil","authors":"Mahdieh Abedi, Amir Hossein Baghaie, Hamid Toranjzar","doi":"10.34172/ehem.2023.34","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34172/ehem.2023.34","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Nutrient deficiency in soils contaminated with heavy metals is one of the main environmental problems. This research was done to investigate the inoculation of plants with Piriformospora indica and organic and inorganic Zn sources on the Cd concentration in the plants cultivated in the Cd-polluted soil. Methods: Treatment consisted of applying organic and inorganic Zn fertilizers in the form of Zn sulfate, Zn oxide, and Zn-EDTA sources at the rates of 0, 20, and 40 kg Zn/ha in the Cd-polluted soil (0, 5, and 10 mg Cd/kg soil) under cultivation of plants inoculation with P. indica. After 90 days, plants were harvested and Zn and Cd concentrations in the plants were measured using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). In addition, the ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and peroxidase (POX) enzyme activity was also measured. Results: Inoculation of plants with P. indica significantly decreased the Cd concentration of plants cultivated in the Cd-polluted soil (10 mg Cd/kg soil) by 17.1%. Furthermore, applying 40 kg Zn/ha from the Zn-EDTA source significantly decreased and increased the Cd and Zn concentrations in the plants by 12.2% and 15.1%, respectively. Although, the application efficiency of this fertilizer was lower in the soils contaminated with heavy metals. Conclusion: Plant inoculation with P. indica and using organic and inorganic Zn fertilizer had an additive effect of increasing and decreasing the Zn and Cd concentrations in plants. However, the role of the plants’ physiological characteristics and the type of soil pollutant should not be ignored.","PeriodicalId":51877,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Health Engineering and Management Journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136044025","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kamal Karimzadeh, Ghazaleh Monazami Tehrani, Shokooh Sadat Khaloo, Mohammad Hossein Vaziri, Sama Amirkhani Ardeh, Reza Saeedi
Background: The health, safety, and environment (HSE) resilience is the ability of a system to adapt, resist and cope with the HSE risks in critical situations. In this study, the HSE resilience in solid waste management (SWM) system of Tehran was quantitatively assessed using HSE resilience index (HSE-RI). Methods: The principles and components of HSE-RI were determined and weighted based on the expert panel opinions using Delphi technique and analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The HSE-RI scores were divided into five categories as very good (80-100), good (65-79), medium (50-64), weak (35-49), and very weak (0-34). Results: The weights of the HSE-RI principles in the SWM system were determined as follows: 0.376 for top management commitment, 0.149 for awareness and risk perception, 0.144 for preparedness, 0.144 for performance, 0.057 for reporting and just culture, 0.0574 for learning culture, 0.055 for flexibility, and 0.017 for redundancy. The highest and lowest scores of the resilience principles in the SWM system were related to the principles of awareness and risk perception (73.6), and reporting and just culture (45.1), respectively. The HSE-RI score in the SWM system was 62.9 (medium). Conclusion: The results of this study based on the Delphi method and AHP showed that the HSE resilience in the SWM system of Tehran was not at the desired level. The principles of top management commitment (with the highest weight), reporting and just culture and preparedness (with the lowest scores) were determined as the most effective points for improving the HSE resilience in the SWM system of Tehran.
{"title":"Quantitative assessment of health, safety, and environment (HSE) resilience based on the Delphi method and analytic hierarchy process (AHP) in municipal solid waste management system: A case study in Tehran","authors":"Kamal Karimzadeh, Ghazaleh Monazami Tehrani, Shokooh Sadat Khaloo, Mohammad Hossein Vaziri, Sama Amirkhani Ardeh, Reza Saeedi","doi":"10.34172/ehem.2023.27","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34172/ehem.2023.27","url":null,"abstract":"Background: The health, safety, and environment (HSE) resilience is the ability of a system to adapt, resist and cope with the HSE risks in critical situations. In this study, the HSE resilience in solid waste management (SWM) system of Tehran was quantitatively assessed using HSE resilience index (HSE-RI). Methods: The principles and components of HSE-RI were determined and weighted based on the expert panel opinions using Delphi technique and analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The HSE-RI scores were divided into five categories as very good (80-100), good (65-79), medium (50-64), weak (35-49), and very weak (0-34). Results: The weights of the HSE-RI principles in the SWM system were determined as follows: 0.376 for top management commitment, 0.149 for awareness and risk perception, 0.144 for preparedness, 0.144 for performance, 0.057 for reporting and just culture, 0.0574 for learning culture, 0.055 for flexibility, and 0.017 for redundancy. The highest and lowest scores of the resilience principles in the SWM system were related to the principles of awareness and risk perception (73.6), and reporting and just culture (45.1), respectively. The HSE-RI score in the SWM system was 62.9 (medium). Conclusion: The results of this study based on the Delphi method and AHP showed that the HSE resilience in the SWM system of Tehran was not at the desired level. The principles of top management commitment (with the highest weight), reporting and just culture and preparedness (with the lowest scores) were determined as the most effective points for improving the HSE resilience in the SWM system of Tehran.","PeriodicalId":51877,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Health Engineering and Management Journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135065029","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Background: Modeling of wastewater treatment plants is necessary to predict their later works. In this research, three methods were compared to predict some parameters at the outlet of wastewater treatment plant in Hama city in Syria. Methods: In this paper, three methods (linear regression, power regression, and regression trees) to model wastewater treatment plant in Hama city were compared to predict the parameters at the outlet of the plant (cBOD5out, CODout, TSSout) in terms of the parameters at the inlet of the plant (Qin, cBOD5in, CODin, TSSin). Results: When predicting cBOD5out, the values of RMSE of the test data set were 4.4105, 4.3875, and 3.8418; when predicting CODout, the values of RMSE of the test data set were 6.9325, 6.8003, and 5.3232; and when predicting TSSout, the values of root mean squared error (RMSE) of the test data set were 3.7781, 3.6936, and 3.2391 using linear regression, power regression, and regression trees (RTs), respectively. Conclusion: According to the results, the RTs outperforms in predicting cBOD5out, CODout, and TSSout because this method achieved the least RMSE of the test data set.
{"title":"Modeling of wastewater treatment plant in Hama city using regression and regression trees","authors":"Heba Bodaka, Nahed Farhoud, Eyad Hlali","doi":"10.34172/ehem.2023.33","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34172/ehem.2023.33","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Modeling of wastewater treatment plants is necessary to predict their later works. In this research, three methods were compared to predict some parameters at the outlet of wastewater treatment plant in Hama city in Syria. Methods: In this paper, three methods (linear regression, power regression, and regression trees) to model wastewater treatment plant in Hama city were compared to predict the parameters at the outlet of the plant (cBOD5out, CODout, TSSout) in terms of the parameters at the inlet of the plant (Qin, cBOD5in, CODin, TSSin). Results: When predicting cBOD5out, the values of RMSE of the test data set were 4.4105, 4.3875, and 3.8418; when predicting CODout, the values of RMSE of the test data set were 6.9325, 6.8003, and 5.3232; and when predicting TSSout, the values of root mean squared error (RMSE) of the test data set were 3.7781, 3.6936, and 3.2391 using linear regression, power regression, and regression trees (RTs), respectively. Conclusion: According to the results, the RTs outperforms in predicting cBOD5out, CODout, and TSSout because this method achieved the least RMSE of the test data set.","PeriodicalId":51877,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Health Engineering and Management Journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135755950","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Background: The energy crisis is a growing problem around the world, requiring the creation of alternative energy sources that can generate less carbon dioxide and benefit the ecosystem. Reutilization of wastewater is becoming the emerging energy solution. Wastewater contains a large amount of organic matter that can be oxidized in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) to produce electricity. MFCs use biodegradable materials to create energy in the presence of microorganisms. Methods: Purposive sampling technique was employed to collect samples from critical polluting sources. The samples were certainly maintained in a refrigerator at 4°C. Several mixes for sample were prepared and tested analytically- for physio-chemical and bacteriological characterizations of each substrate status at pre- and post-treatment stages. Electricity generating capacity of MFCs that employing different substrates was investigated experimentally using batch reactors. The cross-sectional methodology was employed to study possible power generation. Results: The maximum voltage output of 118.93, 144.84, and 89.76 mV were produced keeping the resistance unlimited for MFC1 (urine substrate), MFC2 (blackwater substrate), and MFC3 (graywater substrate), respectively. MFC that utilized graywater as a substrate brought the tiniest quantity of electricity; however, it stood the most stable. The highest COD reduction (65.83%) in the process was reported in urine substrate and the highest BOD5 removal (69.18%) was reported in black water substrate. Conclusion: The experimental results provided a promising indication of MFCs viability, providing hope for future power generation and alternative wastewater treatment option in developing countries.
{"title":"Development of microbial fuel cell for wastewater treatment and electricity generation using domestic wastes","authors":"Tensay Kifle, Esayas Alemayehu, Chali Dereje Kitila","doi":"10.34172/ehem.2023.31","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34172/ehem.2023.31","url":null,"abstract":"Background: The energy crisis is a growing problem around the world, requiring the creation of alternative energy sources that can generate less carbon dioxide and benefit the ecosystem. Reutilization of wastewater is becoming the emerging energy solution. Wastewater contains a large amount of organic matter that can be oxidized in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) to produce electricity. MFCs use biodegradable materials to create energy in the presence of microorganisms. Methods: Purposive sampling technique was employed to collect samples from critical polluting sources. The samples were certainly maintained in a refrigerator at 4°C. Several mixes for sample were prepared and tested analytically- for physio-chemical and bacteriological characterizations of each substrate status at pre- and post-treatment stages. Electricity generating capacity of MFCs that employing different substrates was investigated experimentally using batch reactors. The cross-sectional methodology was employed to study possible power generation. Results: The maximum voltage output of 118.93, 144.84, and 89.76 mV were produced keeping the resistance unlimited for MFC1 (urine substrate), MFC2 (blackwater substrate), and MFC3 (graywater substrate), respectively. MFC that utilized graywater as a substrate brought the tiniest quantity of electricity; however, it stood the most stable. The highest COD reduction (65.83%) in the process was reported in urine substrate and the highest BOD5 removal (69.18%) was reported in black water substrate. Conclusion: The experimental results provided a promising indication of MFCs viability, providing hope for future power generation and alternative wastewater treatment option in developing countries.","PeriodicalId":51877,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Health Engineering and Management Journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136364557","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Background: Heavy metals are one of the global environmental challenges from the informal disposal of electronic waste, especially after the post-COVID phase. In the present study, the concentration of three heavy metals (Pb, Cd, and Cr) in the feathers of Corvus splendens, Passer domesticus and roosting sites at Bellandur Lake, Bengaluru, India were analyzed. Methods: A total of nine sediment samples (0-15 cm) were collected from the roosting sites and stored in polyethylene bags, and nine samples of C. splendens and P. domesticus bird shedding feathers through the molting phenomenon were collected naturally to avoid stimuli that can create conflict for the bird. The samples were collected early morning from 5.00 a.m. to 9 a.m. To determine heavy metals (Pb, Cd, and Cr) in feathers and sediments, the samples were digested and subjected to AAS and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS). Furthermore, the generalized linear model was analyzed to test the covariance structure of bird diversity. Results: The Pearson’s correlation is found to be significant (P<0.05) for contaminated sediments and the feathers of the bird. Analysis of variance for the difference in the concentration of heavy metals within the bird’s species feathers was not statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion: The feathers of C. splendens and P. domesticus bird species are associated with blood vessels and heavy metals deposited in the blood through the food chain, which are contaminated with heavy metals. C. Splendens feathers were more contaminated with Cr, Pb, and Cd compared to P. domesticus feathers bird species.
{"title":"Impact of heavy metals from electronic waste on bird species concerning biodiversity: A case study in Bellandur lake, Bengaluru, India","authors":"Abhishek Kumar, Ravichandran Chandrahasan","doi":"10.34172/ehem.2023.30","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34172/ehem.2023.30","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Heavy metals are one of the global environmental challenges from the informal disposal of electronic waste, especially after the post-COVID phase. In the present study, the concentration of three heavy metals (Pb, Cd, and Cr) in the feathers of Corvus splendens, Passer domesticus and roosting sites at Bellandur Lake, Bengaluru, India were analyzed. Methods: A total of nine sediment samples (0-15 cm) were collected from the roosting sites and stored in polyethylene bags, and nine samples of C. splendens and P. domesticus bird shedding feathers through the molting phenomenon were collected naturally to avoid stimuli that can create conflict for the bird. The samples were collected early morning from 5.00 a.m. to 9 a.m. To determine heavy metals (Pb, Cd, and Cr) in feathers and sediments, the samples were digested and subjected to AAS and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS). Furthermore, the generalized linear model was analyzed to test the covariance structure of bird diversity. Results: The Pearson’s correlation is found to be significant (P<0.05) for contaminated sediments and the feathers of the bird. Analysis of variance for the difference in the concentration of heavy metals within the bird’s species feathers was not statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion: The feathers of C. splendens and P. domesticus bird species are associated with blood vessels and heavy metals deposited in the blood through the food chain, which are contaminated with heavy metals. C. Splendens feathers were more contaminated with Cr, Pb, and Cd compared to P. domesticus feathers bird species.","PeriodicalId":51877,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Health Engineering and Management Journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-06-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136286506","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Background: Disinfection is performed in our laboratory using sodium hypochlorite, glutaraldehyde, alcohol, or hydrogen peroxide. All these products are known for their harmful side effects on human and ecological health. As a part of the search for new sterilization methods that respect the environment much more, we were interested in studying the antifungal activity of ozone gas on the most isolated fungi in our hospital "University Hospital Center Hassani Abdelkader of Sidi Bel Abbes". Methods: This study focused on the antifungal activity of gaseous ozone on the most common fungal isolates in the hospital, with consideration of the duration of the exposure to ozone. Results: The fungicidal effect of ozone gas on molds was more effective compared to its effect on yeasts, it makes it possible to inhibit the reproduction and fungal growth of molds, in particular the filamentous molds and the most commonly isolated dermatophytes. A longer exposure would seem to be more effective. Conclusion: Ozone gas can be a new alternative for sterilization and disinfection techniques, especially filamentous fungi and dermatophytes.
{"title":"The influence of gaseous ozone on the growth of fungi isolated from clinical and environmental samples","authors":"Samira Djaroud, Zoubir Belmokhtar, Yassine Merad, Kamel Nassour, Malika Belkacemi, Derouicha Matmour, Zakaria Merad","doi":"10.34172/ehem.2023.29","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34172/ehem.2023.29","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Disinfection is performed in our laboratory using sodium hypochlorite, glutaraldehyde, alcohol, or hydrogen peroxide. All these products are known for their harmful side effects on human and ecological health. As a part of the search for new sterilization methods that respect the environment much more, we were interested in studying the antifungal activity of ozone gas on the most isolated fungi in our hospital \"University Hospital Center Hassani Abdelkader of Sidi Bel Abbes\". Methods: This study focused on the antifungal activity of gaseous ozone on the most common fungal isolates in the hospital, with consideration of the duration of the exposure to ozone. Results: The fungicidal effect of ozone gas on molds was more effective compared to its effect on yeasts, it makes it possible to inhibit the reproduction and fungal growth of molds, in particular the filamentous molds and the most commonly isolated dermatophytes. A longer exposure would seem to be more effective. Conclusion: Ozone gas can be a new alternative for sterilization and disinfection techniques, especially filamentous fungi and dermatophytes.","PeriodicalId":51877,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Health Engineering and Management Journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-06-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135288174","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Background: Environmental pollution caused by microplastics (MPs) is quite ubiquitous and has become a global issue. Several studies have focused on MPs in marine and freshwater systems. However, there is a paucity of data about the presence of MPs in sea products like table salt and the risks they likely pose. Hence, this study investigated the presence of MPs in commonly consumed commercial table salts in South-West, Nigeria. Methods: A total of 8 different brands of commonly consumed commercial salts were purchased from open supermarkets in Ogun and Lagos States, Nigeria. Salt samples were digested with 30% H2 O2 , extracted for MPs, and observed under a digital microscope for shape, quantity, and colour. Results: Fibres and fragments were the plastic shapes found in the samples, with fibres being more prominent. The average content of MPs obtained was 12 particles/kg. Blue, pink, and purple colours of MPs were commonly found. The sizes of MPs were between 50 µm and 1 mm. Considering our findings and based on the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) recommended daily intake of 5 g of salt, Nigerian adults will consume an average rate of 21.9 microplastic particles/year. Conclusion: According to the results of the study, table salts commonly consumed in Nigeria are polluted with MPs. Due to the importance of table salt as related to daily food intakes, it becomes very necessary to fine-tune technologies in their production to improve the quality and lower MPs ingested by consumers in Nigeria.
{"title":"A study of the microplastic contamination of commercial table salts: A case study in Nigeria","authors":"O. Shokunbi, D. O. Jegede, O. Shokunbi","doi":"10.34172/ehem.2023.24","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34172/ehem.2023.24","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Environmental pollution caused by microplastics (MPs) is quite ubiquitous and has become a global issue. Several studies have focused on MPs in marine and freshwater systems. However, there is a paucity of data about the presence of MPs in sea products like table salt and the risks they likely pose. Hence, this study investigated the presence of MPs in commonly consumed commercial table salts in South-West, Nigeria. Methods: A total of 8 different brands of commonly consumed commercial salts were purchased from open supermarkets in Ogun and Lagos States, Nigeria. Salt samples were digested with 30% H2 O2 , extracted for MPs, and observed under a digital microscope for shape, quantity, and colour. Results: Fibres and fragments were the plastic shapes found in the samples, with fibres being more prominent. The average content of MPs obtained was 12 particles/kg. Blue, pink, and purple colours of MPs were commonly found. The sizes of MPs were between 50 µm and 1 mm. Considering our findings and based on the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) recommended daily intake of 5 g of salt, Nigerian adults will consume an average rate of 21.9 microplastic particles/year. Conclusion: According to the results of the study, table salts commonly consumed in Nigeria are polluted with MPs. Due to the importance of table salt as related to daily food intakes, it becomes very necessary to fine-tune technologies in their production to improve the quality and lower MPs ingested by consumers in Nigeria.","PeriodicalId":51877,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Health Engineering and Management Journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2023-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45626656","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}