Environmental Science and Pollution Research最新文献

This study investigates the economic and environmental advantages of using recycled asphalt mixtures with varying percentages of Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP), cottonseed oil, and zeolite. The primary objective was to assess these mixtures’ life cycle impacts and costs compared to a traditional control mixture. The methodology employed includes Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Cost Assessment (LCCA), with a focus on endpoint impact categories such as ecosystem damage, human health, and resource availability. The analysis encompassed production, construction, and end-of-life phases, utilizing an 8.5% discount rate and a 10-year planning horizon. Results indicate that recycled asphalt mixtures with RAP and additives show significant environmental benefits, including reductions in impacts across all evaluated categories. Specifically, RAP incorporation led to substantial reductions in resource consumption and lower life cycle costs. Mixtures with 33% RAP and 10% cottonseed oil, and 33% RAP and 0.3% zeolite, demonstrated the highest cost savings and environmental performance improvements. The findings highlight that while the inclusion of additives increases some costs, the overall economic advantage of RAP utilization is substantial. This research underscores the feasibility of using recycled asphalt mixtures as a sustainable alternative to traditional mixtures, offering both economic and environmental benefits.

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In this study, a novel magnetic carbonaceous nanohybrid material (CoF@NAC) was synthesized by microwave-assisted simple chemical co-precipitation method in the basic medium using iron and cobalt nitrate salts in the presence of Nigella sativa (Nigella sativa L.) industrial processing waste-based activated carbon (NAC) and then characterized by SEM, EDX, Mapping, BET, XRD, VSM, FTIR, Boehm titration, and pH_ZPC techniques. Its BET surface area, total pore volume, mesoporosity, average pore diameter, and saturation magnetization values were 729 m²/g, 0.426 cm³/g, 61.5%, 2.4 nm, and 23.3 emu/g, respectively. To test its adsorptive performance, methylene blue (MB) dye and lead (Pb(II)) heavy metal water pollutants were selected as model adsorbates. Optimum adsorption conditions were determined according to the maximum effects of key experimental parameters. The kinetic and isotherm findings of each adsorption system fit best the pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm models, respectively. The maximum removed MB and Pb(II) quantities of MB and Pb(II) were 667 and 455 mg/g, respectively, at their natural pH levels (pH 6 for MB and pH 5 for Pb(II)) in water. Thermodynamic parameters calculated showed that their processes were spontaneous, endothermic for MB, and exothermic for Pb(II). Moreover, it showed high recyclability stability over four cycles for the studied adsorbates.

Uranium mining has heightened the risk of metal and radionuclide contamination in groundwater resources. Water contamination is a significant global environmental and public health issue, with wide-ranging impacts on ecosystems and human communities. The purpose of this study is to present the preliminary results of these studies, examining the contamination levels in water sources within settlements near uranium mines. In samples of water selected from a well of Kvartsitka, total alpha and beta activity exceeds the intervention level for drinking water. Radon concentrations in groundwater from boreholes have shown extremely high values in Saumalkol, which exceed the permissive level by an order of magnitude. This study highlights the urgent need for comprehensive monitoring and intervention in areas impacted by uranium mining. It is essential to implement advanced water treatment systems, conduct routine monitoring of radionuclide levels, and educate the public about the risks associated with using untreated well water to reduce exposure.

Reefs in the Northern Straits of Malacca are exposed to low-light conditions mainly due to sedimentation. Corals can be found in the urban reefs of Pulau Kendi (PK) and Pulau Songsong (PS) despite being exposed to low-light stress. Rapid Light Curve (RLC) measurements were performed in situ using a Diving Pulse Amplitude Modulated (PAM) fluorometer to investigate the photoacclimation of hard corals in the turbid waters of the non-protected reefs in PK and PS. The photosynthetic responses of corals suggested two distinct patterns of photoacclimation which are preferential dynamic non-photochemical quenching and preferential photochemical quenching. When the light response curves were plotted against E/E_k, all coral species from PK and Pavona danai from PS were light saturated (E/E_k > 1) indicating the activation of the NPQ mechanism. However, Goniastrea aspera and Cyphastrea chalcidicum exhibited a different trend of photoacclimation in which the light did not reach saturation (light is limited (E/E_k < 1) indicating the preferential photochemical quenching as photoacclimation strategy. The results indicated that the photoacclimation mechanism may vary between species and corals can acclimate to changes in the environment. However, the extent of the acclimation may depend on other physiological factors such as Symbiodiniaceae type which needs to be investigated in the future.

Water quality management is essential for sustaining aquatic ecosystems and public health. Different approaches, such as trading ratio systems (TRS), offer economic incentives for reducing pollutant discharges and promote cost-effective compliance with water quality standards. This study evaluates the impact of equitable initial permit allocation on the willingness of dischargers to engage in trading and examines its effect on abatement cost savings within a TRS framework for riverine water quality management. The methodology combines a multi-objective optimization model with the Streeter-Phelps simulation to assess permit allocation and trading scenarios in the Sefidrood River. The model was calibrated and validated using 58 years of historical data, generating Pareto front curves for objective functions across three periods with progressively stricter water quality standards. According to the optimization results, equitable permit allocation significantly influenced trading behavior and cost efficiency. Equitable initial permit allocation led to significant reductions in total abatement costs: 58% in the first period, 62% in the second period, and 45% in the third period. These cost savings were achieved through increased trading participation, as evidenced by higher trading ratios and greater traded permit volumes across scenarios. Across the three evaluated periods, each consisting of seven trading scenarios, equitable permit allocation led to significant reductions in total abatement costs, with reduction of 58%, 62%, and 45% in the first, second, and third periods, respectively, while maintaining compliance with BOD standards. These findings highlight those scenarios with higher equity indices facilitated greater participation in trading, leading to increased cost savings and promoting collaborative pollution control among dischargers. The proposed TRS model effectively balances economic efficiency and fairness, offering a viable solution for sustainable water quality management. Ensuring fairness in permit allocation not only reduces individual treatment costs but also fosters cooperative pollution control, thereby enhancing both economic and environmental outcomes.

This research article presents a comprehensive examination of recent advancements in constructed wetland technology, with a primary focus on bio-electrochemical processes, including electrolysis and microbial fuel cells, as well as the impact of tidal flow and shock loads on the constructed wetland performance. To date, extensive studies and in-depth analyses in these aspects are limited, highlighting a significant research gap. Electrolysis is explored for its efficacy in dephosphorization and denitrification, particularly under conditions of low carbon availability. Additionally, microbial fuel cell technology is investigated for its dual benefits of bioenergy generation and climate change mitigation. The tidal flow component is highlighted for its ability to create anaerobic, anoxic, and aerobic environments within and between cells, crucial for effective nitrogen removal. The study emphasizes the importance of constructed wetland resilience to shock loads, whether from increased discharge due to rainfall or heightened contaminant levels. The research employs bibliographic analysis and microbial community profiling and investigates factors such as nutrient removal, polarization curves, and the effects of flood/rest and flood/drain in tidal flow. Furthermore, the article delves into the impacts of hydraulic and organic shock loads on constructed wetland systems, providing a comprehensive overview of the current state of the field.

Wind turbines add to global environmental pollution through prominent noise emissions, yet significant gaps remain in our understanding of the adverse effects of this noise on wildlife. In this study, we investigated the impact of this noise on the acoustic environment and songbird behavior by employing a unique “phantom wind turbine” method: broadcasting wind turbine noise in a natural habitat and monitoring the area before, during, and after the noise treatment. Specifically, we recorded calls and abundance of the Sardinian warbler, Curruca melanocephala momus. Our results reveal a significant reduction of 25% in the mean number of calls in the area, and 43% in mean bird abundance during the wind turbine noise treatment compared to before it. Controlling for abundance, we found no significant impact on calling effort per capita. Moreover, we found a 63% reduction in the probability of vocal presence at the heart of the noise-polluted area compared to the peripheries. However, once calls were present, their number was seemingly unaffected by sound level. We conclude that the reduction in bird abundance alters the acoustic environment without evidence of a direct change in warbler vocal activity. Our study highlights the need to consider noise pollution’s ecological impacts when developing wind energy infrastructure to ensure sustainable development and protect declining songbird populations.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous environmental contaminants that adversely affect human health, mainly through their carcinogenic and mutagenic properties. Monitoring the exposure to PAHs of the inhabitants of air polluted regions is important because of the impact of these pollutants on human health. The aim of this study was to assess the exposure to PAHs of municipal police officers (non-smokers) living in three localities in the Czech Republic (strategically selected according to the level of air pollution) and determine how air pollution impacts personal exposure to PAHs via inhalation. Twenty PAHs were determined in the inhaled air collected from personal air samplers. Simultaneously, the total exposure to PAHs was investigated by evaluating the concentrations of 11 monohydroxylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (OH-PAHs) in urine samples. Despite the observed differences in the concentrations of PAHs in the air from the personal samplers between the three locations, no statistically significant differences were found in the concentrations of OH-PAHs in the urine samples. Outcomes of this study indicate that inhalation exposure is not the primary source of PAHs exposure for Czech municipal police officers, but that diet may also be an important contributor to total body burden. The levels of OH-PAHs found in urine of Czech municipal police officers were very similar to those found in the urine of the Czech mothers from our previous study. This study provided the data about the body burden of potentially occupationally exposed group that has not yet been studied in the Czech Republic.

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