Cover

Contents and Other Pages

Bioaccessibility and Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Dust of the Urban Areas of Guiyang, Guizhou, China

To investigate what health risks the heavy metals in dust will bring to the human body after they enter humans through different exposure pathways- breathing inhalation and hand-to-mouth ingestion, this study took the old urban area of Guiyang as the study area to grasp the heavy metal concentrations of surface dust, in recreative squares main streets, hospitals, residential areas, and schools in the urban area, and the bioaccessibility in the simulated lung and simulated gastrointestinal. The results showed that the concentrations of Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Ni, and Cr in the dust were higher than the background values. Particularly, the Zn concentration exceeded the background value by 9.71 times. The bioaccessibility results indicated that the most soluble heavy metals in the simulated lung, simulated stomach, and simulated intestine were Zn, Ni, and Cu, respectively, and the bioaccessibility of most heavy metals was significantly higher in the gastric phase than that in the intestinal phase, and only the bioaccessibility of Cu was higher in the intestinal phase than that in the gastric phase. The linear results fit showed that the total amount of heavy metals alone could not be used for predicting the human intake of heavy metals in the dust. Human health risk assessment based on bioaccessibility showed that children had higher non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks than adults in terms of both hand-to-mouth ingestion and respiratory inhalation exposure pathways, but none of these figures exceeded the limit values.

Xinjie Yu, Xiongfei Cai, Ji Wang, Shuai Zhang, Shuai Zhao and Die Xu

Effect of Drip Irrigation Under Mulch on Nitrogen Transport in Deep Soil Layers in an Agricultural Region of the Xiliao River Plain, China

In the agricultural region of the Xiliao River Plain, drip irrigation under mulch has been widely implemented. It not only saves irrigation water, but also changes the structure of the underlying surface of agricultural land, which affects the local hydrological cycle to a certain extent, and makes the process of nitrogen transportation in soil with new characteristics. This study analyzed the distribution of NH4-N, NO3-N, and NO2-N in different soil depths during the whole growth period under three underlying surface conditions, including drip irrigation under mulch, border irrigation, and bare area through field in-situ observation experiment, and analyzed the influence of drip irrigation under mulch on nitrogen transport in deep soil layers. The results showed that under the soil properties of the experimental area, drip irrigation under mulch creates more water to enter the deep soil layers, which was beneficial to alleviate the downward trend of local groundwater level to a certain extent. The average content of NH4-N and NO3-N under drip irrigation under mulch was higher than that under border irrigation. The average content of NH4-N under drip irrigation under mulch was 1.24 mg.kg-1 in soil depths of 80-300 cm, and 0.97 mg.kg-1 under border irrigation. The average content of NO3-N under drip irrigation under mulch was 2.73 mg.kg-1 in soil depths of 80-300 cm, and 1.99 mg.kg-1 under border irrigation. The increment of NH4-N and NO3-N distribution in deep soil layers under drip irrigation under mulch was greater than that under border irrigation, and the increment of NO3-N content is significantly greater than that under border irrigation. Soil water content has a significant impact on the contents of NH4-N and NO3-N. It indicated that compared with traditional border irrigation, drip irrigation under mulch was beneficial to alleviate the downward trend of local groundwater, but it would increase the risk of nitrogen pollution in local groundwater.

Jing Zhang, Haihua Jing, Kebao Dong, Jiaqi Ma and Zexu Jin

Analysis of Alkali-Induced Soil Heaving in Non-Expansive Soil Using Electrokinetic Model

An attempt has been made in this paper to conduct an Electrokinetic (EK) enhanced large-scale model study to analyze the heaving phenomena observed in fields. The application of the EK technique on fields to study alkali-induced heaving has been simulated in the laboratory using a rectangular and circular model. The EK technique was mainly employed to facilitate alkali soil interaction. Analysis of the geometry of the model boundary on the various physiochemical as well as geotechnical properties of the soil was conducted. Before that, a simple heaving analysis was also performed in an oedometer without the EK technique. Compare to the maximum heaving of 5.55% observed in the oedometer the soil in EK-equipped circular and rectangular models showed the heaving of 5.42% and 4.21% respectively. The heaving pressure recorded for the oedometer was 67.5 t.m-2 while for the circular and rectangular models these values were 37.7 t.m-2 and 18.8 t.m-2 respectively. Further, the value of unconfined compressive strength of soil decreases from 141 kPa to 80 kPa after interaction with alkali and the decrease was more prominent in the circular EK model. However, there was an increase in the friction angle and a decrease in cohesion value after alkali interaction. The structural alteration due to alkali solution was examined by SEM and XRD analysis.

Manish Kumar Mandal and Bala Ramudu Paramkusam

Statistical Analysis and Modeling of Trivalent Chromium Ion Adsorption by Green-Mediated Iron Nanoparticles

In this study, the adsorption of trivalent chromium ions by green-mediated iron nanoparticles was studied statistically. The effect of independent variables such as pH, temperature, time, adsorbent dosage, and initial metal ion concentration on uptake capacity and removal efficiency were examined. Multiple linear regression (MLR), principal component analysis (PCA), partial least squares (PLS), and principal component regression (PCR) are effectively applied for the analysis and modeling of adsorption data. The value of p in Bartlett’s sphericity test was proved to be less than 0.05 which indicates that the principal component analysis could be useful for adsorption data. The AHC analysis showed that among all variables, the contribution of pH was high in the adsorption of trivalent chromium ions by ZVIN and MIN nanoparticles. The value of R2 in statistical modeling of adsorption of trivalent chromium ions by ZVIN particles was high in PCR (0.981) than in MLR (0.945) and PLS (0.752) models. Similarly, for MIN particles, the R2 value of PCR (0.982) was higher than the MLR (0.943) and PLS (0.742) models. The analysis of goodness of fit statistics showed that the PCR model effectively predicted the uptake capacity and removal efficiency more than MLR and PLS models.

M. Arthy and B. R. Phanikumar

A Review of User-Centred Design Methods for Designing a Portable Oil Spill Skimmer

Boom and skimmer are mechanical techniques in Oil Spill Response and Recovery (OSRR) that collect oil from the water surface. However, there are several drawbacks of using boom and skimmer, such as the oil could pass over the boom during strong wind and high tides. Moreover, the currently available oil skimmer designed by the engineers is heavy-duty; in consequence, it is ineffective in shallow water. Thus, there is a need to develop a portable oil spill skimmer to complement the current drawbacks. Several journals on the fabrication of the oil spill skimmer were reviewed. Findings from literature shows that the development of oil spill skimmer lacks user requirements when designing a portable oil spill skimmer. This article provides a systematic review of Kansei Engineering and the Analytical Hierarchy Process in the product development process. Therefore, Kansei Engineering and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) can be incorporated in the early stage of designing a portable oil spill skimmer. This paper also includes the application of Kansei Engineering and AHP in design research articles. Findings from observed articles indicate a lack of design and development technologies relating to products for environmental protection; the AHP and Kansei Engineering application is somewhat lacking. Moreover, the fabrication of an oil spill skimmer focuses more on technical specifications and includes fewer user requirements. As a result, the characteristics such as ease of use, robustness, and safety cannot be evaluated. The AHP and Kansei Engineering methodology can be extended to the design and manufacture of products for environmental protection.

R. Ramanathan, L. Abdullah, M. S. Syed Mohamed and M.H.F.M Fauadi

A Review on Microalgae Biofuel Production and use in CI Engine Applications

Alternative fuel technology of third-generation biofuels in place of conventional fossil fuels is currently being witnessed at a global level. Due to its sustainability and environmental friendliness, in recent years more importance is being given to biodiesel in CI engine applications. Recent trends show that microalgae are promoted as a bio-fuel due to their inherent advantages of abundant availability of oil sources and faster growth rate with ease of cultivation. Particular species of algae such as Chlorella, Botryococcus braunii, and Scenedesmus obliquus are conventionally favored for biodiesel production as they have a prominent amount of lipids content. This review outlines the current state of experimental investigations on the use of different algae biodiesel blends with diesel for CI engines. Amongst the different algae-based biodiesel, the dual Calophyllum Inophyllum methyl ester blend (CIME20) with DEE demonstrated the maximum brake thermal efficiency (BTE) and better brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC) of CI engines. In terms of emissions, the CO, UBHC, and smoke levels are significantly lower for algae blends in contrast to neat diesel.

S. R. Hariprakash and T. Prakash

Effect of Greening Trees on Thermal Comfort of the Pedestrian Streets in Hot Summer and Cold Winter Regions in China

The thermal environment problems of pedestrian streets space are becoming increasingly important with the growing rate of urbanization, especially in regions with hot summers and cold winters. Taking Cinnamomum camphora as an example, several urban design scenarios with dynamic setting parameters of streets orientation (N-S, E-W), aspect ratio (0.5, 1,1.5, 2) are simulated by ENVI-met to analyze the impact of the green coverage on the thermal comfort of the street canyons in Shanghai. Results showed that: (1) green coverage has an impact on the thermal comfort of the street both in summer and winter and the significance of this effect is affected by the orientation and aspect ratio of the streets. (2) In summer, with the increase in aspect ratio, N-S orientation streets need more and more green coverage to bring a significant impact on thermal comfort, while E-W orientation streets only need 24 % green coverage. (3) In winter, with the increase in aspect ratio, N-S orientation streets also need more green coverage to significantly reduce thermal comfort. For E-W orientation, only when the aspect ratio is 1/2, the green coverage can effectively reduce the thermal comfort of the street. (4) The planting layout had no significant effect on the thermal comfort effect of trees. Based on the above conclusions, the greening strategy was proposed for pedestrian streets in the hot summer and cold winter region in China.

L. S. Cao, H. Xu and H. Li

A Review on Atmospheric Dispersion System for Air Pollutants Integrated with GIS in Urban Environment

The objective of this article is to present comprehensive findings and analysis of studies performed on air pollutant dispersion in urban environments. It captures India’s rising environmental pollution due to urbanization, industrialization, and population growth. Dispersion of pollutants due to the wind in the lower Atmospheric Boundary Layer (ABL) is a major concern nowadays. The dispersion field around the buildings is a critical parameter to analyze and it primarily depends on the correct simulation of the wind flow structure. Therefore, studies performed on this in past years are being reviewed. Additionally, a brief review of different air dispersion models that are integrated with the Geographic Information System (GIS) has been studied in this article to assess the exposure. The results of these studies provide the urban air dispersion model aligning to three sub-models i.e., Emission, Weather Prediction, and Dispersion models. Various factors like wind speed, wind direction, cloud cover, traffic emission, disposal of waste, transportation, and others are considered. This study also captures the problems and risks being faced while creating a model, and its possible mitigation approaches.

Namrata and N. D. Wagh

Air Pollution, Cardiovascular and Respiratory Admissions in Klang Valley, Malaysia - Finding the Effects

This study aims to determine the association and risk of daily fluctuations of air pollution parameters in Klang Valley, Malaysia, with cardiovascular and respiratory admissions. The data on admissions and air pollution concentrations were obtained from various government agencies in Malaysia. The associations were estimated using a time series analysis of Poisson regression. The effects for every 10?/m3 increase in pollutants were reported as Relative Risk (RR). SO2 showed the highest association with immediate effects at lag 0 for all cardiovascular admissions followed by NO2. Gaseous pollutants of SO2 and NO2 showed a higher risk among elderly more than 60 years old. Immediate effects were found in both genders, with higher risks observed in males. NO2 continues to be suggestively associated with all respiratory admissions. Children less than 9 years old presented a higher risk of NO2 at various lag times with the highest value at lag0, followed by PM10. Stratified analysis showed an incremental risk of respiratory admissions for males exposed to NO2 compared to females. We found noteworthy associations for overall and age-specific admissions of cardiovascular and respiratory with the pollutants. Compared to particulates pollutant, gaseous pollutants showed a higher risk in both admissions.

W. M. W. Rozita, S. Zamtira, FI. Mohd, T. L. Mohd, I. A. Nurul, I. A. W. Muhammad and S. Mazrura

Enhancement of Xanthan Biosynthesis Using Medicinal Herbs - A Novel Approach

This study aimed to evaluate the potential of five medicinal herbs in the enhancement of xanthan gum production when used against indigenously isolated (from molasses, an agricultural waste) phytopathogen Xanthomonas campestris MW741556. Antibiotic susceptibility of five medicinal herbs (Moringa oleifera, Bacopa monnieri, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Withania somnifera, and Arthrospira platensis) against X. campestris culture was first checked. All five herbs exhibited a clear zone of inhibition against X. campestris during the investigation. Thereafter their effect on enhancing the xanthan gum production was studied using molasses enriched medium. The results of this experiment showed that all five herbs were capable of enhancing xanthan gum production significantly. Xanthan gum produced differed in viscosity and dried biomass. Among all, A. platensis and M. oleifera were found to be the most promising for xanthan gum production with higher viscosity. These results were further confirmed by the characterization of xanthan gum produced by five herbs using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. Further, a multivariate approach using principal component analysis confirmed the variability among the herbs used. This versatility of these medicinal herbs opens the possibility of their utilization and application in various fields.

B. S. Rajyaguru, A. Varma, A. C. Kharkwal and J. Singh

Environmental Modelling of Ionic Mass Transfer Coefficient in a Unique Electrocoagulation Reactor

Ionic mass transfer in a novel electrocoagulation reactor (ECR) using a rotating impeller anode is studied experimentally using the limiting current density method. The CFD simulation is also conducted for characterizing the novel electrocoagulation reactor (ECR) and validating the experimental study of ionic mass transfer. Variables included rotational speed and anode diameter. The Bland-Altman method was used to verify the accuracy of experimental and simulation results. Data for the condition 11852 < Re < 58550 and 88 < Sc < 285 were found to fit the equation for the largest diameter of 11.2 cm; Sh = 2.1Re0.93Sc0.33. Based on COD removal efficiency, optimal EC performance is realized at the largest anode diameter of 11.2 cm, confirming the enhancement of aluminum mass transfer by increasing the anode diameter. The experimental values of current density and mass transfer coefficient are validated by CFD simulation for all the rotational speeds and anode diameters. The accuracy is up to 95% for the experimental current densities compared with simulation values.

Safaa K. Hashim Al-Khalaf , Ahmed Samir Naje, Zaid Abed Al-Ridah and Haider M. Zwain

Preparation and Characterization of Hydrophobic Membranes and Their Seawater Desalination Performance Study by Direct Contact Membrane Distillation

Hydrophobic membranes prepared using Poly (tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) along with Poly (1,4-phenylene ether ether-sulfone) and zinc oxide nanoparticle was used in membrane distillation. To examine seawater purification, prepared polymeric membranes were evaluated, tested, and used in a lab-scale direct contact membrane distillation arrangement. These membranes which are synthesized using the electrospinning method have good mechanical and thermal stability. To understand prepared membranes’ desalination performance, the physicochemical properties of the seawater were analyzed before and after membrane distillation. The salt rejection remained at 99% and the highest energy efficiency of the system observed is 67.3%.

Chitrakara Hegde and Rahul Ribeiro

Optimal Models for Plant Disease and Pest Detection Using UAV Image

The use of deep learning methods to detect plant diseases and pests based on UAV images is an important application of remote sensing technology in modern forestry. This paper uses a CenterNet-based object detection method to construct models for plant disease and pest detection. The accuracy of the models is influenced by parameter alpha, which is used to control the affine transformation in the preprocessing of CenterNet. First, different alphas are sampled for training and testing. Next, the least square method is used to fit the curve between alpha and accuracy measured by mAP (mean average precision). Finally, the equation of the curve is fitted as mAP = -0.22 * alpha2 + 0.32 * alpha + 0.42. In comparison, an automated machine learning (AutoML) method is also conducted to automatically search for the best model. The experiments are done with 5,281 images as the training dataset, 1,319 images as the verification dataset, and 3,842 images as the test dataset. The results show that the best alpha value obtained by the least square method is 0.733, and the accuracy of the corresponding model is 0.536 in mAP@[.5, .95]. In contrast, the accuracy of the AutoML method model is higher with the model accuracy of 0.545 in mAP@[.5, .95]. However, the training time and training resource consumption of the AutoML method are about 3 times that of the least square method. Therefore, in practice, a trade-off should be made according to the accuracy requirements, resource consumption, and task urgency.

Dashuang Liang, Wenping Liu and Yugang Zhao

The Inherent Grave Consequences of Glacial Retreat

Glaciers are the protector of climate change. As glacier melting is a long-term process, it does not gain the same attention in comparison to other crises. The visible evidence of global warming is the glaciers. The main cause of glaciers melting is the rising temperature of the earth by CO2 emission and ocean warming. Deforestation, burning fossil fuels, transportation, and other human activities raise the atmospheric concentration of CO2 and other greenhouse gases (GHGs) which warm the planet and ultimately cause the glacier to melt. 90% of the earth’s warmth is absorbed by the ocean and is responsible for the melting of marine glaciers. The main deglaciation consequences are sea-level rise which has contributed to rising sea level by 2.7cm since 1961Glaciers are always been of substantial research as their long-term behavior is like a barometer to check the weather variability, change in flora and fauna, and economic activity. Deglaciation promises grave consequences for wildlife, plant, and the region’s people and a frightening future. This paper showcase how glaciers are melting and hearts are frozen.

Shefali Arora

Petroleum Hydrocarbon Degradation and Treatment of Automobile Service Station Wastewater by Halophilic Consortia Under Saline Conditions

The halophilic consortia were enriched from water samples of Abhor, Red Sea, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for the degradation of phenanthrene, fluorene, hexadecane, pyrene, and treatment of automobile service station wastewater under saline conditions (4%). Complete degradation of phenanthrene and fluorene was recorded up to a concentration of 500 mg.L-1 in 12 days, when the concentration was raised to 800 mg.L-1, the percentage of degradation of the two compounds was recorded by 84 and 90% within 14 days, while when the concentration increased to 1000 mg.L-1, a significant decline was recorded. Pyrene degradation was studied under saline conditions, where it recorded a degradation rate of 92 and 81% at a concentration of 50 and 100 mg.L-1 in 10 and 12 days, respectively, while when increasing the concentration, a severe decrease in the percentage of degradation was recorded that reached 57 and 44% at concentration 200 and 300 mg.L-1, respectively .Hexadecane recorded complete degradation at a concentration of 0.5 and 1%, within 4 and 6 days, respectively, while at a concentration of 1.5%, the rate of deterioration was 88% in 10 days. Record 93% removal of COD in CSTR within 40th day, when treatment of automobile service station wastewater with halophilic bacterial consortia. The existing bacterial strains were classified as potentially responsible for petroleum hydrocarbon degradation and treatment of automobile service station wastewater such as Ochrobactrum, Propionispira, Martelella, Bacillus, Marinobacter, and Azospira. The present study recommends that the hydrophilic consortia can be used in the treatment of automobile service station wastewater under saline conditions.

Ramzi H. Amran, Mamdoh T. Jamal, Arulazhagan Pugazhendi, Mamdouh Al- Harbi and Saba Bowrji

Geoelectrical Sounding to Identify Sub-surface and Groundwater State at Village Banauli, Singrauli District, Madhya Pradesh, India

Electrical resistivity (Geoelectrical) methods are well-known and common techniques for investigating the groundwater potential zone. These methods are economically viable and have the highest resolving power compared with other geophysical methods. A total of fifteen Vertical electrical soundings were conducted in the village of Banauli, located in Singrauli district in Madhya Pradesh, India. Vertical electrical sounding was carried out using Schlumberger electrode configuration with the maximum current electrode (AB) spacing of 200 m and potential electrode (MN) spacing of 10 m. For interpretation of measured resistivity, the Partial curve matching technique was used to calculate the layer parameters (resistivity and thickness) and further depict the depth section of the profile. In this study, the maximum five-layer model is obtained, and most curves are of HAK types. The first layer has a mean resistivity value of 12.41 ?m and a mean thickness of 0.94 m. The second layer has mean resistivity of 7.93 ?m and a mean thickness of 4.79 m. The third layer has a mean thickness value of 10.55 m and a mean resistivity value of 16.54 ?m. The fourth layer has a mean resistivity value of 20.17 ?m and a mean thickness of 9.20 m, and finally, the fifth layer, the bedrock, has a higher mean resistivity value of 59.92 ?m. Thus, the obtained results may be used for identifying the drilling site for the groundwater potential zone.

Dharmendra Kumar Singh and Nawal Kishore

Investigation of Adsorption of Heavy Metal Ions on C3N4 Nanosheets by Batch and Microscopic Methods

This paper mainly studies the adsorption of C3N4 on a series of heavy metals and focuses on the adsorption performance of C3N4 on Nd and Th. The main conclusions are as follows: Through the use of the thermal stripping method and melamine as the raw material, C3N4 was obtained at a lower cost, with superior adsorption performance. Through SEM-EDS, TEM, and other characterization analyses, the results show that C3N4 has a clear multilayer sheet structure, and the surface of the material is more uniformly dispersed. The maximum adsorption capacity of C3N4 for Th is 86.6 mg.g-1, and the maximum adsorption capacity for Nd is 60.1 mg.g-1. The kinetic model is also used for fitting, and the results showed that the kinetic of the adsorption was in line with the pseudo-second-order model, indicating that the adsorption was chemical interaction. After C3N4 adsorbed heavy metal elements, it was characterized by SEM-EDS, TEM, UHRTEM, and AFM. The results showed that a variety of heavy metal ions can be adsorbed by C3N4, which proved that C3N4 has good adsorption performance. Due to factors such as metal particle size, the adsorption of C3N4 on heavy metal elements is different.

C. K. Fu, Y. Fang, C. Y. Yang, C. G. Chen and L. X. Wang

Ganga and Yamuna Rivers: Through the Lens of the National Green Tribunal

Despite the country’s extensive environmental jurisprudence and many historic rulings in which the courts have rescued worsening environmental situations, river (Ganga and Yamuna) water does not match the mandated minimum “bathing quality.” Rivers like the Ganga and Yamuna, which flow through numerous states and towns, would be in a different situation. Without strict monitoring and enforcement of the measures, no action plan can work. Punishment of defaulters can serve as deterrence while also instilling fear in other non-compliant enterprises. In comparison to environmental legislation, the NGT Act allows for substantially harsher fines and penalties. River rejuvenation plans must be carefully monitored to ensure that they do not suffer the same fate. Making action plans will not improve river water quality unless they are implemented with sincerity and consistency, as well as continuous monitoring and severe enforcement.

N. Siddiqui, T. Faiyaz and V. S. Tari

Population Structure of Thrips parvispinus Karny (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and Population Abundance of Predatory Insect on Red Chili (Capsicum annuum L.) Treated with Imidacloprid Insecticide

In Indonesia, the pest Thrips parvispinus Karny is a major problem for red chili plants. Most pest control techniques rely on synthetic pesticides, resulting in environmental degradation, the extinction of natural enemies, and the emergence and resilience of a variety of different pests. The aim of this study is to determine the impact of a 25% Imidacloprid insecticide on population density and the proportion of infestations and natural enemies in the field. A randomized block design with 5 treatments and 5 replications was utilized in this field investigation. Plant samples were collected in a “U-shaped” pattern. According to the findings, a 25% Imidacloprid pesticide had a significant influence on population density and T. parvispinus attack on red chili plants. Moderate damage was caused by T. parvispinus’ infestation on red chili plants using 50-200 L.ha-1 25 % Imidacloprid pesticide. Furthermore, a 25 % Imidacloprid insecticide applied at a rate of 100 L.ha-1 had a significant influence on the population variety and abundance of T. parvispinus natural enemies. A 25 % Imidacloprid insecticide dosage increase was shown to have a very strong relationship with a reduction in population density, the proportion of T. parvispinus assault, and the variety and quantity of natural enemies in red chili. Thus, a 25 % Imidacloprid insecticide at a rate of 100 L.ha-1 proved successful in reducing T. parvispinus while remaining safe for natural enemies. Future pest control techniques must still be based on improved field data collection, such as data on pesticide contamination or other anthropogenic chemicals, which may also be used to estimate natural enemy population levels in the field.

I.W. Supartha, A. Roifiq, I.W. Susila, I.M. Damriyasa, M. Tulung, I.K.W. Yudha, I.W.E.K. Utama and P. A. Wiradana

Identification of Dominant Air Pollutants Over Hyderabad Using Principal Component Analysis (PCA)

The study aims to bring out the interdependence of the air pollutant components through Correlation and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to identify the sources causing air pollution in Residential, Resident cum Industrial and Industrial areas of Hyderabad. For this purpose, daily data (from 1st January 2018 to 31st December 2020) of air pollutants recorded by Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) that includes 15 air pollution-causing components was collected from the Centre Pollution Control Board (CPCB) website. Data from Residential (Hyderabad Central University (HCU)), Residential and Industrial (ICRISAT-Patencheru), and purely Industrial (Pashmylaram) areas were analyzed and it was identified that 5 majorly contributed pollutants at HCU were due to residential activities however, 5 major pollutants at ICRISAT and Pashmylaram were due to vehicular traffic and industry emissions. The purpose of the study was to figure out the sources of air pollutants and their interdependency under different local conditions. The findings of the study may help the policymakers and authorities concerned to implement different strategies and take necessary steps to keep the pollution levels under control.

N. Vasudha and P. Venkateswara Rao

Impact of the Chemical Composition of Oil for Biodiesel Production to Reduce Environmental Pollution

The primary motivation for researching biofuels is to meet the world’s energy requirements. Demand for fossil fuels is rising significantly due to population expansion. Biodiesel is a promising renewable energy source that, if implemented effectively, has the potential to reduce the dependency on fossil fuels. Because biodiesel is a cleaner fuel that requires no engine modification, its implementation is not complicated. It can directly be used in diesel engines or as a blended diesel with fossil diesel. Seven different vegetable oils were utilized to replicate restaurant waste cooking oil in the laboratory to make biodiesel. The qualities of biodiesel produced were investigated and compared to determine how they vary depending on the chemical composition of the oil source. The physical appearance of biodiesel varies slightly depending on the oil source. Density, kinematic viscosity, flash point, and acid levels, on the other hand, are all within acceptable biodiesel criteria for all types of oil sources used.

K. A. Viraj Miyuranga, U. S. P. R. Arachchige, D. Thilakarathne, R. A. Jayasinghe and N. A. Weerasekara

Impact of Environmental Pollutants on Alzheimer’s Disease: A Review

Environmental pollution is one of the major concerns as it affects public health and is responsible for various neurological disorders too. Neurological disorders are governed by many different factors - they can be genetic, based on lifestyle, or environmental. In many recent studies, it has been observed that exposure to many environmental pollutants increases the risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Pollutants like PM 10, PM2.5, and some other ultrafine nanoparticles, lipophilic vaporized toxicant (acrolein) can easily reach the brain by crossing the blood-brain barrier after it they can activate the innate immune responses inside the target site like neurons, astrocytes, and microglia by this way they can be neurotoxic. Human epidemiological evidence proves that there is a correlation between environmental pollutants and neurological disorders like dysfunction of mitochondrial, oxidative stress, disruption in the myelin sheath, the blood-brain barrier anatomy alterations, and endoplasmic reticulum stress which direct towards cognitive impairment with lower quality of lifestyle. The review article aims to culminate the correlation between the environmental factors and Alzheimer’s disease, The different sources of pollution and their effect on various stages of human life, developmental neurotoxicity, and neurological disorders also have been discussed.

Yogyata Srivastava, Abhishek Chauhan, S. B. Singh and Tanu Jindal

Nitrous Oxide Emissions Generated in Coffee Cultivation: A Systematic Review

The objective of the research was to provide an overview of soil N2O emissions in coffee cropping systems; summarizing available field data on soil emissions and identifying controlling factors (fertilizer type, precipitation, temperature, altitude). A systematic search of Scopus, Science Direct, Springer, and Scielo for experimental-type studies was conducted from January 2000 to October 2021. Of the seventy manuscripts determined through the search strategy, eight studies met the inclusion criteria. Analysis of the included studies revealed that they were conducted in Ecuador, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua; the rainfall of the fields ranged from 910 mm to 2740 mm per year and the average temperature was 20.3°C. Coffee is planted under agroforestry systems and monocultures; in addition, the most abundant forest species in coffee agroforestry systems are leguminous plants of the Inga and Erytrina genus and 60% of the studies have been developed with the Catuai coffee variety. The pH and humidity of the soil where coffee plantations are developed range from 4.67 to 6.34 and 53.3 to 67.05% respectively. Finally, the fertilizers used are of chemical, organic, and chemical + polymer origin, at fertilization rates ranging from 66 to 400 kg.N.ha-1yr-1 and N2O emissions ranging from 0.2 to 12.8 kg.N.ha-1yr-1. Overall, the present systematic review provides a scientific basis for evaluating N2O emissions generated in coffee crops.

L. Quiñones-Huatangari, F. H. Fernandez-Zarate and A. E. Huaccha-Castillo

Elephant Habitat Suitability Analysis of Alipurduar District, West Bengal Using Geospatial Technology

In India’s Tarai-Dooars region, elephants are the most common wildlife species. The man-wildlife conflict has arisen as a result of forest scarcity, forest fragmentation, global climate change, land use land cover change in the Dooars region, and encroachment into forest life. Although the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 addressed the conservation of wild animals, the number of wild elephants in West Bengal was constantly changing. The goal of this project is to use geospatial technologies to determine wild elephant habitat suitability zones in West Bengal’s Alipurduar area. The first stage in the conservation and management of wild elephants is to determine their habitat suitability. To assess the result, the various habitat suitability factors/parameters of wild elephants were integrated through weighted overlay analysis in the ArcGIS environment. The result shows that the central part of the district - the Buxa forest area, holds the largest suitable environment for elephant habitat. The rest of the study area can be categorized as a medium habitat suitable area excluding some settlements and built-up areas. The authors hope the result will help the proper management and conservation of wild elephants.

Jonmenjoy Barman, Subhom Narjinary, Sankar Biswas, Brototi Biswas and Ratnaprabha Jadhav

Potency of Jatropha integerrima Jacq., Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. and Ruellia tweediana as Absorbants of Lead (Pb) in Air

Air pollution is an atmospheric condition with high concentrations of toxic metals that exceed normal limits and are harmful to humans, animals or plants. Jatropha integerrima Jacq., Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L., and Ruellia tweediana have the potential to absorb (Pb) in the air. The aim of the study to analyze the levels of (Pb), chlorophyll, and the relationship between levels of (Pb) and chlorophyll in the three plant species at different locations. Samples were obtained from three locations with different traffic volumes Mayjend Yono Soewoyo street (100346.50 units/day), Dr. Soetomo street (58997.80 units/day), and Polisi Istimewa street (25692.50 units/day) Surabaya. Each sample was taken as many as 15 leaves at the third node. Leaf (Pb) measurements were carried out by dry ashing method using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS) and chlorophyll content was measured extraction method followed analysis by Spectrophotometer. Data levels (Pb) and chlorophyll were analyzed using two-way ANOVA followed by Duncan’s test and correlation test with SPSS Statistics 26. The results showed that (1)Pb levels in the three plants from high to low J. integerrima (0.152±0.032 mg.L-1); H. rosa-sinensis (0.042±0.008 mg.L-1); and R. tweediana (0.007±0.006 mg.L-1), (2)chlorophyll content of plant leaves from high to low R. tweediana (33.891±0.510 mg.L-1); H. rosa-sinensis (28.499±0.32 mg.L-1), and J. integerrima (10.597±1.697 mg.L-1) high volume of vehicles followed by increasing levels of (Pb) and decreasing levels of chlorophyll, namely at Mayjend Yono Soewoyo street, Dr. Soetomo street, and Polisi Istimewa street, (3)there is a correlation between levels (Pb) and leaf chlorophyll content (0.524>0.381). Can be concluded that J. integerrima, H. rosa-sinensis, and R. tweediana have the potential as absorbents (Pb) in the air.

Nella Yulia Sari and Fida Rachmadiarti

Sustainable Production of Soybean (Glycine max L.) Crop Through Chemical Fertilizers and Organic Manures Along with the Improvement in Soil Health

A field experiment was carried out on the black cotton soil in the years 2018 and 2019 in the district of Sangli, Maharashtra, India to evaluate the sustainable agricultural practices for improving the growth and yield of the soybean (Glycine max L.) variety JS-335 along with the soil improvement. Twelve treatments were evaluated in a randomized block design with three replications. The results revealed that combined applications of chemical fertilizer (RDF-30:80:20:40) and organic manures (FYM and VCM) improved the growth attributes and seed yield as compared to control and other treatments along with a significant improvement in the soil health parameters. This agricultural practice emerged as a promising method for sustainable cultivation of soybean (C.V. JS-335) which improved the economic yield (kg.ha-1), agronomic efficiency (kg.ha-1), physiological efficiency (kg.ha-1), partial factor productivity (kg.ha-1), apparent recovery efficiency (kg.ha-1) and sustainable yield index (0.80) with maximum return having cost: benefit ratio (1:3.8). The results found statistically significant and correlated having a positive relationship between yield and sustainability parameters.

R. R. Lohar and C. P. Hase

Water Sustainability Concept of Hindu Javanese Community Settlements Toward Global Climate Change Resilience in the Indonesia Mountainous Area

Traditional settlements in the mountains are most vulnerable to climate change impacts. The threat of water sustainability to support the life of a traditional residential area is one of the climate change challenges that must be faced. This research aims to explore the local wisdom of the Hindu Javanese community in regulating the landscape of its settlements to maintain water sustainability now. This research methodology used a qualitative approach. This study took place in a traditional settlement of the Hindu Javanese community in the Cetho Temple area. The Cetho Temple area is one of the traces of the remnants of the Majapahit kingdom civilization on Mount Lawu, which was built in the 15th century. Data collection techniques are conducted by direct observation and interviews of several purposively selected informants in the study area. Data analysis is done by analyzing data into physical data and socio-cultural data spatial analysis. The two groups of data were analyzed to obtain a complete picture of the strategy of the Javanese Hindu community to regulate water sustainability in residential areas. The research result shows that The Hindu Javanese community built its settlements concerning local topographic and hydrological conditions in maintaining water sustainability. The Mountain – Springs – Settlement - Farm field relationship forms an environmental ecosystem that is always balanced. In addition to maintaining physical water continuity, the Javanese Hindu community has a spiritual tradition to maintain the spirit of its people to maintain water continuity. The Hindu Javanese community in the Cetho Temple area can align settlements and nature through this local wisdom. This research in the future is expected to be useful as a reference for water management in traditional settlements in the mountains and planning for structuring settlement areas in the mountains.

Fauzan Ali Ikhsan, Bambang Setioko and Atiek Suprapti

Coated Controlled-Release Fertilizers: Potential Solution for Sustainable Agriculture

The use of fertilizer in the agricultural field is essential for plant growth but an excess amount of pure chemical contents in fertilizers becomes harmful to every living being. To reduce this chemical exposure, the use of materials coated with Controlled Release Fertilizers (CRFs) are being used. The coating of materials outside the fertilizer does not allow the chemicals to spread completely within one application of fertilizer but its spread can be extended as will be done in 2-3 applications of fertilizer. The features of the undercoating material are thus vital to attain this delayed or slow release of the nutrients present in the fertilizer. The longevity of CRFs depends upon the width of the material coating surrounding the fertilizer, temperature, and moisture. The review focuses on the consequences of conventional fertilizers, the need to control the release of fertilizers and types of coatings used, and their application in sustainable agriculture.

P. Negi, R. Thakur, K. Manral, K. Tomar, B. S. Rawat, B. Ramola and Waseem Ahmad

Estimation of Indoor Radon Concentration in Some Houses in Al-Shatra District, Dhi-Qar Governorate, Iraq

Radon is present in houses and everywhere and causes lung cancer, heart problems, and respiratory infections in those who breathe it. Indoor Radon levels were tested for two months in 65 houses in the Al-Shatra, Dhi-Qar Governorate, Iraq, using solid-state nuclear track detectors CR-39. The results obtained indicate that the concentration rates varied clearly, as the lowest concentration was 20.805 Bq/m3 in Al-Moalmen, while the highest concentration was 114.431Bq/m3 in AL-Shaala, with an average of 63.391±22.73Bq/m3. The annual effective inhalation has varied between 0.524 mSv/y and 2.886 mSv/y with a mean of 1.598 mSv/y. On the other hand, the average lung dose was 2.529 nGy/ h. All the results indicate the radon gas levels are within the permissible limits compared to the recommended by American Environmental Protection Agency EPA, which are set at 148Bq/m3, and the inhalation dosage is less than ICRP recommended action limit of 3 mSv/y.

A. A. Elewee and M. Sh. Aswood

Effective Mixer Design an Important Factor In SSCR Systems for Reduction of NOx from Exhaust of Diesel Engines

In recent decades, the environment has been seriously polluted by the hazardous exhaust components of diesel engines. The international community, which is dedicated to preserving the harmony between nature and humanity, has taken this seriously and imposed strict regulations on Diesel engine manufacturers regarding the quantity of exhaust components from Diesel engines that may apply to the standards of EURO-VI. The SCR technology attempted to reduce the problem somewhat, but the associated problems of solid particle formation on the pipe walls, ammonia slip, and incomplete NOx reduction led to the development of new technology - solid selective catalytic reduction. The use of solid ammonium salt for ammonia generation has shown better results in NOx reduction and reduction of solid particle formation compared to SCR. However, it was not possible to fully resolve the ammonia slip issue. A uniform flow rate of ammonia through the SCR catalyst can reduce NOx efficiently. In this paper, the role of mixer design in achieving a uniform flow rate of ammonia is investigated in detail. The results show that an optimized mixer design leads to efficient reduction of NOx and thus reduces ammonia slip to a great extent. When the mixer is placed near the ammonia injection point, the most homogeneous ammonia distribution is achieved for flow through the SCR catalyst.

M. K. Yadav and A. K. Srivastava

Production and Characterization of Nano-Chitosan from Blood Clamshell (Anadara granosa) by Ionic Gelation

Nano-chitosan can be produced from blood clams (Anadara granosa) because they contain 14-35% of chitin. The production of nano-chitosan can be conducted by a bottom-up process using sodium tripolyphosphate (Na-TPP). The aims of this study are to produce nano-chitosan from blood clamshell and to study the factor affecting the particle size of nano-chitosan such as the ratio of chitosan to Na-TPP solution (v/v) and rotation speed of the centrifuge. The research shows that The chitin content on blood clamshell is 25.42%. The yield of chitosan from chitin is about 80.92%. The degree of deacetylation of chitin from blood clamshell reaches 63.18%. The effect of the ratio of chitosan to Na-TPP solution (R) and the rotation speed of centrifuge (N) on the particle size of nano-chitosan can be expressed by equation dp = 0.12 (R)0.714 (N)0.99.

A. Ma’ruf and S. Hartati

Health Impact Assessment of Air Pollution in India During COVID-19 Lockdown by Using Satellite Remote Sensing and Deep Learning

Air pollution produces major environmental health problems with a vast number of entropies that can affect healthy, sustainable environments across the globe. Millions of people are dying prematurely each year as a direct cause of poor air quality. According to recent studies, living within 50 meters of any significant road can increase the risk of lung cancer by up to 10%. World Health Organization declares that approximately 3.7 million people died worldwide in 2012 due to outdoor air pollution. In this analysis, we analyzed air pollutants that were released into the air from a wide range of sources, such as motor vehicles, industrial combustion processes, etc. We analyzed the Sentinel-5 precursor data, which provides time series data on a multitude of trace gaseous compounds such as CO, NO2, SO2, O3, PM10, PM2.5 aerosols, etc. with efficient statistics and special resolution. For better comparison, we have trained our statistical atmospheric data with deep learning methodology and analyzed them to obtain a reference for air quality in India. This study describes the scientific aspects and probable atmospheric composition entropy due to pollution. We also presented the overall operational product outcomes and emissions from the energy sectors, which involves the advancement of data analysis in a particular coordinate system.

Sudhir Kumar Chaturvedi

Aeropalynology of Parthenium hysterophorus L. in Relation to Meteorological Parameters from Srinagar Valley of Garhwal Himalaya, Uttarakhand

Parthenium hysterophorus (congress grass) is a harmful weed and its pollen grains are important allergens. Due to its minute size and allergenic activity, this particular type of pollen is selected for the study. The aeropalynological survey was conducted for the year 2019 at Chauras Campus, Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University, Srinagar, Uttarakhand. It is located on the right bank of the Alaknanda river (30°13’35.81”N & 78°48’11.05”E; 560 m amsl). A Rotarod sampler was used for air sampling. The maximum pollen count was observed in July. To evaluate the correlation matrix in R software, correlations (Pearson’s and Spearsman’s) between pollen count and meteorological parameters have been calculated. Back trajectory analysis has also been done using NOAA HYSPLIT MODEL.

Shikha Arya, Prabhawati Tiwari , Alok Sagar Gautam and Manish Sharma

Modeling Surface Water Quality and Nutrient Correlation with Sediment Oxygen Demand at Dam Water Reservoirs

The work presented here is a model approach based on WASP8 (Water analysis simulation program) a water quality model simulated to represent contaminants at the surface and bottom sediments of Kurtbo?az? dam reservoir in Ankara city. However, our water quality output variables: are temperature, nitrate, total phosphorus, total Kjeldahl nitrogen, dissolved oxygen, Chlorophyll a, and ammonia. To ensure the model represents the actual case at the reservoir, the results from the simulation model were calibrated using actual data from the Kurtbo?az? dam site, the calibration utilizes statistical techniques. The first method was the goodness-of-fit, R2 between model variables and field data, and the results were in the range of 0.86 to 1.0 indicating excellent linear association. The second technique was the RE, the values of which obtained were less than 1, elaborating acceptable results. The dam reservoir Kurtbo?az? had been affected by the negative impact arising from dissolved oxygen depletion in the hypolimnetic layer during stratification periods and that had been well documented. However, the processes of oxygen consumption at the sediment-water interface are still difficult to grasp conceptually and mainly linked to sediment oxygen depletion and the phenomena of sediment oxygen demand SOD. The novelty of this research work is the development of a quality model to predict the reactions of state variables that are occurring at the water body and how they interact with each other and their influence on the overall quality status of the Kurtbo?az? reservoir, and the crucial factors influencing the depletion of oxygen at the water column; secondly, the effect of anoxic condition on the benthic flux and the impact of anoxia condition on the ratio of nitrogen to phosphorus ratio at the reservoir. It was evident from the results of calibration that the model successfully simulated the correlation of the parameters influencing the anoxic condition, and benthic flux and ratio shift from nitrogen-limited during the summer to phosphorus-limited at the beginning of winter.

N. N. Abdulqader, B. S. ??gör, A. N. Genç, Enver Güler and Vahide Cansu Seymeno?lu

Genotoxic Effects of Rice-Agrochemicals on Channa punctatus (Bloch) and Cyprinus carpio (Linnaeus) Using Micronucleus Assay and Alkaline Single Cell Gel Electrophoresis

Rice-cum-fish culture is a cost-effective practice for marginal farmers but the major constraint is the indiscriminate use of agrochemicals. Present work was designed to assess the genotoxic effects of rice agrochemicals in Channa punctatus (Experiment 1 CP1 to CP3) and Cyprinus carpio (Experiment 2 CC1 to CC3); using micronucleus, chromosome aberration, and single cell gel electrophoresis/Comet assay. Two experiments with three treatments (CP1/CC1: without pesticide; CP2/CC2: recommended doses; CP3/CC3: farmers’ dose) were maintained in triplicates. The presence of tail DNA and micronuclei depicted significant DNA damage (P<0.05) in all the treated fish. The mean percent frequency of MN showed significant (P<0.05) differences with respect to the initial. The chromosomal aberrations and mean frequencies of tail DNA (%) were significantly abundant in CP3 and CC3 indicating high a genotoxic effect. Keeping in view the low genotoxic effects, treatment of CP2 and CC2 with recommended doses of pesticides may be disseminated to farmers.

M. Kaur, A. Bhatnagar, O. Dhillon and A. S. Yadav

Sustainable Nano-Bioremediation Approaches for the Treatment of Polluted Soils

Due to the widespread adoption of conventional approaches for the remediation of contaminated soils, these techniques have become more well-known in the literature. However, these methods have both advantages and disadvantages. Integrating traditional degradation technologies with Nano-technology might be the right solution for removing toxicants from the environment to overcome these problems. Nano bioremediation is a new technique that has gained prominence in recent years among many researchers worldwide. These techniques aim to remove the contaminants’ concentration and minimize their impacts on the environment. The integrated approaches benefit bioremediation and nanotechnology to remove the pollutants more efficiently within less time in an eco-friendly manner than individual processes. The current review provides insights into nanotechnology and different kinds of nanomaterials that have been reported in eliminating pollutants from the environment. Further, the mechanism and challenges with nano bioremediation were explained in detail.

Irrinki Hemalatha, Dakamari Harika and Manoj Kumar Karnena

Comparison of As(III) Adsorption by Nanomagnetic Fe3O4, Activated Carbon and Modified Activated Carbon

As a kind of new material, nanomagnetic Fe3O4 (NMF) has many advantages in water and wastewater treatment. In this paper, the adsorption characteristic for arsenic(III) (As) by NMF was studied, and the adsorption was compared with the traditional adsorbent of activated carbon (AC) and modified activated carbon (MAC). The results showed that the NMF had high adsorption performance for As, and the adsorption performance of modified activated carbon and activated carbon were far lower than that of magnetic nanomagnetic Fe3O4. The adsorption capacity for As with NMF, MAC, and AC was 0.189 mg.g-1, 0.023 mg.g-1 and 0.013 mg.g-1 in 0.25 mg.L-1 As solution, respectively. The adsorption rate for As was different from the three adsorbents. For NMF, it needs only 10 minutes to reach an adsorption balance, while the time to balance was 20 minutes for MAC and more than 120 minutes for AC. The adsorption for As by the three adsorbents all conform to Langmuir adsorption isotherm, and the adsorption kinetics for As by the three adsorbents were in accordance with the pseudo-second-order kinetics model. The adsorption efficiency of MAC and AC was lower than nanomagnetic Fe3O4. The nanomagnetic Fe3O4 was an effective adsorbent for arsenic.

J. Zhang, L. Xia, R. Han and W. Wei

An Assessment of Future Predictions of Rainfall Using GCM Projections in the Western Ghats Region of India

The present study has been taken up to quantify the possible impacts of climate change on the climate variables using the outputs of the global climate model dataset over the Sagar and Kokkarne catchments. The baseline period considered is 30 years (1991-2020), and the daily rainfall dataset is used. The rainfall dataset for the future period is derived from five selected GCMs (Global Circulation Model) datasets under the (Representative Concentration Pathway) RCP 4.5 scenario for the period (2021-2050). The mean, standard deviation, and coefficient of variation of yearly rainfall are determined to check the rainfall variability using statistical analysis. The ensemble rainfall mean values of the five GCMs suggest that the uncertainty in the projected results is reduced by considering the cluster of GCMs. The minimum rainfall for the future period has shown an increasing trend (42.3 .5 %) whereas maximum rainfall has shown decreasing trend (52.44 %, 15.28 %) for Sagar and Kokkarne catchments respectively. The future predicted results show that the percentage change in Ensemble mean annual rainfall for the period 2021-2050 with reference to rainfall data of the baseline period (1991-2020) is depicting an increasing trend of 2.52 % and 4.12 % for Sagar and Kokkarne catchments respectively. Monsoon arrival is earlier in the Kokkarne catchment as compared to the Sagar catchment. The highest positive percentage change in mean annual rainfall of 24.89 %, 10.25 % is projected by MPI-ESM-LR GCM, and the Highest negative percentage change in mean annual rainfall of -28.49 %, -9.19 % is projected by ACCESS1.0 GCM for Sagar and Kokkarne catchments respectively. This analysis will provide useful information for water resources planning engineers, research scientists, and farmers to assess the water availability in the region and create storage if essential.

Shilpa A. Veerabhadrannavar and B. Venkatesh

Recent Advances in Electrocatalytic Nitrogen Reduction to Produce Ammonia Under Ambient Conditions

Ammonia (NH3) is one of the most widely used chemicals in industry and agriculture, which is very important to the global economy. At present, the Haber Bosch process is adopted for ammonia synthesis in industry. The experimental temperature and pressure used in this process are relatively high, the process energy consumption is high, the one-way conversion of the hydrogen is low, and a large amount of carbon dioxide is discharged into the atmosphere, causing pollution to the environment. To solve its shortcomings, researchers began a new exploration. Electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction (NRR), as a clean and sustainable method of ammonia synthesis, has attracted extensive attention. However, the low activity and selectivity of electrocatalysts are one of the important challenges. Therefore, the search for cost-effective electrocatalysts has become one of the research hotspots of electrochemical ammonia synthesis. For enhancing the catalytic performance and selective performance of catalysts, scientists have carried out a lot of research on electrochemical nitrogen fixation catalysts. In this review article, electrolytic experimental devices, common ammonia detection research methods, and the electrocatalytic NRR mechanism are summarized, and then the research progress in electrocatalysts (precious metals, transition metals, and non-precious metals) is summarized. Then, the research progress of metal-based electrocatalysts is introduced, and the relevant theoretical calculations are given. The discussion of different catalytic systems provides ideas for the development and improvement of subsequent NRR electrocatalysts.

Feifei Wang, Jinlu Guo, Yufei Quan, Sumin Wang and Qiguan Wang

Research on the Governance of Rural Environmental Pollution in Heilongjiang Province Based on the Environmental Kuznets Curve

At present, the effective management of the rural environment has drawn the attention of the entire global community. Heilongjiang Province majors in agriculture and animal husbandry resources. Compared with urban environmental pollution, the pollution caused by agriculture and animal husbandry has a strong impact on the use of agricultural elements and environmental constraints. At the same time, it has the characteristics of high governance cost, high governance difficulty, and difficulty in being monitored. In this study, the environmental Kuznets curve is used to verify the relationship between rural environmental pollution and economic growth in Heilongjiang Province, and a linear regression model is designed to verify time series data and indicators. The results show that the phenomenon of rural water pollution has become common in Heilongjiang Province, the discharge of rural environmental pollutants has exceeded the safe discharge limit value, and the pollution degree of the rural environment in Heilongjiang Province has exceeded the safety warning value at least, and it is very necessary for its treatment. This study enriches the research methods and content of the performance evaluation of rural environmental governance in my country helps to objectively evaluate the governance issues of the rural environment in Heilongjiang Province, and can be a functional area of grain production that is highly dependent on resources and environmental constraints of the same kind in my country. Rural environmental governance provides a universal reference.

Yanwei Yang, Weiguo Sun and Chi Li

Response Surface Optimization of Culture Conditions of Microcystis sp. to Enhance its Biomass Production and Explore its Potential as Antimicrobials

The menace of drug-resistant bacteria is an issue of global concern. The growth mechanism of the algae Microcystis sp. encompasses the capacity to upset bacterial pathogens, and this approach is explored in the study. Microcystis sp. biomass harnessing was optimized via DoE-RSM (Design of Experiment-Response Surface Methodology), and further, the in vitro antimicrobial abilities to counter the drug-tolerant microbes were considered. This investigation aimed to increase the biomass output via optimization of essential components of the media parameter like NaNO3, K2HPO4, and MgSO4 as the variables. A maximal biomass yield of 262 mg.L-1 was accomplished within the optimized conditions and the Microcystis sp. displayed notable antimicrobial action against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Hence the Microcystis sp. could be an ideal biocontrol agent to mitigate the drug-tolerant microbes. A partial sequencing was performed, and gene sequences were subject to BLAST at NCBI, and the microbial isolate was identified as Microcystis aeruginosa, and the accession number was also procured for this sequence submission as MT792731.1.

R. Kanimozhi, D. Arvind Prasath, R. Dhandapani and Santhosh Sigamani

Optimization of Influential Parameters for the Degradation of Metronidazole Contained in Aquaculture Effluent via Sonocatalytic Process: Kinetics and Mechanism

This study examined the synthesis of a viable catalyst for the degradation of metronidazole contained in aquaculture effluent. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (n-ZnO) were synthesized via the precipitation method and calcined at 500oC in a muffle furnace to enhance the degradability properties. The morphology showed a hexagonal structure with an average particle size of 71.48 nm and the elemental composition showed a higher weight percent of 59.15% for zinc and 21.65% for oxygen. The FTIR confirms the vibrational characteristic mode of the Zn-O band at 427.21cm-1. The XRD showed a good crystallinity and the BET surface area was 8.58 m2.g-1 which showed that the n-ZnO possesses more active sites that can remove pollutants from wastewater. However, no studies have been done on the removal of MNZ in aquaculture effluent. The kinetics followed pseudo-second-order kinetics and the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model best fit the degradation process with R2, Kc, and KLH values of 0.96781, 1.486 × 10-1 mg. Lmin-1) and 8.790 × 10-2 (L.mg-1). Under the influential parameters, the percentage COD removal achieved for MNZ in aquaculture effluent was 62.6%, 89.8%, and 98.5% of MNZ at 20% ultrasonic amplitude, 5 mL 2% H2O2 and 0.02g n-ZnO within 60 min sonication time for US only, US/n-ZnO and US/n-ZnO/H2O2 systems. Hence, MNZ contained in aquaculture effluent can best be degraded with the synergetic effect of the US/n-ZnO/ H2O2 system.

O.H. Aremu, C.O. Akintayo, S.M. Nelana, M.J. Klink and O.S. Ayanda

Effect of High Temperature on Reproductive Phase of Plants: A Review

Climate change is a universal challenge that threatens the very existence of life on planet Earth. One of the most sensitive areas to climate change is agriculture. Climate change affects precipitation, cyclones, clouds, temperature, humidity, and CO2 levels. All these factors affect plant productivity which poses another grave concern in feeding the ever-increasing population. The productivity in terms of crop yield is reduced due to a direct correlation between phenology and climate change. The reproductive organs of a plant and other parameters that define good fertility of a species are all affected by the increasing temperatures during their vegetative and reproductive phases of growth and development. Thus, this review is an attempt to understand the effect of climate change on the reproductive structures of plants and discuss the short-term and long-term adaptations in plants and agriculture as mitigation measures to combat the significant yield loss in developing countries.

S. Talwar, K. Bamel, Prabhavathi and A. Mal

Application of a Two-Level Full Factorial Design for the Synthesis of Composite Bioplastics from Durian Seed Flour and Yellow Konjac Flour Incorporating Ethanolic Extract of Syzygium myrtifolium Leaves and its Characterization

Increasing environmental problems related to synthetic plastics for food packaging encourage the creation of more environmentally friendly plastics from Indonesia’s local natural resources, such as durian seed, yellow konjac, and Syzygium myrtifolium leaves, which are abundant in nature. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of the durian seed flour (DSF) mass, yellow konjac flour (YKF) mass, and the concentration of ethanolic extract of S. myrtifolium leaves (5-25%) on the tensile strength, elongation, and inhibition zone area of composite bioplastics. The two-level full factorial design was conducted for this experiment with 3 independent factors: DSF mass (0.5-1 g), YKF mass (0.5-1 g), and the concentration of ethanolic extract of S. myrtifolium leaves (5-25% b/v), and 3 responses were observed: tensile strength, elongation, and inhibition zone area. The physicomechanical characteristics were then used to further describe the best combination. The results showed that the DSF mass had only affected tensile strength, whereas the YKF mass had affected tensile strength and elongation of composite bioplastics. Meanwhile, the concentration of ethanolic extract of S. myrtifolium leaves only affects the inhibition zone area. The best combination was found in the DSF mass of 0.5 g, YKF mass of 1 g, and the concentration of ethanolic extract of S. myrtifolium leaves of 25%, with the tensile strength of 3.30 MPa, elongation of 50.00%, and inhibition zone area of 15.33 mm. Moreover, these combinations also had a thickness of 0.115 mm, modulus young of 0.066 MPa, density of 1.37 g.cm-3, moisture content of 17.14%, and water solubility of 76.91%.

N.D. Permatasari, J.E. Witoyo, M. Masruri, S.S. Yuwono and S.B. Widjanarko

Community Level Physiological Profiling of Microbial Communities Influencing Mine Spoil Genesis in Chronosequence Coal Mine Overburden Spoil

Ecological restoration through mine spoil genesis should be dogmatic and the strategies involved a holistic approach, which emphasizes the role of microbial community composition that varies in accordance with the physiological and nutritional status of mine spoil profiles. This is because the patterns observed aboveground is being driven by the belowground diversity and processes. Thus, the relationship between microbial community structure and mine spoil genesis in chronosequence coal mine spoil has attracted considerable research attention. The occurrence of higher microbial diversity and difficulties in culturing microbes necessitate the use of a culture-independent approach through community-level physiological profiling based on the patterns of carbon source utilization using BIOLOG Ecoplate and thereby the functional diversity of microbial communities in different age series coal mine spoil was determined. The average well-color development exhibited an increasing trend with a minimum in OB0 (0.0640) and a maximum in OB15 (0.5060) over time. The patterns of substrate utilization (carbohydrates, carboxylic and ketonic acids, amino acids, polymers, amines, and amides) reflect the shift in microbial community composition in different age series coal mine spoil over time. Gradual increase in species richness and Shannon diversity index with the increase in age of mine spoil substantiated relatively higher microbial diversity reflecting the sign of mine spoil genesis. Principal component analysis and redundancy analysis based on the differential patterns of substrate utilization discriminate different age series coal mine spoil into independent clusters, which evaluated the broad-scale patterns of microbial community dynamics influencing the pace and progress of mine spoil genesis.

P. Agrawal, A. Agrawal and A. K. Patel

The COVID-19 Pandemic and Sustainable Tourism Development

The Corona Virus (COVID-19) pandemic situation has posed a significant effect on the tourism industry. Tourism destinations have accepted emergency health care measures and restrictions imposed on human movement around the world. Beaches and resorts are empty, peoples’ movements are stopped, and traveling between territories is strictly controlled. The COVID-19 lockdown around the world has imposed a negative impact on the livelihood of people and the world economy as well. The goal of the current study is to determine the potential for sustainable tourism growth in the near future given the social, economic, and environmental effects of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.

M.A.H. Bhuiyan and M.A. Darda

Green Campus Audit Procedures and Implementation to Educational Institutions and Industries

Nature provides a free lunch, but only if we control our appetites. As we are in the twenty-first century, modernization and industrialization are the two important outputs that have made human life more luxurious and comfortable. Simultaneously, they are responsible for several uses of exploitation of forests, natural resources, and wildlife, polluting the scarce, producing massive solid waste and sacred water resources, and finally making our planet Earth ugly and inhospitable. Today, people are getting more familiar with global issues like global warming, the greenhouse effect, ozone depletion, climate change, etc. Now, it is considered a final call by Mother Earth to walk on the path of sustainable development. The time has come to wake up, unite and combat together for a sustainable environment. The present study focuses on the concept of green audit and its importance with respect to the conservation of nature for future generations. Every organization should have its own green campus and environment policy with respect to nature conservation and environmental protection and should maintain a sizable amount of green cover area after building construction along with natural and planted vegetation. A maximum number of more oxygen-producing and carbon-di-oxide-absorbing plants should be maintained to provide a pure atmosphere to the stakeholders. The installation of a rainwater harvesting system, percolation, ponds, check dam, and drip irrigation system to conserve rainwater and groundwater should be noteworthy on the campus.

S. Rajalakshmi, B. Mythili Gnanamangai, D. Vinoth Kumar, V. Sri Santhya, M. Priya, R. Mary Josephine, Ashutosh Kumar Srivastava, R. Sudhakaran and M. A. Deepa

Medical Waste Management and Design of a Low-Cost Incinerator for Reduction of Environmental Pollution in a Multi-System Hospital

Pollution of the environment and inappropriate management of medical wastes are major challenges facing developing countries and this must be tackled with recent technology for public health, enhanced natural ecosystems, and a better environment. This research is a two-step process that involves the assessment of the existing Hospital waste management practices in a multi-system Hospital in Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. Excess air, kerosene (auxiliary fuel), single chamber, Batch-fed (Manual feeding), and controlled air incinerator were designed. Wastes were loaded once at the beginning of the combustion cycle followed by combustion, ash burnout, cool down, and ash removal to assist medical waste management. Findings revealed that personnel involved in handling medical waste were equipped with inadequate protective gear. Medical waste was handled together with municipal waste and both wastes were incinerated in an open dumpsite without engineered sanitary landfill at disposal locations constituting a nuisance with a high risk of pollution to the surrounding environment. The incinerator was designed for a waste load of 269 kg.day-1. It consists of four zones; the waste and combustion zone (2.7 m × 1.8 m × 1 m), the ash zone (0.23 m height), the combustion fumes and one-second retention zone (0.43 m height) as well as the excess air zone (0.46 m height). This low-cost medical waste incinerator has a lot of improvement, operational effectiveness, and efficiency to the currently available techniques. Viable recommendations made will improve the state of environmental health and reduce the harmful effects of medical waste.

O. J. Oyebode and J. A. Otoko

Effective Contribution of Air Pollutants to Physiological and Psychological Human Diseases: A Systematic Review

Increasing globalization, industrialization, population, and burning of fossil fuels have been adversely affecting the environment for a long time. The consequences of the effects can be seen even within a short period of time in the current scenario. The air pollutants such as SO2, NO2, CO, and PM are the main contributors to the adverse health effects. Long-term and short-term exposure to pollutants may cause acute and chronic effects on the human body as they can enter deep into the organ and circulate in the bloodstream. The ultimate purpose of this review is to develop a quantitative perceptive of the existing state of facts about potential health effects concerning the dose-response relationship between exposure level of air pollutants and induced diseases. We have drawn around 376 scientific research papers on high-impact factors related to air pollution and health. These publications were analyzed with consideration of experimental methods, design, observations, and reports on the exposure through inhalation which may emulate the normal direction of exposure inside the human organs. The present study suggests the effects of epidemiological studies on associations between pollutant concentrations and human health. Most of the inferences evidenced the severe adverse effects of particulate matter (PM2.5 & PM10) on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Our present investigation reveals the health risk due to pollutants’ exposure to the vulnerable population anguishing with asthma, COPD, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer (physiological diseases); dementia, depression, and stress (psychological diseases).

P. Chaitanya, Era Upadhyay, Desh Deepak Singh and Virendra Singh

Radiological Study of Water for Human Use and Consumption in Rural Areas of the Central Zone of the State of Veracruz, Mexico

A study and spatiotemporal radiological characterization of water for human use and consumption in the main rural populations of the center of the State of Veracruz was carried out, covering 22 municipalities. The objective was to estimate the annual effective dose as a function of the concentration of gross alpha and beta activity. For this purpose, a low background proportional flux detection system calibrated with NIST-traceable radioactive standards was used. Sampling included only wells, springs, and lagoons in rural areas that supply water to these populations. The decision was based on the fact that these do not have a physicochemical treatment and was carried out during the dry and rainy seasons, which became factors of impact on the radiological material. The analysis included the results of 195 samples from 22 municipalities which showed ranges in the gross alpha of 0.052-0.95 BqL-1 with a mean of 0.376 ±0.101BqL-1 and a gross beta of 0.034-1.48 BqL-1 with a mean of 0.389 ±0.108 BqL-1. The comparison of the values obtained with respect to those of other countries and their complement with analysis of variance showed that there was a significant difference, particularly, for the results of gross alpha in the municipality of Alto Lucero de Gutierrez Barrios and gross beta in Nautla and Tecolutla in dry and rainy seasons (at a probability of p?0.05 with the Tukey-Kramer HSD statistical test). A correlation between gross alpha and gross beta was also performed with an r of -0.18 and -0.44 in dry and rainy seasons. This means that among the radionuclides, the major sources of beta radiation are uranium and thorium decay series radionuclides. For the determination of gross alpha, the municipalities in the mountainous zones showed lower values of this activity than the municipalities in the coastal zone. Gross alpha activity values of 0.95 ± 0.11 BqL-1 were detected in the municipality of Alto Lucero de Gutiérrez Barrios in the locality of Arroyo Agrio, which exceeded the limit of the Official Mexican Standard.

J.A. Vásquez-Contreras, M.R. Castañeda-Chávez, O.P. Castellanos-Onorio, V. Alcántara-Méndez, P. Zuñiga-Ruíz, A. García-Saldaña and M. Díaz-González

An Assessment of Ongoing Developments in Water Resources Management Incorporating SWAT Model: Overview and Perspectives

Land and water are the most necessary natural resources because the entire life system depends on them. It requires proper management to achieve maximum utilization. When used in conjunction with Arc GIS, the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) is a promising model for simulating the agricultural watershed since it can forecast runoff, sediment and nutrient transport, and erosion under various management scenarios. Furthermore, the model is better at evaluating both the spatial and non-spatial variation of hydrological methods under a very large watershed. This study uses the methodology employed by the SWAT model for the estimation of surface runoff and sediment yield and discusses in detail the setup of the model computer file needed by the model sensitivity analysis parameter and validation area unit. SWAT is a well-known hydrological modeling method used in many hydrologic and environmental simulations. Over 17 years (2005-2021), 212 studies were found from various peer-reviewed scientific publications listed on the SWAT online database (CARD). Applicability studies were divided into five categories: water resources, streamflow, erosion, land-use planning and agricultural settings, climate change scenarios, and model parameterization. Hydrologic phenomena and adaptations in various river basins have been investigated. They mostly examined environmental impacts and preventive techniques to ensure an understanding of effective environmental regulation. Streamflow susceptibility to climatic changes was shown in climate change studies. Modeling streamflow parameters, model modifications, and basin-scale calibrations were investigated. Future simulation aspects such as data sharing and the opportunity for improved future analysis are also discussed. A multimodal approach to future simulations, as well as more efforts to make local data available, are both very good ideas.

S. K. Verma, A. D. Prasad and M. K. Verma

Environmental Remediation of Contaminated Wastewater with Ammonium Using Clay-Based Adsorbents

Due to a lack of water treatment technology, developing and emerging nations have become significant polluters and water shortage is exacerbated by pollution. Ammonium toxicity is a huge global environmental concern with no clear solution. Population growth and industrialization destroy the ecosystem. Common and industrial products contain ammonium ions. Water pollution damages fish and other aquatic life. An inexpensive and green wastewater treatment method is adsorption. Adsorbent polymers that remove ammonium ions from wastewater have been explored. Ammonium ions are very hazardous when deposited into surface waters. Surfaces of bentonite and montmorillonite clay may attach sodium ammonium ions. They are cheap and abundant, therefore used to treat drain water. Bentonite outperformed montmorillonite in eliminating ammonium ions from water. Bentonite and montmorillonite clays were used to remove residual ammonium ions. These are utilized for bentonitic and montmorillonitic clays. Both clays were absorbed in a neutral pH, and it was free of sulfuric acid, ammonium ions, and phosphorus ions. Montmorillonitic clay boosted TDS by nearly 10% whereas bentonitic clay only raised TDS by 1%. Adsorption may inexpensively filter water and the surface charge of adsorbents affect their adsorption capacity. Ammonium ions may be recycled, and several bioreactors can remove ammonium ions from liquid and solid phases. Iterate over several models and the Freundlich isotherm model outperforms the Langmuir model by 5%. And bentonite clay adsorbs better due to iron oxide content.

Ibrahim Abdelfattah, Wael Abdelwahab and Ashraf M. El-Shamy

Fluoride Contamination of Groundwater from Semi-Arid Regions of Western India

A study on fluoride risk assessment was carried out in the semi-arid region of North Gujarat, India. The intricate link between groundwater fluoride and human health, lack of awareness, limited access to fluoride treatment facilities, and poor socio-economic conditions of the ~5.0 million rural population in the studied region make them vulnerable to fluoride. This study aimed to evaluate non-carcinogenic health risk, its severity, and the total population at risk in these regions due to chronic fluoride exposure. Fluoride in our samples (n=132) exhibits large spatial variability, and it ranges from ~0.13-8.64 mg.L-1 (average: 1.64 ± 1.50 mg.L-1) and 43% of them are more than the WHO limit of 1.5 mg.L-1. Hazard Quotient (HQ) was used to assess health risks through the ingestion exposure route. The comparison of the range (0.1-8.55 versus 0.06-4.11), average (1.63 ± 1.49 versus 0.78 ± 0.72), and median (1.26 versus 0.60) of HQ between children and adults highlights that the former are at more risk compared to latter. Our conservative estimates suggest that ~0.45 million children and ~1.06 million adult population, ~55% and ~20% of the respective population classes, of the region, are potentially at risk. The empirical Bayesian Kriging model was used to produce risk-assessments maps. These can help policymakers in prioritizing the application of mitigation funding and resources, and in increasing testing efforts in high-risk areas. We believe this study should guide policymakers to adopt strategies in ensuring the public health safety of the rural population, children in particular, of the studied region.

Reema Mandal, Anirban Das, A. K. Sudheer, Rajnee Ranjan and Mahesh Gaddam

Payment for Environmental Services in Indonesia: Mutually Beneficial Watershed Environmental Management Model

Payment for Environmental Services (PES) is an effort and commitment of the world community in tackling the symptoms of global warming and damage to the ozone layer that will affect global climate change. Using field research methods, research data is collected through in-depth interviews with stakeholders in environmental services return programs in this research area. Research data is analyzed and described qualitatively for further conclusions. The concept developed upstream and downstream watershed relationships through the PES mechanism is based on the principle of voluntary agreement and awareness of maintaining the watershed ecosystem. The experience of implementing the PES Program in the Cidanau Watershed of Banten Province of Indonesia, managed by an independent institution. The PES program, in addition to its role as an environmental conservation program in the Cidanau watershed, also has socio-economical benefits for the community, environmental service (ES) users, and providers.

N. Sunaedi, S. P. Hadi and A. N. Bambang

Development of Flood Vulnerability and Risk Indices for Kelantan District, Peninsular Malaysia

Natural hazards are inevitable which required proper monitoring and application of mitigation measures to reduce vulnerability and risk. Flood is one of the most common natural hazards in Malaysia. The present study was conducted to identify vulnerable flood zones using flood vulnerability and risk indices and to minimize flood damage by suggesting mitigation measures. Four sub-districts of the Kelantan state, Peninsular Malaysia were selected based on the availability of the data and flooding history. For this purpose, demographic, social, economic, and flood event data were collected to develop flood vulnerability and risk index. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the results. The results revealed that developed flood vulnerability and risk indices accurately predict high-priority zones. Overall, it was found that flood risk is relatively higher in a rural area compared to an urban area.

A.M.A. Bahar, M. Muhammad, M. T. Anees and M. M. A. Khan

Full Issue