Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Michael Owen, Andrew Kruczkiewicz, Jamon Van Den Hoek
Summary: This study proposes a novel approach to measure climatic and environmental exposure in refugee camps using remote sensing and geospatial data. By developing a climatic and environmental exposure index, the researchers quantify the exposure of seventeen refugee camps in East Africa relative to a simulated population. The results show that seven of the camps have high exposure, indicating elevated risks for over six-hundred thousand refugees compared to other potential camp locations. This method has the potential to improve data gathering and analysis in geographically remote humanitarian spaces in a reliable and cost-effective manner, enabling real-time updates for decision-making in refugee camp management related to disaster risk reduction.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Qaiser Iqbal, Muhammad Ali Musarat, Najeeb Ullah, Wesam Salah Alaloul, Muhammad Babar Ali Rabbani, Wesam Al Madhoun, Shahid Iqbal
Summary: Increasing anthropogenic activities, industrialization, and urbanization have intensified air pollution worldwide. Marble factories in Pakistan are a significant source of air pollution due to the dust generated during the marble crushing and extraction process. This study assesses the air quality in areas with and without marble factories based on total suspended particles (TSP) concentration. The results indicate that areas with marble factories have significantly higher levels of TSP and exceed recommended standards. It is suggested to relocate the factories away from residential areas and implement strict control measures.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ioana Tanasa, Marius Cazacu, Brindusa Sluser
Summary: The purpose of this study was to evaluate air quality in four cities in Romania (Brasov, Cluj-Napoca, Iasi, and Timisoara) over the period 2011-2021, focusing on arsenic, carbon monoxide, and PM2.5 as pollutants of interest. Data on pollutant concentrations were collected from public reports by the National Environmental Protection Agency and statistically analyzed to identify air quality trends and assess environmental and health impacts. The results showed high concentrations of PM2.5 in Iasi and significant levels of arsenic pollution in Timisoara, posing major risks to human health.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Vineet Kumar, Pradeep Verma
Summary: Agro-based pulp and paper mills produce refractory pollutants in their wastewater that pose significant threats to aquatic and terrestrial life. Reclaiming this wastewater is crucial to minimize the presence of these pollutants and ensure environmental safety. This critical review aims to provide up-to-date knowledge on the fate of refractory pollutants, their health hazards, and remediation methods, serving as a valuable reference for policymakers and researchers.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Prosper Naah Angnunavuri, Francis Attiogbe, Bismark Mensah
Summary: Plastic materials have caused the release of particulate plastics which are found everywhere and can be present in drinking water. The exposure of humans to these materials is diverse and our understanding of their internalization in the human body is limited. This review examines the current knowledge on particulate plastics exposure in drinking water and the potential risks to human health. Particulate plastics have become a problem in water systems worldwide, with an individual potentially ingesting around 4,000,000 fine plastics annually from drinking water. The testing methods for these materials are inconsistent and there are no standard protocols. The ecological consequences of particulate plastics are linked to their physical and chemical diversity, as well as their tolerance in living organisms. The toxicological endpoints are varied and lack defined modes of action. Fine particulate plastics have been observed to enter body tissues and cells, causing endocrine disruption, genetic mutations, and cancer responses. The authors propose a reclassification of particulate plastics to better account for their biological deposition and associated health risks. Many developing countries have weak environmental management of particulate plastics and limited research on their potential release into drinking water. Given the large number of people exposed to fresh surface water and plastic packaged drinking water worldwide, and the lack of validated risk assessment pathways, the authors argue for developing countries to enhance their capacity for environmental monitoring and circular management of plastic materials. Large-scale epidemiological cohort studies and surrogate assessment pathways are also recommended to improve our understanding of the health hazards of particulate plastics exposure.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Matthew R. Smith, Valerie J. Stull, Jonathan A. Patz, Samuel S. Myers
Summary: The study shows that consuming insects in Africa and Asia can significantly reduce the risk of nutritional deficiencies, particularly in terms of protein, zinc, folate, and vitamin B12. Intake of 5 grams of insects per day could reduce the risk of deficiency for millions of people, and have a significant impact on vulnerable groups such as women of childbearing age and children under 5 suffering from severe rates of anemia.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Development Studies
Olanrewaju Timothy Dada
Summary: The siting of landfills can cause uncertainty, anxiety, and unrest in nearby residential neighborhoods. Hazards from landfill pollutants vary significantly in space, but remain consistent between dry and rainy seasons. Factors such as place dependence, social bonding, and economic status play a significant role in residents' decision to continue living in affected neighborhoods.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Sheena E. Martenies, Mingyu Zhang, Anne E. Corrigan, Anton Kvit, Timothy Shields, William Wheaton, Theresa M. Bastain, Carrie Breton, Dana Dabelea, Rima Habre, Sheryl Magzamen, Amy M. Padula, Deana Around Him, Carlos A. Camargo, Whitney Cowell, Lisa A. Croen, Sean Deoni, Todd M. Everson, Tina Hartert, Alison E. Hipwell, Cindy T. McEvoy, Rachel Morello-Frosch, Thomas G. O'Connor, Michael Petriello, Sheela Sathyanarayana, Joseph B. Stanford, Tracey J. Woodruff, Rosalind J. Wright, Amii M. Kress
Summary: Limited studies have explored the joint impact of prenatal environmental and social exposures on perinatal health. This study found that neighborhood social and environmental exposures have a small but measurable joint effect on neonatal indicators of health.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Abdulrasheed Zakari, Farhad Taghizadeh-Hesary, Vincent Tawiah, Rafael Alvarado, Guo Li
Summary: This study found that environmental degradation is positively related to child mortality and life expectancy/longevity in Africa, while clean water sources and sanitation facilities help to reduce child mortality rate and improve life expectancy. Cultural norms also have an impact on child mortality and life expectancy.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Cameron C. Young, James D. Byrne, Adam J. Wentworth, Joy E. Collins, Jacqueline N. Chu, Giovanni Traverso
Summary: Maintaining an ample supply of personal protective equipment, especially respirators, is crucial for ensuring respiratory protection for healthcare workers. Factors such as design, material, fit, and environmental conditions affect the efficacy of respirators. Therefore, careful consideration of these parameters is essential.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Bhanu Pratap, Saroj Kumar, Sampurna Nand, Iqbal Azad, Ram Naresh Bharagava, Luiz Fernando Romanholo Ferreira, Venkatesh Dutta
Summary: The discharge of untreated wastewater poses threats to aquatic ecosystems and humans due to developmental activities such as urbanization, industrialization, and changes in lifestyle. Approximately 380 billion m(3) of wastewater is generated globally each year. Only 24% of household and industrial wastewater is treated before disposal or reuse. Heavy metals and pathogenic microorganisms are the most concerning contaminants associated with ecological toxicity and potential health hazards. Immediate action is needed to effectively treat wastewater and develop safer reuse prospects to prevent freshwater pollution and health risks.
Article
Polymer Science
Sanita Reinerte, Vilhelmine Jurkjane, Ugis Cabulis, Arturs Viksna
Summary: This study analyzed rigid polyurethane (PU) and polyisocyanurate (PIR) foam samples made from renewable material through pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). The main thermal degradation components were found to originate from the decomposition of isocyanate, forming suspected carcinogens and mutagens. The focus was on identifying and evaluating the relative quantities of the produced gaseous products and examining their hazardousness.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jing-Jing Feng, Xiang-Fei Sun, Eddy Y. Zeng
Summary: A list of 1431 commercially available liquid crystal materials (LCMs) was established, and the toxicological properties of 221 target LCMs were derived. More than 80% of the target LCMs were found to potentially pose adverse effects on human health or aquatic ecosystems. Two quantitative structure-property relationship (QSPR) models achieved approximately 90% accuracy in predicting the hazardous properties of LCMs.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Monuara Bagum, Jalal M. Ahammad, Tahir Husain, M. Enamul Hossain
Summary: The study focuses on the development of an eco-friendly drilling fluid additive based on Aloe Vera. Through elemental analysis and experimental verification, it confirms the environmental friendliness and feasibility of using Aloe Vera as a potential DF additive, suggesting it as a substitute for toxic chemicals.
JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Hannan Younis, Farooq Ahmad, Muhammad Anees, Atia Atiq, Nida Shakeel, Muhammad Adil, Khurram Mehboob, Abdulsalam M. Alhawsawi, Rashid Khan, Ahmed M. Khubrani, Aziz Ahmed Qureshi, Muhammad Ajaz
Summary: The study found that rocks in northern Pakistan have high levels of radioactivity, posing health risks and making them unsuitable for use as building materials or for living. There is a strong correlation between radioactive elements as shown by statistical analysis.
RESULTS IN PHYSICS
(2022)