Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Eirini Aivazidou, Georgios Banias, Maria Lampridi, Giorgos Vasileiadis, Athanasios Anagnostis, Elpiniki Papageorgiou, Dionysis Bochtis
Summary: By 2050, half of the global population will face severe water scarcity, making sustainable water management crucial; digital technologies are expected to enhance smart water management for efficient monitoring and optimization; the research focuses on the impact of digitization on urban water management, emphasizing smart water technologies and supply networks, aiming to provide a methodological tool and guiding map for integrating digitalization.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Pamodithya Wijeyawardana, Nadeeshani Nanayakkara, Chamila Gunasekara, Anurudda Karunarathna, David Law, Biplob Kumar Pramanik
Summary: This review discusses the role and limitations of porous concrete in removing heavy metals from urban runoff. The major factors contributing to heavy metal removal in ordinary porous concrete are identified, and the effects of initial concentration, contact time, and competing ions on removal efficiency are discussed. The review also examines the impact of decalcification, atmospheric carbonation, and acid influent on heavy metal removal. The addition of adsorbent materials, Reduced Graphene Oxide, and pozzolanic materials to porous concrete is found to enhance removal efficiency and address some of the drawbacks. However, future studies should focus on developing methods to neutralize effluent pH and investigating the toxicity associated with modified porous concrete.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jo Dewulf, Stefanie Hellweg, Stephan Pfister, Maria Fernanda Godoy Leon, Thomas Sonderegger, Cristina T. de Matos, Gian Andrea Blengini, Fabrice Mathieux
Summary: This paper discusses the accessibility of metals and minerals once they have entered the technosphere, identifying six human actions that compromise accessibility and proposing solutions to address resource (in)accessibility. Through a case study on cobalt in the EU, it demonstrates the current challenges and impacts of resource inaccessibility.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Vinod Kumar, Krishna Kumar Jaiswal, Monu Verma, Mikhail S. Vlaskin, Manisha Nanda, Pankaj Kumar Chauhan, Ajay Singh, Hyunook Kim
Summary: The study utilized a novel microalgal strain for phyco-mitigation of pollutants in raw urban wastewater, achieving significant reductions in COD, alkalinity, hardness, bacteria, and coliforms. The treated wastewater was used for cultivating sucker fish, resulting in a substantial increase in survival rates.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Mahdi Farzadkia, Mina Salehi Sedeh, Afsaneh Ghasemi, Navid Alinejad, Malihe Samadi Kazemi, Naghmeh Jafarzadeh, Javad Torkashvand
Summary: The study found that cigarette butts contain various heavy metal pollutants, which can increase heavy metal release when persisting in the environment. Rainfall can accelerate the leaching of heavy metals, leading to higher release rates. It is necessary to reduce the density of cigarette butts in urban and public environments through training and improving the efficiency of urban cleaning systems to prevent heavy metal pollution.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Rizwan Hayder, Muhammad Hafeez, Muhammad Zaheer
Summary: This study focused on assessing the water quality in the northern part of Pakistan. The results showed that the water quality in the studied area was generally poor and contaminated with bacteria and heavy metals. Poor water management and improper disposal of waste were identified as the main causes of bacterial pollution. High levels of nitrite, nitrate, and fluoride were found, which can lead to various health issues. Significant concentrations of lead were also detected, exceeding the limits set by WHO. The study provides important information about the water quality in the region and its impact on human health.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mariia Chukaeva, Denis Petrov
Summary: The aim of this study was to analyze the content of heavy metals in the shells of freshwater gastropods Viviparus sp., evaluate the correlation of trace element accumulation in biological objects, bottom sediments, and water, and assess the pollution level of minor rivers in St. Petersburg. The data obtained showed contamination of the Neva River Delta with metals such as Al, Mn, Fe, Cu, and Pb, and significant accumulative capacity of bottom sediments with Zn, Pb, Ni, Cu, Mn, and Fe. The gastropods exhibited a high bioaccumulation ability, depending on the properties of metals, river hydrology, and sediment characteristics. Sr, Fe, Cr, and Mn were found to have the best ability to bioaccumulate in gastropod shells.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Akash Balakrishnan, Sowmya Appunni, Mahendra Chinthala, Meenu Mariam Jacob, Dai-Viet N. Vo, Soreddy Sainath Reddy, Emmanuel Sebastian Kunnel
Summary: Water contamination is a growing global issue, and current methods for water and wastewater treatment are limited, especially in terms of difficult regeneration of fossil-fuel derived nano-adsorbents. Advanced methods using sustainable materials like chitosan are needed. Chitosan, a biopolymer extracted from shellfish, is non-toxic, abundant, and chemically stable. It can be shaped into various forms for wastewater treatment. In this review, we focus on chitosan-based beads and their applications in wastewater treatment, including adsorption mechanisms, pollutant removal, functionalization, and regeneration. Notably, chitosan/Fe-hydroxyapatite beads have high adsorption capacity for lead removal, while imprinted magnetic chitosan beads show good reusability for nickel removal.
ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tong Zhang, Ganpei Tian, Xiuren Hu, Bo Liu, Yingying Guo, Limin Zhang, Bo Bian
Summary: The cities of Suzhou, Wuxi, and Changzhou in China are typical industrial city clusters with developed economies and advanced industrial production. This study analyzed the flow characteristics of mercury (Hg) emissions and circulation in these cities, quantifying the sources of Hg emissions and its distribution in various environmental compartments. The results showed that coal combustion was the main source of Hg emissions, with Suzhou having the highest Hg circulation among the three cities. Apart from slightly elevated Hg concentrations in the soil of Wuxi, the water, atmosphere, and soil in these cities met the highest national standards. This research provides valuable insights into the Hg cycle in industrial urban agglomerations and has important implications for managing Hg pollution and preventing heavy metal poisoning hazards.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Civil
Suresh Kumar Sharma, A. Seetharaman, K. Maddulety
Summary: Administrators of urban water institutions face challenges in ensuring water rights and security for citizens amidst expanding cities. Sustainable water management systems help control the gap between water demand and supply, creating hybrid systems in Indian cities. Sustainable urban water management relies on local and global factors including governance, technology, water economics, and infrastructure.
WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rab Nawaz, Iqra Nasim, Ali Irfan, Amjad Islam, Ayesha Naeem, Nadia Ghani, Muhammad Atif Irshad, Maria Latif, Badar Un Nisa, Riaz Ullah
Summary: The study aimed to assess the quality of drinking water and evaluate the potential health hazards from water contaminants in urban areas of Lahore, Pakistan. Water samples from ten sites were analyzed for various physico-chemical parameters, heavy metals, and microbial content. The results showed that the levels of arsenic, fluoride, TDS, and residual chlorine exceeded the recommended standards. Microbial content, specifically E. coli, was also present in the drinking water samples. The water quality index indicated that most areas had unfit drinking water, and the human health risk assessment revealed a high risk, particularly regarding carcinogenic risk from arsenic exposure. Regular monitoring and proactive measures are needed to ensure the availability of safe drinking water in urban areas.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ijlal Raheem, Nabisab Mujawar Mubarak, Rama Rao Karri, Nadeem Hussain Solangi, Abdul Sattar Jatoi, Shaukat Ali Mazari, Mohammad Khalid, Yie Hua Tan, Janardhan Reddy Koduru, Guilherme Malafaia
Summary: Water consumption has been increasing in recent years due to urbanization and industry, leading to depletion of global water resources. Strategies for removing harmful elements from wastewater are critical. Membrane separation technology, specifically MXene-based membranes, shows promise for water purification. This review provides an overview of MXenes, their synthesis, surface chemistry, membrane construction, and applications for water purification. Future prospects of MXene-based materials for diverse applications are also discussed.
Review
Plant Sciences
Claudia Marin, Makram El Bachawati, Gabriel Perez
Summary: Green roofs are building-integrated greenery systems that provide ecological and economic benefits to urban environments. Previous research on the environmental impact of leachate from green roofs has generated inconsistent conclusions. However, appropriate mitigation measures and system design can control nutrient leaching. The studies confirm the mitigating effect of green roofs on acid rain.
URBAN FORESTRY & URBAN GREENING
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Michele Zoli, Livia Paleari, Roberto Confalonieri, Jacopo Bacenetti
Summary: Northern Italy is the most important rice-growing district in Europe, but traditional cultivation methods have led to high environmental impact. This study investigates the effects of alternative water management on environmental impact and heavy metal content, finding that alternative flooding can reduce methane emissions and environmental impact.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Meriem Dehbi, Faouzia Dehbi, Muhammad Imran Kanjal, Hichem Tahraoui, Meriem Zamouche, Abdeltif Amrane, Aymen Amine Assadi, Amina Hadadi, Lotfi Mouni
Summary: The present study investigated the levels of Fe, Pb, Cu, and Zn in algae samples collected from three different locations in Algeria. The results showed high concentrations of heavy metals in all four species, with Pb, Fe, and Cu levels surpassing the recommended standard. Zn levels were below the standard. Principal component analysis confirmed that the heavy metal pollution in these waters originated from anthropogenic activities.