Article
Environmental Sciences
Baoqing Wang, Yinuo Li, Zhenzhen Tang, Ningning Cai, Nan Zhang, Jianfeng Liu
Summary: The study compared the pollution characteristics and sources of heavy metals in indoor and outdoor PM2.5 in a coal-fired and non-coal-fired area in Qian'an City in January 2016. The results showed that indoor sources were more significant in the coal-fired area, with metal smelting being the main contributor to outdoor PM2.5. The study suggests that central heating and reductions in industrial activities could effectively improve indoor air quality in the rural-urban fringe zone.
Article
Water Resources
Abraham Addo-Bediako, Sophy Nukeri, Millicent Kekana
Summary: Anthropogenic activities such as mining, agriculture, and urbanization are causing heavy metal contamination in the Spekboom River in South Africa, with high concentrations of Cr and Ni posing a serious threat to aquatic organisms and humans. Urgent action is recommended to control effluents from anthropogenic activities to prevent further pollution.
APPLIED WATER SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Sheila Rozalia Abdul Rashid, Wan Zuhairi Wan Yaacob, Mohd Rozi Umor
Summary: This research applied novel selective sequential extraction and leaching procedures to assess the gaps in knowledge regarding heavy metals accumulation on serpentinite topsoil derived from a few states in Peninsular Malaysia. The concentration of all studied heavy metals except Mn exceeded the site screening levels issued by the Department of Environment, Malaysia (DOEM).
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ozgur Ates, Kadriye Taspinar, Gulser Yalcin, Fatih Kizilaslan, Melis Ozge Pinar, Serdar Toprak, Volkan Alveroglu, Ramazan Yavuz, Didem Ozen
Summary: This study investigated the heavy metal pollution and potential sources in agricultural soils in Tavsanli district, where an energy power plant is located. The results showed that the concentrations of Cu, Cr, Co, Mn, and Ni were higher than the continental crust values and European soil mean values. The soils were found to be contaminated by Co, Cr, and Ni. Additionally, Ni posed a moderate ecological risk in the study area and its origin was attributed to both lithogenic and anthropogenic factors.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Palanisamy Vasudhevan, Elumalai Manikandan, M. P. Jonathan, Palaniappan Sivasankar, Palaniswamy Thangavel
Summary: Heavy metal accumulation in paddy fields located at Salem, southern India, due to modern agronomical practices, was assessed in terms of spatial distribution, source apportionment, and pollution assessment. The results showed that the studied heavy metal concentrations in the paddy soils were below the Indian and European Union soil quality standards. However, medium contamination and very high to severe pollution were observed for Cd and Mn, and Fe, respectively. Additionally, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Cd exhibited exceptionally high enrichment in the soils. Cu, Pb, Zn, and Cd accumulation in the paddy soils was attributed to intensive agricultural practices including the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and fungicides, as well as transportation. On the other hand, Ni and Fe contents were mainly influenced by parent materials. Although Cd content in the paddy soils was below the standards, attention should be given to minimize the impact of modern agricultural practices for sustainable productivity increase.
ENVIRONMENTAL EARTH SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Biology
Gui-Li Yang, Meng-Meng Zheng, Ai-Juan Tan, Yu-Ting Liu, Dan Feng, Shi-Ming Lv
Summary: This article discusses the mechanisms of Cd absorption, transportation, and enrichment in plants, as well as the detoxification processes in hyperaccumulators. Research indicates that these plants have the potential to be effective candidates for heavy metal pollution restoration.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Parul Sundha, Nirmalendu Basak, Arvind Kumar Rai, Priyanka Chandra, Sandeep Bedwal, Gajender Yadav, Rajender Kumar Yadav, Parbodh Chander Sharma
Summary: This study investigates the physicochemical properties and heavy metal variations in sludge from sewage treatment plants in industrial and non-industrial cities in Haryana, India. The results show that the sludge from industrial sites has higher concentrations of Cd, Ni, and Cr, and poses a higher ecological risk compared to sludge from non-industrial sites. pH, total carbon, and phosphorus are important factors controlling the binding and removal of heavy metals in sludge.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
T. O. Kolawole, O. M. Ajibade, J. O. Olajide-Kayode, K. W. Fomba
Summary: This research assessed the presence, sources, contamination status, ecological risk, and human health risk of heavy metals in soil and sediments of a used-automobile spare part market in Nigeria. The study found that human activities contributed to high concentrations of heavy metals, while geological factors also influenced the levels of certain metals. The anthropogenically sourced heavy metals showed moderate to high enrichment/contamination, posing potential risks to human health and the ecosystem.
ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lipeng Han, Yi Zhao, Runlong Hao
Summary: This study investigates the characteristics of arsenic emissions and distribution in a typical Chinese coal-fired power plant renovated with ultra-low emission techniques. The results show that arsenic is mainly emitted in fly ash and can be efficiently absorbed and removed by air pollution control devices. Low-low temperature electrostatic precipitator, wet flue gas desulfurization, and selective catalytic reduction play important roles in reducing arsenic emissions. Overall, the ultra-low emission control technique has a significant effect on reducing arsenic emissions.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Thermodynamics
Zheng Wu, Yue Zhang, Ze Dong
Summary: Accurate prediction of NOx concentration is crucial for controlling pollutant emissions and ensuring the safe operation of coal-fired power plants. In this study, we propose a NOx emission concentration prediction method based on joint knowledge and data-driven approaches. The method involves knowledge-driven feature selection, adaptive decomposition using variational modal decomposition (VMD) with modal energy difference and sample entropy, and the use of the Informer model combined with an adaptive time series segmentation method for prediction. Experimental results show that the proposed method outperforms several comparative models in predicting NOx concentration.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Gedefaw Woreta, Atnafu Guadie, Mengistu Mulu, Tamene Beshaw, Tsegu Lijalem, Dessie Ezez, Addis Kokeb, Mulugeta Leggesse, Molla Tefera
Summary: Metals in the environment can accumulate in the food chain, and the contamination of agricultural soils is a growing concern for food safety and potential health risks. This study analyzed the levels of metals in lupine plants and agricultural soil in four districts using flame atomic absorption spectroscopy. The concentrations of certain metals exceeded the allowable limits set by the WHO, indicating the need for attention and further action. Additionally, the metal concentrations in the soil samples also exceeded the maximum permissible limits set by the WHO.
JOURNAL OF FOOD COMPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kajal Patel, Meenakshi Chaurasia, Kottapalli Sreenivasa Rao
Summary: Heavy metals beyond permissible limits are major contaminants that pose a persistent and health hazard. This study demonstrates that commonly found plant species in urban areas of Delhi can serve as effective biomonitors and bioaccumulators for heavy metal pollution, with certain plant species showing exceptional proficiency in monitoring and mitigating heavy metals.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yinggang Jia, Xiao Yang, Xiulan Yan, Weiwei Duguer, Hongli Hu, Jian Chen
Summary: Coal-fired power plants release toxic metals into nearby ecosystems, but there have been few studies on the ecological impacts of these metals in arid areas. This study investigated the distribution, sources, and environmental risks of several metals in soils near a coal electricity integration base in northwestern China. The findings show that most samples had higher levels of metals compared to background values, with significant pollution from selenium, lead, mercury, cadmium, and arsenic. The main sources of these metals were natural sources, coal mine sewage, atmospheric release during coal combustion, and dust from coal and combustion products. The study highlights the importance of addressing pollution from open-pit coal mines, shaft coal mines, and ash dumps in the region, and identifies wind as the main driver of metal migration in arid areas.
ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Zhe Yin, Chunlai Yang, Xiaolei Yuan, Fei Jin, Bin Wu
Summary: Measuring the nitrogen oxides concentration accurately at the inlet of the selective catalytic reduction denitrification system is crucial for controlling the concentration in coal-fired power plants. This study proposes a modeling method based on feature fusion and long short-term memory network to improve the prediction accuracy by mining the spatial and temporal coupling relationship among input variables. The simulation results show that the proposed CNN-LSTM model reduces the prediction error of nitrogen oxides concentration by 15.15% compared to the traditional LSTM model.
FRONTIERS IN ENERGY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Emmanuel O. Akindele, Tolulope A. Oladeji, Esther D. Kowobari, Abiodun M. Adedapo, Ibrahim R. Fagbohun, Oluwaseun T. Akinpelu, Oyeshina G. Oyeku
Summary: The Osun River, one of Nigeria's UNESCO-designated World Heritage Sites, is facing severe degradation of its biological water quality due to gold mining activities. The physiochemical water quality of the river has significantly deteriorated, with extremely high levels of total suspended solids, low water transparency, and low dissolved oxygen. The presence of heavy metals in the river has also exceeded permissible limits, posing a risk to freshwater biodiversity and human health.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Nthabiseng Motshabi, Somandla Ncube, Mathew Muzi Nindi, Zenzile Peter Khetsha, Ntsoaki Joyce Malebo
Summary: This study evaluated the levels of pesticide residues in staple vegetables from fresh produce markets in Bloemfontein, South Africa, finding that the residues were below recommended maximum levels. Cabbage was found to be particularly susceptible to pesticide residue accumulation, with an average total concentration of 222 mg/kg in different markets. The existence of pesticide residues within guideline limits indicated compliance with good agricultural practices recommended by the FAO/WHO.
FOOD SCIENCE & NUTRITION
(2021)
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Sefiu Olaitan Amusat, Temesgen Girma Kebede, Simiso Dube, Mathew Muzi Nindi
Summary: Ball milling with nanoparticles is an emerging cost-effective method for producing nanocomposites with enhanced surface characteristics for adsorption of contaminants. This method improves the physicochemical properties of biochar, enhancing its sorption abilities for a wide range of chemicals.
JOURNAL OF WATER PROCESS ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Ramakwala Christinah Chokwe, Simiso Dube, Mathew Muzi Nindi
Summary: In this study, an HPLC-DAD method was developed and validated for quality control of Mondia whitei products, showing good linearity, sensitivity and precision.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ramakwala Christinah Chokwe, Simiso Dube, Mathew Muzi Nindi
Summary: Optimizing extraction conditions is crucial for accurately quantifying target compounds. In this study, an ultrasound-assisted extraction method was developed for seven major compounds in Mondia whitei. The extraction temperature, solvent to sample ratio, and the interaction between temperature and ethanol percentage were found to significantly affect the response. These parameters were optimized, and the resulting conditions were successfully applied in the quality control of Mondia whitei samples.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Kanono Comet Manesa, Temesgen Girma Kebede, Simiso Dube, Mathew Muzi Nindi
Summary: This study focuses on the fabrication and characterization of sericin-poly(vinyi alcohol) (PVA) composite films from southern African silkworm cocoons. The results demonstrate the potential of these films in biomedical and biomaterial fields, highlighting their water absorption and hydrophilic properties.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Henriette Niragire, Temesgen Girma Kebede, Simiso Dube, Malek Maaza, Mathew Muzi Nindi
Summary: In this study, nanofibers were successfully synthesized from a blend of chitosan and polyvinyl alcohol using electrospinning. The chemical and physical properties of the nanofibers were characterized, revealing uniform morphology, active functional groups, and thermal stability. A thermal treatment was applied to reduce water solubility before adsorption of acidic drugs. The nanofibers showed high adsorption capacities for different acidic drugs.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Girma Regassa Fayissa, Simiso Dube, Mathew Muzi Nindi
Summary: Methods for hydrolysis and derivatization of protein-bound metabolites of nitrofurans and extraction of 2-nitrobenzaldehyde derivatives from chicken meat have been developed. The study achieved a reduction in hydrolysis and derivatization time and introduced a method for extraction of metabolite derivatives from crude chicken meat. The proposed method showed good linear range, repeatability, and recovery rates, and was successfully applied for monitoring nitrofuran metabolites in chicken meat samples.
FOOD ADDITIVES AND CONTAMINANTS PART A-CHEMISTRY ANALYSIS CONTROL EXPOSURE & RISK ASSESSMENT
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Eskinder Teklu Bekele, S. Dube, M. M. Nindi
Summary: In this study, a three-phase hollow fibre-supported liquid membrane technique combined with high-performance liquid chromatography was developed for the analysis of sulfonamide residues in chicken egg samples. The method showed good performance in terms of extraction, clean-up, and determination, and has the potential to be used as an alternative method.
JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ramakwala Christinah Chokwe, Temesgen Girma Kebede, Simiso Dube, Mathew Muzi Nindi
Summary: Novel electrospun nanofibres were fabricated using a blend of Mondia whitei and poly(vinyl alcohol), showing promising potential for water treatment applications, especially in acidic drug removal.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Abimbola E. Oluwalana, Tendai Musvuugwa, Stephen T. Sikwila, Jeremia S. Sefadi, Albert Whata, Mathew M. Nindi, Nhamo Chaukura
Summary: This study investigated the occurrence of emerging contaminants in wastewater in the Northern Cape province of South Africa. The research found a wide variety of emerging contaminants in wastewater treatment plants, with most of them being recalcitrant to treatment processes. The presence of natural organic matter (NOM) was also observed in the wastewater samples. The study highlights the need for monitoring and quantifying emerging contaminants in wastewater treatment plants to mitigate their ecotoxicological risks.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hlobsile Kgomo, Simiso Dube, Mathew Muzi Nindi
Summary: This study presents the potential of using an adsorbent derived from silk fibroin of the wild silkworm Argema mimosae for adsorbing multiclass pharmaceuticals from aqueous environments. The adsorbent showed good adsorption performance for multiple pharmaceutical compounds and the adsorption process was found to be spontaneous and exothermic.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sefiu Olaitan Amusat, Temesgen Girma Kebede, Edward Ndumiso Nxumalo, Simiso Dube, Mathew Muzi Nindi
Summary: This study reports the use of green modification method to produce nano-sized biochar from sweet prickly pear waste for the removal of steroidal hormones and heavy metals from water and wastewater. The modified biochar showed enhanced adsorption properties and higher removal efficiency for heavy metals compared to steroidal hormones.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Rebagamang Tshepho, Simiso Dube, Mathew M. M. Nindi
Summary: An ionic liquid-based dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (IL-DLLME) method coupled with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was developed, optimized, and validated for the analysis of 20 anthelmintic drugs. Various parameters affecting the extraction efficiency were optimized, and the method was validated according to relevant regulations. The method demonstrated high calibration function values, low LODs and LOQs, and reliable precision. A comparison was made with the standard QuEChERS method, and the IL-DLLME LC-MS/MS method was successfully applied to analyze anthelmintic residues in small stock liver samples.
FOOD SCIENCE & NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Belete Eshetu Gebreyohannes, Simiso Dube, Mathew Muzi Nindi
Summary: A method for the simultaneous determination of a mixture of food contaminants in solid biological samples (chicken liver) using dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction/liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (DLLME/LC-HRMS) is presented. The method was validated with good linearity, recovery rates, and low detection limits for a range of contaminants. The results of this study showed no significant difference between the developed method and the standard solid phase extraction (SPE) method.
Review
Electrochemistry
Sefiu Olaitan Amusat, Kabir Opeyemi Otun, Azeez Olayiwola Idris, Temesgen Girma Kebede, Edward Ndumiso Nxumalo, Simiso Dube, Mathew Muzi Nindi
Summary: This article summarizes the invaluable advantages of smart nanomaterials and their applications in sensing pharmaceuticals. It discusses the classification, synthesis, and application of various nanomaterials, providing guidance for tailoring nanomaterials for pharmaceutical sensing in different matrices.
ANALYTICAL & BIOANALYTICAL ELECTROCHEMISTRY
(2022)
