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This paper offers a comprehensive review of previous studies and articles on international standards and certification criteria for biodegradable plastics. It highlights key insights into the biodegradation environment and certification processes for these materials. As various countries and organizations intensify research efforts on biodegradable plastics, certification standards for biodegradability are evolving and expanding. This trend is expected to play a pivotal role in shaping international standards. Nonetheless, several challenges persist, including the absence of universally recognized testing methods, inconsistencies between real-world and laboratory biodegradation conditions, and a lack of clear definitions and standardized criteria. Above all, establishing international standards is critical to advancing biodegradable plastics as a viable alternative to conventional plastics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whether local governments effectively implement environmental policies is crucial for successfully addressing global environmental challenges. However, scholars are still unclear about when and why local implementation of environmental policies fails, especially in developing countries where high priority is often given to economic development and where local officials are held accountable upwards. In this study, we investigate how prefectural city governments implement environmental performance assessment policy (EPAP) in China. Based on a sample of prefecture-level cities from 2005 to 2015 and a difference-in-differences estimator, we find that the EPAP has effectively reduced pollution emissions. However, the pollution abatement effect only emerges in assessment years but not in non-assessment years, indicating an opportunistic implementation of environmental policy at the city level. The opportunistic implementation behaviour is more evident in cities where emission reduction task is higher and where city mayors lack environmental work experience or professional expertise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming at reducing the dust pollution during the tunneling process and improving the application efficiency of air curtain dust prevention technology, according to the changes of radial jet velocity (vr), axial extraction velocity (ve) and extraction distance (L) in the formation process of air curtain, the numerical simulation method was used to analyze the rules of airflow structure evolution and the diffusion characteristics of dust particles in fully mechanized excavation tunnel. The results indicate that as vr and ve increase, the migration path of the wall jet of the air curtain changes into an axial direction; as L decreases, the migration distance increases accordingly. These phenomena make the airflow distribution in the working face tends to be uniform. The dust diffusion distance reduces as well, wherein, the range of the discrete area of dust particles decreases sharply, until all dust particles are concentrated in the accumulation area. On this basis, the vr, ve and L were optimized and applied in the 63up08 fully mechanized working face. By the application of the optimal parameters, the average dust removal efficiency at the driver's position increased by 71%. The dust concentration was reduced and the working environment had been improved effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental pollution has been a significant concern for the last few years. The leather industry significantly contributes to the economy but is one of Bangladesh's most prominent polluting industries. It is also responsible for several severe diseases such as cancer, lung diseases, and heart diseases of leather workers because they use bleaching agents and chemicals, and these have numerous adverse effects on human health. The study was aimed at isolating, identifying, and molecularly characterizing bacteria that produce protease enzymes that are highly capable of dehairing goat hide. Several attempts were made to isolate and identify protease‐producing bacterial strains from different soil samples of tannery wastes. Initially, a total of four isolates were selected from tannery soil. After the different phenotypic and morphological characterization, one isolate (BS2) showed Gram‐positive, rod‐shaped, and spore‐forming characteristics and could produce novel hair‐degrading protease enzymes. The growth profile and protease activity of the bacteria at 37°C were observed; a basal level of extracellular protease increased with time. The enzyme's proteolytic activity was measured, and the unit of enzyme activity of the enzyme sample was 18.1. The ExPASy server (ProtParam) tool was used to estimate the physicochemical characteristics of the proteins and found molecular weight (MW) (7375.94 Da), aliphatic index (71.56), instability index (II, 80.63), Grand Average of Hydropathy (GRAVY) (−0.231), and isoelectric point (11.41). The protein–protein interactions (PPI) networks were generated using the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes (STRING) database and Cytoscape software. The PSIPRED v.4.0 and SAVES v.6.0 programs were used to determine the secondary and three‐dimensional assembly of the selected protein. They found alpha helix (16, 25.00%), extended strand (6, 9.38%), beta‐turn (5, 7.81%), and random coil (37, 57.81%). DNA isolation and purification were carried out, and the purity ratio was ~2.17 at 260 and 280 nm. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for amplifying the 16S rRNA gene was conducted, and the isolate was authentically recognized as Bacillus cereus (BS2) based on morphological, biochemical, and molecular analyses. The quantitative assessment has shown that 40 mL of culture centrifugation could dehair 2 × 1 cm of goat leather sample in 9 h. This potential bacterial strain can be used in the leather industry as an ecofriendly alternative to chemical dehairing, which can reduce environmental pollution and the risk of severe diseases among leather industry workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although plastic pollution and exposure to plastic-related compounds have received worldwide attention, health risks associated with micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) are largely unknown. Emerging evidence suggests MNPs are present in human biofluids and tissue, including blood, breast milk, stool, lung tissue, and placenta; however, exposure assessment is limited and the extent of human exposure to MNPs is not well known. While there is a critical need to establish robust and scalable biomonitoring strategies to assess human exposure to MNPs and plastic-related chemicals, over 10,000 chemicals have been linked to plastic manufacturing with no existing standardized approaches to account for even a fraction of these exposures. This review provides an overview of the status of methods for measuring MNPs and associated plastic-related chemicals in humans, with a focus on approaches that could be adapted for population-wide biomonitoring and integration with biological response measures to develop hypotheses on potential health effects of plastic exposures. We also examine the exposure risks associated with the widespread use of chemical additives in plastics. Despite advancements in analytical techniques, there remains a pressing need for standardized measurement protocols and untargeted, high-throughput analysis methods to enable comprehensive MNP biomonitoring to identify key MNP exposures in human populations. This review aims to merge insights into the toxicological effects of MNPs and plastic additives with an evaluation of analytical challenges, advocating for enhanced research methods to fully assess, understand, and mitigate the public health implications of MNPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focused on using Stipagrostis plumosa for phytoremediation to eliminate total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) and heavy metals (HMs) like cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), and nickel (Ni) from oil-contaminated soil. Conducted over six months at a field-scale without artificial pollutants, soil samples were analyzed using gas chromatography‒mass spectrometry (GC‒MS) for TPHs and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP‒OES) for HMs. Results after six months revealed that plots with plants had significantly higher average removal percentages for TPHs (61.45%), Cd (39.4%), Cr (46.1%), Pb (41.5%), and Ni (44.2%) compared to the control group (p <0.05). Increased microbial respiration and bacteria populations in planted plots indicated enhanced soil microbial growth. Kinetic rate models aligned well with the first-order kinetic rate model for all pollutants (R2 >0.9). Overall, the study demonstrates that S. plumosa can effectively reduce TPHs and HMs in oil-contaminated soil, making it a promising option for pollutant absorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few authors have investigated the origins of green chemistry (GC). Most literature relies on a narrative of its birth at the US Environmental Protection Agency in the 1990s through the original work by Paul Anastas and John Warner and the successful networking and institutionalizing activities that followed. However, this perspective has two drawbacks: it fails to consider the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) political background (without which individual action would not have been possible), and it highlights a contradiction between the revolutionary theoretical message of the founders of GC and their strategy of promotion, which is uncritical of "brown" chemistry and excludes participation by civil society and the public. I argue that GC is not only the success of enthusiastic individuals who took advantage of existing political resources to promote a new vision of greening research and innovation but is also an expression of major political changes and a tool for managing chemical risks at the EPA in the 1990s. Using the concept of "design," I argue that GC is a tool illustrating the EPA's comanagement approach with the regulated industry. The paper sheds light on how authorities react to the difficulties of regulating chemical risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to analyze the burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) attributable to particulate matter (PM) pollution in Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries and territories, and its relationship with the Socio-Demographic Index (SDI). A cross-sectional analysis was conducted. The disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and the SDI data were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. Spearman's regression coefficients (r h o) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI) were used to evaluate the relationship of interest. We computed a total of 22,231,164 disability-adjusted life years DALYs due to CVD in 2021, with an age-standardized rate of 3742 DALYs per 100,000 population. Ischemic heart disease and ischemic stroke were predominant. PM pollution was responsible for 2,974,358 DALYs (12.1 % of total CVD DALYs), varying widely across regions, with the highest attributable fractions observed in Haiti, Honduras, and Guatemala. A negative linear relationship (r h o = −0.73, 95 % CI -0.95 to −0.51) was observed between PM pollution-attributable CVD burden and SDI, indicating a higher burden in regions with lower SDI. Public health interventions targeting PM pollution could substantially mitigate the burden of CVD, particularly in vulnerable populations identified in this study. These findings underscore the critical importance of environmental policies and interventions aimed at reducing PM pollution, and underlying socio-economic disparities, to alleviate the health impact of CVD in LAC countries and territories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the proposed federal policy platforms that include substantial changes to environmental regulation at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Topics include the authority given by the Clean Air Act (CAA) to the EPA to develop policies to reduce emissions of major air pollutants, health benefits of air pollution control devices, and role of the CAA in healthy decarbonization.

Political polarization is a barrier to enacting policy solutions to global issues. Social psychology has a rich history of studying polarization, and there is an important opportunity to define and refine its contributions to the present political realities. We do so in the context of one of the most pressing modern issues: climate change. We synthesize the literature on political polarization and its applications to climate change, and we propose lines of further research and intervention design. We focus on polarization in the United States, examining other countries when literature was available. The polarization literature emphasizes two types of mechanisms of political polarization: (1) individual-level psychological processes related to political ideology and (2) group-level psychological processes related to partisan identification. Interventions that address group-level processes can be more effective than those that address individual-level processes. Accordingly, we emphasize the promise of interventions leveraging superordinate identities, correcting misperceived norms, and having trusted leaders communicate about climate change. Behavioral interventions like these that are grounded in scientific research are one of our most promising tools to achieve the behavioral wedge that we need to address climate change and to make progress on other policy issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dye intermediate industry plays a pivotal role in the textile, paper, and chemical sectors, but it is often associated with significant water pollution owing to the release of complex and colored effluents. This paper explores the implementation of zero liquid discharge (ZLD) as a sustainable solution to address the environmental challenges posed by the dye intermediate industry. ZLD is a comprehensive wastewater management approach that aims to eliminate liquid waste discharge, while recovering valuable resources. The paper delves into the specific challenges faced by the dye intermediate industry, such as the presence of recalcitrant organic compounds and intense coloration in wastewater. It examines how ZLD systems, which typically without involving costly membrane processes, evaporation, crystallization, and chemical treatments, can effectively treat these complex effluents to achieve environmental compliance and resource conservation. Furthermore, the paper discusses the benefits of ZLD adoption in the dye intermediate sector. It has been shown that by making alterations to the primary treatment method, ZLD can be achieved. These include the prevention of water pollution, the preservation of water resources, and compliance with stringent environmental regulations. The economic and operational advantages of ZLD are also highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Air pollution is a major environmental health problem affecting everyone.Few studies have revealed the specific needs of the residents; hence the thought demand for residents to the knowledge of air pollution information was explored using a questionnaire. Aims and objective: To develop awareness and understanding of pollution hazards and their prevention among the Kolar population on air pollution by using a questionnaire. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 120 subjects in Kolar town by Purposive sampling technique with a validated, standard questionnaire by interview method and collected was analysed by SPSS version 20. Results: Majority gained knowledge on air pollution from mobile phones and television, While a few said from the public and newspapers. Regarding attitude, 91% agreed that air pollution affected their health and the environment, with 116 (96.7%) 106 (88.3%) saying it from outdoor and indoor activities respectively. Statistically significant association was established between knowledge gained among educators with (P=0.004) and attitude toward outdoor air pollution with (P=0.001) and changes in behavioural patterns with (P=0.042). Conclusion: This work served as a starting point for a more timely and complete survey on air pollution and its relation to health and economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) is a valuable risk analysis tool aimed at predicting the potential failures of a system and preventing them from occurring. Since its initial use, it has also recently been applied to the healthcare setting, which has been made progressively more complex by technological developments and new challenges. Infection prevention and control (IPC) is an area that requires effective strategies. The aim of this study is to review the literature on the employment of FMEA in the healthcare environment, with special consideration for its application in the infectious disease setting. Methods: An extensive search was carried out in two international and public databases, PUBMED and EMBASE; we included all studies regarding the use of FMEA in hospital settings and human patient care processes. Results: A total of 163 studies published over the period from 2003 to 2023 were included for data extraction. These studies were analyzed regarding bibliometric data (publication year and country of origin), the healthcare issues to be addressed, the application fields, and the utilized FMEA methods. Among these, 13 studies were found that took an interest in infectious diseases. Conclusions: FMEA can be effectively used for healthcare risk assessment. Its implementation as a standard tool in healthcare settings, though demanding, may serve as an important tool for preventing the risk of biohazard incidents, epidemics, and environmental contamination, thereby improving safety for both patients and healthcare workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this research was to better understand the spatial characteristics and hot areas of heavy metal concentrations in the soil-rice system, which was critical for implementing heavy metal pollution prevention and control strategies. The amounts of heavy metals in soil-rice were determined using high-precision testing methods such as XRF, ICP-MS, and AFS based on the systematic collection of 285 pairs of soil-rice samples from Wanjiang Economic Zone, China. The Getis-Ord index, Kriging method, and geostatistical method were used to reveal the spatial distribution of heavy metal contamination hot spots in the soil-rice system. The results revealed that the average concentration of heavy metals in soil was Zn>Cr>Cu>Pb>Ni>As>Cd>Hg, whereas it was Zn>Cu>Ni>Cr>Cd>As>Pb>Hg in rice. The average concentrations of heavy metals in the soil were all well below the maximum allowable limit, except for Cd, which was slightly above the allowable limit. Only Cd and Ni concentrations in rice exceeded the maximum permitted limits. In soil, Cd, Hg, Pb, and Zn pollution hotspots were mostly found in the southeast, while Cr and Ni were mostly found in the northeast. An intriguing discovery was that there was a weak relationship between heavy metal concentrations in soil and rice and the spatial pattern of their distribution. The study's findings offer a scientific foundation for establishing a long-term agricultural development strategy for the soil-rice system in the Wanjiang Economic Zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As industrialization accelerates, China's industrial development pace has been rapidly increasing. However, this growth has been accompanied by an increase in high-pollution and high-emission industries, leading to the release of a significant amount of air pollutants and exacerbating haze pollution nationwide. This article utilizes the spatial dynamic Durbin model and panel threshold regression model to analyze the impact of the thermal power industry and other high-haze-pollution industries on atmospheric environmental quality. The results indicate a negative correlation between the thermal power industry and other high-haze pollution industries and atmospheric environmental quality. There is a spatial spillover effect of the thermal power industry and other high-haze-pollution industries on air pollution. Environmental regulations have a single-threshold characteristic in their impact on atmospheric quality in the thermal power industry and other high-haze-pollution industries, as does green technology innovation. Additionally, cumulative rainfall has a significant single-threshold effect on the atmospheric environmental quality in regions with the thermal power industry and other high-haze-pollution industries. The article suggests policies for severely polluted areas, including reducing high-haze-pollution enterprises, optimizing industrial structures rationally, strengthening regional cooperation, enhancing regional haze pollution prevention and control coordination mechanisms, increasing the intensity of environmental regulations, utilizing the threshold effect of environmental regulations, promoting green technological innovation and application in heavily polluted areas, and exploring options to improve air pollution through increased rainfall. These recommendations aim to provide reference points for China to further optimize its industrial structure and comprehensively manage haze pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) 2023 Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emission from Ships offers few specifics from a legal perspective, but is an important political signal. IMO Member States have committed to adopt binding rules to incentivise greenhouse gas emission reductions in 2025 which will enter into force by 2027. Moreover, the Strategy calls for the elimination of shipping emissions by or around 2050 and sets checkpoints to track progress. IMO now faces key decisions to implement the Strategy, including how to structure a goal-based fuel standard, how to integrate an economic element (e.g., an emission levy) into its regulatory framework, its methods for assessing upstream emissions and effects of fuel production, and specific reduction pathways. These measures will likely be effectuated as amendments to Annex VI of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, leveraging its existing compliance and enforcement tools, including port State controls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metals were discharged into the agricultural soil through coal mining, transportation, etc., posing a threat to human health through the food chain. In order to investigate the sources of heavy metals and potential risk to the population, we collected 298 surface soil samples in the black soil area of Sanjiang Plain in Heilongjiang province and tested the concentrations of seven heavy metals. Toxic element contamination in the soil was evaluated by combining the potential ecological risk index and environmental capacity, and pollution sources are identified through positive matrix factorization. The results indicate that the concentrations of Cd and As exceed background values by 1.74 and 1.51 times, respectively, and the ecological risk of Cd is significantly higher than those of other toxic elements. The comprehensive ecological risk level is a moderate comprehensive ecological risk level at 78.5% and a low comprehensive ecological risk level at 21.5%. The sources of heavy metal elements include pesticide spraying (36.5%), input fertilizer and transport activities (20.5%), and mining and metallurgy-related activities (43.1%). When linking the PMF to the Human Health Risk Assessment model, it was found that about 56% of the samples pose a carcinogenic risk to children. Knowledge of soil pollution can certainly help to understand the sources of toxic elements and the health risks to people in the black soil area and provide a scientific basis for the prevention of heavy metal pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The prevalence of ship deficiencies continues to be a significant issue. Data from the Tokyo Memorandum of Understanding reveals that ship detentions in 2023 surged by more than 80% compared with the previous year. The significant number of detained ships not only disrupts ships' daily operations but also strains port resources, leading to increased additional costs. In light of this issue, predicting the duration of ship detention becomes crucial, as accurate predictions can assist port managers in resource allocation and provide shipping companies with critical information for operational planning. This study is the first to predict ship detention duration, specifically distinguishing between long-term and short-term detained ships. Initially, key deficiency types influencing the ship detention duration were identified using an improved entropy weight–grey relational analysis. Subsequently, in consideration of the imbalance in data distribution between long-term and short-term detentions, a random forest model capable of handling imbalanced data was applied to classify these two types. The study found that fire safety, propulsion and auxiliary machinery, and pollution prevention are the three most critical deficiency types impacting detention duration; and the random forest model sampled and processed from the data level possessed the best model performance, achieving prediction accuracies of 0.71, 0.72, and 0.85 for bulk carriers, containers, and oil tankers, respectively. This research offers a comprehensive analysis of ship detention duration, making a significant contribution to both the theoretical understanding and practical applications in the maritime industry. Accurately predicting ship detention duration provides valuable insights for stakeholders, enabling them to anticipate potential detention scenarios and thus supporting shipping companies in effective fleet management while assisting port authorities in the optimal allocation of berth resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The long-term characteristics of phytoplankton blooms and the relative importance of driving factors in the Yangtze River Estuary (YRE) and its adjacent waters remains unclear. This study explored the temporal and spatial patterns of blooms and their driving factors in the YRE and its adjacent waters using MODIS bloom data from 2003 to 2020. Bloom intensity varied along both longitudinal and latitudinal gradients, with very few blooms occurring near the shore and in the open sea. Temporally, blooms exhibited seasonal variations, peaking during the summer and being weakest during the winter. Sea surface temperature was the primary driving factor behind the seasonal variations in algal blooms. The implementation of controlling the pace of urban land development, returning farmland to forest, and initiating marine pollution prevention programs have contributed to a downward trend in the bloom intensity. Additionally, the operation of the Three Gorges Dam altered the Yangtze River's diluted water during the summer months, thereby reducing the bloom intensity. Conversely, the Taiwan Warm Current promoted an increase in the bloom intensity. Elucidation of the spatiotemporal patterns and the driving factors of blooms in the YRE and its adjacent waters provide crucial support for the prediction and management of algal blooms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Density currents, fluid flows driven by differences in density, play a crucial role in disaster prevention for water pollution and tsunami mitigation, particularly due to thermal releases from power plants. Understanding their dynamics is pivotal for effective mitigation strategies. While the influence of seabed and lake bottom topography on density currents is well-studied, research on how embankment shapes affect these currents has been limited. This study aimed to fill this gap by experimentally and numerically analyzing the flow dynamics of density currents using various embankment shapes in a controlled water tank environment. The findings revealed distinct variations in density perturbation across different embankment shapes. Specifically, density currents exhibited reduced head velocities in embankments shaped as right-angled triangles, rectangles, and L-shapes, in that sequential order. This research underscores the significance of embankment design in modifying density currents, offering valuable insights for optimizing disaster management strategies related to water pollution and tsunami hazards induced by thermal effluents from industrial sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We find that firms reduce toxic emissions at their local plants following EPA enforcement actions against nearby plants operated by peer firms that compete in the same product market. These reductions are more pronounced for plants located near socially responsible mutual funds (SRMFs) that hold these plants' parent firms' shares. Close proximity to SRMFs is associated with real investment in abatement measures to mitigate emissions. While plants increase emissions again in the long run, such reversals do not occur in plants located near SRMFs. Taken together, our results suggest that local SRMFs complement EPA enforcement in influencing plants' emissions. Authors have furnished an Internet Appendix , which is available on the Oxford University Press Web site next to the link to the final published paper online. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Real-time monitoring of riverine-dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and its controlling factors is critical for formulating strategies regarding the river basin and marginal seas pollution prevention and control. In this study, we established a linear regression formulation that relates the permanganate index (CODMn) to the DOC concentration based on in situ measurements collected on five field surveys in 2023–2024. This regression formulation was used on a large number of data collected from automatic monitoring stations in the Qiantang River area to construct a daily quasi-in situ database of DOC concentration. By combining the quasi-in situ DOC data and Sentinel-2 measurements, an enhanced algorithm for empirical DOC estimation was developed (R2 = 0.66) using the extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) method and its spatial and temporal variations in the Qiantang River were analyzed from 2016 to 2023. Spatially, the main stream of the Qiantang River exhibited an overall decreasing and increasing trend influenced by population density, economic development, and pollutant discharge in the basin area, and the temporal distribution of DOC was controlled by meteorological conditions. The DOC contents had the highest in summer, primarily due to high rainfall and leaching. The inter-annual variation in DOC concentration was influenced by the total annual runoff volumes, with a minimum level of 2.24 mg L−1 in 2023 and a maximum level of 2.45 mg L−1 in 2019. The monthly DOC fluxes ranged from 6.3 to 13.8 × 104 t, with the highest values coinciding with the maximum river discharge volumes in June and July. The DOC levels in the Qiantang River remained relatively high in recent years (2016–2023). This study enables the concerned stakeholders and researchers to better understand carbon transportation and its dynamics in the Qiantang River and its coastal areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is the goal of this article to define and implement the strategic policies to avoid negative environmental impact by planning, implementing, monitoring, and controlling activities based on the environmental management. The forthcoming work does not involve experimental and characterization studies, and it does not even involve laboratory experiments. Environmental risks have been mitigated by a number of laws and regulations, including those that recognize, evaluate, and enforce environmental hazards. A sustainable policy is an innovative way of establishing policies and plans which are sustainable for the environment. This study provided metrics and indicators for measuring the environmental performance. As a result, the key priorities will be protecting the environment, growing the economy, and utilizing resources in the most effective manner without compromising the needs of the future. To ensure sustainable development, the environment and society will be managed to achieve their well-being because of implementing strategies. This report explores some of the practices and principles of sustainability that businesses, organizations, and individuals can employ to improve their sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine plastic pollution (MPP) has posed an unavoidable challenge to the conservation of marine ecosystems, escalating at an unprecedented rate. It extends beyond visible pollution, infiltrating the food chain and microcirculation, ultimately affecting the life and health of marine organisms. Of even greater concern is the fact that MPP has been found to penetrate human bloodstreams. The international community increasingly focuses on MPP, and has formulated a series of laws and regulations. This article analyses marine pollution prevention legislation within the context of international environmental resolutions and conventions, including those established by the United Nations, the European Union law and the domestic legislation of sovereign states. It is evident that the current legislation has played a pivotal role in the preventing MPP. However, global legislation on preventing MPP remains fragmented. The problems existing in the current legislation should be reviewed from the holistic systems perspective, and the integrity and systematicness of new plastics convention should be demonstrated. The proposed Marine Plastics Convention should emphasize environmental justice, protect the rights of vulnerable populations, lower the threshold for risk prevention, and focus on addressing residual risks. It must include clear provisions for regulating hydrosphere plastic pollution (HPP) to mitigate land-based pollution and scientifically define fundamental legal concepts to foster coordinated action among States. Moreover, the convention should establish standardized monitoring methodologies and assessment criteria to ensure accurate evaluation of the pollution status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This article reports on research exploring the perspectives of Australian social work and human service professionals about environmental practice. An online survey consisting of quantitative and qualitative questions was conducted, recruiting 303 participants from the human services sector. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively using SPSS and qualitative data analyzed thematically using NVivo. Findings: Overall, results indicated that participants strongly supported an environmental focus in human services at personal and professional levels of practice. However, while participants expressed values supporting environmental practice, its implementation was less frequently reported. The adverse impacts of climate change were reported as strongly impacting the well-being of service users, and a general lack of support from employing organizations to facilitate environmental practice was evident. Despite a strong belief in the value of Australian First Nations knowledges, limited engagement with Australian First Nations peoples was practiced. Applications: Implications suggest the need to examine the practical realities of environmental practice including the disconnect between values and action. Given that participants reported adverse impacts of climate change on people and communities, but faced significant challenges implementing environmental action, the need to disrupt barriers caused by the dominant neoliberal discourse is critical. Likewise, disrupting the prevailing colonialist discourse by working alongside First Nations peoples to decolonize society and the profession is essential for enacting principles of environmental sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concentrations of heavy metals (HMs) can be increased by various anthropogenic activities such as mining, fuel combustion, pesticide use, and urban development, which can alter the mechanisms determining their spatial variability in the environment. Determining natural concentrations, monitoring, and assessing potential ecological risks are essential in the management of pollution prevention policies and soil conservation in watersheds. The aim of this study was to determine HMs natural concentrations, establish quality reference values (QRVs), and evaluate pollution indices in a watershed-scale. Composite surface soil samples (n = 115) were collected from areas: native vegetation, pasture, perennial crops, urbanization, planted forest, annual crops, and desertification. The soil samples digestion followed the EPA 3051A, and metals determination in ICP-OES. The data were subjected to the Kruskal–Wallis test, Spearman's correlation, multivariate clustering analysis and. geostatistics. The QRVs established (75th) for the Gurgueia River watershed in descending order were (mg kg−1): V (26.16) > Cr (18.06) > Pb (6.24) > Zn (3.86) > Cu (2.66) > Ni (1.45) > Co (0.57) > Mo (0.46) > Cd (0.07). The concentrations of Cd, Co, Cr, Mo, Ni, V, and Zn in types of land and management practices were significantly increased compared to those in natural vegetation. Overall, the watershed falls into the categories of minimal to moderate enrichment, moderate to considerable contamination, and low to moderate potential ecological risk, with Cd presenting elevated values. The percentages of polluted samples ranged from 14.3 to 82.5%, indicating the need for monitoring these areas to ensure environmental quality and food safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivated by the urgent need to curb carbon emissions substantially over the next years and decades, we develop a qualitative system dynamics model to investigate the role of feedback effects on the transformation of the industry sector towards carbon neutrality. Through systems thinking, this research analyses the complex interactions between policy measures, investment decisions in different environmental measures to reduce CO2 emissions (e.g., use of electric and thermal energies from renewables and increase of energy efficiency), CO2 compliance, the pressure to take further climate action, the industry's economic success and the availability of investment funds. The study contributes to qualitatively identify and explore levers that policymakers can use to encourage industry to invest further in climate protection measures. Moreover, it provides an important basis for the development of quantitative modelling approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil electrokinetics (SEK) research has been widely used in various fields such as soil remediation, dewatering, land restoration, geophysics, sedimentation, pollution prevention, consolidation, and seed germination. According to our most recent published research on SEK process design modifications during the last 30 years (1993–2022), more than 150 designs have been introduced to assure SEK's maximum performance. Incorporating lateral electrodes/anodes was not documented in the existing literature, which motivated us to investigate the output of this design. In this study, we aimed to enhance the performance of the perforated cathode pipe soil electrokinetic remediation (SEKR) system (PCPSS) for removing inorganic pollutants by installing lateral anodes (LA-PCPSS) using two approaches. In the first approach, the LA-PCPSS was connected to different sources of applied voltages (DSAV) from different power supplies, while in the second approach, the entire operation system was connected to the same source of applied voltage (SSAV). We used the Taguchi approach (L9OA) to determine the optimal levels of applied voltages for the DSAV system. The results indicated that the DSAV-(LA-PCPSS) could be optimized at an applied voltage of 1 V cm−1 for the surface and the first and second lateral anodes. The indigenous Sr (elements found in the tested soil without artificial pollution) in kaolinite showed the best response among other elements (Ni and other indigenous elements) when optimizing the DSAV-(LA-PCPSS) using the Taguchi approach. Installing lateral anodes (position B) supplied to low applied voltage (0.5 V cm−1) improved the electroosmosis (EO) rate/dewatering. Reverse migration of ions was observed during the remediation of real contaminated soil using the SSAV-(LA-PCPSS). The DSAV-(LA-PCPSS) is considered an appropriate design for the SEKR of inorganic pollutants, and increases the EO flow/dewatering. Additionally, the increased energy consumption employing the DSAV-(LA-PCPSS) was extremely minimal compared to the traditional PCPSS, which is an economic advantage for SEKR research. The DSAV-(LA-PCPSS) is still under optimization/intensification process, and subsequent processes will be examined to achieve high efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dissolved oxygen concentration (DOC) is an important indicator of water quality. Accurate DOC predictions can provide a scientific basis for water environment management and pollution prevention. This study proposes a hybrid DOC forecasting framework combined with Variational Mode Decomposition (VMD), a convolutional neural network (CNN), a Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU), and the Beluga Whale Optimization (BWO) algorithm. Specifically, the original DOC sequences were decomposed using VMD. Then, CNN-GRU combined with an attention mechanism was utilized to extract the key features and local dependency of the decomposed sequences. Introducing the BWO algorithm solved the correction coefficients of the proposed system, with the aim of improving prediction accuracy. This study used 4-h monitoring China urban water quality data from November 2020 to November 2023. Taking Lianyungang as an example, the empirical findings exhibited noteworthy enhancements in performance metrics such as MSE, RMSE, MAE, and MAPE within the VMD-BWO-CNN-GRU-AM, with reductions of 0.2859, 0.3301, 0.2539, and 0.0406 compared to a GRU. These results affirmed the superior precision and diminished prediction errors of the proposed hybrid model, facilitating more precise DOC predictions. This proposed DOC forecasting system is pivotal for sustainably monitoring and regulating water quality, particularly in terms of addressing pollution concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to understand the distribution, occurrence forms, and influencing factors of chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), and copper (Cu) in soil aggregates, a five-step extraction method was used to determine their forms in soil aggregates of different sizes in a mountainous area of northern Hebei Province. The ecological risk was evaluated using the geo-accumulation index (Igeo) and primary and secondary comparison value method (RSP). Redundancy analysis (RDA) was used to identify the main factors affecting the distribution and morphology of Cr, Ni, and Cu in soil. The results showed that in vertical distribution, Cr, Ni, and Cu were concentrated in the surface soil, but there was no clear relationship between soil depth and heavy metal content. The distribution characteristics revealed that Cr, Ni, and Cu in soils mainly existed in relatively stable Fe-Mn oxides and residue states, and their morphology in aggregates did not vary considerably with particle size. Furthermore, the RSP results showed that the pollution risk of Cr, Ni, and Cu was higher, with Cr and Ni posing the highest risk in the 0.5–1 mm and 1–2 mm particle size ranges. The RDA results showed that available phosphorus and soil organic matter (SOM) were the main factors that caused the characteristic difference of 1–2 mm aggregate components. Additionally, hydrolyzed nitrogen, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and calcium exchange have positive effects on the residual state of Cr. For Ni, SOM, CEC and exchangeable calcium have positive effects on the binding state of Fe and Mn oxides and carbonate. For Cu, CEC and exchangeable calcium are the key factors that cause the morphological differences of aggregates. Based on the above results, a theoretical basis has been provided for the prevention and control of pollution in the subsequent research area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Changing dietary patterns is essential to reducing the substantial environment impact of agriculture and food production systems. We performed a cross-country comparison of dietary patterns and their associated environmental impact in Europe, including by sociodemographic factors. Methods We analyzed pooled cross-sectional dietary records collected during 2010–18 from 10 European countries using the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Comprehensive European Food Database (16 508 adults; aged 18–79 years). Each food consumed was mapped to the corresponding environmental impact data using the SHARP Indicators Database, which provides greenhouse gas emission (GHGE) and land use (LU) values of approximately 900 foods. Total diet-associated environmental impact was calculated for each person and averaged across multiple days. Multivariable linear regression models were used to compare diet-associated GHGE and LU between population subgroups (gender, age, education and diet type) with country-level fixed effects. Results The mean dietary GHGE and LU per capita ranged from 4.0 kgCO2/day and 5.0 m2*year/day in Spain to 6.5 kgCO2eq/day and 8.2 m2*year/day in France. Diet-related GHGE and LU (per kg/food) were lower among females (2.6 kgCO2eq/day, B = −0.08, P  < 0.01; 3.2 m2*year/day, B = −0.11, P  < 0.01), older population aged 66–79 (2.6 kgCO2eq/day, B = −0.03, P  < 0.01; 3.4 m2*year/day, B = −0.4, P  < 0.01), people following vegetarian diets (1.7 kgCO2eq/day, B = −0.07, P  < 0.01; 2.0 m2*year/day, B = −0.07, P  < 0.01), and higher among individuals with secondary education (2.7 kgCO2eq/day, B  = 0.05, P  < 0.01; 3.6 m2*year/day, B = −0.05, P  < 0.01). Conclusions Environmental footprints vary substantially across countries, dietary patterns and between different sociodemographic groups in Europe. These findings are crucial for the development of country-specific food policies aimed at promoting environmentally sustainable diets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive intake of iodine will do harm to human health. In recent years, high iodine groundwater has become a global concern after high arsenic and high fluorine groundwater. A deep understanding of the environmental factors affecting iodine accumulation in groundwater and the mechanism of migration and transformation is the scientific prerequisite for effective prevention and control of iodine pollution in groundwater. The paper comprehensively investigated the relevant literature on iodine pollution of groundwater and summarized the present spatial distribution and hydrochemical characteristics of iodine-enriched groundwater. Environmental factors and hydrogeological conditions affecting iodine enrichment in aquifers are systematically summarized. An in-depth analysis of the hydrologic geochemistry, physical chemistry, biogeochemistry and human impacts of iodine transport and transformation in the surface environment was conducted, the results and conclusions in the field of high iodine groundwater research are summarized comprehensively and systematically. Stable isotope can be used as a powerful tool to track the sources of hydrochemical components, biogeochemistry processes, recharge sources and flow paths of groundwater in hydrogeological systems, to provide effective research methods and means for the study of high iodine groundwater system, and deepen the understanding of the formation mechanism of high iodine groundwater, the application of isotopic technique in high iodine groundwater is also systematically summarized, which enriches the method and theory of high iodine groundwater research. This paper provides more scientific basis for the prevention and control of groundwater iodine pollution and the management of groundwater resources in water-scarce areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When bilge water from ships is illegally discharged into the sea, it causes severe damage to the marine and coastal ecosystem. MARPOL Annex-1 does not cover many fishing vessels since it only covers vessels over 400 GT (gross tonnage). According to Turkish Statistical Institute (TURKSTAT) data, only 174 of the 14064 fishing vessels registered in Türkiye are above 400 GT. In our country, only 63 of 325 fishing harbors have waste reception facilities to control and collect bilge water. In this study, the amount of bilge waste that fishing vessels can produce was calculated using engine power information, and it was determined that a fishing vessel can produce an average of 155 L/day of bilge waste. It was also calculated that the bilge waste from fishing vessels could be at least 463872 m³/year, which is more than the 416370 m³ bilge waste collected from all vessels in 2021 according to the data of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change. As a result, it is assessed that this risk can be reduced by increasing the number of waste reception facilities, the legal responsibility of waste reception facilities for bilge waste of fishing vessels, and strict inspections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Santen Island Beach in the Banyuwangi Regency of Indonesia possesses immense potential for beach tourism. Unfortunately, the charm of this destination has been marred by inadequate waste management. This paper outlines a community service program aimed at enhancing awareness, understanding, and active participation of local community groups in addressing waste management issues by transforming waste into ecobrick greenhouses. The program employed various methods, including lectures, discussions, and brainstorming sessions, which were conducted on Pulau Santen Beach with a focus on the local population. The application of a local development model was central to our community service activities, resulting in increased understanding, awareness, and participation among the target groups. The heightened involvement was marked by enthusiastic participation in ecobrick production, effective household waste sorting (particularly plastic waste), and the formation of committed cadres. The local community exhibited increased knowledge through their ability to respond to questions and plan follow-up actions. This initiative significantly improved the knowledge, awareness, and engagement of the target community in managing waste and converting it into ecobricks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Controlling the total amount of river pollutant discharge is an important means of water resource protection and management, and it is also a necessary condition for ensuring the normal functioning of water areas. The total amount of pollutant discharge is closely related to the water environmental capacity (WEC). Shifting from the traditional method of calculating WEC to dynamic analyses and calculations, concerning practical applications, in this paper, a dynamic adaptive calculation method is proposed for the river WEC that considers the changes in adaptive demand and hydrological conditions. In this method, the dynamic WEC is represented by intervals based on dynamic changes in different spatial and temporal scales, various calculation methods, hydrological conditions, and parameters. According to the calculation results for the WEC, a variable interval was formed. Taking the Shaanxi section of the main stream of the Wei River as the research object, with the support of an integrated platform, the dynamic adaptive calculation of the WEC in the Shaanxi section of the Wei River was realized, and a corresponding simulation system was constructed. The verification results show that (1) the dynamic calculation of WEC can be realized by freely combining different model methods and calculation conditions; (2) the WEC is described using a variable interval, which has strong applicability and operability; and (3) the simulation system can quickly adapt to the changing needs of practical applications and provide managers with visual and credible decision support. The research results provide a theoretical basis for river water environment pollution prevention and environmental management decision-making and help in the high-quality development of the river basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water quality prediction is a fundamental prerequisite for effective water resource management and pollution prevention. Accurate predictions of water quality information can provide essential technical support and strategic planning for the protection of water resources. This study aims to enhance the accuracy of water quality prediction, considering the temporal characteristics, variability, and complex nature of water quality data. We utilized the LTSF-Linear model to predict water quality at the Huangyang Reservoir. Comparative analysis with three other models (ARIMA, LSTM, and Informer) revealed that the Linear model outperforms them, achieving reductions of 8.55% and 10.51% in mean square error (MSE) and mean absolute error (MAE), respectively. This research introduces a novel method and framework for predicting hydrological parameters relevant to water quality in the Huangyang Reservoir. These findings offer a valuable new approach and reference for enhancing the intelligent and sustainable management of the reservoir. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is of the utmost importance for every country to monitor and control maritime pollution within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) has developed and implemented the CleanSeaNet (CSN) satellite monitoring system to aid in the surveillance and control of hydrocarbon and hazardous substance spills in the ocean. This system's primary objective is to alert European Union (EU) coastal states to potential spills within their EEZs, enabling them to take the necessary legal and operational actions. To reduce operational costs and increase response capability, the feasibility of implementing a national network (NN) of unmanned vehicles (UVs), both surface and aerial, was explored using a Portuguese case study. The following approach and analysis can be easily generalized to other case studies, bringing essential knowledge to the field. Analyzing oil spill alert events in the Portuguese EEZ between 2017 and 2021 and performing a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis, essential information has been proposed for the optimal location of an NN of UVs. The study results demonstrate that integrating spill alerts at sea with UVs may significantly improve response time, costs, and personnel involvement, making maritime pollution combat actions more effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial intelligence aims to be the solution to multiple engineering problems by trying to emulate the human learning process. In this sense, maritime transport standards have clearly evolved, which are based on two principal pillars: the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea Convention (SOLAS) and the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL). Based on a formal safety assessment research process, these pillars try to solve most of the maritime transport accidents, which, in their final steps, are associated with human factors. In this research, an original methodology employing a deep learning process for image recognition during mooring line operation, a dangerous process on ships, is developed. The main results indicate that the proposed method is an excellent tool for advising ship officers on watch and, consequently, provides a new way to prevent human factors onboard from causing accidents, which in the future must be considered in international standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid urbanization, industrialization, and intense agricultural practices in the cities and communities along the rivers have resulted in potentially toxic elements, such as heavy metals, being released into the river water and subsequently deposited into Dongting Lake, thereby posing a severe threat to fish, invertebrates, and humans. In this work, eight fish species, representing different kinds of feeding habits and living habitats, were collected from Dongting Lake, China. The concentration of heavy metals in the specimens was determined. Parameters related to fish consumption, such as food safety and health risks, were calculated. In descending order, the average heavy metal concentrations in the fish followed the trend: Zn>Cu>Pb>Cr>Cd>Hg. Moreover, some species of fish have concentrations of Cd and Pb that exceed food safety standards. The concentration of distinct heavy metals varied widely, but the total concentration trended as follows: predatory, omnivorous > filter > herbivorous, benthic > pelagic fish. The hazard quotient and hazard index values were < 1 for all trophic levels of fish, suggesting that consuming the muscle from fish retrieved from Dongting Lake may not present a potential human health risk to adults in terms of heavy metal contamination. Nevertheless, we recommend that Cyprinus carpio, Carassius auratus, and Silurus asotus should be consumed less, and that pollution prevention and control measures should be implemented to reduce Pb, Cd and Cr pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the importance of mine water safety and environmental protection in the context of coal mining in China. It discusses the complex hydrogeological conditions of mines and the measures needed to ensure safe mining operations. The article also addresses challenges related to groundwater pollution, mine water resource utilization, and ecological environment protection. It further delves into various topics related to mine water management, including risk assessment, preventive measures, water source identification, and the treatment and utilization of mine water. The goal is to promote sustainable and environmentally friendly practices in the coal industry. The document also presents research studies on mine water safety and environmental pollution in coal mines, covering topics such as the impact of mining activities on microbial communities and geochemical characteristics, the use of curtain grouting technology for mine water safety management, and the combined effects of hydrodynamics, chemistry, and microbes on mine water quality. The document emphasizes the need for further research in areas such as mine water reinjection, geological storage, and the mechanisms of multi-field coupling in mine water quality. Overall, the studies aim to provide insights and solutions for preventing and controlling mine water hazards and pollution. [Extracted from the article]

In order to study the characteristics of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in Yantai city, VOCs chemical composition, concentration characteristics, ozone generation potential (OFP) and pollutant sources were analyzed based on VOCs monitoring data in Yantai in 2020 and 2022. Results indicated that the volume concentration of VOCs decreased by 12.4% from 2020 to 2022, which was attributed to the significant decline in the concentration of oxygen-containing volatile organic compounds (OVOCs) (decreased by --33.1%) with a stable concentration of ozone precursors (PAMS). Species concentration analysis showed that alkanes and aldehydes ranked first in the volume concentration of PAMS and OVOCs. The three components with the highest volume concentration were formaldehyde, ethane and propane, respectively, and the three components with the highest mass concentration were w-hexane, formaldehyde and propane, respectively. Time distribution characteristics displayed that the volume concentration of PAMS and OVOCs fluctuated greatly, and high concentrations were prone to appear in July and August. Total OFP value of Yantai city also showed a downward trend, decreasing by 14.0% compared with 2020, among which the OFP value of various types of VOCs was as follows % aldehydes > alkenes> alkanes > aromatics > ketones > alkynes, and the top three contribution values accounted for 88.2%. According to the calculated value of OFP, formaldehyde and acetaldehyde were always the top two contributors to the generation of O3 in the ambient are in Yantai city, and the ozone prevention and control in Yantai city should focus on the following five components % formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, 2-methyl-1, 3- butadiene, ethylene and propylene. Source analysis results showed that the VOCs in Yantai city came from aging are mass transport, in which formaldehyde and acetaldehyde were mainly from motor vehicle exhaust and man-made source. Aromatic hydrocarbons were mainly derived from vehicle exhaust and coal/biomass interaction in which motor vehicles had a more significant impact. In conclusion, this study provides a scientific basis for the formulation of VOCs emission and O3 pollution prevention and control measure. It is suggested that Yantai city should conduct accurate control of anthropogenic emissions (especially motor vehicles) and coal/biomass by combusting VOCs concentration characteristics, species characteristics, time distribution characteristics and chemical reactivity analytics, so as to improve the ambient are quality of Yantai city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study systematically reviews the source characteristics, occurrence characteristics, pollution hazards, and potential risks of microplastics in agricultural soils in China. Furthermore, the key issues and future research directions of the microplastic pollution in farmland soil were discussed. It is expected to provide scientific ideas for systematic analysis and exploration of the microplastic pollution mechanisms and the prevention and control of risks in farmland soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable manufacturing practices (SMPs) aim to minimize environmental effects throughout the manufacturing process by employing measures such as waste reduction, resource optimization, pollution prevention, energy‐efficient manufacturing processes and effective management of products at the end of their lifecycle. Although SMPs are widely studied in developed countries, their advocation and implementation are still in the early stages of development in emerging economies. Consequently, this article aims to identify SMPs among small and medium‐sized manufacturing enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia. Data were collected based on a quantitative research method using online and offline mail. A total of 189 manufacturing SMEs were selected based on judgmental sampling techniques, and structural equation modelling AMOS was used to analyse the data. The results indicated a high positive correlation between perceived environmental performance, perceived quality performance, product innovation and process innovation. In addition, the perceived quality performance positively and directly affects process and product innovation. Thus, perceived environmental performance plays a role in directly and positively impacting product and process innovation. However, despite this, the perceived quality performance also affects SMPs directly and positively, with process innovation directly and positively impacting product innovation. The study's findings and recommendations can help Malaysian manufacturing SMEs to integrate and assist in understanding the current body of knowledge on the challenges of implementing SMPs in SMEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's unsustainable agricultural production activities have caused severe agricultural non-point source pollution (ANPSP), particularly nitrogen source pollution (NSP), which impacts farmland ecological environments. Understanding NSP is important for managing ANPSP and improving environmental water quality. Thus, inventory analysis methods were used to assess county-level total nitrogen (TN) loads in large-scale agricultural areas, analyze spatial and temporal variations in TN loads, examine the major sources of TN loads and identify the driving factors of DITN using Pearson correlation and random forest (RF) methods. The results showed that (1) TN loads and discharge intensity decreased by 4.59% and 12.7%, respectively, increasing and then decreasing via market regulations, policy incentives, and policy constraints. The eastern and northern Henan Province plain areas were highly discharged. (2) The major pollution sources varied, with the total contributions of mineral fertilizers and livestock and poultry breeding to TN being 73.53% and 81.78%, respectively. Farmland solid waste contributed minimally but increased yearly from 10.84 to 19.74%. (3) The discharge intensity of TN was highly significantly negatively correlated with the urbanization rate, economic development and slope; neither was significantly correlated with arable land. The RF results showed that total mineral fertilizer consumption and total livestock and poultry production were the major factors controlling the NSP in Henan Province. China's agricultural policies have slightly reduced pollutant discharge intensities, but the situation remains grim. This study provides a scientific basis for the development of differentiated TN control measures in Henan Province, which is important for improving pollution prevention and control capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pb metallic nanospheres embedded within conductive carbon frameworks (Pb@C) are prepared by a facile coprecipitation and pyrolysis method using MOFs as the precursor and template. The Pb@C electrode presents a high reversible capacity of 379.1 mAh/g at 2 A/g and capacity retention of 88.2% after 6000 cycles, corresponding to a capacity loss of 0.00748% per cycle. [Display omitted] Alloying-type anode materials are considered promising candidates for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) due to their high theoretical capacities. However, their application is limited by the severe capacity decay stemming from dramatic volume changes during Na+ insertion/extraction processes. Here, Pb nanospheres encapsulated in a carbon skeleton (Pb@C) were successfully synthesized via a facile metal–organic frameworks (MOFs)-derived method and used as anodes for SIBs. The nanosized Pb particles are uniformly incorporated into the porous carbon framework, effectively mitigating volume changes and enhancing Na+ ion transport during discharging/charging. Benefiting from this unique architecture, a reversible capacity of 334.2 mAh g−1 at 2 A g−1 is achieved after 6000 cycles corresponding to an impressive 88.2 % capacity retention and a minimal capacity loss of 0.00748 % per cycle. Furthermore, a high-performance full sodium-ion battery of Pb@C//NVPF was constructed, demonstrating a high energy density of 291 Wh kg−1 and power density of 175 W kg−1. This facile MOFs-derived method offers insights into the design of high-capacity alloy-type anode materials using Pb sources, opening up new possibilities for innovative approaches to Pb recycling and pollution prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the paper is to draw attention to the problem of emitting toxic compounds into the atmosphere by seagoing ships. Annex VI of the MARPOL Convention, which came into force in 2005, concerns the prevention of air pollution from ships, forced shipowners to use solutions aimed at limiting the emission of these harmful substances into the atmosphere. One of the instruments enabling the implementation of these guidelines is the design energy efficiency index EEDI, introduced obligatorily for designed and newly built ships. Since 2013, the regulations oblige the shipowners to maintain an effective energy management plan during ship's operation, called the SEEMP (Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan). The paper presents factors that influence the reduction of fuel consumption by ships, leading to a reduction in emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere and thus achieving the required EEDI and other indicators. These are factors related to the ship's hull, the main propulsion engine and the propeller-rudder system. The influence of each of these factors on the level of fuel consumption by the ship was indicated. The manuscript highlights the methods of reducing fuel consumption by seagoing ships aimed at reducing emissions of toxic compounds into the atmosphere, which are currently the most popular and effective, and relate mainly to the hull and main propulsion engines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]