Search Results (19,661)

An environmentally friendly biodegradable and flexible polymer with exceptional mechanical, thermal and electromagnetic interference shielding is urgently needed to reduce environmental pollutants and electromagnetic waves to preserve human health. The paper presents our study where we developed biodegradable electrospun nanocomposite by employing polybutylene succinate (PBS) with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The crystallization temperature Tc and melting temperature Tm of electrospun PBS/MWCNT composites with 3 wt% of MWCNTs was increased noticeably by 4 °C and 5 °C. The tensile strength increased by about 2.61 ± 0.15MPA and the elastic modulus increased by about 0.72 ± 0.02 GPa with the addition of 3% MWCNT in polybutylene succinate. The increase in MWCNT content from 0.5 to 3 wt% led to an enhanced storage modulus and electrical properties 5 to 8 times higher in comparison to PBS. Moreover, the MWCNT was tested in different concentrations in PBS for electromagnetic interference shielding (EMI) and the most applicable results were obtained when the MWCNT was 3% which is capable of providing 25.5 db EMI shielding efficiency. The percolation threshold capability of PBS/MWCNT electrospun nanocomposites was 0.94 wt% and has significant entanglement of the MWCNTs and MWCNT network in the PBS matrix for conductive pathways. The study offers a viable process for creating an electrospun PBS/MWCNT composite that is lightweight, biodegradable and has exceptional electromagnetic shielding capabilities. Full article

Levoglucosan and its isomers, mannosan and galactosan, are widely used atmospheric tracers of biomass combustion, and levoglucosan has been previously proposed as a potential biomarker of wood smoke exposure. This study evaluated their applicability under real-world conditions. During 14-day monitoring campaigns in both heating and non-heating seasons, daily PM_2.5 and paired urine samples were collected from adults and children in two Hungarian settlements with different heating practices. Monosaccharide anhydrides in PM_2.5 and urine were quantified by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, while demographic, dietary, and lifestyle data were obtained via questionnaires. Ambient concentrations were substantially higher during the heating season and at the rural site, confirming the significant contribution of residential wood burning to air pollution. While urinary levoglucosan was quantifiable in >90% of samples, its isomers were often below the limit of quantification. Urinary levoglucosan concentrations did not exhibit consistent seasonal or spatial patterns and were not associated with ambient levels. Instead, an unexplained background more likely influenced by certain demographic, dietary, and behavioral factors than by environmental exposure appeared to drive urinary levels. These findings suggest that urinary levoglucosan is not a suitable biomarker for assessing residential wood smoke exposure, with similar conclusions drawn for mannosan and galactosan. Full article

Western Pará, northern Brazil, is a significant region for mineral exploration, leading to the deposition of potentially toxic elements in soils and water basins. This study evaluated concentrations of mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and arsenic (As) in cattle muscle tissue from three municipalities: Oriximiná, Itaituba, and Monte Alegre. Metal concentrations were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The estimated daily intake (EDI) of toxic metals via beef consumption (71 g/person/day) was below oral reference doses values (RfDo). Target hazard quotient (THQ) and total THQ (TTHQ) values for all metals were below 1, indicating no significant non-carcinogenic health risk. Monte Alegre exhibited the highest THQ for As and Pb, Oriximiná for Cd, and Itaituba for Hg. Although the overall assessment suggests low risk, elevated Hg concentrations were detected in 10% of the samples, with at least one animal from each municipality exceeding the European Union maximum residue limit (0.01 mg/kg). These findings indicate localized contamination and potential mercury bioaccumulation. Given the rising anthropogenic activities (such as mining and deforestation), continued monitoring of heavy metal levels in animal tissues is recommended to ensure long-term food safety and public health. Full article

This study employs a systems theory approach to investigate the coupling coordination and driving mechanisms within the economic–social–environmental (ESE) system in China’s ethnic regions. It analyzes 67 ethnic counties in Sichuan Province, using an integrated framework that combines dynamic Shannon entropy, coupling coordination modeling, and GeoDetector. Based on data from 2005 to 2024, the study reveals the spatiotemporal patterns of ESE coupling coordination. The key findings are as follows: (1) The coupling coordination degree has gone through four stages: moderate imbalance → mild imbalance → primary coordination → moderate coordination. By 2024, 81.8% of counties had achieved coordinated development, and “highly coordinated” counties emerged for the first time. (2) The Western Sichuan Plateau has formed a high–high agglomeration zone by monetizing ecological assets and utilizing ethnic cultural resources. In contrast, the hilly and parallel ridge–valley regions in central and eastern Sichuan remain in low–low agglomerations due to their dependency on traditional industrialization paths. The decrease in high–low and low–high outliers indicates the recent policy polarization effects. (3) The interaction between habitat quality and per capita GDP has the strongest explanatory power. The rising marginal contributions of energy and carbon emission intensity suggest that green industrialization is crucial to breaking the “poverty–pollution” trap. Full article

Soil element background concentration is foundational data for environmental quality assessment, contamination diagnosis, and sustainable land management. However, existing investigation-based methods are time-consuming and inefficient. The machine learning (ML) method has demonstrated excellent performance in predicting soil heavy metal concentration. In this study, based on the nine environmental variables of soil formation from 210 soil monitoring points, including elevation, pH, organic matter, soil type, parent material, plant cover, land use type, topography, and soil texture, decision tree (DT), random forest (RF), extreme gradient boosting (XGB), and support vector machine (SVM) models were used to predict the eleven soil element background concentrations. Among them, SVM and RF models could be used for an effective prediction of the background concentration of all soil heavy metals. Compared with the XGBoost and DT, the SVM for all heavy metals except for cadmium (Cd) and manganese (Mn) performs best. Although the key factors affecting background concentrations vary among different soil elements, organic matter, soil type, and altitude, they play a crucial role in the accurate prediction of soil element background concentration. This study provides simple and efficient ML models for predicting soil element background concentration at the large regional scale. The results of this study can be utilized to distinguish natural geochemical processes from human-induced pollution. Full article

Microplastic (MP) pollution in aquatic ecosystems poses significant ecological and public health risks. A comprehensive understanding of estuarine MP pollution, influenced by multiple anthropogenic and environmental factors, remains elusive in current research. This study investigated the spatial distribution patterns and dominant factors influencing MP abundance (MPA) and physicochemical diversity in the river water and sediments of the Pearl River Estuary (PRE), while also assessing the associated ecological risks. The dominant MP categories in river water and sediments were fibers, clear in color, <1 mm in length, and composed of polyethylene terephthalate and polypropylene. Whereas inland regions showed higher MPA, nearshore regions exhibited marginally greater physicochemical diversity. Multivariate statistical analysis identified population density as the primary driver of both MPA in river water and MP physicochemical diversity in sediments. MP physicochemical diversity in river water was predominantly governed by the synergistic effect of salinity and the vegetation land. MPA in sediments depended on the synergistic effect of flow rate and watershed area. Ecological risk assessment identified elevated risks in the eastern study area driven by the presence of polymethyl methacrylate. This study establishes a scientific basis for PRE region MP management and provides global comparative data for estuarine MP research. Full article

Digital pollution, encompassing energy consumption, e-waste, and the environmental impact of digital technologies, poses a significant and increasingly pressing environmental challenge that has received insufficient research attention. This study explores public perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors related to digital pollution, focusing on both individuals’ willingness to pay for environmentally friendly digital solutions and their actions to reduce digital environmental impact. Through a comprehensive survey of 300 UK participants, we examined the associations between demographic factors, knowledge levels, perceptions, and environmental actions. While traditional demographic factors such as age and income showed no significant correlation with willingness to pay, we found strong positive correlations with the frequency of environmental consideration (r = 0.47), willingness to act (r = 0.42), and perceived importance of digital pollution (r = 0.40). Notably, knowledge of digital pollution was not correlated with willingness to pay, while self-assessed tech-savviness and environmental knowledge had positive correlations with both willingness to pay and actions taken. Based on a robust cluster analysis, we identified four distinct participant groups: ’Engaged Eco-Tech Enthusiasts’ (youngest, most tech-savvy, and with the highest willingness to act), ‘Knowledgeable Traditionalists’ (oldest, highest knowledge scores, and moderate action), ‘Unengaged Pragmatists’ (lowest engagement), and ‘Affluent Moderates’ (wealthiest and with moderate engagement). These findings provide valuable insights for developing targeted interventions and communication strategies to address this emerging environmental challenge. Full article

Environmental emissions from the maritime sector, including CO₂, NO_x, and SO_x, contribute significantly to global air pollution and climate change. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has set a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping to reach zero GHG by 2050 compared to 2008 levels. To meet these goals, the IMO strongly encourages the transition to alternative fuels, such as hydrogen, ammonia, and biofuels, as part of a broader decarbonization strategy. This study presents a comparative analysis of converting conventional diesel engines to dual-fuel systems utilizing alternative fuels such as methanol or natural gas. The methodology of this research is based on theoretical calculations to estimate various types of emissions produced by conventional marine fuels. These results are then compared with the emissions generated when using methanol and natural gas in dual-fuel engines. The analysis is conducted using the EVER ALOT container ship as a case study. The evaluation focuses on both environmental and economic aspects of engines operating in natural gas–diesel and methanol–diesel dual-fuel modes. The results show that using 89% natural gas in a dual fuel engine reduces nitrogen oxides (NO_x), sulfur oxides (SO_x), carbon dioxide (CO₂), particulate matter (PM), and carbon monoxide (CO) pollutions by 77.69%, 89.00%, 18.17%, 89.00%, and 30.51%, respectively, while the emissions percentage will be 77.78%, 91.00%, 54.67%, 91.00%, and 55.90%, in order, when using methanol as a dual fuel with percentage 91.00% Methanol. This study is significant as it highlights the potential of natural gas and methanol as viable alternative fuels for reducing harmful emissions in the maritime sector. The shift toward these cleaner fuels could play a crucial role in supporting the maritime industry’s transition to low-emission operations, aligning with global environmental regulations and sustainability goals. Full article

Urban parks often represent the last viable habitats for wildlife in city centres, functioning as crucial refuges and biodiversity hotspots for a wide array of plant and animal species. This study investigates the issue of light pollution in urban parks in selected Polish cities from the perspective of sustainable urban development and dark-sky friendly ordinances. Field data conducted in 2024 and 2025 include measurements of Upward Light Output Ratio (ULOR), illuminance, luminance, correlated colour temperature (CCT), and spectral characteristics of light sources. In addition, an analysis of changes in the level of light pollution in the studied parks and their surroundings between 2012 and 2025 was performed using data from the VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) located on the Suomi NPP satellite. Results highlight the mismatch between sustainable development objectives and the current practice of lighting in most of the analysed parks. The study emphasises the need for better integration of light pollution mitigation in urban spatial policies and provides recommendations for environmentally and socially responsible lighting design in urban parks. Full article

Activated peroxymonosulfate (PMS) processes have emerged as a highly effective advanced oxidation technique for the removal of emerging organic contaminants in water. This study successfully converted δ-MnO₂ into α-MnO₂ through a crystal phase transformation method via the application of a mild water bath heating process, enhancing its catalytic properties. α-MnO₂ (k = 0.092 ± 0.0059 min⁻¹) exhibited significantly higher activity than δ-MnO₂ (k = 0.027 ± 0.0075 min⁻¹) in the PMS-activated degradation of sulfamethoxazole (SMX). Importantly, ¹O₂ was identified as the primary reactive oxygen species in the α-MnO₂ + PMS system for SMX degradation. XPS and O₂-TPD characterizations demonstrated that α-MnO₂ possesses a higher concentration of active lattice oxygen a and lower concentration of Mn(III) than δ-MnO₂. Further analysis reveals that both surface Mn(III) and active lattice oxygen in α-MnO₂ are crucial for PMS activation. Notably, ¹O₂ is predominantly generated through the interaction between PMS and reactive lattice oxygen. Moreover, a heterogeneous PMS activation mechanism toward α-MnO₂ was proposed. This research underscores the critical role of active lattice oxygen in MnO₂ for PMS activation, providing valuable insight relevant to the design of catalysts aimed at pollutant elimination in environmental applications. To the best of our knowledge, our study is the first to report a pathway for MnO₂ crystal phase transition under relatively mild conditions. Full article

This paper contains a comparison of air pollutant emissions of different vehicle types and a presentation of the issue of assessing the environmental impact of hybrid, conventional, and electric vehicles in terms of the changing electricity production sources in Poland over time. The research method used in this paper for hybrid and conventional vehicles was on-road testing of air pollutant emissions using the SEMTECH DS analyzer. Air pollutant emissions from electric vehicles were determined based on the authors’ analytical method involving air pollutant emission factors published annually in Poland by the National Centre for Emissions Management (KOBiZE). Measurements of on-road air pollutant emissions for hybrid and conventional vehicles were compared with electric vehicle emissions; however, the electric vehicle emissions covered the area of electricity production. The hybrid vehicle emissions recorded in on-road tests have been corrected for the emissions that arise from the production of the electricity consumed by the hybrid vehicle. The recovery phenomenon was not analyzed. The aim of this paper is to compare air pollutant emissions of electric vehicles with those of hybrid and conventional vehicles, considering the energy transition that has taken place in Poland in the last decade. Full article

Recycled water is commonly considered an environmentally friendly alternative water source for urban water systems, which can not only serve as a solution for water scarcity, but also reduce wastewater discharge from sewage systems. However, owing to the high degree of energy consumption during recycled water production, the utilization of recycled water may be detrimental to greenhouse gas emission reduction. In this work, we conduct a detailed investigation into greenhouse gas emissions from different sources in a typical multisource urban water system in China. Furthermore, we develop an optimization model for water resource allocation based on the rime optimization algorithm and regret theory. The results show that although greenhouse gas emissions from recycled water exceed those from other sources, their impact can be eliminated through rational water resource allocation. Specifically, compared with the original water resource allocation, the optimal results effectively reduce pollutant emissions by 7.6~11.1% without excessively increasing water resource shortages and greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, both subjective preferences and recycled water utilization conditions have significant impacts on the optimization results, which should be carefully selected according to practical situations and technologies. Overall, the methods developed in this study provide a new general framework for the water resource allocation of multisource urban water systems in the context of greenhouse gas emission reduction and recycled water utilization, which can be employed in other areas. Full article

Microplastics (MPs) are a growing environmental concern due to their ability to adsorb hazardous chemicals, such as estrogens, and be ingested by marine organisms. This study focuses on low-density polyethylene (LDPE), a polymer widely used in Kuwait, to assess its role as a carrier of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), specifically estrogens. Biological effects were evaluated using biomarkers such as cytochrome P450 1A (CYP1A) and vitellogenin (Vtg) gene expression. Virgin LDPE MPs were exposed to influent and effluent from a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) for four weeks to facilitate estrogen absorption. The MPs were then incorporated into fish feed pellets for dietary exposure experiments. Fish were divided into three treatment groups—exposed to either virgin MPs, WWTP-influent MPs, or WWTP-effluent MPs—and monitored over four weeks. The results showed that WWTP-exposed MPs carried detectable levels of estrogen, leading to physiological effects on yellowfin bream. Fish in the control group, which received MP-enriched diets without estrogen, experienced significant weight loss due to nutrient deprivation. In contrast, weight patterns in the treatment groups were influenced by estrogen exposure. The condition factor (CF) decreased across groups during the experiment but remained within acceptable health ranges. A significant reduction in the hepatosomatic index (HSI) was observed in the effluent-exposed group, likely due to lower estrogen levels reducing physiological stress. The findings confirm that LDPE MPs can act as carriers for estrogens, impairing fish growth and metabolism while disrupting biological processes such as cytochrome oxidase function. These results highlight the potential risks of MPs in marine ecosystems and underscore the need for further research to understand their long-term effects. Full article

This paper presents the research outcomes of the Golden Seal project, which addresses the omnipresent issue of plastic pollution in coastal areas while enhancing their touristic value through the deployment of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies integrated into a gamified recycling framework. The developed system employs an IoT-enabled Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) to systematically collect, transmit, and analyze environmental data. A centralized, cloud-based platform supports real-time monitoring and data integration from Unmanned Aerial and Surface Vehicles (UAV and USV) equipped with sensors and high-resolution cameras. The system also introduces the Beach Cleanliness Index (BCI), a composite indicator that integrates quantitative environmental metrics with user-generated feedback to assess coastal cleanliness in real time. A key innovation of the project’s architecture is the incorporation of a Serious Game (SG), designed to foster public awareness and encourage active participation by local communities and municipal authorities in sustainable waste management practices. Pilot implementations were conducted at selected sites characterized by high tourism activity and accessibility. The results demonstrated the system’s effectiveness in detecting and classifying plastic waste in both coastal and terrestrial settings, while also validating the potential of the Golden Seal initiative to promote sustainable tourism and support marine ecosystem protection. Full article

Pulmonary emphysema, the main component of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is a chronic lung inflammatory disease characterized by the loss of lung elasticity and impaired gas exchange due in large part to the destruction of alveolar walls. Cigarette smoking represents the most frequent etiologic factor, but other factors involving environmental pollution and respiratory infections contribute to disease pathogenesis and worsening. In this review, we provide a review about emphysema covering risk factors; underlying mechanisms of disease pathogenesis; experimental models that mimic, as closely as possible, human disease features; and available therapeutics. Lastly, exploratory therapeutic approaches aimed at improving patient health through evidence-based and personalized medicine are presented as well. Full article