Importance of Monitor and Control on New-Emerging Pollutants in Conventional Wastewater Treatment Plants

The wide occurrence of new-emerging pollutants and their potential environmental and ecological risks have recently caused great public concerns. The paper firstly put forward the severe problem. Then the possible main reasons were analyzed which might attribute to both the inefficient removal of wastewater treatment plants with conventional technology and ignorance of the monitor and control of new-emerging pollutants in the effluents. Also, the complexity and extreme high costs may also make the organizations sidestep the problem. Finally, possible strategies to deal with the problems were proposed. The upgrade of wastewater treatment plants was important and urgent.

Hydrodynamic Cavitation Enhanced SR-Aops Degradation of Organic Pollutants in Water:A Review

SR-AOP(sulfate radical advanced oxidation process)is a novel water treatment method able to eliminate refractory organic pollutants.Hydrodynamic cavitation(HC)is a novel green technology,that can effectively produce strong oxidizing sulfate radicals.This paper presents a comprehensive review of the research advancements in these fields and a critical discussion of the principal factors influencing HC-enhanced SR-AOP and the mechanisms of synergistic degradation.Furthermore,some insights into the industrial application of HC/PS are also provided.Current research shows that this technology is feasible at the laboratory stage,but its application on larger scales requires further understanding and exploration.In this review,some attention is also paid to the design of the hydrodynamic cavitation reactor and the related operating parameters.

Molecular mechanisms and cellular process in signal transduction pathway related to air pollutants in obstructive lung diseases:A mini-review

Exposure to air pollutants such as PM_(10),PM_(2.5),PM_(0.1),O_(3),CO,NO2,and SO_(2),and biological pollutants are important factors causing the evolution and furtherance of obstructive lung diseases(OLD),including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD).Asthma is the most frequent chronic inflammatory airway disease,characterized by breathlessness,wheezing,chest tightness,and cough,together with the presence of exaggerated expiratory airflow fluctuation that varies over time.COPD is a heterogeneous lung condition characterized by chronic respiratory symptoms such as dyspnea,cough,expectoration,and/or exacerbations due to abnormalities of the airways and/or alveoli that cause persistent,often progressive,airflow obstruction.Understanding the molecular mechanisms and cellular processes based on the development of OLD on exposure to air pollutants will provide insights into the solution of pathogenesis,prevention,and treatment of these conditions.The molecular mechanisms and cellular process involved in signal transduction pathway plays a role in the binding of extracellular signaling molecules and ligands to receptors placed on the cell surface or on the inner side cell that trigger inflammation that occurs,especially when something important enters the cell to bring into a cascade response.This binding then alters the cell metabolism,shape,and gene expression in the airway.This review aimed to reveal the effect of air pollutants on the molecular mechanisms and cellular processes involved in the signal transduction pathways in OLD.

Assessment of Air Quality in Brazzaville: Measurement of Some Automobile Pollutants

Atmospheric pollution is currently a real public health problem because of its potentially harmful effects on the environment as well as on human health. Several studies conducted in America, Europe, Asia, and Africa have established a significant link between air pollution and cancer, infertility, cardiovascular and respiratory morbidity, and mortality. This study aims to measure some automotive pollutants (CO, CO2, NO2, and SO2) by a selective and colorimetric method using a measurement system on Dräger reagent tubes coupled to a Dräger Accuro sampling pump in order to do a quantitative assessment of air quality in the nine districts of Brazzaville. The results obtained during this study revealed high concentration levels of pollutants (CO, CO2, NO2, SO2), all above the standards recommended by the WHO. The results obtained during this study made it possible to categorise Brazzaville as a polluted city.

Effect of steam spraying on a sintering bed on sinter quality and the emission of flue gas pollutants

The technology for spraying a sintering bed and thus improving sinter quality indicators while reducing the emission of flue gas pollutants has recently become an important research topic.The impacts on sinter quality and emissions when spraying the sintering surface with different amounts and flow rates of steam were investigated in this study.The sinter quality indicators were most effectively improved by spraying 180 g of steam flow continuously at a rate of 0.02 m^(3)/min for 15 min after ignition for 8 min.The optimal effect on emission reduction was obtained by spraying 90 g of steam flow continuously at a rate of 0.01 m^(3)/min for 15 min after ignition for 8 min.

Efficient degradation of dye pollutants in wastewater via photocatalysis using a magnetic zinc oxide/graphene/iron oxide-based catalyst

In this paper, we present a proof-of-concept study of the enhancement of photocatalytic activity via a combined strategy of fabricating a visible-light responsive ternary heterostructure and improving overall photostability by incorporating magnetic zinc oxide/graphene/iron oxide (ZGF). A solvothermal approach was used to synthesize the catalyst. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopic, energy dispersive X-ray, transmission electron microscopic, vibrating sample magnetometric, and ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopic techniques were used to characterize the synthesized samples. The obtained optimal Zn(NO_(3))_(2) concentration, temperature, and heating duration were 0.10 mol/L, 600℃, and 1 h, respectively. The XRD pattern revealed the presence of peaks corresponding to zinc oxide, graphene, and iron oxide, indicating that the ZGF catalyst was effectively synthesized. Furthermore, when the developed ZGF was used for methylene blue dye degradation, the optimum irradiation time, dye concentration, catalyst dosage, irradiation intensity, and solution pH were 90 min, 10 mg/L, 0.03 g/L, 100 W, and 8.0, respectively. Therefore, the synthesized ZGF system could be used as a catalyst to degrade dyes in wastewater samples. This hybrid nanocomposite consisting of zinc oxide, graphene, and iron oxide could also be used as an effective photocatalytic degrader for various dye pollutants.

Analysis of the Level of Pollutants in the ICS Location Area

The present study deals with the analysis of the level of pollution found in the area where the Chemical Industries of Senegal (ICS) is located. The results of various field surveys and physicochemical analyses show a high exposure of sulphur and phosphate. This study aims to define abatement strategies to reduce the effects of pollution in the area where ICS is located and mitigate the harmful impacts to the health of the population by creating a system to inform the population of the level of concentration of pollutants in the environment. This will allow the different targets to understand pollution, its manifestations and its effects on health and the environment, prevention, participation in the limitation of pollutant emissions and the formation of eco-citizens sensitive to the issue of environmental pollution of ICS.

Exposure to Automobile Pollutants and Sperm Quality among Mechanics in Brazzaville (Congo)

Atmospheric pollution is today at the heart of all debates because of its potentially harmful effects on the environment, the climate, and human health;it currently constitutes a real public health problem. However, the increase in infertility around the world has led scientists to look for a link between air pollution and fertility. This study consisted of evaluating the short-term influence of automobile pollution on the semen parameters of mechanics in Brazzaville. A cross-sectional, analytical, prospective study between two groups (G1, exposed people and G2, unexposed people) was carried out in Brazzaville on 228 patients, i.e., G1 with 76 subjects and G2 with 152 subjects, between June 2020 and September 2022, a period of 27 months, in order to evaluate, on the one hand, the quality of sperm in men exposed to automobile pollution according to WHO recommendations and, on the other hand, the quality of the air by a colorimetric method, punctual on a Dräger tube coupled with a Dräger Accuro pump. The concentrations of automotive pollutants measured (CO, CO2, NO2, SO2) during this study were all above the 2021 air quality standards required by WHO. These results made it possible to establish a statistically significant link between air pollution and abnormal spermogram parameters, notably mobility, count, and morphology for the spermocytogram. Exposures to automobile pollutants can influence sperm quality, which is consistent with the results of our study. We observed an alteration in the morphology, mobility, and concentration of spermatozoa.

Pollution source identification methods and remediation technologies of groundwater: A review

Groundwater is an important source of drinking water.Groundwater pollution severely endangers drinking water safety and sustainable social development.In the case of groundwater pollution,the top priority is to identify pollution sources,and accurate information on pollution sources is the premise of efficient remediation.Then,an appropriate pollution remediation scheme should be developed according to information on pollution sources,site conditions,and economic costs.The methods for identifying pollution sources mainly include geophysical exploration,geochemistry,isotopic tracing,and numerical modeling.Among these identification methods,only the numerical modeling can recognize various information on pollution sources,while other methods can only identify a certain aspect of pollution sources.The remediation technologies of groundwater can be divided into in-situ and ex-situ remediation technologies according to the remediation location.The in-situ remediation technologies enjoy low costs and a wide remediation range,but their remediation performance is prone to be affected by environmental conditions and cause secondary pollution.The ex-situ remediation technologies boast high remediation efficiency,high processing capacity,and high treatment concentration but suffer high costs.Different methods for pollution source identification and remediation technologies are applicable to different conditions.To achieve the expected identification and remediation results,it is feasible to combine several methods and technologies according to the actual hydrogeological conditions of contaminated sites and the nature of pollutants.Additionally,detailed knowledge about the hydrogeological conditions and stratigraphic structure of the contaminated site is the basis of all work regardless of the adopted identification methods or remediation technologies.

Remote sensing of air pollution incorporating integrated-path differential-absorption and coherent-Doppler lidar

An innovative complex lidar system deployed on an airborne rotorcraft platform for remote sensing of atmospheric pollution is proposed and demonstrated.The system incorporates integrated-path differential absorption lidar(DIAL) and coherent-doppler lidar(CDL) techniques using a dual tunable TEA CO_(2)laser in the 9—11 μm band and a 1.55 μm fiber laser.By combining the principles of differential absorption detection and pulsed coherent detection,the system enables agile and remote sensing of atmospheric pollution.Extensive static tests validate the system’s real-time detection capabilities,including the measurement of concentration-path-length product(CL),front distance,and path wind speed of air pollution plumes over long distances exceeding 4 km.Flight experiments is conducted with the helicopter.Scanning of the pollutant concentration and the wind field is carried out in an approximately 1 km slant range over scanning angle ranges from 45°to 65°,with a radial resolution of 30 m and10 s.The test results demonstrate the system’s ability to spatially map atmospheric pollution plumes and predict their motion and dispersion patterns,thereby ensuring the protection of public safety.

Tb^(3+)-nucleic acid probe-based label-free and rapid detection of mercury pollution in food

Mercury is a threatening pollutant in food,herein,we developed a Tb^(3+)-nucleic acid probe-based label-free assay for mix-and-read,rapid detection of mercury pollution.The assay utilized the feature of light-up fluorescence of terbium ions(Tb^(3+))via binding with single-strand DNA.Mercury ion,Hg^(2+)induced thymine(T)-rich DNA strand to form a double-strand structure(T-Hg^(2+)-T),thus leading to fluorescence reduction.Based on the principle,Hg^(2+)can be quantified based on the fluorescence of Tb^(3+),the limit of detection was 0.0689μmol/L and the linear range was 0.1-6.0μmol/L.Due to the specificity of T-Hg^(2+)-T artificial base pair,the assay could distinguish Hg^(2+)from other metal ions.The recovery rate was ranged in 98.71%-101.34%for detecting mercury pollution in three food samples.The assay is low-cost,separation-free and mix-to-read,thus was a competitive tool for detection of mercury pollution to ensure food safety.

Distribution of Atmospheric Pollution in Southern Benin

This study focuses on air quality in southern Benin in order to show public authorities what the Beninese populations are exposed to for efficient decision-making. Two sampling campaigns were carried out, one in the wet period and the other in the dry season. The measurements were taken using a monitor called an “Air Quality Monitor”. For data processing, the multiple comparison methods of Dun (1961) and the Wilcoxon test were used. To maintain legitimacy, all spatial data were included in the official cartographic repository of Benin: WGS 1984, Transverse Mercator Universe Projection (UTM), Zone 31 North. The Moran statistic was used to measure the levels of spatial autocorrelation of the variables studied and to test the significance. In order to locate the spatial subsets, the local spatial association indices of Anselin Local Moran and Getis-Ord, Gi* were used. In terms of results, on the 13 monitoring sites and the 8 parameters chosen to determine air quality, we do not note any significant inter-seasonal difference. Of the eight parameters, only three parameters present spatial autocorrelation leading to predictions of ambient air quality over the entire study area based on the distance separating the points, namely, PM2.5, PM10 and ambient air quality index (AQI). The localities affected by atmospheric pollution in South Benin are located in the south-western part of Benin, headed by Cotonou, which is heavily polluted by CO2, TCOV, PM10 and PM2.5.

Research Progress of Microplastics Pollution in Environment

Microplastics pollution has become one of the focuses of global environmental science research.Microplastics include micro plastic particles and nano-plastic particles,which come from the decomposition of plastic products,the release of microfibers and the industrial process of plastic particles.The distribution of microplastics in water,soil and atmosphere is summarized,and the widespread existence of microplastics in different environmental media is emphasized.This paper also summarizes the potential impact of microplastics on ecosystems and organisms,and pays attention to the transmission and accumulation of microplastics in the food chain,as well as its potential threat to human health.Finally,the paper discusses the methods and technologies of microplastics treatment and monitoring at present,and puts forward the direction of further research on microplastics pollution in order to formulate more effective management and mitigation strategies.

Numerical Simulation of the Settling Flux of Biodeposition in a Bay with Cage Culture Through Similarity Theory and a Simplified Pollution Source

The settling flux of biodeposition affects the environmental quality of cage culture areas and determines their environmental carrying capacity.Simple and effective simulation of the settling flux of biodeposition is extremely important for determining the spatial distribution of biodeposition.Theoretically,biodeposition in cage culture areas without specific emission rules can be simplified as point source pollution.Fluent is a fluid simulation software that can simulate the dispersion of particulate matter simply and efficiently.Based on the simplification of pollution sources and bays,the settling flux of biodeposition can be easily and effectively simulated by Fluent fluid software.In the present work,the feasibility of this method was evaluated by simulation of the settling flux of biodeposition in Maniao Bay,Hainan Province,China,and 20 sampling sites were selected for determining the settling fluxes.At sampling sites P1,P2,P3,P4,P5,Z1,Z2,Z3,Z4,A1,A2,A3,A4,B1,B2,C1,C2,C3 and C4,the measured settling fluxes of biodeposition were 26.02,15.78,10.77,58.16,6.57,72.17,12.37,12.11,106.64,150.96,22.59,11.41,18.03,7.90,19.23,7.06,11.84,5.19 and 2.57 g d^(−1)m^(−2),respectively.The simulated settling fluxes of biodeposition at the corresponding sites were 16.03,23.98,8.87,46.90,4.52,104.77,16.03,8.35,180.83,213.06,39.10,17.47,20.98,9.78,23.25,7.84,15.90,6.06 and 1.65 g d^(−1)m^(−2),respectively.There was a positive correlation between the simulated settling fluxes and measured ones(R=0.94,P=2.22×10^(−9)<0.05),which implies that the spatial differentiation of biodeposition flux was well simulated.Moreover,the posterior difference ratio of the simulation was 0.38,and the small error probability was 0.94,which means that the simulated results reached an acceptable level from the perspective of relative error.Thus,if nonpoint source pollution is simplified to point source pollution and open waters are simplified based on similarity theory,the setting flux of biodeposition in the open waters can be simply and effectively simulated by the fluid simulation software Fluent.

Distribution and Formation Causes of PM_(2.5) and O_(3) Double High Pollution Events in China during 2013–20

Fine particulate matter(PM_(2.5))and ozone(O_(3))double high pollution(DHP)events have occurred frequently over China in recent years,but their causes are not completely clear.In this study,the spatiotemporal distribution of DHP events in China during 2013–20 is analyzed.The synoptic types affecting DHP events are identified with the Lamb–Jenkinson circulation classification method.The meteorological and chemical causes of DHP events controlled by the main synoptic types are further investigated.Results show that DHP events(1655 in total for China during 2013–20)mainly occur over the North China Plain,Yangtze River Delta,Pearl River Delta,Sichuan Basin,and Central China.The occurrence frequency increases by 5.1%during 2013–15,and then decreases by 56.1%during 2015–20.The main circulation types of DHP events are“cyclone”and“anticyclone”,accounting for over 40%of all DHP events over five main polluted regions in China,followed by southerly or easterly flat airflow types,like“southeast”,“southwest”,and“east”.Compared with non-DHP events,DHP events are characterized by static or weak wind,high temperature(20.9℃ versus 23.1℃)and low humidity(70.0%versus 64.9%).The diurnal cycles of meteorological conditions cause PM_(2.5)(0300–1200 LST,Local Standard Time=UTC+8 hours)and O_(3)(1500–2100 LST)to exceed the national standards at different periods of the DHP day.Three pollutant conversion indices further indicate the rapid secondary conversions during DHP events,and thus the concentrations of NO_(2),SO_(2) and volatile organic compounds decrease by 13.1%,4.7%and 4.4%,respectively.The results of this study can be informative for future decisions on the management of DHP events.

The Influence of Air Pollution Concentrations on Solar Irradiance Forecasting Using CNN-LSTM-mRMR Feature Extraction

Maintaining a steady power supply requires accurate forecasting of solar irradiance,since clean energy resources do not provide steady power.The existing forecasting studies have examined the limited effects of weather conditions on solar radiation such as temperature and precipitation utilizing convolutional neural network(CNN),but no comprehensive study has been conducted on concentrations of air pollutants along with weather conditions.This paper proposes a hybrid approach based on deep learning,expanding the feature set by adding new air pollution concentrations,and ranking these features to select and reduce their size to improve efficiency.In order to improve the accuracy of feature selection,a maximum-dependency and minimum-redundancy(mRMR)criterion is applied to the constructed feature space to identify and rank the features.The combination of air pollution data with weather conditions data has enabled the prediction of solar irradiance with a higher accuracy.An evaluation of the proposed approach is conducted in Istanbul over 12 months for 43791 discrete times,with the main purpose of analyzing air data,including particular matter(PM10 and PM25),carbon monoxide(CO),nitric oxide(NOX),nitrogen dioxide(NO_(2)),ozone(O₃),sulfur dioxide(SO_(2))using a CNN,a long short-term memory network(LSTM),and MRMR feature extraction.Compared with the benchmark models with root mean square error(RMSE)results of 76.2,60.3,41.3,32.4,there is a significant improvement with the RMSE result of 5.536.This hybrid model presented here offers high prediction accuracy,a wider feature set,and a novel approach based on air concentrations combined with weather conditions for solar irradiance prediction.

Is the Sundarbans of Bangladesh in a State of Pollution?

The Sundarbans is the world’s most extensive natural mangrove forest and home to various natural resources. The population in the vicinity has increased, causing more dependency on the resources of the Sundarbans. The increasing industrialization, urbanization, aquaculture, intensive agricultural practices, seaports, tourism facilities, and so on in the peripheral areas of the Sundarbans have made significant changes in the surrounding and upstream land uses of the Sundarbans. This situation may have detrimental influences on the ecosystem components of the Sundarbans. Therefore, it is highly demanded to prepare a piece of baseline information or database of different sources of pollution and their present status in the various components of the Sundarbans. This effort helps to identify issues and concerns, determine the key elements of the ecosystem to monitor the level or overall quality of the Sundarbans ecosystem. The present study systematically collects the potential sources of pollution, types, and current levels in the ecosystem components of the Sundarbans using academic databases, libraries, and online resources. Discharge of industrial waste into water, soil and air, heavy metal pollution, use of agrochemicals, oil (refined and crude) pollution, plastic materials from urban areas, and tourism are the major issues and concerns related to the sustainability of the Sundarbans ecosystem. The air quality of the Sundarbans is in good condition with 0 - 50 AQI of Bangladesh. While BOD, COD, TDS, TSS varied from 2.0 to 3.8 mg/L, 21.6 to 416 mg/L, 146.9 to 24,100 mg/L and 54 to 155 mg/L, respectively. Soil EC, organic carbon, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus ranged from 3.01 - 5.82 mS/cm, 1.41% - 2.69%, 0.51 - 1.05 mg/g, and 0.32 - 0.51 mg/g respectively. The air, water and soil quality parameters varied with the sites and seasons and not much at the state of contamination. Indeed, we must pay much attention to the Sundarbans’ air, water and soil quality with the massive and progressive change of the nearby land use pattern.

Climate change,ambient air pollution,and students'mental health

The impact of global climate change and air pollution on mental health has become a crucial public health issue.Increased public awareness of health,advancements in medical diagnosis and treatment,the way media outlets report environmental changes and the variation in social resources affect psychological responses and adaptation methods to climate change and air pollution.In the context of climate change,extreme weather events seriously disrupt people's living environments,and unstable educational environments lead to an increase in mental health issues for students.Air pollution affects students'mental health by increasing the incidence of diseases while decreasing contact with nature,leading to problems such as anxiety,depression,and decreased cognitive function.We call for joint efforts to reduce pollutant emissions at the source,improve energy structures,strengthen environmental monitoring and governance,increase attention to the mental health issues of students,and help student groups build resilience;by establishing public policies,enhancing social support and adjusting lifestyles and habits,we can help students cope with the constantly changing environment and maintain a good level of mental health.Through these comprehensive measures,we can more effectively address the challenges of global climate change and air pollution and promote the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Advancements in Catalysts for Electrochemical Nitrate Reduction: A Sustainable Approach for Mitigating Nitrate Pollution: A Review

Nitrate pollution is of great importance in both the environmental and health contexts, necessitating the development of efficient mitigation strategies. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the many catalysts employed in the electrochemical reduction of nitrate to ammonia, and presents a viable environmentally friendly approach to address the issue of nitrate pollution. Hence, the electrochemical transformation of nitrate to ammonia serves the dual purpose of addressing nitrate pollution in water bodies, and is a useful agricultural resource. This review examines a range of catalyst materials such as noble and non-noble metals, metal oxides, carbon-based materials, nitrogen-doped carbon species, metal complexes, and semiconductor photocatalysts. It evaluates catalytic efficiency, selectivity, stability, and overall process optimization. The performance of catalysts is influenced by various factors, including reaction conditions, catalyst structure, loading techniques, and electrode interfaces. Comparative analysis was performed to evaluate the catalytic activity, selectivity, Faradaic efficiency, current density, stability, and durability of the catalysts. This assessment offers significant perspectives on the structural, compositional, and electrochemical characteristics that affect the efficacy of these catalysts, thus informing future investigations and advancements in this domain. In addition to mitigating nitrate pollution, the electrochemical reduction of nitrate to ammonia is in line with sustainable agricultural methods, resource conservation, and the utilization of renewable energy resources. This study explores the factors that affect the catalytic efficiency, provides new opportunities to address nitrate pollution, and promotes the development of sustainable environmental solutions.

Study of Urban Sprawl and Its Impact on Vegetation, Land Surface Temperature and Air Pollution Using Remote Sensing and GIS in Kathmandu Valley from 2015 to 2020

The Kathmandu Valley has seen substantial urbanization over the past decades while being the nation’s economic centre. Built-up areas have expanded quickly along with the population, having a significantly negative influence on the environment. Recently, Kathmandu was named as the most polluted city in Asia. Urban sprawl has had a negative influence on Kathmandu’s residents in several ways. The state of urban sprawl and the effects it has had on the Kathmandu Valley have been examined using land sat imagery. In this study, IDW was used in GIS to analyze the pollution status using data of PM 2.5 and PM 10 obtained from various monitoring sites. A supervised classification was used to create a LULC map of Kathmandu for the years 2015, 2018, and 2020. To assess the state of the vegetation and determine whether the Kathmandu Valley is being affected by urban heat, NDVI and Land sat temperature calculations were also made. The study’s results were obtained using remote sensing and GIS technology. The built-up area in Kathmandu Valley has grown by 20% over the past five years, impacting land use patterns and deteriorating vegetation cover. Due to the rise of built-up area, which is a good heat absorber, the temperature in the Kathmandu Valley is rising along with the degradation of the vegetation cover. The pollution in the Kathmandu Valley is at its worst, and residents are compelled to breathe air that is significantly more polluted than the prescribed limit.