| 1. |
- Ekelund Ugge, Gustaf Magnus Oskar, et al.
(författare)
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Transcriptional and biochemical biomarker responses in a freshwater mussel (Anodonta anatina) under environmentally relevant Cu exposure
- 2020
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Ingår i: Environmental Science and Pollution Research. - : Springer Berlin/Heidelberg. - 0944-1344 .- 1614-7499. ; 27:9, s. 9999-10010
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Molecular biomarkers, like gene transcripts or enzyme activities, are potentially powerful tools for early warning assessment of pollution. However, a thorough understanding of response and baseline variation is required to distinguish actual effects from pollution. Here, we assess the freshwater mussel Anodonta anatina as a biomarker model species for freshwater ecosystems, by testing responses of six transcriptional (cat, gst, hsp70, hsp90, mt, and sod) and two biochemical (AChE and GST) biomarkers to environmentally relevant Cu water concentrations. Mussels (n = 20), collected from a stream free from point source pollution, were exposed in the laboratory, for 96 h, to Cu treatments (< 0.2 mu g/L, 0.77 +/- 0.87 mu g/L, and 6.3 +/- 5.4 mu g/L). Gills and digestive glands were extracted and analyzed for transcriptional and biochemical responses. Biological and statistical effect sizes from Cu treatments were in general small (mean log(2) fold-change <= 0.80 and Cohen's f <= 0.69, respectively), and no significant treatment effects were observed. In contrast, four out of eight biomarkers (cat, gst, hsp70, and GST) showed a significant sex:tissue interaction, and additionally one (sod) showed significant overall effects from sex. Specifically, three markers in gills (cat, mt, GST) and one in digestive gland (AChE) displayed significant sex differences, independent of treatment. Results suggest that sex or tissue effects might obscure low-magnitude biomarker responses and potential early warnings. Thus, variation in biomarker baselines and response patterns needs to be further addressed for the future use of A. anatina as a biomarker model species.
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| 2. |
- Abouhatab, Assem
(författare)
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Nexus between green financing, renewable energy generation, and energy efficiency: empirical insights through DEA technique
- 2023
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Ingår i: Environmental Science and Pollution Research. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0944-1344 .- 1614-7499. ; 30, s. 61290-61303
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The study aims to test the nexus of green financing with renewable electricity generation and energy efficiency. The study used data envelopment analysis (DEA) technique during the year of 2016 to 2020 in developed and developing countries. The findings show that there is a 24% possibility of worldwide rise in expenditures in renewable energy through energy efficiency projects and probably could fall around 17% much further in 2017 and 2018. This may jeopardize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris climate change agreement. Lack of access to private financing slows the development of green initiatives. Now that sustainable energy is not about science and technology, it is all about getting financing in developed and developing countries. As policy measure, the study suggested to value environmental initiatives, like other infrastructure initiatives, for greater electricity generation and energy efficiency in developed and developing countries. Such infrastructural projects need long-term financing and capital intensiveness. It is further suggested to sustain growth, development, and energy poverty reduction, and around $26 trillion would be required, in terms of green financing, in the developed and developing countries alone by the year 2030 to enhance energy efficiency. To achieve energy sustainability goals in developed and developing countries, recent research suggested some policy implication considering the post COVID-19 time. If such policy implications are implemented successfully, there are chances that green financing would make energy generation and energy efficiency effective.
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| 3. |
- Agar, David
(författare)
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Pyrolysis of wastewater sludge and composted organic fines from municipal solid waste: laboratory reactor characterisation and product distribution
- 2018
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Ingår i: Environmental Science and Pollution Research. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0944-1344 .- 1614-7499. ; 25, s. 35874-35882
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Sludge from municipal wastewater treatment plants and organic fines from mechanical sorting of municipal solid waste (MSW) are two common widespread waste streams that are becoming increasingly difficult to utilise. Changing perceptions of risk in food production has limited the appeal of sludge use on agricultural land, and outlets via landfilling are diminishing rapidly. These factors have led to interest in thermal conversion technologies whose aim is to recover energy and nutrients from waste while reducing health and environmental risks associated with material re-use. Pyrolysis yields three output products: solid char, liquid oils and gas. Their relative distribution depends on process parameters which can be somewhat optimised depending on the end use of product. The potential of pyrolysis for the conversion of wastewater sludge (SS) and organic fines of MSW (OF) to a combustion gas and a carbon-rich char has been investigated. Pyrolysis of SS and OF was done using a laboratory fixed-bed reactor. Herein, the physical characterisation of the reactor is described, and results on pyrolysis yields are presented. Feedstock and chars have been characterised using standard laboratory methods, and the composition of pyrolysis gases was analysed using micro gas chromatography. Product distribution (char/liquid/gas) from the pyrolysis of sewage sludge and composted MSW fines at 700 degrees C for 10min were 45/26/29 and 53/14/33%, respectively. The combustible fractions of pyrolysis gases range from 36 to 54% for SS feedstock and 62 to 72% from OF. The corresponding lower heating value range of sampled gases were 11.8-19.1 and 18.2-21.0MJm(-3), respectively.
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| 4. |
- Ahmed, Mukhtar
(författare)
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Compact maize canopy improves radiation use efficiency and grain yield of maize/soybean relay intercropping system
- 2021
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Ingår i: Environmental Science and Pollution Research. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0944-1344 .- 1614-7499. ; 28, s. 41135-41148
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Maize/soybean relay intercropping system is a popular cultivation system to obtain high yields of both crops with reduced inputs. However, shading by maize decreases the photosynthetically active radiation, reaching the soybean canopy in maize/soybean relay intercropping system, which reduces soybean radiation use efficiency and competitiveness. Here, we reveal that compact maize in maize/soybean relay intercropping system enhances the photosynthetically active radiation transmittance, leaf area index, dry matter production, radiation use efficiency, and competitiveness of soybean and compensates the slight maize yield loss by substantially increasing soybean yield. In this experiment, soybean was relay intercropped with different maize types (SI, spreading maize; SII, semi-compact maize; and SIII, compact maize) in maize/soybean relay intercropping system, and all the relay intercropping treatments were compared with sole cropping systems of soybean and maize. Results revealed that SIII significantly enhanced the soybean radiation use efficiency (by 77%, from 0.35 g MJ(-1) in SI to 0.61 g MJ(-1) in SIII) and total radiation use efficiency (soybean radiation use efficiency + maize radiation use efficiency) of maize/soybean relay intercropping system (by 5%, from 3.53 g MJ(-1) in SI to 3.73 g MJ(-1) in SIII). Similarly, SIII improved the competitiveness (by 62%, from 0.58% in SI to 0.94% in SIII) of soybean but reduced the competitiveness (by 38%, from 1.73% in SI to 1.07% in SIII) of maize, which, in turn, considerably increased soybean yield by maintaining maize yield. On average, over the 2 years, in SIII, relay-intercropped soybean produced 89% of the sole soybean yield, and relay-intercropped maize produced 95% of the sole maize yield. Besides, treatment SIII achieved the mean highest land equivalent ratio value of 1.84 in both years. Thus, enhanced radiation use efficiency of soybean, especially during the co-growth period, was the primary factor responsible for the high productivity of the maize/soybean relay intercropping system.
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| 5. |
- Ahrens, Lutz
(författare)
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Elucidation of contamination sources for poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) on Svalbard (Norwegian Arctic)
- 2019
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Ingår i: Environmental Science and Pollution Research. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0944-1344 .- 1614-7499. ; 26, s. 7356-7363
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A combination of local (i.e. firefighting training facilities) and remote sources (i.e. long-range transport) is assumed to be responsible for the occurrence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in Svalbard (Norwegian Arctic). However, no systematic elucidation of local PFASs sources has been conducted yet. Therefore, a survey was performed aiming at identifying local PFAS pollution sources on the island of Spitsbergen (Svalbard, Norway). Soil, freshwater (lake, draining rivers), seawater, meltwater run-off, surface snow and coastal sediment samples were collected from Longyearbyen (Norwegian mining town), Ny-angstrom lesund (research facility) and the Lake Linnevatnet area (background site) during several campaigns (2014-2016) and analysed for 14 individual target PFASs. For background site (Linnevatnet area, sampling during April to June 2015), sigma PFAS levels ranged from 0.4 to 4ng/L in surface lake water (n=20). PFAS in meltwater from the contributing glaciers showed similar concentrations (similar to 4ng/L, n=2). The short-chain perfluorobutanoate (PFBA) was predominant in lake water (60-80% of the sigma PFASs), meltwater (20-30%) and run-off water (40%). Long-range transport is assumed to be the major PFAS source. In Longyearbyen, five water samples (i.e. 2 seawater, 3 run-off) were collected near the local firefighting training site (FFTS) in November 2014 and June 2015, respectively. The highest PFAS levels were found in FFTS meltwater run-off (118ng/L). Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) was the most abundant compound in the FFTS meltwater run-off (53-58% PFASs). At the research station Ny-angstrom lesund, seawater (n=6), soil (n=9) and freshwater (n=10) were collected in June 2016. Low sigma PFAS concentrations were determined for seawater (5-6ng/L), whereas high sigma PFAS concentrations were found in run-off water (113-119ng/L) and soil (211-800ng/g dry weight (dw)) collected close to the local FFTS. In addition, high sigma PFAS levels (127ng/L) were also found in freshwater from lake Solvatnet close to former sewage treatment facility. Overall, at both FFTS-affected sites (soil, water), PFOS was the most abundant compound (60-69% of sigma PFASs). FFTS and landfill locations were identified as major PFAS sources for Svalbard settlements.
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| 6. |
- Ahrens, Lutz
(författare)
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Neutral poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances in air and seawater of the North Sea
- 2013
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Ingår i: Environmental Science and Pollution Research. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0944-1344 .- 1614-7499. ; 20, s. 7988-8000
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Concentrations of neutral poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), such as fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs), perfluoroalkane sulfonamides (FASAs), perfluoroalkane sufonamidoethanols (FASEs), and fluorotelomer acrylates (FTACs), have been simultaneously determined in surface seawater and the atmosphere of the North Sea. Seawater and air samples were taken aboard the German research vessel Heincke on the cruise 303 from 15 to 24 May 2009. The concentrations of FTOHs, FASAs, FASEs, and FTACs in the dissolved phase were 2.6-74, < 0.1-19, < 0.1-63, and < 1.0-9.0 pg L-1, respectively. The highest concentrations were determined in the estuary of the Weser and Elbe rivers and a decreasing concentration profile appeared with increasing distance from the coast toward the central part of the North Sea. Gaseous FTOHs, FASAs, FASEs, and FTACs were in the range of 36-126, 3.1-26, 3.7-19, and 0.8-5.6 pg m(-3), which were consistent with the concentrations determined in 2007 in the North Sea, and approximately five times lower than those reported for an urban area of Northern Germany. These results suggested continuous continental emissions of neutral PFASs followed by transport toward the marine environment. Air-seawater gas exchanges of neutral PFASs were estimated using fugacity ratios and the two-film resistance model based upon paired air-seawater concentrations and estimated Henry's law constant values. Volatilization dominated for all neutral PFASs in the North Sea. The air-seawater gas exchange fluxes were in the range of 2.5 x 10(3)-3.6 x 10(5) pg m(-2) for FTOHs, 1.8 x 10(2)-1.0 x 10(5) pg m(-2) for FASAs, 1.1 x 10(2)-3.0 x 10(5) pg m(-2) for FASEs and 6.3 x 10(2)-2.0 x 10(4) pg m(-2) for FTACs, respectively. These results suggest that the air-seawater gas exchange is an important process that intervenes in the transport and fate for neutral PFASs in the marine environment.
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| 7. |
- Al-Isawi, Rawaa H K, et al.
(författare)
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Assessment of diesel-contaminated domestic wastewater treated by constructed wetlands for irrigation of chillies grown in a greenhouse
- 2016
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Ingår i: Environmental Science and Pollution Research. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0944-1344 .- 1614-7499. ; 23:24, s. 25003-25023
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In order to avoid environmental pollution and eliminate the need for using fertiliser, this study assessed for the first time the optimum performance of mature (in operation since 2011) vertical flow constructed wetlands in treating domestic wastewater (with and without hydrocarbon) and the subsequent recycling of the outflow to irrigate chillies (De Cayenne; Capsicum annuum (Linnaeus) Longum Group ‘De Cayenne’) grown in a greenhouse. Various variables were investigated to assess the treatment performance. Concerning chilli fruit numbers, findings showed that the highest fruit yields for all wetland filters were associated with those that received inflow wastewater with a high loading rate, reflecting the high nutrient availability in treated wastewater, which is of obvious importance for yield production. Findings also indicated that wetlands without hydrocarbon, small aggregate size, low contact time and low inflow loading rate provided high marketable yields (expressed in economic return). In comparison, chillies irrigated by filters with hydrocarbon contamination, small aggregate size, high contact time and high loading rate also resulted in high marketable yields of chillies, which pointed out the role of high contact time and high inflow load for better diesel degradation rates.
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| 8. |
- Alakangas, Lena, et al.
(författare)
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Neutralization/prevention of acid rock drainage using mixtures of alkaline by-products and sulfidic mine wastes
- 2013
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Ingår i: Environmental Science and Pollution Research. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0944-1344 .- 1614-7499. ; 20:11, s. 7907-7916
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Backfilling of open pit with sulfidic waste rock followed by inundation is a common method for reducing sulfide oxidation after mine closure. This approach can be complemented by mixing the waste rock with alkaline materials from pulp and steel mills to increase the system’s neutralization potential. Leachates from 1 m3 tanks containing sulfide-rich (ca.30 wt %) waste rock formed under dry and water saturated conditions under laboratory conditions were characterized and compared to those formed from mixtures. The waste rock leachate produced an acidic leachate (pH < 2) with high concentrations of As (65 mg/L), Cu (6 mg/L), and Zn (150 mg/L) after 258 days. The leachate from water-saturated waste rock had lower concentrations of As and Cu (<2 μg/L), Pb and Zn (20 μg/L and 5 mg/L), respectively, and its pH was around 6. Crushed (<6 mm) waste rock mixed with different fractions (1–5 wt %) of green liquid dregs, fly ash, mesa lime, and argon oxygen decarburization (AOD) slag was leached on a small scale for 65 day, and showed near-neutral pH values, except for mixtures of waste rock with AOD slag and fly ash (5 % w/w) which were more basic (pH > 9). The decrease of elemental concentration in the leachate was most pronounced for Pb and Zn, while Al and S were relatively high. Overall, the results obtained were promising and suggest that alkaline by-products could be useful additives for minimizing ARD formation
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| 9. |
- Ali, Sk Ajim, et al.
(författare)
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Sanitary landfill site selection by integrating AHP and FTOPSIS with GIS : a case study of Memari Municipality, India
- 2021
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Ingår i: Environmental Science and Pollution Research. - : Springer. - 0944-1344 .- 1614-7499. ; 28:6, s. 7528-7550
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Sanitary landfill is still considered as one of the most significant and least expensive methods of waste disposal. It is essential to consider environmental impacts while selecting a suitable landfill site. Thus, the site selection for sanitary landfill is a complex and time-consuming task needing an assessment of multiple criteria. In the present study, a decision support system (DSS) was prepared for selecting a landfill site in a growing urban region. This study involved two steps of analysis. The first step of analysis involved the application of spatial data to prepare the thematic maps and derive their weight. The second step employed a fuzzy multicriteria decision-making (FMCDM) technique for prioritizing the identified landfill sites. Thus, initially, the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was used for weighting the selected criteria, while the fuzzy technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (FTOPSIS) was applied for addressing the uncertainty associated with decision-making and prioritizing the most suitable site. A case study was conducted in the city of Memari Municipality. The main goal of this study was the initial evaluation and acquisition of landfill candidate sites by utilizing GIS and the following decision criteria: (1) environmental criteria consisting of surface water, groundwater, land elevation, land use land cover, distance from urban residence and buildup, and distance from sensitive places; and (2) socioeconomic criteria including distance from the road, population density, and land value. For preparing the final suitability map, the integration of GIS layers and AHP was used. On output, 7 suitable landfill sites were identified which were further ranked using FTOPSIS based on expert’s views. Finally, candidate site-7 and site-2 were selected as the most suitable for proposing new landfill sites in Memari Municipality. The results from this study showed that the integration of GIS with the MCDM technique can be highly applied for site suitability. The present study will be helpful to local planners and municipal authorities for proposing a planning protocol and suitable sites for sanitary landfill in the near future.
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| 10. |
- Allam, Venkata Sita Rama Raju, et al.
(författare)
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Nutraceuticals and mitochondrial oxidative stress : bridging the gap in the management of bronchial asthma
- 2022
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Ingår i: Environmental Science and Pollution Research. - : Springer Nature. - 0944-1344 .- 1614-7499. ; 29:42, s. 62733-62754
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease primarily characterized by inflammation and reversible bronchoconstriction. It is currently one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the world. Oxidative stress further complicates the pathology of the disease. The current treatment strategies for asthma mainly involve the use of anti-inflammatory agents and bronchodilators. However, long-term usage of such medications is associated with severe adverse effects and complications. Hence, there is an urgent need to develop newer, novel, and safe treatment modalities for the management of asthma. This has therefore prompted further investigations and detailed research to identify and develop novel therapeutic interventions from potent untapped resources. This review focuses on the significance of oxidative stressors that are primarily derived from both mitochondrial and non-mitochondrial sources in initiating the clinical features of asthma. The review also discusses the biological scavenging system of the body and factors that may lead to its malfunction which could result in altered states. Furthermore, the review provides a detailed insight into the therapeutic role of nutraceuticals as an effective strategy to attenuate the deleterious effects of oxidative stress and may be used in the mitigation of the cardinal features of bronchial asthma.
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