Underground Water Contamination Research Articles

ОЦІНКА ПОТОЧНОГО СТАНУ РАДІАЦІЙНОГО ЗАБРУДНЕННЯ ТЕРИТОРІЇ МАЙДАНЧИКУ УРАНОВОЇ СПАДЩИНИ КОЛИШНЬОГО ВО «ПХЗ»

The article summarizes the results of long-term radioecological monitoring of the environment radioactive state within the former 'Prydniprovsk chemical plant' and adjacent territories at the preparatory stage life cycle of uranium legacy site. Data analysis have been determined the background activity levels of natural radionuclides (in particular 238U, 226Ra, 230Th, 210Pb, 210Po) in soils, underground and surface waters, air (fall density and volume activity), exhalation of 222Rn from the soil surface and its volume activity. The results of the determined dynamics and trends in the formation of pollution of environmental elements, which form the main factors of exposure of workers and the population, are presented. Areas with elevated dose rate (≥0.5 μSv·h-1) occupy more than 30% of the entire legacy site territory. In the soil activity may be 10 to 1000 times higher than background (30-50 Bq·kg-1) and can exceed 1000 times the exemption level. In aerosols 238U and 226Ra activitis exceeding the background (0.1 µBq·m-2·s-1, 11.5 µBq·m3) by 100-200 times only during periods of earthworks, under normal conditions they are up to 1.5-2.0 times. The monthly average activity 222Rn in the air of open space are 4-5 times higher of the background (median 200±68 Bq∙m-3), in some areas they can exceed by up to 50 times. In the buildings premises on the site 222Rn can exceed the reference level (250 Bq∙m-3) by 1-5 times, and in individual basements by up to 100 times. The data analysis proves that main ways of exposure of workers are external gamma radiation, the inhalation exposure routes from aerosol pollution and the spread of OA 222Rn in the air can be significant only for workers work at the legacy site and do not pose a threat to the city's population. Radiation assessment contamination of underground and surface water showed in present conditions aquatic pathways cannot form any significant contributions to the radiation exposure dose of the public. The obtained results and data analysis of monitoring observations were used to substantiate the measures of the remediation strategy legacy site.

Groundwater Contamination by Gas Stations in Two Eastern Amazonian Towns (Northern Brazil)

The present study analyzed the presence of the principal volatile compounds of the BTEX type (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene [o-, m- and p-xylene]) in samples of water from wells located at residences and gas stations in two Amazonian towns—Tracuateua and Augusto Corrêa—in the Amazon region of northern Brazil. This innovative study is extremely relevant to the Amazonian towns surveyed, given that they lack systematic policies for the environmental control of gas stations and any municipal regulations on the quality of water destined for human consumption. A combination of mass spectrometry (MS) and gas chromatography (CG) techniques was applied to analyze these contaminants in 150 samples of local groundwater collected between 2020 and 2024. One of the four BTEX compounds (toluene) was identified in seven of the samples collected (4.66% of the total) at concentrations of 0.14–2.10 µg L−1. The concentrations of contaminants were low, in general. None of the water samples analyzed here presented any critical loss of water quality for human consumption according to the Brazilian legislation concerning BTEX concentrations. Neither of the two towns surveyed in the present study has remediation programs for environmental contamination. The GC-MS approach produced satisfactory results for the assessment of the contamination of underground water reserves by gas stations in both study towns. Further research (e.g., geophysical methods) will be necessary to determine the source of the contamination and its connection with the levels of toluene identified in the underground water sampled in these Amazonian towns.

Impacts of organic farming on the nitrogen balance in agricultural land of OECD countries: Evidence from panel ARDL approach

AbstractThe growing concern for health and the environment among individuals is anticipated to boost the demand for organic foods. However, there is a research gap in expanding field experiment results for the impact of organic farming to the real world. This study examines the causal relationship between nitrogen balance, organic farming area, agricultural land, and Gross Domestic Product per capita in 18 Organisation for Economic Co‐operation and Development countries from 2000 to 2019. By employing panel Autoregressive Distributed Lag, we found that a 1% increase in organic farming areas is associated with a 0.054% decrease in nitrogen balance in the long run. However, we found that the nitrogen balance increased by 0.392% and 0.487% with 1% expansion of agricultural farmland and economic development in the long run, respectively. Our findings will help policymakers develop or implement soil health management practices to reduce and maintain the amount of nitrogen in the environment. In addition, environmentally friendly raising livestock practices might be another consideration to improve nitrogen balance in livestock‐intensive countries. Finally, expanding agricultural land may not be an appropriate way to solve the problems of soil and underground water contamination.

Removal of heavy metal ions from industrial (mining) wastewater using electromagnetically activated carbonaceous sorbent

Mining wastewater, characterized by elevated salt levels, necessitates effective treatment to prevent contamination of underground and surface water. Traditional methods for treating large volumes of mining wastewater with high total dissolved solids are expensive, and cost-effective alternatives are limited. In this study, we propose a solution to this challenge: the sorption of dissolved substances using a carbonaceous sorbent derived from waste, specifically rice husk biochar. To enhance the sorbent’s efficiency, we subjected it to electromagnetic activation, resulting in increased carbon content (from 43.3 to 78.5 % compared to the initial biochar), reduced impurities, and particle size reduction to the nanoscale (1–50 nm) with the formation of mesopores (mean diameter from the adsorption isotherm is 167 Å) and micropores (4.92 Å). This process contributes to improved compositional homogeneity. The effectiveness of the proposed sorbent was validated through the treatment of wastewater from Kirov Mine (Novoshakhtinsk, Rostov Region) under laboratory conditions. The removal rates for dissolved heavy metal ions (iron, zinc, manganese) were found to be 89, 84 and 26 %, respectively. A recommended two-stage sorption treatment involves: (1) static sorption using electromagnetically treated rice husk biochar at a concentration of 0.5 g/dm3; (2) subsequent reagent treatment of the suspension (SKiF-180 reagent, 1.0 mg/dm3), addition of potassium permanganate for manganese removal, settling for 30 min, and non-pressure filtration with a rice husk biochar filter.

Experiences of Underground Mine Backfilling Using Mine Tailings Developed in the Andean Region of Peru: A Green Mining Solution to Reduce Socio-Environmental Impacts

In Peru, socio-environmental conflicts related to the development of mining-metallurgical processes and the responsible disposal of mine tailings have become central issues for accepting mining projects, especially regarding building relationships of trust with the communities. This condition has prompted the Peruvian mining industry to advance in managing alternatives to the conventional surface disposal of mine tailings. A promising and increasingly popular management strategy for mine tailings in Peru is their disposal inside underground mines. This article presents: site-specific conditions, advantages/disadvantages, and lessons learned from practical experiences of mine tailings disposal in underground mines in Peru. In addition, some techniques are highlighted, such as (i) hydraulic fill, (ii) cemented hydraulic fill, and (iii) cemented paste backfill. Finally, this article concludes that the responsible disposal of mine tailings in underground mines is a green mining solution that reduces negative socio-environmental impacts, limiting the generation of acid rock drainage (ARD) and the leaching of metals due to the decrease in contact with oxygen and rainfall, thus mitigating the contamination of surface and underground waters, reducing the footprint of affectation in the territory, and eliminating the emission of particulate matter in the environment.

Landfill leachate has multiple negative impacts on soil health indicators in Hyrcanian forest, northern Iran

The storage of municipal solid wastes in unengineered landfills poses a severe threat to soil functions and health. Wastes seriously threaten human health and the terrestrial ecosystem, especially due to heavy metals. There is a general knowledge gap about the long-term impacts of storage wastes on the soil health indicators which are effective on soil functions. This investigation focuses on the examination of landfill leachate on soil health indicators from different years in the Hyrcanian forest region in northern Iran. For this purpose, soil sampling was done in the summer of 2012 and 2022 (from three depths of 0–10, 10–20, and 20–30 cm and on a surface of 30 cm × 30 cm). Soil samples were randomly collected from a polluted forest used as waste storage and a nearby unpolluted protected forest. In addition to the general soil physical, chemical and biological parameters, the amounts of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in the soil were also measured. Simultaneously with soil sampling, earthworms (from a depth of 0–30 cm) were collected and identified. Also, the concentration of Cd and Pb in the earthworm's biomass were measured in the laboratory. We found that unpolluted sites had maximum values of N, K, P, and Ca than the polluted sites. In addition, a decrease of soil aggregates stability, nutrient contents, microbial and enzyme activities, and also fauna and microflora abundance were found in the polluted sites in the period 2012–2022. Soil Cd and Pb contents were more in the polluted site in 2022 compared to the unpolluted site. Lumbricus rubellus and Lumbricus terrestris earthworms had significantly higher population in the polluted sites and higher accumulation of Cd and Pb in biomass. According to our results, soil health decreased in the order unpolluted site 2022 > unpolluted site 2012 > polluted site 2012 > polluted site 2022, which corresponds with the reduction of soil health during the release of landfill leachate. This investigation contributes to understand landfill pollution derived from leachate and its effects on soil physical, chemical and biological parameters to help managing landfill leachate. Therefore, the main issue is choosing a landfill system that minimizes the risk of pollution, installing a leachate collection system and constructing a landfill with engineering principles that can reduce the effects of urban waste pollution on soil health. We emphasize that landfilling is dangerous for the environment, so the government should implement sanitary landfilling to prevent further contamination of surface and underground waters, as well as soil in the precious Hyrcanian forest.

Treatment of Uranium-Contaminated Ground Water Using Adsorption Technology via Novel Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles.

Contamination of underground water by uranium (U) and other heavy metals is a growing concern. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) have shown great potential as an adsorbent material for heavy metal removal. This study synthesized a novel MSN using surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) and evaluated its effectiveness for removing uranium from aqueous solutions under different conditions. The particle size was reduced to 150-240 nm to enhance adsorption. Fourier transform infrared characterization and thermogravimetric analysis confirmed successful synthesis and modification. Results showed that the MSN adsorbent was highly effective in removing U, with a removal rate of 85.35% at 120 min. Temperature had a significant impact, with the highest removal rate of 96.7% achieved at 25 °C and a U concentration of 10 ppm. The highest removal rate of 91.89% was achieved at a pH of 6 and a U concentration of 50 ppm. The highest removal rate of 95.16% was achieved at 25 mg and a U concentration of 50 ppm at room temperature for 60 min. The MSNs also showed a 58.27% removal rate in a mixture solution at room temperature for 60 min. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of the MSN adsorbent for removing U under different conditions.

Revealing the effect of an industrial flash flood on vegetation area: A case study of Khusheh Mehr in Maragheh-Bonab Plain, Iran

Floods are one of the most significant environmental hazards that can have harmful effects on agricultural activities and vegetation. The primary objective of this study is to analyze the destructive after-effects of an industrial flash flood on the vegetation of the Khusheh Mehr region. This flash flood occurred due to a break in the wastewater ponds of the Kaveh Soda factory on April 25, 2010. Using the Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) derived from time-series Landsat data over the period of 2000–2020, we analyzed the changes in wastewater ponds and regional vegetation before and after the wastewater flood occurred. We also investigate the quantitative and qualitative changes in vegetation during the past 20 years and detect the flood passage through this area. The results show that 538 ha out of the total 2123 ha of Khusheh Mehr were directly affected by the runoff resulting from the 2010 flood, and 1250000 m3 of industrial wastewater was discharged in the study area. The analysis of the vegetation in 2010 showed that during May and July, the efficiency and expansion of vegetation in these areas (NDVI >0.3) decreased by 90% and 55%, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2009 and 2006. The study is significant because it can help evaluate the effects of the flash flood not only on wastewater ponds and vegetation but also on the contamination of underground and surface waters as chemicals and industrial wastewater held in natural and artificial environments are discharged during a flood and directly affect vegetation. The findings can provide useful information for hazard and land use management and support policymakers, e.g., payment for financial loss of farmers.

Eco-friendly management of the flea beetle, <i>Podagrica</i> species (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) on okra (<i>Abelmoschus esculentus</i> (L.) Moench) with <i>Artemisia annua</i> L. seed extract

<p>Okra, grown and consumed in every ecological zone, is amongst the most sort after fruit vegetable crops in Nigeria. The crop is often infested by diverse field insect pests, especially the flea beetle <em>Podagrica</em> species, which impinges on its growth and productivity. The application of synthetic pesticides has been the generic insect pest control measure due to its touted effectiveness. These synthetics, however, has safety concerns which include; hazard to human health, amplification of toxins in the food chain, pest resurgence, domestic animals and human poisoning, environmental pollution, insect resistance, natural enemies destruction; springs, wells, rivers, and underground water contamination. Stakeholders are advocating an alternative management approach that is sustainable with less negative social and environmental impact. This study, therefore, compared the insecticidal efficacy of <em>Artemisia annua</em> (source of the antimalarial artemisinin) seed extract in comparison with Cypermethrin 10 EC, a synthetic insecticide, in controlling <em>Podagrica</em> species, the major field insect pests of okra. The trial was set out in a 7 x 4 factorial arrangement integrated into a randomized complete block design and replicated thrice. Cypermethrin 10 E.C was tested at 0.25 ml, 0.50 ml, and 0.70 ml/100 ml of water, while <em>Artemisia annua</em> extract was applied at 1.00 ml, 2.00 ml, and 3.00 ml/100 ml of water respectively. The control for both treatments was designated 0.0 ml. Data on leaf damage and flea beetle abundance were carried out from 4-10 weeks after planting (WAP) whilst the pods’ weight was measured at maturity. The result shows that i) the concentrations of Artemisia extract and Cypermethrin sprayed provided comparable protection to okra against the flea beetle; ii) the yield of okra (pod weight) does not vary between <em>Artemisia annua</em> extract and Cypermethrin treated plots; and iii) flea beetle infestations vary with okra developmental stages.</p>

Residence Awareness of Improper Disposal of Waste at dump site: A case study of New Igando community

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to investigate the level of residence awareness of improper disposal of waste at dumpsite in Igando Community.
 Methodology: This study is a descriptive survey design type because it is designed to determine the nature of a situation in this case. The data was collected using questionnaire.
 Findings: A greater percentage of the respondents understand the simple definition term for waste which was quiet encouraging. It shows that the respondents do not know the likely cause of the effects of improper waste disposal. Majority of the respondents indicated environmental pollution as the cause of the effect of improper waste management. The result of improper disposal of waste results to contamination of underground water, retarded growth in plant and animal, it attracts mosquitoes which cause malaria.
 Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study recommended that Upgrading of Solous landfill is highly recommended so as to guarantee the integrity of the groundwater quality in the vicinity. Markets for recycled materials need to be encouraged. A reliable waste collection service is needed and waste collection vehicles need to be appropriate to local conditions.

Utilization of various waste sources in Saudi Arabia as a new clean and renewable energy source: Adsorption of phenol pollutants and removal from petroleum industrial wastes via molecular dynamics simulation

The treatment of industrial wastewaters, especially petroleum wastewaters, has high environmental importance. In addition, in countries that suffer from water shortages, the recycling of wastewater is doubly important. Refineries are one of the centers that consume a lot of water, and if the industrial units do not pay attention to the preservation of the environment in their plan and operation, in expansion to the natural issues related to discuss and soil contamination, they too cause surface, and underground water contamination. In this regard, it seems necessary to use appropriate methods to remove toxic substances such as phenol from wastewater. Therefore, in this project, the adsorption prepare of phenol on the surface of a few transition-metal dichalcogenide (TMDs) has been examined utilizing molecular dynamics simulation. According to obtained results, CdSe2 is presenting as the leading adsorbent by having the most interaction with phenol molecules and also the adsorption stability. The results obtained from this work can pave the way for the use of TMDs in the treatment of petroleum wastewaters especially in Saudi Arabia.

Impact of leachate on quality of ground water around Chunga Landfill, Lusaka, Zambia and possible health risks

We report the characteristics and possible impact of leachate on quality of groundwater in the Chunga Landfill area of Lusaka, Zambia. Water and leachate samples were collected within and around the landfill for analysis. The pH, biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), nitrates, sulphates, chlorides for the leachate and groundwater samples were (6.6 ± 0.1 to 8.7 ± 0.0), (1.7 ± 0.3 to 1,569.6 ± 4.9 mg/L), (4.0 ± 0.0 to 10,378.5 ± 59.2 mg/L), (8.0 ± 0.0 to 37.7 ± 0.4 mg/L), (11.7 ± 0.0 to 273.1 ± 1.7 mg/L), (43.0 ± 1.2 to 974.2 ± 0.8 mg/L) respectively. Heavy metal concentration ranges were cadmium (0.004 ± 0.000 to 1.149 ± 0.021 mg/L, chromium (0.007 ± 0.000 to 2.699 ± 0.039 mg/L), copper (0.013 ± 0.002 to 0.246 ± 0.005 mg/L), lead (0.062 ± 0.005 to 2.591 ± 0.065 mg/L) and zinc (0.008 ± 0.001 to 2.032 ± 0.017 mg/L). The pH of the leachate (8.5 ± 0.0 to 8.7 ± 0.0) meant the landfill was in the methane fermentation phase. An indexing approach was used with the leachate pollution index (LPI) of 30.173, heavy metal pollution index (HPI) of 3,938.92. The heavy metal index (HMI) for copper, lead, chromium, cadmium and zinc were found to be 0.92, 1,124.19, 47.20, 994.17 and 1.48 respectively. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that anthropogenic activities contributed to pollution with high loading values. Ash from continuous burning of the waste may provide alkalinity which reduces leachate BOD and COD. Results showed that the landfill has outgrown the designed cells capacity as not all leachate was collected by the under-drainage. Results also showed that lack of adequate landfill cover significantly increases rainfall infiltration thereby increasing volumes of leachate produced with a, hence potential for underground water contamination and a human health and environmental problem.

Promoting natural cycle and environmental resilience: A pathway toward sustainable development

Disruption of ecosystem, following biodiversity loss, have all been attributed to climate change. Sustaining the natural cycle, amid environmental vulnerability, is a great task facing many nations today, most importantly, developing countries of the world. Several measures, earlier proposed in the literature, appear not to have mitigated the overbearing impact of climate change, in which their resultant catastrophes are now prevalent and unprecedented. The use of natural resources to produce lighter weight materials for building and automobile industries, have helped to conserve fossil fuel energy, no doubt, but this is without its shortcomings. These natural resources, which ought to be protected, are now been encroached, and in some cases, being a harbor for modern innovation. Adaptation of natural resources as a conservative measure, requires a synergy and clear-cut approach in the material value chain, in order to produce a comparative lighter component part. The use of biodegradable materials as the replacement part in many metallic materials, remains the best approach, no doubt, but how do we protect and conserve these natural resources, as they are being depleted for energy saving measures? In this scientific paper, the authors review existing practices, leading to environmental vulnerabilities and several measures fueling climate change crisis. Substantial part of the contributing factors are material composition and energy use. As human activities increase, the attendant interference on biodiversity and environment would be far-reaching and unpredictable, resulting in further disruption in the ecosystem. Natural resources, being our last resort, is now faced with extinction of large scale, and it is now of essence to bridge the identifiable gaps before the mother nature is completely destroyed. Some of these effects have already been felt in climatic weather changes, land degradation, greenhouse gas emission, contamination of underground water and biodiversity loss. The other leg of the gap is energy use, and how effective would developing and emerging countries leverage on energy transition in the face of technological and trust rivalry among nations of the world? This paper provides further measures in tandem with current realities, on how some of the existing conservation methods could be reinforced, in the light of myriad of ecological challenges threatening human existence. If natural resources, i.e., natural fibers, were to be used as energy saving measures, what would be the replenishment strategies and environmental impact assessment of such action, considering the dependence of man on these natural resources? Findings and conclusions drawn from this paper could be useful to researchers and would-be stakeholders in the climate adaptation policies and several other interest groups on preservation advocacy.

Urinary Malondialdehyde (MDA) and N-Acetyl-β-D-Glucosaminidase (NAG) Associated with Exposure to Trichloroethylene (TCE) in Underground Water.

Trichloroethylene (TCE) is commonly used in various industries. If wastewater in factories is not effectively treated, the inflow into and subsequent contamination of underground water is likely. Our study assessed the association of exposure to TCE in underground water with oxidative stress and renal tubule damage. We selected 579 residents from areas with underground water contaminated with TCE. Each participant was interviewed via a questionnaire. We also assessed their urinary trichloroacetic acid (TCA) levels by gas chromatography (GC)-FID. Urinary malondialdehyde (MDA) and N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) were taken as indicators of oxidative stress and renal tubule damage. We found about 73% of the residents to have consumed underground water. The average duration of consumption was 26 years, with an average of 1.6 L per day. Currently, only 1.5% of the residents still continuously consume underground water. The consumption of underground water positively correlated with heightened urinary TCA levels (r = 0.554). Heightened urinary TCA levels, in turn, were positively associated with NAG levels (r = 0.180) but negatively associated with MDA levels (r = −0.193). The results held even after we had segmented urinary TCA levels into three groups of different levels. The elimination of the source of heightened TCE levels from various industrial effluents is essential. Residents exposed to TCE-laden underground water should periodically undergo health inspections.

Evaluation of the efficiency and environmental impact (on subsoil and groundwater) of underground block leaching (UBL) of metals from ores

One of the most problematic aspects of underground block leaching (UBL) of metals from ores is the possibility of pollution of water and air in the affected zone. Therefore, proving the possibility of mitigating environmental impact of metal leaching from ores by managing production processes with the implementation of nature- and resource-saving technologies is an important objective. The purpose of this study is to justify underground development effectiveness of ore deposits by traditional and integrated methods with leaching of metals from substandard and off-balance ores. This will allow the raw material base for extraction of metals from off-balance ores to be expanded and the environmental impact on subsoil and groundwater (hydrogeological systems) to be mitigated. A distinctive feature of a UBL (underground site for leaching of metals from shrunk ores) is that leaching solutions are supplied from sorption column placed in mining workings of the leaching level in the immediate vicinity of the extracting block. The pregnant solutions in the form of resin are discharged from the sorption column, placed in the leaching level mine workings, then winded in mine cars and further supplied to hydrometallurgical plant in tanks. A still rare attempt to justify the efficiency and environmental safety of underground metal leaching (UBL) from off-balance and substandard rock ores in installations mounted in mine workings, on the basis of monitoring and evaluation of subsoil and groundwater conditions was investigated. The average value of uranium concentration by level was established: 210 m – 3.6 mg/L; 225 m – 3.58 mg/L; 280 m – 0.91 mg/L. At the same time no contamination of underground mine waters was detected. Levels of sulfuric acid aerosols and radon decomposition products did not exceed the maximum allowable concentration (MAC) values. It is recommended that the hydrogeological environment be protected through silting the bottom of the stope for collection of pregnant solutions with clay mud and construct semi-active water-permeable chemically active barriers. The mentioned BIL process was implemented during the development of pilot block 5-86 and recommended for blocks 5-84-86 and 5-88-90 of Michurinskoye deposit of SE VostGOK, Ukraine, as well as during for development of ore deposits in Russia, Kazakhstan, and other developed mining countries.

THE LITHOLOGICAL MODEL OF THE SUPRASALT COMPLEX OF THE SOLOTVYNО SALT DOME STRUCTURE

Solotvyno rock salt deposit is one of the large deposits in Ukraine. From the mid-90s at the deposit started to accumulate problems that have led to a dangerous environmental technogenic situation that has acquired the emergency status on the state level in 2010. In particular, destroying of the landscape, its degradation as a result of uncontrolled salt karst development, contamination of surface and underground water, threaten the cross-border contamination of the Tisza River. Definition of risks and management decisions to minimize the effects emergency situation should be based on an analysis of its causes. In the article the results of the analysis of geological and exploration activities that accompanied the development of Solotvyno salt dome structure resources; compiled, structured and processed layered multiscale geological information. Hierarchical database has been created and used to develop elements of the Solotvyno structure integrated geological model first iteration (the model of the earth’s surface, structure and tectonic of salt dome, hydrogeological and technological component of the geological environment). Constructions were performed using GIS applications, designed, adapted and improved authors methodic. Solotvyno structure integrated digital geological model has been proposed as a tool for evaluation of geoecological state determination measures to restore equilibrium in the geological environment analysis and evaluation of project technical decisions on the use of salt resources. Analysis of the first iteration model indicates the absence of the modern geological information on the geological environment №t only for ensure the accuracy of model constructions for all Solotvyno salt dome structure, but also to determine the critical parameters of the geological environment. The complex of geological and exploration activities for new geological information and improve the reliability of constructions has been proposed.

A Study on the Impact of Unconventional (and Conventional) Drilling on Housing Prices in Central Oklahoma

Shale energy development activity may benefit some aspects of a regional economy (such as increased jobs or tax revenue); however, there may also be negative impacts to the local environment, such as noise and underground water contamination. We study the impact of unconventional drilling activity on housing price in an area of the country with a long history of crude oil production. A prospective home buyer may want to avoid a place near sites that have been drilled using unconventional drill technologies such as horizontal fracturing. Adopting a hedonic price model, we estimate the impact of distance to and density of unconventional drilling on housing prices in two central counties in Oklahoma during the period 2001–2016. We also apply a semiparametric approach to deal with the possibility that the relationship between an environmental pollutant source and housing price is nonlinear. The empirical results are consistent in terms of physical housing characteristics and locational aspects in all cases, with drilling activity having only a minimal effect in benchmark models. Further, the semiparametric estimation results support the findings that drilling activity has only limited impacts on local housing prices.

Exploring Text Mining for Recent Consumer and Sensory Studies about Alternative Proteins.

Increased meat consumption has been associated with the overuse of fresh water, underground water contamination, land degradation, and negative animal welfare. To mitigate these problems, replacing animal meat products with alternatives such as plant-, insect-, algae-, or yeast-fermented-based proteins, and/or cultured meat, is a viable strategy. Nowadays, there is a vast amount of information regarding consumers’ perceptions of alternative proteins in scientific outlets. Sorting and arranging this information can be time-consuming. To overcome this drawback, text mining and Natural Language Processing (NLP) are introduced as novel approaches to obtain sensory data and rapidly identify current consumer trends. In this study, the application of text mining and NLP in gathering information about alternative proteins was explored by analyzing key descriptive words and sentiments from n = 20 academic papers. From 2018 to 2021, insect- and plant-based proteins were the centers of alternative proteins research as these were the most popular topics in current studies. Pea has become the most common source for plant-based protein applications, while spirulina is the most popular algae-based protein. The emotional profile analysis showed that there was no significant association between emotions and protein categories. Our work showed that applying text mining and NLP could be useful to identify research trends in recent sensory studies. This technique can rapidly obtain and analyze a large amount of data, thus overcoming the time-consuming drawback of traditional sensory techniques.

Assessment of Bacterial Communities in a Heavy Metal Contaminated Underground Water in Ikwo Salt Mining Site

Heavy metal contamination of underground water due to natural and anthropogenic sources is a global environmental concern. Microbial remediation of a hydrocarbon-contaminated site can be accomplished with the help of a diverse group of microorganisms. The objectives of this project were to determine the bacterial diversity in a heavy metal contaminated region of Enyigba, Ebonyi state. Four samples were collected from the study area (Royal Mining Salt, Enyigba) and a control from Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi state in triplicates. The probable tolerant genera were identified using Enterotube which was based on biochemical reactions. The physico-chemical parameters were analyzed and the different concentrations of heavy metals (Zinc, lead, Cadmium, Chromium and Arsenic) were determined using AAS (Atomic Absorption Spectrometer) and its corresponding effects on bacterial communities were determined using the statistical package IBM SPSS Version 22.0. The dominant genera isolated were Pseudomonas spp, Acinetobacter spp, Vibrio spp, and Enterobacter spp in descending order of abundance. The most tolerant genera were subsequently utilized by examining their potential to degrade hydrocarbon. This was achieved by checking the abilities of the isolates to produce biosurfactant and calculating the emulsification index. Pseudomonas spp (86%) was found to have the highest index, followed by Acinetobacter spp (67%). The presence of Sulphate reducing bacteria (SRB) and Acid producing bacteria (APB) were confirmed using API RP-38 and ZPRA-5 test broth respectively. Their presence was attributed to the high concentration of sulphate. This study summarizes the potentials of microbes in hydrocarbon degradation.

Optimising pyrolysis conditions for high-quality biochar production using black soldier fly larvae faecal-derived residue as feedstock

The disposal of feacal matter from Urine Diversion Dry Toilets is a significant challenge due to limited land availability, possible underground water contamination, and the risk of spreading diseases. The collected faecal matter can be fed to Black Soldier Fly Larvae to produce protein-rich larvae used as animal feed. The disposal of the leftover waste (BSFL residue) is still a problem due to the risk of residual pathogen contamination. The BSFL residue contains residual plant nutrients and can be further processed into biochar. Faecal matter biochar offers an exciting value proposition where the pyrolysis process guarantees a 100% pathogen elimination. It also results in significant waste reduction in transport, storage weight, and volume. A preliminary study was conducted to (i) optimise pyrolysis conditions (optimal temperature treatment and residence time) for biochar production using residue obtained after faecal matter from urine diversion dry toilets was fed to black soldier fly larvae as feedstock; and (ii) determine the physicochemical and morphological characteristics of biochar produced. The residue was pyrolysed at 300, 400, and 500 °C and characterised for chemical, biological and physical characteristics. Surface area (6.61 m2 g−1), pore size, and C: N (9.28) ratio increased at 500 °C for 30 min. Exchangeable bases, (Calcium) Ca, (Magnesium) Mg, (Potassium) K, and (Sodium) Na increased with increasing pyrolysis temperature. The increase in basic cations resulted in an increase in pH from 6.7 in the residue to 9.8 in biochar pyrolysed at 500 °C. Biochar pyrolysed at 500 °C can therefore be used to improve acidic soils. Phosphorus increased with increasing pyrolysis temperature to 3 148 mg kg−1 at 500 °C. Biochar produced at 500 °C for 30 min had desirable characteristics: surface area, exchangeable bases, and pH. Also, biochar can be used as a phosphorus source with potential for crop production, although an external nitrogen source is needed to meet crop nutrient requirements.