Ecological Degradation Research Articles

Challenges for Biomass Production in the Context of an Expansion of Biogas Plants

Abstract The evolution of European states is based on access to information and knowledge, as well as innovative methods. Thus, the European states began to be more and more aware of the fact that protecting the environment and preventing the destruction of ecosystems are the key elements for progress. Current thinking is based on the continuous transformation of resources towards a finished product. Green energy has become a subject of major importance for all countries of the world and they are constantly trying to find new methods of its production, as well as the constant improvement of existing methods. Part of this market for energy produced from renewable resources is biogas. Biogas is produced by fermenting organic waste of vegetable or animal origin in the absence of oxygen. Biogas consists of methane gas and carbon dioxide. It can be used like any other fuel, having the same properties. Biogas can feed a mini cogeneration plant and simultaneously produce heat, hot water and electricity. This renewable energy is considered CO2-neutral and is an environmentally friendly alternative as a wide variety of residues can be transformed into biogas. For most countries with highly developed agriculture, this alternative can be an affordable option in terms of cost, efficiency and return on investment in the medium and long term. Speaking in the short term, this is difficult to evaluate, given all the factors involved in the process: from inputs to outputs. The perspectives in this sense seem to be quite advantageous if we look at the whole, namely, the decarbonization at the European level, but the legislative and logistical barriers make the situation more and more complex. The legislation regarding biogas production is adapted to the economic-social context of each country, but the entire logistics part is the responsibility of the producer. Here comes a major problem for many potential producers: "how, when and how much" must be done for a biogas station to operate constantly, without interruptions from a logistical point of view. This article aims to find solutions for the flow of raw materials for potential investors in this renewable energy segment to be as cost efficient as possible and at the same time to provide predictability in production. The methodology of this paper is based on a comparative analysis of studies and indicators. The literature in this field is becoming more and more extensive, as interest in this direction has been growing recently. This paper aims to analyze whether this direction towards biogas can be the optimal option for most European countries and the key to a sustainable energy source.

The impact of estuarine flushing on greenhouse gases: A study of the stratified Clyde estuary

Estuaries and coastal waters are sensitive to ecological degradation but receive some of the highest levels of pollutants. One impact of these pollutants is increased greenhouse gas generation, which is significant, but difficult to estimate due to high variability and data paucity. This paper investigates key controls on methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) in the urban, mesotidal, stratified Clyde estuary, Scotland, between January 2020 and October 2022. Measurements covered the estuary longitudinally, through tidal cycles and across the river-estuary transition. Dissolved CH4 and N2O were always supersaturated relative to air exhibiting strong spatial and temporal variability. Estuary surface freshwater layer CH4 concentrations were positively correlated with turbidity and exceeded 5.4 μmol l−1. Lower saline layer CH4 concentrations exceeded 10.8 μmol l−1 and were highest after freshwater flushing events. The CH4 concentrations decreased exponentially with salinity persistence (time since last freshwater flushing event), reducing by 50% after 10 days of continuously saline water. Salinity persistence likely provides a tipping point between the dominance of different microbial communities. Considering the persistence of saline conditions can explain much of the previously reported variability in estuarine CH4. In the surface freshwater layer, N2O exceeded 0.15 μmol l−1, while in the lower saline layer N2O exceeded 0.21 μmol l−1, despite lower dissolved nitrogen, increasing the N2O per unit available nitrogen. There was a significant inverse exponential correlation (R2 = 0.96) between N2O and dissolved oxygen in the lower layer, with low oxygen driving elevated N2O concentrations. This study provides unique insights into the conditions that generate CH4 and N2O in a stratified urban-impacted estuary.

Synthesis of Zr/La-BTC Bimetallic Metal-Organic Framework (MOF) for Oleic Acid Esterification

Biodiesel plays an essential role in renewable energy as an alternative fuel to tackle the challenges of global warming, environmental degradation, and alternative fossil fuels. Oleic acid can be converted into biodiesel by the esterification process, which employs heterogeneous catalysts such as metal-organic frameworks (MOF). In this study, Zr/La-BTC MOFs were used as different kinds of catalysts to change oleic acid into biodiesel. The characterization results of Zr-BTC, La-BTC, and Zr/La-BTC using FTIR and XRD show that the MOF has been successfully formed. The crystallite sizes for La-BTC, and Zr/La-BTC MOFs are 15.7407 nm and 39.0392 nm, respectively. The surface area of Zr-BTC, La-BTC, and Zr/La-BTC MOFs are 167.101 m2/g, 12.328 m2/g, and 4.764 m2/g. The morphology of Zr-BTC MOF using SEM is irregular, La-BTC is rod-shaped crystal, and Zr/La-BTC is like a knot bond with a narrow waist. The most optimal reaction was obtained at a 5% (w/w) catalyst dosage of total oleic acid and methanol (1:60 mol), 65 °C, and a reaction time of 4 hours, producing 78.11% oleic acid conversion. GC-MS analysis identified that the biodiesel contains oleic acid, palmitic acid, methyl oleate, and methyl palmitate.

Embracing ambivalence: responsibility discourses around ‘greening’ the performing arts

ABSTRACT How does the performing arts sector feel about the need to ‘green’ the performing arts? A sense of urgency around climate change and ecological degradation is informing profound changes in the way the arts field sees itself and inducing a debate around sustainability and the arts’ perception of responsibility. Despite the undeniable planetary emergency, the lumping together of environmental issues and artistic practices remains complex and controversial, demanding careful examination. By exploring the preliminary results of a nation-wide inquiry and workshops within artistic institutions based in Portugal, this paper discusses the overarching challenge of environmental sustainability, examining the ways in which ecological responsibility is apprehended and justified, and seeking to contribute to a more nuanced and context-sensitive understanding of the ‘green transition’.

Climate Change, Environment, and Health: The implementation and initial evaluation of a longitudinal, integrated curricular theme and novel competency framework at Harvard Medical School

Climate change, air pollution, and ecological degradation impact health through numerous, complex mechanisms. To train future physicians to understand these impacts, medical schools can deliver longitudinal climate curricula in undergraduate medical education, but the field remains nascent. This report describes the development, implementation, and evaluation of the longitudinal, integrated Climate Change, Environment, and Health curricular theme and novel competency framework at Harvard Medical School (HMS). A group of HMS students collaborated with faculty to integrate climate content into the pre-clerkship curriculum. The team subsequently pursued institutional recognition as a formal HMS curricular theme and created a new competency framework that guided curriculum integration mapping and evaluation tool development. The competencies cover the impact of climate change, air pollution, and ecological degradation on health in the context of historical and structural inequities and explore the role of healthcare in contributing to both climate change and solutions. A retrospective, eight-item survey using a seven-point Likert scale and two open-ended questions was administered at the end of the pre-clerkship curriculum. HMS approved a required, four-year Climate Change, Environment, and Health curricular theme in January 2023. Survey data from 100/134 (74.6%) study participants showed that most students agreed (somewhat agree/agree/strongly agree) the curricular theme was valuable (76.0%) and improved their understanding of the health impacts of climate change (80.0%). Most students agreed that their abilities in the five competencies improved because of exposure to the curricular theme. Qualitative comments indicated that students found the curriculum valuable, and also provided constructive feedback. Efforts to expand the curriculum to all four years of medical school and conduct further evaluation continue. Further scholarship is needed to present different curricular approaches and competency frameworks, which can ultimately support effective training of future physicians to understand and respond to the impacts of climate change on health and health equity.

THE RIGHT TO A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT IN INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAW

The exercise of human rights is adversely affected by environmental degradation. Nevertheless, linking human rights to the right to a healthy environment is just one aspect of this right. The other aspect is environmental degradation, which currently does not negatively affect human rights. However, these environmental degradations may adversely affect human rights in the long term. This broader right covers ecological and ecosystem degradation, development, and protection in this context. A safe, clean, healthy, and sustainable environment was recognized as a fundamental human right for the first time ever on a global scale with the adoption of the UN General Assembly's resolution. There are only a few conventions that directly contain this right. However, it does not follow that other accords do not also safeguard this righ.This study aims to define the concept and ascertain to what extent the right to a healthy environment is protected by international law.

Traumatogenic metaphors and religious motifs in Niger Delta ecopoetry

The Niger Delta has been a site of trauma as a result of decades of non-stop environmental pollution. Existing studies have explored the socio-political and economic implications of pollution and its quotidian impact on the lived experiences of the people. This study, however, focuses on ecopoetry as a genre that reflects, and reflects on, the trauma of ecological degradation and the spiritual implications for the Niger Delta. By doing so, it explores traumatogenic metaphors and religious motifs in ecopoetry from the region. This informs the purposive selection of two Niger Delta poetry collections—Tanure Ojaide’s Songs of Myself: Quartet (2015) and Stephen Kekeghe’s Rumbling Sky (2020). The poems are subjected to critical literary analysis, undergirded by Jacob Olupona’s perspective of ecology of religion and Stef Craps’ trauma theory, to examine how the impact of environmental degradation on the mental health and spiritual well-being of the people is poetically addressed. (This article is published in the thematic collection ‘African ecologies: literary, cultural and religious perspectives’, edited by Adriaan van Klinken, Simon Manda, Damaris Parsitau and Abel Ugba.)

Vertical water renewal and dissolved oxygen depletion in a semi-enclosed Sea

The limited water renewal in semi-enclosed seas may contribute to the oxygen deficiency and thereby may exacerbate the ecological degradation. Previous research has focused more on horizontal water renewal, while the role of vertical water renewal remains poorly documented despite its significance to the bottom oxygen supply. This study explores the vertical water renewal process in the Bohai Sea, a semi-enclosed sea prone to oxygen deficiency, by developing a water age model, incorporated into a developed Delft3D hydrodynamic model. Findings unveiled the key role of thermal stratification, tides, and winds on vertical water renewal. Results revealed significant spatial heterogeneity and seasonal variations in water age in the Bohai Sea. During summer, stratified from the upper water column, the deep basin water age can reach up to 30 days. Thermal stratification was crucial in regulating vertical water renewal, acting as a constraint and impediment. Spring tides and neap tides can positively and negatively influence vertical water renewal by strengthening and weakening thermal stratification, respectively. Wind forces intensified the vertical water exchange by changing the flow field structure. Additionally, higher bottom water age coincides with the oxygen-poor areas and deep-water regions. Based on this, we employed the product of the oxygen consumption rate and the bottom water age (oxygen consumption duration) to approximate oxygen depletion. This method was applied to successfully estimate vertical oxygen depletion in the Bohai Sea. The findings will serve environmental management and oxygen-poor attribution analysis.

Evaluation method for ecology-agriculture-urban spaces based on deep learning

With the increasing global population and escalating ecological and farmland degradation, challenges to the environment and livelihoods have become prominent. Coordinating urban development, food security, and ecological conservation is crucial for fostering sustainable development. This study focuses on assessing the "Ecology-Agriculture-Urban" (E-A-U) space in Yulin City, China, as a representative case. Following the framework proposed by Chinese named "environmental capacity and national space development suitability evaluation" (hereinafter referred to as "Double Evaluation"), we developed a Self-Attention Residual Neural Network (SARes-NET) model to assess the E-U-A space. Spatially, the northwest region is dominated by agriculture, while the southeast is characterized by urban and ecological areas, aligning with regional development patterns. Comparative validations with five other models, including Logistic Regression (LR), Naive Bayes (NB), Gradient Boosting Decision Trees (GBDT), Random Forest (RF) and Artificial Neural Network (ANN), reveal that the SARes-NET model exhibits superior simulation performance, highlighting it’s ability to capture intricate non-linear relationships and reduce human errors in data processing. This study establishes deep learning-guided E-A-U spatial evaluation as an innovative approach for national spatial planning, holding broader implications for national-level territorial assessments.

Assessment and Simulation of Urban Ecological Environment Quality Based on Geographic Information System Ecological Index

The urban ecological environment is crucial to the quality of life of residents and the sustainable development of the region, and the assessment and prediction of the ecological environment quality can provide a scientific guidance for ecological environment management and improvement. We proposed a novel approach to assess and simulate the urban ecological environment quality using the Geographic Information System Ecological Index (GISEI). First, we calculated the remote sensing ecological index (RSEI) for Xi’an in 2020. Second, we selected land use data, mean annual temperature, and mean annual relative humidity as ecological indicators. We regressed these indicators on the RSEI to obtain the GISEI of Xi’an in 2020. Finally, we simulated the GISEI of Xi’an in 2030 by predicting the ecological indicators and analyzed the changes in the ecological environment quality. The results of the study show that the ecological environment quality in Xi’an in 2020 is better overall. By 2030, most of the ecological environment quality in Xi’an will be worse, and the proportion of the excellent area will decrease from 42.8% to 3.8%. The more serious ecological degradation is mainly located in the regions bordering the Qinling Mountains and the Guanzhong Plain, and the ecological environment quality in most areas of the Qinling Mountains will deteriorate from excellent to good.

International container intermodal competitiveness: An empirical study from Chinese hub ports

The global energy crisis and environmental degradation have prompted ports to strive for green transformation. Intermodal transport, as a green and efficient form of organization in the transport sector, currently has a lot of room for development. How can the competitiveness of intermodal transport be enhanced while realizing the green sustainability of ports? This study objectively evaluates the competitiveness of international container intermodal competitiveness of hub ports and analyzes the characteristics of 16 Chinese ports from 2011 to 2020. The obstacle degree model (ODM) and the panel Tobit model considering random effects are utilized to explore the complex multidimensional elements affecting the competitiveness of intermodal transport in ports. In addressing the imbalanced characteristics of intermodal transport in ports, a variety of augmentation pathways are devised using the dynamic multi-time period fuzzy-sets qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) method. The results found that: (1) The competitiveness of intermodal transport in ports shows a “three echelons” structure, requiring the implementation of appropriate augmentation strategies. (2) Elements affecting the competitiveness of intermodal transport in ports are multidimensional, underscoring the significance of holistically considering internal and external elements. (3) The key to enhancing the competitiveness of intermodal transport in ports lies in striking a balance between economic development and prudent attention to multiple dimensions to ensure sustainability. This study enriches the empirical research on intermodal transport in ports. It provides valuable references for ports seeking new avenues of growth and for governments with effective management practices.

Evolution of an arid social-ecosystem with different water utilization spanning 12,000 years

Understanding the regime shifts of social-ecological systems (SES) and their local and spillover effects over time is crucial for ensuring future sustainability. However, limited research has focused on regime changes in SES under different modes of water resource utilization. In this study, we employ a concise theoretical framework to analyze regime shifts in the arid Tarim River Basin, considering changes in SES components. Additionally, we explore the drivers and local and regional effects of these shifts. The regime shifts in SES are categorized into four evolutionary phases: “Low productivity,” “Slow population expansion,” “Rapid environmental destruction,” and “Ecological restoration and improvement” over the past 12,000 years. The reciprocal coupling of SES components plays a vital role in determining the regime of SES, which is heavily influenced by the utilization of water resources and the degradation of the environment. While increasing water consumption is a core factor leading to environmental destruction, it also drives socioeconomic growth. During the process of SES shift, the rational allocation and use of water resources can shape an ideal regime that promotes regional ecosystem restoration. The empirical connections between the different phases of SES in the regime shift, their drivers, and their adverse or beneficial impacts provide valuable insights for sustainable SES management. Lessons from basin management that solely pursues single goals and focuses on local aspects, without considering these connections, have significant implications for long-term planning and policy formulation in arid basins worldwide.

Exploring the underwater life in transitional environments: Benthic foraminifera, ostracods, and dinoflagellate cysts – Biotic trends and EcoQS assessment in the Mar Piccolo of Taranto (Ionian sea, southern Italy)

Coastal areas have historically thrived as centers of human activities due to their resources, economic opportunities, and natural allure. The rapid growth of coastal populations has however brought forth a multitude of challenges to tackle, with pollution emerging as a significant and far-reaching issue. Our study focuses on the Mar Piccolo of Taranto (Ionian Sea, Southern Italy), a lagoon-like coastal basin (separated in two sub-basins) that, since decades, has been heavily affected by human activities and aquaculture, leading to environmental deterioration. Although past studies have looked at environmental conditions in the Mar Piccolo from a chemical perspective, the biological component (e.g., biological indicators) has been mostly neglected. In this study, we firstly aim to examine the distribution and diversity of foraminifera, ostracods, and dinoflagellate cysts in December 2016 and compare our findings with data collected in December 2011. Foraminiferal and ostracod communities exhibit similar patterns in the two sampling campaigns, while the communities of encysted dinoflagellates show differences concerning both densities and diversity. Then, we evaluate the Ecological Quality Status (EcoQS) using ecological indices. While the indices in the inner basin appear to reflect an actual ecological degradation, they yield conflicting results in the outer basin. In the outer basin, indeed, the indices overestimate the EcoQS. This study highlights the potential of these indices for characterizing the EcoQS but emphasizes the need for improvements in their reliability. This research also contributes to a more holistic understanding of environmental condition in the Mar Piccolo and underscores the importance of integrating biological quality elements into ecosystem management and remediation strategies.

Quantifying Environmental Degradation through Renewable Energy, Financial Development and Economic Sustainability: Insights from Panel Quantile Regression Analysis

The degradation of the environment is a global concern that needs serious attention, including the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis. This article examines the effects of renewable energy, financial development and economic sustainability on the environmental quality of newly industrialized countries (NICs) from 1998 to 2021 in light of the increasing severity of environmental problems associated with industrialization. This study utilized different panel cointegration estimation techniques and panel quantile regression (PQR) estimates to obtain robust findings by examining the variance of each quantile. The results of the cointegration tests confirm the long-run relationship among the variables. Nevertheless, the outcomes from the PQR unveiled that renewable energy negatively and significantly influences CO2 emissions in NICs, namely in the lower and middle quantiles (20th–50th). Financial development showed heterogeneity in the results of all the quantiles. It results in an increase in CO2 emissions from the 70th to 90th quantiles in NICs. The EKC hypothesis is relevant to these findings as this study presents the economic sustainability index, which postulates that when NICs achieve sustainability, they give greater importance to environmental preservation and sustainability. This shift is characterized by reduced emissions throughout all quantiles, ranging from the 10th to the 90th. Economic sustainability corresponds to the falling part of the U-shaped curve of the EKC, wherein sustainability gets priority, resulting in reduced CO2 emissions. Analogous results have been confirmed by comparing heterogeneous panel estimators; nonetheless, there was a significant variation in the intensity of their parameters. Moreover, the robustness analysis through quantile slope equality and symmetric quantiles tests proved legitimate results. The study’s findings offer policymakers with valuable policy recommendations. JEL Codes: C1, F36, F43, O44, Q56

Global movements for accelerating climate change action: the case of Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration

ABSTRACT Much can be learned from burgeoning climate action movements in thousands of majority world rural communities. Land degradation has increased the vulnerability of over three billion people to famine, food insecurity, water shortages, and increasingly severe weather events, trapping climate-vulnerable communities in vicious cycles of impoverishment. Yet, many communities are learning through local climate action how to escape these cycles. We offer the case of Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) as one example to understand the conditions under which impoverished rural communities address ecological degradation. Combining simple reforestation action with a community engagement approach enables farming households using FMNR to regreen their landscapes, increase food security, reduce poverty, increase resilience to climate change and transform rural development. Communities in at least 29 countries are practising FMNR, reforesting tens of millions of hectares of land, strengthening communities, and restoring landscapes. Synergies between FMNR and faith-based moral principles help boost its embrace. Across the majority world, moral imagination and reasoning help motivate emotions that sustain farmers’ local action through their hope of a better future and scale up globally important community-based agricultural movements. Such collective action movements harness synergies between climate justice, poverty reduction, and human flourishing.

Natural resources as a double-edged sword towards ecological quality: Can environmental regulations and green human capital rectify the adverse impacts?

Natural resources are the backbone of any economy and the bedrock of ecological health. However, the relentless exploitation of these resources has given rise to ecological degradation. This threatens ecosystem stability, presenting the urgent need to balance natural resource utilization with ecological integrity. Environmental regulations and green human capital are pivotal in striking this balance and progressing towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Therefore, this study explores how natural resources impact ecological quality in Ghana from 1990 to 2019 within the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) framework, considering the role of environmental regulations and green human capital. The study employs the novel dynamic ARDL simulation method, presenting insights that diverge from patterns noted in previous studies. The study's findings reveal that natural resources intensify ecological quality in the short term but degrade ecological quality over the long term. Environmental regulation reduces ecological harm, while green human capital negatively impacts ecological quality. Environmental regulation and green human capital undesirably and beneficially impact how natural resources relate to ecological quality, with the undesirable effects occurring in the short term and the beneficial effects emerging over the long term. Further, a U-shaped relationship is observed between economic growth and ecological pollution in the short term, which transforms into an inverted U-shaped relationship in the long term, thus validating the EKC hypothesis in Ghana. The study concludes by recommending the implementation and enforcement of environmental regulations as a pathway toward achieving ecological quality and SDGs, particularly SDG 13, SDG 12, and SDG 7.

Enhancing sustainability: Exploring the evolution and dynamics of the grassland social-ecological system in Inner Mongolia over the past 260a

Understanding the intricate relationship between social-ecological systems (SES) coupling and long-term regional sustainable development is critical for effective management strategies. While recent research has predominantly focused on human-earth coupling, there is a dearth of knowledge concerning the transition of grassland SES from one regime to another and the underlying drivers. This study employs a comprehensive SES framework to identify and analyze interactions within typical pastoral areas of Inner Mongolia, aiming to shed light on the evolution of the grassland SES over the past centuries. Our research defines five distinct evolutionary phases in the grassland SES since the mid-Qing Dynasty. Each phase is characterized by unique social and ecological features, providing a nuanced understanding of the system's dynamics. We establish empirical links between the phases and their driving forces and impacts by assessing the main changes between these periods. Specifically, our findings reveal instances of negative cross-scale effects emerging during the evolution process. We observe that unreasonable resource utilization and an inability to curb ecological degradation may lead to unsustainable traps, posing challenges to long-term sustainability. To illustrate, during the transition from Phase 3 to Phase 4 in the late 19th century, a shift towards sedentary pastoralism led to increased land degradation due to intensified grazing practices. This unsustainable trajectory highlights the importance of adaptive management strategies to mitigate such negative consequences. This study contributes insights into the social and ecological management of grassland pastoral areas in China and for global analogous regions. By addressing the identified phases and their associated challenges, our research provides a foundation for crafting sustainable policies and practices to ensure the resilience of grassland SES in diverse geographical contexts.

Environmental DNA can inform the trade‐off between proactive and reactive strategies for crayfish conservation

AbstractThe introduction of the signal crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus to British rivers has led to ecological degradation and the decline of the native white‐clawed crayfish Austropotamobius pallipes. To manage and mitigate the impact of the signal crayfish, conservation agencies and government bodies employ multiple conservation strategies. These take the form of proactive native crayfish breeding and stocking programs and reactive invasive crayfish control programs. Here, we used eDNA to assess the populations of native and invasive crayfish species across 50 sites in 10 river catchments in Norfolk, United Kingdom (UK). The sites were chosen to enable assessment of the potential of eDNA to inform proactive and reactive crayfish conservation strategies. Three of the catchments sampled were selected to assess the success of recent A. pallipes reintroduction, whereas the remaining seven were selected to better understand the distribution of each species at the landscape scale. Combining results of eDNA‐based methods with net searches within an occupancy model enabled us to confidently determine the presence of P. leniusculus at eight sites, and A. pallipes at three sites, which was more than visual searches alone (five and two study sites, respectively). Neither eDNA nor net searches detected A. pallipes at sites where A. pallipes had been reintroduced. We recommend that practitioners using eDNA‐based surveys for management and conservation of crayfish should consider: (1) designing eDNA surveys with an emphasis on large spatial scales to comprehensively describe the distributions of native and invasive crayfish in a region of interest; (2) work with local conservation organizations and/or government bodies to inform the selection of study sites to generate results that are meaningful to real‐world conservation actions; and (3) use results from eDNA‐based crayfish surveys to target limited conservation resources to appropriate proactive and/or reactive conservation actions.

Artisanal gold mining in guinea and security concerns

One of the continents richest in gold reserves is Africa. According to the World Bank, about 20 % of gold in African countries is still mined using artisanal methods. There is no officially recognized, generally accepted definition of artisanal small-scale gold mining. In essence, artisanal or small-scale gold mining is a labor-intensive, financially and technologically underdeveloped gold mining activity. Artisanal gold mining can be either informal, illegal, without state permission, or formal (legalized, streamlined). In the modern world, artisanal mining in African countries is experiencing rapid growth after their liberation from colonial oppression. The paper examines the environmental costs or ecological footprint of artisanal gold mining, such as: mercury intoxication of ecosystems, gold miners and local populations; deforestation, destruction of ecosystems; pollution of watercourses; industrial injuries and occupational diseases of gold miners; crime and social instability. Practical recommendations for improving safety are given.

Assessment of Societal Health Risks: Spatial Distribution and Potential Hazards of Toxic Metals in Street Dust Across Diverse Communities

On a global scale, the urban design of city centers is a topic of discussion concerning various aspects such development and its impact on public health. This research examines the health effects of urban agglomeration in city centers with compact, close development. In this work, the potentially toxic metals in street dust were studied by collecting and measuring street dust samples, measuring trace metal concentrations, and using index assessment, spatial analysis, correlation analysis, and health risk assessment models. Eskişehir, located in the part of Central Anatolia close to the Aegean region, west Türkiye, has been widely recognized as one of the most popular, known for having many narrow and old buildings in urban environments. The present paper investigates the atmospheric dust-related chemical speciation, urban environmental pollution, and human health risks in Eskişehir City by studying 66 dust samples collected at 11 points in the selected streets in August 2023. the study found that the concentrations of trace elements followed the order Cr > Ni > Pb > Cd > Cu. The primary source of these high levels is believed to be traffic-related contamination involving Cd, Pb, and Ni. The assessment of non-carcinogenic health risks has shown that the significant sources of potential toxic metals exposure for both children and adults are i) through ingestion and ii) dermal contact. The Hazard index (HI) for selected metals decreased in the order Cr > Pb > Ni > Cd > Cu for both children and adults without imposing possible non-carcinogenic risk (HI<1). On the contrary, Cr posed cancer risks above the safety threshold (> 10-4) through ingestion. Based on the available findings, Eskişehir still suffers from considerable environmental and ecological degradation and severe health risks due to street dust contamination. However, while high pollution was detected in the city center, where there is commercial land use, low values were observed in the region, rich with the water surface, bicycle paths, landscape design, and where traffic is slowed down.