Dust Contamination Research Articles

Experimental Study of The Potential for Energy Absorption and Drying Time of Coffee Beans Using a Dome Dryer Type Dryer in The Sukmailang Area of Pesawaran Regency

The traditional drying method has many weaknesses, namely it is very dependent on the weather, so that drying takes a long time. Traditional drying methods result in frequent contamination of dust, dirt, insects, and if wet they are prone to moss growth due to delays in drying during cloudy or rainy weather. This study designed a coffee bean dryer with electric power which is the result of converting solar energy with the help of photovoltaic which is first stored in the battery. The main components of this tool are: drying chamber, drying roof, tray, thermostat, heating element, this test is carried out to determine changes in seed moisture content, required power and efficiency. The temperature is set at 50°C with a fan speed of 3m/s. The fastest decrease in water content occurred in the mass of 1 kg coffee bean samples starting on June 22, 2022 from 28.5% water content to 12% moisture content. Meanwhile, the longest decrease in the water content of coffee beans was at a mass of 2 kg coffee beans on June 24, 2022, the initial water content of coffee beans was 29.3% to 13.2%. The greater the mass of the coffee beans to be dried, the greater the time required to dry the coffee beans using a dome dryer. The maximum power is in the Sukmailang area, Pesawaran district which has a plateau as high as 1200 meters above sea level (MDPL) with an average power of 11.38 Watt. The highest power is produced at 12:00 WIB with a value of 16.49 Watts. The use of solar panels in the Sukmailang area, Pesawaran Regency which has a plateau as high as 1200 (MDPL) is still not effectively utilized because the results obtained have an average efficiency value of 2.22%

A critical study on detection of pollution level of overhead insulators by measuring pH and conductivity of the contaminants

The flow of electric power requires overhead insulators to maintain a safe distance between charged conductors and supporting structures. These insulators are installed in outdoor locations and are hence subjected to a variety of adverse environmental conditions, such as airborne dust and other contaminants. In moist conditions, these pollution factors can cause flashover, resulting in the loss of energy in the form of heat and light. Therefore, it is crucial to determine various types of contaminants based on geographical conditions and analyze their effects on the insulation capabilities of these insulators. This research work analyzes the accumulation of certain contaminants on the insulators installed at various geographical locations. Experimental approaches for detecting the level of contamination of insulators have also been examined, along with their limitations. Moreover, the findings of pollution tests performed in industrial, coastal, desert, inland, agricultural, and biological areas are presented as well. The flash-over voltage (FOV) of disc insulators made of porcelain for various pH and conductivity values has been observed to correlate FOV with pH and conductivity values of the pollutants. The pH and conductivity of contaminants are crucial factors impacting the insulator's flashover voltage, which is influenced by surrounding atmospheric conditions. Understanding the composition and monitoring these parameters can aid in developing preventive maintenance programs based on specified pH values, ensuring the reliability and performance of overhead insulators.

Backyard aerosol pollution monitors: foliar surfaces, dust enrichment, and factors influencing foliar retention.

Air pollution is one of the leading causes of death from noncommunicable diseases globally, and in Arizona, both mining activities and abandoned agriculture can generate erodible dust. This dust is transported via wind and can carry high amounts of toxic pollutants. Industry-adjacent communities, or "fenceline communities," are generally closer to the pollution sources and are disproportionally impacted by pollution, or in this case, dust. The dust transported from the mine settles into nearby rivers, gardens, and homes, and increases the concentrations of elements beyond their naturally occurring amounts (i.e., enriched). This study was built upon previous community science work in which plant leaves were observed to collect similar concentrations to an accepted dust collection method and illustrated promise for their use as low-cost air quality monitors in these communities. This work investigated the concentration of Na, Mg, Al, K, Ca, Mn, Co, Cu, Zn, Mo, and Ba in dust from the leaves of community-collected backyard and garden plants (foliar dust), as well as if certain variables affected collection efficacy. This assessment evaluated (1) foliar concentration versus surface area for 11 elements, (2) enrichment factor (EF) values and ratios, (3) comparisons of foliar, garden, and yard samples to US Geological Survey data, and (4) what variable significantly affected dust collection efficacy. The EF results indicate that many of the samples were enriched (anthropogenically contaminated) and that the foliar samples were generally more contaminated than the yard and garden soil samples. Leaf surface area was the most influential factor for leaf collection efficiency (p < 0.05) compared to plant family or sampling location. Further studies are needed that standardize the plant species and age and include multiple replicates of the same plant species across partnering communities. This study has demonstrated that foliar dust is enriched in the participating partnering communities and that plant leaf samples can serve as backyard aerosol pollution monitors. Therefore, foliar dust is a viable indicator of outdoor settled dust and aerosol contamination and this is an adoptable monitoring technique for "fenceline communities."

Toxic trespassers: Uncovering phthalates and organophosphate flame retardants in children's rooms and their health implications

Organophosphate flame retardants (OPEs) and phthalates have garnered significant attention due to their widespread presence in indoor environments. Many recent investigations have reported extensive contamination of indoor dust, air, children's toys, and other environmental compartments with these chemicals. This research aimed to analyze OPEs and phthalates in air (PM10) and dust samples collected from the bedrooms of children (N = 30) residing in various households in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. High mean levels (ng/g) of phthalates namely DEHP (1438600) and DnBP (159200) were found in indoor dust while TPhP (5620) was the major OPEs in indoor dust. Similarly, DEHP and DnBP were the predominant phthalates in PM10 samples, exhibiting mean levels of 560 and 680 ng/m3, respectively. However, TCPP was the main OPEs with average levels of 72 ng/m3 in PM10 samples. The majority of individual phthalates and OPEs were detected in 90–100 % of the dust samples, whereas in PM10 samples, their presence ranged from 25 % to 100 %. The concentrations of OPEs were notably greater than those of PBDEs and other BFRs previously reported in these samples, suggesting their broader use than alternative BFRs. The estimated long-term non-carcinogenic risk, hazardous index (HI) and daily exposure via dust for children was above threshold levels for DEHP. On the other hand, the cumulative risk of cancer was below the concerning levels. Further research is required to explore diverse groups of chemicals in indoor microenvironments particularly significant for children, such as kindergartens, primary schools, and their rooms at home.

Heavy metals in urban dust inside and outside homes during the Covid-19 pandemic in Mérida, Yucatán, México

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a decrease in outdoor activities but an increase in indoor ones. Does this situation cause changes in pollution patterns? The objective of this study was to compare heavy metal contamination in indoor and outdoor dust in homes in the city of Mérida, Yucatán. Dust was collected in 51 homes on the weekends of May 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic when there was a lockdown. Three hundred ninety-six samples were obtained (203 indoors and 193 outdoors on the sidewalk). Heavy metal concentrations were measured in triplicate with a portable XRF Genius 7000 spectrometer from Skyray Instruments. The contamination factor was calculated using a local (decile 1) and a global background value. To identify whether there were differences in indoor and outdoor heavy metal concentrations, mixed linear models were used, and the statistical inference was made using hypothesis tests. The risk to human health was evaluated using the USEPA methodology. Using decile one as background, the contamination factor's median showed moderate contamination for Lead (Pb), Manganese (Mn), Iron (Fe), Calcium (Ca), Strontium (Sr), and Yttrium (Y) indoors and outdoors. Using world concentrations as background, higher Ca, Sr, and Y concentrations were found outdoors, while Copper (Cu), Pb, Titanium (Ti), and Zinc (Zn) concentrations were higher indoors. Pb represented a risk of developing health problems for children inside homes. These studies help design public policies to reduce urban emissions and pollution, implement dust and risk management programs, and conduct citizen cleaning campaigns.

Persistent Organic Contaminants in Dust from the International Space Station.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD), "novel" brominated flame retardants (NBFRs), organophosphate esters (OPEs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were measured in a composite sample of dust from the International Space Station (ISS). Notwithstanding the unique environment from which the dust originated, while concentrations of all target compound classes frequently exceeded the median values in terrestrial indoor microenvironments in the US and western Europe, ISS dust concentrations were generally within the terrestrial range. The relative abundance of the three HBCDD diastereomers is dominated by γ-HBCDD (96.6% ΣHBCDD). This matches very closely with the commercial mixture added to materials and contrasts with the diastereomer distribution observed in most terrestrial indoor dust samples (in which γ-HBCDD is typically ∼60-70% ΣHBCDD). This suggests conditions inside the ISS do not favor the previously reported photolytically mediated formation in dust of α-HBCDD. Also of note, the concentration of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in ISS dust (3300 ng/g) exceeds the maximum reported (1960 ng/g) in a 2008 survey of dust from US child daycare centers and homes. This may reflect the widespread use of waterproofing treatments in the ISS to prevent microbial growth. Our findings can inform future material choices for manned spacecraft such as the ISS.

IoT Based Smart Solar Vacuum Cleaner Project

IoT-based smart solar vacuum cleaner is a new sustainable solution for cleaning solar panels and optimizing energy consumption. As solar power continues to grow as a renewable energy source, solar panel maintenance and efficiency have become increasingly important. Dust, debris and other contaminants can accumulate on the solar panel, resulting in reduced efficiency and power. Traditional cleaning methods are expensive, time consuming and often impractical, especially for large solar installations. This research presents a new method for solar panel cleaning using a solar powered IoT vacuum. The system consists of the following main components: Solar Vacuum Cleaner Unit: This cleaning machine consists of a brush and a vacuum cleaner specially designed to gently remove dust and debris from the solar panel without damaging it. Solar Panel Monitoring System: Integrated sensors continuously monitor the cleanliness and functionality of solar panels. The data is sent to a central control center for analysis. IoT Network: Wireless communication connects solar vacuum cleaner an central control center for real-time data exchange and remote control. Central Control Unit: This unit acts as the brain of the body, processing information from monitoring sensors and making intelligent decisions. It uses machine learning algorithms to predict the optimal cleaning time for each panel. Solar power and batteries: Solar powered vacuum cleaners are solar powered and self powered. It is also equipped with a storage battery that guarantees uninterrupted operation even on cloudy days or at night.

An integrated non-targeted and targeted analysis approach for identification of semi-volatile organic compounds in indoor dust

Household dust contains a wide variety of semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) that may pose health risks. We developed a method integrating non-targeted analysis (NTA) and targeted analysis (TA) to identify SVOCs in indoor dust. Based on a combined use of gas and liquid chromatography with high-resolution mass spectrometry, an automated, time-efficient NTA workflow was developed, and high accuracy was observed. A total of 128 compounds were identified at confidence level 1 or 2 in NIST standard reference material dust (SRM 2585). Among them, 113 compounds had not been reported previously, and this suggested the value of NTA in characterizing contaminants in dust. Additionally, TA was done to avoid the loss of trace compounds. By integrating data obtained from the NTA and TA approaches, SVOCs in SRM 2585 were prioritized based on exposure and chemical toxicity. Six of the top 20 compounds have never been reported in SRM 2585, including melamine, dinonyl phthalate, oxybenzone, diheptyl phthalate, drometrizole, and 2-phenylphenol. Additionally, significant influences of analytical instruments and sample preparation on NTA results were observed. Overall, the developed method provided a powerful tool for identifying SVOCs in indoor dust, which is necessary to obtain a more complete understanding of chemical exposures and risks in indoor environments.

Design of core-shell SiO2 nanoparticles to create anti-reflection and anti-fouling coatings for solar cells

Amphiphobic coatings with the anti-reflective property offer a promising strategy to mitigate the degradation of photovoltaic conversion efficiency in solar cells caused by fouling and reflection of incident light. Despite advancements in developing transparent and liquid-repellent coatings, achieving integration of both properties still poses a significant challenge. In this work, a unique nanostructure coating with extremely low roughness and surface energy is constructed by integrating fluorinated cluster core-shell structured silicon sols (BASSF) into a self-made silicon precursor (SP) using a template-free two-step base/acid-catalyzed reaction. The exceptional anti-fouling performance of the S-P@BASSF coating is a result of the chemical inertness of the polymer and the unique structure of the sol-gel particles. This innovative approach provides a potential solution for fabricating high-performance coatings and materials. The coating is capable of recovering to 97 % of its initial efficiency swiftly, even after severe dust contamination. The coating exhibits remarkable anti-reflective property due to the combination of sol particles with varying refractive indices. The coating also displays high weathering resistance, maintaining contact angles with water (≥105°) and diiodomethane (≥85°) even after prolonged exposure to UV lamps, high temperature and high humidity weather. The results obtained in this study show that nanocomposite coatings via the preparation of smooth, high refractive index and low reflectivity have great potential for outdoor applications such as energy harvesting and optical instruments under wet conditions.

Assessment of heavy metal contamination in street dust: concentrations, bioaccessibility, and human health risks in coal mine and thermal power plant complex.

Coal mining has also been associated with adverse environmental and health impacts including cancer and respiratory disorders, with the presence of thermal power plants exacerbating the problem of heavy metal pollution. Minimal studies have been conducted on the environmental impacts, health risks, and bioaccessibility of heavy metals in coal mine areas. Consequently, samples of street dust were collected from different locations in the Singrauli mine complex and analysed. Heavy metals (Cu, Ni, Zn, Cr, Co, As, and Mo) were found to be higher than the background concentration, with the maximum concentration was found in areas close to the Thermal Power Plants, like Near Vindyachal TPP, Near Shakti Nagar TPP, and Anpara. The highest geo-accumulation index value was found for Co, Mo, Zn, and As, indicating moderate to strong pollution levels. Health risk assessment (for both adults and children) revealed that Cr and Fe posed significantly higher Hazard Quotient and Hazard Index (HI) values, indicating significant non-carcinogenic threats. Moreover, Carcinogenic Risk (CR) values for Cd, Cr, and Ni indicated a risk of carcinogenicity to the public exposed to road dust. The study also examined the bioaccessibility of the metals, which showed that the gastric phase accumulated a higher percentage of Ni (42.52%), Pb (34.79%), Co (22.22%), As (20%) and Cu (15%) than the intestinal phase. Strong positive correlation was observed between metal concentration (Cu, Pb, Cr, Fe, Zn, and Mn), HI, and CR of adult and child, while bioaccessibility of intestinal phase was positively correlated with gastric phase of metals (Cu, Ni, Co, As, and Mn).

Lead and mercury in historical books and their contribution to dust contamination

Historical products are often a source of toxic substances, like heavy metals, that have since been restricted. In this study, the lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg) content of 133 books housed in two collections in southwest England (a university library and council repository), and published between 1704 and 2018, have been determined on-site by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. Lead was detected in the front panels, text blocks and interior colour illustrations of most books, with maximum concentration of 15,100 mg kg-1, 8680 mg kg-1 and 12,800 mg kg-1, respectively. However, concentrations above 1000 mg kg-1 were generally restricted to books published between about 1850 and 1960. Mercury was detected in fewer cases, but concentrations above 5000 mg kg-1 were found in the red panels, coloured illustrations and red fore-edging of books published in the Victorian era. Mean concentrations of Pb in dusts from council repository shelves (112 mg kg-1) and library shelves (159–224 mg kg-1) and light casings (71.7 mg kg-1) were significantly higher than mean concentrations in household dusts from buildings constructed over the same period (24.8 mg kg-1). The findings suggest that historical books could be a source of Pb exposure where collections are housed or sold and could also be used to improve evaluations of historical indoor pollution.

Source-specific risk judgement and environmental impact of potentially toxic elements in fine road dust from an integrated industrial city, North China

The contamination of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in road dust of large industrial cities is extremely serious. Determining the priority risk control factors of PTE contamination in road dust is critical to enhance the environmental quality of such cities and mitigate the risk of PTE pollution. The Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) method and geographical models were employed to assess the probabilistic pollution levels and eco-health risks of PTEs originating from different sources in fine road dust (FRD) of large industrial cities, and to identify key factors affecting the spatial variability of priority control sources and target PTEs. It was observed that in FRD of Shijiazhuang, a typical large industrial city in China, more than 97% of the samples had an INI > 1 (INImean = 1.8), indicating moderately contaminated with PTEs. The eco-risk was at least considerable (NCRI >160) with more than 98% of the samples, mainly caused by Hg (Ei (mean) = 367.3). The coal-related industrial source (NCRI(mean) = 235.1) contributed 70.9% to the overall eco-risk (NCRI(mean) = 295.5) of source-oriented risks. The non-carcinogenic risk of children and adults are of less importance, but the carcinogenic risk deserves attention. The coal-related industry is a priority control pollution source for human health protection, with As corresponding to the target PTE. The major factors affecting the spatial changes of target PTEs (Hg and As) and coal-related industrial sources were plant distribution, population density, and gross domestic product. The hot spots of coal-related industrial sources in different regions were strongly interfered by various human activities. Our results illustrate spatial changes and key-influencing factors of priority source and target PTEs in Shijiazhuang FRD, which are helpful for environmental protection and control of environmental risks by PTEs.

Formulation of environmentally robust flame-retardant and superhydrophobic coatings for wood materials

Developing flame-retardant wood with integrated anti-wetting property, self-cleaning and good weatherability, has received intensive attention, which is vital to the rapid advancements in construction and building materials. Here, a superhydrophobic and flame-retardant coating is constructed based on a trinity monocomponent intumescent flame retardant, polydimethylsiloxane resin and modified SiO2 nanoparticles. Such a coating can endow wood materials with high flame retardancy and self-cleaning performances. In comparison to pristine woods, the surface-treated wood shows a self-extinguish behavior in the vertical burning test with an obviously increased limiting oxygen index of 31.0% and UL 94 rating of V0. The peak heat release rate is reduced by 24.4% and the total heat release after surface treatment is decreased to 24.5 MJ/m2. The water-repellency of sample is greatly improved with water contact angle over 154° and slide angle below 5°, exhibiting appreciable resistance to dust contamination. Due to the significant anti-wetting property, the coating can effectively protect the inner flame-retardant layer from water penetration, thereby the treated wood can preserve high flame-retardant performances even after being immersed in water for 24 h. More importantly, the modified wood material can endure different harsh environmental conditions, including high temperatures, UV light irradiation, hydrothermal environment and mechanical impact, without losing the superhydrophobicity or flame retardancy, presenting high weatherability and mechanical robustness. The findings provide an effective approach to prepare high-weatherability fire-safety wood materials that have application potential in outdoor environments.

Development of a comprehensive physics-based model for study of NASA gateway lunar dust contamination

NASA is committed to landing humans again on the Moon by 2025 to a long-term goal of a sustaining presence. A major component of this mission is NASA's orbiting lunar outpost, Gateway, that will be subjected to the harsh environment of space during the planned 15-year lifespan in the Cis-Lunar environment. One aspect of this environment that is not well quantified is microscopic lunar regolith particles, or simply, lunar dust. Dust particles, most of which are smaller than the width of two human hairs and generally irregularly shaped, are widely influenced by the following electrostatic characteristics: volume resistivity, charge decay, chargeability, and dielectric properties of the dust. Such characteristics can allow the dust particles to collect electric charge from the surrounding environment, resulting in electrostatic interactions between the dust, electromagnetic fields, and electrically charged surfaces. Due to the nature of these fields, dust can collect on and contaminate charged surfaces. Lunar dust introduced into the Gateway environment by a lunar ascent vehicle element returning from the surface of the Moon presents risks to Gateway hardware such as radiators, solar arrays, external robotic systems, antennae, and docking mechanisms. To quantify this risk and inform NASA, International Partner, and Commercial Provider stakeholders, a comprehensive physics-based model is in development to investigate the interaction of charged lunar dust particles with the cis-lunar, deep-space environments, and spacecraft. It is comprised of a set of models of the space plasma and solar radiation environment and electromagnetic interaction of spacecraft and lunar dust. Spacecraft charging and plasma environment are solved using the open-source code from The French Aerospace Research Laboratory (ONERA) and the European Space Agency (ESA), known as Spacecraft Plasma Interaction Software (SPIS). The physics of particle charging and transport is modeled as an equilibrium implementation of Shifted-Orbital-Motion-Limited (SOML) theory which accounts for plasma flows and positive potential grains, using Siemens STAR-CCM + as the framework. Model validation includes lab experiments by NASA experts and academia, as well as future on-orbit dust detecting and dust collecting payloads on the exterior of Gateway. The results and analyses will inform Gateway Program system owners at risk for lunar dust contamination.

Comparison of magnetic susceptibility probes relevantly used in soil contamination applications.

Magnetic susceptibility (MS) technology can achieve the efficient rough measurement, mapping, and pollution assessment of soil heavy metal concentrations in topsoil due to atmospheric dust contamination. However, previous studies of commonly used MS field probes (MS2D, MS2F, and MS2K) have not dealt with the range of magnetic signal detection and the attenuation characteristics of the signal with respect to distance. In this study, the vertical and horizontal measurement ranges of the MS2D, MS2F, and MS2K probes were explored through laboratory and field experiments, and the intensity of their magnetic signals was further compared and analyzed in the field. The results showed that the magnetic signal intensity of the three probes decreased exponentially with distance. The penetration depths of the MS2D, MS2F, and MS2K probes were 8.5, 2.4, and 3.0cm, respectively, and the horizontal detection boundary lengths of their magnetic signals were 32, 8, and 6.8cm, respectively. In the field surface soil MS detection, the magnetic measurement signals of the MS2F and MS2K probes showed a weak linear correlation with the MS2D probe (R2 of 0.43 and 0.50, respectively), while the MS2F and MS2K probes had a significantly better correlation (R2 = 0.68) with each other. In general, the MS2D probe and MS2K probe correlation had a slope close to unity, meaning MS2K probes had good mutual substitution. Furthermore, results of this study improve the effectiveness of the MS evaluation of heavy metal pollution in urban topsoil.

Design of pliek-u dryer using Dafa-type solar energy

One of the food diversification strategies of coconut commodity is to process it into Pliek U. Pliek U is a typical food of the Province of Aceh, Indonesia, which in its processing stage requires a drying process. So far, Pliek U drying process is often conducted conventionally through direct drying (sun drying), so that Pliek U produced is susceptible to dust and other dirt contamination. This research aimed to design a Pliek U dryer using Dafa type solar energy. The Dafa type solar energy dryer used a turbine ventilator with a vertical axis wind turbine equipped with two solar collectors. This turbine had a simple shape and construction and was arranged like the letter S. While the two parts of the solar collector were used to collect energy from the sun directly. In the experiment, the blank test was carried out in the time range, namely from 10.20 am to 04.50 pm in sunny weather, with an interval of 30 minutes for each temperature data recording. The empty test results of the Dafa type solar energy dryer showed that the average shelf temperature was 44.21 °C, the collector temperature was 45.64 °C, and the ambient temperature was 31.14 °C. This initial test revealed that the performance ability of the tool was very effective in maintaining temperature during the drying process, so that further tests using materials for drying Pliek U may be carried out.

Effect of mining activities on neighbouring environment and eco-restoration/ management plan for abandoned mining sites

Mineral resource mining and exploitation have a significant influence on water, biological resources, air and land, as well as the socio-economic situation of the surrounding livings. Its main focus on the environmental difficulties that surface mining industries of Jhansi are facing. Quarrying activity produces massive dumps on the ground far from mining sites.However, quarries damages not only the land surface but also the natural vegetation as well as biodiversity. In other words, the severity of mining activities are not only deteriorating the land surface but also restricted the living entities. The abounded mining area in north-eastern part of the district Jhansi were verified and validated by field survey conducted in the year2021. The geographical location of the selected quarry sites ranges from from 25° 26&amp;#39; 27.2616'' N to 25° 28' 17.508 N and 78° 39'5.184' E to 78° 41°49.3008''E and the total geographical area covered as 1532.18 ha. The study was accomplished in four parts i.e., existing state of neighbouring villagers in terms of land resources (demographic outline of villages;landholding and housing condition; agriculture state), environmental imbalance and eco-friendly changes of neighbouring villagers (dust and gaseous contamination; noise pollution; livestock situation; health issues of neighbouring villagers; occupational arrangement), management plan for suitable mitigation measures (stabilizing slopes and creating artificialslopes; backfilling of the quarry pits; adding organic matter on slopes for plantation; protection of quarrying sites) and plan for restoration (afforestation; vetiver grass plantation; development of nature trails; grazing land; aqua-cultural practices; rain water harvesting). The results concluded that, the health of local quarry employees is directly harmed by stone dust, which makes them vulnerable to life-threatening respiratory disorders. About 50% participants facing multiple diseases, about 15% participants face single disease. The mining/quarry area may be developed as above mitigation measures. It is also suggested that remote sensing and GIS/ GPS technique integrated with drone technology may be very helpful for live/ post monitoring of developed mining areas.

Reduced power generation efficiency of solar panels in dusty locations

In this paper, we aim to investigate the performance of solar panels depending on the climate conditions of their location and the chemical and electrophysical characteristics of deposited dust. In particular, we study the effect of surface contamination of solar panels on their efficiency and determine the period of dust deposition that is critical in terms of power generation reduction. Experiments were conducted in April 2022 in the Republic of Tajikistan and the Chelyabinsk region of the Russian Federation. Both domestic and foreign publications on the impact of surface contamination on solar cell efficiency were reviewed. Comparative field experiments were carried out to investigate the performance of solar panels depending on environmental variables. It was found that the level of dust deposition in the Chelyabinsk region reached about 12–19 mg/m3, which is significantly lower than that in Tajikistan. However, due to its fine disperse structure, this dust is harder to remove. In Tajikistan, the capacity of the solar panel covered with dust de-creased by 46.64% relative to its nominal value in the first decade of April (the onset of dust storms). In the large industrial city of Chelyabinsk, the power output of the panels under study decreased by an average of 7.1% during this period. These findings confirm the importance of solar panel protection for maintaining the nominal values of solar power generation in the given regions. When no special protection devices are used, cleaning frequency for maintaining the re-quired efficiency of solar panels should be, on average, not less than once a week for both regions. A device is proposed for preventing dusting of the solar panel surface based on electron-ion technology. In addition, holographic films can be used to protect solar panels not only from dust contamination, but also from IR radiation. These protection approaches are the subject of future research.

Spatial Distribution of Heavy Metal Contamination in Road Dust Samples from an Urban Environment in Samsun, Türkiye.

Road dust is an environmental pollution indicator created by human activities for urban land use. This study aimed to determine the spatial distribution pattern and degree of trace metals in road dust samples collected from 5 different areas in Samsun city center. The trace metals of Mn, Co, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn are the most examined contaminants in road dust because their hot-spot areas were mainly associated with high traffic density. Factors governing potential contamination index range values of Co, Cr, and Ni were 0.34-0.62, 0.23-0.78, and 0.24-0.48 as the lowest contamination. However, potential contamination index values of Cu, Pb, and Zn in the main road site were 1.80, 2.32, and 2.84 suggesting that relatively high values were uncontaminated to moderately. Pollution assessment methods were applied to toxic metals and revealed that Samsun city had been affected as uncontaminated to moderately contaminated by anthropogenic emission of heavy metals.

Sources, Fate, and Detection of Dust-Associated Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS): A Review.

The occurrence of sand and dust storms (SDSs) is essential for the geochemical cycling of nutrients; however, it is considered a meteorological hazard common to arid regions because of the adverse impacts that SDSs brings with them. One common implication of SDSs is the transport and disposition of aerosols coated with anthropogenic contaminants. Studies have reported the presence of such contaminants in desert dust; however, similar findings related to ubiquitous emerging contaminants, such as per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), have been relatively scarce in the literature. This article reviews and identifies the potential sources of dust-associated PFAS that can accumulate and spread across SDS-prone regions. Furthermore, PFAS exposure routes and their toxicity through bioaccumulation in rodents and mammals are discussed. The major challenge when dealing with emerging contaminants is their quantification and analysis from different environmental media, and these PFAS include known and unknown precursors that need to be quantified. Consequently, a review of various analytical methods capable of detecting different PFAS compounds embedded in various matrices is provided. This review will provide researchers with valuable information relevant to the presence, toxicity, and quantification of dust-associated PFAS to develop appropriate mitigation measures.