Ecological Pollution Research Articles

Enhanced degradation of levofloxacin using photocatalysis and peroxymonosulfate oxidation processes by Z-scheme BiVO4/g-C3N4 heterojunction

Constructing a direct Z-scheme heterostructure is an effective way to improve photogenerated charge separation efficiency. In this work, a novel BiVO4/g-C3N4 (BVO/CN) Z-scheme heterojunction was successfully fabricated through a liquid film combustion method and ultrasonic desperation technique. The obtained samples were analyzed by serials characterization techniques, such as XRD, FT-IR, XPS, SEM, HRTEM, EDS, BET, UV-vis, and PL. The results demonstrated a strong integration between CN and BVO, as evidenced by the absorption edge shifting to 520nm and revealing a narrow band gap (Eg=2.47eV), thereby enhancing light absorption capacity. Under visible light irradiation, the removal efficiency of levofloxacin (LVFX) reached 97.7% within 40min using 20 BVO/CN, which was respectively 2.03 and 2.21 times higher than that achieved with BVO or CN alone. The mechanism of the BVO/CN Z-scheme heterojunction was elucidated based on the ESR test and radical trapping experiment. Additionally, the potential degradation pathway of LVFX was analyzed using HPLC-MS. This study demonstrates the feasibility of constructing a Photocatalyst/Visible-light/peroxymonosulfate (PMS) system for mitigating antibiotic-induced ecological pollution.

Microplastics affect the removal of dye in textile wastewater: Adsorption capacity and its effect on coagulation behavior

Microplastics (MPs) are easily prone to adsorption reactions in an aquatic environment. Dyes in textile wastewater might be released and adsorbed by microplastics, causing ecological pollution. In this paper, polyamide microplastics (PA MPs) and reactive orange dye (KGN) were used as the main research objects, the adsorption capacity of different MPs, the adsorption mechanisms of KGN on PA MPs, and the effect of microplastic adsorption on the coagulation process were investigated. PA MPs had a maximum adsorption capacity of 0.866 mg/g. The kinetic results demonstrated that chemisorption, which can be broken down into three stages: membrane diffusion, intraparticle diffusion, and dynamic equilibrium, was primarily responsible for controlling the adsorption process. Adsorption took place on the surface of the monomolecular layer, according to the isotherm modeling, which indicated that the adsorption results were more consistent with the Langmuir isotherm. In addition, the effect of microplastic adsorption followed by coagulation experiments was investigated. When reactive orange is adsorbed by PA MPs, the maximum increase in coagulation removal efficiency is 4.7 %, it can also improve the growth ability of flocs, enhance the uniformity, and make their average particle size close to 63 μm. Finally, the possible mechanisms of adsorption and coagulation during the experiments are described, and an outlook for future work is given.

Research on the Impact of Labor Resource Allocation on Green Technology Innovation

Facing increasingly severe environmental pollution and resource scarcity, China has accelerated its pace of green and low-carbon transformation. Green technological innovation helps economic development by reducing ecological pollution and lowering resource consumption. As an important factor of production for social development, the labor force plays a very significant role in optimizing the economic development structure of our country and achieving high-quality leapfrog development. This article explores the relationship between the allocation of labor resources and green technology innovation based on the aforementioned practical motivations, from both theoretical mechanisms and empirical perspectives. Using provincial panel data from China between 2000 and 2021, a spatial Durbin model was constructed to empirically test the spatial spillover effects of labor resource allocation on green technology innovation and to draw relevant conclusions. Subsequently, to further investigate the heterogeneous impact of labor resource allocation on green technology innovation, China was divided into three major regions—eastern, central, and western—and empirical model tests were conducted on separate samples. The following conclusions have been drawn: Over time, during the 22 years from 2000 to 2021, China's overall labor resource allocation has shown an overall upward trend; China's green technology innovation capability has significantly improved, but regional development is uneven, with a large gap in development between the eastern, central, and western regions; through the study of the spatial Durbin model on the impact of labor resource allocation efficiency on green technology innovation, the results indicate that labor resource allocation has a significant main effect and spillover effect on green technology innovation, meaning that the improvement in labor resource allocation efficiency will promote the increase in the level of local green technology innovation, while the decline in labor resource allocation efficiency will inhibit the increase in the level of local green technology innovation; the impediment effect of the decline in labor resource allocation efficiency on regional green technology innovation varies significantly across different regions, with the central region being the most prominent, followed by the western region, and then the eastern region. Based on the conclusions, the following suggestions are made: Regions should strengthen cooperation and exchanges to promote the coordinated development of green technology innovation. Eastern provinces and cities with a higher level of green technology innovation should lead the surrounding provinces and cities with weaker development, actively engage in cooperation and exchanges in infrastructure and green technology, and establish a more orderly and open green technology trading market, thereby promoting the coordinated development of green technology innovation between regions; adopt market-oriented approaches to remove barriers to the autonomous and orderly flow of labor factors. Give the market a decisive role in resource allocation, reasonably play the role of the government, promote the rational and orderly flow of capital and labor resources between regions, and improve the efficiency of resource allocation.

Assembling Bi3TaO7 nanodots on tubular carbon nitride to boost photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline under visible light irradiation

Due to the development of society, the problem of ecological pollution by the extensive use of antibiotics (tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, etc.) has attracted the broad attention of many scholars. Herein, a novel Bi3TaO7 nanodots (BTO)/tubular carbon nitride (TCN) type-II heterojunction was prepared by a low temperature solution phase approach for tetracycline (TC) degradation under visible light irradiation. The experimental results showed that the as-fabricated BTO/TCN heterostructures exhibited superior degradation rates of TC than that of bare TCN and BTO. The optimal loading amount 0.3 %BTO/TCN sample displayed the highest TC degradation rate of 99.6 % under 120 min of visible light irradiation, which is 1.13 and 1.04 times than that of pure TCN and BTO, respectively. This is due to the unique tubular structure of TCN that can expose more active sites as well as type-II heterojunctions effectively impede the rapid complexation of photogenerated electron pairs under a potential difference. This strategy provides new insights and references for the design of type-II heterojunction construction.

AI-Driven Waste Management Solutions in the Mining Industry: Reducing Environmental Impact

Soil, water, and air pollution are mainly resulted from the waste of mining industry. This ecological pollution resulted from mining activities must be managed and reduced effectively. With the emergence of AI, AI has the ability to help in driving an innovative and technological waste management model. The capacity of AI in predicting, modelling and automating waste management process will be studied through the use of the theory and approach based on Machine learning’s methodologies and algorithms. A comparative analysis between traditional methods and AI integrated methods of waste management will be conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of AI in driving waste management. Thus, this will require a specific case of mining activity to be studied. The data collection and data analysis consist of conducting a literature review and documents analysis, which includes a qualitative and quantitative analysis. All in all, the study will assess the effectiveness, operationality, efficiency and economic viability of AI-driven methods, in reducing pollution from mining activities. The results will emphasize the significant enhancement brought by AI-driven waste management. The prediction made by AI in the waste production will be demonstrated as accurate and optimizing waste discharge methods. This improvement is crucial in the reduction of environmental impact of mining activities. Seen as efficient, sustainable and cos-effective operations, the AI-driven waste management will transform and improve the environmental protection in the mining industry. The research offers innovative recommendations to stakeholders such as mining companies, policymakers and researchers.

Sustainable Biopolymer Composites From Perlite, Plasticized and Unplasticized Poly(Lactic Acid)

In recent years, ecological pollution has reached critical levels and that has been experienced as climate change by all living organisms. Slowing down the negative effects of climate change depends on changing our consumption behavior. Based on that, people tend to prefer more environmentally friendly, sustainable raw materials, products and processes. Since polymers are one of the most widely used raw materials in the world, any improvement regarding their recycling or biodegradation process can significantly reduce the damage to nature. Considering this fact, manufacturers are taking initiatives to develop such products in line with the demand from consumers. As known, Poly(lactic acid) (PLA), one of the most consumed biodegradable polymers in the market, however there are various problems especially in film production due to its rigid structure. Plasticization is the easiest route to minimize this disadvantage. The aim of this study is to produce and characterize PLA composites with increased flexibility by using sustainable natural materials. In this context, glycerol-plasticized PLA and unplasticized PLA composites were prepared using perlite, a natural additive, and their morphological, thermal, and mechanical properties were investigated.

Renewable energy, financial globalization and load capacity factor in the US: Ecological neutrality in the context of natural resources

The United States (US) as the second leading economy in global ecological pollution has become a fertile ground for a rigorous analysis of the ecological neutrality using load capacity factor (LCF) and carbon‐based consumption (CCO2). This is important for the global drive of achieving environmental sustainability by 2050. The LCF is one of the most comprehensive ecological proxies that incorporate the biocapacity and ecological footprint. In this context, this research examines the effect of natural resources, technological innovation, renewable energy and financial globalization on ecological neutrality in the US for the date spanning from 1990 to 2021. Using the novel augmented auto‐regressive distributive lag (AARDL) model, the empirical findings of this study indicate that (i) natural resources, renewable energy, and technological innovation promote ecological neutrality by increasing LCF and decreasing CCO2 emissions; (ii) financial globalization and economic growth mitigate the LCF and increase CCO2 emissions; and (iii) a causal effect is observed among technological innovation, natural resources, renewable energy, CCO2 and LCF. In light of the findings, this study recommends several crucial measures for ecological neutrality targets set out in sustainable development goals (SDGs) 7 and 13, respectively.

Bioinspired multilayer mulch film integrating mud repulsion, adhesion reduction, and antifouling for high-efficiency resource recycling

Resource recycling is a promising solution to the current problem of residual film pollution. However, the challenge that remains to be addressed in the resourcefulness of mulch films lies in mitigating heavy water and power consumption during the cleaning process. Herein, inspired by the unique structure of typical soil-dwelling insects, the mass production of high-strength multilayer mulch (Bio-HAM) films is achieved through a sequential combination of multilayer coextrusion, blow molding, roll-to-roll imprinting, and spray coating. The regular micro-nano hierarchical structure on the Bio-HAM films surface enables it to effectively inherit the antifouling, slurry repulsion, and adhesion reduction functions of the prototypes, even when exposed to ultraviolet radiation, deformation, and liquid or solid impact. Benefiting from the aforementioned properties, the Bio-HAM films exhibit low impurities adhering and soil wrapping during the entire planting cycle. The impurity content of the recovered Bio-HAM films wrapping is approximately 12.7 g/m2, which is a 67.4% reduction in impurity content compared to the basic films. Moreover, the recovered film also possesses favorable mechanical and thermal properties, thereby ensuring water and energy conservation as well as high-value regeneration. The proposed approach is expected to address the excessive consumption and persistent ecological pollution of residual film recycling.

Pilot scale application of a hybrid process based on ozone and BAF process: Performance evaluation for livestock wastewater treatment in a real environment

Environmental pollution was generated continuously because of the slack standard of effluent from livestock wastewater treatment even though the specific treatment process was applied. Despite the continuous ecological pollution caused by livestock wastewater effluent, a comprehensive treatment process for livestock wastewater effluent has not been investigated. This study utilized an ozone-biological aerated filter (BAF) hybrid process at a pilot scale (1st ozone–BAF–2nd ozone), with a 1 m3/day capacity for real-livestock wastewater treatment. Compared with each process configuration, the single-ozone process showed effective performance in removing chromaticity, but the removal ratio of suspended solids, organic matter (OM), and trace-organic compounds (TrOCs) was insufficient, even at high ozone concentrations. The ozone–BAF hybrid process improved the removal ratios of suspended solids and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) by 61.61 and 17.70 %, respectively, due to aeration and filtration by the BAF; however, TrOC removal ratios remained low, at <75 %. The removal ratios of TrOCs of the 1st ozone–2nd ozone hybrid process were better than those of the ozone–BAF hybrid process (by 28.2–77.9 %) owing to enhanced oxidation from increased ozone exposure to livestock wastewater. Nevertheless, the removal ratios of suspended solids and BOD were below 40 %. Owing to the complementarity between the BAF and 2nd ozone process, the removal ratios of chromaticity, suspended solids, and TrOCs reached 98, 95, and 92 %, respectively, by the optimized 1st ozone–BAF–2nd ozone hybrid process. Our results highlight the necessity of developing a new hybrid process based on ozone and BAF for treating livestock wastewater, and provide guidelines for livestock wastewater treatment.

Determinants of carbon dioxide emissions in Technology Revolution 5.0: New insights from Singapore

Technology Revolution 5.0, characterized by the integration of cutting-edge technologies (CET) like artificial intelligence (AI), internet of things (IoT), and blockchain into various facets of life, has brought remarkable advancements and conveniences. However, this era has also raised significant concerns regarding its environmental impact. The paper applies the ARDL (autoregressive distributed lag approach). The manuscript applied the World Bank data from 2000 to 2022. This paper aims to delve into the determinants contributing to carbon dioxide emissions in the context of industrial revolution 5.0, focusing on Singapore as a case study. The article combines a review of the existing literature, an analysis of the Singaporean environmental landscape, and empirical findings to shed light on this critical issue. The empirical study shows that electricity consumption and foreign direct investment significantly negatively affect environmental pollution in Singapore; fossil fuel and import positively influence ecological pollution. This article helps policymakers have policy implications for Singaporeans in the future.

Resistances and Physiological Responses of Impatiens uliginosa to Copper Stress

The phytoremediation of soil and water that has been significantly contaminated with metals has potential ecological and economical ramifications, as well as the advantages of high efficiency, and is an environmentally friendly method of ecological pollution control. This study aimed to examine the impact of varying concentrations of Copper (Cu2+) (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 mg·L−1) on the growth, development, physiology, biochemistry, mineral elements, and features of Cu2+ enrichment of Impatiens uliginosa. This plant is endemic to Yunnan Province in China and is a wetland species. The results showed that the root lengths, stem diameters, plant height, and stem and leaf biomass of I. uliginosa showed a phenomenon of “low promotion and high inhibition,” while the root biomass showed a trend of gradual decreasing. At the early stage of Cu2+ stress (day 6), the activities of peroxidase and catalase and the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) of I. uliginosa were directly proportional to the concentration of Cu2+. As the treatment time increased, the activation of a defense mechanism in vivo enabled I. uliginosa to adapt to the high Cu2+ environment, and the content of MDA gradually decreased. As the concentration of Cu2+ increased, its contents in the roots, stems, and leaves also gradually increased. In particular, when the concentration of Cu2+ reached 25 mg·L−1, its contents in the roots of I. uliginosa increased by 39.16-fold compared with that of the control group (CK). The concentration-dependent influence of the contents of iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) in the roots and leaves were observed. Low concentrations of Cu2+ promoted iron content in roots and leaves, and vice versa, while Zn content decreased with the increasing concentration of Cu2+. It was conclusively shown that I. uliginosa has the potential to remediate low concentrations of Cu2+ pollution in water and is a textbook ornamental plant to remediate bodies of water that are polluted with Cu2+.

Enhanced mechanical properties and tribological performance of anodic oxide coating by using thermal power plant waste material

Numerous researchers have dedicated their efforts to exploring the utilization of industrial waste, specifically fly ash (FA), as a reinforcement for developing economical composites and minimizing ecological pollution problems. FA consists of multiple phases, including quartz (SiO2) and mullite (3Al2O3·2SiO2), which can significantly enhance the mechanical properties of materials. In tribological applications, incorporating FA into surface coatings can offer a cost-effective alternative to enhance surface properties. Meanwhile, the usage of FA and its difference from other commercial ceramics (e.g., SiO2) is still unknown. Thus, the present study aims to clarify the role of FA and factors that contribute to improving mechanical properties and tribological performance with commercial SiO2 as a comparison using electrochemical anodization. The growth mechanism was investigated by varying the anodizing times while maintaining a constant (100 g/L FA) in the electrolyte for the first phase. Meanwhile, the mechanical and tribological properties of different reinforcement content (0, 10, 50, and 100 g/L) were determined for the second phase. Then, evaluations were conducted on the surface morphology, chemical composition, surface hardness, and tribological properties. The results revealed that growth of oxide coating was initiated within the first 5–10 min by forming the barrier layer. Pores began to appear visibly after 30 min of anodizing time, while the complete formation of porous anodic oxide coating was achieved at 60-min with pores dimension (width: 30.75 ± 14.45 μm and depth: 13.4 ± 6.43 μm). Interestingly, 100 g/L of FA-reinforced anodic oxide coating demonstrated lower surface roughness (4.08 ± 0.41 μm), higher surface hardness (444.4 ± 8.63 HV), lowest coefficient of friction (COF) (0.46), and low wear rate (reduction almost 31.8 %) compared to 100 g/L of commercial SiO2 reinforced anodic oxide coating. The electrophoretic deposition effect, combined with the quartz (SiO2) and mullite (3Al2O3·2SiO2) phase structure, enhances mechanical properties and tribological performance.

Evaluating the influence of democracy, financial development, and fishery product consumption on fishing grounds: A case study for Malaysia

Enhancing environmental sustainability in all dimensions, including marine life, is an important task for all stakeholders. The Sustainable Development Goal-14 aims to protect marine life and reduce ecological pollution in marine ecosystems. In this regard, this study aims to examine the influence fishery product consumption, economic growth, democracy, and financial development on fishing footprint in Malaysia. For this purpose, three different models are employed under the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) framework from 1961 to 2018. The empirical results can be summarized as follows: (i) The EKC is not valid for Malaysia’s fishing footprint (ii) Fishery product consumption and economic growth increase the fishing footprint, while population and financial development reduces pollution in fishing grounds (iv) Democracy has no impact on fishing footprint. Based on the research findings, the Malaysian government is recommended to promote green economic regulations for fisheries, environmental financing, and clean fishery products in order to mitigate the fishing footprint.

Two-Sex Life Table Analysis for Optimizing Beauveria bassiana Application against Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a highly dispersive, polyphagous insect pest that severely defoliates crops. Excessive reliance on synthetic insecticides leads to ecological pollution and resistance development, urging scientists to probe eco-friendly biopesticides. Here, we explore the virulence of an entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana, against S. exigua, resulting in 88% larval mortality. Using an age-stage, two-sex life table, we evaluated the lethal and sublethal effects of B. bassiana on the demographic parameters of S. exigua, including survival, development, and reproduction. Sublethal (LC20) and lethal concentrations (LC50) of B. bassiana impacted the parental generation (F0), with these effects further influencing the demographic parameters of the first filial generation (F1). The infected F1 offsprings showed a reduced intrinsic rate of increase (r), mean generation time (T), and net reproduction rate (R0). Larval developmental duration varied significantly between the control (10.98 d) and treated groups (LC20: 10.42; LC50: 9.37 d). Adults in the treated groups had significantly reduced lifespans (M: 8.22; F: 7.32 d) than the control (M: 10.00; F: 8.22 d). Reduced fecundity was observed in the B. bassiana-infected groups (LC20: 313.45; LC50: 223.92 eggs/female) compared to the control (359.55 eggs/female). A biochemical assay revealed elevated levels of detoxification enzymes (esterases, glutathione S-transferases, and acetylcholinesterase) in the F0 generation after B. bassiana infection. However, the enzymatic activity remained non-significant in the F1 generation likely due to the lack of direct fungal exposure. Our findings highlight the enduring effects of B. bassiana on the biological parameters and population dynamics of S. exigua, stressing its use in eco-friendly management programs.

Physicochemical Analysis and Pollution Indices for Heavy Metal Assessment in Flooded and Non-flooded Soils of Obunagha, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Soil samples from flood affected areas and non-affected areas of different farmlands in Obunagha, Bayelsa State, Nigeria; were collected for this study. The study was conducted to evaluate the physicochemical properties, and pollution indices of flooded and non-flooded farmlands to see if the flood had any effect in the fertility state of these soils. Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) was used to identify and quantify the several heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Ni, and Zn) that were discovered in the collected soil samples. The findings indicated increased acidity since the pH of the soil varied between 4.8 and 5.7 in farmlands that were flooded and between 4.9 and 5.7 in farmlands that were not. In flooded areas, electrical conductivity ranged from 0.2x101 to 4x101 µS/cm, while in non-flooded areas, it was between 0.2x101 and 2x101 µS/cm. The cation exchange capacity in flooded farmlands was 0.16 to 0.24 meq/100 g, while in non-flooded farmlands it was 0.18 to 0.22 meq/100 g. Variations in metal contamination were found in different farming situations based on the contamination factor (CF) analysis. Chromium CF values ranged from 0.3 to 0.8 in both flooded and non-flooded farmlands, with certain non-flooded farmlands having slightly higher values. Cadmium contamination in flooded farmlands was much higher (25.5 to 43.7 CF) than in non-flooded farmlands (20.0 to 32.0 CF). Nickel contamination levels were from 0.7 to 1.1 in flooded farmlands and 0.5 to 0.8 in non-flooded farmlands, suggesting moderate pollution. Zinc contamination was consistently low throughout all circumstances, with CF values ranging from 0.2 to 0.4. According to the contamination factor average, Cd was followed by Ni, Cr, and Zn in decreasing order. The ecological pollution degree for the study area was low indicating no possible pollution by all the heavy metals. In conclusion, the study area is significantly contaminated with cadmium. Therefore, we urgently recommend monitoring the soil in the surrounding farmlands, particularly for cadmium, to prevent a potential environmental crisis.

Seasonal influence of physicochemical and climatic parameters on phytoplankton diversity and abundance pattern in community managed semi-impacted floodplain wetland.

Wetlands provide numerous ecological services and are key habitats for aquatic flora and fauna. In the Beledanga wetland, the current study was conducted for 3years, from July 2019 to June 2021, to evaluate the seasonal influence of physicochemical parameters on phytoplankton diversity and abundance patterns. Overall 48 genera of phytoplankton were observed. Bacillariophyceae (27%) contributed the maximum to the total phytoplankton density. The total abundance of phytoplankton was found utmost during monsoon (4.081 × 103 unit l-1) and least during post-monsoon (3.316 × 103 unit l-1). One-way analysis of variance indicated significant seasonal differences (p < 0.05) for some genera. The study gave the idea about the most influencing physic-chemical parameters (dissolved oxygen, turbidity, total hardness, Ca2+, and total nitrogen) on the growth of phytoplankton with the help of different multivariate and univariate analysis (canonical correspondence analysis and Karl Pearson's correlation). The study again highlighted that climate parameters (temperature and rainfall) had some effect on the phytoplanktonic groups. Our study conceded that N:P in the studied wetland was less than the Redfield ratio (16:1) in all three seasons, while the Si:P ratio was noticed in the high range (15:1) during pre-monsoon. The value of the Shannon diversity index and Margalef's species richness index were noticed to be > 3, which signified quite rich in phytoplankton diversity. But the value of Algal Pollution Index, which describes the ecological pollution level based on the present algal genera was observedhigh throughout all seasons, indicating organic load. So in future the studiedwetland may get adverselyaffected with influence of anthropogenic activities. Therefore, for sustainable biodiversity of the waterbody, the anthropogenic activities (retting and intensification of agricultural farming) and macrophytes need to be controlled and regulated.

Phytoplankton community structure in PB. Soedirman Reservoir, Banjarnegara District, Central Java, Indonesia

Abstract. Samudra SR, Islami SF, Sanjayasari D, Firdaus AM, Putri AK, Fikriyya N, Attaqi AN. 2024. Phytoplankton community structure in PB. Soedirman Reservoir, Banjarnegara District, Central Java, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 25: 2161-2169. Panglima Besar (PB) Soedirman Reservoir (formerly known as Mrica Reservoir), located in Central Java, faces ecological pollution due to organic materials from anthropogenic activities. Monitoring reservoir conditions, comprising physical, chemical, and biological parameters, is important for management. In this context, phytoplankton is a biological parameter that can be used to monitor water conditions. Therefore, this study aimed to observe phytoplankton community structure in PB. Soedirman Reservoir, Banjarnegara District, about the abundance, diversity, and dominance index. Sampling was conducted in July and August 2023 at five stations: the inlet, water around, and those free from floating net cages, ponds, and outlet channels. Data analysis included phytoplankton abundance, Shannon Wiener diversity index (H'), and Simpson dominance index (C). The results showed that the number of phytoplankton genera found was 27, with the average abundance in July being 7,083 cells.L-1, and the most abundant class was Bacillariophyceae (54%). The average abundance in August was 59,574 cells.L-1, the most abundant class being Bacillariophyceae (82%). Additionally, the diversity index (H') value ranged from 1.23-2.07 with the moderate pollution category. The dominance index (C) ranged from 0.16-0.33, showing no species dominated.

Ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in coal gasification slags and their leaching toxicity

ABSTRACT The coal gasification process produces a large amount of coal gasification slag (CGS), which accumulates heavy metals from the raw coal. The CGS not only occupies land resources during long-term storage but also poses potential ecological pollution risks. In this study, eight different CGS samples from various regions of China were analyzed to determine their chemical composition and evaluate their environmental risks. Two leaching methods recommended by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China were employed to conduct leaching experiments, aiming to assess the hazardous waste level of CGS. The results indicated that the risk index of YL-FS and XJ-CS reached 101.87 and 87.15, respectively, classifying them as medium-risk materials. The remaining samples were categorized as low-risk materials. CGS itself is not classified as hazardous solid waste. The leaching results revealed that the concentration of Be in the leaching solution of NMG-CS and XJ-CS exceeded 0.005 mg/L, placing them in Class II of general industrial solid waste. The remaining samples exhibited minimal leaching toxicity and were classified as Class I general industrial solid waste.

Problems of the transition of the Ukrainian economy to a “green economy” based on sustainable technological change

The article reveals the problems of the transition to a “green” economy based on sustainable technological changes, which are caused by global ecological pollution of the ecosystem, which leads to warming and ecological changes and the insufficiency of the natural resource potential to meet the needs of the population of the planet, which does not contribute to development. The essence of the study is to determine the impact of a green economy on economic growth and development, in which natural assets continue to provide resources and environmental services. It is shown that the green economy provides a practical and flexible approach to achieving concrete, measurable progress in all its economic and environmental principles, while at the same time fully taking into account the social consequences of greening the dynamics of economic growth. Green economy strategies aim to ensure that natural assets can fully realize their economic potential in a sustainable manner. This potential includes the provision of vital life support services—clean air and water, as well as the sustainable biodiversity needed to support food production and human health. Natural assets cannot be replaced indefinitely, so the policy of the green economy should take this into account. It is characterized that the green economy provides a practical and flexible approach to achieving concrete, measurable progress in all its economic and environmental principles, while at the same time fully taking into account the social consequences of greening the dynamics of economic growth. The problems of the post-war revival of Ukraine’s economy are systematized and proposals for their solution are substantiated, which is the scientific contribution of the authors to the coverage of this problem. The global problems of the transition to a green economy, which are closely related to Ukrainian realities, are revealed. The practical content is determined by the fact that the theoretical and methodological provisions, conclusions and scientific and practical recommendations constitute the scientific basis for the development of a new holistic concept of the development of the green economy of Ukraine. The conclusions that it is the “green” economy that is able to most closely link the ecological and economic aspects of the national economy, acting as a key direction for ensuring the sustainable “green” development of the region and the state as a whole, actualize the prospects of creating a green economy in Ukraine and become necessary and quite achievable in the post-war period.

Organic Agriculture in Turkey and the World

Organic agriculture is an alternative production system that supports soil structure, fertility and conservation by protecting the ecological balance, using biological control methods against diseases and pests; based on the sustainability of living life, aiming for the highest yield with the maximum use of natural energy resources. In this context, it covers a different production process from conventional agriculture. While intensive input applications in conventional agriculture aim for the highest yield, organic agriculture prioritizes sustainability. Sustainable agriculture is defined as an agricultural practice that protects soil, water and biodiversity while meeting food, energy and natural resource needs. To ensure that organic agriculture contributes to sustainability goals, organic regulations need to focus more on environmental and best practices. Increasing demands day by day have positively affected the sustainability of organic agriculture. The common feature of most of the definitions of organic agriculture is that the products should be produced in accordance with the basic standards and that every stage from the land to the table is regularly controlled. The fact that every stage of organic agriculture is audited and documented, and that the practices operate in accordance with legal procedures are other noteworthy elements. These legal procedures provide protection at many points. Organic agriculture is not only limited to safe food production to protect human health; it is also an agricultural and ecosystem management that is environmentally friendly, effective in reducing ecological pollution, protection of water resources, prevention of erosion, protection of biodiversity, agricultural sustainability and agricultural development.