Evaluation Of Environmental Impact Research Articles

Evaluation of Sanitary and Environmental Impact of Plant Protection Practices in Vineyards of Southwestern France: Organic and Conventional/Integrated Agriculture

The French wine industry is spread across the country and represents 789,000 ha (2023). Over 20% of the plant protection products (PPPs) sold in France are used in viticulture on less than 4% of the French UAA (Utilized Agricultural Area). The share of wine estates with organic farming certification has risen sharply, reaching 9% of French vineyards in 2016. The position occupied by the wine sector on both the national and international scale confirms the need to examine the impacts of different management practices in viticulture on human health and the environment. This study presents an approach to the assessment of plant protection practices in vineyards based on indicators of plant protection pressure and risk. It was carried out on wine-growing farms in the southwest of France, surveyed according to the two farming systems: conventional/integrated and organic. The main objective of this study was to compare the health and environmental impact of the PPPs used in these two farming systems. The impact assessment result of wine-growing plant protection practices shows that some pesticides and molecules used in organic farming, especially those based on copper and sulfur, are more harmful than products used in conventional/integrated farming, in particular to the environment. For this reason, all stakeholders involved in pesticide management should recognize the health and environmental impact of PPPs in order to reduce and to control their toxicity risks to public health and the natural environment.

Recent progress in electrochemical recycling of waste NdFeB magnets.

Neodymium iron boron (NdFeB) magnets are critical components in green energy technologies and have received increasing attention due to the limited availability of the raw materials, specifically rare earth elements (REEs). The supply risks associated with primary mining of RE ores, which have significant environmental impacts, underscore the necessity for recycling RE secondary resources. Waste NdFeB magnets, generated during manufacturing processes and recovered from end-of-life products, represent valuable RE secondary resources. Recycling these materials can ensure a reliable and sustainable supply of REEs. Compared to conventional metallurgical processes, electrochemical strategies offer advantages such as high efficiency, selectivity, ease of operation, and environmental friendliness. This review presents an overview of the current status and future prospects of electrochemical technologies for recovering RE metals, alloys, or compounds from waste NdFeB magnets. Special emphasis is placed on molten salt electrolysis and room-temperature electrolysis, including detailed reaction mechanisms involved in the recycling processes. Additionally, challenges and future strategies for the electrochemical recycling of waste NdFeB magnets, focusing on environmental impact evaluation, efficient recovery, and reduced reagent consumption are proposed.

Simultaneous Eco‐Friendly Spectrofluorometric Estimation of Itraconazole and Ibuprofen in Pharmaceutical and Biological Matrices

ABSTRACTA rapid, facile, and green spectrofluorometric method was developed for the concurrent precise estimation of itraconazole and ibuprofen. The developed method involved the use of Tween‐80 micelle as a green sample matrix for the efficient assay of the analytes of interest. Besides the greenness of Tween‐80, it significantly enhanced the native fluorescence of itraconazole by about 450%. The spectrofluorometric measurements of studied analytes were conducted in a 1% Tween‐80 micellar medium at 370 nm for itraconazole and 288 nm for ibuprofen, following an excitation at 260 nm for both drugs. The fluorescent intensity–concentration relationships for both drugs were linear within the concentration ranges of 30–400 ng mL−1 for itraconazole and 300–5000 ng mL−1 for ibuprofen, showing high correlation coefficient values. The method exhibited high precision, with quantitation limits of 13.3 ng mL−1 for itraconazole and 260.6 ng mL−1 for ibuprofen. Successful application to commercial tablet formulations demonstrated the method's accuracy and sensitivity. Validation per ICH guidelines confirmed its effectiveness for quantifying the drugs in spiked human plasma, achieving high recovery rates. Furthermore, an evaluation of the method's environmental impact using GAPI and analytical Eco‐Scale metrics confirmed its eco‐friendliness.

Environmental impact evaluation using smart real-time weather monitoring systems: a systematic review

Environmental impact evaluation using smart real-time weather monitoring systems: a systematic review

LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT AND SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW FROM THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS TO PRACTICAL STRATEGIES AND INNOVATIVE METHODS

The building sector significantly affects the environment through its heavy reliance on natural resources and notable role in driving greenhouse gas emissions. Implementing environmentally friendly building procedures is critical to mitigate these environmental impacts. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is an exhaustive approach to quantitatively assess, compare, and contrast the environmental impacts of diverse goods and services throughout their lifespan. This procedure includes various elements, including resource use, energy consumption, and waste generation. LCA's comprehensive evaluation of a building's environmental impact includes energy usage and carbon emissions from material manufacturing and transportation. This exhaustive literature review aims to consolidate and synthesize the current corpus of knowledge about the LCA in the building sector, which includes understanding the various methodological approaches, categories of environmental impact, and the primary insights and limitations of previous studies. The review will improve understanding of the crucial function of LCA in the construction industry. It can inform and guide future research and practical applications in environmentally friendly design and construction.

Life Cycle Assessment and Environmental Impact Evaluation of CCU Technology Schemes in Steel Plants

Life Cycle Assessment and Environmental Impact Evaluation of CCU Technology Schemes in Steel Plants

Multi-objective optimization of geothermal heating systems based on thermal economy and environmental impact evaluation

High-temperature geothermal resources are increasingly being explored as an alternative to coal and natural gas for space heating. In light of the growing demand for energy conservation and emission reduction, it is crucial to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of geothermal energy according to environmental impact and energy cost. Based on geothermal heating systems in Xi'an, China, this study develops a model involving the life cycle assessment (LCA) method to assess the borehole heat exchanger (BHE) in heating systems, encompassing carbon intensity (Cintensity). The response surface method was employed to optimize the drilling depth, operating flow, and pipe diameter ratio, which influences carbon intensity. The findings revealed that the minimum Cintensity is 24.11 g(CO2)·kWh−1, corresponding to a 4000 m burial depth, 20 m3 h−1 flow rate, and 0.54 diameter ratio. However, these results diverge from the minimum levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of $7.84/GJ, with 3912.8 m, 34.32 m3 h−1, and 0.64. A dual-objective optimization indicates the allocation of weights to the objective functions influences the optimal drilling depth (the optimal value is between 3920.51 m and 3921.62 m) and operating flow rate (ranging from 28.8 to 31.4 m3 h−1). The optimal outcomes for LCOE and Cintensity are contingent upon the decision-makers' weight allocation.

Production of Biodiesel from Industrial Sludge: Recent Progress, Challenges, Perspective

This study investigated biodiesel production from industrial sludge, focusing on the feasibility and sustainability of converting waste materials into renewable energy sources. This study combines a comparative analysis of various sludge-based biodiesel production methods, highlighting both their environmental benefits and economic potential. Utilizing physical, chemical, and biological pre-treatments, this study optimizes biodiesel yield while assessing the impact of each method on the overall production efficiency. Key findings revealed that industrial sludge provides a viable feedstock, contributes to waste reduction, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. The novel contributions of this study include a detailed economic assessment of biodiesel production from sludge and a comprehensive environmental impact evaluation that quantifies the potential sustainability benefits. Limitations related to scale-up processes are identified, and solutions to overcome these issues are discussed to improve industrial feasibility. Furthermore, the integration of sludge-based biodiesel production with other renewable energy systems has been explored as a future avenue to enhance energy efficiency and sustainability. This research contributes to a significant scientific niche by addressing scalability challenges and proposing future perspectives for sustainable biodiesel production from industrial waste.

Assessing the Environmental Impact of Municipal Waste on Energy Incineration Technology for Power Generation Using Life Cycle Assessment Methodology.

The life cycle assessment methodology is a comprehensive environmental impact evaluation approach rooted in the "cradle-to-grave" concept. This study takes a municipal solid waste incineration power plant in central China as an example to comprehensively explore the potential ecological and environmental impacts of municipal solid waste incineration power generation through life cycle assessment methods. Burning one ton of waste can recover 7342 joules of thermal energy. Compared with traditional landfill, incineration can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 30%, with a potential global warming impact of -0.69 kg of carbon dioxide equivalent. Amongst environmental impacts, land, freshwater, and marine ecosystems possess the greatest potential toxicity, followed by the harmful effects on human health and the influence of ozone-producing photochemical pollution. Lastly, there comes terrestrial acidification, whereas other types of effects can be relatively disregarded in comparison. In the process of waste incineration power generation, the potential impacts of global warming, ionizing radiation, and fossil resource scarcity are less than zero, indicating that this is an environmentally friendly process. In response to the above-mentioned environmental impacts, it is necessary to pay attention to improving incineration efficiency, optimizing leachate treatment, reducing coal use, and controlling acidic gas emissions in the process of urban solid waste incineration power generation. This research offers insights into advancing environmentally sustainable technologies for utilizing waste as an energy resource.

Sustainable biomass derived natural surfactant of soybean seeds in fly ash industrial waste utilization for carbon storage: Evaluation of environmental impact

The rising carbon emissions challenge global environmental sustainability and climate stability. This study aims to advance climate change mitigation by integrating fly ash and natural surfactant into CO2 sequestration strategies. Fly ash, a by-product of industrial processes, presents an opportunity for innovative reuse. By combining fly ash with a natural surfactant extracted from soybean seeds, both industrial waste management and greenhouse gas reduction can be addressed. The surfactant was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, surface tension, and electrical conductivity measurements, confirming saponin presence with a critical micelle concentration of 0.3 wt%. Pressure decay studies revealed that a (5 wt% fly ash + NS) demonstrated the highest CO2 absorption, supported by microscopic analysis. Further research on optimizing reaction conditions and kinetics of mineralization could enhance this method’s efficiency and scalability for broader application.

Behind the scenes of green chemistry: Glories and shadows of atom transfer radical polymerization environmental impact (E-factor)

The paper presents the evaluation of environmental impact (E-factor) as green chemistry metric, calculated for polymer synthesis via one of the most useful tools of macromolecular chemistry, which is atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), belonging to the reversible deactivation radical polymerization (RDRP) techniques. For the first time, experimentally determined polymerization yields were included in the calculation, by analyzing the polymer synthesis process using various organic solvents, different methods of regenerating the catalytic complex (meaning ATRP approach), or using the miniemulsion system as eco-friendly reaction medium and presenting the possibility of effective solvent recovery and reuse. The majority of the values of E-factor were below 16, falling within the scope intended for fine chemicals (5–50). The significant and innovative part of the presented research involves verifying the feasibility of using higher concentrations of the dispersed phase in the case of miniemulsion polymerization (increased to as much as 100 % vs. aqueous phase from a typical 20 %), while the use of recycled water allowed a 3-fold reduction in E-factor value. Polymerization in a miniemulsion environment is also attractive due to its low cost, considering the price of distilled water, which is over 580-fold lower than that of DMSO – a typical organic solvent. These observations allow for the reduction of environmental impact and process cost. Importantly, the observed trends in E-factor changes allowed for the identification of ATRP development directions in line with green chemistry and the circular economy.

A practical approach to promoting sustainable development in the construction industry through the use of the LOTUS-Vietnamese green-building assessment tool

In the context of global climate change mitigation, building design optimization is crucial for effective and efficient resource management throughout a project’s life cycle. This study addresses the challenge of assessing green building levels using a Vietnamese perspective. A survey of over 220 participants, including investors, consultants, contractors, and other stakeholders, was conducted to identify factors influencing green building assessments. Data analysis, employing SPSS software, explored 57 factors encompassing life-cycle economic optimization, energy and water conservation, material selection, project management, and strategic market benefits. The findings highlight effective energy management as a key determinant shaping sustainable building approaches and assessments. These results offer valuable insights for life cycle cost assessments and environmental impact evaluations during project implementation. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the importance of project developers prioritizing factors that influence the achievement of green building goals based on LOTUS green building rating standards in Vietnam. The predicted results demonstrate that governments should enforce legislation and establish clear green construction regulations to promote environmentally friendly growth, and that construction companies should use environmentally friendly materials and practices in their projects. This research contributes to the knowledge base for scholars, designers, and sustainability experts by systematically identifying factors that influence green building assessments under LOTUS standards.

High-Strength Self-Compacting Concrete Production Incorporating Supplementary Cementitious Materials: Experimental Evaluations and Machine Learning Modelling

AbstractThis study investigates mechanical properties, durability performance, non-destructive testing (NDT) characteristics, environmental impact evaluation, and advanced machine learning (ML) modelling techniques employed in the analysis of high-strength self-compacting concrete (HSSCC) incorporating varying supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) to develop sustainable building construction. The findings from the fresh characteristics test indicate that mixes’ optimal flowability and passing qualities can be achieved using different concentrations of marble powder (MP) alongside a consistent amount of silica fume (SF) and fly ash (FA). Moreover, the incorporation of 10% MP along with 10% FA and 20% SF in HSSCC significantly improved the compressive strength by 14.68%, while the splitting tensile strength increased by 15.59% compared to the reference mix at 56 days. While random forest (RF), gradient boosting (GB), and their ensemble models exhibit strong coefficient correlation (R2) values, the GB model demonstrates more precision, indicating reliable predicted outcomes of the mechanical properties. Following subsequent testing, it has been demonstrated that incorporating SCMs improves the NDT properties of HSSCC and enhances its durability. The finer MP, SF, and FA particles enhanced microstructural performance by minimizing voids and cracks while improving the C–H–S bond. As noticed by its lower CO2-eq per MPa for SCMs, the HSSCC mix with up to 15% MP inclusion increased mechanical strength while reducing the environmental footprint, making it an eco-friendly concrete alternative.

Study on the Precise Evaluation of Environmental Impacts of Air Pollution in Cold Regions Using the Cost Control Method

Objective: With the acceleration of industrialization, air pollution has become a global environmental issue, particularly in cold regions where the unique climatic and geographical conditions give rise to distinctive types of air pollution and impacts. Considering the economic evaluation of environmental damage is crucial for effective pollution control policies, this study aims to provide a more precise environmental damage assessment method through the Improved Virtual Control Cost Method (IVCCM) to optimize air pollution governance strategies in cold regions. Method: This study utilizes a case study of a major company producing methanol and coal-based natural gas, where the emissions from the boiler exhaust exceeded the prescribed standards for particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides during a specific period. By employing a segmented counting approach that accounts for downtime, precise calculations were conducted for the actual periods of excess emissions. Adjustments were made to the calculation coefficients within the Virtual Control Cost Method to more accurately reflect the ecological damage caused by air pollution. Results: The IVCCM calculations revealed that the total environmental loss caused by the company’s excessive air pollution emissions amounted to USD 1.6844 million, significantly lower than the original calculation method (USD 2.1885 million). Specifically, the environmental losses due to particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides were USD 0.0032 million, USD 0.3600 million, and USD 1.3212 million, respectively. Conclusions: The IVCCM enables a more precise assessment and prediction of ecological environmental damage caused by air pollution in cold regions. Compared to traditional methods, it effectively reduces assessment costs, mitigates disputes arising from unclear parameter values and calculation methods, and facilitates the development of more rational environmental protection policies and measures.

Coding smell patterns of crude oil by the electronic nose: A soil pollution case

In our study, we leveraged an electronic nose to detect the patterns of crude oils and their mixtures, sourced from the oil fields from neighboring regions in pursuit of the task of environmental impact evaluation. The temporal dynamics of oil-related patterns acquired by an electronic nose was tracked to identify the influence of high or low emissions of volatiles that depend on the oil composition. Analyzing the oils by Fourier-transform IR-spectroscopy and GC×GC-MS, we confirmed the correlation between sensor responses and the oil compositions, significantly dependent on the ratio of aromatic compounds/alkanes. Using pattern recognition techniques, Random Forest classifier enabled good accuracy of classification of oil samples and contaminated soils underscoring a high-resolution distinction between the response data. Applying these principles to determine the oil origin, we observed that the studied oil samples and contaminated soil samples corroborate with the dynamic changes in odor patterns based only on volatile and semivolatile compounds. Crude oils from the border of two oil fields facilitate a change in the odor pattern to remain one of the fields depending on the weathering time. These proposed intelligent multisensor systems show great promise as a tool for estimating oil-contaminated soils, thereby potentially enhancing environmental monitoring practices.

Innovative integration of sustainable technologies in educational programs: Fostering freshwater production and environmental preservation awareness

This study highlights the integration of sustainable desalination technologies into educational programs to raise awareness of freshwater production and environmental preservation. Through a comprehensive curriculum, students explore innovative methods such as pressure-retarded osmosis, multi-effect desalination, and seawater source heat pumps, all powered by renewable seawater thermal energy. The curriculum emphasizes the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, lowering reliance on fossil fuels, and protecting aquatic ecosystems. Students engage in practical evaluations of energy efficiency, economic viability, and environmental impact. Sensitivity analyses are incorporated to help students identify critical factors affecting system performance and optimize operational conditions for various modes. Through hands-on experiments, students learn that components like the heat pump condenser contribute the most to energy loss (29 %), followed by the expansion valve (12 %), compressor (11 %), and seawater heat exchanger (8 %). Economic analyses reveal that while the heat pump condenser and seawater heat exchanger have the lowest financial impact (0.33 % and 2.48 %, respectively), the pressure-retarded osmosis and compressor units have the highest (100 % and 60.3 %, respectively). The findings demonstrate that an optimally designed desalination system can produce freshwater at 80 % lower costs compared to traditional plants, while also reducing carbon emissions by 15 %. Educational experiments also show that integrating pressure-retarded osmosis downstream of multi-effect desalination significantly reduces brine salinity and temperature, highlighting the system's potential for environmental sustainability. This approach not only fosters a deeper understanding of desalination technologies but also equips students with the tools to address future global water challenges.

Evaluation of Environmental Impacts in Legume Crops: A Case Study of PGI White Bean Production in Southern Europe

A small-scale organic crop producing the protected geographical indication (PGI) cultivar “Faba Asturiana”, located in northern Spain, was considered to be a case study for analyzing the environmental impacts associated with the production of this legume (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). The life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology was employed for the analysis with a “cradle-to-gate” perspective, with 1 kg of dry beans as the functional unit. The results demonstrated that the main contributor to the environmental impacts was electricity consumption (with percentages above 75% for ionizing radiation, freshwater eutrophication, terrestrial ecotoxicity, and non-carcinogenic toxicity). A carbon footprint (CF) of 1.20 kg CO2eq per kg of dry beans was obtained (around 1000 kg CO2/ha·y). Electricity consumption was the major contributor to the CF, followed by atmospheric emissions from waste incineration and diesel use. Furthermore, some environmental improvements were suggested, and three alternative scenarios were investigated. In conclusion, it can be established that the CF of the studied PGI bean is within the range reported by other researchers for leguminous crops. The easiest way to reduce the CF for this particular crop would be to compost the organic waste instead of burning it. Additionally, the most effective strategy would be to reduce energy consumption or use renewable energy sources. For example, if the energy supply were obtained through in situ solar production, the CF could be reduced by more than 40%.

Review of indium, gallium, and germanium as emerging contaminants: occurrence, speciation and evaluation of the potential environmental impact

Review of indium, gallium, and germanium as emerging contaminants: occurrence, speciation and evaluation of the potential environmental impact

Food waste reduction and its environmental consequences: a quasi-experimental study in a campus canteen

BackgroundFood waste is the third-largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, which has severe environmental and economic effects. This study presents a two-level intervention to estimate the quantity and environmental consequences of food waste at a campus canteen, offering innovative solutions to reduce food waste and its environmental footprint.MethodologyThis study involved 300 students and consisted of three main stages: initial food waste assessment, environmental and economic impact evaluation, and qualitative exploration of the causes of food waste through interviews with students. The assessment included direct measures and weighing of leftover food, and the environmental and economic impact was calculated. A two-level intervention was implemented for students and staff, and a re-assessment of food waste was conducted to evaluate the intervention’s impact. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS.ResultsThe study monitored 26 meals, finding that the total amount of food waste in the university canteens was (mean = 60.65 g/person), and the intervention reduced food waste by 16.35% per meal (50.73 g/person). Moreover, after the intervention, the amount of food waste costs and total water waste were reduced by 30.14% and 16.66%, respectively. Grey water was reduced significantly by 12.5% (p = 0.033). Interviews with students identified low-quality meals, unpleasant taste, large portions, and a limited menu as the main causes of food waste.ConclusionsIt is possible to tackle food waste effectively with educational intervention, decreasing portion size, and improving the quality and variety of food.

Harnessing Solar Energy for Sustainable Urban Street Lighting

Public street lighting plays an important role in enhancing safety and comfort in urban areas. However, the use of conventional energy for public street lighting significantly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. This research aims to study the optimization of solar energy usage in public street lighting systems to reduce urban emissions. The methods used include energy efficiency analysis, case studies of solar energy-based public street lighting implementation, and environmental impact evaluation. The results of the study show that the application of solar energy technology in public street lighting can increase energy efficiency by up to 30% and reduce CO2 emissions by 25% compared to conventional systems. In the case study of public street lighting in the city of Binjai, the reduction in carbon emissions reached 99.96%. Additionally, this study also identifies key factors affecting the success of implementation, such as technical design, initial costs, and government policy support. Therefore, optimizing solar energy-based public street lighting not only has the potential to reduce negative environmental impacts but also supports sustainable urban development.