Pollution Index Research Articles

Utilizing Raspberry Pi and Internet of Things (IoT) Frameworks for Comprehensive Monitoring of Urban Pollutants and Climate Variables

Global warming is the effect of a rise in Earth's climate temperature due to air pollution. Urban areas have higher levels of air pollution than rural areas due to increased traffic and rapid development. In addition to brief health problems like headaches, eye infections, and throat in-factions, pollution also has lengthy health repercussions like lung cancer and heart disease. As a result, it's important to keep an eye on the many climatic and pollution indicators, including light intensity, temperature, humidity, air pressure, oxygen and carbon dioxide level and camera. Using suitable equipment and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, a pollution and climate monitoring system is constructed in the proposed paper that can measure the parameters above at regular intervals. The system then uploads the data to a webpage in the Thing Speak. The IoT analytics platform service Thing Speak enables the collection, visualization, and analysis of real-time data streams. The sensors are used to feed data to Thing Speak, which instantly visualizes the data in a graph. The main tool for gathering data from the sensors and sending parameters to the website is the Raspberry Pi3 computer. The software code is developed using Python. By logging on to the website from any location in the world, one can view the submitted pollution and climate parameters of a specific location.

Biodiversity of Benthic Macroinvertebrates and water quality as a tool to the ecological study of three forest streams in the littoral zone (Cameroon)

A study of the community dynamics of benthic macroinvertebrates in relation to physicochemical water quality was conducted from December 2022 to December 2023 in the Lepp-Nyock, Ndog-Bissolo, and Ngwei streams within the tropical littoral forest area of the Guinean Gulf (Edéa). Physicochemical analyses were performed and Benthic Macroinvertebrate identified following classical method. The results indicate that those waters are well-oxygenated (73.72±12.48%), slightly acidic (pH 6.87±0.42 CU) and contain very low concentrations of nitrogen compounds and heavy metals (0.29±0.28 mg/l Cu, 0.8±0.54 mg/l Zn, 0.45±0.27 mg/l Mn, 1.32±0.47 mg/l Fe, 0.81±0.38 mg/l Al, 0.18±0.2 mg/l Cd, and 0.49±0.52 mg/l Cr). Biological analysis revealed a total of 8,699 Benthic Macroinvertebrates belonging to 4 Phyla, 5 Classes, 12 Orders, 55 Families and 117 Genera. Arthropods were the most abundant, accounting for 86.67% of the total, with the insect Class (86,56%) being dominant (8 Orders, 42 Families, and 68 Genera). Gastropods (13,27%) were the second most abundant group, represented by 2 Orders, 5 Families, and 16 Genera. The Atyidae family was particularly dominant within the benthic community, with Caridina africana identified as the most prevalent species. The Shannon-Weaver diversity index (H') and Piélou equitability index (J) indicated low taxonomic diversity, while the Organic Pollution Index (OPI) suggested a less disturbed environment. Together, these findings reflect the good ecological quality of the water in the studied streams.

Essential and risk elements in horses affect haematology, serum biochemistry and oxidative status parameters

The abundance of chemical elements in the blood of horses can indicate the physiological balance, health of animal as well as can be taken as an indicator of environmental pollution. The aim of this work was to analyse haematological, biochemical parameters, TOS, FRAP, SOD, Gpx, TAS and their correlations with concentrations of essential and risk elements in blood of horses stabled in two different locations: The National Stud Farm Topoľčianky (n = 11; 11 stallions, consisting of the breeds 6 Lipizzan, 3 Slovak warmblood, 2 Holsteiner) and Experimental Centre at Institute of Animal Husbandry, SUA in Nitra (n = 10; 4 stallions, 5 geldings, 1 mare, 4 stallions, 5 geldings and 1 mare, consisting of the breeds 3 Slovak warmblood, 4 Czech warmblood, 3 Holsteiner). Blood samples were obtained from horses (n = 21) from two localities in the Slovak Republic during May. The haematological profiles of horses from both locations were within reference values. The values of biochemical parameters of horse samples that underwent analysis showed only minor deviations from the referential values reported by several authors. Fe was the most accumulated elements (383.95 mg/L and 403.61 mg/L, respectively). Finally, this investigation based on correlation analyses identified essential and risk elements in horse blood serum and significant negative correlation between Cd and GRA, HGB and HCT was observed in The National Stud Farm Topoľčianky and a positive correlation was recorded between Zn and total proteins in the Experimental Centre at Institute of Animal Husbandry, SUA Nitra. The obtained data could be used as a control indicator to identify risk hazards related to the heavy metals in relation to the health of animals.

The content and associated health risk assessment of toxic elements, micro-, and macrominerals in common carp, Wels catfish, and silver carp from the Danube River in Serbia.

Three fish species (common carp, Wels catfish, and silver carp) were collected from three locations along the Danube River in Serbia, and fish meat was analyzed for the content of toxic elements, micro- and macrominerals. Silver carp had the highest lead (Pb), arsenic (As), and cadmium (Cd) content, while Wels catfish had the highest level of mercury (Hg). Moreover, metal pollution index (MPI) ranged from 0.1096 to 0.275 and among the fish, the silver carp had the highest MPI (from 0.21 to 0.28), indicating that it could be reliable bioindicator of river pollution. Maximum determined levels of As (0.1968mg/kg of w.w.), Hg (0.175mg/kg of w.w.), and Pb (0.0315mg/kg of w.w.) did not exceed values prescribed by the European Commission Regulation, Codex Alimentarius Commission, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and national regulations, but Cd in silver carp was at levels higher than prescribed (0.0808mg/kg of w.w.). Furthermore, our study's results showed that the target hazard quotient (THQ) of each analyzed element and hazard index (HI) were < 1, indicating that consumers would not be exposed to adverse health effects after consuming these fish species from the Danube River. Regarding target cancer risk (TR), for Pb this was below 10-6, which was regarded as negligible, while TRs for As and Cr were between 10-4 and 10-6, which was regarded as acceptable. Moreover, since the studied fish had low values of health risk indexes, it could be concluded that fish meat did not pose a significant risk to human health.

Development and Efficiency Evaluation of Microplastic Removal Filter for Laundry Machines

Microplastics contained in laundry wastewater are identified as the main cause of marine microplastics, accounting for approximately 35% of marine microplastics. In this study, a four-stage microplastic filter for laundry wastewater was developed and the removal rates of microplastics, COD, SS, and turbidity were checked through 50 tests to confirm the efficiency of the filter. The microplastic removal rate was confirmed using μFTIR with a high efficiency of 98.5% on average for 50 tests. The microplastics contained in laundry wastewater were identified as 57% PE, 9% PET, 9% PA, 8% PU, 8% PP, 6% PPMA, and 3% PAN. COD was measured using the COD manganese method, and the COD removal rate of the laundry wastewater filter was an average of 92% for 50 times. SS was verified by filtration using a vacuum pump and the average removal rate was 80% during 50 tests. Turbidity was confirmed with an average removal rate of 88% using a turbidity meter. As a result of the experiment, it was confirmed that when the developed filter was installed in laundry wastewater, not only microplastics but also various water pollutants were reduced. In addition, the water quality pollution index showing the highest correlation with microplastics in laundry wastewater was SS, and the p-value was confirmed to be 0.000.

АНАЛИЗ И ОЦЕНКА КАЧЕСТВА ПОВЕРХНОСТНЫХ ВОД БАССЕЙНА РЕКИ ЕЛЕК В ЗОНЕ ВОЗДЕЙСТВИЯ ТЕХНОГЕНЕЗА

The article provides an overview of anthropogenic factors negatively affecting the geosystems of the Ilek River basin. The accumulation of chemical elements and their introduction into the environment result from human industrial and agricultural activities. The article examines natural and anthropogenic causes that adversely impact the qualitative composition of surface waters in the Ilek River basin. It also considers the hydrological regime of the Ilek River and its major tributaries based on field observations conducted in 2024. The study identifies natural and anthropogenic factors that have been influencing the geosystems of the Ilek River basin for decades. Results of chemical analyses of surface water samples from key sites demonstrate a clear correlation with elements of the technosphere. It has been established that first- and second-order tributaries of the Ilek River, located in the northeastern part of the basin, are polluted with heavy metals due to mining and geological exploration activities. The Water Pollution Index (WPI) was calculated for the Ilek River and its major tributaries. The findings indicate that while the water bodies of Aktobe oblast, which remain underresearched, generally meet surface water quality standards, the surface waters in the middle reaches of the Ilek River are classified as highly polluted. This highlights the necessity for more comprehensive investigations to prevent further deterioration and to develop measures for reducing pollution levels.

Analysis of the Water Quality of the Iwan River in Darmaji Village, Kopang District, Central Lombok Regency

The Iwan River is one of the rivers in Darmaji Village, Kopang District, Central Lombok Regency. People often use This river for daily life, washing, bathing and irrigating rice fields. People also throw household waste into river water bodies. This hamlet does not yet have clean water and a PDAM network. This research uses the pollution index method to determine the water quality of the Iwan River in Darmaji Village and the water quality status of the Iwan River in Darmaji Village. The research method used is quantitative research with an experimental approach according to Government Regulation Number 22 of 2021 and Water Quality Status with the Pollution Index. Based on the results of the Iwan River water quality, it is still below quality standards, so it is still safe for washing and agricultural activities; namely, in upstream samples, there are TSS results of 0.724 mg/L, temperature 26.8, pH 7, BOD 0.5 mg/L, COD 8 mg/L, oil and fat 1.518 mg/L and total Coliform 24000 MPN/ml while the middle sample had TSS results of 1.574mg/L, Temperature 26.7, pH 6, BOD 1.1mg/L, COD 4mg/L, oil and fat 0.066 mg/L, and total Coliform 930 MPN/ml. In downstream samples, there were TSS results of 1.68 mg/L, Temperature 26.8, pH 7, BOD 0.5 mg/L, COD 12mg/L, oil and fat 0.108mg/L and total Coliform 230MPN/ml and Based on the Pollution Index calculation results, the Iwan River is polluted (lightly polluted) but still safe to use for agriculture.

Examination of heavy metal concentrations and their interaction with anthropogenic sources in Ermenek Dam Lake (Turquoise Lake)

This study aims to determine the spatial distribution of heavy metal pollution in Ermenek Dam Lake, water quality assessment and pollution sources. For this purpose, samples were taken 6 times a year from 12 points determined in 2024. Physico-chemical parameters and heavy metals were analyzed in the study. Using the analysis results, indexes such as Water Quality Index and Heavy Metal Pollution Index were calculated. The results show that the lake water complies with TS 266 and WHO standards. The index results indicate that the lake water is at low pollution and risk level and is safe. The distribution and sources of heavy metals were examined using correlation analysis, Principal Component Analysis and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis. Correlation analyses showed that there were significant relationships between pH, temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen and TDS and heavy metals. PCA results revealed that Zn was positively correlated with temperature and pH, while Mn and Ni were inversely correlated. The alignment of Pb, Cu and Cd in the same direction showed that these parameters were affected by common sources. HCA results showed that Cr and Fe have similar transport and source properties, while Mn and Ni are affected by different sources. In general, it was determined that heavy metal pollution in lake water was at low levels and local concentrations were present. The study revealed the effects of anthropogenic activities on the lake ecosystem. The findings of the study provide a guiding basis for water quality management in similar hydrological systems.Graphical abstract

Assessment of environmental impacts of heavy metal pollution in rice in Nanning, China

Nowadays rice has become one of the world’s staple foods. Rice in southern China is also a staple food for everyone, however, with the development of China’s industrialization model, many industrial areas may be contaminated by heavy metals, leading to contamination of the agricultural areas. With the development of recent years, Nanning has become a heavily industrial development area, and rice is also a favourite staple food. Therefore, it is a matter of concern to detect whether heavy metals contaminate rice in Nanning due to environmental factors. Five administrative villages were selected from 12 districts, and 20% of the natural villages were randomly selected for soil and water sample taking using probability distribution points and making the number of samples in each village evenly distributed. The single gene index pollution method and Nemerow composite pollution index method was used to evaluate whether heavy metals polluted the crops. Rice was evaluated through the national standard of Food Safety and Food Contaminant Limits. The survey shows that the heavy metal pollution of rice is moderate, especially cadmium pollution is more serious, but the risk of environmental factors in the Nanning area has a small impact on the overall safety and quality of rice, which is still within the controllable range. The total exceedance rate of heavy metals in the surveyed local rice was 20.95%, and the exceedance rate of paddy rice was 33.33%. The exceedance rates of lead, cadmium, inorganic arsenic, and total mercury in rice were 2.23%, 17.88%, 0.56%, and 0.84% respectively. Cadmium was identified as the primary heavy metal contaminant in local rice, with the highest detected concentration reaching 1.23 mg/kg, which is 6.15 times above the limit set by national health standards. This study shows that the concentration of heavy metals in the environment of Nanning Province is low, and the risk caused by environmental factors has relatively little impact on the safety and quality of rice. However, since the pollution of heavy metals will continue to enrich the food chain with time, long-term use will also cause harm to the human body. Therefore, it is necessary to raise the attention of local governments in rice-producing areas to food safety, and then take effective measures to improve local heavy metal detection technology, improve crop quality, and protect people’s food safety.

Effectiveness of artificially planted mangroves on remediation of metals released from ship-breaking activities.

The pervasive and escalating issue of toxic metal pollution has gathered global attention, necessitating the exploration of innovative ecological strategies like phytoremediation. This study explored the extent of potentially toxic metal contamination status and the effectiveness of three planted mangrove species (Avicennia marina, Bruguiera gymnorhiza,and Excoecaria agallocha) in phytoremediation efforts to reduce pollution level. The results indicated that the mean concentrations of elements in the sediment of the area followed a descending sequence: Fe (27,136.67±929.57mg/kg)>Ti (3371.53±228.08mg/kg)>Sr (198.59±37.43mg/kg)>Zr (159.49±22.35mg/kg)>Rb (159.11±17.63mg/kg)>Cu (82.73±5.01mg/kg)>Zn (61.29±2.42mg/kg). The comprehensive assessment of pollution indices, encompassing enrichment factor (EF), contamination factor (CF), pollution load index (PLI), and geo-accumulation index (Igeo), elucidated a low to medium contamination level, particularly regarding Cu, primarily attributed to anthropogenic sources. Correlation analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) unveiled the influence of anthropogenic activities on heavy metal distribution. Evaluating the phytoremediation potentiality via bioconcentration factor (BCF) and translocation factor (TF) revealed limited metal accumulation in plant tissues, yet TF values exceeding 1 demonstrated efficient metal translocation from roots to aerial parts. Remarkably, Excoecaria agallocha exhibited the greatest phytoremediation potential, effectively translocating metals such as Cu and Zn to aerial parts (TF>1). Thus, the intricate interplay between mangrove species and their environmental setting emerges as pivotal in curbing heavy metal transfer to neighboring estuarine and marine ecosystems.

A water footprint inventory for a textile organization: A Case Study in Denim Washing Industry based on the Integrated Reverse Osmosis System.

The consideration of scarcity and overexploitation of freshwater at the organizational level increased interest in the water footprint. The water footprint measures freshwater use for activities, taking into account water consumption and pollution contamination by classifying consumed water into groundwater and surface water (blue water), rainwater (green water), and polluted water (grey water). This study aims to identify a comprehensive water footprint inventory analysis for a denim washing organization and assess the grey water footprint (GWF) based on the effluent concentration of pollution indicators (chemical oxygen demand (COD), suspended solids (SS), ammonium nitrogen (NH4-N), and phenol) measured monthly in 2021. The company used well water for its operations, which constituted 61.79% of the total water use of the facility, water used by the organization by reverse osmosis accounted for 37.60% of total water consumption, and rainwater made up 0.61% of the volume of water used overall. The grey water footprints of COD, SS, NH4-N, and phenol were calculated as 59981.53 m3, 31747.21 m3, 10514 m3, and 48190 m3, respectively. The results illustrated that the COD, which accounted for 40% of the pollutants, had the highest grey water footprint in the organization, corresponding to the amount of freshwater required to assimilate pollutants to meet water quality standards. In addition, the effect of the reverse osmosis system on the blue water footprint of this organization was analyzed by considering two different scenarios. Reverse osmosis considerably impacted the blue water footprint, accounting for over 37% of this organization's water use. It suggests that a wastewater treatment plant using reverse osmosis is an ideal option for recovering water. The main contributions of this study are comprehensively assessing the water footprint components of the denim washing company and understanding sector-specific water footprint at the organization level.

P1273 High Crohn's Disease incidence associated with multiple heavy metal contamination in agricultural soils: findings from the CROPS project in Northern France

Abstract Background Crohn's Disease (CD) is a chronic intestinal disease with an unclear etiology and suspected environmental risk factors. The CROPS (CROhn’s disease and Pollution of Soils) project was initiated in Northern France to investigate links between the high incidence of CD and environmental pollutants. In this context, we combined data of a population-based registry of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) with environmental sampling data to identify the environmental profile of multi-contamination associated with high incidence. Methods This ecological study was conducted at the municipal level within the coverage area of the registry in Northern France. All patients diagnosed between 2000 and 2017 were included (n=9,019). Spatial clusters of significantly high (n=4) and low (n=4) CD incidence, adjusted for age and sex, were identified based on patients' residence addresses at diagnosis. Within these clusters, environmental sampling was performed across 240 sites using a hexagonal grid to ensure 30 samples per cluster. A total of 490 parameters were analyzed: 306 in soil (including emerging pollutants such as hormones and antibiotics, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons [PAHs], heavy metals, and pesticides), 152 in tap water (examining heavy metals and PAHs), and 30 in lichens (assessing heavy metals as indicators of air quality). Multi-contamination indices, such as the Mean Impregnation Ratio (MIR) and Pollution Index, were applied. Data analysis included Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA), and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) tests. Results High-incidence clusters, predominantly agricultural, had elevated heavy metal concentrations in soil (notably chromium, arsenic, zinc, and nickel), sulfadiazine in soils, high nitrate levels in water, and heavy metals in lichens. Low-incidence clusters, with greater urbanization, showed elevated PAHs in soil, heavy metals in water, and BPA in soils. Pollution profiles aligned with different land covers, with significant findings for agricultural lands (p&amp;lt;0.0001). A positive correlation between the relative risk and soil’s MIR for heavy metals in agricultural zones was noted (r=0.557, p=0.005). Conclusion These findings suggest a possible link between high CD incidence and heavy metal exposure in agricultural lands. Profiles of pollution were created for each cluster. Future studies should expand on pesticide and agricultural pollutant analysis to strengthen this hypothesis, and consider individual-level epidemiological approaches to further elucidate these potential environmental risk factors.

Biomonitoring potential of trace metal accumulation and bioavailability in coral skeletons and reef sediments of Persian Gulf: A comparative study.

Nayband Marine National Park in the northern Persian Gulf is an important ecological areas, significantly impacted by industrial activites that poses risk of trace metal pollution to living organisms. In this study, we investigated the bioaccumulation of trace metals in scleractinian corals using annual growth bands and biota-sediment accumulation factor to assess their potential as biomonitoring organisms. Furthermore, to assess the sediment quality, sediment pollution indices and international guidelines was employed. To achieve this, three Faviidae coral and sixteen sediment samples were collected in March 2023 from three sites: an industrial zone (site I), a rural fishing zone (site II), and a marine protected area (site III). In first step, coral samples washed, sun-dried, sliced into 1-cm slabs, X-rayed to reveal annual growth bands, and powder was prepared from each growth band. Then freeze-dried sediments and coral powder were ground, sieved (63 μm), digested (using United States Environmental Protection Agency - Method 3050b) and filtered (Whatman No. 42). Finally, trace metals were analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry instrument. The results show severe anthropogenic pollution at sites I and II compared to site III and significant differences between their sampling stations. Mg and Sr concentrations were highest in sediments and corals, respectively, while, Co is lowest in both. According to the sediment pollution indices, Site I showed the highest potential toxicity to biota, followed by Site II and then Site III. The results also suggest that the Faviidae corals are effective bio-indicators for Pb, Li, Cu, and Ni contamination.

Associations between water exposure and the development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a matched case-control study

Objective Previous studies have hinted at an association between water exposure and the development of ALS. However, proximity measures to these water sources have been limited to questionnaires or large buffers due to a lack of fine geospatial measures. They also do not distinguish the various classes of hydrographic features. Thus, we created a robust database to investigate the association between proximity to water bodies at place of residence and the development of ALS. Methods A matched (sex and year of birth) case-control study was conducted in New Brunswick, Canada from January 2003 to February 2021. Study population included 304 ALS patients and 1207 controls with their historical postal codes linked to spatial proximity datasets and air pollution index indicators (proxy measures for contamination by run-off). Results Odds of ALS were not significantly associated with proximity to water bodies, even within a 250 m buffer from place of residence (Oceans: 1.10, 0.60–2.00 [95% CI], Reservoirs/Ponds/Lakes: 1.24, 0.47–3.30 [95% CI]). As for interaction models investigating proximity to potentially contaminated water bodies, none of the final fitted models observed an association between proximity to water bodies with indicators of potential run-off sources and the development of ALS. Conclusions No significant association between proximity to water bodies at place of residence and the development of ALS were observed in the current study. Future studies should consider taking direct measurements of water quality or utilize geomaps of spraying activities and cyanobacteria blooms alongside proximity measures. Household water quality is another avenue to explore, particularly well water use.

Sustainable Urbanization: Unpacking the Link Between Urban Clusters and Environmental Protection

Urban clusters are the main trend of current and future urbanization worldwide, but their impact on environmental pollution has been controversial. This paper explores this issue in the context of urban development in China, and analyzes the underlying mechanisms, using panel data from 285 Chinese cities spanning 2006 to 2021. The findings show that a one unit increase in the degree of urban cluster is associated with a reduction in the comprehensive pollution index by approximately 7.5%, and the main mechanisms by which urban clusters facilitate environmental protection are congestion alleviation, industry structural optimization, and technological innovation. Firstly, urban clusters reduce environmental pollution by mitigating the crowding effects associated with urban expansion, although this alleviation is predominantly observed in larger cities. Secondly, urban clusters foster the upgrading of urban industrial structures, thereby decreasing environmental pollution. However, in less developed cities where industrialization is a major development goal, the impact of structural optimization is less pronounced. Finally, technological innovations, including advances in technologies of energy conservation and emission reduction, have assisted in the transformation of the economic growth model, which has reduced environmental pollution. Looking ahead, the urban cluster remains a pivotal strategic direction for social development, and planning and construction of urban clusters should actively incorporate environmental benefit considerations.

Geochemical fractionation and bioavailability of heavy metals in the middle gangetic plain: Assessing ecological risks in water and sediment systems.

The Gangetic Plain, one of the world's most fertile regions, is vital to food and water security in densely populated areas. However, metal contamination in sediments and water poses significant challenges, owing to intensified industrial and agricultural activities and periodic flooding. The ecological risks imposed by metals in the Middle Gangetic Plain remain underexplored because of limited data on their bioavailability across varying sediment depths. This study examined the geochemical fractionation, bioavailability, and potential risks of metals in sediments using the sequential extraction (modified BCR) method and assessed pollution indices and health hazards in both groundwater and Ganga River. The results revealed a greater percentage of bioavailable fractions in younger alluvium deposits, which was attributed to elevated silt and organic matter. The metal concentrations in the groundwater were influenced by hydrogeochemical dynamics, sediment texture, and anthropogenic inputs. Fine-grained sediments enriched with organic matter facilitate metal leaching from sediments under redox conditions, serving as a key process controlling metal concentrations in groundwater. Pollution indices revealed that, although the average metal concentrations remained below background levels, As and Cr concentrations exceeded the recommended threshold levels within the upper sections of the core and at depths of 27-30m bgl. Most water samples were classified as having unacceptable pollution levels. Health risk assessments have highlighted ingestion as the primary exposure pathway, with children particularly vulnerable to toxicity and carcinogenic effects. This study offers a framework for identifying and assessing the risks of multi-metal contamination in industrial regions with shallow water bodies.

Assessing heavy metal content of a rural stream Southeast Nigeria for drinking and irrigation purposes

The heavy metal concentrations of a rural stream in Southeast Nigeria were evaluated between November 2021 and October 2022 in 3 stations. Water Pollution Index (WPI) and non-carcinogenic health risk assessment were used to determine the water’s suitability for human consumption and irrigation. Eight heavy metals were evaluated using standard methods and compared with Nigerian Drinking Water Quality and Food and Agriculture Organization Irrigation Water Quality standards. The concentrations were; iron (0.34 – 3.78 mg/l), manganese (0.10 – 1.05 mg/l), copper (0.06 – 0.84 mg/l), zinc (0.22 – 1.87 mg/l), chromium (0.04 - 0.37 mg/l), lead (0.03 - 0.31 mg/l), cadmium (0.03 - 0.23 mg/l), and nickel (0.01 - 0.18 mg/l). Iron, manganese, chromium, lead, cadmium, and nickel exceeded acceptable limits. The WPI values – 5.02 – 6.57 (drinking) and 1.49 – 1.92 (irrigation) were greater than 1, indicating heavy pollution. The ingestion hazard indices (HI) 4.50 – 5.85 (adults) and 6.32 – 8.22 (children) were higher than the threshold value (1). Anthropogenic activities and seasons influenced the concentration of the metals, while chromium and cadmium were responsible for the observed adverse health risks. The burden of the health risk was more on the children. In conclusion, the Azueke stream’s water is unsuitable for human consumption and irrigation.

Source apportionment, ecological and health risks of potentially toxic elements in street dusts across different land uses in city of Kermanshah, Iran

In this study, the contamination, ecological and human health risks as well as source apportionment of As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn, and V in street dusts of different land-uses in Kermanshah, Iran were investigated. A total of 192 dust samples were taken from 16 sites and were analyzed for their elemental contents using ICP-OES. The computed mean values for the geo-accumulation index (I-geo) and the pollution index (PI) ranged from − 6.07 to 2.67 and from 0.023 to 9.58, respectively, indicating ‘unpolluted’ to ‘moderately to heavily polluted’, and ‘slight to very high polluted’ pollution levels, respectively. The pollution load index (PLI) with a cumulative mean value of 1.03 reflected moderate pollution levels across the entire study area. Moreover, the ecological risk (RI) of 135 indicated moderate ecological risks throughout the study region. The mean hazard index (HI) values for the analyzed potentially toxic elements (PTEs) for both adults and children were all within the safe limit (< 1). Furthermore, the total carcinogenic risk (TCR) values showed that the carcinogenic risks associated with As, Cd, Cr, and Ni for both target populations were at tolerable to unacceptable levels. The positive matrix factorization (PMF) model identified traffic emissions and sources, fossil fuel combustion and natural sources, and industrial emissions as the major sources of tested elements. Hence, a thorough investigation into the sources of ecological health risks associated with dust contamination from potentially toxic elements (PTEs) is recommended for future studies.

A machine learning interpretation of the correlation between poverty and air pollution in the contiguous United States

The correlation between poverty and air pollution in the contiguous United States is a widely debated issue, often suggesting that impoverished areas suffer higher pollution levels due to socioeconomic disparities. However, existing studies frequently lack the integration of advanced analytical techniques and fail to account for a comprehensive range of variables. This research paper addresses these gaps by employing sophisticated machine learning models to analyze an extensive dataset encompassing various socioeconomic and environmental metrics. Utilizing linear regression, decision trees, and neural networks, we rigorously examined the data. While the variables were able to predict county-wide poverty rates to reasonably low RMSE and MAE values, our results indicate no significant correlation between poverty levels alone with air pollution indices. The latter finding challenges conventional understanding and highlights the complexity of the relationship between socioeconomic status and environmental quality. By offering a data-driven perspective, our study encourages policymakers to reconsider the factors influencing environmental justice and to look beyond economic status alone. Our work underscores the necessity for further investigation into other potential determinants of pollution, contributing to the discourse on environmental equity. This research provides a fresh, nuanced view that questions established beliefs and underscores the multifaceted nature of socioeconomic-environmental interactions.

Assessment of heavy metal pollution of surface water through multivariate analysis, HPI and GIS techniques

ABSTRACT Presence of heavy metals in surface metals is the mounting concern in the world due rapid industrialization and modernization of society, and surface water is being utilized both as source and sink for water consumption and wastewater discharge, respectively. The chemometric method were applied on river for pre and post monsoon seasons to determine the potential heavy metals and development of heavy metal pollution index (HPI). The cluster and factor analysis were applied on thirteen heavy metals monitored over eleven locations for characterizing the highly correlating and potential, respectively heavy metals. The proliferation of health risks of heavy metals was determined through cluster analysis and GIS. The Fe and Mn found exceeding the permissible limits in river and drain samples for both the pre-monsoon and post-monsoon season, whereas other heavy metals were found within the permissible limits throughout the study period. The study suggested that classification of pollutants and assessment of associated risk to human health could provide a valuable insight for the development of remediation measures to minimize the degradation of public health and appropriate treatment technology for minimizing the contamination of water sources.