Indiscriminate Burning Research Articles

Environmental Impact of Heavy Metals on Health in Soils Polluted with Medical Waste in Baiji City

Due to the environmental concerns of improper medical waste management inside and outside hospitals and health institutions, this issue is one of the most important environmental studies topics. Four places in Baiji City in Iraq were selected as study areas: Al-Hajjaj Health Center, Al-Boutama Health Center, Al-Zuwai Health Center, and Baiji General Hospital. This study investigates the environmental health risks of incineration treating hospital waste and health centers. According to the data obtained from practical and laboratory studies, Baiji General Hospital had the highest concentrations of the five toxic heavy metals tested, i.e., lead, cadmium, chromium, zinc, and nickel. These values peaked at 98.36, 59.54, 58.74, 79.52, and 13.32 mg/l for Pb+2, Cd+2, Cr+3, Ni+2, and Zn+2, respectively. Exceeding the measured values of toxic metal elements within internationally permissible limits increases the concentration of these toxic metals, posing greater health risks to the population. This process appears clearly and significantly if medical waste is burned in random locations, producing toxic fumes and gases that can cause diseases dangerous to health when inhaled; therefore, there must be mechanisms and scientific management to control the combustion process in private health incinerators. The survey results showed that the indiscriminate burning of medical waste in surveyed areas leads to diseases and can pose a tangible and immediate threat to human life, such as high blood pressure, eye irritations, suffocation of patients with difficulty and shortness of breath, and asthma, especially the elderly and newborns. Original overshooting of the measured values of toxic metal elements within the internationally permissible limits can increase the concentration of these toxic metals, posing more significant health risks to the population.

The effect of the cyclic hornification on the hygromechanical and surface characteristics of rice stubble agriculture waste

An indiscriminate burning of rice stubble waste in the farms poses a major environmental challenge worldwide. The stubble waste can be utilized to fabricate the natural fibre polymer composites for several mild- to low-load-bearing applications in the civil construction. However, the susceptibility to long-term environmental moisture limits the use of stubble waste. In this work, we analyse the effect of water and alkali hornification as a pre-treatment technique on the moisture uptake, surface roughness, wettability and mechanical strength of rice stubble straw, and the results are compared with untreated stubble straw. The water retention value was reduced by ∼49% and ∼60% after four hornification cycles under the water and alkali mediums, respectively. Preliminary visual and microstructural assessments revealed the reduction in hydrophilic cellulose and lignin contents with both types of pre-treatments. It is observed that in comparison to alkali hornification, the water hornification technique leads to a significant improvement in hygromechanical characteristics of stubble straw. When compared to untreated stubble, one cycle of water hornification leads to approximately ∼16% reduction in the moisture uptake, and ∼42% increase in the tensile strength. On the other hand, the alkali hornification resulted in the improvement in tensile strength by ∼36%, but it led to an increased water uptake. The results indicated that the thinning and surface roughening of the fibres is primarily caused by the removal of amorphous contents during the pre-treatment. For an improved environmental durability with better mechanical strength, it is recommended to do the pre-treatment of the stubble waste using one water hornification cycle before it is used further.

Vanadium inhalation effects on the corneal ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF): study in a murine model

Purpose Air pollution is a public health problem caused by predatory human activities and the indiscriminate burning of fossil fuels that liberate particulate matter (PM) into the atmosphere. Vanadium (V) adheres to them and reaches the bloodstream and different organs such as the eye when inhaled. Another way to reach the eye is by direct contact, and the cornea is the first layer exposed. Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) is secreted by the corneal nerves and some of its functions include self-renewal maintenance and wound healing by the activation of STAT3. Previous reports from our group indicate the activation of STAT3 after the inhalation of V, adhered to PM. Objective To analyse the effect of V inhalation in the expression of CNTF. Method: CD-1 male mice were exposed for 4 and 8 weeks to V inhalation. The eyes were removed, and the corneas were processed for immunohistochemistry for CNTF and analysed by densitometry. The same slides were used to evaluate histological modifications and to measure the corneas’ anterior epithelial and endothelial thickness. Results A decrease in CNTF expression in the anterior epithelium in the 8th week, as well as an increase in the endothelial and corneal thickness and disarray of all the layers of the anterior epithelium. Conclusion V inhalation disturbs the architecture of the cornea and modifies the presence of CNTF which might modify the renewal of the corneas after exposure to PM air pollution.

Study of the possibility of obtaining bioplastic

What makes plastic materials so popular? And what environmental problems are emerging, conquering the whole world? Today, we can see that everything around us is made of plastic. Most of us know that most of the things around us contain plastic. Despite the wide range of applications, however, there arise many problems. Common examples include plastic pollution, plastic decontamination processes, as well as the release of gases and substances thereof into the garbage, which pollute the environment. The indiscriminate burning of plastic results in the emission of deadly gases and carcinogens into the environment. Dumping them in the landfills results in leaching of toxins into the ground and surface water resources. Recently, along with plastic recycling, we are considering ways to produce bioplastics that can replace plastics, to decompose which it takes several hundred years. Due to their natural origin, these are more biodegradable than ordinary plastic. The purpose of this work is to study the ways of obtaining bioplastics, and obtaining bioplastics in the laboratory. As a result of the work, bioplastic mass has been obtained in the laboratory, and hydrolysis of the resulting product has been carried out. Hydrolysis has been performed in three different environments. This is because pH of the environment can be different. For the same reason, it has been carried out in a weak acid, a weak base environment and a neutral environment. By observing the hydrolysis results, the resulting product changes have been determined. However, to explain its change in the context of the molecule, the method of infrared spectroscopy has been used, and results have been discussed.

Effect of Soot Inhalation on Methaemoglobin and Oxyhaemoglobin Levels of some Residents of Iwofe, Port Harcourt Rivers state, Nigeria.

Soot is a mass of impure particles of carbon obtained from incomplete hydrocarbon combustion. Soot is an ultrafine air-borne pollutant and enters into the body through ingestion, skin contact and inhalation causing devastating effects on the blood cells. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of soot inhalation on methaemoglobin and oxyhaemoglobin levels of individuals resident in both Iwofe, Port Harcourt (exposed subjects) and Ihiala, Anambra state (control subjects). The study is a case control study involving residents of Iwofe, Rumuolumeni, who have been exposed to soot pollution in the environment for an average period of one year. Iwofe is in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, Nigeria. A total of fifty (50) test samples were obtained. Thirty control samples were obtained from subjects in Ihiala a city located in the South of Anambra state where illegal oil refineries and other major means of soot generation are not as comparable to what is present in Port Harcourt and its environs. Methaemoglobin and Oxyhaemoglobin concentrations were analyzed using spectrophotometric method. The data obtained was analyzed using SPSS for descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviations) and inferential statistics (t-test). The student t-test was used to test for difference in the methaemoglobin and oxyhaemoglobin levels between the exposed subjects and non-exposed controls and based on age groups and gender. An error of probability (p ≤ 0.05) is considered levels of exposed subjects showing the effect of soot inhalation. Activities of illegal oil refineries (a major source of soot pollution in the city) should be stopped along with other activities like burning of tyres, indiscriminate burning of wastes and gas flaring etc.

Design and Improvement of Existing Briquette Making Machine

There has been a recent push to replace the burning of fossil fuels with biofuel. The replacement of this non-renewable energy resources with biological waste lowers the overall pollution of the world. The waste biomass similar to dry leaves, sawdust, rice husk, coffee husk etc. are gathered and compressed into the briquettes, these briquettes can also transport and used as fuel to generate heat and energy. It is a time to take initiative to turn Biomass into a source of energy. Hence here we are taking responsibility in converting agricultural and forestry wastes into useful biomass briquettes, which can also be used as a substitute for Coal and other non-renewable resources. Biomass briquettes are a biofuel substitute or replacement to a coal and charcoal. Biomass briquettes can be manufactured by using agricultural and forestry waste. The low-density biomass Is converted into high density biomass briquettes with the help of a briquetting machine that Uses binder or without binder i.e., binder less technique, as there is no any type of chemical is used so it is 100% natural. The mostly used raw material for biomass briquettes, Mustard Stalks, Sawdust, Groundnut Shell, Coffee Husk, Coir Pitch, Jute Sticks, Sugarcane Bagasse, Rice Husk, Cotton Stalks, Caster Seed Shells / Stalk, Wood Chips, Paddy straw, Tobacco Waste, Tea Waste, maize stalks, bajra Cobs, Arhar stalks, Bamboo Dust, Wheat Straw, Sunflower Stalk, Palm Husk, Soya bean Husk, Veneer Residues, Barks & Straws, Leaf’s, Pine Niddle, Seeds Cases etc. are used. Biomass Briquette are largely used for any type of thermal application, like steam generation in Boilers, in furnace & foundries (It can be used for metal heating & melting where melting point Is less than 1000d/cel.), for heating purpose (Residential & Commercial Heating in winter, Heating in Cold areas and Hotels, Canteens, Cafeterias and house hold kitchen appliances, restaurants etc.), There are several machines available in market but those machines are bulky and are costly, hence here we have developed a portable, low-cost briquetting machine, which makes use of simple mechanism to convert the biological waste into useful briquettes. Any waste or any proportion of Agri waste can be used but with proper binding agent. Some raw materials doesn’t require any binding material high pressure compression is used. The paper presents the results of a project focused on the development of briquettes from the sawdust (Waste Wood) resulting from the primary waste from timber companies. This sawdust currently lacks a useful purpose, and its indiscriminate burning generates CO and CO2 emissions which are harmful to nature. Sawmill Agri waste is a huge problem specially in urban cities. These wastes are burnt openly which is causing environmental pollution and also becomes reason for human health care.

DETERMINATION OF HEAVY METALS ACCUMULATION IN LACTUCA SATIVA AND SPINACIA OLERACEA GROWN FROM CONTAMINATED SOILS OBTAINED BESIDE FCE KATSINA, NIGERIA

The study was carried out to evaluate the heavy metals accumulation in the stems, leaves and roots of Lactuca sativa (Lettuce) and Spinacia oleracea (Spinach). Pot experiment was conducted to examine the phytoextraction ability of these plants for some heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb and Zn) in contaminated soils obtained from an area where indiscriminate burning of waste materials is being carried out beside FCE Katsina. Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) was used for the determination of heavy metals concentrations. The mean levels of metals accumulation evaluated in Lactuca sativa show a higher amount of Fe (47.97 mg/kg) with the lowest amount of Pb (0.44 mg/kg) which follows the order Fe>Zn>Cu>Cd>Pb. Similarly, Spinacia oleracea followed the trend where higher amount of Fe (24.13 mg/kg) with lower Cd (0.25 mg/kg) content was detected, which follows Fe>Zn>Cu>Pb>Cd. The bioaccumulation factor (BAF) was

Prioritizing areas for conservation action in Kawthoolei, Myanmar using species distribution models

Kawthoolei (defined as all Karen National Union administrative areas and encompassing Karen State, Myanmar), a global hotspot for biodiversity, is increasingly under threat due to deforestation, mining, human population growth, indiscriminate burning, and infrastructure development. Pinpointing biodiversity hotspots to focus conservation efforts is integral given the limited funding and capacity of local conservation actors to undertake activities throughout Kawthoolei. We obtained wildlife presence data for 23 medium-large mammal species of conservation concern from 7 years of camera trapping efforts throughout Kawthoolei and produced species distribution models, which were used to prioritize areas for conservation action. Presence only data were combined with bioclimatic, topographical, anthropogenic, land cover, and biotic interaction variables to produce Maxent models covering 87,612 km2. Species specific maps were weighted according to their IUCN Red List of Threatened Species status and combined to pinpoint areas with high biodiversity, weighing areas higher that harbored Vulnerable and Endangered species. Individual species were predicted present in 1.44–32.17 % of the study area. Priority maps classified 55.91 % of the total study area as having no species present, 25.07 % as low priority, 10.73 % as medium priority, and 8.29 % as high priority. The protected area system currently covers 26.8 % of the high priority habitats available. While most endemic species continue to persist in Kawthoolei, models demonstrated a scattered distribution of high priority areas throughout Kawthoolei, which may lack connectivity. Additional conservation actions that supplement the current protected area system may be necessary to curb extirpation risks, including the demarcation and active patrolling of additional protected areas in high priority landscapes and activities that promote connectivity between high-quality habitats.

Design and Development of Plastic Crusher for a More Efficient Waste Management Practice

One of the prevalent environmental problems encountered in most developing countries is solid waste management. Plastic waste such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles and other plastic materials is one of the solid wastes hampering the developmental and aesthetical state of our environment. This is as a result of indiscriminate disposal and indiscriminate burning of solid waste. Environmental pollution caused by this indiscriminate disposal and burning necessitated the development of plastic crusher to recycle plastic waste generated within our environment. The machine components are hopper, crushing chamber, crushed material outlet, counter weight, transmission shaft with spiral blade around it, channel and body frame. The machine is powered by a 3-phase 10Hp medium speed electric motor. The machine, being a medium sized crusher, has the capacity of crushing half a ton of plastic in a day depending on the type of recyclable plastic crushed. The degree of linear correlation, r squared for observed and predicted values of variables evaluated are within acceptable region. The efficiency of crushing based on polymers processed are 90% for HDPE, 68% for LDPE, 45% for PVC and 10% for PET bottles. The developed crusher can be used to reduce the volume of plastic waste dump. If the findings from this technical brief is adopted and commercialized, the menace of plastic waste will be ended.

Potencial de aplicação do resíduo de cinza de casca de arroz

The use of agricultural waste has become a necessity due to its high environmental cost. As an example of this, we have rice husk ash (CCA), produced by the indiscriminate burning of rice husk, as well as the need to look for alternatives to reuse the waste sustainably, either by applying it to nanomaterials or by extracting SiO2 present in rice husk ash. This study addresses the use of characterization techniques for rice husk ash residue, showing the quality of SiO2 present in the residue.

Assessment of concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in vegetables from farms in Accra, Ghana.

Ingestion of leafy vegetables is an important dietary component of most Africans due to its health benefits. High levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the leafy vegetables may pose a significant health hazard to the consumers. Rose/Hibiscus, Chinese cabbage, lettuce, and garden egg leaves from farms along the Nima Creek, Accra, were selected. At each sampling site, the vegetable was uprooted and cut into leaves, stem, and root and analyzed differently. The GC-MS method was employed in the identification and quantification of 16 PAHs in the samples. The analysis was done at CSIR - Water Research Institute Organic Laboratory. The results obtained show concentrations of acenapththylene, acenapthene, benzo[a]anthracene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, and benzo[a]pyrene (except chrysene and pyrene which were found in garden egg leaves and Chinese cabbage respectively), while naphthalene was detected in all the vegetables. The mean concentration of phenanthrene in leaves, stem, and roots of Chinese cabbage vegetable varies according to the following order: roots (0.744 ± 0.16 μg/kg) ≥ leaves (0.598 ± 1.21 μg/kg) ≥ stem (0.327 ± 1.01 μg/kg). From the results of the isomeric ratios, the source of the PAHs in the leafy vegetables are from mixed sources, i.e., either pyrogenic and petrogenic origins. This calls for the formulation of stringent policies on the importation of over-age vehicles into the countries as well as on the indiscriminate burning of materials containing PAHs.

Health risks and economic costs of exposure to PCDD/Fs from open burning: a case study in Nairobi, Kenya

This study assesses the incremental health risk of exposure to dioxins and furans (PCDD/Fs) from indiscriminate burning of wastes in Nairobi and the potential economic benefits of reductions in dioxin-induced cancer mortality contributed by proper waste management. Fugacity models level III incorporated with the Human Health Risk Assessment Protocol (HHRAP) (USEPA 2005a) and CalTOX were utilized to simulate the PCDD/F levels in biotic environmental compartments. PCDD/F concentrations in samples of potatoes, eggs, beef, and long life milk were analyzed and compared with the modeled values. The PCDD/F concentration of 3.35 pg TEQ/g in the milk sample was observed to rank the highest in food samples and exceeded the European Union criteria. Comparison results suggest that the level III + HHRAP is more conservative than CalTOX in health risk assessment. Regularities in the analyzed WHO-TEQ congener profiles for the food samples were discussed. The incremental dietary exposure to PCDD/Fs for the residents in Nairobi was estimated to be 0.08–2.15 pg TEQ/kg-day, falling within the WHO tolerable daily intake of 1–4 pg TEQ/kg-day. Potential excess cancers due to dietary exposure to PCDD/F associated with all illegal waste burning in Nairobi were estimated to be 636 cases over the 30-year time period or 21 cases/year, accounting for 0.05 % of cancer cases in the entire country of Kenya. With the waste recycling rate increased by 5 % and the opening of the new sanitary landfill that can reduce 50 % of waste disposed at the Dandora dumpsite, the economic benefits of avoided cancer deaths is expected to be US$ 0.16–1.93 million. These results indicate that additional actions on waste management, e.g., waste minimization and construction of sanitary landfill, should be implemented for the public health of Kenyans.

“The Exceeding Joy of Burning”— Pastoralists and the Lucifer Match: Burning the Rangelands of the South Island of New Zealand in the Nineteenth Century, 1850 to 1890

Abstract The burning of the rangelands of the South Island of New Zealand by pastoralists in the second half of the nineteenth century has been highly contentious. The dogma of "indiscriminate burning" has become so entrenched in New Zealand’s environmental history that critics of burning have felt little need to provide evidence to support their assertions. Critics of tussock burning claimed that it was a catalyst for mass erosion in the hills and mountains of Canterbury. In recent years, scientists have concluded that this was unlikely as much of the erosion predated European settlement. This essay is part of the reappraisal of rangeland burning. It uses archival evidence from station diaries and memoirs to answer the questions of why the pastoralists burned, how often they burned, and when they burned. These sources show that burning was an important management tool and that the burning practices of the runholders in this study were characterized by discrimination.

A new crag lizard from the Cape Folded Mountains in South Africa

Abstract A new crag lizard of the genus Pseudocordylus is described from the Western Cape Province, South Africa. It is an archaic melanistic form, occurring in sympatry with other archaic melanistic lizard and mollusc taxa within the mistbelt of the Hottentotsholland Mountains, part of the Cape Folded Mountains. With a maximum snout-vent length of less than 80 mm, it has an exceptionally small body size for a crag lizard. It has a conservative morphology which bridges the morphological gap that exists between Pseudocordylus and Cordylus. It is suspected that this species has a very restricted range in the Hottentotsholland Mountains, and that indiscriminate burning of the veld and collecting of the species may pose a serious threat to its survival.