Level Of Environmental Pollution Research Articles

Modern successful global solutions in environmentally friendly urban delivery and their application in Ukraine

Nowadays the issue of reducing environmental pollution is on the agenda of all countries. Among the areas that have huge negative consequences for nature, logistics and supply chains take their place. Today, there are many concepts and scientific currents that recognize the need to account for the environmental component in urban logistics. Environmental aspects are used when evaluating the efficiency of investment projects, developing new models of vehicles, calculating taxes and insurance payments, and when searching for the best delivery schemes. The goal of the work. Taking into account the world experience in research on the chosen topic, the purpose of this study is to consolidate the world's successful experience in environmentally friendly urban delivery and assess their applicability in Ukraine. Technologies and methods that allow reducing the negative impact of motor vehicles on the environment include: The technology of off-peak delivery, which allows you to improve the speed mode of the car. With off-peak delivery, the probability of traffic jams is minimized, which makes the speed of movement the maximum permissible in the city (and, accordingly, the most environmentally friendly). Although night delivery is currently not possible in Ukraine due to the curfew, late and early delivery is still available, allowing you to successfully bypass traffic jams. Use of consolidation centers. The economic idea of consolidation of freight transportation is to use the effect of scale - the greater the carrying capacity of the vehicle, the lower the specific costs for transportation of a unit of production. Currently, the construction of the consolidation center is being evaluated from the point of view of the impact of the supply chain on the environment. At the same time, the existence of a consolidation center near or within the city allows to organize delivery by vehicles with zero or low level of environmental pollution. Use of Parcel Delivery Lockers. Delivery lockers are usually installed in places where the maximum flow of residents is concentrated, which makes it possible to create additional comfort for users due to the possibility of choosing the point closest to their own home or place of work. This method eliminates up to two thirds of harmful emissions into the air. The number of post machines and the area covered by them increases year by year, which allows us to talk about the success of this technology. According to the results of 2022, such major players of express delivery as "Nova Poshta" (now “Nova”), "Ukrposhta" and "Meest" will continue to work with post delivery lockers in Ukraine. Use of more environmentally friendly types of transport. The use of hybrid, electric or non-motorized vehicles is increasingly used in last-mile logistics. Electric vehicles, mopeds, two- or three-wheeled bicycles with a large trunk or cargo body can be considered environmentally friendly types of urban logistics. Such vehicles have practically zero emissions of harmful substances, they are much more maneuverable and do not require a lot of space for unloading, loading and parking. Implementation of zones with low (zero) air pollution. Zones with zero or low emissions have long been used in developed countries. There are no generally accepted technologies for calculating the territory that requires restrictions on the movement of transport, as well as for calculating the cost of such movement. Usually it depends on the will of the local authorities, the wishes of the residents and the well-being of the region. Prohibition on the use of motor vehicles. Some local authorities introduce a complete ban on the use of motor vehicles within certain parts of the city. Usually these are historical centers with dense buildings and a large number of tourists. Sometimes such drastic measures are combined with night delivery technology. If this is not possible, the only alternative is delivery by small, usually two- or three-wheeled, zero-emission vehicles. Improvement of traffic management. Competently designed organization of road traffic can reduce the pressure on the environment. The use of an intelligent transport system in smart cities allows you to perform important tasks like detection of transport accidents; automated control of the ramp, traffic lights and parking, etc. Improvement of road conditions. This refers to the quality of the road surface, markings, cleanliness of the road surface, etc. Improvement of road conditions indirectly affects the improvement of environment of the region. Summing up the results of the research, successful global practices in environmental friendly urban logistics are highlighted, which are applied and have prospects for application in Ukraine. It was concluded that there is a huge potential of using world experience in urban logistics of Ukraine. This will bring Ukrainian logistics and urban supply chains to a new level, increasing the level of health and general satisfaction of the citizens.

Genetic association of the xenobiotic biotransformation system with the risk of death of the gestational sac in primigravida women living in an industrial city

Introduction. Every second conception in the population ends in failure, in 20% of the cases the cause is a non-developing pregnancy. In the overall structure of early reproductive losses, missed miscarriage accounts for 80%. The development of this pathology is influenced by both endogenous and exogenous factors. Exogenous factors with a teratogenic effect lead to the occurrence of mutations and the formation of an abnormal embryo, which is poorly predicted. The peculiarities of the biotransformation system of xenobiotics of the maternal organism directly affect the severity of the impact of these factors on the embryo. Materials and methods. A survey of eighty six young primigravida women living in Novokuznetsk was conducted. 33 of them were diagnosed with the gestational sac death, 53 women had a standard developed pregnancy. Variants of the GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes of the second phase of the xenobiotic biotransformation system were determined in these groups by polymerase chain reaction. Results. Novokuznetsk, a city with a critically high level of environmental pollution, has recorded a 20–fold increase in the number of missed miscarriages over the past 25 years. A statistically reliable association of deletion polymorphisms of the genes of the second phase of the xenobiotic biotransformation system with the death of the gestational sac - GSTM1 (χ2 – 5.37; OR – 3.18) and GSTT1 (χ2 – 10.85; OR – 16.64) was revealed, while the normal alleles were associated with a successful outcome of pregnancy - GSTM1 (χ2 – 5.37; OR – 0.13) and GSTT1 (χ2 – 10.85; OR – 0.06). Limitations. The study was of a pilot nature, so it is advisable to increase the sample in the future. Conclusion. The dependence between the activity of enzymes of the second phase of the xenobiotic biotransformation system and the increased risk of miscarriage of the first pregnancy in young women living in the conditions of ecological distress was revealed. The results of the study make it possible to predict possible pregnancy complications and elaborate algorithms for full-fledged pregravid preparation.

Performance of a solar parabolic trough concentrator using vacuum linear V-shaped cavity receiver

The popularity of renewable energy is on the rise as fossil fuel resources continue to deplete and environmental pollution levels increase. Consequently, enhancing the performance of renewable energy systems has become a compelling subject of research. This study introduces an innovative structure, the Linear Cavity Receiver (LCR), as a receiver for solar Parabolic Trough Concentrators (PTCs). Notably, this novel structure incorporates a vacuum V-shaped LCR, marking a pioneering achievement worldwide. By adopting this configuration, the solar system’s thermal efficiency is enhanced through the reduction of heat losses. The results confirmed the superiority of the vacuum V-shaped LCR over a non-vacuum receiver in optimizing the performance of the solar PTC system. It was found that the vacuum linear V-shaped cavity receiver exhibited superior efficiency for larger cavity tube diameters, higher inlet temperatures, and lower volume flow rates. Moreover, this study showed that decreasing the cavity tube diameter, increasing solar radiation, reducing the working fluid (WF)’s inlet temperature, and raising the volume flow rate contribute to an increase in both cavity heat gain and the solar system’s thermal efficiency. It can be concluded that the thermal efficiency of the solar system was about 72.24 %, 71.6 %, and 69.9 % for cavity tube diameters 5 mm, 10 mm, and 25 mm, respectively. These findings hold great significance in the design of power-generating PTC systems, ensuring their optimal efficiency. Also, the results of this study can be used to improve energy governance by using more efficient thermal power systems.

Investigating the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis with urbanization, industrialization, and service sector for six South Asian Countries: Fresh evidence from Driscoll Kraay standard error

South Asia is the most polluted region in the world and is struggling to deal with the effects of growing CO2 emissions and the ecological impact it has left. The region needs to identify the variables that are most effective in reducing pollution in order to achieve long-term sustainable growth. The current study aims to investigate the environmental impacts of the current and projected urbanization rate, the service sector, and the availability of natural resources to test the environmental Kuznets-curve (EKC) theory in six South Asian countries (SAARC). With cross-sectional dependence present, this research examines panel data from 1972 to 2021 using the newly developed Driscoll Kraay Standard Error (DKSE) approach. To check the robustness of DKSE estimation, the study employs a novel Cross Sectional Autoregressive Distributive Lag (CS-ARDL) method. The results of DKSE show that GDP significantly minimizes CO2 emissions in both the short and long run. At the same time, GDP2, urbanization, and the service sector increase CO2 emissions in the South Asian region. The DKSE estimator also shows that industrialization and abundant natural resources have insignificant impacts on CO2 emissions. Inconsistent with the EKC hypothesis, the findings show that higher economic growth leads to increased environmental pollution and CO2 levels. Meanwhile, the CS-ARDL analysis found that GDP and industrialization reduce CO2 emissions, while urbanization, GDP2, and natural resource availability increase CO2 emissions. This research emphasizes the need for establishing appropriate industrialization and urbanization strategies and promoting cleaner energy adoption to reduce CO2 emissions.

Levels, Distribution and Ecological Risk Assessment of PBDEs in Soils and Plants Around the Engineering Plastics Factory.

This study systematically investigated the pollution levels and migration trends of PBDEs in soils and plants around engineering plastics factory, and identified the ecological risks of PBDEs in the environment around typical pollution sources.The results showed that 13 kinds of PBDEs were widely detected in the surrounding areas, and the concentration level was higher than the general environmental pollution level. The total PBDE concentrations (∑13PBDEs) in soils ranged from 14.6 to 278.4ng/g dry weight (dw), and in plants ranged from 11.5 to 176ng/g dw. Both soil and plant samples showed that BDE-209 was the most important congener, the pollution level in soil and plant was similar, and the composition of PBDEs congener was similar. In the soil column (50cm), the radial migration of PBDEs was mainly concentrated in the 0-30cm section. Except for BDE-66, which was mainly located in the 20-30cm soil layer, the concentration of PBDEs was the highest in the 0-10cm region. Furthermore, the environmental risks of PBDEs in soil and plants were evaluated by hazard quotient method, and the HQ values were all < 1, which did not exhibit any ecological risk. The evaluation results also showed that the ecological risk of PBDEs in soil was higher than that of plants, especially penta-BDE, which should be paid more attention.

Mortality burden of cardiovascular disease attributable to ambient PM2.5 exposure in Portugal, 2011 to 2021

BackgroundExposure to high levels of environmental air pollution causes several health outcomes and has been associated with increased mortality, premature mortality, and morbidity. Ambient exposure to PM2.5 is currently considered the leading environmental risk factor globally. A causal relationship between exposure to PM2.5 and the contribution of this exposure to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality was already demonstrated by the American Heart Association.MethodsTo estimate the burden of mortality attributable to environmental risk factors, a comparative risk assessment was performed, considering a “top-down” approach. This approach uses an existing estimate of mortality of the disease endpoint by all causes as a starting point. A population attributable fraction was calculated for the exposure to PM2.5the overall burden of IHD and stroke was multiplied by the PAF to determine the burden attributable to this risk factor. The avoidable burden was calculated using the potential impact fraction (PIF) and considering the WHO-AQG 2021 as an alternative scenario.ResultsBetween 2011 and 2021, the ambient exposure to PM2.5 resulted in a total of 288,862.7 IHD YLL and a total of 420,432.3 stroke YLL in Portugal. This study found a decreasing trend in the mortality burden attributable to PM2.5 exposure, for both males and females and different age-groups. For different regions of Portugal, the same trend was observed in the last years. The mortality burden attributable to long-term exposure to PM2.5 was mainly concentrated in Lisbon Metropolitan Area, North and Centre. Changes in the exposure limits to the WHO recommended value of exposure (WHO-AQG 2021) have a reduction in the mortality burden due to IHD and stroke attributable to PM2.5 exposure, in Portugal.ConclusionBetween 2011 and 2021, approximately 22% and 23% of IHD and stroke deaths were attributable to PM2.5 exposure. Nevertheless, the mortality burden attributable to cardiovascular diseases has been decreasing in last years in Portugal. Our findings provide evidence of the impact of air pollution on human health, which are crucial for decision-making, at the national and regional level.

The effects of cadmium on selected oxidative stress parameters and the content of photosynthetic pigments in cucumber Cucumis sativus L.

BackgroundEnvironmental pollution by cadmium (Cd) is currently a common problem in many countries, especially in highly industrialised areas. Cd present in the soil can be absorbed by plants through the root system. AimThe aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of cadmium on the metabolic activity of cucumber plants (Cucumis sativus L.) and the accumulation and distribution of Cd in the organs of the plants. MethodsCucumber seeds (3 g) were exposed to 0.76, 1.58 or 4.17 mg Cd/L (applied as CdCl2 solutions). The activity of selected antioxidant enzymes - glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), lipid peroxidation and the content of photosynthetic pigments were determined in 6-week-old cucumber plants. In addition, intake of Cd has been determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (F-AAS). ResultsThe results show that the applied cadmium concentrations affected the activity of antioxidant enzymes. An increase in CAT activity and a decrease in SOD activity were observed in all cucumber organs analysed. GSH-Px activity increased in the roots and stems. Surprisingly, GSH-Px activity decreased in the leaves. The level of lipid peroxidation was usually unchanged (the only one statistically significant change was a decrease in the concentration of malondialdehyde in the leaves which was observed after exposure to the highest Cd concentration). The applied Cd concentrations had no effect on the content of photosynthetic pigments. The highest cadmium content was found in the roots of cucumber plants. Cd tends to accumulate in the roots and a small amount was translocated to the stems and leaves, which was confirmed with the translocation factor (TF). ConclusionsThe results indicate that the range of cadmium concentrations used, corresponding to the level of environmental pollution recorded in Europe, effectively activates the antioxidant enzyme system, without intensifying lipid peroxidation or reducing the content of photosynthetic pigments.

Closed-loop recyclability of a biomass-derived epoxy-amine thermoset by methanolysis.

Epoxy resin thermosets (ERTs) are an important class of polymeric materials. However, owing to their highly cross-linked nature, they suffer from poor recyclability, which contributes to an unacceptable level of environmental pollution. There is a clear need for the design of inherently recyclable ERTs that are based on renewable resources. We present the synthesis and closed-loop recycling of a fully lignocellulose-derivable epoxy resin (DGF/MBCA), prepared from dimethyl ester of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (DMFD), 4,4'-methylenebis(cyclohexylamine) (MBCA), and glycidol, which displays excellent thermomechanical properties (a glass transition temperature of 170°C, and a storage modulus at 25°C of 1.2 gigapascals). Notably, the material undergoes methanolysis in the absence of any catalyst, regenerating 90% of the original DMFD. The diamine MBCA and glycidol can subsequently be reformed by acetolysis. Application and recycling of DGF/MBCA in glass and plant fiber composites are demonstrated.

Assessing the negative impact of chlorantraniliprole, isoxaflutole, and simazine pesticides on phospholipid membrane models and tilapia gill tissues

The indiscriminate and, very often, incorrect use of pesticides in Brazil, as well as in other countries, results in severe levels of environmental pollution and intoxication of human life. Herein, we studied plasma membrane models (monolayer and bilayer) of the phospholipid Dioleoyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphocholine (DOPC) using Langmuir films, and large (LUVs) and giant (GUVs) unilamellar vesicles, to determine the effect of the pesticides chlorantraniliprole (CLTP), isoxaflutole (ISF), and simazine (SMZ), used in sugarcane. CLTP affects the lipid organization of the bioinspired models of DOPC π-A isotherms, while ISF and SMZ pesticides significantly affect the LUVs and GUVs. Furthermore, the in vivo study of the gill tissue in fish in the presence of pesticides (2.0 × 10−10 mol/L for CLTP, 8.3 × 10−9 mol/L for ISF, and SMZ at 9.9 × 10−9 mol/L) was performed using optical and fluorescence images. This investigation was motivated by the gill lipid membranes, which are vital for regulating transporter activity through transmembrane proteins, crucial for maintaining ionic balance in fish gills. In this way, the presence of phospholipids in gills offers a model for understanding their effects on fish health. Histological results show that exposure to CLTP, ISF, and SMZ may interfere with vital gill functions, leading to respiratory disorders and osmoregulation dysfunction. The results indicate that exposure to pesticides caused severe morphological alterations in fish, which could be correlated with their impact on the bioinspired membrane models. Moreover, the effect does not depend on the exposure period (24h and 96h), showing that animals exposed to pesticides for a short period suffer irreparable damage to gill tissue. In summary, we can conclude that the harm caused by pesticides, both in membrane models and in fish gills, occurs due to contamination of the aquatic system with pesticides. Therefore, water quality is vital for the preservation of ecosystems.

Development of e-pocket book learning media on environmental pollution based on environmental issues in Cirebon region

In the Cirebon region, there are several environmental issues exists, one of the problems is pollution. In the context of modern information technology, there's a growing preference for electronic-based educational materials. This study aims to evaluate the environmental pollution levels in Cirebon and develop a e-pocket book as a biology learning resource for high school students. The research follows the ADDIE model (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, Evaluation) and utilizes observations, questionnaires, and documentation for data collection. The environmental assessment was conducted in Cirebon city and regency, and the learning media developed at MAN 2 Cirebon City. Results from the Environmental Quality Index (IKLH) indicate moderate pollution levels in Kejaksan District and mild-moderate levels in Talun District. The e-book was created using the Canva application and finalized into a link format compatible with laptops and Android smartphones. It underwent validation by material experts, media experts, biology educators, and student users, receiving favorable feedback with an overall rating of 87.24% deemed very satisfactory. It can be concluded that the development of this e-book on environmental pollution can be used as a learning media.

Dug Well Water Quality to Reduce Pollution Parameters Kapasa Village, Biringkanaya District, South Sulawesi

The quality of dug well water should comply with established regulations. The pollution caused by bacteria to water in the ground widens to ± 2 meters at a distance of 5 meters from the source of pollution 3 and narrows to a distance of 11 meters in the direction of the ground flow. This type of research is descriptive research, namely to determine the use of silica sand filter media, activated carbon in filter reactors on reducing TDS, Nitrite (NO2), Dissolved Manganese and MPN Coliform by comparing the composition of the filter media with reference to clean water quality standards Permenkes No. 2 In 2023, the samples in this research were dug wells located in Kapasa Village, Biringkanaya District, Makaasar City. The results of this research after the filtration intervention of manganese media, activated charcoal and silica sand, found that TDS, color, Manganese Nitrite (NO3) had decreased levels of environmental pollution, this is in accordance with the Regulation of the Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia Number 2 of 2023. Conclusions from the results research shows that silica sand, manganese and activated charcoal filtration media, TDS, manganese nitrate (NO2) and MPN Coliform can effectively reduce water pollution levels in dug wells in accordance with the Minister of Health Regulation. So the risk of infectious and non-communicable diseases can be overcome with the intervention of silica sand, manganese and activated charcoal filtration media.

X-ray structural study of membranes based on Na-CMC and CS-Cl for water purification

The level of environmental pollution is increasing year by year. Solving this problem requires the development and application of new effective technologies and materials for wastewater treatment and processing of accumulated waste. One of the alternative directions is membrane technologies, in particular, the development of biodegradable nanocomposite membranes. Anionic polyelectrolyte – Na-carboxymethyl cellulose with molecular weight Mw ~ 90000 and cationic polyelectrolyte – low molecular weight chitosan were used to create these membranes. Polymeric membranes were formed by mixing aqueous solutions of chitosan hydrochloride and Na-carboxymethylcellulose in different ratios. Analysis of X-ray diffractograms of polyelectrolyte complexes showed that with a gradual increase in the content of cationic polyelectrolyte from 5 % to 17 %, the structure of polyelectrolyte complexes changes dramatically. Whereas, the diffractograms of polyelectrolyte complexes with chitosan content from 29 % to 84 % are similar. The effectiveness of the obtained membranes was tested on a barometric device at different pressures. It was established that membranes based on polyelectrolyte complexes with a stoichiometric ratio of anionic and cationic polyelectrolytes turned out to be the most productive. The degree of water purification was checked by indicators of color selectivity. The obtained results allow us to conclude that with an increase in the duration of purification, the selectivity increases

Assessing the 2023 Canadian wildfire smoke impact in Northeastern US: Air quality, exposure and environmental justice

The Canadian wildfires in June 2023 significantly impacted the northeastern United States, particularly in terms of worsened air pollution and environmental justice concerns. While advancements have been made in low-cost sensor deployments and satellite observations of atmospheric composition, integrating dynamic human mobility with wildfire PM2.5 exposure to fully understand the environmental justice implications remains underinvestigated. This study aims to enhance the accuracy of estimating ground-level fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations by fusing chemical transport model outputs with empirical observations, estimating exposures using human mobility data, and evaluating the impact of environmental justice. Employing a novel data fusion technique, the study combines the Weather Research and Forecasting model with Chemistry (WRF-Chem) outputs and surface PM2.5 measurements, providing a more accurate estimation of PM2.5 distribution. The study addresses the gap in traditional exposure assessments by incorporating human mobility data and further investigates the spatial correlation of PM2.5 levels with various environmental and demographic factors from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Environmental Justice Screening and Mapping Tool (EJScreen). Results reveal that despite reduced mobility during high PM2.5 levels from wildfire smoke, exposure for both residents and individuals on the move remains high. Regions already burdened with high environmental pollution levels face amplified PM2.5 effects from wildfire smoke. Furthermore, we observed mixed correlations between PM2.5 concentrations and various demographic and socioeconomic factors, indicating complex exposure patterns across communities. Urban areas, in particular, experience persistent high exposure, while significant correlations in rural areas with EJScreen factors highlight the unique vulnerabilities of these populations to smoke exposure. These results advocate for a comprehensive approach to environmental health that leverages advanced models, integrates human mobility data, and addresses socio-demographic disparities, contributing to the development of equitable strategies against the growing threat of wildfires.

Exposure to Environmental Pollution in Schools of Puchuncaví, Chile: Characterization of Heavy Metals, Health Risk Assessment, and Effects on Children’s Academic Performance

In Chile, Puchuncaví and Quintero face substantial environmental pollution challenges. Industrial and vehicular emissions expose schoolchildren to elevated levels of pollutants, decreasing sustainability and posing risks to both their health and educational advancement. The aim of this study is to determine the distribution of heavy metals (Li, Be, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Zn, As, Se, Sr, Mo, Cd, Sb, Tl, Pb, and Cu) in the dust in and around the schools in these cities. We also evaluate the associated carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks, as well as whether their concentrations affect the academic performance (AP) of the students. The chemical composition of the collected dust samples is analyzed using positive matrix factorization, and two interpretable factors related to two sources of contamination (industrial and traffic + crustal) are determined. The health risk is assessed using a model including inhalation, dermal contact, and ingestion, and the influence of metal concentration on the AP of students is determined using an econometric model. The metal concentration is found to be related to the distance to the pollution source, and differences are observed between indoor and outdoor samples. The carcinogenic risk is low, while the non-carcinogenic risk is high in Greda School. The levels of heavy metals inside and outside the schools are found to influence AP. In these cities, children are exposed to high levels of environmental pollution, which may pose a risk to their health and impact their AP.

Shadow Economy and Environmental Pollution Nexus in Developing Countries: What is the Role of Corruption?

The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of the shadow economy on environmental pollution and how this effect depends on the levels of corruption. The study utilizes an annual panel dataset of 127 selected developing countries worldwide, spanning from 2002 to 2018, and employs the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) technique, which effectively addresses potential endogeneity issues in the model. The estimation results reveal that the shadow economy increases the level of environmental pollution. Furthermore, the results indicate that corruption intensifies the impacts of the shadow economy on environmental pollution. This highlights a significant complimentary between the shadow economy and corruption, indicating that an increase in the levels of corruption will lead to an increase the shadow economy and will also strengthen its harmful impact on environmental pollution through the channel of corruption. Additionally, the estimates remain robust when using alternative measure of the shadow economy.

ANALYSIS OF THE FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION IN THE SUBCARPATHIAN PROVINCE

The work presents an examination of Poland's environmental condition, with a focus on the contamination of air and surface waters by various chemical elements. The composition and quality of the air impact ecosystems, plant growth, the animal kingdom, and shape human living conditions. These factors play a significant role in driving global climate change. The repercussions of air pollution encompass phenomena such as smog, acid rain, ozone layer depletion, as well as impacts on industrial and municipal facilities, contributing to global warming. The article conducts an analysis of air pollution, surface water contamination, and electromagnetic radiation pollution in Subcarpathian, utilizing the city of Stalowa Wola and the Stalowa Wola county as case studies. This choice is informed by the fact that Stalowa Wola stands as one of the largest industrial cities in the Subcarpathian Voivodeship, suggesting that environmental pollution levels in this county might surpass those in other regions. The article also delineates the features of air and surface water pollution, along with electromagnetic radiation characteristics. It scrutinizes pollution sources in the mentioned county, explicates the causes of such pollution, and proposes strategies for environmental amelioration. The analysis of the environmental status of Stalowa Wola county during the years 2018 to 2020 is presented, accompanied by recommendations for initiatives that could enhance its condition. The research findings indicate that the condition of uniform segments of surface waters, as evaluated through conducted studies, is deemed poor. The discharge of wastewater from specific pollution points, particularly wastewater from municipal origins, emerges as the predominant cause of subpar water quality.

Risk-aware day-ahead planning of an energy hub integrated with the carbon capture unit considering cap and trade concept, energy and carbon markets and demand side flexibility

This paper optimizes the stochastic day-ahead planning of an energy hub considering the carbon capture system, energy and carbon markets and flexible loads to achieve a sustainable economical-environmental operation. In the p÷resented model, the cap and trade concept as a successful policy in the regulatory programs of governments is considered to limit the level of environmental pollution caused by industries. In addition, various uncertainties including the power of wind and solar units, load demand and market prices are handled using scenario generation and reduction approaches. The downside risk method is also utilized to evaluate both risk-neutral and risk-averse attitudes of the decision-maker. In the following, the influence of demand side flexibility is analyzed by a time-of-use strategy for all types of loads. The results show that a risk-averse attitude with the maximum possible robustness increases the expected cost by about 19.55 %, while the expected risk reduces by about 100 %. The responsive loads notably can mitigate the impact of uncertainties, where their 10 % flexibility decreases the expected cost by about 19.02 %. The simulations validate the positive effect of carbon capture technology and the cap and trade concept on the environment; however, more strict rules and severe penalties are required.

ПРЕДВАРИТЕЛЬНАЯ ОЦЕНКА ОЖИДАЕМЫХ ВОЗДЕЙСТВИЙ ОСВОЕНИЯ ВОЛЬФРАМОВОГО МЕСТОРОЖДЕНИЯ НА СОСТОЯНИЕ ОКРУЖАЮЩЕЙ СРЕДЫ И ЗДОРОВЬЕ ДЕТЕЙ ДАЛЬНЕРЕЧЕНСКОГО РАЙОНА ПРИМОРСКОГО КРАЯ

The an ecological assessment of the state of the natural environment of the Dalnerechensk district and the territory of the upcoming development of the tungsten ore deposit is given according to three integral indicators: the state of water resources, atmospheric air, disturbance and pollution of land. There was show the possible directions of impact and consequences of extraction and processing of tungsten ores on the natural environment. It was presents the statistical data on the morbidity of the child population in two districts of the Primorsky Territory, where similar types of economic activities – Pozharsky and Krasnoarmeysky municipal districts in comparison with the child morbidity in the Dalnernechensk district are analyzed. It was identified the acceptable levels of environmental pollution for a number of indicators affecting the health of children.

Karyological Study of Acanthocephalus lucii (Echinorhynchida): The Occurrence of B Chromosomes in Populations from PCB-Polluted Waters

In this study, we performed a cytogenetic analysis of Acanthocephalus lucii specimens from three sites with different levels of environmental pollution. Standard and fluorochrome staining (CMA3/DAPI), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with 18S rDNA and histone H3 probes, and silver impregnation were performed. Chromosome complements of 2n = 7/8 (male/female), n = 1m + 2sm + 1a (X), and CMA3-positive bands in all chromosomes were found in all three populations. FISH revealed one 18S rDNA locus on the X chromosome and one locus of H3 histone genes on the first chromosome pair. At the intraspecific level, the populations differed in the presence of supernumerary B chromosomes, which were found in all specimens from Zemplínska Šírava and in 89.4% of specimens from the Laborec River, but not at the reference site. The first two sites are considered to be water bodies with high toxin contamination. Based on this fact, we assume an increased frequency of chromosome breaks leading to the formation of DNA fragments that have the potential to form B chromosomes. The present results add to the very limited data on the organization of multigene families in the genome of Acanthocephala and suggest a possible causal link between water pollution and the occurrence of B chromosomes in fish parasites.

Evaluating of the environmental risks of natural water sources in the Alkalaa municipal community area – South Lebanon

Abstract Water is considered a fundamental factor, and plays a role in public health and economic growth. Therefore, it should be free of all kinds of microorganisms, and chemical substances that are dangerous to fauna and flora. Insufficient water supply is one of the issues confronting Middle Eastern countries, and Lebanon becomes a typical example. This study aims to evaluate the basic physical, chemical, and microbiological water properties for eight distinct sites, in southeastern Lebanon, identified during the coronavirus pandemic, as the worst economic situation to hit Lebanon began. These tests were carried out by the World Health Organization (WHO). The results were utilized to assess the level of environmental pollution. A comparison was made between the obtained results with other studies: Lebanon southwest and the northwest region of Jordan Valley. The novelty of this study stems from the fact that it is the first to shed light on the degree of pollution level and the lack of environmental education for water conservation and water pollution prevention in this unstudied area, and compares the results locally and regionally. In addition, the obtained results indicate the impact of the Coronavirus on the behavior of the habitants in this region.