Person-1 Day-1 Research Articles

Biofortification of upland rice using selenium-enriched urea: Evaluation of potential genotypes

This objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of upland rice genotypes to absorb selenium (Se) in the form of selenate (SeVI) and translocate it to grain using Se-enriched urea in topdressing fertilizer and to investigate its effects on the agronomic attributes of rice. For this, twenty upland rice genotypes were evaluated in a split-plot design in two areas, where each experimental plot was divided into subplots. One subplot was treated with application of Se-enriched urea (80 g of Se ha-1), while the other subplot was used as a control treatment and fertilized normally with urea. The evaluated traits were plant height, thousand grain weight, hulling yield, whole grain milling yield, grain yield, Se content, and intake in the polished grain. The results suggest that the application of Se-enriched urea increased the whole grain milling yield of rice in both areas. Genetic variability was among the upland rice genotypes in terms of their ability to increase Se in the grain when Se-enriched urea was applied, with all genotypes biofortified and a maximum Se content of 2.30 mg kg-1 in the grain. These results indicate that it is possible to increase the Se content in rice grains by application of Se-enriched urea fertilizer. This increase in Se content results to a higher daily intake of Se (µg person-1 day-1). This strategy could help to minimize the deficiency of this nutrient in the population, particularly in regions where Se is not very representative in cultivated soils.

Household and household-related waste generation and characteristics in rural areas: A case study in Tanjungsari Sub-district

Waste management issues in rural locations differ from those in metropolitan ones. Unmanaged waste has the potential to harm the rural environment. Understanding the generation and characteristics of household and household-related waste is the starting point for planning waste management. Accurate measurement of waste generation and characteristics helps optimize waste reduction and recycling efforts. Therefore, this study aims to measure the waste generation and characteristics in rural areas using the Indonesia National Standard 19-3964-1994 method. The survey team visited 60 samples of residential and non-residential properties in the Tanjungsari Sub-district for eight consecutive days. Based on the results, the waste generation was 0.34 kg person-1 day-1. Organic waste (food waste, leaves, paper, and wood) accounts for the majority of garbage (81,34%), followed by inorganic materials (plastic, fabric, other materials, metal, and glass) at 15.66%, 1.86%, 0.91%, 0.12%, 0.11% respectively. The residential waste density is 196.1 kg m-3, while in non-residential areas is 63.63 kg m-3. Family size and income, living habits, and the type of economy or industry that develops have influenced the rural waste generation and composition. Rural waste management strategies need to consider organic waste as a raw material in composting or fermentation.

Methane emission quantification from municipal waste landfills: models and computer software-a case study of Long An Province, Vietnam.

Vietnam has been one of the nations strongly affected by climate change; hence, finding and promoting solutions in order to adapt and proactively respond to climate change have played an extremely significant role. A strategy of developing a low-carbon economy with eco-friendly production and consumption models, limiting the use of fossil fuels, and rising clean as well as renewable energy have been built with the aim to reduce total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by roughly 8% by the year 2030 compared to the business-as-usual (BAU) scenario under the Paris Agreement 2015, in particular, focusing on producing a plan to drop considerably methane (CH4) emission and recover energy from landfill sites as the waste sector has been the third-highest GHG contributor in Vietnam. This study concentrates on forecasting and evaluating CH4, CO, H2S, and CH3SH emissions for a case study in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam: in specific, two dumping sites of Thanh Hoa and Kien Tuong according to four different scenarios so that the landfill gas (LFG) emissions are controlled under the local authority orientation of installing a gas collection system and treating captured gases by an LFG flaring approach from 2021 to 2030. Quantification of the generated LFG is carried out using a mathematical modeling method having validation with field measured data, which is a WebGIS software named EnLandFill with integrated mathematical models, environmental information, and databases allowing analysis of the main influence of two L0 and k factors on LFG emission levels. On the one hand, based on the development planning of Long An province from 2021 to 2030, the municipal solid waste (MSW) volume is estimated at around 3.5 million tonnes and the potential waste generation index is predicted between 0.7 and 1.2 kg person-1 day-1. A large amount of CH4 emissions are considered to be a remarkable contributor to GHG emissions. It can be seen that there are about 32.1-253.6 million m3 CH4 (or equivalent to 512-589 thousand tCO2-eq) and 1.0-5.1 million m3 CH4 (or equivalent to 16-81 thousand tCO2-eq) created at Thanh Hoa and Kien Tuong dumping sites, respectively, under the established scenarios in the 2021-2030 period. On the other hand, the proposal of scenario 4 is found to be the optimal solution for GHG emission control and decline from this study area in the next years. Furthermore, the obtained study outcomes are considered as a basis for planning and managing the issues of MSW in Long An province until 2050 towards a circular economy.

Waste management and zero waste practices in educational institutions

In this study, the situation of waste management and zero waste applications in educational institutions was investigated in Turkey. For this purpose, the wastes collected and separated within the scope of zero waste and the wastes collected without separating them in trash cans were determined at certain periods and the total amount of waste generated per unit time and per person was calculated for an engineering faculty, vocational school, high school and primary school. A questionnaire study was conducted to determine the viewpoints of the students studying at the engineering faculty on zero waste management. According to the obtained data, the amount of waste collected in the faculty was calculated as 184 kg day-1 and only 27 kg day-1 of this amount is being recycled. Considering all types of waste in the whole schools, waste generation rates were found to be 17,6, 32,3, 93,7 and 113 g person-1 day-1 respectively for primary school, high school, vocational school, and engineering faculty. One of the important results obtained in the study is that the necessary training and awareness-raising activities in zero waste implementation are very important, and every stage from the reduction of the number of trash cans to the correct placement of zero waste sets requires detailed planning.

The water-scarcity footprint of Australian adult diets – evidence from a large population health survey

AbstractThe food system is responsible for around 70% of global freshwater use. Pathways toward responsible consumption and production of food are therefore critically needed to ensure the planetary boundary for freshwater use is not transgressed. There is also an uneven spatial distribution of freshwater resources and human water demands, meaning that water-scarcity is acute in some regions but a lesser concern in others. Quantifying the water-scarcity impacts associated with food consumption is therefore a complex challenge due to the diversity of individual eating patterns, the very large number of individual food products available, and the many different regions where food is grown or processed. To our knowledge, this is the first study to calculate water footprints for a large number of self-selected diets. Life cycle assessment was used to model the water-scarcity footprints of 9,341 individual Australian adult diets obtained through 24-hour recall as part of the most recent Australian Health Survey. Three water-scarcity indicators were used, including the AWARE model recently developed by a project group working under the auspices of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) / Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) Life Cycle Initiative (www.lifecycleinitiative.org). In addition, a diet quality score was calculated for each of these diets. Our objective was to identify pathways toward healthier diets with lower water-scarcity impacts. Dietary water-scarcity footprints averaged 362 L-eq person-1 day-1 and were highly variable (sd. 218 L-eq person-1 day-1), reflecting the diversity of eating habits in the general community. The largest water-scarcity impacts were related to the excessive consumption of discretionary foods (alcoholic beverages, processed meat products, dairy desserts, cream, butter, muesli bars, confectionery, chocolate, biscuits, cakes, waffles, fried potato and extruded snacks, etc.). The potential to reduce dietary water-scarcity impacts is large, although the opportunity to intervene through amended dietary guidelines is not straightforward due to the large variations in water-scarcity footprint intensity between individual foods within a food group, and the inability of consumers to identify lower water-scarcity footprint products without food labeling. Reductions in the water-scarcity footprint of Australian food consumption are likely best achieved through reductions in food waste, technological change to improve water-use efficiency in food production, as well as the implementation of product reformulation and procurement strategies in the food manufacturing sector to avoid higher water-scarcity footprint intensity ingredients.

Economic valuation from direct use of mangrove forest restoration in Balikpapan Bay, East Kalimantan, Indonesia

Background: The mangrove forests in Balikpapan Bay, Indonesia, have been used as a source of livelihood for local community more than 150 years. Since the natural products of the mangrove forest, such as wood and seafood, are not able to meet the economic needs of the local community, some areas have been converted into brackish water ponds with traditional aquaculture systems. The growth of brackish water ponds over the last five decades has been identified as the main cause of ecosystem destruction. However, the mangrove ecosystem has been restored naturally through tidal action and seeds falling from mangrove trees. Methods: This study focused on the mangrove tree species Rhizophora apiculata, with ages ranging from 3 to 40 years. Initially, the study site (area, 1 ha) was plotted. The study sample size included 30% of the local population, chosen by systematic random sampling. The data collection was undertaken as follows: 1) measurement of the diameter and height of mangrove trees; 2) observation of local fish auctions; and 3) interviewing of fishers and local communities regarding the direct use of the natural products of the mangrove ecosystem. Results: It is suggested that the total income from wood production is IDR 742,425,000 year-1 or US $0.933 person-1 day-1. Furthermore, the total income from fishing is IDR 1,019,056,640 year-1 or US $1.28 person-1 day-1. Pre-thinning income level for wood harvesting is still low. The income difference between wood production and fishing resulted in the rate of overfishing reaching 37.3%. The highest observed wood production was reached at the age of 25 years, and the highest value of mean annual increment (MAI) is 5.39 m3 ha-1 at the age of 40 years. Conclusions: This study showed that tree thinning, ranging from 90 to 350 trees ha-1, can increase the value of MAI by around 24.5%.

Adherence to Point-of-Use Water Treatment over Short-Term Implementation: Parallel Crossover Trials of Flocculation-Disinfection Sachets in Pakistan and Zambia.

The health benefits of point-of-use (POU) water treatment can only be realized through high adherence: correct, consistent, and sustained use. We conducted parallel randomized, longitudinal crossover trials measuring short-term adherence to two single-use flocculant-disinfectant sachets in Pakistan and Zambia. In both trials, adherence declined sharply for both products over the eight week surveillance periods, with overall lower adherence to both products in Zambia. There was no significant difference in adherence between the two products. Estimated median daily production of treated water dropped over the crossover period from 2.5 to 1.4 L person-1 day-1 (46% decline) in Pakistan and from 1.4 to 1.1 L person-1 day-1 (21% decline) in Zambia. The percentage of surveillance points with detectable total chlorine in household drinking water declined from 70% to 49% in Pakistan and rose marginally from 28% to 30% in Zambia. The relatively low and decreasing adherence observed in this study suggests that these products would have provided little protection from waterborne disease risk in these settings. Our findings underscore the challenge of achieving high adherence to POU water treatment, even under conditions of short-term adoption with intensive follow-up.

Effects of Foliar Selenite on the Nutrient Components of Turnip (Brassica rapa var. rapa Linn.).

We administered foliar applications of 50, 100, and 200 mg L−1 selenium (Se, selenite) on turnip (Brassica rapa var. rapa Linn.) and detected the changes in the main nutrient components in fleshy roots. Results showed that the foliar application of Se (IV) significantly increased the Se content in turnip, and Se (IV) positively affected the uptake of several mineral elements, including magnesium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, manganese, and copper. Se (IV) treatments also improved the synthesis of protein and multiple amino acids instead of crude fat and total carbohydrate in turnip, indicating that the foliar application of Se (IV) could enhance Se biofortification in turnip and promote its nutritional value. We recommended 50–100 mg L−1 Se treatment for foliar application on turnip based on the daily intake of Se for adults (96–139 μg person−1 day−1) and its favorable effects on the nutrient components of turnip.

The per capita output of phosphorus from domestic detergents in Ireland 1950-1982

Domestic sewage is a major source of phosphorus (P) to many Irish lakes. Domestic detergents comprise a significant source of P in such sewage. The change in the potential output of P from domestic detergents in Ireland between 1950–1982 is assessed in per capita terms. Per capita output in Northern Ireland levelled off at around 1.6 g person1 day1 from 1977. In the Republic output continued to rise (from a lower base! through 1982. The steady increase in P output from domestic detergents during this period facilitated an unequivocal increase in total domestic P output. In recent years the P content of detergents has declined. It is presumed that this source is now a less significant component of P loadings on lakes. Data derived during this study are considered a more suitable assessment of domestic detergent P output in Ireland than most published ‘assumptions’.

Simulation Planning for Sustainable Use of Land Resources: Case study in Diamou

In this study, we presented the simulation planning scheme to project land and land resources use changes at a local scale for Diamou (MALI). Problem statement: All the land cover types were under the influence of human and livestock population. Diamou has undergone changes in land-cover over the last decades. The shifting cultivation system practiced was probably the main reason for this state of affairs. Moreover, the dryness and extensive character of pastoral activities had contributed to the general degradation of natural resources. The principal objective of our study was to contribute to the sustainable use of land resources from 1999-2010. Approach: Using formula the resources supply and demand had been estimated based on statistics data, derived from a comprehensive review of the literature. The resources balance (difference between supply and demand) had been estimated for two years 1999 and 2010.The resources demand were measured by an average consumption needs person-1 day-1 multiplied by the population. For the livestock population the biomass demand and supply had been measured based on TLU dietary requirements and the pastureland carrying capacity. The diagram of resources balances were drawn using word Microsoft word command and the simulation land use areas schema using ArcGIS. Results: From present approach, it was found, that, in year 1999 the fuel wood and cereal balances were negative. The drink water and biomass balances were positive. The dominant land use categories were the pastureland and the cropland, occupying about 52 and 45% of total area respectively of the total area 8876 ha. Except the biomass balance in year 2010, all the resources balance were negative. The drink water and fuel wood deficits were equal to 439 and 2801 m3 respectively. The dominant land use class, a cropland covered approximately 45% of total area. Conclusion: Studies had indicated the cereal, fuel wood and drink water resources deficit in years 1999 and 2010.

Pollutant loads analysis of domestic wastewater and environmental accounting housekeeping (EAH) books of domestic wastewater in drainage areas of inner city rivers in Japan for the purpose of preparing domestic wastewater management plan of the developing countries

Pollutant loads per capita flowing into public water bodies and environmental accounting housekeeping (EAH) books of domestic wastewater were proposed as an index and a tool for dissemination and environmental education. This paper summarized the index in two drainage areas, Ebigawa River drainage area and the inner city rivers in Chiba City. The indexes were 0.3-5.2 g-COD person-1 day-1, 2.5-4.3 g-N person-1 day-1, and 0.22-0.43 g-P person-1 day-1, in the Ebigawa River drainage area, and 0.83-21 g-BOD person-1 day-1, and 1.2-13 g-COD person-1 day-1 in Chiba City. The effectiveness of the original EAH books, those of CO2, has been considered as not enough. However, researchers should indicate some quantitative and scientific information for the resolution of environmental problems. Actual and effective application of the index and the tool would be possible in the scenes of water pollution problems in developed countries including Japan, and domestic wastewater treatment management in developing countries.

Solid Waste Recycling and Reuse in Bangkok

Materials recovered from solid waste in Bangkok are mainly glass bottles, paper and paper products, plastic products and metals. Materials are separated at three different stages of the collection process: at the source, prior to collection; by the crews of the collection vehicle; and by the scavengers at the dump site. The total daily tonnage of recyclable garbage collected at the source by the waste pickers is estimated at 286 tonnes, about 5% of the garbage collected by the city. There are small scale recycling shops (SSR) located around the main disposal sites where collected materials are sold by the collection crews and the scavengers. The quantity of materials delivered to the SSR shops by the collection crew vary between 1-6 tonnes per day. The amount of materials recovered by the scavengers (at the dump site) varies between 50-150 kg person-1 day-1. Therefore around 7.5% of the solid waste is recycled. In Bangkok both formal and informal sectors manufacture paper pulp, cardboard boxes and magazines from the recyclable paper. Paper products which account for 55% of the total waste stream are considered as the largest "product group" in the municipal solid waste. Recyclable glass (1-3% of the total waste stream) or cullet is used to manufacture plain glasses or cups. Plastics constitute about 10-15% of the waste stream. The benefit/cost ratios of production of most of these industries were reported to be higher than 1.5. In order to enhance recycling, legislative measures need to be introduced and enforced. In Thailand, there is, however, no law concerning recycling. There is no incentive for the consumer to separate solid waste for recycling, as the prices of waste in Bangkok are low and inconsistent. Therefore the pricing system should be more organized for recycling to be more effective.

Theper capitaoutput of phosphorus from domestic detergents in Ireland, 1950–1982

Domestic sewage is a major source of phosphorus (P) to many Irish lakes. Domestic detergents comprise a significant source of P in such sewage. The change in the potential output of P from domestic detergents in Ireland between 1950–1982 is assessed in per capita terms. Per capita output in Northern Ireland levelled off at around 1.6 g person1 day1 from 1977. In the Republic output continued to rise (from a lower base! through 1982. The steady increase in P output from domestic detergents during this period facilitated an unequivocal increase in total domestic P output. In recent years the P content of detergents has declined. It is presumed that this source is now a less significant component of P loadings on lakes. Data derived during this study are considered a more suitable assessment of domestic detergent P output in Ireland than most published ‘assumptions’.