Pollution Prevention Research Articles

Research on the influence of green finance policy on enterprise green innovation

At present, China's economy has entered a new normal, and policies with economic growth as the core can no longer meet the needs of social development. In recent years, China has vigorously promoted the green transformation of economic development, and the construction of a green innovation system has become the only way to improve the ecological environment and promote green development. Green finance, as a financial tool providing services for green industries such as energy conservation, emission reduction and pollution prevention and control, plays an important role in the process of economic green transformation. Green Finance Reform and Innovation Pilot Zone is the latest practice of green finance policy system construction. Under this background, this paper takes the establishment of our country’s Green Finance Reform Innovation Experimental Zone as a quasi-natural experiment, and adopts the panel data of Shanghai and Shenzhen A-share listed companies from 2011 to 2022, this paper discusses the impact of Green Finance Policy on enterprise green innovation by means of multi-period double difference model. The study found that the policy has an obvious driving effect on enterprise green innovation, and the conclusion passed the parallel trend test and placebo test; in addition, the mechanism test results show that the stronger the financing constraints, the promotion effect of green financial innovation policy may weaken.

Study of The Application of Bunker Checklist on The MT. Fatmawati Ship to Improve and Prevent Pollution During Bunker Filling

Bunkering on ships is a very important job with a high risk of danger. Bunkering is moving liquid fuel oil from a bunker barge or bunker terminal. The process of transferring oil has the potential to cause pollution. Pollution can occur if an operational error occurs, such as an overflow, pipe, or bunker hose breaking. Overflow is one factor that most contribute to oil spills during the bunkering process. Oil overflow incidents by ships can result in expensive claims, with cleanup costs, penalties, and environmental damage running into millions of dollars. Studies to reduce the risk of oil pollution from bunkering operations need to continue. This study was carried out to know the implementation of the bunker safety checklist. The study was conducted using a case study method strengthened by a literature study. The study was conducted on board MT. Fatmawati with Dead Weight Tonnase (DWT) 7762 metric tons. The ship is driven by a diesel engine with a power of 2721 kW at 195 RPM. The 100% HFO capacity stored on board is 531.44 m3. The ship can also carry an HSD of 119.77 m3 at 100% capacity—security and safety considerations. The maximum fuel capacity that can be loaded is in the range of 80 - 90%. The study results obtained by implementing the bunker safety checklist in bunkering activities are highly recommended. Bunkering will be well planned, from planning, estimating the fuel loaded, and executing to reporting. Safety requirements and pollution prevention due to oil spills can be avoided with work planned and recorded in a checklist.

Assessing the Quality of Ship Crew Members in Sewage Pollution Prevention Practices on Marine Environmental Protection: A Case of Dar Es Salaam – Zanzibar Ropax Vessels

The maritime industry is crucial for global trade, but it also significantly impacts the marine environment, particularly through sewage pollution. This study assesses the quality of ship crew members in sewage pollution prevention practices on marine environmental protection, focusing on ROPAX vessels operating between Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar. The stud aims to assess the quality of ship’s crew members in training and education, experience and the number of crew in sewage pollution prevention practices. The study collected data from 80 respondents, whereby both questionnaires were used to collect the data. The data were analyzed by using T-test, Chi-square test, Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. The study finding revealed that significant deficiencies in awareness and training among crew members regarding MARPOL Annex IV regulations, with many respondents rating their understanding as very low or low. This lack of knowledge, compounded by insufficient formal training programs, hampers the effective implementation of pollution prevention measures. The study recommends a multifaceted approach, including enhanced training, financial support for compliance, and stronger regulatory oversight to improve environmental protection practices. These findings provide crucial insights for policymakers and stakeholders aiming to reduce the environmental impact of the Tanzanian maritime industry and protect marine ecosystem.

A highly sensitive aptamer–antibody birecognized ECL sensing platform based on the cascaded reaction between CeO2@mrGO and Co-SAC@NC for E. coli O157:H7 in untreated milk

Rapid, sensitive and specific detection of foodborne pathogens is of great significance to the early warning and prevention of foodborne diseases and environmental pollution. Here, an electrochemiluminescent (ECL) biosensor with the cascaded reaction between two nanozymes was developed for the detection of E. coli O157:H7. Cobalt single-atom catalyst (Co-SAC@NC) with oxidase (OD) -like activity, as a co-reaction accelerator of O2, catalyzed oxygen to reactive oxygen species (ROSs) and boosted ECL of luminol-O2 system. Another nanozyme CeO2@mrGO with excellent phosphatase-like activity by the introduction of Fe was use to label Ab. CeO2@mrGO captured E. coli O157:H7, and then combined with Ap on the electrode surface through the affinity of aptamer and antibody to form a sandwich structure on the gold electrode (CeO2@mrGO-Ab/E. coli O157:H7/Ap-AuE). CeO2@mrGO converted AAP into AA, which consumed ROS and quenched ECL emission of luminol-O2 system. As a consequence, this ECL sensor had a linear response range of 17–1.7 × 105 CFU/mL with LOD of 2.78 CFU/mL. This aptamer-antibody birecognized system was able to be applied to assay E. coli O157:H7 in untreated contaminated milk samples with satisfactory results.

Recycling of flotation residual carbon from coal gasification fine slag through thermal combustion reaction: Insight into the spatial and temporal multi-scale evolution of typical heavy metals

The necessity for a fundamental comprehension of the migration and transformation patterns of heavy metals in the combustion reaction process is paramount to ensure the effective and targeted prevention and control of heavy metal pollution in the context of large-scale energy utilization of waste coal gasification fine slag. This study aims to reveal the fate of typical heavy metals during the combustion reaction of coal gasification fine slag to provide valuable insight for its clean secondary use. In this work, the thermal combustion reactivity of coal gasification fine slag was initially enhanced through froth flotation, and then the spatial and temporal multi-scale evolution of heavy metals in the flotation carbon-rich fraction was investigated by a series of analytical experiments. The results demonstrate a strong correlation between the volatility of typical heavy metals and the combustion reaction process of the flotation carbon-rich fraction. The volatility of V, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Pb is consistently high, of which the volatility of Zn and Pb is consistently above 50%, while the volatility of Cr, Mn, and Ba exhibits greater temperature sensitivity. As the reaction proceeds, the specific surface area of the solid residue expands, and then the smooth and dense mineral particles dissolve into each other to form a cluster structure simultaneously with the collapse of the pore structure, resulting in the volatility of the heavy metals firstly increasing and then decreasing. Furthermore, alkali metals and alkaline earth metal compounds are effective carriers of Cr, Mn, and Ba in the bottom residual. Additionally, the type and number of crystalline minerals in the bottom residual gradually increase as the reaction progresses. This results in the gradual conversion of the heavy metals bound to unstable carbonate minerals and sulphones into more stable chemical forms. The findings provide novel theoretical support and technical guidance for the environmentally sound and efficient utilization of residual carbon in the waste coal gasification fine slag.

Are Hazard Assessment Methods in the Assessment of Chemical Alternatives Suitable for REACH?

The assessment of chemical alternatives for hazardous substances is an important prerequisite for avoiding regrettable substitution, and several methods have been developed in the past to perform such a hazard assessment for chemical alternatives. We investigate here whether GreenScreen, Cradle to Cradle, multiple-criteria decision analysis (MCDA), the Pollution Prevention Options Analysis System, the U.S. EPA Safer Choice Standard and Criteria, and the GHS column model 2020 from IFA use similar criteria for the evaluation of substances as Article 57 of the European chemicals regulation, REACH, and how suitable these methods are for assessing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. MCDA and GreenScreen were analyzed in detail using two different data sets. The results of the assessments show that none of the investigated hazard assessment methods use the same criteria as described in Article 57 of REACH. It was also not possible to parametrize multi-attribute value theory (MAVT), a commonly used MCDA method, to align with Article 57 of REACH by using the relatively simple objective hierarchy that has been proposed in previous publications. There is therefore an urgent need for a modified/new method that can be used in the future to assess organic substances that are used within the European Economic Area.

Characteristics of Ozone Photochemical Reaction and Emission Reduction Strategies in Summer and Autumn in Shangqiu

Recently, ozone （O3） pollution in Shangqiu has become increasingly prominent, especially in summer and autumn, crucially affecting the local environmental air quality. Based on the monitoring data of O3 pollution days from the Environmental Monitoring Station in June and September 2022 （representing summer and autumn） in Shangqiu, an observation-based model （OBM） was used to study the causes and photochemical reaction characteristics of O3 pollution in the city and precursor emission reduction strategies were studied. The observation results indicated that during summer in Shangqiu, the ρ（O3） and O3 daily maximum 8 h moving concentrations [ρ（MDA8-O3）] were 149.7 μg·m-3 and 195.4 μg·m-3, whereas in autumn, ρ（O3） and ρ（MDA8-O3） were 119.8 μg·m-3 and 173.9 μg·m-3, respectively； the O3 concentration in summer was significantly higher than that in autumn. Ozone sensitivity research showed that the generation of O3 in summer and autumn in Shangqiu was controlled by volatile organic compounds （VOCs）. Among them, oxygen-containing volatile organic compounds （OVOCs）, aromatic hydrocarbons, and alkenes contributed the most to the ozone generation potential （OFP） and ·OH reactivity （L·OH）, and the control must have been strengthened. The OBM simulation results indicated that the maximum O3 generation rates in summer and autumn were 23.0×10-9 h-1 and 13.6×10-9 h-1, with maximum net generation rates of 17.4×10-9 h-1 and 10.4×10-9 h-1 and the maximum and maximum net generation rates of O3 in summer were 1.68 times higher than those in autumn, indicating that the photochemical reactions in summer were significantly stronger than those in autumn. Compared with that in summer, the generation of O3 in autumn was greatly influenced by regional inputs from other regions or cities, with a maximum input of 14.2×10-9 h-1. The prevention and control of O3 pollution in the summer and autumn seasons in Shangqiu should mainly focus on controlling VOCs. The reduction ratio of VOCs/nitrogen oxides （NOx） in autumn should be greater than that in summer and the reduction ratios of 3∶1 in summer and 4∶1 in autumn could be adopted for control.

Study of the Dynamic Adaptive Calculation Method for River Water Environmental Capacity

Controlling the total amount of river pollutant discharge is an important means of water resource protection and management, and it is also a necessary condition for ensuring the normal functioning of water areas. The total amount of pollutant discharge is closely related to the water environmental capacity (WEC). Shifting from the traditional method of calculating WEC to dynamic analyses and calculations, concerning practical applications, in this paper, a dynamic adaptive calculation method is proposed for the river WEC that considers the changes in adaptive demand and hydrological conditions. In this method, the dynamic WEC is represented by intervals based on dynamic changes in different spatial and temporal scales, various calculation methods, hydrological conditions, and parameters. According to the calculation results for the WEC, a variable interval was formed. Taking the Shaanxi section of the main stream of the Wei River as the research object, with the support of an integrated platform, the dynamic adaptive calculation of the WEC in the Shaanxi section of the Wei River was realized, and a corresponding simulation system was constructed. The verification results show that (1) the dynamic calculation of WEC can be realized by freely combining different model methods and calculation conditions; (2) the WEC is described using a variable interval, which has strong applicability and operability; and (3) the simulation system can quickly adapt to the changing needs of practical applications and provide managers with visual and credible decision support. The research results provide a theoretical basis for river water environment pollution prevention and environmental management decision-making and help in the high-quality development of the river basin.

Methods of reducing fuel consumption by seagoing vessels in order to reduce emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere

The aim of the paper is to draw attention to the emissions of toxic compounds into the atmosphere problem by seagoing ships. Annex VI of the MARPOL Convention, which came into force in 2005, concern the prevention of air pollution from ships, forced shipowners to use solutions aimed at limiting the emission of these harmful substances into the atmosphere. One of the instruments enabling the implementation of these guidelines is the design energy efficiency index EEDI, introduced obligatorily for designed and newly built ships. In turn from 2013, the regulations also oblige shipowners to maintain an effective energy management plan during ship's operation, SEEMP (Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan). The paper presents factors that influence the reduction of fuel consumption by ships, leading to a reduction in emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere and thus achieving the required EEDI and other indicators. These are factors related to the ship's hull, the main propulsion engine and the propeller-rudder system. The influence of each of these factors on the level of fuel consumption by the ship was indicated. The work highlights the methods of reducing fuel consumption by seagoing ships aimed at reducing emissions of toxic compounds into the atmosphere, which are currently the most popular and effective, and relate mainly to the hull and main propulsion engines.

O PAPEL DA ORGANIZAÇÃO MARÍTIMA INTERNACIONAL NA PROTEÇÃO DO MEIO AMBIENTE MARINHO

Tankers transport liquid cargoes in bulk across the globe, representing a crucial and highly lucrative mode of maritime transport. Given this context, the secure transport of crude oil, derivatives, petrochemicals, and liquefied gases, as well as cargo transfers between inshore, onshore, and offshore terminals, necessitates standardization and effective regulations. In response to a series of oil tanker accidents in 1976-1977, the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) was established, which is the primary international framework for preventing marine pollution. This convention includes regulations aimed at preventing and mitigating pollution from ships, addressing both accidental discharges and routine operational emissions, and is currently supported by six technical annexes. Consequently, ensuring safe operations and environmental protection is a global priority for shipping companies. Researching and promoting this topic serves as a means of disseminating information to users.

THE ENERGETIC TRANSITION OF SNP

The paper "THE ENERGETIC TRANSITION OF SNP" synthesizes the green strategies that the company must apply, according to the European Green Pact, in order to avoid the expansion of environmental pollution. Regarding strategic strategies and objectives, the paper will focus on presenting strategic directions such as the approach of the sulphur dioxide emission reduction strategy and the digital transformation strategy. As for the environmental policy, it follows the principles of precaution, prevention and correction of pollution at source and on the principle „ the polluter pays”. Also, within the paper we will analyse some graphs and statistics on the financial performance of OMV PETROM, highlighting the success that the company has in recent years precisely due to green investments!

Microplastic accumulation and transport in agricultural soils with long-term sewage sludge amendments

Land application of sewage sludge brings microplastic contamination to soil. However, studies regarding the occurrence and mobility of sludge-borne microplastics in soil are insufficient. In the present study, based on an experimental field, the effects of sludge application amount on the accumulation and migration of microplastics in 0–20 (upper) and 20–40cm (lower) soil layers were evaluated. After 16 years of continuous sludge application (36 t/ha per year), the microplastic content and migration ratio in upper soil reached 6,811 particles/kg and 148%, which was about 5 and 20 times, respectively, higher than that of the control soil without sludge. The microplastics in upper and lower soil layers, were mainly 0.2–0.5mm in size, mostly fibrous in shape, primarily transparent in color, and predominantly rayon in composition. Microplastic surfaces may persistently adsorb clay minerals and iron/titanium oxides from soil, posing potential environmental risks. Sludge application had a significant positive correlation with soil microplastic abundance, resulting in a good fit of predictive model constructed for microplastic accumulation in sludge-amended soils. These findings help to improve the knowledge on environmental behavior of microplastics in sludge-amended soil, and can provide a scientific basis for the regulation of microplastic pollution during sludge land application.

Spatial and temporal variations of dug well water quality in Korba basin, Chhattisgarh, India: Insights into hydrogeological characteristics

Comprehensive assessment of groundwater quality in mining-affected regions is crucial to sustainably manage water resources and protect public health and ecosystems. This study investigated the hydrogeochemical characteristics and water quality of 18 dug wells in the Korba basin, Chhattisgarh, India, an area heavily impacted by coal mining activities. Water samples were collected over three seasons (pre-monsoon, monsoon, and post-monsoon) and analyzed to determine physicochemical parameters, major ions, trace elements, and carbon content. Results revealed very high total dissolved solids concentrations ranging from 315 to 19,738 mg L−1. Nitrate levels surpassed the Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS) limit of 45 mg L−1 in over 50% of samples, reaching a maximum of 200 mg L−1. Fluoride concentrations in all samples exceeded the BIS limit (1.5 mg L−1), ranging from 1.5 to 15.2 mg L−1. The predominant water type was Ca-Mg-HCO₃, primarily influenced by rock-water interactions. Factor analysis indicated that both geogenic and anthropogenic processes influence pollution levels. Pollutant concentrations exhibited seasonal variations, generally peaking during the monsoon period. Temporal analysis from over six years revealed increasing trends for most parameters, indicating deteriorating water quality. Based on Water Quality Index values, all samples were classified as unsuitable for drinking, while assessments of irrigation water quality using various indices indicated that 61.11% of samples were suitable for agricultural use. The findings provide data to inform decision-making and public health protection in this heavily industrialized region and emphasize the urgent need for sustainable water resource management and pollution prevention strategies in the Korba basin to align with UN Sustainable Development Goals 3 (good health and well-being) and 6 (clean water and sanitation).

PREVENTION OF THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT POLLUTION IN THE COASTAL AREA OF ALBANIA

Water space on the globe occupies a total area of about 360 million km2, which constitutes 70% of the Earth's surface, becoming the most important mode of transportation in the field of import and export trade. Our daily lives are closely linked to the sea, where water surfaces have become an important part of people's lives around the world. However, the current situation of the marine environment is not optimistic, marine pollution has become a significant topic in today's society. All marine pollution incidents such as oil spills or leaks, chemical incidents, plastic pollution, air pollution from ships, etc., have caused significant and difficult recovery of the marine environment. Today, a special attention is being given to the prevention and control of the appearance of these marine pollutions, as well as the management of polluted waters. The MARPOL Convention is the main international convention covering the prevention of pollution of the marine environment by ships from operational or accidental causes. The aim of this study is to give an overview of the existing marine pollution in the coastal part of Albania and develop solutions to existing problems. The Republic of Albania has acceded to this convention, has drafted national legislation as well as management plans for the prevention of marine pollution.

Spatio-temporal Prediction of Air Quality Using Spatio-temporal Clustering and Hierarchical Bayesian Model

Air pollution can cause many negative impacts, so it is meaningful to establish an air quality prediction model with high accuracy for air pollution prevention and control. In previous studies, most models did not consider the spatio-temporal distribution characteristics of air quality. So this study proposes a novel spatio-temporal prediction approach STC-HBM, which combines spatio-temporal clustering (STC) and hierarchical Bayesian model (HBM) to build a spatio-temporal prediction model. In this study, we first perform spatio-temporal clustering on the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region in China and then apply hierarchical Bayesian models to different clusters separately. We consider three hierarchical Bayesian models: the separable spatio-temporal (SST) model, the Gaussian process (GP) model, and the autoregressive (AR) model. Since the prior distribution affects the prediction accuracy of the HBM, the resultant output of the Bayesian linear regression (BLR) model is used as the prior input of the HBM, which improves the flexibility of the model. The experimental results show that 13 cities in the BTH region are clustered into two clusters according to their spatio-temporal characteristics. Based on MAE, RMSE, MAPE, and coverage (CVG), cluster 1, and cluster 2 are better in both temporal and spatial prediction compared to the overall prediction model. In addition, for cluster 1, the models with the best prediction in time and space are AR and GP, respectively; for cluster 2, the models with the best prediction in time and space are SST and GP, respectively.

Annual emissions of N2O, NO, HONO, and NH3 from maize-wheat fields in the North China Plain

Fertilized agricultural soil is a significant source of gaseous nitrogen compounds (GNCs), including N2O, NO, HONO, and NH3. The North China Plain (NCP) is the “hot region” for the release of these GNCs due to intensive fertilization practices. However, existing research has primarily focused on N2O emissions from fertilized farmland in the NCP, lacking comprehensive observational studies on other GNCs. Therefore, a continuous cumulative sampling technique (open-top dynamic chamber system) was utilized in this study to simultaneously measure the exchange fluxes of N2O, NO, HONO, and NH3 over summer maize-winter wheat rotation fields in the NCP. Results showed that GNC emissions from the soil displayed distinct diurnal variations, with higher emissions during the day attributed to elevated soil temperature. However, N2O emissions remained consistent between day and night, potentially influenced not only by soil temperature but also by soil humidity. Annual cumulative emissions and emission factors (EFs) for four GNCs were determined, indicating that N2O, NO, and NH3 emissions during the maize season were 1.38–2.37 times higher than those during the wheat season, with 98 % of HONO emissions occurring in the maize season. Additionally, the study first presented the annual HONO EFs of 0.36 ± 0.03 % in fertilized farmland. Furthermore, a comparison revealed that the fluxes of N2O, NO, NH3, and HONO using the conventional single-point sampling method were 26.4 %, 13.9 %, and 8.10 % lower, and 7.86 % higher compared to the continuous cumulative sampling method recommended in this study. In general, this study provided precise measurements of GNC emissions from farmland, offering essential foundational data for modeling parameters and contributing to the formulation of regional air pollution prevention and control policies.

Deep Learning for Water Quality Prediction—A Case Study of the Huangyang Reservoir

Water quality prediction is a fundamental prerequisite for effective water resource management and pollution prevention. Accurate predictions of water quality information can provide essential technical support and strategic planning for the protection of water resources. This study aims to enhance the accuracy of water quality prediction, considering the temporal characteristics, variability, and complex nature of water quality data. We utilized the LTSF-Linear model to predict water quality at the Huangyang Reservoir. Comparative analysis with three other models (ARIMA, LSTM, and Informer) revealed that the Linear model outperforms them, achieving reductions of 8.55% and 10.51% in mean square error (MSE) and mean absolute error (MAE), respectively. This research introduces a novel method and framework for predicting hydrological parameters relevant to water quality in the Huangyang Reservoir. These findings offer a valuable new approach and reference for enhancing the intelligent and sustainable management of the reservoir.

Current Research Status, Opportunities, and Future Challenges of Nine Representative Persistent Herbicides.

Pesticides are extensively utilized in contemporary agriculture to manage pests, enhance crop yields, and sustain productivity. Nevertheless, the persistent herbicide represents a dual-edged weapon. On one hand, their prolonged efficacy enables reduced application frequency during crop growth seasons, resulting in cost savings on labor. However, the presence of these residues within fields poses safety risks to soil quality, sensitive crops in subsequent rotations, agricultural product quality, and the ecological environment. This review presents a comprehensive review on the mechanisms of action, application risks, ecotoxicology, and residue analysis methods of nine representative persistent herbicides (namely, atrazine, imazethapyr, imazapic, mesosulfuron-methyl, halosulfuron-methyl, fomesafen, diflufenican, quinclorac, and pyroxasulfone). The objective is to guide their scientific and rational utilization in agricultural practices while minimizing phytotoxicity risks and effectively monitoring and controlling soil pollution. These can not only provide practical recommendations for mitigating potential plant toxicity and ecological environmental risks but also contribute valuable technical insights for efficient soil pollution monitoring and prevention. Additionally, unaddressed research objectives were also anticipated.

CSR committees and their effect on green practices

This paper explores the relationship between the presence of corporate social responsibility (CSR) committees and the implementation of corporate green practices. Using data from 445 non-financial Japanese firms from 2010 to 2021, we find a positive impact of such sustainability committees on both integrated and three individual aspects of green initiatives, including internal pollution prevention, green supply chain management, and green product innovation. In addition, our evidence demonstrates a variation in the CSR committees—green practices nexus across diverse groups of firms, based on their exposures to environmental risks. Finally, we claim that CSR-linked compensation and CSR strategy can explain how CSR committees affect firms’ eco-friendly practices. Generally, our study confirms the crucial role of a governance mechanism—CSR committees—that business organisations and policymakers can exploit to promote sustainable behaviours.

Dynamic spillover between green cryptocurrencies and stocks: A portfolio implication

Using the novel TVP-VAR connectedness approach, we investigate the spillovers of return and volatility as well as the portfolio diversifications between green cryptocurrencies and green stocks. The empirical findings demonstrate that there are considerable return and volatility spillovers across green cryptocurrencies and stocks. Stock indices such as Alternative Energy, Sustainable World Index, and Pollution Prevention act as net transmitters whereas Green Building stock and green cryptocurrencies act as net recipients of return and volatility spillovers. Sustainable World Index and Pollution Prevention stocks spread relatively stronger net spillovers to other green stocks and cryptocurrencies. The overall spillover effects and hedging costs become higher during the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war. Utilizing green cryptocurrencies like Cardano and Stellar Lumens as hedges for green stocks can provide superior risk reduction effectiveness. Our findings can offer practical implications for investors, portfolio managers, and regulators in developing their optimal investment and risk management strategies.