Present Environmental Status Research Articles

Human-nature relationship and public perception of environmental hazards along the Maros/Mureş river (Hungary and Romania)

Public participation is increasingly important in flood and environmental management planning. Accordingly , understanding the attitude of local society to natural values and their relations with the environment is highly important to realize successful development projects. This study aimed to analyze the human-nature relationship, the public perceptions of environmental hazards and people's engagement with water management related and human interventions at Maros/Mureş River through a public survey. The survey was carried out in 11 Romanian and Hungarian settlements using the random walking method to interview the local public. The results show that people are a little pessimistic concerning the state of the river, and there are misbeliefs about the general problems affecting its present environmental status. Meanwhile, the perception of flood hazard is governed by the fading memory of the last high-risk flood event in 1970. The engagement of residents is mostly affected by socio-demographic parameters. However, the regularity they visit the river is also very important. Consequently, informing people on apparent environmental issues and processes can greatly help the socially inclusive implementation of water management measures along the river.

Assessment of present environmental status of the Ratargul Swamp forest Sylhet

This study aims to find out the present environmental status and issues that have emerged in the recent time due to change in human activities, resource extraction and human dependency on the forest. This study is based on both qualitative and quantitative approach with Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) tools and random sampling of 260 respondents, six focus group discussions (FGDs), six key informants interviews (KIIs). The result suggests that about 90% of poor and middle-classhouseholds are depended on the income from tourism, agriculture or boat riding activities. Both the local people and tourists’activities are responsible for decreasing environmental condition by plastic pollution, land cover and land use change, water follows control, road and building construction and violence of rules and regulation. The south and east boundaries, and the center of the forest are mainly facing land use and land cover changes between the years of 2005 to 2018. For sustainable management, local communities should be aware of the importance of swamp forest and have to find out alternative income sources to reduce pressure on swamp forest in terms of resources extraction and forest degradation.
 J. bio-sci. 28: 51-57, 2020

Gate‐to‐gate life cycle assessment of biosurfactants and bioplasticizers production via biotechnological exploitation of fats and waste oils

AbstractBACKGROUNDThis study investigated the biotransformation of fats and waste oils to glycolipid biosurfactants and bioplasticizers. The ecological performance and environmental impacts of the bioprocesses were evaluated aiming to assess their present environmental status and thus suggest future improvements using life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology.RESULTSBiosurfactants, namely rhamnolipids and sophorolipids, were obtained via fermentation. Bioplasticizers, fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE) and monoglycerides (MAG), were developed via enzymatic catalysis with selected enzymes in mesophilic temperatures via ethanolysis and glycerolysis, respectively. The study revealed that air emissions, electricity and thermal energy requirements are the key contributors to the potential environmental impacts in the life cycle impact assessment (LCIA). More specifically, rhamnolipids production has less energetic needs compared with sophorolipids manufacturing, resulting in lower environmental impacts. The increased thermal requirements of the MAG production phase is the main contributor to their negative environmental performance, with the overall energy consumption for MAG production being 3‐fold higher than for the FAEE formation phase.CONCLUSIONSThe assessment identified that among the biosurfactant production processes, sophorolipids production resulted in 22.7% higher environmental impact compared with rhamnolipids. Similarly, FAEE production can be classified as a more environment‐ friendly process compared with MAG, resulting in 67% lower environmental impact based on the environmental indicators assessed. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry

Present environmental status of Al-Kharrar Lagoon, central of the eastern Red Sea coast, Saudi Arabia

Al-Kharrar Lagoon is a fossil back-reef basin with hypersaline waters, situated 10 km northwest of Rabigh city, central of the eastern Red Sea coast, Saudi Arabia. About 130 stations were selected for measurements of the lagoon’s water temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, and water depths during March 2014. The common macro-algae, flora, and fauna were also sampled and identified. The present study aims to investigate the prevailing environmental parameters and their impact on the macro-fauna/flora of the lagoon. The average water depth of the lagoon was around 5 m and reached maximum values of 8 and 16 at the lagoon centre and inlet, respectively. The results showed that the lagoon’s surface water temperature and salinity have mean values of 25 °C and 40‰, but with extreme values of 30 °C and 45‰ that occurred only at the enclosed intertidal areas, respectively. Their dissolved oxygen (DO) and pH were 6.5 mg/l and 8.3, respectively and the latter showing the highest values up to 8.5 in the intertidal areas dominated by the green cyanobacteria. These physicochemical conditions make the lagoon as a favorite place for the mangrove Avicennia marina, macro-algae, seagrasses (Halophila stipulacea and Cymodocea rotundata), and algal mats (Cyanobacteria) which dominate the intertidal and supratidal areas of the lagoon, tolerating extremely high-salinity and high-temperature conditions. On the other hand, corals were observed alive at the southern part of the lagoon, immediately south of the Al-Ultah Islet. Vertical profiles of temperature, salinity, and density in the lagoon’s water indicated that the water column consists of two layers throughout the year.

Geochemistry and benthic foraminifera of the nearshore sediments from Yanbu to Al-Lith, eastern Red Sea coast, Saudi Arabia

The nearshore waters and sediments along 500 km of the eastern Red Sea coast from Yanbu to Al-Lith were investigated in regard to environmental parameters (temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen and pH), sediment grain size, organic matters, carbonates, metal concentrations (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Cr, Pb, Ni and Co) and benthic foraminifera in order to document and give a broad view about the present environmental status of this shorline area. The results showed that the studied nearshore sediments were mainly composed of biogenic sandy sediments with very low metal concentrations indicating an existence in a natural state. However, in the nearshore sediments of Jeddah coast, these metals became frequent showing the highest concentrations indicating urbanization activities. In the other hand, the organic matter showed no relations with these metals indicating its typical marine sources. The benthic foraminifera of these nearshore sediments were low due to modification by taphonomic processes and were visually (and by the CCA) divided into three faunal assemblages. The Coscinospira hemprichii-Varidentella neostriatula assemblage increased northwards, following the subtle northward increase of salinity, and this could be used as a high salinity indicator in the Red Sea fossil sediments. Whereas, the Neorotalia calcar-Neoeponides bradyi assemblage increased southward, probably, as a result of a profusion of seagrasses and filamentous algae. The Quinqueloculina seminula assemblage showed no increase/decrease either towards the north or the south, indicating their tolerance for a wide range of environmental conditions and showing, however, their preferences to soft, muddy substrates.

Temporal and spatial variability of phytoplankton monitored by a combination of monitoring buoys, pigment analysis and fast screening microscopy in the Fehmarn Belt Estuary.

For 2years, a baseline investigation was carried out to collect reference information of the present environmental status in the Fehmarn Belt and adjacent area. The temporal and spatial variability of phytoplankton was monitored by a combination of monitoring buoys, pigment analysis and fast screening microscopy. The overall phytoplankton succession in the Fehmarn Belt area was found to be influenced primarily by the seasonal changes, where various diatoms dominated the spring and autumn blooms and flagellates like Chrysochromulina sp., Dictyocha speculum and various dinoflagellates were occasionally abundant in late spring and summer. The phytoplankton groups were remarkably uniform horizontally in the investigation area while large differences in both biomasses and composition of individual phytoplankton groups were seen vertically in the water column, especially in the summer periods, in which the two-layer exchange flow between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea is showing a particularly strong stratification in the Fehmarn Belt. The chlorophyll a concentrations ranged continuously from 1 to 3μg/L at the three permanent buoy stations during the 2years of monitoring, except for the spring and autumn blooms where chlorophyll a increased up to 18μg/L in the spring of 2010 and up to 8μg/L in the autumn of 2009. Recurrent blooms of filamentous cyanobacteria are common during the summer period in the Baltic Sea and adjacent areas, but excessive blooms of cyanobacteria did not occur in 2009 and 2010 in the Fehmarn Belt area. The combination of the HPLC pigment analysis method and monitoring buoys continuously measuring fluorescence at selected stations with fast screening of samples in the microscope proved advantageous for obtaining information on both the phytoplankton succession and dynamic and, at the same time, getting information on duration and intensity of the blooms as well as specific information on the dominant species present both temporally and spatially in the large Fehmarn Belt area.

Geochemistry of sediments in three sectors of Trincomalee Bay, Sri Lanka: provenance, modifying factors and present environmental status

Purpose The geochemical compositions of sediments from three sectors in Trincomalee Bay (Koddiyar Bay, Thambalagam Bay and the Inner Harbour) in Sri Lanka were examined to determine fluvial and marine contributions and the effects of sorting and heavy mineral concentration. The present environmental status of the bay was also assessed.

Infection potential ranking of hospitals based on generation of biomedical waste: A fuzzy approach

Amongst the various sources of pollution, solid wastes have drawn the highest attention due to improper management. Biomedical wastes are a part of solid waste which was not given much attention earlier but due to various hazards it caused to environment, a proper management was realized to be necessary. Considering the present environmental status regarding generation of Biomedical waste, this study puts forward application of fuzziness to the crisp values of the weights of different categories of Biomedical wastes. This study focuses on evolving a methodology to develop an integrated infection pollution index, which will provide an effective tool to study the infection potential of a hospital although no norms have been set up by any pollution control body.

Dynamics of rare earth elements in water–soil systems: The case study of the Pineta San Vitale (Ravenna, Italy)

The European Union Site of Community Importance Pineta San Vitale (Ravenna, Italy) is located in a complex lagoon system nearby the Adriatic Sea. This area is affected by relevant environmental pressures related to subsidence, groundwater salinization and industrial contamination. The occurrence of rare earth elements (REE), and the characterization of processes that control their migration in the water–soil system were performed for implementing the knowledge of the present environmental status in the area.Nine soil profiles were opened in the Pineta San Vitale and each horizon was characterized. In the parent material, dominant quartz, followed by plagioclase, mica, chlorite and calcite were recognized by XRD. Topsoil samples were characterized by neutral or sub-acid pH, relatively high organic carbon content (LOI up to 43wt.%; TOC: 38÷61g/kg), and low carbonate (11÷20g/kg CaCO3). Subsoil horizons were sub-alkaline or moderately alkaline, rich in carbonate (up to 114g/kg CaCO3), and depleted in organic matter. The electrical conductivity (EC: 0.2÷4.2 mS/cm) values along the soil profiles did depend on the water table fluctuations and the salinity of groundwater. Sequential extraction tests on two soil profiles showed the highest Y and ΣREE occurrence in the residual fraction of soils, with values generally increasing at depth, and total amounts similar to values estimated in the upper continental crust (UCC). Poor fractionation of REE was observed when the bulk soil horizon was considered, but different REE patterns occurred in the organic, oxide, and carbonate soil fractions, suggesting REE fractionation during weathering and pedogenic processes.Physical–chemical parameters and concentrations of total and dissolved elements were determined in 44 water samples. Waters showed near-neutral or slightly alkaline pH (6.8÷8.0) and total dissolved solids mostly in the range of 2 to 24g/L, with values increasing with increasing seawater influence. Concentrations of ΣREE determined in waters filtered through 0.4μm pore size filters varied from 0.1 to 189μg/L (0.7·10−9÷1.3·10−6mol/L ΣREE), with the highest values observed in soil waters. REE values were not related to salinity, nor to major ions, while were positively correlated to Al concentrations. Further filtration through 0.015μm pore size filters removed about 90% of REE compared to the 0.4μm filtered samples, i.e. the studied waters showed a small quantity of truly dissolved REE species. Speciation modeling results by Visual MINTEQ indicated that truly dissolved REE species are dominated by bi-dentate organic complexes in the soil waters rich in dissolved organic carbon (up to 74mg/L DOC); aqueous complex with the carbonate and bicarbonate ligands increased in waters having low DOC. UCC-normalized patterns of REE in the colloidal fraction of soil waters showed slight enrichments in the middle REE (MREE), likely due to preferential adsorption of the MREE onto <0.4μm particles. UCC-normalized patterns of REE truly dissolved in soil waters showed slight enrichments in the heavy REE (HREE), probably due to dominant low molecular weight DOC in the truly dissolved fraction.For evaluating the potential REE contribution from the atmosphere, 12 vegetation samples (ivy leaves) were submitted to leaching tests using acidulated water as a proxy of rain water. The REE leached from leaves were in the range of 0.5 to 10μg/kg ΣREE, suggesting a significant atmospheric contribution to the water–soil system. UCC-normalized patterns of REE leached from leaves were nearly flat, possibly indicating a dominant geogenic source of atmospheric REE.

Present Environmental Status of the Shuaiba Lagoon, Red Sea Coast, Saudi Arabia

Present Environmental Status of the Shuaiba Lagoon, Red Sea Coast, Saudi Arabia

Assessing the environmental status of Mediterranean temporary ponds in Greece

Mediterranean temporary ponds (MTPs) are highly distinctive habitats with intermittent and unstable environmental conditions, inhabited by several rare and endemic plant and animal species. Temporary pond ecosystems have been classified as endangered all over the world; nevertheless, they are disappearing at a high rate, especially in the Mediterranean region. MTPs are a priority habitat under the European Union Habitats Directive and thus appropriate management and conservation efforts should be applied. Further research is needed in order to better understand the environmental characteristics and ecology of this habitat which is not always the case in many countries. In this study a range of environmental data were collected from the Greek MTP habitat sites including the altitude, the geology, the representativity, the ecological status and other biological data aiming to assess the environmental status of all known Greek MTPs. Statistical analysis were performed and thematic maps were created using a Geographical Information System (GIS). Greek MTP’s were classified according to their characteristics and habitat pressures were identified and further analysed. A comparison between the present environmental status of the MTPs in Greece with the MTPs in other Mediterranean countries was undertaken and relevant conservation and management measures were proposed. The outcome of this study was that a significant percentage of the MTP habitat sites in Greece are at risk mainly due to human activities, such as agricultural pollution, expansion of cropland and water resources over-exploitation. It was concluded that immediate restoration and conservation actions should be taken so as to prevent further ecological degradation.

Dynamics of environmental problems in Mumbai

This paper presents the dynamics of environmental problems in Mumbai city. An evolution concept is applied to study the present environmental status of Mumbai. In order to study its dynamics, the entire process of environmental evolution is divided into four types viz. poverty-related environmental issues, industrialization- and urbanization-related environmental issues, rapid economic growth-related environmental issues and wealthy lifestyle-related environmental issues. Dynamics of suitable indicators for all the above issues over the economic development has been studied. Temporal representation of respective indicator for each type of the environmental problem presented the distribution of these types of environmental problems on a longitudinal scale. In the analysis it is found that, at present Mumbai has prevalence to rapid economic development-related environmental problems. Poverty-related environmental issues show very little significance. Industrialization- and urban-related environmental issues coexist with rapid economic development-related environmental issues. This provides the necessary inputs to city planner so as to avoid various environmental costs that other cities have already experienced.

Response scenarios for the deltaic plain of the Rhône in the face of an acceleration in the rate of sea-level rise with special attention toSalicornia-type environments

One of the most critical problems facing many deltaic wetlands is a high rate of relative sea-level rise due to a combination of eustatic sea-level rise and local subsidence. Within the Rhone delta, the main source of mineral input to soil formation is from the river, due to the low tidal range and the presence of a continuous sea wall. We carried out field and modeling studies to assess the present environmental status and future conditions of the more stressed sites, i.e.,Salicornia-type marshes with a shallow, hypersaline groundwater. The impacts of management practices are considered by comparing impounded areas with riverine areas connected to the Rhone River. Analysis of vegetation transects showed differences between mean soil elevation ofArthrocnemum fruticosum (+31.2 cm),Arthrocnemum glaucum (+26.5 cm), bare soil (+16.2 cm), and permanently flooded soil (−12.4 cm). Aboveground and belowground production showed that root:shoot ratio forA. fruticosum andA. glaucum was 2.9 and 1.1, respectively, indicating more stressful environmental conditions forA. glaucum with a higher soil salinity and lack of soil drainage. The annual leaf litter production rate of the two species is 30 times higher than annual stem litter production, but with a higher long-term decomposition rate associated with leaves. We developed a wetland elevation model designed to predict the effect of increasing rates of sea-level rise on wetland elevation andSalicornia production. The model takes into account feedback mechanisms between soil elevation and river mineral input, and primary production. In marshes still connected to the river, mineral input decreased quickly when elevation was over 21 cm. Under current sea-level rise conditions, the annual amount of riverine mineral input needed to maintain the elevation of the study marshes is between 3,000 and 5,000 g m−2 yr−1. Simulations showed that under the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change best estimate sea-level rise scenario, a mineral input of 6,040 g m−2 yr−1 is needed to maintain marsh elevation. The medium term response capacity of the Rhone deltaic plain with rising sea level depends mainly on the possibility of supplying sediment from the river to the delta, even though the Rhone Delta front is wave dominated. Within coastal impounded marshes, isolated from the river, the sediment supply is very low (10 to 50 g m−2 yr−1), and an increase of sea-level rise would increase the flooding duration and dramatically reduce vegetation biomass. New wetland management options involving river input are discussed for a long-term sustainability of low coastal Mediterranean wetlands.