Environmental Pollution Prevention Research Articles

PUBLICITY, FACILITIES DIVERSITY AND WILLINGNESS TO PAY FOR HOUSEHOLD WASTE SORTING: NEW EVIDENCE FROM HETEROGENEITY REGRESSION

Household waste sorting is important to actively promote the construction of beautiful countryside and beautiful city via household waste reduction or recycling. The Law of China on the Prevention and Control of Solid Waste Environmental Pollution indicates that household waste treatment fee system follows the principle of “who produces, who pays”, reflecting differentiated management such as classified pricing and metering fees. This research mainly investigates the determinants of willingness to pay (WTP) for household waste sorting in China. This study mainly compares different effects of the waste sorting information publicity, waste sorting facilities diversity, perceived convenience and reference group behavior on WTP via multiple and logistic regression. It also explores gender and regional heterogeneity for WTP of household waste sorting in China. This study also analyzes how individuals respond to different levels of WTP fees of household waste sorting via logistic regression. The empirical results reveal that the facilities diversity of waste sorting has the highest effect on WTP for household waste sorting, followed by perceived convenience, publicity and reference group behaviors. Females have relatively lower WTP than males. Education has significant positive effects on males’ waste sorting WTP. In logistic regression, reference group has larger effect on WTP compared with other antecedents. It is important to enhance facilities and publicity of household waste sorting. This research is of great significance to increase the household waste sorting behavior, enhance the governance system of household waste sorting via the collaboration of government, medias, communities and individuals.

유아 놀이중심 교육과정을 반영한 기후·생태계 프로그램 효과성 연구

Objectives The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of a climate-ecosystem program reflect-ing an early childhood play-based curriculum on early childhood development (nature), environmental con-servation attitudes, ecological literacy, and early childhood playfulness. Methods The study participants are 5-year-old children from a kindergarten in Gyeonggi Province, with 13 in-dividuals in the experimental group and 15 individuals in the control group. SPSS 23.0 was used to determine the mean, standard deviation, and reliability coefficient of the study variables. The homogeneity test was conducted using the pre-test mean scores between groups, and the difference between the experimental and control groups was analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test based on post-test mean scores. Pre-post differences between the experimental and comparison groups were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results The main research results are as follows: First, the simple difference between the pre-test and post-test mean scores of the study variables revealed improvement in the experimental group(from 0.13 to 1.02 points), while the comparison group showed both an increase(from 0.01 to 0.36 points) and a decrease(from -0.26 to -0.03 points). There was no statistically significant difference in pretest mean scores between the experimental and comparison groups, confirming homogeneity. The pre-post difference test of the experimental group showed statistically significant differences in early childhood development (nature) and environmental conservation atti-tudes and subscales (conservation attitude, recycling attitude, environmental pollution prevention attitude), eco-logical literacy and subscales (nature's rights, intention to support, resource protection, ecological sensitivity, eco-logical social environment, ecological development_reverse, nature governance_reverse, ecological crisis indif-ference), and early childhood playfulness and some subscales (physical spontaneity, social spontaneity, sense of humor). On the other hand, there were no statistically significant differences in the cognitive spontaneity and ex-pression of pleasure sub-domains of preschoolers' playfulness. The pre-post difference test for the comparison group found statistical significance only for ecological sensitivity, a sub-scale of ecological literacy, and physical spontaneity, a sub-scale of preschoolers' playfulness. Second, the factors that resulted in statistically significant differences in post-hoc mean scores between the experimental and comparison groups were environmental con-servation attitudes and their sub-scales, recycling attitudes, ecological literacy and its sub-scales, supportive in-tention, ecological sensitivity, nature dominance(reverse), and ecological crisis indifference. Conclusions The results of this study confirm the effectiveness of climate and ecosystem programs through play. As an extension of this study, we aim to propose collaborative activities with the local community through a living lab approach.

Bringing satellite and nanotechnologies together: unifying strengths against pollution and climate change

Nowadays, we witness remarkable technological progress alongside unprecedented challenges that threaten the delicate balance of our planet’s ecological system. Environmental contamination plays a central role in this, with rapid urbanization, industrialization, mining and agricultural practices intensifying the introduction of pollutants into the environment. This article highlights the potential synergy between two fields operating at vastly different scales: satellite technology and nanotechnology. This article delves into the offerings of each of these disciplines and examines how they can mutually contribute to the detection, prevention and mitigation of environmental pollution. Satellites play a crucial role in identifying and monitoring large-scale polluted areas, offering comprehensive insights into environmental challenges. They are indispensable in tracking air, water pollution levels, assessing land degradation, and monitoring changes in ocean health with relatively high spatial and temporal resolution. Nanotechnology leverages the unique properties of materials at sub-micron scale by offering amplified chemical reactivity and new optical, electronic, and magnetic attributes, enabling selective and sensitive sensors and rapid and efficient contaminant capture/degradation strategies. Emerging nanomaterials, along with nature-inspired and self-powered or self-sustaining designs, broaden capabilities for efficient solutions. Advanced nanocharacterization techniques deepen material understanding and quantification, while nanofabrication allows precise design of functional nano-devices. We believe the synergistic relationship between both fields can yield cooperative solutions, expediting effective measures and greatly influencing policy decisions. This article advocates for the collaboration between these two disciplines to foster impactful progress in facing global challenges.

Study on the thermal behaviour of spontaneous combustion of open-pit minerals

To study thermal behaviour during spontaneous combustion of an open-pit coal mine, mixed slag (coal, oil shale, and coal gangue) was taken as the research object. Laser thermal conductivity analyser and differential scanning calorimetry were used to test thermophysical parameters and heat release characteristics of the minerals. The parameters can be employed to calculate the apparent activation energy using the Arrhenius equation and evaluate the thermal behaviour of open-pit mixed slag. The results indicate that thermophysical parameters have stage characteristics. Thermal diffusivity and thermal conductivity of minerals, especially mixed slag, have a strong correlation with temperature. Heat flow of minerals exhibits five characteristic stages, and heat flow of the samples is consistent with the change in heating rate. During the heating process, thermal diffusivity and heat flow of the mixed slag are between those of a single mineral. Except for the mixed slag at 15 and 20 °C/min, the initial exothermic temperature of the other samples is mainly concentrated at 50–80 °C. Thermal energy release of the sample is mainly concentrated in the accelerated exothermic stage and rapid exothermic stage. Thermal energy release of mixed slag in rapid exothermic stage is always greater than that in accelerated exothermic stage, and the proportion of thermal energy release in these two stages exceeds 98 %. The apparent activation energy during the accelerated exothermic stage is lower, making it easier to release heat, and rapid exothermic stage is relatively high, which can readily lead to heat accumulation. Thermal analysis reveals that the thermal behaviour of mixed slag is significantly different from that of a single mineral. Its unique exothermic characteristics can provide a more accurate theoretical basis for the prevention and control of environmental pollution caused by slag spontaneous combustion.

Environmental Policy Overlays and Urban Pollution and Carbon Reduction—Evidence from China

The in-depth promotion of environmental pollution prevention and control is a must for China to move towards green development, and the effectiveness of urban environmental pollution control largely depends on the selection of these environmental policies and the synergistic application of these policies. This paper empirically tests three environmental policies’ mixed and synergistic effects using Chinese urban data from 2000 to 2017. This study found that (1) the three environmental policies significantly curb urban environmental pollution and show synergistic effects. (2) The three types of environmental policies can have a superimposing effect by strengthening financial inputs and increasing environmental concern, as well as a complementary effect by improving the efficiency of environmental protection enforcement and the institutional environment. The synergy between the central environmental protection inspection policy and the environmental information disclosure policy is more of a superposition effect than a complementary effect due to the similarity of the policy objectives. (3) The synergistic effect of environmental policies is affected by factors such as the age of the principal officials and financial pressure. The younger the age of the principal officials and the cities with less financial pressure are more capable of utilizing the synergistic effect of environmental policies to form a situation where the market, the government, the public, and the enterprises work together to govern the city. This paper provides new ideas for exploring the synergies and mechanisms of environmental policies and theoretical references for the design, implementation, and effects of environmental policy portfolios in the 14th Five-Year Plan period.

Multiparameter gas sensor based on UV-SFR combined with wavelet transform-neural network at ppb level

Abnormal concentrations of nitric oxide (NO), ammonia (NH3), carbon disulfide (CS2) and sulphur dioxide (SO2) in exhaled breath are closely associated with diseases in specific organs of the body. Meanwhile, the above gases are also common pollutants in the atmosphere, and effective online detection of them plays a key role in disease prevention and environmental pollution prevention. This study reports a multiparameter gas sensor system based on the combination of ultraviolet segmented fitting reduction (UV-SFR) and wavelet transform-neural network (WT-NN) model for simultaneous online detection of the concentrations of NO, NH3, CS2 and SO2. Firstly, to avoid the occurrence of spectral baseline drift and absorption peak intensity reduction, a UV-SFR method is proposed for the discrete single peak type absorption spectra contained in the UV spectra. Our method can remove the slow change absorption induced by other factors, and ultimately obtain the differential absorption spectra of the gas mixtures. Then, the WT is used to denoise the differential absorption spectra of the gas mixtures. Next, for the presence of severe spectral line overlap in gas mixtures, the NN model is built based on the denoised spectral data. Finally, transfer learning is introduced into NN to improve the detection accuracy. The experimental results show that the sensor system can reliably achieve simultaneous online detection of NO, NH3, CS2, and SO2 at ppb level, and the average absolute errors of their measurements are 0.96 ppb, 1.27 ppb, 0.76 ppb and 0.97 ppb, with measurement accuracies of 3.5 %, 0.8 %, 0.5 % and 0.9 %, respectively.

Modeling and Forecasting the Removal of Biogenic Elements from Agricultural Lands Depending on the Soil Agrophysical Properties

Introduction. Environmental pollution prevention, including prevention of water bodies, with nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) when they are removed from agricultural lands with possible runoff is a topical problem that requires a timely solution. The studies have found that the removal of nutrients is a result of geochemical processes, fertilization, and other factors. In this regard, mathematical modeling of the process of removal of nutrients from agricultural lands and their possible entry into water bodies is an urgent task. Aim of the Study. The study is aimed at modeling and predicting the process of possible removal of nutrients from agricultural lands to water bodies. Materials and Methods. When conducting the study, there were used well-known modeling methods. They are the methods for calculating the removal of nutrients from agricultural objects into water bodies, based on the minimum amount of initial information for predicting the eutrophication of water bodies and agrochemical methods taking into account the structure and size of field and agricultural areas, crop yields, and removal nutrients with the harvest. Results. Based on an analysis of the literature and expert judgment, a list of the most significant indicators influencing the process of nitrogen and phosphorus removal was justified. There have been developed mathematical models to determine and predict the input of nutrients from agricultural lands to water bodies. There have been found significant indicators influencing the amount of input of nutrients, such as the amount of applied fertilizers, the volume of moisture, soil water capacity, field area, depth of cultivation, etc. There is given an example of calculating the amount of input of nutrients into water bodies with a rainfall intensity of 50 mm per hour. Discussion and Conclusion. The essence of the proposed mathematical models comes down to the synthesis of numerous indicators in the complex process of removal of nutrients and their impact on water quality. The proposed mathematical models make it possible to predict the removal of nutrients from agricultural lands and to develop and implement technical and technological solutions to prevent environmental pollution.

Study on financial cost evaluation of urban water environment management and pollution prevention and control

Abstract Nowadays, water pollution has become a major factor restricting social development. To address this, the government has issued a series of policy documents to control water environmental pollution and achieved certain results. However, on the whole, the prevention and control of the pollution of water environments requires a large amount of capital investment, but the corresponding results and benefits are not significant. Hence, this paper takes Shanghai, Nanjing, Hangzhou, and Hefei as examples to study the financial cost-effectiveness of the governance of urban water environments from the two dimensions of time and space. It is concluded that the cost of water environmental treatment has a negative effect on the comprehensive benefit of environmental treatment in the region in the short term and a positive effect in the long term, which indicates that water environmental pollution treatment is work that needs to be adhered to for a long time, and long-term planning is also needed for cost input. On this basis, strategies to improve the cost efficiency of water pollution treatment are presented.

Implementation of Environmental Pollution and Damage Prevention Instruments in Indonesia: Issues and Challenges

This paper delves into the implementation of environmental pollution and damage prevention instruments in Indonesia, highlighting the inherent issues and challenges. It scrutinizes the efficacy of existing measures in curbing environmental degradation and explores the obstacles hindering their successful execution. The findings underscore a myriad of challenges confronting the implementation process, ranging from regulatory gaps and enforcement deficiencies to institutional capacity constraints. Despite the presence of legislation aimed at safeguarding the environment, enforcement mechanisms often fall short due to inadequate resources, corruption, and lack of coordination among relevant stakeholders. Additionally, the complexity of environmental issues, coupled with rapid industrialization and urbanization, exacerbates the challenges faced in mitigating pollution and preserving natural resources. Addressing these challenges necessitates a multi-faceted approach that encompasses legislative reforms, capacity building initiatives, and enhanced collaboration between government agencies, civil society, and the private sector. Strengthening regulatory frameworks, improving monitoring and enforcement mechanisms, and promoting public awareness are crucial steps towards achieving sustainable environmental management in Indonesia. Moreover, integrating environmental considerations into broader policy agendas and fostering international cooperation are vital for addressing cross-border environmental challenges and ensuring long-term environmental sustainability. In conclusion, while Indonesia has made strides in formulating environmental policies, effective implementation remains a pressing issue. By identifying and addressing the challenges impeding the execution of pollution prevention instruments, Indonesia can bolster its environmental governance framework and pave the way for a greener and more sustainable future.

Analytical methods for determining environmental contaminants of concern in water and wastewater

Control and prevention of environmental pollution have emerged as paramount global concerns. Anthropogenic activities, such as industrial discharges, agricultural runoff, and improper waste disposal, introduce a wide range of contaminants into various ecosystems. These pollutants encompass organic and inorganic compounds, particulates, microorganisms, and disinfection by-products, posing severe threats to human health, ecosystems, and the environment. Effective monitoring methods are indispensable for assessing environmental quality, identifying pollution sources, and implementing remedial measures. This paper suggests that the development and utilization of highly advanced analytical tools are both essential for the analysis of contaminants in water samples, presenting a foundational hypothesis for the review. This paper comprehensively reviews the development and utilization of highly advanced analytical tools which is mandatory for the analysis of contaminants in water samples. Depending on the specific pollutants being studied, the choice of analytical methods widely varies. It also reveals insights into the diverse applications and effectiveness of these methods in assessing water quality and contaminant levels. By emphasizing the critical role of the reviewed monitoring methods, this review seeks to deepen the understanding of pollution challenges and inspire innovative monitoring solutions that contribute to a cleaner and more sustainable global environment.•Urgent global concerns: control and prevention of pollution from diverse sources.•Varied contaminants, diverse methods: comprehensive review of analytical tools.•Inspiring a sustainable future: innovative monitoring for a cleaner environment.

Implementation of Maritime Environmental Pollution Prevention Policy at The Manado Harbormaster and Port Authority Office

This research aims to describe, analyze, and interpret the evaluation of the implementation of Minister of Transportation Regulation Number 29 of 2014 concerning Prevention of Maritime Environmental Pollution at the Manado Harbormaster and Port Authority (KSOP) office. This research uses qualitative methods, because qualitative research places more emphasis on the process of searching for meaning, revealing the meaning behind the phenomena that appear in the research, with the aim that the problems studied are more comprehensive, in-depth, natural, and real, and without much interference from researchers to the facts that emerge. The results of the research reveal that there are several ships that repeatedly apply for temporary pollution certificates. According to regulations or rules, it is not justified to extend pollution certificates repeatedly, but this is done based on aspects of social and economic impacts which if not done will result in delays. the ship's departure because it cannot be given a Sailing Approval Letter (SPB) if the ship does not have a temporary or permanent pollution certificate. This of course creates losses for the ship owner and will have a social impact on everyone involved on the ship, for example, the ship's crew. For this reason, an extension of the temporary prevention certificate is given with various other considerations, both administrative and technical, as well as providing advice and suggestions to the ship owner to immediately complete the lack of documents that must be fulfilled to obtain a permanent prevention certificate.

Preparation and characterization of chitosan-citric acid edible films loaded with Cornelian cherry pomace extract as active packaging materials

The development of environmentally-friendly, intelligent and active packaging materials is crucial for the protection of food products and the prevention of environmental pollution. This work aimed to study the development of chitosan films containing an extract form Cornelian cherry pomace extract, a by-product of juice production. Citirc acid was utilized as an alternative acidifier and the effect of β-cyclodextrin incorporation on film properties was evaluated. Compared to chitosan-acetic acid films, the films produced in the present study were found to be more elastic, with a lower moisture content and higher water solubility as well as water vapor permeability. Moreover, the obtained results showed that the increase of β-cyclodextrin concentration from 0.45 to 1.85 % w/v improved the mechanical and water vapor barrier properties of the film. Addition of the Cornelian cherry pomace extracts resulted in alteration of the color of the prepared films as well as improvement of the light barrier properties. Also, the presence of the phenolic compounds in the film matrix enhanced the antioxidant activity of the prepared films.

Sustainable Strategies for the Recovery and Valorization of Brewery By-Products—A Multidisciplinary Approach

The prevention of environmental pollution is a current concern of the population, which is looking for ways to reduce the production of industrial waste. The brewing industry generates huge amounts of waste, with difficult management from an economic point of view. The waste obtained from the technological process of beer production is used in various branches, such as the food industry, mainly as feed, additives, or food ingredients; as animal feed; in biofuel production; and in building or packaging materials. The valuable by-products obtained from brewery waste can serve as raw materials for further processing or become functional ingredients for the production of new functional products. Reusing and recycling are essential strategies for transforming waste into new valuable resources, and such strategies enable circular solutions to maintain the value of products and resources for as long as possible. The chemical composition of the waste obtained from beer manufacturing can vary slightly depending on the type and quality of the ingredients used and the prevailing conditions during each stage of the manufacturing process. This paper focuses on sustainable strategies for the recovery and valorization of brewery by-products. Experimentally, the aim was to determine the chemical characteristics of different types of brewery waste, such as moisture content, ash, pH, total content of phenolic compounds, and total protein content. The experimental values obtained have shown that brewery waste is a valuable by-product.

Pemilihan Lokasi Prioritas Pelayanan Penyaluran Air Limbah di Kabupaten Cianjur Dengan Metode Skoring dan Pembobotan

The increase in population in Cianjur Regency has begun to be significant. Inadequate urban sanitation systems make people dispose of their domestic waste carelessly into the nearest river or water body resulting in environmental pollution. One way to reduce these problems is to build an adequate domestic wastewater distribution system. The planning of a domestic wastewater distribution system in an area must be accompanied by the selection of the best location to increase the effectiveness of environmental pollution prevention. Priority service areas are selected based on 5 available criteria, namely: Population density, Topography, Clean water distribution network, Sanitation condition, and Slum area. The method of determining priority areas used is the scoring and weighting method. The results obtained are 3 priority zones so that it can be determined which sub-district is the planning area, namely Cianjur District.

Green synthesis of MnO2-embedded Rauvolfia tetraphylla leaves (MnO2@RTL) for crystal violet dye removal and as an antibacterial agent.

The application of green synthesized nanocomposites for the prevention of environmental pollution is increasing nowadays. Here, a green composite has been synthesized by embedding MnO2 on Rauvolfia tetraphylla leaves using its leaf extract hereinafter termed as MnO2@RTL, and demonstrated for crystal violet (CV) dye removal from simulated and real wastewater. The surface properties of the material were determined by scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET) surface area, pHZPC, and zeta potential. The material exhibits a remarkable adsorption capacity of 61.162mg/g at 328K and pH 7. The adsorption was best fitted with Pseudo-second-order kinetic (R2 = 0.998) and a combination of Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm model (R2 = 0.994-0.999). The thermodynamic study revealed spontaneous (ΔG values = - 2.988 to - 4.978kJ/mol) and endothermic (ΔH values = 6.830 to 11.018kJ/mol) adsorption. After adsorption, 80% regeneration occurred with 50% methanol, and recycled up to five times. Advantageously, the material was able to remove CV dye in the presence of coexistent ions and fromindustrial wastewater, confirming field applicability. The adsorption capacity of the material is superior to previously reported materials. The standard deviation and relative standard deviations have been evaluated to be 0.000422-0.000667 and 0.473-0.749%, which suggests the reliability of the experiments. The exhausted material, after recycling, was pyrolyzed to overcome the disposal problem. It was established as a secondary adsorbent with 73% efficiency which makes the material win-win. The material showed antibacterial properties with Staphylococcus aureus bacteria with a zone of inhibition 5mm.

Принципи як основа організації та забезпечення міжнародної екологічної безпеки

The article describes the current problems of international environmental security in the context of the systematic manifestation of the principles of its implementation, which justifies the need to consolidate the efforts of interstate environmental measures on the basis of sustainable and balanced development. The article examines prerequisites for the formation of the global environmental safety as an integral part of international relations and politics against the background of the long-term ecological crisis. Features of the global environmental safety and levels of its operation on a territorial basis are singled out and grounded. Attention is focused on transboundary character of the manifestation of most environmental threats and hazards, making it impossible for countries to overcome the consequences on their own. Emphasized are global threats and hazards that will determine areas of cooperation in the global environmental safety in the near future. Parity basis and principles of formation of global ecologically safe space are outlined. Considering the world experience of the implementation of forms and methods of economical use of natural resources and observance of safety of existence, directions of strategic planning of national environmental safety are suggested. It was determined that globalization processes on the planet increase the threat to humanity in the form of environmental hazards: destruction of the ozone layer of the atmosphere and manifestations of global climate change, pollution of the world ocean, civilizational confrontation between the Christian and Muslim world, the creation and functioning of a global terrorist network, the spread of nuclear, chemical, biological , geophysical, space, psychotropic, environmental weapons and technologies of mass destruction. The main mechanisms for the implementation of international environmental security should be considered interstate cooperation, the creation of mechanisms for effective international consulting, peaceful settlement of disputes, prevention of transboundary environmental pollution, scientific and technical cooperation, international responsibility for transboundary environmental damage, public control, and the involvement of international non-governmental and public organizations in emergency environmental situations It has been proven that the mechanisms of international environmental security during emergency situations require the consolidation of efforts of interstate environmental measures on the basis of sustainable and balanced development.

Health risk assessment of heavy metals in soils and crops in a mining area (Au-Ag-Cu-trona-oil et al.) of the Nanyang Basin, Henan Province, China

Heavy metal distribution in mining areas has always been a hot research topic due to the special environment of these areas. This study aims to explore the impact of heavy metal pollution on soils and crops in the study area, ensure the safety of local crops and the health of local residents, and provide a basis for the subsequent environmental restoration and the prevention and control of environmental pollution. Based on the analysis of the heavy metal concentrations in local soils and crops, the study investigated the spatial distribution, pollution degrees, and potential ecological risks of heavy metals in the farmland of a mining area in the southeastern Nanyang Basin, Henan province, China explored the sources of heavy metals and assessed the health risks caused by crop intake. The results of this study are as follows. The root soils of crops in the study area suffered heavy metal pollution to varying degrees. The degree of heavy metal pollution in maize fields is higher than that in wheat fields, and both types of fields suffer the most severe Cd pollution. Moreover, the root soils of different crops suffer compound pollution. The root soils in the maize fields suffer severe compound pollution at some sampling positions, whose distribution is similar to that of the mining area. Cd poses the highest potential ecological risks among all heavy metals, and the study area mainly suffers low and moderate comprehensive potential ecological risks. The principal component analysis (PCA) shows that the distribution of Zn, Cd, Pb, and As in soils of the study area is mainly affected by anthropogenic factors such as local mining activities; the distribution of Cr and Ni is primarily controlled by the local geological background; the distribution of Hg is mainly affected by local vehicle exhaust emissions, and the distribution of Cu is influenced by both human activities and the geological background. Different cereal crops in the study area are polluted with heavy metals dominated by Cd and Ni to varying degrees, especially wheat. As indicated by the health risk assessment results, the intake of maize in the study area does not pose significant human health risks; however, Cu has high risks to human health, and the compound heavy metal pollution caused by the intake of wheat in the study area poses risks to the health of both adults and children. Overall, the soils and crops in the study area suffer a high degree of heavy metal pollution, for which mining activities may be the main reason.©2023 China Geology Editorial Office.

A Systematic Review of Contaminants of Concern in Uganda: Occurrence, Sources, Potential Risks, and Removal Strategies

Contaminants of concern (CoCs) pose significant threats to Uganda’s ecosystems and public health, particularly in the face of rapid urbanization, industrial expansion, and intensified agriculture. This systematic review comprehensively analyzed Uganda’s CoC landscape, addressing imminent challenges that endanger the country’s ecosystems and public health. CoCs, originating from urban, industrial, and agricultural activities, encompass a wide range of substances, including pharmaceuticals, personal care products, pesticides, industrial chemicals, heavy metals, radionuclides, biotoxins, disinfection byproducts, hydrocarbons, and microplastics. This review identified the major drivers of CoC dispersion, particularly wastewater and improper waste disposal practices. From an initial pool of 887 articles collected from reputable databases such as PubMed, African Journal Online (AJOL), Web of Science, Science Direct, and Google Scholar, 177 pertinent studies were extracted. The literature review pointed to the presence of 57 pharmaceutical residues and personal care products, along with 38 pesticide residues and 12 heavy metals, across various environmental matrices, such as wastewater, groundwater, seawater, rainwater, surface water, drinking water, and pharmaceutical effluents. CoC concentrations displayed significant levels exceeding established regulations, varying based on the specific locations, compounds, and matrices. This review underscores potential ecological and health consequences associated with CoCs, including antibiotic resistance, endocrine disruption, and carcinogenicity. Inefficiencies in traditional wastewater treatment methods, coupled with inadequate sanitation practices in certain areas, exacerbate the contamination of Uganda’s aquatic environments, intensifying environmental and health concerns. To address these challenges, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) emerge as promising and efficient alternatives for CoC degradation and the prevention of environmental pollution. Notably, no prior studies have explored the management and mitigation of these contaminants through AOP application within various aqueous matrices in Uganda. This review emphasizes the necessity of specific regulations, improved data collection, and public awareness campaigns, offering recommendations for advanced wastewater treatment implementation, the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices, and the enforcement of source control measures. Furthermore, it highlights the significance of further research to bridge knowledge gaps and devise effective policies and interventions. Ultimately, this comprehensive analysis equips readers, policymakers, and regulators with vital knowledge for informed decision-making, policy development, and the protection of public health and the environment.

Water environment response of urban water networks in the Pearl River Delta (China) under the influence of typhoon rain events

Abstract Identifying water quality parameter concentrations and their drivers is important for the prevention and control of water environment pollution. In this study, we constructed an inverse model of water quality parameters based on measured water quality parameters and remote sensing spectral data for this study area using artificial neural networks. We investigated the water environment response of the urban water network in the Pearl River Delta under the influence of typhoon rain events and explored their spatial heterogeneity using a multiscale geographically weighted regression model. The results indicate that in regions with a high level of urbanization, the dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration in river water is lower, and the ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) concentration is higher. Under the influence of typhoon rain events of varying intensities, the response of water quality parameters in the urban water network of Zhongshan City varies. The intensity of rainfall determines the impact of typhoon rain events on water quality parameter concentrations. Our results are expected to improve the understanding of water quality trends under the influence of typhoon rain events and help policymakers and planners better develop water environment control strategies during typhoon transit.

Utilization of iron scrap into copperas and rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum L.) peel extract into environmentally friendly iron nanoparticles for hexavalent chromium removal and its kinetics

AbstractHexavalent chromium is a toxic pollutant that is very harmful to human health and the environment. One of the materials for hexavalent chromium removal is iron nanoparticles (INPs). In recent years, the manufacture of environmentally friendly INPs has been of great interest. In general, INPs are made using sodium tetra borane/NaBH4, which is expensive. The synthesis of INPs using NaBH4 also produces side products in the form of toxic boric acid and hydrogen gas which are explosive and flammable. In this study, INPs are made by using iron scrap waste into copperas which is then reacted with rambutan peel extract (RPE). The reaction between iron scrap and sulfuric acid until crystals are formed and then washed until blue‐green crystals are formed. The resulting crystal is made into a solution and then reacted with RPE. After forming a black solution, it was dried by spray drying. The resulting black powder was characterized by UV‐Vis Spectrophotometer, SEM‐EDX, FTIR, and XRD. The results showed that iron scrap can be synthesized into copperas with a Fe content of 19.84 ± 0.15%. RPE has a total phenol content of 877.39 ± 16.6 ppm/100 g rambutan skin or equivalent to 441.42 mg GAE/100 g rambutan skin. INPs can be made from copperas from iron scrap and RPE which have Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) characteristics at 214 nm absorption, particle size 20–70 nm. Hexavalent chromium removal using INPs was maximum at pH 3, hexavalent chromium concentration of 5 ppm, INPs concentration of 0.15 g/100 mL, and contact time of 10 min. The adsorption isotherm type of hexavalent chromium using iron nanoparticles can take place chemically or physically. The correlation coefficient showed that the model of Freundlich (R2 > 0.99) is more suitable than the model of Langmuir (R2 = 0.98) with an adsorption capacity of 91.74 mg iron nanoparticles/g hexavalent chromium. The use of INPs for hexavalent chromium removal is a promising and effective technology. These results can be an alternative to the production of environmentally friendly INPs by using materials from waste into useful materials for the prevention of environmental pollution.