Environmental Health Protection Research Articles

Combining Electrosorption and Electrochemical Reduction Mechanisms for Uranium Removal Using 1,2,3,4-Butane Tetracarboxylic Acid-Modified MIL-101: An In-Depth Exploration of Uranyl-Adsorbent Interactions.

Extracting uranium from nuclear wastewater is vital for environmental and human health protection. However, despite progress in uranium extraction, there remains a demand for an optimized adsorbent with improved capability, efficiency, and selectivity. To bridge this gap, 1,2,3,4-butane tetracarboxylic acid (BTCA)-modified MIL-101 was synthesized through a simple hydrothermal reaction between amino-modified MIL-101 (MIL-101-NH2) and BTCA. Density Functional Theory calculations validated the formation of stable coordination bonds and a hydrogen bond network, bolstering the adsorption capacity. To further enhance this capacity, the influence of an electric field on adsorption performance was investigated. Studies revealed that uranyl ion removal under an electric field involves both electrosorption and electroreduction pathways. This dual mechanism not only significantly increases the adsorption capacity from 221.1 mg g-1 to 331.4 mg g-1 but also improves the adsorption efficiency. These insights not only enhance our understanding of effective uranium removal but also foster the development of sustainable, ecofriendly technologies in the nuclear energy field.

Byproduct-based zeolite type A as absorbent material for decontamination of simulated radioactive wastewater

The secure disposal of radioactive wastewater, a waste from nuclear operations, presents a significant challenge due to the presence of hazardous radionuclides like cesium. The efficient removal of cesium, a major fission product with a long half-life and potent radiation, is crucial for environmental and human health protection. Zeolites, with their high ion exchange capacity and porous structure, offer a promising solution for cesium removal from wastewater. The potential to synthesize zeolites from abundant and cost-effective agro-industrial residues further enhances their appeal for sustainable wastewater treatment. The present study investigates the adsorption of cesium from simulated radioactive wastewater using zeolite type A synthesized from sugarcane bagasse ash, a readily available Brazilian byproduct. The synthesized zeolite was characterized by X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and thermal analysis techniques. The results confirmed the successful synthesis of high-purity zeolite A with excellent adsorption capacity for cesium. The structural integrity and thermal stability of the zeolite were maintained even after cesium adsorption, making it suitable for immobilization processes. The findings highlight the potential of zeolite synthesized from sugarcane bagasse ash as an effective and sustainable material for the treatment and removal of cesium from radioactive wastewater, contributing to environmental remediation efforts in the nuclear industry.

Graphene/TiO2 Heterostructure Integrated with a Micro-Lightplate for Low-Power NO2 Gas Detection.

Low-power gas sensors that can be used in IoT (Internet of Things) systems, consumer devices, and point-of-care devices will enable new applications in environmental monitoring and health protection. We fabricated a monolithic chemiresistive gas sensor by integrating a micro-lightplate with a 2D sensing material composed of single-layer graphene and monolayer-thick TiO2. Applying ultraviolet (380 nm) light with quantum energy above the TiO2 bandgap effectively enhanced the sensor responses. Low (<1 μW optical) power operation of the device was demonstrated by measuring NO2 gas at low concentrations, which is typical in air quality monitoring, with an estimated limit of detection < 0.1 ppb. The gas response amplitudes remained nearly constant over the studied light intensity range (1-150 mW/cm2) owing to the balance between the photoinduced adsorption and desorption processes of the gas molecules. The rates of both processes followed an approximately square-root dependence on light intensity, plausibly because the electron-hole recombination of photoinduced charge carriers is the primary rate-limiting factor. These results pave the way for integrating 2D materials with micro-LED arrays as a feasible path to advanced electronic noses.

Probe-infused polymer monolithic sensor for colorimetric detection of Pb2+ in environmental water samples and tobacco extracts.

This study focuses on developing an affordable and cost-effective colorimetric solid-state optical sensor for target-specific naked-eye detection of Pb2+, offering significant potential for real-time environmental monitoring and public health applications. The indigenously developed porous polymer monolithic template, poly(lauryl methacrylate-co-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) (poly(LMC-co-EGDMA) is infused with a chromoionophoric probe, i.e., 6,6-(naphthalene-1,5-diyl bis(diazene-2,1-diyl)bis(4-(butan-2-yl)phenol) (NDBP) to develop a durable/reusable solid sensor. The perforated structural assemblies of the porous poly(LMC-co-EGDMA) are analyzed using a range of microscopic, spectroscopic, and diffraction methods. The template features a homogeneous configuration of interlinked macro/mesoporous networks, allowing for the enhanced integration of NDBP probe molecules to facilitate rapid and improved Pb2+ detection. The fabricated sensor demonstrates a significant solid-state colorimetric shift from pale peach to deep maroon in proportion to Pb2+ concentration, with a precise absorption peak at 543 nm. The operational parameters of the poly(LMC-co-EGDMA)NDBP sensor are optimized to maximize the ion-sensing ability. The sensor demonstrates a linear signal response from 0 to 300 ppb for Pb2+ and corresponding detection and quantification limits of 0.28 and 0.93 ppb, respectively. The sensing effectiveness of the sensor using cigarette samples and natural water samples reveals outstanding accuracy with recovery results of ≥ 98.9 % (RSD ≤1.8 %) and ≥ 99.1 %, with RSD of ≤ 1.7 % from quadruplicate analysis. The proposed solid-state sensor offers exceptional sensitivity and selectivity for trace Pb²⁺ detection with a rapid response time of 40 s. The cost-effective and portable sensor provides a valuable tool for environmental monitoring and public health protection by enabling fast, on-site detection of the toxic Pb2+ in contaminated water and tobacco samples, particularly for developing and underdeveloped regions with limited access to sophisticated instruments. Its reusability and accuracy features offer a sustainable and practical solution for addressing widespread lead pollution, thus contributing to safer water quality assessments and pollution control.

Proposal to Reclassify SCCPs Under International Regulations on Ship Recycling to Enhance Environmental and Human Health Protection

Short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) are ubiquitous environmental pollutants that have been detected in various human tissues and organs. Based on the results of numerous studies indicating that exposure to environmentally relevant doses could induce harm to humans and animals, they have been listed in Annex A (Elimination) of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. They are also listed as hazardous materials likely to lead to significant adverse effects on human health or the environment by the International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (Hong Kong Convention) and the EU Ship Recycling Regulation (EU SRR). This paper analyzes recent literature on the environmental and human health impacts of SCCPs and the actual practice of shipbreaking to demonstrate that the current treatment of SCCPs under these two regulations does not provide sufficient protection for human health and the environment. Based on the presented data, it is proposed that SCCPs should be reclassified as materials whose installation or use is prohibited in shipyards, ship repair yards, and ships by the EU SRR and the Hong Kong Convention.

Mitigating the challenges of textile wastewater treatment in Saudi Arabia utilizing electrocoagulation process: Optimization of operating parameters

The increasing importance of treating industrial effluents for environmental and public health protection has necessitated reliable and economical treatment methods capable of meeting stringent effluent quality standards. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the electrocoagulation (EC) process using iron electrodes for treating real textile wastewater by removing total solids (TS), COD, colour, and turbidity. Various operating parameters, including treatment time, initial pH, current density, stirring speed, and inter-electrode spacing (IES), were investigated to optimize removal efficiency. The results demonstrated that the optimal conditions for maximum pollutant removal were achieved at a treatment time of 60 minutes, a current density of 6.2 mA/cm², a solution pH of 8-8.5, a stirring speed of 150 rpm, and an IES of 5 cm. Under these conditions, the removal efficiencies reached 79.2% for TS, 92.7% for COD, 88.9% for turbidity, and 98.7% for colour. The findings of this research indicate that the EC process is a simple, quick, and economically viable method for effectively removing pollutants from textile wastewater. Additionally, it is recommended that a coupled treatment unit, such as filtration or adsorption, be employed following the EC process to enhance pollutant removal. Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 aims to address environmental pollution from industrial wastewater, including textile wastewater, highlighting the importance of balancing industrial growth with environmental stewardship. Present study offers the first thorough analysis of textile wastewater treatment utilizing EC process in the region, enhancing understanding of effective strategies for sustainability and compliance with effluent quality standards.

Global Trends and Hotspots in Non-Targeted Screening of Water Pollution Research: Bibliometric and Visual Analysis.

Non-targeted screening (NTS) technology has been showing significant potential in identifying contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in water and has attracted great attention in academia in recent years. It is a method that analyzes samples without pre-selecting substances, enabling the detection and identification of unknown compounds, which is crucial for environmental health and public protection. This study uses the Bibliometrix package in R 4.4.1 and CiteSpace 6.3.R1 software to statistically analyze 589 relevant publications from the Web of Science Core Collection from 2007 to 2024. Our work concentrates on NTS of water bodies; thus, articles that only analyze water sediments without analyzing the water were not considered for inclusion. By conducting a quantitative analysis and visualizing the publication trends, countries, authors, journals, and keywords, the present study identifies research hotspots, compositions, and paradigms within this field, trying to analyze the horizontal and vertical development trends and structural evolution of the research area. The research found that the application of NTS in water pollution studies has progressed through three phases: theoretical exploration, rapid development, and steady progress. From the national level, China leads with the highest number of publications (131), followed by Germany (105), Spain (50), and the United States (39). The top three authors by publication volume are J. Hollender, Nikolaos S. Thomaidis, and Emma L. Schymanski, while the top three by citation count are J. Hollender, Emma L. Schymanski, and M. Krauss. However, international collaboration between countries and researchers still remains an area for improvement. Science of the Total Environment is the journal with the highest number of publications (81), and Environmental Science & Technology holds the highest number of citations. Research on NTS methodologies, suspect screening, and health risk assessments are hot topics in the academic community. Future research is expected to be multidisciplinary, with emerging hotspots likely to focus on including the identification of novel pollutants through NTS, toxicity assessments of biotransformed compounds, and the health impacts and mechanisms of related compounds.

Fabrication of an electrochemical sensor based on Zinc Vanadate anchored with multi-walled carbon nanotubes modified glassy carbon electrode for the determination of Carbendazim

Fabrication of an electrochemical sensor based on Zinc Vanadate anchored with multi-walled carbon nanotubes modified glassy carbon electrode for the determination of Carbendazim

Near-Infrared Light and OpenCV as Components for Low-Cost Airborne Microplastic Detection Machine

Abstract. Microplastic, resulting from the breakdown of larger plastic objects, poses substantial threats to ecosystems and human health. This research addresses the escalating environmental concern of airborne microplastics by developing a low-cost detection machine employing infrared sensors. The near-infrared light is attached to the machine for detection using the sensors. Different types of microplastic, specifically less than 5mm, are used. There are 3 types of plastics used for detection, 30 pieces each of polyethylene, polystyrene, and polyester microplastics. Each type of microplastic is tested for detection in different time frames, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 minutes each, and the three types of plastics are combined randomly for the last detection with the same number of minutes. Because of the final results, it can determine the effectiveness of the sensor in detecting airborne microplastics in terms of the number of correctly detected microplastics. In conclusion, this research advances our capacity to detect airborne microplastics, contributing to environmental conservation and public health protection. The detection machine's development and the insights gained from the study have broader implications for standardizing methodologies, advancing technology, and fostering collaborative efforts in addressing the challenges posed by airborne microplastics.

Real-Time Wireless Detection of Heavy Metal Ions Using a Self-Powered Triboelectric Nanosensor Integrated with an Autonomous Thermoelectric Generator-Powered Robotic System.

The integration of the Internet of Things (IoT) with advanced sensing technologies is transforming environmental monitoring and public health protection. In this study, a fully self-powered and automated chemical sensing system is developed and integrated with a robotic hand for "touch and sense" detection of toxic heavy metal ions (Pb2⁺, Cr⁶⁺, As3⁺) in aquatic environments. The system combines a self-powered solid-liquid triboelectric nanosensor (SL-TENS) with a thermoelectric generator (TEG), which harnesses ambient heat to power the robotic hand, eliminating the need for external power sources. The robotic hand is controlled wirelessly via an exo-hand, minimizing the risk of exposure during remote monitoring. The sensing component uses copper oxide nanowires (CuO NWs) coated with ion-selective membranes (ISMs) to enhance triboelectric output and enable highly selective ion detection. The system demonstrates effective real-time, on-site detection in lake water and data transmitted wirelessly to the user. This innovative approach provides a highly safe and efficient method for detecting hazardous pollutants in difficult-to-access areas, offering significant potential for wireless and real-time environmental monitoring and hazard prevention, thus contributing to the safeguarding of human health. This study presents a novel advancement in the field of IoT-enabled environmental monitoring systems.

Engineering a Graphene Quantum Dot‐Enhanced Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensor for Ultra‐Sensitive Detection of Hg2⁺ Ions

AbstractThe contamination of soil and water by heavy metals poses a significant environmental and public health concern worldwide. To address this issue, a novel graphene quantum dot (GQD)‐based surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor is developed for the detection of mercury ions (Hg2+), a notorious heavy metal pollutant. The thiol and amine‐functionalized GQDs (S,N‐GQDs), synthesized via pyrolysis of citric acid and L‐cysteine, are directly immobilized onto the SPR chip surface without prior pretreatment, demonstrating their potential as efficient sensing materials. The SPR sensor exhibits high sensitivity and selectivity toward Hg2+ ions, as confirmed by kinetic binding analysis and isotherm modeling. The Langmuir isotherm model, which accurately describes the interactions between Hg2+ and S,N‐GQDs, provides insights into the sensor's mechanism of action. Furthermore, the sensor demonstrates robustness and reusability, with recoveries ranging from 98% to 104% over multiple cycles of analysis. Given the presence of contaminants in tap water, the developed sensor system holds significant importance for environmental monitoring and public health protection, offering a rapid, accurate, and cost‐effective solution for detecting Hg2+ ions in such samples. Overall, this study represents a significant advancement in the field of heavy metal detection, with potential implications for addressing environmental pollution and ensuring water quality.

Solar Light Elimination of Bacteria, Yeast and Organic Pollutants by Effective Photocatalysts Based on Ag/Cr-TiO2 and Pd/Cr-TiO2.

This study focused on searching for more effective nanomaterials for environmental remediation and health protection; thus, coliform bacteria, yeast and the organic food dye sunset yellow were selected as target pollutants to be eliminated under solar light by Ag/Cr-TiO2 and Pd/Cr-TiO2. Firstly, Cr3+ was in situ incorporated into the anatase crystalline lattice by the sol-gel method; then, Ag or Pd nanoparticles were deposited on Cr-TiO2 by chemical photoreduction. The scientific challenge addressed by the development of these composites was to analyse the recovery of Cr, to be employed in photocatalyst formulation and the enhancement of the TiO2 photocatalytic activity by addition of other noble metals. By extensive characterization, it was found that after TiO2 doping with chromium, the parameters of the crystal lattice slightly increased, due to the incorporation of Cr ions into the lattice. The TiO2 band gap decreased after Cr addition, but an increase in the optical absorptions towards the visible region after noble metals deposition was also observed, which was dependent of the Ag or Pd loading. Generally, it was observed that the noble metals type is a factor that strongly influenced the effectiveness of the photocatalysts concerning each substrate studied. Thus, by using Ag(0.1%)/Cr-TiO2, the complete elimination of E. coli from samples of water coming from a highly polluted river was achieved. Pd(0.5%)/Cr-TiO2 showed the highest efficiency in the elimination of S. cerevisiae from a lab prepared strain. On the other hand, the Pd(0.1%)/Cr-TiO2 sample shows the highest dye degradation rate, achieving 92% of TOC removal after 180 min.

Regulation and Safety of Cosmetics: Pre- and Post-Market Considerations for Adverse Events and Environmental Impacts

Cosmetic products have been increasingly regulated, particularly in Europe. With the introduction of the cosmetic regulation in 2013, stricter quality standards were implemented, surpassing those set by the 1976 legislation. The primary objective of these regulations is to safeguard consumer safety during the use of cosmetic products. Despite these advancements, certain regulatory gaps remain, indicating the need for more effective measures to enhance human and environmental health protection. Considering the aforementioned, this work aims to provide an overview of the current Cosmetics Regulation, highlighting the weakest cornerstones that represent the missing link keeping the core objective from being achieved. While there is ongoing reliance on historical data from animal studies, efforts are actively underway to replace these methods with new new approach methodologies for risk assessment. Additionally, regulatory authorities continue to improve environmental considerations in the assessment process. These measures, along with enhanced surveillance systems, are gradually addressing existing gaps and contributing to a more robust regulatory framework that balances market access with consumer safety. Legally non-compliant—or perhaps compliant but unknowingly dangerous—products may be used by people who relativize them as inherently safe, leading to adverse events. Whether caused by an underlying disease or purely by the chemical’s toxicity, these may never come to the attention of the authorities as they are generally under-reported, making it unfeasible to implement corrective or preventive measures to address their root cause. To illustrate, non-compliant products that have been detected by the Portuguese authority, INFARMED, I. P., from January 2018 to September 2023 are discussed, which were found to be potentially dangerous to human health and, therefore, withdrawn from the market.

The occupational exposure prevention and control system for hazardous drugs in the United States

Hazardous drugs represented by antineoplastic drugs have clear health hazards to occupational exposed populations, and this issue has received widespread attention all over the world in recent years. This article reviewed the laws, regulations, guidelines, and industry guidance documents for the prevention and control of occupational exposure to hazardous drugs issued by relevant departments and associations in the United States. It could provide a reference basis for the development of occupational environmental health standards and protection guidelines, with the aim of reducing the risk of occupational exposure to hazardous drugs and promoting the healthy development of healthcare services in China.

Integrated geochemical analysis of urban and peri-urban soils: a case study of Lamia City, Greece.

The occurrence of Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) and other chemical elements in urban and peri-urban soils impacts human health and quality of life, posing a challenge for geoscientists. This study investigated the soil geochemistry of Lamia City, focusing on identifying the geogenic and anthropogenic origins of elements. A total of 168 topsoil samples (0-10cm) were collected in April 2023, and the analysis included the near-total concentrations of 51 elements. Descriptive, correlation, multivariate statistics (i.e., Factor Analysis-FA and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis-HCA), Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping, and mineralogical analysis were employed to identify potential element sources. The results indicated that the elements in soils originated from geogenic, anthropogenic, and mixed sources. Geogenic origins are associated with ultramafic rocks (e.g., Mg, Cr, Ni, Co, Fe, Sc, Mn), carbonate rocks (e.g., Ca, Sr), and Quaternary sediments (e.g., K, Na, Ba, Tl, Be, Rb, Ti, V, Ga, and Rare Earth Elements-REEs); associations are linked to specific identified minerals. All applied statistical analyses reveal that the mobility of chemical elements in the urban and peri-urban soils of Lamia city is primarily affected by geochemical processes such as element substitution, chemical weathering, pedogenesis, adsorption, precipitation, evaporation, and organic matter presence. The P, Ag, Hg, Pb, Sn, Zn, Sb, Cd, Cu, and U were associated with anthropogenic influences, particularly in areas with high population density, heavy vehicle traffic, and intensive agricultural practices. Additionally, some elements (e.g., Ca, Cd, Cu, Mo, Mn, and Li) exhibited mixed origins. This integrated approach offers valuable insights into the spatial distribution and sources of PTEs in urban and peri-urban environments, providing critical information for environmental management and public health protection strategies.

Multipurpose Fluorescent Nanocarriers: Environmental Behavior, Toxicity and Internalization on Marine Microalgae

AbstractEngineered nanomaterials (ENMs), such as silica mesoporous nanocapsules (SiNC), have emerged as a powerful tool for the controlled delivery and release of active compounds in various fields. However, the environmental impact of SiNC on marine biota, particularly when they enter the marine environment through wastewater effluents or direct release from maritime coatings, remains poorly understood. Studying their effects is thus crucial for environmental and human health protection, the development of safe‐by‐design ENMs, and informed policy‐making. This study aims to assess the ecotoxicological effects and internalization of industrially‐relevant SiNC in marine phytoplankton, namely on the microalgae Tetraselmis chuii, Nannochloropsis gaditana, and Isochrysis galbana, and diatoms Phaeodactylum tricornutum, and Chaetoceros calcitrans. For this purpose, a fluorescent nanocarrier (SiNC‐UMB) is developed by labeling the SiNC with the fluorescent natural dye umbelliferone (UMB). UV–vis and fluorescence spectroscopic analyses confirmed the successful loading of UMB into SiNC. Phytoplankton can internalize these ENMs, even at low concentrations, although adsorption to the cell wall can also occur. This confirms the internal exposure and growth inhibition observed in the microalgae. These findings highlight the potential of using SiNC‐UMB as a valuable tool for tracking their uptake and assessing their effects on marine biota and beyond.

Monitoring and Predicting Air Quality with IoT Devices

The growing concern about air quality and its influence on human health has prompted the development of sophisticated monitoring and forecast systems. This article gives a thorough investigation into forecasting the air quality index (AQI) with an Internet of Things (IoT) device that analyzes temperature, humidity, PM10, and PM2.5 levels. The dataset used for this analysis comprises 5869 data points across six critical parameters essential for accurate air quality prediction. The data from these sensors is sent to the ThingSpeak cloud platform for storage and preliminary analysis. The system forecasts AQI using a TensorFlow-based regression model, delivering real-time insights. The combination of IoT technology and machine learning improves the accuracy and responsiveness of air quality monitoring systems, making it a useful tool for environmental management and public health protection. This work presents comparatively the effectiveness of feedforward neural network models trained with the ‘adam’ and ‘RMSprop’ optimizers over different epochs, as well as the machine learning algorithm random forest with varying numbers of estimators to forecast AQI. The models were trained using both types of regression analysis: linear regression and random forest regression. The findings show that the model achieves a high degree of accuracy, with the predictions closely aligning with the actual AQI values, thus having the potential to significantly reduce the negative health impact associated with poor air quality, protecting public health and alerting users when pollution levels are higher than allowed. Specifically, the random forest model with 100 estimators delivers the best overall performance for both AQI 10 and AQI 2.5, achieving the lowest Mean Absolute Error (MAE) of 0.2785 for AQI 10 and 0.2483 for AQI 2.5. This integration of IoT technology and advanced predictive analysis addresses the significant worldwide issue of air pollution by identifying the pollution hotspots and allowing decision-makers for quick reactions, and the development of effective strategies to reduce pollution sources.

Source and Influencing Factor Analysis of Soil Heavy Metals Based on PMF Model and GeoDetector

In Lijiang City, as a typical example, 93 soil samples were collected from the study area, and soil pH； organic matter； and heavy metals arsenic （As）, mercury （Hg）, copper （Cu）, zinc （Zn）, lead （Pb）, cadmium （Cd）, and chromium （Cr） were determined. We explored the sources of heavy metals in the study area by means of Positive Definite Matrix Factorization （PMF） modeling and analyzed the impact of influencing factors by combining seven heavy metals with 13 influencing factors in a GeoDetector. The results showed that the mean values of soil heavy metals ω（As）, ω（Hg）, ω（Cu）, ω（Zn）, ω（Pb）, ω（Cd）, and ω（Cr） in the study area were 17.55, 0.19, 86.75, 164.84, 28.95, 0.39, and 167.87 mg·kg-1, respectively, which were greater than the background values of soils in Yunnan Province （except for As and Pb）. Regarding spatial distribution, the high values of Cu and Cr content were mainly concentrated in Yulong Naxi Autonomous County； the high value areas of As, Hg, Pb, and Cd were mainly concentrated in Ninglang Yi Autonomous County； and the high value of Zn content was mainly concentrated in Huaping County. Correlation analysis and PMF modeling revealed that the main sources of heavy metals As and Hg in the study area were industrial sources, Zn was from transportation pollution sources, Cr and Cu were from natural sources, and Cd and Pb were from agricultural sources. Further, the factor detector of the GeoDetector found that soil pH and organic matter （OC） had strong explanatory power for the content of seven heavy metals, and the interaction detector found that the results following the interaction of different influencing factors were nonlinear enhancement or two-factor enhancement, in which the interaction of OC and pH was the dominant factor for the spatial differentiation of heavy metals. This provides an important scientific basis for the protection of the soil environmental health and sustainable development in Lijiang City.

Socio-demographic consequences of environmental problems of the Western region of Ukraine

This work has carried out a comprehensive study of the impact of environmental factors on demographic processes in the western regions of Ukraine. Attention is focused on the study of both common and specific environmental problems of Lviv, Zakarpattia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ternopil and Chernivtsi regions, which have a significant impact on the health and structure of the population of these regions. Particular attention is paid to Lviv region, as the largest in terms of population and industrial potential, for a detailed analysis of the age structure, dynamics of the number of active age groups and the reproductive population. The relationship between changes in demographic indicators and the level of environmental pollution has been studied. A correlation analysis has been conducted between the level of mortality from diseases and the amount of emissions of pollutants into the air. A significant correlation was found between mortality from respiratory diseases and the concentration of solid suspended particles in the air (ρ = 0.874), nitrogen oxide emissions (ρ = 0.855) and non-methane volatile organic compounds; the statistical relationship of these emissions with diseases of the circulatory system as causes of mortality was also studied. These indicators indicate a significant impact of anthropogenic pollution on the health of the population and the demogra­phic situation in the region. In addition to analyzing the current state, the article proposes promising ways to improve the environmental situation in the western regions of Ukraine. In particular, the emphasis is on the introduction of environmentally friendly technologies, reducing emissions of harmful substances and increasing environmental awareness of the population. It is determined that the integrated use of environmental mechanisms can contribute to stabilizing the demographic situation, reducing mortality and improving the quality of life of the population of the region. The results obtained are important for developing strategies for sustainable regional development aimed at improving environmental safety, health protection, and demographic stability.

Novel sustainable porous organic polymer for multifunctional water treatment: Adsorption and disinfection applications

Novel sustainable porous organic polymer for multifunctional water treatment: Adsorption and disinfection applications