Spread Of Pollutants Research Articles

Antibiotic resistance genes and virulence factors in the plastisphere in wastewater treatment plant effluent: Health risk quantification and driving mechanism interpretation

Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and provide a unique niche for the spread of pollutants. To date, risk assessments and driving mechanisms of pathogens, antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), and virulence factors (VFs) in the plastisphere are still lacking. Here, the microbiota, ARGs, VFs, their potential health risks, and biologically driving mechanisms on polythene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), poly (butyleneadipate-co-terephthalate) and polylactic acid blends (PBAT/PLA), PLA MPs, and gravel in WWTP effluent were investigated. The results showed that plastisphere and gravel biofilm harbored more distinctive microorganisms, promoting the uniqueness of pathogens, ARGs, and VFs compared to WWTP effluent. The abundance of major pathogens, ARGs, and VFs in the plastisphere was 1.01–1.35 times higher than that in the effluent. The high health risk of ARGs (HRA) calculated by fully considering the abundance, clinical relevance, pathogenicity, accessibility and mobility, and the high proportion of resistance contigs with mobile genetic elements confirmed that the plastisphere posed the highest potential health risk. Candidatus Microthrix and Candidatus Promineifilum were the essential hosts of ARGs and VFs in the plastisphere and gravel biofilm, respectively. High metabolic activity such as amino acid metabolism and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, and highly expressed key genes increased the synthesis of ARGs and VFs. The primary mechanisms driving ARG enrichment in the plastisphere were enhanced microbial metabolic activity, increased frequency of horizontal gene transfer, heightened antibiotic inactivation and efflux, and reduced cell permeability. This study provided new insights into the ARGs, VFs, and health risks of the plastisphere and emphasized the importance of strict control of wastewater discharge.

Microplastics Meet Metoprolol in Natural Water: Sorption Behavior and Mechanism

As an ideal carrier for the spread of pollutants in the aquatic environment, microplastics (MPs) can adsorb pharmaceutical β-blockers, which can affect their migration and lead to some unpredictable adverse consequences. In this paper, the sorption behaviors and mechanism of MPs (polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polypropylene (PP)) for typical β-blocker metoprolol (MTL) were investigated. The effects of pH, salinity and humic acids (HAs) on the sorption were studied, which proved that the sorption behavior was different under different environmental conditions. Both low pH and high salinity inhibited the sorption of MTL by the MPs. Specifically, the sorption capacity of MTL increased, with pH increase from 3 to 10. When pH = 10, the sorption capacities of MTL on PVC (1.75 mg/g) and PP (3.34 mg/g) reached the maximum. After pH > 10, the amount of MTL adsorbed on PVC was slightly decreased, while that on PP was essentially the same. The addition of salt ions inhibited the sorption in the concentration range of 5–250 mg/g for both NaCl and CaCl2, with the inhibitory effect of Ca2+ being stronger than that of Na+. Moreover, the presence of HAs promoted the sorption of MPs for MTL. In the absence of HAs, the sorption capacities of PP and PVC for MTL were 0.34 mg/g and 0.79 mg/g, respectively. When HA concentration was 100 mg/L, the highest sorption capacities of PP and PVC reached 0.79 mg/g and 1.37 mg/g, respectively. This indicated that the promoting effect of HAs on PP was stronger than that on PVC. In general, based on the study of the sorption behavior of MTL and the characterization of the MPs, the sorption mechanism was speculated to consist mainly of electrostatic interactions, cation exchange, hydrophobic interaction and halogen bonding. The sorption kinetics of MTL on the two MPs were well-fitted by the pseudo-second-order model with R2 > 0.99. The sorption isotherms both fitted the Freundlich model, which substantiated that the sorption of MTL on the MPs (PVC and PP) was multilayered and heterogeneous. Collectively, these findings provided a theoretical basis for revealing the complex interactions between MPs and MTL in natural water and a new insight into the fate and migration of MPs and β-blockers in the environment.

Anthropogenic Lead (Pb) deposition history of the western Indian Ocean from coral-based Pb/Ca ratio and Pb isotope records

Despite the rapid industrial growth and urban expansion along the coastline of the Western Indian Ocean, knowledge of both historical and current levels of anthropogenic lead (Pb) contamination, as well as its impact on the biosphere, remains limited compared to other industrialized regions. We present a twenty-four year long coralline record (1989–2013) of Pb/Ca ratio and Pb isotopes from the Lakshadweep coral reef in the Western Indian Ocean. This new record provides critical insight into source(s), possible transport pathways, and temporal trends in Pb deposition during the studied interval. The long-term trend in the surface seawater Pb concentration ([Pb]SW), reconstructed from the coralline Pb/Ca record, reveals almost doubling in [Pb]SW from ~50 pmol/kg in the year 1990 to ~107 pmol/kg in the year 2013. Bayesian mixing model calculations reveal that among the potential Pb polluting sources to this region, anthropogenic aerosol from the hinterland of the continents was the dominant contributor of Pb (23–89 %). A compilation of available Pb records from the Indian Ocean reveals that Pb isotope distribution patterns in the western and central equatorial Indian Oceans are distinctly different from those observed in the eastern Indian Ocean. The western Indian Ocean records exhibit lower Pb isotope ratios (206Pb/207Pb and 208Pb/207Pb) compared to the East Indian Ocean, suggesting a greater influence of anthropogenic Pb on seawater concentration. These findings highlight the spatio-temporally spread of anthropogenic Pb pollution and its potential impact on the biosphere in the Indian Ocean and therefore emphasize the urgent need for region-specific environmental management strategies. Plain language summaryThis study reconstructs the history of lead (Pb) pollution in the Western Indian Ocean. We analyzed a specimen of coral, collected from Lakshadweep, to create a 24-year-long (years 1989 to 2013) for Pb concentration and isotopic composition of seawater in the Western Indian Ocean. Using the coralline Pb/Ca ratio and Pb isotope data, we have reconstructed surface ocean Pb concentration ([PbSW]) and isotopic composition to understand the sources, transport pathways, and temporal depositional trends over the western Indian Ocean during the past two decades. This reconstruction of [PbSW] reveals a doubling from ~50 pmol/kg in the year 1990 to ~107 pmol/kg in the year 2013. Our investigations to fingerprint the Pb source(s) to our study area reveal that majority of the anthropogenic Pb has been contributed by aerosol deposition sourced from the hinterland of the surrounding continents. Our investigation also revealed that the western Indian Ocean is more contaminated by anthropogenic Pb compared to the eastern Indian Ocean. These findings highlight the need for region-specific monitoring efforts in the Indian Ocean as well as the formulation of environmental strategies to mitigate the impact of Pb pollution.

Layered Double Hydroxides as Systems for Capturing Small-Molecule Air Pollutants: A Density Functional Theory Study.

Air pollutants are usually formed by easily spreading small molecules, representing a severe problem for human health, especially in urban centers. Despite the efforts to stem their diffusion, many diseases are still associated with exposure to these molecules. The present study focuses on modeling and designing two-dimensional systems called Layered Double Hydroxides (LDHs), which can potentially trap these molecules. For this purpose, a Density Functional Theory (DFT) approach has been used to study the role of the elemental composition of LDHs, the type of counterion, and the ability of these systems to intercalate NO2 and SO2 between the LDH layers. The results demonstrated how the counterion determines the different possible spacing between the layers, modulating the internalization capacity of pollutants and determining the stability degree of the system for a long-lasting effect. The variations in structural properties, the density of states (DOS), and the description of the charge transfer have been reported, thus allowing the investigation of aspects that are difficult to observe from an experimental point of view and, at the same time, providing essential details for the effective development of systems that can counteract the spread of air pollutants.

Climate change influence on the trends of BFRs in the environment and food

Climate change poses new challenges for environmental protection and food safety. With reported consequences including warmer temperatures, melting of Alpine glaciers, higher sea levels, droughts, extreme rainfall events and increased surface UV radiation, concerns about the impact on food contaminants have been raised. While the effects of climate change on POPs were initially expected to have the biggest impact in the arctic region, given the intensity, frequency and spread of extreme weather events, global influence on environmental pollution and food safety is currently anticipated.Warmer temperatures are expected to enhance the volatilization of POPs and influence their partitioning between soil, sediment, water and atmosphere, enhancing their mobility and their potential for long-range atmospheric transport. Floods and strong winds can cause dilution but also spread of pollutants to wider areas. Limited data are available for the impact of climate change on BFRs levels, trends and toxicity. BFRs are widely used to protect people from fire hazards. Numerous BFR containing products are disposed in landfills where climate change could possibly induce increased leaching and resulting impacts on the food chain. Heat and UV exposure can lead to degradation of novel polymeric BFRs with adverse environmental effects.Long-term monitoring data are needed for feed, food and environmental compartments in order to evaluate climate change influence, which will also enable the development of prediction models specific for legacy and novel BFRs, for various climate change scenarios. Furthermore, there is a need to promote further discussion in the scientific community for the design of risk management and remediation activities for contaminated areas, in response to potential future conditions as the climate continues to change.

Plastic Polymers and Antibiotic Resistance in an Antarctic Environment (Ross Sea): Are We Revealing the Tip of an Iceberg?

Microbial colonization of plastic polymers in Antarctic environments is an under-investigated issue. While several studies are documenting the spread of plastic pollution in the Ross Sea, whether the formation of a plastisphere (namely the complex microbial assemblage colonizing plastics) may favor the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) in this marine environment is unknown yet. A colonization experiment was performed in this ecosystem, aiming at exploring the potential role of plastic polymers as a reservoir of antibiotic resistance. To this end, the biofilm-producing activity and the antibiotic susceptibility profiles of bacterial strains isolated from biofilms colonizing submerged polyvinylchloride and polyethylene panels were screened. The colonization experiment was carried out at two different sites of the Ross Sea, namely Road Bay and Tethys Bay. Most of bacterial isolates were able to produce biofilm; several multidrug resistances were detected in the bacterial members of biofilms associated to PVC and PE (also named as the plastisphere), as well as in the bacterial strains isolated from the surrounding water. The lowest percentage of ARB was found in the PE-associated plastisphere from the not-impacted (control) Punta Stocchino station, whereas the highest one was detected in the PVC-associated plastisphere from the Tethys Bay station. However, no selective enrichment of ARB in relation to the study sites or to either type of plastic material was observed, suggesting that resistance to antibiotics was a generalized widespread phenomenon. Resistance against to all the three classes of antibiotics assayed in this study (i.e., cell wall antibiotics, nucleic acids, and protein synthesis inhibitors) was observed. The high percentage of bacterial isolates showing resistance in remote environments like Antarctic ones, suffering increasing anthropic pressure, points out an emerging threat with a potential pathogenic risk that needs further deepening studies.

Groundwater protection around Makkah sewage treatment plant using hydrological and transport models

Makkah is depicted environmentally by scarcity of rainfall, elevated temperatures, and increasing rates of evaporation. These ambience factors have driven the city to a reduction in the water balance. The main water resources in Makkah are renewable groundwater aquifers. Despite numerous studies concerned in the assessment of groundwater quality in Makkah, this paper presents the groundwater pollution remediation near Makkah sewage treatment plant. The methodology of this study depends on the simulation of four scenarios of groundwater remediation under the treated effluent of Makkah sewage plant. These scenarios are injection wells of clean water (with and without surface recharge of the effluent Makkah sewage plant), discharge wells for the contaminated aquifer, and slurry wall to constrict the spread of aquifer pollutants. The simulation is performed using the hydrological model (MODFLOW) and transport model in groundwater systems (MT3D). The results revealed that the case of discharge wells was the best one for cleaning the aquifer. In contrast, the worst case was the injection wells with surface recharge causing the pollution spread over the whole area. The case of using the slurry wall proved an efficient approach for controlling the pollution spread through the path of Makkah sewage plant effluent flow.

Quantifying urban climate response to large-scale forcing modified by local boundary layer effects

Over the past two decades, the joint manifestation of global warming and rapid urbanization has significantly increased the occurrence of heatwaves and the formation of urban heat islands in temperate cities. Consequently, this synergy has amplified the frequency and duration of periods with tropical nights (TNs) in these urban areas. While the occurrences of such extreme events demonstrate irregular and nonlinear annual patterns, they consistently manifest a discernible rising decadal trend in local or regional climatic data. In urban regions situated amidst hilly or mountainous landscapes, changing wind directions—often associated with uphill or downhill thermal flows—profoundly impact the spread and dispersion of heat-related pollution, creating unique natural ventilation patterns. Using the Lausanne/Pully urban area in Switzerland as examples of hilly and lakeshore temperate cities, this study explores the influence of wind patterns and natural urban ventilation on the nonlinearity of recorded climatic data within an urban environment. This study integrates a mesoscale numerical weather prediction model (COSMO-1), a microscale Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model, field observations, variational mode decomposition technique, and statistical analysis to investigate how wind speed and direction critically influence the nonlinearity of recorded long-term trends of extreme events, specifically focusing on the frequency and duration of TNs in lakeshore and hilly cities. The results strongly indicate a direct correlation between the frequency of TNs and the occurrence of specific moderate wind patterns. These wind patterns are exclusively captured by the microscale CFD model, unlike the mesoscale model, which neglects both urban morphology and complex hilly terrains. The impact of temporal and spatial variability of the wind field on long-term observations at fixed measurement stations suggests that caution should be exercised when relying on limited spatial measurement points to monitor and quantify long-term urban climate trends, particularly in cities located in complex terrains.

Изменения климата и лесные пожары как факторы риска здоровью (аналитический обзор)

Climate change in Russia contributes to an increase in the number of forest fires, especially in Siberia and the Far East, leading to the rise in the forest fire danger index. Increased air pollution, which is typical for a number of cities in these regions, is the reason for changes in population health due to the influx of significant volumes of smoke gases from forest fires into populated areas. Smoke from forest fires, consists of aerosols and gases and contains more than 40 pollutants. During fires, frequency of calls for emergency medical care for children tends to increase due to exacerbation of upper respiratory tract diseases, including laryngitis, pharyngitis and acute respiratory infections, as well as attacks of bronchial asthma, and longer exacerbation periods of this disease. Such respiratory dysfunctions appear a few days after fires, which should be taken into account when organizing health monitoring in such situations. Among adult population, an increase in the number of deaths from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases has been proven during forest fires, and there tends to be an increase in the number of requests for medical care for COPD, bronchial asthma, myocardial infarction, coronary heart disease and other diseases. Fires in forest highlands in the Khabarovsk Krai result in deteriorating health of patients with neurological diseases. The generalization of the results obtained by domestic and foreign studies on this issue confirms the need to improve the air pollution monitoring system during forest fires with the determination of PM for timely preventive measures by health systems, Rospotrebnadzor, FMBA and other agencies. It also seems necessary to develop modeling of pollutant spread in ambient air in settlements exposed to them, with assessments of population health risks and development of preventive measures. Given the relevance of these studies, it is advisable to hold seminars with BRICS countries within the framework of international cooperation.

Climate change and forest fires as health risk factors (Analytical review)

Climate change in Russia contributes to an increase in the number of forest fires, especially in Siberia and the Far East, leading to the rise in the forest fire danger index. Increased air pollution, which is typical for a number of cities in these regions, is the reason for changes in population health due to the influx of significant volumes of smoke gases from forest fires into populated areas. Smoke from forest fires, consists of aerosols and gases and contains more than 40 pollutants. During fires, frequency of calls for emergency medical care for children tends to increase due to exacerbation of upper respiratory tract diseases, including laryngitis, pharyngitis and acute respiratory infections, as well as attacks of bronchial asthma, and longer exacerbation periods of this disease. Such respiratory dysfunctions appear a few days after fires, which should be taken into account when organizing health monitoring in such situations. Among adult population, an increase in the number of deaths from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases has been proven during forest fires, and there tends to be an increase in the number of requests for medical care for COPD, bronchial asthma, myocardial infarction, coronary heart disease and other diseases. Fires in forest highlands in the Khabarovsk Krai result in deteriorating health of patients with neurological diseases. The generalization of the results obtained by domestic and foreign studies on this issue confirms the need to improve the air pollution monitoring system during forest fires with the determination of PM for timely preventive measures by health systems, Rospotrebnadzor, FMBA and other agencies. It also seems necessary to develop modeling of pollutant spread in ambient air in settlements exposed to them, with assessments of population health risks and development of preventive measures. Given the relevance of these studies, it is advisable to hold seminars with BRICS countries within the framework of international cooperation.

Watershed landscape characteristics and connectivity drive river water quality under seasonal dynamics

Landscape characteristics and connectivity are pivotal determinants of river water quality within the context of water quality management. They play particularly important roles in the spread of non-point source pollution. However, previous research has not investigated their combined effects, especially in the topographically and ecologically volatile Loess Plateau, China. This study applied machine learning and positive matrix factorization techniques to water quality monitoring data for the Wuding River basin, China, from 2017 to 2021 to assess the seasonal impacts of environmental factors on river water quality. The results showed that there were spatial and seasonal variations in pollution sources, and specific thresholds for the key landscape indices that influence water quality were identified. Landscape composition and configuration have the greatest influence on the water quality parameters during the dry season, whereas connectivity and landscape configuration are more critical during the wet season. The connectivity contributions to chemical oxygen demand, the potassium permanganate index, and total phosphorus in the wet season were 19.07%, 27.47%, and 5.08% greater than in the dry season, respectively. Connectivity also made a significant contribution to the composite water quality index, accounting for 33.46% in the dry season and 36.22% in the wet season. The positive matrix factorization model identified agricultural non-point sources and mixed pollutants as the main factors affecting water quality during the dry season, whereas erosion and mixed pollution sources dominated the wet season. Critical thresholds were established for the landscape indices that affected water quality, such as a landscape shape index below 18.5 and a grassland proportion above 65%. The results can be used to develop more effective water quality management strategies and illustrate the essential role played by connectivity when tailoring water quality management strategies to seasonal variations.

Application of Methods of Observational Data Assimilation to Model the Spread of Pollutants in a Reservoir and Manage Sustainable Development

Application of Methods of Observational Data Assimilation to Model the Spread of Pollutants in a Reservoir and Manage Sustainable Development

The Influence of Three-Dimensional Building Morphology on PM2.5 Concentrations in the Yangtze River Delta

The rapid urbanization of urban areas in China has brought about great variation in the layout of cities and serious air pollution. Recently, the focus has been directed toward understanding the role of urban morphology in the generation and spread of atmospheric pollution, particularly in PM2.5 emissions. However, there have been limited investigations into the impact of three-dimensional (3D) features on changes in PM2.5 concentrations. By analyzing a wealth of data on building structures based on a mixed linear model and variance partition analysis in the Yangtze River Delta throughout 2018, this study sought to examine the associations between PM2.5 concentrations and urban building form, and further compared the contributions of two-dimensional (2D) and 3D building features. The findings revealed that both 2D and 3D building forms played an important role in PM2.5 concentrations. Notably, the greater contribution of 3D building forms on PM2.5 concentrations was observed, especially during the summer, where they accounted for 20% compared to 7% for 2D forms. In particular, the building height range emerged as a crucial local factor affecting PM2.5 concentrations, contributing up to 12%. Moreover, taller buildings with more variability in height were found to aid in the dispersion of pollution. These results underscore the substantial contribution of 3D building morphology to PM2.5 pollution, contrasting with previous studies. Furthermore, compact buildings were linked to lower pollution levels, and an urban landscape characterized by polycentric urban structures and lower fragmentation was deemed more favorable for sustainable urban development. This study is significant in investigating the contribution of 3D morphology to PM2.5 and its importance for pollution dispersion mechanisms. It suggests the adoption of a polycentric urban form with a broader range of building heights in urban planning for local governments in the Yangtze River Delta.

Численное моделирование миграции фильтрационных вод от объектов размещения твердых коммунальных отходов через грунтовые защитные сооружения

The paper studies numerically he processes of pollutant migration from the municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill and discusses the obtained results. Pollution of the natural environment with residues of substances and products resulting from the human household and industrial activities is one of the most urgent problems both in Russia and all over the world. In economically developed countries, in which waste management strategies are implemented to minimize garbage accumulation, priority is given to neutralization and recycling technologies, The beneficial effect of such strategy is a significant reduction of the waste volume. In Russia, despite the positive dynamics in the use of new waste management technologies, the main method of their treatment is disposal at MSW landfills. On the territory of Russia, along with the MSW landfills operated and built in accordance with environmental requirements, there are a large number of unauthorized landfills, which are of serious hazard to the environment. This raises the question of assessing the impact of such facilities on the environment. To study the characteristics of the pollutant distribution and determine the waste migration parameters, the archival data from a set of field and laboratory studies in the area of the existing MSW disposal site were used. A numerical model was constructed to describe the hydrodynamics of the migration of substances in the soil and soil layer forming the base of a solid waste disposal facility. The process of pollutant spreading is described in terms of dry residue. The model takes into account such factors as convective transport, diffusion and geological composition of the base of the waste disposal site, which have a significant impact on the pollutant migration.

МОНИТОРИНГ КАЧЕСТВА АТМОСФЕРНОГО ВОЗДУХА ЗАПАДНО-КАЗАХСТАНСКОГО РЕГИОНА: ПРИНЦИПЫ, МЕТОДЫ, ПОДХОДЫ

The main approaches and methods of studying the characteristics and conditions of atmospheric pollution on the example of Western Kazakhstan are considered. The classification and grouping of applied approaches by topics, methods, time intervals and other relevant criteria was conducted. An analysis of the available information on the sources and volumes of emissions into the atmosphere, as well as on the systems for monitoring the pollution of the air basin, was carried out. It is shown that to increase the effectiveness of the atmospheric air quality management system, it is expedient to use a complex approach taking into account the influence of meteorological factors and synoptic conditions that determine different levels of pollution. An analytical review of modern methods of modeling the spread of pollutants in atmospheric air showed the feasibility of using statistical methods integrated with deep machine learning and the Eulerian continuum model of turbulent diffusion. The obtained conclusions will allow further use of an integrated approach to improve the atmospheric air quality management system of the studied region.

Advancing on ametrine pesticide detection through surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy and Ag colloid: Understanding the pH effect and the adsorption mechanism supported by theoretical calculation

AbstractThe excessive use of pesticides has detrimental effects on the ecosystem, leading to soil contamination and the spread of pollution beyond the targeted areas. Concerns arise regarding the permissible limits of pesticides, typically around 10−8 mol/L. In this study, we employed surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), a highly sensitive and selective technique, to investigate the behavior of the pesticide ametrine (AMT) on silver colloids. The Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) exhibited an average size of (26 ± 2) nm and a zeta potential of (−30 ± 1) mV in the absence of AMT, which decreased to (−24 ± 1) mV in the presence of AMT, resulting in mild AgNPs aggregation, with the average diameter of AgNPs increasing to approximately 300 nm. This aggregation is advantageous, as they provide active sites for pesticide detection. Besides, the purification method employed ensured that AMT remained undegraded, and various conformations of AMT were simulated using Ag clusters to study the SERS effect. Comparison with the experimental spectra indicated that the SERS‐4 conformer closely resembled the experimental spectrum, suggesting simultaneous interaction between the Ag surface and the sulfur (S) and nitrogen (N) atoms of the AMT triazine ring. Notably, changes in the AMT molecule were observed with pH variations: at pH below 5, hydroxylation occurred, resulting in an Ag–Cl stretching at 241 cm−1 in the SERS spectra. Conversely, at pH above 5 (pH 6–13), the presence of bands at 230 and 219 cm−1 in the SERS spectra indicate the formation of Ag–N and Ag–S bonds, respectively, between the AMT and the AgNPs. Furthermore, the study successfully detected AMT at pH 7, establishing a limit of detection (LOD) of 1.36 × 10−8 mol/L (3 ppb) based on the SERS spectra. These findings underscore the applicability of the SERS technique in the sensitive and selective detection of AMT, offering a promising approach for monitoring the presence of this pesticide in environmental samples.

A novel efficient energy optimization in smart urban buildings based on optimal demand side management

Increasing electrical energy consumption during peak hours leads to increased electrical energy losses and the spread of environmental pollution. For this reason, demand-side management programs have been introduced to reduce consumption during peak hours. This study proposes an efficient energy optimization in Smart Urban Buildings (SUBs) based on Improved Sine Cosine Algorithm (ISCA) that uses the load-shifting technique for demand-side management as a way to improve the energy consumption patterns of a SUBs. The proposed system's goal is to optimize the energy of SUBs appliances in order to effectively regulate load demand, with the end result being a reduction in the peak to average ratio (PAR) and a consequent minimization of electricity costs. This is accomplished while also keeping user comfort as a priority. The proposed system is evaluated by comparing it with the Grasshopper Optimization Algorithm (GOA) and unscheduled cases. Without applying an optimization algorithm, the total electricity cost, carbon emission, PAR and waiting time are equal to 1703.576 ID, 34.16664 (kW), and 413.5864s respectively for RTP. While, after applying GOA, the total electricity cost, carbon emission, PAR and waiting time are improved to 1469.72 ID, 21.17 (kW), and 355.772s respectively for RTP. While, after applying the ISCA Improves the total electricity cost, PAR, and waiting time by 1206.748 ID, 16.5648 (kW), and 268.525384s respectively. Where after applying GOA, the total electricity cost, PAR, and waiting time are improved to 13.72 %, 38.00 %, and 13.97 % respectively. And after applying proposed method, the total electricity cost, PAR, and waiting time are improved to 29.16 %, 51.51 %, and 35.07 % respectively. According to the results, the created ISCA algorithm performed better than the unscheduled case and GOA scheduling situations in terms of the stated objectives and was advantageous to both utilities and consumers. Furthermore, this study has presented a novel two-stage stochastic model based on Moth-Flame Optimization Algorithm (MFOA) for the co-optimization of energy scheduling and capacity planning for systems of energy storage that would be incorporated to grid connected smart urban buildings.

Numerical study the assessment of pollutant dispersion from a thermal power plant: Impact of the wind direction, relative humidity and ambient temperatures, which vary depending on the time of day

In this paper, it was performed a numerical simulation of the spread of a pollutant - carbon dioxide from the chimneys of a thermal power plant. To determine the correctness of the models, a test problem was used, the results of which were compared with obtained numerical and experimental values. These models were used for a 3D model on a real scale of Ekibastuz SDP P, the largest thermal power station in Kazakhstan. A study on the spread of pollutants was performed within 24 hours. In addition, in the model, environmental conditions close to the real ones were used - a variable direction of the wind, a variable humidity of the ambient air, and different temperatures, which vary depending on the time of day. The results can be used in the future to study the problem of environmental pollution and reduce the consequences of the environmental situation as a whole.

Zadanie lokalizacji w sieciach kanalizacyjnych

Paper deals with the inverse / localisation task in sewer networks. An inverse problem is defined as the process of determining the causal factors from a set of observations. Applying this principle to the water management sector, it is often a matter of determining the location of the source of pollution based on monitored data on the concentration of pollution over time. From a mathematical point of view, to decrease the uncertainty of the inverse task solution, it is necessary to know the location of the source or the concentrations time course of the source (intensity function). In practice, we usually do not know any of these quantities, however, in the case of sewer networks we can accept some assumptions, which allow us to solve this inverse problem. Paper analyses specific conditions applied in the environment of sewer networks and describes proposed method for solving the source localisation task in the sewer network environment. The solution is based on numerical modelling of the pollution spreading in sewer system, accepting some process simplifications as well as assuming some source parameters. Typically, the solution of inverse task requires large and time consuming numerical simulations. This can be disadvantageous after recording the pollution event - a long calculation time reduces the efficiency and operability for the following pollution source reconnaissance. Therefore, our proposed method performs the necessary simulations in advance and the pollution source localisation after recording the pollution event is very fast, using a simple search and comparison in the simulation results database. The proposed method was tested on real sewer system and there were achieving promising results.

Disposal of Sanitary Pads

The disposal of sanitary pads presents a pressing challenge due to social, cultural, and religious factors hindering menstrual hygiene management. Despite increased awareness efforts, improper disposal practices persist, leading to environmental contamination and health hazards. Sanitary pads, when discarded inappropriately, contribute to the spread of diseases and pollution, with their decomposition releasing microplastics and toxins into the environment. Urgent action, including the adoption of proper disposal methods like incinerators, is essential to address this issue and prevent future repercussions on public health and the environment.