The present paper reports the results of experimental investigations performed to examine the feasibility of using fly ash (FA) and ground-granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) geopolymers as barrier materials for waste containment facilities. The alkaline geopolymer is a blend of FA and GGBS with sodium hydroxide in concentrations varying from 1 to 5. The important properties of most barrier materials include strength and hydraulic conductivity. While FA can develop compressive strength through pozzolanic reactions, polymerized FA develops tensile strength. For the construction of barriers for landfills with higher heights, tensile strength assumes importance. To further improve the strength, FA can be amended with GGBS. Results indicate that the FA-GGBS mixture in the ratio of 40:60, when cured, exhibited higher strength at any molar concentration. Further, the hydraulic conductivity of the material, which is predominant for barriers in waste containment facilities, is studied. To examine the impact of the presence of heavy metals in the leachates, batch adsorption studies were executed on a 40% FA- 60% GGBS mixture. Leachate with nickel and lead were adapted for their retention within the barrier. It has been observed that the geopolymerized FA and GGBS can retain ionic metals. The retention capacity of heavy metals is due to their precipitation in the voids of the barrier material enabling further reduction in the hydraulic conductivity making geopolymer a sustainable barrier material.

The presence of Hydrogen sulfide, Methane, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), and other odorous compounds in the ambient air is the root cause of the offensive odor emitting from the MSW dumping yard. Composition features and health risks associated with odor emissions concentrations in MSW dumping yards. This paper aims to provide an overview of research on health problems due to their composition, ecological impacts, and potential health risks of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and to examine the relationship between VOC exposure and chronic illnesses in humans and the environment. In this study, a comprehensive investigation of VOC odor emission from an urban MSW dumping site has been performed. The VOC odor sample was analyzed using the GC-MS technique. The maximum VOCs concentration reported is due to tert - butylbenzene at 1.41μg.m-3 and the minimum is due to Sec-butylbenzene at 0.07 μg.m-3. Scientific databases, including Google Scholar, California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), and US EPA (Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS), were searched extensively using a bibliographic technique, in addition to a case study on MSW dumping yard workers. The findings of epidemiologic and experimental research, the emission of odors as a result of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can cause a variety of non-cancerous health effects that are linked to abnormal functioning of the body’s vital organs, including the nervous and coronary, and pulmonary systems. It can also have minimal impact on the environment by causing global warming and ozone layer depletion. The odor emissions from the dumpsite pose both carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic risks to the health of the individuals participating in the dumping yard. As a result of these results, it is important to manage odor emissions (VOCs) during composting and take steps to reduce their negative effects on the environment and public health.

Increasing concerns related to climate change and extensive use of water resources have depleted the available water for use. For water as an essential requirement for humans to carry onto their day-to-day chores, access and availability of water becomes the highest priority. Technology-based solutions support water generation, filtration, quality testing, water distribution, and many other areas. The present paper dwells on the user acceptance of these technologies. A conceptual model was developed through a literature review and named as Water-Technology Acceptance Model (W-TAM). The data was collected through a self-designed survey instrument to empirically test the proposed model. Analysis of this data was done with confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling. It was observed that the actual use of these technologies depends on the ease of use and usefulness. Attitude to use them also matters. Although perceived risks and affordability did affect the use of W-TAM, trust, and regulatory aspects did not confirm their role in the adaptation of W-TAM. These findings will provide meaningful insights to the stakeholders and will help them in the practical implementation of these water-based technologies. This may also help service providers in the formulation of policies for technology-based water generation.

Goa’s iron ore mining industry has generated over 7.7 million tonnes of iron ore tailings (IOTs) in the past two decades. These IOTs pose a significant environmental threat due to heavy metal contamination, dust generation, and acid mine drainage. While some IOTs are used for backfilling, the majority are stored in tailings storage facilities (TSFs), posing long-term risks to surrounding water resources, ecosystems, and land use. Large-scale utilization technologies are crucial for sustainable IOT management. This study investigates the feasibility of incorporating IOTs in construction block production, aiming for high-volume waste consumption and improved resource efficiency. This approach offers a potential pathway to remediate the environmental impact of IOTs. The proposed method replaces 85% of the cement content with a cementitious material comprising 65% Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS), 10% Fly Ash, and 10% Lime. It also utilizes IOTs entirely as a substitute for sand, with ceramic waste partially replacing coarse aggregates. While partial substitution of coarse aggregates with ceramic waste was attempted, it decreased workability. The optimal mix design, achieving the highest compressive strength, utilizes 15% cement, 65% GGBS, 10% Fly Ash and Lime, and 100% IOTs as fine aggregate with 100% basaltic aggregates. This formulation successfully demonstrates the potential use of IOTs in manufacturing construction blocks that reach compressive strengths of 10.91 N.mm-² and 15.92 N.mm-² at 7 and 28 days, respectively, satisfying the IS 2185-Part 1 (2005) code requirement. The block density was 2.20 g.cm-³. This research demonstrates the potential to convert a significant environmental challenge into a sustainable solution. By utilizing IOTs in construction block production, we can effectively achieve waste remediation; and create resource-efficient and eco-friendly building materials, offering substantial dual benefits for Goa’s environment and construction sector.

Mature flower buds were collected from twenty species planted on the different roads in the Giza district from May to September 2022 and 2023. The pollen grains were examined carefully and photographed using a 40x10x magnification lens in an OPTICA (B-150D) light microscope fitted with a USB digital video Camera and Computer Software. At least 30 pollen grains/each species were measured and described. Non-catalyzed pollens were sputtered onto Aluminum stubs, coated with 30 nm gold, and examined and photographed using JEOL JSL IT 200 SEM. The morphological characters of the pollen grains were examined. According to the pollen size Acalypha wilkesiana and Tecoma stans were the smallest pollen grains, from 20.0μm to 26.0μm, which facilitate their introduction to the nose causing asthma and rhinitis. Clerodendrum inerme pollen grains have echinate exine surface, which causes allergic symptoms more than the psilate ones. Plumbago capensis has intectate exine with echinate columella causing human disorders. This study demonstrates the critical position of air pollution in this area with the change in the phenological aspects of the plants resulting in producing immature pollen grains in huge amounts, which cause human disorders and pollinosis. Our results showed that the studied species can induce allergy in one way or another if we consider the situation of the studied area, weather pattern, and pollen characteristics.

Aphids are important insect pests and are considered a major threat to various crops. In the laboratory experiment, our objective is to assess the toxicity level of some newer synthetic insecticides, viz. Imidacloprid, Flonicamid, and Spirotetramat against different species of aphids viz. maize leaf aphids (Rhopalosiphum maidis), green peach aphids (Myzus persicae), and mustard aphids (Liphaphis erysimi). The leaf dip bioassay was conducted to evaluate the LC50 and LT50 values. Among these novel molecules, Spirotetramat was the most toxic insecticide against R. maidis and M. persicae, with median lethal concentrations (LC50) of 0.68 and 3.99 ppm, and Flonicamid was the most toxic against L. erysimi with an LC50 value of 5.79 ppm. The median lethal concentrations for the Imidacloprid, Flonicamid, and Spirotetramat are different for each species of aphids. The LT50 values of the given insecticides revealed that the Imidacloprid has the potential for giving effective control of R. maidis, M. persicae, and L. erysimi species, as evidenced by the shorter time required for 50% mortality with LT50 values of 44.53, 49.19 and 44.90 hrs respectively with median lethal concentrations of 4.20, 5.14 and 10.86 ppm. The results indicated variations in toxicity among these different chemicals against different insect species.

The spectrum of the wind speed is expressed as the total wind speed that results from events split up into space, time, or both. It is the relationship shown between the energy or magnitude of any given parameter versus the frequency. In this study, the spectra of the wind speed at the Al-Reem site in Iraq were presented. Since the goal of the current research is to analyze wind speed and direction using the Fast-Fourier-Transform, experimental measurements for the wind speed and wind direction were taken every ten minutes for a year, from December 2014 to December 2015 at heights (10, 30, 50 m). Based on the performance of the Fast-Fourier-Transform, the peak with the highest spectral density, measured at 226,236.282 m/s at the frequency of 2 Hz, was found to be at a height of 50 m throughout the night, while the peak with the lowest height level. The spectral density was 115,863.7 m/s at a frequency of 2 Hz, at a height of (10 m) all into the night. Winds coming from the west and northwest were the most common direction in the region. In the morning, the wind was blowing faster than at night.

Ibuprofen (IBU) is increasingly recognized as a significant category of emerging micropollutants that infiltrate aquatic ecosystems. IBU possesses a significant capacity to inflict ecological harm, adversely affecting both ecosystems and the health of humans and animals. The primary contributors to the environmental presence of IBU encompass the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector, wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), hospital effluents, and agricultural byproducts. The degradation of IBU is contingent upon various factors, including its chemical and biological persistence, physicochemical properties, and the methodologies employed for its treatment. A multitude of techniques has been employed to mitigate its detrimental effects, involve adsorption, coagulation, bioremediation (constructed wetlands (CWs), membrane bioreactors (MBRs), microalgal-based systems), advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), membrane filtration systems (including reverse osmosis, nanofiltration, and microfiltration), as well as photocatalytic methods, among others. The exploration of more innovative and effective technologies aimed at IBU degradation necessitates a thorough investigation and should be specifically tailored for cost-efficiency and scalability. Additionally, the assessment of green and eco-friendly alternatives for IBU, characterized by attributes such as negligible bioaccumulation, minimal persistence, environmental compatibility, and low or no toxicity, is equally essential. Bacterial degradation mechanisms constitute a highly promising alternative for the biodegradation of IBU, especially through the application of meticulously chosen strains that have been isolated from contaminated environments.

This work aims to examine the effectiveness of phytoremediation, a process that uses Brassica juncea (Indian Mustard) and Medicago sativa (Alfalfa) plants to remediate contaminated soil with Cr and Ar. An economical and ecologically appropriate way to remove, immobilize, and degrade contaminants from soil and water is through phytoremediation. With this experiment, plants can grow in a controlled environment with different Cr and Ar concentrations in soil and the addition of organic compost. This entails evaluating the plants’ capacity to absorb metal, monitoring variations in the concentrations of metal in the plants’ roots, stems, leaves, and seeds, and looking into how organic matter affects the efficiency of phytoremediation. The findings showed that plants accumulated large amounts of chromium and arsenic across all experimental plants, but the highest accumulation was observed in the root system, which suggested that the plants were involved in the process of rhizofiltration. The roots pick up much more of the metals than the aerial of the plant, including stems, leaves, and seeds, thereby minimizing metal translocation to the parts of the plant that can be ingested by animals and, in turn, humans. This is a fundamental criterion for phytoremediation for assurance of a safe and effective process. Overall, the present study underscores the ability of phytoremediation in the remediation of heavy metal-polluted soils, especially under the use of organic growing media. It has made me understand the usefulness of this method for the effective and efficient cleaning of the soil in comparison with traditional methods, which could benefit the environment and future cost savings. Further research should be concerned with field-scale experiences and examine the potential of phytoremediation approaches in the range of environmental conditions.

Maize plays a vital role in enhancing food security, particularly in regions facing agricultural challenges such as poor soil conditions, erratic rainfall, and limited access to resources. It can be advantageous for smallholder farmers in developing countries, where it can enhance productivity on limited land and under suboptimal soil conditions. One of the potential means for improving crop yield under suboptimal soil conditions, such as acidic soils, is the application of soil amendments. However, the combined effects of functionalized biochar (a pyrogenic carbon) and microbes on phosphorus (P) bioavailability and plant growth performance are still not well understood. This study investigates the optimization of transplanted maize growth in acidic soil through the application of rice husk biochar (RHB) that was oxidized with 10% hydrogen peroxide and inoculated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a phosphate-solubilizing bacterium. The oxidized biochar’s pH was adjusted to 6.2 to enhance its effectiveness in challenging soil conditions. Soil properties and maize performance were determined using a pot culture. Results showed that the combined use of 10% oxidized RHB and Pseudomonas aeruginosa significantly increased P availability and phosphatase enzyme activity by 435% and 418%, respectively. Additionally, 10% Oxidized RHB treatment, microbes treatment and combination of biochar and microbes treatment showed yield increment 52%, 51% and 313% respectively, demonstrating the effectiveness of the treatment in improving soil fertility and crop productivity. This improvement in yield might have occurred due to an increase in soil pH, P bioavailability, and a reduction in Al toxicity since there were significant positive relationships between yield and soil pH and available P and a negative relationship with available Al concentration. These findings underscore the potential of integrating oxidized biochar and beneficial microbes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, to enhance crop performance in acidic soils.