To find out the spatial dependence of carbon emissions and its evolution characteristics is the key to achieving regional differential emission reduction strategy. In this study, 30 provinces with different population sizes and in different stages of development in China, were selected to explore the spatial heterogeneity of carbon emissions by exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA), combined with geographically and temporally weighted regression (GTWR). The findings revealed that (1) energy-related carbon emissions at the province-level in China increased from 1997 to 2016, with an increment of 8,893 million tons; (2) there is a significant positive spatial correlation between provincial carbon emissions, which showed the characteristics of rising first and then falling; this indicated that provincial carbon emissions have obvious spatial dependent characteristics; (3) the tertiary industry ratio had a restraining effect on carbon emissions, whereas the other three variables, namely GDP, urbanization rate, and energy intensity had a positive effect on carbon emissions of provinces in China; and (4) province-scale spatial differences in and distribution patterns of carbon emissions within the same countrywide, which will help decision making in terms of carbon trading and ecological compensation mechanisms. Therefore, we suggested that in the formulation of reduction policies for carbon emissions, policymakers need to adapt to local conditions which accord to the characteristics of the province.

The current study is an endeavour to measure the bioaccumulation potentials of heavy metals in different parts of chilli plants (Capsicum annuum L.) grown in artificially contaminated soil with various concentrations of Cr and Pb. The concentrations of heavy metals were estimated by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) technique. The mean concentration of Cr and Pb accumulated in different parts of plants in high, medium, and low levels of contamination was in the following order: roots > leaves > shoots > fruits. Cr concentration in fruits was lower than that of the WHO standard. However, fruits grown on medium contaminated soil contained 0.695 mg/kg Cr which did not follow the safe guideline by SEPA. A significant amount of Pb was traced in fruits grown in highly contaminated soil that exceeded the standard limit set by FAO/WHO. Accumulation of Pb was higher than Cr at different levels of contamination in every part of the chilli plants. The transfer factor for Cr and Pd was found in the following order, leaves > shoots > fruits> roots and leaves > shoots > roots > fruits, correspondingly at every level of contamination. The bioconcentration factors were higher in Pb than Cr. The daily intake of metals in combination with health and carcinogenic risk indexes indicated that the edible parts of chilli plants are safe to consume as recommended by SEPA/WHO/FAO. The present study can be considered a reference for assessment and monitoring of heavy metals associated with human health risks in chilli plants at different industrially contaminated sites.

The present study provides two naturally available sources for making adsorbents, waste tyres andBauhinia purpurea leaves, for the removal of lead from effluents. Equilibrium isotherms, kinetic modelsand thermodynamic studies were applied to observe the suitability of these adsorbents. Responsesurface methodology was adopted to investigate the influence of different process variables in leadadsorption process using both the adsorbents. For all the process parameters, the square and linearmodel terms were having significant effect than interactive model terms of lead adsorption processfor both the adsorbents. The interaction effects of the process variables of X1X2, X1X3, X2X3 and X2X4were highly influenced by the percentage removal of lead by using activated carbons prepared fromwaste tyres. To study the interaction effects of the process variables of X1X2, X2X3 and X2X4 were highlyinfluenced by the adsorption efficiency of lead by using activated carbons prepared from Bauhiniapurpurea leaves. All the squared terms, X1, X2, X3 and X4 show a negative influence on the adsorptionof lead on the two adsorbents. The interaction effect between process variables of X1X2 (p: 0.000, t:9.243), X1X3 (p: 0.03, t: 2.36), X2X3 (p: 0.000, t: 4.75) and X2X4 (p: 0.02, t: 2.71), were found to bestatistically significant and have positive effect on adsorption efficiency using ACWT as an adsorbent.The interaction effect between process variables of X1X2 (p: 0.000, t: 8.1049), X2X3 (t: 5.9657, p:0.000) and X2X4 (t: 5.9657, p: 0.000) was found to be statistically significant and positive effect onadsorption efficiency of lead, whereas other interactions were insignificant and did not influence theadsorption efficiency of lead using activated carbons of Bauhinia purpurea leaves adsorbent. Basedon the statistical approach, the experimental results were analysed by using ACWT and ACBPLadsorbents for the removal of lead and the optimum process conditions were as follows: pH: 4.98 and4.77, Ci: 140.01 mg/L and 105.7 mg/L, w: 0.12 g and 0.123 g, T: 314.46 K and 305.31 K and maximumadsorption efficiency of 95.64% and 95.55%, respectively.

As a typical secondary industry in China, the building industry promotes China’s construction and development significantly. The urban construction scale is expanding continuously with the increase of the urbanization rate. However, resources needed for construction and influences of construction on the ecological environment are enormous, which further cause resource consumption and environmental destructions. Therefore, changing the traditional mode of construction and promoting the development of prefabricated buildings vigorously are conducive to realize the goal of environmental protection and resource conservation. In this study, a life cycle assessment model for prefabricated buildings was constructed based on the basic data of resource and energy consumption in the production stage, transportation stage, and field installation stage. The total carbon emission of a prefabricated building in Wuhan City was estimated, and specific energy conservation and emission reduction measures were proposed. Results show that prefabricated buildings have become a major manifestation of the industrialization of construction, represented by America, Germany, and Japan. In the case study, the total carbon emission of prefabricated components in the project is 3277.66 t, in which the carbon emissions in the production stage, transportation stage, and field installation stage account for 86.58%, 12.37%, and 1.05%, respectively. Based on the above research results, the further decrease in carbon emissions of prefabricated buildings by promoting the development of building energy efficiency and prefabricated buildings, accelerating R&D and innovation of prefabricated building technologies, and strengthening training to designers related with installation of prefabricated buildings is suggested. Research conclusions have important significance in various aspects, such as providing case-based references and guidance to the carbon emission reduction of prefabricated buildings and supply basic data to decrease carbon emission caused by the production of building materials, developing new environmentally friendly materials to relieve the impact of carbon emissions from the building industry on the environment, realizing energy conservation and emission in the field of construction, and promoting the sustainable development of prefabricated buildings.

Heavy metal accumulation in soils, and subsequently, in vegetation by long-term wastewater irrigation has a potentially detrimental effect on humans via their transfer along the food chain. In this reconnaissance study the effects of wastewater irrigation on the accumulation of heavy metals (Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) in soils and vegetables from croplands along some ~60 km stretches of Sabarmati River, near Ahmedabad city were assessed. Geochemical factors associated with metals in the soil-water environment seem to regulate more the metal transfer (soil-to-vegetable) than the physiological factors associated with the vegetable’s types.The risk associated with the dietary intake of metal contaminated vegetables was quantified by Hazard Quotient (HQ). HQ was found to be very less sensitive on to the dietary intake pattern (e.g., leafy versus non-leafy vegetables) of the consumers. In contrast to low risk associated with Co, Cu, Ni and Zn with very low HQ values, high risk was found for Pb (HQ of ~6.1±0.6) followed by both Mn and Cr (HQ of ~1.0 ± 0.1). Based on the results on wastewater irrigation in the studied region, we suggest more efficient treatment of wastewater facilities and semi-decadal monitoring of heavy metal in vegetables grown under wastewater irrigated soils.

Biochar amendments could enhance retention of nutrients such as ammonium (NH4+), nitrate (NO3-), and phosphate (PO43-) in soils. However, the situation for sulphate (SO42-), which is an indispensable nutrient element for crop growth, is unclear. In this paper, the effects of biochar derived from rape (Brassica campesstris L.) straw at 600°C on the sorption and leaching of SO42- in light sierozem (Calcids) was studied in columns, where biochar amendment rate, column soil height, solution pH value and initial sulphate concentration were selected as factors. It is shown that the transport of sulphate was a significant non-equilibrium process and the sorption and leaching curves (SLCs) of sulphate were asymmetrical. The breakthrough time would be increased by increasing biochar amendment and soil column height, and by decreasing solution pH value and initial sulphate concentration. The SLCs of bromide trace were fitted to determine dispersion coefficient (D) using equilibrium convection dispersion equation (CDEeq). The non-equilibrium (two-site) model (CDEnon-eq) with the results from CDEeq was used to simulate the transport processes of sulphate in the soil column, with good fitness, using software CXTFIT 2.1 fitting. The results could supply an implication for biochar application in loess areas.

The service life of electronic (e-) products is decreasing gradually due to the continuous improvement of manufacturing technologies and increasing prices and performance of these products, thereby accelerating the growth of e-waste. Only a small proportion of e-waste is disposed of according to standards in China. Due to a contradiction between high output and low disposal, environmental pollution and resource waste caused by e-waste intensify daily. To further analyze the e-waste recycling mode from a macroscopic level and thereby propose specific control measures, we first reviewed studies on e-waste recycling modes and control measures in foreign developed countries. Second, the e-waste recycling mode in China was analysed through political, economic, social and technological (PEST) and strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) models in combination with practical situations in China. Finally, e-waste control measures were proposed from various perspectives. Results show that the ambiguous definition of responsibilities for different e-waste disposal subjects in China has led to serious environmental pollution. This pollution, the extensive waste of natural resources, and frequent occurrence of social crises are three consequences of environmental pollution caused by e-waste in China. All four factors in the PEST model have laid the foundation to accelerate e-waste recycling in the country. Environmental pollution caused by e-waste can be relieved by perfecting relevant laws and regulations for e-waste recycling and disposal; establishing and perfecting the punitive system for e-waste recycling corporate responsibility; strengthening technological support, promotion, and education on e-waste recycling; and increasing the market supervision efforts and manufacturers’ consciousness of responsibility. Research conclusions can provide important references to analyze e-waste status, achievements, challenges, and existing problems in disposal as well as their causes. These factors can also propose countermeasures and suggestions in e-waste disposal in accordance with practical situations in China based on insights into the experiences of foreign countries with a typical level of development.

Understanding the changing patterns and trend of vegetation is essential for its socio-environmental values. Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), a satellite based data obtained from Moderate Resolutions Imaging Spectro-radiometer (MODIS) were analysed. The data have a characteristic resolution of 250 × 250 m2 and a 16-day composite period. They were ordered separately for each sample plot from east, centre and west of Nepal, for 15 years period, 2000 to 2015. MODIS, Land Surface Temperature (LST) data were used to identify unreliable NDVI values and hence eliminated. Also, the unusually fluctuating NDVI values during the rainy season were removed. A cubic spline function (for seasonal patterns), linear regression model (for NDVI trend) and generalized estimating equations (GEE for comparison of the changing trends) were the models used. The results showed a patterned annual seasonal vegetation and significant trends during the 15 years. Seasonal growth showed a peak in rainy season and trough in the winter season, with slight temporal variation among the areas with a characteristic shift of seasonal greening (start of greening) and browning (end of greening) from east to west of Nepal. The NDVI trend was significantly rising in eastern and western suburban areas while the central urban city had a significant decline. The temporal shift of start and end of the season from east to west can be of value to agriculturalists.

Micro-Visiography reveals that diesel soot particles are soluble in the physiological pulmonary liquid. It also shows that these substances stick to bronchial capillary walls. Electronic microscopy reveals structures of non-homogeneous morphology with spherical, fibrous and platelet-like structures. Analysis of the surfaces of the aggregates by Energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDX) shows the composition of chemical charges. Besides, X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetric study show the existence of two phases: organic and crystalline, with a rubber elastomer aspect. Infrared and UV-Visible spectroscopic analysis confirmed the existence of reactive chemical groups.

Low temperature and high salinity can strongly inhibit metabolic activities of the microbial population, resulting in low efficiency of biological wastewater treatment. Using 70 g.L-1 NaCl pickle mustard wastewater as influent, three pilot-scale sequencing batch biofilm reactors (SBBRs), subjected to temperature downshifts and fluctuation ranging from 30 ± 4°C to 10 ± 4°C, were conducted over 200 days. Polymerase Chain Reaction-Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (PCR–DGGE) was used to reveal the microbial community structure succession in reactors. Results showed that when the temperature was 10 ± 4°C, the COD removal efficiencies of SBBRs (1, 2 and 3 kg COD m-3 d-1 organic loading rate), were 91.6% (σ = 0.87), 87.84% (σ = 0.92) and 83.34 % (σ = 0.85), respectively. Compared with the average removal efficiencies when the reactors operated at 30 ± 4°C, the efficiency reductions of 1, 2 and 3 kg COD m-3 d-1 reactors were 4.47%, 4.58% and 4.57%. As the temperature decreased, microbial population diversity did not change remarkably. However, the microbial structure changed significantly, bacteria which had strong adhesion and a wide growth temperature range were competitive. At low temperature, the predominant species were Thalassolituus oleivorans, Halotalea alkalilenta and Kangiella koreensis, which were all related to pollutant-degrading halophilic bacteria.