This study aims to explore the relationship of environmental degradation with economic growth and energy innovation by utilizing the panel data of 33 European countries by covering the period of 1996 to 2017. We use the cross-sections independence and control the heterogeneity between cross-sections by using the second-generation econometric of panel data. The Westerlund bootstrap co-integration, CIPS unit root test, Pedroni co-integration, panel causality techniques, and FMOLS have been used to analyze the relationship. The result of the study shows that all the variables are integrated in the long run. Energy innovation has a negative and significant impact on environmental degradation. On the other hand, gross domestic product has a U-shape and significant relationship with environmental degradation by supporting Kuznets curve. Therefore, this study helps not only the policymaker and government but also the people and businessmen on how they can increase the growth of the business and economy without effecting the environment.

A novel aminated adsorption material, 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (CTA)-modified corncob (CTAMC), was successfully synthesized by microwave irradiation assisting method for Cr(VI) removal from aqueous solutions. The preparation conditions and physicochemical properties of CTAMC and the Cr(VI) removal mechanism were investigated. Results showed that the optimal preparation conditions were 1.0 g of corncob treated with 55 g/L sodium hydroxide for 80 min, 30% CTA, and 480 W of microwave power treatment for 5.0 min. These conditions resulted in the yield of CTAMC of approximately 60%, and the sodium hydroxide concentration exhibited great influence on the yield. The Cr(VI) adsorption capacity of CTAMC reached 38 mg/g, which was 9 times higher than that of the raw corncob. Results from the field-emission scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy characterization showed that the surface structure of CTAMC was rougher than that of raw corncob; the fiber structure was more apparent, and the content of N and Cl elements were significantly increased, which indicated that CTA was successfully grafted on the surface of corncob. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis demonstrated that the quaternary amino group (–NH–), hydroxyl (C–OH), and chloride ion (Cl⁻) were primarily involved in the Cr(VI) removal process, revealing that Cr(VI) was removed by both adsorption and reduction. This study provides an alternative for the removal of Cr(VI) and further broadens the utilization of agricultural waste.

We analyze the driving mechanism of the River-Director System reform in the article. Using the ordered probit model, the effect of the River-Director System policy was evaluated by observing the monthly water quality data of 170 water areas along the boundary of the Yangtze River system. It determines that the driving force of the local government’s basin governance under the river system is mainly the top-down policy directives and that the driving path is effective synergy, rights, and diffusion in the article. We find that the upstream provinces and municipalities that implemented reforms have significantly improved the water quality of the waters in the border basin, compared with the provinces and cities that have not implemented the reform of the river system and the river basins that have implemented policy reforms but are located in the lower reaches of the rivers. At the same time, the city’s reforms have significantly improved the quality of the junction basin water body. The implementation of the River-Director System has reduced the occurrences of local pollution emission and improved the water quality of the provincial boundaries through sewage treatment. We further validate the robustness of the basic conclusions by deleting special samples and changing the window type and other robust tests. Finally, through monthly examinations on the implementation of the policy, it finds that the effectiveness of the policy reform became more apparent in the eleventh month.

Aflatoxicosis is a serious health condition resulted from aflatoxin (AF)-producing fungi. Major health threats resulted from AFs and reflect on the livestock industry with great economic losses. There are limited scientific evidences concerning the AFs in ruminant, therefore it is important to evaluate AFs health hazards in cattle. Here, we investigate biochemical, oxidative stress, and postmortem changes associated with unexpected acute bovine aflatoxicosis. Seventy-two cattle were suffered from aflatoxisocis. Depression and inappetence were predominant clinical findings of the diseased animals. Analysis of feedstuffs revealed presence of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). The AF-intoxicated animals showed a significant increase in alanine amino transferase (ALT), aspartate amino transferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), serum creatinine (SCr), catalase (CAT), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Moreover, a significant decrease in total protein (TP), magnesium (Mg), and reduced glutathione (GSH) were also seen. Hepatomegaly, enlarged gallbladder as well as congestion of the intestine and kidney were observed. This study elucidates the critical and constructive measurements needed for the prevention of the AFs hazardous effects to livestock for the future control of AF outbreaks. Conducting series of diagnostic assays reflect the marked health condition alterations in the biochemical and antioxidant status of the AF-intoxicated cattle.

Recognizing the kinetics of the soil-air partition coefficients (Ksoil-air) of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) under distinct scenarios of changing climate conditions is crucial for well understanding the response of POPs exchange process across the air-soil interface to climate warming. Taking Yantai County, Shandong Province, China, as a case study, the Kₛₒᵢₗ₋ₐᵢᵣ values of HCH, DDE, DDD, and DDT in cropland soil under two levels of soil organic matter (SOM) (0.5% and 1.7%) were projected under future climate scenarios by employing representative concentration pathway (RCP) climate scenarios and a multiple linear model of the Ksoil-air of POPs. Compared to baseline conditions, future climate conditions would shift substantially, and daily Kₛₒᵢₗ₋ₐᵢᵣ values of HCH, DDE, DDD, and DDT under future climate scenarios would decline by approximately 23–91 (× 10⁵), 5,542–21,703 (× 10⁵), 78–309 (× 10⁵), and 18,986–74,133 (× 10⁵), respectively, under future climate scenarios than under baseline conditions when the SOM content was 0.5% or by approximately 9,167–360,45 (× 10⁵), 128,533–508,592 (× 10⁵), 31,513–123,038 (× 10⁵), and 444,513–1738,367 (× 10⁵), respectively, when the SOM level was 1.7%, or by approximately 2–13% under two levels of SOM. Annual Kₛₒᵢₗ₋ₐᵢᵣ values of HCH, DDE, DDD, and DDT would decline by approximately 3.51–7.54 (× 10⁵), 842.06–1,806.46 (× 10⁵), 11.83–25.66 (× 10⁵), and 2,840.13–6,153.16 (× 10⁵), respectively, when the SOM content was 0.5%, or by approximately 1,397.47–2,997.98 (× 10⁵), 19,739.82–42,347.56 (× 10⁵), 4,713.44–10,211.70 (× 10⁵), and 66,579.06–144,244.10 (× 10⁵), respectively, when the SOM content was 1.7%, or by approximately 8–18% under two levels of SOM. Moreover, Kₛₒᵢₗ₋ₐᵢᵣ showed daily, monthly, and seasonal temporal changes within whole years and high temporal yearly fluctuation. Daily and annual Kₛₒᵢₗ₋ₐᵢᵣ values were lower under 0.5% SOM content than under 1.7% SOM content. The results suggested that the adsorbing capacity of soil to POPs would decrease, and many more POPs in the soil would volatilize to the atmosphere from climate warming.

The leaching of Cr(VI) from lignite fly ash was investigated by means of experimental standards and theoretical simulations. Two lignite fly ash samples with different calcium oxide concentration were examined. Acid extraction of fly ash and batch leaching tests were performed at various liquid (water) to solid (fly ash) ratios (L/S) for the estimation of Cr(VI) leaching rate. The mobility of Cr(VI) in soil and soil’s hydraulic conductivity at different temperatures was also examined. The results indicate that chromium in fly ash occurs mainly in its trivalent form and that Cr(VI) can be leached, but at lower degree. Along with Cr(VI), the strong reducing agent Fe(II) is also leached. A portion of the Cr(VI) is readily leached, while several hours are needed for reaching Cr(VI) equilibrium concentration in leachate. The fly ash hydraulic conductivity is greatly affected by its pozzolanic characteristics, decreasing from around 10 mm/h (2.78 × 10⁻⁶ m/s) to values lower than 1 mm/h (2.78 × 10⁻⁷ m/s) in few hours. In continuous leaching tests, relatively low Cr(VI) concentrations (< 20 μg/L) were detected, while in batch leaching tests with higher water/fly ash contact time, leachate Cr(VI) concentrations up to 700 μg/L were detected depending on the applied L/S ratio. However, for low L/S (0.5–1) ratios, no leachate was obtained. Theoretical calculations were performed in order to estimate the L/S ratios at real conditions (by taking into account the volume and the surface of an ash disposal, the density of ash, the hydraulic conductivity of ash, rainfall rate, and rainfall duration). It was found that in real conditions, high L/S can be obtained only when various specific conditions are fulfilled. Experiments with soil showed that only a small portion (approximately 4%) of the leached Cr(VI) can pass through a relatively thin (12–15 cm) layer of soil, even at low temperatures. Based on the experimental results and the groundwater and surface water quality data of a studied basin, a low contamination risk due to Cr(VI) leaching from lignite fly ash is assessed.

Pyrene, a toxic four-benzene-ring that persists in the ecosystem, is highly resistant to degradation. The goal of the research is to screen, isolate, and identify pyrene-degrading filamentous fungi via the molecular biological identification method. The capabilities of identified isolates in biodegradation and transformation of pyrene were also evaluated. Based on the morphological characterization and sequence alignments, results of neighbor-joining phylogenetic tree from 18S rRNA of F03 revealed that genetic similarity had achieved 99% of homology percentage and identified as Trichoderma sp. Trichoderma sp. F03 was able to degrade pyrene (78%) when culture conditions were set at 100 mg/L initial pyrene concentration in culture medium with pH 5 at 27 °C, the use of glucose as a carbon source and polyethylene glycol sorbitan monooleate as a biosurfactant without agitation. Finally, three metabolites, benzoic acid, 3-hydroxybenzoic acid, and acetic acid, were detected during the pyrene degradation process by using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GCMS).

Neurodegenerative disorders are typically sporadic in nature in addition to usually influenced through an extensive range of environmental factors, lifestyle, and genetic elements. Latest observations have hypothesized that exposure of environmental factors may increase the prospective risk of Alzheimer’s diseases (AD). However, the role of environmental factors as a possible dangerous issue has extended importance concerned in AD pathology, although actual etiology of the disorder is still not yet clear. Thus, the aim of this review is to highlight the possible correlation between environmental factors and AD, based on the present literature view. Environmental risk factors might play an important role in decelerating or accelerating AD progression. Among well-known environmental risk factors, prolonged exposure to several heavy metals, for example, aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury; particulate air, and some pesticides as well as metal-containing nanoparticles have been participated to cause AD. These heavy metals have the capacity to enhance amyloid β (Aβ) peptide along with tau phosphorylation, initiating amyloid/senile plaques, as well as neurofibrillary tangle formation; therefore, neuronal cell death has been observed. Furthermore, particulate air, pesticides, and heavy metal exposure have been recommended to lead AD susceptibility and phenotypic diversity though epigenetic mechanisms. Therefore, this review deliberates recent findings detailing the mechanisms for a better understanding the relationship between AD and environmental risk factors along with their mechanisms of action on the brain functions.

The circular economy concept boosts the use of wastes as secondary raw materials in the EU renewable and sustainable framework. In wastewater treatment plants (WWTP), sludge is one of the most important wastes, and its management is being widely discussed in the last years. In this work, sewage sludge from WWTP was employed as raw material for producing activated carbon (AC) by physical-chemical activation. The prepared AC was subsequently tested for hydrogen sulphide removal in view of its further use in deodorization in a WWTP. The effects of the activation temperature and the chemical agent used (NaOH and KOH) during the activation process were studied. On the one hand, the characteristics of each AC fabricated were analysed in terms of BET (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller) surface area, pore and micropore volume, pore diameter, surface morphology and zeta potential. On the other hand, BET isotherms were also calculated. Finally, both the prepared AC and a commercial AC were tested for H₂S removal from a gas stream. Results demonstrated that the optimum physical and chemical activation temperature was 600 °C and 1000 °C, respectively, and the best activated agent tested was KOH. The prepared AC showed excellent properties (specific surface area around 300 m²/g) for H₂S removal, even better efficiencies than those achieved by the tested commercial AC.

An outdoor pot experiment was conducted to study the control effects of zero-valent iron (Fe⁰) on arsenic (As) uptake by rice (Oryza sativa L.) and its relationship with iron (Fe), As, and phosphorus (P) in soil and Fe plaque. The results showed that Fe⁰ reduced total and inorganic As in root, husk, and grain but had no significant effect in straw, and almost all contents of As species in rice plant were decreased by Fe⁰. Total As contents in root, husk, and grain were decreased (54.8%, 39.9%, 30.1%), while reductions of inorganic As were 59.2%, 30.8%, and 30.3%, respectively. The inorganic As in all issues of rice plant was dominated and higher than 70% of total As. The analysis showed that the main mechanisms of Fe⁰ on reduction of As in rice were (i) Fe⁰ stabilized the active As in soil, (ii) Fe⁰ increased the quantity of Fe plaque that hindered the transport of arsenic in soil to rice plant, and (iii) phosphorus adsorbed on the Fe plaque reduced As into rice root by the competitive mechanism between phosphorus and arsenic. Graphical abstract