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.

This study investigates the relationship between green marketing practices and the sustainability performance of manufacturing firms in emerging markets. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from 270 respondents, and the analysis was conducted using Smart PLS-SEM (version 4). The results demonstrate a significant positive relationship between green internal marketing and the overall sustainability performance of the firms. Specifically, green marketing communication was found to positively influence both environmental and social performance, although it did not have a significant effect on financial performance. Likewise, the adoption of green products substantially improved environmental performance but did not significantly impact financial or social performance. Additionally, the study supports a positive association between green strategy implementation and sustainability performance. These findings underscore the critical role of integrating green marketing practices into sustainability initiatives. The research provides valuable insights for managers and policymakers, emphasizing the need for a holistic approach to green marketing to enhance environmental and social outcomes, even if financial benefits are not immediately apparent. This study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on sustainable business practices and offers practical implications for achieving long-term sustainability in manufacturing firms.

Forward Osmosis is a suitable pretreatment process for reverse osmosis for secondary-treated sewage reuse and secondary-treated industrial effluents. In this study, the FO process is investigated for concentrating synthetic secondary treated tannery effluents using 24 g.L-1 and 38 g.L-1 of NaCl solution as draw solution. Results showed that 38 g.L-1 NaCl solution when used, provided higher flux and lower flux decline ratio as compared to 24 g.L-1 NaCl solution. The solute rejection by FO membrane was more in FO experiments using 38 g.L-1 NaCl solution as DS as compared to 24 g.L-1 NaCl solution. Contact angle, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electronic microscopy tests on pristine and chemically cleaned membranes indicated the change in membrane structure and the presence of foulants on the membrane surface, indicating insufficient chemical cleaning. Findings signify implications on the concentration of DS and the cleaning method adopted for concentrating treated tannery effluent efficaciously using the FO process.

Landslides are significant natural hazards that cause damage to the environment, life, and properties, mainly in hilly terrain. This research was mostly focused on generating a landslide susceptibility zone map of Papumpare District, Arunachal Pradesh, and classifying the region from high susceptibility to least susceptibility using AHP modeling techniques considering the landslide causative factors. The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) is a multicriteria decision-making model (MCDM) in which each parameter is compared based on its role in triggering a landslide. A total of eight parameters were selected based on the factors that could affect the most, like Slope, Rainfall, Drainage Density, Lineament Density, Geomorphology, Soil, Geology, and Land use/Land cover. These layers were prepared using ArcGIS 10.8 software and ERDAS IMAGINE 2014. Based on the output, the region was classified into five zones of landslide susceptibility classes. Of these, the high-very-high landslides are mostly amassed near the steep and disturbed slopes due to earth-cutting, especially for building or construction of roads. Validation was done using the ROC curve (73.2%) suggesting good performance of the model. The outcome of this work will provide information for proper landslide hazard management and will help in formulating suitable mitigation strategies in the future.

The rapid increase in heavy metal accumulation within soil ecosystems has become a significant concern due to various anthropogenic activities such as industrial processes, agricultural practices, and urbanization. These activities have led to elevated levels of heavy metals like lead, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic in the soil, which, when surpassing permissible limits, pose severe toxicological risks to both human health and plant life. Once heavy metals are introduced into the soil, they can be readily absorbed by plants, subsequently entering the food chain and affecting the metabolic activities of humans and animals consuming these contaminated plants. Although trace amounts of heavy metals are naturally present in the soil, their concentration beyond safe thresholds can lead to deleterious effects, including disruption of enzymatic functions, damage to cellular structures, and interference with essential biological processes. Studies have highlighted that children living in urban and industrial areas are particularly vulnerable to heavy metal exposure, which can result in cognitive impairments, developmental delays, and various other health issues. Furthermore, long-term exposure to these metals can lead to chronic diseases such as cancer, kidney dysfunction, and cardiovascular disorders. Given the escalating threat posed by soil metal contamination, it is imperative to implement stringent management practices aimed at maintaining soil chemistry within safe limits. These practices may include the remediation of contaminated sites, the adoption of sustainable agricultural methods, regular monitoring of soil quality, and the use of phytoremediation techniques to mitigate the impact of heavy metals. Ensuring the safe production of food requires a comprehensive understanding of soil dynamics and the integration of innovative strategies to prevent and control heavy metal pollution. Consequently, addressing this environmental challenge is crucial for safeguarding public health, preserving ecological balance, and promoting sustainable development.