The observed and predicted changes in climate, as well as the growth in urban population, are creating severe stress on existing water resources in South Korea. By the importation of agricultural products from more water-rich countries through the virtual water concept, a country could save local water resources for other important uses. However, these imports from other countries could lead to certain vulnerabilities in the importing country derived from climate change. Therefore, through the application of the virtual water concept and the climate vulnerability index ((CVI) - measure of a country's vulnerability to indirect climate impacts), this study assessed the implication of virtual water imports and climate change through food trade, on the water, land and food security status of South Korea over the period of 2000–2017. The results showed that significant amounts of national water and land was saved through the importation of major upland crops. Virtual water imports increased significantly over time, rising from 16.2 Bm3 in 2000 to 16.5, 17.4, and 20.7 Bm3 in 2005, 2011, and 2017 respectively, with the USA, China, Australia, Brazil and Canada being the major exporters to South Korea. The study also revealed high CVI values for the oils and grains category of imported food, implying the high vulnerability of South Korea to climate change effects resulting from the import of these crops. The quantitative impacts and structural changes in virtual water trade, as well as the link between climate change, food security, international trade, and domestic water consumption could be evaluated for the sustainable management and allocation of resources. This study successfully identified and quantified the status of food trade and its environmental implications in the study area, providing insight into a better allocation of locally available resources.

Energy crisis is a worldwide problem; Pakistan is facing severe shortage of this, especially in summer. To overcome these crises, huge amount of fossil fuels is being utilized which ultimately resulting in their exhaustion. In order to cope up the increasing energy requirements, alternative energy sources are required that should be cost-effective, environment friendly and technically feasible. In this scenario biodiesel production from algae has attracted scientist's attention worldwide. At present, the major constraint in biodiesel production from algae is nutritional cost for algal growth. Present research work was planned to minimize nutritional requirements of algae by using food industry waste water as a medium for algal growth towards economical biodiesel production. For this purpose four algal strains (A1, A2, A3 and A4) collected from different fresh water sources were evaluated for their potential use in biodiesel production. The waste water was pre-analyzed to determine the concentrations of different nutrients. All algal strains were grown in Bristol media and different dilutions (10, 20, 40, 80 and 100%) of food industry waste water. Growth data was recorded for one week. The results showed that algal biomass gradually decreased with increasing dilution of food industry waste water and was found higher in 100% waste water concentration than other dilutions. Cultivated algae were harvested for biodiesel production with n-Hexane as oil extractant and NaOH as a catalyst in different combinations through a chemical process ca\led transesterification. The FFA (free fatty acid) profile of algae 1 (A1) by using 75% hexane and 0.5% NaOH combination was found to be higher than other combinations. Higher concentration of NaOH (1%) resulted in soap formation. The aforesaid situations, plus owing to the best biomass production using 100% waste water concentration, deemed algae 1 (A1) as the best candidate among all four strains evaluated for biodiesel production.

The study was undertaken to determine the microbiological quality of various food items available in different schools and colleges of Islamabad. For sampling of water and food items, ten different schools and colleges were selected. These samples were analyzed for Total plate count (TPC), Total coliform, Fecal coliform, E. coli. Yeasts and Moulds. The data revealed that out of 30 water and 10 food samples, 12 samples of water and only 3 samples of food were found within range of permissible limits while the remaining were highly contaminated and unfit for human consumption. This study has socio-economic benefit monitoring the health standards of population especially the young generation.

South Korea faces severe water stress, as classified by the OECD, with changing dietary patterns significantly impacting water resources. To ensure water conservation and food security, it is crucial to understand the driving factors of the water footprint of food consumption (WFC). This study examined the WFC in South Korea from 2007 to 2023, focusing on how dietary choices impact water use and sustainability, and identified the key driving factors of changes in WFC. Using the logarithmic mean Divisia index (LMDI), this study decomposed these drivers into water footprint intensity, dietary structure, average dietary intake per person, and population effect. Additionally, global and local spatial autocorrelation analyses were used to measure the degree of spatial aggregation and distribution of WFC across administrative units. Results revealed a significant increase in WFC, from 27.6 km3 in 2007 to 34.7 km3 in 2023, with an average annual growth of 2%. Among the drivers, water footprint intensity contributed most to the increase in WFC, while average dietary intake per person led to a decrease. Cereals, meats and fish collectively account for more than 76% of the total WFC during the study period. The findings suggest that the drivers influencing the changes in WFC vary across administrative units, underscoring the need for tailored policies and strategies to promote sustainable food consumption practices that could conserve water resources in each administrative unit.

To evaluate the base line levels of potentially toxic and essential trace metals namely, Cd, Ph, Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu and Zn in water, locally grown vegetables, cereals and vegetable ghee-oil samples of a highly industrial city Gujranwala have been measured after wet digestion by employing AAS technique. Sampling was made from selected sites in and around the city over a period of three months. The concentration of Mn, Ni, Zn, Cu and Pb was found significantly higher in vegetables ranging from 3-63, 2-81, 5-92, 7- 70 and 6-60 ppm respectively. Nickel and Cu concentration was found higher in cereals whereas, Cd was found at ppb level in all variety of samples studied. Tap water, vegetable ghee-oil have recorded lower concentration of these metals. Vegetables collected from urban area have shown elevated level of contamination than those of taken from canal irrigated farms. The overall level of trace metals with few exceptions of vegetable samples was found within the permissible limits fixed by WHO. The analytical method was checked by applying on SRM of wheat and spinach. The results were found in agreement with the certified values within experimental error. The major polluting sources of the city such as automobile, man made activities, soil and road dust, metallic corrosion and industrial activities have been indicated. The environmental impacts of pollutants on water and food quality of an industrial and non-industrial city are briefly discussed in the light of their adverse effects on human health.

A study was carried out to assess the culture performance of monosex and mixed-sex tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in underground brackish water by using semi-intensive integrated pond system. The experiment was conducted in three earthen ponds for a period of 11 months. In pond-1 (P1), 200 females and in pond-2 (P2), 200 males, while in pond-3 (P3), 100 male and 100 female tilapias were stocked. Salt-tolerant fresh biomass, i.e. Leptochloa fusca (Kallar grass), Brachiaria mutica (Para grass) and Kochia indica (Kochia) was used as supplemental feed. Fertilization of all ponds was done with goat droppings @ 6000 kg per ha and nitrophos @ 7.5 kg per ha. Results indicated that tilapia was found well adapted to the saline environment. The net fish production was calculated as 1295, 1752 and 914 kg per ha per year in female, male and mixed tilapia ponds, respectively. Male tilapia culture resulted in a significant (P less than 0.05) increase in fish production.