Urban planning and development is a decisive factor that increases the automobile numbers which leads to increased energy demand across the globe. In order to meet the escalating requirements of energy, it is necessary to find viable alternatives. Waste plastic oil (WPO) is one such alternative which has dual benefits as it reduces the environmental pollution caused by plastic waste and it could possibly meet the energy requirement along with fossil fuels. The study attempted to reduce emissions from a DI diesel engine fueled with WPO using 30% by volume of n-pentanol with fossil diesel (WPO70P30). EGR (10, 20, and 30%) and injection timing modifications were made with the intention to find optimum engine operating conditions. The experimental results indicated that addition of renewable component like n-pentanol had improved the combustion characteristics by igniting WPO more homogeneously producing a higher premixed combustion phase. Smoke density for WPO70P30 was found to be twice lower than that of neat WPO at standard injection timing of 23°CA bTDC at any given EGR rate, NOx emissions were slightly on the higher side about 12% for WPO70P30 blend against WPO at same operating conditions. WPO70P30 showed lowest smoke and carbon monoxide emissions than diesel and WPO while delivering BTE’s higher than WPO and closer to diesel at all EGR and injection timings. However NOx and HC emissions increased with n-pentanol addition. The use of EGR reduced NOx emissions but was found to aggravate other emissions. It was concluded WPO70P30 can be favorably used in a DI diesel engine at the engines advanced injection timing for better performance than diesel with a slight penalty in NOx emissions.

The objective of this study was to summarize the grain size data from 1993 to 2016 from California water bodies and determine the number and percent of sites where sediment samples are primarily depositional sediment (more than 50% silt/clay) or non-depositional sediment (less than 50% silt/clay). Fine grain depositional areas were of interest because these are areas where hydrophobic organic compounds (HOCs) can accumulate if sources exist. Trends analysis of percent silt/clay data were conducted for all nine California Water Board Regions if adequate data for this type of analysis were available. Sediment sampling protocols were reviewed for all the grain size measurements to determine if depositional areas were targeted or random sampling was conducted. Twelve of the 13 sediment sampling protocols targeted depositional areas. Based on 23 years of data from 685 sites (1859 observations) in all 9 California Regions, the summary analysis showed that only 58% of the sites were considered depositional areas even when targeted sampling for depositional areas was used. Since only slightly more than half the sites were reported as depositional areas based on sampling that targets depositional areas, these results would certainly suggest that depositional areas are not dominant. In fact, for the one protocol where random sampling was used, depositional areas were not reported to be dominant. From an ecological risk perspective, the implication of this finding is that HOCs would not be expected to accumulate in the dominant type of sediment found in most California waterbodies. Trends analysis of percent silt/clay data showed mixed results for the various California Regions.

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) were determined by gas chromatography in 241 placentas from cotton-growing regions, 121 placentas from an urban area (city of Osh), and 146 placentas from unpolluted mountain regions of Kyrgyzstan. Manifestations of disease were recorded in the mothers during pregnancy and parturition and in their newborns during the first 6 days of life. OCPs were detected in 240 out of 508 placentas (47.2%), with increased incidence in the two polluted regions (65%), particularly in placentas from women living near former pesticide storehouses and agro air-strips (99%), but only in 2.7% of placentas from the unpolluted region. α-, β-, and γ-hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH); DDT; DDE; aldrin; and heptachlor were detected. The sum of concentrations of all OCPs (total OCPs) was calculated for each of the 240 placentas with detectable OCPs (median 9.5 μg/kg placenta, mean 88.3 μg/kg, range 0.1–3070 μg/kg). The incidence of health problems in four subgroups of this data set, with increasing levels of total OCPs, was compared with the incidence of health problems in the group of 268 placentas, where OCPs were undetectable. Relative risk of health problems in both, mothers and newborns, increased significantly, in a concentration-dependent manner, with increasing levels of total OCPs (p < 0.0001). Health complications with increased incidence in OCP-exposed newborns included, i.a., low birth weight, congenital malformations, infections, and stillbirths, in OCP-exposed mothers preterm delivery, (pre-)eclampsia/gestosis, and frequency of hospitalizations after delivery (infections). Women living near former pesticide storehouses and agro airstrips should be considered as being at risk. Reduction of exposure is urgently needed.

The adoption and ratification of relevant policies, particularly the household enrolment system metamorphosis in China, led to rising urbanization growth. As the leading developing economy, China has experienced a drastic and rapid increase in the rate of urbanization, energy use, economic growth and greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution for the past 30 years. The knowledge of the dynamic interrelationships among these trends has a plethora of implications ranging from demographic, energy, and environmental and sustainable development policies. This study analyzes the role of urbanization in decoupling GHG emissions, energy, and income in China while considering the critical contribution of energy use. As a contribution to the extant body of literature, the present research introduces a new phenomenon called “the environmental urbanization Kuznets curve” (EUKC), which shows that at the early stage of urbanization, the environment degrades however, after a threshold point the technique effects surface and environmental degradation reduces with rise in urbanization. Applying the autoregressive distributed lag model and the vector error correction model, the paper finds the presence of inverted U-shaped curve between urbanization and GHG emission of CO₂, while the same hypothesis cannot be found between income and GHG emission of CO₂. Energy use in all the models contributes to GHG emission of CO₂. In decoupling greenhouse gas emissions, urbanization, energy, and income, articulated and well-implemented energy and urbanization policies should be considered.

Data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for US population aged ≥ 6 years for 2013–2014 were used to analyze data for four heterocyclic aromatic amines (HCAA), namely 2-amino-9H-pyrido[2,3-b]indole (AαC), 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhlP), harman, and norharman. Data were analyzed separately for children aged 6–11 years (N = 416), adolescents aged 12–19 years (N = 475), adults aged 20–64 years (N = 1913), and seniors aged ≥ 65 years (N = 458). Adult males had lower concentrations of AαC and harman than adult females (1.44 vs. 2.22 pg/mL for AαC, p < 0.01 and 136.8 vs. 163.2 pg/mL for harman, p = 0.04). Racial/ethnic differences were observed in the adjusted concentrations of HCAAs. For adults, adjusted concentrations of HCAAs were lower for non-Hispanic Asians and Hispanics as compared to non-Hispanic blacks and whites. For example for AαC, the adjusted concentrations for non-Hispanic Asians, Hispanics, non-Hispanic blacks and whites were 1.16, 2.00, 2.37, and 2.16 pg/mL respectively. Adjusted concentrations of AαC were found to be lower among nonsmokers as compared to smokers for adolescents (0.34 vs. 1.32 pg/mL, p < 0.01), adults (0.40 vs. 7.91 pg/mL, p < 0.01), and seniors (0.30 vs. 4.29 pg/mL, p < 0.01). For both harman and norharman, adult nonsmokers had lower adjusted concentrations than smokers (125.7 vs. 177.6 pg/mL, p < 0.01 for harman, 296.1 vs. 421.6 pg/mL, p < 001, for norharman). Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke was found to be associated with higher concentrations of AαC among adolescents (p = 0.01) and adults (p = 0.01) and for harman (p = 0.01) and norharman (p = 0.01) among seniors. In conclusion, concentrations of selected HCAAs can be several fold higher among smokers as compared to nonsmokers and gender as well as race/ethnicity also affect the observed concentrations of HCAA.

Reticulated vitreous carbon (RVC), a high surface area electrode (40 cm²/cm³), has been modified with nickel oxide nanoparticles (nano-NiOₓ) and used for electrochemical oxidation of urea from alkaline solution. For the cyclic voltammetry measurements, the used dimensions are 0.8 cm × 0.8 cm × 0.3 cm. The purpose was to offer high specific surface area using a porous open network structure to accelerate the electrochemical conversion. NiOₓ nanoparticles have been synthesized via an electrochemical route at some experimental conditions. The morphological, structural, and electrochemical properties of the RVC/nano-NiOₓ are characterized by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and potentiostatic measurements. The fabricated electrode, RVC/nano-NiOₓ, demonstrates high electrocatalytic activity towards urea oxidation in an alkaline electrolyte. The onset potential of the RVC/nano-NiOₓ compared to that of the planar GC/NiOₓ is shifted to more negative value with higher specific activity. The different loadings of the NiOₓ have a substantial influence on the conversion of urea which has been evaluated from concentration-time curves. The urea concentration decreases with time to a limit dependent on the loading extent. Maximum conversion is obtained at 0.86 mg of NiOₓ per cm³ of the RVC matrix.

The aim of the study is to evaluate the impact of mariculture on phthalate esters speciation and distribution in sediments and cultured fish in the Hong Kong regions and near mainland China. Concentrations of ∑phthalate esters in mariculture surface sediments (0 to 5 cm) ranged from 0.20 to 54.3 mg/kg dw (mean 10.3 mg/kg dw), with the highest recorded at M2 (20.4 mg/kg dw). Concentrations of phthalate esters were not significantly (p > 0.05) enriched in surface and sediment cores at mariculture sites relative to the reference sediments, 1 to 2 km away in areas without mariculture activities. Among different congeners, only butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) concentrations demonstrated a significant correlation (R² = 0.40, p < 0.05) with TOC values of sediments. The median concentrations of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) and di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) in the sediments were 1.57 and 6.96 times higher than the environmental risk levels (ERL), which may pose environmental risks. Results of health risk assessments revealed that the cultured fish (snubnose pompano, orange-spotted grouper, and red snapper) were safe for consumption, in terms of phthalate esters. This is the first study to assess the differences of phthalate esters contamination between mariculture and natural coastal sediments.

School environment may have an impact on children’s health, but few studies have focused on indoor comfort factors such as temperature, humidity, and noise in relation with potential effects on children’s health. Our cross-sectional study used data from the European Schools Indoor Pollution and Health Observatory Network in Europe (SINPHONIE) project to assess children’s allergy, asthma-like symptoms, and flu-like symptoms in relation with classroom comfort and environmental factors. The study used self-reported data from three questionnaires to identify classroom conditions and student health outcomes for 280 students. We used backwards variable selection and unconditional logistic regression to assess the outcome-environment relationship while controlling for demographics, family history of allergy, and home exposures. We found increased risks for allergy and flu-like symptoms associated with hot classrooms in the heating season, increased risks for asthma-like symptoms associated with noisy classrooms, and a protective effect for allergy associated with good outdoor air quality. Romanian classrooms rely on natural ventilation, which may contribute to increased temperature and humidity in the heating season. Further research warrants the use of SINPHONIE’s measurement data to validate our findings.

The microbial production of fumaric acid by Rhizopus arrhizus NRRL 2582 has been evaluated using soybean cake from biodiesel production processes and very high polarity (VHP) sugar from sugarcane mills. Soybean cake was converted into a nutrient-rich hydrolysate via a two-stage bioprocess involving crude enzyme production via solid state fermentations (SSF) of either Aspergillus oryzae or R. arrhizus cultivated on soybean cake followed by enzymatic hydrolysis of soybean cake. The soybean cake hydrolysate produced using crude enzymes derived via SSF of R. arrhizus was supplemented with VHP sugar and evaluated using different initial free amino nitrogen (FAN) concentrations (100, 200, and 400 mg/L) in fed-batch cultures for fumaric acid production. The highest fumaric acid concentration (27.3 g/L) and yield (0.7 g/g of total consumed sugars) were achieved when the initial FAN concentration was 200 mg/L. The combination of VHP sugar with soybean cake hydrolysate derived from crude enzymes produced by SSF of A. oryzae at 200 mg/L initial FAN concentration led to the production of 40 g/L fumaric acid with a yield of 0.86 g/g of total consumed sugars. The utilization of sugarcane molasses led to low fumaric acid production by R. arrhizus, probably due to the presence of various minerals and phenolic compounds. The promising results achieved through the valorization of VHP sugar and soybean cake suggest that a focused study on molasses pretreatment could lead to enhanced fumaric acid production.

The devastating health effects of particulate matter (PM₁₀) exposure by susceptible populace has made it necessary to evaluate PM₁₀ pollution. Meteorological parameters and seasonal variation increases PM₁₀ concentration levels, especially in areas that have multiple anthropogenic activities. Hence, stepwise regression (SR), multiple linear regression (MLR) and principal component regression (PCR) analyses were used to analyse daily average PM₁₀ concentration levels. The analyses were carried out using daily average PM₁₀ concentration, temperature, humidity, wind speed and wind direction data from 2006 to 2010. The data was from an industrial air quality monitoring station in Malaysia. The SR analysis established that meteorological parameters had less influence on PM₁₀ concentration levels having coefficient of determination (R ²) result from 23 to 29% based on seasoned and unseasoned analysis. While, the result of the prediction analysis showed that PCR models had a better R ² result than MLR methods. The results for the analyses based on both seasoned and unseasoned data established that MLR models had R ² result from 0.50 to 0.60. While, PCR models had R ² result from 0.66 to 0.89. In addition, the validation analysis using 2016 data also recognised that the PCR model outperformed the MLR model, with the PCR model for the seasoned analysis having the best result. These analyses will aid in achieving sustainable air quality management strategies.