The dye effluents released from the textile and printing industries contain strong colorants, inorganic salts, and other toxic compounds. The conventional coagulation technique of dye effluent treatment is plagued with issues of low removal rate of color, generation of large quantities of sludge, and toxic end-products. Recently electrocoagulation technique gained immense attention due to its high efficiency. This technique involves the dissolution of the sacrificial anodes to provide an active metal hydroxide as a strong coagulant that destabilizes the pollutants and removes them by precipitation or flocculation. This study is about the efficiency of the electrocoagulation process using titanium coated - aluminum and mild steel electrodes to treat industrial dye wastewater. Effects of parameters such as current density & initial dye concentration were investigated. It was observed that, for the same current density, electrode consumption was higher with TiO2/Al electrode than with mild steel electrode, resulting in more color removal efficiency (CRE) using TiO2/Al electrode. The settling rate of the flocs was higher in the rector having TiO2/Al electrode at the 100 mL with current density (2.5 mL.min-1 to 5.3 mL.min-1), while in the reactor with mild steel electrode, the settling rate was very less. The results showed that dye removal was 95.11% and 92.1% for mild steel and titanium-coated electrodes, respectively. It was observed that 50 % of Aluminum was removed from the treated effluent after the final stage of filtration. Based on the multicriteria analysis to identify the optimum operational parameters to be applied at the field level, it was observed that maximum CRE may be obtained with TiO2/Al electrode and the applied current of 1 Amps with a flow rate of 100 mL.min-1. It can be concluded that electrocoagulation is a highly efficient and the fastest method to treat dye effluents from industries.

Amid the COVID-19 outbreak, the accumulation of household waste continued to rise as the number of COVID-19 patients increased. COVID-19 can survive and be transmitted from contaminated surfaces, making waste pickers more vulnerable and at risk of contracting and spreading the virus through contact with infected household waste. The study assessed safety practices and risks related to waste picking during the COVID-19 pandemic at two selected dumping sites in the north of Pretoria. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data from 81 waste pickers at these landfill sites. Results showed that 100.0% of waste pickers at Site A and 86.7% at Site B collected plastics; 96.7% at Site A and 90.5% at Site B collected bottles; and 100% at Site B and 95.5% at Site A collected metals. The majority, 92.0% at Site A and 90.0% at Site B, were aware of the dangers and risks associated with waste handling if protective gear was not worn. From sites A and B, 97.0% and 90% of the waste pickers respectively had heard of COVID-19, although 51.9% from both sites believed they could not contract COVID-19 while handling waste. Only 18.0% of waste pickers from Site A and 82.0% from Site B faced challenges with purchasing their own PPE. All waste pickers at Site A wore facial masks, whereas 86.0% at Site B did so. Regarding testing for COVID-19, 22.0% from Site A and 19.0% from Site B were tested, with 2.0% from Site A and none (0.0%) from Site B testing positive. It is recommended that all waste pickers be educated about COVID-19 transmission and provided with PPE during the pandemic.

The study’s findings serve as a crucial foundation for policymakers, environmentalists, and stakeholders to take necessary actions and develop sustainable waste management strategies tailored to the specific challenges faced in the Western Province of Sri Lanka, contributing to broader global efforts to mitigate the growing waste crisis. It’s a significant concern that the volume of waste is expected to triple by 2050, and the current waste management practices seem insufficient to handle this growth sustainably. The study indicates a per capita waste generation of 0.43 kg in Sri Lanka, with the Western Province at a higher rate of 0.53 kg. This data points to the urgency of addressing waste management practices in this region, especially considering its significance in the country’s GDP. The results also show that the total municipal waste generation in the Western Province is 3248 kg per day whereas the recovery is only 25% (803 kg) in terms of recycling and composting. Burning, burying, and open dumping are highlighted as other prevailing practices for managing waste, which have adverse impacts on the environment and public health. Further research is recommended to identify and address these unaccounted waste streams, especially those at the household level.

This study examines the potential use of Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems (consisting of photovoltaic, wind, bio, and diesel sources) both with and without the inclusion of battery storage in the eastern region of India. An evaluation is conducted to determine the economic viability of several system configurations, and the most efficient system is selected using HOMER software. The investigation focused on six distinct scenarios to meet the energy needs of a village community. The goal was to satisfy a daily load need of 1093.7 kWh, with a peak demand of 153.63 kW. The study examined many factors, such as system efficiency, financial viability, and ecological consequences. The primary aim of the research was to compare the power costs associated with different designs of HRES. Detailed techno-commercial assessments were carried out to examine the energy production, consumption, and financial impacts of each scenario. This research provides valuable insights for individuals and organizations seeking reliable and long-lasting energy solutions by analyzing the potential benefits and drawbacks of implementing HRES in rural areas. An evaluation is conducted to determine the energy contribution of each element within an RES, as well as the influence of HRES on energy expenses and net present value. The findings of this study reveal that the optimized hybrid system comprises 133 kW photovoltaic arrays, a 130-kW wind turbine, a 0.2 kW biogas generator, a 100-kW diesel generator, a 540-kWh battery bank with nominal capacity, and a 58-kW converter. This system has a minimum COE of 0.347$/kWh and NPC of $1.71M. The research offers useful insights for designers, scholars, and policymakers on the existing design constraints and policies of biomass-based hybrid systems.

This detailed study assessed heavy metal contamination of sediments/soil near central India’s largest copper mining area using 38 sampling sites within 10 km of the mine using atomic absorption spectroscopy. This study utilized multivariate pattern recognition methods, namely hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA), for source identification. Twelve parameters, i.e., copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), organic matter (OM), cation exchange capacity (CEC), soil pH, distance (D), and elevation (E) were analyzed. The hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) was used to analyze the sample sites with similar metal contamination and principal component analysis (PCA) was used to analyze the relationship between the parameters as well as to identify sources of heavy metal pollution. Three major pollution hotspots were detected by AHC and were classified as unpolluted/low pollution sites (UPS: mean concentration factor of 1.35 for Cu), highly polluted sites (HPS: mean concentration factor of 22 for Cu), and extremely polluted sites (EPS: mean concentration factor of 74 for Cu). PCA revealed three hidden factors/components, namely PC1 (explaining 38% of the variability), PC2 (18% of the variability), and PC3 (14% of the variability). Metals showed strong positive loading in PC1, explaining the highest variability. The mean content of Cu in soil/sediment samples was 502.526 mg/kg. The mean copper content was 10 times higher than the natural crustal value of 45mg/kg, indicating severe pollution in several sites around the study area. Mapping of copper contamination was conducted to reveal the spatial distribution of copper contamination using QGIS. This study exposes the heavy metal contamination level in surface sediments/soil and the effectiveness of pattern recognition techniques for the assessment of multivariate datasets in discerning spatial disparities and identifying the contamination causes.

Undernutrition is a confront to the health and output of the populace. It is viewed as one of the five leading contrary health impacts of climate variability and is defined as different measures of nutritional status. We aimed to assess the scientific evidence base for the impact of climate variability on childhood undernutrition (particularly wasting and underweight) in low- and middle-income countries. A systematic review was conducted to identify the peer-reviewed and gray full-text studies in English with no limits for the year of publication and study design. This review covers only published studies from four databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Science Direct). The risk of bias was assessed using the ROVBIS tool in individual studies. The PRISMA Statement checklist for systematic reviews was referred for this review process. A significant correlation between climate variables, temperature, rainfall, and drought, and at least one undernutrition parameter in 19 out of 22 studies was observed in this systematic review. In addition, we note that crop yield, maternal education, nutritional status of mothers, wealth status at the household level, and individual levels also play substantial roles in mediating the nutritional impacts. The findings of our analysis imply that exposure to climate variables may be linked to an increased risk of undernutrition both during and for several years following climate events. This may imply that undernutrition is never caused by temperature, precipitation, drought, or other weather-related factors alone but rather that undernutrition is triggered in children who are already at risk.

Mung bean is recognized for its abundant high-quality protein content. For human consumption, it is a high-quality protein source and also serves various purposes crops, its arvested residue is used for green manuring and also used for fodder purposes. The research aimed to assess the impact of foliar micronutrient application on primed mung bean (Vigna radiata). The experimental procedures were executed in the sandy loam soil prevalent in the central plain region of Punjab. The investigation was conducted during the Zaid season 2022, focusing on the (SML-1827) mung bean variety. Specifically, the research assessed the impact of foliar micronutrient applications involving zinc and boron at 15 and 45 days after sowing (DAS) on primed mung bean growth characteristics. The experimental design employed a Randomized Block Design, incorporating 11 distinct treatment combinations, each replicated thrice. The investigation revealed that foliar micronutrient treatment on primed mung bean substantially influenced growth and yield parameters. Growth indicators for mung bean exhibited a positive trend when zinc and boron were jointly applied to primed seeds with gibberellic acid, followed by a decline in the control group, which experienced typical growth conditions devoid of growth regulators and micronutrients. Specifically, the highest recorded plant height was 70.1 cm in the T9 (GA(50 mg.L-1) + ZnSO4 (0.5%) + B (1%)) treatment, while the lowest height was 58 cm in the T0 (control) treatment. Similarly, the most significant fresh weight was observed in T9 (GA(50 mg.L-1) + ZnSO4 (0.5%)+ B (1%)) treatments at 136.8 g, with the lowest weight recorded in T0 (control) treatments at 86.6g. the most significant grain yield was achieved in T9 112 g.m-2, followed by T10 (SA(150 mg.L-1)+ ZnSO4 (0.5%)+B (1%)) at 105.7 g.m-2. This study suggests micronutrients and growth regulators can be sustainable agricultural inputs to enhance soil health and productivity.

In the face of the rapid rise in global waste production and the pressing need to shift towards sustainable energy options, advanced Waste-to-Energy (WtE) technologies have emerged as a highly promising solution. These innovative technologies effectively utilize waste as a valuable resource, presenting a viable pathway for sustainable energy recovery and making a substantial contribution to the principles of the circular economy paradigm. This review provides a comprehensive overview of advanced WtE technologies, including thermal, biological, and chemical methods, such as gasification, pyrolysis, plasma arc gasification, anaerobic digestion, fermentation, transesterification, and hydrothermal carbonization. The efficiency of these technologies is evaluated based on their energy recovery potential, environmental impact, and economic feasibility. Case studies on successful implementations of advanced WtE technologies are analyzed to highlight their practicality and effectiveness. Finally, the paper addresses technical, regulatory, and policy challenges in this field and provides future perspectives. The objective is to underscore the role of advanced WtE technologies in achieving a sustainable and resource-efficient circular economy.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a widely utilized chemical found in numerous everyday products, including plastic containers, food packaging, and thermal paper. Research has linked BPA exposure to a range of health concerns, encompassing developmental and reproductive issues, cancer, and obesity. Given India's status as one of the world's largest producers and consumers of plastic goods, understanding the potential risks associated with BPA exposure and its health impacts on the Indian population is of paramount importance. This paper conducts a comparative analysis of BPA sources, environmental levels, migration, and health impacts in India in comparison to other countries. By examining data from various nations, we aim to discern overarching trends and patterns in BPA exposure and its associated health effects. This analysis serves as a foundation for the development of policies and regulations designed to safeguard public health. While the Indian government has taken some regulatory steps, such as banning the production, import, and sale of BPA-containing polycarbonate baby bottles, there is a notable absence of specific regulations or bans on BPA in other food-contact materials (FCMs). Studies conducted in India have detected BPA in various food items, underscoring the potential risk of BPA exposure through food consumption. This emphasizes the urgent need for effective monitoring and control of BPA migration in FCMs within India. In conclusion, this comparative review underscores the imperative for ongoing research and rigorous monitoring of BPA exposure and its health impacts in India, as well as in other nations. Safeguarding the health of the general public necessitates a comprehensive understanding of BPA's prevalence, sources, and consequences. By implementing and refining regulations, such as extending bans on BPA in additional FCMs, policymakers can work towards mitigating the risks associated with BPA exposure and ensuring the safety of populations worldwide.

Various wastes can be utilized to produce activated carbon, one of the wastes that can be utilized is nutmeg shell (Myristica fragrans). Activated carbon from nutmeg shells (Myristica fragrans) was used in this study to reduce the content of Pb(II) and Cu(II) ions in liquid waste. This research utilized the adsorption method with the batch system to determine the optimum contact time, optimum pH, and adsorption capacity. The characterization of activated carbon was done by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Surface Area Analyzers (SAA). The content of Pb(II) and Cu(II) ions in the filtrate after adsorption was analyzed using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The results of SEM analysis showed that the carbon surface was cleaner and had more open pores after the activation process than before activation. The carbon surface area is 19.6243 m2.g-1. From the results of AAS analysis, the optimum time and pH for Pb(II) and Cu(II) ions was 40 min at pH 5 and 70 min at pH 4. With the Freundlich isotherm method, the adsorption capacity of the adsorbent for Pb(II) ions was 9.6028 mg.g-1 and Cu(II) ions was 0.035 mg.g-1, and the adsorption effectiveness on liquid waste for Pb and Cu metals was 1.9454 mg.g-1 and 0.4251 mg.g-1, respectively. The results showed that activated carbon from the nutmeg shell (Myristica fragrans) was able to reduce the levels of Pb(II) and Cu(II) ions in liquid waste.