Air pollution may decrease drivers’ driving performance thus leading to traffic accidents, but this impact is almost ignored in existing literature. We investigate the short-term effect of air pollution on traffic deaths using the high-dimensional fixed effect model and instrument variable method based on the daily-city panel data in China from 2013 to 2018. The results show that drivers’ short-term exposure to air pollution significantly increases the number of traffic deaths. For every 1 ug/m³ increase of PM2.5 concentration each day, the daily number of traffic deaths will increase by 0.64%. The impacts of air pollution on traffic deaths can last for 2 days. We also find that impact varies from different driver groups.The male, the young (age under 22), the elderly (age over 60), and the two-wheeler drivers are more vulnerable. Worse air pollution may associate with more bad driving behaviors and less good manners. In this article, we reveal a new factor that leads to traffic deaths, i.e., air pollution, and we also put forward some prevention strategies which may provide policy references for traffic safety.

The high technology (high-tech) industry of China has gained a key strategic position in the Chinese economic goals. In this positioning, foreign direct investment (FDI) and technological innovation have emerged as strong pillars of the high-tech industry. However, there are growing concerns of carbon emission from this industry which is still debatable. In this context, this study measures the effect of FDI and technology innovation on carbon emissions in the high-tech industry from 28 provinces of China. The study uses the provincial data for China over the period 2000–2018. In addition to examining unit root properties, structural breaks, and cointegration, this study uses quantile regression for estimating long-run relationships among study variables. The findings reveal the negative impact of FDI on carbon emissions. Technology innovation positively impacts in the initial three quantiles, whereas negatively impacts in the next six quantiles. These results indicate that FDI and technology innovation have shaped the energy intensity in the high-tech industry, which causes fluctuation in carbon emissions over time. After controlling the effects of urbanization, energy intensity, and economic growth, this study recommends that policymakers should emphasize on the heterogeneous effects of FDI and technology-lead emissions at different quantiles during the process of CO₂ emission reduction.

A promising hierarchical nanocomposite of MIL-53(Al)/ZnO was synthesized as a visible-light-driven photocatalyst to investigate the degradation of amoxicillin (AMX). MIL-53(Al)/ZnO ultrafine nanoparticles were obtained by preparing Zn-free MIL-53Al and employing it as a reactive template under hydrothermal and chemical conditions. The synthesized nanocomposite (MIL-53(Al)/ZnO) has a low content of Al > 1.5% with significantly different characterizations of the parent compounds elucidated by various analyses such as SEM, TEM, XRD, EDX, and UV–Vis. The effect of operational parameters (catalyst dose (0.2–1.0 g/L), solution pH (3–11), and initial AMX concentration (10–90 mg/L)) on the AMX removal efficiency was studied and optimized by the response surface methodology. A reasonable goodness-of-fit between the expected and experimental values was confirmed with correlation coefficient (R²) equal to 0.96. Under the optimal values, i.e., initial AMX concentration = 10 mg/L, solution pH ~ 4.5, and catalyst dose = 1.0 g/L, 100% AMX removal was achieved after reaction time = 60 min. The degradation mechanism and oxidation pathway were vigorously examined. The AMX degradation ratios slightly decreased after five consecutive cycles (from 78.19 to 62.05%), revealing the high reusability of MIL-53(Al)/ZnO. The AMX removal ratio was improved with enhancers in order ([Formula: see text]> H₂O₂ > S₂O₈⁻²). The results proved that 94.12 and 98.23% reduction of COD were obtained after 60 and 75 min, respectively. The amortization and operating costs were estimated at 3.3 $/m³ for a large-scale photocatalytic system.

A composite material prepared by polymerization of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) on the surface of natural hydroxyapatite using citric acid as cross linker, was employed as electrode material for the detection of Pb(II). Hydroxyapatite was obtained from bovine bones, following a three-step procedure including pre-calcination, chemical treatment with (NH₄)₂HPO₄, and calcination. The structure and morphology of the pristine hydroxyapatite (NHAPP₀.₅) and its functionalized counterpart (NHAPₚ₀.₅-CA-β-CD) were examined using XRD, FTIR, and SEM. Upon deposition as thin film on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE), the ion exchange ability of NHAPₚ₀.₅-CA-β-CD was exploited to elaborate a sensitive sensor for the detection of lead. The electroanalytical procedure was based on the chemical accumulation of Pb(II) ions under open-circuit conditions, followed by the detection of the preconcentrated species using differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry. The reproducibility of the proposed method, based on a series of 8 measurements in a solution containing 2 μM Pb(II) gave a coefficient of variation of 1.27%. Significant parameters that can affect the stripping response of Pb(II) were optimized, leading to a linear calibration curve for lead in the concentration range of 2 × 10⁻⁸ mol L⁻¹ – 20 × 10⁻⁸ mol L⁻¹ (R² = 0.998). The detection limit (3S/m) and the sensitivity of the proposed sensor were 5.06 × 10⁻¹⁰ mol L⁻¹ and 100.80 μA.μM⁻¹, respectively. The interfering effect of several ions expected to affect the determination of lead was evaluated, and the proposed sensor was successfully applied in the determination of Pb(II) ions in spring water, well water, river water and tap water samples.

The effect of SRT and flux rate on the removal of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), which have serious adverse effects on human and wildlife endocrine systems, by the laboratory scale submerged flat-sheet anoxic/oxic MBR system (A/O MBR), was investigated. The A/O MBR system was operated for four different sludge holding times (SRT: 10 days, 15 days, 25 days, and 30 days) and three different fluxes’ (13 L/m²·h, 18 L/m²·h, and 26 L/m²·h) removal of EDCs (carbamazepine, bisphenol A, methylparaben, ethylparaben, 17α-ethinylestradiol, β-estradiol, estrone, tonalide, galaxolide, and triclosan) was investigated. The A/O MBR system ensures higher removal of all EDCs (> 86%) except for carbamazepine (34%) at high SRT (30d) and low flux (13 L/m²·h). SRT and flux rate could be vital operating parameters for the removal of carbamazepine, ethylparaben, triclosan, and 17α-ethinylestradiol; however, there might not be a significant effect on the removal of bisphenol A (> 90%), methylparaben (> 91), β-estradiol (> 99%), estrone (> 99%), tonalide (> 99%), and galaxolide (> 99%). The removal of ethylparaben, 17α-ethinylestradiol, triclosan, and carbamazepine with A/O MBR at high sludge age (30 day) and low flux (13 L/m²·h) were 93.3%, 96.9%, 86.9%, and 34.8%, respectively. When the SRT was reduced to 10 days, and the flux was increased to 26 L/m²·h, the removal efficiency of ethylparaben, 17α-ethinylestradiol, triclosan, and carbamazepine decreased to 72.7%, 77.2%, 52.4%, and 1.06%, respectively. It found that SRT and flux rate could be vital parameters for the removal of carbamazepine, ethylparaben, triclosan, and 17α-ethinylestradiol; however, there might not be a significant effect on the removal of bisphenol A, methylparaben, β-estradiol, estrone, tonalide, and galaxolide.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a type of neurodevelopmental disorder characterized mainly by qualitative deficiencies in social communication skills, accompanied by repetitive and restricted behavior patterns. This study was conducted to investigate the associations between the risk of ASD development in children and exposure to trace elements (arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn)). Two groups of children, including 44 ASD and 35 typically developing (TD) children, were selected, and their fasting urine samples were obtained. The concentration levels of trace elements were assayed using ICP-MS. The results showed that as compared to the TD group, the concentration levels of As (p = 0.002) and Pb (p < 0.001) and also Cr (p < 0.001), Cu (p = 0.001), and Ni (p < 0.001) were significantly higher among ASD children. In terms of gender, boys with ASD showed elevated levels of Cr, Cu, Ni, and Pb, whereas the urine levels of As, Cr, Cu, Ni, and Pb were markedly higher among girls when compared to the non-ASD children. Under the logistic regression model, the risk difference for As, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn remained significant when adjustment was applied for age and gender confounders.

We expected to explore the associations of hearing loss and hearing thresholds at different frequencies with total and cause-specific mortality. In this study, 11,732 individuals derived from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999–2012 were included. Data of death was extracted from the NHANES Public-Use Linked Mortality File through December 31, 2015. Cox proportional hazards models were used to explore the associations between hearing loss, hearing thresholds at different frequencies, and total or cause-specific mortality. A total of 1,253 deaths occurred with a median follow-up of 12.15 years. A significant positive dose-response relationship between hearing loss in speech frequency and total mortality was observed, and the HRs and 95% CIs were 1.16 (0.91, 1.47), 1.54 (1.19, 2.00), and 1.85 (1.36, 2.50), respectively, for mild, moderate, and severe speech-frequency hearing loss (SFHL) with a P ₜᵣₑₙd of 0.0003. In addition, moderate (HR: 1.90, 95% CI: 1.20–3.00) and greater (3.50, 1.38–8.86) SFHL significantly elevated risk of heart disease mortality. Moreover, hearing thresholds of >25 dB at 500, 1000, or 2000 Hz were significantly associated with elevated mortality from all causes (1.40, 1.17–1.68; 1.44, 1.20–1.73; and 1.33, 1.10–1.62, respectively) and heart disease (1.89, 1.08–3.34; 1.95, 1.21–3.16; and 1.89, 1.16–3.09, respectively). Hearing loss is associated with increased risks of total mortality and heart disease mortality, especially for hearing loss at speech frequency. Preventing or inhibiting the pathogenic factors of hearing loss is important for reducing the risk of death.

The feasibility of removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and ammonia nitrogen (NH₄⁺–N) from landfill leachate by an electrochemical assisted HClO/Fe²⁺ process is demonstrated for the first time. The performance of active chlorine generation at the anode was evaluated in Na₂SO₄/NaCl media, and a higher amount of active chlorine was produced at greater chloride concentration and higher current density. The probe experiments confirmed the coexistence of hydroxyl radical (•OH) and Fe(IV)-oxo complex (FeᴵⱽO²⁺) in the HClO/Fe²⁺ system. The influence of initial pH, Fe²⁺ concentration, and applied current density on COD and NH₄⁺–N abatement was elaborately investigated. The optimum pH was found to be 3.0, and the proper increase in Fe²⁺ dosage and current density resulted in higher COD removal due to the accelerated accumulation of •OH and FeᴵⱽO²⁺ in the bulk liquid phase, whereas, the NH₄⁺–N oxidation was significantly affected by the applied current density because of the effective active chlorine generation at higher current but was nearly independent of Fe²⁺ concentration. The reaction mechanism of electrochemical assisted HClO/Fe²⁺ treatment of landfill leachate was finally proposed. The powerful •OH and FeᴵⱽO²⁺, in concomitance with active chlorine and M(•OH), were responsible for COD abatement, and active chlorine played a key role in NH₄⁺–N oxidation. The proposed electrochemical assisted HClO/Fe²⁺ process is a promising alternative for the treatment of refractory landfill leachate.

Bioturbation is recognized as a deterministic process that sustains the physicochemical properties of the freshwater ecosystem. Irrigation, ventilation, and particle reworking activities made by biotic components on sediment beds influence the flow of nutrients and transport of particles in the sediment–water interface. Thus, the biogenic disturbances in sediment are acknowledged as pivotal mechanism nutrient cycling in the aquatic system. The macroinvertebrates of diverse taxonomic identity qualify as potent bioturbators due to their abundance and activities in the freshwater. Of particular relevance are the bioturbation activities by the sediment-dwelling biota, which introduce changes in both sediment and water profile. Multiple outcomes of the macroinvertebrate-mediated bioturbation are recognized in the form of modified sediment architecture, changed redox potential in the sediment–water interface, and elicited nutrient fluxes. The physical movement and physiological activities of benthic macroinvertebrates influence organic deposition in sediment and remobilize sediment-bound pollutants and heavy metals, as well as community composition of microbes. As ecosystem engineers, the benthic macroinvertebrates execute multiple functional roles through bioturbation that facilitate maintaining the freshwater as self-sustaining and self-stabilizing system. The likely consequences of bioturbation on the freshwater ecosystems facilitated by various macroinvertebrates — the ecosystem engineers. Among the macroinvertebrates, varied species of molluscs, insects, and annelids are the key facilitators for the movement of the nutrients and shaping of the sediment of the freshwater ecosystem.

The negative health effects of cement plant exposure are well-known in industrial settings, but they are less well-known among the general public who live near plants. The broad objective of the review was to provide a detailed systematic analysis of the global situation of the cement industry, including generation, pollution, impact on the natural ecosystem, technological and process improvements, sustainable models, the latest laws, challenges, needs, and ways forward. As an initial evaluation, a list of critical keywords was compiled, and a search of all accessible databases was conducted (i.e., Scopus, Web of Knowledge, Google Scholar). The manuscripts published in the journal between 2011 and 2021 were included. According to the findings, India is the second largest cement producer after China, with an installed capacity of 537 million tonnes and around 7.1 percent of the world’s production, up from 337.32 million tonnes in 2019. NOx, SOx, CO, CO₂, H₂S, VOCs, dioxins, furans, and particulate matter are all common air pollutants from cement manufacturing. Other sources of dust particles include quarrying, blasting, drilling, trucking, cement plants, fuel production, packaging, path cleaning, and slabs. Other methods of reduction play an important part in decreasing industrial emissions, resulting in lower carbon and more sustainable products. The decision-making trial, in conjunction with the DEMATEL evaluation laboratory and the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) technique, will aid in determining the priority of climate alteration and mitigation options. Furthermore, employing sustainable techniques and technology, switching to alternative fuels will save 12% of total CO₂ emissions by 2050.