Although microplastic pollution jeopardizes both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, the movement of plastic particles through terrestrial environments is still poorly understood. Agricultural soils exposed to different managements are important sites of storage and dispersal of microplastics. This study aimed to identify the abundance, distribution, and type of microplastics present in agricultural soils, water, airborne dust, and ditch sediments. Soil health was also assessed using soil macroinvertebrate abundance and diversity. Sixteen fields were evaluated, 6 of which had been exposed to more than 5 years of compost application, 5 were exposed to at least 5 years of plastic mulch use, and 5 were not exposed to any specific management (controls) within the last 5 years. We also evaluated the spread of microplastics from the farms into nearby water bodies and airborne dust. We found 11 types of microplastics in soil, among which Light Density Polyethylene (LDPE) and Light Density Polyethylene covered with pro-oxidant additives (PAC) were the most abundant. The highest concentrations of plastics were found in soils exposed to plastic mulch management (128.7 ± 320 MPs.g-1 soil and 224.84 ± 488 MPs.g-1 soil, respectively) and the particles measured from 50 to 150 μm. Nine types of microplastics were found in water, with the highest concentrations observed in systems exposed to compost. Farms applying compost had higher LDPE and PAC concentrations in ditch sediments as compared to control and mulch systems; a significant correlation between soil polypropylene (PP) microplastics with ditch sediment microplastics (r2 0.7 p 0.05) was found. LDPE, PAC, PE (Polyethylene), and PP were the most abundant microplastics in airborne dust. Soil invertebrates were scarce in the systems using plastic mulch. A cocktail of microplastics was found in all assessed matrices.

Although microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous in agricultural soil, little is known about the effects of MPs combined with pesticides on soil organisms and their biogenic transport through the soil profile. In this study, we conducted mesocosm experiments to observe the effects of microplastics (polyethylene (LDPE-MPs) and biodegradable microplastics (Bio-MPs)) and chlorpyrifos (CPF) on earthworm (Lumbricus terrestris) mortality, growth and reproduction, as well as the biogenic transport of these contaminants through earthworm burrows. The results showed that earthworm reproduction was not affected by any treatment, but earthworm weight was reduced by 17.6% and the mortality increased by 62.5% in treatments with 28% Bio-MPs. Treatments with 28% LDPE-MPs and 7% Bio-MPs combined with CPF showed greater toxicity while the treatment with 28% Bio-MPs combined with CPF showed less toxicity on earthworm growth as compared to treatments with only MPs. The treatments with 1250 g ha−1 CPF and 28% Bio-MPs significantly decreased the bioaccumulation of CPF in earthworm bodies (1.1 ± 0.2%, w w−1), compared to the treatment with CPF alone (1.7 ± 0.4%). With CPF addition, more LDPE-MPs (8%) were transported into earthworm burrows and the distribution rate of LDPE-MPs in deeper soil was increased. No effect was observed on the transport of Bio-MPs. More CPF was transported into soil in the treatments with LDPE-MPs and Bio-MPs, 5% and 10% of added CPF, respectively. In addition, a lower level of the CPF metabolite 3,5,6-trichloropyridinol was detected in soil samples from the treatments with MPs additions than without MP additions, indicating that the presence of MPs inhibited CPF degradation. In conclusion, Bio-MPs caused significant toxicity effects on earthworms and the different types of MPs combined with CPF affected earthworms differently, and their transport along the soil profile. Thus, further research is urgently needed to understand the environmental risks of MPs and MP-associated compounds in the soil ecosystem.

The Laurentian Great Lakes represent important and iconic ecosystems. Microplastic pollution has become a major problem among other anthropogenic stressors in these lakes. There is a need for policy development, however, assessing the risks of microplastics is complicated due to the uncertainty and poor quality of the data and incompatibility of exposure and effect data for microplastics with different properties. Here we provide a prospective probabilistic risk assessment for Great Lakes sediments and surface waters that corrects for the misalignment between exposure and effect data, accounts for variability due to sample volume when using trawl samples, for the random spatiotemporal variability of exposure data, for uncertainty in data quality (QA/QC), in the slope of the power law used to rescale the data, and in the HC5 threshold effect concentration obtained from Species Sensitivity Distributions (SSDs). We rank the lakes in order of the increasing likelihood of risks from microplastics, for pelagic and benthic exposures. A lake-wide risk, i.e. where each location exceeds the risk limit, is not found for any of the lakes. However, the probability of a risk from food dilution occurring in parts of the lakes is 13–15% of the benthic exposures in Lakes Erie and Huron, and 8.3–10.3% of the pelagic exposures in Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Superior, and Lake Erie, and 24% of the pelagic exposures in Lake Ontario. To reduce the identified uncertainties, we recommend that future research focuses on characterizing and quantifying environmentally relevant microplastic (ERMP) over a wider size range (ideally 1–5000 μm) so that probability density functions (PDFs) can be better calibrated for different habitats. Toxicity effect testing should use a similarly wide range of sizes and other ERMP characteristics so that complex data alignments can be minimized and assumptions regarding ecologically relevant dose metrics (ERMs) can be validated.

Oxidative coupling of thiols to the corresponding symmetrical disulfides were performed in the presence of silica gel supported tributylammonium fluorochromate(VI), (TriBAFC), and tributylammonium chlorochromate(VI), (TriBACC). Silica gel supported TriBAFC and TriBACC are versatile reagents for the effective and selective oxidation of organic substrates, in particular of thiol, under mild conditions. Disulfides are also key intermediates in a wide variety of organic synthetic routes. Considerable improvements are observed in the presence of the absorbent and making the work-up much more convenient. The nature of the solvent does not appear to be particularly critical. Hydrocarbons, benzene, ethers and chlorinated hydrocarbons are equally effective, the practical choice being oriented by the solubility of the products and the desired reaction temperature. The IR spectra of TriBAFC and TriBACC are similar to that of other fluoro and chlorochromates, TriBAFC and TriBACC are soluble in water, dimethylformamide, acetonitrile, acetone and dichloromethane; they are only sparingly soluble in benzene, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform and hexane.

The purpose of this research is to analyze the risk of ammonia release in the cold storage of one of the large food companies in Mashhad. This is an applied research that was done using FTA technique and fuzzy logic. Fuzzy logic was used to weight experts' opinions (Delphi panel). In this study, to model the consequences and calculate the collective risk using the DNV PHAST 7.2 software, the most critical conditions that have the greatest possible contribution to the release of ammonia were, respectively: lack of proper and planned maintenance; Pressure increase and failure and defects in gaskets. Also, the results showed that the rate of death, toxicity and explosion is directly related to the distance. On the other hand, the maximum amount of possible losses in the event of an explosion will be in the winter season and at a distance of 14.26 meters, and finally, 95% of the losses due to the blast wave will occur at a distance of 13.54 meters and 99% of deaths of people up to a radius of 38.89 meters, also 50% of the deaths of people from the radius of 38.89 meters to the radius of 124.93 meters, and 10% of the deaths of people from the radius of 124.93 meters to the radius of 178.53 meters, also 1 percent of deaths from the radius of 178.53 meters to the radius of 234.05 meters.

This study provides a practical solution to manage non-hazardous waste and aid the environment. The largest group of non-hazardous waste is called municipal solid waste (MSW) which can be effectively used as an alternative material in civil projects. In this research, as an alternative to traditional modification methods of soil which causes global warming, the soft clay (Clay) was chemically modified by four different percentages of MSW in soil dimensions (15%, 25%, 35%, 45%) in 28 and 120 days. The optimum percentage of MSW addition (15%) to the Clay at the curing age of 28 days increased the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) and California bearing ratio (CBR) by 1.28 and 3.34 times, respectively. Given that higher percentages of MSW reduce the UCS and CBR in the specimens, four percentages of Nano-MgO, i.e., 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1% were used for stabilization. The specimens containing optimum percentages of MSW (15%, 25%) and stabilized with 1% Nano-MgO could improve UCS and CBR 2.34 and 5.59 times, respectively that results had better durability over 120-days which can be attributed to the CBR testing condition. The cause of the increase in UCS and CBR was investigated using microstructural analysis for 120 days of curing. The specimen with high durability approved the cement bond formation with Anorthite & Dolomite minerals. In conclusion, using optimum MSW and Nano-MgO effectively solved the Clay problems in suitable conditions and allowed higher percentages of MSW to be removed from the environment.

The present descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted by altering the type of blowers in the wastewater treatment system of Abuzar hospital in Ahvaz during the first and second quarters (6 months). In every month, inlet raw wastewater, aeration tank one, and effluent were sampled in one week (Saturday-Friday), which resulted in harvesting a total of 42 samples. Then, they were assessed based on the techniques provided in the book entitled "standard methods for evaluating water and wastewater", and data were evaluated through employing statistical analyses. The average removal efficiency of total and organic phosphorus, phosphate, and ammonia in the effluent was respectively determined 46.47, 34.45, 18.14, and 68.49 before starting up a new aeration system, which reached 69.36, 76.21, 65.09, and 96.53 during the second period, respectively. In addition, the average concentration of nitrate varied from 21.79 to 44.11 mg/l, while that of nitrite changed from 0.04 to 0.03 mg/l. Further, an increase (39.19 to 67.19%) was observed in the average nitrogen removal efficiency in effluent. Based on the results, EAAS process was efficient in eliminating nitrogen and phosphorus by using the helicoidal pumps of aeration blowers and regulating aeration rate. Thus, aeration plays an effective role in activated sludge systems despite the microorganism diversity in aeration tank sludge. The produced effluent was consistent with Iran national standards in terms of the parameters under study, especially phosphorus and nitrogen, and can be discharged into the environment.

The purpose of this study is to achieve the effective components and criteria in the design of green residential settlements with an environmental protection approach in Mashhad. The research method is applied and in terms of implementation is descriptive-analytical. Using the TM sensor and LANDSAT satellite, satellite images of the study area were prepared and modeled by superimposing data related to energy consumption through GIS tools and Arcview software to final synthesis and mapping. Then, using the opinions of experts to extract and prioritize the appropriate components and criteria from each of the mentioned systems. Data were analyzed by structural equation method with least squares approach and Smart - PLS2 software was used for final analysis. Then, after explaining the components and criteria, according to the available data, the optimal limit (10% -20%) for 10 components was proposed as a scenario. Then modeling was done through Design Builder software. The results showed that a total of 4 categories of macro variables have been identified as the main components affecting energy consumption, which are: "management", "environmental performance", "economic performance" and "social performance" variables, all of which have divergent validity. Also, 11 topics and 61 criteria were extracted and explained as components for assessing the sustainability of residential buildings. Finally, it was found that with the implementation of energy optimization strategies, the heating system will be reduced by 36%, the cooling system energy by 41% and the total cooling and heating energy by 38% compared to the base state.

The most important objectives of the present study include finding a legal solution to prevent the spread of coronavirus, compensation for damages caused by the negligence of human factors, determining the basis for this responsibility, and the rate of compensation for these damages. The present study, through library and field studies, made it possible to compensate for the damage caused by the spread of coronavirus infections. Pollution caused by a human is one of the most important environmental law challenges. Neglect of the human factor has caused losses due to the spread of this disease. In the present study by preparing a researcher-made questionnaire, the opinion of lawyers specializing in the field of civil responsibility was also inquired. The results of the research show that by resorting to the "risk theory" and the "fault assumption" basis, the rights of the victims of the Coronavirus can be better secured. At present, legal systems are not sufficiently determined to compensate the victims of the Coronavirus. While environmental jurists believe that strict rules and regulations should be applied to combat the spread of coronavirus infection and to impose compensation for damages caused by negligence in observing health standards on its human factors. In Iran, several juridical and legal rules are a good basis for preventing the spread of coronavirus and human infections.

Sound pollution is known as one of the main disturbances in urban environments. The purpose of this study is to measure the sound level during sports competitions in the vicinity of settlements. For this purpose, Azadi Sports Complex was selected as the largest sports space in the IRAN and the measurements were performed cross-sectional and in two different times, which included days without sports competition and after the end of the sports competition. Measurements were used 5 times by KIMO-DB100. All measurements were made to determine the sound pressure level in network A. The mean data (Leq) was the basis for drawing the maps. To do this, the pattern of changes was entered into the Arc map software and based on the Inverse Distance Weighting method. The results showed that the minimum sound level on the day without exercise was 50 dB and the maximum sound level measured at this time was 80 dB. On the day of the race, the minimum and maximum sound levels were 55 dB and 95 dB, respectively. On a non-racing day, large sections of the study range have sound levels of 50-65 dB, indicating relative calm and compliance with outdoor sound standards. However, on the day of the match and after the spectators left the stadium, none of the sound level stations showed less than 75 dB. This situation continues for about 3 hours after the end of the game and until the study area of spectators and their cars is completely emptied.