Perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) are widely used in industrial and commercial applications, leading to their release into the environment. The rapid industrialization and growing population in India make it a suitable case study to investigate PFOS contamination in environmental matrices. The purpose of this study is to investigate PFOS concentrations in river water and groundwater from several locations along the Bharathapuzha river basin and estimate PFOS intakes through drinking water. The highest PFOS level detected in the surface water is 1.3 ng/L and groundwater is 1.0 ng/L, which is significantly lower than the level of PFOS detected in major rivers of many developed countries. It is possible to attribute the low PFOS concentration to factors such as high annual precipitation, reduced industrial and municipal wastewater discharge, and relatively low emissions per capita in a region where agriculture is a major part of the economy. In addition, the daily intake of PFOS through drinking water in all age groups was below the safety threshold for cancer risk.

We analyzed 125 samples collected from Joypurhat district, Bangladesh, in this study. Average inorganic arsenic (IAs) content obtained from collected polished rice, tomato, potato, radish, and arum leaves 0.31 - 0.91, 0.24 - 0.61, 0.49 - 0.88, 0.40 - 0.93, and 0.30 - 0.69 mg/kg, respectively. This report summarized that almost every agronomic sample contains arsenic; the As contents remain within the permissible limit set by FAO/WHO’s guideline (1.00 mg/kg) except for the rice sample. The As concentration for the rice sample was significantly higher (0.31 - 0.91) than the prescribed limit (0.20 mg/kg). But, the As level for water (mean range, 0.10 - 0.72 mg/l), sediment (0.13 - 0.53 mg/kg), and soil samples (24.1 - 43.1 mg/kg) also significantly surpassed the permissible level. The present study is alarming for water samples, where the highest IAs concentration (0.72 mg/l) is 72 times [14 times] higher than WHO/FAO’s [Bangladesh’s] allowable limit (0.01mg/l) [0.05 mg/l]. All agronomic fields contain higher IAs (25.50 - 43.10 mg/kg) than the world standard limit (10 mg/kg). Statistical Igeo confirmed the moderate pollution of the entire agronomic field of Joypurhat except for the river’s sediment. Again, EF values ensured the anthropogenic pollution by the moderately severe enrichment of As for the 65% agronomic field and significant enrichment of As for the 35% agronomic field. Hazard estimation results revealed the privileged possibility of non-carcinogenic [carcinogenic] health hazards to regular polished rice [water] consumers. So, present study suggests that authorities should take necessary steps to prevent contamination/upcoming health risks.

The simulation of photocatalytic reactor is conducted using computational fluid dynamics. Turbulence is described by using the RNG k-ε turbulence model. The DO radiation model is used to simulate the irradiance distribution in the photocatalytic reactor. The effects of operating parameters on the performance of photocatalytic reactor are considered. Results show that the degradation rate of oxalic acid decreases with the increase of inlet flow. The degradation efficiency decreases from 50% to 40% when the flow rate changes from 2.5 m3 h−1 to 10 m3 h−1. The degradation rate of oxalic acid can be improved by increasing the irradiance of the lamp. The degradation efficiency of oxalic acid in the photocatalytic reactor first reaches a maximum degradation efficiency with the increase of titanium dioxide concentration, and then decreases with the increase of titanium dioxide concentration. An optimal concentration of catalysts exists. The maximum degradation efficiency is 27% for the catalyst concentration of 20 µgL−1.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic ushered in a new era that led to the adjustments of diverse ecosystems. The pandemic restructured the global socio-economic events which prompted several adaptation measures as a response mechanism to cushion the negative impact of the disease pandemic. Critical health safety actions were imperative to curtail the spread of the disease such as wearing personal protective equipment (PPEs), masks, goggles, and using sanitizers for disinfection purposes. The daily demands for the products by individuals and medical personnel heightened their production and consumption, leading to a corresponding increase of COVID-19 wastes in the environment following indiscriminate waste disposal and poor waste management. The persistent occurrence of COVID-19 wastes aggravated microplastics (MPs) contamination in the aquatic ecosystem following the breakdown of PPEs-based plastics via oxidation, fragmentation, and photo-degradation actions. These MPs are transported in the aquatic environment via surface runoff and wind action, apart from discrete sources. MPs' presence in the aquatic systems is not without repercussions. Ingestion of MPs by aquatic organisms can cause several diseases (e.g., poor growth, oxidative distress, neurotoxicity, developmental toxicity, reproductive toxicity, immunotoxicity, and organ toxicity). Humans are at high risk of MPs uptake. Apart from aerial and soil contamination sources, consumption of aquatic food products is a critical pathway of MPs into the human body. MP toxicities in humans include liver disorder, respiratory failure, infertility, hormonal imbalance, diarrhea, developmental disorder, and mortality. Measures to alleviate the effect of COVID-19 waste litters include effective waste management plans and the adoption of technologies to extract cum degrade MPs from the aquatic and terrestrial environment.

Evidence of the health impact of air pollution in Morocco is scarce. We aimed to test our hypothesis that exposure to air pollutants has a significant impact on the health of Moroccans. For this systematic review, we searched PubMed, ScienceDirect, LILACS, and ProQuest databases, Google Scholar, and forward and backward citations for studies published between the database inception and August 16, 2022. All studies and reports that measure air quality in Morocco and its health impact were included, without language restrictions. This study is registered on PROSPERO under number CRD42020163948. Studies were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria rather than their methods. The data was extracted, coded, and prepared for future examination. After that, descriptive and thematic analyses were carried out. Of 1230 records identified, 31 were eligible, all of which had annual air pollutant concentrations in excess of WHO Air Quality Guidelines. The health impact was demonstrated in five studies. The most studied pathologies were asthma, respiratory and cardiac infections in children under 12 years and adults. In addition to heavy metals, the most investigated pollutants were PM10, O3, SO2, and NOx. The significant association between exposure to air pollutants and health in the Moroccan population has been demonstrated, even if it is not causal. Future research should quantify the health impact of pollution in other Moroccan cities.

Benzene is considered a toxic and hazardous pollutant in Tehran metropolis. The storage tanks of petroleum products and refueling in gas stations are among the main sources of benzene emissions. Using the software AERMOD and reviewing the benzene dispersion maps at different distances from 412 storage tanks at 148 gas stations, it was found the permissible distance of the emission source is dependent on various variables such as the number of loading times and the storage capacity. When, storage capacity in the range of 60,000 L to 96,000 L and the number of loading is in the range of 675 to 1328 times a year, the concentration of benzene at a distance of 30 m of the emission source reaches the annual standard of 5 μg/ m3. While, storage capacity in the range of 80,000 L to 128,000 L and the number of loading is in the range of 1329 to 1834 times a year, the concentration of benzene at a distance of 40 m of the emission source reaches the annual standard of 5 μg/ m3. Also, based on the analysis of data and the linear regression equation, the permissible distance of the emission source can be predicted.

In this work, single layered Ti3C2(OH)2 MXene nanosheets have been successfully prepared through a facile approach by etching Ti3AlC2 with alkaline solution treatment (KOH with minimum amounts of water). The structure and morphology of the produced nanosheets were evaluated through X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) analysis and the chemical composition was determined using an energy dispersion X-ray (EDX) spectrometer. Methylene Blue (MB) as a target pollutant adsorption and photocatalytic degradation tests were subsequently performed to assess the functionalities of hydroxyl-terminated MXene. MB removal using Ti3C2(OH)2 MXene in the dark in 20 minutes achieved an absorption-desorption balance of 51.2%, and then MB was degraded within 80 minutes under UV light irradiation with great efficiency. Our results presented that the powder of as produced exhibited good photocatalytic activity for three cycles photodegradation. The first-order rate constant (k) was calculated to be 0.0372 1/min. About 97% degradation of Methylene Blue dye in the solution was confirmed within 80 min of exposure to ultraviolet light.

A comprehensive investigation was engaged to determine the spatial distribution of Uranium (U) and the consequential chemical and radiological health risk associated due to the consumption of groundwater containing U, in Panchkula district. A well-accepted technique of fluorescence of U estimation in an aqueous medium was employed having a detection limit of 0.50 µgL-1. The chemo-radiological health risk and water quality index was computed using a standard equation of concerned agencies to determine the suitability for human health. The concentration of U was observed to vary from 1.70 – 12.28 µgL-1 with the mean value of 5.89 µgL-1 The concentration of U was far below the standard prescribed limits as per World Health Organisation, Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, and United Nation Environmental Protection Agency. Except  nitrate and total alkalinity in few samples, all water quality paramters were within the recommended limit of BIS. The annual effective dose (AED), excess cancer risk (ECR), and lifetime average daily dose (LADD) indicated no potential health issue due to the consumption of groundwater of studied locations. The correlation was computed between U and various macro-anions and cations present in water samples. U was observed to have a significant weak positive correlation with total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), and salinity.

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is one of the most common types of plastic waste found in municipal waste and has a negative impact on the environment, recycling and its use in concrete is an alternative solution to address these problems. The objective of the study was to evaluate the physical-mechanical behavior of hydraulic concrete with additions of PET plastic bottle fibers and natural river aggregates. The concrete was evaluated in its fresh state by means of the Slump and in its hardened state by means of density and compressive and flexural strengths, for which cylindrical and prismatic specimens were prepared with PET fibers at proportions of 2%, 4%, 6% and 8% by weight of cement plus the standard concrete designed for 21 MPa. It was found that the slump and density of the concrete decreased with additions of PET fibers. The 28-day compressive and flexural strengths increased to optimum values of 22.79 MPa and 3.19 MPa at 2% and 6% PET fibers, respectively. It is concluded that the viable application of 2 mm by 30 mm PET fibers in concrete is at 4% with dosages of 15.78 kg/m3 added to the standard concrete for structural elements subjected to compression and flexure with sustainable production at low cost.

The aim of this research was to use a variety of leaching methods to see how different parameters affected the amount of lead leaching from tailings. Synthetic precipitation leaching procedure, toxicity characteristic leaching procedure, leachate extraction procedure, and field leach test protocols were utilized to assess the toxicity of the tailings. The impact of the liquid-solid ratio, particle size, contact time, and pH on lead release from tailings was also investigated. According to the findings, pH entirely effects on the release of lead from the tailings, and amphoteric leaching behavior was observed. The tailings were classified as hazardous material as a result of the TCLP leaching protocol's findings. S1 and S2 samples had lead mobility indexes of 51% and 5.6%, respectively. The solubility process influenced the discharge of lead from the tailings. In the particle size ranges of 0.3-0.5 mm and 0.6-1.0 mm, respectively, the maximum amount of lead was released from S1 and S2 samples. Various experiments have shown that the interaction between different factors will have complex and strong effects on the leaching process. To that end, managing of tailings and preventing lead emission into the environment necessitates a unique technique. Leachability is affected by a number of factors and often multiple factors can produce synergistically different releases than would be predicted by each factor alone. However, validation of the leaching approaches to field-collected and monitored cases indicates that combined effects are either captured by the test data or can be considered through fate and transport modeling.