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Topic Review
Isotopic Imprints of Pyrite Leaching
Definition  Acid rock drainage (ARD) is one of the major environmental problems at active and closed coal and metalliferous mining sites. ARD forms naturally when sulfidic material comes in contact with atmospheric oxygen and the oxidation of sulfide minerals releases acid, sulfate and metal contaminants. The large-scale ARD that is generated within the mining area is called acid mine drainage (AMD).
  • 1.6K
  • 15 Dec 2020
Topic Review
Geochemical Modeling Applications
The geochemical computer model is an important innovation that exponentially evolved in the last decades, and that now plays a vital role in several areas of study, ranging from developing new models for surface complexation, reactive transport models, or the generation of thermodynamic data used to simulate or predict solubility reactions. An important application of geochemical modeling involves supporting the explanation or characterization of engineering systems related to waste management, wastewater reuse, evaluation of water quality from a landfill, metal speciation within soils in industrial areas, new technologies or process for waste treatment, and even the evaluation of the potential to use solid wastes in carbon sequestering processes.
  • 1.6K
  • 03 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Indoor Air Pollution
Indoor air pollution (IAP) is a serious threat to human health, causing millions of deaths each year. A plethora of pollutants can result in IAP; therefore, it is very important to identify their main sources and concentrations and to devise strategies for the control and enhancement of indoor air quality (IAQ). Herein, we provide a critical review and evaluation of the major sources of major pollutant emissions, their health effects, and issues related to IAP-based illnesses.
  • 1.6K
  • 30 Oct 2020
Topic Review
The Production of Rare Earth Elements
Rare earth elements (REE) are less than 20% of all elements naturally occurring in the environment. They are defined as a group of 17 elements comprising scandium (Sc), yttrium (Y), and lanthanum (La) elements of group 3B of Periodic Table, and the 14 elements of the lanthanides series, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu.
  • 1.6K
  • 23 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Contaminants of Emerging Concern
Worldwide, the pollution of water bodies by contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) such as pharmaceuticals, endocrine disrupting compounds, flame retardants including brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and perfluorochemicals (PFCs), microplastics, nanomaterials, and algal toxins, to name just a few, is creating a new set of challenges to the conventional wastewater treatment facilities, which demonstrate inefficiency in removing/degrading many CECs. As a consequence, environmentalists started to detect the presence of some of those contaminants at alarming levels in certain countries, with possible negative effects on aquatic species and often increased potential for human health risks through exposure to the contaminated waters, or the reuse of treated wastewater in agriculture and household use. Such issues are more accentuated in the African continent due to various socio-economic problems giving rise to poor sanitation systems and serious shortages in wastewater treatment plants in many regions, making it difficult to tackle the problem of conventional pollutants, let alone to deal with the more challenging CECs. Thus, in order to effectively deal with this emerging environmental threat, African researchers are working to develop and optimize sound sampling and analytical procedures, risk assessment models, and efficient remediation technologies.
  • 1.6K
  • 06 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Climate Change and Homelessness
Although climate change is a global issue, it disproportionately affects homeless populations due to increased exposure and vulnerability associated with homelessness. Climate change is defined as "a change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to climate variability observed over comparable time periods". Homelessness can be defined as circumstances in which "an individual, family or community without stable, permanent, appropriate housing, or the immediate prospect, means and ability of acquiring it".
  • 1.6K
  • 08 Jun 2021
Topic Review
State of Fear
State of Fear is a 2004 techno-thriller novel by Michael Crichton, in which eco-terrorists plot mass murder to publicize the danger of global warming. Despite being a work of fiction, the book contains many graphs and footnotes, two appendices, and a 20-page bibliography in support of Crichton's beliefs about global warming. Many climate scientists, science journalists, environmental groups, and science advocacy organisations dispute Crichton's views on the science as being error-filled and distorted. The novel had an initial print run of 1.5 million copies and reached the #1 bestseller position at Amazon and #2 on The New York Times Best Seller list for one week in January 2005. The novel itself has garnered mixed reviews, with some literary reviewers stating that the book's presentation of facts and stance on the global warming debate detracted from the book's plot.
  • 1.6K
  • 19 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Attitudes towards Plastic Pollution
Plastic pollution has received unprecedented attention globally, and there are increasing calls to control it. Despite this, the uptrends of plastic consumption and mismanaged plastic waste show little sign of reversal. It is imperative to understand the attitudes of various societal groups towards plastics to identify the barriers to behavioral changes to reduce plastic pollution and synthesize effective countermeasures. Generally, there are negative attitudes towards plastic pollution and people are willing to act against it by supporting campaigns, paying for environmentally friendly alternatives, and supporting solution-based interventions from governments including policies, regulations and guidelines. Inconvenience due to limited options for plastic items and habits are two main barriers to behavioral changes. Governments play crucial roles to tap into these attitudes to lead and intensify control plastic pollution through a multi-pronged approach that facilitates systematic substitution of conventional plastics with environmentally friendly alternatives as well as the stepping-up of the circular plastic economy and industrial symbiosis. Progressively regulated capping of conventional plastic production and consumption could help the transition, and the public could complement government endeavors through education, mutual influence and awareness-raising which could also be driven by governmental policies and programs.
  • 1.6K
  • 21 Jun 2023
Topic Review
Biological and Hydrobiological Background of Pond Carp Breeding
In the Central European region, there is a long tradition of breeding fish in artificially constructed ponds. As the area belongs to the temperate zone, farmed fish need to survive cold winter periods. Common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.), which is an omnivorous, bioturbating species, is well adapted to warm and cold periods and the alluvial water environment. Since the Middle Ages, a large scale, efficient carp farming methodology has been developed in the region, where production is based on natural resources (protein and fatty acid sources) of renewable water ecosystems.
  • 1.6K
  • 03 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Sustainable Manufacturing Practices
Sustainable manufacturing was defined as "the creation of manufactured products that use processes that minimize negative environmental impacts, conserve energy and natural resources, are safe for employees, communities, and consumers and are economically sound".
  • 1.6K
  • 12 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Carbon Dioxide Separation Technologies
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from burning fossil fuels play a crucial role in global warming/climate change. The effective removal of CO2 from the point sources or atmosphere (CO2 capture), its conversion to value-added products (CO2 utilization), and long-term geological storage, or CO2 sequestration, has captured the attention of several researchers and policymakers. 
  • 1.6K
  • 15 Aug 2023
Topic Review
MTBE and BTEX in Wetlands
Hydrocarbon contamination of water resources is a global issue. These compounds are generated and discharged into the environment in industrial areas from chemical and petrochemical plants, oil refineries, power plants, and so forth. Fuel hydrocarbons, namely, BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes) and MTBE (methyl tert-butyl ether), are commonly found in groundwater, posing environmental and health risks to humans and ecosystems. Nature-based technologies represent an alternative solution, providing high eciency, an environmentally friendly character, simple operation, and cost eciency, which are characteristics particularly desired by the international petroleum industry. This entry discusses the use of the green technology of constructed wetlands to remediate water polluted with hydrocarbons. Although the number of related international experiences and studies is limited, the article presents the latest developments of wetland technolog for the removal of MTBE and benzene-BTEX. The discussion includes the overall eciency of the di erent wetland types that have been tested and used, the main transformation and removal processes that regulate the fate of BTEX and MTBE in constructed wetlands, and the potential for future investigations.
  • 1.6K
  • 30 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Toxic Metals Contamination
Concentrations of potentially toxic metals including Cd, Cu, Pb, Cr, U, Th in surface water and sediment samples collected from a river were analyzed to assess the contaminations, distribution characteristics and sources of these metals. The contents of the metals were lower than the standard levels set by WHO for drinking water. However, U and Th contents were far beyond the background values of surface water. The concentrations of Cd, Cr and U in sediments were higher than the background values and the Probable Effect Level (PEL) of sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) which may result in high potential harmful biological effects to aquatic ecosystem. Based on the contamination factor (CF), geo-accumulation index (Igeo) and potential ecological risk index (RI), Cd, Cr and U were considered to be the metals that mainly contribute to the contamination of sediments. The calculation results also indicated that the sites adjacent to the uranium ore field were highly polluted. Results of cluster analysis, principal component analysis and correlation analysis revealed that Cr, Pb, U, Th were highly correlated with each other. These metals were mainly originated from both anthropogenic source and natural processes, especially emissions from uranium mining and quarrying, whereas Cd mostly came from anthropogenic source (agricultural activities) of the upper reaches of the river.
  • 1.6K
  • 30 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Historical Ecology in Brazil
The term “Historical Ecology” has been defined by two different research scholarships: (1) as a field that draws upon diverse evidence to trace complex, long-term relationships between humanity and Earth; and (2) as a field related to evolutionary ecology and the use of phylogenetic systematics, which may or may not involve anthropogenic agency. Here we embrace and refer to the first definition. Hence, Historical Ecology is a multidisciplinary field (or research program) that investigates human-environment relationships resulting in continuous spatial, environmental, historical, and cultural interactions. Its primary focus is the physical evidence etched in the landscape. The use of landscape as an analytical framework and spatial unit is valuable and widely used in Historical Ecology.  
  • 1.6K
  • 07 May 2022
Topic Review
Carbon Footprint
A carbon footprint is “a measure of the exclusive total amount of carbon dioxide emissions that is directly and indirectly caused by the activities of an individual or is accumulated over the life stages of a product”.
  • 1.6K
  • 11 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Lichen Biomonitoring in Forests
Forest ecosystems are often located in remote areas, far from direct sources of air pollution. Nonetheless, they may be affected by different types of atmospheric deposition, which can compromise their health and inner balance. Epiphytic lichens respond to air pollution and climate change, and they have been widely adopted as ecological indicators, mainly in urban and industrial areas, while forest ecosystems are still underrepresented. 
  • 1.6K
  • 31 Mar 2023
Topic Review
Integrated Landscape Approaches
Integrated Landscape Approaches (ILAs) are increasingly presented as socio-environmental conceptual frameworks for holistic management and governance of sustainable landscapes. There is a wealth of literature, case studies, and widespread international interest in ILAs to reconcile and harmonize multiple goals for conservation, development, climate change, and human well-being at the landscape level.  
  • 1.6K
  • 15 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Smart Irrigation for Improving Water Productivity in Drylands
By using several factors, including soil and climate variation, soil properties, plant responses to water deficits, and changes in weather factors, smart irrigation can drive better irrigation decisions that can help save water and increase yields. Various smart irrigation approaches, such as artificial intelligence and deep learning (artificial neural network, fuzzy logic, expert system, hybrid intelligent system, and deep learning), model predictive irrigation systems, variable rate irrigation (VRI) technology, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) could ensure high water use efficiency in water-scarce regions. These smart irrigation technologies can improve water management and accelerate the progress in achieving multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), where no one gets left behind.
  • 1.6K
  • 26 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Global Warming Policy Foundation
The Global Warming Policy Foundation (GWPF) is a lobby group in the United Kingdom whose stated aims are to challenge "extremely damaging and harmful policies" envisaged by governments to mitigate anthropogenic global warming. While their position is that the science of global warming or climate change is "not yet settled," the GWPF claims that its membership comes from a broad spectrum ranging from "the IPCC position through agnosticism to outright scepticism." The GWPF as well as some of its prominent members have been characterized as promoting climate change denial. In 2014, when the Charity Commission ruled that the GWPF had breached rules on impartiality, a non-charitable organisation called the "Global Warming Policy Forum" was created as a wholly owned subsidiary, to do lobbying that a charity could not. The GWPF website carries an array of articles "sceptical" of scientific findings of anthropogenic global warming and its impacts.
  • 1.6K
  • 30 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Zooplankton for Monitoring and Assessing Lake Ecosystem Health
For the sustainable use of lake ecosystem services—water resources, aquatic habitats for biodiversity conservation, and aesthetic values as waterfront space—ecosystem health assessments using biota are implemented as important national environmental monitoring projects. Zooplankton play a key role as an important linkage in the material circulation as secondary producers in lake ecosystems. At the same time, they influence the composition and biomass of other communities through biological interactions.
  • 1.6K
  • 27 Jul 2023
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