Summary

Environmental science emerged from the fields of natural history and medicine during the Enlightenment. Today, it provides an integrated, quantitative, and interdisciplinary approach to the study of environmental systems. Environmental studies are incorporating more of the social sciences in order to understand human relationships, perceptions and policies towards the environment. This entry collection features information about design and technology for improving environmental quality in every aspect.

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Topic Review
Air pollution and Fuel Combustion
Air pollution is a precursor to many health issues such as difficulty breathing, asthma, lung and heart diseases, and cancer. 
  • 3.9K
  • 11 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Bacteriophage-Mediated Control of Phytopathogenic Xanthomonads
Xanthomonads, members of the family Xanthomonadaceae, are economically important plant pathogenic bacteria responsible for infections of over 400 plant species. Bacteriophage-based biopesticides can provide an environmentally friendly, effective solution to control these bacteria. Bacteriophage-based biocontrol has important advantages over chemical pesticides, and treatment with these biopesticides is a minor intervention into the microflora. However, bacteriophages’ agricultural application has limitations rooted in these viruses’ biological properties as active substances. These disadvantageous features, together with the complicated registration process of bacteriophage-based biopesticides, means that there are few products available on the market. 
  • 809
  • 04 Aug 2021
Topic Review
3D Graphene-Based Toxic Gas Sensors
Air pollution is becoming an increasingly important global issue. Toxic gases such as ammonia, nitrogen dioxide, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like phenol are very common air pollutants. To date, various sensing methods have been proposed to detect these toxic gases. Researchers are trying their best to build sensors with the lowest detection limit, the highest sensitivity, and the best selectivity. As a 2D material, graphene is very sensitive to many gases and so can be used for gas sensors. Recent studies have shown that graphene with a 3D structure can increase the gas sensitivity of the sensors. The limit of detection (LOD) of the sensors can be upgraded from ppm level to several ppb level.
  • 1.1K
  • 25 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Nitrogen in Wetlands
Wetlands are viable sinks for nitrate and have also been identified as a source of nitrous oxide, a product of two microbially regulated processes: nitrification and denitrification. Anthropogenic expansion of nitrogen is a leading cause of the eutrophication of water bodies and may also contribute to the deterioration of the ozone layer in the stratosphere. Wetlands ameliorate the quality of water percolating through them, by retaining nutrients and sequestering carbon, and simultaneously enhancing the flora and fauna diversity of these landscapes. Among the many services these wetlands provide, they also alleviate nitrate pollution by attenuating reactive nitrogen from agricultural drainage and ensure the effective reclamation of the wastewater. 
  • 2.1K
  • 24 May 2021
Topic Review
Driving Forces of Land Change
Indonesia has experienced one of the world’s greatest dynamic land changes due to forestry and agricultural practices. Understanding the drivers behind these land changes remains challenging, partly because landscape research is spread across many domains and disciplines. Our review shows that oil palm expansion is the most prominent among multiple direct causes of land change. We determined that property rights are the most prominent issue among the multiple underlying causes of land change. Distinct combinations of mainly economic, institutional, political, and social underlying drivers determine land change, rather than single key drivers. Our review also shows that central and district governments as decision-making actors are prominent among multiple land change actors. Our systematic review indicates knowledge gaps that can be filled by clarifying the identification and role of actors in land change.
  • 2.1K
  • 24 May 2021
Topic Review
Heavy Metals and Metalloids
The contamination of soil by heavy metals and metalloids is a worldwide problem due to the accumulation of these compounds in the environment, endangering human health, plants, and animals. Heavy metals and metalloids are normally present in nature, but the rise of industrialization has led to concentrations higher than the admissible ones. They are non-biodegradable and toxic, even at very low concentrations. Several techniques have been developed over the years: - physical remediation (e.g., washing, thermal desorption, solidification), - chemical remediation (e.g., adsorption, catalysis, precipitation/solubilization, electrokinetic methods), - biological remediation (e.g., biodegradation, phytoremediation, bioventing), and combined remediation (e.g., electrokinetic–microbial remediation; washing–microbial degradation).
  • 2.6K
  • 20 May 2021
Topic Review
Fermented Foods and Gut Microbiota
Fermented foods and beverages are generally defined as products made by microbial organisms and enzymatic conversions of major and minor food components. Further to the commonly-recognized effects of nutrition on the digestive health and well-being, there is now strong evidence for the impact of fermented foods and beverages, produced or preserved by the action of microorganisms, on general health, namely their significance on the gut microbiota balance and brain functionality. 
  • 825
  • 19 May 2021
Topic Review
Endophytes and Plant Growth Promotion
Endophyte term literally means 'inside plants'. Endophytes refer to fungal and bacterial communities that inhabit the plant tissues of roots and shoots without showing any apparent symptoms nor harming their hosts.
  • 1.0K
  • 23 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Climate Economic Models in Malaysia
The concept of externalities in the production of goods and services by Arthur Pigou became part of economics with the publication of “The Economics of welfare”. GHG emissions became a negative global externality from production activities causing global warming and climate change. Society needs to adapt to the catastrophic consequences if governments across the globe delay in taking any unprecedented policy corrections.A price on GHG emissions determined from climate economic modelling is called Social Cost of Carbon (SCC) or carbon price. SCC is defined as the net present value of climate damages from one more tonne of carbon dioxide (CO2) or equivalent, conditional on a global emissions trajectory over time . Among others, setting a price on greenhouse gas emissions is one of the effective policy instruments to address the negative externalities of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon pricing is implemented in almost 61 jurisdictions around the world covering 22% of global GHG emissions based on a report by the World Bank in 2020. According to this report, the range of carbon prices starts from 1 USD/tCO2e to 119 USD/tCO2e. However, the percentage coverage of global GHG emissions has almost doubled from 13% in 2016 with only 40 jurisdictions . The year 2016 was selected to compare the state of the global carbon pricing in the post-Paris Agreement in 2015. This is evidence by the adoption of carbon pricing which is expected to build its pace following this growing trend.
  • 476
  • 19 May 2021
Topic Review
LISWC System in Atlantic Canada
Landscape integrated soil and water conservation (LISWC) is a system designed to conserve and reuse soil and water within the landscape by integrating multiple BMPs based on an understanding of the landscape processes and knowledge about the BMPs. On a typical sloping field in Atlantic Canada, an LISWC system can be established by integrating BMPs such as diversion terraces and grassed waterways, tile drainage, water retention structures, supplemental irrigation, conservative tillage practices and soil–landscape restoration. 
  • 636
  • 18 May 2021
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