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
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).
  • 3.8K
  • 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. 
  • 1.3K
  • 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.
  • 1.6K
  • 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.
  • 853
  • 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. 
  • 1.1K
  • 18 May 2021
Topic Review
Modeling Approaches of Biogas Production
Biogas production is a relevant component in renewable energy systems. Model approaches of biogas production show different levels of detail. They can be classified as white, gray, and black box, or bottom-up and top-down approaches. On the one hand, biogas modeling can supply dynamic information on the anaerobic digestion process, e.g., to predict biogas yields or to optimize the anaerobic digestion process. These models are characterized by a bottom-up approach with different levels of detail: the comprehensive ADM1 (white box), simplifications and abstractions of AD models (gray box), or highly simplified process descriptions (black box). On the other hand, biogas production is included in energy system models. These models usually supply aggregated information on regional biogas potentials and greenhouse gas emissions. They are characterized by a top-down approach with a low level of detail. Most energy system models reported in literature are based on black box approaches. Considering the strengths and weaknesses of the integration of detailed and deeply investigated process models in energy system models reveals the opportunity to develop dynamic and fluctuating business models of biogas usage. 
  • 2.8K
  • 29 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Photocatalysis for Air Purification
Photocatalysis since a long time has been recognized  as a eco-technology to fight air pollution. It is focused  on the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROSs) under light on the surface of a photocatalytic material. It could be applied in different manners such as for the purification of industrial polluted air, photoconversion of toxic gas into valuable products, self-cleaning systems, photocatalytic filters, etc. However, it faces some technological issues limiting its wide application in real-world.  
  • 2.2K
  • 17 May 2021
Topic Review
Ecotoxicological Assessment of Microplastics
Microplastics (MPs) are tiny plastic particles (<5 mm). They have been classified as contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) recently. Microplastics is a commonly used term, the more detailed classification includes: mesoplastics (1–5 mm), microplastics (0.0001–1 mm), and nanoplastics (<0.1 µm).
  • 1.2K
  • 14 May 2021
Topic Review
MOFs for Mercury Detection
The advantages of metal organic frameworks (MOFs) are: existence of porosity to adsorb specific analyte, improved aqueous solubility, exceptional photophysical and chemical properties. MOFs are noted as exceptional candidates towards the detection and removal of specific analytes, particular for the detection/removal of environmental contaminants, such as heavy metal ions, toxic anions, hazardous gases, explosives, etc. Among heavy metal ions, mercury has been noted as a global hazard because of its high toxicity in the elemental (Hg0), divalent cationic (Hg2+), and methyl mercury (CH3Hg+) forms. To secure the environment and living organisms, many countries have imposed stringent regulations to monitor mercury at all costs. Regarding the detection/removal requirements of mercury, researchers have proposed and reported all kinds of MOFs-based luminescent/non-luminescent probes towards mercury.This review provides valuable information about the MOFs which have been engaged in detection and removal of elemental mercury and Hg2+ ions. Moreover, the involved mechanisms or adsorption isotherms related to sensors or removal studies are clarified for the readers. Finally, advantages and limitations of MOFs in mercury detection/removal are described together with future scopes.
  • 2.2K
  • 01 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Mycotoxins in Beverages
Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites of filamentous fungi that contaminate food products such as fruits, vegetables, cereals, beverages, and other agricultural commodities. 
  • 2.5K
  • 18 May 2021
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