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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Entries
Topic Review
Biotechnological Approaches Applied for Marine Hydrocarbon Spills Remediation
Biological and physico-chemical remediation technologies can be efficient in terms of spill cleanup and microorganisms—mainly bacteria—are the main ones responsible for petroleum hydrocarbons (PHCs) degradation such as crude oil. Biodegradation is considered as one of the most sustainable and efficient techniques for the removal of PHCs. 
  • 709
  • 18 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Classification of Lindane Based on the Isomeric Form
Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) is an artificial organic pollutant also called hexachlorane. It has eight isomeric forms, but of these eight isomeric forms, four α, -β, -γ, and δ-HCHs are the most prevalent. From this compound, γ-HCH (also known as lindane) is the most constant and commonly used compound, and it is the supreme isomer. Lindane is a broad-spectrum chlorinated insecticide that has a mixture of several chemical forms of HCH and is written as γ-Hexachlorocyclohexane or γ-HCH. Organic pollutants are normally pesticides, insecticides, or fertilizer, but HCH is an insecticide that is used on fruits, plants, and animals. Lindane is one of the earliest generations of chlorinated organic insecticides, appearing shortly after the end of World War II. All of the pollutants have the same physical and chemical properties. Therefore, it has also had PBT (Persistent, Bioaccumulative, and Toxic) properties.
  • 864
  • 18 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Co-Pyrolysis and Its Mechanism
Usually, a single feedstock is employed in pyrolysis for anoxygenic generation of biochar together with bio-oil at elevated temperatures (350–600 °C). Bio-oil produced through pyrolysis can be upgraded to crude oil after some modification. However, these modifications of bio-oil are one of the major drawbacks for its large-scale adoption, as upgradation increases the overall cost. Therefore, in recent years the scientific community has been researching co-pyrolysis technology that involves the pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass waste with non-biodegradable waste. Co-pyrolysis reduces the need for post-modification of bio-oil, unlike pyrolysis of a single feedstock. 
  • 2.4K
  • 18 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Wood Formation in Plants
Unlike herbaceous plants, woody plants undergo volumetric growth (a.k.a. secondary growth) through wood formation, during which the secondary xylem (i.e., wood) differentiates from the vascular cambium. Wood is the most abundant biomass on Earth and, by absorbing atmospheric carbon dioxide, functions as one of the largest carbon sinks. As a sustainable and eco-friendly energy source, lignocellulosic biomass can help address environmental pollution and the global climate crisis.
  • 3.4K
  • 15 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Indoor Air Quality in Elderly Centers
The elderly segment of the population is more vulnerable to adverse environmental conditions. Indoor air quality is one of the most relevant health determinant, especially for elders resident in Care Centers because elders spend most time indoors. The recent COVID-19 pandemic contributed greately to raise awareness on the importance of breathing safe air without biological and physical-chemical contaminants. The heath effects on elders of the main pollutants are discussed in this topic.
  • 879
  • 15 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Unravelling Plant Cell Death in Host Plants
Pathogens within the oomycete genus Phytophthora are among some of the most destructive plant pathogens globally, causing disease and significant losses in important agricultural and forestry crops, damaging the environment, as well as impeding attempts to mitigate climate change. What is of increasing interest is the involvement of Phytophthora effectors in regulating programed cell death (PCD)—in particular, the hypersensitive response. 
  • 392
  • 14 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Using Remote Sensing to Detect Suspended Sediment
Glacier-fed hydrological systems in high latitude regions experience high seasonal variation in meltwater runoff. The peak in runoff usually coincides with the highest air temperatures which drive meltwater production. This process is often accompanied by the release of sediments from within the glacier system that are transported and suspended in high concentrations as they reach the proglacial realm. Sediment-laden meltwater is later transported to the marine environment and is expressed on the surface of fjords and coastal waters as sediment plumes. Direct monitoring of these processes requires complex and time-intensive fieldwork, meaning studies of these processes are rare. 
  • 529
  • 13 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Euphorbia neriifolia Linn.
Medicinal plants have considerable potential as antimicrobial agents due to the presence of secondary metabolites. Researchers aim to summarize the classification, morphology, and ethnobotanical uses of Euphorbia neriifolia L. and its derived phytochemicals with the recent updates on the pharmacological properties against emerging infectious diseases, mainly focusing on bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic infections. 
  • 1.6K
  • 14 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Governance on Carbon Dioxide Emissions in Africa
The connection linking economic growth (ECG), tourism, and environmental pollution problems has been extensively argued. Extant research has investigated the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) assumptions from empirical and theoretical perspectives to measure the connection between the environment’s quality and economic growth. Environmental issues are quantified by factors such as ECG, tourism (TOUR), governance (GOV), urbanization, energy consumption, and financial development. Furthermore, most studies employed the environmental EKC theory to reveal the significance of the connection of variables foreign direct investment (FDI), TOUR, and ECG to an economy.
  • 498
  • 12 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Smart Farm and Forest Operations Needs Human-Centered AI
The main impetus for the global efforts toward the current digital transformation in almost all areas of our daily lives is due to the great successes of artificial intelligence (AI), and in particular, the workhorse of AI, statistical machine learning (ML). The intelligent analysis, modeling, and management of agricultural and forest ecosystems, and of the use and protection of soils, already play important roles in securing our planet for future generations and will become irreplaceable in the future. AI in areas that matter to human life (agriculture, forestry, climate, health, etc.) has led to an increased need for trustworthy AI with two main components: explainability and robustness.
  • 514
  • 12 Jul 2022
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