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 Mercury Monitoring
The GMOS (Global Mercury Observation System) project has the overall goal to develop a coordinated observing system to monitor mercury on a global scale. We present the long-term (2011 – 2020) air mercury monitoring data obtained at the Listvyanka station located at a shore of Lake Baikal, Siberia. The long-term monitoring shows obvious seasonal variation of the background mercury concentration in air, which increases in the cold and decreases in the warm season. The short-term anomalies are associated with the wind carrying the air from the industrial areas where several big coal-fired power plants are located. A positive correlation between the mercury, SO2 and NO2 concentrations is observed both in the short-term variations and in the monthly average concentrations. The analysis of forward and backward trajectories obtained with the HYSPLIT model demonstrates revealing of the mercury emissions sources. During the cruise of 2018, the continuous air mercury survey over Lake Baikal covered 1800 km. The average mercury concentration over Baikal is notably less in comparison with the average value obtained at the onshore Listvyanka station during the same days of cruise. That can lead to the conclusion that Baikal is a significant sink of the atmospheric mercury.
  • 1.1K
  • 15 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Post-Mining Landscape in Indonesia
Tropical forests are among the most diverse ecosystems in the world, completed by huge biodiversity. An expansion in natural resource extraction through open-pit mining activities leads to increasing land and tropical forest degradation. Proper science-based practices are needed as an effort to reclaim their function.
  • 2.1K
  • 14 Jul 2021
Topic Review
SRI Gaps and Future Perspectives
In 2018, the European Commission adopted the Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI) concept in the recast of the directive on the energy efficiency of buildings. The set of SRIs is a measure of the intelligence of buildings systems, and its promotion is expected to contribute to the energy savings of the building sector. T
  • 956
  • 09 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Production of Electrolytic Manganese Dioxide
The ferromanganese (FeMn) alloy is produced through the smelting-reduction of manganese ores in submerged arc furnaces. This process generates large amounts of furnace dust that is environmentally problematic for storage. Due to its fineness and high volatile content, this furnace dust cannot be recirculated through the process, either. Conventional MnO2 production requires the pre-reduction of low-grade ores at around 900 °C to convert the manganese oxides present in the ore into their respective acid-soluble forms; however, the furnace dust is a partly reduced by-product. A hydrometallurgical route is proposed to valorize the waste dust for the production of battery-grade MnO2. By using dextrin, a cheap organic reductant, the direct and complete dissolution of the manganese in the furnace dust is possible without any need for high-temperature pre-reduction. The leachate is then purified through pH adjustment followed by direct electrowinning for electrolytic manganese dioxide (EMD) production. An overall manganese recovery rate of >90% is achieved. 
  • 7.0K
  • 08 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Workplace Based Sampler Comparison Review
A narrative review on peer-reviewed literature reporting comparisons of personal samplers in workplace settings published between 2004 and 2020 was carried out. Search terms were developed for Web of Science and PubMed bibliographic databases. The retrieved studies were screened for relevance, with those studies meeting the inclusion criteria being taken forward to data extraction (22 studies). The inhalable fraction was the most common fraction assessed, with the IOM sampler being the most studied sampler. The most common workplace environment where samplers had been compared was that where metals/metalloids were present. The requirements of EN13205 standard (Workplace exposure. Assessment of sampler performance for measurement of airborne particle concentrations) have also been considered, with these requirements not currently being met, or at least referred to, in the reviewed literature. A number of conclusions have been drawn from this narrative review. For studies that reported correction factors, no discernible trends could be identified.
  • 1.5K
  • 08 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Biosafety of Genome Editing Applications
In the European Union plants developed by novel genomic techniques for directed mutagenesis are have to undergo an Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA) prior to release or placing on the market. However, specific guidance for such an ERA is still lacking. In this review we discuss the limited suitability of general denominators of risk/safety to predict the risks associated with individual genome edited (GE) plants and argue that there is no safety by default for whole groups of GE applications encompassing different individual GE organisms. We suggest integrating the following two sets of considerations into the ERA to address particular characteristics of GE plants: considerations related to the traits developed by GE and considerations addressing the assessment of method-related unintended effects, e.g. due to off-target modifications. In conclusion, we recommend that further specific guidance for the ERA and monitoring should be developed to facilitate a focused assessment approach for GE plants. 
  • 890
  • 08 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Radionuclides in Mosses
The science of the mosses, bryology, knows three main categories of mosses according to constitution and habit. Hornworts (anthocerotophyta), liverworts and bryophytes. The latter are most common. Mosses are non-vascular plants. They adsorb water and nutrients mainly through their leaves. They have a rhizoid only for fixation on the substrate. A water conducting function of the rhizoid is not known. Mosses are suitable as bio-indicator plants. They can take up contaminants and radionuclides directly from the air. Compared to other plants they dispose of a higher surface area. Therefore, there is an ability for accumulation effects. Further, mosses dispose of an active metabolism also in winter. The monitoring of mosses and lichens is well described in literature. Focus in the papers about mosses is on heavy metals, nutrients and air contaminants. Only few papers deal with radio contaminants. 
  • 954
  • 09 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Multilevel Single Use Plastics Governance
Unsustainable production and consumption patterns of single-use plastics (SUP) are causing worldwide negative environmental and socioeconomic impacts on land-based and marine ecosystems. As a transboundary problem, global governance of plastics includes international agreements and voluntary multi-stakeholder platforms, focused mainly on oceans and marine life. Nevertheless, adaptation and mitigation strategies are required in local territories. National governments and municipalities have approved uneven local policies with inconsistent standards. This entry briefly discusses plastic pollution, global and regional responses, particular emphasis in Latin America, and the regional framework of the Pacific Alliance. 
  • 1.7K
  • 07 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Heat Stress and Decision Tools
Over the last few decades, Urban Heat Stress (UHS) has become a crucial concern of scientists and policy-makers. Many projects have been implemented to mitigate Urban Heat Island (UHI) effects using nature-based solutions. However, decision-making and selecting an adequate framework are difficult because of complex interactions between natural, social, economic and built environments. This paper contributes to the UHI issue by (i) identifying the most important key factors of a Decision Support Tool (DST) used for urban heat mitigation, (ii) presenting multi-criteria methods applied to urban heat resilience, (iii) reviewing existing spatial and non-spatial DSTs, (iv) and analyzing, classifying and ranking DSTs. It aims to help decision-makers through an overview of the pros and cons of existing DSTs and indicate which tool is providing maximum support for choosing and planning heat resilience measures from the designing phase to the heat mitigation phase. This review shows that Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) can be used for any pilot site and the criteria can be adapted to the given location accordingly. It also highlights that GIS-based spatial tools have an effective decision support system (DSS) because they offer a quick assessment of interventions and predict long-term effects of urban heat. A comparative study using specific chosen criteria concludes that the DSS tool is well suited and fulfils many prerequisites to support new policies and interventions to mitigate UHS.   
  • 1.0K
  • 07 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Removal of Pesticides from Waters
Pesticides are pollutants found in wastewater due to increasing agricultural activities over the years. Inappropriate dosing of pesticides results in the dispersal of active ingredients in the environment. The complete removal of pesticides from wastewater is an immediate concern due to their high toxicity and mobility. At present, adsorption is one of the most widely used methods for pesticide removal, in which synthetic zeolites and mesoporous silica materials are extensively applied. This article presents a systematic and comparative review of the applications and comparison of these adsorbents, based on the data reported in the literature.
  • 1.4K
  • 07 Jul 2021
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