Sustainable Environment最新文献

{"title":"Environmental risk assessment of heavy metals contamination in the catchment of small-scale mining enclave in Prestea Huni-Valley District, Ghana","authors":"S. Wiafe, Eric Awuah Yeboah, E. Boakye, S. Ofosu","doi":"10.1080/27658511.2022.2062825","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/27658511.2022.2062825","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT The activities of illegal mining have caused devastating effect to the environment, particularly, water and soil. There is therefore the need to ascertain the extent of pollution these activities have caused both soil and water bodies. To this end, this study seeks to identify the prevalence of heavy metal contamination in soil and surface water, determine the correlation between the dominant heavy metals and to ascertain the ecological risk of pollutants in both the waterbody and the soil. The levels of nine predominant heavy metals within Prestea-Huni Valley District of artisanal mining sites were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS). The extent of pollution within the soil and surface water was determined using Enrichment Factor (EF), Geoaccumulation Index (Igeo), Pollution Index (PI) and Contamination Factor (CF). The concentration of metals in water were below WHO permissible limits, except Ni and Co. The mean concentration of Hg and Cd in the soils of the study area were 2.02 mg/kg and 13.2 mg/kg respectively, which exceeded the WHO permissible limits. The study revealed that the soil and water samples were polluted with heavy metals, particularly Hg and Cd. It is recommended that the polluted sites should be remediated using eco-friendly approach. In addition, Artisanal Mining activities need to be properly regulated to protect both water and soil from further pollution.","PeriodicalId":29858,"journal":{"name":"Sustainable Environment","volume":"10 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2022-04-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"73539737","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"How to understand carbon neutrality in the context of climate change? With special reference to China","authors":"Feng Kong, Yifei Wang","doi":"10.1080/27658511.2022.2062824","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/27658511.2022.2062824","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Understanding the scientific goals and practical processes of carbon neutrality is a hot topic of current interest to both academic and practical communities. A scientific and correct understanding of carbon neutrality is an important prerequisite for all mankind to deal with climate change and is of great significance to promote the smooth implementation of carbon neutral related policies. Firstly, this paper describes the scientific connotation and practical significance of carbon neutrality from three aspects: the concept of carbon neutrality, the object of carbon removal, and carbon neutrality in macro and micro perspectives. Then, starting from the current characteristics of global carbon emissions, this paper summarizes the main progress, specific implementation measures, policies, resources, technologies, markets and major problems faced by countries in the current global carbon neutrality process. Finally, this paper describes Chinas carbon neutrality goals and roadmap, summarizes the challenges facing Chinas carbon neutrality implementation, and proposes key measures to advance the carbon neutrality process in the future. That is to promote the efficient and clean use of coal, accelerate the replacement of clean energy, enhance the role of natural gas as a bridge in the low-carbon transformation, vigorously develop the “green hydrogen” industry and its industrial chain, increase the application and promotion of CO2 burial and storage, develop carbon conversion and forest carbon sinks, and establish a market mechanism to control carbon emissions.","PeriodicalId":29858,"journal":{"name":"Sustainable Environment","volume":"11 6 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2022-04-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"79351641","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Analysing the spatial patterns and trends of urban growth in Rohtak city, India","authors":"Manju Sharma, Sandeep Kumar","doi":"10.1080/27658511.2022.2051268","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/27658511.2022.2051268","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT The phenomenon of urban growth is a complicated one. It is the outcome of numerous social, economic, ecological, cultural, and even political circumstances. Rapid urbanization generally occurs due to the disbursement of peripheral prime agricultural land, destroying the natural landscape in the process. Rohtak city is a fast-growing city in India’s National Capital Region (NCR). The physical development of the city and land use/land covers are measured using Landsat satellite data. ArcGIS and Erdas software have been used for making the map, image processing and classification. In this study, five major land use and cover categories, built-up area, agricultural land, vegetation, bare/open land and water bodies, are used. The spatial arrangement and urban growth trends in Rohtak are examined using Shannon’s Entropy index. Results show that Rohtak city has witnessed four-fold growth in its built-up area (from 1640.79 hectares in 1991 to 6686.36 hectares in 2021) in thirty years of the study. However, the planned and unplanned residential and commercial arrangements have appeared on all sides throughout the periods. Yet, the city expanded its limits mainly in north, north-eastern and south-eastern sides along with the major transport routes to New Delhi, Sonipat and Panipat. It is primarily a result of government policies and proximity to the capital city.","PeriodicalId":29858,"journal":{"name":"Sustainable Environment","volume":"42 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2022-04-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"78647678","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Surface interactions of oxytetracycline on municipal solid waste-derived biochar–montmorillonite composite","authors":"M. Weerasooriyagedara, A. Ashiq, S. R. Gunatilake, D. Giannakoudakis, M. Vithanage","doi":"10.1080/27658511.2022.2046324","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/27658511.2022.2046324","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT A composite material prepared from municipal solid waste-derived biochar and montmorillonite (MSW-BC-MMT) was studied as a remediation medium for the removal of oxytetracycline (OTC) from aqueous systems. The morphological characterization using SEM images revealed that the composite had a heterogeneous flaky, plate-like surface appearance. Based on N2 adsorption experiments and compared to the pristine biochar, the composite showed an increased specific surface area by 1.5 folds. The three-parameter Redlich Peterson isotherm model and two-parameter Temkin isotherm model were best fitted with R2 = 0.998 and 0.997, respectively, both for the pristine biochar and the MSW-BC-MMT composite. Additionally, the kinetics was best described using the pseudo-second-order model, suggesting that OTC adsorption onto the composite takes place via chemisorption. A capacity of 233 mg g−1 was observed for the MSW-BC-MMT, which is suggested to be predominantly governed by π-π electron donor–acceptor interactions, electrostatic attraction and surface complexation. As evidenced by FTIR results, OTC was presumed to be adsorbed via hydrogen bonding as well. The value addition of MSW by producing MSW-derived biochar is considered a favorable solution for solid waste management. Therefore, the production of the MSW-BC-MMT composite becomes useful due to its significance in acting as a simultaneous MSW management technique and a low-cost material for antibiotic OTC remediation. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT","PeriodicalId":29858,"journal":{"name":"Sustainable Environment","volume":"4 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2022-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"78311726","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Grazing management and carbon sequestration in the Dry Lowland Rangelands of Southern Ethiopia","authors":"M. Denboba","doi":"10.1080/27658511.2022.2046959","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/27658511.2022.2046959","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Rangelands occupy more than half of the terrestrial ecosystems and their management has a significant impact on the global carbon cycle. They are often managed for pasture and forage for livestock. This study examined impact of grazing management practices on biomass and carbon stock in dry lowland rangelands. A systematic transect sampling was applied to measure vegetation data, and to collect soil and herbaceous samples from the field. Allometric and species-specific equations were used to determine the woody biomass. Herbaceous biomass and soil carbon were analyzed in a laboratory. The results showed that herbaceous vegetation accounted for 5–15% of the total carbon stock while the woody vegetation accounted only for 0.3–1% of the total carbon stock. The soil is the largest carbon pool holding more than 90 % of the total carbon. Enclosures and bush clearing favored more herbaceous growth and changed the vegetation dynamics. As a result, the grasslands sequestered significantly high (P < 0.05) amount of soil carbon compared to the bush lands and the tree savannah. The management practices improved total carbon sequestration by 12.2%—26% in the system. There is high seasonal dynamics in the herbaceous carbon with a significant increase (P < 0.5) during the wet season. Soil carbon showed an inverse relationship with stem density, soil bulk density and slope. Rainfall and altitude have a positive influence on soil carbon. Total carbon stock in the managed rangelands was 19.8% higher than in the unmanaged rangelands. It can be concluded that enclosures and bush clearing enhance soil carbon sequestration. At the estimated annual sequestration rate of 1.6–3.5 t CO2e ha−1 yr−1 into the soil and 2.2–5.6 t CO2e ha−1 yr−1 into the total carbon stock in the system, the rangelands can make significant contribution to climate change mitigation.","PeriodicalId":29858,"journal":{"name":"Sustainable Environment","volume":"2020 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2022-03-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"78539763","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessment of perceptions and practices of electronic waste management among commercial consumers in Ho, Ghana","authors":"Christian Dzah, Jonathan O. Agyapong, Michael W. Apprey, Kafui T. Agbevanu, Patrick K. Kagbetor","doi":"10.1080/27658511.2022.2048465","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/27658511.2022.2048465","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Attitudes and behaviours towards e-waste management among commercial consumers in Ho Municipal, the capital city of the Volta Region, Ghana, will become detrimental to humans and the environment at large. This research aims to examine the perception and practices of e-waste among commercial consumers in the capital city of the Volta Region of Ghana and to document the overall characteristics of e-waste management to help raise awareness about the growing e-waste threats to the environment and to engender discussions to find a lasting solution to the issues. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Ho municipality during May and June of 2021. The purposive sampling approach was used to select 200 participants from institutions/organisations. Data was collected using a standardized questionnaire, which was then entered and analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 16. The significance of relationships was determined using binary logistic regression analysis with <0.05 p-value and the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI), and Likert scale analysis with mean response values. Among the 200 participants, there is a high level of knowledge of e-waste and its negative impact on commercial consumers, but there was a low level of awareness of laws and government regulations. The participants’ knowledge of the awareness of e-waste was significantly related to their qualification; 2.472 (95% CI: 1.476–4.142), p = 0.001(<0.05). Moreover, most respondents were aware of toxic/hazardous compounds in e-waste materials, yet they ranked the environmental effect of e-waste as minimal and exhibited poor practices for disposing of their e-waste. We recommend that the existing legislation passed by the parliament of Ghana should be made known and available to the public through continuous televised programs on national television to educate the general public on e-waste management practices due to the lack of awareness and practices in e-waste management.","PeriodicalId":29858,"journal":{"name":"Sustainable Environment","volume":"8 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2022-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"79042159","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Climate finance readiness: A review of institutional frameworks and policies in Kenya","authors":"Mercy Kiremu, F. Scrimgeour, J. Mutegi, Richard Mumo","doi":"10.1080/27658511.2021.2022569","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/27658511.2021.2022569","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT A significant increase in low carbon investments is required to limit global warming to less than 2° C. For example, about USD 900 billion should be invested annually in the energy sector up to 2030 to meet this target. Climate finance provides opportunities for investments in climate-smart projects. Such investments could enhance Africa’s adaptive capacity, food security and economic growth. Nonetheless, Africa lags behind in the access and utilisation of these funds. Climate finance readiness plays a major role in enhancing access to these funds. This paper analyses policy and institutional frameworks that would enhance Kenya’s readiness for climate finance. Publicly available scholarly articles, government and development partners reports were profiled using the following key words: Kenya, climate change, climate mitigation and climate adaptation. Then the keywords; climate finance, climate policy and legislation were used to identify the most relevant publications. These were reviewed to assess Kenya’s readiness for climate finance. The study finds that considerable efforts have been made to enhance Kenya’s readiness for climate finance as evidenced by the formulation of climate-related policies, legislation and the creation of institutions tasked to address climate change. Nonetheless, some policy areas could be enhanced. For instance, the role of the private sector could be better recognised and supported. This study provides an important reference for the government, development partners and private sector involved in negotiations and decision making on climate financing in Kenya.","PeriodicalId":29858,"journal":{"name":"Sustainable Environment","volume":"20 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2022-02-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"91007951","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessment of trace metals in soil and vegetable samples irrigated from Borkena river, South Wollo Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia","authors":"Yirgalem Assefa Welde Amanuel, Alemnew Berhanu Kassegne","doi":"10.1080/27658511.2022.2035045","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/27658511.2022.2035045","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Due to rapid industrialization and urbanization, large quantities of wastes are released into the rivers of Kombolcha city. The vegetables grown on the polluted sites can take up potentially toxic trace metals at concentrations, which are toxic to human health. The current study determined the amount of potentially toxic trace metals in soil and vegetable samples grown around polluted river and assessed the potential health risks to consumers. Samples were collected in June 2020, digested using the wet digestion method and analyzed quantitatively using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES). The concentrations of selected trace metals in soil samples were much lower than the recommended limit; however, the levels of nickel, lead and cadmium in vegetable samples were above the international guideline values. The result also indicated that the average target hazard quotient of lead, nickel and cadmium in most studied areas were higher than the limit. The target hazard quotients of these potentially toxic trace metals were higher in lettuce vegetables especially in children consumer. Thus, frequent consumption of lettuce may cause a health risk in children.","PeriodicalId":29858,"journal":{"name":"Sustainable Environment","volume":"101 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2022-02-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"88967167","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"How to realize the better integrated disaster risk governance by public financial investment in China?","authors":"Feng Kong","doi":"10.1080/27658511.2021.2007592","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/27658511.2021.2007592","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Catastrophe risk has become one of the important factors threatening the sustainable development of the world. Facing the catastrophe risk, the government bears the responsibility of integrated disaster risk governance. The Chinese government’s involvement in integrated disaster risk governance begins with financial pressure, and the limited nature of existing public finance requires the government to optimize fiscal investment. How to achieve the optimization of the Chinese government’s public financial investment in integrated disaster risk governance is the core topic of this paper. This paper first analyzes the role of the government in the integrated disaster risk governance, and then analyzes the optimization problem of government public financial investment from the structural system and functional system of integrated disaster risk governance. This paper holds that the government needs to accurately evaluate the disaster risk and the cost and benefit of investment in the integrated disaster risk governance. Finally, this paper analyzes the difficulties faced by the government in terms of cost and benefit of integrated disaster risk governance, and proposes that the government’s ability to cope with catastrophe needs to be improved from the aspects of study and judgment ability of catastrophe chain, catastrophe impact and disaster relief resource reserve capacity.","PeriodicalId":29858,"journal":{"name":"Sustainable Environment","volume":"301 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2021-12-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"89039252","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"An assessment of heavy metal exposure risk associated with consumption of cabbage and carrot grown in a tropical Savannah region","authors":"B. Fonge, Makeu Tangoufo Larissa, Awo Miranda Egbe, Y. Afanga, Nsoh Goodenough Fru, V. Ngole-Jeme","doi":"10.1080/27658511.2021.1909860","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/27658511.2021.1909860","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Indiscriminate use of fertilizers by vegetable growers and poor water quality of irrigational water characterize vegetable production in most parts of Cameroon. The concentrations of As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn in the soil, cabbage and carrot cultivated in Santa, North West Region, Cameroon were assessed to determine potential ecological and human health risk associated with the consumption of these two vegetables. Heavy metal concentrations were determined using a ContrAA 300 Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer after microwave digestion. The concentrations of As (0.51 mg/kg and 0.38 mg/kg), Co (1.41 mg/kg and 1.39 mg/kg) and Pb (1.36 mg/kg and 1.31 mg/kg) in the cabbage and carrot, respectively, were above the WHO/FAO, permissible limits for human consumption. Health risk index values for Co in cabbage (2.31 mg/kg) and carrot (2.26 mg/kg) indicated significant risks from Co exposure. Geo-accumulation Index indicated that soils from most sites were contaminated. The populations consuming these vegetables are at risk of As, Co and Pb toxicity. Monitoring and sensitization of farmers on the effects of indiscriminate use of agrochemicals is very necessary to protect the health of consumers and preserve the soil quality.","PeriodicalId":29858,"journal":{"name":"Sustainable Environment","volume":"7 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2021-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"76749140","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}