Environmental Quality Management最新文献

{"title":"Correction to “Real-Time Monitoring of Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM10) in Douala, Cameroon: Spatiotemporal Variations and Associated Health Risks”","authors":"","doi":"10.1002/tqem.70197","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/tqem.70197","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Aguh, A. N., N. M. Ngwabie, and J. Boman. 2025. “Real-Time Monitoring of Particulate Matter (PM_2.5 and PM₁₀) in Douala, Cameroon: Spatiotemporal Variations and Associated Health Risks.” <i>Environmental Quality Management</i> 35: e70151. https://doi.org/10.1002/tqem.70151</p><p>In this article, at the level of the authors’ names, the name Ngwabie Martin Ngwabie is incorrect. We have corrected the author's name from “Ngwabie Martin Ngwabie” to “Ngwa Martin Ngwabie.”</p><p>Secondly, the honorific “prof” is taken off from “Johan Boman” and “Ngwa Martin Ngwabie” in the author byline.</p><p>We sincerely apologize for this error.</p>","PeriodicalId":35327,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Quality Management","volume":"35 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/tqem.70197","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145223903","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Probabilistic Assessment of Non-Carcinogenic Health Risks Posed by Groundwater Iron and Fluoride in Indo-Bangladesh International Frontier Town in West Bengal, India","authors":"Joydeep Ghosh,&nbsp;Sandip Kumar Das,&nbsp;Arun Kumar Pramanik,&nbsp;Deepanjan Majumdar,&nbsp;Tirthankar Ghosh,&nbsp;Mobarok Hossain,&nbsp;Abhik Chatterjee","doi":"10.1002/tqem.70190","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/tqem.70190","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>During the post-monsoon season of 2023, groundwater quality in 25 wards of Balurghat Municipality, a frontier town in Dakshin Dinajpur District of West Bengal along the Indo-Bangladesh border, was evaluated. Information on groundwater quality, its suitability for drinking, and associated health risks in this area are scarce, despite this region's growing reliance on it. A comprehensive assessment of fluoride (F⁻) and iron (Fe) concentration, hydrogeochemical facies, and estimation of the entropy-weighted water quality index (EWQI) in conjunction with health risk modeling addresses the said research gap. The findings indicate that 96% and 64% of the samples had Fe and F⁻ levels above the respective BIS and WHO safe limits. Hydrogeochemical analysis revealed Na-HCO₃ and Ca-HCO₃ as the two principal types of water. According to the EWQI, only 8% of the samples were fit for human consumption, 64% were moderately fit, while 28% were not fit. As per non-carcinogenic health risk assessment by deploying Hazard Quotient (HQ) values, F⁻ exposure was estimated to be &gt; 1 in all age groups, with children having the highest HQ values, followed by infants and adults. For both F⁻ and Fe, Monte Carlo simulations (10,000 and 5000 trials using Microsoft Excel and Oracle Crystal Ball software) verified increased risks, especially in younger populations. This study provides a robust insight into groundwater quality in an international border region and highlights the pressing need for the provision of clean drinking water towards protection of public health.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":35327,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Quality Management","volume":"35 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145224467","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":"Comparative Analysis of Uranium Removal From Water by Amended Waste Based Adsorbents","authors":"Kaptan Singh,&nbsp;Priya Dimri,&nbsp; Priya,&nbsp;Rajesh Singh,&nbsp;Sandeep Singh,&nbsp;Prasanta Kumar Sahoo,&nbsp;Sumant Kumar,&nbsp;Govind Pandey,&nbsp;Arunima Nayak","doi":"10.1002/tqem.70193","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/tqem.70193","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Uranium (U) in drinking water has toxic and carcinogenic effects on human beings and therefore needs to be removed before drinking. This study used waste-based amended adsorbent materials, copper microparticles (CMP), treated bio sludge (TBS), and treated graphene oxide (TGO), for the removal of uranium toxicity from water. FE-SEM images of CMP, TBS, and TGO adsorbents represented sulfur and manganese on the surface of CMP, TBS, and TGO after chemical treatment, which increased the active surface area and simultaneously attached sites for the uranium in the order of TGO &gt; CMP &gt; TBS and played the crucial role in the removal of uranium from the contaminated water. TGO was the most suitable adsorbent, followed by CMP and TBS, for the removal of U from water. The maximum adsorption capacity of uranium was 0.135 mg/g of TGO, followed by the CMP and TBS at 0.128 and 0.084 mg/g; however, the optimum percentage of removal of U from the water was in the order of 90.2%, 76.8%, and 60.5% by TGO, CMP, and TBS, respectively.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":35327,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Quality Management","volume":"35 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145224203","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 Air Pollutants Emitted During Bio-Based Briquette Combustion Using AiRBoxSense","authors":"Nurul Ain Ab Jalil,&nbsp;Mohd Shahrul Mohd Nadzir,&nbsp;Nur Asyikin Mokhtaruddin,&nbsp;Chin Hua Chia,&nbsp;Irfana Kabir Ahmad,&nbsp;Mohamad Jani Saad,&nbsp;Mahanim Sarif","doi":"10.1002/tqem.70191","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/tqem.70191","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study investigates air pollutants emitted during briquette combustion in indoor environments with a focus on nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), as well as particulate matter (PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀). Briquettes made from plastic face masks and biomass wastes are sustainable alternatives to conventional fuels; however, their combustion poses potential risks due to the release of harmful pollutants. Pollutant concentrations were measured using AiRBoxSense sensors for real-time air quality monitoring in briquettes composed of <i>Imperata cylindrica</i> (IC), mango peels (MP), plastic face masks (FM), and their combinations (IC:MP, IC:FM, FM:MP). Key pollutants, which are NO₂, SO₂, CO, PM₂.₅, and PM₁₀, were prioritized based on their well-documented health and environmental implications. NO₂ and SO₂ serve as combustion markers and are associated with respiratory disorders and acid deposition, respectively. CO is a toxic gas that poses significant risks in confined spaces, while PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀ exacerbate respiratory and cardiovascular conditions through particulate pollution. The findings revealed that NO₂ was undetectable in <i>IC</i> briquettes but was present in MP, FM, and blended briquettes, with concentrations up to 0.316 ppm. SO₂ concentrations ranged from 2.10 to 12.55 ppm, CO levels spanned from 3.58 to 9.31 ppm, PM₂.₅ concentrations ranged from 0.0011 to 0.0543 mg/m³, and PM₁₀ from 0.0017 to 0.0725 mg/m³. These results highlight the potential health risks associated with briquette combustion, particularly regarding SO₂, CO, PM₂.₅, and PM₁₀ emissions. Additionally, this study demonstrates the utility of AiRBoxSense sensors in real-time monitoring of air quality and highlights the necessity for further investigation into emissions from alternative bio-based fuel sources to ensure their safety and sustainability.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":35327,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Quality Management","volume":"35 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145146855","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":"Evaluation of Hydroponic Methods for Cultivation of Gynura procumbens (Longevity Spinach) in an Aquaponic System","authors":"Sani Amril Samsudin,&nbsp;Muhd Nazrul Hisham Zainal Alam,&nbsp;Nuramalia Adzman,&nbsp;Mohd Johari Kamaruddin","doi":"10.1002/tqem.70202","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/tqem.70202","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The purpose of this study is to investigate the performance of different types of hydroponic growers on plant growth yield and nutrient uptakes for growing <i>Gynura procumbens (G. procumbens)</i> in an aquaponics system. A backyard-sized aquaponics unit was realized containing different types of growers, namely media grow beds, deep water culture, and nutrient film technique (vertical and horizontal systems). Experiments were carried out for 8 weeks in which water quality, fish growth, and plant yield were monitored on a weekly basis. Other parameters measured include water temperature, pH, total suspended solids (TSS), and dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration. Water temperature, pH, TSS, and DO concentration values remain within the reasonable limit for growing <i>G. procumbens</i> and culturing hybrid tilapia (<i>Oreochromis</i> spp.). A high ammonia-to-nitrate conversion was achieved for the studied aquaponics system. This indicated that the nitrifying bacteria population in the system was effective in converting ammonia to nitrates. Nitrates are indeed essential in plant growth. It was also found that the highest plant yield was achieved in the deep water culture unit, where <i>G. procumbens</i> grew fourfold higher throughout the 8-week cultivation period.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":35327,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Quality Management","volume":"35 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145146987","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":"Exploring the Reusability of Oil Refinery Sludge Post Blending With Natural Bulking Agents: Comparing the Suitability of Rice Husk and Cow Dung Manure","authors":"Snigdha Nath,&nbsp;Subhasish Das","doi":"10.1002/tqem.70203","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/tqem.70203","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Oil refinery sludge (ORS) is a chemically heterogeneous industrial waste with known environmental risks. However, there is a scarcity of knowledge pertaining to its reutilization. The present study proposes an eco-friendly approach toward resource recovery from ORS by blending it in equal proportions with natural bulking agents viz. rice husk (RH) and cow dung manure (CDM) (i.e., ORS + RH 1:1 and ORS + CDM 1:1). The structural, thermal, and chemical attributes were studied in detail through scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX), carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen elemental analyzer (CHN), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis-derivative thermogravimetry (TGA-DTG), atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses to choose the superior blend. Additionally, the pollution potential of the blended ORS was computed to ascertain its relative eco-toxicity. The pH, C:N and C:P ratios of ORS + RH were optimum with lesser heavy metal contents than ORS + CDM. SEM-EDX revealed good microstructural integrity, porosity, and higher SiO₂ bi-layers on the surface of RH mixed ORS. We also observed a thermal reactive profile in ORS + RH with better combustion efficiency (5.2 2 × 10⁻⁰⁷%²°C⁻³ min⁻²) than ORS + CDM (2.30 × 10⁻⁰⁷%²°C⁻³ min⁻²). GC-MS detected 581 compound signatures in total, where 63 and 139 were unique to ORS + RH and ORS + CDM, respectively. Notably higher pollution potential was also depicted by CDM blended ORS than its RH counterpart. Overall, our findings infer that RH is a suitable alternative in ORS reusability and valorization.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":35327,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Quality Management","volume":"35 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145146817","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":"Impacts of Biomass-Derived Biochar on Plant Nutrition, Soil Function, and Agricultural Sustainability: A Review","authors":"Kirthana Ramesh,&nbsp;Yuvaraj Dinakarkumar,&nbsp;Koteswara Reddy Gujjula,&nbsp;Lakshmi Sowjanya Kotaru,&nbsp;Parthiban Brindha Devi,&nbsp;Vivek Pazhamalai,&nbsp;Sagayaraj Ivo Romauld","doi":"10.1002/tqem.70198","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/tqem.70198","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Biochar, a carbon-rich material derived from the pyrolysis of organic biomass, has emerged as a promising biotechnological solution for enhancing sustainable agricultural practices. This paper reviews the role of biochar in manure management, with a focus on its physicochemical properties and their implications for nutrient recycling and environmental impact mitigation. Biochar's large surface area and porous structure enable effective adsorption and retention of nutrients and contaminants, thereby reducing nutrient losses and enhancing nutrient availability for crops. Moreover, its integration into manure systems has shown potential in mitigating ammonia volatilization, reducing odor emissions, and inhibiting pathogenic activity, addressing key challenges in livestock waste management. The review explores biochar's interaction with microbial communities in manure, its influence on nutrient cycling, and its contribution to greenhouse gas reduction and soil health improvement. Challenges and opportunities in optimizing biochar-based biotechnological applications are also discussed, highlighting the need for advanced research and innovation to integrate biochar into sustainable agricultural systems effectively. This paper aligns with the journal's focus on novel biocatalytic and biotechnological approaches to address pressing agricultural and environmental issues.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":35327,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Quality Management","volume":"35 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145146504","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":"Encapsulation of Urea Into Bio-Based Adhesive to Improve Its Degradation Rate in Soil and Studying Its Release Mechanism","authors":"Yihun Wasie,&nbsp;Selvakumar Periyasamy,&nbsp;Melakuu Tesfaye","doi":"10.1002/tqem.70195","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/tqem.70195","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Urea is the most widely used fertilizer, supplying 46% nitrogen, the most essential nutrient for plant growth. However, its nitrogen delivery system is exposed to high losses associated with high ammonia volatilization, leaching, and surface runoff. This research formulated a new type of slow-release urea fertilizer by encapsulating urea powder in a biodegradable adhesive. The formulation was evaluated for its degradation rate in soil, nitrogen release profile, and associated release kinetics. After an hour of incubation in distilled water, LRU-e-LAO-g-GA exhibited a nitrogen release rate of only 2.9%, which is very small compared to 98% for commercial urea. The LRU-e-LAO-g-GA releases 76.14% N within 25 h of incubation in water, which was relatively less than a slow-release coated fertilizer. The degradation rate test in the soil results indicates that all U-e-LAO-g-GAs were entirely degraded in the soil. The amount of urea encapsulated in the LAO-g-GA positively affects its N release and degradation rate in soil. As its urea loading concentration increases from 70% to 80%, its degradation rate rises from 83.8% to 91.8%. The study results suggest that the newly developed slow-release urea fertilizer has a promising future for the sustainable growth of modern agriculture.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":35327,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Quality Management","volume":"35 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145146505","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":"Microcrystalline Cellulose From Kapok Fiber (Ceiba pentandra) as Carbon Interstitial Dopant in ZnO: Physicochemical Characteristics and Photocatalytic Activity","authors":"Mohamad Fakhrul Hisham Hashim,&nbsp;Zul Adlan Mohd Hir,&nbsp;Shaari Daud,&nbsp;Hartini Ahmad Rafaie,&nbsp;Hamizah Mokhtar,&nbsp;Mohamad Azuwa Mohamed","doi":"10.1002/tqem.70199","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/tqem.70199","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The present work describes the facile fabrication of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) from Kapok fiber (<i>Ceiba pentandra</i>) as a carbon interstitial dopant in a zinc oxide (ZnO) photocatalyst, with varying ratios. The successful integration of carbon-derived MCC into ZnO was characterized by several characterization techniques. The photocatalytic evaluations of the composites were carried out against paracetamol (PARA) in an aqueous medium using a relatively low UV-C light intensity (8 W). Under normal conditions, the carbon-doped ZnO (1:1) composite photocatalyst achieved a significant degradation percentage of ∼86%, following pseudo-first-order kinetics with a rate constant of 1.29 × 10⁻³ min⁻¹, which was 3.5 times higher than that of pristine ZnO. The improved efficiency was attributed to the outstanding separation of photoexcited charge carriers, ease of electron migration, and the presence of carbon dopant as electron mediators in the composite photocatalyst, as evidenced by band gap, photoluminescence, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses. The main reactive species were identified to be hydroxyl radicals (•OH) and holes (h_vb⁺). The photocatalytic performance was sustained over 75% efficiency for four consecutive cycles without a regeneration step, suggesting long-term stability.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":35327,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Quality Management","volume":"35 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145146641","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":"Mechanistic Understanding and Novel Synergistic Approaches Combining Barley Straw Extract and Fatty Acids for Blue-Green Algae Bloom Control","authors":"Bitaisha Nakishuka Shukuru,&nbsp;Natalia Anatolievna Politaeva","doi":"10.1002/tqem.70201","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/tqem.70201","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Cyanobacterial, or blue-green algae (BGA), blooms represent a significant global environmental challenge, driven by factors such as stagnant water, elevated temperatures, and excessive nutrient loads, notably nitrogen and phosphorus. Current bloom control strategies often prove insufficient. Barley straw (BS) has historically been employed for algal control, with its decomposition releasing natural compounds that inhibit algal growth. This review aims to consolidate the mechanistic understanding of anti-algal properties of BS and explore the potential for enhanced efficacy through synergistic combinations with fatty acids (FAs). The study analyzes the active metabolites in barley straw extract (BSE), particularly phenolic compounds (PCs), and the mechanisms by which FAs disrupt algal cells and influence aquatic microbial and nutrient dynamics. A key finding is that the integration of FAs with BSE holds promise for augmenting anti-cyanobacterial activity. Advances in extraction technologies now facilitate the production of potent liquid BSEs. Despite these advancements, knowledge gaps persist regarding the precise synergistic interactions between BS-derived compounds and FAs, and their optimal application for large-scale field use. Future research should focus on deciphering these complex chemical interactions and developing robust, environmentally sound methods for broad deployment.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":35327,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Quality Management","volume":"35 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145146642","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}