Microplastics (MPs) pollution is becoming one of the most pressing environmental issues globally. MPs in the marine, freshwater and terrestrial environments have been fairly well investigated. ...However, knowledge of the atmospheric-mediated deposition of MPs within rural environments is limited. Here, we present the results of bulk (dry and wet) atmospheric MPs deposition in a rural region of Quzhou County in the North China Plain (NCP). Samples of MPs in the atmospheric bulk deposition were collected for individual rainfall events over a 12-month period from August 2020 to August 2021. The number and size of MPs from 35 rainfall samples were measured by fluorescence microscopy, while the chemical composition of MPs was identified using micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (μ-FTIR). The results showed that the atmospheric MPs deposition rate in summer (892–75,421 particles/m2/day) was highest compared to 735–9428, 280–4244 and 86–1347 particles/m2/day in spring, autumn, and winter, respectively. Furthermore, the MPs deposition rates in our study were 1–2 orders of magnitude higher than those in other regions, indicating a higher rate of MPs deposition in the rural region of the NCP. MPs with a diameter of 3–50 μm accounted for 75.6 %, 78.4 %, 73.4 % and 66.1 % of total MPs deposition in spring, summer, autumn, and winter, respectively, showing that the majority of MPs in the current study were small in size. Rayon fibers accounted for the largest proportion (32 %) of all MPs, followed by polyethylene terephthalate (12 %) and polyethylene (8 %). This study also found that a significant positive correlation between rainfall volume and MPs deposition rate. In addition, HYSPLIT back-trajectory modelling showed that the farthest source of deposition MPs may have come from Russia.
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•Microplastic in atmospheric bulk deposition in a rural region, NCP was detected.•Atmospheric microplastic number was 1–2 order of magnitude higher than other study.•Positive correlation between atmospheric microplastic and rainfall was observed.•Source of atmospheric microplastic was analyzed by HYSPLIT back-trajectory model.
•Solid fuel use was positively associated with 10-year ASCVD risk in rural regions.•Synergistic effects between solid fuel use and air pollutants on high 10-year ASCVD risk were found.•Clean fuel use ...and air pollutants control may jointly alleviate ASCVD's burden.
Although exposure to ambient air pollution (AAP) increases the risk for arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), evidence on the association of solid fuel use with ASCVD and its association modified by ambient air pollution remains limited.
A total of 16,779 adults were derived from the Henan Rural Cohort Study. Concentrations of ambient air pollutants (PM1, PM2.5, PM10, and NO2) were estimated by a spatiotemporal model based on satellites data. Solid fuel use was assessed by a self-reported questionnaire. The associations of solid fuel use with high 10-year ASCVD risk and the modified association by exposure to air pollutants were explored using logistic regression models.
There were positive associations of AAP exposure with high 10-year ASCVD risk among individuals with self-cooking. The joint associations between high AAP exposures and solid fuel use with high 10-year ASCVD risk were found. Compared to clean fuel user with low PM2.5 exposure, the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of high 10-year ASCVD risk was 1.25 (1.09, 1.42) for solid fuel user with low PM2.5 exposure, 1.93 (1.75, 2.12) for clean fuel user with high PM2.5 exposure, and 3.08 (2.67, 3.54) for solid fuel user with high PM2.5 exposure, respectively. Their additive effect on high 10-year ASCVD risk was observed (relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI): 0.90 (95 %CI: 0.50, 1.30), attributable proportion due to interaction (AP): 0.29 (95 %CI: 0.19, 0.40), and synergy index (SI): 1.77 (95 %CI: 1.38, 2.26)).
This study showed a synergistic effect of AAP and household air pollution reflected by solid fuel use on high 10-year ASCVD risk, suggesting that reducing solid cooking fuels and controlling air pollution may have a joint effect on public health improvement.
Agritourism is known to play a pivotal role when providing diversification of farm activities, making in such way for sustainable regional and local development. However, it should be stated that in ...Ukraine agritourism has not received proper attention in the pre-war and current period. This paper explores the landscape of agritourism in Ukraine across pre-war and current periods, assessing its potential for the country advancement. The research involves the analysis of data on agriculture and tourism obtained from the World Bank, Ukrainian authorities, and agritourism association leaders. We also delve into 62 Ukrainian legislative and program documents to highlight institutional barriers and existing issues. The findings reveal that agritourism occupies minor position within robust agricultural sector in Ukraine, accompanied by notable regulatory gaps, nevertheless it possesses significant institutional and policy implications. We demonstrate that fostering agritourism in Ukraine can play a vital role in enhancing the sustainability of farms by broadening their range of activities. This holds particular importance in the context of the post-war economic recovery in Ukraine. Agritourism, operating at the intersection of agriculture and tourism, has high potential to generate positive effects in Ukraine not only on the agricultural sector but also on the country sustainable development. As a result of the investigation, the paper substantiates possible institutional changes (at the macro-, regional, and local levels) necessary to relaunch agritourism in Ukraine successfully.
•Agritourism functions on the borderline between tourism and agriculture producing impact on sustainable development of local communities.•Agritourism demonstrates large potential for creating social networks, diversifying farms profit, boosting regional economies.•Ukrainian agriculture and food systems face dramatic challenges due to the Russian invasion and will require rebuilding after the war.•Agritourism activities can be a key element to ensure the economic and social viability of farms and regions in post-war Ukraine.
Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene isomers (BTEX) are known to affect environmental air and health quality. In this study, the levels of BTEX compounds were determined in indoor air ...environments during the winter generated by several different heaters: diesel pot-bellied heater with chimney (DH); electric heater (EH); unfluted gas heater (GH); kerosene heater (KH); and wood pot-bellied heater with chimney (WH). The samples were collected using a diffusion passive adsorbent (activated charcoal) and then analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results showed that the heaters differ in the quantity of BTEX released during operation. The KH was the most polluted heater based on BTEX measurement, followed by DH. The ∑BTEX for heaters were observed as follows: KH (290 μg m−3); DH (120 μg m−3); GH (84 μg m−3); WH (31 μg m−3); EH (16 μg m−3). Toluene was the predominant compound in all air samples. In KH and DH, the toluene to benzene ratios (T/B) were higher than 4 due to fuel evaporation, while GH had a T/B ratio of 3.9, indicating that the combustion of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) was the main source. Moreover, a risk assessment was performed to evaluate where the cancer risks (CR) for benzene and ethylbenzene exceeded the critical values (10−6). KH was found to be the most harmful heater for residents, followed by DH and GH. For non-carcinogenic compounds, hazard quotients (HQ) were found to be less than one and thus unlikely to cause health problems.
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•Fueled heaters are the primary sources of BTEX in indoor air during the cold season.•Fuel tanks and uncompleted combustion are responsible for BTEX emissions indoors from fossil-fueled heaters.•BTEX emissions from heaters can increase cancer risk over a lifetime.
Evaluation of groundwater quality and related health hazards is a prerequisite for taking preventive measures. The rural region of Telangana, India, has been selected for the present study to assess ...the sources and origins of inferior groundwater quality and to understand the human health risk zones for adults and children due to the consumption of nitrate (
NO
3
-
)- and fluoride (F
−
)-contaminated groundwater for drinking purposes. Groundwater samples collected from the study region were determined for various chemical parameters. Groundwater quality was dominated by Na
+
and
HCO
3
-
ions. Piper’s diagram and bivariate plots indicated the carbonate water type and silicate weathering as a main factor and man-made contamination as a secondary factor controlling groundwater chemistry; hence, the groundwater quality in the study region is low. According to the Groundwater Quality Index (GQI) classification, 48.3% and 51.7% of the total study region are excellent (GQI: < 50) and good (GQI: 50 to 100) water quality types, respectively, for drinking purposes. However,
NO
3
-
ranged from 0.04 to 585 mg/L, exceeding the drinking water quality limit of 45 mg/L in 34% of the groundwater samples due to the effects of nitrogen fertilizers. This was supported by the relationship of
NO
3
-
with TDS, Na
+
, and Cl
−
. The F
−
content was from 0.22 to 5.41 mg/L, which exceeds the standard drinking water quality limit of 1.5 mg/L in 25% of the groundwater samples. The relationship of F
−
with pH, Ca
2+
, Na
+
, and
HCO
3
-
supports the weathering and dissolution of fluoride-rich minerals for high F
−
content in groundwater. They were further supported by a principal component analysis. The Health Risk Index (HRI) values ranged from 0.20 to 20.10 and 0.36 to 30.90 with a mean of 2.82 and 4.34 for adults and children, respectively. The mean intensity of HRI (> 1.0) was 1.37 times higher in children (5.70) than in adults (4.16) due to the differences in weight size and exposure time. With an acceptable limit of more than 1.0, the study divided the region into Northern Safe Health Zone (33.3% for adults and 28.1% for children) and Southern Unsafe Health Zone (66.7% for adults and 71.9% for children) based on the intensity of agricultural activity. Therefore, effective strategic measures such as safe drinking water, denitrification, defluoridation, rainwater harvesting techniques, sanitary facilities, and chemical fertilizer restrictions are recommended to improve human health and protect groundwater resources.
Having safe drinking water is a fundamental human right, which affects directly the human health. In view of this, an effort has been made for understanding the spatial distribution of quality of ...groundwater in a rural dry climatic region of Andhra Pradesh, South India, and associated health risks with respect to pollutants of NO
3
−
and F
−
, which cause the potential production of non-carcinogenic risk, using entropy-weighted water quality index (EWWQI) and total chronic hazard index (TCHI), where the population rely on the groundwater resource for drinking purpose. Groundwater quality observed from the present study region has an alkaline character with brackish type. The concentrations of K
+
, HCO
3
−
, TDS, Na
+
, NO
3
−
, F
−
, Mg
2+
and Cl
−
come under the non-permissible limits in 100%, 100%, 96.67%, 90%, 73.33%, 46.67%, 13.33% and 6.67% of the groundwater samples, which deteriorate the groundwater quality, causing the health disorders. The overall groundwater quality computed, using EWWQI, ranges from 53.64 to 216.59 (122.22), which classifies the region spatially into 55%, 10% and 35% due to influences of the geogenic and anthropogenic pollutants, which are the respective medium, poor and very poor groundwater quality types prescribed for potable water. According to the TCHI evaluated with respect to pollutants of NO
3
−
and F
−
, the values of TCHI for men (1.194 to 4030), women (1.411 to 4.763) and children (1.614 to 5.449) are more than its acceptable limit of one. So, the health risk of non-carcinogenic is spatially in the decreasing order of children > women > men, depending upon their sensitiveness to pollutants and also their body weights. Further, the spatial distributions of both TCH1 and EWWQI are more or less similar, following the pollution activities, which help for establishment of the fact to recognize the intensity of various vulnerable zones. Therefore, the present study suggests the suitable environmental safety measures to control the NO
3
−
- and F
−
-contaminated drinking water and subsequently to increase the health conditions.
Earthquake preparedness can reduce casualties and economic losses caused by earthquakes effectively. Existing literature confirms that people’s knowledge and perception of earthquakes can affect ...their actions concerning earthquake preparedness greatly. However, studies have mostly focused on developed countries. Meanwhile, China, particularly its rural regions, has been neglected. In addressing this deficiency, this study examines 5 counties and 10 villages that were seriously affected by the 2008 Wenchuan (Sichuan) earthquake. Using an on-site survey of residents, earthquake perceptions and their impact on disaster preparedness behavior were examined empirically. Exploratory factor analysis and random-effect logistic regression analysis were used. The results reveal that two factors considerably influence disaster preparedness behavior. First, residents with autonomous earthquake information access tend to be more prepared. Second, residents who are more sensitive about earthquakes (high perceived risk of occurrence) tend to be more prepared for earthquakes. Evidently, knowledge and awareness of earthquakes have a positive impact on the disaster preparedness of residents living in rural earthquake-prone regions. Consequently, government agencies should enhance the earthquake education of local residents as part of the national effort to mitigate the adverse effects of future earthquakes.
Japan’s regions have been affected by an aging population and structural weaknesses. Now, young people seem to be moving back to the country and solving these problems. Politics and the media paint ...an idyllic picture: in rural Japan, a fulfilled, self-actualized life awaits surrounded by nature. Ludgera Lewerich critically investigates the public discourse surrounding the phenomenon of urban-rural migration and young people’s perspectives.
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