A perennial plant Miscanthus x giganteus has found its habitat and multiple
applications in Europe, despite the fact that it originates from Asia. This
study presents the potential use of this plant ...in new lightweight concrete
materials so-called bio-concretes. The above-ground part of the plant was
harvested, dried, crushed, and mixed with binders in different proportions.
After casting and drying, the samples were characterized physical and
mechanical properties. The results have shown that the sample with a higher
content of binders while smaller miscanthus granulation and casted in molds
under higher pressure exhibited the highest values of the compressive
strength and density. In specific, the density was in the order of magnitude
of that reported for other types of lightweight concrete with organic
fillers, such as sawdust-based concrete ("Durisol"), which further justifies
the use of miscanthus for these purposes.
Honey has become a focal point of concern due to the potential presence of pesticide residues originating from agricultural practices. This study undertakes a comprehensive toxicological assessment ...of pesticide residues in conventional and organic honey, as well as a risk assessment employing estimated daily intakes (EDIs) in the evaluation of the potential risks of these agrochemicals to public health. A total of 200 honey samples originating from conventional and organic producers were collected and analyzed by a Quick Easy Cheap Effective Rugged Safe method (QuEChERS). Analysis of organic honey didn’t detect any residue of investigated pesticides. The most detected pesticides in conventional honey samples were boscalid (0.01 µg/kg), and coumaphos ranging between 0.012 µg/kg to 0.016 µg/ kg, respectively. Detected pesticides such as acetamiprid, pyraclostrobin, thiacloprid, and azoxystrobin were under the reporting level (RL). Results obtained by EDI indicated that all investigated honey samples are safe for human consumption. In conclusion, this research contributes to the understanding of the toxicological implications of pesticide residues in both conventional and organic honey consumption. By delineating the potential health hazards associated with each type, this study aims to provide consumers, regulators, and beekeeping industries with valuable insights to make informed decisions that safeguard human health while promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
Honey has become a focal point of concern due to the potential presence of pesticide residues originating from agricultural practices. This study undertakes a comprehensive toxicological assessment ...of pesticide residues in conventional and organic honey, as well as a risk assessment employing estimated daily intakes (EDIs) in the evaluation of the potential risks of these agrochemicals to public health. A total of 200 honey samples originating from conventional and organic producers were collected and analyzed by a Quick Easy Cheap Effective Rugged Safe method (QuEChERS). Analysis of organic honey didn't detect any residue of investigated pesticides. The most detected pesticides in conventional honey samples were boscalid (0.01 microg/kg), and coumaphos ranging between 0.012 microg/kg to 0.016 microg/kg, respectively. Detected pesticides such as acetamiprid, pyraclostrobin, thiacloprid, and azoxystrobin were under the reporting level (RL). Results obtained by EDI indicated that all investigated honey samples are safe for human consumption. In conclusion, this research contributes to the understanding of the toxicological implications of pesticide residues in both conventional and organic honey consumption. By delineating the potential health hazards associated with each type, this study aims to provide consumers, regulators, and beekeeping industries with valuable insights to make informed decisions that safeguard human health while promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
A perennial plant Miscanthus x giganteus has found its habitat and multiple applications in Europe, despite the fact that it originates from Asia. This study presents the potential use of this plant ...in new lightweight concrete materials so-called bio-concretes. The above-ground part of the plant was harvested, dried, crushed, and mixed with binders in different proportions. After casting and drying, the samples were characterized physical and mechanical properties. The results have shown that the sample with a higher content of binders while smaller miscanthus granulation and casted in molds under higher pressure exhibited the highest values of the compressive strength and density. In specific, the density was in the order of magnitude of that reported for other types of lightweight concrete with organic fillers, such as sawdust-based concrete ("Durisol"), which further justifies the use of miscanthus for these purposes. Keywords: bio-concrete, biomass, lignocellulosic fibers, yield, green-building, agro-energy crops. Available on-line at the Journal web address: Visegodisnja biljka Miscanthus x giganteus, iako potice iz Azije, svoje staniste i visestruku primenu pronasla je i u Evropi. U ovom radu je prikazana potencijalna primena ove biljke u novim lakim gradevinskim materijalima tzv. bio-betonima. Nadzemni deo biljke, nakon zetve, susenja i usitnjavanja, je mesan sa vezivnim komponentama u razlicitim odnosima. Posle kalupljenja i susenja, uzorci su karakterisani u pogledu fizicko-mehanickih svojstava. Uzorak sa najvecim udelom veziva i sitnijom frakciom miskantusa, uz dodatno sabijanje u kalupe prilikom izlivanja, pokazao je najbolje karakteristike gustine i pritisne cvrstoce. Gustina uzorka je bila reda velicine kao vrednosti drugih vrsta lakih betona sa organskom ispunom, na primer betona sa ispunom od drveta ("Durisol"), sto dodatno opravdava koriscenje miskantusa u ove svrhe. Kljucne reci: bio-beton, biomasa, lignocelulozna vlakna, usevi, zelena gradnja, agro-energetski usevi
The quality and safety attributes of poultry products have attracted increasing widespread attention and interest from scholarly groups and the general population. As natural and safe alternatives to ...synthetic and artificial chemical drugs (e.g., antibiotics), botanical products are recently being used in poultry farms more than 60% of the time for producing organic products. Medicinal plants, and honeybee products, are natural substances, and they were added to poultry diets in a small amount (between 1% and 3%) as a source of nutrition and to provide health benefits for poultry. In addition, they have several biological functions in the poultry body and may help to enhance their welfare. These supplements can increase the bodyweight of broilers and the egg production of laying hens by approximately 7% and 10% and enhance meat and egg quality by more than 25%. Moreover, they can improve rooster semen quality by an average of 20%. Previous research on the main biological activities performed by biotics has shown that most research only concentrated on the notion of using botanical products as growth promoters, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial agents. In the current review, the critical effects and functions of bee products and botanicals are explored as natural and safe alternative feed additives in poultry production, such as antioxidants, sexual-stimulants, immuno-stimulants, and for producing healthy products.
Honeybees and humans are endangered by pesticides in daily agricultural production. The aim of this research was to investigate pesticide residues in different honey types and to assess the risk to ...public health. A total of 88 honey samples originating from pine, multifloral, sunflower, acacia, linden, and canola were collected and analysed by a QuEChERS method. The hazard quotient (HQ) was used to evaluate the risk of detected pesticide residues. Analysis of pine honey did not detect any residue of investigated pesticides. The most frequently detected pesticides in the honey samples were chlorpyrifos ranging between 15.1 µg/kg (linden honey) to 22.3 µg/kg (multifloral honey), clothianidin ranging between 12.0 µg/kg (acacia honey) to 22.0 µg/kg (canola honey), dimethoate ranging between 8.9 µg/kg (multifloral honey) to 18.9 µg/kg (canola honey), and thiamethoxam ranging between 4.2 µg/kg (linden honey) to 15.6 µg/kg (canola honey), respectively. The lowest estimated daily intake (EDI) of 128 × 10
-3
μg/kg of body weight per day was found in acacia honey, and the highest EDI of 265 × 10
-3
μg/kg of body weight per day was found in canola honey. Similar values of EDI were determined for multifloral, sunflower, and linden honey (186 × 10
-3
, 187 × 10
-3
, and 183 × 10
-3
), respectively. The HQ value for pine honey was 0 indicating that this honey is the safest for consumption, however, the other types of honey investigated in this study posed no risk to humans after potential consumption.
Sulphur hexafluoride is synthesised as a persistent and non-toxic gas with an exceptional dielectric strength. In contemporary medium-voltage switchgear within power distribution systems, SF6 gas is ...used for the insulation and the extinction of electric arc. The application of SF6 has advantages in terms of gas physicochemical characteristics and performance; the dimensions, the cost-effectiveness, the reliability of the switchgear equipment and the duration, as well as the cost of maintenance were significantly reduced. SF6 is a known greenhouse gas, which tends to accumulate in the lungs, inducing oxygen depletion and respiratory complications. The by-products of SF6 formed during the electric arc can be harmful and toxic. The equipment containing SF6 is being replaced in the EU and worldwide. Using ALOHA? software the scenarios of leakage for SF6 and by-products were modelled in urban areas, where the switchgear is frequently placed. In areas where the circulation of wind is lower (urban areas), in hazardous situations, it is not possible to depend on high dispersion levels or minimisation of concentration and threat. The models have shown that SF6 poses an environmental problem and its by-products cause a serious health hazard in the case of leakage in urban areas, rendering red threat zones from 10 to 60 m in radius.
Wildfires caused by climate change in Europe have numerous and long-lasting ecological, economic, and social implications for sustainable development (natural environment, economy, and society as a ...whole). Artificial revitalization of sessile oak forests destroyed by wildfires in Serbia is feasible, but it is quite expensive compared to the spontaneous regeneration. Cost-benefit analysis (an economic approach to comparing and estimating the benefits and shortcomings of a particular business plan, i.e., an investment project by analyzing its costs and benefits) is aimed at finding the best solutions and making the best decisions about the desirability of a project. It was concluded that the investment in the restitution of sessile oak forests could be profitable only if it was based on wood production. Wood production may bear slightly higher interest rates compared to previous estimates which ranged mainly around 3%. This primarily applies to better site classes, while poor quality sites require lower rates. At lower discount rates, it takes more time to reach the break-even point, while the period of time needed to reach the break-even point shortens with higher discount rates. The length of the production cycle plays an important role in determining the investment profitability, especially regarding the relationship between the length of the production cycle and production targets (the type and the quality of wood assortments produced). According to the results of the analysis of intangible benefits and costs, the costs outweigh the benefits, which makes the restitution of sessile oak forests destroyed by fires unacceptable.
The production of floor coverings, in terms of environmental impact, is a very complex process due to a large number of influential parameters - various chemical emissions, inevitability of waste, a ...great number of influential physical quantities such as noise and vibration, dust and radiation, energy consumption, recyclability, etc. Interest in the application of LCA within the production of floor coverings has been present for almost two decades and is intensely increasing. During this period different approaches and attempts of LCA implementation have been recorded in this broad field. This paper presents a general model for environmental impact assessment of the production process of floor coverings based on LCA. The developed model represents a contribution to the improvement and a further step towards the standardization of LCA analysis in this field of floor covering production. Verification has been carried out through a case study based on an industrial facility which produces PVC floor coverings.Original Abstract: Proizvodnja podnih obloga je, s aspekta utjecaja na okolis, vrlo kompleksan proces zbog velikog broja utjecajnih parametara - razlicitih kemijskih emisija, neminovnosti otpada, veceg broja utjecajnih fizickih velicina poput buke i vibracija, prasine i zracenja, zatim potrosnje energije, recikljivosti itd. Zanimanje za primjenu LCA u podrucju proizvodnje podnih obloga traje vec skoro dva desetljeca i postaje sve intenzivnije. Tijekom tog razdoblja evidentirani su razliciti pristupi i pokusaji realizacije LCA u ovom sirokom podrucju. U ovom radu predstavljen je opci model za ocjenjivanje utjecaja na okolis procesa proizvodnje podnih obloga zasnovan na LCA. Razvijeni model predstavlja doprinos unapredenju stanja u podrucju i dodatni korak ka standardizaciji LCA analiza u podmcju proizvodnje podnih obloga. Verifikacija je realizirana kroz studiju slucaja utemeljenog na realnom industrijskom postrojenju za proizvodnju PVC podnih obloga.
PDF
