This paper reviews how active research in West Bengal has unmasked the endemic arsenism that has detrimental effects on the health of millions of people and their offspring. It documents how the ...pathways of exposure to this toxin/poison have been greatly expanded through intensive application of groundwater in agriculture in the region within the Green Revolution framework. A goal of this paper is to compare and contrast the similarities and differences in arsenic occurrence in West Bengal with those of other parts of the world and assess the unique socio-cultural factors that determine the risks of exposure to arsenic in local groundwater. Successful intervention options are also critically reviewed with emphasis on integrative strategies that ensure safe water to the population, proper nutrition, and effective ways to reduce the transfer of arsenic from soil to crops. While no universal model may be suited for the vast areas of the world affected with by natural contamination of groundwater with arsenic, we have emphasized community-specific sustainable options that can be adapted. Disseminating scientifically correct information among the population coupled with increased community level participation and education are recognized as necessary adjuncts for an engineering intervention to be successful and sustainable.
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•Arsenic poisoning is wide spread in West Bengal and millions of people are at risk.•Exposure routes are many and are intertwined with the lifestyle of the people.•Various intervention options to address the arsenic crisis are critically discussed.•Universal mitigation model may not suite the vast area contaminated with arsenic.
The competition impact and feedstock type on the removal of water pesticides using biochar have not yet been sufficiently investigated. Therefore, here we investigated the potentiality of three ...different biochars (BCs) derived from rice husk (RHB), date pit (DPB), and sugarcane bagasse (SBB) biowastes for the simultaneous removal of ten pesticides from water in a competitive adsorption system. The BCs structural characterization and morphology were investigated by XRD, FTIR spectroscopy and SEM analysis. The potential adsorption mechanisms have been investigated using various isothermal and kinetic models. RHB showed the highest removal percentages (61% for atrazine/dimethoate and 97.6% for diuron/chlorfenvinphos) followed by DPB (56% for atrazine/dimethoate and 95.4% for diuron/chlorpyrifos) and then SBB (60.8% for atrazine/dimethoate and 90.8% for chlorpyrifos/malathion). The higher adsorption capacity of RHB and DPB than SBB can be due to their high total pore volume and specific surface area (SSA). Langmuir model described well the sorption data (R2 = 0.99). Adsorption equilibrium was achieved after 60 min for RHB, and 120 min for both DPB and SBB. The optimum adsorbent dose (g/L) was 10 for RHB and 4 for DPB and SBB. The removal efficiency of pesticides was enhanced by decreasing pH from 9 to 5 by RHB and to 3 by DPB and SBB. XRD and FTIR spectroscopy confirmed that BCs contain some active adsorption groups and metal oxides such as MgO, SiO, Al2O3, CaO, and TiO2 that can play an effective role in the pesticides sorption. BET-N2 adsorption analysis demonstrated that the BC pore size contributes significantly to pesticide adsorption. These findings indicate that RHB, DPB, and SBB have ability for adsorption of water pesticides even under acidic conditions. Therefore, the rice husk, date pit, and sugarcane bagasse biowastes could be pyrolyzed and reused as effective and low-cost sorbents for elimination of hazardous substances such as pesticides in the aqueous environments.
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•Rice husk(RHB), date pit(DPB)& sugarcane bagasse(SBB) biochar removed ten water pesticides•RHB removal efficacy was higher (61–97%) than DPB (56–95%) and SBB (60–91%)•RHB showed faster (60 min) removal ability than DPB & SBB (120 min)•BCs removed diuron, chlorpyrifos & chlorfenvinphos more than atrazine & dimethoate•The BCs removal efficiency was higher in the acidic than the alkaline water
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•Thermochemical and biological sludge treatment technologies are reviewed.•Comparative analyses for all the leading technologies are presented.•Pyrolysis is superior over other ...options for less emissions and higher product value.•Sludge is a potential source of value-added biorefinery products.•The current state of sludge practices in the EU, USA and China is discussed.
Sludge or waste activated sludge (WAS) generated from wastewater treatment plants may be considered a nuisance. It is a key source for secondary environmental contamination on account of the presence of diverse pollutants (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, dioxins, furans, heavy metals, etc.). Innovative and cost-effective sludge treatment pathways are a prerequisite for the safe and environment-friendly disposal of WAS. This article delivers an assessment of the leading disposal (volume reduction) and energy recovery routes such as anaerobic digestion, incineration, pyrolysis, gasification and enhanced digestion using microbial fuel cell along with their comparative evaluation, to measure their suitability for different sludge compositions and resources availability. Furthermore, the authors shed light on the bio-refinery and resource recovery approaches to extract value added products and nutrients from WAS, and control options for metal elements and micro-pollutants in sewage sludge. Recovery of enzymes, bio-plastics, bio-pesticides, proteins and phosphorus are discussed as a means to visualize sludge as a potential opportunity instead of a nuisance.
This study proposes a novel framework to identify smart-sustainable SCMP (supply chain management practices) as supplier selection criteria for a smart supply chain. Supplier selection consists of ...two parts: criteria weights determination and suppliers ranking. DEMATEL (Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory) has been acknowledged as a relatively feasible method for determining the criteria weights due to its effectiveness in acquiring the interrelationships between criteria. TOPSIS (Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) has been identified as the most frequently used method for supplier ranking due to its superiority in quickly finding the best alternatives. However, most existing research contains scant study of the simultaneous manipulation of internal uncertainty (individual linguistic vagueness) and external uncertainty (group preference diversity), which are involved in the supplier selection process. Therefore, this study proposes a hybrid rough-fuzzy DEMATEL-TOPSIS approach to sustainable supplier selection for a smart supply chain. The proposed method combines the strength of the fuzzy set in handling internal uncertainty and the advantages of the rough set in manipulating external uncertainty. The effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed methodology are illustrated through its application in sustainable vehicle transmission supplier selection and through comparisons with other methods.
•New topic on sustainable supplier selection for smart supply chain is put forward.•A novel rough-fuzzy TOPSIS-DEMATEL is proposed for sustainable supplier selection.•Internal and external uncertainties are manipulated by proposed rough-fuzzy numbers.•Decision uncertainty is measured through the presented rough-fuzzy polygons.•Showed the method’s feasibility with vehicle transmission supplier selection.
Challenges in managing electronic waste (E-waste) arise from a lack of technical skills, poor infrastructure, inadequate financial support, and inactive community engagement. This study provides a ...systematic review of efforts to overcome these challenges in the context of inappropriate recycling protocols of E-waste and their toxic effects on human health and the environment. An inventory of end-of-life electronic products, which can be established through the creation of an environment friendly regulatory regime for recycling, is essential for the proper control of E-waste. An approach has been articulated to help implement effective management of E-waste in both developed and developing countries. Enforcement of systematic management measures for E-waste in developing countries coupled with best practices is expected to minimize adverse impacts while helping maintain a sustainable and resilient environment.
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•Almost 82.6% of global E-waste is recycled informally in unorganized sectors.•Toxic effect of E-waste to human health and environment is studied comprehensively.•A sustainable approach has been articulated for effective management of E-wastes.•Formalizing informal sector is crucial for propelling effective E-waste management.
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Ecological perturbations caused by biotic invasion have been identified as a growing threat to global sustainability. Invasive alien plants species (IAPS) are considered to be one of ...the major drivers of biodiversity loss and thereby altering the ecosystem services and socio-economic conditions through different mechanisms. Although the ecological impacts of IAPS are well documented, there is a dearth of studies regarding their economic quantification, livelihood considerations, biotechnological prospects (phytoremediation, bioenergy, phyto-synthesis of nanoparticles, biomedical, industrial applications etc.) and human health risk assessments of IAPS. In this context, the current panoramic review aimed to investigate the environmental, socio-ecological and health risks posed by IAPS as well as the compounded impact of IAPS with habitat fragmentation, climate and land use changes. To this end, the need of an integrated trans-disciplinary research is emphasized for the sustainable management of IAPS. The management prospects can be further strengthened through their linkage with geo-spatial technologies (remote sensing and GIS) by mapping and monitoring the IAPS spread. Further, the horizon of IAPS management is expanded to ecological indicator perspectives of IAPS, biosecurity, and risk assessment protocols with critical discussion. Moreover, positive as well as negative implications of the IAPS on environment, health, ecosystem services and socio-economy (livelihood) are listed so that a judicious policy framework could be developed for the IAPS management in order to mitigate the human health implications.
Forests have been undergoing through immense pressure due to the factors like human activities; procurement of forest products and climate change which is a major factor influencing this pressure ...buildup on forests. Climate change and temperature increase caused by anthropogenic activities have notably affected forests and wildlife on a global scale. High temperature increases the soil-water evaporation, resulting in drier soils, and water loss in forest flora. The incidence of forest fires has doubled since 1984 and these are linked to global warming. Drought influences fuel moisture by bringing about physiological changes in forest vegetation leading to forest fires. Forest resilience is hampered because of temperature and drought stress at the developing stage of plant's life cycle leading to the shift in plant species in those areas. Forest fire incidences can be managed with proper management strategies such as sustainable, community and urban forest management. A careful monitoring of stress precursors, subsistence uses of forests, ecological education and planting of near native and new indigenous plant species are the tools that can aid in efficient forest management.
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•The growing anthropogenic activity has led to huge pressures on the forests worldwide.•The main causes for wildfires across the world are global warming and climate change.•The worldwide impact of Global Forest Watch was 4.5 million. Wildfire growth plays an important part in the global warming.•Proper control and strategic systems for forest management will help to reduce strain on trees by reducing wildfire.
Despite the socio-economic importance of recreational fishing across many coastal communities, a well-defined conceptualization for place-based recreational fishing communities has remained ...noticeably absent across the U.S. West Coast. Following the framework of natural-resource dependence, this study constructs and evaluates recreational fishing indices, which serve as tools for assessing the involvement and impact of recreational fishing within different communities at the scale of the Census Designated Place. Components of the indices are selected to construct an engagement index of the overall economic activity related to recreational fishing, while a reliance index considers engagement per capita. The indices were then conceptually validated through correlation analyses with proxies for participation and interest. Temporal variations in both indices were evaluated in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic through a series of mixed-linear models, providing the first detailed assessment of the pandemic's impact on recreational fishing activity across the region. Despite shifts in individual angler participation and interest, the indices remained stable, with engagement declining following the pandemic. Additionally, the communities are evaluated with regard to their social vulnerability, finding communities with higher engagement as less vulnerable than those with higher reliance. Overall, this work provides valuable insights for identifying and assessing recreational fishing communities, potentially informing more sustainable and socially equitable management approaches.
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•Conceptually guided construction of recreational fishing community indices.•Validation via correlation with participation and interest proxies.•Despite individual angler shifts, indices were stable during COVID-19 pandemic.•Social vulnerability highlights community differences offering management insights.
•How nutrient limitation and nutrient-use strategy change with stand age are unknown.•Driver effects on resorption are differentiated by variation partitioning analyses.•Soil nutrient shift from N ...limitation to P limitation with plantation ageing.•Young plantations adopt more conservative nutrient-use strategy than older stands.•Tree growth (demand) and soil nutrient (supply) co-determine nutrient resorption.
Nutrient resorption is a key nutrient-use strategy exhibited by perennial plants to overcome nutrient limitations and meet their nutritional demands. However, the factors that drive nutrient resorption with stand development remain largely unknown. In this study, we examined how a nutrient source (soil) and sink (trees) affected the resorption efficiency (RE) of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). Fresh leaves, leaf litterfall, and soil samples were collected from a chronosequence of Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook., Taxodiaceae) plantations at the ages of 3, 8–11, 16, 20, 25, 29, and 32 years. The N and P concentrations in stems, branches, leaves, coarse roots, and fine roots, stocks of N and P in soils, and the relative growth rate (RGR) of trees were measured. Fresh leaf N and P concentrations and RE decreased with stand age, while the N:P ratio in fresh leaves as well as the N and P concentrations in leaf litterfall increased. The RGR of trees declined with stand age. Soil P stocks increased but soil N stocks slightly decreased with stand age. A variation partitioning analysis revealed that the combined effect of RGR and soil P stocks on the RE of P (PRE) was stronger than the individual effect of each factor, while the RE of N (NRE) was greatly affected by the individual effect of RGR. With increasing age, Chinese fir plantations shifted from N-limiting to P-limiting conditions, and the nutrient-use strategy changed from “conservative consumption” to “resource spending”. These patterns were co-regulated by the tree growth rate and soil nutrient status. Thus, supply-demand relationships reflected the nutrient cycling status and could provide valuable information for sustainable nutrient management practices in tree plantations.
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•Reservoir sedimentation is unsustainably diminishing storage capacity and benefits.•Sedimentation leads to costly dam decommissioning and intergenerational inequity.•A new ...sustainable management paradigm is needed for all reservoirs.•Monitoring is needed to measure the extent and rate of sedimentation.•Sustainable management strategies are sediment yield reduction, bypass, or removal.
Although the hydrologic cycle is a continuously renewable resource, the natural rate of water delivery is highly variable. Water is made available to our society on a consistent and reliable basis largely due to flow regulation by storage reservoirs. However, under current management, the reservoir storage capacity needed for flow regulation is a non-renewable resource because this capacity is steadily being lost to sedimentation. Today’s reservoirs occupy unique sites and may be considered largely irreplaceable, making the nation dependent on a non-sustainable resource.
Sedimentation is steadily depleting storage capacity and progressively degrading the ability of reservoirs to fulfill their designated purposes. Sedimentation is also causing environmental impacts upstream and downstream of reservoirs. In the United States, the combined impacts of sedimentation and population growth have resulted in an estimated 35% decline in storage capacity per capita since this value peaked around 1970. In absolute terms, the estimated total reservoir storage capacity in the U.S. has dropped from a peak of 850 Gm3 in the late 1980s to 810 Gm3 today. Yet, sustaining the nation’s long-term reservoir storage capacity has not been a priority for many public or private dam owners, especially when they lack a reservoir sedimentation monitoring policy.
In many regions, future reservoir storage will have to serve an important role in the mitigation of climate change to help ensure water, food, and energy, and the reduction of flood risk. There is an imperative need to preserve existing reservoir storage capacity due to rising demands associated with population growth, and increasing hydrologic variability associated with climate change, and the challenges and costs associated with either expanding existing capacity or decommissioning and developing new storage capacity. The trapping of sediment behind dams has also contributed to the decline of freshwater and coastal environments downstream of dams.
Reversing these dangerous trends in storage capacity and environmental integrity will require increased monitoring of reservoirs, application of both established and emerging sediment management technologies, and a new paradigm for sustainable reservoir design and management. It requires moving from the traditional design life (reservoir life expectancy) approach to the adoption of sustainable use as the appropriate criteria for reservoir design and operation, achieving a sediment balance across reservoirs to permit the indefinite operation of this critical infrastructure.
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