Assessment of health risks associated with prediction of vegetable inorganic arsenic concentrations given different soil properties.

Inorganic arsenic (iAs) is a carcinogen. Vegetables such as water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica Forssk.) and amaranth (Amaranthus mangostanus L.) are recognized as high-risk sources of iAs exposure because they can accumulate significant amounts of iAs and are widely consumed. To ensure safe cultivation conditions, this study aimed to establish prediction models for iAs concentration in the edible parts of water spinach and amaranth based on soil properties. Subsequently, health risk assessments associated with iAs exposure through the consumption of these vegetables were conducted using prediction models. Soil samples were collected from agricultural fields in Taiwan and used in the pot experiments. Pearson correlation and partial correlation analyses were used to explore the relationship between soil properties, including total As, clay, organic matter, iron oxides and available phosphates, and iAs concentration in edible parts of water spinach and amaranth. Prediction models based on soil properties were developed by stepwise multiple linear regression. Health risk assessments were conducted using the Monte Carlo algorithm. The results indicate that total As and organic matter contents in soil were major predictors of iAs concentration in water spinach, whereas those in amaranth were total As and clay contents. Therefore, higher health risks for consuming water spinach and amaranth are associated with higher levels of organic matter and clay contents in soil, respectively, and these are crucial factors to consider to ensure food safety. This study suggested that As-elevated soils enriched with organic matter and clay contents should be avoided when growing water spinach and amaranth, respectively.

Land capability assessment of Sali watershed for agricultural suitability using a multi-criteria-based decision-making approach.

The assessment of land's agricultural potential, through a land capability evaluation, delves into its innate limitations, crop suitability, and responses to soil management. In regions where agriculture reigns supreme, socio-economic development is inexorably linked to the agricultural sector, making the optimal utilization of land resources an imperative pursuit. The pursuit of this objective is underpinned by the selection of new agricultural areas and the determination of which crops thrive in specific locations, for which the multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) method emerges as an ideal choice. This comprehensive research endeavour revolves around the intricate interplay of climatic, edaphic, fertility, topographical, and socioeconomic determinants. Within this intricate web, a total of 15 determinants play a pivotal role, including precipitation, potential evapotranspiration (PET), soil texture, drainage, soil organic-carbon, nitrogen content, pH, clay content, river proximity, land use/land cover (LULC), slope, temperature, social suitability, irrigation density, and elevation. To weigh these determinants, the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) comes into play, ultimately revealing that the dominant influences on land capability stem from the realms of climate and soil. The watershed's terrain analysis revealed a distinct suitability contrast: 168 km2 highly suitable, 181.3 km2 moderate, and 429 km2 low. The eastern and northeastern sectors were notably promising. Rigorous validation, using the ROC curve, confirmed the reliability and precision. The process yielded an impressive 83.2% AUC, unequivocally confirming the assessment's remarkable accuracy and dependability.

Characterization of textile effluent treatment plant sludge and its industrial application in fired clay bricks with health risk assessment.

The textile industry in Bangladesh faces environmental and health challenges due to the disposal of solid waste from Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs). To address this issue, a study was conducted using soil from a brick industry near Dhaka, amending it with varying amounts of dry sludge to create clay bricks. The original soil had a loam texture and medium plasticity. The research found that adding 9 wt% of sludge resulted in Grade A commercial bricks with a compressive strength of 15.33 MPa and water absorption of 13.33 wt%, meeting BDS 208 standards. However, these sludge-incorporated bricks experienced more shrinkage during the burning process due to organic content, requiring additional soil to maintain conventional dimensions. Also, to assess the health hazards of these sludge-incorporated bricks, a leaching test was performed, revealing that no toxic heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, and Zn) in the leachate exceeded the limits set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). The study indicates that textile ETP sludge can serve as a sustainable raw material for bricks, potentially reducing the environmental burden caused by textile sludge disposal by 28.75%. This innovative approach offers a promising solution to both environmental and health concerns associated with textile waste in Bangladesh's industrial sector.

Comprehensive assessment of the efficacy and safety of a clay mask in oily and acne skin.

BACKGROUND: Oily skin, characterized by excessive sebum production, can lead to acne and have psychosocial impacts due to changes in appearance. Recent research has shown interest in treatments for oil control, with kaolin and bentonite emerging as promising options. Despite their potential, comprehensive studies on these ingredients are still in the nascent stages. AIM: This study aimed to assess the efficacy of a clay mask (La Roche-Posay Effaclar Sebo-Controlling Mask) in reducing skin oiliness and acne, and its safety for use. METHODS: In this study, 75 adults with oily or combination skin were enrolled and provided with a clay mask for twice-weekly use over 4 weeks. Clinical assessments, using instruments like Sebumeter, Vapometer, and Corneometer, were conducted at baseline, and after 1, 2, and 4 weeks, evaluating acne lesions, skin irritation, sebum content, and skin hydration. Participant self-assessment questionnaires were also utilized for subjective evaluation. Statistical analyses were performed accordingly. RESULTS: The study revealed significant improvements in acne-related outcomes, sebum content, skin evenness, stratum corneum water content, and transepidermal water loss following the application of the clay mask. Pore area and porphyrin area showed no significant changes. Tolerance assessment showed reduced dryness and irritation, with self-assessment indicating high product acceptability and perceived oil control effectiveness. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated the clay mask's efficacy in managing acne and oily skin, improving hydration and texture. Significant improvements in skin parameters and high product safety were observed, supporting its suitability.

An experimental assessment of detection dog ability to locate great crested newts (Triturus cristatus) at distance and through soil.

Detection dogs are increasingly used to locate cryptic wildlife species, but their use for amphibians is still rather underexplored. In the present paper we focus on the great crested newt (Triturus cristatus), a European species which is experiencing high conservation concerns across its range, and assess the ability of a trained detection dog to locate individuals during their terrestrial phase. More specifically, we used a series of experiments to document whether a range of distances between target newts and the detection dog (odour channelled through pipes 68 mm in diameter) affects the localisation, and to assess the ability and efficiency of target newt detection in simulated subterranean refugia through 200 mm of two common soil types (clay and sandy soil, both with and without air vents to mimic mammal burrows, a common refuge used by T. cristatus). The detection dog accurately located all individual T. cristatus across the entire range of tested distances (0.25 m- 2.0 m). The substrate trials revealed that the detection dog could locate individuals also through soil. Contrary to existing studies with detection dogs in human forensic contexts, however, detection was generally slower for T. cristatus under sandy soil compared to clay soil, particularly when a vent was absent. Our study provides a general baseline for the use of detection dogs in locating T. cristatus and similar amphibian species during their terrestrial phase.

A comprehensive review on sustainable clay-based geopolymers for wastewater treatment: circular economy and future outlook.

In the present era of significant industrial development, the presence and dispersal of countless water contaminants in water bodies worldwide have rendered them unsuitable for various forms of life. Recently, the awareness of environmental sustainability for wastewater treatment has increased rapidly in quest of meeting the global water demand. Despite numerous conventional adsorbents on deck, exploring low-cost and efficient adsorbents is interesting. Clays and clays-based geopolymers are intensively used as natural, alternative, and promising adsorbents to meet the goals for combating climate change and providing low carbon, heat, and power. In this narrative work, the present review highlights the persistence of some inorganic/organic water pollutants in aquatic bodies. Moreover, it comprehensively summarizes the advancement in the strategies associated with synthesizing clays and their based geopolymers, characterization techniques, and applications in water treatment. Furthermore, the critical challenges, opportunities, and future prospective regarding the circular economy are additionally outlined. This review expounded on the ongoing research studies for leveraging these eco-friendly materials to address water decontamination. The adsorption mechanisms of clays-based geopolymers are successfully presented. Therefore, the present review is believed to deepen insights into wastewater treatment using clays and clays-based geopolymers as a groundbreaking aspect in accord with the waste-to-wealth concept toward broader sustainable development goals.

Experimental, Grand canonical Monte Carlo, and Density Functional Theory studies for comparing halloysite and kaolinite on heavy metals fate during pyrolysis of solid waste.

In this study, we utilized low-cost halloysite (Hal) for the first time to enhance the solid-phase enrichment and stability of heavy metals (HMs) during solid waste pyrolysis through experimental and theoretical methods, and compared with kaolinite (Kao). Experimental results demonstrated that Hal was superior to Kao in improving the solid-phase enrichment of HMs. Specifically, the solid-phase enrichment of Cd increased by 32.6 % (500 °C) and 25.94 % (600 °C), while that of Pb and Zn increased by 17.37 %/16.83 % and 19.82 %/22.37 % (700/800 °C), respectively. Adding Hal reduced the proportion of HMs in the unstable fraction (F1 + F2), consequently lowering the environmental risk of biochar and the extractable state of HMs. Through Grand canonical Monte Carlo and Density Functional Theory (DFT) simulations, we analyzed the adsorption amounts, adsorption sites, and adsorption mechanisms of Cd/Pb compound on Hal/Kao surfaces, revealing that the primary factor influencing the adsorption performance of Hal and Kao was the difference in specific surface area. The adsorption amounts of HMs by Hal were significantly higher than Kao and decreased with increasing temperature, while the difference in adsorption performance caused by structural bending was negligible. The DFT results indicated that Cd and Pb monomers were stabilized by establishing covalent bonds with OH or reactive O atoms on the Al-(001) surface, whereas the covalent bonds with ionic bonding properties formed between Cl atoms and unsaturated Al atoms played a crucial role in stabilizing HM chlorides. Furthermore, the adsorption energy of Hal on HMs increased with the removal rate of OH. Our study highlights the potential of Hal in stabilizing HMs during pyrolysis without requiring any modifications, thereby avoiding the generation of modified waste solutions and unnecessary cost loss.

Hydraulic conductivity assessment of falling head percolation tests used for the design of on-site wastewater treatment systems.

The suitability of a location for an on-site wastewater treatment process (for areas which lack access to centralised wastewater treatment systems) requires an assessment of the permeability of the soil into which the effluent will be discharged. In many jurisdictions this is determined using some type of in-situ percolation test. Falling head percolation tests, which give a value of percolation time (PT) that is empirically related to the notion of hydraulic conductivity, are widely used as they are relatively simple to carry out, but the test does not have a sound theoretical framework and test methods are not standardised internationally. In comparison, the saturated hydraulic conductivity of a soil obtained from a constant head well permeameter test is independent of test conditions, and so is a more suitable metric for design. A database of over 900 falling head tests carried out across a range of different subsoil types in Ireland has been collated, all with the inherent limitations of the existing regulative framework regarding the percolation test and soil texture assessment. These tests were then modelled using Hydrus 2-D numerical modelling simulations to determine equivalent field saturated hydraulic conductivity (Kfs) values and thereby provide a correlation with PT values across the range of subsoil conditions. In addition, falling head tests have been carried out in parallel to constant head permeameter tests in the field and compared against the relationship derived from the broad dataset of simulated results. This revealed an optimal solution by which to determine Kfs from the field permeameter test (using parameters recommended for most structured soils from clays to loams). The trendline based on Irish data was also compared against more generic formulations of the relationship between PT, and Kfs and shown to match closely, particularly the Reynolds (2016) 'unified' methodology. Finally, the Irish threshold PT limits for on-site wastewater treatment have been converted to Kfs values and compared against other international standards.

Assessment of barium diffusion from therapeutic mud wrapped in micro-perforated polyethylene bags towards the human organism.

Barium is present within the clay-derived therapeutic mud packs deposed on the patient's skin for treating some rheumatologic conditions. We studied in twenty-four young healthy volunteers the diffusion of Ba from mud wrapped in micro-perforated polyethylene bags and soaked in mineral water. No significant systematic increase in plasma or urine Ba levels was evidenced when comparing pre- and post-treatment samples using inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry. These levels were markedly inferior to the recommended thresholds in nearly all the participants. Noticeably variability in blood and especially urine Ba concentrations was large and mainly explained by environmental exposure (alimentation). Interestingly, we evidenced an intense Ba accumulation within the therapeutic mud at the end of the regimen. Because we chose a clay with one of the highest Ba content available in France for medical therapy and participants with an optimal transcutaneous diffusion capacity (young individuals with low-fat mass), we conclude unambiguously that there is no risk of Ba overexposure in patients receiving pelotherapy according to the procedure used in French medical spas.

Assessment of synthesized chitosan/halloysite nanocarrier modified by carbon nanotube for pH-sensitive delivery of curcumin to cancerous media.

Constructing a system to carry medicine for more effective remedy of cancer has been a leading challenge, as the number of cancer cases continues to increase. In this present research, a curcumin-loaded chitosan/halloysite/carbon nanotube nanomixture was fabricated by means of water/oil/water emulsification method. The drug loading efficiency (DL) and entrapment efficiency (EE), as a result, reached 42 % and 88 %, respectively and FTIR and XRD analysis confirmed the bonding between the drug and nanocarrier. Morphological observation through FE-SEM and characterization through DLS analysis demonstrated that the average size of nanoparticles is 267.37 nm. Assessment of release within 96 h in pH 7.4 and 5.4 showed sustained release. For more investigation, release data was analyzed by diverse kinetic models to understand the mechanism in the release procedure. An MTT assay was also carried out, and the results illustrated apoptosis induction on MCF-7 cells and exhibited ameliorated cytotoxicity of the drug-loaded nanocomposite compared to the free curcumin. These findings suggest that the unique pH-responsive chitosan/halloysite/carbon nanotube nanocomposite might make a good option for drug delivery systems, particularly for the cancer treatment.

[Pollution Characteristics and Risk Assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Agricultural Soils of Different Land Use Types in Nanjing Suburbs].

In order to clarify the pollution characteristics of PAHs in suburban agricultural soils, the content of 16 types of PAHs was measured in agricultural soils with different land use types (paddy fields, vegetable fields, and forest land) in the suburbs of Nanjing. The results showed that acenaphthene (Acy) was not detected in any soil samples. The concentration of 15 PAHs in agricultural soil in suburban Nanjing ranged from 24.49 to 925.54 µg·kg-1, with an average concentration of 259.88 µg·kg-1. In different land use types, the order of PAHs concentration in soil from high to low was:forest land>paddy fields>vegetable fields, and the high-ring PAHs content was dominant in general. The effects of different soil physicochemical properties on PAHs showed that there was a certain correlation between soil organic carbon (TOC) and clay (clay) content and PAHs, whereas pH and total nitrogen (TN) had no significant correlation with PAHs. The toxic equivalence method and CSI index method were used for ecological risk assessment, which showed that the ecological risk of PAHs in agricultural soils in suburban Nanjing was relatively small; however, the ecological risk of PAHs in forest land should be given some attention, and supervision should be strengthened. Health risk assessment using incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) showed that the threat to the health of children was slightly greater than that of adults, and the CR of forest land was significantly higher than that of vegetable and paddy fields, though still within an acceptable range. Uncertain health assessments were performed in adults, showing that risk analyses of deterministic health risks underestimated the health risks of PAHs. The results of sensitivity analysis showed that the input parameter that had the greatest impact on the total variance of the total carcinogenic risk CR was the exposure frequency EF (50.7%), followed by the pollutant concentration CS (43.3%).

In vitro release of aluminum from the geophagic clay "Chacco" in the Peruvian highlands: Chemical characterization and health risk assessment.

In the altiplano zone of Latin America, "Chacco" is one of the clays widely consumed as part of geophagy. The objectives of the study were to chemically characterize "Chacco", determine the zero charge point, evaluate the release of aluminum in vitro, perform the kinetic study and evaluate the health risk. The results by ICP-OES showed that the elements with the highest concentration were Al, Ba, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Si, Sr, Ti and Zn. ATR-FTIR analysis showed the presence of Si-O (693 and 990 cm-1), Al-O (790 cm-1), Al-Al-OH bending vibration (912 cm-1), Si-H bond stretching (2100 to 2500 cm-1) and free -OH groups (3629 cm-1). SEM-EDX results indicate that Al is one of the main constituents of "Chacco" (7.35 wt%). The pHzpc of "Chacco" was 6.83. In the dissolution profiles, the highest Al release occurred at pH 6.8 and in intestinal juice simulated with pseudo-second order dissolution kinetics. The EDIAl and EWIAl were 20.24 and 142.66 respectively, comparing EWIAl with the PTWI established by JECFA (2 mg/kg bw), it is concluded that the weekly intake of "Chacco" represents an appreciable health risk. There are no reports of the carcinogenic factor of Al, so TRAl was not calculated.

Foundation integrity assessment of failed buildings in Ehamufu and Aguamede, South East Nigeria.

The failure of civil engineering structures especially buildings by severe cracks, partial, or complete collapse have kept the natives of communities in Aguamede and Ehamufu (Southeastern Nigeria) communities in a bothered state. Detailed geotechnical techniques and X-ray diffraction analysis were applied to investigate the soil samples from the study area. Geotechnical results revealed that the soil of the area have high clay content (62.78-82.37%), high liquid limit (48-54%) with a plasticity index of 20-28%, high moisture content (25.06-27.28%) and low permeability of 2.21 × 10-8-1.74 × 10-6 (m/sec) which hinders drainage. Maximum dry density values were in the range of 1.73-1.98(g/cm3) with an optimum moisture content of 17.5-19.8% and average specific gravity of 2.5 (mg/m3). Shear strength test revealed high cohesion (32-36.4 KN/m2) to low angle of intergranular friction (10-12°). Coefficient of consolidation ranges from 0.04 to 0.94 m2/year were observed. Coefficient of volume compressibility values were in the range of 0.00012-0.00028 m2/kN and showed that the soils are highly susceptible to compression as the foundations are underlain by an inadequate soil layer that is vulnerable to settlement in amount ranging from 0.553-0.654 mm/year at load pressure of 400 kN/m2. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the mineralogy of soil in the study area consist of quartz (89-89.7%) and kaolinite (10.3-11%). Statistical analyses showed that specific gravity, cohesion, clay, silt, NMC, PI, sand, LL and phi have strong interrelation in the correlation table. Comparing the geotechnical parameters from the study area with the Nigerian specification for constructions, it is shown that the study area has poor foundation materials.

Characterization and application of novel fly ash blended ceramic membrane in MFC for low-cost and sustainable wastewater treatment and power generation.

Field-scale application of the microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology faces a major constraint due to the widely used high-cost proton exchange membrane Nafion, prompting lately, the development of ceramic membranes using different clay minerals. In the present study, the characteristics and applicability of a novel ceramic membrane fabricated using potter's clay (C) blended with varying proportions (0, 5, 10, and 20 wt%) of fly ash (FA), designated as CFA0, CFA5, CFA10, and CFA20, were assessed for cost-effective and sustainable use in MFC. On assessing the properties of the membrane, CFA10 was found to exhibit superior quality with fine pore size distribution (average 0.49 µm) favoring higher water uptake and less oxygen diffusion. The CFA10 membrane showed a maximum proton mass transfer coefficient (4.32 ± 0.04 × 10-5 cm/s) that was about three times that of the control CFA0. The oxygen mass transfer coefficient of CFA10 was 5.13 ± 0.12 × 10-5 cm/s, which was about 40% less than in the control. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of CFA membrane revealed the richness of quartz, which facilitates proton conductance and water retention. The CFA10 membrane fitted MFC demonstrated a peak power output of 4.57 W/m3 (twice that in CFA0) with an average of 80.02 ± 0.86% COD removal and 68.03 ± 0.13% coulombic efficiency in a long-term study indicating its improved applicability and durability. Electrochemical kinetics involving cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) also affirmed the efficacy of CFA10 membrane in MFC showing peak current output of 13.95 mA and low ohmic resistance (74.2 Ω). The novel (CFA10) ceramic membrane amalgamated with the coal fly ash, a waste of concern, shows promise for high MFC performance at a much reduced (98% less) cost that can be used for sustainable scale-up of the technology.

Comparing Delphi-fuzzy AHP and fuzzy logic membership in soil fertility assessment: a study of an active Ganga Delta in Sundarban Biosphere Reserve, India.

The present study led to setting up a grid-based soil fertility map along with the best fit model in the coastal regions based on soil physical (coarse, sand, silt, clay, bulk density), chemical (CEC, pH, and soil organic carbon), topographic (elevation), and nutrient elements (P2O5, K2O, Na, Zn, B) in the active Ganga deltaic region of Sundarban Biosphere Reserve, India. Soil samples have been collected from 30 soil grids, and 0-15 cm soil depth was preferred for fertility analysis because most essential soil chemical and nutrient elements affecting soil fertility are concentrated in this depth range. We have used the fuzzy-AHP-Delphi (FAHP) and fuzzy logic-Delphi (FL) methods to determine the soil fertility zone. The rules are generated on the MATLAB interface in the text form; the words "IF," "THEN," "IS," "AND," etc., are used to complete the mode-building process. The weights and the desirable limits for each criterion were set based on the expert opinions and existing literature. The kriging interpolation method and natural break classification were used to represent the soil fertility maps into five classes, namely very high fertility (0.80-1.0), high fertility (0.60-0.80), moderate fertility (0.40-0.60), low fertility (0.20-0.40), and very low fertility (0.00-0.20) respectively. Both the models show that soil fertility is respectively higher near the Hooghly River bank. In many cases, the results obtained from FAHP and FL are quite similar but huge dissimilarity has been noticed in grid numbers G2, G3, G4, F1, and F2. Since the FAHP method has been used for the weight of each criterion, therefore, it only prefers those more important parameters over others. The overall accuracy of the soil fertility map was 82.16% for the fuzzy logic model, and 79.62% for the FAHP model and the kappa coefficient value was determined as 0.82 for the fuzzy logic model and 0.79 for the FAHP model. The soil fertility map was validated using the success rate curve under the ROC technique, and the area under curve (AUC) was calculated as 84.02% for the fuzzy logic model and 81.60% for the FAHP model. Since the standard limits for each criterion were known, therefore, fuzzy logic was found to best fit the model for analyzing soil fertility for each grid.

Assessment of bimetallic Zn/Fe0 nanoparticles stabilized Tween-80 and rhamnolipid foams for the remediation of diesel contaminated clay soil.

Diesel contamination of soil due to oil spills, disposal of refinery waste, oil exploration constitutes a major environmental problem. This paper reports the remediation of diesel contaminated clay soil using Zn/Fe0 bimetallic nanoparticle stabilized Rhamnolipid (RMLP) and Tween-80 (TW-80) surfactant foams. Fe0, and Zn (x wt%)/Fe0 (x = 0.2, 2.0, and 10.0) bimetallic nanoparticles are synthesized by using sodium borohydride reduction method. The average particle size (from FESEM) is calculated to be 62, 57, 42 and 35 nm for the Fe0, Zn (0.2)/Fe0, Zn (2)/Fe0 and Zn (10)/Fe0 nanopowders, respectively. The highest foamability and foam stability of 109.6 and 108.5 mL, respectively are observed for the RMLP (12 mg/l) surfactant foam stabilized with 6 mg/l Zn (10)/Fe0 nanoparticles. The surface tension values reduce to the lowest value of 28.1 and 31.4 mN/m with the addition of 6 mg/l of Zn (10)/Fe0 powder in RMLP and TW-80 solutions of 12 mg/l, respectively. The maximum diesel removal efficiency of 83.8 and 59%, is achieved by RMLP (12 mg/l) foam stabilized by Zn (10)/Fe0 nanoparticles (6 mg/l) for the clay soil contaminated with 100 and 500 µl/g of diesel, respectively. The physicochemical properties of the nanoparticles are studied to explain the foam properties and the remediation behavior. These findings regarding the nanoparticle stabilized foams can offer a cost-effective environment friendly commercial solution for soil remediation in the future.

Degradation of four pesticides in five urban landscape soils: human and environmental health risk assessment.

Pesticides are the most cost-effective means of pest control; however, the serious concern is about the non-target effects due to their extensive and intensive use in both agricultural and non-agricultural settings. The degradation rate constant (k) and half-life (DT50) of four commonly used pesticides, glyphosate, 2,4-D, chlorothalonil and dimethoate were determined in five Australian urban landscape soils, with varying physicochemical characteristics, to assess their environmental and human health risks. The k values (day-1) for the selected pesticides were inversely proportional to those of organic carbon (OC), silt, clay and Fe and Al oxides, and directly proportional to pH and sand content in soils. In contrast, the calculated values of DT50 (days) of all the four pesticides in five soils positively correlated with OC, clay, silt and oxides of Fe and Al, whereas soil pH and sand content exhibited a negative correlation. The calculated values of environmental indices, GUS and LIX, for the selected pesticides indicate their potential portability into water bodies, affecting non-target organisms as well as food safety. The evaluation for human non-cancer risk of these pesticides, based on the calculated values of hazard quotient (HQ) and hazard index (HI), suggested that exposure of adults and children to soils, contaminated with 50% of initially applied concentrations, through ingestion, dermal and inhalation pathways might cause negligible to zero non-carcinogenic risks. The present data might help the stakeholders in applying recommended doses of pesticides in urban landscapes and regulatory bodies concerned in monitoring the overall environmental quality and implementing safeguard policies. Our study also clearly demonstrates the need for developing improved formulations and spraying technologies for pesticides to minimize human and environmental health risks.

Strategic development and performance evaluation of functionalized tea waste ash-clay composite as low-cost, high-performance separator in microbial fuel cell.

The separator is an important component of the microbial fuel cells (MFCs), which separates anode and cathode entities and facilitates ion transfer between both. Despite the high research in separators in recent years, the need for cost-effective, waste-driven selective separators in MFCs persists. Present study discloses the strategic fabrication of functionalized-tea-waste-ash-clay (FTWA-C) composite separator by integrating functionalized tea waste ash (FTWA) with potter's clay. Clay was used as a base, while FTWA was used as cation exchanger. FTWA and clay were separately mixed in four different ratios, 00:100 (C1); 05:95 (C2); 10:90 (C3); 15:85 (C4). Mixtures were then crafted manually as consecutive four layers. C1-side faced anode while separator-cathode-assembly was developed at C4. The separator was characterized by evaluating proton and oxygen transfer coefficient, and water-uptake analysis. The separator was also analysed for elemental composition, microstructure, particle size, and surface area and porous structure. SEM analysis of FTWA showed the presence of 15-100 nm pores. EDS analysis of the FTWA-C showed the presence of hygroscopic oxides, mainly SO42- and SiO2. A slight peak observed at P/Po∼1, confirmed the presence of macropores. The FTWA-C separator showed proton transfer coefficient as high as 18.7 × 10-5 cm/s, and oxygen mass transfer coefficient of 2.1 × 10-4 cm/s. The FTWA-C displayed the highest operating voltage of 612.4.2 mV, the power density of 1.81 W/m3, and COD removal efficiency of 87.52%. The fabrication cost of this separator was estimated to be $9.8/m2. FTWA-C could be an affordable and high-efficiency alternative for expensive ion-exchange membranes in MFCs.

Spatial Pattern, Sources Identification, and Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in a Typical Soda Soil from Bayannur, Northwestern China.

Soil is an important natural resource in the agricultural areas of northwest China. The heavy metal concentration and ecological risk assessments are crucial for food safety and human health. This work collected 35 surface soil samples and focused on a typical soda soil quality of the Hetao Plain in Bayannur, which is an important grain production base in northern China. The concentration and composition of heavy metal (arsenic (As), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn)), soluble salts, total organic carbon (TOC), and minerals of the surface soils were analyzed to assess the biotoxicity, ecological risk, sources, and influencing factors of heavy metals in these soda soil from this region. The enrichment factors (EF) showed that As, Co, Cu, and Pb were not contaminated in these soils, while Cd, Cr, Hg, Ni, and Zn were lightly contaminated. The index of geoaccumulation (Igeo) for the soda soils indicated that Co and Pb were uncontaminated, and Cr, Cd, Ni, Zn, Hg, Cu, and As were lightly contaminated. The potential ecological risk index (RI) indicated there were no or low risks for As, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn. Although the concentrations of Cd and Hg in the soil were low, the two heavy metals exhibited moderate-high ecological risk because they have high biological toxicity. Cd in the soils from Hetao Plain in Bayannur is mainly exchangeable and reducible fractions. The other heavy metals in these soda soils are mainly in residue fraction, implying that their mobility is low and not easily absorbed and used by plants. Heavy metal fractions, principal component analysis (PCA), and correlation analysis showed that As, Co, Cr, Cu, and Pb were mainly from natural sources, while Ni, Cd, and Zn were mainly from anthropogenic discharge-related irrigation, fertilizers, and pesticide application, and Hg was mainly from winter snowfall in the study area. Naturally sourced metal elements have obvious sediment properties, and their adsorption by clay minerals and coupling with organic matter along with sediment transport sorting. The salinity and pH of soda soils in the study area have a highly positive correlation, hence the influence of factors on the concentrations of soil heavy metals are consistent. For anthropogenically imported heavy metals, increasing salinity and pH promote the precipitation of metallic elements in water. Cd is present as an exchangeable and reducible fraction, while Ni and Zn are mainly sequestered by organic matter and clay minerals.

Promoting Health and Behavior Change through Evidence-Based Landscape Interventions in Rural Communities: A Pilot Protocol.

Rural communities in the United States have many public health issues, including a high prevalence of physical inactivity, obesity, and higher risks for major non-communicable diseases. A lack of safe and convenient places to exercise could intensify healthy lifestyle disparities. Individually adapted physical activity prescriptions at the primary level of healthcare could play a role in behavior change for rural residents. Healthcare professionals and designers created the rural wellness hub concept, which integrates walking trails and therapeutic landscape features on the clinic site, to support patient physician-prescribed activities and treatments. This research protocol reports the design and implementation of the rural wellness hub at a clinic in Clay County, West Virginia. Following a participatory, evidence-based landscape intervention (EBLI) protocol, 58 user representatives (patient = 49; clinic employee = 9) participated in the four-phase protocol: (1) pre-design survey, (2) design and development, (3) post-design interview, and (4) post-occupancy evaluation. Survey and interview data from all phases were collected and analyzed. The preliminary results indicate that the redesigned clinic campus could promote several health programs among local communities, with the benefits of walking trails, in particular, highlighted. The rigorous EBLI protocol could serve as a template for rural communities that seek to develop similar healthcare intervention programs.