NGHIÊN CỨU - TRAO ĐỔI

Công bố quốc tế lĩnh vực môi trường số 22-2023

13/06/2023

Trân trọng giới thiệu tới quý độc giả Công bố quốc tế lĩnh vực môi trường số 22-2023 với những nội dung chính như sau:

Về quản lý môi trường

– Ứng dụng các mô hình học sâu mạnh mẽ để dự đoán dòng nước vào mỏ: Ý nghĩa đối với quản lý môi trường nước ngầm.

– Sự phân bố của hạt vi nhựa trong các hệ thống nước ngọt ở khu vực đô thị hóa: Một nghiên cứu điển hình ở Flanders (Bỉ).

– Đánh giá quan trọng về các tác động sức khỏe mới nổi liên quan đến chất lượng không khí trong nhà và quản lý bền vững.

– Phát triển kinh tế xã hội thúc đẩy hiệu suất quản lý chất thải rắn ở các thành phố: Một phân tích toàn cầu sử dụng máy học.

– Mối tương tác giữa hệ động vật biển lớn và ô nhiễm nhựa ở Đông Nam Á.

– Giám sát các chất gây ô nhiễm đang nổi lên trong các hệ thống thủy sinh thông qua lăng kính khoa học công dân.

– Đánh giá rủi ro của hóa chất và hỗn hợp của chúng bị cản trở bởi sự khan hiếm và sự không nhất quán giữa các giới hạn phơi nhiễm môi trường khác nhau.

– Hiệu ứng Veblen xanh: Tính bền vững trong quản lý ô nhiễm.

– Khả năng năng động trong khởi nghiệp môi trường: Một khuôn khổ để thương mại hóa các đổi mới xanh.

Về môi trường đô thị

– Giải mã sự khác biệt giữa các đô thị và trong đô thị về mối liên hệ giữa sức khỏe và mức độ tiếp xúc với nhiệt độ và chất lượng không khí ở Úc bằng cách sử dụng các mô hình học máy toàn cầu và địa phương.

– Mô hình phân phối động dựa trên yếu tố để quản lý nước ảo trong các quần thể đa đô thị – Nghiên cứu điển hình về Vành đai kinh tế sông Dương Tử.

– Hóa chất gây rối loạn nội tiết trong bụi trong nhà: Đánh giá về xu hướng thời gian và không gian cũng như sự phơi nhiễm của con người.

– Xử lý chất thải rắn đô thị để sản xuất năng lượng sinh học và tài nguyên: Các công nghệ tiềm năng, các khía cạnh kỹ thuật-kinh tế-môi trường và ý nghĩa của việc phục hồi dựa trên màng.

– Tác động ngoài ý muốn của chương trình Open Streets đối với các khiếu nại về tiếng ồn ở Thành phố New York.

– Đạt được các mục tiêu phát triển bền vững thông qua việc tạo ra giá trị cho các bên liên quan: Xây dựng các cộng đồng và thành phố bền vững thông minh.

– Sự đa dạng và biến đổi phân bố của thảm thực vật đô thị tự phát với tần suất riêng biệt dọc theo các hành lang sông trong một thành phố đang phát triển nhanh.

Về môi trường khu công nghiệp

– Tác động tích hợp của việc cấy và sửa đổi vi sinh vật đối với việc cải thiện an toàn cây trồng trong đất công nghiệp bị ô nhiễm đồng thời với các chất ô nhiễm hữu cơ và vô cơ.

– Màng nano poly(vinylidene fluoride) biến đổi để loại bỏ thuốc nhuộm khỏi nước – Đánh giá.

– Hiểu biết sâu sắc về sự thay đổi theo mùa của SVOC, đặc điểm hình thái nguyên tố và quang phổ của PM2.5 được thu thập tại một khu công nghiệp dày đặc: Faridabad, Haryana, Ấn Độ.

– Đánh giá rủi ro ô nhiễm và sức khỏe của đất bị ô nhiễm chất thải mỏ ở Ấn Độ từ các nguyên tố độc hại bằng phương pháp thống kê.

– Phơi nhiễm mangan trong môi trường và đánh giá rủi ro sức khỏe từ việc lấy mẫu cá nhân gần nguồn mangan trong không khí công nghiệp.

– Một khuôn khổ nhất quán mới để phân bổ không gian hoạt động an toàn cho các ngành B2C và B2B để sử dụng trong các đánh giá bền vững môi trường tuyệt đối.

– Rủi ro sức khỏe con người và môi trường của các nguyên tố có khả năng gây hại trong đất bị ảnh hưởng bởi hoạt động khai thác mỏ: Nghiên cứu điển hình về Mỏ Angouran Zn-Pb, Iran.

– Phân tích phiên mã cho thấy cơ chế khoáng hóa tự khử của thuốc nhuộm azo và các hydrolase khử màu mới trong Aspergillus tabacinus LZ-M.

– Chương trình trợ cấp tối ưu của chính phủ cho đổi mới theo định hướng tinh gọn trong ngành dệt may.

– Công nghiệp 4.0, công ty đa quốc gia và phát triển bền vững: Phân tích thư mục.

Xin trân trọng giới thiệu!

QUẢN LÝ MÔI TRƯỜNG

1. Application of robust deep learning models to predict mine water inflow: Implication for groundwater environment management

Science of The Total Environment, Volume 871, 1 May 2023, 162056

Abstract

Traditional mine water inflow prediction is characterized by a high degree of uncertainty in model parameters and complex mechanisms involved in the water inflow process. Data-driven models play a key role in predicting inflow mechanisms without considering physical changes. However, the existing models are limited by nonlinearity and non-stationarity. Thus, the principal objective of this study was to propose two robust models, the DIFF-TCN model and the DIFF-LSTM model, for predicting the average water inflow per day. The models consist of three methods, namely Difference Method (DIFF), Temporal Convolutional Neural Network (TCN), and Long Short-Term Memory Neural Network (LSTM). When applied to the Tingnan Coal Mine, Shanxi Province, China, the DIFF-TCN performs better in predicting the average daily water inflow, the model has a MAE of 5.88 m3/h, RMSE of 6.85 m3/h and R2 of 0.96 in the test stage of the water inflow event. Comparison with the other deep learning models (with similar complex structures) and traditional time series model shows the superiority of our proposed DIFF-TCN model. The SHAP value is used to explain the contribution of each model input to the predicted values, and it indicates that the historical time of water inflow data are the most important input, and the advance distance and the groundwater level data also contribute to the model predictions, but groundwater level data for some periods in the past may have a detrimental effect on the model. The findings of this study can provide better understanding about potential of robust deep learning models for smart hydrological forecasting, and they can also provide technical guidance for mining safety production and protection of water resources and water environment around the mining area.

2. Urban-rural disparities of carbon storage dynamics in China’s human settlements driven by population and economic growth

Science of The Total Environment, Volume 871, 1 May 2023, 162092

Abstract

China has experienced a rapid expansion of human settlement in both urban and rural areas over the past three decades. Regarding the impacts on carbon storage, previous studies that only focus on certain ecosystems cannot reflect urban-rural disparities, resulting in the carbon storage changes in human settlement remaining unknown. In this study, we aimed to explore China’s urban-rural disparities in human settlement expansion and direct impacts on carbon storage by using the big Earth data technology. The results showed that from 1990 to 2018, the total amount of China’s human settlement expansion reached 175,703.80 km2, and the inner-city, peri-urban, and rural components accounted for 21.00 %, 20.18 %, and 58.82 %, respectively. Along with the general tendency of impervious surface area (ISA) growth, there was more soil organic carbon (SOC) (1254.33 TgC) being sealed beneath ISA (0–100 cm depth), compared to a huge reduction in vegetation biomass carbon (VBC) (91.44 TgC) during the study period. The results further indicated that the change density of either VBC or SOC presented a slightly rising trend along the urban-rural gradient, due to the increasingly common encroachment on vegetation and soil types with higher carbon content. We also found that socioeconomic drivers had a greater influence in urban areas than rural areas, and the related correlation exhibited a descending trajectory in both urban and rural areas. There is thus an urgent need to preserve lands with abundant carbon storage and contain the waste of land resources in rural areas. All stakeholders should pay more attention to concerted and targeted regulation policies for well-planned and eco-friendly human settlement expansion such as enhancing rural land use efficiency and promoting large-scale afforestation and continuous urban greening, which will be critical not only for guiding sustainable urbanization all over China but also for mitigating climate change for the entire world.

3. Distribution of microplastics in freshwater systems in an urbanized region: A case study in Flanders (Belgium)

Science of The Total Environment, Volume 872, 10 May 2023, 162192

Abstract

Microplastics (MPs) are an emerging pollutant of concern in all known aquatic ecosystems. However, studies at a regional scale on MP pollution in freshwater systems and the necessary risk assessments are limited. Therefore, in this study, we examined microplastic concentrations, size distributions, and polymer types in surface waters and sediments in the geographic region Flanders (Belgium), as a case study for a densely populated region and one of the most developed parts of Europe. Samples have been taken on nine different locations, of which five were repeated in a different weather condition. In total 43 aqueous and nine sediment samples have been collected. The quantity and identity of the microplastics in the samples were determined with μFTIR spectroscopy in the range of 25–1000 μm. The MPs’ abundances in surface waters and sediments ranged from 0 to 4.8 MP L−1 (average = 0.48 MP L−1) and from 0 to 9558 MP kg−1 dry weight (average = 2774.57 ± 2317.93 MP kg−1 DW), respectively. Polystyrene and polypropylene were the most common polymer compositions found. No correlations were observed between microplastic concentrations in the sediment/the surface water samples and the measured environmental variables rainfall, conductivity, pH, dissolved oxygen content, waterway flow rate and width, and surrounding land use. Risk assessment results for the measured surface water concentrations through the risk quotient (RQ) method and the probabilistic risk assessment framework suggest that most of the sampled sites in Flanders posed negligible risks to freshwater biota, while this was not the case for some of the sediment concentrations. Our results illustrate the need to urgently develop analytical methods that can routinely measure the full size range of MP in environmental samples to adequately assess risks for the environment.

4. Critical review on emerging health effects associated with the indoor air quality and its sustainable management

Science of The Total Environment, Volume 872, 10 May 2023, 162163

Abstract

Indoor air quality (IAQ) is one of the fundamental elements affecting people’s health and well-being. Currently, there is a lack of awareness among people about the quantification, identification, and possible health effects of IAQ. Airborne pollutants such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particulate matter (PM), sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrous oxide (NO), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) microbial spores, pollen, allergens, etc. primarily contribute to IAQ deterioration. This review discusses the sources of major indoor air pollutants, molecular toxicity mechanisms, and their effects on cardiovascular, ocular, neurological, women, and foetal health. Additionally, contemporary strategies and sustainable methods for regulating and reducing pollutant concentrations are emphasized, and current initiatives to address and enhance IAQ are explored, along with their unique advantages and potentials. Due to their longer exposure times and particular physical characteristics, women and children are more at risk for poor indoor air quality. By triggering many toxicity mechanisms, including oxidative stress, DNA methylation, epigenetic modifications, and gene activation, indoor air pollution can cause a range of health issues. Low birth weight, acute lower respiratory tract infections, Sick building syndromes (SBS), and early death are more prevalent in exposed residents. On the other hand, the main causes of incapacity and early mortality are lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cardiovascular disorders. It’s crucial to acknowledge anticipated research needs and implemented efficient interventions and policies to lower health hazards.

5. Socio-economic development drives solid waste management performance in cities: A global analysis using machine learning

Science of The Total Environment, Volume 872, 10 May 2023, 161913

Abstract

Mismanaged municipal solid waste (MSW), the major source of plastics pollution and a key contributor to climate forcing, in Global South cities poses public health and environmental problems. This study analyses the first consistent and quality assured dataset available for cities distributed worldwide, featuring a comprehensive set of solid waste management performance indicators (Wasteaware Cities Benchmark Indicators – WABI). Machine learning (multivariate random forest) and univariate non-linear regression are applied, identifying best-fit converging models for a broad range of explanatory socioeconomic variables. These proxies describe in a variety of ways generic levels of progress, such as Gross Domestic Product – Purchasing Power per capita, Social Progress Index (SPI) and Corruption Perceptions Index. Specifically, the research tests and quantitatively confirms a long-standing, yet unverified, hypothesis: that variability in cities’ performance on MSW can be accounted for by socioeconomic development indices. The results provide a baseline for measuring progress as cities report MSW performance for the sustainable development goal SDG11.6.1 indicator: median rates of controlled recovery and disposal are approximately at 45 % for cities in low-income countries, 75 % in lower-middle, and 100 % for both upper-middle and high-income. Casting light on aspects beyond the SDG metric, on the quality of MSW-related services, show that improvements in service quality often lag improvements in service coverage. Overall, the findings suggest that progress in collection coverage, and controlled recovery and disposal has already taken place in low- and middle-income cities. However, if cities aspire to perform better on MSW management than would have been anticipated by the average socioeconomic development in their country, they should identify ways to overcome systemic underlying failures associated with that socioeconomic level. Most alarmingly, ‘business as usual’ development would substantially increase their waste generation per capita unless new policies are found to promote decoupling.

6. Interactions between marine megafauna and plastic pollution in Southeast Asia

Science of The Total Environment, Volume 874, 20 May 2023, 162502

Abstract

Southeast (SE) Asia is a highly biodiverse region, yet it is also estimated to cumulatively contribute a third of the total global marine plastic pollution. This threat is known to have adverse impacts on marine megafauna, however, understanding of its impacts has recently been highlighted as a priority for research in the region. To address this knowledge gap, a structured literature review was conducted for species of cartilaginous fishes, marine mammals, marine reptiles, and seabirds present in SE Asia, collating cases on a global scale to allow for comparison, coupled with a regional expert elicitation to gather additional published and grey literature cases which would have been omitted during the structured literature review. Of the 380 marine megafauna species present in SE Asia, but also studied elsewhere, we found that 9.1 % and 4.5 % of all publications documenting plastic entanglement (n = 55) and ingestion (n = 291) were conducted in SE Asian countries. At the species level, published cases of entanglement from SE Asian countries were available for 10 % or less of species within each taxonomic group. Additionally, published ingestion cases were available primarily for marine mammals and were lacking entirely for seabirds in the region. The regional expert elicitation led to entanglement and ingestion cases from SE Asian countries being documented in 10 and 15 additional species respectively, highlighting the utility of a broader approach to data synthesis. While the scale of the plastic pollution in SE Asia is of particular concern for marine ecosystems, knowledge of its interactions and impacts on marine megafauna lags behind other areas of the world, even after the inclusion of a regional expert elicitation. Additional funding to help collate baseline data are critically needed to inform policy and solutions towards limiting the interactions of marine megafauna and plastic pollution in SE Asia.

7. Monitoring contaminants of emerging concern in aquatic systems through the lens of citizen science

Science of The Total Environment, Volume 874, 20 May 2023, 162527

Abstract

Global urbanization trends have led to the widespread increasing occurrence of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) such as pharmaceuticals, personal care products, pesticides, and micro- and nano-plastics in aquatic systems. Even at low concentrations, these contaminants pose a threat to aquatic ecosystems. To better understand the effects of CECs on aquatic ecosystems, it is important to measure concentrations of these contaminants present in these systems. Currently, there is an imbalance in CEC monitoring, with more attention to some categories of CECs, and a lack of data about environmental concentrations of other types of CECs. Citizen science is a potential tool for improving CEC monitoring and to establish their environmental concentrations. However, incorporating citizen participation in the monitoring of CECs poses some challenges and questions. In this literature review, we explore the landscape of citizen science and community science projects which monitor different groups of CECs in freshwater and marine ecosystems. We also identify the benefits and drawbacks of using citizen science to monitor CECs to provide recommendations for sampling and analytical methods. Our results highlight an existing disparity in frequency of monitoring different groups of CECs with implementing citizen science. Specifically, volunteer participation in microplastic monitoring programs is higher than volunteer participation in pharmaceutical, pesticide, and personal care product programs. These differences, however, do not necessarily imply that fewer sampling and analytical methods are available. Finally, our proposed roadmap provides guidance on which methods can be used to improve monitoring of all groups of CECs through citizen science.

8. Dynamic changes in permafrost distribution over China and their potential influencing factors under climate warming

Science of The Total Environment, Volume 874, 20 May 2023, 162624

Abstract

As a major component of the cryosphere, permafrost plays important roles in the climate system and land surface processes of the Earth. Owing to the rapidly warming climate, permafrost over the globe has degraded in recent decades. However, quantifying the distribution and temporal changes in permafrost is challenging. In this study, we modified the widely used surface frost number model by considering the spatial distribution of soil hydrothermal properties and then revisited the spatiotemporal patterns of permafrost distribution and its changes during the past decades (1961–2017) in China. We found that the modified surface frost number model performs well in simulating permafrost extent in China, with the overall accuracy and kappa coefficients being 0.92 and 0.78 in the calibration (1980s) and 0.94 and 0.77 in the validation period (2000s). Based on the modified model, we also found that permafrost extent in China demonstrated a significant decreasing trend over the past decades, especially on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP), with a trend of −1.15 × 104 km2/yr (P < 0.01). Moreover, there is a significant relationship between ground surface temperature and permafrost distribution area, with the R2 being 0.41, 0.42, and 0.77 in NE and NW China and on the QTP. The sensitivity of permafrost extent to ground surface temperature in NE China, NW China, and the QTP, respectively, was −8.56 × 104, −1.97 × 104, and −34.60 × 104 km2/°C, respectively. Permafrost degradation has accelerated since the late 1980s, possibly due to increased climate warming. This study is of great significance for improving permafrost distribution simulation at large spatial scales (trans-regional) and for offering vital information for adapting to climate change in cold regions.

9. Exploring air pollution characteristics from spatio-temporal perspective: A case study of the top 10 urban agglomerations in China

Environmental Research, Volume 224, 1 May 2023, 115512

Abstract

Air pollution has become a global public health risk factor as rapid urbanization advances. To observe the air pollution situation, air monitoring stations have been established in many cities, which record six air pollutants. Previous studies have identified cities exhibiting similar air pollution characteristics by combining principal component analysis (PCA) with cluster analysis (CA). However, spatial and temporal effects were neglected. In this paper, we focus on the combination of GTWPCA and STCA, which fully incorporates spatio-temporal effects. It is then applied to air pollution data from the top 10 urban agglomerations in China during 2016–2021. Key experimental findings include: 1. GTWPCA provides a more detailed interpretation of local variation than PCA. 2. Compared with CA, STCA highlights the coupling effect in the spatial and temporal dimensions. 3. The combination of GTWPCA and STCA captures similar air pollution characteristics from spatio-temporal perspectives, which has the potential to help environmental authorities take further action to control air pollution.

10. Risk assessment of chemicals and their mixtures are hindered by scarcity and inconsistencies between different environmental exposure limits

Environmental Research, Volume 225, 15 May 2023, 115372

Abstract

In chemical risk assessment, measured or modelled environmental concentrations are compared to environmental exposure limits (EELs), such as Predicted No Effect Concentrations (PNECs) or hazardous concentrations for 5% of species (HC05s) derived from species sensitivity distributions (SSDs). However, for many chemicals the EELs include large uncertainties or, in the worst case, the necessary data for their estimation are completely missing. This makes the assessment of chemical risks and any subsequent implementation of management strategies challenging. In this study we analyzed the uncertainty of EELs and its impact on chemical risk assessment. First, we compared three individual EEL datasets, two primarily based on experimental data and one based on computational predictions. The comparison demonstrates large disagreements between EEL data sources, with experimentally derived EELs differing by more than seven orders of magnitude. In a case-study, based on the predicted emissions of 2005 chemicals, we showed that these uncertainties lead to significantly different risk assessment outcomes, including large differences in the magnitude of the total risk, risk driver identification, and the ranking of use categories as risk contributors. We also show that the large data-gaps in EEL datasets cannot be covered by commonly used computational approaches (QSARs). We conclude that an expanded framework for interpreting risk characterization outcomes is needed. We also argue that the large data-gaps present in ecotoxicological data need to be addressed in order to achieve the European zero pollution vision as the growing emphasis on ambient exposures will further increase the demand for accurate and well-established EELs.

11. Green Veblen effect: Sustainability in pollution management

Journal of Cleaner Production, Volume 399, 1 May 2023, 136624

Abstract

We know that green products may initially exhibit a Veblen effect–demand increasing with prices–often followed by a decrease in price. The global understanding of these joint phenomena still needs to be improved, impeding appropriate profit-maximizing policies. Our article fills the gap by tying sustainable dynamic policies to pollution management with green consumers. This article develops an optimal control framework for production and pollution abatement, accounting for both the demand-side, with green consumption, and the supply-side, with polluting production. Results investigate the conditions characterizing the initial green Veblen phenomenon and show how to manage a green Veblen product over time. Our results pave the way to more profitable strategies accounting for sustainability.

12. Dynamic capabilities in environmental entrepreneurship: A framework for commercializing green innovations

Journal of Cleaner Production, Volume 402, 20 May 2023, 136692

Abstract

Environmental entrepreneurship has tremendous potential to deliver radical and disruptive technology innovation that can safeguard our biosphere. However, we lack insights into how green ventures can cultivate dynamic capabilities that allow these ventures to thrive. The existing dynamic capability framework does not adequately capture the unique challenges and opportunities facing early-stage green ventures. Consequently, in this study we ask: what are the micro-foundations underpinning dynamic capabilities in early-stage green ventures? How are these dynamic capabilities cultivated? How do these dynamic capabilities correspond to and co-develop with external factors in flux when disruptive green innovation is commercialized? This paper is based on an exploratory case study of 14 ventures developing green innovations in the biofuel, bioenergy, biochemistry, and biomaterial sectors. Our study conceptualizes the micro-foundations of dynamic capabilities related to sensing, seizing, and reconfiguring capabilities. Moreover, it develops a detailed and comprehensive framework of dynamic capability building for early-stage green ventures, which links internal dynamic capability building processes with influential external factors in flux.

13. The circular economy mitigates the material rebound due to investments in renewable energy

Journal of Cleaner Production, Volume 402, 20 May 2023, 136753

Abstract

The current macroeconomic models of the circular economy rely on the unrealistic assumption that materials can be recycled infinitely, often ignoring price and demand adjustments. In reality, most virgin materials are recycled only a few times, while the proliferation of cheap products made from recycled materials is likely to affect final demand. In this paper, we address both of these shortcomings. We propose a novel climate-economy agent-based model of the circular economy combined with the climate cycle and opinion dynamics. Consumers and producers are embedded in co-evolving networks, with preferences of consumers influencing the direction of technological progress and the diffusion of goods made from recycled materials. The main novelty of our study is that we compare the macroeconomic consequences of inputs being recycled once, twice and infinitely. We find that the more times materials are recycled, the more global temperature and resource depletion decrease. In addition, our study shows that the transition to renewable energy leads to the material rebound effect, where more raw materials are used in the manufacturing sector compared to an economy dependent on fossil fuels. Whether the circular economy can mitigate this effect depends on how many times inputs are recycled.

14. How to accurately assess the spatial distribution of energy CO2 emissions? Based on POI and NPP-VIIRS comparison

Journal of Cleaner Production, Volume 402, 20 May 2023, 136656

Abstract

Timely and accurately estimating the spatial distribution of CO2 emissions is crucial for formulating energy conservation and emission reduction policies. Although nighttime light data has been proved to be effective in estimating the spatial distribution of CO2 emissions, it cannot estimate the spatial distribution of different types of CO2 emissions (commercial CO2 emissions, residential CO2 emissions, light industry CO2 emissions, heavy industry CO2 emissions, and agricultural CO2 emissions). Based on the local adaptive method, this study compares the potential of POI data and NPP-VIIRS data for modeling different types of carbon emissions in China to analyze the spatial structure of carbon emissions within cities. The results showed that: (1) POI data is much more powerful and reliable than NPP-VIIRS data regarding monitoring ability at the suburbs and mountainous areas. (2) From the point of view of the estimation ability of different types of carbon emissions, in the commercial CO2 emissions and residential CO2 emissions, although the correlation coefficient between the estimation results of POI data and statistical data is not significantly improved compared with that of NPP-VIIRS data, the accuracy of the estimation results is significantly improved in terms of the spatial distribution; POI data has a significantly stronger ability to estimate industrial carbon emissions than nighttime light data. (3) From the spatial distribution structure of urban carbon emission, urban carbon emission presents a “V”-shaped distribution, with two high-value areas located in the central urban area and the industrial zone in the suburbs. This study confirms that POI data is a potential and promising data source for accurately modeling different types of carbon emissions and will help support low-carbon city management and energy allocation optimization.

15. Innovation vs. standardization: The conjoint effects of eco-innovation and environmental management systems on environmental performance

Research Policy, Volume 52, Issue 4, May 2023, 104737

Abstract

In this study, we first analyze whether firms’ eco-innovation, manifested through green patents, improves environmental performance. Then, we assess whether adopting environmental management systems (EMS) that follow standardized guidelines enhances the potential of eco-innovation to improve environmental performance. To test our predictions, we build a unique firm-level dataset that combines global data on green patents, EMS adoption, and performance from five different data sources. The data support the positive effect of eco-innovation on environmental performance. However, our results show that adopting EMS, rather than strengthening the positive impact of eco-innovation on environmental performance, generates organizational rigidities that weaken the eco-innovation–environmental performance link. After conducting a set of qualitative post hoc interviews with elite informants, our surprising findings became more meaningful. Furthermore, we conducted a set of additional tests to validate our results in different scenarios where organizational rigidities could be a pivotal factor in explaining environmental performance differences connected to eco-innovation. This study has relevant theoretical and practical implications for the design and adoption of EMS and the conjoint dynamics between innovation and standardization practices to improve performance.

16. The role of natural resources in the management of environmental sustainability: Machine learning approach

Resources Policy, Volume 82, May 2023, 103548

Abstract

This study examines the ability of Asia’s natural resources to manage environmental sustainability through digitalization. We analyse 19 Asian nations from 1990 to 2020. In addition to natural resource rents and digitalization, we consider human capital, economic complexity, trade, urbanisation, energy use, renewable energy consumption, academic freedom, and corruption as variables affecting environmental sustainability. To achieve our goal, we use adaptable machine learning algorithms. The sparse algorithm of ANN suggests that when the range is 0.1–9.87, CO2 is decreasing, but when the range is 0–0.1 and above 9.87, the impact on CO2 emission is positive. When ICT is between 0.18 and .32, its impact on CO2 is negative, but above.32, it’s positive. The interaction between natural resources and ICT has a positive impact on CO2 in the.05-0.25,0.85-1.45, and 14.7–17.45 ranges, but a negative impact in the.35-0.65 and 5.65–8.45 ranges. Urbanization, energy use, and economic complexity play the biggest roles in Asian CO2 predictions. The findings suggest that governments in Asian countries should prioritize sustainable management of natural resources through the utilization of information and communication technology (ICT) resources. Additionally, the article recommends increasing trade integration and cooperation with other Asian countries in the ICT industry and investing in smart urbanization to improve environmental quality. To address energy sustainability, the research suggests prioritizing energy efficiency and promoting renewable energy sources to achieve the goals of SDG7 and SDG13.

MÔI TRƯỜNG ĐÔ THỊ

1. Unpacking the inter- and intra-urban differences of the association between health and exposure to heat and air quality in Australia using global and local machine learning models

Science of The Total Environment, Volume 871, 1 May 2023, 162005

Abstract

Environmental stressors including high temperature and air pollution cause health problems. However, understanding how the combined exposure to heat and air pollution affects both physical and mental health remains insufficient due to the complexity of such effects mingling with human society, urban and natural environments. Our study roots in the Social Ecological Theory and employs a tri-environmental conceptual framework (i.e., across social, built and natural environment) to examine how the combined exposure to heat and air pollution affect self-reported physical and mental health via, for the first time, the fine-grained nationwide investigation in Australia and highlight how such effects vary across inter- and intra-urban areas. We conducted an ecological study to explore the importance of heat and air quality to physical and mental health by considering 48 tri-environmental confounders through the global and local random forest regression models, as advanced machine learning methods with the advantage of revealing the spatial heterogeneity of variables. Our key findings are threefold. First, the social and built environmental factors are important to physical and mental health in both urban and rural areas, and even more important than exposure to heat and air pollution. Second, the relationship between temperature and air quality and health follows a V-shape, reflecting people’s different adaptation and tolerance to temperature and air quality. Third, the important roles that heat and air pollution play in physical and mental health are most obvious in the inner-city and near inner-city areas of the major capital cities, as well as in the industrial zones in peri-urban regions and in Darwin city with a low-latitude. We draw several policy implications to minimise the inter- and intra-urban differences in healthcare access and service distribution to populations with different sensitivity to heat and air quality across urban and rural areas. Our conceptual framework can also be applied to examine the relationship between other environmental problems and health outcomes in the era of a warming climate.

2. A factorial-based dynamic distributive model for virtual-water management in multi-urban agglomerations – A case study of Yangtze River Economic Belt

Science of The Total Environment, Volume 871, 1 May 2023, 162072

Abstract

The economic development, population growth and rapid urbanization in the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) have resulted in an imbalance between socio-economic development and available water resources of adjacent urban agglomerations. Exploring the virtual water flow (VWF) of adjacent urban agglomerations in YREB is crucial for the collaborative management of water resources. In this study, a factorial-based dynamic distributive model (FDDM) is first developed to analyze the variations in virtual water transfers and inter/inner-sectoral relationships within multi-urban agglomerations, and expound the spatiotemporal diffusion effects of multiple water policy alternatives (and their combinations) for virtual water. The FDDM is applied in YREB’s urban agglomerations covering Yangtze River Delta (YRDA), Middle Reach of Yangtze River (MRA) and Chengyu Urban Agglomeration (CYA). The FDDM is capable of i) quantifying the dynamic evolution of direct/indirect virtual water volume and virtual water transfer direction/path between and within urban agglomerations; ii) demonstrating the spatiotemporal changes of the control/dependent relationship within sectors in sub-urban agglomerations, as well as the evolution of utility relationship within the system; iii) evaluating the interactions of different water policies (and their combinations) within each sub-urban agglomeration/key sectors on the direct and indirect virtual water consumption of the system. Our major findings are: (i) YRDA always has the largest direct and indirect water consumption as well as the water consumption intensities from 2007 to 2017; (ii) The three national urban agglomerations have evolved in the direction of benign development; (iii) the interactions between YRDA and MRA, YRDA_FLF (sector of farming, forest, livestock, and fishery in YRDA) and MRA_FTO (sector of food and tobacco processing in MRA) on VWF are obvious. These results will provide a new insight for balancing urban agglomeration development and water resource utilization in YREB.

3. Watershed urbanization dominated the spatiotemporal pattern of riverine methane emissions: Evidence from montanic streams that drain different landscapes in Southwest China

Science of The Total Environment, Volume 873, 15 May 2023, 162343

Abstract

Methane (CH4) emissions from streams are an important component of the global carbon budget of freshwater ecosystems, but these emissions are highly variable and uncertain at the temporal and spatial scales associated with watershed urbanization. In this study, we conducted investigations of dissolved CH4 concentrations and fluxes and related environmental parameters at high spatiotemporal resolution in three montanic streams that drain different landscapes in Southwest China. We found that the average CH4 concentrations and fluxes in the highly urbanized stream (2049 ± 2164 nmol L−1 and 11.95 ± 11.75 mmol·m−2·d−1) were much higher than those in the suburban stream (1021 ± 1183 nmol L−1 and 3.29 ± 3.66 mmol·m−2·d−1) and were approximately 12.3 and 27.8 times those in the rural stream, respectively. It provides powerful evidence that watershed urbanization strongly enhances riverine CH4 emission potential. Temporal patterns of CH4 concentrations and fluxes and their controls were not consistent among the three streams. Seasonal CH4 concentrations in the urbanized streams had negative exponential relationships with monthly precipitation and demonstrated greater sensitivity to rainfall dilution than to the temperature priming effect. Additionally, the CH4 concentrations in the urban and semiurban streams showed strong, but opposite, longitudinal patterns, which were closely related to urban distribution patterns and the HAILS (human activity intensity of the land surface) within the watersheds. High carbon and nitrogen loads from sewage discharge in urban areas and the spatial arrangement of the sewage drainage contributed to the different spatial patterns of the CH4 emissions in different urbanized streams. Moreover, CH4 concentrations in the rural stream were mainly controlled by pH and inorganic nitrogen (NH4+ and NO3−), while urban and semiurban streams were dominated by total organic carbon and nitrogen. We highlighted that rapid urban expansion in montanic small catchments will substantially enhance riverine CH4 concentrations and fluxes and dominate their spatiotemporal pattern and regulatory mechanisms. Future work should consider the spatiotemporal patterns of such urban-disturbed riverine CH4 emissions and focus on the relationship between urban activities with aquatic carbon emissions.

4. Endocrine disrupting chemicals in indoor dust: A review of temporal and spatial trends, and human exposure

Science of The Total Environment, Volume 874, 20 May 2023, 162374

Abstract

Several chemicals with widespread consumer uses have been identified as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), with a potential risk to humans. The occurrence in indoor dust and resulting human exposure have been reviewed for six groups of known and suspected EDCs, including phthalates and non-phthalate plasticizers, flame retardants, bisphenols, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), biocides and personal care product additives (PCPs). Some banned or restricted EDCs, such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), bisphenol A (BPA), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), are still widely detected in indoor dust in most countries, even as the predominating compounds of their group, but generally with decreasing trends. Meanwhile, alternatives that are also potential EDCs, such as bisphenol S (BPS), bisphenol F (BPF), decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) and organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs), and PFAS precursors, such as fluorotelomer alcohols, have been detected in indoor dust with increasing frequencies and concentrations. Associations between some known and suspected EDCs, such as phthalate and non-phthalate plasticizers, FRs and BPs, in indoor dust and paired human samples indicate indoor dust as an important human exposure pathway. Although the estimated daily intake (EDI) of most of the investigated compounds was mostly below reference values, the co-exposure to a multitude of known or suspected EDCs requires a better understanding of mixture effects.

5. Municipal solid waste treatment for bioenergy and resource production: Potential technologies, techno-economic-environmental aspects and implications of membrane-based recovery

Chemosphere, Volume 323, May 2023, 138196

Abstract

World estimated municipal solid waste generating at an alarming rate and its disposal is a severe concern of today’s world. It is equivalent to 0.79 kg/d per person footprint and causing climate change; health hazards and other environmental issues which need attention on an urgent basis. Waste to energy (WTE) considers as an alternative renewable energy potential to recover energy from waste and reduce the global waste problems. WTE reduced the burden on fossil fuels for energy generation, waste volumes, environmental, and greenhouse gases emissions. This critical review aims to evaluate the source of solid waste generation and the possible routes of waste management such as biological landfill and thermal treatment (Incineration, pyrolysis, and gasification). Moreover, a comparative evaluation of different technologies was reviewed in terms of economic and environmental aspects along with their limitations and advantages. Critical literature revealed that gasification seemed to be the efficient route and environmentally sustainable. In addition, a framework for the gasification process, gasifier types, and selection of gasifiers for MSW was presented. The country-wise solutions recommendation was proposed for solid waste management with the least impact on the environment. Furthermore, key issues and potential perspectives that require urgent attention to facilitate global penetration are highlighted. Finally, practical implications of membrane and comparison membrane-based separation technology with other conventional technologies to recover bioenergy and resources were discussed. It is expected that this study will lead towards practical solution for future advancement in terms of economic and environmental concerns, and also provide economic feasibility and practical implications for global penetration.

6. Source or sink role of an urban lake for microplastics from Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao greater bay area, China

Environmental Research, Volume 224, 1 May 2023, 115492

Abstract

Plastic production and consumption in China are larger than others in the world, and the challenge of microplastic pollution is widespread. With the development of urbanization in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, China, the environmental pollution of microplastics is becoming an increasingly prominent issue. Here, the spatial and temporal distribution characteristics, sources, and ecological risks of microplastics were analyzed in water from an urban lake, Xinghu Lake, as well as the contribution of rivers. Importantly, the roles of urban lakes for microplastics were demonstrated through the investigations of contributions and fluxes for microplastic in rivers. The results showed that the average abundances of microplastics in water of Xinghu Lake were 4.8 ± 2.2 and 10.1 ± 7.6 particles/m3 in wet and dry seasons, and the average contribution degree of the inflow rivers was 75%. The size of microplastics in water from Xinghu Lake and its tributaries was concentrated in the range of 200–1000 μm. In general, the average comprehensive potential ecological risk indexes of microplastics in water were 247 ± 120.6 and 273.1 ± 353.7 in wet and dry seasons, which the high ecological risks of them were found through the adjusted evaluation method. There were also mutual effects among microplastic abundance, the concentrations of total nitrogen and organic carbon. Finally, Xinghu Lake has been a sink for microplastics both in wet and dry seasons, and it would be a source of microplastics under the influence of extreme weather and anthropogenic factors.

7. Unintended impacts of the Open Streets program on noise complaints in New York City

Environmental Research, Volume 224, 1 May 2023, 115501

Abstract

Background

During the COVID-19 pandemic, several cities allocated more public spaces for physical activity and recreation instead of road transport through Open Streets. This policy locally reduces traffic and provides experimental testbeds for healthier cities. However, it may also generate unintended impacts. For instance, Open Streets may impact the levels of exposure to environmental noise but there are no studies assessing these unintended impacts.

Objectives

Using noise complaints from New York City (NYC) as a proxy of annoyance caused by environmental noise, we estimated associations at the census tract level between same-day proportion of Open Streets in a census tract and noise complaints in NYC.

Methods

Using data from summer 2019 (pre-implementation) and summer 2021 (post-implementation), we fit regressions to estimate the association between census tract-level proportion of Open Streets and daily noise complaints, with random effects to account for within-tract correlation and natural splines to allow non-linearity in the estimated association. We accounted for temporal trends and other potential confounders, such as population density and poverty rate.

Results

In adjusted analyses, daily street/sidewalk noise complaints were nonlinearly associated with an increasing proportion of Open Streets. Specifically, compared to the mean proportion of Open Streets in a census tract (0.11%), 5% of Open Streets had a 1.09 (95% CI: 0.98, 1.20) and 10% had a 1.21 (95% CI: 1.04, 1.42) times higher rate of street/sidewalk noise complaints. Our results were robust to the choice of data source for identifying Open Streets.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that Open Streets in NYC may be linked to an increase in street/sidewalk noise complaints. These results highlight the necessity to reinforce urban policies with a careful analysis for potential unintended impacts to optimize and maximize the benefits of these policies.

8. Exploring air pollution characteristics from spatio-temporal perspective: A case study of the top 10 urban agglomerations in China

Environmental Research, Volume 224, 1 May 2023, 115512

Abstract

9. Achieving the sustainable development goals through stakeholder value creation: Building up smart sustainable cities and communities

Journal of Cleaner Production, Volume 399, 1 May 2023, 136501

Abstract

Sustainable development is the process of reaching sustainability, and Stakeholder Value Creation (SVC) can foster urban sustainability. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are optimal tools for scrutinizing sustainable development processes. Although SVC and urban sustainability are clearly connected, the dyadic phenomenon of the contribution of SVC to achieving the SDGs is obscure. Thus, this study explores how SVC contributes to achieving the SDGs at the city level. We performed the Cross-Network Information Analysis protocol, which is properly designed for investigating dyadic phenomena. The main findings revealed that SVC contributes to most SDGs in cities, mainly 11, 17, 9, and 8. Consensus building, smart sustainable cities, and innovation ecosystems are central aspects of the SVC contribution to the SDGs in general. Other relevant aspects are: shared meaning, networking strategy, socio-spatial & cultural patterns, technology, circular economy, sharing economy, corporate social responsibility, entrepreneurship, social bricolage, knowledge sharing, open innovation, ethics, and creativity. However, there has been no empirical evidence of SVC contribution to reaching the SDGs 5, 14, and 15. Policymakers, academics, and practitioners can address the lack of applied research on these last three SDGs by including non-human stakeholders, the environment, and gender diversity in organizational processes, organizational systems, and partnerships.

10. Diversity and distribution variation of urban spontaneous vegetation with distinct frequencies along river corridors in a fast-growing city

Journal of Environmental Management, Volume 333, 1 May 2023, 117446

Abstract

River corridors are vital to urban ecology, regulating climate and providing habitats for animals. Spontaneous plants naturally colonize various spaces therein, where they play important roles. Previous studies have explored many factors driving spontaneous plant diversity at the city scale and in specific habitats. However, we lack a holistic understanding of the diversity and distribution of variation of spontaneous vegetation that directly reflects the effects of urbanization. We conducted a field study of 1250 sample plots along river corridors in Chengdu, a fast-growing city in China, and the spontaneous plants in fifteen microhabitat types were surveyed. Diversity and distribution patterns were examined for species with distinct dispersal abilities. There was a far greater richness of occasional species compared to dominant and common species, but occasional species were markedly less abundant. Vacant lots and natural riverbanks harbored the most species, but revetment walls and lawns also supported a considerable number of species, especially in the city center. Species diversity among different urban areas was strongly related to microhabitat conditions. The proportions of dominant, common, and occasional species varied among communities. In communities on vacant lots of less urbanized areas, the richness of dominant species was greater, whereas in green spaces created by planted vegetation, occasional species were more diverse. Green space microenvironments are hospitable to some rare species. Urbanization and microhabitats have co-effects and thus ultimately determine diversity and distribution patterns. Such patterns, if linked to ecological and ornamental value, can provide a new perspective and nature-based solutions to urban rewilding and landscape design.

11. Spatio-temporal efficiency of fiscal environmental expenditure in reducing CO2 emissions in China’s cities

Journal of Environmental Management, Volume 334, 15 May 2023, 117479

Abstract

Although market-based CO2 emission control measures (e.g., carbon tax and carbon trading market) have been deeply discussed, government-based measures have received limited attention. This has led to increased uncertainty regarding the formulation of targeted emission reduction policies. Using a unique dataset, the non-radial directional distance function, a proposed spatial meta-frontier analysis method, and the log t convergence model, this study comprehensively investigates the spatio-temporal trends in fiscal environmental expenditure efficiency (FE) and corresponding causes for in a case study for 106 Chinese cities over 2007–2019. The results show that city-level FE presented a slow upward trend at a relatively low level, with a clearly skewed distribution. The technology gap effect between city groups and the overall best production technology, and the efficiency gap effect within city groups were the main drivers widening the overall FE gap. Convergence analysis indicated that three convergence clubs of FE were found, which were distributed across the country. This study highlights that, when constructing fiscal environmental expenditure policies, the government should focus on balancing the regional gap of FE while comprehensively improving FE.

12. Integrating ambient carbonyl compounds provides insight into the constrained ozone formation chemistry in Zibo city of the North China Plain

Environmental Pollution, Volume 324, 1 May 2023, 121294

Abstract

Quantifying the impact of carbonyl compounds (carbonyls) on ozone (O3) photochemical formation is crucial to formulating targeted O3 mitigation strategies. To investigate the emission source of ambient carbonyls and their integrated observational constraint on the impact of O3 formation chemistry, a field campaign was conducted in an industrial city (Zibo) of the North China Plain from August to September 2020. The site-to-site variations of OH reactivity for carbonyls were in accordance with the sequence of Beijiao (BJ, urban, 4.4 s−1) > Xindian (XD, suburban, 4.2 s−1) > Tianzhen (TZ, suburban, 1.6 s−1). A 0-D box model (MCMv3.3.1) was applied to assess the O3-precursor relationship influenced by measured carbonyls. It was found that without carbonyls constraint, the O3 photochemical production of the three sites was underestimated to varying degrees, and the biases of overestimating the VOC-limited degree were also identified through a sensitivity test to NOx emission changes, which may be associated with the reactivity of carbonyls. In addition, the results of the positive matrix factorization (PMF) model indicated that the main source of aldehydes and ketones was secondary formation and background (81.6% for aldehydes, 76.8% for ketones), followed by traffic emission (11.0% for aldehydes, 14.0% for ketones). Incorporated with the box model, we found that biogenic emission contributed the most to the O3 production at the three sites, followed by traffic emission as well as industry and solvent usage. Meanwhile, the relative incremental reactivity (RIR) values of O3 precursor groups from diverse VOC emission sources featured consistencies and differences at the three sites, which further highlights the importance of the synergetic mitigation of target O3 precursors at regional and local scales. This study will help to provide targeted policy-guiding O3 control strategies for other regions.

13. Non-negligible health risks caused by inhalation exposure to aldehydes and ketones during food waste treatments in megacity Shanghai

Environmental Pollution, Volume 325, 15 May 2023, 121448

Abstract

Aldehydes and ketones in urban air continue to receive regulatory and scientific attention for their environmental prevalence and potential health hazard. However, current knowledge of the health risks and losses caused by these pollutants in food waste (FW) treatment processes is still limited, especially under long-term exposure. Here, we presented the first comprehensive assessment of chronic exposure to 21 aldehydes and ketones in urban FW-air environments (e.g., storage site, mechanical dewatering, and composting) by coupling substantial measured data (383 samples) with Monte Carlo-based probabilistic health risk and impact assessment models. The results showed that acetaldehyde, acetone, 2-butanone and cyclohexanone were consistently the predominant pollutants, although the significant differences in pollution profiles across treatment sites and seasons (Adonis test, P < 0.001). According to the risk assessment results, the estimated cancer risk (CR; mean range: 1.6 × 10−5-1.12 × 10−4) and non-cancer risk (NCR; mean range: 2.98–22.7) triggered by aldehydes and ketones were both unacceptable in most cases (CR: 37.8%–99.3%; NCR: 54.2%–99.8%), and even reached the limit of concern to CR (1 × 10−4) in some exposure scenarios (6.18%–16.9%). Application of DALYs (disability adjusted life years) as a metric for predicting the damage suggested that exposure of workers to aldehydes and ketones over 20 years of working in FW-air environments could result in 0.02–0.14 DALYs per person. Acetaldehyde was the most harmful constituent of all targeted pollutants, which contributed to the vast majority of health risks (>88%) and losses (>90%). This study highlights aldehydes and ketones in FW treatments may be the critical pollutants to pose inhalation risks.

14. Nocturnal influencing patterns on outdoor thermal environmental parameters along an urban road in summer: A perspective of visual index

Urban Climate, Volume 49, May 2023, 101511

Abstract

Urban surface compositions played a key role in affecting outdoor thermal environments in most cities in middle and low latitude in summer. It is essential to reveal crucial influencing patterns of urban surface compositions on outdoor thermal environment at night, when people do outdoor activities. In this study, vertical urban compositions and outdoor thermal environment were observed at three nights. Vertical urban compositions were represented with four visual indices, categorized into “Sky” and “Land”; “Sky” included sky visual index (SVI), while “Land” included construction visual index (CVI), road and pavement (imperious surface) visual index (R&PVI) and green view index (GVI). “Sky” and “Land” accounted for 27.15%–90.18% explanatory power in total at the three nights. “Sky” accounted for low explanatory power (0–27.13%), “Land” contributed highly (3.49%–73.24%), and their synergies were low (−6.62%–22.28%). In most time, SVI and R&PVI contributed low independent and joint effects, while CVI and GVI contributed highly. Contributions of the four visual indices to the outdoor thermal environment increased after sunset, probably due to heat release from “Land” in the energy process at ground surface. Besides, the influencing pattern was affected by the weather condition, such as precipitation, wind velocity and accumulated net radiation during daytime.

15. A combined method for human health risk area identification of heavy metals in urban environments

Journal of Hazardous Materials, Volume 449, 5 May 2023, 131067

Abstract

Multi-medium heavy metals pollution is a crucial pathway to destroy the urban environmental resources cycle. In this study, Nanjing of China, a typical mega city, was taken as the study area. Compared with other cities or countries, Cr, Cu and Zn in human nails and hair in the study area have higher concentration characteristics, while Cd and Pb have lower concentration characteristics. By combining the health risk status of heavy metals in soil and dustfall, the spatial clustering characteristics of heavy metals in soil dustfall and the concentration information of heavy metals in humans in the study area, a potential toxic risk area identification method based on soil-dustfall-human (SDB-HR) was established. Through Monte Carlo analysis, it’s found that the risk of Zn and Cr in soil-dustfall to human health is relatively high, with the probability of carcinogenesis reaching 51.2 % and 50.2 %, respectively. By the proposed method, different levels of heavy metal risk areas in urban environments can be more reasonably and effectively identified, which will provide important technical and theoretical support for the precise management of heavy metals in urban environments.

MÔI TRƯỜNG KHU CÔNG NGHIỆP

1. Refined assessment and decomposition analysis of carbon emissions in high-energy intensive industrial sectors in China

Science of The Total Environment, Volume 872, 10 May 2023, 162161

Abstract

Carbon emissions from high-energy intensive industrial sectors are the focus of this study due to the huge energy consumption of these sectors. A refined carbon emission inventory of Chinese high-energy intensive industrial sectors in 2020 was first developed at the point source level. The results showed that coal-fired power plants (CFPPs) were the leading contributors to carbon emissions, followed by iron and steel smelting (ISS) and cement production (CMP). Provinces with high carbon emission intensity were mainly concentrated in the north and northeast coasts, while exhibiting a developed economic level and a concentration of heavy industries. Additionally, the growth in China’s industrial carbon emissions from 1995 to 2020 can be divided into three phases. The largest decrease in emission intensity was observed in Central, Southwest, North, and East China. Furthermore, the economic structure remained the dominant driver of carbon emissions from the 10th to 13th Five-Year Plan (FYP), playing a positive promotional role. The contribution of economic structure, energy intensity, and energy structure to carbon emissions varied substantially by region and period. With the proposal of sustainable development and energy conservation in China, the influence of economic structure on the carbon emissions of industrial sectors has gradually weakened since the 11th FYP. The reduction in industrial carbon emissions in China under three scenarios could reach up to 46.6 % from 2030 to 2050. The results indicate that industrial carbon emission control in China needs to be integrated into the refined control pathway for conventional air pollutants, considering the spatial variability of industrial carbon emissions in China.

2. Integrative effects of microbial inoculation and amendments on improved crop safety in industrial soils co-contaminated with organic and inorganic pollutants

Science of The Total Environment, Volume 873, 15 May 2023, 162202

Abstract

Soils co-contaminated by organic and inorganic pollutants usually pose major ecological risks to soil ecosystems including plants. Thus, effective strategies are needed to alleviate the phytotoxicity caused by such co-contamination. In this study, microbial agents (a mixture of Bacillus subtilis, Sphingobacterium multivorum, and a commercial microbial product named OBT) and soil amendments (β-cyclodextrin, rice husk, biochar, calcium magnesium phosphate fertilizer, and organic fertilizer) were evaluated to determine their applicability in alleviating toxicity to crops (maize and soybean) posed by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) and potentially toxic metals co-contaminated soils. The results showed that peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase activity levels in maize or soybean grown in severely or mildly contaminated soils were significantly enhanced by the integrative effects of amendments and microbial agents, compared with those in single plant treatments. The removal rates of Zn, Pb, and Cd in severely contaminated soils were 49 %, 47 %, and 51 % and 46 %, 45 %, and 48 %, for soybean and maize, respectively. The total contents of Cd, Pb, Zn, and PAHs in soil decreased by day 90. Soil organic matter content, levels of nutrient elements, and enzyme activity (catalase, urease, and dehydrogenase) increased after the amendments and application of microbial agents. Moreover, the amendments and microbial agents also increased the diversity and distribution of bacterial species in the soil. These results suggest that the amendments and microbial agents were beneficial for pollutant purification, improving the soil environment and enhancing both plant resistance to pollutants and immune systems of plants.

3. Modified poly(vinylidene fluoride) nanomembranes for dye removal from water – A review

Chemosphere, Volume 322, May 2023, 138152

Abstract

Water contamination due to soluble synthetic dyes has serious concerns. Membrane-based wastewater treatments are emerging as a preferred choice for removing dyes from water. Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)-based nanomembranes have gained much popularity due to their favorable features. This review explores the application of PVDF-based nanomembranes in synthetic dye removal through various treatments. Different fabrication methods to obtain high performance PVDF-based nanomembranes were discussed under surface coating and blending methods. Studies related to use of PVDF-based nanomembranes in adsorption, filtration, catalysis (oxidant activation, ozonation, Fenton process and photocatalysis) and membrane distillation have been elaborately discussed. Nanomaterials including metal compounds, metals, (synthetic/bio)polymers, metal organic frameworks, carbon materials and their composites were incorporated in PVDF membrane to enhance its performance. The advantages and limitations of incorporating nanomaterials in PVDF-based membranes have been highlighted. The influence of nanomaterials on the surface features, mechanical strength, hydrophilicity, crystallinity and catalytic ability of PVDF membrane was discussed. The conclusion of this literature review was given along with future research.

4. Insights into seasonal-variability of SVOCs, morpho-elemental and spectral characteristics of PM2.5 collected at a dense industrial site: Faridabad, Haryana, India

Chemosphere, Volume 323, May 2023, 138204

Abstract

The development-oriented anthropogenic activities have led to intensive increase in emission of various organic pollutants, which contribute considerably to human health risk. In the present study, chemical, physical and spectral characterisation of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), collected at Faridabad city, in northern India, were examined. Seasonal variation of organic compounds [n-alkanes, polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and phthalic acid esters (PAEs)], and potential health risk of Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) exposure using toxic equivalency potential (TEQ) approach had been assessed. These showed seasonal average values ranging from 156.4 ± 57.0 ng/m3 to 217.6 ± 72.9 ng/m3, 98.0 ± 21.4 ng/m3 to 177.8 ± 72.8 ng/m3, and 30.9 ± 11.9 ng/m3 to 82.5 ± 29.2 ng/m3, respectively, with the highest value for winter. It is noteworthy that unlike, n-alkanes and PAEs, PAHs were least during spring. The high molecular weight PAHs (BaP, BkF, DahA and IcdP) were found to exhibit higher TEQ values (ranging from 0.7 to 9.7) despite of their lower concentrations. The PAH diagnostic ratio, carbon preference index and total index revealed the enhanced impact of biogenic sources of emissions in comparison to diesel emission sources during winter.

5. Pollution and health risk assessment of mine tailings contaminated soils in India from toxic elements with statistical approaches

Chemosphere, Volume 324, May 2023, 138267

Abstract

The rapid mining activities of mica mines in Giridih district, India, have led to toxic metal pollution of agricultural soil. This is a key concern for environmental risk and human health. 63 top soil samples were collected at a distance of 10 m (Zone 1), 50 m (Zone 2), and 100 m (Zone 3) from near 21 mica mines with agriculture fields. The mean concentration of total and bio-available toxic elements (TEs – Cr, Ni, Pb, Cu, Zn, and Cd) was higher in zone 1 across three zones. The Positive matrix factorization model (PMF) and Pearson Correlation analysis were used to identify waste mica soils with TEs. Based on PMF results, Ni, Cr, Cd, and Pb were the most promising pollutants and carried higher environmental risks than the other TEs. Using the self-organizing map (SOM), zone 1 was identified as a high-potential source of TEs. Soil quality indexes for TEs risk zone 1 were found to be higher across three zones. Based on the health risk index (HI), children are more adversely affected than adults. Monte Carlo simulations (MCS) model and sensitivity analysis of total carcinogenic risk (TCR), children were more affected by Cr and Ni than adults through ingestion exposure pathways. Finally, a geostatistical tool was developed to predict the spatial distribution patterns of TEs contributed by mica mines. In a probabilistic assessment of all populations, non-carcinogenic risks appeared to be negligible. The fact that there is a TCR can’t be ignored, and children are more likely to develop it than adults. Mica mines with TEs contamination were found to be the most significant anthropogenic contributor to health risks based on source-oriented risk assessment.

6. Environmental exposure to manganese and health risk assessment from personal sampling near an industrial source of airborne manganese

Environmental Research, Volume 224, 1 May 2023, 115478

Abstract

Manganese (Mn), despite being a trace element necessary in small quantities for the correct functioning of the organism, at higher concentrations can induce health disorders, mainly in motor and cognitive functions, even at levels found in non-occupational environments. For this reason, US EPA guidelines define safe reference doses/concentrations (RfD/RfC) for health.

In this study, the individualised health risk of exposure to Mn through different media (air, diet, soil) and routes of entry into the organism (inhalation, ingestion and dermal absorption) was assessed according to the procedure defined by the US EPA. Calculations related to Mn present in ambient air were made on the basis of data obtained from size-segregated particulate matter (PM) personal samplers carried by volunteers recruited in a cross-sectional study conducted in the Santander Bay (northern Spain), where an industrial source of airborne Mn is located.

Individuals residing in the vicinity of the main Mn source (within 1.5 km) were found to have a hazard index (HI) higher than 1, indicating that there is a potential risk for these subjects to develop health alterations. Also, people living in Santander, the capital of the region, located 7–10 km from the Mn source, may have some risk (HI > 1) under some wind conditions (SW). In addition, a preliminary study of media and routes of entry into the body confirmed that inhalation of PM2.5-bound Mn is the most important route contributing to the overall non-carcinogenic health risk related to environmental Mn.

7. A new consistent framework for assignment of safe operating space to B2C and B2B industries for use in absolute environmental sustainability assessments

Journal of Cleaner Production, Volume 399, 1 May 2023, 136574

Abstract

The planetary boundaries define a safe operating space for humanity to act within without potentially destabilizing the planet. The safe operating space is often used a sustainability reference in Absolute Environmental Sustainability Assessments (AESAs) where a share of the safe operating space (SoSOS) is assigned to the assessed activity. An identified challenge is that current methods are suited for business-to-consumer (B2C) industries and companies, but ill-suited for assessments of business-to-business (B2B) as the sharing is often based on the direct value to humans. Thus, this study presents a systematic framework for assigning a SoSOS to both B2C and B2B industries and companies. The framework uses multi-region input-output models to link industries and to estimate the direct and indirect value to humans for both B2B and B2C industries. The framework was tested in a case study for a B2B company to show its application and to evaluate the sensitivity of the framework towards different modelling choices. The results of the case study and sensitivity analyses were used to provide recommendations for further improvement of the framework. While there is still need for improvement and refinement, the framework shows large potential. Mainly because it directly facilitates AESA of B2B industries and companies, in order to help gauging their environmental performance relative to absolute boundaries and, thus, provide better basis supporting strategic sustainability related activities.

8. Environmental regulation and green innovation: Evidence from heavily polluting firms in China

Finance Research Letters, Volume 53, May 2023, 103624

Abstract

This study examines the effect of environmental regulation on firms’ green innovation, as well as the heterogeneous effects among different firms. Using the sample of A-share listed firms in the heavy-polluting industry in China and the manually collected government-implemented environmental regulation from 2006 to 2018, we find strong evidence that environmental regulation has a significantly positive effect on firms’ green innovation. Further, our results show that environmental regulation has a more prominent effect on firms with poorer internal and external governance. In addition to promoting firm green innovation, environmental policies can benefit firms’ long-term development as well.

9. Environmental and human health risks of potentially harmful elements in mining-impacted soils: A case study of the Angouran Zn–Pb Mine, Iran

Journal of Environmental Management, Volume 334, 15 May 2023, 117470

Abstract

The soil pollution status, levels of exposure, and potential ecological and health risks to workers and residents by potentially harmful elements (PHEs) in the Angouran mining area (Iran), the biggest Zn–Pb mine in the Middle East, were studied. To this aim, topsoil (0–5 cm) samples (n = 63) from different land-uses were analyzed for their total PHEs concentrations. Mine worker’s blood analysis and in vitro digestion extractions were applied in conjunction with human health risk assessment (HHRA) to assess the potential health impacts by exposure to PHEs. The maximum PHEs total concentrations were found in the soils near the waste rock dumps. HHRA indicated that ingestion of soils may induce a non-carcinogenic risk due to As and Pb (for both age groups of children and adults), while dermal contact for children may induce the same type of risk due to Cd, and Pb. The carcinogenic risks (CRs) of As, Cd, Cr, and Ni through ingestion route were above the acceptable value of 1 × 10−4, and children may face greater health risks. The average blood Zn, Pb, and Cd levels in the mine workers largely exceeded the safe concentration for adults, while 30% of the workers were tested positive for As in blood. In vitro digestion extractions indicated that the highest bioaccessible contents of As, Cd, Pb, Ni and Zn were found for the industrial-residential and mine soils in the area, while those of Cr and Cu were observed in the agricultural use soils. This study illustrates that a combination of techniques, including geochemical analysis, in vitro bioaccessibility extractions, HHRA, and blood analysis, is a workable integrated approach for evaluating pollution and health risks in mining districts.

10. Transcriptome analysis reveals self-redox mineralization mechanism of azo dyes and novel decolorizing hydrolases in Aspergillus tabacinus LZ-M

Environmental Pollution, Volume 325, 15 May 2023, 121459

Abstract

Bio-degradation is the most affordable method of azo dye decontamination, while its drawbacks such as aromatic amines accumulation and low degradation efficiency must be overcome. In this study, a novel mechanism of azo dye degradation by a fungus was discovered. At a concentration of 400 mg/L, the decolorization efficiency of Acid Red 73 (AR73) by Aspergillus tabacinus LZ-M was 90.28%. Metabolite analysis and transcriptome sequencing analysis revealed a self-redox process of AR73 degradation, where the electrons generated in carbon oxidation were transferred to the reduction of -C-N = and –Ndouble bondN. The metabolites, 2-hydroxynaphthalene and N-phenylnitrous amide were mineralized into CO2 through catechol pathway and a glycolytic process. Furthermore, the mineralization ratio of dye was computed to be 31.8% by the carbon balance and electron balance. By using comparative transcriptome, a novel decoloring enzyme Ord95 was discovered in unknown genes through gene cloning. It hydrolyzed AR73 into 2-hydroxynaphthalene and N-phenylnitrous amide, containing a glutathione S-transferase domain with three arginines as key active sites. Here the new mechanism of azo dye degradation was discovered with identification of a novel enzyme in Aspergillus tabacinus LZ-M.

11. Optimal government subsidy scheme for lean-oriented innovation in the textile industry

Journal of Cleaner Production, Available online 16 May 2023, 137505

Abstract

The increasing environmental burden posed by the textile industry has placed pressure on firms to shift to sustainability through lean-oriented innovation (LOI). However, firms’ LOI incentives may be weakened by high investment costs. Recognizing firms’ predicaments, governments are developing subsidy policies to promote LOI. This study builds a two-period game model to explore optimal government’s subsidy decisions for LOI in an evolving textile industry, incorporating government subsidies, LOI investment, and firms’ production decisions. The study reveals that the social welfare in period two exceed those in period one, implying that competition in the industry improves social welfare. Furthermore, we derive government subsidy decisions for maximal environmental protection and social welfare and find that the former does not necessarily lead to a superior environmental performance to the latter. Moreover, we find that under some conditions, a “win-win-win” situation can be reached when the government pursues social welfare optimum.

12. Industry 4.0, multinationals, and sustainable development: A bibliometric analysis

Journal of Cleaner Production, Available online 15 May 2023, 137381

Abstract

The concept of Industry 4.0 develops from a technological base – a set of technologies with a profoundly transformative character. The development of the concept from an essentially manufacturing base to other domains – Services 4.0, Government 4.0, Tourism 4.0, etc. – tells us that the concept is now much broader in scope and has much broader transformative potential, both from an economic, social and an environmental sustainability point of view.

In this context, multinationals may play a very important role, as these companies are considered to play a key role in promoting sustainable development. This study seeks to understand whether there is evidence that multinationals are playing this role by analyzing the literature published on Industry 4.0 and seeking to identify in the literature which is published on multinationals a bias towards a greater focus on environmental and social issues.

The study conducted does not confirm this bias. The study shows that environmental and social issues are modestly present in the literature/research about Industry 4.0 but are no longer present in the specific literature on multinationals. The study thus challenges us to develop and implement research agendas on the topic and mobilize academia towards research in this domain. Such reorientation of research will be determinant to accelerate the implementation processes of Industry 4.0, exploring in an integrated way its transformative potential in the economic and technological dimensions, but also environmental and social.

13. Evaluating the sustainability of the 2017 US biofuel industry with an integrated techno-economic analysis and life cycle assessment

Journal of Cleaner Production, Available online 1 May 2023, 137364

Abstract

The United States produced more than 66.2 billion Liters of biofuel, primarily in the form of corn ethanol (61 billion Liters) and soybean biodiesel (6 billion Liters), for the transportation industry in 2017. No work currently exists that evaluates both the economic and environmental outcomes of this industry with adequate geospatial resolution and national scope. In this study, a model framework is constructed to perform Techno-Economic Analysis and Life Cycle Assessment using high-resolution input datasets to provide a granular estimation of corn ethanol and soybean biodiesel sustainability performance in most counties in the United States in 2017 (the most recent year for which data is available). Results show a total life cycle, greenhouse gas emission volume of 99.5 million Mg CO2-eq produced in 2017 by these two biofuels (94.8 million Mg from corn ethanol, and 4.7 million Mg from soybean biodiesel), excluding indirect land use change emissions. This volume corresponds to a combined carbon intensity of 65.3 gCO2-eq/MJ, which is a greenhouse gas improvement compared to petroleum-based gasoline (the carbon intensity of conventional gasoline is 93.0 gCO2-eq/MJ). However, these biofuels are produced at an additional economic cost ($1.8 billion over the displaced gas/diesel). Additionally, these biofuels generate unfavorable impacts in other environmental categories when compared to petroleum-based fuels, particularly in areas of water, land, and nitrogen intensity. This work enables stakeholders to assess the specific value of biofuels as a means of emission reduction and determine if the attained improvements are worth the associated opportunity costs.

14. Edge-cloud cooperation-driven smart and sustainable production for energy-intensive manufacturing industries

Applied Energy, Volume 337, 1 May 2023, 120843

Abstract

Energy-intensive manufacturing industries are characterised by high pollution and heavy energy consumption, severely challenging the ecological environment. Fortunately, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) can promote energy-intensive manufacturing enterprises to achieve smart and sustainable production. In Industry 4.0, various advanced technologies are used to achieve smart manufacturing, but the sustainability of production is often ignored without considering ESG performance. This study proposes a strategy of edge-cloud cooperation-driven smart and sustainable production to realise data collection, preprocessing, storage and analysis. In detail, kernel principal component analysis (KPCA) is used to decrease the interference of abnormal data in the evaluation results. Subsequently, an improved technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) based on the adversarial interpretative structural model (AISM) is proposed to evaluate the production efficiency of the manufacturing workshop and make the analysis results more intuitive. Then, the architecture and models are verified using real production data from a partner company. Finally, sustainable analysis is discussed from the perspective of energy consumption, economic impact, greenhouse gas emissions and pollution prevention.

15. Experimental analysis on consumption of manufacturing waste in road construction and its environmental effects

Materials Today: Proceedings, Available online 12 May 2023

Abstract

All over the world, there has been a crisis of exploiting the natural resources for the development of surrounding environment in aid of construction industry. Also, it has been noted that, due to the technological boom, the waste accumulation has also been in a very huge proportion which is capable of causing serious environmental effects. Hence, an attempt is made to utilize the dumped waste has a replacement in road industry, which has made a greater impact0 with high prospects. The waste material that we have considered is copper slag from the unit situated at Tuticorin, Tamil Nādu, India, which generates 2600 tons of copper slag per day. In this industry, the copper slag waste after the treatment has been dumped in and around the land premises available at the industry itself due to insufficient utilization and also 10 to 20 tons of dry sludge is produced per day from the existing common effluent treatment plant. Hence in this research work, we recommend to use these waste materials over the construction of road through the evaluation of their required properties such as Physical and Chemical. The waste sample materials are tested for the determination of geotechnical characteristics by mixing them with the local clayey soils in the range of 25% to 75%. The probability of using these mixes in the sub grade of road pavement was studied in a detailed manner by conducting laboratory tests. The possibility of replacing the fine aggregate with copper slag in bituminous slag has been investigated. It was concluded that copper slag cannot be individually used as a sub base material. By means of conducting the necessary laboratory test, due to the dumping of slag around the premises causing environmental effects are evaluated and from which it has been identified that heavy metal concentration were in lower ratio than the pollution limits. The detailed technical specification over the design of utilizing the expected waste at the road pavement are discussed along with their data generated through the tests.

CHUYÊN TRANG QUẢN LÝ MÔI TRƯỜNG

(Theo Môi trường & Đô thị điện tử)

Ảnh: Ảnh minh họa. ITN

Trân trọng giới thiệu tới quý độc giả Công bố quốc tế lĩnh vực môi trường số 22-2023 với những nội dung chính như sau:

BÀI VIẾT LIÊN QUANXEM THÊM

Biến đổi khí hậu đang đe dọa các đảo Thái Bình Dương

Tọa đàm “Tăng cường kiểm soát nguồn thải, quản lý chất thải rắn để cải thiện môi trường”

Hệ thống nước ngọt của một nửa số quốc gia trên thế giới đang bị suy thoái

BÀI VIẾT LIÊN QUAN XEM THÊM