Showing papers in "International Journal of Environmental Studies in 2019"
TL;DR: In this paper, the practical application of three interlinked principles, namely, no or minimum mechanical soil disturbance, biomass mulch soil cover and crop speci cation, is discussed.
Abstract: Conservation Agriculture (CA) comprises the practical application of three interlinked principles, namely: no or minimum mechanical soil disturbance, biomass mulch soil cover and crop speci...
392 citations
TL;DR: The role of land in asset creation has been discussed in this paper, and it has led to credit bubbles and even collapse of the banking system, as happened in 2008, leading to the 2008 financial crisis.
Abstract: The authors have written a very lucid book on a complex subject, the role of land in asset creation. This has led to credit bubbles and even collapse of the banking system, as happened in 2008. It ...
49 citations
TL;DR: Evidence of successful biodegradation by two fungal species and eight bacterial species are reported, revealing some microorganisms can use LDPE as both nitrogen and carbon source in the absence of additives.
Abstract: Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) is an environmental problem because it is discarded randomly, and because in dumpsites, it does not readily degrade. This study reports evidence of successful biodeg...
29 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors trace the emergence of scientific and, eventually, public concern about how society can manage the resources of the planet to meet people's needs and aspirations, and sketch out "ideas on the way to solutions".
Abstract: institutions grappling with global issues like mass extinction, climate change and sustainable development that have any capacity to deal with the practicalities. And the UN can only operate by consensus of its member states – which is why it ducks the underlying issue of unceasing growth in the human population and its wants. The book traces the emergence of scientific and, eventually, public concern about how society can manage the resources of the planet to meet people’s needs and aspirations. Progress has been halting. A lack of finite strategy has led to stumbles and tumbles. Since the Johannesburg World Summit in 2002, targeting has become the approach of choice but we have seen that unless goals and targets are set with precision, unless there is a measure by which success or failure can be judged, and unless there is accountability at every tier of authority and decision, there is no real progress. Targeting is a time-consuming and frustrating process and what makes resolution even more difficult is that the processes described requires big changes to be made in the way we exploit resources, meet our energy demands, and how we produce and consume. The complexity and interlocking of earth systems, the squaring of the circle implied by sustainable development, wicked problems that we cannot find a way around, all demand better decision-making. In her Foreword, the Hon. Margaret Austin writes that acceptance of the problem, complex or not, is the first step – but only by relentless perseverance along with international collaboration can our society maintain itself on our small planet. She might have added: political will, sound judgement at the national and international level, and real accountability – that will not materialise until the management of earth systems is taken out of the environment box and recognised as an overriding social, economic, and human imperative. Our authors sketch out ‘ideas on the way to solutions’: not just acceptance of complexity but harnessing complexity, the increasing availability of information in spite of the huge and growing disparity in access to data, capacity building in all its dimensions and through all segments of society and key institutions, collaboration through mutually reinforcing networks dealing with the whole system as opposed to piecemeal action, new financial mechanisms, and the need for a paradigm shift from today’s systems of governance to a new geography of governance – earth system governance or global governance as a rallying point for smart coalitions and to generate political momentum for urgent global reform. And the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has stated that we have 12 years to make radical changes.
29 citations
TL;DR: In Hyperobjects: Philosophy and Ecology after the End of the World, Timothy Morton argues that it has already occurred when in 1784 James Watt 'pate... as mentioned in this paper, the end of the world is far from now.
Abstract: The end of the world – how far is it from now? In Hyperobjects: Philosophy and Ecology after the End of the World, Timothy Morton argues that it ‘has already occurred’ when in 1784 James Watt ‘pate...
26 citations
TL;DR: The continuous increase in car ownership in recent years has led to a sharp increase in the number of end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) in the UK as mentioned in this paper, and the use of life cycle assessment (LCA) was used to evaluate the performance of the vehicles.
Abstract: The continuous increase in car ownership in recent years has led to a sharp increase in the number of end-of-life vehicles (ELVs). In this paper, life cycle assessment (LCA) was used to est...
26 citations
TL;DR: In this article, natural rhythms, such as the passing of the seasons, the passage of the sun from sunup to sunset and the human pulse, were connected with the positive number system to give us time.
Abstract: At some point, natural rhythms, such as the passing of the seasons, the passage of the sun from sunup to sunset and the human pulse, were connected with the positive number system to give us time, ...
25 citations
TL;DR: Global Crisis as discussed by the authors is a skilful, timely demonstration that the invisibility and unpredictability of climate change are the main weapons of this environmental phenomenon, and it will richly educate those who want to look at the issue from a historical perspective.
Abstract: and indirectly though forced migration and destruction of property’ (p. 498). Yet climate change was another danger that nobody could see but many experienced in a variety of ways. Climate change was not only one of the factors that caused wars; it was a menace on its own. Global Crisis is a skilful, timely demonstration that the invisibility and unpredictability of climate change are the main weapons of this environmental phenomenon. The scepticism of many towards climate change and even the treatment of this crisis as a myth are wrong and dangerous on many levels. Providing numerous historical examples, Global Crisis illustrates the power of climate change, inviting the readers to ponder the problem of the current environmental crisis. The book must be read by everyone who doubts that today there is climate change – and who trivialises what is in fact extremely serious. This book will richly educate those who want to look at the issue from a historical perspective. Academically, it will be of particular interest to those working in the fields of environmental history and war studies.
24 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated differences and analogies among European Union (EU) countries concerning the links between agricultural activities and the impact on the environment and concluded that Mediterranean EU countries and those in the north-west of the EU use traditional agricultural methods such as meadows and grazing livestock.
Abstract: This paper investigates differences and analogies among European Union (EU) countries concerning the links between agricultural activities and the impact on the environment. It analyses land use practices and agricultural production with two specific sets of indicators provided by the Eurostat database. Factor analysis is used to identify the key aspects of (un)sustainable agriculture and their relative importance. Hierarchical cluster analysis is then applied to classify the 28 EU countries into ‘homogeneous’ groups. The paper concludes that the countries from the centre and the north of the EU have similar agricultural practices and production methods with a high impact on the environment. Mediterranean EU countries and those in the north-west of the EU, instead, use traditional agricultural methods such as meadows and grazing livestock. This study could be useful for policymakers wanting to define tools aimed at guiding producers towards more sustainable production methods.
19 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors synthesize a ternary layered double hydroxide (Co-Zn-Al LDH) intercalated with carbonate via a simple co-precipitation method at pH ≥ 10.
Abstract: Ternary layered double hydroxide (Co–Zn–Al LDH) intercalated with carbonate was synthesised via a simple co-precipitation method at pH ≥10. It was characterised using the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer, X-ray diffractometer (XRD), surface area and porosity analyser, Thermo-gravimetric/differential thermal analysis (TGA–DTA), and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The Pb(II) adsorption properties, mechanism, and possible reuse of the LDH were also investigated by the batch technique. The characterisation results showed the presence of hydroxyl group as well as the intercalated carbonate anions within the well-defined LDH crystal structure. The TGA-DTA results confirmed the presence of these anionic groups which were liberated from the structure at ≈200 and 300°C, respectively. The LDH-specific surface area, pore diameter and width are 54.0 m²/g, 41.3 and 25.1 nm, respectively. Adsorption results showed that Pb(II) equilibrium could be achieved in 120 min, and adsorption increased with concentration and temperature. A Pb(II) adsorption capacity of 130.34 mg/g was reached for this LDH, and the adsorption process was spontaneous, endothermic and mainly electrostatic with most of the adsorption occurring within the pores. Desorption test suggested that approximately 90% of the adsorbed Pb(II) could be desorbed; hence, the Co–Zn–Al–CO₃ LDH may be reused.
15 citations
TL;DR: Vietnamese waters face problems of marine pollution owing to plastic waste as mentioned in this paper, which has many negative impacts on coastal countries, including Vietnam, including China and India. But there are few studies on contro...
Abstract: Marine plastic has many negative impacts on coastal countries, including Vietnam. Vietnamese waters face problems of marine pollution owing to plastic waste. There are few studies on contro...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined the dye biosorption properties of two lichen species, Cladonia convoluta and Evernia prunastri, and found that they have a higher affinity for green dye.
Abstract: The aim of this study is to examine the dye biosorption properties of lichen species called Cladonia convoluta and Evernia prunastri. Since lichens are extensively found in the environment, their s...
TL;DR: Human and wildlife well-being are linked to riparian and deltaic ecosystems Human impacts and climate changes affect their environmental sustainability To secure their protection, various nationa as discussed by the authors have been proposed.
Abstract: Human and wildlife well-being are linked to riparian and deltaic ecosystems Human impacts and climate changes affect their environmental sustainability To secure their protection, various nationa
TL;DR: Novel superabsorbent membranes (SMs) consisting of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) originated from rice husk (RH), glutaraldehyde (GLA) and glycerine (G) were manufactured by as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: Novel superabsorbent membranes (SMs) consisting of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) originated from rice husk (RH), glutaraldehyde (GLA) and glycerine (G) were manufactured by...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors argue that rising income inequality led to Donald Trump's election as U.S. president, arguing that "Rampant globalization brought us Trump." The premise for this thought provoking work is that "rising income inequality...
Abstract: When the New York Times reviewed this book in May 2018, its headline read, ‘How Rampant Globalization Brought us Trump’. The premise for this thought provoking work is that rising income inequality...
TL;DR: The history of modern man is perhaps the history of mismanaging the most precious resource in our planet: water as discussed by the authors. Modern man has been on a mission over the last two hundred years or so working to me
Abstract: The history of modern man is perhaps the history of mismanaging the most precious resource in our planet: water Modern man has been on a mission over the last two hundred years or so working to me
TL;DR: In this paper, the effect of different conditions such as contact time, pH and initial metal ion concentration on the adsorption capacity was investigated, and a Langmuir isotherm model was used to investigate the equilibrium experimental data.
Abstract: The amidoxime adsorbent was prepared by radiation grafting of acrylonitrile on non-woven polyethylene followed by chemical treatment with hydroxyl amine hydrochloride. The prepared amidoxime adsorbent was used for adsorption of methyl orange (MO) from aqueous solution. The effect of different conditions such as contact time, pH and initial metal ion concentration on the adsorption capacity was investigated. Pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order equations were used to study the kinetic adsorption data. A Langmuir isotherm model was used to investigate the equilibrium experimental data. The monolayer saturation adsorption capacity of the adsorbent for MO, as determined from the Langmuir equation, was 142 mg/g of the adsorbent. Moreover, desorption and reuse of the adsorbent film showed satisfactory results. Large-scale recycling of the adsorbent will reduce the production cost, and thereby make the practical application of the adsorbent economically feasible. Abbreviations: Acrylonitrile - AN, Polyethylene - PE, Methylene Orange - MO
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examine the conflict between state and society which surrounds the potential social and environmental impacts of the coal-based Rampal Power Plant in Bangladesh and propose a solution to the conflict.
Abstract: This paper examines the conflict between state and society which surrounds the potential social and environmental impacts of the coal-based Rampal Power Plant in Bangladesh. The project, if impleme...
TL;DR: In this article, a study of Alpine goats showed that introducing detoxified Argane press cake (DAPC) to their milk is an excellent source of antioxidants that resist oxidative stress.
Abstract: Goat’s milk is an excellent source of antioxidants that resist oxidative stress. This paper reports on a study of Alpine goats, showing that introducing detoxified Argane press cake (DAPC) ...
TL;DR: In this article, sustainable urban drainage systems (SuDS) are useful adaptations to this change in weather pattern caused by climate change generate more frequent extreme rain events as well as droughts.
Abstract: Changes in weather pattern caused by climate change generate more frequent extreme rain events as well as droughts. Sustainable urban drainage systems (SuDS) are useful adaptations to this ...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors used microorganisms used as a biodegradation technique can provide economic benefits and can be compatible with the environment and the aim of this study was to isolate low-density polyethylene (LDPE) degr...
Abstract: Microorganisms used as a biodegradation technique can provide economic benefits and can be compatible with the environment. The aim of this study was to isolate low-density polyethylene (LDPE) degr...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors carried out both kinetic and thermodynamic studies on the sorption of Cd2+ on three synthesised and characterised layered double hydroxides, namely: Ni-Co-Ti, NiCo-La and Mn-Ni-Al-CO3.
Abstract: Kinetic and thermodynamic studies were carried out on the sorption of Cd2+ on three synthesised and characterised layered double hydroxides, namely: Ni-Co-Ti, Ni-Co-La and Mn-Ni-Al-CO3. Sorption ki...
TL;DR: In this paper, the main objective is the design, manufacture and functional validation of a tribo-electrostatic separator for granular mixtures, equipped with a grounded metal-belt conveyor electrode.
Abstract: The main objective of this work is the design, manufacture and functional validation of a tribo-electrostatic separator for granular mixtures, equipped with a grounded metal-belt conveyor electrode...
TL;DR: Egypt's long-time policy on the Nile is reviewed and it is concluded that this policy is difficult to maintain in the face of the present and future challenges and recommends a non-security multilateral solution for the benefit of all parties.
Abstract: There are increasing challenges to Egypt’s security approach to the River Nile The river is under immense pressure This paper examines the significance of the Nile for Egypt and the factors and problems of diminishing its waters It reviews Egypt’s long-time policy on the Nile and concludes that this policy is difficult to maintain in the face of the present and future challenges It recommends a non-security multilateral solution for the benefit of all parties
TL;DR: In this article, the authors evaluated the behavior of S. aterrimum plants growing in boron artificially contaminated soils and found that the species can be used as a phytoextractor in low doses of borone because it presented a high tolerance index (TI) and demonstrated the ability to uptake and accumulate Boron in root tissue.
Abstract: Soil contamination by toxic elements causes concern and is increasing through industrial development, mining activities and the overuse of chemical fertilisers. Some toxic elements, such as boron, also play a structural role. The present study aimed to evaluate the behaviour of S. aterrimum plants growing in boron artificially contaminated soils. It has been found that S. aterrimum is tolerant to low doses of boron, moderately tolerating doses of up to 240 mg.dm−3. But high doses (doses above the adequate zone) cause decreased plant growth and present symptoms of toxicity, such as foliar chlorosis. The dose of 240 mg.dm−3 can already be considered toxic, since the tolerance index (TI) was less than 50%. The species can be used as a phytoextractor in low doses of boron because it presented a high tolerance index (TI) and demonstrated the ability to uptake and accumulate boron in root tissue.
TL;DR: In this paper, a new energy harvesting system using vortex-induced vibration was reported, which can harvest the hydrokinetic energy of flowing water is plentiful, environment-friendly, renewable and can be harvested.
Abstract: The hydrokinetic energy of flowing water is plentiful, environment-friendly, renewable and can be harvested. This paper reports a new energy harvesting system using vortex-induced vibration...
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TL;DR: In this article, a study of the enzymatic dynamics of green household waste collected from landfills is presented, where the authors focus on a single type of green waste.
Abstract: In most scientific research, interest is given to heterogeneous green household waste collected from landfills. This paper reports a study of the enzymatic dynamics of green household waste...
TL;DR: Biomphalaria alexandrina snails may be regarded as a newly discovered source of beneficial compounds through the metabolites produced by their endozoic fungal strains.
Abstract: This work aims at studying Biomphalaria alexandrina snails as a source of bioactive compounds. Adult snails were maintained in plastic, mud and cement matrices. Three groups were prepared; ...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated nine heavy metal concentrations (As, Cd, Cr, Pb, Cu, Fe, Zn, Mn and Ni) in water, sediment and snakehead fish (Channa striata) and identified abnormal chromosomes.
Abstract: This study aimed to investigate nine heavy metal concentrations (As, Cd, Cr, Pb, Cu, Fe, Zn, Mn and Ni) in water, sediment and snakehead fish (Channa striata) and to identify abnormal chromosomes i...
TL;DR: In this article, the spatial modelling of gaseous emissions from two municipal solid waste dump sites to determine exposure to landfill gases was performed using the AERMOD modeling software and the Mexican Biogas...
Abstract: This paper reports the spatial modelling of gaseous emissions from two municipal solid waste dump sites to determine exposure to landfill gases. The AERMOD modelling software and the Mexican Biogas...