scholarly journals Nickel excess affects phenology and reproductive attributes of Asterella wallichiana and Plagiochasma appendiculatum growing in natural habitats

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anil Sharma ◽  
Madhu Bhagat ◽  
Mohammad Urfan ◽  
Bilal Ahmed ◽  
Anima Langer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Morphological Traits ◽  
Reproductive Organs ◽  
Population Viability ◽  
Frequency Of Occurrence ◽  
Induced Responses ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Polluted Soils ◽  
Spore Viability ◽  
Negative Impacts

AbstractBryophytes are potent metal absorbers, thriving well on heavy metal (HM)-polluted soils. Mechanisms controlling uptake, compartmentalization and impacts of HMs on bryophytes life cycle are largely unknown. The current study is an effort to decipher mechanisms of nickel (Ni) excess-induced effects on the phenological events of two bryophytes, Asterella wallichiana and Plagiochasma apendiculatum growing in natural habitats. Observations revealed Ni-excess induced negative impacts on abundance, frequency of occurrence of reproductive organs, population viability and morphological traits, spore viability and physiological attributes of both the liverworts. Results led us conclude that P. appendiculatum survived better with the lowest impact on its life cycle events than A. wallichiana under Ni excess in natural habitats. Our findings collectively provide insights into the previously unknown mechanisms of Ni-induced responses in liverworts with respect to phenological attributes, as well as demonstrate the potential of P. appendiculatum to survive better in Ni excess habitats.

scholarly journals Engineering Design Process of Face Masks Based on Circularity and Life Cycle Assessment in the Constraint of the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 4948
Author(s):  
Núria Boix Rodríguez ◽  
Giovanni Formentini ◽  
Claudio Favi ◽  
Marco Marconi
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Design Guidelines ◽  
New Device ◽  
Engineering Design Process ◽  
Life Cycle Perspective ◽  
Different Types ◽  
3D Printed ◽  
Negative Impacts

Face masks are currently considered key equipment to protect people against the COVID-19 pandemic. The demand for such devices is considerable, as is the amount of plastic waste generated after their use (approximately 1.6 million tons/day since the outbreak). Even if the sanitary emergency must have the maximum priority, environmental concerns require investigation to find possible mitigation solutions. The aim of this work is to develop an eco-design actions guide that supports the design of dedicated masks, in a manner to reduce the negative impacts of these devices on the environment during the pandemic period. Toward this aim, an environmental assessment based on life cycle assessment and circularity assessment (material circularity indicator) of different types of masks have been carried out on (i) a 3D-printed mask with changeable filters, (ii) a surgical mask, (iii) an FFP2 mask with valve, (iv) an FFP2 mask without valve, and (v) a washable mask. Results highlight how reusable masks (i.e., 3D-printed masks and washable masks) are the most sustainable from a life cycle perspective, drastically reducing the environmental impacts in all categories. The outcomes of the analysis provide a framework to derive a set of eco-design guidelines which have been used to design a new device that couples protection requirements against the virus and environmental sustainability.

Repairing the damage: cleaning up hazardous coal ash can create jobs and improve the environment

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremy Richardson ◽  
◽  
Eric Dixon ◽  
Ted Boettner ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Water Pollution ◽  
Air Pollution ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Coal Ash ◽  
Local Communities ◽  
Work Place ◽  
Communities Of Color ◽  
Negative Impacts

Although coal has powered the nation for generations and today offers well-paying jobs—often the best opportunities in more rural areas—coal negatively affects human health and the environment at every point in its life cycle: when it is mined, processed, transported, burned, and discarded (Freese, Clemmer, and Nogee 2008). Local communities— often low-income communities and/or communities of color—have for decades borne the brunt of these negative impacts, including air pollution, water pollution, and work- place injuries, illnesses, and fatalities.

scholarly journals Site wind right: Identifying low-impact wind development areas in the Central United States

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Hise ◽  
Brian Obermeyer ◽  
Marissa Ahlering ◽  
Jessica Wilkinson ◽  
Joseph Fargione
Keyword(s):  
Wind Energy ◽  
Great Plains ◽  
Minimal Risk ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Net Zero ◽  
Central United States ◽  
Rapid Transition ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Low Carbon Energy

AbstractTo help avoid the most catastrophic effects of climate change, society needs to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by mid-century. Wind energy provides a clean, renewable source of electricity; however, improperly sited wind facilities pose known threats to wildlife populations and contribute to degradation of natural habitats. To support a rapid transition to low-carbon energy while protecting imperiled species, we identified potential low-impact areas for wind development in a 17-state region of the central U.S. By combining maps of sensitive habitats and species with wind speed and land use information, we demonstrate that there is significant potential to develop wind energy in the Great Plains while avoiding significant negative impacts to wildlife. These low-impact areas have the potential to yield approximately 1,099-1,832 GW of wind capacity. This is equivalent to 10-18 times current U.S. installed wind capacity. Our analysis demonstrates that ambitious low-carbon energy goals are achievable on sites with minimal risk of wildlife conflict.

Study of the ecology of the Tephritidae family (Insecta: Diptera)

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 047-080
Author(s):  
Carlos Henrique Marchiori
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Reproductive Organs ◽  
Health Sciences ◽  
Academic Science ◽  
Scientific Journals ◽  
Monitoring And Control ◽  
The Family ◽  
Biological Aspects ◽  
Taxonomic Groups ◽  
And Control

Fruit flies belong to the Tephritidae Family which is one of the largest within the Order Diptera. This family is among the pests with the greatest economic expression in the world's fruit industry, as they attack the reproductive organs of plants, fruits with pulp and flowers. These insects are an important group of pests in the fruit industry worldwide, as they have a life cycle in which their larval period develops especially inside the fruits, feeding, in general, on their pulp. The objective of this study is to report the Ecology and Biology of Tephitidae. The research was carried out in studies related to quantitative aspects of the Family, Subfamily and Species (taxonomic groups) and conceptual aspects such as: biology, geographical distribution, methodologies, and traps for collecting and their parasitoids and strategies for Drosophlidae with control, species, life cycle, damage, economic importance, medicinal importance, biological aspects, monitoring and control and reproduction. A literature search was carried out containing articles published from 1993 to 2021. The mini-review was prepared in Goiânia, Goiás, from September to October 2021, through the. The mini-review was prepared in Goiânia, Goiás, from September to October 2021, through the Online Scientific Library (Scielo), internet, ResearchGate, Academia.edu, Frontiers, Publons, Qeios, Portal of Scientific Journals in Health Sciences, Pubmed, Online Scientific Library (Scielo), internet, ResearchGate, Academia.edu, Frontiers, Biological Abstract, Publons, Qeios, Portal of Scientific Journals in Health Sciences, and Pubmed, Dialnet, World, Wide Science, Springer, RefSeek, Microsoft Academic, Science, ERIC, Science Research.com, SEEK education, Periódicos CAPES, Google Academic, Bioline International and VADLO.

scholarly journals Is Bicycle Sharing an Environmental Practice? Evidence from a Life Cycle Assessment Based on Behavioral Surveys

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1550 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fanying Zheng ◽  
Fu Gu ◽  
Wujie Zhang ◽  
Jianfeng Guo
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Environmental Performance ◽  
Sharing Economy ◽  
Environmental Practice ◽  
Management And Development ◽  
Survey Results ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Environmental Savings

As an icon of sharing economy and product service systems, bicycle sharing is gaining an increasing global popularity, yet there is little knowledge about the environmental performance of this emerging traveling mode. To seek the answer to the question, the paper employs a survey-based method and a life cycle assessment (LCA) approach. We first conduct a questionnaire-based survey to identify the changes in traveling modes after the introduction of shared bicycles. The survey results show that the use of shared bicycles is more popular among young and low-income populations, and shared bicycles are predominantly used to replace walking and bus-taking. Based on the survey results, we model the environmental impacts of the changed traveling behaviors and the life cycle of shared bicycle with the aid of Gabi software. The LCA results shows that bicycle sharing is currently an environmentally friendly practice, as it brings environmental savings in all the indicators except metal consumption. Further, the results of sensitivity analysis show that aging, rising rental fees, and increasing volume of shared bicycles would impart negative impacts on the environmental performance of bicycle sharing. The findings of this work facilitate the management and development of bicycle sharing.

scholarly journals The assessment of positive impacts in LCA of products

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pim R. Croes ◽  
Walter J.V. Vermeulen
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Life Cycle Assess ◽  
Great Caution ◽  
Rebound Effects ◽  
Stakeholder Groups ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Positive Impacts

Abstract Purpose The objective of this paper is to open a discussion on the implications and challenges of including positive impacts in LCAs of products and to propose a set of criteria for their inclusion in LCA in general and in the Oiconomy system in particular. Methods Using the existing literature, guided by the recent reviews by Di Cesare et al. (2018), Petti et al. (2016), and Ekener-Petersen et al. (Int J Life Cycle Assess 23(3):1–13, 2016) and our own experience and logic, we assess ethical and practical issues, shortcomings, potential inconsistencies, and problems of inclusion of positive impacts and propose criteria for inclusion of positive impacts in LCA. Results Discussed in relation to the inclusion of positive impacts in LCA are the conflicting descriptive and prescriptive character of LCA, the inclusion of internalities, considering “absence of negative impacts” as positive, measuring by status or by change and the therewith involved temporal scope, moral consequences of comparing positive and negative impacts to different stakeholder groups, the requirement of a capacity-raising character and maintenance of a positive impact, rebound effects, R&D, background and foreground data on positive impacts, and the inclusion of employment and product utilities as positive impacts. Based on this assessment, we propose a set of criteria for the assessment of positive impacts in life cycle assessment in general and especially of positive contributions in the “Oiconomy system”. Conclusions This study demonstrates several serious ethical and practical issues and challenges related to inclusion of positive impacts in LCA. An especially difficult question is how to interpret the economic concepts of “externalities” and “internalities” in relation to LCA. A special definition of in- and externalities for LCA purposes is proposed. The importance of a “capacity-raising” character of a positive impact is demonstrated, but also some of the difficulties of distinguishing capacity raising from maintaining the current status. Important outcomes are that for a consistent LCA, inclusion of most internalities and absence of negative impacts must be dissuaded, which also applies to employment and wages unless without a range of additional criteria. Great caution must be taken with inclusion of product utilities, comparing the positives for one stakeholder group with the negatives for another and mixing measurement by status with measurement by change.

Reconciling Food Production and Biodiversity Conservation: Land Sharing and Land Sparing Compared

Science ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 333 (6047) ◽  
pp. 1289-1291 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben Phalan ◽  
Malvika Onial ◽  
Andrew Balmford ◽  
Rhys E. Green
Keyword(s):  
Food Production ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
High Yield ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Land Sharing ◽  
Land Sparing ◽  
Northern India ◽  
Agricultural Intensity ◽  
Promising Strategy ◽  
Negative Impacts

The question of how to meet rising food demand at the least cost to biodiversity requires the evaluation of two contrasting alternatives: land sharing, which integrates both objectives on the same land; and land sparing, in which high-yield farming is combined with protecting natural habitats from conversion to agriculture. To test these alternatives, we compared crop yields and densities of bird and tree species across gradients of agricultural intensity in southwest Ghana and northern India. More species were negatively affected by agriculture than benefited from it, particularly among species with small global ranges. For both taxa in both countries, land sparing is a more promising strategy for minimizing negative impacts of food production, at both current and anticipated future levels of production.

scholarly journals Bamboo fiber-PLA composite materials for disposable food and beverages packaging tools: a brief review

2021 ◽  
Vol 926 (1) ◽  
pp. 012087
Author(s):  
S Darwin ◽  
G Prajna ◽  
T A Tamba
Keyword(s):  
Global Warming ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Composite Materials ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Bamboo Fiber ◽  
Biodegradable Materials ◽  
Food And Beverages ◽  
Negative Impacts

Abstract Disposable packaging tools such as cups/food containers have become popular and commonly used items in today’s society as they offer simplicity, low cost, durability, and convenience for people in carrying/taking their foods. Most of these packaging tools are non-biodegradable products because their materials are mainly composed of plastics and/or their derivatives. Consequently, packaging tools have become one of the primary contributors to the earth’s waste and global warming. Eco-friendly products can be defined as products that are safe and healthy for individuals and communities throughout their life cycle, which includes all processes from production to consumption and up to disposal. Current methods for developing eco-friendly products have mainly relied on using composites of different biodegradable materials that are chosen and combined in such a way that they can complement each other’s weakness or drawback. One of these composites with the potential to replace and address the negative impacts caused by plastics products is the bamboo fiber-PLA (BF-PLA) composite. This paper is intended to briefly discuss the characteristics of as well as various important properties of such a BF-PLA composite to illustrate and motivate its potential future use as an alternative eco-friendly material for producing disposable packaging tools.

scholarly journals Pteris multifida (spider brake).

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeanine Velez-Gavilán
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Invasive Plant ◽  
Alien Invasive Species ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
High Dispersal ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Pteris Multifida ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Noxious Weed

Abstract Pteris multifida is a herbaceous fern native to temperate and tropical eastern Asia and naturalized on many continents as a result of being widely cultivated. Although it is an urban weed, it is not considered by most countries as an invasive or noxious weed. There is no information available on the species affecting native species or natural habitats. Although one source lists P. multifida as an invasive species in many countries outside of Africa due to it being easily dispersed by spores, there are no references or further information to support this statement. It is reported as an alien invasive species in Germany, but only as occurring in sheltered sites, growing on light-vents in cellars and walls. A species assessment for Florida, USA indicates, P. multifida is neither a weed of natural habitats nor of agriculture. The species has not been listed as an invasive plant in any state or natural areas of the USA. However, P. multifida has been assigned a Tier II Invasive Species status (defined as having moderate negative impacts on wildlife or natural communities in Louisiana), but of limited concern and/or extent in Louisiana. Pteris multifida is recorded in Cuba as potentially invasive being categorized as a species with a tendency to proliferate in some areas and capable of producing vast amounts of diaspores with high dispersal potential. No further details are given about potential invasiveness.

scholarly journals Identification and life cycle based allocation of building emissions based on a systematic literature review

2021 ◽  
Vol 2042 (1) ◽  
pp. 012177
Author(s):  
K Theilig ◽  
M Vollmer ◽  
W Lang
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Systematic Literature Review ◽  
Implementation Strategies ◽  
Building Sector ◽  
Harmful Emissions ◽  
Use Stage ◽  
Zero Emission ◽  
Negative Impacts

Abstract Even though it is scientifically well known that there are various building emissions with harmful impacts on human health and the environment, existing evaluating approaches only refer to selected emissions and life cycle phases. Especially in today’s building sector harmful emissions are mainly evaluated in the use stage and the target is to minimize rather than avoid them. However, in order to avoid subsequent negative impacts, implementation strategies have to be developed and applied during early planning phases. This research presents an overview of relevant building emissions as well as a life cycle based approach to allocate these emissions and to show possibilities of influence towards zero emission buildings.

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