scholarly journals Nanomaterials for Remediation of Environmental Pollutants

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Arpita Roy ◽  
Apoorva Sharma ◽  
Saanya Yadav ◽  
Leta Tesfaye Jule ◽  
Ramaswamy Krishnaraj

Today, environmental contamination is a big concern for both developing and developed countries. The primary sources of contamination of land, water, and air are extensive industrialization and intense agricultural activities. Various traditional methods are available for the treatment of different pollutants in the environment, but all have some limitations. Due to this, an alternative method is required which is effective and less toxic and provides better outcomes. Nanomaterials have attracted a lot of interest in terms of environmental remediation. Because of their huge surface area and related high reactivity, nanomaterials perform better in environmental clean-up than other conventional approaches. They can be modified for specific uses to provide novel features. Due to the large surface-area-to-volume ratio and the presence of a larger number of reactive sites, nanoscale materials can be extremely reactive. These characteristics allow for higher interaction with contaminants, leading to a quick reduction of contaminant concentration. In the present review, an overview of different nanomaterials that are potential in the remediation of environmental pollutants has been discussed.

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-81
Author(s):  
Azrul Azlan Iskandar Mirza ◽  
Asmaddy Haris ◽  
Ainulashikin Marzuki ◽  
Ummi Salwa Ahmad Bustamam ◽  
Hamdi Hakiem Mudasir ◽  
...  

The soaring housing prices in Malaysia is not a recent issue. It is a global phenomenon especially in developing and developed countries, driven by factors including land price, location, construction materials cost, demand, and speculation. This issue demands immediate attention as it affects the younger generation, most of whom could not afford to buy their own house. The government has taken many initiatives and introduced regulations to ensure that housing prices are within the affordable range. This article aims to introduce a housing price control element from the Shariah perspective, as an alternative solution for all parties involved in this issue. It adopts content analysis methodology on policy from Shariah approved sources.


Author(s):  
Sidra Amin ◽  
Amber R. Solangi ◽  
Dilawar Hassan ◽  
Nadir Hussain ◽  
Jamil Ahmed ◽  
...  

Background: In recent years, the occurrence and fate of environmental pollutants has been recognized as one of the emerging issues in environmental chemistry. A survey documented about a wide variety of these pollutants, which are often detected in our environment and these are major cause of shortened life spans and the global warming. These pollutants include toxic metal, pesticides, fertilizers, drugs and dyes released into soil and major water bodies. The presence of these contaminants causes major disturbance in eco-system’s balance. To tackle these issues many technological improvements are made to detect minute contaminations. The latest issue being answered by the scientists is the use of green nano materials as sensors which are economical, instant and give much better results at low concentrations and can be used for the field measurements resulting in no dangerous by-product that could lead to more environmental contamination. Nano materials are known for their wide band gap, enhanced physical and optical properties with option of tuneablity as per need, by optimizing certain parameters. They are proved to be good choice for analytical/optical sensors with high sensitivity. Objective: This review holds information about multiple methods that use green nanomaterials for the analytical assessment of environmental pollutants. UV-Vis spectrophotometry and electrochemical analysis using green and reproducible nanomaterials are the major focus of this review article. To date, there are number of spectrophotometric and electro chemical methods available that have been used for the detection of environmental pollutants such as toxic metals, pesticides and dyes. Conclusion: The use of nanomaterials can drastically change the detection limits due to having large surface area, strong catalytic properties, and tunable possibility. With the use of nano materials, lower than the marked limit of detection and limit of quantification were seen when compared with previously reported work. The used nano-materials could be washed, dried, and reused, which makes the methods more proficient, cost effective and environmentally friendly.


2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-84
Author(s):  
Vaishali V. Shahare ◽  
Rajni Grover ◽  
Suman Meena

Background: The persistent dioxins/furans has caused a worldwide concern as they influence the human health. Recent research indicates that nonmaterial may prove effective in the degradation of Dioxins/furans. The nanomaterials are very reactive owing to their large surface area to volume ratio and large number of reactive sites. However, nanotechnology applications face both the challenges and the opportunities to influence the area of environmental protection. Objective: i) To study the impact of oil mediated UV-irradiations on the removal of 2,3,7,8-TCDD, 2,3,7,8-TCDF, OCDD and OCDF in simulated soil samples. ii) To compare the conventional treatment methods with the modern available nanotechniques for the removal of selected Dioxins/furans from soil samples. Methods: The present work has investigated an opportunity of the degradation of tetra and octachlorinated dioxins and furans by using oil mediated UV radiations with subsequent extraction of respective dioxins/furans from soils. The results have been compared with the available nanotechniques. Results: The dioxin congeners in the simulated soil sample showed decrease in concentration with the increase in the exposure time and intensity of UV radiations. The dechlorination of PCDD/Fs using palladized iron has been found to be effective. Conclusion: Both the conventional methods and nanotechnology have a dramatic impact on the removal of Dioxins/furans in contaminated soil. However, the nanotechniques are comparatively costlier and despite the relatively high rates of PCDDs dechlorination by Pd/nFe, small fraction of the dioxins are recalcitrant to degradation over considerable exposure times.


Author(s):  
Matteo Migheli

AbstractBoth in developing and developed countries, farmers often do not protect themselves adequately, especially when applying agrochemicals that are dangerous for their health. The issue is relevant because insufficient protection is between the causes leading to intoxication of farmers and workers who handle these products. The literature suggests that both lack of training and information and low income may explain why, especially in developing countries, protective equipment is under-used. Using data from the Mekong Delta, this study addresses the issue of whether income and household wealth may help explaining the use of incomplete protections against pesticides. The results suggest that income, more than wealth, is a reason why Vietnamese farmers operating in the Mekong Delta fail in using adequate protections. In particular, the data suggest that they may prefer to divert resources to increasing the production of their fields or to buying goods that may be used both as protection and as everyday garments. This behaviour leads to underinvestment in some important protective goods. Possible public interventions to mitigate the problem are suggested; in particular, the promotion of integrated pest management techniques could be useful.


2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Faride Sadat Jalali ◽  
Parisa Bikineh ◽  
Sajad Delavari

Abstract Background Direct out-of-pocket payments (OOP) are among the most important financing mechanisms in many health systems, especially in developing countries, adversely affecting equality and leading vulnerable groups to poverty. Therefore, this scoping review study was conducted to identify the strategies involving OOP reduction in health systems. Methods Articles published in English on strategies related to out-of-pocket payments were Searched and retrieved in the Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and Embase databases between January 2000 and November 2020, following PRISMA guidelines. As a result, 3710 papers were retrieved initially, and 40 were selected for full-text assessment. Results Out of 40 papers included, 22 (55%) and 18 (45%) of the study were conducted in developing and developed countries, respectively. The strategies were divided into four categories based on health system functions: health system stewardship, creating resources, health financing mechanisms, and delivering health services.As well, developing and developed countries applied different types of strategies to reduce OOP. Conclusion The present review identified some strategies that affect the OOP payments According to the health system functions framework. Considering the importance of stewardship, creating resources, the health financing mechanisms, and delivering health services in reducing OOP, this study could help policymakers make better decisions for reducing OOP expenditures.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Handuo Shi ◽  
Yan Hu ◽  
Pascal D. Odermatt ◽  
Carlos G. Gonzalez ◽  
Lichao Zhang ◽  
...  

AbstractThe steady-state size of bacterial cells correlates with nutrient-determined growth rate. Here, we explore how rod-shaped bacterial cells regulate their morphology during rapid environmental changes. We quantify cellular dimensions throughout passage cycles of stationary-phase cells diluted into fresh medium and grown back to saturation. We find that cells exhibit characteristic dynamics in surface area to volume ratio (SA/V), which are conserved across genetic and chemical perturbations as well as across species and growth temperatures. A mathematical model with a single fitting parameter (the time delay between surface and volume synthesis) is quantitatively consistent with our SA/V experimental observations. The model supports that this time delay is due to differential expression of volume and surface-related genes, and that the first division after dilution occurs at a tightly controlled SA/V. Our minimal model thus provides insight into the connections between bacterial growth rate and cell shape in dynamic environments.


2021 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kamoldeen Abiodun Ajijolakewu ◽  
Abiodun Saheed Ayoola ◽  
Tariq Oluwakunmi Agbabiaka ◽  
Folashade Rahmat Zakariyah ◽  
Nike Risikat Ahmed ◽  
...  

Abstract Background More people—in both developing and developed countries—now use, and are favourably disposed to, traditional medicine. Musa paradisiaca (plantain) is used extensively in traditional medicine across continents. In this review, we investigated the scientific justification of this extensive usage. Main body Generally, several studies validate usage in infectious diseases, but limited antiviral and in vivo reports exist. The mechanistic elicitation of antimicrobial activity has similarly not been ascertained. Contrarily, data abound from rigorous studies on physiological conditions. Activity across categories is tied to the potent phytosterols duo of stigmasterol and β-sitosterol; and the triterpenes viz. cycloeucalenone, 24-methylene-cycloartanol, and 31-norcyclolaudenone; present in plantain. Toxicity studies, while finite, suggest general safety and tolerance. Conclusions Findings in the studies reviewed projects plantain as a veritable source for drug bioprospecting that will be of benefit to scientific research and pharmaceutical industries.


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