Journal of Environmental Health and Sustainable Development
Volume:7 Issue: 4, Dec 2022

In recent years, the relationship between environment and psychological well-being has been paid attention among researchers. With the preceding emphasis on climate change, significant studies have been conducted to analyze the relationship between air pollutants, such as nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO 2), oxidants (OX), carbon monoxide (CO), particulate matter (PM) of size ≤ 2.5 µm (PM2.5), and atmospheric factors like surrounding temperature, relative humidity, and their impact on health, especially mental health.

This narrative review was conducted on the exposure-response relationship between environmental factors and air pollutants, and one type of mental health challenge, schizophrenia. Accordingly, the data analysis techniques applied to this problem were reviewed. The key research elements considered from existing studies included the relation between air quality and mental health, mathematical models, data sources, and areas that remain unexplored.

It was observed that most studies related to the environmental impact on schizophrenia have been limited to temperature and few pollutants.

In the primary feasibility study, PM2.5, PM10, and temperature had a positive correlation and lag effect with the daily number of emergency admissions of schizophrenia.

Monitoring and controlling water resources and using health risk assessment approaches for water pollutants are essential for health promotion programs. This study aims to determine the water quality status and its spatiotemporal variation across the Kan River Basin, explore the interrelationship between surface and groundwater quality indices, and assess the nitrate health risk in drinking water.

The water quality index (WQI) was calculated based on the guideline of the Iran Environmental Protection Organization, and spatiotemporal distribution maps were prepared using ArcGIS in 2020. To determine the correlation between IRWQISC and IRWQIGC indices, Spearman's non-parametric test was applied. Furthermore, Hazard Quotient (HQ), Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk (ELCR), and Monte-Carlo Simulation techniques were used to determine the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks of nitrate in three age groups.

The water resources were classified into three groups of medium quality, relatively good, and good during the study period. All parameters complied with the Iranian water quality standards. Furthermore, the statistical analysis revealed no significant relationship between the surface and groundwater quality indices. The calculated HQ values for infants, children, and adults were 0.661, 0.620, and 0.236, respectively. The ELCR values for infants, children, and adults were 1.06 × 10-4, 0.99 × 10-4, and 0.38 × 10-4, respectively, which, for the infants' group was higher than the guideline limit of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) (10-4).

The water resources are suitable for drinking purposes. However, more attention is needed to prevent water contamination in the coming years.

Mixotrophic microalgae systems have great potential for bioenergy production and wastewater treatment. Anaerobic-treated wastewater supplemented with carbon can improve biomass yield and quality, as it presents low carbon content. Alternative carbon sources in microalgae cultivation, such as glycerol, are essential for minimizing the economic and environmental impacts caused by biomass production, and improving the profile of fatty acids. This study aimed to increase biomass production and the lipid content with glycerol as the carbon source for microalgae cultivation from sanitary wastewater.

The microalgae behavior in the wastewater was pilot tested using glycerol supplementation at 7.5, 10.5, and 12.5 g L-1.

In all the experiments with sanitary wastewater, the microalgae production presented Chlorella sp. as the predominant species. The best biomass (3.78 ± 1.12 g L-1) and lipid (35.67 ± 0.80%) yields were found at 12.5 and 10.5 g L-1 of glycerol, respectively.

The microalgae produced more lipids with glycerol supplementation. An attractive profile for biodiesel was found regarding the fatty acids in the biomass.

The study’s main aim is to investigate the long-term variation of Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD). It also aims to show the relationship between meteorological parameters. This study evaluates long-term (2010 to 2021) special and temporal changes over major Indian regions using satellite-based data from NASA’s Terra Satellite.

This study was carried out during 2010-2021 using MODIS data for long-term analysis. Variation of AOD with meteorological parameters was also performed to show the impact of these parameters (Temperature and Relative Humidity) on AOD by the MERRA-II model.

Based on Terra AOD data, in all the studied regions, especially the eastern region (Kolkata), the mean AOD was high (0.9-1.2). In the western region (Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and Surat), the mean AOD was low to moderate during all seasons. Furthermore, the impact of meteorological parameters on AOD shows significant variation in average annual AOD in Kolkata (0.70 ± 0.09), while other regions reported lower than average AOD values during the study period. Mumbai and Surat had average AODs (0.44 ± 0.13), (0.45 ± 0.14), while Ahmedabad and Jaipur reported average AOD of 0.45 ± 0.14 and 0.23 ± 0.11 during the study period, respectively.

Generally, AOD values vary from season to season due to aerosol’s optical and microphysical properties being affected by meteorological conditions and surface albedo. This study examined the spatial and temporal distribution of AOD over five major Indian cities.

Xenobiotic contamination is a global concern. Nitroaromatic compounds enter the environment through ammunition, ordnance disposal, burning the outdoors, and leakage of ammunition. Thirty percent of explosives enter the environment without any change, which can cause pollution of soil, water, and health concerns. So, effective remediation of the contaminated area is necessary.

Soil bioreactors consisted of plastic pans placed in larger pans. Explosives were analyzed using a High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) system, Model 486 UV detector, and a Nova Pak C18 guard column. LC-MS detected intermediates on an RP18 analytical column equipped with a C18 guard column.

Rhamnolipid significantly affected 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and Pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) biodegradation rates with the help of indigenous bioaugmentation. The mentioned condition was also effective on the maximum bacterial growth in various nitroaromatics (S0) concentrations, in which the top change occurred. The specific growth rate was foremost in a setup containing microbial inoculated and biosurfactant (0.19) responding to 800 mg/kg TNT and 150 mg/kg PETN. The maximum bacterial enumeration of sludge and biosurfactant were 4.8 × 108 and 4.1 × 108 CFU/g, respectively. The aerobic-anaerobic sequence could be able to produce less harmful metabolites. In an aerobic-anaerobic sequence process, using the anaerobic process could help complete the azo compounds degradation in the aerobic stage.

Aerobic-anaerobic condition is suitable for bioremediation contaminated explosive sites and achieving complete mineralization. Generally, this proposed method is possible for in situ bioremediation.

Wastewater contains a large number of pathogenic and non-pathogenic microorganisms that can become bioaerosols during the treatment processes in different units of the treatment plant, and pose a risk to workers and nearby residents. In this study, the release of bioaerosols from a wastewater treatment plant of Morche Khort Industrial Town was investigated.

Sampling was actively performed according to EPA standard, in two seasons of spring and summer in 2018-2019, by an environmental sampling pump with a flow rate of 15 l/min and a single-stage impactor. The data were analyzed by SPSS software version 2020.

The study results showed that the mean number of bacteria in the aeration tank was significantly higher than other points. The mean number of fungi in the aeration pond with 144 CFU/m3 had the highest concentration, and no fungal bioaerosol was observed 500 m downstream. Regarding the emission of H2S, CH4, and VOC gases, the anaerobic tank had the highest emission of these gases.

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) with activated sludge treatment technology and an aeration system can lead to an increase in the concentration of bacterial and fungal aerosols around the units and in surrounding areas.