Cortaderia selloana (Schult. & Schult. f.) Asch. & Graebn. (Pampas grass) is a perennial grass native to temperate and subtropical regions of South America. The species was introduced to western Europe for ornamental purposes during the nineteenth century, where it has become naturalized in anthropogenic and natural habitats, especially in sandy, open, and disturbed areas. Female plants of C. selloana produce thousands of seeds that are dispersed over long distances by wind and germinate readily. Its invasive success is also attributed to its ability to adapt and tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions, such as high salinity levels, long droughts, and soil chemical pollution. Cortaderia selloana usually invades human-disturbed habitats where it encounters little competition with other plants and high resource availability. However, the species can invade natural habitats, especially those with high light availability, causing biodiversity loss and changes in ecosystem functioning (e.g. alteration of succession and nutrient dynamics). The species may cause negative socio-economic impacts by reducing productivity of tree plantations, causing respiratory allergies, and decreasing the recreational value of invaded areas. Control costs are high due to the extensive root system that C. selloana develops and the high resprouting ability following physical damage. Although herbicides are effective control measures, their use is not allowed or is undesirable in all situations where the plant occurs (e.g. near riverbanks, natural protected sites). No biological control agents have been released on C. selloana to date, but the planthopper Sacchasydne subandina and the gall midge Spanolepis selloanae are promising targets.

Disaster wastes generated after earthquakes have a negative impact on the environment and living beings and cause damages that last for many years. Within the scope of the study, it is aimed to reveal the importance of the disaster waste management process. For this purpose, the disaster waste management process in the Kahramanmara & scedil; earthquake centered on February 6, which is the world's biggest disaster in 2023, was discussed. In this context, document/record and case study methods were used. In this context, Waste Management Regulation, Regulation on Regular Storage of Waste and Regulation on the Control of Excavation Soil, Construction and Demolition Waste were examined. Also, The Landfill Directive, which concerns all member countries of the European Union and is included in the European Union Waste Legislation, was examined in order to compare it with the Turkish Legislation. The study was supported with data from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TSI). It was determined that there was no storage or sorting area for disaster waste in this region according to TSI data, the legislation examined did not contain sufficient and detailed information on the subject, and the reports published by the Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects (UCTEA) confirmed that the process was not managed properly in the region. It has been determined that the existing practices and legislation contradict each other, the legislation does not contain sufficient detail, the practices in the world have been investigated within the scope of the subject, and suggestions have been presented in this context. This study is important in terms of revealing the importance and correct positioning of waste storage and sorting areas in order to prevent similar situations in future earthquakes.

Because an element's chemical species affects toxicity, environmental mobility, and bioavailability, speciation analysis is vital in contemporary analytical chemistry. In recent years, attempts have been undertaken to identify not just components but also their species. This review highlights the latest methodologies and techniques in environmental analytical chemistry to address this tendency. Different sample treatment processes are introduced and explained, with an emphasis on employing modern nanomaterials and novel solvents in the solid phase and liquid-liquid microextraction, and on speciation analysis. An in-depth examination of experimental methods for separating and quantifying metal and metalloid species, from chromatography to electrochemistry, is also offered. This research emphasizes the greenness of these achievements, analyzing their green chemistry and environmental effects. Identifying and quantifying an element's chemistry is called element speciation. Because an element's toxicity depends on its chemical form, specification analysis is a popular issue in environmental research. Trace element levels in environmental samples have been heavily studied. Total elemental composition no longer indicates toxicity in risk assessment. Speciation analysis measures the relative concentrations of an element's physicochemical forms in a sample. Physicochemical forms include gaseous, solid, and liquid substances. It's frequently required to specialize when studying the damaging and life-saving effects of trace elements. (c) 2024 L&H Scientific Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved.