Contact Lens (CLs) are often disposed of via toilet or sinks, ending up in the wastewater treatment plants(WWTPs). Millions of CLs enter WWTPs worldwide each year in macro and micro sizes. Despite WWTPs'ability to remove solids, CLs can persist and potentially contaminate watercourses and soils. This study evaluates whether different CLs degrade in WWTP aeration tanks. Six daily CLs (Nelfilcon A,Delefilcon A, Nesofilcon A, Stenfilcon A, Narafilcon A, Somofilcon A) and four monthly CLs (Lotrafilcon B,Comfilcon A, Senofilcon A, and Samfilcon A) were immersed in aeration tanks for twelve weeks. Theirphysical and chemical properties, including water content (WC), refractive index (RI), chemical prop-erties (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy), and mechanical properties were assessed. Results show that all CLs maintained their physical appearance after 12 weeks. Neither Nelfilcon A norNarafilcon A exhibited significant changes in WC and RI, (p>0.05, Tukey test), while other daily lensesshowed variations in at least one parameter. Among monthly CLs, only Senofilcon A showed significant differences in both WC (p0.05 Tukey test). However, Somofilcon A displayed significant changes in stress at break (p<0.0001,Tukey test), and Elongation at Break (p<0.05, Tukey test). No changes were found in the chemicalstructure of any CLs suggesting that twelve weeks in WWTP aeration tanks is insufficient for CLsdegradation. Thesefindings highlight CLs as a potential emerging pollutant, emphasizing their persis-tence in sludge or migration into watercourses and soils (c) 2025 The Authors. Publishing services by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of KeAi Communications Co. Ltd. Thisis an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

In recent years, some cities have adopted a new type of tunnel termed quasi-rectangular tunnel (QRT). Compared with the common double-line single-circle tunnel, the QRT has a smaller cross- and narrower spacing. Existing researches about QRTs mainly focus on their mechanical properties, with a lack of research on the influence of vibration and resulting noise on the surrounding environment. The vibration and structure-borne noise in the building along the subway line are adverse to human health when trains pass through the QRT. In this paper, the characteristics of vibration generated by train operation in the QRT and the propagation law in the soil are analyzed based on the finite element method-infinite element method (FEM-IEM) model. Combined with the monitoring data, vibration and indoor secondary structure-borne noise and their annoyance degrees in a 7-storey residential building 18m away from the line are also predicted and evaluated. Results show that during the ground vibration, indoor vibration and structure-borne noise of buildings along the line are mainly concentrated in the frequency band around 40Hz. The vibration and structure-borne noise of the first floor all exceed the night limit specified by an industry standard. The annoyance caused by vibration on the first floor is 0.96, which makes people feel very annoyed, while the annoyance caused by noise is 0.251, which makes people feel slightly annoyed. The research results highlight the effects of railway-induced vibrations in QRT on the building along the subway line, emphasizing their importance in the development of rail transit with QRT. The estimated vibration and noise levels, along with the degrees of annoyance, can be effectively utilized during the design and construction processes of both QRT and buildings to mitigate negative impacts on human comfort and health.

Rice (Oryza sativa L.), a primary food source for a substantial portion of the world's population, faces a serious threat from bacterial leaf blight caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), leading to considerable yield reductions. The excessive use of synthetic pesticides not only affects soil health but also disrupts the community of organisms living in the soil. While some pesticides degrade quickly, others persist, leading to long-term environmental damage. To address these challenges, the aqueous extract of Terminalia arjuna (T. arjuna), was investigated as a sustainable alternative for controlling Xoo. The extract was prepared using a Soxhlet apparatus, and its antibacterial activity was assessed via zone of inhibition assays and bacterial growth inhibition studies. The results revealed significant antibacterial activity, with inhibition zones of 9.1 +/- 0.76 mm at 25 mu g/ml, 14.16 +/- 1.04 mm at 50 mu g/ml, and 15.5 +/- 1.31 mm at 100 mu g/ml. Furthermore, the antibacterial mechanism of the T. arjuna extract was investigated using computational approaches. For this molecular docking of CbsA, LipA, T3SEs, PDF, and Ddl was conducted with the phytochemicals of T. arjuna. Further molecular dynamics simulation analysis shows that 3-Hydroxyspirost-8-en-11-one can inhibit Ddl and CbsA, while 9-Oximino-2,7-diethoxyfluorene and 2-Naphthalene methanol can interact with T3SEs and PDF, respectively resulting inhibition of growth of Xoo. These findings highlight T. arjuna's potential as an eco-friendly, natural pesticide to combat Xoo, offering a sustainable solution to reduce the reliance on synthetic pesticides and their detrimental environmental impact. Further field studies are needed to confirm these results.

Particulate matter (PM) is a vital pollutant that severely impacts human health, ecosystem well-being, and climate systems. In this review, the importance of vertical profiling is considered for understanding PM behavior between different layers of the atmosphere, and it includes modern techniques used such as meteorological towers and building methods, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), aircraft, and satellite-based aerosol optical depth measurements. A systematic review was conducted, sourcing 150 articles published between 2000 and 2023, using relevant keywords such as Particulate Matter, Vertical Profiling, Environmental Impacts, and Climate Change from databases like Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Key findings illustrate the vertical variations in PM levels associated with interactions among urban environments, meteorology, and specific atmospheric processes such as cloud formation, radiative forcing, and long-distance transport of pollutants. PM's effects on biodiversity, nutrient cycles, and ecosystem stability are also discussed. The environmental impacts of PM deposition, including biodiversity loss, nutrient cycling disruption, and ecosystem destabilization, elucidate widespread chronic anthropogenic particulate causes of long-term ecological damage around the globe. The study also examines relevant regulatory frameworks, specifically air quality standards, and policies, underpinning mitigation strategies. This review discusses how PM pollution is an increasingly alarming health risk. It reiterates the importance of demanding effective regulations on the local and global levels to counteract detrimental environmental and climatic consequences. This review clearly shows the immediate threats of PM. It should form a wake-up call to develop more effective monitoring tools and stringent regulatory measures against this omnipresent pollutant.

The research assesses the environmental impacts of waste management in Fez, Morocco, in line with the legal standards set by law 28-00 on waste management and law 12-03 on environmental impact assessment. Using the DPSIR framework (Drivers, Pressures, State, Impact, Response), 43 unregulated landfills were analyzed to assess their impacts on water, air, soil, biodiversity, and socio-economic activities. The results reveal medium to major impacts, predominantly local but continuous, affecting soil, water, air, and ecosystems. Human-related impacts include noise pollution and health risks, though there are also positive effects, such as job creation. While drought has lessened some water-related impacts, the overall disruption to ecosystems and communities is significant. The key message of this investigation is that unregulated waste management in Fez is causing ongoing environmental damage, particularly through illegal landfills. This research underscores the necessity of improving waste management strategies by integrating systematic evaluation methods like DPSIR. By providing a more systematic approach to understanding the complex interactions between waste and the environment, these findings are essential for shaping future waste management policies and promoting better environmental integration in urban planning.

Mining activities have emerged as major contributors to environmental damage. This paper offers an analyse of the actual situation of environmental damages caused by mining activities in Europe. Alarmingly, pollution from mining activities in the European Union is increasing. Surface and underground mining have detrimental effects on air and water quality, land degradation, waste disposal, noise pollution, deforestation and loss of biodiversity, endangered species, microbiota, economy, and health. Moreover, the risk of dam destruction because of climate change is increased. Globally this fact ranked Europe in second place in terms of dangerousness. The situation of protected species is critical and their status remains poor. The rehabilitation cost is exorbitant, and enforcement of regulations is lacking. It is evident that, due to economic demand for metals, mining will playa central role in EU's future despite the growing emphasis on green initiatives and transition. Unfortunately, public awareness regarding environmental impact of mining activities is insufficient, and their voices are often disregarded. In order to reduce the negative impact of mining on the environment, economy and public health, it is necessary to take urgent political and technical measures. This paper aims to present a comprehensive overview and offer suggestions for future actions.

Natural farming, introduced by Masanobu Fukuoka, provides a sustainable alternative to traditional farming by tackling issues like soil damage, chemical use, and environmental harm. This study looks at global research on natural farming from 2018 to 2024, focusing on research trends, themes, and factors influencing its adoption. A review of 210 publications was conducted using Scopus, following PRISMA guidelines, with analysis done using R Studio and VOS viewer. India is the leader in natural farming research, with 135 publications, driven by government policies that support sustainability. Other key contributors include China, Italy, and the United States. The analysis identified three main themes: environmental sustainability, economic benefits, and adoption strategies. The citation analysis highlighted important researchers like Bharucha and Venkateshmurthy. The main reasons farmers adopt natural farming include better soil health, less chemical use, lower costs, and greater climate resilience. Techniques like ZeroBudget Natural Farming (ZBNF), which includes practices like Jeevamritha and organic mulching, are vital for improving soil fertility and cutting down on input costs. This study shows that natural farming can help balance the environment, improve farmer incomes, and encourage more sustainable practices. Future research should explore the role of digital technologies and cooperation between countries to expand natural farming worldwide.

introduction: The study investigates the impact of atmospheric fluoride emitted from brick kilns on soil fertility and earthworm activity in fruit orchards in South Asia. Due to the proximity to unregulated kilns, local fruit productions like peaches and plums have seen a decline. The brick kiln emissions, primarily fluoride in the form of hydrogen fluoride (HF), have been shown to negatively affect both plant life and soil health, particularly impacting earthworms which are crucial for soil nutrient cycling. Method: The research focused on peach and plum orchards near Peshawar, within 500 meters of brick kilns. Soil and leaf samples were collected and analyzed for fluoride content. Earthworm experiments were conducted to assess the impact of fluoride on their growth and reproduction by exposing them to contaminated leaf litters. Results: The results showed elevated levels of fluoride in both soil and leaf samples from the proximity of brick kilns. Earthworms exposed to this contaminated environment exhibited reduced growth rates and cocoon production, highlighting the detrimental effects of fluoride on soil biota. This aligns with previous findings that link industrial emissions to ecological damage in agricultural settings. Conclusion and Recommendations: The study confirms that fluoride emissions from brick kilns can substantially decrease soil fertility and harm earthworm populations, which are vital for maintaining soil health. It recommends implementing strategies such as using calcium-rich amendments, enhancing organic matter in the soil, and regular monitoring of soil fluoride levels to mitigate these effects. These measures could improve soil conditions, thereby supporting healthier crop growth and restoring ecological balance in affected areas.

Ethiopia's vulnerability to climate change is exacerbated by high poverty rates, rapid population growth, increasing prevalence of vector-borne diseases, and heavy reliance on rain-fed agriculture. This narrative review aims to compile existing data on the impacts of climate extremes on the physical environment, public health, and livelihoods in Ethiopia, thereby highlighting the significance of this region for such a study. Data were sourced from peer-reviewed journal articles from databases like PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, as well as reports and other unpublished documents. Results show that Ethiopia is facing increasing frequency, severity, duration, and timing of climate-related extreme events. Key challenges include environmental degradation, reduced crop yields, recurring floods, droughts, famines, increased heat waves, and spread of infectious diseases. Average daily rainfall is projected to decrease from 2.04 mm (1961-1990) to 1.97 mm (2070-2099), indicating a worsening climate trend. Moreover, the average annual temperature has risen by 1.3 degrees C since 1960, at a rate of 0.28 degrees C per decade. Flood records indicate a sharp rise, with 274 flood incidents recorded in 2020, causing extensive damage, including an annual soil loss of 1 billion tons in the Ethiopian highlands, reducing land productivity by 2.2% annually. Droughts from 1964 to 2023 affected 96.5 million people, reduced GDP by 4%, decreased agricultural output by 12%, and increased inflation rates by 15%. The regions of Afar, Somali, Gambella, and Benshangul Gumuz exhibit extreme vulnerability to health impacts due to rising temperatures. Addressing climate extremes is critical to mitigate their adverse effects on Ethiopia's environment, public health, and livelihoods.

The escalating global issue of soil pollution by heavy metals, particularly incinerated municipal solid waste fly ash (IMSWFA), necessitates effective remediation strategies. The prevailing approach for safely disposing and utilization of IMSWFA involves high-temperature sintering. In this work, we propose a cost-effective method to produce ceramsites by utilizing IMSWFA, municipal sludge (MS), contaminated soil (CS), and iron tail slag (ITS). After conducting a comprehensive analysis and comparison of outcomes obtained from orthogonal experiments and single-factor experiments, it was determined that the optimal preparation conditions for achieving desirable results are preheating at a temperature of 400 degrees C for 15 min followed by sintering at a temperature of 1150 degrees C for 10 min. The optimal ratio of raw materials for ceramsites is 15 % IMSWFA, 15 % MS, 58 % CS, and 12 % ITS. The ceramsites, prepared in accordance with the specified process and raw material ratio, exhibit remarkable properties including robust stability, minimal water absorption, reduced weight, and elevated cylindrical compressive strength. The ceramsites demonstrate an exceptionally high heavy metal loss ratio ranging from 91 % to 100 %, while exhibiting significantly lower leaching quantities of these metals compared to the raw materials. Additionally, aging tests of ceramsites were performed under UV light and acid/alkaline etching to simulate the real-world environment. This work can be utilized to investigate the long-term environmental impact of ceramsites derived from municipal solid waste (MSW), thereby making a valuable contribution to the advancement of solid waste management technology.