Arsenic and Heavy Metal Pollution in Human Health, and Water Treatment

Submission deadline: Sunday, 31 December 2023

Environment and human health are highly subjected to numerous unmanageability conditions which are ever increasing. It's time to take immediate global attention and intensified action on current facing critical challenges. Arsenic is a widespread heavy metal though the whole environment in the groundwater, air, soil, and food (eg., vegetables, crops, seafood). Currently, individuals are affected by the elevated levels of inorganic arsenic which are exceedingly toxic and consumed by means of utilizing contaminated water for drinking, preparing food, farming field, etc., and continuous adoption of the inorganic arsenic unintentionally can create arsenic poisoning and the way to deadly diseases like multiple cancer, adverse effects during pregnancy, infant mortality, lung disease, heart attacks, and many others. Creating awareness and controlling it through precise medical care is certain for the people affected by arsenic, which can aid to lessen the poisoning and prolong their lives.

Arsenic-based heavy metals and others (lead, iron, nickel, cadmium, chromium, and copper) are at frightening levels. Potential challenges of arsenic in the atmosphere are increasing mainly due to several natural and anthropogenic activities like leaching out naturally from certain rocks, coal-based power plants, pesticides, and firing wildland vegetation. It is essential to more competently understand the sources and conditions which are the main ground of arsenic contamination with advanced approaches for efficient water quality monitoring and identifying capabilities of highly contaminated wells and areas regularly for preventing people from consuming. Since the arsenic concentrations are continuously raised, it's significant to make use of appropriate treatment technologies, to adequately clear away the pollutants in the contaminated waters for prohibiting and reducing the vulnerability of society's exposure to arsenic. Rapidly inactivating the harmful pollutants in water, air, and others with the existing system is costly and the world's population will not have access to clean drinking water effectively. Evolving water treatment technologies with sustainable solutions is a huge need to treat and remove contaminants concerning cost-effectiveness and less energy consumption is the basic need of the economically poor people. Consequently, global research for the development of water treatment techniques is essential to retrieve suitable and next-level environment contaminants extraction by evolving water treatment plants. The special issue objective is to obtain new concepts in water treatment methodologies and clean arsenic-free or other heavy metal-free water which is critical for sustaining human health and the environment.

Topics for this call for papers include but not restricted to:

• Persistent inorganic pollutants (PIP) and bio-accumulate effects: detection, treatment, and remediation approaches

• Geochemical reaction and anthropogenic activities-based arsenic pollution assessment techniques and applications

• Water treatment mechanisms and control measures in arsenic and heavy metals detoxification for human safety

• Effects and preventive solutions of arsenic on rainwater harvesting and watershed management

• Modeling groundwater quality index and impact of climate change on arsenic poisoning and human health

• Phytochemicals applications in eliminating arsenic toxicity, prevention, and treatment of health effects

• Recent progress in managing ecosystem health and catastrophic consequences of arsenic discharge from industries

• Modern developments in urban river monitoring of heavy toxic metals pollution risks for regulation and restoration plans

• Evaluation trends in groundwater arsenic treatment plants/filters and future perspectives for efficient household applications

• Case studies on global challenges of arsenic pollution and demands of water security and control for public health and sustainability

Seema Mishra

Plant Ecology and Environment, National Botanical Research Institute

India

David R. Wallace

Department of Pharmacology & Physiology, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences

United States

Srilert Chotpantarat

Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University

Thailand

Recent Challenges and Advances in Nano Remediation Technologies for Wastewater Bioremediation

Submission deadline: Wednesday, 1 November 2023

The demand for innovative waste treatment techniques has arisen because of the establishment and operation of rigorous waste discharge guidelines into the environment. Due to the rapid increase in the human population, wastewater treatment is a procedure of increasing significance. As a result, wastewater treatment systems are intended to sustain high activities and densities of such microorganisms which meet the different purification requirements. As a result, wastewater treatment systems are intended to sustain high activities and densities of such microorganisms which meet the different purification requirements. Bioremediation is an innovative and optimistic technology that can be used to remove and reduce heavy metals from polluted water. Because of cost-effectiveness and environmental compatibility, bioremediation using microorganisms has an excellent potential for future development. A diverse range of microorganisms, including algae, fungi, yeasts, and bacteria, can function as biologically active methylators, capable of modifying toxic species. Bioremediation is a system focused on biological processes for reducing, degrading, modifying, eliminating, immobilizing, detoxifying, mineralizing, or transforming pollutant concentrations to a non-harmful or non-toxic state. The treatment method for water contaminants depends mainly on the type of the pollutant, including agrochemicals, chlorinated compounds, dyes, greenhouse gases, heavy metals, hydrocarbons, radioactive waste, and plastic waste. bioremediation depends on finding the right microorganisms in the right place for the effective degradation process under the required environmental conditions.

Nano remediation is a promising emerging technology to tackle environmental contamination, especially dealing with recalcitrant contaminants. Nano remediation represents an innovative approach for safe and sustainable remediation of persistent organic compounds such as pesticides, chlorinated solvents, brominated or halogenated chemicals, perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and heavy metals. Nano remediation have attracted the attention for wastewater treatment. Nanoscale properties of nanomaterials such as catalysis, adsorption, reactivity, greater surface area makes them effectively useful for the treatment of wastewater. The integration of remediation methods could be thought of as a solution to tackle remediation problems. Integrated approaches could overcome the disadvantages of individual technologies and provide a better alternative to conventional remediation methods. Nano remediation with bio remediation is one of such kind of methods which received a lot of attention in the past few years. It aims at reducing the contaminant concentrations to risk-based levels, alleviating the additional environmental impacts simultaneously. This method brings the benefits of both nanotechnology and bioremediation together to achieve a remediation that is more efficient, less time taking, and environment friendly than the individual processes. The aim of this special issue is to publish novel research contributions in innovative approaches in wastewater treatment, with the aim of nano remediation technologies for wastewater bioremediation. Emphasis is placed on the fundamentals and applications of the current approaches and technologies.

Topics for this call for papers include but not restricted to:

• Nano remediation in biotransformations for pharmaceuticals biological wastewater treatment

• Nanomaterials in bioremediation of heavy metals removal in wastewater

• Microbial nano remediation technologies for bioremediation of industrial wastewater

• Nano bioremediation technology for the treatment of dyes in textile wastewater treatment

• Nano remediation technology in bioremediation of toxic metals removal from the wastewater

• Nano bioremediation in organic and inorganic pollutants removal of industrial wastewater

• Nano bioremediation technologies in removal of microplastics for global wastewater treatment plants

• Nano bioremediation technologies in domestic wastewater treatment

• Nano bioremediation in advanced oxidation processes for wastewater treatment

• Nano bioremediation technologies in heterogeneous advanced oxidation process for wastewater treatment

Mohammad Zain Khan

Department of Chemistry, Aligarh Muslim University

Delhi, India

Fabián Fernández-Luqueño

Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute (Cinvestav Saltillo)

Mexico City, Mexico

Xiaying Xin

Department of Civil Engineering, Queen's University

Kingston, Ontario, Canada

Assessment of Environmental Risks and Human Health Impact of Microplastic Pollution

Submission deadline: Tuesday, 31 October 2023

Risk assessment is a significant piece of its essential turn of events in environmental management which is a preventive strategy, which should be given prioritization with accountability to guarantee efficacy. Pollution is a major crisis, avoiding and substantially mitigating its cause in air, marine, soil, and land are central for competently conserving the ecosystem and supporting efforts to augment a resilient, sustainable economic recovery and development. Plastics become pervasive in every-present life but plastic from the stage of production to disposal has a critical effect on humans and its debris remains in the environment for years and disintegrates into micro-particles which are usually referred microplastics (MPs). Microplastics (less than five millimeters in diameter) have increased toxic effects and are a comprehensive issue that can take more years for decomposing which eventually leads to wreaking havoc on the environment and a huge impact on animals and human health by means of ingestion and inhalation.

Evolving modern lifestyles are extending equally the risky circumstances to human health and critically affecting the elevated number of marine species. Emerging microplastic pollutants which released directly into the environment or by degradation of larger plastics are heading toward the development of more integrated environmental risk assessment strategies for these materials since impacts of plastic contamination are widely dispersed and potential threats to the health of the human. A million tons of microplastics are accumulated in our environment and additionally the count increasing each year. It's exceptionally challenging to analyze and measure the load of microplastics or even nanoplastics in the environment which is highly unpredictable due to the route cause and consequence of the majority of primary and secondary microplastics sources and there is a huge inefficiency in assessment methods. In order to gain new insights from the emergent risk of microplastics (MPs), innovation in future research and control techniques of microplastic pollution, cutting-edge environmental policies, standards, management schemes, mandating advanced preventive (including avoidance of plastic bags and straws, utilizing recycling bottles, proper disposal of waste) and monitoring methods can support. Thus, smart advancements in risk assessment for creating global awareness concerning human health are an essential requirement. The preeminent aim of this special issue is to contribute new adaptable change in the environment by bringing a state-of-the-art exploration in analyzing the risks of microplastic pollution on resources and adverse impact on human health, to emphasize the progress better, establishing novel solutions is a huge challenge and in demand for addressing environmental issues and protecting human health.

Topics for this call for papers include but not restricted to:

• Challenges, identification, and reduction modalities of microplastic pollutions for human health management

• Trends in microplastics monitoring, cleansing, and remediation recovery for marine health

• Impact of microplastic debris and crisis assessment for developing eco-friendly solutions

• Risk assessment of microplastics in agroecosystems, food security, and implications on human health

• Microplastics and synthetic textiles in environmental degradation and human health

• Context of microplastics risk assessment for prevention of diseases: cancer, immunotoxicity, organ damage, etc.

• Critical quantitative risks assessments of human health effects of microplastics in drinking water in rural and urban

• Evolving strategies for optimized control of microplastics and impacts on wastewater, air, and soil, climate change

• Impact assessment of recycling biodegradable microplastics (BMPs) approaches for environmental sustainability

• Evolving meta-analysis of microplastics, nanoplastics, and chemical interaction effects on the environment and human health

• Evolving impacts of microplastics waste valorization and adsorption process applications in the circular economy

P. Siddhuraju

Department of Environmental Sciences, Professor & Head, Bharathiar University

India

Pasquale Avino

Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise

Campobasso, Italy

Jason Levy

Department of Public Administration, University of Hawaii

Honolulu, United States

Cyanobacteria in Modern Agriculture and Environmental Sustainability

Submission deadline: Wednesday, 20 September 2023

Cyanobacteria are aquatic and photosynthetic, that is, they live in the water, and can manufacture their own food. Because they are bacteria, they are quite small and usually unicellular, though they often grow in colonies large enough to see. Cyanobacteria are very important organisms for the health and growth of many plants. They are one of very few groups of organisms that can convert inert atmospheric nitrogen into an organic form. The application of cyanobacteria in management of soil and environment includes the economic benefits including nutrient cycling, N2-fixation, bioavailability of phosphorus, water storage and movement, environmental protection and prevention of pollution and land degradation especially through reducing the use of agro-chemicals, and recycling of nutrients and restoration of soil fertility through reclamation. The cyanobacteria are multi-functional bio-agents for safe and eco-friendly modern agriculture and environmental sustainability, along with several other uses. To improve their utility in agriculture and associated sectors needs serious attention.

The global food system also has a large environmental footprint. In fact, agriculture occupies nearly 40% of the earth’s surface, far more than any other human activity. In addition, irrigation of agricultural crops comprises 70% of global water use, and agriculture directly contributes to around 11% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Expanding agricultural land can also lead to deforestation, additional GHG emissions, and a loss of biodiversity. Challenges of modern agriculture feeding a growing population, providing a livelihood for farmers, and protecting the environment must be tackled together if we are to make sustainable progress in any of them. But making progress on this challenge is difficult, as initiatives in one domain can have unintended consequences in another. Sometimes, the consequences are positive. For instance, raising farm productivity can generate income growth in agriculture, make more food available for consumers at lower prices, and – in some cases – reduce pressure on the environment. But sometimes the consequences are negative and require balancing trade-offs.

Topics for this call for papers include but not restricted to:

• Cyanobacteria in bio-fertilising, bio-stimulating, biopesticide for modern agriculture

• Cyanobacteria in conversion of waste water to biofuels for environmental sustainability

• Cyanobacterial biomass based microbial fuel cell for environmental chemical applications

• Cyanobacteria of waste water cultivation, pollutant removal, biomass production and metabolite biosynthesis for sustainability

• Cyanobacteria in chemical treatment for sustainable fresh water development

• Cyanobacteria in assessment of human health of cyanotoxins

• Cyanobacteria in biocatalysts for sustainable chemical production

• Cyanobacteria in microbial factories for sustainable synthesis of industrial products

• Cyanobacteria in solar radiation of light of environment sustainability applications

• Cyanobacteria in bio resources for multifaceted sustainable environmental applications

• Cyanobacteria and microalgae in biodegradation of plastics for environmental sustainability

Tasneem Fatma

Department of Biosciences, Jamia Millia Islamia (Univ.)

India

Michael Kornaros

Lab. of Biochemical Engineering & Environmental Technology (LBEET), Dept. of Chemical Engineering, University of Patras

Greece

Rosa María Martínez-Espinosa

Faculty of Science, University of Alicante

Spain