T he growing emphasis on environmentally friendly corrosion inhibitors has attracted substantial interest within academic circles, driven by the goal of addressing the persistence issue of corrosion. The application of plant leaf extracts as agents to mitigate metal degradation in harsh environments has emerged as a significant area of study. As the use of mild steel, pipeline steel, and stainless steel becomes more prevalent in corrosive settings like acidic and seawater environments across various industries, demand for environmentally benign and relatively efficient corrosion inhibitors has grown. A comprehensive review of existing literature reveals that plant leaf extracts contain phytochemical compounds such as tannins, polyphenols, and glycerides, which form strong bonds with metal surfaces, effectively obstructing active sites and reducing the ingress of corrosive agents. Functional groups and heteroatoms such as oxygen (O), sulfur (S), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P), along with aromatic rings, enrich these extracts, adhering to metal surfaces and inhibiting corrosion. Analysis of the surveyed literature demonstrates that inhibition efficiency rises with increasing inhibitor concentration, with the Langmuir model emerging as the dominant absorption model. Researchers employed electrochemical and weight loss techniques to investigate corrosion mechanisms and absorption models. Notably, most leaf extracts exhibit inhibition efficiencies surpassing 90%, with a minimum of 60% inhibition recorded within the reviewed literature. The paper also discusses the prospects and challenges associated with commercializing these environmentally friendly corrosion inhibitors. Overall, this review highlights the promising potential of plant leaf extracts as corrosion inhibitors while addressing the considerations and obstacles surrounding their practical implementation.

Landfill fires represent a major cause of environmental degradation and pose substantial health risks for the populations residing near the affected sites. This study investigates the characteristics of landfill fire at the Brahmapuram Municipal Solid Waste Treatment Plant (BMSWTP) in Kochi (March 2023) and the role of prevailing meteorology in mitigating its impact. The fire incidents occurred in two phases: the first phase from 04 to 13 March and the second phase from 19 to 28 March. Analysis indicates that the fire event caused a significant rise in pollution intensity during the first phase, with the increase of PM₂.₅ levels by 152%, PM₁₀ by 175%, and NO₂ and SO₂ by an alarming 440% and 420% compared to normal conditions. During the first phase, pollutants were dispersed towards the coastal ocean by the prevailing easterly wind, mitigating the impact of emissions. Further, the air quality improved by the middle of the month due to the considerable rainfall over the region that helped scavenge the pollutants. Results show that the maximum concentrations of PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀ observed during the early morning hours are attributed to a shallower boundary layer and weak convective potential, resulting in increased atmospheric stability and trapping of pollutants. We document that the pollution from the landfill fire may have affected marine productivity in the southeastern Arabian Sea, as evidenced by the anomalous increase in chlorophyll-a concentrations, without the influence of the oceanic upwelling. The second phase of the landfill fire was characterised by westerly winds, which resulted in the dispersion of pollutants towards inland areas.

Orphan radioactive sources pose a significant environmental and human health threat. This study presents a novel, scalable detection system for localizing and identifying these sources within large areas. Our system integrates a network of radiation detectors with surveillance cameras, employing data fusion algorithms to analyze both radiological and visual data. This multi-sensor approach enables accurate estimation of radionuclide types and the assessment of associated radiological risks. Real-world experiments demonstrate the system's effectiveness in enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of orphan radioactive source detection, contributing to improved environmental monitoring and the mitigation of potential radiological contamination risks.

In recent years, researchers have focused on developing innovative biochar modification techniques to enhance adsorption efficiency and reduce the mobility and bioavailability of heavy metals. However, few studies have investigated the application of modified biochar in heavy metals-contaminated soils, with most research focusing on aqueous solutions. In Iran, the potential of biochar as an effective adsorbent for removing heavy metals from contaminated soils, especially acidic soils, has been largely overlooked. The effectiveness of biochar is influenced by both the type of biomass used and the method of modification. Additionally, there is a significant gap in current literature regarding the research on thiourea as a potential modification agent for biochar. This study focused on the characteristics of thiourea-modified wheat straw biochar (TWB) and its effects on the adsorption isotherms and kinetics of heavy metals (Cd, Ni, and Zn) in acidic soil. The biochar was produced from wheat straw in an oxygen-free furnace at a temperature of 550 °C for 3 h, with a heating rate of 25 °C per min. To enhance the adsorption efficiency, thiourea was used to modify the wheat straw biochar (WB). The findings revealed that the thiourea modification reduced the carbon content but increased the nitrogen, hydrogen, sulfur, oxygen levels, specific surface area, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and pH compared to unmodified biochar. Adsorption isotherms and kinetics analyses indicated that the Langmuir model best described the adsorption of heavy metals in soil treated with both TWB and WB, while the pseudo-second-order model more accurately represented the adsorption kinetics. The results indicated that the adsorption of Cd, Ni, and Zn in soil treated with 8% TWB was significantly higher than in the control, achieving levels of 6164.45, 4684.47, and 4233.58 mg kg, respectively. This study demonstrated that TWB enhances the adsorption of heavy metals due to its advantageous properties, which include an optimal pH, high CEC, a variety of functional groups, a large specific surface area, and a porous structure. Therefore, thiourea-modified wheat straw biochar serves as an effective, economical, and environmentally friendly adsorbent for immobilizing heavy metals and reducing their bioavailability in acidic contaminated soils.

Fish are key bioindicators for understanding the impacts of human-induced environmental disasters. We assessed trophic ecology and metal accumulation (Fe, Mn, Hg) in the small and abundant characid Astyanax lacustris in the Doce River basin, following the 2015 mining tailings dam collapse. Stable isotope and metal analyses were conducted in fish from six affected sites and two reference sites. Aquatic invertebrates dominated the diet, except near the dam rupture, where algae predominated, and metal concentrations were highest. Fe and Mn concentrations decreased with fish length, Hg increased with fish nitrogen isotopic composition (δN), and only Fe showed clear associations with dietary sources. This study is novel in integrating trophic ecology and metal contamination assessment in a sentinel fish species after a major mining disaster. The findings provide insights for biomonitoring and metal risk assessment in freshwater ecosystems worldwide, and highlight Astyanax lacustris as a powerful sensitive bioindicator, reflecting both contamination legacy and ecological pathways of metal accumulation.

Building material waste stored for long periods near agricultural lands and water resources may pose a danger to the environment and human health due to the toxic chemicals and metals they contain. Clay bricks (CBs), generally produced by mixing clay and water, are formed by firing the air-dried mixture to make them durable and stable. During firing, the CB suffers some chemical and physical changes and turns into a new artificial material. CBs, known as masonry units, have been one of the most used building materials throughout the history of construction. CB may naturally contain PTMs depending on the geochemical structure of the clay used in the production phase. In this study, major and minor oxides and PTM distributions in 45 CB samples collected from 31 CB factories that provide approximately one-third of the CB utilized in buildings in Türkiye were determined for the first time using an energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer. The average contents (in %, dry weight) of major and minor oxides in CB samples are in order of SiO (49.9) > AlO (17.8) > CaO (9.5) > MgO (8.2) > FeO (7.5) > SO (3.6) > NaO (3.3) > KO (1.8) > TiO (0.9) > PO (0.2) > MnO (0.1). The average contents (in mg/kg dw) of Fe, Ti, Mn, Cr, Sr, V, Ni, Zr, Zn, Cu, Co, Pb, and As in CB samples were analyzed as 52779, 5329, 736, 341, 233, 192, 190, 110, 85, 44, 39, 14, and 8, respectively. According to the enrichment factor results based on the Earth's crust average, it was revealed that Cr, Ni, and As were naturally moderately enriched.

The pursuit of cleaner, more sustainable fuels has intensified amid concerns about fossil fuel depletion, greenhouse gas emissions, and energy security. Algal biodiesel, a third-generation biofuel with high lipid yield and carbon-neutral potential, holds promise but suffers from lower calorific value, higher viscosity, and associated performance and emissions drawbacks. Limited studies have explored the combined use of bio-based oxygenates and magnetically conditioned nano-additives to address these limitations. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of incorporating 10% v/v glycerol-derived triacetin and 50 ppm FeO nanoparticles, subjected to inline magnetic treatment, on the performance and emissions of algae-based biodiesel in a single-cylinder compression ignition engine. Fuel blends were prepared and tested under varying loads using response surface methodology with analysis of variance to model brake thermal efficiency (BTE) and nitrogen oxides (NO) emissions. Results showed that the dual-additive blend achieved a peak BTE of 33.2% at full load, outperforming neat biodiesel by 10.7% and diesel by 1.2%, with significant reductions in CO (up to 66%), HC (up to 62.5%), and smoke opacity (over 55%). At optimised operating conditions of 57.5% load and 200 bar injection pressure, BTE reached 26.5% with NO emissions of 778.8 ppm, representing a viable trade-off between efficiency and emissions. Statistical models displayed high predictive accuracy with R values of 0.9973 for BTE and 0.9168 for NO. These findings suggest that combining waste-derived oxygenates with magnetised nanoparticles can improve combustion quality and enhance emission control, supporting scalable pathways toward cleaner diesel alternatives. Future research should extend to multi-cylinder systems, transient operation, and long-term durability assessments.

Extreme flood events increasingly threaten water quality in agriculturally intensive regions, particularly under accelerating climate change. In September 2023, the Pineios river basin in Thessaly, Greece, the country's most productive agricultural region, experienced catastrophic flooding caused by Storm Daniel and subsequently Storm Elias. This study investigates the occurrence, distribution, and temporal variation of phthalate esters, alternative plasticizers, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and fecal indicator bacteria in surface waters before and after these extreme weather events. A total of 24 sampling locations were monitored across the river basin. Water samples were analyzed using validated targeted screening methods based on gas or liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (GC- or LC-MS/MS), while microbial contamination was assessed using International Organization for Standardization (ISO) compliant culture-based techniques. Results revealed widespread contamination by both legacy phthalates, particularly di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP, median concentrations up to 0.36 µg/L), di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP, 1.9 µg/L) and dimethyl phthalate (DMP, 3.5 µg/L), and emerging alternative plasticizers, such as di(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate (DEHT, 0.15 µg/L), which was the most abundant of the emerging compounds. Statistically significant post-flood increases (p < 0.05) were observed at several estuarine sites, with total median plasticizer concentrations reaching up to 5.4 µg/L. Among 63 monitored PFAS, 13 compounds were consistently detected across all samples. These included perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA, median up to 0.47 ng/L), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS, 0.2 ng/L), and 6:2 fluorotelomersulfonic acid (6:2 FTS, 1.7 ng/L). Concentrations for PFAS regulated groups, namely PFAS-4 and PFAS-24, frequently approached or exceeded proposed EU water quality thresholds. Fecal indicator bacteria, including Escherichia coli and Enterococcus spp., frequently exceeded the EU bathing water standards, particularly near wastewater discharge points and areas affected by agricultural flooding. Peaks in contamination were linked to carcass decomposition, damage to wastewater treatment infrastructure, and surface runoff following the flood events. These findings highlight the vulnerability of Mediterranean river basins to complex pollutant mixtures following extreme weather phenomena. The study provides novel regional data and emphasizes the urgent need for integrated environmental monitoring aligned with One Health principles to inform future regulation and management of emerging contaminants in flood-prone areas.

Plastics are deeply embedded in modern life, but their degradation releases micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) into ecosystems. These persistent particles are found everywhere, from oceans to the human body, and raise growing concerns about environmental and human health, biodiversity, and sustainability implications. Despite increasing awareness, effective responses to MNP pollution remain limited by unresolved challenges in scientific monitoring, policymaking, and public engagement. Addressing these challenges, the summer school on "Microplastics: From Environmental Impact to Policy, Innovation, and Public Awareness" held in June 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland, exemplifies an innovative educational model. The program was multi- and interdisciplinary, action-oriented, internationally collaborative, and rooted in local contexts. Focusing on microplastic pollution in aquatic environments, it brought together participants from 15 countries to explore the nexus of science, policy, governance, innovation, and public engagement. This contribution reflects the summer school's design and outcomes, highlighting its promise as a model for advancing next-generation environmental education as well as discussing some of the key challenges.

Although air pollution-derived ultrafine particles (UFP) can reach extrapulmonary organs, current understanding of their distribution and toxicodynamics remains scarce and largely focused on the lung. In this work, we conducted, to the best of our knowledge, the first in vivo study using a multi-organ approach to assess both the toxicokinetics (i.e., biodistribution) and the toxicodynamics (i.e., oxidative stress, inflammation) of air pollution-derived UFP collected in an urban environment in mice sub-chronically exposed. The intrinsic oxidative potential (OP) of UFP was assessed prior to sub-chronic exposure of Balb/cJRj mice to 0, 10, or 30 μg of UFP/40 μL of sterile saline for 3 months. In the lungs, the heart, the liver, the kidneys, and the brain, oxidative stress was assessed by Nrf2 antioxidant cell signaling pathway activation, glutathione status, and oxidative damage, while NFкB-mediated inflammation was evaluated by specific cytokine secretion. UFP predominantly accumulate in the lung; however, these particles, together with their inorganic and/or organic components, can translocate into the bloodstream and reach highly vascularized extrapulmonary organs (i.e., heart, liver, kidneys, and brain). Owing to their high OP, UFP activated the Nrf2 antioxidant cell signaling pathway and the glutathione scavenging system, contributing to redox homeostasis in all the examined organs, particularly the lung and the brain, without inhibiting proinflammatory cytokine secretion. Taken together, these results highlighted the importance of considering both the biodistribution and the adverse health effects of UFP not only in the lung but also in extrapulmonary organs when assessing health risks.

Additives in agricultural plastics can leach into the surrounding soil during use or improper disposal. Their subsequent degradation rates directly regulate whether they persist and accumulate to levels with ecotoxicological effects or are rendered benign. However, which soil properties primarily regulate the degradation of additives remains unclear (e.g. soil carbon, pH, available nutrients, microbial biomass and community structure). We assessed the degradation of the common plastic additives with different functionalities (DEHP (di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate; plasticiser), 2-hydroxy-4-n-octyloxybenzophenone (benzophenone-12; BP12; UV stabiliser) and AO168 (tris(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl) phosphite; antioxidant)) in soils under controlled moisture and temperature conditions over 21 days across contrasting agricultural soils from six countries across a global transect (Australia, Brazil, Egypt, India, Vietnam and the UK). DEHP followed zero-order degradation kinetics, with negligible degradation in soils with low microbial biomass. BP12 degraded fastest via first-order degradation kinetics via ether cleavage and hydroxyl loss. The degradation of DEHP and BP12 was correlated with soil microbial biomass and nitrate concentration. BP12 degradation products detected included benzophenone and benzoic acid. DEHP is degraded via β-oxidation of alkyl groups to dibutyl phthalate and diethyl phthalate and through ester hydrolysis to phthalic acid. AO168 degraded via abiotic oxidation and phosphate ester hydrolysis to 2,4-di-tert-butyl-phenol, and degradation was not well correlated with any measured soil variable. Overall, these results show that the components of additive mixtures leached into soils will degrade at different rates due to varying mechanisms and controls exerted by the soil microbial biomass. Plastic additives have differing potentials to persist in agricultural soils globally, with some likely to accumulate to levels that may impact soil function and pose an ecotoxicological threat to soil biota.

This study explores how soundscapes can be used as indicators of environmental quality and sustainability in rural ecological settlements. Drawing on a mixed-method approach combining soundwalks and sound pressure level (SPL) measurements, we assess the acoustic environment of Eskikaraağaç, a Turkish ecovillage located on the banks of Lake Uluabat, a UNESCO-listed Ramsar site. The research aims to characterize the village's acoustic profile, identify the sources and temporal patterns of environmental noise, and evaluate the implications for spatial planning and policy. Findings show that although the village benefits from a relatively tranquil natural soundscape, it is increasingly affected by anthropogenic noise, including road traffic and seasonal tourism. Average SPL levels during daytime ranged from 47.1 dB(A) in peripheral green areas to 52.8 dB(A) in the village center, which may affect both ecological health and community well-being. The soundwalk data further revealed the subjective dimensions of acoustic comfort and the local perception of environmental change. This paper argues for the inclusion of soundscape assessment in sustainability planning frameworks for rural areas and ecovillage developments. It offers evidence-based recommendations for integrating acoustic criteria into local land-use planning, thereby enhancing environmental conservation and the quality of life in ecologically sensitive communities.

The rise in worldwide energy needs and growing environmental concerns necessitate the development of clean, renewable alternatives to fossil fuels. Co-pyrolysis of plastic waste and biomass provides a sustainable method for transforming waste into valuable fuel products. This study explores the engine performance, combustion behaviour, and emission properties of a single-cylinder, four-stroke compression ignition (CI) diesel engine fueled by blends of traditional diesel and co-pyrolytic oil produced through the co-pyrolysis of waste polypropylene (discarded saline bottles) and tamanu seed (Calophyllum inophyllum). Diesel was blended with 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40% co-pyrolytic oil by volume, labelled as B@10, B@20, B@30, and B@40, respectively, and tested in an unmodified diesel engine. Among the blends, B@40 exhibited the most promising performance, achieving a peak brake thermal efficiency (BTE) of 28.32% at full load, comparable to conventional diesel (D100). Moreover, B@40 exhibited a brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC) of 0.29 kg/kWh, which is 14.7% lower than that of D100. B@30 demonstrated a slightly reduced exhaust gas temperature (EGT) of 328.78 °C, which was 0.99% lower than D100. CO and HC emissions increased with higher blend ratios but decreased with rising engine load, while NOx emissions declined with increasing blend ratios and rose with load. B@30 exhibited the most efficient emission performance, with CO, HC, and NOx emissions at 0.021%, 12%, and 189 ppm, respectively, showing a 5.9% reduction in NOx compared to D100. The blend also exhibited reduced heat release rates and in-cylinder pressure, reflecting improved combustion efficiency. These results demonstrate that co-pyrolytic oil is a promising, sustainable, and environmentally friendly substitute for conventional diesel fuel.

Oil pollution in aquatic systems presents serious environmental and regulatory challenges, which in turn drives the demand for effective and sustainable separation technologies. Ceramic membranes have emerged as advanced materials for oil-water separation, owing to their exceptional thermal, chemical, and mechanical stability. This review presents a comprehensive analysis of ceramic membrane technologies, with a particular emphasis on performance-driven evaluations of surface-modified membranes. It critically examines innovations in surface engineering that transform membranes into variants such as hydrophilic, superhydrophilic, oleophobic, superoleophobic, amphiphobic, and superamphiphobic, each offering distinct advantages in terms of permeability, fouling resistance, and emulsion selectivity. These surface modifications are evaluated based on key metrics including flux, durability, and scalability, providing practical guidance for real-world applications. To enable a comprehensive performance assessment, the review introduces six analytical frameworks for evaluating fouling resistance, chemical independence, adaptive operation, oil-flux efficiency, hybrid system sustainability, and overall eco-efficiency. The work further explores the integration of ceramic membranes with adsorptive, oxidative, and electro-assisted pretreatments, demonstrating how these frameworks enable the quantitative evaluation of system-level performance and sustainability. Key challenges, including fouling, high fabrication costs, and industrial scale-up, are addressed, and strategies for developing low-cost and environmentally friendly membranes are proposed. Ultimately, a strategic roadmap that links material innovation, hybrid integration, and sustainability metrics positions ceramic membranes as a transformative solution to the persistent challenge of oil-water pollution.

This study explores the removal of inorganic contaminants [copper (II) and lead (II)] and organic pollutants [anthracene (ANT), phenanthrene (PHE), and methylene blue (MB) dye] from simulated solutions using the green CS/ZIF-8 sorbent. The sorbent was characterized by FTIR, BET, XRD, AFM, EDX, and SEM. Adsorption experiments were conducted under different variables such as time, pollutant concentration, temperature, and pH. The kinetic adsorption and isotherms were analyzed to evaluate CS/ZIF-8's efficiency in water pollution treatment. The results showed that removal efficiency (%R) increased over time and with higher initial pollutant concentrations. As pollutant concentration rises, a great competition for adsorption sites on the surface occurs, which promotes greater occupancy of the adsorbent's surface and thus higher overall efficiency (%R). Optimal %R was achieved at 25 °C and pH 6 for Cu (II), pH 8 for Pb (II), pH 11-12 for MB dye, at pH 3 and 4 for ANT and PHE, respectively achieving maximum performance at 55 °C. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm best describe adsorption, with maximum capacities of 599.72, 599.81, 399.81, 399.77, and 499.42 mg/g for Cu (600 ppm), Pb (600 ppm), ANT (400 ppm), PHE (400 ppm), and MB dye (500 ppm), respectively. The data reveals that CS/ZIF-8 exhibited exceptional adsorption capacities for organic and inorganic toxic species from simulated solutions. An experimental design was introduced for lab treatment of petroleum wastewater in a two-stage filter comprising physical clearance in the first stage and treatment with the green adsorbent in the second stage. The prepared composite's reusability was also verified to underscore its potential in treating real petroleum wastewater.

Groundwater serves as the main supply source of water for domestic, drinking, industrial, and agricultural uses. This study assessed the groundwater quality and associated health risks in the Kathmandu Valley. In total, 401 groundwater samples from Lalitpur (299), Kathmandu (82), and Bhaktapur districts (40) were collected from 14th April 2022 to 13th April 2023. The water quality parameters, including pH, electrical conductivity (EC), turbidity (Tur), total hardness (TH), chloride (Cl), nitrate (NO), ammonia (NH), and iron (Fe) were analyzed. Groundwater quality index, spatial analysis techniques including geographic information systems (GIS), multivariate analysis, and machine learning approach by self-organizing maps (SOM) with hierarchical clustering analysis were employed to identify areas of concern. The results revealed elevated levels of turbidity, NH, and Fe in several regions, particularly in urban and semi-urban areas. The nitrate pollution index (NPI) and ammonia pollution index (API) analyses revealed 0.99% and 31.42% of high nitrate and ammonia pollution, respectively. Health risk assessment indicated potential risks, especially for infants, due to exposure to nitrate and ammonia. Principal component analysis (PCA) primarily demonstrated the ion concentration and mineralization, which are affected by both natural geological processes and anthropogenic activities. The groundwater samples were grouped into five clusters using hierarchical clustering after SOM classification highlighted the areas affected by NH and Fe. The study highlights the need for effective groundwater management strategies to mitigate groundwater contamination and protect public health in the Kathmandu Valley.

Volatile organic compounds, such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes (BTEX) are emitted during the various aviation activities at ground level, such as take-off, approach and taxiing, that take place at or near airports. In addition to causing adverse health effects, these compounds are precursors of secondary aerosols (SOAs). The expected growth in air traffic in the near future makes it necessary to anticipate and control these emissions. As part of the AVIATOR project (EU Horizon2020), gaseous samples were collected in sorbent tubes and analysed by GC/MS, including emissions of commercial aircraft engines and airport ambient air, to study the evolution and transformation of BTEX. Three sites were selected: the INTA aircraft engine test cell, Ciudad Real and Madrid-Barajas airports. PM was collected on filters and substrates and analysed gravimetrically, with three different samplers: high-volume air sampler, Berner low pressure impactor, and an automated off-line sampler developed by CIEMAT. The ground idle configuration that simulates taxiing manoeuvres (before take-off and after landing) has been identified as a critical contributor to BTEX emissions at airports, with a concentration of over 460 ng L. Benzene is consistently emitted at higher levels than toluene and the emission of both increases with engine acceleration. In the plume, dilution with air decreases not only the concentration of BTEX, but also the prevalence of the compounds, making benzene no longer the dominant compound. Variations in diagnostic ratios and meteorological conditions, as well as sensitivity parameters to PM concentration, may suggest physicochemical transformation of BTEX into SOAs.

Microbial communities perform important roles in nutrient cycling, degradation of environmental pollutants, and support of various life forms on Earth. Mangroves live in very harsh environments, and if not for the existence of several microbial species in their ecosystems, they would not survive. The Egyptian Red Sea coast is dominated by two mangrove species, Avicennia marina and Rhizophora mucronata, which serve as breeding grounds for marine organisms and aid in carbon sequestration. Despite their ecological significance, comparative studies examining the physiochemical properties and heavy metal concentration of mangrove sediments of two dominant species along the Egyptian Red Sea coast (Hamata, Mangrove Bay, and Saffaga) and their relationship to microbial and functional diversity are scarce. Our findings revealed significant differences in sodium ions, potassium ions, organic carbon, and bulk density at 30-50 cm depth across the locations. Heavy metal analysis revealed significantly lower concentrations of zinc and manganese and high concentrations of copper in sediment samples collected from Mangrove Bay at all sampling depths. Metagenomics analysis revealed that the dominant phyla across the three sites were Pseudomonadota, Bacillota, and Bacteroidota, along with Actenomycetota, and Chloroflexota, and unclassified bacteria. Within the phylum Bacillota, several major classes were identified, including Bacillota_A_368345, Bacillota_I, and Bacillota_C. Functional prediction revealed a higher abundance of microbes involved in energy metabolism and carbon cycle, whereas a lower abundance of microbes involved in sulfur and nitrogen cycles was noted across the sites. In conclusion, the identification of different microbial communities in sediments collected along the Egyptian Red Sea coastal areas suggests the role of different mangrove species and human activities in recruiting unique microbial species involved in promoting their survival under different environmental factors.

Anaerobic digestion is an effective technology for converting organic waste into biogas while reducing environmental pollution. This study investigates the impact of co-digesting waste-activated sludge (WAS) with wheat straw, rice straw, and bokashi on biogas production. Nine anaerobic batch reactors were operated under mesophilic conditions (35 °C), incorporating different proportions of bokashi (1% and 2%) along with rice and wheat straw (4%). The results revealed that reactors supplemented with wheat and rice straw exhibited higher biogas production than the control reactor (sludge only). Wheat straw outperformed rice straw in improving biogas yield, total solids (TS) reduction, total volatile solids (TVS) degradation, and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal. The addition of bokashi enhanced biogas production, confirming its role in accelerating organic matter breakdown. The maximum biogas yield was observed in the reactor containing sludge co-digested with wheat straw and 2% bokashi, which generated three times more biogas than the control. This reactor also exhibited the highest degradation rates of TS (57.83%), TVS (66.37%), and COD (71.53%). Furthermore, pH remained stable within the optimal range across all reactors, ensuring a balanced digestion process. Statistical analysis revealed significant correlations between organic matter degradation (COD, TS, TVS reduction) and biogas production, demonstrating that effective substrate decomposition improves biogas yield. The recurrent neural network (RNN) model was applied to experimental data to predict biogas production. With an exceptionally low root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.0041, R close to 1, and MAE 0.0117, the model exhibited excellent accuracy and reliability in generating precise predictions.

In recent years, soil salinity has posed a significant challenge to greenhouse vegetable cultivation in Iran. Nowadays, bioremediation is an innovative and up-and-coming method for soil salinity remediation; it offers several advantages including high efficiency, economic efficiency, environmental compatibility, sustainability, and improved biodiversity. Biological remediation strategies are based on the synergistic effects of biological agents such as halophyte PGP bacteria and environmentally friendly materials such as biopolymers to improve saline soil health. The aim of this study was to evaluate the encapsulation of halophyte PGP bacteria with chitosan, alginate, and starch biopolymers on soil chemical properties, soil enzyme activity, and their potential functions for purslane phytoremediation by simulation in Plexiglas columns in saline soil remediation. The treatments included a consortium of eight halophyte PGP bacteria (the same eight-strain halotolerant PGPR consortium was used consistently across all treatments), two types of microencapsulation, including Alginate + Starch + Chitosan and Starch + Chitosan in the biopolymer structure, compared to the conventional method using 1% H₂SO₄. The saline soil column leaching experiment was conducted on the dynamics of salt distribution, desalination efficiency, and leaching rate. The chemical properties and content of soil enzymes were examined before and after the experimental treatments. The results revealed that the biopolymer amendments reduced the content of Na, CO, HCO, and Cl and significantly (p < 0.01) elevated the content of Ca, Mg, and K compared to 1% HSO. The activities of urease, catalase, dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, and amylase enzymes in soils treated with biopolymer improvers increased significantly ( ) compared to 1% HSO. Biopolymers enhance the adaptability of purslane and PGP bacteria in bioremediation by regulating soil enzymatic activity. However, the conventional 1% HSO method stresses microbes and degrades soil health by lowering pH and depleting resources.

In mountainous areas, landslides are highly destructive natural and anthropogenic hazards leading to massive-scale damages and losses of properties and lives. The core objective of this study is to understand the geo-environmental drivers and their potentiality on landslide susceptibility (LS) in the Lish-Gish-Chel River basin of Darjeeling Himalayas, India, using a frequency ratio (FR) model integrating geospatial techniques. A total of 510 (100%) landslide polygons have been recognized to develop a landslide inventory (LI) map combining Google Earth and satellite imageries with proper field verification. The LI was split into training 70% (357) and testing 30% (153) for the model. Twenty-five drivers and LI have been considered for LS mapping. Multicollinearity analysis (MA) signified no collinearity issue among the drivers. The FR value and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve techniques have been used to authenticate the model. The jack-knife test has been used to understand the relative contribution (RC) of each driver for the FR model. The LS map has been classified into six landslide susceptibility zones (LSZs). The findings showed that the LSZs from very low to very high recorded by the FR values of 0.003, 0.156, 0.433, 0.809, 1.896, and 8.140. The ROC curve denoted the precision of the LS map was 94.80%. The jack-knife test revealed that the lineament density driver had the maximum RC for the FR model. The outcomes of this research will help planners and decision-makers in planning, development, and hazard/disaster management strategies in mountainous environments. HIGHLIGHTS: The relationships between LCDs and LI were assessed. MA signified that there is no collinearity issue among the LCDs. More than 64% areas to total landslide-affected areas exist in high and very high LSZs. More than 64% areas to total landslide-affected areas exist in high and very high LSZs. The maximum FR values were recorded in high (1.896) and very high (8.140) LSZs. The results of jack-knife test denoted that lineament density has the maximum RC for LS mapping.