The importance of nickel (Ni) in the environment is an issue that is gaining broader recognition. While nickel is an element essential for plants, it is also a heavy metal. Nickel is a component of nine metalloenzymes, including urease, which participates in urea hydrolysis. It also helps some plants to protect themselves against pathogens and herbivorous insects. There are many sources of Ni in the environment, which can be a problem because at higher concentrations this element is toxic to plants and other living organisms. Therefore, standards have been defined for the Ni content in air, water, soil and plants. Its content is monitored in the air. More and more frequently, attention is paid to this element as an allergen in humans. In the world, attempts have been made to phytoextract nickel from contaminated soils using nickelphilous plants, the so-called hyperaccumulators, and even to recover the metal from these plants by so-called phytomining. On the other hand, nickel-containing fertilizers are marketed and used in cases of nickel deficiency in plants. In industry, this element is primarily used for the production of steel and alloys. The most recent application of nickel is related to graphene, which was invented 10 years ago. Although nickel contamination does not occur in Poland, we cannot rule out this risk in the future. Thus, it is important to monitor the fate of nickel in the environment.
The catch per unit effort (c.p.u.e.) estimated as kg/hr and the yield per recruitment (Y/R) often common by-catch fishes are used in the present paper to investigate the effects of shrimp trawlers on the fisheries status and its environment in the Northwest Arabian Gulf. Samples were collected on weekly basis through fishery-oceanography survey carried out by the Marine Science Centre at the University of Basrah during the period of 1995-1999, using two small shrimp trawlers. The catch per unit effort (c.p.u.e.) of total, commercial fishes, shrimps, and other invertebrates catches showed a drastic drop year by year. The results of the relative yield per recruitment (Y′/R) of the ten investigated species, their optimum and current lengths at first capture (Lc) and their lengths at first maturation (Lm) indicate that the stock of these species suffered a problem of recruitment overfishing. A strategy of protection for Northwest Arabian Gulf fisheries involves implementing closed season, introducing an effort limitation policy should be designed.
The main aim of this study was to determine the relationship between environmental consciousness and socio-economic characteristics of rural inhabitants and to reflect on the ideas of rural people about the solution of environmental problems. Paying attention to not destroying the environment while using agrochemicals, and attending environmental works were taken as possible indicators of environmental attitudes and behavior among rural dwellers. Data were obtained from 159 rural dwellers living in 11 villages of Afyonkarahisar and 14 villages of Eskisehir provinces of Turkey via survey. Chi-square test (χ2) was used while analyzing the relationship between socio-economic characteristics of rural people and environmental consciousness. No statistically significant relationship was found between determining the amount and type of fertilizer and education, or between determining the amount and type of agro-chemicals and education, or between determining the amount and type of fertilizer and age. Only when determining the amount of fertilizer was age a statistically significant factor.
The immunological effects of environmental and/or occupational exposure to S02 in air as polluting gas have been examined in a group of 21 exposed men. The determination of S02 concentrations in ambient air in the work enviroment as well as in ambient air in residential areas of these men was performed, always using Amaya-Sugiura passive sampling and ion spectrophotometry. Mean concentration of S02 in ambient air in residential areas was 0.5792 mg • m-3 ± 0.2871 (0.22 to 1.52). Mean concentration of S02 in ambient air in the work enviroment was 2.2612 ± 2.1477 mg • m-3 (0.47 to 9.57). For the determination of T-cells and (CD19+)B-cell populations Behring monoclonal antibodies were used in indirect immunofluorescence tests. The serum levels of immunoglobulins: G, A, M, E; C3c and C4 complement components; total circulating immune complexes (CIC) as well as acute phase proteins: C-reactive protein (CRP), haptoglobin, ceruloplasmin and transferrin were determined by nephelometry. The mean number of total lymphocytes in men exposed to S02 was increased by 43% (p < 0.001). The stimulation T-cell line exposed to S02 was evidenced by increased number of (CD3+)T-cells, by about twice (p < 0.001) increased number of (CD4+)T-helper cells and by 68% (p < 0.001) increased number of (CD8+)T-suppressor cells. The higher increase of (CD4+)T-helper cells compared to (CD8+)T-suppressor cells caused the increased value of the (CD4+)T-helper/(CD8+)T-suppressor ratio by about 25% (p < 0.01) in the subjects exposed to S02. In contrast, a decreased number of (CD16+)NK cells by about 38% (p < 0.001) in men exposed to S02 was also observed. No changes were observed in the number of (CD19+)B-cells, as well as in the (CD3+)T/(CD8+)T-suppressor ratio. In the group exposed to S02, elevation of IgG serum levels by 23.3% (p < 0.001) was evidenced, as well as a decrease of C3c by 15.6% (p < 0.001) and C4 by 30% (p < 0.001), whereas total CIC in the serum was elevateds in same conditions by about 74% (p < 0.001). No changes were observed in the serum levels of IgA, IgM, IgE, CRP, haptoglobin, ceruloplasmin and transferrin. Significant positive correlations Irl (0.51 to 0.57) were only between S02 concentrations in air and serum concentrations of total CIC. Moreover, significant negative correlations Irl between S02 concentrations in air and leucocytes (WBC), and the determined T-cells populations and (CD19+)B-cells also were observed. In conclusion, environmental exposure to S02 can enhance proinflammatory processes in degree of exposure dependent manner and also can change some parameters of cell-mediated immunity.
Compounds characterized by a slow degradation rate in the environment, i.e. resistant to biodegradation, and photolysis processes, are classified as persistent and have often been considered as potential environmental problems. A more exacting approach recognizes that a compound released to the environment has a tendency to accumulate in one medium more than in others. Hence, partitioning, transport, and transformation rates of any particular compound will differ in each medium. Degradation processes in the dominant medium (where the compound is preferentially accumulated) are expected to have more effect on overall persistence of the measured compound than degradation processes in the other media. Photodegradation and biodegradation are the degradation processes which can naturaly clean up the environment. Biodegradation is expected to be the major mechanism of loss for most chemicals released into the environment. In this study, photodegradation and biodegradation processes of selected organic pollutants in different media have been reviewed.
The preparation for international exchange consists of examining marketing mix factors and a value-based approach to customer needs. International exchange has forms ranging from casual export, agency agreements, partnerships, licensing, joint ventures, franchising to wholly owned subsidiaries. There are several ways in which an enterprise can invest directly in a foreign market. The foreign market entry strategy is determined by the consistency of a comparison between the international and domestic environment. Implementation is carrying out strategic activities. Export transactions require that the enterprise provides standard documentation to accompany shipments of goods.
Life cycle assessment has become an increasingly common approach for identifying, quantifying, and evaluating the total potential environmental impact of production processes or products, from the procurement of raw materials (the ‘cradle’), to production and utilization (the ‘gates’) and their final storage (the ‘grave’), as well as for determining ways to repair damage to the environment. The paper describes life cycle assessment of mineral fertilizers. On the basis of results provided by life cycle assessment, it can be concluded that an effective strategy for protecting the environment against the harmful effects of fertilizers is to attempt to ‘seal’ the nutrient cycle on a global, regional, and local scale. Pro-environ- mental measures aim on the one hand to reduce resource utilization, and on the other hand to limit losses of nutrients, during both production and use of fertilizers. An undoubted challenge for life cycle assessment when used in agricultural production is the need for relevance at each scale.
The transfer of urban spatial forms out of its center, as well as the uncontrolled expansion of large cities and urban sprawl have become a significant problem. These processes, especially when they occur in environmentally sensitive areas, may cause serious problems. The aim of this research was to propose – on the basis of land use structure – indicators that will quantitatively determine the characteristics of development of areas around large cities. Such indicators can be helpful in identifying issues and problems in spatial development of the environment.
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