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Della Torre C, Villa S, Chiarore A, Cannavacciuolo A, Rizzi C, Musco L, Nigro L, Munari M. Biomonitoring of human activities recovery following lockdown in a highly touristic Mediterranean Island using Mytilus galloprovincialis. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 204:116533. [PMID: 38833949 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
Coastal waters face significant anthropogenic stress, particularly from tourism, exacerbating pollution, especially in areas like touristic islands. Ischia, the largest island in the Gulf of Naples and part of the Regno di Nettuno Marine Protected Area, suffers from pollution due to tourism and maritime traffic. During the initial SARS-CoV-2 lockdown from March to June 2020, Ischia was isolated, providing a unique opportunity to study pollutant release and its impact on coastal ecosystems. Adult Mytilus galloprovincialis mussels were transplanted to three sites on the island for active biomonitoring. Accumulation of chemicals in tissues and biomarkers related to metabolism, detoxification, and oxidative stress were measured. Results indicated that pollutants from daily activities entered the sea, affecting filter feeders. Translocated organisms showed modulated metabolic functions and biochemical changes, highlighting coastal vulnerability and calling for conservation efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilla Della Torre
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Italy; Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
| | - Sara Villa
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Antonia Chiarore
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
| | | | - Cristiana Rizzi
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Luigi Musco
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy; Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DiSTeBA), University of Salento, Lecce, Italy; NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, Italy
| | - Lara Nigro
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Munari
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy; Department of Biology, Stazione Idrobiologica 'Umberto d'Ancona', University of Padova, Chioggia, Italy.
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Chen J, Mei Q, Wang L, Wei Y. DEFB114 protein enhances host resistance to fungal infection through the NOD1/2-ATG16L1-NF-κB signaling pathway. Bioorg Chem 2024; 146:107245. [PMID: 38484587 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2024.107245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
The overuse of antibiotics has led to the enhanced resistance of many pathogenic bacteria, posing a threat to human health. Therefore, there is a need to develop green and safe alternatives to antibiotics. Beta-defensins play a crucial role in host defense against pathogens and have multifunctional properties, exerting key roles in innate and adaptive immunity, as well as non-immune processes. In this study, a 210 bp long cDNA sequence of yak DEFB114 gene was amplified and successfully expressed in a prokaryotic system. The DEFB114 protein exhibited significant inhibitory effects on the growth of Aspergillus fumigatus in vitro. When co-cultured with yak macrophages, DEFB114 protein enhanced macrophage phagocytic activity and increased nucleic acid fluorescence intensity (P < 0.05). DEFB114 protein also enhanced the activity of yak macrophages stimulated by inactivated Aspergillus fumigatus spores, increased the release of nitric oxide (NO), and promoted the expression of genes such as γ-actin, Lgals, Man2b, and Capg (P < 0.05). In mice experiments, DEFB114 protein promoted resistance against Aspergillus fumigatus infection, by regulating the NOD1/2-ATG16L1-NF-κB pathway to modulate the host immune response and exert its anti-infective effects. In summary, the yak DEFB114 protein could inhibit the growth of Aspergillus fumigatus and enhance the animal's resistance to pathogenic microorganisms, thereby having significant implications in the treatment and prevention of fungal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingyun Chen
- Key Laboratory of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Animal Genetic Resource Reservation and Utilization, Ministry of Education, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, PR China; Key Laboratory of Animal Science of State Ethnic Affairs Commission, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, PR China
| | - Qundi Mei
- Key Laboratory of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Animal Genetic Resource Reservation and Utilization, Ministry of Education, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, PR China; Key Laboratory of Animal Science of State Ethnic Affairs Commission, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, PR China
| | - Li Wang
- Key Laboratory of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Animal Genetic Resource Reservation and Utilization, Ministry of Education, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, PR China; Key Laboratory of Animal Science of State Ethnic Affairs Commission, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, PR China.
| | - Yong Wei
- Animal Genetics and Breeding Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Animal Sciences Academy, Chengdu 610066, China
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Lopes AA, Viriyavipart A. Crop residue burning increased during the COVID-19 lockdown: A case study of rural India. Heliyon 2024; 10:e27910. [PMID: 38510008 PMCID: PMC10950696 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e27910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 02/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The customary practice of crop residue burning (CRB) is a major policy concern across several developing economies because of the associated increase in air pollution and reduction in soil quality. CRB poses a hazard to public health and sustainable farmland management. We collected original survey data from a panel of 400 wheat farmers on CRB choices during April-May of 2019 and 2020 - with the latter coinciding with India's COVID-19 nationwide lockdown. This timeline of events facilitated a unique identification of changes in CRB that are attributable to the lockdown. Several studies find that lockdowns during 2020 had beneficial effects on the environment owing to reduced economic activity. However, our findings indicate that CRB may have unintentionally increased during the lockdown. A binary variable regression framework analyzes the determinants of CRB choices of farmers over two years. We control for farmers' opinions on various socioeconomic aspects of the pandemic lockdown to examine its effects on their CRB decisions. The lockdown significantly increased the likelihood of CRB by up to 12%. Furthermore, farmers who lost agricultural income and those compelled to sell assets during the lockdown were 22% and 19% more inclined, respectively, to choose CRB. Labor mobility ceased during the lockdown and increased the cost of environmentally friendly farmland management; this increased the likelihood of CRB by 6%. This study contributes to a growing literature on the unintentional consequences of pandemic lockdowns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian A. Lopes
- Department of Economics, School of Business Administration, American University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ajalavat Viriyavipart
- Department of Economics, School of Business Administration, American University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
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Boubaker S, Liu Z, Mu Y, Zhan Y. Carbon dioxide emissions and environmental risks: Long term and short term. RISK ANALYSIS : AN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE SOCIETY FOR RISK ANALYSIS 2024. [PMID: 38375773 DOI: 10.1111/risa.14281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
The world is currently experiencing the environmental challenge of global warming, necessitating careful planning of carbon dioxide (CO2 ) emissions to deal with this problem. This study examines the environmental challenge posed by CO2 emissions from both a long and short-term perspective. In the long term, despite efforts made by countries, our change-point detection analysis shows that there has been no structural change in CO2 emissions since 1950. Without significant efforts, the carbon budget corresponding to the Paris Agreement's target will be exhausted by 2046. To achieve this target, a significant reduction in global CO2 emissions of 3.22% per year is necessary. In the short term, COVID-19 is thought to have relieved pressure on CO2 emissions. However, this study shows that CO2 emissions quickly returned to normal levels after a brief downturn, and we provide information on the order of CO2 emissions recovery for different sectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabri Boubaker
- EM Normandie Business School, Métis Lab, Paris, France
- International School, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Vietnam
- Swansea University, Swansea, UK
| | - Zhenya Liu
- School of Finance, Renmin University of China, Beijing, China
- China Financial Policy Research Center, Renmin University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Yuhao Mu
- School of Finance, Renmin University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Yaosong Zhan
- Business School, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
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Xu X, Shi Z, Zhou L, Lin J, Atlantis E, Chen X, Hussain A, Wang Y, Wang Y. Impact of COVID-19 on risks and deaths of non-communicable diseases in the Western Pacific region. THE LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH. WESTERN PACIFIC 2024; 43:100795. [PMID: 38456087 PMCID: PMC10920048 DOI: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2023.100795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 04/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Countries and areas in the Western Pacific region (WPR) experienced the COVID-19 pandemic and took various preventive measures, which affected non-communicable diseases (NCDs) risks and mortality. Due to differences in COVID-19 prevention measures and other characteristics such as culture, religions, political systems, socioeconomic development, lifestyles, and health care systems, the effects of COVID-19 on NCDs varied greatly among WPR countries. Most countries had an increased all-cause and NCDs mortality during the pandemic, but some developed countries, including New Zealand, Singapore and Australia reported decreased mortality. The pandemic and the preventive measures increased NCD risk factors including unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity and sleep disorders. The effects varied by socioeconomic status and health conditions. COVID-19 related stress, food shortages, and confined lifestyle had immediate detrimental effects on NCDs, and also affected pregnancy outcomes with long-term effects on NCDs risks in coming years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyue Xu
- School of Population Heath, University of New South Wales, Australia
| | - Zumin Shi
- Human Nutrition Department, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, 2713, Qatar
| | - Lihui Zhou
- School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Lin
- School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, People's Republic of China
| | - Evan Atlantis
- School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Penrith, New South Wales, Australia
- Discipline of Medicine, Nepean Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Nepean, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Xinguang Chen
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University Public Health Institute, Global Health Institute, School of Public Health, International Obesity and Metabolic Disease Research Center, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, People’s Republic of China
| | - Akhtar Hussain
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Nord University, Bodø, 8049, Norway
- International Diabetes Federation, 166 Chaussee de La Hulpe, B-1170, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Youfa Wang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University Public Health Institute, Global Health Institute, School of Public Health, International Obesity and Metabolic Disease Research Center, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yaogang Wang
- School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, People's Republic of China
- National Institute of Health Data Science at Peking University, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
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Pari P, Abbasi T, Abbasi SA. AI-based prediction of the improvement in air quality induced by emergency measures. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 351:119716. [PMID: 38064985 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2024]
Abstract
Several cities in the developing world, of which the capital city of India, New Delhi, is an example, often experience air quality in which pollutant levels go way above the levels considered hazardous for human health. To bring down the air quality to within permissible limits quickly, the measures typically taken involve shutting down certain high-polluting activities for some time to enable the air quality to recover temporarily. This paper presents a first-ever model based on artificial neural networks to forecast the extent of reduction in air quality parameters that can be achieved and the time period within which a change can be experienced when the source of the emissions is cut off temporarily. The model is based on the extensive data on the extent of reduction in air quality parameters that occurred during the lockdown that was imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The non-linear autoregressive exogenous network-based model chosen for the purpose employs the hour since stopping of emissions, relative humidity, wind speed, wind direction, and ambient temperature as input parameters to predict the rate of change of PM2.5 with respect to the concentration at the start of the stopping of the emissions. Air quality data from a key monitoring station in New Delhi was used to develop the model. The model predicted the rate of drop in PM2.5 with an R and MSE of 0.0044 and 0.9736, respectively, while training and 0.0095 and 0.9583 while testing. The model was then tested with data from 19 other stations in New Delhi, and accuracy of the model was found to be exceptionally accurate, with the correlation between the measured and the predicted PM2.5 levels ranging from 0.74 to 0.94 and the MSE ranging from 0.0110 to 1.0746. Thus, the model can be employed to determine the number of hours of temporary stoppage of emissions required for the PM2.5 concentration to reach safe levels. The methodology of development of the model can be extrapolated to construct models tailored for use in other parts of the world as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavithra Pari
- Centre for Pollution Control and Environmental Engineering, Pondicherry University, Pondicherry, 605014, India
| | - Tasneem Abbasi
- Centre for Pollution Control and Environmental Engineering, Pondicherry University, Pondicherry, 605014, India.
| | - S A Abbasi
- Centre for Pollution Control and Environmental Engineering, Pondicherry University, Pondicherry, 605014, India
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Sporchia F, Marchi M, Petraglia A, Marchettini N, Pulselli FM. The pandemic effect on GHG emission variation at the sub-national level and translation into policy opportunities. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 349:119539. [PMID: 37979383 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023]
Abstract
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventories are commonly compiled at country level to monitor national progress towards nationally or internationally agreed targets. While they can support national climate change mitigation strategies, accounting for the intra-national heterogeneity of a country can draw different conclusions directly linked to the socio-economic and environmental sub-national context. This means that more refined and accurate policies and mitigation strategies can be designed when supported by GHG inventories at sub-national scale. The differences between sub-national territorial emissive behavior can be revealed by subjecting different territories to the same stress factors. A complete GHG emissions inventory, based on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Guidelines, is compiled for three diverse administrative territories, in terms of scale, socio-economic contexts, and environmental conditions. By selecting three diverse sub-national contexts belonging to the same national territory - Italy - the analysis provides highly detailed information on the emissive status and behavior and delivers insights that national inventories fail to provide. The COVID-19 pandemic is considered as a stress factor; therefore, the reference years are 2019 and 2020 during which GHG emissions are detected. The study will test the capacity of sub-national GHG emission inventories, compiled by scaling the IPCC methodology to the sub-national level, to detect such differences through the lens of the pandemic. This allows obtaining detailed information and linking the pandemic effect to the GHG emissions of particular activities, which can inspire effective sub-national context-specific mitigation actions. Furthermore, we show that environmental and economic metrics are not as strictly coupled as they would appear at national level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Sporchia
- Department of Science, Technology and Society, University School for Advanced Studies IUSS Pavia, Pavia, Italy; Ecodynamics Group, Department of Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment, University of Siena, Italy
| | - Michela Marchi
- Ecodynamics Group, Department of Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment, University of Siena, Italy.
| | - Alessandro Petraglia
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Italy
| | - Nadia Marchettini
- Ecodynamics Group, Department of Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment, University of Siena, Italy
| | - Federico Maria Pulselli
- Ecodynamics Group, Department of Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment, University of Siena, Italy
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Zhao J, Liu Q, Bai J, Liu H, Ding L. Effect of national COVID-19 control measures on water quality in China using an improved dual difference-in-differences method. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 901:165961. [PMID: 37543336 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/07/2023]
Abstract
The impact of COVID-19 on the natural environment, particularly the aquatic environment, is a major concern. However, there is a lack of national-level research on the impact of COVID-19 on the aquatic environment. This study analysed the impacts of COVID-19 on water quality using an improved dual spatial-temporal Difference-in-Differences Method (DDiD) models in cities with and without formal lockdown policies all over the China. The study found that the effectiveness of national COVID-19 control measures varied spatially for different types of pollutants. The lockdown measure resulted in a 0.052-point decline in TN concentration and a 0.056-point decline in CODMn concentration, while the non-formal lockdown measures led to a 0.2-point increase in TN concentration and a 0.016-point decline in CODMn. Spatial-temporal analysis revealed that COVID-19 and control measures immediately reduced TN concentration. The decrease effect of non-formal lockdown measures was lower than that of the lockdown measure and caused an opposite overall effect of TN concentration change. The impact of COVID-19 and control measures on CODMn concentration had a time lag effect, as it maintained or slightly increased local CODMn concentration once the lockdown measure was implemented, and then decreased after 4 weeks. Heterogeneity analysis showed that the reduction effect on TN was more significant in cities that rely more on industrial activities, while the increase effect on CODMn was more significant in cities that rely more on general and domestic services industries, revealing the diversity of water pollution sources. Overall, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on water quality is not as significant as that on the atmospheric environment due to the diversity of pollution sources. The study partially proves that China has achieved excellent point source control for water pollution, but there is little potential reduction of water pollution at point sources, especially industrial sources. The best way to improve the aquatic environment is still to enhance its capacity by increasing water flow and storage ability and reducing the amount of discharge from every pollution source by improving production levels and pollution treatment ratios, especially for nonpoint sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, No.8 Anwain Dayangfang Road, Beijing 100012, China.
| | - Qingqing Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, No.8 Anwain Dayangfang Road, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Jing Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, No.8 Anwain Dayangfang Road, Beijing 100012, China.
| | - Haixia Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, No.8 Anwain Dayangfang Road, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Lin Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, No.8 Anwain Dayangfang Road, Beijing 100012, China
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Farrokhi M, Khankeh H, Saatchi M, Hadinejad Z, Ahmadi-Mazhin S, Mohsenzadeh Y, Mehraein Nazdik Z, Shojafard J, Pourvakhshoori N, Ahmadi S. The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Environmental Health (Two Sides of the Same Coin): A Systematic Review. Disaster Med Public Health Prep 2023; 17:e499. [PMID: 37781756 DOI: 10.1017/dmp.2023.139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in late 2019 has led to many changes such as reduced human activities and effects on the environment. There is no big picture of the effects of pandemics on the environment using related evidence. OBJECTIVES This study was conducted to investigate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on environmental health. METHODS A systematic search of English language studies was performed in major electronic databases; Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and Google scholar web search engine from December 2019 to February 2022. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) standard guidelines were used to follow up the review process. finally 58 articles entered the review procedure. RESULTS The results of indicate a significant reduction of air pollutants and improved air quality. It improved the water quality of some rivers, canals, and seas during the lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic. The effects of this disease on the environment cannot be fully described yet. CONCLUSION In the short term, the amount of air, water, and coastal pollution has been reduced. few studies have examined the effects of pandemics on the environment in the long run, which paves the way for more researches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehrdad Farrokhi
- Health in Emergency and Disaster Research Center, Social Health Research Institute, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamidreza Khankeh
- Health in Emergency and Disaster Research Center, Social Health Research Institute, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Clinical Science and Education, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mohammad Saatchi
- Health in Emergency and Disaster Research Center, Social Health Research Institute, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zoya Hadinejad
- Health in Emergency and Disaster Research Center, Social Health Research Institute, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Education and Research, Emergency Medical Sciences, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Sadegh Ahmadi-Mazhin
- Department of Public Health, School of Health, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Yazdan Mohsenzadeh
- Health in Emergency and Disaster Research Center, Social Health Research Institute, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Nurse Sciences, Faculty of Emergency Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
| | - Zahra Mehraein Nazdik
- Health in Emergency and Disaster Research Center, Social Health Research Institute, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Javad Shojafard
- Health in Emergency and Disaster Research Center, Social Health Research Institute, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Negar Pourvakhshoori
- Department of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
| | - Shokoufeh Ahmadi
- Health in Emergency and Disaster Research Center, Social Health Research Institute, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Osathanunkul M, Suwannapoom C. eDNA testing reveals surprising findings on fish population dynamics in Thailand. Heliyon 2023; 9:e17102. [PMID: 37416664 PMCID: PMC10320040 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e17102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 05/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
COVID-19, a global health concern, has an effect on all aspects of the economy. The aquaculture and fishing industries were severely harmed as a result of the closures in multiple nations. Regular systems for inventory monitoring, production, and supply were disrupted. Cancellation of programmes for research, fieldwork, sampling, and tagging influences management-required data. For effective species management, fish dispersion assessments are indispensable. However, due to the difficulty of accessing sampling sites and the associated costs, there is frequently a lack of comprehensive information regarding the distribution and abundance of organisms. The COVID-19 prohibition made fish monitoring more problematic. Due to constant pressure, populations of the stone lapping minnow (Garra cambodgiensis), one of Thailand's overfished fish, are rapidly declining. Therefore, eDNA-based monitoring was devised and implemented to reveal the likely dispersal of the species in Thailand prior to and following the lockdown. At 28 locations within the Chao Phraya River Basin, water samples were collected. qPCR was used to determine the presence or absence of G. cambodgiensis in water samples. In 78 of 252 water samples, a wide range of computed copy numbers for G. cambodgiensis eDNA was observed. It was discovered that samples collected in 2021 (after the lockdown) contain a higher concentration of G. cambodgiensis eDNA than samples collected in 2018 or 2019 (prior to the lockdown). The closure appears to be a boon and may result in a substantial restocking of the fish we have studied. Overall, eDNA-based analysis is an extremely promising new survey instrument.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chatmongkon Suwannapoom
- School of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Phayao, Muang District, Phayao, Thailand
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Yang X, Zhang J, Xu Z. Natural resources for policy makers: Revisiting COVID-19 perspective of aggregate South Asian economies. RESOURCES POLICY 2023; 83:103731. [PMID: 37216047 PMCID: PMC10192600 DOI: 10.1016/j.resourpol.2023.103731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2023] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The global pandemic of covid-19 affected human lives and the global environment. Further, literature on the nexus of natural resources and economic growth, initiating the pandemic in the 21st century has confronted policymakers with uncertainty. This requires revisiting the link between natural resources and the economic performance of the South Asian economies. For this purpose, the present study has tried to investigate the role of natural resources in the economic growth of the aggregate South Asian economies during the Covid-19 challenge. The analysis has been completed by a novel approach of MMQR taking data from 1980 to 2021. The oil rents have negatively affected the economic growth may be due to its lower demand during the pandemic caused by lockdown activity. The trade and electricity produced from renewable improve the economic performance of the designated sample economies. The results provide evidence of the irreversible investment theory. The analysis implies that efficient policies for natural resources, specifically oil prices, are required to encourage the South Asian economies' role. Further, the positivity of electricity production from renewable gives rise to the growth hypothesis, which depicts that using renewable energy enhances the economic growth of South Asian economies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoming Yang
- School of Business Administration, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Jia Zhang
- Department of Engineering Physics, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Zhaoyi Xu
- School of Economics and Management, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
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12
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Seifert R, Pellicer-Chenoll M, Antón-González L, Pans M, Devís-Devís J, González LM. Who changed and who maintained their urban bike-sharing mobility after the COVID-19 outbreak? A within-subjects study. CITIES (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2023; 137:104343. [PMID: 37125007 PMCID: PMC10123356 DOI: 10.1016/j.cities.2023.104343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has remarkably impacted urban mobility. All non-essential movements were restricted in Valencia (Spain) to contain the virus. Thus, the transport usage patterns of Valencia's bike-sharing system (BSS) users changed during this emergency situation. The primary objective of this study was to analyse the behaviour patterns of BSS users in Valencia before and after the COVID-19 outbreak, specifically those who maintained or changed their transport routines. A within-subjects comparison design was developed using a group of BSS users before and after the onset of the pandemic. Data mining techniques were used on a sample of 4355 regular users and 25 variables were calculated to classify users by self-organising maps analysis. The results show a significant reduction (40 %) in BSS movements after the outbreak during the entire post-outbreak year. There was some recovery during the rest of 2020; however, this has yet to reach the pre-pandemic levels, with variations observed based on the activities performed in different areas of the city. Of the users, 63 % changed their BSS use patterns after the onset of the pandemic (LEAVE group), while 37 % maintained their patterns (REMAIN group). The user profile of the REMAIN group was characterised by a general reduction of approximately 35 % of journeys during 2020, with a slight increase in morning movements compared to those made in the evening. These users also presented an equivalent number of cycling days to those of the previous year, reduced the number of connections and increased the network's density and the travelling speed. These results can be useful in estimating the percentage of people who do not vary their usual behaviour during emergencies. Finally, several policy implications are outlined based on the findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rudi Seifert
- Departament d'Educació Física i Esportiva, Universitat de València, C/ Gascó Oliag, 3, 46010 València, Spain
| | - Maite Pellicer-Chenoll
- Departament d'Educació Física i Esportiva, Universitat de València, C/ Gascó Oliag, 3, 46010 València, Spain
| | - Laura Antón-González
- Departament d'Educació Física i Esportiva, Universitat de València, C/ Gascó Oliag, 3, 46010 València, Spain
| | - Miquel Pans
- Departament d'Educació Física i Esportiva, Universitat de València, C/ Gascó Oliag, 3, 46010 València, Spain
| | - José Devís-Devís
- Departament d'Educació Física i Esportiva, Universitat de València, C/ Gascó Oliag, 3, 46010 València, Spain
| | - Luis-Millán González
- Departament d'Educació Física i Esportiva, Universitat de València, C/ Gascó Oliag, 3, 46010 València, Spain
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Galiwango R, Bainomugisha E, Kivunike F, Kateete DP, Jjingo D. Air pollution and mobility patterns in two Ugandan cities during COVID-19 mobility restrictions suggest the validity of air quality data as a measure for human mobility. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:34856-34871. [PMID: 36520281 PMCID: PMC9751517 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-24605-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
We explored the viability of using air quality as an alternative to aggregated location data from mobile phones in the two most populated cities in Uganda. We accessed air quality and Google mobility data collected from 15th February 2020 to 10th June 2021 and augmented them with mobility restrictions implemented during the COVID-19 lockdown. We determined whether air quality data depicted similar patterns to mobility data before, during, and after the lockdown and determined associations between air quality and mobility by computing Pearson correlation coefficients ([Formula: see text]), conducting multivariable regression with associated confidence intervals (CIs), and visualized the relationships using scatter plots. Residential mobility increased with the stringency of restrictions while both non-residential mobility and air pollution decreased with the stringency of restrictions. In Kampala, PM2.5 was positively correlated with non-residential mobility and negatively correlated with residential mobility. Only correlations between PM2.5 and movement in work and residential places were statistically significant in Wakiso. After controlling for stringency in restrictions, air quality in Kampala was independently correlated with movement in retail and recreation (- 0.55; 95% CI = - 1.01- - 0.10), parks (0.29; 95% CI = 0.03-0.54), transit stations (0.29; 95% CI = 0.16-0.42), work (- 0.25; 95% CI = - 0.43- - 0.08), and residential places (- 1.02; 95% CI = - 1.4- - 0.64). For Wakiso, only the correlation between air quality and residential mobility was statistically significant (- 0.99; 95% CI = - 1.34- - 0.65). These findings suggest that air quality is linked to mobility and thus could be used by public health programs in monitoring movement patterns and the spread of infectious diseases without compromising on individuals' privacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronald Galiwango
- The African Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Data Intensive Sciences, The Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
- Center for Computational Biology, Uganda Christian University, Mukono, Uganda.
| | - Engineer Bainomugisha
- Department of Computer Science, College of Computing and Information Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Florence Kivunike
- Department of Computer Science, College of Computing and Information Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - David Patrick Kateete
- Department of Immunology and Molecular Biology, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
- Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Daudi Jjingo
- The African Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Data Intensive Sciences, The Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
- Department of Computer Science, College of Computing and Information Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
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14
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Rau Y, Huynh T, Frosch KH, Schultz C, Schulz AP. Developments in the epidemiology and surgical management of patella fractures in Germany. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2023; 24:83. [PMID: 36721108 PMCID: PMC9887573 DOI: 10.1186/s12891-023-06162-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patella fractures account for approximately 1% of all skeletal injuries. Treatment options are vast and no definitive conclusion on what option is the most beneficial could be made so far. Plate osteosynthesis appears to gain in importance. We aim to give insight into the more recent trends and developments as well as establish the epidemiology of patella fractures in Germany by analysing treatment and epidemiological data from a national database. METHODS Anonymised data was retrieved form a national database. In the period of 2006 to 2020, all patients with patella fractures as defined in ICD-10 GM as their main diagnosis, who were treated in a German hospital were included. Patients were divided into subgroups based on gender and age. Age groups were created in 10-year intervals from 20 years old up to 80 years old with one group each encompassing all those above the age of 80 years old and below 20 years old and younger. Linear regression was performed were possible to determine statistical significance of possible trends. RESULTS A total of 151,435 patellar fractures were reported. 95,221 surgical interventions were performed. Women were about 1.5 times more likely to suffer from patella fracture than men. The relative number of surgical interventions rose from about 50% in 2006 to 75% in 2020. Most surgical interventions are performed in those over the age of 50. The incidence of complex fractures and plate osteosynthesis has significantly increased throughout the analysed period. CONCLUSIONS We found a clear trend for surgical treatment in Germany with an increase in surgical procedures. We could also show that this ratio is age-related, making it more likely for younger patients in the age groups from 0 to 70 years old to receive surgical treatment for their patella fracture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yannick Rau
- grid.4562.50000 0001 0057 2672Faculty of Medicine, Universität Zu Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Thomas Huynh
- grid.9764.c0000 0001 2153 9986Chair of Technology Management, Christian-Albrechts-Universität, Kiel, Germany
| | - Karl-Heinz Frosch
- grid.459396.40000 0000 9924 8700Department of Trauma Surgery, Orthopaedics and Sports Traumatology, BG Klinikum Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany ,grid.13648.380000 0001 2180 3484Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Carsten Schultz
- grid.9764.c0000 0001 2153 9986Chair of Technology Management, Christian-Albrechts-Universität, Kiel, Germany
| | - Arndt-Peter Schulz
- grid.4562.50000 0001 0057 2672Faculty of Medicine, Universität Zu Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany ,grid.459396.40000 0000 9924 8700Department of Trauma Surgery, Orthopaedics and Sports Traumatology, BG Klinikum Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
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15
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van der Maden W, Lomas D, Hekkert P. A framework for designing AI systems that support community wellbeing. Front Psychol 2023; 13:1011883. [PMID: 36687873 PMCID: PMC9846139 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1011883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Designing artificial intelligence (AI) to support health and wellbeing is an important and broad challenge for technologists, designers, and policymakers. Drawing upon theories of AI and cybernetics, this article offers a design framework for designing intelligent systems to optimize human wellbeing. We focus on the production of wellbeing information feedback loops in complex community settings, and discuss the case study of My Wellness Check, an intelligent system designed to support the mental health and wellbeing needs of university students and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods The basis for our discussion is the community-led design of My Wellness Check, an intelligent system that supported the mental health and wellbeing needs of university students and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our system was designed to create an intelligent feedback loop to assess community wellbeing needs and to inform community action. This article provides an overview of our longitudinal assessment of students and staff wellbeing (n = 20,311) across two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Results We further share the results of a controlled experiment (n = 1,719) demonstrating the enhanced sensitivity and user experience of our context-sensitive wellbeing assessment. Discussion Our approach to designing "AI for community wellbeing," may generalize to the systematic improvement of human wellbeing in other human-computer systems for large-scale governance (e.g., schools, businesses, NGOs, platforms). The two main contributions are: 1) showcasing a simple way to draw from AI theory to produce more intelligent human systems, and 2) introducing a human-centered, community-led approach that may be beneficial to the field of AI.
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16
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Mead J, Gibbs K, Fisher Z, Kemp AH. What's next for wellbeing science? Moving from the Anthropocene to the Symbiocene. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1087078. [PMID: 36874837 PMCID: PMC9982109 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1087078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Mead
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Science, Swansea University, Swansea, United Kingdom
| | - Katie Gibbs
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Science, Swansea University, Swansea, United Kingdom
| | - Zoe Fisher
- Regional Neuropsychology and Community Brain Injury Service, Morriston Hospital, Swansea, United Kingdom.,Health and Wellbeing Academy, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Science, Swansea University, Swansea, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Haddon Kemp
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Science, Swansea University, Swansea, United Kingdom.,Regional Neuropsychology and Community Brain Injury Service, Morriston Hospital, Swansea, United Kingdom
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17
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Bansod V, Kulkarni S, Nannaware M, Singru S, Chawla CS, Kalra K. Perception of Indian citizens regarding lockdown during COVID-19 pandemic in the Indian context. MGM JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCES 2023. [DOI: 10.4103/mgmj.mgmj_27_23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
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18
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Jiang Q, Xu Z, Ye G, Pahlow M, Hu M, Qu S. A systematic scoping review of environmental and socio-economic effects of COVID-19 on the global ocean-human system. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 849:157925. [PMID: 35952896 PMCID: PMC9359760 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The global outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has strongly affected human lives. The restrictions taken to slow down the spread of the virus impact socio-economic activities and the environment. A comprehensive review of these COVID-19 impacts on the ocean-human system is lacking. The current study fills this gap by synthesizing the environmental and socio-economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global ocean by conducting a systemic scoping review of 92 published articles. From a geospatial perspective, the studies covered a total of 37 countries, mainly from Asia, Europe, and North America, with a particular focus on the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. From an environmental perspective, both positive and negative effects on global oceans were summarized. Notably, improved coastal water quality and reduced underwater noise were reported. On the other hand, the increasing COVID-19-related medical waste such as personal protective equipment leads to severe pollution, which threatens the marine ecosystem and wildlife. From a socioeconomic perspective, the impacts of the pandemic were negative throughout with marine tourism and the fishery industry being severely disrupted. Coastal communities suffered from loss of income, unemployment, inequalities and health problems. The COVID-19 pandemic offers an opportunity for transformation of management and economic practices in order to save our ocean and boost progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14). Future research should include other sectors such as marine biodiversity, marine renewable energy, climate change, and blue economy development of Small Island Developing States. Effective policies and strategies across land and ocean around the world need to be developed and implemented to enhance resilience of the human-ocean system and to achieve post-pandemic global sustainable ocean development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qutu Jiang
- Department of Geography, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China; HKU Shenzhen Institute of Research and Innovation, Nanshan District, Shenzhen 518057, China
| | - Zhenci Xu
- Department of Geography, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China; HKU Shenzhen Institute of Research and Innovation, Nanshan District, Shenzhen 518057, China; Peng Cheng Laboratory, Shenzhen 518000, China.
| | - Guanqiong Ye
- Ocean College, Zhejiang University, Zhoushan 316021, China
| | - Markus Pahlow
- Department of Civil and Natural Resources Engineering, University of Canterbury, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
| | - Mingzhao Hu
- Department of Statistics and Applied Probability, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, United States
| | - Shen Qu
- School of Management and Economics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
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19
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Asensio C, Pavón I, de Arcas G. How the COVID-19 Pandemic Muted and Remixed the World's Acoustics for a While. CURRENT POLLUTION REPORTS 2022; 8:328-340. [PMID: 36258901 PMCID: PMC9561339 DOI: 10.1007/s40726-022-00236-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This review aims to analyze the effects of the pandemic on the world's sound environment. RECENT FINDINGS The confinements associated with the pandemic led to a reduction in sound levels worldwide and a change in the perception of soundscapes in the absence of traffic noise and human-generated noise. SUMMARY In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries and regions around the world adopted a series of interventions in 2020 that have been referred to as "lockdown" or "confinement." These sets of restrictions had a clear and obvious consequence derived from the absence of people in the streets and the reduction of daily activity and commuting, which caused an unprecedented silencing on a large scale. Along with the silence that ensued, the pandemic and the confinements affected acoustics and our relationship with sounds on different scales. In the cities, this phenomenon had a strong reduction in acoustic intensity due to the absence of vehicles on the streets. Perhaps this was more perceptible in our neighborhoods, with notable changes in their soundscapes, first due to the absence of people in the streets and later due to more outdoor activity derived from the fear of the spread of the virus in indoor spaces. The longer periods of time spent in our homes during the lockdowns also highlighted the importance of sound insulation in buildings and the acoustic conditioning of our schools or homes.
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Affiliation(s)
- César Asensio
- Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (Instrumentation and Applied Acoustics Research Group), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ignacio Pavón
- Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (Instrumentation and Applied Acoustics Research Group), Madrid, Spain
| | - Guillermo de Arcas
- Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (Instrumentation and Applied Acoustics Research Group), Madrid, Spain
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20
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Galán-Madruga D. Urban air quality changes resulting from the lockdown period due to the COVID-19 pandemic. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY : IJEST 2022; 20:7083-7098. [PMID: 36035638 PMCID: PMC9391654 DOI: 10.1007/s13762-022-04464-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
This work aims to quantify potential pollution level changes in an urban environment (Madrid city, Spain) located in South Europe due to the lockdown measures for preventing the SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Polluting 11 species commonly monitored in urban zones were attended. Except for O3, a prompt target pollutant levels abatement was reached, intensely when implanted stricter measures and moderately along those measures' relaxing period. In the case of TH and CH4, it is evidenced a progressive diminution over the lockdown period. While the highest decreasing average changes relapsed on NOx (NO2: - 40.0% and NO: - 33.3%) and VOCs (C7H8: - 36.3% and C6H6: - 32.8%), followed by SO2 (- 27.0%), PM10 (- 19.7%), CO (- 16.6%), CH4 (- 14.7%), TH (- 11.6%) and PM2.5 (- 10.1%), the O3 level slightly raised 0.4%. These changes were consistently dependent on the measurement station location, emphasizing urban background zones for SO2, CO, C6H6, C7H8, TH and CH4, suburban zones for PM2.5 and O3, urban traffic sites for NO and PM10, and keeping variations reasonably similar at all the stations in the case of NO2. Those pollution changes were not translated in variations on geospatial pattern, except for NO, O3 and SO2. Although the researched urban atmosphere improvement was not attributable to meteorological conditions' variations, it was in line with the decline in traffic intensity. The evidenced outcomes might offer valuable clues to air quality managers in urban environments regarding decision-making in favor of applying punctual severe measures for quickly and considerably relieving polluting high load occurred in urban environments. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13762-022-04464-6.
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Affiliation(s)
- D. Galán-Madruga
- Department of Atmospheric Pollution, National Center for Environment Health, Health Institute Carlos III, Ctra. Majadahonda a Pozuelo Km 2,2. Majadahonda, 28220 Madrid, Spain
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21
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Striving with Global Stress on a Local Level: Has the COVID-19 Pandemic Changed the Relationship between People and Nature? SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14159496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/10/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic had harsh consequences on human health and society across the globe. In addition to health effects, the pandemic also influenced people’s values, concerns, and ethics due to lockdowns and general limitations in societal activities. In this study, we examined changes in the relationship between people and nature caused by COVID-associated stress, as well as its consequences on life quality, by comparing questionnaire-based survey data before and during the pandemic. We found that the pandemic had positive effects on individual respondents’ relationships with nature. Respondents who were more affected by the pandemic rated their life quality lower than those who were less affected. In accordance, the pandemic had a negative effect on people’s life quality, especially for people living in areas where the environment (coastal water quality) was in poor condition. Our results support the prediction that environmental quality may buffer against global stress and improve societal wellbeing.
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22
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Piscitelli P, Miani A, Setti L, De Gennaro G, Rodo X, Artinano B, Vara E, Rancan L, Arias J, Passarini F, Barbieri P, Pallavicini A, Parente A, D'Oro EC, De Maio C, Saladino F, Borelli M, Colicino E, Gonçalves LMG, Di Tanna G, Colao A, Leonardi GS, Baccarelli A, Dominici F, Ioannidis JPA, Domingo JL. The role of outdoor and indoor air quality in the spread of SARS-CoV-2: Overview and recommendations by the research group on COVID-19 and particulate matter (RESCOP commission). ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 211:113038. [PMID: 35231456 PMCID: PMC8881809 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
There are important questions surrounding the potential contribution of outdoor and indoor air quality in the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and perpetuation of COVID-19 epidemic waves. Environmental health may be a critical component of COVID-19 prevention. The public health community and health agencies should consider the evolving evidence in their recommendations and statements, and work to issue occupational guidelines. Evidence coming from the current epidemiological and experimental research is expected to add knowledge about virus diffusion, COVID-19 severity in most polluted areas, inter-personal distance requirements and need for wearing face masks in indoor or outdoor environments. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for maintaining particulate matter concentrations at low levels for multiple health-related reasons, which may also include the spread of SARS-CoV-2. Indoor environments represent even a more crucial challenge to cope with, as it is easier for the SARS-COV2 to spread, remain vital and infect other subjects in closed spaces in the presence of already infected asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic people. The potential merits of preventive measures, such as CO2 monitoring associated with natural or controlled mechanical ventilation and air purification, for schools, indoor public places (restaurants, offices, hotels, museums, theatres/cinemas etc.) and transportations need to be carefully considered. Hospital settings and nursing/retirement homes as well as emergency rooms, infectious diseases divisions and ambulances represent higher risk indoor environments and may require additional monitoring and specific decontamination strategies based on mechanical ventilation or air purification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prisco Piscitelli
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA), Milan, Italy; UNESCO Chair on Health Education and Sustainable Development, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
| | - Alessandro Miani
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA), Milan, Italy; Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
| | - Leonardo Setti
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA), Milan, Italy; Department of Industrial Chemistry, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
| | - Gianluigi De Gennaro
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA), Milan, Italy; Department of Biology, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy.
| | - Xavier Rodo
- ICREA and Climate & Health Program, ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Begona Artinano
- Unit Atmospheric Pollution and POP Characterization, CIEMAT, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Elena Vara
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Lisa Rancan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Javier Arias
- School of Medicine, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Fabrizio Passarini
- Interdepartmental Centre for Industrial Research "Renewable Sources, Environment, Blue Growth, Energy", University of Bologna, Rimini, Italy.
| | - Pierluigi Barbieri
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA), Milan, Italy; Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
| | | | - Alessandro Parente
- Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Ecole Polytechnique de Bruxelles, Département d'Aéro-Thermo-Mécanique, Brussels, Belgium; Brussels Institute for Thermal-fluid systems and clean Energy (BRITE), Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Edoardo Cavalieri D'Oro
- Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Unit (NBCRE), Italian National Fire and Rescue Service, Milan, Italy.
| | - Claudio De Maio
- Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Unit (NBCRE), Italian National Fire and Rescue Service, Milan, Italy.
| | - Francesco Saladino
- Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Unit (NBCRE), Italian National Fire and Rescue Service, Milan, Italy.
| | - Massimo Borelli
- UMG School of PhD Programmes, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Italy.
| | - Elena Colicino
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA.
| | | | - Gianluca Di Tanna
- BioStatistics & Data Science Division, Meta-Research and Evidence Synthesis Unit, The George Institute for Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
| | - Annamaria Colao
- UNESCO Chair on Health Education and Sustainable Development, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
| | - Giovanni S Leonardi
- Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTP), London, UK.
| | - Andrea Baccarelli
- Chair of the Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University, New York, USA.
| | | | - John P A Ioannidis
- Departments of Medicine, of Epidemiology and Population Health, of Biomedical Data Science and of Statistics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
| | - Josè L Domingo
- Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Universitat Rovira I Virgili, School of Medicine, Reus, Spain.
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23
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Mallik A, Chakraborty P, Bhushan S, Nayak BB. Impact of COVID-19 lockdown on aquatic environment and fishing community: Boon or bane? MARINE POLICY 2022; 141:105088. [PMID: 35529170 PMCID: PMC9068432 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpol.2022.105088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
COVID-19 pandemic is a serious threat for mankind having an extensive socio-economic impact. However, it is considered as an unfortunate event with some positive environmental effects where nature is retrieving itself. The water quality index in different places of the world was reported to be improved during the lockdown, which in turn whipped up the regenerative process of fishes, sea turtles, marine mammals, and aquatic birds. Additionally, ecologically sensitive areas such as mangroves and coral reefs were also seen rejuvenating during COVID-19 seal off. But these favourable implications are temporary as there is an unexpected surge in plastic waste generation in the form of PPE kits, face masks, gloves, and other healthcare equipment. Moreover, the outbreak of the pandemic resulted in the complete closure of fishing activities, decline in fish catch, market disruption, and change in consumer preference. To address these multidimensional effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, government organizations, NGOs, and other concerned authorities should extend their support to amplify the positive impacts of the lockdown and reduce the subsequent pollution level while encouraging the fisheries sector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhijit Mallik
- Fishery Resource Harvest and Post-Harvest Management, ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai, India
| | - Puja Chakraborty
- Aquaculture Division, ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai, India
| | - Shashi Bhushan
- Fishery Resource Harvest and Post-Harvest Management, ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai, India
| | - Binaya Bhusan Nayak
- Fishery Resource Harvest and Post-Harvest Management, ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai, India
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Environmental Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Experience of Bogotá, 2020. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19106350. [PMID: 35627886 PMCID: PMC9141921 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19106350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
During the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, several environmental factors have influenced activities and protection policy measures in cities. This has had a major effect on climate change and global environmental catastrophe. In many countries, the strategy of closing various activities such as tourism and industrial production stopped normal life, transportation, etc. This closure has a positive impact on the environment. However, the massive use of masks and personal protection could significantly increase pollution worldwide. The impact on the environment needs to be calculated to have information for public health actions. In this study, we present a first overview of the potential impacts of COVID-19 on some environmental matrices in Bogotá, Colombia.
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25
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Mirto S, Montalto V, Mangano MCM, Ape F, Berlino M, La Marca C, Lucchese M, Maricchiolo G, Martinez M, Rinaldi A, Terzo SMC, Celic I, Galli P, Sarà G. The stakeholder's perception of socio-economic impacts generated by COVID-19 pandemic within the Italian aquaculture systems. AQUACULTURE (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2022; 553:738127. [PMID: 36267956 PMCID: PMC9568499 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2022.738127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/05/2022] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
From the beginning of March 2020 and for the following two and half months, many European countries comprising Italy have been forced into an unprecedented lockdown, allowing only the opening of essential economic activities needed to address the problems created by the pandemic (e.g. sanitary, food provision). Like many sectors of the Italian economy, aquaculture has also slowed down due to the ongoing emergency and the consequent closure of business. In our study we provided a 'snapshot' of the socio-economic effects of the lockdown on the aquaculture sector in Italy, immediately following the adoption of the COVID-19 restrictions as they were perceived by the workers. Although it was surveyed for a short-time period, differences in perception have been detected both in relation to the type of aquaculture as well as to the geographic locations where farms were placed, partially reflecting the economic gaps already existing within the northern and the southern part of the country before the lockdown.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Mirto
- Institute of Anthropic Impacts and Sustainability in marine environment, National Research Council (IAS-CNR), Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo 4521 (ex complesso Roosevelt), 90149 Palermo, Italy
| | - V Montalto
- Institute of Anthropic Impacts and Sustainability in marine environment, National Research Council (IAS-CNR), Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo 4521 (ex complesso Roosevelt), 90149 Palermo, Italy
| | - M C M Mangano
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Dipartimento Ecologia Marina Integrata, Sede Interdipartimentale della Sicilia, Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo (ex complesso Roosevelt), 90149 Palermo, Italy
| | - F Ape
- Institute of Anthropic Impacts and Sustainability in marine environment, National Research Council (IAS-CNR), Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo 4521 (ex complesso Roosevelt), 90149 Palermo, Italy
| | - M Berlino
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e del Mare, Università di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze Ed. 16, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - C La Marca
- Institute of Anthropic Impacts and Sustainability in marine environment, National Research Council (IAS-CNR), Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo 4521 (ex complesso Roosevelt), 90149 Palermo, Italy
| | - M Lucchese
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e del Mare, Università di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze Ed. 16, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - G Maricchiolo
- Institute for Biological Resources and Marine Biotechnology, National Research Council (IRBIM-CNR), Via S. Raineri 86, 98122, Messina, Italy
| | - M Martinez
- Institute of Anthropic Impacts and Sustainability in marine environment, National Research Council (IAS-CNR), Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo 4521 (ex complesso Roosevelt), 90149 Palermo, Italy
| | - A Rinaldi
- Institute of Anthropic Impacts and Sustainability in marine environment, National Research Council (IAS-CNR), Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo 4521 (ex complesso Roosevelt), 90149 Palermo, Italy
| | - S M C Terzo
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e del Mare, Università di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze Ed. 16, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - I Celic
- Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale, Borgo Grotta Gigante 42/C, 34010 Sgonico, TS, Italy
| | - P Galli
- Dipartimento di Scienze dell'Ambiente e della Terra, Università degli Studi di Milano Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 1, 20126 Milano, Italy
| | - G Sarà
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e del Mare, Università di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze Ed. 16, 90128 Palermo, Italy
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26
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Heavy Metal, Waste, COVID-19, and Rapid Industrialization in This Modern Era—Fit for Sustainable Future. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14084746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Heavy metal contamination, waste, and COVID-19 are hazardous to all living things in the environment. This review examined the effects of heavy metals, waste, and COVID-19 on the ecosystem. Scientists and researchers are currently working on ways to extract valuable metals from waste and wastewater. We prefer Tessier sequential extraction for future use for heavy metal pollution in soil. Results indicated that population growth is another source of pollution in the environment. Heavy metal pollution wreaks havoc on soil and groundwater, especially in China. COVID-19 has pros and cons. The COVID-19 epidemic has reduced air pollution in China and caused a significant reduction in CO2 releases globally due to the lockdown but has a harmful effect on human health and the economy. Moreover, COVID-19 brings a huge amount of biomedical waste. COVID-19’s biomedical waste appears to be causing different health issues. On the other hand, it was discovered that recycling has become a new source of pollution in south China. Furthermore, heavy metal contamination is the most severe ecological effect. Likewise, every problem has a remedy to create new waste management and pollution monitoring policy. The construction of a modern recycling refinery is an important aspect of national waste disposal.
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27
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Ray RL, Singh VP, Singh SK, Acharya BS, He Y. What is the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on global carbon emissions? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 816:151503. [PMID: 34752864 PMCID: PMC8572037 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
The coronavirus 2019 (COVID 19, or SARS-CoV-2) pandemic that started in December 2019 has caused an unprecedented impact in most countries globally and continues to threaten human lives worldwide. The COVID-19 and strict lockdown measures have had adverse effects on human health and national economies. These lockdown measures have played a critical role in improving air quality, water quality, and the ozone layer and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Using Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) Level 4 carbon (SMAP LC4) satellite products, this study investigated the impacts of COVID-19 lockdown measures on annual carbon emissions globally, focusing on 47 greatly affected countries and their 105 cities by December 2020. It is shown that while the lockdown measures significantly reduced carbon emissions globally, several countries and cities observed this reduction as temporary because strict lockdown measures were not imposed for extended periods in 2020. Overall, the total carbon emissions of select 184 countries reduced by 438 Mt in 2020 than in 2019. Since the global economic activities are slowly expected to return to the non-COVID-19 state, the reduction in carbon emissions during the pandemic will not be sustainable in the long run. For sustainability, concerned authorities have to put significant efforts to change transportation, climate, and environmental policies globally that fuel carbon emissions. Overall, the presented results provide directions to the stakeholders and policymakers to develop and implement measures to control carbon emissions for a sustainable environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ram L Ray
- College of Agriculture and Human Sciences, Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX 77446, USA.
| | - Vijay P Singh
- Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Sudhir K Singh
- K. Banerjee Centre of Atmospheric & Ocean Studies, IIDS, Nehru Science Centre, University of Allahabad, Prayagraj 211002, India
| | - Bharat S Acharya
- Oklahoma Department of Mines, State of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, OK 73106, USA
| | - Yiping He
- EDF Renewable Energy, San Diego, CA 92128, USA
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28
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Dwivedi YK, Hughes L, Kar AK, Baabdullah AM, Grover P, Abbas R, Andreini D, Abumoghli I, Barlette Y, Bunker D, Chandra Kruse L, Constantiou I, Davison RM, De’ R, Dubey R, Fenby-Taylor H, Gupta B, He W, Kodama M, Mäntymäki M, Metri B, Michael K, Olaisen J, Panteli N, Pekkola S, Nishant R, Raman R, Rana NP, Rowe F, Sarker S, Scholtz B, Sein M, Shah JD, Teo TS, Tiwari MK, Vendelø MT, Wade M. Climate change and COP26: Are digital technologies and information management part of the problem or the solution? An editorial reflection and call to action. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFORMATION MANAGEMENT 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2021.102456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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29
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Water Quality and Water Pollution in Time of COVID-19: Positive and Negative Repercussions. WATER 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/w14071124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the new COVID-19 disease a pandemic. Most countries responded with a lockdown to reduce its effects, which brought beneficial consequences to the environment in many regions, but the pandemic also raised a series of challenges. This review proposes an assessment of the COVID-19 pandemic positive and negative impacts on water bodies on different continents. By applying a search protocol on the Web of Science platform, a scientific bank of 35 compatible studies was obtained out of the 62 open-access articles that were initially accessible. Regarding the positive impacts, the SARS-CoV-2 monitoring in sewage waters is a useful mechanism in the promptly exposure of community infections and, during the pandemic, many water bodies all over the world had lower pollution levels. The negative impacts are as follows: SARS-CoV-2 presence in untreated sewage water amplifies the risk to human health; there is a lack of adequate elimination processes of plastics, drugs, and biological pollution in wastewater treatment plants; the amount of municipal and medical waste that pollutes water bodies increased; and waste recycling decreased. Urgent preventive measures need to be taken to implement effective solutions for water protection.
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30
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Toygar A, Yildirim U, İnegöl GM. Investigation of empty container shortage based on SWARA-ARAS methods in the COVID-19 era. EUROPEAN TRANSPORT RESEARCH REVIEW 2022; 14:8. [PMID: 38624938 PMCID: PMC8934722 DOI: 10.1186/s12544-022-00531-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
A shortage of empty containers has become a global crisis with more devastating effects than during previous periods when combined with various problems arising from the COVID-19, such as an increase in an imbalance of global trade between supply and demand, a decrease in the workforce, and restrictions by countries or regional quarantine practices. The absence of empty containers in regions where they are needed slows down industrial activities and locks the global supply networks, necessitating the use of alternative methods that are inefficient. Although this shortage causes many disruptions in global trade, solutions to the issue have not been studied in detail. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the issues caused by the shortage of empty containers and to rank the appropriate solutions. Four main criteria and sixteen subcategories used to define the issues, as well as a multi criteria decision model comprising five criteria for the solutions, were proposed based on information from the literature, sectorial publications, and expert opinions. The issues' weighted order of importance in our proposed model was calculated using the SWARA (Step-wise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis) method; solutions were ranked using the ARAS (Additive Ratio Assessment) method. The results of the study revealed that the issues were ranked in importance as cost increases, uncertainty in the supply chain, volume loss, and increases in blank sailing announcements. Appropriate solutions were ranked as booking guarantee applications and information communication technologies, using shipper-owned containers, inducement calls, and E2E (end to end) delivery services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arda Toygar
- Artvin Coruh University, Maritime and Port Management Program, Artvin, Turkey
| | - Umut Yildirim
- Karadeniz Technical University, Maritime Transportation and Management Engineering, Trabzon, Turkey
| | - Gani Mustafa İnegöl
- Kocaeli University, Department of Motor Vehicles and Transportation Technologies, Kocaeli, Turkey
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31
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Miraglia N, Di Brita A. Behavior of Wildlife Species in Urban Areas to Changing Conditions during COVID-19 Lockdowns: A Review. J APPL ANIM WELF SCI 2022; 25:119-125. [PMID: 35236199 DOI: 10.1080/10888705.2022.2047682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 crisis remains an international health disaster with serious impacts on health and business. As countries asked, and continue to ask, their human populations to stay at home to limit the spread of coronavirus, wild animals have been spotted exploring the empty streets of some of the world's largest urban areas.E This period of unusually reduced human mobility can provide invaluable insights into human-wildlife interactions. Reduced human mobility during the pandemic reveals critical aspects of our impact on wild animal welfare, providing important guidance on how best to share space on this crowded planet. Lockdown effects have been drastic, sudden, and widespread. Countries have also responded in broadly similar ways across large parts of the world, presenting invaluable replicates of this phenomenon. This paper will highlight various adaptations and changes in behavior developed by wild animals in urban areas during the early pandemic period. They concerned the effects on wildlife and ecosystems that are related to human activities, possible interactions between humans and wildlife, and the perspectives on wildlife and ecosystem management going forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicoletta Miraglia
- Department of Agricultural, Environment and Food Sciences, Molise University, Campobasso, Italy
| | - Aldo Di Brita
- Department of Agricultural, Environment and Food Sciences, Molise University, Campobasso, Italy
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32
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Ghahremanloo M, Lops Y, Choi Y, Jung J, Mousavinezhad S, Hammond D. A comprehensive study of the COVID-19 impact on PM 2.5 levels over the contiguous United States: A deep learning approach. ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT (OXFORD, ENGLAND : 1994) 2022; 272:118944. [PMID: 35043042 PMCID: PMC8758197 DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2022.118944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Revised: 12/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
We investigate the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on PM2.5 levels in eleven urban environments across the United States: Washington DC, New York, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston, Dallas, Philadelphia, Detroit, Phoenix, and Seattle. We estimate daily PM2.5 levels over the contiguous U.S. in March-May 2019 and 2020, and leveraging a deep convolutional neural network, we find a correlation coefficient, an index of agreement, a mean absolute bias, and a root mean square error of 0.90 (0.90), 0.95 (0.95), 1.34 (1.24) μg/m3, and 2.04 (1.87) μg/m3, respectively. Results from Google Community Mobility Reports and estimated PM2.5 concentrations show a greater reduction of PM2.5 in regions with larger decreases in human mobility and those in which individuals remain in their residential areas longer. The relationship between vehicular PM2.5 (i.e., the ratio of vehicular PM2.5 to other sources of PM2.5) emissions and PM2.5 reductions (R = 0.77) in various regions indicates that regions with higher emissions of vehicular PM2.5 generally experience greater decreases in PM2.5. While most of the urban environments ⸺ Washington DC, New York, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston, Dallas, Philadelphia, Detroit, and Seattle ⸺ show a decrease in PM2.5 levels by 21.1%, 20.7%, 18.5%, 8.05%, 3.29%, 3.63%, 6.71%, 4.82%, 13.5%, and 7.73%, respectively, between March-May of 2020 and 2019, Phoenix shows a 5.5% increase during the same period. Similar to their PM2.5 reductions, Washington DC, New York, and Boston, compared to other cities, exhibit the highest reductions in human mobility and the highest vehicular PM2.5 emissions, highlighting the great impact of human activity on PM2.5 changes in eleven regions. Moreover, compared to changes in meteorological factors, changes in pollutant concentrations, including those of black carbon, organic carbon, SO2, SO4, and especially NO2, appear to have had a significantly greater impact on PM2.5 changes during the study period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masoud Ghahremanloo
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 77004, USA
| | - Yannic Lops
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 77004, USA
| | - Yunsoo Choi
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 77004, USA
| | - Jia Jung
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 77004, USA
| | - Seyedali Mousavinezhad
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 77004, USA
| | - Davyda Hammond
- Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Oak Ridge, TN, 37830, USA
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33
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Kumar A, Singh P, Raizada P, Hussain CM. Impact of COVID-19 on greenhouse gases emissions: A critical review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 806:150349. [PMID: 34555610 PMCID: PMC8445775 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2021] [Revised: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/11/2021] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The global outburst of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) has posed severe challenges to human health, environment, energy and economy all over the world. The stringent measures to control the spread of COVID-19 results a significant slowdown in economic activities which in turn affected the environment by reducing the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, specifically lower atmospheric CO2 levels. Considering that, the present study intends to highlight the substantial impact of COVID-19 pandemic on GHG emissions, by systematically reviewing the available scientific literatures. The study further outlined the variation in GHG emissions by comparing the data focused on pre-pandemic, during pandemic, and post-pandemic (predictions) scenarios. Further, the assessment on elevating CO2 levels, global economic, and energy impacts of COVID-19 has also been reviewed. Also, the possible recovery plan for the framework of sustainable environmental and energy development is presented. Finally, the review concludes with an insightful summary involving the challenges and future outlook towards sustainable development goals in a hope that the present study can help the researchers to assess the global environmental and energy related consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhinandan Kumar
- School of Advanced Chemical Sciences, Shoolini University, Solan, Himachal Pradesh 173229, India
| | - Pardeep Singh
- School of Advanced Chemical Sciences, Shoolini University, Solan, Himachal Pradesh 173229, India
| | - Pankaj Raizada
- School of Advanced Chemical Sciences, Shoolini University, Solan, Himachal Pradesh 173229, India.
| | - Chaudhery Mustansar Hussain
- Department of Chemistry and Environmental Science, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ 07102, USA.
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34
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Muche M, Yemata G, Molla E, Muasya AM, Tsegay BA. COVID-19 lockdown and natural resources: a global assessment on the challenges, opportunities, and the way forward. BULLETIN OF THE NATIONAL RESEARCH CENTRE 2022; 46:20. [PMID: 35125859 PMCID: PMC8800433 DOI: 10.1186/s42269-022-00706-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a global pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2, which has an enormous effect on human lives and the global environment. This review aimed to assess the global scientific evidence on the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on natural resources using international databases and search engines. Thus, the unprecedented anthropause due to COVID-19 has positive and negative effects on natural resources. MAIN BODY This review showed that the unprecedented pandemic lockdown events brought a negative impact on the physical environment, including pollution associated with a drastic increase in person protective equipment, deforestation, illegal poaching and logging, overfishing, disruption of the conservation program and projects. It is noted that the spread of pandemic diseases could be aggravated by environmental pollution and a rapid increase in the global population. Despite these negative impacts of COVID-19, the anthropause appear to have also several positive effects on natural resources such as short term reduction of indoor and outdoor environmental pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, and CO2), reduction in noise pollutions from ships, boats, vehicles, and planes which have positive effects on aquatic ecosystems, water quality, birds behaviour, wildlife biodiversity, and ecosystem restoration. CONCLUSION Therefore, governments and scientific communities across the globe have called for a green recovery to COVID-19 and implement multi-actor interventions and environmentally friendly technologies to improve and safeguard sustainable environmental and biodiversity management and halt the next pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meseret Muche
- Department of Biology, Woldia University, P.O. Box 400, Woldia, Ethiopia
| | - Getahun Yemata
- Department of Biology, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
| | - Eyayu Molla
- Deparment of Natural Resource Management, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
| | - A. Muthama Muasya
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7700 South Africa
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35
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Mosbahi N, Pezy JP, Dauvin JC, Neifar L. COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown: An Excellent Opportunity to Study the Effects of Trawling Disturbance on Macrobenthic Fauna in the Shallow Waters of the Gulf of Gabès (Tunisia, Central Mediterranean Sea). INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19031282. [PMID: 35162301 PMCID: PMC8834931 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19031282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 01/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
This study describes for the first time in the central Mediterranean Sea the effects of bottom trawling on macrobenthic fauna in tidal channels of the Kneiss Islands in the Gulf of Gabès, Tunisia. Following a BACI protocol, two control stations (protected by artificial reefs) and two trawled stations (impacted stations) were sampled during a period with the absence of bottom trawling activity (the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown period from March to May 2020) and during a trawled period. Although bottom trawling had no impact on sediment composition, this anthropogenic activity reduced the concentration of dissolved oxygen and had a noticeable effect on water column turbidity. The absence of trawling led to a significant increase in biomass, number of species, and abundance of total macrofauna. This illustrated the negative effect of trawling activity in shallow waters and the high resilience of macrobenthic communities of the tidal ecosystem of the Kneiss Islands. In the future, it would be very important to control the use of this destructive fishing gear due to its negative impact on the marine habitat and macrofauna, which represents essential prey for fishes and birds living in this protected area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nawfel Mosbahi
- Laboratoire de Biodiversité Marine et Environnement, Faculté des Sciences de Sfax, Université de Sfax, BP 1171, Sfax 3038, Tunisia;
- Correspondence: or
| | - Jean-Philippe Pezy
- Laboratoire Morphodynamique Continentale et Côtière, Normandie University, UNICAEN, CNRS, UMR 6143 M2C, 24 Rue des Tilleuls, 14000 Caen, France; (J.-P.P.); (J.-C.D.)
| | - Jean-Claude Dauvin
- Laboratoire Morphodynamique Continentale et Côtière, Normandie University, UNICAEN, CNRS, UMR 6143 M2C, 24 Rue des Tilleuls, 14000 Caen, France; (J.-P.P.); (J.-C.D.)
| | - Lassad Neifar
- Laboratoire de Biodiversité Marine et Environnement, Faculté des Sciences de Sfax, Université de Sfax, BP 1171, Sfax 3038, Tunisia;
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36
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Hu J, Chen J, Zhu P, Hao S, Wang M, Li H, Liu N. Difference and Cluster Analysis on the Carbon Dioxide Emissions in China During COVID-19 Lockdown via a Complex Network Model. Front Psychol 2022; 12:795142. [PMID: 35095680 PMCID: PMC8790068 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.795142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The continuous increase of carbon emissions is a serious challenge all over the world, and many countries are striving to solve this problem. Since 2020, a widespread lockdown in the country to prevent the spread of COVID-19 escalated, severely restricting the movement of people and unnecessary economic activities, which unexpectedly reduced carbon emissions. This paper aims to analyze the carbon emissions data of 30 provinces in the 2020 and provide references for reducing emissions with epidemic lockdown measures. Based on the method of time series visualization, we transform the time series data into complex networks to find out the hidden information in these data. We found that the lockdown would bring about a short-term decrease in carbon emissions, and most provinces have a short time point of impact, which is closely related to the level of economic development and industrial structure. The current results provide some insights into the evolution of carbon emissions under COVID-19 blockade measures and valuable insights into energy conservation and response to the energy crisis in the post-epidemic era.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Hu
- School of Economics and Management, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Junhua Chen
- School of Management Science and Engineering, Central University of Finance and Economics, Beijing, China
| | - Peican Zhu
- School of Artificial Intelligence, Optics and Electronics, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Shuya Hao
- School of Management Science and Engineering, Central University of Finance and Economics, Beijing, China
| | - Maoze Wang
- School of Management Science and Engineering, Central University of Finance and Economics, Beijing, China
| | - Huijia Li
- School of Science, Beijing Post and Telecommunications University, Beijing, China
| | - Na Liu
- School of Management Science and Engineering, Central University of Finance and Economics, Beijing, China
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37
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Environmental Policy for the Restriction on the Use of Plastic Products in Taiwan: Regulatory Measures, Implementation Status and COVID-19’s Impacts on Plastic Products Recycling. ENVIRONMENTS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/environments9010007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
In response to international trends regarding the reduction in plastic waste (or plastic pollution), this work used the official statistics that were recently released, focusing on regulatory actions restricting the use of plastic products and/or the increase in recycling in Taiwan. In addition, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on plastic waste generation and plastic products’ recycling were also addressed in the present study. The results showed that the plastic compositions in the garbage slightly increased in recent years, suggesting that the effect of restrictions on the use of plastic products in Taiwan was not significant, even though the regulatory measures have been implemented since 2002. However, chlorine contents in the garbage were significantly increased in 2020. The increase could be attributed to the fact that kitchen waste (containing salt), household waste containing disinfectant (e.g., chlorine dioxide, sodium hypochlorite) or PVC-made products were generated more during the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the data also indicated that the monthly quantities of recycled plastic containers and other plastic products had no significant change since January 2020, especially in the outbreak period from May 2021 to July 2021.
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Wegner L, Liu S. Positive and negative experiences with the COVID-19 pandemic among lonely and non-lonely populations in Germany. Front Public Health 2022; 10:1067038. [PMID: 36937827 PMCID: PMC10017861 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1067038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic is causing an epidemic of loneliness. Previous studies have shown the differences in positive and negative experiences of lonely and non-lonely people in a non-pandemic setting. However, it is unclear how the drastic alteration of the COVID-19 pandemic may influence peoples' reactions and beliefs, especially among those who feel lonely. Our study aims to examine the positive and negative experiences among lonely and non-lonely people. We undertook a cross-sectional online survey of the general population in Germany (N = 1,758) from May 2020 to May 2022. We assessed their feelings of loneliness with the short eight-item UCLA Loneliness Scale (ULS-8), their positive and negative experience of living in the COVID-19 pandemic as well as their psychological distress regarding the pandemic with the COVID-19 Peritraumatic Distress Index (CPDI). We found lonely individuals (ULS-8 score ≥ 16) reported fewer positive experiences of living in the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, less time with loved ones [z (1, 756) = -2.5, p = 0.012] and less sense of togetherness [z (1, 756) = -2.39, p = 0.017] as compared to non-lonely individuals. Meanwhile, they experienced more negative experiences, for example, worry and fear [z (1, 756) = 6.31, p < 0.001] compared with non-lonely individuals. Interestingly, lonely people were less likely to view the pandemic as a conspiracy than non-lonely people were [z (1, 756) = -3.35, p < 0.001]. Our results may give insight into attribution bias and the negative affect of lonely people during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as highlight the experience of non-lonely people and raise the question of differences in conspiracy beliefs. For pandemic preparedness and response, decision-makers may focus on interventions to foster social cohesion, empower people, build resilience, and most importantly provide timely social care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Wegner
- Department of Education and Psychology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Campus Charité Mitte), Berlin, Germany
- *Correspondence: Luisa Wegner ;
| | - Shuyan Liu
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Campus Charité Mitte), Berlin, Germany
- Shuyan Liu ;
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Werikhe A. Towards a green and sustainable recovery from COVID-19. CURRENT RESEARCH IN ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY 2022; 4:100124. [PMID: 35036935 PMCID: PMC8743643 DOI: 10.1016/j.crsust.2022.100124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 01/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Whilst COVID-19 has left a devastating trail of economic and social losses, it has spurred incidental transitory positive externalities for the environment and climate. Key among these include; improved air and water quality, clearer skies and a projected 8% global blip in carbon emissions by the end of 2020. The global wave of restrictive lock downs implemented to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the short term account for these gains. The lockdowns were defined by limited public and private travel, closure of airports and borders, and a decline in industrial activity. However, most of these climate and environmental gains were secondary effects of the COVID-19 induced lockdowns and not based on decisive deliberate policy action, which casts doubts on their sustainability and ability to contribute to a green economy transition. Sustaining accrued environmental and climate benefits will depend on the direction of the COVID-19 stimuli and recovery packages - whether they are designed to work for the planet or against it. This article therefore elaborates on how state and non-state actors across the globe ought to be agile in building back sustainably to upend the ongoing collision course between the planet and economic development. It emphasizes the use of Sustainable Development Goals and Nationally Determined Contributions on climate change (NDCs) as a compass to shape the direction of COVID-19 recovery packages. It further enumerates six strategies that must underpin recovery packages to ensure win-win for the economy, society, and the planet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron Werikhe
- Planner Environment and Natural Resources, National Planning Authority-Kampala, Uganda
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Liu D, Yang H, Thompson JR, Li J, Loiselle S, Duan H. COVID-19 lockdown improved river water quality in China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 802:149585. [PMID: 34454149 PMCID: PMC8526986 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/07/2021] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The impacts of COVID-19 lockdowns on air quality around the world have received wide attention. In comparison, assessments of the implications for water quality are relatively rare. As the first country impacted by COVID-19, China implemented local and national lockdowns that shut down industries and businesses between January and May 2020. Based on monthly field measurements (N = 1693) and daily automonitoring (N = 65), this study analyzed the influence of the COVID-19 lockdown on river water quality in China. The results showed significant improvements in river water quality during the lockdown period but out-of-step improvements for different indicators. Reductions in ammonia nitrogen (NH4+-N) began relatively soon after the lockdown; chemical oxygen demand (COD) and dissolved oxygen (DO) showed improvements beginning in late January/early February and mid-March, respectively, while increases in pH were more temporally concentrated in the period from mid-March to early May. Compared to April 2019, the Water Quality Index increased at 67.4% of the stations in April 2020, with 75.9% of increases being significant. Changes in water quality parameters also varied spatially for different sites and were mainly determined by the locations and levels of economic development. After the lifting of the lockdown in June, all water quality parameters returned to pre-COVID-19 lockdown conditions. Our results clearly demonstrate the impacts of human activities on water quality and the potential for reversing ecosystem degradation by better management of wastewater discharges to replicate the beneficial impacts of the COVID-19 lockdown. CAPSULE SUMMARY: River water quality improved during China's COVID-19 lockdown, but returned to normal conditions after the lockdown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Watershed Geographic Sciences, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Hong Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China; Department of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 6AB, UK
| | - Julian R Thompson
- UCL Department of Geography, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Junli Li
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China
| | - Steven Loiselle
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, CSGI, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Hongtao Duan
- Key Laboratory of Watershed Geographic Sciences, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China; College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an 710127, China.
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Zrnić Novaković I, Lueger-Schuster B, Verginer L, Bakić H, Ajduković D, Borges C, Figueiredo-Braga M, Javakhishvili JD, Tsiskarishvili L, Dragan M, Nagórka N, Anastassiou-Hadjicharalambous X, Lioupi C, Lotzin A. You can't do anything about it, but you can make the best of it: a qualitative analysis of pandemic-related experiences in six European countries. Eur J Psychotraumatol 2022; 13:2065431. [PMID: 35646295 PMCID: PMC9132427 DOI: 10.1080/20008198.2022.2065431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The complex system of stressors related to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected the global population, provoking a broad range of psychological reactions. Although numerous studies have investigated the mental health impact of COVID-19, qualitative research and cross-country comparisons are still rare. OBJECTIVE This qualitative study aimed to explore self-perceived challenges and opportunities related to COVID-19 across six European countries. The overall objective was to provide a differentiated picture of individual subjective experiences in the early stages of the pandemic. METHOD The present study included 7309 participants from Austria, Croatia, Georgia, Greece, Poland, and Portugal. We performed qualitative content analysis according to Mayring analyse open-ended questions regarding stressful events, positive and negative aspects of the pandemic, and recommendations to cope with the pandemic situation. MAXQDA software was used for data management and analysis. RESULTS Participants' accounts were moderately consistent across the countries. The most prominent themes regarding stressful and negative pandemic aspects included: Restrictions and changes in daily life, Emotional distress, and Work and finances. Answers about positive pandemic consequences were mainly centred around the themes Reflection and growth, Opportunity for meaningful/enjoyable activities, and Benefits on interpersonal level. Key themes identified from participants' recommendations to cope with the pandemic included Beneficial behavioural adjustment, Beneficial cognitive-emotional strategies, and Social support. CONCLUSIONS Participants experienced various challenges, but also shared several positive pandemic consequences and recommendations to cope with the pandemic. These first-hand data could inform mental health practices to promote well-being during COVID-19 and similar global challenges in the participating countries and possibly beyond. HIGHLIGHTS We examined COVID-19-related experiences in 7309 adults from six European countries.Besides challenges, participants identified many positive pandemic consequences.Participants' recommendations to cope with COVID-19 included behavioural and cognitive-emotional strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina Zrnić Novaković
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Vienna Doctoral School in Cognition, Behavior and Neuroscience, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Brigitte Lueger-Schuster
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lucia Verginer
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Helena Bakić
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Dean Ajduković
- Vienna Doctoral School in Cognition, Behavior and Neuroscience, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Camila Borges
- Trauma Observatory, Centre for Social Studies (CES) of the University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Margarida Figueiredo-Braga
- Trauma Observatory, Centre for Social Studies (CES) of the University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | | | | | | | - Nadia Nagórka
- Faculty of Psychology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Chrysanthi Lioupi
- Psychology Program, School of Ηumanities, Social Sciences and Law, University of Nicosia, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Annett Lotzin
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Department of Psychology, MSH Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
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Venturi S, Randazzo A, Tassi F, Gioli B, Buccianti A, Gualtieri G, Capecchiacci F, Cabassi J, Brilli L, Carotenuto F, Santi R, Vagnoli C, Zaldei A, Vaselli O. Unveiling the changes in urban atmospheric CO 2 in the time of COVID-19 pandemic: A case study of Florence (Italy). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 795:148877. [PMID: 34252774 PMCID: PMC8254387 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2021] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
The outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic was accompanied by global mobility restrictions and slowdown in manufacturing activities. Accordingly, cities experienced a significant decrease of CO2 emissions. In this study, continuous measurements of CO2 fluxes, atmospheric CO2 concentrations and δ13C-CO2 values were performed in the historical center of Florence (Italy) before, during and after the almost two-month long national lockdown. The temporal trends of the analyzed parameters, combined with the variations in emitting source categories (from inventory data), evidenced a fast response of flux measurements to variations in the strength of the emitting sources. Similarly, the δ13C-CO2 values recorded the change in the prevailing sources contributing to urban atmospheric CO2, confirming the effectiveness of carbon isotopic data as geochemical tracers for identifying and quantifying the relative contributions of emitting sources. Although the direct impact of restriction measurements on CO2 concentrations was less clear due to seasonal trends and background fluctuations, an in-depth analysis of the daily local CO2 enhancement with respect to the background values revealed a progressive decrease throughout the lockdown phase at the end of the heating season (>10 ppm), followed by a net increase (ca. 5 ppm) with the resumption of traffic. Finally, the investigation of the shape of the frequency distribution of the analyzed variables revealed interesting aspects concerning the dynamics of the systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Venturi
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Florence, Via G. La Pira 4, 50121 Firenze, Italy; Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources (IGG), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Via G. La Pira 4, 50121 Firenze, Italy.
| | - Antonio Randazzo
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Florence, Via G. La Pira 4, 50121 Firenze, Italy
| | - Franco Tassi
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Florence, Via G. La Pira 4, 50121 Firenze, Italy; Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources (IGG), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Via G. La Pira 4, 50121 Firenze, Italy
| | - Beniamino Gioli
- Institute for BioEconomy (IBE), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Via G. Caproni 8, 50145 Firenze, Italy
| | - Antonella Buccianti
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Florence, Via G. La Pira 4, 50121 Firenze, Italy
| | - Giovanni Gualtieri
- Institute for BioEconomy (IBE), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Via G. Caproni 8, 50145 Firenze, Italy
| | - Francesco Capecchiacci
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Florence, Via G. La Pira 4, 50121 Firenze, Italy; Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources (IGG), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Via G. La Pira 4, 50121 Firenze, Italy
| | - Jacopo Cabassi
- Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources (IGG), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Via G. La Pira 4, 50121 Firenze, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Brilli
- Institute for BioEconomy (IBE), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Via G. Caproni 8, 50145 Firenze, Italy
| | - Federico Carotenuto
- Institute for BioEconomy (IBE), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Via G. Caproni 8, 50145 Firenze, Italy
| | - Riccardo Santi
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Florence, Via G. La Pira 4, 50121 Firenze, Italy
| | - Carolina Vagnoli
- Institute for BioEconomy (IBE), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Via G. Caproni 8, 50145 Firenze, Italy
| | - Alessandro Zaldei
- Institute for BioEconomy (IBE), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Via G. Caproni 8, 50145 Firenze, Italy
| | - Orlando Vaselli
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Florence, Via G. La Pira 4, 50121 Firenze, Italy; Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources (IGG), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Via G. La Pira 4, 50121 Firenze, Italy
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43
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Friedman S, Imrie S, Fink E, Gedikoglu M, Hughes C. Understanding changes to children's connection to nature during the COVID-19 pandemic and implications for child well-being. PEOPLE AND NATURE 2021; 4:155-165. [PMID: 34909606 PMCID: PMC8661645 DOI: 10.1002/pan3.10270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
While psychological connection to nature is known to be associated with both pro‐environmental behaviours and well‐being, there is an urgent need to extend this research to consider impacts from the COVID‐19 lockdown period. Examining whether children's connection to nature changed during this period, identifying the drivers of these changes and determining the links between connection to nature and child well‐being can each serve to guide post‐lockdown initiatives to promote children's connection to nature. Three findings emerged from this UK sample of 376 families with young children. First, nearly two thirds of parents reported a change (most typically, an increase) in their child's connection to nature. Explanations for this increase included having more time, increased enjoyment of nature and increased awareness or interest in nature. Second, a third of children whose connection to nature decreased during the pandemic displayed increased problems of well‐being—manifest as either ‘acting out’ (externalising problems) or sadness/anxiety (internalising problems). Third, an increase in connection to nature during the pandemic was more evident for children from affluent families than for their less affluent peers. While connecting to nature may be an effective means of addressing child problems of well‐being, the divergent findings for children from different family backgrounds indicate that efforts to enhance connection to nature should focus on the barriers experienced by children from less affluent families.
A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Susan Imrie
- Centre for Family Research University of Cambridge Cambridge UK
| | - Elian Fink
- School of Psychology University of Sussex Sussex UK
| | - Mina Gedikoglu
- Centre for Family Research University of Cambridge Cambridge UK
| | - Claire Hughes
- Centre for Family Research University of Cambridge Cambridge UK
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44
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Meng X, Wang X, Meng S, Wang Y, Liu H, Liang D, Fan W, Min H, Huang W, Chen A, Zhu H, Peng G, Liu J, Qiu Z, Wang T, Yang L, Wei Y, Huo P, Zhang D, Liu Y. A Global Overview of SARS-CoV-2 in Wastewater: Detection, Treatment, and Prevention. ACS ES&T WATER 2021; 1:2174-2185. [PMID: 37566346 PMCID: PMC8457323 DOI: 10.1021/acsestwater.1c00146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2021] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
A novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) causing corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has attracted global attention due to its highly infectious and pathogenic properties. Most of current studies focus on aerosols released from infected individuals, but the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater also should be examined. In this review, we used bibliometrics to statistically evaluate the importance of water-related issues in the context of COVID-19. The results show that the levels and transmission possibilities of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater are the main concerns, followed by potential secondary pollution by the intensive use of disinfectants, sludge disposal, and the personal safety of workers. The presence of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater requires more attention during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, the most effective techniques, i.e., wastewater-based epidemiology and quantitative microbial risk assessment, for virus surveillance in wastewater are systematically analyzed. We further explicitly review and analyze the successful operation of a sewage treatment plant in Huoshenshan Hospital in China as an example and reference for other sewage treatment systems to properly ensure discharge safety and tackle the COVID-19 pandemic. This review offers deeper insight into the prevention and control of SARS-CoV-2 and similar viruses in the post-COVID-19 era from a wastewater perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianghao Meng
- School of Space and Environment, Beihang
University, Beijing 100191, P. R. China
| | - Xuye Wang
- School of Space and Environment, Beihang
University, Beijing 100191, P. R. China
| | - Shujuan Meng
- School of Space and Environment, Beihang
University, Beijing 100191, P. R. China
| | - Ying Wang
- School of Space and Environment, Beihang
University, Beijing 100191, P. R. China
| | - Hongju Liu
- School of Space and Environment, Beihang
University, Beijing 100191, P. R. China
| | - Dawei Liang
- School of Space and Environment, Beihang
University, Beijing 100191, P. R. China
| | - Wenhong Fan
- School of Space and Environment, Beihang
University, Beijing 100191, P. R. China
| | - Hongping Min
- China Construction Third Bureau Green
Industry Investment Company, Ltd., Wuhan 430035, P. R.
China
| | - Wenhai Huang
- China Construction Third Bureau Green
Industry Investment Company, Ltd., Wuhan 430035, P. R.
China
| | - Anming Chen
- China Construction Third Bureau Green
Industry Investment Company, Ltd., Wuhan 430035, P. R.
China
| | - Haijun Zhu
- China Construction Third Bureau Green
Industry Investment Company, Ltd., Wuhan 430035, P. R.
China
| | - Guanping Peng
- China Construction Third Bureau Green
Industry Investment Company, Ltd., Wuhan 430035, P. R.
China
| | - Jun Liu
- China Construction Third Bureau Green
Industry Investment Company, Ltd., Wuhan 430035, P. R.
China
| | - Zhenhuan Qiu
- China Construction Third Bureau Green
Industry Investment Company, Ltd., Wuhan 430035, P. R.
China
| | - Tao Wang
- China Construction Third Bureau Green
Industry Investment Company, Ltd., Wuhan 430035, P. R.
China
| | - Linyan Yang
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering,
East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai
200237, P. R. China
| | - Yuan Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and
Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental
Science, Beijing 100012, P. R. China
| | - Peishu Huo
- School of Environment, Tsinghua
University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China
| | - Dayi Zhang
- School of Environment, Tsinghua
University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China
| | - Yu Liu
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering,
Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue,
Singapore 639798
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Rahaman MS, Rahman MM, Ali Reza SM, Reza MN, Chowdhury MS. Thank you, COVID-19: Positive social psychology towards the new normal. JOURNAL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS 2021; 22:e2766. [PMID: 34899061 PMCID: PMC8646455 DOI: 10.1002/pa.2766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
During the time being, while everybody else is busy conversing about the adverse effects of COVID-19, researchers solemnly look forward to intensifying the positive effects of COVID-19 on political, economic, social, technological, environmental, and ethical (PESTEL) aspects, as it was unrevealed. The FGD (Focus Group Discussion) and Delphi methods were conducted from April 2020 to January 2021 through the online platform to collect the data. In this research, 40 graduates from 40 families were taken as our sample size who carried out the opinions of their family members. The average duration of the interview was 30-40 min. This article highlighted that COVID-19 has some positive effects on social-psychological aspects (PESTEL) and, people are trying to adapt to new practices (New Normal) to improve their lifestyles against the deadly virus. COVID-19 would pass, but life will never be the same; thus, researchers conduct the research based on a country, which may not be similar to the other cultures and countries' perceptions. This is the first and foremost study on the positive effects of covid-19 and a guideline to cope with any pandemic in the near future. The study's findings are intended to assist the community in developing positive social psychology to call the covid-19 into question and look forward to a new standard.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md. Saidur Rahaman
- Department of Business AdministrationMetropolitan UniversitySylhetBangladesh
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Ali Q, Parveen S, Yaacob H, Zaini Z, Sarbini NA. COVID-19 and dynamics of environmental awareness, sustainable consumption and social responsibility in Malaysia. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:56199-56218. [PMID: 34050516 PMCID: PMC8163361 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-14612-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Despite a profound evidence of the human unsustainable behaviours' impact on the environment, stark disparities prevail on this narrative especially in the context of the current epidemiological situation ushered by the COVID-19. The ongoing pandemic is a global public health concern due to its sagacious impacts on environmental sustainability, social responsibility and people's quality of life. This study primarily focuses on analysing the impact of COVID-19 (COV) on the environmental awareness (EA), sustainable consumption (SC) and social responsibility (SR). Additionally, we aspire to investigate the impact of demographics of generations and religion on the proposed nexus in this study. The data was collected from 700 participants of different age groups and religious backgrounds in Malaysia, and structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to analyse this data and test the hypotheses. The findings indicate that COVID-19 has a significantly positive impact on EA, SC and SR, and the generations and religiosity moderate the relationship between COVID-19 and its impact on sustainable behaviours. This study contributes to analyse the difference in the perception of EA, SC and SR among the people that eventually will stimulate the scientific reasoning among the governments, policymakers and scientists to develop a holistic framework to combat unprecedented event such as COVID-19 and ensure the authentication of sustainable environment and exceptional quality of life. The policymakers in Malaysia may use the findings of this study to inspect the social and environmental aspects of the people during the transformation events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qaisar Ali
- Faculty of Islamic Economics and Finance (FEKIM), Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam.
| | - Shazia Parveen
- Azman Hashim International Business School, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor Bahru, Malaysia
| | - Hakimah Yaacob
- Faculty of Islamic Economics and Finance (FEKIM), Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam
| | - Zaki Zaini
- Faculty of Islamic Economics and Finance (FEKIM), Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam
| | - Nur Anissa Sarbini
- Faculty of Islamic Economics and Finance (FEKIM), Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam
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47
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Piotrowski AP, Piotrowska AE. Differential evolution and particle swarm optimization against COVID-19. Artif Intell Rev 2021; 55:2149-2219. [PMID: 34426713 PMCID: PMC8374127 DOI: 10.1007/s10462-021-10052-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
COVID-19 disease, which highly affected global life in 2020, led to a rapid scientific response. Versatile optimization methods found their application in scientific studies related to COVID-19 pandemic. Differential Evolution (DE) and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) are two metaheuristics that for over two decades have been widely researched and used in various fields of science. In this paper a survey of DE and PSO applications for problems related with COVID-19 pandemic that were rapidly published in 2020 is presented from two different points of view: 1. practitioners seeking the appropriate method to solve particular problem, 2. experts in metaheuristics that are interested in methodological details, inter comparisons between different methods, and the ways for improvement. The effectiveness and popularity of DE and PSO is analyzed in the context of other metaheuristics used against COVID-19. It is found that in COVID-19 related studies: 1. DE and PSO are most frequently used for calibration of epidemiological models and image-based classification of patients or symptoms, but applications are versatile, even interconnecting the pandemic and humanities; 2. reporting on DE or PSO methodological details is often scarce, and the choices made are not necessarily appropriate for the particular algorithm or problem; 3. mainly the basic variants of DE and PSO that were proposed in the late XX century are applied, and research performed in recent two decades is rather ignored; 4. the number of citations and the availability of codes in various programming languages seems to be the main factors for choosing metaheuristics that are finally used.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam P. Piotrowski
- Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Ks. Janusza 64, 01-452 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Agnieszka E. Piotrowska
- Faculty of Polish Studies, University of Warsaw, Krakowskie Przedmiescie 26/28, 00-927 Warsaw, Poland
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The Impact of the Pandemic on Vehicle Traffic and Roadside Environmental Pollution: Rzeszow City as a Case Study. ENERGIES 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/en14144299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The development of the COVID-19 pandemic and the related lockdown had a major impact on vehicle traffic in cities. Based on available data from the selected city of Rzeszow, Poland, it was decided to assess changes in vehicle traffic and the impact of these changes on roadside environmental pollution. As part of the research, data from the first half of 2020 regarding vehicle traffic on selected streets of the city and on the city’s inlet routes were analyzed. For the selected road sections, changes in hourly traffic volume in 2020, compared with 2019, were also determined. With data on traffic volume, an attempt was made to estimate the impact of changes in traffic volume on air pollution in the city. Research on air pollution from motor vehicles was focused on a selected section of a city road that was equipped with an automatic air pollution measurement station located very close to the road. Additionally, at the road intersection and in the vicinity of the measuring station, a sensor was installed in the roadway to count passing vehicles. A preliminary analysis of air pollution data revealed that factors such as wind speed and direction and outside temperature had a large impact on measurement results. To eliminate the influence of these factors and to obtain data concerning only contamination originating from motor vehicles traveling along the road, an appropriate mathematical model of the traffic flow–roadside environment system was built. This model was designed to determine the air pollution in the vicinity of the road generated by traffic flow. The constructed model was verified, and the conditions for its use were determined in order to study the impact of traffic and roadside environment on the level of air pollution from harmful exhaust substances. It was shown that at certain times of the day, especially at low temperatures, other sources of harmful emissions related to home heating play a major role in air pollution in the city.
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Abstract
Decades of social science research have taught us much about how individuals, groups, and communities respond to disasters. The findings of this research have helped inform emergency management practices, including disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, most of us—researchers or not—have attempted or are attempting to make sense of what is going on around us. In this article, we assert that we need not examine the pandemic in a vacuum; rather, we can draw upon scholarly and practical sources to inform our thinking about this 21st century catastrophe. The pandemic has provided an “unfortunate opportunity” to revisit what we know about disaster phenomena, including catastrophes, and to reconsider the findings of research from over the years. Drawing upon academic research, media sources, and our own observations, we focus on the U.S. and employ disaster characteristics framework of (1) etiology or origins; (2) physical damage characteristics; (3) disaster phases or cycles; (4) vulnerability; (5) community impacts; and (6) individual impacts to examine perspectives about the ways in which the ongoing pandemic is both similar and dissimilar to conceptualizations about the social dimensions of hazards and disasters. We find that the COVID-19 pandemic is not merely a disaster; rather, it is a catastrophe.
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Mohan M, Rue HA, Bajaj S, Galgamuwa GAP, Adrah E, Aghai MM, Broadbent EN, Khadamkar O, Sasmito SD, Roise J, Doaemo W, Cardil A. Afforestation, reforestation and new challenges from COVID-19: Thirty-three recommendations to support civil society organizations (CSOs). JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 287:112277. [PMID: 33756214 PMCID: PMC8809530 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2020] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Afforestation/reforestation (A/R) programs spearheaded by Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) play a significant role in reaching global climate policy targets and helping low-income nations meet the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, these organizations face unprecedented challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Consequently, these challenges affect their ability to address issues associated with deforestation and forest degradation in a timely manner. We discuss the influence COVID-19 can have on previous, present and future A/R initiatives, in particular, the ones led by International Non-governmental Organizations (INGOs). We provide thirty-three recommendations for exploring underlying deforestation patterns and optimizing forest policy reforms to support forest cover expansion during the pandemic. The recommendations are classified into four groups - i) curbing deforestation and improving A/R, ii) protecting the environment and mitigating climate change, iii) enhancing socio-economic conditions, and iv) amending policy and law enforcement practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Midhun Mohan
- Department of Geography, University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94709, USA; United Nations Volunteering Program, Morobe Development Foundation, Lae, 00411, Papua New Guinea.
| | - Hayden A Rue
- United Nations Volunteering Program, Morobe Development Foundation, Lae, 00411, Papua New Guinea; Grow Non-profit, Kathmandu, Nepal.
| | - Shaurya Bajaj
- United Nations Volunteering Program, Morobe Development Foundation, Lae, 00411, Papua New Guinea.
| | - G A Pabodha Galgamuwa
- United Nations Volunteering Program, Morobe Development Foundation, Lae, 00411, Papua New Guinea; The Nature Conservancy, Maryland/DC Chapter, Cumberland, MD, 21502, USA.
| | - Esmaeel Adrah
- United Nations Volunteering Program, Morobe Development Foundation, Lae, 00411, Papua New Guinea.
| | | | - Eben North Broadbent
- Spatial Ecology and Conservation Lab, School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA.
| | - Omkar Khadamkar
- United Nations Volunteering Program, Morobe Development Foundation, Lae, 00411, Papua New Guinea.
| | - Sigit D Sasmito
- NUS Environmental Research Institute (NERI), National University of Singapore, 21 Lower Kent Ridge Road, 19 Singapore, 119077, Singapore; Department of Geography, National University of Singapore, 1 Arts Link, Singapore, 117570, Singapore.
| | - Joseph Roise
- Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, North Carolina State University, 2820 Faucette Dr., Campus Box 8001, 27695, Raleigh, NC, United States.
| | - Willie Doaemo
- United Nations Volunteering Program, Morobe Development Foundation, Lae, 00411, Papua New Guinea; Morobe Development Foundation, Doyle Street, Trish Avenue-Eriku, Lae, 00411, Papua New Guinea; Department of Civil Engineering, Papua New Guinea University of Technology, Lae, 00411, Papua New Guinea.
| | - Adrian Cardil
- Tecnosylva, Parque Tecnológico de León, 24009, León, Spain; Forest Science and Technology Centre of Catalonia (CTFC), Ctra. Sant Llorenç de Morunys, Km 2, 25280, Solsona, Lleida, Spain; School of Agrifood and Forestry Science and Engineering, University of Lleida, Av. de l'Alcalde Rovira Roure, 191, 25198, Solsona, Lleida, Spain.
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