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Rana G, Dhiman P, Kumar A, Chauhan A, Sharma G. Recent advances in photocatalytic removal of antiviral drugs by Z-scheme and S-scheme heterojunction. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:40851-40872. [PMID: 38837030 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-33876-9] [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: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
The possible impact of antivirals on ecosystems and the emergence of antiviral resistance are the reasons for concern about their environmental release. Consequently, there has been a significant increase in curiosity regarding their presence in both organic and synthetic systems in recent years. The primary objective of this review is to address the void of information regarding the global presence of antiviral drugs in both wastewater and natural water sources. Photocatalytic degradation of pollutants is an eco-friendly, cost-effective method that effectively addresses environmental degradation. The development of efficient photocatalysts remains a significant issue in accelerating the degradation of pollutants, especially when employing solar light. Thus, the development of Z-scheme and S-scheme semiconductor heterojunctions has emerged as a viable method to improve light absorption and enhance the redox capability of photocatalysts. The principles of Z-scheme and S-scheme are reviewed extensively. The degradation route and occurrence of antiviral are discussed briefly. Finally, a short preview of the degradation of antiviral using Z-scheme and S-scheme is also highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garima Rana
- International Research Centre of Nanotechnology for Himalayan Sustainability (IRCNHS), Shoolini University, Solan, India.
| | - Pooja Dhiman
- International Research Centre of Nanotechnology for Himalayan Sustainability (IRCNHS), Shoolini University, Solan, India
| | - Amit Kumar
- International Research Centre of Nanotechnology for Himalayan Sustainability (IRCNHS), Shoolini University, Solan, India
| | - Ankush Chauhan
- Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Kelambakkam, Tamil Nadu, 603103, India
- Centre for Herbal Pharmacology and Environmental Sustainability, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Kelambakkam, Tamil Nadu, 603103, India
| | - Gaurav Sharma
- International Research Centre of Nanotechnology for Himalayan Sustainability (IRCNHS), Shoolini University, Solan, India
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Kularatne RKA. Biomedical waste generation at Ayurveda hospitals in South Asia: A mini review of the composition, quantities and characteristics. WASTE MANAGEMENT & RESEARCH : THE JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOLID WASTES AND PUBLIC CLEANSING ASSOCIATION, ISWA 2024; 42:95-110. [PMID: 37313954 DOI: 10.1177/0734242x231178225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Ayurveda hospitals generate biomedical wastes (BMW). However, details on composition, quantities and characteristics are very scarce, details which are important to formulate a proper waste management plan for subsequent implementation and continual improvement. Therefore, this article presents a mini review of the composition, quantities and characteristics of BMW generated from Ayurveda hospitals. Additionally, this article presents some best possible treatment and disposal procedures. Most of the information was gleaned from peer-reviewed journals, although some information was collected by the author and from grey literature available to the author; 70-99% (by wet weight) of the solid waste is non-hazardous; biodegradables contributing to 44-60% by wet weight due to more used Kizhi (medicinal bags for fomentation) and other medicinal/pharmaceutical wastes (excluding waste medicated oils, which is 12-15% of the liquid medicinal waste stream and are not readily biodegradable) largely derived from plants. The hazardous waste component includes infectious wastes, sharps, blood as pathological wastes (from Raktamoksha - bloodletting), heavy metal containing pharmaceutical wastes, chemical wastes and heavy metal rich wastes. Quantities of infectious wastes followed by sharps and blood form a major portion of hazardous wastes. Most of the infectious waste material contaminated with blood or other body fluids and sharps from Raktamoksha are very similar (appearance, moisture content and bulk density) to what is generated from hospitals practicing Western medicine. However, hospital-specific waste studies are required in future to better understand the sources, areas of generation, types, quantities and characteristics of BMW, and hence to formulate more accurate waste management plans.
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Kostecka-Gugała A. Quinces ( Cydonia oblonga, Chaenomeles sp., and Pseudocydonia sinensis) as Medicinal Fruits of the Rosaceae Family: Current State of Knowledge on Properties and Use. Antioxidants (Basel) 2024; 13:71. [PMID: 38247495 PMCID: PMC10812678 DOI: 10.3390/antiox13010071] [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: 11/26/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
In recent years, the evaluation of many plant-derived compounds as potential new drugs or functional foods has become an active research topic. The morphological characteristics of quinces of the genera Cydonia sp., Chaenomeles sp., and Pseuocydonia sp. are largely similar, which is why these fruits are often confused. Although they have been appreciated in Asia for centuries as a valuable component of local ethnomedicine, they are less known in Western countries, and scientific knowledge about their health benefits remains fragmentary. This literature review summarizes studies on the content of chemical compounds responsible for the health-promoting and functional properties of the quince fruit. It focuses on the content of carotenoids, vitamins, minerals, and carboxylic acids, although the main emphasis is on the content and diversity of bioactive polyphenols, which are extremely abundant in these fruits. The quince fruits are rich in antioxidants and compounds with proven anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antiallergic, and immunomodulatory effects. Their phytochemicals effectively regulate glycemia and improve the blood lipid profile, suggesting potential antidiabetic and cardioprotective benefits. Analysis of chemical characteristics showed that the Chaenomeles fruits. are underestimated as functional food ingredients. Studies on the molecular effects of their bioactive compounds and species-specific genomic analyses are sorely lacking in the scientific literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Kostecka-Gugała
- Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Horticulture, University of Agriculture in Krakow, al. Mickiewicza 21, 31-120 Kraków, Poland
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Chew X, Khaw KW, Alnoor A, Ferasso M, Al Halbusi H, Muhsen YR. Circular economy of medical waste: novel intelligent medical waste management framework based on extension linear Diophantine fuzzy FDOSM and neural network approach. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:60473-60499. [PMID: 37036648 PMCID: PMC10088637 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-26677-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023]
Abstract
Environmental pollution has been a major concern for researchers and policymakers. A number of studies have been conducted to enquire the causes of environmental pollution which suggested numerous policies and techniques as remedial measures. One such major source of environmental pollution, as reported by previous studies, has been the garbage resulting from disposed hospital wastes. The recent outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted into mass generation of medical waste which seems to have further deteriorated the issue of environmental pollution. This necessitates active attention from both the researchers and policymakers for effective management of medical waste to prevent the harm to environment and human health. The issue of medical waste management is more important for countries lacking sophisticated medical infrastructure. Accordingly, the purpose of this study is to propose a novel application for identification and classification of 10 hospitals in Iraq which generated more medical waste during the COVID-19 pandemic than others in order to address the issue more effectively. We used the Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) method to this end. We integrated MCDM with other techniques including the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), linear Diophantine fuzzy set decision by opinion score method (LDFN-FDOSM), and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) analysis to generate more robust results. We classified medical waste into five categories, i.e., general waste, sharp waste, pharmaceutical waste, infectious waste, and pathological waste. We consulted 313 experts to help in identifying the best and the worst medical waste management technique within the perspectives of circular economy using the neural network approach. The findings revealed that incineration technique, microwave technique, pyrolysis technique, autoclave chemical technique, vaporized hydrogen peroxide, dry heat, ozone, and ultraviolet light were the most effective methods to dispose of medical waste during the pandemic. Additionally, ozone was identified as the most suitable technique among all to serve the purpose of circular economy of medical waste. We conclude by discussing the practical implications to guide governments and policy makers to benefit from the circular economy of medical waste to turn pollutant hospitals into sustainable ones.
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Affiliation(s)
- XinYing Chew
- School of Computer Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
| | - Khai Wah Khaw
- School of Management, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
| | - Alhamzah Alnoor
- Management Technical College, Southern Technical University, Basrah, Iraq.
| | - Marcos Ferasso
- Economics and Business Sciences Department, Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa, 1169-023, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Hussam Al Halbusi
- Department of Management, Ahmed Bin Mohammad Military College, Doha, Qatar
| | - Yousif Raad Muhsen
- Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Seri Kembangan, Selangor, Malaysia
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Duarte JAP, Ribeiro AKN, de Carvalho P, Bortolini JC, Ostroski IC. Emerging contaminants in the aquatic environment: phytoplankton structure in the presence of sulfamethoxazole and diclofenac. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:46604-46617. [PMID: 36719587 PMCID: PMC9888349 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-25589-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Chemicals from anthropogenic activities such as domestic sewage, pesticide leaching, and improper chemical disposal have caused groundwater contamination. The presence of these emerging contaminants in the aquatic environment can change water quality and biota composition. Thus, this study investigates the effect of two emerging contaminants, anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac (DCF) and antibiotic sulfamethoxazole (SMX), on the aquatic environment, evaluating the phytoplankton community structure. A microcosm experiment was conducted with 16 sampling units, each one with 500 mL of water sample containing phytoplankton exposed to these drugs at different concentrations (0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 mg L-1). The experiment lasted 15 days, and samples were collected on days 0, 3, 5, 7, and 14 to evaluate the phytoplankton community, the concentrations of the drugs, and the nutrients in the samples. Six phytoplankton groups were identified, and diatoms and green algae were the most diverse and abundant groups. For the entire community, we identified differences between the days of the experiment, varying in the diversity and density of organisms, but not between the concentrations of the two drugs. Evaluating the groups separately, we identified differences in the abundance of cyanobacteria for the treatment with diclofenac and desmids for the treatment with sulfamethoxazole. We demonstrated that the presence of pharmaceuticals in freshwater ecosystems can somehow affect the phytoplankton community, especially the diversity and abundance of cyanobacteria and desmids. Therefore, our study indicates the importance of evaluating the presence of pharmaceuticals in freshwater ecosystems and their influence on aquatic organisms, as well as pharmaceuticals may be changing the structure of the aquatic environment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Priscilla de Carvalho
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, GO, 74690-900, Brazil
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Paul V, Tripathi AD, Agarwal A, Mahato DK, Srivastava K, Maurya KK. Herbs-derived phytochemicals - a boon for combating COVID-19. VEGETOS (BAREILLY, INDIA) 2023:1-8. [PMID: 37359125 PMCID: PMC10013230 DOI: 10.1007/s42535-023-00601-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
The recent pandemic, the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), has put the whole world on alert with the threat of the virus that targets the human respiratory system. The disease has affected more than 633.6 million people globally and caused 6.5 million deaths since November 18, 2022. About 12.94 billion people are vaccinated as of November 18, 2022. Due to varied climatic conditions, SARS-CoV-2 has shown rapid mutation in recent years. Because of the lack of appropriate therapeutic drugs, inadequate diagnostic mechanisms, life-supporting medical facilities, and lack of awareness, the spread of SARS-CoV-2 has become severe. Thus, the most efficient strategy to control this disease is to follow preventive measures. However, treating SARS-CoV-2 cases in Wuhan using traditional Chinese herbs has set an example to show how traditional health can contribute to treating this novel virus. Medicinal herbs are known for their antimicrobial, antibacterial, antiviral, immunomodulatory, immunoadjuvant, and anti-inflammatory properties. These medicinal herbs are used during cooking and consumed regularly worldwide. In this view, medicinal herbs gained evident attention. These herbs can serve as a potential and economical remedy for combating the lethal effects of COVID-19. The present review highlights the phytochemicals and their mechanisms of action in preventing SARS-CoV-2. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42535-023-00601-9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veena Paul
- Department of Dairy Science and Food Technology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005 India
| | - Abhishek Dutt Tripathi
- Department of Dairy Science and Food Technology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005 India
| | - Aparna Agarwal
- Department of Food & Nutrition and Food Technology, Lady Irwin College, Sikandra Road, New Delhi, 110001 India
| | - Dipendra Kumar Mahato
- CASS Food Research Centre, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, 3125 VIC Australia
| | - Kartikeya Srivastava
- Department of Plant Genetics and Plant Breeding, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005 India
| | - Kamlesh Kumar Maurya
- Department of Dairy Science and Food Technology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005 India
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7
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Sridhar A, Balakrishnan A, Jacob MM, Sillanpää M, Dayanandan N. Global impact of COVID-19 on agriculture: role of sustainable agriculture and digital farming. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:42509-42525. [PMID: 35258730 PMCID: PMC8902491 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-19358-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 04/13/2023]
Abstract
The rise and spread of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has created an imbalance in all sectors worldwide, massively disrupting the global economy. Social distancing, quarantine regulations, and strict travel restrictions have led to a major reduction in the workforce and loss of jobs across all industrial sectors. One of the sectors completely exposed was the agriculture and food sector. The initiation of a nationwide lockdown by the government resulted in the shutdown of industries globally impacting the overall supply chain from farmer to consumer. The need of the hour is to propose effective solutions which can serve the dual purpose of market growth as well as customer satisfaction. This paper reviews the impact of COVID-19 on the agro-food system and its economy stressing critical factors like food production, demand, price hikes, security, and supply chain resilience. To conserve natural resources and meet the sustainable development goals (SDG), importance has been given to adopting sustainable agricultural practices with a prime focus on techniques like urban agriculture, crop rotation, hydroponics, and family farming. Possible advancements like the use of digital tools, mainly artificial intelligence, machine learning, deep learning, and block-chain technology, in the agro-food sector have been discussed as they could be a promising tool to develop a self-reliant society. This work would be a perfect platform to understand the growing impact of the pandemic as well as supporting cost-effective solutions for a green ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adithya Sridhar
- Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering and Technology, SRM Institute of Science & Technology, Kattankulathur 603 203, Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Akash Balakrishnan
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, Odisha, 769 008, India
| | - Meenu Mariam Jacob
- Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering and Technology, SRM Institute of Science & Technology, Kattankulathur 603 203, Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Mika Sillanpää
- Department of Chemical Engineering, School of Mining, Metallurgy, and Chemical Engineering, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 17011, Doornfontein, 2028, South Africa
| | - Nanditha Dayanandan
- Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering and Technology, SRM Institute of Science & Technology, Kattankulathur 603 203, Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu, India
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Gandhi Y, Mishra SK, Rawat H, Grewal J, Kumar R, Shakya SK, Jain VK, Babu G, Singh A, Singh R, Acharya R, Kumar V. Phytomedicines explored under in vitro and in silico studies against coronavirus: An opportunity to develop traditional medicines. SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN ASSOCIATION OF BOTANISTS = SUID-AFRIKAANSE TYDSKRIF VIR PLANTKUNDE : AMPTELIKE TYDSKRIF VAN DIE SUID-AFRIKAANSE GENOOTSKAP VAN PLANTKUNDIGES 2022; 151:451-483. [PMID: 35530267 PMCID: PMC9057940 DOI: 10.1016/j.sajb.2022.04.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The widespread COVID-19 pandemic, caused by novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, has emanated as one of the most life-threatening transmissible diseases. Currently, the repurposed drugs such as remdesivir, azithromycine, chloroquine, and hydroxychloroquine are being employed in the management of COVID-19 but their adverse effects are a matter of concern. In this regard, alternative treatment options i.e., traditional medicine, medicinal plants, and their phytochemicals, which exhibit significant therapeutic efficacy and show a low toxicity profile, are being explored. The current review aims at unraveling the promising medicinal plants, phytochemicals, and traditional medicines against SARS-CoV-2 to discover phytomedicines for the management of COVID-19 on the basis of their potent antiviral activities against coronaviruses, as demonstrated in various biochemical and computational chemical biology studies. The review consists of integrative and updated information on the potential traditional medicines against COVID-19 and will facilitate researchers to develop traditional medicines for the management of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yashika Gandhi
- Department of Chemistry, Central Ayurveda Research Institute Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, 284003, India
| | - Sujeet K Mishra
- Department of Chemistry, Central Ayurveda Research Institute Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, 284003, India
| | - Hemant Rawat
- Department of Chemistry, Central Ayurveda Research Institute Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, 284003, India
| | - Jyotika Grewal
- Department of Chemistry, Central Ayurveda Research Institute Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, 284003, India
| | - Ravi Kumar
- Department of Chemistry, Central Ayurveda Research Institute Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, 284003, India
| | - Santosh K Shakya
- Department of Chemistry, Central Ayurveda Research Institute Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, 284003, India
| | - Vipin Kumar Jain
- Department of Chemistry, Central Ayurveda Research Institute Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, 284003, India
| | - G Babu
- Department of Ayurveda, Central Ayurveda Research Institute Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, 284003, India
| | - Arjun Singh
- Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences, New Delhi, 110058, India
| | - Ravindra Singh
- Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences, New Delhi, 110058, India
| | - Rabinarayan Acharya
- Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences, New Delhi, 110058, India
| | - Vijay Kumar
- Department of Chemistry, Central Ayurveda Research Institute Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, 284003, India
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9
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Greenhouse Gas Emission: Perception during the COVID-19 Pandemic. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 2022:6166276. [PMID: 36246992 PMCID: PMC9553500 DOI: 10.1155/2022/6166276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The period 2020/2021 was an unprecedented and historic time for industrial, economic, and societal activities all over the world with great challenges to human health, the ecosystems, and other aspects of human endeavors owing to the COVID-19 or SARS-CoV-2 (CV-19) pandemic which is now a topical aspect of research interest. Despite the negative impacts of the CV-19 pandemic, there are also positive reports during the CV-19 pandemic such as the reduction of gas flare, reduction in the burning of fossil fuels from automobile exhaust and a reduction in the other ensuing factors of greenhouse gases emissions (which is one of the major drives for global warming and climate change as well as other environmental effluences). Hence, this brief perspective review study is centered on greenhouse gas (GHG) emission. The study employs a methodical approach to analyze some already available research studies from existing publications and databases on GHG emission using the perception during the CV-19 pandemic. The specific findings from this review show that, from the meteorological perspective, the global response to the catastrophe ensuing from the CV-19 pandemic has a great influence on the reduction of GHGs, the reduction in the burning of fossil fuels from automobiles and industrial devices, and the reduction in the other ensuing factors of GHG emission. Hence, it will not be far from the truth to conclude that there is a possible positive connection between the CV-19 pandemic and GHG emissions. The study has a direct impact on the environment owing to the negative and positive environmental consequences of the CV-19 pandemic. Suggestions and recommendations in the form of future prospects of GHG emission vis-à-vis global warming and climate change are also discussed. Furthermore, suggestions on how to improve food security and agriculture during a pandemic such as the CV-19 outbreak period are highlighted.
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Charde V, Jagtap C, Gandhi Y, Verma R, Mishra SK, Kumar V, Acharya R. Combination of high-performance thin-layer chromatography and liquid chromatography–quadrupole time-of-flight–tandem mass spectrometry analysis: a promising analytical tool for discrimination between oleo-gum resin of raw and purified Commiphora wightii. JPC-J PLANAR CHROMAT 2022. [PMCID: PMC9464467 DOI: 10.1007/s00764-022-00197-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Vaibhav Charde
- Department of Ayurveda, Central Ayurveda Research Institute, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh 284003 India
| | - Chandrashekar Jagtap
- Department of Ayurveda, Central Ayurveda Research Institute, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh 284003 India
| | - Yashika Gandhi
- Department of Chemistry, Central Ayurveda Research Institute, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh 284003 India
| | - Ravi Verma
- Department of Chemistry, Central Ayurveda Research Institute, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh 284003 India
| | - Sujeet K. Mishra
- Department of Chemistry, Central Ayurveda Research Institute, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh 284003 India
| | - Vijay Kumar
- Department of Chemistry, Central Ayurveda Research Institute, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh 284003 India
| | - Rabinarayan Acharya
- Department of Ayurveda, Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences, New Delhi, 110058 India
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Mohamed BA, Fattah IMR, Yousaf B, Periyasamy S. Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the environment, waste management, and energy sectors: a deeper look into the long-term impacts. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:46438-46457. [PMID: 35499739 PMCID: PMC9059688 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-20259-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/10/2022] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic not only has caused a global health crisis but also has significant environmental consequences. Although many studies are confirming the short-term improvements in air quality in several countries across the world, the long-term negative consequences outweigh all the claimed positive impacts. As a result, this review highlights the positive and the long-term negative environmental effects of the COVID-19 pandemic by evaluating the scientific literature. Remarkable reduction in the levels of CO (3 - 65%), NO2 (17 - 83%), NOx (24 - 47%), PM2.5 (22 - 78%), PM10 (23 - 80%), and VOCs (25 - 57%) was observed during the lockdown across the world. However, according to this review, the pandemic put enormous strain on the present waste collection and treatment system, resulting in ineffective waste management practices, damaging the environment. The extensive usage of face masks increased the release of microplastics/nanoplastics (183 to 1247 particles piece-1) and organic pollutants in land and water bodies. Furthermore, the significant usages of anti-bacterial hand sanitizers, disinfectants, and pharmaceuticals have increased the accumulation of various toxic emerging contaminants (e.g., triclocarban, triclosan, bisphenol-A, hydroxychloroquine) in the treated sludge/biosolids and discharged wastewater effluent, posing great threats to the ecosystems. This review also suggests strategies to create long-term environmental advantages. Thermochemical conversions of solid wastes including medical wastes and for treated wastewater sludge/biosolids offer several advantages through recovering the resources and energy and stabilizing/destructing the toxins/contaminants and microplastics in the precursors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Badr A Mohamed
- Department of Agricultural Engineering, Cairo University, Giza, 12613, Egypt.
| | - I M Rizwanul Fattah
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater (CTWW), Faculty of Engineering and IT, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, 2007 NSW, Australia
| | - Balal Yousaf
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Crust-Mantle Materials and the Environments, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, People's Republic of China
| | - Selvakumar Periyasamy
- Department of Chemical Engineering, School of Mechanical, Chemical and Materials Engineering, Adama Science and Technology University, 1888, Adama, Ethiopia
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12
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Kumar V, Kushwaha V, Gandhi Y, Mishra SK, Charde V, Jagtap C, Babu G, Singh A, Singh R, Srikanth N. A validated high-performance thin-layer chromatography method for the simultaneous quantification of 6-gingerol, guggulsterone E and guggulsterone Z in coded formulation AYUSH SG-5 prepared for rheumatoid arthritis. JPC-J PLANAR CHROMAT 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s00764-022-00153-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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13
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Singh T, Nigam A, Kapila R. Analyzing the Use of Medicinal Herbs During the First Wave and Second Wave of COVID-19. PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, INDIA SECTION B: BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 2022; 92:219-222. [PMID: 35035036 PMCID: PMC8753947 DOI: 10.1007/s40011-021-01303-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2021] [Revised: 07/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
India has confronted the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, in the form of first wave and again in first half of 2021 in the form of second wave. To combat the persistent transmission of the coronavirus, Indian Government has started the vaccination in the country since January 2021. The immunity conferred by the vaccine can be more effective with sound immune health. In India, medicinal herbs are preferred dietary habits to enhance the immunity intrinsically. A web-based survey of herbal medicinal plants was carried out to identify the consumption trend of the medicinal herbs as an effective immune booster to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The selected herbs are ingredients of regular Indian cuisine and practiced under Ayurveda. The present study revealed that people are aware of selected medicinal herbs and consumed intentionally to boost their immunity. This type of study can be helpful in retaining the local people's knowledge on traditional medicine practices which has been vanishing.
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Sivaranjanee R, Kumar PS. The unfurl of the coronavirus and its thwack on humans and the environment: a review. CURRENT OPINION IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & HEALTH 2021; 24:100289. [PMID: 34222734 PMCID: PMC8233452 DOI: 10.1016/j.coesh.2021.100289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
The new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 was first discovered in Wuhan (China) in December 2019 and belongs to the same family as that of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 1. On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization announced the outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Diagnosis of this disease is carried out by using special molecular tests. It is mandatory to identify the individual with COVID-19 symptoms, and isolation is necessary to prevent further transmission of this virus. This review highlights the formation, prodrome, transmission and survival mechanism of COVID-19 and shows that the pandemic circumstance fundamentally improves the air quality in various urban areas across the globe, decreases water contamination and commotion and diminishes the tension on the traveller objections, which may facilitate the reclamation of the natural framework. The worldwide effect of this new outbreak is still dubious.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Sivaranjanee
- Department of Chemical Engineering, St. Joseph's College of Engineering, Chennai 600119, India
| | - P Senthil Kumar
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar College of Engineering, Chennai 603110, India
- Centre of Excellence in Water Research (CEWAR), Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar College of Engineering, Chennai 603110, India
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15
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Ahmed MM, Hoque ME, Rahman S, Roy PK, Alam F, Rahman MM, Rahman MM, Hopke PK. Prediction of COVID-19 Cases from the Nexus of Air Quality and Meteorological Phenomena: Bangladesh Perspective. EARTH SYSTEMS AND ENVIRONMENT 2021; 6:307-325. [PMID: 34870076 PMCID: PMC8627582 DOI: 10.1007/s41748-021-00278-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
An integrated approach was used to estimate the number of COVID-19 patients related to air quality and meteorological phenomena. Additionally, the air quality during pre-lockdown, lockdown, and post-lockdown stages of the COVID-19 pandemic was assessed to determine the effect of the infection containment measures taken in Bangladesh during the pandemic. The air quality was assessed based on measurements of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), ozone (O3), carbon monoxide (CO), black carbon, particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), and aerosol optical depth. Time-averaged maps of these parameters have been generated from NASA's (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) website. Values of these parameters have also been collected from a continuous air monitoring station (CAMS) located in Bangladesh's north-western city Rajshahi. The comparison shows that lockdown during the pandemic has brought significant improvements in air quality. However, the improvement was not sustained, since rapid increases in the air pollutant concentrations were observed in the post-lockdown period. Furthermore, Pearson correlation coefficients between each air quality variable and the daily new COVID-19 case rates were calculated. Different meteorological variables during the same time periods were determined to observe the variation in Rajshahi city. Relationships of these variables with the case rates were also established. Additionally, statistical analyses of the obtained data have been conducted for the measured variables using the Kruskal-Wallis test to assess the differences in the observed data among the pre-lockdown, lockdown, and post-lockdown periods. Dunn's "Q" test was employed to test if the variables showed significance statistical difference during the Kruskal-Wallis test for pairwise comparisons. From the study, it has been observed that both meteorological variables and air quality parameters have significant relationship with daily new COVID-19 case rates. Both positive and negative associations of these parameters with the COVID-19 case rates have been observed. Very high air pollution has been observed in the post-lockdown period. Thus, it is recommended that appropriate authorities undertake corrective measures to protect the environment in cities with large populations. This study provides guidance for decision makers and health officials for future research and potentially reducing the spread of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mim Mashrur Ahmed
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology, Rajshahi, Bangladesh
| | - Md. Emdadul Hoque
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology, Rajshahi, Bangladesh
| | - Shahanaj Rahman
- Department of Environment, Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Proshanta Kumar Roy
- Department of Environment, Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Firoz Alam
- School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia
| | | | - Md. Mostafizur Rahman
- Institute for Future Transport and Cities, School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Automotive Engineering, Coventry University, Coventry, UK
| | - Philip K. Hopke
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY USA
- Institute for a Sustainable Environment, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY USA
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16
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Chen X, Lei L, Liu S, Han J, Li R, Men J, Li L, Wei L, Sheng Y, Yang L, Zhou B, Zhu L. Occurrence and risk assessment of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) against COVID-19 in lakes and WWTP-river-estuary system in Wuhan, China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 792:148352. [PMID: 34147798 PMCID: PMC8197610 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Revised: 05/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/05/2021] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
The consumption of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) for controlling and preventing the COVID-19 would have sharply increased during the pandemic. To evaluate their post-pandemic environmental impacts, five categories of drugs were detected in lakes and WWTP-river-estuary system near hospitals of Jinyintan, Huoshenshan and Leishenshan in the three regions (J, H and L) (Regions J, H and L) in Wuhan, China. The total amount of PPCPs (ranging from 2.61 to 1122 ng/L in water and 0.11 to 164 ng/g dry weight in sediments) were comparable to historical reports in Yangtze River basin, whereas the detection frequency and concentrations of ribavirin and azithromycin were higher than those of historical studies. The distribution of concerned drugs varied with space, season, media and water types: sampling sites located at WWTPs-river-estuary system around two hospitals (Regions L and J) usually had relatively high waterborne contamination levels, most of which declined in autumn; lakes had relatively low waterborne contamination levels in summer but increased in autumn. The potential risks of detected PPCPs were further evaluated using the multiple-level ecological risk assessment (MLERA): sulfamethoxazole and azithromycin were found to pose potential risks to aquatic organisms according to a semi-probabilistic approach and classified as priority pollutants based on an optimized risk assessment. In general, the COVID-19 pandemic did not cause serious pollution in lakes and WWTPs-river-estuary system in Wuhan City. However, the increased occurrence of certain drugs and their potential ecological risks need further attention. A strict source control policy and an advanced monitoring and risk warning system for emergency response and long-term risk control of PPCPs is urgent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangping Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, PR China
| | - Lei Lei
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, PR China
| | - Sitian Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, PR China
| | - Jian Han
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, PR China
| | - Ruiwen Li
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, PR China; Ecological Environment Monitoring and Scientific Research Center, Changjiang River Basin Ecological Environment Administration, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Wuhan 430014, PR China
| | - Jun Men
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, PR China
| | - Lin Li
- Wuhan Environmental Protection Sciences Research Institute, Wuhan 430015, PR China
| | - Lin Wei
- Wuhan Environmental Protection Sciences Research Institute, Wuhan 430015, PR China
| | - Yaqi Sheng
- Department of Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, PR China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Organic Pollution Process and Control, Hangzhou 310058, PR China
| | - Lihua Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, PR China.
| | - Bingsheng Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, PR China
| | - Lizhong Zhu
- Department of Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, PR China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Organic Pollution Process and Control, Hangzhou 310058, PR China
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17
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Srivastava P, Dhyani S, Emmanuel MA, Khan AS. COVID-19 and environment: a poignant reminder of sustainability in the new normal. ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY (SINGAPORE) 2021; 4:649-670. [PMID: 38624923 PMCID: PMC8475439 DOI: 10.1007/s42398-021-00207-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The nexus of COVID-19 and environment is conspicuously deep-rooted. The roles of environmental factors in the origin, transmission and spread of COVID-19 and the mutual impact of the pandemic on the global environment have been the two perspectives to view this nexus. The present paper attempts to systematically review the existing literature to understand and explore the linkages of COVID-19 with environment and proposes conceptual frameworks to underline this nexus. Our study indicates a critical role of meteorological factors, ambient air pollutants and wastewater in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2) transmission-spread dynamics. The study also focuses on the direct and indirect impacts of COVID-19 on the regional and global environment. Most of the indirect environmental effects of COVID-19 were attributed to global human confinement that resulted from the implementation of the pandemic containment measures. This worldwide anthropogenic 'pause' sent ripples to all environmental compartments and presented a unique test bed to identify anthropogenic impacts on the earth's natural systems. The review further addresses emerging sustainability challenges in the new normal and their potential solutions. The situation warrants critical attention to the environment-COVID-19 nexus and innovative sustainable practices to address the ramifications of short- and long-term environmental impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Graphical abstract
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Affiliation(s)
- Prateek Srivastava
- Department of Botany, C.M.P College, University of Allahabad, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh 211002 India
| | - Shalini Dhyani
- CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Nagpur, 440020 Maharashtra India
| | | | - Ambrina Sardar Khan
- Amity Institute of Environmental Sciences, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201303 India
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18
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Ukhurebor KE, Singh KR, Nayak V, Uk-Eghonghon G. Influence of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: a review from the climate change perspective. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2021; 23:1060-1078. [PMID: 34132283 DOI: 10.1039/d1em00154j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Ever since the global outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19) in the early part of 2020, there is no doubt that the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has placed great tension globally and has affected almost all aspects of human endeavors. There are presently several research studies on the atmospheric environmental and economic effects of this dreaded virus. Supposedly, the responses ought to have also present innovations that would advance scientific research to mitigate its impacts since most of the ensuing consequences impact the atmospheric climatic conditions. Even when it appears that economic events would possibly return in no time, the circumstances will change. Specifically, from the existing literature, it appears that not much has been done to study the influence of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on climate change. Hence, this present review article will explore the possible connection between the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and climate change. The utilization of various scientific domains for climate change studies during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and exploring the positive influences of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and measures to avoid the negative impacts on climate change owing to SARS-CoV-2 have also been discussed.
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19
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Nippes RP, Macruz PD, da Silva GN, Neves Olsen Scaliante MH. A critical review on environmental presence of pharmaceutical drugs tested for the covid-19 treatment. PROCESS SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION : TRANSACTIONS OF THE INSTITUTION OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERS, PART B 2021; 152:568-582. [PMID: 34226801 PMCID: PMC8243632 DOI: 10.1016/j.psep.2021.06.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Revised: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/26/2021] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic. The outbreak caused a worldwide impact, becoming a health threat to the general population and its professionals. To date, there are no specific antiviral treatments or vaccines for the COVID-19 infection, however, some drugs are being clinically tested. The use of these drugs on large scale raises great concern about their imminent environmental risk, since the elimination of these compounds by feces and urine associated with the inefficiency of sewage treatment plants in their removal can result in their persistence in the environment, putting in risk the health of humans and of other species. Thus, the goal of this work was to conduct a review of other studies that evaluated the presence of the drugs chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin, ivermectin, dexamethasone, remdesivir, favipiravir and some HIV antivirals in the environment. The research indicated the presence of these drugs in the environment in different regions, with concentration data that could serve as a basis for further comparative studies following the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramiro Picoli Nippes
- State University of Maringa, Department of Chemical Engineering, Maringa, 87020-900, Parana, Brazil
| | - Paula Derksen Macruz
- State University of Maringa, Department of Chemical Engineering, Maringa, 87020-900, Parana, Brazil
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20
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Giacobbo A, Rodrigues MAS, Zoppas Ferreira J, Bernardes AM, de Pinho MN. A critical review on SARS-CoV-2 infectivity in water and wastewater. What do we know? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 774:145721. [PMID: 33610994 PMCID: PMC7870439 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 outbreak circulating the world is far from being controlled, and possible contamination routes are still being studied. There are no confirmed cases yet, but little is known about the infection possibility via contact with sewage or contaminated water as well as with aerosols generated during the pumping and treatment of these aqueous matrices. Therefore, this article presents a literature review on the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in human excreta and its pathways through the sewer system and wastewater treatment plants until it reaches the water bodies, highlighting their occurrence and infectivity in sewage and natural water. Research lines are still indicated, which we believe are important for improving the detection, quantification, and mainly the infectivity analyzes of SARS-CoV-2 and other enveloped viruses in sewage and natural water. In fact, up till now, no case of transmission via contact with sewage or contaminated water has been reported and the few studies conducted with these aqueous matrices have not detected infectious viruses. On the other hand, studies are showing that SARS-CoV-2 can remain viable, i.e., infectious, for up to 4.3 and 6 days in sewage and water, respectively, and that other species of coronavirus may remain viable in these aqueous matrices for more than one year, depending on the sample conditions. These are strong pieces of evidence that the contamination mediated by contact with sewage or contaminated water cannot be ruled out, even because other more resistant and infectious mutations of SARS-CoV-2 may appear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Giacobbo
- Post-Graduation Program in Mining, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering (PPGE3M), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Bento Gonçalves, n. 9500, Agronomia, Porto Alegre, RS 91509-900, Brazil; Center of Physics and Engineering of Advanced Materials (CeFEMA), Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, Av. Rovisco Pais, n. 1, Lisbon 1049-001, Portugal.
| | - Marco Antônio Siqueira Rodrigues
- Post-Graduation Program in Materials Technology and Industrial Processes, Pure Sciences and Technology Institute, Feevale University, Rodovia RS-239, n. 2755, Vila Nova, Novo Hamburgo, RS 93525-075, Brazil.
| | - Jane Zoppas Ferreira
- Post-Graduation Program in Mining, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering (PPGE3M), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Bento Gonçalves, n. 9500, Agronomia, Porto Alegre, RS 91509-900, Brazil.
| | - Andréa Moura Bernardes
- Post-Graduation Program in Mining, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering (PPGE3M), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Bento Gonçalves, n. 9500, Agronomia, Porto Alegre, RS 91509-900, Brazil.
| | - Maria Norberta de Pinho
- Center of Physics and Engineering of Advanced Materials (CeFEMA), Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, Av. Rovisco Pais, n. 1, Lisbon 1049-001, Portugal; Chemical Engineering Department, Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, Av. Rovisco Pais, n. 1, Lisbon 1049-001, Portugal.
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21
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Evidence-based traditional Siddha formulations for prophylaxis and management of respiratory symptoms in COVID-19 pandemic-a review. BIOCATALYSIS AND AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY 2021; 35:102056. [PMID: 34122672 PMCID: PMC8180453 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcab.2021.102056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The recent outbreak of COVID-19 is attributed to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This viral disease is rapidly spreading across the globe, including India. The mainstay in managing the disease is supportive care, nutrition, and preventing further progression in the absence of proven antiviral drugs. Currently two vaccines Covishield and Covaxin are administered in India. Long-term plans of developing most reliable mRNA-based vaccines are also underway for the future method of prophylaxis. The Siddha system of medicine's holistic approach emphasizes lifestyle modification, prophylactic interventions, and dietary management to boost the host immunity and treatment with herbal medicines and higher-order medicines as the case may be. In this review, a brief outline of the disease COVID-19, Coronavirus, evidence-based traditional Siddha interventions for respiratory ailments and immune boosters highlighting the relevant published research on individual herbs are dealt, which pave way for further research on drug repurposing for COVID-19. Historical evidence on the prevention and treatment of infections especially antivirals in Siddha classics is studied.
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22
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Su G, Ong HC, Ibrahim S, Fattah IMR, Mofijur M, Chong CT. Valorisation of medical waste through pyrolysis for a cleaner environment: Progress and challenges. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 279:116934. [PMID: 33744627 PMCID: PMC9756756 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2020] [Revised: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has exerted great shocks and challenges to the environment, society and economy. Simultaneously, an intractable issue appeared: a considerable number of hazardous medical wastes have been generated from the hospitals, clinics, and other health care facilities, constituting a serious threat to public health and environmental sustainability without proper management. Traditional disposal methods like incineration, landfill and autoclaving are unable to reduce environmental burden due to the issues such as toxic gas release, large land occupation, and unsustainability. While the application of clean and safe pyrolysis technology on the medical wastes treatment to produce high-grade bioproducts has the potential to alleviate the situation. Besides, medical wastes are excellent and ideal raw materials, which possess high hydrogen, carbon content and heating value. Consequently, pyrolysis of medical wastes can deal with wastes and generate valuable products like bio-oil and biochar. Consequently, this paper presents a critical and comprehensive review of the pyrolysis of medical wastes. It demonstrates the feasibility of pyrolysis, which mainly includes pyrolysis characteristics, product properties, related problems, the prospects and future challenges of pyrolysis of medical wastes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangcan Su
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Hwai Chyuan Ong
- School of Information, Systems and Modelling, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, University of Technology Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia.
| | - Shaliza Ibrahim
- Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences (IOES), University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - I M Rizwanul Fattah
- School of Information, Systems and Modelling, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, University of Technology Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - M Mofijur
- School of Information, Systems and Modelling, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, University of Technology Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia; Mechanical Engineering Department, Prince Mohammad Bin Fahad University, Al Khobar, 31952, Saudi Arabia
| | - Cheng Tung Chong
- China-UK Low Carbon College, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Lingang, Shanghai, 201306, China
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Liang C, Hui N, Liu Y, Qiao G, Li J, Tian L, Ju X, Jia M, Liu H, Cao W, Yu P, Li H, Ren X. Insights into forsythia honeysuckle (Lianhuaqingwen) capsules: A Chinese herbal medicine repurposed for COVID-19 pandemic. PHYTOMEDICINE PLUS : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2021; 1:100027. [PMID: 35399819 PMCID: PMC7833308 DOI: 10.1016/j.phyplu.2021.100027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Revised: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 04/17/2023]
Abstract
Background In December 2019, a novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 caused a series of acute atypical respiratory diseases worldwide. However, there is still a lack of drugs with clear curative effects, and the clinical trial research of vaccines has not been completely finished. Purpose LH capsules are approved TCM patent medicine that are widely used for the treatment of respiratory tract infectious diseases caused by colds and flu. On April 12, 2020, LH capsules and granules were officially repurposed by the China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) for patients with mild COVID-19 based on their safety and efficacy demonstrated through multicentre, randomized, controlled clinical trials. We hope to conduct a comprehensive review of it through modern pharmacy methods, and try to explain its possible mechanism. Methods Using the full names of LH capsules Lianhuaqingwen, Lianhua Qingwen andSARS-COV-2, COVID-19 as the keywords of the search terms, systemically search for existing related papers in various databases such as Web of Science and PubMed. And completed the collection of clinical data in ClinicalTrials.gov and Chinese Clinical Trial Registry. Last but not least, we have sorted out the anti-inflammatory and antiviral mechanisms of LH capsules through literature and Selleck. Results This review systematically sorted out the active ingredients in LH capsules. Furthermore, the related pharmacological and clinical trials of LH capsule on SARS-CoV-2, IAV and IBV were discussed in detail. Moreover, the present review provides the first summary of the potential molecular mechanism of specific substances in LH capsules involved in resistance to SARS-COV-2 infection and the inhibition of cytokine storm syndrome (CSS) caused by IL-6. Conclusion This review summarizes the available reports and evidence that support the use of LH capsules as potential drug candidates for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. However, TCM exerts its effects through multiple targets and multiple pathways, and LH capsules are not an exception. Therefore, the relevant mechanisms need to be further improved and experimentally verified.
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Key Words
- 3C-like protease (3CLpro)
- 3CLpro, 3C-like protease
- ACE2, Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2
- AECOPD, Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- AIDS, Acquired immune deficiency syndrome
- AQP3, Aquaporins 3
- ARDS, Acute respiratory distress syndrome
- CAT, COPD assessment test
- CC50, 50% Cytotoxic concentration
- CCL-2/MCP-1, C—C motif ligand 2/monocyte chemoattractant protein-1
- CFDA, China Food and Drug Administration
- COPD, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- COVID-19
- COVID-19, Coronavirus disease 2019
- CPE, Cytopathic effect
- CSS, Cytokine storm syndrome
- CT, Computed tomography
- CXCL-10/IP-10, C-X-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 10/ Interferon Gamma-induced Protein 10
- Cytokine storm syndrome (CSS)
- DMSO, Dimethyl sulfoxide
- E protein, Envelope protein
- ERK, Extracellular signal-regulated kinase
- FBS, Fatal bovine serum
- Forsythia honeysuckle (Lianhuaqingwen,LH) capsules
- Grb2, Growth factor receptor-bound protein 2
- HIV, Human immunodeficiency virus
- HPLC, High-performance liquid chromatography
- HSV-1, Herpes simplex virus type 1
- HVJ, Hemagglutinating virus of Japan
- Hep-2, Human epithelial type 2
- Huh-7, Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma-7
- IAV, Influenza A virus
- IBV, Influenza B virus
- IC50, 50% Inhibition concentration
- IFN-λ1, Interferon-λ1
- IL-6, Interleukin-6
- IL-6R, IL-6 Receptor
- IL-8, Interleukin-8
- IP-10, Interferon-inducible protein-10
- JAK/STAT, Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription
- JAK1/2, Janus kinase1/2
- LD50, 50% Lethal dose
- LH capsules, Forsythia honeysuckle (Lianhuaqingwen) capsules
- M protein, Membrane protein
- MAPK, Mitogen-activated protein kinase
- MCP-1, Monocyte chemotactic protein 1
- MDCK, Madin-darby canine kidney
- MEK, Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase
- MERS, Middle east respiratory syndrome
- MIP-1β, Macrophage Inflammatory Protein-1β
- MLD50, 50% Minimum lethal dose
- MOF, Multifunctional organ damage
- MOI, Multiplicity of infection
- MTT, Methyl Thiazolyl Tetrazolium
- NF-kB, Nuclear transcription factor kappa-B
- NHC, National Health Commission
- ORFs, Open reading frames
- PBS, Phosphate buffered saline
- PHN, Phillyrin
- PI3K, Phosphoinositide 3-kinases
- PKA/p-CREB, Protein kinase A /phosphorylated cAMP response element-binding protein
- PKB, Akt, Protein kinase B
- PLpro, Papain-like proteases
- PRC, People's Republic of China
- QC, Quality control
- RANTES, Regulated on activation normal T cell expressed and secreted
- RSV, Respiratory syncytial virus
- RT-PCR, Reverse transcription PCR
- Ras, Ras GTPase
- SARS-CoV-2
- TCID50, 50% Tissue culture infective dose
- TD0, Non-toxic Dose
- TD50, Half-toxic dose
- Vero E6, African Green Monkey Kidney Epithelial-6
- gp-130, Glycoprotein 130
- mIL-6R, Membrane-bound form IL-6 Receptor
- mTOR, Mammalian target of rapamycin
- nsps, Non-structural proteins
- qPCR, Quantitative PCR
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengyuan Liang
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an 710021, PR China
| | - Nan Hui
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an 710021, PR China
| | - Yuzhi Liu
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an 710021, PR China
| | - Guaiping Qiao
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an 710021, PR China
| | - Juan Li
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an 710021, PR China
| | - Lei Tian
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an 710021, PR China
| | - Xingke Ju
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an 710021, PR China
| | - Minyi Jia
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an 710021, PR China
| | - Hong Liu
- Zhuhai Jinan Selenium Source Nanotechnology Co., Ltd., Hengqin New Area, Zhuhai 519030, PR China
| | - Wenqiang Cao
- Zhuhai Jinan Selenium Source Nanotechnology Co., Ltd., Hengqin New Area, Zhuhai 519030, PR China
| | - Pengcheng Yu
- School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, PR China
| | - Han Li
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an 710021, PR China
| | - Xiaodong Ren
- Medical College, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, PR China
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24
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Mishra A, Bentur SA, Thakral S, Garg R, Duggal B. The use of integrative therapy based on Yoga and Ayurveda in the treatment of a high-risk case of COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2 with multiple comorbidities: a case report. J Med Case Rep 2021; 15:95. [PMID: 33627186 PMCID: PMC7903378 DOI: 10.1186/s13256-020-02624-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background We report a high-risk case of a coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19)-positive patient with comorbidities including diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension (HTN), hypothyroidism and chronic kidney disease (CKD), treated successfully using an integrative therapy plan based on Ayurveda and Yoga, along with government-mandated compulsory modern western medicine (MWM) treatment. Recently, some evidence has been emerging on the use of Ayurveda for treatment of COVID-19. The classical texts of Ayurvedic medicine such as Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita contain descriptions of pandemics of similar proportions and describe them as Janapadoddhvansa, meaning the destruction of communities, along with their causes and treatment. Case presentation The case reported herein is a 55-year-old man from Delhi, India, with confirmed (tested) COVID-19, who first took MWM for 7 days before seeking integrative therapy. The patient has comorbidities including DM, HTN, hypothyroidism and CKD and had developed symptoms including fever (which was resolved by the time integrative therapy was started), sore throat, dry cough, body aches, weakness, bad taste and smell, and heaviness in the abdomen. Based on the patient’s symptoms and comorbidities, a treatment plan including Ayurvedic medicines, Yoga protocol, dietary recommendations and lifestyle modifications was prescribed by a registered Ayurveda doctor and a Yoga consultant. The patient started experiencing improvement in all the symptoms within 2 days after starting the treatment; he reported approximately \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}
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\begin{document}$$75\%$$\end{document}75% relief from the symptoms after 5 days, and almost complete relief within 9 days. Also, the blood sugar levels (both fasting blood sugar [FBS] and postprandial blood sugar [PPBS]) exhibited significant improvement after 5 days, and decreased to within the normal range within 12 days. Besides relief in symptoms, the patient’s real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test done on the 19th day returned negative results. Conclusions Integrative therapy was found to be effective in mitigating the symptoms of COVID-19 in this patient with multiple comorbidities. Moreover, a significant improvement in blood sugar levels (not under control with modern medicine) was also achieved. Integrative therapy based on the classical texts of Ayurveda and Yoga may offer a promising and scalable treatment option for COVID-19 patients. A case series or a suitably designed randomized controlled trial is needed to assess its efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alka Mishra
- Department of Ayurveda and Holistic Health, Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya, Haridwar, India
| | | | - Sonika Thakral
- Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies, University of Delhi, Delhi, India. .,National Resource Center for Value Education in Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, India.
| | - Rahul Garg
- National Resource Center for Value Education in Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, India.,Amar Nath and Shashi Khosla School of Information Technology, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, India.,Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, India
| | - Bhanu Duggal
- Department of Cardiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, India
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25
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Ankit, Kumar A, Jain V, Deovanshi A, Lepcha A, Das C, Bauddh K, Srivastava S. Environmental impact of COVID-19 pandemic: more negatives than positives. ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY (SINGAPORE) 2021; 4:447-454. [PMID: 38624614 PMCID: PMC7896832 DOI: 10.1007/s42398-021-00159-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Coronaviruses are the well-known cause of severe respiratory, enteric and systemic infections in a wide range of animal hosts including man. The scientific interest on coronaviruses has increased since the outbreak of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) that initiated in Wuhan, China. This was soon declared a 'Public Health Emergency of International Concern' by World Health Organisation (WHO). Presently, the best strategy against this pandemic is prevention through regular hand and face washes, use of masks, gloves and personal protective equipment and social distancing. At the government level, the task is to perform as many tests as possible to identify coronavirus infected people and to isolate them to avoid the uncontrollable spread of the virus. The ongoing and future strategies against coronavirus ensue that huge quantity of masks, plastic products (personal protective equipment (PPE) kits, face shields, etc.) and chemicals (chloroxylenol, chlorine, H2O2, etc.) would be generated as waste in near future. Further, the amount of water consumption per person shall also increase. These effects can have unforeseen impacts on the environment. Apart from this, the ecological impacts on human-animal interactions can also be seen, such as people avoiding pets in coming future as a health and safety measure. The present review gives an overview of coronavirus, its current state of spread and environmental and ecological risks ensuing from the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankit
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Central University of Jharkhand, Ranchi, India
| | - Amit Kumar
- Department of Botany, Lucknow University, Lucknow, 226007 India
| | - Vartika Jain
- Plant Stress Biology Laboratory, Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005 India
| | - Ankit Deovanshi
- Plant Stress Biology Laboratory, Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005 India
| | - Ayush Lepcha
- Plant Stress Biology Laboratory, Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005 India
| | - Chandan Das
- Plant Stress Biology Laboratory, Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005 India
| | - Kuldeep Bauddh
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Central University of Jharkhand, Ranchi, India
| | - Sudhakar Srivastava
- Plant Stress Biology Laboratory, Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005 India
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26
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Mostafa MK, Gamal G, Wafiq A. The impact of COVID 19 on air pollution levels and other environmental indicators - A case study of Egypt. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021. [PMID: 33069147 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
The outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) not only affected health and economics, but also its effect extended to include other aspects, such as the environment. Using Egypt as a case study, this paper presents the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on air pollution levels by studying nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), particulate matter represented in absorbing aerosol index (AAI), carbon monoxide (CO), and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The paper also highlights the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on other environmental indicators including environmental noise, medical and municipal solid wastes. The paper presents the Egyptian COVID-19 story from its different angles including the development of confirmed COVID-19 cases, containment measures from the government, the impact on the country's economy and the national energy consumption so as to effectively evaluate the effect on both the air pollution levels and the other studied environmental indicators. For the other environmental indicators, a strong link was observed between COVID-19 lockdown and the reduction in environmental noise, beaches, surface and groundwater pollution. For environmental noise, this has been confirmed by officially governmental announcements which reported that the level of environmental noise in Egypt was reduced by about 75% during the lockdown period. On the other hand, there are some negative effects, including an increase in medical solid waste (from 70 to 300 ton/day), municipal solid waste, as well as a less efficient solid waste recycling process. For air pollution levels, the data were obtained from National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and European Space Agency satellite data sets. The data for the lockdown period in 2020 have been extracted and compared to the corresponding months in the selected baseline period (2015-2019) to identify the effect that the lockdown period had on the air pollution levels in Egypt with focus on Cairo and Alexandria governorates. It was found that the AAI decreased by about 30%, the NO2 decreased by 15 and 33% over Cairo and Alexandria governorates, respectively, and that the CO decreased by about 5% over both governorates. In addition, the GHG emissions in Egypt were reduced by at least 4% during the pandemic. In contrast, ozone levels increased by about 2% over Cairo and Alexandria governorates. It can be concluded that the implemented containment measures during COVID-19 pandemic had resulted in both positive and negative environmental impacts. The positive environmental impacts are not sustainable and deterioration on them is expected to occur after the lockdown as it was before the pandemic. Therefore, stricter laws must be enacted to protect the environment in Egypt.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed K Mostafa
- Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Badr University in Cairo (BUC), Cairo, Egypt.
| | - Gamil Gamal
- Department of Natural Resources, Faculty of African Postgraduate Studies, Cairo University, Egypt
| | - A Wafiq
- Chemical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University, Egypt
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27
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Mostafa MK, Gamal G, Wafiq A. The impact of COVID 19 on air pollution levels and other environmental indicators - A case study of Egypt. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 277:111496. [PMID: 33069147 PMCID: PMC7547608 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
The outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) not only affected health and economics, but also its effect extended to include other aspects, such as the environment. Using Egypt as a case study, this paper presents the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on air pollution levels by studying nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), particulate matter represented in absorbing aerosol index (AAI), carbon monoxide (CO), and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The paper also highlights the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on other environmental indicators including environmental noise, medical and municipal solid wastes. The paper presents the Egyptian COVID-19 story from its different angles including the development of confirmed COVID-19 cases, containment measures from the government, the impact on the country's economy and the national energy consumption so as to effectively evaluate the effect on both the air pollution levels and the other studied environmental indicators. For the other environmental indicators, a strong link was observed between COVID-19 lockdown and the reduction in environmental noise, beaches, surface and groundwater pollution. For environmental noise, this has been confirmed by officially governmental announcements which reported that the level of environmental noise in Egypt was reduced by about 75% during the lockdown period. On the other hand, there are some negative effects, including an increase in medical solid waste (from 70 to 300 ton/day), municipal solid waste, as well as a less efficient solid waste recycling process. For air pollution levels, the data were obtained from National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and European Space Agency satellite data sets. The data for the lockdown period in 2020 have been extracted and compared to the corresponding months in the selected baseline period (2015-2019) to identify the effect that the lockdown period had on the air pollution levels in Egypt with focus on Cairo and Alexandria governorates. It was found that the AAI decreased by about 30%, the NO2 decreased by 15 and 33% over Cairo and Alexandria governorates, respectively, and that the CO decreased by about 5% over both governorates. In addition, the GHG emissions in Egypt were reduced by at least 4% during the pandemic. In contrast, ozone levels increased by about 2% over Cairo and Alexandria governorates. It can be concluded that the implemented containment measures during COVID-19 pandemic had resulted in both positive and negative environmental impacts. The positive environmental impacts are not sustainable and deterioration on them is expected to occur after the lockdown as it was before the pandemic. Therefore, stricter laws must be enacted to protect the environment in Egypt.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed K Mostafa
- Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Badr University in Cairo (BUC), Cairo, Egypt.
| | - Gamil Gamal
- Department of Natural Resources, Faculty of African Postgraduate Studies, Cairo University, Egypt
| | - A Wafiq
- Chemical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University, Egypt
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