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Background: Medication waste poses health, economic, and environmental challenges. However, the extent among patients living in rural areas is underexplored. This study assessed the proportion of prescribed medications remaining unused by patients living in rural areas of Ethiopia, and identify the causes thereof and disposal practices. Methods: A prospective multicenter cohort study was conducted in 5 rural health centers in Ethiopia. Patients (≥ 18 years), who received a prescription for acute or chronic medication for pick up from the outpatient pharmacy were included. After 3 months, participants received a house visit by a health employee during which a questionnaire was verbally administered to assess the quantity of unused medication, reason thereof, and disposal practices used. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression to identify factors associated with presence of unused medications. Results: In total, 178 patients participated. Up to 136 out of 601 (22.6%) dispensed medications ended up unused, mainly antibiotics and analgesics, with an average economic value of $0.37. Of 178 patients, 72 (40.4%) ended up with unused medication, and 15 (8.4%) did not use 80% or more of the prescribed quantity. Early discontinuation of therapy was the main reason (61.8%) for patients' ending with unused medication. Patients reported to primarily dispose of unused medication either through the toilet (43.6%), household garbage (22.7%), burning (13.6%), or returning it to the pharmacy (2.7%). Medications dispensed to be administered with two or more-unit doses at a time were more likely to remain unused (adjusted OR 1.6 [1.0–3.4]) compared to medications dispensed to be administered one-unit dose. Conclusion: A substantial amount of prescribed medications remains unused by patients in rural areas, frequently not properly disposed. Interventions are needed to ensure medications are not wasted and reduce the unwanted consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Healthcare waste is any waste generated by healthcare facilities that is considered potentially hazardous to health. Solid healthcare waste is categorized into infectious and non-infectious wastes. Infectious waste is material suspected of containing pathogens and potentially causing disease. Non-infectious waste includes wastes that have not been in contact with infectious agents, hazardous chemicals, or radioactive substances, similar to household waste, i.e. plastic, papers and leftover foods. This study aimed to investigate solid healthcare waste management practices and develop guidelines to improve solid healthcare waste management practices in Ethiopia. The setting was all health facilities found in Hossaena town. Method: A mixed-method study design was used. For the qualitative phase of this study, eight FGDs were conducted from 4 government health facilities, one FGD from each private health facility (which is 37 in number), and forty-five FGDs were conducted. Four FGDs were executed with cleaners; another four were only health care providers because using homogeneous groups promotes discussion. The remaining 37 FGDs in private health facilities were mixed from health professionals and cleaners because of the number of workers in the private facilities. For the quantitative phase, all health facilities and health facility workers who have direct contact with healthcare waste management practice participated in this study. Both qualitative and quantitative study participants were taken from the health facilities found in Hossaena town. Result: Seventeen (3.1%) health facility workers have hand washing facilities. Three hundred ninety-two (72.6%) of the participants agree on the availability of one or more personal protective equipment (PPE) in the facility "the reason for the absence of some of the PPEs, like boots and goggles, and the shortage of disposable gloves owes to cost inflation from time to time and sometimes absent from the market". The observational finding shows that colour-coded waste bins are available in 23 (9.6%) rooms. 90% of the sharp containers were reusable, and 100% of the waste storage bins were plastic buckets that were easily cleanable. In 40 (97.56%) health facilities, infectious wastes were collected daily from the waste generation areas to the final disposal points. Two hundred seventy-one (50.2%) of the respondents were satisfied or agreed that satisfactory procedures are available in case of an accident. Only 220 (40.8%) respondents were vaccinated for the Hepatitis B virus. Conclusion: Hand washing facilities, personal protective equipment and preventive vaccinations are not readily available for health workers. Solid waste segregation practices are poor and showed that solid waste management practices (SWMP) are below the acceptable level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Medication disposal programs have been promoted as one solution to the opioid crisis, but uptake by community members has been minimal.Objectives: To clarify perceptions of medication disposal options among people who have been prescribed an opioid analgesic in North Carolina to inform interventions that can facilitate the disposal of unused opioids.Methods: In 2022, we conducted focus groups with participants who received an opioid medication in the past year to gain information to develop an intervention related to the disposal of unused opioid medication (12 focus group discussions (FGDs); total N = 37; 30 identified as female, 6 as male, and 1 as another gender). Participants were shown a slide with the Food and Drug Administration’s recommended disposal options and asked about their perceptions of each option. Themes were derived using an inductive, thematic, qualitative approach.Results: Seven themes about perceptions of medication disposal programs emerged from the data. Four of the themes reflect potential barriers to medication disposal: failed disposal attempts, lack of sufficient education on proper disposal, unclear meaning of specific disposal language, and concerns about existing disposal options. Three of the themes provide insight on potential facilitators of medication disposal: preference of low-cost disposal options, ease and accessibility among disposal methods, and preferred disposal methods.Conclusion: Patients should be provided clear and consistent guidance from prescribers and dispensing pharmacists on when and how to dispose of unused medications and opportunities to dispose of medications at no cost to the patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The more economically viable and environmentally sustainable approach for treating the by-products of coal combustion from thermal power plants entails their collective disposal as opposed to individual disposal methods. This aligns with pertinent EU directives and domestic regulations, ensuring compliance with established standards while optimizing resource utilization and minimizing environmental impact. This study evaluated the resistance to wind erosion of the binding properties of a mixture (fly ash (FA), bottom ash (BA), and additives) using an indoor wind tunnel under simulated ambient conditions. Investigations of the mutual impact of ash, bottom ash, and additives (CaO and Ca(OH)2) with a certain percentage of water were carried out with eighteen samples. The samples consisted of the water at six addition rates 5, 8, 10, 15, 20, and 25% (w/w), and additive at three addition rates (1, 2, and 3% (w/w). Based on the obtained results, the optimal ratios of additives (3% (w/w)) and water (15% (w/w)) were determined. Prior to the wind tunnel experiments, and according to the different addition rates of additives and water, eight samples were prepared with different addition rates of ash. The mass concentrations of suspended particles (PM10) and total suspended particles (TSPs) in these samples were measured at three distinct wind velocities: 1 m/s, 3 m/s, and 5 m/s, respectively. The results indicate that the samples containing the optimal content of additives and water demonstrate a maximum increase in PM10 emission zero values of no more than 1.9 times. This finding can be considered satisfactory from the standpoint of environmental protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Operation to failure was the modus operandi of most satellite operators prior to the awareness of the impact on the space debris environment. While compliance to space debris mitigation guidelines, standards and regulations is clearly a priority, there remains a business advantage in extracting the maximum lifetime out of any in-orbit asset. For certain types of strategic assets, which provide unique societal benefits through their missions and are typically irreplaceable, due to their complexity, cost and public funding sources, it becomes imperative to ensure extraction of maximum mission value while fully respecting the need for a sustainable orbital environment. With reference to mission examples in EUMETSAT, this paper highlights: the techniques which have already been used to ensure compliant end-of-life strategies while extending mission lifetimes on satellites not designed to support disposal; the approaches made on new generation satellites to achieve compliance with the debris mitigation standards, highlighting what this brings, but also risks remaining for debris mitigation and lifetime value optimisation; how an Active Debris Removal service in LEO positively impacts the lifetime extension/debris mitigation risk trade-off, describing the potential business case for such services on high value, strategic assets. • Active Debris Removal provides economic benefits for operators through mission extension. • No need to use own fuel for self-disposal; longer operational life. • Operation to failure becomes acceptable again, reduced mission continuity risks. • One-off government satellite programmes could be major beneficiary. • Study on application to EUMETSAT Metop mission underway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to model the temperature evolution near the heater of an in situ heating test for a nuclear waste repository. Based on the governing equation of heat conduction, a mathematical model is established to obtain temporal and spatial temperature distributions in the in situ heating test. Then, semi-analytical solutions are derived using the Laplace and Fourier transforms and their inverse transforms. The corresponding results in the time domain are obtained by conducting the Crump method. The semi-analytical solution is applied to predict temperature change near the heater in two in situ heating tests. Finally, a parametric study is conducted to explore the impacts of some parameters on the temperature evolution of the buffer layer for one prototype repository in situ heating test. The results show that the semi-analytical solution of the proposed model can well predict the temperature change near the heater in the two in situ heating tests. The thermal conductivities of the buffer layer and the rock layer and the thickness of the buffer layer have significant effects on the temperature evolution of the buffer layer in the prototype repository in situ heating test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blood has been accepted as the basic symbol of life from the past to the present. Transfusion is the transfer of blood and blood components to a patient due to various health problems. The present study aimed to evaluate the effective use and cost of erythrocyte suspension in surgical branches in a tertiary hospital. In this study, the use and cost-effective evaluation of erythrocyte suspension, a blood component, after surgical intervention in brain and nerve diseases surgery, orthopedics and traumatology, general surgery, gynecology and obstetrics, and organ transplantation clinics between 01/01/2023 and 31/12/2023 were retrospectively evaluated. Because blood products are provided as voluntary donations, their appropriate use will help reduce hospital and patient costs. We believe that strict compliance with national and international standards and guidelines, quality management, and good clinical practices, as well as ensuring continuity of training on these issues, will enable more efficient product acquisition and decrease blood component disposal in all blood services units. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis study examines the impact of menstrual management awareness training among beneficiaries of the Jalodari Project in Assam, India, covering three tea estates. Quantitative and qualitative data were gathered from 175 participants using various methods. The success of this project can be attributed to the successful implementation and monitoring of key performance indicators. The four-part training, covering menstrual basics and reproductive health, aims to empower participants to effectively manage their menstrual health. The study concludes that menstrual management training is a fundamental component of healthcare of women and that home visits can significantly enhance the effectiveness of awareness training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disposal of landfill leachate is a critical environmental challenge due to its high pollution content. Effective treatment technologies are essential to mitigate the adverse impacts on groundwater and surrounding ecosystems. This paper employs bibliometric analysis and utilizes CiteSpace software to conduct a visual analysis of the knowledge graph of 959 research articles on "Disposal of Landfill Leachate" from the Web of Science core database for the period 1996-2022. The results indicate that the publication quantity has undergone three stages: the sprouting stage, the stable development stage, and the rapid development stage. In terms of international collaboration, China and the USA play an absolute core role. The journals Waste Management, Journal of Hazardous Materials, and Water Research are ranked among the top 3 publications in the field of landfill leachate treatment. The keyword co-occurrence clustering analysis revealed 7 clusters, including groundwater quality, heavy metals, hydrogeophysics, municipal solid, hydraulic conductivity, geochemical barriers and waste disposal, representing the primary research topics. This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the research progress and development trends in the field of disposal of landfill leachate. It contributes to a better understanding of the key research areas and offers potential prospects for future investigations to researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anger suppression is important in our daily life, as its failure can sometimes lead to the breaking down of relationships in families. Thus, effective strategies to suppress or neutralise anger have been examined. This study shows that physical disposal of a piece of paper containing one's written thoughts on the cause of a provocative event neutralises anger, while holding the paper did not. In this study, participants wrote brief opinions about social problems and received a handwritten, insulting comment consisting of low evaluations about their composition from a confederate. Then, the participants wrote the cause and their thoughts about the provocative event. Half of the participants (disposal group) disposed of the paper in the trash can (Experiment 1) or in the shredder (Experiment 2), while the other half (retention group) kept it in a file on the desk. All the participants showed an increased subjective rating of anger after receiving the insulting feedback. However, the subjective anger for the disposal group decreased as low as the baseline period, while that of the retention group was still higher than that in the baseline period in both experiments. We propose this method as a powerful and simple way to eliminate anger. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Used cooking oils (UCOs) represent the residual oil and fat used for deep-frying foods. This study determined the perception and practices of food vendors on the reuse and disposal of UCOs. The study aims to provide information on UCO management and its potential environmental impacts. The descriptive cross-sectional study utilized a mixed-method approach. A three-stage sampling technique was applied to select 291 commercial food vendors selling deep-fried foods. The data were collected using interviewer-administered questionnaire, and three focus group discussions. The results showed that 61.0% of the respondents positively perceived the environmental effects of reusing and disposing UCO, and 99.0% repeatedly use the same cooking oil for deep-frying till depletion. The respondents’ perception on cooking oil reuse and disposal were influenced by wealth, ethnicity, education, and years of experience. Most respondents demonstrated a positive awareness on the environmental impact of UCO, though a significant gap remained between their knowledge and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A robust knowledge on the pattern of use of emergency care resources not only serves as an indicator of universal access to care but also provides a basis for quality improvement within the health system. This study was undertaken to describe the pattern of emergency room visits at Brits District Hospital (BDH) in North West province, South Africa. The objectives of this study were to determine the sociodemographic characteristics of emergency department (ED) users and other patterns of ED use. Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study that was conducted at a district hospital. All patients who reported for emergency care in the ED in 2016 were eligible for the study. Data were extracted and analysed from a systematic sample of 355 clinical notes and hospital administrative records. Results: The age group that visited the ED most frequently (25.3%) was 25-34 years old. A high proportion of the ED users (60%) were self-referred, and only 38% were transported by the emergency medical response services (EMRS). Few (5.6%) presentations were of a non-urgent nature. Trauma-related conditions accounted for the most frequent presentation at the ED (36.5%). Conclusion: Although most ED users were self-referred, their clinical presentations were appropriate and underscore the need for policy strategies to reduce the burden of trauma in the catchment population Contribution: The study findings may have an impact on future health policies by providing decision-makers with baseline information on the pattern of use of ED resources, ensuring better resource deployment and greater access to care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disposal has always been a source of conflict in academic and scientific libraries. Amid the increasing relevance of electronic resources, the disposal of e-books is becoming pertinent as well. Weighing up the pros and cons, every academic library should consider carefully whether it sides with the "Das frisst kein Brot/It doesn't consume space" team or the "Need to weed" team. The paper makes a proposal where to start the negotiation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Sensitivity analysis in packaging EoL modeling to evaluate influence in EoL impacts. • Take-back presents environmental benefits due to paper and glass recycling. • Incineration with energy recovery reduces EoL impacts from pharmaceutical packaging. • Smaller pharmaceutical packaging and EoL valorization reduces impacts. • Decisions at packaging early design stage influence EoL impacts. Pharmaceutical packaging waste has increased due to a higher global demand for pharmaceutical products, leading to more waste generation and associated environmental impacts. The main goal of this article is to present a cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment of pharmaceutical packaging, evaluating end-of-life (EoL) alternatives, aiming to identify hotspots and opportunities for improvement. A life cycle model was implemented for three types of pharmaceutical packaging (blisters, sachets, bottles; 23 packaging). The functional unit is the storage and delivery of medicines containing the same active pharmaceutical ingredient, dosage, and amount of medicines. Two EoL analyses were performed: 1) compare take-back (recycling and incineration) with domestic waste collection (landfill or incineration); and 2) assess different EoL situations of pharmaceutical packaging in Europe. A life cycle impact assessment was performed for 13 categories. Analysis 1 shows that take-back presents lower environmental impacts than domestic waste collection for seven out of 13 categories due to paper and glass recycling benefits. Analysis 2 shows that in the take-back, higher amounts of packaging are recycled or incinerated, which leads to lower EoL impacts. A sensitivity analysis was performed to evaluate the influence of parameters and assumptions in packaging EoL impacts. Packaging production contributes significantly to life cycle impacts, followed by transportation, EoL, and packing process. Ecodesign initiatives are recommended, such as packaging with less material and volume, using materials with lower impacts to significantly reduce the impacts of pharmaceutical packaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ships generating waste pose a significant environmental challenge in the maritime sector. This research aims to assess how effectively waste management practices are implemented by maritime personnel to mitigate the environmental impacts of onboard waste. Data gathered from survey questionnaires were analyzed using a quantitative research design, focusing on responses from chief officers and second engineers of ships. A four-point Likert scale was employed, and results were evaluated using frequency percentages, weighted means, and the Chi-square statistical analysis. The study aimed to profile the ship's crew and evaluate the implementation of waste management strategies, particularly regarding waste management plans and waste disposal onshore and ship-to-shore. The findings indicate that waste management implementation at the Port of Surigao's ships was fully achieved. These results underscore the importance of comprehensive waste management systems and training to ensure consistency in perceptions and practices among maritime officers. Therefore, the researchers suggested that ship operators can reduce environmental impact and promote sustainability in the maritime industry by developing a comprehensive waste management plan, providing crew training, installing effective waste segregation facilities, implementing recycling initiatives, and conducting regular audits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pregnancy ends and its materials are framed differently depending on the social and historical context. Engaging with scholarship on the plasticity of meaning around pregnancy materials, this paper illustrates how the approach to pregnancy remains has changed in England since the 1980s, with remains progressively being treated as human remains with associated assumption of mourning. The paper revisits interview data collected between 2014–2016 with women who had recently miscarried, revealing diversity in approaches to miscarriage and pregnancy remains. The women’s experiences preceded the issuance of guidance by the Human Tissue Authority (HTA) in 2015, which informed revising of clinical approaches to pregnancy remains disposal. The data is important in documenting practices around pregnancy remains and the way such approaches were formalised in activities of care. During the unfamiliar experience of miscarriage, the clinic was a key site of prescription and exploration, having a defining role in the meaning of pregnancy materials. Drawing on ethnographic research the paper provides examples of how women navigate these practices and possible frictions that emerge when approaches differ. The paper argues that clinical practices do not provide sufficient flexibility to respond to the diversity of women’s approaches to their pregnancy material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the presented work, industrial waste, solid waste and their types and their impact on the environment were investigated. The change of natural environment elements under the influence of waste is shown. The problems of waste generation and use have been investigated. The stages of industrial waste processing are indicated. The theoretical foundations of the transition to waste-free technology have been defined. The role of the latest technologies in improving industrial waste management is explored. A number of proposals have been put forward in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the internal dynamics and relationality of moral economies. It focuses on labor relations to understand how people find balance between collective moral frameworks and individual everyday acts. Drawing on ethnographic research among Czech landfill workers during the neoliberalization of the waste industry in the 2010s, the article explores two spheres of waste management: the informal scavenging of landfill workers and the management of wastewater. Salvaging things via scavenging and management of wastewater provides two arenas for analyzing the ways people reason about the good, dignity, and justice while following their own goals. Using inspirations from the scholarship on moral economy and everyday ethics, the author argues that these two theoretical directions may benefit from the respective strengths of each other's approaches: a capacity to recognize patterns of moral reasoning behind struggles for dignity in an unequal world versus an actor-oriented situational sense of ethics growing from everyday life on the ground. The article points at a scalar reshaping of moral economies and brings attention to a morality that does not reflect only direct transactions but also more imaginative relations to distant others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Almost 70% of women residing in urban areas and 48% of women in rural areas use sanitary napkins in India. According to menstrual health alliance India (MHAI), single sanitary pad will take about 500-800 years to decompose as the plastic used in manufacturing is nonbiodegradable and causes severe noxious effects contributing to global warming through the production of planet warming fuels which eventually have severe impact on environment sustainability. Hence, the study was undertaken to contribute the evidence for the "Clean and Green India". Aim: To know the perception and practice of disposal of sanitary napkins among young college-going females in India. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted throughout the country employing a self-administered questionnaire using a survey link sent through social media. Data collected were analyzed and interpreted using SPSS version 20.0. Result: The study population comprised 484 young college girls with a mean age of 20.92 ± 1.86 years and 96.9% of them are using sanitary napkins as menstrual absorbent aids. The most common method employed for the disposal of sanitary napkins was dumping them in the bin (87.4%). About 63.2% of them had no knowledge about sanitary napkin-burning machines. Around 92% think that improper disposal of sanitary napkins can cause health problems. Conclusion: The findings from the study revealed that a significant number of women were practicing noneco-friendly disposal methods and menstrual hygiene aids which are a bane to the ecosystem. Study warrants the education and training of females to achieve a green and clean sustainable India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Germany is obliged to report emissions of fluorinated greenhouse gases annually under the UNFCCC. This includes emissions of fluorinated refrigerants when decommissioning RAC equipment. To obtain this information, data on the recovery, recycling, and disposal of fluorinated greenhouse gases is necessary, but such data are scarce. The VDKF-LEC database contains information on the recovery of fluorinated refrigerants from decommissioned RAC equipment in Germany and an extracted dataset was used to obtain real-world information for the years 2017 to 2021. Recovery rates for different fluorinated refrigerants from decommissioned commercial and industrial refrigeration as well as stationary air-conditioning equipment were derived. Furthermore, average lifetimes of equipment for the different sectors were calculated. In the analysis, a dependency of charged refrigerant and age of the unit at decommissioning could be observed. Results from the analysis of the VDKF-LEC dataset were compared with reported data under the UNFCCC for Germany and other available data sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pulp and paper industry stands out as an example of a technology based on a renewable resource, cellulose. The sludge, however, poses major environmental and public health problems. To effectively manage the sludge wastes, it is critical to fully evaluate its composition, possible environmental impacts, and the total amount of exploitable renewable resources. The study established the pH of the sludge to be 7.32 ± 0.98, an electrical conductivity (1.84 mS/cm), nitrogen concentration (2.65 ± 0.21%), and total organic matter (41.23 ± 3.11%). The cellulosic content was established to be 74.07 ± 2.71% which contributes to 53.07 ± 1.23% water holding capacity (WHC). The most abundant elements were C and O, followed by Cl, Si, Al, and Mg, with lower concentrations of S, Si, K, and iron. The polycyclic aromatic compounds (PAHs) levels ranged from 0.29 to 322.56 ng.g-1 with 1-methyl pyrene posting the highest concentration (322.56 ng.g-1. XRD peaks at 17.10°, 23.86°, 30.14°, and 36.57°, which imply the existence of CaCO3. SEM indicated that the sludge was majorly comprised of fibers materials with average particle sizes of 280 micrometers. TGA/DTG analysis showed that the sludge had the greatest cellulose and hemicellulose (64.7 wt. %). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Discarding pharmaceuticals in the garbage or into the sewage system are still the most common methods in many countries. This study aims to investigate the guidance provided by pharmacists to customers on the disposal of unused and expired household medications in São Paulo State, Brazil. Method: The study population consisted of 630 pharmacists from the State of São Paulo, who work in community pharmacies. They answered an online questionnaire with questions composed in three blocks: demographic, work, and academic information on the pharmacist; guidance about the disposal of household medications; and knowledge regarding the reverse logistics of these medications. An invitation to participate in the questionnaire was made via WhatsApp, individually and collectively. Inferential statistics were performed using the chi-square test and were considered significant when p < 0.05%. Results: Among the participating pharmacists, the majority were women under 60 years old,56 (8.89%) stated that they never orient the customer regarding the disposal of unused and expired household medications, while 574 (91,12%) indicated that they almost provide guidance. The frequency with which they provided guidance was influenced by the number of years since graduation (p = 0.0047), the time they had worked in pharmacies and drugstores (p = 0.0007), and whether or not they had a graduate degree (p = 0.0181). Regarding the disposal of medications, among the 643 responses provided by the pharmacists,516 (80.25%) indicated that they oriented customers to return them to a pharmacy. Conclusion: A small number of pharmacists always orient customers on the proper disposal that should be followed for unused and expired household medications, prioritizing their return to a pharmacy. In general, these pharmacists have longer periods of work experience and higher academic qualifications. Thus, it is important to increase knowledge through professional training and further education programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Assess the rate, rationale, and characteristics of patients who cryopreserved and subsequently discarded their oocytes, and compare their characteristics to patients with continued cryopreservation of oocytes. Methods: All patients who disposed of cryopreserved oocytes between 2009 and 2022 reported their reason for discarding their oocytes. This was a retrospective cohort study. Results: Of 5,010 patients who underwent oocyte cryopreservation (OC) cycles, 201 (4%) patients elected to discard their oocytes and 751 (15%) thawed oocytes for clinical use. The average ages of OC and disposal were 35 and 39 years old, respectively. Of the 201 patients who discarded their oocytes, 71 patients (35%) requested disposal after having a child. Twenty-six (13%) discarded oocytes because of worsening cancer and three (1.4%) discarded because of death. 16 (8%) discarded oocytes due to cost of cryopreservation and eight (4%) due to low oocyte yield. Ten (5%) patients underwent new IVF cycles and discarded previously stored oocytes. Sixty-seven patients (33%) discarded oocytes for unspecified reasons. When comparing patients who discarded oocytes with those who did not, the former had lower AMH (2.7 vs 3.5 ng/ml, p < 0.001) but otherwise comparable age and number of cryopreserved oocytes. The mean age for those with continued cryopreservation was 35.4 years at time of OC and 40 years at time of data collection in June 2023. Conclusion: Childbirth was the most common reason to dispose of oocytes followed by unspecified reasons. Larger studies of oocyte disposal may better define clinical characteristics of patients most likely to use, maintain or discard their oocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Increase in opioid prescribing practices has occurred with concurrent increases in the levels of abuse, addiction, and diversion of opioid pain medication. With 82.5 opioid prescriptions prescribed for every 100 U.S. citizens, the need for more effective strategies aimed at improving opioid disposal exist. Our study sought to examine the planned rates of appropriate opioid disposal after introduction of an activated charcoal home drug disposal system (Deterra®) in combination with formalized opioid disposal education. Methods: Participants were recruited from an academic, public safety-net hospital and grouped into 3 cohorts, no formalized opioid disposal education (No Education), written and verbal patient education on appropriate opioid disposal (Education), and Deterra® in addition to formalized opioid disposal education (Deterra). Outcomes included patients reporting unacceptable methods of opioid disposal, storage of unused opiates, and patient satisfaction with disposal instructions. Results: Reported unacceptable opioid disposal decreased from 80.6% (n = 87) in the no education group to 20% (n = 10) in the education group to 6% (n = 3) in the Deterra group (P <.001). Education decreased long-term storage of opioid medication after completion of usage from 42% (n = 36) to 2% (n = 1), P <.001. Between the education and Deterra groups, more patients felt that the disposal instructions were clear (94% (n = 47) vs 73% (n = 36), P =.006) and more followed acceptable disposal instructions (80% (n = 39) vs 94% (n = 47) P <.001). Conclusion: Deterra® along with formal opioid disposal education increases patients reporting plans for compliance with appropriate opioid disposal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To assess (1) veterinarians' knowledge and practices regarding disposal of euthanized animals, (2) the extent to which veterinarians communicate with their clients about potential risks of rendering pentobarbital-euthanized animals, and (3) the extent to which veterinarians communicate potential relay toxicosis and environmental risks of pentobarbital-euthanized animals to clients. SAMPLE: A stratified random sample of AVMA members. METHODS: Over a 3-week period in early 2021, 16,831 of the AVMA's 99,500 members were surveyed, with 2,093 responses (a 12% response rate). Respondents were assigned to 1 of 3 categories on the basis of their answers: veterinarians euthanizing only food-producing species, veterinarians euthanizing only non-food-producing species, and veterinarians euthanizing both food-producing and non-food-producing species (ie, veterinarians euthanizing mixed species). RESULTS: Veterinarians responding to this survey appeared to be aware of the major methods of animal disposal, and about 89% reported communicating the method of euthanasia with clients to help ensure appropriate animal disposal. However, the need for additional education on local, state, and federal laws and rendering, as well as on risks of relay toxicosis including wildlife predation and environmental impacts, was reported. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Survey results identified gaps in veterinarians' knowledge regarding animal disposal following pentobarbital euthanasia. Further education on this topic may be beneficial, particularly for early- and midcareer veterinarians who euthanize non-food-producing species and for veterinarians who euthanize mixed species in urban and suburban communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, experiments were carried out to assess the microbially influenced corrosion (MIC) risk in the context of the French high‐level radioactive waste disposal. The exposures were carried out at 80°C in different repository relevant conditions, including the presence of different cement‐grout mixtures as filling material. Biotic conditions with nutrient and nonsterile conditions with indigenous microbes added from Callovo Oxfordian clayey rock and without nutrients were considered. For biotic conditions, specific preparations of microbial inoculum were carried out from samples collected at Andra's Underground Research Laboratory and microorganisms from microbial culture collection centers. Corrosion kinetics were determined using traditional coupons and completed with real‐time corrosion sensors. Microbiological characterizations consisted of cultural approach, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and next‐generation sequencing. The obtained results show no significant MIC and a reduced risk with the use of more alkaline filling material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, short‐term experiments were carried out to assess the microbially influenced corrosion (MIC) risk in the context of the French high‐level radioactive waste disposal CIGEO (Centre Industriel de Stockage Géologique). The exposures were carried out in different representative media, including the presence of different cement‐grout mixtures as filling material. Nonsterile and biotic conditions with nutrients were considered. For biotic conditions, specific preparations of microbial inoculum were carried out from samples collected at ANDRA's Underground Research Laboratory and microorganisms from the library. Corrosion kinetics were determined using both traditional coupons and completed with real‐time electrical resistance sensors. Microbiological characterizations consisted of cultural approach, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and next‐generation sequencing. The obtained results show no significant MIC, but a reduced risk was observed using more alkaline filling materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The improper disposal of pharmaceutical preparations substantially threatens human health and environmental safety. Pharmacists are responsible for properly disposing of unwanted medications and educating patients about how to do so themselves. This study aimed to assess community pharmacists' knowledge, determine their views on how to dispose of unwanted pharmaceuticals, and assess the extent to which they realize that it is their responsibility to guide patients toward the safe disposal of expired medications. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2021 and April 2022 among 400 practicing pharmacists who were chosen to participate by random cluster sampling. Community pharmacists' practices, awareness, and beliefs about disposing of unused drugs were evaluated. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (IBM-SPSS) version 21 was used for data entry and analysis. Results: Of 400 pharmacists, 348 stated that they did not participate in courses on the safe disposal of unwanted medications. Disposal of drugs in the garbage, an unsafe method, was very frequently recommended by pharmacists to patients, especially regarding inhalers, antibiotics, hormonal drugs, and solid and semisolid drugs. However, many pharmacists advised patients to return their hormonal, category B, and category C drugs to the pharmacy. A total of 61.3% of pharmacists agreed and 26% strongly agreed that unsafe disposal of drugs negatively affects the environment. A total of 54.3% of the participants agreed that improper disposal of antibiotics might be a reason for increased antimicrobial resistance, and 54.5% of them agreed that improper disposal of hormonal drugs might contribute to the development of certain cancers. A total of 80.3% of the participants perceived that most unwanted drugs in pharmacies were those returned from patients. A total of 97.3% of the participants supported establishing a drug disposal system, with 77.5% choosing to have the district health board responsible for funding this system. A total of 48.5% of the participants indicated that a lack of education and awareness on the issue of getting rid of unused drugs constitutes a challenge to the safe disposal of medicines, and 66% of them said that a lack of law enforcement constitutes another challenge. A total of 95.5% of the participants agreed or strongly agreed that good training for health sector workers and organizing workshops to develop knowledge on this subject would improve practices. A total of 93.3% supported distributing educational brochures, and 92.8% supported placing special containers in every pharmacy to collect unwanted drugs. Conclusions: Most pharmacists in our study returned drugs to manufacturing companies and stores, and few followed the correct methods of incineration and return of drugs to the Ministry of Health. Current data emphasize the issue of improper disposal of medicine in Palestine and the need for improved education among healthcare workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study seeks to gauge the degree of awareness of the VALPOLY Electronics Technology students on E-waste management. A total of 188 VALPOLY EST students enrolled in the academic year 2022-2023 were purposively selected to participate in the research. An adapted and modified survey questionnaire was used to assess VALPOLY EST students' level of awareness and the challenges they faced in managing their e-waste. Frequency counts, percentages, means, the Mann-Whitney U test, and the Kruskal Wallis test were used for statistical analysis and data handling. All questions were rated on a 4-point Likert scale with a 0.5 level of significance. Based on the findings, "Electronic Components" is the most common e-waste generated by the 188 VALPOLY EST students, while "CCTV", "Oven, Heaters, Cookware, Blender", "Washing Machines", and "Printers" are the least common e-waste generated during their technical training in their technical subjects. The majority of students also preferred "Resell to junkshops as scraps" as an e-waste disposal strategy, while "Take to the collection Centre" was the least preferred. The EST students' level of awareness in managing e-wastes was assessed with a grand mean of 2.62, showing that the VALPOLY EST students are "Aware" of managing their e-wastes. There is no significant difference in the degree of understanding of VALPOLY EST students on e-waste management based on age or gender, but there is a significant difference based on year level. The assessment of the VALPOLY EST students' concerns in managing their e-waste received a grand mean of 3.42, suggesting that the VALPOLY EST students "Strongly Agree" that there are challenges in managing their e-waste. Input through a set of recommendations was made to strengthen the institution's policy on controlling and treating waste and electronic waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The nutritious quality of dredged sediment makes it fit for mine reclamation. • Plant growth and carbon fixation density were increased with sediment addition. • Soil immobilization and phytoremediation effects were best achieved with M:S = 2:1. • The mine reclamation scenario has environmental and economic advantages. Dredging is one of the most effective methods for inhibiting the endogenous contamination of natural lakes. However, both the amount and the scope of dredging will be restricted if the disposal of the dredged sediment incurs considerable environmental and economic costs. The use of dredged sediments as a post-mining soil amendment for mine reclamation benefits both sustainable dredging and ecological restoration. This study incorporates a field planting experiment with a life cycle assessment to confirm the practical effectiveness of sediment disposal via mine reclamation, as well as its environmental and economic superiority over other alternative scenarios. The results show that the sediment offered plentiful organic matter and nitrogen for mine substrate, stimulating plant growth and increasing photosynthetic carbon fixation density, followed by enhanced plant root absorption and an improved soil immobilization effect on heavy metals. A 2:1 ratio of mine substrate to sediment is recommended to significantly promote the yield of ryegrass while reducing levels of groundwater pollution and soil contaminant accumulation. Due to the significant reduction in electricity and fuel, mine reclamation had minimal environmental impacts on global warming (2.63 × 10-2 kg CO 2 eq./kg DS), fossil depletion (6.81 × 10-3 kg oil eq./DS), human toxicity (2.29 × 10-5 kg 1,4-DB eq/kg DS), photochemical oxidant formation (7.62 × 10-5 kg NO x eq./kg DS), and terrestrial acidification (6.69 × 10-5 kg SO 2 eq./kg DS). Mine reclamation also had a lower cost (CNY 0.260/ kg DS) than cement production (CNY 0.965/kg DS) and unfired brick production (CNY 0.268/kg DS). The use of freshwater for irrigation and electricity for dehydration were the key factors in mine reclamation. Through this comprehensive evaluation, the disposal of dredged sediment for mine reclamation was verified to be both environmentally and economically feasible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why do certain parts of landscape become places for waste disposal? This simple question seems to be easy to answer given the existence of sophisticated tools for formal modelling of a range of environmental, economic, social, and political variables which are supposed to minimize risk, cost, and disequity. There are, however, more subtle factors that shape waste disposal and its inscription in landscape. Using examples of two Czech landfills and drawing upon my ethnographic research of wastescapes, I examine how history, economic interests, social practices, events, material indeterminacies, and multispecies encounters took part in the transformation of these places into loci of 'strangeness'. Using a metaphor of magnetism I refocus our attention to a capacity of strange entities such as garbage, rubble, military waste, dead bodies, animal farms, and shooting ranges to attract each other along a spatiotemporal continuum. I argue that strangeness sticks to places and tends to perpetuate itself through a series of 'magnetic' relations over time. This magnetism stems from the human propensity to classify and dispose of entities whose open-endedness is dangerous and must be controlled through placement. While this process of placement is often imagined as a management of absence, I point to a dialectical relationship to the opposite category of presence as a critical source of magnetism. Waste management, then, becomes envisioned as part of a more general social process that keeps the world meaningful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Product owners often find it challenging to part with their possessions. As a result, owners may pursue various behavioral strategies to facilitate disposal, even when considering products that are no longer needed or personally useful. According to ethnographic research, one such strategy is to move products into purgatories, or temporary liminal spaces. Using an experimental approach, we aim to causally assess whether product purgatories do in fact induce disposal. Findings from three studies indicate that moving items into purgatories allows owners to psychologically brace for subsequent product disposal. However, unlike prior research that has focused on reduced product attachment as a primary driver of disposal preparedness, the present research documents a novel mechanism that does not necessarily entail attachment reduction. Specifically, purgatories are shown to trigger mental simulation of the product disposal process, thereby helping product owners brace for the looming loss of their product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whether biochar produced as a by-product of energy generation from the papermill industry, and often disposed in landfills, can be gainfully applied to commercial croplands has not been investigated. The objective of this study was to investigate the physical and hydraulic properties of soils in commercial cotton fields managed as no-till systems following repeated applications of biochar generated as a waste of a papermill plant. Undisturbed cores and disturbed soil samples were collected from 0–5 and 5–10 cm layers from five commercial no-till fields in Mississippi, USA that received 6.7 Mg ha−1 year−1 biochar for 0, 2, 3, 5 or 10 years. A number of physical, hydraulic, and chemical properties of these samples were measured in the lab. The results showed that biochar reduced the degree of soil compactness and increased soil aggregation and structural stability index. The findings were particularly apparent for the 10 years of consecutive application, which increased soil aggregate stability by up to 67%, reduced bulk density from 1.40 to 1.26 g cm−3, and reduced degree of compactness from 73.2% to 62.8%. Biochar increased soil porosity but much of this increase (55%) occurred for small pores (< 0.5 μm) with little effect on storage pores (0.5–50 μm) or transmission pores (> 50 μm). Consequently, biochar increased soil field capacity by up to 26%, but PAW increased by only 17%. Biochar significantly increased soil physical quality index score in the 0–5 cm layer from 0.16 to 0.26 and the increase was positively correlated with the number of years of application. The results suggest biochar generated as a byproduct of papermill could be land-applied in real-world crop production systems to improve soil health as an alternative to disposal in landfills. Highlights: Biochar derived from papermill plants applied to a no-till cotton soil for up to 10 years improved soil physical quality index Biochar increased soil porosity and field capacity but did not result in equivalent increase in plant available water because much of this increase (55%) of soil porosity occurred for small pores (< 0.5 μm) Applying biochar from papermill plants to croplands is a viable alternative to disposal in landfills [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrated solid waste management is an important challenge as well as an opportunity for public authorities, academicians, researchers and policymakers. The lack of understanding about the issues related to municipal solid waste management (MSWM) among different stakeholders and the associated cost makes the process challenging. This study was conducted based on the literature, reports and data available in public domain. India has the second largest population in the world, and its urbanization has posed many challenges for MSWM. The objectives of this study were to quantify the MSW generation, treatment and disposal rates in different states of India in recent years of the 21st century. We explain the geographical distribution of per capita generation of MSW in different states and Union Territories of India, considering the data from the Central Pollution Control Board, New Delhi. We observed that Odisha and Delhi had the highest per capita generation of waste in the country. Karnataka reported the highest percentage rise in per capita generation of MSW from 2014-15 to 2019-20. An in-depth study of the treatment methods and status in different states has also been reviewed by us. Maharashtra reported highest treatment of MSW in 2019-20 and also had the maximum number of landfills in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Definition: Nuclear waste (like radioactive waste) is waste that contains, or is contaminated with, radionuclides, at activity concentrations greater than clearance levels set by the regulators, beyond which no further use is foreseen. Disposal is the emplacement of waste in an appropriate facility without the intention to retrieve it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients with life-limiting cancers are commonly prescribed opioids to manage pain, dyspnea, and cough. Proper prescription opioid disposal is essential to prevent poisonings and deaths. Objective: We examined opioid disposal practices of patients referred to a Canadian outpatient palliative care clinic (OPCC). The primary objective was to determine the prevalence of OPCC patients who did not routinely dispose their opioids. The secondary objectives were to examine their methods of opioid disposal and to identify patient characteristics associated with routine disposal of opioids. Design and Setting: This cross-sectional study involved a retrospective chart review of new, adult patients who were seen in a Canadian OPCC (September 2018–August 2019) and completed a survey about opioid-related constructs: source of prescriptions, use, storage, disposal, and knowledge about associated harms. Results: Among the 122 study participants, half (58/111, 52.3%) reported that they did not routinely dispose their opioids. The most common method of disposal was by giving them to pharmacists (69/88, 78.4%). Cannabis use (odds ratio [OR]: 3.7, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.1–11.8) and neuropathic medication use (OR: 3.0, 95% CI: 1.2–7.2) were positively associated with routine disposal of opioids. Conversely, reports of an increased amount of opioid use in the past six months were negatively associated with routine disposal of opioids (OR: 0.38, 95% CI: 0.16–0.88). Conclusion: The high prevalence of people with life-limiting illnesses who do not routinely dispose their opioids requires increased attention. Interventions, such as education, are needed to reduce medication waste and opioid-related harms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper assessed the effects of wastewater on socioeconomic activities of residents in Kano metropolis, Kano State, Nigeria. High population, poor drainage channels and lack of central wastewater sewerage and functional treatment plants have necessitated indiscriminate discharge of wastewater into the environment. Using Krejcie and Morgan (1970) table for determining sample size, a total of 384 population size was sampled and purposefully, systematically and randomly administered questionnaires in Likert Scale Format. Interviews were also conducted with stakeholders and community elders and direct filed observation for elucidation of the socioeconomic effects of wastewater. Results were presented in tables and charts and further expressed in strength of associations using Spearman rho statistics analysis. Findings show that 89.75% of respondents are of the view that wastewater from households and commercial areas is let loose into the environment and affects land-use as well as domestic activities. It also shows that 88.5% reported that wastewater affects the means of livelihood of residents and 92.19% opined that economic cost of construction of drainage channels, embankment and sandbags while 92.5% strongly and agreed that wastewater affects the health of the residents and causes different kinds of diseases. The study further shows that wastewater has effect on businesses and recreations while making some places inaccesible and affectng their economic activities. The study therefore recommends public enlightenment, strong legislations and enforcement of principle of polluter pays, attitudinal change and population decongestion, centralized sewerages system should be implemented among others should strictly be adhered to harness to encourage socioeconomic activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is stated that the secondary processing can achieve a lot of advantages in order to stagnate and produce a cheap source of rich materials, raw materials and non-natural materials. In addition, it is clear that having been squandered into too much of a middle ground, the outputs of mankind’s technogenic activities are likely to become problematic. On the other hand, the natural resources of our planet are limited and are constantly being used up and cannot be replenished in terms equal to the hour of the founding of civilization. Also considered are the products that involve the processing of glass containers for repeated recovery through turning around the outputs of the production process. And you yourself will have to achieve the goal of using a second-grade glass container when selecting a glass for new dances. Slo is a material that is widely used in the manufacture of windows, dishes, packaging and other items. This is due to its versatility, clarity and ability to melt at high temperatures. The melting temperature of the warehouse varies from 650 to 1500 ⁰C in storage of components. The melted layer becomes viscous, making it easy to process and create new products. One of the key aspects is that the recycling of tableware is significant, it is an environmental benefit. Stain, as a non-collapsible material, can accumulate on waste materials and in nature for a decade, causing damage to the environment. Reprocessing broken glass into new processes can significantly change the quantity of outputs that go to waste disposal plants and in combustion plants. This emits a change in carbon dioxide, which is seen when a new glass is formed from the original cheese. In addition to environmental benefits, recycling of warehouses can also be a significant economic benefit. The production of raw materials from raw materials requires significant expenditure of energy and resources. The process of recycling broken glass can be 40% cheaper compared to the production of new warehouse. This is due to the smaller amount of energy required to melt the already formed material, and to the smaller amount of vicorized ore. In addition, warehouse processing can create new opportunities for business and development. Enterprises that specialize in the collection and processing of waste products create work places and promote the development of the local economy. Also, recycling of waste is of great importance both for the environment and for the economy. Replacement of primary resources, reduction of waste and creation of new opportunities for the recovery of outputs - this is only a step from the advantages that the processing of warehouses provides. In general, this process plays an important role in the creation of a more environmentally friendly society. The article describes a section of the line for sorting glass dances by color and recycling them using the method of further processing and recycling. The length of the line consists of the following sequentially expanded machines: a stitch conveyor, a crusher of cursed dances (2 pcs), a straight sleeve, a screw conveyor (2 pcs). Stitch conveyor is used for transporting and sorting dances into dances from a clear fold, for example, from dances filled with barnyard in green colors. The crusher is intended for fine graining and sifting through a sieve, which can be replaced in storage according to the required size of the granular glass. Stored under 50...60 0, screw conveyors are used for transporting the detailed warehouse with the method of further packaging in containers and delivery to the production site for the production of cursed dances. The armchair was dismantled and the anterior debranching was carried out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South Africa produces significant quantities of brines but there is insufficient information on their biological and physicochemical characteristics and nature, which limits the ability to propose sustainable brine handling procedures. This study aimed to comprehensively characterize selected brines from major brine-producing industries in South Africa. This was achieved through an analysis of the majority of the brine constituents, thereby allowing for the proposal of suitable brine handling procedures, the identification and harnessing of potential economic value, as well as the identification of the environmental impact of the brines. The brines were analysed for physical, metallic, organic, and inorganic constituents using a variety of methods including inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The total dissolved solids (TDS) of most of the brines was below 35 000 mg/L and it was concluded that most South African brines may be brackish. All the brines contained toxic constituents in concentrations that exceeded set discharge and re-use limits. It was concluded that comprehensive characterization is crucial in understanding the quality of brines and is a crucial step in proposing suitable brine handling strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optimal chemotherapy management is substandard in low and middle-income countries. We aimed to identify major gaps to design interventional strategies for improved chemotherapy management at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital (TASH), Ethiopia. This study was conducted using an observational checklist, open-ended questions, record review, and key informant interviews of department heads and focal persons at TASH. Findings were categorized into specific themes that developed. Chemotherapy represented 60.2% of the hospital medication budget. Drug utilization was quantified via monthly consumption documentation and forecasting. However, unreliable data resulted in frequent stockouts (unavailability of the item when it is needed) of chemotherapy with only 67.8% availability. Thirteen healthcare personnel (9 nurses, 2 pharmacists and 2 hospital cleaners) were interviewed: all clinical staff but neither of hospital cleaners believed that they were at risk of hazardous agents. Challenges identified included inadequate and frequent stockouts (unavailability of the item when it is needed) of personal protective equipment, lack of standardized guidelines for chemotherapy handling, admixture, and disposal, lack of designated preparation rooms, and lack of training. All nine nurses handled chemotherapy admixtures despite only two nurses previously receiving in-service training. Most of the participants had never witnessed the disposal of anticancer drugs. Prompted by the results of this study, a dialogue was initiated among members of TASH, the American Cancer Society and the University of North Carolina to implement action-oriented projects to address the gaps identified at TASH. These gaps directly and indirectly affect care and treatment outcomes of patients at a large cancer center. Collaborations with well-resourced centers are potential models for improving chemotherapy management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmentalists target their own behaviour choices as part of their identity, including recycling, transportation, and clothing. Based on interviews with older adult environmentalists, we investigate whether their environmentalism extends beyond their lives. That is, do they want to be disposed of or dispersed upon their death? In terms of environmentalism, then, considering the materials involved, including one's body, how might we explain older adult environmentalists' thoughts on their own death care? Is there a gap between one's identity as an environmentalist and one's anticipated choices about death care? We examine the death care discourse of 20 older adult environmentalists to examine Rumble et al.'s 2014 debate between disposal and dispersal. We conclude that environmental activists maintain their identity as environmental activists through their death care deliberations, but that both the ecological science of burial choices and the knowledge about green burial options is evolving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Is open pyre cremation and ash dispersion in running water the universal default disposal for Hindus? Images of open pyre cremation and ash dispersion at the banks of the river Ganges still perpetuate our popular Orientalist perceptions of Hindu disposal; an ancient, exotic and unchanging traditional practice. However, such perceptions obscure the empirical reality. Hindu funeral practice in South Asia as well as in diaspora, have been in constant flux, regulated and changing greatly during the last century. Inhumation has been a major alternative to cremation for Hindus in South Asia and in diaspora during the last century. In this paper, I highlight a few novel examples of recent establishment of Hindu urn burial sections within municipal cemeteries in Norway. These cases show a continuation of traditional Hindu funeral practice in South Asia, as well as change and innovation adopted in Norway. However, none of the 300 urn graves within the two established Hindu cemetery sections in Norway have been utilised so far. What are the underlying factors for Hindu urn burial which renders the option non-compliance? Why do the majority of Hindus in Norway continue to opt for dispersion of ashes in their land of origin or in Norway? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examines how ash-scattering space in public natural areas in Norway is produced. Fieldwork was conducted with 11 Norwegian bereaved people through interviews and visits to the disposal places to study the practices relating to contemporary ash disposal. The article contributes to a more systematic understanding of the spatial interactions between the bereaved and the deceased, while indicating the importance of considering the fluidity of commemorative space which facilitates for an encounter between the bereaved and the deceased. The findings reveal that the scattering of ashes undermines the traditional relation between death and place (cemeteries) and transforms the public place in natural landscapes into commemorative space. Solid places on sea, floating places by the sea and places where the floating soul appears by the sea are produced as commemorative spaces where the ashes are scattered or where a connection to the sea is likely. The data indicates that the space is created in an open-ended process where both the bereaved's and the deceased's relation to the ash-scattering site (or the sea) and their experiences of the cemetery institution are mutually important factors. The analysis has been inspired by Henri Lefebvre's, Doreen Massey's and Martina Löw's multidimensional understandings of space as constituted relationality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green roofs are increasingly being used in urban settings because of the many benefits they are capable of providing. Because of their widespread use, the issue of how to conduct proper disposal of green roofs once they have reached their end of life is beginning to be raised. The present study is a review of the scientific literature published between 2007 and 2022. Specifically, the contribution of this review study is to clarify whether a waste scenario exists and if so, identify the methodological frameworks and/or criteria used in green roof-related studies to establish the end-of-life scenario of a given green roof, which will then be used to analyze its environmental and economic performance. The literature analysis indicated that a standardized method, widely adopted, which allows identifying recovery and/or disposal treatments to be assigned to waste from the disposal of a green roof, is missing. In general, the feeling one gets from reading all these articles is that when it comes to the end of life of green roofs, everything is rather vague, and that one proceeds in no particular order. The main results of the study are a collection of the criteria currently proposed in the literature to identify the end-of-life scenario of green roofs. These essentially include predominant waste management practices in place in the country where the green roof is located, safety sheets of products constituting single layers of the green roof, and statistical data on the management of specific types of waste. The results also include an overview of the current body of knowledge related to the management of the end-of-life of these building components. This study also intends to serve as a starting point for opening a debate on the disposal of green roofs, a current hot topic and still open as it has not yet been codified. Finally, some recommendations for future research work in this field are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE: To explore cancer survivors’ access to and use and disposal of opioids in the context of the opioid epidemic. PARTICIPANTS & SETTING: Community-based recruitment strategies were employed for individuals aged 18 years or older who were previously diagnosed with cancer, completed cancer treatment within the past five years, or were cancer free, and who were prescribed opioids for cancer-related pain. METHODOLOGIC APPROACH: This qualitative study used semistructured interviews. Data were analyzed using applied thematic analysis techniques. FINDINGS: Themes included the following: (a) restrictive policies affecting opioid access and supply, (b) decreased opioid use because of concerns of addiction and other opioid-related side effects, and (c) lack of clarity on safeguarding and disposal of opioids. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Cancer survivors may encounter barriers to opioid access, alter medicationtaking behavior over fear of addiction and side effects, and face inadequate education regarding proper disposal of opioids. Nurses can advocate for appropriate access to prescribed opioids, assess opioid-taking behavior, provide education regarding storage and disposal, and implement educational interventions accordingly [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bauxite residue (BR), also known as red mud, is a byproduct of the alumina production using the Bayer process. This material is not used to make iron or other iron-containing products worldwide, owing to its high content of sodium oxide and other impurities. In this study, we investigated the hydrochemical conversion of goethite (FeOOH) to magnetite (Fe3O4) in high-iron BR from the Friguia alumina refinery (Guinea) by Fe2+ ions in highly concentrated alkaline media. The simultaneous extraction of Al and Na made it possible to obtain a product containing more than 96% Fe3O4. The results show that the magnetization of Al-goethite and Al-hematite accelerates the dissolution of the Al from the iron mineral solid matrix and from the desilication product (DSP). After ferrous sulfate (FeSO4·7H2O) was added directly at an FeO:Fe2O3 molar ratio of 1:1 at 120 °C for 150 min in solution with the 360 g L−1 Na2O concentration, the alumina extraction ratio reached 96.27% for the coarse bauxite residue size fraction (Sands) and 87.06% for fine BR obtained from red mud. The grade of iron (total iron in the form of iron elements) in the residue can be increased to 69.55% for sands and 58.31% for BR. The solid residues obtained after leaching were studied by XRD, XRF, TG-DTA, VSM, Mössbauer spectroscopy, and SEM to evaluate the conversion and leaching mechanisms, as well as the recovery ratio of Al from various minerals. The iron-rich residues can be used in the steel industry or as a pigment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article addresses a prominent gap in sociological studies of consumption and disposal. Whilst waste and disposal studies have traditionally focused on the production of waste or its subsequent treatment at municipal disposal facilities, little has focused sociologically on waste outside of these confines, such as littering and fly-tipping. Focusing on the latter, this article makes an original contribution by drawing on fly-tipping to demonstrate the need for further sociological study on material abandonment and its relevance for the fields of consumption and disposal, and more broadly issues of sustainability. Drawing on qualitative interviews with 14 local authority waste officers and local councillors, we argue that fly-tipping disrupts the usual linear pathways of consumption, occurring in transitional zones between the site of production/ownership of objects/materials (e.g. households, construction sites) and that of its acceptance and treatment into formal waste infrastructures (local authority waste processing). We illustrate how fly-tipping incorporates both aspects of disjuncture and abandonment but that it cannot simply be positioned as an act without care. We do this through a focus on three interconnected key facets of fly-tipping: (1) the complexity of defining; (2) issues of measurement and responsibility; and (3) socio-economic factors and the influence of the built environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Characterization and evaluation of hazardous spent V 2 O 5 -WO 3 /TiO 2 catalysts are critical to determining their treatment or final disposal. This study employs a thermal approach to simulate the preparation of spent catalysts derived from commercial V 2 O 5 -WO 3 /TiO 2 catalysts and investigate the structure-activity relationship of the carrier changes during the deactivation process. The results indicate that the catalyst carrier undergoes two processes: an increase in grain size and a transformation in crystal structure. Both structural and catalytic investigations demonstrate that the grain size for catalyst deactivation is 24.62 nm, and the formation of CaWO 4 occurs before the crystalline transformation. The specific surface area is susceptible to an increase in grain size. The reactions of selective catalytic reduction involve the participation of both Brønsted acid and Lewis acid sites. The deactivation process of the carrier initially affects Brønsted acid sites, followed by a reduction in Lewis acid sites, resulting in a decline in NH 3 adsorption capacity and oxidation. Correlation analysis reveals that changes in the physicochemical properties of the catalyst reduce the NO conversion, with the order being The grain size > Total acid amount > The surface area. It is recommended to recycle the spent catalyst if the carrier grain size is less than 25 nm. The findings of this investigation contribute to expanding the database for evaluating and understanding the physicochemical properties of spent catalysts for disposal. [Display omitted] • The process of carrier transformations was studied from grain size and crystal. • The grain size is a signification indicator of the recovery of spent catalysts. • Regeneration of spent catalysts caused by grain size <25 nm is recommended. • The related relationship of carriers guiding the disposal of spent catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unused prescription opioids contribute to diversion, unintended exposure, and poisonings in adolescents. Factors associated with safe prescription opioid disposal for adolescents undergoing surgery are unknown. Parents of adolescents (13-20 y) undergoing surgery associated with an opioid prescription were enrolled preoperatively. Parents completed a baseline survey measuring sociodemographics and family history of substance abuse and two postoperative surveys capturing opioid use and disposal at 30 and 90 d. Safe disposal was defined as returning opioids to a healthcare facility, pharmacy, take-back event, or a police station. Factors associated with safe opioid disposal were assessed using bivariate analysis. Of 119 parent-adolescent dyads, 90 (76%) reported unused opioids after surgery. The majority of parents reporting unused opioids completed the surveys in English (80%), although many (44%) spoke another language at home. Most reported income levels <$60,000 (54%), did not attend college (69%), and had adequate health literacy (66%). Most parents (78%) did not report safe opioid disposal. Safe opioid disposal was associated with younger patient age, (median 14 y, IQR 13-16.5 versus median 15.5 y, IQR 14-17, P = 0.031), fewer days taking opioids (median 5, IQR 2-6 versus median 7, IQR 4-14, P = 0.048), and more leftover pills (median 20, IQR 10-35 versus median 10, IQR 5-22, P = 0.008). Most parents fail to safely dispose of unused opioids after their adolescent's surgery. Younger patient age, shorter duration of opioid use, and higher number of unused pills were associated with safe disposal. Interventions to optimize prescribing and educate parents about safe opioid disposal are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]