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Teachers in technology education shops (TESs) in high schools are at risk from exposure to occupational hazards, including physical work demands and chemicals, particulate matter and noise, as well as non-optimal working conditions negatively affected by temperature, humidity, and lighting. This study evaluated the exposure to noise of 17 TES teachers working in 17 wood-working, metal-working, and automotive shops in selected high schools in British Columbia, Canada, and examined the quality of the acoustical teaching environments due to background noise. This study characterized noise control measures in the sampled TESs and observed the safety practices of teachers during TES classes. The results of this investigation indicated that almost 60% of the participating teachers were exposed to unacceptable levels of noise during teaching and working in TESs. It also showed that TES acoustical environmental quality was adversely affected by high background noise levels due to poor room designs and settings. Practical recommendations were provided to reduce and control the exposure to noise in TESs and to enhance the quality of health, safety, and quality of teaching environment in these TESs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to high levels of noise causes physiological and psychological effects such as hearing loss, fatigue and reduction in performance. This study was aimed to evaluate the auditory effects of exposure to different levels of occupational noise in some industries in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Results indicated that 97% of the 33 examined workers, representing three factories were exposed to high noise levels (Leq), -- greater than the recommended standard (85 dBA / 8hrs-day) in Saudi Arabia. Of those workers, 76% didn't wear any hearing protectors. Hearing loss was developed mostly after the first ten years of employment in 20% of workers. Audiometric examinations of the studied workers showed that 6% had severe hearing loss at high frequencies of 4 kHz and 8 kHz. Moderately severe to mild hearing loss was observed both at high (4 kHz-8 kHz) and low (250 Hz-500 Hz) frequencies. There was a strong positive significant correlation between hearing loss and noise dose, age, and duration of exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The massive production and extensive use of fossil-based non-biodegradable plastics are leading to their environmental accumulation and ultimately cause health threats to animals, humans, and the biosphere in general. The problem can be overcome by developing eco-friendly ways for producing plastics-like biopolymers from waste residues such as of agricultural origin. This will solve two currently prevailing social issues: waste management and the efficient production of a biopolymer that is environmentally benign, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA). The current study assesses the environmental impact of biopolymer (PHA) manufacturing, starting from slaughterhouse waste as raw material. The Material Input Per Service Unit methodology (MIPS) is used to examine the sustainability of the PHA production process. In addition, the impact of shifting from business-as-usual energy provision (i.e., electricity from distribution grid network and heat provision from natural gas) to alternative renewable energy sources is also evaluated. As a major outcome, it is shown that the abiotic material contribution for PHA production process is almost double for using hard coal as an energy source than the petro-plastic low-density-poly(ethene) (LPDE), which PHA shall ultimately replace. Likewise, abiotic material contribution is 43 % and 7 % higher when using the electricity from the European electricity mix (EU-27 mix) and biogas, respectively, than in the case of LDPE production. However, PHA production based on wind power for energy provision has 12 % lower abiotic material input than LDPE. Furthermore, the water input decreases when moving from the EU-27 mix to wind power. The reduction in water consumption for various electricity provision resources amounts to 20 % for the EU-27 mix, 25 % for hard coal, 71 % for wind, and 70 % for biogas. As the main conclusion, it is demonstrated that using wind farm electricity to generate PHA is the most environmentally friendly choice. Biogas is the second-best choice, although it requires additional abiotic material input. • Assessment of environmental impact of biopolymer (PHA) manufacturing. • Conversion of waste and surplus materials towards value-added bioproducts. • Environmental analysis using Material Input Per Service Unit (MIPS) methodology. • Comparative analysis of PHA with the fossil-based competitor LDPE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to air pollution in general and Particulate Matter (PM) and its constituents, in particular, can be extremely harmful to human health. Given the importance of PM and its constituents concerning human health, this study aimed to evaluate the levels of PM2.5 and some HMs in the atmosphere of Makkah City, Saudi Arabia, and assess the health risks associated with exposure to HMs. The 24-h mean concentration of PM2.5 in Makkah city was 38.0±13.5 µg/m3 which exceeded the WHO air quality guidelines and national ambient air quality standard of Saudi Arabia. The average concentrations of HMs were Mn (54.3±13.3 ng/m3)>Pb (40.3±9.2 ng/m3)>As (27.8±4.1 ng/m3)>Ni (20.5±12.9 ng/m3)> Cr (18.2±6.2 ng/m3)>Cd (13.0±3.1 ng/m3). The non-carcinogenic risks (non-CRs) and carcinogenic risks (CRs) associated with exposure to measured HMs were analyzed using hazard quotient (HQ) and incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR), respectively. Arsenic was found to be the major contributor to health risk and oral ingestion was found to be the most detrimental pathway of exposure to HMs. For future research, it is recommended to evaluate the HMs and their health risks in various environmental media in different Saudi cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Laser irradiation increased Ajwain sprout growth by improving photosynthesis. • Laser enhanced coumarins and essential oil metabolism, through increasing phenylpropanoid biogenesis. • Laser irradiation boosted the antibacterial activity of ajwain sprouts. • The efficiency of helium-neon was greater than helium-cadmium laser. Ajwain , Trachyspermum (T.) ammi , is a coumarin-rich, highly nutritive, and medicinally important herb, however, there is not enough data on the efficiency of laser irradiation in inducing such properties. Herein, the effect of seed treatment with laser irradiations [helium-neon (He-Ne, 632 nm, 5 mW) and helium-cadmium (He-Cd, 460 nm, 16.2 mW)] at 500 mJ energy for 5 min on the biomass, photosynthesis, and the metabolism of coumarins, essential oil, and their precursor metabolites in two varieties of ajwain sprouts i.e., Desi and Chakwal was investigated for the first time. Laser irradiation increased sprout biomass accumulation by improving photosynthesis, chlorophyll content, and respiration. Additionally, laser treatment enhanced the metabolism of coumarins and essential oil, which was explained by the increased availability of their precursors (phenylalanine, cinnamic acid, and shikimic acid). There were also increases in the activity of the key enzymes involved in the biogenesis of phenylpropanoid and coumarins, i.e., 3-Deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate-7-phosphate synthase (DAHPS), cinnamate-4-hydroxylase (C4H), 4-coumarate: coenzyme A ligase (4CL), and p-coumarate 3-hydroxylase (C3H). Furthermore, laser treatment induced the accumulation of total and individual phenolics and flavonoids. Consequently, laser treatment significantly improved the antibacterial properties of ajwain sprouts against four foodborne pathogens included Staphylococcus aureus , Listeria monocytogenes , Bacillus cereus, and Salmonella spp. Ajwain variety-specific responses to laser light treatment confirmed by principal component analysis (PCA) showed that Desi variety was more responsive. The efficiency of He-Ne was greater than He-Cd laser, which suggests He-Ne laser treatment as a promising approach to boost the production of valuable pigments, coumarins, and essential oils in ajwain sprouts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pakistan has been facing an electricity shortage since the year 2005, which is negatively affecting the country's agricultural, industrial, and services sectors growth. In this study, Low Emissions Analysis Platform (LEAP®) software was used for forecasting energy mix of Pakistan for the period of 2022–2050 under the baseline and transformation scenarios. Baseline scenario emphasizes to enhance the share of hydro while transformation scenario emphasizes to enhance the share of biomass in total energy mix of Pakistan. Transformation scenario is recommended because hydro plants will retire in future and delay in construction of new hydro plants is noticed due to limited budget. In this regard, electrical energy is harvested using biomass based distributed power generation (BBDPG) for the sustainable economic development of Pakistan. The aggregate capacity of biomass is used which includes agriculture residue, forest residue, municipal waste, and animal waste. The results of this study show that the share of hydro at around 54.09% (614.14 TWh) is dominated over other renewable sources in the baseline scenario, whereas, in transformation scenario the share of biomass at around 33.3% (378 TWh) is dominated over other renewable sources till 2050. Pakistan could generate a total of 1135.20 TWh energy units in 2050, which would be enough to meet the future energy demand of 966.05 TWh by 2050. • Modeling of Pakistan's energy systems for the period 2022 to 2050. • Create balance between power demand and supply for economic development. • Role of biomass in energy mix is significant. • Provide sufficient power at competitive price and avoid capacity shortfall. • Proposed an energy policy for achieving renewable energy supply. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the recent climate change, organizations all over the globe are developing plans for reducing carbon emissions by developing clean energy technologies and energy efficient devices. In this regard, the developments have not been done over the past two decades on green energy in Pakistan and in general, the representation of renewable sources especially biomass feedstock supply such as agriculture residue, forest residue, municipal waste and animal waste for green energy transition pathways is limited. Using the Low Emissions Analysis Platform (LEAP®) software, path for green energy transition is analyzed in Pakistan by incorporating the biomass feedstock under the ongoing and sustainable energy scenarios from 2022 to 2050. Results showed that the bioelectricity production will increase from 18.73 TWh (in the ongoing scenario) to the 265.20 TWh (in the biomass based sustainable energy scenario) till 2050. Furthermore, the development of biomass plants would help in reducing the CO 2 emissions from 138.47 million metric tonnes in the current scenario to 8.71 million metric tonnes in the sustainable energy scenario by 2050. This study will provide the fundamental data and aid the policy makers and other stakeholders to shift toward developing renewable and sustainable energy systems in Pakistan. • Role of biomass in energy mix is significant for Pakistan. • Pakistan is producing 560.19 million tons of biomass resource annually. • Bioelectricity production will increase from 18.73 to 265.20 TWh using biomass till 2050. • LEAP® model is developed for sustainable climate change. • Bioelectricity will reduce CO 2 emissions from 138.47 to 8.71 million metric tonnes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High raw material prices and rivalry from the food industry have hampered the adoption of renewable resource-based goods. It has necessitated the investigation of cost-cutting strategies such as locating low-cost raw material supplies and adopting cleaner manufacturing processes. Exploiting waste streams as substitute resources for the operations is one low-cost option. The present study evaluates the environmental burden of biopolymer (polyhydroxyalkanoate) production from slaughtering residues. The sustainability of the PHA production process will be assessed utilising the Emergy Accounting methodology. The effect of changing energy resources from business as usual (i.e., electricity mix from the grid and heat provision utilising natural gas) to different renewable energy resources is also evaluated. The emergy intensity for PHA production (seJ/g) shows a minor improvement ranging from 1.5% to 2% by changing only the electricity provision resources. This impact reaches up to 17% when electricity and heat provision resources are replaced with biomass resources. Similarly, the emergy intensity for PHA production using electricity EU27 mix, coal, hydropower, wind power, and biomass is about 5% to 7% lower than the emergy intensity of polyethylene high density (PE-HD). In comparison, its value is up to 21% lower for electricity and heat provision from biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study was conducted to investigate whether the positive impact of elevated CO2 (eCO2) on the chemical composition of aniseed (Pimpinella anisum L.) seeds is dependent on seed developmental stages and origin. To this end, we investigated the biochemical changes in eCO2-treated aniseed accessions from Tunisia, Syria, Turkey, Morocco, Yemen, and Egypt during three developmental stages (immature, premature, and mature). The highest dry weight percentages and seed yields were recorded for the Egypt and Morocco accessions. eCO2 has inducing properties on the nutritive and biological values of aniseeds, yet its effectiveness is related to seed maturity and provenances. For instance, seed maturation increased the nutrients and antioxidant metabolites in most eCO2-treated accessions. Conversely, essential oil metabolism was decreased by seed maturation but this effect was significantly reduced by the use of eCO2. The enhanced accumulation of bioactive compounds in eCO2-treated seeds was accompanied by improved health benefits. In this regard, eCO2 induces the antioxidant and hypocholesterolemic activities of aniseeds, particularly at mature stages. Thus, the present study confirms that there are significant interactions between eCO2 exposure, aniseed maturity, and origin on the chemical composition and pharmaceutical properties of aniseed. Besides the lack of studies regarding applying elevated CO2 (eCO2) as a strategy to improve the chemical composition of anise (Pimpinella anisum L.) seeds, studies on its interaction with seed developmental stages and origin are very limited. The seed yield, chemical composition, and biological activity of 6 aniseed accessions (Egypt, Tunisia, Syria, Turkey, Yemen, and Morocco) were investigated during three developmental stages (immature, premature, and mature) under control and elevated CO2 conditions. Mature seeds from all aniseed accessions had significantly higher (p < 0.05) dry weight (DW) percentages than premature and immature seeds. The highest DW percentages were recorded in Egypt and Morocco accessions. Seed maturation increased nutrients and antioxidant metabolites in most eCO2-treated accessions. In contrast, essential oils were decreased by seed maturation, while eCO2 reversed this effect. Essential oil-related precursors (e.g., phenylalanine) and enzyme activities (3-Deoxy-d-arabino-heptulosonate-7-phosphate synthase (DAHPS) and O–methyltransferase) decreased with seed maturity. However, high CO2 reduced this impact and further induced the other essential oil-related precursors (shikimic and cinnamic acids). Consequently, eCO2 provoked changes in the antioxidant and hypocholesterolemic activities of aniseeds, particularly at mature stages. Overall, eCO2 application, as an efficient way to improve aniseed growth, essential oil metabolism, and chemical composition, was affected by seed maturation and origin. Future studies of eCO2-treated aniseeds as a nutraceutical and pharmaceutical product are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]