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The energy transition towards a more sustainable and renewable future is a pivotal global endeavor. Central to this shift for the United States is the critical role of domestically sourced lithium, a key mineral in the production of high-performance batteries essential for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage systems. This has driven the United States to invest heavily in a domestic supply chain for battery-grade lithium to enhance energy security, reduce supply chain vulnerabilities, and foster economic growth by tapping into local resources. A notable example is the Biden Administration’s “American Battery Materials Initiative,” which was included in the $2.8-billion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (The White House, 2022). The “Salton Sea Known Geothermal Resource Area” in Imperial County, California has been identified as a potential domestic U.S. resource of lithium due to the brine-hosted lithium in the deep subsurface geothermal reservoir. An analysis funded by the U.S. Department of Energy provides an overview of opportunities and challenges associated with developing the lithium resource in the Salton Sea geothermal reservoir, as well as potential environmental and societal impacts to the county and surrounding region. The geologic history of the region suggests that lithium in the subsurface brines could have come from multiple sources, including water and sediments from the Colorado River, which have been periodically deposited over the past several million years; rocks from the mountain ranges surrounding the Imperial Valley; and lithium-bearing volcanic rocks and igneous intrusions from past geologic events. Further, several processes may have concentrated lithium in the brine over time, including evaporative concentration of lithium-bearing water that flowed into the basin and leaching of lithium from the sediments and rocks by the circulating geothermal brines. Geothermal brine production at the Salton Sea Geothermal Field, the area with existing geothermal power plants, has averaged just over 120 million metric tons per year since 2004. Using an approximate lithium brine concentration of 198 parts per million (ppm), the amount of dissolved lithium contained in these produced brines is estimated to be 127,000 metric tons of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) per year. The total dissolved lithium content in the well-characterized portion of the Salton Sea Geothermal Reservoir is estimated at 4.1 million metric tons of LCE, and the estimated total resource increases to 18 million metric tons of LCE if assumptions for porosity and total reservoir size are increased to reflect the probable resource extent. Analysts measured lithium concentrations in the reservoir rocks, which were shown to vary with depth and mineralogy. These data were used to help refine conceptual and computer models of the reservoir; specifically, two complementary computer models of the reservoir were developed. Analysts used the first model to simulate the approximate 30-year history of geothermal power production in the area using historical production and reinjection data, then used that model to simulate a 30-year forecasting period. This forecast assumed continued production and reinjection rates at current levels but removes 95% of the lithium from the produced geothermal brine starting January 1, 2024. The model found that lithium recovery declines by more than half, from 0.8 to 0.3 kilograms per second (kg/s). Forecast scenarios that are optimized to both recover lithium and harness geothermal energy are expected to sustain lithium production rates much more effectively.The second model included more detailed simulations of the movement of brine and chemical reactivity of lithium within the reservoir. It showed that the reactions of relatively stable lithium-bearing minerals are slow, and that the primary replenishment mechanism for lithium in the brines is the upward flux of convecting lithium-rich brine from below the producing reservoir. However, these replenishment rates are not fast enough to produce significant increases in lithium, which could limit the long-term sustainability of the lithium resource. It is important to note that these models are preliminary and are based on current understanding of fluid replenishment rates, the minerals present in the geothermal system, and their chemical properties and reactivity. Further work should be undertaken to improve them and the associated predictions. The report also considered potential impacts on regional water resources, air quality, chemical use, and solid waste disposal needs, as well as the seismic risk associated with geothermal power production and lithium extraction activity. These investigations highlighted the need to proceed with good monitoring and verification systems and with appropriate mitigation technologies. However, the analysis illustrates that if these things are done properly, lithium development is not likely to create significant negative environmental impacts.Specifically, expanding geothermal energy production and lithium extraction will have a modest impact on water availability in the region. Initial estimates suggested that ~3% of historically available water supply for the region would be needed for currently proposed geothermal energy and lithium recovery operations; the majority of current water usage is for agriculture. It is not anticipated that expanding geothermal capacity or lithium production would impact the availability or quality of water used for human consumption and will not directly affect the water quality of the Salton Sea. However, the long-term drought conditions in the western United States may restrict future availability of water to the region, which is sourced from the Colorado River.In terms of regional air emissions of all pollutants identified in the analysis (particulate matter, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, and benzene, expanding geothermal energy and adding lithium extraction overall have a small impact. Chemical use involved in geothermal power production and lithium extraction is consistent with chemical use in industrial settings, and the analysis did not identify any persistent organic pollutants or acutely toxic chemicals among those currently being used. Moving fluids within the subsurface can impact subsurface pressures and stresses, potentially triggering seismic activity. Early in geothermal energy production, increasing seismicity rates in the Salton Sea Geothermal Field correlated strongly with energy production activity; however, that correlation weakened after 1996. Even following the onset of geothermal energy production, seismic hazard in the Salton Sea Geothermal Field has not increased beyond that of the surrounding region.In addition to technical outcomes from the analysis, the report describes an initial effort to incorporate community engagement into lithium research by understanding the local context and priorities and identifying how to effectively communicate to share information and gather feedback. The report includes information about the social and historical context of the region to enable a more holistic understanding of the resource and its potential impact, and identifies key community questions by observing public meetings, visiting the region, and consulting with local organizations. The report provides recommendations about how future research efforts can address community concerns and implement more community-engaged practices. These include developing formal partnerships with local organizations and establishing a community advisory board to facilitate ongoing dialogue and opportunities for feedback. The future work will build on and further refine the models and scenarios presented in the report and strive to deepen engagement with local communities.

Due to the country's rapidly growing population and economy, transportation has become an essential part of Egyptian life. Air quality has decreased as a direct result of the rapid increase in urban areas' vehicle use due to human activities. In Egypt, almost 48.1% of all trips are taken by private automobiles, whereas public transportation is utilized only sometimes. Heavy congestion is the direct result of people's reliance on personal automobiles. More than 98% of the world's population in 2019 was located in regions where air quality did not meet World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. About 32% of Egypt's 2019 emissions came from the transportation sector. Different aspects that define the causes and possible alternatives to the air pollution problem at intersections are addressed in this research. Three intersections in Zagazig are the focus of this project, which looks into ways to reduce emissions from moving cars. PTV VISSIM generates a realistic peak-hour traffic simulation of the current traffic situation. Emissions are calculated using the data collected from the vehicles in the traffic simulation as input to the emission modelling software COPERT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Operational efficiency is crucial in the container terminal industry to reduce costs, increase throughput, enhance customer satisfaction, optimize the supply chain, improve safety, minimize environmental impact, and ensure adaptability and resilience in a dynamic and competitive market. The article aims to estimate operational efficiency for CTOs by the Slacks-Based Measures (SBM) model when considering CO2 emissions and work accidents as undesirable outputs. In doing so, this paper adopted the cluster analysis to select homogeneous CTOs acting as Decision-making Units (DMUs). CTOs in the Cai Mep-Thi Vai port (the CMTV case) were then empirically studied to verify the validity of the suggested model. The results could have real-world applications for CTOs looking for managerial actions to boost operational efficiency and maintain high-quality growth. Additionally, the research model may provide an analytical reference for relevant port management applications. In particular, this study offers CTOs a scientific framework for evaluating the operational efficiency of CTOs located in a port. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents obtaining the average PM2.5 emission factor from coal combustion in the residential sector using (statistical) Monte Carlo simulation combined with the model proposed by [Lorenz 1999] and [Radović 1997], also applied by [Stala–Szlugaj 2011]. According to the results of laboratory experiments [Czaplicka et al. 2019; Shen 2014], the estimated amount of PM2.5 released into the air from the individually heated residential sector might be underestimated. Simulated emission factor is used for estimation of the PM2.5 emission trend for the period 1990–2018 and compared with the data provided by the official Polish emission inventory [NCEM 2020]. Due to significant changes in officially applied data (share of coal consumption and emission factor) [MCAE 2023], and to ensure the data consistency with projected fuel demand [Stala–Szlugaj 2017], and PM2.5 emissions [MSA 2019], the older data is used [NCEM 2020] in the paper. In the near future, the next substantial changes in projected fuel use are expected due to the ongoing works on the update of the National Energy and Climate Plan.

This article examines the intricate relationships between carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and key socio-economic indicators across various sectors. Utilizing different statistic methods, we scrutinize the interdependencies between air emissions and indicators such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP), education, life expectancy, pesticide use, recycling rates, agricultural production, net income, and tourism. Our analysis reveals a complex panorama where economic growth, indicated by GDP, agricultural output, and tourism, exhibits a strong positive correlation with CO2 emissions, suggesting that economic activity is a significant driver of environmental impact. Intriguingly, life expectancy also correlates positively with emissions, potentially reflecting the dual facets of industrial development, which, while boosting living standards and healthcare, concurrently increases environmental burdens. Conversely, educational attainment shows a negligible correlation, hinting at the potential for decoupling intellectual capital from carbon output. Through a robust statistical approach, this study underscores the multifaceted linkages between emissions and socio-economic health, highlighting areas for policy intervention and sustainable development strategies to balance economic advancement with environmental stewardship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global charcoal trade is steadily growing, with high-income countries importing significant quantities of this material from regions where its production is often associated with severe environmental issues, including forest overexploitation, illegal logging, and environmental pollution. Promoting local charcoal production in high-income countries is crucial to addressing these challenges. In this study, we have chosen to focus on the European context, specifically emphasizing Italy as a case study. Our study aimed to comprehensively compare five distinct charcoal production systems, including both traditional and modern solutions, with a specific focus on evaluating the quality of the resulting charcoal. Additionally, improvements were evaluated to enhance production efficiency. Traditional systems cannot satisfy production requests, resulting in inefficiencies in manpower, costs, times, and yield. Conversely, recent innovations consider mobile and stationary kiln prototypes. Mobile kilns offer flexibility and cost savings but require operator expertise, limit automation, and have long cycles. In contrast, stationary systems operate continuously, increasing productivity and efficiency, despite higher investment costs. Notably, charcoal quality showed minimal differences. These findings highlighted the potential of new technologies to enhance efficiency, reduce cost and environmental impact, and promote sustainable charcoal production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have tested the hypotheses that the satyrs Aphantopus hyperantus and Coenonympha arcania accumulate metals in higher concentrations near the Middle Ural Copper Smelter than in the background area and that metal accumulation in the body of adult individuals is negatively correlated with the wing length but positively correlated with the fluctuating asymmetry of the wing length. We measured the length of the forewing and individual concentrations of Zn, Cu, Pb, and Cd in the body of adults captured at different distances from the copper smelter (Revda city, Russia). The metal content reaches very high levels, with Zn concentrations being higher than Cu and Pb concentrations by an order of magnitude and Cd concentration by two orders of magnitude. In both species, metal accumulation is higher in males than in females. Maximum concentrations of Zn, Cu, and Cd have been recorded near the smelter. The wing length either did not differ between the sites or was higher near the smelter. The statistically significant negative relationship between Cu concentrations and the wing length has been recorded only for females of one of the species (A. hyperantus). In both species, the fluctuating asymmetry of the wing length did not differ between samples from different sites and did not depend on metal concentrations at the individual level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents obtaining the average PM2.5 emission factor from coal combustion in the residential sector using (statistical) Monte Carlo simulation combined with the model proposed by [Lorenz 1999] and [Radović 1997], also applied by [Stala–Szlugaj 2011]. According to the results of laboratory experiments [Czaplicka et al. 2019; Shen 2014], the estimated amount of PM2.5 released into the air from the individually heated residential sector might be underestimated. Simulated emission factor is used for estimation of the PM2.5 emission trend for the period 1990–2018 and compared with the data provided by the official Polish emission inventory [NCEM 2020]. Due to significant changes in officially applied data (share of coal consumption and emission factor) [MCAE 2023], and to ensure the data consistency with projected fuel demand [Stala–Szlugaj 2017], and PM2.5 emissions [MSA 2019], the older data is used [NCEM 2020] in the paper. In the near future, the next substantial changes in projected fuel use are expected due to the ongoing works on the update of the National Energy and Climate Plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relevance of this work lies in the need to solve the problem of the negative impact of coal combustion processes on the environment and the development of measures to improve the environmental situation in the fuel and energy complex of Kazakhstan. Purpose of work - analysis of vectors of anthropogenic load on the environment from heat and power enterprises using coal fuel. Also, there is a need to explore possibilities of introduction and application of innovative technological solutions on reduction of quantitative indicators and component composition of pollutant emissions into the atmospheric air. In the process of research, modern technological developments and solutions for minimising the impact of thermal power plants on local environmental conditions and global processes in the atmosphere were analysed, the possibilities of their effective application at thermal power enterprises of Kazakhstan were explored, developed optimal and feasible measures to improve the environmental situation at the current stage of development of the country's fuel and energy sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The removal of fossil fuel subsidies and the introduction of carbon pricing have been discussed for more than a decade, but their potential contribution to emission reduction is still uncertain, especially in relation to the potential indirect impact of revenue recycling. We have created a simulation model, GSI-IF, designed to assess the emission reduction potential resulting from removing fossil fuel subsidies and recycling part of the avoided subsidy and additional revenue from carbon pricing to renewable energy and energy efficiency. Our results show that emissions could decline by 7.1% in 2030 and up to 19.8% in 2050 compared to a baseline scenario. We find that subsidy removal is most effective in reducing emissions in countries with a high incidence of fossil fuel subsidies and it has stronger impact in the short term. The recycling of carbon pricing is most relevant for larger economies and its impact accumulates over time, generating growing GHG reductions year after year. In the current context (year 2022) with high energy prices, heavy stress on fiscal balances, and the renewed ambition of most governments to reduce emissions toward Net Zero in 2050, subsidy removal and carbon pricing hold promise in the toolbox of decarbonization options while improving fiscal sustainability.

Abstract The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has adopted the Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI) and the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) as short term measures for decarbonisation of the shipping industry; the IMO also made the collection of relevant data and associated reporting of the indicator mandatory from January 2023. However, many existing ships do not meet the EEXI and CII “targets” and cannot invest in other technologies to meet the relevant requirements. Given the various barriers to energy efficiency, the application of slow steaming may be a measure to effectively meet EEXI and CII requirements. A qualitative systematic literature review was conducted on the potential macroeconomic and social impacts of slow steaming on states, with a special focus on Small Island Development States and Least Developed Countries, when used as the primary modality of reducing GHG emissions from shipping. This effort includes peer-reviewed studies and studies from the gray literature, many of which include examples that borrow data from the aftermath of the economic crisis that was manifested in 2008. The vast majority of those studies is focused on the economic cost-effectiveness or impact on transportation costs when using slow-steaming as a means of reducing marine fuel consumption. Moreover, a number of these studies were relying on modeling techniques, by using a limited number of ships and associated routes to determine the effects of slow-steaming. A reasonable degree of agreement emerged from the literature that a reduction in transportation costs results from a reduction in speed, being attributed primarily to reduced fuel costs, with which it is associated. Other cost-increasing factors, such as vessel operating costs, had a less dominant effect. The literature often pointed out that the cost reduction resulting from the application of slow-steaming was unevenly distributed among maritime stakeholders. Shipping companies were the main beneficiaries of significant cost savings, but these "savings" were not always passed on to shippers.

Abstract In the second half of 2020, the shift in consumer demand and reduction in containership capacity, as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, contributed to the disruption of the global supply chains, especially on the US West Coast. This article provides an environmental view of acute maritime congestion in Los Angeles and Long Beach anchorage areas aiming to calculate air emissions of anchored ships consistently in a specific month of the year and compare the dynamics of the emission levels with previous years. The findings determine the causes of the increased environmental pollution and conclude on the preservation measures improvement. CO2, SOx, NOx, PM10, and PM2.5 emissions are examined in this study, considering the statistical data on port performance, productivity and competitiveness elements, ship specifications and propulsion, and emission factors of principal pollutants. Results of our mathematical calculation showed an exponential increase of air emissions generated from ships' auxiliary engines and boilers in 2021, compared with the previous periods, reaching more than 45,000 tons of pollutants emitted in November (mainly carbon dioxide). The increased port congestion and pressure upon the environment and human health also exposed the vulnerability of the intermodal chain on the landside, manifested in higher utilization of trucking services inland, contributing to the additional growth of total emissions. The environmental degradation caused by the surge in demand for products carried by container ships coincides with increased social impacts and the requirement for investments in mitigation measures for emissions to reduce the harmful effects of shipping activities.

The removal of fossil fuel subsidies and the introduction of carbon pricing have been discussed for more than a decade, but their potential contribution to emission reduction is still uncertain, especially in relation to the potential indirect impact of revenue recycling. We have created a simulation model, GSI-IF, designed to assess the emission reduction potential resulting from removing fossil fuel subsidies and recycling part of the avoided subsidy and additional revenue from carbon pricing to renewable energy and energy efficiency. Our results show that emissions could decline by 7.1% in 2030 and up to 19.8% in 2050 compared to a baseline scenario. We find that subsidy removal is most effective in reducing emissions in countries with a high incidence of fossil fuel subsidies and it has stronger impact in the short term. The recycling of carbon pricing is most relevant for larger economies and its impact accumulates over time, generating growing GHG reductions year after year. In the current context (year 2022) with high energy prices, heavy stress on fiscal balances, and the renewed ambition of most governments to reduce emissions toward Net Zero in 2050, subsidy removal and carbon pricing hold promise in the toolbox of decarbonization options while improving fiscal sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current economic development in China is largely replied on the huge consumption of fossil fuels, resulting in emission of the vast amount of air pollutants. Under this circumstance, it is of vital importance to explore the relationships among economy, energy and air pollutants so that the targeted policies and suggestions for each province will be proposed. Based on the emergy and decoupling index methods, this study calculated the GDP, energy consumptions and air pollutants in 30 provinces from the year 2015 to 2017. And then five indicators were established which included the ratio of fossil energy to non-fossil energy (RFN), energy use per unit GDP (EUPG), environmental cost per unit GDP (ECPG), impact of emissions per unit energy consumption (IEPEC), and economic-energy-air emission decoupling index (DI). The result demonstrates that the consumption of renewable energy in eastern and northeastern parts of China are obviously largely than the other provinces, while the energy efficiency of Beijing, Tianjin and southern parts are higher than other regions. The indicators ECPG and IEPEC are largest in the western and some under-development central regions, but the emergy loss in 30 provinces shows a declining trend year by year, especially the dust emission. In terms of decoupling index (DI), the indicator DIemission-GDP of Liaoning and Inner Mongolia are respectively 2.36 and 4.58, grouped into recessive decoupling status due to the economic depression. While the left 28 provinces are in the status of strong decoupling. The indicators of DIenergy-GDP are intricate, while most of provinces are in the status of strong decoupling. In general, the relationship among economy, energy and air pollutants shows a sustainable development trend. In the future, some targeted development patterns for different provinces should be proposed for 30 provinces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Shipbuilding is an energy-intensive industrial sector that produces a significant amount of waste, pollution and air emissions. However, the International Maritime Organization concentrates only on reducing emissions during the operational phase. In order to completely phase out emissions from the shipping industry, a life-cycle approach must be taken. The study implemented the proposed transdisciplinary energy management framework in a Bangladeshi shipyard. The framework aims to support shipyard decision makers in making rational and optimized decisions to make shipyards sustainable, while maintaining good product quality and reducing relative cost. This is achieved by applying the Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process and Fuzzy Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution methods to identify optimal solutions. In addition to making shipyards more sustainable, the framework can enhance both the business and socio-economic prospects of the shipyard and promote the reputation of the shipyard and improve its competitiveness and, in line with this, lead to the promotion of nationally determined contributions under the Paris Agreement for States. The implementation of the framework shows that the political and legal discipline, the social criteria and the implementation of ISO 14001 and cyber security were the most important criteria and options for the yard's decision makers.

Albeit its importance, a large number of port authorities do not provide continuous or publicly available air emissions inventories (EIs) and thereby obscure the emissions contribution of ports. This is caused by, e.g., the economic effort generated by obtaining data. Therefore, the performance of abatement measures is not monitored and projected, which is specifically disadvantageous concerning top contributors such as container ships. To mitigate this issue, in this paper we propose port vessel EI prediction models by exploring the combination of different machine-learning algorithms, data from the one-off application of an activity-based bottom-up methodology and vessel-characteristics data. The results for this specific case show that prediction models enable acceptable trade-offs between the prediction performance and data requirements, promoting the creation of EIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has adopted the Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI) and the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) as short term measures for decarbonisation of the shipping industry; the IMO also made the collection of relevant data and associated reporting of the indicator mandatory from January 2023. However, many existing ships do not meet the EEXI and CII "targets" and cannot invest in other technologies to meet the relevant requirements. Given the various barriers to energy efficiency, the application of slow steaming may be a measure to effectively meet EEXI and CII requirements. A qualitative systematic literature review was conducted on the potential macroeconomic and social impacts of slow steaming on states, with a special focus on Small Island Development States and Least Developed Countries, when used as the primary modality of reducing GHG emissions from shipping. This effort includes peer-reviewed studies and studies from the gray literature, many of which include examples that borrow data from the aftermath of the economic crisis that was manifested in 2008. The vast majority of those studies is focused on the economic cost-effectiveness or impact on transportation costs when using slow-steaming as a means of reducing marine fuel consumption. Moreover, a number of these studies were relying on modeling techniques, by using a limited number of ships and associated routes to determine the effects of slow-steaming. A reasonable degree of agreement emerged from the literature that a reduction in transportation costs results from a reduction in speed, being attributed primarily to reduced fuel costs, with which it is associated. Other cost-increasing factors, such as vessel operating costs, had a less dominant effect. The literature often pointed out that the cost reduction resulting from the application of slow-steaming was unevenly distributed among maritime stakeholders. Shipping companies were the main beneficiaries of significant cost savings, but these "savings" were not always passed on to shippers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this research was to test the air emissions resulting from landfill gas combustion in a 250-kW cogeneration unit, in the context of pollutant emission due to the produced electricity. The test results mainly revealed emissions of carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon oxides, and dust. The volume of emissions of individual pollutants was compared with the emission values reported from the emission balancing database. The highest emission burdens concerned the production of one MWh of electricity for carbon dioxide 579.80 kgCO 2 ∙MWh−1, carbon monoxide 2.57 kgCO 2 ∙MWh−1, and nitrogen oxides 1.77 kgNOx∙MWh−1. It is worth noting that small cogeneration installations are not covered by emission standards and so they are not equipped with a device for reducing gaseous and particulate pollution. The tests revealed a difference between the actual emissions from the tested installation and the values reported to the national database. The innovation of this study is that it demonstrates the real emission burden of renewable energy in the context of sustainable development. The results can be used as input material for discussion to apply gaseous and particulate pollution reduction systems for cogeneration installations powered by landfill gas, including various types of biogases. • Landfill gas as a source of renewable energy. • Emission factors and the basis for monitoring the quality of the environment. • There are no standards for air emissions from low power sources. • Production of renewable energy with LFG as a source of negative environmental impact. • Indicators of emission load of MWh of produced electricity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The utilisation of waste wood from furniture production brings new problems connected with an incomplete thermochemical decomposition of additives (chemicals for improving properties of plastics) in small heating with the addition of sources. Unique organic compounds produced by the combustion of waste wood allow the identification of the type of fuel. The organic compounds contained in the char deposits were analysed by pyrolysis gas chromatography with mass spectrometry. The deposits from the combustion of briquettes from furniture production contain organic compounds originating by decomposition of phenolic resins, aminoplasts (urea–formaldehyde, resorcinol–formaldehyde and melamine), polyurethanes and wood glue. Additives contained in the deposits include plasticisers such as phthalates (DEHP, dibutyl phthalate and diisobutyl phthalate), flame retardants (2-propanol, 1-chlorophosphate (3:1) and p-terphenyl). Deposits from the combustion of briquettes from virgin wood do not contain these compounds. The total amount of compounds identified in the deposits from the boiler, which do not come from virgin wood combustion, varies in the range between 4.25 and 6.25 g/kg. Phthalates (55.5%) and PVAc adhesives (18.6%) are the main anthropogenic compounds in the deposits from domestic boilers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates the relationship between environmentally related taxes introduced in OECD countries and air pollution, represented by carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emission levels in the atmosphere. The article makes a statistical analysis of data on environmental taxes, specifically energy and transport taxes, and other variables that might affect air quality in the OECD member countries. The ARDL model used on the panel data of all OECD member countries shows statistical significance in only one out of five models. A subsequent comparative analysis of the reduced sample of OECD countries that are members of the EU exhibits a statistically significant effect of environmentally related tax revenues on the air emission levels, indicating that this relationship is present in the reduced sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scope of the paper is to focus on the main technical discrepancies, that is, engine load factor (LF), specific fuel oil consumption (SFOC), emissions factors (EF), included in the existing methodological approaches for calculating ships' on-board emissions and propose a framework that will allow various stakeholders to conduct accurate air emissions calculations based on publically available operational data. A bottom-up methodology has been employed for the calculation of fuel-energy consumption and air emissions (CO2, SOx, NOx, PM10) in two major ports (Souda and Heraklion) of Crete island in Greece for passenger ferries and cruise ships for the years 2018 and 2019 and for both main and auxiliary engines of all vessels. Due to the lack of publically available technical data, the proposed methodology is based on the estimation of SFOC values through a regression analysis that leads to accurate and reliable results. The basic scenario is based on a detailed estimation of SFOC via a regression analysis applied on engine's technical data, while the alternative approaches employ SFOC estimated through the application of specific adjustment factors and main engine power based on ship's gross tonnage. The basic scenario results are the most accurate data while in most other cases air emissions are underestimated observing significant differences between the different methodologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the second half of 2020, the shift in consumer demand and reduction in containership capacity, as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, contributed to the disruption of the global supply chains, especially on the US West Coast. This article provides an environmental view of acute maritime congestion in Los Angeles and Long Beach anchorage areas aiming to calculate air emissions of anchored ships consistently in a specific month of the year and compare the dynamics of the emission levels with previous years. The findings determine the causes of the increased environmental pollution and conclude on the preservation measures improvement. CO2, SOx, NOx, PM10, and PM2.5 emissions are examined in this study, considering the statistical data on port performance, productivity and competitiveness elements, ship specifications and propulsion, and emission factors of principal pollutants. Results of our mathematical calculation showed an exponential increase of air emissions generated from ships' auxiliary engines and boilers in 2021, compared with the previous periods, reaching more than 45,000 tons of pollutants emitted in November (mainly carbon dioxide). The increased port congestion and pressure upon the environment and human health also exposed the vulnerability of the intermodal chain on the landside, manifested in higher utilization of trucking services inland, contributing to the additional growth of total emissions. The environmental degradation caused by the surge in demand for products carried by container ships coincides with increased social impacts and the requirement for investments in mitigation measures for emissions to reduce the harmful effects of shipping activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dietary intake can be an important exposure route to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). Little is known about the bioaccumulation of emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl ether acids (PFEAs) in garden produce from PFAS-impacted communities and the associated dietary exposure risk. In this study, 53 produce samples were collected from five residential gardens near a fluorochemical manufacturer. Summed PFAS concentrations ranged from 0.0026 to 38 ng/g wet weight of produce, and water-rich produce exhibited the highest PFAS levels. The PFAS signature was dominated by PFEAs, and hexafluoropropylene oxide-dimer acid (commonly known as GenX) was detected in 72% of samples. Based on average measured GenX concentrations, chronic-exposure daily limits were as low as 289 g produce/day for children (3-6 yr). This analysis does not consider other PFEAs that were present at higher concentrations, but for which reference doses were not available. This study revealed that consuming residential garden produce grown in PFAS-impacted communities can be an important exposure pathway.

Shipbuilding is an energy-intensive industrial sector that produces a significant amount of waste, pollution and air emissions. However, the International Maritime Organization concentrates only on reducing emissions during the operational phase. In order to completely phase out emissions from the shipping industry, a life-cycle approach must be taken. The study implemented the proposed transdisciplinary energy management framework in a Bangladeshi shipyard. The framework aims to support shipyard decision makers in making rational and optimized decisions to make shipyards sustainable, while maintaining good product quality and reducing relative cost. This is achieved by applying the Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process and Fuzzy Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution methods to identify optimal solutions. In addition to making shipyards more sustainable, the framework can enhance both the business and socio-economic prospects of the shipyard and promote the reputation of the shipyard and improve its competitiveness and, in line with this, lead to the promotion of nationally determined contributions under the Paris Agreement for States. The implementation of the framework shows that the political and legal discipline, the social criteria and the implementation of ISO 14001 and cyber security were the most important criteria and options for the yard's decision makers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The environmental concerns are behind urban and regional mobility plans, with one of the goals being to manage surface traffic to reduce emissions. Yet, in sensitive areas such as those around airports, the contribution to the emissions generated by air traffic are commonly not considered. The research goal of this paper is to quantify and compare the magnitude of the emissions generated by both air and surface traffic, taking the second airport in Rome as an example, in the awareness that a proper knowledge of the emission phenomena might help steer local transport policies towards more appropriate and sustainable solutions. The paper describes the case study's regulatory and land use frameworks both affecting the current traffic patterns around the airport and the emission generation, along with the methodology adopted to quantify the emission magnitude of both air and surface modes; as a result, air traffic emissions are not even comparable in magnitude to those from surface modes. In light of that, implications for surface transport policies are presented, leading to a revision of current mobility plans, and solutions to minimize emissions during land and take-off operations suggested, although problems for their implementations are acknowledged in the conclusions. All within the additional goal to advance the research further afield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solids from wastewater treatment undergo processing to reduce mass, minimize pathogens, and condition the products for specific end uses. However, costs and contaminant concerns (e.g., per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances [PFAS]) challenge traditional landfill and land application practices. Incineration can overcome these issues but has become complicated due to evolving emissions regulations, and it suffers from poor public perception. These circumstances are driving the re‐emergence of pyrolysis and gasification technologies. A survey of suppliers was conducted to document differences with technologies. Both offer advantages over incineration with tailored production of a carbon‐rich solid, currently less stringent air emission requirements, and lower flue gas flows requiring treatment. However, incineration more simply combines drying and thermal processing into one reactor. Equipment costs provided favor pyrolysis and gasification at lower capacities but converge with incineration at higher capacities. Long‐term operational experience will confirm technology competitiveness and elucidate whether pyrolysis and gasification warrant widespread adoption. Practitioner Points: Pyrolysis and gasification systems are gaining traction in the wastewater industry with several full‐scale installations operating, in construction, or designSeveral advantages, but some disadvantages, are considered in comparison with incinerationOrganic contaminants, including PFAS, will undergo transformation and potentially complete mineralization through each process [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The continuous increase in global maritime freight transport has led to an increase in emissions. The port of Heraklion was selected as a case study to investigate the environmental impact of shipping in wider areas. Two different maritime fuels were examined: the conventional maritime fuel, marine diesel oil (MDO), and an alternative maritime fuel, liquified natural gas (LNG). To carry out this study, real data from the port of Heraklion, the Lloyd's Register Fairplay (LRF) Sea-Web database, and literature reviews were used. The bottom-up method was adopted for data processing. The results of this study demonstrate that alternative maritime fuels, such as LNG, could drastically reduce SO2, NOx, PM, and CO2 emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through a systematic, holistic and transdisciplinary approach and by proposing five phases of "goal information", "system analyzing", "scenario construction", "multi-criteria assessment" and "strategy building", the study offers a process for recognizing and prioritizing energy-efficient barriers in the ship's operational cycle according to decision-makers' concerns. The study utilized the proposed conceptual transdisciplinary framework for overcoming energy efficiency barriers in ship operating cycles. The framework categorizes the barriers in the operational cycle into five disciplines, i.e., operations, policy and regulations, technology and innovation, human element and economics, and applies the framework to an Iranian shipping company. The results show that the economic discipline has the highest priority, and the human discipline has the least importance for the company's decision makers. In addition, "adverse selection" (operational discipline), "policy implementation" (policy and regulatory discipline), "split incentives" (economic discipline), "limited access to capital" (economic discipline) and "imperfect budgeting" were the main barriers to energy efficiency in the company. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wastewater treatment generates solids requiring subsequent processing. Costs and contaminant concerns (e.g., per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances [PFAS]) are challenging widely used landfilling and land application practices. These circumstances are partly driving the re‐emergence of pyrolysis and gasification technologies along with beneficial reuse prospects of the char solid residual. Previously, technologies experienced operational challenges leading to revised configurations, such as directly coupling a thermal oxidizer to the reactor to destroy tar forming compounds. This paper provides an overview of pyrolysis and gasification technologies, characteristics of the char product, air emission considerations, and potential fate of PFAS and other pollutants through the systems. Results from a survey of viable suppliers illustrate differences in commercially available options. Additional research is required to validate performance over the long‐term operation and confirm contaminant fate, which will help determine whether resurging interest in pyrolysis and gasification warrants widespread adoption. Practitioner Points: Pyrolysis and gasification systems are re‐emerging in the wastewater industry.Direct coupling of thermal oxidizers and other modifications offered by contemporary systems aim to overcome past failures.Process conditions when coupled with a thermal oxidizer will likely destroy most organic contaminants, including PFAS, but requires additional research.Three full‐scale facilities recently operated, several in construction or design that will provide operating experience for widespread technology adoption consideration.Pyrolysis and gasification systems in wastewater treatment applications are garnering renewed interest. Rising costs for solid residual handling, emerging contaminants, and beneficial reuse of residuals provided technology suppliers incentive to overcome historical challenges associated with these thermal processes. This review presents the status of these technologies in the wastewater industry including an in‐depth discussion of system configuration and operating characteristics and fate of emerging contaminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) emissions from a plastic coating industrial source in southern New Hampshire (NH) have contaminated at least 65 square miles of drinking water. Prior research indicates that high levels of PFAS are associated with a variety of adverse health outcomes, including an increased risk of cancer. Reports indicate that mean blood serum levels of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), one type of PFAS, in residents of the exposed community are more than 2 times greater than the mean blood serum level in the US. Merrimack public water supply customers also have higher average blood levels of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) than the time—matched US average. A 2018 report concludes that the incidence rate of cancer in Merrimack does not exceed the incidence rate of cancer in NH in general. However, prior reporting on the risk of cancer in Merrimack is compared only to a state-wide metric influenced by the Merrimack cancer incidence. Methods: Our ecological study compared the risk in Merrimack, NH residents for 24 types of cancer between 2005 and 2014, targeted in a previous study, and all-cause cancers, to US national cancer rates and cancer rates in demographically similar towns in New England. Four New England "unexposed towns" were chosen based on demographic similarity to Merrimack, with no documented PFAS exposure in water supplies. We utilized unadjusted logistical regression to approximate risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) assessing the risk of cancer in Merrimack NH to each of the 4 comparator communities, the pooled comparator variable, and national average incidence. Results: Residents of Merrimack, NH experienced a significantly higher risk of thyroid cancer (RR = 1.47, 95% CI 1.12-1.93), bladder cancer (RR = 1.45, 95% CI 1.17-1.81), esophageal cancer (RR = 1.71, 95% CI 1.1-2.65), and mesothelioma (RR = 2.41, 95% CI 1.09-5.34), compared to national averages. Our work also suggests that Merrimack residents experienced a significantly higher risk of all-cause cancer (RR = 1.34, 95% CI 1.25-1.43), thyroid cancer (RR = 1.69, 95% CI 1.19-2.39), colon cancer (RR = 1.27, 95% CI 1.02-1.57), and prostate cancer (RR = 1.36, 95% CI 1.15, 1.6) compared with similarly exposed New England communities. Our results indicate that residents of Merrimack may also have a significantly lower risk of some site-specific cancers compared to national averages, including lower risk of prostate cancer (RR = 0.57, 95% CI 0.5-0.66), female breast cancer (RR = 0.60, 95% CI 0.52-0.68), ovarian cancer (RR = 0.52, 95% CI 0.33-0.84) and cervical cancer (RR = 0.29, 95% CI 0.12-0.69). Conclusion: Merrimack residents experienced a significantly higher risk of at least 4 types of cancer over 10 years between 2005 and 2014. Merrimack is a community with documented PFAS contamination of drinking water in public and private water sources. Results indicate that further research is warranted to elucidate if southern NH residents experience increased risk for various types of cancer due to exposure to PFAS contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPUSE. This article describes the possibility of burning natural gas from different fields in a stationary power gas turbine General Electric 6FA. METHODS. Currently, gas turbine technologies are one of the most stably developing areas related to the modernization of generating equipment. At present, modernization of power plants is underway both with gas turbine units and with units in the combined-cycle power unit in the Republic of Tatarstan. The conducted studies allow us to evaluate the effect of the component composition of the fuel on the performance of a gas turbine. Comparative studies make it possible to evaluate changes in the energy characteristics of a gas turbine operating as part of a combined cycle gas turbine unit. RESULTS. The study shows that changes in the fuel composition have an impact on the energy characteristics of a gas turbine plant (efficiency, air consumption). Work with a deviation of the Wobbe index is not permissible. The deviation of the Wobbe index for the city of Zainsk is 5.29%, therefore, when installing a gas turbine it is necessary to change the setting of the fuel system. For synthesis gas, the deviation of the Wobbe index was 22.23%, the use of this fuel is unacceptable without changing the design and setting of the fuel system, since the throughput of the fuel system is not designed for a flow rate of 27.8 kg/s. The smallest values of the amount of CO2, NO, O2 in the composition of the combustion products are achieved on the fuel gas of the city of Kazan. CONCLUSION. The use of synthesis gas as the only fuel is undesirable when operating a gas turbine in a combinedcycle unit, since the calorific value of the flue gases when operating on synthesis gas is minimal and amounts to 94.3 MW, which will affect the operation of the steam turbine.

Despite the International Maritime Organization’s ambitious goal to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 by 50%, a large portion of maritime ports do not publicly provide port air emissions reporting. It is suspected that the lack of publicly available reporting constitutes its internal absence as well. To provide a systematic picture on the transparency of emissions reporting, we develop an assessment method and apply it to the world’s top 49 container ports. Less than half of the assessed ports provide publicly available emissions reporting. The application of the proposed classification scheme indicates a port’s maturity towards emissions reporting, taking into account a detailed content analysis. Thereby, stakeholders’ communication and guidance towards improving emissions reporting, as part of environmental sustainability reporting, is facilitated.

Focusing on air emissions in South Korean provinces, we investigate whether economic growth has become greener since the implementation of the national green growth strategy in 2009. Given the relevance of regional elements in the economic and environmental policies, the focus lies on spatial aspects. That is, spillovers from nearby provinces are controlled for in a SLX model by means of the Han–Phillips estimator for dynamic panel data. Our results suggest mainly the existence of inverted N-shaped Environmental Kuznets curves for sulfur oxides (SOX) and total suspended particles (TSP). As the curves initially decrease strongly with increasing income, the main cleanup is achieved with the mean income level. However, abatement of the remaining TSP emissions only takes place at higher income levels. While the fixed effects estimations indicate that per capita SOX and TSP emissions have been significantly lower since 2009, the effects vanish once spatial interactions are taken into account and no evidence is found that regional economic growth has become greener. Apart from economic growth, population density and energy consumption are the main drivers of emission changes, with the latter having robust spatial spillovers. The respective spatial interactions decrease with increasing distance and become insignificant after 150 km. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The available capacity of gas-turbine units (GTU) and combined-cycle gas-turbine (CCGT) units varies significantly with the outside air temperature. Its changes also affect the operating load range of the GTU-the minimum safe load increases with decrease in the outside temperature. Experimental data are analyzed that indicate the possibility to substantially reduce the minimum safe load of CCGT units by bypassing some of the compressed air to the compressor inlet during frost periods that are not uncommon in our country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]