Assessing soil quality under agricultural production provides valuable information about the soil's condition and overall health. The study evaluated soil quality across different land uses (cassava, pasture, and maize) using multiple soil quality indices at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria. Profiles pits were dug at each land use type and described according to WRB guidelines. Soil quality was assessed using physical, chemical, geochemical and ecological (potential ecological risk coefficient and index) indicators. Soil pH (5.60-6.68), OC (0.63-3.03%), TN (0.02-026%), and Av. P (0.76-8.75 mg/kg) showed a decreasing trend with increasing soil depth. Bulk density (1.17-1.42 g/cm3) and Fe (17.50–65.63%wt) increased with depth, while other metals fluctuated across depths and land uses. Soil quality ranged from low to moderate, with low Av. P and K being the most common limiting factors. Geochemical indicators revealed minor to moderate enrichment for most metals, with Pb (13.884) showing moderate enrichment. Contamination factors indicated low to moderate contamination for most metals, except Pb (5.647), which showed significant contamination. The geoaccumulation index classified most metals as practically uncontaminated, with Ni (0.860) and Pb (1.913) indicating slight to moderate contamination. Ecological risk assessment suggested low potential ecological risk for most metals, but a moderate risk for Pb (28.235). The study concludes that combining different indicators provides a comprehensive evaluation of soil quality, highlighting the impact of agricultural practices on soil health. Regular monitoring and sustainable soil management are recommended to maintain soil quality and mitigate risks associated with heavy metal accumulation in agricultural soils.
Waste cooking oil is an abundant food-related residue that can be valorized into useful products within circular economy strategies. This study aimed to prepare five soap formulations from waste edible oil-derived raw materials and to evaluate their physicochemical properties and antioxidant activity in order to identify the most balanced formulation. The waste oil was purified and used for soap production by alkaline saponification. The obtained formulations were assessed in terms of moisture content, foam height, pH, total fatty substances, total alkali content, and DPPH radical scavenging activity. The moisture content ranged from 8.78% to 20.53%, with the lowest value observed for F3 and the highest for F5. Foam height varied from 9.63 to 24.67 cm, and the highest foaming performance was recorded for F3. The pH values ranged from 7.03 to 10.21, indicating clear differences in alkalinity among the formulations. Total fatty substances ranged from 66.11% to 83.91%, with F4 showing the highest value, while total alkali content ranged from 0.19% to 1.10% and remained below the cited limit in all samples. Antioxidant activity was weak for all formulations, although F4 showed the lowest IC₅₀ value and therefore the strongest activity among the soap samples. The integrated evaluation indicated that F3 had the most balanced physicochemical profile, whereas F4 showed the most favorable antioxidant performance. These findings confirm that waste edible oil can serve as a promising raw material for soap production, although formulation optimization remains essential.
Salinity is one of the most threatening stress for cotton. Cotton is considered a moderately salt-tolerant crop with a salt tolerance limit of 7.7 dS m-1. Stress is always deleterious for cotton growth, yield, and quality of cotton. The degree of sensitivity to salt stress varies in a dependent position with growth stage and type of salt. Cotton reacts to salinity, and its ability to cope with it and the management methods might prove useful in helping to find ways to enhance the production of cotton under saline environments. Several of the studies have demonstrated that the germination, seedling phases and emergence are much more sensitive to salinity stress in a comparative perspective from other later phases. Flowering occurs later, and fewer fruiting sites, fruit drop, and smaller boll size ultimately influence seed cotton yield; its partitioning is the major aspect of cotton modulation under salt stress. This study shows that high level of salts in the soil affect the metabolic activities of the cotton plants mostly through osmotic stress, nutritional imbalance and toxicity from the salts’ ions; sodium and chloride. The metabolic disorders may suddenly bring down cotton growth and lint yield, most especially in moderate to highly saline soil. In this review, we study different of agronomic practices such as mulching and furrow seeding, plant density management, increasing soil moisture and temp, water management, utilization of root associated microorganism, drip irrigation, crop rotation, biochar, seed priming, flat-sowing technique, ridge planting technique mitigating soil salinity, reducing salinity effects on cotton and improving plant growth of the cotton plant. Cotton genetic studies on salt tolerance indicated that most biochemical, physiological, agronomic, and fiber traits are genetically regulated and have significant QTL effects. But with biochemical and molecular biology tools available now, it has become possible to look at the intricacies of salt tolerance at the transcript level. This review highlighted integrated agronomic strategies for alleviating salinity stress and enhancing cotton yield.
Industrial effluent–derived heavy metal contamination poses serious ecological and human health risks due to persistence, toxicity, and bioaccumulation in soil–plant–water systems. This study assessed the distribution, bioaccumulation, and ecological risk of selected heavy metals in Cannabis sativa, soil and water from an industrial area of Mirpur, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). Cannabis sativa and soil samples were collected from three locations at increasing distances from the industrial zone, while water samples were obtained from steel, textile, pharmaceutical, and combined industrial effluents. After acid digestion, concentrations of zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), cadmium (Cd), tin (Sn), and silver (Ag) were measured using atomic absorption spectrophotometry and compared with WHO permissible limits. Soil-to-plant transfer and water contamination patterns were evaluated to infer ecological and bioaccumulation risk. Results revealed elevated metal levels across all matrices. In C. sativa, mean concentrations of Zn (3.62 ppm), Mn (3.48 ppm), Cu (2.44 ppm), Co (2.33 ppm), Ni (1.23 ppm), Cd (2.16 ppm), Sn (1.21 ppm), and Ag (1.54 ppm) exceeded WHO limits. Soil concentrations were higher, e.g., Zn (13.09 ppm), Mn (16.34 ppm), Co (10.45 ppm), Ni (3.90 ppm), Cd (3.13 ppm). Water samples exhibited the highest concentrations in mixed effluents: Co (8.67 ppm), Ni (13.22 ppm), Mn (9.73 ppm), Zn (11.23 ppm), Cu (3.99 ppm), Cd (6.23 ppm), Ag (1.12 ppm), and Sn (2.02 ppm). Cadmium, cobalt, and zinc showed higher bioaccumulation potential in plants. Overall, contamination and bioaccumulation indices indicate moderate to high ecological risk, highlighting the need for continuous monitoring and stricter regulation of industrial effluent discharge in Mirpur AJK.
Inappropriate use by agriculture and industry has led to contamination by glyphosate (GPH), which is toxic to human health, life and the environment. GPH is eliminated by the adsorption process of organoclay composites. To synthesize organoclays, the cationic surfactants hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HDAB) and trimethyloctadecylammonium bromide (TOAB) were combined with bentonite clay materials. The structural properties of the materials were studied by FTIR, XRD, SEM-EDX, BET surface and pHpzc. The batch process was carried out with the following parameters: pH, contact time, temperature, initial concentration and comparative doses of bentonite and the two composite materials. However, the X-ray diffraction patterns of the surfactant-modified TOAB- Bent and HDBA-Bent composites revealed an increase in basal spacing. The sorption capacity of GPH in TOAB-Bent and HDBA-Bent increased with the loading level of TOAB or HDAB, while the sorption efficiency of GPH was produced by the hydrophobic phases formed by surfactants, with hydrophobic partitioning being the critical process. Therefore, the addition of bentonite and surfactants can significantly improve glyphosate removal from aqueous solutions.
This study evaluates the physicochemical properties of soils supporting natural populations of Ajania fastigiata (C.Winkl.) Poljakov in the Ile Alatau region of Kazakhstan. Soil analyses revealed clear differences among populations in moisture regime, nutrient availability, carbonate accumulation, exchangeable bases, and soluble salts. In all profiles, soils were weakly alkaline, with pH ranging from 7.71 to 8.12, and were predominantly characterized by a light loamy texture. The highest surface soil moisture was recorded in Population 3 (14.53%), whereas the lowest value in the deeper horizon was observed in Population 1 (6.13%). Population 3 was distinguished by elevated humus content (7.54%), available phosphorus (86 mg/kg), available potassium (490 mg/kg), and carbonate content (6.86%), indicating more favorable edaphic conditions. In contrast, Population 2 showed the highest surface nitrogen content (100.8 mg/kg) and relatively higher bicarbonate and total soluble salt contents (0.046-0.074%). Population 1 was characterized by the lowest salinity level, with total soluble salts decreasing from 0.049% to 0.018% along the soil profile. In all soils, Ca²⁺ dominated the exchange complex, while Na⁺ remained low. These findings demonstrate that local edaphic differences play a key role in shaping the ecological conditions of Ajania fastigiate populations in the Ile Alatau.
The Little Ice Age was a period of global cooling placed between the 14th and 19th centuries, associated with the advance of glaciers in major mountain ranges and the freezing of lakes, rivers and seas, especially in the Northern Hemisphere. This period, preceded by the Medieval Climatic Optimum and followed by the 21st-century global warming, was mainly influenced by a combination of natural events: decreased solar activity, increased volcanic activity, and a decreased in thermohaline circulation. The analysis reported here is based on scientific studies, while the historical reconstruction is based on documentary evidences, in particular on paintings of winter landscapes made by Flemish, Dutch, and Italian artists, particularly active in the 17th century.
Armed conflicts are among the most disruptive forces acting on agro-landscapes, yet their impact on land-use systems and ecosystem services remains insufficiently integrated into landscape ecology and agroecological research. This paper aims to systematise the international body of knowledge on the mechanisms of war-induced impacts on agro-landscapes, to identify reproducible causal patterns of ecosystem service degradation, and to propose methodological priorities for comprehensive assessment and monitoring of agro-landscapes under active armed conflict and post-conflict recovery. The study is based on a bibliometric analysis of 1,502 publications (WoS/Scopus, 2000–2026) and a comparative analysis of five literature clusters reflecting the evolution of research paradigms from foundational ecological concepts to conflict-specific environmental impact studies. The synthesis shows that conflicts disrupt agro-landscapes through direct destruction, forced displacement, land abandonment, and institutional collapse, triggering cascading degradation of provisioning, regulating, supporting, and cultural ecosystem services. Resilience theory and socio-ecological systems frameworks are identified as essential but systematically underutilised analytical lenses. A pronounced geographic bias favouring East Africa and Latin America was detected, with Eastern Europe and the Middle East comparatively understudied — a gap being rapidly addressed by the Ukrainian case post-2022. Remote sensing has emerged as the dominant methodology for assessing conflict-induced land-use change, yet integration with socio-economic and institutional dimensions remains limited. The paper argues that the next priority is the development of coupled models — Earth observation + field validation + ecological-economic assessment + scenario analysis — capable of underpinning evidence-based agro-landscape recovery policy under conditions of prolonged uncertainty.
Lithomorphic Vertisols of Kaélé (Far North Cameroon) are intensively cultivated during the dry season for onion and sorghum production. This study aimed to assess the distribution patterns and controlling factors of trace metal elements (TME) in cultivated Vertisol profiles developed on granite and gneiss. Four soil profiles were described according to the World Reference Base (WRB, 2022), and samples were collected from each master horizon (A–B–C) for physicochemical and geochemical analyses. The soils are clayey to sandy clay loam, moderately to strongly alkaline (pH 6.75–9.70), with moderate to high cation exchange capacity (14.40–39.84 cmol kg⁻¹). Trace metal concentrations followed the order: Ba > Sr > Zn > Cu > Cr > Ni > Pb > Cd. Barium exhibited the highest concentrations (30.42–426.87 mg kg⁻¹). Pearson correlation analysis revealed strong positive relationships between Ba and Ni (r = 0.95), Ba and Cu (r = 0.87), and Ba and Cr (r = 0.85), suggesting similar geochemical behavior. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) indicated that trace metal distribution is mainly controlled by parent material and soil physicochemical properties (clay content, CEC, pH). The results suggest that lithology and soil characteristics play a major role in controlling trace metal distribution in these Vertisols, while anthropogenic influence appears limited. These findings provide baseline data for sustainable soil management in the Sudano-Sahelian region.
Lakes are dynamic and complex ecosystems where bacterial diversity is a significant biological indicator of water quality. In few decades, in India, several water bodies are reported to have pesticide and heavy metal pollutants. The present study conducted on two substantial lakes of Haryana, India, for analysing bacterial diversity using high-throughput Illumina 16S rRNA sequencing-MiSeq platform. Sequencing analysis showed that, in Karna lake, predominant phylum was Proteobacteria accounting (76.38%), Planctomycetes (6.42%), Verrucomicrobia (5.28 %) and Bacteroidetes (5.06%). Although, in Tilyar lake, predominant phylum was Proteobacteria (46.91%), Verrucobacteria (22.87%), Bacterioidetes (16.34 %), Planctomycetes (8.49%) and Acidobacteria (5.75 %). Tilyar lake exhibited higher alkalinity resulting in dominance of alkaliphilic phyla such as Verrucomicrobia (22.87%) and Bacteroidetes (16.34%). On contrary, Karna Lake with a relatively lower pH, showed a dominance of Proteobacteria (76.38%). The high DO in Tilyar lake, signifies better oxygenation attributing to greater abundance of aerobic bacterial communities. Differences in TDS, TSS and EC between the lakes reflect difference in nutrient influx, pollution sources and pollutant levels. A comparison of bacterial genera revealed 529 (47.4%) shared taxa in both lakes and 232 (20.8%) taxa unique to Karna lake and 356 (31.9%) taxa unique to Tilyar lake. Overall, higher microbial diversity and functional potential observed in Tilyar Lake suggest a more stable and ecologically resilient environment capable of withstanding environmental disturbances. While, dominance of a few specific taxa in Karna Lake indicates potential environmental constraints that may limiting microbial diversity.
Lead (Pb) is one of the most hazardous heavy metals, posing serious threats to plants, animals, and human health. To mitigate its environmental impact, phytoremediation using plants to extract, stabilize, or detoxify pollutants offers a sustainable and cost-effective solution for soil rehabilitation. This study aimed to evaluate the tolerance and phytoremediation capacity of Cercis canadensis and Tetradium daniellii seedlings grown in lead-contaminated soils. Two-year-old plants were exposed to lead acetate solutions at concentrations of 100 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg of soil, while control plants received only water. Plant physiological responses were assessed one week, one month, and two months after exposure. The content of chlorophylls, carotenoids, and malondialdehyde, as well as peroxidase activity, were determined spectrophotometrically. Photosynthetic performance was measured using fluorimetry, and the distribution of mobile lead compounds in leaves, stems, and roots was analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Both species demonstrated high tolerance to lead exposure, with minimal impairment of the photosynthetic system. Notably, a short-term increase in chlorophyll content and stimulated shoot growth were observed in plants treated with 100 mg/kg Pb. Lead accumulation in C. canadensis occurred predominantly in the roots, whereas T. daniellii accumulated lead in both roots and stems. These findings indicate that both species possess considerable resistance to lead stress and potential for phytostabilization and phytoextraction. Consequently, Cercis canadensis and Tetradium daniellii can be recommended as effective ornamental species for greening and rehabilitating lead-polluted urban and industrial areas.
Soil acidity is a major constraint to agricultural yield in Ethiopia and Sub-Saharan Africa, affecting a large proportion of arable land. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of soil acidification, its sources, and its impacts on agricultural ecosystems, with evidence from Ethiopia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Natural factors such as parent material weathering and high rainfall, together with agricultural practices including the continuous use of ammonium-based fertilizers and nutrient mining, accelerate soil acidification processes. Soil acidity profoundly alters soil chemical, physical, and biological properties by disrupting nutrient dynamics, including nutrient fixation, leaching, and transformation, which reduce the plant-available pools of essential nutrients such as phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium, while increasing the solubility of toxic metals such as aluminum (Al³⁺) and manganese (Mn). Aluminum toxicity impairs root development and nutrient uptake, negatively affecting crop health and leading to substantial reductions in crop yield and quality. Advances in understanding the physiological mechanisms of aluminum toxicity have supported the development of acid-tolerant crop varieties. Effective agronomic management strategies include liming, integrated nutrient management, application of organic amendments such as biochar, and the use of acid-tolerant crops, alongside emerging technological approaches. However, adoption remains constrained by the high cost of lime and limited extension services. Future research should prioritize cost-effective soil amendments and breeding for enhanced acid tolerance, while policy interventions should strengthen extension services and improve farmers’ access to inputs. This review highlights the importance of integrated and sustainable approaches to managing soil acidity to improve crop health, yield, and long-term food security in vulnerable regions.
Aeroradiometric data covering parts of the Upper Benue Trough, Nigeria, were processed and interpreted to evaluate the geostatistical characteristics of radioelements and their associated radiogenic heat production for geothermal energy assessment. The study area, encompassing Yuli, Futuk, Kaltungo, Guyok, Shellen, Bashar, Muri, Lau, Dong, and Numan, lies between latitudes 9.0 degrees-10.0 degrees N and longitudes 10.0 degrees-12.5 degrees E, covering approximately 30,250 km2. High-resolution airborne radiometric datasets were processed using Oasis Montaj 8.4 software, and Total Count (TC), Uranium (U), Thorium (Th), Potassium (K), and ternary maps were generated through minimum curvature gridding. Geostatistical analysis was applied to quantify the spatial distribution of radioelements using statistical parameters such as mean, standard deviation, mode, median, skewness, kurtosis, and threshold values. The computed threshold values are 4.286 ppm (U), 21.987 ppm (Th), 3.254% (K), and 3187.5 cpt (TC). Areas exceeding these thresholds were considered anomalous and indicative of enhanced radiogenic contributions. Radiogenic heat production was estimated from U, Th, and K concentrations, yielding values ranging from 1.234 to 2.318 mu Wm-3, with the highest values concentrated around the Dong and Lau areas. Ternary analysis further reveals high concentrations of the three radioelements (HC3R) predominantly within Dong and Kaltungo regions, suggesting the influence of acidic igneous intrusions. The coincidence of high radiogenic heat values with geostatistically anomalous zones highlights Dong and Lau as prospective geothermal hotspots. These findings demonstrate that the integration of geostatistical analysis and radiogenic heat evaluation provides a robust framework for geothermal resource assessment and sustainable power generation planning in the Upper Benue Trough.
Agricultural production in Azerbaijan has expanded rapidly over recent decades, raising concerns about the long-term sustainability of soil and water resources. This study aims to evaluate the sustainability of Azerbaijan’s current agricultural growth model from a ecological perspective. The analysis focuses on national-level agricultural production systems during the period 1995-2024. Secondary data from FAO, the State Statistical Committee of Azerbaijan and international databases were analyzed using descriptive and comparative statistical methods to assess trends in land use, irrigation, nutrient balances, agrochemical inputs and climate-related indicators. The results show that agricultural output increased more than ninefold since 2000, while over 36% of agricultural soils are affected by erosion and salinization, nitrogen removals exceed 380 kg ha, irrigation accounts for about 34.5% of renewable freshwater withdrawals, and agriculture contributes more than 53% to national water stress. At the same time, nitrous oxide emissions from crop production have more than doubled and methane emissions from livestock increased by about 70%, indicating rising climate pressure. These findings suggest that current growth is driven mainly by land expansion and input intensification rather than ecological efficiency. The study recommends promoting water-saving irrigation technologies, balanced nutrient management, soil conservation practices and climate-smart agriculture to improve environmental quality and long-term sustainability.
The current study assessed the physicochemical quality of groundwater from wells in a rural region of northeastern Romania, where local communities depend exclusively on this resource for drinking water. Eighty wells were analyzed in situ for total dissolved solids (TDS), dissolved oxygen, oxygen saturation, salinity, con-ductivity, redox potential (ORP), and pH. For comparative purposes, similar measurements were conducted on urban water supplies in the cities of Iasi and Botosani, as well as on 14 commercial bottled water brands. The findings revealed critical water quality issues in rural wells, including frequent exceedances of microbiological and chemical thresholds, particularly for nitrates and coliform bacteria. Spatial mapping showed strong variation across parameters, with elevated salinity and low oxygenation most prominent in lowland areas. Bottled water analysis showed a wide range of mineral compositions, influencing their appropriateness for daily consumption. Still waters such as Aqua Carpatica Still and Wonder Still displayed low sodium, calcium, and magnesium concentrations, making them suitable for specific dietary needs. In contrast, highly mineralized waters like Aqua Carpatica Sparkling exceeded World Health Organization (WHO) recommended limits for TDS and salinity. The study also highlighted the insufficient monitoring by local authorities and the lack of comprehensive labelling on bottled water, both of which hinder informed decision-making by consumers. The results emphasize the urgent need for standardized groundwater surveillance, public health initiatives, and improved transparency in bottled water labelling. These findings provide a foundation for future policy actions targeting safe and equitable access to drinking water in rural communities.
The increasing presence of synthetic dyes in aquatic systems, particularly sunset yellow (SY), has raised urgent concerns due to their toxicity and persistence. In this work, a novel biochar derived from the marine green alga Ulva lactuca was investigated, for the first time, as a sustainable and high-performance adsorbent for SY removal. Comprehensive characterization—including proximate analysis, iodine number (190 mg/g), methylene blue index (59.5 mg/g), point of zero charge (pHpzc = 10.90), zeta potential, FTIR, TGA/DSC, XRF, XRD, SEM, and BET surface area (150.2 m²/g) revealed a mesoporous structure (pore diameter ≈ 19 nm, IUPAC Type IV) with heterogeneous cavities, low ash and moisture contents, and stable carbon formation. The coexistence of amorphous carbon and mineral phases (KCl, NaCl, SiO₂) was confirmed, providing abundant active sites and enhancing surface interactions. Batch adsorption studies demonstrated exceptional performance, achieving up to 98 % SY removal within only 5 minutes at neutral pH with a low dosage of 0.4 g. These findings highlight Ulva lactuca biochar as a low-cost, eco-friendly, and reusable adsorbent, offering a promising pathway for rapid and efficient remediation of dye-contaminated water.
Groundwater is a vital freshwater reserve that is increasingly threatened by climate change and mounting anthropogenic pressure on global water resources. While arti- ficial intelligence (AI) has shown promise in groundwater monitoring in conjunction with remote sensing (RS), its integration with traditional technology remains bound to outdated hydrological assumptions, limiting the adaptability of the integrated approach across diverse regions and conditions. Here, we develop a hydrology- independent workflow using an explainable AI framework based on satellite obser- vations to monitor and forecast groundwater storage dynamics. Tested in a case study on a dataset of Morocco, our approach measured groundwater storage variations with high accuracy, without relying on conventional drivers such as precipitation. Model performance revealed robust spatiotemporal scalability and interpretabil- ity, promising broader applications across data-scarce environments. These findings demonstrate that moving away from classical hydrological dependencies and inte- grating AI-based frameworks can enhance the flexibility of groundwater modeling, offering a pathway toward more adaptive and scalable groundwater management, especially under climate uncertainty.
Addressing contemporary and future public health challenges necessitates a comprehensive understanding of the role of soils, particularly in relation to the rising incidence of Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown etiology (CKDu) in Sri Lanka. This study investigates the spatial distribution patterns of nephrotoxic heavy metals in soils within CKDu-endemic regions, employing spatial interpolation and spatial autocorrelation analyses to inform evidence-based policy development for disease prevention. The concentration hierarchy of heavy metals in soils from CKDu-affected areas was observed as Zn > Cu > Pb > As > Cr > Cd. Notably, the levels of Cd, Pb, and Cr were significantly elevated in hotspot regions compared to reference (non-endemic) sites. Spatial analysis using Global Moran’s Index (MI) revealed a clustered distribution of cadmium (MI = 0.3145), particularly in areas under paddy cultivation, suggesting a strong association between agricultural practices and cadmium accumulation. In contrast, Pb, As, and Cr exhibited more randomized spatial distributions at comparatively lower concentrations. These findings underscore the critical concern of heavy metal accumulation—especially cadmium—in agricultural soils and its potential entry into the human food chain via rice cultivation. The implications for public health are profound, highlighting the need for targeted soil management and agricultural interventions as part of a sustainable strategy to mitigate CKDu prevalence in Sri Lanka.
This study assessed the environmental impacts of discarded Mobile Telecommunication Technology equipment on soil quality and examined the health risks associated with heavy metals detected in soil samples from the Agbogbloshie e-waste dumpsite in Accra, Ghana. Heavy metal analysis of soils at the mobile electronic waste disposal site in Agbogbloshie, Accra was done to determine the concentrations of Fe, Hg, Ni, Cd, Cr, Cu, Zn, Pb and As to ascertain the metal or metals existing naturally. Forty-five (45) soil samples were collected at a depth of 8 cm at sites with heavy deposits of wastes and analyzed using the Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). Results of the analysis indicated mean levels in mg/kg of heavy metals as; 14.92 (Fe), 0.53 (Hg), 11.77 (Ni), 1.2 (Cd), 6.85 (Cr), 11.01 (Cu), 1.67 (Zn), 6.22 (Pb) and 5.19 (As). Heavy metal level of Hg was above the threshold of 0.2mg/kg whilst that of Cd had reached the threshold of 1.2mg/kg set by the US EPA. Multivariate analysis of soil data showed that, only Fe occurs naturally whilst the others were associated with anthropogenic activities. Consequently, all the heavy metals analyzed may not pose any health risk to the public except Fe, Hg and Cd. Indeed, this suggests that, a research that consistently monitor quantitatively heavy metals in body fluids of residents in and around dumpsites should be initiated.
Air pollution and climate change are interconnected, posing significant health risks. This study assesses air pollution levels in T & uuml;rkiye, their link to respiratory disorders, and regional variations. Findings show that Istanbul, T & uuml;rkiye's most populous city, has the highest patient count (mean +/- SD: 387 +/- 302). Positive correlations were found between air pollutants and patient numbers, except for ozone; sulfur dioxide showed the strongest correlation (r = 0.7). Multivariate regression indicated adjusted R-2 > 0.5 in four regions. K-means++ clustering categorized regions by population density, with the largest cluster covering 28.3% of the dataset. These results underscore the impact of air pollution on respiratory health, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to reduce environmental risks and disease prevalence
