This study evaluates the feasibility of converting conventional diesel buses (CBs) operated by the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority into modified electric buses (MEBs) using a system dynamic modelling framework. The model integrates investment and operating costs, locally manufactured component costs, fuel and maintenance savings, job-creation and green-image benefits, and environmental impacts. Three options are compared over a 25-year horizon: continued operation of CBs, adoption of imported electric buses, and conversion of existing buses to MEBs. Simulation results show that the MEB program achieves a positive net present value and an internal rate of return that exceeds the government’s 12% benchmark, reaching about 43% at the end of the project, and outperforms the two alternatives economically. From an environmental perspective, replacing CBs with MEBs reduces operational CO2eq emissions and roadside particulate matter, while increasing one-time upstream metal-depletion and human-toxicity burdens associated with battery production. Overall, the integrated analysis indicates that a locally based MEB conversion strategy can be an economically attractive and environmentally beneficial pathway for accelerating bus electrification in Thailand, provided that supportive policies on local manufacturing, cleaner power generation, and battery recycling are implemented.
In this study, Linum usitatissimum L. (flax), a wild plant species predominantly growing in roadside habitats, is investigated with regard to contamination and accumulation of potentially toxic metals (PTMs). For this purpose, samples of soil and Linum were collected from Sargodha-Bhalwal road of Sargodha City. These samples of soil & plant were tested for the following HMs: Zn, Cu, Co, Mn, Mo, Fe, Pb, Cd using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. Physico-chemical analysis of Bhalwal Roadside Locations (BRL) soils exhibited higher EC (11.42 dS/m), pH (7.8), organic matter (2.73 mg/kg), and PTM concentrations, with BRL1 showing maximum levels of Zn (30.88 mg/kg), Cu (17.16 mg/kg), Co (2.98 mg/kg), and Mn (97.94 mg/kg) than off-road sites. Linum samples also showed higher metal accumulation at Bhalwal Roadside Locations, with the highest Zn (33.48 mg/kg) and Fe (32 mg/kg) recorded at Bhalwal Roadside Location 1. Correlation analysis revealed strong positive relationships between Cd-Zn (r = 0.9992), Pb-Mn (r = 0.9789), and Zn-Cu (r = 0.9663), suggesting shared uptake mechanisms. Bioaccumulation factors were highest at Bhalwal Roadside Location 1, particularly for Co (0.37), Zn (1.08), and Cu (0.40), indicating greater metal uptake from roadside contamination. The present study reveals that the roadside vegetation, particularly L. usitatissimum L. has a great potential as bioindicator for the potentially toxic metals pollution in the urban environment. The findings enhance our understanding of soil-plant metal transfer mechanisms and serve as a foundation for the development of sustainable environmental monitoring strategies.
The aim of present study is to investigate the attitudes and behaviors of university students in Northern Greece regarding their vacations in Greece in the summer of 2024. Their vacations concerned water sports tourism summer destination; the product "sun and sea", examining their experiences in Greece, through the evaluation of the quality of services offered by tourist destinations, the Environmental Sustainability of the tourist destination and how these factors influence the future intentions of the respondents for repurchase. The research needs to show the opinions and behaviors of young people in Greece, who during the summer months of 2024, decide to spend their holidays in the country they reside, enjoying the sun and the sea which is a traditional element of Greece as a summer tourist destination. The students evaluate the services provided, along with good environmental practices (independent variables) and whether they intend to revisit (dependent variable) the same tourist destination. The study examined the proposition, that the effect of perceived destination service quality on tourists’ behavioral intentions is enhanced as it is influenced by sustainable tourism. The survey included 679 students from five Universities in Northern Greece. Based on results of a quantitative research with a structural questionnaire; the study found that Accommodation, Local Transport, Cleanliness, Hospitality, Activities, and Destination Affective Image had strong direct effect on tourists Revisit Intentions. It is suggested practical solutions for tourist executives.
Urban soils represent significant sinks for heavy metals and may constitute potential risks to human health, particularly within rapidly urbanizing and industrialized settings. This study assesses the concentrations, spatial distribution, and associated human health risks of cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), and chromium (Cr) in surface soils of Annaba City, northeastern Algeria.A total of 25 surface soil samples were collected following a land-use-based sampling design encompassing industrial areas, high-traffic corridors, residential neighborhoods, and urban green spaces, in order to capture spatial heterogeneity and potential contamination sources. The measured concentrations ranged from 0.12 to 14.01 mg·kg⁻¹ for Cd, 30.56 to 152.17 mg·kg⁻¹ for Cu, and 15.24 to 121.24 mg·kg⁻¹ for Cr. Among the analyzed metals, cadmium exhibited the greatest spatial variability and the highest degree of enrichment relative to local background levels.Pollution assessment using the contamination factor (CF) and geo-accumulation index (Igeo) revealed moderate to extreme Cd contamination at several industrial locations. Copper generally fell within moderate contamination categories, whereas chromium concentrations remained predominantly within low to moderate contamination classes when compared with regulatory reference values. Geographic information system (GIS)-based spatial analysis identified distinct contamination hotspots, particularly at sites P-14, P-19, and P-24, which spatially correspond to areas influenced by industrial activities.Human health risk assessment (HHRA) indicated that non-carcinogenic hazard index (HI) values were systematically higher for children than for adults. Nevertheless, all estimated HI values remained below the acceptable risk threshold (HI < 1). Cadmium contributed most substantially to the total non-carcinogenic risk at hotspot locations. The estimated carcinogenic risk associated with Cd inhalation was negligible across all sampling sites, remaining several orders of magnitude below the commonly accepted benchmark level (10⁻⁶).Multivariate statistical analyses, including principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis, corroborated the observed spatial patterns and emphasized the dominant role of cadmium in controlling contamination variability and differentiating industrially impacted soils from less affected areas. Overall, the integrated application of pollution indices, GIS-based spatial mapping, HHRA, and multivariate techniques identifies cadmium as the principal environmental concern in Annaba’s urban soils and provides a robust scientific basis for targeted monitoring strategies and risk-oriented urban soil management.
The present study focuses on young citizens' attitudes towards high-level circular-economy strategies such as "Rethink" and "Refuse" in the construction sector. In this respect, young citizens' attitudes and determinants of adopting CE practices in construction, including sharing residences, living in smaller or bio-based buildings, and using shared study or workspaces, were examined. A survey was conducted between May 2025 and January 2026 across seven European countries (Denmark, Germany, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and the UK), including 358 participants aged 40 or younger. The survey unveiled interesting attitudes, with a general openness to adopting certain CE practices, such as living in smaller or bio-based constructed homes, and sharing study and workspaces. Economic reasons emerge as the primary motivator for sharing a residence or living in a smaller one, while environmental considerations are particularly influential in decisions related to bio-based materials. In cases of sharing study or work spaces, the provided conditions are perceived as the primary factor. Respondents' attitudes vary, influenced by factors such as income, age, and residential characteristics. Moreover, cross-country analysis revealed variations in willingness to adopt specific CE practices, highlighting the role of national context in shaping CE preferences. The findings highlight the importance of tailored strategies to promote CE adoption, emphasizing awareness of environmental benefits, targeted policies, and the need to address economic barriers.
