Arctic autochthonous communities and the environment face unprecedented challenges due to climate change and anthropogenic activities. One less-explored aspect of these challenges is the release and distribution of anthropogenic nanomaterials in autochthonous communities. This study pioneers a comprehensive investigation into the nature and dispersion of anthropogenic nanomaterials within Arctic Autochthonous communities, originating from their traditional waste-burning practices. Employing advanced nanoanalytical tools, we unraveled the nature and prevalence of nanomaterials, including metal oxides (TiO2, PbO), alloys (SnPb, SbPb, SnAg, SnCu, SnZn), chromated copper arsenate-related nanomaterials (CuCrO2, CuCr2O4), and nanoplastics (polystyrene and polypropylene) in snow and sediment near waste burning sites. This groundbreaking study illuminates the unintended consequences of waste burning in remote Arctic areas, stressing the urgent need for interdisciplinary research, community engagement, and sustainable waste management. These measures are crucial to safeguard the fragile Arctic ecosystem and the health of autochthonous communities.

The negative environmental and social impacts of food waste accumulation can be mitigated by utilizing bio-refineries\' approach where food waste is revalorized into high-value products, such as prodigiosin (PG), using microbial bioprocesses. The diverse biological activities of PG position it as a promising compound, but its high production cost and promiscuous bioactivity hinder its wide application. Metal ions can modulate the electronic properties of organic molecules, leading to novel mechanisms of action and increased target potency, while metal complex formation can improve the stability, solubility and bioavailability of the parent compound. The objectives of this study were optimizing PG production through bacterial fermentation using food waste, allowing good quantities of the pure natural product for further synthesizing and evaluating copper(II) and zinc(II) complexes with it. Their antimicrobial and anticancer activities were assessed, and their binding affinity toward biologically important molecules, bovine serum albumin (BSA) and DNA was investigated by fluorescence emission spectroscopy and molecular docking. The yield of 83.1 mg/L of pure PG was obtained when processed meat waste at 18 g/L was utilized as the sole fermentation substrate. The obtained complexes CuPG and ZnPG showed high binding affinity towards target site III of BSA, and molecular docking simulations highlighted the affinity of the compounds for DNA minor grooves.

Efforts are intensifying to identify new biofuel sources in response to the pressing need to mitigate environmental pollutants, such as greenhouse gases, which are key contributors to global warming and various worldwide calamities. Algae and microalgae present themselves as excellent alternatives for solid-gaseous fuel production, given their renewable nature and non-polluting characteristics. However, making biomass production from these organisms economically feasible remains a challenge. This article collates various studies on the use of lignocellulosic waste, transforming it from environmental waste to valuable organic supplements for algae and microalgae cultivation. The focus is on enhancing biomass production and the metabolites derived from these biomasses.

The beneficiation and valorization of coal fines is an important element that has to be considered in coal waste management. This review aims to assess the potential ecological impacts that arise due to coal fines dumping and the various methods that can be used for value addition and beneficiation of the coal fines for domestic and industrial use. The PRISMA method was used for the identification and inclusion of studies in the review and studies which focused on coal fines production, utilization, and their effects on the environment which were included in the review. The review showed that several technologies such as briquetting, pelletization, coal-water slurry, brickmaking, and fluidized bed technology have been developed in an effort to reduce the quantities of coal fines in the environment as they are an ecological threat through air, water, and soil pollution. These methods have the potential to be scaled up to the industrial level as there are vast quantities of coal fines to support the industry.

In response to global challenges in resource supply, many industries are adopting the principles of the Circular Economy (CE) to improve their resource acquisition strategies. This paper introduces an innovative approach to address the environmental impact of waste Glass Fiber Reinforced-Polymer (GFRP) pipes and panels by repurposing them to manufacture structural components for new bicycle and pedestrian bridges. The study covers the entire process, including conceptualization, analysis, design, and testing of a deck system, with a focus on the manufacturing process for a 7-m-long prototype bridge. The study shows promising results in the concept of a sandwich structure utilizing discarded GFRP pipes and panels, which has the flexibility to account for variabilities in dimensions of incoming products while still meeting mechanical requirements. The LCA analysis shows that the transportation of materials is the governing contributing factor. It was concluded that further development of this concept should be accompanied by a business model that considers the importance of the contributions from the whole value chain.

With the increasing production of municipal sewage sludge (MSS) worldwide, the development of efficient and sustainable strategies for its management is crucial. Pyrolysis of MSS offers several benefits, including volume reduction, pathogen elimination, and energy recovery through the production of biochar, syngas, and bio-oil. However, the process can be limited by the composition of the MSS, which can affect the quality of the biochar. Co-pyrolysis has emerged as a promising solution for the sustainable management of MSS, reducing the toxicity of biochar and improving its physical and chemical properties to expand its potential applications. This review discusses the status of MSS as a feedstock for biochar production. It describes the types and properties of various co-substrates grouped according to European biochar certification requirements, including those from forestry and wood processing, agriculture, food processing residues, recycling, anaerobic digestion, and other sources. In addition, the review addresses the optimization of co-pyrolysis conditions, including the type of furnace, mixing ratio of MSS and co-substrate, co-pyrolysis temperature, residence time, heating rate, type of inert gas, and flow rate. This overview shows the potential of different biomass types for the upgrading of MSS biochar and provides a basis for research into new co-substrates. This approach not only mitigates the environmental impact of MSS but also contributes to the wider goal of achieving a circular economy in MSS management.

Despite global recognition, WHO reports reveal significant gaps, with one in four healthcare facilities lacking basic water services, affecting over 1.8 billion people, and 21% lacking sanitation services, impacting 1.5 billion people, especially prevalent in low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to critically evaluate the current state of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities across a diverse range of healthcare settings. This review included various databases such as PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Scopus and grey literature; eligible studies employing various designs were scrutinized for WASH infrastructure and practices. Methodological quality was rigorously evaluated using the QuADS checklist. Data analysis, performed with R software, involved deriving pooled estimates of WASH intervention effects. Sensitivity analyses were conducted, employing statistical methods such as funnel plots to ensure robustness and mitigate biases. Of the 13,250 articles screened, 18 were included in this review. Meta-analyses revealed significant effect sizes for WASH interventions across domains - water (67.38%), sanitation (53.93%), waste management (40.82%), environment (56.58%), hygiene (66.83%), and management (42.30%). Widespread disparities in WASH persist across healthcare facilities, with rural areas facing notable deficits. Challenges in water quality, sanitation and waste management demand comprehensive, multi-sectoral approaches for improvement.

A substantial amount of process waste is generated during the manufacture of soft-wheat products (SWPs), such as biscuits/cookies, crackers, wafers, and cakes. A small portion of waste is reused in specific biscuits, whereas the rest is usually discarded. This study aimed to investigate the suitability of this waste for the co-production of bioethanol and fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs or biodiesel). Two groups of waste generated in the SWP industry were included in the study: (a) the waste of low-moisture (<10%) biscuits, crackers, and wafer sheets with no fillings and/or coatings, and (b) the waste of high-moisture (>10%) biscuits, crackers, wafers, and cakes with fillings and/or coatings. The study involved extracting each sample with hexane, and the recovered fat was converted to the FAME through alkali-catalyzed transesterification. The remaining carbohydrate-rich fraction was then converted to bioethanol through amylolytic hydrolysis and yeast fermentation. A great portion (92.42%-93.17%) of the fat was extracted from the wastes and converted to the FAME with adequate yields (13.81-14.55 g FAME/g waste, dm) and acceptable conversion efficiencies (85.19%-89.04%). However, bioethanol production from the defatted carbohydrate-rich fractions proceeded rather slowly, yielding only 16.54-18.02 (g ethanol per g of waste, dm), corresponding to fermentation efficiencies ranging from 43.32% to 48.29%. Upon the co-production of FAME and ethanol, a considerable amount (50.93%-53.08%) of waste solids remained in the residue fraction. These findings indicated that production of the FAME with adequate yields and conversion efficiencies is viable from the SWP industry wastes; however, bioethanol yields and fermentation efficiencies are rather limited, which warrants further investigation. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The soft-wheat processing industry generates 1%-5% of total production as waste. The waste was studied to produce FAME and bioethanol. The fat was extracted from the waste and converted to FAME. Bioethanol yields and fermentation efficiencies are limited due to dough modifiers and antimicrobial additives used in SWP production. Further research is required to improve ethanol yield.

BACKGROUND: Delays in surgery start times can lead to poor patient outcomes and considerable increases in healthcare expenditures. This is especially true in developing countries that often face systemic inefficiencies, such as a shortage of operating rooms and trained surgical personnel. With substantial effects on patient outcomes, healthcare efficiency, and resource allocation, identifying delays in first-case elective surgery is a crucial area of research.
METHODS: A multicenter observational study was conducted at three comprehensive and specialized hospitals in the Amhara region of Ethiopia from May 1 to October 30, 2023. The primary aim of the study was to determine the occurrence of late first-case start times, defined as a patient being in the operating room at or after the hospital\'s incision time of 2:30 a.m. The secondary aim was to discover potential root causes of delayed first-case start times. All patients scheduled for elective surgery as the first case on the operating list throughout the study period were included in the study. Every emergency, day case, after-hours case, and canceled case was excluded.
RESULTS: A total of 530 surgical patients were included during the study window from May 1 to October 1, 2023. Of these, 41.5% were general surgeries, 20.4% were gynecology and obstetrics surgeries, and 13.2% were orthopedic surgery procedures. Before the procedure started, nine (1.7%) of the participants had prolonged discussion with a member of the surgical team. Patients who arrived in the operating room waiting area at or after 2:30 a.m. were 2.5 times more likely to experience a first-case start time delay than those who arrived before or at 2:00 a.m. (AOR = 2.50; 95% CI: 1.13-5.14). Furthermore, participants with abnormal investigation results were 2.4 times more likely to have a late first-case start time (AOR = 2.41; 95% CI: 1.06, 5.50). Moreover, the odds of a late first-case start time were increased by 10.53 times with the surgeon being in the operating room at or after 2:30 a.m. (AOR = 10.53; 95% CI: 5.51, 20.11).
CONCLUSIONS: The research highlights a significant occurrence of delayed start times for the first elective surgical procedures. Therefore, directing attention to aspects such as ensuring patients and surgical teams arrive promptly (by or before 2:00 a.m.) and timely evaluation and communication of investigative findings before the scheduled surgery day could facilitate efforts to maximize operating room efficiency and enhance patient health outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Inefficient supply chain management within the US healthcare industry results in significant financial and environmental impact. Unopened medical supplies may routinely be discarded in the Emergency Department (ED), contributing as a source of unnecessary medical waste.
OBJECTIVE: Quantify the financial and environmental impact of unopened medical supplies that are routinely discarded in two EDs.
METHODS: The study utilized a waste audit of collection bins targeting unopened medical supplies that would have otherwise been discarded. Associated financial cost was calculated using data from the purchasing department and from an online search. End-of-life (EOL) environmental impact was calculated using the M+ Wastecare calculator. A lifecycle analysis was performed on a supplier-packaged intubation kit, which the study identified as a significant source of waste.
RESULTS: High volumes of unused, unopened supplies (143.48 kg) were collected during the study period with a yearly extrapolated value of 1337 kg. Purchasing costs over 44 days at Hospital A and 37 days at Hospital B for these items amounted to $16,159.71 across both sites with a yearly extrapolated value of $150,631.73. Yearly extrapolated EOL impact yielded 5.79 tons per year of CO2eq. Components from supplier-packaged intubation kits were found to contribute to 45.2% of collected items at one site which purchased them. Lifecycle analysis of an intubation kit yields 23.6 kg of CO2eq.
CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that the disposal of unopened medical supplies contributes a significant source of financial and environmental waste in the ED setting. The results continue to support the trend of procedure kits generating significant environmental and financial waste.