The waste water released from industries which contain pollutants like heavy metals, dyes and other toxic chemicals brings numerous harms to the ecosystem and humans. Nowadays the nanocomposites based technologies are effectively used for environmental remediation. In the present study, hexavalent chromium was removed from the industrial effluent using magnetite carbon nanocomposite. The nanocomposite composed of highly porous carbon and iron oxide nanoparticles prepared by using agrowastes (sugarcane bagasse and orange peel extract). Iron oxide nanoparticles (FeONPs) formation was confirmed by UV-visible spectroscopy; incorporation of magnetite with highly porous carbon was established by Fourier Transforms Infrared Spectroscopy and X-ray Diffraction Spectroscopy. Morphological features of magnetite nanoparticles and highly porous carbon were analyzed using Scanning Electron Microscope and Transmission Electron Microscope. Magnetic properties analyzed by Vibrating Sample Magnetometer revealed magnetite carbon nanocomposite exhibited better Ms value than highly porous carbon. The concentration of Cr6+ in treated effluent was determined using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. Pseudo-second order equation fitted with kinetics and the Langmuir monolayer favors for isotherm. learn more This study reveals efficiency in Cr6+ removal from effluent using magnetite carbon nanocomposites which extends their application in waste water treatment.

Climate change is causing an increase in the frequency and severity of heatwave events, with a corresponding negative impact on human health. Health service utilisation during a heatwave is increased, with a greater risk of poor health outcomes identified for specific population groups. In this study, we examined the impact of heatwave events on ambulance dispatches in Tasmania, Australia from 2008 to 2019 to explore health service utilisation and identify the most vulnerable populations at a local level.

We used a time-stratified case-crossover analysis with conditional logistic regression to examine the association between ambulance dispatches and three levels of heatwave events (extreme, severe, and low-intensity). We examined the relationship for the whole study population, and by age, gender, socio-economic advantage and clinical diagnostic group.

We found that ambulance dispatches increase by 34% (OR 1.34, 95% CI 1.18-1.52) during extreme heatwaves, by 10% (OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.05-1.15) during severe heatwaves and by 4% (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.02-1.06) during low-intensity heatwaves. We found significant associations for the elderly (over 65), the young (5 and under) and for regions with the greatest socio-economic disadvantage.

Heatwaves were associated with increased demands on ambulance services in Tasmania. In subgroups of people aged over 65 or under 5 years of age, and those from areas of higher disadvantage, we generally observed greater effect sizes than for the population as a whole.

Heatwaves were associated with increased demands on ambulance services in Tasmania. In subgroups of people aged over 65 or under 5 years of age, and those from areas of higher disadvantage, we generally observed greater effect sizes than for the population as a whole.Legionellosis is a severe pneumonia caused by the inhalation of aerosols containing Legionella, Gram-negative bacteria present in the water systems of touristic-recreational facilities. The purpose of this study was to develop a scoring tool to predict the risk of both environmental contamination and Legionnaires’ disease cases in such facilities in the Apulia region of southern Italy. We analyzed 47 structural and management parameters/risk factors related to the buildings, water systems, and air conditioning at the facilities. A Poisson regression model was used to compute an overall risk score for each facility with respect to three outcomes water samples positive for Legionella (risk score range 7-54), water samples positive for Legionella with an average load exceeding 1000 colony-forming units per liter (CFU/L) (risk score range 22-179,871), and clinical cases of Legionnaire’s disease (risk score range 6-31). The cut-off values for three outcomes were determined by receiver operating characteristic curves (first outcome, samples positive for Legionella in a touristic-recreational facility 19; second outcome, samples positive for Legionella in a touristic-recreational facility with an average load exceeding 1000 CFU/L 2062; third outcome, clinical cases of Legionnaire’s disease in a touristic-recreational facility 22). Above these values, there was a significant probability of observing the outcome. We constructed this predictive model using 70% of a large dataset (18 years of clinical and environmental surveillance) and tested the model on the remaining 30% of the dataset to demonstrate its reliability. Our model enables the assessment of risk for a touristic facility and the creation of a conceptual framework to link the risk analysis with prevention measures.Nanofluids have shown their potential in the oil recovery process through surface modification. Due to their surface characteristics, they can apply to improve the oil production from reservoirs by enabling different enhanced recovery mechanisms. The preparation and development of the Fe3O4@SiO2 nanoparticles for the oil recovery process is an innovative and novel approach that influences the oil generation from reservoirs. The performance of the Fe3O4@SiO2 and the other nanofluids (seawater, Fe3O4, and SiO2) in the enhanced oil recovery process is assessed and compared with other flooding scenarios. The Fe3O4@SiO2 NPs achieved the highest oil production rate of 90.2% while Fe3O4 and SiO2 NPs achieved 70.8% and 55.3%, respectively. In contrast, the value achieved for the seawater injection was 76.5%. For the oil recovery process, the Fe3O4 was applied for the inhibition (i.e., decrease) of oil sedimentation, and the SiO2 NPs were applied for wettability alteration and IFT reduction. The experimental results showed that the produced Fe3O4@SiO2 NPs improved the oil recovery rates (90.2%) as well as the synergetic impact of the developed NPs by initiating several mechanisms corresponding to the use of the separate NPs in the micromodel. Moreover, the results exhibited that the reservoir conditions are a crucial function for increasing the oil recovery rates, improving the emulsion stability, and acts as a substantial step for the oil recovery method that applies this particular technique.