Schultzlamm1539

We also found unidirectional causality running from environmental policy stringency to CO2 emission. CO2 emission was negatively and significantly related to total environmental tax with causality running from total environmental tax to CO2 emission thus supporting the "green dividend" hypothesis of improving environmental quality. In contrast, CO2 emission and energy taxes were not causality related but CO2 emission was negatively and significantly related to energy taxes. Robustness checks using the FMOLS also show that both environmental policy stringency and environmental taxes can be effective in mitigating CO2 emissions.Phytoplankton community was investigated during two contrasting periods using offshore plankton samples in the volcanic area of Methana peninsula (Saronikos Gulf) the first at early autumn (warm period, September 2016) and the second one at early spring (cold period, March 2017). In order to investigate the phytoplankton community structure in the complex geo-biochemical conditions of the area, samples were collected from stations near the CO2 hydrothermal vents, at the hydrothermal sulfur and radioactive springs and at a fishery nearby Methana town. Three major phytoplankton groups, Bacillariophyceae, Dinophyceae, and Prymnesiophyceae, were studied, using inverted microscopy. In early autumn, Dinophyceae were dominant in the majority of the stations with cell concentrations of Prorocentrum spp. up to ~ 35.5 × 103 cells l-1. In early spring, the dominant class was Bacillariophyceae with dominant genus Nitzschia/Pseudo-nitzschia presenting cell concentrations up to ~ 33.9 × 103 cells l-1. Furthermore, Prymnesiophyceae appeared in both spring and autumn samples with small fluctuations. Total phytoplankton cell concentrations followed a seasonal trend, presenting slightly lower values in the hydrothermal-effected area in comparison with the broader Saronikos Gulf, confirming the prevalence of oligotrophic conditions. Seasonal variation was very strong, revealing an association with water temperature and nutrient content. Those environmental variables proved to have a strong effect that was reflected in the phytoplankton community structure.Energy economics literature indicates that CO2 emissions and economic growth are significant drivers of energy consumption. This paper empirically tests the claim described above within the context of the Belt and Road Initiative countries and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries. Prais-Winsten regression estimates the models with panel corrected standard errors. The random effects and fixed effects estimators proved inefficient, while the panel corrected standard errors proved to be an efficient and appropriate estimator. Gamcemetinib cost The results are consistent with the usual drivers indicated in the literature; both CO2 emissions and economic growth positively and significantly affect energy consumption in all the eight panels, including the Belt and Road Initiative panel and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development panel. CO2 emissions on energy consumption are 10.7% higher in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries than in the Belt and Road Initiative countries. Similarly, economic growth on energy consumption is 9.4% higher in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries than in the Belt and Road Initiative countries. Policy recommendations in the study include improving and implementing an energy diversification policy, introducing carbon taxes and adopting new technologies like carbon capture and storage. These policies aim to encourage renewable and green energy usage and transition to low carbon technologies to reduce CO2 emissions while maintaining sustainable economic growth.During electrokinetic remediation (EKR) of heavy metals (HMs) (Pb, Zn, Cu, and Cd) from municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) fly ash enhanced by a permeable reactive barrier (PRB), the nearer to the anode, the higher the concentration of H+ ions and the greater the remediation effect. Therefore, a potentially new method of PRB-enhanced EKR using an approaching anode (A-EKR + PRB) was studied to help H+ ions to quickly migrate to the sample near the cathode. Consequently, the HM leaching and total concentrations were reduced, while an energy reduction of nearly 40% was achieved. The results showed that the best remediation ability was obtained when MSWI fly ash was treated for 16 days at a voltage gradient of 2.5 V/cm, the approaching anode was moved after 4 days, and the PRB contained 10 g of activated carbon. After remediation, the environmental risk analysis showed that A-EKR + PRB reduced all the fractions of HMs, especially the acid extractable and oxidizable fractions, which might have been due to the enhancement of acid dissolution and oxidation by the approaching anode. In addition, the environmental risks of the remaining HMs were reduced, and the results indicated that A-EKR + PRB is an advisable choice for remediation of MSWI fly ash.Photoperoxidation (UV/H2O2) was used to degrade three of the worldwide most consumed antidepressant pharmaceuticals-bupropion, escitalopram, and fluoxetine-in ultrapure water, drinking tap water, surface water, and reclaimed water. The study was performed with antidepressants in concentration levels in which these compounds usually occur in the water matrices. Online solid-phase extraction coupled to UHPLC-MS/MS was used to quantify the analytes during degradation studies. The UV/H2O2 process was able to degrade bupropion and fluoxetine in ultrapure water, using 0.042 mmol L-1 of H2O2 and 1.9 kJ of UV-C irradiation. Nevertheless, escitalopram, which had the most recalcitrant character among the studied antidepressants, needed a tenfold more oxidant and UV-C irradiation. The primary metabolites of the antidepressants were identified as the major by-products generated by the UV/H2O2 process, and they persisted in the solution even when the parent compound was degraded. The residual toxicity of the solution was evaluated for two different trophic levels. The UV/H2O2 process reduced the toxicity of the solution to Raphidocelis. subcapitata microalgae after 30 min of reaction. On the other hand, the toxicity of the residual solution increased over the reaction time to the marine bacteria Vibrio fischeri (reaching up to 48.3% of bioluminescence inhibition after 60 min of reaction). Thus, our results evidenced that the toxicity against different trophic levels and the monitoring of the by-products formed are important aspects to be considered regarding the safety of the treated solution and the optimization of the treatment process.