Search Results (3,919)

Both the 27-day and the 11-year solar cycles of extreme ultraviolet radiation (EUV) influence the Earth’s middle atmosphere. The influences of solar cycles on geopotential height (or pressure) are analysed by using the Aura Microwave Limb Sounder (Aura/MLS) observations from 2004 to 2021. Composite analysis shows that the mesospheric 27-day variation in the global mean geopotential height is correlated with the 27-day variation of solar radio flux (F10.7 cm index), which is a proxy of solar EUV. The maximum of the geopotential height has a phase lag of 4 days with respect to the maximum of EUV. The 11-year solar cycle has a sensitivity of 492 m/100 sfu in global mean geopotential height at about 94 km high. Similarly, the influences of solar cycles on the global means of middle atmospheric temperature, ozone, and water vapour are derived and discussed. Full article

Background and Objectives: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major global health concern, with diabetes-related foot disease (DFD) representing one of its most severe complications, often resulting in chronic infection, osteomyelitis, and limb amputation. Conventional therapies frequently fail in refractory cases, necessitating novel adjunctive strategies. Ozone therapy (OT) possesses antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, and oxygen-enhancing properties, while negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) facilitates granulation, exudate removal, and tissue perfusion. This study explored the combined efficacy of OT and NPWT in advanced DFD. Materials and Methods: An exploratory, retrospective, observational cohort study was conducted at a specialized wound care center in Gdańsk, Poland, between 2019 and 2022. The study included 30 patients (n = 30) with refractory DFD involving both soft tissue and bone infection who had not responded to previous conventional treatment. The analyzed treatment approach consisted of surgical debridement, application of topical ozonated preparations, and (NPWT) with instillation of ozonated saline administered over a six-week period. Clinical outcomes included wound healing assessed using the Wagner classification and wound volume reduction, pain intensity measured using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), inflammatory biomarkers (C-reactive protein [CRP] and procalcitonin [PCT]), and microbiological characteristics of wound cultures. Statistical analyses were performed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and the chi-square test, and regression modeling was applied to identify potential predictors of therapeutic response. Statistical significance was defined as p < 0.05. Results: By week six, 100% of ulcers improved to Wagner stage ≤1, with 26.7% achieving stage 0. Median wound volume decreased from 5.5 cm³ to 0 cm³ (p < 0.001). Pain scores declined from 7.2 ± 0.96 points to 0.2 ± 0.5 points (p < 0.001). CRP and PCT levels decreased significantly (p < 0.001), and microbiological clearance was observed in all cases. Higher body mass index (BMI) was associated with poorer pain reduction. Conclusions: The combination of standard wound care with OT and NPWT was associated with clinically relevant improvements in wound healing, infection control, systemic inflammation, and pain reduction in patients with refractory DFD. Although limited by a non-controlled design and small cohort size, these findings support further randomized controlled trials to define the role of this combined approach in integrated diabetic foot care. Full article

Volatile halogenated hydrocarbons (VHHs) are critical air toxic pollutants, with some ozone-depleting substances (ODSs) strictly regulated by the Montreal Protocol. However, current understanding of the pollution characteristics, sources, and health risks of atmospheric VHHs in Southwest China remains insufficient. This study performed field observations of atmospheric VHHs in summer in Mianyang, a medium-sized industrial city in the Sichuan Basin. Freon-12 (563 ± 20 ppt) and Freon-11 (264 ± 15 ppt) were the most abundant chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs); chloromethane (785 ± 261 ppt) and methylene chloride (563 ± 505 ppt) dominated among VSLSs. The mean concentration of regulated ODSs (1037 ± 33 pptv) was notably lower than unregulated very short-lived chlorinated substances (1887 ± 745 pptv), reflecting effective ODSs phase-out locally, yet enhancements relative to Northern Hemisphere background implied potential leakage from residual tanks. Methylene chloride and trichloroethylene concentrations exceeded global background levels by over 10 times, indicating strong anthropogenic industrial influences. Phased-out CFCs displayed negligible diurnal variation due to stringent emission controls, whereas unregulated VSLSs exhibited a distinct U-shaped diurnal cycle, with peaks driven by morning boundary layer dynamics and evening accumulation. Positive matrix factorization revealed that industrial sources, including electronic solvents (28.6%), industrial processes (27.8%), and solvent usage (23.7%), accounted for 80.1% of total VHHs. The total carcinogenic risk (2.3 × 10⁻⁵) surpassed the acceptable threshold (1 × 10⁻⁶), dominated by 1,2-dichloroethane, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, and 1,2-dichloropropane. All individual compounds exhibited mean hazard quotients (HQs) below the non-carcinogenic risk threshold. The cumulative hazard index reached 1.5, suggesting combined non-carcinogenic risks to the local population. These results support VHHs health risk management and ODSs control in Southwest Chinese industrial cities. Full article

The skin represents the largest organ in the body and functions to protect internal tissues from damage and infection. When wounds in small animals do not receive proper management, they may progress to chronic conditions, resulting in pain, delayed healing, and impaired well-being. Although conventional treatment mainly includes the use of topical antimicrobial agents and anti-inflammatory drugs, integrative veterinary medicine has been considered a promising complementary approach to enhance tissue repair. In this context, this study aimed to review non-conventional therapies applied to wound management in small animals, focusing on ozone therapy, light therapy that stimulates cellular activity, herbal medicine, and apitherapy, especially propolis. Overall, the analyzed studies indicate that ozone may contribute to microbial control and modulation of the immune response; light therapy may stimulate cellular activity and collagen production, promoting healing; medicinal plants present antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects; and propolis demonstrates antimicrobial and regenerative properties. Thus, when responsibly applied and supported by scientific evidence, these approaches may complement conventional therapy, broaden clinical possibilities, and contribute to improved recovery and quality of life in animals. Full article

Oil-contaminated wastewater generated in oil-producing regions requires effective treatment methods capable of degrading persistent petroleum hydrocarbons and reducing the overall organic load. This study investigated plasma–ozone treatment of model oil-contaminated water representative of Kumkol-associated wastewater, with emphasis on reactive oxygen species formation and pollutant degradation. Experiments were carried out in a dielectric barrier discharge plasma reactor operating at 8–15 kV, 10–30 kHz, and 100–300 W. The plasma process generated ozone in the range of 3–18 mg/L and hydrogen peroxide in the range of 4–25 mg/L. For model wastewater containing 100–500 mg/L petroleum hydrocarbons, plasma–ozone treatment for 30 min achieved 70–90% hydrocarbon degradation. At the same time, COD decreased from 180–600 to 60–180 mg O₂/L, while TOC decreased from 60–250 to 20–90 mg/L. These results indicate that plasma–ozone treatment provides effective oxidation of petroleum hydrocarbons together with simultaneous reduction in key water quality indicators, demonstrating its potential for the treatment of oil-contaminated wastewater. Full article

The presence of persistent pharmaceutical contaminants such as carbamazepine in aquatic environments represents a major challenge for sustainable water management and the long-term protection of water resources. Carbamazepine (CBZ) is a persistent pharmaceutical pollutant frequently detected in surface waters and poorly removed in conventional wastewater treatment plants. This study investigates the ozonation of CBZ (50.0 mg/L) under alkaline conditions (pH 10.0–14.0), focusing on the influence of pH and ozone mass transfer on oxidation kinetics and water-quality parameters. Ozonation was conducted at 25 °C using a high ozone dose (58.5 g Nm⁻³), achieving complete CBZ degradation within the first 10 min at all pH values. Marked differences in pH evolution were observed: solutions initially at pH 10.1 rapidly acidified to pH ≈ 4.0, whereas highly alkaline systems (pH > 13.0) remained stable. The most intense yellow coloration was observed at pH 14.0, followed by progressive removal. Turbidity remained low at pH 10.1 (<2.5 NTU) but increased at pH 12.0–13.0. Ozone mass-transfer behaviour revealed a transition from molecular-ozone-dominated oxidation to radical-dominated regimes at pH ≥ 12.0. Overall, ozonation proves highly efficient for CBZ removal, and the pH-dependent behaviour highlights the need to optimise oxidation conditions to improve water quality and minimise residual by-products, thereby supporting the development of more sustainable advanced treatment strategies for wastewater reuse and environmental protection. Full article

Despite stringent national clean air policies, severe PM_2.5 and ozone (O₃) pollution persists in some parts of China, notably the Sichuan Basin—a key economic zone in the southwest. High-resolution assessment of the health and crop impacts of these pollutants remains limited in this region. In this study, we developed a multi-source data fusion framework based on a machine learning model to reconstruct daily PM_2.5 and O₃ concentrations at 1 km resolution during 2015–2021. The model integrates ground observations, meteorological data, chemical transport model outputs, and satellite retrievals. The model performed robustly, achieving R² values of 0.91 for PM_2.5 and 0.64 for O₃. PM_2.5 exhibited a decreasing tendency after 2017, while O₃ showed interannual variability, with peaks in 2016 and 2018. Spatially, PM_2.5 was more concentrated in urban centers, whereas O₃ showed higher levels in western Sichuan and a banded pattern in the east. Seasonal patterns were also evident: PM_2.5 increased in autumn and winter due to meteorological and emission factors, while O₃ peaked in spring and summer, driven by photochemistry and high temperatures. Topography and emissions further shaped these distributions, with mountains in the west trapping O₃ and urban clusters exacerbating PM_2.5. Based on the reconstructed dataset, we further explored the potential impacts of pollutant exposure on human health and crop yields. The results provide a high-resolution dataset for understanding pollutant variability. Full article

The aim of this paper is to identify the major environmental impact categories associated with geotechnical works, evaluate the adequacy of commonly used weighting methods, and highlight the need to adapt them to sector-specific characteristics and local conditions. Currently applied weighting approaches rely on standardized values that may not accurately reflect the environmental impact of activities across different economic sectors. Moreover, several impact categories, such as eutrophication, acidification, and water use, are strongly dependent on local conditions. The study included the identification of key environmental challenges across Europe and the development of maps illustrating their spatial distribution. Four weighting methods were applied and compared in terms of their influence on the ranking of assessed materials. The analysis shows that geotechnical works include Global Warming Potential, Photochemical Ozone Creation Potential, Particulate Matter, and Abiotic Depletion Potential—fossil. Adapting weightings to local conditions did not change the ranking of analyzed materials in Poland. However, it may significantly influence the results in regions facing different environmental challenges. The results may support the adaptation of environmental assessment methods in geotechnics and contribute to informed decision-making for sustainable development. Full article

The textile and clothing industry exerts a significant environmental impact in the EU, contributing heavily to water, land, and resource depletion, with waste generation expected to rise sharply due to fast fashion trends. Accelerating circularity and closed-loop production is critical to reduce the sector’s ecological footprint. This study investigates newer approaches for the removal of indigo prints from cotton (CO) and polyester (PES) textiles using aqueous-based solutions and/or ozone treatment. Aqueous alkaline solutions containing reducing agents and surfactants were evaluated, as well as dry and wet ozone treatments. The efficacy of colour removal was assessed via spectrophotometric analysis [colour strength (K/S) and colour difference (ΔE)] and the fabrics were tested for dimensional stability and tensile strength before and after treatment. Results reveal that surfactant-assisted aqueous treatments enable effective pigment removal and maintain textile properties, supporting subsequent reprinting for textile upcycling. Wet ozone treatment also promoted substantial decolourisation, particularly in cellulosic substrates. Although PES samples exhibited better mechanical resistance, they revealed limited pigment extraction upon ozone treatment. These findings demonstrate the potential of chemical treatments using aqueous-based solutions and surfactants for circular textile applications, facilitating pigment removal without compromising substrate integrity, and boosting the upcycling. Full article

Background: Cephalosporins, widely used β-lactam antibiotics, are becoming significant environmental pollutants, primarily due to their high use and persistence. They are released into the environment mainly through wastewater treatment plants, agricultural runoff, and hospital discharge, with particularly high concentrations recorded in effluents. Conventional wastewater treatment methods have inadequate removal efficiency, while advanced treatments, such as ozonation, activated carbon adsorption, and advanced oxidation processes, although more efficient, may produce toxic by-products. Recent studies emphasize the importance of improved detection and monitoring techniques and advocate for stricter effluent regulations. Despite growing research attention, important knowledge gaps remain, including limited long-term field monitoring, insufficient data on environmentally realistic exposure scenarios, and incomplete assessment of transformation-product toxicity. Methods: The search strategy used the SCOPUS and PUBMED databases with the keywords “cephalosporin” AND “aquatic environment”, resulting in 341 records. After applying predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, 110 peer-reviewed English-language studies meeting predefined thematic inclusion criteria and relevant to the occurrence, environmental fate, ecotoxicological effects, antimicrobial resistance, and removal of cephalosporins in aquatic environments were included in the narrative synthesis. Results: The literature on cephalosporins in aquatic environments has expanded significantly from 1978 to 2025, prompted by concerns about pharmaceutical contamination and antibiotic resistance. Studies from 2016 to 2025 used advanced and multidisciplinary monitoring techniques, revealed key pollution sources such as wastewater treatment plants and hospitals, and correlated antibiotic residues with resistance genes, highlighting the need for continued monitoring and mitigation efforts. Ecotoxicological and fate studies further indicate that transformation processes may generate products with altered or increased toxicity, complicating environmental risk assessment. Conclusions: The literature shows increasing attention to cephalosporins in aquatic environments, reporting associations with antimicrobial resistance and adverse effects on aquatic organisms, including potential toxicity from transformation products. This review highlights the need for integrated monitoring, standardized toxicity assessment, and improved treatment strategies within a One Health framework. Full article

Ozone layer depletion exacerbates UV-induced skin damage, including oxidative stress and DNA lesions, thereby increasing the risk of photoaging and malignant transformation. Natural extracts have gained increasing attention as a photoprotective ingredient in cosmeceutical products. Kaempferia galanga, a species in the Zingiberaceae family traditionally used for skin-related treatment and listed in the CosIng database, exhibits multiple biologically relevant properties; however, its anti-photoaging and anti-photo-senescence effects in human dermal fibroblasts remain unexplored. This study investigated the in vitro photoprotective effects of K. galanga extract against UVB-induced photoaging and cellular senescence in human dermal fibroblasts. The ethanolic extract of K. galanga rhizomes (EKGRs) contained ethyl p-methoxycinnamate (EPMC) as a major constituent (33.7 ± 3.7% (w/w) of the crude extract), identified by HPLC-UV. Additionally, EKGR exhibited significant protective effects in UVB-irradiated fibroblasts. EKGR showed no cytotoxicity at concentrations up to 50.0 µg/mL, as determined by the MTT assay. EKGR pretreatment significantly reduced UVB-induced cellular senescence in human dermal fibroblasts compared with UVB-exposed cells (22.2 ± 2.7% vs. 36.7 ± 8.0%). Furthermore, pretreatment with EKGR prior to UVB exposure resulted in a significant increase in pro-collagen type I production (37,075.1 ± 7532.2 pg/mL) and a concomitant decrease in MMP-1 secretion (25,754.1 ± 4042.0 pg/mL) relative to UVB-exposed cells (26,845.8 ± 1454.6 and 39,910.8 ± 6035.1 pg/mL, respectively). To demonstrate formulation feasibility, EKGR was incorporated into an oil-in-water microemulsion, which exhibited concentration-dependent SPF enhancement. Collectively, these findings demonstrate the photoprotective efficacy of EPMC-rich EKGR and highlight its potential as a cosmeceutical ingredient for mitigating UVB-induced photo-senescence and skin aging, with an additional SPF boosting effect. To our knowledge, this study provides the first evidence of EKGR-mediated protection against UVB-induced cellular senescence in human dermal fibroblasts. Full article

Cooking-related emissions represent a major contributor to indoor air pollution in residential kitchens, producing complex mixtures of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), odor-causing gases, oil vapors, particulate matter (PM_2.5), and combustion-related pollutants (CO and NO_x). In this study, a controlled ozone-assisted oxidation approach was integrated into a recirculating (ductless) domestic kitchen hood equipped with a confined reaction chamber and experimentally evaluated under closed-loop operating conditions where treated air was returned to the indoor environment after post-treatment. A multivariate Response Surface Methodology (RSM) framework based on the Box–Behnken design was employed to quantify and optimize the coupled effects of temperature (20–30 °C), relative humidity (40–60%), ozone dosage (1–3 ppm within the confined reaction zone), and airflow rate (150–250 m³/h) on multi-pollutant removal performance. The results demonstrate that ozone assistance substantially improves the abatement of oxidation-sensitive pollutants, particularly VOCs and odor, while airflow rate strongly governs transport-dominated pollutants such as PM_2.5 and oil vapors. In contrast, CO and NO_x exhibited limited improvement, indicating that ozone-assisted oxidation alone is insufficient for comprehensive control of combustion-related gases under short-residence-time recirculating hood conditions. The main contribution of this work is the implementation of a demand-driven ozone management strategy, supported by dual ozone sensing for reaction-zone control and outlet safety verification, where ozone generation is activated only in the presence of reactive gaseous pollutants and automatically reduced or terminated once pollutant concentrations fall below predefined thresholds, minimizing unnecessary oxidant release. Residual ozone downstream of the reaction stage was continuously monitored to prevent excess ozone return to the occupied zone. Overall, the proposed closed-loop, feedback-controlled ozone-assisted recirculating range hood concept demonstrated device-level reductions in measured VOC/odor signals under controlled conditions, while also highlighting the need for complementary post-treatment components for particle- and combustion-related pollutants. However, the potential formation of secondary oxidation byproducts was not characterized in this study, and therefore the results should be interpreted with respect to device-level pollutant removal rather than comprehensive indoor air quality improvement. Full article

Ground-level ozone (GLO₃) poses a critical threat to public health and the success of the Saudi Green Initiative, yet its long-term spatiotemporal evolution across the Arabian Peninsula remains poorly constrained. Utilizing CAMS-derived mixing ratios (1000–850 hPa) from 2003 to 2024, this study identifies a major systemic regime shift occurring in 2016–2017, marking a transition toward a more O₃-enriched atmospheric state across Saudi Arabia. While the early study period was characterized by pronounced spatial heterogeneity, post-2017 diagnostics reveal a synchronized intensification of GLO₃, particularly within the urban industrial belts of the Eastern and Western Provinces. Statistical trend metrics, including Mann–Kendall and regime-shift detection, show a persistent upward trend in GLO₃ concentrations, most significantly during winter and over the southwestern highlands. These trends are robustly coupled with increasing boundary-layer height, temperature, and UV-B radiation, alongside shifting precursor stoichiometry (CO, VOCs, NO_x) that separates titration-dominated from production-dominated regimes. Our results suggest that this mid-decade intensification reflects a convergence of anthropogenic forcing under Saudi Vision 2030 and shifting regional climatic drivers. By uncovering the transition from localized variability to kingdom-wide synchronization, this research provides a process-based foundation for targeted air quality management and the safeguarding of regional sustainability frameworks. Full article

Landfills are a significant source of atmospheric emissions associated with the decomposition of organic waste; however, conventional monitoring methods typically have limited spatial coverage. This study evaluates the use of an UAV-based system for the spatial characterization of gases associated with biogas emissions at a municipal landfill. A DJI Matrice 350 RTK platform equipped with a Sniffer4D Mini2 multi-gas station and a Zenmuse H20T thermal camera were used. Four flight campaigns were conducted at an altitude of 20 m, with an acquisition frequency of approximately 1 Hz, recording total hydrocarbons (C_xH_y) as an indirect indicator of methane (CH₄), carbon dioxide (CO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), ozone (O₃), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), oxygen (O₂), temperature, and relative humidity. The results showed a marked transition around 13:10 h, characterized by a simultaneous increase in CH₄ equivalent and CO₂, along with a decrease in NO₂, O₃, and SO₂. Furthermore, CH₄ equivalent and CO₂ showed the highest positive correlation among the variables (r = 0.96). Spatial maps generated using ordinary kriging revealed more heterogeneous patterns, while the qualitative thermal orthophoto confirmed the site’s surface variability. Overall, the results demonstrate that the integration of multi-gas sensors and aerial thermography on UAVs is viable for the spatial monitoring of landfills. Full article

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the rapid development and deployment of novel strategies and methodologies to manage the dissemination of microorganisms. Understanding the crucial role that contaminated surfaces play in the spread of viruses highlights the importance of having effective cleaning and disinfection protocols in place for inanimate objects. A variety of antimicrobial agents have shown strong effectiveness against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Various factors can impact on the performance of these agents. As a result, technologies utilizing ozone’s microbicidal effects have been developed or improved for cleaning indoor areas, surfaces, and materials, despite ozone’s diverse uses being known for years. Ozone offers the advantage of adaptability for both gaseous and aqueous use, depending on the nature of the decontaminated surfaces. Moreover, ozone-infused water is ecologically benign, possesses microbial-fighting capabilities, and synergistically reinforces the biocidal action of other chemical disinfectants. This review aims to summarize the efforts dedicated to harnessing gaseous and aqueous ozone as a valuable means to eliminate the SARS-CoV-2 virus from environments, surfaces, clinical equipment, and office supplies. This review sourced evidence-based articles from electronic databases, including MEDLINE (via PubMed), EMBASE, the Cochrane Library (CENTRAL), and preprint repositories. The findings illustrated that ozone could serve as an additional tool for curbing the proliferation of COVID-19 and other viral infections. Additionally, we elucidated the operational attributes of ozone, the variables that influence its disinfection potency, and the mechanisms of its virucidal action. Notably, this review does not encompass the disinfection of the COVID-19 virus in wastewater. Full article