European Journal of Environment and Earth Sciences

The Effects of Plastic and Microplastic Waste on the Marine Environment and the Ocean

2025-03-17T23:12:16+01:00

Globally, plastic pollution is acknowledged as a serious human-caused problem for marine and coastal ecosystems. The main sources of these pollutants in the many ways they enter the ocean are land-based and sea-based. Megaplastic, mesoplastic, macroplastic, and microplastic are among the various sizes and kinds of plastic pollutants that are found in ecosystems. The water, sediment, and biota of marine and coastal environments are widely distributed with primary and secondary microplastics. The vast majority of consumer goods in use today are made of plastic. Every year, almost 280 million tons of plastic are manufactured worldwide, most of which wind up in landfills or the ocean. Plastics can be made from primary chemicals, usually coal, oil, or natural gas, or they can be made by converting natural resources. At least 267 species are impacted by plastic and microplastic globally, including 44% of all seabird species, 43% of all marine mammal species, and 86% of all sea turtle species. Through detrimental effects on human health, shipping, and fishing, this new pollutant has an impact on socioeconomic factors. At the international, regional, and national levels, current and enacted laws, policies, rules, and programs are essential to lowering the amount of plastic waste in the world’s oceans. Last but not least, the plastics industry should implement plastic recycling or upgrading programs to assume global responsibility for the end-of-life of their goods. The main objective of this paper is to show the impact of plastic and microplastic waste on the marine environment and oceans, and some ways to solve this problem.

Efficiency Aspects of Durres Wastewater Treatment Plant

2025-02-09T16:29:52+01:00

The sewage system in the city of Durres has been a problem for both residents and ecosystems for years. Urban wastewater had direct effects into surface water, mainly in the Adriatic Sea, and this problem raised the need to build a wastewater treatment plant. The main purpose of this study is to give some aspects of the effectiveness of this wastewater treatment process which is one of the byproducts produced by human activity with a negative impact on all components of the environment. The study presents the description of the study area, the sewage system and the impact of this project on the environment. It is described the functioning of the urban wastewater treatment plant, the working methods followed, and the laboratory analyzes performed to maintain control of this process according to state-set standards. The discussion of the biological and chemical results obtained in the laboratory, are based on data obtained from: determination of wastewater and clean water entering the plant, the equivalent population to which this plant serves, the amount of phosphorus that has to be reduced, effectiveness of the process for total dissolved solids, as well as effectiveness of parameters on output and wetland.

Natural Conditioning Factors in the Landscape Modeling of the Ilhabela Archipelago, Brazil

2025-01-28T18:12:47+01:00

The Ilhabela archipelago, located off the northern coast of São Paulo State, Brazil, is renowned for its remarkable biodiversity. The integration of geospatial data with geological, soil, and vegetation maps has enabled the identification of three distinct regions with notable geomorphological characteristics: the northern, eastern, and southern sectors. Each sector displays a well-defined relief, characterized by dissected, heterogeneous terrain, significant elevations, and steep slopes. These features contribute to the formation of deep valleys and abrupt escarpments. The local geology comprises crystalline basement rocks intruded by several Cretaceous alkaline bodies, which exhibit varying resistance to erosion. These lithological differences have been pivotal in shaping prominent escarpments and sharply defined ridges. The predominantly dendritic surface drainage pattern reflects the interplay between the geological framework and erosion processes, with the main watercourses aligned in NW-SE and NE-SW orientations. The dense Atlantic Forest cover plays a crucial role in protecting soil and stabilizing slopes, acting as a natural barrier against erosion. However, the combination of steep slopes, less erosion- resistant geological units, and a thick weathering layer creates conditions prone to landslides, particularly during heavy rainfall. Identifying highly vulnerable areas under such conditions is essential for effective spatial planning and management. Consequently, continuous monitoring strategies, especially in steeper gradient areas, are strongly recommended to mitigate geological hazards. Furthermore, integrated efforts involving environmental protection, sustainable land management, and community awareness initiatives are vital for reducing the impact of natural disasters while preserving Ilhabela’s rich natural heritage.

Heavy Metal Pollution in Abu Dhabi Marine Sediments: A Comparative Study across Different Environmental Areas Using Various Pollution Assessment Indices

2025-01-13T17:44:46+01:00

Coastal pollution in the Arabian Gulf is an emerging issue, driven by both natural processes and human activities such as atmospheric deposition, industrial effluents, discharges from desalination and sewage treatment plants, reclamation and dredging operations, island developments, and oil and gas exploration. To investigate the bottom sediments pollution characteristics and assessments, twenty-two sites were sampled monthly and quarterly in Abu Dhabi’s territorial waters across various ecological categories which includes natural habitats, confined area, nearby public beaches. The samples were analysed for dissolved trace metals, including, Cadmium, Chromium, Copper, Cobalt, Manganese, Nickel, Lead, Zinc, Mercury, and Iron. The concentrations of these metals in the sediment ranged as follows: Cd (0 mg/kg–4.68 mg/kg), Cr (0.19 mg/kg–47.05 mg/kg), Cu (0 mg/kg–71.31 mg/kg), Co (0 mg/kg–6.57 mg/kg), Fe (82.8 mg/kg–18040 mg/kg), Mn (3.06 mg/kg–282.90 mg/kg), Ni (0 mg/kg–34.63 mg/kg), Pb (0 mg/kg–24.37 mg/kg), and Zn (1.58 mg/kg–198.5 mg/kg). Further levels of heavy metal enrichment in the bottom sediments were assessed using the Contamination Factor (CF), Enrichment Factor (EF), Geo-accumulation Index (Igeo), and Pollution Load Index (PLI). The results show that confined area has severe enrichment in Cd, moderate enrichment in Zn and Cu. PLI also confirms Cd in confined areas is >1 which indicates pollution. These accumulation in confined areas, particularly those with heavy anthropogenic activity, highlights a potential environmental risk to marine biota and eventually human health.

Health Impact of Flooding in the Town of Aboisso in Southeastern Côte d’Ivoire

2024-10-15T17:07:12+02:00

One of the most widespread climatic effects in Africa is flooding. Generally caused by high rainfall, overflowing rivers, relatively flat sites, and proximity to the water table, they are amplified by numerous anthropogenic factors. This is the case of the town of Aboisso, which has been experiencing flooding since 2018. However, the recurrence of this phenomenon of hydric origin, with its corollaries of availability and proliferation of pathogens, is a concern for the population. Indeed, wastewater overflows caused by flooding increase the risk of infectious diseases. The aim of the present study is, therefore, to analyze the health impact of flooding due to climatic and anthropogenic factors in Aboisso. The methodological approach consisted of documentary research, field surveys, and direct observation. Several software programs were used to process the data. The analysis method used is the deductive approach. The results showed that the determinants of flooding in Aboisso are hydro-climatic and anthropogenic. The most recurrent pathologies in Aboisso, especially during periods of heavy flooding, are malaria (59%), acute respiratory infections (21%), anemia, which was the main cause of death in 2020 and 2021 (15%), and diarrheal diseases (5%). Finally, a number of resilience strategies (or actions to be taken to strengthen resilience to flood-related health risks in Aboisso were proposed) to flood-related health risks in Aboisso were proposed.