The novel coronavirus,SARS-CoV-2,which has caused millions of death globally is recognized to be unstable and recalcitrant in the environment,especially in the way it has been evolving to form new and highly transmiss...The novel coronavirus,SARS-CoV-2,which has caused millions of death globally is recognized to be unstable and recalcitrant in the environment,especially in the way it has been evolving to form new and highly transmissible variants.Of particular concerns are human-environment interactions and the handling and reusing the environmental materials,such as effluents,sludge,or biosolids laden with the SARS-CoV-2 without adequate treatments,thereby suggesting potential transmission and health risks.This study assesses the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in effluents,sludge,and biosolids.Further,we evaluate the environmental,ecological,and health risks of reusing these environmental materials by wastewater/sludge workers and farmers.A systematic review of literature from the Scopus database resulted in a total of 21 articles(11 for effluents,8 for sludge,and 2 for biosolids)that met the criteria for meta-analysis,which are then subdivided into 30 meta-analyzed studies.The prevalence of SAR-CoV-2 RNA in effluent and sludge based on random-effect models are 27.51 and 1012.25,respectively,with a 95%CI between 6.14 and 48.89 for the effluent,and 104.78 and 1019.71 for the sludge.However,the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the biosolids based on the fixed-effect model is 30.59,with a 95%CI between 10.10 and 51.08.The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in environmental materials indicates the inefficiency in some of the treatment systems currently deployed to inactivate and remove the novel virus,which could be a potential health risk concern to vulnerable wastewater workers in particular,and the environmental and ecological issues for the population at large.This timely review portends the associated risks in handling and reusing environmental materials without proper and adequate treatments.展开更多
Sikkim,located in the Eastern Himalayan Region,represents one of the 36 globally recognized biodiversity hotspots and harbors an exceptional range of ecosystems within a relatively small geographic area.Over the past ...Sikkim,located in the Eastern Himalayan Region,represents one of the 36 globally recognized biodiversity hotspots and harbors an exceptional range of ecosystems within a relatively small geographic area.Over the past few decades,the region has witnessed rapid urbanization alongside other developmental activities such as hydropower construction,road expansion,mining and infrastructure development.While these processes have contributed to socioeconomic development,they have simultaneously exerted significant pressure on the fragile mountain environment.This review examines the impacts of urbanization on biodiversity in the Sikkim Himalaya drawing attention to the ways in which land-use change due to urbanization,habitat fragmentation and economic development have altered ecological dynamics and threatened biodiversity of this region.The findings of the current study suggest that unplanned urban growth has led to the degradation of forest cover,disruption of ecological corridors thereby diminishing ecosystem resilience of the region.In addition,the current study highlights the challenges of balancing developmental imperatives with environmental conservation in the study area where both ecological integrity and human livelihoods are intricately interdependent.This study highlights the urgent need for integrated land-use planning that incorporates ecological corridors,urban green spaces,and community-based conservation to mitigate biodiversity loss.Strengthened governance, sustainable tourism, invasive species control, and systematic biodiversity monitoring are essential tobalance urban development with ecological integrity. Most importantly, holistic and interdisciplinary approaches arecritical to ensuring that urban growth in the Global Biodiversity Hotspot of the Sikkim Himalaya aligns with globalbiodiversity conservation goals and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).展开更多
基金funded by the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Khalid University(grant number RGP.1/7/43)。
文摘The novel coronavirus,SARS-CoV-2,which has caused millions of death globally is recognized to be unstable and recalcitrant in the environment,especially in the way it has been evolving to form new and highly transmissible variants.Of particular concerns are human-environment interactions and the handling and reusing the environmental materials,such as effluents,sludge,or biosolids laden with the SARS-CoV-2 without adequate treatments,thereby suggesting potential transmission and health risks.This study assesses the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in effluents,sludge,and biosolids.Further,we evaluate the environmental,ecological,and health risks of reusing these environmental materials by wastewater/sludge workers and farmers.A systematic review of literature from the Scopus database resulted in a total of 21 articles(11 for effluents,8 for sludge,and 2 for biosolids)that met the criteria for meta-analysis,which are then subdivided into 30 meta-analyzed studies.The prevalence of SAR-CoV-2 RNA in effluent and sludge based on random-effect models are 27.51 and 1012.25,respectively,with a 95%CI between 6.14 and 48.89 for the effluent,and 104.78 and 1019.71 for the sludge.However,the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the biosolids based on the fixed-effect model is 30.59,with a 95%CI between 10.10 and 51.08.The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in environmental materials indicates the inefficiency in some of the treatment systems currently deployed to inactivate and remove the novel virus,which could be a potential health risk concern to vulnerable wastewater workers in particular,and the environmental and ecological issues for the population at large.This timely review portends the associated risks in handling and reusing environmental materials without proper and adequate treatments.
文摘Sikkim,located in the Eastern Himalayan Region,represents one of the 36 globally recognized biodiversity hotspots and harbors an exceptional range of ecosystems within a relatively small geographic area.Over the past few decades,the region has witnessed rapid urbanization alongside other developmental activities such as hydropower construction,road expansion,mining and infrastructure development.While these processes have contributed to socioeconomic development,they have simultaneously exerted significant pressure on the fragile mountain environment.This review examines the impacts of urbanization on biodiversity in the Sikkim Himalaya drawing attention to the ways in which land-use change due to urbanization,habitat fragmentation and economic development have altered ecological dynamics and threatened biodiversity of this region.The findings of the current study suggest that unplanned urban growth has led to the degradation of forest cover,disruption of ecological corridors thereby diminishing ecosystem resilience of the region.In addition,the current study highlights the challenges of balancing developmental imperatives with environmental conservation in the study area where both ecological integrity and human livelihoods are intricately interdependent.This study highlights the urgent need for integrated land-use planning that incorporates ecological corridors,urban green spaces,and community-based conservation to mitigate biodiversity loss.Strengthened governance, sustainable tourism, invasive species control, and systematic biodiversity monitoring are essential tobalance urban development with ecological integrity. Most importantly, holistic and interdisciplinary approaches arecritical to ensuring that urban growth in the Global Biodiversity Hotspot of the Sikkim Himalaya aligns with globalbiodiversity conservation goals and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
