Influence of biochar on improving hydrological and nutrient status of two decomposed soils for yield of medicinal plant - Pinellia ternata

The root tuber of Pinellia ternata has been used as a traditional therapeutic herbal medicine. It is reported to impart beneficial attributes in recovering COVID-19 patients. To meet an increasing demand of P. ternata, this study is intended to investigate the effects of biochar on the soil hydrological and agronomic properties of two decomposed soils (i.e., completely decomposed granite (CDG) and lateritic soil) for the growth of P. ternata. The plant was grown in instrumented pots with different biochar application rate (0%, 3% and 5%) for a period of three months. Peanut shell biochar inclusion in both soils resulted in reduction of soil hydraulic conductivity and increase in soil water retention capacity. These alterations in hydrological properties were attributed to measured change in total porosity, biochar intra pore and hydrophilic functional groups. The macro-nutrient (i.e., N, P, K, Ca, and Mg) concentration of both soils increased substantially, while the pH and cation exchange capacity levels in the amended soils were altered to facilitate optimum growth of P. ternata. The tuber biomass in biochar amended CDG at all amendment rate increases by up to 70%. In case of lateritic soil, the tuber biomass increased by 23% at only 5% biochar application rate. All treatments satisfied the minimum succinic acid concentration required as per pharmacopoeia standard index. The lower tuber biomass exhibits a higher succinic acid concentration regardless of the soil type used to grow P. ternata. The biochar improved the yield and quality of P. ternata in both soils.

Understanding livelihood changes in the charcoal and baobab value chains during Covid-19 in rural Mozambique: The role of power, risk and civic-based stakeholder conventions.

Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) to reduce the transmission of Covid-19 had different repercussions for domestic, regional and global value chains, but empirical data are sparse on specific dynamics, particularly on their implications for value-chain stakeholders' local livelihoods. Through research including weekly phone interviews (n = 273 from May to July 2020) with panellists in six Mozambican communities, our research traced firstly how the baobab and charcoal value chains were affected by Covid NPIs, particularly in terms of producers' livelihoods. Secondly, we ask how our findings advance our understanding of the role of civic-based stakeholder conventions and different types of power in building viable local livelihoods. Our conceptual lens is based on a synthesis of value-chain and production-network analysis, convention theory and livelihood resilience focusing on power and risk. We found that Covid trading and transport restrictions considerably re-shaped value chains, albeit in different ways in each value chain. The global baobab value chain continued to provide earnings particularly to women, when other income sources were eliminated, with socially oriented stakeholders altering their operations to accommodate pandemic restrictions. By contrast, producers involved in the domestic, solely market-oriented charcoal value chain saw their selling opportunities and incomes reduced, with hunger rising in charcoal-dependent communities. Our paper argues that local livelihoods were more resilient under Covid NPIs if civic-based conventions and collective, social power were present.

Bamboo for producing charcoal and biochar for versatile applications.

Bamboo, the fastest-growing plant, has several unique characteristics that make it appropriate for diverse applications. It is low-cost, high-tensile, lightweight, flexible, durable, and capable of proliferating even in ineffectual areas (e.g., incline). This review discusses the unique properties of bamboo for making charcoal and biochar for diverse applications. To produce bamboo charcoal and biochar, this study reports on the pyrolysis process for the thermal degradation of organic materials in an oxygen-depleted atmosphere under a specific temperature. This is an alternative method for turning waste biomass into products with additional value, such as biochar. Due to various advantages, bamboo charcoal is preferred over regular charcoal as it has four times the absorption rate and ten times more surface area reported. According to the reports, the charcoal yield ranges from 24.60 to 74.27%. Bamboo chopsticks were the most useful source for producing charcoal, with a high yield of 74.27% at 300 °C in nitrogen, but the thorny bamboo species have a tremendous amount of minimal charcoal, i.e., 24.60%. The reported biochar from bamboo yield ranges from 32 to 80%. The most extensive biochar production is produced by the bamboo D. giganteus, which yields 80% biochar at 300 °C. Dry bamboo stalks at 400 °C produced 32% biochar. One of the sections highlights biochar as a sustainable solution for plastic trash management produced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Another section is dedicated to the knowledge enhancement about the broad application spectrum of the charcoal and biochar. The last section highlights the conclusions, future perspectives, and recommendations on the charcoal and biochar derived from bamboo.

A review on production and application of activated carbon from discarded plastics in the context of ‘waste treats waste'

In the post-COVID scenario, the annual increase in plastic waste has taken an upsurge due to the disposal of plastic masks, gloves and other protective equipment. To reduce the plastic load ending up in landfills and oceans or dumped at roadsides, the potential of using plastic polymers in different sectors has been investigated over the years leading to their potential application in pavement laying, concrete industry, fuel generation and production of carbon-based compounds among which activated carbons (AC) is a prime example. As one of the most recommended adsorbents for removing contaminants from water and adsorbing greenhouse gases, AC creates a potential sector for using discarded plastic to further treat pollutants and approach closer to a circular economy for plastics. This paper analyses the production process, the effect of production parameters on AC characteristics and properties that aid in adsorption. The interdependence of these factors determines the surface area, porosity, relative micropore and mesopore volume, thereby defining the utility for removing contaminant molecules of a particular size. Furthermore, this work discusses the application of AC along with a summary of the earlier works leading to the existing gaps in the research area. Production costs, formation of by-products including toxic substances and adsorbate selectivity are the major issues that have restricted the commercial application of this process towards its practical use. Research aimed at valorization of plastic waste into ACs would minimize the solid waste burden, along with treating other pollutants. © 2022 Elsevier Ltd

Paleofire Data for Public Health Nursing Wildfire Planning: A Planetary Perspective

Public health Is Increasingly threatened by global warming, land use, and changing wildfire patterns that shape vegetation type, structure, and biodiversity and ultimately affect ecosystem services and our society.1 Uncontrolled large wildfires emit greenhouse gases and aerosols that induce direct and indirect climate feedback through radiative forcing in the atmosphere2 and irreversible changes of natural vegetation, thereby further accelerating climate change and associated fire risks.3 Wildfires are also harmful to human health because they create high pollution concentrations of fine particulate matter that are 2.5 micrometers or smaller (PM2.5) and concentrations of coarse particulate matter that are between 2.5 and 10 micrometers in size. When inhaled, particulate matter significantly increases a myriad of health outcomes, including overall mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and emergency department visits for respiratory morbidity, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and angina.4,5 Between July and October 2020, high PM2.5 concentrations from massive wildfires surrounding a large regional hospital in the western United States were associated with a 6% increase in COVID-19 cases.6 Risks for developing adverse health effects from wildfire smoke are greatest among people who are living with chronic conditions;who are experiencing intergenerational racial, economic, and housing discrimination;and who are facing social inequities from the COVID-19 pandemic.4The unprecedented recent wildfires in the western United States and their ill effects on human health and society, as well as the multiple other threats to people and places brought about by climate change, draw attention to the increasing urgency of developing new public health approaches and long-term adaptation strategies to support future population health. Observational fire data covering the past few decades give valuable information on current wildfire events.1 However, these data hardly capture long-term trends (i.e., centennial to millennial time scales) of wildfires and associated atmospheric emissions that may help to improve future fire models and thereby provide the base to adapt public health systems.3 To understand long-term trends, natural archives preserve fire history on a wide range ofspatial scales in the past beyond the period of observational fire data;examples include polar and highalpine ice cores;lake, peat, and marine sediment cores.3,8,9 Such paleofire records are based on measurements of the gaseous tracers ammonium and nitrate or particulate matter, such as levoglucosan and black carbon, and charcoal that reflect different components of wildfire-induced atmospheric smoke pollution.8,9 These paleofire records have previously identified complex regional interactions of humans, ecosystems, and climate change.3 Submicron-sized (100-500 nm in diameter) black carbon particles from wildfires and fossil fuel during the industrial era (i.e., the past 250 years) measured in ice cores and lake sediments can be used as a direct tracer for the release of harmful PM2.5 to the atmosphere.8,10 Such paleo black carbon records have been established from both polar and high-alpine glaciers on several continents and are recently developed from lake sediments.10 These found significant changes of fire activity in response to climate and human impact and enhanced pollution levels varying both in time and space. With public health nurses being well positioned to understand population health needs, planetary health, and the health consequences of wildfires, public health nurses can improve upon wildfire adaptation planning and essential public health services by understanding historical perspectives from past fires.9,11,13 Paleofire data provide direct estimates of historical atmospheric emissions from past wildfires and associated harmful concentrations of particulate matter over long distances.

Differential responses of soil nitrogen‐oxide emissions to organic substitution for synthetic fertilizer and biochar amendment in a subtropical tea plantation

Tropical and subtropical acidic soils have been well documented as hotspots of global soil nitrogen (N) oxide (i.e., nitrous oxide (N2O) and nitric oxide (NO) emissions). While the effectiveness of possible mitigation options has been extensively examined in croplands, little is known about their effectiveness in reducing N‐oxide emissions from acidic soils of rapidly expanding tea plantations in China. Here, we conducted a 2‐year field experiment to investigate how organic substitution for synthetic fertilizer and biochar amendment affect soil N‐oxide emissions from a subtropical tea plantation. Across the 2‐year measurement period, full organic substitution for synthetic fertilizer significantly increased N2O emissions by an average of 17% while had a lower NO emission compared to synthetic fertilizer alone. Our global meta‐analysis further revealed that full or partial organic fertilizer substitution resulted in a 29% (95% confidence interval: 5%–60%) increase of N2O emissions from acidic soils. In contrast, irrespective of fertilizer type, biochar amendment significantly reduced N2O emissions by 14% in the first but not second experimental year, suggesting a transient effect. The trade‐off effect of full organic substitution on N2O and NO emissions may be attributed to the favorable conditions for N2O production due to the stimulated activity of nitrifiers and denitrifiers. The suppression of N2O emission following biochar amendment was probably due to promoted further reduction of N2O to dinitrogen. The fertilizer‐induced emission factor (EF) of N2O (2.1%) in the tea plantation was greater than the current IPCC default value, but the EF of NO (0.8%) was comparable to the global estimate. Taken together, while biochar amendment could have mitigation potential, cautions are needed when applying organic substitution for synthetic fertilizer as mitigation options for acidic soils as hotspots of N‐oxide emissions.

Can charcoal hemoperfusion treatment be an option for pediatric MIS-C patients? A single-center experience in a tertiary pediatric intensive care unit.

INTRODUCTION: Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a hyper-inflammatory disorder that develops following SARS-CoV-2 infection and has clinical signs that overlap with Kawasaki disease. Immunomodulatory treatments can be used in these patients. One of the alternative treatments reported in the literature is hemoperfusion therapy. In this study, we aim to evaluate our experience of charcoal hemoperfusion therapy in children admitted and followed up with a diagnosis of MIS-C at our Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective evaluation of children diagnosed with MIS-C and children treated with charcoal hemoperfusion who are admitted to our PICU. RESULTS: Among 49 MIS-C patients, hemoperfusion therapy was performed on 14 patients. Duration of hospitalization, duration of invasive/non-invasive ventilation, VIS, OFI, PRISM 3 scores, and mortality rates were significantly higher in the charcoal hemoperfusion group before treatment. In patients who did not respond to conventional therapies, we observed a statistically significant decrease in the need for inotrope and invasive mechanical ventilation support and statistically significant improvements in clinical indicators after hemoperfusion therapy. DISCUSSION: In our study, we observed a significant clinical and laboratory improvement by charcoal hemoperfusion in our MIS-C patients who had a severe clinical course and multiple organ failure. CONCLUSION: In our opinion, this study is the first report regarding the use of charcoal hemoperfusion therapy in MIS-C patients, and the choice of charcoal hemoperfusion as an initial or rescue therapy is needed to be investigated in large patient groups both in children and adults who are diagnosed with COVID-19 and MIS-C.

Response of wheatgrass and ricegrass growth on various types of planting media

Wheat and rice are plants that contain many health benefits, such as chlorophyll, protein and phenolic compounds, which are very suitable for consumption during the current COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to observe the growth response of wheat and rice with various types of growing media. The use of the right planting media is expected to provide good content for wheat and rice plants so that they can be used as health drinks that are good for consumption. This study used a factorial completely randomized design using two factors, where : factor I = plant species with T1 (wheat) and T2 (rice) and factor II = type of growing media with P0 (top soil), P1 (top soil: husk charcoal). ) (1:1), P2 (top soil:cocopeat) (1:1), P3 (top soil:sawdust) (1:1) and P4 (top soil:husk charcoal:cocopeat:sawdust) (1:1:1:1). The results of this study indicate that the highest plant height data was obtained from rice plants with an average top soil planting medium of 18.13 cm. The highest protein content was found in wheat with top soil growing media: sawdust with a yield of 2.20 L/g. So it can be said that wheat can be used as a health drink because it contains high protein.

Paraquat ingestion and COVID-19 infection: deadly double hit

Objective: To describe two cases of intentional paraquat ingestion as self-harm in patients with COVID-19 infection. Methods: We retrospectively analysed poisoning cases (accidental and suicidal), admitted to a dedicated COVID-19 care facility at our institute. As a protocol, all patients coming to our emergency department were reverse transcriptase-PCR tested for novel coronavirus disease 2019 (nCOVID-19) before being admitted to a high dependency unit (HDU) intensive care unit (ICU). If they tested positive for COVID they were transferred to a dedicated COVID care facility. These patients were treated according to the protocol developed for poisoned patients. All patients were followed until discharge or death. We describe the details of 2 patients with intentional paraquat ingestion. Results: We received nine patients at our dedicated COVID care facility created at our institute during the pandemic. Of these 9, 2 patients had ingested paraquat and presented with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Both patients were in the third decade of life and the economic crisis due to the pandemic was the trigger for the ingestion of paraquat. Both had ingested a significant amount of commercially available paraquat. They had significant acute kidney and liver injury at presentation and required dialysis. Haemoperfusion was not performed as the charcoal filters were not available. The clinical picture and chest X-rays were similar to the findings observed in severe COVID-19 patients. Since patients were hypoxic at presentation, monoclonal antibodies were not indicated and were not administered. Both patients were given dexamethasone (6mg daily), as per the “COVID treatment protocol”. We did not administer pulse doses of methylprednisolone or cyclophosphamide due to concerns over exacerbating COVID infection. One of the patients developed significant oesophageal ulceration leading to massive haematemesis. Both developed spontaneous pneumomediastinum and succumbed to their illness after an average stay of 8 days in the HDU. Conclusion: During the pandemic, paraquat ingestion for selfharm with COVID-19 infection poses a challenge to treating physicians. Since the clinical picture of ARDS, is similar to severe COVID infection, the management with immunosuppressive agents becomes difficult.

Design Development of Portable (Mini) Multi-function Incinerator for Dry Medical Waste Handling

Medical waste contains biohazard, such as dry medical waste from the Centre of Public Health Services (PUSKESMAS) should be burning out, especially in the pandemic of covid 19. One of the possible solution is burning the waste by using incinerator. Basic concept of incinerator is controlled high temperature combustion, thus it should be perfect condition to burnt out the hazardous waste. Heat energy that exposed while incinerator operated should having high potency to be used for other purposes such as water heater and carbonization process. This research aims to develop an incinerator which can be used not only as high temperature burner (as incinerator’s main function), but also for water heater system and carbonization process, in the same time. The incinerator designed as mini portable incinerator since it will be used in a center of public health services (PUSKESMAS). Both of hot water and charcoal produced while incinerator operation can be used for sanitation purposes in the PUSKESMAS itself. Combustion process temperatures, smoke quality, safety factor, and energy utilities are the parameters which were determined as incinerator performance. Some design improvement has been done to the original design by Pradipta and Agustina [1] in order to improve the incinerator performance. The latest design performance is showing that combustion temperature successfully increased up to 980 °C for combustion rate of 9 kg waste/hour. Utilization of heat energy produced by combustion process inside the chamber has been successfully produce 2-2,5 kg of good quality coconut shell charcoal and hot water of 83 °C at 6 lt/minute flow rate.

Enhancing The Development Of Engineered Wood Products From Planted Timber Species In Sarawak

The Centre of Excellence in Wood Engineered Products (CeWEP) established in early 2017 aimed in making Sarawak the hup of the down-stream industry especially for the planted timber species. Wood engineered products generally produced by binding the strands, particles, fibres, veneers or boards of wood, together with adhesives to form composite materials. They are products precisely design with specifications and tested to meet national or international standards. Sarawak with land areas of 124,500 sq km, generated wood and timber products of more than 5 million metric tons since 2012 onward. These forest products catered mostly for the upstream industries such as sawn timbers, plywood, veneer, wood moulding, laminated boards, particleboards, MDF, woodchip, charcoal/briquette, laminated flooring and wood pellets. Advanced timber products have not been fully emphasized yet. It is high time for the Sarawak state to shift gear in the timber downstream industries focusing in wood engineered products from planted timber species. The state has for the past decade involved in timber plantation activities. Seven (7) timber species namely the Acacia mangium, Azadirachta excelsa, Kyaya ivorensis Neolamarckia cadamba, Octomeles sumatrana, Paraserianthes falcataria, and Tectona grandis have been planted in various location in the state. With an area of 2.8 million ha of planted forest, the state is seriously intended to increase the production of the downstream timber industry which is equivalent to the existing industry in Peninsular Malaysia. Timber downstream industries, such as laminated/composited furniture & construction materials that generate high income, are expected to be actively produce in 2030. The CeWEP is still at an early stage of its establishment. The occurrence of the Covid-19, especially from 2020 to 2022, has slowdown the progress pace of the centre. As of now, CeWEP has managed to reach stage 2 in the ten years of strategic planning. The repercussion progress will somehow be made to ensure the planning is completed successfully in 2030. With efforts being currently made by those involved in the University of Technology Sarawak (UTS) and with close cooperation and support by other internal and external agencies/networking, the CeWEP will play an important in utilizing the planted timber species in generating income for the rural people and Sarawak state government

Widening inequities in clean cooking fuel use and food security: compounding effects of COVID-19 restrictions and VAT on LPG in a Kenyan informal urban settlement

Universal access to cleaner cooking fuels (including liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)) is a key target of Sustainable Development Goal 7. Currently, approximately 40 million Kenyans rely on polluting cooking fuels (e.g. charcoal, wood). While the Kenyan government aims to rapidly scale up use of LPG for cooking by 2030, COVID-19 restrictions and a 16% value added tax (VAT) re-introduced on LPG in 2021 have likely hampered progress in LPG uptake. We aimed to quantify the effect of these economic shocks on food and energy security in Langas informal urban settlement in western Kenya. We further evaluated whether households most adversely affected by COVID-19 restrictions were more likely to be socioeconomically impacted by the VAT re-imposition. A cross-sectional survey (n = 1542) assessed changes in cooking fuel patterns, food security and livelihoods of primary cooks due to these two economic shocks. While under COVID-19 restrictions, 75% (n = 1147) of participants reported income declines and 18% (n = 164) of participants using LPG (n = 922) switched their primary cooking fuel to charcoal, wood or kerosene. Households reporting lower income while under COVID-19 restrictions had 5.3 times (95% CI:[3.8,7.4]) the odds of experiencing food insecurity as those with no change in income. Unemployment and food insecurity under COVID-19 restrictions were substantially higher among informal sector workers (70% and 60%, respectively) compared with business/government employees (45% and 37%, respectively). Following the VAT re-introduction, 44% (n = 356) of households using LPG consumed less, and 34% (n = 276) cooked more frequently with polluting fuels. Individuals switching away from LPG under COVID-19 restrictions had 3.0 times (95% CI:[2.1,4.3]) the odds of reducing their LPG consumption due to the VAT re-introduction as those maintaining use of LPG. COVID-19 restrictions and the VAT re-introduction disproportionately negatively affected informal sector workers’ livelihoods. A zero-rating of VAT on LPG can help alleviate deepened inequities in LPG access in Kenya.

Microbial diversity and the abundance of keystone species drive the response of soil multifunctionality to organic substitution and biochar amendment in a tea plantation

High nitrogen (N) fertilizer inputs accelerate soil acidification and degradation in tea plantations, thus posing a threat to soil microbial diversity, species composition, and ecosystem service functions. The effects of organic fertilizer and biochar applications on improving soil fertility have been extensively studied on cropland;however, little is known about their effectiveness in promoting soil multifunctionality on rapidly expanding acidic soils in tea plantations. In this study, we conducted a two‐year field experiment in a subtropical tea plantation to investigate the effects of organic fertilizer substitution and biochar amendment on soil microbial communities and multifunctionality. The results showed that soil multifunctionality was enhanced in plots amended with organic fertilizer and biochar. Soil multifunctionality was significantly and positively correlated with alpha‐diversity of bacteria but not fungi. We also found that organic fertilizer substitution and biochar amendment improved soil multifunctionality by altering the abundance of keystone species. The abundance of keystone species classified as module hubs in the bacterial co‐occurrence network contributed significantly and positively to soil multifunctionality. In contrast, the keystone species categorized as module hubs in the fungal co‐occurrence network negatively affected soil multifunctionality. Soil pH was a key driver of soil microbial community composition, indicating that the increase in soil pH under organic fertilizer and biochar amendment had a crucial role in biological processes. These results suggest that organic substitution and biochar amendment are beneficial in preventing soil degradation and maintaining soil multifunctionality in subtropical tea plantations.

Women’s Perceptions and Attitudes to Household Air Pollution Exposure and Capability to Change Cooking Behaviours in Urban Rwanda

Household air pollution (HAP) from cooking on biomass fuel presents significant health, environmental and socioeconomic consequences worldwide. However, there is a lack of understanding of the factors influencing cooking behaviours that affect HAP exposure in Rwanda (e.g., cooking location, removing children from the cooking area). Sixteen qualitative in-depth interviews were undertaken with women living in an underprivileged neighbourhood in Kigali, Rwanda. Deductive thematic analysis was carried out using the Behaviour Change Wheel (Capability—ability to engage with chosen activity, Opportunity—factors which are beyond the individual’s control and Motivation—brain processes which direct behaviour: COM-B) to determine the thoughts and perceptions around cooking location and removing children from the cooking area. Facilitators and barriers were subsequently identified within the COM-B framework for the following HAP mitigation interventions: outdoor cooking, removing children from the cooking area and Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) use. Of the 16 interviewed, 12 cooked outdoors (75%), two (12.5%) cooked indoors (in the main home) and two (12.5%) in a separate kitchen. Despite the majority cooking outdoors, this was reported not to be a favourable cooking location. Levels of awareness of HAP sources and knowledge of the health effects of air pollution were observed to be limited, reducing women’s capability to change, along with stated barriers of cost, housing constraints and safety. Factors out of the individuals’ control (opportunities) included weather, socio-economic and educational factors. Preconceived beliefs, experiencing smoke reduction and the briefly described short-term health effects, directed motivation. Furthermore, participants identified a need for community-based education as a facilitator to changing their behaviour. Despite a high level of observed motivation towards reducing HAP exposure, many women lacked the capability and opportunity to change their behaviour. There are research and policy implications concerning development of community-based interventions which involved end-users and relevant stakeholders in the development process.

Pyrolysis-Based Municipal Solid Waste Management in Poland—SWOT Analysis

Poland’s management of municipal waste, which amounts to over 13 million tons/year, is not efficient—about 60% of the waste is subjected to recovery processes, about 20% of all municipal waste is converted into energy, and almost 40% is landfilled. The authors of this article recognize the potential of pyrolysis as a method of the thermal processing of waste allowing the potential of the energy contained in the waste to be utilized. Pyrolysis is an economically attractive alternative to incineration, with a significantly lower environmental impact, allowing efficient waste management and the use of pyrolysis by-products in the energy sector (pyrolysis gas), or in the building materials sector (biochar). Despite so many advantages, this method is not employed in Poland. The aim of the paper is to indicate a recommended strategy for the application of pyrolysis in Poland as a method of the thermal processing of municipal solid waste. SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis was used as a research method. In the first step, on the basis of the literature review, the factors which may affect the use of pyrolysis in Poland were identified. In the second step, five experts evaluated the weights of those factors and the interactions between them. The products of the weights and interactions allowed, in accordance with SWOT analysis methodology, the most desirable strategy of pyrolysis application in Poland to be determined, which turned out to be an aggressive one. This means that pyrolysis as a thermal waste processing method should be implemented on a large scale in Poland to improve the indicators of municipal waste management.

Study the Use of Activated Carbon and Bone Char on the Performance of Gravity Sand-Bag Water Filter.

In this study, granulated activated charcoal (GAC) and bio charcoal (BC) is used as a filler in P3 biosand bag filter to study their filtration performance against a range of fluoride impurities from 1-1400 mg/L. A set of experiments are done to analyze the filtration efficiency of the sandbag filter against fluoride impurities after incorporating different amounts (e.g., 0.2, 2 kg) and a combination of GAC and BC. A combination of filler GAC and BC (1 kg each) have exhibited excellent results with 100% fluoride removal efficiency against 5 mg/L fluoride impurities for an entire experimental time of 165 min. It is because of the synergetic effect of adsorption caused by the high surface area (739 m2/g) of GAC and hydroxyapatite groups in BC. The data from remediation experiments using individual GAC and BC are fitted into the Langmuir and Freundlich Isotherm Models to check their adsorption mechanism and determine GAC and BC's maximum adsorption capacity (Qm). The remediation data for both GAC and BC have shown the better fitting to the Langmuir Isotherm Model with a high R2 value of 0.994 and 0.970, respectively, showing the excellent conformity with monolayer adsorption. While the GAC and BC have presented negative Kf values of -1.08 and -0.72, respectively, for Freundlich Model, showing the non-conformity to multilayer adsorption. The Qm values obtained from Langmuir Model for GAC is 6.23 mg/g, and for BC, it is 9.13 mg/g. The pH study on adsorption efficiency of individual GAC and BC against 5 mg/L of fluoride impurities indicates the decrease in removal efficiency with an increase in pH from 3 to 9. For example, BC has shown removal efficiency of 99.8% at pH 3 and 99.5% at pH 9, while GAC has exhibited removal efficiency of 96.1% at pH 3 and 95.9% at pH 9. Importantly, this study presents the significance of the synergetic application of GAC and BC in the filters, where GAC and BC are different in their origin, functionalities, and surface characteristics.

The importance of early use of beta blockers and gastric decontamination in caffeine overdose: A case report.

Caffeine is a common stimulant consumed daily worldwide and available in a wide variety of over-the-counter formulations. It is a mild central nervous system stimulant when used in recommended doses. However, it can be fatal if taken as an intentional or accidental overdose. We report a case of a 48-year-old lady with depression and post-traumatic stress disorder who consumed a significant overdose of caffeine, triggered by the stress that she had contracted coronavirus disease 19. This led to significant cardiovascular and central nervous system toxicity. The condition was identified early and managed appropriately with early ß-blockers and gastric decontamination, which saved her life. There are few studies with regard to such modalities on treatment for caffeine overdose; our patient responded rapidly and favourably to the treatment. Why should an emergency physician be aware of this? Caffeine overdose is uncommon but one that clinicians should be aware of. Early identification and intervention with ß-adrenergic antagonists and activated charcoal is paramount in caffeine toxicity.