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Response surface methodology has been used to design experiments and to optimize the effect of independent variables responsible for higher adsorption of humic substances by activated carbon supported nanoscale zero-valent iron from aqueous solutions. The variables of initial concentration, time, pH, adsorbent dose was examined. The characterization of NZVI/AC was carried out by SEM-EDS and XRD analysis. The adsorption isotherms and kinetics of humic substances on AC and NZVI/AC were studied. The findings showed that the particle size of synthesis NZVI were in the range 20-50nm. The experimental data followed the Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second kinetic model. For AC, optimum conditions of initial concentration, pH, contact time, and adsorbent dose were 5 mg L-1, 4.43, 46.28 min, and 1.5 g L-1, respectively. For NZVI/AC, optimum conditions of initial concentration, pH, contact time, and adsorbent dose were 5.48 mg L-1, 5.44, 44.7 min, 0.65 g L-1, respectively. Predicted removal efficiency by Box-Benken models for activated carbon and NZVI were 60 and 100 percent, respectively.

One of the most important environmental problems is municipal solid waste management (MSWM) as a result of the rapid rise in waste generation due to industrialization, economic development, urbanization, and rapid population growth in Turkey. The collection, transportation, and disposal of solid waste are conducted by municipal authorities of Turkey. The waste management problem is getting more serious due to some reasons such as lack of enforcement of regulations, weak technical and financial resources, poor infrastructure, insufficient policies and deficiency of political priorities, poor coordination between authorities. Hence, despite the legislation, municipal solid wastes are managed in an unscientific manner by the municipalities. The SWOT analysis is a perfect tool to discover the possibilities and ways for successfully implementing the MSWM. In this study, SWOT analysis carried out both negative and positive concerns of MSWM. A successful strategic management has been identified from the SWOT analysis for the municipal solid wastes. Further, the study proposes options based on SWOT analysis approach to improve in available waste management practices that could also be adopted by other countries to decrease the adverse effect of MSW on human and environment health.

The aim of the present study is a) to examine the healthcare waste management practices in W. Greece, Peloponnese, Epirus and Ionian islands b) to investigate the implementation of the institutional frame and c) to make suggestions in order to achieve a proper Hospital Healthcare Waste Management utilizing best practices. A questionnaire was prepared and distributed to selected people in 29 hospitals. The survey was conducted in the period 2015-2016.
The results showed that more hospitals have an established Hazardous Medical Waste Management System, based on internal regulation of infectious waste management. The quantities of infectious wastes produced by the studied hospitals, expressed per day and bed (kg bed -1 day -1) were within the range illustrated both in Greek and International literature. In relation to waste management policy, the replies to the questionnaire show that most attention is given to the management of hazardous medical wastes, while the necessary importance is not given in the appropriate management of urban wastes (separation, recycling and reuse). In addition, according to the findings of the present study, the wastewater management in hospitals is considered of minor importance.
Thus, more investigation is required to evaluate the best operation wastewater treatment scheme to achieve the protection of human health and ecosystems.
The hospitals studied have not tried to adopt an Ecological Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) a fact that reinforces our observation that none of them had made a commitment to minimize the environmental impact related to their function.

In this study, 55 ozone precursor VOCs, which are routinely measured in PAMS (Photochemical Assessment Monitoring Station) were measured in a suburban station located at Middle East Technical University, Environmental Engineering Department in, Ankara. Daily air samples were collected in evacuated canisters between January – December, 2014. Collected samples were analyzed with GC-FID system and concentrations of 51 VOCs were determined. Mean VOC concentrations ranged between 0.048±0.061 µg m-3 (cis-2-penten) and 10±13 µg m-3 (toluene). Average benzene concentration was 1.49 ± 1.74 μg m-3. Factor Analysis (FA) was applied to determine the major sources of VOCs that contribute to the measured concentrations in the university campus. FA application revealed nine factors that can be grouped under four major components, including (1) transportation: gasoline vehicle exhaust emissions, evaporative losses from gasoline vehicles, gasoline evaporation in gas stations and diesel emissions, (2) industrial emissions: industrial evaporation and industrial application, (3) solvent emissions: surface coatings and solvent use and (4) asphalt application.