Interdisciplinary Environmental Review (4 papers in press)

Regular Issues

• Assessment of various physico-chemical water quality parameters: a case study on Bhairab river, Bangladesh  
  by Biplob Biswas, Kazi Al-Imran, Abdullahil Mubdee 
  Abstract: This study was conducted to assess various physico-chemical parameters of water quality of Bhairab River in the Noapara Region, Jashore, Bangladesh and to comprehend the present pollution scenario of that river in the studied region. Samples were collected from three different points during the study period (October 2015 to August 2016) and analysed for various water quality parameters. The mean values of temperature, pH, salinity, TDS, EC, BOD, COD, DO and turbidity were found to be 29 degrees C, 8.4, 395.8 mg/l, 570 mg/l, 776.3 µS/cm, 2.14 mg/l, 12.44 mg/l, 4.86 mg/l and 554.4 mg/l, respectively. Water quality index was determined and found to be much higher than the suitability limit of water for drinking. Thus, the study showed that the water quality was not suitable for drinking or cooking purposes rather the river water could be used for irrigation, navigation and recreational purposes.
  Keywords: physico-chemical parameters; Bhairab River; pollution; Noapara; Bangladesh.
  DOI: 10.1504/IER.2021.10038245
   
  
• Awareness of Oil Pollution: Dominant News Frames Used in Reporting the Menace Among Selected Newspapers in the Niger-Delta Region of Nigeria  
  by Chika Ebere Odoemelam, Nik Norma Nik Hasan 
  Abstract: Oil pollution is an important issue that has frequently attracted global attention. Awareness and adverse effects of oil pollution on the environment are well documented and researched in the advanced world. However, research about dominant news frames used to create awareness about oil pollution is almost scarce. As a result, the purpose of this study is to understand the dominant news frames used in creating awareness among the populace about oil pollution in Nigerias Niger-Delta region from 20132016. A survey of 556 editions of the three selected newspapers was involved using the content analysis method. Our study found that the dominant news frames mostly used to create awareness about oil pollution in the Niger-Delta region were human interest, economic consequences, responsibility, and conflict frames. These frames focused on human health impacts, destruction of livelihood, perpetrators of oil pollution, and insecurity prevalent in the region. The findings may help environmentalists, oil-bearing communities, and policymakers do more to amplify awareness about the menace of oil pollution in Nigeria and elsewhere.
  Keywords: awareness; oil pollution; news framing; newspapers; multinational oil companies; MOCs; Nigeria.
  DOI: 10.1504/IER.2021.10038680
   
  
• Identify and ranking green manufacturing barriers by using MCDM Methods  
  by Parvaneh Gholipoor 
  Abstract: Green manufacturing operations create the base for building environmentally friendly goods. Especially, manufacturing industries face different barriers and serious problems in the implementation of manufacturing processes. In this article 32 barriers are identified by reviewing the literature review which classified into three perspectives of knowledge, organisational and environmental. 20 experts were asked to rate the dimensions and the barriers by a questionnaire review on the findings of which best worst (BWM) and fuzzy TOPSIS methods are utilised to rank the barriers. The results reveal that the most critical barriers are lack of special policy, support from the government and lack of top management support respectively. The study findings, which provide helpful insight for managers of Iranian manufacturing, can be utilised to form suitable strategies to overcome the barriers.
  Keywords: green manufacturing; GM; barriers; best worst method; BWM; fuzzy TOPSIS.
  DOI: 10.1504/IER.2021.10039455
   
  
• Do Weather Events affect Income Inequality in Africa?  
  by Mark Edem Kunawotor, Godfred Bokpin, Patrick Asuming, Kofi A. Amoateng 
  Abstract: This paper investigates the effects of weather events on income inequality in Africa over the period 1990 to 2017. Our novel findings using GMM reveal a non-monotonic U-shape effect of the incidence of weather events on income inequality. The result of the simultaneous quantile regression shows that weather events increase income inequality at the 10th, 25th, 50th and 75th percent quantiles. In terms of weather events type, we also find a non-monotonic U-shape effect of the incidence of flood on income inequality. Furthermore, some institutional quality indicators such as the control of corruption, political stability and rule of law tend to moderate the impacts weather events have on income inequality. We however find no statistically significant mediating effect of weather events on income inequality through agricultural productivity in our sample. Again, there is no significant moderating effect of adaptive capacity on income inequality. We suggest that income inequality concerns should not be ignored in global climate change discussions. Furthermore, African countries should strengthen their institutions and adaptive capacities as they remain very weak in the continent.
  Keywords: weather events; flood; income inequality; institutions; Africa.