The Importance and Impact of Environmental Sustainability in Industries and its Current Scenario

Ritesh G Upadhyay, Jigesh Mehta — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Environmental sustainability is critical in the current scenario for preserving planetary health and human well-being by balancing resource use with the needs of future generations. Its importance is evident in mitigating climate change, protecting ecosystems and biodiversity, and ensuring access to clean air and water. Globally, there is an increasing effort to move away from unsustainable practices such as fossil fuel dependence and transition toward cleaner energy sources. This shift not only promotes environmental protection but also fosters technological innovation and economic resilience. The word “sustains” literally means “to keep going”, reflecting the ongoing effort to maintain balance between human progress and the planet’s capacity to support life. The study demonstrates that implementing planned energy-efficiency measures can significantly reduce electricity consumption in paper mills. Installing high-efficiency motors and variable frequency drives on key equipment, such as pumps, fans, and paper-making machinery, resulted in measurable energy savings, with some systems achieving reductions of 10 to 18 percent compared to their baseline consumption. Correcting power factors and mitigating electrical noise improved overall power quality, reducing additional energy requirements and losses caused by voltage fluctuations. Energy monitoring and audits played a crucial role in identifying peak usage periods and underperforming equipment, enabling adjustments in process operations and better management of energy loads. Upgrading lighting systems to LED fixtures and incorporating sensor-based controls further contributed to reducing unnecessary energy use. Collectively, the combination of these strategies resulted in overall energy savings of 15 to 25 percent, delivering significant cost reductions and enhancing operational efficiency. These findings illustrate that a comprehensive approach integrating equipment modernization, process optimization, and continuous energy monitoring is highly effective for enhancing energy performance in paper mills.

Particulate Matter as a Systemic Toxicant: Molecular Mechanisms and Multi-Organ Pathophysiological Effects

Sagnik Ghatak — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Particulate Matter (PM) constitutes a major fraction of ambient air pollution and is widely recognized as a critical contributor to global morbidity and mortality. Owing to their small aerodynamic diameter and complex chemical composition, particulate pollutants possess the ability to penetrate biological barriers, deposit deep within the respiratory tract, and subsequently translocate into the systemic circulation. Once internalized, PM can interact with or accumulate in multiple organ systems, thereby extending its toxic effects well beyond the lungs. Increasing evidence from epidemiological studies and experimental models indicates that exposure to particulate matter triggers a range of adverse biological responses, including excessive oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, immune maladjustment, and metabolic dysregulation. These interrelated mechanisms disrupt cellular homeostasis and compromise normal physiological functions across tissues. Importantly, the health impacts of PM exposure are not limited to isolated organs but instead reflect a systemic pathological process. Shared molecular and cellular pathways, such as reactive oxygen species generation, activation of pro-inflammatory signalling cascades, mitochondrial impairment, and altered immune responses, appear to underlie the development of diverse organ-specific diseases. This review integrates current epidemiological findings with mechanistic experimental evidence to provide a comprehensive understanding of the systemic consequences of particulate matter exposure. By highlighting the convergence of common biological pathways across different organ systems, the review reinforces the concept of particulate matter as a ubiquitous systemic toxicant with broad and far-reaching implications for human health.

Journal of Environmental Engineering and Studies

The Importance and Impact of Environmental Sustainability in Industries and its Current Scenario

Particulate Matter as a Systemic Toxicant: Molecular Mechanisms and Multi-Organ Pathophysiological Effects