Mercury's neurotoxic effects have prompted the development of advanced control and remediation methods to meet stringent measures for industries with high-mercury feedstocks. Industries with significant Hg emissions, including artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM)-789.2 Mg year⁻¹, coal combustion-564.1 Mg year⁻¹, waste combustion-316.1 Mg year⁻¹, cement production-224.5 Mg year⁻¹, and non-ferrous metals smelting-204.1 Mg year⁻¹, use oxidants and adsorbents capture Hg from waste streams. Oxidizing agents such as O₃, Cl₂, HCl, CaBr₂, CaCl₂, and NH₄Cl oxidize Hg⁰ to Hg²⁺ for easier adsorption. To functionalize adsorbents, carbonaceous ones use S, SO₂, and Na₂S, metal-based adsorbents use dimercaprol, and polymer-based adsorbents are grafted with acrylonitrile and hydroxylamine hydrochloride. Adsorption capacities span 0.2–85.6 mg g⁻¹ for carbonaceous, 0.5–14.8 mg g⁻¹ for metal-based, and 168.1–1216 mg g⁻¹ for polymer-based adsorbents. Assessing Hg contamination in soils and sediments uses bioindicators and stable isotopes. Remediation approaches include heat treatment, chemical stabilization and immobilization, and phytoremediation techniques when contamination exceeds thresholds. Achieving a substantially Hg-free ecosystem remains a formidable challenge, chiefly due to the ASGM industry, policy gaps, and Hg persistence. Nevertheless, improvements in adsorbent technologies hold potential.

The international journal of Aerosol and Air Quality Research (AAQR) covers all aspects of aerosol science and technology, atmospheric science and air quality related issues.

About 50% of the global aerosol is mineral dust, part of which originates from industrial stockpiles. Mineral dust aerosol adversely affects the environment, public health, occupational safety, and productivity. The propensity of mineral aggregates to emit dust depends on particle size distribution, specific gravity, moisture content, storage conditions, and abrasion forces. In conventional stockpiles, the tendency to produce mineral dust is higher in coal and coke than in other material aggregates such as limestone, gypsum, iron ore, magnetite, and bauxite. Industries with notable mineral dust production capture and suppress dust using dry and wet techniques to curb nuisance and attain air quality regulations. Wet techniques are more versatile than dry methods for large stockpiles requiring constant loading and offloading. Chemical agents, including organic biopolymers, chemical surfactants, and inorganic, have higher dust suppression efficiency than plain water due to higher hygroscopicity and agglomeration potentials. So far, hybrids of biopolymers and chemical surfactants have the highest dust suppression efficiencies (up to 99%). Nevertheless, there is skepticism about adopting hybrid surfactants due to insufficient knowledge of environmental impacts and hazards to human health.

Restaurants contribute a significant carbon footprint (CF), with the food service sector responsible for 18% of food-related global CF. This impact arises from energy-intensive processes, carbon-intensive ingredient sourcing, inefficient waste management, and upstream and downstream supply chain activities. Notably, commercial kitchens exhibit carbon footprints 2–5 times greater than those of other commercial spaces. This review synthesizes recent empirical and theoretical literature on carbon footprint reduction strategies in restaurants, with emphasis on the application of life cycle assessment (LCA), IPCC methodologies, and material flow analysis (MFA) across diverse regional contexts. Green technologies such as the integration of solar, biogas, and biodiesel systems have been shown to reduce GHG emissions by 20–75%, while composting and food waste valorization can mitigate methane emissions by up to 30%. Menu-based interventions, including the substitution of beef with plant-based proteins and regionally sourced ingredients, offer substantial emissions reductions at the meal level. Despite these advances, the review identifies persistent challenges, including data inconsistency, underreporting of Scope 3 emissions, and limited adoption of standardized carbon accounting frameworks such as ISO 14064, PAS 2050. The findings highlight the need for harmonized assessment tools, integration of digital monitoring technologies, and cross-sector collaboration to enable consistent benchmarking and guide the sector toward carbon neutrality. This review provides a roadmap for advancing low-carbon transitions through operational, behavioral, and policy-driven interventions in the global restaurant industry. Graphical Abstract