Management and destruction of obsolete pesticides and the remediation of pesticide-contaminated soil are significant global issues with importance in agriculture, environmental health and quality of life. Pesticide use and management have a history of problems because of insufficient knowledge of proper planning, storage, and use. This manuscript reviews recent literature with an emphasis on the management of obsolete pesticides and remediation of pesticide-contaminated soil. The rhizosphere of plants is a zone of active remediation. Plants also take up contaminated water and remove pesticides from soil. The beneficial effects of growing plants in pesticide-contaminated soil include pesticide transformation by both plant and microbial enzymes. This review addresses recent advances in the remediation of pesticide-contaminated soil with an emphasis on processes that are simple and can be applied widely in any country.

There are many good reasons to promote sustainable development and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other combustion emissions. The air quality in many urban environments is causing many premature deaths because of asthma, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and dementia associated with combustion emissions. The global social cost of air pollution is at least $3 trillion/year; particulates, nitrogen oxides and ozone associated with combustion emissions are very costly pollutants. Better air quality in urban environments is one of the reasons for countries to work together to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. There are many potential benefits associated with limiting climate change. In the recent past, the concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere have been increasing and the number of weather and climate disasters with costs over $1 billion has been increasing. The average global temperature set new record highs in 2014, 2015, and 2016. To reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the transition to electric vehicles and electricity generation using renewable energy must take place in accord with the goals of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. This work reviews progress and identifies some of the health benefits associated with reducing combustion emissions. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 36: 982–988, 2017

Nitrogen oxides and ozone impact air quality in many parts of the United States, Europe, China, and many other countries. The greatest air quality challenge in Los Angeles, some other areas of California, and some parts of China is to reduce ozone levels to meet regulations. Background ozone is a major factor which makes it more difficult to reduce urban concentrations in Los Angeles and some other locations. Air pollution from China affects the background ozone entering California. More than 50 years of history are reviewed with an emphasis on reducing concentrations of nitrogen oxides and ozone. During this time period, there has been significant progress in reducing levels of these pollutants in urban air in the United States and Europe; however, ozone concentrations in China have increased since 2013. Cost and benefit analysis has shown that benefits associated with the Clean Air Act of 1970 have greatly exceeded costs to improve air quality in the U.S. over the past 50 years. Further actions to consider to improve air quality include reducing combustion of coal and petroleum products and transitioning to renewable energy. Public education is recommended to inform citizens that the benefits of reducing emissions far exceed costs.

The Paris Agreement on Climate Change has the potential to improve air quality and human health by encouraging the electrification of transportation and a transition from coal to sustainable energy. There will be human health benefits from reducing combustion emissions in all parts of the world. Solar powered charging infrastructure for electric vehicles adds renewable energy to generate electricity, shaded parking, and a needed charging infrastructure for electric vehicles that will reduce range anxiety. The costs of wind power, solar panels, and batteries are falling because of technological progress, magnitude of commercial activity, production experience, and competition associated with new trillion dollar markets. These energy and transportation transitions can have a very positive impact on health. The energy, transportation, air quality, climate change, health nexus may benefit from additional progress in developing solar powered charging infrastructure.