Kerosene is widely used in various types of anthropogenic activities. Its environmental safety is mainly discussed in the context of aerospace activities. At all stages of its life cycle, aerospace activity impacts the environment. In aviation, the pollution of atmospheric air and terrestrial ecosystems is caused, first of all, by jet fuel and the products of its incomplete combustion and is technologically specified for a number of models in the case of fuel leak during an emergency landing. In the rocket and space activities, jet fuel enters terrestrial ecosystems as a result of fuel spills from engines and fuel tanks at the crash sites of the first stages of launch vehicles. The jet fuel from the second and third stages of launch vehicles does not enter terrestrial ecosystems. The fuel components have been studied in sufficient detail. However, the papers with representative data sets and their statistical processing not only for the kerosene content, but also for the total petroleum hydrocarbons in the soils affected by aerospace activity are almost absent. Nevertheless, the available data and results of mathematical modeling allow us to assert that an acceptable level of hydrocarbons, not exceeding the assimilation potential, enters terrestrial ecosystems during a regular aerospace activity. Thus, the incoming amount of jet fuel disappears rapidly enough without causing any irreversible damage.

Plant-parasitic nematode research in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region faces significant challenges rooted in a need for proper assembly, diversity, and a unified and purpose-driven framework. This led to exacerbating their detrimental effects on crop production. This systematic review addresses the current situation and challenges that require targeted interventions to sustainably manage plant-parasitic nematodes and reduce their detrimental impact on agriculture production in the MENA region. We analyzed the nematode-related research conducted within the region over the past three decades to assess available resources and promote diverse research approaches beyond basic morphology-focused surveys. We show that crops are attacked by a diverse spectrum of plant-parasitic nematodes that exceed the global economic threshold limits. In particular, Meloidogyne species exceed the threshold limit by 8 - 14-fold, with a 100% frequency of occurrence in the collected soil samples, posing a catastrophic threat to crop production and the economy. We highlight detrimental agriculture practices in the MENA region, such as transferring soil from established fields to barren land, which enhances the dissemination of plant-parasitic nematodes, disrupting soil ecology and causing significant agricultural challenges in newly cultivated areas. Looking into the behavior of farmers, raising awareness must be accompanied by available solutions, as more practical alternatives are needed to gain the confidence of the farmers. We propose integrating microbial-based products and soil development practices in hygienic farming as resilient and sustainable solutions for nematode management. Increased emphasis is required to diversify the nematode-related research areas to bridge the gaps and facilitate the transition from fundamental knowledge to practical solutions. A cohesive network of nematologists and collaboration with national and international entities is crucial for exchanging knowledge related to legislation against invasive species.

Soil degradation is a short or long ongoing process that limits ecosystem services. Intensive land use, water scarcity, land disturbance, and global climate change have reduced the quality of soils worldwide. This degradation directly threatens most of the land in the Middle East and North Africa, while the remaining areas are at high risk of further desertification. Rehabilitation and control of these damaged environments are essential to avoid negative effects on human well-being (e.g., poverty, food insecurity, wars, etc.). Here we review constructed soils involving the use of waste materials as a solution to soil degradation and present approaches to address erosion, organic matter oxidation, water scarcity and salinization. Our analysis showed a high potential for using constructed soil as a complimentary reclamation solution in addition to traditional ones. Constructed soils could have the ability to overcome the limitations of existing solutions to tackle land degradation while contributing to the solution of waste management problems. These soils facilitate the provision of multiple ecosystem services and have the potential to address particularly challenging land degradation problems in semi and dry climates.