Article
Environmental Sciences
Neele van Laaten, Wolf von Tumpling, Dirk Merten, Rasmus Bro, Thorsten Schaefer, Michael Pirrung
Summary: Elevated levels of particulate matter in urban atmospheres pose a major environmental challenge. Biomonitoring methods, such as analyzing spider webs, can help to identify sources of PM, including brake wear, abrasion of tram/train tracks, and geogenic particles. Statistical analyses reveal the significant contributions of different sources and emphasize the non-exhaust particles associated with road traffic.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Imen Bouzidi, Hamouda Beyrem, Ezzeddine Mahmoudi, Nawal Al-Hoshani, Octavian Pacioglu, Fehmi Boufahja, Badreddine Sellami
Summary: The health condition of Mytilus galloprovincialis native to a polluted habitat was investigated before and after 30 and 60 days of in situ transplantation and in vivo experiments. The results showed a decrease in filtration rate by 24% and 45%, respectively, after 60 days of in vivo and in situ experiments compared to the rates at the polluted sites. The respiration rate reached a minimum of 0.081 ± 0.05 mg O2.L- 1 after 60 days of in situ transplantation. Additionally, antioxidant activities showed time-dependent changes for both transplantation conditions, with the highest activities declining by 76% and 54% for superoxide dismutase and catalase, respectively, after 60 days of in situ transplantation. Changes in lipid peroxidation and acetylcholinesterase activity were observed in internal organs following 60 days of transplantation. At this time slot, the lowest content of metals and microplastics was also noted.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Agnieszka Stojanowska, Farhad Zeynalli, Magdalena Wrobel, Justyna Rybak
Summary: This article presents the methods and applications of using spider webs as passive air samplers and critically reviews their use in air pollution assessment. By describing the advantages and disadvantages of using spider webs for analyzing air contaminants, the article aims to summarize the current knowledge, identify research gaps, and stimulate scientific interest in this issue.
INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Patricia Farias de Souza, Khaue Silva Vieira, Leonardo da Silva Lima, Adriana Azevedo Netto, Jessica de Freitas Delgado, Thulio Righeti Correa, Jose Antonio Baptista Neto, Christine C. Gaylarde, Estefan Monteiro da Fonseca
Summary: Contaminant substances, such as heavy metals, have the potential to harm the ecology of the environment and pose a threat to local fauna and flora, especially bivalve species. Different species of bivalves in Santos Bay showed varying levels of bioaccumulation of heavy metals, with salinity being a key factor in the incorporation of As.
WATER ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Jozef Kovacik, Lenka Husakova, Martina Piroutkova, Petr Babula
Summary: Mercury content in epiphytic lichens collected in Slovakia mountain forests ranged from 30 to 100 ng/g DW and showed species-specific variation, with Hypogymnia > Pseudevernia > Usnea > Xanthoria > Evernia prunastri. The impact of short-term exogenous Hg and its possible amelioration by nitric oxide in Evernia prunastri was studied. Nitric oxide efficiently reduced Hg-induced ROS signal and absorption of Hg by thalli of Evernia prunastri, as well as mitigated the decline of some macronutrients.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Catharina Ludolphy, Uwe Kierdorf, Horst Kierdorf
Summary: Lead concentrations in the antlers of European roebucks in the floodplain of Innerste River contaminated by historical mining activities were analyzed. The study found long-lasting impact of metal ore mining, processing, and smelting in the Harz Mountains on lead pollution in the floodplains and lead exposure of wild herbivores. The suitability of roe deer antlers for monitoring environmental lead levels and the usefulness of lead isotope signatures for source apportionment of lead pollution were highlighted.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Zhanfei He, Jiaquan Shen, Qunqun Li, Yingli Yang, Daoyong Zhang, Xiangliang Pan
Summary: Bacteria have developed a wide range of metal(loid) resistance genes (MRGs) to protect their key components from toxic metal(loid)s. These MRGs have been applied in environmental fields, such as developing biosensors for monitoring environmental metal(loid)s and utilizing MRGs-carrying microorganisms for environmental remediation.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Gabriela Tomas Jeronimo, Edson Luniere Porto, Marcos Alexandre Bolson, Ezio Sargentini-Junior, Mauricio Laterca Martins, Matheus Gomes da Cruz
Summary: Fish parasites, such as Neoechinorhynchus buttnerae, can accumulate high concentrations of trace metals and serve as bioindicators of environmental contamination. The presence of metals in the parasite was significantly higher than in the host fish Colossoma macropomum, indicating their ability to accumulate metals. The results suggest that the parasite directly influences the concentrations of trace metals in the fish tissues.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Plant Sciences
Erika Bellini, Camilla Betti, Luigi Sanita di Toppi
Summary: Transition metals are essential for plant growth, but cadmium can be extremely toxic. Charophytes and bryophytes have evolved mechanisms to cope with high concentrations of toxic metals. Understanding the effects of metal pollution on their morpho-physiological traits is crucial for optimizing their use as phytomonitors and phytoremediators.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Mostafa Hadei, Abbas Shahsavani, Philip K. Hopke, Simin Naseri, Ahmadreza Yazdanbakhsh, Mohsen Sadani, Alireza Mesdaghinia, Maryam Yarahmadi, Masoumeh Rahmatinia, Sevda Fallah, Bahaaran Emam, Majid Kermani, Nemat Jaafarzadeh, Mohammadreza Alipour, Vajihe Hassanzadeh, Shahriyar Bazzazpour, Seyed Saeed Hashemi Nazari
Summary: This study systematically reviewed biomonitoring studies on carcinogen environmental pollutants in Iran, finding high concentrations of cadmium and arsenic in breast milk. The results highlighted the need for comprehensive action plans to reduce population exposure to these environmental contaminants.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sergey Kolesnikov, Tatiana Minnikova, Natalya Tsepina, Natalya Evstegneeva, Alena Timoshenko
Summary: Soil contamination with rare heavy metals such as silver, bismuth, tellurium, and thallium disrupts agricultural and ecological functions. The ecotoxicity of these metals was assessed using biological indicators in a laboratory simulation experiment. The length of wheat roots and total number of bacteria were the most sensitive indicators during contamination with oxides and nitrates, respectively. Azotobacter sp. abundance was the most informative indicator for contamination with both forms of the rare elements. Thallium and tellurium were found to be the most ecotoxic elements.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Marija Menshakova, Milosz Huber, Ramziya Gainanova, Valeriia Surovets, Nina Moiseeva, Anastasiia Nizikova, Marina Mashinets
Summary: This article studies the metal contents in lichen in the pastures of reindeer studs in the Arctic part of Russia. The study found that the concentration of metals in lichens varied in different areas, possibly due to migration from parent rocks and pollution sources.
Article
Environmental Sciences
M. Semih Bingoel, Emre Comakli, Mudahir Ozgul, Muhammet Altun, Tugba Comakli
Summary: This study investigated the concentrations of heavy metals in naturally grown plants and roadside soil along the European route e80 highway in Turkiye. The findings suggest that plant leaves can be used as a monitoring technique to track the changes in heavy metal concentrations along highways.
ENVIRONMENTAL EARTH SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zuzanna Respondek, Dominik Jerz, Pawel Swislowski, Malgorzata Rajfur
Summary: This study presents an analysis of heavy metal pollution in surface water and air in the vicinity of a smelter in Poland. Marine algae and forest mosses were used as biomonitoring materials to assess the levels of pollution. It was found that forest mosses have comparable sorption properties to algae and can be used as an alternative to traditional water biomonitors.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Emre Comakli, Mehmet Semih Bingol
Summary: The study revealed variations in heavy metal concentrations in soil and plant tissues of white birch afforestation. While no significant pollution was found in the soil, the highest concentration of manganese was observed in the branch part of the plant. Additionally, bioaccumulation factors suggest that using white birch barks as a biomonitoring tool may be effective, especially in monitoring increases in cadmium concentrations in urban environments.
WATER AIR AND SOIL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jan Stefan Bihalowicz, Wioletta Rogula-Kozlowska, Adam Krasuski, Malgorzata Majder-Lopatka, Agata Walczak, Mateusz Fliszkiewicz, Patrycja Rogula-Kopiec, Tomasz Mach
Summary: This study determined the relative densities of particles emitted in fire experiments of selected materials through direct measurement and parametrization of size distribution. The distributions of particles emitted in all materials, except for pinewood, were the sum of two log-normal distributions.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Agnieszka Stojanowska, Farhad Zeynalli, Magdalena Wrobel, Justyna Rybak
Summary: This article presents the methods and applications of using spider webs as passive air samplers and critically reviews their use in air pollution assessment. By describing the advantages and disadvantages of using spider webs for analyzing air contaminants, the article aims to summarize the current knowledge, identify research gaps, and stimulate scientific interest in this issue.
INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Tomasz Mach, Tomasz Olszowski, Wioletta Rogula-Kozlowska, Justyna Rybak, Karolina Bralewska, Patrycja Rogula-Kopiec, Marta Bozym, Grzegorz Majewski, Zbigniew Ziembik, Anna Kuczuk
Summary: This study aimed to determine the concentrations and elemental composition of PM10 in a village in Poland, analyze their seasonal variability, determine the sources of pollution emissions, and compare the results obtained using different methods. The results showed that Ca, K, and Fe had the highest shares in the PM10 mass. Soil erosion, coal and biomass burning, and fuel combustion in car engines were identified as the main sources of pollutants.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Artur Jerzy Badyda, Wioletta Rogula-Kozlowska, Grzegorz Majewski, Karolina Bralewska, Kamila Widziewicz-Rzonca, Barbara Piekarska, Mariusz Rogulski, Jan Stefan Bihalowicz
Summary: This article presents an innovative approach to quantify PAHs and BTEX emissions from grilling and suggests a toxicity-based solution to understand the health effects related to BBQ emissions. The study highlights the negative health implications of traditional grilling methods and emphasizes the need for further attention.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Marta Bozym
Summary: This article presents the results of phytotoxicity tests on foundry dust and landfilled waste. The tests showed that all dust types, especially electric arc furnace dust, exhibited high levels of phytotoxicity to garden cress. The direct test method used in this study proved to be useful for assessing the phytotoxicity of foundry waste.
BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Magdalena Wrobel, Agnieszka Trzyna, Farhad Zeynalli, Justyna Rybak
Summary: This study focuses on analyzing the soil to understand the overall environmental condition and potential risks to human health. The results reveal the potential health hazards of soil polluted by smelter activity, as well as negative effects on the cultivation of edible plants.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Tomasz Mach, Justyna Rybak, Jan Bihalowicz, Wioletta Rogula-Kozlowska
Summary: The article investigates the influence of transportation and municipal emissions on the elemental composition and concentration of PM10. Hourly-averaged measurements showed that both emissions significantly impacted the PM10 composition and concentration.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Adriana Dowbysz, Bozena Kukfisz, Mariola Samsonowicz, Jan Stefan Bihalowicz
Summary: Sewage sludge may have a propensity to spontaneously combust, posing a fire risk during storage and transport. This study assessed the self-ignition hazard of sewage sludge based on its self-ignition temperature and discussed factors influencing its inclination to self-ignite. Results showed that both sludge dust and pellets have a risk of self-ignition, with sludge dust having a slightly higher safe storage temperature.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Justyna Rybak, Magdalena Wrobel, Renata Krzyzynska, Wioletta Rogula-Kozlowska, Tomasz Olszowski
Summary: This study investigated the levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in urban road dust samples from Lower and Upper Silesia regions in Poland, as well as their possible sources and potential risks. The results showed high levels of PAHs in the collected dust samples, many of which exhibited mutagenic effects and potential carcinogenic risks. This suggests that urban road dust may have adverse health effects on humans.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Magdalena Penkala, Wioletta Rogula-Kozlowska, Pawel Ogrodnik, Jan Stefan Bihalowicz, Natalia Iwanicka
Summary: The study analyzed the mass fraction of the finest fractions of road dust from highways and expressways with asphalt and concrete surfaces. It was found that concrete pavement is less susceptible to abrasion than asphalt pavement. Sound-absorbing screens accumulate fine road dust, while strong air drafts remove smaller particles from the vicinity of the road. The mass fraction of particles smaller than 100 μm in road dust ranged from 12.8% to 3.4% for asphalt surfaces and from 12.0% to 6.5% for concrete surfaces.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Magdalena Wrobel, Angelika Piesniewska, Farhad Zeynalli, Kacper Kapelko, Beata Hanus-Lorenz, Justyna Rybak
Summary: This study examined the impact of a former ferrochromium plant in Poland on water reservoirs and living organisms. Metal concentrations were determined in sediments, and ecotoxicological studies were conducted on both sediments and surface water. The highest concentrations were found in the sediments from the nearest water reservoir. The sediments pose a potential carcinogenic health risk, particularly for fish consumers.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Justyna Rybak, Magdalena Wrobel, Angelika Piesniewska, Wioletta Rogula-Kozlowska, Grzegorz Majewski
Summary: Urban road dust is a significant contributor to air pollution and poses a major threat to human health. In Poland, the problem of urban road dust is exacerbated by the use of outdated transportation systems. This study analyzed the levels of heavy metals in two regions of Poland and assessed the pollution sources using various indices. The findings suggest that both regions are heavily polluted in winter, with higher levels of URD-bound elements in Upper Silesia.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jan Stefan Bihalowicz, Wioletta Rogula-Kozlowska, Adam Krasuski
Summary: This study aimed to build a machine learning model to predict the concentration of selected air pollutants and evaluate its accuracy during days with fires. By analyzing data from fires in Poland and air quality stations, models were built to predict pollutant concentrations. The accuracy of the models was checked and validated using dispersion from landfill fires. The study showed that machine learning model misclassification can be used to evaluate the contribution of fires to air pollution.
AEROSOL AND AIR QUALITY RESEARCH
(2022)
