Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Katherine E. Moir, Jeffrey J. Ridal, Brian F. Cumming
Summary: This study examined the effects of sedimentary contamination on diatoms in Cornwall, Canada. The results suggest that elevated metal concentrations in sediments have a small but significant impact on diatom community structure and cell deformations. However, historical excess nutrient loading appears to be a more important driver of diatom assemblage structure.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jose Lourenco Friedmann Angeli, Julie Rosemberg Sartoretto, Bianca Sung Mi Kim, Paulo Alves de Lima Ferreira, Beatriz Benedetti, Michel Michaelovitch de Mahiques, Rubens Cesar Lopes Figueira
Summary: The present study found historical anthropogenic mercury accumulation in the Santos estuary, with large spatial and temporal variations in mercury distribution. The highest contamination was observed in the upper estuary, with industrial activities being the primary source of mercury pollution.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zhiguo Su, Donghui Wen, April Z. Gu, Yuhan Zheng, Yushi Tang, Lyujun Chen
Summary: In this study, the effluent from industrial wastewater treatment plants was found to significantly increase the antibiotic resistance gene risk in coastal sediments. The study also identified two high-risk polymyxin resistance genes in the industrial effluent receiving area. These findings highlight the important effects of industrial activities on the development of environmental antimicrobial resistance.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kandasamy Saravanakumar, Shanali De Silva, Sugavaneswaran Siva Santosh, Anbazhagan Sathiyaseelan, Archchana Ganeshalingam, Monica Jamla, Alwarappan Sankaranarayanan, Vishnu Priya Veeraraghavan, Davoodbasha MubarakAli, Jooeun Lee, Gobika Thiripuranathar, Myeong-Hyeon Wang
Summary: Industrial effluent discharge poses risks to the ecosystem, leading to environmental, public health, and safety concerns. This review outlines the effects of these effluents and highlights the advantages of metal-organic framework membrane filtration approach.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Matheus Teixeira, Ricardo Cesar, Denis Abessa, Celeste Siqueira, Rodrigo Lourenco, Mariana Vezzone, Yan Fernandes, Gustavo Koifman, Fernando Cesar Perina, Roberto Meigikos dos Anjos, Helena Polivanov, Zuleica Castilhos
Summary: This study assessed the sediment quality of Tijuca Lagoon in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and found contamination and toxicity, such as PAHs and heavy metals, in the sediments. While PAH and metal concentrations were not significantly correlated with the mortality of burrowing amphipods, domestic sewage contributions and eutrophication had a significant impact on sediment toxicity.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Soil Science
Ana Horta, Leonardo Azevedo, Joao Neves, Amilcar Soares, Liana Pozza
Summary: Combining traditional soil sampling with real-time sampling using pXRF devices can reduce costs associated with contamination assessments. This study evaluated the potential of using both pXRF and traditional soil sampling measurements to accurately map soil contamination due to heavy metals. Integrating pXRF uncertainty with geostatistical sequential simulation and local probability distributions can accurately identify contaminated areas.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kandasamy Saravanakumar, Shanali De Silva, Sugavaneswaran Siva Santosh, Anbazhagan Sathiyaseelan, Archchana Ganeshalingam, Monica Jamla, Alwarappan Sankaranarayanan, Vishnu Priya Veeraraghavan, Davoodbasha MubarakAli, Jooeun Lee, Gobika Thiripuranathar, Myeong-Hyeon Wang
Summary: The discharge of industrial effluents into the ecosystem has raised concerns for environmental issues, public health, and safety. This review provides an overview of the effects of these effluents and their interaction with modern pollutants, emphasizing the advantages of MOF-based membrane filtration compared to traditional remediation processes.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yanfeng Huang, Yuliang Tu, Jinxiong Wu, Xiangjing Liang, Dongye Zhao, Patrycja Boguta, Xintai Su
Summary: In this study, commercial humic acid was used as an extractant to treat high concentration Cr-contaminated soil, showing a high removal rate of Cr(VI) with low economic cost.
SURFACES AND INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Muhammad Jamil, Ijaz Malook, Shafiq Ur Rehman, Muhammad Daud Khan, Muhammad Fayyaz, Muhammad Mudasar Aslam, Eui Shik Rha
Summary: The study focused on heavy metal pollution and ecological risk factors associated with agriculture soil irrigated with industrial effluents in Hayatabad and Gadoon industrial estates in Pakistan. Results showed significant enrichment of heavy metals and considerable ecological risk in the soils, mainly attributed to industrial and commercial activities.
ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Glaucia Bueno Benedetti Berbel, Marcos Antonio Hortellani, Jorge Eduardo de Souza Sarkis, Vitor Gonsalez Chiozzini, Deborah Ines Teixeira Favaro, Bruno Otero Sutti, Nixon Claudio Sakazaki, Elisabete de Santis Braga
Summary: Platinum, Rhodium, and Palladium concentrations were evaluated in a highly polluted estuary in Brazil affected by industrial activities, traffic, and sewage. High PGE contamination was found in sediments impacted by domestic waste and ferryboat traffic, with no direct correlation between PGE levels and sediment types observed. Pollution indexes indicated significant anthropogenic contamination in the Santos-Sao Vicente Estuarine System, with unique Pd/Pt, Pt/Rh, and Pd/Rh ratios near highways possibly due to deposition processes in road dust, soil, and water.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Meng Ge, Guijian Liu, Houqi Liu, Yuan Liu
Summary: The Hg concentration in the surface sediments of the Yellow River Estuary was significantly higher than the background, possibly due to atmospheric deposition, while the As concentration was comparable to the background, mainly originating from agricultural non-point sources and natural sources. The sequential extraction experiment showed low risk of mobility and bioavailability for both Hg and As in the sediments. Multiple indices and guidelines indicated a good state regarding Hg and As contamination in the surface sediments from the YRE.
HUMAN AND ECOLOGICAL RISK ASSESSMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Il-Gyong Kim, Yong-Bom Kim, Ryong-Hung Kim, Tong-Su Hyon
Summary: This study focused on investigating the spatial distribution, contamination and origin of heavy metals in the surface sediments of Jangsong tidal flat in Kangryong river estuary, DPR Korea. The findings showed that the heavy metals had diverse sources, with some metals originating from lithogenic sources and others from anthropogenic sources. Despite slight enrichments in some metals, the overall conclusion was that the area was not heavily polluted and had low ecological risk.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Robledo Hideki Ebata Guimaraes, Monica Wallner-Kersanach, Jose Augusto Martins Correa
Summary: This study evaluated the impact of shipyard activities on sediment in the Guajard Bay and Maguari River in northern Brazil. The results showed that abandoned vessels were the main source of contamination, with copper being the most common pollutant.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Oceanography
Galen Egan, Grace Chang, Andrew J. Manning, Stephen Monismith, Oliver Fringer
Summary: This study conducted field work and collected data in a wave- and current-driven estuarine environment to examine cohesive sediment flocculation dynamics. The study found that the factors driving floc size variability differed between locally sourced sediment and suspended sediment advected from upstream. The analysis also revealed seasonal variability in these trends and presented evidence of a relationship between floc size and the inverse turbulent Schmidt number.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-OCEANS
(2022)
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Jamie M. Purkis, Phil E. Warwick, James Graham, Shaun D. Hemming, Andrew B. Cundy
Summary: Electrokinetic remediation (EKR) shows high removal efficiencies in removing radionuclides from contaminated substrates, especially in low-permeability substrates. The technology has great potential for nuclear site applications and future development.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Zhe Liu, Weslynne S. Ashton, Michelle Adams, Qing Wang, Raymond P. Cote, Tony R. Walker, Lu Sun, Peter Lowitt
Summary: This study aims to fill the gap in the literature by analyzing a selection of cases representing a range of jurisdictions, financing sources, strategies, and associated operational mechanisms in industrial symbiosis (IS) financing.
ENVIRONMENT DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Amy Hsieh, Shahin E. Dashtgard, Pei-Ling Wang, Chorng-Shern Horng, Chih-Chieh Su, Andrew T. Lin, Romain Vaucher, Ludvig Lowemark
Summary: The Taiwan Western Foreland Basin was traditionally believed to have received sediment mainly from Eurasia until the late Pliocene-early Pleistocene. However, new research indicates that major sediment contributions from Taiwan occurred much earlier, and were closely related to the uplift and initial emergence of the Taiwan orogen. This study demonstrates that the Taiwan orogen became a significant source of sediment to the Western Foreland Basin during the Miocene-Pliocene transition, about two million years earlier than previously recognized.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Monica Ragan, Tony R. R. Walker, Melanie Zurba
Summary: Small craft harbors (SCHs) in Canada are vital economic centers for rural coastal communities, providing essential support for users and communities' livelihoods. However, the level of importance varies among different SCHs, and some face challenges due to lack of federal funding and harbor authorities.
COASTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Zhe Liu, Yueying Xu, Michelle Adams, Weili Liu, Tony R. Walker, Teresa Domenech, Raimund Bleischwitz, Yong Geng
Summary: Waste generation and disposal have been a global issue for decades. This study investigates the potential contribution of municipal solid waste (MSW) management to greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions, using four 'zero-waste' cities in China as case studies. Results show that Shenzhen city achieved significant progress in reducing GHGs.
WASTE MANAGEMENT & RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Md. Refat Jahan Rakib, Aniruddha Sarker, Kirpa Ram, Md. Giash Uddin, Tony R. Walker, Tanzin Chowdhury, Jamal Uddin, Mayeen Uddin Khandaker, Mohammed M. Rahman, Abubakr M. Idris
Summary: Microplastics are prevalent pollutants that can be found in aquatic ecosystems globally. They can be ingested by aquatic species and transferred through higher trophic level food webs. However, most studies on microplastic aquatic toxicity have been conducted in laboratory settings, and the impact of microplastics on aquatic species and higher trophic level consumers in natural ecosystems is still relatively unknown. This study provides an overview of microplastic transport pathways, ecotoxicology, food web transfer, and examples of toxic pollutants sorbed onto microplastics in aquatic food webs, aiming to guide future research priorities in understanding microplastic toxicity through aquatic food webs.
WATER AIR AND SOIL POLLUTION
(2023)
Review
Fisheries
Megan E. Rector, Ramon Filgueira, Megan Bailey, Tony R. Walker, Jon Grant
Summary: The effectiveness of eco-certification in improving aquaculture sustainability outcomes faces challenges such as determining which aspects of sustainability to include, avoiding limited improvements by labeling products as 'sustainable', accounting for different spatial scales of aquaculture effects, and designing adaptable sustainability criteria. Potential approaches include applying an ecosystem services framework, supporting industry best practices, considering far-field effects, and recognizing the impact of local conditions. While other governance approaches might be better suited, improving eco-certification criteria and processes presents opportunities to match its success in creating a market for eco-certified farmed seafood with positive sustainability outcomes.
REVIEWS IN AQUACULTURE
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Tzu-Ting Chen, Ho-Han Hsu, Chih-Chieh Su, Char-Shine Liu, Yunshuen Wang, Song-Chuen Chen, Emmy T. Y. Chang, Feng-Hsin Hsu, Liang-Fu Lin, Jih-Hsin Chang, Jyun-Nai Wu, Ta-Wei Hsu, Shein-Fu Wu
Summary: This paper presents a detailed volcanic morphological analysis of the Mienhua submarine volcano (MHV) located in the southernmost Okinawa Trough. The study reveals that the MHV exhibits vigorous hydrothermal activity and is composed of two summits, rugged mounds, and flat regions. Two hydrothermal vents were discovered in the eastern flank, and the development stages and characteristics of the MHV were inferred.
MARINE GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tsai-Wen Lin, Stefanie Kaboth-Bahr, Andre Bahr, Kweku Afrifa Yamoah, Chih-Chieh Su, Liang-Chi Wang, Pei-Ling Wang, Ludvig Loewemark
Summary: Human activities have caused significant changes in sedimentation processes and vegetation cover in lake catchments. However, the time needed for anthropogenically disturbed areas to return to their natural state through environmental protection programs is still uncertain. This study focuses on the Cueifong Lake catchment in Taiwan and uses a multi-proxy approach to investigate major environmental disturbances such as logging and forest fires. The results suggest that it may take more than 50 years for the sedimentary regime to fully recover from logging activities, while the vegetation composition may shift irreversibly towards an algae-dominant environment.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Analytical
Tony R. Walker, Lexi Fequet
Summary: Unsustainable plastic production, use and mismanagement have caused widespread plastic pollution and the accumulation of micro(nano)plastics in the environment, posing a threat to sustainability. Micro(nano)plastic pollution has global ecological impacts and contributes to climate change through greenhouse gas emissions. Despite existing strategies to combat plastic pollution, they are inadequate due to the ongoing increase in plastic production and waste generation. A more comprehensive approach is needed to address the issue and achieve reduction targets.
TRAC-TRENDS IN ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Reza Pashaei, Reda Dzingeleviciene, Ieva Putna-Nimane, Donata Overlinge, Agata Blaszczyk, Tony R. Walker
Summary: We evaluated the acute toxicity of triclosan, caffeine, nanoplastics, microplastics, and their combinations on Daphnia magna. However, limitations of this study included the use of a single species, acute toxicity testing instead of chronic toxicity testing, examination of single substances and their mixtures, and laboratory conditions that may not represent real-world scenarios. Our results showed that triclosan was more toxic than caffeine, and nanoplastics were more toxic than microplastics. Combining triclosan with nanoplastics or microplastics resulted in varying mortality rates, with higher rates at higher concentrations. Similar results were observed with caffeine, nanoplastics, and microplastics mixtures. These findings indicate the potential hazards of these pollutants to marine ecosystems and highlight the need for further studies to understand chronic effects, interactive effects of multiple substances, and the impact under more environmentally relevant conditions.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Vinko Zadjelovic, Robyn J. Wright, Tony R. Walker, Vladimir Avalos, Paula E. Marin, Joseph A. Christie-Oleza, Carlos Riquelme
Summary: Plastic pollution is a critical environmental issue, and this study reveals the significant contribution of misused expanded polystyrene (EPS) in a construction site near Antofagasta, Chile. The study found a staggering number of EPS spheres that have the potential to be released into the environment, leading to chronic pollution. The observations also highlight the presence of EPS microplastic pollution and the accumulation of litter, exacerbating the pollution problems within the region and posing a potential threat to marine and terrestrial organisms.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tony R. Walker
Summary: This paper discusses the issue of littered plastic dog waste bags in the environment, which is controversial and unpleasant. These bags contribute to plastic and microplastic pollution, and the dog feces they contain also pose risks to human and ecological health. The confusion among pet owners, who may mistakenly believe that these 'biodegradable' bags are compostable, leads to the littering. However, without industrial composting facilities, these bags do not degrade and continue to pollute the environment. It is important for all pet owners to dispose of plastic dog waste bags in appropriate waste bins, instead of littering them in the environment.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Zahra Gharari, Parichehr Hanachi, Hanie Sadeghinia, Tony R. Walker
Summary: Scutellaria multicaulis is a medicinal plant used in traditional medicine for thousands of years. Its leaf extract was used to synthesize silver nanoparticles (SmL-Ag-NPs), which showed potential antioxidant and anti-proliferative activity against MDA-MB231 breast cancer cells. The SmL-Ag-NPs could be a bio-friendly and safe strategy for developing new cancer therapies.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Anna C. Ryan, Deonie Allen, Steve Allen, Vittorio Maselli, Amber LeBlanc, Liam Kelleher, Stefan Krause, Tony R. Walker, Mark Cohen
Summary: The study shows that North Atlantic hurricanes have an impact on the transport and deposition of ocean-sourced microplastics in the atmosphere. Hurricane Larry deposited substantial amounts of microplastic particles over Newfoundland, Canada in 2021.
COMMUNICATIONS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Shahida Anusha Siddiqui, Sipper Khan, Mohammad Mehdizadeh, Nur Alim Bahmid, Danung Nur Adli, Tony R. Walker, Rosa Perestrelo, Jose S. Camara
Summary: Designing and manufacturing functional bioactive ingredients and pharmaceuticals have become an international trend. Consumer demand for safe ingredients and concerns over harmful synthetic additives have led food manufacturers to seek safer and sustainable alternatives. Consumers increasingly prefer natural bioactive agents over synthetic compounds, leading to the importance of naturally derived phytochemicals and bioactive compounds with antimicrobial and antioxidant properties in food packaging.
