Article
Environmental Sciences
Calogero Schillaci, Arwyn Jones, Diana Vieira, Michele Munafo, Luca Montanarella
Summary: Land degradation refers to the persistent reduction in the land's capacity to support life on Earth, which threatens ecosystem services. Sustainable Development Goal 15, 'Life on Land', aims to sustainably manage and recover natural ecosystems and restore degraded land. This study evaluated the performance of SDG 15.3.1, focusing on the proportion of degraded land in the European Union using alternative datasets and policy-relevant data sources. The findings revealed a higher extent of degraded land when using higher spatial resolution sub-indicators and a combined proxy of land degradation.
LAND DEGRADATION & DEVELOPMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Studies
Angela Cimini, Paolo De Fioravante, Nicola Riitano, Pasquale Dichicco, Annagrazia Calo, Giuseppe Scarascia Mugnozza, Marco Marchetti, Michele Munafo
Summary: For the first time in history, more than half of the global population lives in urban areas, leading to increased vulnerability and the need for monitoring urban dynamics and sustainability. This study examines the spatial extent and urban-rural continuum, analyzes urbanization processes, and monitors Sustainable Development Goal 11 using a methodology developed by the European Commission-Joint Research Center. The research highlights the importance of detailed spatialized population data in calculating SDG indicator 11.3.1 and proposes new indicators for analyzing urban sprawl.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Xinjian Guan, Meng Liu, Yu Meng
Summary: This study constructed a Pollution Damage ? Protection Bidirectional model for ecocopmensation and applied it to a case study in the Xiaohong River Basin, where it was found that the current focus of eco-compensation is on pollution damage compensation, indicating a need for strengthening water pollution control in the future.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Civil
Fuxia Yang, Zhigang Yu, Alexander F. Bouwman, Hongtao Chen, Huimin Jian, Arthur H. W. Beusen, Xiaochen Liu, Qingzhen Yao
Summary: By combining long-term measurements of nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in the Yellow River and river discharge to the Bohai Sea with model-based estimates of nutrient delivery, it is found that there is a disconnect between nutrient delivery and export fluxes to the sea. Although nutrient delivery to surface water showed an increasing trend over time, nutrient export to the Bohai Sea declined initially and then exhibited large inter-annual variability. River nutrient export is influenced by water discharge, the Water and Sediment Regulation Scheme, and the extraction of water for irrigation. Mechanistic models are needed to understand the impact of long-term changes in the ecosystem.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rose Boahemaa Pinto, Linda Bogerd, Martine van der Ploeg, Kwame Duah, Remko Uijlenhoet, Tim H. M. van Emmerik
Summary: Catchment-scale plastic pollution assessments provide insights into the sources, sinks, and pathways of plastic pollution. We propose an approach to quantify macroplastic transport and density in the Odaw catchment, Ghana, and find that the urban riverine zone has the highest transport, while the urban tidal zone has the highest riverbank and land macroplastic density.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nicolo Casella, Giulio Careddu, Edoardo Calizza, Simona Sporta Caputi, Loreto Rossi, Andrea Belluscio, Giandomenico Ardizzone, Lucio Calcagnile, Gianluca Quarta, Marisa D'Elia, Maria Letizia Costantini
Summary: This study evaluated the potential of Posidonia oceanica as a long-term environmental indicator by analyzing a 500-year-old seagrass matte. The results showed an increase in anthropogenic organic nitrogen inputs over time, while no clear trend was observed for carbon isotopes. This study provides important information on the long-term impact of human activities on seagrass meadows.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Dandan Zhao, Jinyuan Xin, Weifeng Wang, Danjie Jia, Zifa Wang, Hang Xiao, Cheng Liu, Jun Zhou, Lei Tong, Yongjing Ma, Tianxue Wen, Fangkun Wu, Lili Wang
Summary: The study focused on the impact of coastal characteristics on ozone pollution in the Yangtze River Delta, revealing the complexity of ozone pollution causes in coastal areas, with sea-land breeze circulation and coastal low-level jets playing a significant role in coastal ozone concentration variations.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Computer Science, Information Systems
Chaopeng Li, Guoyin Cai, Mingyi Du
Summary: The study evaluates land-use efficiency in different regions, with Europe and Japan showing the highest level of urbanization and South and Central Asia having lower urban land supply. The method developed by UN metadata is effective for most urban expansion cities but not suitable for cities with small changes in urban populations.
ISPRS INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GEO-INFORMATION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Studies
Yunchen Wang, Boyan Li, Lei Xu
Summary: This study monitors the spatiotemporal indicator SDG 11.3.1 in the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) and its three major urban agglomerations, and explores the relationship between land consumption rate (LCR) and population growth rate (PGR). The findings show that the LCR and PGR relationship is relatively stable, providing important information support for promoting sustainable and coordinated development between LCR and PGR.
Article
Computer Science, Information Systems
Lorenzo De Simone, Dorian Navarro, Pietro Gennari, Anssi Pekkarinen, Javier de Lamo
Summary: SDG indicators are crucial for monitoring countries' progress towards sustainability goals, with Earth observation data playing a key role in this process. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has invested in EO data and introduced a new data collection approach to improve the objectivity and accuracy of SDG indicators.
ISPRS INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GEO-INFORMATION
(2021)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Putri Anis Syahira Mohamad Jamil, Karmegam Karuppiah, Nur Athirah Diyana Mohammad Yusof, Dayana Hazwani Mohd Suadi Nata, Nurhanim Abdul Aziz, Vivien How, Shamsul Bahri Mohd Tamrin, Hassan Sadeghi Naeni
Summary: This study evaluates the usability of a wireless outdoor individual exposure indicator system for Malaysian Traffic Police and presents feedback from end users in the form of satisfaction scores. The results show that users are satisfied with the system, but further evidence is needed to support its efficacy, viability, and effectiveness.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Siddhartha Shankar Bhattacharyya, Maxwell Adebayo Adeyemi, Robert Ugochukwu Onyeneke, Sucheta Bhattacharyya, Helen Folake Babatola Faborode, Elda M. Melchor-Martinez, Hafiz M. N. Iqbal, Roberto Parra-Saldivar
Summary: Nutrient budgeting techniques are essential in monitoring and preventing SWA contamination, helping to protect the ecosystem by limiting excess nutrients. Factors such as excessive fertilizer and manure use, low nutrient utilization efficiency, atmospheric deposition, and agricultural management practices can impact nutrient balance estimation. Sustainable policies and global coordinated actions are necessary to integrate different NB approaches for effective SWA contamination prevention.
ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yang Hu, Ning He, Mingxuan Wu, Pengling Wu, Peimin He, Ying Yang, Qinyi Wang, Maoqiu Wang, Shubo Fang
Summary: Watershed and catchment area-based water quality management is an important method for comprehensive management of rivers and lakes. The impacts of land use/land cover on river water quality vary with spatial scales. In this study, buffering analysis on the water quality data of the Yangtze River Estuary was conducted, and priority management areas of the basin were identified.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Akram Fatemi
Summary: This paper discussed the water quality assessment of the Gharasou River, highlighting natural and anthropogenic pollution sources, land cover/land use, and soil erosion/runoff. The results indicated a significant pollution level in the river due to drought, weathering of bed sediments, industrial activities, and agricultural practices. Natural sources of pollution, such as cation-exchange processes and anthropogenic sources, like raw sewage releases and agricultural activities, were identified.
ENVIRONMENTAL EARTH SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Samia Richards, Lucy Bidgood, Helen Watson, Marc Stutter
Summary: The discharge of treated sewage effluent into rivers can negatively impact aquatic ecosystem quality, especially when combined with other stressors in the catchment area. This study conducted in Scotland examined the biogeochemical parameters of water, sediment, and biofilms in rivers near five wastewater treatment works. The results showed that the effects of point source effluents on the river varied spatially, and the downstream pollution levels were influenced by both the effluent itself and other pollution sources in the area. The study also found that the impact of effluent contaminants on microbes and algae outweighed the nutrient subsidy effect of the wastewater treatment works.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rosa Penalver, Matthew R. Jacobs, Susan Hegarty, Fiona Regan
Summary: This study evaluated the spatial distribution of various organic and inorganic pollutants along the Liffey river in Dublin city and found that rainfall conditions and tributaries did affect pollutant levels. Organic pollutants such as 2,4,6-trichlorophenol, 2-nitrophenol, and phthalate compounds were detected in water samples, while nitrates were the main inorganic pollutant detected. The contamination in the river is mainly attributed to agricultural, industrial activities, and urban contributions, and has the potential to impact aquatic biodiversity.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Geography, Physical
Kevin Kearney, Benjamin Gearey, Susan Hegarty, Suzi Richer, Carla Ferreira, Ellen O'Carroll, Derek Hamilton, James Eogan, Meriel McClatchie, Ian Armit, Caitlin Nagle, Kate Taylor, Graham Hull, Katharina Becker
Summary: A multiproxy sequence from Lough Cullin in Ireland provides a record of environmental change for the Holocene. The study reveals that climate deterioration likely caused vegetation change and erosion, particularly during the '8.2 Kyr' BP climate event. Evidence of woodland clearance and cereal pollen during different periods indicates human activities in farming and clearance. The study also shows fluctuations in human activity and woodland regeneration throughout the Neolithic and Bronze Age.
Article
Humanities, Multidisciplinary
Susan Hegarty
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL IRISH ACADEMY SECTION C-ARCHAEOLOGY CELTIC STUDIES HISTORY LINGUISTICS LITERATURE
(2018)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Toshimi Nakajima, Mao Kuragano, Makoto Yamada, Ryo Sugimoto
Summary: This study compared the contribution of submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) to river nutrient budgets at nearshore and embayment scales, and found that SGD-derived nutrients become more important at larger spatial scales.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Fan Liu, Lei Zhang, Chongyang Zhang, Ziguang Chen, Jingguang Li
Summary: NO2 emissions from wall-mounted gas stoves used for household heating have become a significant source of indoor pollution in Chinese urban areas. The high indoor concentration of NO2 poses potential health risks to residents. It is urgently necessary to establish relevant regulations and implement emission reduction technologies to reduce NO2 emissions from wall-mounted gas stoves.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Letter
Environmental Sciences
Hans Peter H. Arp, Raoul Wolf, Sarah E. Hale, Sivani Baskaran, Juliane Gluege, Martin Scheringer, Xenia Trier, Ian T. Cousins, Harrie Timmer, Roberta Hofman-Caris, Anna Lennquist, Andre D. Bannink, Gerard J. Stroomberg, Rosa M. A. Sjerps, Rosa Montes, Rosario Rodil, Jose Benito Quintana, Daniel Zahn, Herve Gallard, Tobias Mohr, Ivo Schliebner, Michael Neumann
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Philomina Onyedikachi Peter, Binessi Edouard Ifon, Francois Nkinahamira, Kayode Hassan Lasisi, Jiangwei Li, Anyi Hu, Chang-Ping Yu
Summary: This study investigates the relationship between dissolved organic matter (DOM) and Rare Earth Elements (REEs) in sediments from Yundang Lagoon, China. The results show four distinct fluorescent components, with protein-like substances being the most prevalent. Additionally, the total fluorescence intensity and LREE concentrations exhibit a synchronized increase from Outer to Inner to Songbai Lake core sediments. The findings demonstrate a strong correlation between DOM content and pollution levels.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Surya Gupta, Pasquale Borrelli, Panos Panagos, Christine Alewell
Summary: The objective of this study is to incorporate soil hydraulic properties into the erodibility factor (K) of USLE-type models. By modifying and improving the existing equations for soil texture and permeability, the study successfully included information on saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat) into the calculation of K factor. Using the Random Forest machine learning algorithm, two independent K factor maps with different spatial resolutions were generated. The results show that the decrease in K factor values has a positive impact on the modeling of soil erosion rates.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jesmin Akter, Wendy J. M. Smith, Yawen Liu, Ilho Kim, Stuart L. Simpson, Phong Thai, Asja Korajkic, Warish Ahmed
Summary: The choice of workflow in wastewater surveillance has a significant impact on SARS-CoV-2 concentrations, while having minimal effects on HF183 and no effect on HAdV 40/41 concentrations. Certain components in the workflow can be interchangeable, but factors such as buffer type, chloroform, and homogenization speed can affect the recovery of viruses and bacteria.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yu Luo, Xueting Yang, Diwei Wang, Hongmei Xu, Hongai Zhang, Shasha Huang, Qiyuan Wang, Ningning Zhang, Junji Cao, Zhenxing Shen
Summary: Atmospheric PM2.5, which can generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), is associated with cardiorespiratory morbidity and mortality. The study found that both the mass concentration of PM2.5 and the DTT activity were higher during the heating season than during the nonheating season. Combustion sources were the primary contributors to DTT activity during the heating season, while secondary formation dominated during the nonheating season. The study also revealed that biomass burning had the highest inherent oxidation potential among all sources investigated.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Erin L. Murphy, Leah R. Gerber, Chelsea M. Rochman, Beth Polidoro
Summary: Plastic pollution has devastating consequences for marine organisms. This study uses a trait-based framework to develop a vulnerability index for marine mammals, seabirds, and sea turtles in Hawai'i. The index ranks 63 study species based on their vulnerability to macroplastic pollution, providing valuable information for species monitoring and management priorities.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kenji Maurice, Amelia Bourceret, Sami Youssef, Stephane Boivin, Liam Laurent-Webb, Coraline Damasio, Hassan Boukcim, Marc-Andre Selosse, Marc Ducousso
Summary: Growing pressure from climate change and agricultural land use is destabilizing soil microbial community interactions. Little is known about microbial community resistance and adaptation to disturbances, hindering our understanding of recovery latency and implications for ecosystem functioning. This study found that anthropic disturbance and natural disturbance have different effects on the topology and stability of soil microbial networks.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yunhao Li, Yali Feng, Haoran Li, Yisong Yao, Chenglong Xu, Jinrong Ju, Ruiyu Ma, Haoyu Wang, Shiwei Jiang
Summary: Deep-sea mining poses a serious threat to marine ecosystems and human health by disturbing sediment and transmitting metal ions through the food chain. This study developed a new regenerative adsorption material, OMN@SA, which effectively removes metal ions. The adsorption mechanism and performance of the material for metal ion fixation were investigated.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Antonio Medici, Margherita Lavorgna, Marina Isidori, Chiara Russo, Elena Orlo, Giovanni Luongo, Giovanni Di Fabio, Armando Zarrelli
Summary: Valsartan, a widely used antihypertensive drug, has been detected in high concentrations in surface waters due to its unchanged excretion and incomplete degradation in wastewater treatment plants. This study investigated the degradation of valsartan and identified 14 degradation byproducts. The acute and chronic toxicity of these byproducts were evaluated in key organisms in the freshwater trophic chain.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jiang Lin, Lianbao Chi, Qing Yuan, Busu Li, Mingbao Feng
Summary: This study investigated the photodegradation behavior and product formation of two representative pharmaceuticals in simulated estuary water. The study found that the formed transformation products of these pharmaceuticals have potential toxicity on marine organisms, including oxidative stress and damage to cellular components.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hua Fang, Dongdong Jiang, Ye He, Siyi Wu, Yuehong Li, Ziqi Zhang, Haoting Chen, Zixin Zheng, Yan Sun, Wenxiang Wang
Summary: This study revealed that exposure to lower levels of air pollutants led to decreased pregnancy rates, with PM10, NO2, SO2, and CO emerging as the four most prominent pollutants. Individuals aged 35 and above exhibited heightened susceptibility to pollutants.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ali Shaan Manzoor Ghumman, Rashid Shamsuddin, Amin Abbasi, Mohaira Ahmad, Yoshiaki Yoshida, Abdul Sami, Hamad Almohamadi
Summary: In this study, inverse vulcanized polysulfides (IVP) were synthesized by reacting molten sulfur with 4-vinyl benzyl chloride, and then functionalized using N-methyl D-glucamine (NMDG). The functionalized IVP showed a high mercury adsorption capacity and a machine learning model was developed to predict the amount of mercury removed. Furthermore, the functionalized IVP can be regenerated and reused, providing a sustainable and cost-effective adsorbent.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rita Bonfiglio, Renata Sisto, Stefano Casciardi, Valeria Palumbo, Maria Paola Scioli, Erica Giacobbi, Francesca Servadei, Gerry Melino, Alessandro Mauriello, Manuel Scimeca
Summary: This study investigated the presence of aluminum in human colon cancer samples and its potential association with biological processes involved in cancer progression. Aluminum was found in tumor areas of 24% of patients and was associated with epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cell death. Additional analyses revealed higher tumor mutational burden and mutations in genes related to EMT and apoptosis in aluminum-positive colon cancers. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of aluminum toxicity may improve strategies for the management of colon cancer patients.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)