Review
Environmental Sciences
Pamodithya Wijeyawardana, Nadeeshani Nanayakkara, Chamila Gunasekara, Anurudda Karunarathna, David Law, Biplob Kumar Pramanik
Summary: This review discusses the role and limitations of porous concrete in removing heavy metals from urban runoff. The major factors contributing to heavy metal removal in ordinary porous concrete are identified, and the effects of initial concentration, contact time, and competing ions on removal efficiency are discussed. The review also examines the impact of decalcification, atmospheric carbonation, and acid influent on heavy metal removal. The addition of adsorbent materials, Reduced Graphene Oxide, and pozzolanic materials to porous concrete is found to enhance removal efficiency and address some of the drawbacks. However, future studies should focus on developing methods to neutralize effluent pH and investigating the toxicity associated with modified porous concrete.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
K. Spence, I. Gilbert, M. Robson
Summary: This study examines the relationship between in-stream suspended solids and metal pollutants in small urbanized upland catchments. The results show strong correlations between suspended solids and metal pollutants, with varying intercepts and gradients between different storm events. The analysis also suggests significant differences in pollutant correlations between specific storm events, questioning the validity of using combined storm-event datasets.
WATER AIR AND SOIL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
C. Caldelas, R. Guri, J. L. Araus, A. Sorolla
Summary: Stormwater runoff from urban and suburban areas may carry hazardous pollutants like metals and pharmaceuticals into aquatic ecosystems. The presence of zinc oxide engineered nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) in urban stormwater and bioretention systems raises concerns about increased stormwater toxicity and reduced treatment infrastructure performance. Additional research evaluating the impact of ZnO-NPs on stormwater toxicity and metal accumulation in wetland plants was also conducted.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kaan Isinkaralar, Ismail Koc, Ramazan Erdem, Hakan Sevik
Summary: The principal problem in dense cities is air pollution and the damage to the environment caused by it. Roadside landscape plants are exposed to high concentrations of air pollutants, such as chromium, cadmium, and zinc. This study aimed to determine the concentration changes of these pollutants in different organs and washing status using 14 common landscape species. The results showed that Chamaecyparis lawsoniana (A. Murr.) Parl. had better biomonitoring features for heavy metal accumulation among all species.
WATER AIR AND SOIL POLLUTION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rafael Andre Lourenco, Julia Blanco, Josilene da Silva, Satie Taniguchi
Summary: Air and water quality in urban centers are affected by pollution from various sources, with atmospheric deposition providing insights into long-term air quality assessment. Lakes can act as traps for pollutants, with research showing that organic pollutants in a lake in Sao Paulo, Brazil mainly originate from atmospheric deposition, highlighting the impact of burning processes on air quality.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Md Hadiuzzaman, Maryam Salehi, Tomoko Fujiwara
Summary: A significant amount of plastic litter in urban areas contaminates the environment and poses a threat to ecological safety. This study focuses on investigating the degradation of low density polyethylene (LDPE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microplastics (MPs) through accelerated weathering experiments. The research analyzes the surface chemistry and morphology of the MPs and evaluates their fragmentation behavior and ability to transport heavy metals in the urban environment. The study provides valuable insights into the persistence and contaminant transport of MPs, contributing to the understanding of their negative impacts on ecosystems.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Brandon M. M. Brewster, Daniel J. J. Bain
Summary: Renewal of aging water infrastructure in urban areas offers opportunities for implementing green infrastructure (GI) systems. However, historical soil contamination and connections to road systems can mobilize legacy pollutants, such as lead, into GI installations. Soil metal chemistry and accumulation patterns were investigated in six Pittsburgh GI installations, with trace metals accumulating at roadside edges and potential remobilization of historically contaminated soils. These findings highlight the importance of understanding metal transport and sequestration in GI systems for effective stormwater planning and management.
FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Weijie Liu, Xinli Xing, Miao Li, Yue Yu, Tianpeng Hu, Yao Mao, Lili Liang, Yuan Zhang, Jiaquan Zhang, Shihua Qi
Summary: The study aimed to investigate the pollution source of heavy metals (HMs) in soil near mining and evaluate the influence mechanism of dust fall on HMs pollution. The results showed that dust fall is the primary pollution source to HMs accumulation in soil. Mineralogical analysis revealed that quartz, kaolinite, calcite, chalcopyrite, and magnetite are the major mineral phases in dust fall.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Snezana Gavric, Gunther Leonhardt, Helene Osterlund, Jiri Marsalek, Maria Viklander
Summary: Enrichment of metals associated with traffic sources in urban drainage swales was investigated in a cool temperate climate with seasonal snow. The oldest downtown swale L2 showed the highest metal concentrations, especially Pb, while Ba concentrations in the swales and grit material exceeded Swedish EPA guideline limits. Metal concentrations did not decline with distance from trafficked surfaces, suggesting that stored snow was another important source of metals in swale soils.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mainara Generoso Faustino, Lucilena Rebelo Monteiro, Samia Rafaela Maracaipe Lima, Tatiane Bernardino de Seixas Carvalho da Silva, Debora Almeida Pirani, Walter dos Reis Pedreira Filho, Roberta Granja Gonzaga, Marycel Elena Barboza Cotrim, Maria Aparecida Faustino Pires
Summary: This study evaluated the characteristics of stormwater runoff in a car parking lot in Sao Paulo, Brazil, with a focus on the transport of total solids and total metals, as well as pH and conductivity responses. The results showed that the runoff characteristics could be differentiated by pollutant source, which were influenced by factors such as seasonal variation, rain event intensity, air mass origin, spatial distribution, and the intensity of the first flush.
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Peng Li, Jingyi Zhang, Xingyue Sun, Evgenios Agathokleous, Guiling Zheng
Summary: In this study, the responses of the plant Tillandsia usneoides to different atmospheric lead concentrations were investigated. The results showed three different dose-response relationships, indicating diverse adaptation mechanisms of plants to stress.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Peng Liu, Qiumei Wu, Wenyou Hu, Kang Tian, Biao Huang, Yongcun Zhao
Summary: Atmospheric deposition is a crucial pathway for heavy metals (HMs) to accumulate in agricultural soils. This study investigated the effects of atmospheric deposition on soil HMs accumulation at a regional scale. Industrial activities significantly increased the flux of deposited particles from atmospheric deposition, with higher fluxes in industrial areas compared to agricultural areas and reference sites. Although the deposition fluxes of HMs were decreasing over time, Cd and Pb still remained at high levels in the study area. Precipitation was found to be the key factor affecting seasonal variations of atmospheric HMs deposition. Lead isotope analysis revealed that atmospheric Pb originated from coal combustion and atmospheric deposition was the main source of Pb contamination in agricultural soils near industrial areas. This study provides valuable insights into the impacts of atmospheric deposition on HMs accumulation in agricultural soils and offers a theoretical basis for preventing soil HMs contamination in industrial developed regions and similar areas.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sharfaa HussainnAff, Raza R. Hoque
Summary: This study evaluated the bioaccumulation of metals by the moss species Atrichum angustatum in the Brahmaputra valley, India. The findings suggest that the valley is mostly contaminated by Cr, Zn, Cu, Ni, and Pb, posing a maximum ecological risk. The study also indicates that A. angustatum can serve as a potential biomonitor for metallic pollutants.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shihui Wang, Yukun Ma, Xiaoyue Zhang, Zhenyao Shen
Summary: This study used chemical properties and isotopes to identify nitrate transport and sources in urban stormwater runoff, finding differences in nitrate concentration and total dissolved nitrogen composition among different runoff sources. Rainfall characteristics were significantly correlated with nitrate concentrations, and a Bayesian mixing model showed road runoff as the largest contributor to drainage runoff nitrate load. Effective measures to minimize nitrate concentration in roof runoff and reduce runoff volume for controlling road runoff pollution are recommended to mitigate nitrate pollution in urban water systems.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Szymon Lucjan Rozanski, Jose Matias Penas Castejon, Donald G. McGahan
Summary: This study assessed the oral bioaccessibility and human health risk of metal(loid)s in potentially polluted urban topsoils, finding relatively low levels of pollution. However, soil pica behavior may lead to non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks, especially for children with lapses of adult supervision.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
