Article
Environmental Sciences
Ostin Garces-Ordonez, Juan F. Saldarriaga-Velez, Luisa F. Espinosa-Diaz, Albert D. Patino, Jose Cusba, Miquel Canals, Kevin Mejia-Esquivia, Laura Fragozo-Velasquez, Sol Saenz-Arias, Tania Cordoba-Meza, Martin Thiel
Summary: This study assesses the current state of microplastic pollution in the fragile tropical lagoon ecosystem of Cienaga Grande de Santa Marta (CGSM) in Colombia. The results show that microplastics are present in both water and sediments, as well as in the digestive tracts of fish species. The abundance of microplastics is higher near river mouths and in urban areas with fishing activities and aquaculture infrastructures. The microplastic pollution in CGSM poses a threat to the lagoon ecosystem and to the local people who rely on artisanal fishing, highlighting the urgent need for effective pollution reduction measures.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Laura Victoria Perdomo-Trujillo, Jose Ernesto Mancera-Pineda, Jairo Humberto Medina-Calderon, David Alejandro Sanchez-Nunez, Marie-Luise Schnetter
Summary: Mangroves provide crucial ecosystem services and play a key role in mitigating global warming due to their ability to store large carbon stocks. Restoration actions have been implemented worldwide due to widespread mangrove degradation. An important case study in Colombia focused on the restoration plan for Cienaga Grande de Santa Marta, which aimed to restore natural hydrological functioning after massive mangrove mortality caused by soil hyper-salinization.
Article
Plant Sciences
Tania Cordoba-Meza, Luisa F. Espinosa-Diaz, Lizbeth-Janet Vivas-Aguas
Summary: This study evaluated the distribution of V. cholerae in the Ci??naga Grande de Santa Marta and found that salinity plays a determining role in its occurrence and abundance, with higher detection rates and densities at lower salinity levels.
ACTA BIOLOGICA COLOMBIANA
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Camilo Jose Gomez Cardona, Janwar Yesid Moreno, Andrea Contreras, David Alejandro Sanchez-Nunez, Nicolas Arciniegas Moreno, Daniel Guerrero, Efrain Alberto Viloria Maestre, Johann Lopez Navarro
Summary: This paper studies the Cienaga Grande de Santa Marta Ramsar Site in Colombia and finds that changes in land use, disturbances of water flows, climate change, and climatic variability have seriously affected the ability of the wetland ecosystem to provide ecosystem services. The results of ecosystem accounting show the importance of ecosystem services in the wetland for local and national economic benefits, social welfare, and livelihoods. The paper also identifies information gaps and evaluates the challenges of implementing ecosystem accounting.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Margareth Duran-Izquierdo, Jesus Olivero-Verbel
Summary: The Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta (SNSM) in Colombia is considered the world's most irreplaceable nature reserve, facing significant impacts from driving forces such as mining projects, water management, agricultural systems, tourism, territorial conflicts and climate change. The multiple pressures derived from these activities have altered the ecosystem's homeostasis and reduced the ecosystem services it provides, highlighting the need for governmental measures towards conservation and sustainable development approaches involving local indigenous communities.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Water Resources
Jefferson Valencia, Jane Frankenberger, Keith Cherkauer, Javier M. Martin-Lopez, Fredy Monserrate, Mayesse da Silva
Summary: This research conducted a case study in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta region of Colombia to provide decision-making support for cacao farmers in water management. The study involved the development of climate datasets, integration of digital soil mapping with a water balance model, and an assessment of water sufficiency for cacao production. The findings highlight the importance of water availability for cacao yield and the need for spatial analysis in providing management recommendations.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY-REGIONAL STUDIES
(2022)
Article
Oceanography
Ashley Arroyo, Mary-Louise Timmermans, Isabela Le Bras, William Williams, Sarah Zimmermann
Summary: The Canada Basin in the Arctic Ocean has experienced significant changes in ocean properties, particularly a warming of the Pacific Summer Water layer. This study analyzes the corresponding changes in dissolved oxygen (O-2) to gain insights into the physics, biology, pathways, and evolution of the Pacific Summer Water. O-2 observations from 2003 to 2021 indicate that the warming of the Pacific Summer Water layer is accompanied by a decrease in O-2 concentrations. The combined influences of physical and biological changes on O-2 concentrations in the Pacific Summer Water are assessed through the analysis of nutrients and other biogeochemical properties. Surface warming and decreased solubility account for O-2 decreases in the upper portion of the Pacific Summer Water, while a combination of warming-related solubility decrease and increased organic matter breakdown explain larger O-2 changes in the deeper portion. The decreasing O-2 in the warming Arctic Ocean is consistent with O-2 trends in global warming oceans, emphasizing the importance of continued observations and analyses.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-OCEANS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Studies
Juliet Carpenter, Christina Horvath, Ben Spencer
Summary: Co-Creation is a practice that explores the potential of developing new understandings of neighbourhood disadvantage in collaboration with civil society partners, recognizing marginalized vernacular knowledges. Through participatory methods, Co-Creation can help construct new subjectivities that subvert existing power configurations.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Pei Lei, Jinjie Zhu, Jin Zhang, Huan He, Mingying Chen, Huan Zhong
Summary: Algal organic matter (AOM) hinders the photodegradation of neurotoxic methylmercury (MeHg) in eutrophic lakes due to dynamic changes in AOM during algal decomposition. The inhibitory effect of AOM on MeHg photodegradation varies among lakes and their eutrophication states. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), including hydroxyl radical, singlet oxygen, and DOM-D-3*, play different roles in driving MeHg photodegradation throughout the algal decomposition process. This study highlights the importance of considering AOM-MeHg interactions in predicting MeHg risks and suggests integrating them into Hg biogeochemical cycling models.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Brenda Lara D. S. Carneiro, Maria de Jesus D. Rocha, Mario U. G. Barros, Walt Disney Paulino, Iran E. Lima Neto
Summary: This study analyzed the dynamics of thermal stratification and dissolved oxygen (DO) in nineteen tropical semiarid reservoirs. Based on the Relative Water Column Stability coefficient and seasonal variations, two new equations for quantifying anoxia duration in the wet and dry seasons were proposed. The results showed that these equations outperformed the original equation developed for temperate lakes in accurately quantifying anoxic events in tropical semiarid reservoirs.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Natalia Beatriz Comba Gonzalez, Albert Nicolas Nino Corredor, Liliana Lopez Kleine, Dolly Montoya Castano
Summary: This study characterized the epiphytic bacterial community from Ulva lactuca macroalgae in Santa Marta, Colombia, revealing differences in bacterial composition compared to macroalgae from Germany and Australia, driven by shifts in seawater temperature. This highlights the importance of functional studies on the microbiota associated with U. lactuca in the Colombian Caribbean Sea.
CURRENT MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Jafar Ali, Yuesuo Yang, Gang Pan
Summary: Sediment hypoxia is a growing problem with negative ecological impacts, and conventional aeration practices are not effective. Clay loaded oxygen micro-nanobubbles (OMNBs) offer a cost-effective and stable method for delivering dissolved oxygen and remedying sediment hypoxia and pollution.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Water Resources
Amin Esmaeilzadeh Hanjaniamin, Mahdi Sarai Tabrizi, Hossein Babazadeh
Summary: One of the important issues in water resources quality management is determining the levels of eutrophication and dissolved oxygen. A qualitative study using the CE-QUAL-W2 model showed that the Yamchi dam reservoir experiences a sharp decrease in dissolved oxygen concentration during summer, indicating the need for improvement measures. Recommended strategies include reducing retention time, dewatering from the bottom layers, and preventing agricultural drains from entering the reservoir.
APPLIED WATER SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Kyle E. Hinson, Marjorie A. M. Friedrichs, Raymond G. Najjar, Maria Herrmann, Zihao Bian, Gopal Bhatt, Pierre St-Laurent, Hanqin Tian, Gary Shenk
Summary: Multiple climate-driven stressors are worsening hypoxia in coastal marine environments, with warming and increased nutrient delivery being the main contributors. Uncertainty is associated with using Earth system model projections to quantify future changes to estuarine hypoxia due to climate change. This study investigates the impact of downscaling methods and watershed models on hypoxia projections for Chesapeake Bay, finding that all three factors (ESM, downscaling method, and watershed model) contribute substantially to uncertainty, with ESM choice being the largest contributor. The study predicts a small increase in hypoxia by 2050, but achieving nutrient reduction targets can significantly reduce hypoxia compared to the 1990s.
Article
Geography
Marcela Jimenez-Moreno, Elena Lazos-Chavero, Patricia Balvanera
Summary: This article examines the impact of youth migration on food security in the rural community of Tatahuicapan, Mexico. Through questionnaires and interviews, the authors analyze changes in youth migration patterns over time, classify family food security strategies, and investigate the relationship between youth mobility and agricultural practices. The findings suggest that there is a limited connection between youth mobility and the economic and labor demands of farming, with households increasingly relying on food purchases rather than self-production. The study also highlights the limitations and challenges associated with capitalizing on youth migration and the potential negative consequences for household and community food dependency.
JOURNAL OF RURAL STUDIES
(2023)
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)