Article
Environmental Sciences
Shuang Wu, Hanbing Li, Dayi Zhang, Hao Zhang
Summary: Heavy metal contaminations can have severe toxic impacts on ecological systems and human health. This study introduces a novel technique called Bio-DGT, which combines the use of a bioassay with the diffusive gradients in thin-films (DGT) method to simultaneously assess the toxicity of metals while measuring their labile concentrations. The results show that Bio-DGT has good sensitivity and stability, making it a potential tool for risk assessment of heavy metal contaminations.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tamara L. Van Staden, Kim J. Van Meter, Nandita B. Basu, Chris T. Parsons, Zahra Akbarzadeh, Philippe Van Cappellen
Summary: Management strategies to reduce nutrient enrichment of surface waters may face challenges due to accumulated nutrient legacies in the landscape. A study in Ontario, Canada applied the Net Anthropogenic Phosphorus Input (NAPI) model to reconstruct historical phosphorus input and found that despite a general downward trend, Lake Erie continues to suffer from algal blooms. Comparison with river monitoring data revealed that only 12.5% of the phosphorus discharged by Canadian rivers into Lake Erie came from agricultural areas, indicating that over 85% of agricultural phosphorus is retained in watersheds, contributing to a long-term risk for lake recovery. To mitigate this risk, the study proposes a methodology to identify source areas with the highest potential of exporting legacy soil phosphorus to surface waters for prioritized soil conservation efforts.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Megan L. Gillmore, Gwilym A. Price, Lisa A. Golding, Jenny L. Stauber, Merrin S. Adams, Stuart L. Simpson, Ross E. W. Smith, Dianne F. Jolley
Summary: The geographical shift of nickel mining to small island countries of the Southeast Asia and Melanesia region has increased the environmental risk associated with sediment nickel exposure to benthic estuarine/marine biota. The DGT technique can be used as a complementary tool to assess the bioavailability of nickel in estuarine/marine sediments, especially in areas where there is limited toxicity data available.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Bin Feng, Georg Steinhauser, Weihai Zhuo, Zhiling Li, Yupeng Yao, Tobias Blenke, Chao Zhao, Franz Renz, Bo Chen
Summary: Anthropogenic release of tritium from nuclear facilities is expected to increase significantly, raising concerns about radiation exposure to humans. Detailed information about tritium in different environments is urgently needed to study its behavior and assess potential risks. This study investigates the impact of sampler configurations on performance and proposes a modifiable sampler design. Field calibration and comparison show that sampling performance can be predicted based on known data, and a strategy for sampler modification and selection is developed using easily obtainable environmental data. This work provides a scientific basis for establishing an atmospheric tritiated water database and expands the empirical sampler design paradigm.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Elisabeth Tanner, Nina Buchmann, Werner Eugster
Summary: Mires in the Swiss Alpine foothills are negatively affected by eutrophication caused by excessive nitrogen inputs, particularly from ammonia emissions in agriculture. This study found that the nitrogen inputs to a mire exceeded critical loads, which could lead to ecosystem instability and biodiversity loss.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kinson H. Y. Leung, Carlos Alberto Arnillas, Vincent Y. S. Cheng, William A. Gough, George B. Arhonditsis
Summary: This study aims to investigate the daily and seasonal variability of ozone pollution in Southern Ontario. The results show that population size affects average ozone concentrations, while seasonality primarily impacts the likelihood of ozone exceedance in low population density areas.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Bertille Bonnaud, Cecile Miege, Amandine Daval, Vincent Fauvelle, Nicolas Mazzella
Summary: The diffusive gradient in thin film technique was applied to measure organic compounds in this study. Two methods for measuring the diffusional coefficient (D) were compared for 112 organic compounds. The D-stack method tends to be higher than the D-cell method, and is considered as a reference value for diffusion in gel.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Da Pan, Katherine B. Benedict, Levi M. Golston, Rui Wang, Jeffrey L. Collett, Lei Tao, Kang Sun, Xuehui Guo, Jay Ham, Anthony J. Prenni, Bret A. Schichtel, Tomas Mikoviny, Markus Muller, Armin Wisthaler, Mark A. Zondlo
Summary: The study highlights the impact of NH3 emission hotspots on dry NH3 deposition in alpine ecosystems, particularly when air masses originate from agricultural regions. Efforts for effective mitigation strategies are necessary to address the consequences of these hotspots on sensitive ecosystems.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Civil
M. Georgina Kaltenecker, Carl P. J. Mitchell, E. Todd Howell, George Arhonditsis
Summary: The shape and evolution of a concentration-discharge (C-Q) relationship can provide valuable insights into hydrological pathways, biogeochemical production and uptake, and the impact of catchment characteristics on export dynamics. This study uses statistical models to establish linkages between watershed attributes and water quality constituents in Ontario, Canada. The results reveal enriching behavior for several constituents, while others show source limitation or dilution patterns. The study highlights the interplay between anthropogenic stressors and biogeochemical processes, which is crucial for understanding nonpoint-source pollution.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xiangying Zeng, Qiongpu Hu, Jiawen Zhang, Qian Song, Liang Xu, Yi Liang, Yang Wu, Zhiqiang Yu
Summary: The regional characteristics of atmospheric organophosphate triesters (OPEs) and organophosphate diesters (Di-OPs) were investigated in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) using passive air samplers. OPEs were mainly distributed in the central part of the region, possibly due to the presence of industries related to OPE-containing products. Di-OPs, on the other hand, were scattered throughout the PRD, indicating direct industrial emission from their applications. Lower levels of certain compounds were detected in summer, suggesting partitioning off particles and photo-transformation.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Natalie Szponar, Yushan Su, Geoff Stupple, David S. McLagan, Martin Pilote, Anthony Munoz, Carl P. J. Mitchell, Alexandra Steffen, Frank Wania, Bridget A. Bergquist
Summary: This study used passive air samplers (PAS) to assess the influence of local/regional sources, temporal differences, and possible transformations in atmospheric gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) pool in Ontario, Canada. The findings show that GEM concentrations were higher near urban/industrial areas and suspected emission sources in southern Ontario. In northern Ontario, lower GEM concentrations were found in boreal forest sites compared to sites within the Hudson Bay Lowlands. The study also reveals that vegetation uptake is an important sink for GEM, as lower GEM concentrations and a shift towards more positive isotopic composition were observed during the summer.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-ATMOSPHERES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xingqi Zhu, Lu Jiang, Yinfeng Wang, Xiaowen Ji, Delin Zhang, Guizhou Xu, Daishe Wu, Aimin Li, Xianchuan Xie
Summary: This study used a novel cyclodextrin polymer (CDP) as an adsorbent and the diffusive gradient in thin film technique (DGT) to monitor the endocrine disruptors (EDCs) in the water environment of Taihu Lake. The results showed that EDCs pose a serious threat to aquatic organisms in the region, highlighting the need for strengthened monitoring.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Azad Haider, Wimal Rankaduwa, Muhammad Iftikhar ul Husnain, Farzana Shaheen
Summary: This study investigates the relationship between nitrous oxide emissions and economic growth in Canada. The findings confirm the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis and indicate that agricultural land use has a positive and significant effect on total N2O emissions. Additionally, Canadian exports are negatively associated with both total N2O emissions and agricultural induced N2O emissions.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Vidya Anderson, William A. Gough
Summary: This study found that productive green infrastructure is as effective as non-productive applications in reducing air pollution and carbon emissions. Nature-based solutions provide an opportunity to build climate-resilient agricultural systems.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Rong Jiang, Susantha Jayasundara, Brian B. Grant, Ward N. Smith, Budong Qian, Adam Gillespie, Claudia Wagner-Riddle
Summary: The conversion of forest to agriculture in higher latitude regions like northern Ontario, Canada is expected to increase due to warming. Minimizing soil organic carbon (SOC) loss is crucial, but there is limited understanding of best land management practices. This study measured changes in SOC after land conversion and used a model to assess the impacts of climate change on crop yields and SOC stocks. The findings highlight the potential role of pasture and crop diversification in avoiding SOC losses induced by climate-warming.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Muhammad Waqas, Majid Nazeer, Man Sing Wong, Wu Shaolin, Li Hon, Joon Heo
Summary: The socio-economic restriction measures implemented in the United States have significantly reduced nitrogen dioxide (NO2) emissions. The study highlights the impact of factors such as human mobility, population density, income, climate, and stationary sources on the reduction of NO2 at different stations. The research emphasizes the scientific impacts of the NO2 reduction and income inequality revealed by the pandemic on air quality and health disparities.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Guorui Zhi, Jinhong Du, Aizhong Chen, Wenjing Jin, Na Ying, Zhihui Huang, Peng Xu, Di Wang, Jinghua Ma, Yuzhe Zhang, Jiabao Qu, Hao Zhang, Li Yang, Zhanyun Ma, Yanjun Ren, Hongyan Dang, Jianglong Cui, Pengchuan Lin, Zhuoshi He, Jinmin Zhao, Shuo Qi, Weiqi Zhang, Wenjuan Zhao, Yingxin Li, Qian Liu, Chen Zhao, Yi Tang, Peng Wei, Jingxu Wang, Zhen Song, Yao Kong, Xiangzhe Zhu, Yi Shen, Tianning Zhang, Yangxi Chu, Xinmin Zhang, Jiafeng Fu, Qingxian Gao, Jingnan Hu, Zhigang Xue
Summary: An comprehensive emission inventory for China in 2019, which includes both air pollutants and greenhouse gases, was developed in this study. The inventory utilizes existing frameworks and data to provide comparable emissions data and demonstrates the relationship between emissions and economic development.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
I-Ting Ku, Yong Zhou, Arsineh Hecobian, Katherine Benedict, Brent Buck, Emily Lachenmayer, Bryan Terry, Morgan Frazier, Jie Zhang, Da Pan, Lena Low, Amy Sullivan, Jeffrey L. Collett Jr
Summary: Unconventional oil and natural gas development (UOGD) in the United States has expanded rapidly in recent decades, raising concerns about its impact on air quality. This study conducted extensive air monitoring during the development of several large well pads in Broomfield, Colorado, providing a unique opportunity to examine changes in local air toxics and VOC concentrations during well drilling and completions and production. The study identified significant increases in VOC concentrations during drilling operations, highlighting the importance of emissions from synthetic drilling mud. The findings suggest opportunities to mitigate emissions during UOGD operations.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Puji Lestari, Akbar R. Tasrifani, Wiranda I. Suri, Martin J. Wooster, Mark J. Grosvenor, Yusuke Fujii, Vissia Ardiyani, Elisa Carboni, Gareth Thomas
Summary: This study developed field emission factors for various pollutants in peatland fires and estimated the total emissions. Gas samples were collected using an analyzer, while particulate samples were collected using air samplers. The study found significant emissions of CO2, CO, PM2.5, carbon aerosols, water-soluble ions, and elements from the fires in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia in 2019.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ligang Li, Yuyu Chen, Lu Fan, Dong Sun, Hu He, Yongshou Dai, Yong Wan, Fangfang Chen
Summary: A high-precision retrieval method based on a deep convolutional neural network and satellite remote sensing data is proposed to obtain accurate methane vertical profiles.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hyung Joo Lee, Toshihiro Kuwayama, Michael Fitzgibbon
Summary: This study investigated the changes in nitrogen dioxide (NO2) air pollution levels and their disparities in California, U.S. during the pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The results showed a decrease in NO2 concentrations, especially in urban and high-traffic areas. However, socially vulnerable populations still experienced higher levels of NO2 exposure. The study suggests that reducing NO2 disparities, particularly racial inequity, can be achieved through continued regulatory actions targeting traffic-related NOx emissions.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Maria Chiara Pietrogrande, Beatrice Biffi, Cristina Colombi, Eleonora Cuccia, Umberto Dal Santo, Luisa Romanato
Summary: This study investigates the chemical composition and oxidative potential of PM10 particles in the Po Valley, Italy, and demonstrates the impact of high levels of atmosphere ammonia. The rural area had significantly higher ammonia concentrations compared to the urban site, resulting in higher levels of secondary inorganic aerosol. Although the SIA components did not contribute significantly to the PM10 oxidative reactivity, they were correlated with the oxidative potential measurements. This suggests that the contribution of SIA to PM oxidative toxicity cannot be ignored.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Natalie Allen, Jan Gacnik, Sarrah M. Dunham-Cheatham, Mae Sexauer Gustin
Summary: Accurate measurement of atmospheric reactive mercury is challenging due to its reactivity and low concentrations. The University of Nevada, Reno Reactive Mercury Active System (RMAS) has been shown to be more accurate than the industry standard, but has limitations including long time resolution and sampling biases. Increasing the sampling flow rate negatively affected RM concentrations, but did not impact the chemical composition of RM captured on membranes.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chin-Yu Hsu, Wei-Ting Hsu, Ching-Yi Mou, Pei-Yi Wong, Chih-Da Wu, Yu-Cheng Chen
Summary: This study estimated the daily exposure concentrations of PM2.5 for elderly individuals residing in different regions of Taiwan using land use regression with machine learning (LUR_ML) and microenvironmental exposure (ME) models. The accuracy of the models varied across regions, with the ME models exhibiting higher predictions and lower biases. The use of region-specific microenvironmental measurements in the ME model showed potential for accurate prediction of personal PM2.5 exposure.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiaohan Si, Kerrie Mengersen, Chuchu Ye, Wenbiao Hu
Summary: This study found that there is an interactive effect between air pollutants and weather factors, which significantly affects influenza transmission. Future research should consider the interactive effects between pollutants and temperature or humidity to evaluate the environment-influenza association.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Luxi Xu, Ruijun Xu, Yunshao Ye, Rui Wang, Jing Wei, Chunxiang Shi, Qiaoxuan Lin, Ziquan Lv, Suli Huang, Qi Tian, Yuewei Liu
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of ambient air pollution on hospital admissions for angina. The results showed that exposure to ambient particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and ozone are associated with an increased risk of hospital admissions for angina. The association with nitrogen dioxide exposure was found to be the strongest.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xinyu Yu, Man Sing Wong, Majid Nazeer, Zhengqiang Li, Coco Yin Tung Kwok
Summary: This study proposes a novel method to address the challenge of missing values in satellite-derived AOD products and creates a comprehensive daily AOD dataset for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. By reconstructing missing values and developing a new model, the derived dataset outperforms existing products and agrees well with ground-based observations. Additionally, the dataset exhibits consistent temporal patterns and more spatial details.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yidan Zhang, Yifan Xu, Bo Peng, Wu Chen, Xiaoyu Cui, Tianle Zhang, Xi Chen, Yuan Yao, Mingjin Wang, Junyi Liu, Mei Zheng, Tong Zhu
Summary: This study developed a sensitive method to measure the metallic components of atmospheric fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and compared the results with different analysis methods. The concentrations of metallic components in personal PM2.5 samples were found to be significantly different from corresponding fixed-site samples. Personal sampling can reduce exposure misclassifications, and measuring metallic components is useful for exploring health risks and identifying sources of PM2.5.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Jamie Leonard, Lea Ann El Rassi, Mona Abdul Samad, Samantha Prehn, Sanjay K. Mohanty
Summary: Increasing concentrations of microplastics in the Earth's atmosphere could have adverse effects on ecosystems and human health. The deposition rate of airborne microplastics is influenced by both land use and climate, and a global analysis suggests that climate may have a greater impact on the concentration and deposition rate of microplastics than land use.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tian Zhou, Xiaowen Zhou, Zining Yang, Carmen Cordoba-Jabonero, Yufei Wang, Zhongwei Huang, Pengbo Da, Qiju Luo, Zhijuan Zhang, Jinsen Shi, Jianrong Bi, Hocine Alikhodja
Summary: This study investigated the long-range transport and effects of North African and Middle Eastern dust in East Asia using lidar observations and model simulations. The results showed that the dust originated from multiple sources and had a long transport time. The vertical distribution of the dust was found to be crucial for assessing its impacts.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2024)