Different Levels Of Pollution Research Articles

Самоочищение атмосферного воздуха от пылевых частиц в условиях прибрежного морского климата

The intensity of air pollution depends on the characteristics of pollution sources, distance from the sea, terrain, density of residential buildings and the presence of a green zone. The influence of climatic conditions on the distribution of suspended particulate matter in the atmospheric surface layer of Vladivostok was studied. The aim of the study was to determine the particle size distribution of suspended particulate matter in the atmospheric surface layer and to assess the conditions for self-purification of urban air under the influence of the coastal maritime climate. The assessment of the urban air pollution with suspended particulate matter was carried out in two areas with different levels of pollution. The human breathing zone was examined. The temperature, humidity, air pressure, wind direction and speed at sampling points were determined. We used monitoring of meteorological data (dew point, wind gusts, clouds, fog) from the nearest regional meteorological stations. Statistical processing included the “Canonical Analysis” module. In the polluted area of the city the atmospheric circulation (direction, speed and gusts of wind) greatly affect the distribution of fine-dispersed particles (2.5–10.0 µm) that are hazardous to health. The impact of temperature and humidity conditions is reduced in power. The temperature and humidity regime, atmospheric pressure, cloudiness with frequent fog affect the ultrafine dust spectrum in the slightly polluted island area of the city. The above factors contribute to the enhancement of the nanoparticle nucleation process. Self-purification of the air surface layer from dust particles in both polluted and slightly polluted areas of Vladivostok is associated with the southerly winds. The monsoon maritime climate defines the air purifying in the region. The temperature and humidity regime actively affects the dust disperse composition in both sampling sites. In the island area of the city it determines the content of particles up to 10 µm; in the continental area – fractions of 0.1–50.0 µm.

Rapid detection method of bacterial pathogens in surface waters and a new risk indicator for water pathogenic pollution

In this study, a accurate, rapid quantitative PCR method for the simultaneous detection of 4 kinds of pathogenic bacteria in water was established, and the distribution of pathogenic bacteria in surface waters with different levels of pollution (Yulin region, China) was detected. The results showed that the detection accuracy was 94%; the detection limit was 2.7 in bacterial cells. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar typhimurium and Salmonella dysenteria were always present in water when the universal primer for pathogenic bacteria abundance detection was greater than 104 copies 100 mL−1. When the detection value is lower than 104 copy 100 mL−1, the bacteria in the water are rarely pathogenic bacteria, so the detection value of 104 copy 100 mL−1 can be used as a new indicator of waterborne pathogen pollution.

The Impact and Enlightenment of Green Finance on Enterprise Innovation

With the proposal and improvement of China's carbon neutrality strategy, as well as the adjusting of industrial structure and optimizing of energy structure, green finance is gradually playing a significant role in enterprise innovation. Green credit, as an important constituent part of the green financial system, carries a profound influence on the innovation and growth of enterprises. Taking green credit as the starting point, in accordance with the "Green Credit Guidelines" and subsequent plans, and by studying the cash dividend distribution and operating cash flow data of new energy concept stock companies listed in the A-share market from 2018 to 2021, the growth of green finance is studied and analyzed for its impact on enterprise innovation, scale, and fund allocation obtained by different levels of pollution. The conclusion is drawn as follows: firstly, Green finance has a regional heterogeneity impact on enterprises, with the eastern region having the highest significance. Secondly, green credit plays a role in guiding resource allocation and promoting green transition of polluting enterprises, proposing suggestions to improve the green credit policy system, strengthen supervision, and promote the transition and upgrading of enterprise autonomy.

In vitro toxicity of fine and coarse particulate matter on the skin, ocular and lung microphysiological cell-culture systems

Particulate matter (PM) has been associated with adverse effects on human health, causing allergies, skin and eye irritation and corrosion, respiratory tract irritation, headaches, bronchoconstriction, cardiopulmonary diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer, reproductive problems, premature deaths, and epigenetic changes that lead to a wide variety of cancers, among other health conditions. The air quality in the Medellín - Colombia presents fluctuations that oscillate between the maximum permissible levels established at the national level and by the WHO, which represents a latent risk to people's health. Although important efforts have been made to quantify the different levels of pollution and administrative measures have been established to mitigate air pollution, little research work has been done to establish the relationship between these levels of pollutants and the effects on biological systems. The objective of the present research was to make a morphological and chemical characterization of particulate matter (PM) captured with a commercial air filter and a electrospun nanofiber membrane and evaluate the cytotoxicity of the each PM extracts in monolayer and co-culture models which recreate microphysiological systems of lung, skin and cornea and propose the possible cellular interactions that lead the cytotoxic response of the chemical compounds found in particulate matter in cities. The morphology and elemental chemical characterization were done with scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM – EDS). For the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons detection was made with a chromatographic method accoupled to mass spectrometer. Finally, the cytotoxicity was made in monolayers of A549, HEK001, and SIRC cell lines and microphysiological systems consisting of two-cell layer construct to resemble the interaction between fibroblast and epithelial cells that comprises naturally the corneal, skin and lung tissue. We performed three different cocultures models with BALB/3T3 clone A31 as a feeder layer, using porous Transwell® inserts in the in-contact and non-contact way. Monolayer and co-culture models were exposed to coarse and fine PM (1, 2, and 5 mg/mL) and the cell viability was evaluated at 24 h using an MTT assay. The electrospun nanofibers membranes demonstrates higher efficiency to capture PM with different sizes and high concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, heavy metals, and other chemical compounds responsible of many human diseases. Cytotoxic effects of MP were observed in all models at higher concentration; however, models exposed to fine PM exhibited a significant reduction in cell viability compared to those exposed to coarse PM. In addition, multilayer models are more resistant to PM exposure than monolayer models. Furthermore, the study indicated that, depending on the seeding strategy, different results might be observed: the non-contact model showed higher resistance to PM exposure than in-contact for SIRC and HEK001, but A549 monolayers showed the highest viability response. This study demonstrates the usefulness of applying co-culture models to assess environmental pollutant toxicity, in addition to being a potential alternative method to animal testing for risk assessment.

Hydrochemistry and water quality of shallow groundwater in the Tikrit area of Salah Al Din Province, Iraq

Salah Al-Din Provence is an active agriculture and population region. One of its primary water sources is groundwater, which suffers from a lack of information regarding water quality and hydrochemistry. In order to study those missing variables, 27 samples from wells of shallow tubes were collected for analyzing the relevant physicochemical indices that help to produce the Schoeller index, Piper diagram, and Gibbs plot. Piper diagram revealed a hydrochemistry behavior of different values along with the groundwater samples. The chemistry of wells was controlled primarily by the evaporation process according to the Gibbs plot. The values of the Schoeller index of the studied samples stated that 59% of them have disequilibrium in Chloro-Alkaline due to their negative obtained values while the rest of them produced positive estimates, which indicates an exchange reaction of cation–anion basic domination. It was concluded that carbonate and silicate weathering, as well as evaporation, controlled the region’ s hydrochemistry. Using Water Quality Index, groundwater was evaluated for use as drinking water. While using Sodium Adsorption Ratio, Sodium percentage, Residual Sodium Carbonate, Magnesium Hazard, and US salinity diagram were all used for estimating the same water’ s suitability for irrigation. All of those indicators, as well as the Gibbs ratio, show that all 27 samples were unsuitable for both studied usage. In addition, those results indicate that evaporation is a major problem for groundwater in this area. Finally, using cluster analysis it was concluded that there are two types of similarities that indicate different levels of pollution in groundwater.

Ecological State of Haplic Chernozem after Pollution by Oil at Different Levels and Remediation by Biochar

One of the most modern and effective methods of soil restoration after pollution is the use of bioremediation. In recent years, special attention has been paid to the use of biochar. However, the ecological state after the introduction of biochar into petroleum-hydrocarbons-contaminated soils at different levels of pollution has been little studied. The work objective was to study the effect of biochar (10% of the soil mass) on the ecological statement of Haplic Chernozem contaminated with different levels of oil, from 0.1 to 50% of the soil mass. To assess the state of Haplic Chernozem after remediation with biochar, indicators of the biological activity of soils were studied. The maximum information content in the case of oil pollution and remediation with biochar was established by the activity of dehydrogenases (r = −0.90) and the total number of bacteria (r = −0.98). When applying biochar, the maximum stimulations of the integral indicator of the biological state (IIBS) relative to the background, by 62, 76, and 72%, were noted in samples with oil at concentrations of 0.5, 25, and 50%, respectively. The results of the study should be used for biodiagnostics and monitoring of the state of oil-contaminated Haplic Chernozem at different levels of contamination after remediation with biochar.

Can Digital Rural Construction Improve China’s Agricultural Surface Pollution? Autoregressive Modeling Based on Spatial Quartiles

The problem of agricultural surface pollution is becoming increasingly prominent, directly impeding the realization of the goals of “industrial prosperity and ecological livability” in the strategy of rural revitalization. To thoroughly analyze the impact of Digital Rural Construction on agricultural surface pollution and to effectively strengthen the prevention and control measures, the Moran index was used to assess the influence of agricultural surface pollution in 31 provinces and cities across China. The Moran index was employed to conduct global and local spatial autocorrelation analysis of agricultural surface source pollution, and a panel quantile autoregressive model was constructed to explore the effects of Digital Rural Construction on such pollution. The results show the following: (1) agricultural surface pollution in each province and city exhibits spatial spillover effects that are growing stronger; (2) the spatial impact of agricultural surface pollution on neighboring provinces and cities follows an inverted U-shaped pattern at different levels of pollution; (3) the relationship between the degree of agricultural surface pollution and the impact of Digital Rural Construction on it also follows an inverted U-shaped pattern, wherein improvements are observed as the pollution levels deepen. When the level of agricultural surface pollution is located in the quartile point 0.1, the improvement effect of Digital Rural Construction on agricultural surface pollution is small (0.0484), as the quartile point increases, the improvement effect is gradually increased, and it reaches the maximum value at the quartile point 0.5 (0.523), and the coefficient of agricultural surface pollution decreases to the minimum value at the quartile point 0.9 (0.423).

Data fusion strategy based on ultraviolet–visible spectra and near-infrared spectra for simultaneous and accurate determination of key parameters in surface water

Chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonia nitrogen (AN) and total nitrogen (TN) are the key parameters to reflect the degree of surface water pollution. Ultraviolet – visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy and near - infrared (NIR) spectroscopy are ideal techniques for rapid monitoring of these indicators. In this study, a strategy based on the fusion of UV–Vis and NIR spectral data (UV–Vis-NIR) for water quality detection was proposed to further improve the quantitative analysis accuracy of spectroscopic methods. Seventy river samples with different levels of pollution were used for spectroscopic analysis. The UV–Vis-NIR fusion spectrum of each water sample was obtained by directly splicing sample’s UV–Vis spectrum and NIR diffuse transmission spectrum. The UV–Vis-NIR fusion models were optimized through using different variable selection algorithms. The results show that the UV–Vis-NIR fusion models for surface water COD, AN and TN achieves better prediction results (the root mean square errors of prediction are 6.95, 0.195, and 0.466, respectively) than single-spectroscopic based models. Since better prediction performances were shown under different optimization conditions, the robustness of fusion models were also better than the single-spectroscopic based models. Therefore, the data fusion strategy proposed in this study has a promising application prospect for further accurate and rapid monitoring of surface water quality.

Сезонная динамика содержания тяжелых металлов и оценка загрязнения воды в реке Северная Двина (Архангельск)

The article presents the research results on the identification of seasonal variability in the values of physicochemical parameters and the metal content in the water of the Northern Dvina River. Sampling was carried out daily from January 23, 2020 to January 23, 2021 at low tide. In general, the researchers have revealed that the values of the studied parameters largely depend on the volume of seasonal river water runoff, on the underlying rocks of the river water basin, and also on anthropogenic influence. Thus, the values of pH, mineralization and a number of metals (Mg, Sr and Ba) are minimal during the flood period, which is explained by the large amount of melt water. Increased concentrations during the flood period are observed for Al, Mn, Cr, Zn, V, and Pb, which is associated with the dissolution of the underlying rocks and the runoff of winter precipitation in the form of melted snow. The researchers have determined elevated average content of natural elements Fe, Sr and Al, as well as anthropogenic metals Ni, Zn and Cr in the Northern Dvina relative to the average world concentration values. The calculation of water quality indices (HMEI, HMPL and HMTL) and public health risk indices (HI and CR) has revealed that the water in the Northern Dvina River has different levels of pollution, from mild to severe. However, the scientists have proved that permanent consumption of water as a drink can cause carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic effects. The main metals that contribute most to the index values are Fe, Ni, Al, Cr, Mn, Ba, and As. The study of the uranium content and its isotopes has revealed a large number of extremes, which does not allow drawing a conclusion about its seasonal dynamics, but the average value of the uranium content is similar to the global value for rivers.

ТЕРМОДИНАМИЧЕСКАЯ ОЦЕНКА СОСТОЯНИЯ ВОДНЫХ ОБЪЕКТОВ РОССИИ РАЗНЫХ ПРИРОДНО-КЛИМАТИЧЕСКИХ ЗОН И УРОВНЕЙ ЗАГРЯЗНЕНИЯ

The state of 42 river systems and 13 lake systems in the European part of Russia and in Siberia is assessed for various natural and climate zones, different anthropogenic loads, different levels of pollution, which are evaluated according to the specific combinatorial water pollution index (SCWPI), and different mineralization as one of the significant environmental factors of natural origin. The entropy index is used as an evaluation criterion. It has been calculated using the data of the state observation network on the concentration of dissolved oxygen and water temperature. Several patterns revealed in the dynamics of the thermodynamic state of aquatic ecosystems make it possible to draw conclusions about the nature and level of anthropogenic load. Advantages and prospects of applying the proposed approach to the surface water monitoring are discussed.

Laguncularia racemosa leaves indicate the presence of potentially toxic elements in mangroves

Brazilian mangroves have been severely impacted by metallurgical, petrochemical, pyrometallurgical smelters and other industrial activities. In Rio de Janeiro, mangroves are part of the Atlantic Rainforest now under the stress of high levels of industrial waste. Therefore, this work aimed to detect potentially toxic elements (PTEs) by evaluating the leaves of Laguncularia racemosa (L.) Gaertn. f. collected from three mangroves with different levels of pollution. To gain further insight toward an accurate diagnosis of the effects of anthropogenic pollution on mangrove stands, we evaluated leaf epicuticular wax composition, as well as morphological and anatomical traits. Samples were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), gas chromatography (GC) and microscopy. Results revealed variation in the contents of PTEs among the three mangroves from lowest to highest concentration, as follows: Al (0.30–0.73), Pb (0.095–0.325) and Zn (0.25–0.30) mg/kg. Zn was detected in sclerenchyma tissues. Leaf epicuticular wax contained more than 50% of triterpenes, in particular, the pentacyclic triterpenes lupeol (41.61–55.63%) and β-amyrin (8.81–16.35%). Such high concentrations promote the increase in leaf permeability to salts and PTEs. Micromorphology of leaf epicuticular wax in L. racemosa also varied among the three evaluated sites, especially around stomatal openings, but no harmful changes were noted. L. racemosa plays a key role in the rich diversity of mangrove ecosystems. As such, this species could, by the presence of PTEs in its leaves, be a suitable biomonitor of toxic substances in coastal environments of the world and used accordingly in strategies designed for eco-sustainable technologies.

Modulation of daily PM2.5 concentrations over China in winter by large-scale circulation and climate change

Abstract. We use the United Kingdom Earth System Model, UKESM1, to investigate the influence of the winter large-scale circulation on daily concentrations of PM2.5 (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 µm or less) and their sensitivity to emissions over major populated regions of China over the period 1999–2019. We focus on the Yangtze River delta (YRD), where weak flow of cold, dry air from the north and weak inflow of maritime air are particularly conducive to air pollution. These provide favourable conditions for the accumulation of local pollution but limit the transport of air pollutants into the region from the north. Based on the dominant large-scale circulation, we construct a new index using the north–south pressure gradient and apply it to characterise PM2.5 concentrations over the region. We show that this index can effectively distinguish different levels of pollution over YRD and explain changes in PM2.5 sensitivity to emissions from local and surrounding regions. We then project future changes in PM2.5 concentrations using this index and find an increase in PM2.5 concentrations over the region due to climate change that is likely to partially offset the effect of emission control measures in the near-term future. To benefit from future emission reductions, more stringent emission controls are required to offset the effects of climate change.

БІОІНДИКАЦІЙНІ ДОСЛІДЖЕННЯ ЗА ЕПІФІТНОЮ ЛІХЕНОФЛОРОЮ М. CУМИ ТА ЙОГО ОКОЛИЦЬ

As a result of the conducted survey, 26 species of epiphytic lichens were identified in Sumy city including 11 indicator species: Evernia prunastri (L.) Ach., Cladonia fimbriata (L.) Fr., Hypogymnia physodes (L.) Nyl., H. tubulosa (Schaer.) Hav., Lecanora chloropolia (Erichsen) Almb., Parmelia sulcata Taylor, Phaeophyscia orbicularis (Neck.) Moberg, Physcia tenella (Scop.) DC., Scoliciosporum chlorococcum (Graewe ex Stenh.) Vězda, Straminella varia (Hoffm.) S.Y. Kondr., Lőkös & Farkas (syn. Lecanora varia (Hoffm.) Ach.) та Xanthoria parietina (L.) Th. Fr. Two of these lichen species is indicator of acid pollution, two species have high sensitivity, three species – medium sensitivity to air pollution; four species are resistant to pollution. Indicators of acid pollution were found throughout the city on trees, in parks and squares along highways and near industrial enterprises of the city. Distribution of indicators with high sensitivity is confined to the natural forest communities in the north-eastern part of the city. Medium-sensitive species were also found in natural forests, parks and street plantings in the city center, northern and central parts of the city. Species resistant to air pollution are distributed quite evenly throughout the city, including on the bark of trees in street plantings. On the basis of calculation of the index of air purity of Le Blanc and De Sloover, the city area has been subdivided into four isotoxic lichen zones corresponding to different levels of pollution. The most polluted areas (lichen deserts, as well as heavily and moderately polluted isotoxic lichen zones) are limited to the north-western and eastern parts of the city, which coincides with the territories of the largest stationary industrial enterprises of the Sumy city.

Анализ подходов к определению уровней загрязнения атмосферного воздуха населенных мест

The aim of the work is to analyze the methodology for calculating indices are used both in the Russian Federation and in a number of foreign countries, that allow us to draw a conclusion about the level of atmospheric pollution. The article considers approaches to the calculation of such indices as IZA, KIZA (Russia), AQI (USA, Australia), DAQI (Great Britain), CAQI, YACAQI (European Union), AQHI (Canada, Hong Kong), PSI (Singapore). The main calculation formulas of the indices, the parameters on the basis of which they are calculated and how the results can be interpreted are described. The conclusion about the applicability of these methods on the territory of Russia is made. The calculation part was made on the basis of data on the concentrations of pollutants obtained at automatic atmospheric air monitoring stations in Irkutsk for 2019. In addition, the absolute and relative frequency of occurrence of various index values was calculated. It was found that despite the apparent similarity of the results, the analysis should be carried out at the level of sub-indices or pollution indices for each individual substance. In addition, the calculation of the absolute and relative frequencies of the occurrence of indices corresponding to different levels of pollution showed that averaging the results hides the occurrence of dangerous levels of pollution that may be critical for sensitive population groups (people with chronic diseases, children, the elderly).

LICHEN INDICATION OF AIR QUALITY IN PUTYVL’ TOWN

As a result of the conducted survey, 17 species of epiphytic lichens were identified in Putyvl’ town (Sumy Region) including 7 indicator species: Evernia prunastri (L.) Ach., Hypogymnia physodes (L.) Nyl., Parmelia sulcata Taylor, Phaeophyscia orbicularis (Neck.) Moberg, Physcia tenella (Scop.) DC., Scoliciosporum chlorococcum (Graewe ex Stenh.) Vězda та Xanthoria parietina (L.) Th. Fr. One of these lichen species is indicator of acid pollution, one species have high sensitivity, three species – medium sensitivity to air pollution; two species are resistant to pollution. Indicators of acid pollution were found throughout the city on trees along highways, in parks and squares. Distribution of indicators with high sensitivity is confined to the natural forest communities in the north-western part of the town. Medium-sensitive species were also found in natural forests, parks and street plantings in the town center and its surroundings. Species resistant to air pollution are distributed quite evenly throughout the town, including on the bark of trees in street plantings. On the basis of calculation of the index of air purity of Le Blanc and De Sloover, the town area has been subdivided into three isotoxic lichen zones corresponding to different levels of pollution. The zone with an average level of pollution occupies about 70% of the entire territory of the town. The slightly polluted zone occupies about 20% of the town area. Heavily areas polluted occupy the least area (almost 10%) and are located in the town center. It is related to the location of the main highways, bus station and industrial enterprise of the town. Unpolluted sites are confined to the floodplain of the Seim River, forest areas and park zones of the town, which preserve certain features of natural ecotopes. The predominance of the zone with an average level of pollution indicates that the main factor influencing the state of outdoor air pollution in the town is motor transport.

Effect of oil contamination on the course of changes in chernozem properties and phytotoxicity

Introduction. The consumption of hydrocarbons in the world is steadily growing with the response to the progress of civilization. It is accompanied by the continuous flow of hydrocarbon pollutants into the environment. Soil pollution with oil attracts special attention, because the soil is a key element in the trophic chain of toxicants in the human body. Purpose. Investigate changes in the properties (physicochemical, agrochemical and biological) of chernozem soils and its phytotoxicity at different levels of oil pollution for further use of the parameters of these indicators during soil monitoring. Research methods. The research was conducted during 2019-2021 in the conditions of the Left-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine in a field small-plot experiment on Chernozem Luvic with the frequency of observations on diagnostic indicators at 1 month, 6, 12 and 24 months. The scheme of the experiment provided for soil contamination with oil in the amount of 0.4 l/m2, 1.6 l/m2, 6.4 l/m2, 25.6 l/m2. Results. The rate of biodegradation of oil products for different levels of pollution of Chernozem Luvic was determined - with insignificant pollution, self-purification of the soil is characterized by a faster course than with medium and strong, within 24 months the content of hydrocarbons decreased by 85-87% and 60-64%, respectively. One of the important mechanisms for the loss of hydrocarbons from the soil surface is microbiological decomposition, studies have shown that in the oil concentration range of 6.4-24.6 l/m2, there was a significant increase in the intensity of carbon dioxide release from the soil, which is 60% higher than in the control option, this indicates the intensification of the processes of its biodegradation. Studies of changes in such diagnostic indicators as soil pH, the content of water-soluble potassium and sodium show a less significant influence of the factor of soil pollution with oil compared to the influence of the time factor. However, these indicators are of great diagnostic value in the process of monitoring oil-contaminated soils and remediation, since the most optimal parameters of these indicators determine the suitability of soils for plant growth and microbial life. Studies of phytotoxicity of oil-contaminated soil have shown the negative impact of oil on seed germination in the field condition. Conclusions. The research results indicate a gradual self-purification of the soil from petroleum hydrocarbons during the observation period. The obtained regularities of the dynamics of changes in the studied parameters will be used to improve the scientific and methodological support for monitoring soils affected by oil pollution.

Elimination of endocrine disrupting phenolic compounds via feathers and claws in seabirds moulting in the Baltic and Russian Arctic

This paper investigates the effectiveness of phenol derivatives removal from bird organisms via claws and remiges, and performs a preliminary assessment of the usefulness of these epidermal products for environmental biomonitoring and estimating bird exposure levels. Concentrations of bisphenol A (BPA) and alkylphenols: 4-tert-octylphenol (4-t-OP) and 4-nonylphenol (4-NP) were determined in claws and remiges of long-tailed ducks Clangula hyemalis and razorbills Alca torda, obtained during a by-catch in the winter period (2014–2016) in the Southern Baltic region. For razorbills, the Baltic is a permanent habitat, while long-tailed ducks are migratory and stay in the Southern Baltic only during the non-breeding season. Their remiges are replaced in the Arctic seas of Siberia.The removal of phenol derivatives, depending on the compound and the epidermal product, ranges from 12 % to 34 %. Among these compounds, in both bird species, the highest degree of elimination was observed for 4-NP in remiges (<0.1–656.0 ng.g−1 dw) as well as claws (<0.1–338.6 ng.g−1 dw). On the other hand, the least removed compound in both the long-tailed duck and the razorbill was 4-t-OP. The removal of phenol derivatives from claws in both bird species was at the same level. However, 4-NP concentrations were found to be statistically significantly higher in razorbill remiges compared to those of the long-tailed duck (p < 0.05).Comparison of concentrations in the remiges of the long-tailed duck and the razorbill, moulted in two different environments with different levels of pollution and distances from sources, indicated that the Baltic Sea is approximately 3 times more polluted with 4-NP than the marine areas of the Russian Arctic. This demonstrates the potential for the use of 4-NP and remiges as indicators of environmental pollution with phenol derivatives.

Cytogenetic Effects in Children Exposed to Air Pollutants: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the association between exposure to ambient air pollutants and micronuclei (MN) frequency in children. This work was performed according to the Cochrane Collaboration and the PRISMA guidelines and recommendations. Articles published before November 2021 were identified by an advanced search on PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus and Web of Science databases. A critical appraisal using a specific tool was conducted to assess the quality of each included study. All analyses were carried out by using the Review Manager (RevMan) 5.4 software (The Cochrane Collaboration, London, UK). One hundred and forty-five references were firstly identified, and, at the end of selection process, 13 studies met the inclusion criteria. Six studies carried out a direct evaluation through the use of air samplers, whereas the other ones accessed environmental databases (n = 2) or used other tools (n = 3). In two cases, exposure was not directly investigated, with children sampled in two different areas with well-known different levels of pollution. The overall effect size (ES) was 1.57 ((95% CI = 1.39; 1.78), p-value < 0.00001) (total evaluated subjects: 4162), which highlighted a statistically significant association between outdoor air pollution and MN frequency in children. As a high MN frequency has been associated with a number of pathological states and a higher risk of developing chronic degenerative diseases, our results should be taken into consideration by policy makers to design and implement interventions aimed at reducing the introduction of pollutants in the atmosphere as well as at minimizing the exposure extent, particularly in children.

Establishment of background pollution levels and spatial analysis of moss data on a regional scale

The determination of background pollution levels is fundamental for the interpretation of the results obtained from environmental biomonitoring. In this paper we propose a new probabilistic method, based on a Gaussian mixture model, for determining the distribution of regional background levels of different pollutants. The distribution of the reference level is used to categorize the observations as “background” or “above-background” and spatial statistical techniques are then applied to determine the probability of the background level being exceeded. To exemplify its use, we applied the method to concentrations of five potentially toxic elements (Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb and Zn) measured in the moss Pseudoscleropodium purum. The proposed method was applied to data resulting from sampling at ca. 150 sampling stations in a regular grid (15 × 15 km) in Galicia (NW Spain). Sampling was carried out in June in 2000 and 2002, and in March and September in 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2014. The proposed method yielded consistent results for all of the different sampling surveys, and the pollution levels were found to be closely related to the sources of pollution identified in the study region. In short, although not an optimal solution, the proposed method seems to be suitable and realistic for the qualitative assessment of regional pollution.

Evaluation of the Air Pollution Tolerance Index of 12 Plant Species Growing in Environments with Different Air Pollution Levels

Background and objective Particulate matter (PM) is the most dangerous form of air pollution, and causes many diseases. Plants act as bio-filters to help reduce PM in the atmosphere. PM also influences the growth of plants, so selecting suitable plant species for specific environmental conditions is very important. The air pollution tolerance index (APTI) was used to determine the tolerance level of each plant species to air pollution. The purpose of this study was to determine the tolerance to air pollution of various plant species in order to identify plant species that can be grown in polluted environments; this was achieved by evaluating the APTI of plants. This study analyzed the biochemical parameters of 12 plant species at two sites with different air pollution levels (urban forest and roadside) to assess and compare the APTI of plant species. Methods The healthy leaves of 12 plant species (6 broad leaves and 6 needle leaves) that are commonly used in landscapes in Korea were chosen for this study. The same plant species were collected from two sites with different pollution levels and were analyzed immediately; one site was an urban forest (Chungcheongbuk-do Forest Environment Research Institute) with an area of 25 ha and featuring high vegetation coverage, while the other was at a high-traffic roadside next to a crossroads near the Cheongju Express Bus Terminal. We used the leaf samples to analyze four biochemical parameters of each plant: leaf extract pH (pH), relative leaf water content (RWC), total chlorophyll (TChl), and ascorbic acid. Finally, based on these values, APTI values were calculated. Results The APTI values were different between all 12 plant species at both sites with different levels of pollution. APTI had a significant correlation with the biochemical parameters of plants. Plants in the urban forest and at the roadside showed APTI values ranging from 6.89–9.37 and 7.57–9.94, respectively. The APTI of the roadside plant species tended to be higher than that of the plants from the urban forest. Among 12 plant species, Acer palmatum, Acer buergerianum, and Pinus densiflora had high APTI values. These plant species can serve as biofilters in environments with high air pollution. Conclusion The APTI of the 12 plant species in this study can aid in the selection of suitable plant species from environments with different levels of air pollution. The high APTI of some roadside plant species may show their tolerance under environmental pollution-related stress, or demonstrate their adaptability to the polluted environment. In the future, we need to examine more plant species under various environmental conditions to understand their tolerance levels to air pollution and to correlate plants with air pollution. Further, more studies on other air pollutants that can influence plant growth, such as SO2 and NOx, should be conducted.