Field Laboratory Research Articles

Environmental fate and safety analysis of methoxyfenozide application to control litchi and longan pests.

Litchi and longan pests significantly affect crop yield and quality. Chemical prevention and control are very effective for production; therefore, it is crucial to study fate assessment and appropriate field efficacy before pesticide application on crops to appropriately assess the health and ecological risks linked with these agents. This study conducted Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) field trials and laboratory experiments to elucidate the dissipation, terminal residues, and efficacy of methoxyfenozide on litchi and longan in six locations throughout China. To detect methoxyfenozide residues on litchi and longan, a QuEChERS/UPLC-MS/MS-based method was designed. The initial methoxyfenozide levels in litchi and longan ranged from 2.21-2.86 to 0.83-0.95mgkg-1 and indicated half-lives of 5.1-5.3 and 5.3-5.7days, respectively. After 7days of foliage treatment, the concentrations of terminal methoxyfenozide residue were 0.78-2.61 and 0.02-1.01mgkg-1, which were less than the established maximum residue limit for methoxyfenozide in litchi and longan. The chronic (acceptable daily intake = 0.0055-0.0331%) dietary intake risk analysis for methoxyfenozide in longan and litchi indicated acceptable concentrations of terminal residue for the general population. Methoxyfenozide in litchi and longan was readily degraded in first-order kinetics models, the degradation rate on longan was higher than that on litchi, and their dietary risks were negligible to consumers. Two hundred forty grams per liter of methoxyfenozide suspension concentrate (SC) represents a highly efficacious insecticidal dose to control litchi and longan pests and indicates a significant application potential as it is rapidly degraded and linked with reduced post-treatment residue levels.

PIGMENTS AS A MASS MATERIAL: DISCUSSION OF THE METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH IN RESEARCH

PIGMENTS AS A MASS MATERIAL: DISCUSSION OF THE METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH IN RESEARCH

Training-free demonstration of a 5.4 T Nb3Sn Canted–Cosine–Theta accelerator dipole impregnated with paraffin wax

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory is pursuing stress-managed Nb3Sn Canted–Cosine–Theta (CCT) magnet technology for high field accelerator magnets. Although promising results have been reported, improvements in the training performance are desired. This work describes the fabrication and testing campaigns of two subscale Nb3Sn CCT magnets; a baseline impregnated with National High Magnetic Field Laboratory Mix-61 and a magnet impregnated with paraffin wax. The paraffin magnet reached the short sample limit of the conductor, to within the measurement uncertainty, with no training quenches inside the magnet. In contrast, the baseline magnet reached 80% of the short sample limit after approximately 20 quenches and exhibits some loss of memory after thermal cycles. Inter-layer flexible quench antennas combined with voltage tap data show that all quenches appear identical and originate from a region corresponding to the location of peak field in the cable. Although this success should be replicated at higher fields, these first test results demonstrate the potential for training free Nb3Sn accelerator magnets operating near the short-sample limit.

Reducing Soil-Emitted Nitrous Acid as a Feasible Strategy for Tackling Ozone Pollution.

Severe ozone (O3) pollution has been a major air quality issue and affects environmental sustainability in China. Conventional mitigation strategies focusing on reducing volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides (NOx) remain complex and challenging. Here, through field flux measurements and laboratory simulations, we observe substantial nitrous acid (HONO) emissions (FHONO) enhanced by nitrogen fertilizer application at an agricultural site. The observed FHONO significantly improves model performance in predicting atmospheric HONO and leads to regional O3 increases by 37%. We also demonstrate the significant potential of nitrification inhibitors in reducing emissions of reactive nitrogen, including HONO and NOx, by as much as 90%, as well as greenhouse gases like nitrous oxide by up to 60%. Our findings introduce a feasible concept for mitigating O3 pollution: reducing soil HONO emissions. Hence, this study has important implications for policy decisions related to the control of O3 pollution and climate change.

Seasonal Variation of Groundwater Quality in Bonny Island, Rivers State Nigeria

This study investigated the seasonal variations in physicochemical parameters, heavy metals, and petroleum hydrocarbons in groundwater samples collected in nine locations in Bonny Island, Rivers State Nigeria. The water samples for the dry season were collected in December and January while for the wet season, water samples were collected in July and October. A quantitative approach was employed, involving the collection of quantitative data through field sampling and laboratory analysis. Physicochemical parameters, including pH, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen, and nutrient levels, were measured using standard analytical techniques. Heavy metal concentrations (Fe, Cd, etc.) were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometry, while petroleum hydrocarbons (total hydrocarbons and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) were analyzed through solvent extraction and gas chromatography techniques. The study revealed significant seasonal variations in several parameters, with notable significant decreases in phosphate during the wet season and significant increases in chromium and cadmium levels during the dry season (p-value < 0.05). Petroleum hydrocarbon concentrations also exhibited seasonal fluctuations, potentially influenced by precipitation patterns, oil and gas activities, and accidental spills or leaks which were observed during the dry season.

A longitudinal analysis of soil salinity changes using remotely sensed imageries

Soil salinization threatens agricultural productivity, leading to desertification and land degradation. Given the challenges of conducting labor-intensive and expensive field studies and laboratory analyses on a large scale, recent efforts have focused on leveraging remote sensing techniques to study soil salinity. This study assesses the importance of soil salinity indices’ derived from remotely sensed imagery. Indices derived from Landsat 8 (L8) and Sentinel 2 (S2) imagery are used in Random Forest (RF), eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), Decision Tree (DT), and Support Vector Machine (SVR) are associated with the electrical (EC) conductivity of 280 soil samples across 24,000 hectares in Northeast Iran. The results indicated that the DT is the best-performing method (RMSE = 12.25, MAE = 2.15, R2 = 0.85 using L8 data and RMSE = 10.9, MAE = 2.12, and R2 = 0.86 using S2 data). Also, the results showed that Multi-resolution Valley Bottom Flatness (MrVBF), moisture index, Topographic Wetness Index (TWI), and Topographic Position Indicator (TPI) are the most important salinity indices. Subsequently, a time series analysis indicated a reduction in salinity and sodium levels in regions with installed drainage networks, underscoring the effectiveness of the drainage system. These findings can assist decision-making about land use and conservation efforts, particularly in regions with high soil salinity.

Technological Innovation to Increase The Cropping Index of Rice on Rainfed Fields At Labuhanbatu Regency

The study of technological innovations to increase the cropping index in Rainfed Rice Fields aims to increase farmers’ knowledge and skills regarding rice farming so that their rice fields can be planted with rice more than once a year. This activity was conducted in Selat Beting Village, Panai Tengah District, Labuhan Batu Regency in 2021. The assessment was carried out in one area, consisting of the Field Laboratory (LL) location and the Field School (SL) location. The Field Laboratory is a study area covering an area of 5 ha. The treatmen use in this study was variety, seeding methods, planting methods, fertilizer dosage and pest control.The results of this study shown that the production of demo-farm area was 6.65 t/ha, while non-demo-farm only produced 4.76 t/ha. Farmers in Selat Beting village can plant rainfed rice at least twice a year. Selat Beting Village farmers have been introduced to rice farming business insurance (AUTP). Farmers who try to insure their crops do not mind because they pay very low premiums and are affordable for farmers. Based on rainfall patterns in Labuhanbatu Regency, farmers can plant rice at least twice a year, where in certain months there is rainfall, but it is not sufficient to irrigate the fields, therefore they must be assisted with shallow well pumps.

Abnormal eyes and spine development in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos and larvae induced by triphenyltin

Triphenyltin (TPT) is widely used in crop pest control and ship antifouling coatings, which leads to its entry into aquatic environment and poses a threat to aquatic organisms. However, the effects of TPT on the early life stages of wild fish in natural water environments remains unclear. The aim of this study was to assess the toxic effects of TPT on the early life stages of fish under two different environments: field investigation and laboratory experiment. The occurrence of deformities in wild fish embryos and larvae in the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) and the developmental toxicity of TPT at different concentrations (0, 0.15, 1.5 and 15 μg Sn/L) to zebrafish embryos and larvae were observed. The results showed that TPT content was higher in wild larvae, reaching 27.21 ng Sn/g w, and the malformation of wild fish larvae mainly occurred in the eyes and spine under natural water environment. Controlled experiment exposure of zebrafish larvae to TPT also resulted in eye and spinal deformities. Gene expression analysis showed that compared with the control group, the expression levels of genes related to eye development (sox2, otx2, stra6 and rx1) and spine development (sox9a and bmp2b) were significantly up-regulated in the 15 μg Sn/L exposure group, which may be the main cause of eye and spine deformity in the early development stage of fish. In addition, the molecular docking results further elucidate that the strong hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions between TPT and protein residues are the main mechanism of TPT induced abnormal gene expression. Based on these results, it can be inferred that TPT is one of the teratogenic factors of abnormal eye and spine development in the early life stage of fish in the TGR. These findings have important implications for understanding the toxicity of TPT on fish.

Dynamic analysis of field-scale rockslides based on three-dimensional discontinuous smoothed particle hydrodynamics: A case study of Tangjiashan rockslide

To improve the understanding of the dynamic disastrous process of field-scale rockslides, a novel numerical approach, Three-dimensional Discontinuous Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (3DSPH), was originally developed. This method comprehensively captures sequential stages of crack initiation and propagation, formation of contacts, frictional slip, catastrophic slides of rock masses, and final deposition, which was verified by three benchmark tests including the bouncing test of rigid balls, block sliding test and unconfined compression test of layered rock specimens. The approach was subsequently employed in the case of the Tangjiashan rockslide blocking valley event with particular attention paid to the influence of layered rock structure on the sliding and deposition processes. Field survey, geomorphological analysis and laboratory test of rock specimens were conducted to determine fundamental geological conditions and parameters required by the numerical simulation. Finally, 3D rockslide simulations with different rock layer thickness and strength subject to seismicity were conducted. The duration of the actual Tangjiashan rockslide's valley-blocking event (approximately 60 s) and the deposition area derived from the numerical simulation closely align with the field investigation. The rockslide mode is characterized by an ‘en masse’ motion with a peak sliding velocity of approximately 35–37 m/s. This single numerical code systematically elucidated the authentic attributes of the sliding process of large-scale rockslides, and realistically captured the characteristics of preservation of layered features within the sliding mass and ‘high-speed and short-distance’ movements with fluidization. These insights offer a fresh perspective for understanding the dynamics of large-scale rockslides with complex geological structures and subsequent accumulation processes.

Resource-based trade-offs and the adaptive significance of seasonal plasticity in butterfly wing melanism.

Phenotypic plasticity is the ability of an organism to alter its phenotype in response to environmental cues. This can be adaptive if the cues are reliable predictors of impending conditions and the alterations enhance the organism's ability to capitalize on those conditions. However, since traits do not exist in isolation but as part of larger interdependent systems of traits (phenotypic integration), trade-offs between correlated plastic traits can make phenotypic plasticity non- or maladaptive. We examine this problem in the seasonally plastic wing melanism of a pierid (Order Lepidoptera, Family Pieridae) butterfly, Pieris rapae L. Several wing pattern traits are more melanized in colder than in warmer seasons, resulting in effective thermoregulation through solar absorption. However, other wing pattern traits, the spots, are less melanized during colder seasons than in warmer seasons. Although spot plasticity may be adaptive, reduced melanism of these spots could also be explained by resource-based trade-offs. Theory predicts that traits involved in resource-based trade-offs will be positively correlated when variation among individuals in resource acquisition is greater than variation among individuals in resource allocation strategies, and negatively correlated when variation in allocation is greater than variation in acquisition. Using data from both field studies and laboratory studies that manipulate dietary tyrosine, a melanin precursor, we show that when allocation to thermoregulatory melanism (ventral hindwing, and basal dorsal fore- and hindwing "shading") varies substantially this trait is negatively correlated with spot melanism. However, when there is less variation in allocation to thermoregulatory melanism we find these traits to be positively correlated; these findings are consistent with the resource-based trade-off hypothesis, which may provide a non- or maladaptive hypothesis to explain spot plasticity. We also show that increased dietary tyrosine results in increased spot melanism under some conditions, supporting the more general idea that melanism may involve resource-based costs.

ПРОДУКТИВНОСТЬ И АДАПТИВНОСТЬ ГИБРИДОВ ОЗИМОЙ РЖИ КОМПАНИИ КВС В УСЛОВИЯХ ПРЕДКАМЬЯ РЕСПУБЛИКИ ТАТАРСТАН

Increasing the grain yield of winter rye, which occupies the fourth place of grain produced in the Republic of Tatarstan, remains relevant. The purpose of the study is to identify the most productive hybrid of winter rye of the KVS company in the conditions of gray forest soils of the Ancestral region of the Republic of Tatarstan. Field experiments and laboratory studies were conducted in 2022-2023 at Agrobiotechnopark LLC at the Kazan State Agrarian University. Agrochemical indicators of gray forest soils were as follows: the content of humus in the arable layer was more than 3.0 %, mobile phosphorus was very high 250-275 mg/kg (according to Kirsanov), exchangeable potassium was increased 121-170 mg/kg. The reaction of the soil medium was close to neutral (pH 6.6). The dry mass of roots and stems in the phases of tube entry and earing over the years of research in the hybrid of winter rye Tayo exceeded the indicators of the Aviator and Ravo hybrids. On average, over two years, the dry weight of the ear of the Aviator hybrid in the phase of milk ripeness was 0.77 g, in Equal to 0.74 g, in Tayo 0.81 g. Compared with other hybrids, field germination and safety of seedlings for harvesting were higher in the Tayo hybrid by 80.9 % and 86.9 %. Increased indicators for the number of productive stems per unit area of 584 pcs./m2, the number of spikelets and grains in 1 ear for the Tayo hybrid subsequently contributed to obtaining the highest biological yield. In a favorable 2022, winter rye hybrids generated high yields, in particular Aviator 8.05 t/ha, Pravo 8.06 t/ha, Tayo 8.74 t/ha. In 2023, the lowest yield according to experiments was obtained for the Ravo hybrid – 5.44 t/ha, and for the Aviator hybrid - 6.62 t/ha. A consistently high yield was formed by the Tayo hybrid – 7.03 t/ha.

Teaching Trees: Revisions to an Inquiry-Based, Service-Learning Field Lab Broaden Student Learning and Better Align With Learning Outcomes

Teaching Trees: Revisions to an Inquiry-Based, Service-Learning Field Lab Broaden Student Learning and Better Align With Learning Outcomes

Projection of Interspecific Competition (PIC) Matrices: A Conceptual Framework for Inclusion in Population Risk Assessments.

Accounting for intraspecific and interspecific competition when assessing the effects of chemical and nonchemical stressors is an important uncertainty in ecological risk assessments. We developed novel projection of interspecific competition (PIC) matrices that allow for analysis of population dynamics of two or more species exposed to a given stressor(s) that compete for shared resources within a landscape. We demonstrate the application of PIC matrices to investigate the population dynamics of two hypothetical fish species that compete with one another and have differences in net reproductive rate and intrinsic rate of population increase. Population status predictions were made under scenarios that included exposure to a chemical stressor that reduced fecundity for one or both species. The results of our simulations demonstrated that measures obtained from the life table and Leslie matrix of an organism, including net reproductive rate and intrinsic rate of increase, can result in erroneous conclusions of population status and viability in the absence of a consideration of resource limitation and interspecific competition. This modeling approach can be used in conjunction with field monitoring efforts and/or laboratory testing to link effects due to stressors to possible outcomes within an ecosystem. In addition, PIC matrices could be combined with adverse outcome pathways to allow for ecosystem projection based on taxonomic conservation of molecular targets of chemicals to predict the likelihood of relative cross-species susceptibility. Overall, the present study shows how PIC matrices can integrate effects across the life cycles of multiple species, provide a linkage between endpoints observed in individual and population-level responses, and project outcomes at the community level for multiple generations for multiple species that compete for limited resources. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;00:1-17. Published 2024. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances induce lipid metabolic impairment in fish: Integration on field investigation and laboratory study

The biotoxicity of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) to aquatic organisms has been widely concerned. However, studies on toxic effects of PFASs are usually evaluated directly by using laboratory exposure rather than laboratory validation based on data obtained in the field. In this study, wild catfish (Silurus meridinalis) was explored on the relationship between PFASs bioaccumulation and lipid disorders. Nine and thirteen lipid metabolites were significantly associated with perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and 6:2/8:2Cl-PFESA (trade name F-53B) exposures, respectively; and the correlated lipid metabolites were the fatty acid (FA) and conjugates, FA esters, steroids, and glycerophosphate subclasses. The effects of PFASs on lipid metabolism of fish and its mechanism were further analyzed through exposure experiments. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) of different sexes underwent PFOS and F-53B exposures for 21 days at 100 ng/L and 100 μg/L. By determining gene expression levels, hepatic lipid contents, and histopathological change, the adverse effects order on lipid metabolism in male or female was 100 μg/L F-53B > 100 μg/L PFOS > 100 ng/L F-53B > 100 ng/L PFOS; the stress response in male was more intensive than that in female. PFOS and F-53B activated the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor pathway, promoting the processes of FA and total cholesterol (T-CHO) transport, FA β-oxidation, FA synthesis, and finally induced FA and T-CHO transportation from blood into liver, then accelerated FA to FA ester transformation, and CHO into steroids. Laboratory experiments confirmed the field analysis. This study innovatively explored the adverse effects of PFOS and F-53B on lipid metabolism and their mechanisms at field and laboratory levels, highlighting concerns regarding PFASs health risks.

In-situ and laboratory characterisation of stiff and dense geomaterials for driven pile analysis and design

Integrated field and laboratory characterisation of geomaterial behaviour is critical to foundation analysis and design for a wide range of offshore and onshore infrastructure. Challenges include the need for high-quality sampling, addressing natural and induced micro-to-macro structures, and applying soil and stress states that represent both in-situ and in-service conditions. This paper draws on the Authors’ recent research with stiff glacial till, dense marine sand and low-to-medium density chalk, and focuses particularly on these geomaterials’ mechanical behaviour, from small strains to failure, their anisotropy and response to cyclic loading. It considers a range of in-situ techniques as well as highly instrumented monotonic and cyclic stress-path triaxial experiments and hollow cylinder apparatus tests. The outcomes are shown to have important implications for the analysis of large driven piles under monotonic-and-cyclic, axial-and-lateral loading, and the development of practical design methods. Also highlighted are the needs for approaches that integrate field observations, advanced sampling and laboratory testing, numerical and theoretical modelling.

Biogenic emission as a potential source of atmospheric aromatic hydrocarbons: Insights from a cyanobacterial bloom-occurring eutrophic lake

As important precursors of ozone (O3) and secondary organic aerosol (SOA), reactive aromatic hydrocarbons (AHs) have typically been classified as anthropogenic air pollutants. However, biogenic emission can also be a potential source of atmospheric AHs. Herein, field observations in a eutrophic lake were combined with laboratory incubation experiments to investigate the biogenic AH emission. Field work showed that the water-air fluxes of AHs measured at sites with high cyanobacteria abundance could reach an order of magnitude greater than those at sites with low cyanobacteria abundance, suggesting that cyanobacteria could be the important contributor to measured AHs. Laboratory incubation experiments further confirmed the AH emission of cyanobacteria and revealed that the emission could change significantly over the lifespan of cyanobacteria and varied to their growing conditions. By combining field observations and laboratory incubation experiments, it has been suggested that the emission of different AH species from cyanobacteria could be modulated by variable biogeochemical mechanisms and that the biochemical process of toluene could be different from that of other AHs. This study investigates AH emissions from inland aquatic ecosystem and suggests that biogenic emission could be a potential source of atmospheric AHs.

Girdling behavior of the longhorn beetle modulates the host plant to enhance larval performance

BackgroundPreingestive behavioral modulations of herbivorous insects on the host plant are abundant over insect taxa. Those behaviors are suspected to have functions such as deactivation of host plant defenses, nutrient accumulation, or modulating plant-mediated herbivore interactions. To understand the functional consequence of behavioral modulation of insect herbivore, we studied the girdling behavior of Phytoecia rufiventris Gautier (Lamiinae; Cerambycidae) on its host plant Erigeron annuus L. (Asteraceae) that is performed before endophytic oviposition in the stem.ResultsThe girdling behavior significantly increased the larval performance in both field monitoring and lab experiment. The upper part of the girdled stem exhibited lack of jasmonic acid induction upon larval attack, lowered protease inhibitor activity, and accumulated sugars and amino acids in compared to non-girdled stem. The girdling behavior had no effect on the larval performance of a non-girdling longhorn beetle Agapanthia amurensis, which also feeds on the stem of E. annuus during larval phase. However, the girdling behavior decreased the preference of A. amurensis females for oviposition, which enabled P. rufiventris larvae to avoid competition with A. amurensis larvae.ConclusionsIn conclusion, the girdling behavior modulates plant physiology and morphology to provide a modulated food source for larva and hide it from the competitor. Our study implies that the insect behavior modulations can have multiple functions, providing insights into adaptation of insect behavior in context of plant-herbivore interaction.

Assessment of the impact of micro fertilizers on winter wheat and winter barley crops under the Sevan basin conditions

Background: Microelements are crucial for numerous physiological and biochemical processes in plant life. They constitute parts of various vitamins and enzymes, stimulate respiration, and accelerate oxidation and regeneration reactions, positively impacting protein metabolism in plant organisms. Objective: Considering the significant role of microelements in living organisms, our aim is to investigate the effectiveness of applying microfertilizers and biohumus on the growth, development, and quality of winter wheat and winter barley. We conducted field experiments and laboratory research to analyze the impact of trace element content in the soil at our experimental sites. This research holds particular significance amidst the ongoing global climate changes, emphasizing the urgency and relevance of our study․ Methods: Field experiments, both in winter wheat and winter barley, were set up with three replications, with the same fertilization scheme. The size of each plot was 30 m2, and the size of the experimental field in each crop area was 630 m2 consisting of the following types: 1. Control (non-fertilized); 2. Background: biohummus t/ha; 3. Background+Mn (MnSO4 4H2O); 4. Background +Cu (CuSO4. 5H2O); 5. Background+B (Na2 B407.10 H2O); 6. Background + Mo (HH4)2MoO4; 7. Background +Zn (ZnSO45H2O): Microfertilizers were used for pre-sowing seed treatment. Results: The three-year results of the studies revealed that the amount of harvest and the quality indicators of these crops increased from the application of molybdenum, manganese, and copper in the sowing of autumn wheat and autumn barley on the background of biohumus. The increase of the autumn wheat crop under the influence of these elements was 3.3-6.4 c/ha (6.9-13.3%), and the increase of the autumn barley grain crop compared to the biohumus background was 2.6-5.4 c/ha. ha, or 6.5-13.4%. A certain increase in the nitrogen content of wheat and barley grains can be seen as an indicator of a protein problem necessary for life. According to research, it was found that the nitrogen content in the grains of spikelets is high in the versions that received molybdenum, manganese, and copper. Specifically, for wheat, the nitrogen content ranges from 2.64-2.68% for Mo, 2.53-2.57% for Cu, and for barley grains, it ranges from 2.16-2.24% for Mo, 2.08-2.10% for Cu, and 2.02-2.07% for Mn. Simultaneously with the studies, it was proved that the crop yield and quality indicators did not undergo significant changes from the application of Zn and B, which is explained by the higher content of the total and mobile forms of these elements in the soil. Conclusion: In the practice of fertilizing grain crops such as wheat and barley, it's essential to judiciously use specific micro fertilizers like molybdenum ammonium (NH4MoO4), manganese sulfate (MnSO4 · 4H2O), or copper sulfate (CuSO4 · 5H2O). These should be applied alongside organic fertilizers to ensure that the crops receive a comprehensive supply of both microelements and macroelements. This approach not only guarantees the production of high-quality crops but also plays a pivotal role in managing the protein content within them, which is crucial for nutritional value and overall crop health. Keywords: microelements, winter wheat, winter barley, growth and development, yield quantity and quality

The influence of the acid water of the Banyupait River on the community health in Bantal village, Asembagus, Indonesia.

The pH of Mount Ijen crater water is 0-2, resulting in water that is acidic and sulfurous. A fault near the Mount Ijen Crater causes seepage so that acidic water flows into the Banyupait River. Chemical elements and heavy metals originating from the river pollute groundwater and plants. As a result, people around the river consume heavy metals. This research aims to determine the quality of river water and groundwater, as well as determine community factors that are susceptible to dental fluorosis. The methodology used is field mapping and laboratory analysis. For water samples, the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) method is used. The pH of river water at the research location exceeds the quality standard, namely pH 4-5.5. Meanwhile, groundwater fluorine and sulfate elements exceed quality standards, namely fluorine of 0.6171 mg/L and 0.6870 mg/L, and sulfate ranging from 325-683 mg/L. These two elements cause symptoms of dental fluorosis. Meanwhile, the community factors most susceptible to dental fluorosis are people in the adult age category, and the last level of education is elementary school. This is because the Banyupait River water and groundwater are exposed to fluorine and sulfate water originating from seepage from the Mount Ijen Crater.

Pollutant removal in an experimental bioretention cell situated in a northern Chinese sponge city.

To assess the viability and effectiveness of bioretention cell in enhancing rainwater resource utilization within sponge cities, this study employs field monitoring, laboratory testing, and statistical analysis to evaluate the water purification capabilities of bioretention cell. Findings indicate a marked purification impact on surface runoff, with removal efficiencies of 59.81% for suspended solids (SS), 39.01% for chemical oxygen demand (COD), 37.53% for ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), and 30.49% for total phosphorus (TP). The treated water largely complies with rainwater reuse guidelines and tertiary sewage discharge standards. Notably, while previous research in China has emphasized water volume control in sponge city infrastructures, less attention has been given to the qualitative aspects and field-based evaluations. This research not only fills that gap but also offers valuable insights and practical implications for bioretention cell integration into sponge city development. Moreover, the methodology and outcomes of this study serve as a benchmark for future sponge city project assessments, offering guidance to relevant authorities.