Impact Of Anthropogenic Pollution Research Articles

Avian colouration in a polluted world: a meta-analysis.

Brilliant, diverse colour ornaments of birds were one of the crucial cues that led Darwin to the idea of sexual selection. Although avian colouration plays many functions, including concealment, thermoregulation, or advertisement as a distasteful prey, a quality-signalling role in sexual selection has attracted most research attention. Sexually selected ornaments are thought to be more susceptible to external stressors than naturally selected traits, and as such, they might be used as a test for environmental quality. For this reason, the last two decades have seen numerous studies on the impact of anthropogenic pollution on the expression of various avian colour traits. Herein, we provide the first meta-analytical summary of these results and examine whether there is an interaction between the mechanism of colour production (carotenoid-based, melanin-based and structural) and the type of anthropogenic factor (categorised as heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants, urbanisation, or other). Following the assumption of heightened condition dependence of ornaments under sexual selection, we also expected the magnitude of effect sizes to be higher in males. The overall effect size was close to significance and negative, supporting a general detrimental impact of anthropogenic pollutants on avian colouration. In contrast to expectations, there was no interaction between pollution types and colour-producing mechanisms. Yet there were significant differences in sensitivity between colour-producing mechanisms, with carotenoid-based colouration being the most affected by anthropogenic environmental disturbances. Moreover, we observed no significant tendency towards heightened sensitivity in males. We identified a publication gap on structural colouration, which, compared to pigment-based colouration, remains markedly understudied and should thus be prioritised in future research. Finally, we call for the unification of methods used in colour quantification in ecological research to ensure comparability of results among studies.

Olfaction in the Anthropocene: NO3 negatively affects floral scent and nocturnal pollination.

There is growing concern about sensory pollutants affecting ecological communities. Anthropogenically enhanced oxidants [ozone (O3) and nitrate radicals (NO3)] rapidly degrade floral scents, potentially reducing pollinator attraction to flowers. However, the physiological and behavioral impacts on pollinators and plant fitness are unknown. Using a nocturnal flower-moth system, we found that atmospherically relevant concentrations of NO3 eliminate flower visitation by moths, and the reaction of NO3 with a subset of monoterpenes is what reduces the scent's attractiveness. Global atmospheric models of floral scent oxidation reveal that pollinators in certain urban areas may have a reduced ability to perceive and navigate to flowers. These results illustrate the impact of anthropogenic pollutants on an animal's olfactory ability and indicate that such pollutants may be critical regulators of global pollination.

Impact of anthropogenic pollution and artisanal fishing on the population of Tilapia spp. Oreochromis niloticus and Oreochromis amphimelas in Lake Manyara, northern Tanzania

Impact of anthropogenic pollution and artisanal fishing on the population of Tilapia spp. Oreochromis niloticus and Oreochromis amphimelas in Lake Manyara, northern Tanzania

MICRОCYSTIS AЕRUGINОSA AS A SОURCЕ ОF BIОLОGICAL HAZARDS IN WATЕR RЕSЕRVОIRS ОF UKRAINЕ

Introduction. Phytoplankton, including cyanobacteria, is ubiquitous in various types of reservoirs, and it plays a crucial role in aquatic ecosystems. Among phytoplankton, cyanobacteria, considered one of the most primitive chlorophyll-containing organisms, have a significant presence in both standing freshwater lakes and seawater. Microcystis aeruginosa (M. aeruginosa), a common cyanobacterial species, is known for forming harmful “water blooms” that pose serious ecological and health risks. The rise of urbanization in Ukraine and the consequences of the war has intensified the eutrophication and cyanobacterial blooms in drinking water sources, necessitating improved detection and prevention strategies.
 The aim of this study was to develop modern and effective methods for diagnosing microcystin-containing cyanobacteria, particularly M. aeruginosa, to address biological hazards in Ukrainian water reservoirs.
 Materials and methods. Water samples were collected from a stagnant town lake in the Ivano-Frankivsk region during both summer and winter seasons to account for seasonal fluctuations in cyanobacteria content. Cyanobacteria were isolated from water samples and subjected to DNA extraction. PCR analysis using specific oligonucleotide primers targeted the 16S rRNA gene of M. aeruginosa.
 The results revealed the presence of 16S rRNA products in all water samples, irrespective of the season, indicating a consistent distribution of M. aeruginosa in the lake throughout the year.
 Discussion. We found cyanobacteria in all water samples regardless of the season. This indirectly suggests the presence of anthropogenic pollution, which helps maintain a consistent concentration of cyanobacteria throughout the year.
 In conclusion, the developed PCR-based method offers a sensitive and specific means of detecting M. aeruginosa, enabling comprehensive investigations across various water reservoirs. The presence of cyanobacteria in water bodies, while natural, can serve as an indicator of anthropogenic pollution, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus. This methodology holds promise for safeguarding Ukraine's drinking water sources and managing the impact of anthropogenic pollution, ultimately ensuring public health through effective planning and preventive measures.

The Impact of Anthropogenic Pollution on Tidal Water Quality in Mangrove Wetlands

Mangrove wetlands are vulnerable coastal ecosystems that provide critical habitats for aquatic life. Tai O is a popular tourist village on Lantau Island, Hong Kong, which is surrounded by mangrove wetlands with rich biodiversity; and this village is also famous for its traditional stilt houses. However, the untreated municipal sewage from some stilt houses is directly discharged into nearby tidal channels, potentially threatening health of the adjacent mangrove wetlands. In order to evaluate the anthropogenic impact on these wetlands and identify the potential sources of their pollution, this study aimed to evaluate spatial (at the sampling points) and temporal (during weekdays and weekends) differences in the quality of their tidal water, and examine relationships between the water quality and the density of the stilt houses. The results indicated that the water quality was worse during weekends. The ammonia concentrations in most samples exceeded the limits of the Hong Kong Water Quality Objectives, China’s Sea Water Quality Standards, and even the U.S. EPA criterion for fish reproduction. This high ammonia input could potentially adversely affect the mangrove ecosystem, underscoring the need for further comprehensive studies. Moreover, some of the weekend water samples had lower dissolved oxygen levels and were polluted by phosphate. Our Principal Component Analysis revealed that water quality was correlated with stilt house density, suggesting that anthropogenic inputs of untreated sewage was the major source of pollution. These findings highlight that nutrients released from human activities, particularly ammonia and phosphate, must be controlled for a better protection of mangrove wetland ecosystems.

Assessment of the Source of Anthropogenic Pollution Impact on the Hydro-chemical Runoff of the Main Ore Elements (Using the Example of Dumps at the Altai Mining and Processing Plant, Alei Сatchment)

The content of the main ore and associated elements in the material of the tailings of the Altai mining and processing plant, in the snow cover and surface waters of the dumps, as well as in the water filtrates of the dump material was studied. It was detected that the concentration of Cu in the substrates of the dumps of the Altai mining and processing plant varies from 970 to 7350 mg/kg and exceeds the background values of the copper content in the soils of Northwestern Altai up to 1000 times, the Pb content varies. from 850 to 2800 mg/kg and exceeds the background value up to 500 times, Zn – up to 200 times (content from 350 to 12170 mg/kg), Cd – up to 100 times. It was recorded that the Pb content in pound surface water on of tailings dumps exceeds the MPC of hazardous substances 2.5 times and is 79 μg/l, Cu – 52 times (52.3 mg/l), Zn – 250 times (254 mg/l), Cd – 940 times (0.94 mg/l). It was identified that in liquid media – lysimetric, surface and snow waters of the Altai mining and processing plant tailings pond – the ratio of pollutant concentrations to background and standards norms (Russian and foreign) is higher for more labile and easily leachable elements – cadmium and zinc. In solid components (substrates, snow dust), the concentrations of copper and lead noticeably exceed the background, clarke and standard concentrations.

Appraisal of heavy metal contents, spatial-temporal variation, toxic metal pollution, and health risk in water and sediment of Uluabat Lake (Ramsar Site, Turkey).

Uluabat Lake holds a significant status as one of our country's essential Ramsar areas. Nevertheless, the lake faces considerable pressure from environmental pollutants. This study employed GIS-based index methods to examine the heavy metal pollution and water quality in Uluabat Lake. To achieve this, sediment and water samples were collected from 19 different locations during various seasons. The concentrations of As, Ni, Cr, Zn, Cu, Cd, Pb, Hg, Al, Fe, and Mn in these samples were analyzed. The average contents of the investigated heavy metals in the lake waters were found to be in the following order: Al > Fe > Mn > As > Zn > Ni > Pb > Cu > Cr > Hg > Cd. The As content in the lake waters exceeded the limit value of 10 μg/L, as defined by TS-266 (2005) and WHO (2017) guidelines. Consequently, the lake waters were deemed unsuitable for drinking. The health risk assessments revealed that consuming the lake waters could lead to both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health problems. However, all other metal concentrations were measured below the specified limit values. Based on index calculations, the heavy metal pollution index value indicated that the lake water samples were suitable for drinking water use. Additionally, all samples fell into the "low pollution" category according to the heavy metal evaluation index, and degree of contamination values. However, geoaccumulation index values indicated that As was moderately contaminated. Moreover, enrichment factors of As, Cr, Ni, Pb, and Cd exhibited significant enrichment in lake sediments, with pollution load index values of all sediment samples indicating the impact of anthropogenic pollutants and a decline in sediment quality. Considering all the obtained results together, it can be concluded that environmental pollutants, especially heavy metal pollution, primarily enter the lake water through stream transports, leading to pollution in Uluabat Lake.

Effects of artificial sweeteners on antioxidant enzymes and physiological parameters in Triticum aestivum (Poaceae)

Due to increased consumption, artificial sweeteners are often present in the environment but their effects on plants are largly unknown. In this research, the effects of four artificial sweeteners on plant stress markers in Triticum aestivum L. were investigated. Wheat seedlings were grown from seeds in soil containing artificial sweeteners (saccharin, sodium cyclamate, sucralose, aspartame) in different concentrations (0, 25, 50, 100 mg kg-1). Plants were irrigated at regular intervals to maintain field capacity moisture and harvested after 15 days of growth. Electrolyte leakage, chlorophyll and carotenoid content, and antioxidant enzyme (superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, catalase) activities were determined in harvested leaves. Comparisons between control samples and test samples were statistically evaluated at a 95% confidence interval to determine significant differences. Overall, significant increases in chlorophyll and carotenoid content, and some antioxidant enzyme activities were observed in wheat plants exposed to artificial sweeteners in the soil. A significant increase in electrolyte leakage was observed with saccharin and aspartame treatment, indicating that these sweeteners can cause membrane damage in wheat. Chlorophyll a nd POX activity were the most sensitive stress parameters in wheat. This study showed the importance of evaluating the potential impact of anthropogenic pollutants that may be present in treated wastewater and consequently affect plants.

A STRUCTURAL-FUNCTIONAL MODEL OF THE IMPACT OF ANTHROPOGENIC POLLUTION ON THE PERSONALITY

A STRUCTURAL-FUNCTIONAL MODEL OF THE IMPACT OF ANTHROPOGENIC POLLUTION ON THE PERSONALITY

The impact of anthropogenic pollutants on the distribution of a marine top predator within a coastal estuarine system.

Due to anthropogenic pressures, estuarine systems are among the most broadly impacted areas for marine top predator species. Given this, it is crucial to study the interaction between the vulnerable marine species that inhabit these regions with environmental and anthropogenic variables. This study aims to determine whether nutrient pollution is related to the presence of bottlenose dolphins in a coastal environment. Using a multi-year dataset and GAMs, we studied the relationship between marine pollutants and the presence of bottlenose dolphins in this highly impacted coastal marine environment. We observed that urban fertilizers were linked to the spatial distribution of bottlenose dolphins. There was a higher presence of bottlenose dolphins in areas with high levels of phosphoric acid. In contrast, at higher concentrations of nitrate, the presence of bottlenose dolphins decreased.

Historical monuments and lead pollution: Lessons from the case of Notre-Dame de Paris and Sainte-Chapelle

To investigate the potential spreading of leaded dust over Paris and its inhabitants, following the fire of Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral in April 2019, we developed a dedicated protocol to identify the geochemical fingerprint of the emitted particles. This method could be transposed to a contemporary monument to Notre-Dame de Paris which had not burnt and which had to undergo a major restoration phase: Sainte-Chapelle de Paris. Thus, a new study was performed on the indoor dust collected in this monument, to which the protocol developed for the dusts of Notre-Dame was applied. The comparison of the geochemical fingerprint of both monuments highlights the complexity of establishing the chemical signatures of such buildings. The homogeneity of the isotopic and elemental results obtained on the samples from Notre-Dame de Paris compared to those from Sainte-Chapelle de Paris reveals the homogenizing role of the fire, which simplifies the geochemical signature determination. Moreover, this study does not show any significant impact of anthropogenic pollution (road traffic, industry, incinerators) on the indoor environment of monuments, which are nevertheless rich in construction lead. The notion of “polluter-polluted monument" could be problematic in the event of an accident during restoration phase. These new results obtained on dust samples from a building that has not experienced any recent major deterioration underlines the multiple sources of lead present in these monuments and the importance of identifying univocally their signature. However, the concentrations of metal and metalloid in the indoor dust do not show any major pollution inside Sainte-Chapelle de Paris that could be a threat to human health.

Applicability of the WASP Model in an Assessment of the Impact of Anthropogenic Pollution on Water Quality—Dunajec River Case Study

This article covers the analysis of the impact of agricultural and municipal pollution on surface waters in a selected pilot section of the Dunajec River in Poland. The analysis was performed using the dynamic Water Quality Analysis Simulation Program (WASP) model. The operational use of the WASP allows the assessment of current and future changes in water quality and the planning of measures to reduce adverse impacts on surface waters. Based on the acquired and processed data, the model simulated the impact of the pollutant supply on the water quality in the selected section. The simulations were carried out in three developed scenarios. The results of the simulations of the spread of pollutants in the riverbed show that the adopted scenarios, including an increased supply of pollutants and unfavorable hydrological conditions, will not adversely affect the operation and efficiency of the water intake. Thus in the considered cases, the risk will not reach an unacceptable level. However, a serious threat may be caused by the failure of the sewage treatment plant located in the vicinity of a water intake. The conducted analyses indicate that the WASP may have significant application potential in the risk assessment for surface water intakes.

Impact of anthropogenic pollution on the soil near the industrial area of Hrazdan town

Identifying the distribution of a number of heavy metals near the industrial area, taking into account the wind rose in the region during the period of operation of the Hrazdan Thermal Power Station and the Hrazdan Cement Plant was investigated in a radius of one km. In a series of experiments, was found a decreased concentration of arsenic and mercury in soil samples by an average of 27% with distance from the industrial area. In that direction, in the soil sample, there is an increase in the concentration of zinc and nickel by an average of 25.5%, as well as an increase in the concentration of copper by 19%. At the same time along the sampling line, the comparative series generally has the following sequence: As<Ni<Co<Cu<Zn<Pb. In the quantitative assessment of soil, contamination was compared to geo-ecological coefficients: the danger level of soil contamination and the total pollution index. Their calculation was based on the values of heavy metals concentration according to Clark and their maximum allowable concentration. Our forthcoming studies will focus on identifying the dose-effect-rose-wind relationship in arable soils with varying degrees of metal contamination as a result of long-term anthropogenic pollution.

Risk assessment, spatial distribution, and source identification of heavy metals in surface soils in Zhijin County, Guizhou Province, China.

Zhijin County is a typical mineral resource-based city in Southwest China. The problem of heavy metals (HM) in the soil in Zhijin County must be considered during regional economic and ecological development. A total of 2436 soil samples (0‒20cm depth) were collected to analyze the soil pH, organic matter content, and HM spatial distribution and sources. The HM concentrations in the surface soil were found to be higher than the national surface soil background values. Absolute principal component sore-multivariate linear regression (APCS-MLR) showed that the HM sources in the surface soil of Zhijin County were industrial and agricultural activities (48.09%), natural sources (34.47%), and atmospheric deposition (17.43%); 65.53% of HM were produced by anthropogenic activities, which were mainly associated with the mineral industry. The impact of anthropogenic pollution decreased in the following order: paddy field (66.45%) > rainfed cropland (65.91%) > barren land (61.98%) > garden land (61.82%) > forest land (59.11%) > grassland (53.31%). The potential ecological risk of surface soil is moderate, while low-risk areas were mainly distributed in mountainous regions in the north, southwest, and east. The study emphasizes the source and risk assessment of HM in the surface soil of Zhijin County. The results can be used for environmental management planning, decision-making, and risk assessment.

Advances in Hybrid Composites for Photocatalytic Applications: A Review.

Heterogeneous photocatalysts have garnered extensive attention as a sustainable way for environmental remediation and energy storage process. Water splitting, solar energy conversion, and pollutant degradation are examples of nowadays applications where semiconductor-based photocatalysts represent a potentially disruptive technology. The exploitation of solar radiation for photocatalysis could generate a strong impact by decreasing the energy demand and simultaneously mitigating the impact of anthropogenic pollutants. However, most of the actual photocatalysts work only on energy radiation in the Near-UV region (<400 nm), and the studies and development of new photocatalysts with high efficiency in the visible range of the spectrum are required. In this regard, hybrid organic/inorganic photocatalysts have emerged as highly potential materials to drastically improve visible photocatalytic efficiency. In this review, we will analyze the state-of-art and the developments of hybrid photocatalysts for energy storage and energy conversion process as well as their application in pollutant degradation and water treatments.

Detection of human Mastadenovirus C in wild guinea pigs (Cavia aperea aperea) feces.

The Adenoviridae family is composed by a high diversity of viruses that are extremely resistant in environment and are frequently excreted in animal reservoir feces for long periods. The knowledge of adenovirus (AdV) diversity among wild species may be important for the understanding of the epidemiology of putative emerging diseases. Cavia aperea aperea, commonly known as wild guinea pigs, wild cavies, or preas, are small herbivorous rodents widely distributed throughout South America and classified in Caviidae family, as well as domestic guinea pigs and capybaras. In order to investigate their potential role as reservoir of zoonotic agents, the present study aimed to verify the presence of AdV in fecal samples of 14 preas from Northeast Brazil. When submitted to nested PCR, two out of 14 samples (14.28%) were positive for AdV and classified as human Mastadenovirus C (HAdV-C) using DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Wild guinea pigs are synanthropic rodents that live in close contact with humans. The investigation of viral agents in rodents is important due to their potential role as reservoirs of human and animal pathogens. Moreover, the present work presents the first known evidence of HAdV in wild guinea pig stool samples, which may represent both the impact of anthropogenic pollution to wild animals and an important knowledge in terms of human health.

Multiple anthropogenic stressors in the Galápagos Islands' complex social-ecological system: Interactions of marine pollution, fishing pressure, and climate change with management recommendations.

For decades, multiple anthropogenic stressors have threatened the Galápagos Islands. Widespread marine pollution such as oil spills, persistent organic pollutants, metals, and ocean plastic pollution has been linked to concerning changes in the ecophysiology and health of Galápagos species. Simultaneously, illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing are reshaping the composition and structure of endemic and native Galápagos pelagic communities. In this novel review, we discuss the impact of anthropogenic pollutants and their associated ecotoxicological implications for Galápagos species in the face of climate change stressors. We emphasize the importance of considering fishing pressure and marine pollution, in combination with climate-change impacts, when assessing the evolutionary fitness of species inhabiting the Galápagos. For example, the survival of endemic marine iguanas has been negatively affected by organic hydrocarbons introduced via oil spills, and endangered Galápagos sea lions exhibit detectable concentrations of DDT, triggering potential feminization effects and compromising the species' survival. During periods of ocean warming (El Niño events) when endemic species undergo nutritional stress, climate change may increase the vulnerability of these species to the impacts of pollutants, resulting in the species reaching its population tipping point. Marine plastics are emerging as a deleterious and widespread threat to endemic species. The Galápagos is treasured for its historical significance and its unparalleled living laboratory and display of evolutionary processes; however, this unique and iconic paradise will remain in jeopardy until multidisciplinary and comprehensive preventative management plans are put in place to mitigate and eliminate the effects of anthropogenic stressors facing the islands today. We present a critical analysis and synthesis of anthropogenic stressors with some progress from local and international institutional efforts and call to action more precautionary measures along with new management philosophies focused on understanding the processes of change through research to champion the conservation of the Galápagos. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2023;19:870-895. © 2022 SETAC.

Ecological health evaluation of rivers based on phytoplankton biological integrity index and water quality index on the impact of anthropogenic pollution: A case of Ashi River Basin.

Based on the phytoplankton community matrices in the Ashi River Basin (ASRB), Harbin city, we developed an evaluation method using the phytoplankton index of biotic integrity (P-IBI) to evaluate ecological health while investigating the response of P-IBI to anthropogenic activities. We compared the effectiveness of P-IBI with that of the water quality index (WQI) in assessing ecological health. Between April and October 2019, phytoplankton and water samples were collected at 17 sampling sites in the ASRB on a seasonal basis. Our results showed that seven phyla were identified, comprising 137 phytoplankton species. From a pool of 35 candidate indices, five critical ecological indices (Shannon–Wiener index, total biomass, percentage of motile diatoms, percentage of stipitate diatom, and diatom quotient) were selected to evaluate the biological integrity of phytoplankton in the ASRB. The ecological status of the ASRB as measured by the P-IBI and WQI exhibited a similar spatial pattern. It showed a spatial decline in ecological status in accordance with the flow of the river. These results highlighted that P-IBI was a reliable tool to indicate the interaction between habitat conditions and environmental factors in the ASRB. Our findings contribute to the ecological monitoring and protection of rivers impacted by anthropogenic pollution.

Groundwater characterization and non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risk assessment of nitrate exposure in the Mahanadi River Basin of India

Agriculture is the mainstay of India's economy and chemical fertilizers have been extensively used to meet increasing demands. Anthropogenic interventions at the soil surface, especially the application of nitrogenous fertilizers in agricultural fields, provide essential nutrients but become major pollutant sources in terrestrial ecosystems and aquatic environments. Groundwater samples from phreatic aquifers of the Mahanadi River Basin, Chhattisgarh, India, showed that the Ca2+-Mg2+-HCO3ˉ freshwater type dominates, followed by the Ca2+-Mg2+-Clˉ and Na+-HCO3ˉ types. Increasing trends in the ionic ratios of (NO3ˉ+Clˉ)/HCO3ˉ over TDS and of NO3ˉ/Clˉ over Clˉ indicated the significant impact of anthropogenic pollution on groundwater contamination. Deterministic and probabilistic approaches were used to assess the non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks of nitrate to children and adults. Both approaches produced the same results and indicated children were more prone to non-carcinogenic health risk than adults. An excess gastric cancer risk (ER) exposure model showed that approximately 42% of the groundwater samples had a non-negligible ER (1.00 × 10−4 to 1.00 × 10−5). Sensitivity analysis indicated groundwater nitrate concentration, ingestion rate, and the percentage of nitrite from nitrate were the most significant variables in determining HI and ER. It is suggested to adopt proper management of control policies for reducing the elevated groundwater nitrate concentration in the present study area.

Anthropogenic impact on the reproductive health of two wild Patagonian fish species with differing reproductive strategies

A particularly concerning outcome of environmental pollution is the disturbance of reproductive processes. However, studies on the impacts of pollution on the reproductive health of fish inhabiting South American environments are limited. We studied the impact of anthropogenic pollution on the reproductive health of two sympatric Patagonian marine fish species with different reproductive strategies: the live-bearing rockfish Sebastes oculatus and the egg-laying Brazilian sandperch Pinguipes brasilianus. Our findings reveal that both species presented some degree of reproductive disturbance when inhabiting an affected site, but the specific alterations differed depending on the species, sex, and season. During the reproductive season, 17β-estradiol levels were elevated in females of both species living in polluted areas, while no differences in androgen levels were observed in either species or season. The gonadosomatic index (GSI) was affected in both sexes of S. oculatus during the non-reproductive season, while the gonadal stages were mainly affected in both sexes of P. brasilianus. No signs of intersex condition were observed. Our results highlight the importance of including diverse reproductive parameters to better understand anthropogenic effects on wild animals. Long-term studies including other fish species and including offspring (to evaluate possible transgenerational effects) will be necessary to determine the consequences of the documented reproductive alterations, particularly whether fish species inhabiting Patagonian marine reef areas will be able to reproductively adapt to increasing marine anthropogenic disturbances.