Environmental Health Implications Research Articles

Impacts of cyanobacterial metabolites on fish: Socioeconomic and environmental considerations

AbstractThe increasing global population has led to rising demand for food, particularly protein. As an excellent source of protein, fish play a crucial role in meeting this demand, making aquaculture a highly impactful industry. Floating cages have been developed as a method of fish management and production to achieve high productivity and volume. However, these intensive fish farming practices can contribute to eutrophication, leading to changes in primary producers and promoting the excessive proliferation of cyanobacteria. Cyanobacteria blooms pose significant consequences to aquatic ecosystems, including potential risks to fish exposed to harmful cyanobacterial metabolites. Cyanobacterial metabolites encompass various chemical classes, such as terpenoids, carotenoids, alkaloids, cyanopeptides, amino acids, organophosphates, macrolides, and lipopolysaccharides. Some of these compounds' toxicity and impact on fish farms still need to be better understood. Cyanotoxins and off‐flavour compounds in fish farms can pose risks to water and fish quality and potential health hazards for humans throughout the food chain. Therefore, cyanobacteria in fish farms can have significant economic, environmental, and public health implications. This review examines the concerns associated with cyanobacterial natural products in fish farming, including off‐flavours, known cyanotoxins, and other potentially toxic compounds, while exploring their socioeconomic and environmental risks.

Differential Modulatory Effects of Methylmercury (MeHg) on Ahr-regulated Genes in Extrahepatic Tissues of C57BL/6 Mice.

Methylmercury (MeHg) and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzodioxin (TCDD) are potent environmental pollutants implicated in the modulation of xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes, particularly the cytochrome P450 1 family (CYP1) which is regulated by the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR). However, the co-exposure to MeHg and TCDD raises concerns about their potential combined effects, necessitating thorough investigation. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the individual and combined effects of MeHg and TCDD on AHR-regulated CYP1 enzymes in mouse extrahepatic tissues. Therefore, C57BL/6 mice were administrated with MeHg (2.5mg/kg) in the absence and presence of TCDD (15μg/kg) for 6 and 24h. The AHR-regulated CYP1 mRNA and protein expression levels were measured in the heart, lung, and kidney, using RT real-time PCR and western blot, respectively. Interestingly, treatment with MeHg exhibited mainly inhibitory effect, particularly, it decreased the basal level of Cyp1a1 and Cyp1a2 mRNA and protein, and that was more evident at the 24h time point in kidney followed by heart. Similarly, when mice were co-exposed, MeHg was able to reduce the TCDD-induced Cyp1a1 and Cyp1a2 expression, however, MeHg potentiated kidney Cyp1b1 mRNA expression, opposing the observed change on its protein level. Also, MeHg induced antioxidant NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1) mRNA and protein in kidney, while heme-oxygenase (HO-1) mRNA was up-regulated in heart and kidney. In conclusion, this study reveals intricate interplay between MeHg and TCDD on AHR-regulated CYP1 enzymes, with interesting inhibitory effects observed that might be significant for procarcinogen metabolism. Varied responses across tissues highlight the potential implications for environmental health.

Poisoned for gold: Assessing the spatial extent of heavy metal contamination within the Tutua-Bura-Angoben Shelter Belt Forest Reserve in Ghana

The Tutua-Bura-Angoben Shelter Belt project in Ghana, aimed at combating desertification and land degradation, faces an unexpected threat from heavy metal contamination. This study investigates the levels and spatial distribution of arsenic (As), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) within the forest reserve, focusing on the implications for environmental health and sustainable development goals (SDGs). Using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), 195 soil samples from the forest reserve were analyzed for heavy metal concentrations. The results reveal significant contamination, with arsenic levels ranging from 3.19 to 138.63 ppm, and an alarming 26 % of the reserve exceeding the 20 ppm threshold for arsenic. Copper, lead, and zinc showed lower contamination levels, with mean concentrations of 13.83 ppm, 7.63 ppm, and 27.53 ppm, respectively. Spatial interpolation using kriging in ArcGIS highlighted localized hotspots of arsenic contamination, primarily influenced by nearby Artisanal Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) activities. The study underscores the urgent need for targeted environmental management strategies, including stricter waste management protocols, sustainable mining practices, and community engagement to mitigate the contamination risks and preserve the ecological integrity of the Tutua-Bura-Angoben Shelter Belt.

Environmental Chemistry: A Study on Air Pollution

Environmental chemistry plays a crucial role in understanding the interactions between human activities and the environment. Air pollution, a significant concern within environmental chemistry, entails the presence of harmful substances in the atmosphere, adversely affecting ecosystems, human health, and climate. This study delves into the complexities of air pollution, examining its primary and secondary pollutants, and the natural and anthropogenic sources contributing to its prevalence. Primary pollutants, such as particulate matter (PM), sulfur dioxide (SO), nitrogen oxides (NO), carbon monoxide (CO), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), directly enter the atmosphere from various sources. In contrast, secondary pollutants like ozone (O) and secondary particulate matter form through atmospheric reactions involving primary pollutants. Natural sources, including volcanic eruptions, wildfires, dust storms, biogenic emissions, and sea spray, contribute to background pollution levels. However, human activities, particularly industrial processes, transportation, agriculture, and residential practices, significantly amplify pollutant emissions. This paper focuses on air pollution, a critical aspect of environmental chemistry, examining its sources, types of pollutants, and their effects. The study highlights natural and anthropogenic sources of air pollution, emphasizing the importance of emission factors in understanding pollution levels. Through an extensive review of existing literature and data, this paper aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of air pollution and its implications for environmental and public health.

Public awareness of medication disposal and its impact on environmental and public health: A cross-sectional study in the United Arab Emirates

ObjectiveThis study addresses a critical gap in understanding public awareness and practices related to medication disposal in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), emphasizing the environmental and public health implications of improper disposal methods. MethodsUsing a cross-sectional online survey distributed across the UAE, we engaged adults in assessing their awareness levels, disposal practices, and the influence of demographic factors on these practices. The survey included questions on knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors toward medication disposal, and the analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and Poisson regression models. ResultsAmong the 385 respondents, the majority demonstrated awareness of the need for proper medication disposal, yet a disconnect between awareness and actual disposal practices was evident. Notably, 66 % reported disposing of expired medications in garbage, underscoring a prevalent practice with potential environmental hazards. Regression analysis highlighted no significant demographic influence on disposal behaviors, suggesting a uniform need for enhanced public education across all population sectors. ConclusionsThe findings revealed a pressing need for targeted educational campaigns and accessible medication takeback programs in the UAE to bridge the gap between awareness and proper disposal practices. Such initiatives are crucial for mitigating the environmental and public health risks associated with the improper disposal of medications and advocating a multi-stakeholder approach to foster sustainable disposal habits.

THE ECOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF VIRUSES IN AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS: A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS


 It is widely acknowledged that viruses are essential elements of the aquatic Environment, contributing significantly to various ecological processes and altering the dynamics of aquatic ecosystems. The variety of viruses in aquatic habitats, including freshwater and marine ecosystems, is enormous. Numerous different types of organisms, such as bacteria, algae, protozoa, and even multicellular organisms, are susceptible to these viral interactions, and these organisms have a significant impact on the design and operation of aquatic ecosystems. In aquatic ecosystems, viral-mediated mortality facilitates the recycling of nutrients and energy by influencing the composition of microbial populations. Additionally, viruses participate in genetic transfer procedures and are essential for horizontal gene transfer. They also serve as genetic material carriers, allowing the transfer of genes between various organisms. This phenomenon affects the ecological balance in the aquatic Environment and the evolution and adaption of microbial communities. Viruses can be used as instruments to investigate microbial ecology, comprehend host-virus interactions, and create fresh antiviral tactics. Viruses are essential to the health and stability of aquatic environments. Aquatic viruses have attracted attention because of their potential utility in various sectors, including biotechnology and medical research; they are essential elements of the aquatic environment due to their capacity to control microbial populations, reduce toxic algal blooms, and offer insights into microbial ecology. Our comprehension of these complex interactions and their larger implications for environmental health and management will be improved by additional study and investigation of viral dynamics and interactions within aquatic ecosystems. This review attempts to present an overview of the significance of viruses in aquatic ecosystems by highlighting their variety of roles and interactions.

Exploring the Environmental Health Implications of Invisible, Unnoticeable, and Overlooked Mistakes in Hospital Design: A Study in Egypt

Hospital Planning and design can have a significant impact on environmental health, and even seemingly minor mistakes or oversights can contribute to negative health outcomes for patients and hospital staff. This paper examines the impact of invisible, unnoticeable, and overlooked mistakes in hospital design on environmental health in Egypt, with a focus on identifying the risks associated with these mistakes and exploring strategies for mitigating negative outcomes. Through a review of the literature, this paper identifies several key environmental factors that can contribute to negative health outcomes in hospitals, including poor air quality, inadequate ventilation, noise pollution, infection, poor materials quality, inadequate lighting and any other factors could harm the hospital occupants. Additionally, this paper examines the impact of these factors on patient outcomes, including length of stay, recovery time, and overall health and well-being. Finally, this paper explores and studies these mistakes which are considered a frequent phenomenon in a large number of hospitals in Egypt to determine these environmental health risks. Overall, this paper highlights the importance of considering even the smallest details in hospital design, and offers recommendations for promoting healthy and safe hospital environments in Egypt.

Effects of Climate Change on Environmental Health in the Jakarta Metropolitan Area

This research investigates community perceptions of climate change and its implications for environmental health in the Jakarta Metropolitan Area (JMA) through a quantitative analysis of 150 participants. The study assesses awareness levels, attitudes, and adaptive measures, employing a regression analysis to identify factors influencing climate change awareness. Results reveal a generally high level of awareness, with specific concerns about air and water quality, vector-borne diseases, and perceived threats to overall well-being. The community actively engages in adaptive measures, expressing a desire for increased governmental involvement. The regression analysis highlights age, educational background, and socio-economic status as significant predictors of climate change awareness. These findings provide valuable insights for policymakers, emphasizing the importance of targeted educational campaigns, community engagement initiatives, and addressing awareness disparities to enhance climate resilience in urban settings.

Beekeeping role in enhancing food security and environmental public health

This conceptual article delves into the intricate relationship between public health and environmental health, using the underutilisation of beekeeping in the United States as a case study. The concept of food security, established after the 1996 World Food Summit, encompasses pillars of availability, accessibility, utilization, and stability. This thorough framework creates the foundation for comprehending the crucial aspects of food security and prepares the reader for a careful examination of the implications presented by the US honeybee colonies’ decline. The decline in honeybee colonies in the United States poses a significant threat to food production. Loss of honeybee colonies and the lack of attention to apiculture have far-reaching consequences for public and environmental health. This article explores the often-overlooked intersection of food security and beekeeping, recognizing the intricate dependencies between pollinators and crop sustainability. Honeybees, crucial pollinators for essential food crops, offer not only ecological benefits but also socio-economic opportunities. The article also highlights beekeeping’s diverse contributions, such as enhanced pollination, increased crop yields, ecosystem health, and climate change resilience. Despite the evident benefits of beekeeping for food security and the nutritional richness of bee products, commercial beekeeping in the USA is monopolised by a mere 1.4% of beekeepers. The 1.4% commercial beekeepers control 89.7% of country colonies, an indication of the huge neglect of apiculture. This neglect led to an alarming 48.2% loss of honeybee colonies between April 2022 and April 2023. This unprecedented decline, often overlooked, highlights a deficiency in attention and strategic planning within agriculture, underscoring broader implications for public and environmental health in the United States. This article introduces a theoretical framework incorporating ecological systems, social ecology, system theory, resource-based views, livelihood diversification, and sustainability, emphasizing their role in understanding and improving food security through beekeeping.

Environmental processes and health implications potentially mediated by dust-borne bacteria.

Understanding microbial migration and survival mechanisms in dust events (DEs) can elucidate genetic and metabolic exchange between environments and help predict the atmospheric pathways of ecological and health-related microbial stressors. Dust-borne microbial communities have been previously characterized, but the impact and interactions between potentially active bacteria within transported communities remain limited. Here, we analysed samples collected during DEs in Israel, using amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA genes and transcripts. Different air trajectories and wind speeds were associated not only with the genomic microbial community composition variations but also with specific 16S rRNA bacterial transcripts. Potentially active dust-borne bacteria exhibited positive interactions, including carbon and nitrogen cycling, biotransformation of heavy metals, degradation of organic compounds, biofilm formation, and the presence of pathogenic taxa. This study provides insights into the potential interactive relationships and survival strategies of microorganisms within the extreme dust environment.

Sources and influences of atmospheric nonpolar organic compounds in Nanchang, central China: Full-year monitoring with a focus on winter pollution episodes

Nonpolar organic compounds (NPOCs) are found in atmospheric aerosols and have significant implications for environmental and human health. Although many studies have quantitatively estimated the sources of NPOCs in different cities, few have evaluated their main influencing factors (e.g., emissions and meteorological conditions) at relatively long (e.g., different seasons) and short timescales (e.g., several days during pollution episodes). A better understanding of this issue could optimise strategies for dealing with organic contamination in atmospheric particulate matter. NPOCs (including n-alkanes, PAHs and hopanes) in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) were sampled daily at Nanchang, China, from 1 November 2020 to 31 October 2021. Analyses of specific biomarkers and diagnostic ratios indicate that the NPOCs mainly had anthropogenic sources. The quantitative estimates of a positive matrix factorization model show that fossil fuel and biomass combustion were the main sources of n-alkanes (contributing 64.8 %), while vehicle exhaust was the main source of PAHs (47.0 %) and hopanes (52.3 %). Seasonally, the contributions from coal and/or biomass combustion were higher in autumn and winter (40.2–56.3 %) than in spring and summer (25.7–44.3 %), while contributions from natural plants, petroleum volatilization and vehicle exhaust were higher in spring and summer (14.7–63.5 %) than in autumn and winter (8.1–48.9 %). Redundancy analysis shows that increased emissions, especially from coal and/or biomass combustion, are the main cause of increases in NPOCs, during both annual sampling periods and winter pollution episodes. Over the year, higher temperature and longer sunshine hours correspond to lower NPOC concentrations. In winter pollution episodes, increases in temperature and relative humidity correspond to increases in NPOC concentrations. Our results suggest that controlling primary emissions, especially from coal and biomass combustion, may be an effective way to prevent increases in NPOC concentrations.

Increases in trade secret designations in hydraulic fracturing fluids and their potential implications for environmental health and water quality

Hydraulic fracturing is an increasingly common method of oil and gas extraction across the United States. Many of the chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing processes have been proven detrimental to human and environmental health. While disclosure frameworks have advanced significantly in the last 20 years, the practice of withholding chemical identities as “trade secrets” or “proprietary claims” continues to represent a major absence in the data available on hydraulic fracturing. Here, we analyze rates of trade secret claims using FracFocus, a nationwide database of hydraulic fracturing data, from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2022. We use the open-source tool Open-FF, which collates FracFocus data, makes it accessible for systematic analysis, and performs several quality-control measures. We found that the use by mass of chemicals designated as trade secrets has increased over the study time period, from 728 million pounds in 2014 to 2.96 billion pounds in 2022 (or a 43.7% average yearly increase). A total of 10.4 billion pounds of chemicals were withheld as trade secrets in this time period. The water volume used (and therefore total mass of fracturing fluid) per fracturing job has shown a large increase from 2014 to 2022, which partly explains the increase in mass of chemicals withheld as trade secrets over this time period, even as total fracturing jobs and individual counts of proprietary records have decreased. Our analysis also shows increasing rates of claiming proppants (which can include small grains of sand, ceramic, or other mineral substances used to prop open fractures) as proprietary. However, the mean and median masses of non-proppant constituents designated as trade secrets have also increased over the study period. We also find that the total proportion of all disclosures including proprietary designations has increased by 1.1% per year, from 79.3% in 2014 to 87.5% in 2022. In addition, most disclosures designate more than one chemical record as proprietary: trade secret withholding is most likely to apply to 10–25% of all records in an individual disclosure. We also show the top ten reported purposes that most commonly include proprietary designations, after removing vague or multiple entries, the first three of which are corrosion inhibitors, friction reducers, and surfactants. Finally, we report the top ten operators and suppliers using and supplying proprietary chemicals, ranked by mass used or supplied, over our study period. These results suggest the importance of revisiting the role of proprietary designations within state and federal disclosure mechanisms.

Environmental and health implications of Pb-bearing particles in settled urban dust from an arid city affected by Pb–Zn factory emissions

Metal-rich particles originating from non-ferrous metallurgical activities are the primary source of atmospheric metals in urban environments. These particles vary in size, morphology, and elemental compositions and they undergo weathering processes that alter their composition and affect their toxicity. This study focuses on lead (Pb)-rich particles in settled urban dust within an arid and dusty city, Torreón in North Mexico, affected by Met–Mex Peñoles complex, one of the world's largest Ag–Cd–Pb–Zn smelting and refining facilities in operating since 1901. Torreón is characterized by arid conditions, temperature fluctuations, and low humidity. Dry atmospheric particles were collected in 2015 and 2017 from Torreón's urban area within a 3 km radius of the Met–Mex Peñoles complex. We used various analytical techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) to determine the size, morphology, elemental composition and mineralogy of Pb-bearing particles. Our analysis revealed a range of Pb-bearing particle sizes and morphologies with varying Pb (0.3 to 51–87.2%) and other element contents, such as As (0.04 to 1–3.4%), Cd (0.4 to 3.3–5.1%), Cu (0.51–14.1%), Hg (ND-0.6%), and Zn (1.7 to 79–90.3%). XRD analysis confirmed the presence of Pb and Zn sulfides, Pb carbonates, Pb sulfate, and Pb oxides in urban dust, both as individual particles and agglomerates. Primary Pb minerals were linked to fugitive feed concentrates and smelter flue gas at Met–Mex Peñoles, while secondary Pb minerals, like Pb carbonates, Pb sulfate, and Pb oxides, resulted from direct emissions and weathering processes. Compared to galena, secondary Pb minerals exhibit higher chemical availability in the environment, posing greater risks to the environment and human health. As the particles analyzed are presumed to be resuspended rather than freshly emitted by Met–Mex, the presence of secondary Pb minerals in settled urban dust is predominantly linked to weathering processes. The physical and chemical transformations in Pb-rich particles contribute to increased Pb bioavailability and toxicity in urban dust, with substantial implications for environmental and human health. These findings highlight the potential consequences of weathered Pb-rich particle in urban areas, particularly in the arid and dusty city of Torreón.

Exposure response relationships of annoyance and vibration and noise from passenger and freight trains in Sweden - results from the EpiVib study

Rail traffic is increasing in Europe, still little is known about the health effects of rail traffic vibration and noise for people living close to the railways. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between vibration respective noise from rail traffic and persons highly annoyed by vibration. The study population (N=7280) was randomly selected from residents (18-80 years) living within 1km of a trafficked railway in Sweden. Vibration and noise levels were modelled for each participant's home address. Result show exposure-response relationships between levels of vibration and noise and annoyance for all types of trains, especially freight trains. The association between maximum vibration velocity at building foundation (Vmax) and high annoyance by vibration from freight trains, accounting for potential confounders was (OR=1.37 per 0.1mm/s Vmax; 95% CI 1.32-1.42). Similarly, for railway noise (LAFmax) (OR=1.19 per 1 dB LAFmax; 95% CI 1.17-1.21). Analysis suggests an interaction between noise and vibration, where the effect of noise level on the probability of vibration annoyance by vibration differs with vibration exposure and vice versa. These findings may have implications for environmental health and transportation planning. Keywords: rail traffic vibration, railway noise, annoyance by vibration, freight trains

Radiation risk assessment of quarry pit soil as construction material in Abeokuta, Nigeria: implications for environmental and public health

ABSTRACT Environmental and health risks posed by radionuclides in quarry pit soils are of great concern in environmental health monitoring. The current investigation was aimed at determining the natural radionuclide activity concentration (in Bq kg–1) of the understudied quarry pit granules used as construction materials. The collection and preparation of pit soil samples from Abeokuta quarry sites were done using standard methods, analysis of radiological parameters was carried out using hyperpure germanium (HPGe) spectrometer. Specific activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K were measured. The values obtained were greater than the world weighted average of 35, 30, and 400 Bq kg–1 for 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K, respectively. The absorbed dose, the annual effective dose, and the radium equivalent were calculated and demonstrated significant values. The radionuclide content of the samples is relatively high and the use of pit soils as a building material, therefore, raises radiological concerns for dwellers in this area and requires periodic monitoring and undergoing a radiation protection program.

Water Physico-Chemical Indicators and Metal Assessment of Teceu Lake and the Adjacent Groundwater Located in a Natura 2000 Protected Area, NW of Romania

This study closely analyzes the water quality dynamics of Teceu Lake, situated in a Natura 2000 protected area in Romania. The research investigates seasonal variations and interconnections with groundwater, assessing various ecological impacts. The main physico-chemical indicators of water, such as electrical conductivity (EC), dissolved oxygen (DO), oxygen saturation (OS), temperature, pH, turbidity, ammonium concentration (NH4+), nitrates (NO3−), nitrites (NO2−), orthophosphates (PO43−), water hardness, alkalinity (A), and chlorides (Cl−), were measured over the January–December 2022 period. Metal concentrations for both major metals (Na, K, Ca, Mg, Al) and trace metals (Li, Ga, Fe, Mn, Pb, Cu, Zn, Ni, Ti, Mo, Sr, Ba) were assessed. The evolution of the physico-chemical indicators revealed an increase in nutrient compounds (ammonium and phosphates) during the spring and autumn months. The EC values ranged from 180–444 μS/cm for the lake and 1575–2480 μS/cm for groundwater. The pH values (7.12–7.96) indicated a slightly alkaline environment. DO levels (6.79–11.21 mg/L) indicated good water quality. Chlorides exceeded levels in drinking water in some instances. Water hardness varied due to pH, temperature, and atmospheric pressure. Metal composition revealed diverse levels of aluminum, barium, nickel, copper, zinc, and manganese, which carries implications for environmental and human health. The water quality index (WQI) score, which is based on major ions, indicated that 93% of the groundwater samples were classified as excellent and good for drinking. WQI, based on the main physico-chemical indicators, revealed that 79.17% of the Teceu Lake-water samples and 41.66% of the groundwater samples gathered were classified as good quality; the difference indicated poor quality, especially in autumn. Q- and R-mode cluster analyses revealed distinct clusters for seasonal months and sampling points, suggesting shared sources and geological influences. Notable connections between physico-chemical indicators and metal content were identified, emphasizing the need for a tailored conservation strategy. Correlation analyses highlighted both positive and negative relationships between metal pairs. Understanding these parameters is vital for water resource management and preserving biodiversity in the region. The results of this study are important for monitoring pollution in Lake Teceu and might prompt local communities and authorities to take measures to reduce and prevent pollution.

An Investigation into the Environmental and Human Health Implications of Microplastic Toxicity

The pervasive distribution of microplastics in the environment has become a global concern, with potential repercussions for human health, ecosystems, and biological toxicity. This review synthesizes current research on the environmental distribution, potential pathways of human exposure, and health implications of microplastics. We highlight the methodologies employed in quantifying and characterizing microplastics, as well as the toxicological assessments conducted in various biological matrices. Our findings indicate a significant correlation between microplastic exposure and adverse health outcomes, necessitating urgent policy interventions and further research.

Tracking the Evolution of Microbial Communities on Microplastics through a Wastewater Treatment Process: Insight into the “Plastisphere”

Microplastics (MPs), which result from the breakdown of plastic waste, have become ubiquitous in various environmental compartments. The “plastisphere”, referring to the unique bacterial communities inhabiting plastic debris, includes pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are hotspots for plastisphere formation, but significant releases of MPs still occur. This study investigates the microbial communities on polystyrene (PS) MPs through in situ deployment across primary, secondary, and tertiary WWTP stages. Biofilms formed on the PS MPs exhibited greater bacterial diversity than background waters. Certain genera acted as pioneers in the biofilms, attracting and facilitating the accumulation of other microbes from background waters. The biofilms formed on the MPs became more resistant to treatment processes compared to freely floating bacteria. This study sheds light on the evolution of microbial communities on MPs within WWTPs and their roles as carriers of microbes in effluents, with implications for environmental and public health. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for effective control over MPs and microbial pollution in WWTPs.

Climate change projected to impact structural hillslope connectivity at the global scale

Structural connectivity describes how landscapes facilitate the transfer of matter and plays a critical role in the flux of water, solutes, and sediment across the Earth’s surface. The strength of a landscape’s connectivity is a function of climatic and tectonic processes, but the importance of these drivers is poorly understood, particularly in the context of climate change. Here, we provide global estimates of structural connectivity at the hillslope level and develop a model to describe connectivity accounting for tectonic and climate processes. We find that connectivity is primarily controlled by tectonics, with climate as a second order control. However, we show climate change is projected to alter global-scale connectivity at the end of the century (2070 to 2100) by up to 4% for increasing greenhouse gas emission scenarios. Notably, the Ganges River, the world’s most populated basin, is projected to experience a large increase in connectivity. Conversely, the Amazon River and the Pacific coast of Patagonia are projected to experience the largest decreases in connectivity. Modeling suggests that, as the climate warms, it could lead to increased erosion in source areas, while decreased rainfall may hinder sediment flow downstream, affecting landscape connectivity with implications for human and environmental health.

Assessing microbial diversity in soil samples along the Potomac River: implications for environmental health.

In this study, we investigated the microbial diversity and community composition of soil samples collected from various sites along the Potomac River within an urbanized region. The study integrates microbial analysis into an undergraduate chemistry curriculum, bridging theoretical education with practical, real-world applications. Our findings revealed the presence of both typical marine soil bacteria and bacterial taxa indicative of urbanization and waste runoff. Notably, the identified taxa shared among all samples demonstrated a strong presence of Burkholderiaceae, Nitrosomonadaceae, and Pedosphaeraceae, which are associated with agricultural pollution, organochlorine pesticide contamination, and bromochloromethane pollution. We observed significant variations in microbial community diversity across different sampling sites, emphasizing the influence of environmental factors on microbial abundance and diversity. These insights carry significant implications for understanding the consequences of urbanization on soil microbial communities along the Potomac River and can inform strategies for managing and preserving these ecosystems. Further research is warranted to elucidate the effects of soil health and microbial diversity in this region. IMPORTANCE This study integrates microbial analysis into an undergraduate chemistry class, offering students a hands-on approach to environmental research. We examined the soil along the urbanized Potomac River, discovering a mix of common marine microbes and others that are indicators of urban waste and pollution. Our findings provide valuable insights into the environmental impacts of urbanization on soil health and reveal the effectiveness of using modern genetic tools to teach students about real-world issues. This innovative educational approach not only deepens students' understanding of chemistry and ecology but also prepares them to be thoughtful, informed participants in addressing contemporary environmental challenges while shedding light on the state of the soil microbiome near and around the DC metro area.