Pollution Sources Research Articles

Applying a coupled model framework to assess global climate change impacts on the river-type algal blooms in the middle and lower reaches of the Hanjiang River, China

Global climate change (GCC), characterized by warming, affects the hydrological conditions at the basin scale and whether harmful algal blooms (HABs) occur at the scale of river ecological systems. Research on HABs mainly focuses on oceans and lakes, and there is still less research on the effects of GCC on river-type HABs that differ from oceans and lakes in hydrodynamic, water temperature, and nutrient conditions. This study constructed a coupled model framework that includes the GCC model, downscaling model, hydrological model, hydrodynamic model, and eutrophication model, analyzing and exploring the effect of changes in the aquatic ecological environment caused by GCC on river-type HABs in the middle and lower reaches of the Hanjiang River (MLHR). Firstly, based on the three GCC models and statistical downscaling model in CMIP6, high-precision meteorological factors such as future precipitation and temperature were obtained. Secondly, a coupled model based on SWAT and MIKE21-ECOLab was used with the digital elevation model (DEM), land use, soil, meteorological, pollution source, and measured terrain data in the MLHR Basin, which was validated by observed data. Thirdly, there has not been a significant increase in Chl-a, and the impact of GCC has not fundamentally changed the temporal and spatial distribution of HABs. Fourthly, this study proposes to use 0.2 m/s (Corresponding discharge 1160 m3/s) as the hydrodynamic condition for preventing and controlling HABs in the Shayang section.

Techno-economic and Life Cycle Assessment for the Zero-Carbon Emission Process of the Production of Methanol from VOCs

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are one of the major sources of air pollutants, and the efficient treatment technologies for VOCs have garnered significant attention. The conventional VOCs treatment system converts VOCs into CO2 and directly releases them into air, and it is one of the biggest challenges for carbon neutrality. This paper integrates emerging water electrolysis and carbon utilization technologies with traditional VOCs thermal conversion to produce methanol in a zero-emission approach, converting harmful hydrocarbon compounds into valuable fuel, methanol, without CO2 emission. This paper conducts a comprehensive techno-economic analysis (TEA) and life cycle assessment (LCA) to evaluate their economic and environmental impacts. The research demonstrates that under current market conditions, the treatment costs for this technology range between $5.8 and $8.8 per kilogram. However, when bio-methane is utilized as a VOCs accelerant in this project, it significantly reduces the project's carbon footprint compared to traditional VOCs treatment. It provides insight into the waste-to-worth process in a zero-carbon footprint approach

Insight into the effect of potassium amyl xanthate on copper pollution caused by chalcopyrite bio-dissolution.

Chalcopyrite has evolved into a crucial source of copper pollution, and xanthates inevitably coexisted with chalcopyrite in mine environments. However, the effect of xanthate on chalcopyrite bio-dissolution has not been illustrated yet. To fill this knowledge gap, the effect of potassium amyl xanthate (KAX) on copper release from chalcopyrite mediated by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans was investigated. The results revealed that KAX promoted chalcopyrite bio-dissolution, indicating more copper ions were released into the environment under these circumstances. KAX treatment groups displayed a lag period in ferrous ion oxidation, thereby providing a more favorable redox potential for chalcopyrite bio-dissolution. Bacterial adsorption experiments indicated the number of free cells increased with the addition of KAX, hence the Fe3+ regeneration was accelerated. Elemental composition analyses indicated the addition of KAX was conducive to reducing the formation of passivation substance (Sn2-/S0). Additionally, the reduced surface tension of solution in KAX treatment groups was beneficial for the oxidant diffusing into the pores and cracks of chalcopyrite. This study provided a better comprehension of the effect of xanthate on copper pollution caused by chalcopyrite bio-dissolution, as well as a step toward better guidance in preventing copper pollution at source.

Analysis and Risk Evaluation of Soil Microplastics in the Rohingya Refugee Camp Area, Bangladesh: A Comprehensive Study

The global concern over the pollution-induced by microplastics (MPs) has intensified due to its adverse effects on the environment, particularly in terrestrial ecosystems, where it poses potential threats to soil quality and resident species. However, there is a noticeable research gap regarding soil MPs in dumping sites, specifically within the Rohingya Refugee Camp (RRC), the world's largest humanitarian crisis located in Bangladesh. The main objective of this study is to assess soil MPs' abundance, spatial distribution, and inherent risks in the RRC. The investigation involved extracting MPs from ten soil sampling sites in Kutupalong RRC, home to Rohingya refugees who sought refuge in Bangladesh following the 2017 ethnic atrocities in Northern Rakhine State, Myanmar. Stereomicroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were employed for identification purposes. The concentration of MPs in the study area varied from 67 to 126 (items/kg) (dry weight), with a mean concentration of 103.80 ± 20.671 (items/kg). MPs with sizes <0.5mm constituted the majority at 83%, with fragments (68%) being the prevailing shape, and transparent (63%) as the most abundant color. Predominant polymers included polyethylene (53%) and polypropylene (46%). Negative correlations were observed between MP abundance and pH and moisture content (p<0.05), while a positive correlation was found between MP abundance and organic matter. PCA results suggested that human-induced inappropriate waste and air deposition are the primary sources of soil MP pollution. Contamination factor values suggested moderate pollution with MPs in the study area. According to the geo-accumulation index (Igeo), the area was classified as pollution grade II, signifying 'uncontaminated to moderately contaminated.' However, pollutant load index and potential ecological risk index indicated Hazard Level-I and Pollution Grade-I, respectively. This study illuminates the contamination scenario with MPs, underscoring concerns for eco-environmental safety and providing crucial data for future investigations into MPs in terrestrial dumping habitats.

Using mercury and lead stable isotopes to assess mercury, lead, and trace metal source contributions to Great Salt Lake, Utah, USA

Great Salt Lake is a critical habitat for migratory birds that is threatened by elevated metal concentrations, including mercury (Hg) and lead (Pb), and is subject to severe hydrologic changes, such as declining lake level. When assessing metal profiles recorded in Great Salt Lake sediment, a large data gap exists regarding the sources of metals within the system, which is complicated by various source inputs to the lake and complex biogeochemistry. Here, we leverage Hg and Pb stable isotopes to track relative changes in metal source contributions to Great Salt Lake over time. Mercury and Pb concentrations increase in sediments deposited after 1920 and peak between 1965 and 1995, following closure of several local smelters and the onset of increased emission controls. The nominal associations above are confirmed via Hg stable isotopes in pre-1920 background sediments, which reflect atmospheric inputs from regional and global origin, whereas Hg and Pb stable isotopes together indicate that elevated metal concentrations in mid-late 20th century sediments reflect increased mining/smelting inputs. The observed minimal rebound towards pre-1920 Pb isotope signatures in 21st century sediments indicates that mining/smelting inputs, though reduced, remain a primary source of Pb to Great Salt Lake. In contrast, the more pronounced rebound of Hg stable isotope signatures to pre-1920 values indicate a greater contribution of atmospheric inputs of regional/global origin to current Hg inputs, though Hg concentrations are ~10 times greater than pre-1920 background values due to global increases in atmospheric Hg concentrations or possibly slow recovery from local contamination. The importance of regional/global Hg sources to the system suggests that reductions in Hg bioaccumulation in the open water food webs of Great Salt Lake are more dependent on national and global reductions in Hg emissions and management strategies to limit methylmercury production within system. This work highlights the utility of using coupled Hg and Pb stable isotope values to assess trace metal pollution sources and pathways in aquatic systems.

Characterizing persistent organic pollutants in seawater at a multifunctional international harbor influenced by industrial riverbank activities.

The objective of this study is to comprehensively characterize persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in seawater at Kaohsiung Harbor, focusing on their concentrations, partitioning behaviors, and profiles in both particle and liquid phases. We analyzed 100L seawater for each sample, finding total dioxin-like toxicity (PCDD/Fs+PCBs + PBDD/Fs) ranging from 0.00936 to 0.167pg WHO-TEQ/L, with PCDD/Fs accounting for 68% of total toxicity. POPs predominantly appeared in the particle phase, observed in over 80% of samples, except for PCBs. The observed correlations between particulate matter (PM) and chlorinated POPs at sites receiving river effluents suggest shared pollution sources. The liquid partition of PCDD/Fs, PCBs, and PBDEs in the seawater shows an inverse relationship with log Kow and a direct proportionality with solubility, particularly above 0.1μg/L. Furthermore, PBDEs in seawater can transform into PBDD/Fs upon UV light exposure, highlighting another potential pathway for the persistence and spread of these harmful contaminants in the environment. These findings emphasize the need for field-based investigations to assess PBDF formation in aquatic environments and underscore the importance of stronger mitigation strategies, including better wastewater treatment and stricter discharge regulations to reduce POPs in marine ecosystems.

Multimodel-based quantitative source apportionment and risk assessment of soil heavy metals: A reliable method to achieve regional pollution traceability and management

To strengthen the control of pollution sources and promote soil pollution management of agricultural land, this study constructed a comprehensive source apportionment framework, which significantly improved the reliability of potential source analysis compared with the traditional single model. The spatial distribution pattern of agricultural soil heavy metals (SHMs) content in Lintong, a typical river valley city in China, was determined and the degree of contamination was evaluated. A scientific source apportionment methodological framework was constructed through correlation analysis methods together with multiple source apportionment receptor models. Finally, the Monte Carlo simulation method was used to derive the results of the human health risk assessment (HHRA). The results revealed the following: (1) Agricultural soils were moderately and mildly polluted, accounting for 28.8 % and 71.2 % of the total number of sampling points, respectively. (2) The overall correlation of heavy metals (HMs) was strong according to the coupling analysis of the SHMs, in which a strong correlation (0.8–1) was reached among Cu, Ni, Pb, Cr and Zn, indicating that these HMs were most likely homologous or composite. (3) Multimodel analysis of the SHMs sources revealed that the first and second principal components were agricultural (41.36 %) and industrial (19.69 %) sources, respectively, and the remaining principal components were road traffic, natural factors, and atmospheric deposition or surface runoff, respectively. (4) The average comprehensive noncarcinogenic health risk indices for adults and children were 4.2259E-02 and 1.4194E-01, respectively, which were within the slight risk range, indicating that the risk caused by SHMs to the human body can be almost negligible. This study adopted a mixed method to reveal the risk of SHMs pollution and its sources, which provides some reference and technical support for traceability analysis, zoning control, and health risk studies of regional pollutants and is helpful for formulating scientific management measures and targeting control policies.

Mapping key areas to protect high-value and high-vulnerability groundwater from pollution load: Method for management.

Severe groundwater pollution has necessitated prioritizing the prevention and control of groundwater pollution (PCGP). The fundamental strategy of PCGP involves identifying priority areas. Vulnerability assessment, such as DRASTIC, and its extension, pollution risk assessment, have been developed to guide PCGP. However, managers find it struggling to implement these results in PCGP due to a lack of consideration for practical management demands. This study establishes a management-oriented method to map key areas for groundwater protection and PCGP, considering water sources, pollution source load, vulnerability, and function value, to facilitate management implementation. The key area includes the protection area aimed at protecting water sources and the control area focused on preventing and controlling pollution load in high-value and high-vulnerability groundwater. The effectiveness and practicality of this method are demonstrated through a case study in a large district reliant on groundwater, enabling the key area and corresponding suggestions to directly guide local management. This method offers a practical tool for PCGP worldwide and is expected to guide the sustainable development plan.

Uses of Urban Sewer Water for Agriculture in Nanded City, Maharashtra, India

Abstract: Estimating the effluent's quality is crucial for much wastewater research, as wastewater's chemical and physical characteristics influence its amount and usability. Field observations regarding the source or circumstances of wastewater occurring, the source of pollution, and other relevant factors that may impact wastewater quality are considered when assessing wastewater quality. The sustainability of wastewater for use is evaluated based on factors including pH, EC, TDS, hardness, total alkalinity, chloride, nitrate, sodium, and potassium. The assessment of sewer sustainability for irrigation is contingent upon its electrical conductivity and sodium content. These investigations were conducted in 2022 and 2023. Water samples gathered from industrial effluent, primarily used in farmlands and solely in the nearby areas, were examined in this study.

Systematic Review of Air Pollution in Ethiopia: Focusing on Indoor and Outdoor Sources, Health, Environment, Economy Impacts and Regulatory Frameworks

The varied geography (Bekele, 1996) and rapid economic growth of Ethiopia (World Bank, 2020) might have impact its air pollution patterns, with topography, elevation, and climate variability (Lemma Gonfa, 1996) playing significant roles. Environmental challenges, including deforestation and climate change, also affect air quality. This study offers a systematic review of air pollution research in Ethiopia, providing a thorough analysis of its health, environmental, and economic impacts, regional variations, and policy suggestions. It addresses both indoor and outdoor air pollution, assessing their wide-ranging effects. Data were gathered through an extensive search of peer-reviewed articles, policies, and guidelines using Google Scholar and reputable sources, following PRISMA guidelines. The review highlights critical sources of air pollution in Ethiopia, including indoor biomass fuel combustion and outdoor emissions from traffic and industries. Indoor air pollution, particularly from traditional biomass fuels like wood and dung, affects rural and peri-urban areas, leading to high levels of particulate matter and carbon monoxide. Outdoor pollution, driven by urbanization, industrial expansion, and vehicle emissions, worsens health issues and environmental damage. The study identifies severe health consequences, such as respiratory infections and cardiovascular diseases, with air pollution contributing to premature deaths and rising healthcare costs. Economic analysis highlights the significant costs related to healthcare, lost productivity, and infrastructure damage. Environmental impacts include harm to plant health, soil degradation, and contributions to climate change. Despite initiatives to improve air quality monitoring and regulation, challenges persist due to outdated policies, limited infrastructure, and insufficient data. The study emphasizes the need for more comprehensive research and regulations to tackle air pollution crisis.

New Management Strategy Framework for Effectively Managing Microplastic in Circular System Form Plastic Product Manufacturing to Waste Treatment Facility

In recent years, concerns regarding the environmental impact of microplastics (MPs) have led to increased international attention on these pollutants. Although the initial focus was largely directed toward marine environments, land-based pollution sources, including MP release, have been recognized to directly affect marine ecosystems. Therefore, soil-, atmosphere-, groundwater-, and river-based research is ongoing. However, when considering sources of MP, it is necessary to examine the circular system of plastic in terms of raw materials, production, consumption, discharge, and disposal (recycling). Accordingly, the present study proposes a strategy to effectively manage MPs using this circular system. First, the factors influencing MPs in the circular system were identified, and MPs at the system’s final stage, i.e., at the waste treatment facility, were subsequently investigated. Using the concept of MP waste (MPW), strategies were then developed for effective MP management within the circular system. Applying the proposed theoretical strategy to the Korean waste management system revealed that the new policy framework improves the current MP management system. Overall, this study provides fundamental data for establishing new or improved MP management schemes from a waste sector perspective.

Sources and Transformation of Nitrate in Shallow Groundwater in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area: Hydrogeochemistry and Isotopes

Nitrate is among the most widely occurring contaminants in groundwater on a global scale, posing a serious threat to drinking water supplies. With the advancement of urbanization and mountainous agriculture, the nitrate in the groundwater of Wanzhou District in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area has formed a complex combination of pollution sources. To more accurately identify the sources of nitrate in groundwater, this study integrates hydrochemical methods and environmental isotope techniques to analyze the sources and transformation processes in shallow groundwater nitrate under different land-use types. Furthermore, the Bayesian isotope mixing model (MixSAIR) is employed to calculate the contribution rates in various nitrate sources. The results indicate that nitrate is the primary form of inorganic nitrogen in shallow groundwater within the study area, with nitrate concentrations in cultivated groundwater generally higher than those in construction land and forest land. The transformation process of nitrate is predominantly nitrification, with little to no denitrification observed. In cultivated shallow groundwater, nitrate mainly originates from chemical fertilizers (36.3%), sewage and manure (35.4%), and soil organic nitrogen (24.7%); in forested areas, nitrate primarily comes from atmospheric precipitation (35.3%), chemical fertilizers (31.3%), and soil organic nitrogen (22.1%); while in constructed areas, nitrate mainly derives from chemical fertilizers (46.0%) and sewage and manure (32.2%). These results establish a scientific foundation for formulating groundwater pollution control and management strategies in the region and serve as a reference for identifying nitrate sources in groundwater in regions with comparable hydrogeological features and pollution profiles.

The Bioaccumulation of Potentially Toxic Elements in the Organs of Phragmites australis and Their Application as Indicators of Pollution (Bug River, Poland)

The bioaccumulation of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in aquatic plants is critical in assessing the quality of aquatic environments and the risks associated with anthropogenic activities. This research involved using Phragmites australis as a bioindicator in a comprehensive assessment of the spatial variation in pollution within the Bug River catchment, employing advanced statistical methods to identify pollution sources. The study aimed to investigate the bioaccumulation of PTEs in different parts of the P. australis plant and to evaluate their suitability as bioindicators of contamination. Plant samples were collected from 32 locations in the Bug River catchment, and the concentrations of metals such as Cd, Pb, Cr, Ni, Zn, Cu, Fe, and Mn were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. The results indicated that PTE accumulation was highest in the roots, underscoring their crucial role in monitoring metal concentrations. Metal concentrations differed based on land use within the catchment area, with the highest levels observed in urbanized regions, highlighting the significant impact of human activities like wastewater discharge and transport emissions. The highest concentrations were observed for Fe, Mn, and Zn, while Cd concentrations were notably elevated in agricultural areas. The analyses confirmed that P. australis serves as an effective bioindicator of heavy metal contamination and can be employed in long-term biomonitoring programs.

Assessment of long-term exposure to traffic-related air pollution: An exposure framework.

Exposure to ambient air pollution is associated with morbidity and mortality, making it an important public health concern. Emissions from motorized traffic are a common source of air pollution but evaluating the contribution of traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) emissions to health risks is challenging because it is difficult to disentangle the contribution of individual air pollution sources to exposure contrasts in an epidemiological study. This paper describes a new framework to identify whether air pollution differences reflect contrasts in TRAP exposures. Because no commonly measured pollutant is entirely specific to on-road motor vehicles, this exposure framework combined information on pollutants, spatial scale (i.e., geographic extent), and exposure assessment methods and their spatial scale to determine whether the estimated effect of air pollution in a given study was related to differences in TRAP. The exposure framework extended beyond the near-road environment to include differences in exposure to TRAP at neighborhood resolution ( ≤ 5 km) across urban, regional, and national scales. It also embedded a stricter set of criteria to identify studies that provided the strongest evidence that exposure contrasts were related to differences in traffic emissions. Application of the framework to the transparent selection of epidemiological studies for a systematic review produced insights on assessing and improving comparability of TRAP exposure measures, particularly for indirect measures such as distances from roads. It also highlighted study design challenges related to the duration of measurements and the structure of epidemiological models. This manuscript describes a new exposure framework to identify studies of traffic-related air pollution, a case study of its application in an HEI systematic review, and its implications for exposure science and air pollution epidemiology experts. It identifies challenges and provides recommendations for the field going forward. It is important to bring this information to the attention of researchers in air pollution exposure science and epidemiology because applying the broader lessons learned will improve the conduct and reporting of studies going forward.

Evaluation of noise pollution impact on health in Dhaka city, Bangladesh

ObjectivesThe purpose of this research was to look at the interrelation between adult health issues in Dhaka and noise pollution.MethodsThe methodology involved a cross-sectional survey conducted in five different land use categories, with a sample size of 1,016 individuals. A validated questionnaire that focused on sources of perceived noise pollution and health issues related to noise was used to gather subjective data for the study. Objective noise pollution was evaluated using equivalent continuous sound pressure level (LAeq).ResultsFindings revealed noise generated from road traffic are the predominant source of noise pollution, with Thursday evenings during the end of office hours being the noisiest period in Dhaka. All areas in Dhaka exceeded permissible noise levels, posing significant health risks to residents and workers. The study identifies critical gaps in existing noise regulation policies and enforcement.ConclusionOverall, this study underscores the urgent need for comprehensive noise pollution mitigation strategies, including innovative technologies, real-time monitoring systems, and public awareness campaigns. Further studies in diverse urban contexts are recommended to enhance the understanding of noise pollution’s long-term impacts on vulnerable populations.

Smart Monitoring Method for Land-Based Sources of Marine Outfalls Based on an Improved YOLOv8 Model

Land-based sources of marine outfalls are a major source of marine pollution. The monitoring of land-based sources of marine outfalls is an important means for marine environmental protection and governance. Traditional on-site manual monitoring methods are inefficient, expensive, and constrained by geographic conditions. Satellite remote sensing spectral analysis methods can only identify pollutant plumes and are affected by discharge timing and cloud/fog interference. Therefore, we propose a smart monitoring method for land-based sources of marine outfalls based on an improved YOLOv8 model, using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). This method can accurately identify and classify marine outfalls, offering high practical application value. Inspired by the sparse sampling method in compressed sensing, we incorporated a multi-scale dilated attention mechanism into the model and integrated dynamic snake convolutions into the C2f module. This approach enhanced the model’s detection capability for occluded and complex-feature targets while constraining the increase in computational load. Additionally, we proposed a new loss calculation method by combining Inner-IoU (Intersection over Union) and MPDIoU (IoU with Minimum Points Distance), which further improved the model’s regression speed and its ability to predict multi-scale targets. The final experimental results show that the improved model achieved an mAP50 (mean Average Precision at 50) of 87.0%, representing a 3.4% increase from the original model, effectively enabling the smart monitoring of land-based marine discharge outlets.

Seasonal variations in microplastics in a coastal wetland in southwest India as well as their risks to Sillago sihama and Gerres filamentosus.

Microplastics are minute plastic particles ranging from 1µm to 5mm in size. Mangroves are crucial ecosystems with roles in carbon sequestration, shoreline protection, and habitat for diverse species. Despite their significance, the extent of microplastic pollution in mangroves, especially in India, remains inadequately understood. To address this gap, we conducted a seasonal sampling in the Kota mangrove ecosystem at different water column depths. Our analysis revealed average microplastic abundances of 0.93 (monsoon), 3.71 (post-monsoon), and 2.92 MPs/L (pre-monsoon). The average microplastic abundances were 19.88 and 15.86 microplastics/individual for Gerres filamentosus and Sillago sihama, respectively. Fibrous microplastics smaller than 1mm were dominant. Transparent microplastics dominated the water column (28.57% in monsoon, 77.45% in post-monsoon, and 49.24% in pre-monsoon), and they were also prevalent in S. sihama (49.55%) and G. filamentosus (41.51%). This points towards greater bioavailability and suggests that transparent microplastics are often mistaken for prey. Anthropogenic influence is a major factor that governs microplastic distribution than season in Kota mangroves. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed that polypropylene was the dominant polymer in both water column as well as in S. sihama and G. filamentosus. We identified aquaculture, tourism, and local activities as probable sources of microplastic pollution. The monitoring data is crucial as it provides insights into microplastics pollution in two economically important fish species that are largely consumed by the local population. Exposure to microplastics from the consumption of these fish may cause serious health issues for human beings.

Geolocation of Fixed Emission Sources Produced by Artisan Brick Kilns in the Atmospheric Basin of the City of Juliaca, Peru

Objective: The study objective is to investigate the application of georeferencing systems to identify the geospatial location of fixed sources of atmospheric emissions produced by artisanal brickyards in the air basin of Juliaca city-Peru. Theoretical Framework: Previous studies have shown that artisanal brickyards are a significant source of air pollution in developing urban and on the outskirts. Emissions of fine particles, nitrogen oxides and other pollutants from the burning of traditional fuels, such as firewood and coal contribute to the degradation of air quality and can have adverse effects on human health and the environment. The georeferencing application and geospatial analysis techniques in the atmospheric pollution study have allowed a better understanding of the spatial distribution of emission sources and their impact on the environment. These tools are essential to identify and map the artisanal brickyard locations and to evaluate their contribution to air pollution in urban and on the outskirts. Method: The methodology adopted for this research includes data collection and compilation of existing information; georeferencing of brickyards through the use of geographic information systems (GIS); analysis of geospatial data for the identification of spatial patterns; preparation of thematic and spatial distribution maps; and the interpretation of results. Results and Discussion: The study results highlight the importance of locating the fixed sources of emissions produced by artisanal brick factories in the Juliaca air basin. This precise spatial identification provides a solid basis for the formulation of policies and mitigation strategies aimed at reducing air pollution in the region, in addition to representing fundamental data for the use and exploitation of GIS for environmental protection and modelling, among others. Research Implications: The results can be applied or influence practices in the environmental and forestry engineering field, the ICTs application, modelling and simulation, and territorial planning, among others. Originality/Value: This study contributes to the literature using georeferencing techniques for environmental modelling purposes. The relevance and value of this research are evident in obtaining georeferenced points for the estimation of emission factors for the predictive calculation of volumes, flows and dispersion of pollutants in an air basin.

Advanced Trans-BiGRU-QA Fusion Model for Atmospheric Mercury Prediction

With the deepening of the Industrial Revolution and the rapid development of the chemical industry, the large-scale emissions of corrosive dust and gases from numerous factories have become a significant source of air pollution. Mercury in the atmosphere, identified by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as one of the globally concerning air pollutants, has been proven to pose a threat to the human environment with potential carcinogenic risks. Therefore, accurately predicting atmospheric mercury concentration is of critical importance. This study proposes a novel advanced model—the Trans-BiGRU-QA hybrid—designed to predict the atmospheric mercury concentration accurately. Methodology includes feature engineering techniques to extract relevant features and applies a sliding window technique for time series data preprocessing. Furthermore, the proposed Trans-BiGRU-QA model is compared to other deep learning models, such as GRU, LSTM, RNN, Transformer, BiGRU, and Trans-BiGRU. This study utilizes air quality data from Vietnam to train and test the models, evaluating their performance in predicting atmospheric mercury concentration. The results show that the Trans-BiGRU-QA model performed exceptionally well in terms of Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), and R-squared (R2), demonstrating high accuracy and robustness. Compared to other deep learning models, the Trans-BiGRU-QA model exhibited significant advantages, indicating its broad potential for application in environmental pollution prediction.

Incremental progress or dangerous incrementalism? The case of tire wear pollution in global environmental governance

ABSTRACT Tire wear and tear is among the largest sources of global microplastic pollution. Interviews conducted in 2024 appear to indicate ‘incremental progress’ toward improving governance of tire wear. Knowledge of the ecological and health consequences is increasing. Pressure is growing for greater producer responsibility. Global standards to limit tire abrasion are forming. Regulations are being implemented to address chemical contamination, such as in California. And some manufacturers are supporting higher standards and reengineering tires to undercut competitors and capture emerging markets for lower-abrasion tires. Yet, as a deeper analysis reveals, regulations remain highly uneven, piecemeal, and inadequate on a global scale, with new risk-taking as firms delay actions and introduce new chemicals as ‘solutions.’ Moreover, I argue, a ‘dangerous form of incrementalism’ is taking hold, where modest changes to state policy and corporate conduct are conferring legitimacy on governance processes unable to prevent tire wear pollution from escalating globally.