Pollution Studies Research Articles

Source identification and characterization of water-insoluble single particulate matter in rainfall sequences

ABSTRACT Analysis of atmospheric pollutants in rainwater provides valuable information on the environmental impacts of both natural and anthropogenic pollution sources. Air pollution studies often show that particulate matter (PM) collection on filters is used for subsequent analysis. However, this approach can result in significant particle accumulation on filters and complicate their characterization by semi-quantitative analytical techniques. In this study, insoluble PM in sequentially collected rainwater samples was analyzed for particle size, morphology, and chemical composition. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS) and a particle size analyzer were used for these analyses. By combining SEM–EDS data with particle size distribution analyses, chemical composition findings, and upper atmosphere back-orbit modeling, specific sources of insoluble particles in rainwater were identified. In addition, rainwater samples were analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity, and major anions and cations. The pH values varied from 6.19 to 7.04, while the electrical conductivity values varied from 5.35 to 83.53 μS/cm. Among the major ions, relatively high concentrations of Ca2+, SO42−, and NO3− were detected, while F−, Mg2+, Na+, and Cl− were observed in lower concentrations. The contributions of sea salt were evidenced by the presence of Cl− and Na+ ions.

Unveiling the seasonal transport and exposure risks of atmospheric microplastics in the southern area of the Yangtze River Delta, China.

This study investigates the prevalence and impacts of suspended atmospheric microplastics (SAMPs) in the coastal metropolitan city of Ningbo in the Yangtze River Delta Region, China. The sampling was conducted at both urban centre and urban-rural fringe areas, near the coast but distant from large urban populations. SAMP abundance ranged from 0.017 to 0.430 items m-³, with an average of 0.145±0.09 items m⁻³. The urban centre exhibited approximately 70% more SAMPs than the urban-rural fringe, highlighting the influence of population density and human activity on microplastic pollution. Fibres dominated SAMP composition at both sites, while urban samples featured a greater variety of microplastic forms, such as fragments, beads, and films. Rayon and Polyethylene terephthalate were the predominant polymers, which were found to be directly related to local industrial activities. SAMPs ranged in size from 20μm to 4984.4μm, with over 60% smaller than 1000μm. Seasonal variation followed a winter>autumn>spring>summer pattern. Correlation and principal component analyses identified atmospheric temperature, pressure, wind speed, and rainfall as key factors influencing SAMP abundance. Notably, backward trajectory analysis showed that oceanic air masses carried significantly fewer SAMPs compared to terrestrial air, diluting concentrations in coastal regions. Annually, an estimated 4.67×101³ microplastics are suspended over Ningbo. This is the first comprehensive study of SAMP pollution in this region, revealing interactions between local sources, environmental variations, air mass dynamics, and exposure. The findings underscore the need for targeted strategies to mitigate atmospheric microplastic pollution in coastal urban environments.

Prenatal exposure to heat and humidity and infant birth size in Ghana.

Previous studies - primarily in high income countries - have shown that high prenatal temperatures are associated with adverse birth outcomes. However, these studies are mostly focused on average exposure across the full gestational period or short-term exposure immediately prior to delivery and may miss important sensitive windows of exposure in utero. Further, nearly all use ambient air temperature data, which neglect physiologically important interactions between air temperature and humidity. The Ghana Randomized Air Pollution and Health Study (GRAPHS) recruited pregnant individuals from 2013 to 2015 from communities in the Kintampo North Municipality and Kintampo South District of Ghana. We estimated daily maximum shaded wet bulb globe temperature (WBGTmax) and heat index (HImax) during pregnancy and examined associations with birth weight, birth length, head circumference, and incidence of low birth weight, preterm birth, and small for gestational age. Using linear regression analyses, trimester average models identified that higher WBGTmax in the first trimester was associated with larger head circumference; second trimester was associated with shorter birth length, lower birth weight and higher odds of preterm birth, and third trimester was associated with shorter gestational age and larger head circumference. Time-varying analyses using distributed lag nonlinear models find that, compared to the median, lower WBGTmax and HImax (25th percentile) during the first half of pregnancy was associated with higher birth weight and longer birth length. Compared to the median, lower WBGTmax and HImax (25th percentile) in the second half of pregnancy was associated with smaller head circumference while higher wet bulb globe temperature (75th percentile) was associated with larger head circumference. Overall, our study identified that higher WBGTmax and HImax are associated with pregnancy duration and newborn size. Given the overall trend in our study area of rising temperatures, these data suggest that adaptation strategies are urgently needed to protect child health.

A Review on PM2.5 Sources, Mass Prediction, and Association Analysis: Research Opportunities and Challenges

Air pollution has long been one of the most life-threatening issues which has led to massive amounts of premature human death due to fatal diseases and environmental disasters. Several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set up by the United Nations coincide with the solutions for air pollution reduction. To reach a sustainable future, researchers have conducted many theoretical analyses or case studies of air pollution at different places on the globe and proposed prudent strategies for obtaining an equilibrium between socioeconomic development and air pollution reduction. This research selected a substantial number of articles and existing review papers published between 2013 and 2024 and organized these publications into subfields. This research was focused on filling the gap between existing reviews and the state-of-the-art technologies in the last decade. To be informative and contextual, this review presented a pathway for readers to comprehend the research in three contiguous phases of air pollution analysis, from compositional apportionment and mass prediction of pollution to disclosing associations between pollution concentration and natural or anthropogenic factors. At the end of this review, the author highlighted several research fields which have been overlooked in previous reviews but will be increasingly important in the future.

Household Air Pollution Exposures Over Pregnancy and Maternal Blood Pressure Trajectories through 8 Years Postpartum: Evidence from the Ghana Randomized Air Pollution and Health Study (GRAPHS).

Household air pollution is a major contributor to cardiovascular disease burden in women in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, little is known about exposures during pregnancy or the effect of clean cooking interventions on postpartum blood pressure trajectories. The Ghana Randomized Air Pollution and Health Study (GRAPHS) randomized 1414 non-smoking women in the first and second trimesters to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) or improved biomass stoves - vs control (traditional three-stone open fire). Personal exposure to carbon monoxide was measured at four prenatal timepoints and three times over the first postpartum year. Participants were prospectively followed with annual resting BP measurements at 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 years postpartum. We employed linear mixed effects models to determine effect of GRAPHS interventions on postpartum BP, and to examine associations between prenatal and postnatal CO and postpartum BP. LPG intervention was associated with 3.54mmHg (95% CI-5.55,-1.53) lower change in systolic BP from enrolment through 8 years postpartum, and 2.27mmHg (95% CI-3.61,-0.93) lower change in diastolic BP from enrolment through 8 years postpartum, as compared to control. In exposure-response analysis, average prenatal CO was positively associated with change in systolic BP from enrolment (β=0.71mmHg, 95% CI 0.08, 1.30, per doubling of CO). LPG cookstove intervention initiated in early pregnancy and maintained through the first postpartum year was associated with lower systolic and diastolic BP trajectories through 8 years postpartum. These findings support the need to integrate clean cooking solutions into existing antenatal care packages.

Optimizing Exposure Measures in Large-Scale Household Air Pollution Studies: Results from the Multicountry HAPIN Trial.

Repeated measurements of household air pollution may provide better estimates of average exposure but can add to costs and participant burden. In a randomized trial of gas versus biomass cookstoves in four countries, we took supplemental personal 24-h measurements on a 10% subsample for mothers and infants, interspersed between protocol samples. Mothers had up to five postrandomization protocol measurements over 16 months, while infants had three measurements over one year. For the subsample, we added up to 6 supplemental postrandomization samples for mothers and 3 for infants, measuring PM2.5, black carbon (BC) (mothers only), and carbon monoxide (CO) at each visit. 310 mothers had both protocol (n = 1026) and supplemental (n = 1099) valid exposure measurements. For children, supplemental data sufficient for analysis were collected in only two countries; 94 infants had both protocol (n = 317) and supplemental (n = 234) samples. The geometric means for protocol and supplemental samples for mothers for PM2.5 were 37 μg/m3 and 38 μg/m3, respectively, while for infants, they were 42 μg/m3 and 46 μg/m3. Mixed models comparing supplemental to protocol samples, controlling for covariates, found few differences between protocol and supplemental samples. Supplemental analyses among control mothers with complete protocol measurements found that an average of three measurements explained 81% of the variance of the average of all six measurements.

A Review of Air Pollution Research in Panzhihua City from 2018 to 2023

Air pollution is a critical issue of concern to society, and researches on this topic has notably increased in recent years. Panzhihua City, a key resource-consuming and heavy industrial city in the southwestern region of China, places air pollution prevention and control at the top of its priorities. However, there is currently a lack of comprehensive reviews on air pollution studies specific to Panzhihua. This paper reviews the research conducted on air pollution and its control methods in Panzhihua City between 2018 and 2023. Ten relevant studies were included, the pollution levels of heavy metals and mineral particles in atmospheric dustfall, PM2.5, PM10, SO2, CO, NO2, and O3 were summarized. The paper also outlined the trends, potential causes of air pollution in Panzhihua, and suggested control measures, aiming to provide a reference for future research and offer a scientific basis for local government policy-making regarding air pollution control

Analyzing the potential targets and mechanisms of chronic kidney disease induced by common synthetic Endocrine Disrupting Compounds (EDCs) in Chinese surface water environment using network toxicology and molecular docking techniques.

Long-term exposure to NP and OP, as common synthetic endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in surface water environments in China, is closely associated with the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, their potential targets and toxicological mechanisms for inducing CKD remain unknown. This study utilizes network toxicology and molecular docking techniques to explore the potential toxic targets and molecular mechanisms of CKD induction by NP and OP. We identify 49 core targets of NP and OP action in CKD using the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD) and GeneCards databases. Using the STRING database and Cytoscape software, we identify five hub genes: MAPK3, TNF, BCL2, ESR1, and FOS. We construct a nomogram model based on the CKD dataset GSE66494, utilizing these five hub genes. Calibration and ROC curves demonstrate that the model has good diagnostic value for CKD, and the DCA curve indicates that the model has high clinical utility. Single-gene GSEA enrichment analysis identifies five hub genes that influence the development of CKD through multiple biological pathways, revealing that several immune-regulatory signaling pathways are activated. The CIBERSORT algorithm identifies eight types of immune cell infiltration levels that change significantly during CKD development, and correlation analyses suggest that the five hub genes are strongly associated with multiple immune cell infiltrations. The molecular docking results suggested that ESR1, MAPK3, and TNF had the lowest binding energies and high binding affinities with NP and OP. The results of molecular dynamics simulations similarly confirmed the stability of the interactions between ESR1, MAPK3 and TNF proteins with NP and OP. The results of this study provide a theoretical basis for understanding the potential toxicity targets and mechanisms of NP- and OP-induced CKD and promote the application of network toxicology and molecular docking techniques in the study of environmental pollutants.

Estimation of global ground-level PM10 concentrations using a stacking model

ABSTRACT Atmospheric environmental pollution has gained significant attention recently. Inhalable particulate matter (PM10) impacts societal development and poses serious health threats. Consequently, PM10 has become a primary focus of air pollutant research. In this article, we propose a stacking model incorporating a back propagation neural network and extremely randomized trees (Stacking-BP-ET model). This model combined aerosol optical depth products with auxiliary factors, including meteorology, elevation and population distribution, to construct a global PM10 dataset with a 1 km spatial resolution from 2015 to 2021. The product had an out-of-station and out-of-year spatiotemporal cross-validation coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.833, and the mean absolute error (MAE) and root mean square error (RMSE) were 6.411 and 14.071 μg/m3, respectively. High PM10 concentrations were found in areas with frequent dust storm events such as Mongolia, the Arabian Peninsula and Northwest China and wildfire disasters such as the west coast of the United States and Australia. The PM10 concentrations in these areas had shown an increasing trend in recent years as the disaster frequency has increased. Overall, the global PM10 dataset may be useful for future large-scale studies of air pollution.

VARIABILITY IN THE MUTAGENICITY OF ORGANIC POLLUTANTS ADSORBED ON THE PARTICULATE MATTER IN THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT

The aim of the study was to determine differences in mutagenicity of organic pollutants adsorbedon suspended particulate matter in the city centre and its outskirts. Particulate matter was collectedusing a high-performance sampler in different parts of Wrocław in summer and winter. Organiccompounds adsorbed on the particulate matter were extracted for 8 hours in Soxhlet apparatuses.The concentration of PAHs was determined using GC-MS. Mutagenicity of samples was testedusing the Ames test. The concentrations of particulate matter suspended in the atmosphere rangedfrom 23 to 144 μg/m3, and PAHs from the EPA list adsorbed on it ranged from 8.3 to 1211.6 ng/m3.Particulate matter suspended in the atmosphere collected in different places in Wrocław insummer and winter showed mutagenic activity. This effect was greater in winter than in summer.In winter, it was greater in the city centre than on its outskirts. Activation with the S9 mix fractioncaused a decrease in the mutagenic activity of most of the tested particulate matter samples againstthe TA 98 strain. This indicates the presence of mainly direct mutagens in them. The volumesof polluted air causing a mutagenic effect on the TA 98 strain without activation by the S9 mixfraction ranged from 0.25 to 35 m3. The high sensitivity of the YG 1021 and YG 1024 strains tothe mutagenic effect of pollutants adsorbed on the tested particulate matter indicates a significantshare of nitroarenes in their mutagenic activity. The differentiation of this share depended mainlyon local and momentary conditions. The exposure of residents to the genotoxic effect of pollutantsadsorbed on particulate matter increases in winter, especially in the city centre. Supplementing thecurrently used physicochemical monitoring of air pollution with a study of the mutagenic activityof pollutants adsorbed on particulate matter would allow for the assessment of this activity and theshare of certain groups of pollutants, such as nitroarenes.

Mineralogy and geochemistry of sands from Playa las Golondrinas, Puerto Rico: an approach to establishing a geogenic background

Sands from the dune, berm, and shore environments at Playa las Golondrinas (18° 30′ 51″ N, 67° 3′ 26″) were investigated to explore how beach sands could be applied as a potential environmental (geogenic) background for the local region. Grain size is dominantly unimodal classifying as fine to medium sand. Hydraulic conductivity values range from 1.07 cm/s (berm) to 1.49 cm/s (shoreface). Sample mineralogy as constrained by X-ray diffraction (XRD) reveals a dominance of quartz and feldspar with minor Mg-calcite, pyroxene, and olivine. Light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM–EDS) support XRD data and indicate the presence of oxide-bearing lithic fragments in addition to biologic materials (e.g., corals. forams). Reflective spectra are consistent with XRD and microscopy. Bulk element concentrations determined using inductively coupled plasma—mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) are consistent with derivation from the arc-related rocks of Puerto Rico’s interior exhibiting LILE enrichment, Pb-enrichment, and associated Nb–Ta depletion. The majority of the bulk elemental concentrations are below those of average upper continental crust (UCC) values and element co-variation trends (e.g., wt. % Fe2O3 vs. As) are interpreted as geogenic in origin. Berm sands are enriched in Fe, Mn, Ni, Cr, V, and As compared to dune and shore samples and this signature is interpreted as being from a wind-driven winnowing effect. The exact form of As (As3+ or As5+) remains unconstrained and thus it is unknown if As is mobile in this environment. Reflective spectra, supported by grain size, mineralogy, and bulk chemistry, enables future remote sensing investigations by providing detailed constraints on sand in environmentally sensitive areas. This study therefore provides local context for metal pollution studies across the region.

Strawberry Plant as a Biomonitor of Trace Metal Air Pollution-A Citizen Science Approach in an Urban-Industrial Area near Lisbon, Portugal.

A biomonitoring study of air pollution was developed in an urban-industrial area (Seixal, Portugal) using leaves of strawberry plants (Fragaria × ananassa Duchesne ex Rozier) as biomonitors to identify the main sources and hotspots of air pollution in the study area. The distribution of exposed strawberry plants in the area was based on a citizen science approach, where residents were invited to have the plants exposed outside their homes. Samples were collected from a total of 49 different locations, and their chemical composition was analyzed for 22 chemical elements using X-ray Fluorescence spectrometry. Source apportionment tools, such as enrichment factors and principal component analysis (PCA), were used to identify three different sources, one geogenic and two anthropogenic (steel industry and traffic), besides plant major nutrients. The spatial distribution of elemental concentrations allowed the identification of the main pollution hotspots in the study area. The reliability of using strawberry leaves as biomonitors of air pollution was evaluated by comparing them with the performance of transplanted lichens by regression analysis, and a significant relation was found for Fe, Pb, Ti, and Zn, although with a different accumulation degree for the two biomonitors. Furthermore, by applying PCA to the lichen results, the same pollution sources were identified.

Facile Synthesis of Acyl-Hydrazone Composites Based on Hydrazide-Modified Formylated Polystyrene for Effective Removal of Heavy Metal Ions and Sulfides from Water.

In this study, waste polystyrene was modified and upgraded to prepare formylated polystyrene, and the modified polystyrene acetyl hydrazone (LT-HPA) was synthesized by condensation with polymethyl-propionyl-hydrazine. It is proven that the modification of the adsorption material is successful by various characterization methods. In the subsequent pollutant removal study, pH, mass, concentration, contact time, and salt ion interference were investigated. The optimal pH for Cu(II) and sulfide removal was 5 and 11, respectively, and the optimal mass of adsorbent was 1 g/L. It was found that the maximum removal rate of Cu (II) was 231.51 mg/g. The adsorption equilibrium time was less than 40 min. This is due to the good adsorption activity of acyl hydrazide groups on the skeleton for Cu (II) through coordination. The maximum desulfurization amount in 60 min was 370.21 mg/g, which was mainly caused by the oxidation of sulfides by surface oxidizing groups. Isotherm and kinetic studies show that the adsorption processes of Cu (II) and sulfides are consistent with the Langmuir model and pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Thermodynamic parameters show that the removal of Cu (II) and sulfides is a spontaneous endothermic process. The adsorption mechanism is mainly chemical adsorption, supplemented by physical adsorption. After 10 regenerated adsorption/desorption cycles, the removal rates of Cu (II) and sulfides remained above 85%, indicating that polystyrenesulfonate acetylhydrazone (LT-HPA) adsorption materials have good reusability. In addition, the adsorbent has good thermal stability, salt resistance, and environmental friendliness. In summary, the modified formylated polystyrene acetyl hydrazone (LT-HPA) has a good application prospect in the removal of copper(II) and sulfides and provides a fresh way for upgrading polystyrene.

Neutron activation analysis of environmental samples at the Training reactor VR-1

Abstract Described research work is focused on the study of environmental pollution in the Czech Republic using an instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). The samples of mosses and alluvial soils were irradiated at the VR-1 training reactor utilizing a non-destructive method of NAA at the Czech Technical University in Prague. Subsequently, the gamma-ray spectra of investigated samples were measured at a semiconductor HPGe detector. A qualitative and quantitative analysis of the samples of alluvial soils and mosses from 9 regions in the Czech Republic was performed. The presence of Na, K, Ti, V, Al, Au, Mn, Fe, and others was revealed in the studied samples. Apart from these, Ba, Br, As, or Hg were found using qualitative analysis. Depending on the obtained production rates, the amount of Na, K, Al, Au, As, Ti, V, and Fe was determined. Based on the results, it can be verified that the VR-1 training reactor is a suitable device for identifying the composition and concentration of the environmental samples. In the future, more data utilizable for environmental pollution monitoring can be obtained.

Metal concentrations in native and transplanted species in the Eastern Ionian Sea (Greece).

Metal concentrations (Cu, Cr, Ni, Zn, Fe, Mn, Cd, and Pb) in marine indicator species were assessed for the study of metal pollution in the Eastern Ionian Sea during the cold period of the year (December 2018 to February 2019). Limpets and sea urchins were collected from natural populations at seven coastal stations while mussels were transplanted at three near-shore stations in the study area. Mixed mesozooplankton samples were selected from a twelve-station offshore network. Additionally, fish, shrimp, and shortfin squid samples were collected by trawling. For the first time, metal concentrations in marine animals were measured in an extended variety of organisms in the area. Higher metal concentrations in limpets, sea urchins, and mussels were observed in the wider area of the two ports located at the sampling area's eastern and southern geographical borders. Levels in zooplankton also followed the same spatial variation. In general, metal concentrations in the investigated organisms were within the same range as those in other non-impacted Mediterranean areas. Accordingly, metal levels in the flesh of the fish, shrimps, and the mantle of shortfin squids did not reveal any risk for human consumption. Metal levels from the present study are proposed as a reference state for the area, while future deviations should be evaluated taking into account potential changes in the natural and anthropogenic pressures on the specific coastal marine ecosystem.

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.

Atmospheric air pollution from the Ermakovskoe fluorite-beryllium deposit development waste

Relevance. Negative impact of waste from mining enterprises on the ecological state of the surrounding areas. Aim. To determine the migration ability of toxic chemical elements from waste storage sites of the Ermakovskoe beryllium deposit in the air. Object. Ermakovskoe fluorite-bertrandite-phenacite deposit and the surrounding area. Methods. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, laser diffraction, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. Results and conclusions. The paper introduces the experimental studies of surface atmospheric pollution by mining waste from the Ermakovskoe fluorite-bertrandite-phenakite deposit are presented using an installation for collecting aerosols above the sand surface. It was established that toxic components formed during the decomposition of residual sulfide mineralization and products of the interaction of acidic waters with rocks move from the sand thickness to the surface along with water vapor. The moisture condensed over the sand contains high contents of aluminum, iron, manganese, zinc, and phosphorus. These elements form a halo of air pollution over mining waste and are then dispersed by air currents into the surrounding area. In winter, due to wind dispersion of aerosols, the snow cover becomes contaminated over a vast area. Among the toxic elements found were beryllium, lead, cadmium, and molybdenum, which belong to the second hazard class. The solid residue of the snow cover contains a fine fraction of dust, the size of which is less than 10 microns. The halo of snow contamination with toxic chemical elements and dust extends several kilometers away from the disturbed lands.

Global Trends and Hotspots in Non-Targeted Screening of Water Pollution Research: Bibliometric and Visual Analysis.

Non-targeted screening (NTS) technology has been showing significant potential in identifying contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in water and has attracted great attention in academia in recent years. It is a method that analyzes samples without pre-selecting substances, enabling the detection and identification of unknown compounds, which is crucial for environmental health and public protection. This study uses the Bibliometrix package in R 4.4.1 and CiteSpace 6.3.R1 software to statistically analyze 589 relevant publications from the Web of Science Core Collection from 2007 to 2024. Our work concentrates on NTS of water bodies; thus, articles that only analyze water sediments without analyzing the water were not considered for inclusion. By conducting a quantitative analysis and visualizing the publication trends, countries, authors, journals, and keywords, the present study identifies research hotspots, compositions, and paradigms within this field, trying to analyze the horizontal and vertical development trends and structural evolution of the research area. The research found that the application of NTS in water pollution studies has progressed through three phases: theoretical exploration, rapid development, and steady progress. From the national level, China leads with the highest number of publications (131), followed by Germany (105), Spain (50), and the United States (39). The top three authors by publication volume are J. Hollender, Nikolaos S. Thomaidis, and Emma L. Schymanski, while the top three by citation count are J. Hollender, Emma L. Schymanski, and M. Krauss. However, international collaboration between countries and researchers still remains an area for improvement. Science of the Total Environment is the journal with the highest number of publications (81), and Environmental Science & Technology holds the highest number of citations. Research on NTS methodologies, suspect screening, and health risk assessments are hot topics in the academic community. Future research is expected to be multidisciplinary, with emerging hotspots likely to focus on including the identification of novel pollutants through NTS, toxicity assessments of biotransformed compounds, and the health impacts and mechanisms of related compounds.

Simulation and attribution analysis of agricultural nitrogen non-point source pollution in Huang-Huai-Hai Plain based on the InVEST model

The study of agricultural non-point source pollution (ANNSP) patterns and driving mechanisms is crucial for regional ecological management. This paper evaluates the sources of ANNSP in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain for the years 2000, 2010, and 2020 using the source list method. Additionally, nitrogen source data for the InVEST model were supplemented and adjusted, and the nitrogen output load and proportions derived in farmland from both methods were compared. The temporal and spatial distribution of nitrogen emission intensity was analyzed based on InVEST model outputs. Key source areas were identified through hotspot analysis, and spatial driving factors were examined using geodetector. Key findings reveal: 1) While the source list method estimated a higher nitrogen output load, both methods concurred on the proportion of agricultural nitrogen. The main sources of nitrogen input were overuse of fertilizer and livestock breeding. 2) Over this period, nitrogen emission intensity declined, exhibiting a distinct spatial pattern of “northwest low, southeast high.” 3) The extent of critical source areas underwent a dynamic shift, initially contracting before expanding. 4) Rainfall emerged as the primary driver of spatial variability in agricultural TN emission intensity. These insights offer critical reference points for achieving efficient ANNSP management in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain.

Livelihood risks arising from urban river pollution in selected marginal communities in the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria

Urban river pollution has become a critical sustainability challenge worldwide. In the studies of urban river pollution, very little research focus has gone into understanding pollution effects on main river-dependent livelihoods among marginal communities in urban centres. In this study, using a context-specific risk framework, we identify and analyze (i) urban river-dependent livelihoods (ii) pathways to community exposure to urban river pollution (iii) effects and consequences on urban river-dependent livelihoods (iv) potential intervention strategies. The study uses knowledge co-production workshops, and ethnographic methods involving participant observations, focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, and key informant interviews as a means of generating the needed data. Our findings indicate that degraded urban rivers have had profound negative effects on river-dependent livelihoods such as food processing, poultry, livestock farming and the small-scale brick industries for construction. Further, urban river pollution has also led to livelihood-related conflicts over access to limited, good-quality water resources. Intervention strategies to improve livelihood resilience are suggested at the institutional, communal and livelihood levels. Institutional interventions include strengthening environmental laws compliance and enforcement, inter-agency collaborations and extending sanitation and urban planning to marginal communities in cities. Communal interventions are sensitization campaigns, enforced sanitation practices and calls for behavioural and attitudinal change. Livelihoods-linked interventions aim to reduce livelihood strategies’ contributions to river pollution. Such interventions include proper disposal of waste generated through livelihood strategies, and instituting practices that minimize run-off from wet industries.