Pub Date : 2024-09-18DOI: 10.3389/fenvs.2024.1457970
Owen Fenton, Karen Daly, Pat Tuohy, John Cardiff, Simon Leach, Lungile Senteni Sifundza, John Murnane
Farm roadway runoff is a high-risk source of pollution when connectivity with waters occurs. Nutrients in this runoff are dominated by fresh animal deposits, but recent dairy and beef farm studies showed that available phosphorus (P) accumulates in roadway surface material and can be lost in runoff. A current knowledge gap is to examine available P concentrations in unsealed roadway and trackway (non-maintained) network of a lowland sheep farm. The present study focused on a 45 ha farm stocked with 544 sheep in south-east Ireland. Ten locations were sampled along with the adjacent fields for available P (i.e., Morgan’s P) and ancillary parameters (e.g., pH, total P and heavy metals) in December 2022. The first sampling location was on an aggregate roadway and the other nine were on trackways representing an older aggregate roadway network used by the flock but now covered with soil and grass. Results showed a distinct difference in surface material pH between roadway and trackway locations. Trackways had a pH that mimicked adjacent fields around the agronomic optimum for grassland of ∼6.2. All sampling locations had elevated available P concentrations, ranging from 26.3 to 111.0 mg L−1 (mean 62.8 mg L−1), similar to the spatial distribution for dairy farms but above those found at beef farms previously studied. The highest available P concentrations were found in roadway and trackway sections adjacent to the farmyard. Other elevated sampling areas were on trackways (87.3 or 97.7 mg P L−1) away from the farmyard where sheep are funnelled to pasture, stop to seek shade, urinate and defecate but do not graze. By contrast the average available P concentration for the surrounding fields was 8.4 mg L−1 with a range of 2.7–15.9 mg L−1. Two sampling areas combine to create a critical source area where a high available P source becomes visibly mobilised as runoff during rainfall, discharges into an open drainage ditch, which is then connected to a local stream. Breaking the pathway before runoff enters the open ditch could be a cheap and effective way of mitigating nutrient losses at these two locations.
{"title":"Spatial distribution of available phosphorus in surface road and trackway surface materials on a sheep farm in Ireland","authors":"Owen Fenton, Karen Daly, Pat Tuohy, John Cardiff, Simon Leach, Lungile Senteni Sifundza, John Murnane","doi":"10.3389/fenvs.2024.1457970","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2024.1457970","url":null,"abstract":"Farm roadway runoff is a high-risk source of pollution when connectivity with waters occurs. Nutrients in this runoff are dominated by fresh animal deposits, but recent dairy and beef farm studies showed that available phosphorus (P) accumulates in roadway surface material and can be lost in runoff. A current knowledge gap is to examine available P concentrations in unsealed roadway and trackway (non-maintained) network of a lowland sheep farm. The present study focused on a 45 ha farm stocked with 544 sheep in south-east Ireland. Ten locations were sampled along with the adjacent fields for available P (i.e., Morgan’s P) and ancillary parameters (e.g., pH, total P and heavy metals) in December 2022. The first sampling location was on an aggregate roadway and the other nine were on trackways representing an older aggregate roadway network used by the flock but now covered with soil and grass. Results showed a distinct difference in surface material pH between roadway and trackway locations. Trackways had a pH that mimicked adjacent fields around the agronomic optimum for grassland of ∼6.2. All sampling locations had elevated available P concentrations, ranging from 26.3 to 111.0 mg L<jats:sup>−1</jats:sup> (mean 62.8 mg L<jats:sup>−1</jats:sup>), similar to the spatial distribution for dairy farms but above those found at beef farms previously studied. The highest available P concentrations were found in roadway and trackway sections adjacent to the farmyard. Other elevated sampling areas were on trackways (87.3 or 97.7 mg P L<jats:sup>−1</jats:sup>) away from the farmyard where sheep are funnelled to pasture, stop to seek shade, urinate and defecate but do not graze. By contrast the average available P concentration for the surrounding fields was 8.4 mg L<jats:sup>−1</jats:sup> with a range of 2.7–15.9 mg L<jats:sup>−1</jats:sup>. Two sampling areas combine to create a critical source area where a high available P source becomes visibly mobilised as runoff during rainfall, discharges into an open drainage ditch, which is then connected to a local stream. Breaking the pathway before runoff enters the open ditch could be a cheap and effective way of mitigating nutrient losses at these two locations.","PeriodicalId":12460,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Environmental Science","volume":"3 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142251183","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This systematic study on the international research trends in carbon neutrality underscores its critical role in combating global warming and advancing sustainable development. By leveraging the “Web of Science Core Collection” databases and employing CiteSpace software for visual analysis, we examined 2223 research papers to track the influence and trends of key countries, institutions, and authors. Our results reveal a significant increase in publication volume, indicating a robust development potential for carbon neutrality research. The study also identifies environmental science, environmental research, and energy and fuel science as central interdisciplinary hubs, highlighting the importance of cross-disciplinary collaboration. Notably, China leads in publication output but has room for improvement in citation impact, suggesting a need for enhanced research quality and international visibility. The study's findings are instrumental for guiding future research directions, policy-making, and interdisciplinary cooperation, particularly in the fields of environmental science and energy, to accelerate progress towards carbon neutrality and global climate governance.
{"title":"Carbon neutralization frontier tracking","authors":"Xiaoliang Shi, Jiayin Xin, Aruna Aria, Ji Lu, Tielong Wang, Xiaowei Xu, Yiwen Zhang","doi":"10.3389/fenvs.2024.1388746","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2024.1388746","url":null,"abstract":"This systematic study on the international research trends in carbon neutrality underscores its critical role in combating global warming and advancing sustainable development. By leveraging the “Web of Science Core Collection” databases and employing CiteSpace software for visual analysis, we examined 2223 research papers to track the influence and trends of key countries, institutions, and authors. Our results reveal a significant increase in publication volume, indicating a robust development potential for carbon neutrality research. The study also identifies environmental science, environmental research, and energy and fuel science as central interdisciplinary hubs, highlighting the importance of cross-disciplinary collaboration. Notably, China leads in publication output but has room for improvement in citation impact, suggesting a need for enhanced research quality and international visibility. The study's findings are instrumental for guiding future research directions, policy-making, and interdisciplinary cooperation, particularly in the fields of environmental science and energy, to accelerate progress towards carbon neutrality and global climate governance.","PeriodicalId":12460,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Environmental Science","volume":"20 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142268707","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-09-18DOI: 10.3389/fenvs.2024.1450320
Wangming Liu, Huan Xu, Guowei He
Water transparency, as indicated by the Secchi disk depth (Zsd), is a key parameter for assessing the quality of aquatic environments, reflecting the ability of light to penetrate through the water column. In the Tibetan Plateau (TP), where lakes are abundant yet remote and challenging to access, remote sensing techniques offer a promising approach for monitoring Zsd over large spatial scales. In this study, we used the semianalytical -based Zsd algorithm to study the temporal and spatial dynamics of water transparency over TP during the period from 2003 to 2022. The results show that the 173 lakes have a mean value of Zsd is 3.64 ± 2.4 m for long term, and generally with the significantly increasing change trends in the past 20 years. In the central Tibetan Plateau (CTP) region, lake transparency showed a positive correlation with lake surface temperature (r = 0.73) and a negative correlation with precipitation (r = −0.54), highlighting the region’s heightened sensitivity to meteorological changes compared to other areas. The spike in water clarity observed in the CTP region may be linked to alterations in lake hydrodynamics driven by the extremely climate events (i.e., El Niño). These results indicated the importance of considering regional climatic factors when interpreting fluctuations in water transparency.
{"title":"Long-term trends in water transparency of Tibetan Plateau lakes and the response to extreme climate events","authors":"Wangming Liu, Huan Xu, Guowei He","doi":"10.3389/fenvs.2024.1450320","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2024.1450320","url":null,"abstract":"Water transparency, as indicated by the Secchi disk depth (Z<jats:sub>sd</jats:sub>), is a key parameter for assessing the quality of aquatic environments, reflecting the ability of light to penetrate through the water column. In the Tibetan Plateau (TP), where lakes are abundant yet remote and challenging to access, remote sensing techniques offer a promising approach for monitoring Z<jats:sub>sd</jats:sub> over large spatial scales. In this study, we used the semianalytical -based Z<jats:sub>sd</jats:sub> algorithm to study the temporal and spatial dynamics of water transparency over TP during the period from 2003 to 2022. The results show that the 173 lakes have a mean value of Z<jats:sub>sd</jats:sub> is 3.64 ± 2.4 m for long term, and generally with the significantly increasing change trends in the past 20 years. In the central Tibetan Plateau (CTP) region, lake transparency showed a positive correlation with lake surface temperature (r = 0.73) and a negative correlation with precipitation (r = −0.54), highlighting the region’s heightened sensitivity to meteorological changes compared to other areas. The spike in water clarity observed in the CTP region may be linked to alterations in lake hydrodynamics driven by the extremely climate events (i.e., El Niño). These results indicated the importance of considering regional climatic factors when interpreting fluctuations in water transparency.","PeriodicalId":12460,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Environmental Science","volume":"198 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142251185","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-09-13DOI: 10.3389/fenvs.2024.1455377
Qiqi Zhou, Hongfeng Chen, Guijian Liu, Xiaohui Wang
Emerging contaminants (ECs), such as polyfluorinated compounds, antibiotics, microplastics, and nonylphenol, continue to challenge environmental management practices due to their persistence and bioaccumulation potential. This review articulates the critical pathways and environmental risks posed by these contaminants, setting the stage for an in-depth exploration of innovative removal technologies. We spotlight groundbreaking methods that are reshaping the landscape of ECs remediation: membrane filtration technology, constructed wetlands, adsorptive materials, algae-based systems, biological treatments, and advanced oxidation processes. Each method is evaluated for its efficacy in removing ECs, with particular emphasis on sustainability and economic viability. Our findings reveal that integrating these technologies can significantly enhance removal efficiency, offering new directions for environmental policy and practical applications. This article positions these advanced removal technologies at the forefront of the fight against ECs, advocating for their broader adoption to safeguard environmental and public health.
{"title":"Occurrence, sustainable treatment technologies, potential sources, and future prospects of emerging pollutants in aquatic environments: a review","authors":"Qiqi Zhou, Hongfeng Chen, Guijian Liu, Xiaohui Wang","doi":"10.3389/fenvs.2024.1455377","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2024.1455377","url":null,"abstract":"Emerging contaminants (ECs), such as polyfluorinated compounds, antibiotics, microplastics, and nonylphenol, continue to challenge environmental management practices due to their persistence and bioaccumulation potential. This review articulates the critical pathways and environmental risks posed by these contaminants, setting the stage for an in-depth exploration of innovative removal technologies. We spotlight groundbreaking methods that are reshaping the landscape of ECs remediation: membrane filtration technology, constructed wetlands, adsorptive materials, algae-based systems, biological treatments, and advanced oxidation processes. Each method is evaluated for its efficacy in removing ECs, with particular emphasis on sustainability and economic viability. Our findings reveal that integrating these technologies can significantly enhance removal efficiency, offering new directions for environmental policy and practical applications. This article positions these advanced removal technologies at the forefront of the fight against ECs, advocating for their broader adoption to safeguard environmental and public health.","PeriodicalId":12460,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Environmental Science","volume":"165 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142250858","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-09-13DOI: 10.3389/fenvs.2024.1463679
Xuxin Zou, Jiadi Min, Shuang Meng
Green development, as a key link in the philosophy of new development, is the only way to achieve sustainable development. However, how science and technology (S&T) finance affects green development remains unclear. Based on panel data of 284 cities in China from 2007 to 2020, the multi-time-point difference-in-differences (DID) model and the mediation model were utilized to analyze the influencing mechanisms and paths of the S&T financial pilot policy on green development. The results show that S&T financial policy can significantly promote green development, for which green innovation (GI) capability, industrial structure advancement (ISA), and industrial structure rationalization (ISR) are important paths. Moreover, the effects of S&T financial policy on green development are heterogeneous: the policy exerts a stronger effect on the central region than on the eastern and western regions, a stronger effect on large cities than on small- and medium-sized cities, and a stronger effect on key cities than on general cities. Therefore, relevant governmental departments should continually optimize S&T financial policy; pay more attention to cities in the western region, small- and medium-sized cities, and general cities; actively foster GI capability; facilitate industrial structure transformation and upgrading; and vigorously support cross-regional exchange and cooperation to jointly realize green development. This study sheds new light on how the S&T finance related policy reform promotes sustainable growth and socio-economic welfare in developing countries.
{"title":"The green development effect of science and technology financial policy in China","authors":"Xuxin Zou, Jiadi Min, Shuang Meng","doi":"10.3389/fenvs.2024.1463679","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2024.1463679","url":null,"abstract":"Green development, as a key link in the philosophy of new development, is the only way to achieve sustainable development. However, how science and technology (S&amp;T) finance affects green development remains unclear. Based on panel data of 284 cities in China from 2007 to 2020, the multi-time-point difference-in-differences (DID) model and the mediation model were utilized to analyze the influencing mechanisms and paths of the S&amp;T financial pilot policy on green development. The results show that S&amp;T financial policy can significantly promote green development, for which green innovation (GI) capability, industrial structure advancement (ISA), and industrial structure rationalization (ISR) are important paths. Moreover, the effects of S&amp;T financial policy on green development are heterogeneous: the policy exerts a stronger effect on the central region than on the eastern and western regions, a stronger effect on large cities than on small- and medium-sized cities, and a stronger effect on key cities than on general cities. Therefore, relevant governmental departments should continually optimize S&amp;T financial policy; pay more attention to cities in the western region, small- and medium-sized cities, and general cities; actively foster GI capability; facilitate industrial structure transformation and upgrading; and vigorously support cross-regional exchange and cooperation to jointly realize green development. This study sheds new light on how the S&amp;T finance related policy reform promotes sustainable growth and socio-economic welfare in developing countries.","PeriodicalId":12460,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Environmental Science","volume":"2 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142251191","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jilin Province is a crucial region of interest for agricultural and forestry development in China. The deterioration of its ecological environment could have a severe impact on agricultural production and ecological conservation. A systematic assessment of ecological environment quality in Jilin Province is essential for its sustainable development. In this study, we utilized Landsat data from 1990 to 2020 (every 5 years) to construct the Remote Sensing Ecological Index (RSEI) for Jilin Province. We applied the Sen’s slope estimator and the Mann-Kendall trend test to examine the spatiotemporal changes in ecological environment quality over a 30-year period. Additionally, we employed the Geo-detector to explore the socioeconomic and natural factors influencing ecological environment quality. The results revealed: 1) From 1990 to 2020, the average RSEI index in Jilin Province ranged from 0.586 to 0.699, indicating overall good ecological environment quality. Spatially, ecological environment quality gradually declined from east to west. 2) The RSEI in Jilin Province exhibited an initial increase, followed by a decrease, and then another increase trend. This improvement can be attributed to the implementation of government policies, which reversed the expansion of saline-alkali land. Ecological environment quality significantly improved in the western region of Jilin Province over the 30-year period. 3) Socioeconomic and natural factors both influence ecological environment quality in Jilin Province. Among these factors, vegetation coverage has the most significant impact on the ecological environment quality in the study area, with natural factors exerting a more significant influence than socioeconomic factors. Our research can provide relevant data support for policy-making in Jilin Province.
{"title":"Spatial-temporal variation and influencing factors of ecological environment quality in Jilin Province (China)","authors":"Feiyu Wang, Yang Han, Yaping Xu, Ruifei Zhu, Chunmei Qu, Peng Zhang, Stanton Martin, Lijuan Zhuang, Zhuxin Liu, Jiani Zhang, Fang Huang","doi":"10.3389/fenvs.2024.1446313","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2024.1446313","url":null,"abstract":"Jilin Province is a crucial region of interest for agricultural and forestry development in China. The deterioration of its ecological environment could have a severe impact on agricultural production and ecological conservation. A systematic assessment of ecological environment quality in Jilin Province is essential for its sustainable development. In this study, we utilized Landsat data from 1990 to 2020 (every 5 years) to construct the Remote Sensing Ecological Index (RSEI) for Jilin Province. We applied the Sen’s slope estimator and the Mann-Kendall trend test to examine the spatiotemporal changes in ecological environment quality over a 30-year period. Additionally, we employed the Geo-detector to explore the socioeconomic and natural factors influencing ecological environment quality. The results revealed: 1) From 1990 to 2020, the average RSEI index in Jilin Province ranged from 0.586 to 0.699, indicating overall good ecological environment quality. Spatially, ecological environment quality gradually declined from east to west. 2) The RSEI in Jilin Province exhibited an initial increase, followed by a decrease, and then another increase trend. This improvement can be attributed to the implementation of government policies, which reversed the expansion of saline-alkali land. Ecological environment quality significantly improved in the western region of Jilin Province over the 30-year period. 3) Socioeconomic and natural factors both influence ecological environment quality in Jilin Province. Among these factors, vegetation coverage has the most significant impact on the ecological environment quality in the study area, with natural factors exerting a more significant influence than socioeconomic factors. Our research can provide relevant data support for policy-making in Jilin Province.","PeriodicalId":12460,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Environmental Science","volume":"8 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142251187","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-09-13DOI: 10.3389/fenvs.2024.1442072
Huimin Shao, Qiong Peng, Fei Zhou, Walton Wider
BackgroundGreen development, which is crucial because of the escalating ecological and environmental issues, is largely driven by industrial transformation and environmental legislation.PurposeThe paper aims to examine the combined effects of environmental regulations and industrial change on the green economy, based on their separate effects.MethodsWe use a fixed-effects regression on panel data covering 30 provinces in China in 2010–2020.ResultsWe reach the following conclusions: environmental regulations and rationalization of the industrial structure both support growth in the green economy, but advancement in the industrial structure hinders it. The combined effect of environmental regulations and advancement and rationalization in the industrial structure has a significantly positive impact on growth in the green economy; it is most pronounced in regions with higher resource endowments and economic development.DiscussionBy providing specific empirical facts, this study clarifies the effects of industrial transformation and environmental regulations on growth in the green economy, contributing to enriching the literature and helping to pave the way to sustainable development.
{"title":"Environmental regulation, industrial transformation, and green economy development","authors":"Huimin Shao, Qiong Peng, Fei Zhou, Walton Wider","doi":"10.3389/fenvs.2024.1442072","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2024.1442072","url":null,"abstract":"BackgroundGreen development, which is crucial because of the escalating ecological and environmental issues, is largely driven by industrial transformation and environmental legislation.PurposeThe paper aims to examine the combined effects of environmental regulations and industrial change on the green economy, based on their separate effects.MethodsWe use a fixed-effects regression on panel data covering 30 provinces in China in 2010–2020.ResultsWe reach the following conclusions: environmental regulations and rationalization of the industrial structure both support growth in the green economy, but advancement in the industrial structure hinders it. The combined effect of environmental regulations and advancement and rationalization in the industrial structure has a significantly positive impact on growth in the green economy; it is most pronounced in regions with higher resource endowments and economic development.DiscussionBy providing specific empirical facts, this study clarifies the effects of industrial transformation and environmental regulations on growth in the green economy, contributing to enriching the literature and helping to pave the way to sustainable development.","PeriodicalId":12460,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Environmental Science","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142251188","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
IntroductionWoodchips as a source of particulate organic carbon (POC) are proposed as a nature-based solution to enhance nutrient uptake and retention in agricultural streams. However, the effective implementation of woodchips for nutrient removal in streams requires an advanced understanding of their potential and limits, considering their performance under various environmental conditions. This study tested the efficiency of woodchips on the uptake of soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) and ammonium (N-NH4) across different experimental scales and complexity. We investigated whether the presence of woodchips can increase SRP and N-NH4 uptake in laboratory flumes under controlled conditions, outdoor flumes under semi-controlled conditions, and agricultural streams. Additionally, we examined how the effects of woodchips will change over time via a 6-week incubation in the outdoor flumes.MethodsThe woodchips were pre-colonized for four weeks to allow the growth of biofilms. We performed short-term nutrient additions without (control) and with (treatment) woodchips in all three experimental setups. Uptake parameters were determined via concentration changes over time in the laboratory flumes and concentration changes over travel distance in the outdoor flumes and the stream channels. The effects of woodchips on SRP and N-NH4 uptake rates were analyzed using an effect size model.ResultsWe found positive effects of woodchips on nutrient uptake only in the laboratory flumes but no or even negative effects in the outdoor flumes and the agricultural streams. Over the 6-week incubation in the outdoor flumes, we did not observe significant changes in the effects of woodchips on nutrient uptake.DiscussionThese findings highlight that considering experimental scales and influencing environmental conditions is crucial when testing the application of woodchips as nature-based solutions to mitigate nutrient loads in agricultural streams.
{"title":"Testing woodchips for their efficiency in stimulating aquatic nutrient uptake at different experimental and spatial scales","authors":"Elmira Akbari, Tjaša Matjašič, Anna-Lisa Dittrich, Katrin Attermeyer, Rebecca Hood-Nowotny, Gabriele Weigelhofer","doi":"10.3389/fenvs.2024.1419413","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2024.1419413","url":null,"abstract":"IntroductionWoodchips as a source of particulate organic carbon (POC) are proposed as a nature-based solution to enhance nutrient uptake and retention in agricultural streams. However, the effective implementation of woodchips for nutrient removal in streams requires an advanced understanding of their potential and limits, considering their performance under various environmental conditions. This study tested the efficiency of woodchips on the uptake of soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) and ammonium (N-NH<jats:sub>4</jats:sub>) across different experimental scales and complexity. We investigated whether the presence of woodchips can increase SRP and N-NH<jats:sub>4</jats:sub> uptake in laboratory flumes under controlled conditions, outdoor flumes under semi-controlled conditions, and agricultural streams. Additionally, we examined how the effects of woodchips will change over time via a 6-week incubation in the outdoor flumes.MethodsThe woodchips were pre-colonized for four weeks to allow the growth of biofilms. We performed short-term nutrient additions without (control) and with (treatment) woodchips in all three experimental setups. Uptake parameters were determined via concentration changes over time in the laboratory flumes and concentration changes over travel distance in the outdoor flumes and the stream channels. The effects of woodchips on SRP and N-NH<jats:sub>4</jats:sub> uptake rates were analyzed using an effect size model.ResultsWe found positive effects of woodchips on nutrient uptake only in the laboratory flumes but no or even negative effects in the outdoor flumes and the agricultural streams. Over the 6-week incubation in the outdoor flumes, we did not observe significant changes in the effects of woodchips on nutrient uptake.DiscussionThese findings highlight that considering experimental scales and influencing environmental conditions is crucial when testing the application of woodchips as nature-based solutions to mitigate nutrient loads in agricultural streams.","PeriodicalId":12460,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Environmental Science","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142250862","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Indoor environments, considered sanctuaries from external pollutants, are increasingly recognized as reservoirs for microplastics (MP). This research employed a comprehensive approach, combining dust sampling from diverse indoor spaces, density separation method, and microscopic observation to quantify and characterize microplastic particles. This is the first initial study worldwide that incorporated MP identification in indoor dust from different indoor environments along with factor analysis, health, and ecological risk assessment. The average MP concentration in the indoor environment was 4333.18 ± 353.85 MP/g. The MP distribution pattern was in institutional areas < residential areas < industrial areas < and commercial areas. Black color, fiber, <0.5 mm size was the dominant color, morphology, and size, respectively, among the detected MP from the studied samples. In addition, the polymer types of the MP were detected by Fourier Transform-Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and ten types of polymers were detected while PET was in high abundance. Population number, architectural features of habitat, human activities, urban topography, and particle residence time were determined as responsible factors for MP abundance in indoor areas. The estimated daily intake (EDI) value via ingestion was higher than the inhalation of MP. Infants are highly susceptible to MP exposures. According to Polymer Hazard Index (PLI) and Polymer Hazard Index (PHI) values, the exposure risk was in the minor and extreme risk categories.
{"title":"Microplastics in indoor dust at Dhaka city: unveiling the unseen contaminants within our homes","authors":"Md. Rashedul Haque, Wahida Ahmed, Md. Rayhanul Islam Rayhan, Md. Mostafizur Rahman","doi":"10.3389/fenvs.2024.1437866","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2024.1437866","url":null,"abstract":"Indoor environments, considered sanctuaries from external pollutants, are increasingly recognized as reservoirs for microplastics (MP). This research employed a comprehensive approach, combining dust sampling from diverse indoor spaces, density separation method, and microscopic observation to quantify and characterize microplastic particles. This is the first initial study worldwide that incorporated MP identification in indoor dust from different indoor environments along with factor analysis, health, and ecological risk assessment. The average MP concentration in the indoor environment was 4333.18 ± 353.85 MP/g. The MP distribution pattern was in institutional areas &lt; residential areas &lt; industrial areas &lt; and commercial areas. Black color, fiber, &lt;0.5 mm size was the dominant color, morphology, and size, respectively, among the detected MP from the studied samples. In addition, the polymer types of the MP were detected by Fourier Transform-Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and ten types of polymers were detected while PET was in high abundance. Population number, architectural features of habitat, human activities, urban topography, and particle residence time were determined as responsible factors for MP abundance in indoor areas. The estimated daily intake (EDI) value via ingestion was higher than the inhalation of MP. Infants are highly susceptible to MP exposures. According to Polymer Hazard Index (PLI) and Polymer Hazard Index (PHI) values, the exposure risk was in the minor and extreme risk categories.","PeriodicalId":12460,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Environmental Science","volume":"15 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142251190","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-09-12DOI: 10.3389/fenvs.2024.1475497
Minglan Yuan, Zetai Shi, Decai Tang, Jie Zhu, Jiannan Li
IntroductionThe Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) is experiencing rapid economic development, while ecological and environmental problems are prominent. The development of green finance can help optimize the upgrade of regional industrial structure and promote the improvement of the ecological environment.MethodsThis study constructs an evaluation system for the development level of the YREB based on the panel data of 11 provinces (cities) in the YREB from 2010 to 2020. The entropy method is used to evaluate and analyze the current status of the ecosystem in the YREB, and a panel data model is used to conduct an in-depth investigation to explore the impact of green finance (GF) on the industrial structure upgrade (INS) of the YREB.ResultsThe results of the study show that from 2010 to 2020, the level of GF development in the YREB has increased, and the INS has further developed. In addition, the growth of GF injects a strong impetus to the improvement of INS in YREB, but there are regional differences, which are more obvious in the eastern region and not significant in other regions.DiscussionFinally, based on the research conclusions, relevant strategies and suggestions are proposed to assist the development of GF and INS in the YREB.
{"title":"Synergistic relationship between green finance and industrial structure upgrade in the yangtze river economic belt","authors":"Minglan Yuan, Zetai Shi, Decai Tang, Jie Zhu, Jiannan Li","doi":"10.3389/fenvs.2024.1475497","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2024.1475497","url":null,"abstract":"IntroductionThe Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) is experiencing rapid economic development, while ecological and environmental problems are prominent. The development of green finance can help optimize the upgrade of regional industrial structure and promote the improvement of the ecological environment.MethodsThis study constructs an evaluation system for the development level of the YREB based on the panel data of 11 provinces (cities) in the YREB from 2010 to 2020. The entropy method is used to evaluate and analyze the current status of the ecosystem in the YREB, and a panel data model is used to conduct an in-depth investigation to explore the impact of green finance (GF) on the industrial structure upgrade (INS) of the YREB.ResultsThe results of the study show that from 2010 to 2020, the level of GF development in the YREB has increased, and the INS has further developed. In addition, the growth of GF injects a strong impetus to the improvement of INS in YREB, but there are regional differences, which are more obvious in the eastern region and not significant in other regions.DiscussionFinally, based on the research conclusions, relevant strategies and suggestions are proposed to assist the development of GF and INS in the YREB.","PeriodicalId":12460,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Environmental Science","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142209697","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}