Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-14DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2026.181506
John Kormla Nyameasem , Sabine J. Seidel , Milena Ulrich , Morten Möller , Insa Kühling , Alberto Andrino , Timo Kautz , Nicolas Brüggemann , Ixchel M. Hernandez-Ochoa
Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a major anthropogenic greenhouse gas. Agriculture represents its largest source, but the estimation, projection and mitigation measures pose considerable challenges. We conducted a secondary meta-analysis to synthesize and quantify the impact of various agricultural practices on observed N2O emissions. In addition, we synthesized how various process-based crop models considered these impacts and related processes when modeling N2O emissions in order to identify research gaps. We examined 134 field experiments and 108 modeling articles on N2O emissions. The application of biochar, nitrification and/or urease inhibitors, reduced fertilizer rates, controlled-release/coated fertilizers, deep fertilizer placement compared to surface application, and drip irrigation compared to broadcast surface irrigation consistently reduced observed N2O emissions (7–29%). In contrast, crop residue addition compared to removal increased N2O emissions. Many crop models already account for some of the practices, such as crop rotations, organic amendments, irrigation, fertilizer management in terms of rates, timing and sources, and, to a lesser degree, placement. Tillage practices are included in several models, but the considered approaches vary. Other important practices to increase fertilizer efficiency, such as the use of nitrification and urease inhibitors, are only included in a few models. While no modeling studies have explicitly assessed the liming effects on N2O emissions, biochar effects were only represented indirectly through carbon dynamics rather than nitrogen transformations. Overall, model improvements are necessary to accurately quantify N2O emissions associated with current agricultural practices, thereby contributing to the design of sustainable cropping systems that minimize the trade-off between climate change mitigation and crop productivity.
{"title":"Nitrous oxide emissions from soil: A review of cropping practices and their consideration in process-based models","authors":"John Kormla Nyameasem , Sabine J. Seidel , Milena Ulrich , Morten Möller , Insa Kühling , Alberto Andrino , Timo Kautz , Nicolas Brüggemann , Ixchel M. Hernandez-Ochoa","doi":"10.1016/j.scitotenv.2026.181506","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scitotenv.2026.181506","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Nitrous oxide (N<sub>2</sub>O) is a major anthropogenic greenhouse gas. Agriculture represents its largest source, but the estimation, projection and mitigation measures pose considerable challenges. We conducted a secondary meta-analysis to synthesize and quantify the impact of various agricultural practices on observed N<sub>2</sub>O emissions. In addition, we synthesized how various process-based crop models considered these impacts and related processes when modeling N<sub>2</sub>O emissions in order to identify research gaps. We examined 134 field experiments and 108 modeling articles on N<sub>2</sub>O emissions. The application of biochar, nitrification and/or urease inhibitors, reduced fertilizer rates, controlled-release/coated fertilizers, deep fertilizer placement compared to surface application, and drip irrigation compared to broadcast surface irrigation consistently reduced observed N<sub>2</sub>O emissions (7–29%). In contrast, crop residue addition compared to removal increased N<sub>2</sub>O emissions. Many crop models already account for some of the practices, such as crop rotations, organic amendments, irrigation, fertilizer management in terms of rates, timing and sources, and, to a lesser degree, placement. Tillage practices are included in several models, but the considered approaches vary. Other important practices to increase fertilizer efficiency, such as the use of nitrification and urease inhibitors, are only included in a few models. While no modeling studies have explicitly assessed the liming effects on N<sub>2</sub>O emissions, biochar effects were only represented indirectly through carbon dynamics rather than nitrogen transformations. Overall, model improvements are necessary to accurately quantify N<sub>2</sub>O emissions associated with current agricultural practices, thereby contributing to the design of sustainable cropping systems that minimize the trade-off between climate change mitigation and crop productivity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":422,"journal":{"name":"Science of the Total Environment","volume":"1019 ","pages":"Article 181506"},"PeriodicalIF":8.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146172683","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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 : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-18DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2026.181528
Manuel La Licata , Ananya Pandey , Michael Maerker , Marco Cavalli , Roberto Seppi , Sara Savi
We present the first preliminary adaptation and implementation of the HOTSED framework in a high-altitude watershed of the Eastern Italian Alps chosen as pilot area. HOTSED was applied to assess the spatio-temporal variability of sediment source hotspots driven by rainfall-induced surface runoff across different climatic conditions and rainfall intensities. We analyzed four seasonal scenarios and four daily scenarios, including an ordinary event and three extreme events with different return periods (10-year, 30-year, and 50-year). A pre-existing polygon-based geomorphological map was used to spatially define sediment sources across the study area. The geomorphic potential of each sediment source was estimated through a qualitative scoring of map attributes, supported by semi-quantitative, spatially distributed indices, including slope, permafrost distribution, and a proxy for frost-cracking incidence on the bedrock. Structural sediment connectivity was estimated using a geomorphometric index based on a Digital Terrain Model. For each scenario, a proxy for sediment transport potential was computed using a rainfall-calibrated index, applying a 0 °C ground surface temperature threshold to exclude snow-covered areas. All components were then integrated through a raster-based equation, yielding the HOTSED model. Results show that hotspots become more widespread and geomorphologically active during warmer and wetter seasons, particularly in summer and autumn, due to a combination of higher cumulative rainfall, intensified thermo-mechanical weathering, and increased topographic-altitudinal control on water flows. The model successfully identified hotspot toposequences with a high potential to trigger hazardous cascade processes. The analysis shows that even moderate rainfall extremes (e.g., 10-year return period events) can significantly amplify hazard patterns. This highlights the importance of identifying and monitoring geomorphic responses and, hence, managing appropriately cascading systems in Alpine watersheds under changing climatic conditions.
{"title":"Adaptation and implementation of the HOTSED framework for assessing seasonal scenarios and short-term weather extremes in a high-altitude watershed of the Eastern Alps","authors":"Manuel La Licata , Ananya Pandey , Michael Maerker , Marco Cavalli , Roberto Seppi , Sara Savi","doi":"10.1016/j.scitotenv.2026.181528","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scitotenv.2026.181528","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We present the first preliminary adaptation and implementation of the HOTSED framework in a high-altitude watershed of the Eastern Italian Alps chosen as pilot area. HOTSED was applied to assess the spatio-temporal variability of sediment source hotspots driven by rainfall-induced surface runoff across different climatic conditions and rainfall intensities. We analyzed four seasonal scenarios and four daily scenarios, including an ordinary event and three extreme events with different return periods (10-year, 30-year, and 50-year). A pre-existing polygon-based geomorphological map was used to spatially define sediment sources across the study area. The geomorphic potential of each sediment source was estimated through a qualitative scoring of map attributes, supported by semi-quantitative, spatially distributed indices, including slope, permafrost distribution, and a proxy for frost-cracking incidence on the bedrock. Structural sediment connectivity was estimated using a geomorphometric index based on a Digital Terrain Model. For each scenario, a proxy for sediment transport potential was computed using a rainfall-calibrated index, applying a 0 °C ground surface temperature threshold to exclude snow-covered areas. All components were then integrated through a raster-based equation, yielding the HOTSED model. Results show that hotspots become more widespread and geomorphologically active during warmer and wetter seasons, particularly in summer and autumn, due to a combination of higher cumulative rainfall, intensified thermo-mechanical weathering, and increased topographic-altitudinal control on water flows. The model successfully identified hotspot toposequences with a high potential to trigger hazardous cascade processes. The analysis shows that even moderate rainfall extremes (e.g., 10-year return period events) can significantly amplify hazard patterns. This highlights the importance of identifying and monitoring geomorphic responses and, hence, managing appropriately cascading systems in Alpine watersheds under changing climatic conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":422,"journal":{"name":"Science of the Total Environment","volume":"1019 ","pages":"Article 181528"},"PeriodicalIF":8.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146225036","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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 : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-18DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2026.181532
Sergey V. Loiko , Artem G. Lim , Daria Kuzmina , Ivan V. Krickov , Rinat M. Manasypov , Boris G. Pokrovsky , Georgiy Istigechev , Oleg S. Pokrovsky
Drained thermokarst (thaw) lakes of permafrost regions represent potentially important but poorly constrained hot spots of greenhouse gas (GHG), carbon, and nutrient cycling. To elucidate the biogeochemistry of residual water bodies (RWB) formed after thermokarst lake drainage in permafrost peatlands, we measured dissolved CO₂ and CH₄ concentrations, CO₂ emissions, and dissolved (<0.45 μm) carbon, major, and trace element concentrations in the continuous and discontinuous permafrost zones of the Western Siberian Lowlands. Residual water bodies located within drained lake basins were examined across early and late successional stages. Carbon dioxide emissions from RWB surfaces ranged from 0.1 to 2.0 g C-CO₂ m−2 d−1 and did not exhibit systematic variation with successional stage or permafrost zone. In contrast, dissolved CO2 (200–1200 μmol L−1) and CH4 (1–30 μmol L−1) concentrations followed a consistent pattern of “Early stage > Late stage > Lake.” Partial mismatch between dissolved CO₂ concentrations and CO₂ fluxes arises because concentrations integrate longer-term biogeochemical processes, whereas fluxes respond to short-term physical controls on gas exchange. The isotopic composition of dissolved inorganic carbon (δ13C-DIC; −14 to −28‰) indicated dominant DIC production from terrestrial organic matter (plants and peat), with additional contributions from in-lake biogeochemical processing and gas exchange. Labile and highly soluble components of lake water—including DIC, major ions (Na, Mg, Ca, Cl), nutrients (P, K, Si), redox-sensitive elements (Fe, Mn), and several trace elements (Co, Ni, Sr, Rb, Mo, As)—showed similar stage-dependent decreases in concentration. This pattern is attributed to intensive biogeochemical cycling driven by vegetation establishment and nutrient uptake on drained lake bottoms. In contrast, low-solubility lithogenic elements and several trace metals (e.g., Cr, V, Cu, Zn, Pb) showed no consistent successional trend, and in some cases increased from early to late stages, suggesting inputs from mineral sources via suprapermafrost inflow. Overall, residual water bodies formed after thermokarst lake drainage differ markedly from mature lakes in their carbon, GHG, and solute composition. Their biogeochemistry is primarily regulated by terrestrial vegetation succession and peat soil inputs, highlighting drained thermokarst lakes as critical yet underrepresented hot spots in Pan-Arctic carbon and nutrient cycling under ongoing climate warming.
{"title":"Residual water bodies formed after thermokarst lake drainage in permafrost regions act as hot spots of nutrient and carbon cycling and greenhouse gas emissions","authors":"Sergey V. Loiko , Artem G. Lim , Daria Kuzmina , Ivan V. Krickov , Rinat M. Manasypov , Boris G. Pokrovsky , Georgiy Istigechev , Oleg S. Pokrovsky","doi":"10.1016/j.scitotenv.2026.181532","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scitotenv.2026.181532","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Drained thermokarst (thaw) lakes of permafrost regions represent potentially important but poorly constrained hot spots of greenhouse gas (GHG), carbon, and nutrient cycling. To elucidate the biogeochemistry of residual water bodies (RWB) formed after thermokarst lake drainage in permafrost peatlands, we measured dissolved CO₂ and CH₄ concentrations, CO₂ emissions, and dissolved (<0.45 μm) carbon, major, and trace element concentrations in the continuous and discontinuous permafrost zones of the Western Siberian Lowlands. Residual water bodies located within drained lake basins were examined across early and late successional stages. Carbon dioxide emissions from RWB surfaces ranged from 0.1 to 2.0 g C-CO₂ m<sup>−2</sup> d<sup>−1</sup> and did not exhibit systematic variation with successional stage or permafrost zone. In contrast, dissolved CO<sub>2</sub> (200–1200 μmol L<sup>−1</sup>) and CH<sub>4</sub> (1–30 μmol L<sup>−1</sup>) concentrations followed a consistent pattern of “Early stage > Late stage > Lake.” Partial mismatch between dissolved CO₂ concentrations and CO₂ fluxes arises because concentrations integrate longer-term biogeochemical processes, whereas fluxes respond to short-term physical controls on gas exchange. The isotopic composition of dissolved inorganic carbon (δ<sup>13</sup>C-DIC; −14 to −28‰) indicated dominant DIC production from terrestrial organic matter (plants and peat), with additional contributions from in-lake biogeochemical processing and gas exchange. Labile and highly soluble components of lake water—including DIC, major ions (Na, Mg, Ca, Cl), nutrients (P, K, Si), redox-sensitive elements (Fe, Mn), and several trace elements (Co, Ni, Sr, Rb, Mo, As)—showed similar stage-dependent decreases in concentration. This pattern is attributed to intensive biogeochemical cycling driven by vegetation establishment and nutrient uptake on drained lake bottoms. In contrast, low-solubility lithogenic elements and several trace metals (e.g., Cr, V, Cu, Zn, Pb) showed no consistent successional trend, and in some cases increased from early to late stages, suggesting inputs from mineral sources via suprapermafrost inflow. Overall, residual water bodies formed after thermokarst lake drainage differ markedly from mature lakes in their carbon, GHG, and solute composition. Their biogeochemistry is primarily regulated by terrestrial vegetation succession and peat soil inputs, highlighting drained thermokarst lakes as critical yet underrepresented hot spots in Pan-Arctic carbon and nutrient cycling under ongoing climate warming.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":422,"journal":{"name":"Science of the Total Environment","volume":"1019 ","pages":"Article 181532"},"PeriodicalIF":8.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146225110","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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 : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-12DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2026.181535
Leah Brown , Ian B. Strachan , David E. Pelster , Stuart Admiral , Luc Pelletier , Brian Grant , Ward Smith , Elizabeth Pattey
Emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O) from agricultural soils can be substantial during the non-growing season (NGS; defined in Canada as November 1 to April 30) but this conclusion is supported by only limited observations. Year-round studies utilizing multi-year observations are needed to confirm NGS emission trends and link these emissions to drivers, thus enabling recommendations for improved management practices. This study addresses these needs by providing twenty years of quasi-continuous, micrometeorological observations of N2O from an agricultural field near Ottawa, Ontario, marginally gap-filled using the DeNitrification and DeComposition model (DNDCv.CAN). With these observations, we confirm two distinct N2O emission periods frequently observed at the site, each with its own environmental driver. The first occurs immediately following snowmelt (DOY 68 to 114), while the second follows N-fertilizer application (DOY 131 to 172). Nitrogen fertilization rate was the main driver of the second sustained emission event. The main driver of the spring thaw emissions was confirmed to be the number of soil cumulative freezing degree days (CFD), consistent with a previous study from other Canadian experimental sites. Although our data supported the previously published non-linear relationship of increasing NGS N2O emissions with CFD, we found that higher N2O emissions occurred under fewer CFD than previously reported. Our results show that nitrogen fertilizer application results in large, routine N2O fluxes post-application, while NGS emissions, particularly at spring snowmelt, are strongly related to CFD.
{"title":"Agricultural nitrous oxide emissions across twenty years of micrometeorological observations show trends associated with soil freezing and fertilizer application","authors":"Leah Brown , Ian B. Strachan , David E. Pelster , Stuart Admiral , Luc Pelletier , Brian Grant , Ward Smith , Elizabeth Pattey","doi":"10.1016/j.scitotenv.2026.181535","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scitotenv.2026.181535","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Emissions of nitrous oxide (N<sub>2</sub>O) from agricultural soils can be substantial during the non-growing season (NGS; defined in Canada as November 1 to April 30) but this conclusion is supported by only limited observations. Year-round studies utilizing multi-year observations are needed to confirm NGS emission trends and link these emissions to drivers, thus enabling recommendations for improved management practices. This study addresses these needs by providing twenty years of quasi-continuous, micrometeorological observations of N<sub>2</sub>O from an agricultural field near Ottawa, Ontario, marginally gap-filled using the DeNitrification and DeComposition model (DNDCv.CAN). With these observations, we confirm two distinct N<sub>2</sub>O emission periods frequently observed at the site, each with its own environmental driver. The first occurs immediately following snowmelt (DOY 68 to 114), while the second follows N-fertilizer application (DOY 131 to 172). Nitrogen fertilization rate was the main driver of the second sustained emission event. The main driver of the spring thaw emissions was confirmed to be the number of soil cumulative freezing degree days (CFD), consistent with a previous study from other Canadian experimental sites. Although our data supported the previously published non-linear relationship of increasing NGS N<sub>2</sub>O emissions with CFD, we found that higher N<sub>2</sub>O emissions occurred under fewer CFD than previously reported. Our results show that nitrogen fertilizer application results in large, routine N<sub>2</sub>O fluxes post-application, while NGS emissions, particularly at spring snowmelt, are strongly related to CFD.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":422,"journal":{"name":"Science of the Total Environment","volume":"1019 ","pages":"Article 181535"},"PeriodicalIF":8.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146154242","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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 : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-16DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2026.181556
André do Vale Borges , Lucas Tadeu Fuess , Henrique Dornelles , Paula Yumi Takeda , Flávia Talarico Saia , Renan Coghi Rogeri , Kaio Gustavo Gomes , Márcia Helena Rissato Zamariolli Damianovic
Efficient two-phase anaerobic digestion (2nd-AD) of sugarcane vinasse hinges on effectively suppressing methanogenesis within the initial sulfate-reducing stage (acidogenesis) to maximize downstream methane production and mitigate safety risks associated with H2S/CH4 co-production. This study investigates the strategic in-process application of sequential acidic and alkaline pH shocks to achieve this critical control. An anaerobic structured-bed reactor (AnSTBR), reactivated from prolonged storage (5 months) to mimic off-season conditions and test long-term system resilience, was fed with vinasse for 90 days at 30 °C across six operational stages. The results demonstrate that these pH shocks hindered the hydrogenotrophic and, mainly, acetoclastic methanogenesis, reducing methane content to 3% while restoring sulfidogenesis to 82% (Stage VI) even after the system returned to original conditions. This robust sulfate removal in high-rate fermentative systems yielded an effluent rich in acetate (>3.0 g-HAc L−1) with enhanced buffering capacity, ideal for subsequent acetoclastic methanogenesis. Microbial community analysis identified Desulfovibrio (28.69–49.38%) as the dominant and most active dissimilatory sulfate reducer, while Bacteroides (6.49–3.44%) and Aminobacterium (1.73–8.82%) were key acetate producers driving fermentative metabolism. This work establishes a novel operational strategy to efficiently modulate microbial pathways in vinasse biorefineries, advancing biogas production, environmental protection, and sustainable waste management.
{"title":"Acidic-alkaline shocks in vinasse fermentation shape methanogenesis and sulfate reduction dynamics","authors":"André do Vale Borges , Lucas Tadeu Fuess , Henrique Dornelles , Paula Yumi Takeda , Flávia Talarico Saia , Renan Coghi Rogeri , Kaio Gustavo Gomes , Márcia Helena Rissato Zamariolli Damianovic","doi":"10.1016/j.scitotenv.2026.181556","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scitotenv.2026.181556","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Efficient two-phase anaerobic digestion (2nd-AD) of sugarcane vinasse hinges on effectively suppressing methanogenesis within the initial sulfate-reducing stage (acidogenesis) to maximize downstream methane production and mitigate safety risks associated with H<sub>2</sub>S/CH<sub>4</sub> co-production. This study investigates the strategic in-process application of sequential acidic and alkaline pH shocks to achieve this critical control. An anaerobic structured-bed reactor (AnSTBR), reactivated from prolonged storage (5 months) to mimic off-season conditions and test long-term system resilience, was fed with vinasse for 90 days at 30 °C across six operational stages. The results demonstrate that these pH shocks hindered the hydrogenotrophic and, mainly, acetoclastic methanogenesis, reducing methane content to 3% while restoring sulfidogenesis to 82% (Stage VI) even after the system returned to original conditions. This robust sulfate removal in high-rate fermentative systems yielded an effluent rich in acetate (>3.0 g-HAc L<sup>−1</sup>) with enhanced buffering capacity, ideal for subsequent acetoclastic methanogenesis. Microbial community analysis identified <em>Desulfovibrio</em> (28.69–49.38%) as the dominant and most active dissimilatory sulfate reducer, while <em>Bacteroides</em> (6.49–3.44%) and <em>Aminobacterium</em> (1.73–8.82%) were key acetate producers driving fermentative metabolism. This work establishes a novel operational strategy to efficiently modulate microbial pathways in vinasse biorefineries, advancing biogas production, environmental protection, and sustainable waste management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":422,"journal":{"name":"Science of the Total Environment","volume":"1019 ","pages":"Article 181556"},"PeriodicalIF":8.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146211800","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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 : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-12DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2026.181520
Stephanie Bachman , Jonah Hazelwood , Lintong Cai , Markus Petters , Nicholas Meskhidze
Previously reported rooftop ambient aerosol measurements in Raleigh, NC, USA, detected episodic events where sub-10 nm particle number concentrations (PNC) exceeded 3.73 × 105 cm−3. Their small size and temporally stable modal diameter (sometimes persisting for days) indicated origins from nearby primary emission sources rather than mesoscale new particle formation (NPF) events. To investigate potential sources, simulations were conducted using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Gaussian plume-based model, AERMOD. Campus surveys and Google Earth analyses identified three candidate sources near the measurement site, including two combined heat and power (CHP) facilities with high-efficiency natural gas turbines and heat recovery steam generators that provide energy to NC State's campus. Distinct point sources were modeled for each facility using an emission factor of 5 × 10−4 g s−1. The study explored source contributions under varying micrometeorological conditions (e.g., wind speed, wind direction, solar radiation, and planetary boundary layer height). Wind pattern analysis revealed distinct plumes from individual power plants reaching the receptor site. Statistical analyses confirmed wind direction and speed as the strongest predictors of modeled mass concentrations, and that observed PNC profiles during NPF and particle burst events are fundamentally distinct. Exceptionally high sub-10 nm particle growth rates were observed during plume transport, averaging 104–120 nm hr−1. These findings reveal that expanding deployment of CHPs for distributed power generation may pose unrecognized health risks through sub-10 nm particle emissions with demonstrated respiratory and neurological impacts. New emission standards may be needed to address ultrafine particle production from natural gas combustion technologies.
{"title":"Source identification of sub-10 nm particles through air dispersion modeling","authors":"Stephanie Bachman , Jonah Hazelwood , Lintong Cai , Markus Petters , Nicholas Meskhidze","doi":"10.1016/j.scitotenv.2026.181520","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scitotenv.2026.181520","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Previously reported rooftop ambient aerosol measurements in Raleigh, NC, USA, detected episodic events where sub-10 nm particle number concentrations (PNC) exceeded 3.73 × 10<sup>5</sup> cm<sup>−3</sup>. Their small size and temporally stable modal diameter (sometimes persisting for days) indicated origins from nearby primary emission sources rather than mesoscale new particle formation (NPF) events. To investigate potential sources, simulations were conducted using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Gaussian plume-based model, AERMOD. Campus surveys and Google Earth analyses identified three candidate sources near the measurement site, including two combined heat and power (CHP) facilities with high-efficiency natural gas turbines and heat recovery steam generators that provide energy to NC State's campus. Distinct point sources were modeled for each facility using an emission factor of 5 × 10<sup>−4</sup> g s<sup>−1</sup>. The study explored source contributions under varying micrometeorological conditions (e.g., wind speed, wind direction, solar radiation, and planetary boundary layer height). Wind pattern analysis revealed distinct plumes from individual power plants reaching the receptor site. Statistical analyses confirmed wind direction and speed as the strongest predictors of modeled mass concentrations, and that observed PNC profiles during NPF and particle burst events are fundamentally distinct. Exceptionally high sub-10 nm particle growth rates were observed during plume transport, averaging 104–120 nm hr<sup>−1</sup>. These findings reveal that expanding deployment of CHPs for distributed power generation may pose unrecognized health risks through sub-10 nm particle emissions with demonstrated respiratory and neurological impacts. New emission standards may be needed to address ultrafine particle production from natural gas combustion technologies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":422,"journal":{"name":"Science of the Total Environment","volume":"1019 ","pages":"Article 181520"},"PeriodicalIF":8.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146172598","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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 : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-19DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2026.181572
Yan Zhang , Qiong Wu , Xinyue Zhao , Yan Hao , Ruimin Liu , Zhifeng Yang
{"title":"Editor's note to “Study of carbon metabolic processes and their spatial distribution in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei urban agglomeration” [Sci. Total Environ. 645, (2018), Pages 1630–1642]","authors":"Yan Zhang , Qiong Wu , Xinyue Zhao , Yan Hao , Ruimin Liu , Zhifeng Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.scitotenv.2026.181572","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scitotenv.2026.181572","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":422,"journal":{"name":"Science of the Total Environment","volume":"1019 ","pages":"Article 181572"},"PeriodicalIF":8.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147386235","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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 : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-19DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2026.181569
Long Chen , Jian Hu , Fangfang Wu
{"title":"Editor's note to “Predicting Cd(II) adsorption capacity of biochar materials using typical machine learning models for effective remediation of aquatic environments” [Science of the Total Environment, 944, (2024), 173955]","authors":"Long Chen , Jian Hu , Fangfang Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.scitotenv.2026.181569","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scitotenv.2026.181569","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":422,"journal":{"name":"Science of the Total Environment","volume":"1019 ","pages":"Article 181569"},"PeriodicalIF":8.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147386233","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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 : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-13DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2026.181539
Kanthan Nambirajan , Subramanian Muralidharan
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are recognized as environmental threats because of their carcinogenic and mutagenic nature, widespread distribution, and potential for bioaccumulation in both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Despite their relevance, limited data exist on PAH contamination in terrestrial birds, particularly in urban environments of developing countries like India. This study aimed to optimize and validate a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for quantifying 15 priority PAHs listed by the US EPA and apply it to assess PAH residues in the tissues of six bird species from Ahmedabad, a densely populated and industrialized city in western India. The method demonstrated high precision, recovery, and sensitivity with LOQ ranged from 0.30 to 1.0 ng/g. Tissues (liver, kidney, muscle) from 37 individual birds representing six species were analysed. All birds studied had at least one PAH; however, the six-ring compounds indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene and benzo[g,h,i]perylene were not detected in any sample. Naphthalene (100%), phenanthrene (93%), and fluoranthene (46%) were the most frequently detected PAHs. Overall, distribution pattern indicates a dominance of low molecular weight PAHs in bird tissues. Source diagnostic ratios (PHE/ANT = 3.46; FLA/PYR = 6.46; FLA/(FLA + PYR) = 0.86) tentatively suggested a predominance of pyrogenic inputs associated with urban combustion sources; however, further studies are required to confirm source attribution, as these ratios were originally developed for abiotic matrices. Among the species examined, the Blue Rock Pigeon Columba livia showed among the higher total PAH burdens and, given its abundance in urban environments, close association with human activity, and ease of sampling, may serve as a practical bioindicator for PAH contamination. While the concentrations observed were below known toxicity thresholds, their consistent presence in multiple species suggests chronic exposure. These findings highlight the need for continued biomonitoring and targeted environmental management strategies to assess and mitigate long-term ecological risks associated with PAHs in urban Indian landscapes.
{"title":"Assessment of priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons exposure to urban birds of Ahmedabad, India: Accumulation patterns, toxicological implications, source, and HPLC method validation","authors":"Kanthan Nambirajan , Subramanian Muralidharan","doi":"10.1016/j.scitotenv.2026.181539","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scitotenv.2026.181539","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are recognized as environmental threats because of their carcinogenic and mutagenic nature, widespread distribution, and potential for bioaccumulation in both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Despite their relevance, limited data exist on PAH contamination in terrestrial birds, particularly in urban environments of developing countries like India. This study aimed to optimize and validate a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for quantifying 15 priority PAHs listed by the US EPA and apply it to assess PAH residues in the tissues of six bird species from Ahmedabad, a densely populated and industrialized city in western India. The method demonstrated high precision, recovery, and sensitivity with LOQ ranged from 0.30 to 1.0 ng/g. Tissues (liver, kidney, muscle) from 37 individual birds representing six species were analysed. All birds studied had at least one PAH; however, the six-ring compounds indeno[1,2,3-<em>cd</em>]pyrene and benzo[<em>g</em>,<em>h</em>,<em>i</em>]perylene were not detected in any sample. Naphthalene (100%), phenanthrene (93%), and fluoranthene (46%) were the most frequently detected PAHs. Overall, distribution pattern indicates a dominance of low molecular weight PAHs in bird tissues. Source diagnostic ratios (PHE/ANT = 3.46; FLA/PYR = 6.46; FLA/(FLA + PYR) = 0.86) tentatively suggested a predominance of pyrogenic inputs associated with urban combustion sources; however, further studies are required to confirm source attribution, as these ratios were originally developed for abiotic matrices. Among the species examined, the Blue Rock Pigeon <em>Columba livia</em> showed among the higher total PAH burdens and, given its abundance in urban environments, close association with human activity, and ease of sampling, may serve as a practical bioindicator for PAH contamination. While the concentrations observed were below known toxicity thresholds, their consistent presence in multiple species suggests chronic exposure. These findings highlight the need for continued biomonitoring and targeted environmental management strategies to assess and mitigate long-term ecological risks associated with PAHs in urban Indian landscapes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":422,"journal":{"name":"Science of the Total Environment","volume":"1019 ","pages":"Article 181539"},"PeriodicalIF":8.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146172684","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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 : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-16DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2026.181544
Nerea Portillo De Arbeloa , Daniele Tonina , Alessandra Marzadri
The dynamic interaction between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems through streams and rivers plays a crucial role in the transport and transformation of passive and reactive solutes, including nutrients and Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs). Among these, microplastics (MP) have received increasing attention due to their toxicity and possible impact on the transport and fate of other pollutants and CECs. While previous research has examined hyporheic exchange induced by pumping (due to near-bed head variation), the additional influence of dune migration (turnover) on MP dynamics remains poorly quantified. Here, we introduce a semi-analytical framework that couples transient hyporheic flow fields with particle transport to evaluate MP fate under the combined effects of pumping and turnover (PT). The model captures streamline pathways and solves the advection–dispersion–reaction equation with path-dependent advection, dispersion, retardation, and sorption terms. Results show that dune PT substantially alters hyporheic flow organization, shifting upwelling and downwelling fluxes, redistributing residence times, and modulating burial depth from pumping alone. PT accelerates early MP release (5th–30th percentiles) but also enhances deep retention under certain dune sizes and flow conditions, highlighting a nonlinear interplay between shallow rapid exchange and deep burial.
{"title":"The role of pumping and turnover in controlling microplastics entrapment and release in sand-bed rivers","authors":"Nerea Portillo De Arbeloa , Daniele Tonina , Alessandra Marzadri","doi":"10.1016/j.scitotenv.2026.181544","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scitotenv.2026.181544","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The dynamic interaction between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems through streams and rivers plays a crucial role in the transport and transformation of passive and reactive solutes, including nutrients and Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs). Among these, microplastics (MP) have received increasing attention due to their toxicity and possible impact on the transport and fate of other pollutants and CECs. While previous research has examined hyporheic exchange induced by pumping (due to near-bed head variation), the additional influence of dune migration (turnover) on MP dynamics remains poorly quantified. Here, we introduce a semi-analytical framework that couples transient hyporheic flow fields with particle transport to evaluate MP fate under the combined effects of pumping and turnover (PT). The model captures streamline pathways and solves the advection–dispersion–reaction equation with path-dependent advection, dispersion, retardation, and sorption terms. Results show that dune PT substantially alters hyporheic flow organization, shifting upwelling and downwelling fluxes, redistributing residence times, and modulating burial depth from pumping alone. PT accelerates early MP release (5th–30th percentiles) but also enhances deep retention under certain dune sizes and flow conditions, highlighting a nonlinear interplay between shallow rapid exchange and deep burial.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":422,"journal":{"name":"Science of the Total Environment","volume":"1019 ","pages":"Article 181544"},"PeriodicalIF":8.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146211805","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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}