Environmental Monitoring and Assessment最新文献

Coastal areas are among the sensitive habitats where, today, the pollution of microplastics (MPs) is a serious threat. This study aimed to assess MPs pollution in sediments of the Oman Sea coast in Chabahar with emphasis on urban-commercial and natural land uses. Sampling of sediments was carried out in June 2024 at 9 stations along the shoreline, taking into account the land use, and in a systematic random manner. The stages of digestion and extraction of MPs were carried out using NaCl and NaI. A binocular optical microscope was used to count MPs. The type of polymers was identified by the Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrometer. The pH, EC, and soil texture were also determined for the samples. The highest frequency of MPs was related to the commercial centers of Chabahar (161 numbers/100 g of sediment), and the lowest was in the mangrove forests of Guatr (6 numbers/100 g of sediment). The frequency of MPs showed a significant difference (p = 0.001) among the studied stations. The mean abundances of MPs were obtained as 71.6 ± 28.9 and 43.25 ± 25.1 in urban-commercial and natural land uses, respectively. The MP's abundance in stations with urban-commercial, and natural uses showed no significant difference (p = 0.15). The largest particle size was identified in the range of 20-500 µm at most of the study stations. The most common forms of MPs were fiber (66%) and fragment (62%) in urban-commercial and natural land use, respectively. Detected polymers and their frequency percentage in the study station were polyethylene (39-77%), polyamide (16-40%), and polyethylene terephthalate (0-43%). The abundance of MPs showed a significant negative correlation only with soil pH (p = 0.03; r = -0.40), and it was not significantly correlated with EC (p = 0.36) and soil texture (0.07). The potential ecological risk index (PERI) was obtained in the range of 5-228. The current risk of MP pollution along the coast of the Oman Sea in the Chabahar region at 33% of stations is at a moderate level. Thus, it is essential to manage plastic waste and reduce its consumption in this region to prevent its spread in the environment.

Springs in the Sirmaur district of the North-Western Himalayas are vital freshwater sources; however, systematic, multi-seasonal data on their physicochemical quality, trace metal concentrations, and land use influences remain scarce. Thirty springs were assessed over 2 years (2021-2023) for physicochemical and heavy metal parameters, seasonal variations, and land use impacts using multivariate statistical methods. Water was neutral to mildly alkaline (pH 6.97-8.06) with moderate mineralization. Calcium and magnesium occasionally exceeded BIS standards, reflecting geogenic inputs from carbonate- and dolomite-rich formations. Lead exceeded permissible limits in both pre- and post-monsoon seasons (up to 0.0163 mg L⁻¹), and iron exceeded limits during pre-monsoon (up to 0.3004 mg L⁻¹), indicating localized anthropogenic and lithological influences. Water Quality Index (WQI) classified overall quality as "Good" (pre-monsoon 36.26; post-monsoon 37.63), with forested catchments consistently superior. A significant difference (p < 0.05) between agricultural and settlement springs during pre-monsoon indicates enhanced contaminant transport under low-flow conditions. Spearman correlation showed positive associations between pH and Ca, Zn, and Mn, reflecting mineral weathering. Principal component analysis (PCA) distinguished regional geogenic controls from site-specific anomalies shaped by land use and lithology. The study provides a comprehensive, data-driven understanding of spring water quality dynamics, offering insights for springshed management, pollution mitigation, and sustainable water resource planning in Himalayan headwaters.

Urban expansion escalates both light and air pollution, posing significant threats to environmental health and energy sustainability. This study presents a spatiotemporal analysis of light pollution in Antalya, Turkey, and explores its relationship to urban air quality. Using ground-based measurements from a sky quality meter (SQM), clouds masks from EUMETSAT, and satellite data from NASA's Black Marble, a comprehensive analysis of night sky brightness and its long-term trends was conducted from 2012 to 2023. Analysis of annual composites identified specific development projects, such as a new hospital and airport expansion, as major sources of increased brightness, with total radiance consistently rising across all districts, reflecting urban sprawl. The relationship between particulate matter (PM2.5) and satellite-observed radiance was examined using data from four ground-based air quality monitoring stations. Despite filtering for clear-sky conditions and moonlight, no statistically significant correlation was found on monthly or daily timescales. This null result likely reflects the decoupling between surface-based PM2.5 measurements and the vertically integrated aerosol column influencing satellite-observed radiance. Upward radiant flux was also quantified to estimate a lower bound in terms of electric cost. Our findings highlight the impact of rapid urbanization on light pollution and provide a baseline for developing targeted mitigation strategies, while indicating that the interplay with air quality in this region is complex.

Parabens, preservatives commonly used in personal care products (PCPs), have emerged as environmental contaminants of concern due to their biological activity, water solubility, and pseudo-persistence. This study assessed the occurrence of methylparaben (MeP), ethylparaben (EtP), propylparaben (PrP), and butylparaben (BuP) in PCPs available on the Argentine market, as well as their distribution in surface water, suspended particulate matter (SPM), and sediments from La Plata city and the surrounding metropolitan area, Argentina. A total of 183 PCPs were analyzed in sampling campaigns conducted in 2018 and 2022. MeP and PrP were the most frequently detected compounds, with an overall decrease in detection frequency between the two campaigns, suggesting a shift toward "paraben-free" formulations. However, inconsistencies were observed between product labeling and actual paraben content. In environmental matrices, MeP and PrP were consistently detected across all campaigns, primarily in water and SPM, with maximum concentrations of 1519 ng/L and 24,610 ng/g (dry weight), respectively. Detection patterns were spatially and temporally homogeneous, indicating a continuous input from urban sources. Multivariate analysis confirmed the association of MeP and PrP with surface water and SPM and suggested limited retention in sediments. These findings highlight the need for stricter regulatory frameworks, improved labeling transparency, and the implementation of systematic monitoring programs that address both consumer products and their environmental implications. This study provides the first integrated evaluation of parabens in consumer products and urban aquatic environments in Argentina.

Tropical mountain ecosystems, driven by monsoonal hydrology and escalating land use, are highly vulnerable to nutrient enrichment, which threatens downstream water quality. This study investigates the spatiotemporal variability and quantitative source apportionment of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), phosphorus (DIP), and silica (DSi) across surface water and groundwater in the Munnar Critical Zone Observatory (CZO), Western Ghats, India. Seasonal monitoring over three monsoon cycles revealed extremely elevated DIN/DIP ratios (up to 299:1), indicating severe phosphorus (P) limitation, reflecting rapid particulate P flushing combined with sustained anthropogenic nitrogen (N) inputs. This N enrichment contributes to a significant riverine DIN flux (3.79 × 10³ tons/year), dominating catchment-scale transport. Hydrological analysis confirmed agricultural leaching, with nitrate (NO₃-N) peaking in groundwater during the monsoon (6.98 ± 0.63 mg/L), while silicate weathering significantly enriched groundwater DSi (15.22 ± 2.81 mg/L). The Positive Matrix Factorisation (PMF) model apportioned 70.2% of NO₃-N and 81.3% of phosphate (PO₄^3-) to agricultural fertiliser inputs and 100% of NO₂-N plus 99.2% of ammonium (NH₄-N) to sewage waste; seasonally, fertiliser signals surged during the monsoon, while sewage contributions peaked in the post-monsoon baseflow. Distinct nitrogen cycling pathways were confirmed by the NO₃-N/NH₄-N ratios (16:1 in surface water vs. 10:1 in groundwater), signifying N loss via denitrification in septic-influenced anaerobic groundwater. These findings, underscoring significant N* excess (up to 107.35), quantify the high eutrophication potential being exported from this anthropogenically stressed headwater system. These results highlight urgent management needs, including optimised fertiliser application timing, restoring riparian buffers, and upgrading sanitation systems to curb nutrient pollution and safeguard downstream ecosystem services.

Effective management of limited and fragile groundwater resources is essential to ensure a sustainable, safe, and high-quality water supply. However, intensive anthropogenic activities are placing increasing pressure on groundwater systems worldwide. Groundwater contamination and changes in land use and land cover in water-scarce cities represent serious environmental challenges, particularly in the Agreste/Caatinga transition zone of northeastern Brazil. This study therefore assesses groundwater contamination risks and land use changes in the city of Campina Grande, located in northeastern Brazil. The following procedures were employed: (a) identification of wells through data collection from public agencies; (b) evaluation of the natural vulnerability to groundwater contamination using the Groundwater Overall Depth (GOD) method; (c) spatiotemporal analysis of land use and land cover changes using the Google Earth Engine platform; (d) identification of point sources of contamination and assessment of potential contamination risk using the Pollutant Origin and its Surcharge Hydraulically (POSH) method; and (e) mapping of groundwater vulnerability and contamination risk. The study area was classified into three distinct levels of natural vulnerability-low, medium, and high. The results indicate an increase in groundwater extraction beginning in the 1990s, particularly between 1995 and 2000, strongly correlated with drought periods. The findings also reveal rapid urban expansion and an increase in the number of pollution sources. Approximately 33% of the study area exhibits high vulnerability on the aquifer's natural vulnerability map, as determined using the GOD index. It is concluded that land use changes and the associated risks of groundwater contamination in Campina Grande represent serious threats to environmental quality and water availability for the city.

Global climate change is expected to significantly reshape marine species distributions, particularly among taxa traditionally classified as cold-water specialists. This study investigates the genus Zoarces, comprising six species, to elucidate the environmental drivers of their current distributions and predict future habitat shifts under multiple Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) scenarios. Utilizing species distribution models and ecological niche overlap analyses, we identify key abiotic factors influencing Zoarces distributions, assess center-of-mass migration trajectories, and quantify interspecific niche dynamics in response to warming oceans. Our results reveal that Z. andriashevi exhibits a broad suitable habitat exceeding 5.49 million km², with high-suitability zones constituting 21.5% of this area. Under the RCP8.5 scenario, its habitat is projected to expand by approximately 1.7 million km² by 2100, reflecting strong environmental tolerance and adaptability to rising temperatures. Z. americanus maintains a wide but spatially concentrated distribution across temperate regions of the eastern USA, western Europe, and the Yellow and Bohai Seas. In contrast, Z. fedorovi and Z. gillii display restricted range characteristics, with Z. gillii-the earliest diverged lineage-primarily inhabiting the relatively warmer Yellow and Bohai Sea regions, where its suitable habitat is contracting under climate warming. Crucially, ecological niche analyses reveal that Zoarces species exhibit complex patterns of niche divergence and convergence under future climate scenarios. Notably, niche separations are predicted between Z. americanus and both Z. viviparus and Z. elongatus, while significant niche integration is projected between Z. americanus and Z. fedorovi, suggesting intensified interspecific competition. Collectively, these findings challenge the prevailing assumption that Zoarces are strictly cold-water origin species. Instead, their distributional and phylogenetic evidence supports a warm-temperate origin with subsequent adaptations to colder environments. This study provides a rigorous theoretical framework for understanding Zoarces' evolutionary ecology under climate change and informs biodiversity conservation and sustainable management strategies within this genus.

Understanding the biomass carbon stocks in bamboo plantations is essential for quantifying their role in mitigating climate change through carbon sequestration. This study examines the soil properties, nutrient dynamics, and carbon sequestration potential of 8 years old four common bamboo species: Bambusa nutans, Bambusa vulgaris, Dendrocalamus strictus, and Melocanna bambusoides in the irrigated region of Punjab, Pakistan. The results revealed significant variations in soil parameters: pH, electrical conductivity (EC), soil moisture, and bulk density (BD) across different depths within the selected bamboo groves, although EC did not show a consistent trend with soil depth. Soil nitrogen ranked as M. bambusoides > D. strictus > B. vulgaris > B. nutans, while phosphorus and potassium availability were ordered as B. vulgaris > M. bambusoides > B. nutans > D. strictus. The maximum litter biomass production (6.49 Mg ha⁻¹) occurred in the B. vulgaris grove, exceeding B. nutans, D. strictus, and M. bambusoides by 4.62%, 16.64%, and 13.41%, respectively. The highest concentrations of foliage nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) were found in M. bambusoides, whereas the greater potassium concentration was measured in B. nutans. The highest total biomass carbon (148.85 Mg ha⁻¹) was recorded in the D. strictus grove, which was 22.15%, 48.95%, and 92.42% greater than B. vulgaris, B. nutans, and M. bambusoides, respectively. Additionally, the M. bambusoides grove exhibited the highest total soil organic carbon (SOC) stock (32.29 Mg ha⁻¹), surpassing B. nutans, B. vulgaris, and D. strictus by 11.83%, 26.51%, and 42.27%, respectively. These findings indicate that integrating bamboo plantations could serve as a viable strategy for carbon sequestration and trading, contributing to climate change mitigation while providing social and economic benefits to rural communities.

Urban soils in Africa are increasingly contaminated by toxic heavy metals due to rapid urban expansion, industrialisation, traffic emissions, and inadequate waste management. Toxic heavy metals such as lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), chromium (Cr), and nickel (Ni) are of major concern because of their persistence, bioaccumulation potential, and ecological risks for the environment and humans. This systematic review synthesises evidence from 38 peer-reviewed studies published between 2010 and 2024 on the concentrations and sources of toxic heavy metals in urban soils of Africa. The results demonstrated an uneven research distribution on toxic heavy metals across different countries of Africa, with Nigeria and Ghana most represented, while large regions, including countries such as Egypt and Ethiopia, remain poorly studied. Industrial activities (27%) and traffic emissions (26%) accounted for more than 50% of the reported contamination sources, followed by domestic waste disposal (18%) and agricultural inputs (10%). Weighted mean concentrations of Pb, Cd, and Cr in many countries exceeded FAO permissible limits, indicating a significant threat to humans and the environment. Microwave digestion was the most commonly used extraction method, while X-ray fluorescence has gained increasing application. The findings demonstrate widespread contamination from rapid urbanisation and industrialisation but highlight limited research done on toxic heavy metals in urban areas of most African countries. Future research should focus on quantifying the metal concentration in African countries, where limited work has been done; the bioavailable fractions of toxic heavy metals and possible remediation strategies to improve soil quality in urban areas.