Environmental Monitoring and Assessment最新文献

Cassava cyanide effluent arising from cassava processing contaminate soil, leading to increased concentration of cyanide in soil and water, posing a risk to plant, aquatic life, and human health. Hence, the aim of this study is to investigate the impact of abattoir sludge on cyanide concentration of cassava effluent and soils receiving cassava effluent. In this study, soil samples were carried out following standard protocol. The concentration of nutrients after treatment revealed increase in nutrients level in 28 days of treatment as the weight of sludge dosage rises from 0 to 30%. However, as the remediation period progresses from 28 to 56 days, nutrients level of effluent and soil begins to drop, though nutrients level after the treatment period falls within the permissible range of habitat and agricultural soil after remediation period. The level of cyanide after treatment revealed a drop in concentration of effluent/soil as the dosage of sludge rises. In the same vein, concentration of effluent/soil cyanide also drop as the period of incubation increases from 28 to 56 days. The decrease in the level of cyanide is more pronounced in the 42nd and 56th days of treatment. The level of cyanide after the treatment is within the recommended range of soil used for habitat and agricultural soil. Therefore, abattoir sludge shows a promising greener biomass of choice for soil revitalizations and remediation of cyanide.

Graphical Abstract

The presence of meso and macroplastics extracted from the surface and the soil of the banks of the most polluted point of the Langueyú stream, located in the Pampas Region of Argentina, was studied. The plastic waste extracted from the surface occupies 19.4% of the total area and 70.7% corresponded to single-use plastics, with a predominance of Bags. 331 plastic wastes were extracted from the soil, 93.7% were macroplastics, with a predominance of Threads, Others, Wrappers and Bags. The most abundant categories of mesoplastics were Bags, then Threads and Coarse plastics. 73.6% of the plastics extracted from the surface and the macroplastics extracted from the soil were white or transparent, and these occupied a total area of 8090 cm², with a greater quantity of plastics with areas less than 100 cm². The meso/macroplastics ratio was 0.07 on the surface and 14.76 in the soil. Macroplastics on the surface would come mainly from flooding of the stream and from inappropriately deposited waste. There would also be an influence of the wind, which could move macroplastics from their entrapment in vegetation towards the water or away from the banks of the stream. Another important process in this case is the burial of plastics in the banks of the stream and their degradation and fragmentation into mesoplastics. The results were analyzed within the framework of local and national regulations, and current legislation regarding the use of single-use plastics in other countries in the region and abroad was presented.

Mylonitic rocks in north Abu Rusheid, Egypt, contain naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs), making them potential sources of indoor radon (Rn) and thoron (Tn) exposure when used as building materials. Furthermore, they pose occupational exposure risks for miners. Rn mass exhalation rate (RnEX), Tn mass exhalation rate (TnEX), Rn emanation fraction (RnEM), and Tn emanation fraction (TnEM) were evaluated simultaneously in 27 mylonitic rock samples collected from three trenches (TCHA, TCHB, and TCHC) in the area. The powder sandwich technique has been carried out using a RAD7 detector to assess RnEX and TnEX. Additionally, gamma spectroscopy was used to evaluate RnEM and TnEM parameters. The RnEX and TnEX values varied from 0.10 to 1.13 and 83 to 5757 Bq kg⁻¹ h⁻¹, respectively, while the RnEM and TnEM values ranged from 0.055 to 0.182 and 0.017 to 0.078, respectively. The activity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra and ²³²Th varied from 127 to 1524 and 96 to 2420 Bq kg⁻¹, respectively, and the mean values exceeded the worldwide average values of 33 and 45 Bq kg⁻¹, respectively. Positive correlations between ²²⁶Ra and RnEX, and ²³²Th and TnEX were observed among the trenches. However, no systematic relations were identified between ²²⁶Ra and RnEM, ²³²Th and TnEM, or ²²⁶Ra and ²³²Th, which could be attributed to geological factors. The findings of this study highlighted the potential radiation hazards associated with mylonitic rock use in construction and mining, emphasizing the need for radioprotection measures.

The occurrence, partitioning behavior, and ecological risk assessment of octylphenol (OP) and nonylphenol (NP) were investigated in the surface water and sediment of three rivers in Terengganu, Malaysia, to understand the fate and ecological risk of these chemicals in aquatic ecosystems. Target chemicals were extracted using solvent extractant and cleaned up via solid-phase extraction. This is followed by analysis via high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and verification by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). OP was consistently higher in both surface water and sediment, while NP was predominantly found in sediment with minimal detection in surface water. Concentrations in sediment (OP, 0.19–30.88 ng/g dw; NP, 0.38–84.42 ng/g dw) and in surface water (OP, 0.0019–0.0077 ng/mL; NP, 0.0007–0.0023 ng/mL) suggest strong adsorption from water to sediment due to the hydrophobic effects of these compounds. The partitioning behavior of OP was evaluated using two indicators: (1) the sediment–water partition coefficient (K_d) and (2) the carbon-normalized partition coefficient (K’_oc). The results indicated that OP is readily adsorbed and released from sediment, with log K_d values ranging from 3.06 to 3.57 and log K’_oc values from 3.00 to 3.97. A significant positive correlation was observed between physical water parameters (temperature, salinity, and pH), whereas a significant negative correlation was found between these parameters and the concentrations of OP and NP in sediment. The ecological risk assessment showed that OP in water posed a low risk, while OP and NP in sediment presented varying risks, ranging from low to high risk between 2018 and 2019. This baseline information on the partitioning behavior is invaluable for predicting the environmental fate of these compounds in sediment–water interactions in Malaysia and for assessing the ecological risks they may pose to aquatic organisms.

Chromium (Cr) is widely recognized as a carcinogenic metal, and numerous technologies have been studied on a lab scale to manage the pollution caused by Cr contamination in wastewater. However, the removal of Cr presents several challenges and limitations in industrial wastewater management. These issues highlight the ongoing need for research to discover more efficient methods for remediating Cr from wastewater. The proposed review summarizes the current limitations, gaps, and state-of-the-art technologies on Cr removal in industrial wastewater systems over the past 10 years. It aims to lay the groundwork for future research and innovation in Cr remediation for industrial applications. The review emphasizes that conventional physicochemical techniques are often insufficient and highlights the necessity of implementing advanced integrated systems. The limitations related to industrial scaling up are also deeply investigated. Special attention is given to differentiating research conducted at laboratory, pilot, and industrial levels. The findings reveal that limited research has been conducted on an industrial scale, with most investigations focusing on treating tannery and electroplating wastewater. A few studies have also been reported on wastewater from textile, mining, steel mills, pigments, and wood processing. Despite the existence of high-performance systems demonstrated in lab-scale studies, only a handful of treatment techniques have effectively removed Cr at an industrial scale. Nevertheless, innovative breakthroughs in advanced integrated systems show promise for improved performance in the future.

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Urbanization affects the structure and function of aquatic ecosystems, and its effect might depend on seasonal conditions. We aim to evaluate the applicability of in situ leaf litter decomposition experiments to assess the ecological integrity of urbanized streams in cool (autumn–winter) and warm (spring–summer) periods. Along these two periods, three reaches were selected in urban and three in reference segments in Pampean streams. In each reach at both periods, 25 bags of 450 μm (FM) and 25 bags of 20 mm (CM) mesh size were placed containing dry leaves of Populus nigra, and five bags of each type were periodically collected up to day 104. Decomposition rates were determined from mass loss by fitting to a negative exponential model against time (k_d) and cumulate degree days (k_dd). In both periods, k_dd were lower in urban than in reference reaches (p_condition = 0.020, df = 1, 137), but a larger difference occurred in the warm period. Even removing the effect of temperature, higher k_dd were observed in warm than in cool waters (p_period = 0.0004, df = 1, 137 for FM and p_period = 0.002, df = 1, 129 for CM). During the warm period experiment, the k_dd reduction due to urbanization was 2.5 times higher than during the cool period. Invertebrates colonizing litter bags differed between stream conditions and between seasons. Tolerant insect larvae were more abundant in the warm period; Gastropods, nematodes, and crabs during the cool period. In conclusion, our experimental methodology was effective to assess the effects of urbanization on stream ecological integrity. As we predicted, season stood out as an important factor in the assessment.

In recent years, plastic debris has been reported on El Salvador beaches, including those located in rural areas and close to protected natural or Ramsar areas. However, there is still no scientific data able to neither the main microplastic sources nor their abundances. Therefore, the aim of this work was to assess the concentrations and spatial distributions, physical and chemical characteristics, and possible sources of microplastic in four of the main beaches along El Salvador coast: Barra de Santiago, El Majahual, El Espino, and Chiquiríin. The Nemerow pollution index (NPI) was employed to categorize the overall pollution levels of each beach. The results state that plastic debris negatively affects El Salvador coast and contributes to pollution of the Pacific coast of Central America. With abundances ranging from 4.5 to 18.5 item/kg d.w. or 48 to 300 item/m², the microplastic debris was mainly composed of fibers (85.9%) and fragments (8.4%). The Attenuated Total Reflectance—Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) revealed that their main sources were colored synthetic organic materials and mainly composed of polypropylene (40%), polyethylene (20%), and polystyrene (20%). These materials are typically found in plastic bottles and their caps, single-use supermarket bags, food packaging, textiles, and drinking straws. Tourism and poor waste management practices are likely to be the main sources of microplastics, with rainwater and rivers as the primary transport mechanisms. Although the Nemerow pollution index (NPI) rated the pollution levels of the surveyed beaches as low, the ubiquitous presence of microplastics underscores an ongoing environmental problem that requires continuous monitoring and intervention.

Water filtration plants are a main source of drinking water for local populations in almost all big cities of Pakistan but these filtration plants are ineffective in eliminating contaminants from water. This study was conducted to evaluate water quality with specific focus on physicochemical parameters and bacterial contamination including occurrence of multidrug-resistant bacteria in drinking water collected from filtration plants (N = 64) of the twin cities of Pakistan. Physicochemical parameters were analyzed following American Public Health Association standard guidelines and total coliform count was determined using membrane filtration method. Gram-negative bacteria were isolated and characterized in terms of species and antibiotic susceptibility. Elevated levels of total dissolved solids, nitrates, total coliforms, lead and copper were found in several samples. Multivariate correlation coefficient revealed significant positive correlation between nitrate levels and total coliform count in bacteriologically contaminated samples. Antibiotic resistance patterns revealed multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant bacteria with high resistance against third generation cephalosporins. Our results highlight the urgent need for improved water filtration processes and regular monitoring to provide safe drinking water to the local community.

This study aims to elucidate the hazards associated with the coal mining sector and its repercussions on various environmental components. Research publications from academic databases, such as Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect, served as the basis for this review. Though economically feasible, coal extraction devastates the landscape, biodiversity, and natural habitats. Acidic trailing, excavation of the overburden rock, and associated biogeochemical alterations (like acid mine drainage) alter the landscape of the area concerned and pollute air, water, and soil. Heavy metal pollution can be mitigated with the use of remediation techniques such as biological (biosorption and bioaugmentation), chemical (using alkaline waste and chemical neutralization), and physical barriers (use of limestone filters and constructed wetlands). Despite global efforts and numerous techno-legal measures to address this issue, completely replacing coal with alternative energy sources remains a significant challenge that must be addressed.

Graphical Abstract

Microplastics (MPs) are the most abundant type of debris in the marine environment, creating a significant threat to aquatic ecosystems due to their persistence, ability to absorb organic pollutants and potential ingestion by marine fauna. Shellfish are particularly vulnerable to MPs accumulation as they filter large volumes of seawater, and they become an important route for human exposure to these particles. This study, the first to examine MPs in European flat oyster (Ostrea edulis) populations, aimed to quantify these particles in the gill and digestive tissues of oysters from the Solent region (southern England). Enzymatic digestion using Proteinase-K was used in this study and MPs were identified in every oyster sampled to determine whether differences in abundance, type and size of MPs exist between locations. Oysters near urban areas contained significantly more MPs than those near rural areas. Fibres were the most prevalent type of MPs, with sizes varying across locations. The study found no significant differences in MPs presence between gills and digestive tissues, and an inverse correlation between the size of MPs and oyster size. The presence of MPs in wild O. edulis could be an additional threat to the survival of an already threatened species and may pose health risks for predatory species and human consumers of seafood. The use of O. edulis as a biomonitoring species for marine MPs pollution could help determine the extent, distribution and sources of MPs, potentially informing management strategies to reduce pollution.