Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts最新文献

Results are shown from a study of methane emissions from offshore oil loading in the UK North Sea. This study is the first time that methane (CH₄) emissions associated with oil loading operations to shuttle tankers over the full loading cycle have been quantified, using measurements obtained from a research aircraft and an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), together with multiple modelling approaches. Periods of oil loading were associated with increases in CH₄ emissions in both datasets, ranging from 230 kg h^-1 (UAV) to 500 kg h^-1 (aircraft). When loading duration and frequency are taken into account, these emissions may contribute an additional 5-47% of CH₄ relative to the emissions reported by the Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) platform examined in this study. Methane emissions from oil and gas production, particularly in offshore environments, remain incompletely understood due to the large number of potential sources and the limited availability of observational data. Emissions associated with shuttle tanker loading from FPSO vessels are especially poorly characterised, with existing studies largely focused on non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) rather than methane. Consequently, substantial uncertainty remains regarding how these emissions should be represented in emission inventories.

The disposal of phosphogypsum, an acidic and metal-rich by-product of phosphate fertilizer production, represents a growing environmental challenge due to its potential to contaminate groundwater. Despite numerous reports of phosphogypsum leachate (PGL) impacting aquifers worldwide, the mechanisms governing the mobility and retention of contaminant elements remain poorly understood. To elucidate the underlying physical and chemical mechanisms governing the retention and mobility of the different components of the solution as it interacts with carbonate aquifer rock, we present a set of batch and column experiments using PGL and crushed aquifer rock. The results show that the flow of PGL through the rock induces non-uniform dissolution, creating preferential flow paths and reducing the rock-solution interactions and the retention of related elements. Moreover, rock dissolution causes a pH increase, affecting the speciation of the different elements and promoting precipitation. Element-specific retention was observed with some elements, e.g., Mo, Ge, Tl, and Rb, showing limited interaction and high mobility, raising concerns for groundwater contamination, especially for Tl, given its high toxicity. Other elements, including Al, Cr, B, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Cs, and U exhibited grain-size-dependent retention, with smaller grain sizes providing more surface area for sorption or precipitation. REEs were strongly immobilized across all conditions, indicating negligible mobility in acidic carbonate environments. The retention mechanisms of phosphogypsum-related elements include retention on the mineral surface and/or co-precipitation of newly formed minerals. Overall, these results underscore the need for site-specific assessments of PGL disposal in carbonate settings, given the distinct behavior of different elements and the dynamic nature of flow paths and pH conditions.

Coastal mangroves and lagoons frequently receive substantial inputs of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from urban runoff, industrial emissions, and oil spills. This review analyzes PAH accumulation in mangrove and lagoon ecosystems worldwide from 2000 to early 2025, based on over 42 articles published during this period. PAH hotspots were observed in water from the Porto-Novo Lagoon (Benin, 3.88 × 10⁷-1.24 × 10⁸ ng L^-1) and in sediments from the Sundarbans mangrove wetland (India and Bangladesh, 4880-20 000 ng g^-1). Over the past 25 years, levels of the 16 priority PAHs have increased in the Sundarbans but decreased in Fugong mangrove sediments (China). Source apportionment indicated dominant pyrogenic inputs in Lagos Lagoon (Nigeria) water during both wet and dry seasons, and contributions from diesel exhaust (47.2%), coal combustion (17.4%), and oil spills (35.4%) in Estero de Urías Lagoon (Mexico) sediments. In mangroves of Shenzhen (China) and along the Red Sea coasts of Egypt and Saudi Arabia, PAH concentrations were higher in leaves than in roots or surface sediments, while in Hainan (China), PAHs were also detected in mangrove fruits. In the Bodo mangroves (Nigeria), PAHs were found in tipalia (Tilapia guinensis and Sarotherodon melanotheron) and swimming crabs (Callinectes amnicola). Broader investigations across fish species and mangrove-lagoon food webs are needed. These ecosystems perform crucial ecological and economic functions, including coastal protection, sediment stabilization, and nutrient cycling. This review provides a global synthesis of PAH distribution, sources, and temporal trends, establishing a foundation for future monitoring, risk assessment, environmental policy, and research priorities in organic geochemistry.

Microplastics (MPs) have emerged as pervasive contaminants within aquatic systems. The ability of MPs to adsorb antibiotics may impact pollutant dynamics and thereby ecological risk, yet the impact of various MP types and their aging on interaction mechanisms is not well comprehended. This study systematically examined ciprofloxacin (CIP) adsorption on pristine, 30-day, and 60-day ultraviolet (UV) aged polypropylene (PP, PP-30, PP-60), polyvinyl chloride (PVC, PVC-30, PVC-60), and polyamide 6 (PA6, PA6-30, PA6-60) using batch experiments, material characterization, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations UV aging led to surface cracks, increased specific surface area, and the addition of oxygen-containing functional groups to the MPs, with these changes intensifying over time. The pseudo-second-order model, accounting for both film and intra-particle diffusion, effectively described the kinetics of CIP adsorption. The adsorption process was accurately characterized by both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. The maximum adsorption capacity increased from 0.993 (PP) to 1.705 (PP-30) and 2.138 mg g^-1 (PP-60), from 1.210 (PVC) to 1.861 (PVC-30) and 2.215 mg g^-1 (PVC-60), and from 3.115 (PA6) to (PA6-30) and 4.327 mg g^-1 (PA6-60).The improved adsorption of aged MPs is primarily due to oxygen-containing functional groups acting as active sites.Adsorption capacity followed the order of PA6 series > PVC series > PP series, emphasizing the key role of surface functional groups, consistent with DFT analysis.The primary interaction mechanisms included charge-assisted hydrogen bonding, electrostatic attraction, halogen bonding, and CH/π interactions. This work provides systematic insights into CIP adsorption onto pristine and aged MPs, offering a foundation for understanding MPs-antibiotic interactions and assessing environmental risks.

Artificial turf fields are widely used globally. Each field contains an estimated 125 tonnes of infill material, which is often composed of ground post-consumer vehicle tires. Tires contain chemicals that are deleterious to human health and aquatic ecosystems, which may be mobilized from artificial turf fields. We conducted laboratory leaching experiments and analyzed stormwater from multiple artificial turf fields to quantify contaminant release. We found that crumb rubber infill released several toxicants including N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine-quinone (6PPD-Q), zinc, and copper, at higher levels than alternative infill materials. 6PPD-Q and 6PPD concentrations in infill leachates did not decrease with infill age. Non-targeted analysis identified fourteen compounds associated with crumb rubber infill material, including the putative identification of the bioaccumulative toxicant leucomalachite green. The maximum 6PPD-Q concentration in stormwater draining from an artificial turf field (130.2 ng L^-1) was over three times higher than the LC₅₀ for juvenile coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch), which could increase concentrations to concerning levels in receiving water bodies. Zinc and copper concentrations peaked at 30.3 and 726.4 µg L^-1, respectively. These concentrations are toxicologically relevant but lower than those typically observed in urban road runoff. Our results indicate that a typical crumb rubber-infilled field likely releases <1% of the total 6PPD in the infill material to stormwater each year, indicating persistent release beyond the field lifespan. Thus, artificial turf fields can act as recurring point sources of contaminants at ecologically significant levels.

Correction for 'Wavelength-specific UV LED and far-UVC degradation of microplastics' by Thusitha Rathnayake et al., Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2026, https://doi.org/10.1039/d5em00818b.

Florfenicol (FF), a typical emerging contaminant, has potential environmental and health risks, arousing widespread concern. However, the role of δ-manganese dioxide (δ-MnO₂), a natural mineral, in the transformation of FF in mid-to-high latitude regions under low-temperature conditions remains unclear. In this study, reaction systems of δ-MnO₂ and FF were constructed to reveal the reaction kinetics, role of active substances, and FF transformation pathways under low-temperature conditions (5.0 °C). The results showed that the equilibrium oxidation amount and reaction rate of FF at 5.0 °C were 7.0 ± 0.2 µg mg^-1 and 0.02 ± 0.005 min^-1. After the reaction, the concentration of adsorbed Mn(II) reached 2.6 times that of free Mn(II), which was measured at 3.7 ± 0.3 µmoL L^-1. The adsorbed Mn(II) occupied the surface-active sites of δ-MnO₂, thereby terminating the transformation of FF. Mn(III) induced the formation of ⋅OH, O₂˙^-, and H₂O₂, which reacted with FF. The promoting order of these substances was Mn(III) > ⋅OH > O₂˙^- > H₂O₂. Under low-temperature conditions, the transformation pathways of FF mediated by δ-MnO₂ involved hydroxyl group oxidation, defluorination, dechlorination, and desulfonylation. Overall, the toxicity of most transformation products showed a decreasing trend. This study provides a theoretical basis for the natural transformation of antibiotics mediated by natural minerals in aquatic environments with low temperatures.

Marine animals consume microplastics; however, it remains unknown if plastic additives can be extracted from ingested microplastics. This research utilizes animal behavior experiments and analytical chemistry to determine if sea anemones consume plastic pre-production pellets and extract lead (Pb) and tin (Sn) additives from pellets. We compared the consumption of PVC pellets to shrimp-extract-flavored PVC pellets. The time from pellet ingestion to egestion (feeding retention time) averaged 7-10 hours and did not differ between untreated (83% of pellets consumed) and shrimp-flavored PVC pellets (100% of pellets consumed). Sequential feeding of the previously consumed pellets to new anemones rapidly decreased feeding retention time until pellets were no longer consumed. To determine if anemones could extract Pb and Sn additives, we ran additional feeding trials in which treatment anemones were offered one PVC pellet daily for 10 days and control anemones were not offered pellets. We quantified lead and tin in anemones, PVC pellets, seawater, and anemone food (Artemia spp.) fed to anemones using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and found that treatment anemones had significantly higher tin concentrations (0.80 ± 0.07 µg g^-1) and similar amounts of lead (0.13 ± 0.01 µg g^-1), compared to control anemones (0.53 ± 0.06 µg g^-1 of tin and 0.15 ± 0.02 µg g^-1 of lead). The increased tin concentrations in treatment anemones exceeded the amount quantified in PVC pellets, suggesting that the accumulation is attributable to other sources, at least in part. Loss of variability in tin concentrations in consumed pellets suggests that loosely associated tin may explain the observed increases in tin.

Plastic additives are widely used in plastic production, comprising up to 70% of the polymer mass. Due to inefficient waste management, the capacity of additives to leach from polymers under environmental conditions, and their chemical persistence, they are ubiquitous across the environment. However, the exposure pathways of biota to these chemicals remain poorly characterized and insufficiently known. Certain additive groups (e.g. flame retardants and ultraviolet stabilizers) have been detected in organisms inhabiting remote places, indicating their potential for long range transportation. A review of current research reveals a predominant analytical research focus on marine organisms, while the exposure of terrestrial species to plastic additives remains underexplored. This represents a critical knowledge gap, particularly considering that many of these additives exert adverse effects on biota. Moreover, only a limited number of studies have established a link between chemical exposure and the presence of plastics in the gastrointestinal tract, underscoring the need to consider other exposure pathways such as dermal contact and respiratory uptake as routes of exposure to plastics and plastic-associated chemicals. Understanding the exposure of terrestrial organisms, especially mammals, to plastic additives is essential as an initial step towards assessing their associated risks, including for humans.

Groundwater contamination in industrial parks, characterized by its concealment and time-lag effects, has emerged as a formidable challenge for regional environmental protection. To elucidate the mechanisms underlying contaminant enrichment and to predict pollutant migration trends, this study investigated a representative industrial park in southeastern China. By integrating hydrochemical analysis, multivariate statistical methods, and numerical modeling, the research systematically explored the mechanisms of groundwater contamination under complex hydrogeochemical conditions. The results indicate that the predominant hydrochemical type in the study area is HCO₃-Ca·Mg, with mixed water types such as HCO₃-Na formed under industrial influence. The hydrochemical evolution is primarily governed by water-rock interactions and cation exchange. Manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), fluoride (F), and ammonium-nitrogen (NH₄-N) were identified as the primary contaminants exceeding the permissible limits. The enrichment of Fe and Mn is associated with changes in ion activity, complexation reactions, and reducing conditions induced by the discharge of high-salinity wastewater. Fluoride enrichment is jointly influenced by water-rock interactions, cation exchange, and industrial discharge, while NH₄-N primarily originates from the mineralization of organic matter and cation exchange processes facilitated by high-salinity wastewater. Parameters such as TDS and HCO₃^- were found to play a significant role in the formation of these exceeding standard contaminants. An entropy-weighted water quality index assessment revealed poor water quality in downstream areas and along riverbanks, indicating favorable conditions for contaminant accumulation. Numerical simulation, using fluoride as a representative contaminant, demonstrated its migration along the groundwater flow direction (from northwest to southeast), with the contaminant plume continuously expanding over a 20 year period, posing a long-term potential threat to downstream groundwater environments. This study elucidates the multi-source composite mechanisms and migration patterns of groundwater contamination in industrial parks, providing a scientific basis for pollution control and sustainable groundwater management.