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The growing human population requires more food each year, and seafood products can help meet this demand if clean water resources are available for their growth. Farmed and wild mussels are environmentally friendly seafood with many health benefits to human consumers, but they can also pose a health risk if they are harvested from areas where marine anthropogenic pollution is uncontrolled or unmonitored. While the coastline in South Africa has long been assumed to be pristine, a growing number of recent studies are raising contamination concerns. Baseline studies establish a wide range of anthropogenic pollutants to be present in the marine environment, specifically in urbanised or industrialised areas like major cities or harbours. This review summarises how mussels could pose health risks to human consumers and the current research that is being conducted by private researchers and institutions in South Africa. The review emphasises the need for more research in the field and for governmental pollution monitoring data to be released to the public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detection of ammonia (NH3) gas at room temperature is essential in a variety of sectors, including pollution monitoring, commercial safety and medical services, etc. Two-dimensional (2D) materials have emerged as fascinating candidates for gas-sensing applications due to their distinct properties. MXenes, a type of 2D transition metal carbides/nitrides/carbonotrides, have drawn the interest of researchers due to their high conductivity, large surface area, and changing surface chemistry. The review begins by describing the NH3 gas-detecting methods of 2D materials and then concentrates on MXene-based sensors, emphasising the benefits that MXenes provide in this context. The study also explains the prime factors involved in evaluating sensor performance, which include sensor response, sensitivity, selectivity, stability, charge transfer values, adsorption energy and response/recovery times. Subsequently, the review covers two main categories: pristine/intercalated MXenes and MXene-based hybrid materials. The review investigates the approaches for improving the sensing characteristics of pristine and intercalated MXenes by introducing MXene hybrids like MXene–metal oxide hybrids, MXene–transition metal dichalcogenides hybrid, MXene–other 2D materials hybrid, MXene–polymers and other hybrids and other MXene-derived materials. In summary, this review offers a thorough overview of current advancements and potential applications for room-temperature ammonia sensors based on 2D MXenes and their hybrids. In order to pave the way for future improvements in MXene-based gas-sensing technology for room temperature ammonia detection, the study concludes by outlining potential future scope and conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics (MPs) are prevalent in our environment, being present in the air we breathe and in the food we consume. Due to the widespread use of plastic materials in everyday life, the amount of microplastics being released into the biosphere has become increasingly apparent in recent years. This study provides the first documentation of the presence of microplastics in Chinese baijiu, a popular alcoholic beverage in China, bottled in plastic. It is essential to note the significance of this discovery and potential implications for human health. Analysis of samples collected from the Chinese market showed the presence of microplastics in all six Chinese baijiu brands tested. Concentrations ranged from 172 MPs/500 mL to 944 MPs/500 mL with an average concentration of 436 MPs/500 mL. Cellulose and PA accounted for 70.4% and 17.8% of all microplastics detected, respectively. These were the most commonly detected types. Other types of microplastics were also found, including PET, PP, PVC, and PE. PET accounted for 2.7%, PP for 2.2%, PVC for 1.2%, and PE for 0.1% of all microplastics. The possible sources of contamination include raw materials, ambient air, and equipment and vessels that shed microplastics. Therefore, this study emphasizes the requirement for further research to mitigate the potential hazards associated with human exposure to microplastics. Additionally, it presents significant findings on the presence of microplastics in Chinese baijiu sold in plastic bottles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioreporters are live natural or genetically engineered, bacteria, cyanobacteria, yeast, plant, or mammalian cells that produce signals in response to a specific environment. The generated signals could be measured and used as a sensor to detect and monitor target chemical or physical agents. The recombinant DNA technology is employed to design a bioreporter cell of choice, which mainly involves the fusion of a reporter gene with a promoter gene, activated by some environmental stimulus or set of genes to produce a variety of distinguishable signal that denotes the presence of a chemical or physical agent. The commonly used reporter genes are bioluminescent luciferase (lux or luc), green fluorescent protein, aequorin, and β-galactosidase (lacZ), which is a colorimetric signa l ling element. The bioreporters must remain viable in a range of environmental testing regimes when introduced. They can be deployed for rapid, easy, and economical detection, and in some cases, real-time to nearly real-time measurement potential, thus providing a promising aspect in the detection and removal of environmental pollutants. This review focuses on the principles, mechanisms, and performance of various bioreporters and the advancements made in applications of bioreporter in managing the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Engineering project assessment at Al-Muthana Airport in Baghdad, Iraq, has been studied using a 3D electrical resistivity imaging survey. The site investigation is crucial for assessing the future of the region's infrastructures since it reveals the location of buried facilities or weak zones below the surface and measures localized groundwater levels. Wenner-Schlumberger array was used to conduct four parallel 2D electrical resistivity spreads (MU1 to MU4). Each spread line was 100 m in length with 1 m electrode spacing and an average spacing of 9 meters between any two adjacent lines. The depth of the investigation was around 23.8 m. Survey lines were drawn going from northwest to southeast. These spreads were combined to provide a 3D image of a 2700 m2 space.The robust inversion method and the inverse model generated using the standard least-squares method showed horizontal slices identified three zones with resistivity distribution ranging from 2 to 45.5 ohm.m. The first zone, from surface to 3.37 m, had relatively high resistivity of sandy silty clay soil with relatively low moisture content; the second zone, approximately from 3.37 to 12.2 m, had very low resistivity representing groundwater table; and the third zone, from 12.2 to 23.8 m representing high stiffness and density and relatively high resistivity due to gravel presence in the deposits. The second zone highlights potential risk zones for construction projects; as a result, it is advised that the zone surrounding the foundation be filled with a low permeability layer and that the towers be built on deep foundations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air pollution is one of the leading causes of death from noncommunicable diseases globally, and in Arizona, both mining activities and abandoned agriculture can generate erodible dust. This dust is transported via wind and can carry high amounts of toxic pollutants. Industry-adjacent communities, or "fenceline communities," are generally closer to the pollution sources and are disproportionally impacted by pollution, or in this case, dust. The dust transported from the mine settles into nearby rivers, gardens, and homes, and increases the concentrations of elements beyond their naturally occurring amounts (i.e., enriched). This study was built upon previous community science work in which plant leaves were observed to collect similar concentrations to an accepted dust collection method and illustrated promise for their use as low-cost air quality monitors in these communities. This work investigated the concentration of Na, Mg, Al, K, Ca, Mn, Co, Cu, Zn, Mo, and Ba in dust from the leaves of community-collected backyard and garden plants (foliar dust), as well as if certain variables affected collection efficacy. This assessment evaluated (1) foliar concentration versus surface area for 11 elements, (2) enrichment factor (EF) values and ratios, (3) comparisons of foliar, garden, and yard samples to US Geological Survey data, and (4) what variable significantly affected dust collection efficacy. The EF results indicate that many of the samples were enriched (anthropogenically contaminated) and that the foliar samples were generally more contaminated than the yard and garden soil samples. Leaf surface area was the most influential factor for leaf collection efficiency (p < 0.05) compared to plant family or sampling location. Further studies are needed that standardize the plant species and age and include multiple replicates of the same plant species across partnering communities. This study has demonstrated that foliar dust is enriched in the participating partnering communities and that plant leaf samples can serve as backyard aerosol pollution monitors. Therefore, foliar dust is a viable indicator of outdoor settled dust and aerosol contamination and this is an adoptable monitoring technique for "fenceline communities." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past several decades, subsidence has emerged as a significant issue affecting urban, coastal, and mining areas worldwide. This phenomenon has been exacerbated by a decrease in groundwater resources, which has become a major problem on a global scale. Insufficient availability of surface water has led to excessive exploitation of the earth's groundwater system through unplanned processes. As a result, serious problems have arisen, including economic challenges, hazardous activities, and damage to the Earth's surface. One of the most significant and impactful consequences of excessive groundwater extraction is land subsidence. During a comprehensive literature review focusing on land displacement, 40 research papers were analyzed and discussed. These studies explored various techniques employed to monitor subsidence, such as synthetic aperture radar (SAR), interferometry synthetic aperture radar (InSAR), persistent scatterer interferometry synthetic aperture radar (PS-InSAR), and differential synthetic aperture radar (D-InSAR). Researchers have consistently found a strong correlation between the over extraction of underground fluids, such as water, oil, and gas, and land subsidence. One prominent cause of land subsidence identified by researchers is the over extraction of underground fluids. When excessive amounts of water, oil, or gas are extracted from underground reservoirs, the resulting voids and reduced pressure cause the overlying land to sink and compact. This process can have severe consequences for human settlements, infrastructure, and ecosystems in affected areas. The depletion of groundwater reserves, in particular, has become a pressing concern because of its vital role in supporting agricultural, industrial, and domestic water needs. Furthermore, the underground construction of tunnels has also been identified as a significant contributor to land subsidence. The excavation of tunnels creates voids and alters the natural balance of underground structures, leading to ground settlement and subsidence. This issue is particularly relevant in urban areas where extensive tunneling projects are undertaken to facilitate transportation, utilities, and infrastructure development. To monitor and assess land subsidence, various methods and processes are employed. SAR, InSAR, PS-InSAR, and D-InSAR techniques are valuable tools in this regard. SAR uses satellite-based radar systems to capture high-resolution images of the Earth's surface, enabling the detection of subtle changes over time. In contrast, InSAR employs two or more radar images to measure ground deformation by analyzing interference patterns. PS-InSAR focuses on persistent scatterers, which are specific targets that exhibit stable radar reflections over time, providing precise measurements of subsidence. D-InSAR combines two radar images acquired at different times to accurately calculate differential ground movements. By using advanced monitoring methods, scientists can assess the extent of subsidence and develop strategies to mitigate its negative impacts. It is crucial to adopt sustainable practices and ensure careful management of groundwater resources to effectively address this pressing issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Arsenic (As) and its species are major pollutants in ecological bodied including groundwater in Bangladesh rendering serious public health concern. Bacteria with arsenotrophic genes have been found in the aquifer, converting toxic arsenite [As (III)] to less toxic arsenate [As (V)] that is easily removed using chemical and biological trappers. In this study, genomic and metagenomic approaches parallel to culture-based assay (Graphical abstract) have made it possible to decipher phylogenetic diversity of groundwater arsenotrophic microbiomes along with elucidation of their genetic determinants. Results: Seventy-two isolates were retrieved from six As-contaminated (average As concentration of 0.23 mg/L) groundwater samples from Munshiganj and Chandpur districts of Bangladesh. Twenty-three isolates harbored arsenite efflux pump (arsB) gene with high abundance, and ten isolates possessing arsenite oxidase (aioA) gene, with a wide range of minimum inhibitory concentration, MICAs (2 to 32 mM), confirming their role in arsenite metabolism. There was considerable heterogeneity in species richness and microbial community structure. Microbial taxa from Proteobacteria, Firmicutes and Acidobacteria dominated these diversities. Through these combinatorial approaches, we have identified potential candidates such as, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Stenotrophomonas, Achromobacter, Paraburkholderia, Comamonas and Klebsiella and associated functional genes (arsB, acr3, arsD, arsH, arsR) that could significantly contribute to arsenite detoxification, accumulation, and immobilization. Conclusions: Culture-dependent and -independent shotgun metagenomic investigation elucidated arsenotrophic microbiomes and their functions in As biogeochemical transformation. These findings laid a foundation for further large-scale researches on the arsenotrophic microbiomes and their concurrent functions in As biogeochemical transformation in As-contaminated areas of Bangladesh and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ZIF-8 and ZIF-67 are the most investigated zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) materials that have aroused enormous scientific interests in numerous areas of application including electrochemistry, gas storage, separation, and sensors by reason of their fascinating structural properties. Recently, there is a rapidly growing demand for chemical gas sensors for the detection of various analytes in widespread applications including environmental pollution monitoring, clinical analysis, wastewater analysis, industrial applications, food quality, consumer products, and automobiles. In general, the key to the development of superior gas sensors is exploring innovative sensing materials. ZIF-X (8, 67) based nanostructures have demonstrated great potential as ideal sensing materials for high-performance sensing applications. In this review, the general properties and applications of ZIF-X (8, 67) including gas storage and gas adsorption are first summarized, and then the recent progress of ZIF-X (8, 67) based nanostructures for gas-sensing applications and the structure-property correlations are summarized and analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental contamination with trace metals has become an issue of concern to most developing or emerging countries such as Ghana. The study examined the concentrations of arsenic (As), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), and lead (Pb) in 40 reclaimed soil samples for their ecological risks assessment and spatial distribution after mining operations in the Abuakwa South Municipal area in Ghana. The mean concentrations of arsenic (0.08 mg/kg), chromium (0.44 mg/kg), nickel (0.27 mg/kg), and lead (1.74 mg/kg) measured were all below the stipulated limit provided by WHO. Using the mean concentrations of these trace metals, pollution indices such as geo-accumulation index (Igeo), contamination factor (CF), ecological risk factor (Er), degree of contamination (Cd), pollution load index (PLI), and potential ecological risk index (PER) were calculated and the results obtained categorized the site as uncontaminated. Spatial distribution maps showed that Cr and Pb were more visible in the study area. This suggests that the study area is well reclaimed and does not pose an ecological risk. The findings presented in this work give data support for trace metal contamination and risk assessment in Abuakwa South. This can have some theoretical implications for the prevention of trace metal pollution and future monitoring studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The deep terrestrial subsurface, hundreds of meters to kilometers below the surface, is characterized by oligotrophic conditions, dark and often anoxic settings, with fluctuating pH, salinity, and water availability. Despite this, microbial populations are detected and active, contributing to biogeochemical cycles over geological time. Because it is extremely difficult to access the deep biosphere, little is known about the identity and metabolisms of these communities, although they likely possess unknown pathways and might interfere with deep waste deposits. Therefore, we analyzed rock and groundwater microbial communities from deep, isolated brine aquifers in two regions dating back to the Ordovician and Devonian, using amplicon and whole genome sequencing. We observed significant differences in diversity and community structure between both regions, suggesting an impact of site age and composition. The deep hypersaline groundwater did not contain typical halophilic bacteria, and genomes suggested pathways involved in protein and hydrocarbon degradation, and carbon fixation. We identified mainly one strategy to cope with osmotic stress: compatible solute uptake and biosynthesis. Finally, we detected many bacteriophage families, potentially indicating that bacteria are infected. However, we also found auxiliary metabolic genes in the viral genomes, probably conferring an advantage to the infected hosts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater abstractions from the Carboniferous Fell Sandstone, Northumbria, NE England, provide water supply to the Berwick-upon-Tweed area. Management of these abstractions, totalling 6.5 Ml/day, by the water company along with the regulator for sustainability issues is required. Groundwater abstraction takes place from different sandstone units, which are separated by mudstones, with monitored groundwater heads showing variable responses to system stresses. To improve understanding of this complex system, various activities have been undertaken. Geological mapping and interpretation have been conducted to characterize the nature, geometry and interconnection of the sandstone units, along with the superficial deposits. Recharge modelling helped to quantify inputs to the system and to understand the long-term water balance. A time-variant model has been implemented to simulate groundwater flow in the sandstone units and to quantify the groundwater balance. The work confirms that the Fell Sandstone can be split into seven discrete sandstone units, separated by low-permeability mudstones, with variable laterally connectivity not necessarily laterally connected. There is a range of timescales of groundwater response to recharge events from slow (6 months) to very rapid (c. 1 day). These findings confirm the complexity of this groundwater system and are transferable to similar sandstone systems in the UK and worldwide. Thematic collection: This article is part of the Hydrogeology of Sandstone collection available at: https://www.lyellcollection.org/cc/hydrogeology-of-sandstone [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to reveal the migration process of chromium-contaminated sites, COMSOL5.6 software was used to build the initial model of the chromium pollution source and analyze the migration change characteristics over time based on the rule of groundwater movement and Convection–Dispersion equation. COMSOL provides fully coupled multiphysics modeling for most engineering fields. The results show that: the permeable layer with a high permeability coefficient during the migration of chromium pollutants has a strong adsorption effect on the heavily polluted part, and it will enhance the lateral diffusion of the polluted area within a short period. Based on the migration model, the intermediate gradient and the symmetrical quadrupole sounding model are built. The variation law of apparent amplitude frequency and apparent resistivity under flat and undulating terrain is analyzed based on the dual frequency IP (Induced Polarization) method. The results show that: The intermediate gradient detection is better than the symmetrical quadrupole sounding in the correspondence between the peak value of apparent amplitude frequency and the valley value of apparent resistivity. The arrangement of the bathymetric measurement point in the center of the projected edge of the pollution field can be a better way to monitor the pollution. Monitoring with the intermediate gradient detection device and the symmetrical quadrupole sounding device creates "multiple peaks" in the curve as it passes through the valley. Arranging the power supply electrodes on the mountain frontiers on both sides of the raised peaks and synthesizes the apparent amplitude frequency and apparent resistivity curves of the pollution field, which can effectively determine the specific orientation of the heavily polluted area of the pollution field. This research makes theoretical additions to the migration characteristics of the Cr pollution field. It provides technical guidance for the real-time monitoring of the pollution field, which is of positive significance for promoting ecological and environmental protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to absence of data on air quality monitoring and pollutant emissions in Douala, a measurement campaign along the principal street passage to the college grounds was started. Using the OC 300 Laser Dust Particle, fine particle concentrations are monitored during 1 week from Monday to Sunday. The instrument used detects four different sizes of particles: PM10, PM5, PM2.5, and PM1. The daily average concentrations measured ranged from 9.47 ± 0.26 to 50.14 ± 2.42 µg·m−3 for PM1.0; 13.13 ± 0.38 to 86.65 ± 3.96 µg·m−3 for PM2.5; 13.60 ± 0.40 to 100.56 ± 4.20 µg·m−3 for PM5; and 14.52 ± 0.42 to 114.59 ± 4.60 µg·m−3 for PM10. Exceptions made from PM5 and PM1.0 which were not in relation to the WHO (World Health Organization) guideline values, the level of PM10 and PM2.5 is higher than the WHO standards. The air quality index (AQI) is between very poor and poor during this measurement campaign, indicating that residents of the study region are highly exposed. Through the use of correlation studies, it has been demonstrated that the predominant source of fine particles in the studied region is vehicular activity. As a result, traffic density is the most significant factor causing the different air pollution levels seen in the tested areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urbanization is spreading all over the world, with more than half of the people now living in urban ecosystems. Pollutants such as metals have continuously been introduced into ecosystems as a consequence of urbanization and industrial processes. Metals can bioaccumulate in tissues of organisms. Therefore, the selection of ecological compartments such as birds as bio-indicator species can be a proper approach to monitor pollution in cities. This study aimed to measure concentrations of lead in the lungs and feathers of the house sparrow (Passer domesticus) and investigate the possibility of applying this species for air pollution monitoring in Tehran, Iran. In July and August of 2020, 50 bird specimens were collected from five regions of Tehran (north, south, east, west, and central) and 10 birds from Alborz region (as the control station). The lead concentration was measured by using a FAAS instrument after acid digestion. The results showed that the average lead concentration in feathers of five regions of Tehran (North: 42.95 ± 23.57, Central: 43.59 ± 9.58, South: 35.42 ± 3.38, East: 22.91 ± 3.24, and West: 34.36 ± 11.98 µg/g) were higher than those of the control station (14.40 ± 2.97 µg/g). Significant differences were observed between lead concentration in feathers of the birds collected from the control station and those of central, south and west of Tehran. Lead concentration in the birds' lungs in all regions of Tehran (North: 72.65 ± 17.55, Central: 20.76 ± 3.02, East: 17.88 ± 1.74, and West: 30.19 ± 13.04 µg/g) except south (13.17 ± 2.14 µg/g) were higher than the control group (14.57 ± 1.94 µg/g). However, this difference was only significant between the birds of the control station and those of north of Tehran. In this study, no significant differences were observed between lead concentrations in male and female as well as adult and juvenile sparrows. Also, no significant correlation was observed between tissue accumulation of lead in feathers and lungs. This study suggests that feathers can be used as a useful indicator of local air pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gas sensors that can measure multiple pollutants simultaneously are highly desirable for on-site air pollution monitoring at various scales, both indoor and outdoor. Herein, we introduce a low-cost multi-parameter gas analyzer capable of monitoring multiple gaseous pollutants simultaneously, thus allowing for true analytical measurement. It is a spectral sensor consisting of a Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) gas analyzer based on a mid-infrared (MIR) spectrometer. The sensor is as small as 7 × 5 × 2.5 cm3. It was deployed in an open-path configuration within a district-scale climatic chamber (Sense City, Marne-la-Vallée, France) with a volume of 20 × 20 × 8 m3. The setup included a transmitter and a receiver separated by 38 m to enable representative measurements of the entire district domain. We used a car inside the climatic chamber, turning the engine on and off to create time sequences of a pollution source. The results showed that carbon dioxide (CO2) and water vapor (H2O) were accurately monitored using the spectral sensor, with agreement with the reference analyzers used to record the pollution levels near the car exhaust. Furthermore, the lower detection limits of CO, NO2 and NO were assessed, demonstrating the capability of the sensor to detect these pollutants. Additionally, a preliminary evaluation of the potential of the spectral sensor to screen multiple volatile organic compounds (VOCs) was conducted at the laboratory scale. Overall, the results demonstrated the potential of the proposed multi-parameter spectral gas sensor in on-site gaseous pollution monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study discusses the topical problem of expanding the application scope of elastic scattering lidars for determining the microstructure of the atmospheric surface layer containing polydisperse and nonspherical particles of various natures. We propose to interpret the atmospheric layer microstructure as an equivalent scattering medium that consists of monodisperse particles. A comparative analysis of two methods of determining particle concentrations in the scattering surface layer of the atmosphere from lidar backscattering signals with simultaneous registration of the angular characteristics of the scattering halo of the sensing beam and from the results of contact measurements using a nephelometer was performed. As part of the equivalent medium model, the microphysical interpretation of the backscattering and extinction coefficients measured by the lidar is considered. Methods of determining the concentration of equivalent particles of the model scattering medium by measuring the scattering signals of individual particles in the forward and backward directions using a nephelometer are compared. The concentration of equivalent particles is determined from the results of relative measurements of the signals generated by scattering of light radiation by individual particles, and it is observed to be proportional to the ratio of the square of the nonnormalized, first-order moment to the nonnormalized, second-order moment. Noteworthily, the nonnormalized moments determined from backscattering depend on particle albedo, whereas those determined from forward scattering are practically independent of particle albedo. Furthermore, simultaneous measurements of signals generated by forward and backward scattering of radiation by individual particles enable to determine the relationship between the backscattering and extinction coefficients necessary for solving the lidar equation, and then to use the backscattering coefficient to determine the concentrations of equivalent particles. The results of the analysis enable to uniquely compare the concentration of equivalent particles with the measured backscattering signal. The results obtained can be applied in development of remote methods of monitoring aerosol pollution of the surface layer of the atmosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring of a seasonal‐use, on‐site wastewater disposal system (septic system) in Canada, over a 33‐year period from 1988 to 2021, showed that during recent sampling the groundwater plume had TIN (total inorganic nitrogen) averaging 12.2 mg/L that was not significantly different than early values, representing 80% removal, whereas SRP (soluble reactive phosphate), although higher than early values averaging 0.08 mg/L, was still 99% lower than the effluent concentration. Evidence suggests that the anammox reaction and possibly also denitrification contribute to TIN removal, whereas SRP removal is primarily the result of mineral precipitation. Most of the removal occurs in close proximity to the drainfield infiltration pipes (within about 1 m) demonstrating that reaction rates are relatively fast in the context of typical groundwater plume residence times. This long‐term consistency demonstrates that sustainable nutrient treatment can be achieved with conventional on‐site wastewater disposal systems that have low capital costs and require minimal energy input and maintenance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

4-nitrophenol (4-NP) is one of the organic pollutants that can come up from pesticides, explosives, dyes, and pharmaceutical industries. Since it can be extremely harmful to humans and other living organisms, it is crucial to have a system that can effectively detect the presence of 4-NP. Here, we report the microplasma synthesis of nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots (N-GQDs) for fluorescence-based detection of 4-NP. Through Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) between donor N-GQDs to the acceptor 4-NP, synthesized N-GQDs can be employed for the detection of 4-NP starting from 0.5 to 100 µM with a limit of detection as low as 95.14 nM. 4-NP detection also demonstrates remarkable stability over all pH values and wide temperatures (10–60 °C), indicating the high possibility for robust organic pollution monitoring. Our work provides insight into a simple, fast, and environmentally friendly method for synthesizing N-GQDs at ambient conditions usable for environmental nanosensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental monitoring systems enable the collection of information about the various environmental parameters, pollution levels, and the presence of environmental hazards affecting human and marine life. Highly sensitive, stable, and low-power-consuming sensors are vital for such operations. Nanomaterials with different surface morphologies can play a vital role in multiple applications, such as gas sensors, photocatalysts, erosion monitoring, or fine dust sensor. Zinc oxide (ZnO) tetrapod, in particular, shows 3D morphologies that exhibit exciting properties, making them applicable in several device engineering. This work provides a simple yet high-throughput single-step synthesis of ZnO tetrapod with different arm sizes using the flame transport method at various growth conditions. The physicochemical and structural properties have been deeply investigated to shed light on the formation of these 3D structures. The detailed mechanism of the ZnO tetrapod as a gas monitoring material and a photocatalyst has been presented in detail. The sponge-based ZnO gas sensor can selectively sense NO2 gas with a limit of detection (LOD) value of 8.56 ppb. In addition, ZnO tetrapods samples exhibit high photocatalytic activity toward methylene blue and methyl orange degradation under UV illumination. The reaction rate constants of 3.6 (2)·10−4 s−1 and 1.7 (1)·10−4 s−1 are determined for the photocatalytic decomposition of methylene blue and methyl orange, respectively. The results suggest that ZnO tetrapod-based sponges can be a promising material for building next-generation pollution monitoring and degradation systems.

To safeguard the quality of river water, a comprehensive approach is required within the European Water Framework Directive. It is vital to conduct non-target screening of the complete chemical fingerprint of the aquatic ecosystem, as this will help to identify chemicals of emerging concern and uncover their unusual dynamic patterns in river water. Achieving this goal calls for an advanced combination of two measurement paradigms: tracing the potential pollution path through the river network and detecting the numerous compounds that constitute the chemical composition, both known and unknown. To address this challenge, we propose an integrated approach that combines the preprocessing of ongoing Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) measurements at nine sites along the Rhine using PARAllel FActor Analysis2 (PARAFAC2) for non-target screening, with spatiotemporal modelling of these sites within the river network using a statistical path modelling algorithm called Process Partial Least Squares (Process PLS). With an average explained variance of 97.0%, PARAFAC2 extracted mass spectra, elution, and concentration profiles of known and unknown chemicals. On average, 76.8% of the chemical variability captured by the PARAFAC2 concentration profiles was extracted by Process PLS. The integrated approach enabled us to track chemicals through the Rhine catchment, and tentatively identify known and as-yet unknown potential pollutants, including methyl tert-butyl ether and 1,3-cyclopentadiene, based on non-target screening and spatiotemporal behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) have been adopted in various environmental pollution monitoring applications. As an important environmental field, water quality monitoring is a vital process to ensure the sustainable, important feeding of and as a life-maintaining source for many living creatures. To conduct this process efficiently, the integration of lightweight machine learning technologies can extend its efficacy and accuracy. WSNs often suffer from energy-limited devices and resource-affected operations, thus constraining WSNs' lifetime and capability. Energy-efficient clustering protocols have been introduced to tackle this challenge. The low-energy adaptive clustering hierarchy (LEACH) protocol is widely used due to its simplicity and ability to manage large datasets and prolong network lifetime. In this paper, we investigate and present a modified LEACH-based clustering algorithm in conjunction with a K-means data clustering approach to enable efficient decision making based on water-quality-monitoring-related operations. This study is operated based on the experimental measurements of lanthanide oxide nanoparticles, selected as cerium oxide nanoparticles (ceria NPs), as an active sensing host for the optical detection of hydrogen peroxide pollutants via a fluorescence quenching mechanism. A mathematical model is proposed for the K-means LEACH-based clustering algorithm for WSNs to analyze the quality monitoring process in water, where various levels of pollutants exist. The simulation results show the efficacy of our modified K-means-based hierarchical data clustering and routing in prolonging network lifetime when operated in static and dynamic contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When construction materials are exposed to the atmospheric environment, they are subject to deterioration, which varies according to the time period of exposure and the location. A tool named Dose–Response Functions (DRFs) has been developed to estimate this deterioration. DRFs use specific air pollutants and climatic parameters as input data. Existing DRFs in the literature use only ground-based measurements as input data. This fact constitutes a limitation for the application of this tool because it is too expensive to establish and maintain such a large network of ground-based stations for pollution monitoring. In this study, we present the development of new DRFs using only satellite data as an input named Satellite Sensed Data Dose-Response Functions (SSD-DRFs). Due to the global coverage provided by satellites, this new tool for monitoring the corrosion/soiling of materials overcomes the previous limitation because it can be applied to any area of interest. To develop SSD-DRFs, we used measurements from MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) and AIRS (Atmospheric Infrared Sounder) on board Aqua and OMI (Ozone Monitoring Instrument) on Aura. According to the obtained results, SSD-DRFs were developed for the case of carbon steel, zinc, limestone and modern glass materials. SSD-DRFs are shown to produce more reliable corrosion/soiling estimates than "traditional" DRFs using ground-based data. Furthermore, research into the development of the SSD-DRFs revealed that the different corrosion mechanisms taking place on the surface of a material do not act additively with each other but rather synergistically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the causes and potential mitigations of light pollution requires measuring and monitoring artificial light at night (ALAN). We review how ALAN is measured, both from the ground and through remote sensing by satellites in Earth orbit. A variety of techniques are described, including single-channel photometers, all-sky cameras, and drones. Spectroscopic differences between light sources can be used to determine which are most responsible for light pollution, but they complicate the interpretation of photometric data. The variability of Earth's atmosphere leads to difficulty in comparisons between datasets. Theoretical models provide complementary information to calibrate experiments and interpret their results. Here, we identify several shortcomings and challenges in current approaches to measuring light pollution and suggest ways forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air pollution is a significant issue that affects almost all the countries in the world while predominating in South Asian Regional countries due to poverty, less attention, and less awareness towards the implementation and obeying of air quality guidelines in public. As a developing country, Sri Lanka stands at an optimum state of national air quality compared to other SARC because it is an island with a minor population compared to India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, etc. Maldives and Bhutan lie straightforwardly in owing mild air quality in SARC. However, SARC is far behind the world in maintaining optimistic air quality nationwide. Ambient air pollution-attributable deaths have become interim in past decades, a severe burden to the sustainable existence of SARC. A well-established systematic epidemiological, empirical studies and revisions regarding air pollution, strategic planning for mitigating air pollution, and frequent Spatio-temporal pollution monitoring nodes are necessary for Sri Lanka to achieve the sustainable goal. Other South Asian countries: India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan, and Maldives, also should pay attention to minimizing outdoor air pollution nationwide for the betterment of future existence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sectorial approach for monitoring heavy metal pollution in rivers has failed to report realistic pollution status and associated ecological and human health risks. The increasing spread of heavy metals from different sources and emerging risks to human and environmental health call for reexamining heavy metal pollution monitoring frameworks. Also, the sources, spread, and load of heavy metals in the environment have changed significantly over time, requiring consequent modification in the monitoring frameworks. Therefore, studies on heavy metal monitoring in rivers conducted in the last decade were evaluated for experimental designs, research frameworks, and data presentations. Most studies (∼99%) (i) lacked inclusiveness of all environmental compartments; (ii) focused on "one pollutant – one/two compartment" or sometimes "one pollutant – one compartment – one effect" approach; and (iii) remained "data‐rich but information poor." An ecological approach with integrative system thinking is proposed to develop a holistic approach for monitoring river pollution. It is visualized that heavy metal monitoring, risk analyses, and water management must incorporate tracking pollutants in different environmental compartments of a river (water, sediment, and floodplain/bank soil) and consider correlating it with riverbank land use. The systems‐based pollution monitoring and assessment studies will reveal the critical factors that drive heavy metals pollutant movement in ecosystems and associated potential risks to the environment, wildlife, and humans. Also, water quality and pollution indexing tools would help better communicate complex pollution data and associated risks among all stakeholders. Therefore, integrating systems approaches in scientific‐ and policy‐based tools would help sustainably manage the health of rivers, wildlife, and humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effects of deposited gypsum residues on the surrounding environment and radiation exposure in plants and animals were evaluated under various exposure situations. A waste stockyard in a Korean facility (surrounded by mountains and sea) was used to store phosphogypsum, a byproduct of phosphoric acid processes, in a slurry form in a large gypsum storage facility (provided separately on the facility site). The ERICA tool was used to evaluate the impact of radiation on nonhuman environments for mineral processing and waste storage for risk estimation. The impact of radiation on the environment due to the phosphogypsum stockyard was negligible with a screening dose of less than 10 μGy h−1. However, to conservatively evaluate the environmental impact of rain and wind in the phosphogypsum stockyard, the soil at the interface of the stockyard, where plants could not grow, was considered as an input value, and the estimated dose rate of shrubs was found to be 45 μGy h−1. The effects of the phosphogypsum stockyard on the surrounding environment accounted for 95–100% of the total dose for internal exposure in biota. In general, radium was found to be the highest contributor to biota, and the next lead and polonium were contributors to the dose. The findings contribute to an understanding of the radiological impact of waste stored and disposed of at the facility on the environment and biota (all routes of exposure) and to developing sustainable operations and pollution monitoring policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This project aims to investigate the best machine learning (ML) algorithm for classifying sounds originating from the environment that were considered noise pollution in smart cities. Sound collection was carried out using necessary sound capture tools, after which ML classification models were utilized for sound recognition. Additionally, noise pollution monitoring using Python was conducted to provide accurate results for sixteen different types of noise that were collected in sixteen cities in Malaysia. The numbers on the diagonal represent the correctly classified noises from the test set. Using these correlation matrices, the F1 score was calculated, and a comparison was performed for all models. The best model was found to be random forest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detection and monitoring of airborne hazards using e-noses has been lifesaving and prevented accidents in real-world scenarios. E-noses generate unique signature patterns for various volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and, by leveraging artificial intelligence, detect the presence of various VOCs, gases, and smokes onsite. Widespread monitoring of airborne hazards across many remote locations is possible by creating a network of gas sensors using Internet connectivity, which consumes significant power. Long-range (LoRa)-based wireless networks do not require Internet connectivity while operating independently. Therefore, we propose a networked intelligent gas sensor system (N-IGSS) which uses a LoRa low-power wide-area networking protocol for real-time airborne pollution hazard detection and monitoring. We developed a gas sensor node by using an array of seven cross-selective tin-oxide-based metal-oxide semiconductor (MOX) gas sensor elements interfaced with a low-power microcontroller and a LoRa module. Experimentally, we exposed the sensor node to six classes i.e., five VOCs plus ambient air and as released by burning samples of tobacco, paints, carpets, alcohol, and incense sticks. Using the proposed two-stage analysis space transformation approach, the captured dataset was first preprocessed using the standardized linear discriminant analysis (SLDA) method. Four different classifiers, namely AdaBoost, XGBoost, Random Forest (RF), and Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP), were then trained and tested in the SLDA transformation space. The proposed N-IGSS achieved "all correct" identification of 30 unknown test samples with a low mean squared error (MSE) of 1.42 × 10−4 over a distance of 590 m. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A methodological framework for a system of ecological and geochemical monitoring of urban landscapes has been developed based on a joint analysis of the chemical composition of microparticles in transit (atmospheric aerosol and precipitation, river water and suspended sediments) and depositing (road dust, snow and soil covers, bottom sediments) environments. For automated monitoring on the territory of the Lomonosov Moscow State University Meteorological Observatory, the Aerosol Complex has been created, and seasonal variations in mass concentrations of PM10, black carbon, metals, metalloids, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in atmospheric aerosol and precipitation in the Moscow megacity has been analyzed. In the aerosol–precipitation subsystem, a high washout capacity of precipitation with respect to Pb, Sb, As, Ni, Mg, K, Al, and S in the aerosols has been revealed. The enrichment of PM10 with metals and metalloids decreases in the snow–road dust–soil series, and Sb, W, Bi, Sn, Cd, Cu, Pb, Mo, and Zn are accumulated in PM10 in all three environments. The particles of PM10 suspended matter and of the Moskva River bottom sediments play a key role in transport and accumulation of Pb, Cu, Ni, and V. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the spatiotemporal dynamics of heavy metal distribution (for zinc, copper, lead, cadmium, mercury) in the water of the Volga mouth offing in the Caspian Sea in 2011–2020, depending on meteorological and hydrological conditions. Based on the analysis of the state environmental pollution monitoring data, statistically significant coefficients of correlation between the metal concentrations in seawater and the parameters of the Volga runoff and wind were obtained. It was found that the concentration of metals in the water of the Volga delta watercourses was several times lower than in seawater in this period, which calls into question the widespread belief about the Volga runoff as the main contributor to the pollution of the Caspian Sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents some methodological approaches to the development of the aquatic ecosystems state classifier according to integral hydrochemical indicators. The classifier has been developed based on the analysis of the Roshydromet long-term routine hydrochemical information for a large number of rivers and their reaches located in various natural and climatic zones of Russia. Criteria for assessing the state of aquatic ecosystems have been established taking into account water salinity: from natural, equilibrium, and stressful to critical or catastrophic. Testing of the methodological approaches and verification of the state assessment results was carried out by the example of individual river ecosystems in the European part of Russia. The majority of ecologically safe river ecosystems functioning in their natural state have been shown to belong to waters with low salinity and to be located in northern regions. In the center and the south of the European part of Russia, river ecosystems in equilibrium, stressful, or critical state dominate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sources of fecal contamination in Laguna Lake, Philippines, were identified using a library-independent microbial source tracking method targeting host-associated Bacteroides 16S rDNA-based markers. Water samples from nine lake stations were assessed for the presence of the fecal markers HF183 (human), BoBac (cattle), Pig-2-Bac (swine), and DuckBac (duck) from August 2019 to January 2020. HF183 (average concentration = 1.91 log10 copies/mL) was the most frequently detected, while Pig-2-Bac (average concentration = 2.47 log10 copies/mL) was the most abundant. The detected marker concentrations in different stations corresponded to the land use patterns around the lake. Generally, all marker concentrations were higher during the wet season (August–October), suggesting the effect of rainfall-associated factors on the movement and retention of markers from sources. There was a significant association (ρ = 0.45; p < 0.001) between phosphate and the concentration of HF183, suggesting domestic sewage-derived pollution. The markers had acceptable sensitivity and specificity, i.e., HF183 (S = 0.88; R = 0.99), Pig-2-Bac (S = 1.00; R = 1.00), and DuckBac (S = 0.94; R = 1.00), and therefore may be used for the continuous monitoring of fecal pollution in the lake and in designing interventions to improve the quality of the lake water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been shown that some species of birds, especially herbivorous and territorial ones, are more sensitive to the effects of toxic substances compared to mammals. This allows for taking integrated actions in the area of environmental protection and monitoring in a holistic sense (at various trophic levels). Therefore, this study aimed to assess the possibility of using pheasant feathers (Phasianuscolchicus) as a potential bioindicator ofenvironmental contamination, and thus to determine the concentration of heavy metals (lead—Pb, arsenic—As, cadmium—Cd, chromium—Cr, nickel—Ni, and zinc—Zn) in the analyzed tissue of animals inhabiting the forest districts of the Lubartów, Tomaszów, Skierniewice, and Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski areas. The chemical analysis used to determine the concentration of toxic elements in pheasant feathers was carried out by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The highest concentrations of Cr and Zn were found in birds from the Lubartów Forest District (1.93 mg/kg and 120.63 mg/kg, respectively), As and Ni in the Tomaszów Forest District (0.55 mg/kg and 1.60 mg/kg, respectively), Cd in the Lubartów Forest District and Skierniewice (0.04 mg/kg), and Pb in the Skierniewice Forest Distict (6.79 mg/kg). The observed results were strongly related to soil contamination and urbanization index, as key environmental factors which significantly determine the metal content in pheasant feathers. Therefore, proposed non-invasive measurements of the elemental composition of feathers of birds living in specific areas may be an important indicator of environmental pollution in relation to the high impact of anthropopressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Underwater Wireless Sensor Networks (UWSNs) have attracted attention from academics and industries due to many applications such as pollution monitoring, military, tsunami warning, and underwater exploration. One of the effective factors in these applications is efficient communication between underwater sensors. But this process is very challenging in UWSNs due to special conditions and underwater harsh environments. Therefore, designing routing protocols for efficient communication between sensors and sink is an important issue in UWSNs. In this context, this paper proposed a location‐free Reliable and QoS‐Aware Routing (RQAR) protocol for mobile sink UWSNs. RQAR designed using Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) and does not require the position information of the sensor nodes, which is cumbersome and difficult to obtain. Proposed protocol considers multiple parameters including link quality, hop count, congestion, and residual energy for qos support, and reliable data delivery RQAR also minimizes the effects of hole occurrence by increasing the transmission range as much as possible and ensures communication stability. The simulation results using NS2 showed the superiority of RQAR in improving end‐to‐end delay, packet delivery ratio, and network throughput compared to the previous methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The non-point source pollution is not easy to be controlled, and it is one of the important environmental problems facing the world. Taking Hohhot, a typical city in the arid semi-arid region in China, as an example, four monitoring sites in the city were selected, water samples from six rainfall events were collected, and pollutants such as heavy metals, ammonia, nitrate nitrogen, phosphorus and suspended matter were examined, and the water quality of the rain runoff was comprehensively evaluated by the principal component analysis and the correlation analysis. The results showed that the total phosphorus contents of monitoring points in the street were the largest and those of monitoring points in gas stations were the smallest in rainfall runoff. Arsenic, cobalt, and chromium were less than the Class I standard for environmental quality standards for surface water according to Chinese standard (GB 3838-2002). Concentrations of cadmium, copper, and iron were greatest in street monitoring sites, while nickel, lead, and zinc were greatest in roof monitoring sites, and manganese was greatest in car park monitoring sites. There was minimal contamination at gas station monitoring sites and the greatest contamination at street monitoring sites. Heavy metals and phosphorus were the main contributing factors to pollution at street monitoring sites, while the main contributing factors at gas station monitoring sites were total suspended substances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, air pollution is a critical public health problem, which means that the daily measurement of urban air quality can be enriched if measured in a personalized way. Personal environmental monitoring devices can guide the population to take action. They can track their daily activities, avoiding situations that could affect their health, allowing them to precisely know the air quality they breathe in real-time in various microenvironments. In this work, we present a review of cyclonic separation technology patents, such as pre-separators in monitoring devices. We focused on the state-of-the-art commercially available personal monitoring devices, the classification of kinds of patents, and a review of cyclone patents and gas–particle separation behaviors. The World Intellectual Property Organization IP's portal and Google Patents search engine were used, using international patent classification plus mesh terms involving a cyclone in an air particulate monitor after predefining inclusion and exclusion criteria such as gas–air cyclones, high efficiency, and fine particle separation. Twenty-nine patents were analyzed according to the main characteristics (e.g., cut point, flow rate, and cyclone improvement) available in the patent document. The wide range of cyclones indicates a maximum flow rate of between 0.5 and 4.5 Lpm and a lower cyclone cut point of 0.8 μm. This review includes a discussion of the most relevant features of the patent documents (flow rate, particle cut point, some cyclone improvements, and technology detection). This paper aims to give an overview of the use of cyclones as pre-separators for personal air monitoring devices and to acknowledge the patented improvements of new inventors or developers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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With the development of society and economy, the environmental problems of karst groundwater are increasingly prominent due to the influence of human activities. The unique heterogeneity of karst aquifer leads to the diversity of microbial community. With the continuous development of microbial information technology, its application to karst groundwater environment will be increasingly extensive. Therefore, the study of microbial information technology is of great significance to the development, utilization and protection of karst groundwater resources. In this study, the research on application of microbial information technology to karst groundwater environment is reviewed from the aspects of microbial sources, microbial tracing and monitoring technology in karst groundwater, and the application prospect in this regard is also offered. The heterogeneity of karst aquifer and the dual characteristics of microbial source recharge, including endogenous water and exogenous water, lead to the sensitivity and complexity of karst groundwater environment. The sources of microorganisms in karst groundwater are diverse, mainly including native and exotic microorganisms. The input of external microbial communities such as surface water and soil environment is the main source of microorganisms in karst groundwater. In addition, groundwater recharge and other human activities have a significant impact on microbial community characteristics. Because microbial tracer technology, in which the microorganism is used as a tracer indicator, has more advantages than the traditional indicator in the study on pollution and characteristics of pollutant environment in karst groundwater, this technology has become an important method of karst groundwater resource management. So far, many microorganisms, such as Escherichia coli and Bacteriophage, have been used as tracers in tracing tests. Escherichia coli can be used as a tracer to reflect the pollution degree of karst groundwater. Bacteroidetes are used to determine the pollution source and its contribution rate because of their host specificity. Having strong migration ability and being sensitive to changes in hydraulic conditions, Bacteriophages are non-toxic and non-pathogenic to other organisms. They are used as tracers in karst and fractured aquifers for the quantitative migration analysis of groundwater, the delineation of water flow path, etc. In addition, combined with microbial tracers and traditional tracers, the multi-tracking technology has the advantages of accuracy and operability. Because microorganisms are sensitive to the change of karst environment, their community structure and diversity are different, which can effectively indicate the change of karst groundwater environment. Different from hydrochemical index monitoring, microbial monitoring technology can indicate unknown components and provide more comprehensive information of groundwater environment. Its potential application to karst groundwater monitoring has been widely recognized. With the development of microbial information technology, the sources and distribution characteristics of microorganisms need to be further identified due to the complexity of karst aquifer and the variability of microorganisms. The pollution risk caused by the application of microbial information technology to karst groundwater environment needs to be further discussed. The microbial tracer technique in karst groundwater is still immature and more suitable microbial indicators need to be screened out. Biomonitoring techniques with molecular methods have not yet achieved the resolution and flux required for monitoring purposes, and the correlation between different environmental parameters and the characteristics of microbial community change needs to be further identified. However, the technology is being developed to provide reference for the development of microbial information technology and the development and protection of karst groundwater resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy has attracted increasing attention due to its high spectral reproducibility and unique selectivity to target molecules. Here, a facile approach is proposed to prepare Ag nanoparticles modified ZnO nanorod arrays (Ag/ZnO NR arrays). Ag nanoparticles were densely decorated on the surface of ZnO nanorods through silver mirror reaction and subsequent seed-assisted electrodeposition. The prepared Ag/ZnO NR arrays can be used as a sensitive, uniform, and repeatable SERS substrate for the rapid detection of organic dye molecules and biomolecules with concentrations higher than the corresponding limits of detection (LODs). The LODs for rhodamine 6G (R6G), 4-aminothiophenol (PATP) and adenine are calculated to be 1.0 × 10−13 M, 1.6 × 10−12 M and 3 × 10−11 M, respectively. The enhancement factor (EF) of the SERS substrate is estimated to be as high as ~2.7 × 108 when detecting 10−10 M R6G. Particularly, the as-synthesized substrate exhibits high selectivity to multiple components. In addition, the fabricated Ag/ZnO NR arrays can be recycled due to their superior self-cleaning ability and can realize photocatalytic degradation of R6G in water within 1 h driven by UV light, showing that the three-dimensional recyclable SERS substrates have wide applications in environmental pollution monitoring and biomedical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research deals with the Risk assessment of groundwater quality. 79 groundwater samples were collected from domestic and agricultural usage open and bore wells during January 2021(COVID-19 Pandemic Period). Groundwater samples were tested to determine the physicochemical parameters using standard testing procedure for the preparation of spatial distribution maps of each parameter based on the World Health Organization (WHO) standard. Multivariate statistical analysis has shown the source of groundwater pollution from secondary leaching of chemical weathering of rocks. From the Water Quality Index and bivariate plot reveals that less than 20% of the area comes under high and very high-risk zone. The types of hardness diagram showed 32.91% of the samples fall in hard brackish water as illustrated by the Piper trilinear diagram. The research outcome result shows that the least percentage of industrials effluents due to the COVID-19 pandemic, not working for all industries during lock down period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study applied a non-invasive method to analyse anthropogenic particles and prey items in white stork (Ciconia ciconia) pellets. Pellets (n = 20) were obtained from white stork nests during the 2020 breeding season from two sites in Croatia. In total, 7869 anthropogenic particles were isolated. The majority of particles were fragments, while previous studies on other birds often reported fibres. An ATR–FTIR polymer analysis detected glass and construction and building materials, as well as several compounds associated with plastic masses. Polymer investigation revealed the presence of dotriacontane and octacosane, which are by-products of polyethylene (PE) degradation and transformation. Additionally, the detection of vinylidene chloride (VDC) highlights the historical contribution of polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) to plastic pollution. Significant variation in particle quantity and size between the sampling sites was detected, with larger particles found at sites associated with the metal mechanical engineering industry and agriculture. Prey assessment revealed chitin remains of large insects such as Orthoptera and Coleoptera. This research confirms the potential of pellet analysis as a valuable tool for assessing the presence of anthropogenic particles in the environment. However, further research is needed to fully understand the extent of particle ingestion, particle sources and potential impact.

This document discusses the importance of detecting volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in various fields such as environmental pollution monitoring, early disease screening, and food freshness assessment. It highlights the different methods used for VOC detection, with a focus on semiconductor gas sensors due to their high sensitivity, fast response time, and cost-effectiveness. The document also acknowledges recent advancements in semiconductor gas sensor research, including improved sensitivity, low detection limits, and room temperature sensing. However, it points out challenges that still need to be addressed, such as improving response speed, enhancing selectivity, and verifying practical application ability. The document introduces a special issue that explores the latest achievements in VOC detection based on chemical sensors, with a focus on modifying sensitive materials to enhance sensor performance. It highlights specific studies that have achieved rapid detection of VOCs, such as toluene and acetone, through the use of doped materials and the introduction of graphene. The document also mentions breakthroughs in detection methods, data analysis, and sensor system design to enhance VOC detection capabilities in real-world scenarios. It concludes by expressing gratitude to the authors, reviewers, and editors who contributed to the special issue. [Extracted from the article]

Bacteriophages are key viruses that can kill thousands of harmful microbes generally present at polluted sites. Such bacteriophages are abundantly present in the river Ganga, where millions of people in India and abroad drink its water and take baths every day for spiritual reasons. Besides bacteriophages, several pathogenic and zoonotic microbes are present in the river Ganga. It is interesting to study the diversity and abundance of bacteria and their respective phages present in polluted or non-polluted sites. Thus, the metagenomics study was carried out at the most polluted sites of river Ganga near Kanpur and non-polluted sites at Farakka, which harbors several harmful bacteria and their phages. The results revealed a significantly higher percentage of Microviridae phage family, ssDNA viruses, and Mimiviridae virus family near Kanpur than Farakka. In addition, compared to Kanpur, Farakka has a more significant percentage of Myoviridae, an unidentified phage family, and Retroviridae viral families. Despite heavy drainage of untreated and contaminated effluents from the leather industry, pesticide industry, paper mills, metropolitan cities, and other sources, the vast number of said phages kills several harmful pathogenic microbes in polluted sites to maintain the Ganga water's healing power or natural sterility. In a polluted aquatic environment, the varieties of bacteriophages were identified in the Ganga and their interaction with the microbial host. The taxonomic diversity of several bacteriophages found in pathogenic host systems was investigated to get exceptional knowledge of these small viruses in the aquatic environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, novel gradient-based online learning algorithms are developed to investigate an important environmental application: real-time river pollution source identification, which aims at estimating the released mass, location, and time of a river pollution source based on downstream sensor data monitoring the pollution concentration. The pollution is assumed to be instantaneously released once. The problem can be formulated as a non-convex loss minimization problem in statistical learning, and our online algorithms have vectorized and adaptive step sizes to ensure high estimation accuracy in three dimensions which have different magnitudes. In order to keep the algorithm from sticking in the saddle points of non-convex loss, the "escaping from saddle points" module and multi-start setting are derived to further improve the estimation accuracy by searching for the global minimizer of the loss functions. This can be shown theoretically and experimentally as the O(N) local regret of the algorithms and the high probability cumulative regret bound O(N) under a particular error bound condition in loss functions. A real-life river pollution source identification example shows the superior performance of our algorithms compared with existing methods in terms of estimation accuracy. Managerial insights for the decision maker to use the algorithms are also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollution with trace elements is considered a global problem due to their persistence, nondegradability, and toxicity to living organisms. Aquatic ecosystems are often the final sinks for trace elements, but these pollutants are quickly diluted and difficult to detect and, therefore, comprehensive monitoring of pollution is needed to implement appropriate control measures and prevent irreversible damage to these habitats. Bioindication is one of the recommended methods as it provides information not only on the pollution level but also on the bioavailability of elements and their biological impact. The paper is a synthetic review of the knowledge about the use of macrophytes as passive bioindicators (accumulator taxa) of trace element pollution in aquatic ecosystems. Various aspects of bioindication using accumulator aquatic plants are discussed: the criteria defined for the organisms used in biogeochemical bioindication, advantages of plants as accumulative bioindicators, general trends in the uptake, and accumulation of pollutants by macrophytes (including differences between life forms, organs, and seasons). The use of various groups of macrophytes in accumulative bioindication is described in detail with an emphasis on the relationship between element levels in plant tissues and their habitat as well as performance in the detection of pollution gradients. Knowledge gaps and limitations in the field of bioindication using accumulative macrophytes are indicated and the future perspective is outlined. This article is categorized under:Science of Water > Water QualityWater and Life > Stresses and Pressures on EcosystemsWater and Life > Conservation, Management, and Awareness [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]