Water pollution is an urgent problem that needs to be controlled via green transformation and the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB). Based on the water pollutant discharge and socio-economic database of prefecture-level cities in the YREB from 2011 to 2015, this study explores the spatiotemporal variations in water pollutant discharge in the YREB via two main indicators: chemical oxygen demand (COD) and ammonia nitrogen (NH₃–N). Further, the spatial effects and determinants of water pollutant discharge are quantitatively estimated. The results show that (1) the water pollutant discharge in the YREB has decreased significantly, with the COD and NH₃–N discharge reduced by 10.46% and 10.79%, respectively, and the discharge reduction in the lower reaches was the most prominent; (2) the spatial pattern of water pollutant discharge in the YREB was generally stable and partially improved, and cities with a high rate of water pollutant reduction in the YREB were distributed in the main stream region of the Yangtze River and the intersection of the main stream and tributaries; (3) spatial effects had a significant impact on water pollutant discharge in the YREB, with regional cooperation and economic radiation through environmental management and control initially showing a combined reduction trend in regional water pollutants; and (4) determinants of population size and agricultural economic share declined to varying degrees at the end of the study period, although the urbanization level continued to increase, indicating that urbanization in the YREB occurred too quickly and that water pollutant discharge reduction was limited. However, economic development leading to the deterioration of the water environment was alleviated. In addition, foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows and rapid industrialization processes must be monitored to increase the reduction in characteristic water pollutants.

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are designated to enable the management of damaging activities within a discrete spatial area, and can be effective at reducing the associated impacts, including habitat loss and over-exploitation. Such sites, however, may be exposed to the potential impacts from broader scale pressures, such as anthropogenic litter, due to its diffuse nature and lack of constraint by legislative and/or political boundaries. Plastic, a large component of litter, is of particular concern, due to increasing evidence of its potential to cause ecological and socio-economic damage. The presence of sensitive marine features may mean that some MPAs are at greater potential risk from the impacts of plastic pollution than some non-protected sites. Understanding the abundance, distribution and composition of litter along coastlines is important for designing and implementing effective management strategies. Gathering such data, however, can be expensive and time-consuming but litter survey programmes that enlist citizen scientists are often able to resolve many of the logistical or financial constraints. Here, we examine data collected over 25-years (1994–2018), by Marine Conservation Society volunteers, for spatial patterns in relation to the English MPA network, with the aim of highlighting key sources of litter and identifying management priority areas. We found that MPAs in southeast (Kent) and southwest (Cornwall and Devon) England have the highest densities of shore-based litter. Plastic is the main material constituent and public littering the most common identifiable source. Items attributed to fishing activities were most prevalent in southwest MPAs and sewage related debris was highest in MPAs near large rivers and estuaries, indicating localised accumulation. When comparing inside and outside of MPAs, we found no difference in litter density, demonstrating the need for wider policy intervention at local, national and international scales to reduce the amount of litter.

Information on exposure levels to organochlorine compounds (OCs) in child population is limited, despite their greater vulnerability to the adverse health effects of these chemicals.To determine serum concentrations of 10 OCs (including organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls –PCBs–) in children living in agricultural communities from Almería (South-Eastern Spain), and to identify the main predictors of exposure related to socio-economic characteristics, diet and lifestyle.A cross-sectional study was conducted on 133 children aged 6–11 years selected from public schools of the study area. OCs compounds were determined in serum samples by GC/ECD. Anthropometric measures were obtained during sample collection. Information on sociodemographic characteristics, parental occupation, residential history, lifestyle and frequency of food consumption, among other relevant factors, was obtained by questionnaires administered to the mothers.Geometric means of serum concentrations (ng/ml) were 0.11 for β-hexachloro-cyclohexane (β-HCH), 0.09 for endosulfan, 0.20 for endosulfan-ether, 0.51 for hexachorobenzene (HCB), 0.08 for mirex, 0.06 for oxychlordane, 0.36 for p,p'-DDE, 0.20 for PCB 138, 0.36 for PCB 153, and 0.45 for PCB 180. Percentage of samples above the limit of detection (0.05 ppb) ranged from 32 (β-HCH) to 100 (HCB). A high variability in OC levels depending on the compound was observed between our results and others found in similar studies carried out in children. Variables related to fish consumption were found to be the major dietary determinant of PCB 138, p,p´-DDE, endosulfan-α, β-HCH, mirex and oxychlordane levels.Children participating in this study showed detectable levels of many OC, despite these compounds are no longer used. Their presence in children serum can be explained by their high lipophilicity and environmental persistence, leading to contamination of fatty food. In this line, fish consumption seemed to be the most relevant determinant of OC levels found in our study.

Urban heat island (UHI) can generate profound impacts on socioeconomics, human life, and the environment. Most previous studies have estimated UHI intensity using outdated urban extent maps to define urban and its surrounding areas, and the impacts of urban boundary expansion have never been quantified. Here, we assess the possible biases in UHI intensity estimates induced by outdated urban boundary maps using MODIS Land surface temperature (LST) data from 2009 to 2011 for China's 32 major cities, in combination with the urban boundaries generated from urban extent maps of the years 2000, 2005 and 2010. Our results suggest that it is critical to use concurrent urban extent and LST maps to estimate UHI at the city and national levels. Specific definition of UHI matters for the direction and magnitude of potential biases in estimating UHI intensity using outdated urban extent maps.

The untreated effluents released from industrial operations have adverse impacts on human health, environment and socio-economic aspects. Environmental pollution due to chromium is adversely affecting our natural resources and ecosystem. Chromium is hazardous carcinogenic element released from spontaneous activities and industrial procedures. Chromium toxicity, mobility and bioavailability depend mainly on its speciation. Chromium mainly exists in two forms, first as an immobile, less soluble trivalent chromium [Cr(III)] species under reducing conditions whereas hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] as a mobile, toxic and bioavailable species under oxidizing conditions. Hexavalent chromium is more pernicious in comparison to trivalent form. Chromium negatively affects crop growth, total yield and grain quality. Exposure of chromium even at low concentration enhances its accretion in cells of human-beings and animals which may show detrimental health effects. Many techniques have been utilized for the elimination of chromium. The selection of the green and cost-efficient technology for treatment of industrial effluent is an arduous task. The present review highlights the problems associated with chromium pollution and need of its immediate elimination by suitable remediation strategies. Further, investigations are required to fill the gaps to overcome the problem of chromium contamination and implementation of sustainable remediation strategies with their real-time applicability on the contaminated sites.

This study develops an oil spill environmental vulnerability model for predicting and mapping the oil slick trajectory pattern in Kota Tinggi, Malaysia. The impact of seasonal variations on the vulnerability of the coastal resources to oil spill was modelled by estimating the quantity of coastal resources affected across three climatic seasons (northeast monsoon, southwest monsoon and pre-monsoon). Twelve 100 m³ (10,000 splots) medium oil spill scenarios were simulated using General National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Operational Oil Modeling Environment (GNOME) model. The output was integrated with coastal resources, comprising biological, socio-economic and physical shoreline features. Results revealed that the speed of an oil slick (40.8 m per minute) is higher during the pre-monsoon period in a southwestern direction and lower during the northeast monsoon (36.9 m per minute). Evaporation, floating and spreading are the major weathering processes identified in this study, with approximately 70% of the slick reaching the shoreline or remaining in the water column during the first 24 h (h) of the spill. Oil spill impacts were most severe during the southwest monsoon, and physical shoreline resources are the most vulnerable to oil spill in the study area. The study concluded that variation in climatic seasons significantly influence the vulnerability of coastal resources to marine oil spill.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations were determined in four dated sediment cores collected in mud depocenters of the southern Brazilian continental shelf. Core dating results covered the interval between 1925 and 2017. The total PAH concentrations (ΣPAHs) ranged from 44.69 ng g⁻¹ to 305.43 ng g⁻¹ and were similar between the analysed cores. Fine-grained sediments and total organic carbon (TOC) results did not correlate with the ΣPAHs, indicating that the variations in PAH concentrations are mostly related to variations in sources and emissions. PAH source appointment indicated a high input of a natural compound (perylene) and the predominance of anthropogenic PAHs from coal, biomass, and fuel combustion. Alkylated PAHs presented high contributions throughout all cores. The historical deposition of PAHs was associated with different periods of the socio-economic and industrial development of near coastal cities and reflected very well the history of coal production and consumption in the southern region of Brazil. The low levels of ΣPAHs before 1945 in all analysed cores may be related to the beginning of the industrialization process and the lower urbanization degree in the region. Between 1945 and 1965, the gradual ΣPAHs increase reflects the establishment and enlargement of the southern Brazilian industrial sector. The interval between 1965 and 1990 corresponded to the highest ΣPAHs in three of the four analysed cores. After 1990, a relative decrease in the ΣPAHs was observed in most cores and may be related the multiple cuts of incentives to the industrial usage of coal, as well as to Brazil's efforts in environmental regulation for coal extraction and consumption.

Pharmaceuticals such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been found in the marine environment. Although there is a large body of evidence that pharmaceutical drugs exert negative impacts on aquatic organisms, especially in the freshwater compartment, only limited studies are available on bioconcentration and the effects of NSAIDs on marine organisms. Bivalves have a high ecological and socio-economic value and are considered good bioindicator species in ecotoxicology and risk assessment programs. Therefore, this review summarizes current knowledge on the bioconcentration and the effects of three widely used NSAIDs, diclofenac, ibuprofen and paracetamol, in marine bivalves exposed under laboratory conditions. These pharmaceutical drugs were chosen based on their environmental occurrence both in frequency and concentration that may warrant their inclusion in the European Union Watch List. It has been highlighted that ambient concentrations may result in negative effects on wild bivalves after long-term exposures. Also, higher trophic level organisms may be more impacted due to food-chain transfer (e.g., humans are shellfish consumers). Overall, the three selected NSAIDs were reported to bioconcentrate in marine bivalves, with recognized effects at different life-stages. Immune responses were the main target of a long-term exposure to the drugs. The studies selected support the inclusion of diclofenac on the European Union Watch List and highlight the importance of extending research for ibuprofen and paracetamol due to their demonstrated negative effects on marine bivalves exposed to environmental realistic concentrations, under laboratory conditions.

Many regulatory screening level exposure assessments are based on simple large scale conceptual scenarios. However, exposure, and therefore risks associated with chemicals, are characterised by high spatial variability. The Scenario assembly tool (ScenAT) is a global screening level model to enable spatially resolved local predictions of environmental concentrations of home and personal care chemicals. It uses the European Union Technical Guidance Document (TGD) equation to predict local scale freshwater concentrations (predicted environmental concentrations - PECs) of chemicals discharged via wastewater. ScenAT uses Geographic Information System (GIS) layers for the underlying socio-economic (population) and environmental parameters (per capita water use, sewage treatment plant connectivity, dilution factor). Using a probabilistic approach, we incorporate sources of uncertainty in the input data (tonnage estimation, removal in sewage treatment plants and seasonal variability in dilution factors) for two case-study chemicals: the antimicrobial triclosan (TCS) and the anionic surfactant linear alkylbenzene sulphonate (LAS). We then compare model estimates of wastewater and freshwater concentrations of TCS and LAS to UK monitoring data. Comparison showed that modeled PECs were on average higher than mean measured data for TCS and LAS by a factor 1.8 and 1.4, respectively. Considering the uncertainty associated with both model and monitoring data, the use of a probabilistic approach using the ScenAT model for screening assessment is reasonable. The combination of modelled and monitoring data enables the contextualisation of monitoring data. Spatial PECs can be used to identify areas of elevated concentration for further refined assessment.A probabilistic approach for large scale screening assessments to contextualise monitoring data for risk assessment.

The impact of surface ozone pollution on winter wheat yield is empirically estimated by considering socio-economic and weather determinants. This research is the first to use an economic framework to estimate the ozone impact, and a unique county-level panel is employed to examine the impact of the increasing surface ozone concentration on the productivity of winter wheat in China. In general, the increment of surface ozone concentration during the ozone-sensitive period of winter wheat is determined to be harmful to its yield, and a conservative reduction of ozone pollution could significantly increase China's wheat supply.