This study derived Species Sensitivity Distributions (SSD), representing a cumulative stressor-response distribution based on single-species sensitivity data, for ozone exposure on natural vegetation. SSDs were constructed for three species groups, i.e. trees, annual grassland and perennial grassland species, using species-specific exposure–response data. The SSDs were applied in two ways. First, critical levels were calculated for each species group and compared to current critical levels for ozone exposure. Second, spatially explicit estimates of the potentially affected fraction of plant species in Northwestern Europe were calculated, based on ambient ozone concentrations. We found that the SSD-based critical levels were lower than for the current critical levels for ozone exposure, with conventional critical levels for ozone relating to 8–20% affected plant species. Our study shows that the SSD concept can be successfully applied to both derive critical ozone levels and estimate the potentially affected species fraction of plant communities along specific ozone gradients.

This study combines the methods of observation statistics and remote sensing retrieval, using remote sensing information including the urban heat island (UHI) intensity index, the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), the normalized difference water index (NDWI), and the difference vegetation index (DVI) to analyze the correlation between the urban heat island effect and the spatial and temporal concentration distributions of atmospheric particulates in Beijing. The analysis establishes (1) a direct correlation between UHI and DVI; (2) an indirect correlation among UHI, NDWI and DVI; and (3) an indirect correlation among UHI, NDVI, and DVI. The results proved the existence of three correlation types with regional and seasonal effects and revealed an interesting correlation between UHI and DVI, that is, if UHI is below 0.1, then DVI increases with the increase in UHI, and vice versa. Also, DVI changes more with UHI in the two middle zones of Beijing.

This study investigated potential ammonia impacts on a sand dune nature reserve 600 m upwind of an intensive poultry unit. Ammonia concentrations and total nitrogen deposition were measured over a calendar year. A series of ammonia and nitrogen exposure experiments using dune grassland species were conducted in controlled manipulations and in the field. Ammonia emissions from the intensive poultry unit were detected up to 2.8 km upwind, contributing to exceedance of critical levels of ammonia 800 m upwind and exceedance of critical loads of nitrogen 2.8 km upwind. Emissions contributed 30% of the total N load in parts of the upwind conservation site. In the nitrogen exposure experiments, plants showed elevated tissue nitrogen contents, and responded to ammonia concentrations and nitrogen deposition loads observed in the conservation site by increasing biomass. Estimated long-term impacts suggest an increase in the soil carbon pool of 9% over a 50-year timescale.

MicroResp™ is a miniaturised method for measuring substrate induced respiration (SIR) in soil. We modified the MicroResp™ method to develop a rapid tool for quantifying the ecotoxicological impact of contaminants. The method is based on reduction in SIR across a gradient of contaminant, allowing for determination of dose–response curves EC-values. Contaminants are mixed into soil samples at a range of concentrations; each sample is then dispensed into a column of eight wells in 96 well format (deep) plates. Moisture and glucose are added to the samples at levels to provide maximum response. Released CO2 from the soils is then measured using colorimetric gel-traps, following the standard MicroResp™ methodology. Examination revealed that this method works over a range of soil types and is insensitive to minor variations in assay length (2–7 h), alteration of moisture content (±20 μL from optimum), and soil storage conditions (4 °C versus fresh).

The significance of biofilm on the transport and deposition behaviors of ZnO nanoparticles were examined under a series of environmentally relevant ionic strength at two fluid velocities of 4 m-d−1 and 8 m-d−1. Biofilm enhanced nanoparticles retention in porous media under all examined conditions. The greater deposition was also observed in extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) coated surfaces by employment of quartz microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) system. Derjaguin–Landau–Verwey–Overbeek (DLVO) failed to interpret more ZnO nanoparticles deposition on biofilm (EPS) coated silica surfaces. Chemical interaction and physical morphology of biofilm contributed to this greater deposition (retention). Biofilm affected the spacial distribution of retained ZnO nanoparticles as well. Relatively steeper slope of retained profiles were observed in the presence of biofilm, corresponding to the greater deviation from colloid filtration theory (CFT). Pore space constriction via biofilm induced more nanoparticle trapped in the column inlet, leading to greater deviations (σln kf) from the CFT.

Enzymatic conductometric biosensor, using immobilized Arthrospira platensis cells on gold interdigitated electrodes, for the detection of pesticides in water, was elaborated. Cholinesterase activity (AChE) was inhibited by pesticides and a variation of the local conductivity was measured after addition of the substrate acetylthiocholine chloride (AChCl). The Michaelis–Menten constant (Km) was evaluated to be 1.8 mM through a calibration curve of AChCl. Inhibition of AChE was observed with paraoxon-methyl, parathion-methyl, triazine and diuron with a detection limit of 10−18 M, 10−20 M, 10−20 M and 10−12 M, respectively and the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) was determined at 10−16 M, 10−20 M, 10−18 M and 10−06 M, respectively. An important decrease of response time τ90% was recorded for AChE response towards AChCl after 30 min cell exposure to pesticides. Scanning electron microscopy images revealed a degradation of the cell surface in presence of pesticides at 10−06 M.

The interaction of xenobiotics is common in aquatic ecosystems; therefore, we wanted to evaluate if trenbolone (TB) modulates the effects of 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2). Male eelpout (Zoarces viviparus) were exposed to 5 ng L−1 EE2 continuously for 19 d (EE2-C) or discontinuously (11 d, EE2-D) alone or in combination with low (50 ng L−1, TBL) or high (500 ng L−1, TBH) concentrations of TB (19 d). Exposure to EE2 caused reduced gonadosomatic index, increased plasma vitellogenin concentrations, up-regulated vtg and era mRNA expression and severe alterations in gonadal histology. TBL and TBH did not affect plasma vitellogenin, era or vtg mRNA expression. TBL and TBH did not counteract the EE2-induced increase in plasma vitellogenin and reduction in 11-ketotestosterone whereas TBH counteracted the EE2 induced increase in vtg and era mRNA expression. Exposure to TBH and EE2-C + TBH lead to severe gonadal histology alterations. TBL and EE2-D + TBH exposed fish showed less histopathological alterations.

This work aims at monitoring the rare earth elements (REEs) and Th in dust deposited on tree leaves collected inside and outside Greater Cairo (GC), Egypt. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was employed. The concentration of REEs in the collected dust samples was found to be in the range from 1 to 60 μg g−1. The highest concentration of REEs was found in dust samples collected outside GC, in the middle of the Nile Delta. This would refer to the availability of black sands, due to desert wind occurrence during the sample collection, and anthropogenic activities. The limits of detection of the REEs ranged from 0.02 ng g−1 for Tm to 3 ng g−1 for Yb. There was an obvious variation in the concentration of REEs inside and outside GC due to variations of natural and anthropogenic sources. Strong correlations among all the REEs were found.

National-scale plant species richness data for Great Britain in 1998 were related to modelled contemporary N deposition (Ndep) using a broken stick median regression, to estimate thresholds above which Ndep definitely has had an effect. The thresholds (kg N ha−1 a−1) are 7.9 for acid grassland 14.9 for bogs, 23.6 for calcareous grassland, 7.8 for deciduous woodland and 8.8 for heath. The woodland and heath thresholds are not significantly greater than the lowest Ndep, which implies that species loss may occur over the whole range of contemporary Ndep. This also applies to acid grassland if it is assumed that Ndep has substituted for previous N fixation. The thresholds for bog and calcareous grassland are both significantly above the lowest Ndep. The thresholds are lower than the mid-range empirical Critical Loads for acid grassland, deciduous woodland and heath, higher for bogs, and approximately equal for calcareous grassland.

This study investigated the ability of natural river biofilms from different seasons to degrade the carbamate pesticides methomyl, carbaryl and carbofuran in single and multiple pesticide systems, and the effects of these pesticides on algal and bacterial communities within biofilms. Spring biofilms had the lowest biomass of algae and bacteria but showed the highest methomyl degradation (>99%) and dissipation rates, suggesting that they might contain microorganisms with high methomyl degradation abilities. Degradation of carbofuran (54.1–59.5%) by biofilms in four seasons was similar, but low degradation of carbaryl (0–27.5%) was observed. The coexistence of other pesticides was found to cause certain effects on pesticide degradation and primarily resulted in lower diversity of diatoms and bacteria than when using a single pesticide. The tolerant diatoms and bacteria potentially having the ability to degrade test pesticides were identified. River biofilms could be suitable biomaterials or used to isolate degraders for bioremediating pesticide-contaminated water.