Phosphorus (P) is an essential element in the ecosystem and the cause of the eutrophication of rivers and lakes. The river-lake ecotone is the ecological buffer zone between rivers and lakes, which can transfer energy and material between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Vegetation restoration of degraded river-lake ecotone can improve the interception capacity of P pollution. However, the effects of different vegetation restoration types on sediment P cycling and its mechanism remain unclear. Therefore, we seasonally measured the P fractions and physicochemical properties of sediments from different restored vegetation (three native species and one invasive species). The results found that vegetation restoration significantly increased the sediment total P and bioavailable P content, which increased the sediment tolerance to P pollution in river-lake ecotone. In addition, the total P content in sediments was highest in summer and autumn, but lower in spring and winter. The total P and bioavailable P contents in surface sediments were the highest. They decreased with increasing depth, suggesting that sediment P assimilation by vegetation restoration and the resulting litter leads to redistribution of P in different seasons and sediment depths. Microbial biomass-P (MBP), total nitrogen (TN), and sediment organic matter (SOM) are the main factors affecting the change of sediment phosphorus fractions. All four plants’ maximum biomass and P storage appeared in the autumn. Although the biomass and P storage of the invasive species Alternanthera philoxeroides were lower, the higher bioavailable P content and MBP values of the surface sediments indicated the utilization efficiency of sediment resources. These results suggest that vegetation restoration affects the distribution and circulation of P in river and lake ecosystems, which further enhances the ecological function of the river-lake ecotone and prevents the eutrophication and erosion of water and sediment in the river-lake ecotone.

Road traffic noise is the most pervasive source of ambient outdoor noise pollution in Europe. Traffic noise prediction models vary in parameterisation and therefore may produce different estimates of noise levels depending on the geographical setting in terms of emissions sources and propagation field. This paper compares three such models: the European standard, Common Noise Assessment Methods for the EU Member States (hereafter, CNOSSOS), Nord2000 and Traffic Noise Exposure (TRANEX) model based on the UK methodology, in terms of their source and propagation characteristics. The tools are also compared by analysing estimated noise (LAₑq) from CNOSSOS, Nord2000 (2006 version), and TRANEX for more than one hundred test cases (N = 111) covering a variety of source and receiver configurations (e.g. varying source to receiver distance). The main aim of this approach was to investigate the potential pattern in differences between models’ performance for certain types of configurations. Discrepancies in performance may thus be linked to the differences in parameterisations of the CNOSSOS, Nord2000, and TRANEX (e.g. handling of diffraction, refraction). In most cases, both CNOSSOS and TRANEX reproduced LAₑq levels of Nord2000 (2006 version) within three to five dBA (CNOSSOS: 87%, TRANEX: 94%). The differences in LAₑq levels of CNOSSOS, compared to Nord2000, can be related to several shortcomings of the existing CNOSSOS algorithms (e.g. ground attenuation, multiple diffractions, and mean ground plane). The analyses show that more research is required in order to improve CNOSSOS for its implementation in the EU. In this context, amendments for CNOSSOS proposed by an EU Working Group hold significant potential. Overall, both CNOSSOS and TRANEX produced similar results, with TRANEX reproducing Nord2000 LAₑq values slightly better than the CNOSSOS. The lack of measured noise data highlights one of the significant limitations of this study and needs to be addressed in future work.

Narrow city streets surrounded by tall buildings are favorable to inducing a general effect of a “canyon” in which pollutants strongly accumulate in a relatively small area because of weak or inexistent ventilation. In this study, levels of nitrogen-oxide (NO₂), elemental carbon (EC) and organic carbon (OC) mass concentrations in PM₁₀ particles were determined to compare between seasons and different years. Daily samples were collected at one such street canyon location in the center of Zagreb in 2011, 2012 and 2013. By applying machine learning methods we showed seasonal and yearly variations of mass concentrations for carbon species in PM₁₀ and NO₂, as well as their covariations and relationships. Furthermore, we compared the predictive capabilities of five regressors (Lasso, Random Forest, AdaBoost, Support Vector Machine and Partials Least squares) with Lasso regression being the overall best performing algorithm. By showing the feature importance for each model, we revealed true predictors per target. These measurements and application of machine learning of pollutants were done for the first time at a street canyon site in the city of Zagreb, Croatia.

The presence of pharmaceuticals in the environment has triggered concern among the general population and received considerable attention from the scientific community in recent years. However, only a few publications have focused on anticancer drugs, a class of pharmaceuticals that can exhibit cytotoxic, genotoxic, mutagenic, carcinogenic and teratogenic effects. The present study investigated the photodegradation, biodegradation, bacterial toxicity, mutagenicity and genotoxicity of cyclophosphamide (CP) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). The photodegradation experiments were performed at a neutral to slight pH range (7–7.8) using two different lamps (medium-pressure mercury lamp and a xenon lamp). The primary elimination of the parent compounds was monitored by means of liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-IT-MS/MS). NPOC (non-purgeable organic carbon) analyses were carried out in order to assess mineralization rates. The Closed Bottle Test (CBT) was used to assess ready biodegradability. A new method using Vibrio fischeri was adopted to evaluate toxicity. CP was not degraded by any lamp, whereas 5-FU was completely eliminated by irradiation with the mercury lamp but only partially by the Xe lamp. No mineralization was observed for the experiments performed with the Xe lamp, and a NPOC removal of only 18% was registered for 5-FU after 256 min using the UV lamp. Not one of the parent compounds was readily biodegradable in the CBT. Photo transformation products (PTPs) resulting from photolysis were neither better biodegradable nor less toxic than the parent compound 5-FU. In contrast, the results of the tests carried out with the UV lamp indicated that more biodegradable and non-toxic PTPs of 5-FU were generated. Three PTPs were formed during the photodegradation experiments and were identified. The results of the in silico QSAR predictions showed positive mutagenic and genotoxic alerts for 5-FU, whereas only one of the formed PTPs presented positive alerts for the genotoxicity endpoint.

Evidence about the adverse effects of methamphetamine (METH) on invertebrates is scarce. Hence, C. elegans, a representative invertebrate model, was exposed to METH at environmental levels to estimate chronic and transgenerational toxicity. The results of chronic exposure were integrated into an underlying toxicity framework of METH in invertebrates (e.g., benthos) at environmentally relevant concentrations. The induction of cellular oxidative damage-induced apoptosis and fluctuation of ecologically important traits (i.e., feeding and locomotion) might be attributed by the activation of the longevity regulating pathway regulated by DAF-16/FOXO, and detoxification by CYP family enzymes. The adverse effects to the organism level included impaired viability and decreased fecundity. The results from transgenerational exposure elucidated the cumulative METH-induced damage in invertebrates. Finally, a new risk assessment method named toxicity indicator sensitivity distribution (TISD) analysis was proposed by combining multiple toxicity indicator test data (ECₓ) to derive the hazardous concentration for 10% indicators (C₁₀) of one species. The risk quotient (RQ) values calculated by measured environmental concentrations and C₁₀ in southern China, southeastern Australia, and the western US crossed the alarm line (RQ = 5), suggesting a need for long-term monitoring.

Vehicular non-exhaust emissions account for a significant share of atmospheric particulate matter (PM) pollution, but few studies have successfully quantified the contribution of non-exhaust emissions via real-world measurements. Here, we conduct a comprehensive study combining tunnel measurements, laboratory dynamometer and resuspension experiments, and chemical mass balance modeling to obtain source profiles, real-world emission factors (EFs), and inventories of vehicular non-exhaust PM emissions in Chinese megacities. The average vehicular PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀ EFs measured in the four tunnels in four megacities (i.e., Beijing, Tianjin, Zhengzhou, and Qingdao) range from 8.8 to 16.0 mg km⁻¹ veh⁻¹ and from 37.4 to 63.9 mg km⁻¹ veh⁻¹, respectively. A two-step source apportionment is performed with the information of key tracers and localized profiles of each exhaust and non-exhaust source. Results show that the reconstructed PM₁₀ emissions embody 51–64% soil and cement dust, 26–40% tailpipe exhaust, 7–9% tire wear, and 1–3% brake wear, while PM₂.₅ emissions are mainly composed of 59–80% tailpipe exhaust, 11–31% soil and cement dust, 4–10% tire wear, and 1–5% brake wear. Fleet composition, road gradient, and pavement roughness are essential factors in determining on-road non-exhaust emissions. Based on the EFs and the results of source apportionment, we estimate that the road dust, tire wear, and brake wear emit 8.1, 2.5, and 0.8 Gg year⁻¹ PM₂.₅ in China, respectively. Our study highlights the importance of non-exhaust emissions in China, which is essential to assess their impacts on air quality, human health, and climate and formulating effective controlling measures.

The level of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is elevated in chronic kidney disease patients undergoing dialysis. However, statins are unable to reduce the cardiovascular events in chronic dialysis patients. In this study, we investigated the effects of DEHP on statin-conferred pleiotropic effects and the underlying molecular mechanism in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients and endothelial cells (ECs). In PD patients with serum DEHP level ≥0.0687 μg/mL, statin treatment was not associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease. In ECs, exposure to DEHP abrogated the simvastatin-induced NO bioavailability and EC-related functions. Additionally, DEHP abolished the anti-inflammatory effect of simvastatin on the tumor necrosis factor α-induced upregulation of adhesion molecules and monocyte adhesion to ECs. Mechanistically, DEHP blunted the activation of transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1), which is required for NO production by simvastatin in ECs. Notably, DEHP increased the activity and expression of protein phosphatase 2B (PP2B), a negative regulator of TRPV1 activity. The effect of DEHP on PP2B activation was mediated by the activation of the NADPH oxidase/reactive oxygen species (NOX−ROS) pathway. Inhibition of PP2B activity by pharmacological antagonists prevented the inhibitory effects of DEHP on simvastatin-induced Ca²⁺ influx, NO bioavailability, and EC migration, proliferation, tube formation, and anti-inflammatory action. Collectively, DEHP activates the NOX−ROS−PP2B pathway, which in turns inhibits TRPV1/Ca²⁺-dependent signaling and abrogates the statin-conferred pleiotropic protection in ECs.

Rapid urbanization created unique urban environment with a characteristic of dramatic modification of land cover, consequently causing profound perturbations in the transport and fate of pollutants in urban ecosystem. Taking a hyper-urbanization city (Shanghai) as an example to reveal the influence of urbanization development on pollutant footprint, this study reconstructed and compared historical evolutions of elemental carbon (EC) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) based on two lake sediment cores (DSL: Dianshan Lake; LXL: Luxun Lake) from early- and newly-urbanized areas, respectively. Historical fluxes of EC and total PAH (Σ₁₆PAHs) showed similar and sharply fluctuant increases occurring after the 1950s in the DSL core later than the LXL core after the 1900s. In modern times (after 2000), the mean fluxes of EC and Σ₁₆PAHs in the LXL core were 2.68- and 1.38-fold greater than those in the DSL core, respectively, indicating the stronger influence from more intensive human activities and longer industrial history in early urbanized area. Based on the significant correlations among socioeconomic factors with EC and Σ₁₆PAH fluxes, the extended STIRPAT (stochastic impacts by regression on population, affluence and technology) models were successfully constructed, revealing that significance of these driving factors were in the order of population > the proportion of heavy industry > coal consumption > gross domestic product (GDP) per capita > vehicle amount. In general, the obvious discrepancy in historical stage and intensity of sedimentary EC and PAH accumulations implied that some newly fast-developing cities still have a chance to adjust urban development strategy to avoid more serious pollution.

The present study aims to assess the effects of contamination of the Agadir bay coasts using bivalves as a biomonitoring sentinel species. Seasonal variations of biochemical composition in terms of total protein content and oxidative stress biomarkers including glutathione-S-transferase, malondialdehyde, catalase and acetylcholinesterase were evaluated in the soft tissues of Scrobicularia plana and Donax trunculus specimens. The latter were collected from two sites in Agadir bay during two-year span (2018–2020). The Integrated Biomarker Response Index (IBR) was performed to classify the stress response in both species and to assess the level of exposure to xenobiotics. The data showed maximum annual values of acetylcholinesterase and malondialdehyde for Donax trunculus in Agadir beach (AG) with 6.25 nmol/mn/mg and 3 nmol/mg of protein, respectively. Those of catalase and glutathione-S-transferase for Scrobicularia plana in Oued Souss estuary (OS) were of 4.41 μmol/mn/mg and 14.43 nmol/mn/mg of protein, respectively. The studied species are considered good indicators in aquatic ecosystems.

PM₁₀ samples were collected at eight monitoring (urban, industrial and regional background) stations during 2011 in SW Poland (Voivodeship of Lower Silesia) with the objectives of identifying their potential sources, as well as of quantitatively estimating the anthropogenic impact on their carbon content by coupling carbon stable isotope compositions of the total carbon (TC) with organic (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) concentrations. Results showed that (i) the highest OC and EC concentrations measured at the five urban background stations were 11.9 and 1.9 μg m⁻³, respectively, with an average δ¹³CTC of −26.5 ± 1.13‰. Annual average concentrations measured (ii) at the industrial and (iii) the two regional stations were similar for OC (6.9 and 6.4 μg m⁻³, respectively) and EC (0.9 and 0.8 μg m⁻³, respectively) with average δ¹³CTC of −27.4 ± 0.81 and −27.6 ± 0.99‰, respectively. This indicates that similar contamination sources explain the PM₁₀ levels at stations (ii) and (iii), however significantly different from the source(s) influencing station (i). Moreover, using an isotope mass balance that incorporates δ¹³CTC and OC and EC concentrations, we show that while during the heating season coal is the dominant source of aerosol contamination (with contributions ranging from 5.1 to 73.8 μg m⁻³), during the vegetative season road traffic is the dominant one (with contributions ranging from 2.2 to 20.2 μg m⁻³). These large ranges confirm the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of air contamination, even within such a small monitoring area, and should be taken into consideration for future implementation of air quality management measures at larger, e.g. national and international, scales.