Wastewater and stormwater are both considered as critical pathways contributing microplastics (MPs) to the aquatic environment. However, there is little information in the literature about the potential influence of constructed wetlands (CWs), a commonly used wastewater and stormwater treatment system. This study was conducted to investigate the abundance and distribution of MPs in water and sediment at five CWs with different influent sources, namely stormwater and wastewater. The MP abundance in the water samples ranged between 0.4 ± 0.3 and 3.8 ± 2.3 MP/L at the inlet and from 0.1 ± 0.0 to 1.3 ± 1.0 MP/L at the outlet. In the sediment, abundance of MPs was generally higher at the inlet, ranging from 736 ± 335 to 3480 ± 4330 MP/kg dry sediment and decreased to between 19.0 ± 16.4 and 1060 ± 326 MP/kg dry sediment at the outlet. Although no significant differences were observed in sediment cores at different depth across the five CWs, more MPs were recorded in silt compared to sandy sediment which indicated sediment grain size could be an environmental factor contributing to the distribution of MPs. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibres were the dominant polymer type found in the water samples while polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) fragments were predominantly recorded in the sediment. While the size of MPs in water varied across the studied CWs, between 51% and 64% of MPs in the sediment were smaller than 300 μm, which raises concerns about the bioavailability of MPs to a wider range of wetland biota and their potential ecotoxicological effects. This study shows that CWs can not only retain MPs in the treated water, but also become sinks accumulating MPs over time.

The inconsistency of available methods and the lack of harmonization in current microplastics (MPs) analysis in soils demand approaches for extraction and quantification which can be utilized across a wide variety of soil types. To enable robust and accurate assessment of extraction workflows, PET MPs with an inorganic tracer (Indium, 0.2% wt) were spiked into individual soil subgroups and standard soils with varying compositions. Due to the selectivity of the metal tracer, MPs recovery rates could be quickly and quantitatively assessed using ICP-MS. The evaluation of different methods specifically adapted to the soil properties were assessed by isolating MPs from complex soil matrices by systematically investigating specific subgroups (sand, silt, clay, non-lignified and lignified organic matter) before applying the workflow to standard soils. Removal of recalcitrant organic matter is one of the major hurdles in isolating MPs for further size and chemical characterization, requiring novel approaches to remove lignocellulosic structures. Therefore, a new biotechnological method (3-F-Ultra) was developed which mimics natural degradation processes occurring in aerobic (Fenton) and anaerobic fungi (CAZymes). Finally, a Nile Red staining protocol was developed to evaluate the suitability of the workflow for non-metal-doped MPs, which requires a filter with minimal background residues for further chemical identification, e.g. by μFTIR spectroscopy. Image analysis was performed using a Deep Learning tool, allowing for discrimination between the number of residues in bright-field and MPs counted in fluorescence mode to calculate a Filter Clearness Index (FCI). To validate the workflow, three well-characterized standard soils were analyzed applying the final method, with recoveries of 88% for MPs fragments and 74% for MPs fibers with an average FCI of 0.75. Collectively, this workflow improves our current understanding of how to adapt extraction protocols according to the target soil composition, allowing for improved MPs analysis in environmental sampling campaigns.

The presence of Per-, Poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in aquatic ecosystems has drawn broad concerns in the scientific community due to their biological toxicity. However, little has been explored regarding PFASs' removal in phytoplankton-dominated environments. This study aimed to create a simulated bacteria-algae symbiotic ecosystem to observe the potential transportation of PFASs. Mass distributions showed that sand (63–2000 μm), silt & clay (0–63 μm), the phycosphere (>3 μm plankton), and the free-living biosphere (0.22–3 μm plankton) contained 19.00, 7.78, 5.73 and 2.75% PFASs in their total mass, respectively. Significant correlations were observed between carbon chain lengths and removal rates (R² = 0.822, p < 10⁻⁴). Structural equation models revealed potential PFAS transportation pathways, such as water-phycosphere- free-living biosphere-sand-silt&clay, and water-sand-silt&clay (p < 0.05). The presence of PFASs decreased the bacterial density but increased algal density (p < 0.01) in the planktonic environment, and PFASs with longer carbon chain lengths showed a stronger enhancement in microbial community successions (p < 0.05). In algal metabolisms, chlorophyll-a and carotenoids were the key pigments that resisted reactive oxygen species caused by PFASs. PFBA (perfluorobutyric acid) (10.38–14.68%) and PFTeDA (perfluorotetradecanoic acid) (10.33–15.96%) affected bacterial metabolisms in phycosphere the most, while in the free-living biosphere was most effected by PFPeA (perfluorovaleric acid) (13.21–13.99%) and PFDoA (perfluorododecanoic acid) (10.04–10.50%). The results of this study provide new guidance measures for PFAS removal and management in aquatic environments.

Ten surficial sediment samples (up to a depth of 3 cm) were randomly collected during the pre-monsoon and analyzed for nine heavy metals using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) to assess the distribution, contamination levels, and potential sources of heavy metals. The particle size distribution of the sediments was also investigated using a laser particle size analyzer. The mean concentration (mg/kg) of the analyzed metals followed a decreasing order of Fe (4706.24) > Mn (95.20) > Cu (36.97) > Zn (20.65) > Ni (9.26) > Cr (7.20) > Pb (5.63) > Co (5.52) > Cd (0.29). Surficial sediment of the Island was low to moderately contaminated by Cd and, to a laser extent by Cu in terms of enrichment factor (EF), geo-accumulation index (Igeo), and contamination factor. Ecologically, the Nijhum Dweep area was at low to moderate risk, where Cd was the most potential ecological risk factor. The Pearson correlation analysis revealed a significant positive correlation among Cr, Pb, Zn, Mn, Cd, Fe, Co, Ni, and silt particles, whereas a negative correlation with sand particles. No correlation was found with Cu and other metals except clay particles.

The contents of chemothermal oxidation (CTO)-derived black carbon (BC) and organic carbon (OC) and their stable isotopes (δ¹³CBC and δ¹³COC), including major elemental oxides, and grain sizes were measured to constrain the sources, burial flux, and mass inventory of BC in surface sediments of the Daya Bay. Surface sediments were mainly clayey silt (>90%) and contained 0.28–1.18% OC and 0.05–0.18% BC. Fossil fuel emission and physical erosion contributed to the sedimentary BC sources. High BC/OC ratio (6–30%), burial flux (154.88–922.67 μg cm⁻² y⁻¹), and mass inventory (22–34 Gg y⁻¹) of BC in the upper 5 cm of surface sediments indicated that the Daya Bay is a significant sink of BC. The high accumulation of BC in sediments is attributed to a strong affinity to fine-grained sediments due to the enrichment of muddy biodeposits excrements from the cultured species in the bay.

The role of metal (oxy)hydroxides in sulfadiazine (SDZ) sorption is poorly understood despite their high contents in many highly weathered tropical soils. Therefore, this work evaluated soil attributes affecting SDZ sorption to several Brazilian soils having contrasting metal (oxy)hydroxide contents. Samples of 23 soils were collected from the upper soil layer (0-20 cm) in the São Paulo State, Brazil, and characterized according to their texture (silt, sand, and clay), pH-H₂O, point of zero charge (PZC), organic matter (OM), exchangeable cations (Ca, Mg, K, and Al), potential acidity (H+Al), CEC, well (Fed) and poorly (Feₒ and Alₒ) crystallized Fe and Al (oxy)hydroxides, and amorphous Mn oxides (MnO), respectively. Batch sorption studies were performed and related to the soil attributes to group them according with their soil mobility. SDZ sorption coefficients were high (Kd = 15.7–24.0 L kg⁻¹) in soils having high clay (> 500 g kg⁻¹), OM (> 55 g kg⁻¹), and metal (oxy)hydroxide [Fed > 150; Alₒ > 5; and MnO > 10.0 g kg⁻¹] contents; but they were low (Kd = 0.7–4.9 L kg⁻¹) in soils having low clay (< 250 g kg⁻¹), OM (< 25 g kg⁻¹), and metal (oxy)hydroxide (Fed < 30 and MnO < 2.0 g kg⁻¹) contents. Kd values could be estimated by a regression equation based on CEC as well as Fe and Mn (oxy)hydroxide contents. Acidic tropical soils favor SDZ-neutral species and formation of neutral or positively charged surface sites on pedogenic (oxy)hydroxides that should favor H-bond and surface complexation.

Oxidation of Cr(III) by birnessite (δ-MnO₂) was an important geochemical reaction determining the toxicity and mobility of dissolved Cr(III) in soils. Herein, changes of Cr speciation and fractionation were systematically studied in Cr(III)-contaminated soils with δ-MnO₂ in soil aging process. The results showed that Cr(III) could be rapidly oxidized to Cr (VI) by δ-MnO₂, and the coating of Fe and Al oxides on δ-MnO₂ had a strong hindering effect on the oxidation of Cr(III). The Cr(III) oxidation process by δ-MnO₂ followed a two-phase model of pseudo first-order kinetics. The rapid decrease of oxidation rate constant in second phase was due to the coverage of adsorbed Cr(III) and newly generated Cr(VI) and Mn(II) on the active sites of δ-MnO₂. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis further confirmed that the diffusion and adsorption of Cr(III) on the electron-accepting sites were important factors affecting the Cr(III) oxidation by δ-MnO₂. Compared with the soils without δ-MnO₂, high contents of Cr(VI) were generated in silt (22.30 mg/kg) and sandy soil (70.95 mg/kg) with 2 wt% δ-MnO₂ after the addition of Cr(III) wastewater within 2 days, and the Cr(VI) contents were above 1 mg/kg in these two soils during the whole incubation process. Moreover, the total Cr proportion of the exchangeable fraction increased by 12.8% in silt and 5.2% in sandy soil with 2 wt% δ-MnO₂ after soil aging for 120 days. The presence of δ-MnO₂ markedly increased the oxidation potential and mobility of exogenous Cr(III) in soils.

The identification and characterisation of diffuse pollutant sources in reservoirs remain a challenge due to the complexity of catchments with their variety of land use types. A sediment fingerprinting approach was used in this investigation for determining the sources of contaminants in sediments. By using this approach, we demonstrated how the effects of land use on pollution load of the subtropical Itupararanga Reservoir in Brazil can be de-convoluted. Sediments were collected at seven sampling sites (S1–S7) over the length of the reservoir. This was matched by eight sampling sites (P1–P8) of soils from different land use types (agriculture, urban and forest). Investigated parameters included grain size, total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), total carbon (TC), organic matter by loss on ignition (OM), total sulphur (TS), and major ions and metals (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, NH₄⁺, SO₄²⁻, Cl⁻, NO₃⁻, As, Al, Ba, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn). Our fingerprinting approach helped to outline horizontal spatial heterogeneities (categorised as riverine, transitional and lacustrine areas) that were attributed mainly to sand (> 26.7%), Si (569 g kg⁻¹) and Cr (336 mg kg⁻¹) at S1 (riverine area). Moreover, fine particles of silt and clay leached from agricultural activities were enriched with OM, TP, TN, TC, As and Cr. These types of sediments were deposited into transitional and lacustrine areas. Furthermore, urban soils were a source of sand and phosphorus to sediments. The fingerprinting method reduced the number of relevant parameters for source identification and helped to identify non-point sources of sediments.

This study proposes to explore solid waste material (SWM) reuse of the riverway silt and sediment, and examines the impacts of chemical composition on road construction through sensitivity analysis. Considering the characteristics of silt mixture, it is necessary to investigate the modified materials to improve the mechanical feasibility for subgrade filling. In this study, the water content of riverway silt and sediments was found to be important to determine the selection and content of modified materials. Specifically, the riverway silt and sediment with low water content could be improved effectively with 6 to 8% lime. Compared to the original sludge, the improved mixture had better particle size and permeability, and the carrying capacity also grew 2 to 3 times. On the other hand, the reuse of riverway silt and sediment with high water content over 40% was provided with multiple schemes. Among them, the modification scheme of construction waste or garbage slag showed well mechanical properties and environmental benefits in the sensitivity analysis, especially for the high water content sludge modified by the mixture of garbage slag and lime. The California bearing ratio (CBR₂.₅) was 2 to 5 times higher than the original silt, which would promote the reuse of multiple solid wastes in road construction. Finally, this study puts forward engineering measures to prevent heavy metals from polluting the water and soil environment by silt-improved soil roadbeds, and the improved riverway silt and sediment roadbeds were proved to be safe and reliable for the environment during service.