On September 26th 2019, a major fire occurred in the Lubrizol factory located near the Seine estuary, in Rouen-France. Juvenile flounders were captured in the Canche estuary (a reference system) and caged one month in the Canche and in the Seine downstream the accident site. No significant increases of PAHs, PCBs and PFAS was detected in Seine vs Canche sediments after the accident, but a significant increase of dioxins and furans was observed in water and sewage sludge in the Rouen wastewater treatment plant. The proteomics approach highlighted a dysregulation of proteins associated with cholesterol synthesis and lipid metabolism, in fish caged in the Seine. The overall results suggested that the fire produced air borne dioxins and furans that got deposited on soil and subsequently entered in the Seine estuarine waters via runoff; thus contaminating fish preys and caged flounders in the Seine estuary.

Marine litter poses a significant environmental challenge in the Saronikos Gulf, Greece. Employing an integrated approach, data from both beach and underwater sites were analyzed. The average litter density on beaches was 2.61 items m−2, with plastic being the most common material, notably small polystyrene fragments and cigarette butts. The western part of the Gulf exhibited higher litter density, mainly due to surface circulation patterns. Most beaches fell short of meeting Good Environmental Status criteria for marine litter. Higher litter densities were observed in autumn. Benthic litter density decreased with depth, being 23 times higher in shallower waters, with plastic being the predominant type. This extensive study offers crucial insights into the pollution status and litter distribution in the Saronikos Gulf, contributing significantly to the global understanding of marine litter distribution on coastal ecosystems. Such information is crucial for raising awareness, informing policy decisions, and driving environmental actions.

Plastic pollution is ubiquitous in aquatic environments worldwide. Rivers connect terrestrial and marine ecosystems, playing a key role in the transport of land-based plastic waste towards the sea. Emerging research suggests that in estuaries and tidal rivers, tidal dynamics play a significant role in plastic transport and retention dynamics. To date, observations in these systems have been limited, and plastic transport dynamics during single tidal cycles remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated plastic transport, trapping, and re-mobilization of macroplastics (> 0.5 cm) in the Saigon River, focusing on short-term dynamics of individual tidal cycles. We used GPS trackers, released at different stages of the tidal cycle (ebb, flood, neap, spring). Plastic items demonstrated dynamic and intermittent transport behavior. Items spent almost half of the time (49%) temporarily stopped, mainly due to their entrapment in vegetation, infrastructure, or deposition on riverbanks. Items were almost always re-mobilized within 10 h (85%), leading to successive phases of stopping and transport. Tidal dynamics also resulted in bidirectional transport of plastic items, with median daily total transport distance within the 40 km study reach (8.9 km day−1) over four times larger than the median daily net distance (2.0 km day−1). The median retention time of plastic items within the reach was 21 days (mean = 202 days). In total, 81% of the retrieved items were trapped within water hyacinths, emphasizing the important role of floating vegetation on river plastic transport dynamics. With this paper, we aim to provide data-driven insights into macroplastic transport and retention dynamics in a tropical tidal river. These are crucial in the design of effective intervention and monitoring strategies, and estimating net plastic emission from rivers into the sea.

Microplastics (MPs) are carriers of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). The influence of MPs on the toxicokinetics of POPs was investigated in a feeding experiment on Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), in which fish were fed similar contaminant concentrations in feed with contaminants sorbed to MPs (Cont. MPs); feed with virgin MPs and contaminated feed (1:1), and feed with contaminants without MPs (Cont.). The results showed that the salmon fillets accumulated more POPs when fed with a diet where contaminants were sorbed to the MPs, despite the 125–250 μm size MPs themselves passing the intestines without absorption. Furthermore, depuration was significantly slower for several contaminants in fish fed the diet with POPs sorbed to the MPs. Modelled elimination coefficients and assimilation efficiencies of lipophilic chlorinated and brominated contaminants correlated with contaminant hydrophobicity (log Kow) within the diets and halogen classes. The more lipophilic the contaminant was, the higher was the transfer from feed to salmon fillet. The assimilation efficiency for the diet without MPs was 50–71% compared to 54–89% for the contaminated MPs diet. In addition, MPs caused a greater proportional uptake of higher molecular weight brominated congeners. In the present study, higher assimilation efficiencies and a significantly higher slope of assimilation efficiencies vs log Kow were found for the Cont. MPs diet (p = 0.029), indicating a proportionally higher uptake of higher-brominated congeners compared to the Cont. diet. Multiple variance analyses of elimination coefficients and assimilation efficiencies showed highly significant differences between the three diets for the chlorinated (p = 2E-06; 6E-04) and brominated (p = 5E-04; 4E-03) congeners and within their congeners. The perfluorinated POPs showed low assimilation efficiencies of 12%, which can be explained by faster eliminations corresponding to half-lives of 11–39 days, as well as a lower proportional distribution to the fillet, compared to e.g. the liver.

Nanoplastics (NPs) can adversely affect living organisms. However, the uptake of NPs by plants and the physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying NP-mediated plant growth remain unclear, particularly in the presence of iron minerals and humic acid (HA). In this study, we investigated NP accumulation in rice (Oryza sativa L.) and the physiological effects of exposure to polystyrene NPs (0, 20, and 100 mg L−1) in the presence of iron plaque (IP) and HA. NPs were absorbed on the root surface and entered cells, and confocal laser scanning microscopy confirmed NP uptake by the roots. NP treatments decreased root superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity (28.9–44.0%) and protein contents (31.2–38.6%). IP and HA (5 and 20 mg L−1) decreased the root protein content (20.44–58.3% and 44.2–45.2%, respectively) and increased the root lignin content (22.3–27.5% and 19.2–29.6%, respectively) under NP stress. IP inhibited the NP-induced decreasing trend of SOD activity (19.2–29.5%), while HA promoted this trend (48.7–50.3%). Transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis (Control, 100NPs, and IP-100NPs-20HA) showed that NPs inhibited arginine biosynthesis, and alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism and activated phenylpropanoid biosynthesis related to lignin. The coexistence of IP and HA had positive effects on the amino acid metabolism and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis induced by NPs. Regulation of genes and metabolites involved in nitrogen metabolism and secondary metabolism significantly altered the levels of protein and lignin in rice roots. These findings provide a scientific basis for understanding the environmental risk of NPs under real environmental conditions.

Land use change shapes landscapes and is crucial for effective natural resource management, requiring a deep understanding of its trends for informed land management. The study utilized Landsat TM and Sentinel-2 satellite images spanning 1994 to 2023 to generate a 30-year land use change map of Erzurum. After processing of satellite images in ENVI, the Maximum Likelihood Algorithm used for classification and the Kappa coefficient used for reliability of results. Single and dynamic land use change indices used to assss the changes in LULC classes. The results indicated appropriate accuracy in the classified maps with a Kappa coefficient exceeding 0.75. The results revealed that the most significant land use changes in the Erzurum region were related to the conversion of rangeland to agricultural land. Over the period from 1994 to 2023, there was a notable increase in agricultural land use in Erzurum, contrasting with negative trends in waterbodies and garden areas. Rangeland experienced the most significant decline, decreasing by 19.22%, while agricultural land increased by 18%. indicating the highest growth among land use categories. According to the Single Dynamic Index, Bare Ground exhibited a change of +0.32%, while tree lands displayed a notably high dynamic degree of +0.31%. The significant expansion of agricultural land in Erzurum is primarily driven by agriculture being the main livelihood for local communities. This shift from rangelands highlights the strain on natural resources, necessitating careful management planning to balance agricultural expansion with environmental conservation concerns.

Lightweight expanded clay aggregate due to its physical and chemical properties; it can increase the process of adsorption and ion exchange. In this study, the efficiency 2 types of Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate in reducing the amount of COD, BOD, TSS, nitrate and phosphate in dairy industry wastewater were investigated and the impact of different factors such as adsorbent dosage, mixing speed and mixing time were studied. The results showed that the efficiency of COD reduction of wastewater after touch with the granular type after 20 h is 65.9%. TSS and BOD have also been greatly reduced. Also the use of powder type, the highest removal efficiency was 31.81%, mixing speed 100 rpm, mixing time 20h, and adsorbent dosage 10 gr/l in addition; increasing the rate of mixing speed increases the amount of nitrate absorption. The most effective nitrate removal is 63.87% which was at mixed speed 200 rpm and absorbent dose 4 g/l. Results show that, the mixing speed has little effect on the absorption of phosphate. So, after 30 minutes, even with increasing mixing speed for doses 2 & 4 g/l, the reduction efficiency also decreases the change in absorbent dose from 1 g/l to 4 g/l was virtually unaffected. Increased mixing speed is due to better distribution of nitrate and phosphate molecules in the solution and their contact with adsorbent increased the absorption rate. According to the results, the LECA granular has more ability to remove the COD.

ABSTRACT: The preset study investigated heavy metals located on the leaves of street side trees in crowded areas of Tehran in order to evaluate the metal pollution caused by cars. Contamination factor, Index of geo-accumulation, enrichment factor, modified degree of contamination, and Pollution load index were used to describe the pollution of the environment and probable sources of metal emissions. The potential ecological risk of exposure to metals in the areas was measured. Leaves are useful and low-cost collectors of aerosols which are produced by transportation. According to the results of the present study, Pb, Cu, Cd, Co, Ni and Zn elements are the main pollutants within the study area; Cr and Hg, also, turned out to produce pollution in the environment. Pb and Cr have probably been emitted from depreciation of vehicles and corrosion of parts and industries; probable origins of Zn and Cu are the industrial combustion sources and alloys of automobile parts. Mn is emitted from anthropogenic sources and further studies are required to identify its emission sources. Mo and V are probably the result of natural sources. The origin of Al, Co and Hg is a combination of natural and man-made sources, with high proportion for man-made activities. Due to high concentrations of Hg and Cr in areas outside and inside the city, further studies are required to find the source of origin of Hg and Cr elements. The ecologic risk of Pb, Cd and Cu was higher in different study areas. The risk of exposure to heavy metals in high density areas, and especially in Geisha, turned out to be high. Traffic of old cars and the traffic flow are effective in the pollution changes in different areas, and decrease in wind speed and direction causes pollution escalation in central areas of Tehran, compared to Western and Northern areas.