Two bias adjustment techniques, the hybrid forecast (HF) and the Kalman filter (KF), have been applied to investigate their capability to improve the accuracy of predictions supplied by an air quality forecast system (AQFS). The studied AQFS operationally predicts NO2, ozone, particulate matter and other pollutants concentrations for the Lazio Region (Central Italy). A thorough evaluation of the AQFS and the two techniques has been performed through calculation and analysis of statistical parameters and skill scores. The evaluation performed considering all Lazio region monitoring sites evidenced better results for KF than for HF. RMSE scores were reduced by 43.8% (33.5% HF), 25.2% (13.2% HF) and 41.6% (39.7% HF) respectively for hourly averaged NO2, hourly averaged O3 and daily averaged PM10 concentrations. A further analysis performed clustering the monitoring stations per type showed a good performance of the AQFS for ozone for all the groups of stations (r = 0.7), while satisfactory results were obtained for PM10 and NO2 at rural background (r = 0.6) and Rome background stations (r = 0.7). The skill scores confirmed the capability of the adopted techniques to improve the reproduction of exceedance events.

More than half Chinese cities are suffering from severe air pollution due to the rapid development of industry and urbanization. Beijing, as a political and cultural center of China, has frequently suffered from severe haze. However, the precise sources of air pollution in Beijing still remain uncertain. In this study, the observational data (PM2.5, PM10, O3, NO2, CO and SO2) at ten monitoring stations from February 8 to 28, 2014, in Beijing were used to analyze air pollution. The satellite observations for aerosol optical thickness were also used. Backward trajectory model and receptor models were used to identify the sources of air pollution in Beijing. On the basis of PM2.5 concentrations, we separated the whole data into three categories: relatively clean air (PM2.5 concentrations less than 75 μg m–3), haze (PM2.5 concentrations greater than 75 μg m3 but less than 200 μg m3) and heavy haze (PM2.5 concentrations greater than 200 μg m3). The results show that the average concentrations of PM2.5 are 29.5 μg m3, 136.6 μg m3 and 311.2 μg m3 for relatively clean air, haze and heavy haze cases, respectively. The back trajectory cluster analysis reveals that the predominant clusters are east and south for the heavy haze case. The results of the receptor models show that for the haze case, pollutants mainly originated from south of Beijing such as Dezhou, Liaocheng and Heze in Shandong province, while for the heavy haze case, pollutants were mainly from southwest of Beijing such as Baoding, Hengshui and Handan in Hebei province. These results indicate that the emissions in the surrounding provinces made a significant contribution to Beijing's air pollution. Thus, it is necessary to implement air pollution control for all surrounding areas, especially for the industrial zones in the south/southwest regions of Beijing.

There has been growing concern about potential health risks from exposure to PM2.5 (fine particulate matter). The importance of conducting simultaneous indoor and outdoor measurements emerged because people, especially in developed countries, spend more than 90% of their time indoors. Great spatial and temporal variations in human exposure to PM2.5 have recently been reported. This review aims to identify the main research areas that have attracted recent attention, any possible gaps in the measurements of PM2.5 in various microenvironments, and the relationships between indoor and outdoor concentrations. This study also provides recommendations for further studies on PM2.5 measurement methods and exposure levels. To achieve these goals, this review included articles published online from 2003 to 2013 in the Science Direct and Web of Science databases. In the initial screening stage, 113 abstracts selected while 61 articles were remained for full review. The reviewed studies consistently showed positive correlations between indoor and outdoor PM2.5. Sulfate/sulfur concentrations were used intensively for calculating the infiltration factor (FINF). The higher FINF indicated high infiltration of outdoor PM2.5 into indoor areas. Great percentage (42%) of the reviewed filter–based studies was conducted in Europe, followed by a similar amount (38%) in the USA, and 20% in Asia, indicating a lack in PM2.5 research in other parts of the world. It was difficult to conclude that ambient fixed–site monitoring provided accurate estimations of actual exposure to PM2.5– Studies shown trends of higher personal concentrations compared to indoor and outdoor ones. Higher indoor levels of OC (organic carbon), compared to outdoor levels, were consistently reported. The opposite trend was true for EC (elemental carbon), and there were higher indoor OC/EC ratios than outdoor OC/EC ratios. There was a consistent general trend of a high (r>0.70) correlation between indoor and outdoor EC, while the correlation between indoor and outdoor OC was much weaker (r=022–0.75). The higher indoor OC/EC ratios, compared to the outdoor OC/EC ratios, reflects multiple sources of indoor OC. Sulfate (SO42–), nitrate (NO3–), and ammonium (NH4+) were primary contributors to PM2.5 mass.

Heavy metal concentrations were measured in 29 marine wild fish species from the South China Sea. Concentrations (wet weight) were 0.51–115.81ng/g (Cd), 0.54–27.31ng/g (Pb), 0.02–1.26μg/g (Cr), 8.32–57.48ng/g (Ni), 0.12–1.13μg/g (Cu), 2.34–6.88μg/g (Zn), 2.51–22.99μg/g (Fe), and 0.04–0.81μg/g (Mn), respectively. Iron concentrations in all and Mn in some fish species were higher than the acceptable daily upper limit, suggesting human consumption of these wild fish species may pose a health risk. Human health risk assessment, however, indicated no significant adverse health effects with consumption.

The amount of the soluble fraction of trace elements released from inhaled particulate matter seems to be one of the key factors of the toxicity of these particles. This study reports the concentrations of PM10 and trace elements in total and water-soluble fractions (bioavailable form). Weekly samples were collected at two rural sites in Upper Silesia, Poland. Measurements were carried out from April to August 2013, divided between heating and non-heating sessions. During heating sessions, the concentrations of PM10 in selected sites varied in the range of 32.88–48.70 μg m−3, while for the non-heating sessions the range was 16.14–27.89 μg m−3.Selected PM10 samples (characteristic for both sessions) were determined by means of total and water-soluble content of eight trace elements. The elements are characteristic of carcinogenic (As, Cr, Cd and Ni), probably carcinogenic (Co and Pb) and toxic (Mn and Sb) groups. The analyses of the mineralized samples as well as the water-soluble fractions were carried out by ICP-MS method using a Varian 810 MS.The total concentration of carcinogenic Cd, Cr and Ni during non-heating sessions was 2.81, 7.97 and 4.82 ng m−3, respectively. While during heating sessions the total content was twice as high. Similar relation was observed for the concentration of PM10. The concentration of the soluble fraction of these elements in the atmospheric air in heating sessions was 1.62, 0.75, 2.20, 1.79, 1.85 ng m−3 for As, Cr, Pb, Mn, Sb, respectively and remained almost the same as in non-heating sessions. Lower levels of Ni and Cd (0.15 and 0.11 ng m−3) were determined during heating sessions. The obtained data indicate that during heating periods these elements are probable present mainly in other fractions with lower mobility, so less harmful to human health.

We analyzed n-alkane contents and their stable carbon isotope composition, as well as the carbon and nitrogen isotope composition (δ13C, δ15N) of sediment organic matter and different tissues of Posidonia oceanica seagrass sampled in Alexandroupolis Gulf (A.G.), north-eastern Greece, during 2007–2011. n-Alkane contents in P. oceanica and in sediments showed similar temporal trends, but relative to bulk organic carbon content, n-alkanes were much more enriched in sediments compared to seagrass tissue. Individual n-alkanes in sediments had similar values than seagrass roots and rhizomes and were more depleted in 13C compared to seagrass leaves and sheaths, with δ13C values ranging from −35‰ to −28‰ and from −25‰ to −20‰, respectively. n-Alkane indexes such as the Carbon Preference Index, carbon number maximum, and n-alkane proxy 1 (C23+C25/C23+C25+C29+C31) indicate strong inputs of terrestrial organic matter, while the presence of unresolved complex mixtures suggests potential oil pollution in some sampled areas.

The aim of this study was to analyze the density, diversity, biomass and assemblage composition of the phytoplankton in relation to environmental conditions (physical, chemical, hydrological and meteorological variables), measured under the different scenarios caused by the ENSO phenomenon in the period between 2005 and 2012, in six sampling sites in the tidal freshwater zone of the Río de la Plata estuary, covering almost 100km of coastline. The results revealed changes in the structure of the phytoplankton, such as a significant reduction of diversity, and decreases in biomass and phytoplankton density, particularly during El Niño phases. Cyanobacteria were more abundant in the neutral periods, Chlorophyceae dominated La Niña phase while Bacyllariophyceae dominated El Niño. However, no complete replacement of species between cycles was observed. The results obtained were highly variable due to the inherent natural variability of the Río de la Plata, emphasized by the anthropogenic impact in this area.

The high levels of indoor particulate matter in developing countries and the apparent scale of its impact on the global burden of disease underline the importance of particulate matter as an environmental health risk and the consequent need for monitoring them particularly in indoor school microenvironments. The concentrations of PM10, PM2.5, and PM1.0, were measured along with ionic concentrations K+, Ca2+, Na+, Mg2+, SO42–, NO3–, Cl– and F– collected from settled dust in the indoor–outdoor environment of roadside and residentially located schools in Agra City, from January to May 2008–09. Along with PM concentrations at the roadside and residentially located schools meteorological parameters like temperature, humidity, and wind speed and air exchange rate was also calculated during the study period. The enrichment factor was calculated using Ca as a reference to the trace ionic species to identify the sources. Principle component analysis showed three to two factors inside and three factors outside the classrooms of the roadside and residentially located schools. These factors reflected sources like soil dust, road dust, vehicle emissions, anthropogenic sources, industrial emissions, metal processes, and incineration activities and their contributions were estimated using principal component analysis. Symptoms like asthma, dizziness, coughing, itching, eye irritation, shortness of breath, headache, cold and flu were observed. Measurements of such exposure levels would be helpful in the prevention of environmental risks to school children.

Sedimentary microorganisms can be used as a sensitive indicator of integrated aquatic environment quality assessment and indicate long-term water quality or toxicity. According to the Chinese National Standards of GB 3838-2002 and GB 18918-2002, the comprehensive water quality in Haihe River Basin has been described. Results showed that the comprehensive water quality in 6 sites, 4 sites, and 20 sites were good, bad, and medium. Furthermore, 162 dominant bacterial species were identified in surface and subsurface sediments in the 30 sampling sites. As revealed by two initial models constructed by logistic regression, the comprehensive water quality exhibited a pattern from good to bad as the ratio of the number of dominant bacterial species in surface sediments to that in subsurface sediments increased from 1 to 2.1. This finding possibly bridged a traditional gap between aquatic microbe indicators and water quality assessment or monitoring techniques.

Kuwait’s waters are one of only two locations where the smoothtooth blacktip shark Carcharhinus leiodon is known to occur. Concentrations of 11 trace elements were analysed in five juvenile and two adult specimens of this coastal predator. Concentrations of lead in muscle increased with length, whilst manganese concentration decreased. Arsenic concentrations in muscle were among the highest reported in elasmobranchs, and the concentration in the liver increased significantly in relation to length. In comparison to published literature, concentrations of manganese (liver), lead (muscle) and iron (muscle and liver) were high. Mercury concentrations in the muscle exceeded European Food Safety Authority limits and were among the highest reported in any elasmobranch. Concentrations of selenium, which may inhibit mercury toxicity, were also high. These results and previous studies indicate that potentially hazardous levels of mercury and other contaminants may occur in sharks in this region, adding further stressors to these vulnerable populations.