The salinization of freshwater environments is a global concern, and one of the largest sources of salinated water is the mining industry. An increasing number of modern mines are working with low grade sulfide ores, resulting in increased volumes of potentially harmful saline drainage. We used water monitoring data, together with data on sedimentary fossil remains (cladoceran, diatom and chironomid), to analyze the spatio-temporal (5 sampling locations and 3 sediment depths) impact of salinated mine water originating from the Talvivaara/Terrafame open cast mine on multiple components of the aquatic ecosystem of Lake Jormasjärvi, Finland. Lake Jormasjärvi is the fourth and largest lake in a chain of lakes along the path of the mine water. Despite the location and large water volume, the mine water has changed the chemistry of Lake Jormasjärvi, reflected in increased electrical conductivity values since 2010. The ecological impact is significant around the inflow region of the lake, as all biological indicator groups show a rapid and directional shift towards new species composition. There is a clear trend in improved water quality as one moves further from the point of inflow, and as one looks back in time. Our results show that salinated mine water may induce rapid and large scale changes, even far downstream along a chain of several sinking basins. This is of special importance in cases where large amounts of waste water are processed in the vicinity of protected habitats.

Chemical mass balance (CMB) modeling and radiocarbon measurements were combined to evaluate the sources of carbonaceous fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in Shenzhen, China during and after the 2011 summer Universiade games when air pollution control measurements were implemented to achieve air quality targets. Ambient PM2.5 filter samples were collected daily at two sampling sites (Peking University Shenzhen campus and Longgang) over 24 consecutive days, covering the controlled and uncontrolled periods. During the controlled period, the average PM2.5 concentration was less than half of what it was after the controls were lifted. Organic carbon (OC), organic molecular markers (e.g., levoglucosan, hopanes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), and secondary organic carbon (SOC) tracers were all significantly lower during the controlled period. After pollution controls ended, at Peking University, OC source contributions included gasoline and diesel engines (24%), coal combustion (6%), biomass burning (12.2%), vegetative detritus (2%), biogenic SOC (from isoprene, α-pinene, and β-caryophyllene; 7.1%), aromatic SOC (23%), and other sources not included in the model (25%). At Longgang after the controls ended, similar source contributions were observed: gasoline and diesel engines (23%), coal combustion (7%), biomass burning (17.7%), vegetative detritus (1%), biogenic SOC (from isoprene, α-pinene, and β-caryophyllene; 5.3%), aromatic SOC (13%), and other sources (33%). The contributions of the following sources were smaller during the pollution controls: biogenic SOC (by a factor of 10–16), aromatic SOC (4–12), coal combustion (1.5–6.8), and biomass burning (2.3–4.9). CMB model results and radiocarbon measurements both indicated that fossil carbon dominated over modern carbon, regardless of pollution controls. However, the CMB model needs further improvement to apportion contemporary carbon (i.e. biomass burning, biogenic SOC) in this region. This work defines the major contributors to carbonaceous PM2.5 in Shenzhen and demonstrates that control measures for primary emissions could significantly reduce secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation.

To constrain sources of anthropogenic nitrogen (N) deposition is critical for effective reduction of reactive N emissions and better evaluation of N deposition effects. This study measured δ¹⁵N signatures of nitrate (NO3⁻), ammonium (NH4⁺) and total dissolved N (TDN) in precipitation at Guiyang, southwestern China and estimated contributions of dominant N sources using a Bayesian isotope mixing model. For NO3⁻, the contribution of non-fossil N oxides (NOx, mainly from biomass burning (24 ± 12%) and microbial N cycle (26 ± 5%)) equals that of fossil NOx, to which vehicle exhausts (31 ± 19%) contributed more than coal combustion (19 ± 9%). For NH4⁺, ammonia (NH3) from volatilization sources (mainly animal wastes (22 ± 12%) and fertilizers (22 ± 10%)) contributed less than NH3 from combustion sources (mainly biomass burning (17 ± 8%), vehicle exhausts (19 ± 11%) and coal combustions (19 ± 12%)). Dissolved organic N (DON) accounted for 41% in precipitation TDN deposition during the study period. Precipitation DON had higher δ¹⁵N values in cooler months (13.1‰) than in warmer months (−7.0‰), indicating the dominance of primary and secondary ON sources, respectively. These results newly underscored the importance of non-fossil NOx, fossil NH3 and organic N in precipitation N inputs of urban environments.

Black carbon (BC) aerosol negatively affects air quality and contributes to climate warming globally. However, little is known about the relative contributions of different source control measures to BC reduction owing to the lack of powerful source-diagnostic tools. We combine the fingerprints of dual-carbon isotope using an optimized Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) scheme and for the first time to study the key sources of BC in megacity Guangzhou of the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region, China in 2018 autumn season. The MCMC model-derived source apportionment of BC shows that the dominant contributor is petroleum combustion (39%), followed by coal combustion (34%) and biomass burning (27%). It should be noted that the BC source pattern is highly sensitive to the variations of air masses transported with an enhanced contribution of fossil source from the eastern area, suggesting the important impact of regional atmospheric transportation on the BC source profile in the PRD region. Also, we further found that fossil fuel combustion BC contributed 84% to the total BC reduction during 2013–2018. The response of PM₂.₅ concentration to the ¹⁴C-derived BC source apportionment is successfully fitted (r = 0.90) and the results predicted that it would take ∼6 years to reach the WHO PM₂.₅ guideline value (10 μg m⁻³) for the PRD region if the emission control measures keep same as they are at present. Taken together, our findings suggest that dual-carbon isotope is a powerful tool in constraining the source apportionment of BC for the evaluations of air pollution control and carbon emission measures.

In December 2019, a novel disease, coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19), emerged in Wuhan, People’s Republic of China. COVID-19 is caused by a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) presumed to have jumped species from another mammal to humans. This virus has caused a rapidly spreading global pandemic. To date, over 300,000 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in England and over 40,000 patients have died. While progress has been achieved in managing this disease, the factors in addition to age that affect the severity and mortality of COVID-19 have not been clearly identified. Recent studies of COVID-19 in several countries identified links between air pollution and death rates. Here, we explored potential links between major fossil fuel-related air pollutants and SARS-CoV-2 mortality in England. We compared current SARS-CoV-2 cases and deaths from public databases to both regional and subregional air pollution data monitored at multiple sites across England. After controlling for population density, age and median income, we show positive relationships between air pollutant concentrations, particularly nitrogen oxides, and COVID-19 mortality and infectivity. Using detailed UK Biobank data, we further show that PM₂.₅ was a major contributor to COVID-19 cases in England, as an increase of 1 m³ in the long-term average of PM₂.₅ was associated with a 12% increase in COVID-19 cases. The relationship between air pollution and COVID-19 withstands variations in the temporal scale of assessments (single-year vs 5-year average) and remains significant after adjusting for socioeconomic, demographic and health-related variables. We conclude that a small increase in air pollution leads to a large increase in the COVID-19 infectivity and mortality rate in England. This study provides a framework to guide both health and emissions policies in countries affected by this pandemic.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the distribution, sources, origins, and environmental risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (16 US EPA priority pollutants) pollution in 23 surface sediments from Cyprus coast. The mean total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) concentrations in the sediments from Gemi Konagi, Girne and Gazi Magusa areas were found 47, 52 and 50ng/g, respectively. Molecular ratios and principle component analysis indicated that PAH pollution originated mainly from fossil sources, with higher pyrolytic contributions. The 2–3 ring PAHs were dominant in Cyprus sediments. Concentrations of PAHs observed in this study were compared with available soil quality guidelines and the concentrations were lower than the guideline values. The guideline values suggested that the Cyprus sediments were likely to be not contaminated by toxic PAH compounds.

In the present study, we applied Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Fourier transform near infrared (FTNIR) spectroscopy to investigate some specific structural aspects of Patella caerulea, Mytilus edulis, Ostrea edulis, and Calista chione shells sampled in different sites. Moreover, for Ostrea edulis and Calista chione, the present study also included fossil samples. As far as FTIR spectroscopy is concerned, the support of statistical and multivariate methods such as the average spectrum (AV), spectral deconvolution, and two-dimensional correlation analysis (2DCOS) allowed to detect structural differences existing within the same mollusc species as a function of the sites they come. These differences can be reasonably linked to the local environmental conditions, which affect the biomineralization pattern of shell formation and growth. These structural differences are related to the calcite, aragonite, Mg-calcite contents, and interactions, as presently observed for fresh and fossil shells. The application of 2DCOS and deconvolution to FTIR spectra also showed the role of the amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) in the structural characterization of shells, then suggesting the use of a new parameter, the calcite and aragonite to ACC (CAACC) ratio, as a new measurement for the structural characterization of shells. At last, FTNIR spectroscopy allowed detecting the presence of α-helix and β-sheet protein structures in the shells. The results of this study show that also FTIR and FTNIR spectroscopy are able to discern differences in structural characteristics of mollusc shells, a field of environmental studies where scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction are the more widely used methods.

This research aims to assess the sustainability of the most common earth-retaining walls (Gravity Walls and Cantilever Walls) in terms of environmental impacts, economic issues, and their combination. Gravity walls observed in this study consist of Gabion Wall, Crib Wall, and Rubble Masonry Wall, while Cantilever Walls include Reinforced Concrete Wall. Six different criteria were taken into account, including global warming potential, fossil depletion potential, eutrophication potential, acidification potential, human toxicity potential, and cost. To achieve the aim of this study, life cycle assessments, life cycle costs, and multi-criteria decision-making methods were implemented. The results showed that the most environmental-friendly option among all alternatives was the Gabion Wall, followed by the Rubble Masonry Wall. However, in terms of economic aspects, the Cantilever Concrete Wall was the best option, costing about 17% less than the Gabion Wall. On the other hand, the results of multi-criteria decision-making showed that the Gabion Wall was the most sustainable choice. This study addressed the research gap by carrying out a sustainability assessment of different retaining walls while considering cost and environmental impacts at the same time.

In the transition from a fossil to a bio-based economy, it has become an important challenge to maximally recuperate and recycle valuable nutrients coming from manure and digestate processing. Membrane filtration is a suitable technology to separate valuable nutrients in easily transportable concentrates which could potentially be re-used as green fertilizers, in the meantime producing high quality water. However, traditional membrane filtration systems often suffer technical problems in waste stream treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of vibratory shear enhanced processing (VSEP) in the removal of macronutrients (N, P, K, Na, Ca, Mg) from the liquid fraction of digestates, reducing their concentrations down to dischargeable/re-usable water. In addition, the re-use potential of VSEP-concentrates as sustainable substitutes for fossil-based mineral fertilizers was evaluated. Removal efficiencies for N and P by two VSEP filtration steps were high, though not sufficient to continuously reach the Flemish legislation criteria for discharge into surface waters (15 mg N l−1 and 2 mg P l−1). Additional purification can occur in a subsequent lagoon, yet further optimization of the VSEP filtration system is advised. Furthermore, concentrates produced by one membrane filtration step showed potential as N–K fertilizer with an economic value of <euro>6.3 ±â€‰1.1 t−1 fresh weight (FW). Further research is, however, required to evaluate the impact on crop production and soil quality by application of these new potential green fertilizers.

Lake Mallusjärvi in the cultural landscape of Mallusjoki, southern Finland, suffers from algal blooms during summers and oxygen depletions during winters due to increased nutrient input resulting from extensive agricultural activities in the catchment. In this study, a sediment profile from the lake was studied using fossil midge (Diptera: Nematocera) analysis and a hypolimnetic oxygen transfer function was applied to establish baseline conditions of hypolimnetic oxygen. In addition, physical properties of the sediment were determined. The inferred late winter hypolimnetic oxygen content was elevated in the beginning of the sediment sequence, but decreased dramatically at ca. 200 cal BP, as the inferred values indicated frequently anoxic condition coinciding with increased agricultural use in the catchment. The results indicated that dramatic changes have occurred in the taxon composition. The high-oxygen Stempellina–Ablabesmyia monilis-type community first changed to moderate-oxygen Procladius–Stempellinella community, and finally to low-oxygen Microchironomus tener–Chironomus plumosus-type community, following the eutrophication process. These changes in macrobenthic faunal assemblages reproduced considerably higher inferred hypolimnetic oxygen reference condition values for hypolimnetic oxygen, compared to the present status.