A comparison of nitrogen (N) budgets for the year 2000 of agro-ecosystems is made for the EU 27 countries by four models with different complexity and data requirements, i.e. INTEGRATOR, IDEAg, MITERRA and IMAGE. The models estimate a comparable total N input in European agriculture, i.e. 23.3–25.7 Mton N yr⁻¹, but N uptake varies more, i.e. from 11.3 to 15.4 Mton N yr⁻¹ leading to total N surpluses varying from 10.4 to 13.2 Mton N yr⁻¹. The estimated overall variation at EU 27 is small for the emissions of ammonia (2.8–3.1 Mton N yr⁻¹) and nitrous oxide (0.33–0.43 Mton N yr⁻¹), but large for the sum of N leaching and runoff (2.7–6.3 Mton N yr⁻¹). Unlike the overall EU estimates, the difference in N output fluxes between models is large at regional scale. This is mainly determined by N inputs, differences being highest in areas with high livestock density.

As part of a field campaign that studied the impact of Mexico City pollution plume at the local, sub-regional and regional levels, we studied transport-related changes in PM₁₀ composition, oxidative potential and in vitro toxicological patterns (hemolysis, DNA degradation). We collected PM₁₀ in Mexico City (T₀) and at a suburban-receptor site (T₁), pooled according to two observed ventilation patterns (T₀ → T₁ influence and non-influence). T₀ samples contained more Cu, Zn, and carbon whereas; T₁ samples contained more of Al, Si, P, S, and K (p < 0.05). Only SO₄ ⁻² increased in T₁ during the influence periods. Oxidative potential correlated with Cu/Zn content (r = 0.74; p < 0.05) but not with biological effects. T₁ PM₁₀ induced greater hemolysis and T₀ PM₁₀ induced greater DNA degradation. Influence/non-influence did not affect oxidative potential nor biological effects. Results indicate that ventilation patterns had little effect on intrinsic PM₁₀ composition and toxicological potential, which suggests a significant involvement of local sources.

Simulation procedure integrated with multi-scale in horizontally regional–urban-point levels and in vertically atmosphere–surface–unsaturated–saturated layers, was newly developed in order to predict the effect of urban geometry and anthropogenic exhaustion on the hydrothermal changes in the atmospheric/land and the interfacial areas of the Japanese megalopolis. The simulated results suggested that the latent heat flux in new water-holding pavement (consisting of porous asphalt and water-holding filler made of steel by-products based on silica compound) has a strong impact on hydrologic cycle and cooling temperature in comparison with the observed heat budget. We evaluated the relationship between the effect of groundwater use as a heat sink to tackle the heat island and the effect of infiltration on the water cycle in the urban area. The result indicates that effective management of water resources would be powerful for ameliorating the heat island and recovering sound hydrologic cycle there.

Concentrations of the insecticide endosulfan (α- and β-isomer) and its degradation product endosulfan sulfate in air, seawater and soil are calculated with the global environmental fate model CliMoChem. As model input, physicochemical properties of all three compounds were assembled and a latitudinally and temporally resolved emission inventory was generated. For concentrations in air, model and measurements are in good agreement; a bimodal seasonality with two peaks in spring and fall as it is observed in Arctic air is reproduced by the model. For seawater, the agreement of model and measurements depends on the values of the hydrolysis activation energy of endosulfan used in the model; with relatively high values around 100kJ/mol, model results match field data well. The results of this assessment of the levels, persistence, and global distribution of endosulfan are also relevant for the evaluation of endosulfan as a Persistent Organic Pollutant under the Stockholm Convention.

Extractions of volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) in contaminated soil from petroleum site were performed with supercritical carbon dioxide at different temperatures, pressures, extraction times, solvent flow rates, soil moisture contents and soil acidity. Three soil systems were investigated in order to compare the best parameters for extraction. A central composite rotatable design has been used to evaluate the influence of operation conditions on the extraction efficiency to generate model equations representing the types of soil. The results indicate that at least 70–80% of the initial amount of VOC’s can be removed at moderate temperatures even at very high moisture content. Supercritical extraction is best suited to silt type soils which have a low adsorption capacity. VOC’s recoveries from the artificial contaminated soil samples were higher in comparison with real contaminated soils. At moderate temperatures, the extraction efficiency for real soils is low because pollutants bind strongly to the soil.

Nine heavy metals sampled from water, sediments, and aquatic organisms in the newly-formed wetlands of the Yellow River Delta (YRD) of China were analyzed to evaluate their concentrations and trophic transfer in food webs. The stable carbon (δ¹³C) and nitrogen (δ¹⁵N) isotopes were used to investigate trophic interactions. Results show that most of heavy metals detected in water and sediments are lower than that in Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta. The longest food web is approximately 4 with the highest trophic level of birds. The difference of heavy metal concentrations between endangered Saunders’s Gull and other three kinds of protected birds is not obvious. Cd, Zn, and Hg were identified to have an increase with the trophic level (TL), while As, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni and Pb show an opposite trend, however, the biomagnification of the selected nine heavy metals in the food webs is not significant.

We examined relationships between hepatic concentrations of halogenated organic contaminants and ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity and retinoid (vitamin A) concentrations in livers, as well as retinol and thyroid hormone (TT₃, TT₄) levels in blood plasma, of northern fulmars at two breeding colonies in the Canadian High Arctic. Biomarker levels or responses did not differ significantly between males and females at either colony, nor was there any significant difference between colonies. No significant relationships were found between thyroid hormone or hepatic retinoid concentrations and any of the dioxin-like compounds or their Toxic Equivalents (TEQs) although significant positive correlations were found with plasma retinol (p < 0.03). EROD activity was significantly correlated with hepatic dioxin-like compounds and their TEQs (p < 0.001) as well as total PCBs (p < 0.01), which suggests that EROD induction occurs in northern fulmars at environmentally-relevant concentrations.

Atmospheric phosphine (PH₃) fluxes from typical types of wetlands and PH₃ concentrations in adjacent atmospheric air were measured. The seasonal distribution of PH₃ in marsh and paddy fields were observed. Positive PH₃ fluxes are significantly related to high air temperature (summer season) and increased vegetation. It is concluded that vegetation speeds up the liberation of PH₃ from soils, while water coverage might function as a diffusion barrier from soils or sediments to the atmosphere. The concentrations of atmospheric PH₃ (ngm⁻³) above different wetlands decrease in the order of paddy fields (51.8±3.1)>marsh (46.5±20.5)>lake (37.0±22.7)>coastal wetland (1.71±0.73). Highest atmospheric PH₃ levels in marsh are found in summer. In paddy fields, atmospheric PH₃ concentrations in flourishing stages are higher than those in slowly growing stages.