The alkalinization has a positive influence on soil microflora abundance. The number of ammonifiers nearby the plant is greater by 2-4 times than in relatively unpolluted soils of the same type, while the amount of denitrifiers and anaerobic nitrogen-fixing microorganisms even by 20-50 times. Alkalinization has induced biological soil activity. The data obtained are compared with the data of analogous studies conducted on forest ecosystems affected by acidifying pollutants

The main objective of this paper is to analyse regeneration regularities of damaged trees during the period of decreased environmental pollution load. Investigations concentrated on Scots pine tree height and radial increment, branch length increment, amount of branches on the verticil and needle and whole crown mass. Model trees were selected in 3 stands located on 3.5, 10 and 21 km from the plant according to their development classes and condition

Throughout 90-day biodegradation under microaerobic conditions, invasive to Lithuania species boxelder maple (Acer negundo) leaves lost 1.5-fold more biomass than that of autochthonous black alder (Alnus glutinosa), releasing higher contents of Ntot, ammonium and generating higher BOD7. Boxelder maple leaf leachates were characterized by higher total bacterial numbers and colony numbers of heterotrophic and cellulose-decomposing bacteria than those of black alder. The higher toxicity of A. negundo aqueous extracts and leachates to charophyte cell (Nitellopsis obtusa), the inhabitant of clean lakes, were manifested at mortality and membrane depolarization levels, while the effect on H+-ATPase activity in membrane preparations from the same algae was stronger in case of A. glutinosa. Duckweed (Lemna minor), a bioindicator of eutrophic waters, was more sensitive to leaf leachates of A. glutinosa. Fallen leaves and leaf litter leachates from invasive and native species of trees, which enter water body, affect differently microbial biodestruction and aquatic vegetation in freshwater systems.

The study aimed to explore if changes in crown defoliation and stem growth of Scots pines (Pinus sylvestris L.) could be related to changes in ambient ozone (O(3)) concentration in central Europe. To meet this objective the study was performed in 3 Lithuanian national parks, close to the ICP integrated monitoring stations from which data on meteorology and pollution were provided. Contribution of peak O(3) concentrations to the integrated impact of acidifying compounds and meteorological parameters on pine stem growth was found to be more significant than its contribution to the integrated impact of acidifying compounds and meteorological parameters on pine defoliation. Findings of the study provide statistical evidence that peak concentrations of ambient O(3) can have a negative impact on pine tree crown defoliation and stem growth reduction under field conditions in central and northeastern Europe where the AOT40 values for forests are commonly below their phytotoxic levels.

OSPAR, Rake and Flood accumulation zone methods were applied at 29 beaches of the German and Lithuanian Baltic Sea coast (2011–2018) to monitor cigarette butt pollution. Also, butt pollution prevention measure - ballot bin, was tested.The number of cigarette butts was significantly higher in Germany than in Lithuania, but the percent of butts from total litter items was similar. Rake method turned out to be suitable for cigarette butt assessment, while the OSPAR method underestimates the butt pollution.The visitor number on the beach had a significant effect on the cigarette butt number: in remote beaches, without visitors, usually, no butts were observed, while the highest number and the percent of butts were observed in beaches with the highest number of visitors.The ballot bin campaign may have increased the public awareness about pollution, but turned out to be in-efficient in reducing it.

Toxic cyanobacterial blooms, their prevalence in freshwaters, and their impact on water quality are well documented. In contrast, the impact on the recreational value of bathing sites of the cyanotoxin-contaminated inland waters, transported to estuarine and coastal marine waters, has been less frequently studied. The aim of this work was to assess water quality at bathing sites located in the southern Baltic Sea and the Curonian Lagoon, using cyanotoxins concentrations as an indicator. Our results showed that higher diversity and concentrations of cyanotoxins in some areas of the coastal zone are related to the transport of waters from the Curonian Lagoon. The studied bathing sites had a relatively low probability of adverse health effects, with a potential higher risk in the southern part of the Curonian Lagoon (Lithuania). Due to the observed changes in the cyanobacteria community, the determination of cyanotoxins concentrations, irrespective of the analysis of cyanobacteria, is recommended.

Recognizing the factors responsible for the gradual increase in greenhouse gas [e.g. carbon dioxide (CO₂)] emissions is crucial to reduce the detrimental consequences on environmental sustainability and human life. Accordingly, spotting the sectors which contribute the most to CO₂ emissions and dampen economic growth have become one of the major concerns for policymakers around the globe. Against this background, this paper examines the nexus between economic growth and CO₂ emissions in three Baltic countries namely Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Thus, the study basically checks the validity of the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis by taking into account the role of energy consumption and financial development over the period of 1990–2018. This type of study is highly important for the region in order to comply with the commitments of the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. The study first employs appropriate testing procedures and second-generation panel data methods to account for cross-sectional dependency and slope heterogeneity among countries. Applying unit roots and cointegration tests, the study then employed different mean group estimation models and heterogeneous panel causality methods suitable for cross-sectionally dependent and heterogeneous panels. The results of the econometric analyses reveal that the inverted U-shaped EKC hypothesis does not hold in the Baltic countries. But the pollution haven hypothesis is evidenced to hold for these nations. By boosting the CO₂ emissions figures, again, the study also revealed that higher levels of energy consumption exhibit adverse environmental consequences. Financial development is found to be effective in explaining the variations in the CO₂ emission figures of the selected countries as well. Causality test results confirm bi-directional causality between economic growth and CO₂ emissions, energy use and CO₂ emissions, CO₂ emissions and financial development, energy use and economic growth as well as between energy use and financial development. Furthermore, country-specific impacts are found to be similar to the corresponding panel estimates. Consistent with the findings, the study finally puts forward some policy-level suggestions. Accordingly, it is recommended that the Baltic countries need to move away from fossil-fuel dependent energy consumption growth policies to mitigate environmental degradation.

The widespread use of plastic without the sustainable management of the plastic waste has led to its accumulation in the environment. The presence of microplastics even in drinking water and food products is of immense concern. This situation is getting even more complicated due to the limited knowledge about the sources of microplastics and their impact on the environment and human health. This article focuses on a poorly understood but potentially significant source of microplastic-treated organic waste. Quantitative and qualitative analyses of microplastics down to 50 µm in the stabilised organic waste (SOW) output after mixed municipal solid waste (MSW) processing and green and food composts are presented in the article. Nile Red staining and FTIR analysis were adopted for the identification of microplastics. The highest average microplastic abundance was found in the SOW: 17407 ± 1739 particles kg⁻¹ in autumn and 15400 ± 1217 particles kg⁻¹ in winter. Nevertheless, even separately collected treated organic waste contained a significant amount of microplastics. Green compost contained 5733 ± 850 particles kg⁻¹ in autumn and 6433 ± 751 particles kg⁻¹ in winter, while food compost 3783 ± 351 particles kg⁻¹ in autumn and 4066 ± 658 particles kg⁻¹ in winter. Microplastics < 1 mm accounted for 83.8–94.9% of all microplastics, which reflects the need to control not only large but also small microplastics in organic waste fertilisers to prevent soil pollution. The dominant shape of microplastics in compost samples was films, while in the SOW, it was fragments. Based on morphological and FTIR analyses, the majority of microplastics in green and food composts were considered as the residuals of plastic bags and packaging materials.

Agricultural production has a major impact on the environment. Indeed, the emissions from agricultural machinery have a significantly negative impact on ambient air, thereby contributing to Climate Change. This study analyses combine harvesters and justifies their optimization in order to increase resource efficiency as well as reduce any negative impact on the environment. Data from 90 combine harvesters in Lithuania and Latvia from 2016 to 2018 is collected using telematics, and the parameters that directly influence engine exhaust emissions are analyzed, such as operation time, grain unloading method, fuel consumption, and auto-steering, according to the engine-operating modes of harvesting, transportation, and idling. Statistically reliable strong correlations can be found between harvesting time and idling time, as well as between fuel consumption during harvesting and idling modes. On average, roughly 20% of the operating time consists of idling and roughly 15% of transportation; moreover, roughly 14% of the diesel fuel is used per year in the aforementioned engine modes. In addition, the auto-steering function enables the efficient use of diesel fuel (average cost per combine harvester is reduced by 0.2 t year⁻¹), thereby reducing air pollution (pollution per combine harvester is reduced on average by 0.6 t year⁻¹). The results suggest telematics system data can be effectively used for data analysis, problem identification, and decision-making with respect to pollution prevention and optimizing combine harvester operation. Graphical Abstract