We assessed the level of atmospheric contamination by S, N and metals before, during and after the installation of a new thermoelectric plant that provides power to an oil refinery in Cubatão, SE Brazil. We measured the foliar accumulation in Lolium multiflorum “Lema” with the aim of evaluating risks to the Atlantic Rainforest that grows in the region. Al, Co, Cr, Cu, K, N, Ni, S, V and Zn were appropriate markers of the new air contamination profile associated with the modern technology. With the exception of V, the leaf contents of these elements significantly increased between the pre-operation to post-operation phases (Al, Co, N, K, S), or only during the transition phase (Zn, Cu, Cr, Ni), and returned to the previous levels after the total shutdown of the old system. Therefore, the expected environmental gain was not achieved with the installation of the new technology.

Identifying particulate matter (PM) emitted from industrial processes into the atmosphere is an important issue in environmental research. This paper presents a passive sampling method using simple artificial samplers that maintains the advantage of bio-monitoring, but overcomes some of its disadvantages. The samplers were tested in a heavily polluted area (Linfen, China) and compared to results from leaf samples. Spatial variations of magnetic susceptibility from artificial passive samplers and leaf samples show very similar patterns. Scanning electron microscopy suggests that the collected PM are mostly in the range of 2–25 μm; frequent occurrence of spherical shape indicates industrial combustion dominates PM emission. Magnetic properties around power plants show different features than other plants. This sampling method provides a suitable and economic tool for semi-quantifying temporal and spatial distribution of air quality; they can be installed in a regular grid and calibrate the weight of PM.

Zooplankton samples collected before (1985–86) and after (2013–14) the establishment of Kapar power station (KPS) were examined to test the hypothesis that increased sea surface temperature (SST) and other water quality changes have altered the zooplankton community structure. Elevated SST and reduced pH were detected between before and after impact pairs, with the greatest impact at the station closest to KPS. Present PAHs and heavy metal concentrations are unlikely causal factors. Water parameter changes did not affect diversity but community structure of the zooplankton. Tolerant small crustaceans, salps and larvaceans likely benefited from elevated temperature, reduced pH and shift to a more significant microbial loop exacerbated by eutrophication, while large crustaceans were more vulnerable to such changes. It is predicted that any further rise in SST will remove more large-bodied crustacean zooplankton, the preferred food for fish larvae and other meroplankton, with grave consequences to fishery production.

The objectives of this study are to investigate distribution of trace elements and heavy metals in the salt marsh and wetland soil and biogeochemical processes in the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve of the northern Gulf of Mexico. The results show that Hg, Cd and to some extent, As and Pb have been significantly accumulated in soils. The strongest correlations were found between concentrations of Ni and total organic matter contents. The correlations decreased in the order: Ni>Cr>Sr>Co>Zn, Cd>Cu>Cs. Strong correlations were also observed between total P and concentrations of Ni, Co, Cr, Sr, Zn, Cu, and Cd. This may be related to the P spilling accident in 2005 in the Bangs Lake site. Lead isotopic ratios in soils matched well those of North American coals, indicating the contribution of Pb through atmospheric fallout from coal power plants.

The Arabian Gulf region is moving towards a nuclear energy option with the first nuclear power plant now operational in Bushehr, Iran, and others soon to be constructed in Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia. Radiological safety is becoming a prime concern in the region. This study compiles available data and presents recent radionuclide data for the northern Gulf waters, considered as pre-nuclear which will be a valuable dataset for future monitoring work in this region. Radionuclide monitoring in the marine environment is a matter of prime concern for Kuwait, and an assessment of the potential impact of radionuclides requires the establishment and regular updating of baseline levels of artificial and natural radionuclides in various environmental compartments. Here we present baseline measurements for 210Po, 210Pb, 137Cs, 90Sr, and 3H in Kuwait waters. The seawater concentration of 3H, 210Po, 210Pb, 137Cs, and 90Sr vary between 130–146, 0.48–0.68, 0.75–0.89, 1.25–1.38 and 0.57–0.78mBqL−1, respectively. The 40K concentration in seawater varies between 8.9–9.3BqL−1. The concentration of 40K, total 210Pb, 137Cs, 90Sr, 226Ra, 228Ra, 238U, 235U, 234U, 239+240Pu and 238Pu were determined in sediments and range, respectively, between 353–445, 23.6–44.3, 1.0–3.1, 4.8–5.29, 17.3–20.5, 15–16.4, 28.7–31.4, 1.26–1.30, 29.7–30.0, 0.045–0.21 and 0.028–0.03Bqkg−1 dry weight. Since, radionuclides are concentrated in marine biota, a large number of marine biota samples covering several trophic levels, from microalgae to sharks, were analyzed. The whole fish concentration of 40K, 226Ra, 224Ra, 228Ra, 137Cs, 210Po and 90Sr range between 230–447, 0.7–7.3, <0.5–6.6, <0.5–15.80, <0.17, 0.88–4.26 and 1.86–5.34Bqkg−1 dry weight, respectively. 210Po was found to be highly concentrated in several marine organisms with the highest 210Po concentration found in Marica marmorata (193.5–215.6Bqkg−1 dry weight). 210Po in most dissected fish samples shows increasing concentrations in the following order: edible tissue, gills, digestive system, liver and fecal matter. Fish fecal pellets had 210Po concentrations several orders of magnitude higher than the seawater, fish muscle, and the fishes' ingested food. The high 210Po concentration in fish fecal matter, suggest that the bulk of 210Po content in fish was eventually excreted back into the environment as fecal pellets. In most fish high concentrations were noted in liver, with the highest 210Po concentration recorded in shark liver (126.2–141.5Bqkg−1 wet). Moreover, 210Po concentration in the soft tissue of molluscs (10.36–215.60Bqkg−1 dry weight) was far higher than that in fish muscle (0.05–7.49Bqkg−1 wet weight). A seasonal drop in 210Po concentration in seawater was observed to vary with the abundance of phytoplankton and macroalgae due possibly to biological dilution. 137Cs concentration in all the fish sampled was below the detection limit, and the concentration in seawater was also low; hence such low levels provide an opportunity to use this radionuclide as an indicator for any future radiocesium releases in this region.

Nikola Tesla B power plant (TENT-B), located on the Sava River in Obrenovac, 52 km west from the Serbian’s capital, Belgrade, is the second largest coal-fired power plant in the country, consisting of two blocks of 620 MW each. Samples of fresh coal ash obtained by coal combustion in TENT-B, as well as coal ash samples from the surface and 1-m depth of active, currently filled, and passive, previously filled and not currently used, cassettes, were taken from the coal ash dump. Ultrasonic extracts of the samples were analyzed using gas chromatography with mass selective detection (GC/MSD) in order to identify and quantify 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Two PAH extraction mechanisms during coal ash dumping and storage processes are discussed and significant differences between them were established. PAH concentrations in the ash samples were compared statistically. Correlations between samples and sampling points were established, and leaching potential of samples was examined. Concentrations of PAHs can be reduced in coal ash sediments by environmental influences only after long time periods, and PAHs with two six-membered rings pose danger to underground waters, while PAHs with three rings pose danger to soil sediments.

In this study, stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios in the samples of pine needles collected in 2013 and 2014 from heavily urbanized area in close proximity to point-source pollution emitters, such as a heat and power plant, nitrogen plant, and steelworks in Silesia (Poland), were analyzed as bio-indicators of contemporary environmental changes. The carbon isotope discrimination has been proposed as a method for evaluating water-use efficiency. The measurement of carbon and nitrogen isotopes was carried out using the continuous flow isotope ratio mass spectrometer. The isotope ratio mass spectrometer allows the precise measurement of mixtures of naturally occurring isotopes. The δ¹⁵N values were calibrated relative to the NO-3 and USGS34 international standards, whereas the δ¹³C values were calibrated relative to the C-3 and C-5 international standards. The strong year-to-year correlations between the δ¹³C in different sampling sites, and also the inter-annual correlation of δ¹⁵N values in the pine needles at each of the investigated sampling sites confirm that the measured δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N and also intrinsic water-use efficiency (iWUE) trends are representative of the sampling site. Diffuse air pollution caused the variation in δ ¹³C, δ¹⁵N, and iWUE dependent on type of emitter, the localization in the space (distance and direction) from factories and some local effect of other human activities. The complex short-term variation analysis can be helpful to distinguish isotopic fractionation, which is not an effect explainable by climatic conditions but by the anthropogenic effect. Between 2012 and 2014, an increase in iWUE is observed at leaf level.

Cs is a common radionuclide present in nuclear wastes and released from nuclear power plant accidents. It is hard to be removed from water with traditional technology. The current study aimed at developing of efficient cost-effective adsorbent for removing Cs with modified MCM-41 with specific functional groups –SH. Mesoporous material MCM-41 was selected due to its large surface area and tunable pore structure. Functional –SH groups were grafted into the pores of MCM-41 to enhance its capability of selective adsorption of Cs from multi-element (Co, Sr) water solution. The adsorption results showed that the maximum adsorption capacity was 29.24 mg/g. Both Langmuir and Freundlich models described the adsorption processes of Cs, indicating co-existence of both monolayer and multilayer adsorption in the surface and inner pores of the materials. TEM, FTIR, and Raman spectroscopy analyses indicated that –SH groups were successfully bounded into the pores of MCM-41. The present study approved the surface functional modified MCM-41 which might be a good alternative candidate for cleaning up of radionuclide Cs from nuclear power plant accidents and relevant nuclear accident events.

A high concentration of dissolved gaseous mercury (DGM) was detected in post-desulfurized waste seawater, which was discharged from a coal-fired power plant equipped with a seawater desulfurization system and which was located in a coastal area. A large amount of DGM was converted from other forms of mercury during transformation processes, such as photo-reduction. The present study targeted the photo-reduction of mercury and the effects of various environmental parameters on DGM production in the post-desulfurized seawater discharged. The results suggested that the photo-reduction of mercury was significantly induced under UV radiation, especially with UVB. The particulate mercury on suspended solids was easily photo-reduced and considered as an important source of DGM. It was confirmed that the suspended solids in post-desulfurized seawater could enhance the reduction process of mercury under UV radiation. The pseudo-first-order rate constants of DGM production, which were determined through the concentration gradient and trial methods, were 1.39 × 10⁻³ min⁻¹and 1.45 × 10⁻³ min⁻¹, respectively. The values showed no significant difference and were both much higher than the reported results, indicating that the photo-reduction of mercury in post-desulfurized seawater deserved more attention. In addition, the initial mercury level was observed when mixing the post-desulfurized seawater with fresh seawater, and this suggested that a significant amount of initial mercury would be produced when the post-desulfurized seawater was discharged into the adjacent sea area and thus becomes another considerable source of DGM.