The objective of this study was to investigate whether δ¹³C values can be used to identify pollen specie in the atmosphere. A Burkard 7-day recording volumetric spore trap was used to collected pollens in the atmosphere in Tainan City, Taiwan, from January 2 to December 28, 2006, and a light microscope was used to identify the pollen species and concentrations. A Burkard cyclone sampler was used to collect particulate matter and an elemental analyzer with an isotope ratio mass spectrometer was used to analyze the δ¹³C values. Our data showed that the predominate pollen specie in the atmosphere was Broussonetia papyrifera pollen and that the annual average concentration was 27 grains/m³ (pollen season, 36; nonpollen season, 9 grains/m³). The average δ¹³C value was − 26.19‰ for particulate matter in the atmosphere (pollen season, − 26.00‰; nonpollen season, − 26.28‰). No significant association was observed between δ¹³C values and Broussonetia papyrifera pollen concentrations. However, the δ¹³C value in the atmosphere was associated with the levels of Broussonetia papyrifera pollen among the samples with a diameter of particulate matter smaller than 10 μm at a level lower than 40 μg/m³. In addition, the relative contribution of Broussonetia papyrifera pollen to the carbon in the atmosphere using a two end-member mixing models was found to be associated with the Broussonetia papyrifera pollen concentration. In summary, our study suggested that δ¹³C values can be applied in the assessment of Broussonetia papyrifera pollen specie under specific conditions in the atmosphere.

In this study, the impact of the curing temperature on leaching behaviour and durability of GGBS-MgO-CaO (GMC)-stabilized/GMC-solidified Pb/Zn-contaminated clay soils was investigated. Toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) test, wetting-drying cycles, freeze-thaw cycles and unconfined compression strength (UCS) test were carried out. The influence of curing temperature, binder dosage and curing time on the performance of these samples was investigated. The results show that the leachability and the durability of all samples were improved by increasing curing temperature, curing time and binder dosage. GMCs are more functional in immobilizing Pb compared with Zn, especially in immobilizing high Pb–contaminated soils. The mass loss and Pb/Zn leachability of all samples increased, while their strength decreased after cyclic wetting-drying and cyclic freeze-thaw. Furthermore, curing at 21 °C and 45 °C, the freeze-thaw resistance of 10% GMC-treated soil (GMC10) was found better than that of 10% Portland cement–treated soil (PC10). After 10 cycles of wetting-drying, GMC10 is more chemically stable than PC10.

In this study, a sensitive and low-cost multi-wavelength spectrophotometric method for the determination of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in water was established. The method was based on the oxidative coloration of 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS) via Fenton reaction, which resulted in the formation of green radical (ABTS•⁺) with absorbance at four different wavelengths (i.e., 415 nm, 650 nm, 732 nm, and 820 nm). Under the optimized conditions (CABTS = 2.0 mM, CFₑ²⁺ = 1.0 mM, pH = 2.60 ± 0.02, and reaction time (t) = 1 min), the absorbance of the generated ABTS•⁺ at 415 nm, 650 nm, 732 nm, and 820 nm were well linear with H₂O₂ concentrations in the range of 0–40 μM (R² > 0.999) and the sensitivities of the proposed Fenton-ABTS method were calculated as 4.19 × 10⁴ M–¹ cm–¹,1.73 × 10⁴ M–¹ cm–¹, 2.18 × 10⁴ M–¹ cm–¹, and 1.96 × 10⁴ M–¹ cm–¹, respectively. Meanwhile, the detection limits of the Fenton-ABTS method at 415 nm, 650 nm, 732 nm, and 820 nm were respectively calculated to be 0.18 μM, 0.12 μM, 0.10 μM, and 0.11 μM. The absorbance of the generated ABTS•⁺ in ultrapure water, underground water, and reservoir water was quite stable within 30 min. Moreover, the proposed Fenton-ABTS method could be used for monitoring the variations of H₂O₂ concentration during the oxidative decolorization of RhB in alkali-activated H₂O₂ system.

Fifty biological sand filters (BSFs) housed in 70-L plastic containers were built and installed in the West Pokot County of Kenya. Half of the BSFs were installed in June 2010; the remainder were installed in June 2012. BSF performance was analyzed during June 2012 and 2015. Performance indicators included the removal of turbidity and fecal and total coliforms. In 2012, 17 of the original 25 BSFs installed were operational, and their performance was evaluated. In 2015, 15 of the BSFs were operational. BSF performance during 2015 showed an average fecal coliform removal of 98.9%. The most common reasons provided to explain why the BSF installed was no longer in use included the family moved and the BSF was too heavy to carry, and the effluent pipe broke. Relative affluence was observed using the Progress out of Poverty Index (PPI)™. With an increase in elevation, we noted a decrease in PPI. The average PPI for homesteads with operation BSFs was 10 points higher than homes where the BSFs were in disrepair. An assay to estimate Escherichia coli presence and concentration was modified, and the results were compared with more traditional field enumeration methods. The field assay used a five-compartment bag to quantify the most probable number (MPN) of E. coli to provide a low-tech option to field workers in developing country to test the viability of drinking water sources. We used a Hach medium, varying from that prescribed by Aquagenx. Results from using the modified method compared well with the more traditional field assay.

Habitat loss and fragmentation are listed among the most significant effects of urbanization, which is regarded as an important threat to wildlife. Owls are the top predators in most terrestrial habitats, and their presence is a reliable indicator of ecosystem quality and complexity. However, influence of urbanization on owl communities, anthropogenic noise in particular, has not been investigated so far. The aim of this study was to identify the role of noise and landcover heterogeneity in the species richness of owl assemblage in the urban ecosystem. Owls were surveyed in the city of Kraków (southern Poland) on 65 randomly selected sample plots (1 km²). The area of main landcover types, landcover diversity index, mean size of landcover patch, and nocturnal noise level were defined within the sample plots and correlated with owl species richness. Five owl species were recorded in the study area with forests as the dominant landcover type for Tawny and Ural owls, grasslands for Long-eared and Barn owls, and gardens for Little owls. In total, 52% of sample plots were occupied by at least one species (1–3 species per plot). The number of owl species was positively correlated with landcover diversity index and negatively correlated with nocturnal noise emission. This study demonstrates that species richness of owls in urban areas may be shaped by landcover heterogeneity and limited by noise intensity. This indicates that noise changes top predator assemblage, which in consequence may disturb predator-prey interactions within human-transformed habitats.

As a result of the widespread use of antibiotics, a large amount of excretions from human and animals, containing antibiotic residues, is discharged into aquatic environments, leading to potential adverse effects on the ecosystems’ health. These residues’ impact on seasonally ice-covered rivers remains under investigated. To understand the environmental fate of antibiotics with high-detection frequencies and concentration levels, sulfamethoxazole, lincomycin, and florfenicol were used as models in the present study. A Level IV fugacity model was established and applied to a seasonally ice-covered river receiving municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents, the Songhua River in Northeast China. Model validation and sensitivity analysis suggested that the fugacity model could successfully simulate the monitoring concentration within an average difference of one logarithmic unit. The advection process played a major role in the transport and attenuation of the antibiotics in the ice-covered river receiving WWTP effluents. The scenario simulation indicated that increasing the targeted antibiotic concentrations in WWTP effluents to μg L⁻¹ could keep the targeted antibiotic concentrations higher than 10 ng L⁻¹ in the receiving river from the WWTP discharge source to 25 km downstream. This finding also demonstrates that the depth of water and ice, as well as flow velocity, play key roles in the fate of antibiotics in the ice-covered river receiving WWTP effluents. To our best knowledge, this is the first major study to combine experimental investigation with modeling to explore the environmental behaviors and fate of antibiotics in such a river.

Soil washing is an effective technology for the remediation of soils contaminated with various metals. However, the bioavailability of residual metals in soils and soil properties can be changed during the washing processes. In this study, we used four amendments to revitalize mixed chelator (MC)–washed soils (WS). These amendments included zeolite, CaCO₃, biochar, and chicken manure. Results showed that inorganic amendments reduced the available Cd and Zn concentrations, while organic amendments, particularly chicken manure, reduced the Pb bioavailability in WS. The combination of 0.2% CaCO₃ and 2% chicken manure amendments reduced the Cd, Pb, and Zn bioavailability by 45.8%, 77.8%, and 15.0% compared with the control treatment, respectively. The inorganic amendments should increase the seed germination rate of Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L.). However, the shoot growth decreased significantly. The combination of amendments cannot increase the seed germination but can significantly increase the shoot growth of Chinese cabbage compared with the control. The combination of amendments enhanced the fertility of WS, particularly available P and exchangeable K, which may improve plant growth. These results suggested that the combination of amendments, especially CaCO₃ (0.2%) and chicken manure (2%), can be used to revitalize MC-WS.

The goal of the study was to assess the sorption properties of calcined eggshells (CEs) as a P reactive media filter. The CEs were calcined in a temperature of 900 °C. A double stage test was performed: batch studies (kinetic and equilibrium) and small-scale column experiment. The estimation of optimal mass ratio of CEs for perspective usage was the additional benefit of column experiment. The short kinetic tests showed that 5 min of contact time with solution of initial concentration of 6.020 mgP-PO₄ L⁻¹ is enough to reduce the P-PO₄ in 100%. The equilibrium studies were conducted with P-PO₄ solution of 6.020 to 977.7 mg L⁻¹ with contact time of 30 min. The obtained data was compensated by non-linear regression using the Marquardt algorithm in the Statgraphics Centurion XVI. The eggshell calcined characterized by high sorption capacity (Sₘₐₓ = 72.87 mg g⁻¹) obtained from the Langmuir isotherm model with a good fit (96.77%). To choose the appropriate ratio of a sand filter to eggshells amendment, four small columns were constructed and fed with P-PO₄ solution (Cᵢₙ ≈ 5 mg L⁻¹). The percentage mass (m/m) of CEs in the columns was 0.0 (the reference one); 1.0; 2.5; and 5.0. The unit sorption obtained during 95 days of column experiment was 10.668, 4.277, and 2.286 mg P-PO₄ g⁻¹ for 1.0, 2.5, and 5.0%, respectively. For practical implementation, the most recommended addition seems to be 1% of CEs. It corresponds, e.g., to the mass of 49 kg CEs for septic tank system.

Organic UV filters are used worldwide in various personal care products as well as textiles, paints, plastic, food, and adhesives. They are main ingredients in sunscreen lotions that are used heavily by beachgoers in the summer season. There is thus an increasing concern regarding the fate of organic UV filters in the environment and their impact on living organisms. Many of the UV filters in use are hydrophobic and are expected to accumulate in the sediment phase in aquatic systems, but this has yet to be validated in situ. We targeted the UV filters benzophenone 3 (BP3), butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane (BMDBM), diethylhexyl butamido triazone (DBT), bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine (BEMT), and methylene bis-benzotriazolyl tetramethylbutylphenol (MBBT) in a freshwater lake and in a coastal bay in order to understand their distribution during summer 2016. Further, we examined their environmental partitioning by collecting samples from the surface water, the sediment phase, and water surface microlayer (SML). We show for the first time the presence of DBT, BEMT, and MBBT in environmental matrices (water, SML, and sediment). Notably, these UV filters were detected at low amounts in surface waters with maximum concentrations of 9.9 ng/L for DBT, 18.4 ng/L for BEMT, and below detection limits for MBBT and somewhat higher concentrations in the SML, with maximum concentrations of 43.3 ng/L for DBT, 5625.4 ng/L for BEMT, and 45.6 ng/L for MBBT. These filters were detected at even greater concentrations in the sediments, with maximum concentrations of 652.6 ng/g for DBT, 115.0 ng/g for BEMT, and 75.2 ng/g for MBBT (dry weight sediment). We also performed controlled laboratory experiments to determine their partitioning behavior, and we verified the actual solubility of many of the filters. This will help in determining the environmental fate and finally lead to a better risk assessment of these compounds. Together, these results corroborate the hypothesis that hydrophobic UV filters accumulate in the sediment phase and highlight the importance of discerning whether these UV filters impact the benthic community and their potential for bioaccumulation.

Aquatic organisms might be exposed episodically or continuously to chemicals for long-term periods throughout their life span. Pesticides are one example of widely used chemicals and thus represent a potential hazard to aquatic organisms. In addition, these chemicals may be present simultaneously in the environment or as pulses, being difficult to predict accurately how their joint effects will take place. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate how Daphnia magna (clone k6) exposed throughout generations to a model pesticide (the fungicide carbendazim) would react upon an exposure to another chemical compound (triclosan) and to a mixture of both chemicals (carbendazim and triclosan). Responses of daphnids continuously exposed to carbendazim and kept in clean medium will be compared using immobilization tests and the comet assay (DNA integrity). The results showed that triclosan presented similar toxicity to daphnids exposed for 12 generations (F12) to carbendazim (similar 48-h-LC₅₀ values for immobilization data), when compared with daphnids kept in clean medium. However, at subcellular level, daphnids previously exposed to carbendazim for 12 generations (F12) showed different responses than those from clean medium, presenting a higher toxicity; a general higher percentage of DNA damage was observed, after exposure to a range of concentrations of triclosan and to the binary combination of triclosan + carbendazim. The patterns of toxicity observed for the binary mixture triclosan + carbendazim were generally similar for daphnids in clean medium and daphnids exposed to carbendazim, with a dose level deviation with antagonism observed at low doses of the chemical mixture for the immobilization data and a dose ratio deviation with synergism mainly caused by triclosan for DNA damage. With this study, we contributed to the knowledge on long-term induced effects of carbendazim exposure, while looking at the organismal sensitivity to another chemical (triclosan) and to a mixture of carbendazim and triclosan using lethality as an endpoint at the individual level and DNA damage as a subcellular endpoint.