Abstract Increased concentrations of heavy metals have been observed in the southwestern coast of Taiwan due to increasing human activities and economic growth; however, comprehensive studies investigating seasonal variations of major chemical parameters such as nutrient salts, trace metals, and physical parameters and their associations in the estuaries of the southwestern coast of Taiwan are scarce

Abstract The concentrations of Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, Ni, V and Zn in sediment, surface and groundwater were determined in a total of 180 samples acquired bi-monthly for one year to evaluate the impact of bitumen spills. Principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA) were also used to identify the possible sources of contamination. The concentrations of heavy metals in groundwater, surface

Abstract The spatial distribution, source identification, ecotoxicological, and human health risks of 20 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in agricultural soils in southern Nigeria were investigated in this study. Soil samples were collected from 18 agricultural soils from 6 different locations. Soil samples were soxhlet extracted using dichloromethane/n-Hexane and purified with florisil and silica

Abstract Following the high rate at which many drinking water sources are polluted globally, an adequate evaluation of the potential hazards posed by polluted water systems is essential. In Nnewi urban (southeastern Nigeria), inhabitants indiscriminately dispose municipal solid wastes into streams and rivers, thereby exposing the surface water quality to deterioration. The aim of this study was to

Abstract In this study, in-situ measurements of absorbed dose rates of background gamma radiation in 146 outdoor locations within Enugu urban areas were carried out by means of a hand held radiation survey meter equipped with Geiger-Muller tube. In order to assess the radiological health status of the studied environment, annual effective dose (AED) and excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) were estimated

Abstract Microalgae are unicellular microorganisms with unique features and can be used as indicators for air pollutants. Microalgae have been found to withstand the negative effects of air pollutants. This study examined the relationship between the levels of carbon monoxide (CO) and the density of microalgal cells in different areas in Peninsular Malaysia, which has a hot and humid climate throughout

Abstract Surface sediment samples were collected at 104 stations in 34 different locations in seasonal periods in 2013–2014 on the southeastern coasts of the Black Sea. Nickel concentrations were measured with ICP-MS after microwave digestion and were higher in two seperate region than that of others. Relatively high Ni concentrations were found in Bafra (148 ± 18 mg/kg), Dereköy (147 ± 24 mg/kg),

Abstract Heavy metal concentrations of Mn, Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb in sediment samples collected from 12 stations in the Black Sea coast, Buyukdere and Sabuncular streams around Cayeli copper mine area in Rize, Turkey were measured using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). The mean concentrations of Mn, Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb in the sediments have been determined

Abstract Owing to population growth and urbanization, there has been an increase in the number of auto mechanic workshops, vulcanizer’s shops and engine oil retail shops along the roads within Nsukka with a direct increase in heavy metal concentration in dust. Emissions from these activities pose serious environmental concern along the major roads. This study is centered on the assessment of heavy

Abstract Uptake of natural radionuclides by vegetables cultivated on contaminated soil may contribute significantly to the radiation exposure of a population. This study evaluated the activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K in 27 soil and 27 irrigation water samples from different farms in Lagos using Hyper Pure Germanium (HPGe) detector. Activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K from

Abstract The study investigated the concentration of metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) and S in urban dust samples of Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico. This is the first study about urban dust pollution in Cancun. Urban dust samples were collected and divided in three groups: high traffic densities (HT), low traffic densities (LT), and fixed sources (FS). A statistical analysis was performed using Pearson

Abstract This study focussed on the extent of contamination caused by metals (Cd, Co, Pb, Cu, Zn, Mn, and Mg) in selected sites of Palakkad district, a major agrarian zone in Kerala, India. Soils sampled during summer and monsoon were processed for metal analysis using standard protocol and AAS. The metal data was compared with the threshold values proposed by the European Commission (EC), Indian Standard

Abstract Heavy metal contamination was identified in groundwater monitoring wells surrounding a waste deposit facility at the Rönnskär Cu–Pb–Zn smelter in Skellefteå, northern Sweden. The main objective of this study is to identify the sources of contamination, utilizing element screening analyses and multivariate statistical techniques. A second objective is to determine the usefulness of these techniques

Abstract In environmental forensic investigations, soil is often considered as the evidence associated with a crime scene in court. A major challenge is minimizing the uncertainty in linking sets of matched soil to a suspected offender. This article examined the potential methods of analyzing soil bacterial communities via high throughput sequencing, which could generate information of great importance

Abstract Groundwater pollution source identification problem plays an important role in designing the groundwater remediation measures. This study aims at identifying the groundwater pollutant source location and its strength given a set of concentration breakthrough curves at different locations. Feed forward three layered artificial neural network (ANN) has been used to identify these two source

Abstract As an expert body, the Oil Spill Identification Network of experts within the Bonn Agreement (OSINet) developed a common methodology for oil identification (denoted CEN/Tr 15522-2 for 1st and 2nd, and EN15522-2 for the upcoming 3rd edition) published by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). OSINet decided that the 3rd edition of the methodology should expand on diagnostic ratios

Abstract This study was carried out to evaluate the extent of carbonate crash in some Niger Delta oil wells and the levels of heavy metals (HMs) and rare earth elements (REEs) as useful fingerprinting tools in the characterization of the oil wells. Thirty-nine (39) rock samples were collected from three (3) oil wells in the Niger Delta, Nigeria. The carbonate contents were determined using Chittick

Abstract Environmental forensic examinations are a pivotal element of environmental crime investigations. Environmental forensic experts assist fact-finders in reconstructing the event timeline, estimating the size of the damage and causality. Their opinions are of fundamental relevance to environmental criminal cases. Thus, it is crucial to ensure that expert examinations are conducted following scientific

Abstract This review summarizes government agency and scientific organization guidance for collecting representative, reliable, and defensible water samples for trace metal analysis, and provides a framework for choosing appropriate sampling techniques to meet a study's data quality objectives, with respect to Natural Resource Damage Assessment in the marine environment. Preventing or limiting contamination

Abstract This review summarizes sampling and quality control practices recommended by regulatory agencies and scientific organizations for acquiring reliable, defensible sediment samples in marine environments. Selecting an appropriate sediment sampling method can depend on water depth, sediment type, depth of sediment penetration required, and the study’s data quality objectives, among other factors

Abstract Characterizing and studying oil spills in marine environments for forensic purposes and Natural Resource Damage Assessment often requires timely sampling of multiple, diverse matrices in a range of field conditions. The diversity of such investigations has heretofore precluded using a focused and well-defined set of sampling practices. Defining appropriate data quality objectives and utilizing

Abstract In this study, concentrations of 16 PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) have been determined in surface sediments from Gökçeada being the largest island of Turkey and located in the North Aegean Sea, during winter, spring, summer, and fall seasons in 2017. The main object of this study is to understand the levels, seasonal distribution, and the origins of PAHs in the sediments of Gökçeada

Abstract Groundwater is one of the most important sources of freshwater globally and has a key role in sustaining the ecological value of many areas. These valuable and vulnerable groundwater resources are under the pressure of many external pollution threats, such as industrial, domestic, and agricultural chemicals. To prevent undesirable consequences to future groundwater resources, comprehensive

Abstract Analysis of a 195-cm core extracted from Polecat Bay (PB) in southern Alabama revealed that dramatic changes in diatom abundance/composition and sediment type took place sometime in the past. Examination of historical records and interviews with witnesses to industrial activity suggest that the changes were largely anthropogenically driven and caused by; (1) construction of the Mobile Bay

Abstract Industrialization and urban expansion can result in the contamination of shallow groundwater by micro-organics (MO) in the Pearl River Delta (PRD), China. This study provides a regional scale assessment of MO contaminants in shallow groundwater in the PRD, investigating the occurrence and distribution of different compound groups, highlighting the relationship between MOs and aquifers, and

Abstract The radiometric mapping of the terrestrial ionizing radiation to evaluate the possible radiological health risk to residents of Agbor and Asaba metropolis have been conducted, using a digilert nuclear radiation monitor meter and geographical positioning system (GPS). The two monitored cities and environs were delineated into five zones. Measured zones mean outdoor background ionizing radiation

Abstract The present study aims to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on air quality and to explore the association of daily COVID-19 confirmed cases with meteorological parameters and criteria pollutants in the major cities of Punjab and Chandigarh, India during the different phase of pre-lockdown (March 1 to March 24), lockdown (1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0; March 25 to May 31), and unlock (1.0, 2.0;

Abstract This study aims to evaluate the pollution characteristics of rice cultivated in Hainan Island and assess the health risks to humans through consuming rice. Results indicate that except lead (Pb), the mean contents of other heavy metals in rice are all within the standard limits. According to the spatial distribution and pollution indices of heavy metals, rice is severely polluted with Pb and

Abstract While water sources that sustain many of the springs in the Mojave Desert have been poorly understood, desert wildlife and ecosystems can be highly dependent on such resources. With ever expanding use of desert groundwater, the effect of groundwater extraction on groundwater-dependent ecosystems in the Sonoran and Mojave Deserts is an ongoing concern. Springs that are more susceptible to impacts

Abstract Due to the impact of human agricultural production and climate and environmental changes, the applicability of groundwater for drinking purposes has attracted widespread attention. In order to quantify the hydrochemical characteristics of groundwater in Changchun New District and evaluate its quality for drinking purposes, 53 shallow groundwater samples were collected and analyzed. The results

Abstract A year-long study from May 2018 to April 2019 investigated the spatio-temporal changes in water quality of seven major rivers in the Giresun Province in northeastern Turkey. The results of the analysis were classified according to WHO limit values for drinking water and water quality classes were determined with respect to the Turkish Surface Water Quality Regulation (TSWQR). In addition,

Abstract The water quality for the shorelines of Kuching, Samarahan, and Betong divisions was assessed based on the primary and secondary data which was then compared to the National Water Quality Standards and Marine Water Quality Criteria and Standards for Malaysia. The Water Quality Index (WQI) and Marine Water Quality Index (MWQI) were generated where applicable. The results reveal that the baseline

Abstract In this study, the total suspended particulate (TSP) concentrations and dry deposition of ambient air particulates are measured using a high-volume air sampler and a dry deposition plate at an agricultural sampling site in central Taiwan from March of 2019 to February of 2020. In addition, the concentrations of metallic elements attached to the particulates and dry deposits are analyzed using

Abstract Arsenite (As(III)) is far more toxic than arsenate (As(V)) to human health. To investigate the potential effects of petroleum exploitation activities on the relative abundance of inorganic As(III) and As(V) in groundwater (GW) and GW toxicity, a total of 153 groundwater samples were collected from a number of sampling wells located near and away from an oil-gathering areas through random sampling

Abstract Trace metal concentrations in two species of mysids, Mesopodopsis orientalis and Rhopalophthalmus indicus, from the Cochin estuary, were investigated during the monsoon and pre-monsoon periods. Metal concentration (ppm, dry weight) ranges in mysids during the monsoon and pre-monsoon periods were: Fe (775.75 to 1254.12), Mn (7.85 to 14.57), Co (0.76 to 1.75), Ni (11.19 to 20.00), Cu (20.02

Abstract AlphaGUARD radon gas analyzer and NaI (Tl) spectrometer were used to measure the concentration levels of 222Rn and, 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K respectively in 109 groundwater samples collected from four different districts in Qena governorate, Egypt. The average values of the activity concentration were 3.57 ± 0.08, 0.54 ± 0.03, 0.40 ± 0.03, and 5.10 ± 0.44 Bql−1 for 222Rn, 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K

Abstract Robust Independent Modelling of Class Analogy (RSIMCA) was applied to classify over 2,800 Passaic River sediment samples into seven groups or not assigned to any group after an initial screening of a 3,255 sample dataset. This multivariate statistical output was compressed from seven latent dimensions into two interpretable dimensions using t-Distributed Stochastic Neighbor Embedding (t-SNE)

Abstract Intensive land clearing for development, urbanisation, and agricultural activities on highlands has caused environmental pollution. Unsustainable agricultural activities such as farming on steep slopes and the excessive use of pesticides and fertilisers have led to an influx of pollutants and high sedimentation rate in water bodies. This has triggered a continuous deterioration of the river

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in contaminated waterbodies can cause serious pollution to the adjacent atmosphere through volatilization. Gas–particle partitioning of PAHs controls the atmospheric concentrations of these pollutants. PAH levels in gaseous and particulate air samples were investigated near two polluted lagoons along the eastern coast of the Red Sea. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

In this study, the concentrations and dry deposition of ambient air particulates are measured using a PS-1 sampler and a dry deposition plate at a suburban sampling site in central Taiwan from January 2019 to August 2019. The concentrations of metallic elements that are attached to the particulates and dry deposits are analyzed using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES)

In this study, levels and sources of aliphatic hydrocarbons and hopanes in surface sediments collected from rivers and estuaries of Peninsular Malaysia were assessed. The concentrations of total n-alkanes ranged from 21.19 to 364.54, and the concentrations of hopanes ranged from 0.23 to 2.45 mg kg−1 dry weight. Evaluation of aliphatic diagnostic indices including Carbon Preference Index (CPI), low

This study was conducted to estimate natural radionuclide contents in 24 fish samples collected from rivers of South Africa’s oil-rich and non-oil-rich areas. Also, the radiological analysis was performed to assess the effect of radiation on the population that consumed these fish. A high-resolution Hyper Pure Germanium (HPGe) detector was used to conduct the gamma-ray measurements. The mean activity

Shipments of Bakken crude oil by rail have increased in concert with the production of unconventional crude oil in the Williston Basin over the past 10 years, during which time multiple fiery train derailments resulted in tragic loss of life and/or environmental impacts. In this study the compositions of Bakken oil burn residues from a derailment fire(s) are compared to fresh and laboratory-evaporated

Human being exposed to naturally occurring ionizing radiation throughout their lives as these radionuclides are present in different amounts in our environment. Gamma radiation emitted from uranium (U), thorium (Th), radium (Ra), potassium (K) and cesium (Cs) radionuclides and their decay products represents the essential external source of radiation to human beings. The amount of these radioactive

Urbanization and the concentration of industrial sites in coastal regions have led to a strong risk of heavy metals contamination in the neighbouring marine environment. Analysis of dated sediment cores from these environments may allow historical trends of heavy metal input to be reconstructed, and recent and historical inputs of metal contaminants to be compared. In this work we have assessed the

Abstract Shipments of Bakken crude oil by rail have increased in concert with the production of unconventional crude oil in the Williston Basin over the past 10 years, during which time multiple fiery train derailments resulted in tragic loss of life and/or environmental impacts. In this study the compositions of Bakken oil burn residues from a derailment fire(s) are compared to fresh and laboratory-evaporated

The levels of 25 pesticide residues were evaluated in 20 samples of irrigation water, agricultural soil and edible parts of 60 vegetable samples collected from 5 farms around Riyadh district, Saudi Arabia. Estimated Average Daily Intake (EADI), Health Risk Index (HRI), Cumulative Hazard Index (CHI), and Hazard Ratio (HR) indices were assessed. Pesticide residues were not detected in water samples.

Heavy metal (HM) pollution of river sediments is one of the most important problems encountered in the aquatic environments. The purpose of this study was to determine potential HM contamination in the sediments of Çömlekci stream and to assess the environmental risks associated with this contamination. To achieve these objectives, sediment samples were collected seasonally at three different stations

The mass concentrations of indoor (a naturally ventilated office) and outdoor (adjacent courtyard) PM2.5-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were investigated from December 14 to December 30, 2015 in Xi’an, China. Sixteen PM2.5 samples were collected on quartz filters with 47 mm diameter and analyzed. The results indicated that the average mass concentrations of PM2.5 and total 16 PAHs in

Abstract The widespread detection of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) throughout the world and the ongoing proliferation of environmental regulations has prompted the need for a forensic approach for the source attribution of PFAS. Current LC-MS/MS standard methods are sensitive and robust, but only characterize a small fraction of the total potential PFAS signature. Other, more powerful

Abstract The paper presents a discussion on the identification of the source of troposphere NO2 concentration in two cities of Morocco, Casablanca and Rabat. The levels of NO2 during 2015–19 have been used as a baseline to analyse the change in the NO2 level during the COVID-19 induced lockdown in the cities of Morocco. The analysis reveals that the baseline concentration of NO2 during 2015–19 was

Abstract Ambient air particulates (PM1, PM2,5, PM10, PM18, and total suspended particulates (TSP)), trace metals (Al, As, Cr, Cu, Cd, Zn, Ni, Pb, Mn, and Hg(p)) their concentrations, their dry deposition, and their sources from Dec. 2017 to May 2018 at Luliao Taichung City Junior High School (24°14′37.9″N 120°34′00.3″E) were studied. The site is a mixed site that is surrounded by traffic, and urban

Abstract We collected PM2.5 samples in the cities of Jinan and Baotou, North China. Concentrations of 9 heavy metals (HMs) (Cr, As, Cd, Sb, Pb, Ni, Cu, Zn, Mn) and 2 persistent organic pollutants [polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls, (DL-PCBs)] (POPs), were determined. The concentrations of PM2.5-bound HMs exhibited apparent seasonal

Abstract In this study, water quality parameters and disinfection by products (DBPs) were monitored and correlations between them were statistically investigated in a swimming pool in the province of Bitlis in Turkey. Risk assessment was then performed for trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs) in the context of public health. According to results, the carbonaceous organics (maximum total

In this study, water quality parameters and disinfection by products (DBPs) were monitored and correlations between them were statistically investigated in a swimming pool in the province of Bitlis in Turkey. Risk assessment was then performed for trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs) in the context of public health. According to results, the carbonaceous organics (maximum total organic

Abstract This study aims to compare performances of two static and one dynamic neural networks used for prediction of hourly ambient air quality concentrations in an industrial site of Turkey. Two air pollutants (PM10 and SO2) and three meteorological parameters (ambient air temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed) were used as input variables. The predictions of the dynamic nonlinear autoregressive

Abstract A deep understanding of the relationship between watershed non-point source (NPS) pollution and lake total phosphorus (TP) accumulation is the basis of watershed–lake environmental management and ecological reconstruction, in which the acquisition of long-term NPS P and lake TP data over corresponding temporal and spatial scales seems to be the key issue. In this study, three typical sub-basins

Abstract Heavy metals in cosmetics pose a high threat to human health. In the current study, heavy metals were detected in 15 locally manufactured lipsticks purchased from the native markets in Lahore, Pakistan, using three different techniques. Cu, Zn, Fe, Pb, Cr and Ni were quantified using atomic absorption spectrometry whereas Mg, Al, Si, S, K, Ca, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, As and Pb were detected qualitatively

Abstract TSP concentrations in ambient air and dry deposition were measured at an (agricultural) sampling site in Taiping. The TSP concentrations are compared with those in the other counties in Asia. Statistical differences between the TSP concentrations and dry depositions in Luliao district (mixed site) and Taiping district (agricultural site) are discussed. Ambient air particulate-bound mercury

TSP concentrations in ambient air and dry deposition were measured at an (agricultural) sampling site in Taiping. The TSP concentrations are compared with those in the other counties in Asia. Statistical differences between the TSP concentrations and dry depositions in Luliao district (mixed site) and Taiping district (agricultural site) are discussed. Ambient air particulate-bound mercury Hg(p) concentrations