Abstract Assessment of 17 polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was made to understand the sources, toxicity risk and biological impact in surface sediments of Malad and Versova creek of Mumbai. The concentration of ΣPAHs was found to vary in the range of 2915–4204 ng/g dw (mean 3367 ± 948 ng/gdw). The concentration of high molecular weight PAHs (HMW PAHs) in the range of 2378–3394 ng/g dw (mean 2723 ± 755 ng/g

Abstract Nigerian highway-related metal pollution was assessed using surface soil and tree bark as indicators. Metal concentrations were analyzed using an energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrophotometer. The concentrations of potentially toxic metals (Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, and As) were approximately 1–2 orders of magnitude lower in the tree bark relative to surface soil, and cross-plot analysis (R2

Abstract A Fidas Frog sampler is used to collect ambient air pollutants with various particle sizes at the Taichung Science Park in Taichung, Taiwan. The relationship between particle size and total number of ambient air particles is determined. Fine (PM≤2.5) and coarse (PM>2.5) particulate concentrations are obtained as percentages of the total particulate concentration. The mean concentrations of

Abstract The coronavirus pandemic has infected more than 100 million people worldwide with COVID-19, with millions of deaths across the globe. In this research, we explored the effects of environmental and weather variables with daily COVID-19 cases and COVID-19 fatalities in Istanbul, Turkey. Turkey has the 8th highest number of COVID-19 cases globally, with the highest infections and deaths in Istanbul

Abstract Monitoring the pollution status of freshwater resources is an important step in sustainable planning. This study aimed to determine the distribution and sources of metals in the sediments of the transboundary eastern Anatolian/Caucasus region Kura river as well as its ecological risk level. Surface sediment samples were collected from eight sites along the human disturbance gradient. Multi-element

Abstract Climate changes on the Southwest coast of India have essential impacts on social and economic development, and the ecosystem of Southern India. Here, we present the last 2000 cal yr AD rare earth elemental records of the sediment core from the Cherai, Kerala coast, southwest India. The light rare earth elements (LREE) were the most abundant fraction in the core sediment, followed by medium

Abstract Regular monitoring of the chemical status of water bodies remains crucial in countries where data on chemical fingerprints that can assist in environmental policy is still limited. The current study focused on the concentrations of 14 metals and their sources in two important South African rivers that pass through various rural areas and two semi-urban towns in the province of the Eastern

Abstract This study provides data on the concentrations and occupational risk of Cd, Pb, Cr, Ni, Cu, Co, Mn, Zn, and Fe in indoor dust from visual arts studios of nine tertiary institutions in southern Nigeria. The dust samples were digested in aqua regia and their metal concentrations were quantified by atomic absorption spectrometry. The concentrations of metals in dust from visual arts studios ranged

Abstract The distribution pattern and sources of trace elemental contents of refined petroleum products were determined in this study. Petroleum products comprising of petrol, kerosene, and diesel samples were obtained from different commercial gas stations in Nigeria and analyzed for V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. Results showed that Zn had the highest

Abstract The levels of essential and toxic elements (Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Co, Cr, and Ni) were determined in kerosene-contaminated soils with the aim of identifying their possible sources and associated health and ecological risks. Ni was undetected in the studied soils. Fe had the highest mean concentration (14,172 ± 6110.13 mg/kg) while Co had the least mean concentration (1.42 ± 3.17 mg/kg) in the studied

Abstract The legal admissibility of scientific tools, such as dendrochemistry providing forensic evidence for criminal or civil cases, critically relies on the quality of fundamental and applied scientific research. The “Daubert” and “Frye” criteria that federal courts in the U.S.A use for determining legal admissibility requires publication of the scientific basis for the tool, and general acceptance

Abstract It is generally accepted that landfills undergo at least four phases of decomposition, 1) an initial aerobic phase, 2) an anaerobic acid phase, 3) an initial methanogenic phase, and 4) a stable methanogenic phase. While landfill fires are common, recently anoxic subsurface heating events (ASHEs) have been recognized, potentially catalyzed by aluminum waste. This paper reviews two such events

Abstract Results of metal(loid)s pollution history, their enrichment and contamination factors in sediments of Wami River Estuary, Tanzania are presented. Two sediment cores (WE1 and WE2) were retrieved from the Estuary using hand-driven PVC coring tubes. Levels of metal(loid)s in sediment samples were determined using EDXRF spectrometer coupled with X-lab ProTM software. Metal(loid)s enrichment factors

Abstract The effect of waste dumps on groundwater quality on perched aquifers in Nsukka and environs was investigated by applying multivariate statistical analyses using Statgraphics Centurion XVII, ArcGIS 10.2.2 and Surfer 10 software on hydrochemical parameters from soil (0 cm and 15 cm depth) and groundwater media. Factor analysis, correlation, principal component analysis and cluster analysis reflect

Abstract In this study, chemometric techniques have been used in source apportionment for spatial variation of surface water quality of seven rivers (Baralia, Puthimari, Pagladia, Beki, Manas, Kolong and Kameng River) of Assam (India). The study was carried out in two phases. The first phase included the survey of the study area and the collection and analysis of water samples. In the second phase

Abstract Laboratory test reports are often used as one of the pieces of evidence needed in proving civil environmental justice cases. This study analyses court decisions and their ability to elaborate problems in transmitting these reports as scientific evidence in such cases in Indonesia. They can be qualified as written and expert testimony evidence, with their use left entirely to the judge's discretion

Abstract Levels of vehicular emission pollutants (CO, NO2, and PM2.5) were measured along a major highway in Lagos, Nigeria using different state-of-the-art analytical techniques, while BREEZE ROAD dispersion model was used to predict the vehicular contributions to airshed using traffic count, vehicular emission factor, and meteorological data, modelling receptor, traffic and road condition. Traffic

Abstract The first COVID-19 case in Turkey was reported by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Turkey on March 10 2020. From this date, some restrictions were introduced by the Government of the Republic of Turkey in many cities. At first, due to the increasing number of cases, curfews were declared in 31 cities between 11-12 April 2020. Later, curfews continued to be applied every weekend and

Abstract Ambient air pollutants have detrimental effects on human health and ambient air quality in central Taiwan is worsening. The aims of this study are as follows: (1) Measure the ambient air concentrations and dry deposition fluxes of particulates at a mixed commercial, urban and traffic sampling site in Luliao. (2) Identify the metallic elements that are attached to the particulates at this mixed

Abstract The Mitidja plain area, located in north Algeria, is one of the main agricultural plains in the Mediterranean basin where water supplies are mainly provided by groundwater resource. Due to the effects of a rapid population increase, followed by an intensification of agricultural activities, a proper groundwater vulnerability assessment became urgent. In this study, the DRASTIC model has been

Abstract Since there have not been any atmospheric phthalate acid ester (PAE) concentration-related studies in central Taiwan during the past few years, our first atmospheric PAE study was focused on the measurement of ambient air particle-bound PAE concentrations in central Taiwan (Fang et al., 2019 Fang, G. C., Ho, T. T., Chen, Y. C., Zhuang, Y. J., Kao, C. L., and Liang, G. R. 2019. Sources, monthly

Abstract Accumulation of trace metals in the tissues (muscle, gill and liver) of pelagic fishes (Sardinella longiceps, Rastrelliger kanagurta, and Lates calcarifer) and demersal fishes (Cyanoglossus macrostomus, Caranx melampygus, and Nemipterus japonicus) of the coastal waters of Cochin were quantified during the monsoon, post-monsoon and pre-monsoon seasons. The seasonal ranges of metal concentrations

Abstract Globally, the influence of mining activities on the quality of drinking waters have been reported by several researchers. Long-term exposure to potentially toxic elements (PTEs) (e.g. As, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se and Zn) can cause serious health hazards to consumers of polluted water. In the current study, twenty groundwater samples from Ameka mine area were analyzed for PTEs pollution

Abstract Oil spill forensic investigations are often challenging due to many confounding variables such as sample weathering, oil composition complexities, and the quality or quantity of collected materials, but the difficulty is further compounded when dealing with mixed oils. In this case, well-established oil fingerprinting techniques become inadequate, including gas chromatography-flame ionization

Abstract The sources and fate of antimony (Sb) and arsenic (As) in water resources around antimonite (a.k.a. stibnite) deposits is of great concern due to their adverse effects on the environment and human health. The aim of this study was to determine geochemical compositions of gangue/ore material and water samples collected in and around the antimonite deposits located near Turhal (Tokat, Northern

Abstract The SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-related Coronavirus 2) and its concomitant disease COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019), discovered at the end of December 2019, have spread around the world, becoming a global public health problem. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Chinese government took strict lockdown measures in early 2020 in many cities. The purpose of this study

Abstract The background occurrence, sources, and human health risk of 16-USEPA priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (16-PAHs) in soils from anthropogenic environments of the Niger Delta, Nigeria were investigated. After extraction with dichloromethane/n-hexane by ultrasonication and clean-up in silica gel/alumina packed column, gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) was used for the determination

Abstract The contamination of soils due to traffic-related activities has been an ever-growing concern since the mid-20th century. This global issue impacts both rural soils often used for agriculture and grazing, and urban soils in densely populated urban areas. Therefore, this work aimed to evaluate the distribution of catalytic converters-related elements (Pd, Pt, Rh, Mo, and Ni) in roadside soils

Abstract Groundwater pollution is a serious threat to the ecological environment and human life. It is necessary to determine the characteristics of pollution sources accurately and efficiently after the occurrence of pollution. The main basis for determining the characteristics of pollution sources is the pollutant concentration data of each observation well. However, due to the layout of the monitoring

Abstract This study determined the background occurrence, origin, and human health risk of priority mono-aromatics in soil samples around diesel-powered electricity generators from selected land use environments in the Niger Delta, Nigeria. Soil samples were collected in a 20 ml vial containing 5 ml of methanol and caped with a crimp. The BTEX species were determined with a Headspace gas chromatography-mass

Abstract The main objective of this study is to determine the effects of COVID-19 measures on air quality in Turkey. For this investigation, a daily mean of PM10, PM2.5, NO2, CO, O3, and SO2 air pollutant data, provided from the measurement stations run by the Ministry of Environment and Urbanisation and the Istanbul and Izmir Metropolitan Municipalities were used. The R program, an open-code statistics

Abstract To estimate heavy metal sources in soils under the influence of a high-density population, the concentrations of heavy metals, namely, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Hg, Pb, and Fe, were determined in 23 soil samples from different sites at Suzhou University campus. Factor analysis (FA) and source analysis were completed based on the UNMIX model; the results showed that the contents of Ni

Abstract We investigated the source, contamination level and the potential ecological risk of heavy metals (Al, Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd and Pb) in the Setiu wetland area, one of the largest natural wetlands on the East Coast of peninsula Malaysia. To do this, we collected surface sediments between 0 and 10 cm depth from 27 locations. These locations covered the major habitat types in the wetland

Abstract The objective of this study was to investigate the variations and correlations of the air pollutants during Covid-19 pandemic lock-down period for an industrialized city of Turkey. With this aim, air quality data measured at four different stations in the period March–June 2020 were used. Results of the study demonstrated that lock-down period caused significant decreases in pollution levels

Abstract Conventional analytical methods determine the concentration of compounds used to estimate the presence of environmental contamination capable of posing risk to human and ecological receptors. While these target analytes help regulators and environmental professional identify and manage potentially harmful conditions, these compounds can be generated by many natural and anthropogenic (man-made)

Abstract The activity levels of 40K, 238U, and 232Th radionuclides in soil and associated radiological risk in rice field 1 and field 2 located in Ezillo, Ebonyi State, Nigeria were investigated in this study. Topsoil soil samples at depths 0–4 cm and 4–8 cm were collected before planting (BP), after planting (AP) and during harvesting (DH) stages. The activities of the radionuclides in the soil were

Abstract After an oil spill, collecting reliable and legally defensible oil samples is critical for determining oil sources and assessing environmental impacts. This review of guidance documents and the scientific literature identifies accepted practices for collecting oil samples in the marine environment for chemical analysis. Recommended sampling techniques differ depending on the form of the oil

Abstract The present study analyzed the concentrations of four heavy metals iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), and lead (Pb) on the surface sediments in Sebou river estuary (Morocco) and evaluated the role of sediment grain size and organic carbon (OC) on the distribution of metals. Sixteen numbers of surface sediment samples collected during the summer period of 2019 from Sebou estuary were used

Abstract A systematic investigation was conducted on 56 persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the atmosphere at seven functional regions of Jinan, China. The POPs included 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), 6 phthalic acid esters (PAEs), 17 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and 17 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs). The concentrations in gas-phase and particle-phase were monitored and analyzed

Abstract This paper describes a forensic investigation of groundwater in an urban context in Italy. The present case study was conducted to detect the hydraulic flow path between a sportfishing pond and a nearby industrial plant’s contaminated groundwater site. The investigation was performed to evaluate the potential for diffusion of contaminants through groundwater flow into a fishing pond located

Abstract The sampling design of Deonar dumping ground located at Mumbai, India is conceptualized in this paper using seven different sampling protocols. The sampling design is developed to investigate the total mercury levels in the soil. Individual units are selected from the population to establish the pollution status of the area. It is seen that time and budgetary constraints are major factors

Abstract The Meliane River, the second longest and most important river in Tunisia, is one of the major rivers that flow into the Gulf of Tunis. However, it is known by its significant discharges of urban and industrial activities that have seriously affected the quality of the aquatic ecosystem. The highest amounts of Cadmium (Cd), Copper (Cu), Lead (Pb), Zinc (Zn), Nickel (Ni), Chromium (Cr) and

Abstract The research assesses the suitability of groundwater in Eha-Ndiagu and its Environs, astern Nigeria, for domestic and irrigation uses by analyzing the physicochemical, heavy metal, and bacteriological parameters in the area. The physicochemical analysis revealed that the groundwater is anthropologically contaminated by sewage and agricultural wastes.The forensic relevance and health implications

Abstract Triterpenoids and fatty alcohols were identified from the sediments of five mangrove ecosystems (Kunjimangalam, Pazhayangadi, Pappinissery, Thalassery, and Kadalundi) in the northern Kerala coast, India, to illustrate the organic matter sources. Straight chain fatty alcohols in the range C12–32 were detected, and among these the long chain fatty alcohols (C20–32) were exclusively even chained

Abstract In this study, soil and sediment samples along with groundwater samples were collected and analyzed from an abandoned synthetic diamond production plant in Anhui Province, South China. Chemical analysis, pollution characteristics analysis, and correlation analysis were conducted to assess and to determine the source(s) of the toxic metal and organic pollutions in the study sites. The Co and

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 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 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 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 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 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 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