Environmental Science and Pollution Research

<p><em>Environmental Science and Pollution Research </em>(ESPR) serves the international community in all areas of Environmental Science and related subjects with emphasis on chemical and environmental stressors. This includes:</p> <p>- Terrestrial Biology and Ecology<br/>- Aquatic Biology and Ecology<br/>- Atmospheric Environment<br/>- Environmental Microbiology<br/>- Phytoremediation and Ecosystem Restoration<br/>- Impacts and Risk Assessment of Chemicals/Pollutants on Human, Animal, and Ecosystem Health (human toxicology and ecotoxicology)<br/>- Conservation Biology and Sustainable Agriculture<br/>- Environmental Analyses and Monitoring<br/>- Sustainable Energy<br/>- Sustainable Industrial and Technological Processes<br/>- Waste Treatment and Management<br/>- Biobased Technology<br/>- Sustainable Urban and Rural Landscape<br/>- Natural Hazards (fires, earthquakes, land sliding, flooding etc. ), and Industrial Risks (chemical pollution, radioactive accidents, oil spills etc.)<br/><br/>Apart from the strictly scientific contributions as research articles (short and full papers) and reviews, ESPR publishes:</p> News &amp; views from research and technology, legislation and regulation, hardware and software, education, literature, institutions, organizations, conferences. Commentary and editorials round out the journal’s contents. <p>ESPR <strong>does not accept papers dealing with</strong> functioning of diesel and engines (only papers mainly focused on emissions will be considered), nor dealing with tourism, pharmacology, and mechanical engineering related to wind/solar energy. Papers on Green Economy are no longer accepted.<br/>(statement: December 2024)</p> <p>ESPR is the official organ of the EuChemS Division of Chemistry and the Environment (EuChemS DCE).<br/><br/><br/></p>

List of Papers (Total 5,139)

Biomarkers of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in urine of municipal police officers: impact of inhalation on total exposure

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous environmental contaminants that adversely affect human health, mainly through their carcinogenic and mutagenic properties. Monitoring the exposure to PAHs of the inhabitants of air polluted regions is important because of the impact of these pollutants on human health. The aim of this study was to assess the exposure to PAHs...

Do carotenoids protect phytodetritus-associated bacteria from oxidative stress?

This study focused on how carotenoid pigments in bacteria attached to phytoplankton protect them from singlet oxygen produced by phytoplankton during senescence, specifically under illumination of the diatom Thalassiosira sp. Its effect was analyzed on bacterial membrane structure (photooxidation of bacterial membrane lipids such as mono-unsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and on DNA...

State of microbeads in facial scrubs: persistence and the need for broader regulation

Microbeads are small spherical plastic particles used as exfoliants in personal care products. Unfortunately, they have been found in the marine environment and are considered a significant contributor to global plastic pollution. In response, several countries have implemented microbead bans over the last few years. Here, we examined the exfoliant (scrubbing particles...

Elevated concentrations of methyl isocyanate and isocyanic acid in cigarette smoke

Monoisocyanates are usually intermediates of industrial processes but alkyl-isocyanates and isocyanic acid can also be created when nitrogen-containing compounds thermally degrade. One of the most notable monoisocyanates, methyl isocyanate (MIC), was accidentally released to the surrounding from a pesticide plant in the Bhopal disaster of 1984, where it killed several thousand...

Tailoring selectivity and efficiency: pyrazolyl-1H-1,2,4-triazole MCM-41 and silica hybrid materials for efficient cadmium(II) removal from water

Two novel silica-based hybrid materials, M1 and M2, based on silica gel and MCM-41 with a ditopic triazole-pyrazole ligand grafted onto their surfaces, respectively, were successfully synthesized and fully characterized. The adsorption capacity of these organic–inorganic hybrid materials was evaluated for copper(II), cadmium(II), and lead(II) ions. Experimental parameters...

Predictive modeling of climate change impacts using Artificial Intelligence: a review for equitable governance and sustainable outcome

The accelerating pace of climate change poses unprecedented challenges to global ecosystems and human societies. In response, this study reviews the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to develop advanced predictive models for assessing the multifaceted impacts of climate change. The study used the PRISMA framework to find, assess, and combine research on using AI in predicting...

Planning for a pinniped response during a marine oil spill

Understanding the distribution and abundance of wildlife populations is key to successful oil spill response planning. Fur seals are difficult to rehabilitate if oiled, and many common spill response techniques may be limited in the high-energy rocky shore habitats they prefer. Preventing oil from reaching colonies, and hazing or deterring animals away from oil are high-priority...

From fossil-based to circular bioeconomy: a Swedish and Finnish pathway

The transition from a fossil-based economy to a circular bioeconomy is a critical challenge and opportunity in the face of global climate change. Sweden and Finland, with their abundant forest resources and strong commitment to sustainability, are well positioned to lead this transition. The WoodPro project exemplifies this effort by exploring innovative ways to valorize forest...

Analysis of planetary boundaries and economic assessment for waste valorization in the context of a biorefinery: case study of the corn value chain in Sucre, Colombia

The environmental impact generated by the excessive use of energy and petrochemical products has become a current problem addressed by considering the valorization of waste from a value chain (VC) under the biorefinery concept. At a global level, international organizations have proposed different tools to control the environmental impact of VC. Life cycle analysis (LCA) is the...

Chemical risk analysis competence in the Nordics is at stake

Toxicology-related experts are on a daily basis working with the safety assessment of chemicals for human health and the environment, providing knowledge applied for management and regulation of chemicals. The field of toxicology is undergoing continuous transition away from traditional safety evaluation studies in experimental animals to application of new approach methodologies...

Direct current (DC) initiated flocculation of Scenedesmus dimorphus

Despite their superior efficiency, chemical flocculants introduce foreign chemicals, such as metals, into harvested microalgae, posing downstream application challenges. To overcome this, a simple direct current (DC) initiated flocculation technology is proposed for microalgal harvesting. This method applies a DC electric field across titanium plate electrodes to promote...

Drivers of fungal and bacterial communities in ectomycorrhizospheres of birch, oak, and pine in a former uranium mining site, Ronneburg, Germany

The impact of soil and tree species on fungal and bacterial communities was investigated in a former uranium mining area with field and pot studies of the mycorrhizospheres of birch (Betula pendula), oak (Quercus robur), and pine (Pinus sylvestris). At the initial stages of succession re-created in the pot experiment, tree-species-specific microbial communities were detected. The...

Lethal and sublethal toxicity of ytterbium in rainbow trout juveniles

The heavy rare earth element ytterbium (Yb) is a critical element of technology finding its way into urban wastewaters from solid waste disposal sites. The purpose of this study was to investigate the lethal and sublethal toxicity of Yb to rainbow trout juveniles. They were exposed to increasing concentrations of Yb3+ (0.06–40 mg/L) for 96 h at 15 °C. Mortality was recorded, and...

Green synthesis of CaO-Fe₃O₄ composites for photocatalytic degradation and adsorption of synthetic dyes

The efficient removal of synthetic dyes, such as methylene blue (MB) and malachite green (MG), continues to pose a significant challenge due to their high stability, toxicity, and resistance to conventional treatment methods. In this study, CaO-Fe₃O₄ compounds were synthesized using a sustainable ball-milling technique, utilizing calcium oxide derived from eggshells and Fe₃O₄...

Pharmaceuticals and radiopharmaceuticals in wastewater treatment plants: insights from an Arabian Peninsula nation

The growing introduction of pharmaceutical compounds into waterways is a contemporary environmental issue in the Middle East and North Africa. This escalating problem necessitates a careful examination of the risks associated with the presence of pharmaceuticals in water sources. The present study analysed samples from eight wastewater treatment plants in an Arabian Peninsula...

The feeding mode effect: influence on particle ingestion by four invertebrates from Sub-Antarctic and Antarctic waters

Microplastic (MP) pollution is a significant threat to marine environments not only due to its widespread presence but also because of the alarming emergence of ingestion records among benthic organisms. In this study, MP prevalence was assessed in the stomach of the crustaceans Lithodes santolla and Grimothea gregaria and the gastropods Nacella deaurata and N. concinna...

Assessing the reliability of open-source data used for spatial characterisation of urban sanitation infrastructure—a field study in Rajshahi, Bangladesh

Urban sanitation in rapidly growing secondary cities remains a critical challenge, particularly in unsewered areas. This study evaluates the effectiveness of open-source data for modelling the sources and movement of faecal matter in such contexts, with a specific focus on Rajshahi, an unsewered secondary city in Bangladesh. By triangulating data from direct observations, key...

Global research trends on the human exposome: a bibliometric analysis (2005–2024)

Exposome represents one of the most pressing issues in the environmental science research field. However, a comprehensive summary of worldwide human exposome research is lacking. We aimed to explore the bibliometric characteristics of scientific publications on the human exposome. A bibliometric analysis of human exposome publications from 2005 to December 2024 was conducted...

Dispersion of oxides, heavy metals, and natural radionuclides in phosphogypsum stockpiles of the phosphate industries in Türkiye

Heavy metal (HM) and naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) pollution is continuously increasing due to anthropogenic activities, and it is one of the global problems that pose a threat to human and environmental health. Phosphogypsum (PG), a by-product of phosphate fertilizer (PF) production, is an industrial solid waste produced in large quantities worldwide, and much...

Assessing radiological hazards in building materials: a case study with a focus on the ceramic industry in Emilia-Romagna, Italy

The building materials industry encounters naturally occurring radioactive materials problems and elicits growing attention in radiation protection regulations. However, the availability of useful, comprehensive data on radiological hazard in building materials is unfortunately scant: data are few and far between. In the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna, there is a flourishing...