Themed collection Recent Open Access Articles

Characterizing the degradation behavior of chemicals in the environment is a key component of chemical hazard and risk assessment.

A more ubiquitous use of process-based models will enhance the information gained from biogeochemical experimentation through both, a more rigorous interpretation of acquired data and the optimal design of future experiments.

While per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of synthetic organic substances with diverse structures, properties, uses, bioaccumulation potentials and toxicities, nearly all PFAS are highly persistent.

Bacteria degrading 1,2,3-trichloropropane were constructed by genetic engineering and may be applicable for groundwater bioremediation, following the example of 1,2-dichloroethane.

A multi-disciplinary perspective on connecting chemistry, exposure and medical information to “neurotoxicity” for mass spectrometry-based environmental assessment, including multiple interactive resources for readers to use and explore.

High persistence has important implications for chemicals regulation and management.

Applying POP screening to a large chemical domain requires less reliance on individual criteria and more on integrated assessment with models.

Lead (Pb) has been used in human civilization for centuries, but the quantity and source of Pb pollution released into the environment varies spatially and temporally. Ice cores and snowpits are an excellent record of past Pb use.

The distribution of trace elements (TEs) in the bituminous sands is dichotomous: V, Ni, Mo, Se and Re are found predominantly in the bitumen fraction, and all other TEs in the mineral fraction.

Antimony (Sb) has gained increased attention over the past few decades due to its possible detrimental effects on biota and its potential to leach and disperse from contaminated soils.

Microcontaminants and microplastics are released at every stage of production and use and end up in wastewater treatment plants and eventually in surface waters.

This work introduces the reader to machine learning principles and highlights its usage in examining microplastics in soil samples.

The critical review scrutinizes some of the public statements on fluorinated gases and gives a detailed overview of the available alternatives to fluorinated gases used as refrigerants.

Optical surrogates are used to characterize dissolved organic matter composition like aromaticity and molecular weight. We both review the genesis of surrogate-composition relationships and critically evaluate additional supporting evidence.

The Galician rías (NW Iberia, Spain) are responsible for most of the national shellfish production. This is the first review of red tides in that area including an historical overview, social challenges and proposals for improving their monitoring.

Recent findings on oxidized organic compounds in the atmosphere and analytical methodologies for their detection and quantification.

PFAS are widely used in lithium-ion batteries, which may be problematic for the rapidly growing battery recycling industry.

Approaches to regulatory assessment and management of polymers are reviewed and opportunities for improvements are highlighted based on a critical appraisal of current science on their environmental fate and effects.

Time series of contaminants in the Arctic are an important instrument to detect emerging issues and to monitor the effectiveness of chemicals regulation. Climate change can affect the link between primary emissions and concentrations in Arctic wildlife.

Direct and indirect effects of climate change influence contaminant sources, transport, re-distribution and circulation in the physical environment of the Arctic. Linkages of such observations to Arctic ecosystem exposure and effects are needed.

Global climate change-driven shifts in physical and ecological processes may alter POPs concentrations in Arctic food webs.

Future climate change in the Arctic will lead to loss of ice, snow and permafrost, increasing human activity and development, and changes in wind and ocean circulation patterns, that could alter the pathways, distribution and fate of contaminants.

This review covers 40 laboratory- and plot-scale wildfire and rainfall simulation experiments which focus on wildfire hydrologic and water quality effects, guiding future researchers in the optimal design of their own simulation experiments.

Our critical review compares ARG profiles in the atmosphere across different locations and discusses characterization methods, atmospheric transport, and future research questions.

Synthetic fibre release is an important source of microplastics to agricultural soils, through the application of sewage sludge. Microplastics are potential vectors for the transport of sorbed metal(loid)s from wastewater to soils and organisms.

Pathways of human exposure to MPs and associated risks.

With polystyrene nanoparticles being widely used in various applications, there is a great need for deeper knowledge on the safety, fate and biological effects of these particles on both individual living organisms and the whole ecosystems.

A synoptic review of aquatic plastics research from Australia, the United Kingdom and China is presented, highlighting (a) key research and management challenges, and (b) a need to converge on standardised methods and bioindicator species to make global comparisons more reliable.

The essential-use concept is a tool that can guide the phase-out of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and potentially other harmful substances of concern.

The fate of plastic in the ocean is influenced by physical, chemical and biological stressors. These cause fragemntation and the formation of micro and nanoplastics but also degradation of plastics.

The changes in the secondary structure of albumin after incubation with particulate matter (PM) fractions of different compositions were studied, revealing a significant increase of the β-sheets in the presence of the metallic PM.

This novel investigation revealed substantial PFAS contamination and plastic-PFAS co-occurrence in yard waste compost. Insights gained from the distribution of PFAS in compost are valuable for improving its management and application.

The first step towards the urgently needed standardization of EOF methods for PFAS-total assessment is presented in this interlaboratory study.

Characterizing air-textile distribution of aromatic amines to understand importance of textiles in exposure to amines and transport from indoors to outdoors.

The bioaccessible fraction of metal(loid)s in tailings dust decreases along the climatic gradient from semiarid to arid environments as a function of differences in the mineralogical and geochemical compositions.

The agricultural sector plays a pivotal role in Hainan Province, China; therefore, the utilization of pesticides is indispensable.

Sodium silicate application elevated soil pH and reduced Cd bioavailability in acidic contaminated soils, thereby mitigating Cd toxicity, improving pak choi growth, and lowering Cd accumulation in plants.

QSARs for toxicity of anionic surfactants with hydrocarbon and perfluorocarbon backbones are derived from membrane-water distribution coefficients for fish and daphnids. Coarse-grained simulation methods are developed to predict the coefficients.

Historic landfills can be a source of per- and polyfluoroalkylated substances (PFAS) to nearby surface waters across several aquatic ecosystem zones

A comprehensive study of indoor VOCs, revealing how seasonality and location shape indoor VOC exposure.

Microplastic (MP) particles are ubiquitous in aquatic environments where they become exposed to UV-irradiation and environmental particles with subsequent alteration of surface properties.

This work provides an assessment of indoor air pollution issue in poultry facilities, and selectively characterized organic amino pollutants.

The environmental impact of amines utilized in processes involving CO₂-absorption has been evaluated towards bacteria, plants and invertebrates.

We developed a mechanistic diffusion model to describe the sorption kinetics of metallic and organic contaminants on nano- and micro-plastics.

An integrative analytical approach was used to assess the unique molecular-level soil organic matter (SOM) responses to detrital manipulation, which were dictated by the ecological properties of a temperate forest in Central Europe.

Septic tanks (STs) are an important pathway for pharmaceuticals entering rivers.

The Norfolk Southern train derailment on February 3, 2023, in East Palestine, Ohio, prompted concerns about the health impacts from the chemical spills and open-air combustion.

Silicone wristbands are utilized for evaluating personal exposures to organic chemicals. This study shows that the movement of individuals can enhance rates of chemical uptake on these wristbands.

A model-based analysis of extraction data for pharmaceuticals in soils disentangles different dissipation pathways and quantifies the extraction bias.

A model of nitrogen biogeochemical cycling in agriculture soil at the field scale for assessing how crop management practices affect nitrogen fertilizer fate and transport.

Nanoscale mixed inorganic–organic Fe–Ca–P-OM co-precipitates formed in sediments of eutrophic peat lake after Fe treatment increase seasonal internal P loading.

Hydrogen internal combustion engines offer a near-term decarbonisation pathway for hard to electrify sectors such as non-road mobile machinery (NRMM).

This study presents photochemical (singlet oxygen), optical properties (absorbance, fluorescence), photobleaching and photomineralization experiments of wildfire ash leachates. Results indicate that ash leachates are more labile than control soils.

This paper provides an overview of the INGENIOUS (UnderstandING the sourcEs, traNsformations and fates of IndOor air pollUtantS) project, aiming to better understand air pollution in homes.

Monomethylmercury (MMHg) photodegradation along the land-to-ocean aquatic continuum is affected by dissolved organic matter (DOM) composition, concentration, and salinity.

This study developed a robust LCMS method for accurate quantification of ethanolamines in oil and gas wastewaters, addressing matrix interferences with solid-phase extraction and compound-specific isotopes, enhancing risk evaluation of chemical release to the environment.

Due to their binding to possibly important high/medium-molecular mass intracellular proteins, technology-critical elements, actinides and other nonessential metals could pose a risk for aquatic organisms in highly contaminated aquatic environments.

Weathering of acid-forming alum shale might lead to the mobilization of potentially harmful contaminants, including U, while precipitation of secondary phases in the surrounding environment can act as a temporary storage for leachable contaminants.

This study presents an application of TPD-DART-HRMS for plastic, enabling rapid characterization of waste through Kendrick grouping and Tanimoto comparison.

Real-time measurements of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) reveal the chemical fingerprints of cooking oils, herbs, and spices, offering insights into their impact on indoor air quality and pollutant exposure.

Measurements from the HOMEChem campaign have been constrained and modelled, identifying how cooking and cleaning affect indoor radical reactivities and concentrations.

The use of multi-method approaches provides a unique way of understanding nitrate contamination and its impact on groundwater quality.

PAH-hemoglobin adduct levels were associated with cumulative PM_2.5 exposure over the lifespan of red blood cells, demonstrating their utility as biomarkers for longer-term exposure.

Siderite is stabilised against oxidation in the presence of Low Molecular Weight Organic Acids (LMWOAs) with implications for iron mineral transformations and therefore contaminant and nutrient cycling.

Open dumping and burning of solid waste are widely practiced in underserved communities lacking access to solid waste management facilities. The generation of microplastics from these sites has been overlooked.

Retention of metal ions onto PET microplastic fibres is expected during sewage treatment.

Private groundwater wells in communities co-located with historically contaminated sites and ongoing industrial activity contain complex mixtures of low-dose organic chemicals.

A novel application of mobile monitoring to investigate the spatial distribution of vehicular and non-vehicular urban particulate matter sources in London, UK.

Exposure to indoor PM_2.5 originating from indoor sources is relevant, and PM_2.5 chemical speciation data is necessary to estimate this exposure. This work proposes a new approach to quantify such exposure.

This study examines PFAS leaching behavior from concrete contaminated by the historical use of aqueous film-forming foams at an Australian Defence site, highlighting the long-term environmental implications of contaminated infrastructure.