Themed collection Best Papers 2022 – Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts
![](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.147/content/NewImages/Ajax-GA-Loader.gif)
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.147/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
Climate change influence on the levels and trends of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and chemicals of emerging Arctic concern (CEACs) in the Arctic physical environment – a review
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.
Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2022,24, 1577-1615
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1EM00485A
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.147/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
The influence of global climate change on accumulation and toxicity of persistent organic pollutants and chemicals of emerging concern in Arctic food webs
Global climate change-driven shifts in physical and ecological processes may alter POPs concentrations in Arctic food webs.
Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2022,24, 1544-1576
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1EM00469G
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.147/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
Influence of climate change on persistent organic pollutants and chemicals of emerging concern in the Arctic: state of knowledge and recommendations for future research
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.
Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2022,24, 1530-1543
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1EM00531F
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.147/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
Critical review of antibiotic resistance genes in the atmosphere
Our critical review compares ARG profiles in the atmosphere across different locations and discusses characterization methods, atmospheric transport, and future research questions.
Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2022,24, 870-883
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2EM00091A
Emerging investigator series: contributions of reactive nitrogen species to transformations of organic compounds in water: a critical review
Reactive nitrogen species (RNS) pose a potential risk to drinking water quality because they react with organic compounds to form toxic byproducts.
Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2022,24, 851-869
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2EM00102K
Emerging investigator series: microplastic sources, fate, toxicity, detection, and interactions with micropollutants in aquatic ecosystems – a review of reviews
Hundreds of review studies have been published focusing on microplastics (MPs) and their environmental impacts.
Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2022,24, 172-195
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1EM00443C
PFAS fate and destruction mechanisms during thermal treatment: a comprehensive review
Our critical review provides a comprehensive state-of-the-art understanding of PFAS thermal behavior and destruction mechanisms under different thermal destruction technologies and further research needs.
Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2022,24, 196-208
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1EM00465D
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.147/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
Occurrence, human exposure, and risk of microplastics in the indoor environment
Pathways of human exposure to MPs and associated risks.
Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2022,24, 17-31
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1EM00301A
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.147/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
Use and release of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in consumer food packaging in U.S. and Canada
PFASs used in food packaging have the potential to contaminate the environment and numerous parts of the waste stream.
Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2022,24, 2032-2042
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2EM00166G
Non-targeted identification and semi-quantitation of emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in US rainwater
Analysis of precipitation finds many emerging PFAS.
Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2023,25, 1771-1787
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2EM00349J
Legacy and emerging airborne per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) collected on PM2.5 filters in close proximity to a fluoropolymer manufacturing facility
Large fluoropolymer manufacturing plants are major sources of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to the environment; we measured legacy and emerging PFAS in air to provide insights into near-source PFAS profiles.
Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2022,24, 2272-2283
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2EM00358A
Air quality trends in rural India: analysis of NO2 pollution using satellite measurements
India is a country with more than 67% of its population (947 million) residing in rural areas and 33% in urban areas (472 million) as of 2020.
Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2022,24, 2437-2449
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2EM00293K
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.147/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
Quantum chemical calculation of the vapor pressure of volatile and semi volatile organic compounds
Quantum chemistry based calculation methods enable the reliable prediction of the vapor pressure of molecules with rather general structure and are particularly valuable for non-rigid substances with low volatilities.
Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2022,24, 2153-2166
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2EM00271J
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.147/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
Ferrihydrite transformations in flooded paddy soils: rates, pathways, and product spatial distributions
The rate and pathway of ferrihydrite transformation in soil depends on the properties of the soil pore water and diffusion processes.
Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2022,24, 1867-1882
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2EM00290F
Changes in light absorption and composition of chromophoric marine-dissolved organic matter across a microbial bloom
Marine chromophoric dissolved organic matter (m-CDOM) mediates many vital photochemical processes in the surface ocean.
Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2022,24, 1923-1933
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2EM00150K
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.147/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
Are cosmetics a significant source of PFAS in Europe? product inventories, chemical characterization and emission estimates
Estimates of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) emission from the use of cosmetics in Europe.
Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2022,24, 1697-1707
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2EM00123C
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.147/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
Thallium adsorption onto phyllosilicate minerals
We studied the extent and mode of thallium adsorption onto several phyllosilicate minerals. Thallium, in analogy to cesium, strongly adsorbs onto micaceous phyllosilicates in soils and sediments via complexation in siloxane cavities.
Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2022,24, 1343-1359
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2EM00028H
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.147/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
Evaluating atmospheric mercury (Hg) uptake by vegetation in a chemistry-transport model
We study the uptake of atmospheric mercury by vegetation in a chemical transport model and available observations. Due to the importance of this sink in the global mercury cycle, perturbations to forested areas can elevate mercury risks.
Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2022,24, 1303-1318
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2EM00032F
Organic carbon, and major and trace elements reside in labile low-molecular form in the ground ice of permafrost peatlands: a case study of colloids in peat ice of Western Siberia
The low molecular weight fraction of peat porewater is enriched in DOC, anions, oxyanions, alkalis and some trace metals. An increase in the active layer depth can liberate a large amount of labile metals and nutrients from the peat.
Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2022,24, 1443-1459
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1EM00547B
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.147/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
Demystifying mercury geochemistry in contaminated soil–groundwater systems with complementary mercury stable isotope, concentration, and speciation analyses
A holistic multi-analyses (led by Hg stable isotope analysis), multi-media, multi-site approach to improving contaminated site Hg geochemistry, particularly process tracing.
Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2022,24, 1406-1429
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1EM00368B
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.147/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
A food web bioaccumulation model for the accumulation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in fish: how important is renal elimination?
We present a whole-body aquatic food web bioaccumulation model for perfluoroalkyl acids and two alternatives. Results highlight structure-dependent mechanisms, including phospholipid partitioning, blood plasma protein binding, and renal elimination.
Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2022,24, 1152-1164
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2EM00047D
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.147/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
Investigating the dynamics of methylmercury bioaccumulation in the Beaufort Sea shelf food web: a modeling perspective
We used a modeling approach to explore how toxicokinetics and food-web trophodynamics affect MeHg bioaccumulation in the Beaufort Sea shelf.
Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2022,24, 1010-1025
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2EM00108J
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.147/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
Emerging investigator series: aqueous-phase processing of atmospheric aerosol influences dissolution kinetics of metal ions in an urban background site in the Po Valley
Fog processing of atmospheric aerosol enhances the solubility and the dissolution kinetics of particle-bound metal ions.
Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2022,24, 884-897
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2EM00023G
Spatial distribution and biogeochemistry of redox active species in arctic sedimentary porewaters and seeps
Schematic showing how voltammetric microelectrodes were used to profile arctic lake sediments, where different locations contained different distributions of redox-active species.
Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2022,24, 426-438
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1EM00505G
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.147/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
A review of PFAS fingerprints in fish from Norwegian freshwater bodies subject to different source inputs
Fingerprints associated with long-range atmospheric transport, production of paper products, and use of aqueous film forming foams (AFFF) were identified.
Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2022,24, 330-342
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1EM00408E
Characterizing photochemical ageing processes of microplastic materials using multivariate analysis of infrared spectra
PCA model of ATR-FTIR spectra discriminates plastic types and predicts photochemical age under long-term natural and artificial weathering conditions.
Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2022,24, 52-61
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1EM00392E
About this collection
The Environmental Science Best Papers Initiative identifies a selection of excellent papers published in the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Environmental Science journal family, showcasing great research from across the globe. This collection of our best papers in 2022 can be read here: https://rsc.li/enviro-bestpapers
To celebrate more of the great papers published in Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts during 2022, we’ve gathered all shortlisted papers in this special collection.