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Environments
Volume 10
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Environments, Volume 10, Issue 9 (September 2023) – 17 articles

Cover Story (view full-size image): Forest soils contain a large amount of soil organic matter; therefore, small changes in these ecosystems have effects on the climate. If not preserved, soil organic carbon can be released as greenhouses gases in the atmosphere, increasing global warming. Therefore, a deep understanding of the soil organic matter processes is mandatory to reconstruct the carbon cycle dynamic in the forest ecosystem. In this context, the SuoBo project investigated the evolution of soil organic matter contents and isotopic signatures in two mountainous forest ecosystems located on the Apennine chain of the Emilia-Romagna Region (Northern Italy). The results of this work showed the different impact of the pedo-climatic conditions in two nearby farms, which should be considered in our climate change context. View this paper
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21 pages, 5411 KiB  
Article
When the Household Becomes Environmentally Friendly—Dynamic Simulation of Hybrid Energy System’s Feasibility
by Erlanda Atvare, Armands Gravelsins, Edgars Kudurs, Stelios Rozakis and Dagnija Blumberga
Environments 2023, 10(9), 164; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments10090164 - 20 Sep 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1150
Abstract
Decentralized electricity production at household scale, particularly by solar panels, has recently grown due to increased technology feasibility and financial support programs. Further development in this field requires the introduction and efficient use of energy storage technologies. This research aims to evaluate the [...] Read more.
Decentralized electricity production at household scale, particularly by solar panels, has recently grown due to increased technology feasibility and financial support programs. Further development in this field requires the introduction and efficient use of energy storage technologies. This research aims to evaluate the benefits and economic justification of implementing energy storage systems in private households by using system dynamics modelling. Household electricity consumption is a dynamic problem; therefore, the system dynamics approach allows the development of an exploratory model that accounts for the causal relationships and feedback loops in the system. Specifically, an hourly consumption model is developed to analyze the electricity costs in four scenarios: (1) a standard grid-connected system, (2) a PV system with net metering, (3) a grid-connected system with a connected battery, and (4) a grid-connected system with a combined PV and battery storage system. The structure of the build system dynamics model is described with a Latvian context case. It is found that in Latvian climate-specific conditions, the profitability of installing PV and PV and battery systems in private households in Latvia is justified by both summer and winter conditions. The developed model can be used to analyze the real electricity profiles of specific households, determining the profitability of installing energy-efficient solutions, and is adaptable for analyzing the situations of other countries or accumulation systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Deployment of Green Technologies for Sustainable Environment II)
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13 pages, 2608 KiB  
Review
Attenuation of Odours in the Urban Outdoor Environment: A Rapid Review and Implications for the Conduct and Interpretation of Smell Walks
by Dirk H. R. Spennemann, Murray Parker and Jennifer Bond
Environments 2023, 10(9), 163; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments10090163 - 19 Sep 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1427
Abstract
The assessment and documentation of visual, auditory, and olfactory sensory experiences within urban environments is an emerging focus of research that has implications for the understanding of cultural heritage as well as community mental health. The common methodology to identify, describe, and document [...] Read more.
The assessment and documentation of visual, auditory, and olfactory sensory experiences within urban environments is an emerging focus of research that has implications for the understanding of cultural heritage as well as community mental health. The common methodology to identify, describe, and document smells within environmental settings is smell walks, where individuals walk predefined transects, identifying and locating encountered odours and odour attributes (e.g., intensity, hedonic tone). As the locations of smell walks vary (e.g., indoor and outdoor markets, urban parks, etc.), localised environmental parameters such as airflow and temperature affect the dispersion and attenuation of the odours, influencing the results. This paper presents a rapid, systematic review of the factors that influence the attenuation of odours in the urban outdoor environment, in particular, in the context of outdoor markets. Although there is an abundance of literature on wind patterns in urban canyons discussing the influence of microtopography, this can only be applied cum grano salis to outdoor markets settings. Various avenues for future research are outlined. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Urban Air Pollution)
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14 pages, 3993 KiB  
Article
Structuring Nutrient Yields throughout Mississippi/Atchafalaya River Basin Using Machine Learning Approaches
by Yi Zhen, Huan Feng and Shinjae Yoo
Environments 2023, 10(9), 162; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments10090162 - 19 Sep 2023
Viewed by 1132
Abstract
To minimize the eutrophication pressure along the Gulf of Mexico or reduce the size of the hypoxic zone in the Gulf of Mexico, it is important to understand the underlying temporal and spatial variations and correlations in excess nutrient loads, which are strongly [...] Read more.
To minimize the eutrophication pressure along the Gulf of Mexico or reduce the size of the hypoxic zone in the Gulf of Mexico, it is important to understand the underlying temporal and spatial variations and correlations in excess nutrient loads, which are strongly associated with the formation of hypoxia. This study’s objective was to reveal and visualize structures in high-dimensional datasets of nutrient yield distributions throughout the Mississippi/Atchafalaya River Basin (MARB). For this purpose, the annual mean nutrient concentrations were collected from thirty-three US Geological Survey (USGS) water stations scattered in the upper and lower MARB from 1996 to 2020. Eight surface water quality indicators were selected to make comparisons among water stations along the MARB over the past two decades. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to comprehensively evaluate the nutrient yields across thirty-three USGS monitoring stations and identify the major contributing nutrient loads. The results showed that all samples could be analyzed using two main components, which accounted for 81.6% of the total variance. The PCA results showed that yields of orthophosphate (OP), silica (SI), nitrate–nitrites (NO3-NO2), and total suspended sediment (TSS) are major contributors to nutrient yields. It also showed that land-planted crops, density of population, domestic and industrial discharges, and precipitation are fundamental causes of excess nutrient loads in MARB. These factors are of great significance for the excess nutrient load management and pollution control of the Mississippi River. It was found that the average nutrient yields were stable within the sub-MARB area, but the large nitrogen yields in the upper MARB and the large phosphorus yields in the lower MARB were of great concern. t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE) revealed interesting nonlinear and local structures in nutrient yield distributions. Clustering analysis (CA) showed the detailed development of similarities in the nutrient yield distribution. Moreover, PCA, t-SNE, and CA showed consistent clustering results. This study demonstrated that the integration of dimension reduction techniques, PCA, and t-SNE with CA techniques in machine learning are effective tools for the visualization of the structures of the correlations in high-dimensional datasets of nutrient yields and provide a comprehensive understanding of the correlations in the distributions of nutrient loads across the MARB. Full article
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27 pages, 1666 KiB  
Review
The Impact of Micro- and Nanoplastics on Aquatic Organisms: Mechanisms of Oxidative Stress and Implications for Human Health—A Review
by Eugenio Geremia, Maria Teresa Muscari Tomajoli, Carola Murano, Adriana Petito and Gianluca Fasciolo
Environments 2023, 10(9), 161; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments10090161 - 16 Sep 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2616
Abstract
In recent years, interest in the impact of environmental pollutants on the ecosystem has increased significantly, with particular attention being paid to the relationship between climate change and the aquatic world. This is because increasing pollution is causing fundamental changes to the welfare [...] Read more.
In recent years, interest in the impact of environmental pollutants on the ecosystem has increased significantly, with particular attention being paid to the relationship between climate change and the aquatic world. This is because increasing pollution is causing fundamental changes to the welfare of animals and the marine ecosystem. A primary focus is on the impact of microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs), as evidenced by our bibliometric network analysis (BNA). However, while research is focused on the accumulation of these pollutants in aquatic organisms, their effects on redox homeostasis are still seldom discussed despite the role played by reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial well-being in maintaining an optimal state of health. However, some scientific evidence suggests that the accumulation of MPs and NPs in organisms at the base of the trophic chain can cause a transfer of these substances towards more complex organisms, reaching humans through the consumption of aquatic fauna as food. Therefore, in this review, we have tried to discuss the effects of these substances on oxidative stress in aquatic organisms, even if studies in this regard are still scarce. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plastic Contamination: Challenges and Solutions Volume II)
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27 pages, 1619 KiB  
Review
Pesticide Application as a Risk Factor/Behaviour for Workers’ Health: A Systematic Review
by Andreia Moreira and Manuela Vieira da Silva
Environments 2023, 10(9), 160; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments10090160 - 14 Sep 2023
Viewed by 1777
Abstract
The main objective of this review was to determine the main risks that agricultural workers are exposed to during pesticide application, which may have a harmful effect on their health and on public health. This systematic review was based on the PRISMA guidelines. [...] Read more.
The main objective of this review was to determine the main risks that agricultural workers are exposed to during pesticide application, which may have a harmful effect on their health and on public health. This systematic review was based on the PRISMA guidelines. A search for articles was conducted in the Medline/PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science databases. Fifteen articles were selected considering their assessment of agricultural workers’ knowledge, perceptions, attitudes, practices, and behaviours, identifying the main risks and risk factors for disease associated with the unsafe handling of pesticides. The main risk factors identified were age, education, pesticide safety training, farming experience, and contact with other farmers/intermediaries resulting in pesticide access. The most frequent risk behaviour was an application of pesticides without personal protective equipment (PPE), incorrect disposal of empty packaging and waste, and undervaluation of label information, as well as other unsafe practices. Multidisciplinary and more effective training must be delivered to enhance pesticide-safe usage. This will empower workers to adopt more conscious and safer behaviours while using pesticides. Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Environmental and Health Impacts of Agro-Food Production and Consumption)
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35 pages, 3608 KiB  
Review
A Critical Review of Recent Progress in Global Water Reuse during 2019–2021 and Perspectives to Overcome Future Water Crisis
by Ahmed Abou-Shady, Muhammad Saboor Siddique and Wenzheng Yu
Environments 2023, 10(9), 159; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments10090159 - 14 Sep 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3281
Abstract
The exacerbation of the global water crisis due to an increase in global population, industrialization, urbanization, and agricultural activities, along with global climate change and limited water resources, makes water reuse inevitable in all continents. By 2030, global water consumption may grow to [...] Read more.
The exacerbation of the global water crisis due to an increase in global population, industrialization, urbanization, and agricultural activities, along with global climate change and limited water resources, makes water reuse inevitable in all continents. By 2030, global water consumption may grow to ~160% of the currently available volume. This study reviews recently published articles (2019–2021) to explore global case studies of water reuse and discusses future perspectives by country based on a literature survey on water reuse. There are 17 obstacles reported worldwide regarding water reuse (e.g., the properties and low amounts of treated water, regulations, financial challenges, etc.) and 10 advantages of utilizing reused water in various fields (e.g., overcoming the global water crisis, improving the economy, benefiting the industrial sector, etc.). The concept of reusing water has been accepted by countries in almost every continent (e.g., Australia, Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, and North America); the technical findings from different countries are summarized in this study. The water reuse scenario is not restricted to countries with limited water supply and can be applied to those with sufficient water resources (e.g., Canada and Brazil have also implemented water reuse policies). Water reuse can be utilized by human beings via indirect and direct potable recycling, as well as in agriculture, textile, construction, hotel, groundwater recharge, and aquaculture industries. However, a standard guideline for the application of reclaimed water at a global scale is unavailable. Several perspectives have been suggested for the future utilization of reclaimed water worldwide as an effort to secure and ensure the sustainability of existing natural water resources. Lastly, water reuse may be considered a potential alternative for reducing the burden on water resources in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Science and Technologies for the Management of Natural Ecosystems and the Sustainable Development of Urban Areas II)
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21 pages, 14536 KiB  
Article
Groundwater Recharge Assessment for Small Karstic Catchment Basins with Different Extents of Anthropogenic Development
by Yaakov Anker, Alexander Gimburg, Michael Zilberbrand, Yakov Livshitz and Vladimir Mirlas
Environments 2023, 10(9), 158; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments10090158 - 12 Sep 2023
Viewed by 1013
Abstract
Climate change and anthropogenic development considerably influence groundwater resource distribution and conditions. Catchment basin groundwater recharge—discharge computation reliability is needed for effective groundwater management policy formulation and implementation and also for resolving environmental challenges in such a watershed. This paper compares groundwater recharge [...] Read more.
Climate change and anthropogenic development considerably influence groundwater resource distribution and conditions. Catchment basin groundwater recharge—discharge computation reliability is needed for effective groundwater management policy formulation and implementation and also for resolving environmental challenges in such a watershed. This paper compares groundwater recharge patterns between urbanized and nearly natural small catchment basins of Israel’s Western Mountain Aquifer (WMA). The correlation between precipitation volumes and surface runoff shows that surface runoff volume constitutes 3–4% of the precipitation volume in the Natuf catchment and 1–2% in the Te’enim catchment. These assessments reflect the differences in the land use, outcrop lithology, topography and hydrodynamic properties of the WMA within the model basins. A groundwater recharge assessment based on water balance and water table fluctuation methods was performed for the mountainous karstic Te’enim and Natuf catchment basins for all the available data from 2000 to 2020. The water balance method provided reliable estimates. The groundwater recharge assessment considered land use classification and climate changes during this period. The average multiannual groundwater recharge values for the 2000–2021 period varied from 17.6 × 106–24.8 × 106 m3 to 24.5–29.2 × 106 m3 for the Te’enim and Natuf catchment basins, respectively. For the relatively dry period of the 2013/2014–2017/2018 hydrological years when detailed measurements of the surface runoff were available, the corresponding groundwater recharge volumes were 17.6 × 106 m3 and 24.5 × 106 m3. The corresponding local groundwater recharge coefficients constitute 0.46–0.57 for the mostly agricultural Te’enim basin and 0.29–0.32 for the urbanized Natuf basin. A significant difference in the groundwater recharge coefficients between the studied catchments is caused mostly by the differences in land use. It is suggested that applying such a groundwater recharge estimation for small hydrological sub-basins can improve one’s understanding of the groundwater recharge distribution within a major basin, enabling the application of an accurate regional hydrogeological model that may be extrapolated to other similar regions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Groundwater Protection and Management)
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20 pages, 11131 KiB  
Article
Graph-Based Deep Learning Model for Forecasting Chloride Concentration in Urban Streams to Protect Salt-Vulnerable Areas
by Victor Oliveira Santos, Paulo Alexandre Costa Rocha, Jesse Van Griensven Thé and Bahram Gharabaghi
Environments 2023, 10(9), 157; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments10090157 - 12 Sep 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1184
Abstract
In cold-climate regions, road salt is used as a deicer for winter road maintenance. The applied road salt melts ice and snow on roads and can be washed off through storm sewer systems into nearby urban streams, harming the freshwater ecosystem. Therefore, aiming [...] Read more.
In cold-climate regions, road salt is used as a deicer for winter road maintenance. The applied road salt melts ice and snow on roads and can be washed off through storm sewer systems into nearby urban streams, harming the freshwater ecosystem. Therefore, aiming to develop a precise and accurate model to determine future chloride concentration in the Credit River in Ontario, Canada, the present work makes use of a “Graph Neural Network”–“Sample and Aggregate” (GNN-SAGE). The proposed GNN-SAGE is compared to other models, including a Deep Neural Network-based transformer (DNN-Transformer) and a benchmarking persistence model for a 6 h forecasting horizon. The proposed GNN-SAGE surpassed both the benchmarking persistence model and the DNN-Transformer model, achieving RMSE and R2 values of 51.16 ppb and 0.88, respectively. Additionally, a SHAP analysis provides insight into the variables that influence the model’s forecasting, showing the impact of the spatiotemporal neighboring data from the network and the seasonality variables on the model’s result. The GNN-SAGE model shows potential for use in the real-time forecasting of water quality in urban streams, aiding in the development of regulatory policies to protect vulnerable freshwater ecosystems in urban areas. Full article
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17 pages, 5918 KiB  
Article
Soil Organic Carbon Depletion in Managed Temperate Forests: Two Case Studies from the Apennine Chain in the Emilia-Romagna Region (Northern Italy)
by Valentina Brombin, Gian Marco Salani, Mauro De Feudis, Enrico Mistri, Nicola Precisvalle and Gianluca Bianchini
Environments 2023, 10(9), 156; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments10090156 - 09 Sep 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1245
Abstract
Forest soils contain a large amount of organic carbon (OC); therefore, small changes in these ecosystems have effects on climate. In this study, variation in the quantity of C pools that occurred in one year in the soil of temperate forests managed by [...] Read more.
Forest soils contain a large amount of organic carbon (OC); therefore, small changes in these ecosystems have effects on climate. In this study, variation in the quantity of C pools that occurred in one year in the soil of temperate forests managed by two farms in the Apennine chain (Emilia-Romagna Region) was investigated using elemental and isotopic C analyses of soil samples collected in 2020 and 2021. In one year, soil from the Branchicciolo (BRA) farm lost organic matter as shown by the decrease in C contents and the less negative C isotopic signatures (13C/12C), whereas the C contents and C isotopic signatures remained almost stable during time in the soil from the Beghelli (BEG) farm. This cannot be related to thinning interventions, as much more forest material was removed from the BEG forest than from the BRA forest (60% and 25%, respectively). Therefore, other causes should be considered. The BRA forest was at a lower altitude than the BEG forest; thus, it was more affected by C depletion due to the warmer temperature. Moreover, the sandy soil in the BRA forest was less prone to sequestering organic matter than the soil in the BEG forest, which was characterized by phyllosilicates (including vermiculite) and zeolites (clinoptinolite) having high C sequestration capacity. This work showed the different impacts of the pedo-climatic conditions in two nearby farms, which should be considered in planning appropriate silvicultural management for OC sequestration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Past, Current and Future Processes in the Earth Critical Zone)
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18 pages, 1332 KiB  
Article
Assessing the Environmental Impact of Eight Alternative Fuels in International Shipping: A Comparison of Marginal vs. Average Emissions
by Gustav Krantz, Christian Moretti, Miguel Brandão, Mikael Hedenqvist and Fritjof Nilsson
Environments 2023, 10(9), 155; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments10090155 - 06 Sep 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2220
Abstract
Global warming and other environmental concerns drive the search for alternative fuels in international shipping. A life-cycle analysis (LCA) can be utilized to assess the environmental impact of different fuels, thereby enabling the identification of the most sustainable alternative among the candidate fuels. [...] Read more.
Global warming and other environmental concerns drive the search for alternative fuels in international shipping. A life-cycle analysis (LCA) can be utilized to assess the environmental impact of different fuels, thereby enabling the identification of the most sustainable alternative among the candidate fuels. However, most LCA studies do not consider marginal emissions, which are important when predicting the effects of large-scale fuel transitions. The research purpose of this study was to assess the marginal emissions of several currently available marine fuels to facilitate the identification of the most promising marine fuel. Thus, marginal and average emissions for eight marine fuels (high-sulfur fuel oil, very-low-sulfur fuel oil, marine gas oil, liquified natural gas, biomethane, biomethanol, fossil methanol, and hydro-treated vegetable oil) were compared in terms of their environmental impact. Non-intuitively, the results indicate that biofuels exhibit equally or higher marginal greenhouse gas emissions than conventionally used fuel oils (162–270 versus 148–174 kg CO2/MJ propulsion), despite their significantly lower average emissions (19–73 vs. 169–175 kg CO2/MJ). This discrepancy is attributed to the current limited availability of climate-efficient biofuels. Consequently, a large-scale shift to biofuels cannot presently yield substantial reductions in the shipping industry’s climate impact. Additional measures, such as optimized trading routes, more energy-efficient ships, and research on more climate-friendly biofuels and electro-fuels, are thus required to significantly reduce the climate footprint of shipping. Full article
(This article belongs to the Collection Trends and Innovations in Environmental Impact Assessment)
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15 pages, 1020 KiB  
Article
Syntaxonomy of Charophyte Algal Communities in the Northeastern Part of the Black Sea (Russia)
by Dmitry F. Afanasyev, Natalia S. Berezenko, Sophia Barinova and Shamil R. Abdullin
Environments 2023, 10(9), 154; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments10090154 - 03 Sep 2023
Viewed by 1076
Abstract
Within the northeastern part of the Black Sea, the vegetation of charophytes was studied using the Braun-Blanquet approach. For the first time, five communities are described, including three associations and two subassociations from the alliance Charion canescentis Krausch 1964, the order Charetalia intermediae [...] Read more.
Within the northeastern part of the Black Sea, the vegetation of charophytes was studied using the Braun-Blanquet approach. For the first time, five communities are described, including three associations and two subassociations from the alliance Charion canescentis Krausch 1964, the order Charetalia intermediae Sauer 1937, and the class Charetea intermediae F. Fukarek 1961. Diagnoses of the described syntaxa are given. A comparison with the Baltic and Mediterranean communities of charophytes is made. It is shown that all northeastern Black Sea communities with the dominance of charophytes, in contrast to Western European ones, include Lamprothamnium papulosum with high constancy. At the same time, the investigated communities are characterized by a lower occurrence and abundance of higher aquatic plants (except for Nanozostera noltei) and a slightly higher occurrence of red and green algae. An indirect ordination analysis showed the ecological isolation of the described phytocenoses and revealed two main factors influencing the floristic composition of communities—the granulometric composition of bottom sediments and water eutrophication. Full article
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20 pages, 11617 KiB  
Article
The Charophytes (Charophyceae, Characeae) from Dagestan Aquatic Habitats, North Caucasus: Biogeographical and Barcoding Perspectives
by Roman E. Romanov, Maxim M. Mallaliev, Sophia Barinova, Vyacheslav Yu. Nikulin and Andrey A. Gontcharov
Environments 2023, 10(9), 153; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments10090153 - 01 Sep 2023
Viewed by 1268
Abstract
The charophytes in many regions of the world are still poorly understood. This hampers the synthesis of distributional and ecological datasets at worldwide and continental scales, as well as complicates the generalization of species concepts for widely distributed and local taxa. To fill [...] Read more.
The charophytes in many regions of the world are still poorly understood. This hampers the synthesis of distributional and ecological datasets at worldwide and continental scales, as well as complicates the generalization of species concepts for widely distributed and local taxa. To fill in the blanks for charophytes in the Caucasus and to improve our knowledge of species distribution areas in Eurasia, a field survey and study of available specimens from Dagestan (North Caucasus, Russia) was conducted based on morphological observation using light and scanning electron microscopy and molecular genetic analyses allowing for the precise identification and testing of the presence of cryptic and undescribed taxa. Nineteen new localities for seven Chara species and one Tolypella species, seven new species, and one new genus were identified in the studied region, and one new species in the Caspian Sea region was found. Some species records changed the outline or filled in the gaps in species distribution data. The presence of species distributed mainly in central Eurasia (C. globata, C. neglecta) with mainly Mediterranean–Middle Eastern species (C. gymnophylla) is notable for this region, as well as for other studied regions of the Caucasus characterized by a mixture combination of species with different distribution patterns. Chara gymnophylla was frequent in Dagestan, similar to the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern regions. Small brackish waterbodies on the coast of the Caspian Sea, freshwater mountain rivers, small associated waterbodies, and water reservoirs are the main habitats of charophytes in the studied region. Based on habitat preference and distribution in the Caucasus, recommendations for the protection of some species were suggested. The lack of endemic species among charophytes from Dagestan and Caucasus contrasts with the flora of terrestrial magnoliophytes that is rich in species endemism. Full article
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22 pages, 2896 KiB  
Article
Investigation of Proliferative Kidney Disease in Brown Trout and Habitat Characteristics Associated with a Swiss Wastewater Treatment Plant
by Helena Saura Martinez, Nicole Egloff and Heike Schmidt-Posthaus
Environments 2023, 10(9), 152; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments10090152 - 01 Sep 2023
Viewed by 1419
Abstract
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) play a critical role in mitigating adverse environmental impacts of urban and industrial wastewater by removing pollutants and reducing the risk of contamination. Discharges of treated effluents from WWTPs can still have significant effects on freshwater ecosystems, particularly on [...] Read more.
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) play a critical role in mitigating adverse environmental impacts of urban and industrial wastewater by removing pollutants and reducing the risk of contamination. Discharges of treated effluents from WWTPs can still have significant effects on freshwater ecosystems, particularly on sensitive species like brown trout. We analyzed the effects of a modern WWTP on a freshwater ecosystem, studying fish biodiversity and biomass, the occurrence of the parasitic disease Proliferative Kidney Disease (PKD) on brown trout, river water temperatures throughout the year and fish habitat and diversity. No major differences between up- and downstream of the WWTP were observed in habitat structure and attractiveness, fish biomass and species diversity, nor in PKD prevalence or intermediate host presence. However, immediately at the WWTP’s effluent and continuing downstream, the water temperature rose by almost 1 °C. While WWTPs are crucial for reducing the environmental impact of urban and industrial wastewater, their effluents can still have important consequences for freshwater ecosystems. Brown trout are particularly susceptible to increases in water temperature, especially regarding PKD severity and consequent mortality. To ensure the long-term health and sustainability of freshwater ecosystems, it is imperative to improve measures to minimize water temperature rises and mitigate downstream cascade effects on sensitive organisms like brown trout. Full article
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26 pages, 4513 KiB  
Article
Major- and Trace-Element Geochemistry of Geothermal Water from the Nappe Zone, Northern Tunisia: Implications for Mineral Prospecting and Health Risk Assessment
by Jamel Ayari, Maurizio Barbieri, Tiziano Boschetti, Anis Barhoumi, Ahmed Sellami, Ahmed Braham, Faouzi Manai, Faouzi Dhaha and Abdelkarim Charef
Environments 2023, 10(9), 151; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments10090151 - 27 Aug 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1678
Abstract
A comprehensive hydrogeochemical survey of the geothermal waters from the Nappe Zone (Maghrebides fold-and-thrust belt) was undertaken to determine the origins of geothermal waters and to assess the health risks associated with their potentially toxic elements. A total of 11 geothermal water and [...] Read more.
A comprehensive hydrogeochemical survey of the geothermal waters from the Nappe Zone (Maghrebides fold-and-thrust belt) was undertaken to determine the origins of geothermal waters and to assess the health risks associated with their potentially toxic elements. A total of 11 geothermal water and 3 stream water samples were collected and analysed for major and trace elements (As, B, Ba, Fe, Mn, Pb, Sr, Zn). Two main geothermal water groups were highlighted by hydrogeochemical diagrams and multivariate analyses (PCA, HCA): the first group is the Na−Cl type, TDS > 10 g/L, controlled by deep circulation, while the second group is the Na-Cl−HCO3 type, TDS < 2 g/L, and controlled by shallow circulation. A curved hydrogeochemical evolution path, observed from mixed bicarbonate shallow groundwater to chloride geothermal water, indicates that the interaction with evaporites drives the chemistry of the geothermal samples. On these, the As enrichments come from sulphide oxidation polymetallic mineralisation during the upwelling to the surface from E–W major lineaments. Therefore, E–W lineaments are potential areas for mineral prospecting. The health risk assessment reveals that the concentration of potentially toxic elements in geothermal waters are lower than the guideline values for the protection of freshwater aquatic life and dermal exposure (bathing or balneology). Full article
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24 pages, 4605 KiB  
Article
Impaired Soil Health in Agricultural Areas Close to Fe-Ni Mines on Euboea Island, Greece, Caused by Increased Concentrations of Potentially Toxic Elements, and the Associated Impacts on Human Health
by Ioannis Massas, Orestis Kairis, Dionisios Gasparatos, Dafni Ioannou, Dimitrios Vatougios and Ioannis Zafeiriou
Environments 2023, 10(9), 150; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments10090150 - 22 Aug 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1320
Abstract
Agricultural soils close to mining establishments may suffer from airborne pollution, due to excavation and transportation activities. To assess the impact of soil pollution from potentially toxic elements (PTEs) on soil and human health in agricultural areas close to Fe-Ni mines, 36 composite [...] Read more.
Agricultural soils close to mining establishments may suffer from airborne pollution, due to excavation and transportation activities. To assess the impact of soil pollution from potentially toxic elements (PTEs) on soil and human health in agricultural areas close to Fe-Ni mines, 36 composite topsoil samples were collected from central Euboea Island, Greece. The soils were analyzed for their physicochemical properties and for total and bioavailable Ni, Cr, Co, Mn, Fe, Pb, Cu, and Zn concentrations; the BCR sequential extraction protocol was additionally applied to all samples. Soil enrichment caused by the metals and the implications of soil degradation on the ecosystem were evaluated using the calculation of single pollution indices (PI) and the potential ecological risk index (RI), respectively. The hazard index (HI) for non-carcinogenic metals and life cancer risk (LCR) for carcinogenic metals were used to appraise the human health risks. Extremely high, very high, and considerably high total concentrations of Ni, Cr, and Mn, respectively, were determined. Though most of the total amounts of metals in soil samples were found to be related to the residual fraction, the considerable portion extracted in the first two steps of the BCR process can be regarded as able to introduce toxicity issues in the local biota. High PI values of Cr, Co, and especially Ni point to severely polluted soils, and the mean RI values indicate a considerable risk for biota. HI values > 1 show increased possibilities for non-carcinogenic health issues in children, whereas the LCR values of Ni were above the critical limit, 1 × 10−4, for both children and adults. Full article
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23 pages, 16300 KiB  
Article
Reuse of Lake Sediments in Sustainable Mortar
by Audrey Maria Noemi Martellotta, Andrea Petrella, Francesco Gentile, Daniel Levacher and Alberto Ferruccio Piccinni
Environments 2023, 10(9), 149; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments10090149 - 22 Aug 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1095
Abstract
The study analyses the possible valorisation of lake sediments for sustainable mortar, in accordance with the principles of the circular economy, to obtain a sustainable material, since reuse occurs without any kind of preliminary treatment and preserves the consumption of virgin raw materials [...] Read more.
The study analyses the possible valorisation of lake sediments for sustainable mortar, in accordance with the principles of the circular economy, to obtain a sustainable material, since reuse occurs without any kind of preliminary treatment and preserves the consumption of virgin raw materials in the mix design. Moreover, it reduces the amount of water to be used in the mix since part of it is already contained in the sediments. The research was performed on sediments dredged from two artificial reservoirs, Camastra and San Giuliano, located in Basilicata, a region in southern Italy. Cement mortar was prepared by completely replacing, at different quantities, the fine aggregate and, for some of it, partially replacing, at a constant quantity, part of the binder. Workability, mechanical strength, and density were measured, as well as the possible release of contaminants. The investigations made it possible to assess the influence of replacing aggregate with sediment on mortar performance, showing that San Giuliano sediment produces mortar with great workability (~140%), comparable to that of normalised mortar. Similarly, the mechanical strengths of some specimens (SG_s1 and SG_s2) were approximately 60 MPa and 52 MPa, respectively (about 15% higher than that of normalised mortar). On the contrary, for the mortar prepared with the Camastra sediments, both workability and mechanical strength were ~50% lower than normalised mortar. Furthermore, the leaching test did not reveal contaminant release. Full article
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Article
The Use of Tail as a Minimal-Invasive Method to Detect a Large Set of Biochemical Responses in the Italian Wall Lizard Podarcis siculus (Rafinesque, 1810)
by Ginevra Moltedo, Giacomo Martuccio, Barbara Catalano, Giulia Simbula and Leonardo Vignoli
Environments 2023, 10(9), 148; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments10090148 - 22 Aug 2023
Viewed by 1044
Abstract
Conventional methods to analyze biochemical processes related to contaminant toxicity usually require the sacrifice of animals to collect tissues and organs. However, for ethical reasons and especially for endangered species, non- or minimal-invasive methods should be preferred. Among vertebrates, reptiles show a general [...] Read more.
Conventional methods to analyze biochemical processes related to contaminant toxicity usually require the sacrifice of animals to collect tissues and organs. However, for ethical reasons and especially for endangered species, non- or minimal-invasive methods should be preferred. Among vertebrates, reptiles show a general decline worldwide and therefore the use of non- or minimal-invasive methods to measure some biochemical processes in these animals are encouraged. It is well known that most lizards use a common safety behavior implying the natural loss of tail in the case of predation events. Therefore, if common analyses testing contaminant toxicity could be performed in tail tissue, this method, not implying the sacrifice of the animals, could be considered as a good minimal-invasive method. The aim of this study is to test on wild Italian wall lizard Podarcis siculus the use of tail to detect a large set of biomarkers including oxidative stress (TOSCAROO, TOSCAOH, CAT, tGSH, MDA), biotransformation processes (EROD, GSTs) and neurotoxicity (AChE, BChE). All the biochemical responses, excluding EROD and MDA, resulted to be analytically detectable in tail tissues of P. siculus, although the mean values obtained with this minimal-invasive method were significantly lower than those obtained with invasive one. Full article
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