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Environmental problems - Chemical approaches

Environmental Chemistry

Environmental Chemistry

Environmental Chemistry publishes papers reporting chemistry that enhances our understanding of the natural and engineered environment (including indoor and outdoor air, water, soil, sediments, and biota). Read more about the journal

Editor-in-Chief: Jamie Lead

Publishing Model: Hybrid. Open Access options available.

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Latest

These articles are the latest published in the journal. Environmental Chemistry is published under a continuous publication model. More information is available on our Continuous Publication page.

Published online 24 March 2025

EN24083Bioindicators for monitoring atmospheric perfluorinated compounds: review of occurrences, transport, fate and analytical protocols

Nnanake-Abasi O. Offiong 0000-0003-4692-7891, Imeh J. Okop, Solomon E. Shaibu, Edidiong S. Akwaowo, Akwaowo I. Inyangudoh, Nnamso D. Ibuotenang, Idongesit A. Victor, George A. Robert, Timilehin A. Adegboyega and Nsikak U. Benson
 

Environmental context: Perfluorinated compounds are emerging organic contaminants recently detected in various environmental matrices and remain largely unregulated. Among these matrices, air is the least studied one due to analytical challenges. This review explores emerging trends in analysing perfluorinated compounds in air with the use of bioindicators and highlights future research needs to address existing gaps in detection and monitoring.

Published online 20 March 2025

EN24093Altitudinal variations and local emission contributions to black carbon and ion deposition on Tibetan Plateau glaciers

Yixi Liu 0009-0009-0508-8199, Chao Zhang, Fangping Yan, Pengling Wang and Chaoliu Li
 

Pictorial representation of the glaciers studied and their proximity and routes of exposure to pollutants.

Environmental context. Impurities deposited on glaciers can significantly accelerate their melting. This study investigated the spatial variability of concentrations of impurities across three glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau, revealing a pronounced concentration increase with decreasing altitude and the influence of local emissions. To accurately evaluate the potential for glacier melt, it is necessary to account for local emissions and altitude-dependent variations of impurities in individual glaciers. (Image credit: Yixi Liu)

Published online 31 January 2025

EN24041Solubility and dissolution kinetics of particle-bound metals in a surrogate lung fluid

Sara D’Aronco, Valerio Di Marco, Alberto Gambalunga, Federica Chiara, Andrea Trevisan and Chiara Giorio 0000-0001-7821-7398
 

An illustration of aerosol transportation from the environment into the epithelial lining fluid where it can be partly solubilised.

Environmental context. Metals in airborne particles can interact with lung fluids once particles are inhaled. Water solubility of particle-bound metals is often used to define their bioavailability. We show that particle-bound metals exhibit a complex dissolution kinetics in a surrogate lung fluid, their solubility and dissolution kinetics are driven by the fluid composition, and only to a minor extent by atmospheric aqueous phase processing of aerosols. (Image credit: Francesco Battaglia and Chiara Giorio.)

This article belongs to the collection: Dedication to Roy Harrison.

Published online 28 January 2025

EN24088Mercury patterns in lakes within a natural hotspot in the Southern Volcanic Zone of the Andes (Nahuel Huapi National Park, Patagonia, South America)

Carolina Soto Cárdenas 0000-0001-5886-7780, Zaida Fernandez, Marina Arcagni, Andrea Rizzo and María C. Diéguez 0000-0002-8241-3719
 

Movement of dissolved organic matter and mercury in wet and dry seasons for a shallow (left) and a deep (right) connected lakes of Andean Patagonia.

Environmental context. The pristine oligotrophic lakes of Andean Patagonia are influenced by volcanic eruptions and atmospheric deposition. This study focuses on mercury (Hg) dynamics in two connected lakes in a natural Hg hotspot of the southern Andes. The lake waters have low dissolved organic carbon and moderate to high Hg concentrations, resulting in high Hg availability. These promote Hg binding to natural particulates, thereby favouring its incorporation into food webs. (Image credit: Carolina Soto Cárdenas)

This article belongs to the collection: Mercury in the environment.

Published online 22 January 2025

EN24089Mercury wet deposition in the urban and industrialised region of Campinas, south-east Brazil

Amauris Hechavarria-Hernandez, José Lucas Martins Viana and Anne Hélène Fostier 0000-0002-6250-7419
 

A scheme depicting mercury wet deposition and analysis.

Environmental context. Wet deposition is a primary mechanism for transferring atmospheric mercury (Hg) to the Earth’s surface. In Brazil, as well as in the rest of the Southern Hemisphere, only limited data on wet Hg deposition are available. This article addresses this gap by providing a comprehensive dataset from nearly 2 years of monitoring, focusing on mercury concentrations in rainwater and wet Hg deposition in Campinas, one of the largest industrial and populated regions in São Paulo state (south-east Brazil). (Image credit: José L. M. Viana.)

This article belongs to the collection: Mercury in the environment.

Published online 20 January 2025

EN24060Influence of the external N and P inputs on nutrients in the coastal area of Xiamen, China

Siying Dai, Jiehua Hu, Shanshan Wang 0000-0002-4712-2238, Siming Huang, Rong Tian, Shuhui Zhao, Yang Luo, Xiaoke Zhang, Xia Sun and Jinpei Yan
 

Bar charts (left) related to annual nutrients fluctuation and a scheme (right) depicting nutrients circulation in the environment.

Environmental context. Nutrients from external sources are related to critical ecological issues in coastal seawater. We investigated the nearshore nutrient concentrations and their sources in Xiamen Bay, China during 2013–2018. Our results provide support for the need to control sources of nearshore nutrient pollution. (Image credit: Siying Dai.)

Published online 13 January 2025

EN24087Mercury in an Australian sclerophyll Eucalyptus forest and emissions from fuel reduction prescribed burning

James R. Taylor 0009-0008-0567-0798, Larissa Schneider 0000-0001-5276-2531, Anne-Helene Fostier 0000-0002-6250-7419, Heather Keith 0000-0001-5956-7261, Fei Cao, Peter Davies, Geoffrey J. Cary, Simon G. Haberle and Susan Lawrence
 

A labelled diagram of a sclerophyll Eucalyptus forest on fire releasing mercury into the atmosphere.

Environmental context. Understanding how mercury cycles through the environment is crucial for protecting ecosystems and human health. Our study is among the first to measure mercury concentrations in Eucalyptus forest soils and litter, and estimate emissions from prescribed burns, addressing a significant gap in current knowledge. These new data enhance our understanding of mercury cycling in Australia and contribute to the global information on the biogeochemical cycle of mercury. (Image credit: Larissa Schneider)

This article belongs to the collection: Mercury in the environment.

Published online 20 December 2024

EN24065Assessment of mercury bioaccumulation in a tropical elasmobranch assemblage

Andréia S. Campos 0009-0000-3085-1904, Moisés F. Bezerra, Victor L. Moura, Vicente V. Faria, Carlos E. Rezende, Wanderley R. Bastos, Iuri Aparecida S. Oliveira and Luiz D. Lacerda
 

Composite picture showing silhouettes of elasmobranchs and two graphs correlating increased Hg presence with length of subject.

Environmental context. Mercury (Hg) is a non-essential metal that can accumulate in aquatic biota, including top predators such as elasmobranchs (sharks and rays), and biomagnifying along the trophic web. This study provides data on Hg total, methylmercury (MeHg) and stable isotopes (δ13C and δ15N) for 13 elasmobranch taxa in the Equatorial Western Atlantic Ocean, relating biological and ecological properties with Hg concentrations and the estimated human consumption risk. (Image credit: Andréia dos Santos Campos.)

This article belongs to the collection: Mercury in the environment.


Two pie charts detailing pollution sources for Chengguan (left) and Xigu (right) districts.

Environmental context. Exploring the characterisation and sources of the chemical composition of fine particulate matter in the atmosphere is critical to human health. Dust, primarily from soil, is the main source of atmospheric fine particulate matter in Chengguan and Xigu Districts of Lanzhou City, Gansu Province, rather than other causes. This provides directions and ideas for future local ecological environment and pollution management. (Image credit: Qin Cui.)

This article belongs to the collection: Dedication to Roy Harrison.

Published online 12 December 2024

EN23131Daphnia reproductive impacts following chronic exposure to micro- and nano-scale particles from three types of rubber

Brittany E. Cunningham 0000-0002-2164-9402, Bryan J. Harper, Susanne M. Brander and Stacey L. Harper
 

Schematic showing the testing of Daphnia with different types of rubber.

Environmental context. Tyre rubber particles, from both driving and reuse of tyre rubber, are pollutants that carry toxic chemicals into the environment. We investigated the long-term effects that these particles have on small aquatic organisms and found that they drastically reduce their ability to reproduce. Continued exposure of aquatic invertebrates to tyre-related pollutants, has the potential to affect the population by inhibiting reproduction into future generations. (Image credit: Brittany Cunningham.)

This article belongs to the collection: Tyre road wear particles – chemistry and impacts.

Published online 29 November 2024

EN24096From chemistry to culture: the need for an integrated approach to mercury research and policy making

Larissa Schneider 0000-0001-5276-2531 and Saul Guerrero
 

Environmental context. Mercury (Hg) has been extensively used throughout human history, leaving a persistent environmental legacy that continues to present challenges for pollution management and public health. This highlight focuses on the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to enhance our knowledge of mercury’s historical uses and emissions, supporting more effective strategies to address its environmental and societal impacts.

This article belongs to the collection: Mercury in the environment.

Published online 29 November 2024

EN24062Influence of initial speciation of platinum and palladium on their accumulation and toxicity towards phytoplankton

Julien Michaud-Valcourt 0009-0002-8136-0480, Sylvie Blanc, Louis Courtois, Jelle Mertens, Séverine Le Faucheur and Claude Fortin 0000-0002-2479-1869
 

Diagram indicating the determined toxicity of the Pd and Pt complexes studied towards phytoplankton.

Environmental context. The increasing global demand for platinum and palladium for the development of new technologies will likely enhance their biogeochemical mobility. However, our understanding of the environmental risks of these metals remains incomplete. To help fill this knowledge gap, we determined the toxicity of various forms of platinum and palladium on a green alga. We found that palladium was more toxic than platinum and that platinum toxicity depended on the form tested. (Image credit: J. Michaud-Valcourt.)

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