Submit to IJERPH Review for IJERPH Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Biogeochemical Behavior of Environmental Pollutants: From Source to Spread in Gas, Water and Soil Matrices

Print Special Issue Flyer
Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Published Papers

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Science and Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2023) | Viewed by 15023

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Jacopo Cabassi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources (IGG), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Via G. La Pira 4, 50121 Florence, Italy
Interests: environmental geochemistry; fluid geochemistry; mercury pollution
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Stefania Venturi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Earth Sciences, University of Florence, Via G. La Pira 4, 50121 Florence, Italy
Interests: biogeochemistry; VOCs; greenhouse gases; isotope geochemistry; air pollution; water quality; interstitial soil gases; diffuse soil gas emissions

Dr. Barbara Nisi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

CNR-IGG Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources, 50121 Firenze, Italy
Interests: environmental geochemistry; river geochemistry; CO2 risk assessment; isotope geochemistry

Dr. Alessandro Acquavita

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor

Regional Agency for the Protection of the Environment of Friuli Venezia Giulia (ARPA FVG), 33057 Palmanova, UD, Italy
Interests: environmental pollution of coastal areas; marine biogeochemistry; mercury; nutrients and trophic state; risk assessment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Sergio Calabrese

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e del Mare, University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 36, 90123 Palermo Italy
Interests: investigation of volcanic emissions, evolution and atmospheric dispersion of volcanic gases and particulates, on the geochemical monitoring of atmospheric deposition, and on the environmental impact of volcanic emissions

Special Issue Information

The assessment, protection, and improvement of air, water and soil quality are of major concern in modern times. Significant amounts of pollutants are released from both anthropogenic activities and natural contexts and have a strong impact on both environment and human systems. They are able to be absorbed and metabolized by gas, water, and soil matrices. Understanding the biogeochemical processes that guide the release and spread of contaminants is thus of fundamental importance for the sustainable development of our planet. This Special Issue wants to bring together multidisciplinary researches dealing with the origin and distribution of environmental pollutants in the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and pedosphere, focusing on the chemical-physical and biological processes regulating their behaviour. We are also looking for papers concerning the study and management of contaminated sites for risk assessment and mitigation purposes, as well as those which describe new measurement procedures and/or analytical methods to investigate and quantify the different organic and inorganic pollutants. In particular, scientific works concerning pollutants that are particularly pervasive in the environment and with a significant impact on human health, such as mercury, are welcome and recommended.

Dr. Jacopo Cabassi
Dr. Stefania Venturi
Dr. Barbara Nisi
Dr. Alessandro Acquavita
Dr. Sergio Calabrese
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

environmental geochemistry
environmental pollution
air, water and soil quality
biogeochemical processes

Published Papers (8 papers)

Download All Papers

Research

25 pages, 3741 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Atmospheric Deposition around the Industrial Areas of Milazzo and Priolo Gargallo (Sicily–Italy)—Part A: Major Ions

by Filippo Brugnone, Walter D’Alessandro, Francesco Parello, Marcello Liotta, Sergio Bellomo, Vincenzo Prano, Lorenza Li Vigni, Mario Sprovieri and Sergio Calabrese

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(5), 3898; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph20053898 - 22 Feb 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1540

Abstract

The chemical composition of rainwater was studied in two highly-industrialised areas in Sicily (southern Italy), between June 2018 and July 2019. The study areas were characterised by large oil refining plants and other industrial hubs whose processes contribute to the release of large amounts of gaseous species that can affect the chemical composition of atmospheric deposition As in most of the Mediterranean area, rainwater acidity (ranging in the study area between 3.9 and 8.3) was buffered by the dissolution of abundant geogenic carbonate aerosol. In particular, calcium and magnesium cations showed the highest pH-neutralizing factor, with ~92% of the acidity brought by SO₄²⁻ and NO₃⁻ neutralized by alkaline dust. The lowest pH values were observed in samples collected after abundant rain periods, characterised by a less significant dry deposition of alkaline materials. Electrical Conductivity (ranging between 7 µS cm⁻¹ and 396 µS cm⁻¹) was inversely correlated with the amount of rainfall measured in the two areas. Concentrations of major ionic species followed the sequence Cl⁻ > Na⁺ > SO₄²⁻ ≃ HCO₃⁻ > ≃ Ca²⁺ > NO₃⁻ > Mg²⁺ > K⁺ > F⁻. High loads of Na⁺ and Cl⁻ (with a calculated R² = 0.99) reflected proximity to the sea. Calcium, potassium, and non-sea-salt magnesium had a prevalent crustal origin. Non-sea salt sulphate, nitrate, and fluoride can be attributed mainly to anthropogenic sources. Mt. Etna, during eruptive periods, may be also considered, on a regional scale, a significant source for fluoride, non-sea salt sulphate, and even chloride. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biogeochemical Behavior of Environmental Pollutants: From Source to Spread in Gas, Water and Soil Matrices)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 3481 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Combining Contamination Indices and Multivariate Statistical Analysis for Metal Pollution Evaluation during the Last Century in Lacustrine Sediments of Lacu Sărat Lake, Romania

by Iolanda-Veronica Ganea, Ramona Bălc, Robert-Csaba Begy, Ioan Tanțău and Delia Maria Gligor

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(2), 1342; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph20021342 - 11 Jan 2023

Viewed by 1308

Abstract

Integrated study of both water and sediment in lakes provides important information regarding the human impact on the environment. The current work is focused on the correlation between age, source, composition, and degree of human intervention over the last 178 years and health impact of sediments from Lacu Sărat Lake (Romania), one of the most important balneo-climateric resorts in the country. The novelty relies on the fact that this is the first time the temporal patterns of metal contamination and the human health effects associated with the metal exposure from sediment core samples have been assessed. The sediment contamination status was determined by evaluating several indices, such as the enrichment factor, geo-accumulation index, metal pollution index, and potential ecological risk index, etc. Results showed a significant accumulation of Cd, Cr, As and Ni and a major contribution of Pb, Zn, Cd, Hg, Cr as well as Cu to the potential acute toxicity. The sediment quality guidelines emphasized a risk concerning the life and proper development of benthic organisms in Lacu Sărat Lake. Moreover, the incidental ingestion lifetime carcinogenic risk values for As and Cr suggest a potential risk of developing cancer. A strong human impact was observed especially between 1950 and 1990, which can be attributed to the rapid economic growth and intensive industrial development strategies pursued by the communist political regime in Romania. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biogeochemical Behavior of Environmental Pollutants: From Source to Spread in Gas, Water and Soil Matrices)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

24 pages, 8745 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Contamination Assessment and Temporal Evolution of Nitrates in the Shallow Aquifer of the Metauro River Plain (Adriatic Sea, Italy) after Remediation Actions

by Marco Taussi, Caterina Gozzi, Orlando Vaselli, Jacopo Cabassi, Matia Menichini, Marco Doveri, Marco Romei, Alfredo Ferretti, Alma Gambioli and Barbara Nisi

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(19), 12231; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph191912231 - 27 Sep 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1971

Abstract

Over the last decades, groundwater resources at global level have suffered a significant deterioration due to nitrate pollution, mainly related to the input of agricultural fertilizers, manure, sewage, and untreated urban and industrial effluents. The most impacted waters are those forming surface and shallow reservoirs, which usually play a key role in supplying waters to civil, agricultural, and industrial activities. The terminal portion of the Metauro River plain, located in central Italy along the Adriatic Sea coastline, hosts a strategic phreatic aquifer that, along with the surface water of the Metauro River, supplies water to the local population (i.e., about 60,000 people). This shallow coastal aquifer experiences a long-lasting story of nitrate contamination since the 1970s when the increase in the use of agricultural fertilizers contributed to very high levels of pollution (NO₃⁻ > 100 mg/L). This fact prompted the local authorities to carry out remediation actions that involve a pumping system to inject the NO₃⁻-poor waters from the Metauro River course directly into the shallow aquifer. The present work was aimed at defining the contamination of nitrates in this important water resource. The main geochemical characteristics and the temporal evolution of NO₃⁻ concentrations (between 2009 and 2020), in the shallow coastal aquifer of the Metauro River plain, were analyzed by means of classical geochemical analyses and multivariate methods accounting for the compositional nature of the data, to assess the efficiency of the in-situ remediation over time. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biogeochemical Behavior of Environmental Pollutants: From Source to Spread in Gas, Water and Soil Matrices)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 3307 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Gaseous Mercury Exchange from Water–Air Interface in Differently Impacted Freshwater Environments

by Federico Floreani, Alessandro Acquavita, Nicolò Barago, Katja Klun, Jadran Faganeli and Stefano Covelli

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(13), 8149; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph19138149 - 02 Jul 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1518

Abstract

Gaseous exchanges of mercury (Hg) at the water–air interface in contaminated sites strongly influence its fate in the environment. In this study, diurnal gaseous Hg exchanges were seasonally evaluated by means of a floating flux chamber in two freshwater environments impacted by anthropogenic sources of Hg, specifically historical mining activity (Solkan Reservoir, Slovenia) and the chlor-alkali industry (Torviscosa dockyard, Italy), and in a pristine site, Cavazzo Lake (Italy). The highest fluxes (21.88 ± 11.55 ng m⁻² h⁻¹) were observed at Solkan, coupled with high dissolved gaseous mercury (DGM) and dissolved Hg (THg_D) concentrations. Conversely, low vertical mixing and saltwater intrusion at Torviscosa limited Hg mobility through the water column, with higher Hg concentrations in the deep layer near the contaminated sediments. Consequently, both DGM and THg_D in surface water were generally lower at Torviscosa than at Solkan, resulting in lower fluxes (19.01 ± 12.65 ng m⁻² h⁻¹). However, at this site, evasion may also be limited by high atmospheric Hg levels related to dispersion of emissions from the nearby chlor-alkali plant. Surprisingly, comparable fluxes (15.56 ± 12.78 ng m⁻² h⁻¹) and Hg levels in water were observed at Cavazzo, suggesting a previously unidentified Hg input (atmospheric depositions or local geology). Overall, at all sites the fluxes were higher in the summer and correlated to incident UV radiation and water temperature due to enhanced photo production and diffusivity of DGM, the concentrations of which roughly followed the same seasonal trend. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biogeochemical Behavior of Environmental Pollutants: From Source to Spread in Gas, Water and Soil Matrices)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 3296 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mercury and Arsenic Discharge from Circumneutral Waters Associated with the Former Mining Area of Abbadia San Salvatore (Tuscany, Central Italy)

by Marta Lazzaroni, Marino Vetuschi Zuccolini, Barbara Nisi, Jacopo Cabassi, Stefano Caliro, Daniele Rappuoli and Orlando Vaselli

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(9), 5131; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph19095131 - 23 Apr 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1643

Abstract

Dissolved and suspended toxic elements in water discharged from abandoned and active mining areas pose several critical issues, since they represent a threat to the environment. In this work, we investigated the water, suspended particulates, and stream sediments of a 2.1 km long creek (Fosso della Chiusa) that is fed by waters draining the galleries of the abandoned Hg mining area of Abbadia San Salvatore (Mt. Amiata, Tuscany, central Italy). The geochemical results show evidence that the studied matrices are characterized by relatively high concentrations of Hg and As, whereas those of Sb are generally close to or below the instrumental detection limit. Independent of the matrices, the concentration of As decreases from the emergence point to the confluence with the Pagliola creek. In contrast, Hg concentrations display more complex behavior, as water and sediment are mainly characterized by concentrations that significantly increase along the water course. According to the geoaccumulation index (I_geo), sediments belong to Class 6 (extremely contaminated) for Hg. The I_geo of As varies from Class 6, close to the emergence, to Class 2 (moderately contaminated), dropping to Class 0 (uncontaminated) at the confluence with the Pagliola creek. Finally, the total mass load of Hg and As entering the Pagliola creek was computed to be 1.3 and 0.5 kg/year, respectively, when a mean flow rate of 40 L/s was considered. The calculated loads are relatively low, but, when the Fosso della Chiusa drainage basin is taken into account, the specific load is comparable to, or even higher than, those of other mining areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biogeochemical Behavior of Environmental Pollutants: From Source to Spread in Gas, Water and Soil Matrices)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

18 pages, 1715 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cadmium, Chromium, and Cobalt in the Organs of Glyceria maxima and Bottom Sediments of the Pisa River and Its Tributaries (Poland)

by Elżbieta Skorbiłowicz, Mirosław Skorbiłowicz, Urszula Tarasiuk and Magdalena Korzińska

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(19), 10193; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph181910193 - 28 Sep 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1500

Abstract

The aim of the presented article was to determine whether human activity significantly influenced the enrichment of Cd, Co, and Cr, in river sediments and Glyceria maxima, in the basin of the Pisa River, an underdeveloped area in Poland. In this study, the content and spatial distribution of Cd, Cr, and Co in the organs underground and above ground, (sequentially: root, stem, leaf) of Glyceria maxima and bottom sediments of the Pisa River and its tributaries (Pisza Woda, Wincenta, Turośl and Skroda River) were analyzed. The Potentially toxic elements (PTEs) were determined by ASA method (Atomic Absorption Spectrometry). The results showed that the average PTEs contents in the river sediments occurred in the following descending order of Cd < Co < Cr. The highest values of the Igeo, CF coefficients, i.e., the greatest impact of anthropogenic activities on the water environment of the Pisa River and its tributaries, were found especially in the case of Cd. The research on the plant material has shown that the highest content of Cr and Co occurs in the roots, then in the stems, and the least in the leaves of Glyceria maxima. However, the amounts of Cd in the examined parts of Glyceria maxima had similar values. The content of Cd, Cr, and Co in the roots and above-ground parts exceeded the physiological values. Glyceria maxima can be used as a biological indicator material. Statistical analyzes showed the movement of PTEs in the sediment-root-stem-leaf system and identified the sources of PTEs, i.e., municipal wastewater treatment plants, the local food industry, and surface runoff. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biogeochemical Behavior of Environmental Pollutants: From Source to Spread in Gas, Water and Soil Matrices)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 3926 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Legacy of the Idrija Mine Twenty-Five Years after Closing: Is Mercury in the Water Column of the Gulf of Trieste Still an Environmental Issue?

by Elena Pavoni, Elisa Petranich, Sergio Signore, Giorgio Fontolan and Stefano Covelli

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(19), 10192; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph181910192 - 28 Sep 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1796

Abstract

Mercury (Hg) contamination in the Gulf of Trieste (northern Adriatic Sea) due to mining activity in Idrija (Slovenia) still represents an issue of environmental concern. The Isonzo/Soča River’s freshwater inputs have been identified as the main source of Hg into the Gulf, especially following periods of medium-high discharge. This research aims to evaluate the occurrence and distribution of dissolved (DHg) and particulate (PHg) Hg along the water column in the northernmost sector of the Gulf, a shallow and sheltered embayment suitable for the accumulation of fine sediments. Sediment and water samples were collected under unperturbed and perturbed environmental conditions induced by natural and anthropogenic factors. Mercury in the sediments (0.77–6.39 µg g⁻¹) and its relationship to grain size were found to be consistent with previous research focused on the entire Gulf, testifying to the common origin of the sediment. Results showed a notable variability of DHg (<LOD–149 ng L⁻¹) and PHg (0.39–12.5 ng L⁻¹) depending on the interaction between riverine and marine hydrological conditions. Mercury was found to be mainly partitioned in the suspended particles, especially following periods of high discharge, thus confirming the crucial role of the river inputs in regulating PHg distribution in the Gulf. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biogeochemical Behavior of Environmental Pollutants: From Source to Spread in Gas, Water and Soil Matrices)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 9294 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Biomonitoring of Hg⁰, Hg² and Particulate Hg in a Mining Context Using Tree Barks⁺

by Sandra Viso, Sofía Rivera, Alba Martinez-Coronado, José María Esbrí, Marta M. Moreno and Pablo Higueras

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(10), 5191; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18105191 - 13 May 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1851

Abstract

The biomonitoring of atmospheric mercury (Hg) is an important topic in the recent scientific literature given the cost-benefit advantage of obtaining indirect measurements of gaseous Hg using biological tissues. Lichens, mosses, and trees are the most commonly used organisms, with many standardized methods for some of them used across European countries by scientists and pollution regulators. Most of the species used the uptake of gaseous Hg (plant leaves), or a mixture of gaseous and particulate Hg (mosses and lichens), but no method is capable of differentiating between main atmospheric Hg phases (particulate and gaseous), essential in a risk assessment. The purpose of this work was to evaluate different uptake patterns of biological tissues in terms of atmospheric Hg compounds. To accomplish this, the feasibility of two plant tissues from a tree commonly found in urban environments has been evaluated for the biomonitoring of gaseous Hg species in a Hg mining environment. Sampling included leaves and barks from Platanus hispanica and particulate matter from the atmosphere of the urban area around Almadén (south-central Spain), while analytical determinations included data for total Hg concentrations in biological and geological samples, Hg speciation data and total gaseous Hg (TGM). The results allowed us to identify the main Hg compounds in leaves and bark tissues and in atmospheric particulate matter, finding that leaves bioaccumulated only gaseous Hg (Hg⁰ and Hg²⁺), preferably during daylight hours, whereas the barks accumulated a combination of TGM and particulate bound Hg (PBM) during the day and at night. Subsequent merging of the atmospheric Hg speciation data obtained from leaves and barks allowed indicative maps of the main sources of TGM and PBM emissions to be obtained, thereby perfectly delimiting the main TGM and PBM sources in the urban area around Almadén. This method complements TGM biomonitoring systems already tested with other urban trees, adding the detection of PBM emission sources and, therefore, biomonitoring all Hg species present in the atmosphere. Scenarios other than mining sites should be evaluated to determine the utility of this method for Hg biospeciation in the atmosphere. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biogeochemical Behavior of Environmental Pollutants: From Source to Spread in Gas, Water and Soil Matrices)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Biogeochemical Behavior of Environmental Pollutants: From Source to Spread in Gas, Water and Soil Matrices

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Published Papers (8 papers)

Research

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI