Environmental Geochemistry and Health最新文献

{"title":"Spatiotemporal distribution and host association of antibiotic resistance genes in sediment of Qiantang river basin.","authors":"Qiannan Jin, Jie Li, Yantan Zhou, Guangqian Zhao, Yuhan Jiang, Na Cheng, Lifang Hu","doi":"10.1007/s10653-026-03223-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-026-03223-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>River networks are critical pathways for antibiotic discharge and the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This study investigates the spatial and temporal distribution of AMR in sediments of the Qiantang river estuary, a typical transitional zone between terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Seven sampling sites were strategically established along the estuary. Major antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) classes, including multidrug, aminoglycoside, tetracycline, bacitracin, and macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin (MLS) resistance genes were analyzed. Nine high-risk Rank I ARG subtypes were identified, with horizontal gene transfer (HGT) emerging as a key mechanism for ARG dissemination. A strong positive correlation between ARG abundance and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) (R² = 0.856, Pearson's r = 0.925), highlighting the role of transposons and integrons in facilitating ARG propagation within sedimentary microbial communities. Sediment bacterial hosts, particularly Proteobacteria (e.g., Phenylobacterium, Thioalkalivibrio, Cupriavidus) and Chloroflexi (e.g., Anaerolinea), were strongly associated with Risk Rank I genes such as aac(3)-I and aac(3)-IV, encoding aminoglycoside acetyltransferases (AACs). The co-occurrence patterns of ARGs with hosts and human pathogens in sediments suggest that ARG subtypes such as golS, ompR, and ksgA are most closely related to their hosts. Notably, antibiotic concentrations in water and sediments correlated positively with both MGEs and ARG diversity, emphasizing the synergistic effects of anthropogenic pollutants. This study provides new insights into the occurrence and transmission of ARGs in estuarine environments and offer an omics-based assessment strategy for the public health risks associated with AMR.</p>","PeriodicalId":11759,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Geochemistry and Health","volume":"48 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147812573","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Integrated assessment of macro- and microplastic pollution in mangrove and coastal estuarine ecosystem of the Can Gio Biosphere Reserve, Vietnam: abundance and mass spatial distribution, polymer composition and driving factors.","authors":"Duy-Thanh Pham, Minh Thanh Le, Xuan Hoan Nguyen, Bao-Son Trinh, Thu Hien Nguyen, Lan Huong Nguyen","doi":"10.1007/s10653-026-03222-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-026-03222-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Ecological and socio-economic significance of mangrove-estuarine ecosystems has been widely acknowledged, yet they have increasingly threatened by plastic pollution driven by complex hydrodynamics and anthropogenic pressures that have promoted plastic accumulation. This study presented an integrated assessment of macro-mesoplastic (MMPs) and microplastic (MPs) pollution in mangrove-estuarine ecosystem of the Can Gio Biosphere Reserve, Vietnam, integrating multiple environmental compartments, including MMPs accumulation on mangrove surface, MPs contamination in surface sediments, and bivalves. Field surveys were conducted across nine sites representing mangrove core, buffer, and coastal estuarine zones. The MMPs (> 2.5 cm) and MPs were analyzed in term of abundance, mass, shape, color and polymer composition. The MMPs exhibited pronounced spatial heterogeneity, with average abundance and mass of 1.59 ± 1.37 items/m2 and 20.17 ± 10.02 g/m2, respectively. Total MMPs mass within the study was estimated at approximately 132 tons, highlighting substantial surface accumulation. The MPs were ubiquitous across all matrices, dominated by fibers and fragments composed primarily of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE), and polypropylene (PP), with average abundance and mass of 74.74 ± 47.46 items/kg and 47.94 ± 42.70 mg/kg in sediments, and 0.352 ± 0.04 items/individualand 0.054 ± 0.018 items/g wet tissue in bivalves. Biota-sediment ratios (BSR) indicated variable relative enrichment of microplastics in bivalves, reflecting effective bioindicators for monitoring microplastic contamination and assessing human exposure via seafood consumption. Principal component analysis (PCA) identified population and river morphology as key drivers shaping plastic distribution patterns. By integrating macro-mesoplastics, microplastics, and biological exposure, this study provided new insights into plastic partitioning in tropical mangrove-estuarine ecosystems and supported the development of sustainable management strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":11759,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Geochemistry and Health","volume":"48 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147812583","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Groundwater pollution risk in a large agricultural irrigation plain assessed using modified DRASTIC-LU model, pollution loading and hazard analysis.","authors":"Jiaqi Li, Chunli Su, Weili Ge, Zhiyuan Gan, Md Enamul Huq, Junting Liu, Yinchun Su, Hongjie Pan","doi":"10.1007/s10653-026-03189-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-026-03189-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Groundwater pollution poses serious global risks to both the environment and public health, yet accurately assessing human-induced contamination remains challenging. In this study, the DRASTIC-LU model was used to assess groundwater vulnerability in the West Liao River Plain, northern China, and the results were further integrated with pollution source loading and hazard assessment to delineate groundwater pollution risk zones. Model reliability was verified using groundwater quality monitoring data and Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis. The results show high and very high-risk areas are mainly concentrated in the eastern part of plain, where intensive groundwater exploitation and stronger anthropogenic activities increase contamination risk. The spatial distribution of groundwater pollution risk is generally consistent with observed groundwater quality indicators, and the integrated assessment performs better than the traditional DRASTIC model. This study provides an effective framework for regional groundwater pollution risks assessment and offers technical support for groundwater resource protection and sustainable management in similar arid and semi-arid regions.</p>","PeriodicalId":11759,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Geochemistry and Health","volume":"48 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147766027","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Enhanced solubilization and mechanistic insights: unraveling the role of EO chain length in synergistic pyrene removal by AE₃P/AEO_n surfactants.","authors":"Ran Zhang, Xiaowei Shi, Sai Li, Xiumei Tai, Jinwei Hu","doi":"10.1007/s10653-026-03209-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-026-03209-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Pyrene, a four-ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs), presents significant challenges in environmental remediation due to its extremely low water solubility and recalcitrance to removal. Surfactant-Enhanced Remediation (SER) represents a promising strategy to address this issue. This study systematically investigated the synergistic solubilization of pyrene by blending anionic surfactant aliphatic alcohol polyoxyethylene ether phosphates (AE₃P) with nonionic surfactant fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ethers (AEO_n, n = 3, 5, 7, 9) at a 1:1 mass ratio, with a focus on the influence of ethylene oxide (EO) chain length The solubilization efficiency of the mixed surfactant systems was assessed using high-performance liquid chromatography with Ultraviolet Detection (HPLC-UV), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), stress-rheometer, zeta potential, fluorescence spectroscopy, and ¹H NMR spectroscopy, and compared to that of the individual components. Results indicated that the solubilization capacity for pyrene increased significantly with the number of ethylene oxide (EO) units in AEO_n. The AE₃P/AEO₉ system showed optimal performance, with a solubility (S_w) of 80.05 mg/L and a molar solubilization ratio (MSR) of 2.135 × 10^-2. The longer EO chains facilitated a structural transition of the mixed micelles from spherical to wormlike configurations, which enlarged the hydrophobic core volume and reduced the polarity of the palisade layer. thereby substantially enhancing pyrene solubilization. ffectively, thereby substantially enhancing pyrene solubilization. This approach provided a theoretical foundation for the development of efficient and cost-effective remediation strategies for PAHs-contaminated soils, and demonstrated considerable potential for practical application.</p>","PeriodicalId":11759,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Geochemistry and Health","volume":"48 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147765872","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"From industry to consumer use: unraveling PFAS sources, bioaccumulation, and fluxes in a year-long catchment monitoring study.","authors":"Yuheng Chen, Shanqi Zhou, Tianyi Li, Yulin Chen, Zulin Zhang","doi":"10.1007/s10653-026-03200-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10653-026-03200-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study simultaneously determined the sources, bioaccumulation, and fluxes of 15 PFAS in surface water, sediment, and wild fish from the Wuhan section of the Yangtze River (WYR) at various locations during summer and winter. The results showed that the average concentrations of Σ₁₅ PFAS in water, sediment and wild fish were 11.56 ng/L, 0.37 ng/g dw, and 11.91 ng/g dw, respectively. Source analysis using the Unmix model identified metal plating (41%) as the largest contributor among the three main sources. The annual load of PFAS in the WYR was estimated to be up to 7.15 t/a, and the WYR contributed 2.72 t/a to the Yangtze River. Health risk based on fish muscle suggested relatively low risk under Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) reference values, although the estimated weekly intake of the sum of PFOA, PFNA, PFHxS, and PFOS exceeded the tolerable intake value established by European Food and Safety Authority (EFSA). Our results provide data to address gaps in the understanding of PFAS sources, fluxes, and risk in the WYR, underscoring the need for further management of PFAS use and production in the area.</p>","PeriodicalId":11759,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Geochemistry and Health","volume":"48 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13133208/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147765994","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Illegal small-scale mining (galamsey) in Ghana: environmental pollution and remediation approaches-a review.","authors":"Bernard Konadu Amoah, Albert Kwame Kwaw, Ayuba Bene Adam, Raymond Webrah Kazapoe, Blissbern Appiagyei Osei-Owusu, Emmanuel Kwame Appiah-Adjei","doi":"10.1007/s10653-026-03214-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-026-03214-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Illegal small-scale mining (galamsey) is a vital source of livelihood in Ghana. Its contribution to Ghana's national gold production is significant. However, galamsey is associated with many environmental challenges, posing serious threats to biodiversity and public health. Although extensive research has investigated the environmental impacts of galamsey, the scientific literature on potential remediation strategies remains relatively scarce. This study fills this gap in the literature by synthesising evidence of galamsey-related pollution pathways, pollutant profiles, and remediation techniques, including emerging low-cost and locally driven methods. The study found that galamsey has destroyed several hectares of forests, degraded land resources, caused biodiversity loss, reduced agricultural productivity, and polluted water bodies (including Pra, Birim, Ankobra, Tano, and Offin rivers) and soils, and rendered the air, especially in the mining areas, unsafe. The findings indicate that chemical pollution and high turbidity dominate water bodies in Southern Ghana, while Northern Ghana faces severe soil degradation and heightened desertification risks. This study explores various biological, physical, and chemical remediation techniques that can be applied, with recent advances highlighting phytoremediation and sorption as key approaches widely tested in galamsey-polluted environments over the past decades. To address the interwoven environmental challenges, this review highlights proposals for sustainable small-scale mining and ecological restoration. This paper is expected to advance environmental remediation strategies for addressing the galamsey challenge, in line with measures aligned with the attainment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).</p>","PeriodicalId":11759,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Geochemistry and Health","volume":"48 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147766128","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Distribution characteristics and multi-factor driving mechanisms of perfluoroalkyl acids at lake inlets.","authors":"Chenyu Tao, Jiasheng Li, Longyu Cheng, Jian Huang, Hua Zhang, Zihao Fan, Tao Luo","doi":"10.1007/s10653-026-03220-w","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-026-03220-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Lake inlets serve as critical pathways for land-based pollutants, significantly affecting the ecological safety of aquatic environments. Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs), including perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) and perfluoroalkane sulfonic acids (PFSAs), are persistent pollutants of global concern; however, their ecological impacts in inlet areas remain largely unknown. This study focuses on ten major inflow rivers of Chaohu Lake. The risk quotient (RQ) method, species sensitivity distribution (SSD), absolute principal component score-multiple linear regression (APCS-MLR), and partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) were comprehensively applied to systematically analyze the occurrence characteristics, ecological risks, and driving mechanisms of PFAAs. The results showed that a total of 20 PFAAs were detected, with total concentrations ranging from 22.50 to 41.87 ng/L. Short-chain PFCAs (PFBA and PFPeA) and short-chain PFSAs (PFBS) were the dominant pollutants. The SSD results indicated that the ecological risk of PFAAs was relatively low, predominantly classified as no risk or low risk, with no medium or high risk observed. PFODA exhibited low risk and was identified as a relatively high-risk monomer requiring priority attention. Source apportionment revealed that municipal sewage (34.5%), fluoropolymer-related pollution sources (25.8%), surface runoff-driven non-point sources (17.6%), and fluorochemical industrial wastewater (22.1%) were the main contributors. PLS-SEM analysis showed that the occurrence of PFAAs was significantly positively driven by environmental factors such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and COD, with nitrogen and phosphorus enrichment being key factors influencing the distribution of short-chain PFAAs. This study reveals the multi-factor driving mechanisms of PFAAs and provides scientific assessment and precise management of emerging pollutants.</p>","PeriodicalId":11759,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Geochemistry and Health","volume":"48 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147765866","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unraveling the synergistic effects of Bacillus cereus and different concentrations of silicon nanoparticles on wheat under rain-fed conditions of Pakistan.","authors":"Muhammad Umer, Kahkashan Perveen, Faheema Khan, Jayanthi Barasarathi, Naeem Khan, Nageen Bostan, Summiya Faisal, Zainab Asif, Noshin Ilyas","doi":"10.1007/s10653-026-03199-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-026-03199-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a critical staple crop facing severe yield losses due to increasing climate change, particularly in the rain-fed agro-ecosystems of Pakistan. The overreliance on chemical fertilizers to compensate for these losses poses serious environmental and economic challenges, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable, eco-friendly alternatives. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and silicon nanoparticles (SiNPs) have individually shown promise in enhancing crop resilience; however, their combined field-level efficacy under rain-fed conditions remains largely unexplored. This study aimed to evaluate the synergistic effect of Bacillus cereus and different concentrations of silicon nanoparticles (SiNPs) on wheat growth and stress tolerance under rain-fed conditions. A two-year field experiment was conducted in the rain-fed zone of Pakistan (33.18°N, 73.11°E) using a randomized complete block design with eight treatments. Wheat was grown using an isolated PGPR strain (Bacillus cereus) obtained from the arid soil of Dera Ismail Khan, KP. Silicon nanoparticles were synthesized through a physical method and confirmed using SEM, EDX, and UV-Visible analysis. The study evaluated germination, morphological, physiological, mineral nutrient, biochemical, antioxidant, and yield parameters. Data represent mean values of both years. The combined application of treatment T7 (Bacillus cereus with 150 mg SiNPs) showed the highest improvement across all measured parameters. This treatment enhanced germination and significantly increased plant growth, physiology, antioxidants, and yield. Antioxidant activities increased by 16.60% (POD), 27.77% (SOD), 36.14% (CAT), and 23.63% (phosphomolybdenum). Grain yield improved by 42.56%, and harvest index increased by about 12.32% compared to the control. The synergistic use of Bacillus cereus and SiNPs performed better than using them separately. This combination, supported soil health, increased crop yield, and offered an environmentally friendly approach for wheat production in rain-fed areas of Pakistan.</p>","PeriodicalId":11759,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Geochemistry and Health","volume":"48 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147766090","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Chemical characteristics of rainwater and fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) over an urban site in the middle Indo-Gangetic Plain.","authors":"Sanny Rathore, Kirpa Ram","doi":"10.1007/s10653-026-03207-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-026-03207-7","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Rainfall plays a key role in the removal of atmospheric pollutants (both particulate matter and gaseous pollutants) through wet scavenging and thus, the interaction between rain and atmospheric pollutants significantly influences the chemical composition of rainwater. Therefore, in this study, PM&lt;sub&gt;2.5&lt;/sub&gt; and rainwater samples were collected from an urban site in the middle Indo-Gangetic Plain, Varanasi (25.28° N, 82.96° E), India during January-December 2022. The water-soluble inorganic ions (WSIIs), as well as carbonaceous and nitrogenous species in PM&lt;sub&gt;2.5&lt;/sub&gt; and rainwater samples were analysed to understand their sources, seasonal variability, scavenging processes, and deposition fluxes. PM&lt;sub&gt;2.5&lt;/sub&gt; mass concentrations ranged from 15.5 to 279.3 µg m&lt;sup&gt;⁻3&lt;/sup&gt;, with an annual mean of 91.6 ± 50.5 µg m&lt;sup&gt;⁻3&lt;/sup&gt;, significantly exceeding the Indian NAAQS annual limit  of 40 µg m&lt;sup&gt;⁻3&lt;/sup&gt;. The total WSIIs (sum of concentrations of measured anions and cations) was 29.6 µg m&lt;sup&gt;⁻3&lt;/sup&gt; accounted for ~ 33% of the total PM&lt;sub&gt;2.5&lt;/sub&gt; mass and was dominated (66%) by secondary inorganic aerosols ( &lt;math&gt;&lt;msubsup&gt;&lt;mtext&gt;SO&lt;/mtext&gt; &lt;mrow&gt;&lt;mn&gt;4&lt;/mn&gt;&lt;/mrow&gt; &lt;mrow&gt;&lt;mn&gt;2&lt;/mn&gt; &lt;mo&gt;-&lt;/mo&gt;&lt;/mrow&gt; &lt;/msubsup&gt; &lt;/math&gt; , &lt;math&gt;&lt;msubsup&gt;&lt;mtext&gt;NO&lt;/mtext&gt; &lt;mrow&gt;&lt;mn&gt;3&lt;/mn&gt;&lt;/mrow&gt; &lt;mo&gt;-&lt;/mo&gt;&lt;/msubsup&gt; &lt;/math&gt; and &lt;math&gt;&lt;msubsup&gt;&lt;mtext&gt;NH&lt;/mtext&gt; &lt;mrow&gt;&lt;mn&gt;4&lt;/mn&gt;&lt;/mrow&gt; &lt;mo&gt;+&lt;/mo&gt;&lt;/msubsup&gt; &lt;/math&gt; ), indicating strong anthropogenic influence. In rainwater, Ca&lt;sup&gt;2+&lt;/sup&gt;, &lt;math&gt;&lt;msubsup&gt;&lt;mtext&gt;NH&lt;/mtext&gt; &lt;mrow&gt;&lt;mn&gt;4&lt;/mn&gt;&lt;/mrow&gt; &lt;mo&gt;+&lt;/mo&gt;&lt;/msubsup&gt; &lt;/math&gt; , and &lt;math&gt;&lt;msubsup&gt;&lt;mtext&gt;SO&lt;/mtext&gt; &lt;mrow&gt;&lt;mn&gt;4&lt;/mn&gt;&lt;/mrow&gt; &lt;mrow&gt;&lt;mn&gt;2&lt;/mn&gt; &lt;mo&gt;-&lt;/mo&gt;&lt;/mrow&gt; &lt;/msubsup&gt; &lt;/math&gt; were the major ions, contributing over 76% of total ionic content, with near-neutral pH (mean 6.6 ± 0.5) indicating effective neutralization by alkaline species. Seasonal variation showed higher ionic, dissolved organic carbon, and nitrogen concentrations during non-monsoon period, indicating pollutant accumulation under dry conditions whereas dilution during the monsoon. Wet deposition fluxes were consistently higher than dry deposition fluxes for all major ionic species. Relatively, high scavenging ratios, particularly for &lt;math&gt;&lt;msubsup&gt;&lt;mtext&gt;NO&lt;/mtext&gt; &lt;mrow&gt;&lt;mn&gt;3&lt;/mn&gt;&lt;/mrow&gt; &lt;mo&gt;-&lt;/mo&gt;&lt;/msubsup&gt; &lt;/math&gt; and Ca&lt;sup&gt;2+&lt;/sup&gt;, indicate efficient washout of both anthropogenic and crustal components, with below-cloud scavenging identified as the dominant mechanism. The relatively low &lt;math&gt;&lt;msubsup&gt;&lt;mtext&gt;NO&lt;/mtext&gt; &lt;mrow&gt;&lt;mn&gt;3&lt;/mn&gt;&lt;/mrow&gt; &lt;mo&gt;-&lt;/mo&gt;&lt;/msubsup&gt; &lt;/math&gt; / &lt;math&gt;&lt;msubsup&gt;&lt;mtext&gt;SO&lt;/mtext&gt; &lt;mrow&gt;&lt;mn&gt;4&lt;/mn&gt;&lt;/mrow&gt; &lt;mrow&gt;&lt;mn&gt;2&lt;/mn&gt; &lt;mo&gt;-&lt;/mo&gt;&lt;/mrow&gt; &lt;/msubsup&gt; &lt;/math&gt; ratios in both rainwater (0.54) and PM&lt;sub&gt;2.5&lt;/sub&gt; (0.33) indicate predominant influence of stationary emission sources (e.g., coal/biomass burning and industrial emissions). Statistical analysis and diagnostic ratios further indicate contributions from biomass burning and anthropogenic a","PeriodicalId":11759,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Geochemistry and Health","volume":"48 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147765861","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spatiotemporal variability of heavy metals and metalloid contamination in Danube River sediments (Serbia) based on 23-year integrated monitoring.","authors":"Tatjana Mitrović, Marija Perović, Darija Obradović, Anđelka Petković, Jasna Čolić, Tanja Nenin, Saša Lazović","doi":"10.1007/s10653-026-03213-9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-026-03213-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Contamination of aquatic ecosystems by potentially toxic elements, including heavy metals and metalloid (HMs), is a persistent environmental concern due to their toxicity, persistence, and bioaccumulation. Regulated rivers with large dam systems are particularly vulnerable because altered hydrodynamics and sediment retention promote pollutant accumulation. Here, we present a first 23-year integrated dataset (2001-2023) assessment of HMs in surface sediments of the Serbian Danube River based on 620 samples collected at ten profiles from Novi Sad to Kusjak. Concentrations of Fe, Pb, Zn, Cu, Ni, Cr, As and Cd were determined, and contamination was evaluated using the geoaccumulation index (Igeo), enrichment factor (EF), pollution load index (PLI), SQGs and toxic risk index (TRI). To move beyond routine monitoring, site-specific background values for each element were derived statistically, variability was quantified by coefficients of variation (CV), and multivariate analysis (PCA) was applied to identify geochemical patterns and distinct element behavior. Most HMs showed low to moderate levels, with localized hotspots. Igeo and EF indicated As and Cd as the most critical elements, ranging from unpolluted to locally heavily polluted conditions, whereas Cu, Zn, and Cr generally indicated moderate contamination. PLI and TRI exhibited the highest values in downstream Iron Gate Reservoir profiles highlighting dam-driven sediment trapping. Upstream profiles showed improving temporal trends, likely associated with reduced local anthropogenic inputs, whereas downstream reservoir profiles remained stable or slightly deteriorated due to dam-induced sediment trapping and long-term accumulation of contaminants.</p>","PeriodicalId":11759,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Geochemistry and Health","volume":"48 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147766124","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}