ACS Environmental Au最新文献

{"title":"Techno-economic and Sustainability Assessment of Integrated Annatto Seed Biorefinery for Natural Pigments, Starch, and Nutraceuticals","authors":"Giovani Leone Zabot,&nbsp;Eric Keven Silva","doi":"10.1021/acsenvironau.5c00207","DOIUrl":"10.1021/acsenvironau.5c00207","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Annatto (<em>Bixa orellana</em> L.) seeds, traditionallyexploited as a natural pigment source, remain underused despite theirrichness in bioactive oil and functional carbohydrates. We proposean integrated biorefinery that couples supercritical CO₂ oil extraction, ultrasound- and low-pressure solvent-assisted bixinrecovery, aqueous starch isolation, and oil encapsulation into nutraceuticalpowders. Experimental data were scaled with SuperPro Designer to quantifytechno-economic performance, and sustainability was assessed usinga 12-principle green-extraction metric (Path2Green) to benchmark processchoices across environmental, economic, and scalability dimensions.The integrated process achieved a gross margin of 21.8%, ROI 27.9%,NPV USD 5.8 million (7% rate), and a 3–4 year payback time;sensitivity analysis identified feedstock cost and product price asthe dominant profitability drivers, while labor and utilities hadcomparatively minor effects. Sustainability results highlighted thesuperiority of supercritical CO₂ over Soxhlet for oil (solventsafety/recyclability), energy trade-offs between ultrasound and low-pressuresolvent extraction for bixin, and the valorization potential of aqueousstarch recovery. Collectively, the findings position annatto as amodel biomass for zero-waste, circular biorefineries delivering naturalpigments, functional carbohydrates, and nutraceutical ingredientsthrough processes that are both economically viable and metrics-drivenin sustainability.</p>","PeriodicalId":29801,"journal":{"name":"ACS Environmental Au","volume":"6 3","pages":"406–420"},"PeriodicalIF":9.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148017692","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Beyond Legacy PFAS: Dominant Role of Ultrashort-Chain and Emerging PFAS in the Elbe River−Sea Continuum","authors":"Anne Röhrig,&nbsp;Nico Grasse,&nbsp;Martin Krauss,&nbsp;Dana Bücher,&nbsp;Werner Brack,&nbsp;Norbert Kamjunke,&nbsp;Anna Matousu,&nbsp;Tina Sanders,&nbsp;Ingeborg Bussmann,&nbsp;Eric P. Achterberg,&nbsp;Thorsten Reemtsma,&nbsp;Qiuguo Fu","doi":"10.1021/acsenvironau.5c00219","DOIUrl":"10.1021/acsenvironau.5c00219","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are highly persistentcontaminants. Current regulatory monitoring frameworks cover onlya narrow set of regulated long- and short-chain PFAS, while ultrashort-chaincompounds such as trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) remain largely unaddresseddespite their widespread occurrence. Here, we present regional sourcesand tributary inputs of diverse PFAS (<em>n</em> = 83), includingultrashort-, short-, and long-chain PFAS as well as PFAS precursorsalong the 1,200 km Elbe River−North Sea continuum. Based on129 samples from the Elbe, its tributaries, and wastewater treatmentplants (WWTPs), we show that short- and long-chain PFAS concentrationsin the Elbe were generally below 30 ng/L, but 1,653 ± 377 ng/Lwhen including TFA. Major tributaries such as the Saale, Vltava, andMulde delivered PFAS mass loads of several thousand g/day (2,340;6,080; and 1,700 g/day, respectively, when including TFA) and togetheraccounted for a total discharge of 160 m³ s⁻¹, corresponding to approximately 67% of the Elbe’s water fluxat Geesthacht (240 m³/s), which represents the downstreamreference point for mass balance calculations prior to tidal influence.This suggests source-enriched inputs rather than simple dilution bytributary inflows, given the disproportionate increase in PFAS massloads relative to discharge. WWTP effluents from Dresden and Pardubiceadded up to 185 g/day, mainly shaped by short-chain PFAS. The detectionof Capstone B (CDPOS) and Bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (NTf2),non-routinely monitored industrial PFAS, further highlights overlookedsources in the area of the Saale-Elbe confluence. Inclusion of TFAincreased the median PFAS load in the Elbe River by nearly 50-fold(up to 39,958 g/day), demonstrating the dominant role of ultrashort-chainPFAS currently absent from regulatory monitoring. By linking sourceapportionment with river-to-sea transport, our study highlights criticalgaps in existing monitoring frameworks and provides a transferablemethodology for more comprehensive PFAS assessment and regulationin large river systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":29801,"journal":{"name":"ACS Environmental Au","volume":"6 3","pages":"421–434"},"PeriodicalIF":9.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148017734","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Lignin-Based Hydrogels for Sustainable Agriculture: Extraction, Design, and Applications","authors":"Ankit Verma,&nbsp;Priyanka Devi,&nbsp;Sangeeta Bhogal,&nbsp;Rohit Jasrotia,&nbsp;Vijay Kumar Thakur","doi":"10.1021/acsenvironau.5c00203","DOIUrl":"10.1021/acsenvironau.5c00203","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Synthetic polymers are widespread in modern life andpose growingenvironmental problems, especially in agriculture, where water managementand soil health are crucial. Eco-friendly materials that balance performanceand environmental safety are desperately needed as sustainable alternativesremain understudied. This study emphasizes the potential of lignin,a naturally occurring, abundant, and underutilized biopolymer, andits conversion into lignin-based hydrogels. Lignin hydrogels offerdistinct benefits for agricultural applications due to their inherentantibacterial, biodegradable, and biocompatible properties. Theirability to swell improves soil water retention, promotes plant developmentin drought-prone areas, and permits regulated release of fertilizer.Lignin-based hydrogels can promote sustainable agricultural methodsand lessen the dependency on synthetic polymers by customizing thesecharacteristics. This study points to potential advances in greenpolymer technology by highlighting their capacity to bridge the gapbetween environmental stewardship and agricultural production.</p>","PeriodicalId":29801,"journal":{"name":"ACS Environmental Au","volume":"6 3","pages":"375–394"},"PeriodicalIF":9.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148017737","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Navigating the Waters: Decision Trees for Optimal Fish Consumption Guidelines","authors":"Kaitlyn J. Fleming,&nbsp;David Ruffo,&nbsp;Steven Murphy,&nbsp;Mary-Claire Buell","doi":"10.1021/acsenvironau.5c00307","DOIUrl":"10.1021/acsenvironau.5c00307","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Mercury biomonitoringin freshwater fish is foundational for environmentalscience, public health, and Indigenous community well-being, givenmercury’s persistence and toxicity. Accurate characterizationof length–mercury relationships is central to environmentalmonitoring, risk assessment, and the development of fish consumptionguidelines. However, most monitoring programs rely on a single defaultmodel, typically a log–log or power regression, which may misrepresenttrue patterns across heterogeneous lake–species combinations.This study introduces a decision-based regression framework that evaluatesmultiple candidate models using predefined statistical criteria andincorporates sensitivity analyses to assess model stability. Applyingthis framework to community-based monitoring data from northern Ontariorevealed substantial variability in the form and strength of length–mercuryrelationships. No model type was universally optimal; several lake–speciesgroups exhibited weak or absent relationships, indicating that automaticregression-based approaches can produce misleading estimates. Sensitivityanalyses (leave-one-out cross-validation and outlier diagnostics)identified model fragility in data-limited or biologically heterogeneousgroups, highlighting the need for explicit uncertainty evaluation.This flexible and transparent approach improves methodological rigor,supports defensible ecological interpretation, and strengthens mercuryexposure estimates. This framework reduces the risk of biased exposureestimates, strengthens the scientific defensibility of consumptionguidelines, and provides a reproducible, adaptable modeling workflowthat can be adopted across environmental monitoring programs, particularlythose working in northern, remote, or community-led contexts.</p>","PeriodicalId":29801,"journal":{"name":"ACS Environmental Au","volume":"6 3","pages":"487–500"},"PeriodicalIF":9.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148017763","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"An Ecological Impact Assessment Framework and Integrated Management Pathway for Large-Scale Chemical Mosquito Control in Urban Areas","authors":"Meng-Hua Chen,&nbsp;Yu-Xi Feng,&nbsp;Hai-Ya Zhang,&nbsp;Lei Xiang,&nbsp;Chao He,&nbsp;Jing-Yu Liu,&nbsp;Bin Zou,&nbsp;Yong Xu,&nbsp;Yu-Juan Lin,&nbsp;Yan-Hong Li","doi":"10.1021/acsenvironau.5c00297","DOIUrl":"10.1021/acsenvironau.5c00297","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Global warming and rapid urbanization are intensifyingthe threatof mosquito-borne diseases, prompting many cities to default to large-scalechemical spraying as an emergency response. However, this quick-fixapproach may conceal profound ecological collateral damage that haslong been overlooked. Here, we systematically map the impacts of masslarviciding and adulticiding on urban ecosystems and present a novelecological risk indicator framework that tracks acute nontarget effects,the environmental fate and transport of active ingredients, impairmentof ecosystem functions, and human health exposure. Building on thisdiagnostic toolkit, we propose a tiered, climate-smart, and city-tailoredgovernance model that integrates environmental management, biologicalregulation, intelligent sensing, and civic engagement. By shiftingmosquito control from reactive chemical dependence to an ecologicallyinformed paradigm, this approach offers both a conceptual architectureand a practical roadmap for ensuring public health safety withoutcompromising urban ecological sustainability.</p>","PeriodicalId":29801,"journal":{"name":"ACS Environmental Au","volume":"6 3","pages":"456–470"},"PeriodicalIF":9.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148017714","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"High-Volume Plasticizer di(2-Propylheptyl) Phthalate DPHP Induced Ecotoxic Effects in Aquatic and Terrestrial Arthropods","authors":"Anita Jemec Kokalj,&nbsp;Andraž Dolar,&nbsp;Taja Korpar,&nbsp;Aljona Lukjanova,&nbsp;Margit Heinlaan","doi":"10.1021/acsenvironau.5c00191","DOIUrl":"10.1021/acsenvironau.5c00191","url":null,"abstract":"<p>With regard to thesustainability of plastics, the roleof plasticadditives can no longer be ignored or underestimated, as additivesmay play a more significant role in the biological impact of plasticsthan anticipated. Plasticizers form the largest group of additives,and phthalates are the best-known plasticizers. To date, several lowmolecular weight phthalates are restricted/banned due to health andenvironmental hazards, so various substitute plasticizers, especiallyhigh molecular weight phthalates such as di(2-propylheptyl) phthalate(DPHP), in particular, are increasingly used. However, the hazarddata of DPHP, particularly those for environmental organisms, arevery limited. The current study investigated the potential long-termimpact of substitute plasticizer DPHP in comparison to that of thepreviously dominant di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). As model organisms,aquatic arthropods, such as crustacean <em>Daphnia magna,</em> and terrestrial arthropods, such as mealworm <em>Tenebrio molitor</em> and woodlice <em>Porcellio scaber,</em> were chosen. Exposure to phthalates was carried out via 0.5–1000mg DPHP/DEHP/kg-spiked sediment, soil, or food, depending on the assay.Solvents were used in spiking, and results are presented in relationto the solvent controls. For <em>D. magna</em>, both phthalates induced delayed reproduction in F0 and F1 generationsand a smaller parental size at 25 mg/kg. The reduced number of broods(DPHP) and fertility (DEHP) was recorded in the F1 generation. For <em>T. molitor</em>, no adverse effects on organism mass,moult, or development were recorded during 8 week exposure at up to1000 mg/kg food. For <em>P. scaber</em>, a 2-weekexposure to phthalates did not affect immunity but triggered biochemicalresponses. DEHP exposure induced potential neurotoxicity (increasein acetylcholinesterase) above 50 mg/kg and detoxification (increasein glutathione S-transferase) above 100 mg/kg, simultaneously reducingmetabolic activity. DPHP induced detoxification processes, even at5 mg/kg. In conclusion, DPHP toxicity induction potential was comparableto that of DEHP, indicating that more hazard data are needed to ensurethat DPHP is not a regrettable substitution to DEHP.</p>","PeriodicalId":29801,"journal":{"name":"ACS Environmental Au","volume":"6 3","pages":"395–405"},"PeriodicalIF":9.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148017727","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dynamics of the Microbiome and Antibiotic Resistome in Hyper-Mesophilic Anaerobic Digestion of Cattle Manure Assisted with Granular Activated Carbon","authors":"Mac-Anthony Nnorom,&nbsp;Bang Du,&nbsp;Zhufang Wang,&nbsp;Zilin Tian,&nbsp;Rupert Hough,&nbsp;Lisa Avery,&nbsp;Devendra Saroj,&nbsp;Bing Guo","doi":"10.1021/acsenvironau.5c00239","DOIUrl":"10.1021/acsenvironau.5c00239","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The use of conductive materials, such as granular activatedcarbon(GAC), for optimization of the anaerobic digestion (AD) process hasgarnered attention in recent years; however, its impact on the dynamicsof the microbiome and resistome in continuous AD systems remains unclear,especially under temperature variation. This study combined culture-basedbacterial enumeration and shotgun metagenomics to investigate theimpact of two GAC application strategies, suspended and packed, onthe fate of pathogens (viable <em>Escherichia coli</em>) and ARGs during the AD of cattle manure at 40 and 45 °C. Theresults show that GAC mitigated the process imbalance and shock inducedby temperature transition. The microbial community in the AD sludgewas highly impacted by temperature but not GAC, while GAC biofilmsshowed notably higher archaeal abundance. All AD reactors reducedviable <em>E. coli</em>, with the highest reductionoccurring in the packed GAC reactors (95.70–96.24%), followedby the suspended GAC (94.53–95.69%), and then the non-GAC (92.77–94.24%).Culturable tetracycline-resistant bacteria were reduced below thequantification limit in all reactors. Reduction of ampicillin-resistantbacteria showed stochastic trends at 40 °C but improved at 45°C, indicating limited impact by GAC. ARGs and mobile geneticelements (MGEs) were reduced in all reactors at comparable levels,regardless of GAC addition. Temperature transition exerted a mixedeffect, with higher reduction of some resistance classes (MLS, tetracycline,and multidrug) and lower reduction of others (bacitracin, aminoglycoside,beta-lactam, and streptothricin). Mantel test and Procrustes analysisrevealed a significant correlation between the resistome and the bacterialcommunity, inferring that shifts in the ARG host population were amajor determinant of the fate of ARGs. Overall, GAC was beneficialto reactor stability but had a minimal influence on the reductionof <em>E. coli</em>, ARGs, and MGEs. It is highlyrecommended to monitor antimicrobial resistance using both culture-basedand culture-independent methods.</p>","PeriodicalId":29801,"journal":{"name":"ACS Environmental Au","volume":"6 3","pages":"435–448"},"PeriodicalIF":9.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148017698","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Light-Mediated Enhancement of Carbon Sequestration in Engineered Spathiphyllum","authors":"Yi-Jun Wang,&nbsp;Amit Kumar Sharma,&nbsp;Shu-Mei Wang,&nbsp;Fei Pan,&nbsp;Yen-Hsun Su","doi":"10.1021/acsenvironau.5c00268","DOIUrl":"10.1021/acsenvironau.5c00268","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Carbon sequestration is essential to mitigate climatechange andatmospheric carbon dioxide levels. Utilizing indoor plants, such as <em>Spathiphyllum</em> (Peace Lily), is desirable for sustainableliving, thanks to their carbon sequestration characteristics and abilityto remove air toxins and adjust humidity. In this study, a luminescentenergy storage material, calcium sulfide doped with europium and dysprosium(CaS:Eu,Dy) phosphor, was synthesized and applied to the surface of <em>Spathiphyllum</em> (Peace Lily) leaves to improve itsphotosynthetic efficiency and carbon sink potential. This phosphorabsorbs incident visible light and converts short-wavelength lightto long-wavelength light. When excited by 514 nm light, the CaS:Eu,Dyphosphor emits a red light at 652 nm. Additionally, CaS:0.5%Eu,0.25%Dyhas the best luminescence duration compared to other dopants, witha relaxation time of 2.392 s. To prevent the phosphor from hygroscopicdegradation in the air, a SiO₂ coating was applied to thematerial’s surface, increasing the phosphor’s lifespanand preventing environmental damage. Based on the chlorophyll fluorescenceinduction OJIP curve, it was observed that using the phosphor on theleaves of Peace Lily does not affect the plant’s physiologicalcondition, and the plant remains healthy. Furthermore, compared tountreated leaves, the photosynthetic efficiency of treated Peace Lilyleaves could increase by 42%, resulting in an additional carbon sequestrationof about 0.045 mol of CO₂ per square meter of leaves perday. This also allows the Peace Lily to emit red light in the dark,thereby enhancing its ornamental value as an indoor plant.</p>","PeriodicalId":29801,"journal":{"name":"ACS Environmental Au","volume":"6 3","pages":"449–455"},"PeriodicalIF":9.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148017742","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Performance of Dispersion Models in Predicting Ambient Ethane Concentrations at a Regional Air Quality Monitor in an Oil- and Gas-Producing Region","authors":"Joel D. Graves,&nbsp;Yosuke Kimura,&nbsp;Mrinali Modi,&nbsp;Shannon Stokes,&nbsp;Morgan Meyer,&nbsp;Lea Hildebrandt Ruiz,&nbsp;David T. Allen","doi":"10.1021/acsenvironau.5c00311","DOIUrl":"10.1021/acsenvironau.5c00311","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The performance of four widely used dispersion models(AERMOD,a single-equation Gaussian formulation, and two versions of CALPUFF)for predicting ambient hydrocarbon concentrations at a regional airquality monitor in the Eagle Ford Shale oil and gas production regionwas assessed. Model performance was found to vary considerably basedon the performance objective, meteorological conditions, and temporalresolution. Among the models evaluated in this work, the methods usedto estimate the dispersion coefficients and whether the model wasplume- or puff-based strongly influenced model performance. Uncertaintiesin meteorological and emissions inputs also played an important rolein model performance, but the significance of their impact varieddepending on the performance objective. Techniques to identify andaddress model uncertainties and for selecting the best performingmodel for a given application are suggested.</p>","PeriodicalId":29801,"journal":{"name":"ACS Environmental Au","volume":"6 3","pages":"501–512"},"PeriodicalIF":9.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148017703","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of Prescribed Fire Emissions on Ambient PM2.5 and Its Components in the Southeastern US","authors":"Kamal J. Maji,&nbsp;Zongrun Li,&nbsp;Yongtao Hu,&nbsp;Jennifer D. Stowell,&nbsp;Chad W. Milando,&nbsp;Ambarish Vaidyanathan,&nbsp;Gregory A. Wellenius,&nbsp;Patrick L. Kinney,&nbsp;Armistead G. Russell,&nbsp;M. Talat Odman","doi":"10.1021/acsenvironau.6c00072","DOIUrl":"10.1021/acsenvironau.6c00072","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Under the framework of the UnitedNations Sustainable DevelopmentGoals, mitigating global PM_2.5 exposure, which poses asubstantial health threat, has become a critical global priority.However, in the southeastern United States (US), the increased useof prescribed fire (PF) or controlled burning as a predominant managementtool to prevent destructive wildfires is a major source of PM_2.5. Despite widespread smoke exposure in this region, theconcentrations of PF-induced PM_2.5 (PF–PM_2.5), its chemical composition, and its seasonal variability remainpoorly understood. Moreover, it is important to quantify the contributionof PF to black carbon in the atmosphere to assess the climatic impactof these burns. We employed a multistage modeling framework to estimateyear-round, long-term effects of PF on air quality. The frameworkintegrates a chemical transport model with a data-fusion approachto estimate 24 h average PF–PM_2.5 and its components[elemental carbon (EC), organic carbon (OC), nitrate (NO<span><span>^–₃</span></span>), sulfate(SO<span><span>^2–₄</span></span>), and others] attributable to PF from 2013 to 2021 in 12 southeasternUS. We estimated average PF–PM_2.5 to be 0.50 ±0.20 μg/m³ (mean ± SD), which was approximately8% of the ambient PM_2.5. The hot spots with a high PF–PM_2.5 concentration appeared over southeast Alabama, southwestGeorgia, and northwestern Florida. From 2013–2021, averagePF–PM_2.5 contributed 0.85 ± 0.17 μg/m³ (12% of ambient PM_2.5) in Georgia and 0.83 ±0.16 μg/m³ (11% of ambient PM_2.5) in Alabama.However, during the extensive burning season (January–April),average PF–PM_2.5 levels accounted for 1.38 ±0.31 μg/m³ (20% of ambient PM_2.5) in Georgiaand 1.11 ± 0.27 μg/m³ (16% of ambient PM_2.5) in Alabama. The 2013–2021 average PF-EC value was0.067 ± 0.028 μg/m³ over the 12 states, whichwas 27% of ambient EC and increased to 35% of ambient EC during theextensive burning season (0.091 ± 0.045 μg/m³). The average PF-OC concentration was also high, 0.23 ± 0.09μg/m³ (13% of ambient OC); however, average concentrationsof PF-NO<span><span>^-₃</span></span>, PF-SO<span><span>^2-₄</span></span>, and other components were very low during the study period. ThePF–PM_2.5 and its components’ concentrationswere highly dependent on place and season. This data set can be usedas a tool to aid in understanding the interplay between forest management,air quality, and human health in the southeastern US.</p>","PeriodicalId":29801,"journal":{"name":"ACS Environmental Au","volume":"6 3","pages":"523–538"},"PeriodicalIF":9.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148017724","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}