Environmental Pollution最新文献

{"title":"Sources, temporal-spatial characteristics, exposure assessment and children health risk of phthalate esters (PAEs) in household dust in China from 2000 to 2023:a review and pool analysis","authors":"Wenying Zhang, Xiaotong Zhang, Xiaomin Xie, Tingting Liu, Fengjing Song, Chengyu Chen, Chao Wang, Linlin Jiang, Hang Du, Lin Fan, Xu Han, Yiming Sun, Li Li, Mats Tysklind, Xianliang Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126903","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126903","url":null,"abstract":"Phthalate esters (PAEs) have been extensively used in the household environment globally for decades, posing persistent hazards. There is significant attention on the characteristics of PAEs in household dust (HD-PAEs) in China, driven by an increasing awareness of their endocrine-disruptor toxicity. In this study, 876 peer-reviewed papers published between 2000 and 2023 were evaluated and screened for raw numerical data of HD-PAEs in residential households, including 27 papers available for final analysis. The national mean concentration of ∑8HD-PAEs was approximately 1002 mg/kg based on calculation of the samples-weighted mean concentration. Pollution levels in several provinces, including Shaanxi, Liaoning, Chongqing, Heilongjiang, Hunan, and Beijing, exceeded the national average by 230%, 209%, 151%, 84.6%, 54.7%, and 24.6%, respectively. Spatial and temporal differences were observed in HD-PAEs pollution, with DEP, DMP and DCHP exhibiting higher concentrations in northern cities (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.050), while DEP and DBP demonstrated higher concentrations in winter (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.050). The two principal sources of HD-PAEs were identified through correlation analysis and principal component analysis: the use of plastic products and decoration materials (DEP, DEHP, DIBP and DMP accounted for 58.6%), and personal care products (DBP accounted for 21.3%). DEHP remains the predominant HD-PAEs, despite its concentration decreasing from 2005 to 2020. The carcinogenic risk of DEHP ranged from 2.45×10^-5 to 2.45×10^-4, and the non-carcinogenic risk of DEHP in Shaanxi (HI = 1.05), Chongqing (HI = 1.41), and Liaoning (HI = 1.41) exceeded the acceptable levels, with dermal contact and ingestion being the primary exposure routes. Based on these findings, we recommend prioritizing environmentally friendly building materials and minimizing the use of plastic products. Proper ventilation, especially during winter, and regular household cleaning and dust removal should be implemented to enhance environmental protection in homes. These measures can effectively reduce exposure to HD-PAEs and protect the health of residents.","PeriodicalId":311,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Pollution","volume":"60 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144701680","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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":"Size-resolved fluorescence properties of water-soluble organic carbon in atmospheric aerosols in coastal China","authors":"Sen Zhao, Jianhua Qi","doi":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126871","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126871","url":null,"abstract":"Water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) is widely regarded as an important driving factor to climate change due to its light absorption properties. This research examined the seasonal, size-resolved fluorescence properties of WSOC in Qingdao, China, utilizing excitation-emission matrices (EEMs) and parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC). We identified two humus-like substances (HULIS) and one protein-like substance (PRLIS), observing their highest fluorescence intensities during winter and the lowest in summer. In summer, fine particles (&lt;2.1 μm) exhibited a greater proportion of more-oxygenated HULIS due to intensive photochemical aging processes, whereas winter's coarse particles (&gt;2.1 μm) contained predominantly less-oxygenated HULIS. Additionally, the PRLIS proportion increased with particle sizeand peaked in summer (37.7%). Biological and humification indices indicated that fine particles demonstrated greater aromaticity and aging compared to coarser particles, which displayed more freshness and biogenic contributions. Dust and rainfall significantly influenced WSOC's aging and size distribution, enhancing humification in coarse particles during dust events and reducing aromaticity in smaller particles during rainfall episodes. Correlation and random forest interpretable analyses suggested that secondary sources majorly influence WSOC (75.0%) and more-oxygenated HULIS (84.5%), while PRLIS (43.3%) and less-oxygenated HULIS (39.5%) were also significantly affected by primary sources.","PeriodicalId":311,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Pollution","volume":"25 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144701678","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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":"Limited response of boreal forest litterfall mercury deposition to declines in atmospheric mercury concentrations (1987-2000)","authors":"Xiangwen Zhang, Haijun Peng, Stefan Osterwalder, Kevin Bishop, Mats B. Nilsson, Matthias Peichl, Erik Björn, Wei Zhu","doi":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126901","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126901","url":null,"abstract":"Atmospheric mercury (Hg) uptake by vegetation and subsequent deposition via litterfall constitutes a major pathway in the global Hg cycle. However, the temporal dynamics of litterfall Hg deposition and its environmental controls remain poorly understood. Here, we present a detailed assessment of Hg concentrations and deposition fluxes for individual litter components in a Swedish boreal forest from 1987 to 2000. Atmospheric Hg concentrations declined 41% during this period. Correspondingly, Hg concentrations in Scots pine and Norway spruce needles decreased significantly (∼22% and ∼26%, respectively). However, the total litterfall Hg deposition flux remained stable at 11.7 ± 1.8 μg m^-2 yr^-1, showing no clear temporal trend. Foliar litter (needles) contributed 44% of total Hg deposition, while non-foliar litter (twigs, residual material, and cones) accounted for the remaining 56% (32%, 22%, and 2%, respectively). The importance of this non-foliar component in modulating litterfall Hg deposition is often overlooked. Litterfall Hg deposition was 1.7 times higher in the non-growing season than in the growing season, primarily due to greater litterfall biomass. The weak response of litterfall Hg deposition to declining atmospheric Hg concentrations highlights the importance of biological factors (e.g., litterfall compositions and productivity) in regulating Hg inputs to boreal forest. Our findings also underscore the need for long-term assessments of Hg deposition dynamics via different litterfall components for assessing the effectiveness of the <em>Minamata Convention on Mercury</em>.","PeriodicalId":311,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Pollution","volume":"29 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144701758","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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":"Effects of preozonation on the formation of volatile disinfection byproducts from four different algal cells and organic matter in chlorination","authors":"Wenjie Cui, Hongyan Zhai, Shuishan Xia","doi":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126893","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126893","url":null,"abstract":"Algal cells and algal organic matter (AOM) derived from blooms in water sources act as significant precursors for disinfection byproducts (DBPs) during drinking water disinfection<strong>.</strong> While preozonation is commonly applied prior to chlorination to enhance microbial inactivation, its specific impact on volatile DBP formation from different algal precursors requires further definition. This study investigated the effect of preozonation (0‒2 mg/L ozone) on the formation and speciation of volatile DBPs generated from four seasonal predominant algal species (<em>M. aeruginosa</em>, <em>C. vulgaris</em>, <em>S. obliquus</em>, and <em>Cyclotella sp.</em>) and their corresponding AOM during subsequent chlorination. The total DBP yields from chlorinated algal cells and AOM ranged from 28.71–70.96 μg/L and 50.99–86.52 μg/L, respectively, with <em>Cyclotella sp.</em> exhibiting the highest yields in both fractions. The impact of preozonation on DBP formation was highly dependent on algal species and ozone doses. Increasing ozone from 0 to 2 mg/L resulted in a 45.0% increase in DBPs from <em>M. aeruginosa</em> cells and a 36.1% increase from its AOM. DBPs from <em>C. vulgaris</em> AOM increased by 27.6%, while <em>S. obliquus</em> cells produced 17.2% more DBPs; conversely, DBPs from <em>S. obliquus</em> AOM decreased by 35.1%. Yields from <em>C. vulgaris</em> cells and <em>Cyclotella sp.</em> (both cells and AOM) showed minimal change. Haloacetonitrile yields generally increased after 2.0 mg/L ozonation across most samples, except for <em>Cyclotella sp.</em> cells. Trichloronitromethane yield exhibited a multi-fold increase under preozonation. The bromine substitution factors for trihalomethanes were consistently lower in algal cells (14.5%–30.0%) than in their AOM (28.6%–39.1%). These results demonstrate that the effects of preozonation on DBP formation are highly specific to both the algal species and the precursor matrix (cells vs. AOM), indicating that outcomes observed for one species cannot be generalized to others.","PeriodicalId":311,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Pollution","volume":"25 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144693791","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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":"Toxic metal-adsorbed microplastics threaten human digestive system: A bioaccessibility-based risk assessment","authors":"Si-Yu Chen, Cheng-Chieh Hsieh, Chung-Min Liao, Szu-Chieh Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126900","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126900","url":null,"abstract":"Microplastics (MPs) serve as carriers of toxic metals in aquatic environments, facilitating co-contamination and raising concerns about the potential negative effects on human exposure through dietary ingestion. As MPs undergo environmental aging, changes in surface properties and functional groups enhance their adsorption capacity for toxic metals. Meanwhile, toxic metal-adsorbed MPs are widely present, yet mechanistic dietary risk assessment based on age/gender and human health thresholds is still lacking. Here, by integrating adsorption experimental data and oral bioaccessibility-based human digestive kinetics, exposure levels of Cr(VI)-/Pb(II)-adsorbed virgin/aged MPs in seafood, bivalves, crustaceans, sea salt, and drinking water were estimated. The age-/gender-specific average daily dose was assessed across different digestive phases, whereas non-carcinogenic risks were undertaking hazard quotient- and margin of exposure-based assessment. Results showed that aging increased adsorption of Cr(VI)-/Pb(II)-adsorbed MPs by ∼9-fold, with the highest risk observed in 0–3 age group, particularly in stomach phase. Among dietary sources, toxic metal-adsorbed MPs ingestion through fish, bivalves, and crustaceans contributed most significantly to non-carcinogenic risk, with ingestion rate and food-specific MPs identified as key sensitivity factors. The findings reveal potential trends of toxic metal-adsorbed MPs accumulating in foods and being transferred to human digestive system. This work highlights a plausible yet understudied pathway of MPs-associated toxic metals exposure that has human health implications. Although there are no immediate health risks found in this study, the observed age-related trends and the influence of MP aging are deserving further research to confirm their application to public policy.","PeriodicalId":311,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Pollution","volume":"14 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144701757","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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":"Organic ultraviolet filters in the blubber of two free-ranging deep-diving cetacean species","authors":"Eva Íñiguez ,&nbsp;Sarah Montesdeoca-Esponda ,&nbsp;Filipe Alves ,&nbsp;Zoraida Sosa-Ferrera ,&nbsp;Manfred Kaufmann ,&nbsp;Nereida Cordeiro ,&nbsp;Ana Dinis","doi":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126830","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126830","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The increasing use of personal care products has led to the widespread of organic UV filters (oUVFs) in marine ecosystems, yet their occurrence and potential impacts on pelagic and deep-sea environments remain unclear. This study assessed oUVFs contamination in the blubber of two deep-diving cetacean species —the short-finned pilot whale (<em>Globicephala macrorhynchus</em>) and the sperm whale (<em>Physeter macrocephalus</em>)—off Madeira Island, Eastern North Atlantic. Using microwave-assisted extraction and UHPLC-MS/MS, four of eleven targeted oUVFs were detected in blubber: homosalate, 2-ethylhexyl salicylate, octocrylene, and methylene bis-benzotriazole (UV-360). Concentrations reached up to 352.3 ng/g wet weight (w.w.) in pilot whales and 1505 ng/g w.w. in sperm whales. Detection frequencies were higher in pilot whales (60–100 %) than in sperm whales (30–50 %). This study provides the first evidence of UV-360 concentration in cetaceans. These findings suggest that pilot whales’ higher site fidelity in Madeiran waters may increase exposure to oUVF, while sperm whales may accumulate oUVFs through benthopelagic feeding at higher trophic levels. These results highlight the potential for oUVF to disperse into deep marine ecosystems and underscore the importance of monitoring emerging contaminants in oceanic apex predators.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":311,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Pollution","volume":"383 ","pages":"Article 126830"},"PeriodicalIF":7.6,"publicationDate":"2025-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144693841","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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":"Insights into toxic elements mobilization in Karstic paddy soil of southwest China: The overlooked significance of Iron-organic matter colloids","authors":"Ran Wei, Junbin Liu, Ming Li, Weipeng Xie, Jingjing Li, Lirong Liu, Yanjun Jiang, Shengsheng Sun, Tenghaobo Deng, Shizhong Wang, Yetao Tang, Qingqi Lin, Zhuobiao Ni, Ting Liu, Rongliang Qiu","doi":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126897","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126897","url":null,"abstract":"Due to their large specific surface area, variable surface charge, and abundant reactive functional groups, soil colloids are important \"carriers\" for the migration of HMs (heavy metals) in the soil. This study systematically investigates the migration-transformation mechanisms of colloidal As, Cd, Tl and their driving factors in paddy soils of the Karst region in southwest China. Results show that colloidal Fe and OM are the primary environmental factors influencing the formation and distribution of these three colloidal heavy metals, with significant positive correlations (correlation coefficients r² = 0.56-0.79). TEM-EDS and XRD analyses confirm that As/Cd are closely associated with Fe oxides (e.g., magnetite, goethite) at the nanoscale. AF4-UV-ICP-MS technology reveals that colloidal HMs primarily occur in the 100-350 nm size range, and anthropogenic activities in artisanal smelting areas promote the formation of smaller-sized colloids (20-350 nm), enhancing their migration potential. Metagenomic analysis indicates that N/S metabolic genes (e.g., narA, cysN) are significantly correlated with colloidal HMs concentrations, and microbial metabolites affect the binding of HMs to soil colloids. Traditional assessments overlook the high mobility and stability of colloidal HMs (e.g., 100–350 nm), leading to underestimation of potential risks to paddy ecosystems and adjacent water bodies. Future biogeochemical research should prioritize colloid - and nanoparticle - bound HMs to improve risk assessment and remediation strategies.","PeriodicalId":311,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Pollution","volume":"119 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144701759","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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":"Research advances of micro/nanoplastics in groundwater: occurrence, environmental impacts and control strategies","authors":"Ruixin Jin, Haokai Li, Xiang Li, Maocai Shen","doi":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126899","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126899","url":null,"abstract":"Microplastic pollution in groundwater systems has garnered significant global attention. Understanding the factors and mechanisms that influence microplastic migration in groundwater is crucial for accurately assessing their distribution and environmental risks. As microplastic pollution in groundwater environments is a relatively new area of study, research is still in its early stages. There are limited reports on the abundance, polymer types, sizes, and other characteristics of microplastics in this field. The strong heterogeneity, complexity, and obscurity of the environment present numerous challenges for conducting related research. In this context, this article reviews the sources, distribution characteristics, potential risks, and removal strategies of microplastics in groundwater environments. It also emphasizes the existing knowledge gaps in the sampling processes and the environmental behavior of microplastics in groundwater. It systematically elucidates the factors influencing microplastic migration in groundwater and analyzes the mechanisms that affect this migration. Exploring the transport mechanisms of microplastics in groundwater aquifers is crucial for assessing their potential harm to the ecological environment and for implementing effective measures to combat microplastic pollution. Additionally, to gain a deeper understanding of the transformation behavior and environmental effects of microplastics in groundwater, a systematic summary and analysis of the current research shortcomings and deficiencies regarding microplastics in the groundwater environment will be conducted, along with a discussion of future research directions.","PeriodicalId":311,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Pollution","volume":"18 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144693839","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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":"Electrochemical-oxidative dualism: Decoupling the acute effects of lake water-aged tire wear particles on periphytic biofilm-mediated denitrification","authors":"Kun Li ,&nbsp;Zhangle Chen ,&nbsp;Wanqi Hao","doi":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126876","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126876","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As emerging microplastic pollutants, tire wear particles (TWPs) have unclear photochemical impacts on aquatic nitrogen cycles. This study investigated how three types of TWPs—mechanically generated via rolling (R-TWPs), sliding (S-TWPs), and low-temperature crushing (C-TWPs)—and their aged counterparts (AC-, AR-, AS-TWPs) influenced nitrate reduction in periphytic biofilms. Aging in lake water altered the surface properties of TWPs: AC- and AR-TWPs accumulated inorganic ions and organic coatings, while AS-TWPs facilitated microbial colonization. Aged TWPs exhibited enhanced electron exchange capacity (EEC) and elevated levels of environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs). However, neither fresh nor aged TWPs altered nitrate removal, denitrification gene abundance (<em>nirK</em>, <em>nirS</em>), or microbial community structure in a dose-dependent manner; their impacts showed no simple correlation with EEC or EPFRs. Under illumination, TWPs acted as electron shuttles, transferring photogenerated electrons. Quenching hydroxyl radicals (·OH) revealed a strong positive correlation between EEC (specifically, electron donating and accepting capacities) and nitrate removal rates (r = 0.928–0.957, p &lt; 0.01). Variance partitioning analysis identified EPFRs as promoters (contribution: 0.16) and ·OH as inhibitors (contribution: −0.18) of denitrification. At concentrations of 1.0–50.0 mg L⁻¹ over 7 days, TWPs exerted paradoxical effects on urban river nitrogen cycling. This paradox arose from synergistic interactions between surface-active components (e.g., carbon black, zinc oxide) and photosensitive moieties (e.g., EPFRs, redox functional groups). This work highlights the dual role of photoactive TWPs in modulating aquatic nitrogen cycles and underscores the necessity of evaluating their photochemical reactivity and oxidative stress effects when assessing microplastic pollution in urban water systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":311,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Pollution","volume":"383 ","pages":"Article 126876"},"PeriodicalIF":7.6,"publicationDate":"2025-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144684696","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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":"Impact of changing agricultural management on the exceedance of empirical critical loads of nitrogen in terrestrial habitats of southwestern Europe","authors":"Héctor García-Gómez, Rasmus Einarsson, Mark Theobald, Eduardo Aguilera, Tania Carrasco-Molina, Victoria Gil, Benjamín S. Gimeno, Coralina Hernández, Luis Lassaletta, Isaura Rábago, Hans van Grinsven, Marta G. Vivanco, Alberto Sanz-Cobeña","doi":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126867","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126867","url":null,"abstract":"Ammonia (NH₃) emissions from agricultural activities are one of the main sources of air pollution, a challenge for EU emission targets, and contribute significantly to nitrogen (N) deposition and eutrophication of sensitive ecosystems. This study used modelling to evaluate the mitigation of this eutrophication by improved fertilizer management techniques in the EU Interreg “SUDOE” region (Spain, Portugal, and southwestern France), comparing it with the current situation. The results showed that the implementation of improved fertilizer management -removing urea-based fertilizers and optimizing manure application- led to a 36% reduction in NH₃ emissions and a 20% decrease in total N deposition. Consequently, the area of habitats exceeding their critical nitrogen load dropped from 39% to 22%, representing a 43% reduction in area at risk of eutrophication. However, spatial heterogeneity was considerable, driven by atmospheric transport, deposition patterns, and distribution of sensitive habitats. The majority of the most sensitive habitats experienced a reduction of their area at risk, particularly natural and semi-natural grasslands, and most of shrublands. However, some others, such as coastal dunes and certain Mediterranean shrublands, experienced smaller improvements. The Alpine region remained the most threatened region. This study highlights the importance of improved fertilizer management in achieving strategic environmental goals, and confirms that spatially explicit modelling and precautionary assessments using critical loads are useful tools to inform regionally adapted environmental policies, considering sensitivity of the ecosystems, deposition magnitude and pollution sources as key factors.","PeriodicalId":311,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Pollution","volume":"27 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144684622","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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}