Water, Air, & Soil Pollution最新文献

{"title":"Survey on Dioxin Contamination in Chinese-Produced Pesticides and Evaluation of Dioxin Emissions During their Application","authors":"Wei Xie,&nbsp;Ya-chen Zhou,&nbsp;Bin Fang,&nbsp;Hui-li Ma,&nbsp;Na Li,&nbsp;Shu-qi Zhang","doi":"10.1007/s11270-026-09517-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11270-026-09517-x","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>An investigation into dioxin contamination in Chinese pesticides was conducted using an improved detection method, analyzing 390 batches of Chinese-produced 2,4-D and its derivative active ingredients, along with 32 commonly used pesticide formulations. Dioxin concentrations of the raw active ingredients ranged from 0.00721 to 98.9 pg TEQ·g^-¹, all below the strictest current regulatory limit set by the United States (100 pg TEQ·g^-¹). Nevertheless, only 1.03% of the samples met the advanced process level specified in the UNEP 2013 Toolkit (0.1 pg TEQ·g^-¹). As the world's largest exporter of 2,4-D and its derivative active ingredients, China has considerable room for improvement in its production standards. Fingerprint characteristic analysis identified chlorophenols as the primary source of dioxin contamination. Notably, the dioxin content in three formulations—butachlor, atrazine, and imidacloprid—was significantly higher than that in known high-risk pesticide formulations. Analysis of raw materials and production processes indicated a high likelihood of contamination introduced by auxiliary materials. Currently, the emission factors specified by the UNEP cover only a few recognized high-risk categories, all based on active ingredients, which may lead to an underestimation of overall emissions. Based on the detection results for formulations and national pesticide production data, annual dioxin emissions—expressed as toxic equivalent (TEQ)—from herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides ranged from 0.0302 to 5.55 g TEQ, with a median of 0.861 g TEQ per year. These three pesticide categories account for 94.6% of total pesticide use in China, thereby effectively reflecting the overall emission profile associated with pesticide application.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":808,"journal":{"name":"Water, Air, & Soil Pollution","volume":"237 15","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147829168","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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":"Imidazolium-based Ionic Liquids Modified Amberlite Resin for Valeric Acid Removal from Water","authors":"Özge Yalçın,&nbsp;Nilay Baylan,&nbsp;Süheyla Çehreli","doi":"10.1007/s11270-026-09526-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11270-026-09526-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This paper attempts to test the ionic liquids (ILs) modified Amberlite XAD-4 resins as novel and effective adsorbents for valeric acid (VA) removal from aqueous solutions by adsorption. In this regard, the adsorption performance and mechanism of Amberlite XAD-4 resin with imidazolium-based ILs, namely 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([BMIM][PF₆]), and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([BMIM][Tf₂N]), were investigated. The unmodified XAD-4 and ionic liquids modified Amberlite XAD-4 resins (XAD-4/IL1 and XAD-4/IL2) have been characterized with FTIR, XRD, and SEM analysis. The characterization results confirmed that the successful IL modification onto the resin surface. In batch adsorption experiments, the influence of initial VA concentrations (1–3% w/w), temperature (25–45 ^oC), and resin dosage (0.01–0.05 g) on adsorption capacity was conducted. Additionally, adsorption isotherm, kinetics and thermodynamic modeling were carried out to determine the adsorption mechanism. IL modification, specifically with [Tf₂N]⁻ based anion, significantly improved the adsorption performance of Amberlite XAD-4 for VA. The highest q_e values were determined at the conditions of lower temperature (25 °C), maximum initial VA concentration (3% w/w), and minumum adsorbent dosage (0.01 g) as 1006.41 mg.g⁻¹, 1123.31 mg.g⁻¹, and 1307.94 mg.g⁻¹ for XAD-4, XAD-4/IL1 and XAD-4/IL2, respectively. Imidazolium-based ILs modified XAD-4 can be an alternative as an innovative and effective adsorbent for VA uptake from aqueous medium.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":808,"journal":{"name":"Water, Air, & Soil Pollution","volume":"237 15","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11270-026-09526-w.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147808206","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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":"Global Terrestrial Ecosystem Carbon Sink Retrieval Coupled with Four-Dimensional Variational Data Assimilation and Deep Learning","authors":"Lu Zhi,&nbsp;Runsheng Li,&nbsp;Ning Liu,&nbsp;Mengyu Cao","doi":"10.1007/s11270-026-09535-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11270-026-09535-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Optimization of land ecosystem carbon sink inversions based on data assimilation requires the use of an atmospheric CO₂ transport model as the observation operator to assimilate observed atmospheric CO₂ concentrations, thereby achieving posterior optimization of prior land ecosystem carbon fluxes. However, the high computational cost of atmospheric CO₂ transport models and the complexity of constructing adjoint algorithms have limited the efficiency of land carbon sink inversion, often requiring high-performance computing clusters and resulting in low assimilation efficiency. In this study, an efficient atmospheric CO₂ intelligent transport model was developed using the GraphCast deep learning network. A neural network automatic differentiation algorithm was adopted to solve the adjoint of the observation operator, and a deep learning optimization algorithm was used to minimize the four-dimensional variational assimilation (4DVAR) cost function. This approach enabled the construction of a 4DVAR algorithm within a deep learning framework for land ecosystem carbon sink estimation. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed machine learning assimilation algorithm can achieve global carbon flux inversion at a 1° × 1°/3-h resolution for the next seven days in approximately four minutes, while maintaining reliable accuracy.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":808,"journal":{"name":"Water, Air, & Soil Pollution","volume":"237 15","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147808178","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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":"Photocatalytic Degradation of Amoxicillin via Carbon Quantum Dots Coupled with Nitrogen-Doped Tungsten (IV) Oxide: Chemical Method for Reclamation of Drug-Contaminated Wastewater","authors":"Irum Shah,&nbsp;Farman Ali,&nbsp;Nisar Ali,&nbsp;Maaz Ullah,&nbsp;Mohammad M. Al-Hinaai,&nbsp;Mohammad Albahri,&nbsp;Amir Said","doi":"10.1007/s11270-026-09543-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11270-026-09543-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Amoxicillin (AMX) contamination poses serious environmental risks due to its stability and poor biodegradability. Herein, we investigate the photocatalytic degradation of AMX using carbon quantum dots (CQDs), nitrogen-doped tungsten (IV) oxide (N-WO₂), and CQDs/N-WO₂ nanocomposite. The nanocomposite was synthesized via a facile hydrothermal-ultrasonication method and structurally characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM/TEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). These analyses confirmed the successful integration of amorphous CQDs with crystalline N-WO₂, uniform elemental dispersion, and the presence of characteristic functional groups and chemical states indicative of effective nanocomposite formation. Optical characterization revealed band gap energies of 2.86 eV for CQDs, 2.56 eV for N-WO₂, and an intermediate value of 2.73 eV for the CQDs/N-WO₂ nanocomposite, with favorable band alignment facilitating efficient charge separation. Under optimized conditions (pH 5.4, 15 mg catalyst, 10 ppm AMX, 180 min UV–Vis irradiation), the CQDs/N-WO₂ nanocomposite achieved 86.61% photodegradation efficiency, significantly outperforming its individual components. Kinetic studies confirmed a pseudo-first-order degradation mechanism with the highest rate constant (R² = 0.9970), and the nanocomposite demonstrated excellent reusability over five consecutive cycles. The enhanced performance is attributed to the synergistic effects of improved light absorption, reduced charge recombination, and increased accessibility of active sites. This work presents the CQDs/N-WO₂ nanocomposite as a sustainable, efficient, and reusable photocatalyst for the remediation of antibiotic-contaminated wastewater.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><p><b>TOC Synopsis</b>: This study presents a novel CQDs/N-WO₂ nanocomposite synthesized via a combination of hydrothermal and ultrasonication methods for the efficient photocatalytic degradation of amoxicillin (AMX) in wastewater. Under optimal conditions (pH 5.4, 15 mg catalyst, 180 min), the composite achieves 86.61% degradation, outperforming individual components. The reusable and stable photocatalyst provides a sustainable solution for removing pharmaceutical pollutants.</p>\u0000<div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture><span>The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.</span></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":808,"journal":{"name":"Water, Air, & Soil Pollution","volume":"237 15","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147808179","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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":"Microplastic Pollution in India: Environmental Effects and Recent Developments in Microbial Biodegradation of Secondary Microplastics","authors":"Nilendu Basak,&nbsp;Atif Aziz Chowdhury,&nbsp;Ankita Chatterjee,&nbsp;Parama Das Gupta,&nbsp;Sarvesh Sabarathinam,&nbsp;Lorenzo Brusetti,&nbsp;Maulin P. Shah","doi":"10.1007/s11270-026-09537-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11270-026-09537-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The increased global production of plastic materials and the presence of plastic waste in the environment have resulted in widespread environmental contamination despite the presence of restrictions from various governments. The breakdown of macroplastic materials has resulted in the formation of microplastics (MPs; ≤ 5 mm), which are now widespread in marine, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems. The widespread presence of MPs in the environment poses severe ecotoxicological risks to organisms at various trophic levels. Although there has been increased interest in the study of the impacts of MPs, critical knowledge gaps still exist regarding the application of remediation measures at various scales. This article aims to comprehend the present status of global MP contamination, with a special focus on the patterns of contamination and the difficulties associated with environmental monitoring in India. The study also examines advances over the last decade in the biodegradation of secondary MPs using bacterial and fungal consortia. The critical parameters associated with the degradation process, the efficiency of the microorganisms in various experimental setups, and the associated enzymatic processes are critically reviewed in the study.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3>\u0000<div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture><span>The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.</span></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":808,"journal":{"name":"Water, Air, & Soil Pollution","volume":"237 15","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147808205","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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":"Current Trends in Analytical Methods for Determination of Explosives in Water","authors":"Tamara Pócsová,&nbsp;Svetlana Hrouzková","doi":"10.1007/s11270-026-09475-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11270-026-09475-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Nitro compounds (NCs) are a class of organic pollutants with significant environmental and health risks, including toxicity, carcinogenicity, and mutagenicity. Despite their limited solubility in water, their widespread use in explosives, dyes, agrochemicals, and pharmaceuticals has led to persistent contamination of aquatic systems. The detection of NCs in water is challenging due to their low concentrations and the complexity of environmental matrices. This review summarizes current advances in analytical methods for the determination of nitro-based explosives in water, with emphasis on recent developments in sample preparation and extraction techniques. Classical approaches such as solid-phase extraction (SPE) are compared with miniaturized and solvent-saving methods including solid-phase microextraction (SPME), dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME), and single-drop microextraction (SDME). Innovative approaches employing deep eutectic solvents (DESs) and magnetic materials are also highlighted. These greener techniques not only reduce solvent consumption (e.g., SDME using as little as 3 μL of solvent) but also solidification of aqueous drop solid-phase extraction (SADSPE) demonstrate high analytical performance, achieving detection limits in the ng/L to μg/L range. Environmental sustainability has increasingly been quantified using green chemistry metrics such as AGREE, AGREEprep, and AESA, with several techniques scoring above 70%, confirming their alignment with sustainable analytical practices. By integrating a decade of progress, this review identifies research gaps, evaluates method efficiency and scalability, and underscores the importance of greener, high-sensitivity techniques for monitoring explosive residues in water. These trends support both environmental protection and compliance with evolving global regulations.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":808,"journal":{"name":"Water, Air, & Soil Pollution","volume":"237 14","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11270-026-09475-4.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147829221","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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":"Enhanced Ni2+ Removal and Stabilization from Wastewater Using Adsorption–MICP Coupled Immobilized Microbial Beads","authors":"Kai Yang,&nbsp;Qian Guo,&nbsp;Chang Su,&nbsp;Jinpeng Dai","doi":"10.1007/s11270-026-09414-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11270-026-09414-3","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Efficient removal and stabilization of Ni²⁺ in wastewater remain challenging, particularly under elevated loadings and variable operating conditions. Here, a hydrogel-based adsorption–microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) system was constructed using immobilized composite microbial beads (IMBs) integrating a three-strain consortium with embedded adsorbents. The consortium achieved 50.1% Ni²⁺ removal at 20 mg·L⁻¹ within 24 h, clearly outperforming a single-strain MICP system. Under optimized conditions (pH 9.0, 40 °C, 150 rpm, 24 h), the IMB system achieved 99.2%, 99.0%, and 98.7% Ni²⁺ removal at 20, 100, and 200 mg·L⁻¹, Structural analyses revealed Ni immobilization via coordinated surface binding coupled with co-precipitation and partial lattice incorporation into CaCO₃. The system retained 85–95% removal efficiency after five regeneration cycles, demonstrating strong durability. This integrated adsorption–mineralization strategy enables rapid capture and stable mineral fixation of Ni²⁺, offering a robust and promising for scale-up for advanced heavy-metal wastewater treatment.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":808,"journal":{"name":"Water, Air, & Soil Pollution","volume":"237 14","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147829608","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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":"Recycling of Food Waste and Greywater for Sustainable Green Building Infrastructure: Impact of Hydraulic Loading Rate on Pollutant Remediation","authors":"Salam Akinkunmi Alli,&nbsp;Snigdhendubala Pradhan,&nbsp;Hamish R. Mackey,&nbsp;Jayaprakash Saththasivam,&nbsp;Gordon McKay","doi":"10.1007/s11270-026-09499-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11270-026-09499-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Urbanization exacerbates water scarcity by increasing demand while reducing the availability of natural water reserves. Food waste is another critical issue that affects urban sustainability. Recycling treated greywater presents a sustainable alternative, particularly for irrigation purposes. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a media blend of spent coffee grounds and date seeds (1:2 ratio) for cultivating five ornamental plants irrigated with treated greywater at two hydraulic loading rates: 200 mL/day and 400 mL/day. Plants irrigated with 200 mL/day of greywater showed significant improvements compared to those supplied with freshwater. Increases were observed in plant height (27.3 ± 11.7 cm), pinnula count (6.3 ± 2.1), leaf number (55.3 ± 6.7, excluding <i>Portulaca grandifolia</i>), dry shoot weight (13.06 ± 8.83 g), and root length (115.1 ± 10.9 cm). Plant moisture content also increased from 70 ± 4% to 74 ± 3%. In terms of treatment performance, <i>Cyperus alternifolius</i> achieved the highest pollutant removal: 70% TOC, 98% NH₄⁺-N, 44% PO₄³⁻-P, and 84% isobutyric acid. <i>Portulaca grandifolia</i> showed the best TN removal at 93%. The two loading rates showed no significant difference in pollutant removal (p = 0.19), suggesting rate flexibility in design. Among the tested species, <i>Alternanthera amoena</i> had the highest growth rate, while <i>Cyperus alternifolius</i> showed the greatest biomass yield. These species demonstrate strong potential for use in greenwall systems, offering both effective greywater treatment and robust plant performance. This study supports greywater irrigation as a practical approach to sustainable horticulture and urban water conservation.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3>\u0000<div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture><span>The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.</span></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":808,"journal":{"name":"Water, Air, & Soil Pollution","volume":"237 14","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11270-026-09499-w.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147829609","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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":"Biochar Modification with Iron Oxide Nanoparticles can Enhance its Adsorption Capacity for Phosphorus","authors":"Sajeela Sehar,&nbsp;Muhammad Arif,&nbsp;Tanveer Ul Haq,&nbsp;Tanveer Ahmad,&nbsp;Muhammad Farooq Qayyum","doi":"10.1007/s11270-026-09548-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11270-026-09548-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>In present study, the efficiency of different biochars (BCs) based on feedstock such as algal biomass (ABB), maize straw (MSB), lawn grass (LGB), rice straw (RSB), and vegetable peels (VPB) either pristine (PBC) or modified with nanoparticles (MBC) for phosphorus removal from aqueous solution was compared. Characterization of BCs was done through Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermo-Gravimetric Analysis (TGA), Brunauer Emmett Teller (BET) surface area analysis, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) along with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD). The results revealed the presence of hydroxyl, carbonyl, and aliphatic functional groups, and higher thermal stability of MBCs as compared to PBC. Among BCs, RSB showed higher BET surface area (68.05 m² g⁻¹), and total pore volume of 0.129 cm³ g⁻¹. The SEM and EDX show diverse surface morphology such as roughness, porosity, and precipitates. XRD further confirmed the presence of phases of iron oxides which helped in P sorption. Batch-sorption studies for P sorption using the above-described BCs, the kinetic models including Pseudo first order and Pseudo second order of kinetic studies show maximum P adsorption (17572.42 mg kg⁻¹) by VPB modified with FeO-NPs. Similarly, Pseudo-second order was best fitted with the data showing chemical nature of the adsorbents. This work provided new insights into biomass waste resource utilization and suggested a sustainable solution to P contaminated water.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":808,"journal":{"name":"Water, Air, & Soil Pollution","volume":"237 14","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147829200","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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":"Seasonal Dynamics, Pollution Indices, and Health Risks of Heavy Metals Isotopes (Ni, Cu, Zn, Mn) in Urban Dust from Duhok City, Iraq","authors":"Myasar Kh. Ibrahim,&nbsp;Berivan Hadi Mahdi,&nbsp;Dalshad Azeez Darwesh,&nbsp;Jasim M. Rajab,&nbsp;Ali M. Al-Salihi,&nbsp;Hwee San Lim","doi":"10.1007/s11270-026-09495-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11270-026-09495-0","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Urban atmospheric dust is an important source of heavy metals, which can be a source of ecological and individual health hazards. This paper presents an overall evaluation of heavy metal pollution (Ni, Cu, Zn, Mn) in atmospheric dust in Duhok City, Iraq, which is a rapidly urbanizing area. We researched seasonal changes, pollution, ecological hazards, and human health implications. During the study year, the average concentrations of Ni, Cu, Zn, and Mn were 181.93, 75.66, 718.87, and 389.63 mg kg⁻¹, respectively. Zn was the most contaminated metal, with CF = 5.66 and I_geo = 1.24; then Cu (CF = 3.03); and Mn was lowly contaminated (CF = 0.39). The Pollution Load Index (PLI) was 1.92, indicating total pollution, and the Potential Ecological Risk Index (PERI) was 31.40, indicating low ecological risk on an annual basis. Seasonal analysis showed that contamination and ecological risk indices were highest in winter. Although winter values increased markedly, the human-health risk assessment indicated that the current concentrations do not pose significant non-carcinogenic or carcinogenic risks to local residents. The stronger winter pollution pattern is likely related to the combined seasonal effects of increased urban emissions and less favorable atmospheric dispersion; however, these factors are interpreted as plausible explanations because no formal source-apportionment analysis was performed. These findings highlight the importance of season-specific monitoring and pollution-management strategies in Duhok City.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3>\u0000<div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture><span>The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.</span></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":808,"journal":{"name":"Water, Air, & Soil Pollution","volume":"237 14","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147796923","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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}