Regional sources drive atmospheric microplastic deposition at rural background sites.

The growing focus on long-range atmospheric transport of microplastics (MPs) has overshadowed the importance of local sources. Here we investigated the abundance and sources of MP deposition on a regional scale (22,994 km) using pleurocarpous moss collected from 33 background rural sites across Tuscany, Central Italy. A total of 288 MPs (>50-5000 μm) were found across all sites, dominated by fibres at 86.

Greenspaces can reduce the level of airborne microplastic contamination in urban environments: Evidence from a lichen biomonitoring study.

Microplastics (MPs) have been found across a variety of environments, nonetheless few studies have evaluated atmospheric MPs. In this study, airborne MP contamination was investigated using transplants of the fruticose lichen Evernia prunastri in urban sites. Lichen transplants were exposed for seven weeks (April to June 2023) in parking lots (n = 9) and urban parks (n = 9) in the city of Pisa (Tuscany, Central Italy); in parallel, native samples from rural areas (n = 4) were also investigated.

Chromophoric dissolved organic matter in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region, Canada, and its association to lake acid sensitivity.

Chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) represents a broad class of organic compounds that absorb visible and ultraviolet light and can influence numerous aquatic system functions. The Athabasca Oil Sands Region (AOSR) in Alberta, Canada, contains an abundance of boreal lakes suspected to possess high quantities of CDOM. However, CDOM within these lakes has never been investigated; moreover, the potential impact of shifting acid-base chemistry (possibly linked to industrial acid deposition) is largely unknown.

Is Moss Still a Reliable Biomonitor of Nitrogen and Sulfur Deposition After Decades of Emissions Reductions?

Mosses are widely used as biomonitors of atmospheric nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) deposition due to their broad distribution, ease of sampling, and capacity to trap and accumulate atmospheric particles. However, since 2000, S emissions have decreased by more than 80% across Europe, and N oxides by 40-50%. This study evaluated whether moss remains effective for monitoring atmospheric N and S deposition after decades of emission reductions.

Atmospheric deposition of chromophoric dissolved organic matter in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region, Canada, is strongly influenced by industrial sources during the winter months.

There is growing interest in the atmospheric deposition of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) owing to its impact on aquatic processes and surface albedo. Industrial operations in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region (AOSR), Canada, are a major source of emissions of organic gases and particulate matter, which likely contribute to regional CDOM deposition. Here we investigated the composition and spatiotemporal variation of CDOM within regional snowpack (45 sites, collected March of 2023) and weekly precipitation samples (three monitoring stations between January 2021-December 2021) using ultraviolet-visible and fluorescence spectroscopy.

The threat from ozone to vegetation in Ireland.

Ozone is the most damaging air pollutant to vegetation globally. Metrics of accumulated ozone above a concentration threshold (e.g.

The Fate of Microplastics in Rural Headwater Lake Catchments.

In this study, the fluxes of microplastics (mp) were quantified during a 12-month period for three rural headwater lake catchments in Muskoka-Haliburton, south-central Ontario, Canada. A novel catchment particle balance approach was used, incorporating inputs from atmospheric deposition and stream inflows against lake outflow and sedimentation. This approach provides the first reported observation-based estimates of microplastic residence time in freshwater lakes.

L. (Black Locust) Leaflets as Biomonitors of Airborne Microplastics.

Here we investigate the suitability of L. (black locust) leaflets as a novel biomonitor of airborne microplastics (MPs) including tyre wear particles (TWPs). Leaflets were collected from rural roadside locations (ROs, = 5) and urban parks (UPs, = 5) in Siena, Italy.

Soil carbon pools and fluxes following the regreening of a mining and smelting degraded landscape.

Increasing forest cover by regreening mining and smelting degraded landscapes provides an opportunity for global carbon (C) sequestration, however, the reported effects of regreening on soil C processes are mixed. One of the world's largest regreening programs is in the City of Greater Sudbury, Canada and has been ongoing since 1978. Prior to regreening, soils in the City of Greater Sudbury area were highly eroded, acidic, rich in metals, and poor in nutrients.

Effects of Shape and Size on Microplastic Atmospheric Settling Velocity.

Microplastics (MPs) have been found in all terrestrial, marine, and riparian environments, including remote regions. This implies that atmospheric transport is an important pathway when considering MP sources and global budgets. However, limited empirical data exist to aid in effective development and parameterization of MP atmospheric transport models.

Moss Bags as Biomonitors of Atmospheric Microplastic Deposition in Urban Environments.

Microplastics (plastic particles <5 mm) were first identified in the environment during the 1970s and have since become ubiquitous across every environmental compartment. However, few studies have focused on atmospheric microplastics, and even fewer have used biological monitoring to assess their atmospheric deposition. Here, we assess the efficacy of moss bags as an active biomonitoring technique for atmospheric microplastic deposition.

Lichen Biomonitoring of Airborne Microplastics in Milan (N Italy).

This study investigated the deposition of airborne microplastics (MPs) in the urban area of Milan across 12 sites and at a background control site (northern Italy) using 3-month transplants of the fruticose lichen species (exposed in triplicate). The primary objective was to evaluate the use of lichen transplants for the assessment of MP deposition; as such, the study sites spanned a gradient in vehicular traffic and population density across four concentric land-use zones (i.e.

Atmospheric deposition of anthropogenic particles and microplastics in south-central Ontario, Canada.

Microplastics are ubiquitous in the environment; however, few studies have examined their abundance in atmospheric deposition in pristine environments, remote from anthropogenic emission sources. In the current study, atmospheric deposition samples were collected for 13 months (February 2019-March 2020) from four precipitation chemistry monitoring stations located in Muskoka-Haliburton, south-central Ontario, Canada. Anthropogenic particles (i.

Ecological thresholds under atmospheric nitrogen deposition for 1200 herbaceous species and 24 communities across the United States.

Nitrogen (N) emissions and atmospheric deposition have increased significantly during the last century and become a stressor for many N-sensitive plant species. Understanding individual and community herbaceous plant species thresholds to atmospheric N deposition can inform emissions reduction policy. Here, we present results using Threshold Indicator Taxa Analysis (TITAN) applied to more than 1200 unique plant species and 24 vegetation communities (i.

Dissolved Organic Carbon in Lakes of the Athabasca Oil Sands Region: Is Color an Indicator of Acid Sensitivity?

The Athabasca oil sands region (AOSR) in north-eastern Alberta, Canada, contains the world's third largest known bitumen deposit. Oil sands (OS) operations produce emissions known to contribute to acidic and alkaline deposition, which can alter the chemistry of the receiving surface waters, including dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Little is known regarding the natural variability of aquatic DOC among lakes within the AOSR.

Accumulation of airborne microplastics in lichens from a landfill dumping site (Italy).

The aim of this study was to assess if lichens (Flavoparmelia caperata) surrounding a landfill dumping site in Italy accumulated higher amounts of microplastics compared with lichens at more distant sites. Lichen samples were collected at three sites along a transect from the landfill: close (directly facing the landfill), intermediate (200 m), and remote (1500 m). Anthropogenic microparticles (fibres and fragments) were determined visually after wet peroxide digestion of the samples, and microplastics were identified based on a hot needle test; the type of plastic was identified by micro-Raman analysis.

Decadal Changes in Trace Metal Concentrations in Upland Headwater Lakes.

The objective of this study was to assess the current chemistry of trace elements in upland headwater lakes in Ireland and determine their trends during the last decade in response to decreasing emissions. Twenty-nine upland lakes were sampled in 2017-2018; 19 were previously sampled in 2007-2008. The 2017-2018 samples were analyzed for conductivity, pH, DOC, and 18 trace elements.

Moss as a biomonitor for the atmospheric deposition of anthropogenic microfibres.

Microplastics, which are plastic particles < 5 mm, have been found throughout the environment. However, few studies have focused on their transport via atmospheric deposition. Bryophytes have been used as biomonitors for the atmospheric deposition of trace elements, persistent organic pollutants and particulate matter, and may potentially be used to monitor the atmospheric deposition of microplastics or anthropogenic microfibres (mf).

Assessing the Effects of Climate Change and Air Pollution on Soil Properties and Plant Diversity in Northeastern U.S. Hardwood Forests: Model Setup and Evaluation.

The integrated forest ecosystem model ForSAFE-Veg was used to simulate soil processes and understory vegetation composition at three-sugar maple, beech, yellow birch-hardwood forest sites in the Northeastern United States (one at Hubbard Brook, NH, and two at Bear Brook, ME). Input data were pooled from a variety of sources and proved coherent and consistent. While the biogeochemical component ForSAFE was used with limited calibration, the ground vegetation composition module Veg was calibrated to field relevés.

Dynamic Modeling and Target Loads of Sulfur and Nitrogen for Surface Waters in Finland, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

The target load concept is an extension of the critical load concept of air pollution inputs to ecosystems. The advantage of target loads over critical loads is that one can define the deposition and the point in time (target year) when the critical (chemical) limit is no longer violated. This information on the timing of recovery requires dynamic modeling.