introduction: The study investigates the impact of atmospheric fluoride emitted from brick kilns on soil fertility and earthworm activity in fruit orchards in South Asia. Due to the proximity to unregulated kilns, local fruit productions like peaches and plums have seen a decline. The brick kiln emissions, primarily fluoride in the form of hydrogen fluoride (HF), have been shown to negatively affect both plant life and soil health, particularly impacting earthworms which are crucial for soil nutrient cycling. Method: The research focused on peach and plum orchards near Peshawar, within 500 meters of brick kilns. Soil and leaf samples were collected and analyzed for fluoride content. Earthworm experiments were conducted to assess the impact of fluoride on their growth and reproduction by exposing them to contaminated leaf litters. Results: The results showed elevated levels of fluoride in both soil and leaf samples from the proximity of brick kilns. Earthworms exposed to this contaminated environment exhibited reduced growth rates and cocoon production, highlighting the detrimental effects of fluoride on soil biota. This aligns with previous findings that link industrial emissions to ecological damage in agricultural settings. Conclusion and Recommendations: The study confirms that fluoride emissions from brick kilns can substantially decrease soil fertility and harm earthworm populations, which are vital for maintaining soil health. It recommends implementing strategies such as using calcium-rich amendments, enhancing organic matter in the soil, and regular monitoring of soil fluoride levels to mitigate these effects. These measures could improve soil conditions, thereby supporting healthier crop growth and restoring ecological balance in affected areas.

Substituting alternative materials and energy sources with forest biomass can cause significant environmental consequences, such as alteration in the released emissions which can be described by displacement factors (DFs). Until now, DFs of wood-based materials have included greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and have been associated with lower fossil and process-based emissions than non-wood counterparts. In addition to GHGs, aerosols released in combustion processes, for example, alter radiative forcing in the atmosphere and consequently have an influence on climate. In this study, the objective was to quantify the changes in the most important aerosol emission components for cases when wood-based materials and energy were used to replace the production of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic, common fossil-based construction materials (concrete, steel and brick), non-wood textile materials and energy produced by fossil fuels and peat. For this reason, we expanded the DF calculations to include aerosol emissions of total suspended particles (TSP), respirable particulate matter (PM10), fine particles (PM2.5), black carbon (BC), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) based on the embodied energies of materials and energy sources. The DFs for cardboard implied a decrease in BC, SO2 and NMVOC emissions but an increase in the other emission components. DFs for sawn wood mainly indicated higher emissions of both particles and gaseous emissions compared to non-wood counterparts. DFs for wood-based textiles demonstrated increased particle emissions and reduced gaseous emissions. DFs for energy biomass mainly implied an increase in emissions, especially if biomass was combusted in small-scale appliances. Our main conclusion highlights the critical need to thoroughly assess how using forest biomass affects aerosol emissions. This improved understanding of the aerosol emissions of the forestry sector is crucial for a comprehensive evaluation of the climate and health implications associated with forest biomass use.

Northern China was hit by 13 unprecedented mega dust events in spring 2023. However, a comprehensive understanding of the relative contributions of potential dust sources to dust concentrations in China remains elusive, threatening air quality, damaging ecosystems, and further complicating dust forecasting and warning efforts. The impact of five major Asian dust sources on China and its downstream regions has been accurately quantified using the Weather Research and Forecasting Model coupled with Chemistry (WRF-Chem). Notably, dust particles originating from Mongolia play a crucial role in downstream air pollution. Approximately 56% (82.7 mu g m-3) of the dust in North China originated from Mongolia, while Mongolia contributed nearly 51% (15.9 mu g m-3) of the dust in the Korean Peninsula and surroundings. In southwest China, the prevalence of dust was predominantly attributable to sources within Inner Mongolia, China (46%). Due to geographical constraints, dust in the Tibetan Plateau mainly originated from dust sources in Xinjiang, China. Topographic blocking by the Tibetan Plateau and limitations on local dust emissions are further unfavorable to the long-distance transport of dust from South Asia to downstream regions. We also highlight the importance of variation in surface soil parameters in driving frequent dust events in spring 2023. Our findings emphasize the urgent need for collaborative research and policymaking to effectively address international dust disaster mitigation.

Aerosols affect Earth's climate both directly and indirectly, which is the largest uncertainty in the assessment of radiative forcings affecting anthropogenic climate change. The standard Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) aerosol products have been widely used for more than 30 years. Currently, there is strong community interest in the possibility of determining aerosol composition directly from remote sensing observations. This work presents the results of applying such a recently developed approach by Li et al. to extended datasets of the directional sky radiances and spectral aerosol optical depth (AOD) measured by AERONET for the retrievals of aerosol components. First, the validation of aerosol optical properties retrieved by this component approach with AERONET standard products shows good agreement. Then, spatiotemporal variations of the obtained aerosol component concentration are characterized globally, especially the absorbing aerosol species (black carbon, brown carbon, and iron oxides) and scattering aerosol species (organic carbon, quartz, and inorganic salts). Finally, we compared the black carbon (BC) and dust column concentration retrievals to the Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications, version 2 (MERRA-2), products in several regions of interest (Amazon zone, Desert, and Taklamakan Desert) for new insights on the quantitative assessment of MERRA-2 aerosol composition products (R = 0.60-0.85 for BC; R = 0.75-0.90 for dust). The new value-added and long-term aerosol composition product globally is available online (https://doi.org/10.6084/ m9.figshare.25415239.v1), which provides important measurements for the improvement and optimization of aerosol modeling to enhance estimation of the aerosol radiative forcing. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: In the assessment of climate change, the uncertainty associated with aerosol radiative forcing is the largest one. The purpose of this study is to provide a new value-added and long-term aerosol composition (including absorbing and scattering aerosol species) inversion dataset derived from Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) measurements for characterizing their spatiotemporal variations at global scale. We find some new insights on the quantitative assessment of black carbon and dust column concentration products in the Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications, version 2 (MERRA-2). Our results and aerosol composition inversion dataset will provide robust support for the overall improvement and optimization of aerosol modeling to better understand the aerosol radiative forcing.

The Ore Mountains were historically one of the most polluted areas in Europe, where high sulphur dioxide concentrations and a high level of atmospheric deposition led to a vast decline in Norway spruce stands in the mountain ridge plateau. In this article, we evaluate the trends in the atmospheric deposition load, soil chemistry, tree nutrition, crown defoliation and height increment in a network of twenty research plots monitored for last thirty years in this region. The decrease in sulphur and nitrogen deposition was most pronounced at the end of 1990s. Extreme values of sulphur deposition (100-200 kg.ha-1.year-1) were recorded in throughfall under mature Norway spruce stands in the late 1970s, and after felling of the damaged stand, the deposition levels were comparable to open plot bulk deposition. Nitrogen deposition decreased more slowly compared with sulphur, and a decrease in base cation deposition was observed concurrently. The current deposition load is low and fully comparable to other mountain areas in central Europe. Accordingly, the health of young spruce stands, as assessed by defoliation and height increment, has improved and now corresponds to the Czech national average. On the other hand, no significant changes were observed in the soil chemistry, even though some of the plots were limed. Acidic or strongly acidic soil prevails, often with a deficiency of exchangeable calcium and magnesium in the mineral topsoil, as well as decreases in available phosphorus. This is reflected in the foliage chemistry, where we see an imbalance between a relatively high content of nitrogen and decreasing contents of phosphorus, potassium and calcium. Despite the observed positive trends in air quality and forest health, the nutritional imbalance on acidified soils poses a risk for the future of forest stands in the region.

Vehicle -emitted fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) has been associated with significant health outcomes and environmental risks. This study estimates the contribution of traffic -related exhaust emissions (TREE) to observed PM 2.5 using a novel factorization framework. Specifically, co -measured nitrogen oxides (NO x ) concentrations served as a marker of vehicle -tailpipe emissions and were integrated into the optimization of a Non -negative Matrix Factorization (NMF) analysis to guide the factor extraction. The novel TREE-NMF approach was applied to long-term (2012 - 2019) PM 2.5 observations from air quality monitoring (AQM) stations in two urban areas. The extracted TREE factor was evaluated against co -measured black carbon (BC) and PM 2.5 species to which the TREE-NMF optimization was blind. The contribution of the TREE factor to the observed PM 2.5 concentrations at an AQM station from the first location showed close agreement ( R 2 = 0 .79) with monitored BC data. In the second location, a comparison of the extracted TREE factor with measurements at a nearby Surface PARTiculate mAtter Network (SPARTAN) station revealed moderate correlations with PM 2.5 species commonly associated with fuel combustion, and a good linear regression fit with measured equivalent BC concentrations. The estimated concentrations of the TREE factor at the second location accounted for 7 - 11 % of the observed PM 2.5 in the AQM stations. Moreover, analysis of specific days known to be characterized by little traffic emissions suggested that approximately 60 - 78 % of the traffic -related PM 2.5 concentrations could be attributed to particulate traffic -exhaust emissions. The methodology applied in this study holds great potential in areas with limited monitoring of PM 2.5 speciation, in particular BC, and its results could be valuable for both future environmental health research, regional radiative forcing estimates, and promulgation of tailored regulations for traffic -related air pollution abatement.

In this study, air pollutants were analyzed at a low-industry city on the Silk Road Economic Belt of Northwestern China from 2015 to 2018. The results show that SO2 and CO had a decreasing trend and NO2, O-3, PM2.5, and PM10 had an increasing trend during the study period. The primary characteristic pollutants were PM2.5 and PM10, which were higher than China's Grade II standard. SO2, NO2, CO, PM2.5, and PM10 concentrations showed similar seasonal variation patterns: the highest pollutant concentration was in winter and the lowest in summer. Those pollutants showed a similar diurnal pattern with two peaks, one at 7:00 to 9:00 and another at 21:00 to 22:00. However, O-3 concentration was highest in summer and lowest in winter, with a unimodal diurnal variation pattern. The annual average pollution concentrations in Tianshui in 2017 were substantially lower than the concentrations reported by most cities in China. By examining the meteorological conditions at a daily scale, we found that Tianshui was highly influenced by local emissions and a southwest wind. Potential source contributions and concentration weighted trajectory analyses indicated that the pollution from Gansu, Sichuan, Qinghai, and Shaanxi Province could affect the pollution concentration in Tianshui. The results provide directions for the government to take in formulating regional air pollution prevention and control measures and to improve air quality.

This study delves into the repercussions of the 2023 earthquake in Turkey, particularity its impact on air pollution. A year post-event, it is evident that scientific literature has paid limited attention to monitoring the situation. However, the release of hazardous substances, such as asbestos, lead, and other toxins, from damaged structures poses a significant threat by contaminating nearby air, soil, and water sources, thereby jeopardizing ecosystems and public well-being. The improper disposal of waste post-earthquake and the presence of mining and oil refinery sites in the region contribute to potential air pollutants. These circumstances create challenging environments conducive to the spread of respiratory diseases, with potential long-term health and social consequences. Unfortunately, existing data gaps hinder a comprehensive understanding of the situation. This paper pioneers the reporting and analysis of data regarding potential sources of air pollution resulting from the earthquake in Turkey. It also pinpoints gaps in knowledge, outlining areas that demand further investigation. To effectively prevent and mitigate air pollution risks and associated health concerns linked to earthquakes, strategic recommendations are proposed. A key suggestion is the establishment of post-disaster air pollution monitoring systems capable of swiftly identifying emerging health issues, facilitating efficient responses, and curtailing potential long-term effects of the disaster. The paper underscores the necessity for continuous health monitoring of the affected population to mitigate possible adverse impacts on human health. These strategies play a pivotal role in reducing the likelihood of air pollution, supporting emergency response and recovery initiatives, and fostering new dedicated scientific studies.

This study delved into the impact of open biomass burning on the distribution of pesticide and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) residues across soil, rice straw, total suspended particulates (TSP), particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter <= 10 mu m (PM10), and aerosols. A combination of herbicides atrazine (ATZ) and diuron (DIU), fungicide carbendazim (CBD), and insecticide chlorpyriphos (CPF) was applied to biomass before burning. Post-burning, the primary soil pesticide shifted from propyzamide (67.6%) to chlorpyriphos (94.8%). Raw straw biomass retained residues from all pesticide groups, with chlorpyriphos notably dominating (79.7%). Ash residue analysis unveiled significant alterations, with elevated concentrations of chlorpyriphos and terbuthylazine, alongside the emergence of atrazine-desethyl and triadimenol. Pre-burning TSP analysis identified 15 pesticides, with linuron as the primary compound (51.8%). Post-burning, all 21 pesticides were detected, showing significant increases in metobromuron, atrazine-desethyl, and cyanazine concentrations. PM10 composition mirrored TSP but exhibited additional compounds and heightened concentrations, particularly for atrazine, linuron, and cyanazine. Aerosol analysis post-burning indicated a substantial 39.2-fold increase in atrazine concentration, accompanied by the presence of sebuthylazine, formothion, and propyzamide. Carcinogenic PAHs exhibited noteworthy post-burning increases, contributing around 90.1 and 86.9% of all detected PAHs in TSP and PM10, respectively. These insights advance understanding of pesticide dynamics in burning processes, crucial for implementing sustainable agricultural practices and safeguarding environmental and human health.

The study was conducted on ambient ozone (O-3), the most phyto-toxic air pollutant, and its effects on the growth and quality of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) and peas (Pisum sativaum) grown in Northern Pakistan during the summer and winter of 2018. Okra was subjected to ambient O-3 levels ranging from 43 to 63 ppb during the summer, with a mean O-3 concentration of 55 ppb, while peas experienced lower winter concentrations of 15-25 ppb, with a mean O-3 concentration of 19 ppb. The results indicated significant impacts on the growth and nutritional quality of crops, especially okra. Anti-ozonant ethylene diurea (EDU) was used for soil drenching to protect okra and green peas from O-3 damage. Okra showed notable enhancements of 20%, 20%, 29%, and 13% in ash, protein, fiber, and non-fiber carbohydrates (NFE), respectively. Increase in plant height, leaf numbers, pod length, and dry weight was observed in EDU-treated okra plants. Conversely, peas exhibited less variation, although melioration was observed in plant height, pod numbers, length, and weight with EDU treatment. It was concluded that the concentration of ambient O-3 in Peshawar is toxic enough to cause significant damage to crop growth and production. The stark difference in O-3 impact during different seasons suggests that higher summer concentrations could for summer crops that can jeopardize future food security. It is recommended that further research be conducted on the effects of O-3 on other regional crops to assess fully its implications for agricultural sustainability in the area.