Microplastics in drinking water captured widespread attention following reports of widespread detection around the world. Concerns have been raised about the potential adverse effects of microplastics in drinking water on human health. Given the widespread interest in this research topic, there is an urgent need to compile existing data and assess current knowledge. This paper provides a systematic review of studies on microplastics in drinking water, their evidence, key findings, knowledge gaps, and research needs. The data collected show that microplastics are widespread in drinking water, with large variations in reported concentrations. Standardized methodologies of sampling and analysis are urgently needed. There were more fibrous and fragmented microplastics, with the majority being <10 mu m in size and composed of polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene. Little attention has been paid to the color of microplastics. More research is needed to understand the occurrence and transfer of microplastics throughout the water supply chain and the treatment efficiency of drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs). Methods capable of analyzing microplastics <10 mu m and nanoplastics are urgently needed. Potential ecological assessment models for microplastics currently in use need to be improved to take into account the complexity and specificity of microplastics.

Much attention is drawn to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as an air pollutant due to their toxic, mutagenic and carcinogenic properties. Therefore, to understand the levels, seasonality, sources and potential health risk of PAHs in two distinct geographical locations at Karachi and Mardan in Pakistan, total suspended particle (TSP) samples were collected for over one year period. The average total PAH concentrations were 31.5 +/- 24.4 and 199 +/- 229 ng/m(3) in Karachi and Mardan, respectively. The significantly lower concentration in Karachi was attributed to diffusion and dilution of the PAHs by the influence of clean air mass from the Arabian sea and high temperature, enhancing the volatilization of the particle phase PAHs to the gas phase. Conversely, the higher concentration (6 times) in Mardan was due to large influence from local and regional emission sources. A clear seasonality was observed at both the sites, with the higher values in winter and post-monsoon due to higher emissions and less scavenging, and lower values during monsoon season due to the dilution effect. Diagnostic ratios and principal component analysis indicated that PAHs in both sites originated from traffic and mixed combustion sources (fossil fuels and biomass). The average total BaP equivalent concentrations (BaPeq) in Karachi and Mardan were 3.26 and 34 ng/m(3) , respectively, which were much higher than the WHO guideline of 1 ng/m(3) . The average estimates of incremental lifetime cancer risk from exposure to airborne BaPeq via inhalation indicated a risk to human health from atmospheric PAHs at both sites. (C) 2021 The Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V.

This paper conducts an extensive review of existing research to present a comprehensive analysis of the global problems caused by climate change, with a particular focus on the events that occurred during the record-breaking hottest year, 2023. Climate change is widely recognized as the defining issue of our time, and we find ourselves at a critical juncture in addressing its repercussions. The effects of climatic changes permeate various aspects of life on Earth, including increasing occurrences of floods, landslides, droughts, storms, sea-level rise, and other natural disasters. With the notion of global boiling, we aim to intensify awareness and prompt more radical actions to mitigate the worst consequences of climate change. It is designed to sound the alarm and trigger more radical action to stave off the worst of climate change. The escalating global warming, driven by human emissions of heat-trapping greenhouse gases, is already significantly altering the Earth's climate and leaving a profound impact on the environment. The melting of glaciers and ice sheets, earlier breakup of lake and river ice, shifts in plant and animal ranges, and earlier blooming of plants and trees are some of the observable manifestations. Furthermore, climate change has emerged as a critical factor in exacerbating the risk and severity of wildfires worldwide, with key influences stemming from temperature variations, soil moisture, and the presence of potential fuel sources such as trees and shrubs. These interconnected factors underscore the direct and indirect ties between climate variability, climate change, and the extent of wildfire risks.

The airborne microbiome is one of the relevant topics in ecology, biogeochemistry, environment, and human health. Bioaerosols are ubiquitous air pollutants that play a vital role in the linking of the ecosystem with the biosphere, atmosphere, climate, and public health. However, the sources, abundance, composition, properties, and atmospheric transport mechanisms of bioaerosols are not clearly understood. To screen the effects of climate change on aerosol microbial composition and its consequences for human health, it is first essential to develop standards that recognize the existing microbial components and how they vary naturally. Bioaerosol particles can be considered an information-rich unit comprising diverse cellular and protein materials emitted by humans, animals, and plants. Hence, no single standard technique can satisfactorily extract the required information about bioaerosols. To account for these issues, metagenomics, mass spectrometry, and biological and chemical analyses can be combined with climatic studies to understand the physical and biological relationships among bioaerosols. This can be achieved by strengthening interdisciplinary teamwork in biology, chemistry, earth science, and life sciences and by sharing knowledge and expertise globally. Thus, the coupled use of various advanced analytical approaches is the ultimate key to opening up the biological treasure that lies in the environment.

Society could sustain the impact of climate change by adapting to the change and mitigating risks from adverse effects of increasing changes, so that it can continue maintaining its prospect and improving wellbeing. Nevertheless, climate change is more or less affecting society's functions at different scales, including both individuals and communities. In this review, we discuss the relationship between society and climate change in China from the aspects of the needs at different socioeconomic developing stages. The relationship as well as the current spatial pattern and future risks of the climate change impacts on societies are summarized. The complexity of social and climatic systems leads to the spatial heterogeneity of climate impacts and risks in China. To more effectively leverage increasing knowledge about the past, we advocate greater cross-disciplinary collaboration between climate adaption, poverty alleviation and Nature-based Solutions (Nbs). That could provide decision makers with more comprehensive train of thoughts for climate policy making.

Soil is a key component of Earth's critical zone. It provides essential services for agricultural production, plant growth, animal habitation, biodiversity, carbon sequestration and environmental quality, which are crucial for achieving the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, soil degradation has occurred in many places throughout the world due to factors such as soil pollution, erosion, salinization, and acidification. In order to achieve the SDGs by the target date of 2030, soils may need to be used and managed in a manner that is more sustainable than is currently practiced. Here we show that research in the field of sustainable soil use and management should prioritize the multifunctional value of soil health and address interdisciplinary linkages with major issues such as biodiversity and climate change. As soil is the largest terrestrial carbon pool, as well as a significant contributor of greenhouse gases, much progress can be made toward curtailing the climate crisis by sustainable soil management practices. One identified option is to increase soil organic carbon levels, especially with recalcitrant forms of carbon (e.g., biochar application). In general, soil health is primarily determined by the actions of the farming community. Therefore, information management and knowledge sharing are necessary to improve the sustainable behavior of practitioners and end-users. Scientists and policy makers are important actors in this social learning process, not only to disseminate evidence-based scientific knowledge, but also in generating new knowledge in close collaboration with farmers. While governmental funding for soil data collection has been generally decreasing, newly available 5G telecommunications, big data and machine learning based data collection and analytical tools are maturing. Interdisciplinary studies that incorporate such advances may lead to the formation of innovative sustainable soil use and management strategies that are aimed toward optimizing soil health and achieving the SDGs. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Background: Black carbon (BC) caused by incomplete combustion of fossil and bio-fuel has a dual effect on health and climate. There is a need for systematic approaches to evaluation of health outcomes and climate impacts relevant to BC exposure. Objectives: We propose and illustrate for the first time, to our knowledge, an integrated analysis of a region-specific health model with climate change valuation module to quantify the health and climate consequences of BC exposure. Methods: Based on the data from regional air pollution monitoring stations from 2013 to 2014 in the Pearl River Delta region (PRD), China, we analyzed the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic effects and the relative risk of cause-specific mortality due to BC exposure in three typical cities of the PRD (i.e. Guangzhou, Jiangmen and Huizhou). The radiative forcing (RF) and heating rate (HR) were calculated by the Fu-Liou-Gu (FLG) plane-parallel radiation model and the conversion of empirical formula. We further connected the health and climate impacts by calculating the excess mortalities attributed to climate warming due to BC. Results: Between 2013 and 2014, carcinogenic risks of adults and children due to BC exposure in the PRD were higher than the recommended limits (1 x 10(-6) to 1 x 10(-4)), resulting in an excess of 4.82 cancer cases per 10,000 adults (4.82 x 10(-4)) and an excess of 1.97 cancer cases per 10,000 children (1.97 x 10(-4)). Non-carcinogenic risk caused by BC was not found. The relative risks of BC exposure on mortality were higher in winter and dry season. The atmospheric RFs of BC were 26.31 W m(-2), 26.41 W m(-2), and 22.45 W m(-2) for Guangzhou, Jiangmen and Huizhou, leading to a warming of the atmosphere in the PRD. The estimated annual excess mortalities of climate warming due to BC were 5052 (95% CI: 1983, 8139), 5121 (95% CI: 2010, 8249) and 4363 (95% CI: 1712, 7032) for Guangzhou, Jiangmen and Huizhou, respectively. Conclusion: Our estimates suggest that current levels of BC exposure in the PRD region posed a considerable risk to human health and the climate. Reduction of BC emission could lead to substantial health and climate co-benefits.

Black Carbon (BC) has been widely recognized as the second largest source of territorial and global climate change as well as a threat to human health. There has been serious concern of BC emission and its impact in Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) due to the use of biomass and fossil fuels for cooking, transportation and industrial activities. An attempt has been made to study indoor (Liquefied Petroleum Gas-LPG & Traditional cookstoves users households) and outdoor concentrations; seasonal characteristics; radiative forcing and source of apportionment of BC in three districts (Sitapur, Patna and Murshidabad) of IGP during January to December 2016. The seasonal concentrations of BC in LPG (traditional cookstoves) users households were 3.79 +/- 0.77 mu gm(-3) (25.36 +/- 5.01 mu gm(-3)) during the winter; 2.62 +/- 0.60 mu gm(-3) (16.36 +/- 3.68 mu gm(-3)) during the pre-monsoon; 2.02 +/- 0.355 mu gm(-3) (8.92 +/- 1.98 mu gm(-3)) during the monsoon and 2.19 +/- 0.47 mu gm(-3) (15.17 +/- 3.31 mu gm(-3)) during the post-monsoon seasons. However, the outdoor BC concentrations were 24.20 +/- 4.46, 19.80 +/- 4.34, 8.87 +/- 1.83, and 9.14 +/- 1.84 mu gm(-3) during winter, pre-monsoon, monsoon and post-monsoon seasons respectively. The negative radiative forcing (RF) at the surface suggests a cooling effect while a warming effect appears to be occurring at the top of the atmosphere. The atmospheric forcing of BC and aerosols also show a net warming effect in the selected study areas. The analysis of BC concentrations and fire episodes indicated that the emissions from biomass burning increases the pollution concentration. The backward trajectory analysis through the HYSPLIT model also suggests an additional source of pollutants during winter and pre-monsoon seasons from the northwest and northern region in the IGP.

Release of carbonaceous aerosols - comprising black carbon (BC) and organic carbon (OC) - from biomass burning into the atmosphere is dependent on the burning conditions as to the resultant relative abundances of the emitted BC and OC. This provides a way of managing biomass burning in terms of manipulating the types of emitted aerosol. The carbonaceous aerosols are concerned in different ways in different scientific fields. The BC and OC exert complex implications for (a) radiative forcing in climate change science but (b) public health concern in air pollution science. Referring to these complex implications, a case of sustainability is constructed, which is being unsustainably dealt with at the crossroads of the sciences. This reveals an inadequacy of the reductionist mode of enquiry, necessitating a new mode with unique epistemological orientation for the scholarship of sustainability. The necessity of integration of perspectives that are currently segregated for this sustainability issue and the implications for sustainable development are elucidated. Copyright (c) 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment

Atmospheric aerosols are important from a perspective of ambient air pollution and health to humans and other biological receptors as well as for potential effects on local weather and global climate. This review attempts to account for the different research efforts of individual research groups and regulatory agencies in India on the issue of atmospheric aerosols and their effects. The review refers to representative studies reporting the physical characterization (size), chemical composition (organic and inorganic), radiative forcing effects and health effects of aerosols. There are several reports on source apportionment studies identifying sources of aerosols and some focus on specific issues. The review also points out a significant need for more data with a greater spatial and temporal resolution for better understanding of the dynamics of atmospheric aerosols in the Indian context.