Flex (Canada)

This paper presents a detailed subnational assessment of air pollution exposure and spatial hotspots of selected pollutants across Iraq between 2019 and 2024. Addressing the persistent lack of spatially and temporally consistent air quality data, the study integrates high-resolution remote sensing observations from the Sentinel-5P TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) and hybrid ground-level PM2.5 data from the Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group (ACAG), focusing on key pollutants: CO, NO2, SO2, PM2.5, and aerosols. Population exposure to a combination of the five pollutants was quantified using the Global Human Settlement Population Layer (GHS-POP), enabling a robust evaluation of exposure disparities across governorates and districts. Spatial analysis employing the Getis-Ord Gi* statistic revealed distinct pollution hotspots. Urban centers such as Baghdad and Basra consistently exhibited elevated CO and NO2 concentrations (normalized scores > 6), primarily attributable to urbanization, vehicular traffic, and industrial activity. Major aerosol clusters were identified in areas prone to dust storms, notably Al-Muthanna (scores > 7.97), while the highest SO2 levels (scores > 7.11) were recorded in northern Iraq. Southern cities, including Basra and Nasiriya, emerged as PM2.5 hotspots with concentrations reaching up to 26 times the World Health Organization's recommended annual guideline, highlighting severe public health risks. In contrast, rural mountainous districts in the west and northeast showed significantly lower pollution exposure (composite air pollution score < 3.15, population exposure score < 1.82), underscoring marked regional disparities. These findings underscore the urgent need for localized interventions, including improved ground-level monitoring and early warning systems, to effectively address Iraq's critical air quality challenges and protect public health.

Neonicotinoid pesticides and their metabolites have been indicated as contributing factors in the decline of honey bee colonies. A thorough understanding of neonicotinoid toxicity requires knowledge of their metabolites and environmental breakdown products. This work investigated the rapid degradation of the neonicotinoid nitenpyram in finished drinking water. Nitenpyram reaction products were characterized using liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC/QTOFMS). A software algorithm that compared degraded and control samples was utilized to facilitate efficient data reduction. Fragmentation pathways for six reaction products and nitenpyram were proposed using predictive software and manual product ion analysis. This study showed that nitenpyram degradation in unpreserved finished drinking water was likely the result of oxidation, hydrolysis and reaction with Cl2 . Structures for six nitenpyram reaction products were proposed that suggest the C9/C11 olefin as the key reactive site. Similarities between the identified nitenpyram reaction products and imidacloprid metabolites highlight the importance of this study, as the toxicity of neonicotinoids to pollinators has been linked to their metabolites. Based on the proposed reaction mechanisms, the identified nitenpyram reaction products in finished drinking water could also be present in the environment and water treatment facilities. As such, identifying these degradation products will aid in evaluating the environmental impact of neonicotinoid pesticides. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.