This research systematically examines the spatial patterns, as well as the sources and hazards, of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) within the Xiangshan Harbor Watershed, an area supporting both mariculture and agriculture. Individual PAH concentrations in river water varied between 7.15 and 1016 ng/L, while sediment concentrations spanned from 10.1 to 7665 μg/kg dry weight (dw). Hotspots were identified within the upstream portion of the Fuxi River for water and the lower section of the Xianxiang River for sediment. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) revealed that vehicular emissions were the dominant contributor of PAHs in summer and autumn, contributing 62.2% and 50.0%, respectively, whereas coal burning was the primary contributor in sediment, accounting for 48.7%. A positive correlation was found between summer river water temperature and PAH groups, particularly medium and high molecular weight PAHs. Risk assessment showed that Benz[a]anthracene and Benzo[b]fluoranthene pose a high risk in water, and sediments in the watershed present higher risks compared to those in the inner bay. The cumulative cancer risk for two age groups remained below acceptable thresholds.

Coastal and intertidal environments have received limited forensic attention, particularly regarding the application of geo-forensic and remote sensing technologies. This review explores the current research on investigating aquatic and semi-aquatic crime scenes. It emphasises the need for search strategies adapted to these settings’ dynamic geophysical and ecological conditions. It evaluates the potential of remote sensing tools, including high-resolution satellite imagery, aerial LiDAR, multispectral sensors, and UAV-based surveys, in detecting and characterising forensic disturbances. Drawing from documented case studies, the review successfully identifies metallic and non-metallic submerged evidence using geo-forensic methods. Finally, it proposes a multidisciplinary, layered search framework that integrates terrestrial and marine approaches, offering a roadmap for refining detection protocols through continued experimental and operational research.

Since the comprehensive implementation of the procuratorial public interest litigation system in 2017, Chinese procuratorates have handled more than 400,000 cases in the field of ecological environment and resource protection, accounting for 52% of all public interest litigation cases. Handling such cases often presents considerable challenges, including difficulties in conclusively linking suspects to environmental pollution through laboratory testing alone, complexities in assessing cross-provincial watershed pollution over large areas, and obstacles in reconstructing long-term pollution history in the absence of historical data. To address these recurrent issues—particularly in cases involving extensive geographical regions and prolonged periods of pollution—this study presents a novel methodology based on satellite remote sensing technology, and further applying it in conjunction with analytical chemistry. This approach is demonstrated through two representative case studies: illegal agricultural land occupation and historical relic damage by industrial pollution. The proposed methodology effectively facilitates evidence collection, establishes causal relationships between polluters and environmental damage, and provides critical support in verifying the processes and outcomes of ecological degradation.

Groundwater is a critical resource in Udupi, Karnataka, yet its quality is increasingly threatened by anthropogenic activities. This study investigates seasonal variations in microplastic (MP) contamination in groundwater from landfill (LF) and non-landfill (NLF) sites within this urban region. During the wet season (September 2024), mean MP concentrations were 2.49 ± 6.40 MPs/L at LF sites and 1.14 ± 1.46 MPs/L at NLF sites, which declined in the dry season (February 2025) to 0.85 ± 0.28 MPs/L and 0.22 ± 0.04 MPs/L, respectively. Fragments dominated in the wet season, whereas fibers were more prevalent in the dry season. MPs in the 1000–3000 µm range were most common, comprising up to 83.63% at NLF sites. Polymer identification using Raman spectroscopy and ATR-FTIR revealed polypropylene as the dominant type (77.59%–86.37%), followed by polyethylene and polyester. SEM-EDS analysis showed weathered surfaces and the presence of toxic elements such as chromium, cadmium, and arsenic, indicating environmental exposure and potential health risks. Risk assessment revealed elevated PHI and PERI values during the dry season, particularly for polyester-rich fibers, indicating higher ecological and human health hazards. Identified MP sources included water-drawing ropes, well covers, laundry activities, and improper waste disposal. Elevated MP levels during the wet season were attributed to surface runoff introducing plastics into groundwater. These findings underscore the need for continuous monitoring and targeted management strategies to safeguard groundwater quality in Udupi, which is heavily relied upon by both residents and industries for their needs.

Treated effluent discharge can significantly alter river water quality by affecting parameters such as pH, turbidity, conductivity, and coliform levels, thereby posing risks to both ecosystems and human health. This study evaluated the impact of effluent discharge from the Wupa Wastewater Treatment Plant Abuja, Nigeria on the water quality of the Wupa River. A refined parametric water quality index was developed to enhance monitoring precision, as traditional indices often lack sensitivity to variations in individual parameters. Water samples were collected during the rainy season’s peak mixing period (June–August) from six stations: the influent (INF), effluent (EFF), the point of discharge (POD), upstream of POD (UPOD), and two downstream locations (1kmPOD and 2kmPOD). The samples were analyzed for physical appearance, pH, temperature, conductivity, turbidity, total coliforms, and fecal coliforms. The parametric index incorporated three components: concentration factor, percentage equivalence, and percentage change, to capture parameter-specific changes. Results revealed distinct spatial variations in water quality across the stations. The INF had poor quality, with turbidity between 203–209NTU, total coliforms up to 6000/100 mL, and fecal coliforms also reaching 6000/100 mL, along with a darkish appearance. The EFF showed improvement, with turbidity reduced to 16–19NTU and total coliforms to 400–2000/100 mL, indicating partial treatment success. The UPOD station showed moderate pollution, with turbidity between 69–94 NTU, total coliforms at 600–3000/100 mL, and fecal coliforms ranging from 880–1600/100 mL. At the POD, contamination intensified: turbidity rose to 84–95 NTU, total coliforms increased to 1750–4500/100 mL, and fecal coliforms to 400–900/100 mL. Further downstream, values remained high—turbidity (80–85 NTU), total coliforms (650–3000/100 mL), and fecal coliforms (700–1220/100 mL). pH remained nearly neutral (6.91–7.65), and temperature ranged from 23.8–28.3 °C. Statistical analysis (ANOVA and t-tests) showed significant differences (p < 0.05) in conductivity (245–345 µS/cm), turbidity, and all coliform counts across stations, while differences in pH and temperature were not significant. The parametric index further revealed that treated effluent influenced river quality through elevated turbidity, minor pH variations (+2% in June, −2% to −4% in July and August), and significant increases in coliform levels. Temperature at the POD rose by 5%–12% but declined downstream. Conductivity increased at the POD(+15.5% to +23%) and remained elevated downstream. Turbidity also increased at the POD(+21.7% in June) before declining. Total coliforms surged at the POD(+50% to +191.7%), with residual contamination downstream, while fecal coliforms showed mixed patterns. These findings indicate that although some parameters return to near-background levels within 1 km, microbial contamination persists, raising concerns about waterborne diseases and the safety of downstream water use. The study concludes that the parametric water quality index is effective in assessing site-specific impacts of effluent discharge and underscores the urgent need for improved wastewater treatment and ongoing water quality monitoring to protect public health and environmental integrity.

The increasing concentrations of heavy metals in the environment represent one of the major concerns in the ecosystem. The present study focused on the distribution of heavy metal concentrations and the influencing physicochemical parameters of soil in two Municipal Solid Waste dumpsites during the dry and wet seasons of 2019. The heavy metal contamination and associated risks were assessed using indices such as contamination factor (CF), geoaccumulation index (Igeo), enrichment factor (EF), modified degree of contamination (mCd), ecological risk index, and human health risk assessment. The findings indicated that the metal concentrations were higher during the dry season in both dumpsites, with the concentration of Cd and Cr slightly exceeding the permissible limits at dumpsite II. The CF for Cr, Co, Pb, and Cr exhibited very high contamination during the dry season. The sites B6 and B5 were identified as hotspots of heavy metal contamination with an extreme degree of contamination and posed a high potential ecological risk index. No significant non-carcinogenic risks were observed by the studied metals. A significant carcinogenic risk in the order of Cr > Cd > Pb was observed. The results revealed Cr (2.74E-04) as the most carcinogenic metal at the site, with inhalation exposure risks among children. The multivariate statistical analysis revealed an anthropogenic origin of Cr, Ni, and Co while, Cd, Pb, and Cu were shown to originate from a combination of anthropogenic, atmospheric, and lithogenic sources. The results indicate that open dumping of municipal solid waste has significantly impacted soil quality through heavy metal accumulation. The lower concentrations of heavy metals recorded in the wet season than the dry season, suggest metal leaching and underscores the need to continuously monitor the local water bodies for potential heavy metal contamination.

Microplastic pollution significantly threatens global marine ecosystems. Barnacles, important invertebrates that are critical to marine systems, may be more susceptible to microplastic pollution due to their stationary lifestyle. However, no studies have documented the presence of microplastics in deep-sea barnacles from the Indonesian Throughflow region. This study evaluates microplastic pollution in deep-sea barnacles at two mooring buoys located in the northern Maluku Sea and the southwestern Philippine Sea at a depth of 200 m. The following year of deployment, the barnacles were collected and analyzed for microplastic ingestion. The research indicated that nearly one-third of the deep-sea barnacles ingested microplastic particles and microscopic fibers, matching contamination levels found in surface and subsurface waters from a previous study in nearby areas. The identified microplastics are linked to sea activities and transboundary microplastics, likely from abandoned fishing gear, with nylon as the most prevalent polymer in the microfiber particles, followed by polyvinylidene fluoride and polyamide. This study emphasized the need for further research to understand the impact of microplastic ingestion on deep-sea barnacles and other organisms in these unique ecosystems, highlighting the importance of areas crucial for global ocean circulation.

Microplastics are persistent pollutants of growing environmental concern, originating from fragmentation of larger plastic debris and direct releases of microbeads and synthetic fibres. This investigation examined microplastics contamination in the marine ecosystems of Pulau Payar and Pulau Songsong, Malaysia. Surface water samples were collected using manta trawls at eight stations over four sampling periods in 2022. Microplastics were extracted, characterised, and analysed using micro Fourier-transform infra-red (μ-FTIR) spectroscopy. Microplastics were detected across all sampling sites with a mean concentration of 0.66 ± 0.82 particles m−3. Fragments and fibres constituted the predominant morphologies. Although statistical analysis revealed no significant difference, Pulau Songsong exhibited a numerically higher mean concentration (0.74 ± 1.03 particles m−3) compared to Pulau Payar (0.58 ± 0.56 particles m−3), potentially attributed to hydrodynamic variations between the sites. Among the 22 polymer types identified, rayon, polystyrene (PE), and melamine-formaldehyde (MF) were most prevalent. Temporal variations showed decreasing MP concentrations from dry to rainy seasons, while spatial distribution correlated with water quality parameters including temperature, conductivity, and salinity. Pollution load index and ecological risk index calculations indicated low contamination levels and minor ecological risks at both study sites. This research provides foundational data on microplastics pollution in Malaysian marine parks and recreational areas, emphasising the necessity for ongoing monitoring and management strategies to preserve these valuable ecosystems.

Pollution of water bodies from industrial effluents is a major problem. Specifically, effluents from multiple coffee processing plants on the same Receiving River exacerbate the deterioration of water quality. Thus, this research focuses on determining the effect of multiple wet coffee processing effluents on water quality parameters in the Chichu River. Samples were collected at 4 sampling sites, each of which was further subdivided into three sampling points, for a total of 12 sampling points. The collected samples were tested for pH, electrical conductivity, temperature, turbidity, and dissolved oxygen on-site, as well as seven parameters in the laboratory. The statistical technique of one-way ANOVA was used to test parameters between different sampling points. Quality parameters varied significantly (p < 0.05) across sampling sites and points. Downstream sampling sites revealed a very acidic pH, a high organic load, deteriorated dissolved oxygen, a massive nutrient load, high floating and dissolved materials, and turbidity. With the exception of the upstream sampling point, all the quality parameters investigated were significantly different from the surface water quality standards. The results show that the discharge of untreated effluents from multiple wet coffee processing plants had a significant impact on the Chichu River’s water quality. It was discovered that downstream water quality was unsuitable for drinking, agriculture, and environmental purposes during peak processing. In general, Chichu River water is heavily polluted due to indiscriminate effluent discharge. Hence, mechanisms and efforts to develop effective coffee waste management options should be implemented in wet coffee processing areas.

This study examines the concentrations of naturally occurring radionuclides—uranium-238 (2³8U), thorium-232 (2³2Th), and potassium-40 (40K)—in five categories of building materials commonly used in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, using a thallium-doped sodium iodide (NaI(TI)) gamma-ray spectrometry system. The radiological health risks were evaluated by calculating hazard indices with established formulas. The overall mean concentrations of 2³8U,2³2Th, and 40K in the samples were 153.75 ± 1.43, 123.68 ± 0.74, and 397.59 ± 0.80 Bq kg−1, respectively, exceeding the global averages of 33 Bq kg−1 for 2³8U, 45 Bq kg−1 for 2³2Th, and 420 Bq kg−1 for 40K, which are considered safe for building materials. The elevated radionuclide levels in the categories of materials resulted in radiological hazard parameters, such as radium equivalent activity and external hazard index, surpassing recommended safety limits. This indicates that prolonged exposure to these materials could pose health risks, particularly in residential environments. When compared with international safety standards, the results emphasize the need for regulatory oversight in the selection and use of building materials. The findings raise concerns about public health, calling for stricter regulations and monitoring to ensure the materials meet safety standards. This study supports more informed and safer material choices in the construction industry, contributing to better public health protection by offering critical data.