Urban rivers are subject to multiple anthropogenic pressures, particularly those associated with wastewater discharges and diffuse inputs from urbanized catchments. This study investigates the occurrence and spatial–temporal patterns of emerging contaminants in the Fervença River (Bragança, NE Portugal), with a specific focus on the influence of the municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). Three riverine sampling sites were selected to represent upstream rural conditions, urban influence, and downstream areas receiving WWTP effluent. An additional sampling point was included at the WWTP discharge. Water and sediment samples were collected during four campaigns: one dataset from 2018 and three sampling campaigns conducted in March, May, and September 2024.

The analyses targeted a set of pharmaceutical products using HPLC-MS. Physicochemical parameters were also recorded in situ. The results show (i) a marked increase in contaminant concentrations in the urban section, (ii) the persistent detection of certain pharmaceutical products downstream of the WWTP, indicating incomplete removal, and (iii) differences in contaminant profiles between water and sediments, suggesting specific partitioning behavior of the compounds and possible long-term accumulation in benthic compartments. Comparison of data from 2018 and 2024 suggests temporal variability potentially related to changes in urban water use patterns and treatment efficiency.

This case study highlights the vulnerability of small urban rivers to wastewater-related contamination and the importance of integrating sediment monitoring to capture the environmental persistence of emerging contaminants. Findings contribute to a better understanding of contaminant dynamics in urban systems and support evidence-based management strategies to mitigate chemical pressures in freshwater environments.

Developing construction materials with a reduced environmental footprint requires the use of biosurfactants or bioinspired modifiers that can partially replace conventional petrochemical additives. This study focuses on the surface activity of bioinspired amphiphilic compounds with aromatic structures, obtained from renewable resources. The aim was to evaluate their adsorption capacity and potential application in cement technology, particularly in influencing rheology and the porous structure of cement mixtures.
Aqueous solutions of bioinspired compounds with different molecular weights and chemical modifications were prepared. For comparison, synthetic additives were analyzed, including sulfonated melamine–formaldehyde condensate (SMF), sulfonated naphthalene–formaldehyde condensate (SNF), and hydroxycarboxyl starch derivatives.
Surface tension was measured using the Du Noüy ring method with a KSV Sigma 701 tensiometer. Adsorption parameters—surface excess (Γ), molecular area (A_min), and Gibbs free energy (ΔG_ads)—were calculated using the Szyszkowski equation.
The bioinspired compounds demonstrated high surface activity and formed stable, compact monolayers. Medium molecular weight samples showed the most effective packing, indicating favorable dispersing properties in cement systems. In comparison to synthetic superplasticizers and starch derivatives, these compounds exhibited competitive adsorption and surface activity, highlighting their practical potential.
The findings confirm that renewable, aromatic amphiphilic compounds can serve as a foundation for designing next-generation biosurfactants. Their use in cement formulations supports sustainable construction practices and circular economy principles, reducing reliance on non-renewable resources and industrial waste while improving material performance.

Microplastic (MP) contamination and trace metal pollution are pervasive and often co-occurring stressors in marine ecosystems, particularly in the Mediterranean Sea, one of the world’s most polluted semi-enclosed basins, posing increasing risks to marine biota. This study investigated the individual and combined effects of microplastics and trace metals—cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and arsenic (As) on antioxidant and stress-response pathways in the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis. Mussels (27.04 ± 6.45 g; 4.02 ± 0.21 cm) were exposed for 14 days to four treatments: (1) control (synthetic seawater, 18 °C), (2) microplastics (=1 mg L⁻¹), (3) metals (Cd, Pb, As; 10 µg L⁻¹ each), and (4) combined microplastics + metals. At the end of exposure, gill and digestive gland tissues were analyzed by qPCR to assess the expression of antioxidant genes (cat, sod1, sod2) and the stress-inducible chaperone hsp70.

Both microplastics and metals individually induced moderate up-regulation of antioxidant genes, consistent with enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and activation of cellular defense mechanisms. The combined treatment elicited the strongest transcriptional responses, particularly for sod2 and hsp70, indicating pronounced mitochondrial oxidative stress.

Overall, the findings demonstrate that co-exposure to microplastics and trace metals imposes a greater oxidative burden than exposure to either stressor alone, potentially compromising the physiological resilience of M. galloprovincialis. Understanding such multi-stressor interactions is essential for evaluating the ecological risks of emerging pollutants in the Mediterranean coastal environment.

The environmental implications of nanoparticle-based agricultural inputs remain insufficiently understood, particularly for zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs), which are increasingly incorporated into fertilizers and agrochemicals. To ensure their safe and sustainable use, it is essential to evaluate both their potential phytotoxic effects and strategies to mitigate them. Magneto-priming (MP) has recently gained attention as a non-chemical, eco-friendly approach capable of enhancing seed germination, stimulating plant metabolism, and improving stress tolerance. In this study, Triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack) seeds were subjected to two experimental approaches: (i) direct priming with ZnO-NPs at 500 and 5000 mg Zn L⁻¹, with or without MP, and (ii) exposure to soil leachates obtained from an acidic soil previously treated with the same nanoparticle concentrations. Germination percentage, shoot and root length, root number, and the Seedling Vigor Index were evaluated to assess nanoparticle-induced phytotoxicity and the potential mitigating role of MP treatment. Results showed an average 17.5 % reduction in germination in seeds directly treated with ZnO-NPs, likely due to ion release and the high reactivity of nanoparticle surfaces, indicating short-term phytotoxic potential under direct exposure. In contrast, MP treatment enhanced seedling vigour by 28.8%, improving shoot and root elongation and suggesting a capacity to alleviate early stress responses. Seeds exposed to soil leachates showed negligible effects, reflecting a limited mobility and bioavailability of ZnO-NPs within the soil matrix. These findings suggest that under the conditions of our study, soil-applied ZnO-NPs represent a low environmental risk, whereas direct contact with seeds can induce localized phytotoxic effects. In addition, MP treatment appears to modulate plant responses, enhancing root system development and mitigating nanoparticle-induced stress. Overall, the study contributes to environmental impact assessment of nanomaterials, emphasizing the need to evaluate exposure pathways and mitigation strategies for safe nano-enabled fertilizer use.

Recreational marinas are among the fastest-growing types of artificial structures in coastal urban areas. However, their construction and functioning are linked to habitat loss and fragmentation, increased pollutant levels, and the introduction of non-indigenous species (NIS). All these impacts affect native biodiversity and reduce ecosystem services. In line with the recently approved Nature Restoration Law (EU 2024/1991), marinas could be key areas for developing mitigation strategies to mitigate the impacts of these artificial structures/infrastructures on ecosystems. Increasing habitat complexity through the addition of artificial structures has been shown to promote colonization by native habitat-forming species (HFS), thereby reducing NIS and restoring ecosystem services in degraded urban areas such as marinas. However, the effectiveness of these interventions is highly context-dependent, as environmental conditions could influence mitigation outcomes.

To investigate this, a short-term colonization experiment was conducted in four marinas on the NW Iberian Peninsula under two environmental conditions: two in a non-upwelling area in northern Galicia and two in a high-upwelling area in northern Portugal. At each marina, four artificial substrates were submerged for three months, and the colonizing sessile fouling communities were examined. Our results showed that upwelling conditions significantly shaped both the abundance and multivariate structure of colonizing assemblages. Fouling communities under high-upwelling conditions exhibited lower levels of dispersion, suggesting greater homogeneity, likely driven by the dominance of two native HFS: the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis and the barnacle Perforatus perforatus. In contrast, the abundance of these native HFS was significantly lower in non-upwelling areas, where fouling communities were dominated by the spirorbid Janua heterostropha, along with cryptogenic and NIS bryozoans such as Cryptosulla pallasiana, Tricellaria inopinata, and Watersipora subatra. Overall, our findings demonstrate that the effectiveness of mitigation strategies varies across environments, highlighting the need to adapt interventions to local environmental conditions.

Human activities profoundly influence environments, generating multiple impacts and risks at diverse spatial and temporal scales. Among these, climate change—driven primarily by rising atmospheric CO₂—represents one of the most critical global challenges.

The Mediterranean region, already affected by droughts, wildfires, and biodiversity loss, is particularly sensitive to changes in carbon fluxes owing to its dense urbanization and active volcanic zones. Anthropogenic CO₂ emissions dominate the global carbon budget, whereas volcanic degassing contributes a minor but persistent fraction that can locally alter atmospheric composition on short timescales. Disentangling these overlapping sources is essential for accurate environmental impact and risk assessments.

This study presents isotopic investigations of carbon and oxygen in CO₂ (δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O) to distinguish anthropogenic from volcanic and biogenic emissions in both urbanized and remote areas of the Mediterranean region. Data collected within the Atmospheric Carbon and Oxygen Laboratory (ACO-Lab) and its Gradient in Atmospheric Urban Dome (GraDo) side project—coordinated by the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia—reveal that carbon isotope ratios reveal the origin of CO₂ emissions. In contrast, oxygen isotope variations display moderate dependence on altitude and vegetation cover.

These results highlight the value of isotopic fingerprinting as a suitable monitoring tool for assessing the environmental impact of CO₂ emissions, improving our ability to quantify anthropogenic contributions, investigating dependencies among biogenic cycles, and supporting strategies for mitigation and sustainable urban management in regions influenced by a combination of natural degassing and anthropogenic pollution.

Biochar can improve nutrient retention and influence metal availability in soils. This study assessed the combined effects of Zn source, dose, and biochar amendment on lettuce growth and Zn uptake in a Zn-deficient acidic soil. Treatments included ZnSO₄ and a chelated Zn-glycine-NH₃ complex applied at agronomic (2 mg·kg⁻¹) and high (20 mg·kg⁻¹) Zn doses. Each treatment was tested with and without 5% biochar prepared by pyrolysis at 500 ºC of olive pruning waste. Biochar consistently enhanced lettuce fresh weight, particularly under high-dose Zn-glycine-NH₃ treatment, reaching increases of up to 79% compared to the corresponding soil-only treatment. High Zn fertilization did not negatively affect biomass, indicating tolerance of lettuce to elevated Zn inputs. In soil-only treatments, leaf Zn concentrations significantly increased at agronomic Zn doses—up to 293% above the control—whereas high Zn-glycine-NH₃ doses did not further enhance uptake. Conversely, in biochar-amended soils, Zn accumulation decreased markedly, with up to an 80% reduction under high chelate doses. These findings suggest that biochar improves plant growth by enhancing soil physical and chemical properties but may adsorb or immobilize Zn at high concentrations, reducing its bioavailability. Overall, the interaction between Zn source, application rate, and biochar strongly influences nutrient dynamics. Properly managed biochar application can improve crop performance while mitigating excessive Zn accumulation and potential environmental risks. This research was funded by the Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, Agencia Es-tatal de Investigación y Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (Proyect PID2023-149789OB-I00 funded by MCIU /AEI /10.13039/501100011033 / FEDER, UE).

In the context of climate change and accelerated urban growth, the adoption of effective strategies for sustainable stormwater management has become essential. Excessive soil sealing increases surface runoff, leading to frequent urban floods and overloading conventional drainage infrastructures. This study assessed the influence of green roofs and permeable pavements on stormwater runoff and the design of a public drainage network in a 2.1-hectare urban allotment located in Portugal’s Pluviometric Region B. Six drainage scenarios were simulated with different combinations of roof typologies and pavement types: (i) pitched roofs with conventional pavements (Cₘ = 0.70), (ii) pitched roofs with sustainable pavements (Cₘ = 0.61), (iii) flat roofs with conventional pavements (Cₘ = 0.65), (iv) flat roofs with sustainable pavements (Cₘ = 0.55), (v) green roofs with conventional pavements (Cₘ = 0.59), and (vi) green roofs with sustainable pavements (Cₘ = 0.50), being Cₘ the weighted average runoff coefficient that expresses the fraction of rainfall converted into surface runoff. The corresponding peak discharges were 380.06, 328.49, 350.62, 298.67, 320.53, and 268.68 L/s, respectively. A progressive reduction in runoff and peak flow was observed across scenarios, with the most sustainable configuration (Scenario 6) achieving a 29.31% decrease relative to the conventional configuration (Scenario 1). From an economic perspective, the most sustainable scenario had the lowest drainage network cost (EUR 32,092.76 + VAT), compared with EUR 35,919.82 + VAT in the conventional scenario. These findings demonstrate that sustainable drainage measures not only reduce surface runoff and mitigate urban flooding but also enable more cost-effective and resilient stormwater management systems, thereby contributing to the transition towards climate-adaptive cities.

Anthropogenic air pollution represents a significant threat to both environmental and human health, with nitrogen oxides (NOx) playing a substantial role in the formation of photochemical smog, acid rain, eutrophication, and respiratory diseases. In Bangladesh, NOx emissions primarily originate from combustion sources such as road transportation, power generation, and industrial activities, while natural sources include lightning, wildfires, and soil emissions. Furthermore, ammonia emissions from fertilizers and livestock exacerbate air quality issues in both urban and rural settings. Despite the acknowledgment of vehicular and industrial contributions, comprehensive and systematic assessments of NO₂ trends across the nation remain scarce. This study integrates ground-based NO₂ measurements from the Department of Environment (DoE) with atmospheric NO₂ retrieved from the Sentinel-5P TROPOMI Level-3 product via Google Earth Engine (GEE) for 2024. Spatial distribution patterns of both ground-level and atmospheric NO₂ were analyzed using ArcGIS Pro, along with seasonal and decadal trend assessments from 2015 to 2024. Results indicated pronounced spatial and temporal variability in NO₂ concentrations. The highest levels were consistently recorded over Dhaka and surrounding industrial zones, with moderate accumulation in Chattogram. Winter months (December–February) exhibited hazardous concentrations, including a peak of 212 µg/m³ in Sylhet in 2016, while monsoon periods recorded the lowest levels, such as 0.46 µg/m³ in Khulna in May 2017. Seasonal averages indicated the highest concentrations in autumn (35.13 µg/m³), followed by winter (25.67 µg/m³), with November recording the maximum monthly mean (38.94 µg/m³). Long-term analysis showed peak NO₂ levels in 2018 (34.40 µg/m³) in Chattogram, declining to 6.28 µg/m³ by 2024. These findings underscore the necessity for stricter emission regulations and targeted mitigation measures, including the implementation of NO₂-selective catalytic reduction (SCR) using NH₃ over metal oxide and zeolite catalysts. This study provides evidence-based insights to support cleaner air initiatives and sustainable environmental management strategies in Bangladesh.

Flooding is a persistent and worsening environmental hazard in Ibadan North East Local Government Area (LGA), driven by rapid urbanization, poor drainage systems, river encroachment, and building regulation violations. The study was motivated by the need to assess these risks spatially and support effective planning and intervention. The primary objective was to identify and map flood-prone areas resulting from drainage collapse, river system encroachment, and non-compliance with urban planning regulations.

Data used include high-resolution satellite imagery, building footprints digitized in ArcGIS 10.8, and a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) used for slope and elevation analysis. GIS techniques applied were buffer analysis (to detect building encroachment within 15 meters of rivers and 30 meters of major roads), overlay analysis (to identify intersecting risk zones), and terrain modeling (to map vulnerable low-slope and low-elevation areas). Software used includes ArcGIS 10.8.2, ArcGIS Pro, QGIS, Google Earth Pro, Google Earth Engine, and Microsoft Excel. Field observations were conducted to validate spatial outputs.

Findings reveal that 23% of structures (6,053) in the LGA violate river buffer regulations, while 18% (5.090) encroach on road buffer zones, indicating widespread non-compliance. Additionally, 45% of the land area falls within low-slope zones (<3°), increasing susceptibility to runoff accumulation and surface flooding. Communities such as Beere, Oje, Idi-Arere, and Olomi, with a population of approximately 66,858, exhibited the highest concentration of overlapping risk factors. The study concludes that flooding in Ibadan North East is both a natural and structural hazard, exacerbated by institutional lapses in planning enforcement. It recommends the use of GIS for urban monitoring, enhanced drainage planning, and strict compliance with development controls to mitigate future flood risks.