Journal Clean WAS (JCleanWAS)

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are harmful combustion byproducts with carcinogenic and mutagenic properties, and their carcinogenic potential persists in indoor environments. Vulnerable populations, particularly children, are at heightened risk of exposure. This study quantified schoolchildren’s exposure to fine particulate matter-bound PAHs (PM2.5-bound PAHs) in five urban classrooms between April 2024 and March 2025 using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Total PAH concentrations ranged from 1,140 to 1,470 ng/m³, with total toxic equivalent quotient (TEQ) values of 0.172-0.251 ng/m³, primarily driven by benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) and dibenzo[a,h]anthracene (DahA), which accounted for 62-68% of ETEQ. Pediatric incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) estimates (2.47 – 3.6 * 10 ^ – 7) indicated low risk (<10 threshold) but were 1.75 times higher than adult estimates Regression models effectively predicted ∑TEQ (R ^ 2 = 0.958) and ILCR (R ^ 2 = 0.982) with 5-fold cross-validation confirming robustness (R²_cv = 0.92-0.94). K-means clustering \ k = 2 ; Silhouette score = 0.479) revealed compounddominated -exposure patterns. These findings highlight the need for targeted policy interventions, including improved ventilation and emission controls, to protect children’s health in indoor environments.

This study’s main objective is to ascertain whether river samples taken from four separate locations in Malaysia’s Terengganu state are contaminated with heavy metals. All samples were dried at 80 °C for a full day in order to measure their moisture content. The range of the water content was 70-77%. To determine the content of heavy metals, triplicate samples were assessed using an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). All solid samples were completely digested for three hours at 120 °C using an oven and Teflon beakers. Lead and zinc were discovered to be more prevalent in sediments than other elements. Additional factors include pH, BOD, COD, DO, LOI, TN, and TP. Total nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations are highest in samples taken from locations near farms and municipal locations. With the exception of a few instances where it surpassed the limit, the concentration was generally below the acceptable level limit established for the water and sediment rules.

Groundwater is an essential resource in meeting consumptive demands particularly drinking water worldwide. However, the resource is vulnerable to lithologic and anthropogenic pollution. This study evaluates the vulnerability of South African groundwater resources to fluoride toxicity and the resultant health impacts. Findings based on literature show that the Northern Cape, North West, Limpopo and Western Cape are the hotspots of fluoride toxicity in groundwater as the levels of this contaminant exceed the allowable limit of 1.5 mg/l in these regions. Distribution of this toxicity is spatially different and as evident from the case study of Roundhill landfill vicinity, it is not limited to hotspot areas alone. Karoo fractured rocks that allow easier release of fluoride to groundwater during interaction are the most probable cause of elevated levels in groundwater while improper solid waste disposal and the use of agrochemicals and fertilisers are the anthropogenic sources of this contaminant. Elevated levels of fluoride increase the aetiology of dental and skeletal fluorosis among other health complications and future researches should focus on its removal prior to consumption of groundwater.

Carmoisine dye is a synthetic dye that can have detrimental effects on the environment and also health when discarded untreated into the environment. Coconut meat waste, is an underutilized waste that is recently under investigation as an adsorbent for various harmful chemicals such as heavy metals and dyes. However, the use of coconut meat as an adsorbent for carmoisine dye has not been reported in the literature. Hence, this study uses coconut meat waste as an adsorbent to adsorb carmoisine dye from water. The preliminary findings show that the maximum removal efficiency is around 30% when the initial concentration of carmoisine in water is 50 mg/L, the lowest carmoisine initial concentration used in this study. It was also observed that the adsorption capacity increases with the increase in the carmoisine dye concentration in water, up to the maximum value of 23.25 mg/g at 200 mg/L initial carmoisine dye concentration in water. The coconut meat adsorbent exhibit Freundlich equilibrium characteristics rather than the Langmuir equilibrium. In conclusion, the data obtained in this study shows comparatively lower removal and adsorption capacity in comparison to publish works that utilizes coconut meat waste adsorbent for removal of heavy metals and other types of colour dyes.

In foothill rivers, large volumes of river sediments, derived from erosional processes, move along with the water. The sediment concentration increases during the high water or flood periods of rivers, and their sizes range from 0.01 mm to 200 mm. Sedimentation tanks are used to draw water from the river to prevent silting of irrigation canals. The size of sedimentation tanks depends on the physical and hydromechanical properties of river sediments, along with stream hydrological parameters. This article studies the hydromechanical properties of river sediments based on the results of field research conducted in the right-bank sedimentation tank, which is part of the Kokand hydrocomplex. Laboratory analysis of field studies showed that sediment concentrations in the Sokhsoi stream varied seasonally within a range of 1.02 to 5.04 kg/m3, and the average particle size is medium gravel (4 mm). As theoretical part of the research, the dependence of fall velocity on the shape and size of river sediments and the dependence of viscosity on concentration were studied. The higher the concentration, the lower the rate of decline of sediment. The results show that the value of the hydraulic size of sediments entering the right-bank tank fluctuated between 189 and 429 mm/sec, influenced by the concentration and shape of the sediment. The results of this study are of great importance not only for the design of sedimentation tanks but also for the study of the characteristics of mudflows

Microplastic (MP) contamination has become a great environmental threat, classically considered as exclusive to aquatic systems; yet, evidence suggests that agricultural soils currently act as important sinks of MPs. Widespread use of plastic materials in agriculture (e.g., mulching films, greenhouse covers, sewage sludge amendments, compost application and contaminated irrigation water) has expedited the enrichment of microplastics on terrestrial ecosystems. This newly emerging pollution posed great risks to soil health, crop production and food safety even world food security. Microplastics in soil have negative effects on the physical structure of soil like porosity formation and aggregation, the size and composition of microbial community in soils which are more environmental functional traits as well as with key functional biogeochemical cycles. Furthermore, microplastics may adsorb and transport co-contaminants, such as heavy metals and pesticides, enhancing their ecological toxicity. Emerging studies also show the absorption and transportation of microplastic particles in crop plants, thereupon entry into food chains and potential human consumption are some concerns. However, our knowledge is however still limited about the fate and long￾term impact of microplastics in soil–plant systems, as well as their transport processes within that environment. The absence of standardized detection methodologies, toxicological endpoints, and field-based measures continues to limit the ability to conduct reliable risk assessment. This review provides an overview on sources behavior, interactions with soil–microbes, pathways for crop uptake and analytical methods of detecting microplastics in agricultural soils. Finally, some critical research gaps and the future perspectives are summarized to facilitate sustainable agricultural strategies used for protecting food security against
increased microplastic pollution.

The rapid growth of the global population provides significant challenges in actuality due to an increased demand for water. The constant pressure on water resources has caused unsustainable and inefficient management of the natural supplies. Recently, the increase of chemical products used in food production has contributed significantly to environmental degradation, threatening the availability of drinking water. This study is an analysis of the pH, electrical conductivity (EC), turbidity, total dissolved solids (TDS), temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO), salinity, and resistivity of water in 6 locations of the Lake Basin. The measured values were compared with Mexican and international standards to determine the degree of contamination at the sampling sites. The majority of measured data in test sites are in an acceptable range, with the exception of Yunuen Island, which shows an electrical conductivity and salinity that exceeds the values of the norms as well as dissolved solids that are close to the limit. Although the islands of Janitzio and Yunuen are located inside of Lake Pátzcuaro, only the island of Yunuen presents a probable pollution that can be associated with anthropogenic activities

Particulate Matter (PM) remain poorly characterized in FCT Abuja and this has led to the examination of the temporal variations and distribution of PM₁₀ and PM₂.₅ in FCT Abuja from January 2024 to January 2025, alongside the influence of meteorological parameters as the aim of the research. Observation Instrument, installed at a height of 1.85m at Centre for Atmospheric Research-National Space Research and Development Agency (CAR NASRDA) Observation Centre (8°59’N, 7°23’E; elevation: 427m) was used to gather hourly PM concentrations and meteorological data for January 2024–January 2025 were acquired from Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) (9°4’N, 7°29’E; elevation: 345m). The study shows an annual mean concentrations of PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀ in 2024 to be 65.21μg/m³ and 61. 23μg/m respectively. Monthly averages for PM₂.₅ ranged from 40.13μg/m³ to 126.02μg/m³, and PM₁₀ ranged from 38.71μg/m³ to 114.16μg/m³Respectively. For PM₂.₅, the highest and lowest levels of PM were 126.1±67.4μg/m³ in February and 64.7±25.3μg/m³ in December; respectively, in January (114.2±38.5μg/m³) and May (38.7±6.8μg/m³). In February and November, the highest and lowest values of PM₂.₅/PM₁₀ were 1.48 and 0.84, respectively. For the month-to-month fluctuation, the highest and lowest PM2.5 were in January (harmattan/dry season) and September (rain season) 2024 at 174.6μg/m³ and 26.3μg/m³ respectively. For PM₁₀, the highest fluctuation 182.33μg/m³ was in January while 170.23μg/m³ was in October respectively. The mean daily air temperature varied from 17.2°C during March to a high of 45.8°C in May 2024, relative humidity was between 12.6% and 92.8%, and atmospheric pressure varied from 84.6hPa to 967.4hPa respectively.

Soil contamination by industrial pollutants poses a significant threat to soil health by altering its physical, chemical, and biological properties. While much attention has been, given to chemical and biological aspects, physical degradation remains less explored. This study assesses the impact of chemical pollution on the physical properties of irrigated meadow and meadow-alluvial soils in the industrial zones of the Navoi region, Uzbekistan. Soil samples were, systematically collected at distances ranging from 500 to 20,000 meters from major industrial sources, including the Navoi Mining and Metallurgical Combine (NMMC) and the Navoi Gas and Heat Power Plant Station (HS), and at three depth intervals: 0–5 cm, 5–30 cm, and 30–50 cm. Key physical parameters—bulk density, total porosity, particle size distribution, and micro-aggregate stability—were, measured following standardized procedures based on GOST 26213-91, ISO 11272:2017, and the Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF). The findings revealed a consistent degradation trend in areas close to pollution sources. Bulk density increased to as high as 1.48 g/cm³, while total porosity declined to 41.91%, compared to values of less than 1.20 g/cm³ and over 50% porosity at control sites. Furthermore, a shift in mechanical composition was, observed with higher silt and clay fractions and reduced sand content, indicating enhanced compaction and reduced aeration. Micro-aggregate stability also decreased, reflecting structural breakdown at the surface layers. Spatial analysis showed that pollution effects were most pronounced topsoil and, diminished with greater depth and, distance from the source. These results demonstrate the critical role of physical indicators in the early detection of chemically induced soil degradation. The study emphasizes the urgent need for integrated soil monitoring and targeted remediation strategies to preserve soil health and ensure sustainable land use in industrially affected regions.

The present study investigates groundwater quality of Akasar village of Bikaner (Rajasthan), India to check its drinking and agricultural irrigation aptness. Total 30 sampling sites of Akasar village were selected to collect groundwater samples in the period of July to August 2024. The physical and chemical parameters of groundwaters were analysed like pH, electrical conductivity, chloride, carbonate, bicarbonate, calcium, magnesium, sodium, sodium absorption ratio and residual sodium carbonate. Parameters such as pH, Ca+Mg, and carbonate were within the standard permissible limits of BIS. 37% groundwater samples displayed drinking unsuitability because of high contents of EC, Na, Cl and HCO3. The groundwater of Akasar village for irrigation purpose had slightly saline features. Saline groundwater was observed in 5 sampling sites. 17% groundwater samples were found unsuitable for irrigation purpose. Hence, groundwater quality of Akasar village is comprehensively suitable for drinking and irrigation uses. Examination of groundwater with wide hydro-chemical metrices would deliver the precise representation of Akasar village’s groundwater quality.