Tag Archives: pollution

2020 Methane Spike: How COVID-19 Lockdowns Reduced Pollution Levels

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Environmental Impact of COVID-19 Lockdowns

2020 Lockdowns Led to Reduced Nitrogen Oxide Emissions from Transport

Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

The reduction in pollution during the COVID-19 lockdown has caused significant chemical changes in the atmosphere, leading to a concerning rise in methane concentrations that could greatly affect future climate change.

Methane, which remains in the atmosphere for only about a decade, has a much higher warming potential than CO2. Its levels have been rising since the 1980s, mainly due to emissions from fossil fuel production. In recent decades, increased microorganisms breaking down organic matter in wetlands, agriculture, and landfills have further amplified these emissions.

From 2020 to 2022, the atmospheric methane surge unexpectedly doubled from approximately 20 million tons per year to roughly 40 million tons annually, reverting to about 20 million tons in 2023. A recent study indicates that this spike is largely attributed to a reduction in nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from vehicles, aviation, and shipping during the lockdown.

NOx compounds catalyze atmospheric reactions that produce hydroxyl radicals (OH), key for breaking down methane. Hence, a decline in NOx typically results in enhanced methane persistence.

According to Matthew Johnson from the University of Copenhagen, “Reducing catalyst emissions leads to an increased methane pollution, akin to a hangover from our fossil fuel dependency.”

Prior research by Professors at Peking University indicated that the methane spike in 2020 was largely due to a decline in hydroxyl radicals and an increase in emissions from wetlands. Surprisingly, methane growth rates continued to rise in 2021 and 2022, despite the global economy’s recovery.

While hydroxyl radicals are too short-lived for direct measurement, satellite data can detect the gases that produce them. The recent study modeled both terrestrial methane sources and atmospheric hydroxyl radical sinks, linking their data with measured methane concentrations.

It discovered that the decline in hydroxyl radicals during 2020-21 and their recovery in 2022-23 accounted for 83% of the variations in methane growth rates. Continued low aviation emissions in 2021, coupled with the slow recovery of the transportation sector, contributed to these findings.

The increase in methane emissions from wetlands and inland waters accounted for the remaining spike. The La Niña climate phase boosted precipitation in Central Africa, expanding wetlands and generating more methane. Additionally, worsening weather in South and Southeast Asia increased methane emissions from rice fields, while rising temperatures accelerated methane emissions from Arctic wetlands.

As countries like China and India move toward electrification, the reduction in NOx pollution could further escalate methane growth, warns Penn.

“Improved air quality will likely mean decreasing methane absorption in the atmosphere,” he states, underscoring the urgent need for reducing human-caused emissions.

Disparities exist within climate models; some predict a decline in hydroxyl radicals, while others foresee an increase. Difficulties in measuring hydroxyl concentrations may also cast uncertainty over this study’s results.

Echoing this sentiment, Paul Palmer from the University of Edinburgh expressed surprise at the significance of hydroxyl radical changes compared to emission fluctuations. “If validated, this findings necessitate a reevaluation of factors influencing hydroxyl radicals in the global troposphere.”

Attributing changes to hydroxyl radicals might underestimate the actual variations in methane emissions.

Regardless, methane emissions from wetlands are set to escalate due to global warming, increasing precipitation, and microbial activity. To mitigate climate change, urgent human intervention is essential.

The new research highlighted by Ewan Nisbet from Royal Holloway, University of London, and Martin Manning from Victoria University in Wellington emphasizes that nations like China and India have substantial opportunities to capture methane from coal mines, landfills, and wastewater treatment facilities. Global oil and gas production continues to lose significant amounts of methane as well.

“We need urgent action; the methane emissions situation is becoming increasingly critical,” Johnson concluded. “Current trends are reflecting the alarming increase in methane emissions driven by climate change.”

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  • Climate Change/
  • Air Pollution

Source: www.newscientist.com

How Pollution Alters Ant Scent, Leading to Attacks on Nestmates

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Harvester ants and the impact of ozone pollution

Harvester Ants and Scent Recognition

Credit: JorgeOrtiz_1976/Shutterstock

Common air pollutants like ozone and nitric oxide can alter the scent of ants, triggering aggressive behavior from nestmates who perceive them as intruders.

Ants rely on scent for social recognition, and when they encounter individuals with unfamiliar scents, they often react with aggression—biting or even killing the perceived invader. Notably, ozone—a greenhouse gas emitted from vehicle exhaust and industrial processes—can impact the chemical makeup of alkenes, compounds important to the unique scent profile of their colony.

Markus Knaden and researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena, Germany, previously noted that ozone-induced changes in alkenes can disrupt insect communication, leading to phenomena such as fruit flies mating with inappropriate partners or pollinators like the tobacco moth losing interest in flowers. But how does ozone affect ant behavior?

To explore this, Knaden’s team established artificial colonies of six ant species, exposing them to glass chambers with varied ozone concentrations, mirroring summer levels recorded in Jena. Upon their return, the subjected ants faced attacks from their colony members.

“I honestly didn’t expect this outcome,” Knaden remarked. “We anticipated the ozone might alter just a small fraction—2 to 5 percent—of the overall scent blend.”

In natural settings, such aggressive behavior can hinder colony efficiency, even without any fatalities among the ants, though it is complex to design experiments that effectively measure these impacts.

Daniel Cronauer, a professor at Rockefeller University in New York, commented that the aggression observed is not surprising given the crucial role alkenes play in identifying nestmates.

Alkenes also facilitate other vital ant behaviors, including tracking via footprints and communication between larvae and adults. This study indicates that ozone exposure may lead clonal ant adults (Oseraea Billoi) to neglect their larvae, suggesting that these changes could disrupt various facets of ant life and potentially affect broader ecosystem dynamics.

“In most terrestrial ecosystems, the removal of ants would likely lead to catastrophic consequences,” Cronauer stated. Ants are pivotal for dispersing seeds, aerating soil, and fostering symbiotic relationships with other species.

With global insect populations in decline, this research adds to a growing body of evidence linking air pollution to these declines. Knaden asserts that while current ozone levels may not pose immediate dangers to humans, “we must acknowledge the unseen consequences of our actions.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Study Reveals Plug-In Hybrids Emit Nearly the Same Pollution as Gasoline Vehicles

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Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) release nearly five times more greenhouse gas emissions than reported statistics suggest. I found a report detailing this issue.

These vehicles can operate on electric batteries as well as internal combustion engines and have been promoted by European manufacturers as a means to travel longer distances while lowering emissions—offering an alternative to fully electric cars.

Research indicates that PHEVs emit just 19% less CO2. An analysis from the nonprofit organization Transport and Environment was released on Thursday, showing laboratory tests estimated 75% less pollution.

Researchers examined data from fuel consumption meters in 800,000 vehicles registered in Europe between 2021 and 2023, discovering that the real carbon dioxide emissions from PHEVs in 2023 were 4.9 times greater than those from standardized lab tests, an increase from 3.5 times in 2021.

“While official emissions are declining, actual emissions are on the rise,” remarked Sofia Navas Goelke, a researcher at the Institute for Transport and Environment and co-author of the report. “This widening gap is becoming a significant issue. Consequently, PHEVs are now polluting nearly as much as traditional petrol vehicles.”

The researchers identified that much of this disparity stems from an overestimation of the “utility factor” (the proportion of miles driven in electric mode compared to total miles), finding that only 27% of driving was done in electric mode, versus the official estimate of 84%. The analysis noted that the European Commission proposed two amendments to the utility coefficient ratio, which lessened the gap but didn’t eliminate it entirely.

Even when operating in electric mode, pollution levels were found to be significantly higher than official figures suggest. Researchers indicated this was due to the electric motor being insufficient for sole operation, with the engine burning fossil fuels for almost one-third of the distance traveled in electric mode.

Patrick Plotz, head of energy economics at the Fraunhofer Institute for System Innovation, who did not participate in the study, described it as a “very useful contribution” to ongoing discussions, as some in the automotive industry have claimed there’s insufficient data to accurately gauge real emissions.

“Without a doubt, the disparity between official and actual fuel consumption and CO2 emissions for PHEVs is substantial,” Plotz remarked. “Their emissions are much higher than those of gasoline or diesel cars,” referring to the study on the topic. “Any policy adjustments regarding PHEVs should be thoughtfully considered in the context of this data.”

Hybrid vehicles have re-entered political discourse as automakers urge the EU to ease carbon emission targets. The push to ban new internal combustion engine vehicles by 2035 is facing strong lobbying from the auto sector, along with resistance from member states with significant automotive industries.

“There should be no significant reductions in 2035,” stated German Chancellor Friedrich Merz following a summit with Germany’s struggling automotive sector, committing to “do everything possible in 2035.” Other senior German leaders have cited plug-in hybrids as an example of “flexibility” that could be integrated into the legislation.

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Researchers calculated that the undervaluation of PHEV emissions artificially facilitated compliance with the EU’s average vehicle CO2 regulations, enabling four major car manufacturers to evade over €5 billion (around £4.3 billion) in fines between 2021 and 2023. The study indicated that PHEV drivers are likely to incur approximately €500 more in annual running costs than expectations based on lab tests.

“The exaggerated claims made by manufacturers regarding their plug-in hybrid vehicles are clearly misleading,” observed Colin Walker, a transportation analyst at Energy and Climate Intelligence.

“Consumers are misled into thinking that by choosing a PHEV, they are aiding the environment and saving money,” he pointed out. “In reality, PHEVs are only marginally more efficient than regular petrol and diesel vehicles concerning fuel and CO2 consumption, resulting in higher operation costs.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

Research Reveals That Lowering Pollution Might Not Compromise Deeper Climate Stability

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Improving the quality of the air we breathe is a significant achievement for public health, but paradoxically, it also accelerates global warming. This is highlighted in a recent study published in Communication Earth and the Environment, which connects the recent efforts to clean up air pollution in East Asia to the intensified climate crisis.

In the last 15 years, global warming has surged dramatically, and until now, the reasons behind this surge were unclear to scientists.

Co-author Dr. Robert Allen, a professor of climate studies at the University of California, Riverside, stated:

To address this, a large team of international scientists examined simulations from eight major climate models.

The majority of the accelerated warming seen since 2010 is believed to stem from efforts to reduce air pollution in East Asia.

During this same period, China was implementing a significant air quality policy that led to a reduction of sulfur dioxide emissions by approximately 75%.

Dr. Bjørn Samset, the lead author of the research and a senior researcher at Norway’s International Climate Environmental Studies Centre, explained to BBC Science Focus that pollution has historically been effective in cooling the planet.

“Think back to a day when the air was polluted or hazy,” he mentioned. “Particles in the air block some sunlight from reaching the ground, effectively providing a cooling shade.

“For decades, air pollution has been helping to mitigate some of the warming caused by greenhouse gases.”

Samset elaborated that by eliminating air pollution, as China has done, some of that cooling effect has been lost.

However, simply allowing pollution to persist is not the answer. Allen noted that 2 and methane must both be addressed together.

Before China’s 2010 air quality policy, pollution was a leading cause of premature deaths in the country – Credit: Jack-Enjo Photography via Getty

In addition to cutting greenhouse gases, some scientists have proposed unconventional measures to slow the climate crisis, such as reintroducing artificial pollution into the atmosphere.

Samset explained that this approach “involves releasing particles into the stratosphere or clouds, which can mirror the cooling effects of air pollution without the harmful health impacts.”

To do this, planes could disperse gas from altitudes of 20 km—significantly higher than typical passenger flights.

However, co-author Professor Laura Wilcox, a meteorologist at the University of Reading, advised in BBC Science Focus that such solutions do not resolve the core issues.

“Similar to air pollution, these methods merely mask atmospheric problems without addressing the root causes,” she stated.

“Another viable strategy is to actively remove CO.2,” she added. “This process, known as carbon capture, is already underway but on a limited scale.”

Possible solutions include planting trees and seaweed, developing mechanical trees, and directly capturing CO2 from the air for storage in rock formations.

Nevertheless, the key solution remains to “reduce greenhouse gas emissions primarily by transitioning away from fossil fuels,” said Samset.

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About our experts

Dr. Bjørn Samset is a senior researcher at the Norwegian Centre for International Climate Research. A physicist and science communicator, he possesses extensive expertise in atmospheric science and global climate modeling, focusing on the impacts of air pollution on climate change through climate modeling.

Professor Laura Wilcox is a professor specializing in aerosol climate interactions at the University of Reading, UK. Her research interests encompass the effects of air pollution on climate and the impacts of aviation on the climate.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Much of this Century’s Warming May Result from Decreased Air Pollution

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Coal Power Plants Contribute to Cooling via Sulphate Pollution

Frank Hermann/Getty Images

The presence of sulfate air pollution causes clouds to darken and reduces sunlight. This factor could contribute to recent temperature increases beyond just greenhouse gas effects.

“Two-thirds of the global warming observed since 2001 is attributed not to rising CO2 levels, but to decreasing SO2 levels,” says Peter Cox from the University of Exeter, UK.

While some sunlight is reflected and some is absorbed before being released as heat, increased carbon dioxide levels enhance the retention of this heat. This greenhouse effect is a primary driver of global warming, but the albedo, or reflectivity of the planet, significantly influences temperature.

Since 2001, satellite instruments like Ceres have measured sunlight reflection and absorption. These observations reveal a decline in sunlight reflectivity, indicating a darker planet with diminishing albedo, leading to more intense warming.

Factors contributing to this reduced albedo include diminished snow and sea ice as well as fewer clouds. However, Cox and Margaux Marchant’s analysis of Ceres data spanning 2001 to 2019 suggests that the most significant contributor is the darkening of clouds.

Industrial and maritime sulfate emissions are known to enhance the density of cloud droplets, improving their reflectivity. This principle underpins a proposed geoengineering technique called Marine Cloud Brightening. However, recent shifts away from high-sulfur fuels like coal have led to reductions in these emissions.

Thus, Merchant and Cox explored whether the observed loss of cloud brightness is linked to reduced SO2 levels and found correlations. They presented initial findings at the Exeter Climate Forum recently.

These findings are promising, as the accelerated warming trends indicate that some researchers fear the global climate sensitivity (the temperature rise associated with increased atmospheric CO2) could be at the upper range of estimates. While the short-term effects of reduced pollution contribute to warming, this suggests greater warming potential as CO2 emissions rise if cloud darkening results from increased CO2.

“If this darkening signifies a genuine shift in cloud feedback indicating greater sensitivity than previously thought, rather than a mere result of decreased SO2 emissions, it is promising news,” stated Laura Wilcox from the University of Reading, UK, who was not involved in the research.

Wilcox notes limitations in the datasets utilized by Marchant and Cox; for instance, the SO2 contamination data may have changed since their analysis.

Furthermore, two recent studies suggest dimming is largely due to reduced cloud cover, not darker clouds. “The factors behind these recent darkening trends are currently being intensely debated,” she says.

Overall, Wilcox adds that her research supports the view that the recent acceleration of global warming is chiefly driven by reduced air pollution, and this effect is likely to be temporary.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Trump is being asked by the chemical industry for an exemption from pollution restrictions

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President Trump is being asked by two chemical industry groups to grant a complete exemption to free factories from new restrictions on dangerous air pollution.

The Biden administration’s new rules will require chemical plastics to monitor and reduce the emission of toxic pollutants like ethylene oxide, a cancer-causing ingredient used in antifreezes and plastics.

The American Chemical Council and the American Fuel & Petrochemical Makers are seeking a temporary presidential exemption for all polluters in response to these rules.

The Environmental Defense Fund obtained a letter dated March 31, which stated that the new requirement imposed a significantly more expensive burden on member companies with an infeasible timeline.

The groups have written to the Environmental Protection Agency administrator expressing concerns that some of the new rules could cost businesses over $50 billion.

The EPA recently allowed businesses to apply for exemptions from clean air rules by sending emails to agents, citing the Clean Air Act’s provision for temporary exemptions in cases where necessary technology is unavailable or for national security reasons.

During Trump’s administration, the EPA rolled back many of the same rules, allowing businesses to be temporarily exempt from compliance.

A White House spokeswoman stated that Trump’s commitment was to unleash America’s energy, protect national security, and ensure environmental control.

The Biden-era regulations aimed to address the disproportionate environmental hazards faced by communities near chemical plants, particularly low-income, black, or Latino areas experiencing rising rates of asthma, cancer, and other health issues.

Updated regulations governing emissions from chemical plants considered cumulative effects on communities near major chemical hubs, requiring companies to strengthen controls and processes to limit chemical emissions.

Fence line monitoring and other measures are needed to ensure compliance, especially concerning ethylene oxide, which is used in various products such as batteries for electric vehicles and medical device sterilization.

The American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers CEO criticized Biden-era rules as illegal and technically unachievable, posing risks to US manufacturing operations.

Environmental advocates expressed concerns that the Trump administration’s actions were allowing businesses to avoid complying with reasonable restrictions on toxic air pollution.

The move aligns with the administration’s efforts to prioritize cost reduction for businesses and promote energy control rather than environmental protection.

Last month, the administration halted a federal lawsuit against a chemical manufacturer accused of releasing carcinogenic substances from plants in Louisiana.

Source: www.nytimes.com

Study finds that atmospheric lead pollution in Roman Europe led to widespread cognitive decline

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Researchers examined records from three ice cores to determine levels of lead pollution in the Arctic from 500 BC to 600 AD. The presence of lead isotopes allowed the authors to identify mining and smelting operations across Europe as possible sources of contamination during this period. Advanced computer modeling of atmospheric movement was then used to map atmospheric lead pollution levels across Europe. Combined with studies linking lead exposure to cognitive decline, scientists also saw a 2.5 to 3 point drop in intelligence quotient across the Roman Empire.

A 4th century AD bronze and silver coin found in Lod, central Israel. Image credit: Israel Antiquities Authority.

“This is the first study to take pollution records from ice cores and calculate them backwards to get pollution concentrations in the air and assess the impact on humans,” said Desert Research Institute researcher Dr. Joe McConnell. said.

“The idea that we could do this 2,000 years ago is very novel and exciting.”

Dr Andrew Wilson, a historian at the University of Oxford, said: 'Our research uncovers precise links between records of lead pollution and historical events such as population declines associated with periodic epidemics and pandemics. , which changed our understanding of the Roman period.”

Ancient lead pollution was primarily caused by silver mining, where the lead-rich mineral galena was melted down to extract the silver.

This process produced thousands of ounces of lead for every ounce of silver, much of which was released into the atmosphere.

In adults, high levels of lead exposure have been linked to infertility, anemia, memory loss, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and decreased immune responses, among others.

In children, even low levels of exposure are associated with lower IQ, poorer concentration, and poorer academic performance.

Meanwhile, the US CDC I will consider There is no risk-free lead exposure level, as a blood lead level of 3.5 μg/dl is the point for medical intervention in children.

Dr Nathan Chellman, a researcher at the Desert Research Institute I decided to focus on that.”

“A two to three point drop in IQ doesn't seem like a big deal, but when you apply this to basically the entire European population, it becomes quite significant.”

The researchers found that atmospheric lead pollution began in the Iron Age and peaked during the height of the Roman Republic in the late 2nd century BC.

It then declined sharply in the 1st century BC during the crisis of the Roman Republic, but increased around 15 BC with the rise of the Roman Empire.

Lead contamination remained at high levels from 165 AD until the Antonine Plague of the 180s, which seriously affected the Roman Empire.

It was not until the High Middle Ages, at the beginning of the second millennium AD, that lead pollution in the Arctic exceeded the persistently high levels of the Roman Empire.

Research shows that during the height of the Roman Empire, which spanned nearly 200 years, more than 500,000 tons of lead were released into the atmosphere.

“Ice core records show that lead pollution in the Arctic was up to 40 times higher at its historic peak in the early 1970s, but the insights gained from this study show that lead pollution in the Arctic was up to 40 times higher at its historic peak in the early 1970s, but It shows how it has impacted health,” Dr. McConnell said.

of study Published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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Joseph R. McConnell others. 2025. Roman mining and smelting led to atmospheric lead pollution across Europe, increased blood lead levels, and decreased cognitive function. PNAS 122 (3): e2419630121;doi: 10.1073/pnas.2419630121

Source: www.sci.news

The Failure of a Global Treaty to Reduce Plastic Pollution: Expert Marce Gutiérrez-Glaudis Discusses Next Steps.

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Marce Gutierrez-Glaudis was thrilled to participate in a historic event last month when over 170 countries gathered in Busan, South Korea, to negotiate a binding global agreement to reduce plastic pollution.

“We were hopeful that this would mark the end of our meetings,” shared a marine conservation expert from California who was part of the U.S. delegation, speaking to NBC News.

However, a global agreement did not materialize as countries failed to reach a consensus during the fifth and final round of the UN Intergovernmental Negotiating Commission.

“I am planning to engage in at least one more round in late spring or summer,” Gutierrez-Growdish mentioned. Instead of delaying potentially problematic treaties for years, he emphasized the importance of investing more time in exploring methods to oversee funding, transparency, and national accountability.

Marce Gutiérrez-Graudiche founded Azul, a nonprofit organization that protects marine resources, after witnessing the decline of fish in her work in commercial fishing and aquaculture.Provided by: Azure

Wrapping up the year, a Mexican-American environmental leader shared insights. As the Founder of Azure, they are committed to safeguarding marine resources through positive and forward-thinking actions.

Researchers project that without effective measures, plastic pollution could double by 2050, while a global treaty could potentially reduce it by 91%.

Despite challenges like the recent deadlock and the uncertain future in South Korea, concerns linger about the next Trump administration potentially causing a breakdown. Gutierrez-Groudish emphasized the need to focus on collaboration rather than political affiliations when it comes to international agreements and environmental protection, stating, “We must set aside our political or federal preferences.”

Experts in marine conservation stressed the bipartisan nature of environmental issues, finding resonance among the Latin American community. “People are becoming more aware that things are changing and crises are on the rise.”

For instance, in California, residents are witnessing escalating temperatures, water scarcities, and increased wildfires, while across the nation, devastating impacts from recent severe hurricanes are evident.

Mr. Gutierrez-Groudis mentioned: Her organization conducted a poll among 2,500 Latino registered voters earlier this year, revealing widespread support for increased government investment in ocean protection, even if it entails higher costs for individuals.

Regarding plastic use, Over 70% of Latino voters backed bans on single-use plastics, while 75% supported regulations on plastic manufacturing chemicals. The majority favored an international treaty to eliminate plastic pollution, even if it meant adhering to challenging and costly regulations in the U.S.

While recent headlines have focused on microplastics’ presence in humans, Gutierrez-Groudish advocates for a comprehensive approach targeting plastic production’s root causes and impacts.

Highlighting the need to address the entire plastic production lifecycle and its repercussions, she and her team are formulating a comprehensive plan for forthcoming international conferences.

Witnessing the Impact Directly

Before establishing Azul in 2011, Gutierrez-Graudish began her career in commercial fishing and aquaculture, overseeing logistics and operations—experience that sensitized her to environmental degradation due to dwindling fish supplies and rising fuel costs. “I observed it firsthand,” she shared. “It was a profound moment that steered me towards conservation.”

As she gears up for global negotiations, her nonprofit Azul is actively spearheading three campaigns in her state. The Deja el Plastico (No Plastic) initiative endeavors to mitigate plastic pollution in California, leading to a state-wide ban on single-use plastic bags in 2016.

Gutierrez-Glaudis noted that Latina grandmothers can offer practical examples of reducing plastic consumption, alluding to the “Abuela Bag.” “My grandma had reusable bags, not the trendy eco-friendly ones you find at stores, but the concept remained the same,” she reminisced.

Azul’s Vamos a La Playa (Let’s Go to the Beach) campaign centers on coastal accessibility, seeking to ensure Californians can enjoy shoreline access granted under the more than 40-year-old California Coastal Act. She accentuated the importance of clear communication at local levels to inform communities of their rights.

“Many people don’t realize that the coast is for everyone, and we need to rectify any sense of exclusion,” Gutierrez-Groudish emphasized. “I’ve witnessed this firsthand.”

Having also launched the Latino Marinos (Latino Mariners) Campaign, an advocacy branch inspired by her experiences, Gutierrez-Graudis aims to foster inclusivity and provide resources for underrepresented groups in maritime conservation.

Marce Gutierrez-Glaudis will speak to students at the GenSea Binational Academy in November.Provided by: Azure

“We are creating an inclusive environment and providing opportunities and tools,” Gutierrez-Groudish shared. “Our mission is to translate potential, not just language but transformative opportunities.”

A couple of years ago, Azul unveiled the Rising Leaders Initiative, offering a chance to visit Washington, D.C. for Ocean Week and interact with elected officials.

Excited about the increasing diversity within conservation fields, Gutierrez-Groudish praised social media for making conservation more accessible. She encouraged enthusiasts to connect virtually and engage with organizations like hers to enter the conservation arena.

For individuals wondering about their environmental impact, Gutierrez-Groudish reassured them by stating that every effort counts, even simple actions like using reusable items and reaching out to elected representatives can make a significant difference.

She advocated that caring for the environment is not limited to specific actions, but rather stems from mindful decisions and actions.“People used to say to me, ‘I don’t drive a Prius.’ If they’re making mindful choices and valuing environmental issues, they too are environmentalists,” she concluded.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Research finds no evidence of environmental pollution from pre-Roman copper industry in Timna Valley

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Scientists from Tel Aviv University conducted geochemical surveys at two smelting camps dating back to the 10th century BC, the time of the Biblical kings David and Solomon. Timna Valley It is located in southern Israel, in the southern Arabah. They found that environmental pollution resulting from copper production is minimal, spatially limited, and poses no danger to residents of the area, past or present.

Aerial view of Site 201, north of the center of the Timna Valley on the western outskirts of Wadi Araba, Israel. Image credit: Yagel others., doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-80939-5.

“We toured two major copper production sites in the Timna Valley: one from the Iron Age; King Solomon's time Professor Erez Ben Yosef of Tel Aviv University said:

“Our research was very extensive. We took hundreds of soil samples from both locations for chemical analysis and created high-resolution maps of the presence of heavy metals in the area.”

“We found that contamination levels at the Timna copper mining site were very low and confined to the site of an ancient smelting furnace.”

“For example, the concentration of lead, a major pollutant in the metal industry, drops to less than 200 ppm just a few meters away from the furnace.”

“By comparison, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency defines industrial areas as safe for workers at 1,200 ppm and residential areas as safe for children at 200 ppm.”

The new study contradicts a series of papers published since the 1990s about pollution allegedly caused by the ancient copper industry.

“We are proving that this is not true,” Professor Ben Yosef said.

“Timna's contamination is very spatially localized, with the only people probably working directly at the furnaces suffering from inhalation of toxic gases, and just a short distance away, the soil is completely destroyed. It’s safe.”

“Furthermore, the agreement in the spatial distribution of copper and lead concentrations in the soil that we found indicates that the metal is ‘locked up’ in slag and other industrial wastes, so that the metal can leach into the soil. It has no effect on plants or humans.”

“Our findings are consistent with several recent studies conducted in the Wadi Faynan region of Jordan, which also show very low levels of pollution.”

“Timna and Feynan are ideal locations for this kind of research because they are undisturbed by modern mining, as happened for example in Cyprus, and thanks to their dry climate metals in the soil are not washed away. .”

“In Feynan, scientists from Hebrew University examined the skeletons of 36 people who lived at the mining site during the Iron Age and found that only three had evidence of contamination in their teeth. The rest It was completely beautiful. We are now presenting a similar picture for Timna.”

In addition to the geochemical study, the authors also reviewed existing literature and found that the hypothesis of global pollution before Roman times lacked solid evidence.

“In the 1990s, there was a tendency to attribute ancient copper production to the first example of industrial pollution,” said Dr. Omri Jagel of Tel Aviv University.

“Such statements make headlines and attract research funding, but they unnecessarily project contemporary pollution problems into the past.”

“Furthermore, research literature tends to use the term 'contamination' to describe traces of ancient metallurgical activity, leading to the erroneous assumption that the metal industry was harmful to humanity from its earliest days. They are connected, but this is clearly false.”

“Even when metal production became large-scale and essential to human civilization, it was the toxic lead industry that caused global pollution, not necessarily other metals.”

“Studies in the 1990s argued that trace amounts of copper found in Greenland ice cores migrated through the atmosphere from places like Timna.”

“However, this claim has not been supported by subsequent research.”

“As researchers facing today's tough environmental challenges, such as climate change, we often look for similar problems in the past or think that environmental degradation is an inevitable consequence of human activity since the agricultural revolution. There is a tendency to

“But we have to be careful. We might call some slag falling on the ground 'pollution', but we can't treat this local waste as regional or global environmental pollution.” should not be confused with. ”

Regarding this research, paper Published in a magazine on November 29th scientific report.

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O. Jagel others. 2024. The pre-Roman copper industry had no polluting impact on the global environment. science officer 14, 29675; doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-80939-5

Source: www.sci.news

How can we solve the planet’s plastic pollution crisis?

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plastic waste in indonesia

PA Image/Alamy

The world currently generates more than 50 million tonnes of “mismanaged” plastic waste each year, and some researchers predict that this flood of plastic pollution will double by mid-century. But he also said that if countries could agree to adopt four key policies during this period. This number could be reduced by 90 per cent if this week's global plastics deal is negotiated.

Plastic pollution ultimately chokes land and sea ecosystems. “This affects every level of the food chain, from phytoplankton cells to humans,” he says. Sarah-Jeanne Royer at the University of California, San Diego. Plastics also account for about 5% of greenhouse gas emissions.

That's why most of the world's countries are meeting this week in Busan, South Korea, to hammer out the final details of a global treaty to end plastic pollution. By 2022, 175 countries have already agreed to adopt a legally binding treaty For the past two years, we have been debating what exactly we should require, with particular disagreements over setting limits on production of new plastics.

To make the discussion more clear, douglas mcquarley The researchers at the University of California, Santa Barbara, used an artificial intelligence model trained on economic data to test how the policies they were considering would affect global plastic pollution. “I wasn't sure that [eliminating plastic pollution] It was actually possible,” McCauley said. “But it turns out we can get pretty close.”

They predict that under current conditions, plastic pollution is expected to almost double by 2050, reaching between 100 million and 139 million tonnes. However, all four policy combinations are still on the bill. Current draft treatywas sufficient to reduce this by over 90%.

The most influential of these was the mandate that plastic products contain at least 40% recycled material. This rule alone will cut plastic pollution in half by mid-century. Mr McCauley said this effect was significant because it would reduce demand for newly made or “virgin” plastics, while also stimulating demand for recycled materials. “Suddenly, there was a huge global recycling market.”

But recycling alone wasn't enough. “If our goal is to eliminate plastic pollution, we need to address it throughout its lifecycle,” he says. Further reductions would have required limiting virgin plastic production to 2020 levels. According to the model, this production cap would have reduced plastic pollution by about 60 million tons per year by mid-century. This change also had the biggest impact on greenhouse gas emissions from plastic production, as the extraction of fossil fuels and conversion into virgin plastics involves processes with large emissions.

A third policy would spend $50 billion on waste management, roughly equal to the production cap, especially if these funds go to low-income countries with poor infrastructure and where plastic pollution is most severe. reduced pollution. “When we start talking about global finance, [the amount of money needed] It’s not that big,” McCauley said. “Building a sanitary landfill is different from building a port.”

Plastic waste is increasing, and while some is recycled or destroyed, the majority is “mismanaged” and piles up as plastic pollution.

A. Samuel Pottinger et al.

Finally, a small tax on plastic packaging has reduced pollution by tens of millions of tons. The researchers based this estimate on case studies of how people reduced their plastic use in response to similar taxes. 5 cents fee Regarding disposable plastic bags in Washington DC. Funds raised through such taxes could also be used to pay for other changes, such as building waste management infrastructure or improving recycling systems.

Royer, who was not involved in the study, said he thinks all of these policies will help. Reducing the use of single-use plastics, such as shopping bags and plastic forks, through taxes or bans could also make a difference, she says. “If you look at plastic pollution in general, 40% of the plastic produced is single-use.”

However, she points out that local rules alone will never solve the problem. California, for example, banned some single-use plastic bags a decade ago and this year banned all such bags. But most of the plastic pollution that washes up on our shores comes from outside the state, with California's plastic waste typically washing ashore from Asia across the Pacific or being left behind by fishing. “There are no borders,” Royer says.

This is where the World Treaty comes into play. Researchers explore how different policies around the world can reduce three things: the amount of poorly managed plastic waste, the production of new plastics, and plastic-related greenhouse gas emissions. I showed you. By combining the four key policies seen in the graph below, all three measures reduced, specifically mismanaged waste, by 91%.

Researchers estimated the impact of different policies to reduce plastic

Source: www.newscientist.com

Increasing proof suggests that air pollution is a cause of eczema

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Air pollution is difficult to avoid, especially for city dwellers

Ron Adder/Alamy

Air pollution is increasingly linked to an increased risk of eczema, with new research showing a clear link between air pollution and skin conditions.

Vehicles and power plants emit pollution particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, called PM2.5. These have previously been associated with an increased risk of eczemathis is thought to be the result of the immune system becoming overactive and causing inflammation, drying out the skin and causing itching.

In order to collect more evidence, Jeffrey Cohen Professors at Yale University School of Medicine analyzed the medical records of more than 280,000 people. Most of them were in their 50s and participated in this medical treatment. Research programs for all of us. It collects health data from a diverse population in the United States, with an emphasis on people typically underrepresented in research, such as ethnic minorities.

The researchers also looked at average PM2.5 levels in the areas where these people live, using data collected in 2015. Atmosphere, Climate and Energy Solutions Center In Virginia.

We then compared PM2.5 levels at 788 locations across the United States to eczema cases diagnosed through mid-2022. They found that for every 10 micrograms per cubic meter of PM2.5, the incidence of eczema more than doubled. “More contaminated areas of the country had more eczema outbreaks,” Cohen says.

The research team considered factors that could influence the results, such as ethnicity and whether the participants smoked or had food allergies.

“This study successfully demonstrated a clear correlation in a large population and advanced the science,” he says. Giuseppe Varacchi at North Carolina State University. PM2.5, like pollen and dust mites, can irritate the immune system and cause inflammation when it comes into contact with the skin, Valacki said. Inhaling it may also have an effect, he says, because it can worsen inflammation in the body.

The study should give governments new reasons to implement policies to reduce air pollution, Cohen said. Meanwhile, people living in contaminated areas can reduce their risk by wearing long sleeves and staying indoors when pollution levels are particularly high, Valacki said.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Study finds air pollution may intensify summer thunderstorms

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Researchers from James Madison University conducted a comprehensive study of thunderstorm environments in two distinct geographic regions: Washington, DC, and the Kansas City metropolitan area.

Air pollution is increasing the intensity of summer thunderstorms. Image courtesy of ELG21.

Land cover and atmospheric boundary layer characteristics modify thunderstorms and their characteristic phenomenon: lightning.

The most intense thunderstorm contrasts on Earth occur along continental and oceanic boundaries.

Generally, lightning strikes land at an order of magnitude more than it strikes sea.

The thermodynamic properties of the atmosphere vary significantly with different land covers over the Earth’s surface.

“Pollutants act as cloud nuclei,” said Mace Bentley, a professor at James Madison University and lead author of the study.

“Updrafts carry them into the clouds, and the updrafts and downdrafts separate the polluting particles, dispersing the electrical charges in the clouds and encouraging lightning to form.”

For the study, the authors surveyed nearly 200,000 thunderstorm events in the Washington, DC, area and more than 300,000 in the Kansas City area.

Using 12 years of lightning data from the National Lightning Detection Network and data from hundreds of air pollution monitoring stations in two cities, they found that in highly volatile environments, increased pollution increases the frequency of anti-ground lightning strikes.

“Our analysis identified a total of 196,836 thunderstorm events in the Washington DC area, while 310,209 thunderstorms were identified from the Kansas City lightning database,” the researchers said.

“In Washington, DC and Kansas City, more than 37.7% and 39.2% of all thunderstorm events, respectively, consisted of 10 or more flashes.”

“Evidence suggests that thunderstorm environments during mild warm-season synoptic weather are substantially different in terms of thermodynamics, aerosol properties, and aerosol concentrations in the Washington, DC, and Kansas City regions,” the researchers added.

“However, thunderstorm intensity, as measured by flash counts, appears to be controlled by similar thermodynamic and aerosol relationships despite differences in the surrounding environments.”

“When we look at the environments in which thunderstorms occur, we find a statistically significant positive correlation between convective available potential energy and the number of lightning events.”

“Aerosol concentration also appears to be a more important quantity than particle size when it comes to lightning enhancement.”

Scientists are now conducting a similar study in Bangkok, Thailand, a megacity that is more polluted than Washington, DC, or Kansas City and sits in a hot, tropical climate.

The results so far are similar, but these storms are showing a higher incidence of lightning.

“It appears that urban pollution can enhance thunderstorms and lightning wherever you go in the world,” Prof Bentley said.

of study Published in a journal Atmospheric Research.

_____

Mace Bentley others2024. Towards elucidating the relationship between thunderstorms and aerosols: An observational study centered on Washington, DC and Kansas City, Missouri. Atmospheric Research 304: 107402; doi: 10.1016/j.atmosres.2024.107402

Source: www.sci.news

Dressing up as a coral raises awareness of marine pollution

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Cosplay Corallation

Getting someone, anyone, to notice what they've discovered is a problem for almost every scientist (and also a problem for almost anyone who discovers almost anything).

Mark Patterson and his colleagues at Northeastern University in Massachusetts tried a theatrical approach to raising awareness about marine microplastics. They found success by cosplaying at San Diego Comic-Con (“Mindful Engagement”). Patterson dressed up as a giant coral and wielded a sword-like “microplastic harvesting device,” while another member of the team dressed up as Amphitrite, the Greek sea goddess, “with bracelets and hair made from plastic debris.”

“The novelty of our costumes and accessories, not a traditional collection of cosplay characters, proved to be an appealing way to engage convention-goers,” they say. “Participants ranged from 1-9 people at a time, and engagements lasted from 1-8 minutes.”

Reader's Latest Issue: Journal of Marine Education If you're sufficiently inspired by these inspiring photos of the adventure, read up on microplastics.

what's on your mind?

The feedback makes people who think professionally about thinking wonder if anyone really thinks that the thinker knows much about thinking.

Thinkers who think about thinking go by many names, including cognitive scientists, brain scientists, neuroscientists, neuroeconomists, philosophers, neurophilosophers, psychologists, neuropsychologists, psychiatrists, neuropsychologists, therapists, neurotherapists, theologians, neurotheologists, and historians of ideas.

Never mind that they don't always praise each other, but call each other by various names.

Experts are debating consciousness: in the past five years alone, nearly 2,000 academic papers have been published exploring the question, “What is consciousness?”

And they ruminate about rumination. For example, Christopher Martin Kowalski, Donald Saklowski, and Julie Aitken-Sharmer of the University of Western Ontario in Canada wrote in May:What are you ruminating about? Development and validation of a content-dependent measure of rumination.“These three people who ruminate say they believe that existing measures of rumination assess ruminative thinking, regardless of the content of the rumination.”

What is the content of these ruminators' own ruminations? They give us glimpses of it in some of their other papers.

Shermer said in 2023:A desire for loud cars with modified mufflers is predicted by being male and by higher scores on psychopathy and sadism.” “.

Kowalski and Saklofske:Fanatical misdeeds” “.

Saklofske also stated in print:Measuring Gerotphobia, Gerotophilia, and Catagelasticism” “.

Perhaps you, too, will turn to the dictionary and ponder over gelotophobia, gelotophilia, and katagelasticism.

Explosive Insights

Questions arising from underground explosions, buried embalmed bodies, toxic groundwater (Feedback, July 20) and more continue to provoke people’s thinking.

William Drennan, a law professor at Southern Illinois University, takes a pessimistic view of embalming practices. writing Dickinson Law Review “Attempts to make coffins airtight and waterproof have led to a phenomenon known as 'Exploding Coffin Syndrome.' Essentially, attempts to make coffins airtight and waterproof lead to the disturbing conclusion that as the body decays, heat, gases and liquids build up inside the coffin, eventually causing an explosion.”

Apart from the intrinsic value of tradition, “there seems to be no benefit to embalming it after it has been made public,” Drennan said.

Recognizing the intrinsic value of knowledge, Guo Wei and his colleagues at the People's Liberation Army Military University of Technology The results of their extensive investigation were published in the magazine Underground Space. On “Theory and Testing of Underground Explosions”.

They conducted “numerous field tests and numerical simulations” [that] It is being implemented both domestically and internationally.”

While not specifically mentioning exploded, buried, and embalmed bodies, the team warns: “Calculating the parameters of the ground shock caused by an underground explosion is a complex energy-coupling problem.”

Telling all

There are two additions to the collection from Feedback titled “The Title Tells You Everything You Need to Know.”

“Man pricks finger and smells foul for five years” Enlightened the reader Lancet In 1996,Dizziness in discus throwers is related to motion sickness caused during spinning“Notify subscribers Journal of Otolaryngology the year of 2000.

If you've come across a similarly offensive, rancid, or blindingly obvious example, please send it (along with citation details) to Telltale titles, c/o Feedback.

Marc Abrahams is the founder of the Ig Nobel Prize ceremony and co-founder of the journal Annals of Improbable Research. He previously worked on unusual uses of computers. His website is Impossible.

Do you have a story for feedback?

You can submit articles for Feedback by emailing feedback@newscientist.com. Please include your home address. This week's and past Feedback can be found on our website.

Source: www.newscientist.com

Millions at risk from ultrafine air pollution caused by airplanes

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Jet engines emit large amounts of ultrafine particles

Aerovista Luchtfotografie/Shutterstock

The health of more than 50 million people living within 20 kilometres of Europe's busiest airport is being harmed by high levels of ultrafine particle pollution from jet engines, according to a report. the study It was commissioned by campaign group Transport & Environment (T&E).

Several Other studies It says ultrafine particles can increase the risk of respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, neurological diseases, diabetes and pregnancy problems. Darn Fun Setters His team, working at the Dutch consultancy CE Delft, are using these studies to try to estimate the impact for Europe as a whole.

But ultrafine particle pollution is a less-studied aspect of air pollution and there is a lot of uncertainty: “There is little research in this area and the evidence is often inconclusive,” Van Seters said.

Most research on particulate air pollution has focused on particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, so-called PM2.5. Ultrafine particles are particles smaller than 0.1 micrometers in diameter.

“They are very dangerous because they are so small and can get very deep into the human body.” Carlos Lopez de la Osa At T&E.

Jet engines emit more ultrafine particles than other types of engines, so people who live or work near airports are most likely to be exposed to this form of air pollution, but there are no effective limits on its levels.

Ultrafine particles are a type of PM2.5, but PM2.5 limits are set for the total mass of particles per cubic metre of air. Ultrafine particles are so small that even a huge number of particles per cubic metre would not exceed the PM2.5 limit.

In fact, there's very little monitoring of ultrafine particle levels, says Lopez de la Osa. “What we have are mostly regional studies around individual airports like Zurich, Amsterdam, Berlin, Los Angeles,” he says. “We don't have a comprehensive view, and that's one of the main reasons we decided to launch this study.”

To estimate the impact across Europe, van Seters and his colleagues first estimated ultrafine particle pollution levels around the continent's 32 busiest airports, based on figures from surveys of individual airports. The team assumed that ultrafine particle pollution increases linearly with the number of flights and did not take wind patterns into account.

Next, based on studies looking at health effects, the researchers estimated that ultrafine particle pollution near 32 airports was responsible for an additional 280,000 cases of hypertension, 330,000 cases of diabetes, and 18,000 cases of dementia over the years.

“This is a first-order estimate based on extrapolation, and we need to do epidemiological studies to get more precise estimates,” Van Seters said.

But he thinks that, if anything, is an underestimate because the study only looked at 32 airports and people living within 20 kilometres, and excluded people who work at the airports.

In terms of population at risk, Orly Airport near Paris tops the list, with more than six million people living within 20 kilometers of the airport, while London's Heathrow Airport comes in fourth, with more than three million people living within the airport's vicinity.

The research team's estimates of health effects rely heavily on a study carried out in 2022 at Schiphol Airport near Amsterdam. Nicole Jansen Contacted by CE Delft, Janssen and her colleagues at the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment in the Netherlands said they advised researchers not to try to quantify the impact in this way because of large uncertainties.

But they agree that more research is needed: “We would underscore our recommendation to further investigate the risk of ultrafine particles from aircraft around other international airports,” Janssen said.

There are ways to reduce ultrafine particle pollution levels, says Christina Toth of T&E. Jet fuel can be improved to reduce ultrafine particle emissions, for example by reducing its sulfur content. So-called “sustainable aviation fuels” (SAF) also reduce ultrafine particle pollution.

“Unfortunately, we know it will be a long time before SAF can be produced at scale and be effective,” Toth says.

Limiting airport expansion and flight frequencies and encouraging alternative modes of transport would help, and would also limit flying's impact on the climate.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Report shows pollution in Seine River still poses danger to Olympic athletes

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With just over a month until the Olympics begin, pollution levels in Paris’ River Seine remain too dangerous for Olympic athletes to compete, according to a city monitoring report.

of Report finds elevated levels of E. coli Routine samples taken at several points along the Seine between June 10 and 16 contained toxins that are indicators of fecal matter.

During the Olympics, Paris plans to have athletes compete on the Seine River. Marathon swimming and Triathlon EventThe first event, the men’s triathlon, is scheduled for July 30th. According to the Associated Press.

To make this possible, Paris has spent about $1.5 billion cleaning up the city’s aging sewer system, which drains water into the river during heavy rains. But a new report suggests those efforts may not have been enough.

The International Olympic Committee and Paris 2024, the local organizing body in Paris, did not immediately respond to inquiries from NBC News.

Last year, test events for triathlon and marathon swimming were held on the Seine. Designed to ensure the Olympic Games run smoothly — The service was halted in August after the river failed pollution tests.

Weather can play a big role in the Seine’s pollution: Unusual rainfall in May and rainy days last week caused a significant drop in water quality, according to a new report, along with a lack of sunny days and periods of low water flow, which help reduce bacteria.

“The sun inactivates bacteria,” says Helena Solo-Gabriel, a professor in the University of Miami’s Department of Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering.

Solo-Gabriele added that if fecal matter in the water where athletes swim exceeds safety standards, it could cause gastrointestinal illness.

The situation on the Seine has been monitored for several months. Non-profit organization Surfrider Foundation Europe It released its own results from six months of testing and found that nearly all samples failed to meet acceptable levels of E. coli and enterococcus, two types of bacteria that scientists typically test for in fecal samples.

“High bacteria counts mean there’s too much waste in the water, and waste carries bacteria that can make people sick,” says Daniel Nyzgorski, an ecologist who monitors water quality in King County, Washington.

But he added that many people don’t realize that most strains of E. coli are harmless, and studies show that swimming-related illnesses rarely result in hospitalization.

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo and French President Emmanuel Macron have promised to swim in the Seine to prove its water is clean, but have yet to do so.

Paris is not the first city to face a bacterial problem during the Olympics. AP analysis Levels of viruses and bacteria from fecal contamination at Olympic venues in Rio de Janeiro were found to be 1.7 million times higher than levels considered safe on some U.S. beaches. Brazilian government and IOC officials acknowledged that the water was contaminated but said the sites where athletes were competing met World Health Organization standards. According to the New York Times:.

“There’s a lot of polluted water out there. It’s a problem wherever there’s urbanization and the environment doesn’t have the natural flow that dilutes the bacteria,” Solo-Gabriel said.

Experts said the Olympics bring particular attention to these challenges every four years.

“Hopefully this case will bring attention to the problem of river pollution that we need to address not just for Olympic athletes, but for everyday people,” said Karen Levy, a professor at the University of Washington’s School of Environmental and Occupational Health.

NBC News is a unit of NBCUniversal, which owns U.S. media rights to the Olympics through 2032, including the 2024 Paris Games, which begin July 26.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Urban air pollution caused by overheating trees

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Jacaranda tree outside the Los Angeles courthouse

James Brown / Alamy

In Los Angeles, air pollution from cars and human activity is exacerbated by the city's factories emitting chemicals in response to rising temperatures and drought.

“It's difficult to control emissions from factories, [human-caused] “Some.” Eva Fannerstill At the Forschungszentrum Jülich, a German research institute.

From blooming jacaranda trees to fragrant eucalyptus, many plants emit compounds called terpenoids. To plants, these act as chemical signals and function as antioxidants. But in the atmosphere, these volatile organic compounds (VOCs) react with other pollutants to create harmful ozone and particulate pollution called PM2.5.

In areas where cleaner vehicles and electricity generation have reduced man-made sources of air pollution, industrial emissions have begun to play a larger role, but by how much is unclear.

Vannerstill and her colleagues flew planes over Los Angeles over several days in June 2021 to measure the city's VOC emissions. Using an on-board mass spectrometer, the researchers identified concentrations of more than 400 VOCs in the air. Simultaneous 3D measurements of wind speed allowed them to separate molecules rising from the city from those blowing in from elsewhere.

The researchers found that terpenoids made up the majority of VOC emissions in many parts of the city, especially in areas with the most vegetation and on the hottest days. When temperatures exceeded 30°C (86°F), terpenoids made up the majority of emissions, even in the downtown area, where vegetation was sparse and people were more likely to be present.

It's unclear exactly why plants release more terpenoids when temperatures rise, but it could be a response to heat or water stress, Pfannerstill said. Higher temperatures also increase VOC emissions associated with anthropogenic sources, such as gasoline, paint, and even scented personal care products like deodorant and hairspray, possibly due to increased evaporation rates.

The contribution of these personal-care products in particular spikes with population density, suggesting a small but direct link between urban air pollution and citizens' beauty habits. “It's measurable,” Vannerstill says.

The observed relationship between heat and emissions also suggests a pathway through which climate change could exacerbate air pollution: in Los Angeles, the researchers found that a 3°C warming predicted for the city by mid-century could double the impact of VOCs on ozone formation; and its impact on PM2.5 pollution could increase by 40%.

“This direct observation is crucial for building good models to predict what air pollution will be like tomorrow or a few years from now.” Matthew Cogon Jonathan Myers, environmental secretary at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said the increase in emissions from factories underscores the importance of further reducing man-made sources of air pollution that react with VOCs, such as nitrous oxide, which comes from burning fossil fuels.

The types of plants planted in cities also have an impact. Roissyne Comanet It's an important consideration as more cities pursue urban greening initiatives. “Vegetation is important,” she says at Columbia University in New York.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Paris Olympics to showcase city’s shift towards reducing air pollution by limiting car usage.

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Paris, the host city for the 2024 Summer Olympics, has undergone a significant transformation in recent years. The city has made efforts to become greener by reducing its reliance on cars, setting an example for cities around the world.

Under the leadership of Mayor Anne Hidalgo, Paris has enacted several changes to promote sustainability. Over 100 roads have been closed to automobiles, parking fees have tripled, SUVs have been restricted, around 50,000 parking spaces have been removed, and over 1,300 kilometers of bike lanes have been built.

These efforts have resulted in a 40% reduction in air pollution, according to city officials. Hidalgo expressed that Paris would end its dependency on cars through disruptive changes.

Although European cities like Paris have been leading the way in reducing car use, similar reforms in the U.S. have been slow to materialize. The American infrastructure has historically been built around cars, making it challenging to transition to alternative modes of transportation.

The environmental reforms in Paris have garnered support from residents like Louise Kraustl, who believes that fewer cars and more walking and cycling make the city safer and less polluted. Inspired by the concept of the “15-minute city,” Paris aims to create pedestrian and bike-friendly neighborhoods where daily necessities are within easy reach.

While some cities in the U.S. have made progress in promoting biking and public transport, car dependency remains prevalent. Despite the challenges, experts emphasize the importance of reducing transportation emissions to combat climate change and improve air quality.

Paris’ efforts to prioritize sustainable urban planning serve as a model for other cities to follow. As cities worldwide grapple with the effects of climate change, the need for transportation reform becomes increasingly urgent.

The upcoming elections in Paris will be crucial in determining the city’s continued commitment to reducing car use and combating climate change.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Efforts to Reduce Emissions are Crucial for Success of Plastic Pollution Treaty

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People rally in Ottawa to support ending plastic pollution

The Canadian Press/Shutterstock

Representatives from nearly every country will gather in Canada to hammer out the details of a global treaty to tackle rising plastic pollution. One source of disagreement at the summit, which concluded on April 29, was how to address greenhouse gas emissions produced by the production and use of plastics, which are increasingly not recognized as a cause of climate change. was.

“When people think of plastic, they think of something visually visible,” he says. Vermilion Alice At the University of Toronto, Canada. However, the extraction and processing of fossil fuels and other chemicals used to make plastics produces large amounts of greenhouse gas emissions, as does the generation of the energy needed to make plastic products. Plastics currently account for about 10% of total oil and natural gas demand. Coal is also increasing Used to power plastic production.

Incineration of plastic waste is also a source of greenhouse gas emissions. As plastics in the environment degrade, they can emit carbon dioxide and methane. Plastics may even reduce the amount of carbon that ecosystems can store, although the effects have not been well quantified, Zhu said.

The emissions numbers associated with plastic production are more clear-cut.in study Published this month, Nihang Kalari Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California estimated that plastic production produced 2.24 billion tons of CO2 in 2019, accounting for about 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. This is roughly four times the emissions produced by aviation that year.

They found that as plastic production increases, these emissions could triple by 2050, assuming no changes in the way plastics are made. Most of the emissions are related to the extraction and processing of fossil fuels and other chemicals used to make plastics, so decarbonizing the electricity grid will have a small impact on projected emissions. It also became clear that

The global plastics deal currently under discussion could offer a “historic” chance to limit these emissions, the researchers write. In 2022, more than 175 countries have agreed to join a legally binding treaty to tackle plastic pollution throughout the lifecycle of materials, with final details expected to be agreed by the end of this year.

But a group of oil-producing countries, including China and Russia, said during negotiations that the treaty should only address plastic waste through cleaning and recycling, and that production, which is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions from oil, would They argued that it should not be restricted or changed. plastic.country group Including UK and EU argued that the treaty should include provisions to reduce production to keep emissions in line with global climate goals.

“There's a lot on the agenda, but climate certainly isn't talked about much,” he says. neil nathan Professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, attended the conference to advocate for an ambitious treaty.

according to modeling We've heard from Nathan and others that a strong treaty that takes measures such as limiting production and requiring plastic products to contain a high proportion of recycled content could keep emissions at current levels. Probably. He said the Plastics Treaty would be a “failure” if it did not address production.

Sarah-Jeanne Royer Researchers at the University of California, San Diego suggest that even if the treaty did not reduce greenhouse gas emissions, there would be more sustainable options for making plastics, such as recycled or captured CO2, such as bioplastics or captured CO2. It said the switch would also reduce greenhouse gas emissions by reducing the use of new plastics. Expressly.

but, paul stegman Dutch research institute TNO has warned that plastic alternatives such as steel can generate more emissions, depending on how they are reused and recycled. “Ultimately, we need policies that reduce the impact on society as a whole, not just move the problem elsewhere,” he says.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Lung Association finds that 131 million Americans live in areas with unhealthy pollution levels

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Nearly 40% of Americans live in areas with unhealthy levels of air pollution, and the U.S. is set to regress in air-cleaning progress as the effects of climate change intensify, according to a new report from the American Lung Association. It’s coming. The group’s report, its 25th annual analysis of the nation’s “state of the air,” estimates that between 2020 and 2022, 131 million people will live in areas with unhealthy levels of air pollution. It turned out that it was. This number is an increase of nearly 12 million people from the previous survey a year ago. The report also found that people in the United States are experiencing the most “very unhealthy” or “hazardous” air quality day in the study’s history. Katherine Pruitt, national senior director of clean air policy at the American Lung Association, said the process has been in place for decades through the Clean Air Act, a federal law passed in 1963 to regulate air pollution and set air quality standards. He said that the cleanup efforts that have been made are gradually being undermined by climate change.

“Climate change, including heat, drought and especially wildfires, is starting to undo some of the progress we’ve made,” Pruitt said. “It’s sad to know that so many people live with air quality that threatens their health.” Wildfires are a rapidly growing source of pollution that policymakers are struggling to address. Climate scientists predict that wildfire smoke will increase in the future as greenhouse gas emissions raise temperatures. The Lung Association’s analysis reached the same conclusion as a peer-reviewed study published last year in Nature. The study’s author, Marshall Burke, suggested that wildfire smoke has undone about 25% of the Clean Air Act’s progress.

“If you take a step back and think about what the root cause is, it’s the burning of fossil fuels,” says Dr. Lisa Patel, a pediatrician and clinical associate professor at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health. “We don’t have to be in this situation. We have the technology and the federal investment to harness renewable energy. What we need now is the political will.”

Each year, the “State of the Air” report analyzes air quality data from the past three years. This analysis focuses on ozone exposure and short-term and annual exposure to particulate pollution. The report issues a rating for each measure and summarizes the number of areas that passed or failed for each rating. According to the report, nearly 44 million people currently live in areas that do not meet all three criteria.Small particles are a serious concern because they can enter a person’s lungs, circulate in the bloodstream, and affect other organs. Although these particles are only a fraction of the size of a human hair, they have been shown to increase the risk of asthma, lung cancer, chronic lung disease, premature birth, and miscarriage. Patel, who is also executive director of the Medical Societies Consortium on Climate and Health, has noticed an increase in preterm births during wildfire seasons and is educating parents about how heat and smoke are risk factors during pregnancy. He said he has started giving advice.

“After several weeks of poor air quality, more people will become pregnant and give birth before 37 weeks,” Patel said, adding that parents may wonder whether their actions led to premature birth. He added that he often thinks about this. “When people ask me about the risk of premature birth, I say climate change. Heat and wildfires are both risk factors. They are not within your control.” Additionally, Patel said she has noticed that when wildfire smoke incidents occur in California, patients at her pediatric clinic often complain of nasal infections, eye irritation, and asthma exacerbations, among other ailments. Pruitt said concerns about particle pollution used to be concentrated in the industrial Midwest and Northeast. But in this report, for the first time, all 25 cities with the highest daily particle pollution are in the West. Most were in California.

“Early in our history, we had a lot of particulate pollution coming from coal-fired power plants, transportation sources, and industrial processes,” Pruitt said. “Particle pollution problems in the eastern United States are less severe because the Clean Air Act has cleaned up these sources. But Western countries, of course, have similar access to regulation and cleanup; We are also affected by climate change and wildfires.” Daniel Mendoza, an assistant professor of atmospheric science at the University of Utah, said many communities in Western states are dealing with acute, short-term pollution episodes rather than long-term chronic exposure. Scientists are still trying to figure out how much damage wildfire outbreaks cause compared to long-term exposure from industrial sources. “Not all bad air pollution is created equal,” Mendoza said. Pollution from traffic and industrial sources could continue to decline if the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed stricter standards could be implemented.

Last year, the EPA proposed a rule that would require nearly all coal and large gas plants in the country to reduce or capture about 90% of their carbon emissions by 2038. In March this year, the agency introduced stricter rules to reduce tailpipe emissions from passenger cars. Another EPA policy aimed at curbing nitrogen oxide pollution that spreads across states was challenged in the U.S. Supreme Court. In 2022, the Supreme Court limited the government’s ability to use the Clean Air Act to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. There is one bright spot in this report. That means ozone pollution continues to improve dramatically. Compared to last year, about 2.4 million fewer people live in areas with unhealthy ozone pollution. Since this analysis was completed, wildfire smoke has gotten even worse.

Americans in 2023 inhaled more wildfire smoke than in any other year on record, Stanford University researchers found last year.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Discovering fresh approaches to tackling pollution with fascinating experiments

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Purple-B project

Luigi Avantaggiato 2024

These interesting experiments Green Promotion Institute A public research center in Venice, Italy that explores new ways to restore the environment and generate energy. The lab's unusual combination of scientists, engineers, and psychologists create prototypes that harness natural organisms to do useful work, often taking on a sculptural aspect as a side effect that fascinates the resident artist.

“Despite being the object of science, it has beauty,” says photographer Luigi Avantaggiato. He spent time cataloging a device that uses bacteria called Purple-B (pictured above). Rhodopsdomonas palustris, commonly found in Venice's lagoons, converts human waste into useful hydrogen. The experiment is being funded by the European Space Agency because it could provide a way to process astronaut waste in orbit to create usable fuel, but could also be used on Earth's surface. There is a possibility that it can be done.

Main laboratory of Veritas Group's Green Promotion Institute

Luigi Avantaggiato 2024

The bright green contents of several tanks in the lab (pictured above) are known as liquid forests, which in this project are home to tiny algae such as: chlorella, to capture the carbon dioxide that is warming the planet. Each tank contains 250 liters and can accommodate approximately 1 billion algae per cubic centimeter.

A researcher working in one of GPLabs' laboratories.

Luigi Avantaggiato 2024

Another shot (pictured above) shows the geodesic dome, where environmental engineers at a startup called 9-Tech are working on a new way to recover silicon from used solar panels.

The entire lab site was created by veritashandles waste and water supplies for Venice and Treviso's approximately 1 million residents and 50 million tourists.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Light pollution may be causing urban moths to evolve smaller wings

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Spindle ermine moth perched on a flower

DP Wildlife Invertebrates / Alamy

Moths trying to survive in bright cities may have evolved smaller wings to limit the amount of light they absorb.

Artificial lights that shine at night disrupt the lives of many insect species, diverting them from their habitats and mates, and exposing them to predators. Ecological changes due to light pollution may also have caused evolutionary changes, but clear examples are hard to find.

In search of such changes, evert van de shoot Researchers from the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium analyzed the wing and body sizes of 680 spindle-shaped stoat moths.Yoponomeuta cañajera). These moths are previous experiment Test your reaction to light.

In their experiment, the researchers collected moth larvae from bright urban and dark rural locations in France and Switzerland and raised the moths together in the same garden. In the ‘flight to light’ test, urban moths were captured in 30 percent fewer light traps than rural moths, suggesting that they were less responsive to light.

Van de Schoot and his colleagues may have found an explanation for this. Careful measurements of the insects’ bodies revealed that moths in urban environments had slightly smaller wings on average than moths in rural areas. In both urban and rural populations, this small wing size correlated with a weak response in light trap experiments.

“What’s really surprising is that despite small changes in plumage, there are differences in rural and urban moth populations,” he says. Samuel Fabian At Imperial College London. He said the study’s focus on flight mechanics adds a new dimension to thinking about the effects of light on insects. “Nature is not static,” he says. “Nature adapts to us.”

Small wings can limit the distance and speed these moths can disperse to find mates and food. But if the trade-off makes moths less susceptible to the negative effects of being sensitive to light, it could be a beneficial adaptation in urban ecosystems, van de Scoot says.

The researchers say they cannot rule out the possibility that this change was driven by other differences between urban and rural areas, such as more fragmented habitats. Changes in visual acuity may also contribute to urban moths’ reduced response to light. Other insect species may also be affected differently.

But if such shifts in mobility were widespread, they could separate insect populations from each other and from the plants they pollinate, van de Scoot says. “It could be important for the entire ecosystem.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Study: Certain plants are more effective than others in removing air pollution through green walls

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Biologists are University of Surrey They investigated interspecific variation in particulate matter accumulation, washout, and retention in 10 broad-leaved plants, focusing on leaf characteristics.

thomson other. We found that the interaction between macromorphology and micromorphology in green-walled plant species determines their particulate matter removal ability.Image credit: Thomson other. 2024., doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170950.

Green wall is a vertical system that has received particular attention because it can be installed without occupying additional space at street level.

They also offer other benefits, such as reduced dependence on existing soil conditions and additional ecosystem services.

Green wall is a term that includes walls covered with all forms of vegetation.

Green facades and living walls are two types of green walls, where green facades usually include climbing plants, whereas living walls include planting materials and plants to support a more diverse variety of plants. Includes technology.

The reduction of air pollutants by green walls depends on several factors such as plant type, barrier dimensions, leaf area index, humidity, wind speed, and orientation of the location.

“By planting vertically against green walls, communities can purify the air without taking up too much street space,” said Mamatha Thomson, a postgraduate researcher at the University of Surrey.

“Our study suggests that this process depends not only on leaf shape but also on the micromorphological properties of the leaf surface.”

“We believe that the right mix of species creates the most effective green walls. We look forward to conducting further research to see if we are right. .”

In this study, Thomson et al. planted 10 species: Evergreen Candy Tuft (Iberis sempervirens), Ivy (hedera helix) And that Wild marjoram (Ornamental pill beetle)in a custom-built 1.4 meter green wall.

The leaves of the evergreens candytuft and ivy were found to be particularly good at trapping pollutant particles, both large and small.

Meanwhile, rain was able to wash most of the pollutants from the lavender's hairy leaves.

Candytuft and marjoram also performed well in washing away small pollution particles.

“We hope that urban planners and infrastructure experts can use our findings to think more carefully about what they plant,” said Prashant Kumar, a professor at the University of Surrey.

“Having a green wall is a great way to remove pollution, but what you plant on top of it can make a big difference to its success.”

of result It was published in the magazine Total environmental science.

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Mamatha Thomson other. 2024. Investigating the interplay between particulate matter scavenging, scavenging, and leaf properties in green-walled species. Total environmental science 921: 170950; doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170950

Source: www.sci.news

Are there air pollution issues with electric cars in the automotive industry?

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TOxygen smog has been a part of big city life since the Industrial Revolution. Harmful particles can be like pea soup, so thick that they are difficult to see and breathe. But in many cities around the rich world, that dirty oil was banished as car engines became cleaner and factories moved. (Poor cities are still not so lucky.)

Some people believe that the transition to electric vehicles could reverse some of that progress. That means heavier cars and particles created by friction can sacrifice clean air on the altar of zero carbon emissions.

In our EV myth-busting series, the Guardian has examined claims about electric vehicles (EVs), examining issues ranging from carbon emissions and battery fires to the idea of ​​overtaking them with hydrogen. In the latest installment of the series, do electric cars have an air pollution problem?

Claim

Electric cars eliminate engine pollution, but brakes and tires still rely on friction to function. This friction can cause substances to break down and eventually be released into the environment. Some argue that the transition to EVs could increase overall air pollution because they tend to be heavier and have more wear and tear.

In 2022, then British Environment Minister George Eustace said: Said Congress of “skepticism” about improving air quality. “Some say the fact that these vehicles are heavier means they may be less profitable than some are expecting, just from road wear and tear, but it's a bit unclear at this point. ” he said.

The Daily Mail reported that tire pollution is the “dirty secret of electric cars”, while the Sun reported that “super-heavy electric cars actually cause more pollution than petrol or diesel motors” EV drivers are being warned about how to

science

EVs do not directly burn fossil fuels and produce no emissions when produced using only zero-carbon electricity. This means that not only carbon dioxide, but also carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide, a mixture of carbon, metals and unburned hydrocarbons are not emitted in urban areas. (Fossil fuel power plants still have problems charging electric cars, but they tend…thors difficult, and there have been relatively few comparative studies to date. This means there is still uncertainty as to whether the extra weight of EV batteries will lead to worse particulate pollution.

The shift to SUVs makes vehicles increasingly taller, wider and heavier, worsening carbon emissions. Photo: Mike Kemp/Photography/Getty Images

German tire maker Continental said vehicle and tire design is more important than driving style or road curves in determining wear (a point echoed by Malden). A Continental spokesperson said: “In principle, electric cars do not generate more particulate matter than comparable internal combustion…ase by a slight decrease in total PM emissions from road traffic in the future.” The study found that heavier electric vehicles experience slightly more road and tire wear than larger electric vehicles. 10pm Particles and smaller objects PM2.5. However, when engine pollution was added, gasoline and diesel cars did slightly worse.

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Source: www.theguardian.com

Overcoming Plastic Pollution: Recycling Alone Is Not Enough

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I recently came across a photo that I can only describe as “post-apocalyptic cute.” It depicted a small, beady-eyed, purple hermit crab with its fragile abdomen neatly tucked within a bright red object.

This “shell” provided the small crustacean with armor that kept it perfectly balanced and easily manipulated. However, it was not a traditional seashell, but rather a discarded plastic bottle cap. This image is a moving depiction of the serious global problem of plastic pollution we currently face.

Hermit crabs scavenge for things from the ocean floor and use them for protection. This habit of finding their home and carrying it on their backs earned them their delightful name.

However, instead of finding beautiful coiled snail shells to nestle in, many hermit crabs today pick up pieces of trash that we throw away and hide inside them.

A group of Polish researchers based at Warsaw University and Poznań University conducted an “Internet Ecology Study,” during which they scoured social media for photos of hermit crabs decorated with human trash. They found 386 photos in total from every tropical coast in the world.

According to the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) 2021 report, plastic production has increased by an almost unimaginable 18,300% in 65 years, leading to a current oversupply of plastic waste that we are struggling to dispose of responsibly.

Recycling may seem like an obvious solution, but as of 2015, only 9% of generated plastic waste was being recycled, according to a major study on the fate of plastic.

Examples of plastic reuse

Mark Miodnik, Professor of Materials and Society at University College London, has stated that reusing is the best solution to the plastic waste problem. One major effort in bringing reuse into the mainstream is Loop, which operates a “global reverse supply chain” in partnership with major brands, collecting used packaging from consumers and retailers through a deposit return scheme.

Despite the devastating increase in plastic production, there is hope for significant change in the near future. A commitment to a binding treaty to end plastic pollution has already been signed by 175 countries, setting the stage for a pivotal year in rewriting the plastic waste rulebook.

In the meantime, reusing as much of the materials we already have in abundance can help alleviate the plastic waste problem. As a lead researcher on hermit crab research in Poland, Zusanna Jagiello notes that the animals are simply taking advantage of what’s available to them.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

The scent of flowers is altered by air pollution, confusing insects

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Hawk moths are less likely to visit flowers if air pollution changes their smell.

Image courtesy of Floris van Brugel

Insects may have a hard time finding flowers because air pollutants are breaking down the chemicals responsible for the flowers' attractive scent.

“In recent years, there has been increasing interest in 'sensory pollution,'” he says. Jeff Riffel at the University of Washington in Seattle. This pollution resulting from human activities can change wild animal behavior by changing or introducing new stimuli, he says.

For example, we know that noise pollution affects bird songs and may be linked to an increase in whale strandings. Light pollution, on the other hand, can disorient a variety of animals, including migratory birds and sea turtles.

However, little is known about how human activities affect animals' sense of smell. Riffel and colleagues therefore investigated the effects of anthropogenic pollutants on plant pollinators.

They focused on ozone and nitric acid radicals, which are pollutants produced by the interaction of vehicle exhaust and gases in the atmosphere. Both are known to react with compounds emitted by flowers to change their scent.

The research team discovered pale evening primrose (evening primrose), a desert flower found in North America. Both pollutants degraded aroma compounds, but nitrate radicals did so more completely.

To study whether this led to changes in the behavior of the flowers' main pollinators, the researchers exposed species of hawk moths, including the hawk-moth sphinx.Hyles Lineata), flowers that emit a natural floral scent, or flowers that have been engineered to emit a degraded scent.

Primroses that emitted degraded scents were visited 70% less frequently than flowers that emitted naturally delivered scents. This decline in visitors could affect the hawkmoth's health, Riffel said. Researchers estimate that reduced moth visitation could reduce the amount of fruit plants produce by 28 percent, potentially having ripple effects on the broader ecosystem.

The researchers' models show that since the Industrial Revolution, the distance at which hawk moths can detect flowers has shrunk from about two kilometers to just a few hundred meters.

“This is another reason why we need to switch to energy sources that do not involve combustion,” say team members. Joel Thornton, also at the University of Washington. “Reducing nitrogen oxide emissions would be a win not only for air quality, but also for ecosystem function and agriculture.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

The Potential of Marine Fungi: Harnessing Water Mushrooms to Combat Antibiotic Resistance and Pollution

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Microscopic marine fungi are abundant, with approximately 2000 species discovered to date.

Dayarathne MC et al. (2020)

Take a walk along the coast almost anywhere in the world and you'll see colorful patches of life growing on rocks, seawalls, and driftwood. These are lichens, a mutualistic partnership between fungi and algae. In the UK, this may include brightly colored orange marine lichens and yellowish coastal sunburst lichens, as well as many other Drabber species.

Lichens are typically thought of as terrestrial organisms, and in fact, the majority grow inland on rocks, tree trunks, leaves, and soil. However, coastal organisms are not creatures that accidentally washed ashore from land; they are marine-adapted species found only on or in close proximity to shores. Until recently, they were considered to be outliers in the almost entirely terrestrial fungal kingdom. No more. “Fungi are present in every marine ecosystem we observe,” says Michael Cunliffe of the University of Plymouth in the UK.

Research on marine fungi is currently rapidly increasing, but their exact role and importance in marine ecosystems remains a mystery. Nevertheless, there are high hopes that it could save us from the two great scourges of the 21st century: antibiotic resistance and plastic pollution.

What are marine fungi?

The existence of marine fungi has been known for many years. The earliest descriptions were published in his mid-19th century to his early 20th century, but these were largely ignored by mainstream mycologists. Most of the species discovered are found on the roots of seaweed that live near the coast.

Source: www.newscientist.com