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Snow water pollution, especially from heavy metals, is a growing global environmental concern, as urbanization and industrial activities increasingly contribute to the contamination of precipitation. Snow, acting as a natural filter, accumulates atmospheric pollutants, which are subsequently released during snowmelt, entering stormwater systems and surface water bodies. This issue has been observed across Europe, North America, and other industrialized regions, where heavy metals such as nickel (Ni) and copper (Cu...

In urban environments, human health is increasingly affected by air quality, particularly air pollution with particulate matter (PM), which contains various toxic chemical elements. Car traffic is one of the main sources of air pollution in urban areas, which not only raises dust from roadways but also emits micro particles from diesel engines and tire wear containing heavy metals. The aim of the study is to evaluate the ability of the lichen species Xanthoria parietina, commonly found in Latvia, to biomonitor and...

Well-aerated soils are essential for methane (CH4) uptake from the atmosphere, acting as significant sinks for this greenhouse gas, which has a global warming potential 25 times greater than that of carbon dioxide (CO2). These soils contain methanotrophic bacteria, which oxidize CH4 and thereby reduce atmospheric methane concentrations. The potential of soils to assimilate CH4 depends on factors such as soil type and moisture regime. This study investigates the ability of clay soil Cambic Calcisol to assimilate CH...

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is one of important greenhouse gas (GHG) whose main sources are agricultural soils. N2O forms in soil as a result of microbial processes, reinforced by the use of nitrogen-containing fertilizers. This study will look at how the formation of N2O in soil is affected by soil moisture and soil granulometric composition. Soil N2O isotopes of ?15N? (central nitrogen position) and ?15N? (end nitrogen position) which could help to identify natural and anthropogenic sources of N2O emissions and the invo...

Agricultural activity accounts for two-thirds of the total anthropogenic nitrogen oxide (N2O) emissions worldwide. Most of the N2O emissions from agricultural soils come from the use of inorganic fertilizers and/or manure. As agricultural activity intensifies worldwide, N2O emissions are currently increasing by 0.25% per year. In order to investigate the feedback of soil N2O emissions with changes in environmental conditions, an improved understanding based on the wider use of isotopic tracer methods is needed. Th...

Decomposition of solid waste in landfills causes global air pollution with methane, the most dangerous of the greenhouse gases. The emission potential of this gas is 28-36 times greater than that of CO2. With the help of methane-reducing Biocover, can find a solution to this problem. In this study, a biocover was developed in the laboratory to reduce methane emissions. When measuring the methane emissions of this biocover, data on the amount of carbon dioxide emissions were also obtained in parallel. The purpose o...

Landfills of municipal waste are important sources of methane emissions. The surface of the landfill area is the interface between the waste layer and the atmosphere. By creating a biocover cover layer, it is possible to reduce methane emissions that would refer to air quality. This innovative biocover technology aims to curtail methane emissions from various sources. The research delves into the effectiveness of this biocover in not only mitigating methane emissions but also its potential influence on nitrous oxi...

Global warming caused by greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is a global problem. Solid municipal waste landfills are the third largest source of artificial methane emissions. Methane is one of the greenhouse gases contributing to global warming. The net zero emissions target was set to strike a balance between emissions and anthropogenic GHG disposal by 2050. Methane emissions from active or closed landfills may be reduced by methane oxidation, which is developed as a coating over these landfills. Methane (CH4) is an ...

Every year, cities are becoming more populated and urban traffic more intense. Urban air quality is deteriorating and causes for pollution are being sought and solutions to improve the quality of life in urban areas. Atmospheric deposits, vehicles, traffic and de-icing products are the main sources of snow pollution in cities. Snow, located near roads and streets with intense traffic, is a very useful tool for identifying the risks of traffic-related metals in the environment. In many countries, in winter, they us...

Solid municipal waste landfills are the third largest source of man-made methane emissions. Methane is one of the greenhouse gases contributing to global warming. The capture of methane emissions in the waste sector is addressed by collecting it and using it for energy production. Methane emissions from active or closed landfills can be reduced by methane oxidation, which is developed as a covering over these landfills. It is usually composed of a gas distribution layer that favours micro-organisms that consume me...

In order for life to arise and exist on earth, a number of important processes take place in it, based on various elements. One of these elements is nitrogen (N). Nitrogen is the most common element in the atmosphere approximately 78% of the atmosphere consists of nitrogen gas (N2), but in this way, the majority of the living organisms cannot absorb nitrogen. Nitrogen fixation occurs during the nitrogen cycle and results in a number of complex organic compounds required for living organisms. During the nitrogen li...

Agricultural activities account for about a third of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Most of the GHG in the atmosphere are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O). The aim of this study is to measure N2O isotopes in two differently managed agricultural soils. One soil is with organic farming and the other with conventional. Samples were collected in 32 experimental plots as well as a control plot. The samples are thus weighed in 3 l buckets, each 1.8 kg in total. Two samples were made from each...

One of the largest producers of GHG emissions in agriculture is the dairy and meat livestock sector. Grassland is the main feed base for dairy and meat cattle. Managed grasslands can become a major contributor to and leverage of GHG gas exchange. High quality information with studies on the flow of the three main GHG gases and concentration linked to different management strategies is important for the development of good management practices, as well as for the development of climateresilient landscapes and the r...

Crop cultivation is beneficial for reducing soil erosion and nutrient loss, but there is conflicting information on how crop cultivation affects emissions of nitrogen dioxide (N2O), a potent greenhouse gas. Judicious selection of the cultivated crop in a plant succession is considered an effective approach to maintaining crop productivity. In this paper, we investigated the effects of cultivated crops on soil N2O emissions. Eight crops were used in this study: barley, buckwheat, clover, oats, potatoes, spring whea...

The growing global population is creating high demand for transport and the various goods industries, which produce lead-generating emissions from air pollutants. The increase in lead concentration is very dangerous because it affects the nature and human health around us. The great concern for human health and the environment has contributed to research on lead concentrations around us. The aim of the study is to clarify the prevalence of lead in Jelgava between 2018 and 2021. The winter period was selected for t...

The harmful effects of various air pollutants on human health, living in a polluted air environment, are relatively well proven: the morbidity of the population is increasing, life expectancy is decreasing. Suspended particulates are one of the generally recognized air pollutants. The most dangerous solid particles are released during primary combustion processes, they contain heavy metals (zinc, copper, iron, lead). Heavy metals are known to be persistent in the human body and remain for decades. Heavy metals can...