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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...

The increasing flow of traffic passing through cities on a daily basis, especially those cities that have a difficult situation with bypass, raises concerns about the air quality in sections of the transport corridors, as well as in the city as a whole. Heavy metal pollution is a serious environmental concern, especially in urban and suburban areas where vehicle emissions contribute to air and soil pollution. The aim of the study is to assess the extent of heavy metal contamination in snow samples collected at dif...

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...

The increased importance and availability of digital tool leaves an impact on shaping the digitalization of countries and their economies. Links between the digitalization and economic sector productivity and climate change risk adaptation and/or mitigation increase trough different streams have also been found. The use of digital tools can also help in decision making process in terms of climate change including the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The aim of this study is to develop a base framework ...

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...

Soil moisture, soil temperature, nutrient availability, and land use practices affect the GHG emissions from soils. In this study, the aim is to determine and analyse GHG emissions from agricultural soils in five monitoring sites. The mobile spectrophotometer Picarro G2508 is used for the quantification of N2O, CH4, and CO2 soil flux across five monitoring sites used for agricultural production during the growing seasons from 2017 to 2023. Findings reveal significant variations in GHG emissions across the monitori...

Excessive input of nitrogen and phosphorus into water systems causes eutrophication. Efforts to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus losses from agriculture in the Baltic Sea region are crucial. The aim of the study is to assess the impact of nitrogen application rates in the form of mineral fertilizer on concentrations of Ntot, NO3-N, Ptot, and PO4-P (mg L-1) in runoff at the level of experimental fields. This study analyzed data from October 2014 to April 2022 collected from the Mellupite monitoring station, where exp...

Eco-innovation is a crucial factor in the drive towards sustainable development, albeit a knowledge-intensive process that requires a fundamental transformation of the education system. The focus should be on sustainable education, characterized by holistic approaches, strategic planning and transformative change. Key elements are learning experience systems that include cognitive understanding, practical skills, social cohesion and emotional intelligence. As UNESCO points out, eight key competences - systemic thi...