Themed collection Best Papers of 2022 from RSC’s Environmental Science journals

Microplastic (MP) pollution is an emerging threat to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

A comprehensive and critical overview of graphene-based adsorbents in capturing various water contaminants within the recent five years is presented to drive the rational development of high-performance adsorbents with graphene and its derivatives.

Surfactants alter the physical and chemical properties of atmospheric aerosol particles.

MNPs may undergo different environmental transformations in aquatic systems, consequently changing their mobility, bioavailability and toxicity to freshwater invertebrates.

Our critical review compares ARG profiles in the atmosphere across different locations and discusses characterization methods, atmospheric transport, and future research questions.

Reactive nitrogen species (RNS) pose a potential risk to drinking water quality because they react with organic compounds to form toxic byproducts.

Mechanisms of photodegradation of PFAS with different chain lengths and structures using a wide range of photo-oxidative/reductive agents, effects of key parameters on these processes, and synergistic effects of other treatments are reviewed.

Particulate nitrate photolysis can lead to the formation of secondary inorganic and organic aerosols that affect climate, air quality, and human health.

Harnessing microbial biofabrication coupled to a protocol inspired by indigenous textile processes, we engineer high-performance biotextiles with a sustainable circular life cycle, including the plant and mineral dyed bioleather sneakers shown.

Analysis of precipitation finds many emerging PFAS.

New technologies to improve the investigation of biodegradability and the environmental fate of pharmaceutical formulations.

Estimates of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) emission from the use of cosmetics in Europe.

A nano-scale proxy for atmospheric surfactant organic films undergoes changes in morphology and hygroscopicity during simulated atmospheric processing.

The influence of WWTP treatment standard on contaminant breakthrough is explored for 293 compounds.

Recent applications of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) have demonstrated its ability to track the spread and dynamics of COVID-19 at the community level.

In vitro root amendment with CDs can promote photosynthesis of lettuce by enhancing photoreaction processes and CO₂ fixation.

Short-term light exposure of primary brown carbon aerosols causes an increase in absorption. Continuous aging in the dark afterwards results in a persistent increase in absorption.

A novel algae control strategy in oligotrophic surface water was proposed. Under the combined effect of nutritional competition and bacilysin lysis, a 97% decline in chlorophyll-a content was achieved in South-to-North water and 61.5% in stormwater.

High throughput imaging is used to assess hatching, lethality and malformations in zebrafish embryos and is suitable for hazard ranking of different nanomaterials.