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Biomass burning emission estimation in the MODIS era: State-of-the-art and future directions
Accurate estimates of biomass burning (BB) emissions are of great importance worldwide due to the impacts of these emissions on human health, ecosystems, air quality, and climate. Atmospheric modeling efforts to represent these impacts require BB emissions as a key input. This paper is presented by the Biomass Burning Uncertainty: Reactions, Emissions and Dynamics (BBURNED) activity of the International Global Atmospheric Chemistry project and largely based on a workshop held in November 2023. The paper reviews 9 of the BB emissions datasets widely used by the atmospheric chemistry community, all of which rely heavily on Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite observations of fires scheduled to be discontinued at the end of 2025. In this time of transition away from MODIS to new fire observations, such as those from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) satellite instruments, we summarize the contemporary status of BB emissions estimation and provide recommendations on future developments. Development of global BB emissions datasets depends on vegetation datasets, emission factors, and assumptions of fire persistence and phase, all of which are highly uncertain with high degrees of variability and complexity and are continually evolving areas of research. As a result, BB emissions datasets can have differences on the order of factor 2–3, and no single dataset stands out as the best for all regions, species, and times. We summarize the methodologies and differences between BB emissions datasets. The workshop identified 5 key recommendations for future research directions for estimating BB emissions and quantifying the associated uncertainties: development and uptake of satellite burned area products from VIIRS and other instruments; mapping of fine scale heterogeneity in fuel type and condition; identification of spurious signal detections and information gaps in satellite fire radiative power products; regional modeling studies and comparison against existing datasets; and representation of the diurnal cycle and plume rise in BB emissions.
2025
2025
Industrial and public infrastructure as local sources of organic contaminants in the Arctic
Arctic pollution has been a focal point in environmental research over the past five decades. Recently, the number of pollutants identified as relevant to the Arctic has significantly increased. Consequently, the expert group on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and Chemicals of Emerging Arctic Concern (CEACs) of the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) has prepared a series of assessments of contaminants in the Arctic, including influences of climate change. This review addresses local sources of Arctic organic pollutants associated with infrastructure in the Arctic. Industrial, military, and public infrastructures, including domestic installations, sewage treatment, solid waste management, and airports, were identified as significant local pollution sources. Additionally, operational emissions (e.g., from shipping, transportation, heating, and power production) contribute to the overall local pollution profile. Based on currently available scientific information, elevated POP and CEAC levels are mostly found in close proximity to identified local pollution sources. To date, hazardous effects have only been confirmed for a few selected chemicals, such as polycyclic aromatic compounds (PAC) and certain pharmaceutical residues. However, studies are biased in the sense that they often focus on well-known contaminants, at a risk of overlooking CEAC and their effects. The review identifies several measures to reduce human impacts on local Arctic environments, including (i) using local indicator pollutants in ongoing national monitoring schemes, (ii) harmonizing emission reduction policies and licensing of industrial activities in the region to minimize exposure risks and environmental pollution, (iii) encouraging local municipalities, industries, and related stakeholders to coordinate their activities to minimize pollutant emissions.
2025
Monitoring of greenhouse gases and aerosols at Svalbard and Birkenes in 2024. Annual report
This annual report for 2024 summarizes the activities and results of the greenhouse gas monitoring at the Zeppelin Observatory, situated on Svalbard, during the period 2001-2024, and the greenhouse gas monitoring and aerosol observations from Birkenes for 2009-2024.
NILU
2025
Alors que le dépassement du seuil des +1,5°C est désormais inévitable, pour limiter le réchauffement climatique, une nouvelle technique voit peu à...
2025
Characterization of German SF6 Emissions
Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) is a highly potent greenhouse gas with a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 24,700 over 100 years and is globally mainly used as an electrical insulator in switchgear. Several measurement networks have tracked SF6 for many years and their European data reveal significant emissions in southern Germany. This study focuses on German SF6 emissions (2020–2023), using atmospheric measurements from 22 European sites, offering high spatial and temporal resolution for robust emission assessments. While German UNFCCC inventory bottom-up emission estimates report a major source of SF6 through the disposal of soundproof windows, the spatial distribution of German SF6 emissions derived on top-down inversion techniques (InTEM and Flexinvert+) reveals a different picture: The continuous pattern of high emissions from a particular region is responsible for one-third of total SF6 emissions in Germany. Despite this, total German SF6 emissions have decreased from 112 ± 26 t in 2020 to 89 ± 15 t in 2023 (InTEM), with estimates from all methods (both bottom-up and top-down) showing similar trends. Our findings suggest that the emissions from soundproof windows are overestimated, while industrial sources - particularly from SF6 production and recycling in the focus region - are likely underestimated.
2025
Genotoxicity assessment is essential for ensuring chemical safety and mitigating risks to human health and the environment. Traditional methods, reliant on animal models, are time-consuming, costly, and raise ethical concerns. New Approach Methods (NAMs) offer innovative, cost-effective, and ethical alternatives, playing a pivotal role in both traditional and next-generation risk assessment (NGRA) by minimizing the need for animal testing, particularly in genotoxicity evaluations. However, the development of NAMs often overlooks the particular physicochemical properties of nanomaterials (NMs), which significantly influence their toxicological behaviour and can interfere with genotoxicity evaluation. This underscores an urgent need for the standardization and adaptation of NAMs to address nano- and advanced material-specific genotoxicity challenges. In this review, we summarize the challenges associated with genotoxicity testing of NMs and highlight the suitability of existing in vitro and in silico NAMs for NMs and advanced materials, enabling genotoxicity testing across various exposure routes and organ systems. Despite considerable progress, regulatory validation remains constrained by the absence of approved test guidelines and standardized protocols. To achieve regulatory acceptance, it is crucial to adapt NAMs to NM-specific exposure scenarios, refine test systems to better mimic human biology, develop tailored in vitro protocols, and ensure thorough characterisation of NMs both in pristine form and dispersed in culture medium. Collaborative efforts among scientists, regulators, industry, and advocacy groups are vital to improving the reliability and regulatory acceptance of NAMs. By addressing these challenges, NAMs have the potential to revolutionize genotoxicity risk assessment, advancing it towards a more sustainable, efficient and ethical framework.
2025
A Nano Risk Governance Portal supporting risk governance of nanomaterials and nano-enabled products
isk governance (RG) of nanomaterials (NMs) has been at the focus of the Horizon 2020 Programme of the European Union, through the funding of three research projects (Gov4Nano, NANORIGO, RISKGONE). The extensive collaboration of the three projects, in various scientific topics, aimed to enhance RG of NMs and provide a solid scientific basis for effective collaboration of the various types of stakeholders involved. In this paper the development of a digital Nano Risk Governance Portal (NRGP) and associated information technology (IT) infrastructure supporting the risk governance of (engineered) nanomaterials and nano-enabled products, is presented, alongside considerations for future work and enhancement within the domain of Advanced Materials (AdMa). This paper describes several elements of this digital portal, which serves as a single-entry point for all stakeholders in need of, or interested in, nano-risk governance aspects. In its simplest form, the NRGP allows users to be efficiently guided towards tailored information about nanomaterials, risk governance concepts, guidance documents, harmonized methods for risk assessment, publicly accessible data, information and knowledge, as well as a directory of tools, to assess the exposure and hazard of nanomaterials and perform Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design (SSbD) assessment in the context of nano-risk governance. This paper presents the technical implementation and the content of the first version of the NRGP alongside the vision for the future and further plans for development, implementation, hosting and maintenance of the NRGP aimed at ensuring its sustainability. This includes a procedure to link to, or include, currently available and future (nano)material-related (cloud) platforms, decision support systems, tools, guidance, and databases in line with good governance objectives.
2025
We propose operational definitions and a classification framework for air quality sensor-derived data, thereby aiding users in interpreting and selecting suitable data products for their applications. We focus on differentiating independent sensor measurements (ISM) from other data products, emphasizing transparency and traceability. Recommendations are provided for manufacturers, academia, and standardization bodies to adopt these definitions, fostering data product differentiation and incentivizing the development of more robust, reliable sensor hardware.
2025
In this study, we investigate the current accuracy of widely used microplastic (MP) detection methods through an interlaboratory comparison (ILC) involving ISO-approved techniques. The ILC was organized under the prestandardization platform of VAMAS (Versailles Project on Advanced Materials and Standards) and gathered a large number (84) of analytical laboratories across the globe. The aim of this ILC was (i) to test and to compare two thermo-analytical and three spectroscopical methods with respect to their suitability to identify and quantify microplastics in a water-soluble matrix and (ii) to test the suitability of the microplastic test materials to be used in ILCs. Two reference materials (RMs), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyethylene (PE) as powders with rough size ranges between 10 and 200 μm, were used to press tablets for the ILC. The following parameters had to be assessed: polymer identity, mass fraction, particle number concentration, and particle size distribution. The reproducibility, SR, in thermo-analytical experiments ranged from 62%–117% (for PE) and 45.9%–62% (for PET). In spectroscopical experiments, the SR varied between 121% and 129% (for PE) and 64% and 70% (for PET). Tablet dissolution turned out to be a very challenging step and should be optimized. Based on the knowledge gained, development of guidance for improved tablet filtration is in progress. Further, in this study, we discuss the main sources of uncertainties that need to be considered and minimized for preparation of standardized protocols for future measurements with higher accuracy.
2025
2025
Etablering av vindkraftverk på land kan medføre en risiko for drikkevann når installasjonene ligger i eller nær vanntilsigsområder til drikkevannskilder. Denne rapporten, utarbeidet av VKM på oppdrag fra Mattilsynet, gir Mattilsynet et kunnskapsbasert grunnlag for å stille krav til konsekvensutredninger og detaljplan for å beskytte drikkevannet.
Rapporten identifiserer potensielle farer for kjemisk og fysisk forurensning av drikkevann gjennom hele livsløpet til et vindkraftverk – fra planlegging og anleggsfase, til drift og avvikling. Den beskriver relevante lover og forskrifter, sentrale aktører og deres roller, og legger vekt på når og hvordan Mattilsynet kan involveres og komme med innspill i den kommunale planprosessen etter plan- og bygningsloven og i konsesjonsprosessen etter energiloven som forvaltes av NVE. Det er av stor betydning at Mattilsynet varsles og involveres tidlig i prosessen. Tiltakshaver må sørge for at risiko for forurensning av drikkevann og vanntilsigsområde utredes på en etterprøvbar måte, slik at Mattilsynet kan gi tydelige innspill til utredningen for å sikre at drikkevannshensyn er ivaretatt.
2025
2025
New EU Report Calls For Strict mCDR MRV Rules
A new EU report warns that currently, no mCDR technology has enough proof of CDR performance and impact to be deemed safe for deployment.
2025
Assessing the environmental burden of disease related to air pollution in Europe in 2023
This report evaluates the environmental burden of disease (EBD) linked to long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and ozone (O3) across 41 European countries in 2023. Using the key health indicators—attributable deaths, years of life lost, years lived with disability, and disability-adjusted life years—the analysis quantifies the health impacts of air pollution above concentrations defined as the World Health Organisation’s air quality guideline levels. Approximately 206,000 deaths are attributable to PM2.5, while about 56,000 and 71,000 deaths area attributable to NO2 and O3, respectively. The disease burden from PM2.5 was highest due to its association with multiple health outcomes, with high baseline prevalence and mortality. Results highlight strong regional disparities, with South-Eastern Europe most affected by health effects from PM2.5 and NO2, and Southern Europe by those from O3. Findings underscore the need for targeted policies to reduce pollutant-specific health impacts in Europe.
European Topic Centre on Human Health and the Environment (ETC HE)
2025
2025
2025