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Chemical industries and oil refineries are known emission sources of environmental contaminants, such as metals/metalloids, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), among others. Based on the toxicological potential of these pollutants, harmful health effects can be expected for the population living near these facilities. One of the largest chemical/petrochemical complexes in Europe is located in Tarragona County (Catalonia, Spain). In the last two decades, a number of investigations aimed at assessing the environmental impact of air pollutants potentially emitted by this industrial complex have been carried out. The present paper is a review of the available scientific information on the levels of air pollutants related with the activities of this chemical/petrochemical complex. Although there are currently some data on the environmental burdens of metals/metalloids, PAHs, VOCs and PCDD/Fs, there is an evident lack of specific biological monitoring studies on human health. Picropodophyllin IGF-1R inhibitor Taking into account the amount of chemicals released to air and their toxicity, it is essential to perform an in-depth analysis of the current health status of the population living in Tarragona County.Altered stormwater flow characteristics and associated changes in nutrient and sediment fluxes due to urbanization threaten the water quality of many water bodies. For example, particle-bound phosphorus in stormwater runoff adds to the nutrient pool that can produce harmful algal blooms, and the associated particulate material can endanger fish and other living organisms in surface waters by increasing turbidity. While many studies have investigated how Total Solids (TS) particle size distributions vary in urban stormwater and the associated design criteria for Best Management Practices (BMPs) to remove TS, few studies have included different forms of phosphorus and their association with particle sizes to characterize design criteria to specifically maximize Total Phosphorus (TP) removal. This highlights a gap in our understanding of how the particle size distributions of TP and TS are related, and how these particle size distributions vary within and between storm events. Bridging this knowledge gap can improve design methods for BMPs specifically targeting phosphorus removal. This study characterizes within event (i.e., hourly) TP and TS particle size distributions and associated fluxes from urban catchments in the City of Cambridge, Massachusetts, to characterize potential TP and TS removal based on four different diversion and treatment strategies. The stormwater diversion strategies integrate new insights on temporal variations in particle size distributions and mass loading characteristics. In terms of diverted stormwater, the volume of stormwater treated tends to control more than what water is treated (e.g., first flush, event high flows, or smaller event flows). Based on the event data obtained in this study, considering flow volume different diversion approaches are optimal for TP vs TS, but treatment combined with particles sizes less then 100 μm is best for both TP and TS.One of the key features of nature-based solutions (NBSs) is their high effectiveness and economic and resource efficiency in solving problems compared to traditional grey interventions. These aspects, however, have so far attracted little attention in the literature but should be considered, as the evaluation of NBS projects before implementation provides an opportunity to use them as practical tools. This paper aims to present a new evaluation framework of NBS projects (at the stage of solution selection) based on the application of performance questions and the indicators approach. The framework consists of three main stages (1) the formulation of the project aim(s), including the problem(s) to be solved, the scales of the expected effects and the thresholds to be achieved; (2) the elimination of solutions that do not fit the local conditions and setting requirements; and (3) the examination of the performance questions. To consider the whole spectrum of influencing factors, a systematic review was performed to indicate the main concepts related to the issue of NBS effectiveness, including (1) stakeholders’ participation, (2) policy and management capability, (3) economic efficiency, (4) analysis of synergies and trade-offs, (5) adaptation to local conditions, (6) adequate spatial scale and (7) performance in the long term. In the current study around 130 indicators were identified for the evaluation of NBS projects. Regarding the impact on the state of knowledge, the present work contributes to the discussion on the conceptual sphere of NBS and its practical implementation by introducing multi-perspective standards and guidelines for the selection of possible NBS projects, and it deals with the complexity of synergies and the trade-offs between benefits.With the increasing production and wide application of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), they are inevitably released into the natural environment and ecosystems, where plants are the main primary producers. Hence, it is imperative to understand the toxic effects of CNTs on plants. The molecular mechanisms underlying the toxic effects of CNTs on plants are still unclear. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated the effects of high concentrations of multi-walled CNTs (MWCNTs) on Arabidopsis. Root elongation and leaf development were severely inhibited after MWCNT exposure. Excess production of H2O2, O2-, and malondialdehyde was observed, indicating that MWCNTs induced oxidative stress. The antioxidant system was activated to counter MWCNTs-induced oxidative stress. Combinatorial transcriptome and m6A methylome analysis revealed that MWCNTs suppressed auxin signaling and photosynthesis. Reactive oxygen species metabolism, toxin metabolism, and plant responses to pathogens were enhanced to cope with the phytotoxicity of MWCNTs. Our results provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms of CNT phytotoxicity and plant defense responses to CNTs.