Tire-derived compounds, phthalates, and trace metals in the Kiel Fjord (Germany).

Concerns about pollutants in the environment are increasing, with substances such as plastic additives drawing particular concern due to their potential harmful effects on organisms. This study investigates current levels of several contaminants in the Kiel Fjord. Some pose serious health risks to aquatic life.

Analytical strategies to measure gadolinium as a wastewater marker in surface and groundwater systems.

The increasing use of gadolinium (Gd)-based contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging and the recalcitrant behavior of Gd during municipal wastewater treatment have led to increased concentrations of the tracer in aquatic environments. These anthropogenic Gd emissions to wastewater and, subsequently, to surface and groundwater systems can be exploited to calculate groundwater travel times and mixing ratios, identify wastewater inputs, and calibrate groundwater models. However, analytical complexity, costs, and the time needed to directly measure anthropogenic inputs hinder the practical use of Gd.