Themed collection Outstanding Papers of 2023 from RSC’s Environmental Science journals

The Editors-in-Chief of the Environmental Science journals introduce the Outstanding Papers of 2023.

Urban stormwater is a source of persistent, mobile and toxic substances, however the risk for water resources is unknown.

Harnessing phage for biological treatment is of growing interest, but an improved understanding of phage diversity, host range, lifestyle, molecular signaling, and genetic potential are needed for microbial community control.

PFAS are widely used in lithium-ion batteries, which may be problematic for the rapidly growing battery recycling industry.

Pollutant particulate matter and ultrafine particles have been related to the rise of neurodegenerative diseases and other brain disorders. It is necessary to understand their potential health impacts in order to develop strategies to reduce risks.

Much of the ozone that enters buildings reacts with human skin oils, both on occupants and on other surfaces. Products of these reactions influence human chemical exposures.

Applications of nanotechnology in biopesticides could achieve controlled release, increase the solubility, and exhibit location targeting and strong compatibility.

As of 2020, a cumulative total of 31 306 kilotonnes of manmade persistent organic pollutants had been synthesized and commercialized worldwide, resulting in cumulative releases of 20 348 kilotonnes into the global environment.

Nanoplastics, solid polymer particles smaller than 1 μm, are suspected to be widely present in the environment, food and air, and may pose a potential threat to human health.

Aqueous photochemistry of isoprene derivatives helps reconcile model budgets of organic aerosol mass and gas-phase formic and acetic acids.

VOC emissions from asphalt pavements at service temperature contribute significantly to SOA formation in urban areas.

The use of glycols is seen in various industries and occupations.

Complex carbon mineralization at nanoscale mineral interfaces resolved with in situ X-ray diffraction and molecular simulations.

Agricultural lands produce high loads of aerosol particles, which could cool the climate, overcoming the well-known climate warming effects of agriculture.

Machine learning of the mid-infrared spectra of postconsumer plastics will help prevent, separate, and purify wastestreams contributing to global pollution.

Mechanochemical treatment, or high energy ball milling, was successfully employed to destroy per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in an aqueous film-forming foam concentrate and an authentic contaminated soil sample.

Wildfire activity is increasing in the continental U.S. and can be linked to climate change effects and nutrient emissions, with potential effects on downwind ecosystems.

Wastewater-based epidemiology is a promising tool to anticipate potential viral outbreaks not only at city-scale but also at precincts-scale or even buildings.

A classification SAR approach for the toxicity of metal and metal oxide nanoparticles, towards various cells and organisms. The analysis revealed key nanoparticle properties that induce toxicity.

A GO/CuO composite film was synthesized via a facile ultrasonication method towards the enhanced solar absorbance for high-efficient ISSG.