Critical raw materials (CRMs) are emerging inorganic pollutants because of their technological use and release into remote marine environments. However, their occurrence, distribution, and ecological significance in Antarctic waters remain poorly understood, and existing risk indices have not been adapted for CRMs in these systems. This study investigated selected CRMs in surface waters collected from 21 stations across the Antarctic Peninsula and Horseshoe Island during three consecutive Turkish Antarctic Expeditions (2023–2025). Trace and ultra-trace concentrations were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry under contamination-controlled conditions. CRM distributions were heterogeneous: B, Ga, Li, Nd, and Ti were detected at all stations; Ce, Gd, Ge, La, Pd, and Pt remained below detection limits; and Y exhibited a more localised abundance. To complement concentration-based analysis, normalised contamination indices were integrated with CRM-specific response coefficients in a recalibrated potential ecological risk index (r-PERI) adapted to Antarctic surface waters. The r-PERI values ranged from 35 to 104 across years and stations, indicating very low-to-low relative ecological prioritisation. By integrating element-specific occurrence, release-related weighting, and experimentally informed toxicity responses, r-PERI provides a structured approach to comparing the relative ecological significance of CRMs under data-limited polar conditions. Because the toxicity coefficients are experimental and the normalisation baseline is internal to this dataset, r-PERI should be interpreted as a screening-level, dataset-specific prioritisation rather than a definitive ecological-hazard assessment. This study establishes the first multi-year baseline for CRM occurrence in Antarctic Peninsula surface waters and introduces an r-PERI approach for future assessments in vulnerable polar marine ecosystems.
Insecticides are extensively utilized in modern agriculture to control pests and enhance crop yields; however, their pervasive application has emerged as a primary driver of global soil contamination. Following a systematic literature search strategy across major academic databases, this review critically examines the environmental fate, sources, transport mechanisms, and persistence of these agrochemicals within the dynamic soil matrix. Current estimates reveal a staggering inefficiency, with less than 0.1
This study was conducted to determine the effects of seven different rootstocks (Seedling, Quince A, Quince BA 29, Fox 11, Farold 40, OHxF 87, and OHxF 333) on the postharvest quality characteristics of ‘Williams’ pear fruits during cold storage at 0 ± 0.5 °C and 90 ± 5
The development of multifunctional nanocomposite fibers that combine dielectric performance, thermal stability, and antimicrobial activity is of increasing importance for advanced flexible electronics and antimicrobial surface technologies. In this study, PVA-CMC-SA/5
In this study, multifunctional PVA–SA-based nanofibers incorporating cerium hexaboride (CeB₆) nanoparticles and MXene (Ti₃CNTₓ) were successfully fabricated via electrospinning to develop advanced dielectric and thermally stable materials. Structural and morphological analyses confirmed the homogeneous integration of both fillers within the polymer matrix while preserving fiber integrity. The synergistic interaction between CeB₆ and MXene played a critical role in enhancing interfacial polarization, charge transport, and thermal resistance. MXene incorporation increased the maximum degradation temperature from 311 °C to 327 °C, while significantly improving dielectric performance, with ε′ values reaching 15–16 at higher loadings. In addition, capacitance values nearly doubled, indicating enhanced energy storage capability. Mechanistically, MXene sheets facilitated the formation of conductive pathways and strong interfacial dipolar interactions, whereas CeB₆ served as a stabilizing phase and a charge-trapping center. This hybrid interaction resulted in reduced impedance and improved frequency-dependent electrical behavior. Overall, the developed CeB6–MXene/PVA–SA nanofibers exhibit tunable surface characteristics and enhanced multifunctional performance, making them promising candidates for flexible electronics, dielectric layers, sensor platforms, and energy-related applications.
