Phosphorus (P) is a key limiting nutrient for many lake systems. However, a rise in the level of phosphorus in lake waters can stimulate the growth of excess plants and algae. The increase in phosphorus facilitates rapid increases in lake productivity, causing events as such as algal blooms, which can lead to reductions in water quality. Phosphorus has been one of the major nutrients responsible for algal blooms over the last several decades.

Most sources of excess phosphorus in lakes are external to their catchments and are mainly due to human activities, such as agricultural runoff, sewage discharge and industrial pollution. These external sources of phosphorus have been well defined over the years and, in many of the UK most important lakes, they are regulated and strictly limited.

Lakes such as Esthwaite Water in the Lake District have seen significant reductions in external phosphorus inputs over recent decades, through conscious management to combat previous nutrient pollution problems. However, many lakes, including Esthwaite Water, are still experiencing issues with major algal blooms, despite stringent regulation and monitoring.

Our research aims to quantify why levels of phosphorus in these lakes are still so high, by assessing how much is still coming in from external sources and how much is being sourced from the nutrient-rich sediments historically deposited within the lake.

This round of fieldwork saw the team collecting three lake sediment cores (for isotope and geochemical analyses) as well as numerous water samples from the lake itself and its input streams. All these samples will be analysed at the Loughborough University or BGS laboratories.

It is hoped that the stable phosphate oxygen isotope analysis of the lake sediments in particular will offer novel insights into the past and current phosphorus dynamics at Esthwaite Water. The team will then be able to identify if the lake sediments are contributing a large enough legacy source of phosphorus to the lake waters to maintain the algal blooms that the lake suffers from.

This work is ongoing and experimental but, if successful, it could be applied to a large range of polluted lake systems in the UK and worldwide, to help identify and fingerprint phosphorus sources.

Funding

This work was facilitated and supported by established Esthwaite scientists Gareth McShane and Ellie Mackay from the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.

About the author

North Lanarkshire has an industrialised past, including a significant coal mining legacy. Created by BGS alongside WSP UK and North Lanarkshire Council (NLC), the new coal mine gas risk decision-support tool helps to provide a preliminary risk assessment of coal mine gas emissions in North Lanarkshire. The tool utilises publicly available data and information from BGS and the Mining Remediation Authority on the subsurface to inform an instant risk zone rating for any 50 × 50 m grid cell within the North Lanarkshire area.

The tool is now live and being used by NLC to identify areas at potential risk of coal mine gas emissions and communicate them to relevant planning applications for new building or housing developments, helping to manage the risk.

After two years of research and development, we are pleased that the coal mine gas risk decision support tool is now live. It is underpinned by data and geoscience and enables NLC to identify and communicate potential risks so that these can be managed by planning applications for new builds.

We will continue to update and enhance the tool and hope to be able to expand it to be used by other councils across Scotland in the future to help manage risk.

Darren Beriro, principal geoscientist at BGS who led the development of the tool.

The new tool provides information about the risk of mine gas emissions on land across North Lanarkshire, helping inform development decisions and planning applications. By giving consistent, accurate information, the tool avoids the need for additional investigations where there is a negligible risk and allows development to progress more quickly. Where there is an increased risk from mine gas, the tool helps direct developers to expertise, advice and support on the actions required to address the risks and put in place controls to allow the development to progress.

Mark Findlay, pollution control and public health manager at North Lanarkshire Council.

In addition to the best available data from the BGS and MRA, WSP UK have developed Risk Zone Advisories within the tool and it is the combination of these items that enables NLC to consistently and efficiently screen and communicate preliminary risks to planning applicants and developers.

We are excited to see the tool in use after a long collaborative effort and hope to introduce it across other areas with significant coal mining legacy.

Aliyssa Glen, principal consultant at WSP who led the development of the tool within WSP.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are known as ‘forever chemicals’ due to their durability and widespread presence in the environment. Some PFAS are known to have adverse impacts on human health and the environment if concentrations are present above specific thresholds.

A new , co-authored by BGS and the Environment Agency, has revealed data around the presence of PFAS in shallow English soils that will allow scientists to better understand background concentrations. The Environment Agency commissioned the study to assess the feasibility and suitability of using archived samples at BGS to support the analysis of contemporary samples. This is part of a larger programme of work to improve understanding of the anthropogenic background concentrations of PFAS in shallow soils in England.

The results found PFAS to be present in all new and archived samples, with PFAS concentrations generally being higher in the contemporary samples. It is too early to determine if this is a result of a genuine increase in concentrations or another factor, such as the degradation of samples over time. The research does confirm the presence of these substances over this timescale, but does not attempt to assess any potential risks to human health or the environment.

Our research reveals that PFAS are widespread and persistent in the natural soils we sampled in England, which highlights the need for a comprehensive national survey. Investigating the presence and distribution of the background concentrations of artificial chemicals such as PFAS in soil is a key part of creating shared independent evidence that informs the risks they pose to people and the environment.

This study is a great example of how BGS uses its independent expertise to collaborate with Government and its agencies to create new geoscientific information and data on chemicals in soils.

Dr Darren Beriro, BGS Principal Geoscientist.

The global science on PFAS is evolving rapidly and we are working with partners, including BGS, to better understand their prevalence in our environment.

Though ongoing research is needed, the results of this study are useful for understanding how these chemicals may degrade over time.

We continue to test for PFAS in the environment, including regular testing for more than 50 different PFAS in water, and we work closely with several partners, including local authorities, to assess and manage any environmental risks from contaminated land.

Environment Agency.

The paper has highlighted the need for further research, including systematic surveying of UK soils, to investigate the distribution of PFAS concentrations and the potential impact on human health and the environment.

For more information, please contact 51ÁÔÆæ press (bgspress@bgs.ac.uk) or call 07790 607 010.

Pesticide pollution can be extremely damaging to the environment. Pesticides are intrinsically toxic chemicals capable of inflicting a wide range of effects on wildlife, which can in turn cause lasting damage to wildlife populations and ecosystems. Despite these concerns, more research needs to be undertaken to understand the level of pesticide pollution in English rivers.

New research has assessed the , which are currently on the market and being used in various applications, including agriculture. The research also evaluated the pollution by such pesticides in the waters and sediments of two English rivers; the River Tone in Somerset, which runs through Taunton, and the River Wensum in Norfolk, which runs through Norwich. The data generated by the study represents one of the most comprehensive assessments of pesticides in any English river catchment to date and is widely applicable to other river catchments across the UK.

Water, sediments, fish and invertebrates were collected along the two rivers and analysed for 52 pesticides. The study, undertaken by BGS in collaboration with the University of Nottingham, found that the veterinary pesticide fipronil was measured at high concentrations. Fipronil is commonly used by vets as an anti-flea treatment for dogs and likely gets into our rivers by dogs accessing these waterways. In addition, propiconazole (a systemic fungicide commonly used in agriculture) was found at elevated concentrations in sediments from the rivers Tone and Wensum.

Neonicotinoids, a group of neuro-active insecticides, are used in agriculture to help prevent crops from being eaten by pests and were found in both of the rivers. At one-third of the sites sampled, the level of neonicotinoids exceeded the chronic threshold for aquatic invertebrates, meaning they will be affecting the health of these organisms.

Modern chemical pesticides have positive applications, such as veterinary medicines helping prevent fleas in domestic pets and in UK agriculture where herbicides, insecticides and fungicides can help prevent food shortages by protecting crops from various pests.

However, our research has highlighted that these pesticides are now present in English rivers and could potentially pose threats to the local wildlife. To help mitigate the risk to ecosystem health, additional protective measures are needed to promote more environmentally sustainable practices, alongside the introduction of stricter regulation around the most high-risk pesticides to help protect our rivers from further impact.

Christopher Vane, head of BGS Organic Geochemistry.

The research has highlighted that further studies need to be completed in order to determine the effects that modern pesticides could have on ecosystems of rivers. BGS will also complete additional research in other countries over the next few years, which will continue to assess which pesticides are present in rivers.

The research paper, ‘, is available to read.

In rapidly developing urban environments, water-quality protection is particularly challenging due to diverse pollution sources. Protecting water resources by identifying pollutants is essential to safeguarding both human health and the natural environment. A new study on the , led by researchers at BGS in partnership with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), presents the first combined assessment of emerging organic contaminants (EOC) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) indicators from multiple water sources in the Indian city of Bengaluru.

EOCs include chemicals like pharmaceuticals, personal care products and pesticides that can end up in groundwater, often from waste water. AMR happens when bacteria become resistant to antibiotics and spread through contaminated water sources, making infections harder to treat. The new data can help local stakeholders, such as regulators, understand the local groundwater recharge mechanisms and how pollution spreads through water sources, which can affect water quality and safety.

The study

The study assessed the sources of contamination in groundwater in the city and found that contaminants could be linked to rivers, lakes and sewers or piped water, highlighting the widespread vulnerability of groundwater to different pollution sources. This information can be used to improve understanding of the water recharge processes.

Twenty-five samples were collected from groundwater, local surface waters and tap water in the Cauvery Basin in eastern India. The samples were screened for around 1500 pollutants and 125 pollutants were identified. Medical and veterinary-based compounds, including antimicrobials, were the most prevalent, being found in around 60 per cent of samples.

Forever chemicals

High concentrations of polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were also detected at concentrations higher than in previous studies in Indian cities. PFAS are known as ‘forever chemicals’ due to their durability and widespread presence in the environment, and are linked to a variety of health concerns including certain cancers and reductions in immune function. They are currently unregulated in India but, based on the EU Drinking Water Directive, the threshold for the sum of selected PFAS (0.1 Î¼g/L) was exceeded for all water types except tap water.

Study findings

The water in Bengaluru is consumed by up to 8Ìýmillion people each day, but our results have highlighted that a variety of chemicals are exceeding international regulatory standards and could pose a potential risk to humans and the natural environment.

Bentje Brauns, BGS Hydrogeologist and study leader

When we compared the levels of the AMR indicator gene to those found in the global literature, some water sources inÌýBengaluruÌýhad concentrations in the same order of magnitude as those found in polluted environments, including waste water and rivers near drug manufacturing facilities.

Holly Tipper, molecular biologist at UKCEH who performed the AMR analyses

The findings suggest the need for developing a comprehensive urban groundwater quality monitoring programme for Bengaluru city.

Sekhar Muddu, IISc

The study addresses a knowledge gap in the occurrence of pollutants and relationships in different water sources in urban India, reinforcing understanding that there is no ‘one size fits all’ data solution to the problem.

Tests need to be undertaken at localised sites across the country to provide a comprehensive overview of India water supply in order to ensure that there is minimal risk.

Bentje Brauns

Surface water bodies with recently implemented protection measures, such as prevention of sewage inflow, had fewer EOCs detected than other surface waters and were found to have much lower risk of AMR development. This shows how relatively simply urban protection measures can protect freshwater quality.

Funding

The research underlying this paper was carried out under the UPSCAPE project of the Newton-Bhabha programme, ‘Sustaining water resources for food, energy and ecosystem services’, funded by the UK Natural Environment Research Council (NERC/51ÁÔÆæ) [NE/N016270/1] and the Indian Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) [MoES/NERC/IA-SWR/P1/08/2016-PC-II (i), (ii)].

Laboratory analysis, data interpretation and write up were additionally funded by the BGS NC-ODA Grant ‘Geoscience for sustainable futures’ [NE/R000069/1] and the BGS NC International programme ‘Geoscience to tackle global environmental challenges’, NERC reference NE/X006255/1.

D S Read, H J Tipper and A A Singer were supported by the UK Natural Environment Research Council award number NE/R000131/1 as part of the SUNRISE programme delivering National Capability.

51ÁÔÆæ first-of-its-kind online tool, , predicts which roads create the most run-off pollutants and how road pollution can be tackled with nature-based solutions. The tool helps local authorities to prioritise water-quality improvement interventions at roads where major road run-off pollution is occurring and in the greenspaces that lie between the roads and the rivers. It is now being extended to estimate the number of pollutants, including fertilisers and pesticides, that are transported into rivers in rural areas.

°Õ³ó±ðÌýfirst online map was launched in 2023 in LondonÌýand was partly funded by the Mayor of London, Transport for London (TfL) and the Environment Agency. It now highlights more than 280 miles (450km) of the capital roads that have a higher risk of road run-off pollution. In total, the tool now covers roughly 3862.3 km (2400 miles or 10 per cent) of London major roads.

What causes the pollution?

Fertilisers, pesticides and animal waste in rural areas can run off into rivers, introducing chemicals and excess nutrients that can cause algal blooms, depleting oxygen and harming aquatic life. Similarly, run-off from roads can carry oil, heavy metals and other toxic substances into waterways, contaminating the water and affecting ecosystems. These pollutants not only harm wildlife but also threaten the quality of drinking water for communities.

How does the tool work?

The tool combines pollutant emission factors, local rainfall conditions, surface area and the make-up of traffic on particular routes, using official data to predict where pollution hotspots are likely to occur. Results are shown on an interactive map. The tool then suggests potential nature-based solutions, such as wetlands, ponds and rain gardens, alongside roads to manage pollution before the water discharges into streams or rivers.

The new, expanded tool

The expanded tool will be tested across the catchment of the upper River Thames, above Dorchester-on-Thames. This area is predominantly covered by arable crops and grassland, but it has varied geology and soils that affect the movement of water and pollutants through the landscape. It also includes urban areas and sections of the M4 and M40 motorways, which generate pollution in road run-off.

The project, which is funded by the Government Office for Technology Transfer, will last for 18 months.

The Road Pollution Solutions Tool, which was only launched just over a year ago, is already showing just how beneficial it is in highlighting which roads in London are at risk of road run-off pollution.
Expanding this tool further to include an integrated assessment of agricultural pollution risks means that we can assess these pollution sources and explore what can be done to reduce them.

Chris Jackson, head of BGS Environmental Modelling.

Road Pollution Solutions is built on years of research by environmental charity and its partner , as well as the . The charity started its initial road runoff project identifying key polluting London roads in 2019, with funding help from the , and the .

51ÁÔÆæ scientists have discovered significantly elevated concentrations of several elements in the soil within many urban areas of the UK. The findings are based on the most extensive snapshot of the UK topsoil chemical data ever produced, which has now been made available to the public for free as part of a world-leading BGS project.

Over four decades, several hundred scientists collected around 58 000 topsoil samples from rural and urban areas across the country to create the most in-depth and exhaustive map of its kind available globally. The data revealed that several elements, including antimony, arsenic, cadmium, calcium, copper, lead, tin and zinc, are present in soils of many of the UK urban areas as a result of environmental pollution.

This is the first time that such a large-scale dataset has been used to evaluate environmental pollution in the UK. It provides a vital reference point for establishing the distribution of several potentially harmful elements (PHEs) in the urban environment. It will enhance the understanding of interactions between people and ecosystems and help to focus further research into the effects the soil chemical environment may have on human and ecosystem health.

This mapping project represents one of the most detailed datasets of its kind anywhere in the world. This data is useful for a multitude of purposes and will help to pave the way for enhanced decision making around the planning and development of the communities in which we live.

Through a greater understanding of the mix of geochemical elements, the UK can enhance its strategic land use planning. This will have a significant effect on decision making around land use, environmental hazards, food production, soil health assessments, identifying new opportunities for mineral exploration and continuing to identify and quantify human impacts on the environment.

Paul Everett, geochemical survey expert at BGS.

The ability to pinpoint the distribution of 41 different chemical elements and identify areas where human activities have affected soil geochemistry gives us invaluable insights and forms a key baseline for researchers from a wide range of disciplines.

The data is available for all to view and download for free on the and will likely prove an essential resource for scientists, developers, local authorities and environmentalists for centuries to come.

About the project

The dataset is provided and to be used at national (1:2 500 000) to regional (1:1 000 000) scales; in the surveyed 25 urban centres, the dataset can be used at larger scales up to the resolution of the 500 Ã— 500 m prediction grid cell; that is, a nominal scale of 1:500 000 with a zoom in up to 1:250 000 scale only.

The UK Compiled Topsoil dataset will provide a resource for research into the effects the soil chemical environment may have on people health, though this is a specialist area for health professionals and researchers that is not directly within the remit of the BGS. For answers to health-related questions, please contact your local authority or your local Health Protection Agency health protection unit.

For more information, please contact BGS press (bgspress@bgs.ac.uk) or call 07790 607 010.

My name is Maureene Auma Ondayo and I am a 51ÁÔÆæ-funded PhD candidate at the University of Eldoret, Kenya, and BGS, with a background in environmental and public health. In this blog I will share my PhD research, investigating major and trace element exposure in the environment. This includes ores, soils, sediment and waters, locally grown staple food crops (maize, leafy vegetables, pulses and tubers), and human samples (hair, nails and urine). My research also incorporates risk factors of exposure to potentially harmful elements (PHEs) and associated health implications among artisanal and small-scale gold mining workers and local residents.  

What is artisanal and small-scale gold mining?  

Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is an informal mining sector that provides subsistence-level livelihoods for many rural communities across the world. In Kenya, ASGM occurs in Migori, Narok, Siaya, Vihiga, Kakamega, Nandi, Kisumu, Turkana, West Pokot, Marsabit, Homa Bay and Kericho counties. It is estimated that ASGM production yields around 5 metric tons per year (worth around £250 million), employing 250 000 workers with more than 1 million dependents. The main environmental and health risks associated with ASGM relate to poor conditions at mining camps and mining operations, which include the extensive misuse of mercury in the production process.   

Mining the gold 

Miners often rely on local knowledge when prospecting for gold after which agricultural land and pristine forests are cleared to make way for the mine. Ores are excavated and broken into smaller pieces using sledgehammers and mills, dispersing large volumes of contaminated dust across nearby environments and communities. Milled ore powder is then wetted and sluiced to extract the gold particles. Panning separates gold-associated sediment particles, then liquid mercury is added, which joins together with the gold to form an amalgam and separates it from the sediment. The amalgam is then burnt on open flames, vaporising the mercury and leaving behind the gold, whilst tailings and wastewater from ASGM are disposed of in nearby farms, residences, playgrounds and waterways. 

These activities expose the workers and local populations to extreme health and safety hazards, with injuries, diseases and premature deaths reported in ASGM areas.  

Hazards of ASGM 

Exposure to potentially toxic elements (PTEs), physical hazards, gaseous emissions, overexertion, physical injuries and poor ventilation inside the mines are the key hazards to human health in ASGM. This exposure results in a wide range of health disorders including:  

• cancers 
• immunity suppression 
• neurological disorders 
• developmental health effects  

Socio-economic issues related to mining activities are also present in local areas, including alcohol and addiction, violence and HIV/AIDs.  

My research 

During my PhD, I investigated the environmental and human exposure and health implications among nineteen ASGM communities in Kakamega and Vihiga counties, Kenya. 

I collected soil, sediment, water, locally grown food and human biomarker samples (hair, nails and urine) from ASGM workers and residents of ASGM villages and analysed them for major and trace elements at BGS Inorganic Geochemistry Facility in Keyworth. Further risk factors from PTE exposure and potential health effects among the studied ASGM communities were assessed through interviews.  

Study results 

Kakamega and Vihiga counties are naturally enriched with macro- and micro-elements and the ASGM activities primarily disperse them across surrounding environments and communities. The results show that:  

• soils, sediments and water sources in the ASGM villages were highly polluted by PTEs, including arsenic, mercury, chromium, lead and nickel 
• soil concentrations of arsenic, chromium and nickel in the studied ASGM villages were 154, 9 and 4 times higher than background concentrations, respectively 
• drinking-water samples in the ASGM villages, including springs, shallow wells and mine shafts, were heavily polluted with arsenic, lead and chromium. Very worryingly, we observed mine workers and residents drinking mine-shaft water, the most contaminated water at the ASGMs, when they were extracting the ore!  
• locally grown staple food crops were also contaminated with arsenic, nickel, lead, chromium, cadmium, mercury and aluminium, and were not considered safe for consumption  

The inhalation of gaseous PHEs like mercury during amalgam burning, the consumption of locally grown staple food crops and drinking water, and ingesting PTE-contaminated dust and soils (especially children and pregnant women that exhibit pica, that is, eating non-food items like soil) were the main exposure pathways found in our study. Self-reported potential pollution-related health effects included cancers, neurological effects, respiratory infections, musculoskeletal effects, infectious diseases including HIV/AIDS, and malaria.    

Working with the ASGM community 

A key aspect of my PhD was the multidisciplinary research approach taken to understand the relationships between the environment, diet and public health to effectively assess and communicate human exposure and health risks. We continue to collaborate with ASGM workers, local communities and local health practitioners while sharing our findings.  

On 2 December 2023, we met with county public health administrators to understand how best to present and share the data for interpretation with our key stakeholders. These include: 

• politicians 
• broader county employees 
• the departments of mining, environment, and law enforcement 
• community health workers 
•  the studied ASGM communities in both Kakamega and Vihiga counties 

Additional meetings with public health officers, medical practitioners, environment and agricultural departments and other key stakeholders are planned. This will let us share our results and recommendations on reducing PTE exposure through environmental, occupational and public health safety controls, such as: 

• providing safer drinking water to ASGM communities 
• relocating residences and schools away from ASGM activities  
• controlling dust transfer 
• encouraging regular personal protective equipment (PPE) use 
• alternatives to mercury 
• safer cyanidation operations 
• wet milling 
• technological interventions in ore exploration, excavation, processing and recovery 
• targeted education and training on industrial hygiene 
• public health policy formulation in ASGM in Kenya 

This study characterised PHE exposure pathways and health risks among ASGM communities in the Kakamega gold belt. Our findings are valuable to public health authorities as they inform them of the mitigation actions that are needed to research further, reduce exposure, improve ASGM processes, and protect the environment, food sources and the health of ASGM workers and residents, including policy formulation. 

About the author 

Maureene Auma Ondayo is a 51ÁÔÆæ-funded PhD candidate at the University of Eldoret, Kenya, and BGS, with a background in environmental and public health. 

Co-authors  

Prof Odipo Osano is an environmental toxicologist at the University of Eldoret, Kenya. He has a background in veterinary medicine, public health, and community and laboratory-based environmental epidemiological research.   

Clive Mitchell, BGS Industrial Minerals Geologist.   

Dr Olivier Humphrey, BGS Environmental Chemist.   

Dr Michael Watts, BGS Head of Inorganic Geochemistry and lead for BGS International Geoscience Research and Development.