# Special Issue on Advances in Environmental Applied Physics--2 nd Edition
###### Abstract  
This Special Issue, titled \"Advances in Environmental Applied Physics--2 nd Edition\", compiles original contributions from prominent researchers addressing environmental pollutants and their implications for human health, notably the potential link to increased cancer rates. A diverse set of analytical tools is utilized in the detection and assessment of both physical and chemical contaminants in environmental matrices. These techniques include  
1. Alpha and gamma spectrometry, essential for measuring the specific activities of radionuclides emitting alpha and gamma radiation;  
2. Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), employed for determining trace metal concentrations;  
3. Liquid Scintillation Counting (LSC), used to measure activity levels of radionuclides such as tritium and radon and to perform gross alpha and beta analyses;  
4. The thick-source method, applied to assess overall alpha/beta activity in samples;  
5. Emanometry, often conducted in aqueous environments, to estimate radon gas activity. One article, \"Analysis of Gamma-Irradiation Effect on Radicals Formation and on Antiradical Capacity of Horse Chestnut (_Aesculus hippocampus_ L.) Seeds\", focuses on using Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectroscopy to explore free radical generation in irradiated seeds and to quantify their free radical scavenging ability (FRSA) through DPPH radical assays. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) was also used to characterize changes in polyphenic profiles in seeds subjected to gamma irradiation at doses of 1, 5, and 10 kGy. EPR results showed persistent radical signals--up to 45 days for 1 kGy and up to 250 days for 5 and 10 kGy. Interestingly, FRSA increased in shell extracts but declined in peeled seeds, with effects varying by dose and correlating with phenolic content. Additionally, gamma irradiation induced the degradation of some polyphenols and the synthesis of new ones, with the 5 kGy dose most positively impacting antioxidant potential [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11]. Another study, \"Towards the Sustainable Removal of Heavy Metals from Wastewater Using _Arthospira platensis_: A Laboratory-Scale Approach in the Context of a Green Circular Economy\", investigates the microalga's efficiency in treating multi-metal-contaminated systems. Cultures of _Arthospira platensis_ were exposed to individual and combined solutions of Cu, Cd, Ni, Pb, and Zn. Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) was used to determine metal uptake. Supplementary analyses included FTIR, NIR, UV-Vis spectrophotometry, optical microscopy, as well as pH and electrical conductivity (EC) measurements. Results indicated that the alga maintains effective remediation in multi-metal scenarios, with enhanced removal of Cu, Cd, Pb, and Zn, suggesting synergistic effects. Conversely, Ni removal declined under multi-metal stress, hinting at antagonistic interactions. The study confirms _A. platensis_ as a strong candidate for bioremediation in complex pollution scenarios [12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22]. The study titled \"Determination of Lichens' Bioaccumulation Capacity for Radioactive Isotopes Under Laboratory Conditions as a Basis for Their Application as Biomonitors\" assesses _Cladonia uncialis_ as a biomonitor for radionuclide contamination. Under laboratory-simulated fallout conditions using gamma-emitting isotopes, lichens were exposed to varying concentrations across three aquariums. The uptake of isotopes including \({}^{54}\)Mn, \({}^{57}\)Co, \({}^{60}\)Co, \({}^{65}\)Zn, \({}^{137}\)Cs, and \({}^{241}\)Am was rapid, primarily within the initial days. Analysis of both washed and unwashed samples showed intracellular retention, confirming efficient bioaccumulation. Aggregated Transfer Coefficients (Tag) ranged from 0.34 to 0.64, and absorption efficiency followed the trend: \({}^{54}\)Mn \(<\)\({}^{57}\)Co \(<\)\({}^{60}\)Co \(<\)\({}^{65}\)Zn \(<\)\({}^{241}\)Am \(<\)\({}^{137}\)Cs.