# Most-cited Environmental Science papers of 2019, with free PDFs

The 25 most-cited Environmental Science research papers published in 2019, ranked by citations in OpenAlex, with their original abstracts and free PDFs where available.

1. [Occurrence of the potent mutagens 2- nitrobenzanthrone and 3-nitrobenzanthrone in fine airborne particles](https://nerdi.pages.dev/paper/W2909240409) · 8,498 citations · Free PDF
2. [Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology of Hazardous Heavy Metals: Environmental Persistence, Toxicity, and Bioaccumulation](https://nerdi.pages.dev/paper/W2919629449) · 3,213 citations
3. [Human Consumption of Microplastics](https://nerdi.pages.dev/paper/W2948574679) · 2,734 citations
4. [The Global Methane Budget 2000-2017](https://nerdi.pages.dev/paper/W2972407136) · 2,701 citations · Free PDF
5. [Pervasive human-driven decline of life on Earth points to the need for transformative change](https://nerdi.pages.dev/paper/W2995840337) · 2,700 citations · Free PDF
6. [Pharmaceuticals of Emerging Concern in Aquatic Systems: Chemistry, Occurrence, Effects, and Removal Methods](https://nerdi.pages.dev/paper/W2920769774) · 2,653 citations
7. [Reassessing the projections of the World Water Development Report](https://nerdi.pages.dev/paper/W2966722893) · 2,561 citations
8. [Microplastics in freshwaters and drinking water: Critical review and assessment of data quality](https://nerdi.pages.dev/paper/W2918895016) · 2,538 citations
9. [Mapping the world’s free-flowing rivers](https://nerdi.pages.dev/paper/W2944057425) · 2,458 citations
10. [Future scenarios of global plastic waste generation and disposal](https://nerdi.pages.dev/paper/W2914665624) · 2,333 citations · Free PDF
11. [Waste Mismanagement in Developing Countries: A Review of Global Issues](https://nerdi.pages.dev/paper/W2923879367) · 2,281 citations · Free PDF
12. [Drivers of improved PM 2.5 air quality in China from 2013 to 2017](https://nerdi.pages.dev/paper/W2990705976) · 2,211 citations
13. [The global tree restoration potential](https://nerdi.pages.dev/paper/W2955316307) · 2,191 citations
14. [Microplastics Can Change Soil Properties and Affect Plant Performance](https://nerdi.pages.dev/paper/W2941378544) · 2,158 citations
15. [Plant phenology and global climate change: Current progresses and challenges](https://nerdi.pages.dev/paper/W2922633580) · 2,137 citations
16. [TRY plant trait database – enhanced coverage and open access](https://nerdi.pages.dev/paper/W2983606184) · 2,117 citations · Free PDF
17. [Decline of the North American avifauna](https://nerdi.pages.dev/paper/W2974449448) · 2,106 citations
18. [The Community Land Model Version 5: Description of New Features, Benchmarking, and Impact of Forcing Uncertainty](https://nerdi.pages.dev/paper/W2981104727) · 2,067 citations · Free PDF
19. [Heavy metals in food crops: Health risks, fate, mechanisms, and management](https://nerdi.pages.dev/paper/W2912799455) · 2,062 citations
20. [Scientists’ warning to humanity: microorganisms and climate change](https://nerdi.pages.dev/paper/W2952982270) · 2,053 citations · Free PDF
21. [Nature and mental health: An ecosystem service perspective](https://nerdi.pages.dev/paper/W2964203982) · 1,986 citations
22. [Detection of Various Microplastics in Human Stool](https://nerdi.pages.dev/paper/W2972186294) · 1,963 citations
23. [Sustainable development: Meaning, history, principles, pillars, and implications for human action: Literature review](https://nerdi.pages.dev/paper/W2967769829) · 1,861 citations
24. [Increased atmospheric vapor pressure deficit reduces global vegetation growth](https://nerdi.pages.dev/paper/W2969017260) · 1,769 citations · Free PDF
25. [1 km monthly temperature and precipitation dataset for China from 1901 to 2017](https://nerdi.pages.dev/paper/W2971897573) · 1,743 citations · Free PDF

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