The global issue of water source eutrophication is exacerbated by increasing industrialization and urbanization, posing significant challenges for clean water management. Although strategies such as nutrient management and biomanipulation are employed, these methods often take longer to demonstrate effectiveness and indirectly work on algal blooms. This has led to the evaluation of eco-friendly technologies such as plant-mineral composites (PMCs) for faster and targeted control of algal proliferation and organic pollution. This study assessed the suitability of PMCs for rapid improvement of eutrophic water quality (focusing on algal control) and optimized their application methods at laboratory and field scales. Laboratory experiments were conducted to identify the critical factors influencing removal activity (RA), considering variables such as water temperature and light intensity. Field trials in reservoirs and a water treatment plant (WTP) explored the controlling factors influencing the RAs for various pollutants. Optimal conditions for maximizing PMC efficacy were determined using response surface methodology (RSM) and generalized linear models. RSM highlighted water temperature as a key factor influencing chlorophyll a RA in a unimodal manner, while demonstrating PMC's effectiveness across varying concentrations, depths, and pH levels. Results from the WTP emphasized the high PMC efficacy in humic matter-rich environments, and those from reservoirs consistently demonstrated PMC's effectiveness regardless of ambient water quality factors such as nutrient and conductivity levels. Comparative analyses indicated distinct PMC impact on algae-associated parameters, emphasizing its potential as an innovative solution for utilizing plant allelopathy and mineral adsorption for efficient algal bloom control and water quality enhancement.

Wetland restoration can aid in the recovery of ecosystem services. However, an increasing number of reports indicate that eutrophication occurs in downstream water bodies during the early stages of wetland restoration in agricultural settings. Whether this phenomenon changes with temporal dynamics remains poorly known. Therefore, in this study, we used soil phosphorus fractions and stoichiometry as indicators to investigate soil phosphorus leaching and examine their evolution during both short- and long-term wetland restoration, aiming to identify the key driving factors. The results showed that only soil inorganic phosphorus (Pi) decreased during short-term restoration, while soil organic P (Po) increased during long-term restoration, which indicates that the restoration period can promote the transformation of Pi to Po. The soil total organic carbon: total P (C:P) and total nitrogen: total P (N:P) ratios did not differ during short-term wetland restoration, while C:P and N:P significantly increased under long-term wetland restoration (163% and 225%), demonstrating an increasing trend of P demand with increasing wetland restoration time. Finally, redundancy analysis showed that reactive iron (Fe) and pH were the dominant factors influencing soil P pools under short-term restoration. In contrast, TN, SOC, and pH were dominant factors driving P pools under long-term restoration, and changes in the dominant factors driving P pools also implied that organic carbon contributed to Po accumulation. Overall, these indicators show that wetland restoration improves soil P stability and reduces the potential for soil P release. The findings highlight the importance of incorporating soil P fraction analyses and stoichiometric evaluation into soil P management to guide effective P management during wetland restorations.

Antibiotics in aquatic environments can foster the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, posing significant risks to both living organisms and ecosystems. This study explored the thermo-chemical conversion of cattle manure (CM) into biochar and assessed its potential as an environmental medium for removing nitrofurantoin (NFT) from water. The biochar was produced through the co-pyrolysis of CM and acid mine drainage sludge (AMDS) in a N condition. The gaseous and liquid products generated during pyrolysis were quantified and characterized. The biochar exhibited both catalytic and adsorptive capability in NFT removal. It effectively activated persulfate to drive oxidative degradation of NFT via radical (SO and •OH) and non-radical (O) pathways. NFT adsorption on the biochar involved multiple binding mechanisms, including electrostatic, hydrogen bonds, and π-π EDA interactions, as evidenced by XPS analysis before and after the reaction. Furthermore, the biochar's performance stability was demonstrated through five cycles of reuse and leaching tests. These findings present a viable approach to generate energy from waste by co-pyrolyzing of livestock manure and metal-containing industrial waste, while also producing environmental media capable of removing antibiotics from wastewater through diverse mechanisms.

Mental health status may be associated with residential neighborhoods' physical and social characteristics; however, longitudinal evidence is limited, and the findings are inconsistent.

The presence of rare earth elements (REE) in the southern hemisphere, particularly marine ecosystems of Patagonia, have received little attention. The Magellanic penguin, which is also known as the Patagonian penguin, inhabits only in austral regions of South America. Although seabird feathers have been used extensively as a bio-monitoring tool, no studies have addressed the effect of age on REE accumulation in Magellanic penguins. In this study, the concentrations of REE were determined by ICP-MS to detect La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Sc, Lu and Y in the feathers of Magellanic penguins from Magdalena Island, an important rookery in the Strait of Magallan. Age-related differences were studied to investigate the different patterns of REE bioaccumulation between adults and juveniles. The data showed that juvenile penguins exhibit higher REE-levels than adult individuals (p < 0.05). Mean REE-values (μg g d.w) differed several orders of magnitude, ranging from 0.002 for Lu in adults to 1.15 for Ce in juvenile individuals. The results are useful to understand the bioaccumulation of REE in fauna from remote and cold regions of the southern hemisphere.

Contaminants released into the atmosphere that undergo regional and long-range transport can deposit back to Earth through snowfall. When snow melts, these contaminants re-enter the environment, sometimes far from their original emission sources. Here we present the first comprehensive characterization of organic contaminants in snow from North America. Fresh snowfall samples were collected in the central United States over a three-year period and measured by liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry for suspect screening and non-targeted analysis. The resulting data set was screened against experimental MS/MS libraries and underwent supplemental in silico MS/MS analysis. In total, 91 possible compounds were tentatively identified in snow, and 17 were successfully confirmed and semi-quantified with reference standards. These contaminants were mostly anthropogenic in origin and included six herbicides, three insect repellants, one insecticide metabolite, and one fungicide. The most prominent compounds present in all samples were N-cyclohexylformamide (known contaminant in tire leachate), DEET (insect repellent), and dimethyl phthalate (plasticizer), with median deposition fluxes of 4032, 284, and 262 ng m, respectively. Three additional compounds were detected in 100% of samples: coumarin (phytochemical and fragrance additive), 5-methylbenzotriazole (antifreeze component), and quinoline (heterocyclic aromatic). The Peto-Peto test revealed statistically significant differences in deposition fluxes for these six contaminants (p < 0.05), with weak but statistically significant positive associations between coumarin and DEET and between coumarin and quinoline according to a Kendall's tau correlation analysis. These findings demonstrate the utility of in silico analysis to complement MS/MS matching with experimental databases. Even so, thousands of unidentified features remained in the data set, highlighting the limitations of current strategies in non-targeted analysis of environmental samples.

The toxic dyeing wastewater containing both carcinogenic Cr(VI) and refractory dyes poses serious threats to ecological safety and human health. Herein, a novel composite photocatalytic material e-LDH/t-BiOCl/BiS with an ultrathin sandwich structure constructed achieves removal rate constants of 0.044 and 0.019 min for Cr(VI) and reactive red 2 by adsorption-photocatalysis synergistic mechanism in full-spectrum illumination. This structure employs the interface conditions and built-in electric field to form multilevel short-range charge migration channel, achieving the targeted reduction and oxidation of Cr(VI) and azoxy dyes by electrons (e) and holes (h). Besides facilitating the reduction of Cr(VI), e can also enhance the effective utilization of h and mediate the formation of other reactive oxygen species that target RR2 degradation. The degradation mechanism, pathway, and biological toxicity of RR2 single and Cr(VI)/RR2 coexistence reaction system were discussed by DFT calculation, LC-MS characterization, and T.E.S.T. evaluation. Moreover, we further investigated the photocatalytic activity and cost-effectiveness of the e-LDH/t-BiOCl/BiS system under continuous flow and real water settings, and determined the primary water quality parameters that influence photocatalytic performance. This work establishes a new concept for the rational design of robust ternary heterostructure photocatalysts with desirable morphology and competitive performance for photocatalytic applications.

Chromium (Cr) is widely recognized as a significant environmental contaminant and a major contributor to global pollution. As a result, there is a strong emphasis on developing effective methods for the removal and reduction of Cr(VI). This review examines various applications of nanomaterial catalysts, including metallic oxides, metals, metallic sulfides, and carbon-based materials. These materials encompass naturally occurring substances, synthetically produced compounds, and artificially modified forms, all of which typically exhibit favorable adsorption properties and catalytic activity. We systematically summarize the mechanisms of adsorption and catalytic reduction associated with these nanomaterials, including photocatalysis, electrocatalysis, and direct catalysis. Finally, we explore the future directions and prospects of nanomaterials in environmental remediation, highlighting the key challenges that must be addressed in this field.

Straw return-to-field releases substantial dissolved organic matter (DOM), which can interact with clay minerals and influence mercury (Hg) dynamics in soil-plant systems. However, its detailed mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, DOM-montmorillonite (DOM-M) complexes were synthesized using DOM extracted from composted rice straw (DOM) and rape straw (DOM). The objective of this study was to investigate their impacts on Hg methylation in soil and the accumulation of total Hg (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) in vegetables. The results demonstrated that straw-derived DOM significantly increased MeHg levels in the soil and water spinach. However, humified straw-derived DOM effectively suppressed this elevation by 29.0-64.5%. Specifically, humified DOM resulted in lower MeHg concentrations in the soil and reduced THg and MeHg levels in water spinach compared to humified DOM. Natural montmorillonite reduced Hg methylation in the soil but increased the accumulation of THg and MeHg in water spinach. In contrast, the humified DOM-M complex significantly mitigated the MeHg accumulation in water spinach that was enhanced by montmorillonite, with a reduction percentage of 25.8-52.0%, while the humified DOM-M complex did not demonstrate a similar advantage. This discrepancy could be attributed to certain molecular components in DOM, such as higher thiol-rich protein-like fractions and oxidized S species, which could promote Hg retention within mineral layers. The reduced adsorption capacity of humified DOM-M for Hg also emphasized the unique role of humified DOM-M. Overall, this study highlights the importance of humified straw-derived DOM and its interaction with soil minerals in shaping Hg dynamics within the plant-soil system.

Pyrolysis of sewage sludge can significantly reduce industrial waste while producing high-value biochar for soil improvement. This study aimed to evaluate the quality and safety of biochar from sewage sludge under different pyrolysis conditions. Optimal carbonization conditions (700°C, 60 minutes, 5°C/min) were identified by analyzing the physicochemical properties, elemental composition, structural characteristics, and the specific surface area of biochar. Results show that pyrolysis of waste sludge reduces the total content of priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by 48%, from 6367 ng/g to 3317 ng/g, mainly due to a reduction in low-molecular-weight compounds. The composition of polyarenes in biochars is represented primarily by low-molecular compounds, among which naphthalene and phenanthrene predominate. At the same time, among high-molecular compounds, fluoranthene, pyrene, and chrysene stand out, significantly dominating the overall picture. According to the Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risk model, the carcinogenic risks associated with biochar usage are primarily driven by hazardous compounds such as chrysene, benzo(a)pyrene, and dibenz(a,h)anthracene, evaluated through toxic equivalent concentrations. It was found that with oral or dermal exposure to these pollutants, the likelihood of cancer in children is 1.1-1.4 times higher than in adults. At the same time, with inhalation, this threat increases by 1.5 times for adults compared to children. However, with increased pyrolysis temperature, heating rate, and holding time of sewage sludge, the carcinogenic risks of biochar decrease. Biochar produced under optimal conditions contains PAH levels below toxic threshold standards set by the International Biochar Initiative. The safe application rate for biochar in Haplic Chernozem soils at 0-20 cm depth is up to 26 t/ha.

There is growing concern about climate impacts on human health. However, empirical evidence is lacking regarding future projections of heat-related asthma hospitalizations. This study aimed to project excess emergency hospitalizations for heat-related asthma exacerbation in Japan.

Porous eco-concrete (PEC) can achieve safety protection and ecological protection. This study utilized cold-bonded lightweight aggregates (CBLAs) as coarse aggregates and improved the PEC preparation process via the disc shell-making method. The compressive strength, void ratio, pH value, sand permeability, and plant growth of PECs were studied. The use of CBLAs can reduce the amount of cement used, reduce the total amount of Ca(OH), and improve the living environment of plants. The new technology of using a disc to prepare PECs helps wrap the cement slurry evenly around CBLAs, reducing the problem of bottom slurry sedimentation and slurry blockage in fresh concrete and ensuring space for plant root growth. The germination rate of plants cultivated with CBLAs is more than twice that of plants cultivated with natural aggregates. In summary, this study provides a new avenue for the widespread application of CBLAs and AAPEC.

Bioaerosols pose significant risks to indoor environments and public health, driving interest in advanced antimicrobial air filtration technologies. Conventional antimicrobial filters often suffer from diminished efficacy over time and require additional binders to retain antimicrobial agents. This study introduces CV@PAN, a self-disinfecting nanofiber fabricated via electrospinning of crystal violet (CV) and polyacrylonitrile (PAN). The process effectively incorporated CV into the PAN framework, minimizing environmental release. We comprehensively analyzed the physical and chemical properties of CV@PAN nanofibers, including fiber morphology, size distribution, chemical composition, thermal stability, and transparency. The CV@PAN nanofibers exhibited an average diameter of 0.28 μm. The fabricated filter achieved a bioaerosol removal efficiency of >99.2% against Staphylococcus epidermidis, with a low-pressure drop of 401.6 Pa at a face velocity of 16 cm/s. The filter demonstrated an optical transparency exceeding 50%. Upon visible light exposure, the embedded CV generated reactive oxygen species, resulting in an antibacterial efficacy of >99.9%. These findings demonstrate the significant potential of CV@PAN nanofiber filters for air quality management and their promise as an advancement in antibacterial air filtration technology.

This study investigates the inactivation of Escherichia coli (E. coli) using pulsed dielectric barrier discharges (DBDs) powered by high-voltage nanosecond and microsecond pulses to establish optimal operational conditions. The effects of pulse voltage waveform and water matrix (distilled vs. tap water) were evaluated in terms of inactivation efficiency and energy consumption, along with the generation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS). Complete E. coli inactivation (9-log CFU/ml) in distilled water was achieved within 20 min of nanopulsed-DBD treatment, coinciding with rapid acidification, while in tap water, 90 min was required for complete inactivation. Interestingly, at treatment times with similar pH levels between water types, E. coli inactivation was more effective in tap water. Ozone concentrations showed the most significant difference, being ∼6 times higher in distilled water (10.3 mg/L) than in tap water (1.7 mg/L). Although distilled and tap water had similar concentrations of short- and long-lived plasma species, the differing inactivation efficiencies indicate a synergistic effect between pH reduction and reactive species in impairing E. coli functionality. Micropulsed-DBD led to increased concentration of plasma species, faster acidification and inactivation in tap water (complete inactivation within 8 min), but at significantly higher electrical energy per order (56.9 kWh/m compared to 17.4 kWh/m for nanopulsed-DBD). The lowest energy per order was recorded for nanopulsed-DBD in distilled water, at 3.8 kWh/m³, highlighting pulsed-DBD plasma as a safe and energy-efficient method for water disinfection. This study offers valuable insights into using an innovative, sustainable plasma-based approach for bacterial inactivation.

Microbubbles (MBs) possess unique characteristics, including exceptional stability, a high specific surface area, and increased internal pressure. When combined with ozone, these properties significantly enhance the mass transfer and utilization efficiency of ozone, resulting in improved removal of organic pollutants. In recent years, the innovative application of the ozone MBs process has garnered attention as an effective method for wastewater treatment. However, research on its application effects and oxidation mechanisms in this field remains relatively limited. This article provides a comprehensive review of the ozone MBs process, detailing the principles of various MB generation techniques, the oxidation mechanisms of ozone MBs, and the practical applications of this process. Additionally, we address existing controversies and highlight the unique features, efficacy, and limitations of this technology in wastewater treatment. Future research should urgently investigate the pollutant removal mechanisms of the ozone MBs process through device optimization and bubble dynamics, with the aim of enhancing processing efficiency and reducing operating costs. This study presents a viable direction for the advancement and exploration of ozone MB technology, providing scientific support and guidance for its future applications in wastewater treatment.

Fish and seafood are considered a major source of human dietary exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). In this study, we examined levels of 35 PFAS in fish samples of brown trout and mottled sculpin, which occupy different trophic positions, collected in 2014 from East Canyon Creek in Utah, USA. We observed 20 PFAS with ∑PFAS ranging from 0.46-63.9 ng/g and from

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