Review
Environmental Sciences
Jin Zhang, Chengjun Li, Wenli Tang, Mengjie Wu, Mingying Chen, Huan He, Pei Lei, Huan Zhong
Summary: Wetlands are important areas for studying mercury (Hg) biogeochemistry and have attracted global attention. A literature analysis of 15,813 publications on Hg in wetlands was conducted, revealing the changing focus of research over time. The research priorities for future studies include understanding the factors controlling methylmercury (MeHg) production, demethylation processes, bioaccumulation, and the role of wetlands in Hg circulation.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Tao Sun, Yongmin Wang, Chuxian Li, Jinyong Huang, Yingpeng Hua, Caipeng Yue, Hongbo Cha, Yongjiag Zhang, Dingyong Wang
Summary: The size of straw incorporation affects the accumulation of methylmercury in rice grains, with powdered straw reducing the accumulation by regulating the release of organic matter fractions in paddy soil and restraining net Hg methylation.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yao Su, Raymond W. M. Kwong, Wenli Tang, Yanan Yang, Huan Zhong
Summary: There is evidence showing that straw return may enhance the bioavailability and risks of certain metals in crops, such as Cd, Hg, and As. Mechanisms leading to increased metal mobility and bioavailability under straw return include dissolution, complexation, and methylation, which can potentially impact the physiology and absorption of metals in plants. This study highlights the importance of re-evaluating current straw return policies, especially in metal-contaminated farmlands.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Dongming Wu, Min Li, Ling Du, Dong Ren, Junjian Wang
Summary: This study investigates the effects of straw return on water-soluble soil organic matter (WSOM) and its photosensitizing ability. The results show that straw return can reduce the photodegradation of organic contaminants by increasing the concentration of WSOM.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yutong Zong, Qing Xiao, Zaffar Malik, Yuan Su, Yefeng Wang, Shenggao Lu
Summary: The study found that biochar can effectively control the bioavailability and translocation of heavy metals in soil, reducing their accumulation in crops. Application of biochar led to an increase in soil pH, organic carbon, and cation exchangeable capacity, with rice husk biochar showing the most significant effects. The sequential extraction also showed changes in the exchangeable and residual fractions of heavy metals under biochar treatments.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Lin Liu, Ming Cheng, Lei Yang, Jingyi Jin, Minjie Fu
Summary: This study investigates the degradation characteristics, bacterial community structure, and degradation mechanism of rice straw under different levels of nitrogen (N) application and depths of return. The results show that Paludibacteraceae and Ruminococcaceae were the dominant bacteria in the degradation process, and their abundance decreased with the increasing depth of return. Furthermore, extracellular enzymes associated with the C-cycle were found to have higher activities, and straw degradation extracellular enzyme activities generally increased in the middle and late stages. The study also identifies the optimum N application rate and soil return level for rice straw degradation in a cold zone.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiaoyu Xu, Albert L. Bryan, Jasmine R. Parks, Kara N. Gibson
Summary: This study investigated the deposition and accumulation of mercury in a stream ecosystem. The results showed a correlation between labile mercury in porewater and bioaccumulative mercury in biota. The study found that surface sediment had higher mercury concentrations, and most of the sediment mercury existed in non-labile forms. Additionally, sulfate levels influenced mercury methylation and methyl-mercury production in the sediment. Methyl-mercury concentrations in the aquatic food web increased with trophic levels.
Article
Microbiology
Ya-Hui Zhao, Ning Wang, Meng-Kang Yu, Jian-Guang Yu, Li-Hong Xue
Summary: This study explores the effects of rice roots and straw return on soil bacterial community composition and nitrogen cycling gene abundances. The results show that rice growth significantly alters the bacterial community composition and abundances of nitrogen cycling genes. The addition of straw further influences the bacterial community composition and abundances of some nitrogen cycling genes, while the interaction between rice roots and straw affects the abundances of nifH and nirK genes.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mark Seelos, Marc Beutel, Carrie M. Austin, Elisabeth Wilkinson, Clayton Leal
Summary: Research shows that after four years of operating the line diffuser hypolimnetic oxygenation systems (HOSs) in Almaden, Calero, Guadalupe, and Stevens Creek reservoirs, there were significant reductions in MeHg concentrations in bottom waters and declining trends in fish tissue Hg concentrations. However, MeHg concentrations in surface waters remained unchanged or increased, which could be due to enhanced mixing between surface and bottom waters resulting from oxygenation, or continued Hg methylation in the oxic water column and littoral sediments.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yue Zhang, Xianqing Zheng, Xiaoyun Xu, Linkui Cao, Haiyun Zhang, Hanlin Zhang, Shuangxi Li, Juanqin Zhang, Naling Bai, Weiguang Lv, Xinde Cao
Summary: Straw return can accelerate the degradation of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and eliminate related antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), increasing the relative abundance of Proteobacteria through co-metabolism mechanism.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yu Liu, Kunkun Wang, Shipeng Liao, Tao Ren, Xiaokun Li, Rihuan Cong, Jianwei Lu
Summary: The study found that paddy-upland rotation and/or straw return can improve soil structure and nutrient availability, but also affect ammonia, nitrous oxide, and methane emissions. Returning straw can increase soil organic carbon and total nitrogen content, but may lead to increased methane emissions in summer and ammonia, nitrous oxide, and methane emissions in winter.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shaochong Liu, Dixiang Wang, Changyin Zhu, Dongmei Zhou
Summary: The study found that straw return significantly impacts soil properties, including reducing soil pH and redox potential, increasing electronic conductivity, and promoting Fe(II) formation. Rape straw has a more evident effect on the formation rate of free radicals, potentially exerting a more profound influence on pollutant transformation in paddy soils compared to wheat straw.
BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xu Yang, Zihao Li, Tantan Wang, Zhongzhu Yang, Xin Wen, Kaihua Yang, Yicai Huang, Wenhao Chen, Yubo He, Xiaohong Shi, Chang Zhang, Zhigang Yu
Summary: Mercury (Hg) poses a significant risk to paddy fields, especially when it converts to methylmercury (MeHg) and accumulates in rice. The bioavailability and resupply kinetics of Hg in the paddy soil-water environment are not well understood. This study used DGT and DIFS to investigate the Hg resupply kinetics, diffusion fluxes, and bioavailability in a paddy environment subjected to flood-drain-reflood treatment and straw amendment. The results show that straw amendment limited the bioavailability of Hg in porewater by decreasing its resupply capacity, but significantly increased the production of MeHg in paddy fields. The study also found that drain-reflood treatment changed the direction of Hg diffusion fluxes in the paddy soil-water interface.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tiphaine Mille, Amaelle Bisch, Nathalie Caill-Milly, Pierre Cresson, Jonathan Deborde, Aurore Gueux, Gilles Morandeau, Mathilde Monperrus
Summary: Different fish species showed variations in Hg concentrations, with higher levels consistently found in muscle and liver. These results may be related to physiological processes.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jie Hu, Ningla Yang, Tianrong He, Xian Zhou, Deliang Yin, Yan Wang, Litao Zhou
Summary: Algae-derived organic matter (AOM) can significantly regulate the production and accumulation of methylmercury (MeHg) in paddy fields by changing the properties of soil-dissolved organic matter (SDOM). In this study, a 25-day microcosm experiment was conducted to compare the effects of AOM, rice straw, and rapeseed straw on MeHg production in a Hg-contaminated paddy soil-water system. Results showed that AOM input increased dissolved organic carbon concentrations in soil, while decreasing tryptophan-like fractions and promoting the formation of high-molecular-weight fractions in soil DOM. AOM input also significantly increased MeHg concentrations in pore water, overlying water, and soil solid-phase particles compared to rice and rapeseed-derived OMs. Correlation analysis revealed negative and positive relationships between MeHg concentrations and tryptophan-like C4 fraction and molecular weight of soil DOM, respectively. These findings highlight the importance of AOM in promoting MeHg production in Hg-contaminated paddy soils.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yao Su, Raymond W. M. Kwong, Wenli Tang, Yanan Yang, Huan Zhong
Summary: There is evidence showing that straw return may enhance the bioavailability and risks of certain metals in crops, such as Cd, Hg, and As. Mechanisms leading to increased metal mobility and bioavailability under straw return include dissolution, complexation, and methylation, which can potentially impact the physiology and absorption of metals in plants. This study highlights the importance of re-evaluating current straw return policies, especially in metal-contaminated farmlands.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yongjie Wang, Yue Zhang, Yong Sik Ok, Tao Jiang, Peng Liu, Rui Shu, Dingyong Wang, Xinde Cao, Huan Zhong
Summary: Recent studies have shown that biochar impacts sulfur cycling in soils and MeHg-soil binding, which play crucial roles in controlling MeHg phytoavailability. Under anoxic conditions, biochar increases reduced inorganic sulfur in soils, facilitating MeHg binding and reducing MeHg phytoavailability. However, under oxic conditions, the released soil-bound MeHg increases MeHg phytoavailability.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Guangxia Liu, Preeti H. Dave, Raymond W. M. Kwong, Mengjie Wu, Huan Zhong
Summary: This review discusses the effects of microplastics (MPs) on the adsorption/desorption, speciation and bioavailability, and toxicity of various heavy metals, while systematically identifying environmental factors that could affect their interaction processes. It aims to establish a meaningful perspective for understanding the indirect ecological risks of MPs as vectors for contaminants and provides a reference for developing better regulatory strategies to mitigate the negative effects of the co-existence of MPs and heavy metals.
BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Mengjie Wu, Chen Tu, Guangxia Liu, Huan Zhong
Summary: Microplastics, a prevalent environmental pollutant, have raised concerns as children are more susceptible to their effects. Limited information exists regarding the relationship between children and microplastics, but studies have shown evidence of potential risks for children through ingestion or inhalation of microplastics from various sources.
BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jun Sha, Haiyan Xiong, Chengjun Li, Zhiying Lu, Jichao Zhang, Huan Zhong, Wei Zhang, Bing Yan
Summary: The study analyzed 5720 published literatures on HABs studies in the past 30 years, presenting emerging trends, environmental and human health risks, prevention and control strategies, and future developments. The review provides a global perspective on HABs and emphasizes the need for immediate responses.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Mengjie Wu, Yuelu Jiang, Raymond W. M. Kwong, Satinder Kaur Brar, Huan Zhong, Rong Ji
Summary: The study found that research on marine microplastics has evolved from the initial exploration of the presence and distribution of microplastics to a focus on the bioaccumulation and ecotoxicological effects of microplastics in marine biota. However, challenges have emerged in the past decade, including the lack of standard procedures for microplastic sampling, limited detection and identification technologies, and controversy over the potential impact of microplastics on marine ecosystems and humans.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Pei Lei, Jin Zhang, Jinjie Zhu, Qiaoguo Tan, Raymond W. M. Kwong, Ke Pan, Tao Jiang, Mohammad Naderi, Huan Zhong
Summary: This study reveals the impact of algal organic matter on microbial Hg methylators and MeHg production, showing that bioavailable components of AOM can increase the abundance and activity of methanogens, leading to enhanced levels of dissolved MeHg.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Yang Ye, Sushi Jiang, Tao Du, Miao Ding, Minzhi Hou, Chenyang Mi, Tingting Liang, Huan Zhong, Jiayu Xie, Wenming Xu, Huidong Zhang, Xiaomiao Zhao
Summary: A novel long non-coding RNA (lnc-HZ07) was identified in trophoblast cells upregulated after exposure to BPDE, potentially inhibiting trophoblast migration by downregulating AKT phosphorylation. This suggests lnc-HZ07 could be a potential pathological marker and therapeutic target for BaP-induced recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL).
REPRODUCTIVE SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Yumeng Li, Long Chen, Sai Liang, Haifeng Zhou, Yu-Rong Liu, Huan Zhong, Zhifeng Yang
Summary: The Minamata Convention on Mercury aims to protect the environment and human beings from the adverse impacts of mercury pollution. Current studies show that mercury emissions can have negative effects on human health and ecosystems, but the feedback of mercury-related environmental impacts to the economic system is not fully understood. This lack of understanding impedes the development of comprehensive mercury control actions, highlighting the need for further research and modeling to loop the mercury cycle in the global environmental-economic system.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hong Li, Yunyun Li, Wenli Tang, Huan Zhong, Jiating Zhao, Xu Bai, Shengnan Sha, Diandou Xu, Pei Lei, Yuxi Gao
Summary: Mercury sulfides, previously considered highly inert, have been found to be reactive and bioavailable in paddy soils. By extracting dissolved mercury from mercury sulfide particles in rice paddies using sodium thiosulfate, a strong positive correlation was found between the extracted mercury and soil methylmercury levels. This method shows potential for predicting mercury bioavailability in paddy soils.
BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Pei Lei, Nan Zou, Yujiao Liu, Weiping Cai, Mengjie Wu, Wenli Tang, Huan Zhong
Summary: Mercury can be methylated to form the toxic neurotoxin methylmercury, and understanding the methylation process is crucial for predicting the risk. Mercury sulfide, previously considered inert, has been found as nanoparticles with high bioavailability. The behavior of these nanoparticles and their interaction with dissolved organic matter are complex and hinder a comprehensive understanding of their risk. Future research should focus on the formation pathways, presence, and environmental behavior of mercury sulfide nanoparticles influenced by dissolved organic matter.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jingli Liu, Yanping Li, Dandan Duan, Guogan Peng, Ping Li, Pei Li, Huan Zhong, Martin Tsz-Ki Tsui, Ke Pan
Summary: The organic matter in mangrove sediments accelerates the degradation of methylmercury, leading to lower levels of methylmercury observed. Sulfate-reducing bacteria play a significant role in methylating mercury.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Fei Dang, Qingyu Wang, Xiliang Yan, Yuanye Zhang, Jiachen Yan, Huan Zhong, Dongmei Zhou, Yongming Luo, Yong-Guan Zhu, Baoshan Xing, Yujun Wang
Summary: Nanoplastics have a significant impact on terrestrial plants, with toxicity metrics, plant species, nanoplastic mass concentration and size, exposure time and medium being the key factors. These findings are important for updating risk assessments and evidence-based policy actions.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Zhiyuan Gao, Wang Zheng, Yanbin Li, Yurong Liu, Mengjie Wu, Shouying Li, Ping Li, Guangliang Liu, Xuewu Fu, Shuxiao Wang, Feiyue Wang, Yong Cai, Xinbin Feng, Baohua Gu, Huan Zhong, Yongguang Yin
Summary: This article discusses the importance of the transformation of mercury in the environment for the ecosystem and human health. It provides a critical analysis of the current knowledge gaps in understanding these processes and explores future avenues for improving our understanding.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Pei Lei, Ri-Qing Yu, Yaqi Kong, Stefan Bertilsson, Martin Tsz-Ki Tsui, Tao Jiang, Jiating Zhao, Yu-Rong Liu, Rinklebe Joerg, Huan Zhong
Summary: Distinguishing the contributions of different microbes to methylmercury production is crucial for predicting bioaccumulation and exposure risk. However, there are several factors that can impact the interpretation of inhibition assays, including the addition of inappropriate amounts of inhibitors, overlooking microbial syntrophy, and the absence of comprehensive proxy systems. To improve the accuracy of inhibition assays, environmental properties and concentrations of inhibitors should be considered, and comprehensive indicators should be used to assess changes in methylmercury production.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
