Article
Environmental Sciences
Mabinty Sarah Tholley, Lartey Young George, Mengru Fu, Zhihua Qiao, Gehui Wang, Siyuan Ling, Cheng Peng, Wei Zhang, Chunmei Ye, Fang Liu, Jie Yang
Summary: In this study, the occurrence, distribution, and potential risks of 4 brominated flame retardants in farmland soils across 18 provinces of China were investigated. The results showed that DBDPE had the highest concentration, indicating its long-term use and persistence across the study areas. Comparisons with other studies suggested higher concentrations of the studied BFRs in the provinces of China. Although the risk evaluations of BFRs from farmland soils in this study were low, the results imply potential cumulative and long-term threats of BFR to rural areas with agricultural land conversion.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jie Fu, Haibo Zhang, Ruijing Li, Tengda Shi, Lisha Wang, Guanjie Cheng, Jiajin Huang, Shisheng Li, Hui Gao, Shuaichen Jin, Guangshui Na
Summary: This study investigated the spatial distribution, sources, and ecological risks of PBDEs and HBCDs in Jiaozhou Bay, China. The results showed higher concentrations of PBDEs and HBCDs in the inner JZB compared to the outer JZB. PBDEs primarily originated from the production and debromination of BDE-209, as well as the emission of commercial PeBDEs, while HBCDs in sediments mostly stemmed from anthropogenic activities and river input. Overall, the study emphasizes the need for continuous monitoring and environmental management of PBDEs in JZB sediments.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Rui Hou, Lang Lin, Hengxiang Li, Shan Liu, Xiangrong Xu, Yiping Xu, Xiaowei Jin, Yong Yuan, Zijian Wang
Summary: Novel brominated flame retardants (NBFRs) are emerging as alternative flame retardants to legacy compounds, with concerns raised over their presence, bioaccumulation, fate, and risks in aquatic environments. NBFRs show source-dependent distribution, high bioaccumulative properties, resistance to degradation processes, and sorption to sludge and sediments in aquatic environments. Ecological risk assessments have suggested potential risks of NBFRs primarily in source areas. Further research is needed to address knowledge gaps in monitoring, toxicokinetics, transformation processes, and ecological risk assessments of NBFRs in aquatic environments.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Quan Zhang, Jing Li, Shu Lin, Zeteng Ying, Yan Wang, Shitao Hu, Xunjie Mo
Summary: This study evaluated the removal efficiency of OPFRs and investigated the exposure risk in tap water in Hangzhou. The results showed a decline in OPFRs concentrations after treatment, and the exposure doses were much lower than the reference dose. However, residual levels and potential risks of OPFRs in the watershed should still be a concern.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Weilong Xing, Liangchen Zhong, Wen Gu, Mengyuan Liang, Lei Wang, Zhen Wang, Lili Shi, Shuai Sun
Summary: Surface soil and river sediment samples were collected from the downstream of Chuhe River basin in East China to investigate the occurrence and accumulation characteristics of legacy and novel brominated flame retardants (NBFRs). The concentrations of BDE-209 and nine NBFRs ranged from n.d. to 41.4 ng/g dw and from 0.29 to 19.73 ng/g dw in the collected samples. BTBPE was the predominant NBFR in both soil and sediment samples. The calculated concentration ratios of the total of the nine NBFRs to BDE-209 in most of the analyzed samples exceeded 1, indicating a clear shift from legacy brominated flame retardants to NBFRs in the downstream of Chuhe River basin.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hongru Feng, Yixue Cheng, Yuefei Ruan, Mirabelle M. P. Tsui, Qi Wang, Jing Jin, Rongben Wu, Haiyan Zhang, Paul K. S. Lam
Summary: The occurrence and spatial distribution of PBDEs and NBFRs in the South China Sea in 2018 were investigated, with BDE-209 and decabromodiphenyl ethane identified as predominant BFRs. Rarely detected NBFRs, tris(2,3-dibromopropyl)isocyanurate and 2,4,6-tris(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)-1,3,5-triazine, were found for the first time in the study area, indicating their widespread application in the Pearl River Delta. Preliminary risk assessment suggests low to medium risks to marine organisms at some sites.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yanxiao Zhou, Junjun Sun, Ling Wang, Guohua Zhu, Mufei Li, Jinsong Liu, Zuguang Li, Hongping Gong, Chenwang Wu, Ge Yin
Summary: E-waste recycling is known to release halogenated organic compounds (HOCs) and heavy metals, causing environmental pollution. This study investigated the occurrence and distribution of various contaminants in soil from an e-waste disposal site in Hangzhou. The concentrations of detected compounds were generally lower than those reported in informal e-waste sites, but still pose potential health risks.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Manviri Rani, Keshu, Meenu, Mika Sillanpaa, Uma Shanker
Summary: Due to their extensive manufacturing and use, brominated flame retardants (BFRs) have become hazardous, bioaccumulative, and recalcitrant pollutants in various environmental matrices. Various methods, such as photocatalysis, have been found effective in removing BFRs from the environment. This review discusses the occurrence, toxicity, and removal of BFRs, as well as highlighting research gaps in this area.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yongxia Hu, Zongrui Li, Jingjing Xiong, Zaiwang Zhang, Jiaxin Yuan, Yi Tang, Tao Jin, Huawei Li, Shengjun Wu
Summary: This study investigates the occurrence and ecological risks of PBDEs, PBDE alternatives, and DPs in sediments of two littoral regions in southern China. The results show higher levels of DP in the Pearl River Estuary compared to the Daya Bay, and BDE 209 is the predominant component.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Michelle L. Berger, Susan D. Shaw, Charles Rolsky, Jennifer H. Harris, Ying Guo, Kurunthachalam Kannan
Summary: This study analyzed the concentrations, patterns, contamination trends, potential maternal transfer, and tissue partitioning of eight alternative brominated flame retardants in harbor seal pups from the Northwest Atlantic. The results showed that these compounds were detected in both liver and blubber tissues, with hexabromocyclododecane isomers and 2-ethylhexyl 2,3,4,5-tetrabromobenzoate predominating. Additionally, this study reported the concentrations of tetrabromobisphenol A in multiple tissues for the first time.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Siyuan Ling, Cong Lu, Mengru Fu, Shanqi Zhou, Zhihua Qiao, Cheng Peng, Wei Zhang, Shuangqing Hu, Kuangfei Lin, Bingsheng Zhou
Summary: This study examines the presence and potential ecological and health risks of brominated flame retardants (BFRs) in soil samples collected from abandoned and newly built e-waste dismantling zones in China. It reveals that the concentration of BFRs varies in different regions, with low-brominated PBDEs posing a higher ecological risk to terrestrial animals. Toddlers are also found to face a higher health risk from soil exposure compared to teenagers and children.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xuelei Chen, Xuezhen Zhao, Zhixiong Shi
Summary: The study investigated the occurrence of thirteen OPFRs in breast milk samples collected from Beijing mothers in 2018, revealing China as one of the most affected regions by OPFRs. Personal characteristics of mothers were found to impact the levels of certain OPFRs in breast milk, with most nursing infants' daily OPFR intake not raising significant health concerns. However, two OPFRs, TPhP and EHDPP, were noted to have higher estimated daily intakes than corresponding reference doses, potentially posing health risks.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Qi An, Lina Yang, Shengchao Yang, Yanting Wang, Long Shi, Muhammad Aamir, Weiping Liu
Summary: This study investigated the contamination levels and temporal variation of PBDEs and NBFRs in agricultural soils in China. The concentrations did not vary significantly over the past decade for PBDEs, but lower-brominated congeners increased with time. The concentrations of NBFRs also increased over time, with higher concentrations in 2021, 2016, and 2013 compared to 2011. The health risks of PBDEs and NBFRs were found to be low, but long-term health risks of BFRs should be considered.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ane Haarr, Eliezer B. Mwakalapa, Jan L. Lyche, Aviti J. Mmochi, Anuschka Polder, Anders Ruus, Katrine Borga
Summary: This study aimed to assess the occurrence and spatial variation of industrial-use contaminants in marine biota from coastal Tanzania. The results showed differences in the concentrations of PCBs, BFRs, and organochlorine pesticides among different locations. Samples collected from Zanzibar Island had lower concentrations of PCBs and DDT but higher concentrations of hexachlorobenzene. The highest concentrations of contaminants were found in samples collected around central Dar es Salaam harbor.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Man Zhang, Yong Sun, Bin Xun, Baoyin Liu
Summary: With the rapid development of society and economy, the types of pollutants are increasing, including emerging pollutants from chemicals that pose risks to public and ecosystem health. However, the research and development of monitoring technology for emerging pollutants are still in early stages, resulting in a lack of a complete monitoring system to access and identify their spatial patterns. This study reviews the quantitative research on four common emerging pollutants in China's water environment - endocrine disruptors, brominated flame retardants, perfluorinated compounds, and microplastics. It extracts the monitoring results of these pollutants in case studies and outlines their spatial distribution characteristics in the water environment. The results show that emerging pollutants have a large distribution area covering most of China, with higher levels of pollution in economically developed regions such as the Yangtze River Delta, the Pearl River Delta, and the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. This study provides valuable insights for the prevention and control of emerging pollutants in China.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Toshimi Nakajima, Mao Kuragano, Makoto Yamada, Ryo Sugimoto
Summary: This study compared the contribution of submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) to river nutrient budgets at nearshore and embayment scales, and found that SGD-derived nutrients become more important at larger spatial scales.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Fan Liu, Lei Zhang, Chongyang Zhang, Ziguang Chen, Jingguang Li
Summary: NO2 emissions from wall-mounted gas stoves used for household heating have become a significant source of indoor pollution in Chinese urban areas. The high indoor concentration of NO2 poses potential health risks to residents. It is urgently necessary to establish relevant regulations and implement emission reduction technologies to reduce NO2 emissions from wall-mounted gas stoves.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Letter
Environmental Sciences
Hans Peter H. Arp, Raoul Wolf, Sarah E. Hale, Sivani Baskaran, Juliane Gluege, Martin Scheringer, Xenia Trier, Ian T. Cousins, Harrie Timmer, Roberta Hofman-Caris, Anna Lennquist, Andre D. Bannink, Gerard J. Stroomberg, Rosa M. A. Sjerps, Rosa Montes, Rosario Rodil, Jose Benito Quintana, Daniel Zahn, Herve Gallard, Tobias Mohr, Ivo Schliebner, Michael Neumann
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Philomina Onyedikachi Peter, Binessi Edouard Ifon, Francois Nkinahamira, Kayode Hassan Lasisi, Jiangwei Li, Anyi Hu, Chang-Ping Yu
Summary: This study investigates the relationship between dissolved organic matter (DOM) and Rare Earth Elements (REEs) in sediments from Yundang Lagoon, China. The results show four distinct fluorescent components, with protein-like substances being the most prevalent. Additionally, the total fluorescence intensity and LREE concentrations exhibit a synchronized increase from Outer to Inner to Songbai Lake core sediments. The findings demonstrate a strong correlation between DOM content and pollution levels.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Surya Gupta, Pasquale Borrelli, Panos Panagos, Christine Alewell
Summary: The objective of this study is to incorporate soil hydraulic properties into the erodibility factor (K) of USLE-type models. By modifying and improving the existing equations for soil texture and permeability, the study successfully included information on saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat) into the calculation of K factor. Using the Random Forest machine learning algorithm, two independent K factor maps with different spatial resolutions were generated. The results show that the decrease in K factor values has a positive impact on the modeling of soil erosion rates.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jesmin Akter, Wendy J. M. Smith, Yawen Liu, Ilho Kim, Stuart L. Simpson, Phong Thai, Asja Korajkic, Warish Ahmed
Summary: The choice of workflow in wastewater surveillance has a significant impact on SARS-CoV-2 concentrations, while having minimal effects on HF183 and no effect on HAdV 40/41 concentrations. Certain components in the workflow can be interchangeable, but factors such as buffer type, chloroform, and homogenization speed can affect the recovery of viruses and bacteria.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yu Luo, Xueting Yang, Diwei Wang, Hongmei Xu, Hongai Zhang, Shasha Huang, Qiyuan Wang, Ningning Zhang, Junji Cao, Zhenxing Shen
Summary: Atmospheric PM2.5, which can generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), is associated with cardiorespiratory morbidity and mortality. The study found that both the mass concentration of PM2.5 and the DTT activity were higher during the heating season than during the nonheating season. Combustion sources were the primary contributors to DTT activity during the heating season, while secondary formation dominated during the nonheating season. The study also revealed that biomass burning had the highest inherent oxidation potential among all sources investigated.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Erin L. Murphy, Leah R. Gerber, Chelsea M. Rochman, Beth Polidoro
Summary: Plastic pollution has devastating consequences for marine organisms. This study uses a trait-based framework to develop a vulnerability index for marine mammals, seabirds, and sea turtles in Hawai'i. The index ranks 63 study species based on their vulnerability to macroplastic pollution, providing valuable information for species monitoring and management priorities.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kenji Maurice, Amelia Bourceret, Sami Youssef, Stephane Boivin, Liam Laurent-Webb, Coraline Damasio, Hassan Boukcim, Marc-Andre Selosse, Marc Ducousso
Summary: Growing pressure from climate change and agricultural land use is destabilizing soil microbial community interactions. Little is known about microbial community resistance and adaptation to disturbances, hindering our understanding of recovery latency and implications for ecosystem functioning. This study found that anthropic disturbance and natural disturbance have different effects on the topology and stability of soil microbial networks.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yunhao Li, Yali Feng, Haoran Li, Yisong Yao, Chenglong Xu, Jinrong Ju, Ruiyu Ma, Haoyu Wang, Shiwei Jiang
Summary: Deep-sea mining poses a serious threat to marine ecosystems and human health by disturbing sediment and transmitting metal ions through the food chain. This study developed a new regenerative adsorption material, OMN@SA, which effectively removes metal ions. The adsorption mechanism and performance of the material for metal ion fixation were investigated.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Antonio Medici, Margherita Lavorgna, Marina Isidori, Chiara Russo, Elena Orlo, Giovanni Luongo, Giovanni Di Fabio, Armando Zarrelli
Summary: Valsartan, a widely used antihypertensive drug, has been detected in high concentrations in surface waters due to its unchanged excretion and incomplete degradation in wastewater treatment plants. This study investigated the degradation of valsartan and identified 14 degradation byproducts. The acute and chronic toxicity of these byproducts were evaluated in key organisms in the freshwater trophic chain.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jiang Lin, Lianbao Chi, Qing Yuan, Busu Li, Mingbao Feng
Summary: This study investigated the photodegradation behavior and product formation of two representative pharmaceuticals in simulated estuary water. The study found that the formed transformation products of these pharmaceuticals have potential toxicity on marine organisms, including oxidative stress and damage to cellular components.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hua Fang, Dongdong Jiang, Ye He, Siyi Wu, Yuehong Li, Ziqi Zhang, Haoting Chen, Zixin Zheng, Yan Sun, Wenxiang Wang
Summary: This study revealed that exposure to lower levels of air pollutants led to decreased pregnancy rates, with PM10, NO2, SO2, and CO emerging as the four most prominent pollutants. Individuals aged 35 and above exhibited heightened susceptibility to pollutants.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ali Shaan Manzoor Ghumman, Rashid Shamsuddin, Amin Abbasi, Mohaira Ahmad, Yoshiaki Yoshida, Abdul Sami, Hamad Almohamadi
Summary: In this study, inverse vulcanized polysulfides (IVP) were synthesized by reacting molten sulfur with 4-vinyl benzyl chloride, and then functionalized using N-methyl D-glucamine (NMDG). The functionalized IVP showed a high mercury adsorption capacity and a machine learning model was developed to predict the amount of mercury removed. Furthermore, the functionalized IVP can be regenerated and reused, providing a sustainable and cost-effective adsorbent.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rita Bonfiglio, Renata Sisto, Stefano Casciardi, Valeria Palumbo, Maria Paola Scioli, Erica Giacobbi, Francesca Servadei, Gerry Melino, Alessandro Mauriello, Manuel Scimeca
Summary: This study investigated the presence of aluminum in human colon cancer samples and its potential association with biological processes involved in cancer progression. Aluminum was found in tumor areas of 24% of patients and was associated with epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cell death. Additional analyses revealed higher tumor mutational burden and mutations in genes related to EMT and apoptosis in aluminum-positive colon cancers. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of aluminum toxicity may improve strategies for the management of colon cancer patients.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)