Article
Engineering, Environmental
Mirelys Rodriguez Alfaro, Olegario Muniz Ugarte, Luiz Henrique Vieira Lima, Josevaldo Ribeiro Silva, Fernando Bruno Vieira da Silva, Simone Aparecida da Silva Lins, Clistenes Williams Araujo do Nascimento
Summary: This study evaluated the concentrations of Cd, Cr, Ni, and Pb in the soil and vegetables grown in areas contaminated by slag from an abandoned steel plant in Havana, Cuba. It found that Cd, Cr, and Pb concentrations exceeded safe levels set by international standards, posing potential health risks to humans. Vegetable consumption was identified as a significant source of Cr, Cd, and Ni intake, while accidental ingestion of contaminated soil was the main exposure route for Pb.
ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Miguel Izquierdo-Diaz, Veronika Hansen, Fernando Barrio-Parra, Eduardo De Miguel, Yawen You, Jakob Magid
Summary: This study proposes using urban gardens to grow vegetables and monitor air quality, and evaluates the safety of consuming food grown in a clean substrate in an urban environment. The results showed that vegetables exposed to higher atmospheric pollution accumulated more trace elements associated with typical urban sources. Washing the food to remove particles on the surface was found to be important. Bioaccessibility testing demonstrated the significance of considering bioaccessibility in risk analyses and its variation depending on the matrix type. Metal concentrations in lettuce were within legal limits for human health protection in Copenhagen.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Yaru Hou, Yuyan Zhao, Jilong Lu, Qiaoqiao Wei, Libin Zang, Xinyun Zhao
Summary: Gold mining activities are the main source of heavy metal emissions into the environment. Previous studies have focused on the impact of individual mining sites, limiting our understanding of the combined influence of global gold mining on soil contamination. This study collected research papers from 24 countries and developed a comprehensive dataset on 10 potentially toxic trace elements in soils near gold deposits, revealing widespread contamination and ecological risks.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Md Mahfuz Islam, Sayada Momotaz Akther, Md Faruque Hossain, Zakia Parveen
Summary: Currently, the release of trace metals in the Sundarbans mangrove areas in Bangladesh is a growing concern due to various causes. A study was conducted to investigate the distribution, contamination level, and ecotoxicity of eight trace metals in Sundarbans soils. The results showed that most trace metals were present in higher concentrations compared to other geological references. Statistical analyses revealed the correlations between different trace metals and soil properties. Assessment of pollution using different indices indicated moderate pollution by some metals and low pollution by others. The ecological risk index showed varying levels of risk in different areas of the Sundarbans mangroves.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Lionel Savignan, Stephane Faucher, Stephanie Jalabert, Alexandre Lee, Gaetane Lespes, Philippe Chery
Summary: This study analyzes samples from the Soil Quality Measurement Network in southwestern France to determine the spatial distribution and origin of silver in the soils. The results show a range of silver concentration in the soils and correlations with other metals and distance to mining sites. Cokriging is used to estimate the spatial distribution of silver, and it improves the quality of interpolation compared to ordinary kriging.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Marco Mng'ong'o, Sean Comber, Linus K. Munishi, Patrick A. Ndakidemi, William Blake, Thomas H. Hutchinson
Summary: The spatial distribution of Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) in agricultural soils in the Usangu Basin of the Mbeya Region, Tanzania was investigated. The study found that farming areas had higher PTEs concentrations compared to non-farming areas, with some PTEs concentrations being lower in agricultural areas. Overall, concentrations of Fe, As, Se, and Hg in the soil exceeded the Tanzanian Maximum Allowable Limits. This study provides important baseline information for the environmental risk assessment of PTEs in Tanzanian agroecosystems.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Li Chen, Jingzhe Wang, Jingzi Beiyuan, Xuetao Guo, Hao Wu, Linchuan Fang
Summary: This study evaluates the pollution levels, distributions, ecological, and human health risks of potentially toxic trace elements (PTEs) in soils near uranium (U) mines worldwide. The results indicate that the studied soils are heavily polluted by U and Cd, with higher pollution levels observed in France, Portugal, and Bulgaria. Cd and U contribute more to the potential ecological risk, and oral ingestion is the main exposure route for soil PTEs. The hazard index (HI) values for children exceed the safe level for U and As, while Cu presents unacceptable carcinogenic risks. This study emphasizes the urgent need to address PTE pollution in U mine-associated soils on a global scale.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Md. Badiuzzaman Khan, Shamsunnahar Setu, Niger Sultana, Sneha Gautam, Bilkis Ara Begum, Mohammed Abdus Salam, Yeasmin Nahar Jolly, Shirin Akter, Mohammed Mizanur Rahman, Badal Chandro Shil, Sadea Afrin
Summary: The study assessed the composition, health risk, and sources of trace elements in road dust from major metropolitan cities in Bangladesh. The research found that K, Fe, Ca, Ti, Mn, Zr, Sr, Zn, Rb, Cr, Cu, Pb, Y, As, and Ni were present in the highest concentrations. The contamination factor was highest near a steel manufacturing company due to increased traffic. The pollution load index was generally low, indicating that the road dust was not heavily polluted.
STOCHASTIC ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND RISK ASSESSMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Irina Shtangeeva
Summary: Research has shown that couch grass and wheat have the potential to effectively extract metals/metalloids from contaminated soils, with seed inoculation with bacteria significantly enhancing the uptake and translocation of trace elements in these plants.
ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Elizaveta Konstantinova, Tatiana Minkina, Dina Nevidomskaya, Saglara Mandzhieva, Tatiana Bauer, Inna Zamulina, Marina Voloshina, Ilia Lobzenko, Aleksey Maksimov, Svetlana Sushkova
Summary: This study focuses on the geochemistry of potentially toxic elements in the soils of the Lower Don basin, revealing that some elements are of natural origin, some are of mixed sources, while lead and cadmium are mainly from anthropogenic sources. The study also determines the geochemical background values for soils and observes the highest integrated pollution indices in floodplain soils.
ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rutabatiina Abraham Mwesigye, N. Edward Mwavu
Summary: This study is the first to investigate the uptake of trace elements from contaminated soils by forage and the potential risks for grazing animals. It also profiles the differences in bioaccumulation potentials of different species of forage. The study identifies guinea grass and couch grass as having bioremediation potentials for zinc contaminated soils. Containment of tailing erosion should be explored to control the deposition of tailings in grazing areas.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOREMEDIATION
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Rafael Anton-Herrero, Liliana Vega-Jara, Carlos Garcia-Delgado, Begona Mayans, Raquel Camacho-Arevalo, Eduardo Moreno-Jimenez, Cesar Plaza, Enrique Eymar
Summary: The study showed that biochar combined with fertilization can reduce the bioavailability of copper and lead in soil, decrease copper content in pepper leaves, and lower arsenic and lead content in plants. Additionally, biochar combined with biostimulant can decrease the bioavailable content of cadmium in soil and its uptake by pepper plants.
JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Evangelia E. Golia, Panagiotis-Stavros C. Aslanidis, Sotiria G. Papadimou, Ourania-Despoina Kantzou, Maria-Anna Chartodiplomenou, Kosmas Lakiotis, Maria Androudi, Nikolaos G. Tsiropoulos
Summary: The present study assessed the effect of using charcoal, biochar, and activated carbon as soil conditioners in acid and alkaline soils. The results showed that these amendments significantly reduced the concentrations of soluble and available metals in the soils, indicating their potential for remediating soils contaminated with toxic metals.
SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY AND PHARMACY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Piotr Hulisz, Szymon L. Rozanski, Anton Boman, Marta Rauchfleisz
Summary: This study analyzed the mobility of Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn in acid sulfate soils in the reverse delta of the Swina River in NE Poland. The results showed that despite the relatively low metal content, these soils could potentially be a source of metal contamination affecting the coastal environment in the southern Baltic Sea region.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Marina Radonjic, Srdan Subotic, Zeljka Visnjic-Jeftic, Danilo Mrdak, Dusko Cirovic
Summary: The aim of this study was to determine the concentrations of 28 elements in various tissues of a small Indian mongoose. Element concentrations were analyzed using ICP-OES, and significant differences were found in the concentrations of Ag, Al, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, P, S, Se, and Zn between different tissues. Muscle tissue had higher concentrations of K, Mg, and S, while liver tissue had higher concentrations of Fe, Mn, Mo, and Zn. The liver could be a target organ for the bioaccumulation of Ag and Se.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Wenke Zhang, Jun Meng, Yuwei Huang, Binoy Sarkar, Bhupinder Pal Singh, Xuanwei Zhou, Jian Gao, Yunpeng Teng, Hailong Wang, Wenfu Chen
Summary: This study investigated the effects of soil grain size and environmentally relevant solution chemistry on the transport behavior of biochar nanoparticles (BC-NP) in soil. The results showed that the transportability of BC-NP decreased with decreasing soil grain size and increasing soil clay content. Low cation concentrations allowed a significant proportion of BC-NP to penetrate the soil, while Ca2+ inhibited their transportability through charge shielding effect. HA enhanced the repulsion force between BC-NP and soil particles, leading to increased transportability, but high HA concentration combined with Ca2+ bridging reduced it. The transport behavior of BC-NP in soil was governed by competitive effects of soil grain size, environmental solution chemistry, and natural organic matter content.
FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Sabry M. Shaheen, Ahmed Mosa, Parimala Gnana Soundari Arockiam Jeyasundar, Noha E. E. Hassan, Xing Yang, Vasileios Antoniadis, Ronghua Li, Jianxu Wang, Tao Zhang, Nabeel Khan Niazi, Muhammad Shahid, Gaurav Sharma, Daniel S. S. Alessi, Meththika Vithanage, Zeng-Yei Hseu, Ajit K. K. Sarmah, Binoy Sarkar, Zengqiang Zhang, Deyi Hou, Bin Gao, Hailong Wang, Nanthi Bolan, Joerg Rinklebe
Summary: This study critically reviews the effects of biochar (BC) on the mobilization, phytoextraction, phytostabilization, and bioremediation of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in contaminated soils. The potential mechanisms of interaction between BC and PTEs in soils are discussed in detail. The review demonstrates the contradictory effects of BC on PTE mobilization and highlights the opportunities for using BC as a mobilizing agent to enhance phytoremediation of PTE-contaminated soils.
EARTH SYSTEMS AND ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Guangcai Yin, Xingling Chen, Binoy Sarkar, Nanthi S. Bolan, Tian Wei, Haiyi Zhou, Hailong Wang
Summary: This study aims to unravel the co-adsorption mechanisms of Cd(II) and As(III) by a Pennisetum sp. straw biochar (BC) modified with Fe-Mn oxide (FMBC). The maximum adsorption capacity of Cd(II) and As(III) by FMBC was 141.1 and 31.8 mg/g, respectively, which was 2.71 and 3.89 times higher than that of BC. In the dual-adsorbate system, Cd(II) increased the adsorption of As(III) on FMBC by 5.1-123.9%, while As(III) reduced the adsorption of Cd(II) by 0.7-24.8%, indicating respective synergism and competition effect.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hanbo Chen, Yurong Gao, Huiyun Dong, Binoy Sarkar, Hocheol Song, Jianhong Li, Nanthi Bolan, Bert F. Quin, Xing Yang, Fangbai Li, Fengchang Wu, Jun Meng, Hailong Wang, Wenfu Chen
Summary: Sustainable management of organic biowaste and arable soil contamination by toxic elements is a concern. A pot trial was conducted to remediate As/Pb co-contaminated soil using chitin, crawfish shell biochar, crawfish shell powder, and CT-CSB composite. Results showed that the addition of amendments decreased Pb bioavailability, with CT-CSB treatment being the most effective. CSP and CSB increased soil available As concentration, while CT and CT-CSB treatments reduced it. CT addition enhanced soil enzyme activities, while CSB-containing treatments suppressed most enzymes. Bacterial abundance and composition in soil were altered by the amendments, and soil chemical properties were strong predictors of As/Pb availability. CT-CSB can potentially immobilize As and Pb and restore soil ecological functions.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Maria E. Baez, Binoy Sarkar, Aranzazu Pena, Jorge Vidal, Jeannette Espinoza, Edwar Fuentes
Summary: This study investigated the influence of five surfactants on the sorption-desorption, degradation, and mobility of fungicides in soils. The results showed that HDTMA increased fungicide sorption, while SDS and TX-100 decreased sorption. SDS also promoted fungicide degradation, especially in non-volcanic soil, while TX-100 enhanced the degradation of OH-CTL in all soils.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Linfa Fang, Chengyu Chen, Fen Zhang, Esmat F. Ali, Binoy Sarkar, Jorg Rinklebe, Sabry M. Shaheen, Xinping Chen, Ran Xiao
Summary: Veterinary antibiotics (VAs), including tetracyclines and quinolones, were detected in vegetable soils in the Chongqing region of China. These VAs pose medium to high risks to the ecosystem and antimicrobial resistance. Socioeconomic conditions, farmers' education levels, agricultural practices, and soil properties were identified as the main factors affecting VAs accumulation and environmental risks.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Soil Science
B. B. Basak, Binoy Sarkar, Ashis Maity, Matli Sreenivasa Chari, Atanu Banerjee, D. R. Biswas
Summary: This study evaluated the effectiveness of low-grade silicate mineral powders (SMP) as a natural potassium fertilizer in highly weathered tropical soils. Laboratory and pot experiments were conducted using oat and palmarosa plants to assess the five different SMP materials. The results showed that waste mica had the highest potassium uptake rate, followed by feldspar and greensand. Additionally, the use of SMP as fertilizer improved soil pH and cation exchange capacity, leading to increased crop production and mitigation of poor soil quality.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Po-Hsiang Chang, Raj Mukhopadhyay, Bo Zhong, Qing-Yuan Yang, Shungui Zhou, Yu-Min Tzou, Binoy Sarkar
Summary: The study synthesized a new porous metal organic framework (MOF) called PCN-222(Fe) and examined its efficiency in adsorbing PFOS from water. The results showed that PCN-222(Fe) had a high adsorption capacity and rapid removal rate for PFOS. Compared to other conventional adsorbents, PCN-222(Fe) demonstrated superior features in removing toxic contaminants.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Po-Hsiang Chang, Raj Mukhopadhyay, Chien-Yen Chen, Binoy Sarkar, Jiwei Li, Yu-Min Tzou
Summary: The adsorption behavior of ranitidine hydrochloride on Ca-montmorillonite was studied. The results showed that Ca-montmorillonite had a high adsorption capacity for ranitidine hydrochloride, and the adsorption kinetics followed the pseudo-second order equation. Cation exchange was identified as the dominant mechanism of adsorption. The study also found that the molecular structure of ranitidine hydrochloride could cause irregular changes in the basal spacing of swelling type clay minerals.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Annika M. Weber, Hend Ibrahim, Bridget A. Baxter, Robin Kumar, Akhilendra K. Maurya, Dileep Kumar, Rajesh Agarwal, Komal Raina, Elizabeth P. Ryan
Summary: Heat-stabilized rice bran is a nutrient-dense food ingredient with potential colorectal cancer control and prevention properties. This study discovered novel mechanisms by which rice bran metabolism in feces may contribute to its anti-cancer activity. The findings suggest that certain fecal metabolites may serve as dietary biomarkers for colorectal cancer prevention.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Khalid Sedeek, Andrea Zuccolo, Alice Fornasiero, Annika M. Weber, Krishnaveni Sanikommu, Sangeetha Sampathkumar, Luis F. Rivera, Haroon Butt, Saule Mussurova, Abdulrahman Alhabsi, Nurmansyah Nurmansyah, Elizabeth P. Ryan, Rod A. Wing, Magdy M. Mahfouz
Summary: In this study, genome assemblies of 5 pigmented rice varieties were generated and the genetic variation among 51 pigmented rice varieties was evaluated. Phylogenetic analysis divided the pigmented varieties into four groups. Metabolomics and ionomics profiling revealed that black rice varieties are rich in aromatic secondary metabolites. A regeneration and transformation system was established and CRISPR-Cas9 was used to create an early maturing, shorter-stature black rice variety. This study provides a multi-omics resource for understanding and improving Asian pigmented rice.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Linfa Fang, Chengyu Chen, ShiYang Li, Pingping Ye, Yujia Shi, Gaurav Sharma, Binoy Sarkar, Sabry M. Shaheen, Sang Soo Lee, Ran Xiao, Xinping Chen
Summary: This study comprehensively evaluated the accumulation, distribution, and potential risks of antibiotics in agricultural soils on a global scale. The results showed that 56 types of antibiotics were detected with concentrations ranging from undetectable to over 7000 μg/kg. Tetracyclines, macrolides, sulfonamides, and fluoroquinolones were the most accumulated antibiotics. East China was identified as a hotspot for antibiotic contamination. Vegetable fields and orchards had higher antibiotic accumulation compared to croplands. The level of antibiotics decreased with increasing soil pH and organic matter content. Further research on the impacts of antibiotics on soil ecological function and a whole-chain approach for antibiotic reduction and soil remediation are needed.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Saptaparnee Dey, Tapan Jyoti Purakayastha, Binoy Sarkar, Joerg Rinklebe, Sarvendra Kumar, Ranabir Chakraborty, Anindita Datta, Khajanchi Lal, Yashbir Singh Shivay
Summary: Biochar with enhanced cation and anion exchange capacity can reduce nutrient leaching and increase nutrient retention in soil. The engineered biochar, particularly the one treated with O-3-HClFeCl3, showed promising results in improving soil fertility and reducing nutrient loss.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Aixa Gonzalez, Karen Manquian-Cerda, Tamara Maldonado, Raul Calderon, Binoy Sarkar, Nicolas Arancibia-Miranda
Summary: Imogolite can be obtained from cement kiln dust (CKD) through a simple waste valorization method, and it shows similar properties to conventional imogolite despite the presence of a byproduct called allophane. Both imogolites were effective in removing arsenite from water, with Imo-CKD showing slightly higher efficiency. This study provides a cost-effective alternative for imogolite synthesis and water pollutant removal.
ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Xiao Yang, Miao You, Siyan Liu, Binoy Sarkar, Zhaoshu Liu, Xiulan Yan
Summary: Soil is crucial for supporting microbial diversity and serves as the foundation for human civilization. Potentially toxic elements (PTEs) are hazardous contaminants in soil that can cause stress to indigenous microorganisms and severely jeopardize soil health. Biochar technology has emerged as a promising approach to alleviate PTE toxicity and benefit soil health management. However, current literature on biochar-amended soil has focused more on the physical and chemical responses of the soil system, neglecting the importance of microbiological attributes.
