Article
Environmental Sciences
Shannon A. Plunkett, Chris S. Eckley, Todd P. Luxton, Mark G. Johnson
Summary: This study evaluated the effects of different types and treatments of biochar on the bioavailability of lead in soils with various sources of contamination. Results showed that adding biochar to upland soils can reduce the bioaccessibility of lead, while the redox status in wetland soils has a greater impact on lead bioaccessibility.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yizhu Chen, Yongqiang Ning, Xiangyang Bi, Jinling Liu, Shaochen Yang, Zhifu Liu, Wenmin Huang
Summary: This study used pine needles as bio-samplers to monitor atmospheric pollution in cities of the middle reaches of the Yangtze River in China. Analysis showed higher heavy metal concentrations in urban areas compared to natural settings, with industrial activities and traffic sources identified as the main contributors. Risk assessment indexes indicated moderate environmental and health risks from atmospheric heavy metals in the study area.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Da-Mao Xu, Rong-Bing Fu, Jun-Xian Wang, Bai-Hong An
Summary: This study investigated the potential roles of soil mineralogy identified by MLA in predicting the geochemical behavior of toxic metals in smelter polluted soils. The results revealed the leaching concentrations of As, Pb and Zn at different pH values, with the second order model providing the best description for the release patterns of main metal contaminants. The study also demonstrated a typical geochemical pattern of As predominantly controlled by fayalite and highlighted the importance of soil remediation and risk management for smelter contaminated sites.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Zhipu Wang, Rong Shen, Shibo Ji, Like Xie, Haibing Zhang
Summary: The study demonstrates that biochar derived from sewage sludge/cotton stalks is more effective in immobilizing heavy metals and improving phytoavailability in soil compared to biochar derived from sewage sludge alone. Additionally, it shows that both biochar amendments can enhance soil characteristics and promote plant growth.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Marta Canu, Paolo Mule, Erminio Spanu, Stefania Fanni, Alessandro Marrone, Gianluca Carboni
Summary: Polluting activities have a significant impact on agricultural lands, and the use of hemp in phytoremediation shows promise in managing metal polluted soils. This study conducted in Sardinia, Italy, aimed to evaluate the phytoremediation capability of industrial hemp in metal polluted soils under semiarid environments. The results showed that concentrations of Zn and Cd in the plants were positively correlated with soil content and varied in different parts of the plants. The study also found high levels of Pb in plants grown in non-contaminated soils, possibly due to atmospheric deposition from distant sources.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Ezazul Haque, Peter S. Thorne, Athena A. Nghiem, Caryn S. Yip, Benjamin C. Bostick
Summary: Elevated soil lead concentrations in East Chicago were widespread and above regulatory limits, with levels increasing in neighborhoods with lower median household income. The soil lead was primarily adsorbed to iron and manganese oxides or humic acids, regardless of contamination levels. The lack of detectable crystalline insoluble forms of lead suggests that potential sources such as paint, ore, and slag are repartitioned into more bioavailable forms in the soil. These findings have implications for remediation efforts and human health due to significantly elevated blood lead levels in the community.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Wen Yao, Guan Wang, Ai-Dong Fang
Summary: In this study, soil column leaching simulation experiments were conducted to investigate the influence of acid rain on the dynamic characteristics of biochar-treated soils. The results showed that acid rain leaching could increase the mobility of soil metals, while biochar reduced the mobility of heavy metal Pb by altering its chemical forms. The properties of biochar varied depending on the pyrolysis temperature, which can affect its effectiveness in mitigating heavy metal pollution.
WATER AIR AND SOIL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Peng Liu, Qiumei Wu, Wenyou Hu, Kang Tian, Biao Huang, Yongcun Zhao
Summary: Atmospheric deposition is a crucial pathway for heavy metals (HMs) to accumulate in agricultural soils. This study investigated the effects of atmospheric deposition on soil HMs accumulation at a regional scale. Industrial activities significantly increased the flux of deposited particles from atmospheric deposition, with higher fluxes in industrial areas compared to agricultural areas and reference sites. Although the deposition fluxes of HMs were decreasing over time, Cd and Pb still remained at high levels in the study area. Precipitation was found to be the key factor affecting seasonal variations of atmospheric HMs deposition. Lead isotope analysis revealed that atmospheric Pb originated from coal combustion and atmospheric deposition was the main source of Pb contamination in agricultural soils near industrial areas. This study provides valuable insights into the impacts of atmospheric deposition on HMs accumulation in agricultural soils and offers a theoretical basis for preventing soil HMs contamination in industrial developed regions and similar areas.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xin-Qi Yuan, Zhao-Lai Guo, Si-Chen Wang, Luo-Qi Zhao, Meng-Xiang Yuan, Yu-Han Gao, Lv Huang, Chang-Qun Duan
Summary: This study investigated the use of nature-based restoration to facilitate the recovery of viable plant communities in mining wasteland. It was found that scientific analyses of spontaneously formed plant communities in abandoned mining areas can provide insights for nature-based restoration. The functional diversity of plant communities fluctuated substantially during succession, and soil properties, such as soil organic matter and nutrient concentrations, changed as well.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Huihui Song, Weiyu Liang, Kailun Luo, Gehui Wang, Qiannan Li, Xiaowen Ji, Jiang Wan, Xuechun Shao, Kailin Gong, Wei Zhang, Cheng Peng
Summary: In this study, sulfidated nanoscale zero-valent iron (S-nZVI) coated with rhamnolipid (RL-S-nZVI) was synthesized and used to stabilize Pb, Cd, and As in polluted soil. The results showed that RL-S-nZVI had a higher stabilization efficiency compared to nZVI, and the presence of organic acids further improved the stabilization effect.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Carla Cilliers, Olga Neveling, Shepherd M. Tichapondwa, Evans M. N. Chirwa, Hendrik G. Brink
Summary: This research aimed to improve the scalability and cleaner production of a lead bioremediation process by gaining a better understanding of its dominant mechanisms. The study found that the presence of different lead concentrations and complementary anions had significant effects on the composition and structure of the resulting precipitate.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Barbara Klik, Zygmunt M. Gusiatin, Dorota Kulikowska
Summary: The study compared the efficiency of sewage sludge-derived washing agents (SS_WAs) with Na(2)EDTA in removing heavy metals from soil. It found that SS_WAs effectively removed heavy metals, increased soil organic content, and did not inhibit seed germination or root growth. In contrast, Na(2)EDTA inhibited plant growth and only slightly increased soil microbial activity.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yuru Wang, Dahu Rui, Wenjun Nie, Mintae Kim, Daoning Hu, Jun Zhang, Jianfei Liu
Summary: In this study, magnetization technology was used to improve the washing efficiency of clayey soil by enhancing the physicochemical properties of the eluent. The results showed that magnetization decreased the viscosity, surface tension, and contact angle of the eluent, leading to improved wettability and increased removal rate of heavy metal pollutants. The magnetized eluent technology is a facile and efficient method for enhancing the efficiency of freezing-thawing-washing processes in soil remediation.
COLD REGIONS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hongqiang Liu, Pan Chen, Hongbin Wang, Yaohui Yang, Yulun Wu
Summary: The influence of pH conditions and simulated inter-root environmental solutions on heavy metal release from contaminated soils was investigated. Soil leaching of heavy metals was found to be more likely under acidic conditions, with a risk of sustained presence in the inter-root solution. Soil washing experiments showed that ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt (EDTA) had higher removal efficiency for heavy metals compared to other agents tested. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and density functional theory (DFT) analysis suggested that EDTA was particularly effective in removing steady-state Pb, while citric acid had an insignificant effect. EDTA also showed significantly higher removal efficiency for Zn and Cu compared to citric acid.
WATER AIR AND SOIL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zhipeng Zhang, Bing Li, Filicia Wicaksana, Wei Yu, Brent Young
Summary: This study investigates the effect of struvite and K-struvite on the remediation of chromium and lead-contaminated soil. The results show that dosage significantly impacts the immobilisation process, while particle size and purity have negligible effects. Struvite and K-struvite have similar performance in heavy metal immobilisation, with significant effects on lead immobilisation and reducing the most mobilised fractions of chromium. The findings provide insight into how the immobilisation process changes with the dosage and quality of struvite compounds.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Attila Csaba Kondor, Anna Viktoria Vancsik, Laszlo Bauer, Lili Szabo, Zoltan Szalai, Gergely Jakab, Gabor Maasz, Marta Pedrosa, Maria Jose Sampaio, Ana Rita Lado Ribeiro
Summary: This review provides a critical overview of research on the removal efficiency of priority substances and compounds of emerging concern through bank filtration, discussing influencing factors and future challenges. The findings show that the efficiency of bank filtration is influenced by multiple factors and varies for different substances.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xinyan Wang, Shuai Zhang, Huihui Yan, Zhao Ma, Yunshan Zhang, Haining Luo, Xueli Yang
Summary: This study investigated the association between ambient PM2.5, O3 pollution, and ovarian reserve in reproductive-aged Chinese women. The results showed that increased exposure to PM2.5 and O3 was associated with decreased AMH levels, indicating reduced ovarian reserve. Notably, the effects of O3 exposure on ovarian reserve were different from those of PM2.5 exposure.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tingting Ma, Yanjuan Ding, Fengjiao Xu, Chen Zhang, Min Zhou, Ya Tang, Yanrong Chen, Yating Wen, Rufei Chen, Bin Tang, Shigui Wang
Summary: The dragonfly species Orthetrum albistylum can accumulate heavy metals, and its heat shock protein genes have the potential to serve as biomarkers for monitoring environmental pollutants.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Naoto Ishiwaka, Koya Hashimoto, Masayoshi K. Hiraiwa, Francisco Sanchez-Bayo, Taku Kadoya, Daisuke Hayasaka
Summary: Systemic insecticides and rising temperatures have combined effects on the abundance of Odonata nymphs in paddy fields. The standalone effect of insecticide exposure decreased the Odonata community, while nymphs decreased synergistically with temperature rise in paddy water. However, the impacts of each stressor alone varied among species.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Marco Vecchiato, Carlo Barbante, Elena Barbaro, Francois Burgay, Warren R. L. Cairns, Alice Callegaro, David Cappelletti, Federico Dallo, Marianna D'Amico, Matteo Feltracco, Jean-Charles Gallet, Andrea Gambaro, Catherine Larose, Niccolo Maffezzoli, Mauro Mazzola, Ivan Sartorato, Federico Scoto, Clara Turetta, Massimiliano Varde, Zhiyong Xie, Andrea Spolaor
Summary: The Arctic region is facing contamination from long-range pollution and local human activities. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are used as environmental indicators for emission, transport, and deposition processes. Research conducted in the Arctic surface snow in Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard from October 2018 to May 2019 shows that long-range inputs of PAHs mainly occur in winter, while the most abundant analyte retene exhibits opposite seasonal trends.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2024)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Maoshui Zhuo, Zhijie Chen, Xiaoqing Liu, Wei Wei, Yansong Shen, Bing-Jie Ni
Summary: This paper discusses the application of three catalytic processes (photocatalysis, electrocatalysis, and biocatalysis) in the management of microplastic pollution, and introduces the efficiency and catalytic mechanisms of different catalysts. It also proposes the development prospects for sustainable management of microplastic pollution.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shiyu Chen, Zhenzhen Shi, Qiang Zhang
Summary: In this study, a human physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model of diethyl phthalate (DEP) was developed to assess its toxicity. The model considers the distribution and metabolism of DEP and its active metabolite monoethyl phthalate (MEP) in different tissue compartments. Sensitivity analysis and Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) simulations were performed to evaluate the uncertainty and variability of the model parameters. The results suggest that dermal absorption is an important route of exposure to DEP in the environment.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Bangguo Wang, Lijing Wang, Wenxi Cen, Tao Lyu, Peter Jarvis, Yang Zhang, Yuanxun Zhang, Yinghui Han, Lei Wang, Gang Pan, Kaili Zhang, Wei Fan
Summary: This study investigates the feasibility and mechanisms of a chemical-free nanobubble-based AOP for treating organic micropollutants in water. The results show that the oxygen nanobubble AOP has a significantly higher removal efficiency compared to air and nitrogen nanobubbles. The treatment performance is not affected by pH and the presence of ions. Higher initial concentrations of the micropollutant lead to slower treatment processes, but similar removal performance is achieved in the end. The presence of organic matter reduces the removal rate of the micropollutant. The results have practical feasibility for water and wastewater treatment.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yingmei Huang, Jicai Yi, Yao Huang, Songxiong Zhong, Bin Zhao, Jing Zhou, Yuxuan Wang, Yiwen Zhu, Yanhong Du, Fangbai Li
Summary: This study investigates the impact of biochar on methylmercury (MeHg) accumulation in rice. The results show that biochar reduces MeHg levels in paddy soils by decreasing bioavailable Hg and microbial Hg methylation. Additionally, biochar decreases the uptake and translocation of MeHg in rice plants, resulting in a reduction of MeHg accumulation in rice grains.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nengde Zeng, Fei Huang, Jiani Du, Chenghao Huang, Qian Yang, Xinhua Zhan, Baoshan Xing
Summary: This study investigates the protein targets and protein-ligand interactions related to PAH contamination in crop xylem sap using computational tools. The results show that phenanthrene has a more pronounced effect on the xylem sap proteins of maize and wheat, with maize DEPs associated with lipid biosynthesis and wheat DEPs exhibiting an increase in ABC transporters. This study provides insights into the regulation and movement of PAHs within plant xylem.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xinwei Chen, Hao Ma, Run Wang, Man Wang, Binbin Zhu, Yanqing Cong, Xiayue Zhu, Guoqin Wang, Yi Zhang
Summary: Co3O4/TiO2-NRs electrodes with excellent photoresponse were prepared via plasma-assisted modification of Co3O4 on TiO2. The combination of Co3O4 and TiO2 improved the light utilization efficiency and showed potential for degradation of pollutants.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Wenjing Ji, Liying Song, Jing Wang, Hongqing Song
Summary: This study conducted a life-cycle assessment to examine the correlation between natural gas consumption and carbon emissions in different end uses in China. The results showed that both natural gas consumption and life-cycle carbon emissions have been increasing since 2017. Significant variations in NG life-cycle carbon emissions were found across different provinces and sectors, highlighting the need for targeted efforts to reduce carbon emissions.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Youyi Chen, Boxuan Zhang, Pojun Zhang, Guogui Shi, Hao Liang, Wu Cai, Jingyu Gao, Sumin Zhuang, Kaiyin Luo, Jiaqi Zhu, Chaoxiang Chen, Kunyu Ma, Jinrong Chen, Chun Hu, Xueci Xing
Summary: The synergistic effects of trace sulfadiazine and cast-iron corrosion scales on the formation of disinfection by-products in drinking water distribution systems were investigated. The presence of magnetite resulted in increased concentrations of DBPs due to the higher microbial activity and enhanced microbial extracellular electron transport pathway. The study highlights the importance of considering trace antibiotics pollution and corrosion scales in water sources for DBP control.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2024)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Bishwa Raj Pokharel, Vijay Sheri, Manoj Kumar, Zhiyong Zhang, Baohong Zhang
Summary: This review summarizes the interactions, uptake, and transport of aluminum nanoparticles (Al-NPs) in plants, highlighting their negative effects on plant growth and development, as well as their potential to alter plant defense systems and gene expression.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yonglu Wang, Fengsong Zhang, Xiaoyong Liao, Xiao Yang, Guixiang Zhang, Liyun Zhang, Chaojun Wei, Pengge Shi, Jiongxin Wen, Xiaorong Ju, Can Xu, Yang Liu, Ying Lan
Summary: This study aims to explore the effects of thiencarbazone-methyl center dot isoxaflutole on soil microflora and the potential mitigation mechanisms to bacterial communities. It was found that increasing the application of thiencarbazone-methyl center dot isoxaflutole resulted in increased stress on soil bacterial community structure and diversity. Increasing soil pH was recognized as a key factor in improving the diversity and structure of soil microflora. Supplemental use of nitrapyrin or modified attapulgite can increase soil pH and improve bacterial diversity.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2024)