Review
Engineering, Environmental
Mehak Puri, Kavita Gandhi, M. Suresh Kumar
Summary: Phthalate esters (PAEs) are extensively used as plasticizers and their pollution has raised concerns over their potential effects on the aquatic environment. This study provides an overview of PAE pollution, its origins, fate, and effects on aqua species. It also includes a review of studies on the biological degradation of PAEs, emphasizing the need for good management and policies for remediation.
WATER ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Qi Wang, Kai-Ning Lv, An-Ting Wang, Xiaojun Liu, Ge Yin, Jie Wang, Xinyu Du, Jun Li, Guo-Li Yuan
Summary: This study investigated the particle-size specific distributions of PAEs in soils around a landfill in Lhasa, revealing adsorption characteristics of PAEs in different soil fractions and a significantly longer half-life of DEHP in deeper soils. The findings suggest that the distribution and fate of soil PAEs are influenced by their association with particles, and the stability of DEHP in deeper soils can increase PAE inventory in soil compartments.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Li -Hui Liu, Jia-Yan Zhang, Guang-Xuan Tang, Xiang-Qing Xie, Jun Geng, Hui-Xiong Lu, Hui Li, Yan-Wen Li, Ce-Hui Mo, Hai-Ming Zhao, Quan-Ying Cai
Summary: Endophytic bacteria Bacillus subtilis N-1 can effectively degrade toxic phthalate, and their colonization and function in soil-crop system have been investigated. The inoculated strain N-1-gfp can colonize in soil and rice plant, resulting in a shift in indigenous bacterial community and increased pollutant degradation. Furthermore, strain N-1-gfp displayed strong interaction with indigenous bacteria for accelerating phthalate degradation, reducing phthalate accumulation in plants, and promoting plant growth.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Pia Borelbach, Rodion Kopitzky, Jorg Dahringer, Patrick Gutmann
Summary: This study investigated the degradation behavior of fibers made from polylactic acid (PLA) and a polyhydroxy alkanoate (PHA) blend with PLA, as well as a bicomponent fiber (BICO) made from polybutylene succinate (PBS) and PLA. The fibers were tested under different environmental conditions, including soil and industrial composting. The results showed that PLA and BICO fibers did not degrade in soil, while the PHA fibers showed cracks, decreased molecular weight, and changes in the IR spectrum in SEM analysis.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Clement Matthew Chan, Rebecca Lyons, Paul G. Dennis, Paul Lant, Steven Pratt, Bronwyn Laycock
Summary: This study investigated the impact of the commonly used plasticizer DBP on the biodegradation of PHBV in soil. The presence of DBP delayed the initial stage of PHBV biodegradation but then accelerated subsequent rates of biodegradation. Furthermore, it led to significant increases in total bacterial and fungal biomass and altered the composition of microbial communities.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Maria Khishdost, Sina Dobaradaran, Gholamreza Goudarzi, Afshin O. Takdastan, Ali Akbar O. Babaei
Summary: Due to the increasing population, the presence of harmful compounds, especially phthalate esters (PAEs), is a significant issue of environmental pollution. This study evaluated the occurrence and ecological risks of PAEs in the Persian Gulf. Water samples from industrial sites, rural sites, and urban sites were analyzed for seven PAEs. The results showed that DEHP had the highest risk to algae, crustaceans, and fish, while DMP and DEP had lower risks. The findings can contribute to effective control measures and remedial strategies for PAEs pollution in the Persian Gulf.
Review
Polymer Science
Joao Ricardo Afonso Pires, Victor Gomes Lauriano Souza, Pablo Fucinos, Lorenzo Pastrana, Ana Luisa Fernando
Summary: Society is transitioning towards more sustainable alternative materials, which requires thorough biodegradability testing and consistent labeling systems to differentiate between different bioproducts. Additionally, legislation will need to be revised to support new testing standards.
Article
Agronomy
Jianpeng Gao, Qinghong Sun, Yuan-Liang Liu, Wei-Jie Xiong, Si-Han Zeng, Yulong Zhang, Yongtao Li, Hui-Juan Xu
Summary: We investigated the toxicological effects of single and combined exposure of the plasticizer di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and the fluoroquinolone antibiotic enrofloxacin (ENR) on earthworms (Eisenia fetida) by analyzing oxidative stress, DNA damage, and changes in digestibility. Both DEHP and combined pollution treatments resulted in increased reactive oxygen species content in earthworms, while ENR alone had little effect. Malonaldehyde (MDA) was mainly cleared by glutathione sulfur transferase (GST), and DEHP caused more DNA damage than combined pollution. Both single and combined pollution reduced digestive enzyme activity, with combined pollution having a stronger effect. Cellulase, MDA, and GST were the most sensitive indicators. The toxicity ranking based on the Integrated Biological Response (IBR) index was ENR + DEHP > DEHP > ENR, showing a synergistic effect of combined toxicity. These findings highlight the significant ecological risk of phthalate esters and antibiotics in the environment.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xiru Chen, Xinyue Gu, Chao Wang, Liuqing Huang, Dingding Wu, Hao Wu, Sijia Liang, Jingyi Ling, Cheng Gu
Summary: Phthalic acid esters (PAEs), commonly used as plasticizers to improve the flexibility of materials, are widely distributed in soil and wastewater, raising public concerns due to their endocrine-disrupting effects. A ferrihydrite-H2O2-bisulfite ternary system was developed for efficient degradation of dimethyl phthalate (DMP) in this study. Hydroxyl radical (・OH) was identified as the dominant reactive species for DMP degradation. The study also showed that bisulfite-assisted heterogeneous Fenton-like reactions could be a potential in-situ soil remediation technology for efficient degradation of PAEs.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Yumei Yan, Yuan Qu, Rui Du, Wenfeng Zhou, Haixiang Gao, Runhua Lu
Summary: A simple and innovative colorimetric method based on the aggregation of ARG-AuNPs induced by DBP is established for the sensitive determination of DBP in Baijiu samples. The color change of the nanoparticles from red to blue due to the interaction between DBP and ARG-AuNPs allows for quick and semi-quantitative detection of DBP without the need for complex sample preparation techniques. The method shows potential for detecting DBP in more complex environmental samples.
ANALYTICAL METHODS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hanbo Chen, Peng Qin, Xing Yang, Amit Bhatnagar, Sabry M. Shaheen, Jorg Rinklebe, Fengchang Wu, Song Xu, Lei Che, Hailong Wang
Summary: This study investigated the impact of plant- and animal-derived biochar on the competitive sorption-desorption of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) and phthalic acid esters (PAEs) in soils with different organic carbon content. The sorption behavior was influenced by biochar type, application dose, and soil organic carbon content. Additionally, the reciprocal effect between DEP and Cd2+ was found to be a crucial factor affecting their sorption/desorption behavior by biochar, with pig carcass biochar showing greater efficacy in metal/DEP immobilization.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Juan Wu, Rongfei Qu, Qianwen Wang, Xindong Yang, Haofeng Zhu, Anping Zhang, Jianqiang Sun
Summary: This study investigates the impact of interregional food trade on dietary exposure to phthalate esters (PAEs) in China. The results show that interregional food trade promotes the transfer of PAEs between regions and alters the potential risk to the local population.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Bin Zhou, Lixia Zhao, Yang Sun, Xiaojing Li, Liping Weng, Yong Xue, Yongtao Li
Summary: This study characterized the soil microbiota in open-field and greenhouse soils in Hebei Province, China, and found that planting pattern has a more decisive effect on shaping soil microbes than geographic location. The presence of PAEs, especially those with high Kow values, significantly influenced soil microbial communities in different planting patterns.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiaojun Zhou, Juanli Lian, Yan Cheng, Xinke Wang
Summary: The study examined the effects of indoor environmental parameters, such as temperature and humidity, on the partitioning behavior of phthalate esters between gas and particles. It was found that temperature had a significant impact on the gas/particle partition coefficient (K-p) with an exponential decay law observed between K-p and absolute temperature. In contrast, humidity had a smaller effect on K-p compared to temperature, and no obvious law was identified.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yangyang Wang, Wenhao Zhan, Yidan Liu, Shanshan Cheng, Chaosheng Zhang, Jianhua Ma, Runhua Chen
Summary: The halotolerant bacterial consortium (LF) was found to effectively degrade DOP under optimal conditions, with a high removal efficiency. The biodegradation pathway for DOP by LF was proposed based on GC-MS analysis. LF shows potential for remediation of DOP-contaminated environments and can degrade DOP in soil, indicating promising application prospects.
ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
