Environmental Geochemistry and Health最新文献

Synthetic urban surfaces, such as synthetic tracks and artificial turf, are increasingly recognised as sources of airborne microplastic (AMP) emissions in school environments, raising environmental and public health concerns. Children face heightened vulnerability due to their physiology and activity patterns, yet research specifically addressing AMP generation, distribution, and child-specific health implications in school contexts remains limited. Additionally, AMPs can also carry hazardous substances such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, heavy metals, and endocrine disruptors, posing combined health risks that remain largely overlooked in current child exposure assessments. This review synthesises evidence from 2015 to June 2025, highlighting mechanistic evidence linking inhaled AMPs to oxidative stress, inflammation, and systemic health effects, and underscoring children's enhanced susceptibility. It also critically evaluates existing knowledge on AMP emission mechanisms from synthetic sports surfaces, identifies distinctive environmental pathways and spatiotemporal distribution patterns within school settings, and addresses methodological limitations in current exposure monitoring and modelling frameworks. Drawing on recent regulatory developments, such as EU restrictions on intentionally added microplastics, this work outlines science-based strategies for targeted risk mapping, source control, maintenance practices, and child-centred environmental design in educational infrastructure. By shifting focus from predominantly urban- and traffic-oriented studies to the underexplored micro-scale of school campuses and synthetic sports surfaces, this review complements broader urban research while bridging key knowledge gaps, providing a foundation for future research, evidence-based policymaking, and practical measures to safeguard children's health.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are persistent and carcinogenic contaminants that accumulate in soils, posing ecological and public health concerns in recreational environments. This study examines the concentrations, ring-based composition, spatial distribution, and seasonal dynamics of 16 U.S. EPA priority PAHs in surface soils of Gölcük Nature Park (Bolu, Türkiye), a heavily visited recreational area where outdoor barbecuing is widespread. A total of 42 soil samples were collected during summer and winter 2016, and PAH concentrations were quantified using a rigorously validated high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method incorporating matrix-matched calibration and procedural blank correction. ΣPAH₁₆ spanned 108.3-2587.8 ng/g dry weight (dw) in summer and 111.8-3125.8 ng/g dw in winter, with higher winter levels reflecting cumulative atmospheric deposition following intense late-summer and early-autumn recreational activities. Molecular-weight- and ring-based assessments revealed the consistent dominance of high-molecular-weight PAHs, particularly 5-6 ring species, driven by their low volatility and strong sorption. Spatial interpolation maps generated in MapInfo (IDW) identified pronounced seasonal shifts in ΣPAH₁₆ and HMW PAH hotspots, especially in the eastern lakeside picnic-barbecue zone, whereas shaded forested areas exhibited distinct photo-oxidative attenuation patterns. According to the Maliszewska-Kordybach classification, up to one-third of winter samples corresponded to heavily contaminated soils. Benchmarking against a reference lake and international datasets indicates that PAH levels in this protected nature park exceed those of many urban green spaces and approach concentrations typical of industrial settings. Overall, the findings demonstrate that recreation-derived emissions substantially degrade soil quality and highlight the need for evidence-based management strategies to prevent long-term ecological deterioration in protected natural areas.

Saline-alkali soil has the potential for agricultural productivity, electrokinetic treatment can be used as a development method. In order to explore and verify the complex changes of saline-alkali soil properties under electrokinetic treatment, the study adopted soil agrochemical analysis and a pot experiment. Firstly, the changes in soil pH and electrical conductivity (EC) under different voltage intensities (8, 16, 24, 32 V) and treatment durations (6, 12, 18, 24 h) was investigated. Based on the improvement effects and the movement pattern of the alkaline migration zone, the condition of 32 V for 24 h was selected for further experimentation. Subsequently, the redistribution of soil physicochemical properties after this treatment was evaluated. Furthermore, the feasibility of cultivating Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis) in the treated soil was verified through a pot experiment. Following treatment, the pH in the anode area decreased from 9.10 to 7.24, and the electrical conductivity (EC) reduced from 4.39 to 3.13 dS/m, which makes original moderately saline-alkali soil meets the standard of slightly saline soil in expanded anode area. Significant removal of harmful salt ions was achieved, with reduction rates from 13.83 to 83.45% for Na⁺ and from 14.14 to 74.74% for Cl^-. Sulfate (SO₄^2-) was also removed in localized areas. Conversely, the concentrations of base cations (K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺) increased in specific zones. The content of soil organic matter (SOM) locally increased by 14.27% to 66.38%, alkali-hydrolyzed nitrogen (AN) increased by 16.29% to 84.52% and available phosphorus (AP) locally increased by 8.82% to116.46% after electrokinetic treatment. The soil texture in most areas was improved. In the pot experiment, the 7th day germination rate of Chinese cabbage increased to 45% near the treated soil's anode, compared with untreated group (CK, 0%). However, the treatment also led to the formation and migration of a highly alkaline zone, soil compaction, and sandification, which require management through agronomic measures. The results indicate promise for improving certain soil properties and agricultural potential, while also revealing several problems that need to be solved.

This study was conducted to investigate the presence of microplastics (MPs) in individuals of Hyla orientalis and Hyla savignyi, two tree frog species naturally distributed in Türkiye, to determine the qualitative and quantitative distribution of these particles in their gastrointestinal tracts (GITs) and to analyze their morphological (color, shape, size) and chemical (polymer type) properties in detail. A total of 276 individuals were examined within the scope of the research, 76 of which belonged to H. orientalis and 200 to H. savignyi. A total of 192 microplastic particles were detected in their GITs, and the average size of these particles was determined to be 206.56 ± 12.88 µm. The most common microplastic type was PET (67.20%), its shape was fiber (76.00%), and its color was navy blue (25.50%). The highest proportion of microplastic-containing individuals was observed in H. savignyi (56.50%), and microplastic was found in only 11.84% of H. orientalis individuals. No statistically significant difference was found between the two species in terms of polymer type, microplastic shape, and color (p > 0.05). Data obtained from 24 different provinces across Türkiye indicate that microplastic contamination has a wide geographical distribution. The highest microplastic amount was recorded from Hatay-Hassa (44 pieces), followed by Kilis and Bitlis provinces. Significant differences were found between provinces in terms of color, shape, and polymer type (p < 0.001). These findings suggest that microplastic pollution is widespread in terrestrial vertebrates and may vary among species and geographic regions, suggesting that amphibians may be important bioindicators for monitoring ecosystem health.

Although the therapeutic and health benefits of geothermal water are widely recognized by the public, the risks associated with its components have also drawn attention. However, in the eastern part of Shandong Province where low-temperature geothermal water is widely distributed, the risks to residents' health posed by harmful components in the geothermal water have not yet been fully recognized and effectively addressed. In the eastern part of Shandong Province bounded by the Tanlu Fault (EST), the concentrations of fluoride (F) in all geothermal waters and arsenic (As) in some geothermal waters exceed the permissible limits set by the national standard (GB 5749-2022), with As at 0.01 mg/L and F at 1 mg/L. This study employs multivariate statistical analysis, hydrogeochemical methods, and a health risk assessment model coupled with Monte Carlo simulation to reveal the driving factors of F and As enrichment in geothermal waters and their associated health risks. This study reveals that, in addition to natural mechanisms (dissolution and precipitation, cation exchange, alkaline environment) influencing the concentrations of F and As in geothermal water, anthropogenic factors (agricultural activities) have also become important drivers for As enrichment in geothermal water. Hierarchical clustering categorized the water samples into two groups. Both deterministic and probabilistic health risk assessments indicated that children faced higher risks than adults. The risk from ingestion exposure far exceeded that from dermal contact, with more than 91% and 99% of the non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks due to ingestion reaching alert or unacceptable levels, respectively. While the risk from dermal contact was negligible for most samples, attention should be paid to the carcinogenic risk in Cluster A, which has reached an alert level. This research can provide insights into the enrichment mechanisms of F and As in geothermal water and offer valuable references for government departments in the risk management and rational application of geothermal water.

Biomass-derived carbon quantum dots (CQDs) were integrated with TiO₂ nanorods to enhance visible-light photocatalytic performance. Photocatalytic performance was evaluated for the degradation of an organic dye and removal of a heavy metal under visible-light irradiation; the incorporation of C-CQDs reduced the band gap of TiO₂ nanorods from 3.11 eV to 2.84 eV, resulting in enhanced photocatalytic performance with 88.04% dye degradation and 88.39% Cr(VI) reduction. In addition, the hybrid photocatalyst showed enhanced antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli compared with pristine TiO₂, while cytotoxicity assays confirmed acceptable biocompatibility. The C-CQDs/TNRs photocatalyst retained more than 95% of its initial activity after three consecutive reuse cycles, demonstrating excellent stability and reusability. This work demonstrates a promising biomass-to-functional-nanomaterial pathway for multifunctional photocatalytic systems, offering potential for wastewater treatment and microbial disinfection applications.

Phosphogypsum is a soil conditioner used to enhance lime effects in depth and also to decrease aluminum (Al) toxicity to plants. It is a by-product from phosphate mining and can be enriched in some contaminants, such as rare earth elements (REE), uranium (U), and thorium (Th). However, there is a lack of studies evaluating the long-term effects of this practice, particularly in soil depths. To address this gap, this study aimed to evaluate the remobilization of REE, U, and Th in a highly weathered soil (Oxisol) for 9 years. Four soil parcels received a single application of 28 tons ha^-1 in different years: 2005, 2008, 2010, and 2013, with soil sampling occurring in 2014. Soil samples were digested and analyzed using mass spectrometry. The REE input from phosphogypsum reached 1681 mg kg^-1, of which 95.89% corresponded to light rare earth elements (LREE). Although the reference area showed high background levels, temporal enrichment occurred in the treated areas, especially for LREE in the 0-40 cm layer, with cerium (Ce) being the most abundant element. Over nine years, REE concentrations decreased, but the distribution patterns of REE, U, and Th revealed to be dependent on chemical characteristics, natural background in soil and content in the phosphogypsum. The ratio ΣLREE/ΣHREE normalized by the reference area increased over the years, meaning a preferential depletion of HREE. Over time, phosphogypsum inputs led to enrichment of Th and scandium (Sc), whereas U and Y showed higher mobility and losses. These findings highlight the temporal and spatial behavior of potentially toxic elements introduced via phosphogypsum and their implications for soil and environmental quality.

The levels, contamination degrees, and spatial distributions of 13 metals-aluminum (Al), arsenic (As), barium (Ba), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), vanadium (V), and zinc (Zn)-were investigated in soils from suburban, urban, and industrial sites in Ulsan, the largest multi-industrial city in South Korea. At the industrial sites, the mean concentrations of As (13.4 mg/kg), Cd (1.49 mg/kg), Cu (129 mg/kg), Ni (12.8 mg/kg), Pb (122 mg/kg), and Zn (376 mg/kg) were higher than those at the urban and suburban sites. In particular, soils from the non-ferrous metal and petrochemical industrial complexes were highly contaminated with As, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn, as supported by spatial distributions and multiple pollution indices. Ecological risks, assessed using the potential ecological risk index (RI), were very high at six industrial sites (913-1748), while those at the suburban (214-476) and urban sites (187-518) were at moderate to considerable levels. On average, Cd and As contributed 70% and 17% of the total ecological risks, respectively. According to the principal component analysis, As, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn were significantly associated with industrial soils, suggesting that industrial emissions are the primary source, whereas Al, Co, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, and V were not significantly affected by industrial activities or vehicular emissions. The results highlight the need for remediation strategies in the industrial complexes to mitigate severe ecological risks in soils and prevent further contamination of other environmental media and ecosystems.

Fluid-rock interaction, mineral transformation, and metal redistribution in orogenic systems exert fundamental controls on permeability evolution and ore formation, yet the coupling between nanoscale interfacial processes and larger-scale fluid pathways remains poorly constrained. This review examines reactive nano-interfaces-including mineral surfaces, grain-boundary fluid films, and nanoporous networks-that govern fluid-rock reactions, metal mobility, and permeability evolution under metamorphic-hydrothermal conditions. By synthesizing experimental, analytical, and modeling studies, we evaluate nanoscale controls using evidence from high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), synchrotron-based X-ray spectroscopies (XANES/EXAFS, STXM), batch and flow-through experiments, and reactive transport modeling. Distinct mineralogical substrates exhibit pronounced contrasts in nanoporosity, surface roughness, and reactive surface area, resulting in orders-of-magnitude differences in adsorption capacity and reaction efficiency. Nanocrystalline iron oxyhydroxides and swelling clays emerge as particularly reactive phases, in which nanopores (< 100 nm) can comprise up to ~ 60% of total pore volume and act as dominant reaction domains. Literature-reported batch experiments indicate rapid, surface-controlled chemisorption of Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺, and As(V), well described by pseudo-second-order kinetics, with strong mineralogical control on adsorption capacity, reversibility, and speciation. Synchrotron-based imaging and spectroscopy reveal preferential metal accumulation along grain boundaries and within nanopores, including nanoprecipitate formation and localized redox heterogeneity decoupled from bulk fluid conditions. Reactive transport experiments and simulations consistently show transient permeability enhancement followed by pore clogging and flow localization. When conceptually upscaled, these nanoscale processes provide mechanistic support for observed patterns of metal focusing and ore zonation in orogenic systems, underscoring reactive nano-interfaces as key regulators of metal transport, retention, and mineralization efficiency.

Phenolic resin waste (PRW) is a carbon-rich industrial byproduct, and its improper disposal leads to environmental pollution and resource loss. In this study, a porous carbon material (PRWPC) with a well-developed porous structure and a large specific surface area (1760.6107 m² g^-1) was prepared from PRW via microwave-assisted alkaline activation and applied for methylene blue (MeB) removal from aqueous solution. Under the optimized conditions with an initial MeB concentration of 100 mg L^-1, an adsorbent dosage of 10 mg, a contact time of 40 min, a temperature of 328 K, and pH = 11, PRWPC exhibits high adsorption performance, achieving a maximum adsorption capacity of 1482.35 mg g^-1 with a removal efficiency of 98.8%. Kinetic analysis indicates that the adsorption process follows a pseudo-second-order model, while equilibrium data are well described by the Langmuir isotherm, suggesting monolayer adsorption dominated by micropore filling. Thermodynamic analysis reveals that the adsorption process is spontaneous and endothermic. Overall, this study demonstrates that microwave-assisted conversion of phenolic resin waste provides a feasible, low-cost, and sustainable strategy for the efficient removal of cationic dyes from wastewater.