Environmental Geochemistry and Health最新文献

Ludhiana, a pollution hot spot in North India, has seen a rapid deterioration in air quality over the years due to urbanization and industrialization. This study interprets the variations of particulate matter (PM) and gaseous pollutants (Nitrogen oxide, Nitrogen dioxide, NO_X, Sulphur dioxide, Carbon monoxide, Benzene, Toluene, Ozone, and Ammonia) for the data observed from 2017 to 2023 in Ludhiana. This also covers the analysis focused on capturing the changes that occurred at the times of lockdown imposed during the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). The maximum 24-h averaged mass concentration values exceeded the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) of 100 µg/m³ for PM₁₀ concentration and 60 µg/m³ for PM_2.5 concentration in 2018 by the factor of 5 and 8. With the onset of the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 year, PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 reached the minimum level while CO, T, O_3, and NO₂ increased by the factor of 3.9, 1.9, 1.4, and 1.3 from their previous year. This NO₂ is a precursor of ozone formation, a higher NO₂ to NO ratio observed during the lockdown, confirms the role of nitrogen compounds in the higher ozone formation rate. Based on the NO₂/NO ratio, the probability rate of ozone formation determined using survival analysis is observed to be 94% from 2017 to 2023. The local sources' contribution to these air pollutants during Pre-Lockdown, Lockdown, and Post-Lockdown are analyzed using principal component analysis. The impact of the lockdown on ozone concentration sources has been observed. During the Pre- and Post-Lockdown phases, three sources (PC1, PC2, and PC3) were positively identified. Ozone levels are linked to PC3 in these phases, but during the lockdown, a negative loading in PC3 and positive loadings in PC1 and PC2 indicate a decrease in ozone from reduced emissions and an increase from secondary reactions involving nitrogen compounds. Moreover, the Toluene to Benzene concentration ratio is > 2, indicating the source of their origin from industrial emission or other non-traffic sources. Health assessment for the years 2017-2019 reveals a significant decrease in the number of cases of all-cause mortality, ischemic heart disease, stroke, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease associated with reducing PM_2.5 concentrations to national and international standards.

Water contamination is a major environmental issue, especially in rapidly growing industrialized areas like Singrauli. This study addresses research gaps regarding the hydrochemical characterization, health risk assessment, and source identification of contaminants. Hydrochemistry shows the concentrations of Na⁺, Ca²⁺, F^-, Mn, As, Mo, Sr, and Ni were above the permissible limit for drinking usage. Water quality index (WQI), heavy metal pollution (HMPI), and evaluation indices (HMEI) revealed As, Mn, Cd, Mo, Co, and Ni were the key heavy elements contributing towards aqueous media pollution in the Singrauli area. Additionally, F was also considered one of the major contaminants. In health risk assessment, the higher values of hazard quotient (HQ) for non-carcinogens were associated with Mn, As, Mo, and F; and hazard index (HI) values > 1 were found in 70% and 55% of samples for children and adults, respectively. Carcinogenic risk (CR) for human health was associated with As. CR values in 56.7% (for adults) and 61.7% (for children) of the total samples exceeded 1 × 10^-4. Monte Carlo simulation was applied and highlighted the significant risk factors responsible for both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health impacts. 19.2%, 7.3%, and 6.9% of the simulated HQ values for adults and 30.1%, 16.9%, and 10.6% for children were above the safe limit for F, As, and Mn, respectively. Additionally, only 43.8% and 24.8% of the simulated HI for adults and children were within the safe limit. Irrespective of age groups, all the simulated values of As in CR were above 1 × 10^-6; and 60% (for adults) and 77.1% (for children) of the values were above 1 × 10^-4. This outcome emphasizes the urgency of pollution control measures, especially for As, F, and Mn, to safeguard public health. Moreover, a multivariate statistical approach revealed that both geogenic and anthropogenic sources were responsible for contamination. Therefore, regular monitoring, filtration, and purification are mandatory to ensure safe drinking water for human consumption.

The present study was carried out to determine the presence of asbestos in Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) areas of Attica, Greece affected by wildfires between 2018 and 2021. It concerns the first major campaign that took place in Greece. The samples tested in this work were collected from prespecified buildings of the burned area. The samples included different types of building materials such as bricks, wall coatings, insulation plates etc. Soil samples nearby the buildings were also collected to examine dispersion of the fibers. The identification of asbestos was based on the optical properties of the fibrous particles and was performed with stereo microscope and Polarized Light Microscopy according to P401 provided by BOHS (Health and Safety Executive (HSE) 2021). Scanning Electron Microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy was also used to validate the presence of asbestos and determine its chemical composition. In this work, 2 different types of asbestos were determined, chrysotile and crocidolite. In some cases, fragments of asbestos containing materials were also detected in the afore-mentioned soil samples indicating dispersion of asbestos containing debris in an area around the burned spots. The presence of asbestos that was identified in this preliminary study could raise concerns to humans in the urban areas. For that reason, a risk assessment for the identified asbestos containing materials (ACMs) was conducted according to the guidelines on management and abatement of ACMs of Health and Safety Authority and the Asbestos: Survey guide, Appendix 4: Material assessment algorithm of Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

The contribution of heavy metals in surface soils by the influences of agro-machinery factories is a significant growing concern. Heavy metals were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry technique to assess human and ecological risks. The concentrations of Fe, Cd, Cr, Cu, As, Pb, Mn, Ni, and Zn in soil ranged from 18,274-22,652, 2.06-4.92, 24.8-41.9, 126.8-137.5, 9.20-25.2, 17.8-46.1, 114.4-183.1, 86.9-118.1, and 101.6-159.6 mg/kg, respectively. The enrichment factor values of heavy metals were greater than 1.5, suggesting severe anthropogenic activities such as untreated waste discharging, burning of metallic wastes, wear, and tear, and dismantling of old batteries for heavy metals enrichment in studied soil. The contamination factor indicates considerable to very high contamination of heavy metals in soil. Moderate to high ecological risk was observed for analyzed metals which mainly originated from the maintenance and repairing of various engines in the workshop and welding and soldering of metallic substances. The target hazard quotient (THQ) was ranged from 6.99E-04 to 2.21E-01 for adults and 5.59E-03 to 1.82E + 00 for children, respectively; indicating children were more sensitive to heavy metals exposure from soil dust. The carcinogenic risk of As (1.72E-05) exceeded the USEPA acceptable limits indicating cancer risk to the residence. The current emphasized the significance of intensive heavy metals monitoring in surface soils around the agro-machinery areas due to their potential health risks associated with children.

Understanding the health risks of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in dust from city parks and prioritizing sources for control are essential for public health and pollution management. The combination of Source-specific and Monte Carlo not only reduces management costs, but also improves the accuracy of assessments. To evaluate the sources of PAHs in urban park dust and the possible health risks caused by different sources, dust samples from 13 popular parks in Kaifeng City were analyzed for PAHs using gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS). The results showed that the surface dust PAH content in the study area ranged from 332.34 µg·kg^-1 to 7823.03 µg·kg^-1, with a mean value of 1756.59 µg·kg^-1. Nemerow Composite Pollution Index in the study area ranged from 0.32 to 14.41, with a mean of 2.24, indicating that the overall pollution warrants attention. Four pollution sources were identified using the positive matrix factorization (PMF) model: transportation source, transportation-coal and biomass combustion source, coke oven emission source, and petroleum source, with contributions of 33.74%, 25.59%, 22.14%, and 18.54%, respectively. The Monte Carlo cancer risk simulation results indicated that park dust PAHs pose a potential cancer risk to all three populations (children, adult male and adult female). Additionally, the cancer risk for children was generally higher than that for adult males and females, with transportation sources being the main contributor to the carcinogenic risk. Lastly, sensitivity analyses results showed that the toxic equivalent concentration (CS) is the parameter contributing the most to carcinogenic risk, followed by Exposure duration (ED).

Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent organic pollutants that severely threaten the environment and human health due to their distinct chemical composition, extensive production, widespread distribution, bioaccumulation in nature, and long-term persistence. This review focuses on the occurrence and sources of PFAS in seafood, with a particular emphasis on advanced detection methods viz. nanoparticle-based, biosensor-based, and metal-organic frameworks-based, and mass spectrometric techniques. The challenges associated with these advanced detection technologies are also discussed. Recent research and regulatory updates about PFAS, including hazardous and potential health effects, epidemiological studies, and various risk assessment models, have been reviewed. In addition, the need for global monitoring programs and regulations on PFAS are critically reviewed by underscoring their crucial role in protecting human health and the environment. Further, approaches for reducing PFAS in seafood are highlighted with future innovative remediation directions. Although advanced PFAS analytical methods are available, selectivity, sample preparation, and sensitivity are still significant challenges associated with detection of PFAS in seafood matrices.  Moreover, crucial research gaps and solutions to essential concerns are critically explored in this review.

This research work presents an examination of the concentrations and modes of occurrence of environmentally sensitive elements within lignite deposits, located in Neyveli, within the Cauvery Basin of India. Coal is one of the most complex geologically formed materials, consisting of organic and inorganic matter. The inorganic mineral matter including the crystalline minerals, non-crystalline mineraloids, and elements with non-mineral associations. These lignite samples underwent complete analysis encompassing macroscopic, microscopic and geochemical assessments. The analysis reveals that the total mineral matter (MM) content, comprising significant proportions of sulphides, carbonate and argillaceous components. Geochemical characterization further elucidates the lignite's properties, with proximate analysis yielding values such as ash, volatile matter and fixed carbon and the Ultimate components analysis reveals the carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulphur and oxygen. Inorganic mineral matters play a significant role in coal utilization, and also such modes of occurrence of elements provide useful geochemical information on coal formation and coal-bearing basin evolution. In this paper, we assess the associations of elements and minerals, as well as the associations of selected elements including environmentally-sensitive (e.g., S, As, U, and Hg), and some major elements (e.g., Ca, Mg, Fe, Al, and Ti) that have largely occurred in non-mineral forms in these low-rank coals. And also, comparative analysis is conducted between the concentrations of elements within the lignite samples and the values reported for World Clarke Brown Coals (WCBC). Particularly, some of these elements exhibit significantly high environmental sensitivity, demanding careful consideration in lignite extraction and utilization practices.

The integration of biochar (BC) production from organic waste with ampicillin (AMP), an emerging pollutant, adsorption is a novel and promising treatment approach. In this study, peanut shells, coffee grounds, digestates, and oyster shells were used for BC production. Among these, the use of anaerobic digestate from food waste fermentation to produce extracts for antibiotic adsorption is relatively unexplored. The pyrolysis temperature was determined using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and the materials were characterized with BET, SEM, FTIR, and XRD. The TGA results indicate that PSB, CRB, and DSB underwent pyrolysis involving cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, whereas OSB underwent crystal formation. Characterization revealed that DSB has more functional groups, a superior mesoporous structure, appropriate O/C ratio, and trace amounts of calcite crystals, which are favorable for AMP adsorption. Adsorption experiments demonstrate that all four materials adhere to the Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm and Elovich kinetic models, indicating predominant physical adsorption, with some chemical adsorption also present. Thermodynamic studies demonstrate that BC is spontaneous during adsorption and is a heat-absorbing reaction. DSB exhibits the strongest AMP adsorption. A 53.81 mg g^-1 adsorbance was obtained at a dosage of 150 mg, pH = 2, and 60 °C. This study introduces innovative approaches for managing waste types and provides data to support the selection of suitable solid wastes for the preparation of BC with excellent adsorption properties. Furthermore, it lays the groundwork for future studies aimed at enhancing the AMP treatment efficacy.

The ecological threats of microplastics (MPs) have sparked research worldwide. However, changes in the topics of MP research over time and space have not been evaluated quantitatively, making it difficult to identify the next frontiers. Here, we apply topic modeling to assess global spatiotemporal dynamics of MP research. We identified nine leading topics in current MP research. Over time, MP research topics have switched from aquatic to terrestrial ecosystems, from distribution to fate, from ingestion to toxicology, and from physiological toxicity to cytotoxicity and genotoxicity. In most of the nine leading topics, a disproportionate amount of independent and collaborative research activity was conducted in and between a few developed countries which is detrimental to understanding the environmental fates of MPs in a global context. This review recognizes the urgent need for more attention to emerging topics in MP research, particularly in regions that are heavily impacted but currently overlooked.

In this study, mycosynthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) are fabricated via Pleurotus sajor-caju mushroom extract, and their potential medical and environmental applications are demonstrated. The biosynthesized ZnONPs were assessed for their antibacterial, anticancer, and biodecolorization potential efficiency. They were also characterized and morphologically analyzed by UV-visible spectroscopy, XRD, FT-IR, FE-SEM, EDX, HR-TEM, Zeta potential, and GC-MS analysis. The UV visible spectrum analysis of synthesized ZnONPs analyzed outcome 354 nm was the SPR peak that the nanoparticles displayed. The characteristic Zn-O bond was indicated by a strong peak in the FT-IR study at 432.05 cm^-1. Based on XRD analysis, P. sajor-caju mediated ZnONPs were crystalline nature, with an average nano particle size of 14.21 nm and a polydispersity directory of 0.29. The nanoparticles exhibit modest constancy, as shown by their zeta potential value of - 33.2 mV. The presence of oxygen and zinc was verified by EDX analysis. The ZnONPs were found to be spherical in shape and crystalline nature structure, with smooth surface morphology and a mean particle size of 10 nm using HR-TEM and SAED analysis. The significant antibacterial activity against S. aureus (6.2 ± 0.1), S. mutans (5.4 ± 0.4), and B. subtilis (5.2 ± 0.1 mm) was demonstrated by the synthesized ZnONPs made using mushroom extract. It was discovered that when the concentration of mushroom extract was increased together with synthesized ZnONPs, the bactericidal activity increased considerably. A higher concentration of ZnONPs demonstrated superior antibacterial activity across the ZnONPs ratio tests. The in vitro cytotoxicity assay showed that ZnONPs, even at low doses, had a substantial number of cytotoxic effects on liver cancer cells (LC₅₀ values 47.42 µg/mL). The effectiveness test revealed that acid blue 129 was degraded. The best decolorization of acid blue 129 at 72.57% after 3 h of soaking serves as evidence for the theory that myco-synthesized ZnONPs by P. sajor-caju mushroom can function as catalysts in reducing the dye. The mycosynthesized ZnONPs from P. sajor-caju extract, and its potential for antibacterial, anticancer, and decolorization are in this investigation. The mycosynthesized ZnONPs suggest a novel use for nanoparticles in the creation of environmental and medicinal products.