Environmental Geochemistry and Health最新文献

Madurai, a rapidly growing urban center in South India, faces increasing freshwater demand due to urbanization. In line with Sustainable Development Goal 6 (clean water and sanitation), this study evaluates groundwater quality for drinking and agriculture, highlighting the need for sustainable water management. Fifty groundwater samples were collected and analyzed using standard hydrogeochemical methods to assess seasonal variations and distinguish natural from anthropogenic influences. Results show a significant increase in total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), and major ions during the post-monsoon (POM) season, suggesting enhanced mineral leaching and possible surface water contamination. Multivariate statistical analyses provided deeper insights into the relationships among hydrogeochemical variables. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated a shift from geogenic to anthropogenic influences across seasons, while hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) revealed greater spatial variability in pre-monsoon (PRM) samples, with POM samples showing more homogeneity due to dilution. Water Quality Index (WQI) analysis showed a seasonal decline in water quality, with more samples rated as 'poor,' 'very poor,' or 'unfit' for drinking in POM. While sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) remained within safe irrigation limits, other indices such as sodium percentage (Na%), permeability index (PI), and Kelly ratio (KR) suggested lower irrigation suitability in POM. Mineral saturation indices indicated continued undersaturation, implying ongoing aquifer mineral dissolution. These findings underscore the need for sustained groundwater monitoring and effective management to safeguard water quality. Achieving SDG 6 requires proactive measures amid growing environmental and anthropogenic pressures.

The increasing global consumption of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) and their persistence in the environment have raised concerns about their potential ecological and human health risks, especially in aquatic systems. Thermal waters, widely used for therapeutic and agricultural purposes, remain underexplored regarding PPCP contamination. This study presents a comprehensive environmental risk assessment (ERA) of 104 PPCPs in thermal waters from 22 sampling points across nine geothermal fields in Kütahya, Türkiye. A total of five PPCPs (caffeine, DEET, ephedrine, carbamazepine, and chlorphenamine) were quantified using a validated LC-MS/MS method. Caffeine exhibited the highest detection frequency (100%) and maximum concentration (43.191 ng L^-1), followed by DEET (90.9%) and ephedrine (77.2%). Risk quotients (RQs) were calculated based on predicted no-effect concentrations (PNECs) derived from ECOSAR v2.2, and the mixture risk quotient (MRQ) approach was applied to assess the cumulative ecological risks of PPCP mixtures. The results indicate that although most individual compounds pose low to medium ecological risk levels (RQ < 1), MRQ values exceeded concern thresholds (MRQ > 1) in several locations, suggesting potential chronic threats, especially to algae and invertebrates. No significant correlation emerged between PPCP levels and water parameters, indicating their persistence. Geological and hydrogeological factors, such as fault-controlled mixing between shallow and deep aquifers, were identified as pathways for contamination. These findings highlight the need for regulatory oversight of PPCPs in thermal waters and recommend safeguards, such as isolating well intakes from shallow aquifers, to reduce ecological and health risks.

This study investigates the environmental and radiological health risks associated with artisanal gold mining activities along the Opa River section of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Nigeria. The research addresses a critical gap in understanding the long-term stochastic health effects of heavy metals and naturally occurring radionuclides in a vulnerable academic environment. Artisanal mining, though economically beneficial, has led to significant soil contamination, posing potential risks to over 40,000 campus residents and surrounding communities. The study evaluates the extent of contamination and quantifies associated health risks, aligning with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3, 6, 12, and 15. A total of 100 soil and mine tailing samples were collected and analysed using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry for elemental composition and NaI(Tl) gamma spectrometry for radionuclide activity. Deterministic risk indices-including Hazard Quotient (HQ), Hazard Index (HI), Radium Equivalent (Raeq), and Gamma Index (Iᵧ)-were computed following USEPA and UNSCEAR guidelines. To address uncertainty in exposure parameters, a Monte Carlo Simulation (10,000 iterations) was employed to estimate Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk (ELCR). Results revealed elevated concentrations of lead (Pb: 267.94 µg/g), manganese (Mn: 4026.46 µg/g), and potassium-40 (⁴⁰K: 511.10 Bq/kg). While deterministic indices remained below critical thresholds, probabilistic modelling indicated a worst-case ELCR of 2.04 × 10^-4, suggesting up to 204 potential cancer cases per million individuals. The findings underscore the inadequacy of relying solely on deterministic models and highlight the need for probabilistic risk frameworks in environmental health assessments. The study advocates continuous environmental monitoring, site reclamation, and integration of Monte Carlo-based risk forecasting into national radiation safety policies to safeguard public health in mining-impacted academic environments.

As part of the APEAL project (Longitudinal Effects of Air Pollution Exposure on Adolescent Lungs), a large-scale cohort study involving ~5,000 children, this pilot study examined indoor and outdoor concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) in urban residential homes during the summer season (April-May 2022). One-week integrated Passam passive samplers were deployed to measure VOCs and NO₂ in Delhi, Bengaluru, and Mysuru, and NO₂ additionally in Mumbai. Average indoor (outdoor) VOC concentrations in Delhi were: 123.7±34.8 (99.3±33.0)µg/m³, which were 42.7%(34.4%) higher than in Bengaluru and 58.1%(50.4%) higher than Mysuru, respectively. Indoor (outdoor) NO₂ levels in Delhi were 101.4±12.4 (61.2±12.4)µg/m³, which were 33.5%(40.7%) higher than in Mumbai, 34.1%(41.2%) higher than Bengaluru, and 68.0%(80.6%) higher than Mysuru, respectively. Spatial heterogeneity was observed for pollutants across cities (Coefficient of Divergence, COD>0.20). Strong indoor-outdoor correlations for BTEX and weak correlations for NO₂ suggest variable source influences. Health risk assessment for NO₂ indicated an elevated risk of adverse effects, while Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risk (ILCR) analysis suggested a 'probable' to 'possible' carcinogenic risk from BTEX, predominantly driven by benzene. The indoor models explained ~65% of the variability in BTEX and 87% in NO₂ concentrations, with outdoor levels, indoor sources such as incense burning, household characteristics such as separate kitchen as the main explanatory factors. Outdoor BTEX and NO₂ showed exponential decay with distance from the nearest road. These findings underscore the need for city-specific interventions to reduce children's exposure to air pollution and its associated health risks.

Pesticides removal from soil was investigated using a DBD (dielectric barrier discharge) plasma with microsecond pseudo-pulsed high-voltage power supply, focusing on the modeling and optimization of Trifluralin removal as the target pollutant. We performed a detailed parametric analysis (discharge voltage, remediation time, as well as soil moisture and organics content) to determine the optimum operational conditions. Plasma treatment experiments were also carried out on pristine sandy and loam soils. All four factors significantly impacted the herbicide removal, with notable cross effects. Under optimum conditions, 96.1 ± 2.0% Trifluralin and almost 68.5% mineralization were achieved within 17.6 min. In the presence of humic acids, the degradation efficiency decreased considerably, partly due to the competition for reactive species and energy consumption as well. The degradation kinetics fitted well to the pseudo-second-order model (R² = 0.998). The energy efficiencies were respectively 0.997 and 9.252 mg/kWh for 10 and 100 mg/kg Trifluralin, where •OH and ¹O₂ were the dominant reactive species in the targeted herbicide mineralization. The mechanistic degradation pathways were proposed based on the identified transformation products, which primarily encompassed successive hydroxylation, defluorination, and deamination. Furthermore, the toxicity of transformation products was evaluated through both seed germination assessment and the ECOSAR (Ecological Structure-Activity Relationships) predictive model, which indeed verified that the environmental risk was substantially reduced. This study gives a new point of view on cold DBD plasma as a promising and robust technique towards the remediation of soils contaminated with chemically stable and recalcitrant organics that are resistant to conventional treatment methods.

Owing to its abundant coal reserves, Huaibei serves as a critical energy supply base in East China. However, coal exploitation and utilization have led to severe environmental challenges. To improve pollution source control and advance soil contamination remediation in mining areas, we investigated the pollution characteristics, source apportionment, and health risks of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) in soils around the Liuqiao coal mining area in Huaibei. The total PAC concentration (ΣPACs) ranged from 142.0 to 11,400 ng/g (mean: 1440 ng/g), with alkylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons being the dominant contributors (49.4%). Seven high-carcinogenicity PAHs (BaA, CHR, BbF, BkF, BaP, DBA, and InP) accounted for 40.4% of the Σ16PAHs, indicating potential health concerns. Integrated analysis using diagnostic ratios, positive matrix factorization, and absolute principal component score-multivariate linear regression indicated multiple PAC sources, including petrogenic inputs and combustion-related sources (e.g., diesel/traffic-related combustion, biomass/coke ovens, and coal combustion). Deterministic human health risk assessment and Monte Carlo uncertainty analysis suggested that total carcinogenic risks for adults and children exceed the United States Environmental Protection Agency benchmark (1 × 10^-6). Source-oriented risk modeling further indicated that petrogenic and combustion-related sources are the main contributors to carcinogenic risk, although their relative importance differed between PMF and APCS-MLR. This study provides an integrated framework for PAC source tracing and health risk assessment in mining-impacted regions and supports targeted pollution control and management.

Liver cancer ranks as the fourth most common malignant tumor and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in China. Guangxi is a high-risk region, with a crude incidence rate of 41.65/10⁵, significantly exceeding the national average. At a regional scale, liver cancer incidence in Guangxi exhibits a distinct zonal distribution, which shows notable spatial coupling with cadmium (Cd) concentrations in rice grains, though the underlying mechanism remains unclear. This study systematically investigated this relationship by collecting hepatocellular carcinoma incidence and rice grain Cd data from 44 counties/cities, analyzing blood Cd levels in 105 patients and 105 healthy controls, and comparing paired blood (n = 316) and rice samples (n = 216) from five typical areas. Results demonstrated a significant spatial coupling and correlation between rice Cd distribution and liver cancer incidence. Liver cancer patients had elevated blood Cd levels. High consistency between blood Cd and rice grain Cd levels identified rice consumption as the primary exposure pathway. This study suggests a link between rice cadmium levels and liver cancer in Guangxi, potentially contributing to its geographical distribution. This provincial-scale study provides fundamental data for understanding the chronic hepatocarcinogenic effects of Cd exposure via rice.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified free silica/quartz as a Group 1 carcinogen, indicating sufficient evidence of its carcinogenicity in humans. In the present study, suspended particulate matter (SPM), respirable dust (PM₁₀), and free silica content in dust were assessed to determine the associated exposure risk in three mega coal mines (Bharatpur, Kaniha, and Lingaraj OCP) located in the Talcher Coalfield, Odisha, India. The respirable dust samples collected on filter paper were analyzed using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) to characterize their composition and morphology. The highest concentrations of SPM and PM₁₀ were observed at Bharatpur OCP, with mean values of 394 µg/m³ and 136 µg/m³, respectively. In contrast, Kaniha OCP exhibited slightly lower concentrations of SPM and higher concentrations of PM₁₀, with mean values of 230 µg/m³ and 193 µg/m³, respectively. When compared with Bharatpur OCP, the highest concentration of free silica was observed at Kaniha OCP, with values ranging from 5.94 to 114.89 µg/m³ and a mean concentration of 41.59 µg/m³. The health risk assessment, conducted using USEPA methodology, indicates that Kaniha OCP poses the highest risks of exposure to respirable silica, with both non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic outcomes, followed by Bharatpur OCP. In contrast, the Lingaraj OCP exhibited comparatively lower health risk levels. The SEM/EDS analysis revealed clear evidence of respirable free silica particles at all three mining sites.

Mounting evidence suggests an association between air pollution and the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA), yet the underlying molecular mechanisms remain largely unexplored. This study aims to systematically decipher the mechanistic link between common air pollutants and OA using an integrated computational approach. We employed a novel strategy combining network toxicology, machine learning, and molecular docking. Potential target genes of seven air pollutants (benzene, SO₂, NO, CO, NO₂, toluene, O₃) were retrieved from predictive databases. OA-related genes were identified from synovial tissue gene expression datasets from the GEO database. Machine learning algorithms were applied to construct diagnostic models and identify hub genes. Immune infiltration analysis was performed using CIBERSORTx. Molecular docking simulations were conducted to validate the interactions between pollutants and hub gene proteins.We identified eight hub genes (S1PR4, HRH4, NR2E3, FOLH1, PIM1, CA2, MMP9, and HTR2A) that are central to the pollutant-OA interaction. Enrichment analysis indicated their involvement in neuroactive ligand-receptor interactions and immune-related pathways. Immune infiltration revealed a remodeled OA microenvironment characterized by altered macrophage polarization and T-cell subsets. The Naïve Bayes model, built upon these genes, demonstrated robust diagnostic performance. Crucially, molecular docking confirmed spontaneous binding (binding energy < 0 kcal/mol) between all seven pollutants and the eight hub proteins, with toluene exhibiting the strongest overall affinity in silico. Collectively, our integrative analysis generates novel hypotheses regarding molecular and immune mechanisms that may link air pollution exposure to OA pathogenesis, providing a framework for future experimental validation.

Goethite-enriched biochar has been widely studied for contaminant stabilization. Yet, the development and efficacy of a single composite material that integrates goethite-biochar with a calcium-based amendment (e.g., gypsum) for co-contaminated soils remain unexplored, particularly the interactive effects on metal immobilization. To address this gap and leverage the potential of calcium sulfate to enhance GBC performance, we developed a novel gypsum-integrated, goethite-modified biochar (Gyp-GBC) and applied it to cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) co-contaminated alkaline paddy soil across contrasting redox regimes, demonstrating synergistic Fe-Ca interactions that increase As/Cd immobilization beyond additive effects. Gypsum or GBC alone were significantly less effective (p < 0.05) than Gyp-GBC in decreasing bioavailable Cd and As by 54.3% and 42.9% under flooded conditions and by 50.6% and 46.0% under unsaturated conditions. Moreover, Gyp-GBC reduced Cd extractable by the toxicity characteristics leaching procedures by 56.1%, 49.1% and As by 42.7%, 50.9% under flooded and unsaturated regimes, respectively, demonstrating a marked reduction in leachability and potential toxicity. Microscopic and spectroscopic techniques, such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), further demonstrated that immobilization was due to Fe-mediated redox processes, precipitation, and complexation. Collectively, Gyp-GBC showed increased immobilization ability in redox-variable soil. These results improve understanding of Fe-mediated geochemical processes in alkaline paddy soils.