Environmental Geochemistry and Health最新文献

Groundwater resources in rapidly urbanizing Himalayan cities are under severe stress due to overexploitation and contamination, a situation exacerbated by seismic activity, which disrupts aquifer integrity. This study presents an integrated framework for assessing groundwater potential and quality in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan, a city traversed by active faults, including the Muzaffarabad Thrust Fault and Jhelum Strike-Slip Fault. We combined geospatial, geophysical, and hydrochemical techniques to map resources and identify contamination pathways. Groundwater potential zones (GWPZs) were mapped using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Random Forest (RF) models, with the RF model demonstrating superior predictive accuracy (AUC = 0.86). Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) surveys within these zones revealed aquifer thicknesses ranging from 35-100 m and transmissivity values of 0.8-16,948 m²/day, validating the north-central and southwestern regions as priority zones. Notably, hydrochemical analysis revealed that while 57% of samples exhibited 'excellent' chemical quality (Ca²⁺-Mg²⁺-HCO₃⁻ facies), 52% were contaminated with Total Coliforms. Spatial analysis directly links this pervasive biological contamination to inadequate sanitation and, more significantly, to aquifer vulnerability enhanced by tectonic faults, which act as proven conduits for surface pollutants. This study provides quantitative evidence that tectonic activity in the Himalayan foothills is a primary control on groundwater contamination risk. The integrated methodology offers a replicable framework for sustainable water management in tectonically active urban areas globally.

Biochar is an effective adsorbent for antibiotics, but the impacts and mechanisms of biochar on oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) under antibiotics stress are not yet clear. Therefore, we investigated root morphology, photosynthesis, root antioxidant systems, and root transcriptome treated by sulfamethazine (K) and sulfamethazine + Platanus orientalis L. leaf biochar (TK). The results indicated that the sulfamethazine stress decreased root length, surface area, volume, and diameter by 14.06%, 35.91%, 36.71%, and 19.47%, respectively, compared with CK because net photosynthetic rate was decreased by 35.54% and reactive oxygen species (H₂O₂ and O₂^-) balance was damaged. However application of the biochar increased net photosynthetic rate (38.84%), and further enhanced activity of catalase (27.48%) to decrease reactive oxygen species content, thereby promoting root growth, especially root length significantly increased by 29.55%. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that biochar induced root growth and reactive oxygen species balance of oilseed rape under sulfamethazine stress through enhancing the expression of genes related to the cell wall and auxin biosynthesis such as auxin response factor, auxin/indole-3-acetic acid, small auxin-up RNA, Gretchen-Hagen 3, and dormancy/auxin associated protein. Our study provides insights for the biochar improving oilseed rape growth under sulfamethazine stress, and can promote the remediation of antibiotic-contaminated farmland soil, agricultural production.

Fuel combustion in households leads to the generation of ashes, and the effect of such wastes on plant growth and Al and Zn uptake is poorly understood. Therefore, in this study, two soils (A-1: sandy loam and B-1: sandy soils) were amended with two ashes (10 %) after coal-wood co-combustion in households (ASH1; ASH2). The control and ash-amended control soils were subjected to a pot experiment where Raphanus sativus and Spinacia oleracea were cultivated. The mobilization of Al and Zn in soils was assessed in the leaching experiment with Pseudomonas fluorescens. The study reveals that ashes do not significantly affect the biomass of Raphanus sativus. In turn, both ashes increase the biomass of Spinacia oleracea regardless of the soil used (up to 3049 mg DW in biomass of leaves in the ash-amended soil compared to the control soil where the biomass is 1180 mg DW). The highest Al translocation factor (TF) is noted for Raphanus sativus in the ash-amended soil (0.84; with ASH1), whereas for Zn, for Spinacia oleracea (3.03) also in soil amended with ASH1. The Al and Zn mobilization with Pseudomonas fluorescens is higher in soils from all treatments compared to the sterile growth medium as the control. Furthermore, bacteria can mobilize Al in the short term in ash-amended soil from the river valley (up to 1.18 % in the ash-amended soil) indicating that even the long-term mobilization of Al and Zn by the bacteria is possible. Therefore, household ashes are not recommended for soil amelioration and fertilization.

The study examined natural radionuclide levels in edible muscles of cephalopod species consumed in Kerala. Uranium (²³⁸U) concentrations ranged from 1.14 ± 0.06 to 1.72 ± 0.07 Bq kg^-1, while thorium (²³²Th) levels were between 0.08 ± 0.02 and 0.66 ± 0.04 Bq kg^-1. Polonium (²¹⁰Po) showed higher concentrations, ranging from 4.7 ± 0.9 to 27.2 ± 3.3 Bq kg^-1, and lead (²¹⁰Pb) levels varied from 3.8 ± 0.9 to 24.6 ± 6.8 Bq kg^-1. Squids, being pelagic, accumulated higher amounts of ²³⁸U and ²¹⁰Po, whereas cuttlefishes, being benthic, showed greater levels of ²³²Th and ²¹⁰Pb. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in radionuclide concentrations among and within cephalopod species, influenced by habitat and taxonomy (p < 0.05). The annual committed effective dose (ACED) for coastal residents consuming these cephalopods was assessed. ²¹⁰Po was the main contributor to radiation dose, comprising over 80% of the total dose from all radioisotopes analyzed. Despite this significant contribution, the study concluded that health risks from consuming these cephalopods were within acceptable safety limits.

Fenitrothion (FNT) is a widely used organophosphorus pesticide with low toxicity to humans and animals. Due to its wide application in agriculture, the distribution and toxic effects of FNT have received increasing attention. This review comprehensively assesses environmental levels and human exposure to FNT. FNT can be absorbed into the human body through various routes, including ingestion, dermal contact, and inhalation. Humans are exposed primarily through their diet. It has been shown in previous studies that FNT has several toxic effects, such as neurotoxicity, endocrine disruption, hepatotoxicity, immunotoxicity, reproductive toxicity, and developmental toxicity. FNT also induces oxidative stress, apoptosis, and inflammatory responses, which are crucial mechanisms underlying its multiple toxicities. This review will help to fill the gaps in knowledge related to the exposure, toxicity, and toxicity mechanisms of FNT and provide a scientific and theoretical basis for the environmental management of FNT.

The unchecked consumption of antibiotics leads to the persistence of their active form residues in the environment, perpetuating the cycle of exposure, selection and re-infection, which ultimately exacerbates the environmental antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This work aims to provide a direct comparison of different heterogeneous and underutilised biomass as antibiotic adsorbents. This study investigates the adsorption of the antibiotic, specifically Ciprofloxacin (CIP), by biochars produced from two underutilised biomass sources-unsorted Garden waste (GW) and Cashew nut shells (CNS)-at different temperatures (500-700 °C) and residence times (1-2 h). Based on initial adsorption screening and thermogravimetry, GW biochar, produced at 700 °C with a 2-h residence time (GW700 °C/2 h), was selected as the most suitable. A detailed analysis of this biochar was carried out: TGA confirmed the thermal stability; proximate analysis confirmed a high fixed carbon content; BET analysis (59.11 m² g ¹), FTIR, and XRD indicated the presence of relevant functional groups, and FE-SEM displayed a porous surface morphology, all of which substantiate the adsorption performance. Furthermore, optimum sorption conditions were determined through batch studies, and 50 mg GW700 °C/2 h biochar was found to remove 85.4% of 5 mg L^-1 CIP in 285 min at a neutral pH. Kinetic and isotherm data confirmed multilayer chemisorption with a maximum sorption capacity of 6.19 mg g^-1. This is the first report exploring unsorted GW biochar as a sustainable solution for antibiotic mitigation, which, in future, can be scaled up to be part of the wastewater treatment systems.

In this work, we investigate anatase-phase TiO₂ nanoparticles as efficient photocatalysts for degrading Reactive Violet 5 (RV5) under natural sunlight exposure. The photocatalytic performance was optimized by studying the effects of pH, catalyst loading, and dye concentration. Under ideal conditions (30 mg of TiO₂, 10 mg/L RV5, pH 5.4), up to 96% degradation of RV5 was achieved within 120 min. Structural characterization revealed that the nanoparticles possess a porous and granular morphology, contributing to enhanced light absorption and active surface sites. Mechanistic insights point to hydroxyl radicals (·OH) and superoxide species (·O₂⁻) as the dominant reactive intermediates driving the degradation process. Beyond pollutant remediation, the synthesized TiO₂ nanoparticles exhibited significant anticancer effects. In vitro cytotoxicity assays against MCF-7 cancer cell lines demonstrated a dose-dependent reduction in cell viability, with IC₅₀ values of 8.96 µg/mL, respectively. The therapeutic action is attributed to intracellular ROS generation, leading to oxidative stress-induced apoptosis. These findings underscore the multifunctional potential of anatase TiO₂ nanoparticles as sustainable agents for environmental detoxification. Additionally, TiO₂ nanoparticles demonstrate effective cancer cell suppression, reinforcing their relevance in advanced nanotechnology applications.

Microplastics (MPs) ubiquitously contaminate ecosystems and serve as efficient vectors for heavy metals (HMs), amplifying their environmental mobility and bioavailability. Although the individual toxicological impacts of MPs and HMs are well-documented, their combined effects, driven by complex adsorption dynamics and synergistic toxicity, remain poorly understood. This review systematically synthesizes recent advances in MP-HM interactions, with a focus on adsorption mechanisms such as electrostatic attraction, biofilm facilitation, and co-precipitation. Key factors governing adsorption efficiency, including polymer crystallinity, environmental aging, biofilm formation, and water chemistry, are critically examined. Furthermore, we elucidate the compounded toxicity of MP-HM complexes across aquatic and terrestrial organisms, manifesting as oxidative stress, multi-organ damage, and endocrine disruption, with bioaccumulation risks that propagate through food chains to humans. By identifying critical knowledge gaps, particularly regarding long-term ecotoxicological outcomes and transgenerational effects, this review provides a mechanistic framework to guide future research and evidence-based policy for mitigating composite pollution in a rapidly changing environment.

Autoimmune diseases (ADs) are a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by loss of immune tolerance against self-antigens, leading to local or systemic inflammation and subsequent tissue/organ damage. Until now, the etiology of ADs remains obscure. Growing evidence suggests that microplastics (MPs) may act as emerging environmental triggers in the initiation and progression of these disorders. MPs have been shown to modulate immune-related gene expression and induce excessive reactive oxygen species production in various immune cells, such as macrophages, T cells, and B cells. This may lead to the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and could create conditions that may promote the production of autoantibodies. Moreover, MPs can activate neutrophils and natural killer cells, potentially exacerbating immune dysregulation and chronic inflammation. Additionally, plasticizers and other chemical additives in MPs interact with immune cells via nuclear and membrane receptors, suggested to cause mitochondrial dysfunction and potentially further compromise immune homeostasis. Given the increasing presence of MPs in the environment and their potential immunomodulatory effects, understanding their role in ADs is of critical importance. This review summarizes the recent evidence and unveils the potential impact of MPs on immune functions and the pathogenesis of major ADs, including systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease. Furthermore, we highlight future research directions to better understand the influences of MPs on ADs.

Waste rock from coal mining in the Elk Valley, Canada primarily consists of mudstones and siltstones, and contains two natural nitrogen (N) reservoirs: organic N and exchangeable ammonium in clay minerals (NH₄⁺-ex). Although the mean concentration of organic N is greater than that of NH₄⁺-ex (713 ± 615 vs. 31.0 ± 24 mg N/kg), laboratory experiments show NH₄⁺-ex undergoes rapid (< 50 d) nitrification to nitrate (NO₃^-) while organic N is nonreactive over the time frame of the experiments (393 days). A conceptual model was developed, based on the results of batch experiments to describe the release of NH₄⁺-ex within individual mine-rock particles and its diffusion to particle surfaces where it is nitrified to NO₃^-. Oxic experiments with various parent rock particle sizes (< 0.71 to 75 mm), along with N form analyses on aged mine-rock particles (< 2 to 1000 mm; estimated to be 22 years old at the time of sampling in 2022), show NO₃^- release occurs rapidly (< 1 year) in particles less than several tens of millimetres in diameter. However, larger particles exhibit slower NO₃^- release due to delayed migration of NH₄⁺ to particle surfaces. The results show nitrification of NH₄⁺-ex can be a major contributor to the NO₃^- load to surface waters from mine-rock piles and potentially lead to prolonged NO₃^- release. Such a process may affect aquatic systems associated with other mine-rock piles. Residual ammonium nitrate used as blasting agents provide an additional source of NO₃^- and NH₄⁺ in the mined rock. Based on the current results, it is not possible to distinguish the relative contributions of NO₃^- from blasting agents and NH₄⁺-ex.