Pub Date : 2024-06-25DOI: 10.3390/environments11070134
Chiara De Carolis, Valentina Iori, Alessandra Narciso, Davide Gentile, Barbara Casentini, Fabrizio Pietrini, Paola Grenni, Anna Barra Caracciolo, M. Adelaide Iannelli
In modern agricultural production, cattle manure waste recovery is considered as a sustainable approach to agricultural waste management, reducing environmental pollution and chemical fertilizer use. This study aimed to investigate the effects of manure and digestate derived from a pilot-scale livestock waste-recycling system, in combination with a low copper concentration as a fungicide, on the physiological response of lettuce cv Rufus (Lactuca sativa L.) plants and the associated soil microbiome. A five-week microcosm experiment was conducted in a greenhouse under environmental conditions. Lettuce plant performance was assessed in terms of biomass, leaf area index, photosynthetic activity, chlorophyll measurements, lipid peroxidation, total phenolic content, and nutrient uptake. The results suggested that incorporating digestate into the potting soil mix significantly enhanced crop yields compared to the control and manure treatments. The soil microbial activity increased in the presence of fertilizers, improving the soil chemical and biological properties. The addition of copper negatively affected the growth and physiological performance of the lettuce plants under both the control and manure-treated conditions, except for those grown in the presence of digestate, where copper accumulation was reduced. These findings highlight the potential of growing horticultural crops using organic fertilization through livestock waste anaerobic digestate, establishing a waste-to-food recycling system.
{"title":"The Effects of Different Combinations of Cattle Organic Soil Amendments and Copper on Lettuce (cv. Rufus) Plant Growth","authors":"Chiara De Carolis, Valentina Iori, Alessandra Narciso, Davide Gentile, Barbara Casentini, Fabrizio Pietrini, Paola Grenni, Anna Barra Caracciolo, M. Adelaide Iannelli","doi":"10.3390/environments11070134","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11070134","url":null,"abstract":"In modern agricultural production, cattle manure waste recovery is considered as a sustainable approach to agricultural waste management, reducing environmental pollution and chemical fertilizer use. This study aimed to investigate the effects of manure and digestate derived from a pilot-scale livestock waste-recycling system, in combination with a low copper concentration as a fungicide, on the physiological response of lettuce cv Rufus (Lactuca sativa L.) plants and the associated soil microbiome. A five-week microcosm experiment was conducted in a greenhouse under environmental conditions. Lettuce plant performance was assessed in terms of biomass, leaf area index, photosynthetic activity, chlorophyll measurements, lipid peroxidation, total phenolic content, and nutrient uptake. The results suggested that incorporating digestate into the potting soil mix significantly enhanced crop yields compared to the control and manure treatments. The soil microbial activity increased in the presence of fertilizers, improving the soil chemical and biological properties. The addition of copper negatively affected the growth and physiological performance of the lettuce plants under both the control and manure-treated conditions, except for those grown in the presence of digestate, where copper accumulation was reduced. These findings highlight the potential of growing horticultural crops using organic fertilization through livestock waste anaerobic digestate, establishing a waste-to-food recycling system.","PeriodicalId":11886,"journal":{"name":"Environments","volume":"25 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141502730","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-06-24DOI: 10.3390/environments11070132
Ekpo Otu, Kirsti Ashworth, Emmanuel Tsekleves
This study proposes a novel air pollution exposure index (APEI) metric, drawing from traditional elements in rhythmanalysis and public-life studies to help understand how people are exposed to air pollution in their urban environment and when the risks are greatest. It expands on the notion of rhythm as a socially constructed natural phenomenon connected to urban life and spaces. Air quality monitoring data, as well as bus times and in situ traffic and pedestrian counts, from Cable Street and Dalton Square in Lancaster were applied to define the APEI, which combines an air pollution index (NO2 and PM10), a surrogate for ambient air pollution level, with a population index, a surrogate for population flow. The index values were subsequently ranked in numeric order, i.e., a higher ranking shows increased exposure risk and vice versa, to determine total exposure on an individual level. This metric proves valuable in defining air pollution exposure status and recognizing factors associated with high pollution and population levels. Similarly, by comparing APEI values, one could evaluate exposure levels in different locations and seasons to verify when the APEI has increased at a given location and the different rhythms and flows responsible for an individual’s exposure. Hence, it has potential use for urban planners and the city council’s policymakers who are involved in Lancaster Air Quality Management.
{"title":"Rhythm of Exposure in Town Centres: A Case Study of Lancaster City Centre","authors":"Ekpo Otu, Kirsti Ashworth, Emmanuel Tsekleves","doi":"10.3390/environments11070132","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11070132","url":null,"abstract":"This study proposes a novel air pollution exposure index (APEI) metric, drawing from traditional elements in rhythmanalysis and public-life studies to help understand how people are exposed to air pollution in their urban environment and when the risks are greatest. It expands on the notion of rhythm as a socially constructed natural phenomenon connected to urban life and spaces. Air quality monitoring data, as well as bus times and in situ traffic and pedestrian counts, from Cable Street and Dalton Square in Lancaster were applied to define the APEI, which combines an air pollution index (NO2 and PM10), a surrogate for ambient air pollution level, with a population index, a surrogate for population flow. The index values were subsequently ranked in numeric order, i.e., a higher ranking shows increased exposure risk and vice versa, to determine total exposure on an individual level. This metric proves valuable in defining air pollution exposure status and recognizing factors associated with high pollution and population levels. Similarly, by comparing APEI values, one could evaluate exposure levels in different locations and seasons to verify when the APEI has increased at a given location and the different rhythms and flows responsible for an individual’s exposure. Hence, it has potential use for urban planners and the city council’s policymakers who are involved in Lancaster Air Quality Management.","PeriodicalId":11886,"journal":{"name":"Environments","volume":"20 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141502728","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-06-24DOI: 10.3390/environments11070133
Benjamin S. Felzer, Christopher Andrade
Increased urbanization has reduced the amount of green space, resulting in a reduced carbon sink potential across urban landscapes. Through the use of biogeochemical modeling, different land use scenarios have been developed and run for the future (2020–2099) to compare and quantify the potential for change in carbon and water dynamics by having more tree cover and reducing impervious surfaces or turf lawns in Lehigh Valley, PA. These results show that the effect of deforestation is larger than the effect of reforestation. Due to young-stand age trees having a lower capacity for carbon storage than mature trees, the loss of the mature trees has a more immediate impact. The conversion of lawns or impervious surfaces to forests has somewhat similar effects, although the higher nutrients of lawns allow the forest to grow better. However, replacing impervious surfaces with trees reduces runoff more. This study shows that within the city of Bethlehem, the most socially vulnerable area benefits the most from increasing the number of trees. When converting 25% of the impervious area to forest, South Bethlehem significantly increased its vegetation carbon, productivity, and carbon storage, reduced its runoff, and generally created a safer and cleaner environment for residents.
{"title":"Future (2020–2099) Carbon and Water Dynamics of Lehigh Valley Based on Land Use and Land Cover Change","authors":"Benjamin S. Felzer, Christopher Andrade","doi":"10.3390/environments11070133","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11070133","url":null,"abstract":"Increased urbanization has reduced the amount of green space, resulting in a reduced carbon sink potential across urban landscapes. Through the use of biogeochemical modeling, different land use scenarios have been developed and run for the future (2020–2099) to compare and quantify the potential for change in carbon and water dynamics by having more tree cover and reducing impervious surfaces or turf lawns in Lehigh Valley, PA. These results show that the effect of deforestation is larger than the effect of reforestation. Due to young-stand age trees having a lower capacity for carbon storage than mature trees, the loss of the mature trees has a more immediate impact. The conversion of lawns or impervious surfaces to forests has somewhat similar effects, although the higher nutrients of lawns allow the forest to grow better. However, replacing impervious surfaces with trees reduces runoff more. This study shows that within the city of Bethlehem, the most socially vulnerable area benefits the most from increasing the number of trees. When converting 25% of the impervious area to forest, South Bethlehem significantly increased its vegetation carbon, productivity, and carbon storage, reduced its runoff, and generally created a safer and cleaner environment for residents.","PeriodicalId":11886,"journal":{"name":"Environments","volume":"80 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141502729","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Global fire activities, which are getting worse due to climate change, cause both environmental and human health hazards. Firefighters, being the first responders, are frequently exposed to heat which may impact their immune system and overall health. However, the nature of the impact of chronic heat exposure on immune function has not been studied in-depth in firefighters. In this study, 22 firefighters exposed to “heavy-smoke fires (structural fires)”, categorized as the “high-exposure group” (>0.15 structural fires/week) and “low-exposure group” (<0.15 structural fires/week), were sampled. Peripheral blood was examined for immune cell profile based on total and differential cell counts, immune function based on the transcriptional expression of drivers of innate and adaptive immunity and key inflammation mediators, and heat stress marker HSP70. The white blood cell (WBC) count, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and absolute and segmented neutrophil counts decreased below the normal range in both exposure groups. The gene transcript levels for toll-like receptors (TLR2, TLR4, but not TLR7) and their adaptor protein MYD88 were lower whereas those for T-cell transcription factors (RORC/RORγ, FoxP3) and inflammatory mediators (TNF-α, Granzyme-B) were higher in the “high-exposure group”, indicating mixed response; however, the ratios between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory transcription factors of adaptive immunity, namely T-bet/FoxP3 (Th1/Treg) and RORC/FoxP3 (Th17/Treg), were lower. Collectively, decreased immune cell landscape, downregulated key innate immunity receptors, and Tregs’ dominance suggested that chronic heat exposure in firefighters dysregulated innate and adaptive immunity, skewed towards an overall immunosuppressive condition with inflammation.
{"title":"Chronic Heat Exposure Modulates Innate and Adaptive Immune Responses in Firefighters","authors":"Brijesh Yadav, Afzaal Nadeem Mohammed, Brittney Graham, Amit Bhattacharya, Jagjit Singh Yadav","doi":"10.3390/environments11060131","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11060131","url":null,"abstract":"Global fire activities, which are getting worse due to climate change, cause both environmental and human health hazards. Firefighters, being the first responders, are frequently exposed to heat which may impact their immune system and overall health. However, the nature of the impact of chronic heat exposure on immune function has not been studied in-depth in firefighters. In this study, 22 firefighters exposed to “heavy-smoke fires (structural fires)”, categorized as the “high-exposure group” (>0.15 structural fires/week) and “low-exposure group” (<0.15 structural fires/week), were sampled. Peripheral blood was examined for immune cell profile based on total and differential cell counts, immune function based on the transcriptional expression of drivers of innate and adaptive immunity and key inflammation mediators, and heat stress marker HSP70. The white blood cell (WBC) count, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and absolute and segmented neutrophil counts decreased below the normal range in both exposure groups. The gene transcript levels for toll-like receptors (TLR2, TLR4, but not TLR7) and their adaptor protein MYD88 were lower whereas those for T-cell transcription factors (RORC/RORγ, FoxP3) and inflammatory mediators (TNF-α, Granzyme-B) were higher in the “high-exposure group”, indicating mixed response; however, the ratios between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory transcription factors of adaptive immunity, namely T-bet/FoxP3 (Th1/Treg) and RORC/FoxP3 (Th17/Treg), were lower. Collectively, decreased immune cell landscape, downregulated key innate immunity receptors, and Tregs’ dominance suggested that chronic heat exposure in firefighters dysregulated innate and adaptive immunity, skewed towards an overall immunosuppressive condition with inflammation.","PeriodicalId":11886,"journal":{"name":"Environments","volume":"139 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141502731","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pyrolysis is a recognized alternative for the sustainable management of contaminated organic waste, as it yields energy-rich gas, oil, and a carbon-rich biochar product. Low-volatility compounds, however, such as heavy metals (HMs; As, Cd, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb, and Zn) typically accumulate in biochars, limiting their application potential, especially for soil improvement. The distribution of HMs in pyrolysis products is influenced by treatment temperature and the properties of both the HMs and the feedstock. There is a significant knowledge gap in our understanding of the mass balances of HMs in full-scale industrial pyrolysis systems. Therefore, the fate of HMs during full-scale relevant pyrolysis (500–800 °C) of seven contaminated feedstocks and a clean wood feedstock were investigated for the first time. Most of the HMs accumulated in the biochar (fixation rates (FR) >70%), but As, Cd, Pb, and Zn partly partitioned into the flue gas at temperatures ≥ 600 °C, as demonstrated by FRs of <30% for some of the feedstocks. Emission factors (EFs, mg per tonne biochar produced) for particle-bound HMs (<0.45 µm) were 0.04–7.7 for As, 0.002–0.41 for Cd, 0.01–208 for Pb, and 0.09–342 for Zn. Only minor fractions of the HMs were found in the condensate (0–11.5%). To investigate the mobility of HMs accumulated in the biochars, a novel leaching test for sustained pH drop (at pH 4, 5.5 and 7) was developed. It was revealed that increasing pyrolysis temperature led to stronger incorporation of HMs in the sludge-based biochar matrix: after pyrolysis at 800 °C, at pH 4, <1% of total Cr, Cu, Ni, and Pb and < 10% of total As and Zn contents in the biochars were leached. Most interestingly, the high HM mobility observed in wood-based biochars compared to sewage-sludge-based biochars indicates the need to develop specific environmental-management thresholds for soil application of sewage-sludge biochars. Accordingly, more research is needed to better understand what governs the mobility of HMs in sewage-sludge biochars to provide a sound basis for future policy-making.
热解是一种公认的可持续管理受污染有机废物的替代方法，因为它可以产生富含能量的气体、油和富含碳的生物炭产品。然而，低挥发性化合物，如重金属（HMs；As、Cd、Cu、Cr、Ni、Pb 和 Zn）通常会在生物炭中累积，限制了其应用潜力，尤其是在土壤改良方面。热解产物中 HMs 的分布受处理温度以及 HMs 和原料特性的影响。我们对大规模工业热解系统中 HMs 质量平衡的了解还存在很大的差距。因此，我们首次研究了七种受污染原料和一种清洁木材原料在全规模相关热解（500-800 °C）过程中 HMs 的去向。大部分 HMs 在生物炭中积累（固定率 (FR) >70%），但 As、Cd、Pb 和 Zn 在温度≥ 600 °C 时部分进入烟道气中，部分原料的固定率 <30%。颗粒结合的 HMs（小于 0.45 微米）的排放因子（EF，毫克/吨生物炭）分别为：As 0.04-7.7、Cd 0.002-0.41、Pb 0.01-208、Zn 0.09-342。冷凝液中只发现了少量的 HMs（0-11.5%）。为了研究生物沼渣中积累的 HMs 的流动性，开发了一种新型的持续 pH 值下降（pH 值为 4、5.5 和 7）浸出试验。结果表明，提高热解温度会使 HMs 更强地融入以污泥为基础的生物炭基质中：在 800 °C 高温热解后，pH 值为 4 时，生物炭中的 Cr、Cu、Ni 和 Pb 总含量小于 1%，As 和 Zn 总含量小于 10%。最有趣的是，与污水污泥生物沼渣相比，在木质生物沼渣中观察到的 HM 移动性较高，这表明有必要为污水污泥生物沼渣在土壤中的应用制定特定的环境管理阈值。因此，需要开展更多的研究，以更好地了解污水污泥生物沼渣中的 HMs 移动性，从而为未来的政策制定提供坚实的基础。
{"title":"Heavy Metals in Pyrolysis of Contaminated Wastes: Phase Distribution and Leaching Behaviour","authors":"Erlend Sørmo, Gabrielle Dublet-Adli, Gladys Menlah, Gudny Øyre Flatabø, Valentina Zivanovic, Per Carlsson, Åsgeir Almås, Gerard Cornelissen","doi":"10.3390/environments11060130","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11060130","url":null,"abstract":"Pyrolysis is a recognized alternative for the sustainable management of contaminated organic waste, as it yields energy-rich gas, oil, and a carbon-rich biochar product. Low-volatility compounds, however, such as heavy metals (HMs; As, Cd, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb, and Zn) typically accumulate in biochars, limiting their application potential, especially for soil improvement. The distribution of HMs in pyrolysis products is influenced by treatment temperature and the properties of both the HMs and the feedstock. There is a significant knowledge gap in our understanding of the mass balances of HMs in full-scale industrial pyrolysis systems. Therefore, the fate of HMs during full-scale relevant pyrolysis (500–800 °C) of seven contaminated feedstocks and a clean wood feedstock were investigated for the first time. Most of the HMs accumulated in the biochar (fixation rates (FR) >70%), but As, Cd, Pb, and Zn partly partitioned into the flue gas at temperatures ≥ 600 °C, as demonstrated by FRs of <30% for some of the feedstocks. Emission factors (EFs, mg per tonne biochar produced) for particle-bound HMs (<0.45 µm) were 0.04–7.7 for As, 0.002–0.41 for Cd, 0.01–208 for Pb, and 0.09–342 for Zn. Only minor fractions of the HMs were found in the condensate (0–11.5%). To investigate the mobility of HMs accumulated in the biochars, a novel leaching test for sustained pH drop (at pH 4, 5.5 and 7) was developed. It was revealed that increasing pyrolysis temperature led to stronger incorporation of HMs in the sludge-based biochar matrix: after pyrolysis at 800 °C, at pH 4, <1% of total Cr, Cu, Ni, and Pb and < 10% of total As and Zn contents in the biochars were leached. Most interestingly, the high HM mobility observed in wood-based biochars compared to sewage-sludge-based biochars indicates the need to develop specific environmental-management thresholds for soil application of sewage-sludge biochars. Accordingly, more research is needed to better understand what governs the mobility of HMs in sewage-sludge biochars to provide a sound basis for future policy-making.","PeriodicalId":11886,"journal":{"name":"Environments","volume":"25 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141502764","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-06-18DOI: 10.3390/environments11060128
Rita Zurita, Penelope J. E. Quintana, Yanis Toledano-Magaña, Fernando T. Wakida, Lupita D. Montoya, Javier Emmanuel Castillo
Located between Mexico and the US, the San Ysidro/El Chaparral Land Port of Entry (SYPOE) is one of the busiest border crossings in the world. People with activities at the SYPOE are exposed to vehicular pollutants, especially particles with aerodynamic diameters < 2.5 µm (PM2.5) and black carbon (BC), both associated with adverse health effects. This study presents the first PM2.5 and BC concentration measurements collected on the Mexican side of the SYPOE. The oxidative potential (OP) for PM2.5 and the inhalation dose of BC for people at the border were also evaluated. Autumn and winter showed the highest PM2.5 concentrations (at 28.7 μg m−3 and 28.2 μg m−3, respectively). BC concentration peaked in the winter of 2017 (at 5.7 ± 6 μgm−3), demonstrating an increase during periods with low wind speeds. The highest OPDTT of PM2.5 was reached in winter, with a value of 18.5 pmol min−1 µg−1 (0.6 nmol min−1m−3). The highest average daily inhalation dose for pedestrians was registered in the autumn of 2018 (5.9 μg for a 60-min waiting time), whereas, for workers, it was in the winter of 2017 (19 μg for a 10-h shift on average). Decreasing waiting times for pedestrians and adjusting work schedules for border workers on high concentration days could ameliorate environmental justice.
{"title":"Concentrations and Oxidative Potential of PM2.5 and Black Carbon Inhalation Doses at US–Mexico Port of Entry","authors":"Rita Zurita, Penelope J. E. Quintana, Yanis Toledano-Magaña, Fernando T. Wakida, Lupita D. Montoya, Javier Emmanuel Castillo","doi":"10.3390/environments11060128","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11060128","url":null,"abstract":"Located between Mexico and the US, the San Ysidro/El Chaparral Land Port of Entry (SYPOE) is one of the busiest border crossings in the world. People with activities at the SYPOE are exposed to vehicular pollutants, especially particles with aerodynamic diameters < 2.5 µm (PM2.5) and black carbon (BC), both associated with adverse health effects. This study presents the first PM2.5 and BC concentration measurements collected on the Mexican side of the SYPOE. The oxidative potential (OP) for PM2.5 and the inhalation dose of BC for people at the border were also evaluated. Autumn and winter showed the highest PM2.5 concentrations (at 28.7 μg m−3 and 28.2 μg m−3, respectively). BC concentration peaked in the winter of 2017 (at 5.7 ± 6 μgm−3), demonstrating an increase during periods with low wind speeds. The highest OPDTT of PM2.5 was reached in winter, with a value of 18.5 pmol min−1 µg−1 (0.6 nmol min−1m−3). The highest average daily inhalation dose for pedestrians was registered in the autumn of 2018 (5.9 μg for a 60-min waiting time), whereas, for workers, it was in the winter of 2017 (19 μg for a 10-h shift on average). Decreasing waiting times for pedestrians and adjusting work schedules for border workers on high concentration days could ameliorate environmental justice.","PeriodicalId":11886,"journal":{"name":"Environments","volume":"91 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141502765","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This study investigated the distribution of copper in sediment dissolved and particulate organic matter (DOM and POM) based on their size. The DOM and alkaline extracted POM (AEOM) were separated into five size fractions using a cross-flow ultrafiltration (CFUF) system. The results showed that Cu mass was mainly distributed in the low molecular weight (<1 kDa, LMW) fraction of the DOM with an average range of 78.1–83.1%. Conversely, the high molecular weight (1 kDa–0.45 μm, HMW) AEOM fraction had a higher distribution of Cu mass with an average range of 92.6-93.3%. The Cu and AEOM binding affinity ratios (CuBAAEOM) ranged from 17.0 to 149.6 μmol/g-C in site-1 and from 20.6 to 143.7 μmol/g-C in site-2. The HMW CuBAAEOM ratios were significantly higher than the LMW ratios. The Cu and DOM binding affinity ratios (CuBADOM) ranged from 5.6 to 358.6 μmol/g-C and 17.2 to 126.6 μmol/g-C in site-1 and site-2, respectively. However, the LMW CuBADOM ratios were significantly higher than the HMW ratios. Optical indices suggested that the AEOM had more aromaticity and terrestrial and allochthonous contributions than the DOM. The optical indices were significantly correlated with the CuBAAEOM ratios but weakly correlated with the CuBADOM ratios. Sediment exchange between POM and DOM may affect copper distribution. DOM has a low-molecular-weight composition, while POM retains high-molecular-weight organic matter.
{"title":"Copper Distribution and Binding Affinity to Size-Fractioned Dissolved and Particulate Organic Matter in River Sediment","authors":"Ming-Yuan Hung, Wei-Hsiang Huang, Hsiang-Chun Tsai, Chi-Ying Hsieh, Ting-Chien Chen","doi":"10.3390/environments11060129","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11060129","url":null,"abstract":"This study investigated the distribution of copper in sediment dissolved and particulate organic matter (DOM and POM) based on their size. The DOM and alkaline extracted POM (AEOM) were separated into five size fractions using a cross-flow ultrafiltration (CFUF) system. The results showed that Cu mass was mainly distributed in the low molecular weight (<1 kDa, LMW) fraction of the DOM with an average range of 78.1–83.1%. Conversely, the high molecular weight (1 kDa–0.45 μm, HMW) AEOM fraction had a higher distribution of Cu mass with an average range of 92.6-93.3%. The Cu and AEOM binding affinity ratios (CuBAAEOM) ranged from 17.0 to 149.6 μmol/g-C in site-1 and from 20.6 to 143.7 μmol/g-C in site-2. The HMW CuBAAEOM ratios were significantly higher than the LMW ratios. The Cu and DOM binding affinity ratios (CuBADOM) ranged from 5.6 to 358.6 μmol/g-C and 17.2 to 126.6 μmol/g-C in site-1 and site-2, respectively. However, the LMW CuBADOM ratios were significantly higher than the HMW ratios. Optical indices suggested that the AEOM had more aromaticity and terrestrial and allochthonous contributions than the DOM. The optical indices were significantly correlated with the CuBAAEOM ratios but weakly correlated with the CuBADOM ratios. Sediment exchange between POM and DOM may affect copper distribution. DOM has a low-molecular-weight composition, while POM retains high-molecular-weight organic matter.","PeriodicalId":11886,"journal":{"name":"Environments","volume":"53 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141502733","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-06-18DOI: 10.3390/environments11060127
Augustina Odediran, Emmanuel Obeng-Gyasi
Background: The global burden of chronic diseases has been increasing, with evidence suggesting that diet and exposure to environmental pollutants, such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and heavy metals, may contribute to their development. The Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) assesses the inflammatory potential of an individual’s diet. However, the complex interplay between PFAS, heavy metals, and DII remains largely unexplored. Objective: The goal of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the associations between diet operationalized as the DII with individual and combined lead, cadmium, mercury, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) exposures using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2017–2018. Methods: Descriptive statistics, a correlational analysis, and linear regression were initially used to assess the relationship between the variables of interest. We subsequently employed Bayesian kernel Machine regression (BKMR) to analyze the data to assess the non-linear, non-additive, exposure–response relationships and interactions between PFAS and metals with the DII. Results: The multi-variable linear regression revealed significant associations between the DII and cadmium and mercury. Our BKMR analysis revealed a complex relationship between PFAS, metal exposures, and the DII. In our univariate exposure–response function plot, cadmium and mercury exhibited a positive and negative linear relationship, respectively, which indicated a positive and negative relationship across the spectrum of exposures with the DII. In addition, the bivariate exposure–response function between two exposures in a mixture revealed that cadmium had a robust positive relationship with the DII for different quantiles of lead, mercury, PFOA, and PFOS, indicating that increasing levels of cadmium are associated with the DII. Mercury’s bivariate plot demonstrated a negative relationship across all quantiles for all pollutants. Furthermore, the posterior inclusion probability (PIP) results highlighted the consistent importance of cadmium and mercury with the inflammatory potential of an individual’s diet, operationalized as the DII in our study, with both showing a PIP of 1.000. This was followed by PFOS with a PIP of 0.8524, PFOA at 0.5924, and lead, which had the lowest impact among the five environmental pollutants, with a PIP of 0.5596. Conclusion: Our study suggests that exposures to environmental metals and PFAS, particularly mercury and cadmium, are associated with DII. These findings also provide evidence of the intricate relationships between PFAS, heavy metals, and the DII. The findings underscore the importance of considering the cumulative effects of multi-pollutant exposures. Future research should focus on elucidating the mechanistic pathways and dose–response relationships underlying these associations in a study that examines causality, which will enable a deeper understa
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Pub Date : 2024-06-14DOI: 10.3390/environments11060126
Pere Rovira, T. Sauras-Yera, R. Poch
The stability of soil organic matter (SOM) depends on its degree of physical protection, biochemical quality (q), and mineralogical features such as the abundance of iron or aluminum oxyhydroxides: All constraints stabilize SOM, but the relevance of each is herein discussed. We studied from this point of view the stability of SOM in four grassland soils. The SOM in these profiles was characterized for its physical protection (ultrasonic dispersion + size fractionation) and its q (acid hydrolysis, carbohydrates, phenolics, and unhydrolyzable carbon). The profiles were also analyzed for free iron forms extracted with several chemicals: dithionite-citrate-bicarbonate, citric acid, oxalic-oxalate (Tamm’s solution), and DTPA. Soil horizons were incubated under optimal conditions to obtain the C lost after 33 days (Cresp33) and basal respiration rate (BRR). The microbial C was obtained at the end of the incubation. The microbial activity rate (MAR: mg C respired per g microbial C per day) was obtained from these measures. The sum soluble + microbial C was taken as the active C pool. As expected, the stability of SOM depends on its distribution between the size fractions: The higher the proportion of particulate organic matter (POM: >20 µm size), the higher the soil respiration rate. In contrast, q barely affects SOM decomposition. Both physical availability (size fractionation) and q (acid hydrolysis) affect the size of the microbial C pool, but they barely affect MAR. The effects of free iron on SOM stability are complex: While dithionite-extracted Fe negatively affected Cresp33, BRR, and MAR, the Fe extracted by smoother methods (Tamm’s reagent and DTPA) positively relates to Cresp33, BRR, and MAR. Free iron apparently modulates soil microbial metabolism because it is the only studied parameter that significantly affected MAR; however, the precise effect depends on the precise free Fe fraction. From our data, SOM stability relies on a net of constraints, including physical availability and free Fe forms, with q being of minor relevance. Our dataset suggests a role for free iron as a modulator of microbial activity, deserving future research.
土壤有机质（SOM）的稳定性取决于其物理保护程度、生化质量（q）以及铁或铝氧氢氧化物的丰度等矿物学特征：所有制约因素都能稳定 SOM，但本文讨论的是每个制约因素的相关性。从这个角度出发，我们研究了四种草地土壤中 SOM 的稳定性。我们对这些剖面中的 SOM 进行了物理保护（超声波分散+粒度分馏）和 q（酸水解、碳水化合物、酚类和不可水解碳）鉴定。此外，还分析了用以下几种化学物质提取的游离铁：二亚硫酸盐-柠檬酸-碳酸氢盐、柠檬酸、草酸-草酸盐（塔姆溶液）和 DTPA。在最佳条件下对土壤层进行培养，以获得 33 天后损失的碳量（Cresp33）和基础呼吸率（BRR）。微生物 C 是在培养结束时获得的。微生物活性率（MAR：每克微生物 C 每天呼吸的毫克 C）由这些指标得出。可溶性碳和微生物碳的总和被视为活性碳池。正如预期的那样，SOM 的稳定性取决于其在不同粒径组分之间的分布：颗粒有机物（POM：>20 µm）的比例越高，土壤呼吸速率就越高。相比之下，q 几乎不影响 SOM 的分解。物理可用性（粒度分馏）和 q（酸水解）都会影响微生物 C 池的大小，但几乎不会影响 MAR。游离铁对 SOM 稳定性的影响是复杂的：虽然提取的铁对 Cresp33、BRR 和 MAR 有负面影响，但用更平滑的方法（塔姆试剂和 DTPA）提取的铁与 Cresp33、BRR 和 MAR 有正面关系。游离铁显然会调节土壤微生物的新陈代谢，因为游离铁是唯一对 MAR 有显著影响的研究参数；但是，确切的影响取决于游离铁的确切含量。从我们的数据来看，SOM 的稳定性取决于一系列限制因素，包括物理可用性和游离铁的形式，而 q 的影响较小。我们的数据集表明，游离铁是微生物活动的调节剂，值得在未来进行研究。
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Pub Date : 2024-06-12DOI: 10.3390/environments11060125
Mário J. S. L. Pereira, Joaquim C. G. Esteves da Silva
Mozambique is one of the poorest countries in the world. However, it has natural resources, and if they are managed under sustainable development principles, it can overcome its current problems. In the present socio-economic status, soil is one of its most important resources and must be protected from pollution and degradation. This review identifies and discusses the main soil quality stressors, namely soil fertility; deforestation and its sources: agriculture, timber harvesting, charcoal production, and uncontrolled fires; mining activities, manly gold artisanal explorations, and industrial open-pit coal mining; and solid wastes management. The sustainable use of natural resources is mandatory for future generations to continue to profit from this nature-based wealth.
{"title":"Environmental Stressors of Mozambique Soil Quality","authors":"Mário J. S. L. Pereira, Joaquim C. G. Esteves da Silva","doi":"10.3390/environments11060125","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11060125","url":null,"abstract":"Mozambique is one of the poorest countries in the world. However, it has natural resources, and if they are managed under sustainable development principles, it can overcome its current problems. In the present socio-economic status, soil is one of its most important resources and must be protected from pollution and degradation. This review identifies and discusses the main soil quality stressors, namely soil fertility; deforestation and its sources: agriculture, timber harvesting, charcoal production, and uncontrolled fires; mining activities, manly gold artisanal explorations, and industrial open-pit coal mining; and solid wastes management. The sustainable use of natural resources is mandatory for future generations to continue to profit from this nature-based wealth.","PeriodicalId":11886,"journal":{"name":"Environments","volume":"117 41","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141351796","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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