Journal of Environmental Science and Health Part A-toxic\/hazardous Substances & Environmental Engineering最新文献

Isothiazolinone-based preservatives have recently emerged as notable contributors to non-occupational allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). However, comprehensive data on their prevalence and concentrations in consumer products with prolonged skin contact remain limited. This study aimed to quantify 12 preservatives, including various isothiazolinones, in leather, synthetic leather, and textile products available in Japan. Notably, 2-n-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one (OIT), 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one (MI), and 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one were frequently detected in leather and synthetic leather, with some of these products containing relatively high concentrations of OIT (up to 150 µg/g). These levels were comparable to those observed in cases of ACD associated with OIT-containing leather. Other preservatives, such as 4-chloro-3-methylphenol, 2-(thiocyanomethylthio)benzothiazole, and o-phenylphenol, were also found in several products. In textiles, only low concentrations of MI, triclosan, and triclocarban were detected. Although there has been no significant increase in ACD cases related to these preservatives in Japan to date, continuous monitoring of their usage and associated clinical outcomes is essential. The findings of this study highlight the importance of monitoring the preservatives used in products that come into direct and prolonged contact with the skin.

Sustainable development demands research into safe, renewable energy sources. Wood briquettes offer numerous advantages, but they can contain heavy metal(oid)s, posing environmental challenges, particularly in the ash produced during combustion. This study examines the concentrations of heavy metal(oid)s (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Co, Zn, and As) in wood briquettes and their residual ash. Samples were prepared via wet digestion using 65% nitric acid (HNO₃) in polytetrafluoroethylene vessels, followed by analysis using flame and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. The results showed that arsenic (As) had the lowest concentration in wood briquettes, while iron (Fe) was the highest. In the ash, chromium (Cr) was detected at the lowest concentration (0.80 mg/kg), while iron (Fe) reached 5830 mg/kg. Heavy metal concentrations in wood briquettes often exceeded permissible limits, and the concentrations in ash were significantly higher, making some ash samples unsuitable for agricultural use. The ash content ranged from 0.70% to 2.34%. This study provides valuable quantitative data on heavy metal(oid)s before and after combustion, highlighting their potential environmental impact and emphasizing the need for careful management of wood briquette ash.

China's world-leading wind power capacity faces an impending wave of wind turbine blade decommissioning, which poses significant environmental and resource recovery challenges due to the difficult-to-recycle composite materials used, primarily glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) and carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP). This paper analyzes the prospects for recycling retired wind turbine blades (RWTBs) within the Chinese context. We review and assess the development status and characteristics of the main recycling technologies-mechanical, pyrolysis, and chemical recycling-which are currently focused on filler and feedstock applications but are hindered by material performance and cost limitations. Furthermore, we examine the evolving policy landscape supporting R&D and industrial development for RWTB recycling in China, placing it within a global comparative framework alongside the EU and US. Complementing this analysis, the study employs data visualization to map China's historical installation trends and the geographical distribution of blade waste, clarifying the scale and spatial dynamics of the impending challenge. Future research priorities include enhancing recycled fiber quality, reducing process costs, and exploring new application areas. This comprehensive analysis concludes that a synergistic approach, combining policy support, technological innovation, and market mechanisms, is essential to establish a sustainable and circular management system for RWTBs in China. Achieving efficient, large-scale RWTB recycling is crucial for the sustainability of China's wind industry and its carbon neutrality goals.

In hospital environments, the significance of lighting becomes especially evident when considered alongside other environmental factors that influence patient well-being. Enhancing daytime light levels is essential for supporting physiological and psychological health, particularly through promoting circadian alignment. Appropriate lighting design can improve patient outcomes, reduce stress, and enhance comfort in healthcare settings.

Growing evidence suggests that antimicrobial resistance may be influenced by environmental pollutants, particularly heavy metals such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and copper (Cu), which exert co-selective pressures that favor the emergence of resistant strains. This study explored the relationship between environmental heavy metal exposure and nasal colonization by MRSA and methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) in urban Nigerian communities. Eighty participants provided blood samples and nasal swabs. Staphylococcus aureus strains were isolated and identified using standard microbiological techniques. Blood samples were analyzed for Pb, Cd, and Cu concentrations using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Port Harcourt recorded the highest Cu levels, whereas Aba showed the highest blood concentrations of Pb and Cd (0.042 ± 0.006 and 0.041 ± 0.004 mg dL^-1, respectively). A significant gender-specific difference in Cu exposure was observed, with male participants in Aba exhibiting notably higher levels (0.071 ± 0.030 mg dL^-1, P = 0.002). Strong positive associations were identified between MRSA colonization and blood Pb (r = 0.72, P < 0.01) and Cd levels (r = 0.68, P < 0.01). Conversely, MSSA colonization was negatively associated with heavy metal concentrations (r = -0.54, P < 0.05), suggesting that metal pollution may preferentially support the proliferation of resistant strains.

The widespread presence of micropollutants in aquatic systems has emerged as a serious concern for aquatic organisms, plants, and humans. Among them, endocrine-disrupting chemicals such as estrone, estradiol, estriol, and ethinylestradiol are predominantly introduced into water bodies via effluents from pharmaceutical, industrial, agricultural, and domestic sources, collectively contributing to total estrogenic activity in affected waters. Although numerous advanced water treatment strategies have been developed in the past, current methodologies often exhibit limited efficacy in complete removal at trace concentrations. In this review, we critically examined the current strategies focused on chemical reactivity, catalysis, redox mechanisms, and physical separations for the removal of estrogenic micropollutants. Recently, the research has been shifted toward hybrid and natural systems, like High-Rate Algal Ponds and Constructed Wetlands that operate via biological and physicochemical pathways. Molecularly Imprinted Polymers offer molecular-level recognition of estrogens, enabling selective sorption based on template-analyte interactions. On the other hand, oxidative degradation methods like Ozonation, Fenton processes, and Advanced Oxidation Processes provide high degradation efficiencies, but raise concerns due to incomplete mineralization and generation of toxic intermediates. The comprehensive study of these comparative methodologies to mitigate emerging estrogenic pollutants will be a step toward building sustainable, effective, and economic wastewater treatment plants to ensure water safety.

The Mitidja plain, located in northern Algeria, is a major industrial and agricultural region where groundwater quality is increasingly impacted by industrial effluents, domestic sewage, and agricultural drainage. This study aims to assess groundwater contamination by heavy metals and identify their potential sources. Groundwater samples were collected from 17 sites and analyzed for Fe, Mn, Pb, Cr, Cu, Cd, and Zn, In addition, major physicochemical parameters were measured at 41 sampling points.The results indicate that metal concentrations generally follow the order Fe > Zn > Mn > Pb > Cu > Cr > Cd, with several samples exceeding World Health Organization (WHO) guideline values. Multivariate statistical analysis (principal component analysis) revealed contributions from both natural geochemical processes and anthropogenic activities. The Heavy Metal Pollution Index (HPI), highlights significant heavy metal pollution in the study area, indicating that the groundwater is seriously polluted for drinking purposes. The health risk assessment revealed hazard index (HI) values exceeding 1 for both adults and children, with higher values observed in children, indicating a greater non-carcinogenic risk. The incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) values calculated for Cd, Cr, and Pb were within acceptable limits for adults; however, for children, (Cr) exceeded the acceptable carcinogenic risk threshold.

Essential oil diffusers containing monoterpenes such as limonene, α-pinene, and β-pinene are widely used indoors, yet their impact on indoor air quality remains insufficiently understood. This study investigated the time-dependent emission behavior of monoterpenes from a commercial essential oil diffuser and assessed indoor exposure using a wearable passive sampling approach. The diffuser was operated in an office environment for two weeks, and terpene concentrations were measured with a pre-developed passive sampler. Emission rates were highest immediately after initial deployment and gradually declined over time. Limonene exhibited the highest emission rate, followed by β-pinene and α-pinene, reflecting their relative composition in the product. Within the first 2 h of operation, indoor concentrations increased from background levels of 1.8, 0.17, and 0.12 μg m^-³ to 5.8, 2.2, and 1.7 μg m^-³ for limonene, α-pinene, and β-pinene, respectively (corresponding to increases of 3.2-, 13-, and 14-fold). An additional unidentified compound exhibited a pronounced transient increase (up to 698-fold relative to background) during the initial deployment phase. However, its chemical identity and formation pathway remain uncertain, and both atmospheric formation and potential sampling artifacts cannot be excluded. These results demonstrate that essential oil diffusers can cause short-term increase in indoor terpene concentrations and may be associated with transient secondary chemistry, particularly during initial use. The findings highlight the importance of considering time-dependent emissions and secondary chemistry when evaluating indoor exposure associated with essential oil diffuser use.

This study investigates the efficacy of Moringa oleifera and onion seed powders as sustainable, plant-based coagulants for treating polluted surface water collected from Mallathahalli and Somanahalli Lakes in Karnataka, India. Surface water samples were collected during the post-monsoon season (October-November 2024), and a total of 36 grab samples (18 from each lake) were obtained following IS 3025 guidelines to ensure representative sampling and data reliability. Key physicochemical parameters such as turbidity, color, pH, conductivity, and chemical oxygen demand (COD) and metallic pollutants were analyzed before and after treatment. Based on pH, dosage, and contact time, optimal operational conditions for coagulation flocculation were determined using Central Composite Design (CCD) and Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The optimized dosage-time combination (5-6% dosage and 25-45 min contact time) yielded removal efficiencies within the target range of 50-70% for multiple parameters. Results indicated that both M. oleifera and onion seed powder significantly reduced turbidity and color, with onion powder showing superior removal efficiencies for heavy metals. Specifically, onion seed achieved up to 95% Cu and 84% Zn removal, outperforming M. oleifera in most cases. Mechanistic analysis revealed that metal removal was facilitated by adsorption, chelation, and ion exchange interactions involving cationic proteins, flavonoids, and organosulfur compounds present in the coagulants. Variations in removal performance between the two lakes were attributed to differences in initial water chemistry, pH, ionic background, and natural organic matter (NOM). The findings support the application of M. oleifera and onion seed powder as eco-friendly alternatives to chemical coagulants for rural and urban water purification, especially in regions facing water quality challenges and heavy metal contamination. This research offers a scalable and sustainable approach to improving water quality using low-cost, biodegradable materials.

Conventional wastewater treatment in industrialized countries effectively removes readily degradable organic matter and nutrients but often fails to sufficiently reduce micropollutants. To overcome this gap and assess the resulting benefits in effluent quality and downstream conditions, advanced processes such as ozonation and powdered activated carbon dosing followed by cloth filtration can be implemented to enhance micropollutant elimination and reduce biological effects in treated effluents. In this case study, a municipal wastewater treatment plant was evaluated following the implementation of a two-step advanced treatment system during summer and fall 2023. To assess changes in effluent quality, effect-based methods were combined with targeted chemical measurements of indicator substances. To investigate potential ecological responses downstream, the benthic invertebrate community in the receiving river was analyzed additionally as an ecologically relevant endpoint shortly after the upgrade. Following implementation, advanced treatment substantially reduced both toxic effects and concentrations of the indicator substances compared with conventional treatment. Nevertheless, residual adverse effects were still observed in the receiving water, as indicated by active biomonitoring with gammarids and gastropods and by patterns in the benthic invertebrate community. In addition, the techniques applied in this study showed that there will be room for further optimization in the upgraded WWTP.