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

Near-road particulate matter poses significant risks to public health and the ecological environment, and its levels are affected by the meteorological and traffic factors significantly. However, the contributions of these factors to particulate matter concentrations and the interactions among these factors were not well studied. In this study, the causal relationships among traffic flow (TF), near-road PM_2.5 levels, and meteorological factors were elucidated based on the long-term real-time data on near-road PM_2.5 concentrations alongside concurrent meteorological and traffic data. A predictive modeling framework was developed to predict near-road PM_2.5 concentrations using traffic and meteorological data as input. The results indicate that the correlation between TF and near-road PM_2.5 concentrations is significant (P < 0.05). Furthermore, robust causal relationships were identified between TF and meteorological parameters such as temperature and atmospheric pressure. It is suggested that TF could indirectly influence the level of near-road PM_2.5 by altering meteorological factors. By comparing the prediction performance among Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), Backpropagation (BP) and Extreme Learning Machine (ELM) models for near-road PM_2.5 concentrations, combined with Shapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) for feature importance analysis, it revealed that the inclusion of TF data markedly improves model accuracy in near-road PM_2.5 concentrations prediction.

Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) are hazardous for human and ecosystem health due to their non-biodegradable nature. In this study we investigated the concentrations of PTEs, including As, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb and V in sediments of Lake Tuz around the salt pans for possible contamination. Lake Tuz is a shallow saline lake where halite (table salt) production is carried out in the salt pans and has significant geo and eco-tourism potential due to its unique ecosystem and natural beauty. The extent of pollution level and ecological risk were evaluated by geochemical indices and guideline values. According to the Geoaccumulation Index (I_geo), Enrichment Factor (EF) and Contamination Factor (Cf) indices Cr, Mo, As and occasionally Ni accumulated in moderate to strong levels. Intensity maps of Pollution Load Index (PLI) and Modified Degree of Contamination (mCdeg) indicated pollution hotspots in the neck region and in the eastern shore of the lake respectively. The Potential Ecological Risk Index (PERI) values indicated low and moderate levels of ecological risk. Statistical analyses including Pearson Correlation Coefficient (PCC), Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) suggested that Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Mo, Ni and V are of geogenic origin and As and Pb are of anthropogenic origin. Provenance analysis suggested that host rocks for geogenic PTEs were granodiorites and ophiolites situated in the catchment area of the lake. Anthropogenic PTEs were most likely related to agrochemicals used in surrounding farmlands.

Environmental pollution caused by industrial activities, vehicle emissions, and improper waste disposal poses serious risks to human health and the ecosystem. This study investigates the adsorption of m-toluidine (m-T) using activated carbon derived from Balanites aegyptiaca seeds (BASC) via H₃PO₄ chemical activation. The BASC was characterized using scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and analyzed for its moisture, ash, volatile matter, and carbon content. The material exhibited a high surface area of 675.0 m² g^-1, an iodine number of 581 mg g^-1, and a point of zero charge (pH_pzc) of 4.42. Batch adsorption experiments were performed to assess the effects of pH, contact time, and temperature. Results showed that adsorption efficiency increased with temperature. The adsorption behavior is favorable and followed the Temkin isotherm, pseudo-second-order kinetic model, and a three-step intraparticle diffusion mechanism. Thermodynamic analysis revealed that the adsorption process was endothermic, spontaneous, and associated with increased system entropy. These results underscore the potential of adsorption as an efficient wastewater treatment approach for eliminating organic contaminants such as m-T from actual aqueous environments.

Diclofenac (DCF) is one of the emerging compounds in the environment. There are many sources of diclofenac, such as effluent of pharmaceutical industries, wastewater treatment plant effluent, and domestic wastewater. It requires advanced treatment because it cannot be removed from water and sludges using the conventional wastewater treatment process. Catalytic and free radical methods also known as advanced oxidation process (AOP) can degrade large and complex organic compounds into smaller ones. In this review, each AOP method is critically assessed for the removal of DCF in water.

This study evaluated the levels and carcinogenic risks of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the breast milk of lactating mothers. Breast milk biomonitoring provides insights into human exposure levels of PAHs from increasing environmental sources, which is scantily reported in Nigeria. Twenty-eight breast milk samples were obtained from lactating mothers with written informed consent, and lifestyle data was elicited with a structured questionnaire. Eight PAH compounds were analyzed using Gas Chromatography with Flame Ionization Detector. Detected PAH levels significantly exceed the European Union maximum permissible limits for human exposure (0.001 mg/kg) in all samples. Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) (1.07 mg/kg) was the highest, and lowest was benzo[b]naphtho[2,1-d]thiophene (BNT) (0.07 mg/kg), which was higher than the average concentrations reported in most studies globally. This may suggest substantial risks of acute and chronic health effects to vulnerable groups (lactating mothers and newborns). The carcinogenic risk assessment indicates that 60% of infants may develop carcinogenic health risks due to the ingestion of PAH-contaminated breast milk. Low birth weight, preterm birth, and fetal loss were experienced by the participating mothers. Findings highlight the potential health risk posed by the elevated levels of PAHs, thus necessitating timely interventions that would mitigate the risks of PAHs.

The scientific investigation of employing heterotrophic/autotrophic (mixotrophic) denitrification to address the issue of wastewater containing elevated levels of nitrate nitrogen (NO₃^--N) has garnered significant attention. This study utilized sulfur-based denitrification with iron-process (SDIP) supplemented with ethanol to enhance the heterotrophic denitrification. The iron compounds used in this study were obtained from treatment of acid mine drainage wastewater with calcium hydroxide Ca(OH)₂. The sludge thus formed contained a high quantity of iron compounds along with calcite deposits on its surface. The effectiveness of mixotrophic denitrification was found to be superior in reactors with iron supplementation as compared to the sulfur only reactor. Even at a very low C/N ratio, high concentration of nitrate can be removed through this novel combination. The SDIP system maintains the pH levels during the denitrification process, eliminating the need for additional alkalinity sources and thereby reducing operating costs. Furthermore, the SDIP system effectively eliminated the smell of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) throughout its operation.

Football is one of the most popular, widely participated in, and age-spanning sports in the world. The role of scientific management in football is crucial for safeguarding the health of the athletes.However, There is limited understanding of the potential relationship between microbiota and athletes. This study employed 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing to characterize the microbiota on football surfaces used by different user groups (schools of different grade levels.). The results indicate that there were no significant differences in the α-diversity of football surface microbiota among different groups, however, there were significant differences in β-diversity and microbial co-occurrence network patterns. Enterobacteriaceae spp and Stenotrophomonas were the designated microbial markers within the primary school (PS). The designated microbial markers in middle school (MS) were Lactobacillus, Escherichia, Bacteroides, and Staphylococcus. In university (UN), Serratia serve as the indicative microorganisms. Nursery school (NS) was characterized by Pantoea and Exiguobacterium as its microbial markers, while Acinetobacter was the designated microbial marker in residential quarters (RQ). These microbial markers are even opportunistic pathogens. Storage temperature, storage relative humidity, and the frequency of utilization will accelerate the reproduction of opportunistic human pathogens. This study suggests disinfection management for footballs.

Escherichia coli O157 H7, a Shiga toxin-producing enterohemorrhagic strain, poses serious health risks and has increasingly acquired multidrug resistance (MDR) through extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) and carbapenemases. This study investigated the molecular characteristics of E. coli O157:H7 isolated from drinking and surface wastewater in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A total of 205 water samples (97 drinking and 108 wastewater) were collected from Addis Ketema and Akaki/Kality sub-cities between May and July 2023. Isolation was performed using membrane filtration and confirmed by latex agglutination. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing followed CLSI (2023) guidelines, and conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect virulence (stx1, stx2, eaeA, hlyA), ESBL (blaTEM, blaSHV, blaCTX-M), and carbapenem-resistance (blaNDM, blaKPC, blaOXA-48) genes. Among 28 confirmed isolates, 32.1% originated from drinking water and 67.9% from wastewater. Virulence genes were found in 35.7-57.1% of isolates, with eaeA and stx2 being the most frequent. ESBL genes were dominated by blaCTX-M and blaTEM (85% each). Carbapenemase genes were present in 28.6% of isolates, mainly blaNDM and blaKPC. Gene prevalence was significantly higher in Akaki/Kality (p < 0.05). These findings reveal wastewater as a major reservoir of pathogenic and resistant E. coli O157 H7 and highlight the urgent need for improved wastewater treatment and regular molecular surveillance.

This study applies total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) to assess multielement contamination in river sediments from a small urban basin in western Paraná, Brazil. Eleven elements (Al, K, Ca, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn and Pb) were quantified using an internal standard, and the concentration data were evaluated using Spearman correlation, principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis. Cu, Zn and especially Pb reached concentrations up to 703, 349 and 344 mg kg^-1, with several values exceeding Brazilian guideline thresholds for soils impacted by anthropogenic activities. Multivariate results indicate that Ti, Cr and Fe form a predominantly lithogenic assemblage related to the basalt-derived parent material, whereas Cu and Zn define a distinct anthropogenic group associated with urban, industrial and wastewater inputs; Mn, Ni, Ca and Pb show mixed origin. The combined use of TXRF and multivariate tools thus provides a robust, resource-efficient framework for sediment monitoring, source differentiation and support of pollution control strategies in contaminated aquatic environments.

Toxic metals are persistent environmental pollutants with significant ecological and health risks due to their non-biodegradability and bioaccumulation. This study assessed the extent of toxic metal pollution and associated ecological and human health risks in soils and stream sediments of Idanre area, Southwest Nigeria. Forty samples (20 soils, 20 sediments) were analyzed using X-ray fluorescence for major oxides and trace metals. Multivariate statistical methods and geochemical indices were used to determine contamination levels and sources. Human health risks were evaluated using United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) models for ingestion, inhalation, and dermal exposure. Results showed SiO₂ dominance in soils and sediments, indicating silicate-rich parent material. Elevated concentrations of Pb (24.59-82.19 mg/kg), Cd (0.63-1.96 mg/kg), and Cr (30-93.35 mg/kg) exceeded background levels, pointing to anthropogenic sources. Stream sediments showed higher contamination, especially Zn (avg. CF = 7.59), Cd (3.89), and Pb (3.98). Igeo values confirmed moderate to strong enrichment, and Cd posed moderate to high ecological risk (Er = 71.82-174.55). Health risk assessments indicated significant non-carcinogenic risks in children (HI = 4.88-9.66), mainly via dermal exposure and ingestion, with Pb, Cr, and Co as key contributors. Adults showed negligible risk, and carcinogenic risks remained within acceptable limits, with Cr as the main carcinogen.