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

California's wildfires have intensified in frequency and severity, driven by climate change, prolonged droughts, and historical fire suppression policies. This PRISMA-guided systematic review synthesises empirical research from 2007 to 2024 on post-wildfire environmental exposures, health risks, and resilience strategies in California. Database searches (Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed) identified 47 peer-reviewed studies that met the inclusion criteria. Empirical evidence suggests that wildfire-derived smoke, characterised by increased concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), combined with aerial and soil-based contamination, has a significant adverse impact on environmental quality and poses a substantial threat to human health. Vulnerable populations, particularly low-income groups, outdoor workers, and children, experience disproportionate exposure burdens. Resilience strategies, including prescribed burns, community preparedness, and policy interventions, are assessed for their effectiveness and the challenges associated with their implementation. Key research gaps include longitudinal studies on repeated smoke exposure, a comparison of the comparative toxicity of prescribed versus wildfire smoke, and equitable resilience planning. Integrating ecological, public health, and social science perspectives is essential for developing data-driven, community-based wildfire resilience frameworks in California.

The study involved the determination of the concentrations of 11 potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in soil, honey, and pollen samples collected in the territory of Kosovo, followed by a statistical analysis. Inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry were used to determine the PTE concentrations in the samples. Based on principal component analysis, many PTEs in the soil samples have an anthropogenic origin as a result of the activities of the Trepça mines, Obiliq (the location of a thermoelectric power plant), and Hani i Elezit. The pollution sources for honey and pollen could still be identified, but the patterns were less conclusive than those for the soil samples. Correlations between the concentrations of individual elements and the different sample types were anticipated, given their expected physical and chemical interactions within the environment. However, the results did not support this assumption, except in cases of high and prolonged pollution by specific contaminants. Most of the correlations between the PTE concentrations and the samples were not significant (P > 0.05), with the exception of Pb in honey, which showed a strong correlation with the soil samples.

Household detergents are widely used for cleaning and sanitation, yet their complex chemical compositions can pose significant risks to human health and the environment due to the presence of toxic and poorly regulated ingredients. The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety profile of commercially available household detergents by identifying their primary ingredients, assessing their potential environmental and human health hazards, and proposing a classification scheme based on their associated risk levels. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was employed to identify the potential toxic ingredients in household detergents. At the same time, the heavy metal contents were determined using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), and the pH of each sample was also measured. Our results revealed the presence of various hazardous constituents, including sodium hypochlorite, dioxane, phosphates, nitrites, sulfinates, surfactants, formaldehyde-generating substances, and preservatives known to cause irritation, respiratory issues, and aquatic toxicity. Additionally, some products contained potential endocrine-disrupting and carcinogenic substances. Ultimately, a classification scheme was developed to categorize the detergents into four risk levels based on their apparent toxicity and hazard potential, ranging from safe to highly toxic. Overall, our findings underscore the need for stricter regulatory guidelines and the implementation of child-resistant packaging to minimize accidental exposure to hazardous substances.

With the high level of industry, large amounts of pollutants such as heavy metals are entering the environment. Even elements, such as zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn), which are essential for proper plant development, are becoming toxic to plants in large quantities. Amaranthus spp. are a very promising phytoremediation plant. However, different varieties react differently to different heavy metals, and it is therefore necessary to examine specific varieties on several levels. In our work, we have focused on three different Amaranthus spp. and specifically on the cultivars, Amaranthus cruetus cv. Pribina, Amaranthus hypochondriacus × Amaranthus hybridus cv. Zobor and Amaranthus hypochondriacus × Amaranthus hybridus cv. Plainsman regarding gene expression changes of two genes metallothionein (MT) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase - D (ACoAAC). Our results indicate that each variety had altered gene expression differently compared to the control plants. Expression was most increased in cv. Pribina after Zn treatment and as for the ACoAAC gene, its most significant change was seen in Plainsman after lead (Pb) treatment.

With rising concerns over plastic pollution and climate change, microalgae-based bioplastics offer a promising alternative to petroleum-derived plastics. This study explores the dual role of Chlorella vulgaris in bioplastic synthesis and environmental remediation through its cultivation in a wastewater-fed bioreactor. By leveraging wastewater as a nutrient source, C. vulgaris achieved a biomass yield of 3.472 g/L, with 20 mg/L of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) extracted. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy validated the presence of PHA-specific ester functional groups, confirming its suitability for bioplastic applications. Additionally, the cultivation process resulted in a complete reduction of free CO₂ within three days, demonstrating efficient carbon sequestration. Significant declines in wastewater contaminants, including COD, BOD, nitrogen, and phosphorus, highlight the microalga's bioremediation capabilities, making it a promising candidate for sustainable wastewater treatment. This study introduces a cost-efficient, self-sustaining microalgal bioprocess that eliminates the need for synthetic nutrients while achieving high-yield PHA production, complete CO₂ sequestration, and efficient wastewater detoxification. By integrating three essential sustainability goals- bioplastic production, carbon capture, and water purification- this work bridges the gap between bio-based materials and environmental conservation. The results affirm C. vulgaris as a multifunctional bioresource that supports both biopolymer synthesis and climate change mitigation. This work advances microalgal biotechnology by demonstrating its potential for large-scale, closed-loop biomanufacturing, providing an eco-friendly, scalable solution for reducing plastic waste and greenhouse gas emissions while promoting sustainable industrial practices.

Background: Climate variability and air pollution adversely affect stroke, yet comprehensive global assessments are lacking. This study investigates their impact on age-standardized stroke mortality rates (ASMR) from 2000-2020.

Methods: We analyzed 179 countries using the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 (GBD 2021) data for stroke ASMR, European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts Reanalysis v5 (ERA5) climate data, and air pollution data (nitrogen dioxide [NO₂], fine particulate matter [PM₂.₅], ground-level ozone [O₃]). Climate variability indicators included temperature and humidity deviance percentages, extreme weather events, and variability measures. Linear mixed-effects models examined associations between stroke ASMR and climate variability indicators, air pollution, Socio-Demographic Index (SDI), smoking, and alcohol consumption.

Results: Global stroke ASMR substantially decreased from 2000-2020, driven by increased SDI and reduced smoking. Each 2.34% decrease in negative humidity deviance increased ASMR by 0.98/100,000 (95% CI: 0.21-1.76; p < 0.05). Each 13.16-day increase in extreme hot days raised ASMR by 0.59/100,000 (95% CI: 0.14-1.04; p < 0.05). Each 14.01-day increase in extreme cold days elevated ASMR by 0.67/100,000 (95% CI: 0.24-1.11; p < 0.05). Each 9.7 ppb ozone increase statistically significantly raised ASMR by 7.41/100,000 (95% CI: 6.02-8.80; p < 0.05).

Conclusion: These associations suggest potential benefits from addressing climate variability mitigation, air pollution control, and stroke prevention to reduce global stroke mortality burden.

Excessive water use in residential buildings often arises from design deficiencies and conventional sanitary installations, which hinder the adoption of integrated conservation strategies. This study evaluates a package of efficient technologies to optimize water use in a 10-story multifamily building in Cusco, Peru, combining graywater reuse,rainwater harvesting, dual-flush toilets, flow-regulating fixtures, and smart leak detection. A quantitative, non-experimental, cross-sectional, and descriptive design was applied over a 6-month period from October 2024 to March 2025, comparing baseline operation with the proposed efficient configuration. The results show that the combined system reduces both potable water demand and household expenditure, with average monthly water consumption and billing decreasing by approximately 22% and 41%, respectively, while more than 200 cubic meters of gray and rainwater were recovered for non-potable uses such as toilet flushing, washing, cleaning, and irrigation. The novelty of this work lies in the integrated assessment of multiple low-cost technologies under real operating conditions in a Latin American multifamily building, linking detailed consumption records with tariff structures and leak scenarios. These findings indicate that efficient technologies can significantly improve urban water management, support climate and resource policies and contribute directly to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

Heavy metal (HM) contamination in urban road dust (RD) represents a significant environmental and public health concern, particularly in densely populated and industrialized regions. This study investigated the spatial distribution and associated health risks of cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) in RD across various land-use types in Arak, Iran. During a nine-month sampling campaign, 160 RD samples were collected from twenty strategic locations representing industrial, residential, commercial, and high-traffic zones. Land-use regression (LUR) modeling was employed to map HM concentrations and identify pollution hotspots. The mean concentrations of Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, and Zn were 0.48, 64.6, 44.4, 133.9, and 277.6 mg/kg, respectively, substantially exceeding global soil background values. Spatial analysis identified the southern, central, and southeastern sectors as critical pollution hotspots, primarily influenced by vehicular emissions and industrial activities. Health risk assessment revealed ingestion as the dominant exposure pathway, with lead posing the most significant non-carcinogenic risk to children (HI = 0.522). The cumulative hazard index for all metals reached 0.9036 in children, approaching the safety threshold of 1. Furthermore, the total carcinogenic risk for children (2.27 × 10^-4) slightly exceeded acceptable levels, with nickel being the predominant contributor. This study provides critical evidence supporting the urgent need for targeted public health interventions, stringent emission controls, and science-based urban planning strategies to mitigate heavy metal exposure risks in vulnerable urban populations.

The current study employed the isolation of a novel metal-resistant bacterium, Enterobacter quasihormaechei (GenBank Accession No. OR659321) from raw printed circuit boards (PCBs) waste for its bioleaching potential. The bacterium shows promising recovery efficiencies of multiple important metals (Ag 87.5%, Al 60.53%, Mg 58.71%, Cr 56.52%, Ca 55.80%, Cu 55.03%, Mo 50%, Zn 46.36%, Ba 44.22%, Fe 34.54%, Ni 34.15% and Mn 28.22%) from PCBs waste at 37 °C, 150 rpm and 5-days of incubation period. Further confirmation of bioleaching was carried out by FTIR, FE-SEM, EDS and XRD, respectively. The oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) was also investigated, and it was found to be reduced during the bioleaching of electronic waste. Overall, the current study demonstrates that the bacterium, E. quasihormaechei, can recover multiple valuable metals from PCBs without chemical pretreatment or nutrient additives through eco-friendly and cost-effective bioleaching methods.

The paper presents the results of Cr, Co, Cu, Fe, Ni, Mn, Pb, Zn, and four radionuclides (²²⁶Ra,²³²Th, ¹³⁷Cs, and ⁴⁰K) determination in transplanted lichens after two, four, and six months of exposure. Lichens were sampled from the area of Mountain Igman in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and transplanted to two locations (Pofalići and Bjelave) in Sarajevo, the capital city of BiH. The total metals content was determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). Gamma spectrometry (GS) was used for radionuclide activity determination. Content of Cr, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb an Zn in lichen after two, four, and six months of exposure ranged as follows: 137Cs ranged from 19.95 to 56.66 Bq/kg, while for ⁴⁰K ranged from 49.65 to 330.61 Bq/kg. The specific activity of ²²⁶Ra and ²³²Th was below the GS limit of detection.