Pub Date : 2026-01-17DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2026.144831
Eunah Lee , Haeun Lee , Yong Joo Park , Kyu Hyuck Chung , Hyung Sik Kim
A mixture of 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one (CMIT) and 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one (MIT) is frequently utilized as a biocide in various personal care products (PCP). However, toxicity attributed to this mixture remains poorly understood. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate effects of CMIT/MIT on the respiratory system using human bronchial epithelial BEAS-2B cells as a model. In this study, the mechanisms underlying CMIT/MIT-induced toxicity were examined with particular focus on mitochondria-mediated apoptotic and autophagy cell death using BEAS-2B cells. Notably, CMIT-MIT initiated cytotoxic effects on BEAS-2B cell viability at concentrations of 10 μg/mL following 1 h treatment. In addition, CMIT-MIT treatment inhibited complex II in a concentration-dependent manner, diminished mitochondrial membrane potential and altered dynamic balance between mitochondrial fission and fusion indicative of mitochondrial damage. Further, exposure to 10 μg/mL CMIT-MIT for 1 h induced cellular damage, elevated mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and concomitantly increased levels of apoptosis and autophagy. Taken together our findings indicate the potential of CMIT/MIT exposure to disrupt mitochondrial functions, thereby initiating apoptotic and autophagic processes in human bronchial epithelial BEAS-2B cells.
{"title":"Effects of chloromethylisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone on cytotoxicity and mitochondrial dysfunction in bronchial epithelial cells","authors":"Eunah Lee , Haeun Lee , Yong Joo Park , Kyu Hyuck Chung , Hyung Sik Kim","doi":"10.1016/j.chemosphere.2026.144831","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chemosphere.2026.144831","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A mixture of 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one (CMIT) and 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one (MIT) is frequently utilized as a biocide in various personal care products (PCP). However, toxicity attributed to this mixture remains poorly understood. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate effects of CMIT/MIT on the respiratory system using human bronchial epithelial BEAS-2B cells as a model. In this study, the mechanisms underlying CMIT/MIT-induced toxicity were examined with particular focus on mitochondria-mediated apoptotic and autophagy cell death using BEAS-2B cells. Notably, CMIT-MIT initiated cytotoxic effects on BEAS-2B cell viability at concentrations of 10 μg/mL following 1 h treatment. In addition, CMIT-MIT treatment inhibited complex II in a concentration-dependent manner, diminished mitochondrial membrane potential and altered dynamic balance between mitochondrial fission and fusion indicative of mitochondrial damage. Further, exposure to 10 μg/mL CMIT-MIT for 1 h induced cellular damage, elevated mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and concomitantly increased levels of apoptosis and autophagy. Taken together our findings indicate the potential of CMIT/MIT exposure to disrupt mitochondrial functions, thereby initiating apoptotic and autophagic processes in human bronchial epithelial BEAS-2B cells.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":276,"journal":{"name":"Chemosphere","volume":"395 ","pages":"Article 144831"},"PeriodicalIF":8.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145999481","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-17DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2026.144835
Rouba D. Al Bostami , Amani Al Othman , Muhammad Tawalbeh , Kerry N. McPhedran , Mohammad Mahdi A. Shirazi
Spent caustic brine (SCB) is a hazardous yet resource-rich industrial waste, primarily composed of sodium hydroxide, water, and contaminants such as sulfides, phenols, organic compounds, heavy metals, and valuable minerals. Originating from industries such as oil and gas, metal finishing, and food processing, SCB poses high pH (>11), high total dissolved solids (up to 58,000 ppm), heavy metal content, and elevated chemical oxygen demand (COD). In this work, treatment and valorization methods for SCB are categorized into three groups: traditional techniques without caustic or water recovery, conventional techniques with limited recovery, and membrane technologies offering effective caustic and water recovery (85 % and 90 %, respectively). This review emphasizes membrane technologies due to their potential for resource recovery and environmental sustainability. Traditional and conventional methods are also discussed to provide a comprehensive overview. Unlike approaches that focus solely on treatment, this work critically examines valorization strategies that align with circular economy principles, aiming to recover valuable resources rather than dispose of them. The novelty of this study lies in its shift from waste treatment to resource and water recovery, promoting sustainable management practices. Future research should focus on advancing membrane technologies and integrating valorization pathways to minimize environmental impact and maximize economic benefits.
{"title":"Treatment and valorization of spent caustic brine: A critical review with emphasis on membrane technologies","authors":"Rouba D. Al Bostami , Amani Al Othman , Muhammad Tawalbeh , Kerry N. McPhedran , Mohammad Mahdi A. Shirazi","doi":"10.1016/j.chemosphere.2026.144835","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chemosphere.2026.144835","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Spent caustic brine (SCB) is a hazardous yet resource-rich industrial waste, primarily composed of sodium hydroxide, water, and contaminants such as sulfides, phenols, organic compounds, heavy metals, and valuable minerals. Originating from industries such as oil and gas, metal finishing, and food processing, SCB poses high pH (>11), high total dissolved solids (up to 58,000 ppm), heavy metal content, and elevated chemical oxygen demand (COD). In this work, treatment and valorization methods for SCB are categorized into three groups: traditional techniques without caustic or water recovery, conventional techniques with limited recovery, and membrane technologies offering effective caustic and water recovery (85 % and 90 %, respectively). This review emphasizes membrane technologies due to their potential for resource recovery and environmental sustainability. Traditional and conventional methods are also discussed to provide a comprehensive overview. Unlike approaches that focus solely on treatment, this work critically examines valorization strategies that align with circular economy principles, aiming to recover valuable resources rather than dispose of them. The novelty of this study lies in its shift from waste treatment to resource and water recovery, promoting sustainable management practices. Future research should focus on advancing membrane technologies and integrating valorization pathways to minimize environmental impact and maximize economic benefits.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":276,"journal":{"name":"Chemosphere","volume":"395 ","pages":"Article 144835"},"PeriodicalIF":8.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145999849","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-17DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2026.144833
Yasuro Fuse , Sho Kanada , Kako Shinohara , Xue Chu , Takashi Kasamatsu , Takashi Nakai
Formation of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) in the de novo window (∼200–400 °C) remains a barrier to combining strict emission control with efficient waste-to-energy operation. We evaluated high-reactivity hydrated lime (HR-Ca(OH)2) as a dual-purpose reagent for mechanistic suppression of de novo PCDD/F formation under simulated municipal solid waste incineration flue-gas conditions. A bench-scale laminar-flow reactor was operated with phenol/p-chlorophenol precursors and Cu-bearing fly ash under compositions representative of full-scale stacks. Across five configurations spanning lab- and stack-relevant geometries, positioning HR-Ca(OH)2 upstream of Cu-active fly-ash phases ("lime-first") reproducibly reduced TeCDD formation and total PCDD/F TEQ by up to one order of magnitude. Kinetic behavior was consistent with full-scale observations: conversions of phenol to chlorophenols (∼1.4 %) and p-chlorophenol to TeCDDs (∼5.2 %) matched reported ranges, supporting external validity. A chlorine mass balance showed that when the Ca:Cu mass ratio was maintained at ≥10, gas-phase HCl was effectively scavenged and chlorine availability for de novo chemistry was strongly depleted. A mechanistic design framework based on an effective Damköhler number, Da = keff·τ, was developed; achieving Da ≥3 yielded ≥95 % suppression under all tested conditions. Sensitivity analyses for SO2, NOx, H2O and other stack-relevant interferents indicated that these species modify keff and accessibility but do not shift the Ca:Cu or Da thresholds within typical operating ranges. These results provide quantitative criteria (Ca:Cu ≥ 10; Da ≥3) for low-dioxin, high-efficiency operation and support HR-Ca(OH)2 as a practical route to in-window suppression in waste-to-energy facilities.
{"title":"High-reactivity hydrated lime prevents de novo dioxin formation in the 200–400 °C flue-gas window via chlorine scavenging and Damköhler-based design","authors":"Yasuro Fuse , Sho Kanada , Kako Shinohara , Xue Chu , Takashi Kasamatsu , Takashi Nakai","doi":"10.1016/j.chemosphere.2026.144833","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chemosphere.2026.144833","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Formation of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) in the de novo window (∼200–400 °C) remains a barrier to combining strict emission control with efficient waste-to-energy operation. We evaluated high-reactivity hydrated lime (HR-Ca(OH)<sub>2</sub>) as a dual-purpose reagent for mechanistic suppression of de novo PCDD/F formation under simulated municipal solid waste incineration flue-gas conditions. A bench-scale laminar-flow reactor was operated with phenol/p-chlorophenol precursors and Cu-bearing fly ash under compositions representative of full-scale stacks. Across five configurations spanning lab- and stack-relevant geometries, positioning HR-Ca(OH)<sub>2</sub> upstream of Cu-active fly-ash phases (\"lime-first\") reproducibly reduced TeCDD formation and total PCDD/F TEQ by up to one order of magnitude. Kinetic behavior was consistent with full-scale observations: conversions of phenol to chlorophenols (∼1.4 %) and <em>p</em>-chlorophenol to TeCDDs (∼5.2 %) matched reported ranges, supporting external validity. A chlorine mass balance showed that when the Ca:Cu mass ratio was maintained at ≥10, gas-phase HCl was effectively scavenged and chlorine availability for de novo chemistry was strongly depleted. A mechanistic design framework based on an effective Damköhler number, Da = keff·τ, was developed; achieving Da ≥3 yielded ≥95 % suppression under all tested conditions. Sensitivity analyses for SO<sub>2</sub>, NOx, H<sub>2</sub>O and other stack-relevant interferents indicated that these species modify keff and accessibility but do not shift the Ca:Cu or Da thresholds within typical operating ranges. These results provide quantitative criteria (Ca:Cu ≥ 10; Da ≥3) for low-dioxin, high-efficiency operation and support HR-Ca(OH)<sub>2</sub> as a practical route to in-window suppression in waste-to-energy facilities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":276,"journal":{"name":"Chemosphere","volume":"395 ","pages":"Article 144833"},"PeriodicalIF":8.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145999688","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-15DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2026.144834
Koji Ito , Satoshi Mizutani , Yoshinori Yabuki
Polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) are dioxin-like contaminants unintentionally generated during municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI). This study evaluated the concentrations, congener profiles, and dioxin-like toxicities of PCNs and PCDD/Fs in MSWI fly ash before and after low-temperature thermal dechlorination (LTD) at five full-scale facilities. LTD consistently induced stepwise dechlorination, reducing the average chlorination degree of PCNs by 1.1–1.5 points. Total PCN concentrations, however, exhibited facility-dependent behavior: decreases of 98–99 % were observed at some facilities, whereas others showed increases of 230–370 % relative to pre-LTD levels. This mass increase is plausibly attributed to the reformation of low-chlorinated PCNs on the fly ash carbon surfaces during the cooling phase. Despite these contrasting changes in mass concentrations, PCN-derived dioxin-like toxicity (PCN-TEQ) decreased substantially at all facilities (35–99 % reduction). This robust detoxification occurred because LTD preferentially degrades the highly chlorinated congeners (e.g., 1,2,3,6,7,8-hexaCN and 1,2,3,4,6,7-hexaCN) that dominate PCN-TEQ. The contribution of PCNs to total toxicity consequently declined from 0.18 to 0.45 % before LTD to 0.03–0.30 % afterward. For PCDD/Fs, LTD generally lowered mass concentrations, although PCDD/F-TEQ reductions varied among facilities due to differences in residual high-TEF congeners. These findings unequivocally demonstrate that LTD is a highly effective strategy for mitigating the dioxin-like toxicity associated with PCNs in MSWI fly ash. The results enhance understanding of chlorinated pollutant transformation during full-scale LTD operation and support its optimization for safer MSWI fly ash management.
{"title":"Effect of low-temperature thermal dechlorination on polychlorinated naphthalenes in municipal solid waste incineration fly ash: Concentrations, congener profiles, and dioxin-like toxicity","authors":"Koji Ito , Satoshi Mizutani , Yoshinori Yabuki","doi":"10.1016/j.chemosphere.2026.144834","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chemosphere.2026.144834","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) are dioxin-like contaminants unintentionally generated during municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI). This study evaluated the concentrations, congener profiles, and dioxin-like toxicities of PCNs and PCDD/Fs in MSWI fly ash before and after low-temperature thermal dechlorination (LTD) at five full-scale facilities. LTD consistently induced stepwise dechlorination, reducing the average chlorination degree of PCNs by 1.1–1.5 points. Total PCN concentrations, however, exhibited facility-dependent behavior: decreases of 98–99 % were observed at some facilities, whereas others showed increases of 230–370 % relative to pre-LTD levels. This mass increase is plausibly attributed to the reformation of low-chlorinated PCNs on the fly ash carbon surfaces during the cooling phase. Despite these contrasting changes in mass concentrations, PCN-derived dioxin-like toxicity (PCN-TEQ) decreased substantially at all facilities (35–99 % reduction). This robust detoxification occurred because LTD preferentially degrades the highly chlorinated congeners (e.g., 1,2,3,6,7,8-hexaCN and 1,2,3,4,6,7-hexaCN) that dominate PCN-TEQ. The contribution of PCNs to total toxicity consequently declined from 0.18 to 0.45 % before LTD to 0.03–0.30 % afterward. For PCDD/Fs, LTD generally lowered mass concentrations, although PCDD/F-TEQ reductions varied among facilities due to differences in residual high-TEF congeners. These findings unequivocally demonstrate that LTD is a highly effective strategy for mitigating the dioxin-like toxicity associated with PCNs in MSWI fly ash. The results enhance understanding of chlorinated pollutant transformation during full-scale LTD operation and support its optimization for safer MSWI fly ash management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":276,"journal":{"name":"Chemosphere","volume":"395 ","pages":"Article 144834"},"PeriodicalIF":8.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145974118","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-14DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2026.144832
Jinha Kim , Mark E. Fuller , Paul B. Hatzinger , Kung-Hui Chu
A two-stage anaerobic-aerobic membrane bioreactor (MBR) effectively treated synthetic and real munition constituent wastewaters consisting of various combinations of traditional (2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), 1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX), octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX)) and insensitive (nitroguanidine (NQ), 2,4-dinitroanizole (DNAN), 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazole-5-one (NTO)) explosives, as well as the oxidants perchlorate (ClO4−) and nitrate. Microbial community dynamics in the anaerobic and aerobic MBRs were analyzed. In the anaerobic MBR, Pleomorphomonas spp. and Saccharimonadales dominated and established within the community network. Increased ClO4− promoted Pleomorphomonas, Propionibacteriaceae, and Christensenellaceae; these populations also thrived during IMX-101 (NQ, NTO, DNAN) treatment. Switching the main carbon feed to the ANO MBR from fructose to invert sugar increased NQ biotransformation with a corresponding increase of unknown Propionibacteriaceae. Coincident with the feed of actual IMX-104 (RDX, NTO, DNAN) wastewater, a unique group of Rhodococcus erythropolis proliferated, and high levels of xenA, xenB, and nitronate monooxygenase orthologs were detected, which could be associated with degradation of insensitive high explosives and RDX. The aerobic MBR showed high percentages of Proteobacteria as the main phylum. Beijerinckiaceae most frequently dominated and formed a singular submodule, suggesting a unique role in the degradative process. Adding an NQ-oxidizing inoculum increased Reyranella spp., Leucobacter spp., and unknown Beijerinckiaceae which enhanced NQ degradation. Overall, minor microbial community shifts were driven by variations of munition wastewater compositions but the abilities of the MBRs to degrade munitions constituents was maintained even after individual or multiple constituents were absent from the feed for weeks and then re-added. This demonstrates the high resilience of the dual MBR system and may provide insights for performance optimization.
{"title":"Effective treatment of energetic containing wastewater in a sequential anaerobic-aerobic membrane bioreactor (MBR) system - Part 2: Microbial community dynamics","authors":"Jinha Kim , Mark E. Fuller , Paul B. Hatzinger , Kung-Hui Chu","doi":"10.1016/j.chemosphere.2026.144832","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chemosphere.2026.144832","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A two-stage anaerobic-aerobic membrane bioreactor (MBR) effectively treated synthetic and real munition constituent wastewaters consisting of various combinations of traditional (2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), 1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX), octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX)) and insensitive (nitroguanidine (NQ), 2,4-dinitroanizole (DNAN), 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazole-5-one (NTO)) explosives, as well as the oxidants perchlorate (ClO<sub>4</sub><sup>−</sup>) and nitrate. Microbial community dynamics in the anaerobic and aerobic MBRs were analyzed. In the anaerobic MBR, <em>Pleomorphomonas</em> spp. and Saccharimonadales dominated and established within the community network. Increased ClO<sub>4</sub><sup>−</sup> promoted <em>Pleomorphomonas</em>, Propionibacteriaceae, and Christensenellaceae; these populations also thrived during IMX-101 (NQ, NTO, DNAN) treatment. Switching the main carbon feed to the ANO MBR from fructose to invert sugar increased NQ biotransformation with a corresponding increase of unknown Propionibacteriaceae. Coincident with the feed of actual IMX-104 (RDX, NTO, DNAN) wastewater, a unique group of <em>Rhodococcus erythropolis</em> proliferated, and high levels of <em>xenA</em>, <em>xenB</em>, and nitronate monooxygenase orthologs were detected, which could be associated with degradation of insensitive high explosives and RDX. The aerobic MBR showed high percentages of Proteobacteria as the main phylum. Beijerinckiaceae most frequently dominated and formed a singular submodule, suggesting a unique role in the degradative process. Adding an NQ-oxidizing inoculum increased <em>Reyranella</em> spp., <em>Leucobacter</em> spp., and unknown Beijerinckiaceae which enhanced NQ degradation. Overall, minor microbial community shifts were driven by variations of munition wastewater compositions but the abilities of the MBRs to degrade munitions constituents was maintained even after individual or multiple constituents were absent from the feed for weeks and then re-added. This demonstrates the high resilience of the dual MBR system and may provide insights for performance optimization.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":276,"journal":{"name":"Chemosphere","volume":"395 ","pages":"Article 144832"},"PeriodicalIF":8.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145974119","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-10DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2026.144826
B. Jyothish , John Jacob
This study systematically investigates the anticancer potential of zinc ferrite (ZnFe2O4) nanoparticles doped with aluminium (AZF), nickel (NZF), cobalt (CZF), and silver (SZF), with the goal of identifying the most effective formulation for cancer therapy. Based on the selective index and cytotoxicity screening across A549 (lung), MCF-7 (breast), and L929 (normal fibroblast) cell lines, silver-doped zinc ferrite (SZF) emerged as the optimal candidate. SZF exhibited the lowest LC50 values in A549 (7.17 μg/mL) and MCF-7 (41.30 μg/mL) cells while maintaining comparatively higher LC50 in L929 cells (172.90 μg/mL), indicating favorable cancer-selective cytotoxicity. Physicochemical characterization using XRD, FE-SEM, UV–Vis spectroscopy, and Williamson–Hall analysis confirmed phase purity, nanoscale crystallite size (7.6 nm for SZF), and minor dopant-induced structural perturbations. Biological evaluations demonstrated that SZF induced marked oxidative stress, with ROS levels increasing 3.4-fold in A549 and 12.4-fold in MCF-7 cells. This oxidative burden was associated with significant alterations in antioxidant enzyme activity, including catalase suppression in A549 cells and catalase elevation in MCF-7 cells. Flow cytometry revealed cell-cycle arrest, predominantly at the G0/G1 phase in A549 cells and G2/M arrest in MCF-7 cells, indicating cell-line-specific checkpoint responses. Annexin-V assays confirmed apoptosis as the primary mode of cell death. Furthermore, wound-healing assays demonstrated that SZF significantly inhibited cell migration in both cancer cell lines, suggesting potential anti-metastatic activity. Collectively, the results identify SZF nanoparticles as a promising multifunctional anticancer agent that exerts selective cytotoxicity through ROS generation, cell-cycle arrest, apoptosis induction, and migration inhibition.
{"title":"Selective anticancer activity of doped zinc ferrite nanoparticles: A comparative study on human breast (MCF-7) and lung (A549) cancer cells","authors":"B. Jyothish , John Jacob","doi":"10.1016/j.chemosphere.2026.144826","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chemosphere.2026.144826","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study systematically investigates the anticancer potential of zinc ferrite (ZnFe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub>) nanoparticles doped with aluminium (AZF), nickel (NZF), cobalt (CZF), and silver (SZF), with the goal of identifying the most effective formulation for cancer therapy. Based on the selective index and cytotoxicity screening across A549 (lung), MCF-7 (breast), and L929 (normal fibroblast) cell lines, silver-doped zinc ferrite (SZF) emerged as the optimal candidate. SZF exhibited the lowest LC<sub>50</sub> values in A549 (7.17 μg/mL) and MCF-7 (41.30 μg/mL) cells while maintaining comparatively higher LC<sub>50</sub> in L929 cells (172.90 μg/mL), indicating favorable cancer-selective cytotoxicity. Physicochemical characterization using XRD, FE-SEM, UV–Vis spectroscopy, and Williamson–Hall analysis confirmed phase purity, nanoscale crystallite size (7.6 nm for SZF), and minor dopant-induced structural perturbations. Biological evaluations demonstrated that SZF induced marked oxidative stress<strong>,</strong> with ROS levels increasing 3.4-fold in A549 and 12.4-fold in MCF-7 cells. This oxidative burden was associated with significant alterations in antioxidant enzyme activity, including catalase suppression in A549 cells and catalase elevation in MCF-7 cells. Flow cytometry revealed cell-cycle arrest<strong>,</strong> predominantly at the G0/G1 phase in A549 cells and G2/M arrest in MCF-7 cells, indicating cell-line-specific checkpoint responses. Annexin-V assays confirmed apoptosis as the primary mode of cell death. Furthermore, wound-healing assays demonstrated that SZF significantly inhibited cell migration in both cancer cell lines, suggesting potential anti-metastatic activity. Collectively, the results identify SZF nanoparticles as a promising multifunctional anticancer agent that exerts selective cytotoxicity through ROS generation, cell-cycle arrest, apoptosis induction, and migration inhibition.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":276,"journal":{"name":"Chemosphere","volume":"395 ","pages":"Article 144826"},"PeriodicalIF":8.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145923907","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Palm oil mill effluent (POME) treatment in open pond systems is a significant source of methane (CH4) emissions, yet the spatial dynamics of greenhouse gas fluxes and organic matter degradation remain poorly quantified. This study investigated CH4, carbon dioxide (CO2), and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions alongside chemical oxygen demand (COD) reductions across a full-scale, pond system consisting of 10 ponds connected in series (Pond 1 to 10) in Sarawak, Malaysia. Using a novel, low-cost, remotely operated floating chamber, we conducted high-resolution spatial sampling of gas fluxes and water quality. The results revealed extreme heterogeneity in COD removal and CH4 fluxes, with a critical emission hotspot identified in Pond 4, where average CH4 flux exceeded 900 μmol m−2 s−1 and COD decreased by over 80 %. Stoichiometric analysis confirmed a strong correlation between removed COD and CH4 production. The cumulative climate impact of the system was estimated at 278 kg CO2-equiv. m−3 of treated effluent, with over 85 % of emissions attributed to CH4. These findings highlight the need for targeted emission mitigation strategies, such as biogas capture from high-emission ponds, and provide robust emission factors to inform sustainable palm oil wastewater management and climate policy frameworks.
{"title":"Spatial dynamics of methane emissions and organic load reduction in a pond-based palm oil mill effluent treatment system","authors":"Takashi Onodera , Yoshiyuki Takahashi , Kazuya Nishina , Ryuichi Hirata , Joseph Wenceslaus Waili , Frankie Kiew , Guan Xhuan Wong , Lulie Melling","doi":"10.1016/j.chemosphere.2026.144830","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chemosphere.2026.144830","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Palm oil mill effluent (POME) treatment in open pond systems is a significant source of methane (CH<sub>4</sub>) emissions, yet the spatial dynamics of greenhouse gas fluxes and organic matter degradation remain poorly quantified. This study investigated CH<sub>4</sub>, carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>), and nitrous oxide (N<sub>2</sub>O) emissions alongside chemical oxygen demand (COD) reductions across a full-scale, pond system consisting of 10 ponds connected in series (Pond 1 to 10) in Sarawak, Malaysia. Using a novel, low-cost, remotely operated floating chamber, we conducted high-resolution spatial sampling of gas fluxes and water quality. The results revealed extreme heterogeneity in COD removal and CH<sub>4</sub> fluxes, with a critical emission hotspot identified in Pond 4, where average CH<sub>4</sub> flux exceeded 900 μmol m<sup>−2</sup> s<sup>−1</sup> and COD decreased by over 80 %. Stoichiometric analysis confirmed a strong correlation between removed COD and CH<sub>4</sub> production. The cumulative climate impact of the system was estimated at 278 kg CO<sub>2</sub>-equiv. m<sup>−3</sup> of treated effluent, with over 85 % of emissions attributed to CH<sub>4</sub>. These findings highlight the need for targeted emission mitigation strategies, such as biogas capture from high-emission ponds, and provide robust emission factors to inform sustainable palm oil wastewater management and climate policy frameworks.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":276,"journal":{"name":"Chemosphere","volume":"395 ","pages":"Article 144830"},"PeriodicalIF":8.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145923969","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-09DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2026.144828
Eduard Villagrasa , Neus Ferrer-Miralles , Alejandro Sánchez-Chardi , Antonio Solé
Human activities are increasing the bioavailability of metals and metalloids, creating serious environmental and health risks. Specifically, there is significant ecotoxicological interest in metalloid (arsenic (As)) and six heavy metals (HMs; cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and zinc (Zn)) due to their worldwide distribution in all habitats and highly toxic effects on terrestrial and aquatic biota. Understanding toxicity and persistence of HMs is essential for developing effective bioremediation strategies. Bacteria and archaea have evolved diverse cellular adaptations to resist HM toxicity, employing ATP-dependent (active) and ATP-independent (passive) substrate-specific mechanisms. Among them, bioaccumulation via polyphosphate (polyP) inclusions (intracellular) and/or granules (extracellular) has emerged as a central detoxification strategy. Cation-polyP complexes within bacterial structures facilitate metal immobilization, offering a viable approach for reducing HM bioavailability and cellular toxicity. Here, we synthesize the current knowledge on non-genetically modified HM-resistant bacteria, emphasizing bioaccumulation mechanisms mediated by polyP. To date, the role of polyP-mediated bioaccumulation in wild-type bacterial systems remains underexplored and lacks a comprehensive synthesis in the literature. Specifically, we explore (i) the primary bacterial strategies for HM sequestration, (ii) the chronological development of a global understanding of bacterial HM polyP-mediated bioaccumulation, and (iii) emerging biotechnological applications and future perspectives for implementing this strategy in contaminated environments. In contrast to earlier reviews, this work focuses on wild-type, non-genetically modified bacteria and emphasizes the role of polyP-mediated HM bioaccumulation as a resistance mechanism in natural habitats, which can be used for biotechnological applications in resource recovery and HM bioremediation.
{"title":"Polyphosphate-mediated heavy metal sequestration in non-genetically modified bacteria: mechanisms and biotechnological prospects","authors":"Eduard Villagrasa , Neus Ferrer-Miralles , Alejandro Sánchez-Chardi , Antonio Solé","doi":"10.1016/j.chemosphere.2026.144828","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chemosphere.2026.144828","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Human activities are increasing the bioavailability of metals and metalloids, creating serious environmental and health risks. Specifically, there is significant ecotoxicological interest in metalloid (arsenic (As)) and six heavy metals (HMs; cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and zinc (Zn)) due to their worldwide distribution in all habitats and highly toxic effects on terrestrial and aquatic biota. Understanding toxicity and persistence of HMs is essential for developing effective bioremediation strategies. Bacteria and archaea have evolved diverse cellular adaptations to resist HM toxicity, employing ATP-dependent (active) and ATP-independent (passive) substrate-specific mechanisms. Among them, bioaccumulation via polyphosphate (polyP) inclusions (intracellular) and/or granules (extracellular) has emerged as a central detoxification strategy. Cation-polyP complexes within bacterial structures facilitate metal immobilization, offering a viable approach for reducing HM bioavailability and cellular toxicity. Here, we synthesize the current knowledge on non-genetically modified HM-resistant bacteria, emphasizing bioaccumulation mechanisms mediated by polyP. To date, the role of polyP-mediated bioaccumulation in wild-type bacterial systems remains underexplored and lacks a comprehensive synthesis in the literature. Specifically, we explore (i) the primary bacterial strategies for HM sequestration, (ii) the chronological development of a global understanding of bacterial HM polyP-mediated bioaccumulation, and (iii) emerging biotechnological applications and future perspectives for implementing this strategy in contaminated environments. In contrast to earlier reviews, this work focuses on wild-type, non-genetically modified bacteria and emphasizes the role of polyP-mediated HM bioaccumulation as a resistance mechanism in natural habitats, which can be used for biotechnological applications in resource recovery and HM bioremediation<strong>.</strong></div></div>","PeriodicalId":276,"journal":{"name":"Chemosphere","volume":"395 ","pages":"Article 144828"},"PeriodicalIF":8.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145923970","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-09DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2026.144825
Subharthe Samandra , Ellis S.G. Mackay , Wesam S. Alwan , Amanda V. Ellis , Bradley O. Clarke
Microplastics are ubiquitous in the environment, capable of long-range transport via rainfall, waterbodies, wind, and snow, and often carry other emerging contaminants on their surface, as well as additives within their own structure. This makes them persistent, bioaccumulative, and potentially toxic. This study represents the first survey of multiple land use settings in Victoria and New South Wales, Australia. A total of 55 soil samples were analysed for 13 different polymers in the 10–1000 μm size range, using foam fractionation to separate microplastic particles from the soil. The mean abundance was 14,400 ± 20,000 microplastics/kg, with a median of 4200 microplastics/kg (range: 0–90,200 microplastics/kg). Most of the particles were between 10 and 100 μm, with acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene (PE), and polyurethane (PU) being the most prominent polymers. The microplastic particle morphologies were dominated by fragments (38 %) and pellets (27 %), with the remaining consisting of spheres, films, foams and fibres.
{"title":"Widespread microplastic contamination in Australian soils: Sources, pathways, and environmental implications","authors":"Subharthe Samandra , Ellis S.G. Mackay , Wesam S. Alwan , Amanda V. Ellis , Bradley O. Clarke","doi":"10.1016/j.chemosphere.2026.144825","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chemosphere.2026.144825","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Microplastics are ubiquitous in the environment, capable of long-range transport via rainfall, waterbodies, wind, and snow, and often carry other emerging contaminants on their surface, as well as additives within their own structure. This makes them persistent, bioaccumulative, and potentially toxic. This study represents the first survey of multiple land use settings in Victoria and New South Wales, Australia. A total of 55 soil samples were analysed for 13 different polymers in the 10–1000 μm size range, using foam fractionation to separate microplastic particles from the soil. The mean abundance was 14,400 ± 20,000 microplastics/kg, with a median of 4200 microplastics/kg (range: 0–90,200 microplastics/kg). Most of the particles were between 10 and 100 μm, with acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene (PE), and polyurethane (PU) being the most prominent polymers. The microplastic particle morphologies were dominated by fragments (38 %) and pellets (27 %), with the remaining consisting of spheres, films, foams and fibres.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":276,"journal":{"name":"Chemosphere","volume":"395 ","pages":"Article 144825"},"PeriodicalIF":8.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145924021","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-08DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2025.144823
Deeptimayee Pal, Sujit Sen
The sustainable management of industrial byproducts via value-added conversion is essential for promoting circular economy goals. This study successfully valorized dolochar, a hazardous solid waste from the sponge-iron industry, into nanozeolite Y (NaY) by a hydrothermal synthesis method. The synthesized NaY was characterized using SEM, TEM, XRD, FTIR, BET, Raman spectroscopy, TG-DTA, and zeta potential analysis. NaY demonstrated significant crystallinity (87.178 %), a specific surface area of 543.661 m2/g, and a mesoporous structure favorable for adsorption. The synthesized NaY was used for the adsorptive elimination of sulfamethoxazole (SMX), a commonly employed and environmentally persistent antibiotic. To improve performance, sono-assisted adsorption was used, and process parameters, including pH, sonication duration, adsorbent dose, and SMX concentration, were statistically optimized by Response Surface Methodology, Box-Behnken Design (RSM-BBD). Under optimal conditions (pH 6.123, 56.729 min of sonication, 0.467 g/L NaY dosage, 11.977 mg/L SMX), a maximum removal efficiency of 98.417 % was attained. The adsorption data were best described by the Langmuir isotherm and the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Regeneration analyses demonstrated consistent performance throughout multiple cycles, indicating the material's reusability. The adsorption mechanism was ascribed to pore filling, electrostatic interactions, and hydrogen bonding between SMX and the surface functional groups of NaY. This study emphasizes the simultaneous benefits of resource recovery from industrial waste and the elimination of emerging contaminants, providing a scalable and sustainable solution for water treatment applications.
{"title":"Hydrothermal synthesis of nanozeolite Y from sponge-iron industry byproduct for optimized adsorptive removal of sulfamethoxazole from water","authors":"Deeptimayee Pal, Sujit Sen","doi":"10.1016/j.chemosphere.2025.144823","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chemosphere.2025.144823","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The sustainable management of industrial byproducts via value-added conversion is essential for promoting circular economy goals. This study successfully valorized dolochar, a hazardous solid waste from the sponge-iron industry, into nanozeolite Y (NaY) by a hydrothermal synthesis method. The synthesized NaY was characterized using SEM, TEM, XRD, FTIR, BET, Raman spectroscopy, TG-DTA, and zeta potential analysis. NaY demonstrated significant crystallinity (87.178 %), a specific surface area of 543.661 m<sup>2</sup>/g, and a mesoporous structure favorable for adsorption. The synthesized NaY was used for the adsorptive elimination of sulfamethoxazole (SMX), a commonly employed and environmentally persistent antibiotic. To improve performance, sono-assisted adsorption was used, and process parameters, including pH, sonication duration, adsorbent dose, and SMX concentration, were statistically optimized by Response Surface Methodology, Box-Behnken Design (RSM-BBD). Under optimal conditions (pH 6.123, 56.729 min of sonication, 0.467 g/L NaY dosage, 11.977 mg/L SMX), a maximum removal efficiency of 98.417 % was attained. The adsorption data were best described by the Langmuir isotherm and the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Regeneration analyses demonstrated consistent performance throughout multiple cycles, indicating the material's reusability. The adsorption mechanism was ascribed to pore filling, electrostatic interactions, and hydrogen bonding between SMX and the surface functional groups of NaY. This study emphasizes the simultaneous benefits of resource recovery from industrial waste and the elimination of emerging contaminants, providing a scalable and sustainable solution for water treatment applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":276,"journal":{"name":"Chemosphere","volume":"395 ","pages":"Article 144823"},"PeriodicalIF":8.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145923908","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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