Emerging flame retardant (EFR) pollutants are ubiquitous in marine environment due to their extensive applications, and capacity for persistence and long-range atmospheric transport. The accurate analysis of EFRs in marine matrices remains challenging due to the inherently low sensitivity and selectivity in complex matrices, matrix-induced signal suppression, limited analytical throughput, and the lack of robust non-target screening protocols. This review provides an integration of recent methodological breakthroughs, encompassing sensitive instrumental approaches and innovative extraction and purification techniques for EFR detection in marine multi-matrix. The environmental occurrence and process of EFRs highlight that the roles of particle-mediated transport, plastic debris leaching, and photochemical degradation co-govern the fate of EFRs in marine environments. Furthermore, the review critically examines the ecological risks of EFRs, focusing on their bioaccumulation-driven toxicity, trophic magnification in marine food webs, and the potential for ecosystem destabilization. Mechanistic insights into photochemical transformation pathways are summarized, highlighting the formation of persistent and more toxic products that raise risks of chronic exposure and ecological disruption in marine environment. It provides a scientific foundation for regulatory agencies to assess marine environmental risks and implement targeted mitigation strategies. Future research should focus on quantifying the ecological impacts of EFRs to support a more effective monitoring and management framework.
{"title":"Emerging flame retardants in the marine environment: A comprehensive review of occurrence, fate and analytical challenges","authors":"Muhammad Zeshan , Menghao Gao , Yuan Gao , Haijun Zhang , Jiping Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.eehl.2025.100186","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eehl.2025.100186","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Emerging flame retardant (EFR) pollutants are ubiquitous in marine environment due to their extensive applications, and capacity for persistence and long-range atmospheric transport. The accurate analysis of EFRs in marine matrices remains challenging due to the inherently low sensitivity and selectivity in complex matrices, matrix-induced signal suppression, limited analytical throughput, and the lack of robust non-target screening protocols. This review provides an integration of recent methodological breakthroughs, encompassing sensitive instrumental approaches and innovative extraction and purification techniques for EFR detection in marine multi-matrix. The environmental occurrence and process of EFRs highlight that the roles of particle-mediated transport, plastic debris leaching, and photochemical degradation co-govern the fate of EFRs in marine environments. Furthermore, the review critically examines the ecological risks of EFRs, focusing on their bioaccumulation-driven toxicity, trophic magnification in marine food webs, and the potential for ecosystem destabilization. Mechanistic insights into photochemical transformation pathways are summarized, highlighting the formation of persistent and more toxic products that raise risks of chronic exposure and ecological disruption in marine environment. It provides a scientific foundation for regulatory agencies to assess marine environmental risks and implement targeted mitigation strategies. Future research should focus on quantifying the ecological impacts of EFRs to support a more effective monitoring and management framework.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":29813,"journal":{"name":"Eco-Environment & Health","volume":"4 4","pages":"Article 100186"},"PeriodicalIF":17.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145332931","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 : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-11-04DOI: 10.1016/j.eehl.2025.100198
Yiheng Wang , Guochao Chen , Yutong Yang , Zhaolei Zhang , Ruhan Zhang , Peng Wang , Hongliang Zhang
China has experienced an initial increase and a subsequent decrease in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations since the early 21st century, with substantial heterogeneity across different source contributions. This study developed a source-oriented CMAQ model to construct a source-resolved PM2.5 concentration database for China during 2000–2020. Subsequently, source-specific health risks and the contributions of key driving factors were systematically evaluated using the piling-up decomposition method. The results indicate that anthropogenic emissions, particularly from industrial sources, were the primary drivers of both the increase in PM2.5 from 2000 to 2012 (51.8%) and the subsequent decrease from 2012 to 2020 (47.6%). Currently, industrial sources remain the largest contributor to PM2.5 (about 32%), followed by residential (about 22%) and transportation sources (about 13%). Implementation of two-phase air pollution control measures led to a 20.4% reduction in national premature mortality attributable to PM2.5 from 2012 to 2020, although 10.6% of this benefit was offset by changes in population and baseline mortality rates. Throughout 2000–2020, health risks associated with anthropogenic sources consistently exceeded their proportional contribution to PM2.5, primarily because these emissions are concentrated in densely populated areas. These findings underscore that, in addition to implementing region-specific emission reduction policies, maintaining stringent controls on anthropogenic emissions, particularly from industrial and transportation sources, is crucial to maximizing future health benefits.
{"title":"Anthropogenic emissions shape long-term changes in PM2.5 concentrations and health risks in China","authors":"Yiheng Wang , Guochao Chen , Yutong Yang , Zhaolei Zhang , Ruhan Zhang , Peng Wang , Hongliang Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.eehl.2025.100198","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eehl.2025.100198","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>China has experienced an initial increase and a subsequent decrease in fine particulate matter (PM<sub>2.5</sub>) concentrations since the early 21st century, with substantial heterogeneity across different source contributions. This study developed a source-oriented CMAQ model to construct a source-resolved PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentration database for China during 2000–2020. Subsequently, source-specific health risks and the contributions of key driving factors were systematically evaluated using the piling-up decomposition method. The results indicate that anthropogenic emissions, particularly from industrial sources, were the primary drivers of both the increase in PM<sub>2.5</sub> from 2000 to 2012 (51.8%) and the subsequent decrease from 2012 to 2020 (47.6%). Currently, industrial sources remain the largest contributor to PM<sub>2.5</sub> (about 32%), followed by residential (about 22%) and transportation sources (about 13%). Implementation of two-phase air pollution control measures led to a 20.4% reduction in national premature mortality attributable to PM<sub>2.5</sub> from 2012 to 2020, although 10.6% of this benefit was offset by changes in population and baseline mortality rates. Throughout 2000–2020, health risks associated with anthropogenic sources consistently exceeded their proportional contribution to PM<sub>2.5</sub>, primarily because these emissions are concentrated in densely populated areas. These findings underscore that, in addition to implementing region-specific emission reduction policies, maintaining stringent controls on anthropogenic emissions, particularly from industrial and transportation sources, is crucial to maximizing future health benefits.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":29813,"journal":{"name":"Eco-Environment & Health","volume":"4 4","pages":"Article 100198"},"PeriodicalIF":17.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145576182","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 : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-08-05DOI: 10.1016/j.eehl.2025.100176
Xiangyu Kong , Lufeng Chen , Yongguang Yin , Yong Cai , Yanbin Li
{"title":"Mitigating eutrophication may elevate neurotoxic mercury risks in global coastal ecosystems","authors":"Xiangyu Kong , Lufeng Chen , Yongguang Yin , Yong Cai , Yanbin Li","doi":"10.1016/j.eehl.2025.100176","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eehl.2025.100176","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":29813,"journal":{"name":"Eco-Environment & Health","volume":"4 4","pages":"Article 100176"},"PeriodicalIF":17.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145005356","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 : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-11-25DOI: 10.1016/j.eehl.2025.100202
Xiuwen Li , Yizhou Wu , Manyi Chen , Ting Rui , Peng Shi , Feng Yang , Zepeng Zhang , Min Hu , Feng Zhang , Xiankun Wu , Qing Zhou , Aimin Li
Neonicotinoid insecticides (NNIs), including thiamethoxam (TMX), clothianidin, and imidacloprid, are widely used in agriculture to control pests. Consequently, they have been frequently detected in wastewater, posing significant ecotoxicological risks. Conventional ozonation is widely applied for NNI removal but is limited by low mineralization efficiency and high effluent toxicity. However, the mechanisms of the performance limitations and increased toxicity remain unclear, hindering the effective application of ozonation in wastewater treatment. This study constructed a novel micro-nano-bubble ozonation (MNB-O3) system, which enhanced the degradation rate of TMX, a representative NNI, by 34.7% and the mineralization efficiency by 176.5%, compared to conventional bubble ozonation (CB-O3). MNB-O3 also significantly reduced both acute toxicity and neurotoxicity in the ozonated effluents, addressing the issue of high toxicity associated with CB-O3. Mechanistically, the formation of hydroxyl radicals (·OH) and singlet oxygen (1O2) increased substantially and was identified as the primary contributor to TMX degradation. Transformation product (TP) analysis revealed that formaldehyde and acetaldehyde were the key contributors to effluent toxicity, both accumulating in the CB-O3 effluent. In contrast, MNB-O3 achieved significant reductions in formaldehyde (87.4%) and acetaldehyde (34.6%) concentrations, substantially lowering effluent toxicity. Furthermore, a large-scale MNB-O3 application demonstrated excellent performance in removing NNIs and reducing toxicity. This study provides valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying toxicity reduction in MNB-O3 and highlights its potential for low-carbon wastewater treatment. By addressing the limitations of CB-O3 and reducing the NNIs-related environmental risks, MNB-O3 represents a promising advancement in the field of wastewater treatment.
{"title":"Micro-nano-bubble ozonation enhanced thiamethoxam mineralization and toxicity alleviation in wastewater","authors":"Xiuwen Li , Yizhou Wu , Manyi Chen , Ting Rui , Peng Shi , Feng Yang , Zepeng Zhang , Min Hu , Feng Zhang , Xiankun Wu , Qing Zhou , Aimin Li","doi":"10.1016/j.eehl.2025.100202","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eehl.2025.100202","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Neonicotinoid insecticides (NNIs), including thiamethoxam (TMX), clothianidin, and imidacloprid, are widely used in agriculture to control pests. Consequently, they have been frequently detected in wastewater, posing significant ecotoxicological risks. Conventional ozonation is widely applied for NNI removal but is limited by low mineralization efficiency and high effluent toxicity. However, the mechanisms of the performance limitations and increased toxicity remain unclear, hindering the effective application of ozonation in wastewater treatment. This study constructed a novel micro-nano-bubble ozonation (MNB-O<sub>3</sub>) system, which enhanced the degradation rate of TMX, a representative NNI, by 34.7% and the mineralization efficiency by 176.5%, compared to conventional bubble ozonation (CB-O<sub>3</sub>). MNB-O<sub>3</sub> also significantly reduced both acute toxicity and neurotoxicity in the ozonated effluents, addressing the issue of high toxicity associated with CB-O<sub>3</sub>. Mechanistically, the formation of hydroxyl radicals (·OH) and singlet oxygen (<sup>1</sup>O<sub>2</sub>) increased substantially and was identified as the primary contributor to TMX degradation. Transformation product (TP) analysis revealed that formaldehyde and acetaldehyde were the key contributors to effluent toxicity, both accumulating in the CB-O<sub>3</sub> effluent. In contrast, MNB-O<sub>3</sub> achieved significant reductions in formaldehyde (87.4%) and acetaldehyde (34.6%) concentrations, substantially lowering effluent toxicity. Furthermore, a large-scale MNB-O<sub>3</sub> application demonstrated excellent performance in removing NNIs and reducing toxicity. This study provides valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying toxicity reduction in MNB-O<sub>3</sub> and highlights its potential for low-carbon wastewater treatment. By addressing the limitations of CB-O<sub>3</sub> and reducing the NNIs-related environmental risks, MNB-O<sub>3</sub> represents a promising advancement in the field of wastewater treatment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":29813,"journal":{"name":"Eco-Environment & Health","volume":"4 4","pages":"Article 100202"},"PeriodicalIF":17.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145690492","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 : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-10-28DOI: 10.1016/j.eehl.2025.100195
Swaroop Chakraborty
{"title":"Environmental hierarchy as the third dimension of nanomaterial transformation science","authors":"Swaroop Chakraborty","doi":"10.1016/j.eehl.2025.100195","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eehl.2025.100195","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":29813,"journal":{"name":"Eco-Environment & Health","volume":"4 4","pages":"Article 100195"},"PeriodicalIF":17.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145474085","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 : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-09-26DOI: 10.1016/j.eehl.2025.100188
Wei Gao , Peng Zhang , Hongcui Wang , Xiaohan Yang , Chunjiang An
Microplastics (MPs) have become major contaminants in freshwater ecosystems. While numerous studies have characterized MPs in reservoirs, a comprehensive synthesis focusing on in-reservoir variations and dam-related influences is still lacking. This study investigates the spatial distribution of MPs in reservoir water and sediment based on data synthesized from 34 peer-reviewed studies covering 36 reservoirs across diverse climatic and hydrological regions worldwide, with a focus on the trapping effects of dams. Using a combination of generalized linear mixed models (GLMM) and generalized additive mixed models (GAMM), the study analyzed MP abundance patterns in relation to distance to the dam and identified key environmental and anthropogenic factors influencing their distribution. The results show that MPs tend to accumulate near dams, suggesting a trapping effect, while upstream MP concentrations decline with increasing distance. Vertical stratification patterns were observed in both water and sediment, indicating different transport mechanisms. Additionally, exposure to MPs significantly affected benthic organisms, particularly in terms of growth and reproduction, with effects intensifying over longer exposure durations. These findings highlight the need for improved monitoring and management strategies in reservoirs to mitigate MP pollution and its ecological consequences.
{"title":"From water to sediment: A meta-analysis of microplastic distribution and the impact of dams in reservoir ecosystems","authors":"Wei Gao , Peng Zhang , Hongcui Wang , Xiaohan Yang , Chunjiang An","doi":"10.1016/j.eehl.2025.100188","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eehl.2025.100188","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Microplastics (MPs) have become major contaminants in freshwater ecosystems. While numerous studies have characterized MPs in reservoirs, a comprehensive synthesis focusing on in-reservoir variations and dam-related influences is still lacking. This study investigates the spatial distribution of MPs in reservoir water and sediment based on data synthesized from 34 peer-reviewed studies covering 36 reservoirs across diverse climatic and hydrological regions worldwide, with a focus on the trapping effects of dams. Using a combination of generalized linear mixed models (GLMM) and generalized additive mixed models (GAMM), the study analyzed MP abundance patterns in relation to distance to the dam and identified key environmental and anthropogenic factors influencing their distribution. The results show that MPs tend to accumulate near dams, suggesting a trapping effect, while upstream MP concentrations decline with increasing distance. Vertical stratification patterns were observed in both water and sediment, indicating different transport mechanisms. Additionally, exposure to MPs significantly affected benthic organisms, particularly in terms of growth and reproduction, with effects intensifying over longer exposure durations. These findings highlight the need for improved monitoring and management strategies in reservoirs to mitigate MP pollution and its ecological consequences.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":29813,"journal":{"name":"Eco-Environment & Health","volume":"4 4","pages":"Article 100188"},"PeriodicalIF":17.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145424532","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}