Environmental Research最新文献

The strategic conversion of fermentation effluents from organic waste into microbial lipids for biofuel production has emerged as a key strategy for advancing sustainable development. However, inhibitory components in fermentation broths substantially impair the metabolism of oleaginous microbes, critically compromising bioconversion efficiency. Traditional pretreatment methods, such as chemical and enzymatic approaches, incur additional costs. Adaptive Laboratory Evolution (ALE) technology is based on the principle of directed evolution, precisely constructs biological stress environments and reshapes microbial metabolic networks to enhance strain tolerance and functionality. This enables the direct utilization of complex fermentation broths for lipid production. This paper first introduces the mechanism of selective pressure exerted by the ALE technique, and proposes strategies for nutrient supply and extreme environmental stress based on the physiological characteristics of strains. It then focuses on the technical principles of the ALE process, with a key discussion on the different evolutionary modes of ALE and their applicable scenarios. Building on this foundation, this review introduces novel integrative strategies bridging ALE and synthetic biology, employing precision metabolic engineering, genomic editing and machine learning to expand the application boundaries of ALE technology. Finally, the future development trends of ALE technology in the field of organic waste resource utilization are systematically explored in this review.

Systemic inflammation during pregnancy is associated with adverse health outcomes for both mother and child. C-reactive protein (CRP) is a widely used biomarker of inflammation, and its levels may be influenced by environmental factors. This study examined the association between 26 components of the external urban exposome-including air pollutants, land use, and access to green and blue spaces-and CRP concentrations in 1547 pregnant women from the INMA birth cohort in Spain (Gipuzkoa, Sabadell, and Valencia). Environmental exposures during the first trimester were assessed using GIS-based indicators and land-use regression models, and were grouped into low, moderate, and high exposome clusters using hierarchical clustering on principal components. Associations between exposome clusters and CRP were evaluated using multivariable linear regression models and meta-analyses, adjusting for maternal and lifestyle covariates. No significant associations were found between exposome clusters and CRP levels. However, specific air pollutants-fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅: 1.08% increase per unit; 95% CI: 1.02-1.15) and nitrogen oxides (NO_x: 1.03%; 95% CI: 1.00-1.06)-were positively associated with CRP. No associations were observed for green space indicators or other built environment variables. CRP concentrations also varied by region, with the highest levels observed in Valencia (3.2 ± 4.6 mg/dL). These findings suggest that while overall urban exposome profiles may not predict systemic inflammation, individual air pollutants such as PM₂.₅ and NO_x are key contributors. Targeting these exposures in maternal health strategies may help mitigate inflammation-related risks during pregnancy, supporting the need for more detailed and component-specific exposome assessments.

Artificial reefs (ARs) are widely used to restore coastal ecosystems; however, the impact of reef age on microbial communities and their biogeochemical functions remains unknown. This study integrated metagenomic sequencing with physicochemical analysis to examine successional changes in benthic nitrogen and sulfur cycling along a chronosequence spanning from non-artificial reefs (0 years) to 14-year-old ARs in the coastal waters of the Bohai Sea, China. Our analysis revealed a systematic, time-dependent reorganization of the benthic microbiome, characterized by significant enrichment of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (Nitrososphaerota) and bacteria (Nitrospirota) in reefs older than 6 years. Conversely, taxa involved in coupled nitrate reduction and sulfur oxidation (Sulfurovum) declined significantly. Functionally, this led to a shift in genetic potential: the abundance of nitrification genes (amoB and amoC) increased, while genes associated with dissimilatory nitrate reduction (nirB and nrfA), denitrification (nosZ and napB), thiosulfate reduction (phsC and ttrB), and sulfur oxidation (sqr and sox) decreased. Genome-resolved analysis further demonstrated that these functional shifts were driven by the proliferation of nitrifiers and concurrent decline of versatile bacterial lineages. Importantly, this genomic shift was corroborated by geochemical observations of decreased ammonium and increased nitrate concentrations in both bottom seawater and sediments of ARs compared to non-artificial reefs. These results indicate that reef age reshapes benthic microbial communities and functions, favoring aerobic nitrification over anaerobic or microaerophilic nitrate reduction and sulfur metabolism. This study provides a scientific basis for AR adaptive management, underscoring the necessity of integrating microbial functional metrics into the long-term impact assessment of marine infrastructures.

Single-atom Fe anchored on N-doped carbon supports have shown promising performance in Fenton-like catalytic reactions. However, the structural characteristics of the NC support, particularly its thickness, have rarely been systematically investigated for their role on peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation. In this study, Single-atom Fe was immobilized on NC nanosheets with precisely controlled thickness (denoted as SAFe@NC_x). It was clearly demonstrated that the thickness of the NC support played a decisive role in modulating the efficiency of PMS activation. In the SAFe@NC_x/PMS systems, carbamazepine (CBZ) could be completely degraded via a 100% electron transfer pathway, exhibiting remarkable resistance to environmental interference and wide adaptability. Through a combination of spectroscopic characterization and electrochemical analysis, it was revealed that tuning the thickness of the NC carrier effectively optimized the degree of graphitization, adjusted the distribution of N species composition, and thereby enhanced the electronic state of Fe sites and surface charge properties. These structural and electronic modifications induced by support thickness significantly enhanced the adsorption affinity of SAFe@NC toward PMS molecules, further substantially improving the overall catalytic performance in PMS activation.

Glyphosate (GLY) is the most widely used herbicide worldwide, yet its effects on microbially mediated soil carbon-cycling processes remain controversial. Using random-effects meta-analysis, machine-learning interpretation, and path modeling, this study integrates 1,099 paired observations from 103 studies worldwide to systematically evaluate how GLY exposure conditions and initial soil physicochemical properties jointly modulate soil carbon cycling responses. Across all observations included in the meta-analysis, GLY increased soil CO₂ emission by 16.32% and soil organic carbon (SOC) by 9.98% on average. However, both the direction and magnitude of these responses were strongly context-dependent and could reverse under specific combinations of soil properties and exposure conditions. High GLY concentrations (>100 mg a.i. kg^-1) strongly stimulated microbial respiration, increasing the microbial metabolic quotient (qCO₂) by 61.22%, and were also associated with higher SOC. In contrast, medium concentrations (10-100 mg a.i. kg^-1) significantly suppressed microbial biomass. Exposure times of less than 30 days promoted SOC accumulation, 30-60 days produced the strongest respiratory response, while exposure beyond 60 days weakened the respiration response. Soil pH emerged as a key regulator: acidic conditions generally promoted CO₂ emission, whereas alkaline conditions suppressed CO₂ emission while enhancing SOC accumulation. Total nitrogen (TN) and soil organic matter (SOM) also influenced the response patterns of soil carbon processes. Overall, the effects of GLY on soil carbon cycling should not be generalized as uniform promotion or inhibition; instead, they represent context-dependent responses jointly shaped by exposure concentration, exposure time, and inherent soil properties. The observed SOC increases mainly reflect short- to medium-term responses in the compiled dataset.

Plastic contamination in wastewater and sludge is an emerging environmental challenge, with microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) increasingly requiring effective mitigation strategies. A bibliometric analysis (2015-2025) reveals a rapid growth in research activity, initially dominated by studies on MPs, which accounted for nearly 90% of early publications. This review critically evaluates current technologies for the removal and degradation of micro- and nanoplastics across aqueous and solid matrices. In water treatment systems, most processes primarily transfer particles to solid residues rather than achieving true elimination, with more than 95% of retained particles accumulating in sewage sludge. Conventional treatments such as filtration, coagulation-flocculation, sedimentation, and flotation frequently achieve MPs removal efficiencies above 80%, although their effectiveness for NPs remains poorly validated. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have shown strong potential for polymer degradation, with mineralization levels exceeding 80-99% under controlled conditions; yet, most studies rely on simplified matrices, limiting extrapolation to real effluents. In soils, sediments, and sludge-amended systems, research has largely focused on extraction and quantification rather than remediation. Emerging thermochemical and biological approaches show promise but remain at an early stage of development. Future work should prioritize scalable degradation technologies validated under realistic conditions and integrated treatment strategies capable of preventing the transfer of micro- and nanoplastics between water and solid matrices.

This study developed a self-sustaining oxygen activation system based on spatially confined Fe nanoparticles in hierarchical biochar (Fe@KMBC), which effectively mitigated persistent iron leaching (<0.1 mg/L), metal catalyst aggregation, and the need for stoichiometric chemical dosages of activator in advanced oxidation processes. The dual confinement mechanism-physical entrapment within 4.23 nm mesopores and electronic coupling with oxygen-functional groups-enabled the continuous generation of •O₂^- and ¹O₂ via molecular oxygen activation and electron cycling of Fe nanoparticles, allowing Fe@KMBC to achieve exceptional BPA removal (442.2 mg/g) via radical/non-radical mechanisms at multiple active sites. Notably, the pore-architecture-mediated reactant enrichment and electron transfer to generate •O₂^- and ¹O₂ maintains high efficiency and low iron leaching after five cycles. This activator-free system, which requires no addition of PMS or H₂O₂, significantly reduces energy consumption and ecotoxicity, establishing a promising eco-engineering blueprint for the remediation of endocrine disruptors.

Background: Animal feeding operations (AFOs) including concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) are significant sources of environmental pollution with potential public health implications. Despite growing concern of environmental health risk, few studies have assessed the associations between exposure to AFOs/CAFOs and cancer incidence across diverse geographic regions and populations.

Objective: This study investigates county-level cancer incidence by state in relation to AFO/CAFO exposure in three US states.

Methods: We analyzed county-level incidence data for all- and site-specific cancers from 2000 to 2021 and AFO/CAFO density for three states (i.e., California, Iowa, and Texas). To address confounding, we applied propensity score matching to compare counties with high AFO/CAFO exposure to control counties. Stratified analyses were conducted by state and cancer type.

Results: Higher exposure to AFO/CAFOs was associated with increased cancer incidence in all three states, although the magnitude and statistical significance of the associations varied by state. Compared to control counties, exposed counties had significantly higher all-cancer incidence rate ratios (IRRs): 1.044 (95% CI 1.040, 1.047) in California, 1.079 (1.066, 1.091) in Iowa, and 1.078 (1.073, 1.084) in Texas. Stratified analyses by cancer type showed higher associations for specific cancers in each state (e.g., bladder cancer in California, colorectal cancer for Iowa, and lung and bronchus cancer in Texas).

Conclusion: Our findings suggest a link between higher AFO/CAFO exposure and increased cancer incidence across various US states. Future research using individual-level data, refined exposure assessment, and longitudinal approaches are needed to strengthen the evidence.

This study systematically investigated the characteristics and ecological risks of microplastic pollution in the Handan section of the Zhanghe River during the rainy season, as well as its impacts on plankton. Microplastic abundance during the dry season was also measured (no plankton monitoring was conducted in the dry season). The results showed that microplastic abundance in both seasons exhibited an increasing trend from upstream to downstream, with significantly higher levels during the rainy season (1,200-11,000 n/m³) compared to the dry season (600-7,200 n/m³). Fibrous microplastics were the dominant form, and the main polymer types were polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polyamide (PA). Ecological risk assessments estimated that downstream sites exhibited moderate to high ecological risks, primarily attributable to the enrichment of polymers such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyurethane (PU). Plankton showed differential responses to microplastics: cyanobacterial abundance was significantly positively correlated with microplastic levels (r = 0.49, p < 0.05), while diatoms were inhibited. Zooplankton were dominated by rotifers, whose density fluctuated significantly in areas with high microplastic concentrations. Furthermore, a synergistic effect was observed between microplastics and total phosphorus (TP), potentially exacerbating water eutrophication. This study confirms that microplastics exert differential impacts on various plankton groups and that nutrient enrichment can amplify their ecological risks, providing a scientific basis for microplastic pollution control in river basins.

Porous ecological concrete integrates structural stability with plant growth support. However, its sustainability is often limited by high cement content and insufficient nutrient availability. Meanwhile, the continuous generation of waste sludge necessitates its effective utilization as a resource in construction materials due to the high cost of conventional disposal and its unsustainability. Sludge-derived biochar (SB), characterized by porous structure, reactive mineral phases, and intrinsic nutrient content, is a promising multifunctional modifier for ecological concrete. In this study, SBs derived from river sediment, industrial, domestic, and livestock sludge were characterized using SEM-EDS, XRD, and BET. The characterized SBs were incorporated into sustainable planting ecological concrete (SBEC) at a 10% cement replacement ratio. Hydration kinetics and microstructural evolution were analyzed using isothermal calorimetry, TGA, and ²⁹Si MAS NMR. The physical properties, vegetation compatibility (Cynodon dactylon and Festuca arundinacea), and environmental sustainability (life cycle assessment, LCA) were systematically evaluated. SB incorporation enhanced the water retention, alkalinity regulation, freeze-thaw resistance, and sustained N/P release of the resulting composite. SBECs containing industrial and domestic SBs achieved 28-day compressive strengths of 16.94 and 17.12 MPa, respectively, and exhibited the lowest strength loss during freeze-thaw cycles. In contrast, livestock SB contributed to the highest hydration degree (67.7%) in SBECs and rapid alkalinity reduction, which significantly improved root biomass and nutrient accumulation. LCA confirmed that partial cement replacement with SBs significantly reduced environmental burdens. Overall, this work provides a high-value valorization pathway for waste sludge in sustainable multifunctional concrete, with different sludge sources enabling SBECs to achieve structural stability, vegetation support, or balanced multifunctionality.