Environmental Research最新文献

Coal mining-induced subsidence disrupt soil ecosystems and diminishes agricultural productivity, requiring effective remediation strategies. While both lignite derived humic acid and microbial inoculants have individually shown potential to improve soil properties, the combined application of humic-microbial amendment (CHA), remains underexplored, especially with reduced inorganic fertilizer input. This study evaluated the efficacy of CHA in remediating subsidence-affected soil and promoting the growth of Brassica chinensis L. (pakchoi), focusing on soil-plant-microbe interactions. Results (P<0.05) showed that CHA allowed a 50% reduction in inorganic fertilizer usage. The optimal CHA treatment (IFHA) increased soil urease and sucrase activities by 14.84% and 67.46%, respectively, promoted nitrogen and phosphorus uptake in pakchoi, and raised biomass yield by 87.6%. Additionally, protein and soluble sugar contents increased by 22.06-79.94% compared to the control. Microbial analysis revealed that CHA had minimal effect on bacterial abundance but altered the fungal community. Dominant phyla included Ascomycota (with beneficial Penicillium, enhance nitrogen mineralization) and Mortierellomycota (supporting soil nutrient transformation), as well as Streptomyces, a genus involved in carbon cycling. These microbial shifts correlated with improved soil nutrients availability and crop performance, helping mitigated mining-related degradation. Our findings suggest that CHA provides a promising approach for the sustainable remediation of coal mine subsidence soil and offers potential applications for other mining-impacted soils.

Background: Early life is a critical window for development, during which environmental exposures can have lasting impacts. While harmful exposures are widely studied, protective factors such as green space remain underexplored. This study examined associations between green space exposure during prenatal and postnatal periods and behavioral development in children aged 2 to 4 years.

Method: Data were drawn from the Longitudinal Examination Across Prenatal and Postpartum Health in Taiwan cohort. Information on 408 families collected at early and mid-pregnancy, 1 month postpartum, and 2-4 years postpartum between 2017 and 2024 were analyzed. Green space exposure was accessed using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) within 250-2000 m residential buffers. Children's behavioral development was evaluated using the Child Behavior Checklist for Ages 1½-5. Multiple regression models were applied.

Result: Higher prenatal green exposure was associated with fewer attention problems at age 2 (β ranged -0.42 to -0.47 across NDVI buffer radii, p<0.05) and at age 3 (β ranged -0.43 to -0.44 across NDVI buffer radii, p<0.05). In multiple-time-point analyses, higher prenatal green exposure was linked to fewer sleep (β = -0.44, p=0.04; significant only in the 250m buffer) and attention (β ranged -0.42 to -0.44 across NDVI buffer radii, p<0.001) problems. Higher postnatal green exposure was associated only with fewer attention problems (β ranged -0.31 to -0.34 across NDVI buffer radii, p<0.05).

Conclusion: Green space exposure was consistently linked to fewer behavioral problems, especially attention difficulties, in early childhood. Findings suggest enhancing access to green environments may benefit early behavioral development.

Traditional methods for treating Cr(VI)-containing wastewater often encounter issues such as high energy consumption, susceptibility to secondary pollution and limited treatment efficiency. In contrast, photocatalytic technology harnesses solar energy to efficiently reduce Cr(VI) to less toxic Cr(III) under mild conditions, offering advantages including operational simplicity and environmental friendliness, thereby providing a superior alternative. This study proposes a dual MOF precursor strategy to synthesise Cd-ZIF@NH₂-MIL-68 composite materials, which undergo further sulphurisation to successfully construct a CdS/In₂S₃ type-II heterojunction photocatalyst with a hollow structure. This material exhibits a larger specific surface area, increased exposure of active sites and abundant heterojunction interfaces. This heterojunction achieves an ultrafast, 99.26% removal of Cr(VI) within only 18 min under LED illumination, exhibiting outstanding stability with 88.10% activity retention after five cycles. Systematic characterization, photoelectrochemical tests and density functional theory (DFT) calculations collectively confirm that the successful band engineering in CdS/In₂S₃ induces the formation of a type-II heterojunction, thereby significantly facilitating the efficient separation and migration of photogenerated charges. The combination of radical trapping experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy identifies photogenerated electrons (e^-) and superoxide radicals (·O₂^-) as the predominant reactive species. This work provides new insights for designing highly efficient MOFs-derived heterojunction photocatalysts for the rapid remediation of Cr(VI) pollution.

The widespread co-occurrence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) with diverse micropollutants in drinking water distribution systems poses a critical public health threat by potentially facilitating ARG dissemination, yet the underlying causal drivers remain poorly understood. In this study, we employed H2O automated machine learning to profile ARGs and nearly 100 micropollutants, alongside socioeconomic indicators, in drinking water samples collected from 67 Chinese cities. Moving beyond traditional correlation and interpretability analyses, we adopted double machine learning (DML), a causal inference framework, to quantified causal effects (CATE) and elucidate pollutant-ARG relationships. Results revealed synergistic effects among major ARG types (e.g., sul1, tetB and blaTEM), with integron genes (intI1, intI2) serving as key genetic vectors. Antibiotics (e.g., Sulfaphenazole) and PAHs (e.g., Acenaphthene) significantly drove the proliferation of ARGs, while PCBs (e.g., Perfluoro-n-dodecanoic acid) and advanced urban development generally suppressed their prevalence, with GDP exhibiting a nonlinear U-shaped association in detail. The integration of interpretable machine learning with DML effectively deciphered these intricate relationships. Our findings provide new causal insights into ARGs drivers in drinking water and supports evidence-based risk assessment and targeted strategies to mitigate antimicrobial resistance dissemination via water systems.

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) has been widely detected in human serum, umbilical cord blood and breast milk, indicating potential prenatal and lactational exposure of the general population. Experimental studies in animal models have raised concerns regarding developmental and neurotoxic effects of PFOA. Mice are commonly used in developmental neurotoxicity studies to investigate the effect of exposure to pollutants. Neurodevelopmental research frequently relies on neurobehavioral observations, without measuring or evaluating the corresponding internal concentrations of pollutants within the offspring's brain. Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models allow predicting the toxicokinetic behavior of xenobiotics in an organism, based on chemical and physiological properties. In this study, a generic mouse PBPK model including gestation and lactation has been developed. This model comprises six compartments for dams and five for the pup including the brain compartment. It describes the dam's growth from birth and pup from the early embryonic stages, as well as the changes in organ volumes and blood flows. The generic mouse model has been parametrized for PFOA. This model enables the simulation of PFOA distribution and its internal concentration in the offspring's brain resulting from maternal oral exposure. Our case study demonstrates the use of a mouse-specific PBPK model, incorporating gestation and lactation in an in vitro in vivo extrapolation (IVIVE) context, to integrate New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) into neurotoxicity assessment.

PER: and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been classified as emerging pollutants requiring global control, and the development of highly efficient adsorbents is a key technological challenge hindering the effective treatment of PFAS. In this study, we prepared a novel fluorinated amino covalent organic framework (COF-FS-NH₂) via multimonomer hybrid synthesis and post-synthesis modification. The kinetic data of PFAS adsorption on COF-FS-NH₂ were well fitted using the pseudo-second-order model. Using the Langmuir model, the maximum adsorption capacities of COF-FS-NH₂ for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluoro-2,5-dimethyl-3,6-dioxanonanoic acid (HFPO-TA), perfluoro-2,5-dimethyl-3,6-dioxaheptanoic acid (C7 HFPO-TA), and perfluoro(2-methyl-3-oxahexanoic) acid (GenX) were found to be 0.331, 0.289, 0.319, and 0.210 mmol/g, respectively. PFAS adsorption mainly relied on the electrostatic interaction between the amino group of COF-FS-NH₂ and the anionic group of PFAS as well as the van der Waals forces. Compared with the conventional activated carbon and resin materials, COF-FS-NH₂ exhibited high selectivity and adsorption capacity for PFAS, with high removal percentage (> 80%) for the four PFAS at environmental concentration (10 μg/L). This study demonstrates that COF-FS-NH₂ has great potential for the efficient removal of PFAS from water, providing a new material strategy for practical water remediation.

In response to the low-carbon strategy, this study develops a geopolymer grouting for shield tunnel tail grouting using red mud (RM) and coal-series metakaolin (CMK) as primary raw materials. A three-level four-factor orthogonal experimental design was used to investigate the effects of RM/CMK mass ratio (RM/CMK), molar ratio of SiO₂ to Na₂O (SiO₂/Na₂O), Na₂O content (Na₂O%) and water-to-binder ratio (w/b) on the multi-performance characteristics. Second-order polynomial regression models revealed the dominant factors affecting fresh properties, mechanical strength and microstructural compactness. Electrical performance was evaluated using resistivity and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), while X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) characterized mineral composition and microstructure. Multi-objective optimization was performed to determine both performance-optimal and cost-optimal mix designs. Results indicate that w/b and Na₂O% are the primary factors influencing grouting fluidity, consistency, stability, and setting time, while the synergistic effect between Na₂O% and SiO₂/Na₂O promotes N-A-S-H gel formation and strength development. Electrical and microstructural analyses show a compact microstructure with restricted ion transport, indicating excellent electrochemical stability and corrosion resistance. The performance-optimal mix (RM/CMK = 1.32, SiO₂/Na₂O = 1.56, Na₂O% = 3.97%, w/b = 0.52) achieved 28-day strength of 9.12 MPa and the cost-optimal mix (RM/CMK = 1.25, SiO₂/Na₂O = 1.27, Na₂O% = 2.11%, w/b = 0.45) cost 20.76 USD/t. The material meets shield tunnel grouting requirements, balancing performance, economy and environmental benefits, offering strong engineering application potential.

Coal mining is a major industrial activity that significantly contributes to India's economic growth, particularly in the Jharia Coalfield area of Dhanbad, Jharkhand. However, the environmental impact of such activity, especially on groundwater and surface water quality, remains a matter of serious concern. In this study, we conducted a hydrogeochemical analysis of water samples collected from 15 locations, which include active collieries, washery units, overburden dumps, and the Damodar River. Various physicochemical parameters, major cations, anions, and heavy/toxic metals were assessed. Results show increased total dissolved solids (TDS) in all samples except Damodar River water sample, hardness in 13 samples, and BOD levels in 10 samples, all of which surpass the permissible limits set by WHO. This makes the water unsafe for direct drinking. Contamination by aluminium and cadmium was observed (all samples exceeded the WHO permissible limit), while chromium and nickel levels marginally exceeded safe limits. Gibbs diagrams and correlation matrices identified rock weathering, coal washery discharge, and acid mine drainage as the primary factors influencing water chemistry. The above results highlight the need for ongoing monitoring and remediation techniques as well as the significant decline in water quality in mining zones. This comprehensive assessment further underscores the urgent need for monitoring of water quality in coal mining areas, emphasising the balance between energy security and environmental health.

Zero-valent iron (ZVI, Fe⁰) can remove different types of pollutants in water, but Fe⁰ is prone to passivation and aggregation. To improve the performance of Fe⁰, a new nanocrack-like Fe/Cu bimetallic and resin (NPS) hybrid strategy (nZVIC@NPS) was proposed for the removal of sulfamethoxazole-hexavalent chromium (SMX-Cr (VI)) mixed pollutants in water. Characterization results show that the structure of NPS can provide skeleton support for Fe⁰, meanwhile Cu doping enhances the Kirkendall effect, which promotes the generation of radial nanocracks and enhances the electron transfer. The removal of mixed pollutants Cr (VI)-SMX by nZVIC@NPS reached 99.78% and 96.35% within 180 min respectively when the concentrations of Cr (VI) and SMX were 30 mg/L and 5.0 mg/L respectively, and the material dosage was 1.0 g/L. Chemical inhibitor tests, probe tests, and electron spin resonance characterization show that ·OH and ¹O₂ dominate the degradation of SMX. In addition, characterization and shielding agent results exhibited that Cu doping can promote the adsorption of Cr (VI) on the surface of nZVIC@NPS, and thus enhanced Cr (VI) reduction. nZVIC@NPS can maintain excellent removal performance under wide pH, pollutant concentrations coexisting ions, and multiple cycles. This work enriched the design and application scenarios of nZVI.

Psychosocial stress and ambient fine particulate matter (PM_2.5, particulate matter with aerodynamic equivalent diameters ≤ 2.5 μm) independently impair cardiac health, yet their interactive effects remain unclear. This study investigated whether psychosocial stress modifies the acute cardiac response to personal PM_2.5 exposure. A multi-center panel study was conducted among 129 middle-aged and elderly adults in China during 2018-2023, with 24 h monitoring of personal PM_2.5 exposure and ambulatory electrocardiogram. Associations between personal PM_2.5 exposure and cardiac health indicators were analyzed using generalized or linear mixed-effects models, and the effect modification by psychosocial stress was evaluated by incorporating multiplicative interaction terms between personal PM_2.5 exposure and psychosocial stress scores. The final analysis included 116 participants (260 person-visits), with a mean age of 52.1 years and female proportion of 67.2%. Personal PM_2.5 exposure was associated with increased risks of ST-segment depression event (STDE), accelerated heart rate, and decreased heart rate variability (HRV). For instance, per interquartile range increase in PM_2.5 (31.5 μg/m³) at the 3 h exposure window, the risk ratio of STDE in the lateral leads was 1.11 (95% confidence interval: 1.05, 1.17), and the percent changes in heart rate and standard deviation of normal-to-normal intervals (SDNN) were 0.23% (0.09%, 0.37%) and -1.96% (-2.42%, -1.51%), respectively. The marginal effects of personal PM_2.5 exposure on STDE and HRV were generally more pronounced under higher psychosocial stress. The study findings highlight the possible synergistic roles of psychosocial stress and personal PM_2.5 exposure in eliciting adverse cardiac effects, and provide a scientific basis for identifying vulnerable populations and formulating targeted measures to mitigate air pollution-related cardiac health risks.