Daniel J. Ashworth,Pia Ramos,Michael P. Schmidt,Abasiofiok M. Ibekwe
The use of aqueous film-forming foams at military bases potentially leads to the contamination of soils and groundwater by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Herein, an analysis of data from US Air Force bases was conducted to demonstrate that high levels of soil and groundwater PFAS contamination at such sites are common, particularly in testing and training areas, suggesting that prevention of PFAS leaching from such soils is a critical priority. Nonsaturated soil column experiments were conducted to optimize the use of soil-applied biochars as a low-cost strategy for adsorbing C8 perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and C4 perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS) and preventing their downward leaching. A wood-based biochar produced at >900 °C and added to the soil at 1% (m/m) was found to exhibit physio-chemical properties that facilitated excellent (>99%) retention of PFOS in a sandy loam soil. Moreover, postproduction thermal treatment (400 °C in air) of the biochar led to excellent retention of short-chain PFBS, essentially yielding nondetectable PFBS levels in the column leachate. The application of carefully selected biochars to areas with high levels of PFAS contamination at military facilities is likely a useful and low-cost approach for protecting groundwater from PFOS and PFBS (and perhaps other PFAS) contamination.
{"title":"Leaching of PFOS and PFBS to Groundwater at US Air Force Bases: Could Biochar Offer an Effective Mitigation Strategy?","authors":"Daniel J. Ashworth,Pia Ramos,Michael P. Schmidt,Abasiofiok M. Ibekwe","doi":"10.1021/acs.est.5c12996","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5c12996","url":null,"abstract":"The use of aqueous film-forming foams at military bases potentially leads to the contamination of soils and groundwater by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Herein, an analysis of data from US Air Force bases was conducted to demonstrate that high levels of soil and groundwater PFAS contamination at such sites are common, particularly in testing and training areas, suggesting that prevention of PFAS leaching from such soils is a critical priority. Nonsaturated soil column experiments were conducted to optimize the use of soil-applied biochars as a low-cost strategy for adsorbing C8 perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and C4 perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS) and preventing their downward leaching. A wood-based biochar produced at >900 °C and added to the soil at 1% (m/m) was found to exhibit physio-chemical properties that facilitated excellent (>99%) retention of PFOS in a sandy loam soil. Moreover, postproduction thermal treatment (400 °C in air) of the biochar led to excellent retention of short-chain PFBS, essentially yielding nondetectable PFBS levels in the column leachate. The application of carefully selected biochars to areas with high levels of PFAS contamination at military facilities is likely a useful and low-cost approach for protecting groundwater from PFOS and PFBS (and perhaps other PFAS) contamination.","PeriodicalId":36,"journal":{"name":"环境科学与技术","volume":"22 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.028,"publicationDate":"2026-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146111183","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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}
Jordi Dachs*, , , Margaret S. Mills, , and , Julie B. Zimmerman,
{"title":"60 Years of ES&T Bridging the Path between Climate and Global Change","authors":"Jordi Dachs*, , , Margaret S. Mills, , and , Julie B. Zimmerman, ","doi":"10.1021/acs.est.6c00687","DOIUrl":"10.1021/acs.est.6c00687","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":36,"journal":{"name":"环境科学与技术","volume":"60 4","pages":"2815"},"PeriodicalIF":11.3,"publicationDate":"2026-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146102011","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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}
In coastal tourist areas, the frequent use of sunscreen has led to the substantial release of its chemical components into the marine environment. Recent studies have demonstrated that sunscreen chemicals can undergo sea-to-air transport via sea spray aerosols (SSA). However, their transformation behavior and environmental fate in the aerosol phase remain poorly understood. This study reports the heterogeneous oxidation kinetics and mechanisms of three typical sunscreen chemicals (4-methylbenzylidene camphor (4-MBC), benzophenone-4 (BP-4), and propylparaben (PrPB)) initiated by hydroxyl radicals (OH) in the aerosol phase composed of sea salt and organic matter. The measured heterogeneous rate constants for reactions with OH ranged from 2.07 × 10–12 to 4.52 × 10–12 cm3 molecule–1 s–1, corresponding to an average atmospheric lifetime of approximately 41–89 h, indicating their potential for long-distance transport before degradation. Through the characterization of the components of aged aerosols, it was found that the functionalization reactions play a key role in the oxidation process, and the unexpected decrease in the O/C ratio of BP-4 products was attributed to sulfonic group loss. In addition, the dithiothreitol (DTT) assay indicated that the aged aerosols exhibit an overall low oxidative potential. These findings enhance our understanding of the environmental behavior and potential atmospheric impact of sunscreen chemicals in SSA.
{"title":"Photochemical Degradation of Sunscreen Chemicals in Sea Spray Aerosols","authors":"Xueqi Ma, Kun Li, Xiaowen Chen, Lin Du","doi":"10.1021/acs.est.5c12704","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5c12704","url":null,"abstract":"In coastal tourist areas, the frequent use of sunscreen has led to the substantial release of its chemical components into the marine environment. Recent studies have demonstrated that sunscreen chemicals can undergo sea-to-air transport via sea spray aerosols (SSA). However, their transformation behavior and environmental fate in the aerosol phase remain poorly understood. This study reports the heterogeneous oxidation kinetics and mechanisms of three typical sunscreen chemicals (4-methylbenzylidene camphor (4-MBC), benzophenone-4 (BP-4), and propylparaben (PrPB)) initiated by hydroxyl radicals (OH) in the aerosol phase composed of sea salt and organic matter. The measured heterogeneous rate constants for reactions with OH ranged from 2.07 × 10<sup>–12</sup> to 4.52 × 10<sup>–12</sup> cm<sup>3</sup> molecule<sup>–1</sup> s<sup>–1</sup>, corresponding to an average atmospheric lifetime of approximately 41–89 h, indicating their potential for long-distance transport before degradation. Through the characterization of the components of aged aerosols, it was found that the functionalization reactions play a key role in the oxidation process, and the unexpected decrease in the O/C ratio of BP-4 products was attributed to sulfonic group loss. In addition, the dithiothreitol (DTT) assay indicated that the aged aerosols exhibit an overall low oxidative potential. These findings enhance our understanding of the environmental behavior and potential atmospheric impact of sunscreen chemicals in SSA.","PeriodicalId":36,"journal":{"name":"环境科学与技术","volume":"253 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.028,"publicationDate":"2026-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146102004","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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}
Denise Strand, Paula Pierozan, Luã Reis, Bo Lundgren, Jonathan W. Martin, Oskar Karlsson
Multiple studies demonstrate mixture effects arising from the interactive toxicity of environmental chemicals in human blood, but identifying the main toxic drivers remains challenging. In a recent proof-of-principle in vitro study, we showed that personalized mixtures (PMs), reconstructed from 24 persistent organic pollutant (POPs) concentrations measured in individual blood samples from Swedish adults, induced unique interindividual effects on H295R cell viability and steroidogenesis. Here, we followed up by testing submixtures of four PMs (PM#3, PM#4, PC1-OC-Mix, and PC2-PFAS-Mix), separated by the chemical classes perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Submixtures of PFAS and OCPs induced significant effects on testosterone synthesis at low (1×) and medium (10×) concentrations, consistent with effects observed in the corresponding whole PMs, and were therefore likely the primary drivers of the whole-mixture effects on testosterone. Notably, some submixtures altered estradiol and testosterone levels in ways not observed in full PMs, suggesting antagonistic interactions across chemical classes when combined. Potential antagonistic interaction in more complex mixtures, independent of concentration, was also observed within OCP submixtures, as only the less complex OCP mixtures lacking DDE or DDT induced testosterone synthesis. For additional mechanistic insight, we expanded the H295R assay to include oxidative stress analyses, which revealed no effects from the PMs. RT-qPCR analysis showed downregulation of CYP11A1 after exposure to PM#3 and PM#4 at high concentrations (100×), suggesting a feedback mechanism contributing to suppressed testosterone synthesis.
{"title":"Chemical-Class Submixture Screening Reveals Drivers of Endocrine Disruption in Personalized Human Blood POP Mixtures","authors":"Denise Strand, Paula Pierozan, Luã Reis, Bo Lundgren, Jonathan W. Martin, Oskar Karlsson","doi":"10.1021/acs.est.5c13521","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5c13521","url":null,"abstract":"Multiple studies demonstrate mixture effects arising from the interactive toxicity of environmental chemicals in human blood, but identifying the main toxic drivers remains challenging. In a recent proof-of-principle <i>in vitro</i> study, we showed that personalized mixtures (PMs), reconstructed from 24 persistent organic pollutant (POPs) concentrations measured in individual blood samples from Swedish adults, induced unique interindividual effects on H295R cell viability and steroidogenesis. Here, we followed up by testing submixtures of four PMs (PM#3, PM#4, PC1-OC-Mix, and PC2-PFAS-Mix), separated by the chemical classes perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Submixtures of PFAS and OCPs induced significant effects on testosterone synthesis at low (1×) and medium (10×) concentrations, consistent with effects observed in the corresponding whole PMs, and were therefore likely the primary drivers of the whole-mixture effects on testosterone. Notably, some submixtures altered estradiol and testosterone levels in ways not observed in full PMs, suggesting antagonistic interactions across chemical classes when combined. Potential antagonistic interaction in more complex mixtures, independent of concentration, was also observed within OCP submixtures, as only the less complex OCP mixtures lacking DDE or DDT induced testosterone synthesis. For additional mechanistic insight, we expanded the H295R assay to include oxidative stress analyses, which revealed no effects from the PMs. RT-qPCR analysis showed downregulation of <i>CYP11A1</i> after exposure to PM#3 and PM#4 at high concentrations (100×), suggesting a feedback mechanism contributing to suppressed testosterone synthesis.","PeriodicalId":36,"journal":{"name":"环境科学与技术","volume":"117 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.028,"publicationDate":"2026-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146102006","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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}
Jason B. X. Hua, Rachel F. Marek, Michael P. Jones, Trevor D. Erb, Sarah C. Owen, Keri C. Hornbuckle
In collaboration with Vermont state and school officials, we conducted a research study to measure emissions of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from room surfaces in Vermont schools. Our study, the largest of its kind, investigated the sources of airborne PCBs in indoor school environments. Using simultaneous deployment of air samplers and emission samplers, we measured airborne PCBs in 16 schools and 98 school rooms constructed prior to 1980. There was a wide range in PCB air concentrations (1.7–5700 ng m–3, n = 159) and surface emissions (33–830,000 ng m–2 d–1, n = 182) across different schools as well as between rooms in the same school. We found that emissions of PCB congeners from walls, floors, ceiling and wall expansion joint caulking, and spray insulation explain the airborne PCB congener concentrations in many rooms. Our emission samplers identified three distinct types of building materials with emissions exceeding 30,000 ng m–2 d–1 including expansion joint sealant (up to 480,000 ng m–2 d–1), glass block windows (up to 30,000 ng m–2 d–1), and fireproof coating on steel columns (up to 830,000 ng m–2 d–1). Consequently, school staff have an estimated excess lifetime cancer risk from both dioxin-like and nondioxin-like PCBs that ranges from 1.3 × 10–8 to 1.7 × 10–4 for central tendency exposure, and 2.8 × 10–8 to 3.8 × 10–4 for reasonable maximum exposure (State of Vermont’s target cancer risk = 1 × 10–6). Although production has been banned for decades, our study illustrates that PCBs continue to pose an exposure risk to occupants due to their long history of use in building materials. Our findings underscore the risks associated with the historic presence of PCB-containing building materials, offering critical insights for community efforts aimed at reducing exposure among children and school staff in thousands of schools across the country.
我们与佛蒙特州和学校官员合作,进行了一项研究,测量佛蒙特州学校房间表面多氯联苯(PCBs)的排放量。我们的研究是同类研究中规模最大的,调查了室内学校环境中空气中多氯联苯的来源。通过同时部署空气采样器和排放采样器,我们测量了16所学校和98间1980年以前建造的教室中空气中的多氯联苯。不同学校之间以及同一学校的不同房间之间,PCB空气浓度(1.7-5700 ng m-3, n = 159)和地表排放(33-830,000 ng m-2 d-1, n = 182)的差异很大。我们发现,从墙壁、地板、天花板和墙壁的伸缩缝嵌缝以及喷雾绝缘中排放的PCB同系物解释了许多房间中空气中PCB同系物的浓度。我们的排放样本确定了三种不同类型的建筑材料,其排放量超过30,000 ng m-2 d-1,包括伸缩缝密封胶(高达480,000 ng m-2 d-1),玻璃块窗户(高达30,000 ng m-2 d-1)和钢柱防火涂层(高达830,000 ng m-2 d-1)。因此,学校工作人员对二恶英样多氯联苯和非二恶英样多氯联苯的过量终生癌症风险估计为:集中倾向暴露在1.3 × 10-8至1.7 × 10-4之间,合理最大暴露在2.8 × 10-8至3.8 × 10-4之间(佛蒙特州的目标癌症风险= 1 × 10-6)。虽然生产已经被禁止了几十年,但我们的研究表明,由于多氯联苯在建筑材料中的长期使用,它继续对居住者构成暴露风险。我们的研究结果强调了与含多氯联苯建筑材料的历史存在相关的风险,为旨在减少全国数千所学校的儿童和学校员工接触多氯联苯的社区努力提供了重要见解。
{"title":"Widespread Emissions of Polychlorinated Biphenyls from Building Materials in Vermont Schools","authors":"Jason B. X. Hua, Rachel F. Marek, Michael P. Jones, Trevor D. Erb, Sarah C. Owen, Keri C. Hornbuckle","doi":"10.1021/acs.est.5c10939","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5c10939","url":null,"abstract":"In collaboration with Vermont state and school officials, we conducted a research study to measure emissions of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from room surfaces in Vermont schools. Our study, the largest of its kind, investigated the sources of airborne PCBs in indoor school environments. Using simultaneous deployment of air samplers and emission samplers, we measured airborne PCBs in 16 schools and 98 school rooms constructed prior to 1980. There was a wide range in PCB air concentrations (1.7–5700 ng m<sup>–3</sup>, <i>n</i> = 159) and surface emissions (33–830,000 ng m<sup>–2</sup> d<sup>–1</sup>, <i>n</i> = 182) across different schools as well as between rooms in the same school. We found that emissions of PCB congeners from walls, floors, ceiling and wall expansion joint caulking, and spray insulation explain the airborne PCB congener concentrations in many rooms. Our emission samplers identified three distinct types of building materials with emissions exceeding 30,000 ng m<sup>–2</sup> d<sup>–1</sup> including expansion joint sealant (up to 480,000 ng m<sup>–2</sup> d<sup>–1</sup>), glass block windows (up to 30,000 ng m<sup>–2</sup> d<sup>–1</sup>), and fireproof coating on steel columns (up to 830,000 ng m<sup>–2</sup> d<sup>–1</sup>). Consequently, school staff have an estimated excess lifetime cancer risk from both dioxin-like and nondioxin-like PCBs that ranges from 1.3 × 10<sup>–8</sup> to 1.7 × 10<sup>–4</sup> for central tendency exposure, and 2.8 × 10<sup>–8</sup> to 3.8 × 10<sup>–4</sup> for reasonable maximum exposure (State of Vermont’s target cancer risk = 1 × 10<sup>–6</sup>). Although production has been banned for decades, our study illustrates that PCBs continue to pose an exposure risk to occupants due to their long history of use in building materials. Our findings underscore the risks associated with the historic presence of PCB-containing building materials, offering critical insights for community efforts aimed at reducing exposure among children and school staff in thousands of schools across the country.","PeriodicalId":36,"journal":{"name":"环境科学与技术","volume":"30 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.028,"publicationDate":"2026-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146101949","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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}
Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are commonly used in disinfecting and personal care products for their antimicrobial, surfactant, and preservative properties. This study provides the first comprehensive assessment of QACs in assisted living facilities through the analysis of 19 QACs from three different QAC subgroups in indoor dust and air samples collected from three assisted living facilities in Indiana, United States (US), as well as in wristbands worn by the residents and staff of these facilities. The medians of the total QAC concentrations (∑QAC, the sum of 19 QAC concentrations) were 151,000 ng/g in dust, 3.17 ng/m3 in air, and 2,290 ng/g in wristbands. Benzylalkyldimethylammonium compounds (BACs) were the most abundant QAC group in all three matrices and contributed 58–87% to the ∑QAC concentrations. The QAC distribution patterns found in dust, air, and wristbands were similar to those reported for disinfecting products, suggesting these products could be an important indoor source in assisted living. QAC concentrations in wristbands worn by staff during their work shift were significantly higher than those in wristbands worn by residents (p < 0.05). In addition, the levels found in dust from assisted living were several times higher than those previously reported in US residential households. Concentrations of C12-, C14-, and C16-BACs in dust, air, and wristbands significantly and positively correlated, suggesting common sources in the indoor environment. Estimated daily intake (EDI) of QACs suggests that accidental dust ingestion is the predominant exposure route, accounting for approximately 62% of the total QAC intake. The elevated QAC concentrations in assisted living facilities are of concern for the residents and staff of these facilities because of the potential health risks associated with exposure to these chemicals, such as respiratory effects.
{"title":"Exposure to Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (QACs) in Assisted Living Facilities: Implications for Older Adults","authors":"Minghao Kong, Tret Burdette, Raghu Sanath Kumar, Claire Dempsey, Parinya Panuwet, Amina Salamova","doi":"10.1021/acs.est.5c05821","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5c05821","url":null,"abstract":"Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are commonly used in disinfecting and personal care products for their antimicrobial, surfactant, and preservative properties. This study provides the first comprehensive assessment of QACs in assisted living facilities through the analysis of 19 QACs from three different QAC subgroups in indoor dust and air samples collected from three assisted living facilities in Indiana, United States (US), as well as in wristbands worn by the residents and staff of these facilities. The medians of the total QAC concentrations (∑QAC, the sum of 19 QAC concentrations) were 151,000 ng/g in dust, 3.17 ng/m<sup>3</sup> in air, and 2,290 ng/g in wristbands. Benzylalkyldimethylammonium compounds (BACs) were the most abundant QAC group in all three matrices and contributed 58–87% to the ∑QAC concentrations. The QAC distribution patterns found in dust, air, and wristbands were similar to those reported for disinfecting products, suggesting these products could be an important indoor source in assisted living. QAC concentrations in wristbands worn by staff during their work shift were significantly higher than those in wristbands worn by residents (<i>p</i> < 0.05). In addition, the levels found in dust from assisted living were several times higher than those previously reported in US residential households. Concentrations of C12-, C14-, and C16-BACs in dust, air, and wristbands significantly and positively correlated, suggesting common sources in the indoor environment. Estimated daily intake (EDI) of QACs suggests that accidental dust ingestion is the predominant exposure route, accounting for approximately 62% of the total QAC intake. The elevated QAC concentrations in assisted living facilities are of concern for the residents and staff of these facilities because of the potential health risks associated with exposure to these chemicals, such as respiratory effects.","PeriodicalId":36,"journal":{"name":"环境科学与技术","volume":"8 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.028,"publicationDate":"2026-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146101998","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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}
Xingyu Wang,Xiao-Li Liu,Yixuan Wang,Meng-Jie Luo,Meng Liu,Dong-Feng Liu,Zhixiang She,Yang Mu
The growing concern about water pollution has intensified the demand for rapid and sensitive pollutant monitoring. Electroactive biosensors (e-biosensors) hold significant potential in detecting toxic pollutants through bioelectrical signal responses but are constrained by inefficient electron and mass transport within conventional biofilm-based architectures. Here, we address both limitations by developing a 3D-engineered e-biosensor with a synergistically optimized material composition and geometric architecture. A novel electroactive living material was fabricated by incorporating Ca2+-doped PEDOT:PSS to enhance microbial extracellular electron transport. The living material was then engineered into a grid-structure e-biosensor by extrusion-based 3D bioprinting, significantly improving analyte mass transport to the sensing cells. This dual optimization resulted in the 3D-engineered e-biosensor exhibiting a 6.3-fold increase in baseline current, a 1.9-fold improvement in signal-to-noise ratio, and an extended operational stability (>140 h) relative to conventional biofilm-based counterparts. Moreover, the 3D-engineered e-biosensors demonstrated a rapid response (<20 min) to various toxic pollutants, including Cr(VI) and nitrobenzene. Additionally, we constructed a portable device integrating the 3D-engineered e-biosensors and successfully validated its effectiveness and reproducibility for pollution monitoring in real waters. This work establishes a new paradigm for e-biosensor engineering by integrating materials science and digital biomanufacturing, offering an innovative solution for water pollution monitoring.
{"title":"3D-Engineered Electroactive Biosensors for Rapid and Sensitive Detection of Environmental Contaminants","authors":"Xingyu Wang,Xiao-Li Liu,Yixuan Wang,Meng-Jie Luo,Meng Liu,Dong-Feng Liu,Zhixiang She,Yang Mu","doi":"10.1021/acs.est.5c15345","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5c15345","url":null,"abstract":"The growing concern about water pollution has intensified the demand for rapid and sensitive pollutant monitoring. Electroactive biosensors (e-biosensors) hold significant potential in detecting toxic pollutants through bioelectrical signal responses but are constrained by inefficient electron and mass transport within conventional biofilm-based architectures. Here, we address both limitations by developing a 3D-engineered e-biosensor with a synergistically optimized material composition and geometric architecture. A novel electroactive living material was fabricated by incorporating Ca2+-doped PEDOT:PSS to enhance microbial extracellular electron transport. The living material was then engineered into a grid-structure e-biosensor by extrusion-based 3D bioprinting, significantly improving analyte mass transport to the sensing cells. This dual optimization resulted in the 3D-engineered e-biosensor exhibiting a 6.3-fold increase in baseline current, a 1.9-fold improvement in signal-to-noise ratio, and an extended operational stability (>140 h) relative to conventional biofilm-based counterparts. Moreover, the 3D-engineered e-biosensors demonstrated a rapid response (<20 min) to various toxic pollutants, including Cr(VI) and nitrobenzene. Additionally, we constructed a portable device integrating the 3D-engineered e-biosensors and successfully validated its effectiveness and reproducibility for pollution monitoring in real waters. This work establishes a new paradigm for e-biosensor engineering by integrating materials science and digital biomanufacturing, offering an innovative solution for water pollution monitoring.","PeriodicalId":36,"journal":{"name":"环境科学与技术","volume":"8 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.028,"publicationDate":"2026-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146111180","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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}
Yuntao Wu, Josep Peñuelas, Jalaid Naersige, Jie Luo, Heng Ge, Xingming Zhang, Pengfei Chang, Ping Li, Lingli Liu
Intensified aridity beyond a critical threshold could disrupt vegetation, microbial, and soil processes, reshaping the mechanisms controlling soil carbon (C) storage in drylands. However, the aridity threshold at which the transition occurs and how the controls over different soil C fractions shift remain unclear. Here, we conducted a 2400 km transect survey across 45 sites spanning a broad aridity gradient in temperate grasslands of China. We identified a pronounced shift in the dominant drivers of soil C storage at an aridity threshold of 0.749. Below this threshold, complex vegetation structures enhanced soil C by promoting microbial activity and mineral abundance, which stimulated the accumulation of both POM and MAOM, with a stronger effect on POM. Above the threshold, fine roots dominated soil biochemical processes, sustaining microbial activity and mineral formation that indirectly stabilized SOC, particularly via MAOM. Across the entire aridity gradient, vegetation structure mediated surface soil susceptibility to wind erosion with complex structures providing effective protection, while simpler structures offered limited buffering. These findings highlight the dual role of vegetation-mediated C input and wind erosion protection in sustaining soil stocks in drylands, underscoring the need to account for canopy and root structure when species are selected for dryland restoration.
{"title":"Vegetation-Mediated Carbon Inputs and Erosion Protection Shape Soil Carbon Dynamics across Aridity Thresholds","authors":"Yuntao Wu, Josep Peñuelas, Jalaid Naersige, Jie Luo, Heng Ge, Xingming Zhang, Pengfei Chang, Ping Li, Lingli Liu","doi":"10.1021/acs.est.5c07643","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5c07643","url":null,"abstract":"Intensified aridity beyond a critical threshold could disrupt vegetation, microbial, and soil processes, reshaping the mechanisms controlling soil carbon (C) storage in drylands. However, the aridity threshold at which the transition occurs and how the controls over different soil C fractions shift remain unclear. Here, we conducted a 2400 km transect survey across 45 sites spanning a broad aridity gradient in temperate grasslands of China. We identified a pronounced shift in the dominant drivers of soil C storage at an aridity threshold of 0.749. Below this threshold, complex vegetation structures enhanced soil C by promoting microbial activity and mineral abundance, which stimulated the accumulation of both POM and MAOM, with a stronger effect on POM. Above the threshold, fine roots dominated soil biochemical processes, sustaining microbial activity and mineral formation that indirectly stabilized SOC, particularly via MAOM. Across the entire aridity gradient, vegetation structure mediated surface soil susceptibility to wind erosion with complex structures providing effective protection, while simpler structures offered limited buffering. These findings highlight the dual role of vegetation-mediated C input and wind erosion protection in sustaining soil stocks in drylands, underscoring the need to account for canopy and root structure when species are selected for dryland restoration.","PeriodicalId":36,"journal":{"name":"环境科学与技术","volume":"92 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.028,"publicationDate":"2026-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146101999","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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}
The Tibetan Plateau (TP), a critical sentinel for tracking long-range atmospheric transport (LRAT) of anthropogenic pollutants, provides indispensable archives for evaluating historical pollutant dynamics in pristine ecosystems. This study investigated temporal variations of 26 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in four alpine lake sediment cores across the TP spanning 1952–2020. Total PFAS concentrations ranged from 43.7 to 1428 pg g–1 of dw. Linear regression of log-transformed PFAS concentration revealed a significant elevation-dependent trend across the studied lakes (R2 = 0.58, p < 0.01) after excluding the lower-altitude, more human-impacted Qinghai Lake (3190 m), supporting mountain cold-trapping of these pollutants in high-altitude environments. Ranwu Lake demonstrated a unique PFAS profile dominated by perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), which contributed 48% of total PFASs on average, reflecting the predominant influence of glacier meltwater input pathways. The deposition flux exhibited an overall increasing trend, with fluctuations between 7.62 and 258 pg cm–2 a–1 during the studied period. Following a phase of relative stability or slight decline in the 1980s–1990s, all lakes showed a pronounced and sustained rise after 2000. Notably, the doubling time of short-chain PFBA (C4) flux in these lakes was estimated to be 7.4–15.6 years since the post-2000 period. Compositional analysis revealed a global shift from long-chain to short-chain PFASs in TP lake sediments, as reflected by declining PFOS (C8) and rapidly increasing levels of PFBA. The sedimentary record reveals temporal PFAS trends that closely track the historical evolution of global and regional PFAS emissions. Our findings provide crucial insights into the long-term trends of PFAS pollution in high-altitude ecosystems, contributing to global PFAS management efforts by assessing the effectiveness of regulations and the environmental impacts of industrial relocations.
{"title":"Temporal Trends of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) in Tibetan Plateau Sediment Cores (1952–2020): Tracking Global Emission History and Industrial Transformation in PFAS Production","authors":"Tengfei Cui, Yu Chen, Qianchen Fu, Xinyi Chen, Wei Luo, Yiyao Pan, Yifan Chen, Yali Shi, Ruiqiang Yang, Qinghua Zhang, Guibin Jiang","doi":"10.1021/acs.est.5c11161","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5c11161","url":null,"abstract":"The Tibetan Plateau (TP), a critical sentinel for tracking long-range atmospheric transport (LRAT) of anthropogenic pollutants, provides indispensable archives for evaluating historical pollutant dynamics in pristine ecosystems. This study investigated temporal variations of 26 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in four alpine lake sediment cores across the TP spanning 1952–2020. Total PFAS concentrations ranged from 43.7 to 1428 pg g<sup>–1</sup> of dw. Linear regression of log-transformed PFAS concentration revealed a significant elevation-dependent trend across the studied lakes (<i>R</i><sup>2</sup> = 0.58, <i>p</i> < 0.01) after excluding the lower-altitude, more human-impacted Qinghai Lake (3190 m), supporting mountain cold-trapping of these pollutants in high-altitude environments. Ranwu Lake demonstrated a unique PFAS profile dominated by perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), which contributed 48% of total PFASs on average, reflecting the predominant influence of glacier meltwater input pathways. The deposition flux exhibited an overall increasing trend, with fluctuations between 7.62 and 258 pg cm<sup>–2</sup> a<sup>–1</sup> during the studied period. Following a phase of relative stability or slight decline in the 1980s–1990s, all lakes showed a pronounced and sustained rise after 2000. Notably, the doubling time of short-chain PFBA (C<sub>4</sub>) flux in these lakes was estimated to be 7.4–15.6 years since the post-2000 period. Compositional analysis revealed a global shift from long-chain to short-chain PFASs in TP lake sediments, as reflected by declining PFOS (C<sub>8</sub>) and rapidly increasing levels of PFBA. The sedimentary record reveals temporal PFAS trends that closely track the historical evolution of global and regional PFAS emissions. Our findings provide crucial insights into the long-term trends of PFAS pollution in high-altitude ecosystems, contributing to global PFAS management efforts by assessing the effectiveness of regulations and the environmental impacts of industrial relocations.","PeriodicalId":36,"journal":{"name":"环境科学与技术","volume":"87 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.028,"publicationDate":"2026-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146102007","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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}
Kasuni H. H. Gamage,Ganga M. Hettiarachchi,Evan Heronemus,Prathap Parameswaran
The increasing demand for phosphorus (P) sources and concerns about surface water quality raise the need to explore safe and efficient secondary P fertilizer sources. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a Ca-based recovered nutrient product (RNP) from synthetic swine wastewater using an innovative anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) technology. This study aimed to characterize and compare the dissolution, transformations, and potential bioavailability of P in RNP with conventional P fertilizers (monoammonium phosphate; MAP, triple superphosphate; TSP) in selected soils over time by using short-term laboratory incubation studies in Petri dishes. Soil samples sectioned from the point of application were assessed for pH, total P, resin-extractable P, and selected samples by using X-ray absorption near-edge structure spectroscopy. The RNP treatment showed that over 90%, 70%, and 80% of added P remained in the center section in calcareous, neutral, and acid soils, respectively, where the potential plant-available P was greater than the control in all soils and similar to the MAP treatment only in acid soil after 5 weeks of incubation. The hydroxyapatite-like species dominated P speciation in both RNP and RNP-added soils, leading to less solubility. These results underscore the potential of Ca-based RNP as a P source for tested soils, and process modifications could yield a series of viable secondary P sources for agriculture.
{"title":"Recovered Calcium-Based Phosphorus Products from Synthetic Swine Wastewater: Fate and Behavior in Soils","authors":"Kasuni H. H. Gamage,Ganga M. Hettiarachchi,Evan Heronemus,Prathap Parameswaran","doi":"10.1021/acs.est.5c05565","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5c05565","url":null,"abstract":"The increasing demand for phosphorus (P) sources and concerns about surface water quality raise the need to explore safe and efficient secondary P fertilizer sources. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a Ca-based recovered nutrient product (RNP) from synthetic swine wastewater using an innovative anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) technology. This study aimed to characterize and compare the dissolution, transformations, and potential bioavailability of P in RNP with conventional P fertilizers (monoammonium phosphate; MAP, triple superphosphate; TSP) in selected soils over time by using short-term laboratory incubation studies in Petri dishes. Soil samples sectioned from the point of application were assessed for pH, total P, resin-extractable P, and selected samples by using X-ray absorption near-edge structure spectroscopy. The RNP treatment showed that over 90%, 70%, and 80% of added P remained in the center section in calcareous, neutral, and acid soils, respectively, where the potential plant-available P was greater than the control in all soils and similar to the MAP treatment only in acid soil after 5 weeks of incubation. The hydroxyapatite-like species dominated P speciation in both RNP and RNP-added soils, leading to less solubility. These results underscore the potential of Ca-based RNP as a P source for tested soils, and process modifications could yield a series of viable secondary P sources for agriculture.","PeriodicalId":36,"journal":{"name":"环境科学与技术","volume":"17 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.028,"publicationDate":"2026-02-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146098139","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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}