Rare earth elements (REEs) are crucial components in a wide range of modern technologies, from renewable energy systems to advanced electronics and defense applications. Due to their growing global demand and limited primary sources, there is an urgent need to explore alternative sources for REEs recovery. Oil sand tailings, a major byproduct of bitumen extraction processes, represent an underexplored source of REEs and other valuable metals. In this study, we investigated the mineralogical and biogeochemical characteristics of three distinct oil sands tailing streams to assess their potential as a secondary source of REEs and to better understand their speciation and distribution mechanisms. Chemical analyses of these tailings indicated elevated concentrations of several metals, such as aluminum (≈94,490 mg/kg), titanium (≈10,210 mg/kg), magnesium (≈5891 mg/kg), and manganese (≈1060 mg/kg). REEs concentrations ranged from 442.72 to 797.79 mg/kg, highlighting the tailings’ potential for resource recovery. The extraction of REEs from such waste streams aligns with the “waste-to-resource” concept, offering an environmentally sustainable route to strategic material supply diversification. This study provides critical insights into the complex interplay among mineralogy, geochemistry, and microbiology of REEs and other valuable elements in oil sands tailings. By assessing the mechanisms of metal association and mobilization, our findings aim to contribute to the development of targeted extraction strategies and support the broader goal of sustainable resource recovery from industrial waste streams.
{"title":"Assessment of the Biogeochemistry of Rare Earth Elements and Distribution of Other Elements in Oil Sands Tailings","authors":"Khyati Joshi, Sara Magdouli, Satinder Kaur Brar","doi":"10.1021/acs.est.5c16634","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5c16634","url":null,"abstract":"Rare earth elements (REEs) are crucial components in a wide range of modern technologies, from renewable energy systems to advanced electronics and defense applications. Due to their growing global demand and limited primary sources, there is an urgent need to explore alternative sources for REEs recovery. Oil sand tailings, a major byproduct of bitumen extraction processes, represent an underexplored source of REEs and other valuable metals. In this study, we investigated the mineralogical and biogeochemical characteristics of three distinct oil sands tailing streams to assess their potential as a secondary source of REEs and to better understand their speciation and distribution mechanisms. Chemical analyses of these tailings indicated elevated concentrations of several metals, such as aluminum (≈94,490 mg/kg), titanium (≈10,210 mg/kg), magnesium (≈5891 mg/kg), and manganese (≈1060 mg/kg). REEs concentrations ranged from 442.72 to 797.79 mg/kg, highlighting the tailings’ potential for resource recovery. The extraction of REEs from such waste streams aligns with the “waste-to-resource” concept, offering an environmentally sustainable route to strategic material supply diversification. This study provides critical insights into the complex interplay among mineralogy, geochemistry, and microbiology of REEs and other valuable elements in oil sands tailings. By assessing the mechanisms of metal association and mobilization, our findings aim to contribute to the development of targeted extraction strategies and support the broader goal of sustainable resource recovery from industrial waste streams.","PeriodicalId":36,"journal":{"name":"环境科学与技术","volume":"289 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.028,"publicationDate":"2026-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146102009","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}
Antimony (Sb) is a priority pollutant due to its toxicity and carcinogenicity, yet its speciation and transportation at the sediment–water interface (SWI) remain poorly understood. Here, we combine field investigations in the Taipu River with laboratory experiments to elucidate the distribution and biogeochemical transformation of Sb at the SWI. Pore waters exhibit Sb concentrations substantially higher than those in overlying waters, while sediment cores show maximum Sb accumulation at depths of 5–10 cm and lower concentrations in surface sediments. Diffusive gradients in thin films (DGTs) reveal decreasing labile Sb with depth, indicating upward diffusion of reduced Sb from anoxic zones; however, flux calculations demonstrate a dominant net downward transport driven by oxidative scavenging in oxic sediments. Laboratory simulations show complete oxidation of dissolved Sb(III) to Sb(V) within 42 days. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirms that Fe/Mn (oxyhydr)oxides mediate this oxidation and immobilize Sb(V) through strong surface binding. Sediment incubations further reveal a transient increase in Sb bioavailability during Fe/Mn oxide dissolution, followed by long-term stabilization in residual phases. These results highlight the dual role of Fe/Mn minerals in regulating Sb redox cycling and sequestration, providing mechanistic insights into Sb mobility, ecological risk, and remediation strategies in riverine environments.
{"title":"Migration and Transformation of Antimony at the Sediment–Water Interface: Insights from DGT Technique and Laboratory Simulation","authors":"Yaojen Tu, Zhangdong Jin, Yalong Li, Fei Zhang, Jin Wang, Shenghui Liu, Yanping Duan","doi":"10.1021/acs.est.5c08166","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5c08166","url":null,"abstract":"Antimony (Sb) is a priority pollutant due to its toxicity and carcinogenicity, yet its speciation and transportation at the sediment–water interface (SWI) remain poorly understood. Here, we combine field investigations in the Taipu River with laboratory experiments to elucidate the distribution and biogeochemical transformation of Sb at the SWI. Pore waters exhibit Sb concentrations substantially higher than those in overlying waters, while sediment cores show maximum Sb accumulation at depths of 5–10 cm and lower concentrations in surface sediments. Diffusive gradients in thin films (DGTs) reveal decreasing labile Sb with depth, indicating upward diffusion of reduced Sb from anoxic zones; however, flux calculations demonstrate a dominant net downward transport driven by oxidative scavenging in oxic sediments. Laboratory simulations show complete oxidation of dissolved Sb(III) to Sb(V) within 42 days. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirms that Fe/Mn (oxyhydr)oxides mediate this oxidation and immobilize Sb(V) through strong surface binding. Sediment incubations further reveal a transient increase in Sb bioavailability during Fe/Mn oxide dissolution, followed by long-term stabilization in residual phases. These results highlight the dual role of Fe/Mn minerals in regulating Sb redox cycling and sequestration, providing mechanistic insights into Sb mobility, ecological risk, and remediation strategies in riverine environments.","PeriodicalId":36,"journal":{"name":"环境科学与技术","volume":"289 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.028,"publicationDate":"2026-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146102000","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}
Ufuoma Ovienmhada, Andrew West, Ahmed T. Diongue, Danielle R. Wood
Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is associated with the development of diseases and premature death. However, little is known about the potential PM2.5 exposure of incarcerated populations. In this paper, we used satellite-derived data to assess outdoor PM2.5 concentrations at 1,593 prisons in the contiguous U.S. from 1998 to 2022. Across our study period, despite overall national decreases in PM2.5 concentrations and disparities, prisons on average experienced higher pollution than the nonincarcerated U.S. population. In 2022, over 500 prisons had spatially averaged concentrations higher than the population-weighted concentrations of their home states. We also found evidence that in 12 states, state and federal prison populations systematically had higher PM2.5 than the nonincarcerated populations in those states; similar findings were obtained for national analyses stratified by degree of urbanicity. In 2022, about 7% of prisons were above federal air quality standards, with over 50% of these prisons located in California. Collectively, the contributions of this study in finding health-relevant disparities in outdoor PM2.5 concentrations for prisons across several different metrics may highlight an urgent public health crisis that requires deeper inquiry and interventions from government officials. Decarceration would work to immediately reduce the population of people vulnerable to air pollution in prisons.
{"title":"Spatial Pattern of Outdoor PM2.5 Air Pollution in U.S. Prison Landscapes from 1998 to 2022","authors":"Ufuoma Ovienmhada, Andrew West, Ahmed T. Diongue, Danielle R. Wood","doi":"10.1021/acs.est.5c09650","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5c09650","url":null,"abstract":"Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM<sub>2.5</sub>) is associated with the development of diseases and premature death. However, little is known about the potential PM<sub>2.5</sub> exposure of incarcerated populations. In this paper, we used satellite-derived data to assess outdoor PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentrations at 1,593 prisons in the contiguous U.S. from 1998 to 2022. Across our study period, despite overall national decreases in PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentrations and disparities, prisons on average experienced higher pollution than the nonincarcerated U.S. population. In 2022, over 500 prisons had spatially averaged concentrations higher than the population-weighted concentrations of their home states. We also found evidence that in 12 states, state and federal prison populations systematically had higher PM<sub>2.5</sub> than the nonincarcerated populations in those states; similar findings were obtained for national analyses stratified by degree of urbanicity. In 2022, about 7% of prisons were above federal air quality standards, with over 50% of these prisons located in California. Collectively, the contributions of this study in finding health-relevant disparities in outdoor PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentrations for prisons across several different metrics may highlight an urgent public health crisis that requires deeper inquiry and interventions from government officials. Decarceration would work to immediately reduce the population of people vulnerable to air pollution in prisons.","PeriodicalId":36,"journal":{"name":"环境科学与技术","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.028,"publicationDate":"2026-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146102001","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}
Omar Tantawi, Joules Provenzano, Glen Andrew de Vera, Patrizia Pfohl, Katherine Santizo, Wendel Wohlleben, Desirée L. Plata
The extensive global use of synthetic polymers has raised concern about their environmental fate, particularly regarding the generation and ecological impact of polymer degradation products. Effective environmental risk assessment requires an understanding of degradation product identity and environmental behavior, yet polymer metabolomics libraries are not well-populated. In this work, mass remainder analysis was used to systematically characterize oligomeric degradation products of polyamide-6 (PA6), polycaprolactone (PCL), and polylactic acid (PLA) using nontarget liquid chromatography–high-resolution mass spectrometry. Distinct homologous series were identified, revealing oligomers of up to seven repeating units for PA6, four for PCL, and 12 for PLA. Among the features detected, up to 70% formed remainder-based clusters (i.e., related by Kendrick mass defects of whole integers and a constant remainder) indicative of plastic-derived oligomerization patterns. To overcome limitations in molecular formula annotations for larger oligomers generated by SIRIUS, this work leveraged retention time variations, MS2 fragmentation, and spectral matching for reliable characterization and structural elucidation. Retention time changes across varying mobile-phase pHs (2.7, 5.0, and 9.0) revealed substantial shifts for oligomers with ionizable functional groups, allowing quantitative insights into their acid–base properties (pKa). These experimentally determined hydrophobicity values (i.e., log Kow) deviated from computational estimations from a suite of available tools across polymer chemistries, highlighting inadequacies in existing estimation models and the opportunity for the rapid measurement of these important physicochemical properties using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry workflows. This work demonstrates the necessity of experimentally derived oligomer-specific data to improve computational modeling for assessing the environmental fate of polymer degradation products.
{"title":"Rapid Identification and Quantification of the Octanol–Water Partitioning Coefficients of Polymer Degradation Products","authors":"Omar Tantawi, Joules Provenzano, Glen Andrew de Vera, Patrizia Pfohl, Katherine Santizo, Wendel Wohlleben, Desirée L. Plata","doi":"10.1021/acs.est.5c09879","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5c09879","url":null,"abstract":"The extensive global use of synthetic polymers has raised concern about their environmental fate, particularly regarding the generation and ecological impact of polymer degradation products. Effective environmental risk assessment requires an understanding of degradation product identity and environmental behavior, yet polymer metabolomics libraries are not well-populated. In this work, mass remainder analysis was used to systematically characterize oligomeric degradation products of polyamide-6 (PA6), polycaprolactone (PCL), and polylactic acid (PLA) using nontarget liquid chromatography–high-resolution mass spectrometry. Distinct homologous series were identified, revealing oligomers of up to seven repeating units for PA6, four for PCL, and 12 for PLA. Among the features detected, up to 70% formed remainder-based clusters (i.e., related by Kendrick mass defects of whole integers and a constant remainder) indicative of plastic-derived oligomerization patterns. To overcome limitations in molecular formula annotations for larger oligomers generated by SIRIUS, this work leveraged retention time variations, MS<sup>2</sup> fragmentation, and spectral matching for reliable characterization and structural elucidation. Retention time changes across varying mobile-phase pHs (2.7, 5.0, and 9.0) revealed substantial shifts for oligomers with ionizable functional groups, allowing quantitative insights into their acid–base properties (p<i>K</i><sub>a</sub>). These experimentally determined hydrophobicity values (i.e., log <i>K</i><sub>ow</sub>) deviated from computational estimations from a suite of available tools across polymer chemistries, highlighting inadequacies in existing estimation models and the opportunity for the rapid measurement of these important physicochemical properties using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry workflows. This work demonstrates the necessity of experimentally derived oligomer-specific data to improve computational modeling for assessing the environmental fate of polymer degradation products.","PeriodicalId":36,"journal":{"name":"环境科学与技术","volume":"17 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.028,"publicationDate":"2026-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146102002","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}
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}
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