Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health最新文献

Contaminated removal in groundwater by adsorption studies on red earth material or laterite concrete is one of the cost-effective method in recent days. The objective of this study is to discuss the using of laterite in its natural or modified forms for removing arsenic from contaminated groundwater and its effects on key removal process variables like adsorbent dosage, pH, …It has advantages in cost, and popularity of laterite in some regions. Natural laterite materials could be treated in arsenic-contaminated groundwater with an efficacy of nearly 90%. Moreover, these materials may be chemically modified which enhanced the adsorption efficiency better than the raw ones 40 times in some situations and the removal efficacy is nearly 99% which passed the WHO safe limit standard for arsenic-contaminated groundwater (<10 μg L⁻¹). In addition, they can be also reused after the desorption process. Also, the research using available and easy access in developing regions requires less capital investment and has a smaller environmental impact.

The Water contamination is a global issue; in this regard, we need to explore and develop efficient methods for pollutant removal from the water environment. Nanohybrids (NHs) and bionanohybrids (BNHs) photocatalysts have played a dynamic role in pollutant removal such as organic compounds and inorganic elements, from wastewater environment. Four types of NHs are majorly involved in pollutant removal: carbon–carbon, metal–metal, carbon–metal, and organic molecule-coated. These NHs and BNHs possess multifunctional characteristics and remarkable achievements in wastewater treatment, biomedical, agricultural, and industrial applications. Recently, researchers have developed different types of BNHs and found good achievements in dye (methyl orange, rhodamine B, and methylene blue) and heavy metal (cadmium, copper, chromium, lead, mercury, and nickel) removal from wastewater with an eco-friendly approach. In this review the major BNHs are cellulose, chitosan, gelatin, pectin, and silk proteins involved in the pollutant removal in water environments.

A suspected human carcinogen, the compound 1,4-dioxane (DXN) has been commonly employed as a solvent in the production of various cleaning applications, cosmetics, dyes, varnishes, waxes, and detergents. Leaked from wastewater treatment plants into surface waters, DXN may contaminate drinking water. Research into toxicity/genotoxicity of various compounds has been recognizing merits of Drosophila melanogaster on account of its short life span and genetic tractability. Therefore, this mini review attempts to revisit our current understanding of toxic and genotoxic impacts of DXN exposure and potential underlying mechanisms based on the latest in vivo studies in the field. We also aim to encourage future research to use Drosophila as a model organism to assess biological impacts of DXN and other chemicals at various levels including cellular (genotoxicity and reactive oxygen species detection in hemocytes), chromosomal (the wing spot test), behavioral (locomotor and thermal sensitivity), and developmental (abnormal anatomical endpoints).

Improper disposal of emerging contaminants (ECs) such as pharmaceutical wastes, textile dyes, hazardous chemicals, toxic metals, etc., leads to severe water and environmental pollution and also poses a major threat to human health. These ECs are generated through various industrial processes like food processing, pharmaceutical manufacturing, dyeing, tanning, etc. In general, various treatment practices (biological, chemical and physical methods) have been followed in the industries to achieve effective removal of toxic ECs and also to comply with stringent environmental standards. Among the various treatment methods, membrane systems are effective over the conventional industrial effluent treatment techniques with lower operating costs and minimal energy requirements. In this work, applications of membrane systems such as microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, reverse osmosis, and forward osmosis processes, as well as hybrid processes for the effective removal of ECs are reviewed based on the published results of the last three years.

Nature-based Solutions are crucial means for conserving biodiversity, addressing climate change, and undertaking ecological restoration. Currently, there are relatively limited global-scale practical cases of Nature-based Solutions, necessitating the expansion and application of theories based on natural approaches. This paper provides an overview of the Chinese government's understanding and implementation of Nature-based Solutions, comparing the differences and similarities between the Chinese government's practice of Ecosystem Product Value Realization and Nature-based Solutions in terms of goals, frameworks, implementation, and assessment. The results indicate that China's Ecosystem Product Value Realization is essentially a localized practice of Nature-based Solutions, and their philosophies and models are highly compatible, representing effective actions for sustainable management and natural restoration. China's Ecosystem Product Value Realization can effectively and adaptively address societal challenges while providing benefits for both human well-being and biodiversity.

The first thousand days of a child's life is a critical period for pollutant exposure, as the fetus and child are especially vulnerable to environmental pollutants. This review presents an overview of studies carried out on prenatal exposure to environmental pollutants and their effects on birth weight and childhood weight gain from 2019 to 2022. The total number of studies evaluated was 20, with 19 being birth cohort studies. Nine studies (45%) observed a lower birth weight, and 35% (7) found an association with increased childhood weight gain. The main pollutants evaluated were persistent organic pollutants (6), mainly associated with childhood weight gain; metals (7), mainly associated with low birth weight; and phthalates (6), which reduced birth weight and weight gain but also increased childhood weight gain. In conclusion, there is evidence that prenatal and early childhood exposure to environmental pollutants can influence birth weight and child weight gain.

The human health risk associated with the ingestion of arsenic (As) contaminated groundwater as drinking water has been highlighted as the “largest mass-poisoning in human history.” Recently, secondary As exposure pathways have been identified through food and cattle products. Broad-based epidemiological estimation of the populations at risk is only available through statistical calculations, however, proper management needs community-level risk identification. Management strategies involve detection and monitoring, predictions, mitigations by standard and innovative technologies, and nature-based solutions for community drinking water supplies. Impacts of recent technological advancement in terms of real-time sensors and predictive modeling have outlined potential future possibilities. However, successful management would need to explore the nexus between 3-D contaminant occurrence over time, socio-economy, policy, and human behavior in delineating sustainable, clean water sources for sustainable development.

Antifouling paints have a lengthy history of environmental controversies and efforts toward developing safer formulations. However, recent attention from researchers has been directed toward the particles that detach from these paint coatings, known as antifouling paint particles (APPs). These APPs share similarities with other anthropogenic particles, such as microplastics, but exhibit distinct behaviors and comprise a more complex mixture of chemical components, including highly toxic biocides. Given the composition of APPs and their prevalence in marinas and boatyards, several environmental implications may arise. Nevertheless, field and ecotoxicological studies on this subject are still scarce. In this contribution, we examine the current state of knowledge regarding APPs and endeavor to address the following question: Should APPs be a subject of concern?

Despite several advances in the field of ecotoxicology, the implication of the effects of xenobiotics on species’ macroecological responses can only be inferred. Almost a decade ago Beketov & Liess (2012) [1] called for the integration of the fields of ecotoxicology and macroecology as a way to unravel the global impacts of environmental pollution on biodiversity patterns. In this mini-review, we dig into the literature from the last three years on the responses of marine invertebrates to microplastics (MPs) as a study case to assess the challenges and opportunities for the emerging field of macroecotoxicology. We discuss 1) to what extent the recent studies on the marine invertebrate species responses to MPs have applied the principles of macroecotoxicology and 2) how macroecotoxicology can be used to evaluate the shifts in expected species diversity patterns, and so to define priorities for investigating global effects of MPs on marine invertebrate species.

In many applications, light emitting diode (LED) based gas sensors are becoming more and more significant. Absorption, transmission, and fluorescence spectroscopy LED-based sensing methods provide outstanding stability, selectivity, and sensitivity for the wide range of applications anticipated for sensors built into mobile and wearable technology. Furthermore, the activation of metal oxide semiconductors with UV-LEDs improves the efficiency of semiconductor gas sensors. Some of the current developments in the integration and shrinking of optical gas sensors with an emphasis on low-cost and low-power gadgets are discussed.