Current Pollution Reports最新文献

Purpose of Review

Beta-blockers are drugs generally used to treat cardiovascular disorders. They commonly occur in water environments and cause significant threats to aquatic organisms. Therefore, removing these compounds from the environment is essential for maintaining environmental stability. The microbial biodegradation of beta-blockers has recently gained more attention due to their applicability, environment-friendliness, and cost-effectiveness. In this context, this review aims to identify the existing microorganisms and the pathways involved in the biodegradation of beta-blockers.

Recent Findings

The finding suggested that microorganisms, including archaea, bacteria, and fungi, are the major groups involved in the biodegradation of atenolol, metoprolol, and propranolol. Generally, microbes transform these complex compounds into less harmful metabolites; for instance, in biodegradation pathways of atenolol, metoprolol, and propanol transformed into atenolol acid, metoprolol acid, and carboxylic acid, respectively.

Summary

This review critically exposes the biodegradation process of beta-blockers using microorganisms and their pathways. Although numerous metabolites and enzymes have already been identified in the biodegradation of beta-blockers, several enzymes and metabolites still need to be explored.

Purpose of Review

The urgent need for a transition toward a sustainable and greener future is underscored by the projected risk of a global temperature increase of up to 3 °C above pre-industrial levels, driven by rising carbon emissions. Algae biorefineries offer a promising solution to these challenges. However, the high production and downstream processing costs continue to hinder successful commercialization. This review provides a comprehensive overview of several AI-driven innovations: phenotypic screening for strain improvement, monitoring of environmental parameters, machine learning for optimizing dewatering efficiency, predictive modeling for algae growth and yield, and AI-controlled drying systems for biomass preservation.

Recent Findings

Integrating machine learning algorithms and predictive modeling can transform algae cultivation by automating the process with continuous monitoring and feedback systems, significantly reducing labor costs while enhancing process economics and efficiency. Accurate prediction of optimal harvesting times can further decrease harvesting costs, address key scalability issues, and facilitate the broader commercialization of algae for diverse biotechnological applications.

Summary

In the future, smart biorefineries that integrate artificial intelligence into algae production facilities will be pivotal in enhancing process efficiency and economics within circular and sustainable frameworks. While AI continues to impact various fields to ease human effort, ethical considerations must remain central to its use, especially as this sector grows rapidly.

Graphical Abstract

Purpose of Review

The silicon (Si) biogeochemical cycle in ecosystems is tightly linked with other elemental cycles and plays a key role in addressing ecological challenges such as water quality deterioration, climate warming, and biodiversity reduction. As transitional zones between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, riparian wetlands possess unique eco-environmental characteristics that enable them to regulate the flow and forms of terrestrial Si into aquatic ecosystems. This paper systematically reviews the characteristics of the Si biogeochemical cycle in riparian wetlands, emphasizing the influence of environmental factors on Si transformation. Additionally, it highlights key knowledge gaps in the Si cycle within riparian wetlands that warrant further research.

Recent Findings

Si is considered “quasi-essential” for plant growth. During growth, plants not only assimilate CO₂ from the atmosphere but also convert dissolved Si into biogenic silicon (BSi). Enhancing the ability of plants to assimilate CO₂ through Si uptake is regarded as an effective approach to mitigating climate warming. BSi plays a dominant role in Si fluxes from terrestrial to aquatic ecosystems, with riparian wetlands serving as primary sites for BSi formation. The distinct hydrological characteristics of riparian wetlands have significant impacts on Si movement and transformation. Additionally, factors such as vegetation composition, soil physicochemical properties, and human activities further influence the Si cycle.

Summary

This review summarizes the characteristics of riparian wetlands, as well as the forms and distribution of Si within these ecosystems. It then emphasizes the biogeochemical processes of Si, the characteristics of Si cycle, and the factors that influence it. This review also identifies knowledge gaps and outlines priorities for future research.

Purpose of Review

This paper offers a thorough overview of the processes of nutrient enrichment by biochar and how biochar as a nutrient carrier can effectively improve agricultural productivity. The distributions of nutrients in biochar and the dynamics of nutrients in soil are also reviewed in detail.

Recent Findings

The application of biochar improves soil health by changing the soil’s biological and physico-chemical characteristics of the soil, such as its structure, cation exchange capacity and microbial biomass carbon. Additionally, biochar produced from low pyrolysis temperatures can enhance nutrient retention in soils and be utilized as a carbon-based fertilizer.

Summary

The maintenance of an adequate amount of organic matter in soil and a dynamic biogeochemical cycle of essential nutrients are key components of sustainable soil management. Biochar is a carbonized biomass derived from various feedstock materials, including wood and crop residues, manures, biosolids and animal carcasses. Biochar has been used for more than two decades as a soil amendment to improve soil physicochemical conditions and mitigate soil contamination. Nutrient-enriched biochar-based fertilizers (NEBBF) can be prepared using various nutrient enrichment procedures and have the potential to increase soil fertility and crop productivity. The application of NEBBF, which is a carbon-based nutrient source, has been shown to enhance microbial activity, thereby increasing the efficiency of nutrient use compared to conventional non-carbon-based synthetic fertilizers. This review identified key research gaps and discussed the importance and necessity of biochar as a nutrient carrier in agriculture.

Purpose of Review

Dust events are global meteorological disasters, affecting approximately 330 million people across 151 countries, from sub-Saharan Africa to northern China and Australia, with profound impacts on ecosystems, human health, and socioeconomics. The WMO airborne dust bulletin 2023 indicates that, dust concentrations in the most severely affected regions worldwide exceeded long-term averages, causing significant impacts on the global environment, economy, and public health.

Recent Findings

In recent years, as climate change has led to an increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, research on the interactions between dust aerosols and the climate system, as well as their impacts on human health, has gradually become a hot topic. Studies have revealed the critical role of direct radiative feedback from East Asian dust in exacerbating dust-related air pollution in northern China. Other research highlights the combined effects of Arctic Sea ice anomalies, La Niña events, and a warmer northwestern Atlantic in creating loose, dry surface conditions across Mongolia, along with the formation of the strongest Mongolian cyclone in the past decade, which provided favorable dynamical disturbances and transport conditions for dust events. Furthermore, dust events have been shown to significantly increase the mortality risk from respiratory diseases, particularly chronic lower respiratory diseases and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Circulatory disease mortality risks, including ischemic stroke and hypertensive heart disease, have also risen. These findings underscore the importance of further exploring the interactions between dust aerosols and regional climate, as well as their multidimensional impacts on human health.

Summary

Dust events, as a global arid meteorological disaster, affect vast regions worldwide. In China, the severe spring dust storm of 2021 caused significant adverse impacts and economic losses across many northern cities. To enhance global awareness of dust events, strengthen international cooperation, and mitigate their impacts, the United Nations (UN) has designated 2025–2034 as the "UN Decade for Combating Sand and Dust Storms". Implementing effective dust control policies, building climate-resilient health systems, and enhancing efforts in risk mitigation, prevention, response, and recovery can significantly reduce health risks. This review aims to summarize recent advances in research on the impacts of dust on climate and human health. It contributes to expanding our understanding of the climatic effects of dust aerosols and provides crucial scientific evidence for addressing climate change and developing strategies to mitigate health risks associated with dust exposure.

Purpose of Review

This review explores the potential of wastewater as a substrate for the production of clean, renewable energy in the form of hydrogen. The rich organic composition of wastewater pollutants provides an ideal medium for microbial biotransformation processes, enabling the conversion of these compounds into biohydrogen. Among others, emphasis is placed on the metabolic diversity of microorganisms, whose unique capabilities drive efficient hydrogen production. The review highlights advancements in microbial engineering for biohydrogen production, the role of diverse wastewater types, and the integration of hydrogen production with wastewater treatment as a sustainable energy recovery strategy.

Recent Findings

Recent advancements include using genetically engineered microbes to enhance hydrogen yield, optimizing reactor designs for scaling up production, and integrating microbial consortia to improve efficiency. Studies demonstrate significant hydrogen yields from wastewater, including municipal, industrial, and agricultural effluents, often accompanied by simultaneous pollutant removal. Furthermore, incorporating nanoparticles yields higher hydrogen production.

Summary

This review examines the three primary mechanisms for biohydrogen production—photofermentation, dark fermentation, and biophotolysis—and the advances in developing genetically modified microorganisms to enhance hydrogen yields. It underscores microorganisms’ versatility in utilizing wastewater as a substrate for hydrogen production, showcasing their ability to efficiently transform organic pollutants into renewable energy. These advancements highlight integrating biohydrogen production with wastewater treatment as a sustainable solution to energy and environmental challenges.

Graphical Abstract

Purpose of Review

This review aims to explore the characteristics, sources, exposure risks, and health impacts of heavy metal (HM) pollution in atmospheric particulate matter (PM). The goal is to address how PM and HM pollution vary across regions, seasons, and particle sizes, as well as to assess the risks posed by exposure to these pollutants. To reflect recent advancements and emerging trends, only studies published since 2020 are included.

Recent Findings

Recent research highlights significant variations in PM and HM pollution based on geographic location, seasonal factors, and particle size. Urban areas tend to have higher concentrations of Zn and Fe in indoor PM, while rural areas experience greater increases in metals like Cu, Mn, Pb, and Zn. Outdoor PM pollution is primarily driven by traffic emissions, agricultural activities, industrial processes, and soil dust. In contrast, indoor PM pollution is mainly attributed to combustion, cooking, road dust, building materials, and metal smelting. Health risk assessments consistently show that children face higher non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks than adults, especially when considering all exposure pathways, including inhalation, ingestion, and skin contact.

Summary

This review concludes that HM pollution in PM presents significant regional and seasonal variability, with children at greater risk for both non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health effects. The findings emphasize the need for more research into indoor air quality and the monitoring of highly toxic heavy metals, which will be crucial for improving public health assessments and mitigating the impacts of PM pollution.

Purpose of Review

This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the current state and future prospects of membrane bioreactors (MBRs), focusing on recent advancements in membrane materials, innovative design concepts, and strategies to optimize biodegradation processes. Additionally, it highlights the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and hybrid configurations in advancing MBR.

Recent Findings

Hybrid MBR systems that incorporate advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) and other processes demonstrate enhanced micropollutant removal and treatment efficiency. MBR with nanocomposite and bio-inspired membranes exhibit improved fouling resistance, water flux, and mechanical strength. Significant innovations also include the application of AI-driven models, such as random forests and neural networks, to predict fouling behavior and optimize operational parameters in MBRs.

Summary

Recent progress in MBR technology, especially through new membrane materials and hybrid systems, plays an important role in improving MBR performance for contaminant removal and reducing fouling in wastewater treatment. Additionally, incorporating AI and optimizing operational parameters can further improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and reliability of these systems.

Purpose of Review

Algae hold immense potential for industrial and environmental applications for their efficient carbon fixation and producing a range of valuable metabolites. However, their commercial cultivation is still challenging because of compromised productivities under various environmental stress conditions. Therefore, elite strains capable of commercial production should be developed. Although, significant progress has been made in metabolic pathway engineering techniques, due to the complexity of metabolic and regulatory networks of algae, rational bioengineering remained inefficient for strain improvement. This review has assessed the role of Adaptive Laboratory Evolution (ALE) as a promising and cost-effective alternative approach in developing elite algae strains for improved carbon capture, enhanced biomass production, and improved metabolite productivities to meet the robust commercial needs.

Recent Findings

ALE involves selecting the mutant cells under controlled selection pressure, where cells are exposed to a sequentially rising set of stress conditions over multiple generations to finally adapt and evolve desired phenotypes. It leads to the activation of inactive pathways that are suitable for the survival of strain in stress conditions. A brief view of ALE-assisted cultivation techniques shows its specificity for specific goal to develop its product-oriented applications. Furthermore, involving biosensor and robotics in ALE technology has indicated the potential of ALE process as a robust technique to rapidly develop elite strains to meet rising environmental and industrial demands. 

Summary

Assessment of ALE-assisted strain improvement has shown its potential to improve algae strains for the overproduction of desired products without using rational engineering methods. Besides, automation of ALE technology could be even a better strategy to make the evolution process of desired phenotype and product development process selective and time efficient. However, unavailability of selection pressure for some valuable phenotypes limits the widespread application of ALE for some phenotypes. 

Graphical Abstract

Purpose of Review

The effects of environmental exposures on female reproductive outcomes in early life are well studied. In contrast, we do not understand the broad range of chemical risk factors on women’s reproductive physiology during midlife. The purpose of this review is to summarize the epidemiological literature on associations between environmental exposures (i.e., phthalates, phenols, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), toxic metals, air pollution, and persistent organic compounds) and ovarian function and sex hormones as women approach and transverse the menopausal transition.

Recent Findings

There is accumulating evidence of associations between phthalate metabolites, air pollution, and chlorinated organic chemical exposures and decreased ovarian function and associations between selected PFAS chemicals and increased testosterone or decreased estradiol, suggesting that these chemicals are risk factors. More studies are needed to confirm emerging evidence regarding other chemicals and reproductive aging markers.

Summary

Most studies were cross-sectional in design or restricted to couples receiving infertility treatment, which may induce selection bias and reduce generalizability. Additionally, there has been limited research in ethnically, racially, or socioeconomically diverse populations. Nevertheless, PFAS, phthalate metabolites, air pollution, and chlorinated organic solvents are potential risk factors for adverse reproductive outcomes in adult women. An exposome approach using advanced omics technologies to capture a broad chemical range of repeated measures can address knowledge gaps needed to identify risk factors.