Environmental Science and Pollution Research最新文献

Although air pollution-derived ultrafine particles (UFP) can reach extrapulmonary organs, current understanding of their distribution and toxicodynamics remains scarce and largely focused on the lung. In this work, we conducted, to the best of our knowledge, the first in vivo study using a multi-organ approach to assess both the toxicokinetics (i.e., biodistribution) and the toxicodynamics (i.e., oxidative stress, inflammation) of air pollution-derived UFP collected in an urban environment in mice sub-chronically exposed. The intrinsic oxidative potential (OP) of UFP was assessed prior to sub-chronic exposure of Balb/cJRj mice to 0, 10, or 30 μg of UFP/40 μL of sterile saline for 3 months. In the lungs, the heart, the liver, the kidneys, and the brain, oxidative stress was assessed by Nrf2 antioxidant cell signaling pathway activation, glutathione status, and oxidative damage, while NFкB-mediated inflammation was evaluated by specific cytokine secretion. UFP predominantly accumulate in the lung; however, these particles, together with their inorganic and/or organic components, can translocate into the bloodstream and reach highly vascularized extrapulmonary organs (i.e., heart, liver, kidneys, and brain). Owing to their high OP, UFP activated the Nrf2 antioxidant cell signaling pathway and the glutathione scavenging system, contributing to redox homeostasis in all the examined organs, particularly the lung and the brain, without inhibiting proinflammatory cytokine secretion. Taken together, these results highlighted the importance of considering both the biodistribution and the adverse health effects of UFP not only in the lung but also in extrapulmonary organs when assessing health risks.

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The pursuit of cleaner, more sustainable fuels has intensified amid concerns about fossil fuel depletion, greenhouse gas emissions, and energy security. Algal biodiesel, a third-generation biofuel with high lipid yield and carbon–neutral potential, holds promise but suffers from lower calorific value, higher viscosity, and associated performance and emissions drawbacks. Limited studies have explored the combined use of bio-based oxygenates and magnetically conditioned nano-additives to address these limitations. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of incorporating 10% v/v glycerol-derived triacetin and 50 ppm Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles, subjected to inline magnetic treatment, on the performance and emissions of algae-based biodiesel in a single-cylinder compression ignition engine. Fuel blends were prepared and tested under varying loads using response surface methodology with analysis of variance to model brake thermal efficiency (BTE) and nitrogen oxides (NO_x) emissions. Results showed that the dual-additive blend achieved a peak BTE of 33.2% at full load, outperforming neat biodiesel by 10.7% and diesel by 1.2%, with significant reductions in CO (up to 66%), HC (up to 62.5%), and smoke opacity (over 55%). At optimised operating conditions of 57.5% load and 200 bar injection pressure, BTE reached 26.5% with NO_x emissions of 778.8 ppm, representing a viable trade-off between efficiency and emissions. Statistical models displayed high predictive accuracy with R² values of 0.9973 for BTE and 0.9168 for NO_x. These findings suggest that combining waste-derived oxygenates with magnetised nanoparticles can improve combustion quality and enhance emission control, supporting scalable pathways toward cleaner diesel alternatives. Future research should extend to multi-cylinder systems, transient operation, and long-term durability assessments.

This study explores the removal of inorganic contaminants [copper (II) and lead (II)] and organic pollutants [anthracene (ANT), phenanthrene (PHE), and methylene blue (MB) dye] from simulated solutions using the green CS/ZIF-8 sorbent. The sorbent was characterized by FTIR, BET, XRD, AFM, EDX, and SEM. Adsorption experiments were conducted under different variables such as time, pollutant concentration, temperature, and pH. The kinetic adsorption and isotherms were analyzed to evaluate CS/ZIF-8’s efficiency in water pollution treatment. The results showed that removal efficiency (%R) increased over time and with higher initial pollutant concentrations. As pollutant concentration rises, a great competition for adsorption sites on the surface occurs, which promotes greater occupancy of the adsorbent’s surface and thus higher overall efficiency (%R). Optimal %R was achieved at 25 °C and pH 6 for Cu (II), pH 8 for Pb (II), pH 11–12 for MB dye, at pH 3 and 4 for ANT and PHE, respectively achieving maximum performance at 55 °C. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm best describe adsorption, with maximum capacities of 599.72, 599.81, 399.81, 399.77, and 499.42 mg/g for Cu⁺² (600 ppm), Pb⁺² (600 ppm), ANT (400 ppm), PHE (400 ppm), and MB dye (500 ppm), respectively. The data reveals that CS/ZIF-8 exhibited exceptional adsorption capacities for organic and inorganic toxic species from simulated solutions. An experimental design was introduced for lab treatment of petroleum wastewater in a two-stage filter comprising physical clearance in the first stage and treatment with the green adsorbent in the second stage. The prepared composite’s reusability was also verified to underscore its potential in treating real petroleum wastewater.

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T he growing emphasis on environmentally friendly corrosion inhibitors has attracted substantial interest within academic circles, driven by the goal of addressing the persistence issue of corrosion. The application of plant leaf extracts as agents to mitigate metal degradation in harsh environments has emerged as a significant area of study. As the use of mild steel, pipeline steel, and stainless steel becomes more prevalent in corrosive settings like acidic and seawater environments across various industries, demand for environmentally benign and relatively efficient corrosion inhibitors has grown. A comprehensive review of existing literature reveals that plant leaf extracts contain phytochemical compounds such as tannins, polyphenols, and glycerides, which form strong bonds with metal surfaces, effectively obstructing active sites and reducing the ingress of corrosive agents. Functional groups and heteroatoms such as oxygen (O), sulfur (S), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P), along with aromatic rings, enrich these extracts, adhering to metal surfaces and inhibiting corrosion. Analysis of the surveyed literature demonstrates that inhibition efficiency rises with increasing inhibitor concentration, with the Langmuir model emerging as the dominant absorption model. Researchers employed electrochemical and weight loss techniques to investigate corrosion mechanisms and absorption models. Notably, most leaf extracts exhibit inhibition efficiencies surpassing 90%, with a minimum of 60% inhibition recorded within the reviewed literature. The paper also discusses the prospects and challenges associated with commercializing these environmentally friendly corrosion inhibitors. Overall, this review highlights the promising potential of plant leaf extracts as corrosion inhibitors while addressing the considerations and obstacles surrounding their practical implementation.

Fish are key bioindicators for understanding the impacts of human-induced environmental disasters. We assessed trophic ecology and metal accumulation (Fe, Mn, Hg) in the small and abundant characid Astyanax lacustris in the Doce River basin, following the 2015 mining tailings dam collapse. Stable isotope and metal analyses were conducted in fish from six affected sites and two reference sites. Aquatic invertebrates dominated the diet, except near the dam rupture, where algae predominated, and metal concentrations were highest. Fe and Mn concentrations decreased with fish length, Hg increased with fish nitrogen isotopic composition (δ¹⁵N), and only Fe showed clear associations with dietary sources. This study is novel in integrating trophic ecology and metal contamination assessment in a sentinel fish species after a major mining disaster. The findings provide insights for biomonitoring and metal risk assessment in freshwater ecosystems worldwide, and highlight Astyanax lacustris as a powerful sensitive bioindicator, reflecting both contamination legacy and ecological pathways of metal accumulation.

In recent years, researchers have focused on developing innovative biochar modification techniques to enhance adsorption efficiency and reduce the mobility and bioavailability of heavy metals. However, few studies have investigated the application of modified biochar in heavy metals-contaminated soils, with most research focusing on aqueous solutions. In Iran, the potential of biochar as an effective adsorbent for removing heavy metals from contaminated soils, especially acidic soils, has been largely overlooked. The effectiveness of biochar is influenced by both the type of biomass used and the method of modification. Additionally, there is a significant gap in current literature regarding the research on thiourea as a potential modification agent for biochar. This study focused on the characteristics of thiourea-modified wheat straw biochar (TWB) and its effects on the adsorption isotherms and kinetics of heavy metals (Cd, Ni, and Zn) in acidic soil. The biochar was produced from wheat straw in an oxygen-free furnace at a temperature of 550 °C for 3 h, with a heating rate of 25 °C per min. To enhance the adsorption efficiency, thiourea was used to modify the wheat straw biochar (WB). The findings revealed that the thiourea modification reduced the carbon content but increased the nitrogen, hydrogen, sulfur, oxygen levels, specific surface area, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and pH compared to unmodified biochar. Adsorption isotherms and kinetics analyses indicated that the Langmuir model best described the adsorption of heavy metals in soil treated with both TWB and WB, while the pseudo-second-order model more accurately represented the adsorption kinetics. The results indicated that the adsorption of Cd, Ni, and Zn in soil treated with 8% TWB was significantly higher than in the control, achieving levels of 6164.45, 4684.47, and 4233.58 mg kg⁻¹, respectively. This study demonstrated that TWB enhances the adsorption of heavy metals due to its advantageous properties, which include an optimal pH, high CEC, a variety of functional groups, a large specific surface area, and a porous structure. Therefore, thiourea-modified wheat straw biochar serves as an effective, economical, and environmentally friendly adsorbent for immobilizing heavy metals and reducing their bioavailability in acidic contaminated soils.

Volatile organic compounds, such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes (BTEX) are emitted during the various aviation activities at ground level, such as take-off, approach and taxiing, that take place at or near airports. In addition to causing adverse health effects, these compounds are precursors of secondary aerosols (SOAs). The expected growth in air traffic in the near future makes it necessary to anticipate and control these emissions. As part of the AVIATOR project (EU Horizon2020), gaseous samples were collected in sorbent tubes and analysed by GC/MS, including emissions of commercial aircraft engines and airport ambient air, to study the evolution and transformation of BTEX. Three sites were selected: the INTA aircraft engine test cell, Ciudad Real and Madrid-Barajas airports. PM was collected on filters and substrates and analysed gravimetrically, with three different samplers: high-volume air sampler, Berner low pressure impactor, and an automated off-line sampler developed by CIEMAT. The ground idle configuration that simulates taxiing manoeuvres (before take-off and after landing) has been identified as a critical contributor to BTEX emissions at airports, with a concentration of over 460 ng L⁻¹. Benzene is consistently emitted at higher levels than toluene and the emission of both increases with engine acceleration. In the plume, dilution with air decreases not only the concentration of BTEX, but also the prevalence of the compounds, making benzene no longer the dominant compound. Variations in diagnostic ratios and meteorological conditions, as well as sensitivity parameters to PM concentration, may suggest physicochemical transformation of BTEX into SOAs.