Environmental Science and Pollution Research最新文献

Acrylamide (ACR) is a toxic compound formed during high-temperature food processing and is also present in cigarette smoke. It induces oxidative stress, apoptosis, and tissue damage, including cutaneous injury. Wheat sprout (WSP), a natural antioxidant-rich agricultural product, may provide protective effects against ACR-induced skin toxicity. This study investigated the protective effects of WSP extract against ACR-induced skin damage in a rat model, with a focus on histomorphometric alterations, oxidative stress, and apoptotic regulation. Twenty adult male rats were randomly assigned to four groups (n = 5 per group): control, ACR-treated (50 mg/kg), ACR + WSP-treated (50 mg/kg ACR + 200 mg/kg WSP), and WSP-treated (200 mg/kg). The treatments were administered orally once daily for 21 days. Skin tissues were examined histologically using hematoxylin and eosin and Masson's trichrome staining. Oxidative stress biomarkers, including malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), were measured in the serum, whereas apoptotic markers (p53 and BCL-2) were evaluated using immunohistochemistry. ACR exposure significantly reduced dermal thickness, collagen density, and hair follicle and sebaceous gland profiles, while increasing oxidative stress and apoptotic signaling. Co-administration of WSP significantly mitigated these effects by preserving skin architecture, significantly increasing TAC and SOD levels, reducing MDA concentrations, and modulating apoptotic markers. In conclusion, the WSP extract exerts a protective effect against ACR-induced skin toxicity by enhancing antioxidant defenses, inhibiting apoptosis, and preserving dermal structure, highlighting its potential as a sustainable, agriculture-derived protective agent against environmental dermatotoxicants.

Pb(II) contamination from landfill leachate poses a serious environmental and public health risk. This study demonstrates the valorisation of municipal solid waste (MSW) into an efficient Pb(II) adsorbent through MgO functionalisation of MSW-derived biochar using MgCl₂·6H₂O. Pristine biochar (P-BC) and MgO-modified biochar (MgO-BC) were synthesised from the organic fraction of MSW through pyrolysis at 450 °C. SEM and FTIR analyses confirmed enhanced porosity and the introduction of Mg-O functional groups following modification. Batch adsorption experiments showed strong pH dependence, with maximum Pb(II) removal at pH 11 of 83.50% for P-BC and 99.82% for MgO-BC. Adsorption data were best described by the Freundlich isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetic models, indicating multilayer chemisorption on heterogeneous surfaces. Langmuir maximum adsorption capacities were 24.82 mg/g for P-BC and 36.63 mg/g for MgO-BC. Intra-particle diffusion analysis revealed that boundary layer film diffusion dominated the adsorption process. Characterisations and comparative experiments confirm that MgO functionalisation significantly improves Pb(II) adsorption performance through the synergistic effects of ion exchange, electrostatic attraction, complexation, precipitation, and pore diffusion mechanisms. Overall, the results demonstrate the potential of MSW-derived biochar as a cost-effective, sustainable solution for landfill leachate treatment, supporting circularity and resource recovery in MSW management.

Excessive nitrate and phosphate in water pose serious environmental and health risks, requiring effective and sustainable removal methods. This study investigates the efficiency of iron-modified biochar derived from barley straw (Fe-BSBC) for removing these pollutants from water. The influence of contact time, pH, adsorbent dosage, and competing anions on adsorption performance was tested in batch experiments. At pH 6 and 23 ± 1 °C, with an initial adsorbate concentration of 15 mg/L and adsorbent dosages of 5 g/L for phosphate and 15 g/L for nitrate, equilibrium was achieved within 8 h for phosphate and 24 h for nitrate. Fe-BSBC demonstrated adsorption capacities of 13.7 mg/g for phosphate and 2.0 mg/g for nitrate, outperforming most of the previously reported biochar adsorbents. Isotherm modelling indicated that the Sips model best described the adsorption process, suggesting multilayer and heterogeneous adsorption. Predicted maximum adsorption capacities were 22.0 mg/g for phosphate and 4.07 mg/g for nitrate. Kinetic data aligned with the pseudo-second-order model, indicating chemisorption as the primary mechanism. Electrostatic attraction was identified as the main mechanism for nitrate adsorption, evidenced by a decrease in zeta potential after nitrate uptake and supported by FTIR, EDS, and XRD characterisation. Conversely, phosphate removal was mainly driven by ligand exchange, leading to the formation of Fe-O-P complexes, alongside electrostatic interactions. Overall, Fe-BSBC presents a cost-effective and scalable water treatment solution that supports the Sustainable Development Goals.

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is vital for cutting CO₂ emissions and tackling climate change. The CCS innovations of the last decades can be categorized based on the post- or pre-combustion capture, oxy-fuel combustion, and chemical looping combustion (CLC) approaches used. These techniques are primarily aimed towards capturing CO₂ that would be emitted from industrial sources or power plants in separate, manicured environments prior to its release into the atmosphere. For instance, post-combustion capture can be applied to coal-fired sources to extract CO₂ from flue gases, whereas pre-combustion technologies, as the name implies, remove CO₂ before fuel is burned and are typically used for gasification processes. However, despite their promise, high energy demand, large implementing costs, and long-term storage risks stay as major hurdles to mass adoption. The different levels of technology development for carbon capture and storage and carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) have made significant developments for three decades, representing the continuing interests of scientists and engineers, but also have significant shortcomings in terms of efficiency, economy, and environmental impacts. This research provides evidence of the importance of CCS for reducing CO₂ emissions, a critical component in meeting global sustainability targets, especially in hard-to-decarbonize sectors. The review differs from earlier studies in that it reviews current technological innovations and assesses their performance while also recommending pathways through existing barriers to large-scale implementation.

This cross-sectional study evaluated the environmental impact of athletes' dietary patterns by estimating greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE) and water footprint (WF). It also assessed knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to sustainable nutrition using a structured questionnaire aligned with the FAO definition of sustainable diets. Conducted between January and August 2023 in Ankara, the study included 100 elite athletes (mean age: 21.0 ± 3.3 years; 65% female) from various sports disciplines. Dietary intake was assessed using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire, and GHGE and WF values were calculated based on life cycle assessment data. The mean GHGE and WF values of athletes' diets were 3017.1 ± 1877.4 g CO₂-eq/day and 5.4 ± 3.2 mL/g, respectively. Male athletes and strength/power athletes exhibited significantly higher dietary environmental impacts than female and team sports athletes (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively). Red meat and animal protein consumption were strongly associated with higher GHGE and WF values (p < 0.001). Despite the increasing importance of sustainability, more than 90% of participants lacked accurate knowledge of sustainable nutrition. Moreover, a discrepancy was observed between athletes' stated willingness to support environmental values and their actual food choices, indicating an intention-behavior gap. This study contributes to the limited literature by quantifying the environmental impact of athletes' diets while concurrently examining sustainability-related behavioral factors. The findings underscore the importance of integrating sustainability principles into sports nutrition planning and education to reduce environmental impacts while maintaining performance goals.

An analytical method based on PM₁₀ active sampling followed by pressurized liquid extraction and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was developed to determine 20 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). The method had good quality parameters, with method detection limits between 0.01 and 0.30 pg m^-3, method quantification limits between 0.57 and 1.8 pg m^-3, and recoveries above 75% for all target compounds. Analysis of air samples from two urban locations near industrial zones in Tarragona (Spain) revealed the widespread occurrence of PFASs, with perfluoro-n-butanoic acid (PFBA), perfluoro-n-pentanoic acid (PFPA), and sodium perfluoro-1-octanesulfonate (PFOS) as the most prevalent compounds at both sites. These three compounds were detected in all the samples analyzed, with the highest concentrations being 202 pg m^-3 for PFBA, 178 pg m^-3 for PFPA, and 109 pg m^-3 for PFOS. Estimated daily intakes were calculated for infants, children, and adults under two scenarios. Risk assessment results showed individual non-carcinogenic risk values ranging from 2.4E-08 for perfluoro-n-undecanoic acid (PFUnDA) to 3.8E-01 for perfluoro-n-decanoic acid (PFDA), with the sum of all values remaining below the benchmark of 1, indicating that the risk is low. The compounds contributing most to the non-carcinogenic risk were PFDA (66.6%), PFOS (28.2%), and perfluoro-n-octanoic acid (PFOA, 5.10%). The carcinogenic risk was assessed for PFOS and PFOA, with the combined values in the range of 1.2E-06 to 3.7E-05, indicating also a low risk.

Land being a major constrain in metro cities like Chennai has contributed to the development of closely spaced high-rise apartment complexes which lead to poor indoor air quality. Native indoor plants serve as a natural medium in absorbing air pollution entering indoors mainly through balcony spaces and also enhance the aromatic and visual quality of indoor space. This research has been carried out as a pilot study with an aim to explore the effectiveness of a planting palette comprising native flowering, air-purifying medicinal and vertical wall plants in absorbing the air pollutants in the context of an urban apartment balcony space in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. The level of absorption of pollutants such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, total volatile organic compounds, benzene, and formaldehyde was monitored in two scenarios one planted and another non-planted balcony using Internet of Things sensors for a period of 1 month. The results observed on a Thursday for carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and total volatile organic compounds for non-planted balcony are 984 ppm, 392 µg/m³, and 75 µg/m³ (highest due to STP activities) when compared to planted balcony with the values 919 ppm, 335 µg/m³, and 71 µg/m³. The selected plant palette has displayed minimal absorption of formaldehyde and benzene. But both the pollutants are found to reduce gradually within 2 h in the planted balcony and 3 h in the non-planted balcony after the floor mopping activity which contributes to formaldehyde and benzene. Hence, the study proves that plants as a natural medium are inexpensive and best in absorbing air pollutants thereby improving the quality of the indoor environment.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine-disrupting compound widely used in plastics and resins and associated with metabolic, reproductive, and neurodevelopmental disorders. Infants and toddlers are particularly vulnerable because detoxification capacity is immature and exposure occurs during sensitive developmental stages. While BPA is banned in infant feeding bottles within the European Union, its use in pacifiers remains unregulated despite frequent "BPA-free" labeling. This study quantified BPA migration from seven commercially available pacifiers and assessed potential exposure relative to the newly revised European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) tolerable daily intake (TDI; 0.2 ng kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹) in a worst-case exposure scenario. Pacifiers were dissected into shield and teat components, cut into fragments, and analyzed separately using validated high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD). Measured BPA concentrations in the eluates (c(BPA,HPLC)) ranged from below the limit of quantification (LOQ) up to 288 µg/L. Based on these measured values, the extrapolated total BPA release per pacifier was 33 to 26,536 ng, with the highest migration observed in a "BPA-free" labeled product. Even the lowest total migration exceeded the 2023 EFSA TDI, whereas exposures would have been negligible under the former 2015 t-TDI (4 µg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹). These findings demonstrate that pacifiers can constitute a relevant early-life source of BPA exposure and contribute to already critical background levels. The results underline the unreliability of voluntary "BPA-free" claims and emphasize the need for harmonized EU regulation analogous to existing restrictions for feeding bottles and toys.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of synthetic chemicals characterized by a fluorinated carbon chain that confers unique physicochemical properties. Widely used in industrial and consumer products, including textiles, food packaging, and firefighting foams, PFAS are highly persistent in the environment, earning them the designation of "forever chemicals." Their stability contributes to their widespread diffusion across different environmental compartments (water, soil, air) and multiple exposure pathways (e.g., diet). These lead to PFAS bioaccumulation and biomagnification, which poses a substantial threat to both ecosystems and human health. Exposure to PFAS has been associated with a range of adverse health effects, including liver damage, thyroid disease, immunotoxicity, reproductive issues, and various cancers in both humans and animals. While regulatory efforts have led to the phase-out of long-chain PFAS such as perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), emerging research suggest that their short-chain replacements may also raise health concerns. This review applies a One Health framework to explore the interconnected impacts of these contaminants on human, animal, and environmental health. Furthermore, it highlights knowledge gaps that hinder comprehensive risk assessment and management, emphasizing the need for a globally coordinated, multidisciplinary approach to address the multifaceted challenges posed by PFAS.