Journal of Environmental Health Science and Engineering最新文献

Heavy metals (HMs) pollution presents a significant challenge for both human health and natural ecosystems on a global scale. This study investigates the pollution of surface sediments resulting from urban runoff, identifies potential pollution sources, and examines the correlation between HMs and two factors: total organic carbon (TOC%) and particle size distribution (PSD). A total of 30 surface sediment samples were collected from three urban channels in the Tehran megacity. The concentrations of key elements, including strontium (Sr), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), and copper (Cu), were determined using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). The mean concentrations of Cd, Ni, Cu, Pb, Sr, were 0.46, 39.80, 161.25, 261.75, 388.50 mg/litter, respectively, following the sequence Sr > Pb > Cu > Ni > Cd. To identify the HMs accumulation, factor analysis(FA) was employed. The HMs rank order based on FA was as follows: 37.7% > 24.4% > 24.1%. According to (FA), the possible accumulation source of Pb and Sr is as different as Cu, Ni, and Cd elements. A significant correlation between Sr with TOC% (r = 0.901, sig = 0.000), Pb with both TOC% and particles < 75µm (r = 0.77, r = 0.63, Sig = 0.000 respectively), while Cu, Ni and Cd with particles < 150µm (r = 0.68, r = 0.81, r = 0.87, Sig = 0.000 respectively) were observed). Overall, the concentration of heavy metals (HMs) demonstrated a significant negative correlation with the particle size of surface sediments.

Trihalomethanes (THMs) are a class of compounds formed when organic substances in water interact with halogen disinfectants such as chlorine. The specific THMs include CHBr₃, CHClBr₂, CHCl₂Br, and CHCl₃. THMs are toxic disinfection by-products (DBPs) that pose potential risks to human health and can be present in ready-to-eat vegetables. Our study examined key variables such as contact time, chlorine concentration, and vegetable type on the formation and absorption of these contaminants. Laboratory simulations involved 22 samples characterized by differing chlorine concentrations, contact durations, and three vegetable types: celery, lettuce, and leek. The result showed that the maximum concentration of THMs (354.73 µg L^− 1) in celery was observed when 300 mg L-1 of chlorine for 15 min was employed. The results demonstrated that contact time significantly affected the formation and absorption of THMs. Celery demonstrates a greater absorption of THMs than others. The evaluation of lifetime cancer risk (LTCR) and hazard index (HI) for THMs across 22 simulated test conditions indicated that CHClBr₂ exhibited the highest LTCR at 7.34 × 10^⁻⁶. Also, the average influence of LTCR for CHBr₂Cl constituted 64%, CHBr₃ accounted for 21%, CHBrCl₂ represented 10%, and CHCl₃ was 5%. The results showed that CHBr₃ had the most effect on the hazard index, while CHCl₃ showed the lowest impact. These findings assist food industry professionals in reducing THM absorption by regulating chlorine concentration and contact time during vegetable disinfection.

Graphical Abstract

Perflorochemicals (PFCs), among which are the most commonly detected perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), are persistent emergent contaminants of concern in recent times. These compounds have been reported for their cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, carcinogenicity, immunotoxicity, and developmental toxicities. Meanwhile, they have been detected in diverse matrices such as soil, sediment, and, surprisingly, in serum and even breastmilk. Worrisomely, these compounds are detected in drinking water across the globe, aquaculture water, and other surface waters. Thus, it was important to appraise the studies conducted on PFOS and PFOA to provide an overview of the environmental status of contamination regarding them. The present review article sought to provide insights into the occurrence patterns and ecotoxic effects of both pollutants in the water ecosystems within five continents of the world. Based on the information gathered in this article, the (sum PFOS) concentration (ng/L) within the five continents is in the order Europe > Asia > Africa > North America > South America, while the (sum PFOA) level (ng/L) is in the order Europe > Asia > South America > Africa > North America. The study also investigated the previous works that have been conducted regarding the diverse elimination technologies employed for the removal of these pollutants from the aqueous environments, with plasma combined with surfactant process being the most efficient. Generally, studies on PFOS/PFOA are still scanty when compared to those on pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), especially in North America. The information gathered in this study could be useful in establishing thresholds of PFOA and PFOS environmental levels and be adopted by appropriate authorities as safety guidelines.

This bibliometric review examines the trends and innovations in biomass utilization for wastewater treatment in Indonesia, emphasizing significant contributions and emerging research areas. Through an analysis of co-authorship networks, co-citation networks, and keyword co-occurrence maps, the review identifies key authors, influential publications, and dominant research themes. The findings highlight that biomass-based methods, including the use of microalgae, macrophytes, and microbial consortia, are central to wastewater treatment efforts in Indonesia. These approaches provide sustainable and cost-effective solutions for pollutant removal and resource recovery. The growing emphasis on keywords such as “biofuels,” “bioplastics,” and “circular economy” reflects a strong interest in integrating wastewater treatment with resource recovery and sustainable practices. However, challenges remain in scaling up technologies like bioreactors and adsorption systems while ensuring cost-effectiveness and operational efficiency. For instance, advancements in microbial fuel cells could enable simultaneous wastewater treatment and renewable energy generation, addressing scalability issues. Similarly, the development of enhanced microbial strains for phytoremediation could improve the treatment of persistent pollutants in water and soil. Future research should aim to bridge gaps through interdisciplinary collaboration and explore underrepresented linkages to unlock further innovation. By addressing these challenges and leveraging emerging technologies, Indonesia can strengthen its wastewater treatment capabilities, contributing to environmental protection, resource efficiency, and sustainable development.

Purpose

Potentially toxic metals can directly induce various adverse effects on reproductive organs or interrupt essential metals' physiological activities. Despite intensive efforts to reduce these metals in the environment, chronic and low-level exposure remains a public health problem. The present study aimed to investigate prenatal metal exposure, including arsenic (As), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), rubidium (Rb), selenium (Se), and zinc (Zn), effects on birth weight.

Methods

We collected 579 blood samples before the 16th week of gestation from apparently healthy women with singleton pregnancy in Iran (n = 193) and Japan (n = 386). Blood metal concentrations were measured using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry.

Results

Prenatal blood levels of As, Mn, Pb, and Zn were significantly higher, while Cu, Rb, and Se were significantly (p < 0.01) lower in Iranian participants than in Japanese. Adjusted linear regression analyses and Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR) overall exposure–response functions showed inverse relationships between metals and birth weight.

Conclusion

The study findings, using data from geographically diverse countries, suggest prenatal blood metal exposure as a potential risk factor for lower birth weight. Therefore, women of reproductive age should minimize encountering to potentially toxic metals as much as possible.

The presence of bromate in water poses a significant health risk. In order to effectively eliminate bromate from water, this study synthesized a series of ternary Zn-Ni-Al layered double hydroxides with varying Zn/Ni/Al atomic ratios using a co-precipitation method. The adsorbents were characterized using various techniques including XRD, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and N₂ adsorption-desorption isotherms. Among them, ZnNiAl-2 exhibited the highest crystallinity and largest specific surface area (316.1 m² g⁻¹), which was compared to the binary hydrotalcite NiAl-LDH for its ability to adsorb bromate from water. Results demonstrated that the adsorption isotherm of bromate on ZnNiAl-2 followed the Langmuir model, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 120.5 mg g⁻¹, significantly higher than that of NiAl at 75.5 mg g⁻¹, indicating strong adsorption capability and reusability performance. The adsorption kinetics were also found to be in accordance with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The mechanism involved both surface adsorption and anion exchange.

In the present study, two most commonly used Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), namely perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), were determined in 45 tap water samples from the city of Isfahan (Iran) by dispersive liquid-liquid extraction (DLLME) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrophotometry (LC-MS) analysis. Risk assessment was also performed to determine the risk to human health. The mean concentration of PFOA was 38.1 ± 26.4ng/L (min = 5.1 and max = 1056ng/L). The mean concentration of PFOS was 33.7 ± 25.09ng/L (min = 4.3 and max = 99.2ng/L). The combined concentrations of PFOA and PFOS were above the US-EPA advisory levels (70ng/L) in 48.8% of the samples. The distance between the sampling locations and the water treatment plant showed no significant correlation (p > 0.05). The results of the risk assessment showed that all calculated hazard quotients (HQ) and hazard indices (HI) are below 1, indicating that the risk to human health from exposure to PFOA and PFOS via drinking water in the city of Isfahan was not high for adults and children. These results indicate a significant contamination of Isfahan tap water by PFOA and PFOS of unknown origin. Further studies are needed on the Zayande-Roud River water as a supplier of Isfahan tap water and the efficiency of the water treatment plant and the role of the water distribution network in PFASs contamination of tap water.

Metformin, a widely used antidiabetic drug, has become a growing concern due to its persistence in the environment. It is one of the most frequently detected pharmaceuticals in wastewater and surface water because it is excreted largely unchanged by patients and is not fully removed in conventional wastewater treatment plants. The present study focuses on the synthesis and characterization of BaFe₂O₄/poly(1-naphthylamine) (PNA) nanohybrids and their application as microwave-active catalysts for the degradation of metformin. The nanohybrids were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. The IR studies presence of peaks associated with PNA and BaFe₂O₄ confirmed the formation of the nanohybrid. The XRD profile of PNA/BaFe₂O₄ nanohybrids did not exhibit any significant shift in the crystalline peaks corresponding to BaFe₂O₄ but some new peaks were observed in addition to the existing BaFe₂O₄ peaks, which were attributed to the presence of PNA. SEM studies established the mixed morphology. Metformin degradation was carried out under microwave irradiation for 18 min, and the effects of catalyst dosage and drug concentration were evaluated to confirm the catalytic performance of the PNA/BaFe₂O₄ system. A maximum degradation efficiency of 89% was achieved in 18 min using 5% PNA/BaFe₂O₄ as the catalyst. Additionally, a potential degradation mechanism was proposed.

Today, nanoplastics (NPs) are a growing environmental concern due to their persistence and widespread distribution, posing risks to ecosystems and human health. Their ability to transport pollutants makes them particularly dangerous, underscoring the urgent need for effective removal methods. Herein, we report the synthesis of an environmentally friendly material that enables the magnetic removal of polystyrene nanoparticles (PSNPs) from aqueous solutions by green chemistry approach. The material synthesized by using pine resin extract as a reducing and capping agent is iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles (PR@Fe₃O₄ MNPs). Spectroscopic (UV–Vis, FTIR) and microscopic (EFSEM, EDXS) techniques were used to characterize the nanoparticles and confirm the adsorption of PSNPs on the PR@Fe₃O₄ MNPs. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns indicated the crystalline nature of the nanoparticles and confirmed the preservation of the structure of PR@Fe₃O₄ MNPs after adsorption. The adsorption of PSNPs (with a diameter of 100 nm) was performed under varying conditions, including different contact times, dosages of PR@Fe₃O₄ MNPs, and concentrations of PSNPs. It was observed that the removal efficiencies of PSNPs (100 mg/L) ranged from 95.45% to 99.13% when the dosage of PR@Fe₃O₄ MNPs increased from 2.5 mg to 10.0 mg after 24 h, reaching the maximum adsorption capacity at 454.55 mg/g. Kinetic and isotherm studies indicated that the adsorption process fits best to a pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm, suggesting monolayer adsorption on homogeneous surfaces. Finally, the results of this study concluded that the green-synthesized PR@Fe₃O₄ MNPs can be used as effective and eco-friendly materials to remove PSNPs from aquatic environments.

Graphical abstract

Beauty salons are establishments that provide hair, face, and body treatments for consumers. In this research, type of bacteriological pollution and the associated bacteriological human health risks were evaluated using Monte Carlo Simulation. A cross-sectional study design was carried out in 50 randomly selected beauty salons in Ardabil, during April-June, 2022. Pseudomonas (74 ± 42 CFU/m³) was found frequently in almost all (98%) of the salons. Staphylococcus (9 ± 25 CFU/m³) and Escherichia coli (5 ± 13 CFU/m³) were found in 20%, and Acinetobacter (2 ± 7 CFU/m³) was found in 10% of the salons. Salons with makeup and hair dressing had higher concentrations of Staphylococcus. The concentrations of bacteria fairly decreased with relative humidity and increased with the temperature. Furthermore, higher concentrations of the bioaerosols were observed in larger salons and more crowded salons. There was no significant correlation between the type of heating system, building material of the walls, type of ventilation system, as well as bride’s makeup in the salons with concentration of the bioaerosols. The average annual infection risk of Escherichia coli 7.27 (10^− 4) per person per year (pppy), which was higher than the acceptable limit (10^–4 pppy) suggested by WHO. The results of health risk were above the safe limit of EPA and WHO, indicating possible adverse effects to exposed individuals.