Alain Manceau, Andrea Giacomelli, Yan Li, Anne-Claire Gaillot, Jianlin Liao, Lorenzo Spadini, Alexandre Simionovici, Andrea Koschinsky, Olivier Mathon, Stephan N. Steinmann
Deep-sea sediments hold large quantities of critical rare earth-elements and yttrium (REY) sequestered in nanoparticulate biogenic fluorapatite (Ca5(CO3)x(PO4)3−xF1+x). Understanding their enrichment processes and improving recovery and mineral processing methods require atomic-scale information about their chemical form, but it is difficult to obtain. Here, we use novel high-energy-resolution fluorescence-detected extended X-ray absorption fine structure (HERFD-EXAFS) spectroscopy to elucidate the local structure of gadolinium (Gd) in the highly enriched REY deposit from the Clarion–Clipperton fracture zone (CCFZ) in the Pacific Ocean. Our findings reveal that Gd is neither incorporated into the apatite structure nor precipitated alongside Ce in a Ce–PO4 precipitate. Instead, it is bound at short-range distances to Ca and PO4 in a defective apatite-type bonding environment within an amorphous matrix that encases fluorapatite nanocrystals. Density functional theory (DFT) suggests that Gd and Y, whose atomic fraction is ten times higher than that of Gd, are not dispersed throughout the amorphous matrix, but are likely segregated at medium-range distances. The entrapment of Ce, Gd, and Y within an amorphous matrix explains, at the microscopic level, why REY can be easily recovered through straightforward acid leaching. This is due to the intrinsic instability of disordered atomic structures compared to crystalline phases. This research highlights the complementarity of HERFD-EXAFS and DFT calculations for atomic-scale analysis of trace elements in complex natural matrices. It establishes a basis for their use across diverse terrestrial and marine materials.
{"title":"Atomic-scale structure of gadolinium in nanocrystalline fluorapatite from marine sediments","authors":"Alain Manceau, Andrea Giacomelli, Yan Li, Anne-Claire Gaillot, Jianlin Liao, Lorenzo Spadini, Alexandre Simionovici, Andrea Koschinsky, Olivier Mathon, Stephan N. Steinmann","doi":"10.1039/d5en01056j","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d5en01056j","url":null,"abstract":"Deep-sea sediments hold large quantities of critical rare earth-elements and yttrium (REY) sequestered in nanoparticulate biogenic fluorapatite (Ca<small><sub>5</sub></small>(CO<small><sub>3</sub></small>)<small><sub><em>x</em></sub></small>(PO<small><sub>4</sub></small>)<small><sub>3−<em>x</em></sub></small>F<small><sub>1+<em>x</em></sub></small>). Understanding their enrichment processes and improving recovery and mineral processing methods require atomic-scale information about their chemical form, but it is difficult to obtain. Here, we use novel high-energy-resolution fluorescence-detected extended X-ray absorption fine structure (HERFD-EXAFS) spectroscopy to elucidate the local structure of gadolinium (Gd) in the highly enriched REY deposit from the Clarion–Clipperton fracture zone (CCFZ) in the Pacific Ocean. Our findings reveal that Gd is neither incorporated into the apatite structure nor precipitated alongside Ce in a Ce–PO<small><sub>4</sub></small> precipitate. Instead, it is bound at short-range distances to Ca and PO<small><sub>4</sub></small> in a defective apatite-type bonding environment within an amorphous matrix that encases fluorapatite nanocrystals. Density functional theory (DFT) suggests that Gd and Y, whose atomic fraction is ten times higher than that of Gd, are not dispersed throughout the amorphous matrix, but are likely segregated at medium-range distances. The entrapment of Ce, Gd, and Y within an amorphous matrix explains, at the microscopic level, why REY can be easily recovered through straightforward acid leaching. This is due to the intrinsic instability of disordered atomic structures compared to crystalline phases. This research highlights the complementarity of HERFD-EXAFS and DFT calculations for atomic-scale analysis of trace elements in complex natural matrices. It establishes a basis for their use across diverse terrestrial and marine materials.","PeriodicalId":73,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Science: Nano","volume":"45 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.131,"publicationDate":"2026-02-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146146051","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Xuan Song, Ouyang Chen, Fan Rao, Chunmei Wang, Lixia Du, Jing Wu, Wei Guo, Li Yang, Li Li, Lingli Zeng, Chuan Yuan, Yong Liu, Xiaoqian Feng
Worldwide research interest is focused on the effects of environmental pollution on maternal and child health. Micro(nano)plastics (MNPs) are emerging pollutants that have been confirmed to exist in humans and interfere with lipid metabolism. However, the degree of exposure to MNPs during early human life and the potential impact of prenatal exposure on offspring lipid metabolism are still not well understood. To investigate the issues, this study collected umbilical cord blood samples from 30 healthy fetuses in Chengdu, as well as first postnatal urine samples from 6 of them. MNPs, liver function indicators, and lipid profiles were measured and detailed questionnaire surveys were conducted. The MNPs abundance in cord blood (34.61 (26.64) μg g−1) was significantly higher than in neonatal urine (8.42 (2.82) μg g−1), and more types of MNPs were found in cord blood. Additionally, the total abundance of all MNPs types in cord blood showed a negative correlation with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (r = −0.40, p < 0.05), and the abundance of polyamide 66 (PA66) had a positive correlation with triglyceride levels (r = 0.39, p < 0.05). Furthermore, the abundance of MNPs in cord blood showed a positive correlation with the frequency of maternal takeaway food consumption during pregnancy (r = 0.52, p < 0.01) and with the frequency of milk tea consumption (r = 0.44, p < 0.05). The exploratory results suggest that prenatal MNPs exposure accumulate in newborns, and may potentially contribute to lipid metabolism disorders. Meanwhile, maternal dietary habits may increase the risk of MNPs exposure during pregnancy. These findings highlight the risks of MNPs exposure during early human life and the potential hazards it may pose to offspring health, supporting the need for larger longitudinal studies.
{"title":"Associations between prenatal exposure to micro(nano)plastics and neonatal lipid profile","authors":"Xuan Song, Ouyang Chen, Fan Rao, Chunmei Wang, Lixia Du, Jing Wu, Wei Guo, Li Yang, Li Li, Lingli Zeng, Chuan Yuan, Yong Liu, Xiaoqian Feng","doi":"10.1039/d5en00898k","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d5en00898k","url":null,"abstract":"Worldwide research interest is focused on the effects of environmental pollution on maternal and child health. Micro(nano)plastics (MNPs) are emerging pollutants that have been confirmed to exist in humans and interfere with lipid metabolism. However, the degree of exposure to MNPs during early human life and the potential impact of prenatal exposure on offspring lipid metabolism are still not well understood. To investigate the issues, this study collected umbilical cord blood samples from 30 healthy fetuses in Chengdu, as well as first postnatal urine samples from 6 of them. MNPs, liver function indicators, and lipid profiles were measured and detailed questionnaire surveys were conducted. The MNPs abundance in cord blood (34.61 (26.64) μg g<small><sup>−1</sup></small>) was significantly higher than in neonatal urine (8.42 (2.82) μg g<small><sup>−1</sup></small>), and more types of MNPs were found in cord blood. Additionally, the total abundance of all MNPs types in cord blood showed a negative correlation with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (<em>r</em> = −0.40, <em>p</em> < 0.05), and the abundance of polyamide 66 (PA66) had a positive correlation with triglyceride levels (<em>r</em> = 0.39, <em>p</em> < 0.05). Furthermore, the abundance of MNPs in cord blood showed a positive correlation with the frequency of maternal takeaway food consumption during pregnancy (<em>r</em> = 0.52, <em>p</em> < 0.01) and with the frequency of milk tea consumption (<em>r</em> = 0.44, <em>p</em> < 0.05). The exploratory results suggest that prenatal MNPs exposure accumulate in newborns, and may potentially contribute to lipid metabolism disorders. Meanwhile, maternal dietary habits may increase the risk of MNPs exposure during pregnancy. These findings highlight the risks of MNPs exposure during early human life and the potential hazards it may pose to offspring health, supporting the need for larger longitudinal studies.","PeriodicalId":73,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Science: Nano","volume":"88 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.131,"publicationDate":"2026-02-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146146078","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nanoparticle surface chemistry characteristics are key factors that determine their behavior upon interaction with different organisms. In particular, electrostatic interactions between nanoparticles and plant-type organisms have been well-characterized; however, the impact of the degree of hydrophobicity remains largely unexplored. Here, ultraporous mesostructured silica nanoparticles (UMNs) were functionalized with different ratios of chlorotrimethylsilane (TMS) to 2-[methoxymethoxy(polyethyleneoxy)9-12 12propyl] trimethoxysilane (PEG) to systematically tune their hydrophobicity, and were subsequently used to interrogate how the degree of hydrophobicity affects nanoparticle interactions at the biointerface of the green alga, Raphidocelis subcapitata. Using high-content imaging and phenotypic profiling, the levels of UMN internalization, subcellular trafficking, and their associated phenotypic and physiological impacts were quantified. Increasing the PEG content on the surface of the UMNs, which decreased particle hydrophobicity, was found to significantly enhance levels of internalization, but did not alter translocation within the cells. Colocalization analyses indicated a strong association between UMNs and F-actin filaments after 1-24 hours of exposure, which was independent of PEG content and degree of UMN hydrophobicity, as there was no significant difference between particle types. However, after 48 hours, cells appeared to have incorporated a portion of UMNs into their cell walls while depositing the remainder into vacuolated spaces. Lastly, UMNs had a significant impact on phenotype complexity, with specific metrics including enhanced chlorophyll production and shifts in cell cycle progression; however, no growth inhibition was observed after 72 hours. Overall, using this approach, it was found that tuning the degree of UMN hydrophobicity had a significant impact on the levels of internalization. However, once inside the cells, the degree of hydrophobicity did not have a significant impact on translocation, phenotype, or physiological response as each particle type elicited similar cellular responses.
{"title":"High-content imaging reveals how tuning nanoparticle hydrophobicity impacts interactions between porous silica nanoparticles and plant biosurfaces","authors":"Eric Ostovich, Cheng-Hsin Huang, Lissett Guadalupe Diaz, Christy Haynes, Rebecca Klaper","doi":"10.1039/d5en00829h","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d5en00829h","url":null,"abstract":"Nanoparticle surface chemistry characteristics are key factors that determine their behavior upon interaction with different organisms. In particular, electrostatic interactions between nanoparticles and plant-type organisms have been well-characterized; however, the impact of the degree of hydrophobicity remains largely unexplored. Here, ultraporous mesostructured silica nanoparticles (UMNs) were functionalized with different ratios of chlorotrimethylsilane (TMS) to 2-[methoxymethoxy(polyethyleneoxy)9-12 12propyl] trimethoxysilane (PEG) to systematically tune their hydrophobicity, and were subsequently used to interrogate how the degree of hydrophobicity affects nanoparticle interactions at the biointerface of the green alga, Raphidocelis subcapitata. Using high-content imaging and phenotypic profiling, the levels of UMN internalization, subcellular trafficking, and their associated phenotypic and physiological impacts were quantified. Increasing the PEG content on the surface of the UMNs, which decreased particle hydrophobicity, was found to significantly enhance levels of internalization, but did not alter translocation within the cells. Colocalization analyses indicated a strong association between UMNs and F-actin filaments after 1-24 hours of exposure, which was independent of PEG content and degree of UMN hydrophobicity, as there was no significant difference between particle types. However, after 48 hours, cells appeared to have incorporated a portion of UMNs into their cell walls while depositing the remainder into vacuolated spaces. Lastly, UMNs had a significant impact on phenotype complexity, with specific metrics including enhanced chlorophyll production and shifts in cell cycle progression; however, no growth inhibition was observed after 72 hours. Overall, using this approach, it was found that tuning the degree of UMN hydrophobicity had a significant impact on the levels of internalization. However, once inside the cells, the degree of hydrophobicity did not have a significant impact on translocation, phenotype, or physiological response as each particle type elicited similar cellular responses.","PeriodicalId":73,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Science: Nano","volume":"30 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.131,"publicationDate":"2026-02-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146129684","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Inhalation of exogenous heavy metal-containing nanoparticles (HM-containing NPs) poses considerable health risks, yet their source-specific industrial emissions remain poorly characterized. This study employed an automated isokinetic sampling system to collect particulate matter (PM), and used single particle inductively coupled plasma time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SP-ICP-TOF-MS) to quantify ten HM-containing NPs in the collected samples from 132 full-scale industrial plants across 13 sectors in China. Sn, Mn, Zn, and Cu exhibited particularly high particle number concentrations (PNCs), with hazardous waste incinerators (HWIs) and electric arc furnaces (EAFs) identified as dominant emission sources. Notably, HWIs emitted Sn-containing NPs at a peak PNC of 8.8 × 1011 particles per g. Across the representative industrial sectors in China, Mn-, Sn-, and Zn-containing NPs were the most abundantly emitted, with estimated annual releases of 1.6 × 1023, 4.6 × 1022, and 2.0 × 1022 particles, respectively. Coal-fired power plants and cement kilns co-processing solid waste also contributed significantly. Exposure assessment—based on a steady-state atmospheric model and standard U.S. EPA inhalation and dermal exposure equations—revealed that, in highly impacted provinces, adults face cumulative exposure to HM-containing NPs up to 105 particles per kg body weight per day, while children's exposure levels are more than double. These findings provide the first large-scale quantification of HM-containing NP emissions across multiple industries, offering critical data for exposure assessment and risk management. The results highlight HWIs and EAFs as key sectors for prioritized emission control, particularly to reduce exposure risks associated with high-emission HM-containing NPs such as Sn, Mn, Zn, and Cu in densely populated industrial regions.
{"title":"Field study on atmospheric emissions and profiles of heavy metal-containing nanoparticles from multiple full scale industrial sources in China","authors":"Qiuting Yang, Yuxiang Sun, Jianghui Yun, Yujue Yang, Junhao Tang, Guorui Liu","doi":"10.1039/d5en01133g","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d5en01133g","url":null,"abstract":"Inhalation of exogenous heavy metal-containing nanoparticles (HM-containing NPs) poses considerable health risks, yet their source-specific industrial emissions remain poorly characterized. This study employed an automated isokinetic sampling system to collect particulate matter (PM), and used single particle inductively coupled plasma time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SP-ICP-TOF-MS) to quantify ten HM-containing NPs in the collected samples from 132 full-scale industrial plants across 13 sectors in China. Sn, Mn, Zn, and Cu exhibited particularly high particle number concentrations (PNCs), with hazardous waste incinerators (HWIs) and electric arc furnaces (EAFs) identified as dominant emission sources. Notably, HWIs emitted Sn-containing NPs at a peak PNC of 8.8 × 10<small><sup>11</sup></small> particles per g. Across the representative industrial sectors in China, Mn-, Sn-, and Zn-containing NPs were the most abundantly emitted, with estimated annual releases of 1.6 × 10<small><sup>23</sup></small>, 4.6 × 10<small><sup>22</sup></small>, and 2.0 × 10<small><sup>22</sup></small> particles, respectively. Coal-fired power plants and cement kilns co-processing solid waste also contributed significantly. Exposure assessment—based on a steady-state atmospheric model and standard U.S. EPA inhalation and dermal exposure equations—revealed that, in highly impacted provinces, adults face cumulative exposure to HM-containing NPs up to 10<small><sup>5</sup></small> particles per kg body weight per day, while children's exposure levels are more than double. These findings provide the first large-scale quantification of HM-containing NP emissions across multiple industries, offering critical data for exposure assessment and risk management. The results highlight HWIs and EAFs as key sectors for prioritized emission control, particularly to reduce exposure risks associated with high-emission HM-containing NPs such as Sn, Mn, Zn, and Cu in densely populated industrial regions.","PeriodicalId":73,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Science: Nano","volume":"88 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.131,"publicationDate":"2026-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146115871","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Dorota Bartczak, Aneta Sikora, Heidi Goenaga-Infante, Korinna Altmann, Roland Drexel, Florian Meier, Enrica Alasonati, Marc Lelong, Florence Cado, Carine Chivas-Joly, Marta Fadda, Alessio Sacco, Andrea Mario Rossi, Daniel Pröfrock, Dominik Wippermann, Francesco Barbero, Ivana Fenoglio, Andy M. Booth, Lisbet Sørensen, Amaia Igartua, Charlotte Wouters, Jan Mast, Marta Barbaresi, Francesca Rossi, Maurizio Piergiovanni, Monica Mattarozzi, Maria Careri, Thierry Caebergs, Anne-Sophie Piette, Jeremie Parot, Andrea Mario Giovannozzi
Reference and quality control materials with comparable physicochemical properties to nanoplastic contaminants present in environmental and food nanoplastics are currently lacking. Here we report a nanoplastic polypropylene material prepared using a top-down approach involving mechanical fragmentation of larger plastics. The material was found to be homogeneous and stable in suspension and has been characterised for average particle size, size distribution range, particle number concentration, polypropylene mass fraction and inorganic impurity content using a wide range of analytical methods, including AF4, cFFF, PTA, (MA)DLS, MALS, SEM, AFM, TEM, STEM, EDS, Raman, ICP-MS and pyGC-MS. The material was found to have a broad size distribution, ranging from 50 nm to over 200 nm, with the average particle size value dependent on the technique used to determine it. Particle number concentration ranged from 1.7–2.4 × 1010 g−1, according to PTA. Spectroscopy techniques confirmed that the material was polypropylene, with evidence of aging due to an increased level of oxidation. The measured mass fraction was found to depend on the marker used and ranged between 3 and 5 μg g−1. Inorganic impurities such as Si, Al, Mg, K, Na, S, Fe, Cl and Ca were also identified at ng g−1 levels. Comparability and complementarity across the measurement methods and techniques is also discussed.
{"title":"Multiparameter characterisation of a nano-polypropylene representative test material with fractionation, light scattering, high-resolution microscopy, spectroscopy, and spectrometry methods","authors":"Dorota Bartczak, Aneta Sikora, Heidi Goenaga-Infante, Korinna Altmann, Roland Drexel, Florian Meier, Enrica Alasonati, Marc Lelong, Florence Cado, Carine Chivas-Joly, Marta Fadda, Alessio Sacco, Andrea Mario Rossi, Daniel Pröfrock, Dominik Wippermann, Francesco Barbero, Ivana Fenoglio, Andy M. Booth, Lisbet Sørensen, Amaia Igartua, Charlotte Wouters, Jan Mast, Marta Barbaresi, Francesca Rossi, Maurizio Piergiovanni, Monica Mattarozzi, Maria Careri, Thierry Caebergs, Anne-Sophie Piette, Jeremie Parot, Andrea Mario Giovannozzi","doi":"10.1039/d5en00917k","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d5en00917k","url":null,"abstract":"Reference and quality control materials with comparable physicochemical properties to nanoplastic contaminants present in environmental and food nanoplastics are currently lacking. Here we report a nanoplastic polypropylene material prepared using a top-down approach involving mechanical fragmentation of larger plastics. The material was found to be homogeneous and stable in suspension and has been characterised for average particle size, size distribution range, particle number concentration, polypropylene mass fraction and inorganic impurity content using a wide range of analytical methods, including AF4, cFFF, PTA, (MA)DLS, MALS, SEM, AFM, TEM, STEM, EDS, Raman, ICP-MS and pyGC-MS. The material was found to have a broad size distribution, ranging from 50 nm to over 200 nm, with the average particle size value dependent on the technique used to determine it. Particle number concentration ranged from 1.7–2.4 × 10<small><sup>10</sup></small> g<small><sup>−1</sup></small>, according to PTA. Spectroscopy techniques confirmed that the material was polypropylene, with evidence of aging due to an increased level of oxidation. The measured mass fraction was found to depend on the marker used and ranged between 3 and 5 μg g<small><sup>−1</sup></small>. Inorganic impurities such as Si, Al, Mg, K, Na, S, Fe, Cl and Ca were also identified at ng g<small><sup>−1</sup></small> levels. Comparability and complementarity across the measurement methods and techniques is also discussed.","PeriodicalId":73,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Science: Nano","volume":"34 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.131,"publicationDate":"2026-02-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146116140","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Gopi Narayanan, Xiangyi Guo, Mohmmed Talib, Yiyin Li, Jonathan Y. S. Leung, Gopala Krishna Darbha
Given the continuous breakdown of plastic waste in aquatic environments, understanding how nanoplastics (NPs) impact the health of aquatic organisms has drawn global attention. Despite being considered deleterious to aquatic organisms, NPs can interact with natural organic matter, such as humic acid (HA), through their surface charges, possibly altering their toxicity. Thus, using freshwater microalga Chlorella vulgaris as the study species, we assessed whether HA (1–10 mg L−1) affects the toxicity of unfunctionalized polystyrene NPs (PS) with negative surface charges and amine-functionalized polystyrene NPs (NH2PS) with positive surface charges (1–50 mg L−1) by measuring the biochemical responses of microalgae after 96 h exposure. We found that NH2PS exhibited higher toxicity to microalgae than PS primarily due to stronger physical interactions, resulting in greater membrane damage. At a high concentration (10 mg L−1), HA alone also induced membrane damage in microalgae. However, when combined with either type of NPs, HA at this concentration can mitigate NP toxicity by reducing oxidative stress due to ROS production and boosting antioxidant activities (e.g., SOD, CAT or GSH). This protective effect of HA was mediated by reducing the direct contact between NPs and microalgae through lowered surface hydrophobicity and enhanced dispersion stability, rather than through settling of microalgae. However, HA at low concentrations (1–5 mg L−1) was unable to entirely reduce the oxidative stress and membrane damage caused by NPs. These results demonstrate that the capacity of HA to alleviate NP toxicity is subject to its concentration and interaction with specific NPs and has a limit beyond which HA can become a stressor. Taken together, this study highlights the significance of surface functionalization and natural organic matter in determining NP toxicity to living organisms, suggesting that the biological impacts of NPs would be more complicated in natural aquatic environments than previously thought.
{"title":"Humic acid can mitigate or magnify nanoplastic toxicity to freshwater microalgae: what are the factors driving these contrasting effects?","authors":"Gopi Narayanan, Xiangyi Guo, Mohmmed Talib, Yiyin Li, Jonathan Y. S. Leung, Gopala Krishna Darbha","doi":"10.1039/d5en00927h","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d5en00927h","url":null,"abstract":"Given the continuous breakdown of plastic waste in aquatic environments, understanding how nanoplastics (NPs) impact the health of aquatic organisms has drawn global attention. Despite being considered deleterious to aquatic organisms, NPs can interact with natural organic matter, such as humic acid (HA), through their surface charges, possibly altering their toxicity. Thus, using freshwater microalga <em>Chlorella vulgaris</em> as the study species, we assessed whether HA (1–10 mg L<small><sup>−1</sup></small>) affects the toxicity of unfunctionalized polystyrene NPs (PS) with negative surface charges and amine-functionalized polystyrene NPs (NH<small><sub>2</sub></small>PS) with positive surface charges (1–50 mg L<small><sup>−1</sup></small>) by measuring the biochemical responses of microalgae after 96 h exposure. We found that NH<small><sub>2</sub></small>PS exhibited higher toxicity to microalgae than PS primarily due to stronger physical interactions, resulting in greater membrane damage. At a high concentration (10 mg L<small><sup>−1</sup></small>), HA alone also induced membrane damage in microalgae. However, when combined with either type of NPs, HA at this concentration can mitigate NP toxicity by reducing oxidative stress due to ROS production and boosting antioxidant activities (<em>e.g.</em>, SOD, CAT or GSH). This protective effect of HA was mediated by reducing the direct contact between NPs and microalgae through lowered surface hydrophobicity and enhanced dispersion stability, rather than through settling of microalgae. However, HA at low concentrations (1–5 mg L<small><sup>−1</sup></small>) was unable to entirely reduce the oxidative stress and membrane damage caused by NPs. These results demonstrate that the capacity of HA to alleviate NP toxicity is subject to its concentration and interaction with specific NPs and has a limit beyond which HA can become a stressor. Taken together, this study highlights the significance of surface functionalization and natural organic matter in determining NP toxicity to living organisms, suggesting that the biological impacts of NPs would be more complicated in natural aquatic environments than previously thought.","PeriodicalId":73,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Science: Nano","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.131,"publicationDate":"2026-02-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146122225","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Eunice Wairimu Maina, Ida De Chiara, Gennaro Gentile, Concetta Auciello, Maria della Valle, Luigi Russo, Milena Della Gala, Donatella Diana, Mirko Cortese, Maria Teresa Gentile, Gianluca D'Abrosca, Martina Dragone, Mario De Stefano, Mariacristina Cocca, Carla Isernia, Roberto Fattorusso, Maria Emanuela Errico, Lidia Muscariello, Gaetano Malgieri
One of the main targets of nanoplastic (NP) toxicity is the gastrointestinal tract, where the gut microbiota acts as a crucial biological barrier, by regulating nutrient and energy metabolism and maintaining the immune defence system. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are key components of the human intestinal microbiota and include many of the most important health-promoting probiotic strains. It has been proposed that specific LAB strains can protect against human toxicity caused by polystyrene (PS) NPs. Despite these findings, it is still not completely clear how the physiology and functional traits of LAB are influenced by NPs. In this study, we report how PS and polytetrafluoroethylene NPs, having significantly different chemical compositions, affect the key surface-associated phenotypic traits of selected LAB and penetrate their cellular membranes. Here, we show that NPs, particularly PS-NPs, significantly affect the hydrophobicity and auto-aggregation of the bacterial strains, in a species- and strain-dependent manner. PS-NP exposure resulted in a marked reduction in surface hydrophobicity and, in most cases, a concomitant increase in auto-aggregation; notably, Bifidobacterium breve Reuter exhibited the highest sensitivity to PS-NPs. Accordingly, membrane permeability assays and TEM analysis revealed substantial loss of cell wall integrity and consequent internalization of PS-NPs by the bacterial cells. In terms of lifestyle transitions, PS-NP exposure promoted a shift from planktonic to biofilm-associated growth in LAB strains. Overall, these findings highlight the disruptive potential of NPs on bacterial physiology and viability, with implications for gut microbiota stability and probiotic efficacy. The differential responses observed emphasize the importance of strain-specific assessments when evaluating NP toxicity.
{"title":"Polystyrene and polytetrafluoroethylene nanoplastics affect probiotic bacterial characteristics and penetrate their cellular membrane","authors":"Eunice Wairimu Maina, Ida De Chiara, Gennaro Gentile, Concetta Auciello, Maria della Valle, Luigi Russo, Milena Della Gala, Donatella Diana, Mirko Cortese, Maria Teresa Gentile, Gianluca D'Abrosca, Martina Dragone, Mario De Stefano, Mariacristina Cocca, Carla Isernia, Roberto Fattorusso, Maria Emanuela Errico, Lidia Muscariello, Gaetano Malgieri","doi":"10.1039/d5en01172h","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d5en01172h","url":null,"abstract":"One of the main targets of nanoplastic (NP) toxicity is the gastrointestinal tract, where the gut microbiota acts as a crucial biological barrier, by regulating nutrient and energy metabolism and maintaining the immune defence system. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are key components of the human intestinal microbiota and include many of the most important health-promoting probiotic strains. It has been proposed that specific LAB strains can protect against human toxicity caused by polystyrene (PS) NPs. Despite these findings, it is still not completely clear how the physiology and functional traits of LAB are influenced by NPs. In this study, we report how PS and polytetrafluoroethylene NPs, having significantly different chemical compositions, affect the key surface-associated phenotypic traits of selected LAB and penetrate their cellular membranes. Here, we show that NPs, particularly PS-NPs, significantly affect the hydrophobicity and auto-aggregation of the bacterial strains, in a species- and strain-dependent manner. PS-NP exposure resulted in a marked reduction in surface hydrophobicity and, in most cases, a concomitant increase in auto-aggregation; notably, <em>Bifidobacterium breve</em> Reuter exhibited the highest sensitivity to PS-NPs. Accordingly, membrane permeability assays and TEM analysis revealed substantial loss of cell wall integrity and consequent internalization of PS-NPs by the bacterial cells. In terms of lifestyle transitions, PS-NP exposure promoted a shift from planktonic to biofilm-associated growth in LAB strains. Overall, these findings highlight the disruptive potential of NPs on bacterial physiology and viability, with implications for gut microbiota stability and probiotic efficacy. The differential responses observed emphasize the importance of strain-specific assessments when evaluating NP toxicity.","PeriodicalId":73,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Science: Nano","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.131,"publicationDate":"2026-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146101343","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This work reports a sustainable and equipment-free one-pot strategy for the synthesis of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) embedded within a hydrogel matrix at room temperature. In this method, Au NPs are formed in situ through simple mixing of aqueous sodium alginate (Alg, 3 wt%), citric acid (CA, 0.5 M), and chloroauric acid (0.5 mM), where CA serves a dual role as both crosslinker and a reducing agent. The resulting hydrogel exhibits excellent catalytic activity toward the reductive degradation of organic dyes, achieving rapid decolorization efficiencies of 91% for Congo red and 97% for methylene blue within 5 min in the presence of sodium borohydride while maintaining reusability over five cycles. Besides, the material also effectively degrades real wastewater samples from the textile industry, highlighting its potential for sustainable wastewater treatment applications. Additionally, the material exhibits potent antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Acinetobacter baumannii. This activity is attributed to reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated membrane disruption, and the sustained release of Au NPs from the hydrogel matrix. This simple one-pot synthesis strategy highlights significant potential for biomedical application and environmental remediation, especially in resource-limited settings.
{"title":"Facile room-temperature one-pot synthesis of a gold nanoparticle-embedded hydrogel for recyclable dye degradation and antimicrobial applications","authors":"Damini Jagankar, Geethika Manohar, Priyanka Srivastava, Chandan Maity","doi":"10.1039/d5en00722d","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d5en00722d","url":null,"abstract":"This work reports a sustainable and equipment-free one-pot strategy for the synthesis of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) embedded within a hydrogel matrix at room temperature. In this method, Au NPs are formed <em>in situ</em> through simple mixing of aqueous sodium alginate (Alg, 3 wt%), citric acid (CA, 0.5 M), and chloroauric acid (0.5 mM), where CA serves a dual role as both crosslinker and a reducing agent. The resulting hydrogel exhibits excellent catalytic activity toward the reductive degradation of organic dyes, achieving rapid decolorization efficiencies of 91% for Congo red and 97% for methylene blue within 5 min in the presence of sodium borohydride while maintaining reusability over five cycles. Besides, the material also effectively degrades real wastewater samples from the textile industry, highlighting its potential for sustainable wastewater treatment applications. Additionally, the material exhibits potent antibacterial activity against <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em>, <em>Escherichia coli</em>, and <em>Acinetobacter baumannii</em>. This activity is attributed to reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated membrane disruption, and the sustained release of Au NPs from the hydrogel matrix. This simple one-pot synthesis strategy highlights significant potential for biomedical application and environmental remediation, especially in resource-limited settings.","PeriodicalId":73,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Science: Nano","volume":"216 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.131,"publicationDate":"2026-02-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146097825","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ingrid Gregorovic, Nahid Lotfian, Ruhollah Khajavian, Sukanya Maity, Masoud Mirzaei, Sib Sankar Mal, Manuel Aureliano, Annette Rompel
Over recent decades, while environmental awareness and pollution control efforts have yielded localized improvements, ongoing industrial growth, rapid global population expansion, and escalating energy demands continue to drive significant global environmental pollution challenges. Polyoxometalates, a remarkable class of metal-oxide complexes, have recently emerged as promising compounds in the development of multifunctional materials for environmental pollutant removal, energy conversion and storage, and sensing. This review critically examines current research on their use for the removal of common toxic gases − such as H₂S, NOₓ, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) − from polluted air, as well as the elimination of various organic dyes, heavy metals, and pharmaceutical contaminants from wastewater. POMs have also gained recognition as adaptable redox-active materials suitable for next-generation energy storage systems. Their high electron-transfer capacity, structural flexibility, and remarkable chemical stability make them ideal candidates for various applications. POMs can facilitate multi-electron redox processes, allowing for their application in batteries, supercapacitors, and hybrid devices, which results in improved energy density and cycling performance. Recent developments in POM-based composites and electrode designs are further discussed for innovative, sustainable, and scalable energy storage solutions. Additionally, their tunable electrical and magnetic properties make them effective sensors for detecting various environmental pollutants.
{"title":"Polyoxometalates in Environmental Remediation and Energy Storage","authors":"Ingrid Gregorovic, Nahid Lotfian, Ruhollah Khajavian, Sukanya Maity, Masoud Mirzaei, Sib Sankar Mal, Manuel Aureliano, Annette Rompel","doi":"10.1039/d5en00964b","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d5en00964b","url":null,"abstract":"Over recent decades, while environmental awareness and pollution control efforts have yielded localized improvements, ongoing industrial growth, rapid global population expansion, and escalating energy demands continue to drive significant global environmental pollution challenges. Polyoxometalates, a remarkable class of metal-oxide complexes, have recently emerged as promising compounds in the development of multifunctional materials for environmental pollutant removal, energy conversion and storage, and sensing. This review critically examines current research on their use for the removal of common toxic gases − such as H₂S, NOₓ, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) − from polluted air, as well as the elimination of various organic dyes, heavy metals, and pharmaceutical contaminants from wastewater. POMs have also gained recognition as adaptable redox-active materials suitable for next-generation energy storage systems. Their high electron-transfer capacity, structural flexibility, and remarkable chemical stability make them ideal candidates for various applications. POMs can facilitate multi-electron redox processes, allowing for their application in batteries, supercapacitors, and hybrid devices, which results in improved energy density and cycling performance. Recent developments in POM-based composites and electrode designs are further discussed for innovative, sustainable, and scalable energy storage solutions. Additionally, their tunable electrical and magnetic properties make them effective sensors for detecting various environmental pollutants.","PeriodicalId":73,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Science: Nano","volume":"23 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.131,"publicationDate":"2026-02-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146115870","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abhrajit Debroy, Mrudula Pulimi, N Chandrasekaran, Willie Peijnenburg, Amitava Mukherjee
The role of Algal-EPS in modifying the short-term and long-term toxicity of binary mixtures of TBBPA and GFNs towards the marine Chlorella sp.: Cellular toxicity, uptake, and environmental risk assessment.
{"title":"The role of Algal-EPS in modifying the short-term and long-term toxicity of binary mixtures of TBBPA and GFNs towards the marine Chlorella sp.: Cellular toxicity, uptake, and environmental risk assessment","authors":"Abhrajit Debroy, Mrudula Pulimi, N Chandrasekaran, Willie Peijnenburg, Amitava Mukherjee","doi":"10.1039/d5en01078k","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d5en01078k","url":null,"abstract":"The role of Algal-EPS in modifying the short-term and long-term toxicity of binary mixtures of TBBPA and GFNs towards the marine Chlorella sp.: Cellular toxicity, uptake, and environmental risk assessment.","PeriodicalId":73,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Science: Nano","volume":"180 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.131,"publicationDate":"2026-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146089272","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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