Pub Date : 2025-12-22DOI: 10.1016/j.hazadv.2025.100984
Atta Rasool, Jan Halfar, Kateřina Brožová, Kristina Čabanová, Jitka Chromíková, Petra Malíková, Oldřich Motyka, Eva Pertile, Silvie Drabinová, Silvie Heviánková
Microplastics (MPs) and heavy metals (HMs) are significant pollutants in aquatic ecosystems, posing substantial risks to both environmental and human health. Despite growing research interest, the quantitative understanding of MPs-HMs interactions remains limited due to methodological inconsistencies and insufficient cross-study data synthesis. This review presents a data-driven and mechanistic evaluation of these interactions, focusing on sorption and desorption mechanisms and the impact of key physicochemical parameters, including pH, salinity, temperature, and dissolved organic matter. Experimental data are analyzed to reveal trends in adsorption capacity across different polymers, particle sizes, and metal species. The review also synthesizes toxicological effects on aquatic organisms and humans and assesses recent advances in modeling and remediation approaches. Hybrid techniques integrating conventional and emerging technologies show promise for the simultaneous removal of MPs and HMs, though challenges persist for large-scale implementation. By linking quantitative trends with mechanistic insights, this review identifies critical knowledge gaps, outlines directions for future experimental validation, and supports the development of standardized protocols for environmental monitoring, risk assessment, and remediation.
{"title":"Interactions of microplastics with heavy metals in the aquatic environment: Mechanisms and mitigation","authors":"Atta Rasool, Jan Halfar, Kateřina Brožová, Kristina Čabanová, Jitka Chromíková, Petra Malíková, Oldřich Motyka, Eva Pertile, Silvie Drabinová, Silvie Heviánková","doi":"10.1016/j.hazadv.2025.100984","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hazadv.2025.100984","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Microplastics (MPs) and heavy metals (HMs) are significant pollutants in aquatic ecosystems, posing substantial risks to both environmental and human health. Despite growing research interest, the quantitative understanding of MPs-HMs interactions remains limited due to methodological inconsistencies and insufficient cross-study data synthesis. This review presents a data-driven and mechanistic evaluation of these interactions, focusing on sorption and desorption mechanisms and the impact of key physicochemical parameters, including pH, salinity, temperature, and dissolved organic matter. Experimental data are analyzed to reveal trends in adsorption capacity across different polymers, particle sizes, and metal species. The review also synthesizes toxicological effects on aquatic organisms and humans and assesses recent advances in modeling and remediation approaches. Hybrid techniques integrating conventional and emerging technologies show promise for the simultaneous removal of MPs and HMs, though challenges persist for large-scale implementation. By linking quantitative trends with mechanistic insights, this review identifies critical knowledge gaps, outlines directions for future experimental validation, and supports the development of standardized protocols for environmental monitoring, risk assessment, and remediation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73763,"journal":{"name":"Journal of hazardous materials advances","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 100984"},"PeriodicalIF":7.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145924809","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-17DOI: 10.1016/j.hazadv.2025.100982
Jiajing Wang , Fangfang Hao , Peiran Yu , Wenjuan Wu , Junjie Liu , Yijun Song
With the aim to investigate the impact of in-vehicle toluene exposure on working memory (WM) retrieval networks, twenty-three healthy adults underwent 4-hour exposures to toluene at concentrations of 0, 17.5, 35, or 70 ppb within a simulated vehicle. After exposure, all participants completed a WM task while cortical electroencephalography signals were recorded. The functional connectivity (FC) strengths of WM retrieval networks were compared across the four groups using direct transfer function (DTF) analysis. Results indicated that exposure to 70 ppb toluene significantly increased the FC strengths of the WM retrieval network, particularly in the frontal cortex (P < 0.05). Specifically, DTF values for FZ-T5, FZ-F3, F3-T5, F4-T6, and F7-T5 were higher at 70 ppb than those at 0 ppb (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, P < 0.001, P < 0.05, P < 0.05, respectively). The DTF values for FZ-F3 and F3-T5 at 35 ppb were higher than those at 0 ppb (P < 0.01). The DTFFZ-F3 value at 17.5 ppb was higher than that at 0 ppb (P < 0.01). The results suggest that even ppb-level, in-vehicle toluene exposure can significantly impact WM retrieval networks. The observed increase in FC strengths involved the medial prefrontal-to-left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex network, and several prefrontal-to-inferior temporal gyrus pathways. This dose-dependent enhancement of FC within critical cognitive networks presents a plausible neurophysiological mechanism for how in-vehicle toluene exposure may disrupt normal WM retrieval processes.
{"title":"In-vehicle toluene exposure affects functional connectivity of working memory retrieval networks","authors":"Jiajing Wang , Fangfang Hao , Peiran Yu , Wenjuan Wu , Junjie Liu , Yijun Song","doi":"10.1016/j.hazadv.2025.100982","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hazadv.2025.100982","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>With the aim to investigate the impact of in-vehicle toluene exposure on working memory (WM) retrieval networks, twenty-three healthy adults underwent 4-hour exposures to toluene at concentrations of 0, 17.5, 35, or 70 ppb within a simulated vehicle. After exposure, all participants completed a WM task while cortical electroencephalography signals were recorded. The functional connectivity (FC) strengths of WM retrieval networks were compared across the four groups using direct transfer function (DTF) analysis. Results indicated that exposure to 70 ppb toluene significantly increased the FC strengths of the WM retrieval network, particularly in the frontal cortex (<em>P</em> < 0.05). Specifically, DTF values for FZ-T5, FZ-F3, F3-T5, F4-T6, and F7-T5 were higher at 70 ppb than those at 0 ppb (<em>P</em> < 0.05, <em>P</em> < 0.01, <em>P</em> < 0.001, <em>P</em> < 0.05, <em>P</em> < 0.05, respectively). The DTF values for FZ-F3 and F3-T5 at 35 ppb were higher than those at 0 ppb (<em>P</em> < 0.01). The DTF<sub>FZ-F3</sub> value at 17.5 ppb was higher than that at 0 ppb (<em>P</em> < 0.01). The results suggest that even ppb-level, in-vehicle toluene exposure can significantly impact WM retrieval networks. The observed increase in FC strengths involved the medial prefrontal-to-left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex network, and several prefrontal-to-inferior temporal gyrus pathways. This dose-dependent enhancement of FC within critical cognitive networks presents a plausible neurophysiological mechanism for how in-vehicle toluene exposure may disrupt normal WM retrieval processes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73763,"journal":{"name":"Journal of hazardous materials advances","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 100982"},"PeriodicalIF":7.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145924730","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-16DOI: 10.1016/j.hazadv.2025.100981
Nafeesa Khatoon , Sartaj Ali , Zeyang Li , Mingyi Xue , Yue Han , Teng Pan , Xiaoan Zhang , Zengli Yu , Xin Zhao
Heavy metal toxicity seriously threatens the health of people, plants, and the food chain in developing countries. A review of the Science Direct, PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Springer, and Scopus databases was performed to assess the sources, exposure, toxicity mechanism, human health aspects, and detection techniques related to Cd, Cr, Mn, Ni, and Cu between 2019 and 2024. Moreover, AI-powered models particularly Random Forest (RF) for predictive analysis and Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) for spatial mapping to highlight significant contamination hotspot, were examined for their efficiency and reliability to identify and detect the distribution of heavy metals. The environment is frequently polluted with heavy metals as a result of improper home waste disposal, industrial and agricultural operations, and overuse of pesticides and fertilizers in developing countries. China contributed the most to heavy metals research, followed by the United States. The accumulation and exposure to heavy metals lead to potential outcomes in humans. Long-term exposure to certain heavy metals is significantly associated with increased risk of developing various cancer types such as prostate, lung, throat, breast, blood, and brain cancers. The current study found in light of the existing identification and detection techniques' pros and cons, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) is a promising technique to quantify and detect heavy metals owing to its rapid, on-site, and non-destructive screening method.
Based on gaps found in the literature, the current review suggests that integrating AI algorithms with nanotechnology and new biosensor platforms to accomplish high-precision, real-time environmental monitoring is an important future direction. To protect the community, longitudinal health studies, biomonitoring, and the use of green remediation technologies should be encouraged.
在发展中国家，重金属毒性严重威胁着人、植物和食物链的健康。对Science Direct、PubMed、Web of Science、谷歌Scholar、施普林格和Scopus数据库进行了回顾，以评估2019年至2024年间与Cd、Cr、Mn、Ni和Cu相关的来源、暴露、毒性机制、人类健康方面和检测技术。此外，人工智能驱动的模型，特别是用于预测分析的随机森林（RF）和用于空间映射的卷积神经网络（cnn），以突出重要的污染热点，研究了它们识别和检测重金属分布的效率和可靠性。在发展中国家，由于家庭废物处理不当、工业和农业作业以及过度使用杀虫剂和化肥，环境经常受到重金属污染。中国对重金属研究的贡献最大，其次是美国。重金属的积累和暴露会对人类造成潜在的后果。长期接触某些重金属会显著增加患各种癌症的风险，如前列腺癌、肺癌、喉癌、乳腺癌、血癌和脑癌。目前的研究发现，鉴于现有鉴定和检测技术的优缺点，x射线荧光光谱（XRF）以其快速、现场、无损的筛选方法，是一种很有前途的重金属定量和检测技术。基于文献中发现的空白，目前的综述表明，将人工智能算法与纳米技术和新的生物传感器平台相结合，以实现高精度、实时的环境监测是一个重要的未来方向。为保护社区，应鼓励进行纵向健康研究、生物监测和使用绿色修复技术。
{"title":"From source to prediction: Heavy metals toxicity, health risks, detection techniques and AI- enhanced predictive models (2019–2024)","authors":"Nafeesa Khatoon , Sartaj Ali , Zeyang Li , Mingyi Xue , Yue Han , Teng Pan , Xiaoan Zhang , Zengli Yu , Xin Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.hazadv.2025.100981","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hazadv.2025.100981","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Heavy metal toxicity seriously threatens the health of people, plants, and the food chain in developing countries. A review of the Science Direct, PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Springer, and Scopus databases was performed to assess the sources, exposure, toxicity mechanism, human health aspects, and detection techniques related to Cd, Cr, Mn, Ni, and Cu between 2019 and 2024. Moreover, AI-powered models particularly Random Forest (RF) for predictive analysis and Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) for spatial mapping to highlight significant contamination hotspot, were examined for their efficiency and reliability to identify and detect the distribution of heavy metals. The environment is frequently polluted with heavy metals as a result of improper home waste disposal, industrial and agricultural operations, and overuse of pesticides and fertilizers in developing countries. China contributed the most to heavy metals research, followed by the United States. The accumulation and exposure to heavy metals lead to potential outcomes in humans. Long-term exposure to certain heavy metals is significantly associated with increased risk of developing various cancer types such as prostate, lung, throat, breast, blood, and brain cancers. The current study found in light of the existing identification and detection techniques' pros and cons, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) is a promising technique to quantify and detect heavy metals owing to its rapid, on-site, and non-destructive screening method.</div><div>Based on gaps found in the literature, the current review suggests that integrating AI algorithms with nanotechnology and new biosensor platforms to accomplish high-precision, real-time environmental monitoring is an important future direction. To protect the community, longitudinal health studies, biomonitoring, and the use of green remediation technologies should be encouraged.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73763,"journal":{"name":"Journal of hazardous materials advances","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 100981"},"PeriodicalIF":7.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145924811","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-15DOI: 10.1016/j.hazadv.2025.100979
Afuwa Kagoya , Kenneth Arinaitwe , Silver Odongo , Douglas Sifuna , Henry Matovu , Julius Matsiko , Godfrey Muhwezi , Ivan Špánik , Charles Drago Kato , Mika Sillanpaä , Patrick Ssebugere
Lake Victoria, the world’s second-largest freshwater lake, continues to face pressure from anthropogenic activities in its catchment area, releasing pollutants, which are ultimately trapped in the sediment core, thereby posing threats to aquatic organisms. This study quantified thirteen organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and ten polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in sediments from the Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania sides of Lake Victoria using soxhlet method, fractionation column and GC–MS/MS analysis. Total (∑13) OCPs levels were up to 412, 148, and 522 µg kg-1 dry weight (d.w), and 12.1, 8.69 and 9.87 µg kg-1 dw for total (∑10) PCBs for sediments from Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania, respectively. Diagnostic ratios suggested past and ongoing use of OCPs while principal component analysis confirmed that OCP profiles were mainly due to their application in controlling pests in agriculture and public health programs, and PCB congeners were largely due to volatilization, degradation of higher PCBs into lighter PCBs, improper waste disposal of old transformers, hydraulic fluids, plasticizers, and capacitors. Ecological risk assessment highlighted that the PCB levels in sediments were below threshold effect and probable effect levels, but p,p′-DDD, and lindane were likely to pose adverse effects to sediment-dwelling organisms in Lake Victoria. These results imply persistent pollutant loads in Lake Victoria, and consequently, a need for its enhanced management.
{"title":"Anthropogenic footprint and ecological risk assessment of organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in sediments from Lake Victoria, East Africa","authors":"Afuwa Kagoya , Kenneth Arinaitwe , Silver Odongo , Douglas Sifuna , Henry Matovu , Julius Matsiko , Godfrey Muhwezi , Ivan Špánik , Charles Drago Kato , Mika Sillanpaä , Patrick Ssebugere","doi":"10.1016/j.hazadv.2025.100979","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hazadv.2025.100979","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Lake Victoria, the world’s second-largest freshwater lake, continues to face pressure from anthropogenic activities in its catchment area, releasing pollutants, which are ultimately trapped in the sediment core, thereby posing threats to aquatic organisms. This study quantified thirteen organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and ten polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in sediments from the Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania sides of Lake Victoria using soxhlet method, fractionation column and GC–MS/MS analysis. Total (∑<sub>13</sub>) OCPs levels were up to 412, 148, and 522 µg kg<sup>-1</sup> dry weight (d.w), and 12.1, 8.69 and 9.87 µg kg<sup>-1</sup> dw for total (∑<sub>10</sub>) PCBs for sediments from Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania, respectively. Diagnostic ratios suggested past and ongoing use of OCPs while principal component analysis confirmed that OCP profiles were mainly due to their application in controlling pests in agriculture and public health programs, and PCB congeners were largely due to volatilization, degradation of higher PCBs into lighter PCBs, improper waste disposal of old transformers, hydraulic fluids, plasticizers, and capacitors. Ecological risk assessment highlighted that the PCB levels in sediments were below threshold effect and probable effect levels, but <em>p,p</em>′-DDD, and lindane were likely to pose adverse effects to sediment-dwelling organisms in Lake Victoria. These results imply persistent pollutant loads in Lake Victoria, and consequently, a need for its enhanced management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73763,"journal":{"name":"Journal of hazardous materials advances","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 100979"},"PeriodicalIF":7.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145924732","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-15DOI: 10.1016/j.hazadv.2025.100980
Dong-Jin Joe , Man-Sik Choi , Yun-ho Song
Understanding the long-term evolution and sources of metal contamination in lacustrine environments is essential for assessing ecological risks and informing remediation. This study reconstructs the historical and spatial distribution of heavy metals in sediments of Andong Lake, an artificial reservoir in South Korea impacted by legacy mining and smelting activities. Eight sediment cores were collected along the lake’s main axis and analyzed for geochemical properties and concentrations of cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), arsenic (As), nickel (Ni), manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), and lithium (Li).
Sediment chronology was constrained using 210Pb dating and stratigraphic boundaries corresponding to dam construction in 1976. Vertical metal profiles revealed two contamination phases: (1) substantial enrichment of Cd, Zn, Cu, Pb, Ni, Mn, and Co during 1976–1995, linked to discharges from upstream Pb–Zn mines (mining-derived materials, MDMs), and (2) renewed increases in Cd and Zn since 2005, associated with emissions from a Zn smelter (smelting-derived materials, SDMs).
By integrating Li-normalized metal ratios and historical production data, the relative contributions of MDMs and SDMs to baseline sediments (1995–2005) were quantified. MDMs contributed up to 42.6 % of Cd and 50.0 % of Zn during the early post-dam phase (1976–1995), while SDMs accounted for approximately 42.8 % of Cd and 29.7 % of Zn in recent decades (2005–2020).
This study establishes a transferable framework that integrates sediment chronology, normalized geochemical indicators, and industrial production records to trace long-term metal contamination in large artificial lakes—providing new insights for pollution source apportionment and reservoir management.
{"title":"Long-term source apportionment and assessment of metals in lake sediments contaminated by mining and smelting in South Korea","authors":"Dong-Jin Joe , Man-Sik Choi , Yun-ho Song","doi":"10.1016/j.hazadv.2025.100980","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hazadv.2025.100980","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Understanding the long-term evolution and sources of metal contamination in lacustrine environments is essential for assessing ecological risks and informing remediation. This study reconstructs the historical and spatial distribution of heavy metals in sediments of Andong Lake, an artificial reservoir in South Korea impacted by legacy mining and smelting activities. Eight sediment cores were collected along the lake’s main axis and analyzed for geochemical properties and concentrations of cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), arsenic (As), nickel (Ni), manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), and lithium (Li).</div><div>Sediment chronology was constrained using <sup>210</sup>Pb dating and stratigraphic boundaries corresponding to dam construction in 1976. Vertical metal profiles revealed two contamination phases: (1) substantial enrichment of Cd, Zn, Cu, Pb, Ni, Mn, and Co during 1976–1995, linked to discharges from upstream Pb–Zn mines (mining-derived materials, MDMs), and (2) renewed increases in Cd and Zn since 2005, associated with emissions from a Zn smelter (smelting-derived materials, SDMs).</div><div>By integrating Li-normalized metal ratios and historical production data, the relative contributions of MDMs and SDMs to baseline sediments (1995–2005) were quantified. MDMs contributed up to 42.6 % of Cd and 50.0 % of Zn during the early post-dam phase (1976–1995), while SDMs accounted for approximately 42.8 % of Cd and 29.7 % of Zn in recent decades (2005–2020).</div><div>This study establishes a transferable framework that integrates sediment chronology, normalized geochemical indicators, and industrial production records to trace long-term metal contamination in large artificial lakes—providing new insights for pollution source apportionment and reservoir management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73763,"journal":{"name":"Journal of hazardous materials advances","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 100980"},"PeriodicalIF":7.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145790576","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-14DOI: 10.1016/j.hazadv.2025.100978
Saireen Ahsen , Shuxin Tu , Muhammad Ahmad Javeed , Khurram Shehzad , Muhammad Baqir Hussain
Germanium (Ge) exhibits dual effects in plants, ranging from beneficial to toxic, depending on its concentration and the plant genotype. A germination-based screening of 18 diverse rice varieties identified TXY2115 and CLY669 as tolerant, and ZXY1205 and ZZY8 as sensitive to Ge stress. This study elucidates the physiological and molecular mechanisms underpinning this differential tolerance under escalating Ge stress (0–40 mg l-1). The tolerant genotypes effectively mitigated Ge toxicity, sustaining superior growth, higher biomass, and preserving photosynthetic function, evidenced by 18–25 % higher stomatal conductance. This superior photosynthetic function, despite similar percent reductions in total chlorophyll content (56 % in tolerant vs. 54 % in sensitive varieties at 40 mg l-1 Ge), is explained by two key traits: (1) tolerant varieties retained a higher chlorophyll a/b ratio (1.8 ± 0.1 vs. 1.4 ± 0.1 in sensitive genotypes), preserving photosystem II (PSII) stability, and (2) stronger coupling between stomatal conductance (Gs) and net photosynthetic rate (Pn) (r = 0.83, p < 0.01), as observed in arsenic-tolerant rice. The cornerstone of their tolerance was a preemptive and highly coordinated antioxidant defense system. This was characterized by a significantly enhanced capacity to activate antioxidant enzymes (11–40 % higher Superoxide Dismutase,(SOD) and Catalase (CAT) activity), boost key metabolites like glutathione (33 % higher root GSH), and strongly upregulate the expression of core antioxidant genes (OsSOD1 and OsCAT1). This robust multi-level response effectively curtailed oxidative damage, resulting in 37–53 % lower ROS and 45–58 % lower Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels than the sensitive varieties at high Ge concentrations. This research provides a critical framework for assessing Ge’s role in agriculture, its mitigation, and identifies specific targets for breeding crops resilient to Ge stress or suitable for Ge biofortification.
{"title":"Genotypic variation in physiological and molecular responses underpins differential germanium tolerance in rice (Oryza sativa L.)","authors":"Saireen Ahsen , Shuxin Tu , Muhammad Ahmad Javeed , Khurram Shehzad , Muhammad Baqir Hussain","doi":"10.1016/j.hazadv.2025.100978","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hazadv.2025.100978","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Germanium (Ge) exhibits dual effects in plants, ranging from beneficial to toxic, depending on its concentration and the plant genotype. A germination-based screening of 18 diverse rice varieties identified TXY2115 and CLY669 as tolerant, and ZXY1205 and ZZY8 as sensitive to Ge stress. This study elucidates the physiological and molecular mechanisms underpinning this differential tolerance under escalating Ge stress (0–40 mg <span>l</span><sup>-1</sup>). The tolerant genotypes effectively mitigated Ge toxicity, sustaining superior growth, higher biomass, and preserving photosynthetic function, evidenced by 18–25 % higher stomatal conductance. This superior photosynthetic function, despite similar percent reductions in total chlorophyll content (56 % in tolerant vs. 54 % in sensitive varieties at 40 mg <span>l</span><sup>-1</sup> Ge), is explained by two key traits: (1) tolerant varieties retained a higher chlorophyll a/b ratio (1.8 ± 0.1 vs. 1.4 ± 0.1 in sensitive genotypes), preserving photosystem II (PSII) stability, and (2) stronger coupling between stomatal conductance (Gs) and net photosynthetic rate (Pn) (<em>r</em> = 0.83, <em>p</em> < 0.01), as observed in arsenic-tolerant rice. The cornerstone of their tolerance was a preemptive and highly coordinated antioxidant defense system. This was characterized by a significantly enhanced capacity to activate antioxidant enzymes (11–40 % higher Superoxide Dismutase,(SOD) and Catalase (CAT) activity), boost key metabolites like glutathione (33 % higher root GSH), and strongly upregulate the expression of core antioxidant genes (<em>OsSOD1</em> and <em>OsCAT1</em>). This robust multi-level response effectively curtailed oxidative damage, resulting in 37–53 % lower ROS and 45–58 % lower Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels than the sensitive varieties at high Ge concentrations. This research provides a critical framework for assessing Ge’s role in agriculture, its mitigation, and identifies specific targets for breeding crops resilient to Ge stress or suitable for Ge biofortification.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73763,"journal":{"name":"Journal of hazardous materials advances","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 100978"},"PeriodicalIF":7.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145924733","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-13DOI: 10.1016/j.hazadv.2025.100976
Tanissorn Buakaew , Chavalit Ratanatamskul
The widespread presence of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in wastewater, along with the persistent issue of membrane fouling, has intensified the demand for enhanced membrane bioreactor (MBR) performance. This review critically evaluates in-situ technologies designed to improve PPCP removal while reducing membrane fouling within MBR systems. Strategies include MBR configuration modifications, optimization of operational parameters, microbial manipulation approaches, and the dosing of exogenous physicochemical additives (e.g., activated carbon, coagulants, iron-based compounds). Furthermore, advanced techniques such as electrically assisted MBR, advanced oxidation process (AOP) assisted MBRs, and the development of novel membrane materials and surface coatings are discussed for their dual functionalities in pollutant removal and fouling resistance. Each approach presents specific advantages and limitations in terms of removal efficiency, operational complexity, cost, and environmental impact. This review emphasizes the importance of integrating multiple strategies in a synergistic manner, supported by intelligent monitoring, automation, and sustainability principles. Future advancements should focus on hybrid systems that combine biological, chemical, and physical enhancements with cost-effective and energy-efficient operation, paving the way for next-generation MBR technologies capable of delivering high-performance, low-impact wastewater treatment.
{"title":"A review of in-situ technologies for enhancement of the removal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) and mitigation of membrane fouling in membrane bioreactors","authors":"Tanissorn Buakaew , Chavalit Ratanatamskul","doi":"10.1016/j.hazadv.2025.100976","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hazadv.2025.100976","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The widespread presence of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in wastewater, along with the persistent issue of membrane fouling, has intensified the demand for enhanced membrane bioreactor (MBR) performance. This review critically evaluates in-situ technologies designed to improve PPCP removal while reducing membrane fouling within MBR systems. Strategies include MBR configuration modifications, optimization of operational parameters, microbial manipulation approaches, and the dosing of exogenous physicochemical additives (e.g., activated carbon, coagulants, iron-based compounds). Furthermore, advanced techniques such as electrically assisted MBR, advanced oxidation process (AOP) assisted MBRs, and the development of novel membrane materials and surface coatings are discussed for their dual functionalities in pollutant removal and fouling resistance. Each approach presents specific advantages and limitations in terms of removal efficiency, operational complexity, cost, and environmental impact. This review emphasizes the importance of integrating multiple strategies in a synergistic manner, supported by intelligent monitoring, automation, and sustainability principles. Future advancements should focus on hybrid systems that combine biological, chemical, and physical enhancements with cost-effective and energy-efficient operation, paving the way for next-generation MBR technologies capable of delivering high-performance, low-impact wastewater treatment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73763,"journal":{"name":"Journal of hazardous materials advances","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 100976"},"PeriodicalIF":7.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145790581","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-13DOI: 10.1016/j.hazadv.2025.100977
S. Trotta , G. Binda , M.F. Ferrario , A. Pozzi , A.M. Michetti
The mobility of arsenic (As) in groundwater is governed by dynamic interactions at the sediment-water interface, where both mineral reactivity and aqueous chemistry play key roles. In the Como aquifer (Northern Italy), As distribution is vertically heterogeneous: shallow horizons remain below the WHO limit of 10 µg/L, whereas deeper zones reach concentrations up to 250 µg/L. Although this variability is well documented, the underlying mechanisms remain only partially understood. To address this gap, we performed batch experiments on shallow and deep aquifer sediments with contrasting composition, systematically varying pH, electrical conductivity, and dissolved organic carbon in a full-factorial design of experiment. Results revealed nonlinear adsorption responses and sediment-specific behaviours. Shallow sediments exhibited stronger and more stable As retention, associated with higher contents of Fe-, Al-, and Mn-(hydr)oxides and greater cation exchange capacity. In contrast, deep-aquifer sediments showed weaker and more variable adsorption, especially under acidic, DOC-enriched, and high-conductivity conditions. Response surface models confirmed that sediment composition governs As retention capacity, while water chemistry modulates its efficiency. This integrative approach links laboratory adsorption patterns with field-scale As distribution, providing a mechanistic explanation for the observed vertical heterogeneity in the Como aquifer and supporting predictive assessment of groundwater vulnerability.
{"title":"A design of experiments approach to arsenic retention: Interactions between sediment properties and water chemistry","authors":"S. Trotta , G. Binda , M.F. Ferrario , A. Pozzi , A.M. Michetti","doi":"10.1016/j.hazadv.2025.100977","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hazadv.2025.100977","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The mobility of arsenic (As) in groundwater is governed by dynamic interactions at the sediment-water interface, where both mineral reactivity and aqueous chemistry play key roles. In the Como aquifer (Northern Italy), As distribution is vertically heterogeneous: shallow horizons remain below the WHO limit of 10 µg/L, whereas deeper zones reach concentrations up to 250 µg/L. Although this variability is well documented, the underlying mechanisms remain only partially understood. To address this gap, we performed batch experiments on shallow and deep aquifer sediments with contrasting composition, systematically varying pH, electrical conductivity, and dissolved organic carbon in a full-factorial design of experiment. Results revealed nonlinear adsorption responses and sediment-specific behaviours. Shallow sediments exhibited stronger and more stable As retention, associated with higher contents of Fe-, Al-, and Mn-(hydr)oxides and greater cation exchange capacity. In contrast, deep-aquifer sediments showed weaker and more variable adsorption, especially under acidic, DOC-enriched, and high-conductivity conditions. Response surface models confirmed that sediment composition governs As retention capacity, while water chemistry modulates its efficiency. This integrative approach links laboratory adsorption patterns with field-scale As distribution, providing a mechanistic explanation for the observed vertical heterogeneity in the Como aquifer and supporting predictive assessment of groundwater vulnerability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73763,"journal":{"name":"Journal of hazardous materials advances","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 100977"},"PeriodicalIF":7.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145790578","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-13DOI: 10.1016/j.hazadv.2025.100973
Jingwen Zhang , Yongming Wu , Zhangjun Liu , Yajun Liu , Mi Deng , Xiangming Liu , Rongfu Li , Zeyong Chi
The study investigates the complex mixture of geogenic contaminants (GCs) in the groundwater of the Ganjiang River Delta via hydrochemical, isotopic, and multivariate statistical methods, focusing on their co-occurrence patterns and evolutionary mechanisms. Fe, Mn, As, NH4+-N, S(II), I, and P were identified as the main GCs, with strong correlations observed between Mn and I, whereas Fe, P, As, and NH4+-N were closely associated. Under weakly reducing conditions, the reductive dissolution of I-bearing Mn(IV)-oxides caused the co-occurrence of I and Mn. As the reducing environment intensifies, the evolution of GCs diverged into two geochemical pathways based on organic matter (OM) availability. In organic-rich areas, the reductive dissolution of As-bearing Fe(III)-oxides coupled with As(V) reduction led to moderate concentrations of Fe and As. Subsequently, the consumption of labile OM triggered Mn(II)-dependent autotrophic denitrification (AuDen), which lowered Mn and I concentrations in a strongly reducing environment. In contrast, in organic-poor areas, the reductive dissolution of Fe(III)-oxides induced by iron ammonium oxidation, along with secondary As(V) adsorption, caused the decoupling of As and Fe. This was followed by Fe(II)-dependent AuDen, which decreased Fe and related GCs concentrations in a strongly reducing environment. Under deeply reducing conditions, both pathways were dominated by the crystalline Fe(III)-oxides-mediated degradation of refractory OM, leading to the co-release of GCs. This study highlights the controlling roles of redox conditions and OM in the formation and evolution of complex geogenic contaminated groundwater (CGCG). Our results also suggest that enhancing AuDen may be a promising in-situ remediation strategy for CGCG.
{"title":"Understanding the co-occurrence patterns and geochemical evolution pathways of complex geogenic groundwater contamination: A case study of the Ganjiang River Delta","authors":"Jingwen Zhang , Yongming Wu , Zhangjun Liu , Yajun Liu , Mi Deng , Xiangming Liu , Rongfu Li , Zeyong Chi","doi":"10.1016/j.hazadv.2025.100973","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hazadv.2025.100973","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The study investigates the complex mixture of geogenic contaminants (GCs) in the groundwater of the Ganjiang River Delta via hydrochemical, isotopic, and multivariate statistical methods, focusing on their co-occurrence patterns and evolutionary mechanisms. Fe, Mn, As, NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>-N, S(II), I, and P were identified as the main GCs, with strong correlations observed between Mn and I, whereas Fe, P, As, and NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>-N were closely associated. Under weakly reducing conditions, the reductive dissolution of I-bearing Mn(IV)-oxides caused the co-occurrence of I and Mn. As the reducing environment intensifies, the evolution of GCs diverged into two geochemical pathways based on organic matter (OM) availability. In organic-rich areas, the reductive dissolution of As-bearing Fe(III)-oxides coupled with As(V) reduction led to moderate concentrations of Fe and As. Subsequently, the consumption of labile OM triggered Mn(II)-dependent autotrophic denitrification (AuDen), which lowered Mn and I concentrations in a strongly reducing environment. In contrast, in organic-poor areas, the reductive dissolution of Fe(III)-oxides induced by iron ammonium oxidation, along with secondary As(V) adsorption, caused the decoupling of As and Fe. This was followed by Fe(II)-dependent AuDen, which decreased Fe and related GCs concentrations in a strongly reducing environment. Under deeply reducing conditions, both pathways were dominated by the crystalline Fe(III)-oxides-mediated degradation of refractory OM, leading to the co-release of GCs. This study highlights the controlling roles of redox conditions and OM in the formation and evolution of complex geogenic contaminated groundwater (CGCG). Our results also suggest that enhancing AuDen may be a promising in-situ remediation strategy for CGCG.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73763,"journal":{"name":"Journal of hazardous materials advances","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 100973"},"PeriodicalIF":7.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145790582","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Chlorine‑rich solid recovered fuel (Cl‑SRF) poses persistent risks of polychlorinated dibenzo‑p‑dioxin and dibenzofuran (PCDD/F) formation and a high operational burden on air‑pollution control systems (APCS). Meanwhile, the valorization of nitrous oxide (N₂O) in waste‑to‑energy systems remains underexplored, creating a gap between emission control needs and oxidant utilization. This study pioneers a "waste-treats-waste" strategy by integrating gasification-flameless combustion (GFCM) with N₂O-assisted combustion (NACM) to simultaneously suppress PCDD/Fs and utilize residual N₂O. Pilot‑scale tests with chlorine‑rich SRF (1.58 wt%) show that NACM achieves a 95.7 % reduction in total PCDD/F mass concentration (to 15.3 ng/Nm³) and lowers stack toxicity to 0.044 ng WHO‑TEQ/Nm³, well below stringent limits. GFCM reduced conventional CO and NOx emissions by 36 % and 66 %, respectively, versus diffusion combustion (DCM), while NACM maintains NOx 52 % below DCM and improves thermal homogeneity in the primary chamber. Perfectly stirred reactor kinetic modeling indicates that reactive oxygen radicals from N₂O decomposition inhibit chlorinated precursors with a negligible NOx penalty. Ultimately, this approach enables the safe valorization of high-chlorine waste fuels, demonstrating a robust pathway for a circular economy by converting problematic waste streams into sustainable energy.
富氯固体回收燃料（Cl - SRF）持续存在形成多氯二苯并对二恶英和二苯并呋喃（PCDD/F）的风险，并给空气污染控制系统（APCS）带来沉重的运行负担。与此同时，一氧化二氮（N₂O）在废物转化为能源系统中的价值仍未得到充分探索，这在排放控制需求和氧化剂利用之间造成了差距。本研究开创了一种“废物-处理-废物”策略，通过将气化-无火焰燃烧（GFCM）与N₂辅助燃烧（ncm）相结合，同时抑制PCDD/Fs并利用剩余N₂O。富氯SRF （1.58 wt%）的中试规模试验表明，ncm可将PCDD/F总质量浓度降低95.7%（降至15.3 ng/Nm³），并将堆叠毒性降低至0.044 ng WHO‑TEQ/Nm³，远低于严格的限值。与扩散燃烧（DCM）相比，GFCM将传统的CO和NOx排放量分别降低了36%和66%，而ncm将NOx排放量保持在比DCM低52%的水平，并改善了主燃烧室的热均匀性。完全搅拌反应器动力学模型表明，N₂O分解产生的活性氧自由基对氯化前驱体的抑制作用可以忽略不计。最终，这种方法能够使高氯废物燃料安全增值，通过将有问题的废物流转化为可持续能源，展示了循环经济的有力途径。
{"title":"Gasification-flameless and N₂O-assisted combustion for ultra-low PCDD/F emissions from chlorine-rich solid recovered fuel","authors":"Sheng-Lun Lin , Wei Tang , Yu-Lun Hsieh , Jhong-Lin Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.hazadv.2025.100971","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hazadv.2025.100971","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Chlorine‑rich solid recovered fuel (Cl‑SRF) poses persistent risks of polychlorinated dibenzo‑p‑dioxin and dibenzofuran (PCDD/F) formation and a high operational burden on air‑pollution control systems (APCS). Meanwhile, the valorization of nitrous oxide (N₂O) in waste‑to‑energy systems remains underexplored, creating a gap between emission control needs and oxidant utilization. This study pioneers a \"waste-treats-waste\" strategy by integrating gasification-flameless combustion (GFCM) with N₂O-assisted combustion (NACM) to simultaneously suppress PCDD/Fs and utilize residual N₂O. Pilot‑scale tests with chlorine‑rich SRF (1.58 wt%) show that NACM achieves a 95.7 % reduction in total PCDD/F mass concentration (to 15.3 ng/Nm³) and lowers stack toxicity to 0.044 ng WHO‑TEQ/Nm³, well below stringent limits. GFCM reduced conventional CO and NOx emissions by 36 % and 66 %, respectively, versus diffusion combustion (DCM), while NACM maintains NOx 52 % below DCM and improves thermal homogeneity in the primary chamber. Perfectly stirred reactor kinetic modeling indicates that reactive oxygen radicals from N₂O decomposition inhibit chlorinated precursors with a negligible NOx penalty. Ultimately, this approach enables the safe valorization of high-chlorine waste fuels, demonstrating a robust pathway for a circular economy by converting problematic waste streams into sustainable energy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73763,"journal":{"name":"Journal of hazardous materials advances","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 100971"},"PeriodicalIF":7.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145790579","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
扫码关注我们
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：
京公网安备 11010802042870号