Journal of hazardous materials最新文献

In electrochemical oxidation (EO) wastewater treatment, the more recent 2.5D electrode system relying on appropriate amount of physically fixed micro/nano-scale particles on the main electrode surface offers several key advantages over conventional 2D/3D electrode system, such as prominent versatility and recyclability. However, the full potential of the 2.5D electrode system has not been released so far due to the insufficient utilization of the massive inner active sites. To overcome this challenge, in this study, a novel 2.5D electrode flow-through reactor coupling system (2.5D-FT system) was developed, which featured by a hierarchical porous electrode architecture (novel Sb-SnO₂ coated molecular sieve particles loaded on porous RuO₂-TiO₂ or Sb-SnO₂ main electrode) and a staggered-flow-enhanced mass-transfer paradigm, allowing pollutants to fully contact the numerous inner active sites. Results show that the molecular sieve based particles greatly increases the active sites and reduces the electrode impedance. Various model pollutants including acidic red G, bisphenol A, tetracycline, and ciprofloxacin could be degraded more efficiently (e.g., up to 100 % removal) by a single-pass EO process. The enhancement of radical pathway (•OH, •O₂^-) and non-radical pathway (¹O₂), as well as the direct electron transfer (DET) process originating from the hybrid composition and unique structure of the novel 2.5D-FT system, is confirmed by quenching experiment results and multiphysics simulation results. In addition, results of anti-inference and durability tests, energy consumption evaluation, real wastewater treatment and toxicity assessment demonstrate the competitive practicability of the novel 2.5D-FT system.

The rising incidence of multimetal contamination highlights limitations of static dose-addition (TU-CA) ecotoxicological models, which fail to capture concentration-dependent nonlinear interactions. Using short-term phytotests with Brassica napus and Sorghum bicolor in representative purple soils, this study quantifies concentration-dependent interactions among Cd, Pb and As under single and combined exposures, and develops a concentration-driven mechanistic framework. This study proposes the "functional dominance structure" and a nonlinear toxicity-regulation model driven by limitation-interference-reconfiguration, incorporating a sign function and TU-RGR residual correction to reconcile theoretical predictions with observed responses. Single Cd exposure elicited B. napus at low doses (EC₁₅₀ shoot/root = 6.75/1.62 mg·kg⁻¹) with attenuated effects at higher concentrations, whereas S. bicolor showed no significant response. Pb and As induced continuous dose-dependent inhibition in both species, with As exhibiting the highest toxicity (IC₅₀ for B. napus shoots/roots = 115/82 mg·kg⁻¹; S. bicolor = 218/134 mg·kg⁻¹).All metal combinations exhibited nonlinear shifts from low-dose buffering or synergy toward pronounced antagonism at higher doses (toxicity ranking: Cd-As > Cd-Pb > Cd-Pb-As > Pb-As). Functional dominance is characterized by As acting as the primary toxicant, Cd functioning as a modulator, and Pb serving as an auxiliary competitor; sensitivity patterns were consistent across species and organs, with roots generally more vulnerable.This concentration-driven framework enhances mechanistic risk assessment and can inform rapid field triage and prioritized remediation strategies for multimetal-contaminated soils.

PM_2.5 and its major component nitrate both pose serious threats to human health. Despite progress under China's Clean Air Action Plan since 2013, severe haze events still occur frequently, with nitrate aerosols showing limited response to NOx reductions. Quantifying trans-regional transport's contribution to nitrate pollution remains challenging. Here, we conducted dual isotopes of nitrate collected simultaneously during winter in the North China Plain (NCP) and the Yangtze River Delta (YRD). The results suggested that nocturnal chemistry dominated nitrate formation in both regions. The NO₃+HC process contributed ∼20 % NCP, but negligible in the YRD. While nitrate sources remained stable between clean and haze days in the NCP, local mobile sources showed a higher contribution during haze than during clean days in the YRD. Trans-regional NO₂ from the NCP contributed ∼30 % to the YRD on average (higher on clean days, lower on haze days). Crucially, at the onset of severe YRD haze, transported NCP nitrate particles contributed up to 90 %. Our findings underscore the significant role that trans-regional NO₂ transport from the NCP plays in nitrate aerosol formation in the YRD, emphasizing the need for regional coordination in air quality management.

Parental exposure to permethrin, a widely used insecticide, has been epidemiologically associated with metabolic disorders; however, whether parental permethrin exposure exerts long-term health consequences on offspring and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate that preconception permethrin exposure reprograms offspring metabolism via gut microbiota-mediated disruption of the tryptophan-indole axis. Offspring from exposed parents displayed increased adiposity, glucose intolerance, and dyslipidemia, with more pronounced effects in males. Multi-omics profiling revealed enrichment of Clostridia and sex-specific alterations in microbial tryptophan metabolism, including decreased levels of indole and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) in males, and elevated 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA) in females. Microbiota-depleted mice receiving isolated Clostridia from exposed donors recapitulated the metabolic phenotype, establishing a causal role for gut microbes. Notably, the administration of Lactobacillus plantarum Y1 restored IAA levels, and reversed host metabolic dysfunction. Supplementation with IAA alone similarly ameliorated the phenotype. These findings identify the Clostridia-tryptophan-IAA axis as a critical microbiota-host interface disrupted by environmental toxicants and highlight its therapeutic potential for mitigating intergenerational metabolic risk.

Polyionenes are polymers with antibacterial properties that hold great promise for the development of applications aiming to preserve against microbial surface contamination. In this study, the effect of 6-6 polyionene (PI 6-6) on a model Gram-negative bacterium, Escherichia coli, was deciphered using next-generation, label-free shotgun proteomics. Cells were exposed to two sub-minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the polymer before performing comprehensive proteomic analysis. Under these conditions, the abundance of up to 30 % of the proteins detected was significantly modulated compared to untreated controls. The most strongly impacted biological processes were central metabolism and cellular information processing. Exposure to PI 6-6 induced the production of reactive oxygen species depending on the PI 6-6 concentration. At 0.5x MIC, enzymes involved in hydrogen peroxide detoxification, polyamine and hydrogen sulfide biosynthesis, and sulfur metabolism, were up-modulated. At 0.75x MIC, a higher level of oxidized methionine was detected than in controls. Up-modulation of CspA RNA chaperone alongside other proteins linked to RNA metabolism and ribosome biogenesis was also observed. A large fraction of proteins was also down-modulated under both concentration conditions, with the majority of the top ten down-modulated proteins overlapping between the two treatments. These proteins primarily participate in the glyoxylate/dicarboxylate metabolism and propanoate metabolic pathways, which are both key routes for energy production and carbohydrate metabolism.

Heavy metal(loid)s (HMs) solid-liquid partitioning is crucial for ecological risk assessment in large-scale rivers. However, the roles of microbial communities (generalists vs. specialists) and dissolved organic matter (DOM) composition in regulating HMs dynamics remain unclear. We investigated 77 aquatic sites across the Yangtze River (>1000 km), analyzed HMs distributions and DOM composition, as well as elucidated the mechanisms of HMs solid-liquid partitioning driven by microbial generalist-specialist. HMs primarily originated from natural sources, with limited anthropogenic influence. Community structures, diversity, and metabolic characteristics of bacteria and eukaryotes differed substantially between water and sediments. Bacterial specialists and eukaryotic generalists dominated their respective community formation. From sediments to water, changes in metabolic abundance of bacteria and eukaryotes are key drivers of HMs dynamics and DOM composition, and different taxa influence HMs distribution via distinct pathways. Bacterial specialists indirectly promote HMs retention in sediments through the mediation of protein-like substances. In contrast, eukaryotic generalists directly drive HMs migration into water. Although ecological risks in water were relatively low, most HMs still pose a migration risk from sediments to water, especially As, Cd, and Hg. This study highlights the key roles of microbes and DOM in regulating HMs dynamics, advancing riverine HMs fate understanding.

Thallium (Tl) pollution of natural water sources is one of the serious challenges to the water environment and human health in the country. Despite the low environmental background level, localized threats still exist in polluted areas. In this study, we applied an extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) classification model using 1986 water source Tl data and 12 relevant environmental variables to predict whether the Tl concentration in China's natural waters exceeds 0.1 μg/L, and to identify known and uncollected pollution areas. The results show that the hotspot areas, indicated by the natural water Tl risk map, include several regions in southern and southwestern China. We also explored the influence of important environmental factors related to Tl pollution, revealing that climate, lithology, and human activities combined to form Tl risk patterns. By combining the predicted results with population density maps, we found that densely populated areas facing the impacts of Tl pollution highly overlap with high-risk pollution zones. These findings emphasize the need to pay close attention to water sources at high risk of Tl pollution to ensure the safety of water for residents.

Background: Indoor environmental factors during early life may influence susceptibility to respiratory infections, but their relationship with COVID-19 outcomes in children and parents remains unclear.

Objectives: This study investigates associations between early-life household exposures (fuel type, heating methods, ventilation patterns, redecoration, dampness/mold, incense, and mosquito coil use) and COVID-19 infection and sequelae in children and their parents.

Methods: We conducted a multicenter survey among 20,012 preschool children and their parents (total 60,036 participants) from nine cities in China between December 2019 and May 2023. Logistic regression models were applied, adjusting for sociodemographic and environmental covariates. Sensitivity analyses included adjustment for outdoor air pollutants and climatic factors.

Results: Household factors such as solid fuel use, insufficient ventilation, and indoor dampness/mold were associated with higher odds of COVID-19 infection among children and parents. Use of mechanical ventilation and clean heating systems were associated with lower odds. Associations with long COVID (n = 20 child cases) were exploratory and imprecise.

Conclusions: Indoor household exposures may influence COVID-19 outcomes in children and parents, independent of outdoor air pollution. These findings highlight the potential of improving indoor environments as a preventive measure, but longitudinal studies with clinical verification are needed.

Driven by rapid industrial development, manganese (Mn²⁺) and microplastic pollution pose serious threats to aquatic ecosystems and human neurological health, highlighting the urgent need for effective control strategies. Bioremediation has gained increasing attention in recent years owing to its high efficiency and environmentally friendly nature. In this study, we isolated a Mn²⁺-resistant strain, Bacillus sp. A260, from deep-sea cold seep sediments. This strain displayed exceptional tolerance to 300 mM Mn²⁺ and produced significant quantities of manganese carbonate (MnCO₃). Notably, elevated Mn²⁺ concentrations promoted biofilm formation by strain A260. Further mechanistic investigations revealed a coordinated regulatory network in Bacillus sp. A260, involving MntR-mediated Mn²⁺ homeostasis, YkoY/YceF-dependent Mn²⁺ efflux, and PerR/Fur-regulated Fe/Mn uptake. This network was accompanied by changes in energy metabolism, activation of oxidative stress response, and Spo0A-mediated biofilm synthesis, all of which contributed to the resilience of the strain under Mn²⁺ stress. In addition, Mn²⁺ induced biofilm formation enhanced the microplastic adsorption capacity of strain A260, enabling the simultaneous removal of Mn²⁺ and microplastics. Strain A260 achieved 97 % Mn²⁺ and 96 % microplastic removal at pH 7 and 37 ℃ within 14 days, and exhibited strong adaptability to pH and temperature variations. Thus, Bacillus sp. A260 serves as a robust model for studying microbial metal resistance and is a promising candidate for the simultaneous bioremediation of Mn²⁺ and microplastic contaminants in aquatic environments.

Succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors (SDHIs) have been increasingly used as fungicides in agriculture for decades. Penflufen (PEN) is a widely used chiral fungicide and the acute toxic concentration of S-(+)-PEN was 54 times higher than R-(-)-PEN in zebrafish. However, the toxic effects of rac-PEN and its enantiomers on mammals remain unclear. Here, 7-week-old C57BL/6 mice were exposed to 30 mg/kg bw/d or 100 mg/kg bw/d of rac-PEN and enantiomers for 28 days. Compared with R-(-)-PEN, S-(+)- and rac-PEN significantly decreased the relative weights of the kidney, spleen and testis. The integrated hepatic transcriptomic and non-target metabolomic results suggested that PEN exposure induced oxidation stress, caused glucose metabolism disorder, and disrupted steroid hormones. The specific binding modes in CYP450s might be related to the higher residue and toxic effects of S-(+)-PEN than R-(-)-PEN. Moreover, PEN exposure disrupted hepatic hormones including fibroblast growth factor 21 (Fgf21) and steroid hormone. The changed levels of hepatic pregnenolone, cortisol, and cortisone might be also associated with kidney function. Overall, these results indicated that S-(+)-PEN caused more toxic effects on different endpoints than R-(-)-PEN. These findings would be significant in providing novel insights for understanding the potential health risk of rac-PEN and its enantiomers in mammals.