Identification and visualization of environmental microplastics by Raman imaging based on hyperspectral unmixing coupled machine learning.

Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous contaminants that have become an emerging pollutant of concern, potentially threatening human health and ecosystem environments. Although current detection methods can accurately identify various types of MPs, it remains necessary to develop non-destructive and rapid methods to meet growing demands for detection. Herein, we combine a hyperspectral unmixing method and machine learning to analyse Raman imaging data of environmental MPs.

[Distribution, Respiratory Exposure, and Traceability of Atmospheric Microplastics in Yichang City].

As an emerging environmental pollutant, microplastics have attracted much attention, but the sources and health hazards of atmospheric microplastics (AMPs) remain unclear. In order to explore the distribution characteristics, assess the risk of human respiratory exposure, and analyze the sources of AMPs in different functional areas of Yichang City, AMPs samples from 16 observation points were collected and analyzed, and the HYSPLIT model was used. The results showed that the main shapes of AMPs in Yichang City were fiber, fragment, and film, and six colors were observed including transparent, red, black, green, yellow, and purple.

Global Research Activities on Micro(nano)plastic Toxicity to Earthworms.

Micro(nano)plastics are emerging contaminants that have been shown to cause various ecotoxicological effects on soil biota. Earthworms, as engineers of the ecosystem, play a fundamental role in soil ecosystem processes and have been used as model species in ecotoxicological studies. Research that evaluates micro(nano)plastic toxicity to earthworms has increased greatly over the last decade; however, only few studies have been conducted to highlight the current knowledge and evolving trends of this topic.

Target and suspect screening of pesticide residues in soil samples from peach orchards using liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

Agricultural soil contamination by pesticide residues has become a serious issue of increasing concern due to their high persistence and toxicity to non-target species. However, as the world's largest peach producer, national scale surveys on pesticide residues in peach orchard soils are scarce in China. In this study, a target and suspect screening method covering over 200 pesticides commonly used in peach orchards was developed using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry in MS.

A nationwide survey of 20 legacy brominated flame retardants in indoor dust from China: continuing occurrence, national distribution, and implication for human exposure.

Despite the restrictions on polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDDs), these chemicals are still ubiquitous environmental pollutants. In this study, we measured the concentrations and profiles of 17 PBDE congeners and 3 HBCDD isomers in indoor dust samples collected from 23 provinces and cities across China. The summed concentrations of PBDEs (ΣPBDEs) ranged from 4.

Impact of Biochar on Rhizosphere Bacterial Diversity Restoration Following Chloropicrin Fumigation of Planted Soil.

Chloropicrin (CP) can effectively combat soil-borne diseases but has significant side effects on nontarget microorganisms. The rhizosphere microflora play a crucial role in promoting plant growth and protecting plants from infection by soil-borne pathogens. We conducted a laboratory pot experiment to evaluate the effect of CP on the rhizosphere soil bacterial flora and the effect of biochar amendments on the reconstruction of microbial communities.

Estimation of metal elements content in soil using x-ray fluorescence based on multilayer perceptron.

X-ray fluorescence (XRF) is widely used to rapidly detect heavy metals in soil. Spectra processing has been an important research topic to improve accuracy. In this study, 80 soil samples were analyzed by XRF under indoor conditions, where different preprocessing and quantitative analysis methods were compared in terms of prediction accuracy.

An aptamer affinity column for purification and enrichment of lactoferrin in milk.

As an active glycoprotein with high nutritional value, lactoferrin is widely used in food and medical treatment. Therefore, it is very important to establish an accurate and efficient detection method for lactoferrin. At present, the detection of lactoferrin in milk faces many challenges, such as low separation degree and poor parallelism.

Occurrence, risk assessment, and source of heavy metals in Liaohe River Protected Area from the watershed of Bohai Sea, China.

The occurrence, ecological risk, and source of heavy metals in the Liaohe River Protected Area from the watershed of the Bohai Sea were investigated. The maximum concentrations of Cu, Zn, Ni, Cd, Cr, Pb, and As in water were 8.50, 25.

[Levels, Characteristics, and Potential Source of Micro(meso)plastic Pollution of Soil in Liaohe River Basin].

With the Liaohe River basin as the research object, the morphology, abundance, and distribution characteristics of micro(meso) plastics of soil in Liaohe River basin were studied based on the density flotation principle and the technique of stereo microscope and micro-FTIR and the significant factors affecting the distribution of the micro(meso)plastics and their potential sources were reasonably speculated. The results indicated that the average abundance of the soil micro(meso)plastic is (145.83±211.

Strong sorption of two fungicides onto biodegradable microplastics with emphasis on the negligible role of environmental factors.

Microplastics have attracted much attention in recent years because they are able to interact with other pollutants including pesticides, with implications for the potential risks to biota. However, the sorption behavior of pesticides on microplastics, especially on biodegradable microplastics which are promising alternatives to conventional polymers, has been insufficiently studied. In this study, triadimefon and difenoconazole were selected as model triazole fungicides, and their sorption behavior on a typical biodegradable microplastics (PBS: polybutylene succinate) and two conventional polyethylene (PE) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) microplastics was investigated with batch experiments in an aqueous solution.

PCDD/Fs emissions from secondary copper production synergistically controlled by fabric filters and desulfurization.

The effects of fabric filters and desulfurization systems during secondary copper smelting on polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) concentrations, emission coefficients, and profiles were studied in an oxygen-rich smelting furnace and an anode furnace. In the anode furnace, the toxic equivalent (TEQ) concentration ranges were 0.106-1.

Veterinary antibiotics and estrogen hormones in manures from concentrated animal feedlots and their potential ecological risks.

The spread of pharmaceutically active chemicals (PACs), such as antibiotics and estrogenic hormones from animal manures can pose threats to the ecologic environment. In this work, animal manure samples were collected from 71 concentrated animal feedlots in Northern China and investigated for 24 antibiotics and 4 estrogenic hormones. Results showed that these micropollutants were ubiquitous in manures with the concentration ranges of undetectable (ND)-543,445 μg/kg (mean: 44,568 μg/kg) for antibiotics and ND-249.

Occurrence of dioxin-like POPs in soils from urban green space in a metropolis, North China: implication to human exposure.

Urban green space is a special space for urban life and natural contact and has an important impact on human health. However, little information is available on dioxin-like persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the soils from the specific areas. We measured the concentrations of polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the soils from urban green space in a metropolis, North China, and found total concentrations of PCDD/Fs, PCBs, and PCNs in the range of 11.

An aptamer affinity column for purification and enrichment of aflatoxin B and aflatoxin B in agro-products.

We have developed an aptamer affinity column (AAC) for the purification and enrichment of trace aflatoxin B (AFB) and aflatoxin B (AFB) in genuine agro-products through the covalent conjugation of amino modified aptamer and NHS-activated Sepharose. The coupling and working conditions found to be suitable for this AFB-AAC were examined in regard to coupling time (2 min), loading volume (30 mL), and the methanol concentration (< 10%) used in the loading step. The performance of AFB-AAC was then further evaluated in terms of capacity (329.

Affinity capture of aflatoxin B and B by aptamer-functionalized magnetic agarose microspheres prior to their determination by HPLC.

A novel adsorbent is described for magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) of the aflatoxins AFB and AFB (AFBs). Magnetic agarose microspheres (MAMs) were functionalized with an aptamer to bind the AFBs which then were quantified by HPLC and on-line post-column photochemical derivatization with fluorescence detection. Streptavidin-conjugated MAMs were synthesized first by a highly reproducible strategy.

An oligosorbent-based aptamer affinity column for selective extraction of aflatoxin B prior to HPLC with fluorometric detection.

The article describes an aptamer affinity column for selective solid-phase extraction of aflatoxin B (AFB). Amino-modified aptamer against AFB was immobilized on CNBr-activated Sepharose through a covalent bond. The effects of oligosorbents based on 3'- or 5'-amino-modified sequences with a C6 or a C7 spacer arm were evaluated by UV spectroscopy at 260 nm.

Rapid Screening of Cadmium in Rice and Identification of Geographical Origins by Spectral Method.

The accuracy, repeatability and detection limits of the energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometer used in this study were tested to verify its suitability for rapid screening of cadmium in samples. Concentrations of cadmium in rice grain samples were tested by the XRF spectrometer. The results showed that the apparatus had good precision around the national limit value (0.

Graphene-Derivatized Silica Composite as Solid-Phase Extraction Sorbent Combined with GC-MS/MS for the Determination of Polycyclic Musks in Aqueous Samples.

Polycyclic musks (PCMs) have recently received growing attention as emerging contaminants because of their bioaccumulation and potential ecotoxicological effects. Herein, an effective method for the determination of five PCMs in aqueous samples is presented. Reduced graphene oxide-derivatized silica (rGO@silica) particles were prepared from graphene oxide and aminosilica microparticles and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.