Fluoride and acid enrichment in coal fire sponges in the Wuda coalfield, Inner Mongolia, Northern China.

Coal fire sponges (CFSs) are a type of sponge-like contaminated soil bulge common in coal fire areas. However, the impacts of CFSs on the local environment are not yet understood. Thus, this study investigated soil samples from CFSs in the Wuda coalfield, Inner Mongolia, China, focusing on the acidity, sulfate, and fluorine content.

[Contamination Characteristics and Risk Assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds in Surface Dust of Suntuan Mining Area in Huaibei].

The Suntuan mining area of Huaibei is a typical coal resource mining base in the Huainan-Huaibei areas in North China. Previous environmental studies related to surface dust in coal mining areas mainly focused on heavy metals and water-soluble ions, with little research on polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs). In this study, gas chromatography-triple tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) was used to determine the contents of 16 parent polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (16PAHs), alkyl polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (aPAHs), and some oxygenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (OPAHs) in surface dust from the Suntuan mining area and surrounding environment.

Enrichment of Sulfate, Acidity and Mercury in Native outcrop coal, Southwest China.

The coal found in the Longtan Formation of the Late Permian is widely distributed in Southwest China, including the northwestern Guizhou, southeastern Sichuan, and northern Yunnan regions. This coal typically has a high sulfur content. Eighty-two coal samples were collected from the coal strata in 11 counties spanning this area, including underground mine coal, native outcrop coal and man-made outcrop coal.

Distribution pattern of polycyclic aromatic compounds in coal gangue from coal city-East China.

Coal gangue is a by-product of coal, the output of which is as high as 30% of raw coal, whereas only 30% of it is recycled. The leftover remains in the environment from gangue backfilling areas and overlap with residential, agricultural, and industrial areas. Coal gangue accumulated in the environment is easily weathered and oxidized and becomes a source of various pollutants.

Contamination characteristics of polycyclic aromatic compounds from coal sources in typical coal mining areas in Huaibei area, China.

The Huaibei area is rich in coal resources and serves as the main energy production base in East China. However, serious environmental consequences are associated with coal mining and utilization. With increasing reports on distribution and risks by polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs), the potential pollution of coal sources must be addressed.

regulates thermal tolerance limits in zebrafish by maintaining mitochondrial integrity.

Temperature tolerance restricts the distribution of a species. However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms that set the thermal tolerance limits of an organism are poorly understood. Here, we report on the function of dual-specificity phosphatase 1 (DUSP1) in thermal tolerance regulation.

Characteristics of Water-Soluble Inorganic Ions in PM in Typical Urban Areas of Beijing, China.

Following the implementation of "coal-to-gas conversion" policy in the Haidian District of Beijing during summer, the present comparative study was performed employing 41 PM samples as precursors to analyze the characteristics of water-soluble inorganic ions. The concentrations of water-soluble inorganic ions in PM were analyzed by ion chromatography, and the occurrence form of ions was characterized via time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS). Results revealed that the daily average mass concentration of PM in Beijing during the sampling period was 94.

Alkylated Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Are the Largest Contributor to Polycyclic Aromatic Compound Concentrations in the Topsoil of Huaibei Coalfield, China.

Alkyl polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (APAHs) are more toxic and persistent than their parent compounds. Here, the concentrations, composition profiles, and spatial distribution of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) in 127 topsoil samples from Huaibei coalfield were analyzed. The PAC concentrations in different functional areas were significantly different: mining area > industrial area > residential area > agricultural area.

Chronological deposition record of trace metals in sediment cores from Chaohu Lake, Anhui Province, China.

Lakes located in the mid-low reaches of the Yangtze River watershed have been subjected to various degrees of human perturbation that would have resulted in toxic metal concentrations and would pose potential risk to the natural habitats. Therefore, in the present study, two sediment cores from Chaohu Lake were collected to determine any such concentration, expressed as the enrichment characteristics of major and trace metals (Al, Fe, Mn, Cu, Pb, Zn, Cr, Cd, As, Hg, and Ni) in response to natural and anthropogenic changes. An approximate 180-year (1840-2021) deposition record of trace metals in sediment cores was obtained on the basis of Cs and Pb dating.

Contamination characteristics of alkyl polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in dust and topsoil collected from Huaibei Coalfield, China.

Alkyl polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (APAHs) are more toxic and persistent than their parent compounds. In this study, the concentrations of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) in dust, topsoil and coal gangue from Huaibei Coal mine, China were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, confirming APAHs were the dominant pollutants. The mean concentrations of APAHs were substantially higher than those of 16 PAHs in both dust and topsoil.

Characterization of acidity and sulfate in dust obtained from the Wuda coal base, northern China: spatial distribution and pollution assessment.

The coal fire in Wuda, Inner Mongolia of China, is one of the most serious coal fires in the world with a history over 50 years and endangers the neighboring downwind urban area. A lack of effective measures to control coal fires in this region can aggravate environmental pollution. In this study, the levels and spatial distributions of acid (pH) and SO in dust in the Wuda coalfield and its surrounding areas in Inner Mongolia, North China, were reported to identify the potential acid and SO pollution in the local environment with an area of 270 km.

Specification of complex-PAHs in coal fire sponges (CFS) by high-resolution mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization.

Underground coal fires are considered an ecological disaster. While underground coal fires are prevalent in coal-producing areas throughout the world, they are most problematic in northern China. Previous studies have shown that underground coal fires stimulate the formation of cracks or gas outlets on the surface, as well as coal fire sponges (CFS) on the soil layer surface, which collect coal-fired pollutants.

Characterization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in urban-rural integration area soil, North China: Spatial distribution, sources and potential human health risk assessment.

The promotion of urbanization has accelerated the development of small manufacturing workshops and brought serious environmental problems. In this study, spatial distribution, sources and potential health risk for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in urban-rural integration area soil in North China (800 km) were discussed. The average total concentration of 16 PAHs was 225 μg kg, and range from 25 to 15155 μg kg (n = 250).

Impact of the coal mining-contaminated soil on the food safety in Shaanxi, China.

The study aimed to investigate the impacts of coal mining-contaminated soil on the locally grown food crops and humans health. For the active investigation and assessment, the study collected 175 samples including contaminated and control soil and various types of food crops (corn, wheat, mixed food (egg, pork meat, potato, pepper)) from Shaanxi Province. All these samples were analyzed through ICP-MS and ICP-OES.

Evaluation of acidity in late Permian outcrop coals and its association with endemic fluorosis in the border area of Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan in China.

The junction area of Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan provinces is the heaviest coal-burning endemic fluorosis zones in China. To better understand the pathogenicity of endemic fluorosis in this area, 87 coal samples from the late Permian outcrop or semi-outcrop coal seams were collected in eight counties of the junction area of Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan provinces. The total fluorine and sulfate content, etc.