Establishing freshwater sediment sample pretreatment methods for monitoring microplastics and its challenges.

Microplastics (MPs) have been detected in various environmental matrices, drinking water, and food, and their presence is an ecological and human health concern. Most research on MPs has focused solely on their detection and analysis. However, sample pretreatment methods are critical for accurate MP analysis and must be properly established.

Elemental composition and health risk assessment of PM10, PM2.5, at different microenvironments: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

This study was designed to evaluate the health risks faced by inhabitants living in the slum areas of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The levels of PM2.5 and PM10 and elemental composition of the PM10 were measured in indoors (in the kitchen and living room) and outdoors (at the roadside).

Photodegradation and photocatalysis of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS): A review of recent progress.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are oxidatively recalcitrant organic synthetic compounds. PFAS are an exceptional group of chemicals that have significant physical characteristics due to the presence of the most electronegative element (i.e.

Study of Legionella pneumophila treatment with copper in drinking water by single cell-ICP-MS.

Legionella pneumophila is a persistent opportunistic pathogen that poses a significant threat to domestic water systems. Previous studies suggest that copper (Cu) is an effective antimicrobial in water systems. A rapid and sensitive quantification method is desired to optimize the conditions of L.

Fragmentation and release of pristine and functionalized carbon nanotubes from epoxy-nanocomposites during accelerated weathering.

There is an increasing volume of nano-enabled materials in the market. Once composites containing nano-additives are disposed of, weathering could deteriorate their structures, releasing nanoparticles and risking exposure of humans and aquatic organisms. Composite degradation due to environmental aging continues, including structural deterioration resulting in cracking, fragmentation, and release of microplastics and nano-additives to the environment.

Recent advances on PFAS degradation thermal and nonthermal methods.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a set of synthetic chemicals which contain several carbon-fluorine (C-F) bonds and have been in production for the past eight decades. PFAS have been used in several industrial and consumer products including nonstick pans, food packaging, firefighting foams, and carpeting. PFAS require proper investigations worldwide due to their omnipresence in the biotic environment and the resulting pollution to drinking water sources.

Pretreatment methods for monitoring microplastics in soil and freshwater sediment samples: A comprehensive review.

This paper reviews the currently used pretreatment methods for microplastics (MPs) analysis in soil and freshwater sediments, primarily sample processing, pretreatment, and characterization methods for MPs analysis. In addition, analytical tools (e.g.

Biodesalination using halophytic cyanobacterium Phormidium keutzingianum from brackish to the hypersaline water.

The biodesalination potential at different levels of salinity of Phormidium keutzingianum (P. keutzingianum) was investigated. A wide range of salinity from brackish to hypersaline water was explored in this study to ensure the adaptability of P.

Nano-enabled pesticides for sustainable agriculture and global food security.

Achieving sustainable agricultural productivity and global food security are two of the biggest challenges of the new millennium. Addressing these challenges requires innovative technologies that can uplift global food production, while minimizing collateral environmental damage and preserving the resilience of agroecosystems against a rapidly changing climate. Nanomaterials with the ability to encapsulate and deliver pesticidal active ingredients (AIs) in a responsive (for example, controlled, targeted and synchronized) manner offer new opportunities to increase pesticidal efficacy and efficiency when compared with conventional pesticides.

Effect of colloid-size copper-based pesticides and wood-preservatives against microbial activities of Gram-positive Bacillus species using five-day biochemical oxygen demand test.

Copper-based pesticides and wood preservatives could end up in the environment during production, use, and end-of-life via different pathways that could cause unintended ecological and adverse health effects. This paper provides the effect of colloid-size Cu-based pesticides (CuPRO and Kocide), micronized Cu azole (MCA-1 and MCA-2) and alkaline Cu quaternary (ACQ) treated woods, Cu, Cu spiked untreated wood (UTW), and CuCO solutions against Gram-positive Bacillus species using five-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) standard test. The total Cu leached from MCA-1, MCA-2, and ACQ in Milli-Q water after 5 days were ~0.

Photooxidative decomposition and defluorination of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) using an innovative technology of UV-vis/ZnCuFeO/oxalic acid.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of perfluorinated organic molecules that have been in use since the 1940s for industrial, commercial, and consumer applications. PFAS are a growing concern because some of them have shown persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic effects. Herein, we demonstrate an innovative technology of UV-vis/ZnCuFeO/oxalic acid for the degradation of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in water.

Material recovery from electronic waste using pyrolysis: Emissions measurements and risk assessment.

Electronic waste (e-waste) generation has been growing in volume worldwide, and the diversity of its material composition is increasing. Sustainable management of this material is critical to achieving a circular-economy and minimizing environmental and public health risks. This study's objective was to investigate the use of pyrolysis as a possible technique to recover valuable materials and energy from different components of e-waste as an alternative approach for limiting their disposal to landfills.

Fragmentation of polymer nanocomposites: modulation by dry and wet weathering, fractionation, and nanomaterial filler.

In recent years, an increasing number of polymeric composites incorporating engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) have reached the market. Such nano-enabled products (NEPs) present enhanced performance through improved mechanical, thermal, UV protection, electrical, and gas barrier properties. However, little is known about how environmental weathering impacts ENM release, especially for high-tonnage NEPs like kaolin products, which have not been extensively examined by the scientific community.

A Sensitive Single Particle-ICP-MS Method for CeO Nanoparticles Analysis in Soil during Aging Process.

The increasing prevalence of products that incorporate engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) has prompted efforts to investigate the potential release, environmental fate, and exposure of the ENPs. However, the investigation of cerium dioxide nanoparticles (CeO NPs) in soil has remained limited, owing to the analytical challenge from the soil's complex nature. In this study, this challenge was overcome by applying a novel single particle-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (SP-ICP-MS) methodology to detect CeO NPs extracted from soil, utilizing tetrasodium pyrophosphate (TSPP) aqueous solution as an extractant.

Fates of Au, Ag, ZnO, and CeO Nanoparticles in Simulated Gastric Fluid Studied using Single-Particle-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry.

The increasing use of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) in many industries has generated significant research interest regarding their impact on the environment and human health. The major routes of ENPs to enter the human body are inhalation, skin contact, and ingestion. Following ingestion, ENPs have a long contact time in the human stomach.

Polypropylene-MWCNT composite degradation, release, detection, and toxicity of MWCNT during accelerated aging.

Nanomaterials (NM) are incorporated into polymers to enhance their properties. However, there are a limited number of studies on the aging of these nanocomposites and the resulting potential release of NM. To characterize NM at critical points in their life cycles, polypropylene (PP) and multiwall carbon nanotube filled PP (PP-MWCNT) plates with different thicknesses (from 0.

Bio-desalination of brackish and seawater using halophytic algae.

Global demand for water is rising. A sustainable and energy efficient approach is needed to desalinate brackish sources for agricultural and municipal water use. Genetic variation among two algae species, species ( sp.

Indoor air pollution from cook-stoves during baking in Ethiopia, exposure, and health risk assessment.

This study was undertaken to assess indoor air pollution and potential exposure to particulate matters (PMs-PM, PM, PM, PM, PM), and total suspended particles [TSP] and total volatile organic compounds [TVOCs] during baking of Ethiopian traditional staple food, using different types of stoves at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The geometric mean (GOM) of PMs pollutant using clean, improved, and traditional stoves were ranged 10.8-235, 23.

Role of water chemistry on stability, aggregation, and dissolution of uncoated and carbon-coated copper nanoparticles.

Intentional or accidental release of copper nanoparticles (Cu-NPs) from consumer products during manufacturing, use, and end-of-life management could pose health and ecological risks. This paper presents a detailed study on the role of water chemistry on the fate of uncoated and carbon-coated Cu-NPs dispersed in aqueous cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) surfactant in the presence and absence of humic acids (HAs). A range of water chemistry and HAs had minimum impact on hydrodynamic diameter and zeta-potential values of uncoated and carbon-coated Cu-NPs.

A disposable acetylcholine esterase sensor for As(III) determination in groundwater matrix based on 4-acetoxyphenol hydrolysis.

There is a lack of field compatible analytical method for the speciation of As(III) to characterize groundwater pollution at anthropogenic sites. To address this issue, an inhibition-based acetylcholine esterase (AchE) sensor was developed to determine As(III) in groundwater. 4-Acetoxyphenol was employed to develop an amperometric assay for AchE activity.

Green and cytocompatible carboxyl modified gold-lysozyme nanoantibacterial for combating multidrug-resistant superbugs.

The dissemination of multi-drug resistant (MDR) superbugs in hospital environments, communities and food animals and the very dynamic bacterial mutation frequency require the development of prolonged therapeutic strategies to gain mastery over antibiotic resistance. A AuNP-lysozyme nanoantibacterial was fabricated by the conjugation of AuNPs-C6H4-4-COOH with lysozyme via green reduction of aryldiazonium gold(iii) salt [HOOC-4-C6H4N[triple bond, length as m-dash]N]AuCl4. Results from molecular docking calculations aimed at revealing the binding mode of benzoic acid with the lysozyme structure clearly showed the lowest energy conformation with benzoic acid bound in the deep buried hydrophobic cavity of the protein active site through strong hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions, thus validating the experimental outcomes of the current study which also exhibited the binding of -COOH functional groups in the interior of the protein structure.

Influence of water chemistry on colloid-size Cu-based pesticides particles: A case of Cu(OH) commercial fungicide/bactericide.

The intensive, widespread, and ever-increasing applications of Cu-based pesticides in agriculture could potentially increase environmental exposures via different routes. Unlike ionic/bulk forms, the fate, transport, and toxicity of colloid-size Cu-based pesticides are not well studied. This paper provides evaluation outcomes of granule and dispersion characterizations, stability, and dissolution of colloid-size particles of Cu(OH) commercial pesticide product at a range of water chemistry.

Effectiveness of biosurfactant for the removal of trihalomethanes by biotrickling filter.

In this study, the biodegradation of a mixture of two trihalomethane (THM) compounds, chloroform (CF) and dichlorobromomethane (DCBM), was evaluated using two laboratory-scale biotrickling filters (BTFs). The two BTFs, hereby designated as "BTF-A" and "BTF-B," were run parallel and used ethanol as co-metabolite at different loading rates (LRs), and a lipopeptide-type biosurfactant that was generated by the gram-positive bacteria, Surfactin, respectively. The results using BTF-A showed that adding ethanol at a higher rate of 4.

Characterization of colloid-size copper-based pesticide and its potential ecological implications.

The intensive use of Cu-based pesticides in agriculture could have an unintended impact on the ecosystems and human health via different exposure pathways. This paper presents the results of experiments involving colloidal stability, aggregation, and dissolution of CuO commercial pesticide under various environmental conditions in view of ecological implications. The investigated pesticide contains ∼750 g kg Cu (75% weight of product), CuO particles with sizes < 1 μm, and nominal size fraction of CuO nanoparticles.

Levels of trace elements in PM collected at roadsides of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and exposure risk assessment.

Estimation of personal exposure to air pollution is needed to identify high-risk population and to develop mitigation strategies. In this study, an assessment of the potential effects of short-term exposure to PM and the elements bound within PM was conducted. Samples were obtained from the ten sub-cities of Addis Ababa (three sampling points from each) during the commuting time (traffic congestion and taxi queues).