Microplastics in freshwaters: Comparing effects of particle properties and an invertebrate consumer on microbial communities and ecosystem functions.

The effects of microplastic (MP) accumulation in freshwaters on organisms and ecosystem functions are poorly understood, as are the roles of MP particle properties in regulating these effects. In freshwater microcosms, we quantified variation in microbial communities and ecosystem functions and compared effects of MP concentration (0, 1000, 50000 particles/kg), shape (sphere, fragment, fibre), and polymer (polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, polystyrene) with those of a model invertebrate consumer (Chironomus riparius). We detected multiple effects of specific MP properties, especially associated with MP fragments and fibres, and the polymer polypropylene.

Emergency managers' challenges with wildfires and related cascading hazards in California.

This study investigates the complexities faced by emergency managers in wildfire-prone areas to uncover pressing issues and potential solutions. Four themes are discerned through three focus group discussions with emergency managers from nine counties across California. First, there is unequal access to resources for both risk assessment and response, with counties that have fewer resources facing significant challenges in effectively managing wildfire risks.

Addressing Water Scarcity to Achieve Climate Resilience and Human Health.

Water scarcity is projected to affect half of the world's population, gradually exacerbated by climate change. This article elaborates from a panel discussion at the 2023 United Nations Water Conference on Addressing Water Scarcity to Achieve Climate Resilience and Human Health. Understanding and addressing water scarcity goes beyond hydrological water balances to also include societal and economic measures.

Multi-indices approach for comprehensive appraisal of groundwater quality and the implication on human health in the Amaravathi basin, Southern India.

Groundwater is often used directly by the public in several river basins of India. Hence, this study was carried out with the objective of assessing the quality of groundwater in the Amaravathi basin, India, using a multiple indices approach. Groundwater quality data from 96 monitoring wells were obtained from the Central Groundwater Board and used in this study.

The impacts of alien species on river bioassessment.

The extent of alien taxa impacts on river ecosystem health is unclear, but their frequency continues to rise. We investigated 1) the prevalence of including alien taxa in common bioindicators used in river bioassessment, 2) the effect of alien taxa on the richness and abundance of natives, and 3) whether including alien taxa in bioassessment tools increased their sensitivity to river degradation. In the 17 countries analyzed fish represented the greatest number of alien species (1726), followed by macrophytes (925), macroinvertebrates (556), and diatoms (7).

Sociodemographic factors associated with trajectories of depression among urban refugee youth in Kampala, Uganda: A longitudinal cohort study.

Background: There is a high prevalence of depression among refugee youth in low- and middle-income countries, yet depression trajectories are understudied. This study examined depression trajectories, and factors associated with trajectories, among urban refugee youth in Kampala, Uganda.

Methods: We conducted a longitudinal cohort study with refugee youth aged 16-24 in Kampala, Uganda.

Acute and Subchronic Toxicity of 6PPD-Quinone to Early Life Stage Lake Trout ().

-(1,3-Dimethylbutyl)-'-phenyl--phenylenediamine-quinone (6PPD-Q) is a rubber-tire derivative which leaches into surface waters from roadway runoff, from tire particles and has been identified as a possible driver of urban runoff mortality syndrome in coho salmon. Sensitivity to this toxicant is highly variable across fish species and life stages. With environmental concentrations meeting or exceeding toxicity thresholds in sensitive fishes, the potential for ecologically relevant effects is significant.

Assessment of wetland ecological restoration effect based on fuzzy analytic hierarchy process: a case study of Tianjin Qilihai Wetland.

Scientific evaluation of the effectiveness of ecological restoration could provide support for sustainable management and protection of wetlands. However, due to the multiple and difficult to quantify factors affecting wetlands, commonly used spatiotemporal evaluation methods were difficult to scientifically reflect the actual effectiveness of ecological restoration. This paper took Tianjin Qilihai Wetland, a representative wetland in northern China, as the research object.

Detection of diarrhoeagenic Escherichia coli in the abattoir wastewater-impacted Iyi-Etu River and other water types at the Amansea livestock market settlement, Anambra State, Nigeria: a matter of public health concern.

Background: Globally, diarrhoeagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) has been implicated in the spread of waterborne diseases and abattoir wastewater has played a role in its dissemination into watersheds. This study isolated and characterised DEC from the abattoir wastewater-impacted Iyi-Etu River and other water sources at the Amansea livestock market settlement.

Methods: A total of 96 water samples comprising river water (upstream, downstream 1, downstream 2), borehole, well, sachet and abattoir wastewater samples were tested for DEC.

Integrated use of electrochemical anaerobic reactors and genomic based modeling for characterizing methanogenic activity in microbial communities exposed to BTEX contamination.

In soil polluted with benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX), oxygen is rapidly depleted by aerobic respiration, creating a redox gradient across the plume. Under anaerobic conditions, BTEX biodegradation is then coupled with fermentation and methanogenesis. This study aimed to characterize this multi-step process, focusing on the interactions and functional roles of key microbial groups involved.

The role of industry 4.0 enabling technologies for predicting, and managing of algal blooms: Bridging gaps and unlocking potential.

Recent advancements in data analytics, predictive modeling, and optimization have highlighted the potential of integrating algal blooms (ABs) with Industry 4.0 technologies. Among these innovations, digital twins (DT) have gained prominence, driven by the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies, particularly those associated with the Internet of Things (IoT).

Coefficients in Taylor's law increase with the time scale of water clarity measurements in a global suite of lakes.

Identifying the scaling rules describing ecological patterns across time and space is a central challenge in ecology. Taylor's law of fluctuation scaling, which states that the variance of a population's size or density is proportional to a positive power of the mean size or density, has been widely observed in population dynamics and characterizes variability in multiple scientific domains. However, it is unclear if this phenomenon accurately describes ecological patterns across many orders of magnitude in time, and therefore links otherwise disparate observations.

Development of a novel and robust CuO-CoO@Biochar nanocomposite using Terminalia chebula leaf extract for reduction of nitro compounds and photodegradation of single and binary mixture of organic contaminants.

In this work, Terminalia chebula leaf extract was used to synthesize CuO-CoO nanoparticles, which were then embedded in a rice straw biochar. This new biochar-based nano-catalyst is used to photocatalytically degrade a variety of dyes (Eosin Y, Trypan Blue, Crystal Violet, Methylene Blue, Brilliant Green), as well as a binary mixture of Eosin Y and Trypan Blue dyes. It is also used for the catalytic reduction of nitro compounds (4-NP, 3-NP, and Picric acid).

Molecular epidemiology of invasive group B Streptococcus in South Africa, 2019-2020.

Background: Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a leading cause of neonatal meningitis and sepsis and an important cause of disease in adults. Capsular polysaccharide and protein-based GBS vaccines are currently under development.

Methods: Through national laboratory-based surveillance, invasive GBS isolates were collected from patients of all ages between 2019 and 2020.

Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) increases oxidative stress through inhibition of mitochondrial β-oxidation.

PER: and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of synthetic organic chemicals that are ubiquitous environmental pollutants. Among PFAS, perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) is one of the most toxic compounds, but the molecular basis behind its toxicity is not fully understood. In an interspecies comparison with placental cells (HTR-8/SVneo) and zebrafish embryos, we demonstrate that PFDA induces mitochondrial dysfunction and impairs fatty acid β-oxidation.

Zambia's battle against cholera outbreaks and the path to public health resilience: a narrative review.

In Zambia, cholera has been a persistent public health concern for decades, mainly attributed to inadequate sanitation and restricted access to clean water in some parts of the country. The literature was collected from PubMed, Google Scholar, and public health organization websites, focusing on cholera outbreaks in Zambia since 2000. Key search terms included 'cholera prevention' and 'Zambia outbreaks.

Source-tracing of industrial and municipal wastewater effluent in river water via fluorescence fingerprinting.

Fluorescence fingerprinting is a technique to uniquely characterize water samples based on their distinct composition of dissolved organic matter (DOM) measured via 3D fluorescence spectroscopy. It is an effective tool for monitoring the chemical composition of various water systems. This study examines a river affected by several municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents and aims to source-tracing them via fluorescence fingerprints based on parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) components.

Lignin Polyurethane Aerogels: Influence of Solvent on Textural Properties.

This study explores the innovative potential of native lignin as a sustainable biopolyol for synthesizing polyurethane aerogels with variable microstructures, significant specific surface areas, and high mechanical stability. Three types of lignin-Organosolv, Aquasolv, and Soda lignin-were evaluated based on structural characteristics, Klason lignin content, and particle size, with Organosolv lignin being identified as the optimal candidate. The microstructure of lignin polyurethane samples was adjustable by solvent choice: Gelation in DMSO and pyridine, with high affinity to lignin, resulted in dense materials with low specific surface areas, while the use of the low-affinity solvent e.

Microbial transitions and degradation pathways driven by butyrate concentration in mesophilic and thermophilic anaerobic digestion under low hydrogen partial pressure.

Butyrate accumulation significantly affects the efficiency and stability of anaerobic digestion, while its specific impact on methane yield and butyrate degradation remains unclear. This study investigated how butyrate concentrations (2.0, 5.

Applying quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models to extend the mixture toxicity prediction of scrubber water.

Marine organisms are constantly exposed to complex chemical mixtures from natural and anthropogenic sources. One source that has raised concerns is the discharge water from ships equipped with exhaust gas cleaning systems, commonly known as scrubbers. During operation, ships with scrubbers discharge large volumes of scrubber water, known to adversely affect marine organisms, into the environment.

Screening for microplastics in agricultural soils: Applying green chemistry principles in extraction and analysis.

In recent years, microplastic (MP) pollution has garnered significant attention owing to its ability to permeate various ecosystems, including soil. These particles can infiltrate the environment, either directly or through the degradation of larger plastic items. Despite growing concerns, standardized methods for quantification are still lacking.

In situ formed Se-TiO as a highly reusable photocatalyst for selenium reduction and removal from industrial wastewater.

Selenium (Se) release from anthropogenic activities such as mining, power generation, and agriculture poses considerable environmental and ecological risks. Increasing prevalence and awareness of Se-related issues have driven the development of many innovative Se treatment technologies. Photocatalysis has shown promise towards Se removal from industrial wastewaters with minimal residuals, and is generally considered a low-cost, robust, non-toxic, and potentially solar-powered method.

Survival and reproduction effects of microplastics from three agricultural mulching films on Folsomia candida, Sinella curviseta, Heteromurus nitidus and Ceratophysella denticulata (Collembola).

An estimated 467 kt of plastic used in agriculture annually end up in European soils, potentially breaking down into secondary microplastics (MPs). Not much is known about the possible effects of these MPs on organisms residing in the soil. To properly assess their environmental risk, experimental data is needed on the toxicity of MPs to the survival and reproduction of model organisms.