Occurrence, Seasonal Variation, and Health Risks of PM-bound Liquid Crystal Monomers (LCMs) in Beijing, China.

Liquid crystal monomers (LCMs) are potentially persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic emerging pollutants. However, their occurrence in outdoor PM and related human exposure risks remain unknown. In this study, 32 composite samples were analyzed, which were prepared from daily PM samples collected throughout the year 2021 -2022 in Beijing, China.

Modeling urban pollutant wash-off processes with ecological memory.

Urbanization increases the extent of impervious surfaces, runoff, sediment, and nutrient loadings downstream, leading to the deterioration of urban surface waters. During pollutant wash-off from urban surfaces, the peak concentration of pollutants typically occurs after the rainfall peak. However, current urban wash-off models do not consider this time delay, assuming that the effect of rainfall on the wash-off process is immediate.

Enhanced abatement of phenolic compounds by chlorine in the presence of CuO: Absence of electrophilic aromatic substitution.

It has been demonstrated that chlorine predominately reacts with phenolic compounds through an electrophilic aromatic substitution, yielding chlorinated phenols. Previous studies showed that copper oxide (CuO), a water pipe corrosion product, can catalytically enhance the reactivity of chlorine and its disproportionation. In this study, kinetics and mechanisms for the reactions of chlorine with phenolic compounds in the presence of CuO were investigated.

Urbanization exacerbates disparities in exposure to air pollution in China.

Prolonged exposure to fine particulate matter (PM) is associated with harmful impacts on human health and population growth in urban areas has exacerbated this exposure. In this study, we compare the exposure between cities at a national level and between different regions within cities considering the population in situ. We estimate the impacts of pollution and population on exposure by spatial and time series analysis from 2000 to 2018 based on 1-km grid data.

Probing methylmercury photodegradation by different fractions of natural organic matter in water: Degradation kinetics and mercury isotope fractionation characteristics.

Recent advancements in mercury (Hg) isotopic fractionation research have evolved from conceptual demonstrations to practical applications. However, few studies have focused on revealing fractionation fingerprinting for aqueous methylmercury (MeHg) photodegradation due to its sensitivity to natural organic matter (NOM). Here, the impact of NOM fractions with varying chemical properties on MeHg photodegradation kinetics and Hg isotope fractionation characteristics was investigated.

Occurrence, bioaccumulation and trophodynamics of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in terrestrial and marine ecosystems of Svalbard, Arctic.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) enter the Arctic through long-range transport and local pollution. To date, little is known about their behavior in plant and benthic marine food webs in remote Arctic. In this study, we analyzed the environmental distribution and nutrient transfer of 20 PFAS in soil, sediment, plant and benthic biota samples collected between 2014 and 2016 in Svalbard, Arctic.

Enhanced electron transfer for the improvement of nitrogen removal efficiency and NO reduction at low temperatures.

Low temperature generally restricts biological activity, slowing down electron transfer in biogeochemical cycles and causing a series of environmental problems such as nitrogen pollution. We present a strategy to boost electron transfer in microbial cell at low temperatures via stimulation with low current. It is demonstrated by establishing a constructed wetland system coupled with solar powered microbial electrolysis cell, which enhances microbial activity through external micro currents (18.

Large-scale ecological infrastructures enhance the productivity of agro-socio-ecological systems by reducing soil erosion in the Loess Plateau.

Agro-socio-ecological systems are a crucial link connecting urbanization, agricultural development and environmental evolution. However, there is no effective research on realizing regional collaborative development and environmental governance of the agricultural social-system collaborative governance model, especially spatial differentiation governance. In this study, the region with the most severe soil erosion in the world was selected as the research area.

Ammonia nitrogen affects bacterial virulence and conditional pathogenic bacterial growth by regulating biofilm microbial metabolism and EPS secretion in laboratory scale distribution systems.

The control of conditional pathogenic bacteria and inhibition of their virulence factors (VFs) in drinking water distribution systems (DWDSs) is vital for drinking water safety. This study adopted two groups of DWDSs to investigate how ammonia nitrogen affects bacterial VFs and conditional pathogenic bacterial growth in biofilms. Our results indicated that Acidimicrobium (95,916.

Pathways and risk analysis of arsenic and heavy metal pollution in riverine water: Application of multivariate statistics and USEPA-recommended risk assessment models.

This study analyzed surface water from the River Swat, Pakistan, using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, multivariate statistical techniques, and US-EPA risk assessment models to evaluate the concentrations, distribution, pathways, and potential risks of arsenic (As) and heavy metals, including chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and lead (Pb). The results revealed significant correlations (p ≤ 0.01) among metals that indicated common pollution sources, likely influenced by anthropogenic point and non-point activities.

Global burden, risk factors, and projections of early-onset dementia: Insights from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021.

Background: Despite increasing global awareness of dementia, reliable estimates of the disease burden associated with Early-Onset Dementia (EOD) remain insufficiently quantified. This study aims to estimate the disease burden of EOD, analyze the burden attributable to risk factors from 1990 to 2021, and project these trends to 2050 at global, regional, and national levels, providing essential data to inform public health policy.

Methods: By utilising data from the GBD 2021 database, this study analysed metrics such as age-standardized prevalence (ASPR), mortality (ASMR), and disability-adjusted life years (AS-DALYs) for EOD.

Facile Synthesis of Cu-Exchanged Zeolite Catalysts with Only Cu-2Z Species: Enhancing Hydrothermal Stability and Sulfur Resistance for NH-SCR.

For Cu-exchanged zeolite catalysts, Cu ions existing as Cu-2Z and [Cu(OH)]-Z (where Z represents a framework negative charge) are considered the active sites for the selective catalytic reduction of NO with NH (NH-SCR). Cu-2Z is more hydrothermally stable and sulfur poisoning-resistant than [Cu(OH)]-Z. In this work, Cu-CHA and Cu-LTA catalysts containing only Cu-2Z species were successfully synthesized by a novel impregnation (NIM) method, exhibiting remarkably enhanced hydrothermal stability and sulfur resistance compared with any reported Cu-exchanged zeolite catalysts.

Efficient extraction and analysis method for lead-containing nanoparticles in complex biological samples to eliminate "false" interferences by using SP-ICP-MS.

Metal-containing nanoparticles (MNPs) ubiquitously exist in the environment and organisms, playing distinct roles in the fate and toxicity of metals. However, the extraction and analysis of the MNPs in biological samples is still a great challenge and the interferences of other metal species and complex matrices remains unclear. In this work, we established a method for efficient extraction and accurate analysis of MNPs in biological samples to eliminate the interference caused by metal ions and biological matrices based on the alkali extraction and single particle mode inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SP-ICP-MS).

Seasonal instability of phytoplankton community in extreme arid lake basin during interval period of large-scale ecological water transport.

Large-scale water transport helps solve the imbalance in water resources. Studies on ecological benefits after long-term EWT mainly focus on vegetation restoration and increase in water surface. However, the maintenance of aquatic communities in the EWT context is a major challenge.

Comprehensive Multidimensional Analysis of Metal(loid)-Containing Dust in Plastic Sports Facilities: Insights into the Potential Sources and Health Risks.

Dust released from widely established plastic sports courts and synthetic turf poses potential environmental and health risks. Herein, we systematically investigate the metal(loid) characteristics, potential sources, and health risks of 162 dust samples from 17 campuses in Beijing, using complementary analytical techniques. Bulk analysis revealed higher levels of Zn, Pb, Cu, Sb, Cd, and Cr than background values, suggesting excessive anthropogenic contamination.

Effects of EDTA and Bicarbonate on U(VI) Reduction by Reduced Nontronite.

Widespread Fe-bearing clay minerals are potential materials capable of reducing and immobilizing U(VI). However, the kinetics of this process and the impact of environmental factors remain unclear. Herein, we investigated U(VI) reduction by chemically reduced nontronite (rNAu-2) in the presence of EDTA and bicarbonate.

Novel arsenate-respiring bacteria drive arsenic biogeochemical cycling in Tibetan geothermal springs revealed by DNA-SIP based metagenomics.

Arsenic (As) is a toxic element posing health risks globally, with geothermal environment as one of the hotspots. Arsenic biotransformation is mainly mediated by microorganisms which often employ diverse metabolic strategies for survival. However, the microorganisms responsible for As cycling and their survival strategies in geothermal environment in Tibet, the Third Pole, remain unclear.

Mechanistic insights into the viral microorganism inactivation during lime stabilization for wastewater sludges.

The pathogens inactivation in wastewater sludges is vitally important for safely managing solid wastes and protecting public and environmental health especially in the emergency. Reports have shown the effectiveness of lime to kill virus pathogens in sludges, but mechanism of virus inactivation and related human diseases is unclear. This study evaluated representative limes of CaO/CaO on actual viral microorganism inactivation by viral metagenomic sequencing technology.

Biochars-inlaided nano zero-valent iron reactors: A tool for visualized analysis of soil-nanomaterials micro-interfacial interaction in soil remediation process.

It is a great challenge to depict the evolution process of soil-nanomaterials micro-interfaces during soil remediation. A novel biochar loaded nano zero-valent iron (BC-nZVI) reactor with low density, high reactivity and suitable magnetism was prepared using the method we established. Fe nanoparticles (NPs) with the size <10 nm uniformly embedded in a layer of porous carbon networks, which attached firmly in the pores and outer surface of biochars.