Search Results (6,819)

The composition of air pollutants in industrial complexes differs from that of general urban areas, often containing more hazardous substances that pose significant health risks to both workers and residents nearby. In this study, PM_2.5 and its 29 chemical components (eight ions, two carbon species, and 19 trace elements) were measured and analyzed at five monitoring sites adjacent to the Yeosu and Gwangyang industrial complexes from August 2020 to December 2024. Chemical characterization and source identification were conducted. The average PM_2.5 concentration was 18.63 ± 9.71 μg/m³, with notably higher levels observed during winter and spring. A low correlation (R = 0.56) between elemental carbon (EC) and organic carbon (OC) suggests a dominance of secondary aerosols. The charge balance analysis of [NH₄⁺] with [SO₄²⁻], [NO₃⁻], and [Cl⁻] showed slopes below the 1:1 line, indicating that NH₄⁺ is capable of neutralizing these anions. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) identified eight contributing sources—biomass burning (10.4%), sea salt (11.8%), suspended particles (7.1%), industrial sources (4.6%), Asian dust (5.2%), steel industry (21.8%), secondary nitrate (16.4%), and secondary sulfate (22.7%). These findings provide valuable insights for the development of targeted mitigation strategies and the establishment of effective emission control policies in industrial regions. Full article

The continuous detection of emerging pollutants (EPs) in water poses potential threats to aquatic environmental safety and human health, and their efficient removal is a frontier in environmental engineering research. This review systematically summarizes research progress from 2005 to 2025 on the application of activated carbon (AC) and its composites for removing EPs from water and analyzes the development trends in this field using bibliometric methods. The results indicate that research has evolved from the traditional use of AC for adsorption to the design of novel materials through physical and chemical modifications, as well as composites with metal oxides, carbon-based nanomaterials, and other functional components, achieving high adsorption capacity, selective recognition, and catalytic degradation capabilities. Although AC-based materials demonstrate considerable potential, their large-scale application still faces challenges such as cost control, adaptability to complex water matrices, material regeneration, and potential environmental risks. Future research should focus on precise material design, process integration, and comprehensive life-cycle sustainability assessment to advance this technology toward highly efficient, economical, and safe solutions, thereby providing practical strategies for safeguarding water resources. Full article

The main objective of this research was to evaluate the seasonal variability of PM₁₀-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), their sources, and analyse their health impacts We confirmduring the COVID-19 pandemic period. The chemical composition of PM₁₀ in terms of PAH content was carried out using the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) technique. PM₁₀ samples were collected in Krakow from 2020 to 2021. A total of 92 samples of particulate matter (PM₁₀ fraction) were analysed. The analyses contained 16 basic PAHs identified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) as the most harmful. The information obtained on the concentrations of PAHs was used to determine the profiles of pollution sources, exposure profiles, and the values of toxic equivalency factors recommended by the EPA: mutagenic equivalent to B[a]P (ang. mutagenic equivalent, MEQ), toxic equivalent to B[a]P (ang. toxic equivalent, TEQ), and carcinogenic equivalent to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (ang. carcinogenic equivalent, CEQ). In Kraków, heavy PAHs accounted for over 90% of the total PAHs detected in the PM₁₀ samples. In addition, air trajectory frequency analysis was performed to obtain information on the possibility of transporting pollutants from selected areas in the vicinity of the studied site. Interpreting the trajectory results provided information on the nature of air pollution sources. Analysis of Kraków’s air mass trajectory showed that the highest daily concentration of PM₁₀ in the air flow was from the southwest and east for days. Full article

The increasing urgency to mitigate plastic pollution has accelerated the shift from linear manufacturing toward circular systems. This review synthesizes current advances in mechanical, chemical, biological, and upcycling pathways, emphasizing how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping decision-making, performance prediction, and system-level optimization. Intelligent sensing technologies—such as FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, hyperspectral imaging, and LIBS—combined with Machine Learning (ML) classifiers have improved material identification, reduced reject rates, and enhanced sorting precision. AI-assisted kinetic modeling, catalyst performance prediction, and enzyme design tools have improved process intensification for pyrolysis, solvolysis, depolymerization, and biocatalysis. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)-integrated datasets reveal that environmental benefits depend strongly on functional-unit selection, energy decarbonization, and substitution factors rather than mass-based comparisons alone. Case studies across Europe, Latin America, and Asia show that digital traceability, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), and full-system costing are pivotal to robust circular outcomes. Upcycling strategies increasingly generate high-value materials and composites, supported by digital twins and surrogate models. Collectively, evidence indicates that AI moves from supportive instrumentation to a structural enabler of transparency, performance assurance, and predictive environmental planning. The convergence of AI-based design, standardized LCA frameworks, and inclusive governance emerges as a necessary foundation for scaling circular plastic systems sustainably. Full article

Rainfall is an essential component of boreal forest ecosystems. Aerotechnogenic pollution significantly affects the composition of rainfall. To predict the dynamics of biogeochemical cycles and develop strategies to enhance forest resilience in the Arctic zone, it is necessary to study the composition and characteristics of rainfall. The objective of this study is to evaluate the variation in the chemical composition of stemflow in the most typical pine and spruce forests of Fennoscandia under conditions of aerotechnogenic pollution based on long-term monitoring data from 1999 to 2022. The research was carried out in forests exposed to atmospheric industrial pollution from the largest copper–nickel smelter in northern Europe (Murmansk Region, Russia). The study of rainwater composition was conducted in four microsites: open areas (OA), between crowns (BWC), below crowns (BC) and stemflow (SF). A significant influence of the tree canopy on the rainfall composition was noted. Stemflow was found to have the highest concentration of pollutants, indicating a significant biochemical role of this type of precipitation. The results showed an increase in the concentrations of heavy metals and sulfates in rainwater as we moved closer to the pollution source. Below crowns and in the stemflow of spruce forests, element concentrations are higher compared to pine forests. The highest concentrations of major pollutants in stemflow (Ni, Cu and SO₄²⁻) are observed in June—at the beginning of the growing season. Long-term dynamics reveal a decrease in the concentrations of Cu, Cd and Cr in defoliated forests and technogenic sparse forests. Stemflow volume rises from background to technogenic sparse forests due to deteriorating tree-crown conditions. This is associated with the deteriorating condition of tree stands, as manifested by reductions in tree height, diameter and needle cover. It has been established that under pollution conditions, trees’ assimilating organs actively accumulate heavy metals, thereby altering the composition of precipitation passing through the canopy. Full article

Excessive application of chemical fertilisers has led to soil phosphorus immobilisation and aquatic eutrophication, making the development of highly efficient acid/neutral phosphatases crucial for sustainable phosphorus utilisation. In this study, we systematically investigated strain J2, which was isolated from phosphate-contaminated soil in Laoshan, Nanjing, China. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis identified this strain as Acinetobacter nosocomialis J2, with 99.78% sequence similarity. Whole-genome sequencing generated a 3.83 Mb genome with a GC content of 38.59%, revealing multiple phospho-metabolism-related enzyme genes, including phospholipase C and α/β-hydrolases. A large language model–based protein representation learning strategy was employed to mine acid/neutral phosphatase genes from the genome, in which the model learned contextual and functional features from known phosphatase sequences and was used to identify semantically similar genes within the J2 genome. This approach predicted nine phosphatase candidate sequences, including AnACPase, a putative acid/neutral phosphatase. Biochemical characterisation showed that AnACPase exhibits optimal activity at pH 6.0 and 50 °C, with a K_m value of 0.2454 mmol/L for the p-NPP substrate, indicating high substrate affinity. Mn²⁺ and Ni²⁺ significantly enhanced enzyme activity, whereas Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺ strongly inhibited it. Soil remediation experiments further validated the application potential of AnACPase, which solubilised 171.56 mg/kg of phosphate within seven days. Overall, this study highlights the advantages of deep learning-assisted genome mining for functional enzyme discovery and provides a novel technological pathway for the bioremediation of phosphorus-polluted soils. Full article

This study examined the effects of pollution from the Shituru hydrometallurgic complex on the Upper Lufira Basin, Democratic Republic of the Congo, between September 2015 and September 2017. Physico-chemical water variables and trace metal elements in water and sediment, as well as diversity and infection parameters of monopisthocotylan parasites infesting Clarias ngamensis, were assessed at three sites: the Lufira River, Panda River, and Lake Tshangalele. We hypothesised that low pollution would correlate with greater ectoparasite species richness and higher infection parameters. Results indicated severe ecological degradation in the highly polluted Panda River (with high concentrations of TMEs; e.g., 510.830 ± 0.86; 82.470 ± 0.200 µg/L for Co²⁺ and Cu²⁺ in water; 15,771 ± 7068 and 1585 ± 1450 µg/g for Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺ in the sediment), where neither fish nor parasites were present. Across the other sites, eight parasite species were identified. Seven species occurred on fish from the slightly polluted Lufira River (mean intensity (MI) of 31.28 ± 28.95 parasites per infested fish), while five were found in Lake Tshangalele (MI: 3.23 ± 2.89 parasites per infested fish), confirming the hypothesis. Three species, Quadriacanthus halajiani, Q. domatanai, and Macrogyrodactylus clarii, demonstrated potential as sensitive bioindicators of aquatic pollution in the region. Full article

The growing global population and increasing food demand highlight the need for sustainable agricultural practices that balance productivity with environmental protection. Traditional blanket pesticide spraying leads to overuse of chemicals, environmental pollution, and biodiversity loss. This study aims to develop an innovative approach to precision pest management using mobile computing, computer vision, and deep learning techniques. A mobile measurement platform equipped with cameras and an onboard computer was designed to collect real-time field data and detect pest infestations. The system uses an advanced object detection algorithm based on the YOLOv4 architecture, trained on a custom dataset of rapeseed pest images. Modifications were made to enhance detection accuracy, especially for small objects. Field tests demonstrated the system’s ability to identify and count pests, such as the pollen beetle (Brassicogethes aeneus), in rapeseed crops. The collected data, combined with GPS information, generated pest density maps, which can guide site-specific pesticide applications. The results show that the proposed method achieved a mean average precision (mAP) of 83.7% on the test dataset. Field measurements conducted during the traversal of rapeseed fields enabled the creation of density maps illustrating the distribution of pollen beetles. Based on these maps, the potential for pesticide savings was demonstrated, and the migration dynamics of pollen beetle were discussed. Full article

Chemical contaminants are increasingly detected in freshwater environments, yet the physiological and molecular responses of many non-model freshwater invertebrates to acute chemical stress remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the physiological and transcriptomic responses of the freshwater hydrozoan Craspedacusta sowerbii to two widespread aquatic pollutants: the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole (20 μM) and the heavy metal salt CdSO₄ (10 μM). Morphological and behavioral observations showed that sulfamethoxazole exposure led to reduced motility and body shrinkage, whereas cadmium exposure caused rapid loss of movement and complete mortality within 24 h. RNA sequencing revealed distinct transcriptional response patterns to the two stressors. Sulfamethoxazole exposure primarily induced the up-regulation of genes associated with oxidative stress, apoptosis, immune responses, and signaling pathways, suggesting an active but limited stress-adaptation response. In contrast, cadmium exposure resulted in extensive down-regulation of genes involved in metabolic pathways, cell cycle regulation, fatty acid metabolism, and anti-aging processes, suggesting severe disruption of core metabolic processes. Comparative pathway analyses identified both shared stress-related responses and pollutant-specific transcriptional signatures, with cadmium exerting markedly stronger inhibitory effects at both physiological and molecular levels. These results reveal clear thresholds of stress tolerance and response failure in C. sowerbii under chemical pollution, and highlight its ecological sensitivity to water quality deterioration. Together, these findings provide mechanistic insight into acute pollutant-induced stress responses in a freshwater Cnidarian and offer a useful reference for understanding how freshwater invertebrates respond to short-term chemical disturbances. Full article

The aim of this work is to develop structurally enhanced and highly hydrophobic polyurethane (PU) foams for the efficient remediation of liquid organic pollutants. For this purpose, PU foams were modified with renewable activated biochar derived from marine algae (AC) and a hydrophobic polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) coating, producing four systems: pristine PU, PU-AC, PU/PDMS, and the hybrid PU-AC/PDMS composite. The study evaluates how AC incorporation and PDMS surface functionalization influence the microstructure, chemical composition, wettability, thermal stability, and sorption behavior of the foams. SEM images revealed progressive reductions in pore size from 420 ± 80 μm (PU) to 360 ± 85 μm (PU-AC/PDMS), with AC introducing heterogeneity while PDMS preserved open-cell morphology. FTIR confirmed the presence of urethane linkages, carbonaceous structures, and PDMS siloxane groups. Surface hydrophobicity increased markedly from 88.53° (PU) to 148.25° (PU-AC/PDMS). TGA results showed that PDMS improved thermal stability through silica-rich char formation, whereas AC slightly lowered degradation onset. Sorption tests using petroleum-derived oils and hydrophobic organic liquids demonstrated a consistent performance hierarchy (PU < PU/PDMS < PU-AC < PU-AC/PDMS). The ternary composite achieved the highest uptake capacities, reaching 44–56 g/g for oils and up to 35 g/g for hydrophobic solvents, while maintaining reusability. These findings demonstrate that combining activated biochar with PDMS significantly enhances the functional properties of PU foams, offering an efficient and sustainable material for oil–water separation and organic pollutant remediation. Full article

Microplastics (MPs) are pervasive environmental pollutants, widely distributed from aquatic ecosystems to the terrestrial food chain, and represent a potential route of human exposure. Although several reviews have addressed MP contamination, a critical synthesis focusing on pathways through which consumer goods directly enter food and beverages, along with corresponding industry and regulatory responses, is lacking. This review fills this gap by proposing the direct release of MPs from common sources such as food packaging, kitchen utensils, and household appliances, linking the release mechanisms to human health risks. The release mechanisms of MPs under thermal stress, mechanical abrasion, chemical leaching, and environmental factors, as well as a risk-driven framework for MP release, are summarized. Human exposure through ingestion is the predominant route, while inhalation and dermal contact are additional pathways. In vitro and animal studies have associated MP exposure to inflammatory responses and oxidative stress, neurotoxicity, and genomic instability as endpoints, though direct causal evidence in humans remains lacking, and extrapolation from model systems necessitates caution. This review revealed that dietary intake from kitchen sources is the primary pathway for MP exposure, higher than the inhalation pathway. Most importantly, this review critically sheds light on the initiatives that should be taken by industries with respect to global strategies and new policies to alleviate these challenges. However, while there has been an upsurge in research commenced in this area, there are still research gaps that need to be addressed to explore food matrices such as dairy products, meat, and wine in the context of the supply chain. In conclusion, we pointed out the challenges that limit this research with the aim of improving standardization; research approaches and a risk assessment framework to protect health; and the key differences between MP and nanoplastic (NP) detection, toxicity, and regulatory strategies, underscoring the need for size-resolved risk assessments. Full article

Contamination of water and soil with a wide range of pollutants, including pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and industrial chemicals, remains a significant environmental challenge. Carbon-based materials are widely recognized for their high adsorption capacity, chemical stability, and the possibility to tailor their surface and structural properties. In recent years, ionic liquids (ILs) have been explored as useful media and functionalization agents in the preparation of such materials. Their unique physicochemical properties can facilitate activation, influence pore structure, and introduce specific functional groups that improve interactions with target contaminants. This review summarizes recent developments in the use of ILs for the synthesis, modification, and regeneration of carbonaceous adsorbents. Particular attention is given to IL-assisted activation techniques, surface functionalization strategies, and reported improvements in adsorption performance. Key challenges, such as the environmental impact and cost of ILs, as well as prospects for developing more sustainable IL-based processes, are also discussed. Taken together, these findings highlight the relevance of IL-enabled carbon materials for practical adsorption processes, including water and wastewater treatment, selective pollutant removal, and regeneration-driven purification systems. Full article

Waste textiles may contain heavy metals, which can originate from dyes, mordants, or other chemical treatments used during manufacturing. To explore the impact of heavy metals on the adsorption properties of activated carbon derived from discarded textiles through pyrolysis and to mitigate heavy metal migration, this study investigated the adsorption behavior of copper-impregnated pyrolytic carbon toward typical pollutants—methylene blue and lead—in simulated dyeing wastewater. Aqueous copper nitrate was used to impregnate the waste pure cotton textiles (WPCTs) to introduce copper species as precursors for creating additional active sites. The study systematically examined adsorption mechanisms, single and binary adsorption systems, adsorption kinetics, adsorption isotherms, adsorption thermodynamics, and the influence of pH. Key findings and conclusions are as follows: Under optimal conditions, the copper-containing biochar (Cu-BC) demonstrated maximum adsorption capacities of 36.70 ± 1.54 mg/g for Pb(II) and 104.93 ± 8.71 mg/g for methylene blue. In a binary adsorption system, when the contaminant concentration reached 80 mg/L, the adsorption capacity of Cu-BC for Pb(II) was significantly enhanced, with the adsorption amount increasing by over 26%. However, when the Pb(II) concentration reached 40 mg/L, it inhibited the adsorption of contaminants, reducing the adsorption amount by 20%. SEM, XRD, Cu LMM, FTIR and XPS result analysis proves that the adsorption mechanism of methylene blue involves π–π interactions, hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions, and pore filling. For Pb(II) ions, the adsorption likely occurs via electrostatic interactions, complexation with functional groups, and pore filling. This study supplements the research content on the copper adsorption mechanism supported by biochar for heavy metal adsorption research and broadens the application scope of biochar in the field of heavy metal adsorption. Full article

Agrobacterium tumefaciens, a destructive pathogen causing crown gall disease, results in substantial agricultural losses. Traditional chemical and existing biocontrol methods are limited by environmental pollution, pesticide resistance, and low efficacy, while bacteriophages emerge as a promising alternative due to their high host specificity, environmental compatibility, and low resistance risk. In this study, we isolated and characterized a lytic phage (PAT-A) targeting A. tumefaciens, evaluating its biological traits, genomic features, and biocontrol potential. The host strain A. tumefaciens CL-1 was isolated from cherry crown gall tissue and identified by 16S rDNA sequencing. Phage PAT-A was recovered from orchard soil via the double-layer agar method, showing a tadpole-shaped morphology (60 nm head diameter, 30 nm tail length) under transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Nucleic acid analysis confirmed a double-stranded DNA genome, susceptible to DNase I but resistant to RNase A and Mung Bean Nuclease. PAT-A exhibited an optimal MOI of 0.01, tolerated wide pH and temperature ranges, but was sensitive to UV (titer declined after 15 min of irradiation) and chloroform (8% survival at a 5% concentration). Whole-genome sequencing revealed a 44,828 bp genome with a compact structure, and phylogenetic/collinearity analyses placed it in the Atuphduvirus genus (Autographiviridae). Biocontrol experiments on tobacco plants demonstrated that PAT-A significantly reduced crown gall incidence. Specifically, simultaneous inoculation of PAT-A and A. tumefaciens CL-1 resulted in the lowest tumor incidence (12.0%), while pre-inoculation of PAT-A 2 days before pathogen exposure achieved an incidence rate of 33.3%. In conclusion, PAT-A is a novel strictly lytic phage with favorable biological properties and potent biocontrol efficacy against A. tumefaciens, enriching phage resources for crown gall management and supporting phage-based agricultural biocontrol strategies. Full article

Coral reef ecosystems represent one of the most biodiverse and productive marine habitats, yet they are increasingly threatened by a range of anthropogenic stressors. Among these, emerging contaminants including pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) have started to feature as contaminants of concern due to their persistence, bioaccumulation potential, and complex interactions within reef environments. This review synthesizes current research on the occurrence, transport pathways, and ecological impacts of emerging contaminants, specifically focusing on PPCPs on coral reef systems. Evidence indicates that compounds such as UV filters, antibiotics, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals can impair coral physiology, disrupt symbiotic relationships with zooxanthellae, and contribute to bleaching events. The review further highlights the variability in coral species’ sensitivity to these contaminants, with documented effects ranging from oxidative stress to reduced growth and reproductive capacity. Despite advances in detection and risk assessment, significant knowledge gaps remain regarding long-term exposure, mixture effects, and the influence of local environmental conditions on contaminant toxicity. By consolidating recent findings, this review underscores the urgent need for targeted research and policy action to mitigate the threat of emerging contaminants to coral reef ecosystems. Full article