Search Results (2,817)

Heavy metal pollution has become a critical concern in agricultural ecosystems driven by a complex matrix of industrial practices, high-input fertilizers, metal-based agrochemicals, and wastewater irrigation. While the previous literature typically highlights general physiological symptoms of heavy metal stress, this review provides a novel, comprehensive framework that bridges three independent pillars: specific industrial applications dictating elemental pathway, localizes active root-zone transport kinetics, and an engineering-based evaluation of emerging remediation strategies. We systematically synthesized literature from 2000 to 2026 across major databases (WoS, PubMed and Google Scholar), applying strict inclusion criteria based on data validation, experimental reproducibility, and mechanistic depth. We examine the geochemical behavior, cellular toxicity, and plant resilience mechanics of seven priority elements like cadmium, lead, arsenic, aluminum, mercury, chromium and molybdenum. Rather than merely reiterating superficial visual damage like chlorosis or stunted growth, we focus on physiological and molecular root causes of phytotoxicity, including the structural hijacking of essential nutrient networks, intracellular reduction cascades and organelle-specific oxidative disruption. This review also discussed the discovery of specialized, energy-dependent eukaryotic transport mechanisms like ABC transporters and a comparative operational blueprint evaluating physical–chemical conventional remediation techniques against advanced in situ and ex situ biotechnological approaches, including biochar assistance, microbial engineering, rhizosphere synergies, and engineered nanomaterials. By systematically linking industrial source dynamics with cellular toxicological mechanisms and field-scale engineering feasibility, this review establishes an actionable roadmap for future genetic, agronomic, and management interventions aimed at securing global food. Full article

Artificial soils derived from coal combustion by-products and industrial waste have been successfully used for mine spoil reclamation; however, their ecological risk and toxic element migration in the soil–plant system have not been assessed. The objective of this study was to evaluate the ecological risks in soil substitute covers after five years of their exposition, using the ecological risk factor (ERⁱ), potential ecological risk index (PERI) and geoaccumulation index. The modified BCR-sequential extraction method was applied to determine the chemical partitioning of the most toxic heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn). Additionally, the bioconcentration and translocation factors were used to assess the uptake of toxic elements by Phragmites australis. Findings from PERI indicate a moderate risk (239 and 258), mainly associated with moderate and considerable ERⁱ for Cd and Hg, respectively. The other toxic metals are associated with a low risk (ERⁱ < 40). Sequential extraction results showed the lowest concentrations of heavy metals in F1 fraction (0–30%) and increased in subsequent fractions: F2 (1–43%), F3 (10–62%) and F4 (10–89%). The calculated BCF values were below 1, indicating that the concentration of toxic metals in plants was lower than that in the soil substitute. The only exception was observed for Mn and Sn (BCF > 1). The results suggest that the tested soil substitutes are suitable for the reclamation of post-mining areas and may support sustainable biomass production. However, due to industrial atmospheric deposition and ecological risk associated with selected trace elements, continued monitoring of toxic metals is recommended. Full article

(1) Background: Electroplating sludge (ES) and water-washed municipal solid waste incineration fly ash (WFA) are classified as hazardous solid wastes, and their conventional disposal approaches trigger severe heavy metal pollution. Conventional colored ceramic glazes heavily depend on virgin mineral ores and synthetic colorants; therefore, sustainable alternative feedstocks are urgently required. (2) Methods: WFA and ES were compounded with red clay and shale to fabricate low-environmental-risk black glazes. Material microstructures and phase compositions were characterized via X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). Single-factor experiments were conducted to optimize the raw material ratios and sintering schedules, while heavy metal leaching toxicity was evaluated following national standard HJ/T 300-2007. (3) Results: The optimal composite formulation consists of 26.1 wt% WFA, 30.4 wt% ES, 26.1 wt% red clay and 17.4 wt% shale. Smooth, defect-free pure black glaze specimens were fabricated after sintering at 1280 °C for 90 min under a weak reducing atmosphere. Heavy metal ions were stably immobilized within the silicate crystalline and amorphous glass phases, with all leaching concentrations well below the national standard thresholds. (4) Conclusions: The proposed technology achieves the high-value co-valorization of two hazardous solid wastes while producing low-environmental-risk colored ceramic glazes, providing a feasible strategy for solid waste recycling and the low-carbon development of the ceramic manufacturing industry. Full article

Heavy metal pollution has emerged as a major challenge in global environmental science in the 21st century because of its extensive distribution, long-term environmental persistence, and non-degradability. As indispensable pollinators in ecosystems, honey bees have undergone marked population declines, a trend closely associated with multiple environmental stressors, including heavy metal contamination. Notably, lead (Pb), a widespread legacy toxic metal pollutant, is released into the environment through industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust, and other anthropogenic sources, contributing to long-term environmental contamination. Moreover, Pb can be transferred to honey bees through contaminated pollen and nectar. This exposure route may pose a risk to honey bee health, particularly under chronic or repeated exposure. This review synthesizes current evidence on Pb exposure routes, bioaccumulation, sublethal toxicity, and physiological responses in honey bees, while highlighting major uncertainties in colony-level risk assessment. Pb-associated physiological effects may impair individual bee health, but their long-term implications for colony health require further study. Full article

Atmospheric pressure non-thermal plasma (APNTP) is an emerging technology with demonstrated potential for mitigating diverse environmental stresses in agriculture and animal health. This review synthesizes current evidence on plasma-mediated stress regulation in plants and animals. For plants, APNTP enhances tolerance to drought, salinity, temperature extremes, heavy-metal toxicity, and pathogen infections through activation of antioxidant systems, stress-responsive gene expression, and adaptive signaling pathways. For animals, APNTP promotes wound healing, microbial disinfection, reproductive health, and environmental pollutant degradation via modulation of oxidative balance, inflammatory responses, and cellular repair mechanisms. However, most reported effects to date are based on laboratory-scale studies under controlled conditions, and critical gaps remain in dose-dependent toxicity profiles, protocol standardization, and long-term safety data. We highlight future priorities including mechanistic studies, parameter optimization, safety assessment, and scalability evaluation. This review provides a comprehensive framework for advancing APNTP applications toward sustainable agriculture and improved animal welfare. Full article

The contamination of microplastics (MPs) and heavy metals (HMs) in water has caused widespread concern, while their effects on submerged macrophytes have rarely been reported. Experiments were carried out to investigate the toxic effects of polyamide microplastics (PAMPs; 0.1%, 0.3%, and 1.0% w/w) and cadmium (Cd; 0.3 and 1.0 mg/L), alone or in combination, on the submerged macrophyte Vallisneria natans (V. natans). The results showed that PAMPs significantly reduced Cd accumulation in leaves (decrease of 2.38%~26.12%) but elevated Cd accumulation in roots. Both Cd exposure and high PAMP exposure alone inhibited plant growth. The combined stress showed concentration-dependent effects: the low Cd concentration (0.3 mg/L) and PAMPs synergistically exacerbated toxicity (synergism, MDR > 1.3), as PAMPs disrupted the sediment structure and enhanced the bioavailability of Cd, whereas when V. natans was co-exposed to the high Cd concentration (1.0 mg/L) and PAMPs, the PAMPs blunted the toxicity of Cd by efficiently adsorbing it (antagonism, MDR < 0.7). Both individual and combined exposures decreased chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b synthesis and increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) activities as well as malondialdehyde (MDA) content in plant tissues. However, exposure to low and medium concentrations of MPs (0.1% and 0.3% w/w) alone had positive effects on plant growth and photosynthesis systems, while combined exposures exacerbated the damaging effects of PAMPs on the antioxidant defense system in V. natans. These results allow for a better understanding of the synergistic effect of co-contamination of microplastics and heavy metals in freshwater ecosystems, and highlight the necessity of ecological risk assessment during phytoremediation using submerged macrophytes. Full article

The occupational health implications of solar photovoltaic (PV) recycling remain critically under-investigated. This study assessed occupational exposure across the PV recycling value chain in Taiwan, evaluating primary mechanical dismantling and downstream reuse sectors (glass milling and controlled low-strength material [CLSM] batching). Area and personal samples were analyzed for total dust, respirable dust, and trace heavy metals. Results indicated that primary mechanical crushing yielded relatively low ambient dust and negligible toxic heavy metal (e.g., Pb, Cd) aerosols, attributed to the macroscopic ductility of metallic ribbons and EVA shock-absorbing properties. Conversely, a critical “hazard transfer” phenomenon was empirically identified downstream, where intensive secondary grinding and aggregate blending in the downstream reuse sector (glass milling and CLSM batching) systematically shifted the aerodynamic particle size distribution, causing the respirable dust fraction to surge to 38.9–72.6%. The pursuit of zero-waste material circularity inadvertently amplifies highly dispersive, respirable dust hazards in downstream sectors, necessitating targeted occupational exposure controls. Full article

Cadmium is a toxic heavy metal classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as a human carcinogen and recognized as an endocrine-disrupting chemical. The present study aimed to evaluate tissue-specific susceptibility to cadmium-induced oxidative damage to membrane lipids (lipid peroxidation, LPO) and to assess the antioxidative effects of melatonin in porcine tissue homogenates representing endocrine (the thyroid and the ovary) and non-endocrine (the liver, the kidney, and the brain) organs. Homogenates were incubated with cadmium chloride (CdCl₂; 2.5–1000 µM) without/with melatonin (0.1–5.0 mM). Lipid peroxidation was assessed spectrophotometrically by measuring malondialdehyde + 4-hydroxyalkenals (MDA + 4-HDA) levels. Cadmium significantly increased LPO in the liver (2.5–1000 μM) and in the kidney (25–1000 μM), whereas no prooxidative effect was observed in endocrine tissues or in the brain. Liver damage was mitigated by melatonin doses as low as 0.1 μM across the 250–1000 μM cadmium range, while protection in the kidney was limited to higher melatonin concentrations (2.5–5.0 mM) against damage induced by 100–1000 μM cadmium concentrations. The findings demonstrate pronounced tissue-specific differences in susceptibility to cadmium-induced oxidative stress and support the potential of melatonin as a preventive agent against heavy metal-induced oxidative stress, particularly in non-endocrine organs. Full article

Landfill leachate represents a long-term source of contamination that may significantly affect groundwater and receiving water bodies through the migration of organic, inorganic, and toxic pollutants. This study evaluated the long-term migration of landfill leachate and its potential environmental impacts using the LandSim Release 2 probabilistic software model applied to two municipal waste landfills in the Republic of Serbia: the regional sanitary landfill “Gigoš” in Jagodina and the sanitary landfill “Meteris” in Vranje. The modelling framework integrated laboratory leachate analyses, hydrogeological conditions, engineered barrier system characteristics, and receptor-oriented contaminant transport assessment. Model validation was performed through comparison of simulated and laboratory-measured concentrations. Two scenarios were analyzed for each site: an engineered sanitary landfill scenario with a functional containment system and a conservative barrier-failure scenario representing complete loss of engineered barrier functionality. Ten representative leachate parameters were included, covering nitrogen compounds, inorganic ions, toxic substances, and heavy metals/metalloids. The results showed that engineered protection systems significantly delay contaminant migration and reduce receptor concentrations, while barrier-failure conditions lead to earlier pollutant breakthrough and higher environmental risk. The simulations demonstrated that under the engineered sanitary landfill scenario, receptor concentrations of all analyzed contaminants remained below the corresponding maximum allowable concentrations, with contaminant migration occurring only after several centuries. In contrast, the conservative barrier-failure scenario resulted in substantially earlier contaminant breakthrough, with nitrogen compounds and phenols representing the greatest environmental concern due to their rapid migration and exceedance of regulatory thresholds, while the “Meteris” landfill generally exhibited higher receptor concentrations than the “Gigoš” landfill. These findings highlight the importance of predictive modelling and long-term monitoring for sustainable landfill management and groundwater protection. Full article

Water resources are essential for human well-being. However, water pollution is a major global problem with significant implications for the environment and public health. To address these challenges, this study presents an integrated perspective on water pollution by correlating pollution sources, transport pathways, exposure routes, and associated risks to human health. The methodology combined a systematic review conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines with a bibliometric analysis performed by using VOSviewer version 1.6.19, a software tool for constructing and visualizing bibliometric networks. A total of 332 publications published between 2015 and 2025 were retrieved from the Scopus and Google Scholar databases and met the PRISMA eligibility criteria. The findings indicate that both natural and anthropogenic sources contribute to water contamination, introducing pollutants such as heavy metals, pesticides, pharmaceutical residues, microplastics, and pathogenic microorganisms with potential human health impacts. Bibliometric analysis revealed a transition from conventional water quality assessments toward integrated approaches emphasizing health risks and environmental interactions. The study further identified important knowledge gaps regarding contaminant mixture effects and synergistic toxicity, which remain insufficiently addressed in current scientific and regulatory frameworks. These findings highlight the need for strengthened regulatory strategies, advanced treatment technologies, and evidence-based water governance to support environmental sustainability and public health protection. Full article

The contamination of aquatic environments by cadmium and other toxic heavy metals represents a major environmental concern requiring efficient and operationally sustainable remediation strategies. In this work, iron oxide materials were synthesized through a microwave-assisted hydrothermal method and evaluated for Cd(II) removal from aqueous systems. Different precursor compositions and organic additives were initially screened in order to identify the most suitable adsorbent formulation. The selected Fe-Tart material was characterized by FTIR, SEM-EDS, and XRD analyses, revealing hydroxylated and poorly crystalline iron oxide structures with heterogeneous surface organization. Batch adsorption experiments were performed under controlled conditions to investigate the influence of pH and equilibrium adsorption behavior, while adsorption data were analyzed using Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. Cd(II) uptake showed strong pH dependence, with adsorption progressively increasing from acidic to near-neutral conditions and reaching approximately 80% removal at pH 7–8. The Langmuir model provided the best fitting results (R² = 0.988), suggesting preferential occupation of energetically comparable surface sites with a maximum adsorption capacity of 6.51 mg g⁻¹. The adsorption behavior was interpreted within a pH-dependent surface complexation framework involving hydroxylated iron oxide surfaces. Although the adsorption capacity remained lower than that reported for some highly engineered adsorbents, the results indicate that microwave-assisted synthesis may provide a relatively simple and rapid route for preparing iron oxide-based materials potentially applicable to water remediation systems. Full article

Introduction: Heavy metal contamination in water represents a major environmental and public health challenge because toxic ions frequently occur as complex multi-species mixtures rather than isolated pollutants. This study presents a numerical design and optimization of a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor based on a LaF/Au/BaTiO₃/WS₂ heterostructure for monitoring refractive-index changes associated with mixed heavy metal ions in aqueous media. Methodology: The optical response of the multilayer sensor was evaluated using the transfer matrix method under TM-polarized illumination at 633 nm. Systematic optimization was performed for the prism substrate, Au thickness, dielectric oxide layer, and 2D nanomaterial interface. The final configuration consisted of a LaF prism, 50 nm Au film, 2.0 nm BaTiO₃ spacer, and 0.80 nm WS₂ monolayer. Sensor performance was assessed using resonance-angle shift, sensitivity, detection accuracy, quality factor, figure of merit, FWHM, attenuation, and estimated limit of detection. Results and Discussion: The optimized LaF/Au/BaTiO₃/WS₂ configuration produced stable simulated SPR responses across single, binary, quaternary, and five-ion heavy metal matrices. The WS₂ monolayer provided the highest angular displacement among the evaluated 2D materials, while BaTiO₃ improved field confinement and limited optical damping in the numerical model. The configuration maintained attenuation near 1.6%, FWHM values around 7.9°, detection accuracy between 0.030 and 0.032 deg⁻¹, and model-based refractometric LoD values down to 3.49 × 10⁻⁵ RIU under the assumed angular-resolution criterion. Conclusions: The proposed LaF/Au/BaTiO₃/WS₂ SPR configuration provides a numerical framework for label-free monitoring of refractive-index changes associated with complex heavy-metal-ion mixtures in contaminated water. Experimental fabrication and testing are required to validate the simulated performance. Full article

Soil contamination around iron ore complexes in semiarid zones is usually described by total metal concentrations, which underestimate the labile mobile pool. At the Sokolovka-Sarbai mining and beneficiation complex (SSGPO, Northern Kazakhstan), total (EPA 3051A) and mobile (neutral NH₄OAc, pH 7) forms of ten heavy metals were analyzed in 87 site-horizon composites (29 sites × 3 pits × 3 horizons; 261 field samples). Descriptive indices flag Co as the only moderately contaminated element (I_geo 1.16) and Mn as the only one in persistent deficit (Kc_total 0.62); Co and Mn show the largest mobility-factor increments above background (Δ_MF +17.8 and +22.3 p.p.). The priority toxic elements As, Cd and Pb remain at or near depth-matched background in the total fraction (median Kc_total 0.98–1.09; I_geo < 0 for all three), although Pb shows a moderate mobile-fraction enrichment (median Kc_mobile 2.6); mercury was not among the ten metals analyzed. Factor analysis of mobile forms resolves two independent sources (F1-siderophile Cr-Ni-Fe-Mn-Co; F2-Zn-dominant, non-sphalerite) and a humus-driven sorption pool (F3), coherently localized in the dump2A-pit2 sector; mobile-fraction attribution greatly outperforms the total fraction (21 vs. 0 FDR-significant trends). The raw Mn-deficit-Co-mobility correlation (ρ = −0.54) is fully mediated by humus (partial ρ = +0.05). Total Mn deficit and enhanced Co lability are therefore interpreted as coupled consequences of a single humus-Ca-pH Kastanozem geochemistry rather than a causal “Mn-buffer depletion → Co mobilization” chain. Because the dataset is cross-sectional, this distinction remains correlational; sequential fractionation and mineralogical verification are priorities for future work. Full article

This study examined the removal of toxic heavy metals Pb²⁺ and As⁵⁺ from wastewaters by applying a waste nut biomass for adsorption. The waste material was steam-activated and further modified with zinc nitrate tetrahydrate to improve its affinity for arsenate. The adsorption performance was evaluated across a range of contact times, sorbent dosages, initial metal concentrations, and pH levels, for both single-metal and mixed-metal systems. When the raw material was modified by Zn, the maximum uptake of As⁵⁺ reached a value of 51 mg/g, at a sorbent dosage of 2 g/L. In binary metal solutions, the biochar exhibited maximum capacities of 25.5 mg/g for Pb²⁺ and 48.5 mg/g for As⁵⁺, indicating minimal competition between the two ions for adsorption sites on the biochar surface. Full article

Nanoplastics (NPs) and heavy metal cadmium (Cd) are common co-existing pollutants in freshwater environments, but their combined toxic effects on the liver of herbivorous economic fish remain unclear. In this study, grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) were exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs, 100 nm) and/or Cd to investigate their individual and combined effects on hepatic toxicity. The results revealed that co-exposure interactively suppressed interleukin-10 (IL-10) expression and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) antioxidant response, and induced more severe hepatic necrosis, melanization, and fibrinoid necrosis, with the highest integrated biomarker response index and extensive disruption of lipid and steroid metabolism pathways. This study clarified the toxicological interaction of NPs and Cd on the liver of grass carp, and provided a theoretical basis for understanding the combined toxicity of NPs and heavy metal pollution in extreme contamination scenarios or accidental pollution events. Full article