Search Results (245)

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are persistent environmental contaminants widely recognized as “forever chemicals” due to the exceptional stability of their carbon–fluorine (C-F) bonds. Their widespread occurrence in water, soil, sediments, and biota, coupled with increasing evidence of toxicity, bioaccumulation, and long-range transport, has intensified the search for sustainable remediation strategies. Conventional remediation technologies for PFASs have been widely applied but remain constrained by several technical and environmental limitations, such as incomplete mineralization, high energy requirements, secondary waste generation, and the formation of toxic transformation products. Moreover, many conventional treatment processes were not originally designed to handle the chemical stability and structural diversity of PFASs, resulting in variable removal efficiencies across different compounds. Bio-based strategies for PFAS remediation, particularly those targeting C-F bond cleavage and biological defluorination, are gaining attention due to the unique challenges posed by the chemical stability and environmental persistence of these “forever chemicals”. This review addresses the fragmented nature of PFAS remediation research by integrating biological and physicochemical strategies and critically examining mechanisms of C-F bond cleavage and defluorination. Emerging technologies, including bioelectrochemical systems, photocatalytic and electrochemical defluorination, adsorption-assisted degradation, plasma treatment, hydrothermal processes, and synthetic biology approaches, are evaluated in relation to their degradation efficiencies, defluorination capacities, and applicability in diverse environmental matrices. Particular attention is given to integrated “capture-and-destroy” systems that combine adsorption with catalytic or biological degradation to enhance remediation efficiency and reduce energy demand. PFAS treatment performance varies markedly across scalability, destruction, and cost. Key knowledge gaps and future perspectives are outlined, emphasizing the need for scalable, energy-efficient, and environmentally sustainable remediation technologies capable of achieving complete PFAS mineralization in complex environmental systems. Full article

In this review, the occurrence of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in the environment and human surroundings, as well as its toxic action and its selected short-chain analogs—perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) and perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA)—has been described. These substances belong to a group of polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) that are widely represented in various compartments of the environment, including the air, water and soil. They are also present in food, drinking water and dust, which are the main sources of exposure for humans to these substances. Due to their physico-chemical properties, PFASs are resistant to degradation in the biosphere and therefore effectively accumulate in biota, including humans. PFOA has been produced for decades, but due to its toxicity, it was subsequently replaced by PFASs with a shorter chain, including PFHxA and PFBA, whose presence in the environment, as well as risk of human exposure and toxicity, has been poorly investigated. It has been proven that PFOA has hepatotoxic and endocrine-disrupting activities, as well as prooxidative, immunotoxic, epigenetic and carcinogenic potential. Previously conducted studies have shown that PFHxA and PFBA are less toxic than PFOA; nevertheless, additional extensive studies should be conducted in order to determine the environmental and toxicological status of these compounds. Full article

Chlorinated paraffins (CPs) are recognized as a novel class of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and are categorized into short- (SCCPs, C_10–13), medium- (MCCPs, C1_4–17), and long- (LCCPs, C_≥18) chain CPs considering the carbon-chain length. Among them, SCCPs possess lower molecular weights, higher vapor pressures, and greater water solubilities compared to their longer-chain counterparts (MCCPs and LCCPs), which promote their environmental release. Consequently, SCCPs were designated as POPs of concern under the Stockholm Convention in 2017. This review concludes the recent research progress of SCCPs in China from 2015 to present, and we present a comprehensive overview of SCCP concentrations, encompassing diverse environmental matrices and human tissues, for example, air, water, soil, sediments, biota, food, human placenta, breast milk, blood, and organs (fat, kidney, liver, brain, bone, etc.). Whereafter, we summarize the development of SCCPs determination methods, benefiting from quantifying relative carbon-chain length and chlorine content of SCCPs correctly. Moreover, toxicity, toxicokinetics, and adverse health effects of SCCPs in humans from China are concluded and discussed. Meanwhile, we review the existing control and treatment technologies for SCCPs. Lastly, we describe some noteworthy and prospective issues that are worthy of further study. In the future, the relevant studies are still necessary to keep up with consecutive monitoring and evaluation of SCCP levels and relative potential health impacts in China. Full article

Soil erosion (SE) is a constant, complex land degradation process, a common natural disaster that occurs all over the world and severely impacts soil fertility, food security, and environmental balance. Soil erosion depends on many factors, including soil properties, slope, vegetation, rainfall amount and intensity, and anthropogenic activities. There are two main natural erosive forces by which soil is eroded and transported—water and wind. Water erosion refers to the detachment, transportation, and deposition of soil particles (solid runoff) into river networks. These particles, varying in size and composition, are the main products of soil erosion and most strongly affect river ecosystems. Solid runoff, or sediment-laden runoff, affects water quality, destroying habitats, carrying pollutants, reducing reservoir storage, and causing flooding. Erosion control activities also influence river ecosystems in different ways. Hydrotechnical facilities, a major erosion control practice, can alter the composition of aquatic biota by disrupting longitudinal connectivity and isolating populations. Reforestation and afforestation are other erosion control practices that have a strong impact on ecosystems. Stormwater retention systems in urban and forest areas are also important measures addressed in this review. This review examines complex environmental interactions and the roles of erosion and erosion control activities in river ecosystems. During the research, several key points were established: erosion and erosion control activities significantly affect river ecosystems. There is a lack of quantitative analysis of erosion intensity and its influence on ecosystems. This is probably due to the exceptional complexity and diversity of river ecosystems, but such a study would provide important information about complex relationships in nature. Full article

The study evaluated the effect of intercropping Paulownia (Paulownia spp.) with spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L., cv. KWS Thalis) on selected components of agroecosystem biodiversity under Polish conditions. A field experiment established in 2019 compared an alley cropping system with barley monoculture during the 2025 growing season. Weed infestation, soil microbial communities, mesofauna abundance, and crop yield were assessed. Weed abundance was lower in the intercropping system than in monoculture, reaching 5.6 vs. 15.6 plants m⁻² at BBCH 21 and 21 and 22.8 vs. 35.6 plants m⁻² at BBCH 75. Bacterial alpha diversity was significantly higher under intercropping conditions, with Shannon index values ranging from 5.12 to 5.25, compared with 4.98–5.09 in monoculture. Fungal diversity showed moderate differences between systems, whereas the abundance of Collembola and Acari was influenced mainly by seasonal variation rather than by cultivation system. No significant reduction in barley yield was observed under intercropping conditions. The results suggest that Paulownia-based alley cropping may reduce weed pressure and support selected soil biological properties without negatively affecting crop productivity. However, the observed responses varied depending on the analyzed parameter and sampling period, indicating the preliminary and context-dependent character of the results. Further long-term studies are required to better understand the ecological mechanisms operating in such agroforestry systems. Full article

The sustainability, crop production, and food safety of agriculture are increasingly challenged by microplastic pollution, as agricultural soils are the largest reservoirs and may serve as points of contact for plastic particles in the food chain. This review provides a comprehensive overview of plant materials, fate and uptake pathways, detection techniques, and the possible risks of microplastics in agriculture. Agroecosystems are also a source of microplastics, such as plastic mulch films, sewage sludge, compost and manure additives, wastewater irrigation, polymer-coated fertilizers, greenhouse materials, atmospheric deposition, and decomposition of discarded agricultural plastics. Their distribution and mobility in soil are controlled by polymer composition, particle size, morphology, density, surface ageing, soil texture, organic matter content, tillage practices, runoff, leaching, and soil biota. Recent data show that microplastics, especially smaller microplastics and nanoplastics, can attach to root surfaces, penetrate plants via cracks in roots, areas of lateral root development, and apoplastic pathways, and eventually move to tissues aboveground. Plant tissue detection is often accomplished by digestion of the sample, density separation, visual and fluorescence microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, pyrolysis–gas chromatography mass spectrometry, and electron microscopy, but standardization of these methods remains a significant challenge. Microplastics can disrupt seed germination, root structure, nutrient absorption, photosynthesis, oxidative homeostasis, biomass buildup, yield development, and quality. Further, their capacity to transport additives, plasticizers, heavy metals, and persistent organic pollutants raises concerns about the transfer of contaminants to edible plant parts and their potential transfer to human diets. Further studies are needed focusing on field-realistic exposure conditions, long-term crop–soil interactions, nanoplastics behaviour, standardised analysis procedures, uptake and translocation pathways, edible crop risk assessments, and sustainable mitigation approaches to reduce microplastics in agroecosystems. Full article

Soil salinization threatens agricultural sustainability and food security, especially in arid and semi-arid regions, yet how salinity gradients reshape multi-trophic networks and their associations with functional genes remain unclear. We investigated soil bacteria, fungi, protists, nematodes, and the carbon-fixation gene cbbL along a natural salinity gradient (electrical conductivity: 1.2–12.4 mS cm⁻¹) in Karamay, Xinjiang. Salinity acted as a key environmental filter, significantly differentiating biotic communities into low- and high-salinity groups. Compared with bacteria and fungi, protists and nematodes exhibit higher sensitivity to salinity shifts from non-saline to slightly saline soils, with their Shannon diversity decreasing by 74.2% and 50.4%, respectively (p < 0.05). High salinity significantly reduced the connectivity, modularity, and robustness of soil multi-trophic co-occurrence networks, resulting in 36.8% fewer edges, 24.2% lower modularity, and diminished network robustness compared to low-salinity conditions. Crucially, salinity was associated with functional decoupling, defined as a shift in the dominant drivers of microbial carbon sequestration potential. At low salinity, biotic factors explained 94.2% of cbbL variation, whereas at high salinity abiotic factors governed 86.1%, as shown by GBM (Gradient Boosting Machine) analyses. Our findings indicate that protists and nematodes can act as early warning indicators for soil salinization, and biotic network complexity represents a core metric for assessing saline soil ecosystem stability. This study reveals salinization-induced biota–function decoupling patterns and provides insights for saline soil health assessment and biotic restoration. Full article

Agroforestry systems with live stakes have been proposed as management strategies to enhance soil and canopy-related processes in perennial crops. However, their integrated effects on productivity under Amazonian conditions remain poorly understood. This study evaluated the role of live stakes as modulators of soil and canopy conditions in Hylocereus undatus cultivated in the Ecuadorian Amazon. The field study lasted three years and used live stakes (Spondias mombin and Erythrina sp.) and an inert concrete stake. S. mombin exhibited the highest annual biomass contribution (14 t ha⁻¹ year⁻¹), approximately double that of Erythrina sp., and a higher abundance of earthworms (20 individuals m⁻²), suggesting greater soil biological activity. Canopy-mediated conditions differed among stake systems, with shade levels progressively increasing over time and reaching up to 67% under S. mombin. However, the crop’s physiological response, assessed through leaf relative chlorophyll content, was dominated by seasonal variability and did not show structural differences among the systems. Yield was comparable between S. mombin and the inert stake (18–20 t ha⁻¹) and lower under Erythrina sp. (14 t ha⁻¹). Overall, live stakes influenced system functioning, defined here as the combined response of soil biological indicators (earthworm abundance) and canopy-related indicators (shade percentage and relative chlorophyll content) in relation to yield. Although these effects did not translate into increased yield under the evaluated conditions, they may contribute to improvements in soil quality and biological activity over longer time scales. Full article

The extensive production and use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) over recent decades have resulted in their pervasive distribution in environmental compartments worldwide. PFAS concentrations in soil and biota near fluorochemical manufacturing facilities tend to be typically higher near hotspots, which suggests that the consumption of home-produced foods near such hotspots most likely results in higher human exposure. One prominent European hotspot is located near the 3M fluorochemical production facility in Zwijndrecht (Belgium), where the relative contributions of different exposure pathways remain insufficiently characterised. This study therefore aimed to assess the PFAS concentrations and compositional profiles in serum, dwellings and gardens of teenagers residing near this hotspot. Serum samples from teenagers, along with multiple environmental matrices (i.e., soil, compost, vegetables/fruits/nuts, chicken eggs, rainwater and indoor house dust) were analysed for 21 selected PFAS. Additionally, potential determinants of PFAS occurrence and distribution across matrices were investigated using detailed questionnaire data. We found perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) to be the predominant compound in both soil and serum, while perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) was most dominant in rainwater, compost, house dust and pods. Perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS) was most abundant in fruits and chicken eggs, while perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoDA) was predominant in rooting vegetables and nuts. N-methylperfluorooctane sulfonamidoacetic acid (MePFOSAA) was the dominant compound in fruiting, stem, and leafy vegetables. These results indicate differences in accumulation pathways among the different media and/or differences in affinities of different PFAS in the matrices. Additionally, several environmental and behavioural factors were identified as determinants for PFAS in soil, compost, tree fruits, fruiting vegetables, chicken eggs and house dust, providing insight into potential drivers of exposure variability. The most important factors were related to the soil characteristics, the composting of grass and weeds, the chicken feed (i.e., bread, commercial feed), the type and frequency of ventilation and the frequency of cleaning. Full article

Mercury (Hg) is a ubiquitous element in the environment that may pose a threat to human health due to its toxicity, high mobility through the food chain, and long-lasting persistence. Organic Hg compounds, particularly methylmercury, are more toxic than inorganic mercury due to their easy absorption and persistent retention within the organism. Although natural attenuation can occur in soil through various processes, excessive levels of Hg cause pollution that can adversely affect agricultural soil, making remediation necessary to either remove or stabilize Hg within the soil. This review primarily aims to summarize key remediation strategies—chemical, biological, and physical—developed in recent years for agricultural soil remediation. It discusses the influencing factors, advantages, limitations, mechanisms, and practical applications of these soil remediation technologies. The published literature focuses on identifying plant species and microorganisms capable of remediating Hg-contaminated soils. Emerging amendments, such as biochar and nanomaterials, have been tested for treating mercury (Hg)-polluted soils primarily by immobilizing mercury and reducing its bioavailability and methylation. Ex situ remediation technologies are effective for Hg-contaminated soils but are often costly, labor-intensive, detrimental to soil quality, and generate hazardous secondary waste. In contrast, in situ technologies treat Hg directly within the soil, preserving the soil matrix and its biota. According to the literature, remediation of Hg-contaminated agricultural soils can be compatible with food crop production only if the bioavailable Hg fraction is sufficiently reduced and crop uptake remains below food safety limits. The gap between laboratory trials and actual field applications in Hg-contaminated soil remediation mainly arises from differences in scale, complexity, and the uncertainty of real-world conditions, which often reduce the efficiency and predictability of treatments. This review aims to provide a practical reference for improving the effective remediation of Hg-contaminated soils in the future. Full article

Erosion in intensively farmed landscapes threatens above- and below-ground biodiversity. While impacts on soil physical and chemical properties (which affect soil inhabiting biota) are well documented, effects on ground-associated fauna (distribution, diversity, abundance) remain less understood. A likely very strong factor is the direct transport of epigeon together with the eroded soil. We assessed how water-erosion processes shape communities of epigeic invertebrates along agricultural slopes in the Chernozem region of South Moravia (Czech Republic). Ground-dwelling invertebrates were sampled over five years (May–September) in conventionally managed maize fields using pitfall traps across 18 sloping fields. Three slope positions were compared per field (control, erosional, depositional; 54 positions in total). Community patterns were evaluated using Canonical Correspondence Analysis with covariates (month, year, slope position, site), and species responses to key drivers were analysed using Generalised Additive Models. Across the full dataset, Shannon diversity and species richness did not differ significantly among slope positions; however, total invertebrate abundance was significantly lower in erosional parts. Interannual variation was pronounced and linked to precipitation: wet conditions increased diversity and richness at depositional positions, whereas dry conditions reduced diversity downslope. Ordination and GAM results identified erosion intensity and relative precipitation/temperature anomalies as important predictors, with most dominant species showing higher abundances under low to moderate erosion. These findings indicate that epigeic invertebrate communities along slopes can serve as indicators of erosion force. Full article

The rapid expansion of the craft brewing sector has increased the number of small breweries, leading to rising organically rich waste across aquatic, terrestrial and atmospheric ecosystems. Although brewery by-products are frequently discussed in terms of valorisation and resource efficiency, their environmental implications remain insufficiently examined. The present review synthesises current knowledge on waste generated by small breweries (i.e., operations with annual production volumes typically below 20,000 hL of beer), including their composition and management, with an emphasis on the potential environmental consequences of inadequate handling. Waste, including wastewater, solid by-products, gaseous emissions, odours, and noise, is considered, and their mechanistic effects on aquatic, terrestrial, and atmospheric compartments are discussed. Particular attention is given to cumulative and localised impacts in ecosystems, such as oxygen depletion, nutrient enrichment, altered microbial processes, and downstream effects on soil biota, aquatic food webs, and biodiversity. Commonly proposed mitigation and valorisation strategies are critically evaluated, with attention to ecological trade-offs and constraints related to scale, infrastructure, and regulatory thresholds. The review highlights a pronounced bias in the research literature towards chemical and toxicological characterisation, alongside a lack of field-based and long-term monitoring studies. By identifying key knowledge gaps and framing small brewery waste within an environmental context, this review emphasises the need for biomonitoring, scale-appropriate management approaches, and regulatory frameworks tailored to small breweries. Full article

Ophiocordyceps sinensis (O. sinensis) is a valuable medicinal fungus distributed in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau and adjacent high-altitude regions. Wild excavation has raised increasing concerns about its impact on fragile alpine soil ecosystems. Soil nematodes are sensitive indicators of soil environmental change and can effectively reflect disturbance-induced shifts in soil biotic communities. Understanding the effects of O. sinensis excavation on soil nematode diversity is essential for assessing soil biological health and supporting sustainable management of alpine ecosystems. However, most existing studies are limited to single regions, and few have simultaneously analyzed changes in soil properties, nematode diversity, and soil–nematode relationships across heterogeneous landscapes. The goal of this study was to reveal the impacts of O. sinensis excavation on soil physicochemical properties, nematode diversity and community composition, as well as soil–nematode relationships in typical producing areas, and to assess the ecological risks of current harvesting practices. We investigated five typical O. sinensis-producing regions in Qinghai Province (Henan, Hualong, Maqin, Yushu, Zaduo) and compared excavated and non-excavated sites to evaluate disturbance effects. The results showed strong regional heterogeneity in soil responses to excavation. Soil available potassium (AK) was significantly and consistently lower in all excavated sites (p < 0.01), whereas changes in other soil nutrients varied by region. Nematode α-diversity was generally stable, with a significant decrease in the Shannon index only in Henan (from 2.91 to 2.46). Soil nematode community composition was highly similar between treatments, with more than 70% of shared genera and species remaining largely unchanged and dominant taxa unchanged. Correlation analysis indicated that excavation reshaped soil–nematode relationships, and AK may act as a potential influencing factor associated with nematode diversity in disturbed sites. Overall, under current excavation intensity, the impacts of O. sinensis harvesting on total soil nematode diversity are relatively limited. However, the widespread reduction in AK and localized diversity decline suggest potential long-term ecological risks under intensive or prolonged disturbance. Full article

Regenerative agriculture is oriented around restoring soil health through natural processes. In this context, soil biota plays a central role, and bioinoculation represents a potentially effective approach for targeted modification of microbial communities. Among beneficial microorganisms, Trichoderma atroviride is prominent for its biocontrol agent (BCA) activity against plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs), whereas its effects on free-living nematodes (FLNs) under in vivo conditions remain insufficiently explored. The aim of this study was to assess the response of nematode communities to bioinoculation with T. atroviride as an indicator of soil functional status. A three-year field study was conducted in organic olive orchards at Vodnjan and Nadin on four autochthonous olive cultivars, applying two inoculum doses of T. atroviride: 1 × 10⁶ spores mL⁻¹ (LD) and 1 × 10⁸ spores mL⁻¹ (HD). Bioinoculation increased the diversity of the soil nematode communities at both locations. However, the responses differed between the two inoculum doses. Both doses were associated with an increased abundance of FLNs and a reduced abundance of herbivorous nematodes relative to the control, with LD showing a more consistent and ecologically favourable effect. In combination with biotic and abiotic factors, the LD dose was associated with greater trophic diversity and a more structured soil food web, whereas increasing the inoculum concentration (HD) did not result in additional functional improvement. Full article

The widespread and exponentially increasing use of polymer-based commodities is, nowadays, a basically intrinsic element of contemporary life as well as a substantial environmental concern. Moreover, it has led to significant adverse consequences especially when recovery and recycling are unsatisfactory, conditions favoring the formation of microplastics and nanoplastics with significant consequences on aquatic systems, soil, atmosphere, as well as biota and human health. Although the topic is undergoing massive investigation and research, there is less data about the behavior of multiphase polymer systems, especially as far as nanocomposites are concerned. In this paper, we simulated the two main generation mechanisms of micro- and nanoplastics (photo-oxidation and mechanical fragmentation) of a polypropylene/clay nanocomposite and systematically characterized the amount and size distribution of the obtained microplastics. It was found that the presence of this nanoclay can lead to reduced microplastic generation, due to mitigation of the photo-oxidation processes. Full article