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Health risks of microplastic exposure have drawn growing global concerns due to the widespread distribution of microplastics in the environment. However, more evidence is needed to understand the exposure characteristics of microplastics owing to the limitation of current spectrum technologies, especially the missing information on small-sized particles. In the present study, laser direct infrared spectroscopy and thermal desorption-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry combined pyrolysis using a tubular furnace (TD-GC/MS) were employed to comprehensively detect the presence of plastic particles down to 0.22 µm in human excreted samples. The results showed that polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride, PE terephthalate (PET), and polypropylene dominated large-sized (>20 µm) and small-sized plastic plastics (0.22-20 µm) in feces and urine. Moreover, fragments accounted for 60.71 and 60.37% in feces and urine, respectively, representing the most pervasive shape in excretion. Surprisingly, the concentration of small-sized particles was significantly higher than that of large-sized microplastics, accounting for 56.54 and 50.07% in feces (345.58 µg/g) and urine (6.49 µg/mL). Significant positive correlations were observed between the level of plastic particles in feces and the use of plastic containers and the consumption of aquatic products (Spearman correlation analysis, p < 0.01), suggesting the potential sources for plastic particles in humans. Furthermore, it is estimated that feces was the primary excretory pathway, consisting of 94.0% of total excreted microplastics daily. This study provides novel evidence regarding small-sized plastic particles, which are predominant fractions in human excretion, increasing the knowledge of the potential hazards of omnipresent microplastics to human exposure.
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Heces , Microplásticos , Plásticos , Humanos , Heces/química , Tamaño de la Partícula , Cromatografía de Gases y Espectrometría de Masas , Monitoreo del AmbienteRESUMEN
The use of disinfectants containing benzalkonium chloride (BAC) has become increasingly widespread in response to triclosan (TCS) restrictions and the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to the increasing presence of BAC in aquatic ecosystems. However, the potential environmental health impacts of BAC on fish remain poorly explored. In this study, we show that BAC and TCS can induce the gut dysbiosis in zebrafish (Danio rerio), with substantial effects on health. Breeding pairs of adult zebrafish were exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations of BAC and TCS (0.4-40 µg/L) for 42 days. Both BAC and TCS exposure perturbed the gut microbiota, triggering the classical NF-κB signaling pathway and resulting in downstream pathological toxicity associated with inflammatory responses, histological damage, inhibited ingestion, and decreased survival. These effects were dose-dependent and sex-specific, as female zebrafish were more susceptible than male zebrafish. Furthermore, we found that BAC induced toxicity to a greater extent than the restricted TCS at environmentally relevant concentrations, which is particularly concerning. Our results suggest that environmental exposure to antimicrobial chemicals can have ecological consequences by perturbing the gut microbiota, a previously underappreciated target of such chemicals. Rigorous ecological analysis should be conducted before widely introducing replacement antimicrobial compounds into disinfecting products.
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Compuestos de Benzalconio , Microbioma Gastrointestinal , Triclosán , Pez Cebra , Animales , Compuestos de Benzalconio/farmacología , Triclosán/toxicidad , Microbioma Gastrointestinal/efectos de los fármacos , Femenino , Masculino , Exposición a Riesgos Ambientales , Antiinfecciosos/farmacología , Antiinfecciosos/toxicidadRESUMEN
Objective: To explore the effect of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) nursing under the integrated management mode during anesthesia recovery. Methods: The researchers' hospital admitted 114 patients who underwent general anesthesia between August 2022 and April 2023. Based on the admission order, these patients were divided into a control group (N=57) and an observation group (N=57). The control group received routine nursing intervention, while the observation group received comprehensive TCM nursing management, which included therapies such as cupping, acupressure, massage, herbal decoction, and mirabilite application. The study evaluated the psychological status, recovery indexes after anesthesia, comfort level, incidence of complications, and patient satisfaction with nursing care. Results: Compared to the control group, the observation group showed significant improvement in their psychological well-being (P < .05) and better recovery outcomes after anesthesia (P < .05). Additionally, the observation group reported higher levels of comfort (P < .05), a lower incidence of complications (8.77% vs 29.82%, P < .05), and greater satisfaction with nursing care (98.25% vs 84.21%, P < .05) compared to the control group. Conclusion: Integrated management of traditional Chinese medicine effectively reduces postoperative adverse events, improves treatment outcomes, and facilitates patient recovery. Its benefits are evident, and its feasibility is well-established.
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In recent years, with the increasing global focus on environmental protection, the issue of microfiber release from denim during the washing process has gained attention. In this study, a programmable washing device simulating household drum washing was designed and developed, microfibers and indigo dyes released from denim washing were quantitatively detected, and we have also developed a novel method for estimating the release of microfibers during washing. The effects of washing time, washing temperature, and washing load on microfiber and indigo dye release from denim were explored. The results showed that the effect of washing load on microfiber and indigo dye release was greater than washing temperature and washing time. The research findings indicate that with an increase in washing time (35-95 min) and washing load (100-250 g), the shedding of microfibers and indigo dye significantly increases, reaching peak release levels of 343.6 µg/g fabric and 0.027 mg/L, respectively. However, there is a decreasing trend in the release of microfibers and indigo dye when the washing temperature exceeds 50 °C. Furthermore, our data suggests that an increase in washing load leads to a significant change in the number of microfibers (from 978 items/g fabric to 1997 items/g fabric) and their mass (from 156.87 µg/g fabric to 343.56 µg/g fabric). The influence of washing time, washing temperature, and washing load on microfiber length shows relatively small fluctuations within the range of 600-900 µm. This study provides new ideas and methods for estimating the release of microfiber and indigo dye in denim washing around the world.
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Carmin de Índigo , TextilesRESUMEN
Extensive application of neonicotinoid insecticides (NNIs) in agricultural production has resulted in widespread contamination of multiple environmental media. To investigate the occurrence and fate of NNIs in the largest marsh distribution area in Northeast China, an integrated ecosystem covering farmlands, rivers, and marshes, referred to as the farmland-river-marsh continuum in this study, was chosen for soil, water, and sediment sampling. Five NNIs were detected, with imidacloprid (IMI), thiamethoxam (THM), and clothianidin (CLO) being the most frequently detected ones in different samples. Concentrations of target NNIs in soil, surface water, and sediment samples were 2.23-136 ng/g dry weight (dw), 3.20-51.7 ng/L, and 1.53-8.40 ng/g dw, respectively. In soils, NNIs were detected more often and at higher concentrations in upland fields, while the concentration of NNIs in the soybean-growing soils (71.5 ng/g dw) was significantly higher than in the rice-growing soils (18.5 ng/g dw) (p < 0.05). Total concentration of NNIs in surface water was lower in the Qixing River channel than inside the marsh, while that in sediments showed an opposite trend. Total migration mass of IMI from approximately 157,000 ha of farmland soil by surface runoff was estimated to be 2636-3402 kg from the application time to the sampling period. The storage of NNIs in sediments was estimated to range from 45.9 to 252 ng/cm2. The estimated environmental risks, calculated as the risk quotients (RQs), revealed low risks to aquatic organisms (RQs <0.1) from the residual concentrations of NNIs in water.
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Insecticidas , Contaminantes Químicos del Agua , Insecticidas/análisis , Humedales , Ecosistema , Neonicotinoides/análisis , Agua , Suelo , China , Contaminantes Químicos del Agua/análisisRESUMEN
Reactive dyes are often released into the environment during the washing process due to their susceptibility to hydrolysis. The hydrolysis experiment of a pure reactive dye, red 195 (RR 195), and the washing experiment of RR 195-colored fabrics (CFSCs) were carried out successively to explore the sources of hydrolyzed dyes in the washing microenvironment. Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) was used for the analysis of hydrolysis intermediates and final products of reactive red 195. The experimental results indicated that the structure of the dye washing shed is consistent with the final hydrolysate of reactive red 195, which is the main colored contaminant in washing wastewater. To eliminate the hydrolyzed dyes from the source, an electrochemical degradation device was designed. The degradation parameters, including voltage, electrolyte concentration, and dye shedding concentration are discussed in the electrochemical degradation experiment. The electrochemical degradation device was also successfully implemented and verified in a home washing machine.
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Colorantes , Aguas Residuales , Compuestos Azo/química , Naftalenosulfonatos/químicaRESUMEN
Face masks play a crucial protective role in preventing the spread of coronavirus disease during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the improper disposal of used face masks also causes an emerging environmental problem, such as microplastic contamination. Here, the aim was to evaluate the improper disposal of used face masks and, subsequently, the potential contribution to microplastic contamination in urban rivers. First, we investigated the occurrence of discarded face masks in Qing River through continuously one-month collection on-site, and the disposable masks with a density of (8.28 ± 4.21) × 10-5 items/m2 with varying degrees of wear and tear were found. Next, the microfibers shedding from two popular types of new disposable masks were tested. The results showed that 50.33 ± 18.50 items/mask of microfibers, ranging from 301 µm to 467 µm in size, were released from the disposal face mask after immersion in ultrapure water for 24-h. It was significantly higher than the KN95 respirator of 31.33 ± 0.57 items/mask, ranging from 273 µm to 441 µm. Besides C and O elements only found in new face masks, some potentially toxic elements were also detected on the surface of discarded face masks, indicating that various environmental contaminations are easy to adsorb on the surface of discarded face masks. The results implied that these discarded face masks in an aquatic environment are emerging sources of microfibers and could act as transport vectors for contaminants, which would aggravate the present microplastic contamination. In conclusion, these findings were expected to raise public awareness of the proper disposal of used face masks to prevent microplastic contamination and the spread of COVID-19 in the environment.
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COVID-19 , COVID-19/prevención & control , Humanos , Máscaras , Microplásticos , Pandemias/prevención & control , Plásticos , Ríos , SARS-CoV-2RESUMEN
It has taken 12 years since 2008, but China is finally strengthening plastic pollution prevention and control through legislation. In an effort to regulate and control plastic products, China's government amended and released a series of laws and regulations in 2020, possibly heralding the end of China's plastic pollution. China's plastic pollution legislation, while late, is a viable and right response to the severe environmental and ecology problem. Legislative progress in plastic pollution prevention has extended beyond China government's administrative capability but has also been an important step in the protection of the environment in the world.
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Conservación de los Recursos Naturales , Plásticos , China , Contaminación Ambiental/análisis , Contaminación Ambiental/prevención & controlRESUMEN
Global fishery resources have been declining for decades, leading some fisheries to collapse. Although the decline is partly due to man-made chemical contamination, causal chemicals have been identified in only a few cases. We conducted consecutive 3-year investigations of embryonic mortality in Taihu Lake, China, including heavily contaminated northern areas, including Zhushan (ZS), Meiliang (ML), and Gonghu (GH), and the less polluted southeastern Suzhou (SZ). In 2016, 65.8% of crucian carp (Carassius carassius) embryos collected from ZS died before hatching, a substantially higher mortality rate than those observed in ML (21.7%), GH (15.2%), and SZ (2.2%). In 2017, the embryonic mortality rates were 38.8% in ZS, 1.3% in ML, 6.9% in GH, and 3.5% in SZ, and these rates strongly correlated with the concentrations of tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl)phosphate (TDCIPP): 104.2, 1.8, 4.6, and 4.1 ng/g lipid weight (lw) in embryos from ZS, ML, GH, and SZ, respectively. In 2018, embryonic mortality decreased to 4.0% in ZS and 1.2% in GH, consistent with decreases in embryonic TDCIPP concentrations to 17.1 and 1.5 ng/g lw, respectively. Moreover, the TDCIPP concentrations in dead embryos (70.5-216.8 ng/g lw) were much higher than those in live embryos (1.2-10.5 ng/g lw). Embryonic mortality was also observed in well-controlled laboratory experiments in which wild crucian carp were exposed to TDCIPP at concentrations similar to those measured in embryos collected from Taihu Lake, thus confirming TDCIPP as a causal factor in mass crucian carp embryo mortality in Taihu Lake. TDCIPP thus poses a threat to the sustainability of fisheries worldwide, given the high worldwide production volume of this chemical and its embryonic lethal toxicity.
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Carpas , Contaminantes Químicos del Agua , Animales , Humanos , Lagos , Compuestos Organofosforados , Fosfatos , Contaminantes Químicos del Agua/toxicidadRESUMEN
Plastic pollution control has been on top of the political agenda in China. In January 2020, China announced a phased ban on the production and usage of various types of single-use plastics as a solution to environmental pollution problems. However, the outbreak of COVID-19 seems to be a new obstacle to the ban on single-use plastic products. To basically satisfied the daily necessities and contain the spread of SARS-CoV-2 under the background of the regular epidemic prevention and control in China, online ordering, contactless delivery and wearing mask have become an important and feasible way of daily life. However, the unrestrained use of disposable plastic bags, lunch boxes and masks within the nationwide quarantine leads to hundreds of millions of plastics wastes every day. The potential environmental pollution caused by the use of disposable plastic products during the pandemic should arouse social concern. The Chinese government should manage environmental protection in parallel with anti-pandemic endeavors as the situation of the pandemic evolves.
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COVID-19 , Pandemias , China/epidemiología , Humanos , Plásticos , SARS-CoV-2RESUMEN
Gonadal intersex has been observed in wild fishes and is attributed to endocrine-disrupting chemicals but the specific causes remain controversial. Here, a forensic analysis utilizing field and laboratory studies was conducted to explore the causal agent(s). In a 2008-2009 survey of Liaodong Bay, China, 20.7-33.3% incidences of gonadal intersex were observed in male so-iuy mullets (Mugil soiuy), a wild sentinel fish species. Steroidal estrogen (estrone, 17ß-estradiol, estriol, and ethinylestradiol) and phytoestrogen (equol) were detected in seawater where the fishes were collected with median concentrations of 0.42 ng/L (0.02-1.42 ng/L) E2 equivalent (EEQ-E2) and 22.81 ng/L (0.10-155.99 ng/L) equol. A probabilistic model was used to evaluate the ecological risk of these estrogenic chemicals based on their distribution in the field and dose-response relationship from the laboratory surrogate Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) fish. The probability of the incidences of gonadal intersex due to equol exposure was estimated to be 13.5 ± 12.1%, which is considerably higher than that for EEQ-E2, (7.2 ± 68.8) × 10-4. The agonistic activity of equol to the estrogen receptor α of so-iuy mullets was 3.5-fold higher than that to the estrogen receptor α of Japanese medaka, indicating that equol shows a stronger potential for inducing intersex in so-iuy mullets than in medaka. These results demonstrate that equol, rather than steroid estrogens, is a more likely causal agent for the field-observed intersex in male wild so-iuy mullets.
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Trastornos del Desarrollo Sexual , Oryzias , Smegmamorpha , Contaminantes Químicos del Agua , Animales , China , Equol , Estrógenos , Masculino , Contaminantes Químicos del Agua/toxicidadRESUMEN
Trophic transfer of cyclic methyl siloxanes (CMS) in aquatic ecosystems is an important criterion for assessing its environmental risks. This study researched the trophic transfer of four CMS (octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4), decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5), dodecamethylcyclohexasiloxane (D6), and tetradecamethylcycloheptasiloxane (D7)) in marine food web from zooplankton up to seabirds in the Chinese Bohai Sea. In the zooplankton-invertebrate-fish-seabird based food web, the significant trophic magnifications were found for D4 to D6 (D4: R2â¯=â¯0.040, pâ¯<â¯0.05, D5: R2â¯=â¯0.26, pâ¯<â¯0.0001, D6: R2â¯=â¯0.071, pâ¯<â¯0.001), and the significant trophic dilution was found for D7 (R2â¯=â¯0.026 and pâ¯<â¯0.05). The trophic magnification factors (TMF) for D4 to D7 were 1.7 (95% confidence interval: 1.1-2.6), 3.5 (2.5-5.0), 1.8 (1.3-2.6), and 0.63 (95% CI: 0.40-0.99) respectively. In the zooplankton-invertebrate-fish based food web, both significant trophic magnification for D5 (R2â¯=â¯0.16, pâ¯<â¯0.0001, TMFâ¯=â¯3.0) and significant trophic dilution for D7 (R2â¯=â¯0.073, pâ¯<â¯0.01, TMFâ¯=â¯0.4) were found, but for D4 and D6, the trophic magnifications were not significant (D4: R2â¯=â¯0.010, pâ¯=â¯0.23, D6: R2â¯=â¯0.010, pâ¯=â¯0.23). The trophic transfer of the legacy contaminant BDE-47 and BDE-99 were also conducted as the benchmark chemicals and significant positive correlation was found. As far as we know, this is the first research on the trophic transfer of CMS in the zooplankton-invertebrate-fish-bird food chain which provided new insight of these compounds in the area.
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Organismos Acuáticos/química , Monitoreo del Ambiente/métodos , Siloxanos/análisis , Contaminantes Químicos del Agua/análisis , Animales , Organismos Acuáticos/metabolismo , Aves/metabolismo , China , Peces/metabolismo , Cadena Alimentaria , Invertebrados/metabolismo , Océanos y Mares , Zooplancton/químicaRESUMEN
The Chinese Gridded Industrial Pollutants Emission and Residue Model (ChnGIPERM) was used to investigate potential fractionation effects and atmospheric transport of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) derived from single-source emissions in China. Modeling the indicative PCBs (CB28, CB101, CB153, and CB180) revealed spatiotemporal trends in atmospheric transport, gas/particle partitioning, and primary and secondary fractionation effects. These included the inference that the Westerlies and East Asian monsoons affect atmospheric transport patterns of PCBs by influencing the atmospheric transport time (ATT). In this study, dispersion pathways with long ATTs in winter tended to have short ones in summer and vice versa. The modeled partitioning of PCB congeners between gas and particles was mainly controlled by temperature, which can further influence the ATT. The potential for primary and secondary fractionation was explored by means of numerical simulations with single-source emissions. Within ChnGIPERM, these phenomena were mainly controlled by the temperature and soil organic carbon content. The secondary fractionation of PCBs is a slow process, with model results suggesting a timescale of several decades.
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Contaminantes Atmosféricos/análisis , Monitoreo del Ambiente , Modelos Teóricos , Bifenilos Policlorados/análisis , Contaminantes Atmosféricos/química , Fraccionamiento Químico , China , Bifenilos Policlorados/química , Estaciones del Año , Contaminantes del Suelo/análisis , Contaminantes del Suelo/química , Temperatura , Factores de TiempoRESUMEN
Despite the increasing use and discharge of novel brominated flame retardants, little information is available about their trophodynamics in the aquatic food web, and their subsequent relationships to compound metabolism. In this study, concentrations of 2,4,6-tribromophenyl allyl ether (ATE), 1,2-dibromo-4-(1,2-dibromoethyl)cyclohexane (TBECH), tetrabromo- o-chlorotoluene (TBCT), pentabromobenzyl acrylate (PBBA), 1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)ethane (BTBPE), bis(2-ethylhexyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrabromo-phthalate (TBPH), and decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) were measured in 17 species, including plankton, invertebrates, and fish from Lake Taihu, South China. Trophodynamics of the compounds were assessed, and metabolic rates were measured in the liver microsomes of crucian (trophic level [TL]: 2.93), catfish (TL: 3.86), and yellow-head catfish (TL: 4.3). Significantly positive relationships were found between trophic levels and lipid-normalized concentrations of ATE, BTBPE, and TBPH; their trophic magnification factors (TMFs) were 2.85, 2.83, and 2.42, respectively. Consistently, the three chemicals were resistant to metabolism in all fish microsomes. No significant relationship was observed for ßTBECH ( p = 0.116), and DBDPE underwent trophic dilution in the food web (TMFs = 0.37, p = 0.021). Moreover, these two chemicals showed steady metabolism with incubation time in all fish microsomes. TBCT and PBBA exhibited significant trophic magnifications in the food web (TMF = 4.56, 2.01). Though different metabolic rates were observed for the two compounds among the tested fish species, TBCT and PBBA both showed metabolic resistance in high-trophic-level fish. These results indicated that metabolism of organisms at high trophic levels plays an important role in the assessment of trophic magnification potentials of these flame retardant chemicals.
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Retardadores de Llama , Hidrocarburos Bromados , Contaminantes Químicos del Agua , Animales , China , Monitoreo del Ambiente , Peces , Cadena Alimentaria , Éteres Difenilos Halogenados , LagosRESUMEN
We evaluated the transcriptome dynamics of the freshwater river snail Bellamya aeruginosa exposed to 17ß-estradiol (E2) using the Roche/454 GS-FLX platform. In total, 41,869 unigenes, with an average length of 586 bp, representing 36,181 contigs and 5,688 singlets were obtained. Among them, 18.08, 36.85, and 25.47 % matched sequences in the GenBank non-redundant nucleic acid database, non-redundant protein database, and Swiss protein database, respectively. Annotation of the unigenes with gene ontology, and then mapping them to biological pathways, revealed large groups of genes related to growth, development, reproduction, signal transduction, and defense mechanisms. Significant differences were found in gene expression in both liver and testicular tissues between control and E2-exposed organisms. These changes in gene expression will help in understanding the molecular mechanisms of the response to physiological stress in the river snail exposed to estrogen, and will facilitate research into biological processes and underlying physiological adaptations to xenoestrogen exposure in gastropods.
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Estradiol/toxicidad , Estrógenos/toxicidad , Caracoles/efectos de los fármacos , Transcriptoma/efectos de los fármacos , Contaminantes Químicos del Agua/toxicidad , Animales , Datos de Secuencia Molecular , Caracoles/genéticaRESUMEN
Metabolizing enzymes play important roles in the detoxification of various pollutants in aquatic organisms, thereby they can also be used to provide early-warning signals of environmental risks. Real-time quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction assays were developed to quantify cytochrome P450 1A (CYP1A), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) in crucian carp (Carassius auratus). The methods were then used to detect the respective mRNA expression levels in liver tissue in wild crucian carp from the Hun River, North China. CYP1A mRNA expression was significantly up-regulated in fish from stations S5, S6, and S8 (p < 0.05). SOD mRNA expression was significantly down-regulated in downstream areas relative to fish from upstream sites (p < 0.05); GPx and CAT mRNA expression levels were also down-regulated at S9 (p < 0.05). In contrast, GST mRNA expression showed no obvious change between fish collected from up- or downstream areas of the river. Finally, an integrated biomarker response was used to evaluate the integrated impact of pollutants in the Hun River and allow better comprehension of the real toxicological risk of these investigated sites.
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Biomarcadores/metabolismo , Monitoreo del Ambiente , Carpa Dorada/metabolismo , Calidad del Agua , Secuencia de Aminoácidos , Animales , Hidrocarburo de Aril Hidroxilasas/metabolismo , Catalasa/metabolismo , Glutatión Peroxidasa/metabolismo , Glutatión Transferasa/metabolismo , Datos de Secuencia Molecular , Superóxido Dismutasa/metabolismoRESUMEN
Microplastic pollution is not only an environmental problem but also a social problem. Many studies have been conducted on the sources, abundance, and distribution of microplastics in the environment, but an understanding of human exposure levels and potential health risks remains very limited. Based on the bibliometric methods, the present review systematically summarized the exposure pathways of microplastics in humans, and then the characteristics and potential adverse impacts on human health were expounded upon. Available literature showed that microplastics in human bodies were mainly concentrated on sizes smaller than 50 µm, and polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) were the main polymers. Microplastics in environments entered human bodies mainly through food and respiratory pathways, then accumulated in lung and gastrointestinal tissues. Most importantly, small-sized microplastics could distribute in tissues and organs via the circulatory system. The results from lab-based toxicological experiments showed that microplastics not only posed threats to cell membrane integrity, immune stress, gut microbiota, and energy metabolism but also had potentially adverse impacts on the reproductive system. To further understand the health risks of microplastic pollution, it is necessary to promote research on the toxicological effects of microplastics as well as the inner mechanisms and also to establish risk assessment frameworks for evaluating microplastic pollution. These works are crucial to preventing the risks of microplastic pollution with scientific evidence.
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Microplásticos , Contaminantes Químicos del Agua , Humanos , Microplásticos/toxicidad , Plásticos/efectos adversos , Monitoreo del Ambiente , Contaminantes Químicos del Agua/análisis , Contaminación AmbientalRESUMEN
In recent years, neonicotinoid insecticides (NNIs), representing a new era of pest control, have increasingly replaced traditional classes such as organophosphorus compounds, carbamates, and pyrethroids due to their precise targeting and broad-spectrum efficacy. However, the high water solubility of NNIs has led to their pervasion in aquatic ecosystems, raising concerns about potential risks to non-target organisms and human health. Therefore, there is an urgent need for research on remediating NNI contamination in aquatic environments. This study demonstrates that biochar, characterized by its extensive surface area, intricate pore structure, and high degree of aromaticity holds significant promise for removing NNIs from water. The highest reported adsorption capacity of biochar for NNIs stands at 738.0 mg·g-1 with degradation efficiencies reaching up to 100.0 %. This review unveils that the interaction mechanisms between biochar and NNIs primarily involve π-π interactions, electrostatic interactions, pore filling, and hydrogen bonding. Additionally, biochar facilitates various degradation pathways including Fenton reactions, photocatalytic, persulfate oxidations, and biodegradation predominantly through radical (such as SO4-, OH, and O2-) as well as non-radical (such as 1O2 and electrons transfer) processes. This study emphasizes the dynamics of interaction between biochar surfaces and NNIs during adsorption and degradation aiming to elucidate mechanistic pathways involved as well as assess the overall efficacy of biochar in NNI removal. By comparing the identification of degradation products and degradation pathways, the necessity of advanced oxidation process is confirmed. This review highlights the significance of harnessing biochar's potential for mitigating NNI pollution through future application-oriented research and development endeavors, while simultaneously ensuring environmental integrity and promoting sustainable practices.
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Carbón Orgánico , Insecticidas , Neonicotinoides , Contaminantes Químicos del Agua , Carbón Orgánico/química , Insecticidas/análisis , Insecticidas/química , Contaminantes Químicos del Agua/análisis , AdsorciónRESUMEN
Plastic pollution has emerged as a global environmental concern, impacting both terrestrial and marine ecosystems. However, understanding of plastic sources and transport mechanism at the catchment scale remains limited. This study introduces a multi-source plastic yield and transport model, which integrates catchment economic activities, climate data, and hydrological processes. Model parameters were calibrated using a combination of field observations, existing literature, and statistical random sampling techniques. The model demonstrated robust performance in simulating both plastic yield and transport from 2010 to 2020 in the upper and middle Mulan River Catchment, located in southeast China. The annual average yield coefficients were found to closely align with existing estimations, and the riverine outflow exhibited a high correlation coefficient of 0.97, with biases ranging from -63.0 % to -21.4 % across all monitoring stations. The analysis reveals that, on average, 12.5 ± 2.5 % of the total plastic yield is transported to rivers annually, with solid waste identified as the primary source, accounting for 37.8 ± 20.7 % of the total load to rivers, followed by agricultural film (26.4 ± 9.8 %), impermeable surfaces (21.5 ± 10.3 %), urban and rural sewage (10.4 ± 5.0 % and 3.0 ± 1.5 %, respectively), and industrial wastewater (0.9 ± 0.7 %). The annual average outflow was estimated to between 9.3 and 43.0 ton/year (median: 23.1) at a 95 % confidence level. This study not only provides insights into the primary sources and transport pathways of plastic pollution at the catchment scale, but also offers a valuable tool for informing effective plastic pollution mitigation strategies.
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Monitoreo del Ambiente , Plásticos , Ríos , Modelos Teóricos , China , Contaminantes Químicos del Agua/análisis , HidrologíaRESUMEN
Microplastics have become ubiquitous throughout the environment. Humans constantly ingest and inhale microplastics, increasing concerns about the health risks of microplastic exposure. However, limited data impedes a full understanding of the internal exposure to microplastics. Herein, to evaluate microplastic exposure via the respiratory and digestive systems, we used laser direct infrared spectroscopy to identify microplastics >20 µm in size in different human tissues. Consequently, 20-100 µm microplastics were concentrated in all tissues, with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) being the dominant polymer. The highest abundance of microplastics was detected in lung tissue with an average of 14.19 ± 14.57 particles/g, followed by that in the small intestine, large intestine, and tonsil (9.45 ± 13.13, 7.91 ± 7.00, and 6.03 ± 7.37 particles/g, respectively). The abundance of microplastics was also significantly greater in females than in males (p < 0.05). Despite significant diversity, our estimation showed that the lungs accumulated the highest amounts of microplastic. Moreover, PVC particles may cause potential health risks because of their high polymer hazard index and maximal risk level. This study provides evidence regarding the occurrence of microplastics in humans and empirical data to support assessments of the health risks posed by microplastics.