COVID-19 fatality and DALYs, and associated metabolic disorders and ambient air pollutants in pre-Omicron era of the pandemic: an international comparative study.

BACKGROUND: Air pollution and a number of metabolic disorders have been reported to increase the risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes. This study explored the association between severe COVID-19 outcomes, metabolic disorders and environmental air pollutants, at regional level, across 38 countries. METHODS: We conducted an ecological study using COVID-19 data related to countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), with an estimated population of 1.4 billion. They were divided into 3 regions: 1. Europe & Middle east; 2. Americas (north, central & south America); 3. East-Asia & West Pacific. The outcome variables were: COVID-19 case-fatality rate (CFR) and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) at regional level. Freely accessible datasets related to regional DALYs, demographics and other environmental pollutants were obtained from OECD, WHO and the World in Data websites. Generalized linear model (GLM) was performed to determine the regional determinants of COVID-19 CFR and DALYs using the aggregate epidemiologic data (Dec. 2019-Dec. 2021). RESULTS: Overall cumulative deaths were 65,000 per million, for mean CFR and DALYs of 1.31 (1.2)% and 17.35 (2.3) years, respectively. Globally, GLM analysis with adjustment for elderly population rate, showed that COVID-19 CFR was positively associated with atmospheric PM2.5 level (beta = 0.64(0.0), 95%CI: 0.06-1.35; p < 0.05), diabetes prevalence (beta = 0.26(0.1), 95%CI: 0.12-0.41; p < 0.001). For COVID-19 DALYs, positive associations were observed with atmospheric NOx level (beta = 0.06(0.0), 95%CI: 0.02-0.82; p < 0.05) and diabetes prevalence (beta = 0.32(0.2), 95%CI: 0.04-0.69; p < 0.05). At regional level, adjusted GLM analysis showed that COVID-19 CFR was associated with atmospheric PM2.5 level in the Americas and East-Asia & Western Pacific region; it was associated with diabetes prevalence for countries of Europe & Middle east and East-Asia & Western Pacific region. Furthermore, COVID-19 DALYs were positively associated with atmospheric PM2.5 and diabetes prevalence for countries of the Americas only. CONCLUSION: These findings confirm that diabetes and air pollution increase the risk of disability and fatality due to COVID-19, with disparities in terms of their impact. They suggest that efficient preventive and management programs for diabetes and air pollution countermeasures would have curtailed severe COVID-19 outcome rates.

[Effects of Biochar on Growth and Pollutant Accumulation of Lettuce in Soil Co-contaminated with Tetracycline and Copper].

Through lettuce potting experiments, the effects of different types of biochar (apple branch, corn straw, and modified sorghum straw biochar with phosphoric acid modification) on lettuce growth under tetracycline (TC) and copper (Cu) co-pollution were investigated. The results showed that compared with those under CK, the addition of biochar treatment significantly increased the plant height, root length, shoot fresh weight, and root fresh weight of lettuce (P < 0.05). The addition of different biochars significantly increased the nitrate nitrogen, chlorophyll, and soluble protein content in lettuce physiological indicators to varying degrees, while also significantly decreasing the levels of malondialdehyde, proline content, and catalase activity. The effects of biochar on lettuce physiological indicators were consistent during both the seedling and mature stages. Compared with those in CK, the addition of biochar resulted in varying degrees of reduction in the TC and Cu contents of both the aboveground and underground parts of lettuce. The aboveground TC and Cu levels decreased by 2.49%-92.32% and 12.79%-36.47%, respectively. The underground TC and Cu levels decreased by 12.53%-55.64% and 22.41%-42.29%, respectively. Correlation analysis showed that nitrate nitrogen, chlorophyll, and soluble protein content of lettuce were negatively correlated with TC content, whereas malondialdehyde, proline content, and catalase activity were positively correlated with TC content. The resistance genes of lettuce were positively correlated with TC content (P < 0.05). In general, modified biochar was found to be more effective in improving lettuce growth quality and reducing pollutant accumulation compared to unmodified biochar, with modified sorghum straw biochar showing the best remediation effect.

An Overview of Degradation Strategies for Amitriptyline.

Antidepressant drugs play a crucial role in the treatment of mental health disorders, but their efficacy and safety can be compromised by drug degradation. Recent reports point to several drugs found in concentrations ranging from the limit of detection (LOD) to hundreds of ng/L in wastewater plants around the globe; hence, antidepressants can be considered emerging pollutants with potential consequences for human health and wellbeing. Understanding and implementing effective degradation strategies are essential not only to ensure the stability and potency of these medications but also for their safe disposal in line with current environment remediation goals. This review provides an overview of degradation pathways for amitriptyline, a typical tricyclic antidepressant drug, by exploring chemical routes such as oxidation, hydrolysis, and photodegradation. Connex issues such as stability-enhancing approaches through formulation and packaging considerations, regulatory guidelines, and quality control measures are also briefly noted. Specific case studies of amitriptyline degradation pathways forecast the future perspectives and challenges in this field, helping researchers and pharmaceutical manufacturers to provide guidelines for the most effective degradation pathways employed for minimal environmental impact.

Physiological impacts of atmospheric pollution: Effects of environmental air pollution on exercise.

In this review, we discuss some of the recent advances in our understanding of the physiology of the air pollution and exercise. The key areas covered include the effect of exercise intensity, the effects of pre-exposure to air pollution, acclimation to air pollution, and the utility of masks during exercise. Although higher intensity exercise leads to an increase in the inhaled dose of pollutants for a given distance traveled, the acute effects of (diesel exhaust) air pollution do not appear to be more pronounced. Second, exposure to air pollution outside of exercise bouts seems to have an effect on exercise response, although little research has examined this relationship. Third, humans appear to have an ability to acclimate to ground level ozone, but not other pollutants. And finally, masks may have beneficial effects on certain outcomes at low intensity exercise in pollution with significant levels of particles, but more study is required in realistic conditions.

Integrated Portable and Stationary Health Impact-Monitoring System for Firefighters.

The multi-layered negative effects caused by pollutants released into the atmosphere as a result of fires served as the stimulus for the development of a system that protects the health of firefighters operating in the affected area. A collaborative network comprising mobile and stationary Internet of Things (IoT) devices that are furnished with gas sensors, along with a remote server, constructs a resilient framework that monitors the concentrations of harmful emissions, characterizes the ambient air quality of the vicinity where the fire transpires, adopting European Air Quality levels, and communicates the outcomes via suitable applications (RESTful APIs and visualizations) to the stakeholders responsible for fire management decision making. Different experimental evaluations adopting separate contexts illustrate the operation of the infrastructure.

Low concentration of peroxymonosulfate coupled with visible light triggers oxygen reactive species generation over constructed Bi25FeO40/BiOCl Z-scheme heterojunction for various tetracycline antibiotics removal.

Photocatalytic peroxymonosulfate (PMS) oxidation systems demonstrate significant potential and promising prospects through the interconnection of photocatalytic and PMS oxidation for simultaneously achieving efficient pollutant removal and reduction of PMS dosage, which prevents resource wastage and secondary pollution. In this study, a Z-scheme Bi25FeO40/BiOCl (BOFC) heterojunction was constructed to carry out the photocatalytic PMS oxidation process for tetracyclines (TCs) pollutants at low PMS concentrations (0.08 mM). The photocatalytic PMS oxidation rate of Bi25FeO40/BiOCl composites for tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH), chlortetracycline (CTC), oxytetracycline (OTC) and doxycycline (DXC) reaches 86.6%, 83.6%, 86.7%, and 88.0% within 120 min. Simultaneously, the BOFC/PMS system under visible light (Vis) equally displayed the practical application prospects for the solo and mixed simulated TCs antibiotics wastewater. Based on the electron spin resonance (ESR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) valence band spectrum, a Z-scheme electron migration pathway was proposed to elucidate the mechanism underlying the performance enhancement of BOFC composites. Bi25FeO40 in BOFC composites can serve as active site for activating PMS by the formation of Fe3+/Fe2+ cycle. Toxicity estimation software tool (T.E.S.T.) and mung beans planting experiment demonstrates that BOFC/PMS/Vis system can reduce toxicity of TCs wastewater. Therefore, BOFC/PMS/Vis system achieves efficient examination in different water environments and efficient utilization of PMS, which displays a scientific reference for achieving environmentally-friendly and resource-saving handling processes.

The research of river basin ecological compensation based on water emissions trading mechanism.

By integrating the successful case of the European Union emissions trading system, this study proposes a water emissions trading system, a novel method of reducing water pollution. Assuming that upstream governments allocate initial quotas to upstream businesses as the compensation standard, this approach defines the foundational principles of market trading mechanisms and establishes a robust watershed ecological compensation model to address challenges in water pollution prevention. To be specific, the government establishes a reasonable initial quota for upstream enterprises, which can be used to limit the emissions of upstream pollution. When enterprises exceed their allocated emissions quota, they face financial penalties. Conversely, these emissions rights can be transformed into profitable assets by participating in the trading market as a form of ecological compensation. Numerical simulations demonstrate that various pollutant emissions from upstream businesses will have various effects on the profits of other businesses. Businesses in the upstream region received reimbursement from the assigned emission rights through the market mechanism, demonstrating that ecological compensation for the watershed can be achieved through the market mechanism. This novel market trading system aims at controlling emissions management from the perspectives of individual enterprises and ultimately optimizing the aquatic environment.

Development of calcium-modified biochar for enhanced phytoremediation of human-induced salt pollutants (HISPs).

Soil salinization is a major environmental hazard that limits land availability. Human-induced salt pollutants (HISPs) are regularly presented in large quantities on the contaminated site (such as brine leakages and salt-water spills), causing a devastating shock with high salt stress to the ecosystem. For instance, Saskatchewan resulted in a 48% drop in wheat production and a 0.3% decline in provincial GDP. As the calcium-modified biochar can potentially ameliorate the negative effects of HISPs on plants and improve the plant, phytoremediation with calcium-modified biochar can have increased detoxification of hazardous pollutants from sites. Therefore, the objective of our study was to develop a biochar-assisted phytoremediation employing diverse approaches to calcium modification for the sustainable removal of HISPs. The co-pyrolyzed calcium biochar achieved a remarkable removal rate of 18.06%, reducing salinity from 9.44 to 7.81 dS/m. During a 90-day long-term phytoremediation, the overall reduction rate of calcium-modified biochar stimulated the germination and growth of Thinopyrum ponticum. The result of post-treatment further indicated that co-pyrolyzed biochar with Ca transferred salt into the plant compared to Ca-coated biochar, which only immobilized HISPs on its surface. These results offer two different treatment approaches for diverse situations involving HISPs contamination, addressing current in-situ spills and providing a calcium-related biochar technology for further research in desalination.

Emission characteristics of condensable particulate matter during the production of solid waste-based sulfoaluminate cement: Compositions, heavy metals, and preparation impacts.

Recycling solid waste for preparing sulfoaluminate cementitious materials (SACM) represents a promising approach for low-carbon development. There are drastic physical-chemical reactions during SACM calcination. However, there is a lack of research on the flue gas pollutants emissions from this process. Condensable particulate matter (CPM) has been found to constitute the majority of the primary PM emitted from various fuel combustion. In this study, the emission characteristics of CPM during the calcination of SACM were determined using tests in both a real-operated kiln and laboratory experiments. The mass concentration of CPM reached 96.6 mg/Nm3 and occupied 87% of total PM emission from the SACM kiln. Additionally, the mass proportion of SO42- in the CPM reached 93.8%, thus indicating that large quantities of sulfuric acid mist or SO3 were emitted. CaSO4 was one key component for the formation of main mineral ye'elimite (3CaO·3Al2O3·CaSO4), and its decomposition probably led to the high SO42- emission. Furthermore, the use of CaSO4 as a calcium source led to SO42- emission factor much higher than conventional calcium sources. Higher calcination temperature and more residence time also increased SO42- emission. The most abundant heavy metal in kiln flue gas and CPM was Zn. However, the total condensation ratio of heavy metals detected was only 40.5%. CPM particles with diameters below 2.5 µm and 4-20 µm were both clearly observed, and components such as Na2SO4 and NaCl were conformed. This work contributes to the understanding of CPM emissions and the establishment of pollutant reduction strategies for waste collaborative disposal in cement industry.

Construction of a direct Z-scheme Cs3Bi2Cl9/g-C3N4 heterojunction composite for efficient photocatalytic degradation of various pollutants in water: Performance, kinetics and degradation mechanism.

The use of emerging composite materials has been booming to remove environmental pollutants. The aim of this research is to develop a new composite based on Cs3Bi2Cl9 perovskite and graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) to investigate the photocatalytic performance under visible light irradiation. To achieve this, we produce the Cs3Bi2Cl9/g-C3N4 heterojunctions through a simple self-assembly synthesis. The as-synthesized composites are characterized using XRD, FTIR, FESEM, TEM, BET and EDX techniques. The photocatalytic performance of Cs3Bi2Cl9/g-C3N4 is examined in the degradation of various water contaminants, including 4-nitrophenol (4-NP), tetracycline antibiotic (TC), methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO). The experimental results indicate the superior photocatalytic performance of the composites in the degradation of pollutants compared to pure Cs3Bi2Cl9 and g-C3N4. The 10% Cs3Bi2Cl9/g-C3N4 composite achieves the optimal degradation efficiency of 100, 92, 98.7, and 85.1% of 4-NP, TC, MB, and MO, respectively. This superior photocatalytic activity attributes to improved optical and electrochemical properties, including enhanced absorption ability, narrowing band gap, promoted separation efficiency of photogenerated carriers, and a high redox potential, which is confirmed by UV-vis DRS, PL, EIS, and CV analyses. The 10% Cs3Bi2Cl9/g-C3N4 composite also demonstrates high photocatalytic stability after four consecutive cycles. Radical trapping tests show that superoxide radicals (•O2-), holes (h+), and hydroxyl radicals (•OH) contribute to the photocatalytic process. Based on the obtained data, a direct Z-scheme heterojunction mechanism is proposed. Overall, this research offers a new stable photocatalyst with excellent prospect for photocatalytic applications.

Electrochemical processes for the treatment of contaminant-rich wastewater: A comprehensive review.

Global water demand and environmental concerns related to climate change require industries to develop high-efficiency wastewater treatment methods to remove pollutants. Likewise, toxic pollutants present in wastewater negatively affect the environment and human health, requiring effective treatment. Although conventional treatment processes remove carbon and nutrients, they are insufficient to remove pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and plasticizers. Electrochemical processes effectively remove pollutants from wastewater through the mineralization of non-biodegradable pollutants with consequent conversion into biodegradable compounds. Its advantages include easy operation, versatility, and short reaction time. In this way, this review initially provides a global water scenario with a view to the future. It comprises global demand, treatment methods, and pollution of water resources, addressing various contaminants such as heavy metals, nutrients, organic compounds, and emerging contaminants. Subsequently, the fundamentals of electrochemical treatments are presented as well as electrochemical treatments, highlighting the latest studies involving electrocoagulation, electroflocculation, electroflotation, capacitive deionization and its derivatives, eletrodeionization, and electrochemical advanced oxidation process. Finally, the challenges and perspectives were discussed. In this context, electrochemical processes have proven promising and effective for the treatment of water and wastewater, allowing safe reuse practices and purification with high contaminant removal.

Recovery of biochar particles laden with lead in saturated porous media by DC electric field.

The co-transport behavior of environmental pollutants with biochar particles has aroused great interests from researchers due to the concerns about pollutant diffusion and environmental exposure after biochar is applied to soil. In this work, the recovery and co-transport behavior of biochar micron-/nano-particles (BCMP and BCNP) and lead (Pb2+) in saturated porous media were investigated under different ionic strength conditions (IS = 1, 5 and 10 mM) under a direct current electric field. The results showed that the electric field could significantly enhance the mobility of Pb adsorbed biochar particles, particularly BCNP. The recovery of Pb laden biochar particles was improved by 1.8 folds, reaching 78.8% at maximum under favorable condition at +0.5 V cm-1. According to the CDE (Convection-Dispersion-Equation) model and DLVO (Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek) theory analysis, the electric field facilitated the transport of Pb carried biochar mainly by increasing the negative charges on biochar surface and improving the repulsive force between biochar and porous media. High IS was favorable for biochar transport under the electric field, but inhibited desorbing Pb2+ from biochar (18% by maximum at IS = 10 mM). By switching the electric field power, a two-stage strategy was established to maximize the recovery of both biochar particles and Pb, where BCNP and Pb recovery were higher than electric field free case by 90% and 35%, respectively. The findings of this study can help build a biochar recovery approach to prevent potential risks from biochar application in heavy metal contaminated soil remediation.

Arsenic and mercury exposure in different insect trophic guilds from mercury mining areas in Mexico.

The exposure to arsenic and mercury in various insect trophic guilds from two mercury mining sites in Mexico was assessed. The two study sites were La Laja (LL) and La Soledad (LS) mines. Additionally, a reference site (LSR) was evaluated for LS. The terrestrial ecosystem was studied at LL, whereas both the terrestrial ecosystem and a stream called El Cedral (EC) were assessed at LS. The study sites are situated in the Biosphere Reserve Sierra Gorda (BRSG). Mercury vapor concentrations were measured with a portable analyzer, and concentrations of arsenic and mercury in environmental and biological samples were determined through atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Both pollutants were detected in all terrestrial ecosystem components (soil, air, leaves, flowers, and insects) from the two mines. The insect trophic guilds exposed included pollinivores, rhizophages, predators, coprophages, and necrophages. In LS, insects accumulated arsenic at levels 29 to 80 times higher than those found in specimens from LSR, and 10 to 46 times higher than those from LL. Similarly, mercury exposure in LS was 13 to 62 times higher than LSR, and 15 to 54 times higher than in LL. The analysis of insect exposure routes indicated potential exposure through air, soil, leaves, flowers, animal prey, carrion, and excrement. Water and sediment from EC exhibited high levels of arsenic and mercury compared to reference values, and predatory aquatic insects were exposed to both pollutants. In conclusion, insects from mercury mining sites in the BRSG are at risk.

Biochar imparted constructed wetlands (CWs) for enhanced biodegradation of organic and inorganic pollutants along with its limitation.

The remediation of polluted soil and water stands as a paramount task in safeguarding environmental sustainability and ensuring a dependable water source. Biochar, celebrated for its capacity to enhance soil quality, stimulate plant growth, and adsorb a wide spectrum of contaminants, including organic and inorganic pollutants, within constructed wetlands, emerges as a promising solution. This review article is dedicated to examining the effects of biochar amendments on the efficiency of wastewater purification within constructed wetlands. This comprehensive review entails an extensive investigation of biochar's feedstock selection, production processes, characterization methods, and its application within constructed wetlands. It also encompasses an exploration of the design criteria necessary for the integration of biochar into constructed wetland systems. Moreover, a comprehensive analysis of recent research findings pertains to the role of biochar-based wetlands in the removal of both organic and inorganic pollutants. The principal objectives of this review are to provide novel and thorough perspectives on the conceptualization and implementation of biochar-based constructed wetlands for the treatment of organic and inorganic pollutants. Additionally, it seeks to identify potential directions for future research and application while addressing prevailing gaps in knowledge and limitations. Furthermore, the study delves into the potential limitations and risks associated with employing biochar in environmental remediation. Nevertheless, it is crucial to highlight that there is a significant paucity of data regarding the influence of biochar on the efficiency of wastewater treatment in constructed wetlands, with particular regard to its impact on the removal of both organic and inorganic pollutants.

Influence of building spatial patterns on wind environment and air pollution dispersion inside an industrial park based on CFD simulation.

The "spatial pattern-wind environment-air pollution" within building clusters is closely interconnected, where different spatial pattern parameters may have varying degrees of impact on the wind environment and pollutant dispersion. Due to the complex spatial structure within industrial parks, this complexity may lead to the accumulation and retention of air pollutants within the parks. Therefore, to alleviate the air pollution situation in industrial parks in China and achieve the circular transformation and construction of parks, this study takes Hefei Circular Economy Demonstration Park as the research object. The microscale Fluent model in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is used to finely simulate the wind flow field and the diffusion process of pollutants within the park. The study analyzes the triad relationship and influence mechanism of "spatial pattern-wind environment-air pollution" within the park and studies the influence of different spatial pattern parameters on the migration and diffusion of pollutants. The results show a significant negative correlation between the content of pollutants and wind speed inside the industrial park. The better the wind conditions, the higher the air quality. The spatial morphology parameters of the building complex are the main influences on the condition of its internal wind environment. Building coverage ratio and degree of enclosure have a significant negative correlation with wind conditions. Maintaining them near 0.23 and 0.37, respectively, is favorable to the quality of the surrounding environment. Moreover, the average height of the building is positively correlated with the wind environment condition. The rate of transport and dissipation of pollutants gradually increases as the average building height reaches 16 m. Therefore, a reasonable building planning strategy and arrangement layout can effectively improve the wind environment condition inside the park, thus alleviating the pollutant retention situation. The obtained results serve as a theoretical foundation for optimizing morphological structure design within urban industrial parks.

Climate warming shifts riverine macroinvertebrate communities to be more sensitive to chemical pollutants.

Freshwaters are highly threatened ecosystems that are vulnerable to chemical pollution and climate change. Freshwater taxa vary in their sensitivity to chemicals and changes in species composition can potentially affect the sensitivity of assemblages to chemical exposure. Here we explore the potential consequences of future climate change on the composition and sensitivity of freshwater macroinvertebrate assemblages to chemical stressors using the UK as a case study. Macroinvertebrate assemblages under end of century (2080-2100) and baseline (1980-2000) climate conditions were predicted for 608 UK sites for four climate scenarios corresponding to mean temperature changes of 1.28 to 3.78°C. Freshwater macroinvertebrate toxicity data were collated for 19 chemicals and the hierarchical species sensitivity distribution model was used to predict the sensitivity of untested taxa using relatedness within a Bayesian approach. All four future climate scenarios shifted assemblage compositions, increasing the prevalence of Mollusca, Crustacea and Oligochaeta species, and the insect taxa of Odonata, Chironomidae, and Baetidae species. Contrastingly, decreases were projected for Plecoptera, Ephemeroptera (except for Baetidae) and Coleoptera species. Shifts in taxonomic composition were associated with changes in the percentage of species at risk from chemical exposure. For the 3.78°C climate scenario, 76% of all assemblages became more sensitive to chemicals and for 18 of the 19 chemicals, the percentage of species at risk increased. Climate warming-induced increases in sensitivity were greatest for assemblages exposed to metals and were dependent on baseline assemblage composition, which varied spatially. Climate warming is predicted to result in changes in the use, environmental exposure and toxicity of chemicals. Here we show that, even in the absence of these climate-chemical interactions, shifts in species composition due to climate warming will increase chemical risk and that the impact of chemical pollution on freshwater macroinvertebrate biodiversity may double or quadruple by the end of the 21st century.

Occurrence and concentrations of traditional and emerging contaminants in onsite wastewater systems and water supply wells in eastern North Carolina, USA.

Onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTSs) and private wells are commonly used in Eastern North Carolina, USA. Water from private wells is not required to be tested after the initial startup, and thus persons using these wells may experience negative health outcomes if their water is contaminated with waste-related pollutants including bacteria, nitrate or synthetic chemicals such as hexafluoropropylne oxide dimer acid and its ammonium salt (GenX). Water samples from 18 sites with OWTSs and groundwater wells were collected for nitrate, Escherichia coli (E. coli), total coliform, and GenX concentration analyses. Results showed that none of the 18 water supplies were positive for E. coli, nitrate concentrations were all below the maximum contaminant level of 10 mg L-1, and one well had 1 MPN 100 mL-1 of total coliform. However, GenX was detected in wastewater collected from all 18 septic tanks and 22% of the water supplies tested had concentrations that exceeded the health advisory levels for GenX. Water supplies with low concentrations of traditionally tested for pollutants (nitrate, E. coli) may still pose health risks due to elevated concentrations of emerging contaminants like GenX and thus more comprehensive and routine water testing is suggested for this and similar persistent compounds.

Bibliometric analysis of global performance and trends of research on combined sewer overflows (CSOs) from 1990 to 2022.

Combined sewer overflows (CSOs) are one of the main sources of pollution in urban water systems and significantly impede the restoration of water body functionalities within urban rivers and lakes. To understand the research and frontier trends of CSOs comprehensively and systematically, a visual statistical analysis of the literature related to CSOs in the Web of Science core database from 1990 to 2022 was conducted using the bibliometric method using HistCite Pro and VOSviewer. The results reveal a total of 1,209 pertinent publications related to CSOs from 1990 to 2022, and the quantity of CSOs-related publications indicated an increasing trend. Investigations of the distribution and fate of typical pollutants in CSOs and their ecological effects on receiving waters and studies on pollution control technologies (source reduction, process control, and end-of-pipe treatment) are the current focus of CSOs research. CSOs pollution control technologies based on source reduction and the monitoring and control of emerging contaminants are at the forefront of scientific investigations on CSOs. This study systematically and comprehensively summarized current research topics and future research directions of CSOs, thus providing a reference for CSOs control and water environment management research.

Association of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances with constipation: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2005-2010).

BACKGROUND: The impact of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) on constipation, as mediated through gastrointestinal absorption and perturbations to the intestinal microecology, remains poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: This study seeks to explain the relationship between PFAS and constipation. METHODS: A total of 2945 adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005-2010 were included in this study. Constipation was defined using the Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS) based on stool consistency. The relationship between PFAS and constipation was evaluated using weighted logistic regression and restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis, while adjusting for confounding variables. RESULTS: The weighted median concentration of total PFAS (ΣPFAS) was significantly lower in individuals with constipation (19.01 µg/L) compared to those without constipation (23.30 µg/L) (p < 0.0001). Subgroup analysis revealed that the cumulative effect of PFAS was more pronounced in the elderly, men, individuals with obesity, high school education or equivalent, and high-income individuals (p < 0.05). After adjusting for confounding factors, multivariable analysis demonstrated an inverse association between PFOA [OR (95% CI), 0.666(0.486,0.914)] and PFHxS [OR (95% CI), 0.699(0.482,1.015)], and constipation. None of the personal and lifestyle factors showed a significant correlation with this negative association, as confirmed by subgroup analysis and interaction testing (p for interaction > 0.05). The RCS analysis demonstrated a linear inverse relationship between PFAS levels and constipation. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study provide evidence of a significant inverse correlation between serum concentrations of PFAS, particularly PFOA and PFHxS, and constipation.

Mitigation of caffeine micropollutants in wastewater through Ag-doped ZnO photocatalyst: mechanism and environmental impacts.

Micropollutants, such as caffeine (M-CF), pose a significant threat to ecosystems and human health through water and food sources. The utilization of metal oxide-based photocatalysts has proven to be an effective treatment method for the removal of organic pollutants. This study explores the efficacy of Ag-doped ZnO (Ag/ZnO) for removing M-CF from wastewater. The characterization of Ag/ZnO underscores the crucial role of band gap energy in the photocatalytic degradation process. This parameter influences the separation of electrons and holes (e-/h+) and the generation of reactive radicals. Under solar light, Ag/ZnO demonstrated markedly superior photocatalytic activity, achieving an impressive degradation efficiency of approximately 93.4%, in stark contrast to the 53.2% occurred by ZnO. Moreover, Ag/ZnO exhibited a remarkable degradation efficiency of M-CF in wastewater, reaching 83.5%. A key advantage of Ag/ZnO lies in its potential for recovery and reuse in subsequent treatments, contributing to a reduction in operational costs for industrial wastewater treatment. Impressively, even after five cycles, Ag/ZnO maintained a noteworthy photodegradation rate of M-CF at 78.6%. These results strongly suggest that Ag/ZnO presents a promising solution for the removal of micropollutants in wastewater, with potential scalability for industrial and large-scale applications.