ARF2-PIF5 interaction controls transcriptional reprogramming in the ABS3-mediated plant senescence pathway.

One of the hallmarks of plant senescence is the global transcriptional reprogramming coordinated by a plethora of transcription factors (TFs). However, mechanisms underlying the interactions between different TFs in modulating senescence remain obscure. Previously, we discovered that plant ABS3 subfamily MATE transporter genes regulate senescence and senescence-associated transcriptional changes. In a genetic screen for mutants suppressing the accelerated senescence phenotype of the gain-of-function mutant abs3-1D, AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR 2 (ARF2) and PHYTOCHROME-INTERACTING FACTOR 5 (PIF5) were identified as key TFs responsible for transcriptional regulation in the ABS3-mediated senescence pathway. ARF2 and PIF5 (as well as PIF4) interact directly and function interdependently to promote senescence, and they share common target genes such as key senescence promoting genes ORESARA 1 (ORE1) and STAY-GREEN 1 (SGR1) in the ABS3-mediated senescence pathway. In addition, we discovered reciprocal regulation between ABS3-subfamily MATEs and the ARF2 and PIF5/4 TFs. Taken together, our findings reveal a regulatory paradigm in which the ARF2-PIF5/4 functional module facilitates the transcriptional reprogramming in the ABS3-mediated senescence pathway.

Endoplasmic reticulum protein ALTERED MERISTEM PROGRAM 1 negatively regulates senescence in Arabidopsis.

Plant senescence is a highly regulated developmental program crucial for nutrient reallocation and stress adaptation in response to developmental and environmental cues. Stress-induced and age-dependent natural senescence share both overlapping and distinct molecular responses and regulatory schemes. Previously, we have utilized a carbon-deprivation (C-deprivation) senescence assay using Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) seedlings to investigate senescence regulation. Here we conducted a comprehensive time-resolved transcriptomic analysis of Arabidopsis wild type seedlings subjected to C-deprivation treatment at multiple time points, unveiling substantial temporal changes and distinct gene expression patterns. Moreover, we identified ALTERED MERISTEM PROGRAM 1 (AMP1), encoding an endoplasmic reticulum protein, as a potential regulator of senescence based on its expression profile. By characterizing loss-of-function alleles and overexpression lines of AMP1, we confirmed its role as a negative regulator of plant senescence. Genetic analyses further revealed a synergistic interaction between AMP1 and the autophagy pathway in regulating senescence. Additionally, we discovered a functional association between AMP1 and the endosome-localized ABNORMAL SHOOT3 (ABS3)-mediated senescence pathway and positioned key senescence-promoting transcription factors downstream of AMP1. Overall, our findings shed light on the molecular intricacies of transcriptome reprogramming during C-deprivation-induced senescence and the functional interplay among endomembrane compartments in controlling plant senescence.

MOR1/MAP215 acts synergistically with katanin to control cell division and anisotropic cell elongation in Arabidopsis.

The MAP215 family of microtubule (MT) polymerase/nucleation factors and the MT severing enzyme katanin are widely conserved MT-associated proteins (MAPs) across the plant and animal kingdoms. However, how these two essential MAPs coordinate to regulate plant MT dynamics and development remains unknown. Here, we identified novel hypomorphic alleles of MICROTUBULE ORGANIZATION 1 (MOR1), encoding the Arabidopsis thaliana homolog of MAP215, in genetic screens for mutants oversensitive to the MT-destabilizing drug propyzamide. Live imaging in planta revealed that MOR1-green fluorescent protein predominantly tracks the plus-ends of cortical MTs (cMTs) in interphase cells and labels preprophase band, spindle and phragmoplast MT arrays in dividing cells. Remarkably, MOR1 and KATANIN 1 (KTN1), the p60 subunit of Arabidopsis katanin, act synergistically to control the proper formation of plant-specific MT arrays, and consequently, cell division and anisotropic cell expansion. Moreover, MOR1 physically interacts with KTN1 and promotes KTN1-mediated severing of cMTs. Our work establishes the Arabidopsis MOR1-KTN1 interaction as a central functional node dictating MT dynamics and plant growth and development.

The AaERF64-AaTPPA module participates in cold acclimatization of Actinidia arguta (Sieb. et Zucc.) Planch ex Miq.

Actinidia arguta (A. arguta, kiwiberry) is a perennial deciduous vine with a strong overwintering ability. We hypothesized that trehalose metabolism, which plays a pivotal role in the stress tolerance of plants, may be involved in the cold acclimatization of A. arguta. Transcriptome analysis showed that the expression of AaTPPA, which encodes a trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase (TPP), was upregulated in response to low temperatures. AaTPPA expression levels were much higher in lateral buds, roots, and stem cambia than in leaves in autumn. In AaTPPA-overexpressing (OE) Arabidopsis thaliana (A. thaliana), trehalose levels were 8-11 times higher than that of the wild type (WT) and showed different phenotypic characteristics from WT and OtsB (Escherichia coli TPP) overexpressing lines. AaTPPA-OE A. thaliana exhibited significantly higher freezing tolerance than WT and OtsB-OE lines. Transient overexpression of AaTPPA in A. arguta leaves increased the scavenging ability of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the soluble sugar and proline contents. AaERF64, an ethylene-responsive transcription factor, was induced by ethylene treatment and bound to the GCC-box of the AaTPPA promoter to activate its expression. AaTPPA expression was also induced by abscisic acid. In summary, the temperature decrease in autumn is likely to induce AaERF64 expression through an ethylene-dependent pathway, which consequently upregulates AaTPPA expression, leading to the accumulation of osmotic protectants such as soluble sugars and proline in the overwintering tissues of A. arguta. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11032-024-01475-8.

Physiological and Proteomic Responses of the Tetraploid Robinia pseudoacacia L. to High CO2 Levels.

The increase in atmospheric CO2 concentration is a significant factor in triggering global warming. CO2 is essential for plant photosynthesis, but excessive CO2 can negatively impact photosynthesis and its associated physiological and biochemical processes. The tetraploid Robinia pseudoacacia L., a superior and improved variety, exhibits high tolerance to abiotic stress. In this study, we investigated the physiological and proteomic response mechanisms of the tetraploid R. pseudoacacia under high CO2 treatment. The results of our physiological and biochemical analyses revealed that a 5% high concentration of CO2 hindered the growth and development of the tetraploid R. pseudoacacia and caused severe damage to the leaves. Additionally, it significantly reduced photosynthetic parameters such as Pn, Gs, Tr, and Ci, as well as respiration. The levels of chlorophyll (Chl a and b) and the fluorescent parameters of chlorophyll (Fm, Fv/Fm, qP, and ETR) also significantly decreased. Conversely, the levels of ROS (H2O2 and O2·-) were significantly increased, while the activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GR, and APX) were significantly decreased. Furthermore, high CO2 induced stomatal closure by promoting the accumulation of ROS and NO in guard cells. Through a proteomic analysis, we identified a total of 1652 DAPs after high CO2 treatment. GO functional annotation revealed that these DAPs were mainly associated with redox activity, catalytic activity, and ion binding. KEGG analysis showed an enrichment of DAPs in metabolic pathways, secondary metabolite biosynthesis, amino acid biosynthesis, and photosynthetic pathways. Overall, our study provides valuable insights into the adaptation mechanisms of the tetraploid R. pseudoacacia to high CO2.

Effects of bleeding of Actinidia arguta (Sieb. & Zucc) Planch. ex miq. on its plant growth, physiological characteristics and fruit quality.

Bleeding is as particularly a serious phenomenon in Actinidia arguta and has important effects on this plant's growth and development. Here we used A. arguta to study the effects of bleeding on the growth and development of leaves and fruits after a bleeding episode. We detect and analyze physiological indices of leaves and fruit after bleeding. The result revealed that the relative electrical conductivity and malondialdehyde (MDA) of leaves increased in treatment. Nitro blue tetrazolium chloride (NBT) and 3,3-diaminobenzidine (DAB) staining revealed the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in leaves after bleeding. The chlorophyll content and photosynthetic parameter of plants were also decreased. In fruits, pulp and seed water content decreased after the damage, as did fruit vitamin C (Vc), soluble sugar content, and soluble solids content (SSC); the titratable acid content did not change significantly. We therefore conclude that bleeding affects the physiological indices of A. arguta. Our study provides a theoretical basis for understanding the physiological changes of A. arguta after bleeding episodes and laying a timely foundation for advancing research on A. arguta bleeding and long-term field studies should be executed in order to gain insights into underlying mechanisms.

Recent advances in cellular degradation and nuclear control of leaf senescence.

Senescence is the final stage of plant growth and development, and is a highly regulated process at the molecular, cellular, and organismal levels. When triggered by age, hormonal, or environmental cues, plants actively adjust their metabolism and gene expression to execute the progression of senescence. Regulation of senescence is vital for the reallocation of nutrients to sink organs, to ensure reproductive success and adaptations to stresses. Identification and characterization of hallmarks of leaf senescence are of great importance for understanding the molecular regulatory mechanisms of plant senescence, and breeding future crops with more desirable senescence traits. Tremendous progress has been made in elucidating the genetic network underpinning the metabolic and cellular changes in leaf senescence. In this review, we focus on three hallmarks of leaf senescence - chlorophyll and chloroplast degradation, loss of proteostasis, and activation of senescence-associated genes (SAGs), and discuss recent findings of the molecular players and the crosstalk of senescence pathways.

Assessment of the Bioavailability of Mercury Sulfides in Paddy Soils Using Sodium Thiosulfate Extraction - Results from Microcosm Experiments.

Mercury sulfides (HgS), one of the largest Hg sinks in the lithosphere, has long been considered to be highly inert. Recently, several HgS speciation (e.g., nano- or micro-sized HgS particles) in paddy soils have been found to be reactive and bioavailable, increasing the possibility of methylation and bioaccumulation and posing a potential risk to humans. However, a simple and uniform method for investigating HgS bioavailability is still lacking. To address this issue, we extracted dissolved Hg from HgS particles by sodium thiosulfate (Na2S2O3) in paddy soils and analyzed the correlation between extracted Hg and soil methylmercury (MeHg). Results showed that the amounts of Hg extracted by Na2S2O3 had a strong positive correlation with the levels of soil MeHg (R 2 adj = 0.893, p < 0.05). It is suggested that Na2S2O3 extraction may be a good method of predicting Hg bioavailability in paddy soils. Our results would help to give clues in better predicting Hg risk in natural environments.

Sulfur-driven methylmercury production in paddies continues following soil oxidation.

Methylmercury (MeHg) production in paddy soils and its accumulation in rice raise global concerns since rice consumption has been identified as an important pathway of human exposure to MeHg. Sulfur (S) amendment via fertilization has been reported to facilitate Hg methylation in paddy soils under anaerobic conditions, while the dynamic of S-amendment induced MeHg production in soils with increasing redox potential remains unclear. This critical gap hinders a comprehensive understanding of Hg biogeochemistry in rice paddy system which is characterized by the fluctuation of redox potential. Here, we conducted soil incubation experiments to explore MeHg production in slow-oxidizing paddy soils amended with different species of S and doses of sulfate. Results show that the elevated redox potential (1) increased MeHg concentrations by 10.9%-35.2%, which were mainly attributed to the re-oxidation of other S species to sulfate and thus the elevated abundance of sulfate-reducing bacteria, and (2) increased MeHg phytoavailability by up to 75% due to the reductions in acid volatile sulfide (AVS) that strongly binds MeHg in soils. Results obtained from this study call for attention to the increased MeHg production and phytoavailability in paddy soils under elevated redox potentials due to water management, which might aggravate the MeHg production induced by S fertilization and thus enhance MeHg accumulation in rice.

Evidence on the causes of the rising levels of CODMn along the middle route of the South-to-North Diversion Project in China: The role of algal dissolved organic matter.

As the biggest inter-basin water transfer scheme in the world, the South-to-North Water Diversion Project (SNWD) was designed to alleviate the water crisis in North China. The main channel of the middle route of the SNWD is of great concern in terms of the drinking water quality. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that the dissolved organic matter (DOM) derived from the planktonic algae causes the rising levels of CODMn along the middle route by monitoring data on water quality (2015-2019, monthly resolution). The results showed that algal density in the main channel increased along the channel and was significantly correlated with CODMn (p < 0.01). Five fluorescent components of DOM, including tyrosine-like (14.85%), tryptophan-like (22.48%), microbial byproduct-like (26.34%), fulvic acid-like (11.41%), and humic acid-like (24.92%) components, were detected. The level of tyrosine-like components increased along the channel and was significantly correlated with algal density (p<0.01), indicating that algae significantly changed the level of DOM in the channel. Algal decomposition and metabolism were found to be the main mechanisms that drive the changes in CODMn. Therefore, controlling algal density would be an important measure to prevent further increase in CODMn and for the guarantee of excellent water quality.

Understanding the risks of mercury sulfide nanoparticles in the environment: Formation, presence, and environmental behaviors.

Mercury (Hg) could be microbially methylated to the bioaccumulative neurotoxin methylmercury (MeHg), raising health concerns. Understanding the methylation of various Hg species is thus critical in predicting the MeHg risk. Among the known Hg species, mercury sulfide (HgS) is the largest Hg reservoir in the lithosphere and has long been considered to be highly inert. However, with advances in the analytical methods of nanoparticles, HgS nanoparticles (HgS NPs) have recently been detected in various environmental matrices or organisms. Furthermore, pioneering laboratory studies have reported the high bioavailability of HgS NPs. The formation, presence, and transformation (e.g., methylation) of HgS NPs are intricately related to several environmental factors, especially dissolved organic matter (DOM). The complexity of the behavior of HgS NPs and the heterogeneity of DOM prevent us from comprehensively understanding and predicting the risk of HgS NPs. To reveal the role of HgS NPs in Hg biogeochemical cycling, research needs should focus on the following aspects: the formation pathways, the presence, and the environmental behaviors of HgS NPs impacted by the dominant influential factor of DOM. We thus summarized the latest progress in these aspects and proposed future research priorities, e.g., developing the detection techniques of HgS NPs and probing HgS NPs in various matrices, further exploring the interactions between DOM and HgS NPs. Besides, as most of the previous studies were conducted in laboratories, our current knowledge should be further refreshed through field observations, which would help to gain better insights into predicting the Hg risks in natural environment.

The chloroplast metalloproteases VAR2 and EGY1 act synergistically to regulate chloroplast development in Arabidopsis.

Chloroplast development and photosynthesis require the proper assembly and turnover of photosynthetic protein complexes. Chloroplasts harbor a repertoire of proteases to facilitate proteostasis and development. We have previously used an Arabidopsis leaf variegation mutant, yellow variegated2 (var2), defective in thylakoid FtsH protease complexes, as a tool to dissect the genetic regulation of chloroplast development. Here, we report a new genetic enhancer mutant of var2, enhancer of variegation3-1 (evr3-1). We confirm that EVR3 encodes a chloroplast metalloprotease, reported previously as ethylene-dependent gravitropism-deficient and yellow-green1 (EGY1)/ammonium overly sensitive1 (AMOS1). We observed that mutations in EVR3/EGY1/AMOS1 cause more severe leaf variegation in var2-5 and synthetic lethality in var2-4 Using a modified blue-native PAGE system, we reveal abnormal accumulations of photosystem I, photosystem II, and light-harvesting antenna complexes in EVR3/EGY1/AMOS1 mutants. Moreover, we discover distinct roles of VAR2 and EVR3/EGY1/AMOS1 in the turnover of photosystem II reaction center under high light stress. In summary, our findings indicate that two chloroplast metalloproteases, VAR2/AtFtsH2 and EVR3/EGY1/AMOS1, function coordinately to regulate chloroplast development and reveal new roles of EVR3/EGY1/AMOS1 in regulating chloroplast proteostasis in Arabidopsis.

Algal Organic Matter Drives Methanogen-Mediated Methylmercury Production in Water from Eutrophic Shallow Lakes.

Algal blooms bring massive amounts of algal organic matter (AOM) into eutrophic lakes, which influences microbial methylmercury (MeHg) production. However, because of the complexity of AOM and its dynamic changes during algal decomposition, the relationship between AOM and microbial Hg methylators remains poorly understood, which hinders predicting MeHg production and its bioaccumulation in eutrophic shallow lakes. To address that, we explored the impacts of AOM on microbial Hg methylators and MeHg production by characterizing dissolved organic matter with Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS) and three-dimensional excitation-emission matrix (3D-EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy and quantifying the microbial Hg methylation gene hgcA. We first reveal that the predominance of methanogens, facilitated by eutrophication-induced carbon input, could drive MeHg production in lake water. Specifically, bioavailable components of AOM (i.e., CHONs such as aromatic proteins and soluble microbial byproduct-like materials) increased the abundances (Archaea-hgcA gene: 438-2240% higher) and activities (net CH4 production: 16.0-44.4% higher) of Archaea (e.g., methanogens). These in turn led to enhanced dissolved MeHg levels (24.3-15,918% higher) for three major eutrophic shallow lakes in China. Nevertheless, our model results indicate that AOM-facilitated MeHg production could be offset by AOM-induced MeHg biodilution under eutrophication. Our study would help reduce uncertainties in predicting MeHg production, providing a basis for mitigating the MeHg risk in eutrophic lakes.

Riverside underwater noise pollution threaten porpoises and fish along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, China.

The Yangtze River exhibits a high biodiversity and plays an important role in global biodiversity conservation. As the world's busiest inland river in regard to shipping, little attention has been paid to underwater noise pollution. In 2017, the underwater noise level in 25 riverside locations along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River mainly at night time were investigated by using passive acoustic monitoring method. Approximately 88% and 40% of the sampled sites exhibit noise levels exceeding the underwater acoustic thresholds of causing responsiveness and temporary threshold shift, respectively, in cetacean. Noise pollution may impose a high impact on fish with physostomous swim bladders and Weberian ossicles, such as silver carp, bighead carp, goldfish and common carp, whereas it may affect fish with physoclistous swim bladders and without Weberian ossicles, such as lake sturgeon and paddlefish, to a lesser extent. Noise levels reductions of approximately 10 and 20 dB were observed in the middle and lower reaches, respectively, of the Yangtze River over the 2012 level. The green development mode of the ongoing construction of green shipping in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, including the development of green shipping lanes, ports, ships and transportation organizations, may account for the alleviated underwater noise pollution. Follow-up noise mitigation endeavors, such as the extension of ship speed restrictions and the study and implementation of the optimal navigation speed in ecologically important areas, are required to further reduce the noise level in the Yangtze River to protect local porpoises and fish.

Distribution of Nitrogen and Phosphorus in Pore Water Profiles and Estimation of Their Diffusive Fluxes and Annual Loads in Guanting Reservoir (GTR), Northern China.

Improvement of water quality has frequently been delayed due to high recycling rates of nutrients across the sediment-water interface in a reservoir. Diffusive fluxes and annual loads of ammonia nitrogen (NH4+-N) and phosphate (PO43--P) in sediments from Guanting Reservoir (GTR) were estimated according to their vertical distribution. The average contents of NH4+-N and PO43--P in surface pore water were higher by factors of 6.9 - 11.7 and 1.3 - 6.4 than those in overlying water, respectively. The ranges of fluxes were 1.59 - 13.0 (mg m2 d-1) for NH4+-N, and 0.002 - 0.196 (mg m2 d-1) for PO43--P. The annual load contributions from sediments of GTR were 659 t a-1 for NH4+-N and 4.83 t a-1 for PO43--P. Notably, the upstream of GTR accounted for 50.7% annual loads for NH4+-N, while the downstream contributed 71.2% loads to PO43--P. This study will better inform future environmental management for the reservoir.

A review on China's constructed wetlands in recent three decades: Application and practice.

Constructed wetlands (CWs) have been introduced to and developed in China for environmental engineering over the most prosperous three decades (1990-2020). To study the origin, development process, and future trend of CWs, this review summarized a wide range of literatures between 1990 and 2020 by Chinese authors. Firstly, the publication number over years, research highlights, and the author contributions with the most published papers in this field were conducted through bibliometric analysis. Secondly, the most principal components of CWs, substrates and macrophytes were summarized and analyzed. Thirdly, the typical application cases from traditional CWs, pond systems to combined pond-wetland systems were presented. In China, CWs were predominately distributed in the east of the so-called 'Hu Huanyong Line'. Therefore CWs were limited by the socio-economic level and climatic conditions. It is unquestionable that the overall level of China's CWs has improved significantly, and one of the most prominent features has started towards the plural pattern development. There has been a trend of large-scale or low-cost CW application in the recent years. However, lifecycle research and management are required for better strategies in the future.

Evoked-potential audiogram variability in a group of wild Yangtze finless porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis).

Hearing is considered the primary sensory modality of cetaceans and enables their vital life functions. Information on the hearing sensitivity variability within a species obtained in a biologically relevant wild context is fundamental to evaluating potential noise impact and population-relevant management. Here, non-invasive auditory evoked-potential methods were adopted to describe the audiograms (11.2-152 kHz) of a group of four wild Yangtze finless porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis) during a capture-and-release health assessment project in Poyang Lake, China. All audiograms presented a U shape, generally similar to those of other delphinids and phocoenids. The lowest auditory threshold (51-55 dB re 1 µPa) was identified at a test frequency of 76 kHz, which was higher than that observed in aquarium porpoises (54 kHz). The good hearing range (within 20 dB of the best hearing sensitivity) was from approximately 20 to 145 kHz, and the low- and high-frequency hearing cut-offs (threshold > 120 dB re l µPa) were 5.6 and 170 kHz, respectively. Compared with aquarium porpoises, wild porpoises have significantly better hearing sensitivity at 32 and 76 kHz and worse sensitivity at 54, 108 and 140 kHz. The audiograms of this group can provide a basis for better understanding the potential impact of anthropogenic noise.

In situ high-resolution measurement of phosphorus, iron and sulfur by diffusive gradients in thin films in sediments of black-odorous rivers in the Pearl River Delta region, South China.

The cycling of phosphorus (P), iron (Fe) and sulfur (S) in sediments has been previously investigated, but its impacts on the formation of black-odorous waterbodies remains unclear. Here, high-resolution (i.e., 2 mm for P and Fe, and 0.042 mm for S of 2D presentation) simultaneous measurements of P, Fe, and S profiles in river sediments based on the diffusive gradients in thin-films (DGT) technique were conducted in the Pearl River Delta region, South China. Similar distribution trends and significant positive correlations (R = 0.67-0.93, p < 0.01) were observed between Fe and P. Considering the high diffusion fluxes of Fe and P together, it revealed that P release was promoted by the Fe reduction. The two-dimensional labile S profiles showed that their concentrations in sediments were higher by factors of 1.6-20 than those in overlying water. The minor diffusion fluxes of S and the accumulation of acid volatile sulfide indicated that S2- combining with Fe2+ occurred prior to diffusion. Furthermore, the formation mechanisms of black-odorous waterbodies were explored: (i) oxygen depletion by COD and NH4+‒N and large amounts of sulfate input were the main exogenous driving factors. (ii) Reduction of Fe and S to form ferrous sulfide accompanied with P release in sediments were the dominant endogenous causes. These observations together with mechanism analysis can provide a basis for the governance of black-odorous rivers.

Evaluating the effect of dam construction on the phosphorus fractions in sediments in a reservoir of drinking water source, China.

It is widely acknowledged that dams affect sediment transport and water quality. To support water management of reservoirs, it is useful to explore how the fractions of phosphorus (P) in sediments were changed after the dam was built. The aim of this study was to assess the spatial and temporal trends of the P fractions in sediments from the Miyun Reservoir, a pivotal drinking water supply for Beijing City, the capital of China. Nine surface sediment samples, together with a sediment core, were collected. The concentrations of total P (TP) and their fractions were then determined by using a sequential extraction method. The results showed that the reservoir was classified into three areas spatially based on the TP concentrations, i.e., high (Baihe area), medium (transitional area), and low (Chaohe area) concentrations. The concentrations of iron-bound P (BD-P) and metal oxide-bound P (NaOH-P) were higher in the Baihe and Chaohe regions than those in the transitional area and tended to increase with water depth. Dam construction can lead to the concentrations of P increased in sediments and further increase the potential of internal P loadings. This study revealed the effect of dam construction on sedimentary P accumulation. The results will be helpful in better understanding the mobility and bioavailability of P in the aquatic ecosystem, which aim to achieve a more highly targeted environmental management for this important region.

Sorption kinetics of parent and substituted PAHs for low-density polyethylene (LDPE): Determining their partition coefficients between LDPE and water (KLDPE) for passive sampling.

Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) has been widely used as a sorbent for passive sampling of hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs) in aquatic environments. However, it has seen only limited application in passive sampling for measurement of freely dissolved concentrations of parent and substituted PAHs (SPAHs), which are known to be toxic, mutagenic and carcinogenic. Here, the 16 priority PAHs and some typical PAHs were selected as target compounds and were simultaneously determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS). Some batch experiments were conducted in the laboratory to explore the adsorption kinetics of the target compounds in LDPE membranes. The results showed that both PAHs and SPAHs could reach equilibrium status within 19-38 days in sorption kinetic experiments. The coefficients of partitioning between LDPE film (50 µm thickness) and water (KLDPE) for the 16 priority PAHs were in good agreement with previously reported values, and the values of KLDPE for the 9 SPAHs are reported in this study for the first time. Significant linear relationships were observed, i.e., log KLDPE = 0.705 × log KOW + 1.534 for PAHs (R2 = 0.8361, p < 0.001) and log KLDPE = 0.458 × log KOW + 3.092 for SPAHs (R2 = 0.5609, p = 0.0077). The selected LDPE film was also proven to meet the condition of "zero sink" for the selected target compounds. These results could provide basic support for the configuration and in situ application of passive samplers.