Search Results (16,893)

Amines are widespread environmental pollutants that may pose health risks. Specifically, the N-dealkylation of amines mediated by cytochrome P450 enzymes (P450) could influence their metabolic transformation safety. However, conventional experimental and computational chemistry methods make it difficult to conduct high-throughput screening of N-dealkylation of emerging amine contaminants. Machine learning has been widely used to identify sources of environmental pollutants and predict their toxicity. However, its application in screening critical biotransformation pathways for organic pollutants has been rarely reported. In this study, we first constructed a large dataset comprising 286 emerging amine pollutants through a thorough search of databases and literature. Then, we applied four machine learning methods—random forest, gradient boosting decision tree, extreme gradient boosting, and multi-layer perceptron—to develop binary classification models for N-dealkylation. These models were based on seven carefully selected molecular descriptors that represent reactivity-fit and structural-fit. Among the predictive models, the extreme gradient boosting shows the highest prediction accuracy of 81.0%. The SlogP_VSA2 descriptor is the primary factor influencing predictions of N-dealkylation metabolism. Then an ensemble model was generated that uses a consensus strategy to integrate three different algorithms, whose performance is generally better than any single algorithm, with an accuracy rate of 86.2%. Therefore, the classification model developed in this work can provide methodological support for the high-throughput screening of N-dealkylation of amine pollutants. Full article

Bacteria of the genus Pseudomonas are the most studied microorganisms that biodegrade persistent perfluoroorganic pollutants, and the research of their application for the remediation of environmental sites using biotechnological approaches remains relevant. The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of a known destructor of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid from the genus Pseudomonas to accelerate and enhance the destruction of long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs), specifically perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorononanoic acid, in water and soil in association with the strain P. mosselii 5(3), which has previously confirmed genetic potential for the degrading of PFCAs. The complete genome (5.86 million base pairs) of the strain 2,4-D, probably belonging to a new species of Pseudomonas, was sequenced, assembled, and analyzed. The genomes of both strains contain genes involved in the defluorination of fluorinated compounds, including haloacetate dehalogenase H-1 (dehH1) and haloalkane dehalogenase (dhaA). The strain 2,4-D also has a multicomponent enzyme system consisting of a dioxygenase component, an electron carrier, and 2-halobenzoate 1,2-dioxygenase (CbdA) with a preference for fluorides. The strain 2,4-D was able to defluorinate PFCAs in an aqueous cultivation system within 7 days, using them as the sole source of carbon and energy and converting them to perfluorheptanoic acid. It assisted strain 5(3) to convert PFCAs to perfluoropentanoic acid, accelerating the process by 24 h. In a model experiment for the bioaugmentation of microorganisms in artificially contaminated soil, the degradation of PFCAs by the association of pseudomonads also occurred faster and deeper than by the individual strains, achieving a degree of biodestruction of 75% over 60 days, with the perfluoropentanoic acid as the main metabolite. These results are of great importance for the development of methods for the biological recultivation of fluorinated organic pollutants for environmental protection and for understanding the fundamental mechanisms of bacterial interactions with these compounds. Full article

The Central Environmental Protection Inspector (CEPI) is an innovation in China’s environmental regulation. This paper uses game theory to analyze the influence of the CEPI on enterprises’ green investment. Firstly, by constructing the game model of “central government-local government-polluting enterprises”, the factors affecting green investment strategy are analyzed. Then, with the help of a system simulation model, the influence of parameters on system stability and convergence trends is analyzed, so as to obtain the influence of the CEPI on enterprise green investment. The results show the following: (1) The CEPI can effectively promote preventive green investment, and the promotion effect of preventive green investment is proportional to its risk; (2) The effect of the CEPI on local governments is not obvious; (3) The cost of the CEPI is too high, and polluting enterprises are quick to choose remedial green investment. Full article

Global concerns about pollution reduction, associated with the continuous technological development of electronic equipment raises challenge for the future regarding lithium-ion batteries exploitation, use, and recovery through recycling of critical metals. Several human and environmental issues are reported, including related diseases caused by lithium waste. Lithium in Li-ion batteries can be recovered through various methods to prevent environmental contamination, and Li can be reused as a recyclable resource. Classical technologies for recovering lithium from batteries are associated with various environmental issues, so lithium recovery remains challenging. However, the emergence of membrane processes has opened new research directions in lithium recovery, offering hope for more efficient and environmentally friendly solutions. These processes can be integrated into current industrial recycling flows, having a high recovery potential and paving the way for a more sustainable future. A second method, biolexivation, is eco-friendly, but this point illustrates significant drawbacks when used on an industrial scale. We discussed toxicity induced by metals associated with Li to iron-oxidizing bacteria, which needs further study since it causes low recycling efficiency. One major environmental problem is the low efficiency of the recovery of Li from the water cycle, which affects global-scale safety. Still, electromembranes can offer promising solutions in the future, but there is needed to update regulations to actual needs for both producing and recycling LIB. Full article

Despite significant progress in recent decades, air pollution remains the leading environmental cause of premature death in Europe. Urban populations are particularly exposed to high concentrations of air pollutants, such as particulate matter smaller than 10 µm (PM₁₀). Understanding the spatiotemporal variations of PM₁₀ is essential for developing effective control strategies. This study aimed to enhance PM₁₀ prediction models by integrating landscape metrics as ecological indicators into our previous models, assessing their significance in monthly average PM₁₀ concentrations, and analyzing their correlations with PM₁₀ air pollution across European urban landscapes during heating (cold) and non-heating (warm) seasons. In our previous research, we only calculated the proportion of land uses (PLANDs), but according to our current research hypothesis, landscape metrics have a significant impact on PM₁₀ air quality. Therefore, we expanded our independent variables by incorporating landscape metrics that capture compositional heterogeneity, including the Shannon diversity index (SHDI), as well as metrics that reflect configurational heterogeneity in urban landscapes, such as the Mean Patch Area (MPA) and Shape Index (SHI). Considering data from 1216 European air quality (AQ) stations, we applied the Random Forest model using cross-validation to discover patterns and complex relationships. Climatological factors, such as monthly average temperature, wind speed, precipitation, and mean sea level air pressure, emerged as key predictors, particularly during the heating season when the impact of temperature on PM₁₀ prediction increased from 5.80% to 22.46% at 3 km. Landscape metrics, including the SHDI, MPA, and SHI, were significantly related to the monthly average PM₁₀ concentration. The SHDI was negatively correlated with PM₁₀ levels, suggesting that heterogeneous landscapes could help mitigate pollution. Our enhanced model achieved an R² of 0.58 in the 1000 m buffer zone and 0.66 in the 3000 m buffer zone, underscoring the utility of these variables in improving PM₁₀ predictions. Our findings suggest that increased urban landscape complexity, smaller patch sizes, and more fragmented land uses associated with PM₁₀ sources such as built-up areas, along with larger and more evenly distributed green spaces, can contribute to the control and reduction of PM₁₀ pollution. Full article

Photocatalytic technology holds significant promise for sustainable development and environmental protection due to its ability to utilize renewable energy sources and degrade pollutants efficiently. In this study, BiOI nanosheets (NSs) were synthesized using a simple water bath method with varying amounts of mannitol and reaction temperatures to investigate their structural, morphological, photoelectronic, and photocatalytic properties. Notably, the introduction of mannitol played a critical role in inducing a transition in BiOI from an n-type to a p-type semiconductor, as evidenced by Mott–Schottky (M-S) and band structure analyses. This transformation enhanced the density of holes (h⁺) as primary charge carriers and resulted in the most negative conduction band (CB) position (−0.822 V vs. NHE), which facilitated the generation of superoxide radicals (·O^2-) and enhanced photocatalytic activity. Among the samples, the BiOI-0.25-60 NSs (synthesized with 0.25 g of mannitol at 60 °C) exhibited the highest performance, characterized by the largest specific surface area (24.46 m²/g), optimal band gap energy (2.28 eV), and efficient photogenerated charge separation. Photocatalytic experiments demonstrated that BiOI-0.25-60 NSs achieved superior methylene blue (MB) degradation efficiency of 96.5% under simulated sunlight, 1.14 times higher than BiOI-0-70 NSs. Additionally, BiOI-0.25-60 NSs effectively degraded tetracycline (TC), 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-D), and rhodamine B (Rh B). Key factors such as photocatalyst concentration, MB concentration, and solution pH were analyzed, and the BiOI-0.25-60 NSs demonstrated excellent recyclability, retaining over 94.3% of their activity after three cycles. Scavenger tests further identified ·O^2- and h⁺ as the dominant active species driving the photocatalytic process. In this study, the pivotal role of mannitol in modulating the semiconductor characteristics of BiOI nanomaterials is underscored, particularly in promoting the n-type to p-type transition and enhancing photocatalytic efficiency. These findings provide a valuable strategy for designing high-performance p-type photocatalysts for environmental remediation applications. Full article

Microplastics (MPs) are widespread environmental pollutants that have drawn significant attention due to their possible health risks to humans and animals, as well as their extensive presence in ecosystems. Recent growing evidence highlights a remarkable relationship between MPs and extracellular vesicles (EVs), nanoscale particles involved in intercellular communication. The purpose of this review was to investigate how the relationships between MPs and EVs can affect cellular functions and how this interaction could impact environmental conditions leading to broader ecological risks. The interaction patterns and bioactivity of both MPs and EVs are strongly influenced by biophysical characteristics such as hydrophobicity, surface charge, and particle size, which have received particular attention from the scientific community. Recent studies indicate that MPs affect EV distribution and their capacity to function appropriately in biological systems. Additionally, MPs can modify the molecular cargo of EVs, which may result in alterations of cell signaling pathways. Understanding the interactions between MPs and EVs could provide important opportunities to comprehend their potential effects on human health and environmental systems, especially when it comes to cancer development, endocrine, metabolic, and inflammatory disorders, and ecological disruptions. This review emphasizes the necessity of multidisciplinary research to clarify the molecular and biophysical mechanisms regulating the interaction between MPs and EVs. Full article

Alite calcium sulfoaluminate (ACSA) cement is an innovative and environmentally friendly cement compared to ordinary Portland cement (OPC). The synthesis and hydration of ACSA clinkers doped with gradient sulfur were investigated. The clinker compositions and hydrated pastes were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), isothermal calorimetry, mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to analyze its mineral contents, hydration products, heat release, pore structure, and microstructure. The compressive strength and linear expansion of ACSA mortars were tested for their mechanical properties. Results showed that clinkers doped with 2 wt.% MgO can offset the hurdle that SO₃ caused to the formation of C₃S (tricalcium silicate). Clinkers with varying ratios of C₃S and C₄A₃$ (calcium sulfoaluminate) were obtained, achieving 58–70% C₃S and 2.0–5.6% C₄A₃$ in ACSA through adjusting the KH (lime saturation factor) values and SO₃ dosage. ACSA cement showed better early mechanical properties. The 0.93 KH value with 3% SO₃ dosage in the raw meal, which contains 63.9% C₃S and 2.98% C₄A₃$ in the clinker, reached an optimal compressive strength level at 1d (26.35 MPa) and at 3d (39.41 MPa), marking 30.45% and 18.70% increases compared to PII 52.5. The excellent early strength of ACSA cement may offer promising applications t increasing the incorporation of supplementary cementitious materials, thereby reduce pollution and carbon emissions. Full article

Utilizing crushed spontaneous combustion coal gangue as a coarse aggregate in concrete preparation effectively reduces reliance on natural resources and mitigates environmental pollution; however, the suboptimal workability of spontaneous combustion coal gangue coarse aggregate concrete (SCG-CAC) limits its engineering applications. To address this issue, this study places SCGCAC at the center of a CFDST (Concrete-Filled Double-Skin Steel Tubular) stub column. Through finite element modeling validated for reliability, this study examines the structural mechanical response to axial loading, along with the effects of various parameters. The analysis encompasses parameters such as the strength of the core SCGCAC (f_c,i), the strength of the sandwiched concrete (f_c,o), the yield strength of the outer steel tube (f_y,o), the yield strength of the inner steel tube (f_y,i), the width-to-thickness ratio (B/t_o), the diameter-to-thickness ratio of the inner tube (D/t_i), and the diameter-to-width ratio of the outer tube (D/B). Results show that this structural configuration significantly enhances the core SCGCAC ultimate bearing capacity, and increases in D/t_i, f_c,i, f_c,o, f_y,i, and B/t_o all lead to an increase in the peak load. Particularly, when D/t_i increases from 28.57 to 80, the peak load increases by 42.72%. However, changes in f_y,o and D/B have no significant effect on the peak load. Full article

A growing literature within the field of air pollution exposure assessment addresses the issue of environmental justice. Leveraging the increasing availability of exposure datasets with broad spatial coverage and high spatial resolution, a number of works have assessed inequalities in exposure across racial/ethnic and other socioeconomic groupings. However, environmental justice research presents the additional need to evaluate exposure inequity—inequality that is systematic, unfair, and avoidable—which may be framed in several ways. We discuss these framings and describe inequality and inequity conclusions provided from several contrasting approaches drawn from recent work. We recommend that future work addressing environmental justice interventions include complementary “Exposure-driven” and “Socially weighted” metrics, taking an intersectional view of areas and social groups that are both disproportionately impacted by pollution and are impacted by additional health risks resulting from structural racism and consider implications for environmental justice beyond distributional equity. Full article

Cigarette butts are an increasing environmental burden worldwide, and the quantities discarded each year could continue to rise. The chemical composition of cigarette butts, which comprises about 4000 different toxic chemicals, as well as their persistence in the environment and their potential negative effects pose a major threat to the environment as they regularly enter aquatic habitats and endanger water supplies and aquatic species. One effective way to reduce pollution is to recycle cigarette butts. The aim of this study is to evaluate the possibility of using extracts from cigarette butts (filter extract and extract from tobacco residues) as corrosion inhibitors for the Cu10Ni alloy in a 3.5% NaCl solution with a pH of 8 at different temperatures (12 °C, 20 °C and 25 °C). The determination of the electrochemical parameters, i.e., the corrosion behavior of the Cu10Ni alloy in a 3.5% NaCl solution and pH of 8, with and without modification of the alloy surface by cigarette butt extracts was tested using electrochemical measurements (electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and linear and potentiodynamic polarization methods). The surface properties of the Cu10Ni alloy modified with cigarette butt extracts were evaluated by goniometry, SEM analysis and FTIR spectrophotometry. The modification of the surface of the Cu10Ni alloy with an extract of tobacco residue and a filter extract separated from cigarette butts, whose presence on the surface was confirmed by the surface analysis methods, increased the corrosion resistance of the alloy, indicating that these substances have an inhibitory effect. The better inhibition properties (at all temperatures: 12 °C, 20 °C and 25 °C) were exhibited by the filter extract, and the highest inhibition effect was exhibited by the filter extract at 12 °C. Full article

A novel bacterial strain, Enterobacter quasihormaechei DGFC5, was isolated from a municipal sewage disposal system. It efficiently removed ammonium, nitrate, and nitrite under conditions of 5% salinity, without intermediate accumulation. Provided with a mixed nitrogen source, DGFC5 showed a higher utilization priority for NH₄⁺-N. Whole-genome sequencing and nitrogen balance experiments revealed that DGFC5 can simultaneously consume NH₄⁺-N in the liquid phase through assimilation and heterotrophic nitrification, and effectively remove nitrate via aerobic denitrification and dissimilatory reduction reactions. Single-factor experiments were conducted to determine the optimal nitrogen removal conditions, which were as follows: a carbon-to-nitrogen ratio of 15, a shaking speed of 200 rpm, a pH of 7, C₄H₄Na₂O₄ as the carbon source, and a temperature of 30 °C. DGFC5 showed efficient nitrogen purification capabilities under a wide range of environmental conditions, indicating its potential for disposing of nitrogenous wastewater with high salinity. Full article

The significant environmental impact from fashion and textile industries has spurred interest in sustainable alternatives, especially for accessories like sequins and beads, whose usage has surged post-pandemic. This study explores the potential of utilizing salmon industry waste from Chile to produce bio-sequins (BS) and guanine crystals (GC) from salmon skin. The production of BS offers a strategy to reduce reliance on non-renewable resources and support sustainable waste management, as these materials decompose naturally without harmful residues. Physicochemical and mechanical characterization of the BS by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), evaluated their feasibility for textile, design, and fashion applications. Additionally, GC were extracted from salmon scales using less hazardous solvents such as acetone, ethanol, and acetic acid, and subsequently immobilized on the BS for decorative purposes. Notably, tensile mechanical properties of the BS improved up to 75% after guanine decoration and exposure to simulated environmental factors like UV radiation. This work addresses the dual challenge of pollution and resource depletion, demonstrating that BS from salmon skin offer an eco-friendly alternative. It underscores the importance of adopting sustainable practices throughout the fashion industry’s production chain. Full article

The soil’s biological quality and its functions are closely linked. They determine the ecological processes and ecosystem services. Therefore, the heavy metal contamination of forest soils, leading to their degradation, is a major international problem. Soil is a habitat for many organisms, and the strong correlations between soil properties, vegetation, and soil fauna are particularly evident in the rhizosphere. Therefore, comprehensive soil monitoring must take all these elements into account. In forest soils, Vaccinium myrtillus plays a vital role. Despite this, there is still a lack of information in the literature on the interrelationship between microarthropod biodiversity, including predatory soil mites, and heavy metals in the rhizosphere zone of blueberry plants. To fill this gap, we assessed the impact of the V. myrtillus rhizosphere on soil stability and biological quality using a bioindicator based on predatory mites. We conducted the study in Poland, on selected forest sites characterised by varying degrees of soil contamination. In our study, we used a combined analysis based on the following indicators: maturity index (MI), contamination factor (CF), pollution load index (PLI), and potential ecological risk index (PERI), which allowed us to determine the level of soil contamination. We extracted 4190 Gamasina mites from soil samples. We also investigated soil properties such as pH, organic matter content, total carbon, total nitrogen, C/N ratio, and heavy metal concentrations (Cd, Cu, Zn, Pb, and Ni). Our study proved that the rhizosphere zone significantly influences the stability of the predatory soil mite community, but this influence depends on the degree of soil contamination. We found that in unpolluted or moderately polluted soil, soil mites prefer habitats with less biological activity, i.e., non-rhizosphere zones. These main results are fascinating and indicate the need for further in-depth research. Our study’s comprehensive combination of methods provides valuable information that can facilitate the interpretation of environmental results. In addition, our study can be a starting point for analysing the impact of the rhizosphere zones of many other plant species, especially those used in the reclamation or urban spaces. Full article

Against the pressing backdrop of global climate change, various environmental issues are becoming increasingly prominent, posing unprecedented challenges to both the global economic system and business operations. Green technology innovation, as a critical response to climate change, is vital not only for the sustainable development of firms, but also for fostering the harmonious coexistence of the economy and environment. However, whether climate change itself affects green technology innovation activities is still a topic that needs to be explored in depth. This paper utilizes data from the China Meteorological Administration (CMA), State Intellectual Property Office of China (SIPO), and CRNDS database to empirically examine the impact of climate change on green technology innovation of Chinese A-share listed firms from 2011 to 2020. The findings indicate the following: (1) Climate change significantly inhibits green technology innovation. (2) Entrepreneurs’ green human capital can mitigate the negative impact of climate change on green technology innovation. (3) When faced with higher investor attention or stronger environmental regulation, firms will pay more attention to their green technology innovation when adversely affected by climate change. (4) Resource-based cities show greater resilience against the negative impacts of climate change on green technology innovation compared to non-resource-based cities, suggesting that climate change-induced adaptive behavior may break the resource curse. (5) Mature, non-polluting, high-tech, and non-manufacturing firms are more effective in resisting the inhibitory effects. This research contributes to understanding climate risks and managing them effectively. Full article