Dissolved silicate (DSi) and particulate silica (PSi) concentrations were measured at Arakawa River and at sewage treatment plants (STP) during October 2018 to October 2019. These included flooding observations after super Typhoon Hagibis. At ordinary water levels, the STP effluents were found to be the largest source of DSi in the river. Although DSi concentrations during the flooding events (165 μmol L⁻¹) decreased by about 25% compared to that of ordinary water level (221 μmol L⁻¹), PSi was more than sixteen times higher value (301 μmol L⁻¹) compared to that of ordinary water level (18 μmol L⁻¹). Loading amounts of DSi and PSi (± 1 standard error) were 1.5 × 10⁸ (± 0.1 × 10⁸) and 0.15 × 10⁸ (± 0.02 × 10⁸) mol year⁻¹, respectively, excluding the data of Typhoon Hagibis. Loading amounts during flooding events of DSi and PSi were 1.2 × 10⁸ (± 0.1 × 10⁸) and 2.4 × 10⁸ (± 0.4 × 10⁸) mol 15 days⁻¹, respectively. Although the silica loading at ordinary water level was mainly derived from DSi, the silica loading during flooding events was extremely large due to both high level of DSi and PSi; moreover, it was higher than the annual loading amount.

Ferrous fractions in incinerated bottom ash (IBA) are linked to lower metal dissolution. In the present study, a novel eco-friendly biotechnological approach has been tested for multi-metal leaching using meso-acidophilic Fe²⁺/S° oxidizing bacterial consortium from magnetically separated IBA, owing to the inherent property of IBA to release Fe²⁺. Comprehensive lab-scale studies, first-of-its-kind, considered all the potential elements to understand targeted metal dissolutions from the sample under differential conditions. Concentrations of metals, Al > Ti > Ni > Zn > Cu, as analyzed by ICP-OES, were targeted to be bioleached. XRD analysis indicated the sample to be amorphous with magnetite (Fe₃O₄) and iron (Fe) forming major phases in the magnetic part (IBAM) and titano-magnetite (Fe₃–ₓ. TixO₄) and iron (Fe) for the nonmagnetic part (IBAN). The study indicated that 73.98% Cu, 98.68% Ni, 59.09% Zn, 58.84% Al, and 92.85% Ti could be leached from IBAM when the bioleaching system operates at pH 1.5, 5% pulp density for 8 days. Under similar conditions, within 6 days, 37.55% Cu, 87.99% Ni, 45.03% Zn, 40.72% Al, and 63.97% Ti could be leached from IBAN. Two routes were identified and the mechanism of action has been proposed for the leaching of metals.

Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) electrogenerated via two-electron oxygen reduction reaction at cathode plays an important role in electrochemical advanced oxidation processes for organic pollutants removal from wastewater. Herein, multi-walled carbon nanotubes and carbon black co-modified graphite felt electrode (MWCNTs-CB/GF) was prepared as an efficient cathode for H₂O₂ electrogeneration and amoxicillin removal by anodic oxidation with hydrogen peroxide (AO-H₂O₂) and electro-Fenton (EF) under mild pH condition. Besides, the physicochemical and electrochemical properties of MWCNTs-CB/GF were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, N₂ adsorption and desorption experiment, contact angle measurement, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and linear sweep voltammetry. Compared with GF, MWCNTs-CB/GF showed a higher H₂O₂ generation of 309.0 mg L⁻¹ with a current efficiency of 60.9% (after 120 min) and more effective amoxicillin removal efficiencies of 97.5% (after 120 min) and 98.7% (after 30 min) in AO-H₂O₂ and EF (with 0.5 mM Fe²⁺) processes, under the condition of current density 12 mA cm⁻² and initial pH 5.5. Meanwhile, the TOC removal efficiency was 45.2% during EF process after 120 min. Anodic oxidation, H₂O₂ oxidation, and methanol capture indicated that ∙OH generated via electro-activation reaction at MWCNTs-CB/GF and Fenton reaction in solution played the dominant role in amoxicillin removal. Moreover, the TOC removal was associated with ∙OH generated during Fenton reaction in the solution. The major intermediates of AMX degradation by EF process were identified using LC-MS and the possible degradation pathways were proposed containing of β-lactam ring opening, hydroxylation reaction, decarboxylation reaction, methyl groups in the thiazolidine ring oxidation reaction, bond cleavage, and rearrangement processes. All of the above results proved that MWCNTs-CB/GF was an excellent cathode for AMX degradation under mild pH condition.

Exposure to ionizing radiation emitted from natural sources induces many health hazards. The response to ionizing radiation involves a number of mediators including inflammatory cytokines and free radicals which mediate immunosuppression. The present study aimed to monitor the impact of exposure to natural radioactive rocks from the Egyptian eastern desert on the primary immune organs. Therefore, three experimental groups (15 rats per group) were used: group I included the control non-irradiated rats; group II included rats that were exposed for 28 consecutive days to natural radioactive rocks from the Egyptian eastern desert (IR/R group); and group III (positive control group) included rats that were exposed to high dose of γ-rays (4 Gy/14 days for 28 days) (IR/γR group). We found that rats of both the IR/R and IR/γR groups exhibited pathological alterations in the architecture of the primary immune organs (bone marrow and thymus). Additionally, the levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were significantly increased in the IR/R and IR/γR groups compared to the control group. Furthermore, rats from the IR/R and IR/γR groups exhibited significant increase in the activity of caspase-3 and caspase-9 and subsequently exhibited a significant increase in the apoptosis of PBMCs compared with the control group. Most importantly, apoptosis induction in the PBMCs was associated with increased expression of cyclin B1 and decreased expression of cyclin D1 and survivin compared with the control non-irradiated group. Taken together, our data demonstrated that consecutive exposure to natural radioactive rocks from the Egyptian eastern desert could dampen the immune response through damaging the architectures of the immune system and mediating serious health problems to the population inhabiting this region.

The intestinal microbiota is a crucial physiological system that offers multiple services to the host and contributes to the health of host. However, substantially less is known concerning the interrelation between amphibian gut microbiota and Cu exposure. R. chensinensis larvae were exposed to different concentrations of Cu (0, 0.1, 0.25, 0.75 μM) until reached Gosner stage 38. Histological and morphological data were measured by four Cu exposure conditions. Then, the diversity, structure, and composition of intestinal microbiota were analyzed via 16S rRNA gene sequencing. These results indicated that total body length, intestinal wet weight, and total body wet weight were reduced in 0.75 μM CuSO₄ exposure group. Besides, obvious histopathologic alterations were observed in CuSO₄ exposure groups. Alpha diversity significantly differentiated in 0.75 μM CuSO₄ exposure group, and beta diversity showed 0.1 μM and 0.2 μM CuSO₄ exposure groups separation with the control group. At the phylum level of intestinal microbial community, the relative abundances of Fusobacteria were significantly decreased, while Bacteroidetes was no significant difference in all CuSO₄ exposure groups. Furthermore, at the genera level, Flavobacterium has a significant higher abundance in 0.75 μM CuSO₄ exposure group, and high abundance of Rahnella was found in 0.1 μM CuSO₄ exposure group. Also, Cu exposure affected the metabolism function of R. chensinensis tadpoles based on functional prediction analysis. This work provides new perspective to explore the effect of heavy metal on the intestinal health of amphibians.

The aim of this study was to investigate the autonomic modulation of heart rate in healthy individuals exposed to long-term air pollution through geometric methods. We analyzed data from 109 healthy adults aged 18 to 49, divided into three groups according to the exposure time: period 0 to 15 years of exposure (n = 29), more than 15 years of exposure (n = 31), and control group (n = 49). For the analysis of heart rate variability (HRV), heart rate was recorded beat-to-beat for 20 min in the sitting position. The RR intervals were transformed into geometric indexes, and from them, we calculated the RRTri (triangular index), TINN (triangle interpolation of histogram of intervals NN), and Poincaré plot (SD1, SD2, and SD1/SD2). Significantly lower values were observed in the group of individuals exposed to air pollution for more than 15 years compared with the group of individuals exposed to air pollution for a period of 0–15 years and those not exposed for the RRTri (11.5 vs 13.8 vs 14.0), SD1 (16.4 vs 20.5 vs 20.6), SD2 (60.5 vs 68.1 vs 72.5), and SD1/SD2 (0.27 vs 0.34 vs 0.31), with the effect of this difference being considered large (RRTri), medium (SD1, SD1/SD2), and small (SD2). TINN was not significantly different among groups (198.2 vs 223.1 vs 233.6). Healthy individuals exposed to air pollution for more than 15 years present an autonomic imbalance, characterized by lower parasympathetic modulation and overall HRV.

As for developing effective integrated pest management (IPM), it is necessary to understand the sublethal effects of common insecticides on the non-target beneficial arthropods. In this lab-scale study, the sublethal effects of two anthranilic diamide insecticides chlorantraniliprole and cyantraniliprole on the populations of 7-spot ladybird Coccinella septempunctata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) were determined and compared using an age-stage, TWO-SEX life table and CONSUME-MSChart computer program. Cyantraniliprole at low-lethal concentrations of 1 and 10 mg L⁻¹ significantly prolonged the larval stages and reduced the total adult longevity, compared with the control. Additionally, the net reproductive rate (R₀), intrinsic rate of increase (r), finite rate of increase (λ), and mean generation time (T) were significantly reduced in the group treated with 10 mg L⁻¹ of cyantraniliprole. Similarly, the net predation (C₀), the finite predation rate (ω), and stable predation rate (ψ) were significantly reduced by cyantraniliprole at 1 and 10 mg L⁻¹. In contrast, no significant difference in the demographic parameters above was determined for chlorantraniliprole at 1 mg L⁻¹. Therefore, C. septempunctata population may develop faster and possess greater predation potential against aphids under the exposure of chlorantraniliprole, compared to cyantraniliprole. Chlorantraniliprole may be a preference to cyantraniliprole as a combined alternative with ladybeetle predators in IPM framework.

The important role of oxygen-containing groups of porous carbonaceous materials (PCMs) on sorption of organic compounds has been realized, but whether these groups can generate different joint effects, especially when oxidized PCMs with different pore sizes are complexed with heavy metals (Cu²⁺), remains ambiguous. The present study aimed to determine how pore sizes, metal ions, and oxygen-containing groups as a function affect the sorption of naphthalene and 2-naphthol to PCMs (e.g., activated carbons/ACs and mesoporous carbon/CMK-3). The H₂-reduced oxidized PCMs were used as the control of low oxygen content to avoid changes in the pore structure properties compared with the oxidized PCMs. Oxygen-containing groups considerably decreased the sorption of naphthalene and 2-naphthol to PCMs because of their weaker hydrophobic interaction and fewer sorption sites. Notably, naphthalene sorption on oxidized AC was inhibited with Cu²⁺ because of the steric constraint of Cu²⁺ hydration shells of the micropores. However, pore blockage by Cu²⁺ reduced the mesopore size of oxidized CMK-3, leading to enhanced pore filling effect and cation–π bonding, and therefore increased naphthalene sorption. For 2-naphthol, the sorption to oxidized PCMs initially increased and then decreased with increasing Cu²⁺ concentration attributed to the fewer Cu²⁺ acting as a bridging agent and excess Cu²⁺ competing for sorption sites.

In the paper, the achievements obtained from carrying out the policy of environmental protection price for promoting air pollution control in coal-fired power plants in China during more than a decade were summarized. Based on the situation of current electricity market reform, the role and effectiveness of environmental protection price for controlling the normal air pollutants, such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and dust in China’s coal-fired power generation plants, were investigated, including the price structure of electricity environmental protection for coal-fired power generation enterprises in different regions, generating units, and power demands. The policy suggestions were proposed, namely, the reform of electricity environmental protection price would be carried out gradually, the relationship between electricity environmental protection price policy and other environmental protection policies would be matched under the relative overcapacity condition, and the environmental protection price regulation would be integrated into other environmental policies.

Livestock and poultry (LP) pollution affects water quality of water resources. In this study, spatio-temporal variations in amount, structure, and discharge of LP pollutant in the water source area of the Middle Route of South-to-North Water Diversion Project (MR-SNWDP) in China on the county scale were analyzed. In this regard, the gray water footprint (GWF) was employed as an indicator for quantitative evaluation of LP pollution to measure the impact of these parameters on local water resources. Based on the statistical data for the time period of 2000–2017, the results showed that the total amount of LP farming has steadily increased, except for a slight decrease in the years 2007 and 2014. Also, the counties, Dengzhou (DZ), Neixiang (NX), and Xichuan (XC), are found to be the biggest polluters. The GWF of total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and chemical oxygen demand (COD) was calculated to be 12.7, 8.6, and 2.8 billion m³ in 2017, respectively, with GWFTN > GWFTP > GWFCOD. The pollution of TN caused by LP has a greater impact on water quality than COD and TP. In 2017, the water pollution level (WPL) of water source area is 0.28, it means LP pollution required 28% of the total local water resources to be diluted. Additionally, the WPL for DZ, NX, and XC was found to be greater than 1, and it is concluded that the water resources of these regions face an environmental threat. Based on the area scale of the water sources, policies and incidence of diseases mainly affected the changes in the number of LP farming. On the county scale, the total amount and structure of LP was affected by factors such as terrain, traffic, economic level, and breeding mode. It is recommended that different policies and disposal methods should be adopted based the LP farming conditions in different cities.