Artificial light at night (ALAN) alters circadian rhythms in animals and therefore can be a source of environmental stress affecting their physiology and behaviour. The impact of ALAN can be related to the increased light level, but also to the spectral composition of night lighting. Previous research showed that many species can be particularly sensitive to the LED light, but it is unclear if they respond to its broad spectrum or specifically to the blue light wavelength. In this study, we tested whether dim ALAN (2 lx) differing in the spectral quality (warm white LED, blue LED, high-pressure sodium HPS light) modifies behaviour and changes oxidative status in two nocturnal freshwater shredder species: Dikerogammarus villosus and Gammarus jazdzewskii (Gammaroidea, Amphipoda). Our experiment revealed that ALAN, irrespective of its spectral quality, did not affect the oxidative stress markers in cells (the level of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation). However, ALAN changed the gammarid behaviour in a species-specific manner, which can potentially reduce the fitness of the shredders. Dikerogammarus villosus avoided all types of light compared to darkness. Therefore, confined to the shelter, D. villosus may have fewer opportunities to forage and/or mate. Gammarus jazdzewskii was sensitive only to the narrow-spectrum blue light, but did not respond to the HPS and white LED light. Avoidance is a typical response of gammarids to natural light, thus the disruption of this behaviour in the presence of common ALAN sources can increase the predation risk in this species. To summarize, behavioural modifications induced by ALAN seem more pronounced than changes in physiology and can constitute the main driver of disturbances in the processing of organic matter in freshwater ecosystems by invertebrate shredders.

The plastic debris that washes ashore and litters the shoreline often undergoes weathering under sunlight exposure, such that it fragments to form nanoplastics and microplastics, but the fragmentation rate for many thermoplastics is unknown. In this study, three major thermoplastics were exposed to simulated sunlight in an accelerated weathering chamber to evaluate the speed of photooxidation-induced fragmentation. The initiation of photooxidation-induced fragmentation extrapolated from the accelerated weathering chamber to real sunlight exposure in South Korea followed the order of PS (< 1 year) > PP (< 2 years) > LDPE (> 3 years). The surface cracks created by photooxidation were not directly reflected in the initiation of fragmentation of thermoplastics. The initiation of fragmentation was faster in PS than other polymers, but the total abundance of particles produced, and increasing ratio (exposure/non-exposure) were comparable or lower than those of PP. The increasing ratio pattern between nanoplastics and small microplastics of PP differed noticeably from other polymers. The initiation of nanoplastic and small-microplastic fragmentation determined in this study will be useful for the further estimation of secondary microplastic production by weathering and thus for decision-making regarding methods for the timely removal of plastic litter in the environment.

Artificial light at night has been proposed as a global threat to biodiversity. Insectivorous bats are strictly nocturnal animals that are vulnerable to disruption from artificial light. Given that many light-sensitive bats tend to avoid night light during roost departure, it is often assumed that nighttime light pollution reduces their foraging opportunities, albeit empirical evidence in support of this hypothesis remains elusive. Here, we used least horseshoe bats, Rhinolophus pusillus, to assess whether white artificial light is detrimental for the opportunities of foraging. We manipulated the levels of ambient illumination and perceived predation risk inside the bat roost. We monitored bats' emergence activity using high-speed video and audio recording systems. DNA-based faecal dietary analysis and insect survey were applied to determine activity time of prey in foraging areas. Following experimentally manipulation of white light-emitting diode (LED) lighting 0–15 min after sunset, bat pass, flight duration, and echolocation pulse emission decreased. The mean emergence time of bats flying out was delayed by 14 min under lit treatment compared with the dark control. Only 10% of bats left for foraging during 40 min of light exposure. Aversive effects of LED light on bat emergence were robust regardless of the presence of a potential predator. Insect prey reached a peak of abundance between 30 and 60 min after sunset. These results demonstrate that white artificial light hinders evening emergence behavior in least horseshoe bats, leading to a mismatch between foraging onset and peak food availability. Our findings highlight that light pollution overrides foraging onset, suggesting the importance of improving artificial lighting scheme near the roosts of light-sensitive bats.

In this study, heterojunction photocatalysts, XAg@C-TCZ, based on MOF-derived C–TiO₂ and Cd₀.₅Zn₀.₅S decorated with Ag nanoparticles (Ag NPs) were successfully synthesized through hydrothermal and calcination methods. The catalytic effectiveness of XAg@C-TCZ was evaluated by simultaneous photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) and reduction of Cr(VI) under simulated sunlight irradiation. The presence of the Z-scheme heterojunction was demonstrated through trapping experiments, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), time-resolved photoluminescence (PL) investigations, and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. With an initial RhB and Cr(VI) concentration of 7 mg L⁻¹ and 5 mg L⁻¹, the catalyst 10Ag@C-TCZ achieved a simultaneous removal of 95.2% and 95.5% within 120 min, respectively. With the same catalyst, the degradation rate of RhB was 2.75 times higher and the reduction rate of Cr(VI) was 9.3 times higher compared to pure Cd₀.₅Zn₀.₅S. Total organic carbon (TOC) analysis confirmed the extent of mineralization of RhB, while the reduction of Cr(VI) was corroborated by XPS. Compared to pure RhB and Cr(VI) solutions, the reaction rates are smaller in the solution containing both contaminants, which is attributed to the competition for ·O₂⁻. 10Ag@C-TCZ also exhibited a stable catalytic performance in tap water and lake water. This work provides a new perspective on the construction of heterojunctions with doped MOF derivatives for the purification of complex pollutant systems.

Particulate matter (PM) released from the processes of livestock production has a negative impact on the health of animals and workers. Herein, the concentration, major chemical components, morphology and microbiological compositions of particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5, particles with aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 μm) in a broiler breeding house were investigated. The results showed that the PM2.5 distribution in the chicken house was affected by the illumination, draught fans, chicken frame structure and activity of the chickens in the broiler breeding house. Component analysis showed that organic carbon (OC) accounted for the largest proportion, and followed by element carbon (EC), SO42−, NO3−, NH4+, Na+, K+ and Ca2+. Ultrastructural observations revealed that the shape of PM2.5 had a round, rectangular, chain-like and irregular shape. The concentration of endotoxin was approximately 0.3 EU/m3. Microbiological analysis showed that at the genus level, the pathogenic bacteria included Staphylococcus, Corynebacterium, Enterococcus, Parabacteroides, Escherichia and Megamonas. The abundant harmful fungi were Aspergillus, Scopulariopsis, Wallemia, and Fusarium. Through redundancy analysis (RDA) analysis, we determined that OC, EC, Na+, K+, and NH4+ had strong correlations with Brachybacterium, Brevibacterium, Corynebacterium, Escherichia, Scopulariopsis and Microascus. SO42− was closely related to Scopulariopsis and Salinicoccus. Salinicoccus was also strongly correlated with NO3−. Our results indicated that feed, faeces, and outside soot are contributed to the increase in PM2.5 concentration in the chicken house, while the sources of the dominant bacterial and fungi might be feed, faeces, suspended outside soil and cereal crops.

The carbon dots (C-dots) mediated Sn₂Ta₂O₇/SnO₂ heterostructures with spongy structure were successfully assembled by simple hydrothermal route. The photocatalytic removal efficiency of amoxicillin (AMX, 20 mg L⁻¹) over C-dots/Sn₂Ta₂O₇/SnO₂ was estimated to reach up 88.3% within 120 min simulated solar light irradiating. Meanwhile, the HPLC-MS/MS analysis and density functional theory (DFT) computation were examined to clarify the photo-degradation pathway of AMX. The mechanism investigation proposed that with the modification of C-dots, the photocatalysts improves the utilization of solar energy by harvesting the long wavelength solar light due to their unique up-converted photoluminescence (UCPL). In addition, the porous spongy structure and plenty of tiny C-dots promote the ability of adsorption by enlarged specific surface area. Furthermore, the C-dots mediated Z-type heterojunction of Sn₂Ta₂O₇/SnO₂ facilitates the efficient separation and transfer of photo-induced carriers. Our work affords a promising approach for the design of the high-efficient photocatalysts to remedy poisonous antibiotics in aqueous environment.

Artificial illumination at night represents an increasingly concerning threat to ecosystems worldwide, altering persistence, behaviour, physiology and fitness of many organisms and their mutual interactions, in the long-term affecting ecosystem functioning. Bats are very sensitive to artificial light at night because they are obligate nocturnal and feed on insects which are often also responsive to lights. Here we tested the effects of LED lighting on prey-predator interactions at riverine ecosystems, using bats and their insect prey as models, and compared bat and insect reactions in terms of bat activity and prey insect abundance and diversity, respectively, on artificially lit vs. unlit nights. Artificial light influenced both insect and bat assemblages in taxon-specific directions: insect abundances increased at lit sites, particularly due to an increase in small dipterans near the light source. Composition of insect assemblages also differed significantly between lit and unlit sites. Total bat activity declined at lit sites, but this change was mainly due to the response of the most abundant species, Myotis daubentonii, while opportunistic species showed no reaction or even an opposite pattern (Pipistrellus kuhlii). We show that artificial lighting along rivers may affect trophic interactions between bats and insects, resulting in a profound alteration of community structure and dynamics.

Global water safety is facing great challenges due to increased population and demand. There is an urgent need to develop suitable water treatment strategy for small rural and remote communities in low-income developing countries. In order to find a low-cost solution, the reduction of E. coli using ceramic water disk coated with nano ZnO was investigated in this study. The performance of modified ceramic disk filters was influenced by several factors in the filter production process. Based on the factorial analysis, the pore size of the disk filters was the most significant factor for influencing E. coli removal efficiency and the clay content was the most significant one for influencing flow rate of modified disk filters. The coating of nano ZnO led to the change of disk filter surface and porosity. The reduction of E. coli could be attributed to both filter retention and photocatalytic antibacterial activity of nano ZnO. The effects of filter operation factors including initial E. coli concentration, illumination time and lamp power on E. coli removal effectiveness were also revealed. The results can help find a safe and cost-effective approach to solve drinking water problems in small rural and remote communities of developing regions.

Herein, an efficient visible-light-driven BiFeO₃/AgVO₃ nanocomposite was effectively fabricated via a facile co-precipitation procedure. The physicochemical properties of BiFeO₃/AgVO₃ nanocomposites were investigated via Fourier transform-infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), photoluminescence (PL), UV visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) and photoelectrochemical studies (PEC). The photocatalytic activity (PCA) of BiFeO₃/AgVO₃ nanocomposites was assessed with regard to the photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine-B (RhB) when subjected to visible light irradiation (VLI). Upon 90 min of illumination, the optimal 3%-BiFeO₃/AgVO₃ nanocomposite showed a greater photocatalytic degradation, which was ∼3 times higher than the bare AgVO₃. The lower PL intensity of 3%-BiFeO₃/AgVO₃ nanocomposite exposed the low recombination rate, which improved the photo-excited charge carriers separation efficiency. The experimental outcomes showed that the BiFeO₃/AgVO₃ nanocomposite might be an encouraging material for treatment of industrial and metropolitan wastewater. Moreover, a plausible RhB degradation mechanism was proposed proving the participation of the generated OH and O₂– radicals in the degradation over BiFeO₃/AgVO₃ nanocomposite.

The synergistic photoelectrochemical (PEC) technology is a robust process for the conversion of CO₂ into fuels. However, designing a highly efficient UV–visible driven photoelectrocatalyst is still challenging. Herein, a plasmonic Ag NPs modified TiO₂/RGO photoelectrocatalyst (Ag–TiO₂/RGO) has been designed for the PEC CO₂ reduction into selective production of CH₃OH. HR-TEM analysis revealed that Ag and TiO₂ NPs with average sizes of 4 and 7 nm, respectively, were densely grown on the few-micron-sized 2D RGO nanosheets. The physicochemical analysis was used to determine the optical and textural properties of the Ag–TiO₂/RGO nanohybrids. Under VU-Vis light illumination, Ag–TiO₂/RGO photocathode possessed a current density of 23.5 mA cm⁻² and a lower electrode resistance value of 125 Ω in CO₂-saturated 1.0 M KOH-aqueous electrolyte solution. Catalytic studies showed that the Ag–TiO₂/RGO photocathode possessed a remarkable PEC CO₂ reduction activity and selective production of CH₃OH with a yield of 85 μmol L⁻¹ cm⁻², the quantum efficiency of 20% and Faradic efficiency of 60.5% at onset potential of −0.7 V. A plausible PEC CO₂ reduction mechanism over Ag–TiO₂/RGO photocathode is schematically demonstrated. The present work gives a new avenue to develop high-performance and stable photoelectrocatalyst for PEC CO₂ reduction towards sustainable liquid fuels production.