Understanding of aquaporins (AQPs) facilitating the transport of water and many other small solutes including metalloids like silicon (Si) and arsenic (As) is important to develop stress tolerant cultivars. In the present study, 40 AQPs were identified in the genome of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan), a pulse crop widely grown in semi-arid region and areas known to affected with heavy metals like As. Conserved domains, variation at NPA motifs, aromatic/arginine (ar/R) selectivity filters, and pore morphology defined here will be crucial in predicting solute specificity of pigeonpea AQPs. The study identified CcNIP2-1 as an AQP predicted to transporter Si (beneficial element) as well as As (hazardous element). Further Si quantification in different tissues showed about 1.66% Si in leaves which confirmed the predictions. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy showed a higher level of Si accumulation in trichomes on the leaf surface. A significant alleviation in level of As, Sb and Ge stress was also observed when these heavy metals were supplemented with Si. Estimation of relative water content, H₂O₂, lipid peroxidation, proline, total chlorophyll content and other physiological parameters suggested Si derived stress tolerance. Extensive transcriptome profiling under different developmental stages from germination to senescence was performed to understand the tissue-specific regulation of different AQPs. For instance, high expression of TIP3s was observed only in reproductive tissues. Co-expression network developed using transcriptome data from 30 different conditions and tissues, showed interdependency of AQPs. Expression profiling of pigeonpea performed using real time PCR showed differential expression of AQPs after Si supplementation. The information generated about the phylogeny, distribution, molecular evolution, solute specificity, and gene expression dynamics in article will be helpful to better understand the AQP transport system in pigeonpea and other legumes.

Low sulfur fuel oils (LSFOs) with less than 0.5% sulfur content have been mandated for marine vessels by the International Maritime Organization since 2020. However, owing to the low dispersibility and high viscosity of LSFOs, their oceanic spills are difficult to clean using conventional response systems. In this study, we propose a superhydrophilic and hygroscopic ramie to clean spilled LSFO. To this end, a raw ramie fiber, which is intrinsically hydrophobic, was treated using a mild alkali to remove its waxy, rough, and gummy veneer and reveal a smooth surface. This substantially improved its hygroscopic nature, superhydrophilicity, and water-retention, while preserving its mechanical durability in dry and wet environments. The hygroscopic ramie exhibited underwater superoleophobicity and self-cleaning abilities against highly adhesive LSFOs. Two proofs-of-concept are demonstrated in this study—an oil-proof glove for maximizing oil repellency and a direct oil-scooping device for simple and continuous recovery of spilled oil with high efficiency.

In order to investigate the effectiveness of diagnostic ratios in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) source discrimination, semi-open pyrolysis experiments have been performed on an organic-rich, immature shale from the Winnipegosis Formation in southeastern Saskatchewan, Western Canada Sedimentary Basin. The concentrations and distributions of PAHs in expelled oils and residual extracts change drastically with increasing pyrolysis temperatures. The difficulty and inconsistency commonly encountered by using diagnostic ratios for PAH source identification in environmental samples seem to be rooted in the great variation of the diagnostic ratios themselves under different formation temperatures. No single diagnostic ratio allows a simple segregation of PAHs into petrogenic or pyrogenic sources. Some diagnostic ratios such as anthracene/phenanthrene and benz[a]anthracene/chrysene compound pairs are mostly effective for low-temperature pyrolysis, whereas indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene/benzo[ghi]perylene, aromatic hydrocarbon ring number distribution and degree of alkylation are mainly valid for high-temperature pyrolysis. The diagnostic ratios based on fluoranthene/pyrene, benzo[bk]fluoranthene/benz[a]pyrene compound pairs enjoy limited validity over a narrow pyrolysis range, whereas parameters derived from aromatic hydrocarbon ring number distribution, degree of alkylation and 1,7-/(2,6- + 1,7-dimentylphenanthrene) may be undistinguishable between petrogenesis and low-temperature pyrolysis. The apparent temperature-related variability must be taken into account when using the diagnostic ratios for source identification purposes. Multiple molecular markers need to be carefully selected to confirm the results obtained with PAH diagnostic ratios. Mechanical use of diagnostic ratios most likely leads to misinterpretation of environmental samples.

The emergence of resistance genes is a global phenomenon that poses a significant threat to both animals and humans. Lakes are important reservoirs of genes that confer resistant to antibiotics and metals. In this study, we investigated the distribution and diversity of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and metal resistance genes (MRGs) in the sediment of Daihai Lake using high-throughput sequencing and metagenomic analysis. The results indicated that all sampling sites had similar bacterial community structures, with Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes being the most abundant. A total of 16 ARG types containing 111 ARG subtypes were deposited in the sediment. Among the resistance genes to bacitracin, multidrug, macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin (MLS), tetracycline, beta-lactam, and sulfonamide were the dominant ARG types, accounting for 89.9–94.3% of the total ARGs. Additionally, 15 MRG types consisting of 146 MRG subtypes were identified. In all samples, MRGs of the same type presented resistance to Pb, Ni, Hg, W, Zn, Ag, Cr, Fe, As, Cu, and multimetals. Overall, the distribution and diversity of antibiotic and metal resistance genes showed no significant differences in the samples. Plasmids (91.03–91.82%) were the most dominant mobile genetic elements in the sediments of Daihai Lake. Network analysis indicated that the target ARGs and MRGs were significantly positively correlated with the microorganisms. Potential hosts for various ARGs and MRGs include Proteobacteria, Euryarchaeota, Actinobacteria, Chloroflexi, and Bacteroidetes.

Due to the high radiotoxicity in high concentrations, plutonium isotopes have drawn high attentions in the consideration of radiation risk, their sources, level, environmental behaviors, including deposition, retention and migration behaviors. However, such research in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is still missing, where is deemed as an environmental sensitive area. ²³⁹,²⁴⁰Pu in surface soil collected from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau were determined for the first time in this work. The concentrations of ²³⁹,²⁴⁰Pu are in the range of 0.0176–1.95 Bq/kg, falling into the reported ranges in the background areas from the similar latitude belt. The ²⁴⁰Pu/²³⁹Pu atomic ratio range was measured to be 0.146–0.225, which is similar with the global fallout values. Both indicate that the global fallout is the major source of plutonium in this region, and the low plutonium level will not cause any radiation risk so far. Based on the statistical analysis of the possible parameters (organic content, moisture content, average annual precipitation, altitudes, topography and human activity), the large variations of ²³⁹,²⁴⁰Pu concentrations were mainly attributed to the retention process related factors including soil organic content and human activity disturbances. While, the deposition related factors including the average annual precipitation, altitudes, topography made insignificant influence on the spatial distribution of ²³⁹,²⁴⁰Pu concentrations due to the low ²³⁹,²⁴⁰Pu concentrations in atmosphere, less wet deposition amount and insignificant re-suspended amount. The highest ²³⁹,²⁴⁰Pu concentrations of 0.805–1.95 Bq/kg were mainly due to the good retention condition in the sampling sites with higher soil organic content and less human activity disturbances.

Microplastic pollution has attracted significant attention as an emerging global environmental problem. One of the most important issues with microplastics is the leaching of harmful additives. This review summarizes the recent advances in the understanding of the leaching phenomena in the context of the phase equilibrium between microplastics and water, and the release kinetics. Organic additives, which are widely used in plastic products, have been introduced because they have diverse physicochemical properties and mass fractions in plastics. Many theoretical and empirical models have been utilized in laboratory and field studies. However, the partition or distribution constant between microplastics and water (Kₚ) and the diffusivity of an additive in microplastics (D) are the two key properties explaining the leaching equilibrium and kinetics of hydrophobic organic additives. Because microplastics in aquatic environments undergo dynamic weathering, leaching of organic additives with high Kₚ and/or low D cannot be described by a leaching model that only considers microplastic and water phases with a fixed boundary. Surface modifications of microplastics as well as biofilms colonizing microplastic surfaces can alter the leaching equilibrium and kinetics and transform additives. Further studies on the release of hydrophobic organic additives and their transformation products under various conditions are required to extend our understanding of the environmental fate and transport of these additives in aquatic environments.

Although cadmium (Cd) is a toxic heavy metal that reportedly causes liver injury, few studies have investigated biomarkers of Cd-induced liver injury. The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of bile acid (BA) in Cd-induced liver injury and determine reliable and sensitive biochemical parameters for the diagnosis of Cd-induced liver injury. In this study, 48 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups and administered either normal saline or 2.5, 5, 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg/d cadmium chloride for 12 weeks. A total of 403 subjects living in either a control area (n = 135) or Cd polluted area (n = 268) of Dongdagou-Xinglong (DDGXL) cohort were included, a population with long-term low Cd exposure. The BA profiles in rats' liver, serum, caecal contents, faeces, and subjects' serum were detected using high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS/MS). Changes in rats' and subjects' liver injury indices, rats' liver pathological degeneration, and rats' liver and subjects’ blood Cd levels were also measured. Cadmium exposure caused cholestasis and an increase in toxic BAs, leading to liver injury in rats. Among them, glycoursodeoxycholic acid (GUDCA), glycolithocholic acid (GLCA), taurolithocholic acid (TLCA), and taurodeoxycholate acid (TDCA) are expected to be potential biomarkers for the early detect of Cd-induced liver injury. Serum BAs can be used to assess Cd-induced liver injury as a simple, feasible, and suitable method in rats. Serum GUDCA, GLCA, TDCA, and TLCA were verified to be of value to evaluate Cd-induced liver injury and Cd exposure in humans. These findings provided evidence for screening and validation of additional biomarkers for Cd-induced liver injury based on targeted BA metabolomics.

Incessant release of a large spectrum of agro-industrial pollutants into environmental matrices remains a serious concern due to their potential health risks to humans and aquatic animals. Existing remediation techniques are unable to remove these pollutants, necessitating the development of novel treatment approaches. Due to its unique structure, physicochemical properties, and broad application potential, graphene has attracted a lot of attention as a new type of two-dimensional nanostructure. Given its chemical stability, large surface area, electron mobility, superior thermal conductivity, and two-dimensional structure, tremendous research has been conducted on graphene and its derived composites for environmental remediation and pollution mitigation. Various methods for graphene functionalization have facilitated the development of different graphene derivatives such as graphene oxide (GO), functional reduced graphene oxide (frGO), and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) with novel attributes for multiple applications. This review provides a comprehensive read on the recent progress of multifunctional graphene-based nanocomposites and nanohybrids as a promising way of removing emerging contaminants from aqueous environments. First, a succinct overview of the fundamental structure, fabrication techniques, and features of graphene-based composites is presented. Following that, graphene and GO functionalization, i.e., covalent bonding, non-covalent, and elemental doping, are discussed. Finally, the environmental potentials of a plethora of graphene-based hybrid nanocomposites for the abatement of organic and inorganic contaminants are thoroughly covered.

Inhalation exposure to fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅) represents a global concern due to the adverse effects in human health. In the last years, scientific community has been adopted the assessment of the PM₂.₅-bound pollutant fraction that could be released (bioaccessible fraction) in simulated lung fluids (SLFs) to achieve a better understanding of PM risk assessment and toxicological studies. Thus, bioaccessibility of 49 organic pollutants, including 18 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), 12 phthalate esters (PAEs), 11 organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs), 6 synthetic musk compounds (SMCs) and 2 bisphenols in PM₂.₅ samples was evaluated. The proposed method consists of a physiologically based extraction test (PBET) by using artificial lysosomal fluid (ALF) to obtain bioaccessible fractions, followed by a vortex-assisted liquid-liquid microextraction (VALLME) and a final analysis by programmed temperature vaporization-gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (PTV-GC-MS/MS). The highest inhalation bioaccessibility ratio was found for bisphenol A (BPA) with an average of 83%, followed by OPFRs, PAEs and PAHs (with average bioaccessibilities of 68%, 41% and 34%, respectively). Correlations between PM₂.₅ composition (major ions, trace metals, equivalent black carbon (eBC) and UV-absorbing particulate matter (UVPM)) and bioaccessibility ratios were also assessed. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) suggested that PAHs, PAES and OPFRs bioaccessibility ratios could be positively correlated with PM₂.₅ carbonaceous content. Furthermore, both inverse and positive correlations on PAHs, PAEs and OPFRs bioaccessibilites could be accounted for some major ions and metal (oid)s associated to PM₂.₅, whereas no correlations comprising considered PM₂.₅ major ions and metal (oid)s contents and BPA bioaccessibility was observed. In addition, health risk assessment of target PM₂.₅-associated PAHs via inhalation was assessed in the study area considering both total and bioaccessible concentrations, being averaged human health risks within the safe carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic levels.

Fine particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) exposure leads to the progress of pulmonary disease. It has been reported that N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification was involved in various biological processes and diseases. However, the critical role of m6A modification in pulmonary disease during PM2.5 exposure remains elusive. Here, we revealed that lung inflammation and mucus production caused by PM2.5 were associated with m6A modification. Both in vivo and in vitro assays demonstrated that PM2.5 exposure elevated the total level of m6A modification as well as the methyltransferase like 3 (METTL3) expression. Integration analysis of m6A RNA immunoprecipitation-seq (meRIP-seq) and RNA-seq discovered that METTL3 up-regulated the expression level and the m6A modification of Interleukin 24 (IL24). Importantly, we explored that the stability of IL24 mRNA was enhanced due to the increased m6A modification. Moreover, the data from qRT-PCR showed that PM2.5 also increased YTH N6-Methyladenosine RNA Binding Protein 1 (YTHDF1) expression, and the up-regulated YTHDF1 augmented IL24 mRNA translation efficiency. Down-regulation of Mettl3 reduced Il24 expression and ameliorated the pulmonary inflammation and mucus secretion in mice exposed to PM2.5. Taken together, our finding provided a comprehensive insight for revealing the significant role of m6A regulators in the lung injury via METTL3/YTHDF1-coupled epitranscriptomal regulation of IL24.