Thermogravimetric analysis and pyrolyzer-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry measurements were taken to examine the kinetic behavior and product distribution on the thermal and catalytic pyrolysis of different types of sewage sludge. Compared to livestock manure sewage sludge (LMSS), municipal sewage sludge (MSS) had larger ash (30.3%) and lower fixed carbon (7.9%) contents. The peak intensities for the 1ˢᵗ decomposition region (200–380 °C) on the derivative thermogravimetric curve of MSS were higher than those of LMSS. In contrast, the peak height in the 2ⁿᵈ temperature region (>380 °C) of MSS was lower than that of LMSS. The activation energy for the pyrolysis of MSS (Avg. 186.5 kJ/mol) was lower than that of LMSS (Avg. 263.4 kJ/mol) over the entire conversion range. MSS produced larger amounts of fatty acids and cholesterol than LMSS. The in-situ catalytic pyrolysis of MSS over HBeta using a pyrolyzer-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry also produced larger amounts of aromatic hydrocarbons than LMSS, suggesting that its better feedstock properties strongly influence the final product oil quality.

Chemicals such as triclosan are a concern because of their presence on daily products (soap, deodorant, hand sanitizers …), consequently this compound has an ubiquitous presence in the environment. Little is known about the effect of this bactericide on aquatic life. The aim of this study is to analyze triclosan exposure (24 h) to an in vitro model, zebrafish hepatocytes cell line (ZF-L), if it can be cytotoxic (mitochondrial activity, membrane stability and apoptosis) and if can activate ATP-binding cassette (ABC) proteins (activity, expression and protein/compound affinity). Triclosan was cytotoxic to hepatocytes when exposed to concentrations (1–4 mg/L). The results showed impaired mitochondria function, as well, plasma membrane rupture and an increase of apoptotic cells. We observed an ABC proteins activity inhibition in cells exposed to 0.5 and 1 mg/L. When ABCBs and ABCC2 proteins expression were analyzed, there was an increase of protein expression in both ABC proteins families on cells exposed to 1 mg/L of triclosan. On molecular docking results, triclosan and the fluorescent used as substrate (rhodamine) presented high affinity with all ABC proteins family tested, showing a greater affinity with ABCC2. In conclusion, this study showed that triclosan can be cytotoxic to ZF-L. Molecular docking indicated high affinity between triclosan and the tested pumps.

A paradoxical impact of high rates of production and consumption of antibiotics is their widespread release in the environment. Consequently, low concentrations of antibiotics and their byproducts have been routinely identified from various environmental settings especially from aquatic environments. However, the impact of such low concentrations of antibiotics on the exposed host especially in early life remains poorly understood. We exposed zebrafish to two different environmental concentrations of oxytetracycline and sulfamethoxazole, from larval stage to adulthood (∼120 days) and characterized their impact on the taxonomic diversity, antibiotic resistance genes, and metabolic pathways of the gut microbiome using metagenomic shotgun sequencing and analysis. Long term exposure of environmental concentrations of oxytetracycline and sulfamethoxazole significantly impacted the taxonomic composition and metabolic pathways of zebrafish gut microbiome. The antibiotic exposed samples exhibited significant enrichment of multiple flavobacterial species, including Flavobacterium sp. F52, Flavobacterium johnsoniae and Flavobacterium sp. Fl, which are well known pathogenic bacteria. The relative abundance of antibiotic resistance genes, especially several tetratcycline and sulfonamide resistance genes were significantly higher in the exposed samples and showed a linear correlation with the antibiotic concentrations. Furthermore, several metabolic pathways, including folate biosynthesis, oxidative phosphorylation, and biotin metabolism pathways, showed significant enrichment in the antibiotic exposed samples. Collectively, our results suggest that early life exposure of the environmental concentrations of antibiotics can increase the abundance of unfavorable bacteria, antibiotic resistance genes and associated pathways in the gut microbiome of zebrafish.

This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates the most recent evidence to examine whether use of improved biomass cookstoves in households in low-middle income countries results in reduction in mean concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO) and particulate matter of size 2.5 μm (PM₂.₅) in the cooking area, as well as reduction in mean systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of adults using the cookstoves when compared to adults who use traditional three stone fire or traditional biomass cookstoves.We searched databases of scientific and grey literature. We included studies if published between January 2012 and June 2021, reported impact of ICS interventions in non-pregnant adults in low/middle-income countries, and reported post-intervention results along with baseline of traditional cookstoves. Outcomes included 24- or 48-h averages of kitchen area PM₂.₅, CO, mean SBP and DBP. Meta-analyses estimated weighted mean differences between baseline and post-intervention values for all outcome measures.Eleven studies were included; ten contributed estimates for HAP and four for BP. Interventions lead to significant reductions in PM₂.₅ (−0.73 mg/m³, 95% CI: −1.33, −0.13), CO (−8.37 ppm, 95%CI: −13.20, −3.54) and SBP (−2.82 mmHg, 95% CI: −5.53, −0.11); and a non-significant reduction in DBP (−0.80 mmHg, 95%CI: −2.33, 0.73), when compared to baseline of traditional cookstoves. Except for DBP, greatest reductions in all outcomes came from standard combustion ICS with a chimney, compared to ICS without a chimney and advanced combustion ICS.Among the reviewed biomass stove types, ICS with a chimney feature resulted in greatest reductions in HAP and BP.

The influence of intercalated anions on the structure and composition of green rusts supplies a theoretical possibility for the investigation of the structural modification of Feᴵᴵ/Feᴵᴵᴵ (oxyhydr)oxide materials. β-Cyclodextrin was intercalated into the mixed-valent iron-based hydroxide layers to synthesize new green rust materials (β-CD GRs), pursuing high-capacity uraniumⱽᴵ (Uⱽᴵ) sorption. The molar ratios of Feᴵᴵ to Feᴵᴵᴵ and the molar ratios of β-CD GR to Feᴵᴵ + Feᴵᴵᴵ had a significant effect on the synthesis of β-CD GRs. The synthesis process was further optimized by the quadric predictor and desirability function in a central composite design in combination. Both strong acidity and alkalinity were harmful to the adsorption of β-CD GRs towards Uⱽᴵ. The pseudo-first-order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm model were appropriate in fitting the whole adsorption process. The maximum monolayer adsorption capacity of β-CD GRs was 2548.61 mg/g. The presence of mimic groundwater constituents explicitly deteriorated the interaction between β-CD GR and Uⱽᴵ species. Nanoscale nodules and particles were formed on the β-CD GR after the adsorption experiments. The peaks at 1159 and 609 cm⁻¹ vanished with the band at 1103 cm⁻¹ being left-shifted to 1117 cm⁻¹ in the FTIR spectra of β-CD GR during the heterogeneous process. The intercalation of β-CD brought obvious enhancement of Uⱽᴵ species sorption to the GR material, which was combinedly driven by several reaction pathways and different from the unmodified GRs.

It is a common practice to maintain soil fertility based on the paddy-upland rotation with green manure in the subtropical region of China. However, rare studies are known about greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the paddy-upland rotation with green manure incorporation. Therefore, we conducted a field experiment of two years to compared with the effect of two kinds of green manure (CV: Chinese milk vetch and OR: Oilseed rape), and two kinds of cropping system (DR: double rice system and PR: paddy-upland rotation) on greenhouse gases emissions. We have found that the annual accumulation of CH₄ of Chinese milk vetch-rice-sweet potato || soybean was significantly reduced by 32.95%∼63.22% compared with other treatments, mainly because Chinese milk vetch reduced the abundance of methanogens by reducing soil C/N ratio. Meanwhile increasing soil permeability resulting from paddy-upland rotation also reduced soil CH₄ emission. However, The annual accumulation of N₂O of Chinese milk vetch-rice-sweet potato || soybean was increased by 17.39%∼870.11% compared with other treatments, mainly attributed to paddy-upland rotation decreased soil pH and nosZ abundance and increased nirK and nirS, thus enhancing N₂O emission, meanwhile the Chinese milk vetch incorporation and its interaction with the paddy-upland rotation has greatly enhanced the contents of NO₃⁻-N and abundance of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA). The area-scaled global warming potential (GWP) and the biomass-scaled greenhouse gas emissions intensity (GHGI) of Chinese milk vetch-rice-sweet potato || soybean was reduced by 19.01%∼50.69% and 5.38%∼35.77% respectively. Thereby, the Chinese milk vetch-rice-sweet potato || soybean cropping system was suitable for agricultural sustainable development.

Surface and water bodies in many parts of the world are affected due to eutrophication, contamination and depletion. The approach of wastewater treatment using algae for eliminating nutrients and other pollutants from domestic wastewater is growing interest among the researchers. However, sustainable treatment of the wastewater is considered to be important in establishing more effective nutrient and pollutant reduction using algal systems. In comparison to the conventional method of remediation, there are opportunities to commercially viable businesses interest with phycoremediation, thus by achieving cost reductions and renewable bioenergy options. Phycoremediation is an intriguing stage for treating wastewater since it provides tertiary bio-treatment while producing potentially valuable biomass that may be used for a variety of applications. Furthermore, the phycoremediation provides the ability to remove heavy metals as well as harmful organic substances, without producing secondary contamination. In this review, the role of microalgae in treating different wastewaters and the process parameters affecting the treatment and future scope of research have been discussed. Though several algae are employed for wastewater treatment, species of the genera Chlamydomonas, Chlorella, and Scenedesmus are extensively utilized. Interestingly, there is a vast scope for employing algal species with high flocculation capacity and adsorption mechanisms for the elimination of microplastics. In addition, the algal biomass generated during phycoremediation has been found to possess high protein and lipid contents, promising their exploitation in biofuel, food and animal feed industries.

Biomass burning, a recurring global phenomenon is also considered an environmental menace, making headlines every year in India with onset of autumn months. Agriculture is demographically the broadest economic sector and plays a significant role in the overall socio-economic fabric of India. Hence, disposal of crop residue is done mainly by burning leading to deterioration of air quality. Residue burning in parts of India is blamed for changing air quality in nearby cities. The spatial distribution of these emissions has always been a challenge due to various data constraints. We hereby present a comprehensive spatially resolved seasonal high resolution gridded (∼10 km × ∼10 km) emission inventory of major pollutants from crop residue burning source in India for the latest year 2018. The winter months contributes almost around ∼50% of total emission followed by summer (∼48%), which is the prime cause of changing air quality in nearby cities. Among all the crops; rice, wheat, maize and sugarcane accounts ∼90% of total PM₁₀ load in the country. The estimated emission for PM₂.₅, PM₁₀, BC and OC, CO, NOx, SO₂, VOC, CH₄ and CO₂ are found to 990.68 Gg/yr, 1231.26 Gg/yr, 123.33 Gg/yr, 410.99 Gg/yr, 11208.18 Gg/yr, 484.55 Gg/yr, 144.66 Gg/yr, 1282.95 Gg/yr, 785.56 Gg/yr and 262051.06 Gg/yr respectively. The cropping pattern and its role in different geographic regions are analysed to identify all potential emission hotspots regions scattered across the country. The developed gridded emissions inventory is envisaged to serve as an important input to regional atmospheric chemistry transport model to better quantify its contribution in deteriorating air quality in various regions of India, paving the way to policy makers to better plan the mitigation and control strategies. The developed fundamental tool is likely to be useful for air quality management.

Cadmium (Cd) is an occupational and environmental pollutant, which mainly causes nephrotoxicity by damaging renal proximal tubular cells. To evaluate the effects of Cd on pyroptosis and the relationship between pyroptosis and apoptosis in duck renal tubular epithelial cells, the cells were cultured with 3CdSO₄·8H₂O (0, 2.5, 5.0, or 10.0 μM Cd), N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) (100.0 μM), Z-YVAD-FMK (10.0 μM) or the combination of Cd and NAC or Z-YVAD-FMK for 12 h, and then cytotoxicity was assessed. The results evidenced that Cd significantly increased the releases of interleukin-18 (IL-18) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and nitric oxide (NO), relative conductivity and cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level. Simultaneously, Cd also markedly upregulated NLRP3, Caspase-1, ASC, NEK7, IL-1β and IL-18 mRNA levels and NLRP3, Caspase-1 p20, GSDMD and ASC protein levels. Additionally, NAC notably improved the changes of above indicators induced by Cd. Combined treatment with Cd and Z-YVAD-FMK remarkably elevated Bcl-2 mRNA and protein levels, inhibited p53, Bax, Bak-1, Cyt C, Caspase-9 and Caspase-3 mRNA levels and p53, Bax, Bak-1, Caspase-9/cleaved Caspase-9 and Caspase-3/cleaved Caspase-3 protein levels, increased mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), decreased apoptosis ratio and cell damage compared to treatment with Cd alone. Taken together, Cd exposure induces duck renal tubular epithelial cell pyroptosis through ROS/NLRP3/Caspase-1 signaling pathway, and inhibiting Caspase-1 dependent pyroptosis attenuates Cd-induced apoptosis.

An experimentally induced three-dimensional petroleum seepage flume was used to investigate its migration in heterogeneous soil layers and a method for monitoring resistivity was adopted, under conditions of fluctuating water levels and rainfall. The corresponding mechanisms were then analyzed based on the resistivity characteristics and combined with three-dimensional inversion images. Finally, physical and chemical property analysis was conducted to verify the results of resistivity monitoring. The results demonstrated that: (1) In the process of natural oil leakage, the variation of soil resistivity presents a concave shape in the resistivity profile. Thus, oil migration exhibited the following patterns. At first, circular migration front was dominant in a vertical direction. Subsequently, after vertical migration was impeded, lateral migration was dominant. As the crude oil gradually accumulated, the migration front broke through the limitation of lithologic interface and continued vertically. (2) By comparing the two resistivity monitoring methods, namely the Wenner and Pole-pole methods, it was demonstrated that the inversion resistivity measured by Wenner method was closer to the true resistivity, and the resistivity variations were more distinguishable. (3) The resistivity inversion profile demonstrated that the low resistivity anomaly of the crude oil leakage area was related to the low water content of the soil layer in the test area. (4) Fluctuations in water level increased the diffusion range of crude oil beyond the original pollution source area, especially horizontally. (5) Percolation of rainfall caused the water level to rise, and the crude oil was evenly distributed in the soil layers above the capillary zone. (6) Through sample analysis and verification, it was demonstrated that the resistivity method can accurately and intuitively present the characteristics of crude oil migration. These results provide theoretical support for the rapid determination of the migration range and characteristics of crude oil in heterogeneous soil layers.