Chlorine is considered the most used chemical agent for water disinfection worldwide. However, water chlorination can lead to by-product generation which can be toxic to humans. The present study aimed to perform a systematic review on the toxicity of trihalomethanes (THMs) through bioindicators of cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and mutagenicity. The results showed that studies on the effects of THMs on DNA are a current research concern for evaluating the toxicity of the pure compounds and real samples involving several types including water for recreational use, reused water, and drinking water. THMs deleterious effects have been assessed using several biosystems, where the Ames test along with experimental animal models were the most cited. A wide range of THM concentrations have been tested. Nevertheless, DNA damage was demonstrated, highlighting the potential human health risk. Among the studied THMs, chloroform presented a different action mechanism when compared with brominated THMs, with the former being cytotoxic while brominated THMs (bromodichloromethane, bromoform, and dibromochloromethane) were cytotoxic, genotoxic, and mutagenic. The described evidence in this research highlights the relevance of this topic as a human health issue. Nevertheless, research aimed to represent THMs current exposure conditions in a more accurate way would be needed to understand the real impact on human health.

This article deals with analytical chemistry devoted to nano-objects. A short review presents nano-objects, their singularity in relation to their dimensions, genesis, and possible transformations. The term nano-object is then explained. Nano-object characterization activities are considered and a definition of nanoanalytics is proposed. Parameters and properties for describing nano-objects on an individual scale and on the scale of a population are also presented. They enable the specificities of analytical activities to be highlighted in terms of multi-criteria description strategies and observation scale. Special attention is given to analytical methods, their dimensioning and validation.

Monolithic algal green powder (MAGP) was fabricated based on the marine green macroalga Enteromorpha flexuosa. It was scrutinized by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), point of zero charge (PHPZC), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area. The ability of Enteromorpha flexuosa to capture both crystal violet (CV) and methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solutions was evaluated. The influence of variable conditional parameters on CV dye and MB dye batch sorption was investigated. Results showed that percentage removal of 90.3% and 93.4% were obtained under optimum conditions of variables for CV and MB, respectively. Effect of microwave radiation on dye sorption was also appraised. Processing the sorption under microwave irradiation (microwave-enforced sorption, MES) increases mass transfer and a contact time as low as 1 min is sufficient under optimized conditions (exposure time and power) reaching the equilibrium. The reusability of MAGP sorbent was achieved for four cycles of sorption/desorption by using 0.5 M HCl. The ability of MAGP for cationic dyes removal from spiked tap water and petrochemical plant discharge wastewater samples was successfully registered. Ultimately, the displayed data showed a superior and excellent ability of algal powder to be exploited as a green, harmless, and effective sorbent for cationic dye removal.

Energy strategy has been an essential strand in the view of economists in achieving rapid development process of any country. The recent wave of globalization exerts pressure on energy consumption via financial development which ultimately vindicates economic growth. This paper has covered a period of 1976–2016 using annual data for the empirical analysis and constructed a growth equation as the main equation and the energy consumption equation as a channel equation. The empirical study has been undertaken by performing ARDL and nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag models (NARDL). The bound test result declares a long-run association in both equations. Consequently, energy consumption and economic globalization have significantly enhanced economic growth in the long run. Whereas, financial development index has no influence on the economic growth of Pakistan. The results of channel equation suggested that due to growing the price of crude oil, the energy consumption is reduced in the long run. The increasing imports of energy products and increasing urbanization are conducive for energy consumption in Pakistan. By NARDL model, our empirical findings provide robust support for the existence of asymmetric co-integration linking among underlying variables of the study.

Indoor air pollution is an important risk factor for the generation of lung diseases in developing countries. The indigenous population is particularly susceptible to be exposed to the mixture of pollutants from the biomass burning, among them, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The objective of this study was to assess respiratory health and exposure to PAHs in indigenous populations of the Huasteca Potosina in Mexico. The urinary metabolite 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) was evaluated by HPLC with fluorescence detector, the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁) and the FEV₁/FVC ratio (forced vital capacity) by spirometry in the Teenek indigenous adult population of the communities from Tocoy (TOC), Xolol (XOL), and Tanjajnec (TAN). A total of 134 subjects participated in the study: 64 from TOC, 30 from XOL, and 40 from TAN; in all the communities, high percentages of overweight and obesity were presented (from 50 to 73%). The average hours of firewood usage per year were 281.06, 284.6, and 206.6 in TOC, XOL, and TAN, respectively. The average of the three communities of the % FEV₁ post-bronchodilator was 86.1%. There were identified from 4.5 to 6.6% and from 12.5 to 15.5% of spirometric obstructive and restrictive patterns respectively, in all communities. The highest exposure levels reported as median were found in TOC (1.15 μmol/mol of creatinine) followed by TAN (0.94 μmol/mol of creatinine) and XOL (0.65 μmol/mol of creatinine). Considering the magnitude of the indigenous population exposed to pollutants from the biomass burning and the possible effects on respiratory health, it is important to design strategies that mitigate exposure and evaluate the effectiveness through biological monitoring and effects.

China is currently the largest CO₂ emitter in the world. Within China, more than 60% of CO₂ emissions originate from high energy-intensive (HEI) industries. Therefore, controlling and reducing CO₂ emissions from HEI industries is crucial if China is to achieve its 2030 emission reduction targets. This study aims to investigate regional differences in the impact of HEI industries on CO₂ emissions in China. This paper presents an analysis of the impact of HEI industries on CO₂ emissions at the national and regional levels using a modified STIRPAT model and provincial panel data from 2000 to 2015 in China. The results show that HEI industries are significant contributors to China’s CO₂ emissions owing to the growth in industries, coal-based energy structure, low level of technology, and outstanding conduction effects. The impact intensity of HEI industries on CO₂ emissions decreases from the western to the central and eastern regions in China because of a huge regional difference in industrial structure, energy structure, R&D investment, and industrial transfer. Our findings have important implications for policymakers in China by indicating that regional policies concerning HEI industries should be differentiated to successfully reduce CO₂ emissions and meet national targets.

Most prevailing processes are incapable of removing Cr(III)-organic complexes efficiently and facing the problem of in-process formation of highly toxic Cr(VI) based on oxidation. The efficient decomplexation of Cr(III) complexes and simultaneous abatement of Cr with low Cr(VI) accumulation would be desirable in treatment of Cr(III)-complexed wastewater. Here, we found efficient degradation of Cr(III)-EDTA and simultaneous removal of Cr by forming Cr₂O₃ precipitate from simulated solution as well as an electroplating effluent under UV irradiation. The results showed a complete degradation of Cr(III)-EDTA after reaction time of 60 min and 70–80% of TOC mineralization within 180 min as well. About 90% of Cr(III) precipitated as Cr₂O₃ simultaneously, with the residual total Cr below 1.5 mg/L. The degradation of Cr(III)-EDTA was a stepwise de-acetate group process, as proven by the obvious attenuation of peaks related to carboxyl groups and C–C bond from FT-IR spectra of Cr(III)-EDTA and significant mineralization of TOC after UV irradiation. Based on negligible accumulation of Cr(VI) (less than 0.1 mg/L) under N₂-sparged condition, the C-centered radicals from the β-fragmentation of O-centered radicals formed by photo-induced ligand-to-metal charge transfer were responsible for the in situ reduction of intermediate Cr(VI), resulting in the low accumulation of Cr(VI). The addition of 20 mg/L Fe²⁺ was capable of removing the remaining Cr(VI) and total Cr, with Cr(VI) and total Cr less than 0.1 and 1.0 mg/L, respectively. Moreover, the photo-oxidation process combined with Fe²⁺ addition were efficient in removing other Cr(III) complexes, such as Cr(III)-citrate and those from a realistic electroplating effluent. We believe that this study would provide an alternative option for efficient degradation of Cr(III) complexes and simultaneous abatement of Cr from contaminated water.

Recently, the residues of some common and widely used herbicides (acetochlor, bispyribac-sodium, bentazon, bensulfuron-methyl, halosulfuron-methyl, and quinclorac) were detected in the surface water, soil, sediments, and fish tissues as the agricultural drainage problems. In this study, juveniles of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus were exposed to sub-lethal concentrations of these herbicides as 2.625, 0.800, 36.00, 2.50, 1.275, and 11.250 mg/l for acetochlor, bispyribac-sodium, bentazon, bensulfuron-methyl, halosulfuron-methyl, and quinclorac respectively for 96 h. Some hemato-biochemical parameters were evaluated. In comparison with the control group, sub-lethal concentrations of all tested herbicides induced alterations in the shape of erythrocytes. Also, in all tested herbicides, hematological parameters of exposed fish exhibited a significant decrease in red blood cell count except bentazon. However, all tested herbicides showed an insignificant reduction in mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration and total white blood cells except bensulfuron-methyl. For biochemical parameters, most tested herbicides induced a significant increase in levels of cholesterol, albumin, globulin, albumin/globulin ratio, activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and total plasma protein (only with acetochlor), urea, and creatinine (except bentazon and halosulfuron-methyl that exhibited non-significant decrease in creatinine level) compared with the control. In conclusion, the fish blood profiles can be used as good biomarkers for laboratory study to assess the toxicity of the tested rice herbicides at a sub-acute level especially acetochlor on O. niloticus. Graphical Abstract

Few studies have investigated the acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD)-associated attributable burden under exposure to high levels of air pollution among Asians. Data on hospitalization for AECOPD, air pollution and meteorological factors from 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2016 were collected in Shijiazhuang, China. We used a Poisson generalized linear regression model combined with a distributed lag nonlinear model (DLNM) to evaluate the relative cumulative risk for a lag of 0–7 days and examined the potential effect modifications by age and sex via stratification analyses, controlling for long-term trends, seasonal patterns, meteorological factors, and other possible confounders. Then, we computed hospitalization percentages attributable to air pollutants. The AECOPD-associated relative cumulative risks for PM₂.₅, PM₁₀, NO₂, SO₂, and CO for a lag of 0–7 days were significantly positively correlated with hospitalization. The associations were stronger in females and retired patients. The NO₂ Cum RR of AECOPD admission was the greatest. A 10μg/m³ increase in daily NO₂ concentration was associated with 6.7% and 5.7% increases in COPD hospitalizations in the retired and female groups, respectively. The results showed that 13%, 9.4%, 1.7%, 9.7%, and 8.8% of AECOPD hospitalizations were attributable to exposure to PM₂.₅, PM₁₀, SO₂, NO₂, and CO, respectively. If the air pollutant concentration was reduced to the 24-h average grade II levels of NAAQS of China, the AECOPD attributable percentage for PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀ would decrease by 80%. The air pollutants PM₂.₅, PM₁₀, SO₂, NO₂, and CO were significantly relevant to AECOPD-associated hospitalization. The associations differed by individual characteristics. The retired and female populations were highly vulnerable.