Tricholorethylene (TCE) has been recognized as second common organic pollutant found in groundwater in Taiwan. Several advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have been applied for TCE removal and photocatalytic is one of promising AOP techniques. In this study, LaFeO₃ is successfully synthesized via sol-gel method and investigated for its photocatalytic oxidation rate toward TCE in water. Experimental results indicate that 95% removal efficiency of TCE can be achieved in aqueous solution with LaFeO₃ (2 g/L) as photocatalyst within 1 h of Xenon lamp illumination. Additionally, the influences of initial TCE concentration, light intensity, photocatalyst loading, and pH value on the TCE removal efficiency are evaluated as well. The highest energy efficiency obtained in this study is 10.8 mg TCE/kWh and the value is higher than those reported in previous studies. Besides, removal mechanisms have been identified and the results indicate that the overall removal efficiency reaches 82%, with adsorption and photolysis accounting for 20% and 39%, respectively.

This study characterized the extruded polymeric substances (EPS) secreted from Synechococcus mundulus cultures under the effect of 2-KGy gamma irradiation dose. The EPS demonstrated seven monosaccharides, two uronic acids and several chemical functional groups: O–H, N–H, =C–H, C=C, C=O, COO–, O–SO₃, C–O–C and a newly formed peak at 1593 cm⁻¹ (secondary imide). The roughness of EPS was 96.71 nm and only 28.4% total loss in weight was observed at 800 °C with a high degree of crystallinity quantified as CIDSC (0.722) and CIXRD (0.718). Preliminary comparative analyses of EPS exhibited high protein content in the radiologically modified (R-EPS) than control (C-EPS). Modified EPS were characterized with a high biosorption efficiency, which could be attributed to its high content of uronic acids, protein and sulphates as well as various saccharide monomers. Data revealed that 0.0213 mg L⁻¹ h⁻¹ is the maximum biosorption rate (SBRₘₐₓ) of Cr(VI) for R-EPS, whereas 0.0204 mg L⁻¹ h⁻¹ SBRₘₐₓ for the C-EPS respectively.

In the present study, we explored the dynamics of antibiotics (ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, enrofloxacin, and oxytetracycline), tetracycline resistance genes (TRGs), and bacterial communities over 2013–2015 in soils fertilized conventionally or with two levels (82.5 and 165 t/ha) of compost for 12 years. In the soil receiving 165 t/ha of compost, only oxytetracycline was 46% higher than that in the conventionally fertilized soil. Transient enrichment of both tetM (20% to 9-fold) and tetK (25% to 67-fold) was observed in multiple instances immediately after the application of compost. The majority of genera which positively correlated with tetM or tetK were affiliated to Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes. The structural equation model analysis indicated that fertilization regimes directly affected the bacterial composition and antibiotics and had an indirect effect on the abundance of tetK and tetM via these antibiotics. In summary, this study shed light into the complex interactions between fertilization, antibiotics, and antibiotic resistance pollution in greenhouse soil.

The study of the soil microbial community represents an important step in better understanding the environmental context. Therefore, biological characterisation and physicochemical integration are keys when defining contaminated sites. Fungi play a fundamental role in the soil, by providing and supporting ecological services for ecosystems and human wellbeing. In this research, 52 soil fungal taxa were isolated from in situ pilot reactors installed to a contaminated site in Czech Republic with a high concentration of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH). Among the identified isolates, 12 strains were selected to evaluate their tolerance to different isomers of HCH by using specific indices (Rt:Rc; T.I.) and to test their potential in xenobiotic biotransformation. Most of the selected taxa was not significantly affected by exposure to HCH, underlining the elevated tolerance of all the tested fungal taxa, and different metabolic intermediates of HCH dechlorination were observed. The oxidative stress responses to HCH for two selected species, Penicillium simplicissimum and Trichoderma harzianum, were investigated in order to explore their toxic responses and to evaluate their potential functioning in bioremediation of contaminated environments. This research suggests that the isolated fungal species may provide opportunities for new eco-friendly, integrated and cost-effective solutions for environmental management and remediation, considering their efficient adaptation to stressful conditions.

The electric power industry is not only an important part in the Chinese economic system but also the key industry with the highest emissions of air pollutants in China. This paper aims to control the pollution emissions of the Chinese electric power industry and enhance its electric-generation capacity though pollution-emission allocation patterns and inefficiency elimination. The data envelopment analysis centralized allocation model (DEA-CA) under metafrontier framework is adopted to distribute pollution emissions and electric-generation capacity considering technological heterogeneity at regional and national levels. The empirical result shows that the emission reduction responsibility is directly proportional to regional power generation performance. The metafrontier framework allocates emission permits to combine the national and regional, which makes the adjustment of each province more reasonable. At last, the relationship between the aggregate optimal electricity capacity and the pollution emission control coefficient is shown to follow an inverted U-shape curve, which implies that a modest emission control policy might be more appropriate for the electric power industry to achieve the joint optimizing goal of electricity generation enhancement and pollution emission control.

How do local community perceive pollution risk and social problems in abandoned areas? Which factors affect these risk perceptions? Among several factors affecting environmental perceptions, familiarity to places has long been known to positively affect landscape perception, but is this also true for abandoned area with scruffy vegetation and industrial remnants? Will long-term residents eventually adapt to and accept these neglected landscapes? In the past, efforts have largely been devoted to the cleanup of large, highly polluted areas. This left many smaller, less polluted sites, often in urban or suburban areas, relatively neglected. These areas, which typically consist of small abandoned industrial and commercial sites and vacant lots in neighborhoods, are problematic since people living nearby continue to suffer from urban blight. Recently, there has been a shift in the focus of brownfield programs from highly polluted post-industrial cleanup to local brownfield reuse. In this new environment, a participatory planning process that engages the community seems to have become more important. In order to better understand factors affecting community people’s risk perception and effectively engage community support for the better management of derelict sites, this study investigated the factors on local community perceptions of abandoned landscapes including the effect of familiarity (the length of residency) and other sociodemographic (gender and age). For the study, the 200 study participants in eight neighborhoods along the Rail Corridor Revitalization Project in the city of Roanoke, VA, were asked to participate in survey and evaluate scenes of three types of abandoned landscapes focusing on two aspects, preference and pollution concerns. The results of scene ratings showed that lower scene preferences were associated with scene concerns related to higher pollution. However, although age and gender were associated with participants’ preference ratings and attitudes toward social problems and pollution, there was no significant effect for the length of residency.

Eudrilus eugeniae, the vermicomposing worm, is found in considerable numbers in agricultural fields in India due to their eventual transfer through vermimanure. These worms are very often exposed to pesticides, herbicides, chemical fertilisers and other soil amendments. This paper reports the effects of variable concentrations of urea, phosphogypsum (PG), paper mill sludge (PMS) and two organophosphorus agrochemicals, monocrotophos and glyphosate, on certain morphological, histological and biochemical parameters of E. eugeniae. Results indicated setal anomalies, epidermal lesions, clitellar swelling and constriction of the body. Disintegration of connective tissue, vacuolation of dermis and significant alterations in protein, lipid peroxidation levels and activities of lactate dehydrogenase, acetylcholinesterase and catalase have also been observed in the treated worms. It is proposed that setae, connective tissue, protein and enzymes in E. eugeniae could be useful markers to evaluate toxicity due to the test chemicals.

Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅) could induce lung impairment aggravation. Moreover, endogenous substances are known to play a significant role in lung impairment. Therefore, the research objectives was to investigate the influence of PM₂.₅-induced lung impairment on the levels of the eight endogenous substances, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), acetylcholine (ACh), glutamate (Glu), serotonin (5-HT), 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA), noradrenaline (NE), dopamine (DA), and 3, 4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC). A sensitive UPLC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous determination of these endogenous substances in rat plasma and lung tissues was developed. The validated method was successfully applied for comparing profiles of analytes in rat plasma and lung tissues. The results indicated that five endogenous substances, namely, GABA, Ach, Glu, DA, and DOPAC, had a significant change in the rats with PM₂.₅-induced lung impairment.

One of the most recognized anthropogenic impacts in marine environments is solid waste pollution, especially plastic, which can be ingested by fish, thus interfering with their health. In this context, the aim of this study is to describe the ingestion of plastic fragments and to identify the possible effect of this contamination in the condition factor of Genidens genidens in the Laguna Estuarine System. The stomach contents of 92 G. genidens (26 juveniles and 66 adults) were analyzed. The Index of Relative Importance was performed to identify the contribution of each prey item. Condition factor (CF) was used to analyze the effect of plastic ingestion on the fish’s body condition (by comparing individuals in the same ontogenetic phase). For the juveniles, eight items were observed, the most important of which were Penaeidae, followed by Portunidae and plastic. For the adults, 12 items were observed, the most important of which were Penaeidae, Portunidae, Polychaeta, and plastic. The analysis of CF demonstrated higher values for individuals without plastic in the stomach, which indicated a better health condition. The CF of a fish may be affected by variations in the physiological condition, environmental stresses, and nutritional and biological variations, and could be used to compare the body condition or health of a fish species. The ingestion of plastic could significantly influence the worst body condition of the individuals that were analyzed in the present study. The plastic pollution in marine coastal waters is associated with the appropriate waste management levels.

The microalgae-based CO₂ sequestration is considered to be an effective technique with great potential to cope with carbon emission. However, most researches are only focused on microalgae; the effects of physicochemical factors, which are carbon concentration, medium pH, and bubbling depth, on absorption and utilization of supplied CO₂ in culture is less known. In order to understand and improve CO₂ absorption in microalgae culture, the effects of these three factors were studied with different levels and combinations. Results revealed that when medium carbon concentration increased from 4.76 to 95.24 mmol/L, CO₂ absorption ratio increased by about 12%, 10%, 12%, and 11% at medium depths of 10, 20, 40, and 80 cm, with the initial pH 10.6 to 9.7 by bubbling CO₂, respectively. As bubbling depth increased from 10 to 80 cm, CO₂ absorption ratio increased by about 25%, 22%, and 25% at carbon concentrations of 4.76, 9.52, and 95.24 mmol/L, with the initial pH 10.6 to 9.7 by bubbling CO₂, respectively. In range of 10.6–7.0, pH had no significant effect on CO₂ absorption ratio (P > 0.05) when carbon concentration is below 9.52 mmol/L, while above 9.52 mmol/L, pH had significant effect on CO₂ absorption ratio (P < 0.05). It was found for the first time that the effect of pH on the CO₂ absorption ratio was affected by carbon concentration. In addition, equilibrium pH, at which the CO₂ partial pressure in the medium equals to that in the air, of medium with different carbon concentrations was also determined. Overall, in microalgae culture for CO₂ sequestration, increasing CO₂ bubbling depth and keeping higher carbon concentration and higher pH can improve CO₂ absorption ratio, which will optimize the biofixation of CO₂ by microalgae furthermore.