The conflict which exists between a households’ self-interest and pro-environmental behavior has led to emotional barriers in ecological conservation. We propose that self-construal affects preferences in this conflicting choice, and self-control plays the mediating role. This study provides conflicting decisions associated with the households’ green pesticide adoption behavior in China. Individuals were inquired to select between environmental (pro-environmental) and cost-effective (self-interested) pesticide for food security. Hierarchical regression analysis was employed to progress standard regression estimates by adding a second-stage prior regression to an ordinary model and provides a practical method to evaluate multiple exposures. The results show that the hierarchical regression model may improve environmental protection behavioral studies by including socioeconomic, demographic, and psychological factors. Moreover, our study aims to examine the mediating effect of self-control on the relationship between “self-construal” (SC) and “conflict of self-interest and pro-environmental behavior” (CIPB). Results indicate that self-control (coefficient, − 0.0739; significant level, 5%) partially mediates the relationship between SC and CIPB. Our findings suggest that compared with independent self-construal (coefficient, − 0.05; significant level, 5%), the respondents with interdependent self-construal (coefficient, − 0.09; significant level, 1%) favor pro-environmental choices as they are better in applying self-control and perform pro-environmental behavior. The finding reveals that the hierarchical regression approach provides significant advantages in studying a rural households’ pro-environmental decision-making. The current research has policy implications for the adoption of environment-friendly pesticide and organic fertilizer.

From November 2018 to March 2019, the mixing ratios of 57 types of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were measured using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry in Shihezi. The results depicted that the average mixing ratios of VOCs were 58.48 ppbv and alkanes (34.15 ppbv) showed the largest contribution, followed by ethyne (20.16 ppbv), alkenes (2.62 ppbv), and aromatics (1.55 ppbv). Based on the positive matrix factorization (PMF) model result, coal burning (39.83%), traffic-related exhaust (26.87%), liquefied petroleum gas/natural gas usage (LPG/NG) (17.32%), fuel evaporation and paint usage (9.02%), and industrial emission (6.96%) were distinguished. Secondary formation potential was applied to demonstrate the probability of secondary pollution; the results indicated that alkanes (27.30 ppbv) and alkenes (21.42 ppbv) played leading roles in ozone formation potential (OFP) and the contributions of alkanes (1.05 μg/m³) and aromatics (0.99 μg/m³) were nearly equal for secondary organic aerosol formation potential (SOAFP) under high-NOx condition. However, under a low-NOx condition, aromatics (2.12 μg/m³) dominated, and the contribution of alkanes (1.05 μg/m³) was lower. Monte Carlo simulation results showed that exposure to 1,3-butadiene and benzene may contribute potential carcinogenic risks to local residents; PMF results showed that reducing traffic-related and industrial emissions as well as coal burning was more effective in controlling carcinogenic risks. This study provides a crucial theoretical basis for decision-makers to minimize local air pollution more effectively.

Formaldehyde (HCHO) is a reactive agent and the most essential common carcinogenic environmental pollutant. The present study investigated the protective and ameliorative effects of boric acid (BA) against formaldehyde-induced oxidative stress in A549 cell lines. The first group served as a control, the second group was treated with only 100 μM formaldehyde, and the third, fourth, and fifth groups were treated with 2.5, 5, and 10 mM BA, respectively. The sixth, seventh, and eighth groups were treated with 2.5, 5, and 10 mM BA plus 100 μM formaldehyde, respectively. In A549 cell lines, formaldehyde treatment significantly decreased cell viability, glutathione level, and enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase; however, malondialdehyde levels of the cell lysate were found to increase compared with the control group. In addition, formaldehyde treatment did not significantly alter nitric oxide levels. Meanwhile, mRNA expression levels of Tnf-α, NFĸB, and caspase-3 significantly increased but the Bcl-XL level did not show significant alteration by formaldehyde treatment. In contrast, the BA treatment reversed the formaldehyde-induced alteration in A549 cell lines. Consequently, BA exhibited a protective effect in A549 cell line against formaldehyde-induced lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, it ameliorated the antioxidant status and mRNA expression levels of proinflammatory cytokines.

Amphibians are now recognized as the most endangered group. One of this decline causes is the degradation of their habitat through direct contamination of water, soil leaching, or runoff from surrounding contaminated soils and environments. In the North of France, the extensive industrial activities resulted in massive soil contamination by metal compounds. Mineral amendments were added to soils to decrease trace metal mobility. Because of the large areas to be treated, the use of inexpensive industrial by-products was favored. Two types of fly ashes were both tested in an experimental site with the plantation of trees in 2000. Aim of the present work was to investigate the effects of extracts from metal-contaminated soils treated or not for 10 years with fly ashes on Xenopus laevis oocyte using cell biology approaches. Indeed, our previous studies have shown that the Xenopus oocyte is a relevant model to study the metal ion toxicity. Survival and maturation of oocyte exposed to the soil extracts were evaluated by phenotypic approaches and electrophysiological recordings. An extract derived from a metal-contaminated soil treated for 10 years with sulfo-calcic ashes induced the largest effects. Membrane integrity appeared affected and ion fluxes in exposed oocytes were changed. Thus, it appeared that extracted elements from certain mineral amendments used to prevent the mobility of metals in the case of highly metal-contaminated soils could have a negative impact on X. laevis oocytes.

In this study, an integrated system of siphon-driven self-agitated anaerobic reactor (SDSAR) and anaerobic fixed bed reactor (AFBR) was conducted for the treatment of wastewater from food waste disposer (FWD), and the effect of influent total solids (TS) concentration on the process performance was evaluated. When the influent TS concentration increased from 7.04 to 15.5 g/L, the methane gas production rate increased from 0.45 to 0.92 L-CH₄/L/day. However, with the influent TS concentration of food waste (FW) further increased to 23.5 g/L, a large amount of scum formed and accumulated in the SDSAR. According to the result of chemical oxygen demand (COD) recovery, the proportion of COD remained in the effluent at different TS concentrations was only around 2%. On the other hand, with an increase in TS concentration, the proportion of COD remained in the reactors increased significantly. Our results demonstrated that effluent from the integrated system can meet the water quality requirements recommended by Japan Sewage Works Association (JSWA) for wastewater from FWD. In addition, to enhance the process stability, the influent TS concentration should be maintained below 15.5 g/L.

Several studies have researched the short-term effect of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) exposure on hypertension. However, no evidence has provided the relationship between long-term high pollution exposure of SO₂ and morbidity of hypertension in cohort studies in China. This retrospective cohort study aimed to evaluate this association. We used Cox proportional hazards regression models to examine the hazard ratios (HR) for hypertension risks from 1998 to 2009 associated with accumulative exposure of air SO₂ among adults in northern China. Annual average concentrations of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) were obtained from 15 local environmental monitoring centers. Hypertension was identified according to self-reported diagnostic time and treatment for hypertension with anti-hypertensive medication. Among 37,386 participants, 2619 new cases of hypertension were identified during 426,334 person-years. In the fully adjusted model, HR and 95% confidence interval (CI) of hypertension incidence for each 10 μg/m³ increase in SO₂ were 1.176 (1.163 and 1.189). Results from stratified analyses suggested that effects of SO₂ on hypertension morbidity were more pronounced in participants < 60 years old, tea drinkers, and those with high education, high poultry consumption, and active (occasional and frequent) exercise. We found that long-term exposure to high levels of SO₂ increased the risk of incidence of hypertension in China.

Combination of the treatment of effluents with high organic loads and the production of electricity is the driving forces stimulating the development of microbial fuel cells (MFC). The increase in electricity production in MFCs requires not only the optimization of the operational parameters but also the inhibition of the metabolic pathways, which compete with electricity production, such as methanogenesis. The presence of both sulphate and sulphide ions in conventional anaerobic reactors hampers the growth of methanogenic archaea and justifies the use of sulphate and therefore sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB) in the anodic half-cell of MFC. Most importantly, the literature on the subject reveals that SRB are able to directly transfer electrons to solid electrodes, enabling the production of electrical energy. This technology is versatile because it associates the removal of both sulphate and the chemical oxygen demand (COD) with the production of electricity. Therefore, the current work revises the main aspects related to the inoculation of MFC with SRB focusing on (i) the microbial interactions in the anodic chamber, (ii) the electron transfer pathways to the solid anode, and also (iii) the sulphate and COD removal yields along with the electricity production efficiencies.

Reptiles are an important part of vertebrates and are the primitive terrestrial vertebrates. However, lots of reptile species are endangered or susceptible to extinction. It is no doubt that contaminants are one of the important reasons for the decline of the lizard population. In this study, the selective metabolism of triadimenol (TN) in the male Eremias argus lizards and the toxic effects of TN on lizards were studied. TN chiral isomers were separated and detected by HPLC-MS/MS system with Lux Cellulose-1 column. Tissue distribution experiments showed the existence of stereoselectivity biotransformation of TN enantiomers among organs in lizards, and RR-TN preferentially emerged over the other enantiomers. The antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GST) activities and MDA content assays demonstrated that TN induced oxidative stress in most organs, especially in the liver, and the histopathology analysis showed the severe liver and testis damage caused by 14-day continuous TN gavage. The reproductive effects of TN-induced reflected in the increased sex hormone testosterone. This research confirms that TN could induce hepatic and reproductive toxicity of E. argus lizard.

The scale of regional livestock and poultry breeding (LPB) is generally not determined by the supporting capacity (fodder supply), but by the environmental carrying capacity of wastes from the LPB. The soil’s own nutrient-supplying capacity used to be overlooked, which consequently produced an inaccurate result of carrying capacity estimation of the LPB. An empirical method was, therefore, employed to evaluate the soil’s own nutrient-supplying capacity and further determine the carrying capacity and environmental risks of the LPB accurately. Thirteen counties along the coast of Jiangsu were selected to conduct this study, according to the framework of planting-breeding balance. Our results indicate that, including the soil’s own nutrient-supplying capacity in the estimation of the carrying capacity of the LPB, it can reduce the original carrying capacity by 50%. This suggests that our empirical method can significantly increase the accuracy of estimating the carrying capacity of the LPB. The carrying capacity of the LPB in the study area varies from 1.5 to 48.08 pigs/hm², with a mean of 14 pigs/hm² based on phosphorus (P) balance. Furthermore, four sub-regions (Ganyu, Dongtai, Dafeng, and Guannan) that have a high P pollution risk should focus on controlling the scale of the LPB. The nitrogen (N) pollution risk in the study area is generally low. Results suggest that the soil’s own nutrient-supplying capacity plays an important role in estimating the carrying capacity of the LPB accurately. This study can provide insights on reducing environmental risks of the LPB, which may be beneficial for decision makers.

The native state of lignocellulosic biomass is highly resistant to enzymatic hydrolysis and the fermentation process of biofuel production. Brown-rot fungi use an extracellular Fenton system to degrade lignocellulosic biomass in the initial stages of decay. In this work, the combined effects of Mn²⁺, Fe²⁺, and NO₃⁻ inducers were evaluated based on the activities of hydrolytic enzymes and Fe³⁺ reduction as well as the catechol-type compound production during wheat straw pretreatment by the brown-rot fungus Gloeophyllum trabeum. Weight loss and chemical changes were evaluated to establish the culture conditions for stimulating wheat straw degradation using a central composite design. The results showed that weight loss and the Fe³⁺-reducing activity were promoted at the highest concentrations of Fe²⁺. A positive effect on catechol compound production by the addition of Mn²⁺ and NO₃⁻ was observed. Cellulase activity was increased at the highest concentration of NO₃⁻. The multiple optimizations of G. trabeum culture conditions in wheat straw resulted in 11.3% weight loss and 0.47 total crystallinity index at 0.24 M NO₃⁻, 0.95 mM Fe²⁺, and 0.85 mM Mn²⁺ after 40 days. The wheat straw pretreatment by G. trabeum for 10 days increased glucose recovery. The results indicated that the wheat straw pretreatment using G. trabeum with biodegradation inducers could be a complementary step to physicochemical pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass for production of second-generation ethanol.