Primitive electronic waste (e-waste) recycling releases large amounts of organic pollutants and heavy metals into the environment. As crucial moderators of geochemical cycling processes and pollutant remediation, soil microbes may be affected by these contaminants. We collected soil samples heavily contaminated by e-waste recycling in China and Pakistan, and analyzed the indigenous microbial communities. The results of this work revealed that the microbial community composition and diversity, at both whole and core community levels, were affected significantly by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and heavy metals (e.g., Cu, Zn, and Pb). The geographical distance showed limited impacts on microbial communities compared with geochemical factors. The constructed ecological network of soil microbial communities illustrated microbial co-occurrence, competition and antagonism across soils, revealing the response of microbes to soil properties and pollutants. Two of the three main modules constructed with core operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were sensitive to nutrition (total organic carbon and total nitrogen) and pollutants. Five key OTUs assigned to Acidobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Nitrospirae in ecological network were identified. This is the first study to report the effects of e-waste pollutants on soil microbial network, providing a deeper understanding of the ecological influence of crude e-waste recycling activities on soil ecological functions.

Neurotoxic methylmercury (MMHg) is formed from inorganic divalent mercury (Hg2+). However, it is poorly understood to what extent different mercury (Hg) pools contribute to existent MMHg levels. In this study, ambient concentrations of total Hg (THg) and MMHg as well as rates of methylation and demethylation were measured simultaneously in sediments with and without salt-marsh plant vegetation, which were collected in Guadiana and Tagus estuaries, Portugal. Concurrent processes of Hg methylation and MMHg demethylation were directly monitored and compared by spiking sediments cores with stable isotope tracers of 199Hg2+ and CH3201Hg+ followed by gas chromatographic separation and isotope-specific detection using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Compared to the Guadiana estuary, where concentrations were comparatively low, THg and MMHg levels varied between vegetated and non-vegetated sediments collected at the Rosário site (ROS) of the Tagus estuary. Methylation (KM) and demethylation rates (KD) were also different between estuaries being dependent on the presence of vegetation. In addition, the type of macrophyte species influenced KM and KD values. In fact, the highest KM value was found in Sarcocornia fruticosa vegetated sediments at the Castro Marim site in Guadiana (CM, 0.160 day−1) and the lowest KM was observed in non-vegetated sediments at the Alcochete site in Tagus (ALC, 0.009 day−1). KD varied by a factor of three among sites with highest rates of demethylation observed in non-vegetated sediments in Guadiana (12 ± 1.3 day−1, corresponding to a half-life of 1.4 ± 0.2 h). This study clearly shows that the presence of vegetation in sediments favors the formation of MMHg. Moreover, this effect might be site specific and further studies are needed to confirm the findings reported here.

In the current study, by combining ultra-high resolution (UHR) MS1 spectra, MS2 spectra, and derivatization, three hydroxylated isomers of 2-ethylhexyl tetrabromobenzoate (OH-TBB) were identified in Firemaster® 550 and BZ-54 technical products. Also, a new LC-UHRMS method, using atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI), was developed for simultaneous analysis of OH-TBB, TBB, hydroxylated bis(2-ethylhexyl)-tetrabromophthalate (OH-TBPH) and TBPH in 23 samples of dust collected from houses in Saskatoon, SK, Canada. OH-TBBs were detected in 91% of samples, with a geometric mean concentration of 0.21 ng/g, which was slightly less than those of OH-TBPH (0.35 ng/g). TBB was detected in 100% of samples of dust with a geometric mean concentration of 992 ng/g. Significant (p < 0.001) log-linear relationships between concentrations of OH-TBBs, TBB, or OH-TBPHs and TBPH in dust support the hypothesis of a common source of these compounds. OH-TBBs were found to be strong agonists of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and weaker agonists of the estrogen receptor (ER), but no agonistic activity was observed with the androgen receptor (AR). Occurrence of OH-TBBs in technical products and house dust, together with their relatively strong PPARγ activities, indicated their potential risk to health of humans.

Concentrations of 19 PFASs in riverwater, coastal wastewater and effluents from WWTPs which were directly discharged into the Bohai Sea of China were measured and their inputs to this sea area were calculated accordingly. For riverwater samples, the total PFAS concentrations ranged from 13.1 to 69 238 ng/L. PFAS levels in riverwater collected from Liaoning Province were comparable to those from Shandong Province, while they were two orders of magnitude greater than those from Hebei Province and the city of Tianjin. The dominant PFAS patterns were spatially different. PFBS and PFOA were the predominant PFASs in riverwater samples at sites where fluorochemical industry parks are located in Liaoning Province and Shandong Province, respectively. For other sites, PFOA and PFOS were the most abundant PFASs. In contrast, the total PFAS concentrations in coastal wastewater and effluent samples ranged from 16.7 to 7 522 ng/L and from 13.1 to 319 ng/L, respectively. PFOA was dominant in these samples. Inputs of PFASs to the Bohai Sea via riverine flow, discharge of coastal wastewater and effluents were estimated to be 87.3 tons per year. As compared with coastal wastewater and effluent discharge, riverine input was a major source for the PFAS pollution in the Bohai Sea except for PFBS.

Three novel organic vermiculites (VER) modified by amphoteric surfactants (BS, SB and PBS) with different negatively charged groups (carboxylate, sulfonate and phosphate) were demonstrated and used for removal of bisphenol A (BPA) and tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA). The difference in the structure and surface properties of modified vermiculites were investigated using a series of characterization methods. BS and SB surfactant mainly adsorbed on the surface and hard to intercalate into the interlayer of VER, while both adsorption and intercalation occurred in PBS modification. This difference resulted in different packing density of surfactant and hydrophobicity according to the results of contact angle, and affect the adsorption capacities ultimately. The adsorption of two pollutants onto these modified vermiculites were very fast and well fitted with pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm. PBS-VER exhibited the highest adsorption capacity (92.67 and 88.87 mg g−1 for BPA and TBBPA, respectively) than other two modified vermiculites in this order PBS-VER > BS-VER > SB-VER. The ionic strength (Na+, Ca2+) and coexisting compounds (Pb2+, humic acid) have different effects on the adsorption. PBS-VER had a good reusability and could remove ionic (methylene blue and orange G) and molecular (BPA) pollutants simultaneously and effectively due to the function of amphoteric hydrophilic groups and alkyl chains. The results might provide novel information for developing low-cost and effective adsorbents for removal of neutral and charged organic pollutants.

Nine N-nitrosamines (i.e., N-nitrosomethylamine, N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA), N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), N-nitrosodi-n-propylamine (NDPA), N-nitrosomorpholine (NMor), N-nitrosopyrrolidine (NPyr), N-nitrosopiperidine (NPip), N-nitorosodi-n-butylamine (NDBA), and N-nitrosodiphenylamine (NDPhA) in atmospheric PM2.5 collected in the fall season from an roadside site and a residential in Seoul, Korea have been analyzed using a newly developed method consisting of simple direct liquid extraction assisted by ultrasonication and subsequent quantification using a gas chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC-TQMS). Excellent recovery values (92–100%) and method detection limits for the target compounds atmospheric PM samples could be achieved even without an evaporation step for sample concentration. The concentration of total N-nitrosamines in PM2.5 was ranged from 0.3 to 9.4 ng m−3 in this study; NDMA, NDEA, NDBA, NPyr, and NMor in PM2.5 were found to be the most frequently encountered compounds at the sampling sites. Since no industrial plant is located in Seoul, vehicle exhausts were considered major cause of the formation of nitrosamines in this study. The mechanisms how these compounds are formed and detected in the atmosphere are explained from the viewpoint of secondary organic aerosol. Considering the concentrations of N-nitrosamines and their associated potential health risks, a systematic monitoring of nitrosamines present in both ambient air and PM2.5 including seasonal and diurnal variations of selected sites (including potential precursor sources) should be carried out in the future. The proposed sample pretreatment method along with the analytical method will definitely help us perform the monitoring study.

This study investigated and compared wintertime air pollution and personal exposure in the rural northern and southern Chinese homes. Daily indoor and outdoor particle samples were simultaneously collected by using stationary samplers, and personal exposure was directly measured using portable carried samplers. The daily average concentrations of indoor and outdoor PM2.5 were 521 ± 234 and 365 ± 185 μg/m³ in the northern village, that were about 2.3–2.7 times of 188 ± 104 and 150 ± 29 μg/m³ in indoor and outdoor air in the southern villages. Particle size distribution was similar between indoor and outdoor air, and had relatively smaller difference between the two sites, relative to the particle mass concentration difference. PM2.5 contributed to ∼80% of the TSP mass, and in PM2.5, near 90% were PM1.0. In homes using electricity in the southern villages, outdoor air pollution could explain 70–80% of the variation in indoor air pollution. The daily exposure to PM2.5 measured using personal carried samplers were 451 ± 301 μg/m³ in the northern villages with traditional solid fuels used for daily cooking and heating, and in the southern villages without heating, the exposure to PM2.5 were 184 ± 83 and 166 ± 45 μg/m³, respectively, for the population using wood and electricity for daily cooking. Time-weighted daily average exposure estimated from area concentration and time spent indoor and outdoor was generally correlated the directly measured exposure.

Metal exposure can produce oxidative stress by disrupting the prooxidant/antioxidant balance. It has been suggested that calcium (Ca) may provide protection against metal toxicity in the organism. The objective of this study is to explore the effects of Ca availability and metal pollution on oxidative stress biomarkers in pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) nestlings. For this purpose, we performed a Ca-supplementation experiment with birds inhabiting a Ca-poor and metal-polluted area in SW Finland. An array of oxidative stress biomarkers (GSH, GSH:GSSG ratio, GPx, GST, CAT, SOD, lipid peroxidation and protein carbonylation) was measured in red blood cells. The effects of antioxidant molecules and oxidative damage on nestling size, growth, fledging success and fledgling number were evaluated. We observed an up-regulation of GST activity and increased protein carbonyl content in the polluted zone, probably related to a combination of higher metal exposure and reduced food quantity and quality in this area. As expected, birds from the unpolluted zone showed higher GSH:GSSG ratio but, unexpectedly, also showed signs of higher lipid peroxidation (not statistically significant, p = 0.056), both responses likely being related with the lower Ca availability. Our study suggests that different measures of oxidative damage are affected by different factors: while damage to proteins was the target of metal exposure/food limitation, poor Ca availability may enhance damage to lipids in growing birds. The intercorrelations found between Ca in plasma, metal exposure and the different oxidative stress biomarkers show that the antioxidant defense is finely regulated to cope with increased oxidative challenges. Finally, our results suggest that the antioxidant status during early development, conditioned by environmental pollution and Ca availability, is one factor affecting nestling survival and fledgling number.

On-road emissions vary widely on time scales as short as minutes and length scales as short as tens of meters. Detailed data on emissions at these scales are a prerequisite to accurately quantifying ambient pollution concentrations and identifying hotspots of human exposure within urban areas. We construct a highly resolved inventory of hourly fluxes of CO, NO2, NOx, PM2.5 and CO2 from road vehicles on 280,000 road segments in eastern Massachusetts for the year 2012. Our inventory integrates a large database of hourly vehicle speeds derived from mobile phone and vehicle GPS data with multiple regional datasets of vehicle flows, fleet characteristics, and local meteorology. We quantify the ‘excess’ emissions from traffic congestion, finding modest congestion enhancement (3–6%) at regional scales, but hundreds of local hotspots with highly elevated annual emissions (up to 75% for individual roadways in key corridors). Congestion-driven reductions in vehicle fuel economy necessitated ‘excess’ consumption of 113 million gallons of motor fuel, worth ∼ $415M, but this accounted for only 3.5% of the total fuel consumed in Massachusetts, as over 80% of vehicle travel occurs in uncongested conditions. Across our study domain, emissions are highly spatially concentrated, with 70% of pollution originating from only 10% of the roads. The 2011 EPA National Emissions Inventory (NEI) understates our aggregate emissions of NOx, PM2.5, and CO2 by 46%, 38%, and 18%, respectively. However, CO emissions agree within 5% for the two inventories, suggesting that the large biases in NOx and PM2.5 emissions arise from differences in estimates of diesel vehicle activity. By providing fine-scale information on local emission hotspots and regional emissions patterns, our inventory framework supports targeted traffic interventions, transparent benchmarking, and improvements in overall urban air quality.

Benzotriazoles (BTs) UV filters are widely used as ultraviolet absorbents for our daily products, which received increasing attention in the past decades. Residential wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) is both an important sink for wastewater and a key pollution source for receiving water for these chemicals. In this study, pretreatment and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis method were developed to determine the occurrence and fate of 9 BTs UV filters in wastewater and sludge from the WWTP with anaerobic-oxic treatment process (A/O) and biological aerated filter treatment process (BAF). Totally, 81 wastewater samples and 11 sludge samples were collected in four seasons. In wastewater, UV-326 and UV-329 were frequently detected, while the highest mean concentrations were detected for UV-234 and UV-329. The concentrations were in the range of <LOQs up to several hundred nanograms per liter. The removal efficiency of BTs UV filters was >85% in A/O process and 60–77% in BAF process except for UV-350, which was more difficult to remove with lower removal efficiencies of 33.3% for both A/O and BAF. All the target chemicals except for UV-320 were detected in sludge samples with the mean concentration ranging from 0.90 ng/g to 303.39 ng/g. There was no significant difference with concentrations and removal efficiency among different seasons. Higher detection frequency and concentration of BTs UV filters in downstream of the receiving water system indicated the contribution of effluent of the WWTP. Compared with other rivers, the lower concentrations in surface water in the Songhua River indicated light pollution status with of BTs UV filters.