The health effects of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in airborne particulate matter (PM) are strongly dependent on their size distribution and dissolution. This study examined PTEs within nine distinct sizes of PM in a Chinese megacity, with a focus on their deposited and dissolved bioaccessibility in the human pulmonary region. A Multiple Path Particle Dosimetry (MPPD) model was used to estimate the deposited bioaccessibility, and an in-vitro experiment with simulated lung fluid was conducted for dissolved bioaccessibility. During the non-heating season, the dissolved bioaccessible fraction (DBF) of As, Cd, Co, Cr, Mn, Pb and V were greater in fine PM (aerodynamics less than 2.1 μm) than in coarse PM (aerodynamics between 2.1 and 10 μm), and vice versa for Ni. With the increased demand of heating, the DBF of Pb and As decreased in fine particle sizes, probably due to the presence of oxide/silicate compounds from coal combustion. Inhalation health risks based on the bioaccessible concentrations of PTEs displayed the peaks in <0.43 μm and 2.1–3.3 μm particulate sizes. The non-cancer risk was at an acceptable level (95th percentiles of hazard index (HI) was 0.49), but the cancer risk exceeded the threshold value (95th percentiles of total incremental lifetime cancer risk (TCR) was 8.91 × 10⁻⁵). Based on the results of uncertainty analysis, except for the exposure frequency, the total concentrations and DBF of As and Cr in <0.43 μm particle size segment have a greater influence on the uncertainty of probabilistic risk.

Lead (Pb) is a toxic metal in industrial production, which can seriously threat to human health and food safety. Thus, it is particularly crucial to reduce the content of Pb in the environment. In this study, raw fly ash (FA) was used to synthesise a new active silicate materials (IM) employing the low-temperature-assisted alkali (NaOH) roasting approach. The IM was further synthesised to form zeolite-A (ZA) using the hydrothermal method. The physicochemical characteristics of IM and ZA amendments before and after Pb²⁺ adsorption were analysed using the Scanning electron microscope-Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (SEM-EDS), Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) apparatuses. The results revealed the considerably change in the microstructure and functional groups of IM and ZA amendments, conducive to Pb²⁺ removal. Moreover, a 3-year field experiment revealed that the IM and ZA significantly improved the growth of rice and reduced available Pb by 21%–26.8% and 9.7%–16.9%, respectively. After 3 years of remediation, the Pb concentration of the rice grain reached the national edible standard (≤0.2 mg kg⁻¹) of 0.171 mg kg⁻¹ and 0.179 mg kg⁻¹, respectively. Meanwhile, the concentration of acid-exchangeable Pb reduced, while those of reducible and residual fractions of Pb increased. There was no significant difference between the IM and ZA treatments. The potential mechanisms of remediation by the amendments were ion-exchange, complexation, precipitation, and electrostatic attraction. Overall, the results indicate that IM is suitable for the remediation of contaminated soil and promotes safe food production, and develops an environmentally friendly and cost-effective amendment for the remediation of polluted soil.

High-arsenic wastewater derived from the metallurgical industry of nonferrous minerals is one of the most dangerous arsenic (As) sources that usually follow the emission of massive hazardous arsenic-bearing wastes. Considering the properties of red mud (RM), we propose an alternative and environmentally friendly method for the efficient remediation of high-arsenic wastewater using RM through formation of AlAsO₄@silicate precipitate, aiming at ''zero-emission of hazardous solid waste''. The results show nearly 100% of arsenic could be stepwisely removed from high-arsenic wastewater and reduce the arsenic concentration from 6100 mg/L to 40 μg/L using RM at room temperature. The highest arsenic removal capacity of RM reaches 101.5 mg/g at a RM-to-wastewater ratio of 40 g/L due to the superior arsenic adsorption and the co-precipitation of arsenate and Al³⁺ to form insoluble aluminum arsenate. The silicate shell of arsenic-loaded RM created at an alkaline condition acts as an arsenic stabilizer, resulting in a leached arsenic concentration of 1.2 mg/L in TCLP tests. RM acts as a highly effective arsenic remover and stabilizer for the disposal of high-arsenic wastewater. It shows great potential for the remediation of wastewater containing heavy metals with varying concentrations to produce clean water available for industrial purpose.

In-site remediation is a relatively promising and socially acceptable technique for heavy metal contaminated soils. But the key task is to select cost-effective and environment-friendly amendents for the consideration of practical application. Based on the property of four typical silicate wastes such as straw ash (SA), coal fly ash (CFA), ferronickel slag (FNS) and blast-furnace slag (BFS), effects of four wastes on available Cd content and Cd chemical speciation in amended soils, and physicochemical properties of the amended soils were carried out in the study. The results showed that four wastes were dominately composed of the amorphous phases with OH⁻ ions readily released. When the weight ratio of silicate wastes to artificial Cd-contaminated soils reached 10%, the available Cd contents decreased from 4.12 mg/kg in untreated soils to 1.94, 1.92, 1.45 and 1.53 mg/kg in amended soils by adding SA, CFA, FNS and BFS respectively, after the soils were amended for 30 days. The residual fraction of Cd (R) was 2.54, 2.48, 2.77 and 2.58 times higher in amended soil than that in untreated soil when SA, CFA, FNS and BFS was added, respentively. The soil pH and CEC were improved. The amended soils by adding SA and FNS were looser than those by adding CFA and BFS, and air permeability of the amended soils by SA was better than that by FNS.

Stable isotopes ratios (‰) of Hydrogen (δ2H) and Oxygen (δ1⁸O) were used to trace the groundwater recharge mechanism and geochemistry of arsenic (As) contamination in groundwater from four selected sites (Larkana, Naudero, Ghari Khuda Buksh and Dokri) of Larkana district. The stable isotope values of δ2H and δ1⁸O range from 70.78‰ to −56.01‰ and from −10.92‰ to −7.35‰, relative to Vienna Standard for Mean Ocean Water (VSMOW) respectively, in all groundwater samples, thus indicating the recharge source of groundwater from high-salinity older water. The concentrations of As in all groundwater samples were ranged from 2 μg/L to 318 μg/L, with 67% of samples exhibited As levels exceeding than that of World Health Organization (WHO) permissible limit 10 μg/L and 42% of samples expressed the As level exceeding than that of the National Environmental Quality Standard (NEQS) 50 μg/L. The leaching and vertical mixing with return irrigation water are probably the main processes controlling the enrichment of As in groundwater of Larkana, Naudero, Ghari Khuda Buksh and Dokri. The weathering of minerals mostly controlled the overall groundwater chemistry; rock-water interactions and silicate weathering generated yielded solutions that were saturated in calcite and dolomite in two areas while halite dissolution is prominent with high As area.

This study aimed to evaluate the hydrochemistry of the water resources of the Weibei Plain, Northern China, as well as the risks posed by high groundwater nitrate concentrations to human health. Groundwater and surface water samples numbering 168 and 14, respectively, were collected during the dry and wet seasons. Water in the study area was weakly alkaline, falling into a hard-fresh or hard-brackish category. The groundwater chemical types were mainly SO₄·Cl–Ca·Mg (59.5%) and HCO₃–Ca·Mg (28.6%), whereas the dominant chemistry type of surface water was SO₄·Cl–Na (78.6%). Groundwater showed relatively high concentrations of NO₃⁻, with average dry and wet season concentrations of 212 mg·L⁻¹ and 223 mg·L⁻¹, respectively, whereas surface water had a low NO₃⁻ content. The major processes affecting water chemistry were determined to be rock weathering, such as silicate weathering and evaporative dissolution, as well as cation exchange. NO₃⁻ in groundwater was found to mainly originate from anthropogenic inputs such as agricultural production and domestic sewage. The entropy-weight water quality index (EWQI) assessment showed that although the quality of surface water was generally good, more than half of the groundwater samples failed drinking water standards, with NO₃⁻ identified as being the most problematic parameter affecting the water quality evaluation. Risk assessment of high groundwater nitrate concentrations indicated that long-term domestic use of groundwater in the study area can put the health of residents at great risk. Totals of 81% and 75% of the groundwater samples exceeded the acceptable limit for non-carcinogenic risk (HI = 1) to infants during the dry and wet seasons, respectively, whereas 75% and 71.3% of samples exceeded the acceptable limit for children, respectively. Future management of water in the Weibei Plain should prioritize the control groundwater nitrate pollution.

The sulfate pollution in water environment gains more and more concerns in recent years. The discharge of domestic, municipal, and industrial wastewaters increases the riverine sulfate concentrations, which may cause local health and ecological problems. To better understand the sources of sulfate, this study collected water samples in a typical agricultural watershed in East Thailand. The source apportionment of sulfide was conducted by using stable isotopes and receptor models. The δ³⁴SSO₄ value of river water varied from 1.2‰ to 16.4‰, with a median value of 8.9‰. The hydrochemical data indicated that the chemical compositions of Mun river water were affected by the anthropogenic inputs and natural processes such as halite dissolution, carbonate, and silicate weathering. The positive matrix factorization (PMF) model was not suitable to trace source of riverine sulfate, because the meaning of the extracted factors seems to be vague. Based on the elemental ratio and isotopic composition, the inverse model yielded the relative contribution of sulfide oxidation (approximately 46.5%), anthropogenic input (approximately 41.5%), and gypsum dissolution (approximately 12%) to sulfate in Mun river water. This study indicates that the selection of models for source apportionment should be careful. The large contribution of anthropogenic inputs calls an urgent concern of the Thai government to establish effective management strategies in the Mun River basin.

This study collected 184 groundwater (GW) samples from 92 wells during the dry and wet seasons, respectively to understand the hydrochemical characteristics, water quality, and risk of GW nitrate (NO₃⁻) to human health in northern Shandong Peninsula (NSP), China. The results showed that GW in the NSP is weakly alkaline and classified as hard fresh water. The mean concentration of NO₃⁻ in GW exceeded 100 mg·L⁻¹, total hardness exceeded 450 mg·L⁻¹, and total dissolved solids (TDS) was less than 1000 mg·L⁻¹. A Piper diagram showed that the water chemistry of GW in the NSP was mainly of the SO₄·Cl-Ca·Mg type. A Gibbs diagram and ion ratio analysis indicated that the weathering of silicate rocks and agricultural production were the dominant factors affecting the hydrochemical characteristics of GW in the NSP, with cation exchange, dissolution of salt rock, and weathering of carbonate rock also making contributions. Na⁺ and Cl⁻ in GW are significantly affected by seawater aerosols in coastal areas. During the wet season, the hydrodynamic conditions of the aquifer are improved, agricultural activities are strengthened, and GW becomes generally homogenized. The water quality index classified the GW quality of the NSP as mainly of medium quality. There was a relatively consistent spatial distribution of water quality during different periods. Water samples of poor water quality were mainly distributed in the lower reaches of the Huangshui River. In addition, total hardness and NO₃⁻ concentrations were the main variables affecting the quality of GW in the NSP. The assessment of the risk NO₃⁻ in GW in the NSP to human health through the ingestion of drinking water demonstrated a significant risk (infants > children > adults). These results indicate the need for local management measures to reduce the potential health risks of GW quality in the NSP.

Groundwater is essential for regional ecological-economic system and is an important resource of drinking water, especially in the Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP), where is a typical water-limited ecosystem. Groundwater quality deterioration will affect water security and exacerbate the water shortages. Groundwater hydrochemistry, pollution source apportionment, quality and health risks were evaluated based on analysis of major ions and selected trace elements in seasonal samples of the Fen River Basin (FRB) in the eastern CLP. Groundwaters in the FRB were mainly HCO₃⁻-Ca²⁺-Na⁺ water type with low dissolved solutes in upstream samples, high values in midstream samples and medium values in downstream samples. Solutes in upstream samples were mainly derived from carbonate weathering, while those in midstream and downstream samples came from silicate weathering, evaporites dissolution and anthropogenic sources. Self-organizing map (SOM) showed the hydrochemistry remained unchanged from dry to wet season for most sampling points. The seasonal variations of Ag, Cd, Ni, Pb, and Tl were significant due to anthropogenic input. High NO₃⁻ in upstream and downstream samples resulted primarily from sewage discharge, and high SO₄²⁻ in midstream and downstream samples was from gypsum- and coal-related industries. In addition, anthropogenic input related to coal industries significantly aggravates pollution of As, Ni, Ag, Fe, and Mn. Influenced by evaporites and anthropogenic input, midstream samples had high salinity, total hardness and water quality indices (WQIs) and were unsuitable for irrigation or drinking purposes. Seasonal variation of WQI in the FRB was unsignificant except Jiaokou River sub-basin, where groundwater quality was worse in the wet season than the dry season due to coal mining. Great attention should be paid to the high non-carcinogenic risks of exposure to F, V, Mn, and Cr via dermal absorption, particularly for children. Overall, groundwater quality in the FRB was best in upstream, medium in midstream and worst in midstream based on different index. Groundwater quality is deteriorated by anthropogenic input and the sewage discharge in the FRB should be strictly controlled. Our report provides a reference for groundwater pollution evaluation and source identification in similar areas.

Anthropogenic activities have significantly changed the stoichiometry and concentrations of nutrients in coastal waters. Silicon (Si) has become a potential limiting nutrient due to disproportionate nitrogen, phosphorus, and silicate inputs into these areas. The disrupted nutrient ratios can cause changes to metal sensitivity and accumulation in marine diatoms, an important group of eukaryotic phytoplankton that requires silicon for growth. In this study, we examined the effects of Si availability on the metal sensitivity in the diatom P. tricornutum. We found that Si starvation dramatically compromised its cadmium, copper, and lead tolerances. Interestingly, multiple lines of evidence indicated that Si-enriched cells had higher metal adsorption and influx rates than Si-starved cells. Yet Si-enriched cells also had a greater ability to respond to and counteract metal toxicity via elevated expression of membrane and vacuolar metal transporters and greater antioxidant activities which scavenge reactive oxygen species created by metal stress.