This study examined the influences of three subsets of environmental factors (i.e. soil physicochemical properties including pH, organic matters and soil texture, landscape patterns, and parent materials) on the spatial variations and sources of soil trace metal contamination across an urban-rural environmental gradient in Guangzhou City, southern China. We collected 318 surface soil samples from forests, orchards, farmlands, and urban lawns using a random tessellation design for selecting sample sites. The geo-accumulation indices showed that 18%–88% of soil samples were contaminated: moderate to high contamination with Cd and Hg, low to moderate contamination with Cu, Pb, Zn and Ni, and low contamination with As and Cr. However, less than 13% of soil samples were considered to have exceeded the national standards causing environmental and human health concerns. The mean geo-accumulation indices increased in the order of forest, paddy field/orchard, vegetable, road/residential, and park/residential areas for As, Cd, Ni, Pb, Zn, closely following a land disturbance gradient. Spearman Correlation and Cluster Analyses showed that Pb-Cu-Zn had traffic-related origins, Cd-Hg were mainly influenced by fertilization or industrial emissions, and As-Cr-Ni had geogenic origins for agricultural soils. In contrast, the Ni, Hg and Cd contamination sources for urban soils included both anthropogenic and geogenic origins. The Stepwise Regression and Partial Redundancy Analyses showed that three subsets of environmental factors explained 43%–87% of variations of soil contamination for both agricultural and urban soils. We concluded that soil contamination was mainly controlled by soil physiochemical properties followed by landscape patterns. Soil absorption of aerial loads of trace metal pollutants dominated the soil contamination processes. Our findings implied that improving soil physiochemical properties and landscape designs can strengthen environmental buffering and carrying capacity, thus alleviating soil contamination and reducing non-point-source pollution in the study region.

Atrazine (ATR), one of the most widely used pesticides in agricultural production, are gradually concerned due to potential ecosystem and health risks. Further, the induction of ATR nephrotoxicity and detoxification response is still unknown. To evaluate ATR-induced nephrotoxicity, quails were treated with 0, 50, 250 or 500 mg/kg ATR by gavage administration for 45 days. Histopathology indicated that ATR exposure caused renal tubular epithelial cell swelling and endoplasmic reticulum degeneration, suggesting that ATR exposure causes renal impairment even renal diseases. Notably, ATR interfered cytochrome P450 system (CYP450s) homeostasis by enhancing contents or activities of CYP450s (total CYP450, Cyt b5, AH, APND, NCR and ERND) and the expression of CYP450 isoforms (CYP1A, CYP1B, CYP2C and CYP3A). ATR triggered phase II detoxifying reaction, reflected by the elevated GSH level, GST activity and the up-regulation of GST isoforms (GSTa, GSTa3 and GSTt1) and GSH synthetase (GCLC). Moreover, ABC transporters were activated to expel ATR from the body by increasing expression of MRP1 and P-GP gene. Accompanying these alterations, the nuclear receptors (AHR, CAR and PXR) were activated by ATR in a dose-dependent manner. Analysis results of present study demonstrated that the induction of phase II detoxifying enzyme system and ABC transporters could be modulated by nuclear receptors response and CYP450s disturbance in low-dose ATR-treated quail. In conclusion, all data suggested that nuclear receptors AHR-mediated detoxification pathway was involved in ATR-induced nephrotoxicity. These results provided new evidence about the nephrotoxic effects of ATR on the response of biotransformation and detoxification system.

The distribution pattern of root-associated bacteria in native plant growth in tailing dumps with extreme conditions remains poorly understood and largely unexplored. Herein we chose a native plant, Bidens bipinnata, growing on both an Sb tailing dump (WKA) and adjacent normal soils (WKC) to in-depth understand the distribution pattern of root-associated bacteria and their responses on environmental factors. We found that the rhizosphere microbial diversity indices in the tailing dump were significantly different from that in the adjacent soil, and that such variation was significantly related with soil nutrients (TC, TOC, TN) and metal(loid) concentrations (Sb and As). Some dominant genera were significant enriched in WKA, suggesting their adaption to harsh environments. Notably, these genera are proposed to be involved in nutrient and metal(liod) cycling, such as nitrogen fixing (Devosia, Cellvibrio, Lysobacter, and Cohnella), P solubilizing (Flavobacterium), and Sb and As oxidation (Paenibacillus, Bacillus, Pseudomonas, and Thiobacillus). Our results suggest that certain root-associated bacteria in tailing dump were governed by soil edaphic factors and play important ecological roles in nutrient amendments and metal cycling for the successful colonization of Bidens bipinnata in this tailing dump.

A key criterion of the UK Government's policy on sustainable forest management is safeguarding the quality and quantity of water. Forests and forestry management practices can have profound effects on the freshwater environment. Poor forest planning or management can severely damage water resources at great cost to other water users; in contrast good management that restores and maintains the natural functions of woodland can benefit the whole aquatic ecosystem.Forests and forest management practices can affect surface water acidification. Monitoring of water chemistry in ten forest and two moorland acid-sensitive catchments in upland Wales commenced in 1991. The streams were selected to supplement the United Kingdom Upland Waters Monitoring Network (UWMN) with additional examples of afforested catchments. Analysis of 22 years of water chemistry data revealed trends indicative of recovery from acidification. Excess sulphate exhibited a significant coherent decline, accompanied by increases in pH and “charge-balance based” acid neutralising capacity (CB-ANC). Alkalinity and “alkalinity-based” acid neutralising capacity (AB-ANC) exhibited fewer trends, possibily due to the variable responses of the organic - carbonate species to increasing pH in these low alkalinity streams. Whilst total anthropogenic acidity declined, dissolved organic carbon and Nitrate-Nitrogen (NNO₃) concentrations have risen, and the contribution of NNO₃ to acidification has increased.Between-stream variability was analysed using Principal Component Analysis of the trend slopes. Hierarchical clustering of the changes in stream water chemistry indicated three distinct clusters with no absolute distinction between moorland and forest streams. Redundancy analysis was used to test for significant site-specific variables that explained differences in the trend slopes, with rainfall, crop age, base cation concentration and forest cover being significant explanatory variables.

Nanoplastics are widely used in modern life, for example, in cosmetics and daily use products, and are attracting concern due to their potential toxic effects on environments. In this study, the uptake of nanopolystyrene particles by Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) and their toxic effects were evaluated. Nanopolystyrene particles with sizes of 50 and 200 nm were prepared, and the L4 stage of C. elegans was exposed to these particles for 24 h. Their uptake was monitored by confocal microscopy, and various phenotypic alterations of the exposed nematode such as locomotion, reproduction and oxidative stress were measured. In addition, a metabolomics study was performed to determine the significantly affected metabolites in the exposed C. elegans group. Exposure to nanopolystyrene particles caused the perturbation of metabolites related to energy metabolism, such as TCA cycle intermediates, glucose and lactic acid. Nanopolystyrene also resulted in toxic effect including induction of oxidative stress and reduction of locomotion and reproduction. Collectively, these findings provide new insights into the toxic effects of nanopolystyrene particles.

Epidemiological evidence suggests that phthalate plasticizers may act as “obesogens”, which are chemicals that exacerbate obesity. The gastrointestinal (GI) system is the primary exposure route for phthalates, however, the relationship between phthalate-driven perturbations of GI system functions that can influence obesity has yet to be examined. To address this knowledge gap, we exposed Danio rerio (zebrafish) for 60 days to either (1) Control feeding (5 mg/fish/day), (2) Overfeeding (20 mg/fish/day) or (3) Overfeeding with diethyl-hexyl phthalate (DEHP) (20 mg/fish/day with 3 mg/kg DEHP). After 60 days, Overfed and Overfed + DEHP zebrafish had elevated body mass, and hepatosomatic and gonadosomatic indices. RNAseq analysis of the GI revealed enrichment of gene networks related to lipid metabolism in the Overfed + DEHP group. Many of the enriched networks were under transcriptional control of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor alpha (pparα), a known modulator of lipid metabolism, immune function, and GI function. Real-time PCR confirmed that pparα was overexpressed in the Overfed + DEHP zebrafish, further revealing a pathway by which DEHP may influence lipid metabolism via the GI. These data increase our understanding of phthalate-driven effects on GI function and lipid metabolism, identifying gut-specific gene networks that may drive phthalate-exacerbated obesity.

Nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from flue gas lead to a series of environmental problems. Biological removal of Nitrogen oxide (NOx) from flue gas by microalgae is a potential approach for reducing the problems caused by these emissions. However, few microalgal strains are reported to remove NOx from flue gas. Here, a microalga strain PF3 (identified as Scenedesmus obliquus), which can remove NOx and fix CO₂ from flue gas is isolated. The tolerance of Scenedesmus obliquus PF3 to CO₂, NO, SO₂ and its adaptabilities to environmental factors (pH and temperature), and its performance in the removal of NO and CO₂ are investigated. Scenedesmus obliquus PF3 showed biomass accumulation when sparged with 15% CO₂ or 500 ppm NO or 50 ppm SO₂, and bisulfite less than 2 mM showed no toxicity to Scenedesmus obliquus PF3. Additionally, PF3 grew well in a wide range of pH and temperatures from 4.5 to 10.5 and 15 °C–30 °C, respectively. When sparged with simulated flue gas (100 ppm NO, 10% CO₂, (N₂ as balance gas)), the microalgae culture system removed NO and CO₂ at a rate of 2.86 ± 0.23 mg L⁻¹ d⁻¹ and 1.48 ± 0.12 g L⁻¹ d⁻¹, respectively, where up to 96.9 ± 0.03% (2.77 ± 0.08 mg L⁻¹ d⁻¹) and 87.7 ± 6.22% (1.29 ± 0.01 mg L⁻¹ d⁻¹) of the removed NO and CO₂, respectively, were assimilated in algal biomass. These results suggest that Scenedesmus obliquus PF3 is a promising candidate for NOx removal and carbon fixation of flue gas.

Concrete, a cement-based product is the highest manufactured and second highest consumed product after water on earth. Across the world, production of cement is the most energy and emission intensive industry hence, the cement industry is currently under pressure to reduce greenhouse gases emissions (GHGEs). However, reducing the GHGEs of the cement industry especially for developing country like India is not an easy task. Cement manufacturing industry needs to focus on significant climate change mitigation strategies to reduce the GHGEs to sustain its production. This study aims at identifying significant climate change mitigation strategies of the cement manufacturing industry in the context of India. Extant literature review and expert opinion are used to identify climate change mitigation strategies of the cement manufacturing industry. In the present study, a model projects by applying both AHP and DEMATEL techniques to assess the climate change mitigation strategies of the cement industry. The AHP technique help in establishing the priorities of climate change mitigation strategies, while the DEMATEL technique forms the causal relationships among them. Through AHP, the results of this research demonstrate that Fuel emission reduction is on top most priority while the relative importance priority of the main remaining factors is Process emission reduction - Electric energy-related emission - Emission avoidance and reduction - Management mitigation measures. The findings also indicate that the main factors, Process emission reduction, and Fuel emission reduction are categorized in cause group factors, while the remaining factors, Electric energy-related emission, Emission avoidance and reduction and Management mitigation measures are in effect group factors. Present model will help supply chain analysts to develop both short-term and long-term decisive measures for effectively managing and reducing GHGEs.

The dissipation of famoxadone as well as the behaviour of its metabolites in environmental samples such as water and soil is a major concern. In this study, the dissipation of the target compound in both matrices was carried out applying an analytical method based on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to Orbitrap mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Orbitrap-MS). The dissipation of famoxadone was monitored over a period of 100 days after the plant protection product, Equation Pro®, was administered to the target matrices. This study was performed at two doses, normal and double in the case of soils and fivefold instead of double dose in water. The concentration of famoxadone steadily decreased during the monitoring period in both matrices. Half-life (DT₅₀) values were lower than 30 days in most cases except for loam soils, for which it was 35 days. Therefore, persistence of this pesticide in both matrices was low. Famoxadone metabolites such as IN-KF015 ((5RS)-5-methyl-5-(4-phenoxyphenyl)-1,3- oxazolidine-2,4-dione) and IN-JS940 ((2RS)-2-hydroxy-2-(4- phenoxyphenyl)propanoic acid) were detected in both matrices and their concentration increased while the concentration of the parent compound decreased. Metabolite IN-JS940 was the compound detected at highest concentration for both matrices. In water the maximum concentration was 20% of the initial famoxadone content and in soils it was 50% of initial famoxadone content. In addition, another metabolite, IN-MN467 ((5RS)-5-methyl-3-[(2-nitrophenyl)amino]- 5-(4-phenoxyphenyl)-1,3-oxazolidine-2,4-dione), was detected in soils, following the same behaviour as the other metabolites. These results provided ample information about the behaviour of metabolites and the necessity of knowing their toxicity in both matrices in order to detect possible risks for living beings.