The release of hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] into water bodies poses a major threat to the environment and human health. However, studies of the biological response to Cr(VI) are limited. In this study, a toxic bacterial mechanism of Cr(VI) was investigated using Pannonibacter phragmitetus BB (hereafter BB), which was isolated from chromate slag. The maximum Cr(VI) concentrations with respect to the resistance and reduction by BB are 4000 mg L−1 and 2500 mg L−1, respectively. In the BB genome, more genes responsible for Cr(VI) resistance and reduction are observed compared with other P. phragmitetus strains. A total of 361 proteins were upregulated to respond to Cr(VI) exposure, including enzymes for Cr(VI) uptake, intracellular reduction, ROS detoxification, DNA repair, and Cr(VI) efflux and proteins associated with novel mechanisms involving extracellular reduction mediated by electron transfer, quorum sensing, and chemotaxis. Based on metabolomic analysis, 174 metabolites were identified. Most of the upregulated metabolites are involved in amino acid, glucose, lipid, and energy metabolisms. The results show that Cr(VI) induces metabolite production, while metabolites promote Cr(VI) reduction. Overall, multi-enzyme expression and metabolite production by BB contribute to its high ability to resist/reduce Cr(VI). This study provides details supporting the theory of Cr(VI) reduction and a theoretical basis for the efficient bioremoval of Cr(VI) from the environment.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are organic compounds composed of at least two benzene rings. This paper reviews the characteristics, sources and health risk of airborne particulate PAHs in Chinese cities. The airborne particulate PAH concentrations varied from 3.35 to 910 ng m⁻³, with an average of 75.0 ng m⁻³, and the pollution level of PAHs in northern cities was generally higher than that in southern cities. The PAH concentrations in different cities underwent similar seasonal variations, with high concentrations in the winter and relatively low concentrations in the summer. Many factors, such as meteorological conditions and source emissions, influenced the spatiotemporal pattern of PAHs. High temperatures, frequent flow exchanges, abundant rainfall and strong solar radiation reduced the level of particulate PAHs in the atmosphere. The historical changes in the level of airborne particulate PAHs in four cities were analyzed. The PAH concentrations in Beijing and Taiyuan presented a trend of first increasing and then decreasing, while the level of particulate PAHs in Nanjing and Guangzhou had a decreasing tendency from year 2000–2015. The airborne particulate PAHs in cities were derived from several sources, including coal combustion, vehicle emissions, coking industries, biomass burning and petroleum volatilization. The results of a health risk assessment indicated that the incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) for people in the northern cities was higher than that for people in the other regions, especially during the cold season. Moreover, adults were at greater risk than people in other age groups, and the health risk to females was slightly higher than that to males. The potential risk of airborne particulate PAH exposure was relatively high in some cities, and controlling PAH emissions at the source should be required to prevent pollution.

Microplastics (MPs) contamination in water environment has recently been documented as an emerging environmental threat due to their negative impact on the ecosystem. Their sources are many, but all of them are from synthetic materials. The sources of MPs are cosmetics and personal care products, breakdown or abrasion processes of other plastic products, textile and tyre, bitumen and road marking paints. Because of their low density and small particle size, they are easily discharged into the wastewater drainage systems. Therefore, the municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are indicated to be the main recipients of MPs before getting discharged into the natural waterbodies. Therefore, understanding the occurrence and fate of MPs in WWTPs are of great importance towards its control. The aim of this article is to provide a comprehensive review to better understand the pathways of MPs before entering the WWTPs, characteristics of MPs in wastewater, and the removal efficiency of MPs of the existing wastewater treatment technologies adopted by the WWTPs. This review also covers the development of potential microplastics treatment technologies investigated to date. Based on the review of existing literature, it is found that the existing WWTPs are inefficient to completely remove the MPs and there is a risk that they may get discharged into the ambient water sources.

Increasing urbanisation is altering the physiology of wild animals and the mechanisms involved are largely unknown. We hypothesised that altering the physiology of urban organisms is due to the effect of extra light at night on the circadian clock by modulating the expression of pineal machinery and clock genes. Two experiments were performed. In Experiment 1, immediately after being procured from their respective sites (urban and rural sites), birds were released individually in LLdᵢₘ light conditions. Circadian rhythm period, activity duration, and total activity count were calculated and did not differ between urban and rural birds. In Experiment 2, birds (from urban and rural habitats) were sampled at six time points at regular 4-h intervals, beginning 1 h after sunrise. We measured daily variations in plasma melatonin levels. We also analysed the expression levels of Aanat, Mel1A and Mel1B as an indicator of melatonin biosynthesis and action machinery. Clock and clock-controlled genes (Bmal1, Clock, Per2, Per3, Cry1 and Npas2) were studied in the hypothalamus, the pineal gland, and retina to investigate the effects of urban habitats on the circadian clock. Our results show that there is a lower expression of Aanat in the pineal gland and relatively low plasma melatonin levels in urban birds. Further, clock genes are also differentially expressed in all three central tissues of urban birds. We propose that alterations in the melatonin biosynthesis machinery and the expression of clock genes could result in miscalculations in the internal timing of the organism, with environmental timings leading to altered physiology in urban wild animals.

Microplastic particles are a global concern due to their widespread and growing threat to marine and coastal environments. To improve knowledge of microplastic pollution in China, we investigated 25 sediment samples collected with a box corer in the Southern Yellow Sea and East China Sea off the coast of China. The microplastics were extracted from sediments via density separation, after which they were observed under a microscope and characterized according to shape, color, and size, while polymer type identification was performed using micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The abundance of microplastics in the offshore region of the Southern Yellow Sea and East China Sea was mapped. The mean concentration of microplastics at the 25 sites was 13.4 ± 0.6 particles 100 g⁻¹ dry weight (range: 6.0–24.0 particles 100 g⁻¹ dry weight). Based on the categorization according to shape, color, and size, fiber (77%) was the most abundant shape, while blue (35%) and transparent (29%) were the most prevalent colors. In addition, the dominant size of microplastics was smaller than 1000 μm which accounted for 89%. Finally, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, acrylic, polyester, cellulose, and cellophane were the most abundant types of microplastics identified. Our result highlighted the presence of microplastics in offshore sediments from the Yellow Sea and East China Sea, and provided useful information for evaluating the environmental risks posed by microplastics in China.

The source apportionment of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) was examined using receptor models (positive matrix factorization and chemical mass balance) and a chemical transport model (CTM). The receptor model-based analysis was performed using the datasets collected from four different sites from the megacity of Seoul during the years 2013–2015. The contributions of VOC emission sources to ozone (O₃) and PM₂.₅ concentrations and the subsequent health effects in the study area were also assessed during a photochemically active period (June 2015) using a three-dimensional CTM, Community Multi-scale Air Quality (CMAQ), and the Environmental Benefits Mapping and Analysis Program (BenMAP). The solvent use and the on-road mobile emission sources were found to exert dominant controls on the VOC levels observed in the target city. VOCs transported from regions outside of Seoul accounted for a significant proportion (up to approximately 35%) of ambient VOC levels during the study period. The solvent use accounted for 3.4% of the ambient O₃ concentrations during the day (daily mean of 2.6%) and made insignificant contributions to PM₂.₅ (<1%) during the simulation period. Biogenic VOC made insignificant contributions to O₃ (<1%) and a small contribution to PM₂.₅ during the day (5.6% with a daily mean of 2.4%). The number of premature deaths attributed indirectly (O₃ and PM₂.₅ formations via the oxidation of VOCs) to solvent use is expected to be significant.

Magnetic β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) porous polymer nanospheres (P-MCD) was fabricated by one-pot solvent thermal method using β-CD immobilized Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles with tetrafluoroterephthalonitrile as the monomer. Compared with the β-CD polymerization method reported in the literature,_ENREF_1 the synthetic route is effective and simple, thereby overcoming the harsh conditions that require nitrogen protection and always maintain anhydrous and oxygen-free. Moreover, the immobilization of β-CD on magnetic nanoparticles is combined with the cross-linking polymerization of the cross-linker, leading to a good synergistic effect on the removal of contaminants. Meanwhile, the dispersibility of the magnetic carrier enhances the dispersion of the β-CD porous polymer in the aqueous phase, and improves the inclusion adsorption performance and the adsorption process. P-MCD exhibited superior adsorption capacity and fast kinetics to MB. The maximum adsorption capacity of MB for P-MCD was 305.8 mg g −1, which is more than β-CD modified Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4@β-CD). Moreover, the material had a short equilibrium time (5 min) for MB, high recovery and good recyclability (the adsorption efficiency was still above 86% after five repeated uses).

Heavy metal contamination is widespread in Bangladesh. Previous studies have observed lead increases blood pressure over time. However, the role of other metal contaminants and essential micronutrients, which could also adversely affect blood pressure or act as protective factors, is understudied.We therefore evaluated the associations of lead, manganese, and selenium with blood and pulse pressure trajectories.We prospectively followed placebo-assigned participants nested within a randomized trial for the prevention of arsenic-related skin cancer (n = 255). Blood lead, manganese, and selenium were measured at baseline; blood pressure was measured at baseline and at 3 biennial follow-up examinations. Mixed-effect linear regression models were used to estimate associations with average annual changes in systolic, diastolic, and pulse pressure.In models simultaneously adjusted for baseline blood lead, manganese, and selenium concentrations in addition to other potential confounders, lead was linearly associated with increases in systolic blood pressure, but not with diastolic blood pressure or pulse pressure. A non-linear association was observed for manganese, such that mid-range concentrations were associated with decreases in systolic, diastolic, and pulse pressure. Baseline selenium concentrations in the highest quartile were also associated with longitudinal decreases in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, while null associations were observed with pulse pressure. In exploratory analyses, the combination of mid-range manganese and high selenium concentrations completely offset lead-associated increases in blood and pulse pressure.The results indicate a direct, linear association of lead exposure with systolic blood pressure, and manganese and selenium exposures within certain ranges may have a blood pressure-lowering effect in this population.

The increased applications and production of graphene oxide (GO) make the necessity to study information on the interaction of GO with minerals. In this work, adsorption and desorption were used to study the reversibility of interaction between GO and goethite/kaolinite. Result showed that the pH value, ionic strength, and temperature had significant effects on the adsorption and desorption behavior of GO. Interaction force was stronger between GO and goethite than that of kaolinite. The interaction may be attributed to the electrostatic, hydrogen-bonding, and Lewis acid base interactions. The irreversible interaction between GO and minerals may be a main mechanism for the observed desorption hysteresis. These results are important for evaluating the fate and health risk of GO in the environment.