The aim of this study is to investigate the associations between phthalate exposure and UI in a nationally representative sample of US adults. Cross-sectional data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database was used for analysis. In total, 2,818 participants with measurements for phthalate metabolites and complete UI questionnaire data were enrolled in our study. Furthermore, seven phthalate metabolites were measured, which were obtained from urine samples and creatinine-standardized in the subsequent analyses. After dividing these phthalate metabolites into three groups, multivariable regression models were performed to evaluate the association between phthalate metabolites and UI rates. Moreover, interaction analyses and subgroup analyses stratified by gender were performed. In these seven phthalate metabolites, high level of mono-carboxynonyl phthalate (MCNP), mono-carboxyoctyl phthalate (MCOP), mono-isobutyl phthalate (MiBP), mono-n-butyl phthalate (MBP), and mono-3-carboxypropyl phthalate (MCPP) showed increased risk of UI (odds ratio (OR) = 1.52, 1.42, 1.43, 1.50, 1.51, respectively, all p value < 0.05). Trend test showed that incidence of UI increased significantly with concentration. A higher incidence of UI among participants was observed in the maximal tertile of phthalate when comparing with the lowest tertile. Subgroup analysis found that different phthalates have varying influence for different types of UI. Moreover, the analyses stratified for sex indicated that the high concentrations of MCNP and median concentrations of MCCP were associated with increase of the odds of UI in women and in men, respectively. Overall, the exposure to phthalates was positively associated with UI among US adults. Notably, different phthalates have varying influence for different types of UI, and male and female exposure to phthalate could result in the different prevalence of UI.

Against the backdrop of current global collaboration on mitigating carbon emissions, how to reduce the energy uses in the Belt and Road Initiative area becomes an urgent and big challenge facing the global community. Using the Eora input-output database, this paper accounts the embodied energy trade between Belt and Road countries in 2015, followed by an investigation of the factors influencing the embodied energy trade through a panel gravity model. Global value chain participation and position are two newly considered factors in analyzing the determinants of embodied energy flow. We find that the main bilateral embodied flow paths are from South Korea to China, China to South Korea, Singapore to China, Ukraine to Russia, and Malaysia to Singapore. Five percent embodied energy flow paths account for 80% of the total bilateral embodied energy flow volume between Belt and Road countries. The gravity model results indicate that gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, population, global value chain participation are the key drivers of bilateral embodied energy trade, while the industrial share of GDP and global value chain position are negatively related to the trade. Energy intensity plays a crucial role in reducing the bilateral embodied energy flow. These results are useful in the policymaking of sustainable development for the Belt and Road Initiative.

Phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) promotes the formation of mineralized precipitation through phosphorous dissolution and mineralization, forming stable lead (Pb(II)) minerals and reducing the migration of Pb(II) in the environment. In this study, a Pb-tolerant strain Ochrobactrum sp. J023 from a contaminated soil around a battery factory in Jiangsu Province, China, was screened for experiments to investigate the phosphate solubilization and mineralization mechanism of this strain. The organic acids and the acid phosphatase produced by the bacteria have a synergistic effect on phosphate dissolution. When the pH of the culture medium decreased to the lowest 4.55, the amount of soluble phosphate and the activity of acid phosphatase reached the maximum 161.29 mg L⁻¹ and 61.98 U mL⁻¹, and there was a significant correlation between the concentration of soluble phosphate and the activity of acid phosphatase (R = 0.832**, P < 0.05). It was found that acetic acid played the most important role in the secreted organic acids. During the mineralization reaction, the extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) chelates part of the Pb(II) on the surface of the cell wall, preventing the metal Pb from penetrating into the cell, thus providing protection to the strain. Meanwhile, due to the nucleation sites provided by cell surface groups (carboxyl and phosphate groups), a large number of metal ions are absorbed to promote the formation of crystallization. The final mineralized product of Pb(II) by strain J023 was pyroxite (Pb₅(PO₄)₃X, where X = Cl, OH). The mechanism of phosphate dissolution and mineralization proposed by us is that the organic acids and acid phosphatases secreted by phosphate-solubilizing bacteria promote the increase of PO₄³⁻ concentration in the solution, the complexation of metal cations and cell surface groups will induce the formation of mineralized precipitation under the catalysis of enzyme. Therefore, it is a promising strategy for bioremediation of lead pollution by screening functional strains with strong abilities of phosphate solubility and mineralization.

The ozone data obtained from the satellite (AUREA) and the sensor Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) were used to study the temporary and spatial variability of the total ozone column (TOC) in 8 different cities in Mato Grosso do Sul (MS)—Brazil, during the period 2005–2020. The monthly average values of TOC show maximum values in September and minimum values in June in all seasons. Monthly spatial behavior (TOC) is greater in the south/southwest (S/SW) and SW of MS than in the central and northern (N) parts.

Based on 2004–2017 Chinese interprovincial panel data, we construct the regional environmental pollution indicators, analyze the influencing factors and spillover effects of environmental pollution under the conditions of time lag, spatial lag, and spatiotemporal lag by using the STIRPAT model and dynamic spatial Durbin model, and discuss the spatiotemporal characteristics of regional environmental pollution in China. The results show that the overall regional environmental pollution in China is on the decline. Environmental pollution has strengthened the characteristics of strong in the East and weak in the West, and the characteristics of strong in the South and weak in the North began to appear. Population scale, economic growth, and industrial scale will increase environmental pollution in the region, and the environmental regulation intensity and pollution control investment will reduce environmental pollution in the region. The spillover effects of the influencing factors of regional environmental pollution in China are different. In the short term, the influencing factors have a greater impact on the neighboring areas, while in the long term, they have a greater impact on the region. Hence, the critical approach to achieving sustainable development is to give full play to the factors which can reduce environmental pollution and to effectively control the factors which will promote environmental pollution.

According to the characteristics of desulfurization wastewater, A new capacitive deionization (CDI) device was designed to study the desalination characteristics of desulfurization wastewater in this paper. The experiments investigated the desalination efficiency under different conditions which find that the best desalination efficiency is achieved at a voltage of 1.2V, pH=11 and 50°C. Besides, ion adsorption is more favorable under acidic and alkaline conditions. The anion and cation removal performance experiments showed that the order of cation removal is Mg²⁺>Na⁺>Ca²⁺>K⁺ and the order of anion removal is Cl⁻>CO₃²⁻>NO₃⁻>SO₄²⁻>HCO₃⁻. The mechanism of CDI was studied and analyzed by the isothermal adsorption model and COMSOL simulation software. It was found that the Freundlich model and Redlich-Peterson model have a good fit with the experimental results. The experiments show that the CDI device has excellent stability. CDI device was used to treat actual desulfurization wastewater. Furthermore, the study provides theoretical support for the industrial application of CDI for desulfurization wastewater treatment in the future. Graphical abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the persistence and existence of chemical warfare agents (CWAs) and related dissipation products in the environment of Sardasht area, Iran. Three types of environmental samples including water, soil, and native local plant materials were collected and analyzed. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in the electron impact ionization mode has been developed for the separation, screening, identification, and qualification of chemicals after the sample preparation methods. The initial results revealed that no trace of related compounds or CWAs was detected in the soil and water samples. However, trace amounts of some degradation products of blistering agents like mustard gas (HD) and lewisite were found in a tree wood from a house subjected to chemical attack as well as in barley samples (a mixture of leaves and root) collected from an agricultural field in the area indicating chronic low exposure to the environment and people. In order to validate the applied extraction procedures, ethylene glycol was spiked to some of the samples including groundwater, surface soil, grape, and alfalfa plants. All the recoveries were in the range of 83.6–107.4% with the relative standard deviations varying from 4.9% to 12.4% (n = 3) successfully.

The intensive development of nanotechnology led to the widespread application of various nanoparticles and nanomaterials. As a result, nanoparticles enter the environment and accumulate in ecosystems and living organisms. The consequences of possible impact of nanoparticles on living organisms are not obvious. Experimental data indicate that nanoparticles have both toxic and stimulating effects on organisms. In this study, we demonstrated for the first time that gold nanoparticles can act as adaptogens increasing plant freezing tolerance. Priming winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L., var. Moskovskaya 39, Poaceae) seeds for 1 day in solutions of gold nanoparticles (15-nm diameter, concentrations of 5, 10, 20, and 50 µg/ml) led to an increase in freezing tolerance of 7-day-old wheat seedlings. A relationship between an increase in wheat freezing tolerance and changes in some important indicators for its formation—growth intensity, the activity of the photosynthetic apparatus and oxidative processes, and the accumulation of soluble sugars in seedlings—was established. Assumptions on possible mechanisms of gold nanoparticles effects on plant freezing tolerance are discussed.

In the process of urbanization, a brisk building boom triggers a series of environmental problems. Construction contractors usually present environmentally fraudulent behaviors, i.e., greenwashing behaviors (GWBs), to legitimize their activities, ultimately hindering the sustainable development of the society. However, the formation mechanism of the contractors’ GWBs is still unclear. Through the lens of fraud GONE theory (i.e., greed, opportunity, needs, and exposure), this study applies the multi-group structural equation model (SEM) and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to examine the formation mechanisms of GWBs. The results of SEM show the relationships between four fraud factors and GWBs. Additionally, the projects are grouped into three categories: government investment projects, private–public-partnership (PPP) projects, and private investment projects. The results of multi-group SEM reveal that the effects of four fraud factors differ significantly across projects with different investment characteristics. The results of fsQCA suggest that there are three typical driving mechanisms for GWBs. Furthermore, this study develops a project information transparency framework and a “greenwashing tree” to form a systematic understanding of GWBs. Finally, on these bases, this study provides targeted suggestions and policy recommendations for governing contractors’ GWBs.