Chlordecone was used intensively as an insecticide in the French West Indies. Because of its high persistence, the resulting contamination of food and water has led to chronic exposure of the general population as evidenced by its presence in the blood of people of Guadeloupe, in particular in pregnant women and newborns, and in maternal breast milk. Chlordecone is recognized as a reproductive and developmental toxicant, is neurotoxic and carcinogenic in rodents, and is considered as an endocrine-disrupting compound with well-established estrogenic and progestogenic properties both in vitro and in vivo. The question arises of its potential consequences on child neurodevelopment following prenatal and childhood exposure, in particular on behavioral sexual dimorphism in childhood. We followed 116 children from the TIMOUN mother–child cohort study in Guadeloupe, who were examined at age 7. These children were invited to participate in a 7-min structured play session in which they could choose between different toys considered as feminine, masculine, or neutral. The play session was video recorded, and the percentage of the time spent playing with feminine or masculine toys was calculated. We estimated associations between playtime and prenatal exposure to chlordecone (assessed by concentration in cord blood) or childhood exposure (determined from concentrations in child blood obtained at the 7-year follow-up), taking into account confounders and co-exposures to other environmental chemicals. We used a two-group regression model to take into account sex differences in play behavior. Our results do not indicate any modification in sex-typed toy preference among 7-year-old children in relation with either prenatal or childhood exposure to chlordecone.

In anaerobic digestion, propionate is a key intermediate whose degradation is thermodynamically challenging and accumulation is detrimental to the process. Many wastewater streams contain antibiotics due to its globally increasing use, and these compounds can inhibit methane production. However, the effect of antibiotics on propionate degradation in anaerobic digestion remains unclear. In this study, the influence of two antibiotics (chlortetracycline [CTC] and enrofloxacin [EFX]) on biogas production and mesophilic propionate-degrading microbial community was investigated. CTC strongly repressed propionate oxidation, acetate utilization, and methane production, while EFX only inhibited propionate oxidation and methane production to a lesser extent. Microbial community analyses showed that syntrophic propionate-oxidizing bacteria (SPOB) Syntrophobacter had strong tolerance to both CTC and EFX. CTC inhibition mainly acted on the activity of acetate-oxidizing bacteria (Mesotoga, Geovibrio, Tepidanaerobacter, unclassified Bacteroidetes, and unclassified Clostridia) and acetoclastic methanogen, while EFX inhibition applied to the SPOB Smithella and acetoclastic methanogen. Network analysis further indicated that more complicated correlation among bacterial genera occurred in CTC treatments. These results suggested that CTC and EFX inhibited propionate degradation via different mechanisms, which was the result of joint action by antibiotics and microbial interactions.

To evaluate the correlations between diurnal temperature range (DTR) and the number of outpatient visits for common cold from Jan. 1, 2008, to Dec. 31, 2010, in the Shanghai metro area; we used a distributed lag non-linear model together with a Poisson regression model. The controlling factors included long-term trends and day of the week in outpatient visits for common cold and the selected weather elements. The entire study group was divided into three different age subgroups, including ≤ 15, 15–65, and ≥ 65 years old. We found some non-linear J-patterns between DTR and daily outpatient visits for common cold. At lag 0 day, the number of outpatient visits for common cold would increase by 11.1% per 1 °C increase in DTR. The greater the DTR, the more it affects outpatient visits for common cold, especially for the ≥ 65 years age group. In addition, DTR plays a more important role in outpatient visits for common cold in spring and winter compared with other seasons of the year. Our study showed that DTR is a risk factor that contributes to common cold. Results in this study can provide scientific evidence for the local authorities in improving preventive measures of the healthcare system.

Most previous studies of phosphorus (P) removal focused on investigation of the soluble, and particulate P, but ignoring the difference between organic and inorganic P. In this study, the effects of various flocculants, namely polyacrylamide (PAM) and polyaluminum chloride (PAC), on flocculation efficiency in different P speciations (organic and inorganic P) were investigated. A modified method to differentiate between organic and inorganic P content in secondary effluent samples was developed. The results showed that P speciation based on organic/inorganic P (Pearson’s correlation R = 0.915, p < 0.05) was more effective than those based on soluble/particulate P (p > 0.05) in evaluating the P content in secondary effluents. The liquid ³¹P nuclear magnetic resonance measurements results indicated that PAM was more effective in removing organic P (phosphonates and orthophosphate monoesters) rather than inorganic P. However, PAC was more effective in removing inorganic P (particularly orthophosphate) rather than organic P. Based on the modeled results of a response surface methodology (RSM), doses of PAM and PAC were optimized for secondary effluent containing different amounts of organic and inorganic P from the two typical wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Wuhan city, China.

A novel ZnO-CeO₂-rGO (ZCG) ternary nanocomposite with varying ZnO/CeO₂ weight proportions was synthesized by a hydrothermal process for photoelectrochemical water splitting and photocatalytic application. XRD diffraction peaks of ZCG nanocomposites displayed the patterns of ZnO and CeO₂ nanoparticles, and SEM revealed irregular flake-like particles, which were uniformly decorated on the rGO matrix. Increase in the intensity ratio of D and G bands from Raman spectra revealed changes in oxygen bonding in the ZnO-rGO (ZG) and ZCG nanocomposites. The shift in the band edge positions and the decrease in the band gap with increase in the cerium oxide content in ZCG composites were observed from UV-Vis and Mott-Schottky plots. XPS results showed that Ce³⁺ fraction increased with an increase in the cerium oxide content in ZCG nanocomposites. The ZCG3 (85:15) nanocomposite exhibited decreased electron-hole recombination rate as evidenced from the photoluminescence and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy Nyquist plots. The characteristic frequency in Bode’s plot shifted to a lower frequency for the ZCG3 electrode demonstrating low interfacial charge transfer resistance, and ZCG3 photoelectrode displayed a higher photocurrent density of 0.69 mA/cm² at 1.5 V compared with other photoelectrode. The optimized and highly efficient ZCG3 nanocomposite exhibited improved photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) with a reaction rate constant of 0.0201 min⁻¹. Combination of defects in the form of Ce³⁺ ion and surface oxygen vacancies coupled with rGO as the electron acceptor improved the charge carrier density and carrier transport in addition to the formation Schottky-type junction and the presence of an internal electric field.

The collagens (COL2, COL4, and COL5) were extracted from chrome-tanned leather shavings via three distinctive routes of acid method. The dechroming degree of COL2 extracted with the easiest operation was the highest (95.6% ± 1.2%) and the yield exceeded 90%; however, the total amount of acid was the most and the cost was the highest. In the second route, although the three-step dechroming process brought cumbersome operation, the dechroming degree and yield of COL4 were 90.5% ± 0.8% and 92.2% ± 0.6%, respectively, and the acid amount was less than that in the first route. For COL5, the dechroming degree and yield was the lowest; nevertheless, this route had the advantages of lowest cost and simpler operation. Electrophoretic patterns showed that all the collagens contained α1, α2, and β chains without low molecular weight components and were close to those of type I collagen. Compared with native collagen extracted from fresh calf skin, the regenerated collagens also maintained unique triple helix conformation determined via ultraviolet, infrared spectra and X-ray diffraction, confirmed by the similar values of AIII/A₁₄₅₅ and Δν. Additionally, the collagens existed in the form of fibrils with D-period pattern of ~ 67 nm. Furthermore, the denaturation temperatures of COL2, COL4, and COL5 were 71.2, 79.1, and 85.4 °C, respectively, which were relevant to the tighter arrangement of fibrils with the increased chromium content.

Flood is found to be a frequent phenomenon. Over the past few decades, Pakistan has been the home of climate-related disasters like floods. This paper attempts to examine the effect of floods on the rural communities; those are vulnerable to floods, and their livelihood patterns were damaged due to flooding events in Hazara Division. This research study assessed the causes, the impact, and the aftermath of flooding and their link with climate change in Hazara Division (Torghar, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, and Haripur). The significance of environmental changes and flood’s threats were discovered and examined through the logistic regressions and then pathway analysis. The findings showed that floods, directly and indirectly, affected the livelihood, social standing, and physical and economic status of rural communities. Rise in poverty level is also reported in already vulnerable communities that further increase their exposure to risks and hazards. This study calls for local government strengthening, early warning systems, and (non)financial assistance in times of needs to minimize the floods risk and disastrous impacts on localities and resources.

Uses of iron oxide nanoparticles have increased in the last decade. The increased application marked a concern regarding their fate and behavior in the environment. Especially towards the aquatic ecosystems, as the ultimate descend of these iron oxide nanoparticles are aquatic bodies. The greater surface area per mass compared with larger-sized materials of the same chemistry renders these nanoparticles biologically more active. Therefore, it is imperative to assess their eco-toxicogical impact on aquatic eco-systems. In the present study, comparative assessment of iron oxide nanoparticles and their bulk counterpart have been monitored using Coelastrella terrestris up to 40 days. Interestingly, study reveals the potential of Coelastrella terrestris as tool for the bioremediation of iron nanoparticles to combat nano-pollution. Adsorption/absorption kinetics measured after 25 days of treatments with iron oxide nanoparticle and its bulk counterpart revealed higher absorption levels in comparison to the adsorption with maximum accumulation factor (AF) of 2.984 at 50 mg L⁻¹ in nano-form. Iron oxide absorption was found linearly related with concentration in both cases (y = 11.313x-12.165, R² = 0.8691 in nano; y = 6.35x-5.74, R² = 0.8128 in bulk). However, 50-mg L⁻¹ nanoparticle concentration was perceived sub-lethal for the algae with 33.33% algal growth reduction under nano and 27.77% under bulk counterpart. Other biochemical parameters, i.e., SOD, CAT, MDA, and lipid quantification, were also quantified to correlate the state of metabolism of treated algal cells in comparison to the control and these exhibited reduction in algal growth due to oxidative stress. Morphological changes were monitored through SEM and TEM.

This study aims to synthesize a dust suppressant for controlling coal dust pollution in open yards using natural polymers. Guided by graft copolymerization theory, potassium persulfate acts as an initiator to excite the free radicals of collagen and sodium alginate, allowing them to combine with acrylic acid and acrylamide to form a new polymer. The TG curve indicates that the thermal stability of the polymer is superior to that of the raw material. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images show that the product can reduce the generation of dust by bonding the pulverized coal. With CCD method, when the monomer concentration increases in a certain range, the cohesive ability of the product to coal increases first and then decreases. Initiators and crosslinkers showed the same pattern. A series of performance experiments show that the product has a dust suppression rate of 98.7% at a wind speed of 14 m/s, and maintain one of 94.5% at a wind speed of 8 m/s after a rainstorm. In addition, there was no significant loss in dust suppression performance and compressive strength of the solidified layer after wind and rain. Sunlight, low temperature, and high temperature have little influence on the dust suppression effect of the product, which indicates that the product has better weather resistance and helps to suppress dust for a longer time in open air conditions.

In modern agriculture, farm produce accumulates a lot of nitrates that can reach toxic levels owing to the unfair use of nitrogen fertilizers, cultural methods, farming policies in multiple areas of the world, thereby increasing concerns about the availability of hygienic food supply and environmental hazards. Over the past few decades, global interest in achieving greater output through intensive fertilization has been a growing trend. The fertilizer based on urea or ammonium mainly yields ammonium, which is then transformed to nitrate through the oxidation process that is biologically mediated. Nitrate tends to accumulate differently in distinct crop plants and distinct components of agricultural commodities based on species, crop variety, genetic history, environmental circumstances, harvest phase, post-harvest storage conditions, agronomic variables, nature, and fertilizer application rate. The current article highlights various factors that could directly or indirectly contribute to the accumulation of nitrates in different parts of crop plants and discusses strategies to minimize the accumulation of nitrates in farm produce, thus ensuring healthy food supply and protecting the environment from the accumulation of nitrates.