A low-cost industrial microorganism, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, was employed as a precursor to synthesize carbon/MnO₂ composites (MMCs) via an oxidation-reduction reaction and one-step carbonization method for U(VI) adsorption. Scanning electron microscopy and nitrogen adsorption measurement indicated that the microorganism’s carbonization could form surface porous structure and increase the specific surface area. Batch experiments showed that the maximum U(VI) adsorption capacity of MMCs reached 207 mg g⁻¹ at [U(VI)]ᵢₙᵢₜᵢₐₗ = 25 mg L⁻¹ and pHᵢₙᵢₜᵢₐₗ = 4.5. The obtained thermodynamic and kinetic parameters suggested that the process is endothermic, spontaneous, and chemisorption. FTIR and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy demonstrated that the surface hydroxyl groups of composites might be the reactive adsorption sites for U(VI). Additionally, 0.5 mol L⁻¹ HNO₃ solution could desorb ~ 95% uranium from U(VI)-loaded MMCs, and materials exhibited good regenerated availability. This study suggests that MMCs can be a potential adsorbent for U(VI) preconcentration and removal from radioactive wastewater.

In this study, hydrothermal carbonization of arecanut husk and its potential application as an alternate solid fuel and heavy metal sorption (adsorbent) was attempted. Arecanut husk (AH) treated with citric acid for 9 h resulted in the hydrochar yield of 58.7% with increased fixed carbon from 17 to 39.7% and HHV from 16.98 to 21.14 MJ kg⁻¹ compared to the parent biomass. The arecanut husk hydrochar (AHH) had H/C of 1.27, O/C ratio of 0.59 with an energy yield of 72.81%, and energy densification ratio of 1.24, and the values have the similar fuel characteristics of lignite. The pH, zeta potential, and surface of the hydrochar were 5.56, − 22.60 mV, and 0.98 m² g⁻¹ respectively. Hydrochar with a dosage of 0.1% showed a maximum rate of adsorption for Pb²⁺ (79.86 mg g⁻¹) at the initial concentration of 100 mg L⁻¹ in the aqueous solution compared to Zn²⁺, Cr⁶⁺, and Ni²⁺. SEM with EDAX and FT-IR spectroscopy results confirmed the presence of Pb²⁺ and changes in functional groups in arecanut husk hydrochar after adsorption of heavy metals in the aqueous solution.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) are suspected to be associated with breast cancer risk, but the results are controversial. This study was performed to evaluate the associations between adipose tissue PCB, DDT, and DDE concentrations and breast cancer risk. Two hundred and nine pathologically diagnosed breast cancer cases and 165 controls were recruited from three local hospitals in Shantou city, China, from 2014 to 2016. Concentrations of 7 PCB congeners, p,p′-DDT, and p,p′-DDE were measured in adipose tissues obtained from the breast for cases and the breast/abdomen for controls during surgery. Clinicopathologic information and demographic characteristics were collected from medical records. PCBs, p,p′-DDT, and p,p′-DDE concentrations in adipose tissues were compared between cases and controls. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the risk of breast cancer by PCBs, p,p′-DDT, and p,p′-DDE concentrations in adipose tissues. Breast cancer cases have relatively higher menarche age, higher breastfeeding and postmenopausal proportion than controls. Levels of PCB-52, PCB-101, PCB-118, PCB-138, PCB-153, PCB-180, total PCBs (∑PCBs), and p,p′-DDE were relatively higher in breast cancer cases than controls. Breast cancer risk was increased in the third tertile of PCB-101, PCB-118, PCB-138, PCB-153, PCB-180, ∑PCBs, and p,p′-DDE as compared with the first tertile in both adjusted and unadjusted logistic regression models (odds ratios [ORs] were from 1.58 to 7.88); and increased linearly across categories of PCB-118 and p,p′-DDE in unadjusted model, and PCB-118 and PCB-153 in the adjusted model with trend (all P < 0.01). While breast cancer risk was declined in the second tertile of PCB-28, PCB-52, and PCB-101 in both unadjusted and adjusted models, also second tertile of p,p′-DDT and third tertile of PCB-28 in the adjusted models. This study suggests associations between the exposure of PCBs, p,p′-DDT, and p,p′-DDE and breast cancer risk. Based on adjusted models, PCB-118, PCB-138, PCB-153, PCB-180, ∑PCBs, and p,p′-DDE exposures increase breast cancer risk at current exposure levels, despite existing inconsistent even inverse results in PCB-28, PCB-52, PCB-101, and p,p′-DDT. More epidemiological studies are still needed to verify these findings in different populations.

Twenty juvenile individuals of brown bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus), average weight 77 g, were fed by abiraterone acetate prodrug dissolved in olive oil via gastric probe. Dose applied was 3 mg/10 g fish weight. After feeding, they were let out into aquarium and kept there for 3 days. Aquarium water containing excreted metabolites was extracted, and sample was purified and finally analyzed by means of HPLC/MS. Expected both primary (products of hydroxylation) and secondary (products of glucuronidation and sulfatation) metabolites of abiraterone acetate were identified. The NMR measurement of one of the prevailing metabolites presumed to be one of possible hydroxy-abiraterones discovered that it is not hydroxy-abiraterone but abiraterone 16,17-epoxide. Closer analysis of MS² and MS³ spectra revealed that one of presumed hydroxy-abiraterone acetates and also some secondary metabolites are probably 16,17-epoxides.

Agriculture P management practices elevate the level of inorganic phosphates in soil that results in phosphorous (P) seepage into water-bodies. This is one of the key factors that have accelerated the menace of eutrophication. Phytic acid (phytate)-P-rich plant metabolite is infamous for its anti-nutrient activity and regularly oozing in to environment though discharge of mono-gastric animals. That has amplified the magnitudes of eutrophication. In this work, for catalysis of phytate-P, the metal-organic framework fabricated towards metal oxides (Fe₃O₄) and phytase in highly ordered microcosms of silica was employed. The synthesized framework was characterized through transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and nitrogen isotherm analysis. Average pore diameter of synthesized bisect oval shaped structures was measured around ≈200 nm. Herein, phytase and Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were loaded to the cavities of microcosms through glutaraldehyde-mediated crosslinking. Whereas Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles act as nano-absorbents that adsorb P liberated from phytase-mediated catalysis of phytate. Kinetic analysis of free and loaded phytase has shown relatively small reduction in catalytic efficiency. These loaded microcosms have removed 60–80% of phytate-phosphate. The optimized process has reduced the growth of photoautotrophs by 50%. Additionally the magnet-assisted separation of loaded microcosms eased the reapplication of loaded microcosms tested for six independent instances. The primary studies conducted to evaluate the geno-toxicity of loaded microcosms have not shown any harmful effect on the process like cell division and seed germination. The efficacy of this method has evaluated towards on-field testing in Changa (Gujarat, India) lake.

The heavy metals transfer from the soil, where they accumulate, to the edible parts of the plants, and then, their entrance in the food chain can represent a source of concern for human health. Among heavy metals, arsenic is one of the most widespread in the soil of Lazio (central region of Italy), where the phytoavailable geogenic arsenic enters the food chain, with a dangerous exposition of the local population. In the first part of this work, plants of radish (Raphanus sativus L.) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) were grown in protected culture in the experimental farm of CREA-AA, where they were daily treated with different concentrations of sodium arsenate dibasic heptahydrate in order to investigate differences in their arsenic accumulation capacities. In order to confirm the results achieved, in the second part of this study, the arsenic concentration was determined in commercial products obtained from contaminated areas of Lazio, and the potential exposition risk for human health through consumption of these widely consumed vegetables was estimated. The highest arsenic concentrations were found in the samples of lettuce. To evaluate the potential health risk from consumption of L. sativa and R. sativus, the estimated daily intake (EDI) for adults, adolescents, and elderly was calculated, finding that HRI (health risk index) index value for arsenic was low (< 1) in the case of chronic consumptions for all samples of radishes, and for the lettuces grown in the area of Viterbo. On the contrary, the lettuces obtained from Tuscania and Tarquinia presented very high concentrations of arsenic and a worrying HRI value. In order to reduce the risk of As toxicity in the people through consumption of the vegetables, the irrigation water should contain less than 0.1 mg As L⁻¹. For this reason, the authors tested the application of red mud (RM) to remove As from groundwater before using it for the irrigation of radish and lettuce in greenhouse production.

The method of indoor artificial rainfall simulations was applied to compare the characteristics of runoff and sediment yield under different slope gradients (5°, 8°, 15°, and 25°) and rainfall intensities (30, 60, 90, 120, and 150 mm/h) for two kinds of different hillslopes with weathered granite and with exposed soils respectively from the laterite layer (L-soil) and sand layer (S-soil). The results show that the distribution of runoff yield significantly varied with soil types as the surface flow was predominant for L-soil while interflow was the main runoff form for S-soil. Both surface flow and sediment yield of L-soil was more than that of S-soil, and the changing trends for L-soil were more regular. The relationships between surface flow, sediment yield, and rainfall intensity can be expressed by power functions (R² > 0.68). Interflow was positively related to slope gradient and displayed a single peak curve with the prolongation of runoff time. For S-soil, the surface flow increased with increasing slope gradient under light rainfall intensities but showed a decreasing trend under heavy rainfall intensities. Surface flow for L-soil showed a decreasing trend with increasing slope gradient under all rainfall intensities. The combined effects of slope gradient and rainfall intensity on runoff and sediment yield could be accurately described by linear correlation equations (R² > 0.59). The impact of rainfall intensity on surface flow and sediment yield was much greater than that of slope gradient. Slope gradient presented a more significant effect on interflow. The eroded sediment consisted of a relatively higher content of clay, silt, and fine sand, which was approximately 1.26 times greater than the original soils. There was a grading limit of particle size (0.25 mm) for sediment transport. These results not only demonstrate the effects of rainfall intensity and slope gradient on sloping runoff and sediment yield but also provide valuable information for loss prediction and conservation of soil and water.

The impact of Moringa oleifera leaf ethanol extract (MOLEE) was assessed on the expression of the steroidogenic genes (steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) and cytochrome P450c17 subfamily a (CYP17a) and luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR) gene) as well as on the cadmium chloride (CdCl₂)–induced reproductive toxicity for 56 days in male rats. Four groups were used: control, Moringa-treated (MOLEE), CdCl₂-treated, and CdCl₂ + MOLEE groups. The reproductive toxicity of CdCl₂ was confirmed; it caused a significant decrease in the accessory sex organ weights, testosterone level, testicular GST level, elevated MDA level (lipid peroxidation indicator), and histopathological alterations in seminiferous tubules, prostate, seminal vesicles, and epididymis as well as sperm characteristics. It also induced downregulation in the expression of StAR and CYP17a genes without change in the expression LHR gene. Eleven active compounds were detected in the GC-MS analysis of MOLEE; six of them have antioxidant properties, and five new compounds presented variable activities. MOLEE alone induced a stimulatory effect on the expression of steroidogenic and LHR genes. It restored the weight of reproductive organs to the control level; however, the recovery in sperm count, motility, abnormalities, percentage of alive sperm, testosterone, and MDA level are still comparable with the control level. Similar findings were also reported at the histological structure of the testes, epididymis, and accessory sex glands. Complete recovery of the GST enzyme activity was observed. Additionally, a restoration in the expression level of the steroidogenic genes was also reported. Our results indicated that the concurrent administration of MOLEE with CdCl₂ can partially mitigate its harmful effects on male fertility.

The biochar which was characterized with well-developed facial structure and O-/N-containing functional groups could effectively remove Cd (II) from water. In this paper, Typha orientalis–based biochar (BCS) with well-developed N containing functional groups was modified with shrimp bran which was rich in crude protein for the first time. There are more well-developed O-/N-containing functional groups in the structure of BCS than that of pure Typha orientalis–based biochar without any modification (BC), and this conclusion was depended on their comparisons of Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), elemental analysis (EA), Boehm titration, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and other characterization techniques. Moreover, according to the experiment, the phenomenon that the adsorption capacity of Cd(II) on these two adsorbents (BCs) decreased with the increase of solution ionic strength could be carried out. The Cd(II) adsorption studies combined with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis revealed that the adsorption mechanism was mainly attributed to physical microporous filtration and chemical interaction between Cd(II) and the surface functional groups (surface complexation, ion exchange, and electrostatic attraction).

The aim of this paper is to explore the environmental effects of fiscal decentralisation from theoretical and empirical perspectives. We first analyse the dynamic relationship between fiscal decentralisation and the environment using an endogenous growth model. Our findings demonstrate that fiscal decentralisation and environmental pollution display an inverted U-shaped relationship. We then use provincial panel data from 1998 to 2015 in the empirical investigation of CO₂ emissions in China. Our findings show that empirical results verify the correctness of the theoretical results. The results obtained are robust using different methods. The findings of this work may help China’s central government and local governments in addressing the problem of CO₂ emissions by using a reasonable degree of fiscal decentralisation.