Emerging Contaminants最新文献

{"title":"Assessing the environmental transformation of alternative chemicals using in silico tools, (bio)degradation testing and suspect screening – A case study of emerging alternative plasticizers","authors":"Ioannis Liagkouridis,&nbsp;Georgios Giovanoulis,&nbsp;Gunnar Thorsén","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2024.100430","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2024.100430","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Chemical safety assessment requires the inclusion of information on potential transformation products. Such information is often lacking for chemicals considered as alternatives making a comprehensive safety assessment for chemical substitution challenging. To address this challenge a methodological framework for investigating the environmental transformation of alternative chemicals is presented. The developed methodology involves the combined use of in silico tools, biodegradation testing and suspect screening analysis for the prediction and identification of environmental transformation pathways and products. The proposed framework was applied on three emerging alternative plasticizers to phthalate esters (i.e., DINCH, DEHA and ATBC) under which major first-, second- and third-step transformation products predicted in silico were also successfully identified experimentally. This allowed for a preliminary evaluation of the performance of in silico tools in terms of the predicted transformation pathways and their likelihood of occurrence. At the same time the fast chemical degradation method showed good potential in identifying the key transformation products. The proposed framework can be used to support safety assessments for chemical substitution. Further application of the developed methodology on different chemical groups along with proper optimization of the individual method components is recommended to showcase its efficacy over a larger application area.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"11 1","pages":"Article 100430"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142697451","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A comprehensive review of spinel ferrites and their magnetic composites as highly efficient adsorbents of rare earth elements","authors":"Seyed Faridedin Rafie ,&nbsp;Nidal Abu-Zahra ,&nbsp;Mika Sillanpää","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2024.100429","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2024.100429","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Rare earth elements (REEs), comprising 17 % of known elements, are pivotal in diverse industries. Despite their name, they are not geologically rare but dispersed, posing challenges for economically viable mining. This review explores the environmental and health implications of REEs, emphasizing their emerging status as contaminants in aquatic environments, raising health concerns through the food chain. The necessity to recover REEs from wastewater demands efficient methods, particularly focusing on adsorption. Spinel ferrites (SFs), characterized by superparamagnetism and thermal stability, are gaining prominence in this context. Utilizing metal cations like Fe, Co, Ni, Mn, Zn, and Cu, SF-based magnetic nanocomposites exhibit remarkable efficiency in adsorbing REEs. This article delves into adsorption mechanisms, including electrostatic interactions and ion exchange, highlighting the advantages of stability, biocompatibility, and cost-effectiveness associated with SFs. SF-based nanocomposites, offering scalability and effectiveness at low concentrations, emerge as a promising solution for addressing environmental concerns related to REEs while meeting the escalating demand for these essential elements.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"11 1","pages":"Article 100429"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142573435","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Levels and risk assessment of dl-PCBs and dioxins in soils surrounded by cement plants from industrial areas of Colombia and Spain","authors":"Iñaki Lacomba ,&nbsp;Jenny Palomares-Bolaños ,&nbsp;Ana Juan-García ,&nbsp;Antonio López ,&nbsp;Jesús Olivero-Verbel ,&nbsp;Karina Caballero-Gallardo ,&nbsp;Clara Coscollà ,&nbsp;Cristina Juan","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2024.100427","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2024.100427","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates the concentrations of 17 PCDD/Fs and 12 dl-PCBs congeners in soil samples collected from industrial areas in Cartagena de Indias (Colombia) and Valencia (Spain). The aim is to assess the characteristic distribution patterns and the potential risk around cement plants within the selected locations, addressing the lack of data on PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs in soils from the two studied areas. Soil samples were analysed using gas chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry (GC-HRMS). The PCDD/Fs concentrations varied from 0.01 pg g⁻¹ dw to 520.43 pg g⁻¹ dw in Colombia and from 0.01 pg g⁻¹ dw to 150.48 pg g⁻¹ dw in Spain. For dl-PCBs, levels ranged from 0.03 pg g⁻¹ dw to 1611.83 pg g⁻¹ dw in Colombia and from 0.06 to 189.64 pg g⁻¹ dw in Spain. Despite the differences observed in concentration terms between the two areas studied, the same pattern of congeners was observed. The hazard index (HI) values for exposure of adults and children in soil were, in overall, smaller than one (HI &lt; 1), while the total cancer risk (TCR) values exceeded the acceptable risk value of 10⁻⁶, which indicate probable non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks resulting from exposure to PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs in these areas. The ecological risk was assessed using the Contamination Factor (CF) and the Ecological Risk Index (ERI), revealing significant contamination in the studied areas.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"11 1","pages":"Article 100427"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142554750","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Study on interaction, feedback, and response between perfluorinated compounds and soil environments","authors":"Jinhang Song ,&nbsp;Jing Song ,&nbsp;Rui Zhang ,&nbsp;Chang Che ,&nbsp;Ying Yuan ,&nbsp;Wenbing Tan ,&nbsp;Beidou Xi ,&nbsp;Kunlong Hui ,&nbsp;Juntao Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2024.100428","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2024.100428","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The soil environment plays a crucial role in agricultural production, safeguarding water resources, and maintaining ecological balance. Additionally, the soil environment can regulate climate through carbon cycling and serves as an essential habitat for the survival of animals and humans. Therefore, a green and healthy soil environment forms the bedrock of sustainable development of biological systems and serves as the basic support for socio-economic progress, thereby affecting the survival of every organism. However, with the advancement of human society and technology, numerous emerging pollutants have gradually been identified. Among these pollutants, perfluorinated compounds (PFASs) are known for their high thermal stability, bioaccumulation potential, and strong biological toxicity. PFASs are complex persistent pollutants that infiltrate soil ecosystems through industrial emissions, agricultural practices, and household waste, posing a significant threat to soil environments as well as human health and receiving considerable attention. However, current research mainly focuses on PFASs pollution in water media, with few reports on its interaction with soil environments. Moreover, due to the diversity and heterogeneity of soil environmental factors, the species diversity of PFASs may affect the different responses between different PFASs (short and long chain types) and soil factors. Elucidating these complex relationships is crucial for developing future treatment technologies to remediate PFASs pollution. Therefore, this paper reviews the impacts of PFASs pollution on soil properties and preliminarily compares the response and effect of various environmental factors, such as pH, organic matter, and microbial communities, to PFASs stress. Furthermore, the paper provides a scientific basis and theoretical insights into the processes, transformation mechanisms, and remediation methods related to soil PFASs pollution.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"11 1","pages":"Article 100428"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142554751","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Triclosan induces pyroptosis by activation of the caspase-9/3/gasdermin E axis","authors":"Shiqi Wu ,&nbsp;Lei You ,&nbsp;Shan He ,&nbsp;Wenqaing Liu ,&nbsp;Jinlin Lei ,&nbsp;Jiahui Yang ,&nbsp;Xiangyin Luo ,&nbsp;Zhenxiu Ye ,&nbsp;Yonghong Zhang ,&nbsp;Jing Wang ,&nbsp;Huailan Guo ,&nbsp;Yan Zheng ,&nbsp;Lanlan Zheng ,&nbsp;Chen Li","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2024.100425","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2024.100425","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The high concentrations of TCS in personal care products, and the potential for even greater exposure in occupational settings, raise significant concerns about its cytotoxic effects. Numorous studies highlight the importance of understanding the molecular mechanisms of pyroptosis in toxicological research on environmental pollutants. However, it remains unclear whether TCS exposure could induce GSDME-mediated pyroptosis. In this study, we aimed to investigate the cytotoxic effects of 200 μM TCS on L02 cells and elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved in TCS-induced pyroptosis, a novel form of cell death. Our results demonstrate that TCS inhibits the proliferation of L02 cells in a dose-dependent manner and triggers caspase-dependent cell death, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction and subsequent pyroptosis through the activation of the caspase-9/3/GSDME axis. Furthermore, through transcriptional and metabolomic analyses, we identified alterations in the PI3K-Akt and MAPK cellular signaling pathways, as well as changes in carbon and nitrogen metabolism. Our data provide valuable insights into the biotoxicity of high TCS concentrations and establish a theoretical basis for future studies on its impact and risk.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"11 1","pages":"Article 100425"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142536166","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Global review of PCBs and chemical flame retardants in e-waste recycling sites: Addressing geographic imbalances","authors":"Moyofoluwa O. Ogunyemi ,&nbsp;Temilola O. Oluseyi ,&nbsp;Aderonke O. Oyeyiola ,&nbsp;Mohamed Abou-Elwafa Abdallah ,&nbsp;Stuart Harrad","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2024.100426","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2024.100426","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Informal e-waste recycling poses substantial environmental and human health risks due to contamination by flame retardants (FRs) and related chemical additives. This study systematically reviews the status of research on polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organophosphate esters (OPEs) in e-waste recycling sites, with a particular focus on concentration levels and geographic disparities in data availability. Only a few studies have been conducted in Africa and South America and there are significant gaps. This geographic imbalance and other factors impede accurate assessment and comprehensive understanding of global e-waste pollution and associated risks. In examining the concentrations of PCBs and FRs, the study finds notable variations across different countries. For instance, high levels of these toxic chemicals were reported in China and India, which are major hubs for e-waste recycling in Asia. Concentrations in these regions often exceed international safety standards, posing severe risks for workers and local communities. Conversely, data from Africa and South America are sparse, despite the growing presence of informal e-waste recycling activities in these continents. Factors driving these differences include the prevalence of informal recycling practices, variations in waste import volumes, regulatory gaps, and disparities in technological capacity for safe waste management. In developing countries, weaker enforcement of environmental laws and reliance on rudimentary recycling methods lead to higher levels of contamination. However, developed nations with stricter regulations and advanced technologies exhibit lower concentrations of these pollutants. While high concentrations of FRs are documented in environmental matrices, human biomonitoring and epidemiological studies are needed to correlate environmental concentrations with health outcomes, particularly for workers at e-waste sites. In summary, this review emphasizes the critical need for broader geographical coverage, standardized methodologies, and robust regulatory frameworks to mitigate the significant health and environmental risks associated with FRs and PCBs in e-waste recycling sites.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"11 1","pages":"Article 100426"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142573434","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sewage sludge as soil amendment in arid soils - A trace metal, nutrient and trace organics perspective","authors":"Saif Uddin ,&nbsp;Mohammad Zaman ,&nbsp;Karell Martínez-Guijarro ,&nbsp;Mohammad Al-Murad ,&nbsp;Montaha Behbehani ,&nbsp;Nazima Habibi ,&nbsp;Ahmed Al-Mutairi","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2024.100420","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2024.100420","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sewage sludge management has emerged as a critical environmental challenge due to the large volumes generated globally. Valorization techniques, including energy production and agricultural applications, offer sustainable solutions, particularly in regions with low soil fertility. The sewage sludge utilization in the Middle East region is low. This paper presents a pragmatic risk-based assessment using the risk-based corrective action approach to evaluate sludge application in desert soils. This methodology focuses on the source-pathway-receptor interaction and assesses the likelihood of contaminants posing a real threat. In arid desert regions like Kuwait, where soil organic content and moisture are extremely low, the application of sewage sludge presents a feasible option to enhance soil quality and valorize unutilized sludge dumps which pose significant environmental concerns but are left to desiccate in the absence of any environmental regulation towards its utilization and due to religious apprehensions. Since the sludge characterization is not well detailed a brief review of the available data was included to establish the bounds of various organic, metal and nutrients that were used for generating the model. This study examines the changes in the physico-chemical properties of desert soils following sludge application, focusing on the likely fate of trace metals and organic contaminants. The alkaline desert soils of Kuwait, with a pH range of 7.7–8.9, are particularly suitable for sludge application due to the low mobility of metals in alkaline conditions. Additionally, sludge application lowers soil pH, improving conditions for plant growth. The region's deeper water table and scant annual precipitation (&lt;0.15 m) further reduce the risk of groundwater contamination and deeper soil profile contamination. The presence of organic content, nitrates, Zn, and Cu in sludge can promote native vegetation growth. However, trace organic contaminants, including PAHs, PCBs, and pharmaceuticals, pose a potential risk to soil contamination, but since the geological section shows intervening impervious layers the contamination is going to be localized, even if there is sufficient leachable fraction. Given the minimal risk of contamination under the unique conditions of arid regions, this approach highlights the potential for eco-friendly sludge valorization, that will improve vegetation cover and arrest the suspended particulate suspension. However, before the large-scale implementation of this modelled concept, a detailed experimental study on the pilot scale or lysimeters is recommended to assess the long-term impacts of sludge application and to obtain data that can inform policy guidelines for sustainable sludge management in desert environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"11 1","pages":"Article 100420"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142536164","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: The role of ligninolytic enzymes and advances of biosensors for in-situ monitoring","authors":"Eshet Lakew Tesfaye ,&nbsp;Fekadu Mazengiaw Bogale ,&nbsp;Tadele Assefa Aragaw","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2024.100424","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2024.100424","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their derivatives are common pollutants that require effective remediation techniques. PAH biodegradation using bacterial and fungal enzymes has gained popularity because it effectively removes these contaminants. Ligninolytic enzymes (LEs), such as laccase (Lac), lignin peroxidase (LiP), manganese peroxidase (MnP), and versatile peroxidases (VPs), have been studied for their role in PAHs biodegradation. These enzymes, produced by different living organisms, have demonstrated significant potential in degrading complex PAH structures, contributing to cleaner and more sustainable remediation techniques. This review evaluates the biodegradation capacity of PAHs using different strains and/or their LEs and provides an in-depth analysis of their mechanisms and removal efficiencies. In addition, the fundamental catalytic mechanisms governing the biodegradation of PAHs and factors that must be optimized to promote effective breakdown and detoxification are highlighted. This review also highlights recent biosensor developments that provide enhanced sensitivity and specificity for PAH detection. Although some LE-producing strains are efficient in completely biodegrading certain PAH types, further research is needed to explore the complete biodegradation of PAHs with higher molecular structures using genetically modified strains or their LEs. Despite progress, challenges remain in optimizing enzyme activity and integrating biosensors into large-scale use. Future research should focus on enhancing stability and improving field deployment for better environmental monitoring.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"11 1","pages":"Article 100424"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142535755","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comprehensive inventory of imports of electrical and electronic equipment and related plastics and POPs plastic additives into Nigeria in the past 32 years (1990–2022)","authors":"Joshua O. Babayemi ,&nbsp;Innocent C. Nnorom ,&nbsp;Roland Weber","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2024.100423","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2024.100423","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The global management of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) and related plastics, and the persistent organic pollutants (POPs) contained in it constitute a global challenge in particular for low-income countries in Africa where monitoring capacity and waste management infrastructure are lacking. While plastic recycling is highlighted as an important part of the solution to plastic pollution, such recycling is threatened by the presence of POPs. Overall, there is a lack of data on POPs in (W)EEE plastics with the exception of PBDEs. The objective of this study was to analyse the overall imports of (W)EEE into Nigeria and estimate the associated amount of plastics and POPs for better planning and management of WEEE plastics. This study assessed all EEE importation categories and compiled the importations of 28 EEE product groups with the highest importation, covering more than 98 % of officially imported EEE based on the United Nations Comtrade Database using harmonized system (HS) codes. The impact factors of POPs and plastic from the UNEP inventory guidance were used for the estimates. Overall, 4568 kilo-tonnes (kt) of EEE were officialy imported between 1990 and 2022 containing 1337 kt of plastic. If considering also the estimated imported WEEE and EEE not covered in the Comtrade statistics, the total imported (W)EEE is estimated to 12,259 kt including 3644 kt of plastics and an estimated 1043 t of hexaBDE/heptaBDE and 8511 t of DecaBDE as major POP additives, and lower levels of 154 t of HBCD, 91 t of SCCPs, 364 t of MCCP, and 146 t of Dechlorane Plus. The study is the first estimate of all major POPs in (W)EEE plastics in a low-income country and provides important information for their management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"11 1","pages":"Article 100423"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142536165","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Microplastics aggravate zinc deficiency-induced inhibition of physiological-biochemical characteristics in apple rootstock Malus hupehensis (Pamp.) Rehd seedlings","authors":"Haoyan Xiao ,&nbsp;Hanxia Yu ,&nbsp;Adam Frew ,&nbsp;Wei Jiang ,&nbsp;Yusen Wu ,&nbsp;Cheng Wang ,&nbsp;Beidou Xi ,&nbsp;Wenbing Tan","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2024.100421","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2024.100421","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Both microplastic (MP) pollution and zinc (Zn) deficiency have adverse effects on terrestrial plants. However, the combined effect of MPs and Zn deficiency on plant physiology remains unexplored. In this study, a pot-culture experiment and ¹³C stable isotope tracing technology were employed to investigate the combined effects of MPs and Zn deficiency on the growth, photosynthetic physiology and chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics, as well as synthesis and distribution of photosynthetic products in <em>Malus hupehensis</em> (Pamp.) Rehd seedlings. The results revealed significant reductions in biomass, gas exchange parameters, carbohydrate metabolism enzyme activities, and photosynthetic parameters including <em>F</em>_v/<em>F</em>_m, ΦPSII, ETR and <em>q</em>_p in seedlings subjected to both individual and joint treatments of MPs and Zn deficiency compared to the control group. Notably, the combined Zn deficiency and MPs exhibited a more pronounced inhibitory effect on root biomass (RR = −0.42) compared to the single Zn deficiency (RR = −0.37) and MP (RR = −0.26) treatments. Random forest analysis indicated that chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics (37.5 %) had the greatest impact on biomass variation in seedlings, followed by ¹³C accumulation in various organs (26.7 %). MPs exacerbated the inhibition of photosynthesis (Pn and Gs) under Zn deficiency by suppressing chlorophyll fluorescence parameters (<em>F</em>_v/<em>F</em>_m and ΦPSII), further reducing ¹³C accumulation in roots. In conclusion, the addition of MPs intensified the suppression of photosynthetic parameters caused by Zn deficiency, weakened the carbon assimilation capacity of leaves, and hindered the synthesis of photosynthetic products in leaves and their transport to roots, thereby further inhibiting root growth. This study reveals the combined stress of MP pollution and Zn deficiency on terrestrial plants, deepens our understanding of potential ecological risks, and provides scientific basis for the development of effective mitigation measures to protect plant ecosystems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"11 1","pages":"Article 100421"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142441660","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}