Emerging Contaminants最新文献

{"title":"Microplastics in settled indoor dust: Implications for human exposure","authors":"Hassan Khalid Ageel,&nbsp;Stuart Harrad,&nbsp;Mohamed Abou-Elwafa Abdallah","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100506","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100506","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In recent years, microplastics (MPs) occurrence in indoor environments has raised significant concerns due to their distinctive physicochemical properties and potential toxicity. Indoor dust is well-documented as important vector for human exposure to emerging contaminants via inadvertent ingestion. Consequently, the main aim of the present study is to assess human exposure to MPs in settled indoor dust by determining concentrations, and characteristics (size, shape, and polymer type) of MPs in dust samples collected from houses (n = 30) and workplaces (n = 30) in Birmingham, UK. The average MPs concentrations were 155 ± 222 MP/mg in homes, and 125 ± 209 MP/mg in workplaces. Statistical analysis revealed the mean concentration of MPs in the studied homes was significantly higher than that in workplaces, which was attributed mainly to carpeting. In terms of morphology, various shapes of MPs (e.g., fiber, fragment, foam, foil) were identified, with fibres and fragments constituting ∼90 % of the identified MPs in all studied samples. Within the MPs particle size range (10–150 μm) investigated in the current study, the particle size fraction (50–100 μm) was predominant (&gt;49 %) in all the studied samples, followed by particles &gt;100 μm, with fibres having the largest average size (67 μm) among the detected MPs shapes. Polypropylene (PP) and Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) were the most abundant polymer types in the studied samples, followed by Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC). Typical daily exposures of UK adults and toddlers to MPs through inadvertent ingestion of indoor dust were estimated at 56 and 103 MPs/day. The higher exposure of toddlers was exacerbated by their lower body weight with an estimated typical exposure of 9.7 MP/kg Bw/day, compared to 0.8 MP/kg Bw/day for adults. The higher ingestion exposure to MPs in toddlers raises concern over potential adverse health effects due to their incompletely developed immune and nervous systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"11 3","pages":"Article 100506"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-04-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143806857","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Challenges and persistence of contact lenses in wastewater treatment plants: Environmental implications","authors":"Rita Martins- Alves ,&nbsp;Ana Vera Machado ,&nbsp;Fernanda Cássio ,&nbsp;Madalena Lira","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100505","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100505","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Contact Lens (CLs) are often disposed of via toilet or sinks, ending up in the wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Millions of CLs enter WWTPs worldwide each year in macro and micro sizes. Despite WWTPs' ability to remove solids, CLs can persist and potentially contaminate watercourses and soils.</div><div>This study evaluates whether different CLs degrade in WWTP aeration tanks. Six daily CLs (Nelfilcon A, Delefilcon A, Nesofilcon A, Stenfilcon A, Narafilcon A, Somofilcon A) and four monthly CLs (Lotrafilcon B, Comfilcon A, Senofilcon A, and Samfilcon A) were immersed in aeration tanks for twelve weeks. Their physical and chemical properties, including water content (WC), refractive index (RI), chemical properties (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy), and mechanical properties were assessed.</div><div>Results show that all CLs maintained their physical appearance after 12 weeks. Neither Nelfilcon A nor Narafilcon A exhibited significant changes in WC and RI, (p &gt; 0.05, Tukey test), while other daily lenses showed variations in at least one parameter.</div><div>Among monthly CLs, only Senofilcon A showed significant differences in both WC (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.001, Tukey test) and RI (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.0001, Tukey test). No differences in Young's modulus were observed for any lenses (p &gt; 0.05 Tukey test). However, Somofilcon A displayed significant changes in stress at break (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.0001, Tukey test), and Elongation at Break (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.05, Tukey test). No changes were found in the chemical structure of any CLs suggesting that twelve weeks in WWTP aeration tanks is insufficient for CLs degradation. These findings highlight CLs as a potential emerging pollutant, emphasizing their persistence in sludge or migration into watercourses and soils.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"11 3","pages":"Article 100505"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-04-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143806783","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Fresh tire wear particles from moving vehicles: Dispersion dynamics, exposure, and prevention strategy","authors":"Yiwei Xu ,&nbsp;Licheng Wang ,&nbsp;Ruilin Wang ,&nbsp;Weiqi Jiang ,&nbsp;Longfei Du ,&nbsp;Haibo Huang ,&nbsp;Liwu Zhang ,&nbsp;Yan Ding","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100503","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100503","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Tire Wear Particles (TWPs) have emerged as a significant source of non-exhaust emissions, posing potential exposure risks due to increased vehicle ownership and the advent of new energy vehicles. However, the dispersion and flow dynamics of fresh TWPs remain largely unexplored. Here, we used a finite element aerodynamic simulation model to investigate the distribution of fresh TWPs from a moving vehicle and to assess human respiratory exposure near the vehicle. In addition, actual on-road particle level measurements were performed to qualitatively validate the results obtained from our model while developing a laboratory-scale emission reduction solution. Conservative data show that fresh TWPs (of 0.1–10 μm diameter) disperse up to 3.2 m wide and 2.2 m high, with minimal influence of particle size. At 1–2 m from the side of the vehicle driven at 60 km/h, the maximum concentration was found at a height of 0.8 m, reaching 5.0 μg/m3, demonstrating a significant exposure of children and adolescents. The emission reduction solution designed to mitigate the exposure risk (i.e., a collection channel mounted near the wheel cover) was shown to effectively reduce fresh TWP emissions, achieving a capture rate of &gt;40 % at high speeds. Overall, the results obtained underscore the potential health issues associated with TWPs in urban areas, but also the ability to reduce exposure, provided that appropriate mitigation strategies are adopted.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"11 3","pages":"Article 100503"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143784041","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":"Urinary exposure level of emerging chemicals in Chinese pregnant women and their associations with oxidative stress","authors":"Henglin Zhang ,&nbsp;Yuxian Liu ,&nbsp;Yanan Zhao ,&nbsp;Jiye Zhang ,&nbsp;Luhan Yang ,&nbsp;Guanglan Zhang ,&nbsp;Yanpeng Cai ,&nbsp;Lan Yang ,&nbsp;Jianya Xi ,&nbsp;Ziliang Wang ,&nbsp;Hong Liang ,&nbsp;Maohua Miao ,&nbsp;Tao Zhang ,&nbsp;Jingchuan Xue","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100502","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100502","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Emerging chemicals (ECs), including parabens, bisphenols, bisphenol diglycidyl ethers, N,N′-substituted p-phenylenediamines, and benzotriazoles/benzothiazoles (BTH/BTRs), are widely used in industrial and consumer products. This study aimed to determine the urinary concentrations of 33 ECs and three oxidative stress biomarkers in pregnant women from a large birth cohort in Jiashan, China. Among the detected compounds, methyl paraben (MeP), bisphenol A (BPA), bisphenol A bis(2,3-dihydroxypropyl) glycidyl ether (BADGE·2H₂O), N-isopropyl-N′-phenyl-1,4-phenylenediamine quinone (IPPDQ), and 1H-benzotriazole (1-H-BTR) were the most prevalent, with median concentrations ranging from 0.51 to 9.02 ng/mL. Notably, BTH/BTRs exhibited the highest exposure levels, approximately 4–16 times greater than those of other ECs. Most ECs showed elevated concentrations in pregnant women who were exposed to secondhand smoke prior to pregnancy. After model analysis, we found that mixtures of ECs were positively associated with both 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and 15(R)-prostaglandin F_2α (15-PGF_2α), while a negative trend was observed between ECs and 8-iso-prostaglandin F_2α (8-PGF_2α). Specifically, urinary benzyl paraben (BzP), BPA, bisphenol S (BPS), N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N′-phenyl-1,4-phenylenediamine quinone (6PPDQ), IPPDQ, 2(3H)-benzothiazole (2-OH-BTH), and 2-methylthio-benzothiazole (2-Me-S-BTH) or 1-H-BTR were significantly (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.05) associated with 8-OHdG. MeP, 6PPDQ, and 2-Me-S-BTH were linked to 15-PGF_2α, while only bisphenol A (2,3-dihydroxypropyl) glycidyl ether (BADGE·H₂O) showed a significant positive association with 8-PGF_2α. This study provides a comprehensive evaluation of the exposure characteristics of ECs and their associations with oxidative stress biomarkers in pregnant women, offering new insights into the health risks associated with ECs exposure during critical periods of pregnancy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"11 2","pages":"Article 100502"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143747940","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":"Unravelling the ecological ramifications of biodegradable microplastics in soil environment: A systematic review","authors":"U. Umasankar ,&nbsp;P.C. Sabumon","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100504","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100504","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Plastic pollution, especially microplastics (MPs), poses significant environmental challenges, with biodegradable plastics (BPs) often presented as sustainable alternatives. However, incomplete degradation of BPs in soil environment leads to the creation of biodegradable microplastics (BMPs), whose impacts remain inadequately understood. This systematic review synthesizes findings from 85 publications to assess the effects of BMPs on soil ecosystems, encompassing physical, chemical, and biological properties. BMPs influence soil texture, porosity, nutrient cycling, microbial diversity, and plant growth, with varying impacts depending on polymer type, concentration, and soil conditions. While BMPs can enhance soil organic matter and microbial activity at low concentrations, higher concentrations often alter nutrient availability and soil stability. Soil biota shows differential responses to BMPs, with potential implications for nutrient cycling and soil ecosystem functioning. Contradictory research findings underscore the need for long-term, field-based studies under varied environmental conditions. The insights from this review contribute to a deeper understanding of the ecological ramifications of BMPs in soil ecosystems, highlighting critical research gaps, advocating for multidisciplinary approaches to comprehensively evaluate impacts of BMPs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"11 2","pages":"Article 100504"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143747939","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":"Effects of antibiotics and heavy metals on ARGs in Danjiangkou Reservoir","authors":"Jing Li ,&nbsp;Xuanzi Guo ,&nbsp;Xingxing Long ,&nbsp;Jiangyan Wu ,&nbsp;Weijia Zhang ,&nbsp;Yanrong Zhu ,&nbsp;Chunhui Xi ,&nbsp;Yao Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2024.100453","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2024.100453","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) have attracted more and more attention due to their potential exposure hazards. The Danjiangkou Reservoir (DJKR) is the source of water for the Middle Route Project under the South-to-North Water Transfer Scheme in China. To clarify the distribution of ARGs and their influencing factors in DJKR (including Danjiang Reservoir (DR) and Hanjiang River Reservoir (HR)), we used metagenomic analysis to investigate the ARGs. The results showed that the most abundant bacteria of both parts were Proteobacteteria. Antibiotic efflux (58.2 %) and alteration of antibiotic targets (69.4 %) were the main mechanisms in DR and HR. The composition of ARG species was similar in the two parts, but the number of ARG isoforms in HR was significantly higher than that in DR. ARG Intl1 was detected in both DR and HR. Network analysis showed a significant correlation between mobile genetic elements (MGEs) and ARGs. Heavy metals also showed a significant correlation with ARGs. Interestingly, the relationship between heavy metals and ARGs were more significant than that between antibiotics and ARGs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"11 2","pages":"Article 100453"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143706391","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":"Spatiotemporal distribution and environmental risk assessment of 6PPDQ in the Schuylkill River","authors":"Kavya Somepalli,&nbsp;Gangadhar Andaluri","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100501","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100501","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Tire wear particles (TWPs) and associated contaminants, including microplastics, benzothiazoles, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N′-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (6PPD), its byproduct 6PPD-Quinone (6PPDQ), and heavy metals, are emerging pollutants in aquatic ecosystems. 6PPD, a commonly used tire antioxidant, reacts with ozone to form 6PPDQ, a toxic compound linked to acute mortality in aquatic species, such as Coho salmon. Despite its known impact, data on 6PPDQ in northeastern U.S. freshwater systems, including the Schuylkill River, remain limited. This study examined the spatiotemporal distribution of 6PPDQ in the Schuylkill River and assessed its environmental risks. It also identified key contamination sources and seasonal trends. We analyzed 6PPDQ concentrations at 16 locations across different seasons using the EPA 1634 Draft Method. Their relationship with traffic volume, population density, and tire-related industrial proximity was evaluated. Concentrations ranged from non-detectable to 17.95ng/L, with urban regions exhibiting higher levels. A moderate positive correlation (r=0.416) between 6PPDQ concentrations and Average Annual Daily Traffic (AADT) suggests traffic as a significant source. Population density and industrial proximity also contributed to contamination. Based on the EPA freshwater screening value (11ng/L), two sites posed high risks, while 88% were at medium risk. Risk levels peaked in October, when increased precipitation and reduced flow exacerbated contamination. These findings highlight the seasonal intensification of 6PPDQ pollution, emphasizing the need for stormwater management and long-term monitoring to mitigate risks and assess seasonal dynamics in freshwater systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"11 2","pages":"Article 100501"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143685294","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":"Environmental behavior of microplastic - heavy metal synergistic contamination in a typical urban-rural river network","authors":"Kaihang Zhang ,&nbsp;Jian Huang ,&nbsp;Jiamei Zhang ,&nbsp;Hua Zhang ,&nbsp;Shanshan Xi","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100500","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100500","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Microplastics (MPs) and heavy metals (HMs) in rivers pose a global threat to human health and the ecological environment. Given the differences in pollutant classes, the co-occurrence and interactions between MPs and HMs are still poorly understood. In this study, the co-occurrence of MPs and HMs across different seasons were investigated in the urban-rural rivers of a typical inland city, China. MPs and HMs were detected in all water samples at the wet and dry seasons, and the differences in the abundance of MPs and HMs between the two water periods were not significant. The abundance of MPs was higher in urban and industrial zones than that in agricultural zones. The predominant form and composition of MPs was granules (44.49 %) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET, 85.40 %), with the most common color being transparent (48.99 %). HMs (Mn, Cu, Cr, Zn, Cd, Pb) were detected in MPs, with the strongest adsorption capacity observed for Mn (K_pw = 4.90). Based on the correlation analysis and structural equation model, the polymer type of MPs (path coefficient = 0.3798) and the content of HMs in water (path coefficient = 0.3391) were the significant influence drivers on the adsorption of HMs by MPs. The Hazard Index revealed a medium risk of MPs in the urban-rural rivers, while the Pollution Load Index indicated a low risk of the river water body. These findings suggest that synergistic pollution from MPs and HMs may increase the ecological risk in river water, and the results provide important data for understanding the characteristics of the urban-rural rivers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"11 3","pages":"Article 100500"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143894884","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Human urinary occurrence of dithiocarbamate vulcanization accelerators and their exposure estimation","authors":"Zhenling Fu ,&nbsp;Hangbiao Jin ,&nbsp;Ruyue Guo ,&nbsp;Weili Mao","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100499","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100499","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Dithiocarbamate vulcanization accelerators (DVAs) are widely used in rubber manufacturing, yet their potential human exposure and associated health risks remain poorly understood. Previous studies have identified DVAs in various environmental matrices, such as dust and sediments, but their occurrence in human biological samples has not been investigated. This study aims to fill this critical research gap by conducting the first comprehensive biomonitoring assessment of DVAs in human urine, providing direct evidence of human exposure. A total of 263 urine samples were collected from Chinese adults and analyzed for eight DVAs. Seven out of eight target compounds were detected, with detection frequencies ranging from 14 % to 94 %. Zinc diethyldithiocarbamate (ZDEC) was the predominant compound, with a mean concentration of 1.6 ng/mL (range: &lt;LOD–12 ng/mL). Notably, males exhibited significantly higher urinary levels of ZDEC (1.7 ± 0.28 ng/mL vs. 1.3 ± 0.33 ng/mL; <em>p</em> = 0.021) and zinc dibutyldithiocarbamate (ZDBC; 0.78 ± 0.18 ng/mL vs. 0.50 ± 0.10 ng/mL; <em>p</em> = 0.017) compared to females, while urinary concentrations of ZDEC and zinc dibenzyldithiocarbamate (ZBEC) were inversely correlated with age. Daily exposure (DE) estimation revealed that ZDEC had the highest mean DE value at 48 ng/kg bw/day, followed by ZEPC (29 ng/kg bw/day) and ZDBC (21 ng/kg bw/day). These findings provide essential insights into human exposure patterns to DVAs, offering a scientific basis for future risk assessment and regulatory considerations. Given the widespread detection of these compounds and their potential toxicity, further research is warranted to elucidate their health implications and major exposure pathways.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"11 2","pages":"Article 100499"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143644579","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":"N-nitrosamines in karst groundwaters in southwestern China: Risks and implications for drinking water safety","authors":"Xiongwei Gu ,&nbsp;Liwei Xu ,&nbsp;Xin Huang ,&nbsp;Yingjie Chen ,&nbsp;Yan Li ,&nbsp;Yuanyu Shan ,&nbsp;Xiaoyu Yan ,&nbsp;Zhaojue Liu ,&nbsp;Honghu Zeng ,&nbsp;Wenwen Chen ,&nbsp;Huanfang Huang","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100497","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100497","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Groundwater is a vital drinking water source for populations in remote karst regions. However, the highly developed karst tube systems facilitate the infiltration of surface wastewater containing <em>N</em>-nitrosamines, raising concerns about groundwater safety. To assess the safety of groundwater and identify which types are safer for consumption, this study investigated <em>N</em>-nitrosamines in various groundwater types, including ground river, karst cavern, well, and mountain spring waters, in Guangxi, a typical karst region in southwestern China. The total concentrations of eight <em>N</em>-nitrosamines in groundwater ranged from 5.1 to 70.3 ng/L, with <em>N</em>-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA), <em>N</em>-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), and <em>N</em>-nitrosopyrrolidine (NPYR) being the dominant species. Ground river water exhibited significantly higher <em>N</em>-nitrosamine concentrations than karst cavern, well, and mountain spring waters. Significant correlations between <em>N</em>-nitrosamines and dissolved inorganic nitrogen suggested their co-emissions from domestic wastewater and the secondary formation potential of <em>N</em>-nitrosamines in groundwater. Redundancy analysis further identified domestic and swine wastewater as the primary sources. Ground river and mountain spring waters posed the highest risks among the four groundwater types, with 30 % and 20 % of sites, respectively, exceeding acceptable cancer risk thresholds. These findings underscore the importance of thorough water treatment before groundwater is used for drinking. Strict livestock farming and domestic wastewater discharge regulations are essential to mitigate contamination risks, particularly in karst areas.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"11 2","pages":"Article 100497"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143696010","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}