Emerging Contaminants最新文献

{"title":"Occurrence and ecological risk of antiparasitic drugs in the Lhasa River on Qinghai-Xizang Plateau","authors":"Meng-Meng Lei ,&nbsp;Xiao-Yun Gu ,&nbsp;Zhi-Wei Gan ,&nbsp;Xin-Yu Liu ,&nbsp;Dan Luo ,&nbsp;Xin-Tong Ye ,&nbsp;Xu-Yang Lu ,&nbsp;Chen Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100613","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100613","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Antiparasitic drugs are widely-used in livestock and human parasitic disease control, however, current research lacks solid evidence on their presence and environmental impact, particularly in the high-altitude pastoral areas of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. This study investigated occurrence and distribution of 17 target compounds in the Lhasa River, Xizang, China. The results showed that antiparasitic drugs were 80 %–100 % detected in both river water and sediments (except morantel (MOR) and pyrantel (PYR) in wet season), and benzimidazoles and macrocylic lactones constituted the major groups. The total concentrations reached up to 280.00 ng L⁻¹ in surface water and 662.19 ng g⁻¹ in sediments, respectively, with detection rates and average concentrations relatively higher than existing reports. The concentrations for both water and sediments in wet season were significantly higher than that in dry season (p &lt; 0.01) and spatial distribution followed a trend of downstream &gt; upstream &gt; midstream, being closely related to land use, grazing and population distribution in the watershed. The livestock feces from summer grazing served as the primary non-point source of contamination in the upstream, while combined sources of agriculture and domestic sewage contributed to the highest levels in the downstream. Antiparasitic drugs are easily adsorbed and their water-sediment partition was mainly correlated with sediment organic carbon (R² = 0.84). Exposure of most compounds to water flea is at high risk in wet season, with macrocylic lactones posing the highest toxicity. This study provided fundamental data on antiparasitic drugs presence in riverine environment of typical pastoral areas and gained insights for future control strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"12 1","pages":"Article 100613"},"PeriodicalIF":6.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145786504","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":"Combined pollution of antibiotics and microplastics in livestock breeding process: Occurrence and correlation","authors":"Yaxi Wang ,&nbsp;Jie Pan ,&nbsp;Quanyun Ye ,&nbsp;Que Chen ,&nbsp;Jiawu Hu ,&nbsp;Jiayan Wu ,&nbsp;Xiaoye Tang ,&nbsp;Jianguo Yang ,&nbsp;Dong Zeng ,&nbsp;Wencheng Wu ,&nbsp;Dechun He","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100614","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100614","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The rapid expansion of intensive livestock farming has raised significant environmental concerns, particularly regarding the emerging issue of combined antibiotic-microplastic pollution. Nevertheless, systematic investigations into their co-occurrence and interactions within farming ecosystems remain limited. In this study, an integrated assessment of antibiotics and microplastics across four environmental matrices (feed, manure, soil, and sewage) from representative livestock farms in South China was conducted. Antibiotics were widely detected, exhibiting the highest concentrations in manure (427–57,217 ng/g; mean 14,406 ng/g) and sewage (58.9–78,346 ng/L; mean 18,151 ng/L). Sulfachloropyridazine (SCP) and tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) were identified as dominant compounds. Soil receiving livestock effluents exhibited antibiotic concentrations more than four times higher than control soil, confirming livestock activities as a major contamination source. Unexpectedly, microplastics were most abundant in feed (4896–25,223 particles/kg; mean 12,564 particles/kg), indicating it as a critical entry pathway into farming systems, with acrylate copolymer (ACR), polyethylene (PE), polyurethane (PU), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) as the predominant polymers. These findings highlighted feed production, packaging, and storage as key stages contributing to microplastic contamination. Correlation analysis revealed a weak negative association (r = −0.46) between total antibiotics and microplastics, suggesting divergent environmental sources and fates. These findings elucidate critical pollution linkages across the livestock farming chain, providing essential evidence for developing targeted strategies to control co-contamination by antibiotics and microplastics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"12 1","pages":"Article 100614"},"PeriodicalIF":6.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145836826","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":"From biocide to biohazard: influence of methylchloroisothiazolinone on physiological integrity of Mytilus galloprovincialis","authors":"Cristiana Roberta Multisanti ,&nbsp;Maria Giovanna Rizzo ,&nbsp;Giorgia Zicarelli ,&nbsp;Federica Impellitteri ,&nbsp;Vira Khoma ,&nbsp;Viktoriya Martyniuk ,&nbsp;Monia Perugini ,&nbsp;Oksana Stoliar ,&nbsp;Caterina Faggio","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100617","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100617","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Methylchloroisothiazolinone (CMIT), an isothiazolinone-based compound, is extensively used in several commercial products as a biocide and has recently been identified as an emerging contaminant in aquatic environments. This study investigates the impact of this substance on key cellular, physiological, and biochemical endpoints in the Mediterranean mussel (<em>Mytilus galloprovincialis</em>). Mussels were exposed for 14 days to two sublethal CMIT concentrations (0.01 and 0.1 mg L⁻¹), and responses were assessed in haemocytes (H) and digestive gland (DG). Cytotoxic effects were determined in H and DG through cell viability assays. Phagocytic activity was quantified in H. The osmoregulatory performance of DG isolated cells was evaluated using the Regulatory Volume Decrease (RVD) assay. Furthermore, oxidative stress biomarkers catalase and glutathione (GHS/GSSG), cytochrome P450-related activity (EROD) and neurotoxicity were measured in DG. Results revealed significant impairments in physiological functionality and osmoregulatory capacity, accompanied by high susceptibility of biochemical responses. In the DG, a clear association was observed between EROD activation and oxidative stress manifestations indicating the toxicity of CMIT derivatives. Overall, these findings confirm CMIT's toxic potential toward vital physiological and biochemical processes in <em>M. galloprovincialis</em> and provide a basis for further research aimed at demonstrating the ecological consequences of isothiazolinone contamination, with potential implications for both marine ecosystem health and human well-being.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"12 1","pages":"Article 100617"},"PeriodicalIF":6.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145836833","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":"Developmental and neural toxicity of the dinitroaniline herbicide pendimethalin in zebrafish early-life stages","authors":"Rosario Licitra ,&nbsp;Sara Bernardi ,&nbsp;Rachele Rocchi ,&nbsp;Rossana Scarpone ,&nbsp;Giampiero Scortichini ,&nbsp;Sabrina V.P. Defourny ,&nbsp;Filippo M. Santorelli ,&nbsp;Carmine Merola ,&nbsp;Giulia Caioni ,&nbsp;Maria Marchese","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100597","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100597","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pendimethalin (PND) belongs to the dinitroaniline family of herbicides and is commonly used to control broadleaf weeds, but its persistence in the environment and potential toxicity have become a growing concern. This study investigated the sublethal effects of PND on early development of zebrafish. Three sublethal concentrations (0.2, 1, and 2 μM) were administered to early-life stages in a semi-static system for 120 h post-fertilization (hpf). Internal concentrations were measured via UHPLC-HRMS, showing significant bioaccumulation (up to 1.17 mM at 1 μM). Morphometric analysis at 120 hpf revealed reduced body length, eye area, and swim bladder size, especially at higher concentrations. Behavioral assays indicated impaired locomotor activity, with reduced swimming distance, duration, and velocity in visual motor response (VMR) tests. Electrophysiological recordings of local field potentials (LFPs) in the forebrain revealed seizure-like activity, marked by increased event duration and power. These findings highlight PND's potential developmental and neurotoxic effects in aquatic vertebrates and raise concerns about its broader ecological and human health implications due to bioaccumulation and environmental persistence.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"12 1","pages":"Article 100597"},"PeriodicalIF":6.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145570239","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":"Insight into machine learning models to predict toxicity of organophosphorus insecticides to Photobacterium phosphoreum based on a small dataset","authors":"Yongqiang Yang,&nbsp;Yuying Dong,&nbsp;Huanbo Ni,&nbsp;Ruiyan Bi,&nbsp;Huixin Luo,&nbsp;Xuejun Zou","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100599","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100599","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Organophosphorus insecticides (OPIs) pose escalating environmental and health threats due to toxicity. To address limitations of traditional methods relying on lab trials, in this study, quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models were developed to predict toxicity of OPIs to <em>Photobacterium phosphoreum</em> by machine learning in seven dimensions based on a small dataset. Filtering QSAR variables by feature descriptors could simplify and enhance their ability to capture the correlation between OPIs structure and toxicity. Ensemble prediction and Leave-One-Out Cross-Validation ensure model robustness and prevent overfitting. Results indicate that the best model was determined to be the ensemble model (R² = 0.961, RMSE = 0.184, MAE = 0.156). Interpretable analyses of the model revealed that charge balance and electrophilic potential points are key determinants of the toxicity of OPIs. Combined with structural fragmentation analysis, replacing chlorophenyl with fluorophenyl, sulfur with oxygen, and long alkyl chains with short alkyl chains can mitigate OPIs toxicity. This work contributes to providing reference information for the design of green OPIs, which is conducive to the application of computational toxicology in practical engineering.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"12 1","pages":"Article 100599"},"PeriodicalIF":6.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145615571","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":"Impregnation of activated carbon with ionic liquids for simultaneous removal of micropollutants and antibiotic-resistant bacteria from wastewater","authors":"Lucie Řepecká ,&nbsp;Jan Bednárek ,&nbsp;Tereza Stachurová ,&nbsp;Anna Gavlová ,&nbsp;Kateřina Smutná ,&nbsp;Jana Vaštyl ,&nbsp;Marek Šváb ,&nbsp;Martina Vráblová","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100615","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100615","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), often resulting from the misuse of antibiotics, have emerged as significant environmental pollutants. Their presence in wastewater poses challenges for conventional treatment methods, which fail to eliminate ARGs completely. This study investigates the use of ionic liquids (ILs) impregnated onto granular activated carbon (GAC) to enhance the removal of ARGs. Two ILs, TEDA ((N,N,N-triethyl-1-dodecylammonium bis(trifluoromethyl-sulfonyl)imide) and TEGO Dispers 662 C (commercial IL; an imidazolium-based surfactant), were used for impregnation and tested against bacteria <em>Bacillus subtilis</em> and <em>Aeromonas</em> sp., as well as bacteria present in real water samples from wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) and greywater. The IL-impregnated GAC demonstrated strong antimicrobial activity, particularly against ARG strains A3 and A4, with &gt;99 % bacterial elimination. Notably, the adsorption capacity of GAC for most pharmaceuticals was not significantly reduced by impregnation with TEDA. Analytical and ecotoxicological tests (using <em>Vibrio fischeri</em>, <em>Sinapis alba</em>, and <em>Eisenia andrei</em>) confirmed that the ILs remained strongly bound to the GAC surface, reducing their environmental risk. The findings highlight the potential of IL-impregnated activated carbon as a selective antimicrobial agent for wastewater treatment, especially in addressing the spread of antibiotic resistance genes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"12 1","pages":"Article 100615"},"PeriodicalIF":6.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145786503","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":"Magnetic hollow Fe3O4@Co-Ni layered double oxide for efficient degradation of lamivudine via peroxymonosulfate activation: Mechanism and synergistic effects","authors":"Hao Zhang,&nbsp;Hao-Liang Jiang,&nbsp;Ling-Xi Zhao,&nbsp;Rong-Yu Chai,&nbsp;Meng Xie,&nbsp;Xiang-Feng Chen,&nbsp;Ru-Song Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100618","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100618","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Fe₃O₄@Co-Ni layered double oxide (LDO) with a magnetic hollow structure was successfully synthesized and used to degrade lamivudine (3-TC). At 25 °C, 1 mM peroxomonosulfate, 0.1 g/L Fe₃O₄@Co-Ni LDO, and no pH change, 20 mg/L 3-TC was decomposed within 40 min. Quenching experiments and electron spin resonance spectroscopy were conducted to explore the reaction mechanism, and the results showed that a large amount of singlet oxygen, superoxide radicals, and sulfate radicals were generated in the system. These reactive species participated in pollutant degradation, and the synergistic effect of Co, Ni, and oxygen vacancies in the catalyst was confirmed to be the core driving force for efficient 3-TC decomposition. Cycling experiments showed that Fe₃O₄@Co-Ni LDO demonstrated good stability and a good recycling effect. Various anion-influence experiments were conducted, and the results demonstrated that the reaction system had a good effect against anion influence. Quenching experiments and electron spin resonance spectroscopy were conducted to explore the reaction mechanism, and the results showed that a large amount of singlet oxygen, superoxide radicals, and sulfate radicals were generated in the system. These reactive species participated in pollutant degradation, and the synergistic effect of Co, Ni, and oxygen vacancies in the catalyst was confirmed to be the core driving force for efficient 3-TC decomposition.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"12 1","pages":"Article 100618"},"PeriodicalIF":6.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145836830","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":"Exposure analysis and human health risk of Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) across Southwest Nigerian Universities","authors":"Oyedolapo Bamigboye ,&nbsp;Moses O. Alfred ,&nbsp;Ephraim Akor ,&nbsp;Zamani S. Ncanana ,&nbsp;Chidinma G. Olorunnisola ,&nbsp;Titus A.M. Msagati ,&nbsp;Martins O. Omorogie ,&nbsp;Nurudeen A. Oladoja ,&nbsp;Emmanuel I. Unuabonah","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100600","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100600","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a carcinogenic compound commonly associated with airborne particulates in indoor aerosols, constituents a serious health hazard. In university environments, where air conditioning (AC) systems are widely used, DEHP and other pollutants can accumulate in AC filters and get recirculated during operation, thereby increasing the exposure levels. Therefore, aerosol samples were collected from the AC air filters to assess indoor air quality and evaluate DEHP exposure among students and staff in various micro-environments (143 spaces) across nine universities in southwestern Nigeria. The highest DEHP concentrations, 40.32 μg/g and 38.95 μg/g, were recorded in the office spaces from two different nearby universities, reflecting the influence of human activity and indoor sources. Newer buildings exhibited elevated DEHP levels, likely due to emissions from construction and furnishing materials. Medical centers with better ventilation showed the lowest concentrations, revealing the importance of air exchange in contaminant reduction. Statistical analysis revealed strong correlations between DEHP concentrations in offices and laboratories. Additionally, cancer risk assessments revealed higher values in densely populated environments. Among the different exposure routes, the hazard quotient for dermal absorption indicated the highest risk.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"12 1","pages":"Article 100600"},"PeriodicalIF":6.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145681961","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":"Low nitrogen in biogas slurry application mitigates antibiotic resistance genes in soil","authors":"Xiang Zhao ,&nbsp;Jian Wang ,&nbsp;Yufei Li ,&nbsp;Qianqian Lang ,&nbsp;Jijin Li ,&nbsp;Bensheng Liu ,&nbsp;Guoyuan Zou ,&nbsp;Junxiang Xu ,&nbsp;Qinping Sun","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100594","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100594","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Agricultural soils treated with biogas slurry (BS) have been extensively recognized as hotspots for the development of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). The application of BS has been demonstrated to significantly elevate the levels of ARGs in soil. However, there remains a limited understanding of how different nitrogen contents within BS affect ARG profiles. The objectives of this study were to explore the changes in ARGs in soil, as well as the potential mechanisms between BS application dosages and ARG patterns through Illumina sequencing and high-throughput quantitative PCR under five amounts of BS application according to the nitrogen contents. Results indicated that no significant alterations were noticed in the abundance of ARGs under low BS applications (0–120 kg N ha⁻¹) comparing to S0, and bacterial networks with different network hubs indicated that significant relationships occurred at high BS treatment (180 kg N ha⁻¹), as well as the highest abundance of ARGs and bacterial abundance observed. However, when the BS application at 240 kg N ha⁻¹ which the soil under saturated conditions, the abundance of ARGs decreased in response to a decrease in bacterial number comparing to 180 kg N ha⁻¹. Structural equation models indicated that the content of NH₄⁺-N in soil was the direct driving factor influencing ARG characterizations in BS-amended soil. In summary, low nitrogen contents within BS (under 180 kg N ha⁻¹) reduced the increase of ARGs in soil, high nitrogen contents (180–240 kg N ha⁻¹) could directly elevate the abundance of ARGs through the introduction of amended nitrogen, disinfection effect of BS played a key role in the decrease of ARGs under anaerobic environments (above 240 kg N ha⁻¹). These findings enhanced our understanding of BS application with different nitrogen contents on ARGs in soil, with significant environmental implications for the precise application of BS and high value utilization.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"12 1","pages":"Article 100594"},"PeriodicalIF":6.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145479184","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":"NaCl enhances cesium adsorption onto microplastics in seawater: A density functional theory perspective","authors":"Jian Song ,&nbsp;Tianyun Jiang ,&nbsp;Yuanyuan Gao ,&nbsp;Yi Duan ,&nbsp;Chao Xiang ,&nbsp;Zixuan Gong ,&nbsp;Feiyu Zhu ,&nbsp;Yinglong Su ,&nbsp;Jinsong Wang ,&nbsp;Qing Liu ,&nbsp;Shuai Zhou ,&nbsp;Zhenping Tang","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100621","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100621","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The interaction between microplastics (MPs) and heavy metals in aquatic environments is well-documented to be modulated by coexisting ions. However, the impact of coexisting ions on the interaction between radioactive heavy metal and MPs at the atomic scale remains poorly understood. This study explored the mechanisms by which coexisting ions affect cesium (Cs⁺) adsorption on MPs through integrated batch adsorption experiments, characterization techniques, and density functional theory calculations. Our results demonstrate that, compared to pure water systems, polystyrene (PS) MPs exhibited significantly enhanced Cs⁺ adsorption capacity in simulated seawater (by up to 1.76 times), with NaCl identified as the primary contributor. Kinetic and isotherm models further revealed that NaCl significantly boosts Cs⁺ adsorption by PS MPs without altering the underlying physical multilayer adsorption mechanism. Surface characterization analysis indicated that NaCl can increase the adsorption sites for Cs⁺ by enhancing the surface roughness of PS MPs. Spectroscopic analysis suggested that the benzene rings of PS MPs play an important role in the Cs⁺ adsorption process. Density functional theory calculations further elucidated that the enhanced Cs⁺ adsorption capacity onto the benzene rings of PS MPs primarily stems from NaCl-induced amplification of dispersion (van der Waals), electrostatic, and particularly polarization effects. These findings provide first atomistic view of seawater ion-facilitated Cs⁺ adsorption on MPs, offering critical theoretical support for the ecological risk assessment of co-occurring MPs and radionuclides in marine ecosystems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"12 1","pages":"Article 100621"},"PeriodicalIF":6.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145879981","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}