Chemosphere最新文献

{"title":"Fenton and photo-Fenton strategies for sustainable pesticide decontamination. A review","authors":"Juan M. Peralta-Hernández ,&nbsp;Enric Brillas","doi":"10.1016/j.chemosphere.2025.144784","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chemosphere.2025.144784","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides are synthetic pesticides widely used to control or destroy pests in agriculture. Their toxic persistence as residues in waters and soils is hazardous for plants and animals, necessitating their removal. This article presents a critical and comprehensive review of recent trends of Fenton and photo-Fenton strategies to destroy such pollutants from 2021 to May 2025. In synthetic solutions, homogeneous Fenton with H₂O₂/Fe²⁺ yielding oxidant ^•OH was limited to pH = 3.0 and by Fe(OH)₃ sludge precipitation upon neutralization. Homogeneous Fenton-like processes with iron complexes solved this situation, allowing complete abatement of herbicides at higher pH values. Heterogeneous Fenton and Fenton-like processes with the generation of ^•OH, O₂^•−, and/or ¹O₂ oxidants also gave good degradation at pH &gt; 3.0. Photo-Fenton upgraded Fenton by producing more ^•OH from photo-Fenton reaction and photolysis of final Fe(III)-carboxylate species. Fast degradation was achieved at pH = 3.0 by homogeneous photo-Fenton upon UVC light and at pH = 7.0 by solar heterogeneous photo-Fenton. Combined processes like photocatalysis/photo-Fenton were more effective in removing pesticides than the individual ones. Pesticides in real wastewater were more slowly remediated than in pure water by heterogeneous Fenton and photo-Fenton. Positive Fenton treatments were applied to soils contaminated with pesticides, using activators/oxidants added to soil or soil washing effluents. The toxicity analysis of treated pesticide solutions by predictive programs of primary by-products and experimental assessment with microalgae, bacteria, and plants is detailed. The scaling up for industrial pesticide wastewaters is discussed as the main challenge of these treatments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":276,"journal":{"name":"Chemosphere","volume":"394 ","pages":"Article 144784"},"PeriodicalIF":8.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145650435","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":"Multilevel ecotoxicological assessment of three soil-applied pesticides using Allium cepa and Vicia faba as plant bioindicator models","authors":"Ahmed Farahat El-Aswad ,&nbsp;Sabreen A. Ahmed,&nbsp;Maher Ibrahim Aly","doi":"10.1016/j.chemosphere.2025.144799","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chemosphere.2025.144799","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>While pesticides are widely used for pest control, they can adversely affect non-target plants by inducing physiological, cytogenetic, anatomical, and biochemical disturbances, many of which are overlooked in standard phytotoxicity evaluations. This study investigated the effects of three soil-applied pesticides aldicarb, carboxin, and metribuzin, on two plant bioassay models, <em>Allium cepa</em> and <em>Vicia faba</em>. Cytogenetic parameters (mitotic index, mitotic phase distribution, and chromosomal aberrations), anatomical structures, and key enzyme activities (peroxidase, phosphatase, esterase, RNase) were assessed. All pesticides caused a concentration-dependent decline in mitotic index and increased chromosomal abnormalities, particularly metaphase suppression, chromosomal fragments, and stickiness. <em>A. cepa</em> was generally more sensitive than <em>V. faba</em>. Metribuzin exhibited the highest genotoxicity, followed by carboxin and aldicarb. Vegetative growth was significantly reduced, with the aldicarb having the strongest inhibitory effect. Metribuzin induced a biphasic (hormetic) response, enhancing growth at low concentrations but inhibiting it at higher doses. Anatomical analysis revealed severe tissue damage, including phloem collapse, cortical degradation, and abnormal vascular development, especially under aldicarb. Enzyme assays showed tissue- and dose-specific disruptions: peroxidase was stimulated at low doses but inhibited at higher ones; esterase and phosphatase were significantly suppressed, especially by metribuzin, while RNase was least affected. These results highlight the need to consider both visible and subtle sub-lethal effects in pesticide risk assessments. <em>A. cepa</em> and <em>V. faba</em> proved to be sensitive and reliable models for ecotoxicological screening, supporting their continued use in regulatory evaluations of pesticide safety.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":276,"journal":{"name":"Chemosphere","volume":"395 ","pages":"Article 144799"},"PeriodicalIF":8.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146020915","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":"Manipulating dosing regimes to optimise nitrogen removal in partially-saturated vertical-flow treatment wetlands","authors":"Sukhjit P. Singh ,&nbsp;Chris C. Tanner ,&nbsp;James P.S. Sukias ,&nbsp;Mark C. Lay ,&nbsp;Graeme Glasgow","doi":"10.1016/j.chemosphere.2026.144827","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chemosphere.2026.144827","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Partially saturated vertical flow (PSVF) wetlands represent a promising, low-cost and easily implemented wastewater treatment technology for on-site treatment in small communities. However, to date, no studies have evaluated PSVF systems under realistic diurnal loading conditions which reflect the fluctuating inflows typical of small-scale household applications. Previous research has largely focused on flow-equalised dosing regimes and the influence of operational parameters, particularly dose volume, has received little attention. To address this gap, this study assesses the treatment performance of three PSVF wetland configurations (zeolite–woodchips, gravel–woodchips, and complete woodchips) subjected to diurnal loading. Three discrete dose volumes (2.75, 5.5, and 11 mm) were applied while maintaining a constant daily hydraulic loading rate of 110 mm d⁻¹, enabling systematic evaluation of how dosing strategies interact with media composition under realistic operating conditions. Organic matter and TSS performance under diurnal loading was similar to that under regular dosing with all PSVF systems achieving removals greater than 95% for cBOD₅ and ∼85% for TSS. Zeolite-woodchip systems consistently removed 97–99% of ammoniacal nitrogen irrespective of dose size, while removal for gravel-woodchip and complete woodchip systems declined with increasing dose size. Both the free-draining (FDL) and saturated layers (SL) contributed to overall TN removal. TN removal peaked at 93% in the complete woodchip system at the smallest diurnal dose but fell below 60% at larger doses due to ammonium breakthrough. In contrast, zeolite-woodchip systems provided 75% TN removal at the large diurnal dose size, comparable to regular hourly dosing operation. Denitrification rates in the woodchip SL were similar across systems and dosing regime falling within the range of 4–6.5 g m⁻³ d⁻¹. Larger applied dose size increased breakthrough of <em>E. coli</em> and phosphorus, due to more rapid percolation of wastewater through the FDL.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":276,"journal":{"name":"Chemosphere","volume":"395 ","pages":"Article 144827"},"PeriodicalIF":8.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146020966","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":"Synergistic phosphorus removal from water using core–shell manganese–iron nanocomposites: Adsorption performance and recovery potential","authors":"Dina H. Elsalamony ,&nbsp;Ibrahim Maamoun ,&nbsp;Osama Eljamal","doi":"10.1016/j.chemosphere.2025.144781","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chemosphere.2025.144781","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Nano zero-valent manganese and nano zero-valent iron were chemically combined to form a bimetallic composite (nZVMI). The synthesized materials were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction, along with kinetics, thermodynamics, and isotherm studies. Their capability, performance, and fundamental mechanisms for adsorbing phosphorus were investigated. Comparative tests demonstrated the synergistic superiority of nZVMI overusing both nZVM and nZVI alone. It was found that the analyzed bimetal acts as a composite with a core-shell structure that can adsorb up to 346.50 mg/g of phosphorus at 0.2 g/L of adsorbent dosage at a pH of 5 and for a 50 mg/L phosphorus solution. The reaction mechanisms of phosphorus using nZVMI were probably described as adsorption, surface complexation, co-precipitation, and electrostatic sorption. The adsorption mechanisms of the synthesized adsorbents fit the second-order pseudo-kinetic model. This study presents a new method for effectively removing phosphorus from water and improves the understanding of phosphorus interactions between nZVM and nZVMI. This bimetallic composite has a sustainable potential for effectively removing phosphorus from real river water with 99.5 % removal efficiency, providing phosphorus recovery, which is one of the priority agendas for global food security.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":276,"journal":{"name":"Chemosphere","volume":"394 ","pages":"Article 144781"},"PeriodicalIF":8.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145662854","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":"Investigating plastic in organic fertilizers: A 2-year comparative study","authors":"Daniela Thomas ,&nbsp;Kristof Dorau ,&nbsp;Elke Bloem","doi":"10.1016/j.chemosphere.2025.144765","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chemosphere.2025.144765","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The application of organic fertilizers such as compost and sewage sludge to agricultural soils has emerged as a significant pathway for introducing (micro)plastics into terrestrial environments, where they may leach into groundwater, be ingested by soil organisms, or enter the food chain through plant uptake. The impact of plastic contamination introduced into soils via different types of organic fertilizers remains insufficiently quantified, particularly concerning the quantity, polymer composition, and particle size distribution of plastics. While research has highlighted the presence of microplastics in organic waste products, a comprehensive evaluation comparing various fertilizer types is lacking. This study investigates plastic contamination within seven organic fertilizers (e.g. green waste and biowaste composts, etc.) by analyzing polymer types, particle sizes, surface areas, and mass distribution in two consecutive years. While plastics were the primary focus of detailed characterization, the presence of glass and metal was also recorded to provide a broader context of foreign matter contamination.</div><div>Three out of seven organic fertilizers (dry chicken manure, digested pig manure, and mixed digestate) and straws remained visually free of foreign matter in both years. Each visual-isolated particle of the remaining fertilizer piles was manually analyzed. Attenuated-total reflectance with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and siMPle were used for identification, showing that 82 % of the foreign substances were plastic. The particle number, mass, and size distribution were further contextualized by incorporating pile surfaces and application rates to calculate plastic loads per square meter (m²). Key findings reveal that biowaste compost of 2023 exhibited the highest plastic mass (1.51 g/m²), while green waste compost and sewage sludge of the same year exhibited lower contamination levels (0.069 and 0.125 g/m²). However, variability between 2022 and 2023 was pronounced, complicating definitive conclusions about generally higher abundances of foreign matter. These results underscore the necessity for further long-term research to establish guidance on surveilling abundant foreign matter and incorporate this data into regulatory frameworks. Implications suggest that the quality of input materials and processing procedures plays a vital role in the particle mass and count of foreign matter, requiring stricter monitoring protocols to reduce the environmental impact of plastics in organic fertilizers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":276,"journal":{"name":"Chemosphere","volume":"394 ","pages":"Article 144765"},"PeriodicalIF":8.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145656746","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":"Upcycling industrial plating effluent for rapid synthesis of Ag-decorated defective WO3 with enhanced photocatalytic activity","authors":"Patcharapa Youyencharoen ,&nbsp;Premsinee Junchum ,&nbsp;Naphat Posachayanan ,&nbsp;Auttawit Thoumrungroj ,&nbsp;Pimchanok Longchin ,&nbsp;Mali Hunsom","doi":"10.1016/j.chemosphere.2025.144793","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chemosphere.2025.144793","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A silver-containing industrial plating effluent was upcycled as silver source for synthesize Ag-decorated WO₃ catalysts for photocatalytic dye removal. WO₃ was first synthesized via acid precipitation and calcination, and subsequently decorated by silver species from plating effluent by photodeposition. Through the proposed procedure, the upcycled silver species were identified as Ag/Ag₂S, resulting in the formation of Ag-WO₃ catalysts with enhanced light absorption capacity, increased defect density, and improved charge separation efficiency compared to pristine WO₃. Content of Ag/Ag₂S decorated on WO₃ surface played crucial role in enhancing the activity of WO₃ for methylene blue (MB) removal. Among all synthesized Ag-WO₃ catalysts, the 4.8 Ag-WO₃ sample demonstrated the highest photocatalytic efficiency, achieving over 99 % MB removal within 90 min under visible light irradiation. Photogenerated h⁺ and O₂^•- exhibited an essential role in MB removal using the Ag-WO₃ catalysts. The results of this study highlight a promising and sustainable strategy for synthesizing the waste-derived, silver-based photocatalysts from industrial silver-containing wastewater. This approach aligns with the principles of green synthesis, offers strong potential for scalability, and supports the concept of a circular economy by promoting waste reduction through a simple, cost-effective method for addressing wastewater.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":276,"journal":{"name":"Chemosphere","volume":"394 ","pages":"Article 144793"},"PeriodicalIF":8.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145691791","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":"Implementation of (aided)phytoextraction in Pb/Zn mine tailings using hyperaccumulators improves soil health","authors":"V. Álvarez-López ,&nbsp;B. Rodríguez-Garrido ,&nbsp;A. Prieto-Fernández ,&nbsp;C. Trasar-Cepeda ,&nbsp;C. Monterroso ,&nbsp;P. Kidd","doi":"10.1016/j.chemosphere.2025.144780","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chemosphere.2025.144780","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Phytoextraction is a soil remediation technique that involves growing plants capable of absorbing and accumulating high levels of trace metals in their aboveground parts from contaminated soils. The process can be aided by the use of organic amendments or the intercropping of plants. A field trial of (aided)phytoextraction was implemented in an abandoned Pb/Zn-mining area in the NW of Spain. The Cd/Zn-hyperaccumulator <em>Noccaea caerulescens</em> was planted in monoculture or co-cropped with the leguminous <em>Lotus corniculatus</em> in replicate plots established in non-amended or compost-amended mine tailings. Compost amendment improved soil properties such as total C and N contents, C/N ratio and nutrient availability, but decreased soil metal availability. Compost addition improved plant nutrition and biomass production of the hyperaccumulator. After 1.5 years of plant growth, no significant changes in soil total metal concentrations were observed. However, the concentrations of NH₄Cl-extractable Zn decreased in plots cultivated with <em>N. caerulescens</em>. Intercropping with the legume induced significant increases in shoot metal concentrations in the hyperaccumulator. Both plant cover and compost addition increased the activity of hydrolytic and dehydrogenase enzymes, while decreasing catalase activity, which showed abnormally high values in mine tailings. The successful establishment of plant cover was essential to maintaining the improvement of organic matter and other soil properties induced by the compost amendment over time.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":276,"journal":{"name":"Chemosphere","volume":"394 ","pages":"Article 144780"},"PeriodicalIF":8.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145623429","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":"Mercury contamination in a changing climate: One health approaches to human, wildlife, and ecosystem protection","authors":"Marília Cristina Oliveira Souza ,&nbsp;Fernando Barbosa Jr. ,&nbsp;Jose L. Domingo","doi":"10.1016/j.chemosphere.2025.144821","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chemosphere.2025.144821","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Mercury contamination exemplifies one of the most pressing global environmental health challenges of the 21st century, requiring integrated solutions that transcend disciplinary boundaries. This review provides the first comprehensive synthesis of mercury science through an explicit One Health lens, linking human, wildlife, and ecosystem health with the accelerating impacts of climate change. Mercury's global cycling and long-range transport generate interconnected exposure pathways, which simultaneously endanger human populations, biodiversity, and ecosystem integrity. The neurotoxic effects of methylmercury display remarkable cross-species consistency, driven by conserved mechanisms such as oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and impaired neurodevelopment. Vulnerable groups, including pregnant women, lactating women, infants, children, populations with chronic comorbidities, indigenous communities, and apex predators, face disproportionate risks due to biomagnification and cumulative exposures. Despite regulatory advances, notably the Minamata Convention and its 2023 amendments, ongoing emissions and climate-driven perturbations continue to undermine management efforts. The present review identifies critical gaps in mixture toxicology, ecosystem-level consequences, and climate-mercury feedback. It proposes integrated interventions that simultaneously safeguard human health, wildlife populations, and environmental quality. By situating mercury contamination within the One Health framework, the review highlights the urgent need for coordinated transdisciplinary action to mitigate risks and advance planetary health.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":276,"journal":{"name":"Chemosphere","volume":"394 ","pages":"Article 144821"},"PeriodicalIF":8.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145880338","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":"Respirable mineral fibres in leaf surface dust: Micro-characterisation and evidence of a geogenic origin","authors":"Wenxia (Wendy) Fan ,&nbsp;Kim N. Dirks ,&nbsp;Alessandro F. Gualtieri ,&nbsp;Paul G. Young ,&nbsp;Ayrton Hamilton ,&nbsp;Janki P. Patel ,&nbsp;Timothy D. Christopher ,&nbsp;Jennifer A. Salmond","doi":"10.1016/j.chemosphere.2025.144787","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chemosphere.2025.144787","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Naturally occurring fibrous minerals, including erionite and amphiboles, are classified as <em>Group 1</em> carcinogens, and pose an environmental health risk when inhaled in respirable sizes. In volcaniclastic regions, road cuttings that disturb and expose fibre-bearing formations can release airborne fibres through weathering and human activities. To investigate this process, this study collected surface dust and rock samples from roadside environments in a New Zealand volcaniclastic setting and analysed fibre abundance, characteristics, and the connection between rock sources and airborne fibres.</div><div>Fibrous particles were detected in surface leaf dust on both sides of the road at all 11 sampling sites, with fibre abundance ranging from 462 to 61,595 fibres/cm². Of the 338 fibres measured, 93 % were within the respirable size range (geometric diameter &lt;3 μm), and 15 % met the WHO criteria for hazardous fibres (length ≥5 μm, width &lt;3 μm, aspect ratio &gt;3:1). Chemical analysis indicated that most fibres had Si/(Si + Al) ratios consistent with mordenite, while crystallographic data confirmed 84 % mordenite, 13 % erionite, and 3 % amphibole. Mordenite was also the dominant crystalline phase in the rock samples, and fibre abundance in surface dust correlated moderately with mordenite concentrations in the corresponding bulk samples (Kendall's tau = 0.49, <em>p</em> = 0.04).</div><div>These findings reveal an under-recognised environmental exposure pathway of respirable mineral fibres from roadside exposed volcanic outcrops, and highlight the need for further monitoring and health risk evaluation in volcanic regions where fibrous zeolite and amphibole minerals are naturally occurring and disturbed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":276,"journal":{"name":"Chemosphere","volume":"394 ","pages":"Article 144787"},"PeriodicalIF":8.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145679538","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":"Polyselenylsulfides as neglected central intermediates in Selenium cycling","authors":"Mathieu Martinez ,&nbsp;Markus Lenz","doi":"10.1016/j.chemosphere.2025.144779","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chemosphere.2025.144779","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Selenium (Se) is an essential yet toxic trace element; it has one of the narrowest nutritional optimums of all elements. The speciation of Se significantly influences its mobility, toxicity, bioavailability, and bioaccumulation. Se environmental cycling has been generally understood as a sequence of bidirectional redox processes of Se species. Elemental Se (Se⁰) is considered a central species that is thermodynamically favoured in the redox conditions found in most environments. This study reports the identification of a novel group of dissolved species called polyselenylsulfides (with the general formula Se_xS_y²⁻). These species form upon the reaction of Se⁰ with sulfide. Using derivatisation and ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionisation quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry, polysulfides (S_x²⁻, x = 2–6), selenide (Se²⁻), polyselenides (Se_x²⁻, x = 2–3), and previously undetected polyselenylsulfides (SeS²⁻, SeS₂²⁻, Se₂S²⁻, and SeS₃²⁻) were identified. The reaction was spontaneous and proceeded rapidly at alkaline pH (completed within &lt;24 h). A slower and incomplete reaction was observed at circumneutral pH. The fast and spontaneous reaction down to circumneutral pH suggests the ubiquitous importance of polyselenylsulfides in sulfidic environments and calls for revising the environmental fate of Se. The existence of polyselenylsulfides challenges the traditional ‘selenocentric’ view, which focuses on specific, bidirectional redox reactions that only involve Se species. Moreover, the perception of Se⁰ as a terminal, insoluble species in many anoxic environments is questioned. The adoption of a ‘chalcogenic’ perspective is proposed, wherein the selenium and sulfur cycles are closely interconnected and the fate of Se is governed by the presence of sulfide.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":276,"journal":{"name":"Chemosphere","volume":"394 ","pages":"Article 144779"},"PeriodicalIF":8.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145673025","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}