Kai Zhang , Cong Li , Guozijian Wei , Yulin Bian , Xiaohong Guan , Yiting Qi , Min Xia , Qing Jiang
{"title":"Innovative sustained-release Ferrate(VI) composites for controlling algal derived disinfection by-products in waters","authors":"Kai Zhang , Cong Li , Guozijian Wei , Yulin Bian , Xiaohong Guan , Yiting Qi , Min Xia , Qing Jiang","doi":"10.1016/j.envres.2025.122415","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envres.2025.122415","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The study presents a novel approach to tackling algal-induced disinfection byproducts (DBPs) in water treatment using potassium ferrate (K<sub>2</sub>FeO<sub>4</sub>) composites coated with paraffin or β-cyclodextrin. The encapsulation technology significantly enhances Fe(VI) stability and enables controlled release, mitigating rapid self-decomposition and oxidative overreaction. Composite materials were synthesized via melt suspension and host-guest encapsulation, achieving encapsulation efficiencies >90 % for paraffin (mass ratio 7:1) and 70 % for β-cyclodextrin. Sustained-release kinetics followed non-Fickian diffusion models (R<sup>2</sup> > 0.98), with optimized 3:1 coating ratios yielding 46–53 % cumulative release over 120 min. Pre-oxidation using coated Fe(VI) reduced total DBPs by 60 %, outperforming uncoated Fe(VI) in controlling brominated species (Tribromomethane reduction: 67.15 % for intracellular organics). Three-dimensional fluorescence and UV spectroscopy analysis confirmed effective degradation of algal-derived aromatic proteins, fulvic acids, and humic substances. β-Cyclodextrin composites demonstrated superior pH adaptability (6–9) and toxicity reduction, lowering mutagenicity and bioconcentration factors by 48–53 % via controlled precursor degradation. Coating-mediated release minimized algal cell lysis, reducing intracellular organic release by 49 % compared to uncoated systems. The study establishes ferrate-coated composites as a dual-functional solution combining oxidation and coagulation, offering enhanced DBPs control in algae-impacted waters while addressing Fe(VI) instability limitations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":312,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Research","volume":"285 ","pages":"Article 122415"},"PeriodicalIF":7.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144696787","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}
Zejun Wang, Zhuoya Dai, Xiaowen Han, Xincong Su, Xiao Yang, Xuedong Wang, Jin Yan, Qiuhui Qian, Huili Wang, Randy A Dahlgren
{"title":"A Potential Mechanism of Triclosan-Induced Neurotoxicity in Zebrafish at Environmental Concentrations: Splicing Disruption of tecra Mediates the circRNA266/miR-214/dapk2-gad2 Axis.","authors":"Zejun Wang, Zhuoya Dai, Xiaowen Han, Xincong Su, Xiao Yang, Xuedong Wang, Jin Yan, Qiuhui Qian, Huili Wang, Randy A Dahlgren","doi":"10.1016/j.envres.2025.122398","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2025.122398","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Many environmental pollutants are known to exhibit neurotoxic effects; however, the initiating molecular events and their associated adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) remain largely unclear. This study investigated the role of circRNA266 and its target miRNA in Triclosan (TCS)-induced neurodevelopmental toxicity in zebrafish (Danio rerio) based on candidates circRNAs identified via high-throughput sequencing. Toxicological effects were characterized at multiple levels, including phenotype alterations, motor behavior, neural damage, and the expression of marker genes. TCS exposure was found to upregulate circRNA266, thereby reducing the availability of free miR-214. As a crucial neuroprotective factor, miR-214 downregulation was associated with increased expression of dapk2 and gad2, resulting in elevated inhibitory neurotransmitter levels and neuronal apoptosis. Furthermore, molecular docking analysis suggests that the upregulation of circRNA266 by TCS may occur via its interaction with U2AF1, thereby disrupting the splicing of the tecra gene. While high concentrations of TCS caused marked neurotoxic phenotypes and behavioral impairments, environmentally relevant concentrations did not elicit overt symptoms. Nonetheless, the activation of key molecular events within the AOP framework suggests a potential neurotoxic risk even at low exposure levels. This study is the first to confirm that TCS induces neurotoxicity in zebrafish by interfering with the splicing of the tecra gene and mediating the regulatory role of the circRNA266/miR-214/dapk2-gad2 signaling axis. These findings provide novel insights into the molecular mechanisms of TCS-induced neurotoxicity and propose a potential new AOP model for environmental risk assessment.</p>","PeriodicalId":312,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Research","volume":" ","pages":"122398"},"PeriodicalIF":7.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144697241","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}
Alexis Elliott, Rajendra Prasad Parajuli, Matthew Mazzella, Kun Yang, Briana N C Chronister, Carin A Huset, Lisa A Peterson, Danilo Martinez, Dana Boyd Barr, Parita Ratnani, Chris Gennings, Franklin de la Cruz, Jose Suarez-Torres, Jose R Suarez-Lopez
{"title":"Concurrent Associations of Glyphosate, Dithiocarbamate Fungicides, and PFAS with Body Fat Composition and BMI in Adolescents from Agricultural Communities.","authors":"Alexis Elliott, Rajendra Prasad Parajuli, Matthew Mazzella, Kun Yang, Briana N C Chronister, Carin A Huset, Lisa A Peterson, Danilo Martinez, Dana Boyd Barr, Parita Ratnani, Chris Gennings, Franklin de la Cruz, Jose Suarez-Torres, Jose R Suarez-Lopez","doi":"10.1016/j.envres.2025.122378","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2025.122378","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Dithiocarbamate fungicides, glyphosate, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are chemicals found in agricultural settings. These chemicals have been linked to anthropometric indicators, but findings are contradictory. This study evaluated associations of PFAS, glyphosate, and dithiocarbamate metabolites (ethylene thiourea [ETU] and propylene thiourea [PTU]) with anthropometric indicators among adolescents in agricultural settings.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We examined 535 adolescents in agricultural communities in Ecuador (ESPINA study) in 2016. Concentrations of urinary pesticides, 6 serum PFAS, and all co-variates of interest were measured in 507 participants. Associations between chemicals and anthropometric measures were calculated using linear regression, and chemical mixtures were assessed using weighted quantile sum regression (WQS). Models adjusted for sex, race, parental education, and number of smokers at home.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Glyphosate had a significant negative association with body mass index (BMI)-for-age z score (difference per a 2-fold increase of chemical concentration (β)= -0.06 SD [95% CI: -0.12, -0.02]) and % body fat (β= -0.31% [95% CI: -0.58, -0.04]). ETU also had a significant negative association with BMI-for-age z score (β= -0.07 SD [-0.12, -0.01]). The mixture of chemicals was also negatively associated with BMI-for-age z scores (difference per a decile increase in the mixture (β<sub>WQS</sub>): -0.10 SD [-0.14, -0.05]) and % body fat (β<sub>WQS</sub>: -0.44 % [-0.72, -0.17]).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Glyphosate, and to an extent ETU, had negative associations with BMI and % body fat in adolescents in these cross-sectional analyses. The mixture of all 4 chemicals had stronger associations with these outcomes compared to any individual chemical. Longitudinal analyses are warranted. These exploratory findings may inform future hypothesis-driven research on pesticide exposures and adolescent body composition.</p>","PeriodicalId":312,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Research","volume":" ","pages":"122378"},"PeriodicalIF":7.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144697243","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}
Waqar Ali, Kang Mao, Muhammad Shafeeque, Muhammad Wajahat Aslam, Hua Zhang, Wei Li
{"title":"Contamination and Risk Assessment of Thallium in the Alluvial Paddy Rice Soil System of Pakistan.","authors":"Waqar Ali, Kang Mao, Muhammad Shafeeque, Muhammad Wajahat Aslam, Hua Zhang, Wei Li","doi":"10.1016/j.envres.2025.122388","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2025.122388","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Thallium (Tl) is considered a highly toxic trace metal. This study not only examines Tl contamination in paddy soil and its accumulation in rice tissues within the Alluvial Indus Basin of Pakistan, but also evaluates its potential risk associated with the food chain. Tl concentrations in paddy soil ranged from 0.01 to 5.89 mg/kg, averaging 0.89 mg/kg, which exceeded the typical background level of 0.58 mg/kg in Chinese soils. Tl levels in rice grains ranged from 0.11 to 1.78 mg/kg, averaging 0.33 mg/kg, with 15.5% of samples exceeding the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India's (FSSAI) limit of 0.2 mg/kg, confirming Tl accumulation and raising health concerns. Geographically weighted regression (GWR) modelling revealed spatially varying correlations between rice Tl and soil (pH, SOM, TOC, TIC, TC, and Tl) and plant tissue (shoot and root Tl) variables, with differential impacts on Tl accumulation. The GWR model determined the Critical Tl Threshold (CTT) for Tl concentrations in paddy soil, confirming significant Tl risk in areas exceeding the CTT. The GWR model also assessed Tl Loading Capacity (TLC), defined as the difference between the CTT and the actual Tl concentration in paddy soil. This analysis identified areas at risk for Tl contamination in rice, classified as low-risk (10%), high-risk (59.2%), and very high-risk (30.8%). The study highlights that children face a significantly higher health risk from Tl exposure, with a Hazard Index (HI) of 29.6%, exceeding the safety threshold. In comparison, adults and lifetime exposure have lower HI values of 19.6% and 19%, respectively. These findings underscore the need for effective soil management strategies to mitigate Tl contamination and associated health risks.</p>","PeriodicalId":312,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Research","volume":" ","pages":"122388"},"PeriodicalIF":7.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144697244","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}
Rijun Hu , Donghan Li , Jiandong Qiu , Jixuan Lyu , Yang Wang , Yongchen Xu , Xiaodong Zhang , Longhai Zhu , Jingrui Li
{"title":"Changes in sedimentary organic carbon sources from rivers to bays and their responses to human activities","authors":"Rijun Hu , Donghan Li , Jiandong Qiu , Jixuan Lyu , Yang Wang , Yongchen Xu , Xiaodong Zhang , Longhai Zhu , Jingrui Li","doi":"10.1016/j.envres.2025.122353","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envres.2025.122353","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Human activities have significantly altered the sources and concentrations of organic carbon (OC) in sediments of rivers and bays, and small-to medium-sized rivers are particularly sensitive to these changes. This study investigates the sources and sequestration of OC in sediments across Laizhou Bay and its riverine inflows under varying human influences. Analyses of total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), δ<sup>13</sup>C, δ<sup>15</sup>N, and C/N ratios indicate that rivers along the southern coast deliver substantial OC fluxes to the ocean. Bayesian stable isotope mixing model analysis reveals that organic matter (OM) in the lower Yellow and Xiaoqing Rivers is mainly derived from soil OM, with minor contributions from sewage. In contrast, OM in the Bailang, Wei, and Jiaolai Rivers predominantly originates from sewage and phytoplankton, reflecting the significant impact of human activities. In Laizhou Bay, terrestrial and marine contributions to OC are 57 % and 43 %, respectively, with shellfish biodeposition playing a crucial role. Overall, human activities such as sewage discharge and shellfish farming have markedly reshaped the sources and contributions of OC across the river-to-bay continuum. Industrial, agricultural, and marine aquaculture activities play critical roles in shaping the river-bay OC system and should not be overlooked.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":312,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Research","volume":"285 ","pages":"Article 122353"},"PeriodicalIF":7.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144670883","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}
Junlin Li , Jiahao Ma , Zhifei Li , Jun Xie , Yuting Zhang , Mengyuan Yu , Yun Xia , Wangbao Gong , Kai Zhang , Guangjun Wang , Quanfa Zhong , Jingjing Tian , Hongyan Li , Wenping Xie
{"title":"C4-HSL drives rapid biofilm formation in low-temperature aquaculture effluent: strengthening structural stability of biofilm and improving nitrogen removal efficiency","authors":"Junlin Li , Jiahao Ma , Zhifei Li , Jun Xie , Yuting Zhang , Mengyuan Yu , Yun Xia , Wangbao Gong , Kai Zhang , Guangjun Wang , Quanfa Zhong , Jingjing Tian , Hongyan Li , Wenping Xie","doi":"10.1016/j.envres.2025.122408","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envres.2025.122408","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>During the centralized discharge of winter aquaculture wastewater, low temperature (≤15 °C) and low C/N ratio (≤5) result in delayed initiation of the biofilm process and decreased nitrogen removal efficiency.The quorum sensing (QS) communication system serves as the core mechanism regulating biofilm formation. This study examined how adding N-butyyl-L-homo-serine lactone (C4-HSL) affects the start-up and nitrogen removal in sequential batch biofilm reactors (SBBR) operated at 14 °C with a C/N ≤ 5. Biofilm adhesion tests showed that C4-HSL levels between 400 and 1200 ng/L notably boosted initial adhesion, peaking at 700 ng/L with a 57.5 % increase over the control. The SBBR results indicated that a high concentration of C4-HSL (700–1000 ng/L) effectively removed TN and COD, achieving a TN removal rate of 91.62 %, which was three times that of the control. C4-HSL enhances low-temperature biofilm nitrogen removal by remodeling the structure of functional microbial communities and enriching bacteria along with functional genes involved in biofilm formation and nitrification-denitrification. Additionally, C4-HSL specifically upregulated the abundance of flagella assembly and biofilm matrix synthesis genes (such as <em>virD4, yegE</em>) and quorum sensing-related genes (such as <em>rpfB, bapA</em>), promoting the secretion of extracellular polymeric substances. This drove the transition of biofilm structure from a loose state to a highly organized one, accelerating the maturation of biofilm adhesion and prolonging the stabilization period of the biofilm by 15–20 days. This study revealed the influence of C4-HSL on the initiation mechanism of low-temperature biofilm process from the perspective of quorum sensing regulation, providing a theoretical basis and technical pathway for developing aquaculture effluent treatment technologies based on quorum sensing regulation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":312,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Research","volume":"285 ","pages":"Article 122408"},"PeriodicalIF":7.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144696785","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":"Heat Exposure and Adverse Birth Outcomes: Modification by Residential Greenness in a 14-Year Prospective Cohort Study in Taiwan.","authors":"Ming-Lun Zou, Shih-Chun Candice Lung, Chih-Da Wu, Jian-Pei Huang, Heng-Kien Au, Yi-Yong Chen, Hsing-Jasmine Chao, Shih-Peng Mao, Pilyoung Kim, Wen-Yi Lin, Yi-Hua Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.envres.2025.122411","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2025.122411","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Pregnant women are vulnerable to climate change, with high ambient temperature (AT) associated with adverse birth outcomes. Inconsistent study designs, limited metrics, and unclear roles of greenness as an adaptation strategy hinder region-specific climate policies. This study assessed the effects of prenatal heat exposure on birth outcomes and whether greenness moderates this association.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Participants were recruited from the ongoing Longitudinal Examination Across Prenatal and Postpartum Health in Taiwan project, initiated in 2011. Birth outcomes were analyzed from 2011 to 2024. Heat exposure was defined as mean daily AT and wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT) exceeding the 95th percentile across trimester stages, and birth outcomes were obtained from Children's Health Booklet records. Residential greenness was assessed using the normalized difference vegetation index. General linear and logistic regression models were applied.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 1,478 births were analyzed. Exposure to extreme heat during late or the entire pregnancy was associated with a reduced gestation period (AT in late pregnancy: β = -0.60, 95% CI: -0.98, -0.23; WBGT in entire pregnancy: β = -0.75, 95% CI: -1.19, -0.31) and increased risk of preterm birth (AT in late pregnancy: OR = 3.08, 95% CI: 1.45, 6.53; WBGT in entire pregnancy: OR = 3.35, 95% CI: 1.39, 8.06). High WBGT in late pregnancy predicted low birth weight. These effects were more pronounced during the hottest and coldest months and in areas with low residential greenness, suggesting a protective role of green space.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>High AT and WBGT during pregnancy are associated with shorter gestation, lower birth weight, and elevated risks of preterm and low birth weight, particularly in late pregnancy. WBGT is a useful indicator of heat exposure. Greenness helps mitigate the aforementioned effects, underscoring the importance of residential environments. Our findings offer key insights for public health and urban planning.</p>","PeriodicalId":312,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Research","volume":" ","pages":"122411"},"PeriodicalIF":7.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144697245","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}
Ruxian Jing, Xiuhong Liu, Yaxin Wang, Nan Zhang, Shiyong Zhang, Qing Yang
{"title":"New Insights into Fungi-Mediated Flocculation of Chlorella vulgaris: A Transcriptomics - Metabolomics Integration from Biosynthesis to Mechanism.","authors":"Ruxian Jing, Xiuhong Liu, Yaxin Wang, Nan Zhang, Shiyong Zhang, Qing Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.envres.2025.122391","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2025.122391","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Despite fungi-mediated bioflocculation being a promising strategy for efficient Chlorella vulgaris (C. vulgaris) harvesting, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unexplored. In this research, a high-performance flocculating fungi strain, Alternaria alternata J-28 was isolated from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). The flocculation performance and properties were assessed. The flocculants and flocculation mechanisms were explored by metabolomics and transcriptomics. The findings indicated that Alternaria alternata J-28, a strain of indigenous fungi from WWTPs could not only harvest C .vulgaris with an efficiency of up to 97% within just 30 minutes but also facilitated the growth of C. vulgaris. The porous network mycelium was found to promote C. vulgaris flocculation, while the secreted flocculants such as N-Acetyl-D-Phenylalanine, N-Acetyl-L-Tyrosine, and N-Acetyl-D-Tryptophan were identified for the first time. The synthesis of these flocculants was influenced by several KEGG pathways such as signal transduction, amino acid metabolism, and membrane transport. Alternaria alternata J-28 flocculated C. vulgaris by secreting natural flocculants, supplementing the gap in the flocculation mechanism and contributing to the C. vulgaris harvest for microalgae resource utilization.</p>","PeriodicalId":312,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Research","volume":" ","pages":"122391"},"PeriodicalIF":7.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144697246","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}
Arnab K Dey, Anna Dimitrova, Anita Raj, Tarik Benmarhnia
{"title":"The effect of extreme temperatures on healthcare utilization during pregnancy: Findings from a nationally representative survey in India.","authors":"Arnab K Dey, Anna Dimitrova, Anita Raj, Tarik Benmarhnia","doi":"10.1016/j.envres.2025.122410","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2025.122410","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Extreme temperatures are increasing in frequency and severity, posing growing risks to maternal and child health through adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes. This challenge is especially pronounced in countries like India, that lack adequate protections against climate-related health risks. While socio-economic and accessibility barriers already limit healthcare utilization during pregnancy, climatic factors such as extreme temperatures can create additional obstacles to accessing these essential services, thereby influencing pregnancy and birth outcomes both directly and indirectly.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), a nationally representative survey for India. We examined recent healthcare utilization reported by women in their fifth month of pregnancy or later (N = 10,606). Temperature exposure was measured using daily Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT), Heat Index, and Dry Bulb Temperature (DBT) matched to respondents' geo-coded residential clusters. We calculated the number of days during the study period when temperature values exceeded or fell below extreme temperature thresholds. Generalized mixed-effects models with Inverse Propensity of Treatment Weighting (IPTW) examined associations between extreme temperature and no healthcare contact, with effect modification tested across socioeconomic variables.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>Extreme heat exposure significantly increased the likelihood of healthcare non-utilization among pregnant women, with the strongest associations observed for WBGT and Heat Index measures. Each additional day above the 90th percentile WBGT threshold increased odds of no healthcare contact by 11%, with similar patterns across the 85th and 95th percentiles. Heat Index showed consistent positive associations across all thresholds (8-11% increases), while DBT trends were positive but not statistically significant. For extreme cold exposure, temperature indicators showed some association with healthcare non-utilization, though results were not consistent across exposure definitions. We did not find evidence of effect modification across socioeconomic groups, with only a few isolated exposure definitions showing significant difference between subgroups.</p>","PeriodicalId":312,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Research","volume":" ","pages":"122410"},"PeriodicalIF":7.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144697261","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}
Lili Liu , Ke Lei , Xuan Gao , Ming Zhang , Haowei Wang , Shengdao Shan , Stephen D. Joseph , Jing Fang
{"title":"Aeration-assisted removal of tetracycline from wastewater by biochar: mechanisms and cost-benefit analysis","authors":"Lili Liu , Ke Lei , Xuan Gao , Ming Zhang , Haowei Wang , Shengdao Shan , Stephen D. Joseph , Jing Fang","doi":"10.1016/j.envres.2025.122407","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envres.2025.122407","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The synergistic removal of antibiotics from wastewater by biochar adsorption and degradation under aeration-driven conditions is limited so far, and its feasibility has not been evaluated through a cost-benefit analysis. This study systematically investigated the removal of tetracycline by four biochars such as peanut shell biochar (PSB), rice straw biochar (RSB), sewage sludge biochar (SSB), and putrescible waste biochar (PWB) from wastewater under aeration conditions, then explored their mechanisms and key influence factors. Furthermore, a rigorous cost-benefit analysis was conducted to assess the economic feasibility of the aeration-assisted biochar method. Results showed that the tetracycline removal efficiency of biochar under aeration was significantly higher than that under anaerobic conditions, with SSB achieving the highest efficiency (86.9 %). Tetracycline underwent substantial degradation with the rate of SSB (16.7 %) > RSB (10.7 %) > PWB (7.8 %) > PSB (4.4 %), which was primarily driven by aeration-induced hydroxyl radicals (·OH) through oxidation of double bonds, loss of dimethylamino groups, dehydration, oxidation of aromatic rings, and cleavage of carbon rings. The impacts of aeration intensity, biochar dosage, pH, ionic strength, ammonium nitrogen, and oxygen-consuming organic compounds on the removal varied with biochar types. The tetracycline removal by SSB was minimally affected by solution composition, with high efficiency in simulated wastewater and stable regeneration performance. Furthermore, the aeration-assisted SSB method exhibited the highest economic benefits for tetracycline removal, costing 49.8 USD kg<sup>−1</sup> compared to chemically modified biochar (77.9–1791.7 USD kg<sup>−1</sup>) and biochar-based advanced oxidation (78.9–202.4 USD kg<sup>−1</sup>). This study highlights the viability of aeration-assisted biochar for tetracycline removal in wastewater.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":312,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Research","volume":"285 ","pages":"Article 122407"},"PeriodicalIF":7.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144696786","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}