Blanca Astray, Gildas Ratié, Vladislav Chrastný, Michael Komárek, Edgar Berrezueta, Diego Baragaño
{"title":"Magnetic separation coupled with Pb–Cd stable isotopes to unravel geochemical background in metal(loid)-polluted areas","authors":"Blanca Astray, Gildas Ratié, Vladislav Chrastný, Michael Komárek, Edgar Berrezueta, Diego Baragaño","doi":"10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.142171","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.142171","url":null,"abstract":"A common approach to assess soil pollution is to compare elemental concentrations with geochemical background levels. However, in contaminated areas, these values are often difficult to define due to the superposition of geogenic contributions and multiple historical anthropogenic inputs. Here, we propose an innovative approach in which magnetic separation is applied as a pretreatment prior to lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) stable isotope analyses to identify the geochemical background in polluted soils. Soils affected by historical smelting activities were collected at a highly contaminated site. The geochemical background was inferred from the characterization of the parent material and multivariate statistical analyses reported in previous studies, while potential pollution sources were identified through smelter-derived fly ashes and slags. Soil samples were subjected to magnetic separation using a wet high-intensity magnetic separator at different magnetic field intensities (10, 30, and 50%), aiming to concentrate anthropogenic particles in the magnetic fraction. Marked differences between magnetic and non-magnetic fractions were observed, particularly at the lowest magnetic intensity. At 10%, Pb in the non-magnetic fraction showed an isotopic signature consistent with the parent material (<sup>206</sup>Pb/<sup>204</sup>Pb = 18.43), whereas the magnetic fraction matched the pollution source (<sup>206</sup>Pb/<sup>204</sup>Pb = 17.97). Similarly, the magnetic fraction was enriched in lighter Cd isotopes (<em>δ</em>¹¹⁴Cd = 0.14 ± 0.02‰), consistent with fly ash signatures, while the non-magnetic fraction was heavier (<em>δ</em>¹¹⁴Cd = −0.34 ± 0.05‰), reflecting the geogenic background. Overall, our results demonstrate that magnetic separation constitutes an effective and relatively low-cost pre-treatment for disentangling geogenic and anthropogenic contributions in metal-contaminated soils.","PeriodicalId":361,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hazardous Materials","volume":"13 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":13.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147751513","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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}
Alexia L. Kafkoutsou, Marshley Stewart, Umer Bakali, Cynthia Campos Beaver, Gregory O’Connor, Erin N. Kobetz, Alberto J. Caban-Martinez, Sapna K. Deo, Sylvia Daunert, Natasha Schaefer Solle
{"title":"Vaginal Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), HPV infection, and Vaginal Microbiome in Firefighters: a cross-sectional study","authors":"Alexia L. Kafkoutsou, Marshley Stewart, Umer Bakali, Cynthia Campos Beaver, Gregory O’Connor, Erin N. Kobetz, Alberto J. Caban-Martinez, Sapna K. Deo, Sylvia Daunert, Natasha Schaefer Solle","doi":"10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.142072","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.142072","url":null,"abstract":"Female firefighters are routinely exposed to combustion-derived toxicants, yet the reproductive health implications of this exposure are largely unknown. We investigated whether polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are detectable in the vaginal tract of female firefighters and whether these contaminants are linked to high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and vaginal microbiome alterations. In this cross-sectional study 49 female firefighters and 51 community controls self-collected vaginal swabs for analysis of 16 EPA-priority PAHs, high-risk HPV, and microbial composition. All 16 PAHs were detectable and median total PAHs were 3-fold higher in firefighters than controls (p<.0001). PAH burden increased with firefighting tenure showing a strong positive correlation between high- and low-molecular-weight congeners (r=0.85). High-risk HPV was detected in 12.2% of firefighters versus 3.9% of controls and was associated with higher PAH levels (p=0.02). Firefighters exhibited a microbiome shift characterized by increased relative abundance of <em>Gardnerella</em> (r=0.32 with total PAHs) and reduced <em>Lactobacillus</em> dominance. Detection of vaginal PAHs along with their associations with HPV and dysbiosis, suggests a previously unrecognized pathway by which occupational exposures may elevate cervical cancer risk. Targeted exposure reduction policies and vigilant gynecologic screening should be considered for this underserved workforce.","PeriodicalId":361,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hazardous Materials","volume":"22 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":13.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147755227","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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}
Carla Comadran-Casas, Fabien Cholet, Ayo Ogundero, Baptiste A.J. Poursat, Cindy J. Smith, William T. Sloan, Adrian M. Bass, John MacDonald, Cise Unluer, Caroline Gauchotte-Lindsay
{"title":"Sporosarcina pasteurii urease gene expression regulation mechanism overcomes urease inhibition by hydrocarbons","authors":"Carla Comadran-Casas, Fabien Cholet, Ayo Ogundero, Baptiste A.J. Poursat, Cindy J. Smith, William T. Sloan, Adrian M. Bass, John MacDonald, Cise Unluer, Caroline Gauchotte-Lindsay","doi":"10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.142148","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.142148","url":null,"abstract":"Hydrocarbons have been shown to both inhibit and stimulate soil ureolysis, indicating under certain pollution conditions indigenous ureolytic communities perform better than in absence of contaminants, pointing to an unresolved adaptation mechanism. In this study we conducted a molecular investigation on <em>ureC</em> gene expression of model Microbial-Induced Calcite Precipitation (MICP) bacterium <em>Sporosarcina pasteurii</em> during growth under increasing concentrations of hydrocarbon water extracts obtained from a coal tar polluted soil to ensure environmental relevance. Results indicated <em>S. pasteurii</em> ability to carry out ureolysis from low initial cell concentration (OD<sub>600, initial</sub> = 0.01). Flow cytometry showed insignificant differences in growth despite undergoing significant cell membrane damage at the highest hydrocarbon concentration. Quantification of <em>ureC</em> gene revealed a significant increase in urease transcription per unit cell with increasing hydrocarbon concentration, indicating higher urease synthesis to maintain similar ureolysis rates. We postulate this adaptation mechanism was in response to the nitrogen deficiency caused by intracellular urease inhibition by hydrocarbons. The temporal dynamics in <em>ureC</em> gene expression indicated urease transcription in <em>S. pasteurii</em> was inductive rather than constitutive. This gene up-regulation mechanism resulted in earlier ureolysis and achievement of environmental conditions favourable for calcium carbonate precipitation compared to the absence of hydrocarbons. The results of this study could elucidate the underlying mechanism leading to enhanced soil ureolysis observed under certain hydrocarbon pollution scenarios.","PeriodicalId":361,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hazardous Materials","volume":"28 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":13.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147732195","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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}
Thanh-Dat Pham, Sang-Hyun Lee, Pil-Gon Kim, Jung-Hwan Kwon
{"title":"Reply to the Correspondence on “Total Organic Carbon-Based Proxy for QuEChERS Estimation of Microplastic Mass in Soils”","authors":"Thanh-Dat Pham, Sang-Hyun Lee, Pil-Gon Kim, Jung-Hwan Kwon","doi":"10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.142017","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.142017","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":361,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hazardous Materials","volume":"27 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":13.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147736777","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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":"A Gravity-Driven Full-Scale Digital Lung Modeling Aerosol Deposition Hotspots and Localized Exposure Risks","authors":"Jiahuan Meng, Chen Ma, Zhong Ni, Huajing Wan, Yu Chen, Fengming Luo","doi":"10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.141971","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.141971","url":null,"abstract":"Exposure to hazardous aerosol represent critical driver of chronic and acute pulmonary diseases. Conventional inhalation risk assessments frequently rely on mean deposition indices and simplified mechanical models, failing to reproduce ventilatory heterogeneity, thereby masking regional difference in aerosol deposition. To elucidate the correlation between regional airflow dynamics and tissue vulnerability, we developed an anatomically full-scale digital lung model that incorporates nonlinear compliance and gravity-driven pleural pressure gradients to simulate particle deposition during quiet, up-right breathing in healthy adults. Numerical simulations of aerosol particles (0.1–10<!-- --> <!-- -->µm) over a complete respiratory cycle revealed a distinct gravity-dependent heterogenous deposition pattern: The highest deposition intensity was observed in the right lower lobe and left lower lobe, while the lowest occurred in the right upper lobe. Three deposition hotspots were identified: two in the right lower lobe (0.53%/m<sup>2</sup>) and left lower lobe (0.51%/m<sup>2</sup>), spanning generations G21-G23 and enriched with particles of 3<!-- --> <!-- -->µm in diameter, and one in the right lower lobe (0.48%/m<sup>2</sup>), spanning generations G7-G10 and enriched with particles of 10<!-- --> <!-- -->µm in diameter. Additionally, we use wielding fume as an example to demonstrate how to quantitatively calculate the regional surface deposition density and exposure time required to reach cytotoxicity thresholds, highlighting the model’s ability to translate regional deposition patterns into biologically meaningful risk metrics. In conclusion, our full-scale digital lung model replicates human-specific airway branching and ventilation dynamics, offering a non-invasive digital platform for temporospatial evaluation of inhalation risks from hazardous aerosol.","PeriodicalId":361,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hazardous Materials","volume":"29 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":13.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147709167","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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}
Xiaoyu Liu, Yuan Bai, Tianan Deng, Wei He, Lu Chang, Baile Wu
{"title":"Resurgence of Heavy Metal Contamination in Marine Sediments: Four-Decade Evidence from Hong Kong","authors":"Xiaoyu Liu, Yuan Bai, Tianan Deng, Wei He, Lu Chang, Baile Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.142113","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.142113","url":null,"abstract":"Marine sediment heavy metal contamination, once thought to be under control following decades of environmental regulations, is experiencing an alarming global resurgence. This study analyzed 3,283 sediment samples from Hong Kong waters (1987-2024) to characterize four decades of heavy metal contamination dynamics. Three distinct contamination peaks were identified (1988-1991, 1998-2003, 2020-2023), with the most recent period showing astonishing increases: arsenic (+137%), nickel (+144%), lead (+76%), and zinc reaching unprecedented levels (628.0<!-- --> <!-- -->mg/kg). Contamination hotspots concentrated in semi-enclosed waters (Deep Bay, Victoria Harbour, Junk Bay) where restricted circulation enhances accumulation. Strong Fe-As coupling (r = 0.504) indicates Fe (oxyhydr)oxides as the dominant arsenic carrier phase. Ecological risk assessment revealed that Cu, Ni, Zn, and Pb exceeded PEL thresholds during 2020-2023, with mean ERM quotient (0.851) indicating moderate-to-high toxicity probability. Source apportionment identified antifouling paints as an emerging threat, with contributions increasing 96% following the 2008 tributyltin ban—an unintended consequence of regulatory substitution. These findings demonstrate that heavy metal resurgence represents an underappreciated environmental threat requiring renewed monitoring attention and international regulatory coordination in coastal megacities.","PeriodicalId":361,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hazardous Materials","volume":"29 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":13.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147732340","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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}
Xiaoyun Li, Yue Wang, Baoshan Xing, Marc Teixidó, María A. Cruz, Ran Wei, Jinzhi Ni, Hirotatsu Murano, Zhengyang Wang
{"title":"Critical Review of the Influence of Charge-Assisted Hydrogen Bonding on Fate, Transport, and Treatment of Representative Contaminants of Emerging Concern and Natural Organic Matter","authors":"Xiaoyun Li, Yue Wang, Baoshan Xing, Marc Teixidó, María A. Cruz, Ran Wei, Jinzhi Ni, Hirotatsu Murano, Zhengyang Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.142057","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.142057","url":null,"abstract":"Understanding the fate and transport of contaminants of emerging concern (CEC) in natural and engineered systems is important to improve treatment. Adsorbents can retain and remove CEC; however, the widespread presence of natural organic matter (NOM) complicates such adsorption processes. The functional groups present in ionizable CEC, NOM, and adsorbent influence charge characteristics and adsorption affinity, with their effects varying according to pH conditions. Hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions are considered main driving forces. However, these two interactions cannot fully explain 1) the binding of ionizable CEC to adsorbents at specific environmental pHs and 2) the self-aggregation of NOM molecules to supramolecular aggregates. Charge-assisted hydrogen bond (CAHB) is a three-center-four-electron, low-barrier hydrogen bond with considerable covalent nature. Pignatello J.J., his contemporaries, and his colleagues demonstrated that the formation of CAHBs 1) facilitates adsorption characteristics at CAHB-favorable pHs, 2) increases pH by taking up protons from water, 3) shifts p<em>K</em><sub>a</sub> upward, 4) contributes to homoconjugation of carboxylates, 5) affects surface charge of dissolved organic matter aggregates, and 6) holds NOM molecules together. This review article serves as a summary of CAHB papers with significant environmental implications, and as a critical evaluation of how CAHB influences the fate and transport of representative, ionizable CEC, such as (aged) microplastics and nanoplastics, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), pharmaceuticals, pesticides, etc. This article also discusses how CAHB plays a role in the structure of NOM. Discussions herein will inform the community about the activity, reactivity, and treatability of ionizable CEC.","PeriodicalId":361,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hazardous Materials","volume":"196 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":13.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147682065","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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}
Jin Zhang, Wei Li, Jinxing Ma, Jianghu Cui, Kuanchang He, Kui Yang, Qian Liu, Min Zhang, Sihao Lv, Faliang Cheng, Defeng Xing
{"title":"Synergistic hydroxyl and chlorine radicals in contact-electro-catalysis for sustainable PFAS remediation","authors":"Jin Zhang, Wei Li, Jinxing Ma, Jianghu Cui, Kuanchang He, Kui Yang, Qian Liu, Min Zhang, Sihao Lv, Faliang Cheng, Defeng Xing","doi":"10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.141988","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.141988","url":null,"abstract":"Contact-electro-catalysis (CEC) provides a promising route for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) remediation, yet the mechanistic role of chloride ions (Cl-) in real water matrices remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that Cl- markedly enhances removal of perfluorooctanoic acid, perfluorooctanesulfonic acid, hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid, perfluorononyloxybenzene sulfonate, and 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate, achieving 97.04 -99.99% degradation and 96.90 -99.98% defluorination within 120 min at 200 mM Cl-. These rates were 1.43-2.29-fold higher than Cl--free systems. Mechanistic analyses reveal that hydroxyl radicals (•OH) oxidizes Cl- to generate chlorine radicals (Cl•), which selectively attack the carboxylate group of PFAS, enabling thermodynamically favorable decarboxylation followed by mineralization. Unlike conventional electrochemical methods, the Cl•-mediated pathway avoids oxychlorine and chlorinated byproducts. Zebrafish embryo assays further confirmed negligible toxicity of treated solutions. These results establish a sustainable paradigm that achieves high defluorination efficiency and operational safety, offering strong potential for PFAS remediation in saline and industrial waters.","PeriodicalId":361,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hazardous Materials","volume":"18 1","pages":"141988"},"PeriodicalIF":13.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147620141","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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":"Short-chain PFASs dominate in crops near a fluorochemical industrial park: Stratified exposure and Monte Carlo-based health risk assessment","authors":"Xuan Zhao, Jiaqi Shi, Zhen Cheng, Qiang Liu, Kailin Gong, Cheng Peng, Wei Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.141987","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.141987","url":null,"abstract":"Fluorochemical Industrial Parks (FIPs) are critical point sources of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), raising serious concerns about their impacts on surrounding agricultural environment and food safety. This study conducted a targeted investigation of priority PFASs in the agricultural environment surrounding a major domestic FIP, to evaluate the subsequent health risks for local residents through the consumption of homegrown vegetables and rice. The results indicated that PFASs were widespread in the soil, with total concentrations ranging from 40.7 to 72.0 ng/g. The average concentration of PFASs followed the order: traditional PFASs > emerging PFASs, with short-chain PFCAs (C≤8) being predominant. Significant accumulation of PFASs was observed in the edible portions of vegetables, particularly in leafy greens, which exhibited the highest bioaccumulation capacity. In rice, PFASs concentrations ranged from 0.329 to 11.3 ng/g dw, and short-chain PFCAs were also the dominant compounds. Residents were stratified by age and gender to estimate their daily exposure doses (EDI), which ranged from 70.5 to 136 ng/kg bw/d. Notably, Monte Carlo simulations revealed that a substantial proportion of local residents exceeded the tolerable daily intake levels for PFOA and PFOS, suggesting potential health risks associated with long-term exposure. This study demonstrated that the FIP served as a direct and significant source of PFASs contamination in the local agricultural ecosystem, resulting in non-occupational human exposure. The findings underscored the urgent need for regulatory oversight and the development of effective mitigation strategies to safeguard the health of residents living in proximity to fluorine chemical production facilities.","PeriodicalId":361,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hazardous Materials","volume":"30 1","pages":"141987"},"PeriodicalIF":13.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147620140","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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}