Maoz Dor, Tom Regier, Zachary Arthur, Andrey K. Guber, Alexandra N. Kravchenko
{"title":"Micro-scale mapping of soil organic carbon using soft X-ray spectromicroscopy","authors":"Maoz Dor, Tom Regier, Zachary Arthur, Andrey K. Guber, Alexandra N. Kravchenko","doi":"10.1007/s10311-024-01817-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-024-01817-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Soil organic carbon is crucial for soil fertility, productivity, and global carbon cycling. Despite significant progress in understanding carbon persistence and turnover, the underlying mechanisms require further study. A key challenge is visualizing and characterizing the spatial distribution of carbon within intact soil. This study introduces a novel approach to map carbon content at 35 µm resolution and composition at 22 µm resolution in intact environmental samples using synchrotron X-ray spectromicroscopy. X-ray fluorescence maps provided an overview of total carbon distribution, identifying carbon-rich regions. Near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectromicroscopy was then used to obtain spatially resolved carbon speciation data within these regions. This method allowed the analysis of relatively large intact samples, of 16 mm in diameter and 15 mm in height, preserving various root and organic matter fragments as well as pores ranging between 35 and 850 µm. Spectral fitting with reference standards revealed distinct spatial patterns of aromatic, aliphatic, and carboxylic carbon compounds associated with different structural features. Aromatic carbon was enriched around root fragments and the soil matrix; while, carboxylic compounds were concentrated at pore–matrix interfaces, indicating a correlation between soil pore structure and carbon chemical composition. This novel approach provides significant insights into the interplay between pore architecture and organic molecular diversity, key factors governing carbon protection and persistence in soils.</p>","PeriodicalId":541,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Chemistry Letters","volume":"60 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":15.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142917213","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}
Ya Gao, Feng Ning, Hui Wang, Jie Han, Eric Lichtfouse
{"title":"Functional clothing, an overlooked source of persistent textile fibers in the global microplastic pollution","authors":"Ya Gao, Feng Ning, Hui Wang, Jie Han, Eric Lichtfouse","doi":"10.1007/s10311-024-01796-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-024-01796-2","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":541,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Chemistry Letters","volume":"27 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":15.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142917212","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}
Hailin Xu, Yan Li, Xinying Zhao, Caixia Guo, Yanbo Li
{"title":"Respiratory toxicity of amorphous silica nanoparticles: a review","authors":"Hailin Xu, Yan Li, Xinying Zhao, Caixia Guo, Yanbo Li","doi":"10.1007/s10311-024-01787-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10311-024-01787-3","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Silica nanoparticles exert detrimental effects on the respiratory system, regardless of the exposure route. The adverse outcome pathway framework has been recently developed in toxicological research to characterize the pathways that lead to harmful outcomes. Here, we review the adverse effects of amorphous silica nanoparticles on respiratory health with focus on underlying mechanisms and influencing factors, using the adverse outcome pathway framework for the first time. We found that the increase in reactive oxygen species levels induces oxidative stress and leads to mitochondrial dysfunction. Molecular changes further lead to cellular alterations such as epithelial injury, macrophage, and fibroblast activation. Respiratory cellular damage further induces inflammation and fibrosis in the lungs and airways.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":541,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Chemistry Letters","volume":"23 1","pages":"271 - 319"},"PeriodicalIF":15.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142901711","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}
Zenglong Chen, Lilin Zhao, Shanshan Kang, Rock Keey Liew, Eric Lichtfouse
{"title":"Toxicity and environmental fate of the less toxic chiral neonicotinoid pesticides: a review","authors":"Zenglong Chen, Lilin Zhao, Shanshan Kang, Rock Keey Liew, Eric Lichtfouse","doi":"10.1007/s10311-024-01808-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-024-01808-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Neonicotinoids represent 25% of the insecticidal market and are essential for crop production, yet traditional neonicotinoids are toxic to most pollinators, which are also essential for food production. This issue may be addressed by the use of some chiral neonicotinoid isomers, which are much less toxic. Here, we review the chiral neonicotinoids dinotefuran, sulfoxaflor, cycloxaprid, and paichongding, with focus on their chiral characteristics, configuration stability, biological activity, ecological toxicology, and environmental fate. Isomeric separation of chiral neonicotinoids can be achieved by chromatography. The dinotefuran <i>R</i> isomer is less toxic than the <i>S</i> isomer to honeybees and earthworms by a factor of 2.7–145.9, with similar control efficiency of common agricultural pests. The insecticidal activity of (5<i>R</i>,7<i>S</i>)-paichongding are up to 20.1 times higher than that of other isomers, and it is absorbed fastest by crop roots and tends to be preferentially degraded and mineralized in soils. Therefore, formulations containing<i> R</i>-dinotefuran or (5<i>R</i>,7<i>S</i>)-paichongding could decrease ecological damage without compromising food production. On the other hand, it has not been possible to synthesize chiral isomers of sulfoxaflor and cycloxaprid, owing to the instability of their monomers in polar solvents.</p>","PeriodicalId":541,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Chemistry Letters","volume":"331 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":15.7,"publicationDate":"2024-12-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142888854","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":"Inhibition of Escherichia coli by hydrodynamic cavitation discharge plasma for water disinfection suggests the influence of both reactive oxygen species and electroporation","authors":"Yunge Zhang, Yifan Huang, Zhe Yu","doi":"10.1007/s10311-024-01807-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-024-01807-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Water contamination by microbial pathogens is a major health issue, yet the efficiency of traditional water disinfection methods is limited. Disinfection is classically attributed to reactive oxygen species, but here we hypothesize that membrane electroporation could also contribute. We developed a hydrodynamic cavitation discharge plasma fore water treatment setup, then evaluated its performance using <i>Escherichia coli</i>. We studied the effect of pulse frequency, pulse duration, and total treatment time. Results show 95% disinfection rate at a pulse frequency of 6 kHz and a duration of 7 μs. The efficiency increased with the total treatment time, suggesting the involvement of reactive oxygen species. A theoretical calculation suggests that the disinfection mechanism involves electroporation of cell membranes, in addition to the role of reactive oxygen species.</p>","PeriodicalId":541,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Chemistry Letters","volume":"19 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":15.7,"publicationDate":"2024-12-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142888857","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}
Wan Adibah Wan Mahari, Yiu Fai Tsang, Che-Jung Hsu, Hanafiah Fazhan, Youji Wang, Kianann Tan, Rock Keey Liew, Cheng-Di Dong, Khor Waiho, Su Shiung Lam
{"title":"Protecting mud crabs from pollution by microplastics, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, pesticides, and heavy metals in mangroves","authors":"Wan Adibah Wan Mahari, Yiu Fai Tsang, Che-Jung Hsu, Hanafiah Fazhan, Youji Wang, Kianann Tan, Rock Keey Liew, Cheng-Di Dong, Khor Waiho, Su Shiung Lam","doi":"10.1007/s10311-024-01802-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-024-01802-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Mangroves are essential ecosystems for coastal protection, carbon sequestration, biodiversity, and food production. In particular, mud crabs, with an annual global landing of over 100,000 metric tons, are crucial for the economic livelihoods and food security of millions of small-scale fishers in Southeast Asia. Here, we review the impact of pollutants on mud crab populations in mangrove ecosystems, with emphasis on pollutant sources, toxic effects on crabs, and remediation using microbes and biochar. Pollutants include microplastics, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and heavy metals. Pollution originates from agricultural runoff, industrial discharges, mining activities, urbanization, and domestic waste. We present the use of biochar for pollutant remediation and enhancing carbon sequestration. We observe that heavy metals, pesticides, and microplastics induce oxidative stress, disrupt antioxidant defense mechanisms, and impair the growth, reproduction, and survival rates of mud crabs. Microbial bioremediation can remove more than 90% of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Biochar application reduces by 87% the bioavailability of heavy metal in contaminated soils.</p>","PeriodicalId":541,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Chemistry Letters","volume":"83 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":15.7,"publicationDate":"2024-12-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142874097","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}
Pankaj Kumar, Ayush Dave, Sivamohan N. Reddy, Sonil Nanda
{"title":"Hydrothermal gasification of waste biomass and plastics into hydrogen-rich syngas: a review","authors":"Pankaj Kumar, Ayush Dave, Sivamohan N. Reddy, Sonil Nanda","doi":"10.1007/s10311-024-01793-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10311-024-01793-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The current global greenhouse gas emissions have increased by over 90% since 1860 primarily due to our overreliance on fossil fuels, petrochemicals and their derivatives. Production of petrochemical plastics is also reaching 400 million metric tons in 2023. The lack of effective thermochemical processes for converting wet feedstocks and complex residues such as plastics is calling for hydrothermal gasification as an efficient approach to producing syngas. The demand for hydrogen production through greener approaches is also rising to compete with the commercial steam reforming of natural gas. Here, we review the conversion of biomass and plastics by hydrothermal gasification into hydrogen-rich syngas with a focus on the process parameters influencing the conversion of a variety of feedstock types. Parameters influencing hydrothermal gasification of biomass and plastics include temperature, pressure, reaction time, feedstock concentration, catalysts and reactor types. Several synergetic effects also influence product distribution during the co-processing of biomass and plastics during hydrothermal gasification. Processes that impact biomass conversion to syngas are hydrolysis, water–gas shift, methanation, hydrogenation, steam reforming and polymerization.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":541,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Chemistry Letters","volume":"23 1","pages":"117 - 138"},"PeriodicalIF":15.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142849320","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}
Md. Nasir Hossain Sani, Mehedi Amin, Karl-Johan Bergstrand, Siri Caspersen, Thomas Prade, Jean Wan Hong Yong
{"title":"Harnessing biostimulants from biogas digestates for high-value resource recovery: a review","authors":"Md. Nasir Hossain Sani, Mehedi Amin, Karl-Johan Bergstrand, Siri Caspersen, Thomas Prade, Jean Wan Hong Yong","doi":"10.1007/s10311-024-01801-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10311-024-01801-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Improper disposal of organic waste leads to greenhouse gases, pollution, and health risks. Anaerobic digestion offers a sustainable solution by converting this waste into biogas and digestates, which contain valuable nutrients and stimulatory organic compounds that can be recycled to improve plant growth and support food production. Here we review the transformation of liquid and solid digestates into biostimulants by microalgal cultivation, vermicomposting, and insect-based bioconversion. These processes yield phytohormones, polysaccharides, betaines, humic substances, chitin, protein hydrolysates, and growth-promoting microbes, that enhance plant growth and resilience against environmental stresses. Due to the variability in digestate composition, we emphasize the need for optimized formulations, a deep understanding of synergistic interactions among bioactive compounds, and standardized extraction techniques to support broader applications.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":541,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Chemistry Letters","volume":"23 1","pages":"139 - 164"},"PeriodicalIF":15.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10311-024-01801-8.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142832641","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Puthiya Veetil Nidheesh, Grzegorz Boczkaj, Soliu O. Ganiyu, Akeem Adeyemi Oladipo, Kirill Fedorov, Ruiyang Xiao, Dionysios D. Dionysiou
{"title":"Generation, properties, and applications of singlet oxygen for wastewater treatment: a review","authors":"Puthiya Veetil Nidheesh, Grzegorz Boczkaj, Soliu O. Ganiyu, Akeem Adeyemi Oladipo, Kirill Fedorov, Ruiyang Xiao, Dionysios D. Dionysiou","doi":"10.1007/s10311-024-01798-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10311-024-01798-0","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Contamination of drinking water sources with recalcitrant organic pollutants is a major health issue requiring advanced oxidation processes for the degradation of such pollutants. Here we review the use of advanced oxidation processes-based treatment of water, wastewater, and sludge, with focus on singlet oxygen production, reactivity mechanisms, and applications. Processes for single-oxygen production include photochemical production, decomposition of hydrogen peroxide, ozonides, endoperoxides, and sulfate radical-based advanced oxidation. Singlet oxygen is one of the main non-radical reactive oxygen species that are generated during advanced oxidation processes. It is less reactive but highly selective toward electron-rich organic compounds, compared to hydroxyl and sulfate radicals. When generated in large quantities, singlet oxygen can be the dominant reactive oxygen species responsible for the degradation of targeted pollutants. Singlet oxygen is less affected by water matrix components including dissolved organic matter and scavenging by anions.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":541,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Chemistry Letters","volume":"23 1","pages":"195 - 240"},"PeriodicalIF":15.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142816237","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":"Fluoropolymers and nanomaterials, the invisible hazards of cell phone and computer touchscreens","authors":"Ye Jia, Jie Han, Eric Lichtfouse","doi":"10.1007/s10311-024-01797-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-024-01797-1","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":541,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Chemistry Letters","volume":"249 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":15.7,"publicationDate":"2024-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142804606","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}