{"title":"High caffeine levels in old sewer system waters reveal domestic wastewater leakage","authors":"Noriatsu Ozaki, Tomonori Kindaichi, Akiyoshi Ohashi","doi":"10.1007/s10311-024-01733-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10311-024-01733-3","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Infrastructure deterioration is a threat to developed countries, emphasizing the need for effective management techniques. In particular, the leakage of aged domestic sewer pipeline is a major health issue, yet there is a lack of markers to identify domestic leakage. We studied the pollution in urban waters resulting from domestic sewage leakage into storm drainages. We monitored caffeine, fragrance substances and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the storm discharge points in five urban districts having separate sewer systems aged from 10 to over 40 years. Results show that caffeine and fragrance concentrations tended to increase with sewer system age. For instance, caffeine concentrations in the areas of sewer systems over 40 years old were at least two orders of magnitude higher than in 10-year-old sewer systems, and were as high as 1–10% of domestic sewage, strongly suggesting the leakage of domestic sewer pipelines. PAHs exhibited consistent patterns across the districts. Overall, we observe that sewer leaking processes can be distinguished by analyzing the levels of organic pollutants.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":541,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Chemistry Letters","volume":"22 4","pages":"1581 - 1589"},"PeriodicalIF":15.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10311-024-01733-3.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140352357","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}
{"title":"Textile production by additive manufacturing and textile waste recycling: a review","authors":"Weiqiang Fan, Yongzhen Wang, Rulin Liu, Jing Zou, Xiang Yu, Yaming Liu, Chao Zhi, Jiaguang Meng","doi":"10.1007/s10311-024-01726-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10311-024-01726-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The rapid growth of textile industry and fast-fashion has led to the production of about 92 million ton of textile waste per year. Nearly 85% of textile waste is disposed of by landfill and incineration, causing serious environmental pollution and huge resource waste, calling for alternative textile production. Here we review the green production of textiles with focus on additive manufacturing, 3- and 4-dimension printing, recycling textile waste, and synthetic and natural fibers. Additive manufacturing technologies, particularly 4-dimension printing, is flexible, green, and allows on-demand manufacturing, which is one solution to the textile waste problem. 4-Dimension printing contributes to the development of intelligent materials, and can create structures that deform in response to external stimuli. Textile waste contains high-quality, low-cost materials that can be re-used and recycled. Applications include smart textiles, flexible electronics, soft robotics, human–computer interaction, and wearable devices.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":541,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Chemistry Letters","volume":"22 4","pages":"1929 - 1987"},"PeriodicalIF":15.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140352356","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":"Analysis of aged microplastics: a review","authors":"Yanqi Shi, Linping Shi, Hexinyue Huang, Kefu Ye, Luming Yang, Zeena Wang, Yifan Sun, Dunzhu Li, Yunhong Shi, Liwen Xiao, Shixiang Gao","doi":"10.1007/s10311-024-01731-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10311-024-01731-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Microplastics are emerging contaminants that undergo progressive aging under environmental conditions such as sunlight irradiation, mechanical forces, temperature variations, and the presence of biological organisms. Since aging modifies microplastic properties, such as their own toxicity and the toxicity of trapped pollutants, advanced methods to analyze microplastics are required. Here we review methods to analyze microplastic aging with focus on the aging process, qualitative identification, quantitative characterization, and chemometrics. Qualitative identification is done by mechanical techniques, thermal techniques, e.g., thermal degradation and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, and spectral techniques, e.g., infrared, Raman, fluorescent, and laser techniques. Quantitative characterization is done by microscopy and mass spectrometry. Microplastic aging results in a series of surface physical changes, biofilm formation, chemical oxidation, thermal alternation, and mechanical deterioration. Changes in mechanical and thermal properties allow to differentiate aged microplastics. Infrared and Raman spectroscopy are rapid and sensitive for chemical identification of microplastics in complex environmental samples. Combining two techniques is preferable for accurate detection and categorization.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":541,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Chemistry Letters","volume":"22 4","pages":"1861 - 1888"},"PeriodicalIF":15.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10311-024-01731-5.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140346543","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}
Patrícia S. Ferreira, Sónia M. Ribeiro, Rita Pontes, João Nunes
{"title":"Production methods and applications of bioactive polylactic acid: a review","authors":"Patrícia S. Ferreira, Sónia M. Ribeiro, Rita Pontes, João Nunes","doi":"10.1007/s10311-024-01729-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10311-024-01729-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Bioplastics appear as an alternative to fossil fuel-derived plastics because bioplastics are carbon neutral and often biodegradable, thus potentially solving the issues of plastic pollution and climate change. In particular, polylactic acid is a substitute for traditional petrochemical-based polymers. Here, we review polylactic acid production with focus on surface modification and integration of bioactive compounds. Surface can be modified by chemical treatment, photografting, surface entrapment, plasma treatment, and coating. Bioactive compounds can be incorporated by encapsulation, impregnation, melt blending, solvent casting, electrospinning, and in situ polymerization. Biomedical and packaging applications are discussed.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":541,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Chemistry Letters","volume":"22 4","pages":"1831 - 1859"},"PeriodicalIF":15.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10311-024-01729-z.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140340976","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}
{"title":"Transport of layered and spherical microplastics in aqueous ecosystems: a review","authors":"Kheerthana Ramesh, Padmanaban Velayudhaperumal Chellam, Baranidharan Sundaram","doi":"10.1007/s10311-024-01730-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10311-024-01730-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Microplastics are micrometre-sized emerging pollutants produced by plastic fragmentation. They have been recently detected in most ecosystems, even in remote areas. Here, we review microplastics with emphasis on sources, occurrence, transport, detection methods, policies, toxicity, and management methods. In the transport section, we discuss sorption kinetics, layered microplastics, and influencing factors such as biofilm formation. Microplastic management can be done by adsorption, filtration, oxidation, and biodegradation. Microplastic interaction is influenced by temperature, pH, salinity, and dissolved organic matter.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":541,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Chemistry Letters","volume":"22 3","pages":"1221 - 1255"},"PeriodicalIF":15.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140379736","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":"Health risk of human exposure to microplastics: a review","authors":"Kuok Ho Daniel Tang, Ronghua Li, Zhi Li, Dun Wang","doi":"10.1007/s10311-024-01727-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10311-024-01727-1","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Microplastics are emerging contaminants that have been detected recently in most environmental and biological systems, yet their health risk for humans has not been clearly summarized. Here we review human health risk associated with exposure to microplastics with focus on methods of exposure assessment, hazard identification, dose–response assessment, exposure assessment, and risk characterization. Hazards include direct hazards, hazards from contaminants released by microplastics, and hazards from microplastic interactions with surrounding contaminants. Microplastics trigger oxidative stress, disrupt metabolism, interfere with gut microflora and gastrointestinal functions, disrupt hepatic, cardiopulmonary and immune systems, and degrade reproductive health. Some additives leached from microplastics such as phthalates are endocrine disruptors and thus impact reproductive health. The interaction of microplastics with other pollutants in the environment induces varied hazards following synergistic or antagonistic effects.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":541,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Chemistry Letters","volume":"22 3","pages":"1155 - 1183"},"PeriodicalIF":15.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140381725","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":"Impact of petroleum hydrocarbon and heavy metal pollution on coral reefs and mangroves: a review","authors":"Punniyakotti Elumalai, Punniyakotti Parthipan, Xueke Gao, Jinjie Cui, Arunagiri Santhosh Kumar, Perumal Dhandapani, Aruliah Rajasekar, Hemen Sarma, Nadana Raja Vadivu Ganapathy, Jayaraman Theerthagiri, Ahreum Min, Myong Yong Choi","doi":"10.1007/s10311-024-01728-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10311-024-01728-0","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Pollution by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, and chromium is impairing marine ecosystems. Here, we review the effect of these contaminants on coral reefs and mangrove ecosystems, with focus on reef fishes, algae, corals, and oil spills. We also discuss the effects of natural hydrocarbons. Some polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons display carcinogenic and mutagenic properties. Heavy metals are highly toxic to most marine living organisms, causing reproductive failure, deoxyribonucleic acid damage, and neurological problems. Heavy metals accumulate through the food chain, ending up in humans who eat seafood. Mangroves and coral reefs can be severely impacted with diminished water quality, reduced biodiversity, compromised fish habitats, decreased fish catches, and damaged seagrass beds, ultimately affecting other coastal habitats.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":541,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Chemistry Letters","volume":"22 3","pages":"1413 - 1435"},"PeriodicalIF":15.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140216819","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}
Sivakumar Akash, Sankar Sudharsan Rameshwar, Natarajan Rajamohan, Manivasagan Rajasimman, Dai-Viet N. Vo
{"title":"Metal oxide nanobiochar materials to remediate heavy metal and dye pollution: a review","authors":"Sivakumar Akash, Sankar Sudharsan Rameshwar, Natarajan Rajamohan, Manivasagan Rajasimman, Dai-Viet N. Vo","doi":"10.1007/s10311-024-01724-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10311-024-01724-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The access to drinkable water is a critical challenge in the context of the rising urbanization and industrialization, calling for advanced technologies to clean contaminated waters and wastewater. Here we review the use of metal oxides biochar composites to treat pollution by hevay metals and dyes. We focus on the synthesis of metal oxide nanobiochar; the treatment of pollution by mercury, lead, methylene blue and methyl orange; life cycle analysis; and techno-economical assessment. Metal oxide nanoparticles can act as photocatalysts to allow for the complete mineralization of organic pollutants. For instance, the doping of tin oxide nanoparticles into biochar surface degraded 99.5% of methylene blue dye after 105 min. Ball-milled magnetic nanobiochar achieves 99% mercury removal in 720 min. The presence of biochar enhanced the uptake of contaminants on nanoparticles and facilitated the photocatalytic reaction</p></div>","PeriodicalId":541,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Chemistry Letters","volume":"22 4","pages":"2091 - 2112"},"PeriodicalIF":15.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140221155","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":"Alkaline extraction yields a higher number of microplastics in forest canopy leaves: implication for microplastic storage","authors":"Natsu Sunaga, Hiroshi Okochi, Yasuhiro Niida, Akane Miyazaki","doi":"10.1007/s10311-024-01725-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10311-024-01725-3","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Airborne microplastics are a type of suspended particulate matter less than 100 µm in size. They have drawn attention recently due to their potential impact on human health and the environment. However, knowledge on airborne microplastics in forest and their interaction with plant leaves is limited. Here, we analyzed microplastics on konara oak leaves collected at a small forest in Tokyo. Leaves were water-washed to yield a first extract, sonicated in water to yield a second extract and then extracted with 10%w potassium hydroxide to yield a third extract. We employed micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy with attenuated total reflection imaging to analyze microplastics, identifying polymer materials and quantifying their concentration. Results show that the average number of microplastics in leaf were 0.01 piece/cm<sup>2</sup> in the water extract (7.6%), 0.05 piece/cm<sup>2</sup> by sonication (38.4%), and 0.07 piece/cm<sup>2</sup> in the potassium hydroxide extract (53.8%). Microscopic data reveal that potassium hydroxide extraction allows to remove epicuticular waxes including adhering substances. These findings highlight the need to use a strong basic reagent, potassium hydroxide, to extract most airborne microplastics in leaf. The findings also suggest that canopy leaves could be a long-term sink for airborne microplastics, rather than merely temporary accumulators.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":541,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Chemistry Letters","volume":"22 4","pages":"1599 - 1606"},"PeriodicalIF":15.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140225334","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}
Ke He, Anna Feerick, Hongyue Jin, Jahir A. Batista Andrade, Marylia Duarte Batista, Caitlyn Dugan, Lee Blaney
{"title":"Retention of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances by syringe filters","authors":"Ke He, Anna Feerick, Hongyue Jin, Jahir A. Batista Andrade, Marylia Duarte Batista, Caitlyn Dugan, Lee Blaney","doi":"10.1007/s10311-024-01718-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10311-024-01718-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are being increasingly measured in water and wastewater due to emerging toxicity concerns and strict regulatory limits. Previous studies have filtered water samples to remove suspended solids before PFAS analysis. However, filtration may introduce negative bias to measured PFAS concentrations. Using a well-controlled syringe pump assembly, we evaluated retention of six perfluoroalkyl carboxylates, three perfluoroalkyl sulfonates, one fluorotelomer sulfonate, and two perfluorooctane sulfonamides by glass-fiber, glass-fiber cellulose acetate, nylon, polyethersulfone, polypropylene, polyvinylidene fluoride/ difluoride, and surfactant-free cellulose acetate filters. The impacts of water quality and operational parameters were also investigated for select filter types. We found that PFAS were retained on all filters, with the glass-fiber cellulose acetate filters demonstrating the lowest retention. For all filters, PFAS retention was linearly related to chain length and hydrophobicity above certain thresholds (<i>i.e.</i>, log D higher than 1.5). Importantly, more PFAS were retained at low filtrate volumes, and ~ 30 mL filtrate was required before the retention efficiencies stabilized. Solution pH only affected the retention of perfluorooctane sulfonamides. Pore size (<i>i.e.</i>, 0.20, 0.45, 0.70 µm), filtration rate (<i>i.e.</i>, 0.5, 1.0 mL min<sup>−1</sup>), and PFAS concentration (<i>i.e.</i>, 10, 100 µg L<sup>−1</sup>), did not exert major influences on PFAS retention. The presence of dissolved organic matter improved PFAS permeation. Based on the reported results, filtration introduces bias and is not recommended for sample pretreatment.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":541,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Chemistry Letters","volume":"22 4","pages":"1569 - 1579"},"PeriodicalIF":15.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10311-024-01718-2.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140230636","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}