Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts最新文献

{"title":"Biodegradable plastics in soils: sources, degradation, and effects.","authors":"Piumi Amasha Withana, Xiangzhou Yuan, Darvin Im, Yujin Choi, Michael S Bank, Carol Sze Ki Lin, Sung Yeon Hwang, Yong Sik Ok","doi":"10.1039/d4em00754a","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d4em00754a","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Biodegradable plastics (BPs) are increasingly marketed as sustainable alternatives to conventional plastics, yet their environmental impacts on soil ecosystems remain uncertain. Attention to plastic-related policies, global treaties, and initiatives assessing industrial sustainability are growing, and thus there is an urgent need for scientific data on the life cycle of BPs in soils to determine their viability as a truly sustainable alternative. BPs enter soil through agricultural applications, waste disposal, and landfills, undergoing complex degradation processes influenced by soil properties, environmental conditions, and polymer characteristics. However, the release of degradation by-products, including potential toxins and microplastics, raises concerns about soil health and plant growth. Furthermore, discrepancies in biodegradability claims and the lack of standardized assessment methods hinder the reliable evaluation of BP sustainability. To ensure the environmental viability of BPs, rigorous long-term studies and standardized testing protocols are necessary to validate their degradation, <i>in situ</i>, under environmentally relevant soil conditions. Without robust scientific evidence demonstrating the safe and effective degradation of BPs in soils, the expansion of their production and investment in these materials may be limited. This review highlights the urgent necessity for integrated approaches to support effective BP assessment, to bridge scientific research, industrial deployment, and policy frameworks, which are beneficial for mitigating potential unintended environmental consequences and achieving the relevant UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).</p>","PeriodicalId":74,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144172046","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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":"Ice-water distribution of antibiotics and antiviral drugs during the freezing-thawing process: influencing factors and related mechanisms.","authors":"Wenbin Wei, Linke Ge, Siyuan Wang, Xuanyan Li, Peng Zhang, Jiahong Wang","doi":"10.1039/d4em00770k","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d4em00770k","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Seasonal freezing and thawing of surface waters are common phenomena in mid- and high-latitude regions. During freezing and thawing processes, the pollutants in surface waters migrate between ice and water. Antibiotics and antiviral drugs (ATVs) have been widely detected in surface waters and even in river ice. To reveal their ice-water distribution and migration patterns, tetracycline (TC) and ribavirin (RBV) were chosen as model compounds and simulated freezing-thawing experiments were conducted. The results showed that the influencing factors regulated their ice-water distribution by influencing the solution freezing rate and solute diffusion rate. The ice-water distribution coefficient (<i>K</i>_IW) was enhanced with the increasing freezing temperature (<i>T</i>) and salinity (<i>S</i>), while the increasing freezing time (<i>t</i>) and initial concentration (<i>C</i>₀) resulted in a decrease in <i>K</i>_IW. Moreover, it was found that RBV had stronger migration capability than TC. During the thawing process, their release from ice declined with melting time, and the release amount of RBV declined more significantly in comparison with that of TC. The related mechanisms involve freeze concentration, solute diffusion, competition with salt in the freezing process, and the release of solutes through channels in the thawing process. These findings contribute to better understanding the migration and distribution of pharmaceuticals in frozen water bodies in cold regions.</p>","PeriodicalId":74,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144172056","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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":"Obesity as a mediator in the association between urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure and liver fibrosis risk in US adults.","authors":"Wang Guo, Beizhu Ye, Xiaoli Ma, Jinying Liu, Yanqin Yue, Xingyuan Yang, Jian Hou, Xiuling Li, Xiaoying Luo","doi":"10.1039/d5em00050e","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d5em00050e","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure may be associated with obesity-mediated liver injury. However, there is a lack of evidence on the role of obesity in associations of PAH exposure with liver fibrosis among population-based studies. Participant data were sourced from the National Health and Nutrition Survey 2001-2016. Urinary metabolites of PAHs were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Liver fibrosis was classified as low and high risk. The weight-adjusted waist index (WWI) was calculated by waist circumference divided by the square of the weight. Logistic regression models and WQS regression were used to explore associations between exposure to six types of PAHs and the risk of liver fibrosis in adults and the mediating effects of obesity on the above-mentioned associations were further analyzed. Multiple urinary PAH metabolites were associated with increased risk of liver fibrosis. Positive association between a mixture of 6 PAHs and liver fibrosis (OR: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.10-1.80) was found and 2-naphthol, 1-pyrene, 1-naphthol, and 2-fluorene were the primary contributors to this association. Furthermore, the proportion mediation of obesity on associations of individual and the mixture of PAHs with liver fibrosis ranged from 4.6% to 38.3%. The results of this study showed that exposure to the mixture of PAHs was associated with increased liver fibrosis and these associations were partially mediated by obesity.</p>","PeriodicalId":74,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144172058","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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":"Soil acidification alters C : N : P stoichiometry in the soil due to higher acid sensitivity of phosphorus.","authors":"Hui Wei, Hongru Li, Qi Wang, Huimin Xiang, Ziqiang Liu, Jiaen Zhang","doi":"10.1039/d4em00394b","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d4em00394b","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Soil acidification seriously affects the structure and functions of terrestrial ecosystems, but the impact of soil acidification on the stoichiometry of soil C : N : P remains inconclusive. Therefore, a greenhouse experiment was conducted to investigate the response of soil C, N and P stoichiometry to soil acidification in a simulated agricultural planting system, with five soils (including acid sulfate soil, red soil, lateritic red soil, latosol and limestone soil) that had different initial properties being used. Four soil acidification levels were created by adding acid solutions with pH of 5.0, 4.0, 3.0 or 2.0, along with a control with the pH of 7.0. The results showed that the experimental treatments resulted in significant soil acidification (<i>p</i> < 0.05), with the pH 2.0 treatment inducing a decline in soil pH ranging from 12.43% to 32.22% in the five soils. However, soil acidification did not significantly change soil organic C content, except in the cases of the strong acidification treatment in lateritic red soil and limestone soil, whereas it significantly or marginally significantly increased soil total N content in the five soils. Across the five soils or in each soil, the acidification treatments consistently and significantly linearly reduced soil total P content, with the pH 2.0 treatment resulting in soil total P reduction by 32.90%, 21.78%, 27.82%, 25.93% and 30.67% in acid sulfate soil, red soil, lateritic red soil, latosol and limestone soil, respectively. Correspondingly, soil available P content significantly increased under acidification treatments. Such asymmetrical responses of soil C, N and P contents resulted in significant alterations in soil C : N : P stoichiometry under acidification scenarios, with soil C : P and N : P ratios increased significantly. These results suggest that soil acidification may increase soil C : P and N : P ratios mainly by decreasing soil total P content, due to the activation of soil P as available P components.</p>","PeriodicalId":74,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144172059","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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":"Comparative cytotoxicity and toxicological mechanisms of 6:2 Cl-PFAES and PFOS in pancreatic β cells: implications for glucose metabolism disruption.","authors":"Xiao-Min Ren, Jianying Wang, Fenqing Zhao, Pingping Zhang, Huan He, Zhixiang Xu, Bin Huang, Xuejun Pan","doi":"10.1039/d5em00046g","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d5em00046g","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Previous studies have indicated that 6:2 chlorinated polyfluoroalkyl ether sulfonate (6:2 Cl-PFAES), a substitute for perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), causes disruptions in glucose metabolism, but its toxicological mechanisms remain unclear. Pancreatic β cells are responsible for regulating glucose metabolism. This study used mouse insulinoma β cells (β-TC-6) to study the toxic effects of 6:2 Cl-PFAES and elucidate its potential mechanisms. Through Cell Counting Kit-8, trypan blue staining, and apoptosis assays, we found that 6:2 Cl-PFAES showed toxicity toward β-TC-6 cells, even surpassing that showed by PFOS. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that 6:2 Cl-PFAES induced oxidative stress by increasing the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA), alongside increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. The oxidative stress-inducing capability of 6:2 Cl-PFAES was stronger than that of PFOS. Co-exposure with <i>N</i>-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) as the ROS scavenger evidently reduced the degree of cell apoptosis and the production of ROS, highlighting that oxidative stress is a crucial mechanism involved in 6:2 Cl-PFAES-induced cell death. Transcriptomic analysis further revealed that 6:2 Cl-PFAES affected gene expression <i>via</i> the oxidative phosphorylation pathway, confirming the oxidative stress effect, and altered diabetes-related gene expression, suggesting a heightened risk of diabetes. This study provides insights into the toxicity of 6:2 Cl-PFAES on β cells and its potential risks on glucose metabolism disruption.</p>","PeriodicalId":74,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144172047","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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":"Increased phenanthrene toxicity to <i>Eisenia fetida</i> upon co-exposure to <i>o</i>-xylene.","authors":"Guofeng Li, Zhongran Wu, Haifeng Chi, Shanna Lin, Chao Cai","doi":"10.1039/d4em00726c","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d4em00726c","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) compounds are often found in contaminated soil and have been shown to be toxic to the ecosystem, but their combined environmental risks and ecological effects remain poorly understood. Herein, <i>Eisenia fetida</i> was exposed to phenanthrene (PHE) and <i>o</i>-xylene (OX) in artificial soil to assess their toxic effects (including mortality, reproduction, antioxidant enzyme activities, and malondialdehyde levels) and bioaccumulation. The 48 h LC₅₀ values for single contaminated PHE and OX were 71.6 and 121 mg kg^-1, respectively, while 28 day EC₅₀ values for reproduction were 4.73 and 5.20 mg kg^-1, respectively. Co-exposure to PHE and OX intensified toxicity, reducing fecundity by over 15% compared to exposure to PHE alone. The synergistic effect was confirmed <i>via</i> a mathematical model based on probabilities. Furthermore, distinct biomarker responses were found between earthworms exposed to PHE and OX, implying different toxic mechanisms. However, similar biomarker responses were detected in earthworms exposed to PHE and combined treatments, suggesting the predominant role of PHE in the combined toxicity. In the combined treatments, OX exhibited a catalyst-like effect, enhancing the accumulation and toxicity of PHE in earthworms. These findings highlight the importance of accounting for the combined effects of pollutants when assessing the ecological risks of co-contaminated soils.</p>","PeriodicalId":74,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144155267","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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":"Heavy metal contamination in wastewater-irrigated vegetables: assessing food safety challenges in developing Asian countries.","authors":"Navneet Kaur, Jagdev Singh, Neeta Raj Sharma, Simranpreet Kaur Natt, Anand Mohan, Tabarak Malik, Madhuri Girdhar","doi":"10.1039/d4em00565a","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d4em00565a","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Vegetables are crucial for human nutrition, providing essential micronutrients and beneficial compounds. Heavy metal contamination of vegetables irrigated with wastewater poses a significant public health risk in developing Asian countries. This review analyses recent research on heavy metal accumulation in vegetables across India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and China. Studies consistently report concerning levels of cadmium, lead, chromium, arsenic, nickel, and mercury in vegetables, often exceeding international safety standards. Leafy vegetables consistently show higher heavy metal accumulation compared to fruit and root vegetables. Within plant structures, roots generally contain higher heavy metal concentrations than edible parts, though this varies depending on the metal and plant species. Many studies report health risk indices exceeding safe limits, indicating potential non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks from chronic dietary exposure, with children at higher risk. The review highlights inadequate regulatory frameworks and enforcement mechanisms. A multi-faceted approach is urgently needed, encompassing improved wastewater treatment, best agricultural practices, rigorous monitoring, and public awareness campaigns. Future research directions are identified, including long-term health impact studies, development of cost-effective remediation techniques, and exploration of sustainable alternatives to wastewater irrigation. While wastewater irrigation addresses immediate water scarcity, it poses significant long-term food safety and public health risks. Integrated policies balancing water scarcity, agricultural productivity, and health risks are essential. This review underscores the pressing need for coordinated efforts from policymakers, researchers, and health officials to safeguard public health and ensure sustainable agriculture in developing Asian countries facing increasing urbanization and water scarcity.</p>","PeriodicalId":74,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144148704","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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":"Insight into the interactions between microplastics and heavy metals in agricultural soil solution: adsorption performance influenced by microplastic types.","authors":"Yu-Liang Liao, Chun-Dan Gan, Xue Zhao, Xin-Yue Du, Jin-Yan Yang","doi":"10.1039/d5em00144g","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d5em00144g","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Microplastics (MPs) are widely present in soils, often co-contaminated with heavy metals (HMs), complicating the assessment of their adsorption performance. This study prepared environmental-simulating microplastics (EMPs) and compared their Cd/Cr adsorption-desorption properties with five commercial MPs in artificial soil solutions. Aging treatments altered the physicochemical characteristics of MP surfaces, increasing oxygen-containing functional groups and forming smaller particles. These changes enhanced HM adsorption, with EMPs showing higher adsorption capacities for Cd and Cr than the five single-type commercial MPs. Among the commercial MPs, degradable polylactic acid (PLA) showed the highest maximum adsorption capacities for Cd (4.52 mg g^-1) and Cr (3.78 mg g^-1) at elevated concentrations, indicating its greater potential for HM transport. Adsorption kinetics revealed that surface chemisorption and intraparticle diffusion were the key rate-limiting steps in the MP-Cd/Cr adsorption processes. Desorption of Cd was more pronounced than that of Cr, indicating higher activity of Cd on MP surfaces. Higher HM accumulation factors of aged MPs (Cd: 3.49-8.24%, Cr: 1.95-7.82%) suggest their potential to accumulate and immobilize soil HMs. The EMPs exhibited the highest accumulation factors, implying a greater impact of mixed MPs on soil total and bioavailable Cd/Cr concentrations than single-type MPs. These findings offer new insights into the interactions between pollutants in soils co-contaminated with mixed MPs and HMs.</p>","PeriodicalId":74,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144118365","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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":"Initial litter chemistry and seasonality drive potentially toxic element cycling during decomposition in a subtropical forest: insights from monospecific and mixed litter.","authors":"Juan Li, Yuntong Liu, Chuansheng Wu, Xun Liu","doi":"10.1039/d5em00248f","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d5em00248f","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The cycling of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in leaf litter is a crucial component of the geochemical cycle within forest ecosystems. However, the influences of initial litter chemistry and seasonality on PTE release remain poorly understood. A total of 150 litter samples (5 litter types × 6 initial month treatments × 5 replicates), each enclosed in a litterbag, were deployed over a one-year decomposition period in a subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest in the National Nature Reserve of the Ailao Mountains, with setups initiated in January, March, May, July, September, and November. The concentrations and accumulation indices (AIs) of six PTEs (Co, Sb, Sr, Ti, Tl, and V) were quantified in the decomposed or decayed leaf litter of four tree species (<i>Schima noronhae</i>, <i>Castanopsis wattii</i>, <i>Lithocarpus hancei</i>, and <i>Ternstroemia gymnanthera</i>), and their mixture. The results indicated that after one year of decomposition, the average concentrations of Ti, V, Co, Sr, Sb, and Tl all increased compared to their initial concentrations, with an increase factor ranging from 1.46 to 8.19. Except for Sr, the AIs of Ti, V, Co, Sb, and Tl in the four species and their mixture exceeded 100%, indicating significant net accumulation. Initial litter chemistry and seasonality exhibited significant effects on the AIs of PTEs (<i>p</i> < 0.05), although their interactions did not. Specifically, Mn concentration positively correlated with the AIs, whereas Mg, water-soluble sugar, sulfur, hydrogen, and the C/N ratio exhibited negative associations (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Notably, dry-cool season initiation (Jan-May) enhanced PTE retention compared to wet-warm periods (Jul-Nov), aligning with decomposition kinetics observed in subtropical forests. Mixed litter showed a slight non-additive antagonistic effect on the accumulation of PTEs. These findings prominently demonstrated the influence of initial litter chemistry as well as the regulatory function of seasonality on the accumulation and release of PTEs, thereby providing valuable insights for ecological risk assessment and forest management.</p>","PeriodicalId":74,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144118363","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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":"Distribution and variability of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) across three categories of wastewater treatment plants in Kaohsiung, the industrial hub of Taiwan.","authors":"Chien-Hsing Wu, Li-Man Lin, Shu-Fen Lin, Chih-Lung Wang, Bo-Wun Huang, Justus Kavita Mutuku, Guo-Ping Chang-Chien","doi":"10.1039/d4em00703d","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d4em00703d","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Paired surface wastewater samples from seven wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, were analyzed to quantify environmental PFAS loadings. Seventeen per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) were analyzed, whereby WWTPs 1-4, treating domestic discharges, exhibited relatively low concentrations of 10.5-46.8 ng L^-1. WWTP 5, handling mixed domestic and light industrial wastewater, had moderate levels of 45.7-102.3 ng L^-1. WWTPs 6 and 7, which process heavy industrial discharges, recorded the highest PFAS concentrations of up to 2790 ng L^-1 and 4290 ng L^-1, respectively. The dominant PFAS compounds varied by facility: perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA) and 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate (6:2 FTS) in WWTPs 1-4, 6:2 FTS and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) in WWTPs 5, 6, and 7. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) confirmed that reverse osmosis (RO) effectively reduced PFAS concentrations, while conventional treatment processes lacked significant degradation capability. Three WWTPs (5-7) in Kaohsiung's heavily industrialized southern region had effluent PFAS levels exceeding the EPA lifetime health advisory limit of 70.0 ng L^-1. These findings highlight the urgent need for advanced treatment technologies and provide essential data to support Taiwan EPA's PFAS management regulations in WWTPs.</p>","PeriodicalId":74,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144109081","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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}