Tao Gan , Zhaofeng Yuan , Williamson Gustave , Tianyu Luan , Lizhi He , Zhemin Jia , Xinyu Zhao , Shuo Wang , Yun Deng , Xiaokai Zhang , Feng He
{"title":"Challenges of continuous cropping in Rehmannia glutinosa: Mechanisms and mitigation measures","authors":"Tao Gan , Zhaofeng Yuan , Williamson Gustave , Tianyu Luan , Lizhi He , Zhemin Jia , Xinyu Zhao , Shuo Wang , Yun Deng , Xiaokai Zhang , Feng He","doi":"10.1016/j.seh.2025.100144","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seh.2025.100144","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Rehmannia glutinosa</em> is a widely cultivated medicinal herb, which faces significant challenges due to continuous cropping obstacles (CCO). After one year of cultivating in the same field, replanting is unsuccessful for the next 8–10 years due to the accumulation of allelochemicals, deterioration of soil properties, and disruptions in soil microbial communities. These factors severely impact plant growth, quality, and overall soil health. This review examines the causes and adverse effects of CCO in <em>R. glutinosa</em> cultivation and evaluates various strategies to mitigate them. CCO arise from complex interactions between the plant root system, soil properties, and microbial communities. A key contributor is the accumulation of phenolic acids in the rhizosphere, which alters soil physicochemical properties and promotes the proliferation of root pathogens, including fungi and root-knot nematodes. This creates a self-reinforcing cycle of soil degradation and plant stress, exacerbating CCO. Approaches such as variety selection, optimized crop rotation patterns, and the application of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria are discussed in the article. Additionally, soil disinfection techniques, including fumigation, organic amendments, flooding, and mulching, are reviewed for their potential to suppress pathogens and restore soil health. The role of biochar, compost, and beneficial microorganisms, applied individually or in combination, to alleviate CCO and improve soil conditions are also highlighted. This review aims to provide a theoretical framework and practical guidance for overcoming CCO in <em>R. glutinosa</em> cultivation, contributing to sustainable agricultural practices for this important medicinal crop.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":94356,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Environmental Health","volume":"3 2","pages":"Article 100144"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143619669","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yuanchen Zhang , Guobing Lin , Chenjing Liu , Zhongfang Yang , Lena Q. Ma
{"title":"High Fe and Ca contents contribute to geologically-high As but bioaccessibly-low As in karstic residential soils","authors":"Yuanchen Zhang , Guobing Lin , Chenjing Liu , Zhongfang Yang , Lena Q. Ma","doi":"10.1016/j.seh.2025.100142","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seh.2025.100142","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Karstic soils are often naturally-high in As contents, primarily due to the secondary enrichment during soil weathering from carbonate rocks. However, the As risk via soil exposure for residents in karst areas remains unclear. In this study, we collected 32 residential soils from rural karst area in Guangxi and measured their total As, Fe, Ca and organic C contents. To assess their health risk, we determined and compared bioaccessible As, Fe, and Ca using three <em>in vitro</em> assays (solubility bioaccessibility research consortium-SBRC, physiologically based extraction test-PBET, and <em>in vitro</em> gastrointestinal methods-IVG). The karstic soils showed high As contents at 8.09–256 mg kg<sup>−1</sup>, averaging 58.2 mg kg<sup>−1</sup>, but low bioaccessible As at 0.386–0.977 mg kg<sup>−1</sup>, averaging 0.783 mg kg<sup>−1</sup>. The As bioaccessibility was low at 1.14–3.34%, averaging 1.97%, suggesting a low health risk to humans via incidental oral ingestion. The high Fe content averaging 74.8 g kg<sup>−1</sup> may have contributed to As enrichment in karstic soils, with a positive correlation of R<sup>2</sup> = 0.623. Further, the low Fe bioaccessibility at 0.28% in the gastric phase of SBRC indicated that Fe was poorly soluble in simulated gastrointestinal solution, which may have contributed to low bioaccessible As (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.360). Besides, bioaccessible Ca and soil organic C may also play a role with R<sup>2</sup> = 0.404−0.449. This study sheds light on the high total As contents but low bioaccessible As in residential soils, indicating the low health risks via incidental oral ingestion in karst areas.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":94356,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Environmental Health","volume":"3 2","pages":"Article 100142"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143600631","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Systematic evaluation of soil-based zeolite materials for the remediation of metal(loid)-contaminated water bodies","authors":"Zheting Chu , Huan Tang , Jiaxin Liang , Jing Li, Dazhong Yang, Ranhao Wang, Hong Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.seh.2025.100143","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seh.2025.100143","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The synthesis of a diverse framework structure of zeolite materials using abundant natural soils as raw materials showcases the implementation of green chemistry principles and their feasibility for environmental engineering. However, no systematic evaluation of the soil-based zeolite materials for the remediation of metal(loid)-contaminated water bodies has been conducted. Herein, using the widely spread Chinese red soil and loess as raw materials, we have successfully synthesized eight zeolite materials and established a novel soil-based zeolite library. All eight zeolite types had different adsorption capacity for 10 metal(loid) ions, including As(III), As(V), Cd, Cr(III), Cr(VI), Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn. The selectivity regarding different metal(loid) ions of zeolites was influenced by their framework structures, pH, speciation, and concentration of coexisting ions. A mechanism study revealed that ion exchange, electrostatic attraction, and chemical precipitation synergistically contribute to the interactions between soil-based zeolite materials and metal(loid)s. This work demonstrated the construction of a soil-based zeolite library from natural soils in line with green chemistry principles. Systematic metal(loid) adsorption data for diverse water bodies were presented, including deionized, tap, sea and river water. The information is important for future engineering application of soil-based zeolites in metal(loid)-contaminated water or soil remediation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":94356,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Environmental Health","volume":"3 2","pages":"Article 100143"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143509018","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yayuan Huang , Yuxuan Luo , Chuan Wu , Waichin Li , Hongren Chen , Yahui Wu , Shengguo Xue
{"title":"The biomineralization process of Ochrobactrum EEELCW01 and its implication for arsenic immobilization","authors":"Yayuan Huang , Yuxuan Luo , Chuan Wu , Waichin Li , Hongren Chen , Yahui Wu , Shengguo Xue","doi":"10.1016/j.seh.2025.100141","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seh.2025.100141","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Some bacterial strains have mineralization functions and can effectively reduce the bioavailability of toxic metal(loid) arsenic (As) in soils, but the potential mechanisms are still unclear. In this study, the nitrate-dependent Fe-oxidizing bacterium <em>Ochrobactrum</em> EEELCW01 was used to study the biomineralization process and its extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). In the biomineralization mediated by <em>Ochrobactrum</em> EEELCW01, the products are mainly amorphous Fe oxides and smaller amounts of poorly crystalline goethite. Confocal laser scanning microscopy images confirmed the presence of large amounts of EPS in the bacterial treatments. In the Fe-oxidizing bacteria-EPS-mineral aggregates, exopolysaccharide, Fe(III) and minerals showed a high degree of colocalization. During biomineralization, minerals undergo dissolution-recrystallization cycles, with goethite and siderite as the final stable compounds. Moreover, within 30 days, <em>Ochrobactrum</em> EEELCW01 reduced the soil available As concentration significantly. Our results enhance the mechanistic understanding of the biomineralization and related As immobilization processes mediated by <em>Ochrobactrum</em> EEELCW01, with potential application to the remediation of As-polluted soils.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":94356,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Environmental Health","volume":"3 2","pages":"Article 100141"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143509017","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Xiao Shang , Li Gao , Zheng Sun , Zhenming Liang , Xitao Liu , Chunye Lin , Mengchang He , Wei Ouyang
{"title":"Insights into different microwave-activated persulfate systems for chlorpyrifos degradation in soil: Impacts of soil properties, toxicity, and energy consumption","authors":"Xiao Shang , Li Gao , Zheng Sun , Zhenming Liang , Xitao Liu , Chunye Lin , Mengchang He , Wei Ouyang","doi":"10.1016/j.seh.2025.100139","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seh.2025.100139","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Different microwave-activated persulfate (MP) systems exhibit considerable degradation efficiency towards chlorpyrifos in soil, a typical organophosphorus pesticide. However, only considering degradation efficiency cannot fully verify the effectiveness of MP systems in remediating chlorpyrifos-contaminated soil. Multiple evaluations, including soil characterization, toxicity assessment, and energy consumption estimation, were conducted to investigate the effectiveness of MP technologies. While the differences in soil morphology and structure were relatively small, soil dissolved organic matter varied with different MP treatments. Compared with parent compounds, the predicted toxicity of the degradation products was reduced. The acute toxicity and phytotoxicity of the solid phase reduced after the MP treatments, with the germination rate, and stem and root lengths of tall fescue being increased. However, the toxicity of residual oxidants in the liquid phase cannot be ignored, reducing ∼35% germination rate in ryegrass seed and luminescence intensity in bacteria. A constant microwave temperature was beneficial for degrading lower concentrations of chlorpyrifos, whereas constant microwave power was beneficial for degrading higher concentrations of chlorpyrifos. In short, the MP technology may be suitable for remediating chlorpyrifos-contaminated soil, and a comprehensive evaluation provides a theoretical basis for its practical application in soil remediation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":94356,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Environmental Health","volume":"3 2","pages":"Article 100139"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143534832","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Montserrat Filella , Juan Carlos Rodríguez-Murillo
{"title":"Germanium in the environment: Current knowledge and gap identification","authors":"Montserrat Filella , Juan Carlos Rodríguez-Murillo","doi":"10.1016/j.seh.2025.100132","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seh.2025.100132","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Trace element germanium (Ge) plays a key role in some modern technologies including fibre optics, infrared optics, and semiconductors, but remains under-researched in environmental contexts. Naturally occurring in low concentrations, Ge behaves similarly to Si and is often found in mineral particles rather than in dissolved form in soils and freshwaters. Its distribution in the environment is largely driven by weathering processes, where it replaces Si in silicate minerals, making it a valuable indicator of weathering intensity through Ge/Si ratios. In oceans, estuaries and lakes, Ge follows the Si cycle, especially in diatom-dominated systems. However, the emphasis on Ge/Si ratios has somewhat overshadowed direct studies on its independent geochemical cycling, mobility and potential ecological impacts. This has left gaps in understanding the unique aspects of Ge's behaviours in natural and polluted systems, both at the level of understanding laboratory-scale interactions (e.g., binding by natural organic matter, and iron oxyhydroxides) and data collection in environmental compartments (e.g., lack of data on methylated species). The measurement of Ge in the environment is technically challenging due to its low concentrations and the complexity of its chemical forms, which partially explains the lack of data and/or their poor quality. This review is the first comprehensive effort to compile the published data, assessing their reliability and identifying the main processes and gaps in our knowledge. The collected data on environmental compartments are provided ready for use, which will facilitate the completion of the collection and integration of new data.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":94356,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Environmental Health","volume":"3 2","pages":"Article 100132"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143436637","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
He Shen , Xiaoping Li , Jie Dong , Xueming Zheng , Yueheng Jiang , Pengyuan Jin , Xuelian Kui , Huimin Liu , Xu Zhang , Xiangyang Yan
{"title":"Risk assessment based on Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ba, Pb, and Sc contents in soils and blood Pb levels in children: Seasonable variations and Monte Carlo simulations","authors":"He Shen , Xiaoping Li , Jie Dong , Xueming Zheng , Yueheng Jiang , Pengyuan Jin , Xuelian Kui , Huimin Liu , Xu Zhang , Xiangyang Yan","doi":"10.1016/j.seh.2025.100131","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seh.2025.100131","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Potentially toxic metals (PTMs) in soil pose threats and hazards to human health. Their seasonal variations were observed and thus their risks. However, limited research was conducted based on the seasonal variations of soil PTMs and children's blood lead levels (BLLs). In this study, seasonable variations of PTM risks (Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ba, and Pb) and 0–6 years old children's BLLs were investigated based on 534 Xi'an seasonable soils (spring, summer and winter) and Monte Carlo simulations. The results indicate that the distributions of PTMs and risks depended on seasonas. The highest Mn, Cr, Cu, and Pb contents appeared in the winter, which were 785, 148, 146, and 134 mg/kg, respectively. Pollution load index ranged 1.14–1.15, while ecological risk index was 30.6–30.9. Further, non-carcinogenic risk for Pb was 2.27–2.36 × 10<sup>−2</sup>, Zn was 8.10–8.73 × 10<sup>−4</sup> and Cu was 1.89–1.94 × 10<sup>−2</sup>. PTM contamination was slightly higher in the winter compared to spring and summer. Although PTMs posed mild pollution and acceptable risk, seasonal variations affected children's BLLs, particularly in the winter. The Zn, Cu, and Pb from automobile emissions were identified as the most significant source and priority contaminants in Xi'an, with blood Pb levels being slightly higher in winter at 3.24–3.39 μg/dL. This study highlights the importance of developing targeted strategies to mitigate Pb risks in urban areas, particularly addressing seasonal variations, to reduce children's BLLs effectively.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":94356,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Environmental Health","volume":"3 2","pages":"Article 100131"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143419250","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lena Q. Ma , Kashif Hayat , Maria Manzoor , Jing Wang , Eakalak Khan , Mary Beth Kirkham
{"title":"Enhancing the quality and reputation of Soil & Environmental Health journal: 2025 updates","authors":"Lena Q. Ma , Kashif Hayat , Maria Manzoor , Jing Wang , Eakalak Khan , Mary Beth Kirkham","doi":"10.1016/j.seh.2025.100128","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seh.2025.100128","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":94356,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Environmental Health","volume":"3 1","pages":"Article 100128"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143135956","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Risks and benefits associated with urban green space through the lens of environmental justice","authors":"Sally L. Brown , Ganga M. Hettiarachchi","doi":"10.1016/j.seh.2024.100127","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seh.2024.100127","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A number of factors contribute to concerns on environmental justice in urban areas. These include a lack of green space, poor access to healthy fruits and vegetables, and high exposure to environmental contaminants. Access to soils with low contaminant bioaccessibility is critical to addressing these concerns. This is complicated due to conflicting guidance on what constitutes safe soil and how to improve the quality of urban soils. This review details the basics of the hazards associated with two ubiquitous urban contaminants: Pb and PAHs. The literature on significant exposure pathways and potential bioavailability of these contaminants is discussed. Guidance and regulatory values for both Pb and PAHs are shown and vary widely. Soil concentrations of these contaminants are often exceed regulatory values. Data from studies on urban soils for contaminant concentrations and availability reduction are presented. Use of organic amendments including compost- and biosolids-based soil products, along with gardening in raised beds are acceptable practices for growing food in potentially-contaminated soils. Yield increases associated with their use has been reported. The feedstocks for these amendments are readily available in all urban areas. Because these amendments typically have lower concentrations of contaminants than urban soils, their use will decrease total concentrations of contaminants and has been shown to improve soil and ecosystem health. Bioaccessible fractions of contaminants may also be reduced. Thus, these amendments appear to be a way to safely and productively increase urban green space. In addition, the use of residual-based soil amendments will result in additional environmental benefits due to waste diversion from landfills.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":94356,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Environmental Health","volume":"3 1","pages":"Article 100127"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143135959","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}