Pollution level and ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in riverside sediments of the Grand Canal (Beijing, Tianjin and Heibei sections) were studied. The concentrations of As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, V and Zn in shallow sediments were measured by ICP-MS. It was found that the concentrations of several heavy metals in shallow sediments were higher than the background values of soils

Systematic studies on the impact of environmental pollution on the survival adaptability of amphibians are relatively few. In this study, Bufo raddei tadpoles from two places with totally different backgrounds of heavy metal pollution were chosen to explore the effects of heavy metal pollution on fitness and swimming performance of tadpoles, the physiological effects were investigated as well. The

Thiamethoxam 75 SG has recently got registered for use against shoot borer and termites of sugarcane. It is the only neonicotinoid having label claim against both the major pests of sugarcane. The dissipation kinetics and environmental risk assessment of thiamethoxam 75 SG were studied in a typical tropical sugarcane crop ecosystem as detailed reports are lacking. Rapid and sensitive method adopted

Sucralose is one of the most popular artificial sweeteners worldwide. Due to its high stability, persistence and low removal efficiency in wastewater treatment plants, sucralose has been used as an indicator of wastewater intrusion into aquatic systems. However, its stability has also been a reason for discussion whether sucralose’s presence in surface water could indicate a recent anthropogenic input

Sensitivity of tropical freshwater microalgae (Mesotaenium sp., Chlorococcum sp. and Scenedesmus sp.) to environmentally relevant concentrations of hexavalent chromium (Cr6+) and cadmium (Cd2+) was compared individually in three growth media viz. Bold’s Basal Medium (BBM), Test Medium 1 (TM1) and Test Medium 2 (TM2) based on fluorescence reduction. Free metal content of growth media was determined

Antibiotics, which can be used as veterinary drugs, are widely used in the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases for animals. However, overuse of antibiotics had caused serious problems on food contamination and human harm. For control such public issues, several of techniques have been in recent years. Ratiometric fluorescent (RF) technique, as one of the most promising strategies for quantitatively

Sulfamethoxazole (SMZ) is a kind of sulfonamides antibiotic, which is widely used in human life. This study investigated the effects of SMZ on physiological and biochemical indexes of Chlorella vulgaris (C. vulgaris) and Microcystis aeruginosa (M. aeruginosa) for 35-day. The results showed that SMZ inhibited the growth and Chl-a content of C. vulgaris and M. aeruginosa, and growth inhibition rate was

This study explored the adsorption of representative non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), acetaminophen (AP), ibuprofen (IB), and salicylic acid (SA) by biochars. The sorption kinetics were fitted with six commonly used kinetic models, and the isotherm data was well described by both Langmuir and Freundlich models. Biochars of longer pyrolysis time showed better performance with the Langmuir

Persistence and environmental implication of pharmaceuticals in agricultural soil is determined depending on adsorption, bioavailability and toxicity. This study aims to assess adsorption/partitioning behaviour of diclofenac (DCF) and its impact on microbial activity in four agricultural soils, differing in pH, organic carbon content, and cation exchange capacity. Results from batch studies suggests

The accumulation of Cd and Pb in rice grains poses a potential threat to human health, which is a subject of increasing concern across the globe. We examined the effect that foliar spraying of Zn-ethylenediaminetetraacetate (Zn-EDTA) (0.3% and 0.5% w/v) during the early-grain filling stage has on rice grain yield and Cd, Pb, Zn and Fe contents in rice tissues via a field experiment. The grain yield

Direct photolysis of the emerging contaminant 2-(thiocyanomethylthio) benzothiazole (TMCTB) was performed in aqueous solution at different concentrations with high-pressure mercury lamp (5.0, 8.0, 13.0, 16.0, 20.0, 23.0, 27.0, 35.0, 40.0, 45.0, and 50.0 mg L− 1) and with natural sunlight radiation (6.0, 30.0, and 60.0 mg L− 1). TCMTB underwent rapid degradation by direct photolysis with a high-pressure

In recent years, microplastics and nanoplastics have gained public attention, but their impacts on the freshwater microbial communities is rarely evaluated. In this study, the effects of 1 mg/L nano-sized polystyrene (nPS) and its modified forms (carboxyl-modified and amino-modified nPS) on the structures and functions of freshwater microbial community were determined. The nPS were found to slightly

The current study investigated the efficiency of sepiolite (SE), sodium humate (HS), microbial fertilizer (JF) and SE combined with JF/HS in a ratio of 2:1 (w/w) (JF-2SE and HS-2SE) on Cd, Pb and As bioavailability in field trials with rice (Oryza sativa L.). The results showed that all the amendments remarkably decreased (p < 0.05) the contents of available Cd and available Pb in soil. Only JF-2SE

Total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations were measured in hair of 98 Chinese university students to study their levels of Hg exposure and influencing factors. The results showed that Hg exposure for university students was at a low level with concentrations lower than the USEPA recommended reference level (1 µg/g) across all hair samples. The percentage of MeHg to THg (%MeHg) in

In India, coal utilization in power generation, constitutes as the single largest source of mercury emissions. This study presents mercury content in Indian sub-bituminous and bituminous coals that are primarily used as fuel in large-scale electricity generation facilities. A total of 165 number of coal samples have been collected from the major coal producing regions of the country. Along with the

Phytoremediation is an ecologically and economically feasible technique to remove heavy metal from soil. The aim of the study was to examine cadmium (Cd) toxicity and phytoremediation aptitude of Brassica juncea. In the present study, plants survived when exposed to different levels of Cd (0, 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg soil) and accumulated a large amount of Cd in its root and shoot. Translocation factor

This study deals with bleak (Alburnus alburnus) sensitivity in detecting of the wastewater related pressure in large lowland rivers. The major objective was to investigate if the response measured in bleak should be linked to a certain stretch of the river and characterised as ”stretch specific”, or it should be linked to the sampling site and characterised as ”site specific”. The response was evaluated

Quantum dots (QDs), such as cadmium selenide (CdSe) and lead selenide (PbSe) exhibit excellent optical, magnetic and chemical properties due to their extremely size (ca. 1–10 nm) and are attractive semiconductor nanomaterials for optical studies and energy storage. In this study, aqueous synthesis of CdSe and PbSe QDs in a size range of 2–10 nm was described. Synthesized QDs were characterized using

Lizards increasingly are recognized as suitable contaminant biomonitors in terrestrial ecosystems. Previously, we have shown that Bosk’s fringe-toed lizards (Acanthodactylus boskianus) living close to the Gabès-Ghannouche industrial complex for fertilizer and acid production in southern Tunisia were contaminated by heavy metals. However, the impact of this contamination on lizard health parameters

The results of the Multi-Purpose Geochemical Survey in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) show that the pollution is serious. In this study, the influence of geological genesis, soil-forming process, and human activities on soil quality in PRD is analyzed, and the influence factors, genesis and spatial distributional characteristics of cadmium (Cd) in different soil depths are studied by inverse distance

The changing climatic conditions are imposing a vital re-consideration on the hydro-chemical pathways for contaminants. The circumference Mediterranean countries will be possibly under imminent water stress. The present study attempts to identify the sources and the leaching capacity of Cr(VI) in a coastal alluvial fan and aeolian soil and in a serpentine soil in an area offering an aridity analogue

This study explored nitrogen (N)-dependent interaction between Microcystis and chloramphenicol (CAP) along 20 day-test. Results showed that 5 mg/L N largely alleviated inhibitory effects of CAP on Microcystis growth, while 50 and 0.5 mg/L N exacerbated growth-inhibition by CAP especially in early (before day 8) and mid–late stage, respectively. At each N level, CAP-induced antioxidant defense and cell

The corona virus-2019 (COVID-19) is ravaging the whole world. Scientists have been trying to acquire more knowledge on different aspects of COVID-19. This study attempts to determine the effects of COVID-19, on a large population, which has already been persistently exposed to various atmospheric pollutants in different parts of India. Atmospheric pollutants and COVID-19 data, obtained from online

Fifty-four surface sediments from the typical coal mining area were analyzed for pristane, phytane and C8–C40 n-alkanes using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The spatial distribution, homolog profiles and source apportionment of aliphatic hydrocarbons were investigated. Bimodal distribution pattern, centered at C16–C20 and C27–C33 n-alkanes, were observed in all sediment samples with

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a class of persistent organic pollutants that pose a threat to environment and human health. Aiming at predicting PCBs risk in actual soil ecosystem, this study was conducted by chemical and biological methods to assess the bioavailability of PCBs in spiked soil, and in field-contaminated soils before or after remediation. The three chemical methods were Soxhlet

Persistence and sorption behaviour of flubendiamide in two different Indian soils as affected by maize stalk biochar was studied. The persistence was more in West Bengal soil (178.6 days) than Sikkim soil (165.3 days) at 10 µg g−1 fortification level. Biochar amendment addition to soil at 5% enhanced the degradation process and half-life (T1/2) values were 103.5 and 117.4 days, respectively for biochar

Molecular biomarkers play an increasing crucial role in evaluating and predicting toxicity of metals. Expressions patterns of genes related to oxidative stress, apoptosis, immune and inflammation response in the Bufo gargarizans embryo exhibited a development dependent manner. The genes related to oxidative stress (HSP, GPx and SOD) are the first response in the development of embryo, followed by the

Marigold (Calendula calypso) is a multipurpose ornamental plant, but its cadmium (Cd) tolerance and phytoremediation potential is unknown. The proposed study was carried out to unravel Cd partitioning, physiological and oxidative stress responses of C. calypso grown under Cd stress. Plants were grown for four months in pots having different soil Cd levels: 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 mg kg−1 soil. Plant

In the original publication of the article, there was an error in the name of institution. The incorrect name of institution “Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Environmental Protection, 8, Jiangwangmiao Road, XuanWu District, 210042 Nanjing, People’s Republic of China” should be revised to “Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environmental, 8

Impacts on urban water resources are invariably caused by the development of urban centers and the occupation of the watershed. The release of untreated effluents and urban runoff are sources of metals in adjacent water bodies. It is therefore important to conduct studies on the occurrence of these trace elements in the environment and the risks posed to human health. The aim of the present study was

We assessed the effects of carbon dioxide (CO2) and decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209, 0, 3 and 30 mg/kg) on rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Wuyunjing) in field free-air CO2 enrichment system. Rice at elevated (580 ppm) CO2 had increased net photosynthetic rate, intercellular CO2 concentration, shoot biomass, yield and phosphorus content in grains. However, there were no significant changes in such parameters

The objectives of this study was to diagnose Cd and Pb contamination in soil and to identify the main factors that contribute to the transfer of these elements to tomato plants and fruits and contamination levels of the fruits in tropical mountain conditions. Contamination of the study area soils by Cd and Pb was verified. This contamination stemmed from the intensive use of agricultural inputs, mainly

Whether and to which extent the effects of chemicals in the environment interact with other factors remains a scientific challenge. Here we assess the combined effects of temperature (16 vs. 20°C), light conditions (darkness vs. 400 lx), dissolved organic matter (DOM; 0 vs. 6 mg/L) and the model insecticide thiacloprid (0 vs. 3 µg/L) in a full-factorial experiment on molting and leaf consumption of

In order to assess environmental exposure-associated human health risk of dioxin compounds for the population in the vicinity of a municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI) in Shanghai, the atmospheric samples (n = 24) and soils samples (n = 96) were collected and analyzed to obtain the concentration level, pollution characteristics and seasonal changes of dioxin compounds in environmental medias. The

The present study investigated the biochemical toxicity and potential detoxification mechanisms in earthworms Eisenia fetida exposed to sulfamethazine (SMZ) (7.5, 15 and 30 mg kg−1) either alone or in combination with Copper (Cu) (100 mg kg−1) in soil. The results showed that increasing concentrations of SMZ in soil activated superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase isozymes, suggesting

Adsorption of arsenate, a common soil contaminant, on natural occurring iron oxides controls arsenate adsorption on soils, especially on iron rich soils. However, soils contain multiple iron minerals and their contributions for arsenate adsorption on the bulk soil are unclear. In this study, Wenzel’s sequential extraction procedure (SEP) was used to characterize different fractions of iron oxides in

Lake sediments, as an important emission source of nutrients and greenhouse gases, play a crucial role during the biogeochemical cycle processes. However, the impact mechanisms of different nutrient levels on greenhouse gas emission from lakes are still insufficient. In this study, the sediments from eight shallow lakes in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River were cultured to study the

Concentration and human health risks of heavy metals (Pb, Cu, Cr, Cd, As, Ni) in water, sediment, crab (Tympanotonus fuscatus) and periwinkle (Callinectes amnicola) were assayed in New Calabar River, Nigeria. Results revealed that concentration (mg/L) of the metals in water in the two seasons studied, ranged from 1.1E-2 ± 1.0E-3…for Cd to 2.90 ± 0.03…for Cu. In sediment, the concentration (mg/kg) ranged

Growing levels of pollution in marine environment has been a matter of serious concern in recent years. Increased levels of heavy metals due to improper waste disposal has led to serious repercussions. This has increased occurrences of heavy metals in marine fauna. Marine microbes are large influencers of nutrient cycling and productivity in oceans. Marine bacteria show altered metabolism as a strategy

The objective of this study is to compare the physiological response (content and degradation of photosynthetic pigments, membrane oxidation products and soluble proteins) and multi-element content of Ramalina celastri (lichenized fungi) growing on agricultural fences with no-tillage (associated with transgenic crops and agrochemical application), organic cropping and a non-cultivated area. We found

An automated on-line solid-phase extraction (SPE) combined with LC–MS/MS method was developed for determination of deoxynivalenol (DON), 3-acetyl-DON and 15-acetyl-DON in corn flour and wheat flour samples. The extraction solvent of the samples was injected into the automated on-line SPE system to remove matrix interference. After washing step, the targets were eluted from the SPE cartridge into liquid

The adverse effects of endocrine disruptors (EDs) on aquatic wildlife and human health represent a current issue of high public concern. Substantial knowledge of the level of estrogenic EDs in fish has accumulated from field surveys. For this purpose, a survey of wild brown trout (Salmo trutta trutta) was carried out to assess the incidence of EDs in the feral fish population living in the Liri river

The distribution, seasonal variation and sources of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) from suspended particulate matter (SPM) of the Aurá River, a small amazon typical river located in Northern Brazil, were determined. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis of SPM revealed a mixture of PAH from different origins and a seasonal variation of PAH primary source for the studied area. Pyrene

Atrazine and bifenthrin persistence study was carried out in three sludge amended soil under laboratory condition. Atrazine persisted shorter in sludge amended soil sludge-3 (half-life 23.4 days) followed by sludge-2 (half-life 30.1 days) and sludge-1 (half-life 37.1 days) than unamended control (half-life 150.5 days). Bifenthrin followed the similar pattern with sludge-3 (half-life 43.1 days) which

The growth response, tolerance, and enrichment characteristics of six ornamental species, Chlorophytum comosum, Calendula officinalis, Iris lacteal, Belamcanda chinensis, Saponaria officinalis, and Polygonum lapathifolium were studied under hydroponic culture with lead (Pb) concentrations ranging from 0 to 1000 mg/L. The results showed that the growth of the tested ornamental species under Pb stress

It has recently been reported that plateau lakes have been seriously polluted by organic matter, however, the sources of this organic matter and their relative contributions remain unknown. In this study, to determine the sources and composition of the organic matter in the Hulun Lake basin during the spring-thaw period, a total of twenty-three sampling sites were investigated. Results showed high

Tissue culture of Berula erecta is suitable cultivation system for research purposes connected with contamination and phytoremediation studies. In previous investigation we determined the optimal dose concentration at which Se stimulates plant growth and positively affects the antioxidative status in this experimental system. In current study, we investigate its response to exposure to lead (Pb) and

In the original publication of the article, there was an error in the abstract section. The incorrect sentence "the dominant microbes in the DEHP-contaminated soil were Sphingomonas and Bacillus, which belonged to the Acidobacteria and Proteobacteriav, respectively" should be revised to “the dominant microbes in the DEHP-contaminated soil were belonged to the Acidobacteria and Proteobacteria, respectively

The various uses of copper or copper compounds in industrial, biocidal or pesticidal products lead to inputs of the metal into aquatic environments. To assess effects of copper ions on non-target organisms, the freshwater snail Theodoxus fluviatilis was used as test organism for a three-week laboratory experiment. Snails were exposed to four copper concentrations ranging from 4 to 39 µg Cu2+/L, and

In the present study, sheep manure (0%, 10% and 20% w/w) and biochar derived from coniferous tree woods (0%, 2.5% and 5% w/w) were incorporated into a multi-MTE contaminated soil from a former iron mine site and incubated for 10 days. A seeds of barley were grown in the amended soil and different morphological traits were measured after 30 days. Results indicated that MTE stress reduced the shoot length

The aim of the study was to assess the effects of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs1 = 2.7 d·nm, AgNPs2 = 6.5 d·nm) and silver nitrate (AgNO3) on Enchytraeus crypticus and Folsomia candida using toxicity tests (OECD Guideline 220, 232). A 28-day chronic toxicity study was performed to evaluate the reproduction and mortality rate. E. crypticus reproduction was more sensitive to AgNO3 with a 28dEC50 of 86

Microplastic pollution in aquatic environment has raised concern and as a result a number of studies have recently been published to find solutions for its rapid increase. Different methods have been proposed for microplastic identification. Spectral imaging shows a lot of promise for polymer identification; however, the identification time needs to be improved. Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) combined

In this study Cr(tot), Cr(VI), major and trace elements were determined in groundwater of northern sector of the Pollino Massif (southern Italy). The investigated area is characterized by ophiolitic rocks consisting of metabasites, shales and calcschists and fractured serpentinites. Two main hydro-facies were observed, reflecting low temperature water–rock interaction. The Mg-HCO3 hydrofacies is due

Since the Directive 2013/39/EU included terbutryn to the list of priority substances of all water bodies, a previous method based on dispersive liquid–liquid micro-extraction (DLLME) for the determination of triazines in seawater has been modified. The main change consisted on the use of tandem mass spectrometry instead of diode array as detection technique. Due to the higher sensitivity of mass detector

Wastewater treatment plants (WTTPs) contribute to anthropogenic chemical contamination through the release of treated effluent. A constructed wetland (CW) interfaced with a WTTP could potentially purify and naturalize effluent water. This pilot study aimed to acquire baseline chemical data on the fate and distribution of phthalates in the water, sediment, and vegetation (Typha spp.) of a fully operational

The concentrations of zinc, copper, lead and cadmium owing to vehicles were analyzed in roadside soils during all the four seasons from Faisalabad-Gojra road (M-4) and Gojra-Jhang road (GJR) in the Punjab, Pakistan. Results indicated that all the polluted sites along the roadside had comparatively higher metal concentrations as compared to control, nevertheless, spatio-temporal variations in metal

Knowledge of the influence of microplastics on soil microbiome and nutrients is important for understanding the ecological consequences of microplastic pollution in terrestrial ecosystems. In this study, we investigated whether polyvinyl chloride (PVC) microplastic pollution at environmentally relevant concentrations would affect soil bacterial community and available nitrogen/phosphorus content. The

In recent years, many studies have reported the harmful effects of plastic debris both on the environment and on human health. Therefore, the attempt has increased for the replacement of conventional plastics with bioplastics. On the other hand, not only the studies on the effects of bioplastics and conventional plastics in the field of micro-, submicron- and nano-sized are still very limited, but

In this work the toxicity caused by explosive industries effluent (yellow water) at different levels of toxicity (genetic, cellular and organismal level) was evaluated by the Allium cepa test and the Sorghum sudanense germination. The results showed that the effluent paralyze the mitotic process, keeping the cells in the interphase, decreasing the mitotic index in A. cepa. Chromosomal abnormalities

A bulky waste, oyster shell (OS), was calcinated at 400–800°C to produce Ca-rich products (OS400–OS800) to reduce the human health risk of soil cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As). Thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and BET method were used to characterize OS and its calcined products. OS and OS400–OS700 removed little Cd and As from water, whereas OS800