Search

• The catalyst activated PDS efficiently with high stability and generalizability. • The complexation of AL with RM favored the exposure of Fe active sites and adsorption of PDS. • The electron transfer pathway was the main pathway for PDS activation and SMZ degradation. • DFT demonstrated that Fe-active species are the primary site where electron transfer occurs. • T.E.S.T and biological experiments predicted lower toxicity of degradation intermediates. Advanced oxidation processes based on peroxydisulfate (PDS-AOPs) have been used for the remediation of organic wastewater. However, the mechanism for the generation of electron transfer sub-stable complexes in the metal–carbon/PDS system has not been fully elucidated. Herein, two environmental solid wastes were selected to synthesize a novel Fe-carbon catalyst (RM@KC 1:2 –800) using alkali lignin as the carrier and red mud (RM) as the iron source, and applied for peroxydisulfate (PDS) activation in sulfamethazine (SMZ) removal. The complexation of alkali lignin with RM favored the exposure of Fe active sites and adsorption of PDS. 97% of SMZ could be removed efficiently in the RM@KC 1:2 –800/PDS system, and the degradation efficiency remained at 80.81% after 5 cycles without metal leaching, which was suitable for a variety of natural water bodies. Combined with density functional theory (DFT) and other analyses confirmed that the electron transfer pathway is the main pathway for PDS activation and SMZ degradation. And the reactive Fe species were the active sites that contributed to the adsorption of PDS on the RM@KC 1:2 –800 surface to form sub-stable complexes (RM@KC-PDS*), whereby the electron transfer occurred. Surprisingly, the prediction of environmental toxicity of the degradation intermediates based on T.E.S.T software and biological experiments proved their environmental friendliness. Overall, this study follows the concept of "waste-to-waste" and proposes a strategy for a suitable and cost-effective Fe-carbon catalyst for large-scale production, while demonstrating its potential application in the treatment of organic wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Exposure to airborne fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) is associated with various adverse effects. However, the molecular mechanism involved in PM 2.5 -elicited energy metabolic reprogramming and the toxic chemical determinants within PM 2.5 are not well elucidated. In this study, nontargeted and targeted metabolomics research were conducted to investigate the overall metabolic changes and relevant toxicological pathways caused by Taiyuan winter total PM 2.5 and its water soluble and organic soluble fractions in human lung bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B). The results showed that significant metabolome alterations in BEAS-2B cells were observed after the exposure of total PM 2.5 and its organic soluble fraction. Purine metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism, glutathione (GSH) metabolism, tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and glycolysis were mainly affected. Along with a significant increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β), obvious metabolic phenotype remodeling from oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis was found in BEAS-2B cells treated with total PM 2.5 and its organic soluble fraction. Compared with water soluble fraction, organic soluble fraction was found to play the dominant role in PM 2.5 toxicity. Our study provided novel insights into the mechanism of PM 2.5 -elicited toxicity. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Metabolomics was applied to study the toxic impacts of Taiyuan winter total PM 2.5 and its different fractions. • PM 2.5 majorly perturbed purine metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism and energy metabolism. • PM 2.5 induced cell energy metabolic reprogramming from oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis. • Organic soluble fraction played the major role in PM 2.5 toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Carbon dots (CDs) have attracted much attention in a variety of fields owing to the diversified properties. However, the control of the structure and surface function of CDs are still urgent issues to be addressed for using it in specific application. Herein, the reduced state of carbon nanodots (R-CDs) has been produced through a convenient strategy by reduction of the pure carbon dots products, which was utilized as a good candidate of matrix for direct analysis of bisphenol (BP) analogs in negative-ion surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SALDI-TOF MS). Due to the dominant hydroxyl groups on the surface of R-CDs, they were easier to absorb BPs through hydrogen bonding and van der Waals interactions, resulting in highly efficient detection of BPs. Meanwhile, compared with the organic matrix and raw carbon dots, the superior surface structure and properties of this R-CDs surface provide various advantages including low background noise, outstanding sensitivity and salt tolerance. This work opens a door for developing R-CDs as alternative substrate in SALDI-TOF MS for direct detection of small molecule pollutants. Graphical abstract fx1 Highlights • Reduced carbon nanodots (R-CDs) was used as a novel candidate for detection bisphenol analogs (BPs) in SALDI-TOF MS. • The R-CDs-assisted LDI MS exhibited low background noise, high sensitivity and salt tolerance in analysis of BPs. • This work provides a good alternative substrate to SALDI-TOF MS and expands the CDs’ new application scope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new atmospheric pressure gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (APGC-MS/MS) was developed to simultaneously separate, identify and quantify 18 nitro-polyaromatic hydrocarbons (NPAHs) in air fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ). Compared with traditional negative chemical ionization (NCI) or electron impact ionization (EI)-MS/MS methods, APGC-MS/MS equipped with an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) source provided better sensitivity and selectivity for NPAHs analysis in PM 2.5 .18 NPAHs were completely separated, and satisfactory linear response (R 2  > 0.99), low instrumental detection limits (0.20–2.18 pg mL −1 ) and method detection limits (0.001–0.015 pg m −3 ) were achieved. Due to the reliable performance of the instrument, only minimal sample pretreatment is needed. It ensured the satisfactory method recovery (70%–120%) and qualified repeatability (RSD: 1.1%–17.2%), which met the requirement of trace analysis of NAPHs in the real environmental PM 2.5 . Using the developed method, the actual PM 2.5 samples collected from Taiyuan, China in both summer and winter were analyzed, and 17 NPAHs but 2-nitrofluorene were detected and quantified. According to the obtained NAPH concentration results, the generation mechanism of NPAHs in PM 2.5 and the effects on NPAHs formation caused by some ambient air pollutants were preliminarily discussed: secondary photochemical reaction might be the dominant source of NPAHs in PM 2.5 collected from Taiyuan in both summer and winter; ambient air pollutants (NO 2 , SO 2 , CO) had more contribution on the NPAHs secondary formation of PM 2.5 in winter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1-Nitropyrene (1-NP) is a mutagenic and carcinogenic pollutant very widespread in the environment. However, the relative investigations on genotoxicity, oxidative stress and metabolic enzymes in lungs of mammalian caused by 1-NP have not been fully established. In this study, the 1-NP solutions at 3 dosages (1.0 × 10 −5 , 4.0 × 10 −5 and 1.6 × 10 −4 mg/kg body weight) were respectively given to rats by the intratracheal instillation. The responses of 1-NP on DNA damage and repair, oxidative stress and metabolism biomarkers in rat lungs after exposure to 1-NP were measured. The results showed 1-NP at three dosages induced obvious DNA strand breaks, 8-OH-dG formation and DNA-protein cross-link in rat lungs compared with the control. Higher dosage 1-NP (4.0 × 10 −5 and 1.6 × 10 −4 mg/kg body weight) greatly activated DNA repair gene OGG1 and inhibited MTH1 and XRCC1 expressions, and they significantly elevated the levels of GADD153, heme oxygenase-1 and malondialdehyde and decreased SOD activity, accompanied by the increases of CYP450, CYP1A1, CYP1A2 and GST levels. These results suggested the genotoxicity of 1-NP might rely on 1-NP-caused DNA damage and its combined effects on the suppression of DNA repair and the enhancement of oxidative stress and metabolic enzyme activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, microplastic pollution is more serious and complicates the toxic effects of other co-existing pollutants in the environment. However, the effect and mechanism of biodegradable plastics on the growth and metabolism of probiotic remain unclear. This work selected Bacillus amyloliquefaciens as model bacterium for a three-day exposure experiment to probe the issues. The results showed that 100 mg/L polylactic acid microplastics (PLA MPs) (3–4 mm, flake shape) caused oxidative damage to cell membranes, disrupted cell wall composition and inhibited cell growth by 21.2–27.5 %. The toxicity was not simply additive or synergistic effects when PLA MPs (100 mg/L) and copper ions (10 mg/L) coexisted. PLA MPs did not significantly increase the toxicity of copper to bacteria, instead triggered some mechanisms to resist the toxicity of copper. The bacteria formed spores to resist PLA MPs, while the copper ions toxicity was weaken by chelation and efflux. It is worth noting that copper ions instead increased the expression of genes related fengycin and iturin then improving the bacteriostatic activity of the probiotic. This paper deeply analyzes the toxicity mechanism of combined pollution on Bacillus amyloliquefacien, and also provides new perspective for helping to inhibit pathogenic bacteria under biodegradable microplastics and metal stress. [Display omitted] • Paper discussed the toxicity of biodegradable microplastics and copper on probiotic. • Polylactic acid microplastics still had a certain toxicity to bacteria. • The toxicity of combined pollutants was not simple synergistic or additive effects. • Pollutants might instead improve the bacteriostatic effect of inoculants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignin exhibits some antioxidant and UV protection due to its large number of phenolic hydroxyl and methoxy groups, which can be used in the field of sun protection. However, its complex macromolecular structure, high polydispersity, low solubility and deep coloration limit their development in the sunscreen field. In this work, we purified and separated lignin by solvent fractionation so that its phenolic hydroxyl content could be retained or even increased without modification. Consequently, by controlling environmental factors, lignin rapidly self-assembles into nanospheres without changing its structure, which not only achieves the standard of light-colored lignin but also meets the requirement of high sunscreen performance. It was measured that the lignin nanospheres formed by this method could meet more than 90% of UV blocking, especially for ultraviolet (UVA) fragments, when mixed with commercially available creams. It not only promotes the application of lignin in the field of sun protection, realizes the sustainable development of lignin, but also alleviates the problem of solid waste treatment and disposal. [Display omitted] • Lignin fractions with different molecular weight, functional groups and solubility were obtained by solvent fractionation. • The union of solvent fractionation and self-assembly avoids the modification of lignin and promotes the synthesis of NPs. • Lignin sunscreens block UV rays up to 90% or more, especially for the UVA portion. • Compared with other methods for reducing lignin color rendering, it is simpler and environmentally friendly. • 30g of bamboo chips can meet the synthesis demand of sunscreen and realize the resource utilization of solid waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epidemiological studies suggested that ambient fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) exposure was associated with cardiovascular disease. However, the underlying mechanism, especially the mitochondrial damage mechanism, of PM 2.5 -induced heart acute injury is still unclear. In this study, the alterations of mitochondrial morphology and mitochondrial fission/fusion gene expression, oxidative stress, calcium homeostasis and inflammation in hearts of rats exposed to PM 2.5 with different dosages (0.375, 1.5, 6.0 and 24.0 mg/kg body weight) were investigated. The results indicated that the PM 2.5 exposure induced pathological changes and ultra-structural damage in hearts such as mitochondrial swell and cristae disorder. Furthermore, PM 2.5 exposure significantly increased specific mitochondrial fission/fusion gene (Fis1, Mfn1, Mfn2, Drp1 and OPA1) expression in rat hearts. These changes were accompanied by decreases of activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), Na + K + -ATPase and Ca 2+ -ATPase and increases of levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and nitric oxide (NO) as well as levels of pro-inflammatory mediators including TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β in rat hearts. The results implicate that mitochondrial damage, oxidative stress, cellular homeostasis imbalance and inflammation are potentially important mechanisms for the PM 2.5 -induced heart injury, and may have relations with cardiovascular disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to sulfur dioxide (SO2) increases asthma risk. Inflammatory and immune responses are typical in asthma disease. The exact effect of SO2 on modulation of the inflammatory and immune responses in asthmatic rats remains unclear. Objectives Here we sought to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the NF-κB inflammatory pathway and the Th1/Th2 imbalance in asthmatic rats exposed to SO2. Methods Male Wistar rats were challenged by ovalbumin (OVA) or SO2 alone or together, and then mRNA and protein levels of some inflammatory and immune genes were measured. NF-κB nuclear translocation was analyzed. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), inflammatory cell counts and histopathologic examination were performed. Results (1) OVA plus SO2 induced abnormal pathological changes and inflammatory responses in lung relative to exposure to OVA alone; (2) showing NF-κB nuclear translocation and activation through up-regulating IKKβ mRNA and protein expression and down-regulating IκBα expression in the presence of OVA or OVA plus SO2; (3) OVA plus SO2 significantly raised TNF-α and IL-6 levels in BALF compared with the OVA group; (4) SO2 markedly elevated IL-4 levels and decreased IFN-γ levels in BALF in the asthmatic rats, stimulating IgE generation which was closely related to inhibiting the expression of Foxp3, a specific marker of regulatory T cells. Conclusions SO2 affects the airway inflammatory and immune responses of the asthmatic rats and enhances the susceptibility to OVA by aggravating inflammatory responses in lungs, up-regulating pro-inflammatory cytokine expression, and causing the Th1/Th2 imbalance, which might contribute to the increased risk of asthma disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Modes of natural and industrial degradation of lignin are reviewed. • The changes of lignin structure and properties by organic solvent extraction and ionic liquid isolation are reviewed. • Organic solvent extraction can retain the inherent structure of lignin to the greatest extent and exploit native activity. • The types of products vary with the types of ionic liquids. • The challenges of lignin separation methods and the future development of ionic liquids are reviewed. The complex interlacing structure among cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin and the unique properties of lignin itself limit the value-added utilization of the lignin. As the "upstream" process of biorefinery, lignin separation technology is very important for lignin conversion into high-value materials. However, it is not easy to extract lignin with relatively complete structure without affecting performance from biomass raw materials. Notably, most of reviews regarding lignin focus on its degradation. The extraction or separation methods are not introduced in detail, and the effects of these methods on raw materials or lignin have not been reported. Herein, this paper critically reviews the changes in physicochemical properties and structure of lignin caused by several mild organic solvent extraction methods and new ionic liquids which has been widely used in recent years. Furthermore, the application and potential economic benefits of these lignin are summarized. These methods promote the effective utilization of lignin, which is no longer limited to heat energy, but also alleviates the solid waste disposal problem caused by lignin as waste stream. Finally, perspectives on the future research on the lignin separation, depolymerization and application are highlighted. This review may provide an insight for the development of bio-refining technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atmospheric fine particulate matter exposure (PM 2.5) can increase the incidence and mortality of heart disease, and raise the risk of fetal congenital heart defect, which have recently drawn much attention. In this study, C57BL/6 mice were exposed to PM 2.5 (approximately equivalent to 174 μg/m3) by intratracheal instillation during the gestation. After birth, 10 weeks old offspring mice were divided into four groups: male exposed group (ME), female exposed group (FE), male control group (MC), female control group (FC). The pathological injury, pro-inflammatory cytokines, histone acetylation levels, and expressions of GATA-binding protein 4 (GATA4) and downstream genes were investigated. The results showed that exposure to PM 2.5 in utero increased pathological damage and TNF-α and IL-6 levels in hearts of offspring mice, and effects in ME were more serious than FE. Notably, GATA4 protein levels in hearts in ME were significantly lower than that of MC, accompanied by down-regulation of histone acetyltransferase (HAT)-p300 and up-regulation of histone deacetylase-SIRT3. As GATA4 downstream genes, ratios of β-MHC gene expression to α-MHC significantly raised in ME relative to the MC. Results of chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)-qPCR assay found that binding levels of acetylated histone 3 lysine 9 (H3K9ac) in GATA4 promoter region in the hearts of ME or FE were markedly decreased compared with their corresponding control groups. It suggested that maternal exposure to PM 2.5 may cause cardiac injury in the offspring, heart damage of male mice was worse than female mice, in which process HAT-p300, H3K9ac, transcription factor GATA4 may play an important regulation role. Image 1 • PM 2.5 exposure in utero caused heart injury and inflammation in offspring mice. • GATA4 expression decline along with p300 down-regulation and SIRT3 up-regulation. • Binding levels of H3K9ac in GATA4 promoter region were related to GATA4 expression. • Gender differences of mouse heart damage after PM 2.5 exposure in utero exist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• PM 2.5 triggers mitochondrial morphological and function damage of H9c2 cells. • MiR-421/SIRT3 pathway regulates cardiac mitochondrial dynamics imbalance after PM 2.5 treatment. • MiR-421 inhibitor and resveratrol protect PM 2.5 -induced mitochondrial damage. Fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) exposure is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Mitochondria are sensitive targets of PM 2.5 , and mitochondrial dysfunction is closely related to the occurrence of CVD. The epigenetic mechanism of PM 2.5 -triggered mitochondrial injury of cardiomyocytes is unclear. This study focused on the miR-421/SIRT3 signaling pathway to investigate the regulatory mechanism in cardiac mitochondrial dynamics imbalance in rat H9c2 cells induced by PM 2.5. Results illustrated that PM 2.5 impaired mitochondrial function and caused dynamics homeostasis imbalance. Besides, PM 2.5 up-regulated miR-421 and down-regulated SIRT3 gene expression, along with decreasing p-FOXO3a (SIRT3 downstream target gene) and p-Parkin expression and triggering abnormal expression of fusion gene OPA1 and fission gene Drp1. Further, miR-421 inhibitor (miR-421i) and resveratrol significantly elevated the SIRT3 levels in H9c2 cells after PM 2.5 exposure and mediated the expression of SOD2, OPA1 and Drp1, restoring the mitochondrial morphology and function. It suggests that miR-421/SIRT3 pathway plays an epigenetic regulatory role in mitochondrial damage induced by PM 2.5 and that miR-421i and resveratrol exert protective effects against PM 2.5 -incurred cardiotoxicity. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Structural information of grassland changes on the Tibetan Plateau is essential for understanding alterations in critical ecosystem functioning and their underlying drivers that may reflect environmental changes. However, such information at the regional scale is still lacking due to methodological limitations. Beyond remote sensing indicators only recognizing vegetation productivity, we utilized multivariate data fusion and deep learning to characterize formation-based plant community structure in alpine grasslands at the regional scale of the Tibetan Plateau for the first time and compared it with the earlier version of Vegetation Map of China for historical changes. Over the past 40 years, we revealed that (1) the proportion of alpine meadows in alpine grasslands increased from 50% to 69%, well-reflecting the warming and wetting trend; (2) dominances of Kobresia pygmaea and Stipa purpurea formations in alpine meadows and steppes were strengthened to 76% and 92%, respectively; (3) the climate factor mainly drove the distribution of Stipa purpurea formation, but not the recent distribution of Kobresia pygmaea formation that was likely shaped by human activities. Therefore, the underlying mechanisms of grassland changes over the past 40 years were considered to be formation dependent. Overall, the first exploration for structural information of plant community changes in this study not only provides a new perspective to understand drivers of grassland changes and their spatial heterogeneity at the regional scale of the Tibetan Plateau, but also innovates large-scale vegetation study paradigm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A new method for the determination of 19 polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and 12 hydroxy-polyaromatic hydrocarbons (OHPAHs) in fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) was developed using atmospheric pressure gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (APGC-MS/MS). Better sensitivity was achieved by APGC-MS/MS than conventional liquid chromatography or gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. The method detection limits (< 0.4 pg m−3 for PAHs and < 0.076 pg m−3 for OHPAHs), recoveries (67.7–120%), repeatability (RSD of 0.9–19.1%) and linearity (R2 > 0.99) were obtained for the analysis of PM 2.5 samples. The content profile of 19 PAHs and 12 OHPAHs were successfully obtained in 55 PM 2.5 samples collected from two major Chinese megacities, Taiyuan and Guangzhou, in both summer and winter by this method. Based on the concentrations, possible emission sources for the pollutants were also identified. Graphical abstract fx1 Highlights • APGC-MS/MS achieved lower LODs of 19 PAHs and 12 OHPAHs in PM 2.5 than previous method. • 19 PAHs and 12 OHPAHs in PM 2.5 all could be detected by APGC-MS/MS. • Pollution characteristics of PAHs/OHPAHs in PM 2.5 were obtained based on determined concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PM 2.5 aggravated brain pathological injury and inflammatory responses in of AD mice. PM 2.5 increased Aβ−42 expression and induced neurotransmitter imbalance in AD mice. Selected miRNAs and genes have potential regulatory roles in brain of PM 2.5 -AD mice. Predicted signal pathways are significant in clarifying mechanism of PM 2.5 -caused AD. Fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) is associated with increased risks of Alzheimer's disease (AD), yet the toxicological mechanisms of PM 2.5 promoting AD remain unclear. In this study, wild-type and APP/PS1 transgenic mice (AD mice) were exposed to either filtered air (FA) or PM 2.5 for eight weeks with a real-world exposure system in Taiyuan, China (mean PM 2.5 concentration in the cage was 61 µg/m3). We found that PM 2.5 exposure could remarkably aggravate AD mice's ethological and brain ultrastructural damage, along with the elevation of the pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α), Aβ-42 and AChE levels and the decline of ChAT levels in the brains. Based on high-throughput sequencing results, some differentially expressed (DE) mRNAs and DE miRNAs in the brains of AD mice after PM 2.5 exposure were screened. Using RT-qPCR, seven DE miRNAs (mmu-miR-193b-5p, 122b-5p, 466h-3p, 10b-5p, 1895, 384–5p, and 6412) and six genes (Pcdhgb8, Unc13b, Robo3, Prph, Pter, and Tbata) were evidenced the and verified. Two miRNA-target gene pairs (miR-125b-Pcdhgb8 pair and miR-466h-3p-IL-17Rα/TGF-βR2/Aβ-42/AChE pairs) were demonstrated that they were more related to PM 2.5 -induced brain injury. Results of Gene Ontology (GO) pathways and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways predicted that synaptic and postsynaptic regulation, axon guidance, Wnt, MAPK, and mTOR pathways might be the possible regulatory mechanisms associated with pathological response. These revealed that PM 2.5 -elevated pro-inflammatory cytokine levels and PM 2.5 -altered neurotransmitter levels in AD mice could be the important causes of brain damage and proposed the promising miRNA and mRNA biomarkers and potential miRNA-mRNA interaction networks of PM 2.5 -promoted AD. [Display omitted]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) has a close association with respiratory damage. Vitamin c and quercetin have been documented to possess antioxidant and anti-inflammation properties. However, their potential protective effects against PM 2.5 -induced respiratory damage have not been evaluated yet. Hence, the study was aimed to investigate their protective effects and delineate the possible mechanisms. The results indicated that PM 2.5 depleted the cell viability of 16HBE cells, elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and inhibited mitochondrial genes expressions, including fusion proteins Mfn1 and OPA1 , along with biogenesis markers SIRT1 and p53R2 . Additionally, the damage of mitochondrial morphology was observed upon PM 2.5 exposure using both JC-1 and MitoTracker Red staining. Expressions of mitochondrial respiratory chain genes including NDUFS2 and UQCRI1 were also attenuated by PM 2.5 exposure. Furthermore, PM 2.5 promoted the mRNA levels of NADPH oxidase and inflammation cytokines. However, the addition of vitamin c or quercetin strikingly antagonized the PM 2.5 -induced toxic effects. Collectively, these findings suggest that vitamin c and quercetin have repressive roles in respiratory oxidative damage incurred by PM 2.5 , which provide the theoretical basis about intervention and control of food nutrients on PM 2.5 -induced human adverse health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macrophyte rhizospheric dissolved organic matter (ROM) served as widespread abiotic components in aquatic ecosystems, and its effects on antibiotic residues and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) could not be ignored. However, specific influencing mechanisms for ROM on the fate of antibiotic residues and expression of ARGs still remained unclear. Herein, laboratory hydroponic experiments for water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) were carried out to explore mutual interactions among ROM, sulfamethoxazole (SMX), bacterial community, and ARGs expression. Results showed ROM directly affect SMX concentrations through the binding process, while C O and N-H groups were main binding sites for ROM. Dynamic changes of ROM molecular composition diversified the DOM pool due to microbe-mediated oxidoreduction, with enrichment of heteroatoms (N, S, P) and decreased aromaticity. Microbial community analysis showed SMX pressure significantly stimulated the succession of bacterial structure in both bulk water and rhizospheric biofilms. Furthermore, network analysis further confirmed ROM bio-labile compositions as energy sources and electron shuttles directly influenced microbial structure, thereby facilitating proliferation of antibiotic resistant bacteria (Methylotenera, Sphingobium, Az spirillum) and ARGs (sul 1, sul 2, intl 1). This investigation will provide scientific supports for the control of antibiotic residues and corresponding ARGs in aquatic ecosystems. [Display omitted] • Amide and amino groups in ROM are main binding sites for sulfamethoxazole. • ROM bio-labile compositions are closely linked to microbial metabolisms. • ROM fractions favored the formation of rhizospheric biofilms. • SMX pressure stimulated the succession of bacterial community. • Rhizospheric biofilms offered favorable microenvironments for ARB development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Lamellar cluster LDH in situ grew on the MIL-88A template. • Dispersed LDH covers stably activate PMS at wide circumneutral pH from 2.5 to 10.5. • Disequilibrium of hydrolysis-precipitation in limit pH caused catalysis declines. • ROSs reconfiguration and dissociable SMT reactivity were examined in limited pH. • Toxicity of structural rearrangements in sulfonamide moiety was revealed. The development of effective and reliable Fenton-like catalytic systems in circumneutral pH is a longstanding interest. Metal-organic framework derivatives become promising catalyst candidates due to high catalytic accessibility and structural flexibility, but their stability remains in doubt. Herein, a MIL-88A self-templating strategy to synthesize structurally decentralized FeCo-layered-double hydroxide (FeCo-LDH, M−FCL) was proposed. The well-constructed M−FCL 3 presented superior peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation for nearly 100 % sulfamethazine (SMT) degradation within 15 min, which was virtually wobble-slight in the pH = 2.5 ∼ 10.5 range. The performance decrease at limiting pH was mainly ascribed to activity-blocked of M−FCL 3 by analyzing the involved reaction substrates and reactive oxygen species. In specific, the hydrolytic detachment or excessive aggregation of surface-active FeCo-LDH occurred at limiting pH with unbalanced hydrolysis-coprecipitation. Especially, theoretical calculations further exposed that the loss of dominated active Co site and the formation of inert SMT+ dissociating species were detrimental to the catalytic process in acidic environments. Nevertheless, the well-founded resistance of the constructed M−FCL 3 /PMS system to interference and its ability to operate for a long period proved its potential for application in near-neutral environments. This work raised concern for the variations of Fenton-like catalysis at limiting pH, promoting the application of MOF-derived LDH for environmental remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study is to investigate chemical compositions of fine chalk dust particles (chalk PM 2.5 ) and examine their adverse effects on alveolar macrophages (AMs) in vitro . Morphologies and element concentrations of individual chalk particles were analyzed by using the quantitative energy-dispersive electron probe X-ray microanalysis (ED-EPMA). The oxidative response of AMs and the potential to generate nitric oxide (NO) by luminol-dependent chemiluminescence (CL) and nitrate reductase method were assessed 4 h following the treatment of AMs with differing dosages of fine chalk particles, respectively. Oxidative stress and cytotoxicity elicited by chalk PM 2.5 were also examined. The results showed that fine chalk particles were mainly composed of gypsum, calcite, dolomite and a little amount of organic adhesives. Exposure to chalk PM 2.5 at 100 μg mL −1 or 300 μg mL −1 significantly increased intracellular catalase, malondialdehyde, and NO levels and decreased superoxide dismutase level in AMs, leading to leakage of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and reduction of the cell viability. Furthermore, luminol-dependent CL from respiratory burst in AMs was enhanced. It was suggested that chalk PM 2.5 could make oxidative damages on AMs and result in cytotoxicity, being likely attributed to excessive reactive oxygen species or reactive nitrogen species induced by mixture of fine gypsum and calcite/dolomite particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Heavy metal pollution in water bodies is a serious environmental problem continuously, which requires urgently seeking an efficient and cost-effective solution. Apatite as the most abundant phosphate on earth exhibits remarkable adsorption effect on heavy metals. Based on this, three kinds of apatite adsorbents were prepared in this study by titration co-precipitation method for the removal of heavy metals Pb (II) and Cd (II) from water. In the single system, the maximum adsorption capacity of hydroxyapatite (Hap), chlorapatite (Clap), and fluorapatite (Fap) for Pb (II) was 1597.16 mg/g, 1477.82 mg/g, and 1455.99 mg/g, for Cd (II) were Hap (107.18 mg/g), Clap (79.08 mg/g) and Fap (15.8 mg/g). Pb (II) was more competitive than Cd (II) in binary metal system. Apatite adsorbents mainly remove Pb (II) and Cd (II) from solution by dissolution precipitation, electrostatic attraction, surface complexation and ion exchange. The results of this study show that the three kinds of apatite adsorbents exhibited excellent adsorption performance for Pb (II), and also had a certain removal effect for Cd (II). Therefore, the three kinds of apatite have certain application prospects in heavy metal wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simulation of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) exposure is essential for evaluating adverse health effects. In this work, an ambient exposure system that mimicked real atmospheric conditions was installed in Taiyuan, China to study impacts of chronic PM 2.5 exposure on adult and aged mice as well as Sirtuin3 knockout (Sirt3 KO) mice and wild-type (WT) mice. The real-ambient exposure system eliminated the possible artificial effects caused from exposure experiments and maintained the physiochemical characteristics of PM 2.5. The case studies indicated that aged mice exhibited apparent heart dysfunction involving increased heart rate and decreased blood pressure after 17-week of real-ambient PM 2.5 exposure. Meanwhile, 15-week of real-ambient PM 2.5 exposure decreased the heart rate and amounts of associated catecholamines to induce heart failure in Sirt3 KO mice. Additionally, the increased pro-inflammatory cytokines and decreased platelet related indices suggested that inflammation occurred. The changes of biomarkers detected by targeted metabolomics confirmed metabolic disorder in WT and Sirt3 KO mice after exposed to real-ambient PM 2.5. These results indicated that the real-ambient PM 2.5 exposure system could evaluate the risks of certain diseases associated with air pollution and have great potential for supporting the investigations of PM 2.5 effects on other types of rodent models. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Gestational exposure to PM 2.5 is associated with adverse postnatal outcomes. PM 2.5 can enter alveoli by using intratracheal instillation, even penetrate through lung cells into the blood circulation. Subsequently, they are transferred across the placenta and fetal blood brain barrier, causing the adverse birth outcomes of offspring. This study demonstrated that the gestational exposure resulted in cognitive and emotional disorders in female offspring although the offspring were not exposed to PM 2.5. Placental metabolic pathways modulated fetal brain development and played a pivotal role for maternal-placental-fetal interactions in the fetal programming of adult behavioral and mental disorders. Samples of fetus, offspring hippocampus and placenta from the mice exposed to PM 2.5 were investigated using a comprehensive approach including mass spectrometry-based lipidomics and three-dimensional imaging. The exposure induced the neuro-degeneration in hippocampus, impairment of placental cytoarchitecture, and reprogramming of lipidome, which might affect the modulation of maternal-fetal cross-talk and result in the behavior disorders of offspring. The variation of spatial distribution of lipids was profoundly affected in dorsal pallium and hippocampal formation regions of fetal brain, offspring hippocampus, as well as labyrinth and junctional zones of placenta. The abundance alteration of lipid markers associated with neurodegenerative diseases was validated in transgenic mouse model with Alzheimer's disease and human cerebrospinal fluid from patients with Parkinson's disease. The finding could help with the selection of more suitable heterogeneous-related substructures targeting PM 2.5 exposure and the exploration of PM 2.5 -induced toxicological effects on neurodegenerative diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Graphene-based freestanding catalysts have renewed research interests. • Material and energy efficiencies are two important evaluation criteria for energy conversion and storage devices. • Surface and interface engineering can produce electronic conduction and active sites for energy storage devices. • Important synergy between different components can benefit capacitance performance. Next-generation energy storage methods are closely related to green recovery in the post-pandemic period and the future energy structure. Advanced graphene-based freestanding electrodes with highly tunable electronic structures and mechanical stability present superior electrochemical performance, which are among the most promising candidates for achieving efficient energy storage. However, the ever-increasing demand for energy has triggered significant room for the growth of material and energy efficiencies of graphene-based freestanding electrodes. Fortunately, their intrinsic reactivity can be improved by atomic-level tailoring of the surfaces and interfaces of electrodes. Therefore, there is an urgent need for researchers to grasp the relationship between the structure and electrochemical performance of graphene-based freestanding electrodes. In this review, we presented a focused discussion and multidimensional analysis of graphene-based freestanding electrodes, including the predictive design of valence electron structure, mechanistic understanding of conversion and storage, and performance evaluation in practical application. Moreover, future research aspects of the graphene-based freestanding electrodes are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Particulate matter (PM) exposure increases the risk of asthma. However, the effect of PM 2.5 exposure on liver metabolism in mice with asthma symptoms remains unclear. We established an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma model in mice and divided the animals into four groups: control group (C), PM 2.5 exposure group (P), OVA-induced asthma group (O) and OVA-induced asthma PM 2.5 exposure group (OP). Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to identify the metabolite markers and related perturbed metabolic pathways in mouse liver tissue after PM 2.5 exposure. Multivariate analysis showed 9 and 12 potential metabolite markers in the P and OP groups, respectively, after PM 2.5 exposure that were significantly correlated with lipid peroxidation indices. PM 2.5 exposure perturbed 5 and 7 metabolic pathways in the P and OP groups, respectively. These metabolic pathways mainly involve the lipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, and nucleotide metabolism. These results highlight the potential to study PM 2.5 -triggered alterations via liver tissue in normal and OVA-induced asthmatic mice to gain a more realistic appraisal of the resulting early toxicity events. Additionally, these results revealed potential metabolite markers of early antioxidant defense events triggered by PM 2.5 and indicated that metabolite markers are more sensitive than antioxidant indicators. Image 1 • Metabolic disorders were observed in liver tissues of normal mice and OVA-induced asthma mice after PM 2.5 exposure. • After exposure to PM 2.5 , 9 and 12 metabolic markers were screened in normal mice and asthmatic mice, respectively. • Perturbed metabolic pathways mainly involved the metabolism of lipid, amino acid, carbohydrate, and nucleotide metabolism. • Metabolomics plays a significant role in exploring the toxicity mechanism of PM 2.5 in mouse liver. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics pollution in environments has become a major concern and it has been proven to have adverse impacts on plants, so there is an urgent to find approaches to alleviate the detrimental effects of microplastics. In our study, we investigated the influence of polystyrene microplastics (PSMPs) on the growth, photosynthesis, and oxidative defense system changes of ryegrass, as well as the behavior of MPs at roots. Then three types of nanomaterials were applied to alleviate the adverse impact of PSMPs on ryegrass, which were nano zero-valent iron (nZVI), carboxymethylcellulose-modified-nZVI (C-nZVI) and sulfidated nZVI (S-nZVI), respectively. Our results suggested that PSMPs had significant toxicity to ryegrass, leading to decrease of shoot weight, shoot length and root length. Three nanomaterials regained the weight of ryegrass to a varying extent and made more PSMPs aggregate near roots. In addition, C-nZVI and S-nZVI facilitated the entrance of PSMPs into the root and promoted the chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b contents in leaves. Analysis of antioxidant enzymes and malondialdehyde content indicated that ryegrass coped well with the internalization of PSMPs, and all three types of nZVI could alleviate PSMPs-stress in ryegrass. This study elaborates the toxicity of MPs on plants and provides a novel insight into the fixing of MPs by plants and nanomaterials in environments, which needs to be further explored in future research. [Display omitted] • PSMPs decreased biomass, length and photosynthetic pigments of plants. • Three types of nZVI all alleviated the toxicity of PSMPs. • Three types of nZVI all promoted plant growth under exposure of PSMPs. • C-nZVI and S-nZVI facilitated the internalization of PSMPs. • S-nZVI might have a more alleviation on the oxidative stress when exposed to PSMPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The risk of development of asthma, a multi-faceted chronic disease, increases as a result of exposure to PM 2.5. However, the mechanism underlying asthma-related metabolic changes caused by PM 2.5 exposure is unclear. Here, we investigated the major metabolic changes, metabolic pathways involved, and underlying molecular mechanisms in mice with PM 2.5 exposure-induced asthma. Forty-eight adult female mice were randomly assigned to control (C), low concentration-PM 2.5 exposure: 0.50 mg kg−1 (L), medium concentration-PM 2.5 exposure: 1.58 mg kg−1 (M), and high concentration-PM 2.5 exposure: 4.98 mg kg−1 (H) groups. M and H groups presented significantly higher IL-4, IL-8, IL-1β, IL-5, IL-13, and OVA-specific IgE levels, and significantly lower IFN-γ levels, than the C group, as well as significantly increased eosinophil count and MUC5AC expression in the lung tissue. These findings indicate that exposure to medium and high concentrations of PM 2.5 induced asthma in mice. Statistical analyses identified 13 asthma-related major metabolites, which were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Meta Mapp Software revealed 4 major metabolic pathways. PM 2.5 -induced ATP requirement and oxidative stress may perturb metabolic processes in asthma. The present findings increase our understanding of the toxic effect of PM 2.5 in the development of asthma and identify potentially useful biomarkers. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • PM 2.5 induces asthma in mice. • GC-MS analysis identified 13 biomarkers in PM 2.5 -induced asthmatic mice. • Screening identified four metabolic pathways involved in the pathogenesis of asthma. • PM 2.5 regulates amino acid and purine metabolism by disrupting the TCA cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Toxic chemicals such as flame retardants are associated with atmospheric fine particles (PM 2.5), which are an important pollutant in the world. In this study, a sensitive method using gas chromatography-tandem triple quadrupole mass spectrometry combined with ultrasonic-assisted extraction and multi-phase column purification was developed for simultaneously determination of 29 flame retardants including halogenated flame retardants (HFRs) and organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) in PM 2.5 samples. Extraction time, as well as the type and volume of elution solvent were optimized. The recoveries of all target flame retardants from PM 2.5 samples were in the range of 70%‒130%, with good repeatability and reproducibility (0.39%‒17.4%). The instrumental detection limits (IDLs) and method quantitation limits (MQLs) of HFRs were in the range of 0.004‒5.44 pg and 0.002‒2.52 pg m−3, while those of OPFRs were 0.003‒0.23 pg and 0.07‒5.41 pg m−3, respectively. The developed method has been successfully applied for analysis of target flame retardants in atmospheric PM 2.5 collected from the cities of Guangzhou and Taiyuan, China. HFRs were found at concentrations of 45.7‒1230 pg m−3 and 51.2‒82.3 pg m−3 in Guangzhou and Taiyuan. The concentrations of HFRs were lower than those of OPFRs, which were detected at concentrations of 6004‒49,800 pg m−3 and 16,741‒34,346 pg m−3 in Guangzhou and Taiyuan. Accordingly, the analytical method is robust and useful for further elucidating the contamination profiles of flame retardants in PM 2.5. Graphical abstract fx1 Highlights • A sensitive method for analysis of 17 HFRs and 12 OPFRs in PM 2.5 was developed. • MQLs of most OPFRs by GC-MS/MS were lower than the reported MQLs by GC-MS. • Good performance characteristics were obtained for all target flame retardants. • The method was successfully applied for analysis of PM 2.5 in different areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Exposure to ambient fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) is associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Mitochondrion is key to brain degeneration. However, the underlying mechanism of PM 2.5 -induced brain injury, especially mitochondrial damage, is still unclear. In this study, changes in mitochondrial dynamics, mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP), mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and oxidative stress in human SH-SY5Y cells exposed to PM 2.5 at different concentrations (0, 25, 100, and 250 μg mL−1) were investigated. The results showed that PM 2.5 caused more mitochondrial swell, accompanied by the opening of mPTP and the decrease of ATP levels, mitochondrial membrane potential and mtDNA copy number in SH-SY5Y cells. PM 2.5 significantly enhanced the expression of mitochondrial fission/fusion genes (Drp1 and OPA1) and affected the gene expression of CypD, SIRT3, and COX Ⅳ in SH-SY5Y cells. Besides, PM 2.5 triggered the increase of cellular ROS, Ca2+ and Aβ-42 levels, inhibition of manganese-superoxide dismutase (SOD 2) activities, reduction of GSH levels GSH/GSSG ratio, and elevation of mitochondrial malondialdehyde contents. It suggests that mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress are the potential mechanisms underlying PM 2.5 -induced brain nerve cell injury, which may be related to neurological diseases. Additionally, our study elucidated that PM 2.5 components trigger different cytotoxicity. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • PM 2.5 induces mitochondrial morphological damage of SH-SY5Y cells. • PM 2.5 triggers mitochondrion permeability transition pore opening. • PM 2.5 reduces ATP, mitochondrial membrane potential and mtDNA copy number. • PM 2.5 -caused oxidative stress related to enhancement of ROS, SIRT3 and Aβ-42 levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Composting reduced the mobility and bioavailability of Mn. • Phanerochaete chrysosporium enriched microbial community diversity and structure. • Composting achieves passivation of Mn with Phanerochaete chrysosporium inoculation. • The inoculation of Phanerochaete chrysosporium accelerated the temperature rise. Electrolytic manganese residue poses potentially threats to the environment and therefore needs eco-friendly treatment. Composting has been reported to effectively passivate heavy metals and alleviate their ecotoxicity. Observation of the Mn concentration during composting indicated that the mobility of Mn was significantly reduced, with the easily extraction fraction (acid extractable and easily reduction fraction) of Mn in the control pile (pile 1 without Phanerochaete chrysosporium inoculation) and treat pile (pile 2 with Phanerochaete chrysosporium inoculation) decreasing by 17% and 29%, respectively. The inoculation of Phanerochaete chrysosporium prompted the passivation of manganese, prolonged the thermophilic period, and enriched the microbial community structure, which was attributed to the rapid growth and reproduction of thermophilic bacteria. Moreover, Phanerochaete chrysosporium inoculation promoted the effect of pH on the stabilization of Mn, but the opposite contribution of organic matter. This study would provide a new perspective for remediating EMR contaminated soil via composting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The promoted generation strategies of 1O 2 in PS activation by modified-nZVI systems and nZVI-based coupling systems are summarized. • The influence factors on the generation and behavior of 1O 2 in nZVI/PS-based systems are reviewed. • The selectivity, wide pH adaptability and corresponding roles of 1O 2 in organic pollutants degradation are reviewed. • The challenges and prospects of 1O 2 generation in nZVI/PS-based systems are addressed. In recent years, the remediation of water contamination through non-radical pathways by singlet oxygen (1O 2) has caught scientists' increasing attention owing to the adaptability to wider pH range and superior selectivity to target pollutants. In this review, strategies of promoting the generation of 1O 2 in persulfate activation over nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) and the corresponding roles of 1O 2 in degrading pollutants are summarized systematically, chiefly illustrating the mechanisms of persulfate activation to produce 1O 2. The reasons underlying improvements in the degradation of organic pollutants originate from increased generation and enhanced activity of 1O 2 in modified systems and coupling systems based on nZVI. Additionally, in order to figure out how external environment affects the generation and behavior of 1O 2 , several major influence factors are also compared and evaluated. On the whole, this paper draws a relatively clear picture of 1O 2 in the combination of persulfate and nZVI-based systems, opening novel perspective of capitalizing on the merits of 1O 2 to deal with the increasingly troublesome problem of water pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In today's society, wastewater sludge has become solid waste, and the preparation of wastewater sludge into sludge biochar nanomaterials (SBCs) for resource utilization has become a promising method. SBCs have advantages over other biomasses, including their complex composition, wide range of raw materials, and especially the presence of various transition metals with catalytic properties. Heterogeneous Fenton processes using SBCs as catalyst carriers have shown great potential in the removal of pollutants. In this review, the synthesis methods of SBCs are reviewed and the effects of different synthesis methods on their physicochemical properties are discussed. Furthermore, the successful applications of raw SBCs, metal-modified SBCs, and Fenton sludge-SBCs in organic pollutant degradation, sediment remediation, and sludge dewatering are reviewed. The mechanisms occurring with different metals as active sites are explored, and the review shows that the degradation efficiency and stability of SBCs are very satisfactory. We also provide an outlook on the future development of SBCs. We hope that this review will help readers gain a clearer and deeper understanding of SBCs and promote the development of SBCs. [Display omitted] • Synthesis methods can affect the physicochemical properties of SBCs. • An overview of the mechanism and reusability of SBCs for pollutant degradation. • Summarized the application of SBCs in sludge dewatering. • Presented the challenges and prospects of SBCs in the Fenton-like field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Surface-modified bismuth vanadate is prepared for PMS activation under visible light. • CIP oxidation in BVO-2/PMS/Vis system is dominated by 1O 2 and photogenerated holes. • Surface C O acts as Lewis base site to induce PMS hydrolysis in acidic condition. • The efficiently separated electrons can reduce PMS for SO 4 − and OH generation. Lewis basic sites have been shown to induce singlet oxygen (1O 2) generation in metal-free catalysts while have yet to be elucidated in metal-containing bismuth vanadate (BiVO 4). Herein, surface-modified BiVO 4 photocatalysts are developed and applied in peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation for ciprofloxacin (CIP) abatement employing 1O 2 and photogenerated holes as the primary reactive species. The surface carbonyl moiety acts as Lewis basic sites to induce PMS hydrolysis under acidic conditions for 1O 2 generation. The occurrence of electron transfer from PMS to catalyst accounts for 1O 2 generation via PMS oxidation. Moreover, PMS as an electron acceptor kinetically accelerates charge separation, not only inducing SO 4 − and OH generation but also allowing direct oxidation of CIP by efficiently separated holes. Accordingly, the optimal BVO-2/PMS/Vis system can completely degrade CIP in 9 min under visible light with a reaction rate of 0.4264 min−1, far exceeding the BVO-2/PMS (0.0063 min−1) and BVO-2/Vis (0.0411 min−1) systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastics enter the environment and break up into microplastics (MPs) and even nanoplastics (NPs) by biotic and abiotic weathering. These small particles are widely distributed in the environmental media and extremely mobile and reactive, easily suspending in the air, infiltrating into the soil, and interacting with biota. Current research on MPs/NPs is either in the abiotic or biotic compartments, with little attention paid to the fact that the biosphere as a whole. To better understand the complex and continuous movement of plastics from biological to planetary scales, this review firstly discusses the transport processes and drivers of microplastics in the macroscopic compartment. We then summarize insightfully the uptake pathways of MPs/NPs by different species in the ecological compartment and analyze the internalization mechanisms of NPs in the organism. Finally, we highlight the bioaccumulation potential, biomagnification effects and trophic transfer of MPs/NPs in the food chain. This work is expected to provide a meaningful theoretical body of knowledge for understanding the biogeochemical cycles of plastics. [Display omitted] • The transport of MPs in macroscopic compartments are discussed. • Uptake pathways of MPs/NPs in different biota are summarized. • Different mechanisms of cellular internalization of NPs in organisms are analyzed. • Bioaccumulation potential and biomagnification effects of MPs/NPs are assessed. • Evidence for trophic transfer of MPs/NPs along the food chain is highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics, as emerging contaminants, have attracted widespread attention for their increasing detection frequency in aquatic environment. It has been reported that microplastics may co-presence with heavy metals in water, which might have impact on heavy metals removal in water. Furthermore, the effects of microplastics on the co-remediation efficiency of plants with engineered nanomaterials are ambiguous. To this end, this study was dedicated to unveil the intrinsic effects of polystyrene microplastics (PSMPs) on the cadmium (Cd) removal efficiency by co-remediation of ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and three engineered nanomaterials, respectively were nano-zerovalent iron (nZVI), carboxymethylcellulose-modified-nZVI (C-nZVI) and sulfidated nZVI (S-nZVI). Significant changes were observed in Cd content, plant biomass, chlorophyll b and antioxidant enzymes. It was surprising to find that with the treatment of nZVI or C-nZVI, polystyrene microplastics would enter plants roots, and these plants were found to contain more Cd among all series. Accordingly, four possible mechanisms were proposed to explain why plants that observed the internalization of PSMPs contained more Cd. This work reveals the impact of coexisting microplastics in water on Cd remediation efficiency and provides new insights into the entry of polystyrene microplastics into plant roots. [Display omitted] • Presence of PSMPs in water promoted ryegrass take in more Cd. • nZVI or C-nZVI promoted the internalization of PSMPs in ryegrass. • Ryegrass that observed the internalization of PSMPs contained more Cd. • PSMPs inhibited ryegrass growth and photosynthesis, disrupted antioxidant system. • Part of PSMPs could be removed by ryegrass combined nZVI or C-nZVI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • MOF-derived LDHs as transformations between functional materials are explored. • Three derivative approaches based on different mechanisms are interpreted. • The focus is on component changes and core–shell/hollow structure growth. • Applications in energy or environment-related fields are explored. • The challenges and directions of development are concluded. Template derivatization of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) is regarded as an effective strategy for preparing structurally functionalized materials, but frequently generated metal–carbon compounds dramatically rely on energy-consuming and uncontrollable thermal treatments. In the last decade, another emerging trend is to grow layered double hydroxides (LDHs) from chemically treated MOF precursors, realizing a transformation of one functional material to another. Noteworthy, the surface grown LDHs effectively enhance the stability, electrical conductivity and mass transfer capability of MOFs, while the latter as three-dimensional structure supports to overcome the undesired aggregation of traditional LDHs. Besides, by incomplete/complete conversion, core–shell or hollow structures can also be facilely obtained, which is another point that has been explored for their unique merits including large surface area, low density and elastic cavity for reaction. This work summarizes the state-of-the-art progress of MOF-derived LDHs, which provides an earlier overview for their conversion and application. In the review, three different synthetic strategies are systematically organized and categorized, with special emphasis on elucidating their respective mechanisms. Based on the analysis of the compositional and structural advantages obtained from the derivation, the paper inspects the various applications of the materials in the energy and environment fields. This review aims to provide a systematic reference for MOF-derived LDHs and propose a deeper understanding of MOF derivatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We reported the discovery and identification of emerging sulfur-containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, namely polycyclic aromatic sulfur heterocycles (PASHs), in PM 2.5 collected from two typical regions of China, Taiyuan and Guangzhou. Until now, there is no research on contamination status, sources and potential health risks of this unexpected group of organic contaminants in PM 2.5. High atmospheric concentrations (ng m−3) and significant time-dependent variations were determined in PM 2.5 of Taiyuan from 2017 to 2018. Coal combustion/secondary formation and traffic emission/secondary formation were apportioned as possible pollution sources for the PM 2.5 -bound PASHs in Taiyuan and Guangzhou, respectively. Dithiothreitol and cell viability assays were applied for evaluations of PASH-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and cell toxicity based on the determined real exposure levels for adults. The results illustrated that PASHs in PM 2.5 possibly caused oxidative stress and inhibition of human bronchial epithelial cells in seriously polluted regions such as Taiyuan, suggesting that the pollutant-induced health concerns may need more investigations. This study provides new insights into PM 2.5 pollution, and is beneficial for the development of effective contamination control strategies and reduction of risks on public health. [Display omitted] • Detailed contamination levels of PM 2.5 -bound PASHs were firstly studied. • Different pollution sources were identified in Taiyuan and Guangzhou. • The PM 2.5 -bound PASHs possessed potential health risks for human inhalation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stabilization is the most important remediation mechanisms for sediment polluted heavy metals. However, little research has been done on the identification of microenvironmental response and internal correlation, as well as synergistic mechanisms during heavy metal remediation. This study aims to investigate the inner response mechanisms of microenvironment after the lead (Pb) are gradually stabilized in sediment. An eco-friendly amendment strategy which firstly used 100% biodegradable sophorolipids (SOP) to modify chlorapatite (ClAP) for the fabrication of SOP@nClAP was applied in this study. The stabilization efficiency of Pb was significantly improved by SOP@nClAP compared with ClAP. Most importantly, the high-throughput sequencing showed that the dominant species in the sediment changed with the stabilization of Pb. The decrease of Proteobacteria and increase of Firmicutes , especially the Sedimentibacter within the phylum Firmicute directly suggested that large amounts of Pb were stabilized. This research is not only devoted to stabilize Pb in sediment by eco-friendly amendment strategy, but also keep a watchful eye on microenvironment response mechanisms during the Pb stabilization in sediment. Therefore, this study lays a foundation for the future application of more heavy metal amendment strategies in the sediment environment and improves the possibility of large-scale site amendment. [Display omitted] • An eco-friendly sophorolipids modified chlorapatite (SOP@nClAP) was fabricated. • Pb was significantly stabilized in sediment by SOP@nClAP. • Response of microenvironment was also beneficial to remediation of sediment. • SOP can greatly improve the effective utilization of phosphorus in ClAP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• PM 2.5 caused inflammation, oxidative stress, and pathological damage in the hearts. • PM 2.5 induced heart histopathological and cardiac hypertrophy in rats. • PM 2.5 increased β-MHC and GATA4 expression and ratio of β-MHC/α-MHC expression. • MiR-208a/b associated with β-MHC/GATA4 expression in rats' hearts exposed to PM 2.5. Ambient air fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) may increase cardiovascular disease risks. In this study, we investigated the miR-208/GATA4/myosin heavy chain (MHC) regulation mechanisms on cardiac injury in rats after PM 2.5 exposure via an animal inhalation device. The results showed that PM 2.5 exposure for 2 months caused pathological heart injury, reduced nucleus-cytoplasm ratio, and increased the levels of CK-MB and cTnI, showing cardiac hypertrophy. Oxidative stress and inflammatory responses were also observed in rats' hearts exposed to PM 2.5. Of note, PM 2.5 exposure for 2-month significantly elevated GATA4 and β-MHC mRNA and protein expression compared with the corresponding controls, along with the high-expression of miR-208b. The ratios of β-MHC/α-MHC expression induced by PM 2.5 were remarkably raised in comparison to their controls. It suggested that the up-regulation of miR-208b/β-MHC and GATA4 and the conversion from α-MHC to β-MHC may be the important causes of cardiac hypertrophy in rats incurred by PM 2.5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial progress has brought us an important polymer material, i.e. plastic. Because of mass production and use, and improper management and disposal, plastic pollution has become one of the most pivotal environmental issues in the world today. However, the current researches on microplastics/nanoplastics are mainly focused on individual aquatic, terrestrial and atmospheric environments, ignoring the fact that the natural environment is a whole. In this regard, the transport of microplastics/nanoplastics among the three environment compartments, including reciprocal contributions and inherent connections, and the impact of microplastics/nanoplastics on organisms living in multiple environments are research problems that we pay special attention to. Furthermore, this paper comprehensively reviews the transport and distribution of microplastics/nanoplastics in individual compartments and the toxicity of organisms, either alone or in combination with other pollutants. The properties of microplastics/nanoplastics, environment condition and the growth habit of organisms are critical to the transport, distribution and toxicity of microplastics/nanoplastics. These knowledge gaps need to be addressed urgently to improve cognition of the degree of plastic pollution and enhance our ability to deal with pollution. Meanwhile, it is hoped that the paper can provide a relatively complete theoretical knowledge system and multiple "leads" for future innovative ideas in this field. ga1 • Discuss the interface transport of microplastics/nanoplastics (MPs/NPs) among three major environment compartments. • Analyze the effects of MPs/NPs to creatures that need to span aquatic, terrestrial and atmospheric environment. • Completely review the transport pathway and toxicity of MPs/NPs in individual environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) is associated with decreased cardiac function, especially in high risk populations such as obese ones. In this study, impacts of PM 2.5 exposure on cardiac function were investigated by using the diet-induced obesity mice model. Mice were fed with normal diet or high-fat diet (HFD) for four weeks and then exposed to phosphate-buffered solution or Taiyuan winter PM 2.5 (0.25 mg/kg body/day) through intratracheal instillation for another four weeks. Among physiological indices recorded, heart rate and blood pressure were increased after PM 2.5 exposure in the heart of the obese mice. Metabolomics and lipidomics were applied to explore molecular alterations in response to the co-treatment of PM 2.5 and HFD. Our results demonstrated both direct impacts on cardiac function and indirect effects resulted from the injury of other organs. Inflammation of lung and hypothalamus may be responsible for the elevation of phenylalanine metabolism in serum and its downstream products: epinephrine and norepinephrine, the catecholamines involves in regulating cardiac system. In intracardiac system, the co-treatment led to imbalance of energy metabolism, in addition to oxidative stress and inflammation. In contrast to the upregulation of glucose and fatty acids uptake and CoA synthesis, levels of ATP, acetyl-CoA and the intermediates in glycolysis pathway decreased in the heart. The results indicated that energy metabolism disorder was possibly one of the important contributing factors to the more severe adverse effects of the combined treatment of HFD and PM 2.5. Unlabelled Image • PM 2.5 increased heart weight, heart rate and blood pressure in obese mice. • PM 2.5 activated phenylalanine metabolism by hypothalamus inflammation in obese mice. • PM 2.5 disturbed energy metabolism and caused lipotoxicity in hearts of obese mice. • PM 2.5 induced more severe cardiotoxicity in obese mice than normal mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• OPFRs were detected ubiquitously in PM 2.5 from Guangzhou and Taiyuan, China. • Cl-OPFRs such as TCEP and TCPP were the predominant contaminants in PM 2.5. • PM 2.5 -bound OPFRs could induce the death of BEAS-2B cells. • PM 2.5 in Taiyuan had strong redox activities for ROS production. • Minimum health risks to both toddlers and adults by PM 2.5 -bound OPFRs were found. Organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) are emerging contaminants in recent years. They can be present in the atmospheric fine particle (PM 2.5), leading to potential adverse effects on humans. In this study, the concentrations and in vitro toxicities of OPFRs in PM 2.5 samples were investigated for one year at Guangzhou and Taiyuan in China. Eleven OPFRs, including chloro-, aryl-, and alkyl-substituted OPFRs, were detected at total concentrations ranging from 3.10 to 544 ng m−3. Chloro-substituted OPFRs were the dominant contaminants. Based on the statistical analysis, the same contamination sources of all OPFRs were found except for tris(butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBOEP) and triethyl phosphate (TEP), which may come from traffic emission. The results of cell viability and dithiothreitol assays indicated that OPFRs and PM 2.5 could induce the death of normal lung epithelial cells and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), respectively. According to the redundancy analysis, the distribution of OPFRs was significantly related to the PM 2.5 concentrations and indirectly associated with ROS production induced by PM 2.5 from Taiyuan. Exposure to PM 2.5 -bound OPFRs in Guangzhou and Taiyuan only posed minimum health risks to both toddlers and adults. These findings could provide important evidence to better clarify the contamination profiles and human health risks of OPFRs in atmospheric fine particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]