Priority sources identification and risks assessment of heavy metal(loid)s in agricultural soils of a typical antimony mining watershed.

Heavy metal(loid) (HM) pollution in agricultural soils has become an environmental concern in antimony (Sb) mining areas. However, priority pollution sources identification and deep understanding of environmental risks of HMs face great challenges due to multiple and complex pollution sources coexist. Herein, an integrated approach was conducted to distinguish pollution sources and assess human health risk (HHR) and ecological risk (ER) in a typical Sb mining watershed in Southern China. This approach combines absolute principal component score-multiple linear regression (APCS-MLR) and positive matrix factorization (PMF) models with ER and HHR assessments. Four pollution sources were distinguished for both models, and APCS-MLR model was more accurate and plausible. Predominant HM concentration source was natural source (39.1%), followed by industrial and agricultural activities (23.0%), unknown sources (21.5%) and Sb mining and smelting activities (16.4%). Although natural source contributed the most to HM concentrations, it did not pose a significant ER. Industrial and agricultural activities predominantly contributed to ER, and attention should be paid to Cd and Sb. Sb mining and smelting activities were primary anthropogenic sources of HHR, particularly Sb and As contaminations. Considering ER and HHR assessments, Sb mining and smelting, and industrial and agricultural activities are critical sources, causing serious ecological and health threats. This study showed the advantages of multiple receptor model application in obtaining reliable source identification and providing better source-oriented risk assessments. HM pollution management, such as regulating mining and smelting and implementing soil remediation in polluted agricultural soils, is strongly recommended for protecting ecosystems and humans.

Development of a coupled model to simulate and assess arsenic contamination and impact factors in the Jinsha River Basin, China.

With the increasing severity of arsenic (As) pollution, quantifying the environmental behavior of pollutant based on numerical model has become an important approach to determine the potential impacts and finalize the precise control strategies. Taking the industrial-intensive Jinsha River Basin as typical area, a two-dimensional hydrodynamic water quality model coupled with Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was developed to accurately simulate the watershed-scale distribution and transport of As in the terrestrial and aquatic environment at high spatial and temporal resolution. The effects of hydro-climate change, hydropower station construction and non-point source emissions on As were quantified based on the coupled model. The result indicated that higher As concentration areas mainly centralized in urban districts and concentration slowly decreased from upstream to downstream. Due to the enhanced rainfall, the As concentration was significantly higher during the rainy season than the dry season. Hydro-climate change and the construction of hydropower station not only affected the dissolved As concentration, but also affected the adsorption and desorption of As in sediment. Furthermore, As concentration increased with the input of non-point source pollution, with the maximum increase about 30%, resulting that non-point sources contributed important pollutant impacts to waterways. The coupled model used in pollutant behavior analysis is general with high potential application to predict and mitigate water pollution.

Spatial patterns of toxic elements in stream sediment transportation at a hilly mine area.

The spatial pattern of toxic metals plays a major role in watershed diffuse metal non-point source pollution, particularly during stream sediment transportation at hills mines. This study investigated a typical hilly mine area to quantitatively analyze the characteristics, sensitivities, and influencing factors of toxic elements transported in stream sediments through field research and Geodetector models. The results showed that the spatial patterns of toxic elements in stream sediment transportation at the hills mine area were significantly influenced by water erosion and sulfate. Water erosion and sulfate promoted the transport differences of stream sediment metals from upstream to downstream at the hills mine area. Arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and antimony in the stream sediments at the hills mine exhibited higher coefficients of variation (101 % to 397 %) than those in plain and basin topographies. Potential ecological risks of arsenic and cadmium were assessed as high-risk levels, at 19 % and 64 %, respectively. Metal import in the midstream sediments of the hills mine area was accelerated by strong water erosion. Sulfate and dissolved organic matter (DOM) were highly enriched in stream sediments, with sulfate showing a strong correlation with toxic metals (24 %). Positive responses were observed between arsenic, mercury, antimony, and sulfate in sediments, with sensitivities of 41 %, 25 %, and 16 %, respectively, while cadmium was associated with DOM, with a sensitivity of 46 %. Importantly, water erosion interactions with functional type of mine significantly influenced on the spatial transportation patterns of toxic metals in stream sediments. The interactive influences of sulfate combined with bicarbonate on arsenic, mercury, and antimony and bicarbonate combined with DOM on cadmium were enhanced compared to individual factors (>20 %). This study elucidates the spatial patterns of metals during stream sediment transportation in hills mine and offers the novel insights for developing effective watershed metal management strategies in hilly mine environments.

Air pollution and acute kidney injury with comorbid disease: A nationwide case-crossover study in South Korea.

Emerging evidence suggests that air pollution is a significant contributor to the global burden of kidney disease. Although acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common secondary event in ill patients, evidence regarding the association between air pollution and AKI accompanied by specific comorbidities is limited. This study aimed to estimate the association between short-term exposure to air pollution (fine particulate matter ≤2.5 µm [PM2.5] and ozone [O3]) and incident AKI by comorbid diseases using the Korea National Health Information Database (NHID). Total of 160,390 incident AKI cases, defined as an emergency department (ED) visit due to AKI, were observed within the period 2015-2021 in inland South Korea. A time-stratified case-crossover design was applied for PM2.5 and O3 individually, using a conditional logistic regression model within each case and its own control (three or four days of the same day of the week in the same month) to estimate the association between short-term air pollution exposure and ED visits due to AKI. Short-term exposure to PM2.5 and O3 was associated with ED visits due to AKI with ORs of 1.008 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.999, 1.017) and 1.019 (95% CI: 1.005, 1.033) for an interquartile range (IQR) increase in lag 0-1 day PM2.5 and O3 respectively, although OR for PM2.5 was marginally significant. The odds of incident AKI associated with PM2.5 was evident in conjunction with ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, gastrointestinal bleeding, and pneumonia. For O3, the estimated odds was prominent for AKI with ischemic heart disease. In addition, the comorbid disease-specific odds of AKI attributed to air pollution varied by sex and age. Our findings provide epidemiological evidence of a plausible mechanism between air pollution and incident AKI and suggest the need for personalized AKI prevention strategies attributed to air pollution.

Soil heavy metal pollution promotes extracellular enzyme production by mediating microbial community structure during vegetation restoration of metallic tailing reservoir.

Vegetation restoration in metallic tailing reservoirs is imperative to restore the post-mining degraded ecosystems. Extracellular enzymes determine microbial resource acquisition in soils, yet the mechanisms controlling the enzyme activity and stoichiometry during vegetation restoration in metallic tailing reservoirs remain elusive. Here, we investigated the variations and drivers of C-, N- and P-acquiring enzymes together with microbial community along a 50-year vegetation restoration chronosequence in the China's largest vanadium titano-magnetite tailing reservoir. We found a parabolic pattern in the enzyme activity and efficiency along the chronosequence, peaking at the middle restoration stage (∼30 years) with approximately six-fold increase relative to the initial 1-year site. The enzyme ratios of C:P and N:P decreased by 33 % and 68 % along the chronosequence, respectively, indicating a higher microbial demand of C and N at the early stage and a higher demand of P at the later stage. Soil nutrients directly determined the enzyme activities and stoichiometry, whereas microbial biomass and community structure regulated the temporal pattern of the enzyme efficiency. Surprisingly, increased heavy metal pollution imposed a positive effect on the enzyme efficiency indirectly by altering microbial community structure. This was evidenced by the increased microbial diversity and the conversion of copiotrophic to oligotrophic and stress-tolerant taxa along the chronosequence. Our findings provide new insights into microbial functioning in soil nutrient dynamics during vegetation restoration under increasing heavy metal pollution.

The Impact of COVID-19 Health Measures on Adults With Multiple Chemical Sensitivity: Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) develops in response to repeated small-level chemical exposures or a major exposure in a subset of people, who then experience symptoms that can range from mild to debilitating when exposed to chemicals. The arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic and the stringent health measures put in place may have increased the burden for those living with MCS, as it became more challenging to avoid chemicals that trigger their condition. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to better understand the lived experience of Canadians living with MCS during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: An online questionnaire was created to ask participants to compare daily living during the pandemic to before March 11, 2020. Data were collected in January and February 2021. Three areas were investigated: (1) environmental exposures to chemical triggers from ambient air (pollution from industry, farming, and traffic) and indoor air (the smell of cleaning products, cooking odors, and smoke); (2) access to, and satisfaction with, health care visits; and (3) how people experiencing MCS rated contact with their social network. RESULTS: In all, 119 Canadians who had lived with MCS for more than a year completed the questionnaire. The participant sample was mostly female (86.6%, n=103) and highly educated, with 57.1% (n=68) having a university degree. Slightly more than half (57.1%, n=68) were older than 55 years. McNemar chi-square and Wilcoxon signed rank tests were used to evaluate if there were statistically significant changes before ("prepandemic period") and after ("postpandemic period") March 11, 2020. Perceived exposure to pollution from a highway or a road was significantly decreased from the prepandemic to postpandemic period (z=-3.347; P<.001). Analysis of industry or power plants also suggested a significant decrease in the perceived exposure from the prepandemic to postpandemic period (z=-2.152; P=.04). Participants reported an increase in exposure to odors from disinfectants or sanitizers that entered their living environment (P<.001). There was a significant decrease between prepandemic and postpandemic levels of satisfaction when attending in-person meetings with a physician (z=-2.048; P=.04), yet there were no significant differences between prepandemic and postpandemic levels of satisfaction for online or telephone meetings with a physician. Although people with MCS experienced increased social isolation (P<.001), they also reported an increase in understanding from family (P=.03) and a decrease in stigma for wearing personal protective equipment (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: During the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, people with MCS were impacted by inaccessibility, loss of social support, and barriers to accessing health care. This study highlights unique challenges and possible benefits associated with the COVID-19 pandemic public health measures for individuals living with MCS. These findings can guide decision makers to improve policies on accessibility through appropriate accommodation measures.

Beyond lung cancer: air pollution and bladder, breast and prostate cancer incidence.

BACKGROUND: The carcinogenicity of air pollution and its impact on the risk of lung cancer is well known; however, there are still knowledge gaps and mixed results for other sites of cancer. METHODS: The current study aimed to evaluate the associations between ambient air pollution [fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen oxides (NOx)] and cancer incidence. Exposure assessment was based on historical addresses of >900 000 participants. Cancer incidence included primary cancer cases diagnosed from 2007 to 2015 (n = 30 979). Cox regression was used to evaluate the associations between ambient air pollution and cancer incidence [hazard ratio (HR), 95% CI]. RESULTS: In the single-pollutant models, an increase of one interquartile range (IQR) (2.11 µg/m3) of PM2.5 was associated with an increased risk of all cancer sites (HR = 1.51, 95% CI: 1.47-1.54), lung cancer (HR = 1.73, 95% CI: 1.60-1.87), bladder cancer (HR = 1.50, 95% CI: 1.37-1.65), breast cancer (HR = 1.50, 95% CI: 1.42-1.58) and prostate cancer (HR = 1.41, 95% CI: 1.31-1.52). In the single-pollutant and the co-pollutant models, the estimates for PM2.5 were stronger compared with NOx for all the investigated cancer sites. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings confirm the carcinogenicity of ambient air pollution on lung cancer and provide additional evidence for bladder, breast and prostate cancers. Further studies are needed to confirm our observation regarding prostate cancer. However, the need for more research should not be a barrier to implementing policies to limit the population's exposure to air pollution.

Trace metal pollution gradients in a tropical seagrass ecosystem.

Trace metals are one of the most serious pollutants in tropical seagrass meadows given their persistence and toxicity. Whereas quantity is frequently measured, there is no information on the spatial extent of metal pollution in these systems. Here, we use an island in Indonesia (Barang Lompo) as a model system to study the impact radius of two major and eight trace metals in sediment and seagrass leaves. We provide evidence for exponential decay in both the metal pollution index and concentrations of most metals with increasing distance from the island (k = -0.01 to -0.08 m-1). Consequently, there is an impact radius of approximately 100 m around the island. The comparative analysis of both seagrass species further revealed interspecific differences in metal loads. This study highlights the importance of assessing the spatial extent of metal pollution in addition to its quantity.

Metal elements in atmospheric aerosols during different pollution events in the coastal region of the Yellow Sea: Concentration, solubility and deposition flux.

Atmospheric aerosol (including total suspended particulate (TSP) samples and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) samples) and precipitation samples were collected in Qingdao from May 2020 to June 2021. The concentrations of metal elements on fog days were 0.28-0.56 times that on clean days; those on haze-fog (HF), haze and dust days were 0.76-2.7, 1.2-3.6 and 1.7-5.7 times those on clean days, respectively. Compared with that on clean days, the solubility of metals on fog, HF and haze days increased by 4 %-193 %, but that on dust days decreased by 1 %-62 %. The dry deposition fluxes of dissolved Al, Fe, Zn, Pb, Cu and Cd were the highest on HF or haze days, which were 2.2-15 times clean days. The dry deposition fluxes of metals accounted for 56 %-89 % of the total deposition fluxes (including dry and wet deposition).

Microplastic pollution differences in freshwater river according to stream order: Insights from spatial distribution, annual load, and ecological assessment.

Microplastic (MP) pollution has become a pressing concern in global freshwater ecosystems because rivers serve as essential channels for the transport of terrestrial debris to the ocean. The current researches mostly focus on the large catchments, but the impact on the small catchments remains underexplored. In this study, we employed Strahler's stream order classification to delineate the catchment structure of the Beijiang River in South China. The distribution pattern of MP contamination and the factors influencing the distribution pattern, were assessed across the streams at different orders. We found that the Beijiang River was moderately polluted compare to other rivers in China, with an average MP abundance of 2.15 ± 1.65 items/L. MP abundance ranged from 3.17 to 1.45 items/L in the streams at different orders, and significantly decreased with increasing stream order (R2 = 0.93). This highlights the key role of small rivers as the channels for the transport of MPs from watersheds to main streams. The high abundance of PP and PE fibers, the high correlation between the stream order and the resin proportion (R2 = 0.89), and the significant correlation between MP abundance and proximity to urban centers (P = 0.02), indicated that MP pollution across the streams at different orders was predominantly influenced by anthropogenic activities, rather than natural environmental factors. By integrating MP data with hydrographic information, the annual MP loads for the streams at Orders 1 to Order 5 were estimated to be 4.63, 39.38, 204.63, 503.06, and 1137.88 tons/yr, respectively. Additionally, an ecological risk assessment indicates that MP pollution led to a low risk in the Beijiang River. Our findings deepen the understanding of MP pollution within freshwater river networks, and emphasize the crucial role of tributary systems in transporting MPs to main river channels.

Elucidating the phytoremediation potentials and ecophysiological mechanisms of indicator plants in the industrial polluted region.

The integrity of natural ecosystems, particularly in the Global South, is increasingly compromised by industrial contaminants. Our study examines the growth of plant species adapted to ecosystems impacted by heavy metal pollution, specifically focusing on their phytoremediation capabilities and tolerance to contaminants. The potential of pollution-tolerant species was evaluated in the industrial subtropical wetland of Sialkot, Pakistan. Employing quantitative ecological methods, data on vegetation, phytosociological attributes, and soil properties were gathered from 450 plots across different pollution gradients. The study pinpointed 17 key indicator species tolerating high heavy metal pollution out of 182 surveyed, using a combination of Indicator Species Analysis (ISA) and the Importance Value Index (IVI). These species demonstrated diverse capacities to extract, stabilize, and accumulate heavy metals (Cr, Zn, Cu, As, Cd, Ni, Hg, and Pb) across varying pollution zones. Notably, Cannabis sativa demonstrated substantial phytoextraction of Zn and Cd, with concentrations reaching 1977.25 µg/g and 1362.78 µg/g, respectively. Arundo donax showed marked hyperaccumulation of Cd, peaking at 410.531 µg/g. Achyranthes aspera was remarkable for its extraction and accumulation of Ni and Cu, with concentrations of 242.412 µg/g and 77.2997 µg/g, respectively. Physiological changes, such as increased proline levels in Cannabis sativa and Achyranthes aspera reaching 39.041 µg/g and 27.523 µg/g under high metal concentrations, indicated adaptation to metal stress. Declines in chlorophyll and carotenoid levels were also observed as metal contamination increased, with up to 35% reductions in some species. These findings underscore the potential efficacy of selected plant species in phytoremediation and highlight the importance of physiological responses in their tolerance to metals, providing valuable information for targeted remediation strategies in polluted ecosystems and improving environmental management and sustainable practices.

Bioremediation strategies against pesticides: an overview of current knowledge and innovations.

Pesticides pose significant risks to both human health, such as cancer, neurological disorders, and endocrine disruption, and ecosystems, through the destruction of beneficial insects, contamination of soil and water, and impact on non-target species. In the face of escalating pesticide pollution, there is an urgent need for multifaceted approaches to address the issue. Bioremediation emerges as a potent tool in the environmental pollution mitigation arsenal. Ideally aiming for the complete decomposition of pesticides into harmless molecules, bioremediation encompasses diverse approaches - from bioabsorption, bioadsorption, and biotransformation using enzymes and nanoenzymes to comprehensive degradation facilitated by microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, macro- and microalgae, or phytoremediation. Exploring nature's biodiversity offers a promising avenue to find solutions to this pressing human-induced problem. The acceleration of biodegradation necessitates identifying and developing efficient organisms, achieved through bioprospection and targeted modifications. Specific strategies to enhance process efficiency and throughput include optimizing biomass production, strategic inoculation in diverse environments, and employing bioreactor systems for processing heavily contaminated waters or soils. This comprehensive review presents various bioremediation approaches, emphasizing the importance of microorganisms' exploration and new technologies development, including current innovations and patents to effectively combat pesticide pollution. Furthermore, challenges regarding the effective implementation of these technologies are also addressed.

Monetizing shipping emission reduction: Environmental benefit analysis of domestic emission control areas 2.0 policy in China.

Shipping is a major contributor to anthropogenic emissions, exerting complex effects on both the environment and climate. To improve the air quality of coastal areas, China adopted an upgraded policy on domestic emission control areas (DECA 2.0) for shipping in December 2018, which expanded the geographical scope of ECAs from three designated heavy-traffic coastal regions to the entire 12 nautical mile-territorial seas and also introduced more stringent ship emission requirements. Based on data from the Automatic Identification System, this study first evaluates the environmental effects of ship emissions' reduction brought by DECA policy 2.0. Results reveal that implementation of DECA policy 2.0 has resulted in a cumulative reduction (2019-2021) of 8.43 × 105 tons, 1.3 × 105 tons, and 1.49 × 105 tons of sulfur dioxide (SO2), particulate matter <2.5 µm diameter (PM2.5) and PM <10 µm (PM10) emissions, respectively. Based on the external cost method, we further monetize the environmental benefits arising from reduction of air pollution emissions, averaging $3.6 billion USD per year. This number equates to ca. 4 % of the total output value of China's marine transportation industry over the three-year period. Finally, we calculated the fuel replacement cost arising from the implementation of DECA policy 2.0 in 2019, which was approximately $1.86 billion USD. This indicates that the environmental benefits of DECA policy 2.0 equate nearly double the associated costs.

The fate of post-use biodegradable PBAT-based mulch films buried in agricultural soil.

The fate of black biodegradable mulch film (MF) based on starch and poly(butylene-adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) in agricultural soil is investigated herein. Pristine (BIO-0) and UV-aged film samples (BIO-A192) were buried for 16 months at an experimental field in southern Italy. Visual, physical, chemical, morphological, and mechanical analyses were carried out before and after samples burial. Film residues in the form of macro- and micro-plastics in soil were analyzed at the end of the trial. Progressive deterioration of both pristine and UV-aged samples, with surface loss and alterations in mechanical properties, occurred from 42 days of burial. After 478 days, the apparent surface of BIO-0 and BIO-A192 films decreased by 57 % and 66 %, respectively. Burial determined a rapid depletion of starch from the polymeric blend, especially for the BIO-A192, while the degradation of the polyester phase was slower. Upon burial, an enrichment of aromatic moieties of PBAT in the film residues was observed, as well as microplastics release to soil. The analysis of the MF degradation products extracted from soil (0.006-0.008 % by mass in the soil samples) revealed the predominant presence of adipate moieties. After 478 days of burial, about 23 % and 17 % of the initial amount of BIO-0 and BIO-A192, respectively, were extracted from the soil. This comprehensive study underscores the complexity of biodegradation phenomena that involve the new generation of mulch films in the field. The different biodegradability of the polymeric components, the climate, and soil conditions that did not strictly meet the parameters required for the standard test method devised for MFs, have significantly influenced their degradation rate. This finding further emphasizes the importance of implementing field experiments to accurately assess the real effects of biodegradable MFs on soil health and overall agroecosystem sustainability.

Long-term air pollution exposure and the risk of primary graft dysfunction after lung transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Primary graft dysfunction (PGD) contributes substantially to both short and long-term mortality after lung transplantation but the mechanisms that lead to PGD are not well understood. Exposure to ambient air pollutants is associated with adverse events during waitlisting for lung transplantation, and chronic lung allograft dysfunction but its association with PGD has not been studied. We hypothesized that long-term exposure of the lung donor and recipient to high levels of ambient air pollutants would increase the risk of PGD in lung transplant recipients. METHODS: Using data from 1428 lung transplant recipients and their donors enrolled in the Lung Transplant Outcomes Group (LTOG) observational cohort study, we evaluated the association between the development of PGD and zip-code based estimates of long-term exposure to six major air pollutants (ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, PM2.5 and PM10) in both the lung donor and the lung recipient. Exposure estimates used daily EPA air pollutant monitoring data and were based on the geographic centroid of the each subject's residential zip code. Associations were tested in both univariable and multivariable models controlling for known PGD risk factors. RESULTS: We did not find strong associations between air pollutant exposures in either the donor or the recipient and PGD. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to ambient air pollutants, at the levels observed in this study, may not be sufficiently harmful to prime the donor lung or the recipient to develop PGD particularly when considering the robust associations with other established PGD risk factors.

An integrated approach through controlled experiment and LCIA to evaluate water quality and ecological impacts of irrigated paddy rice.

This study used an integrated approach to mainly assess the water quality of paddy field during cultivation and quantify its equivalent ecological damages. Accordingly, an isolated pilot area with 0.6 ha and subsurface drainage pipes was prepared for flow measurement and multiple pollutant examination (DO, EC, pH, COD, TKN, TN, TP, NO3, butachlor) under controlled condition during 94 days of rice cultivation. Based on life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) database, the indices of ReCiPe (2016) were used to convert the examined nutrient and herbicide pollution. Results showed that TKN and TP were significant pollutants and reached the maximum concentrations of 7.2 and 4.9 mg/L in pilot outflow, respectively. Here, their average discharged loads were 56.2 gN/day and 45.3 gP/day. These loads equal leaching 8.5% and 9.4% of applied urea and phosphate fertilizers, respectively. The nutrient export coefficients were 8.4 kgN/ha and 6.8 kgP/ha. Nevertheless, the majority of this pollution was transferred by inflow. The net export coefficients were 0.3 kgN/ha and 2.6 kgP/ha while net leaching rates were 0.3%TN and 3.3%TP. The trend of combined ecological damages also showed that the 11-17th day of cultivation imposed the highest ecological risks. The state-of-the-art index of ecological footprint per food production estimates the equivalent ratio of lost lives by impaired ecosystem against lives saved from starvation. This index showed that 7% of the potential of produced paddy rice in this area for saving lives would be spoiled by releasing pollution to the terrestrial ecosystem in the long term. Yet, it can be enhanced as a matter of direct discharge to the freshwater. Therefore, using suitable agricultural operations or improving farm management practices for pollution abatement or assimilation potential is highly recommended.

Long-term exposure to ozone and sleep disorders in children: A multicity study in China.

Evidence regarding the link between long-term ambient ozone (O3) exposure and childhood sleep disorders is little. This study aims to examine the associations between long-term exposure to O3 and sleep disorders in children. We conducted a population-based cross-sectional survey, including 185,428 children aged 6-18 years in 173 schools across 14 Chinese cities during 2012 and 2018. Parents or guardians completed a checklist using Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children, and O3 exposure at residential and school addresses was estimated using a satellite-based spatiotemporal model. We used generalized linear mixed models to test the associations with adjustment for factors including socio-demographic variables, lifestyle, meteorology and multiple pollutants. Mean concentrations of O3, particulate matter with diameters ≤2.5 mm (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) were 89.0 µg/m3, 42.5 µg/m3 and 34.4 µg/m3, respectively. O3 and NO2 concentrations were similar among provinces, while PM2.5 concentration varied significantly among provinces. Overall, 19.4% of children had at least one sleep disorder. Long-term exposure to O3 was positively associated with odds of sleep disorders for all subtypes. For example, each interquartile increment in home-school O3 concentrations was associated with a higher odds ratio for global sleep disorder, at 1.22 (95% confidence interval: 1.18, 1.26). Similar associations were observed for sleep disorder subtypes. The associations remained similar after adjustment for PM2.5 and NO2. Moreover, these associations were heterogeneous regionally, with more prominent associations among children residing in southeast region than in northeast and northwest regions in China. We concluded that long-term exposure to O3 is positively associated with risks of childhood sleep disorders. These associations varied by geographical region of China.

Collaborative management of environmental pollution and carbon emissions drives local green growth: An analysis based on spatial effects.

Collaborative management of environmental pollution and carbon emissions (CMPC) has been a major policy instrument to promote Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in recent years. However, the relationship between the benefits and drawbacks of this environmental management practice for green growth in and around a local area remains to be clarified. Using 30 provinces in China during 2001-2019 as the object of analysis, we assessed the efficiency of local CMPC practices using the nonradial directional distance function (NDDF) model, predicted local green growth using the frontier green complexity index (GCI), and empirically examined the spatial effects, locational heterogeneity, and threshold characteristics of the relationship using the spatial Durbin model and the panel threshold model. Our study finds that although efficient CMPC does drive local green growth, the promotion effect is nonlinear with decreasing marginal effect. This effect is particularly obvious in economically developed regions with higher CMPCs, which will absorb resources from neighboring regions and create a "siphoning" effect. It was found that local financial support and foreign direct investment (FDI) can radiate green growth to neighboring regions; therefore, CMPC practice needs to pay more attention to the effect of joint governance, supplemented by financial and foreign investment policy tools, to better promote the green transformation of local economy.

The general external exposome and the development or progression of chronic kidney disease: A systematic review and meta-analyses.

The impact of environmental risk factors on chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains unclear. This systematic review aims to provide an overview of the literature on the association between the general external exposome and CKD development or progression. We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE for case-control or cohort studies, that investigated the association of the general external exposome with a change in eGFR or albuminuria, diagnosis or progression of CKD, or CKD-related mortality. The risk of bias of included studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Summary effect estimates were calculated using random-effects meta-analyses. Most of the 66 included studies focused on air pollution (n = 33), e.g. particulate matter (PM) and nitric oxides (NOx), and heavy metals (n = 21) e.g. lead and cadmium. Few studies investigated chemicals (n = 7) or built environmental factors (n = 5). No articles on other environment factors such as noise, food supply, or urbanization were found. PM2.5 exposure was associated with an increased CKD and end-stage kidney disease incidence, but not with CKD-related mortality. There was mixed evidence regarding the association of NO2 and PM10 on CKD incidence. Exposure to heavy metals might be associated with an increased risk of adverse kidney outcomes, however, evidence was inconsistent. Studies on effects of chemicals or built environment on kidney outcomes were inconclusive. In conclusion, prolonged exposure to PM2.5 is associated with an increased risk of CKD incidence and progression to kidney failure. Current studies predominantly investigate the exposure to air pollution and heavy metals, whereas chemicals and the built environment remains understudied. Substantial heterogeneity and mixed evidence were found across studies. Therefore, long-term high-quality studies are needed to elucidate the impact of exposure to chemicals or other (built) environmental factors and CKD.

A thorough investigation into the adsorption behavior of sophorolipid-modified fly ash towards compound pollution of lead and tetracycline.

Heavy metal ions and antibiotics were simultaneously detected in authentic water systems. This research, for the first time, employed synthesized sophorolipid-modified fly ash(SFA) to eliminate tetracycline(TC) and lead(Pb2+) from wastewater. Various characterization techniques, including SEM-EDS, FTIR, XPS, BET, and Zeta, were employed to investigate the properties of the SFA. The results showed that the sophorolipid modification significantly improved the fly ash's adsorption capacities for the target pollutants. The static adsorption experiments elucidated the adsorption behaviors of SFA towards TC and Pb2+ in single and binary systems, highlighting the effects of different Environmental factors on the adsorption behavior in both types of systems. In single systems, SFA exhibited a maximum adsorption capacity of 128.96 mg/g for Pb2+ and 55.57 mg/g for TC. The adsorption of Pb2+ and TC followed pseudo-second-order kinetics and Freundlich isotherm models. The adsorption reactions are endothermic and occur spontaneously. SFA demonstrates varying adsorption mechanisms for two different types of pollutants. In the case of Pb2+, the primary mechanisms include ion exchange, electrostatic interaction, cation-π interaction, and complexation, while TC primarily engages in hydrogen bonding, π-π interaction, and complexation. The interaction between Pb2+ and TC has been shown to improve adsorption efficiency at low concentrations. Additionally, adsorption-desorption experiments confirm the reliable cycling performance of modified fly ash, highlighting its potential as a cost-effective and efficient adsorbent for antibiotics and heavy metals.