Environmental Pollution Monitoring Research Articles

Analysis on environmental monitoring of persistent organic pollutants

Persistent organic pollutants will cause harm to living organisms and the environment, so it is necessary to strengthen environmental monitoring, find pollutants in time and take effective measures to control them. This paper analyzes the characteristics of persistent pollutants, from the water, atmosphere, soil these dimension analysis of environmental monitoring, and put forward the corresponding Suggestions, including improve the environmental monitoring system, the advanced monitoring system and detection methods,reasonable layout of monitoring points, intensify environmental protection propaganda, grasp the influence of pollutants, transmission law, etc., to provide reference for pollution control.

Ultrasensitive detection of aromatic water pollutants through protein immobilization driven organic electrochemical transistors.

Xenobiotic aromatic water pollutants pose an extreme threat to environmental sustainability. Due to the lack of detectable functional groups in these compounds and scarcity of selective bio-recognition scaffolds, easy-to-use sensing strategies capable of on-site detection remain unavailable. Herein, to address this lacune, we entail a strategy that combines biosensor scaffolds with organic electronics to create a compact device for environmental aromatic pollution monitoring. As proof of principle, a sensor module capable of rapid, economic, reliable, and ultrasensitive detection of phenol down to 2 ppb (0.02 μM) was designed wherein biosensing protein MopR was coupled with an organic electrochemical transistor (OECT). For effective interfacing of the sensing scaffold MopR, graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets were optimized as a host immobilization matrix. The MopR-GO immobilized sensor module was subsequently substituted as the gate electrode with PEDOT:PSS serving as an organic semiconductor material. The resulting OECT sensor provided a favourable microenvironment for protein activity, maintaining high specificity. Exclusive phenol detection with minimal loss of sensitivity (<5% error) could be achieved in both complex pollutant mixtures and real environmental samples. This fabrication strategy that amalgamates biological biosensors with organic electronics harnesses the potential to achieve detection of a host of emerging pollutants.

An imidazole functionalized aqua-stable metal-organic framework for selective fluorogenic detection of herbicide DNOC and antibacterial agent furaltadone in various biological and environmental specimens.

The widespread use of herbicides like dinitro-o-cresol (DNOC) and veterinary drugs such as furaltadone (FLT) has surged to meet agricultural and animal husbandry demands, raising significant health and environmental concerns due to their extensive use and unregulated disposal. To address this issue, herein, we developed an imidazole-functionalized metal-organic framework (MOF)-based fluorometric dual sensor for rapid and selective detection of these analytes in aqueous medium. The present MOF-based probe demonstrated 82% fluorescence quenching upon DNOC introduction, whereas 89% quenching occurred in the presence of FLT. The probe exhibited notably high sensitivity, with the lowest ever reported limit of detection (LOD) of 0.5 nM for DNOC and 1.1 nM for FLT. The highest reported Stern-Volmer quenching constant (KSV) value of 5 × 107 M-1 and 2 × 107 M-1 for DNOC and FLT, respectively, further indicates the extraordinary sensitivity of the sensor towards these targeted analytes. The MOF showed a rapid response time of 5 s for both DNOC and FLT. The sensor also demonstrated outstanding selectivity even in the presence of interfering substances, proving effective in various complex environments such as serum, urine, wastewater, and different pH media. We thoroughly investigated the sensor's working mechanisms using different advanced analytical techniques to understand its high selectivity towards the targeted analytes. These findings underscore the sensor's practical and potential real-world applications, offering a valuable tool for environmental pollution monitoring and public health protection.

Optimisation method for atmospheric environment pollution monitoring site selection based on improved genetic algorithm

Optimisation method for atmospheric environment pollution monitoring site selection based on improved genetic algorithm

Optimisation method for atmospheric environment pollution monitoring site selection based on improved genetic algorithm

Optimisation method for atmospheric environment pollution monitoring site selection based on improved genetic algorithm

Recent progress of cataluminescence sensing based on gas-solid interfaces.

Cataluminescence (CTL) has emerged as a sensing transduction principle of gas-solid interface for constructing gas sensors that present fast response, high sensitivity, and online monitoring. It has thus been widely associated with the field of chemical analysis and catalytic science. Herein, the latest developments in CTL sensors are reviewed, and the status quo of CTL-based gas sensing systems is discussed. In particular, the basic principles and sensing systems of CTL are outlined, including performance enhancement strategies for specific targets and recognition methods for multiple targets. Moreover, the important applications of CTL sensors are listed and classified, including environmental pollutant monitoring, product quality control, clinical diagnosis, and evaluation of catalyst performance. Finally, based on abundant case reports, the current conundrums of CTL sensors are summarized and their future development trends are also put forward.

Microplasma Nanoengineering of Hybrid Plasmonic Nanostructures for Rapid and Ultrasensitive Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering-Based Sensing

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a useful analytical tool that allows ultrasensitive molecular-level detection through an enhanced electromagnetic field generated by plasmonic metal nanoparticles (MNPs), which is helpful for biomedical-based detection, environmental pollution monitoring and chemical industry. Recent study suggests that porous MNP with enhanced SERS active area and hybrid plasmonic nanostructures such as core-shell NPs and metal-semiconductor-based NPs with designed and controlled plasmonic properties can further improve the SERS responses.Here we report a microplasma nanoengineering of plasmonic nanostrutures including Au-Ag core-shell NPs, Ag-GQD nanohydrids, and porous Au nanosturtures for ultrasensitive SERS-based applications. Microplasmas are low-emperature plasmas that feature microscale dimensions and a unique high-energy-density and a nonequilibrium reactive environment, which makes them promising for the fabrication of advanced nanomaterials and devices for diverse applications. Detailed characterization indicates the microplasma-enable controllable-designed growth of plasmonic nanomaterial with heterostructure effect, the providing enhanced charge transportation , adsorption ability or forster resonance energy transfer during Raman scattering. To understand the plasmonic effect, we use 3D confocal microRaman scattering study that shows that a large SERS volume was formed in the as-fabricated SERS-active substrates, leading to significant SERS properties of low limit of detection and high enhanced factor (EF) with the Rhodamine 6G (R6G) as the Raman probe. Furthermore, we also used the biomoleculars , medicines , and dyes as the target molecule. Our work not only provides environmentally friendly fabrication technique with strong potential for the design and growth of the nanostructure but also the fundamental insight of plasmonic nanostrutures for emerging applications including nanocataysis, sustainable energy, and biomedical imaging.

Self-Powered and Broadband Photodetectors Based on High-performance Mixed Dimensional Sb2O3/PdTe2/Si Heterojunction for Multiplex Environmental Monitoring.

Solar-blind ultraviolet (SBUV) to near-infrared (NIR) broadband photodetectors (BB-PD) have important applications in environmental monitoring and other applications. However, it is challenging to prepare SBUV-IR photosensitive materials via simple steps and to construct SBUV-IR broadband devices for multiplex detection with high sensitivity at different wavelengths. Here, self-powered and broadband photodetectors using a high-performance mixed dimensional Sb2O3 nanorod 1-dimension (1D)/monodisperse microdiamond-like PdTe2 3-dimension (3D)/Si (3D) heterojunction for multiplex detection of environmental pollutants with high sensitivity at broadband wavelength are developed. The 1D/3D mixed dimensional Sb2O3/PdTe2/Si structure combines the advantages of strong light absorption, high carrier transport efficiency of 1D Sb2O3 nanorods, and expansion of interface barrier caused by 3D microdiamond-like PdTe2 interlayer to improve the photocurrent density and self-powered ability. The efficient photogenerated charge separation enables anon/off ratio of more than 5×106. The device exhibits excellent photoelectric properties from 255 to 980nm with the responsivity from 4.56×10-2 to 6.55×10-1AW-1, the detectivity from 2.36×1012 to 3.39×1013Jones, and the sensitivity from 3.90×107 to 1.10×1010cm2W-1 without external bias. Finally, the proposed device is applied for the multiplex monitoring of environmental pollution gases NO2 with the detection limit of 200ppb and PM2.5 particles at mild pollution at broadband wavelength. The proposed BB-PD has great potential for multiplex detection of environmental pollutants and other analytes at broadband wavelength.

Assessment of wastewater impact on a natural reservoir in Kyrgyzstan

Introduction: Anthropogenic activities artificially increase the concentration of toxic substances in surface reservoirs by discharging polluted water back into the natural environment. Maximum risks for aquatic ecosystems are observed in regions with limited wastewater treatment, which includes Kyrgyzstan. The purpose of the work – research and analysis of factors of pollution of natural reservoirs of Kyrgyzstan by wastewater, consequences for regional aquatic ecosystems and public health, and search for optimal solutions to minimise destructive pollution. Material and Methods: The research was conducted using general scientific methods of cognition, in particular, system analysis, synthesis, generalisation, and concretisation. Results and Discussion: In the course of the research the ecological state of natural water resources of Kyrgyzstan, into which wastewater is discharged, the dynamics of pollution of the aquatic environment depending on various factors of influence is analysed, optimal and feasible to implement measures to reduce the adverse effects of wastewater on the state of natural reservoirs and public health, and improve the overall environmental situation in the region are developed. In addition, the possibilities of applying modern management and technological measures to minimise the content of pollutants in wastewater, based on the synergy of environmental safety and economic efficiency, with the introduction of modern innovative systems of control and monitoring of environmental pollution have been explored. Conclusion: It is established that there is no safe wastewater, therefore, optimisation of the water use and water treatment system in Kyrgyzstan involves the application of an ecosystem approach and the introduction of integrated water resources management.

A robust Eu-MOF as a multi-functional fluorescence sensor for detection of benzaldehyde, Hg2+, and Cr2O72-/CrO42-

In this work, a novel Eu-MOF, {[Eu2(L)(phen)2(ox)2(H2O)2]·10H2O·phen}n (H2L = 2,6-bis(4-carboxyphenyl)pyrazine, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline), was assembled under hydrothermal conditions with good water stability and pH stability. The Eu-MOF could be used as a luminescent sensor for detecting gas/liquid benzaldehyde, Hg2+ and Cr2O72-/CrO42- with high sensitivity and selectivity based on luminescence quenching effects. The sensing mechanisms were systematically studied by ICP-AES, PXRD analysis and UV–vis spectroscopy. In addition, the Eu-MOF shows high adsorption of Hg2+ and can be successfully used to quantitatively detect Hg2+ in real samples such as tap water, green tea, and river water. The sensor exhibited a recovery rate in the range of 99.84 %∼102.34 % for detecting Hg2+. The portable fluorescent paper strips based on the Eu-MOF were also successfully fabricated, which can detect benzaldehyde both in gas and liquid phases. The fluorescence sensing system based on Eu-MOF provides a reference for the construction of portable environmental pollutant monitoring sensors.

Chemical Sensors for Volatile Organic Compound Detection

The detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is in high demand in various fields, such as environmental pollution monitoring, early disease screening, and food freshness assessment [...]

Nano-Structural Superwetting Surfaces for Highly Reliable On-Site Detection of Bisphenol A.

In the domain of big data geographic screening for environmental pollutants, the expeditious dissemination of testing results to environmental investigation professionals is pivotal in facilitating comprehensive analysis and the implementation of more efficacious strategies for managing environmental issues. However, this endeavor can prove to be particularly arduous when conducting examinations in remote, resource-scarce rural areas and field environments, where deficient infrastructure often emerges as the principal impediment to unimpeded environmental monitoring. Therefore, the development of a reliable and portable monitoring strategy with the ability to analyze large amounts of data is highly required. Here, a deep-learning (DL)-assisted portable sensing strategy was developed based on thermal and pH dual-responsive nano-structural superwetting surfaces, for highly reliable, quick, and field monitoring of environmental pollutants. In our experiment, bisphenol A (BPA) was selected as the representative pollute. The achieved limit of detection, attaining a remarkably low value of 1.05 μM, unequivocally adhered to stringent international testing standards for evaluating the migration of BPA in thermal paper. Based on a DL image classification algorithm, highly precise predictions regarding the migration of BPA concentration were achieved, with an accuracy rate exceeding 99%. Furthermore, it successfully facilitated automated and exceedingly reliable monitoring of the migration of BPA from thermal paper within the principal provinces of thermal paper production in China. This strategy engenders the potential to establish correlations between environmental pollutant concentrations in specific regions and the prevalence of certain human ailments.

Carbon Electrode Modified with Molecularly Imprinted Polymers for the Development of Electrochemical Sensor: Application to Pharmacy, Food Safety, Environmental Monitoring, and Biomedical Analysis

This review aims to elucidate recent developments in electrochemical sensors that use functionalized carbon electrodes with molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) for the selective detection of organic compounds in diverse fields including pharmacy, food safety, environmental monitoring of pollutants, and biomedical analysis. The main targets include explosive compounds, dyes, antioxidants, disease biomarkers, pharmaceuticals, antibiotics, allergens, pesticides, and viruses. Following a brief overview of the molecular imprinting principle, the most significant applications are explored. The selection of the functional monomer is subsequently discussed. Notably, various types of carbon electrodes are presented, with a particular emphasis on screen-printed carbon electrodes. The most commonly employed techniques for MIP deposition such as electropolymerization, drop casting, and chemical grafting are introduced and discussed. Electrochemical transduction techniques like cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry, square wave voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy are presented. Lastly, the review concludes by examining potential future directions and primary limitations concerning carbon electrodes modified with MIPs.

Tris-Copper Nanozyme as a Novel Laccase Mimic for the Detection and Degradation of Phenolic Compounds.

Phenolic compounds are one of the main organic pollutants in the environment that can seriously affect ecosystems, even at very low concentrations. Due to the resistance of phenolic compounds to microorganisms, conventional biological treatment methods face challenges in effectively addressing this pollution problem. In this study, a novel laccase mimic (Tris-Cu nanozyme) is prepared using a simple and rapid synthesis strategy based on the coordination of copper ions and amino groups in Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (Tris). It is found that the Tris-Cu nanozyme exhibits good catalytic activity against a variety of phenolic compounds, the Km, Vmax and Kcat are determined to be 0.18 mM, 15.62 μM·min-1 and 1.57 × 107 min-1 using 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DP) as the substrate, respectively. Then, based on the laccase-like activity of the Tris-Cu nanozyme, a novel colorimetric method for 2,4-DP (the limit of detection (LOD) = 2.4 μM, S/N = 3) detection in the range of 10-400 μM was established, and its accuracy was verified by analyzing tap and lake water samples. In addition, the Tris-Cu nanozyme shows excellent removal abilities for six phenolic compounds in experiments. The removal percentages for 2,4-DP, 2-chlorophenol (2-CP), phenol, resorcinol, 2,6-dimethoxyphenol (2,6-DOP), and bisphenol A (BPA) are 100%, 100%, 100%, 100%, 87%, and 81% at 1 h, respectively. In the simulated effluent, the Tris-Cu nanozyme maintains its efficient catalytic activity towards 2,4-DP, with a degradation percentage of 76.36% at 7 min and a reaction rate constant (k0) of 0.2304 min-1. Therefore, this metal-organic complex shows promise for applications in the monitoring and degrading of environmental pollutants.

Sensitive photoelectrochemical detection of Hg2+ with low background noise

Herein, a sensitive photoelectrochemical (PEC) biosensor with low background noise for the detection of the potential heavy metal pollutant mercury ion (Hg2+) was developed based on the Nb.BtsI-assisted Hg2+ cycle strategy as the signal amplification channel and the methylene blue (MB)-double stranded DNA (dsDNA) intercalation complex as the PEC signal indicator. When a trace of target Hg2+ was present, a multitude of output DNA (S2) were released from the preformed reaction platform Au@Fe3O4-H1 through the process of Nb.BtsI-assisted Hg2+ cycling, which greatly amplified the input signal of Hg2+ and thus significantly improved the detection sensitivity of this PEC biosensor. The released S2 could be captured by the 1-hexanethiol (HT)/S1/gold nanoparticles (Au NPs)-engineered biosensing interface to generate steady dsDNA (S1/S2) for embedding numerous photoactive substance MB by π-π stacking, giving rise to the formation of the MB-dsDNA intercalation complex. As a unique PEC signal indicator, the MB-dsDNA intercalation complex could produce significant PEC signals for quantitative determination of Hg2+ from 100 fM to 100 nM. Notably, the introduction of photoelectric signal indicator made the PEC biosensor embrace low background noise and negligible false positive signal, thereby producing the highly enhanced of sensitivity and accuracy. With the assistant of the Nb.BtsI-assisted Hg2+ cycle strategy and the MB-dsDNA intercalation complex, the developed biosensor possessed high sensitivity and excellent accuracy for Hg2+ with a low detection limit of 33.3 fM, demonstrating that the proposed sensing platform was provided with a great application prospect in the field of monitoring and control of environmental pollution concerning Hg2+.

Temporal trends in microplastic accumulation in placentas from pregnancies in Hawaiʻi

Microplastics are created for commercial use, are shed from textiles, or result from the breakdown of larger plastic items. Recent reports have shown that microplastics accumulate in human tissues and may have adverse health consequences. Currently, there are no standardized environmental monitoring systems to track microplastic accumulation within human tissues. Using Raman spectroscopy, we investigated the temporal exposures to plastic pollution in Hawaiʻi and noted a significant increase in the accumulation of microplastics in discarded placentas over the past 15 years, with changes in the size and chemical composition of the polymers. These findings provide a rare insight into the vulnerability and sensitivity of Pacific Island residents to plastic pollution and illustrate how discarded human tissues can be used as an innovative environmental plastic pollution monitoring system.

Comparison for the simultaneous determination of 237Np and Pu isotopes between TEVA and TK200 resin

A reliable and stable method was developed to accurately analyze neptunium (237Np) and plutonium isotopes in environmental samples using 242Pu or 236Pu as a tracer. Key parameters, including the valence adjustment conditions and the stabilities of Pu and Np in the different resins, were investigated using TK200 and TEVA resin. It was found that Pu and Np could be efficiently extracted simultaneously using TK200 resin under the optimal loading conditions (6–12 M HNO3) with the addition of 0.01–0.12 M NaNO2 for valence adjustment. These isotopes were subsequently stripped out using a solution containing 0.1 M HCl, 0.05 M HF, and 0.01 M NH2OH·HCl. The separation efficiencies of Pu and Np were >93%, and the chemical yield ratio between Np and Pu was maintained steady at an average of 1.00 ± 0.03 (n > 50) under the optimal conditions. The analytical method was validated by analyzing environmental soil samples spiked with known amounts of 239Pu and 237Np standard solutions or certified reference materials. The measured values of 237Np, 239Pu, and 240Pu obtained by inductively coupled plasma tandem mass spectrometry were consistent with their International Atomic Energy Agency literature values within a 95% confidence interval. These results confirm the reliability and high analytical precision (<6%) of this developed method using Pu as a non-isotopic tracer for monitoring the chemical yield of 237Np. The developed method can also be used for environmental pollutant monitoring and for tracer studies of the 237Np and Pu isotopes.

3,4-benzo[a]pyrene aggravates myocardial infarction injury by activating NLRP3-related pyroptosis through PINK1/Parkin-mitophagy-mPTP opening axis.

Air pollution is an important and interventionable risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Air pollution exposure, even for a short-term exposure, is conspicuously relevant to increased risk of myocardial infarction (MI) mortality and clinical evidence has shown that air pollution particulate matter (PM) induces the aggravation of AMI. 3,4-benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), an extremely toxic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and a common component of PM, is listed as one of the main objects of environmental pollution monitoring. Both epidemiological and toxicological studies suggest that BaP exposure may be associated with cardiovascular disease. Since PM is significantly associated with the increased risk of MI mortality, and BaP is an important component of PM associated with cardiovascular disease, we intend to investigate the effect of BaP on MI models. The MI mouse model and the oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) H9C2 cell model were used to investigate the effect of BaP in MI injury. The involvement of mitophagy and pyroptosis in regulating deterioration of cardiac function and aggravation of MI injury induced by BaP was comprehensively evaluated. Our study shows that BaP exacerbates MI injury in vivo and in vitro, a result based on BaP-induced NLRP3-related pyroptosis. In addition, BaP can inhibit PINK1/Parkin dependent mitophagy through the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), thus the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) was induced to open. Our results suggest a role for the BaP from air pollution in MI injury aggravation and reveal that BaP aggravates MI injury by activating NLRP3-related pyroptosis via the PINK1/Parkin-mitophagy-mPTP opening axis.

Three-dimensional porous carbon framework coated with polyaniline for highly stable and selective ammonia sensing

Ammonia (NH3) sensing for environmental pollution monitoring is simultaneously required high selectivity against interfering gases, long-term stability with humidity tolerance and low detection limit, which needs further exploring. Here, the compositions of three-dimensional (3D) porous carbon framework (C-FW) coated with polyaniline (PANI@3D C-FW CPs) have been developed for highly selective and stable NH3 detection, which have been firstly prepared 3D C-FW via freezing/drying, and have been then in-situ coated with PANI. As-synthesized PANI@3D C-FW CPs present 3D porous architectures with rough surface. Beneficially, the PANI@3D C-FW CPs show a distinguished selectivity to NH3 against other interfering gases and possess 100 ppb-concentration detection limit at room temperature (∼25 °C), respectively. Remarkably, the PANI@3D C-FW CPs sensor prototypes show outstanding cycling stability to 10 ppm NH3, and 249-day long stability. Theoretically, such outstanding NH3 sensing performance might be attributed to the unique deprotonation/protonation process of PANI molecules layer and the abundant adsorption sites of 3D porous framework structure. Practically, simulation to detect NH3 using as-prepared PANI@3D C-FW CPs has been conducted with reliable sensing response.

Electrochemical simultaneous determination of hydroquinone, catechol, bisphenol A, and bisphenol S using a novel mesoporous nickel-modified carbon sensor

The widespread occurrence of endocrine disruptor compounds in wastewater has garnered significant attention owing to their toxicity, even at low concentrations, and their persistence in the water body. Among various analytical techniques, electrochemical sensors become popular for the environmental monitoring of water pollutants due to their low cost, rapid detection, high sensitivity, and selectivity. In this study, the mesoporous Ni (MNi) material was synthesized with an innovative method using Pluronic™ F-127 as a soft template and applied as a modifier for the simultaneous electrochemical sensing of hydroquinone (HQ), catechol (CC), bisphenol A (BPA), and bisphenol S (BPS). MNi with high porosity efficiently enhanced the redox-active surface area and conductivity of the glassy carbon electrode contributing to a significantly improved sensitivity in the detection of target chemicals. The pore size and surface area of MNi were estimated based on atomic force microscopy and Brunauer Emmett and Teller techniques to be ∼14.2 nm and 31.1 m2 g−1, respectively. The limit of detection for HQ, CC, BPA, and BPS was determined to be 5.3, 5.7, 5.6, and 61.5 nM, respectively. The electrochemical sensor presented in this study holds promise as a platform for developing portable and miniaturized tools offering the rapid and sensitive detection of these hazardous phenolic compounds in environmental water samples.