Environmental Risk Research Articles

Adsorption behavior and mechanism of heavy metals onto microplastics: A meta-analysis assisted by machine learning

Microplastics (MPs) have the potential to adsorb heavy metals (HMs), resulting in a combined pollution threat in aquatic and terrestrial environments. However, due to the complexity of MP/HM properties and experimental conditions, research on the adsorption of HMs onto MPs often yields inconsistent findings. To address this issue, we conducted a comprehensive meta-analysis assisted with machine learning by analyzing a dataset comprising 3340 records from 134 references. The results indicated that polyamide (PA) (ES = –1.26) exhibited the highest adsorption capacity for commonly studied HMs (such as Pb, Cd, Cu, and Cr), which can be primarily attributed to the presence of C=O and N–H groups. In contrast, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) demonstrated a lower adsorption capacity, but the strongest adsorption strength resulting from the halogen atom on its surface. In terms of HMs, metal cations were more readily adsorbed by MPs compared with metalloids and metal oxyanions, with Pb (ES = –0.78) exhibiting the most significant adsorption. As the pH and temperature increased, the adsorption of HMs initially increased and subsequently decreased. Using a random forest model, we accurately predicted the adsorption capacity of MPs based on MP/HM properties and experimental conditions. The main factors affecting HM adsorption onto MPs were HM and MP concentrations, specific surface area of MP, and pH. Additionally, surface complexation and electrostatic interaction were the predominant mechanisms in the adsorption of Pb and Cd, with surface functional groups being the primary factors affecting the mechanism of MPs. These findings provide a quantitative summary of the interactions between MPs and HMs, contributing to our understanding of the environmental behavior and ecological risks associated with their correlation.

The rapid rise of generative AI and its implications for academic integrity: Students’ perceptions and use of chatbots for assistance with assessments

The rapid adoption of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT by students has the potential to disrupt the higher education sector, with concerns being raised by academics about potential threats to academic integrity. This paper contributes to the pressing discussion about responses to AI tools by examining students' perceptions and the use of generative AI to assist them with assessments. Based on a survey among 337 Australian university students, this study found that more than a third of students have used a chatbot for assistance with an assessment, and do not necessarily perceive this as a breach of academic integrity. The study further investigated to what extent different psychosocial factors such as learning motivations, distress or resilience are associated with students’ use of AI chatbots in order to ascertain environmental conditions or risk factors driving their use. Findings suggest that the higher education sector faces the challenge of not only defining clear policies and guidelines about ethical and academically honest ways to use and integrate generative AI tools into university education and assessments, but also to rethink the design of assessment pieces.

On-Site Inactivation for Disinfection of Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria in Hospital Effluent by UV and UV-LED

The problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is not limited to the medical field but is also becoming prevalent on a global scale in the environmental field. Environmental water pollution caused by the discharge of wastewater into aquatic environments has caused concern in the context of the sustainable development of modern society. However, there have been few studies focused on the treatment of hospital wastewater, and the potential consequences of this remain unknown. This study evaluated the efficacy of the inactivation of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria (AMRB) and antimicrobial resistance genes (AMRGs) in model wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) wastewater and hospital effluent based on direct ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation provided by a conventional mercury lamp with a peak wavelength of 254 nm and an ultraviolet light-emitting diode (UV-LED) with a peak emission of 280 nm under test conditions in which the irradiance of both was adjusted to the same intensity. The overall results indicated that both UV- and UV-LED-mediated disinfection effectively inactivated the AMRB in both wastewater types (>99.9% after 1–3 min of UV and 3 min of UV-LED treatment). Additionally, AMRGs were also removed (0.2–1.4 log10 for UV 254 nm and 0.1–1.3 log10 for UV 280 nm), and notably, there was no statistically significant decrease (p < 0.05) in the AMRGs between the UV and UV-LED treatments. The results of this study highlight the importance of utilizing a local inactivation treatment directly for wastewater generated by a hospital prior to its flow into a WWTP as sewage. Although additional disinfection treatment at the WWTP is likely necessary to remove the entire quantity of AMRB and AMRGs, the present study contributes to a significant reduction in the loads of WWTP and urgent prevention of the spread of infectious diseases, thus alleviating the potential threat to the environment and human health risks associated with AMR problems.

Corporate Carbon Footprint: Evaluating Environmental Risks and Incentives in the Era of Climate Finance

To fight climate change and reduce their increasing pollution levels, developing nations must have access to worldwide public climate funds. In the view of developing nations, meeting their commitments to reduce emissions under the Paris Agreement depends on receiving funding for climate-related initiatives. According to earlier studies, financing developing nations may help them meet their climate targets. The most recent data on climate money and NDCs are used in this research to examine the subject from a practical standpoint. Two research approaches were used in this study to investigate the impact of climate funding on the objectives of recipient nations. Data indicated that it was excellent regardless of the size of the effect. Developing nations’ attempts to reduce emissions were more affected than those of the least developed nations, especially those with economies centred on tiny islands. This paper outlines how to solve the issue, but it is just the beginning. By informing their handling of climate money, investors can gain poorer nations’ confidence, according to this research.

Transgenerational reproductive toxicity induced by carboxyl and amino charged microplastics at environmental concentrations in Caenorhabditis elegans: Involvement of histone methylation

Microplastics, recognized as emerging contaminants, are commonly observed to be charged in the environment, potentially exerting toxic effects on various organisms. However, the transgenerational reproductive toxicity and underlying mechanisms of polystyrene (PS), particularly carboxyl-modified PS (PS-COOH) and amino-modified PS (PS-NH2), remain largely unexplored. In this study, the parental generation (P0) of Caenorhabditis elegans was subjected to environmental concentrations (0.1–100 μg/L) of PS, PS-COOH, and PS-NH2, with subsequent generations (F1–F4) cultured under normal conditions. Exposure to PS-NH2 at concentrations of 10–100 μg/L exhibited more pronounced reproductive toxicity compared to PS or PS-COOH, resulting in decreased brood size, egg ejection rate, number of fertilized eggs, and cell corpses per gonad. Similarly, maternal exposure to 100 μg/L of PS-NH2 induced more severe transgenerational reproductive effects in C. elegans. Significant increases in H3 on lysine 4 dimethylation (H3K4me2) and H3 on lysine 9 trimethylation (H3K9me3) levels were observed in the subsequent generation, concurrent with the transgenerational upregulation of set-30 and met-2 following parental exposure to PS, PS-COOH, and PS-NH2. Correlation analyses revealed significant associations between the expression of these genes with the reproductive ability. Molecular docking studies suggested that PS-NH2 exhibited higher affinity for SET-30 and MET-2. Further analysis demonstrated that transgenerational effects on reproduction were absent in set-30(gk315) and met-2(n4256) mutants, highlighting the pivotal role of set-30 and met-2 in mediating the transgenerational effect. This study provides novel insights into the environmental risks associated with negatively and positively charged microplastics.

Exploring the sorption and degradation dynamics of validamycin-A in agricultural soils for environmental management.

Validamycin A (VA) is one of the antibiotics that have been utilized in agriculture in Asia; nevertheless, there haven't been many investigations on what happens to VA in soil. The rate at which pesticides are adsorbed into the soil must be determined, since their usage in agriculture is growing. In order to accomplish this, the current study investigated the sorption and degradation of VA in ten distinct soil samples via batch equilibrium studies while maintaining strict laboratory controls. In thermodynamic analysis with a C-type curve, the negative values of Gibbs free energy (ΔG) are thoroughly evaluated using both linear and Freundlich models. These values vary from - 16.8 to - 22.2kJ/mol. Impact of temperature (18, 23, and 30°C) and pH (5, 7, and 9) on the degradation of this antibiotic in soil was also scrutinized. Our findings demonstrated that, as a result of enhanced microbial activity at higher temperatures, VA deteriorated more quickly at 23°C and 30°C than at 18°C. In comparison to lower pH values, the VA removal efficiencies with sample-4 was significantly greater at pH 7.4 (92.9%) and pH 9 (97.4%). Moreover, first order reaction kinetics were followed in the degradation of VA. The results demonstrated that VA bound to the selected soils, resulting in medium to low persistence as demonstrated by degradation values. In summary, this study provides important information regarding the behavior and fate of VA in different types of soil, information that might be useful in developing workable management strategies and environmental risk assessments.

The Impact of Enterprise Technological Innovation on Environmental Performance—An Industry Perspective

With the ongoing advancements in the modern industrial economy, the global ecological environment is encountering a multitude of challenges, prompting the increasing dissemination and global acknowledgment of the concept of sustainable development. Governments have formulated green development strategies aimed at incentivizing enterprises to enhance their environmental performance and mitigate environmental risks. This study utilizes a research sample comprising 3313 firm-level environmental performance scores and primary business data for 276 Chinese enterprises from 2007 to 2017. Based on the empirical evidence from the fixed-effects model, it is evident that technological innovation overall enhances the environmental performance and reduces the environmental risks of Chinese enterprises. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that internal innovation within Chinese enterprises exhibits heterogeneous impacts on environmental performance. The study shows that, compared to enterprises in the primary and tertiary industries, technological innovation in the enterprises of China’s secondary industry has a greater impact on enhancing environmental performance. Furthermore, within the secondary industry, the positive impact of technological innovation on environmental performance is more pronounced for the traditional sectors. Based on these findings, government authorities should actively encourage technological innovation among enterprises and formulate differentiated environmental policies tailored to different enterprises and industries. This research holds significant implications for the implementation of green strategies, enhancement of enterprise competitiveness, achievement of long-term sustainability, and improvement of global ecological environmental quality.

Lead Contamination in Pangasius Djambal in the Dam of Kalitidu District, Bojonegoro District: An Environmental Health Risk Study

Introduction: One of the areas passed by the Bengawan Solo River is Bojonegoro. Many Bojonegoro people find fish at the point of Bendung Gerak, Ngringinrejo Village. One of the fish that is often caught is Pangasius djambal. At this location, the dominant waste contamination comes from agricultural and domestic waste. Lead can contaminate water and enter through the food chain in fish which are later eaten by humans. The purpose of this study was to analyze the environmental health risk of lead (Pb) content in Pangasius djambal in Bendung Gerak Ngringinrejo Village, Kalitidu District, Bojonegoro Regency. Methods: This research used field environmental health risk analysis method. The total sampling of the community was 50 respondents and was taken using accidental sampling. Community sample criteria are those who consume Pangasius djambal within 1 year. Environmental samples are Pangasius djambal taken at 3 points and analyzed using the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS) method. Results and Discussion: The results showed lead intakes at points A, B, and C were 0.0018 mg/kg/day, 0.0639 mg/kg/day, and 0.0012 mg/kg.day, respectively. The results show the RQ value of point B RQ>1 (unsafe), while points A and C are RQ≤1 (safe). It can be caused by several factors such as body weight, intake rate, consumption frequency, exposure duration, and lead concentration. Conclusion: Based on these results, it is necessary to do risk management at point B.

Rational Design of a Multifunctional Hydrogel Trap for Water and Fertilizer Capture: A Review.

Water scarcity and land infertility pose significant challenges to agricultural development, particularly in arid and semiarid regions. Improving soil-water-retention capacity and fertilizer utilization efficiency through the application of soil additives has become a pivotal approach in agricultural practices. Hydrogels exhibit exceptional water absorption and fertilizer retention capabilities, making them extensively utilized in the fields of agriculture, forestry, and desert control. Currently, most reviews primarily focus on the raw materials, classification, synthesis methods, and application prospects of hydrogels, with limited attention given to strategies for enhancing water-retention performance, mechanisms underlying fertilizer absorption, and environmental risks. This review covers the commonly used cross-linking methods in hydrogel synthesis and the structure-activity relationship between hydrogels and water as well as fertilizer. Additionally, a thorough analysis of the ecological benefits and risks associated with hydrogels is presented. Finally, future prospects and challenges are delineated from the perspectives of material design and engineering applications.

Appraisal of microplastic pollution and its related risks for urban indoor environment in Bangladesh using machine learning and diverse risk evolution indices

The widespread presence of Microplastics (MPs) is increasing in the indoor environment due to increasing annual plastic usage, which is becoming a global threat to human health. Therefore, this is the first research in Bangladesh to identify, and characterize, MP pollution and its allied threats to human health in the indoor urban environment, where 80 household dust samples were collected from the whole study area. The presence of MPs in household dust of the urban indoor environment was 25.8 ± 6.43 particles/g with a significant variety, whereas the fiber shape (73%), 0.5–1.00 mm ranged MPs size (58%), blue color (21%), and polystyrene polymer (34%) was the most ubiquitous MPs category. The pollution load index (1.61–2.96) indicated significant pollution due to the high abundance of MPs. Besides, other risks evaluating indices including contamination factor (1.00–3.51), and Nemerow pollution index (1.60–3.51) represent moderate to high MP-induced pollution. The polymer hazard index (119.54 ± 70.34) indicated significant risks for the selected polymers to the indoor environment living inhabitants. Machine learning approaches, especially random forest and support random vector machine were effective in predicting the number of MPs, where EC, salinity, pH, OC, and texture classes acted as controlling factors. Children and adults might be ingesting 4.12 ± 1.01 and 2.27 ± 0.57 particles/day through the ingestion exposure route, which has significant health effects. Polymer-associated lifetime cancer risk assessment results show that there are moderate risks for both adults and children, but children tend to be more susceptible to MP risks. The overall study found that Dhaka was the most severely MPs induced risky division among the others. This study reveals that high quantities of MPs in indoor environments could pose a serious health hazard' to different exposure groups.

A quantitative research on climate resilience in coastal airports from the perspective of adaptation

Because of its distinct function and geographic conditions, the impact of climate change on the operation, safety, and income of airports in coastal areas is becoming increasingly significant. The measurement of climate resilience can help identify priority needs and measures to adapt to climate change, which is a crucial step in developing an aviation adaptation plan. At present, the concept of climate resilience is relatively complex and lacks a clear uniformity of composition, which has made it challenging to effectively support the development of adaptation strategies. Based on the definition of climate resilience, our first step was to construct an evaluation system for coastal airports to visually represent the level of climate resilience. Next, in this study, we introduced a coupling coordination and obstacle degree model to analyze the coordinated development and key drivers of climate resilience, which could be used to develop a targeted improvement strategy based on the calculation results. In the future, additional measures can be combined from the natural environment, socioeconomics, governance capacity, and climate change risk to enhance the capacity development of the aviation industry to address climate change and foster the establishment of a sustainable development model between the industry and the environment.

Municipal Solid Waste Management and Health Risks: Application of Solid Waste Safety Plan in Novi Sad, Serbia

Inadequate solid waste management (SWM) can cause environmental contamination and health risks. Minimizing the health risks from SWM practices requires the identification of linkages between potential sources of exposure, environmental transport pathways, and adverse health outcomes. A safety planning approach can represent an innovative tool for reducing such risks. In previous research, we introduced the solid waste safety plan (SWSP) concept, only focusing on the health risk ranking assessment matrix. Here, we demonstrate the application of the SWSP framework in a case study of the municipal landfill of Novi Sad, Serbia. We identify potential hazards and assessed the likelihood and severity for them, using a combination of quantitative and semi-quantitative approaches to estimate risk levels for each identified hazard. Hazards deemed high and very high risks for the community and workers include groundwater contamination from leachate, airborne contaminants from combustion and non-combustion processes, and worker injuries associated with waste combustion. Control measures for each are identified, together with a corresponding cost analysis. Adding a final top cover to the landfill and introducing a collection, transport, and treatment system for the biogas would address hazards presenting high health risks but are also among the highest costs. While we demonstrate the approach and utility of an SWSP in a research context, future work is needed to assess the use of the SWSP by local communities or SWM utilities.

Distinct influence of model electron shuttles on anaerobic mononitrophenols reduction in aquatic environments by Shewanella oneidensis MR-1

The environmental fate and risks of mononitrophenols (mono-NPs), the simplest nitrophenols (NPs) often found in aquatic environments, are profoundly influenced by anaerobic bioreduction and co-existing electron shuttles (ESs), but little is known about the underlying mechanisms. Here, we elucidate the pathways of anaerobic mono-NPs bioreduction by Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 and assess the effect of model ESs on these processes. We found that all three mono-NPs isomers could be readily reduced to their corresponding aminophenols by S. oneidensis MR-1 under anaerobic conditions. CymA, a core component of the Mtr respiratory pathway, performs a dynamic role in these bioreduction, which is highly dependent on the bioreduction kinetics. The exogenous addition of quinones was found to accelerate the mono-NPs bioreduction through interactions with key outer-membrane proteins (e.g., OmcA and MtrC), and all these processes matched well to linear free energy relationships (LFERs). Surprisingly, adding riboflavin did not influence the bioreduction of all three mono-NPs isomers, which may be due to the contribution of OmcA and MtrC to these bioreduction processes and their downregulated expression. This study enhances our understanding of the environmental fate of mono-NPs and their bioconversion processes, providing valuable insights for the bioremediation of nitrophenol-contaminated sites.

Copper-mediated neurotoxicity and genetic vulnerability in the background of neurodegenerative diseases in C. elegans.

The mechanisms associated with neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) have yet to be fully characterized, and genetic as well as environmental factors in their disease etiology are under appreciated. While mutations in genes such as PARKIN and LRRK2 have been linked to PD, the idiopathic component of the disease suggests a contribution of environmental risk factors, including metals, such as copper (Cu). Cu overexposure has been reported to cause oxidative stress and neurotoxicity, but its role in neurodegenerative diseases is rarely studied. Using Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) as a model organism for neurotoxicity, we assessed the effects of Cu oversupply in AD and PD models. Our findings reveal that while copper treatment did not induce neurodegeneration in wildtype worms or the AD model, it significantly exacerbated neurodegeneration in the PD-associated mutants PARKIN and LRRK2. These results suggest that genetic predisposition for PD enhances the sensitivity to copper toxicity, highlighting the multifactorial nature of neurodegenerative diseases. Furthermore, our study provides insight into the mechanisms underlying Cu-induced neurotoxicity in PD models, including disruptions in dopamine levels, altered dopamine-dependent behavior and degraded dopaminergic neurons. Overall, our novel findings contribute to a better understanding of the complex interactions between genetic susceptibility, environmental factors, and neurodegenerative disease pathogenesis, emphasizing the importance of a tightly regulated Cu homeostasis in the etiology of PD.

One–third substitution of nitrogen with cow manure or biochar greatly reduced N2O emission and carbon footprint in saline–alkali soils

The rapid expansion of farmland and long−term excessive nitrogen (N) application have caused huge environmental risks in fragile ecosystems facing global warming. Partially substituting N fertilizer with organic fertilizers offers an alternative field management strategy to alleviate the pressure of the ecological environment. To this end, the influence of one−third substitution of N fertilizer with cow manure or biochar field experiment was conducted under maize in Tarim River Basin since 2019. Five treatments with three replications were applied: CK (Fallow); no fertilization (0 N); conventional N fertilizer (N; N: 300 kg N ha−1, organic fertilizer: 0 kg N ha−1); one−third substitution of N with biochar (NB; N: 200 kg N ha−1, Biochar: 100 kg N ha−1) and one−third substitution of N with cow manure (NM; N: 200 kg N ha−1, Cow manure: 100 kg N ha−1) under maize season in saline−alkali soils. The greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, net ecosystem carbon budget (NECB), soil organic carbon (SOC), maize yield, carbon footprint (CF), and yield carbon footprint (CFy) were analyzed from 2021 to 2022. The results showed that NB treatment decreased the average cumulative CO2 emissions by 21 %, while NM treatment showed no difference compared to N treatment. NB and NM treatments reduced the average cumulative N2O emissions (−61 %, −49 %), CF (−68 %, −10 %), CFy (−66 %, −19 %) and increased maize yield (+3 %, +2 %), SOC storage (+43 %, +6 %), NECB (+80 %, +24 %), and agronomic N use efficiency (ANUE) (+5 %, +3 %), compared to N treatment. NB treatment had the lowest emission factors (EF) (0.19 %) and the highest sustainability index (1.58) compared to NM treatment (0.26 %, 0.61) and N treatment (0.53 %, 0.84). To sum up, substituting one−third of N fertilizer with biochar or manure in saline−alkali soils was proved to be a multi−benefit strategy to increase yields and reduce GHG emissions and CF.

Safe Circular Food Systems: A Transdisciplinary Approach to Identify Emergent Risks in Food Waste Nutrient Cycling

With growing awareness of the environmental, economic, and social costs associated with food waste, there is a concerted effort on multiple scales to recover the nutrient value of discarded food. These developments are positive, but the rapid movement toward alternatives and the complexity of solving problems located at the intersection of economic, social, and environmental systems also have the potential to produce unanticipated risks. This paper draws upon long-term stakeholder-engaged research throughout New England, with a focus on Maine, to develop a transdisciplinary, systems-based model of the potential social, economic, and environmental risks of food waste nutrient cycling. Our effort is intended to help inform the creation of safe, functional, and environmentally benign circular food systems.

Physiological and molecular effects of contaminants of emerging concerns of micro and nano-size in aquatic metazoans: overview and current gaps in Antarctic species.

Although Antarctica is the most isolated continent on Earth, its remote location does not protect it from the impacts of human activities. Antarctic metazoans such as filter-feeding invertebrates are a crucial component of the Antarctic benthos. They play a key role in the benthic-pelagic carbon flux in coastal areas by filtering particles and planktonic organisms from the sediment-water interface. Due to their peculiar ecological niche, these organisms can be considered a wasp-waist in the ecosystem, making them highly sensitive to marine pollution. Recently, anthropogenic particles such as micro-nanoplastics and manufactured nanoparticles (MNP) have been classified as contaminants of emerging concern (CEC) due to their small size range, which also overlaps with the preferred particle size ingested by aquatic metazoans. Indeed, it has been demonstrated that some species such as Antarctic krill can ingest, transform, and release MNPs, making them newly bioavailable for other Antarctic filter-feeding organisms. Similarly, the production and use of anthropogenic MNP are rapidly increasing, leading to a growing presence of materials, such as nano-sized metal-oxides, in the environment. For these reasons, it is important to provide evidence of the adverse effects of such emerging contaminants at sub-lethal concentrations in environmental risk assessments. These contaminants may cause cascade effects with consequences not only on individuals but also at the community and ecosystem levels. In this review, we discuss the state-of-the-art knowledge on the physiological and molecular effects of anthropogenic MNP in Antarctic aquatic metazoans. We further highlight the importance of identifying early biomarkers using sessile metazoans as sentinels of environmental health.

Methodology for the Identification of Moisture Content in Tailings Dam Walls Based on Electrical Resistivity Tomography Technique

The design of tailings dams has improved significantly in recent decades due to experience and advances in applied research. However, there are still several environmental and geomechanical uncertainties associated with the response of these structures. Failures on the wall of tailings dams are well documented, where the most common causes are related to the action of water overtopping, slope instability, seepage, and foundation failure. Measuring the humidity or the saturation level at tailings dam walls has become a must do in the recent years. Resistivity monitoring using electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) techniques has proven to be one of the tools that provide good subsurface characterization for internal erosion detection and seepage assessment to evaluate potential environmental risks and the physical stability of tailings dams. Also, the integrated techniques of geotechnical, geophysical, and geochemical data have been used to correlate, coordinate, and improve the characterization. In this research, a procedure to guide us to a new methodology of acquiring and monitoring humidity content is presented, in which 2D electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) profiles are linked to the degree of soil saturation, using moisture sensors installed in a nearby well. The ERT profiles provide a 2D resistivity profile, and the moisture sensors can measure resistivity and volumetric water content (VWC) at a given installation depth. This second measure (VWC), with a defined total porosity, can be combined with Archie’s empirical law to obtain the degree of saturation, allowing the possibility to create remote monitoring suitable for mining operations without excessive laboratory testing.

Risk-prediction nomogram for congenital heart disease in offspring of Chinese pregnant women

BackgroundThe identification and assessment of environmental risks are crucial for the primary prevention of congenital heart disease (CHD). We were aimed to establish a nomogram model for CHD in the offspring of pregnant women and validate it using a large CHD database in Northwest China.MethodsA survey was conducted among 29,204 women with infants born between 2010 and 2013 in Shaanxi province, Northwest China. Participants were randomly assigned to the training set and to the validation set at a ratio of 7:3. The importance of predictive variables was assessed using random forest. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to construct the nomogram for the prediction of CHD.ResultsMultivariate analyses revealed that the gravidity, preterm birth history, family history of birth defects, infection, taking medicine, tobacco exposure, pesticide exposure and singleton/twin pregnancy were significant predictive risk factors for CHD in the offspring of pregnant women. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the prediction model was 0.716 (95% CI: 0.671, 0.760) in the training set and 0.714 (95% CI: 0.630, 0.798) in the validation set, indicating moderate discrimination. The prediction model exhibited good calibration (Hosmer-Lemeshow χ2 = 1.529, P = 0.910).ConclusionsWe developed and validated a predictive nomogram for CHD in offspring of Chinese pregnant women, facilitating the early prenatal assessment of the risk of CHD and aiding in health education.

Adsorption-desorption behavior of malachite green on aged microplastics in seawater environment

The role of microplastics (MPs) as carriers of contaminants in the water environment is an emerging concern, significantly impacting migration and transformation. This study aims to compare the adsorption behavior of MPs with Malachite green (MG) dye before and after simulated short-term seawater aging (especially during the initial phase of the aging process) and to analyze in-depth the mechanism by which the aging process influences adsorption behavior. Results showed that after aging, the adsorption capacities of Polypropylene (PP), Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and Polyethylene (PE) for MG were 2.58, 2.43, and 1.59 mg g−1, respectively. The adsorption capacity of other MPs for MG increased significantly, except for PE, which remained nearly unchanged. Calcium chloride (CaCl2) plays a significant role in the seawater aging process, and increasing the concentration of CaCl2 leads to a decrease in the adsorption amount of MG. Additionally, the adsorption capacity for MG varies significantly across different particle sizes and types of MPs, as well as the adsorption capacity of PP for different dyes. The Langmuir and Freundlich models indicate that the adsorption aligns more with the Freundlich model, which suggests that adsorption primarily occurs as multi-layer adsorption on a non-homogeneous surface. These results provide a scientific foundation for evaluating the ecological and environmental risks when MPs and organic dyes coexist. We also propose a novel approach of “treating waste dye with MPs” to mitigate their pollution in the aquatic environment.