Extent Of Pollution Research Articles

Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination and Health Risks in "Snow Cover-Soil Cover-Vegetation System" of Urban and Rural Gardens of an Industrial City in Kazakhstan.

This article investigates the extent of heavy metal pollution in both urban and rural gardens in Pavlodar, which cultivate potatoes and tomatoes. As a city of industrialization, Pavlodar is exposed to emissions from industrial enterprises, transport and stove heating. The city also has the highest incidence of environmental diseases among the population. This study examines the accumulation of heavy metals and metalloid in the snow, their migration into the soil and their accumulation in plants, and assesses the non-cancer and cancer health risks of consuming these vegetables. The results show that the concentrations of trace elements in the solid phase of snow decrease in the following order: Fe (26,000) > Mn (592.5) > Cr (371.3) > Zn (338.8) > Pb (161.9) > Cu (142.5) > Ni (30.9) > As (15.1) > Co (12.1) > Cd (2.6). In soils, the concentrations of elements decrease in the following order: Mn (22,125) > Fe (20,375) > Zn (246.9) > Cr (109.5) > Cu (39.3) > Pb (25.6) > Ni (22.4) > As (9) > Co (6.6) > Cd (0.2). In urban gardens, the snow pollution coefficient was the highest. In rural gardens, the contamination index varied from 0.3 (Cr) to 5.3 (Cd). Magnesium in the soil exceeds the maximum allowable concentration (MPC) by 28.6-35.7 times, and zinc by 1.6-10.9 times. Only zinc and copper exceed the MPC for vegetables. Nickel in potatoes exceeds MPC by a factor of 6 and in tomatoes by a factor of 4.4. The cobalt content in tomatoes exceeds the background value by 2.2 times, with a maximum value of 5.3 times. The risk assessment showed that the non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks associated with potato and tomato consumption were low. However, these risks are higher in urban areas than in rural areas.

Bioluminescence Inhibition Bioassay for Estimation of Snow Cover in Urbanised Areas within Boreal Forests of Krasnoyarsk City

It has been proposed that the level of air pollution in a city should be estimated based on the accumulation of pollutants in the snow cover of urban forests. This study presents a bioluminescence method for estimating the extent of snow cover pollution in the urbanised areas of boreal forests in Krasnoyarsk city. A bioluminescent assay involving NAD(P)H:FMN oxidoreductase (Red) and luciferase with luminous bacteria (BLuc) was employed to measure the concentrations of six heavy metals (As, Cd, Zn, Co, Hg, and Pb) in the snow cover. The tested snow samples demonstrated a correlation between the reduced activity of the enzyme system and variations in Cd concentration. Furthermore, the research indicated that the period of unfavourable meteorological conditions in Krasnoyarsk city resulted in a notable decline in the activity of the BLuc–Red enzyme system, which may be associated with elevated air pollution levels. This study underscores the potential of the bioluminescence method for monitoring environmental pollution in urban forested areas.

Soil amendment-assisted phytoremediation with ryegrass offers a promising approach to mitigate environmental health concerns

This study aimed to examine the potential of soil amendment-assisted phytoremediation using ryegrass in reclaiming abandoned gold mine soil in southwestern Ghana, with a specific focus on the soil contamination hazards associated with metals and metalloids. A pot experiment lasting 60 days was carried out to assess the efficacy of soil amendments, such as compost, iron oxide, and poultry manure, in mitigating environmental hazards. Three soil contamination indices (soil contamination = CF, enrichment factor = ER, and pollution load index = PLI) were used to calculate the extent of soil contamination, enrichment, and pollution of the sites with Co, Hg, Ni, Mo, Se, Sb, and Pb. The findings show that Hg made the greatest contribution (with a maximum soil CF of 18.0) to the overall PLI, with a maximum value of 74.4. The sites were averagely and consequently enriched with toxic elements in the decreasing order: Ni (ER = 33.3) > Mo (20.5) > Sb (14.1) > Pb (11.0) > Hg (7.9) > Se (2.1). The bioaccumulation factor (BCF > 1) suggests that ryegrass has the ability to phytostabilize Co, Hg, Mo, and Ni. This means that the plant may store these elements in its roots, potentially decreasing their negative effects on the environment and human health. Ultimately, the addition of combined manure with iron oxides might have augmented the sequestration of these metals in the root. The elements may have accumulated through sorption on manure or Fe surfaces, dissolution from watering the plants in the pot, or mineralization of organic manure. Thus, ryegrass has shown potential for phytostabilisation of Co, Hg, Mo, and Ni when assisted with a combination of manure and iron oxides; and can consequently mitigate the environmental and human health impacts.

Assessment on the Exposure of Air, Water and Noise Pollution, and Mental Stress on Preeclamptic Patients of Rajshahi, Bangladesh

Although preeclampsia claims the lives of 70,000 mothers and 500,000 newborns each year worldwide, its origin is still elusive and a number of risk factors such as environmental pollution are not yet addressed properly. In this study, exposures due to the extents of air, water and noise pollution as well as mental stress on preeclamptic patients have been investigated. Using a cross-sectional longitudinal design, 90 women hospitalized with preeclampsia in 7 hospitals of Rajshahi, Bangladesh were considered, of which Rajshahi Medical College Hospital is a tertiary referral hospital. The data were collected by interviewing the patients, physical examinations and merging the patients’ data with British Geological Survey’s groundwater data-sets (n=3,540). For statistical analyses, SPSS software was employed. It was found that most of the patients’ living rooms were within 15 feet from kitchen. Only 10% patients had good room ventilation, while the remaining 90% patients had either moderate or poor room ventilation. Combination of these facts reveals that the preeclamptic patients were subject to moderate CO2 exposure. Since 79% of the preeclamptic patients’ living rooms were below 50 ft from the nearest roads and 84% for 100 ft distance, they would experience noise pollution. Combination of traffic conditions and potential sources of noise pollution revealed that 60% of the preeclamptic patients experienced moderate to intense noise pollution. Groundwater arsenic, calcium, magnesium, iron and sodium concentrations in the patients’ drinking water were higher than WHO guideline values that should favour constipation and mild hypertension. While 70% patients were under high mental stress and 24% under very high mental stress, only 6% patients had moderate mental stress. It is concluded that air, water and noise pollution, and mental stress are potential risk factors of preeclampsia.

Assessing VOC emissions from different gas stations: impacts, variations, and modeling fluctuations of air pollutants

Gas stations distributed around densely populated areas are responsible for toxic pollutant emissions such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This study aims to measure VOCs emission from three different kinds of gas stations to determine the extent of pollution from the gas stations and the most frequent type of VOC compound emitted. The concentrations of ambient VOCs at three refueling stations with a different type of fuels in Mashhad were monitored. The result of this study showed that CNG fuel stations are less polluting than petrol stations. In all the studied sites, the highest concentrations were related to xylene isomers, irrespective of the fuel type. Total VOCs at the supply of both compressed natural gas (CNG) and gasoline stations was 482.36 ± 563.45 µg m−3. At a CNG station and a gasoline station, total VOC concentrations were 1363.4 ± 1975 µg m−3 and 410.29 ± 483.37 µg m−3, respectively. The differences in concentrations of toluene and m,p-xylene between the fuel stations can be related to the quality and type of fuel, vapor recovery technology, fuel reserves, dripless nozzles, traffic density in these stations, meteorological conditions and the location of sampling sites. The combination of a sine function and a quadratic function could model the fluctuation behavior of air pollutants like m,p-xylene. In all the sites, the highest concentrations were related to xylene isomers, irrespective of the type of fuel. The changing rate of m,p-xylene pollutant in each station was also modeled in this study.

Sustaining tranquility in small urban green parks: A modeling approach to identify noise pollution contributors

Noise pollution poses a significant environmental challenge in Iranian urban areas, particularly within Small Urban Green Parks (SUGPs). This study investigates the extent of noise pollution in SUGPs and identifies key contributors to elevated noise levels. A total of 94 SUGPs, with a mean area of 1.86 ± 0.99 hectares, were selected in Isfahan City, Central Iran, and subjected to 30-m Equivalent Sound Level (Lq30) measurements at their central locations. Explanatory variables were classified into two categories based on road density, traffic volume, proximity to roads, park vegetation, and physical characteristics. The relationship between noise levels and each explanatory variable was observed to be non-linear and polynomial (R2 < 0.334) in certain instances. Our modeling results using the Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP)-Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model (R2 = 0.936) indicate that average noise levels in these parks surpass international guidelines, averaging 65.97 ± 17.76 dB. Traffic volume and proximity to limited access roads were identified as primary factors influencing noise levels in SUGPs. It was observed that the design and layout of small urban parks may not effectively mitigate surrounding traffic noise, even with sufficient green barriers to absorb or block sound. Consequently, future efforts should prioritize strategic site selection for SUGPs to minimize exposure to major noise sources.

Machine learning-based prediction of cadmium pollution in topsoil and identification of critical driving factors in a mining area.

Mining activities have resulted in a substantial accumulation of cadmium (Cd) in agricultural soils, particularly in southern China. Long-term Cd exposure can cause plant growth inhibition and various diseases. Rapid identification of the extent of soil Cd pollution and its driving factors are essential for soil management and risk assessment. However, traditional geostatistical methods are difficult to simulate the complex nonlinear relationships between soil Cd and potential features. In this study, sequential extraction and hotspot analyses indicated that Cd accumulation increased significantly near mining sites and exhibited high mobility. The concentration of Cd was estimated using three machine learning models based on 3169 topsoil samples, seven quantitative variables (soil pH, Fe, Ca, Mn, TOC, Al/Si and ba value) and three quantitative variables (soil parent rock, terrain and soil type). The random forest model achieved marginally better performance than the other models, with an R2 of 0.78. Importance analysis revealed that soil pH and Ca and Mn contents were the most significant factors affecting Cd accumulation and migration. Conversely, due to the essence of controlling Cd migration being soil property, soil type, terrain, and soil parent materials had little impact on the spatial distribution of soil Cd under the influence of mining activities. Our results provide a better understanding of the geochemical behavior of soil Cd in mining areas, which could be helpful for environmental management departments in controlling the diffusion of Cd pollution and capturing key targets for soil remediation.

Densities of neuston often not elevated within plastic hotspots territory inside the North Pacific Garbage Patch

The North Pacific Garbage Patch, located in the eastern part of the North Pacific subtropical gyre, contains vast amounts of floating plastic debris. Research over the past decades has mainly focused on assessing the extent of plastic pollution in this oceanic region. However, the North Pacific subtropical gyre is also home to the surface-associated pelagic community known as neuston. To date, the dynamics of this ecosystem and its vulnerability towards environmental pollution and anthropogenic impacts remain poorly understood. While removing plastic debris afloat at sea can reduce negative impacts of plastic pollution on neuston and marine life in general, concerns have been raised that cleanup efforts could have an adverse effect on neuston due to potential co-accumulation of neuston and plastic at the sea surface. Here, we provide the most comprehensive assessment of neuston abundance in the eastern North Pacific Ocean and its relation to the distribution of floating plastic debris (0.05–5 cm in size) based on a first year-round survey. Our results reveal that neuston taxa inside the North Pacific Garbage Patch often show similar or lower abundances in areas with particularly high densities of floating plastic debris compared to the wider garbage patch. Targeting open-ocean cleanups on such plastic hotspot territories inside the garbage patch can therefore minimize interactions with neuston during cleanups, thus maximizing their net environmental gain. We further discover that neuston depicts substantial seasonal variability, which needs to be considered when assessing impacts on neuston.

Microplastic pollution and ecological risk assessment of a pond ecosystem.

Microplastic (MP) pollution has been observed in various ecosystems as a result of the rapid increase in plastic production over the past half-century. Nevertheless, the extent of MP pollution in different ecosystems, particularly in freshwater ecosystems, has not been well-studied, and there are limited investigations on this particular topic, specifically in Türkiye. Here, we quantify the occurrence and distribution of MPs in surface water samples collected from Topçu Pond (Türkiye) for the first time. Water samples were collected at five stations and filtered (30 L for each station) through stacked stainless steel sieves (5mm, 328µm, and 61µm mesh size) with a diameter of 30cm. The abundance, size, color, shape, and type of collected debris samples were analyzed after the wet peroxide oxidation process. MP particles were observed in all samples at an average abundance of 2.4 MPs/L. The most abundant MP size class and type were 0-999µm and fiber respectively. On the other hand, prevalent colors were black and colorless in general. According to the Raman analysis results, the identified MP derivatives were polypropylene (40%), polyamide (30%), ethylene acrylic acid (20%), and polyvinylchloride (10%). Moreover, the pollution load index (PLI) index was used to determine the pollution status. PLI values were determined as 1.91 at station S1, 1.73 at station S2, 1.31 at station S3, 1 at station S4 and 1.24 at station S5. The PLI value determined for the overall pond was 1.4. The results of this research show that MP pollution is present in Topçu Pond and contributes to the expanding literature on MP pollution in pond ecosystems.

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.

Phthalate esters in water and sediment of Asunle stream of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria: Distribution and human health risks

This study determined the concentrations and seasonal variations of phthalate esters (PAEs) in water and sediment samples of the receiving stream within the vicinity of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife dumpsite. The objective of this study was to evaluate the pollution status of the study area by determining the levels of PAEs in water and sediment samples. This assessment aimed to understand the presence and extent of phthalate ester pollution in the study area. Water and sediment samples were collected from six selected stations along the receiving stream for analysis that included one upstream and five downstream points for four months during both wet season and dry season. The liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) method was employed to extract PAEs from the water samples collected, while microwave extraction method was optimized for their extraction in sediment samples. Quantification of the PAEs was conducted using Gas Chromatography coupled with a quadrupole Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS) in this study. The mean concentration of phthalates varied in the water and sediment samples. In the water samples, the phthalate concentrations ranged from 1.88 ± 0.16 μg/L for diethyl phthalate to 15.74 ± 0.33 μg/L for di(2-ethylhexyl phthalate) (DEHP). Also, butylbenzyl phthalate and DEHP will pose potential carcinogenic risks when used for bathing and drinking purposes, due to their relatively higher carcinogenic risk values. In the sediment samples, the concentrations ranged from 0.09 ± 0.02 mg/kg for dimethyl phthalate to 14.27 ± 1.76 mg/kg for di(2-ethylhexyl phthalate). The seasonal variation analysis of PAE congeners revealed that higher levels were observed during the dry season in the collected samples. The study concluded that the stream was heavily contaminated with di(-2-ethylhexyl)phthalate at levels that gave cause for human health and environmental concerns.

The Scenario of Groundwater Pollution after Implementation of Zero Liquid Discharge: An Agricultural Economic Perspective

Groundwater pollution is hard to remediate in the Noyyal river region even after the implementation of Zero Liquid Discharge process. Hence, to study the status and extent of groundwater pollution in the Noyyal river region, Tiruppur district of Tamil Nadu was purposively selected and classified into 3 regions based on the distance from the river and 120 farms were selected. Tools of analysis viz., Cost benefit analysis, Resource use efficiency and decomposition analysis were undertaken to study the status of groundwater pollution and its effect on agriculture. The results showed that intensity and severity of pollution is high in the region closer to Noyyal river (less than 1 km). Income from agriculture is also low in that region due to the use of polluted groundwater for irrigation. The study revealed that Zero Liquid Discharge ensures stoppage of industrial effluents into the river and hence, river pollution is stopped. Similarly, a suitable policy is required to revamp groundwater. Hence, the suggested policy includes water storage structures like tanks, lakes, ponds etc are to be used for groundwater recharge purpose alone.

Occurrence, distribution characteristics and exposure assessment of perchlorate in the environment in China

Recognizing the extent of perchlorate pollution in the environment is critical to preventing and mitigating potential perchlorate harm to human health. The presence and distribution of perchlorate in Chinese environmental matrixes (water, atmosphere, and soil) were systematically investigated and comprehensively analyzed, and cumulative perchlorate exposure at the regional level was assessed using a combined aggregate exposure pathway method. The results showed that perchlorate is ubiquitous in the environment of China with significant regional differences. The total perchlorate exposure levels in each region of China ranked as South China > Southwest China > East China > North China > Northeast China > Northwest China. Although the average exposure dose of 0.588 (95 %CI: 0.142 −1.914) μg/kg bw/day being lower than the reference dose of 0.70 μg/kg bw/day, it was observed that the intake of perchlorate in some regions exceed this reference dose. Oral ingestion was the primary route of perchlorate exposure (89.97–96.57 % of the total intake), followed by dermal contact (3.21–9.16 %) and respiratory inhalation. Food and drinking water were the main sources of total perchlorate intake, contributing 52.54 % and 31.12 % respectively, with the latter contributing significantly more in southern China than in northern China. In addition, perchlorate exposure from dust sources was also noteworthy, as its contribution was as high as 23.18 % in some regions. These findings will improve understanding of the perchlorate risk and serve as a critical reference for policymakers in crafting improved environmental management and risk mitigation strategies in China and other nations.

Prevention of Cadmium Contamination by Microbial Inoculant and Its Potential Mechanism

Cadmium is the main heavy metal contaminant of food in the world. The extent of cadmium pollution in peanut in China remains unclear. To determine the cadmium pollution level in peanut, samples from the main producing regions in China were assessed. The findings revealed that the cadmium pollution level in Chinese peanuts was relatively low. Moreover, the Aflatoxin Rhizobia Couple B. amyloliquefaciens, B. laterosporu, B. mucilaginosus, E. ludwiggi (ARC-BBBE) microbial inoculants on cadmium contamination in peanut were evaluated. The fertilization methods were categorized into conventional fertilization and conventional fertilization supplemented with 60 kg/hectare of microbial inoculant ARC-BBBE as the base fertilizer. The cadmium contents in the soil and peanut plant parts were detected and analyzed. The results demonstrated that the microbial inoculant ARC-BBBE significantly reduced the total cadmium content in peanut, as well as the available cadmium and exchangeable cadmium in soil. Furthermore, the pH and urease and alkaline phosphatase activities in soil were significantly enhanced, suggesting that the microbial inoculant ARC-BBBE decreased cadmium content in soil and reduced the cadmium uptake by plants through a combination of the action of the bacteria itself and the secretion of extracellular substances. This ultimately achieves the goal of reducing the cadmium content in peanut seeds.

Evaluation of atmospheric particulate matter pollution characteristics in Shanghai based on biomagnetic monitoring technology

Atmospheric particulate matter (PM) pollution is one of the world's most serious environmental challenges, and it poses a significant threat to environmental quality and human health. Biomagnetic monitoring of PM has great potential to improve spatial resolution and provide alternative indicators for large area measurements, with respect and complementary to standard air quality monitoring stations. In this study, 160 samples of evergreen plant leaves were collected from park green spaces within five different functional areas of Shanghai. Magnetic properties were investigated to understand the extent and nature of particulate pollution and the possible sources, and to assess the suitability of various plant leaves for urban particulate pollution monitoring. The results showed that magnetic particles of the plant leaf-adherent PM were predominantly composed of pseudo-single domain (PSD) and multi-domain (MD) ferrimagnetic particles. Magnolia grandiflora, as a large evergreen arbor with robust PM retention capabilities, proved to be a more suitable candidate for monitoring urban particulate pollution compared to Osmanthus fragrans, a small evergreen arbor, and Aucuba japonica Thunb. var. variegata and Photinia serratifolia, evergreen shrubs. Meanwhile, there were significant differences in the spatial distribution of the magnetic particle content and heavy metal enrichment of the samples, mainly showing regional variations of industrial area > traffic area > commercial area > residential area > clean area. Additionally, the combination with the results of scanning electron microscopy, shows that industrial production (metal smelting, coal burning), transport and other activities are the main sources of particulate pollution. Plant leaves can be used as an effective tool for urban particulate pollution monitoring and assessment of atmospheric particulate pollution characteristics, and the technique provided useful information on particle size, mineralogy and possible sources.

Inventory of aqueous and sediment-associated organic pollutants released by the 2021 flood in the Vicht–Inde catchment, Germany

BackgroundThe European flood that occurred between July 13th and 16th 2021, was a natural disaster that caused significant damage in Central European countries, including Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg. This disaster resulted in the highest number of fatalities from a natural disaster in Germany during the twenty-first century, with over 180 people losing their lives and causing damages exceeding 30 bn€. The flood caused severe destruction in small mountainous river systems such as the Vicht and Inde rivers, particularly in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. In addition, the flood caused a significant release of pollutants, including old burdens from the former mining area of Stolberg.ResultsTo assess the extent of pollution caused by the flood in the affected floodplains and urban areas, this study was conducted to inventorize organic contaminants identified through a non-target screening in water and sediment samples taken immediately after the disastrous flood event. In total, 56 individual contaminants were identified from the water samples, including substances derived from urban effluents, such as personal care products, cosmetics, odors, technical additives, pharmaceuticals and surfactants. The analysis of sediment samples revealed different types of environmentally hazardous contaminants, such as petrogenics, urban effluent and wastewater indicators, chlorinated industrial compounds, and pesticides. This diverse range of pollutants and their broad dispersion across various environments in the catchment is attributed to the dynamic nature of the flood.ConclusionThe inventory of identified organic contaminants raises long-term environmental concerns and potential health implications for the flood-affected Vicht–Inde region.

Unveiling the Spatial Dimensions of Light Pollution in Pakistan: An Emerging Environmental Challenge

The study aims to investigates about the growing and serious concern of light pollution as an emerging environmental challenge in Pakistan. The study also attempts to analyze the spatial dimensions of this issue, including its implications for biodiversity and public health. The study also attempts to analyze the spatial dimensions of this issue, including its implications for biodiversity and public health. In Pakistan, a notable research gap exists regarding the environmental impact of light pollution. Despite the absence of policies regulating artificial lighting, and a lack of public awareness on this issue, there is a pressing need for comprehensive research to address and mitigate the adverse effects of excessive artificial light in the country. This descriptive study employs spatial mapping techniques to investigate and highlight the pervasive issue of light pollution in Pakistan. Utilizing geographic information, the research analyzes and visually represents the spatial distribution of artificial lighting, providing a comprehensive understanding of the extent and intensity of light pollution across the country. It is found that the most light-polluted regions in Pakistan encompass the northern, eastern, and central sectors of Punjab, the southwestern and central areas of Sindh, the central part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the western region of Baluchistan. The study indicate that artificial sources of nightlight primarily cause light pollution in urban areas. This heightened light pollution coincides with major urban centers such as Rawalpindi, Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Multan, Karachi, Hyderabad, Peshawar, and Quetta situated in these areas. Due to strong spatial effects, the light pollution extends from urban regions to their neighboring rural areas and depleting their dark spaces. Similarly, it is observed that, this strong spatial effect also causing light pollution alongside Indian border, substantiate the fact that light pollution from the urban regions of India creating light pollution in Pakistan. Furthermore, the study recommends comprehensive policy measures, including zoning regulations, public awareness campaigns, and technological solutions, to mitigate the adverse effects and spatial spread of light pollution.

Effect and mechanisms of pollutant removal in tetrachloroethylene contaminated water by persulfate-dithionite remediation system

Tetrachloroethylene (PCE) is a common organic pollutant in industrial process, and the scope and extent of PCE pollution to groundwater are increasing in recent years. In this study, an emerging and effective method was used to purify PCE contaminated water by activating persulfate (PS) with dithionite (DTN). The addition ratio of PS and DTN were optimized in the removal of PCE by PS-DTN system and the optimal molar ratio of PS to DTN was 1 to 1 at the maximum PCE removal rate, and it was applicable in the pH range of 3–12. In PCE simulated wastewater, PCE removal rate in PS-DTN system exceeded 90% within 48 h, which was 66% higher than that in PS-NaOH system, and the degradation process followed pseudo-first-order kinetics with the reaction rate constant being 0.068 h−1. The dominant active species in PS-DTN system was proved to be sulfate radical on PCE degradation based on the radical quenching experiments and ESR analysis. HCO3− and low concentration of natural organic matter (NOM) could promote the removal of PCE, while Cl− and high NOM concentration had no adverse effect on PCE degradation. Few chlorinated intermediates (<2.77%) were produced and the dechlorination rate of PCE reached 95%, indicating a low secondary pollution risk. In simulated groundwater containing aquifer media, PS-DTN system could still degrade PCE to a certain extent, but the non-target reaction triggered by iron minerals on the medium mainly inhibited PCE degradation. The study showed that PS-DTN system was promising in degrading organic pollutants in groundwater.

Impact of Heavy Metal Pollution on Oxidized Low-density Lipoprotein Levels among Car Maintenance Workshop Workers

This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between heavy metal pollution and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OxLDL) among workers in car maintenance workshops in Baghdad, Iraq. Blood samples were collected from 70 male workers, including car maintenance and vehicle painting workers, along with a control group of healthy males. The levels of heavy metals, specifically cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb), as well as OxLDL and the marker of lipid peroxidation, malondialdehyde (MDA), were measured. The results revealed a significant increase in the level of Pb in the blood of workers compared to the control group, whereas Cd levels did not exhibit a significant difference. Furthermore, both groups of workers exhibited significantly elevated levels of OxLDL compared to the control group. Additionally, the MDA level was significantly increased across all the study groups. Correlation analysis demonstrated positive associations between OxLDL levels and the extent of Pb and Cd pollution in the car maintenance worker group. These findings indicate an increased risk of developing cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) among workers in car maintenance workshops due to exposure to heavy metals. The observed elevation in the levels of OxLDL and lipid peroxidation markers underscores the potential health issues associated with occupational exposure to these polluted environments.

Bioaccumulation of Lead and Mercury in Water, Sediment, and Fish Samples of Baraila Lake, Vaishali, Bihar.

In the current study, a protected subtropical wetland in Bihar (India), Baraila Lake, was investigated for heavy metal (Pb and Hg) status. These metals tend to bioaccumulate in fish, posing a concern to human health. This study reported the concentration of lead and mercury in water, sediment, and fish muscles of Baraila Lake in the year 2022. The samples were collected from pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons at four sampling locations, i.e., Loma, Dhulwar, Chakaiya, and Kawai Baraila, and were analyzed in triplicates. Lead concentration in water samples of all four sites of Baraila Lake observed during pre-monsoon and post-monsoon season exceeded the permissible limit for drinking water, while the mercury concentration of all sites was under the permissible limit in both seasons as prescribed by WHO. The extent of elemental pollution was evaluated using the Geo-accumulation index (Igeo), contamination factor (CF), contamination degree (Cd), ecological risk factor (Er), and the potential ecological risk index (Ri). Lead concentration in fish muscles of both seasons exceeded the permissible limit, while the concentration of mercury exceeded in Xenentodon cancila (0.55 ± 0.07µg/g) during the pre-monsoon season. Also, estimated daily intake (EDI), target hazard quotient (THQ), and hazard index (HI) were calculated in different fish muscles to assess potential human health risks. A higher THQ value of 1.303 was observed in carnivore fish during the pre-monsoon season.