High Ecological Risk Research Articles

Potential hazards of octinoxate (ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate) exposure in the seagrass Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile: Experimental evidence

Interest has risen in recent years to assess the fate and impacts of organic ultraviolet (UV) filters in aquatic environments, after being recognized as contaminants of emerging concern. Octinoxate, also known as ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate (EHMC), is among the widely used UV filters in sunscreen formulations. Its potential toxicological effects in aquatic biota have led to precautionary actions in some jurisdictions, such as restricting and even banning its presence in commercial sunscreens. However, research data is lacking for effective regulation of sunscreen ingredients in Mediterranean countries. Our study evaluated the response of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica to EHMC under a short-term experimental setup, recreating summer conditions in aquaria subjected to different environmentally relevant concentrations for the Mediterranean Sea (minimum: 30.57 ng L−1, intermediate: 710 ng L−1 and maximum: 1420 ng L−1) and a control (no addition). Negative responses were evidenced in the physiology of P. oceanica due to EHMC exposure, with decreased gross primary production rates, loss of leaf chlorophyll content and inhibition of the overall nitrogen fixation associated with the seagrass tissues. Elevated oxidative stress biomarkers in P. oceanica under EHMC addition (i.e., catalase activity, polyphenols concentrations and alkaline phosphatase activity in leaves) reflect the activation of antioxidant defenses to counteract oxidative damages possibly induced in cellular components by the presence of the contaminant. Our results may conservatively imply the high ecological risk imposed to P. oceanica by maximum concentrations of EHMC in Mediterranean coastal waters. Moreover, they contribute as experimental evidence of the potentially detrimental effects of sunscreen pollution in a keystone species, such as P. oceanica, which is the main structural component of a priority habitat for conservation in the Mediterranean Sea, currently affected by multiple stress factors leading to its recession in recent years.

Development of Highway Construction Route Selection Based on Ecological Sensitivity Evaluation and Intervention Optimization Strategy Research

Ecological sensitivity is an essential indicator for measuring the degree of ecological fragility of a region, and traditional highway routing ignores the ecological benefits of regional nature, which causes irreversible impacts on the natural environment. Based on the AHP method, this paper carries out a comprehensive assessment of the ecological sensitivity of the K0+000~K56+438 section of the Guanzhuang Tourist Highway in the Zhangjiajie Wuling Mountain Area from 2000 to 2020, and it utilizes the spatial autocorrelation analysis method to reveal the pattern of its spatial and temporal changes in ecological sensitivity. The following results were obtained. (1) The ecological condition of the study area is gradually improving, and the areas with higher sensitivity are mainly distributed in the northeast and southwest of the study area. (2) The ecological sensitivity of the study area has strong spatial autocorrelation, but the autocorrelation has been reduced in recent years, and the distribution of the ecological sensitivity has been gradually discretized. (3) There are problems of high ecological risk and construction difficulty in the traditional highway route selection scheme of the A line. The optimized route selection scheme, the K line, can effectively avoid highly sensitive areas by adjusting the route and bridge settings. Finally, the article proposes engineering construction suitability and ecological restoration strategies for different road sections regarding vegetation cover, landscape risk, and geological hazards. This study establishes a set of comprehensive technical chains for tourism highway routing in ecologically fragile areas based on the spatial and temporal evolution of sensitivity, which provides new ideas for traditional highway routing and is of great significance for maintaining the balance and stability of ecosystems within the road area.

Comparison of the Ability of Woody Plants of Different Species to Accumulate Heavy Metals in Urban Environment

Soil and aerotechnogenic migration of metals into woody plants (birch (Betula pendula) and balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera)) from technogenic zones of Tyumen was studied. Soil and tree leaves were sampled in the conditionally background area, near the airport, railway station and bus station, as well as in the area of enterprises: engine-building, oil refinery, battery and metallurgical plants. The content of acidsoluble form of metals in soils and leaves was determined by atomic emission spectroscopy. It was revealed that the accumulation of metals in soils from the anthropogenic zones of Tyumen compared to the control decreased in the series Pb>Cd>Cr>Cr>Ni>Zn>Cu>Fe>Co>Mn and reached 20 times. The accumulation of metals by birch leaves was found to decrease in the series Pb>Cr>Fe>Co>Cu>Cu>Ni>Zn>Mn>Cd, and by poplar leaves – Cr>Fe>Pb>Zn>Cd>Cu>Co>Mn>Ni. The accumulation and migration of metals in soils and trees from the urban environment were analyzed, which allowed us to identify Cd, Pb and Cr as metals with the “highest ecological risk”.

Determination of concentration and risk assessment of toxic metals in the settled dust from school yards of Mashhad metropolis.

The present study aims to measure the values of metal pollutants in the dust of schools in Mashhad metropolis, determine the source of metal pollution, evaluate the degree of pollution, assess the health risk (carcinogenicity/non-carcinogenicity) and evaluate the potential ecological risk. For this purpose, after measuring the concentration of metals using an inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer, from various indices including Geoaccumulation Index (Igeo), Pollution Load Index (PLI), Contamination Factors (CF), Potential Ecological Risk Index (PERI), Enrichment Factor (EF), and Health Risk Indices such as Hazard Quotient (HQ), Hazard Index (HI), Carcinogenic Risk (CR) were used. The average concentrations of iron, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel, lead, vanadium and zinc (Fe, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, V and Zn) were 6361.50, 5.96, 0.59, 61.89, 37.13, 61.31, 28.93, 25.64 and 142.00µgg-1, respectively. Based on CF, PLI and Igeo indices, most of the findings for the studied elements were at the low pollution level. The results also showed that the most likely origin of the studied metals was anthropogenic sources. The results of PERI indices showed that potential ecological risk at only one of the collection sites. In contrast, a high ecological risk was obtained for Cd. Hazard Index values were below safe levels for all studied elements. CR levels for elements were also classified as negligible and acceptable or tolerable risk, although the highest CR value for Cr indicated possible harm to humans. The findings showed the need for more attention and continuous monitoring of the concentration of metals, especially chromium, to announce a possible warning and prevent their harmful effects. It should be noted that the present study is the first research with mentioned objectives in Mashhad city and also in Khorasan Razavi province.

Decoding Adverse Effects of Organic Contaminants in the Aquatic Environment: A Meta-analysis of Species Sensitivity, Hazard Prediction, and Ecological Risk Assessment.

Aquatic organisms in the environment are frequently exposed to a variety of organic chemicals, while these biological species may show different sensitivities to different chemical groups present in the environment. This study evaluated species sensitivity, hazards, and risks of six classes of organic chemicals in the aquatic environment. None of the taxonomic groups were the most sensitive or tolerant to all chemicals, as one group sensitive to one class of chemicals might possess adaptations to other chemical groups. Polychlorinated biphenyls were generally the most toxic chemical group, followed by polybrominated diphenyl ethers, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and pharmaceuticals and personal care products, while per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and phthalate esters were the less toxic chemical groups. The hazard of organic chemicals was closely related to their physicochemical properties, including hydrophobicity and molecular weight. It was shown that 20% of the evaluated chemicals exhibited medium or high ecological risks with the worst-case scenario in the Pearl River Estuary. This novel work represented a comprehensive comparison of chemical hazards and species sensitivity among different classes of organic chemicals, and the reported results herein have provided scientific evidence for ecological risk assessment and water quality management to protect aquatic ecosystems against organic chemicals.

Typical Tire Additives in River Water: Leaching, Transformation, and Environmental Risk Assessment.

Tire wear particles (TWPs) released during vehicle driving can enter water bodies, leading to leaching of tire additives (TAs) in aquatic environments. However, the transformation behavior and related ecological impacts of TAs and their transformation products (TPs) remain unclear. In this study, laboratory-based simulation experiments and field investigations were conducted to explore the transformation mechanisms and ecological risks of TAs. After being placed in river water for 24 h, about 7-95% of 12 investigated TAs in TWPs were leached. Forty-eight TPs from eight TAs were tentatively identified along with different transformation pathways via suspect screening by high-resolution mass spectrometry. Semiquantitative results indicated that TPs derived from N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N'-phenyl-p-phenylene-diamine (6PPD) were predominant in leachates, while aryl hydrolysis and quinone pathways were the main transformation pathways. Field investigations on urban surface water samples from 16 sites in Hong Kong revealed the occurrence of 17 TAs and 1 TP, with concentrations ranging from 13.9 to 2230 ng/L (median ± standard deviation: 226 ± 534 ng/L). Sixteen TPs from six TAs were additionally identified via suspect screening. It is estimated that 6PPD-quinone and seven TAs could pose medium to high ecological risk, while N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N'-phenyl-p-quinonediimine, a frequently detected TP, was identified as a persistent-bioaccumulative-toxic substance.

Potentially Toxic Metals Enrichment in Soils of Ishiagu Mining Community, Southeastern Nigeria

This Study was carried out to evaluate potentially toxic metals enrichment, pollution and potential ecological risk in the soils of Ishiagu. The concentrations of Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Cobalt (Co), Copper (Cu), Lead (Pb), Manganese (Mn), Nickel (Ni), Zinc (Zn), Aluminum (Al) and Iron (Fe) in soil samples from the area were analyzed by Bureau Veritas Laboratory, Vancouver, Canada, using inductively-coupled plasma optic emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Descriptive statistics, enrichment factor, pollution load and potential ecological risk indices were employed to analyze the data in order to understand the characteristics of potentially toxic metals in the study area. The potentially toxic metals statistic show the mean values (mg/kg-1 ) of Pb, Zn, Mn, Fe, Al, Cd, Cr, Ni, Co, and Cu to be 205.7, 162, 527, 35892, 11374, 1.3, 21.6, 15, 14.6 and 11.1 respectively. The soil enrichment varied considerably between mining and non-mining areas with mining area being extremely enriched with Pb, Zn and Cd, and significantly enriched with Co, Cu, Ni and Fe. Non- mining areas are minimally enriched with all investigated metals. The soils around the mines are polluted with Pb and Cd, where both metals also pose very high ecological risks.

Environmental and human health risk associated with heavy metals in sediment of a tropical river in India

ABSTRACT Heavy metals persist in the sediment and can induce toxicological effects on living organisms. For analysing the risk of heavy metals, geochemical fractionation is beneficial. These geochemical fractions or speciations help to determine the heavy metals availability, mobility, toxicity, enrichment, and various risks. Here, we show how heavy metal contamination of sediment poses risks to both the ecosystem and human beings. We found significant Zn, Co and Cd contamination by analysing the geoaccumulation index. We also observed higher geoaccumulation index values for the pre-monsoon season than the post-monsoon one. Furthermore, pollution load index indicated gradual contamination of heavy metals in the sediments. This study's risk assessment and modified risk assessment codes showed low or no risk, but contamination factors indicated moderate to high risk. Our analysis of the effective range median mean quotient revealed some sampling stations as medium to high-priority sites. Similarly, probable effect level mean quotient designated some sampling stations as medium-low priority sites. We anticipated a moderate to significant mortality effect on the organisms from toxicity unit index values. Potential ecological risk index indicated a very high ecological risk on the Mahananda River. Furthermore, we predicted non-carcinogenic health hazards and carcinogenic health risks in the river's sediment.

Sediment evaluation indices point to cadmium and selenium contamination: A simultaneous analysis of potentially toxic elements in the water and sediment along the upper and middle Awash River, Ethiopia

This study presents a simultaneous analysis of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in the water and sediment of the upper and middle Awash River for the first time. We used standard field and laboratory procedures, sediment assessment indices and guidelines, and multivariate statistical methods to analyze PTEs and assess their possible sources. Water and sediment samples were collected from nine sampling sites, and PTEs were analyzed using the Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer. The PTEs concentrations arranged in descending order in water were Fe>Mn>B>Zn>Cr>Ni>Pb>Cu, ranging between 4.14 ± 2.093 mg L 1 and 0.074 ± 0.016 mg L 1. The level of PTEs in the sediment varied between 24,493.6 ± 16,640.3 mg kg-1 and 0.4 ± 0.2 mg kg-1 and follows the order: Fe>Mn>Cr>Zn>Pb>Ni>B>Se>Co>Cu>Cd>Hg>As. The river-mouth of the upper Awash had the highest concentrations of Mn, Ni, Cr, and Cu in water and Fe, Mn, Cr, Ni, Pb, Co, Se, Cu, Cd, and AS in the sediment. Contamination factor, enrichment factor, and geo-accumulation index showed a very high level of contamination of Se and Cd. The ecological risk index, Nemerow pollution index, and pollution load index also indicated a high ecological risk and pollution by PTEs in the river. The levels of Fe, Pb, Ni, Mn, B, and Cr in the water surpassed Ethiopian/WHO's drinking water guidelines, while the levels of Cd, Hg, and Cr in the sediment exceeded Canadian/Ontario's probable/severe effect levels. This study revealed the presence of ecological degradation at the downstream sites of the upper and middle Awash. The most likely sources of contaminants were identified as small-scale agricultural pollution, residential and commercial waste from towns like Addis Ababa, Merti, and Metehara, and the inflow of Lake Beseka. We recommend an integrated management plan for the Awash River to ensure sustainable use of the water, guarantee the well-being of wildlife, and reduce public health risks.

Assessment of Ecological and Health Risks of Potentially Toxic Elements in Soil and Plant Under Long-Term Sewage Wastewater Irrigation.

This paper aimed to evaluate the ecological and health risks for some potentially toxic trace elements (PTEs) in agricultural soils irrigated with sewage wastewater for more than 50 years. Therefore, soil and plant samples were collected from 21 sites at sewage wastewater irrigated area and these samples were analyzed for their contents of PTEs i.e. Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, and Pb. The risks of PTEs pollution in the study area were analyzed using indices such as the individual and comprehensive potential ecological risk indices (Eri and RI, respectively), hazard quotient (HQ), hazard index (HI), and carcinogenic risk (CR) model. The results showed that the PTEs in soil samples ranged from 1.70 to 9.90mg/kg for Cd, from 39.9 to 183.4mg/kg for Cr, from 31.5 to 655.1mg/kg for Cu, from 18.8 to 113.1mg/kg for Ni and from 5.4 to 65.4mg/kg for Pb. The results also demonstrated that the soil samples were characterized by high to very high ecological risk for Cd. According to the health risk assessment, the mean HQ and HI of the PTEs in soil for adults and children were below the risk threshold of 1, indicating no risk for non-carcinogenic health effects. However, the HI of PTEs via plant consumption was > 1, suggesting a non-carcinogenic health risk. The CR for most plant samples was above the acceptable range. These findings may offer helpful information regarding the ecological and human risks related to PTEs exposure in soil and plants irrigated with wastewater under arid conditions.

Characterization and ecological risks of microplastics in urban road runoff

Microplastics (MPs) deposited on urban roads are often flushed into water bodies via drainage systems without treatment, and MP concentrations in the initial road runoff may be particularly high. Yet, there is only a limited understanding of the characteristics, dynamics, and impacts of MPs in urban road runoff. In this study, stormwater and rainwater samples were collected from seven different locations in Hong Kong across 11 rainfall events between February 2021 and September 2022. Characteristics of MPs in the collected samples were analyzed in detail, along with the dynamics of MP concentration in rainfall events, possible influencing factors, and ecological risks. The results show that MP concentration in the initial road runoff is particularly high during a rainfall episode. Overall, the median MP abundance in the collected runoff samples (185 particles/L) was 4.6 times higher than that in rainwater (40 particles/L). The most common polymers identified were polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene, with fragments being the dominant shape. Over 60 % of MP sizes were smaller than 300 μm in the runoff samples. Additionally, risk assessments based on the Polymer Risk Index (PRI) classified most road sites in pollution classes II to III (PRI = 13.3–138.0), indicating moderate to high ecological risks. It appears that MP abundance in the initial runoff was significantly influenced by seasonal changes. These findings highlight urban roads as a major source of MP pollution in stormwater runoff and emphasize the importance of addressing the initial runoff in pollution control.

Occurrence and Ecological Risk Assessment of Highly Toxic Halogenated Byproducts during Chlorination Decolorization of Textile Printing and Dyeing Wastewater.

Textile printing and dyeing wastewater is a substantial source of highly toxic halogenated pollutants because of the chlorination decolorization. However, information on the occurrence and fate of the highly toxic halogenated byproducts, which are produced by chlorination decolorization of the textile printing and dyeing wastewater, is very limited. In this study, the occurrence of six categories of halogenated byproducts (haloacetic acids (HAAs), haloacetonitriles (HANs), N-nitrosamines (NAs), trihalomethanes, halogenated ketones, and halonitromethanes) was investigated along the full-scale treatment processes of textile printing and dyeing wastewater treatment plants. Furthermore, the ecological risk of the halogenated byproducts was evaluated. The results showed that the total concentration of halogenated byproducts increased significantly after chlorination. Large amounts of HAAs (average 122.1 μg/L), HANs (average 80.9 μg/L), THMs (average 48.3 μg/L), and NAs (average 2314.3 ng/L) were found in the chlorinated textile wastewater, and the results showed that the generations of HANs and NAs were positively correlated with the BIX and β/α index, indicating that the HANs and NAs might form from the microbial metabolites. In addition, HAAs and HANs exhibited high ecological risk quotients (>1), suggesting their high potential ecological risk. The results also demonstrated that most halogenated byproducts could be effectively removed by reverse osmosis treatment processes except NAs, with a lower removal rate of 18%. This study is believed to provide an important theoretical basis for controlling and reducing the ecological risks of halogenated byproducts in textile printing and dyeing wastewater effluents.

Toxicity factors, ecological and health risk assessments of heavy metal in the urban soil: a case study of an agro-machinery area in a developing country.

The contribution of heavy metals in surface soils by the influences of agro-machinery factories is a significant growing concern. Heavy metals were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry technique to assess human and ecological risks. The concentrations of Fe, Cd, Cr, Cu, As, Pb, Mn, Ni, and Zn in soil ranged from 18,274-22,652, 2.06-4.92, 24.8-41.9, 126.8-137.5, 9.20-25.2, 17.8-46.1, 114.4-183.1, 86.9-118.1, and 101.6-159.6mg/kg, respectively. The enrichment factor values of heavy metals were greater than 1.5, suggesting severe anthropogenic activities such as untreated waste discharging, burning of metallic wastes, wear, and tear, and dismantling of old batteries for heavy metals enrichment in studied soil. The contamination factor indicates considerable to very high contamination of heavy metals in soil. Moderate to high ecological risk was observed for analyzed metals which mainly originated from the maintenance and repairing of various engines in the workshop and welding and soldering of metallic substances. The target hazard quotient (THQ) was ranged from 6.99E-04 to 2.21E-01 for adults and 5.59E-03 to 1.82E + 00 for children, respectively; indicating children were more sensitive to heavy metals exposure from soil dust. The carcinogenic risk of As (1.72E-05) exceeded the USEPA acceptable limits indicating cancer risk to the residence. The current emphasized the significance of intensive heavy metals monitoring in surface soils around the agro-machinery areas due to their potential health risks associated with children.

Exploring the temporal toxicity signature: A baseline evaluation of the heavy metal concentration in estuarine core sediments in the coastal region of cauvery delta, bay of bengal.

Globally, the concentration of heavy metals and sediment toxicity analysis are significant liabilities to aquatic environments. This scrutiny outlines the sediment textures, heavy metals and toxicity status associated with environmental pollution indices in the core sediment of the Cauvery and Vettar estuaries, East coast of India. The impact of rapid industrialization, urbanization, harbour activities and agricultural activities influences on the twain estuary is a significant concern to designate the environment. The contamination status of the sediments affects the potential biodiversity, ecological risks and human health. A total of two core sediments were recovered from the Cauvery and Vettar estuaries in March 2023 to decipher the environmental pollution status. Meticulous observation of the textural studies underscores the prevalence of sand content in Cauvery, and Vettar sediments consist of predominate clay content and minor silt contents. Furthermore, the organic matter is augmented in the Vettar River due to the higher input of waste disposal, seaweeds and algae due to the surrounding landmass. Twain core sediments argue that heavy metal concentration is decreasing in order as Fe > Zn > Ni > Pb > Cu > Cr by using portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) spectrometry. Remarkable results of environmental pollution indices such as Igeo, Ef, Cf, Cd and mCd state very highly polluted, extreme enrichments, high contamination and very high degree of contamination. Furthermore, the potential ecological risk indices such as PLI, SQGs, and PERI argue polluted, medium to high toxicity and moderate adverse ecological risk to the estuarine regions. Statistical analysis of the heavy metal affirms the enrichment of Fe metals may derive from lithogenic and/or anthropogenic influences, and the other studied metals such as Cu, Ni, Zn, Pb and Cr may be influenced by the anthropogenic activities in the aspect of point and non-point pollution sources. This could result from both estuaries undergoing higher pollution, in which the Vettar estuary is a considerable environmental risk zone compared to the Cauvery river due to the impact of industrial effluents and rapid urbanization activities. This finding underscores the urgent need for enhanced estuarine sediment quality study and comprehensive assessment of sediment toxicity, regulating the beneficial acumen for the government to follow the suitable remediation on the embellish policy of river and marine environments.

Risk hotspots and influencing factors identification of heavy metal(loid)s in agricultural soils using spatial bivariate analysis and random forest

Heavy metal(loid)s (HMs) in agricultural soils not only affect soil function and crop security, but also pose health risks to residents. However, previous concerns have typically focused on only one aspect, neglecting the other. This lack of a comprehensive approach challenges the identification of hotspots and the prioritization of factors for effective management. To address this gap, a novel method incorporating spatial bivariate analysis with random forest was proposed to identify high-risk hotspots and the key influencing factors. A large-scale dataset containing 2995 soil samples and soil HMs (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb, and Zn) was obtained from across Henan province, central China. Spatial bivariate analysis of both health risk and ecological risks revealed risk hotspots. Positive matrix factorization model was initially used to investigate potential sources. Twenty-two environmental variables were selected and input into random forest to further identify the key influencing factors impacting soil accumulation. Results of local Moran's I index indicated high-high HM clusters at the western and northern margins of the province. Hotspots of high ecological and health risk were primarily observed in Xuchang and Nanyang due to the widespread township enterprises with outdated pollution control measures. As concentration and exposure frequency dominated the non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks. Anthropogenic activities, particularly vehicular traffic (contributing ∼37.8 % of the total heavy metals accumulation), were the dominant sources of HMs in agricultural soils. Random forest modeling indicated that soil type and PM2.5 concentrations were the most influencing natural and anthropogenic variables, respectively. Based on the above findings, control measures on traffic source should be formulated and implemented provincially; in Xuchang and Nanyang, scattered township enterprises with outdated pollution control measures should be integrated and upgraded to avoid further pollution from these sources.

Multidimensional Approach for the Assessment of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Associated With V, Ni, Cr, Cu, and Zn in the Recent Sediments of Kabini Interstate River, Southeastern Western Ghats, India

ABSTRACTThe present work intends to study the variation of heavy metals (HMs) to scrutinize the scenario of pollution index and associated environmental risk, as well as source weathering conditions along the Kabini River. The decreasing order of concentration of HMs along the basin is Cr > V > Ni > Zn > Cu. The paper spotlights the pollution grade in sediments, assessed by the geo‐accumulation index (Igeo), contamination factor (Cf), pollution load index (PLI), and enrichment factor (Ef). The assessment of ecological risk is studied as potential ecological risk index (RI), toxic risk index (TRI), and modified hazard quotients (mHQs). As per the Igeo and Cf, V and Cr concentrations are higher in the region. Further, PLI confirmed that 35% of samples exceeded the limits of sediment quality guidelines. The RI and TRI values show that a higher ecological risk is associated with Ni, V, and Cr and with Cu and Cr, respectively. Additionally, the 23% Ni and 20% Cu samples from mHQ indicate the severity of pollution in the aquatic environment. The inputs from anthropogenic and natural sources change the concentration of these HMs along the region. Moreover, the study of CIA and plagioclase index of alteration plots confirmed the low to intense weathering conditions. The statistical approach shows the linkage between Cr–V, Cu–Zn, and principal component analysis–derived prominent sources: industrial and agricultural runoff, as well as higher silicate weathering, contribute to the HMs concentration in the region. The Kabini River passes through different climatic and land‐use domains of Kerala and Karnataka, which eventually regulate the HM concentration and geo‐environmental processes in the region and affect the health risk to humans in one or the other way. The reference data generated from the present work are absolutely new and would be significant in the future for deriving sustainable development plans for the well‐being of human beings and precious natural resources.

Effect of sponge city facilities on the exposure characteristics and ecological risks of antibiotics in urban inland lakes: A case study at Fuzhou, China.

Antibiotics are increasingly found in urban lakes, posing significant ecological risks to lake ecosystems. The impact of sponge city facilities on urban flood control is significant; however, their influence on the exposure characteristics and risks associated with antibiotics in urban inland lakes remains unclear. This study investigated the exposure characteristics and evaluated the ecological risks of 15 antibiotics across seven lakes of Fuzhou (as the target of sponge city) in different seasons, in comparison to non-sponge cities. The results revealed that 12 antibiotics were consistently detectable across all lakes, with concentrations ranging from non-detectable (ND) to 20.61ng/L, with sulfamethoxazole (SMX) emerging as the predominant contaminant. Most antibiotics exhibited higher concentrations in the dry season, attributed to environmental conditions, biological mechanisms, and their physicochemical properties. SMX, tetracycline (TTC), oxytetracycline (OTC), and ciprofloxacin (CIP) posed moderate to high ecological risks, with risk quotient (RQ) values of 0.46, 0.14, 0.17, and 0.61, respectively, while the remaining antibiotics presented lower ecological risks in both seasons. Notably, the RQ values for TTC, OTC, and CIP were elevated during the dry season, whereas SMX displayed a higher RQ value in the wet season, indicating an increased ecological risk during the dry months. In comparison to non-sponge cities, sponge cities exhibited significantly lower concentrations of nearly all antibiotics, particularly during the wet season (p ≤ 0.05). Moreover, over 85% of the antibiotics in non-sponge cities were classified as high risk, contrasted with only 55% in sponge cities, underscoring the heightened ecological risks associated with non-sponge urban designs. This study provides critical insights for controlling antibiotic pollution in the lakes of Fuzhou and serves as a valuable reference for maintaining aquatic ecosystem health through the implementation of sponge city infrastructure.

Decade-long historical shifts in legacy and emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in surface sediments of China's marginal seas: Ongoing production and ecological risks

Since the addition of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) to the Stockholm Convention in 2009, it became imperative to reassess the distribution and ecological risk of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in coastal sediments over the past decade as sediment records the history of pollutants from human activities. To achieve this, sediments were collected in 2009 and 2021 from China's coastal regions. Despite the consistent geographical pattern where the highest concentrations of ∑PFAS were found in the Yellow Sea, temporal changes have emerged. During the studied period, ∑PFAS levels experienced an increase in the East China Sea while concurrently witnessing a decrease in the South China Sea. Of significance, emerging PFAS compounds displayed not only rising concentrations but also a broader array, pointing towards their intensified production and utilization within China. Alarmingly, PFOS levels in sediments taken from the East China Sea maintained a consistently high ecological risk status over the last ten years. Significant correlations were found between long-chain PFAS and organic carbon content. Comparisons between datasets from 2009 to 2021 uncovered a shifting ecological risk landscape, with heightened concerns for PFOA in the East China Sea, while PFOS-associated risks appeared to diminish in the South China Sea—potentially reflecting the transition to alternative PFAS chemicals. The research reinforces the importance of continuous monitoring and emphasizes the urgent necessity for deeper exploration into the environmental implications and hazards posed by emerging PFAS.

Developing water quality and land use surrogates to predict endocrine-disrupting chemical profiles in a highly urbanized river basin

This study investigated geospatial distributions of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in the waters of the Dongjiang River and their associations with anthropogenic activities. Fifteen EDCs, with total concentrations in the river water of 149–2525 ng/L were detected, with bisphenol-A, 4-nonylphenol, 4-tert-octylphenol, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, and methylparaben being the five predominant EDCs. The total estrogen concentration was high downstream and significantly correlated with the spatial distribution of urban land use, wastewater discharge, population, and gross domestic product, indicating human activities have increased estrogen levels and threatened ecological health. The total risk quotient indicated a high ecological risk of estrogens to fish and a moderate to high ecological risk of personal care products to algae. Estrone, triclosan, bisphenol-A, 4-nonylphenol, and 4-tert-octylphenol were categorized as priority pollutants, which required special concern. Triclosan and triclocarban can serve as reliable chemical indicators for predicting EDC levels based on correlation analysis. The crucial factors affecting EDC levels were identified through the Mantel test and predictor importance was quantified using a multiple regression model, which can help predict occurrences and geospatial distributions of EDCs. Total phosphorus and electrical conductivity were the major predictors of EDC levels, providing promising indicators for monitoring EDCs in river water. Urban land proportion significantly affected phenolic environmental estrogens, natural estrogens, and disinfectants. In the main stream, urban population, urbanization rate, and gross domestic product influenced phenolic environmental estrogen levels. A mini-review of the global distribution of EDCs in river water revealed that income and population differences among countries affect their occurrence, suggesting socioeconomic factors should be considered to mitigate EDC pollution.

Presence of polycyclic aromatic compounds in river sediment and surrounding soil: Possible impact from shale gas wastewater

Shale gas has been extensively extracted in the Sichuan Basin in China in recent years. To gain insight into the potential impact of shale gas wastewater (SGW) discharge, sediment in a small river receiving treated SGW, as well as cultivated soil and paddy soil irrigated by the river water were collected. The occurrence and distribution of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs), including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their alkylated/oxygenated derivatives (APAHs/OPAHs), and thiophenes were investigated, the resultant potential ecological risks were assessed subsequently. The total concentration of PACs varied in the range of 1299.9–9286.4, 2069.4–11,512.3, and 475.7–2927.9 ng/g in sediment, cultivated soil and paddy soil, respectively, with thiophenes followed by APAHs being the abundant components in all the studied samples, demonstrating the potential impact of SGW discharge on sediment and surrounding soil environment. Based on the measured concentrations, potential ecological risks posed by PAHs and APAHs were calculated, and moderate to high ecological risks were observed in partial sampling sites, which mainly caused by 3–4 rings PAHs and APAHs.