Low Pollution Research Articles

Assessing the synergistic effects of artificial intelligence on pollutant and carbon emission mitigation in China

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a key driver in the latest wave of scientific and technological advancement, and its rapid development, proliferation, and environmental impacts cannot be ignored. China and numerous emerging economies are confronted with the dual challenges of environmental degradation and climate change. Hence, it is imperative to assess whether the advancement of AI can contribute to a synergistic reduction in pollutant and CO2 emissions. This paper utilizes the system-generalized method of moments (SYS-GMM) to study the synergistic effect of artificial intelligence on mitigating pollutant and carbon emissions. The following three main conclusions are drawn: (1) AI plays a major role in synergistically decreasing pollutant and CO2 emissions; (2) AI indirectly helps lower pollutant and CO2 emissions by fostering technological advancements and enhancing industrial structures. Although it contributes to an increase in emissions by expanding production scale, its suppression effect dominates overall; (3) The impact of AI applications is particularly vital in cities with strict environmental controls, especially in the central and eastern regions. Finally, we suggest some policy measures to augment the influence of AI in reducing emissions and attaining sustainable development.

Development of a mixed chamber experimental and CFD database of indoor environments

Recent studies reveal that individuals spend the majority of their time indoors, and indoor air quality (IAQ) plays a crucial role in occupant health and productivity. However, current research primarily focuses on specific environments with complex variables and challenging boundary conditions, limiting our understanding of IAQ and thermal comfort. Many studies use fixed experimental chambers, restricting control over boundary conditions. To address these limitations, we propose a novel data-driven smart indoor environmental control framework. This study advocates for a standardized database that integrates diverse IAQ and thermal comfort metrics to enhance indoor environmental conditions and presents the initial phase of this endeavor, detailing the development of a chamber experimental database. This phase involves examining six standardized experiments and over 96 distinct case studies, resulting in a comprehensive dataset of 528,000 entries, rigorously analyzed. Simultaneously, this research enhances its empirical foundation by developing and validating computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models. These models complement and refine the database, increasing its utility and robustness. Notably, experimental findings regarding CO2 and temperature variations indicate a significant 32 % and 65 % decrease in average relative CO2 concentration when the inlet air speed increased from 1.7 to 2.1 and 2.5 m/s, respectively. Spatial variations were also observed, with areas near the inlet surface having lower pollution concentrations and higher air speeds. In summary, this research contributes significantly to the establishment of a comprehensive database, combined with insights from rigorous experimentation and computational modeling, paves the way for advancements in smart indoor environmental control strategies.

Air pollutants, genetic susceptibility and the risk of schizophrenia: large prospective study.

Evidence linking air pollutants and the risk of schizophrenia remains limited and inconsistent, and no studies have investigated the joint effect of air pollutant exposure and genetic factors on schizophrenia risk. To investigate how exposure to air pollution affects schizophrenia risk and the potential effect modification of genetic susceptibility. Our study was conducted using data on 485 288 participants from the UK Biobank. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the schizophrenia risk as a function of long-term air pollution exposure presented as a time-varying variable. We also derived the schizophrenia polygenic risk score (PRS) utilising data provided by the UK Biobank, and investigated the modification effect of genetic susceptibility. During a median follow-up period of 11.9 years, 417 individuals developed schizophrenia (mean age 55.57 years, s.d. = 8.68; 45.6% female). Significant correlations were observed between long-term exposure to four air pollutants (PM2.5; PM10; nitrogen oxides, NOx; nitrogen dioxide, NO2) and the schizophrenia risk in each genetic risk group. Interactions between genetic factors and the pollutants NO2 and NOx had an effect on schizophrenia events. Compared with those with low PRS and low air pollution, participants with high PRS and high air pollution had the highest risk of incident schizophrenia (PM2.5: hazard ratio = 6.25 (95% CI 5.03-7.76); PM10: hazard ratio = 7.38 (95% CI 5.86-9.29); NO2: hazard ratio = 6.31 (95% CI 5.02-7.93); NOx: hazard ratio = 6.62 (95% CI 5.24-8.37)). Long-term exposure to air pollutants was positively related to the schizophrenia risk. Furthermore, high genetic susceptibility could increase the effect of NO2 and NOx on schizophrenia risk.

Nanoparticles for Active and Sustainable Fuel Cell Cathodes

Depletion of fossil fuels and environmental pollution raised interest in new technologies for sustainable energy production, conversion, and storage, among which fuel cell technology is greatly studied, in both academia and industry. Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are reputed energy devices, due to their high conversion efficiency and low environmental pollution.1 Nowadays, Pt-based catalysts exhibit the best electrocatalytic activity towards oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), but enhancing their catalytic efficiency and reducing costs are essential for commercializing fuel cell technology.2 Our interest relies with the development of Pt-based nanoalloys2,4 via solution organometallic chemistry approach.3 This approach allows control over the composition, structure, and morphology of metal nanoparticles, and could lead to increased catalytic activity and long-term stability by revealing more active sites of the catalyst. Additionally, the ability to alloy with a range of metals for producing bimetallic compounds is one of the key advantages of this approach.In this communication, the synthesis of Pt-based nanoparticles and their characterization by state-of-the-art techniques such as ICP, EA, IR, TEM and HR-TEM will be described. The influence of the Pt complexes used as precursors and of the reaction conditions on the morphology of the Pt nanoparticles will be shown. The obtained nanostructures offer interesting starting materials to incorporate other metals, such as transition or rare earth metals, in order to have nanoalloys and study their performance in ORR in comparison to pure Pt catalysts.

Optimal Bidding Strategies for Wind-Thermal Power Generation Rights Trading: A Game-Theoretic Approach Integrating Carbon Trading and Green Certificate Trading

In response to the challenges of low wind power consumption and high pollution emissions from thermal power, the implementation of wind-thermal power generation rights trading is a proactive attempt to reduce wind power curtailment and promote its consumption. This study first regards the alternating bidding process between the two parties as a dynamic game, using the Rubinstein bargaining game model to determine the incremental profit allocation and optimal bidding for both parties in power generation rights trading. Secondly, an energy conservation and emission reduction model is constructed to analyze the benefits from the perspectives of standard coal consumption saving and the carbon emission reduction caused by power generation rights trading. Finally, a combined trading revenue model is established to analyze the final profit of both parties involved in the trading. The results show that the combined trading of wind-thermal power generation rights, incorporating carbon trading and green certificate trading, can effectively promote coal consumption savings in thermal power units and reduce the carbon emissions of the power industry. Moreover, it significantly increases the final profit for both parties, stimulating the enthusiasm of generators for participating in power generation rights trading, and ultimately promoting wind power consumption.

Levels of potentially toxic and essential elements in Tocantins River sediment: health risks at Brazil’s Savanna-Amazon interface

The field study aims to address identified research gaps by providing valuable information on the concentration, spatial distribution, pollution levels, and source apportionment of toxic and essential elements in sediment samples from four sampling sites (P1: Beira Rio (urban area), P2: Bananal (rural area), P3: Embiral (rural area), P4: Cidelândia (rural area) distributed along the middle Tocantins River, Brazil. Samples were collected in 2023 from river sections and analyzed using various contamination índices (geoaccumulation index, contamination factor, enrichment factor, pollution load index, sediment pollution index, potential ecological risk coefficients, and integrated risk index). Results indicated that the levels of aluminum, iron, manganese, and selenium exceeded legal standards in that year. Chromium, nickel, copper, zinc, and lead exceeded guidelines, mainly in section P1 for aluminum and section P3 for nickel and lead. Rainy months showed increased presence, indicating seasonal variability. The geoaccumulation index indicated low pollution levels, with lead and nickel notably present near urban and industrial areas. The enrichment factor highlighted elevated concentrations of lead and zinc in industrial areas. Both PLI and SPI indices raise concerns regarding Pb (P4) and Zn (P3) concentrations at specific times of the year. Overall, potential ecological risks were deemed low for most sites. Continuous monitoring and interventions are crucial to preserve water and environmental quality in the region.

Engineered loose nanofiltration membrane for efficient dye/salt separation by starting from poly(ether sulfone) powder modification

Loose nanofiltration (LNF) is increasingly considered as the powerful technique for dye desalination due to its clear advantages at energy efficiency, selectivity and low pollution. But the membrane materials for loose nanofiltration process still suffer from the low permeance, unsatisfactory selectivity, membrane fouling and high cost. Herein, we propose a new three-step route to fabricate efficient poly(ether sulfone) (PES) LNF membrane, which starts from PES powder modification via mutual radiation-induced grafting polymerization and ensues immersion precipitation phase inversion and amination processes. The obtained PES-based LNF membrane possessed a thinner skin layer and an unusual irregular vesicular pore structure in sublayer instead of the finger-like macrovoids of conventional PES membrane. Thus, it achieved larger filtration permeance (35.5 L m–2 h−1 bar−1), high dye rejection (93.7 % to Congo Red) but low salt rejection (2.9 % to NaCl) during the filtration process of Congo red-containing saline water. It also showed excellent separation stability at high operation pressure and tolerance to acidic, alkaline and chlorine-oxidative conditions. Therefore, such a three-step strategy could endow the PES membrane with both loose and thinner skin layer in a reliable and scalable way, enlightening the development of high-performance LNF membrane for wastewater treatment and resource recovery.

Effect of alkaline protease content on the structure and properties of natural rubber

AbstractThe solidification technology of natural rubber exerts a significant impact on the properties of natural rubber. The solidification technology of alkaline protease has been highly valued by researchers at home and abroad because of its good solidification effect, excellent vulcanization performance, and low pollution. In this study, the effects of alkaline protease solidification technology and enzyme dosage on the structure and properties of natural rubber were investigated and compared with those of formic acid solidification technology. The solid‐state NMR results showed that increasing the enzyme dosage increased the molecular chain entanglements in the raw rubber. The gel content test results showed that the natural network structures (i.e. gels) increased after the addition of alkaline protease. The test results of the vulcanization characteristics showed that the addition of alkaline protease significantly shortened the positive vulcanization time. The Mw was the largest at an enzyme dosage of 0.07%. The test results for mechanical properties showed that the mechanical properties were best when the enzyme dosage was 0.07%. In addition, as the alkaline protease dosage increased, the Akron abrasion volume of natural rubber decreased, and the Akron abrasion volume was the lowest at an enzyme dosage of 0.07%.

Advanced approach combines integrated weight water quality index and potential toxic elements for environmental and health risk assessment supported by simulation technique in Oued Souf, Algeria

The current research study evaluated the health and environmental risks issues associated with potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in the complex terminal aquifer located in the Algerian desert. The methods used included principal component and cluster (dendrogram) analysis to estimate source of ions and contamination. Various indices such as the Heavy Metal Pollution Index (HPI), Metal Index, hazard quotient, hazard index (HI), and cancer risk (CR) were applied to assess both environmental and human health risks. Furthermore, the Monte Carlo method was applied for probabilistic assessment of carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks through oral and dermal exposure routes in both adults and children. The results revealed that approximately 16% of the samples fell within the low pollution category (HPI < 100), indicating relatively lower levels of heavy metal contamination. However, the remaining 84% of the samples exhibited high pollution levels, indicating a significant presence of heavy metal pollutants in the northeastern part of the investigated area. The calculated average risk index (RI) for the collected samples was 18.99, with a range from 0.03 to 103.21. This indicates that a large portion, 82% of the samples, could cause low ecological risk (RI < 30), whereas the remaining 18% indicate a significant environmental pollution risk. The HI for oral ingestion showed that adults had HI values ranging from 0.231 to 1.54, while children exhibited higher values, ranging from 0.884 to 5.9 (Fig. 5a). For dermal exposure, HI values in adults ranged from 2.71E−07 to 8.74E−06 and in children, from 2.18E−06 to 7.03E−05. These findings highlight the potential non-carcinogenic risks associated with oral exposure to PTEs and underscore the increased vulnerability of children to metals such as Fe, Mn, Pb, and Cr. Most samples showed CR exceeding 1 × 10−4 for chromium (Cr) and lead (Pb), indicating a significant vulnerability to carcinogenic effects in both children and adults.

A Near-Real-Time Ficin-Based Inhibitive Enzyme Assay for Biomonitoring Heavy Metals in Waters Near Kuah’s Jetty, Langkawi

Near real-time biomonitoring, particularly through enzyme assays, offers exceptional sensitivity to bioavailable pollutants, delivering rapid results that facilitate timely intervention. This method is crucial for reducing pollution in drinking water systems and safeguarding human and animal health. The marriage of biological and instrumental process of monitoring allows only positive samples be sent for instrumental analysis vastly increasing the frequency of monitoring and reducing cost at the same time. This study demonstrates the application of ficin as an inhibitive enzyme assay for biomonitoring, in a near real time setting, specifically targeting heavy metals in environmental samples from waters near Kuah’s Jetty, Langkawi. Using the ficin dye-binding assay, designed to detect mercury silver (Ag+), (Hg2+), and copper (Cu2+) at sub-ppm levels, we validated its ability to identify trace concentrations of these metals in waters. The assay proved to be sensitive, rapid, and cost-effective, with minimal inhibition (&lt;10%) during a 6-hour field trial, indicating low pollution levels, which was further corroborated through instrumental analysis. This method enables the swift identification of pollutants, prompting timely action and supporting the preservation of ecotourism sites by providing empirical data for policy development. The simplicity and visual appeal of enzyme assays make them excellent tools for education, fostering environmental awareness and conservation efforts. Our findings underscore the potential of enzyme assays for large-scale environmental monitoring, aligning local practices with international standards and promoting global cooperation in environmental conservation. This study enhances our understanding of ecological health in marine and brackish ecosystems, emphasizing the need for continuous monitoring to protect natural habitats.

Characteristics of three organic fertilizers and their influence on the mobility of cadmium and arsenic in a soil-rice (Oryza sativa L.) system.

The properties of different organic fertilizers and their potential for stabilizing toxic metals(loids) in soil have not been fully investigated. This study characterized and evaluated three organic fertilizers from different raw materials. The mushroom residue organic fertilizer (MO) had higher C, H, and O contents and more functional groups (-OH, C-H, and C = O). Its application significantly increased pH (1.00 ~ 1.32 units), organic matter (OM) content (26.58 ~ 69.11%), and cation exchange capacity (CEC) (31.52 ~ 39.91%) of soil. MO treatments can simultaneously reduce the bioavailable TCLP-Cd and TCLP-As in soil, solving the difficulties of remediating the combined Cd and As pollution. MO treatments inhibited the migration of Cd and As from soil to plant, promoting plant growth. Redundancy analysis (RDA) revealed that metal(loid) variations in plants were related to soil properties (40.09%) and TCLP-Cd/As (44.74%). Furthermore, the toxic metals(loids) risk assessment for all organic fertilizers was at safe levels. This study provided a valuable reference for choosing organic fertilizers and presented a novel option for the "producing while remediating" of farmlands with low pollution.

Bacterial Communities across Multiple Ecological Niches (Water, Sediment, Plastic, and Snail Gut) in Mangrove Habitats.

Microbial composition across substrates in mangroves, particularly in the Middle East, remains unclear. This study characterized bacterial communities in sediment, water, Terebralia palustris snail guts, and plastic associated with Avicennia marina mangrove forests in two coastal lagoons in the Sea of Oman using 16S rDNA gene MiSeq sequencing. The genus Vibrio dominated all substrates except water. In the gut of snails, Vibrio is composed of 80-99% of all bacterial genera. The water samples showed a different pattern, with the genus Sunxiuqinia being dominant in both Sawadi (50.80%) and Qurum (49.29%) lagoons. There were significant differences in bacterial communities on different substrata, in particular plastic. Snail guts harbored the highest number of unique Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) in both lagoons, accounting for 30.97% OTUs in Sawadi and 28.91% OTUs in Qurum, compared to other substrates. Plastic in the polluted Sawadi lagoon with low salinity harbored distinct genera such as Vibrio, Aestuariibacter, Zunongwangia, and Jeotgalibacillus, which were absent in the Qurum lagoon with higher salinity and lower pollution. Sawadi lagoon exhibited higher species diversity in sediment and plastic substrates, while Qurum lagoon demonstrated lower species diversity. The principal component analysis (PCA) indicates that environmental factors such as salinity, pH, and nutrient levels significantly influence bacterial community composition across substrates. Variations in organic matter and potential anthropogenic influences, particularly from plastics, further shape bacterial communities. This study highlights the complex microbial communities in mangrove ecosystems, emphasizing the importance of considering multiple substrates in mangrove microbial ecology studies. The understanding of microbial dynamics and anthropogenic impacts is crucial for shaping effective conservation and management strategies in mangrove ecosystems, particularly in the face of environmental changes.

Insights into the seasonal distribution of microplastics and their associated biofilms in the water column of two tropical estuaries

The present study describes the seasonal distribution of microplastics (MPs) and their associated biofilms in the water column of the Netravathi-Gurupura estuary, southwest India. An average abundance of 8.15 (±3.81) particles/l and 1.14 (±0.78) particles/l was observed during the wet and dry seasons, respectively. Fibres, films, and fragments accounted for majority of the microplastics. Polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, polyurethane, polyester, polystyrene, and high-density polyethylene were the major polymers. The risk assessment revealed a low Pollution Load Index, but the Polymer Hazard Index showed higher toxicity. Diatoms from nine genera were observed attached to the microplastic samples with Amphora and Navicula spp. reported in both estuaries during both seasons. The considerable diversity of diatoms, along with other microbial groups, in microplastic-associated biofilms in this study, highlights the urgent need to understand the structure and development of microplastic-associated biofilms and their role in the vertical and horizontal transport of microplastics in tropical estuaries.

Canopy facilitation outweighs elemental allelopathy in a metalliferous system during an exceptionally dry year

Abstract The elemental allelopathy hypothesis states that the metal‐rich litter of hyper‐accumulating species may have a detrimental impact on neighbouring plants giving a competitive advantage to hyper‐accumulators. Here, we aim to specify the conditions of application of this hypothesis in realistic field conditions, and its relative importance compared to other positive effects found in metalliferous systems. We disentangled the litter‐induced elemental allelopathy and canopy effects of two metallophyte species (Arenaria multicaulis and Hutchinsia alpina) with different levels of leaf Zn and Cd accumulation on two ecotypes of Agrostis capillaris with different levels of metal tolerance. The experiment was conducted in two habitats with contrasting pollution levels in a former mining valley in the Pyrenees (France). The metallophyte species that accumulates more metals (Hutchinsia alpina) showed a strong elemental allelopathy effect on the target with lower metal tolerance in the habitat with lower pollution level, while the metallophyte species that accumulates less metals (Arenaria multicaulis) had no litter effect. Both metallophyte species had positive canopy effects likely due to improvement of micro‐climatic conditions. The drought that occurred during the experiment may have influenced these canopy effects, increasing their importance during the course of the study. For Hutchinsia alpina, the positive canopy effects were stronger than the negative litter effects, resulting in overall positive effects on both target ecotypes. Synthesis. Our results brought a better understanding of the occurrence of elemental allelopathy in metallophyte communities and its relative importance as compared to micro‐climatic facilitation in a global warming context.

Analysis of heavy metal and arsenic sources in mangrove surface sediments at Wulishan Port on Leizhou Peninsula, China, using the APCS-MLR model

Mangrove forests are sources and sinks for various pollutants. This study analyzed the current status of heavy metal and arsenic (As) pollution in mangrove surface sediments in rapidly industrializing and urbanizing port cities. Surface sediments of mangroves at Wulishan Port on the Leizhou Peninsula, China, were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for the presence of Cr, Pb, Ni, Zn, Cd, Cu, As, and Hg. The Pollution load index, Nemerow pollution index, and Potential ecological risk index were employed to evaluate the pollutant. Multivariate statistical methods were applied for the qualitative analysis of pollutant sources, and the APCS-MLR receptor model was used for quantification. This study indicated the following results: (1) The average content of eight pollutants surpassed the local background level but did not exceed the Marine Sediment Quality standard. The pollution levels across the four sampling areas were ranked as Ⅲ > Ⅳ > Ⅰ > Ⅱ. The area Ⅱ exhibited relatively lower pollution levels with the grain size of the sediments dominated by sand, which was not conducive to pollutant adsorption and enrichment. (2) The factor analysis and cluster analyses identified three primary sources of contamination. As, Cr, Ni, and Pb originated from nearby industrial activities and their associated wastewater, suggesting that the primary source was the industrial source. Cd, Cu, and Zn stem from the cement columns utilized in oyster farming, alongside discharges from mariculture and pig farming, establishing a secondary agricultural source. Hg originated from ship exhaust burning oil and vehicle emissions in the vicinity, representing the third traffic source. (3) The APCS-MLR receptor model results demonstrated industrial, agricultural, and traffic sources contributing 47.19 %, 33.13 %, and 13.03 %, respectively, with 6.65 % attributed to unidentified sources.

Heavy Metal Accumulation in Fish, Sediment and Water from Three Riverine Ecosystems in the South-western Bangladesh and Nexus to Human Health.

This study investigated heavy metal accumulations in fish, water and sediment from three rivers around a major urban area in Bangladesh, namely the Rupsha, the Atai, and the Bhairab with a view to assessing the ecological and human health risks. Samples were collected from 10 stations over two seasons (summer and winter) and concentrations of 11 metals (As, Se, Pb, Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, V) were measured using ICP-MS. Heavy metals in water of these rivers were above the WHO higher thresholds. The Rupsha River, which runs close to industrially dense areas and the downstream part of the three-river network, demonstrated the highest As, Cu, and V concentrations during both seasons. On the other hand, As, Mn and Cr were highest in the Bhairab which is the upstream to the Rupsha and connected to several industrial setups which differ from Bhairab. The less anthropogenically connected Atai River only showed elevated concentrations of Cu and Se. Ecological risk indices indicated low pollution in the rivers during both seasons. In all three rivers and in nearly all fish species, the contamination was higher in winter than summer. Benthic and carnivorous fish species such as, Cynoglossus lingua, Glossogobius giuris, Pseudapocryptes elongatus showed higher metal accumulation compared to other species. Health risk indices like the target hazard quotient (THQ) and carcinogenic risk (CR) suggested low risks but pointed potential risks to human health. The outcomes of this research reports insights into metal contamination pattern in interconnected river systems.

Improved electrochemical performance of high-entropy La0.8Sr0.2FeO3-based IT-SOFC cathode

It is widely accepted that solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) have the potential to be the most efficient and cost-effective system for the direct conversion of various fuels into electricity with low environmental pollution and high efficiency. Herein, we demonstrate a novel Fe-based high-entropy perovskite oxide as a cathode material for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs). The high-entropy perovskite La0.2Pr0.2Sm0.2Nd0.2Sr0.2FeO3-δ (HE-LSF), composed of La, Pr, Nd, Sm, and Sr is prepared by incorporating five components into the A-site of La0.8Sr0.2FeO3-δ (LSF). Doping of Pr, Nd, Sm, and Sr into the A-site significantly enhances the redox stability of LSF and restrains the surface Sr-segregation in both oxidizing and reducing conditions. The electrode polarization resistance of the anode-supported single cell with HE-LSF cathode is significantly low at intermediate temperature. Meanwhile, at 800 °C, the power density is 1029.2 mW/cm2, and the polarization resistance (Rp) is 0.101 Ω cm2, while at 700 °C, the power density is 581.52 mW/cm2 with an Rp of 0.21 Ω cm2 in humidified H2. Further, the HE-LSF cathode presents good and long-term stability at a constant voltage of 0.7 V for 100 h at 700 °C. The excellent electrochemical performance and stability results exhibit that Fe-based high-entropy perovskite oxide is a new promising candidate and cathode material for SOFCs at intermediate temperatures.

Omniphobic PTFE based Hollow Fiber Membrane with ZnO Nanoparticles Deposition via Universal Spray Technique

This investigation aimed to enhance the hydrophobicity of a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) hollow fiber membrane, transforming it into an omniphobic surface. This was achieved by coating the membrane with a mixture of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) and polyvinylidene fluoride-cohexafluoropropylene (PVDF-HFP) using the universal spray technique. The membrane's morphology and performance were evaluated based on the number of spray cycles, which influenced the coating thickness on the membrane surface. The spraying process was varied up to 4 cycles to determine the membrane with the most effective deposition of ZnO NPs in terms of water contact angle and liquid entry pressure (LEPw). Results indicated that the membrane spray-coated up to 4 cycles, denoted as PTFE-4, exhibited a rough hierarchical re-entrant morphology, imparting omniphobic characteristics. The optimized membrane demonstrated a high water contact angle of 170° and a liquid entry pressure of 2.6 bar. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and energy dispersive analysis of X-rays (EDX) confirmed the successful chemical integration of ZnO NPs onto the commercial membrane. This research holds significance for the future of membrane distillation in treating wastewater containing low surface tension pollutants.

Assessment of groundwater fluoride and human health effects in a hard rock province of south India: Implications from Pollution Index Model (PIM) and GeographicalInformationSystem (GIS) techniques.

This research examines whetherthe groundwater in the Sivakasi Region of South India is suitable for consumption, and assesses the possible health hazards for various age demographics including infants, children, teenagers, and adults. A totalof 77 groundwater samples were gathered, covering a total area of 580km2 and analyzed for major and minor ions. The hydrogen ion concentration (pH) of the samples indicates neutral to marginally alkaline. The total dissolved solids (TDS) fluctuate from 255 to 2701mg/l and electrical conductivity varies from 364 to 3540µS/cm. A wide range of fluoride concentration was detected (0.1 to 3.2mg/l) with nearly 38% groundwater samples surpassing the proposed limit (1.5 mg/l) suggestedby the World Health Organization in 2017. Gibbs plot analysis suggested that most of thesamples were influenced by geogenic factors, primarily rock weathering in this region. Correlation analysis showed that most of the samples were impacted by both natural and human sources. The pollution index of groundwater (PIG) fluctuated from 0.67 to 2.60 with approximately 30% and 53% of samples falling into insignificant and low pollution categories, respectively. Furthermore, 10% and 5% of total samples were characterized as moderate and high pollution levels, and 2% asvery high pollution category. Spatial analysis using GIS revealed that 440.63km2 were within safe fluoride levels according to theWHO standards, while 139.32km2 were identified as risk zone. The principal component analysis (PCA1) showedstrong positive loadings on EC (0.994), TDS (0.905), Mg2+ (0.910), Cl- (0.903) and HCO3- (0.923) indicating rock water interaction. PCA2 accounts the high positive factor loading on HCO3- (0.864) indicating ion exchange and mineral leaching. The PCA1 and PCA2 indicated that variables such as mineral leaching and rock water interaction are themajor mechanisms contributing to the chemical signatures in groundwater, which may support for theelevated fluoride levels in certain areas. Risk assessments, including Hazard Quotient results showed that 71%, 61% 38%, and 34% of groundwater samples exceededthe permissible THI limit (THI > 1) for infants, children, teenagers, and adults, respectively. The study recommends implementing measures such as denitrification, defluorination, rainwater harvesting, and improved sanitation infrastructure to enhance the health conditions in the study region. Additionally, it suggests introducing educational programs in rural areas to create awarenessabout the health dangers due to consumptionof water with high fluoride levels.

Metal Levels in Striped Dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) and Common Dolphins (Delphinus delphis) Stranded along the Sicilian Coastlines of the Mediterranean Sea.

Dolphins, top predators of the aquatic food chain, are used as sentinel species of marine pollution as they are sensitive to environmental changes and able to accumulate a large content of contaminants. Several EU directives promote study of marine mammalians as bio-indicators to evaluate the presence of contaminants in the aquatic environment, such as the Mediterranean Sea, which is rich in environmental pollutants due to its geographic and geo-morphological characteristics. The aim of this study was to evaluate the content of toxic and essential metals and metalloids (Hg, Pb, Cd, As, Se and Zn), through ICP-MS analysis, in organs/tissues (liver, muscle, lung, kidney and skin) of striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) and common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) stranded along the Sicilian coastlines of the Mediterranean Sea. The results confirm the exposure of dolphins to toxic metals and metalloids, with the highest Hg levels observed in skin and liver, although a low Metal Pollution Index (MPI) was found in all samples of both dolphin species. From a comparative analysis of trace metals and metalloids according to sex and state of development, the highest levels of Cd and As were found in females vs. males and adults vs. juveniles, except for Pb in both species, and significant differences were observed between the two species, size of specimens, and organs/tissues analyzed. The highest Hg levels were correlated to those of essential metals Se and Zn, expressed as molar ratios, to evaluate the potential synergic effect of these detoxifying elements against Hg toxicity. This study confirms the rule of Stenella coeruleoalba and Delphinus delphis as valid sentinel species of the Mediterranean Sea, to verify the trend of metals pollution in this aquatic environment and, consequently, the health of these marine species.