Soil Pollution Research Articles

Soil Fertility and Influencing Factors of Cultivated Land Based on the Geodetector

Taihe County in Jiangxi Province was chosen as the study area to analyze the soil fertility condition and affecting elements of cultivation at the county level. Classical statistics, geostatistics, and geodetector were utilized to examine soil fertility quality and investigate its primary affecting aspects based on experimental data from 206 cultivated soil samples. The results showed that： ① Taihe County had an average soil pH of 4.87, indicating slightly acidic soil. A total of 97.39% of the sample sites had CEC contents of four and five levels, and the EC content levels were concentrated in the second level, 63.48% of the SOC contents were in the medium levels, 73.92% of the TN contents were higher than 1.5 g·kg-1, 72.17% of the TP contents were lower than 0.6 g·kg-1, and the AP contents were in the high level, greater than 20 mg·kg-1, accounting for 86.09% of the sample sites. The soil fertility in the research area was poor, and the soil was of light and medium salinization, lacking organic matter and total phosphorus. The lump gold effect values of pH, EC, AP, SOC, TN, and TP were 0.17, 0.21, 0.18, 0.52, 0.45, and 0.59, respectively. The spatial correlation between soil pH, EC, and AP was strong, while soil SOC, TN, and TP had a moderate degree of spatial correlation. The spatial variation of soil fertility in Taihe County was influenced by both structural factors （topography, climate, and soil type） and random factors （fertilization, cultivation methods, soil pollution, etc.）. ② The results of the weight coefficients of farmland soil fertility were TN （0.210）, SOC （0.195）, EC （0.190）, CEC （0.171）, TP （0.170）, AP （0.117）, and pH （-0.053）. Soil TN, SOC, and EC were key indicators that affected farmland soil fertility in the study area. The comprehensive score grading of soil fertility quality showed that most of the soil fertility quality in the study area was level three, and the soil fertility in Shangmo Township was relatively fertile. The soil fertility quality level was Level 2 and Level 3. The soil fertility in Yanxi Town and Wanhe Town was relatively poor, and the soil fertility quality level was Level 3 and Level 4. ③ X54, X31, X32, X21, and X14 were the main driving factors affecting farmland soil fertility. The explanatory power of each factor interaction was greater than that of single factor interactions, manifested in two types： double factor enhancement and nonlinear synergistic effect. The soil fertility of farmland was the result of the joint action of multiple influencing factors. The results of the research revealed the status quo and spatial distribution characteristics of soil fertility in the study area, investigated the factors influencing soil fertility in farmland, and analyzed the foundation for improving the intrinsic quality and output capacity of cultivable land and the ecological environment of agriculture.

Heavy Metal Pollution Characteristics and Risk Assessment of Soil-crop System in Gold Mine Activity Area

A contamination analysis was conducted on the soil and crops in the Liu Jia Dian gold mining area of the Pinggu District, Beijing, utilizing the contents and seven-step forms of heavy metals （Hg, Cd, Cr, Pb, and As） in soil and the heavy metal contents in crops at the same location. An assessment of ecological risk caused by heavy metal contamination in the soil and crops was carried out using the enrichment coefficient method and the risk assessment coding method. The study investigated the process of heavy metal absorption and enrichment in the soil-crop system, aiming to establish a scientific foundation for preventing and controlling soil pollution, as well as ensuring the safety of edible crops in the study area. Evidence indicated the presence of soil contamination by heavy metals in the study area, with Cd, Pb, and As being the primary pollutants. Moreover, the distribution of pollution levels could be categorized as severe, moderate, and mild, with proportions of 26.09%, 4.35%, and 10.87%, respectively. The content of each heavy metal decreased following the implementation of environmental governance； however, the ecological risk remains present. Hg, Cr, Pb, and As posed minor ecological risks； however, Cd had a high ecological risk, making it the primary soil ecological risk factor. Fruits, nuts, and cereals in the Pinggu gold mining area remained uncontaminated. Various degrees of contamination were found in melons, rhizomes, and leafy vegetables. The Chinese cabbage, Chinese chive, radish, and eggplant were heavily contaminated, with Cd and Pb being the primary sources of contamination. The accumulation of heavy metals in crops was intricately linked to gold mines and their mining operations. The accumulation of Cd in crops was mainly influenced by the high availability of Cd in soil, whereas the accumulation of Pb was mainly influenced by the high concentration of Pb in the soil. The concentration of heavy metals in the soil and their bioavailability in the Pinggu gold mining area indicated the accumulation of metal elements in crops and impacted the geographical distribution of heavy metal pollution in crops. The physiological characteristics of crops could affect the degree of heavy metal enrichment in the gold mining area. The order of heavy metal accumulation, from highest to lowest, was as follows： leafy vegetables, melons, rhizomes, cereal, fruits, and nuts. Peppers and eggplants were limited in their planting variations for melons, while leeks and cabbages were restricted for leafy vegetables, given the current agricultural planting conditions in the study area.

Environment that causes diseases: article review

Introduction: Environmentally induced diseases have become a global concern due to their significant impact on public health. The environment plays a significant role in increasing or decreasing the risk of disease through various factors, such as air, water, and soil pollution and exposure to hazardous chemicals. This review aims to analyze the literature on environmental factors that trigger diseases, including infectious diseases, chronic diseases, and mental health disorders, and to understand the mechanisms and impacts caused. Research Methodology: This study used a systematic literature review of scientific articles, research reports, and other reliable sources published in the last two decades. Data were collected, analyzed, and grouped based on the type of environmental factors and their association with various diseases. Result: Studies have shown that air pollution is a major cause of chronic respiratory diseases, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), while water pollution and poor sanitation trigger outbreaks of infectious diseases such as diarrhea and cholera. Exposure to hazardous chemicals, such as pesticides and heavy metals, also contributes to increased risks of cancer and neurological disorders. In addition, environmental degradation, such as deforestation and climate change, exacerbate the spread of vector-borne diseases, such as malaria and dengue fever. Conclusion: An unhealthy environment is key in triggering various diseases that endanger public health. Mitigation efforts, such as reducing pollution, improving water quality, and protecting ecosystems, are essential to minimize adverse health impacts. The study recommends increasing cross-sector collaboration and strengthening environmental policies to create an environment that supports public health.

Goethe´s nature observation and Materia medica methods crossing-over: a systematic tool to formulate homeopathic preparations for environmental purposes

Anamnesis, classification of symptoms and repertorization are the usual techniques for establishing a homeopathic treatment. However, the approach to be used for plants and the environment is still a challenge. In this paper, a new technique is proposed to select treatments for ultra-complex living systems that include several interconnected species (ecosystems), potentially significantly facilitating the practice of environmental homeopathy. Based on the crossing of two classic methods, Goethe's observation of nature [1] and homeopathic materia medica, this technique has shown promising results in promoting environmental recovery and regeneration. The foundations of the first method lay in a way of observing nature proposed by the German philosopher Goethe and systematized by Rudolf Steiner, in which an observer identifies discrepant elements that appear in a given living system after a stressful impact, representing a mimesis of suffering. The approach uses the same clinical tools for diagnosis, hierarchizing symptoms and identifying similarities between humans and animals. The first step is to take a long, detailed look at the affected area, without preconceptions or preconceived notions. The items to be observed are the climate, wind and lighting patterns, the characteristics and vitality of the soil, the remaining vegetation, the type of crop, the presence and appearance of water, changes in the local fauna and flora and the presence of indicator plants, which are elements of the biome itself capable of showing changes in the composition of the soil [2].Next, the type of aggression is described (logging, poor farming or grazing, frost, drought, flooding, soil pollution, leaching or compression).The third step is to observe the natural processes still present in the area (ecological succession, interaction between species, pollinating insect behavior and other characteristics that reveal the recovery of the local environmental archetype).This step allows the observer to gain an in-depth understanding of the process of environmental disturbance.The second method is based on identifying keywords in different homeopathic medical materials related to the response of various species of local fauna and flora to the same stressor, establishing the convergence of both methods. A table made up of the keywords, the corresponding remedies and the respective Materia Medica used as a reference is built to indicate the best treatment options to be used alone or in a complex. The last items to be defined are the potencies, forms of administration and dosage.For example, an area of degraded pasture was identified in the Pantanal biome (Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil).The following parameters were listed: a high degree of desertification following drought, the presence of nitrogen-fixing plants (an indicator of a lack of nitrogen in the soil), such as Mimosa pudica (“Malicia”) and Mimosa farnesiana (“Aromita”) [3], and confirmation of the soil's condition by chemical analysis.The keywords identified were exhaustion and dryness, leading to homeopathic carbonic ammonium after cross-referencing the materia medica.The potency chosen is 6cH, once a month, taking into account the structure and time of the grass to germinate.The result was a rapid regrowth of the native grass, which had been absent for more than a decade, enough to recover an ideal grazing condition.The combination of the two methods was useful, as it allowed a deeper and more conscious approach to the whole environment and stimulated the potential vitality, adaptive abilities and self-regulation resources of its elements.

Vermicompost application improves leaf physiological activity, 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline, and grain yield of fragrant rice through efficient nitrogen assimilation under Cd stress

Cadmium (Cd) pollution in arable soils and its accumulation in rice plants have become a global concern because of their harmful effects on crop yield and human health. The in-situ stabilization method which involves the application of organic amendments such as vermicompost (VC), is frequently utilized for the remediation of Cd-contaminated soils. This study investigated the effects of VC on the soil chemical properties and the physio-biochemical functions of fragrant rice, as well as nitrogen (N) metabolism and assimilatory enzyme activities, 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (2AP) content in rice grains, and the grain yields of fragrant rice cultivars, i.e., Xiangyaxiangzhan (XGZ) and.Meixiangzhan-2 (MXZ-2) under Cd stress condition. Four doses of VC (.VC1 = 0, VC2 = 3 t. ha-1, VC3 = 4 t ha-1, and VC4 = 6 t ha-1) and two levels of Cd (0 and 25 mg Cd kg-1) were used in this study. Our results showed that VC supplementation significantly (p < 0.05) improved soil characteristics, including soil organic carbon, available N, total N, phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). Furthermore, VC enhanced plant physiological and biochemical attributes in fragrant rice, such as net photosynthetic rate (Pn), nitrate reductase (NR), nitrite reductase (NiR), glutamine synthetase (GS), glutamate oxoglutarate aminotransferase (GOGAT) enzyme activities, protein contents, amino acid, and 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (2AP) contents under Cd stress condition. Specifically, the VC-amended treatment, Cd2 + VC3, led to an 86.75% increase in Pn and 2AP, and a 60.05% and 77.55% increase in grain yield for MXZ-2 and XGZ cultivars, respectively, compared to Cd-only treated plants (Cd2 + VC1). In addition, VC application significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the Cd uptake and accumulation in rice plants. The correlation analysis indicated that leaf physiological activity and biochemical traits are strongly correlated with soil qualitative traits, suggesting that improved soil health leads to enhanced leaf physiological activity, N metabolism, grain 2AP content, and grain yields. Among the treatments, Cd2 + VC3 showed the best performance in terms of soil fertility and rice quality and production. Consequently, our study indicates that using VC in soils may benefit rice growers by improving soil fertility and supporting sustainable rice productivity and quality in soils contaminated with Cd.

EFFECTS OF POULTRY LITTER ON SOIL PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PROPERTIES FOR CROP PRODUCTION IN KAURU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA

Poultry litter is an important source of soil nutrients that supports beneficial soil bacteria by serving as a substrate, however, its excessive have adverse effects that lead to soil pollution, contamination and acidification of soil and groundwater. This study analyzed the effects of poultry litter on soil physico-chemical properties for crop production in Kauru Local Government Area, Kaduna State, Nigeria. Data on soil properties at the control and poultry littered sites were collected by sampling four farmlands in Barwa, Ungwan Noma, Kurmin-Shado and Dan-Daura and analyzed in the laboratory. Results were subjected to ANOVA and Correlation analyses tools. The findings revealed significant changes in soil physico-chemical properties due to excessive poultry litter application. Compared to the control site, treated soil showed increased pH (6.26 to 6.89), decreased organic carbon (4.29 to 3.63), increased organic matter (5.92 to 6.99), increased total nitrogen (0.49 to 0.58), altered particle size distribution (clay, silt, sand), reduced aggregate, stability (0.818 to 0.715) and increased CO2 (64.8 to 65.88%). Also, Correlation analysis revealed a significant relationship between poultry litter application and soil physico-chemical properties (Sig. value >0.05), indicating that poultry manure significantly alters soil parameters. The study concludes that while some of the soil properties identified were within safe limits, application of poultry manure altered other properties of the soil. Thus, the study recommends that farmers should use poultry litter in conjunction with other fertilizers and soil amendments to balance nutrient inputs.

Tolerance of Xanthomonas campestris for heavy metals typically associated with brownfield land

Heavy metals as environmental contaminants often exhibit high latency and persistence in soil systems. The capacity of Xanthomonas campestris to tolerate 1mM – 15mM concentrations of lead, cadmium and chromium(VI) which are typically associated with soil pollution due to industrial activities was assessed in this study. Bacterial abundance and enzymatic activity were seen to decrease with increasing heavy metal concentration and contact time. Cadmium was the strongest inhibitor of growth while chromium(VI) was identified as the most toxic to X. campestris with regards to enzyme activity. The viable bacterial counts of Xanthomonas campestris after exposure to the heavy metals dropped from 0.97 – 1.03 Log CFU/mL on day 0 to mean values ranging from 5.92 – 0.00 Log CFU/mL on day 7 of the study at the different concentrations applied representing reductions of 26.49% – 100%, 33.76% – 100% and 33.38% – 100% for Pb, Cd and Cr(VI) respectively. The changes in growth differed significantly (p≤0.05) between groups from one heavy metal to the other and within groups from one heavy metal concentration to the other. Pb, Cd and Cr(VI) all inhibited oxidase, catalase and protease activity at higher concentrations. Only Cd exerted an inhibitory effect against α-amylase activity but only at 10 mM and 15 mM concentrations after 5 – 7 days exposure. Pb and Cr(VI) only exhibited inhibition against cellulase activity by the end of the study at the highest concentration of 15 mM. The study established that acute exposure to the heavy metals, lead, cadmium and chromium (VI) had potential to inhibit growth and certain enzymatic activities in X. campestris.

Heavy metals in roadside soil along an expressway connecting two megacities in China: Accumulation characteristics, sources and influencing factors

Transportation is widely recognized as a significant contributor to heavy metal (HM) pollution in roadside soils. A better understanding of HM pollution in soils near expressways is crucial, particularly given the rapid expansion of expressway transportation in China in recent years. In this study, 329 roadside topsoil samples were collected along the Beijing-Tianjin Expressway, which connects two megacities in China. Chemical analysis showed that HM concentrations in the soil samples were generally below national limits. The mean pollution index (Pi) values for As, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn ranged from 0.94 to 1.01, while Cd and Hg exhibited slightly higher mean Pi values of 1.19 and 1.13, respectively. The Nemerow integrated pollution index values for all samples ranged from 0.71 to 4.97, with a mean of 1.26. This suggests a slight enrichment of HM above natural background levels, especially for Cd and Hg. Source apportionment using positive matrix factorization revealed that natural sources contributed the most to soil HMs (64.51 %), followed by agricultural sources (19.15 %), traffic sources (9.77 %), and industrial sources (6.57 %). The Shapley additive explanation analysis, based on the random forest model, identified soil organic carbon, deep soil HM content, altitude, total soil K2O, urbanization composite impact index, and total soil P as primary influencing factors. This indicates that the impact of transportation on roadside soils along the Beijing-Tianjin Expressway is currently relatively limited. The prominent influence of soil properties and altitude underscored the importance of “transport” and “receptor” in the soil HMs accumulation process at the local scale. These findings provide critical data and a scientific basis for decision-makers to develop policies for expressway design and roadside soil protection.

Application of waste fly ash and graphite powder used as backfill materials in vertical ground heat exchangers

Backfill material plays a significant role in heat transfer between the ground heat exchangers (GHEs) and surrounding soil. Fly ash is the fine ash wasted from coal combustion in thermal power plants, which may cause a serious of problems including air, water and soil pollution. To fully utilize the waste resources and improve the thermal performance of backfill material, a method of using waste fly ash and graphite powder is proposed, and the feasibility of using them as backfill material is investigated via laboratory and field test, in which the economic aspect is taken into consideration. The results indicate that the highest thermal conductivity of thermally enhanced backfill material could be increased to 2.391 W/(m·K) via laboratory test, with a growth rate of 23.69%, in which the mass ratio of graphite reaches 10% meanwhile guaranteeing the workability of fresh mortar. Heat transfer rates could be enhanced by 27.22% compared with traditional backfill material of natural sand via field test, corresponding to a highest heat transfer rate of 55.80 W/m. The economical value could be achieved through the lower cost of raw material and the reduction of drilling depth.

Simultaneously mapping the 3D distributions of multiple heavy metals in an industrial site using deep learning and multisource auxiliary data

Three-dimensional (3D) distributions of multiple soil pollutants in industrial site are crucial for risk assessment and remediation. Yet, their 3D prediction accuracies are often low because of the strong variability of pollutants and availability of 3D covariate data. This study proposed a patch-based multi-task convolution neural network (MT-CNN) model for simultaneously predicting the 3D distributions of Zn, Pb, Ni, and Cu at an industrial site. By integrating neighborhood patches from multisource covariates, the MT-CNN model captured both horizontal and vertical pollution information, and outperformed the widely-used methods such as random forest (RF), ordinary Kriging (OK), and inverse distance weighting (IDW) for all the 4 heavy metals, with R2 values of 0.58, 0.56, 0.29 and 0.23 for Zn, Pb, Ni and Cu, respectively. Besides, the MT-CNN model achieved more stable predictions with reasonable accuracy, in comparison with the single-task CNN model. These results highlighted the potential of the proposed MT-CNN in simultaneously mapping the 3D distributions of multiple pollutants, while balancing the model training, maintaining and accuracy for low-cost rapid assessment of soil pollution at industrial sites.

Impact of Urban Xenobiotics on Mycorrhizal Associations in Urban Plants

Urban xenobiotics are a vital contamination phenomenon of urban plants in the overall country. They are a result of human activity due to growing urbanization and population growth. There are extensive sources of both natural (soil or rock erosion, fires, biodegradation, and volcanic eruptions) and anthropogenic (soil pollution, air, and herbicides). Currently, the demand for pharmaceuticals, compared to the growing population, has placed a risk on the urban plant. Additionally, the production of illegal drugs has caused the release of dangerous carcinogens into fungal activities, which will have an impact on plant health, microbial structure, and fungal interaction. Because of the harsh environment, higher temperatures, heavy metals, and higher N deposition, most urban trees suffer from stress conditions, and mycorrhiza is negatively impacted by plant conditions. Some mycorrhiza fungi are unable to sporulate and hyphal at higher xenobiotic concentrations in urban areas. This chapter takes a look at the sources and compounds of xenobiotics and their harmful impact on mycorrhiza; and its association with the urban plants.

Spatial Distribution, Source Apportionment, and Pollution Assessment of Toxic Metals Around Agricultural Soils Based on APCS-MLR Receptor Modelling: A Case Study of the Northern Slope of Tianshan Mountains

To investigate the contamination status and analyze the sources of soil toxic metal contamination on the northern slopes of the East Tianshan mountain industrial belt in Xinjiang, northwest China, this study measured the contents of six common toxic metals such as Zn, Cu, Cr, Pb, Hg and As in 82 surface soil (0–20 cm), and using the ground accumulation index, pollution load index, and improved weighted index assessed the contamination characteristics of the soil and using a semi-variance function and APCS-MLR model the identified the potential sources of contamination. The results indicate that the average concentrations of Pb, Hg, and As are significantly higher than the background values in Xinjiang. The average ranking of toxic metal content is as follows: Zn > Cr > Pb > Cu > Hg > as. A single-factor pollution index analysis shows that As and Pb pollution are severe, while Hg and Cu pollution are moderate. The improved weighted index shows that moderate lead pollution accounts for 6.1% and severe lead pollution accounts for 54.88%; 98.88% of arsenic is severely contaminated. The APCS-MLR model identified three main sources of heavy metals: Cu and Cr as industrial production sources, Pb and Zn as transportation and agricultural activity sources, and As, Cr, Cu, Hg, and Zn as natural and mixed pollution sources. This study provides a solid scientific basis for the prevention and control of toxic metal pollution in agricultural soils, thus ensuring food security and sustainable development in the region.

Microplastics in Agricultural Soil and Their Impact: A Review

The rapid global plastic production of 348 million tonnes in 2018 has led to widespread environmental pollution, especially in terrestrial ecosystems. This study examines microplastics in agricultural soils, coming alarmingly. Particles ≤5 mm, which are defined as microplastics, have detrimental effects on the earth’s environment. Because of its ecological importance, soil acts as an important microplastic sink, affecting soil and plant health and microbial activity. A variety of factors contribute to microplastic pollution in agricultural soils, including plastic mulching, manure, agricultural products (silage nets, twine), sewage sludge, weathering, and other indirect processes. These microplastics migrate, threatening soil integrity and biodiversity. Soil microplastics are analyzed for size, volume fraction, and polymer. Common materials include polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, and polyesters. Techniques, including optical microscopy and spectroscopy, extract and analyze microplastics. This comprehensive review calls for increased concern about the ecological effects of microplastics in agricultural soils. It emphasizes the importance of managing plastics to solve environmental challenges. The integrated environmental assessment highlights the complex relationship between microplastics and soil ecosystems, providing insights into potential risks and suggesting strategies to combat this looming environmental threat.

Evaluating heavy metals-related risk in staple crops and making financing strategy for corresponding soil remediation across China

China's staple crops face heavy metal (HMs) contamination, a widespread issue lacking a national assessment. We used machine learning (ML) to assess risks of 8 HMs in rice, wheat, and maize, and estimated a financing strategy for soil remediation via linear optimization and computable general equilibrium (CGE). The accumulation of HMs in crops depends on Soil-HMs, climate, soil properties, and crop types. Cd and Hg pose major soil pollution risks, while Cr, Pb, and Cd are the most threatening in crops. High-risk zones are located at the warm temperature and subtropical zones, with wheat most vulnerable. Over a quarter (26.77%) of the nation's croplands are classified as high-risk, with a significant 60.89% falling into the medium-risk category, leaving merely 12.34% of the agricultural land in a safe condition. The estimated remediation cost is 58596.73 billion RMB and the crop loss is 808.03 billion RMB in a ten-year remediation period at the context of secure crop supply. The reallocation of social investment rather than raising new taxation for the remediation is beneficial to the GDP increase and social welfare despite some loss in the household income and enterprise income. This study provides a comprehensive evaluation for Crop-HMs risk and remediation policy, crucial for national crop security.

Multimodel-based quantitative source apportionment and risk assessment of soil heavy metals: A reliable method to achieve regional pollution traceability and management

To strengthen the control of pollution sources and promote soil pollution management of agricultural land, this study constructed a comprehensive source apportionment framework, which significantly improved the reliability of potential source analysis compared with the traditional single model. The spatial distribution pattern of agricultural soil heavy metals (SHMs) content in Lintong, a typical river valley city in China, was determined and the degree of contamination was evaluated. A scientific source apportionment methodological framework was constructed through correlation analysis methods together with multiple source apportionment receptor models. Finally, the Monte Carlo simulation method was used to derive the results of the human health risk assessment (HHRA). The results revealed the following: (1) Agricultural soils were moderately and mildly polluted, accounting for 28.8 % and 71.2 % of the total number of sampling points, respectively. (2) The overall correlation of heavy metals (HMs) was strong according to the coupling analysis of the SHMs, in which a strong correlation (0.8–1) was reached among Cu, Ni, Pb, Cr and Zn, indicating that these HMs were most likely homologous or composite. (3) Multimodel analysis of the SHMs sources revealed that the first and second principal components were agricultural (41.36 %) and industrial (19.69 %) sources, respectively, and the remaining principal components were road traffic, natural factors, and atmospheric deposition or surface runoff, respectively. (4) The average comprehensive noncarcinogenic health risk indices for adults and children were 4.2259E-02 and 1.4194E-01, respectively, which were within the slight risk range, indicating that the risk caused by SHMs to the human body can be almost negligible. This study adopted a mixed method to reveal the risk of SHMs pollution and its sources, which provides some reference and technical support for traceability analysis, zoning control, and health risk studies of regional pollutants and is helpful for formulating scientific management measures and targeting control policies.

Should releasing risk of sulfamethoxazole in bound-residual fraction of biochar-soil systems be neglected?

Bound residual (BR) fraction typically represents the “endpoint” of soil pollution risk assessment and remediation. However, it remains unclear whether the BR fraction of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) still presents a release risk after immobilized by biochar. Therefore, the SMX migration rate in different fractions were quantified. Results revealed that there are three extractable fractions of SMX in biochar-soil systems, allowing the migration of SMX among these various fractions. 1.0 % biochar could increase 8.5 %∼14.1 % BR fraction and 17.9 %∼36.9 % non-extractable fraction, respectively. Model simulations and Sobol Global Sensitivity Analysis results revealed that migration of SMX from BR fraction to labile fraction or stably-adsorbed fraction significantly affects overall fraction migration, suggesting BR fraction still poses a potential release risk. When considering the BR fraction, the half-life of SMX extended to 93.8 ∼ 132.0 days. Thus, the potential release risk of SMX in the BR fraction should not be overlooked when applying biochar for soil remediation.

Detection of Some Heavy Metals (Mercury and Lead) Pollutants and their Association with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) in Baghdad, Iraq

Due to the increased use of products carrying heavy metals caused by human factors in the streets of the city of Baghdad and their direct impact on the air, water quality and soil pollution, heavy metals pollution is one of the important environmental problems. As heavy metals cannot be degraded, they accumulate biologically, and, therefore, can directly threaten higher organisms including humans. The current study focused on detecting heavy metals (mercury and lead) to determine the adverse effects and risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in humans. One hundred total blood samples were collected from healthy people and the patients of both sexes who were suffering from T2DM, with mean age of 31 to 75 years, after 8 to 12 hours of fasting. The first group - G1 the control group consisted of 20 health people (6 males and 14 females). The second group - G2 included 40 patients (20 males and 20 females) who had T2DM and were not exposed to any pollutants. The third group - G3 included 40 males with T2DM and also who were exposed to smoke from local electricity generators, as these samples were collected from workers or living near generators and were exposed to air pollution for a long time. Blood samples were collected from each individual by drawing blood from a vein to evaluate each of the biochemical tests, as well as detecting of some heavy metals such as mercury and lead. The results showed that there was a highly significant increase (p≤0.01) when both fasting blood sugar (FBS) and HbA1c were analysed. As for the results of the analysis of the types of lipid profile, there is no significant difference in cholesterol, while there was a significant increase (p≤0.05) in both low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholestrol and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholestrol and a highly significant increase (p≤0.01) for both triglyceride and high density lipoporotein cholesterol (HDL) cholestrol. The results of the liver function analysis showed that there was no significant difference in the results of the enzyme serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) as well as total bilirubin, while there was a significant increase (p≤0.05) in serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT). Significant increase (p≤0.01) was detected in the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) enzyme for each of the studied groups. The results of the detection of the presence of heavy metals using the atomic absorption spectrophotometer showed that there was a significant increase (p≤0.01) in lead, and as for mercury, no significant difference was noticed.

Copper in the soil of agroecosystems of vineyards: a modern view of the problem

The problem of copper in the soils of vineyards and other types of plantation and garden agroecosystems is not new, however, having loudly declared itself in scientific research in the second half of the 20th century, it has remained unresolved. In recent decades, the severity of this problem has not only not disappeared, but also acquired some new features. On the one hand, significant changes have taken place in Russia and the world in the socio-economic sphere, modern scientific and technological approaches have appeared that have changed the structure of the wine industry, formed new trends in supply and demand, contributed to the introduction of alternative types of land use, modernized agrotechnologies for growing grapes and processing. On the other hand, old environmental challenges have worsened and new ones have appeared, such as global climate change, which has a significant impact on the sustainability of the production of high-quality viticulture and winemaking products, to mitigate the consequences of which comprehensive adaptation approaches and innovative agrotechnological solutions are required. In this review, we discussed the results of research over the past 25 years, mainly by foreign authors, which allow us to look at the problem of copper in the soil of vineyards, based on modern ideas about the ways and scales of its accumulation, physico-chemical transformations and migration in the soil of ampelocenoses. The most relevant and discussed issues in the scientific literature regarding the influence of certain natural and agrogenic factors on the amount of copper accumulation in ampelocenosis soils are presented. The article considers already implemented and potential ways to mitigate the negative effects of soil pollution with copper, aimed at limiting and optimizing the use of copper-containing drugs, the introduction of soil-saving agrotechnologies in viticulture, the reclamation of copper-contaminated soils, as well as the replacement of copper-based fungicides with alternative drugs to implement sustainable plant protection strategies that are safe for the environment.

Enhancing sound transmission loss of polyurethane foams using waste soda glass filler

Sound transmission mechanisms and sound transmission losses are of great importance in providing acoustic comfort. Research has focused on developing materials and structures that will reduce sound transmission loss. The increasing amount of waste disrupts the ecological balance; this situation brings about global warming, air and soil pollution. These environmental effects negatively affect the lives of all living things, especially humans, and also harm the economy. Combating global pollution has become one of the primary goals of scientists. Recycling provides significant economic benefits as well as protecting both human health and natural resources. In this study, polyurethane foams used in the automotive industry and many other areas were produced by adding waste soda glass powder at various rates while keeping the isocyanate/polyol ratio constant. The durability of the produced foams was tested by apparent density measurement, wettability by contact angle analysis, organic bond structures by FT-IR spectroscopy and acoustic properties by sound transmission loss analysis. It was determined that soda glass powder did not react with the foams and that the produced foams exhibited hydrophobic properties. The acoustic properties of the filler foams were higher than the neat foam in almost the entire frequency range (65-6300 Hz). The sample coded PU-SG4 is the sample that exhibits the best acoustic properties by reaching 9.28 dB, 9.10 dB and 13.48 dB values in the low, medium and high frequency regions, respectively. In the high frequency range region, all of the soda glass added foam composites reached a sound transmission loss of over 13 dB.

A non-enzymatic electrochemical sensor based on zinc oxide/reduced graphene oxide (ZnO/rGO) nanocomposite for effective detection of urea

Monitoring urea levels is essential for detecting water and soil pollution and diagnosing urea cycle disorder-related diseases. The present study addresses the need for an efficient, accurate, and cost-effective detection method by developing an electrochemical sensor using ZnO/rGO nanocomposites. The sensor’s performance is evaluated through cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry, and amperometry, with different weight ratios of ZnO and rGO (3:1, 1:1, and 1:3). The results show that the ZnO/rGO (1:1) nanocomposite modified electrode exhibits remarkable sensitivity (850.15 μA-1 mM−1 cm−2), a low limit of detection (0.07 μM), excellent selectivity, and long-term stability for urea detection. Developed sensor leverages the advantages of electrochemical sensing, including simplicity, rapid response, high sensitivity, and good selectivity, making it a promising solution for environmental monitoring and medical diagnostics.