Autumn-winter variability of chromium species in the PM₁₀ fraction of urban aerosols in Brno, Czech Republic.

Particle-driven transport and size-dependent partitioning of trace metals in a tropical wetland: insights from multivariate analysis in the Setiu Wetland, Malaysia.

Plastic composition drives the toxicity of UV-aged melamine-polypropylene microplastics, nanoplastics, and leachates on Raphidocelis subcapitata.

An efficient analytical strategy based on short-wave infrared hyperspectral imaging (SWIR-HSI: 1000-2500nm) combined with chemometrics was developed to rapidly and non-destructively identify micro-bioplastics (MBPs) within the anaerobic digestate matrix. Four representative BP objects were selected as sources of MBPs: a coffee capsule (CA) made of poly(lactic acid)/poly(butylene succinate) (PLA/PBS) blend; a cup (CU), composed of a Mater-Bi® commercial formulation based on PLA and PBS; a plate (PL) made of PLA; and a shopper bag (SH), made of a Mater-Bi® blend containing PLA, thermoplastic starch (TPS), and poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT). Each object was ground to obtain powdered MBPs in two size fractions (< 0.5mm and 0.5-1mm). These MBPs were manually placed in digestate-coated cellulose filters and acquired at two spatial resolutions (150 and 30μm/pixel), obtaining calibration and validation datasets. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was performed with explorative purposes to highlight spectral variability of MBPs and the digestate matrix. A hierarchical classifier based on Partial Least Squares-Discriminant Analysis (Hi-PLS-DA) was then developed to identify 5 classes: digestate matrix, CA, CU, PL, and SH. The Hi-PLS-DA model achieved very promising identification results, with sensitivity and specificity values from 0.83 to 1.00 in prediction. Minor local effects, such as spatial resolution limits, MBP transparency, edge effects, and matrix variability, were observed but did not significantly affect the overall identification. These results highlight the potential of the developed HSI-based strategy as a rapid tool for effectively detecting MBPs in digestate matrix, supporting the evaluation of anaerobic digestion product quality.

Photoexcited zinc oxide nanoparticles induce acute toxicity in Aedes aegypti larvae.

The Critical Role of Dose Homogeneity in Modern Breast Hypofractionation.

Prediction models of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in urban road dust via magnetic properties, particle size, and urban environmental features.

The conservative mixing behavior of dissolved organic matter: Assessment of size distributions and optical properties.

Relationship between the microplastics in typical marine organisms and the environment: A case study in Bohai Bay, China.

This work reveals the precipitation behavior in an Mg-3Al-5Zn-3Ca alloy during isothermal aging (without prior solution treatment) and its effects on mechanical properties and thermal conductivity. Significant precipitation of micro-scale C15-Al 2 Ca Laves phase occurs within the grains only when the temperature reaches 350 °C. During the initial aging stage, the precipitation fraction, number density, and size increase with aging time, while the solute-enriched zones near the grain boundary Ca-containing second phases are gradually consumed by nearby precipitation. Peak aging is achieved after 20 h. Upon further aging to 60 h, the volume fraction and average size of the precipitates continue to increase, exhibiting a balanced combination of properties. Dissolution of the grain boundary phases and precipitates occurred after 100 h.

PM2.5-dominant disruption of male reproductive hormone homeostasis: Prospective cohort evidence on differential effects from fine versus coarse particulate matter.

Seasonal abundance, distribution patterns and source attribution of n-alkanes in size-segregated aerosols in Delhi, Indo-Gangetic Plain.

Trait-mediated, size-dependent retention of particulate matter by urban roadside vegetation.

Elastomers commonly used as sealing materials are highly networked rubbery polymers. They may contain different pollutants such as fluorinated compounds like per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), for example used as additives to enhance the performance of the elastomer under a variety of chemical and mechanical stresses. As of now, no reliable recycling strategy for elastomers is available and they are consequentially disposed of by incineration or in landfills. Due to the potential wash out of additives or other pollutants into landfill leachates, elastomers present a possible source of continuous environmental pollution. A processing protocol for elastomers is required as a basis to enable the reliable determination of extractable fluorine: Here, we describe a quick and robust sample preparation protocol to determine extractable fluorine in various sealing materials. The optimization was aimed for time efficiency and robustness of results; sample preparation was conducted for fluorine sum parameter analysis via high resolution-continuum source-graphite furnace molecular absorption spectrometry (HR-CS-GFMAS). Samples were first roughly shredded to 2mm and then further milled and sieved to defined particle size fractions. Different size fractions were tested and the extraction of the size fraction between 125 and 250µm was found to be the best trade-off between extraction efficiency, time efficiency and sample loss. Subsequent methanolic or aqueous extraction and HR-CS-GFMAS analysis of various polymer samples revealed quantifiable extractable fluorine content for most samples. In the future, the sample processing method developed could make a valuable contribution as a standard operating procedure (SOP) for a time-efficient sample preparation for subsequent extraction and screening of sealing materials in prospect of the strict regulation on PFAS proposed by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).

Size-fractionated ambient particulate matter (PM) was collected from two of the most highly PM-polluted agricultural regions in California the Imperial Valley (PMIV), and San Joaquin Valley (Parlier, PMPA), to compare the effects of particle source, size, and duration of exposure on inflammatory gene expression, cell viability, and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) activation. Here we tested that the chemical composition of the PM would provoke different effects unique to the PM size fraction and with an association between exposure time, activation of AhR, and the expression of inflammatory genes. Human U937-derived macrophages were used to measure inflammatory biomarkers, cell viability and engulfment of PM. Particles across three size fractions - ultrafine (≥ 0.1 µm), fine (0.1-2.5 µm), and coarse (2.5-10 µm) were tested. Gene expression varied by PM source, size, and duration of exposure. PMIV typically induced a greater level of gene expression than PMPA of the same size fraction. For the 12-h experiments, ultrafine and coarse particle fractions were the most potent stimulators of gene expression compared to the control, irrespective of PM source. The results show that ultrafine/fine PMIV and fine PMPA typically produced the greatest increase in mRNA levels compared to the control in an AhR-dependent manner. Ultrafine and fine PM from both sites (PMIV and PMPA) preferentially engaged AhR-dependent signaling, whereas coarse PM activated NF-κB-mediated inflammatory pathways. Overall, this study demonstrates PM size- and time-dependent effects on inflammatory gene expression and highlights a distinction between AhR- and NF-κB-driven responses across PM fractions.

While liquid biopsy has potential to transform cancer diagnostics through minimally-invasive detection and monitoring of tumors, the impact of preanalytical factors such as the timing and anatomical location of blood draw is not well understood. To address this gap, we leveraged pet dogs with spontaneous cancer as a model system for liquid biopsy of plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA), as their compressed disease timeline facilitates rapid diagnostic benchmarking. We examined key cfDNA metrics, including DNA concentration in plasma, as well as tumor fraction and fragment size ratio derived from ultra low pass whole genome sequencing. We show that liquid biopsy metrics in dogs are consistent with reported human metrics. The tumor content of samples is slightly higher when blood is obtained from a central vein closer to the tumor. Metrics also differ between lymphoma and non-hematopoietic cancers, supporting cancer-type-specific interpretation. Disease status tracks with liquid biopsy findings over the course of treatment over both short (hours to days) and long (weeks to months) time frames, and trends of increased tumor fraction and other metrics are observed prior to clinical relapse in dogs with lymphoma and osteosarcoma. Together, these data support the utility of pet dogs with cancer as a relevant system for advancing liquid biopsy platforms.

The potential effects of microplastics （MPs） on soil organic carbon （SOC） and its components have attracted much attention in recent years. However， existing research tends to focus on the study of the effect of a single MPs characteristic on a single SOC component， and it is difficult to reveal the mechanism of the effect of multiple MPs characteristics on the inter-transformation among SOC components. Therefore， in this study， the Meta-analysis method was used to integrate and analyze 846 case data from 51 publications published between 2017 and May 2025， and the effects of MPs characteristics （type， mass fraction， and particle size） on SOCs and their fractions were systematically evaluated using the R language random-effects model and the mixed-effects model. The results showed that the addition of MPs significantly increased the content of soil organic carbon （SOC）， dissolved organic carbon （DOC）， microbial biomass carbon （MBC）， and mineral-bound organic carbon （MAOC） fractions by 25.14%， 30.42%， 31.90%， and 62.50%， respectively， while no significant effect was observed on the content of particulate organic carbon （POC） and permanganate-oxidizable organic carbon （POXC）. The increase in MAOC content reflected the potential contribution of MPs to the long-term retention and stability of SOC. The mass fraction of MPs was significantly positively correlated with its effect size on SOC， DOC， MBC， and MAOC concentrations， but significantly negatively correlated with its effect size on POXC， whereas the particle size of MPs was significantly negatively correlated with its effect size on SOC， DOC， and POXC， and positively correlated with its effect size on MAOC. Between-group differences in the effects of MPs on the content of stable organic carbon fractions （MAOC） versus reactive organic carbon fractions （POC and POXC） suggest that MPs may facilitate the conversion of reactive organic carbon fractions to stable organic carbon fractions. This study analyzed the characteristics of the changes in soil organic carbon content after the addition of MPs from the perspective of the mutual transformation of soil organic carbon components， which helps to explore the complex mechanism of the influence of MPs on the soil carbon cycle process.

Driven by sustainability goals and raw material scarcity issues, recycling of spent lithium‐ion batteries is becoming imperative. Pyrolysis is commonly employed for the removal of polymers to improve the liberation of active materials, yet its impact during the thermal degradation remains unexplored. Thus, the present study investigates the effect of pyrolysis time and temperature on the liberation and composition of “black mass (BM).” Thermal decomposition of various size fractions of an industrial BM was studied using thermogravimetric analysis and bench‐scale pyrolysis, while characterization before and after pyrolysis was performed using X‐ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Furthermore, analysis of gaseous byproducts during pyrolysis using Fourier transform infrared offered insights on the decomposition byproducts and their environmental impact. It is hereby demonstrated that, while pyrolysis results in the partial degradation of polymeric binders, this is not the result of pure thermal degradation. Indeed, graphite, polymers, and Al reduce cathode active materials into metallic species via in situ carbothermic or aluminothermic reduction, producing Al2O3, COx, and alkanes. The experimental results are rationalized into a reaction mechanism for pyrolysis of black mass, revealing that pretreatment via pyrolysis can compromise the preservation of battery active material and needs to be carefully considered during direct recycling routes.

Gunshot residue PM2.5 exposure: Cardiopulmonary effects and the role of RAGE signaling in inflammation and oxidative stress.

Microplastic pollution and ecological risks in the wet season: Potential effects on bacterial communities and nitrogen cycling in a coastal watershed of Southeast China.