Uptake Of Pollutants Research Articles

Navigating the Nano Abyss: Understanding the Ecological Ramifications of Nanoparticle Pollution on Aquatic Organisms

Increased environmental occurrences of nanoparticles are reported to be hazardous to aquatic life. The uptake of nano pollutants poses a significant impact on fish behaviour, reproductive function, endocrine system, and immune response, among other physiological factors. The review article highlighted various factors that are involved in nanotoxicity and also listed out the effects and mechanisms of nanoparticle on aquatic system. The behaviour and toxicity of nanoparticles on oxidative stress, DNA damage, and histology abnormalities are recorded from various literature. Additionally, the knowledge gaps on the effect of nanoparticles that could alter the neurological and immunological systems of aquatic creatures, influencing the release of cytokines and neurotransmitters are summarized. Various developmental defects and physiological disorders in fish are caused by mitochondrial malfunction, membrane damage, and DNA changes. Haematological, biochemical, and histological characteristics in the exposed microenvironment affect the natural growth and development of aquatic organisms. Overall, this review highlights the critical information on the toxicity of the nano exudate on the aquatic species and records of their ecotoxicological assessment of aquatic ecosystem.

Unveiling the impact of low-molecular-weight organic acids on enrofloxacin sorption in North China agricultural soil: Insights and implications

Low-molecular-weight organic acids (LMWOAs) play a crucial role as components of dissolved organic matter in soil, influencing the sorption/desorption, degradation, and plant uptake of diverse pollutants within the agricultural soil ecosystem. This study delves into the sorption behavior and mechanism of the fluoroquinolone antibiotic enrofloxacin (ENR) on agricultural soil in North China, focusing on the impact of LMWOAs. Through batch equilibrium experiments, we explored the sorption/desorption kinetics of ENR under varying conditions such as temperature, pH, ion strength, and ion type, with the addition of acetic acid, oxalic acid, and citric acid individually. Our findings reveal that the sorption and desorption kinetics of ENR—whether with or without LMWOAs—conformed well to the pseudo-second-order kinetic model (R2 ≥ 0.997). The presence of LMWOAs notably enhanced ENR sorption while impeding desorption in soil, with oxalic acid demonstrating the highest promotion effect followed by acetic acid and citric acid. Moreover, the sorption capacity and affinity of ENR decreased with rising solution pH, dropping from 96.8%-98.5% to 30.9%–34.4%. Acidic conditions favored ENR retention in soil, with inhibition of sorption escalating alongside increasing ionic strength. LMWOAs, soil solution pH, and coexisting ions emerge as pivotal factors shaping ENR sorption behavior. Furthermore, LMWOA presence intensified desorption hysteresis of ENR on soil, with a desorption hysteresis coefficient (HI) ≤ 0.124. These results suggest that LMWOAs restrict ENR mobility in the local soil environment, heightening the risk of its accumulation in soil and crops. This study offers valuable insights into the intricate interplay among LMWOAs, ENR sorption dynamics, and environmental outcomes, underscoring the importance of understanding such complexities in agricultural soil management.

Effect of Soil-pH, temperature and moisture content on sorption dynamics of metformin and erythromycin

The rising soil-groundwater quality issues due to pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) contamination have spurred significant concern. To understand the sorption characteristics of metformin (MTN) and erythromycin (ETM) in sandy and sandy loam soils with varying organic matter and particle composition, sorption kinetics (single and competitive), isotherms, and thermodynamics were studied. The effects of pH and soil moisture content (SMC) were also investigated at environmentally relevant concentrations. The equilibrium time of MTN and ETM sorption by the three soils in a competitive solute system was about 4 h, and the sorption process was in line with a pseudo-second-order model. The rate-determining step in the process involved both intraparticle diffusion and liquid film diffusion mechanisms for the two PPCPs. The highest pollutant uptake occurred in soils with higher organic matter, driven by enhanced H-bonding, electrostatic interactions, and π-π and n-π interactions facilitated by the organic matter. The equilibrium data in the three soils was well described by the Freundlich model and confirmed favourable adsorption (1/nf = 1.01–1.90). The sorption coefficient (Kd) on the three soils ranged from 2.1 to 332 L/kg for MTN and from 6.25 to 845 L/kg for ETM. The adsorption process was feasible at 293 K and 303 K (ΔG° = - 0.16 to −10.24 kJ/mol), physical and exothermic in nature (ΔH° = −75.21 to −10.30 kJ/mol) for both the contaminants. Observed alterations in Qe with pH confirmed the participation of electrostatic interactions. A low SMC favoured both MTN and ETM sorption onto the sandy soil. Overall, ETM exhibits higher expected sorption, whereas MTN has a greater tendency for migration in the soils and is thus liable to contaminate the groundwater. The study accentuates novel insights into the transport and fate of MTN and ETM in soil-groundwater systems at environmentally relevant concentrations.

Contaminants in the Soil and Typical Crops of the Pannonian Region of Slovenia

Soil contamination and the uptake of pollutants by food crops are widespread issues that vary greatly by region and are influenced by the mineral composition of the soil and local human activities. The Pannonian region, where agriculture has played a key role since Roman times, has been particularly impacted by the long-standing agricultural and industrial practices. While soil contamination with heavy metals is monitored by the Slovenian government, microplastic contamination and the uptake of pollutants into food crops have yet to become a regular component of monitoring efforts. In this study, we conducted a preliminary investigation into soil and crop contamination across the Pannonian region, focusing on identifying harmful contaminants and their potential uptake into food crops. Both soil and crop samples were analyzed for the presence of heavy metals with proven methods such as atomic absorption spectrometry (FASS), graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GF-AAS), atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AFS), and inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) was found to be a potentially faster method of obtaining data on soil composition. Special attention was also given to the potential presence of microplastics in the region’s soils.

A novel 3D hierarchical NiFe-LDH/graphitic porous carbon composite as multifunctional adsorbent for efficient removal of cationic/anionic dyes and heavy metal ions

Developing effective adsorbents for wastewater purification is crucial, as excessive emissions of toxic dyes and heavy metal ions have been proven harmful to ecosystems and human health. A NiFe-layered double hydroxide/graphitic porous carbon (NiFe-LDH/GPC) composite was fabricated by introducing NiFe-LDH nanosheets into GPC via a simple hydrothermal method to utilize the advantages of both materials fully, and thus ultimately obtain a composite adsorbent with improved adsorption properties. The samples obtained were comprehensively characterized by various characterization means, and the effects of several critical influential factors on the pollutant uptake capability of the NiFe-LDH/GPC were also studied through batch experiments. The results show that the as-synthesized NiFe-LDH/GPC exhibits a three-dimensional (3D) fluffy ultrathin-wall hierarchical porous structure, which possesses a high specific surface area and pore volume separately up to 506.74 m2/g and 0.22 cm3 g−1 as well as a relatively narrow pore size distribution. These characteristics bring advantages to enhance the adsorption ability of the NiFe-LDH/GPC for cationic/anionic dyes and heavy metal ions such as congo red (CR), malachite green (MG) and hexavalent chrome (Cr(VI), which reached the maximum adsorption capacity of 1726.51 mg/g, 1157.11 mg/g and 155.72 mg/g under the optimum conditions, respectively. Meanwhile, the adsorption behavior can be well described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm model, reflecting that the sorption process mainly occurred chemically in the adsorbent monolayer. Furthermore, the NiFe-LDH/GPC maintained relatively high adsorption performance after multicycle testing, manifesting its good recyclability and stability.

Development of a Multiparticulate Metal-Organic Framework/Textile Fiber Swatch.

The versatility of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) has led to groundbreaking applications in a wide variety of fields, especially in the areas of energy, environment, and sustainability. For example, MOFs can be designed for high uptake of toxic gases and pollutants, such as CO2, NH3, and SO2, but designing a single MOF that shows tangible uptake for all of these gases is challenging due to the differences in the chemical and physical properties of these molecules. To this end, integrating multiple MOFs onto textile fibers and crafting various structures have emerged as pivotal developments, enhancing framework durability and usability. MOF composites prepared on readily available textile fibers offer the flexibility essential for critical applications, including heterogeneous catalysis, chemical sensing, toxic gas adsorption, and drug delivery, while preserving the unique characteristics of MOFs. This study introduces a scalable and adaptable method for seamlessly embedding multiple high-performing MOFs onto a single textile fiber using a dip-coating method. We explored the uptake capacity of these multi-MOF composites for CO2, NH3, and SO2 and observed a performance similar to that of traditional powdered materials. Along with harmful gas adsorption, we also have evaluated the permeation and reactivity of these MOF/textile composites toward chemical warfare agents (CWAs) like GD (soman), HD (mustard gas), and VX. In combination, these results demonstrate a fundamental advancement toward establishing a consistent strategy for the hydrolysis of nerve agents in real-world scenarios. This approach can substantially increase the protection toward CWAs and enhance the effectiveness of protective equipment such as fabrics for protective garments. This dip-coating method for the integration of multiple MOFs on a single textile fiber unlocks a wealth of possibilities and paves the way for future innovations in the deployment of MOF-based composites.

Use of Hair as Matrix for Trace Elements Biomonitoring in Cattle and Roe Deer Sharing Pastures in Northern Italy.

Intensive cattle breeding's environmental challenges are prompting shifts to extensive, pasture-based systems, influencing nutrient and pollutant uptake. PTEs are essential and non-essential elements, regularly found in the environment and organisms, and in which unbalances lead to health issues. Hair analysis, a non-invasive method, provides retrospective PTE exposure evaluation. This study aims to understand exposure and species-specific accumulation patterns of PTEs in cattle and roe deer sharing pastures in Northern Italy using the hair analysis. Aluminum, As, Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, Cu, Mg, Fe, and Zn were quantified through the use of ICP-OES. Findings show As levels significantly higher in roe deer due to their selective feeding, while Cd and Pb levels align with other studies. Essential elements like Cu, Fe, and Zn are lower in cattle, possibly due to diet differences. Higher Cr and Ni levels in cattle suggest contamination or physiological differences in accumulation patterns. In conclusion, hair analysis is valuable for monitoring environmental PTE exposure, highlighting significant interspecies differences and the potential of both animals as bioindicators in shared grazing areas.

Superior adsorptive uptake of methylene blue pollutant by nanobiochar- impregnated-layered double hydroxides

Design and assembly of novel, sustainable, ecofriendly and low-cost nanobiosorbents by facile and green approaches are generally aimed to apply in remediation of toxic and nonbiodegradable pollutants from aquatic systems. Hence, the current study is directed to synthesize a novel nanobiosorbent by a facile solid–solid and microwave-assisted approach for direct impregnation of derived nanobiochar from pomegranate peels waste feedstock (PPNC) onto magnesium (II) aluminum (III)-layered double hydroxide (MgAl-LDH) for the generation of MgAl-LDHs@PPNC. This was initially characterized by several techniques to confirm the morphological and structural features. The particle size range was identified (13.47–41.78 nm) and the concluded elemental compositions were Al (9.49 %), Mg (19.33 %), C (25.4 %), and O (45.78 %) according to the energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. The Fourier Transform-infrared (FT-IR) study denoted to several incorporated surface functionalities as –COOH, –OH, metal–O and others functionalities. MgAl-LDHs@PPNC exhibited a good surface area 275.57 m2g−1, while the zero-charge point was also detected at 6.0. Some experimental impacting conditions were testified and optimized by the batch removal system of methylene blue dye pollutant (MBDP) by MgAl-LDHs@PPNC. The concluded optimum conditions were figured out at pH 7.0, 15 min reaction duration, 25 mg nanobiosorbent dosage and 25 °C reaction temperature. Related expressions to isotherm and kinetic investigations were testified to confirm the most correlated experimental data to both Freundlich and pseudo-2nd-order expressions. Thermodynamic parameters were additionally computed to refer to the exothermal spontaneity trends in adsorptive reaction of MBDP onto MgAl-LDHs@PPNC. The evaluated nanobiosorbent is therefore, labeled with high stability to providing highly acceptable efficiency at 82.7–99.2 % (5 mgL−1) by the first-fifth regeneration processes. MgAl-LDHs@PPNC was finally afforded excellent removal uptake of MBDP (5 mgL−1) from real contaminated waters giving 93.17–98.27 %.

Modeling the Kinetics, Equilibrium and Thermodynamics of Poly(acrylamide)/Sodium-Bentonite for Enhanced Phenol Removal from Aqueous Media

A composite based on polyacrylamide and Na-bentonite, designated as PAAm/Na-bentonite was prepared by in-situ radical polymerization using ammonium persulfate as an initiator and bis-acrylamide as a crosslinker. The structural and morphological features were examined by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Brunner − Emmet − Teller measurements. The results showed PAAm intercalation in the Na-bentonite layers. Equilibrium, thermodynamics, and kinetic studies were conducted by considering the effects of pH, initial phenol concentration, contact time and temperature. The zeta potential of the PAAm/Na-bentonite composite was calculated to understand the mechanism of phenol adsorption onto our product. The pollutant uptake behavior was determined by UV-Vis spectrophotometry. Adsorption results showed that PAAm/Na-bentonite composite showed a maximum adsorption of 160.3 mg.g−1 of 30 mg.L−1 phenol solution at pH 6 after 15 min of adsorption using 4 g.L−1 of the adsorbent. The presence of acrylamide modified the surface characteristics of the Na-bentonite and offered more adsorption sites as confirmed by XRD and SEM. Equilibrium modeling of the phenol removal process was carried out using Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, and Dubinin–Radushkevich (D–R) adsorption isotherms. The equilibrium adsorption data were well fitted with the Langmuir model. In addition, the kinetics of adsorption were best described by a pseudo-second-order expression rather than a first-order model. The interactions between phenol molecules and adsorbent were explained by electrostatic as well as hydrogen bonding interactions, as confirmed by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. A model for the interactions between the composite and the phenol molecules is proposed. The negative values of Gibb’s free energy (ΔG°) confirmed that the process was spontaneous. The positive value of change in entropy (ΔS° = 0.922 JK−1mol−1) suggests that the randomness was increased at the solution/solid interface. We suggest, the results indicate that PAAm/Na-bentonite presents a significant potential as an adsorbent material for phenol removal from aqueous solutions.

Evaluation of Phytoremediation in the Ogoni Wasteland of Southern Nigeria

Phytoremediation offers an effective strategy for managing environmental degradation in the Ogoni wastelands of southern Nigeria, but its benefits and socio-economic implications have not been adequately studied. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of phytoremediation techniques on soil contamination and community perception and participation in environmental restoration efforts. Soil samples were collected from several sites in Ogoni wasteland, and pollutant concentrations were analyzed by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Selected plant species were used for phytoremediation interventions, and microbial activity was assessed using CO2 production rates. Household surveys and interviews were conducted to measure perceptions of community membership and involvement in correctional programs. Analysis of soil samples revealed a significant decrease in contaminant concentrations after phytoremediation, with average initial concentrations decreasing to 23.456 mg/kg and plant biomass accumulation rates of 0.567 kg/sq m returning to 4.901 kg/m², an indication of differences in activity of various organisms in pollutant uptake. After phytoremediation, the changes showed an increasing trend, with CO2 emissions increasing from 0.567 mg CO2/g/hr to 1.345 mg CO2/g/hr. The household survey showed a positive attitude towards the effectiveness of phytoremediation, with an average score of 4.012 on a scale of 1 to 5. Research findings show that phytoremediation can be a sustainable solution for soil pollution in the Ogoni wastelands. These results contribute to the existing body of knowledge by providing empirical evidence and insights into the environmental, social, and economic dynamics of ecological restoration in conflict zones on the background.

Detection of Microplastic Contamination in Commercial Insect Meals

Background: Escalating global plastic production, expected to reach 34,000 million tons by 2050, poses a significant threat to human and environmental well-being, particularly in aquatic ecosystems. Microplastics (MP) and nanoplastics (NP), which originate from the degradation of plastics, are of concern due to their potential bioaccumulation and uptake of pollutants. This study addresses identification methods and focuses on insect meal, a raw material for aquaculture feed. Methods: By using different techniques, the study was able to detect MP and NP in insect meal samples. Chemical digestion with KOH at 60 °C efficiently removed organic matter without affecting the synthetic polymer polyethylene (PE). Filtration, confocal Raman microscopy, SEM, and TEM were used for comprehensive analysis, and integrity tests on PE films were performed using Raman and FTIR spectroscopy. The results showed the presence of PE microplastic particles in the insect meal, which was confirmed by correlative Raman and SEM mapping on a positively charged surface. In addition, the increased resolution of the Raman microscope identified submicrometric PE NP (800 nm). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) confirmed plastic-like structures in the insect meal, highlighting the presence of PE plastics characterized by irregular shapes and some agglomeration. The higher carbon concentration in the EDX analysis supported the plastic nature, which was also confirmed by Raman spectroscopy. Conclusions: The study provides a robust method for the detection of MP and NP in insect meal and provides valuable insight into the possible presence of plastics in insect-based aquafeeds. The combination of different analytical methods increases the reliability of the results and sets the stage for future investigations that could focus on the quantification of NP and the assessment of their potential environmental impact.

Acid-activated corn silk as a promising phytosorbent for uptake of Malachite green and Cd (II) ion from simulated wastewater: equilibrium, kinetic and thermodynamic studies

Malachite green (MG) dye and cadmium metal ion are toxic pollutants that should be removed from aqueous environment. The recent study aimed to examine the adsorption behavior of MG dye and Cd (II) from wastewater onto low-cost adsorbent prepared by activating corn silk with nitric acid (ACS) and characterized by SEM, FTIR, XRD, BET and TGA. The optimum MG and Cd (II) adsorption was observed at pH 7 and pH 9 and maximum uptake of both pollutants was at 0.5 g dosage, 60 mins contact time and 20 mg/L initial concentration. The retention of dye and metal ion by the studied adsorbent was best fit to Langmuir isotherm and Pseudo-second order kinetics. The maximum monolayer coverage capacity of ACS for MG dye and Cd (II) ion was 18.38 mg/g and 25.53 mg/g, respectively. Thermodynamic studies predicted a spontaneous reaction with exothermic process for MG dye whereas an endothermic and spontaneous process was confirmed for Cd ion based on estimated parameters. The adsorption mechanism of MG dye and Cd (II) uptake was by combination of electrostatic interaction, pore diffusion, ion exchange, pie-pie attraction, hydrogen bonding, and complexation. The adsorbed pollutants were effectively desorbed with significant regeneration efficiency after successive five cycles that proved the potential of low-cost biosorbent for selective sequestration of cationic dye and divalent metal ion from effluents.

Mechanistic and data-driven perspectives on plant uptake of organic pollutants

Establishing reliable predictive models for plant uptake of organic pollutants is crucial for environmental risk assessment and guiding phytoremediation efforts. This study compiled an expanded dataset of plant cuticle-water partition coefficients (Kcw), a useful indicator for plant uptake, for 371 data points of 148 unique compounds and various plant species. Quantum/computational chemistry software and tools were utilized to compute various molecular descriptors, aiming to comprehensively characterize the properties and structures of each compound. Three types of models were developed to predict Kcw: a mechanism-driven pp-LFER model, a data-driven machine learning model, and an integrated mechanism-data-driven model. The mechanism-data-driven GBRT-ppLFER model exhibited superior performance, achieving RMSEtrain = 0.133 and RMSEtest = 0.301 while maintaining interpretability. The Shapley Additive Explanation analysis indicated that pp-LFER parameters, ESPI, FwRadicalmax, ExtFP607, and RDF70s are the key factors influencing plant uptake in the GBRT-ppLFER model. Overall, pp-LFER parameter, ESPI, and ExtFP607 show positive effects, while the remaining factors exhibit negative effects. Partial dependency analysis further indicated that plant uptake is not solely determined by individual factors but rather by the combined interactions of multiple factors. Specifically, compounds with ppLFER parameter >4, ESPI > −25.5, 0.098 < FwRadicalmax <0.132, and 2 < RFD70s < 3, are generally more readily taken up by plants. Besides, the predicted Kcw values from the GBRT-ppLFER model were effectively employed to estimate the plant-water partition coefficients and bioconcentration factors across different plant species and growth media (water, sand, and soil), achieving an outstanding performance with an RMSE of 0.497. This study provides effective tools for assessing plant uptake of organic pollutants and deepens our understanding of plant-environment-compound interactions.

Mutual Effects and Uptake of Organic Contaminants and Nanoplastics by Lettuce in Co-Exposure.

Organic contaminants, such as pesticides and pharmaceuticals, are commonly found in agricultural systems. With the growing use of plastic products, micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) are increasingly detected in these agricultural systems, necessitating research into their interactions and joint effects to truly understand their impact. Unfortunately, while there has been a long history of research into the uptake of organic pollutants by plants, similar research with MNPs is only beginning, and studies on their mutual effects and plant uptake are extremely rare. In this study, we examined the effects of three agriculturally relevant organic pollutants with distinctive hydrophobicity as measured by log KOW (trimethoprim: 0.91, atrazine: 2.61, and ibuprofen: 3.97) and 500 nm polystyrene nanoplastics on their uptake and accumulation by lettuce at two different salinity levels. Our results showed that nanoplastics increased the shoot concentration of ibuprofen by 77.4 and 309% in nonsaline and saline conditions, respectively. Alternatively, organic co-contaminants slightly lowered the PS NPs uptake in lettuce with a more pronounced decrease in saline water. These results underscore the impactful interactions of hydrophobic organic pollutants and increasing MNPs on a dynamic global environment.

Migration Behaviour of the Combined Pollutants of Cadmium and 2,2′,4,4′,5,5′-Hexabrominated Diphenyl Ether (BDE-153) in Amaranthus mangostanus L. and Their Toxicity to A. mangostanus

The effects of different concentrations of cadmium and 2,2′,4,4′,5,5′-hexabrominated diphenyl ether (BDE-153) on the growth and related physiological and biochemical indexes of Amaranthus mangostanus L. (amaranth) were studied. The results showed that the presence of BDE-153 promoted the absorption of Cd by the amaranth and inhibited the migration of Cd from the roots to the shoots. At the same time, 0.1 mg/L of Cd had a synergistic effect on the migration of BDE-153, but 5 mg/L Cd inhibited the accumulation of BDE-153 in the aboveground part of the amaranth. In addition, the kinetics of the uptake of pollutants by the amaranth showed that both Cd and BDE-153 could be transported by amaranth, but Cd and BDE-153 were mainly enriched in the roots, and the presence of Cd may cause a lag in the uptake of BDE-153 in the shoots. Compared with the control group, the biomass of the amaranth affected by BDE-153 and a high concentration of Cd (5 mg/L) decreased by 30.2–49.5%, the chlorophyll content decreased by 43.0–60.3%, the Evans blue increased, and the MDA content was higher. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) also decreased with an increase in the BDE-153 concentration. This indicates that the interaction between BDE-153 and a high concentration of Cd (5 mg/L) is more toxic to amaranth than single Cd pollution. This paper provides the necessary data support for phytoremediation of heavy metal and organic compound pollution.

Is Fucus a suitable biomonitoring organism for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon contamination? A study from the Faroe Islands

To evaluate seaweed as a biomonitoring organism, Fucus was sampled in the Faroe Islands. Nineteen PAHs, including the EPA 16, and four groups of alkylated PAHs were quantified using GC–MS analysis of extracts obtained using a modified QuEchERS method with ultrasonication in acetonitrile, back-extraction into hexane, and Florisil® cleanup. Samples from the harbor of Tórshavn collected at high tide were the most polluted with PAH concentrations between 1.3 × 102 and 1.7 × 102 ng/g wet weight. All samples contained a factor 10 higher concentrations of alkylated PAHs compared to their parent compounds. These results suggest that Fucus might be suitable as a biomonitoring organism for PAH pollution. Differences between samples collected in close proximity and on different days were observed (same range of RSD 14–120% and 60–102%, respectively), suggesting that water exchange, tide levels, and direct exposure to surface diesel pollution have a strong influence on pollutant uptake in Fucus. The findings stress the need for further evaluation of the sampling strategy.

Poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene) oxide/atactic poly(styrene) fibers with nanoporous crystalline phase

The preparation of poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene) oxide/atactic poly(styrene) (PPO/PS) fibers with nanoporous crystalline (NC) phase through guest-induced crystallization of melt-spun amorphous fibers is for the first time reported. These NC PPO/PS fibers display exceptional capacity to absorb volatile organic compounds from dissolved in water at very low concentrations. The equilibrium uptakes and sorption kinetics of perchloroethylene (PCE) exhibit significantly higher values and faster rates compared to the corresponding amorphous fibers. Furthermore, it is noteworthy that the equilibrium uptakes of NC PPO/PS fibers are considerably higher compared to NC PPO films. The fast pollutant uptake exhibited by these innovative NC PPO/PS fibers makes them highly promising potential applications in the field of water pollutant remediation.

Effects of uptake pathways on the accumulation, translocation, and metabolism of OPEs in rice: An emphasis on foliar uptake

The often-overlooked importance of foliar absorption on the plant uptake of organic pollutants was investigated by an exposure chamber test. Rice seedlings were exposed to organophosphate esters (OPEs) through 8 scenarios arranged from 3 major uptake pathways: root uptake via solution, foliar uptake via gas, and foliar uptake via particles, to identify the contributions of these 3 uptake pathways and their influences on the translocation and metabolism of OPEs in rice. The concentration of OPEs in rice tissues showed an “additive effect” with the increase of exposure pathways. OPEs in rice shoots mainly originated from foliar uptake through particle (29.6 %–63.5 %) and gaseous (28.5 %–49.4 %) absorptions rather than root uptake (7.86 %–24.2 %) under the exposure condition. In comparison with stomal absorption, wax layer penetration was the main pathway for most OPEs to enter into leaves, especially for those compounds with high octanol-air partition coefficients. Although the subcellular distributions of OPEs in the rice tissues of the foliar exposure were slightly different from those of the root exposure, hydrophobic OPEs were mainly stored in the cell wall with hydrophilic OPEs mainly in the cytosol. The translocation of OPEs from the exposed tissue to the unexposed tissue were significantly negatively correlated with their octanol-water partition coefficients, but their basipetal translocation were limited. The result suggested that the translocation of OPEs within rice is prioritized over their degradation. This study deepens our understanding of the processes behind OPE uptake by rice and highlights the importance of foliar uptake, especially for those via particle absorption.

Effect of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate on the uptake of microcystins by Brassica oleracea and Solanum tuberosum.

Globally, hypereutrophic conditions in major water reservoirs used for irrigation purposes, promote the co-existence of cyanotoxins and other pollutants such as linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS). LAS is known to alter the permeability of membranes and promote the uptake of other pollutants by plants. In light of the potential human health risks and prevailing hypereutrophic conditions in some catchments in South Africa, we investigated the combined effects of LAS and microcystins (MCs) on food plants when cyanobacteria infested water is used to irrigate terrestrial crops. To understand the potential risks, pot-culture experiments were conducted to assess the effect of LAS on the accumulation of MCs in Brassica oleracea (cabbage) and Solanum tuberosum (potato) plants. The plants were watered with dam water containing 3.48 mg L -1 of the LAS (sodium dodecyl sulfate) and MCs (MC-LR: 10.47 ± 3.879; 6.158 ± 4.127 for MC-RR and 8.160 ± 2.544 for MC-YR μg L -1) for 20 days. The presence of LAS, at environmentally relevant concentrations in the irrigation water, did not enhance the uptake of MCs in the two plants, as demonstrated by statistically insignificant differences in the means of the treatments (with and without LAS). In addition, the presence of LAS, high pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and cyanotoxins in the water did not affect the total chlorophyll or the well-being of the plants. However, in some cases the levels of MCs bioaccumulated by the two plants exceeded the WHO recommended tolerable daily intake (TDI). These findings imply that the tested levels of LAS and MCs did not have any synergic effects on the two plant species, but irrigating food crops with such water still poses a human health risk.

Using Plants to Cleanse Polluted Environments

Phytoremediation, a sustainable and eco-friendly method, harnesses the inherent capacities of plant life to remediate environmental pollution. This have a look at explores the mechanisms, plant choice standards, and techniques for enhancing phytoremediation efficiency. Mechanisms such as phytoextraction, phytostabilization, and rhizofiltration provide various tools for pollutant removal. The choice of plants, along with hyperaccumulators and people adaptable to numerous environments, performs a pivotal position in venture success. Genetic engineering provides a contemporary road to customise plants for optimized pollutant uptake, while synergies with bioremediation and nanotechnology present innovative solutions. Cautionary attention of ecological affects and ethical worries is emphasized. In conclusion, phytoremediation, with its multifaceted processes, holds promise for sustainable environmental cleanup, contributing to a resilient future.