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Neonicotinoids (NEOs), the most widely used class of insecticides, are pervasive in the environment, eliciting concerns due to their hydrophilicity, persistence, and potential ecological risks. As the leading pesticide consumer, China shows significant regional disparities in NEO contamination. This review explores NEO distribution, sources, and toxic risks across China. The primary NEO pollutants identified in environmental samples include imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, and acetamiprid. In the north, corn cultivation represents the principal source of NEOs during wet seasons, while rice dominates in the south year-round. The high concentration levels of NEOs have been detected in the aquatic environment in the southern regions (130.25 ng/L), the urban river Sects. (157.66 ng/L), and the downstream sections of the Yangtze River (58.9 ng/L), indicating that climate conditions and urban pollution emissions are important drivers of water pollution. Neonicotinoids were detected at higher levels in agricultural soils compared to other soil types, with southern agricultural areas showing higher concentrations (average 27.21 ng/g) than northern regions (average 12.77 ng/g). Atmospheric NEO levels were lower, with the highest concentration at 1560 pg/m3. The levels of total neonicotinoid pesticides in aquatic environments across China predominantly exceed the chronic toxicity ecological threshold of 35 ng/L, particularly in the regions of Beijing and the Qilu Lake Basin, where they likely exceed the acute toxicity ecological threshold of 200 ng/L. In the future, efforts should focus on neonicotinoid distribution in agriculturally developed regions of Southwest China, while also emphasizing their usage in urban greening and household settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibiotic contamination poses a significant global concern due to its far-reaching impact on public health and the environment. This comprehensive review delves into the prevalence of various antibiotic classes in environmental pollution and their interactions with natural ecosystems. Fluoroquinolones, macrolides, tetracyclines, and sulphonamides have emerged as prevalent contaminants in environmental matrices worldwide. The concentrations of these antibiotics vary across diverse environments, influenced by production practices, consumer behaviours, and socio-economic factors. Low- and low-middle-income countries face unique challenges in managing antibiotic contamination, with dominant mechanisms like hydrolysis, sorption, and biodegradation leading to the formation of toxic byproducts. Ecotoxicity reports reveal the detrimental effects of these byproducts on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, further emphasizing the gravity of the issue. Notably, monitoring the antibiotic parent compound alone may be inadequate for framing effective control and management strategies for antibiotic pollution. This review underscores the imperative of a comprehensive, multi-sectoral approach to address environmental antibiotic contamination and combat antimicrobial resistance. It also advocates for the development and implementation of tailored national action plans that consider specific environmental conditions and factors. Thus, an approach is crucial for safeguarding both public health and the delicate balance of our natural ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antioxidants are ubiquitous in various environmental samples, leading to increasing concern regarding their potential risk to environments or humans. However, there is dearth of information regarding the environmental fate of antioxidants and unknown/unexpected antioxidants in the environment. Here, we established a compound database (CDB) containing 320 current-used antioxidants by collecting the chemicals from EPA's functional use database and published documents. Physical–chemical characteristics of these antioxidants were estimated, and 19 ones were considered as persistent and bioaccumulative (P&B) substances. This CDB was further coupled with high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) technique, which was employed for suspect screening of antioxidants in extracts of sediments (n = 88) collected from Taihu Lake basin. We screened 119 HRMS features that can match 135 chemical formulas in the CDB, and 20 out of them exhibited the detection frequencies ≥ 90%. The total concentrations of suspect antioxidants in sediments ranged from 6.41 to 830 ng/g dw. Statistical analysis demonstrated that concentrations of suspect antioxidants in Taihu Lake were statistically significantly lower than those in Shihu and Jiulihu Lake, but greater than those from other small lakes. Collectively, this study provided a CDB that could be helpful for further monitoring studies of antioxidant in the environments, and also provided the first evidence regarding the ubiquity of antioxidants in aquatic environment of Taihu Lake basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In regions like Southeast Asia, Dhobi Ghats—traditional open-air laundromats—hold cultural significance and provide livelihoods to many people. These centers are near the riverbanks for easy access to water for washing. These Dhobi Ghats are among major sources of microfibers (MFs) in the waterbodies. However, there is no ample data that confirms their level of MF release into the waterbodies. This study reports for the first time the prevalence of microfibers (MFs) in wastewater from Dhobi Ghats in a North Indian city and comparatively assess them with the MF pollution from commercial laundries. A mean microfiber concentration of 3204 ± 270 MFs/L was observed in the discharged effluents of Dhobi Ghats, while a concentration at 36,923 ± 389 MFs/L was observed in effluents from commercial laundries. Pertinently, microfibers measuring less than 75 µm dominated in effluents of commercial laundries, accounting for 53% of the total. Conversely, microfibers within the 75–150-µm range were present in effluents of Dhobi Ghats, constituting 52%. Spectroscopic analyses by FTIR showed polyester and polyamides as the main polymers released from Dhobi Ghats. Ecological risk assessment demonstrated a potential environmental risk from the MF pollution from Dhobi Ghats and commercial laundries. The study also proposed a mitigation framework prioritizing both environmental protection and the sustenance of local livelihoods for reducing the microfiber pollution by the Dhobi Ghats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The okadaic acid (OA)-group toxins, including OA, dinophysistoxin-1 (DTX1), dinophysistoxin-2 (DTX2), and dinophysistoxin-3 (DTX3), cause diarrheic shellfish poisoning in humans. To manage OA-group toxins more strictly, Korean regulations were recently revised to consider OA, DTX1, DTX2, and DTX3 combined. Thus, our study characterized the occurrence of OA, DTX1, DTX2, and DTX3 in seafood distributed across South Korea, and a risk assessment of seafood consumption was conducted. Two hundred and seventeen samples from 16 bivalve and 7 non-bivalve species collected from three representative coastal areas in 2021 were analyzed via liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. OA, DTX1, and DTX3 were detected in 2.3%, 4.1%, and 9.2% of the examined samples, with positive mean levels of 11.3, 16.4, and 40.9 µg/kg, respectively. DTX2 was not detected in any of the samples. At least one OA-group toxin was detected in the bivalve samples, including blood clams, pan shells, hard clams, mussels, and scallops, whereas none were detected in non-bivalves. The estimated acute exposure to OA-group toxins through the intake of seafood in the Korean population and consumer groups was low, ranging from 24.7 to 74.5% of the recommended acute reference dose (ARfD) of 0.33 μg OA equivalents/kg body weight. However, for the scallop consumers aged 7–12 years, acute exposure to OA-group toxins exceeded the ARfD, indicating a possible health risk. These results suggest that including DTX3 in the new regulatory limits is appropriate to protect Korean seafood consumers from exposure to OA-group toxins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emerging contaminants (ECs) in aquatic environments have attracted attention due to their wide distribution and potential ecotoxicities. Sewage treatment plants (STPs) are proven to be the major source of ECs in the aquatic environment, while there remains insufficient understanding of the removal and risk assessment of ECs in STPs. Here, we clarified the degradation and risk impact of 13 ECs in two aquatic product processing sewage treatment plants (APPSTPs) along the southeast coast of China. The concentrations of ECs followed the order: endocrine-disrupting chemicals (1877.85–15,398.02 ng/L in influent, 3.37–44.47 ng/L in effluent) > > sulfonamide antibiotics (SAs, 75.14–906.19 ng/L in influent, 1.14–15.33 ng/L in effluent) > pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs, 44.47–589.93 ng/L in influent, 2.54–34.16 ng/L in effluent) ≈ fluoroquinolone antibiotic (54.76–434.83 ng/L in influent, 10.75–32.82 ng/L in effluent) > other antibiotics (16.21–51.96 ng/L in influent, 0.68–6.17 ng/L in effluent). Moreover, the concentrations of PPCPs (decreased by 55.33–87.65% in peak fishing season) and antibiotics (increased by 44.99% in peak fishing season) were affected by fishing activities. In particular, the sequencing batch reactor (SBR) process had a better removal effect than the anaerobic-anoxic–oxic (A2/O) process on the treatment of some contaminants (e.g., norfloxacin and nonylphenol). Risk evaluations of ECs demonstrated that nonylphenol and SAs were at high- and low-risk states, respectively. Overall, our results provide important information for the degradation treatment of ECs, which is essential for pollutant management policy formulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contamination of trace elements in Chinese edible herbs has attracted worldwide concern over the world. The objective of the present study was to investigate the occurrence and exposure assessment of eight trace elements in Rhizoma Cibotii from China. For this purpose, the method of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was employed to detect the contamination levels of target trace elements in 58 Rhizoma Cibotii samples. The results demonstrated that the trace elements of Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Pb were detected in all analyzed samples; the occurrence frequencies of As, Se, and Cd were 98.3%, 96.6%, and 98.3%, respectively. The highest mean levels were found in Zn (17.32 mg/kg), followed by Pb (8.50 mg/kg) and Cu (3.51 mg/kg). For a further step, one-way ANOVA was used to compare the difference of eight elements levels among groups, and Pearson's correlation analysis was used to explore the correlation between elements in Rhizoma Cibotii. A strong positive correlation between Zn and Cd was observed by Pearson's correlation analysis, which indicated that the possible presence of Cd contamination in Rhizoma Cibotii. Based on the contamination levels, the mean exposure of individual element and the health risks of eight trace elements in Rhizoma Cibotii were estimated by health risk assessment models. The calculated HQ values were less than 1, indicating that the contamination of trace elements in Rhizoma Cibotii did not pose significant health risks to human. In conclusion, the study provided baseline information on the contamination levels of trace elements in Rhizoma Cibotii. Moreover, it is necessary to monitor the trend of trace elements levels in Rhizoma Cibotii, which will be useful for ingredient control and human health protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical composition, surface morphology characteristics, and mineralogical characteristics of feed coals from six power plants were studied in this paper, as well as alteration behavior of mineral phase, functional groups, and trace elements during combustion. The apparent morphology of feed coals is different in compactness and order, while sharing a similar lamellar shape. Quartz, kaolinite, calcite, and illite are the main minerals in feed coals. There are obvious differences in the calorific value and temperature range in volatiles stages or coke combustion stages for feed coals. Peak positions for the main functional groups in feed coals are similar. After burning at 800 ℃, most organic functional groups in feed coals were lost in products, but the group of -CH2 on the side chain skeleton of n-alkane and the aromatic hydrocarbon bond (Ar–H) still existed in the ash, and the vibration of Si–O-Si bond and Al–OH bond in inorganic functional groups was strengthened. During combustion, Pb and Cr in feed coals will be accumulated in the mineral residues, unburned carbon, and residual ferromanganese minerals, along with the loss of organic matter and sulfide or the decomposition of carbonate. Pb and Cr are more easily adsorbed by the fine-graded coal combustion products. Occasionally, the abnormal phenomenon occurred in a medium-graded ash but with the maximum adsorption of Pb and Cr, which is mainly caused by the collision and agglomeration of the combustion products, or the adsorption capacity of different mineral components. The effects of diameter, coal species and feed coal on the forms of Pb and Cr in combustion products were also analyzed in this study. The study has some guiding significance for understanding the behavior track and alteration mechanism of Pb and Cr during coal combustion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global survey for the presence of microplastics (MPs) in aquatic environments has attracted widespread scientific attention over the past decade. However, evaluating the composition and characteristics of these anthropogenic debris using highly sensitive techniques is still under consideration. This study demonstrates a multidimensional analytical approach, including isotopic and thermogravimetric analyses to evaluate characteristics and behavior of MPs in the environment. The MP samples were collected in two contrasting coastal areas of Japan. The stable carbon isotope (δ13C) ratios of field-collected polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS) MPs ranged from −25.6‰ to −31.4‰, −23.4‰ to −30.9‰, and −27.3‰ to −28.6‰, respectively. The detected isotope signatures were similar to those of commercial products. In addition, the differences in δ13C signature were determined between MPs with different colors. Through thermal analysis, the single-step endothermic process was observed for environmental PE and PS-MPs. Patterns in the thermograms revealed dissimilarities in degradability among the PE-MPs with different colors. The results reveal that degradation (aging) may play a significant role in the behavior and characteristics of MP debris in the aquatic environment. The present study provides fundamental data of environmental MPs from the isotopic and thermogravimetric aspects and highlights the usefulness of the approach for advances in MP research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibiotics are largely applied in aquaculture to increase production and control diseases, while how the antibiotics used in pond farming influence the distribution of antibiotics in receiving water seasonally is still not well understood. In this study, the variations of 15 frequently used antibiotics in Honghu Lake and surrounding ponds were investigated seasonally to figure out the impact of pond farming on antibiotics distributions in Honghu Lake. Results showed that the antibiotic concentrations in fish ponds ranged from 11.76 to 389.8 ng/L, while in crab and crayfish ponds were lower than 30.49 ng/L. The predominant antibiotic in fish ponds was florfenicol, followed by sulfonamides and quinolones, with generally low concentrations. Sulfonamides and florfenicol were the main antibiotics in Honghu Lake, affected by the surrounding aquaculture water partially. The antibiotics residue in aquaculture ponds showed obvious seasonal characteristics, with the lowest in spring. From summer, the concentrations of antibiotics in aquaculture ponds gradually increased and reached a peak in autumn, and the seasonal variation of antibiotics in the receiving lake was also related to the antibiotics in the aquaculture ponds. Risk assessment analysis showed that antibiotics such as enrofloxacin and florfenicol in fish ponds posed a medium and low risk to algae, and Honghu Lake acted as a natural reservoir of antibiotics and poses increased risks to algae. In general, our study demonstrated that aquaculture represented by pond farming brought significant risks of antibiotic pollution to natural water bodies. Therefore, reasonable control of the fish antibiotics usage in autumn and winter, as well as the rational use of antibiotics in aquaculture and the use of antibiotics before pond cleaning, is required to reduce the migration of antibiotics from aquaculture surface water to the receiving lake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of bisphenols (BPs) has been well documented in the aquatic environment of many countries, but such studies from India are quite limited. The present work aimed to determine the occurrence of BPs in surface water (n = 96), tap water (n = 172), and packaged drinking water (n = 42) and estimate their exposure to humans. For this, a simple, sensitive, cost-effective, and green analytical chemistry method based on dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) was employed. Bisphenol A (BPA) was found as the most prevalent bisphenol (mean concentration range = 980–6470 ng/L) in all the water samples, with a % detection frequency of 17–39%. Bisphenol S (BPS) and bisphenol Z (BPZ) were also detected in all types of water samples. The mean estimated daily intake (EDI) for total BPs (tap water and packaged drinking water) was found to be 474.37 ng/kg b.w./day in adults and 665.65 ng/kg b.w./day in children, respectively. This indicated that the total exposure to all the detected BPs obtained for adults and children was lower than the temporary tolerable daily intake (t-TDI) recommended by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) (4 μg/kg b.w./day), thereby posing no substantial risks to humans from consuming water from the tap and/or packaged drinking water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents monitoring data on the spatial distribution and occurrence of pesticide residues of cultivated soil in the Huangshui catchment in the northeastern part of the Qinghai Tibet Plateau. We also provide factors that influence the distribution of pesticides, such as the properties of pesticides and soil and crop types. A total of 110 soil samples were collected in early April 2021, and 49 pesticides were analyzed. Only 3.6% of the samples contained no pesticide residues (concentrations < limit of quantitation or not detected [ND]), and the total pesticide concentration ranged from ND to 0.925 mg/kg. Most commonly, two to five pesticides were found in the soil samples (> 70.9%), and up to 10 pesticide residues were present in some samples. A total of 85 different pesticide combinations were observed in all the soil samples. Chlorpyrifos and difenoconazole were the dominant compounds. The levels of pesticide residues were mainly driven by their half-life values. Bulk density, along with soil water content and pH, also affected the retention of pesticides in the soil. The crop type played no role in the distribution of pesticides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mattress is among the main products of ectopic fermentation system (EFS); however, the research on the data of antimicrobial residues in the mattress of EFS and risk assessments of mattress have not been conducted. This study involved a scale survey to assess the levels and distributions of 54 antimicrobial residues, including 4 tetracyclines, 19 quinolones, 22 sulfonamides, 3 amphenicols, and 6 macrolides in mattress on 12 swine farms that use ectopic fermentation systems (EFS) in Zhejiang Province. A total of 25 antimicrobials were detected in mattress, and the total residue amount of antimicrobial in mattress samples of each farm was 0.77–28.2 g/T. Chlortetracycline had the highest contribution rate, and the residue amount of antimicrobial in mattress is not entirely determined by the start-up time of EFS but is related to the use of feed containing antimicrobial, medication habits, the level of mattress management, and maintenance methods of EFS. The risk assessments of antimicrobial in the mattress were carried out. The results show that the risk of using mattress of EFS for soil is low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past decades, phthalate acid esters (PAEs), as a new class of recalcitrant environmental contaminant, have attracted increasing concern due to their potential hazards to reproductive system. wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are generally regarded as a crucial barrier to prevent a variety of contaminants from introducing into aquatic environment. This paper reviews the occurrence, fate, and removal efficacy of six widely appearing PAEs in conventional wastewater treatment. PAEs removal appears to be compound- and process-dependent. Advanced treatment processes, including activated carbon, advanced oxidation process (AOPs), membrane filtration, and membrane bioreactor, show good performance in PAEs elimination, but many methods have been commercially limited by toxic byproducts, high operation, and maintenance costs. Even though combined processes are qualified as a promising alternative, further studies are required to optimize these processes, especially the competitiveness between technique and economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India has different bioclimatic zones and supports diverse aquatic habitats rich in biodiversity. For effective conservation of the endangered species in its habitat, it is essential to know the distribution of fish species in the environmental range, and for this, species distribution models are the efficient and innovative tools. The present study used the MaxEnt modeling technique for developing probability distribution models highlighting the distribution of fish species by analyzing the known occurrence records of Denison barb under genus Sahyadria (Sahyadria denisonii Day 1865 and Sahyadria chalakkudiensis (Menon et al., Rec Zool Surv India 97:61–63, 1999)) in relation to environmental variables typically incorporating seasonal and temporal variability. AUC of the models for Sahyadria species depicted good fitness. Both species were found sensitive to "solar radiation," "temperature seasonality," and "temperature annual range" and assessed as significant predictors. The sensitivity and distribution of both species to these environmental variables were found correlated with their breading and spawning seasons. "Precipitation" was determined as one of the significant climatic envelopes influencing the distribution of the species associated with river flow. The models showed the distribution of S. denisonii in the higher precipitation areas compared to S. chalakkudiensis. The probability distribution model with respect to the distribution of both species indicates a lineage barrier at Palghat Gap supporting the earlier studies. At the latitudinal scale, prediction of the suitable ecological habitat provides a detailed insight into the distribution of all genetic lineages of the genus Sahyadria. Evidently, the findings of this study can assist in determining ecological niches for endangered species of other areas and may aid in field surveys as well as developing conservation plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Planktivorous fish are easily susceptible to passive microplastic ingestion during their feeding behaviour and may be transferred along with the marine food web. Hence, the present study was conducted to assess the microplastics prevalence in the planktivorous fish (677 individuals) collected from 2 landing centres in the Thoothukudi, Gulf of Mannar region, South Tamil Nadu, India. The prevalence of microplastics was detected in 118 out of 677 individuals, with a mean abundance and percent occurrence of 1.22 ± 0.47 items/individual and 17%, respectively. The ingestion of microplastics in planktivorous fish was primarily due to their feeding habitat, in which they were prone to the accidental or passive intake of microplastics regardless of the fish's length and body weight. The microplastics abundance was significantly higher in Sardinella gibbosa (1.34 ± 0.56 items/individual), which might be due to their pelagic and planktivorous feeding habitat, highest filtration capacity, presence of closed gill rakers, and also due to the passive ingestion of microplastics as food items. Fibres, blue, and 1 to 2mmsized microplastics were predominant in the guts of Sardinella gibbosa, accounting for 95.74, 47.87, and 46.80%, respectively, whereas in Leiognathus lineolatus, fragments, black, and 1 to 2mmsized microplastics were highly prevalent with 62.96, 72.22, and 79.62%, respectively. The predominance of various shapes (fragments, fibres), sizes (1–2 mm), and colours (blue and black) of microplastics in the guts of fish was influenced by their passive ingestion, ingestion of contaminated planktonic prey, lack of selectivity of prey particles and their resemblance to plankton species. Polypropylene polymers predominated (96.77% and 95.23%) in both fish, followed by polystyrene (3.22% and 4.76%). Furthermore, this study provides baseline data and insists that there is a need for continuous monitoring of the distribution of microplastics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastic defines as a tiny plastic particle that has a size of less than 5 mm and is ubiquitous in the environment. Due to the tiny size, this microplastic adversely affected the environment, notably aquatic life via ingestion, choking, and entanglement. This microplastic is arduous to degrade as it takes a thousand years due to the properties of plastic itself and consequently remains in nature. In dealing with microplastic issues, this paper reflects the occurrence, impact, toxicity, and degradation methods of microplastics in the environment including physical, chemical, and biological treatments. Here, the physical treatment methods include incineration treatment, ultraviolet (UV), and photocatalytic. The incineration process contributes to environmental pollution due to the release of toxic gases into the atmosphere. In addition, chemical treatments for plastic waste are the degradation process involving chemical additives such as ethylene glycol (EG), nano-magnesium oxide (MgO), diethylene glycol (DEG), and calcium or zinc (Ca/Zn) stearate as a catalyst. These treatments depend on the chemicals that can affect human health and the ecosystem. The biodegradation treatment using bacterial and fungal species can consume the microplastic without disrupting the surrounding environment and biota. It includes recent findings on the biodegradation of microplastic under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Thus, biodegradation can be considered the best option to degrade microplastic as green and sustainable technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diet is an important exposure pathway of phthalate esters (PAEs) for humans. A total of 174 food samples covering 11 food groups were collected from Xi'an, a typical valley city in Northwest China, and analyzed to assess the occurrence and exposure risks for PAEs in the food. Twenty-two PAEs were detected. The sum of the 22 PAEs (∑22PAEs) varied between 0.0340 and 56.8 µg/g, with a mean of 3.94 µg/g. The major PAEs were di-iso-butyl phthalate (DiBP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP), bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), di-iso-nonyl phthalate (DiNP), and di-iso-decyl phthalate (DiDP), which were associated mainly with the usage of plasticizers. Bio-availability of the PAEs in the combined gastro-intestinal fluid simulant of digestion was higher than that in the single gastric or intestinal fluid simulant. Bis(2-methoxyethyl) phthalate exhibited the highest bio-availability in each of the three simulants. Bio-availability of the PAEs was negatively correlated with the molecular weight and octanol–water partition coefficient of the PAEs and positively correlated with the solubility and vapor pressure of the PAEs. The estimated daily intake (EDI) of PAEs based on national and municipal food consumption data was lower than the reference dose (RfD) of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the tolerable dairy intake (TDI) of European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), except for the EDI of DnBP and DiBP being higher than the TDI of EFSA. Grains and vegetables were the major sources of human dietary exposure to PAEs. The hazardous quotient for human dietary exposure to PAEs was less than the critical value of 1 and the cancer risk of butyl benzyl phthalate and DEHP was in the range of 10–11-10–6, suggesting relatively low health risks. The results indicated that human exposure to DnBP, DiBP, DEHP, DiNP, and DiDP in food is considerable and a health concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human activities have impacted many environments on earth, and thus several species are facing an increased risk of extinction. The environmental crisis requires rapid tools to assess the ecosystem health accurately. Studies have been conducted with visual indices that quantify habitat integrity by predicting species richness and diversity. However, whether a diverse clade can predict habitat integrity has not been used. The genus Argia (Rambur, 1842) is one of the most locally diverse groups in southeastern Mexico. In this context, we hypothesized that the occurrence, species richness, and diversity of adults Argia spp. could be a better predictor of the Visual-Based Habitat Assessment Score (VBHAS) than the other taxonomic levels or less diverse clades. We found that the richness and diversity of Argia spp. are positively correlated with VBHA scores, as same as taxonomic ratios. Simultaneously, VBHA scores increase to 23.51 times when Argia spp. diversity increases. We discuss the possible use of a diverse Odonata clade, as Argia spp. could surrogate habitat integrity for local long-term biomonitoring programs. This approach requires testing with other indices and verifying a reliable and consistent relationship between diverse clades and environmental assessment scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The resource, environment, and ecological value of drinking reservoirs have received widespread concerns due to the pollution of persistent organic pollutants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Therefore, we comprehensively studied the occurrence, source, distribution, and risk assessment of representative PAHs in Fengshuba Reservoir (FSBR) (large drinking reservoir, China). The total concentrations of 16 USEPA PAHs in the water phase, porewater phase, sediment phase, and soil phase were in ranges of 109.72–393.19 ng/L, 5.75–35.15 μg/L, 364.4–743.71 μg/kg, and 367.81–639.89 μg/kg, respectively. The naphthalene (Nap) was the dominant PAHs in the water phase, while it was Nap and phenanthrene (Phe) in porewater, sediment, and soil phase. The main sources of PAHs in FSBR were biomass combustion. Redundancy analysis indicated that the NTU, NO2-, NH4+, Chl-α, and IC were the dominant factors influencing the PAH distribution in water phase, and the PAHs in sediment phase was affected by T and NO3-. Pseudo-partitioning coefficients indicated that the PAHs in the porewater phase were more likely to migrate to the sediment phase. Risk assessment indicated that the PAHs both in the water and sediment phases were generally in a low-risk state, while the PAHs in the soil phase were in a moderate-risk state, and the Nap was in a high-risk state, and exposure to the PAHs in FSBR through drinking and skin exposure had little impact on consumers' health. In summary, Nap could be used as a key indicator to evaluate the existence and potential risk of PAHs in FSBR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organophosphate pesticides (OPPs) are one type of the most massively used pesticides and ubiquitously detected in aquatic environments, which may pose potential risks to the aquatic organisms and human health. In the present study, the spatiotemporal distribution and potential risks of OPPs were investigated in overlying water and surficial sediments from urban waterways of Guangzhou. For all studied sites, in general, four target OPPs (i.e., malathion, chlorpyrifos, terbufos, and diazinon) were present in the overlying water, with malathion and chlorpyrifos as major components. Higher concentrations of the four OPPs were found for the water and sediments collected in the dry season compared to the wet season, possibly because of the dilution effect of heavy rains. The results of Pearson's analyses and principal coordinate analyses (PCoA) suggested similar sources for target OPPs in the water and sediments across the Guangzhou urban waterways. Potential ecological risks of the OPPs to three representative taxons (algae, aquatic invertebrates, and fish) were evaluated via toxic units (TUs) and risk quotients (RQs), while risk assessment on human health was performed using hazard index (HI). Although TU results showed no acute risks to the aquatic organisms in the overlying water and surface sediments, RQ results of the mixture showed high risks to the aquatic invertebrate and fish in all water samples. Individual HI values and cumulative HI values were on the order of 10−6–10−3 for children and adults, suggesting no potential risks to either children or adults through drinking and bathing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twenty antibiotics were investigated to evaluate the degree of antibiotic pollution, the temporal and spatial antibiotic distribution and the ecological risks in the Xiaoqing River basin (main stream). The total antibiotic concentrations in surface water and sediment were 0.99 to 832.4 ng L−1 and 9.71 to 7841.61 ng g−1, respectively, and that ofloxacin was the dominant antibiotic. However, ofloxacin, erythromycin, clarithromycin and sulfamethoxazole posed high risks to algae, among which clarithromycin presented the highest risk quotients (23.8). In addition, there were spatial and temporal differences in the antibiotic concentration distribution. Temporally, the following trend was detected: dry season > normal season > wet season; spatially, the following trend was detected: Jinan > Dongying > Binzhou > Zibo > Weifang. Meanwhile, we used the PCA-MLR model to quantify the contribution rate of the four sewage treatment plants A, B, C and D. Factor 1 (co-sources A, B, C, D) contributed 64.1% of the total antibiotic concentration in the Xiaoqing River. According to the estimated flux into the sea, approximately 972.31 kg of antibiotics were discharged into Bohai Bay in 2017, posing a potential threat to the marine ecosystem. As a comprehensive river channel used for flood control, waterlogging, irrigation and shipping, its water quality safety is of great significance to the surrounding residents and ecological safety. Therefore, further investigations of antibiotic pollution and source contribution are necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater is considered as the main source for supplying the public drinking water in many countries and regions; however, pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) and artificial sweeteners (ASs) found in groundwater can exert harmful effects on human health and aquatic ecosystems, and therefore, they are of persistent concern. The recent data on the occurrence of a series of PPCPs (including antibiotics, excitants and lipid regulators) and ASs often detected in groundwater are reviewed, in which the PPCPs and ASs occur in groundwater at the concentration from several nanograms to several micrograms per litre. In addition, the spatio-temporal distribution characteristics of PPCPs and ASs are discussed and the main sources and possibly pollution pathways of PPCPs and ASs in groundwater are summarised and analysed. Additionally, the adsorption, migration and degradation of PPCPs and ASs in underground environments are evaluated. Due to the long residence time in groundwater, pollutants are likely to threaten the freshwater body for decades under certain conditions. Therefore, according to the current level of pollution, it is necessary to improve and enhance the supervision on PPCP and AS pollutants and prevent and control groundwater pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

8∑PAHs in 2- and 4-month-old desi chicken organs collected from Faisalabad district, Punjab, Pakistan, were examined via high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Exposure doses (AVDD) of PAHs with consequential lifetime excess cancer risks (LtECR) were also estimated in people ingesting laboratory barbecued (Lb) and commercially barbecued (Cb) desi meat organs. The results exposed the presence of 8ΣPAH in 2- and 4-month-old Lb and Cb chicken organs: drumsticks (Ds), breast (BS), and wings (Ws) (0.45, 3.10, 0.97 ng g−1; 2.52, 4.31, 1.22 ng g−1; and 10.09, 15.04, and 9.06 ng g−1 respectively). BαP was found only in Cb organs with the highest concentrations (5.08 ng g−1) in Bs. It was above the EU's tolerable limit, while it was not detected in all Lb organs. The lowest level of 8ΣPAH was found in 2-month-old desi Ws. A comparative percentage increase in 8ΣPAH levels between all Lb and Cb organs was found in the range of 1500–2416.67%. LtECR for males and adults were ranging from 1.35 × E−13 to 4.49 × E−5 at different consumption rates with AVDD ranging from 1.08 E−6 to 6.01 E−5. In contrast to 2- and 4- month-old chicken meat, 2-month-old desi meat is better having less PAH load. Comparing different organs, Ws of former one displayed abridged PAH levels. In conclusion, Lb desi meat is less carcinogenic relative to Cb. More PAH levels are due to secondary smoke in Cb samples collected from the metropolitan. Ingestion of Lb 2-month-old desi chicken organs could be safe to dine as compared with 4-month-old desi and Cb organs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Human activities, particularly in large cities, can lead to pollution caused by micropollutants such as pesticides in water bodies, which have been recognized as serious threats to the environment and human health. The pollution level of six organophosphorus pesticides, three herbicides, and one bactericide in groundwater and the Wenyu River, and their fates in three sewage treatment plants (STPs) and a hospital were investigated in this study. The concentrations of the ten detected pesticides ranged from not detected (ND) to 323.44 ng L−1 in different water samples from Beijing; metalaxyl was detected to have the highest concentration (89.58 ng L−1), and the detection frequencies of atrazine and metalaxyl were 100%. The maximum concentrations of pesticides in the Wenyu River, STPs, and the hospital were 1–2 orders of magnitude higher than those in the groundwater. Good removal efficiencies by the treatment processes were observed for ametryn (100%), while the removal efficiencies for atrazine and omethoate were the lowest in the three STPs (− 9.6% and 12.67%, respectively). Finally, risk quotient (RQ) values of each contaminant were estimated from the maximum values determined for typical urban to assess the ecology and health effects. In the case of environmental toxicity, the highest RQ values (> 1) were obtained for dichlorvos and omethoate. In the case of health toxicity, the RQ values show that the pesticides found in groundwater pose no potential health risks to humans at current concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are the important contaminants in used mineral oil (UMO) and likely pose environmental risks in the processes of disposal and regeneration. However, little information on the concentrations and associated with the risk of heavy metals and PAHs in various types of UMO from different industries is available. In this study, the occurrence of heavy metals and PAHs in the UMOs from typical industries in China was investigated. The median concentrations of 12 metals were 0.1–28 mg/kg. PAHs were mainly composed of 2- and 3-ring compounds and the median concentrations of 16 PAHs were 0.03–7.6 mg/kg in different UMO. The cluster analysis showed that samples with high heavy metal and PAH concentrations mainly originated from machine manufacturing and vehicle industries. The random forest model suggested that the species and phase of UMO were the main influencing factors associated with heavy metal concentrations, and the relative importance was 71.1–19.9%, 100–30.7%, 42.3–20.7%, 38.0–11.8%, and 100–24.1% for Cu, Zn, Ni, Cr, and Pb models, respectively, while industry was the main influencing factor associated with PAHs in UMO, and the relative importance was 81.5–51.5%, 27.7–16.5%, 83.4–25.3%, 94.8–21.4%, and 53.3–16.1% for 2- to 6-ring models, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glyphosate is a broad-spectrum, non-selective, post-emergence herbicide that controls weeds by inhibiting their ability to synthesize amino acids. It is characterized by high persistence and adsorption to soil, with its dissipation to be highly correlated to the climatic conditions. After its degradation in soil, aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) is the sole and major metabolite produced, characterized also by high persistence and adsorption. Both substances have the potential to remain in soil rather than move to other environmental compartments. Considering the recent intense debate during the EU renewal of glyphosate along with its wide use, it is apparent that both glyphosate and AMPA require further attention and information on their occurrence and distribution in EU soils. The present study does constitute the first extended soil monitoring survey of glyphosate and AMPA with samples derived during the years 2013–2015, from the highest extent of the Greek territory. Specific attention was given to areas of high agricultural production as well as to urban areas, since glyphosate-containing products are also registered for non-professional uses. The positive samples represented the 36.7% for glyphosate and 44.9% for AMPA, while the detected residues fluctuated from 0.026 to 40.6 μg g−1 and from 0.01 to 2.5 μg g−1 for glyphosate and AMPA, respectively. Our findings can constitute a basis for the determination of the background concentration levels of glyphosate and its metabolite in the Greek territory. As such, apart from being the first study for glyphosate monitoring in Greece, the most significant highlights recognized in the present work are the following: The high levels of glyphosate and AMPA residues in urban areas that indicate possible misuse of pesticides The generally low detection in the main agricultural basins and particularly near water recipients The fact that a potential for misuse of herbicides cannot be excluded even in the case of agricultural areas (considering that the maximum detection was in an olive grove and exceeded the model-predicted concentrations by 13 times) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disinfection byproducts (DBPs) in swimming pool have elicited increasing worldwide concern due to their potential health risks. However, only trihalomethanes (THMs) are regulated by several local governing bodies. Studies indicated that specific unregulated DBP classes would drive disinfected water toxicity in addition to THMs. Halobenzoquinones (HBQs), a type of emerging unregulated DBPs, have been shown to be possible bladder cancer carcinogens. This study aimed to determine the distribution and formation of HBQs in indoor and outdoor swimming pool waters of Nanning City, Southwest China. Seven HBQs in water from seven public indoor and outdoor swimming pools were examined using an effective ultra-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method. Results suggest the presence of 2,6-dichloro-1,4-benzoquinone in all the swimming pool waters in the range of 4.56–45.30 ng/L. Furthermore, 2,6-dibromo-1,4-benzoquinone and 3,4,5,6-tetrachloro-1,2-benzoquinone (TetraC-1,2-BQ) were detected in two pools at concentrations of < 0.38–14.20 and < 0.54–2.60 ng/L, respectively. The swimming pool water featured higher HBQs than input tap water, and TetraC-1,2-BQ was only detected in pool water. Higher HBQ levels were observed in the indoor pools than in the outdoor pools. These findings demonstrate that low NH3–N, high chloride, humic acid, chemical oxygen demand, and UV254 in the indoor pools increased the HBQ formation. This study is the first to reveal the occurrence and formation of HBQs in water from Chinese indoor and outdoor swimming pools. The findings should be useful in the management of these governing factors and HBQ controls in swimming pools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, nine OPEs were measured in 60 street dust samples collected from the central province of Henan, China. The total concentrations of OPEs (∑9OPEs) in street dust range from 2.77 to 505 μg/kg (median 59.3 μg/kg). Chlorinated OPEs are dominant in street dust with median concentration of 33.5 μg/kg, followed by aryl OPEs (median 9.05 μg/kg), and alkyl OPEs (median 6.19 μg/kg). No significant correlations are found between ∑9OPEs and parameters, such as population (p = 0.931), population density (p = 0.602), car ownership (p = 0.618), and gross domestic product (p = 0.863). Principal component analysis (PCA) result reveals that road traffic could be a major source of OPEs in street dust because of their extensive use in various vehicles. The total average (median) and high-level exposure (95th percentile) of OPEs are 1.01 × 10−2, 7.17 × 10−2 ng/kg bw/d for adults and 6.03 × 10−2, 0.43 ng/kg bw/d for children, respectively. Hazard quotient (HQ) values are 5–6 orders of magnitude lower than the acceptable risk level (HQ < 0.1), indicating there is still a low risk to local residents at current levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural steroid estrogens (NSEs), including free estrogens (FEs) and conjugated estrogens (CEs), are of emerging concern globally among public and scientific community due to their recognized adverse effects on human and wildlife endocrine systems in recent years. In this review, the properties, occurrence, sorption process, and transformation pathways of NSEs are clarified in the environment. The work comprehensively summarizes the occurrence of both free and conjugated estrogens in different natural and built environments (e.g., river, WWTPs, CAFOs, soil, and sediment). The sorption process of NSEs can be impacted by organic compounds, colloids, composition of clay minerals, specific surface area (SSA), cation exchange capacity (CEC), and pH value. The degradation and transformation of free and conjugated estrogens in the environment primarily involves oxidation, reduction, deconjugation, and esterification reactions. Elaboration about the major, subordinate, and minor transformation pathways of both biotic and abiotic processes among NSEs is highlighted. The moiety types and binding sites also would affect deconjugation degree and preferential transformation pathways of CEs. Notably, some intermediate products of NSEs still remain estrogenic potency during transformation process; the elimination of total estrogenic activity needs to be addressed in further studies. The in-depth researches regarding the behavior of both free and conjugated estrogens are further required to tackle their contamination problem in the ecosystem. Graphical abstract ᅟ [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seventy Chinese mitten crab samples, encompassing a total of 2100 individuals, were collected from the main production areas in China. The objective was to assess the occurrences and patterns of 23 selected organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in the edible tissues and assess the associated dietary risk. Concentrations of total residual OCPs in the mitten crabs ranged from 0.72 to 51.51 μg kg−1, which was comparable to other global aquatic species. Dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethanes (DDTs) and hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) were the two main contributors of total OCPs, with the detected values ranging from 0.14 to 30.89 μg kg−1 and 0.23 to 4.04 μg kg−1, respectively. Source analysis indicated the coexistence of both residual and recent DDT inputs, while there was no indication of HCH usage in the main production area of mitten crab. In terms of dietary risk, at least eight individual mitten crabs per day are permissible for consumption by local residents, indicating low risk from consumption. The results presented herein should guide the production and consumption of mitten crab, as well as promote the sustainable development of aquaculture in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Occurrence and distribution of 24 antibiotics from 7 categories were screened in sea cucumbers (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea) collected from different coastal regions of China. The samples were simultaneously extracted and purified using accelerated solvent extraction with in-cell clean-up and analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. A total of ten antibiotics were detected in the sea cucumbers with concentrations ranging from not detected to 32.8 μg/kg (dry weight). Sulfonamides are predominant antibiotics with a mean concentration of 11.5 μg/kg (dry weight), followed by macrolides (11.3 μg/kg, dry weight) and fluoroquinolones (11.2 μg/kg, dry weight). High concentrations of the antibiotics were found in the samples from the South China Sea, implying that the antibiotic pollution in sea cucumbers was geographical region-dependent, which was further confirmed by principal component analysis. It was also found that the antibiotic levels are slightly higher in instant sea cucumbers than in the dried ones. Hazard quotient calculation suggested no obvious human health risks associated with the consumption of sea cucumbers regarding antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Xiangjiang River is the mother river of the Hunan Province; also, it is a stream receiving effluents from wastewater treatment plants and even sewage, providing raw water for drinking water and habitat for various kinds of aquatic organisms. Thus, the occurrence and distribution of personal care products (PCPs) in the Xiangjiang River, including seven preservatives, four anticorrosion agents, two antimicrobials, and six UV filters, were detected to evaluate their environmental risk. Of 13 detected PCPs, methyl paraben, propyl paraben, 1H-benzotriazole, 5,6-dimethyl-1H-benzotriazole, triclosan, and triclocarban were detected with a high frequency (81.4-100%), and their concentrations were up to 3173.9, 1040.4, 520.5, 15.6, 20.0, and 13.3 ng/L, respectively. Seasonal and spatial differences of the PCP distributions were observed with p < 0.05. Compared with other 37 rivers around the world, the overall pollution level of the Xiangjiang River was moderate, characterized with higher preservatives, lower anticorrosion agents and UV filters in concentration. The risk assessment revealed that methyl paraben, propyl paraben, 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone, triclosan, and triclocarban were likely to have ecotoxicological effects on the fish, daphnias, and algae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibiotic resistance has become a widely concerned issue due to the huge risk on the ecological environment and human health. China has the highest production and consumption of antibiotics than other countries. Thus, antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) have been detected in various environmental settings (e.g., surface water, wastewater, sediment) in China. The occurrence of ARGs in these matrixes was summarized and discussed in this review. Sulfonamide resistance genes and tetracycline resistance genes were the most frequently detected ARGs in China. According to the abundance of these two classes of ARGs in the natural environment, sulfonamide resistance genes seem to be more stable than tetracycline resistance genes. Furthermore, the relationships between ARGs and antibiotics, antibiotic resistance bacteria (ARB), heavy metals, and environmental parameters (e.g., pH, organics) were also investigated. Specifically, relative abundance of total ARGs was found to correlate well with concentration of total antibiotics in aqueous phase but not in the solid phase (soil, sediment, sludge, and manure). As for relationship between ARGs and ARB, metals, and environmental parameters in different media, due to complex and variable environment, some exhibit positive correlation, some negative, while others no correlation at all. Three potential risks are discussed in the text: transmission to human, synergistic effect of different ARGs, and variability of ARGs. However, due to the complexity of the environment, more work is needed to establish a quantitative approach of ARG risk assessment, which can provide a theoretical support for the management of antibiotics and the protection of human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Occurrence and fate of sewage- and sludge-borne total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) have received little attention, although they might be an important component of the global Hg inventory. To address the knowledge gap, sewage and sewage sludge (SS) samples were collected from a secondary municipal sewage treatment plant (MSTP) located in Jiaozuo, China. Total Hg in the raw sewage varied between 95.3 ng/L and 1.2 × 103 ng/L, while MeHg occurred in the sewage within ranges of 2.7-21.3 ng/L. On average, 93.4% of THg and 89.1% of MeHg were removed from the raw sewage by the MSTP. Around 80% of net THg input into the MSTP was transported to the SS, while 80% of net MeHg input was decomposed during the treatment processes. Thus, MSTPs would be regarded as an important sink of sewage-borne THg and MeHg. On the other hand, MeHg widely occurred in the SS, with concentrations between 7.2 and 10.2 ng/g, accounting for 0.2% of the corresponding THg contents in the SS. Occurrence of THg and MeHg in the SS indicated that SS would be a significant source of MeHg and THg to the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Benzotriazole (BT) and 5-methyl-1H-benzotriazole (5-MeBT) are broadly used in industrial applications, such as anti-icing fluids and dishwashing detergent, and act as the primary building blocks for UV absorbers and photostabilizers. This study examined the occurrence of these two compounds in the environment and their unique photochemical behavior affecting photosensitizers and other micro-organic pollutants in aqueous environments. BT and 5-MeBT were detected in all river water samples from the major rivers in Taipei City in the concentration ranges of 147 to 1560 ng/L and 22 to 235 ng/L, respectively, and both compounds persisted through a conventional wastewater treatment plant. The direct photolysis half-lives of BT and 5-MeBT were 56.9 and 14.0 h, respectively. The half-life of photolysis in river water for BT was 44.2 h, whereas the half-life of 5-MeBT was 24.7 h. The long half-lives in real-water matrices resulted in their prevalence in water bodies, and these compounds were also found to minimize the photosensitizing ability of nitrate and dissolved organic matter (DOM) and increase the persistence of other micro-organic pollutant. With BT present, the production of ·OH in nitrate photolysis was reduced, the degradation of DOM under sunlight was hindered, and the photodegradation of pharmaceutical residues in surface water, such as methotrexate, was completely impeded. This study suggests that in cases in which BT and 5-MeBT are highly concentrated, the effectiveness of natural attenuation process, i.e., photodegradation, in the aqueous environment is diminished, which increases the persistence of the pollutants as well as the risk of exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antidepressants are gaining public attention because of increasing reports of their occurrence in environment and their potential impact on ecosystems and human health. Continuous input of pharmaceuticals into rivers, through psychiatric hospital or wastewater treatment plant (WWTPs) effluent, may cause adverse effects on the aquatic ecosystems of the receiving water bodies. This work investigates the occurrence and sources of 8 antidepressants in main stream and tributaries of Huangpu River in Shanghai. The detected concentrations of the selected antidepressants ranged from low nanogram per liter to 42.9 ng L (fluoxetine) in main stream and ranged from low nanogram per liter to 33.7 ng L (fluoxetine) in tributaries. To study the effect of hospital or wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) on environment, the upstream and downstream samples were analyzed. Generally, antidepressants had greater concentrations in downstream than that in upstream of the WWTPs or hospitals. It is suggesting that WWTPs and hospitals may introduce pollution into water environment. A preliminary risk assessment was conducted: none of the eight target compounds yielded risk quotient (RQ) values more than 0.1, thus indicating that no adverse effect is expected in water environment. These results will provide background data for future antidepressants pollution control and management in Shanghai, China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Occurrence of diazepam and its metabolites, nordiazepam, temazepam, and oxazepam in the water environment in Beijing was investigated. Samples were collected from four rivers flowing through the city and from all the thirteen sewage treatment plants in the urban area. Average influent concentrations of diazepman, temazepam, and oxazepam in 2013 summer ranged from 0.9 to 7.1, 1.5 to 3.4, and 2.9 to 12.4 ng L, respectively, whereas nordiazepam concentrations were below quantification limit on the majority of sampling dates. No significant seasonal variation in influent concentrations was observed. Removal during treatment was low for diazepman (<50%), temazepam (<20%), and oxazepam (<20%), consistent with previous findings reported in the literature. Wastewater-based epidemiology approach was applied to back-calculate population size-normalized diazepam consumption (using temazepam as biomarker) in Beijing, which was found to be at least 3.8 times more of the national average. Diazepam, temazepam, and oxazepam were widely detected in surface waters, with concentrations greater than concentrations in sewage influents at many sampling points, strongly indicating direct discharge of wastewater of high diazepam concentrations into the surface waters in the city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some researchers have hypothesised that meteorological factors may have an impact on acute cerebrovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to determine an impact of some meteorological factors on occurrence of acute cerebrovascular events in the middle-aged Kaunas population. Kaunas stroke register data were used. Data on meteorological factors for the time period from 2000 to 2010 were obtained from the Lithuanian Hydrometeorological Service Kaunas Meteorological Station. We analysed 4038 cases with stroke. Ischemic strokes composed 80.4% and haemorrhagic strokes-19.6%. According to Poisson regression analysis, significant negative correlation between ischemic, haemorrhagic and all types of stroke and ambient air temperature was found ( β coefficient − 0.007, −0.016, −0.009, p < 0.001, respectively). Results of ARIMA showed that ambient temperature of the day of stroke onset was associated with the occurrence of ischemic, haemorrhagic and all types of stroke: when temperature was lower, the risk of stroke was higher (−0.006, −0.003, −0.009, p < 0.001, respectively). Low temperature on the event day and 1 and 2 days before the event was associated with higher incidence of haemorrhagic stroke in women. Low ambient temperature on the event day increased incidence of haemorrhagic stroke in subjects 55-64 years. High wind speed on the event day was associated with higher incidence of ischemic stroke in older subjects. Meteorological factors may have some impact on the risk of acute cerebrovascular events. Health care providers should focus on preventive measures, which can reduce these risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydroxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers (OH-PBDEs) have been frequently observed in marine aquatic environments; however, little information is available on the occurrence of these compounds in freshwater aquatic environments, including freshwater lakes. In this study, we investigated the occurrence and spatial distribution of typical OH-PBDEs, including 2′-OH-BDE-68, 3-OH-BDE-47, 5-OH-BDE-47, and 6-OH-BDE-47 in surface sediments of Taihu Lake. 3-OH-BDE-47 was the predominant congener, followed by 5-OH-BDE-47, 2′-OH-BDE-68, and 6-OH-BDE-47. Distributions of these compounds are drastically different between sampling site which may be a result of differences in nearby point sources, such as the discharge of industrial wastewater and e-waste leachate. The positive correlation between ∑OH-PBDEs and total organic carbon (TOC) was moderate ( r = 0.485, p < 0.05), and site S3 and S15 were excluded due to point source pollution, suggesting that OH-PBDEs concentrations were controlled by sediment TOC content, as well as other factors. The pairwise correlations between the concentrations of these compounds suggest that these compounds may have similar input sources and environmental behavior. The target compounds in the sediments of Lake Taihu pose low risks to aquatic organisms. Results show that OH-PBDEs in Lake Taihu are largely dependent on pollution sources. Because of bioaccumulation and subsequent harmful effects on aquatic organisms, the concentrations of OH-PBDEs in freshwater ecosystems are of environmental concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objectives of the research are to determine the occurrence of pharmaceuticals in surface water and groundwater in the Republic of Serbia and to identify significant effects of river-water purification through riverbank filtration, concerning oxic conditions and hydrogeological conditions of alluvial aquifers in Serbia. Between 2009 and 2015, a total of 19 studied pharmaceuticals and metabolites were analyzed in 184 samples, 10 were detected in surface water, and 8 in groundwater. Carbamazepine and metamizole metabolites N-acetyl-4-amino-antipyrine (4-AAA) and N-formyl-4-amino-antipyrine (4-FAA) have the highest frequency of occurrence in surface water (57.3-68.8 %) and in groundwater (19.5-43.9 %), respectively. Highest detected concentrations were for 4-AAA (520 ng/L) and 4-FAA (248 ng/L) in surface water as well as in groundwater (4-AAA 128 ng/L and 4-FAA 150 ng/L). Results showed that riverbank filtration sites with different hydrogeological and oxic conditions could significantly remove investigated pharmaceuticals. Percentage of removal during riverbank filtration was determined for carbamazepine (65.4 %), trimethoprim (100 %), 4-AAA (91.2 %), and 4-FAA (70 %) for all investigated locations. Based on the available data for three specific locations (Danube River alluvion, Sava River alluvion, and Velika Morava River alluvion), results showed that besides oxic conditions, residence time of groundwater in alluvial aquifer and ratio of infiltrated water from river to the well play very important role in the quality of groundwater. These results are extremely important for better understanding of self-purification potential of alluvial aquifers and protection from potential impacts of anthropogenic pollution to the groundwater sources in the Republic of Serbia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) is considered to be an important medium for the transport and transformation of organic pollutants. This study attempted to comprehensively investigate polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and novel brominated flame retardants (NBFRs) in a WWTP in Harbin, one of the main 'Old Industrial Base' in China. The mean concentrations of the total PBDEs in the influent, effluent, and sludge were 152 ng/L, 16.2 ng/L, and 503 g/g dw, respectively, which were at the low end of the global range. BDE-209 was the most abundant congener, with contributions to the total PBDE ranging from 90.5 to 98.5 %. The level of the total NBFRs ranged from 24.5 to 107 ng/L, 0.95 to 20.3 ng/L, and 305 to 1202 ng/g dw in the influent, effluent, and sludge, respectively. For NBFRs, DBDPE was the most abundant congener (38.8-50.5 %), followed by BEHTBP (11.0-35.0 %). The ratio for DBDPE/BDE-209 (0.62 ± 0.42) was found less than 1 in sludge, which indicated that Deca-BDE is still the major BFR product in this city. Source identification suggested that indoor dust should be an important source of BFRs in the WWTP. Approximately 20.8 and 7.79 kg of PBDEs and NBFRs on annual basis were removed with the sludge. Biodegradation could play an important role on the fate of BFRs in the WWTP, which is required for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vancomycin (VCM) is an antibiotic, known medically as the deadline for defending against bacteria. In this study, the removal and fate of VCM were investigated in each treatment unit at two pharmaceutical wastewater treatment plants (PWWTPs) in eastern China. VCM was present in all wastewater and sludge samples of both PWWTPs. After the treatment procedure (the moving bed biofilm reactor technology for PWWTP1 and the modified anaerobic-anoxic-oxic technology for PWWTP2), total removal efficiencies were up to 99 %, corresponding to a reduction of two orders of magnitude of the influent concentrations in both PWWTPs. The aerobic tank dominated VCM removal. Mass balance flow analyses indicated that biodegradation (99.15 % for PWWTP1 and 99.51 % for PWWTP2) was the principle mechanism for removing VCM, while the contribution of sorption by sludge for both PWWTPs was negligible. However, the results of the environmental risk assessment of VCM in the effluents showed that the maximum trigger quotient values were much higher than 1 in both PWWTPs, indicating the non-negligible environmental and health risks. This is the first report of the fate and risks of VCM in pharmaceutical wastewater, and underscores the importance of PWWTPs as antibiotic pollution sources, even though wastewater management appeared efficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface sediment from large and eutrophic Lake Chaohu was investigated to determine the occurrence, spatial distribution, sources, and risks of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and heavy metals in one of the five biggest freshwater lakes in China. Total concentration of PCBs (ΣPCBs) in Lake Chaohu was 672 pg g dry weight (dw), with a range of 7 to 3999 pg g dw, which was lower than other water bodies worldwide. The majority of heavy metals were detected at all sampling locations, except for Sr, B, and In. Concentrations of Al, Fe, Ca, Mn, Sr, Co, Zn, Cd, Pb, and Hg were similar to that reported for other lakes globally. Concentrations of K, Mg, Na, Li, Ga, and Ag were greater than the average, whereas those of Cr, Ni, and Cu were lower. Cluster analysis (CA) and positive matrix factorization (PMF) yielded accordant results for the source apportionment of PCBs. The technical PCBs and microbial degradation accounted for 34.2 % and 65.8 % of total PCBs using PMF, and PMF revealed that natural and anthropogenic sources of heavy metals accounted for 38.1 % and 61.8 %, respectively. CA indicated that some toxic heavy metals (e.g., Cd, In, Tl, and Hg) were associated with Ca-Na-Mg minerals rather than Fe-Mn minerals. The uncorrelated results between organic matter revealed by pyrolysis technology and heavy metals might be caused by the existence of competitive adsorption between organic matter and minerals. PCBs and heavy metals were coupling discharge without organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), but with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). No sediment sample exceeded the toxic threshold for dioxin-like PCBs (dl-PCBs) set at 20 pg toxicity equivalency quantity (TEQ) g, (max dl-PCBs, 10.9 pg TEQ g). However, concentrations of Ag, Cd, and Hg were at levels of environmental concern. The sediment in the drinking water source area (DWSA) was threatened by heavy metals from other areas, and some fundamental solutions were proposed to protect the DWSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study describes a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analytical method for the analysis of cytostatic cyclophosphamide (CP), ifosfamide (IF) and their selected metabolites/transformation products (TPs): carboxy-cyclophosphamide (carboxy-CP), keto-cyclophosphamide (keto-CP) and 3-dechloroethyl-ifosfamide/ N-dechloroethyl-cyclophosphamide ( N-decl-CP) in wastewater (WW). Keto-cyclophosphamide, CP and IF were extracted with Oasis HLB and N-decl-CP and carboxy-CP with Isolute ENV+ cartridges. Analyte derivatization was performed by silylation (metabolites/TPs) and acetylation (CP and IF). The recoveries and LOQs of the developed method were 58, 87 and 103 % and 77.7, 43.7 and 6.7 ng L for carboxy-CP, keto-CP and N-decl-CP, respectively. After validation, the analytical method was applied to hospital WW and influent and effluent samples of a receiving WW treatment plant. In hospital WW, levels up to 2690, 47.0, 13,200, 2100 and 178 ng L were detected for CP, IF, carboxy-CP, N-decl-CP and keto-CP, respectively, while in influent and effluent samples concentrations were below LOQs. The formation of TPs during abiotic treatments was also studied. Liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry was used to identify CP and IF TPs in ultrapure water, treated with UV and UV/HO. UV treatment produced four CP TPs and four IF TPs, while UV/HO resulted in five CPs and four IF TPs. Besides already known TPs, three novel TPs (CP-TP138a, imino-ifosfamide and IF-TP138) have been tentatively identified. In hospital WW treated by UV/O/HO, none of the target metabolites/TPs resulted above LOQs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dongting Lake is the second largest freshwater lake in China. It is suffering from significant eutrophication as a result of excessive nutrients inputs, among which nitrogen (N) is becoming a major contributor. The objective of this study is to document the occurrence and controls on N transport and transformation in riparian zones of Dongting Lake wetland. Field experiments were conducted in the cultivated Li River (LR) and uncultivated Yuan River (YR) regions of the wetlands from June to November, 2014. Groundwater depth, redox potential (Eh), pH, and temperature were measured in situ. Groundwater and surface water samples were collected to determine concentrations of nitrate nitrogen (NO-N), nitrite nitrogen (NO-N), and ammonia nitrogen (NH-N). The results showed that NH-N was the dominant N pollutant with maximum average value of 2.7760 mg L. All the groundwater samples were rated to Class V based on NH-N content according to the groundwater quality standard, indicating the load of N in riparian zones had exceeded their capacity for assimilation and purification. Internal controls (including Eh and pH, temperature, and groundwater depth) and external controls (including surface water, land use, and rainfall) were analyzed in detail. The results suggested that Eh and pH were more significant in controlling N transport and transformation than temperature and groundwater depth; external controls influenced N fates through imposing an effect on internal controls. This study will provide important insights and a scientific basis for N pollution treatment and better protection of the Dongting Lake wetlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the occurrence of 8 antibiotics [3 tetracyclines (TCs), 4 sulfonamides, and 1 trimethoprim (TMP)], 12 antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) (10 tet, 2 sul), 4 types of bacteria [no antibiotics, anti-TC, anti-sulfamethoxazole (SMX), and anti-double], and intI1 in two wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) were assessed and their influences in downstream lake were investigated. Both WWTPs' effluent demonstrated some similarities, but the abundance and removal rate varied significantly. Results revealed that biological treatment mainly removed antibiotics and ARGs, whereas physical techniques were found to eliminate antibiotic resistance bacteria (ARBs) abundance (about 1 log for each one). UV disinfection did not significantly enhance the removal efficiency, and the release of the abundantly available target contaminants from the excess sludge may pose threats to human and the environment. Different antibiotics showed diverse influences on the downstream lake, and the concentrations of sulfamethazine (SM2) and SMX were observed to increase enormously. The total ARG abundance ascended about 0.1 log and some ARGs (e.g., tetC, intI1, tetA) increased due to the high input of the effluent. In addition, the abundance of ARB variation in the lake also changed, but the abundance of four types of bacteria remained stable in the downstream sampling sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultraviolet (UV) filters are widely used in the formulation of personal care products (PCPs) to prevent damage to the skin, lips, and hair caused by excessive UV radiation. Therefore, large amounts of these substances are released daily into the aquatic environment through either recreational activities or the release of domestic sewage. The concern regarding the presence of such substances in the environment and the exposure of aquatic organisms is based on their potential for bioaccumulation and their potential as endocrine disruptors. Although there are several reports regarding the occurrence and fate of UV filters in the aquatic environment, these compounds are still overlooked in tropical areas. In this study, we investigated the occurrence of the organic UV filters benzophenone-3 (BP-3), ethylhexyl salicylate (ES), ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate (EHMC), and octocrylene (OC) in six water treatment plants in various cities in Southeast Brazil over a period of 6 months to 1 year. All of the UV filters studied were detected at some time during the sampling period; however, only EHMC and BP-3 were found in quantifiable concentrations, ranging from 55 to 101 and 18 to 115 ng L, respectively. Seasonal variation of BP-3 was most clearly noticed in the water treatment plant in Araraquara, São Paulo, where sampling was performed for 12 months. BP-3 was not quantifiable in winter but was quantifiable in summer. The levels of BP-3 were in the same range in raw, treated and chlorinated water, indicating that the compound was not removed by the water treatment process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater is the main source of drinking water for more than half of the residents of Hanoi (HN). It also provides about one third of the total water demand for residents of Ho Chi Minh City (HCM). However, due to rapid urbanization and frequent discharges of untreated urban wastewater to surface water, freshwater is widely contaminated by man-made chemicals, which may result in groundwater pollution. As part of an ongoing campaign to collect baseline information on the occurrence of organic micro-pollutants (OMPs) in the aquatic environment in Vietnam, 43 water samples were collected from 26 groundwater wells in HN (22) and HCM (4) in September 2013 and August 2014. Samples were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and the resulting chromatograms were screened for 940 OMPs by an automated identification and quantification system (AIQS) within a GC-MS database. A total of 74 compounds were detected, with between 4 and 43 (median 18) compounds found at each site. Overall, contamination levels were low, with over 89 % of the detected concentrations that were less than 0.5 μg L. Results suggest that most of the sampled aquifers have been impacted by non-point source pollution. Most of the contaminants detected are either currently not regulated in drinking water or are present at low levels. A health risk assessment for detected contaminants implied that there were no risks to humans. Since this study was based on a limited number of samples, especially in HCM, further, more detailed studies on the occurrence of OMPs in groundwater in HCM and a full risk assessment of detected contaminants should be prioritized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objectives of this work are to track the contamination levels, distribution characteristics, and sources of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in atmospheric particulate matter (APM) of Northern China and to provide more comprehensive and fundamental data for risk assessment of organochlorine contaminants (OCs) in environments. Samples were extracted and purified by the microwave-assisted extraction and solid-phase extraction system, respectively. PCBs and OCPs were analyzed by gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer. The concentrations of ΣPCBs and ΣOCPs ranged from 0.73 to 112.65 ng/g and 0.14 to 34.73 ng/g, respectively. PCBs in atmospheric particulates collected from Shijiazhuang City had the highest concentration, whereas OCP congeners were at the relatively low levels. However, the highest concentration of OCPs occurred in Yongning City. The principal component analysis indicated that the predominant compositions of PCBs in most of samples were tetrachlorobiphenyl (Tetra-CB), pentachlorobiphenyl (Penta-CB), hexachlorobiphenyl (Hexa-CB), and heptachlorbiphenyl (Hepta-CB), while hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), DDTs, chlordanes, and endosulfans were the dominant components of OCPs, which was attributed to their application characteristics. OCs in those particles were further used to assess a potential cancer risk to humans via ingestion, dermal contact, and inhalation. Cancer risk was evaluated in airborne particles caused by PCBs and OCPs. TEQ values suggested that the representative areas were subject to different pollution degrees. However, the pollution of OCPs in certain areas should be a concern due to 41.6 % of the high risk, which could pose a potential risk to organisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]