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As water effluents are often highly contaminated with metals, having a quick and cost-effective method of analysis is crucial. This study used the supernatant derived from the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with Solanum mammosum to detect mercury, copper, and iron with a low-cost cellulose paper-based sensor and a rapid colorimetric method applying ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis). AgNPs in two precursor concentrations using silver nitrate, 1 mM (17.4 ± 9 nm) and 50 mM (and 22 ± 8.1 nm), were utilized to assess the efficacy of the analysis and removal of Hg2+, Cu2+, and Fe3+ from contaminated water. Cellulose paper-based sensor showed limits of detection (LODs) for Hg2+ of 2.46 and 123 μM using AgNPs at concentrations of 1 and 50 mM, respectively. For Cu2+, the LODs were 55 and 2750 μM, and for Fe3+, the LODs were 49 and 2470 μM using the respective concentrations. To differentiate and detect the cations with the naked eye, a potassium iodide and potassium ferrocyanide (1:1) aqueous solution was used, producing a yellow, pink, and blue color for Hg2+, Cu2+, and Fe3+, respectively. Additionally, the titration curves of Hg2+, Fe3+, and Cu2+ were examined by UV–Vis using the supernatant liquid. The LODs for the UV–Vis method using AgNPs at a concentration of 1 mM were 1.50 μM for Hg2+, 10.7 μM for Cu2+, and 4.33 μM for Fe3+, while the LODs for AgNPs at 50 mM were 5.75, 27.6, and 15 μM for Hg2+, Cu2+, and Fe3+, respectively. Furthermore, these nanoparticles were utilized to assess the efficacy of the removal of Hg2+, Cu2+, and Fe3+ from contaminated water. Removal efficiency with the solid 50 mM AgNPs was analyzed via flame absorption spectrophotometry; values over 95% were obtained for the three ions. The results underscore the effectiveness of a green synthesis approach to generating AgNPs, enabling efficient and economical cation analysis and water decontamination.

BACKGROUND: This work proposes the use of a simple, inexpensive method for the hydrothermal synthesis of fluorescent carbon dot nanoparticles (CDs) from rice starch aimed at the determination of Hg2+ in water. The proposed method involved using a paper‐based analytical device coupled to a 3D plate, with a UV‐LED chamber and a smartphone for the acquisition and analysis of the fluorescence digital images of the CDs. RESULTS: The size of the carbon dots ranged from 0.5 to 3 nm, with an average particle size of ~1 nm. The functionalization of carbon dots with methimazole allowed a high selective for Hg2+ determination. The results obtained showed a linear response R2 of 0.997 and Hg2+ concentration in the range of 0.5–45.0 μmol L−1 with a limit of detection and limit of quantitation of 0.23 and 0.62 μmol L−1, respectively. The results of the study show that there were no significant differences, at 95% confidence level, between the data obtained from the application of the proposed method and the reference method. CONCLUSION: The proposed method is in line with the principles of green chemistry, as it involves the use of renewable sources for starch extraction and a hydrothermal synthesis process that does not employ toxic reagents. In addition, the method employs only 15 μL reagent/sample. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mercury pollution, with India ranked as the world's second-largest emitter, poses a critical environmental and public health challenge and underscores the need for rigorous research and effective mitigation strategies. Nanocellulose is derived from cellulose, the most abundant natural polymer on earth, and stands out as an excellent choice for mercury ion remediation due to its remarkable adsorption capacity, which is attributed to its high specific surface area and abundant functional groups, enabling efficient Hg(II) ion removal from contaminated water sources. This review paper investigates the compelling potential of nanocellulose as a scavenging tool for Hg(II) ion contamination. The comprehensive examination encompasses the fundamental attributes of nanocellulose, its diverse fabrication techniques, and the innovative development methods of nanocellulose-based nanocomposites. The paper further delves into the mechanisms that underlie Hg removal using nanocellulose, as well as the integration of nanocellulose in Hg detection methodologies, and also acknowledges the substantial challenges that lie ahead. This review aims to pave the way for sustainable solutions in mitigating Hg contamination using nanocellulose-based nanocomposites to address the global context of this environmental concern., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Creating a sensitive, accuracy and portable fluorescent probe to monitor Hg2+ with rapid visual convenient process is highly desirable but remains challenging. Herein, orange emissive carbon dots (O-CDs) were synthesized and optimized by solvothermal method using p-phenylenediamine (p-PDA) as precursor. The O-CDs emitted an orange emission at 594 nm excited at 480 nm, with QY of 23.25% and a long lifetime of 14.43 μs. The O-CDs exhibited sensitive quenching response towards Hg2+ based on dynamic quenching effect, which facilitated O-CDs utilizing as the fluorescent probe with the limit of detection at 37.6 nM. The O-CDs fulfilled sensing Hg2+ in environmental water with satisfactory recoveries (90.3%−107.8%) and relative standard deviation (RSD) of less than 3.81%, manifested their excellent environmental tolerance. Notably, the O-CDs based test paper was fabricated and served as a portable sensor with a smartphone assistant for detection of Hg2+, which greatly elevated the sensing performance of test paper. This work contributed an innovative approach for the synthesis of O-CDs, as well as a reliable sensitive sensor based on portable test paper for an intelligent readable recognizing system, which could be regarded as promising candidate for real detection of Hg2+. • Orange emissive O-CDs were fabricated with QY of 23.25% and lifetime of 14.43 μs. • High selectivity and sensitivity detection for Hg2+ was achieved with LOD of 37.6 nM. • O-CDs based portable test paper supported by smart phone achieved LOD of 58.5 nM. • Real sample analysis for Hg2+ detection with satisfied results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mercury (Hg) is one of the most potent toxic heavy metals that distresses livestock, humans, and ecological health. Owing to uncontrolled exposure to untreated tannery industrial effluents, metals such as Hg are increasing in nature and are, therefore, becoming a global concern. As a result, understanding the thriving microflora in that severe condition and their characteristics becomes immensely important. During the course of this study, two Hg-resistant bacteria were isolated from tannery wastewater effluents from leather factories in Kolkata, India, which were able to tolerate 2.211 × 10 - 3 M (600 µg/ml) Hg. 16 S rDNA analysis revealed strong sequence homology with Citrobacter freundii, were named as BNC22A and BNC22C for this study. In addition they showed high tolerance to nickel (Ni) and Chromium (Cr) at 6.31 × 10 - 3 M (1500 µg/ml) and 6.792 × 10 - 3 M (2000 µg/ml) respectively. However, both the isolates were sensitive to arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd). Furthermore, their antibiotic sensitivity profiles reveal a concerning trend towards resistance to multiple drugs. Overuse and misuse of antibiotics in healthcare systems and agriculture has been identified as two of the main reasons for the decline in efficacy of antibiotics. Though their ability to produce lipase makes them industrially potent organisms, their competence to resist several antibiotics and metals that are toxic makes this study immensely relevant. In addition, their ability to negate heavy metal toxicity makes them potential candidates for bioremediation. Finally, the green mung bean seed germination test showed a significant favourable effect of BNC22A and BNC22C against Hg-stimulated toxicity., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

A simple, efficient, and reversible fluorescent sensor probe, PBA (2,6-dimethyl pyrone barbituric acid conjugate), comprised of a pro-aromatic donor conjugated with a barbituric acid, was developed for the detection of highly toxic mercuric ions. The probe showed high selectivity and "Turn-On" fluorescence response towards Hg 2+ among various metal cations such as Na + , Mg 2+ , Ca 2+ , Mn 2+ , Fe 2+ , Co 2+ , Ni 2+ , Cu 2+ , Zn 2+ , Cd 2+ , Ba 2+ , Hg 2+ , and Pb 2+ , in both homogeneous and microheterogeneous micelle medium sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS). The binding stoichiometry, limit of detection (LOD), and binding constant for the PBA-Hg complex were determined. The mechanism of binding was ascertained using the N,N'-dimethylbarbituric acid conjugate of 2,6-dimethylpyran (PDMBA), where no binding interaction by deprotonation is possible. In the presence of cysteamine hydrochloride and trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), the complexation of Hg 2+ with PBA was demonstrated to be reversible, indicating its potential for the development of reusable sensors. Moreover, the practical applicability of PBA in monitoring Hg 2+ in living cells was also evaluated., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Chromium (Cr), total arsenic (As), inorganic arsenic (iAs), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), methylmercury (MeHg), and lead (Pb) were analyzed in in Agaricus blazei, Tricholoma matsutake, Pholiota nameko, agrocybe aegirit, Boletus edulis, Auricularia auricula, and Lentinus edodes collected from online supermarket in China from 2015 to 2017. The order of mean concentrations for the five heavy metals in edible mushrooms was As > Cd > Cr > Pb > Hg. No positive correlation was found between total As and iAs, nor between total Hg and MeHg. The contents of iAs were at a low level except for A. blazei samples. The contents of MeHg were at a low level in all test mushroom samples. And Cr, Cd, and Pb pollution were common problems in the test mushroom samples. The comprehensive factor pollution index was between 0.569 (A. auricula) and 3.056 (B. edulis). The THQ values for the five heavy metals from P. nameko, A. auricula, A. aegirit, and L. edodes samples were less than 1. The hazard index (HI) values of A. blazei, T. matsutake, and B. edulis samples for adults and children were greater than 1, indicating significant health hazard to the adults and children consumers. The cancer risk (CR) values for iAs ranged from 3.82 × 10 - 6 (T. matsutake) to 8.61 × 10 - 5 (A. blazei), indicating no potential carcinogenic risk to the consumers. The order for carcinogenic risk of each edible mushroom species was A. blazei > L. edodes > P. nameko > A. aegirit > A. auricula > B. edulis > T. matsutake., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Toxic elements that pose a potential threat to human health are found as impurities in various cosmetic products. In this study, the inorganic profile of 19 elements (Li, B, Mg, Al, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Sr, Mo, Cd, Sb, Ba, Hg, and Pb) in 90 cosmetic products (lipsticks, lip glosses, lip pencils and eye shadows) were detected by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry after microwave acid digestion method and hazard indices (HI) of 9 toxic elements (Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni, Co, As, Hg, Sb, and Al) were calculated for the assessment of theoretical health risk. Satisfactory method performance parameters were found for each analyte. The results were compared with the maximum permissible limits set by regulatory agencies; 38 of 41 lip products (92.68%) and all eye shadows (n = 49) exceeded the established limits. The HI was found to be ≥ 1 in 82.76% of lip products for oral exposure, whereas HI was ≤ 1 for dermal exposure in all lip products (n = 41) and only one eye shadow sample was ≥ 1 (2.04%). Remarkable results were also detected for 19 elements in this study, which conducted a comprehensive inorganic profiling for the first time. Wide-range concentrations of Mg, Al, Ba, Mn, Cu, Zn, and Sr elements were remarkable. HI values were firstly brought out in this study, although Al, as a well-known toxic element, has not been listed in regulations yet. In conclusion, it is obviously seen that continuous monitoring of cosmetics is crucial not only for toxic elements but also for other essential or non-toxic elements to prevent consumers from long-term exposure., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Permeability is a required parameter for studying aquifer properties. However, for sandstone aquifers with low permeability, it is difficult to measure permeability directly through experiments. Based on fractal theory and the J function, a new method to calculate the permeability of a sandstone aquifer is derived. This work first solves the J function under each water saturation according to its definition. Combined with mercury pressure data, the J function and logarithmic curve equation of water saturation are then fitted by the drawing method, and the fractal dimension and tortuosity of the aquifer are further solved. Finally, the aquifer's permeability is calculated using the new permeability calculation method. To verify the accuracy of the proposed method, 15 rock samples from the Chang 7 Group, Ordos Basin, are taken as research objects. The permeability is calculated using the new method combined with mercury injection data and aquifer characteristic parameters, and the results are compared with the real permeability. The relative error of most samples is <20%, which shows the permeability calculated by this method is accurate and reliable. The effects of fractal dimension, tortuosity, and porosity on permeability are also analyzed., (© 2023, National Ground Water Association.)

The goal of the current study is to evaluate the heavy metal rainfall contamination in the vicinity brought on by the Erbil Steel Factory in Iraq during the study period. The study's findings revealed the concentration of all studied heavy metals in the precipitation near and around the factory is significantly higher than that of the rural area of Barzan village which is used as a control site. The average concentration of the metals is in descending order manganese (Mn) > lead (Pb) > iron (Fe) > arsenic (As) > cobalt (Co) > selenium (Se) > mercury (Hg) > and cadmium (Cd) for the polluted site. The geo-accumulation index (I-geo) of the heavy metal Mn in the rainfall around the steel factory site is 6.28 > 5 which indicates extreme contamination. While the Igeo values of Cd, As, and Fe are 4.87, 4.54, and 4.04 > 4 that indicate heavy to extreme contamination, for Pb, 3.80 > 3 indicates moderate to heavy contamination, Cd 1.68 > 1 indicates moderate contamination, Hg 0.46 > 0 indicates uncontaminated to moderate contamination, and Se - 0.36 < 0 indicates uncontaminated. The pollution load index (PLI) of the rainwater around the steel factory site is 13.46 > 1, demonstrating that the area is highly metal-contaminated., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

A highly sensitive and selective fluorescence method has been conducted for the detection of Hg 2+ based on aminophenylboronic acid-modified carboxyl magnetic beads (CMB@APBA) and CRISPR/Cas12a system mediated by glyoxal caged nucleic acid (gcDNA). As a bi-functional DNA linker, gcDNA offers advantages of simultaneous recognition by boronic acid and complementary DNA/RNA. Under acidic condition, gcDNA can be immobilized on CMB@APBA through the formation of borate ester bond. The formed boric acid-esterified gcDNA can further bind with complementary CRISPR RNA through A-T base pairing to activate Cas12a with k cat /K m ratio of 3.4 × 10 7  s -1  M -1 , allowing for amplified signal. Hg 2+ can specifically combine with CMB@APBA, resulting in the release of gcDNA from CMB@APBA and the following inhibition on the activation of CRISPR/Cas12a system around magnetic bead. Under optimal conditions, the method exhibits a linear range from 20 to 250 nM, with a detection limit of 2.72 nM. The proposed method can detect Hg 2+ in milk and tea beverages, providing a great significance for on-site monitoring of Hg 2+ contamination in food., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria, part of Springer Nature.)

This study compared concentrations and health risks of selected elements (Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Zn) in leafy vegetables (coriander, lettuce, mint, spring onion, swiss chard) from roadside open-air markets (OM) and large stores (supermarkets: SM, vegetable markets: VM) in Johannesburg, South Africa. Along with washed leaves (OMW, SMW, VMW), unwashed OM leaves (OMUW) were assessed to investigate the contribution of deposition. The findings revealed that OMUW leaves had the highest concentrations of all elements. Furthermore, compared with washed leaves, OMUW leaves showed significantly higher (p < 0.05) mean concentrations of Cd, Hg, Ni and Pb, elements that typify the composition of polluted urban air. Bi- and multivariate analysis indicated anthropogenic origin of most elements in OM leaves and several in SMW and VMW leaves. Although only OMUW leaves exhibited hazard quotient above the safe threshold of 1 for Cd, Cr, As and Ni, hazard index exceeded this safe limit in all samples (OMUW (11.77) > OMW (1.83) > SMW (1.29) > VMW (1.01)). Determined cancer risk for Cd and As was greater than 1 × 10 -6 in both washed and unwashed leaves, and the greatest cancer risk was estimated for OM leaves. Thorough washing of OM vegetables with water reduced non-carcinogenic risk (84%) and cancer risk (74‒87%) markedly. In conclusion, residents primarily relying on open-air markets for their regular leafy vegetable supplies might face far more severe lifelong health implications compared to customers of large stores in Johannesburg., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Methylmercury (MeHg + ) is a common form of organic mercury that is substantially more toxic than inorganic mercury and is more likely to accumulate in organisms through biological enrichment. Therefore, developing a method to enable the specific and rapid detection of MeHg + in seafood is important and remains challenging to accomplish. Herein, a rapid, label-free fluorescence detection method for MeHg + determination was developed based on SYBR Green I. The detection system implemented "add and measure" detection mode can be completed in 10 min. Under optimal assay conditions, the detection platform showed a linear relationship with the concentration of MeHg + within 1-50 nM (Y = 8.573x + 42.89, R 2  = 0.9928), with a detection limit of 0.3218 nM. The results obtained for competitive substances, such as inorganic mercury ions and anions, show a high specificity of the method. In addition, this method successfully detected MeHg + in seawater and marine products, with an accompanying spike recovery rate of 96.45-105.1%., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH, DE part of Springer Nature.)

[Display omitted] • GQD-DDT and GQD-MPA was synthesized using novel hydrothermal protocol. • GQD-DDT and GQD-MPA was used for the identification of cations using colorimetric and spectrophotometric assay. • GQD-DDT and GQD-MPA have well activity for ion sensing in aqueous solution. This study describes the synthesis of various types of thiolated-graphene quantum dots (GQDs) for the simultaneous multi-sensing of heavy metal ions using one-droplet microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (OD- µ PADs). For the first time, functionalized GQDs were synthesized and stabilized on the surface of hydrophobic fiber-glass with simple manufacturing and assembly strategy towards colorimetric chemosensing of ions including iron, copper, cobalt, mercury, chrome, manganese, and nickel. For this purpose, GQDs are functionalized by various organic species including cysteamine, decanethiol, and mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) towards specific electrostatic interaction with metal ions of Fe (II), Cu (II), Co(II), Hg (II), Mn (II), and Ni (II). Therefore, an innovative GQDs-based miniaturized chemo-system was proposed for the environmental analysis. Additionally, the results were confirmed using fluorescence spectrometry as an optical detection method. Finally, this simple and efficient colorimetric platform was used for facile metal ions detection in human urine models, and environmental fluids, which can provide a commercial device for sensing contaminants by non-professional users in biomedical/environmental mixture. As an economical technique, this platform presents a "mix-and-sense" system without dye (as a side substance) or chemical treatments. The low instrumental requirements, the color uniformity, and the disposability of OD- μ PADs approve the commercial application of the engineered ion-chemosensor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the process of long-term water flooding in the Gaoqian Southern Area with an average porosity of 30% and an average permeability of 1333.5 × 10 − 3 μm2, the fluid-solid interaction among oil, water, and rock has a great influence on the pore structure. It has resulted in changes in reservoir parameters with the extension of time. This paper used electron microscopy scanning, mercury injection, X-ray diffraction, physical properties, and oil-water relative permeability curves to study the variation of clay mineral content, pore throat structure, porosity, permeability, and relative permeability curves of high-permeability sandstone after high-pressure water flooding. The results showed that clay minerals such as montmorillonite and kaolinite were dissolved, hydrated, and migrated after long-term water flooding, which resulted in the decrease of clay mineral content in fine sandstone and medium sandstone, the increase of pore throat radius, and the decrease of displacement pressure, median pressure, and separation coefficient. The saturation of the isotonic point of the oil-water relative permeability curve was obviously shifted to the right, the hydrophilicity was significantly enhanced, and the porosity and permeability were effectively improved, but there was a blockage of the throat less than 2 μm in the fine sandstone. In addition, this paper established the equations of water injection, permeability, irreducible water saturation, residual oil saturation, and oil-water relative permeability curve coefficient and establishes the initial permeability model with the well data before water flooding. The logging interpretation results of development wells in the process of water flooding as verification data were used, and the relative error of permeability far lower than the general requirement of permeability error within an order of magnitude was less than 30%, which verified the rationality of the method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mercury is a dangerous and toxic metal, thus necessitating an analytical method to ascertain its presence. Traditional methods for mercury analysis often involve costly instruments and specialized expertise. However, the Digital Image Colorimetry (DIC) method is an alternative for mercury detection due to its speed, simplicity, and cost-effectiveness. This research aims to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using Kepundung fruit peel (Baccaurea racemosa) extract as a mercury detector. Baccaurea racemosa has secondary metabolite compounds that can act as natural reducing agents (bioreductors) in synthesizing silver into nanoparticles. AgNPs were optimized and characterized using UV-Vis spectrophotometer, FTIR, PSA, and XRD instruments. Mercury detection was explained using RGB Detector and ImageJ. The research results revealed that the optimal conditions for synthesizing AgNPs involved a concentration of 1% extract and a pH of 7. The properties of the AgNPs included a maximum absorption at wavelengths of 400-450 nm, an average particle size of 122.7 nm, a face-centered cubic crystal structure, and characteristic functional groups at wavenumbers of 3453 cm-1, 1700-1600 cm-1, and 1445 cm-1. These spectral features suggested the presence of phytochemical compounds serving as bioreductants. Optimal results for mercury detection were achieved using Whatman paper no. 41 at pH 7. Mercury was detected successfully, whereas Pb2+, Na+, Mg2+, K+, Cu2+, Ca2+, Co2+, Zn2+, and Fe3+ ions were not detected. The validation test obtained a LoD of 0.099 ppm, a LoQ of 0.330 ppm, and a coefficient value (R²) of 0.997, indicating good measurement linearity. Further research can be developed to increase the sensitivity of mercury detection with lower concentrations and extend its application to environmental samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we report on the development of an 'off–on' fluorescent probe for the detection of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and mercury ions (Hg2+) using an in situ synthesized carbon quantum dot and gum Arabic silver nanoparticle composite (CQDs@GA-Ag NPs). Electron microscopy measurement clearly shows that CQDs are attached to the surface of the GA-Ag NPs. The fluorescence intensity of the CQDs was dramatically quenched in the synthesized nanocomposite via the inner filter effect (IFE) mechanism. After adding H2O2 to the nanocomposite system, the Ag NPs got oxidized leading to the formation of Ag+ ions, and the CQDs regained their photoluminescence (PL) property. This facilitates the detection of H2O2 with an extremely low detection limit of 1.02 μM. Furthermore, the as-developed nanocomposite was also tested for the detection of Hg2+ ions, obtaining a remarkably low detection limit of 1.82 μM. The developed probe was extremely selective over a wide range of interfering ions and substances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metal ion pollution poses significant risks to human health and ecological systems, and its monitoring is important. A sensitive and accurate surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) detection assay for Hg 2+ was developed using Au@Ag/COF substrates and Y-shaped DNA labeled with two Raman reporters. The Au@Ag NPs in the COF produced robust and uniform E-fields, improving their detection reproducibility. The Y-shaped DNA design increased sensitivity with a low detection limit of 5.0 × 10 -16  M by bringing the Raman reporter closer to the substrate surface. Additionally, the use of two Raman reporters allowed for a ratiometric method, improving detection accuracy by detecting both "signal-off" and "signal-on" signals. This selective sensor exhibited excellent recovery in river water, tap water, and milk samples, showcasing its robust biosensing capability for the detection of Hg 2+ and its potential for sensing other heavy-metal ions in food and environmental applications., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Biofilms can enhance the sorption of heavy metals onto microplastic (MP) surfaces. However, most research in this field relies on laboratory experiments and neglects metal fractions and seasonal variations. Further studies of the metal/biofilm interaction in the aquatic environment are essential for assessing the ecological threat that MPs pose. The present study used in situ experiments in an environment conducive to biofouling (Vistula Lagoon, Baltic Sea). The objective was to investigate the sorption of mercury and its fractions (thermodesorption technique) in MP (polypropylene-PP, polystyrene-PS, polylactide-PLA) biofilms and natural matrices across three seasons. After one month of incubation, the Hg concentrations in MP and natural substratum (gravel grains-G) biofilms were similar (MP: 145 ± 45 ng/g d.w.; G: 132 ± 23 ng/g d.w.) and approximately twofold those of suspended particulate matter (SPM) (63 ± 27 ng/g d.w.). Hg concentrations in biofilms and sediments were similar, but labile fractions dominated in biofilms and stable fractions in sediments. Seasonal Hg concentrations in MP biofilms decreased over summer>winter>spring, with significant variation for mineral and loosely bound Hg fractions. Multiple regression analysis revealed that hydrochemical conditions and sediment resuspension played a crucial role in the observed variability. The influence of polymer type and morphology (pellets, fibres, aged MP) on Hg sorption in biofilms was visible only in high summer temperatures. In this season, PP fibres and aged PP pellets encouraged biofilm growth and the accumulation of labile Hg fractions. Additionally, high concentrations of mineral (stable and semi-labile) Hg fractions were found in expanded PS biofilms. These findings suggest that organisms that ingest MPs or feed on the biofilms are exposed to the adverse effects of Hg and the presence of MPs in aquatic ecosystems may facilitate the transfer of mercury within the food chain., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Detection of highly toxic mercury ions (Hg 2+ ) in actual environmental and biological samples is of significant importance for protecting environment and human health. In this paper, a new ratiometric fluorescent probe BTIA was designed and synthesized from 3-pinone based on Internal Charge Transfer (ICT) mechanism. BTIA could selectively recognize Hg 2+ over other competitive analytes with short reaction time (5 s), distinct ratiometric response, strong anti-interference ability, large Stokes shift (200 nm), and low detection limit (2.36 × 10 -7 M). Furthermore, BTIA was applicable for detecting Hg 2+ in actual water samples and it also performed an excellent imaging capability in living RAW264.7 cells, zebrafish and onion tissue., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The Ross Sea Marine Protected Area (RS-MPA) hosts endemic species that have to cope with multiple threats, including chemical contamination. Adèlie penguin is considered a good sentinel species for monitoring pollutants. Here, 23 unhatched eggs, collected from three colonies along the Ross Sea coasts, were analysed to provide updated results on legacy pollutants and establish a baseline for newer ones. Average sum of polychlorinated biphenyls (∑PCBs) at the three colonies ranged 20.9-24.3 ng/g lipid weight (lw) and included PCBs IUPAC nos. 28, 118, 153, 138, 180. PCBs were dominated by hexachlorinated congeners as previously reported. Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE) ranged between 134 and 166 and 181-228 ng/g lw, respectively. Overall, ∑PCBs was exceeded by pesticides, contrary to previous studies from the Ross Sea. Sum of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (∑PBDEs) ranged between 0.90 and 1.18 ng/g lw and consisted of BDE-47 (that prevailed as expected, representing 60-80 % of the ∑PBDEs) and BDE-85. Sum of perfluoroalkyl substances (∑PFAS) ranged from 1.04 to 1.53 ng/g wet weight and comprised five long-chain perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA); perfluorooctane sulfonamide (PFOSA) was also detected. The PFAS profile was dominated by PFCAs as already observed in Arctic seabirds. Mercury ranged from 0.07 to 0.15 mg/kg dry weight similarly to previous studies. Legacy pollutants confirmed their ongoing presence in Antarctic biota and their levels seemed mostly in line with the past, but with minor variations in some cases, likely due to continued input or release from past reservoirs. PFAS were reported for the first time in penguins from the Ross Sea, highlighting their ubiquity. Although further studies would be useful to increase the sample size and accordingly improve our knowledge on spatial and temporal trends, this study provides interesting data for future monitoring programs within the RS-MPA that will be crucial to test its effectiveness against human impacts., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In this study, a dual-mode biosensor based on the heterojunction of Cu 2 O@Cu 2 S/D-TA COF was constructed for ultra-sensitive detection of Hg 2+ using both photoelectrochemical and electrochemical approaches. Briefly, a 2D ultra-thin covalent organic framework film (D-TA COF film) with excellent photoelectrochemical signals was prepared on ITO surfaces through an in situ growth method. Subsequently, the probe H1 was immobilized onto the biosensor via Au-S bonds. In the presence of Hg 2+ , the formation of T-Hg 2+ -T complexes triggered hybridization chain reactions (HCR), leading to the attachment of abundant Cu 2 O@Cu 2 S probes onto the biosensor. As a p-type semiconductor, Cu 2 O@Cu 2 S could form a heterojunction with the underlying D-TA COF films. Meanwhile, it exhibited catalase-like activity, and the O 2 produced by its catalytic decomposition of H 2 O 2 can interact with the D-TA COF films, thus achieving double amplification of the photocurrent signal. Benefiting from the excellent and inherent Cu 2+ /Cu +  redox pairs of Cu 2 O@Cu 2 S, satisfactory differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) signals were obtained. As expected, the dual-mode biosensor was realized with wider linear ranges and low detection limits. Additionally, the analytical performance for Hg 2+ in real water samples was excellent. Briefly, this suggested approach offers a facile and highly efficient modality for monitoring heavy metal ions in aquatic environments., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The combined contamination of terrestrial environments by metal(loid)s (MEs) and microplastics (MPs) is a major environmental issue. Once MPs enter soils, they can interact with MEs and modify their environmental availability, environmental bioavailability, and potential toxic effects on biota. Although research efforts have been made to describe the underlying mechanisms driving MP and ME interactions, the effects of MPs on ME bioavailability in terrestrial Mollusca have not yet been documented. To fill this gap, we exposed the terrestrial snail Cantareus aspersus to different combinations of polystyrene (PS) and arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), or mercury (Hg) concentrations. Using kinetic approaches, we then assessed the variations in the environmental availability of As, Cd or Hg after three weeks of equilibration and in the environmental bioavailability of As, Cd or Hg to snails after four weeks of exposure. We showed that while environmental availability was influenced by the total ME concentration, the effects of PS were limited. Although an increase in As availability was observed for the highest exposure concentrations at the beginning of the experiment, the soil ageing processes led to rapid adsorption in the soil regardless of the PS particle concentration. Concerning transfers to snail, ME bioaccumulation was ME concentration-dependent but not modified by the PS concentration in the soils. Nevertheless, the kinetic approaches evidenced an increase in As (2- to 2.6-fold) and Cd (1.6-fold), but not Hg, environmental bioavailability or excretion (2.3- to 3.6-fold for As, 1.8-fold for Cd) at low PS concentrations. However, these impacts were no longer observable at the highest PS exposure concentrations because of the increase in the bioaccessibility of MEs in the snail digestive tract. The generalization of such hormetic responses and the identification of the precise mechanisms involved necessitate further research to deepen our understanding of the MP-mediated behaviour of MEs in co-occurring scenarios., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The methylated form of mercury, MeHg, is a neurotoxin that bioaccumulates and biomagnifies through aquatic food webs, reaching high concentrations in top trophic species. Many seabird species are wide-ranging and feed on forage fish, so they can be used as sentinel species to assess the level of mercury in pelagic or coastal food webs because they integrate the signal from large areas and from lower trophic levels. The Gulf of Maine provides habitat for many seabirds, including endangered roseate terns (Sterna dougalii), common terns (Sterna hirundo), and the southernmost breeding population of black guillemots (Cepphus grylle). Hg levels were assessed in down of newly hatched chicks of three seabird species to determine pre-hatching Hg exposure. Stable isotopes (δ 15 N, δ 13 C) in down and chick contour feathers grown after hatching were used as indicators of adult female diet in the period before laying the egg (down) and pre-fledging chick diet (contour feathers). Black guillemot down THg concentrations were 10.07 ± 2.88 μg/g (mean ± 1SD), 5.5× higher than common tern down (1.82 ± 0.436 μg /g), and 7.4× higher than roseate tern down (1.37 ± 0.518 μg/g). Black guillemots also had higher down feather δ 15 N values (15.1 ± 0.52 ‰) compared to common (13.0 ± 0.72 ‰) or roseate terns (12.8 ± 0.25 ‰), and in black guillemot down feathers, higher Hg concentrations were correlated with δ 15 N, an indicator of trophic level. Repeated testing of the same tissue types across multiple years is needed to monitor THg exposure for seabirds in the Gulf of Maine; additionally, monitoring species composition and Hg presence in prey species of the black guillemot population would help to determine the source of high THg concentrations in this species., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Exposure to mercury (Hg) may cause deleterious health effects in wildlife, including bats. Texas produces more Hg pollution than any other state in the United States, yet only one study has examined Hg accumulation in bats. This study measured the concentration of total Hg (THg) in fur (n = 411) collected from ten bat species across 32 sites in eastern and central Texas, USA. Fur THg concentrations were compared among species, and when samples sizes were large enough, between sex and life stage within a species, and the proximity to coal-fired power plants. For all sites combined and species with a sample size ≥8, mean THg concentrations (μg/g dry weight) were greatest in tri-colored bats (Perimyotis subflavus; 6.04), followed by evening bats (Nycticeius humeralis; 5.89), cave myotis (Myotis velifer; 2.11), northern yellow bats (Lasiurus intermedius; 1.85), Brazilian free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis; 1.03), and red bats (Lasiurus borealis/blossevillii; 0.974), and lowest in hoary bats (Lasiurus cinereus; 0.809). Within a species, fur THg concentrations did not significantly vary between sex for the five examined species (red bat, northern yellow bat, cave myotis, evening bat, Brazilian free-tailed bat) and only between life stage in evening bats. Site variations in fur THg concentrations were observed for evening bats, tri-colored bats, and Brazilian free-tailed bats. Evening bats sampled closer to point sources of Hg pollution had greater fur THg concentrations than individuals sampled further away. Sixteen percent of evening bats and 8.7% of tri-colored bats had a fur THg concentration exceeding the 10 μg/g toxicity threshold level, suggesting that THg exposure may pose a risk to the health of bats in Texas, particularly those residing in east Texas and on the upper Gulf coast. The results of this study can be incorporated into future management and recovery plans for bats in Texas., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Direct, rapid and highly sensitive detection of heavy metals in rice is essential to ensure food safety. In this research, a combination of laser ablation and microwave plasma torch optical emission spectrometry (LA-MPT-OES) was proposed. Based on the optimal observation positions, a high sensitivity and direct determination of Cd, Hg, Pb and Cr in rice were realized. The limits of detection (LOD) were 0.97, 0.12, 0.61 and 0.15 μg/kg, respectively, which were reduced by one order of magnitude compared to the optimal observation height. In addition, the LOD was reduced by one to two orders of magnitude compared with the techniques that require sample pre-treatment. Moreover, the results of the Certified Reference Materials and real samples were in agreement with the reference values with a relative error in the range of 0.28% ∼ 14.16%. The results demonstrated that LA-MPT-OES could be a promising tool to detect heavy metals in rice., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Determination of plasma uracil was reported as a method for evaluation of Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) activity that is highly demanded to ensure the safe administration of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-based therapies to cancer patients. This work reports the development of a simple electroanalytical method based on adsorptive stripping square wave voltammetry (AdSWV) at mercury film-coated glassy carbon electrode (MF/GCE) for the highly sensitive determination of uracil in biological fluids that can be used for diagnosis of decreased DPD activity. Due to the formation of the Hg II -Uracil complex at the electrode surface, the accuracy of the measurement was not affected by the complicated matrices in biological fluids including human serum, plasma, and urine. The high sensitivity of the developed method results in a low limit of detection (≈1.3 nM) in human plasma samples, falling below the practical cut-off level of 15 ng mL -1 (≈0.14 μM). This threshold concentration is crucial for predicting 5-FU toxicity, as reported in buffer, and ≤1.15% in biological samples), and accuracy (recovery percentage close to 100%)., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A novel rhodamine-based multi-ion fluorescent sensor, RGN, was designed and synthesized for the highly selective detection of mercury ions (Hg 2+ ) in ethanol and water systems, as well as trivalent cations (Fe 3+ , Al 3+ , and Cr 3+ ) in acetonitrile and water systems using a two-step Schiff base reaction method. Nuclear magnetic titration experiments and theoretical calculations demonstrated that the sensor achieved the detection of the aforementioned metal ions through the fluorescence turn-on phenomenon induced by lactam ring-opening. Density functional theory (DFT) calculation results showed decreased HOMO-LUMO energy gaps and increased dipole moments, indicating the effective coordination of the sensor with the corresponding metal ions to form more stable complexes, thereby achieving detection objectives. Furthermore, the fluorescence turn-on sensor RGN exhibited relatively low detection limits, with limits of detection (LOD) for Fe 3+ , Al 3+ , Cr 3+ , and Hg 2+ being 10.20 nM, 14.66 nM, 58.78 nM, and 73.33 nM, respectively. Finally, practical applications of sensor RGN in environmental water samples, L929 cells, and zebrafish were demonstrated, indicating its potential for detecting and tracking Fe 3+ , Al 3+ , Cr 3+ , and Hg 2+ in environmental samples and biological systems, with prospects for biomedical applications in the diagnosis and treatment of heavy metal ion-induced diseases., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Mercury ions (Hg 2+ ) and sulfur ions (S 2- ), have caused serious harm to the ecological environment and human health as two kinds of highly toxic pollutants widely used. Therefore, the visual quantitative determination of Hg 2+ and S 2- is of great significance in the field of environmental monitoring and medical therapy. In this study, a novel fluorescent "on-off-on" peptide-based probe DNC was designed and synthesized using dipeptide (Asn-Cys-NH 2 ) as the raw material via solid phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) technology with Fmoc chemistry. DNC displayed high selectivity in the recognition of Hg 2+ , and formed non-fluorescence complex (DNC-Hg 2+ ) through 2:1 binding mode. Notably, DNC-Hg 2+ complex generated in situ was used as relay response probe for highly selective sequential detection of S 2- through reversible formation-separation. DNC achieved highly sensitive detection of Hg 2+ and S 2- with the detection limits (LODs) of 8.4 nM and 5.5 nM, respectively. Meanwhile, DNC demonstrated feasibility for Hg 2+ and S 2- detections in two water samples, and the considerable recovery rate was obtained. More importantly, DNC showed excellent water solubility and low toxicity, and was successfully used for consecutive discerning Hg 2+ and S 2- in test strips, living cells and zebrafish larvae. As an effective visual analysis method in the field, smartphone RGB Color Picker APP realized semi-quantitative detections of Hg 2+ and S 2- without the need for complicated device., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Abnormal accumulation of mercury ions (Hg 2+ ) in organisms can lead to severe central nervous system and other diseases. Therefore, the monitoring and detection of Hg 2+ are of great significance for human health and environmental safety. Herein, we designed and synthesized a novel far-red to NIR emission fluorescent probe (Rho-Hg) based on rhodamine derivative as the fluorophore and thiospirolactone as the recognition site for turn-on detecting of Hg 2+ in living cells and zebrafish. The probe Rho-Hg displayed superior sensitivity (detection limit = 17.5 nM), rapid response (<1 min), colorimetric change, high selectivity, and moderate pH stability. Leveraging this probe, we realized the real-time monitoring of Hg 2+ in real samples, living cells and zebrafish. By fostering zebrafish embryos and larvae in Hg 2+ -containing nutrient solution, we noticed that Hg 2+ was ingested into the zebrafish liver when zebrafish were grown up to 3 days old, and thus we successfully monitored the accumulation and changes of Hg 2+ during zebrafish growth and development. Thus, the probe Rho-Hg could be a powerful tool for sensitive and real-time monitoring of Hg 2+ in living systems., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Here, we subjected the marine copepod Tigriopus japonicus to environmentally-relevant concentrations of microplastics (MPs) and mercury (Hg) for three generations (F0-F2) to investigate their physiological and molecular responses. Hg accumulation and phenotypic traits were measured in each generation, with multi-omics analysis conducted in F2. The results showed that MPs insignificantly impacted the copepod's development and reproduction, however, which were significantly compromised by Hg exposure. Interestingly, MPs significantly increased Hg accumulation and consequently aggravated this metal toxicity in T. japonicus, demonstrating their carrier role. Multi-omics analysis indicated that Hg pollution produced numerous toxic events, e.g., induction of apoptosis, damage to cell/organ morphogenesis, and disordered energy metabolism, ultimately resulting in retarded development and decreased fecundity. Importantly, MPs enhanced Hg toxicity mainly via increased oxidative apoptosis, compromised cell/organ morphogenesis, and energy depletion. Additionally, phosphoproteomic analysis revealed extensive regulation of the above processes, and also impaired neuron activity under combined MPs and Hg exposure. These alterations adversely affected development and reproduction of T. japonicus. Overall, our findings should offer novel molecular insights into the response of T. japonicus to long-term exposure to MPs and Hg, with a particular emphasis on the carrier role of MPs on Hg toxicity., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Mercury ion (Hg 2+ ) is one of the most threatening substances to human health, and the mercury poisoning can damage physiological homeostasis severely in human, even cause death. Intriguingly, Sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ), a gas signal molecule in human, can specifically interact with Hg 2+ for relieving mercury poisoning. However, the dynamic interaction of Hg 2+ with SO 2 at the tempospatial level and the correlation between Hg 2+ and SO 2 in the pathological process of mercury poisoning are still elusive. Herein, we rationally designed a reversible and dual color fluorescent probe (CCS) for dynamically visualizing Hg 2+ and SO 2 and deciphering their interrelationship in mercury poisoning. CCS held good sensitivity, selectivity and reversibility to Hg 2+ and SO 2 , that enabled CCS to specifically detect SO 2 and Hg 2+ via cyan fluorescence channel (centered around 485 nm) and red fluorescence channel (centered around 679 nm), respectively. Notably, the separate fluorescence signal changes of CCS realized the dynamic tracing of Hg 2+ and SO 2 in living cells, and presented the potential for exploring the correlation between SO 2 and Hg 2+ in mercury poisoning., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Our investigation seeks to uncover the intricate nature of mercury dynamics in the free troposphere through analysis of the isotopic composition of total gaseous elemental mercury (TGM) at the high altitude Mauna Loa Observatory (MLO, 3397 m) in Hawaii, USA. By focusing on this unique site, we aim to provide essential insights into the behavior and cycling of mercury, contributing valuable data to a deeper understanding of its global distribution and environmental impacts. Forty-eight hours of TGM sampling from January to September 2022 revealed significant variations in δ 202 Hg (-1.86 % to -0.32 %; mean = -1.17 ± 0.65 %, 2 SD, n = 34) and small variations in Δ 199 Hg (-0.27 % to 0.04 %; mean = -0.13 ± 0.14 %, 2 SD, n = 34) and Δ 200 Hg (-0.20 % to 0.06 %; mean = -0.05 ± 0.13 %, 2 SD, n = 34). During the sampling period, GEM was negatively correlated with gaseous oxidized mercury (GOM). However, the GOM/GEM ratio was not -1, suggesting that GEM oxidation and subsequent scavenging occurred previously. The δ 202 Hg isotopic compositions of TGM at MLO were different from those of reported values of high-altitude mountains; the δ 202 Hg of TGM at MLO was lower than the isotopic ratios that were obtained from other mountain regions. The unique atmospheric conditions at Mauna Loa, with (upslope winds during the day and downslope winds at night, likely result in the) possibly mixing of GEMs from terrestrial (and possibly oceanic GEM emission) sources with and tropospheric sources, influencing and affect the isotopic composition. During the late summer to early fall (September 14-28), negative correlations were found between relative humidity and GOM and between particle number concentrations and Δ 199 Hg, indicating the gas-to-particle partitioning of the atmospheric mercury during this period. This study will improve our understanding on mercury dynamics of marine origin and high altitudes and shed light on its complex interactions with environmental factors., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Honda Bay is considered as one of the mercury hotspots in the world due to its proximity to the abandoned Palawan Quicksilver Mine. In this study, a detailed sediment sampling conducted in between 2021 and 2022 where a total of 166 sediment samples were collected along the coast and analyzed for total mercury (THg) concentration. The study assessed mercury toxicity using the geoaccumulation index and compared Hg levels to sediment quality guidelines. The findings revealed a wide range of THg concentrations, from 0.0040 to 11.4702 mg/kg, with hotspots identified at the Honda Bay wharf and Tagburos River mouth. Mercury spreads to a large coastal area brought by tidal currents and the wave energy actions. The geoaccumulation index indicated moderate to strong Hg contamination in the vicinity of the hotspots and around 24.7-36.1 % of samples exceeded the sediment quality guidelines suggesting adverse biological effects in aquatic biota will frequently occur., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Jessie O. Samaniego reports financial support was provided by Republic of the Philippines Department of Science and Technology. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Microplastics (MPs) raise concerns not only as pollutants themselves, but also due to their ability to act as vectors of pollutants adsorbed from seawater, transferring them to marine organisms. However, the relevance of MPs as carriers of pollutants compared to microalgae needs further exploration. This study compared the role of MPs (2-10 μm non-oxidized and 10-15 μm oxidized high-density polyethylene) and natural organic particles (Rhodomonas lens microalgae, MA) as carriers of mercury (Hg, 2.3 μg Hg/L) and chlorpyrifos (CPF, 1.0 μg CPF/L) to adult Acartia tonsa copepods, after 24-48 h exposure. Dose-response experiments were first performed with adult female copepods exposed to oxidized MPs (0.25-4.0 mg/L), waterborne Hg (0.01-10.0 μg/L) and Ox MPs + Hg (0.25-4.0 mg oxidized MPs/L + 0.50-8.0 μg Hg/L) for 48 h, to complement previous studies that focused on the pesticide CPF. Effects were evaluated with four replicates for physiological and reproductive responses (6 females/replicate), biochemical techniques (40 individuals/replicate) and Hg/CPF bioaccumulation measurements (1000 individuals/replicate). Copepods accumulated Hg/CPF similarly from dissolved pollutants (6204 ± 2265 ng Hg/g and 1251 ± 646 ng CPF/g) and loaded MPs (3125 ± 1389 ng Hg/g and 1156 ± 266 ng CPF/g), but significantly less from loaded MA (21 ± 8 ng Hg/g and 173 ± 80 ng CPF/g). After 24-48 h, copepods exposed to MPs + Hg/CPF showed generally greater biological effects than those exposed to dissolved Hg/CPF or to MA + Hg/CPF, although differences were not statistically significant. MA + CPF had significantly lower AChE inhibition (1073.4 nmol min -1  mg -1 ) and MA + Hg lower GRx induction (48.8 nmol min -1  mg -1 ) compared to MPs + Hg/CPF and dissolved Hg/CPF (182.8-236.4 nmol min -1  mg -1 of AChE and 74.1-101.7 nmol min -1  mg -1 of GRx). Principal component analysis suggested different modes of action for Hg and CPF., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Mercury (Hg) emissions from Hg smelting (roasting HgS ores) and artisanal small-scale gold mining predominantly include elemental Hg, in either liquid [Hg(0) l ] or gaseous [Hg(0) g ] form. The oxidation of Hg(0) into Hg(I) is the first step during Hg(0) oxidation, which enables Hg to enter the food web. However, this oxidation process remains poorly understood, particularly in Hg(0) l /Hg(0) g -impacted environments. Herein, we show the widespread occurrence of Hg(I) in Hg(0) l /Hg(0) g -exposed environmental matrices near an abandoned Hg smelting plant in Xunyang, Shaanxi, China, including water, sediment, soil, plant, fish, and insect. This plant produced elemental Hg by roasting HgS ore, leaving Hg(0) l in the factory area after abandonment, which continuously released Hg(0) l /Hg(0) g into the surrounding environment. In Hg(0)-impacted water, Hg(I) was one of the primary Hg species, with an average concentration of 876 (not detected to 6109) ng L -1 and an average Hg(I) to total dissolved Hg ratio of 46% (0-92%), exhibiting a decrease with increasing distance from the plant. Elevated levels of Hg(I) were observed when the upstream sample was simultaneously exposed to Hg(0) l and Hg(0) g , arising from aqueous Hg(0) l oxidation and comproportionation between Hg(II) (mainly from Hg(0) l oxidation) and dissolved Hg(0) (i.e., Hg 2+ + Hg 0 → Hg 2 2+ ). These findings highlight the impact of Hg(0) (as Hg(0) l and Hg(0) g ) on the environment, emphasizing the comproportionation formation of Hg(I) in natural waters., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Emerging evidence suggests that plants experiencing abiotic stress actively seek help from soil microbes. However, the empirical evidence supporting this strategy is limited, especially in response to heavy metal stress. We used integrated microbial community profiling and culture-based methods to investigate the interaction between mercury (Hg) stress, the entophytic root microbiome, and maize seedlings. The results of the pot experiment showed that soil Hg (20 mg/kg) strongly inhibited maize growth, indicating its strong phytotoxicity. Furthermore, Hg stress significantly altered the structure of the bacterial and fungal communities and enriched the potentially pathogenic Fusarium sp., suggesting that soil Hg stress may enhance the bio-stress induced by Fusarium species in maize. Additionally, soil Hg also led to the enrichment of beneficial bacterial members of Streptomyces, Lysobacter, and Sphingomonas (defined as differential species), which were also identified as keystone species in the Hg treatment by the analysis of co-occurrence networks. Therefore, it can be postulated that the members of Streptomyces, Lysobacter, and Sphingomonas function as stress-alleviating microbes. We successfully isolated the representatives of these stress-alleviating microbes. As expected, these strains mitigated the detrimental effects of Hg stess for the maize seedlings, suggesting that plants recruit the stress-alleviated microbiota to combat Hg stress. This study provides insights into the potential of manipulating the root microbiome to enhance plant growth in polluted environments., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Freshwater mercury (Hg) contamination is a widespread environmental concern but how proximate sources and downstream transport shape Hg spatial patterns in riverine food webs is poorly understood. We measured total Hg (THg) in slimy sculpin (Cottus cognatus) across the Kuskokwim River, a large boreal river in western Alaska and home to subsistence fishing communities which rely on fish for primary nutrition. We used spatial stream network models (SSNMs) to quantify watershed and instream conditions influencing sculpin THg. Spatial covariates for local watershed geology and slope accounted for 55 % of observed variation in sculpin THg and evidence for downstream transport of Hg in sculpins was weak. Empirical semivariograms indicated these spatial covariates accounted for most spatial autocorrelation in observed THg. Watershed geology and slope explained up to 70 % of sculpin THg variation when SSNMs accounted for instream spatial dependence. Our results provide network-wide predictions for fish tissue THg based largely on publicly available geospatial data and open-source software for SSNMs, and demonstrate how these emerging models can be used to understand contaminant behavior in spatially complex aquatic ecosystems., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Accurate and rapid monitoring of organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) residues is crucial for regulating food safety. Herein, dual-emission carbon dots (de-CDs) were fabricated for the ratiometric detection of OPs and Hg 2+ . The de-CDs exhibited two emission peaks at 678 and 485 nm when excited with visible light. Interestingly, the fluorescence at 678 nm was significantly quenched by Hg 2+ mainly because of the static quenching effect, whereas that at 485 nm exhibited a slight change. More significantly, the quenched fluorescence of the de-CDs recovered remarkably after introducing omethoate, diazinon and malathion. Accordingly, the ratiometric detection of the three OPs and Hg 2+ was achieved with high selectivity and robust performance. In addition, the OPs residues assay in Brassica chinensis was successfully performed with satisfactory results. This study not only provides an attractive tool for the simple and rapid assay of OPs but also offers new insights into the fabrication of multi-functional carbon dots., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Accurate interpretation of mercury (Hg) isotopic data requires the consideration of several biotic factors such as age, diet, geographical range, and tissue metabolic turnover. A priori knowledge of prey-predator isotopic incorporation rates and Hg biomagnification is essential. This study aims to assess Hg stable isotopes incorporation in an Arctic species of Phocidae, the hooded seal Cystophora cristata, kept in human care for 24 months (2012-2014) and fed on a constant diet of Norwegian Spring Spawning herring Clupea harengus. We measured THg, MMHg and iHg levels, as well as Hg stable isotope composition with both mass dependent (MDF) and mass independent (MIF) fractionation (e.g. δ 202 Hg and Δ 199,200,201,204 Hg) in hooded seal kidney, liver, hair and muscle, in addition to herring muscle. We then calculated Hg MDF and MIF isotopic fractionation between hooded seals and their prey. We found a significant shift in δ 202 Hg between hooded seal hair (+0.80‰) and kidney (-0.78‰), and herring muscle. In hooded seals tissues δ 202 Hg correlated positively with MMHg percentage. These findings suggest that tissue-specific Hg speciation is the major driver of changes in Hg isotopic fractionation rates in this Arctic predator. Δ 199 Hg, Δ 200 Hg, Δ 201 Hg and Δ 204 Hg values did not vary between herring and hooded seal tissues, confirming their utility as tracers of Hg marine and atmospheric sources in top predators. To our knowledge, this represents the first attempt to assess complex Hg isotope dynamics in the internal system of Arctic Phocidae, controlling the effects of age, diet, and distribution. Our results confirm the validity of Hg stable isotopes as tracers of environmental Hg sources even in top predators, but emphasize the importance of animal age and tissue selection for inter-study and inter-species comparisons., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Mercury (Hg), especially methylmercury (MeHg) as a most toxic format of Hg in the environment, has been paid widely concern due to its high bioaccumulative capability and great risk to humans. Great efforts have been made to develop ethylation-purge and trap-gas chromatography-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry system for MeHg analysis and Hg biogeochemical cycling investigation. However, the generally manual operation limits the analytical efficiency, and the lack of applications in the real environmental samples restricts the future study. There is a great need for a rapid and accurate method to determine MeHg and Hg methylation/demethylation processes in environmental samples., Results: Herein, an automatic ethylation-purge and trap-GC-ICP-MS system based on isotope dilution method for MeHg analysis was developed. The results showed that the limit of detection of the developed method was 0.01 ng L -1 , the MeHg can be analyzed within 6 min with a relative standard deviation of 4.3 %. The accuracy of this proposed method was verified by the satisfying recoveries of certified reference materials (99.0 ± 0.35 % in ECM-CC580, sediment; 98.0 ± 0.67 % in DORM-4, Fish protein). In addition, comparable concentrations of MeHg in natural water were measured using both of the developed and classical distillation methods. Subsequently, the developed method was adapted for measuring concentrations of MeHg in the water, sediment, and fish muscle collected from the coastal and freshwater systems. Finally, the photic demethylation and biotic methylation/demethylation rate constants in natural surface water and sediment were determined using isotope dilution/tracing methods by automatic ethylation-purge and trap-GC-ICP-MS., Significance and Novelty: The developed automatic ethylation-purge and trap-GC-ICP-MS system is promising for accurate and convenient MeHg analysis and Hg biogeochemical cycling investigation in real environmental samples with isotope dilution and tracing methods., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Redox transformation of mercury (Hg) is critical for Hg exchange at the air-water interface. However, the superoxide radicals (O 2 •─ ) contribution of microalgal-fungal symbiotic systems in lake water to Hg(II) reduction is mainly unknown. Here, we studied the enhanced potential for O 2 •─ production by the coupling effect between microalgae and fungi. The relationships between microenvironment, microorganisms, and O 2 •─ production were also investigated. Furthermore, the implication of O 2 •─ for Hg(II) reduction was explored. The results showed that the coupling effect of microalgae and fungi enhanced O 2 •─ generation in the symbiotic systems, and the O 2 •─ generation peaked on day 4 in the lake water at 160.51 ± 13.06-173.28 ± 18.21 μmol/kg FW (fresh weight). In addition, O 2 •- exhibited circadian fluctuations that correlated with changes in dissolved oxygen content and redox potential on the inter-spherical interface of microalgal-fungal consortia. Partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM) indicates that O 2 •─ formation was primarily associated with microenvironmental factors and microbial metabolic processes. The experimental results suggest that O 2 •─ in the microalgal-fungal systems could mediate Hg(II) reduction, promoting Hg conversion and cycling. The findings highlight the importance of microalgae and fungal symbiotic systems in Hg transformation in aquatic environments., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This study investigates mercury (Hg) dynamics in Pacific Saury (Cololabis saira) across the North Pacific Ocean, specifically off East Japan in 2018. Saury traits vary with total mercury (THg) concentrations in muscle tissues ranging from 0.017 to 0.082 μg g -1 w. w., averaging of 0.042 (n = 46). A positive correlation between THg and saury length (Knob length, 270-319 mm) indicates increased Hg concentration with size. Stable isotopic tracers suggest Pacific Euphausiids (Krill) are significant contributors to the saury diet (>70% of total). Significant correlations between logarithm THg concentration (Log THg) and δ 15 N (‰) (R 2  = 0.70) demonstrate Hg trophic biomagnification, with regional variations. Comparative analysis between the eastern (ENPO) and western North Pacific Ocean (WNPO) indicates differences, with WNPO saury exhibiting lower δ 15 N values and higher THg levels than ENPO saury. This suggests that the WNPO, located near East Asia, the world's largest Hg emitter, experiences elevated Hg levels in seawater due to anthropogenic release. Overall, this study advances understanding of Pacific Saury's ecological interactions and Hg bioaccumulations, emphasizing the importance of species-specific behaviors and regional influences in ecological studies., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Mining operations generate sediment erosion rates above those of natural landscapes, causing persistent contamination of floodplains. Riparian vegetation in mine-impacted river catchments plays a key role in the storage/remobilization of metal contaminants. Mercury (Hg) pollution from mining is a global environmental challenge. This study provides an integrative assessment of Hg storage in riparian trees and soils along the Paglia River (Italy) which drains the abandoned Monte Amiata Hg mining district, the 3rd former Hg producer worldwide, to characterize their role as potential secondary Hg source to the atmosphere in case of wildfire or upon anthropic utilization as biomass. In riparian trees and nearby soils Hg ranged between 0.7 and 59.9 μg/kg and 2.2 and 52.8 mg/kg respectively. In trees Hg concentrations were below 100 μg/kg, a recommended Hg limit for the quality of solid biofuels. Commercially, Hg contents in trees have little impact on the value of the locally harvested biomass and pose no risk to human health, although higher values (195-738 μg/kg) were occasionally found. In case of wildfire, up to 1.4*10 -3  kg Hg/ha could be released from trees and 27 kg Hg/ha from soil in the area, resulting in an environmentally significant Hg pollution source. Data constrained the contribution of riparian trees to the biogeochemical cycling of Hg highlighting their role in management and restoration plans of river catchments affected by not-remediable Hg contamination. In polluted river catchments worldwide riparian trees represent potential sustainable resources for the mitigation of dispersion of Hg in the ecosystem, considering i) their Hg storage capacity, ii) their potential to be used for local energy production (e.g. wood-chips) through the cultivation and harvesting of biomasses and, iii) their role in limiting soil erosion from riparian polluted riverbanks, probably representing the best pragmatic choice to minimize the transport of toxic elements to the sea., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Due to integrated pollution prevention and control measures and the reduced burning of coal, air concentrations of mercury (Hg 0 ) are currently levelling off. In the future, however, evasion from land surfaces will probably reverse this trend. Reasons are the rising temperatures and the loss of forest cover caused by calamities, droughts, storms and wildfires. Plant leaves constitute an important matrix for the accumulation of gaseous mercury and uptake and re-volatilisation by plants depends on the species, the vitality and the age and morphology of leaf organs. It has been shown that older conifer needles show higher concentrations than young needles and Hg accumulation is increasing throughout the season. In present study, we collected branches from Norway Spruce (Picea abies) in a former cinnabar mining region in Northern Palatinate, where artisanal and small-scale mining left innumerable waste dumps. While mining, smelting and processing of the ores were terminated during WWII, high total mercury concentrations remained in the top soils locally, with presumably only small fractions being plant available. In the lab, up to seven needle age classes were analysed. 1000 needle weights increased with age and as expected, also the Hg concentrations were elevated in the older needles. Needle concentrations were higher than those reported from other national biomonitoring programs confirming the regional imprint from legacy mercury. To complement our biomonitoring study, we collected edible mushrooms in former mining areas. Hg concentrations in most samples exceeded the EU maximum residue levels (MRL), while only a few broke the existing cadmium and lead limits. Tolerable weekly intake (TWI) for inorganic mercury would be surpassed with the consumption of a small portion of mushrooms. Further studies should be performed on the outgassing of Hg from mine wastes and the incorporation of Hg in the local food web, including its methylation and biomagnification., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Fish consumption is one of the main sources of mercury (Hg) exposure, but few studies have examined Hg exposure from fish consumption among children. This study aimed to assess the frequency of fish intake and associations with Hg and other element concentrations among 700 three-year-old children from the New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study. Usual fish intake was derived from a validated food frequency questionnaire (Block Questionnaire for ages 2-7) and toenail element concentrations were determined using ICP-MS. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to assess the association between fish intake and toenail element concentrations. A mixture analysis, using Weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression, was used to estimate the relative contribution of fish consumption to element exposures. Twenty-three percent of children were reported to consume at least one fish meal/week on average during the previous 6 months. In adjusted linear regression models, children with any type of fish consumption versus no consumption had 108% (95% confidence interval (CI: 68%, 153%)) higher toenail Hg concentrations. To a lesser extent, children consuming "other fish (not fried) including tuna" and "fried fish or fish sticks" had 120% (95% CI: 82%, 164%), and 23% (95% CI: 2%, 51%) higher toenail concentrations, respectively, than those consuming no fish. Using WQS regression, Hg was the element most strongly related to fish consumption. Fish intake among young children was related to Hg exposure even at low levels of consumption. Future studies will need to determine the health consequences of this exposure., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Margaret R. Karagas reports financial support was provided by National Institutes of Health. Julia A. Bauer reports financial support was provided by National Institutes of Health. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Mercury (Hg) is a globally distributed heavy metal. Here, we study Hg concentration and isotopic composition to understand the status of Hg pollution and its sources in Pakistan's paddy soil. The collected paddy soils (n = 500) across the country have an average THg concentration of 22.30 ± 21.74 ng/g. This low mean concentration suggests Hg pollution in Pakistan was not as severe as previously thought. Meanwhile, samples collected near brick kilns and industrial areas were significantly higher in THg than others, suggesting the influence of Hg emitted from point sources in certain areas. Soil physicochemical properties showed typical characteristic of mineral soils due to the study area's arid to semi-arid climate. Hg stable isotopes analysis, depicted mean Δ 199 Hg of -0.05 ± 0.12‰ and mean δ 202 Hg -0.45 ± 0.35‰, respectively, for contaminated sites, depicting Hg was primarily sourced from coal combustion by local anthropogenic sources. While uncontaminated sites show mean Δ 199 Hg of 0.15 ± 0.08‰, mean Δ 200 Hg of 0.06 ± 0.07‰ and mean δ 202 Hg of -0.32 ± 0.28‰, implying long-range transboundry Hg transport through wet Hg(II) deposition as a dominant Hg source. This study fills a significant knowledge gap regarding the Hg pollution status in Pakistan and suggests that the Hg risk in Pakistan paddies is generally low., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Hg 2+ contamination poses a serious threat to the environment and human health. Although gold nanoclusters (Au NCs) have been utilized as fluorescence probes or colorimetric nanozymes for performing Hg 2+ assays by using a single method, designing multifunctional nanoclusters as fluorescent nanozyme remains challenging. Herein, Ce-aggregated gold nanoclusters (Ce-Au NCs) were reported with "three in one" functions to generate strong fluorescence, excellent peroxidase-like activity, and the highly specific recognition of Hg 2+ via its metallophilic interaction. A portable fluorescence and colorimetric dual-mode sensing device based on Ce-Au NCs was developed for on-site visual analysis of Hg 2+ . In the presence of Hg 2+ , fluorescence was effectively quenched and the paper-based chips gradually darkened from green till they became completely absent, while peroxidase-like activity was significantly enhanced. Two independent signals were captured by one identification unit, which provided self-validation to improve reliability and accuracy. Therefore, this work presents a simple synthesis of a multifunctional fluorescent nanozyme, and the developed portable device for on-site visual detection has considerable potential for application in the rapid on-site analysis of heavy metal ions in the environment., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Nanozyme-based colorimetric sensing has drawn immense attention due to the rapid development of nanozyme in recent years. However, the selectivity of nanozyme-based colorimetric sensing greatly limits its subsequent practical application. It is well known that sample pretreatment can not only improve selectivity by eliminating the sample matrix interference, but also improve sensitivity by enriching trace targets. Based on the easy facile surface modification properties of nanozyme, we rationally designed nanozyme combined with sample pretreatment for colorimetric biosensing, through separation and enrichment, thereby improving the selectivity and sensitivity of the nanozyme colorimetric biosensing. As a proof of concept, the detection of Hg 2+ by nanozyme-based colorimetric sensing was used as an example. Magnetic peroxidase-like nanozyme Fe 3 S 4 was designed and synthesized. The selectivity is improved by the specific adsorption of S-Hg bond and the interference elimination after magnetic separation. In addition, the sensitivity is improved by magnetic solid-phase extraction enrichment. Our established colorimetric sensing based on Fe 3 S 4 nanozyme integrated sample pretreatment with an enrichment factor of 100 and the limit of detection (LOD) is 26 nM. In addition, this strategy was successfully applied to detect Hg 2+ in environmental water samples. Overall, the strategy showed good selectivity and sensitivity, providing a new practical method for the application of nanozyme-based biosensing in sample pretreatment., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Mercury ion is one of the most harmful metal ions with significant hazards to the environment and human health. Thus, the development of innovative, sensitive, and selective sensors to help address the detrimental impacts of heavy metal contamination is necessary. In this work, we present three new chemosensors based on the deprotection reaction of the thioacetal group for distinguishing Hg 2+ in environmental samples. These chemosensors show good photophysical properties with high quantum yield in aqueous medium. These prepared chemosensors were employed as fluorometric sensors for the determination of Hg 2+ through the quenching of fluorescence emission due to the Hg 2+ -induced hydrolysis of the thioacetal to the aldehyde group. In the presence of Hg 2+ , chemosensors showed an emissive color transformation from blue fluorescence to non-fluorescence under UV light, which was readily seen by the visual eye. These chemosensors also exhibited highly distinctive selectivity toward Hg 2+ over other interfering metal ions, with detection limits of 1.1 ppb, 13.4 ppb, and 12.7 ppb. Moreover, the practical applicability of chemosensor was successfully demonstrated in real water samples and herb extract samples., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)