共找到 20 条结果
Phosphogypsum (PG) is a hazardous solid industrial waste generated by the phosphorus chemical industry. It contains a variety of harmful substances, including free acids, phosphorus, fluorine, heavy metals, organic matter, and radioactive elements. The global stockpile of PG continues to increase, posing significant risks such as soil acidification, water pollution, and ecological damage. As a result, the harmless treatment of PG has become a research hotspot in the fields of environmental science and materials science. However, systematic reviews on the harmless treatment of PG remain limited, which hinders a comprehensive understanding of the key technical requirements and development pathways for its safe disposal. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the technologies and recent advances in the harmless treatment of PG from several key perspectives: the formation processes and physicochemical properties of harmful substances in PG, their associated environmental hazards, the mechanisms of immobilization, current research progress, supporting policies, and the development challenges faced. Finally, it outlines prospective pathways for the large-scale utilization of PG. By identifying the current challenges and knowledge gaps, this review outlines the core technical issues that must be addressed to advance the research and application of effective solutions for the harmless treatment of PG. It aims to provide a solid theoretical foundation and practical reference for the safe, sustainable management and large-scale utilization of PG.
The oxidation of Cr(III) to Cr(VI), a prevalent environmental process, poses significant challenges for pollution control due to the heightened toxicity and mobility of Cr(VI). However, the influence of environmental co-factors, such as low molecular weight organic acids (LMWOAs), on the oxidation process of Cr(III) remains to be verified. In this study, laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate how LMWOAs would affect the Cr(III) oxidation by MnO2. Two types of MnO2 were synthesized via hydrothermal methods and characterized. Three LMWOAs (citric acid (CA), oxalic acid (OA), and malic acid (MA)) were added to the Cr(III)-MnO2 system to exam their influences. The results revealed that Cr(III) oxidation by MnO2 were suppressed by LMWOAs, following the order of CA > MA > OA. LMWOAs primarily inhibited Cr(III) oxidation through complexation and competitive adsorption site occupation, while their reductive capacity minimized the accumulation of the oxidation product Cr(VI). Furthermore, LMWOAs altered the physical characteristics of MnO2, including surface charge and specific surface area, which affected Cr(III) adsorption. LMWOAs, as a reducing agent, additionally consumed the oxidation ability of MnO2, thereby creating a competitive relationship with Cr(III) in redox reactions. These findings elucidate the critical roles of LMWOAs in regulating Cr speciation in MnO2-active systems. By bridging the knowledge gap on ligand-mediated Cr transformation mechanisms, this work provides insights into environmental transformation of Cr and advances the development of LMWOAs-associated strategies for Cr pollution control.
Sulfonamides (SAs) are widely used in the livestock industry and for the prevention and control of human diseases. However, the residues of these antibiotics have the potential to pose significant threats to environmental safety and human health. To overcome the limitations of traditional detection methods, which are time-consuming, labor-intensive, and insufficiently sensitive, it is essential to establish an efficient detection method for SAs. This study developed a ratiometric fluorescent biosensor based on CDs/AuNCs@ZIF-8 material that integrates broad-spectrum aptamer and linear causal regulation for the broad-spectrum detection of SAs in milk, surface water, and chicken. The combination of broad-spectrum aptamer and cascade amplification technology improves detection accuracy. It also ensures highly specific, broad-spectrum detection of five typical SAs. At the material level, ZIF-8 encapsulation significantly enhances the fluorescence quantum yield of AuNCs. It also increases the composite's stability in complex matrices by restricting non-radiative transitions. CDs serve as a stable internal reference signal, overcoming the effect of environmental fluctuations on a single fluorescence signal. Under optimized conditions, the method achieves an ultralow detection limit of 1.86 pM for SAs. Its detection sensitivity significantly outperforms state-of-the-art analogous methods. The method offers simple operation and excellent matrix adaptability, making it an ideal technical approach for rapid screening of antibiotic in multi-matrix samples.
Despite decades of mining-driven pollution, the integrated role of vertical plant diversity in mitigating heavy metal risks remains insufficiently explored. Heavy metals (HMs) from mining pose significant environmental risks, with their sources and mitigation by vegetation at Southwest China's mines. This study investigated the sources and environmental risks of HMs in soils surrounding lead-zinc, manganese and limestone mines at the Southwest China and the mitigating role of vertical vegetation in controlling HMs. Manganese mining (24.2%), lead-zinc mining (22.9 %), agriculture plus oil combustion (17.4 %) and limestone mining (11.4 %) were dominant HM sources, accounting for 96 % of total concentrations. Degree of contamination (C-deg), pollution load index (PLI) and potential ecological risk index (PERI) revealed that soils in affected areas exhibited considerable to very high contamination and ecological risks along with significant declines in soil quality. Our findings demonstrate that natural vegetation significantly reduces contamination and ecological risks in vegetated areas (p < 0.05). The high diversity of plants in different vertical layers plays a complementary role in mitigating soil HMs contamination. More diverse tree species can effectively block the spread of HMs, while more diverse herbaceous plants can effectively remediate multiple soil HMs contamination. Vegetated soil exhibited approximately 3.5-fold lower C-deg and significantly reduced PERI (p < 0.05) as compared to adjacent bare soils. These results highlight the importance of native vegetation as a sustainable strategy for mitigating the soil HMs environmental risks of mining activities and the importance of conserving plant diversity in different layers.
Microplastics (MPs) serve as hotspots for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), significantly influencing their abundance and spread. However, a systematic evaluation of the effects of MPs on spread of ARGs and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) remains absent. This meta-analysis, based on 388 ARGs pairs observations and 107 MGEs pairs observations from 10 studies, assessed the effects of MPs exposure on the abundance of ARGs and MGEs. The results showed significant increases in the abundance of ARGs and MGEs by 96.93 % and 44.48 %, respectively, under MPs exposure compared to the control. A marked increase in ARGs abundance was observed with polyethylene (PE) and polylactic acid (PLA) MPs, whereas MGEs abundance increased significantly under PE MPs. Both ARGs and MGEs abundances were higher under exposure to nm-sized MPs. Additionally, the abundances of ARGs and MGEs significantly increased when MPs concentrations surpassed 1000 mg/L for ARGs and 500 mg/L for MGEs. Following MPs exposure, ARGs increased across different aquatic environments, while MGEs were notably elevated in leachate filtrate and sewage. Regardless of MPs removal during detection, both ARGs and MGEs abundances showed significant increases. Furthermore, these abundances showed a cumulative effect with prolonged treatment duration. Random forest analysis revealed MPs size and treatment duration as the primary factors influencing ARGs and MGEs abundance. These findings emphasized the role of MPs in promoting ARGs enrichment and dissemination, providing insights into the underlying mechanisms. This offers valuable guidance for controlling the spread of ARGs and mitigating its environmental risks.
Despite the widespread detection of fenpropathrin (FEN), a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide, in aquatic ecosystems, the toxic effects on non-target organisms and the associated environmental health risks remain inadequately characterized. In this study, the adverse effects and underlying mechanisms of FEN on zebrafish liver were investigated using in vivo, in vitro, and in silico approaches. Zebrafish were exposed to FEN at concentrations of 0.45 and 1.35 μg/L for 28 days, resulting in pathological injury and lipid accumulation in the liver, along with significant alterations in the expression of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism-related indicators. Furthermore, exposure to FEN resulted in the upregulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde levels, triggered apoptosis, and was associated with a significant increase in caspase-3 levels. Additionally, FEN induced cell cycle arrest, a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential, excessive production of ROS, leading to lipid accumulation and apoptosis in zebrafish liver (ZFL) cells, suggesting that FEN can elicit hepatocyte toxicity. RNA-Seq analysis of ZFL cells further demonstrated that FEN modulates key pathways associated with cell cycle regulation, apoptosis, and metabolic processes. Molecular docking results indicated that pck2 might serve as a potential target for FEN-induced hepatotoxicity. Collectively, this study elucidated the hepatotoxic effects and underlying mechanisms of FEN in zebrafish, thereby enhancing our understanding of the non-target biotoxicity associated with FEN and offering novel insights into its potential environmental health risks.
This study presents a groundbreaking investigation into the dynamic surface reconfiguration of FeAl-layered double hydroxides (FeAl-LDHs)@MXene accordion nanostructures for solar-driven photocatalytic applications. The research systematically examines the stable mineralization efficiency of refractory antibiotic contaminants, offering a strategic solution to critical environmental remediation challenges. Through sophisticated material engineering and comprehensive characterization methodologies, we demonstrate the exceptional structural and functional properties of the hierarchically designed FeAl-LDHs@MXene heterostructures. This article outlines the key findings, including the characterization of the composites, the investigation of catalyst dosage and pH values on performance, and the comprehensive electrochemical and XPS analysis. Additionally, it highlights the determination and analysis of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the toxicity analysis of the treated pollutants. This work establishes a fundamental framework for designing MXene-based photocatalytic systems while providing practical guidance for implementing solar-powered water remediation technologies. The synergistic integration of advanced material characterization, process optimization, and environmental impact assessment significantly advances the field of sustainable pollutant degradation.
Dust particles and their complex interactions with anthropogenic pollutants have caused serious environmental pollution in East Asia. However, there are few observations on the real-time response to the morphological and mixing state changes of individual dust particles. We used a newly developed single-particle optical particle counter (SOPC) for real-time detection of single-particle size and the depolarization ratio (defined as the ratio of the vertical component to the parallel component of backward scattering), combined with an intelligent scanning electron microscope environmental-particle analysis system (IntelliSEM-EPAS), to quantitatively study the evolution process of particle morphology and chemical composition during dust events in March 2023. Fine mode particles dominated the total particle number concentration, with the proportion of sub-1 μm particles reaching 90.3 %. The depolarization ratio and form factor (single-particle morphology parameters automatically obtained via IntelliSEM-EPAS) of individual fine particles markedly changed (increased from 0.05 to 0.12 and decreased from 0.73 to 0.60, respectively) during the dust events. Further elemental analysis revealed that mixed sulfur-containing particles play a crucial role in the overall morphological changes in fine particles. During the large-scale transmission of dust aerosols, their morphology and mixing state undergo significant changes. Quantitative description of these changes is beneficial for better understanding the uncertainty of the evolution of dust events and model simulations.
Tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) is a widely used chlorinated organophosphorus flame retardant, that has been frequently detected in aquatic organisms and surface water. While previous studies have shown the potential endocrine disrupting effects of TCEP, its long-term reproductive toxicities at environmentally relevant concentrations remain unclear. This study comprehensively analyzed the reproductive toxicity and mechanisms of TCEP in zebrafish. Zebrafish were exposed to TCEP (0.2-200 µg/L) from embryo to adult stages for 120 days. Results showed significant alterations in reproductive indicators, including decreased body length and weight, reduced tissue indices and impaired gonadal development. Notably, TCEP altered sex hormone levels, with decreased 17β-estradiol (E2) and vitellogenin (VTG) in females, increased E2 and VTG in males, and reduced testosterone in both sexes. A female-biased sex ratio was observed at 22.01 and 241.84 µg/L TCEP, with reduced spawning and impaired F1 offspring development. Transcriptomic analysis revealed significant alterations in hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad-liver (HPGL) axis gene expression, such as hsd17b12a. Molecular docking simulations suggested that TCEP may interfere with sex hormone receptor binding and cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzyme function. This study reveals new insights into the reproductive toxicity mechanisms of TCEP in zebrafish. The toxic effects follow an inverted U-shaped curve, with peak toxicity occurring at approximately 2.62 µg/L. These findings underscore the importance of regulating this emerging contaminant in freshwater ecosystems.
To enhance the competency of clinical medicine students in evaluating the severity of genetic disorders, this study first modularized an assessment of genetic diseases severity based on the World Health Organization's International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) framework. Then, this modular teaching framework was applied in teaching instruction. During the Medical Genetics course, the 2024 clinical medicine cohort at Hunan University of Medicine were clustered into a experimental group (6 classes, 203 students) and a control group (7 classes, 235 students) randomly. The experimental group engaged in the ICF-based module in the case analysis of genetic diseases, while students in the control group followed the traditional teaching methods. Learning outcomes were evaluated by analyzing the student-written genetic disease severity evaluation reports. Results demonstrated that students in the experimental group achieved significantly higher scores on their assessment reports (73.33±7.16) compared to the control group (64.79±5.45), with a statistically significant difference (t=13.87, P<0.001). Furthermore, textual analysis further revealed that reports from the experimental group contained a significantly higher frequency of keywords related to patient psychology, social functioning, and environmental factors, indicating a broader focus on the patients and more comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the patient's situation. These findings suggest that the ICF-based modular teaching framework significantly improves medical students' ability to conduct individualized assessments of genetic diseases and effectively fosters their humanistic care. This study provides an actionable and scalable teaching practice pathway for cultivating clinical genetic counseling professionals. 为提升临床医学生遗传病严重性的评估能力，本文首先基于世卫组织国际功能、残疾和健康分类(International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health，ICF)框架，对遗传病严重性评估进行模块化整合，形成评估模型。继而在湖南医药学院2024级临床医学班级中随机抽取班级作为实验组(6个班级，203名学生)和对照组(7个班级，235名学生)，实验组学生在遗传病案例讲解中接受基于ICF框架的遗传学教学，对照组学生采用传统教学方式。通过评估学生撰写的遗传病严重性评估报告来检验学习效果。结果表明，实验组学生评估报告得分(73.33±7.16)显著高于对照组(64.79±5.45)，差异具有统计学意义(t=13.87，P<0.001)，并且实验组学生撰写的报告在结构上更具系统性。此外，实验组学生提及患者心理、社会功能及环境因素等关键词的频次显著高于对照组，表明实验组学生对患者的关注面显著拓宽，对患者处境的理解更为全面和深入。上述结果提示，基于ICF框架的模块化教学整合可显著提升临床医学生对遗传病的个体化评估能力，并有效培养其人文关怀精神。本文为临床遗传咨询人才培养提供了可操作、可推广的教学实践路径。.
Unlike other regions in China, PM2.5 concentrations in Yunnan's border cities exhibit a distinct seasonal pattern, with significantly higher levels in spring compared to other seasons. To obtain direct evidence of the impact of cross-border transport of biomass burning emissions on air quality in Yunnan, observations based on continuous lidar network measurements and manual PM2.5 sampling were carried out in spring 2024 in Yunnan. The source and transport pathways of PM2.5 in Yunnan were analyzed by combining ground-based observation data, satellite remote sensing fire-point data, model simulations and backward trajectory analysis. The significant positive correlation between PM2.5 and CO concentrations in spring 2024 in Yunnan Province indicates typical biomass burning characteristics. Apparent pollution transport and settling events were observed with lidars. The good agreement of the spatial distribution of PM2.5 and K+ concentrations also provide visual evidence of the impact of biomass burning emissions on the border cities of Yunnan. Cluster analysis and data assimilation results show that high concentration air mass from biomass burning of the South and Southeast Asia is an important cause of the surge in PM2.5 in border cities. Notably, eastern Myanmar represents the dominant potential source of PM2.5 for Yunnan's border cities in spring, with emissions from Myanmar's biomass burning contributing over 20 μg/m3 to local PM2.5 levels.
Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), a long-chain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) with a nine-carbon backbone, is highly stable and water-soluble, allowing it to accumulate in aquatic environments and persist for extended periods. However, the potential hazards and toxicity mechanisms of PFNA in aquatic organisms remain insufficiently studied. This study investigates the toxicity effects of PFNA on Microcystis aeruginosa with regard to its physiological and biochemical activities. The toxicity mechanisms of PFNA on M. aeruginosa were explored at the metabolic level across different exposure time points. The results showed that: (1) Prolonged exposure to various concentrations of PFNA induced hormesis in M. aeruginosa. However, PFNA does not significantly affect the photosynthetic system of M. aeruginosa or trigger programmed cell death, suggesting that M. aeruginosa is capable of adapting to PFNA stress and maintaining normal physiological metabolic activities through self-adaptive mechanisms. (2) PFNA can change its surface hydrophobicity, which facilitates the entry of PFNA into the cells and disrupts the intracellular redox balance of M. aeruginosa. Further, PFNA can alter various physiological metabolic activities within the organism. (3) Metabolomic analysis showed that PFNA can persist within M. aeruginosa cells for extended periods, and its toxic effects vary with concentration and exposure duration. Nevertheless, M. aeruginosa can sustain normal physiological metabolic activities through its intrinsic regulatory mechanisms. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the potential toxicity risks of long-chain PFAS to aquatic organisms and provide an important theoretical foundation for ecological risk assessment and regulatory control of long-chain PFAS.
Peroxymonosulfate (PMS)-based advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have emerged as promising technologies for water purification. The development of multi-metal catalysts has attracted considerable attention in recent years due to the limited efficiency of single-metal catalysts. Herein, a novel trimetallic layered double hydroxide (NiCoFe-LDH) was rationally designed to boost PMS activation for the removal of emerging contaminants. It was found that the NiCoFe-LDH/PMS system achieved a total organic carbon removal of 43.5 % for oxytetracycline (OTC), which was twice that of unary-metal LDHs and surpassed most reported data. Mechanistic studies revealed a dual-pathway PMS activation mechanism: (1) surface Ni(II)/Co(II)/Fe(III/IV) sites decomposed PMS into free and surface-bound sulfate radicals and hydroxyl radicals, and (2) PMS bound to the NiCoFe-LDH surface to generate active complexes (PMS*) and subsequently electrons were transferred from OTC to PMS* thereby being oxidized by electron-transfer pathways. The wide pH adaptability (3-11) and high efficiency in real water matrices indicate the high potential of NiCoFe-LDH in practical applications. This work provides new insights into the rational design of multi-metal catalysts and their application in AOPs-based sustainable water treatment.
Uncertainties remain regarding how climate change and human activities affect the aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) of grassland ecosystems, particularly the differential responses of distinct plant functional groups. Here, we investigate the alpine grasslands of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau from 2000 to 2022, focusing on the fresh ANPP of the whole plant community and three key functional groups (sedges, graminoids, and forbs). Our objectives are to identify the spatiotemporal trends of ANPP and to determine the dominant drivers (climate vs. human activities) of these changes. Under the combined effects of climate change and human activities, the spatially averaged relative changes in fresh ANPP were -1.15% for the whole community, + 5.67% for sedges, -1.55% for graminoids, and -2.26% for forbs. Regional patterns varied, with some areas showing increasing or decreasing trends over time, while others exhibited no significant change. Climate change dominated 20.79% of the grassland area, human activities dominated 54.26%, and the two drivers jointly dominated 24.95%. When the ANPP of the three functional groups were considered together, the area where all three groups jointly regulated grassland fresh ANPP accounted for the largest proportion (39.12%), followed by areas dominated by forbs (35.43%), sedges (18.27%), and graminoids (7.18%). These results reveal pronounced geographical heterogeneity in the trends of fresh ANPP, both for the whole community and for individual functional groups. Human activities exert a larger controlling influence than climate change over the observed ANPP changes. Moreover, the contribution of each functional group to community ANPP varies spatially. Our findings provide a scientific basis for understanding grassland ecosystem functioning and for developing targeted conservation and management strategies.
This study investigated the effects of environmentally relevant concentrations of deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) on embryonic development and oxidative stress in zebrafish (Danio rerio), while also elucidating the underlying molecular mechanisms. Embryos were exposed to DOCA at 5, 50, and 500 ng/L, spanning both environmentally pertinent and elevated concentrations. Integrated morphological and transcriptomic analyses (RNA-seq and qRT-PCR) demonstrated dose-dependent acceleration of development, along with alterations in pigmentation, oxidative balance, and metabolic processes. At 50 ng/L, yolk extension increased by 43.3 %, whereas yolk sac area decreased by 3.28 %. At 500 ng/L, these effects intensified (yolk extension: 44.4 %; yolk sac area: -5.28 %). Body pigmentation decreased by 13.7 % compared to controls at 500 ng/L. At 5 ng/L, ROS levels and MDA content increased by 66.5 % and 53.4 %, respectively. Transcriptomic profiling at 16 h post-fertilization in embryos exposed to 500 ng/L DOCA identified significant gene expression changes concordant with phenotypic outcomes: (1) upregulation of six7, sox17, and cdx1a (associated with accelerated development); (2) downregulation of dct and slc45a2 (consistent with reduced pigmentation); (3) altered redox homeostasis, indicated by nox1 upregulation and hemoglobin gene downregulation; and (4) enhanced glycolytic/gluconeogenic activity, evidenced by upregulated pfkfb3, aldob, and pck2. These results demonstrate that the DOCA exposure perturbed embryonic zebrafish development, promoting accelerated morphogenesis concurrent with metabolic alterations and oxidative stress. This study provides the first evidence of DOCA's adverse effects on fish and advances understanding of understudied corticosteroids in ecotoxicology.
Fish, one of the most important vertebrates on Earth, are susceptible to glucose and lipid metabolism disorders. Glucose and lipid metabolism in fish are sensitive to environmental contamination; however, the effects of emerging pollutants, such as tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), on these critical processes remain unclear. In this study, the effects and underlying mechanisms of TBBPA on glucose and lipid metabolism were evaluated using goldfish as a representative. Our research showed that in addition to excessive hepatic lipid deposition, TBBPA-exposed goldfish exhibited significantly higher levels of blood glucose, insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index, and lipid metabolism-related biomarkers, whereas markedly lower hepatic glycogen content and glucose-degrading enzyme activities, indicating a disruption in glucose and lipid metabolism. In addition to TBBPA accumulation in the liver, transcriptomic analysis showed that TBBPA induced hepatic detoxification, which led to the overproduction of reactive oxygen species and reduction of antioxidants, resulting in oxidative damage to the liver. Additionally, TBBPA exposure promoted gut microbiota dysbiosis (with significantly increased proportion of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-producing Gram-negative bacteria and Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratios) and intestinal barrier disruption (reduced goblet cells and increased intestinal malondialdehyde), resulting in elevated concentrations of endotoxin LPS in the intestine and serum, which subsequently activated its specific receptor in the liver and triggered hepatic inflammation. Collectively, our findings indicated that TBBPA disrupts glucose and lipid metabolism in goldfish by inducing oxidative and inflammatory damage to the liver via triggering detoxification as well as disrupting the gut-liver axis.
The expanding manufacturing and utilization of ionic liquids (ILs) and microplastics (MPs) have prompted worldwide environmental health concerns due to their pervasive environmental dispersion. While the toxicological impacts of ILs and MPs on diverse aquatic organisms have been well characterized, their environmental behaviors exhibit considerable complexity owing to the inherent heterogeneity of natural aquatic systems. This study established a simulated freshwater ecosystem containing aqueous phase, benthic sediment, floating plant, submerged plant, shrimp, snail and fish to investigate the environmental behavior and effects of 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([C8mim]Br) and polymethacrylates (PMMA). Specifically, multicomponent analysis was conducted on their partitioning dynamics, ecotoxicological consequences and trophic transfer mechanisms under chronic exposure. The experimental findings revealed a biphasic adsorption process of [C₈mim]Br, where initial adsorption onto PMMA substrates, ultimately penetrating into PMMA's internal regions. Co-exposure resulted in reduced oxidative stress responses in aquatic biota, whereas benthic organisms demonstrated enlarged oxidative damage due to ingestion of larger particulate aggregates. [C₈mim]Br exhibited trophic level-dependent bioaccumulation patterns across five representative species within the community, though co-exposure with PMMA resulted in attenuated trophic magnification through the food web. Building upon physiological experimental evidence, the integrated biomarker responses (IBR) index was employed to assess the relative toxicities, revealing a comprehensive toxicity hierarchy: PMMA < [C8mim]Br + PMMA < [C8mim]Br across biological endpoints.
Chiral recognition in racemic mixtures remains a critical challenge in life and environmental sciences, while the practical development of chiral electrochemical sensors is often restricted by complicated fabrication processes and insufficient signal transduction. Herein, a chiral electrochemical recognizer was developed by integrating molecular imprinting with mussel-inspired dopamine chemistry, using biomass-derived porous carbon as a conductive scaffold to achieve both high enantioselectivity and enhanced electrochemical response. Benefiting from the strong interfacial adhesion of dopamine, the imprinted layer was stably immobilized on the electrode surface without additional binders, generating stereospecific cavities complementary to target enantiomers. Meanwhile, the porous carbon framework, featuring a high specific surface area and abundant microporous structure, facilitated rapid electron and mass transfer and thus markedly enhances signal output. The fabricated sensor delivered reliable enantioselective recognition in both aqueous and ethanolic media. Specifically, for l-tryptophan (L-Trp), the platform exhibited a linear range of 0.1-10000 μg L-1 with a LOD of 25.32 μg L-1. For other amino acids, such as d-ascorbic acid, L-ascorbic acid, R-limonene, and S-limonene, the platform demonstrated a linear range of 0.1-1000 μg L-1 (R2 > 0.982), with LODs of 73.36 μg L-1, 40.31 μg L-1, 71.97 μg L-1, and 99.13 μg L-1, respectively. Furthermore, when applied to real food samples, including soybean flour and milk powder, the platform achieved satisfactory recoveries ranging from 83.8% to 112.0%. These results highlight the broad applicability of the platform for detecting chiral molecules in both model compounds and real-world food samples.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) represent a critical category of air pollutants, and the emissions from anthropogenic sources are essential for understanding and managing VOC pollution and the resultant ozone (O3) pollution. Several research initiatives have evaluated VOC emissions from significant industrial sources in China; however, knowledge regarding VOC emissions in the coking industry is still insufficient. The investigation examines the characteristics of VOC emissions from the coking industry through detailed unit-based field sampling, constructs emission source profiles, identifies provincial VOC emission characteristics, and assesses potential health risks to workers. Experimental results indicate that the primary categories of VOC emissions in the coking section are alkanes and alkenes, whereas aromatics and oxygenated VOCs predominate in the gas purification and sewage treatment sections. The fingerprint VOC species in these sections are n-pentane, benzene, and i-propanol, respectively. The highest emission factor occurs in the coking oven unit. The ozone formation potential research indicated that the coking oven and the condensing and blasting units significantly influence O3 formation, with propene being the predominant contributor. Additionally, the health risks associated with different physical work intensities for occupational workers are examined, indicating that heavy physical labor can cause serious carcinogenic risks to workers. Benzene is a predominant carcinogenic hazard, whereas 1,1,2-trichloroethane is the primary non-carcinogenic VOC species in coking industry. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the pollution profiles and environmental risks of VOCs discharged from the coking industry, informs the implementation of VOC regulations, and promotes cleaner production.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) constitute a significant class of environmental hazards in the atmosphere, posing considerable risks to human health owing to their mutagenic, carcinogenic, and persistent nature. Although some studies have focused on PAHs in human-impacted areas, the characteristics and sources of PAHs in remote regions, such as high-altitude atmospheres, remain to be clarified. During the summer of 2021, we conducted intensive field measurements at the summit of Changbai Mountain (2623 m above sea level), the highest peak in Northeast Asia. Eighteen PAH species were detected in the collected PM2.5 samples, and their chemical compositions, temporal variations, long-range transport, and associated health risks were analyzed. The average PAH concentrations were 0.92 ± 0.36 ng/m³, dominated by compounds containing 2-3 and 5-7 aromatic rings. Backward trajectory analysis underscored the influence of long-range transport on PAH levels at Changbai Mountain, with the air masses originating from the Korean Peninsula characterized by high PAH concentrations. Major sources of PAHs included biomass and coal combustion, vehicle emissions, and oil/gas/petroleum and diagenetic processes. The estimated health risks were below the threshold set by the World Health Organization, indicating minimal carcinogenic risk from atmospheric PAHs at Changbai Mountain. Although this study was conducted only during the summer season, it establishes critical baseline data on transboundary PAH transport patterns in Northeast Asia. These findings provide valuable insights into the long-range transport, sources, and potential health risks of environmental hazards in Northeast Asian regional background atmosphere, and highlighting the necessity for future investigations encompassing seasonal cycle dynamics.