Pathological mineralizations in breast lesions are closely associated with disease progression and serves as a critical diagnostic indicator. However, systematic understanding remains lacking regarding the phase categories, distribution patterns, and proportional occurrences of mineral phases across different breast lesion types. The diagnostic implications of specific phases, such as calcium oxalate, for distinguishing benign and malignant lesions remain controversial. This study employed polarizing microscopy, environmental scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Raman spectroscopy to analyze the phase composition of 61 mineralized samples from three lesion types: Invasive carcinoma, carcinoma in situ and benign lesions. Results demonstrate that breast lesion mineralizations predominantly comprise calcium phosphates, including hydroxyapatite (HA), amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP), and whitlockite, occasionally accompanied by calcium oxalate (monohydrate or dihydrate). Distinct distribution patterns and proportional occurrences of minerals were observed among the three types of lesion mineralizations. HA, as the predominant phase, was ubiquitously present across all three lesion categories. ACP, a mineralization precursor phase, emerged during early mineralization stages across all lesion types. Notably, whitlockite exclusively occurred in benign lesions and carcinoma in situ, with higher prevalence in benign cases, suggesting a progressive decline in Mg²⁺ concentration within the lesion microenvironment as malignancy advances. Calcium oxalate coexisted with HA in mineralized regions across all lesion types, and its presence in invasive carcinoma specimens warrants heightened clinical attention.

Long-term mining activities can result in the release of heavy metals into soil, ultimately posing a threat to human health. In arid and semi-arid regions, wind-driven transport of these toxic metals from mining areas represents a primary mechanism for their spatial distribution. To evaluate pollution levels and associated health risks of eight metals, A total of 95 soil samples, corresponding 25 vegetable samples and 3 tailing samples were collected from various land types surrounding a typical Pb-Zn mine in northern China’s semi-arid region. The mean concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn in soils were 62.8, 0.27, 29.6, 11.5, 0.02, 14.4, 49.9 and 109.5 mg/kg, respectively. Among these, As, Cd, Pb, and Zn emerged as the predominant pollutants, with some samples exceeding national risk screening values. The results of contamination factor (CF), pollution load index (PLI) and geo-accumulation index (I_geo) indicated that heavy metals in most soils exhibited non-polluted level or slight pollution level, though localized severe contamination by As, Cd, Pb, and Zn was observed. Spatial distribution analysis demonstrated similar dispersion patterns for As, Cd, Pb, and Zn, with wind-mediated transport extending up to 2.0 km from contamination sources. Pearson’s correlation analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) suggested that As, Cd, Pb and Zn mainly originated from mining activities, and Cr, Ni, Cu and Hg derived from soil parent materials. All vegetable samples contained metal concentrations below food safety thresholds. Health risk assessment showed hazard quotient (HQ) values for individual metals below 1 across all exposure groups, indicating negligible non-carcinogenic risk. Similarly, carcinogenic risk (CR) values for As, Cd, Cr, and Pb fell within acceptable ranges. While mining activities have induced significant localized contamination, the overall affected area remains limited in arid and semi-arid regions. However, greater attention should be directed toward potential health implications from vegetable consumption in proximity to mining operations within arid and semi-arid regions.

To address the critical gap in linking multi-compartmental transfer with risks of trace metals (Cd, Pb, As, Cr, Ni) in mining environments. This study systematically investigated the trans-media migration of Cd, Pb, As, Cr, and Ni in China’s Dexing copper mining district through paired sampling of water-amphibians, soil-earthworms, and air-lichens. Advanced methodologies were employed, including ICP-MS quantification for heavy metals, geochemical indices (Igeo, BCF, BAF) to assess bioavailability, NMDS for source apportionment, and HPLC to detect DNA methylation alterations. Aquatic systems exhibited severe Cd/Pb enrichment (16.25-24.42 μg/L; 11-15× WHO limits), while agricultural soils showed extreme Cd contamination (1.5 mg/kg; 15× background). Biota displayed metal-specific accumulation: frogs achieved BCFs >1,000 for Pb/Cd, earthworms showed pH-modulated BAFs >2.5 for Cd/As, and lichens recorded 100-1,000× atmospheric Cr enrichment. NMDS resolved three contamination pathways: mining-derived Cd/Pb/As (MDS1 = 2.56), atmospheric Cr (PC2 = 1.84), and geogenic Ni. Cd dominated ecological risks (Eri = 554.25; RI 300), while atmospheric Cr drove carcinogenic risks (TCR = 4.11×10⁻⁵) exceeding safety thresholds. The source-media-biota-risk framework pioneers the integration of geochemical transport with epigenetic toxicity biomarkers, demonstrating that sub-lethal Cd/Pb exposure induces genome-wide DNA hypomethylation (2.4%-6.6% reduction; ρ = −0.71 to −0.91). This paradigm shift prioritizes bioavailability-informed regulations over concentration-based metrics, offering actionable strategies for sustainable development goals-aligned mining pollution control.

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) are receiving attention as emerging pollutants due to their extensive applications and persistent emissions. The Qiantang River Basin, a representative region in eastern China that relies on surface water for drinking purposes, experiences the movement and accumulation of PPCPs in its water and sediment, which can directly affect the safety of drinking water in the basin. This study focuses on the Qiantang River Basin’s surface water, sediment, and drinking water to determine the occurrence and potential risks of 31 PPCPs. It aims to address whether PPCPs in the environment could migrate and accumulate, thereby affecting human health. The findings indicated that PPCPs are ubiquitous in various environmental media, with surface and pore water showing distinct spatial distribution characteristics, specifically, concentrations escalated with urban scale expansion, indicating that domestic sewage discharge is the primary source of PPCP input. Bisphenol A (BPA), ketoprofen (KTP), and diethyltoluamide (DEET) were the primary contaminants. The movement of PPCPs within the surface water-sediment-pore water system was affected by various circumstances. Substances like Sulfamethoxazole (SMX) (RQ>10³) and KTP (RQ=22.3) present in surface water and sediment pose significant ecological concerns, and KTP and atrazine (ATZ) (0.6<RQ<2.1) also pose a high risk in drinking water. This study performed an extensive analysis of the distribution and risks associated with typical PPCPs in the Qiantang River Basin, offering a scientific foundation and theoretical support for research on the environmental behavior of PPCPs in this area and the development of targeted pollution control strategies.

Xining, a river valley city in China’s arid region, serves as an important industrial hub with a fragile ecological environment. While groundwater heavy metal pollution in this area has drawn increasing concern, the sources and associated human health risks remain inadequately understood. This study analyzed 144 shallow groundwater samples from urban Xining for 14 heavy metals (Fe, Al, B, Mn, Ba, Zn, Pb, Cr⁶⁺, Ni, Cu, Co, Sb, Cd, and As) using the Nemerow comprehensive pollution index, correlation analysis, and the USEPA health risk assessment model. Results identified Fe, Al, B, Mn, Ba, Pb, Cd, and As as the primary pollutants, especially concentrated in river valley plains. These contaminants primarily originate from natural sedimentary conditions and human activities such as industrial and agricultural development. The pollution indices for Al, Pb, Mn, and Fe exceeded clean water thresholds, indicating serious contamination and the need for enhanced regulation. Health risk assessments revealed that children face greater exposure risks than adults, with arsenic and nickel being the main contributors to carcinogenic risk. Sensitivity analysis further showed that As, Fe, and Cd posed the greatest non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks, particularly in human-impacted areas such as the Nanchuan and Beichuan valleys and Ganhegou. These findings provide essential insights for groundwater safety management in plateau river valley cities and similar vulnerable regions.

Biochar, as an efficient, effective, and potential soil improver, has broad application prospects in the field of defluoridation. This study aimed to evaluate the defluoridation potential of iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) co-modified biochar from groundwater. The varied Fe/Mn molar ratio (2:1 and 1:2) modified biochar was prepared by corncob with the pyrolysis temperature of 300°C, 400°C, and 500°C. Batch experiments for fluoride (F^‒) removal were performed by corncob biochar before and after Fe-Mn modified. Their composition, structure, and performance were analyzed by multiple characterization techniques to clarify F^‒ removal mechanisms. Our results indicated that unmodified corncob biochar produced at 400 °C (BC400) exhibited the highest F^‒ adsorption efficiency (87.3%) among three unmodified samples, attributable to its largest specific surface area (2.55 m²/g). Notably, F^‒ removal amounts by Fe-Mn modified BC400 were 2 times higher than BC400. The enhanced F^- removal performance of Fe-Mn modified biochar can be attributed to several mechanisms: (1) the modification produced rougher surface textures, resulting in an increased specific surface area (about 3.50 m²/g); (2) newly formed Fe-O and Mn-O bonds on the biochar surface facilitated the formation of complexes with F^‒; and (3) the adsorption results fitted well with pseudo-second-order and Freundlich models (R²>0.98), indicating that the removal process involved physicochemical adsorption. These findings demonstrate that Fe-Mn modified biochar is a highly efficient and cost-effective material for F^‒ remediation and holds significant potential for application in contaminated groundwater and soil systems.

Neonicotinoid insecticides (NEOs) have become an integral part of the global insecticide market due to their high efficiency and low toxicity. However, their environmental persistence has raised significant ecological concerns. Dongting Lake represents a vital freshwater lake in China, and its ecosystem health directly affects regional ecological balance and people’s livelihoods. This study systematically investigated the occurrence characteristics and ecological risks of NEOs in water bodies and sediments across the Dongting Lake basin. Based on surface water and sediment samples collected from 26 representative sampling sites, this study quantified nine NEOs using liquid chromatography triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. Furthermore, it assessed ecological risks posed by the NEOs using the risk quotient (RQ) method and fugacity modeling. The results revealed the presence of six NEOs in the water bodies: imidacloprid (IMI), acetamiprid (ACE), clothianidin (CLO), thiamethoxam (THIA), flonicamid (FLO), and dinotefuran (DIN). The total concentrations of these six NEOs averaged 275.11 ng/L. Five predominant NEOs (i.e., IMI, THIA, ACE, CLO, and DIN) were identified in the sediments, with a mean concentration of 0.31 ng/g. The NEO concentrations in the water bodies across the Dongting Lake basin increased in the order of the Xiangjiang, Zishui, Yuanjiang, and Lishui rivers (collectively referred to as the Four Rivers), the mainstream of Dongting Lake, the Xinqiang River, the Miluo River, and the Hudu, Ouchi, and Songzi rivers (collectively referred to as the Three Outlets). Sediments from tributaries progressively accumulate in the lake. The ecological risk assessment identified IMI and DIN as the highest-risk compounds (RQ > 1), with high-risk areas concentrated in the mainstream of Dongting Lake and the Ouchi, Miluo, and Hudu rivers. The fugacity model showed that IMI, ACE, and THIA are prone to diffuse from sediments to water bodies in most areas, with fugacity fractions (ff) values of greater than 0.5. In contrast, the mainstream of Dongting Lake acts as a sink of CLO and DIN (ff values: < 0.5). Sediments at the lake’s outlet emerge as an important sink of NEOs. Based on the results of this study, it is advisable to strengthen the supervision of NEO applications in agricultural areas and to implement zonal control strategies. These measures will help reduce ecological risks and protect the safety of water ecosystems in the Dongting Lake region.

Phosphorus (P) poses a global challenge to the environment and human health due to its natural association with heavy metals. Sustainable use of P is crucial to ensure food security for future generations. An analysis of the 150 phosphate fertilizers stored at the Institute for Crop and Soil Science in Germany has been conducted, supplemented by previously published data. The elements Cd, Bi, U, Cr, Zn, Tl, As, B, Sb, Ni, and Se are found in higher concentrations in sedimentary derived phosphates compared to igneous derived phosphates. Mineral fertilizers contain more than ten times the amount of U, Cd, B, and As compared to farmyard manure. Principal component analyses (PCA) indicate that U, Cd, Be, and Cr are primarily present in sedimentary derived phosphates and their concentrations are 2 to 10 times higher than those in igneous derived phosphates. Regarding heavy metal contamination, over 1000 potential combinations were identified; 36% of these were significant but weak (> 0.1). It is estimated that approximately 707 t of uranium enter farmland annually through the application of mineral phosphate fertilizers in European countries. This contribution addresses environmental issues related to the utilization of rock phosphate as well as alternative production methods for cleaner and safer phosphate fertilizers while presenting a roadmap with measures for mitigation.

Zinc is recognized as a vital biological element for animals and plants. Both zinc deficiency and excess will cause damage to cells, and zinc deficiency in the human body may lead to severe health problems. Zinc deficiency has been identified as a global nutritional issue. Wheat, one of the most significant food crops for humans, is primarily planted in potentially zinc-deficient, calcareous soils in China. It proves to be a major global challenge to increase the zinc concentration in wheat crops to boost crop yields and improve human health. This study investigated the growth process of wheat in calcareous soils with various zinc concentrations using outdoor pot experiments and systematically explored the characteristics and mechanism of zinc transport in the soil-wheat system. The results indicate that the zinc concentrations in various wheat organs decreased in the order of roots, stems, and leaves in the jointing stage and in the order of seeds, roots, and stems in the mature stage. Overall, the zinc enrichment in various wheat organs decreased in the order of seeds, roots, stems, and leaves. In the case of zinc deficiency in soils, wheat roots exhibited elevated zinc availability in the rhizosphere by secreting phytosiderophores. This enhances the zinc uptake capacity of wheat roots. In the case of sufficient zinc supply from soils, chelated zinc formed with citric acid as the chelating ligand occurred stably in soils, contributing to enhanced utilization and uptake rates of zinc, along with elevated transport and enrichment capacities of zinc inside the plants. The results indicate that the zinc concentration in wheat seeds can be somewhat enhanced by regulating the background value of bioavailable zinc concentration in soils. A moderate zinc concentration gradient of 1.0 mg/kg is unfavorable for zinc accumulation in wheat seeds, while a high zinc concentration gradient of 6.0 mg/kg corresponds to the highest degree of zinc enrichment in wheat seeds. This study holds critical scientific significance for enhancing the zinc supply capacity of soils, increasing the zinc concentrations in wheat seeds, and, accordingly, addressing zinc deficiency in the human body. Additionally, this study offers a mechanistic reference and basis for research on the interplay between soils, plants, and human health.

Fluorine (F)-enriched soils, resulting from geogenic processes or superimposed by anthropogenic activities, have raised significant concerns due to their phytotoxicity and potential threats to human health. Soils in central Guizhou Province exhibit F enrichment, with a mean F concentration of 1067 mg/kg. However, the associated human health risks and geochemical mechanisms driving F enrichment in these soils remain insufficiently understood. In areas with a natural geological background, the average concentrations of F in rice, vegetables, drinking water, and ambient air are 1.54 mg/kg, 0.54 mg/kg, 0.16 mg/L, and 0.29 μg/m³, respectively. In contrast, samples collected near phosphorous chemical plants demonstrate elevated F concentrations: 1.78 mg/kg in rice, 1.53 mg/kg in vegetables, 0.20 mg/L in drinking water, and 11.98 μg/m³ in ambient air. Fluorine in soils was immobilized by apatite and clay minerals, and hardly transferred into water and crops. The fixation of F^- by Ca²⁺ in water and by Fe/Al hydroxides and clay minerals in bottom sediment further reduces F concentrations in water. As a result, hazard quotient (HQ) values below 1.0 indicate negligible fluorine-related health risk in geological background regions. However, ambient air near phosphorous chemical plant exhibited a 41.3-fold increase in F concentration compared to geological background regions. Fluorine-laden emissions can be directly inhaled or deposited on vegetable leaves and orally ingested into human bodies. Improvement of F-rich waste gas disposal and restricted leafy vegetable cultivation are effective measures to reduce F health risks in phosphorous chemical plant regions.

Antibiotics, as emerging pollutants, pose significant risks to aquatic ecosystems and human health by disrupting the endocrine systems of aquatic organisms and affecting ecosystem stability through food chain enrichment. In a study conducted in Hebei Province, China, liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole-linear ion trap mass spectrometry (LC-TQ-LIT-MS) was used to analyze 90 different antibiotics in 31 water samples, including surface water, groundwater, and waste leachate from three urban landfills. This analysis included hormones, broad-spectrum antimicrobials, macrolides, tetracyclines, β-lactams, sulfonamides, and quinolones. The study’s results indicated that quinolones, β-lactams, and macrolides were the most frequently detected substances in the landfills. It is noteworthy that the concentrations of these antibiotics varied significantly among different cities, reflecting local production and living characteristics. The results of the tests showed that the concentration of amoxicillin was 1171 ng/L in surface water, 811 ng/L in groundwater, and 1926 ng/L of ciprofloxacin in waste leachate. Furthermore, a consistent pattern was observed between the compounds present in the leachate, groundwater, and surface water at the three sites. Risk assessments revealed that the ecological risk was higher for surface water and lower for groundwater. This study is the first to systematically analyze the pollution status of antibiotics and hormones in the water around the landfill in Hebei Province, which not only fills the blank of groundwater-related research in Hebei Province but also provides key data support and theoretical basis for local groundwater hydrological and environmental detection and pollution prevention.

Human activities are closely related to geological environments or those influenced by geological factors, which can significantly impact human health. Previous studies have predominantly focused on isolated spheres or single environmental indicators, lacking research on the multifactorial influences affecting the overall geographic environment. From the “One Health” perspective, this paper synthesizes natural environmental factors across the lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and pedosphere, encompassing the sources, forms, concentrations, and bioavailability of chemical elements, as well as pollutants and their associations with human health. Comprehensive natural environmental factors, based on GeoHealth, are intimately connected to human health. Under the pressures of future population growth and rapid industrial development, the relationship between the global geological environment and human health will become increasingly prominent. Therefore, it is crucial to pay close attention to health-based thresholds and promptly implement pollution prevention and control measures.