● Municipal solid waste storage sites show high microplastic adsorption

Municipal solid waste (MSW) storage sites are potential and overlooked contributors to microplastic (MP) pollution. Herein, the distribution and dispersion characteristics of MPs at MSW storage sites were investigated through modeling, sampling analysis, and prediction methodologies. The results indicated a notable adsorption phenomenon of MPs on smooth surfaces within such sites, achieving high saturation levels and making MPs prone to re-release by airflow disturbance. Quantitative analysis revealed that the MP concentrations on these surfaces varied from 4.48 × 10⁵ to 1.90 × 10⁶ n/m² and that MPs predominantly accumulated in the corner areas. Notably, MP accumulation on wall surfaces can be reduced by 76.4% using washing procedures. The majority of MPs were under 50 μm in size and were primarily in fragment form. Operational activities such as ventilation and waste handling were identified to amplify the airborne spread of MPs. The atmospheric concentrations of MPs peaked seasonally, with concentrations of 28.25 n/m³ in summer and 3.90 n/m³ in winter, and the spatial dispersion ranged from 14.98 to 124.08 km² per station. This study highlights that MSW storage sites are substantial yet overlooked sources of MP pollution, where wall surfaces play a critical role in MP adsorption and dispersal. The implementation of robust management and cleaning protocols is essential to mitigate the environmental footprint of MPs emanating from these locations. This study also provides a typical case for the precise prevention and control of MPs in the environment.

● Spatiotemporal distribution of conventional and emerging pollutants was analyzed.

Emerging pollutants, such as antibiotics and antibiotic-resistance genes, are becoming increasingly important sources of safety and health concerns. Drinking water safety, which is closely related to human health, should receive more attention than natural water body safety. However, minimal research has been performed on the efficacy of existing treatment processes in water treatment plants for the removal of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes. To address this research gap, this study detected and analyzed six main antibiotics and nine antibiotic resistance genes in the treatment processes of two drinking water plants in Wuhan. Samples were collected over three months and then detected and analyzed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and fluorescence quantitation. The total concentrations of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes in the influent water of the two water plants were characterized as December > March > June. The precipitation and filtration processes of the Zou Maling Water Plant and Yu Shidun Water Plant successfully removed the antibiotics. The ozone-activated carbon process increased the removal rate of most antibiotics to 100%. However, a large amount of antibiotic resistance gene residues remained in the effluents of the two water plants. The experiments demonstrated that the existing ozone-activated carbon processes could not effectively remove antibiotic resistance genes. This study provides a reference for the optimization of drinking water treatment processes for antibiotics and antibiotic resistance gene removal.

● Catalytic ozonation could effectively purify the secondary effluent from IPWWTPs.

Catalytic ozonation is a potential technology to eliminate refractory organic contaminants with the low concentration in secondary effluent from industrial park wastewater treatment plants (IPWWTPs). In this study, the catalytic ozonation over the Mn-based catalyst significantly improved the chemical oxygen demand (COD), total organic carbon (TOC), and UV₂₅₄ removals of secondary effluent from IPWWTPs. The Mn-based catalyst/O₃ system achieved 84.8%, 69.8%, and 86.4% removals of COD, TOC, and UV₂₅₄, which were 3.3, 5.7, and 1.1 times that in ozonation alone, respectively. Moreover, the Mn-based catalytic ozonation process exhibited excellent pH tolerance ranging from pH 4.0 to 9.0. Additionally, the depth analysis based on fluorescence excitation-emission matrix (EEM) confirmed that the catalytic ozonation process preferred to degrade toxic aromatic hydrocarbons. The existence of the Mn-based catalyst/O₃ system enhanced 21.4%–38.3% more fluorescent organic matters removal, compared to that in ozonation alone. Mechanistic studies proved that the abundant Lewis acid sites (Mnⁿ⁺/Mn⁽ⁿ⁺¹⁾⁺ and adsorbed oxygen) on the surface of the Mn-based catalyst effectively promoted O₃ decomposition into reactive oxygen species (ROS), and ·O₂^‒/HO₂· and ¹O₂ were the main ROS for degrading refractory organic contaminants. The contributions of ROS oxidation (91.2%) was much higher than that of direct O₃ oxidation (8.8%). Thus, this work provides an effective advanced treatment process for purifying secondary effluent from IPWWTPs.

● TiO₂ nanoparticles are generated in situ on layered Ti₃C₂ MXene.

Photocatalytic membranes offer an effective strategy to overcome the difficulties of solid-liquid separation and secondary contamination of powdered photocatalysts. MXene is a 2D material of layered Ti₃C₂, which is considered to limit electron-hole separation and contribute to photocatalysis. In this work, the etched Ti₃C₂ MXene was loaded on the surface of ceramic membranes using polydopamine (PDA) as a binder, followed by one-step calcination to produce TiO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) in situ. The characterizations supported that the TiO₂/Ti₃C₂ ceramic membranes had high mechanical strength while retaining the layered structure of Ti₃C₂, which was conducive to the inhibition of electron and hole complexation, improving the photocatalytic performance. Degradation experiments revealed that the material showed enhanced degradation of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) such as ciprofloxacin (CIP), tetracycline (TCN) and ibuprofen (IBP). The LC-MS and toxicity prediction models indicated that the developmental toxicity of CIP degradation products decreased with prolonged photocatalytic reaction, exhibiting no acute toxicity to fish. The MT650 exhibited significantly enhanced water flux properties (320 L/(m²·h)). The TiO₂/Ti₃C₂ ceramic membranes explored in this work are expected to target the treatment of PPCPs with excellent engineering promise.

● “Forever chemicals” are being redefined in terms of environmental lifespans.

The discovery and widespread use of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have exemplified the beneficial role of chemistry in modern life, yet they have also underscored significant environmental and health concerns. Termed “forever chemicals” due to their remarkable persistence, PFAS present formidable challenges in terms of contamination and toxicity. Efforts to address these challenges have led to the development of innovative degradation technologies, such as hydrothermal alkali treatment (HALT), low-temperature mineralization, and mechanochemical degradation, offering promising solutions to PFAS remediation. However, these advancements must be accompanied by robust investment in research, collaboration among stakeholders, and global responsibility to ensure effective management of PFAS contamination and mitigate its adverse impacts on ecosystems and human health.

● Wildfire and emission patterns vary globally, intensifying at high latitudes.

Wildfires burn approximately 3%–4% of the global land area annually, resulting in massive emissions of greenhouse gases and air pollutants. Over the past two decades, there has been a declining trend in both global burned area and wildfire emissions. This trend is largely attributed to a decrease in wildfire activity in Africa, which accounts for a substantial portion of the total burned area and emissions. However, the northern high-latitude regions of Asia and North America have witnessed substantial interannual variability in wildfire activity, with several severe events occurring in recent years. Climate plays a pivotal role in influencing wildfire activity and has led to more wildfires in high-latitude regions. These wildfires pose significant threats to climate, ecosystems, and human health. Given recent changes in wildfire patterns and their impacts, it is critical to understand the contributors of wildfires, focus on deteriorating high-latitude areas, and address health risks in poorly managed areas to mitigate wildfire effects.

● Microbiologically influenced corrosion is reviewed focusing on its mechanisms and mitigation

Microbiologically induced corrosion (MIC) is a complex and destructive phenomenon that occurs in various sectors, involving the interaction between microorganisms and metal surfaces, resulting in accelerated corrosion rates. This review article provides a comprehensive analysis of MIC, encompassing microbial species involved, their metabolic activities, and influential environmental factors driving the corrosion process. The mechanisms of MIC, both in the presence and absence of oxygen, are explored, along with the diverse effects of microbes on different types of corrosion and their economic impacts. Assessment and monitoring techniques, including traditional and advanced methods such as microbiological and electrochemical methods, are discussed. Furthermore, it examines preventive and control measures, such as the use of biocides and their mechanisms of action. Strategies to enhance the performance of these control measures and the effectiveness of antimicrobial agents during disinfection processes, including surfactants and chelators, are discussed. Additionally, the review highlights enzymatic remediation as a sustainable alternative approach, providing detailed examples. The challenges in mitigating MIC and potential future developments and collaborative opportunities are also addressed. This systematic review is a valuable resource for researchers, industry professionals, and policymakers seeking a comprehensive understanding of the complex phenomenon of MIC and effective strategies for its management.

● A new method was developed for simultaneous quantification of multiple NOCs.

The mechanisms underlying the photo-ammonification of nitrogenous organic compounds (NOCs) remain unclear, partly due to the analytical challenges of small NOC intermediates. This study introduced a simple methodology for accurately and simultaneously quantifying multiple small NOCs during ammonification processes. The developed method employed phenyl isothiocyanate as derivatization reagents, followed by high-performance liquid chromatography analysis to measure primary and secondary amines, amides, as well as NH₄⁺ over variable photo-ammonification conditions. In our experimental setup, vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) irradiation serves as the controlled reaction environment to simulate harsh photo-ammonification environment. Representative NOCs, including pyridine, N,N-dimethylformamide, and acrylonitrile, were chosen due to their structural diversity and environmental relevance as model NOCs. This method was able to achieve excellent nitrogen mass balance, and revealed that the last steps of photo-ammonification involved oxidation of nitrogen-adjacent carbon to amide followed by the cleavage of N–C bond. This novel method may also help quantitative investigation of nitrogen transformations in different environmental contexts.

● From 2005 to 2020, GEP in the Chaobai River’s upper reaches increased by 58%.

The Chaobai River Basin, which is a crucial ecological barrier and primary water source area within the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region, possesses substantial ecological significance. The gross ecosystem product (GEP) in the Chaobai River Basin is a reflection of ecosystem conditions and quantifies nature’s contributions to humanity, which provides a basis for basin ecosystem service management and decision-making. This study investigated the spatiotemporal evolution of GEP in the upper Chaobai River Basin and explored the driving factors influencing GEP spatial differentiation. Ecosystem patterns from 2005 to 2020 were analyzed, and GEP was calculated for 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020. The driving factors influencing GEP spatial differentiation were identified using the optimal parameter-based geographical detector (OPGD) model. The key findings are as follows: (1) From 2005 to 2020, the main ecosystem types were forest, grassland, and agriculture. Urban areas experienced significant changes, and conversions mainly occurred among urban, water, grassland and agricultural ecosystems. (2) Temporally, the GEP in the basin increased from 2005 to 2020, with regulation services dominating. At the county (district) scale, GEP exhibited a north-west-high and south-east-low pattern, showing spatial differences between per-unit-area GEP and county (district) GEP, while the spatial variations in per capita GEP and county (district) GEP were similar. (3) Differences in the spatial distribution of GEP were influenced by regional natural geographical and socioeconomic factors. Among these factors, gross domestic product, population density, and land-use degree density contributed significantly. Interactions among different driving forces noticeably impacted GEP spatial differentiation. These findings underscore the necessity of incorporating factors such as population density and the intensity of land-use development into ecosystem management decision-making processes in the upper reaches of the Chaobai River Basin. Future policies should be devised to regulate human activities, thereby ensuring the stability and enhancement of GEP.

● CBD consumption used during the Dynamic COVID Zero Strategy was quantified.

Chlorine-based disinfectants (CBDs) have been widely used to prevent and control the spread of the COVID-19, which may lead to the formation of carcinogenic hazards. In China, strict disinfection strategies by local governments/communities or volunteering by residents have been implemented to meet the Dynamic COVID Zero (DCZ) Strategy. However, the amount of CBDs used has not been estimated. The author proposed an urban-scale disinfectant consumption estimation (ALICE) model to quantify weekly CBD consumption. The results show that the CBD consumption for the urban region of Beijing during the DCZ strategy was 3704.0 t (0.43 kg/(cap∙yr)), equivalent to a monthly increase of 15 g/cap (70.5%) in CBD consumption compared with that in pre-pandemic. According to the scenario analysis, a stricter strategy with a shorter response time toward new cases will decrease the total CBD consumption by 1.2% compared with the baseline estimation. A more precise prevention strategy with a smaller delineation of risk area and a less stringent strategy with a longer response time will lower the total CBD consumption by 0.42% and 0.35%, respectively. Specifically, the more precise prevention strategy will reduce CBD consumption of close off and lockdown area (COLD area) by 16.9%, and the stricter strategy will reduce this consumption by 37.7%. This study highlights the impact of pandemic prevention and control strategies on chlorine-based disinfectant consumption and some implications for future environmental pollution and risk assessments.

● Sewer network contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.

Sewer networks play a vital role in sewage collection and transportation, and they are being rapidly expanded. However, the microbial processes occurring within these networks have emerged as significant contributors to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Compared to that from other sectors, our understanding of the magnitude of GHG emissions from sewer networks is currently limited. In this study, we conducted a GHG emission assessment in an independent sewer network located in Beijing, China. The findings revealed annual emissions of 62.3 kg CH₄ and 0.753 kg N₂O. CH₄ emerged as the primary GHG emitted from sewers, accounting for 87.4% of the total GHG emissions. Interestingly, compared with main pipes, branch pipes were responsible for a larger share of GHG emissions, contributing to 76.7% of the total. A GHG emission factor of 0.26 kg CO₂-eq/(m·yr) was established to quantify sewer GHG emissions. By examining the isotopic signatures of CO₂/CH₄ pairs, it was determined that CH₄ production in sewers primarily occurred through acetate fermentation. Additionally, the structure of sewer pipes had a significant impact on GHG levels. This study offers valuable insights into the overall GHG emissions associated with sewer networks and sheds light on the mechanisms driving these emissions.

● CS structure overestimates ρ _eff by nearly six times at externally mixed states.

Measurements studies have shown that the absorption of radiation by black carbon (BC) increases as the particles age. However, there are significant discrepancies between the measured and modeled absorption enhancement (E_abs), largely due to the simplifications used in modeling the mixing states and shape diversities. We took advantage of chamber experiments on BC aging and developed an efficient method to resolve the particle shape based on the relationship between the coating fraction (∆D_ve/D_ve,0) and fractal dimension (D_f), which can also reflect the variations of D_f during the whole BC aging process. BC with externally and partly mixed states (0 ≤ ∆D_ve/D_ve,0 ≤ 0.5) can be considered to be uniformly distributed with the D_f values of 1.8–2.1, whereas the D_f values are constrained in the range 2.2–2.8 for fully mixed states (∆D_ve/D_ve,0 > 0.5). The morphological parameters (i.e., the effective density and the dynamic shape factor) were compared with the measured values to verify the simulated morphology. The simulated mean deviations of morphological parameters were smaller than 8% for the method resolving the particle shape. By applying a realistic shape and refractive index, the mass absorption cross for fully mixed states can be improved by 11% compared with a simplified core–shell model. Based on our understanding of the influence of D_f and ∆D_ve/D_ve,0 on E_abs, we propose a two-stage calibration equation to correct the E_abs values estimated by the core–shell model, which reduces the simulation error in the Mie calculation by 6%–14%.

● Combined proposals achieved higher disinfection efficiencies than singular ones.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, most sewage treatment plants increased disinfectant dosages to inactivate pathogenic viruses and microorganisms more effectively. However, this approach also led to the production of more disinfection by-products (DBPs). To ensure both disinfection efficiency and a reduction in DBP formation, new disinfection protocols are required. In this study, the disinfection efficiency, DBP amounts, and toxicity changes resulting from ozone (O₃), ultraviolet (UV), chlorine (Cl₂), and their combined processes were examined. The results demonstrated that the O₃/UV/Cl₂ combination achieved the highest disinfection efficiency. Chlorination produced the most DBPs, whereas UV treatment reduced the formation of trihalomethane (THM), halogenated ketones (HKs), haloacetic acids (HAA), dichloroacetonitrile (DCAN) and N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) by 45.9%, 52.6%, 82.0%, 67.95%, and 47%, respectively. O₃ also significantly reduced their production by 99.1%, 91.1%, 99.5%, 100%, and 35%. Intracellular organic matter (IOM) was identified as the primary DBP precursors, producing 2.94 times more DBPs than extracellular organic matter (EOM). The increased DBP formation during chlorination was attributed to IOM leakage and cell membrane damage, which was verified using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The toxicities of DBPs were evaluated for six disinfection methods, revealing inconsistent results. The overall toxicities were assessed using zebrafish embryo experiments. Both evaluations indicated that chlorination alone was the least favorable method. In addition, the toxicities followed a sequence: Cl₂ ≈ O₃/Cl₂ > O₃ > O₃/UV/Cl₂ > UV > UV/Cl₂. These findings can serve as a reference for sewage treatment plants in selecting appropriate disinfection methods to manage the COVID-19 epidemic from comprehensive perspective.

● Converting of red soil into a zeolite framework has been reported for the first time.

Red soil, the most critical soil resource in tropical/subtropical regions worldwide, faces tremendous threats, including nutrient deficiency, acidification, and heavy metal contamination. There is a great demand for multifunctional eco-materials capable of modifying this situation. Herein, we used widely distributed soil and biomass to develop a zeolite/biochar composite for synergistic red soil remediation and amendment. With the composite material, the Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺ remediation efficiencies reached 92.8% and 92.9%, respectively, in stems under optimal conditions. Moreover, the acidity and nutrient deficiency conditions of red soil significantly improved. The atomic-scale interaction mechanism during the remediation and amendment process was elucidated with complementary characterization methods, which revealed that in the zeolite/biochar composite material, zeolite contributes to long-term heavy metal remediation effects. Simultaneously, biochar is responsible for soil quality amendment and short-term heavy metal remediation. Furthermore, for the first time, single-atom heavy metal ions were observed on biochar during the remediation process, indicating the broad distribution of single atoms in the natural environment.

● Most prescribed PPCP concentrations were measured in WWTP influent and effluent.

Concerns related to environmental risks associated with pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) have led researchers to seek methods for assessing and monitoring these contaminants in the aquatic environment. Identifying and validating risk assessment tools that can evaluate ecological concerns and risks associated with PPCPs is critical. Herein, the suitability of a dose-related risk and effect assessment model, which estimates predicted environmental concentrations and allowed comparisons with predicted no effect concentrations determined, in combination with in vitro analyses of the whole effluent toxicity, was verified for the characterization of a PPCP hazard. Concentrations of the most utilized PPCPs in Norway were measured in influent and effluent samples and used to parameterize the fate model.

　Greater than 90% removal was attained for 12 out of 22 detected PPCPs. Removal was not dependent on the class or the concentration of the specific substance and varied between 12% and 100%. The PPCPs detected in the discharged wastewater were utilized to assess individual contributions to the risk of the effluent, and no risk was identified for the targeted 30 PPCP. The simulations provided valuable information regarding the discharge plume distribution over time, which can aid planning of future environmental monitoring investigations.

　Bioassays (using fish liver cells, PLHC-1) were used for assessing overall effluent toxicity, through cell viability, production of reactive oxygen species, and ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activities.

　The present study may allow regulators to use risk-based strategies over removal criteria for monitoring studies and confirms the importance to take PPCP contamination into consideration when establishing environmental regulations.