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  • RESEARCH ARTICLE
    Zhou Yang, Murui Zheng, Ze-Lin Yan, Hui Liu, Xiangyi Liu, Jie-Qi Jin, Jiagang Wu, Chun-Quan Ou
    Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering, 2024, 18(3): 27. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-024-1787-4

    ● Temperature variability is an independent risk factor of cardiovascular diseases.

    ● Considerable cardiovascular disease burden can be attributed to HTV.

    ● The unmarried elderly is more susceptible, particularly in cold seasons.

    ● The effect of upward TV was acute while the impact of downward TV generally lags.

    Relationships between nonoptimal temperatures and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality have been well documented. However, evidence of the association between temperature variability (TV) and CVD morbidity is limited. This study aimed to quantify the risk and burden of CVD-related hospitalization associated with the magnitude and direction of TV. Data on meteorology and population-based hospitalizations for myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke were collected in Guangzhou, China, from 2013 to 2017. Hourly temperature variability (HTV) was measured as the standard deviation of hourly temperature records over specific exposure days. The direction (upward or downward) of HTV was defined as the average daily mean temperature change relative to that of the previous day during the exposure period. Quasi-Poisson regression was applied to assess the impact of HTV after adjusting for the daily mean temperature, and the hospitalization fractions attributable to HTV were calculated. A 1 °C-increase in HTV was significantly associated with a 2.24% and 1.72% increase in hospitalizations for MI and hemorrhagic stroke (HS) at lag 0–1 d, respectively, and a 1.55% increase in hospitalizations for ischemic stroke (IS) at lag 0–3 d. During the study period, 5.99%, 4.64%, and 4.53% of MI, HS, and IS hospitalizations, respectively, were attributable to HTV. The upward TV exerts acute effects on CVD hospital admissions, whereas the impact of downward TV generally lags. These findings highlight the importance of the magnitude and direction of temperature fluctuations, in addition to the mean level, in assessing the adverse health impacts of temperature variations.

  • REVIEW ARTICLE
    Manshu Zhao, Xinhua Wang, Shuguang Wang, Mingming Gao
    Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering, 2024, 18(1): 1. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-024-1761-1

    ● Cr self-catalysis behaviors during Cr-initiated AOPs were described.

    ● Cr transformation in AOPs-based synergistic systems was reviewed.

    ● Discussed detection methods for active species related to Cr-initiated AOPs systems.

    ● This review provided insights into Cr self-catalysis and its applications.

    Chromium (Cr), as a transition metal material with multiple redox states, has exhibited the catalysis toward Fenton-like reactions over a wide pH range. Although it is not sensible to add Cr reagents as catalysts due to its toxicity, it is highly promising to remediate Cr-containing wastewater through Cr-initiated advanced oxidation processes (Cr-initiated AOPs), which are clean and low-cost. Moreover, the widely concerned Cr-complexes, considered as obstacles in the remediation process, can be effectively destroyed by AOPs. Cr self-catalysis is defined as Cr species is both substrate and catalyst. However, the full understanding of Cr self-catalysis, including the generation of intermediates Cr(IV)/Cr(V), the synergetic effects with co-existing ions, and the accumulation of toxic Cr(VI), remains a challenge for the practical application of Cr-initiated AOPs. In this review, relevant researches on Cr self-catalysis during Cr-initiated AOPs are summarized. Specifically, the Cr-Fenton-like reaction, Cr substituted materials, and Cr-sulfite reactions are explored as key mechanisms contributing to Cr self-catalysis. Moreover, Cr transformation processes, including synchronously Cr removal, Cr redox reactions, and Cr(VI) accumulation, in AOPs-based synergistic systems are systematically analyzed. Detailed approaches for the detection of active species in AOPs-based systems are also presented. The primary objective of this review is to explore the application of AOPs for Cr-containing wastewater remediation based on Cr self-catalysis, and provide fundamental insights and valuable information for future research on Cr-initiated AOPs.

  • REVIEW ARTICLE
    Zhengyang Huo, Young Jun Kim, Yuying Chen, Tianyang Song, Yang Yang, Qingbin Yuan, Sang Woo Kim
    Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering, 2023, 17(10): 118. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-023-1718-9

    ● Energy harvesters harness multiple energies for self-powered water purification.

    ● Hybrid energy harvesters enable continuous output under fluctuating conditions.

    ● Mechanical, thermal, and solar energies enable synergic harvesting.

    ● Perspectives of hybrid energy harvester-driven water treatment are proposed.

    The development of self-powered water purification technologies for decentralized applications is crucial for ensuring the provision of drinking water in resource-limited regions. The elimination of the dependence on external energy inputs and the attainment of self-powered status significantly expands the applicability of the treatment system in real-world scenarios. Hybrid energy harvesters, which convert multiple ambient energies simultaneously, show the potential to drive self-powered water purification facilities under fluctuating actual conditions. Here, we propose recent advancements in hybrid energy systems that simultaneously harvest various ambient energies (e.g., photo irradiation, flow kinetic, thermal, and vibration) to drive water purification processes. The mechanisms of various energy harvesters and point-of-use water purification treatments are first outlined. Then we summarize the hybrid energy harvesters that can drive water purification treatment. These hybrid energy harvesters are based on the mechanisms of mechanical and photovoltaic, mechanical and thermal, and thermal and photovoltaic effects. This review provides a comprehensive understanding of the potential for advancing beyond the current state-of-the-art of hybrid energy harvester-driven water treatment processes. Future endeavors should focus on improving catalyst efficiency and developing sustainable hybrid energy harvesters to drive self-powered treatments under unstable conditions (e.g., fluctuating temperatures and humidity).

  • RESEARCH ARTICLE
    Hao Zheng, Jian Cheng, Hung Chak Ho, Baoli Zhu, Zhen Ding, Wencong Du, Xin Wang, Yang Yu, Juan Fei, Zhiwei Xu, Jinyi Zhou, Jie Yang
    Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering, 2023, 17(9): 105. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-023-1705-1

    ● A study assessing the temperature-injury relationship was conducted among students.

    ● The maximum risks of injury appeared at moderate temperatures.

    ● The temperature effect on outdoor falls was greater in older students.

    Although studies have suggested that non-optimal temperatures may increase the risk of injury, epidemiological studies focusing on the association between temperature and non-fatal injury among children and adolescents are limited. Therefore, we investigated the short-term effect of ambient temperature on non-fatal falls and road traffic injuries (RTIs) among students across Jiangsu Province, China. Meteorological data and records of non-fatal outdoor injuries due to falls and RTIs among students aged 6–17 were collected during 2018–2020. We performed a time-stratified case-crossover analysis with a distributed lag nonlinear model to examine the effect of ambient temperature on the risk of injury. Individual meteorological exposure was estimated based on the address of the selected school. We also performed stratified analyses by sex, age, and area. A total of 57322 and 5455 cases of falls and RTIs were collected, respectively. We observed inverted U-shaped curves for temperature-injury associations, with maximum risk temperatures at 18 °C (48th of daily mean temperature distribution) for falls and 22 °C (67th of daily mean temperature distribution) for RTIs. The corresponding odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) were 2.193 (2.011, 2.391) and 3.038 (1.988, 4.644) for falls and RTIs, respectively. Notably, there was a significant age-dependent trend in which the temperature effect on falls was greater in older students (P-trend < 0.05). This study suggests a significant association between ambient temperature and students’ outdoor falls and RTIs. Our findings may help advance tailored strategies to reduce the incidence of outdoor falls and RTIs in children and adolescents.

  • RESEARCH ARTICLE
    Ling Qi, Zhige Tian, Nan Jiang, Fangyuan Zheng, Yuchen Zhao, Yishuo Geng, Xiaoli Duan
    Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering, 2023, 17(8): 92. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-023-1692-2

    ● Increased DAAO offsets 3/4 of the decrease of DAAP in 2013–2020.

    ● DAAO increases are mainly due to O3 concentration increase and population aging.

    ● Health benefit from PM2.5 reduction after 2017 is larger than that before 2017.

    ● Reducing PM2.5 concentration by 1% results in 0.6% reduction of DAAP.

    ● Reducing O3 concentration by 1% results in 2% reduction of DAAO.

    PM2.5 concentration declined significantly nationwide, while O3 concentration increased in most regions in China in 2013–2020. Recent evidences proved that peak season O3 is related to increased death risk from non-accidental and respiratory diseases. Based on these new evidences, we estimate excess deaths associated with long-term exposure to ambient PM2.5 and O3 in China following the counterfactual analytic framework from Global Burden Disease. Excess deaths from non-accidental diseases associated with long-term exposure to ambient O3 in China reaches to 579 (95% confidential interval (CI): 93, 990) thousand in 2020, which has been significantly underestimated in previous studies. In addition, the increased excess deaths associated with long-term O3 exposure (234 (95% CI: 177, 282) thousand) in 2013–2020 offset three quarters of the avoided excess deaths (302 (95% CI: 244, 366) thousand) mainly due to PM2.5 exposure reduction. In key regions (the North China Plain, the Yangtze River Delta and the Fen-Wei Plain), the former is even larger than the latter, particularly in 2017–2020. Health benefit of PM2.5 concentration reduction offsets the adverse effects of population growth and aging on excess deaths attributed to PM2.5 exposure. Increase of excess deaths associated with O3 exposure is mainly due to the strong increase of O3 concentration, followed by population aging. Considering the faster population aging process in the future, collaborative control, and faster reduction of PM2.5 and O3 are needed to reduce the associated excess deaths.

  • REVIEW ARTICLE
    Md. Raihanul Islam, Sumaiya Akter Ruponti, Md. Abdur Rakib, Huy Quoc Nguyen, Monjur Mourshed
    Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering, 2023, 17(6): 66. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-023-1666-4

    ● A global snapshot of plastic waste generation and disposal is analysed.

    ● Effect of plastic pollution on environment and terrestrial ecosystem is reviewed.

    ● Ecotoxicity and food security from plastic pollution is discussed.

    Plastic is considered one of the most indispensable commodities in our daily life. At the end of life, the huge ever-growing pile of plastic waste (PW) causes serious concerns for our environment, including agricultural farmlands, groundwater quality, marine and land ecosystems, food toxicity and human health hazards. Lack of proper infrastructure, financial backup, and technological advancement turn this hazardous waste plastic management into a serious threat to developing countries, especially for Bangladesh. A comprehensive review of PW generation and its consequences on environment in both global and Bangladesh contexts is presented. The dispersion routes of PW from different sources in different forms (microplastic, macroplastic, nanoplastic) and its adverse effect on agriculture, marine life and terrestrial ecosystems are illustrated in this work. The key challenges to mitigate PW pollution and tackle down the climate change issue is discussed in this work. Moreover, way forward toward the design and implementation of proper PW management strategies are highlighted in this study.

  • PERSPECTIVES
    Xi Lu, Dan Tong, Kebin He
    Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering, 2023, 17(2): 14. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-023-1614-3

    ● China has pledged ambitious carbon peak and neutrality goals for mitigating global climate change.

    ● Major challenges to achieve carbon neutrality in China are summarized.

    ● The new opportunities along the pathway of China’s carbon neutrality are discussed from four aspects.

    ● Five policy suggestions for China are provided.

    China is the largest developing economy and carbon dioxide emitter in the world, the carbon neutrality goal of which will have a profound influence on the mitigation pathway of global climate change. The transition towards a carbon-neutral society is integrated into the construction of ecological civilization in China, and brings profound implications for China’s socioeconomic development. Here, we not only summarize the major challenges in achieving carbon neutrality in China, but also identify the four potential new opportunities: namely, the acceleration of technology innovations, narrowing regional disparity by reshaping the value of resources, transforming the industrial structure, and co-benefits of pollution and carbon mitigation. Finally, we provide five policy suggestions and highlight the importance of balancing economic growth and carbon mitigation, and the joint efforts among the government, the enterprises, and the residents.

  • RESEARCH ARTICLE
    Xiaoying Wang, Haiguang Zhang, Xu Wang, Shuo Chen, Hongtao Yu, Xie Quan
    Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering, 2023, 17(1): 1. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-023-1601-8

    ● Electroconductive RGO-MXene membranes were fabricated.

    ● Wettable membrane channels were established between RGO and MXene nanosheets.

    ● Hydrophilic MXene reduces the resistance of water entering the membrane channels.

    ● Water permeance of RGO-MXene membrane is 16.8 times higher than that of RGO membrane.

    ● Electro-assistance can enhance the dye rejection performance of RGO-MXene membrane.

    Reduced graphene oxide (RGO) membranes are theoretically more conducive to the rapid transport of water molecules in their channels compared with graphene oxide (GO) membranes, as they have fewer oxygen-containing functional groups and more non-oxidized regions. However, the weak hydrophilicity of RGO membranes inhibits water entry into their channels, resulting in their low water permeability. In this work, we constructed wettable RGO-MXene channels by intercalating hydrophilic MXene nanosheets into the RGO membrane for improving the water permeance. The RGO-MXene composite membrane exhibits high pure water permeance of 62.1 L/(m2·h·bar), approximately 16.8 times that of the RGO membrane (3.7 L/(m2·h·bar)). Wettability test results and molecular dynamics simulations suggest that the improved water permeance results from the enhanced wettability of RGO-MXene membrane and increased rate of water molecules entering the RGO-MXene channels. Benefiting from good conductivity, the RGO-MXene membrane with electro-assistance exhibits significantly increased rejection rates for negatively charged dyes (from 56.0% at 0 V to 91.4% at 2.0 V for Orange G) without decreasing the permeate flux, which could be attributed to enhanced electrostatic repulsion under electro-assistance.

  • REVIEW ARTICLE
    Yang Yang, Xiuzhen Zheng, Wei Ren, Jiafang Liu, Xianliang Fu, Sugang Meng, Shifu Chen, Chun Cai
    Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering, 2022, 16(11): 137. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-022-1573-0

    ● Systematic information of recent progress in photocatalytic NO x removal is provided.

    ● The photocatalysts with special morphologies are reviewed and discussed.

    ● The morphology and photocatalytic NO x removal performance is related.

    The significant increase of NOx concentration causes severe damages to environment and human health. Light-driven photocatalytic technique affords an ideal solution for the removal of NOx at ambient conditions. To enhance the performance of NOx removal, 1D, 2D and 3D photocatalysts have been constructed as the light absorption and the separation of charge carriers can be manipulated through controlling the morphology of the photocatalyst. Related works mainly focused on the construction and modification of special morphologic photocatalyst, including element doping, heterostructure constructing, crystal facet exposing, defect sites introducing and so on. Moreover, the excellent performance of the photocatalytic NOx removal creates great awareness of the application, which has promising practical applications in NOx removal by paint (removing NOx indoor and outdoor) and pavement (degrading vehicle exhausts). For these considerations, recent advances in special morphologic photocatalysts for NOx removal was summarized and commented in this review. The purpose is to provide insights into understanding the relationship between morphology and photocatalytic performance, meanwhile, to promote the application of photocatalytic technology in NOx degradation.

  • RESEARCH ARTICLE
    Xin Xing, Na Li, Dandan Liu, Jie Cheng, Zhengping Hao
    Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering, 2022, 16(10): 125. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-022-1557-0

    ● A series of Cu-ZSM-5 catalysts were tested for DMF selective catalytic oxidation.

    ● Cu-6 nm samples showed the best catalytic activity and N2 selectivity.

    ● Redox properties and chemisorbed oxygen impact on DMF catalytic oxidation.

    ● Isolated Cu2+ species and weak acidity have effects on the generation of N2.

    N, N-Dimethylformamide (DMF), a nitrogen-containing volatile organic compound (NVOC) with high emissions from the spray industry, has attracted increasing attention. In this study, Cu-ZSM-5 catalysts with different CuO particle sizes of 3, 6, 9 and 12 nm were synthesized and tested for DMF selective catalytic oxidation. The crystal structure and physicochemical properties of the catalyst were studied by various characterization methods. The catalytic activity increases with increasing CuO particle size, and complete conversion can be achieved at 300–350 °C. The Cu-12 nm catalyst has the highest catalytic activity and can achieve complete conversion at 300 °C. The Cu-6 nm sample has the highest N2 selectivity at lower temperatures, reaching 95% at 300 °C. The activity of the catalysts is determined by the surface CuO cluster species, the bulk CuO species and the chemisorbed surface oxygen species. The high N2 selectivity of the catalyst is attributed to the ratio of isolated Cu2+ and bulk CuO species, and weak acidity is beneficial to the formation of N2. The results in this work will provide a new design of NVOC catalytic oxidation catalysts.