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PubMed2026

Unconfined compressive strength prediction for the ordinary Portland cement-steel slag-silica fume ternary system based on response surface methodology.

This research was undertaken to address environmental concerns associated with industrial solid waste and to reduce cement consumption in geotechnical engineering. It specifically investigates the feasibility of using steel slag (SS) and silica fume (SF) as partial substitutes for ordinary Portland cement (OPC) in soil stabilization. The effects of SS, SF, OPC, and initial moisture content on the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of stabilized soil were investigated through single-factor experiments and response surface methodology (RSM). The results show that SS and SF can synergistically enhance the strength of stabilized soil, although their interaction effect was not statistically significant within the investigated ranges. Compared with soil stabilized solely with OPC, the addition of 18 % SS and 10 % SF reduced OPC consumption by 3 % without compromising strength. Microstructural and compositional analyses further revealed that SS mainly supplied calcium- and silica-bearing components, while SF provided highly reactive silica and micro-filling effects, jointly promoting hydration reactions and improving the compactness of the stabilized soil matrix. As a result, more hydration products were formed in the OPC/SS/SF-stabilized soil than in the OPC-stabilized soil, which contributed to pore filling and strength enhancement. This study provides useful guidance for the sustainable utilization of industrial solid waste and the low-carbon development of soil stabilization materials.

Construction Materials↗

PubMed2026

Ecological Restoration of the Soil-Like Function in the Bauxite Residue: Natural Microbiomes Mediated Molecular Transformation of Dissolved Organic Matter.

Soilization of bauxite residues offers a scalable route for long-term carbon management and ecological restoration. However, the microbial processes that transform exogenous organic inputs into stable soil-like carbon pools remain poorly resolved. Here, we combined cross-ecosystem meta-analysis, machine-learning prediction, native synthetic community (SynCom) construction, 13C-labeled straw microcosms, field validation, Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry, and genome-resolved metagenomics to unravel microbiome-mediated carbon transformation at the dissolved organic matter (DOM) molecular scale. Our meta-analysis revealed that alkaline industrial wastes retained soil-like DOM signatures but were enriched in microbial humic- and protein-like components, indicating active yet incomplete carbon processing. Guided by these patterns, native SynCom inoculation increased 13C incorporation into total organic carbon (TOC) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC), enlarged biodegradable and adsorbable DOC fractions, and shifted DOM from recalcitrant aromatic pools toward oxygenated carbohydrate-, tannin-, and phenolic-like molecular classes. Genome-resolved analyses linked this transformation to complementary polymer degradation and nutrient-cycling functions across fungal and bacterial guilds, including enriched carbohydrate-active enzymes in straw-carbon-utilizing metagenome-assembled genomes. Null model and thermodynamic analyses further showed that microbial communities were constrained by homogeneous selection, whereas DOM molecules were diversified through variable selection and redox-dependent transformation. Field-scale validation confirmed that SynCom promoted TOC and DOC accumulation and humic-like, high-density DOM fractions under alkaline conditions. Together, these findings establish a mechanistic framework in which functional microbiomes couple plant carbon depolymerization, DOM molecular diversification, and mineral-interactive carbon stabilization, providing a microbiome-guided strategy for carbon sequestration and soilization in the bauxite residue.

Soil↗

PubMed2026

Climate and soil shape Daqu wheat quality and seed microbiome via rhizosphere taxa and microbial assembly.

The grain quality and seed microbiome of Daqu wheat are fundamental determinants of Daqu fermentation performance; however, the mechanisms by which cultivation environments influence these traits via rhizosphere microbial communities remain unclear. Bacterial and fungal communities across the bulk soil-rhizosphere-seed continuum of three wheat cultivars grown in four ecoregions were characterized using absolute quantitative amplicon sequencing. The rhizosphere microbiome was treated as a central intermediary, while the response variables were seed microbial diversity and grain-quality traits, including starch content, protein content, and grain hardness. Twelve physicochemical properties of soil and 11 climatic factors were integrated into a multidimensional association framework. Environmental conditions exerted stronger influences on both seed quality traits and microbial diversity than cultivar identity. Distinct regional signatures were also evident in rhizosphere microbiomes, with environmental gradients explaining community variation more effectively than geographic distance. Bacterial communities exhibited greater sensitivity to environmental fluctuations than fungi. Mantel analyses identified available nitrogen, precipitation, and atmospheric pressure as significant drivers of core rhizosphere taxa (P < 0.05). iCAMP revealed that stochastic processes predominantly governed rhizosphere bacterial assembly, whereas stochastic and deterministic mechanisms jointly shaped fungal assembly. Partial least squares path modeling further uncovered a rhizosphere-mediated environment-seed cascade, wherein sunlight intensity and duration, atmospheric pressure, and soil nitrogen directly or indirectly affected seed wet gluten content, grain hardness, and seed microbial diversity through their influences on rhizosphere microbiota. Rhizosphere bacterial diversity was negatively associated with seed bacterial diversity (path coefficient = -0.118, P < 0.05), indicating that rhizosphere communities may shape seed endophytic bacterial assemblages via environmental filtering and competitive interactions. Collectively, these findings elucidate how environments shape the quality and seed microbiomes of Daqu wheat, providing scientific guidance for optimal site selection and the standardized production of high-quality brewing wheat for industrial Baijiu.

Triticum↗

PubMed2026

Desert-derived Ensifer sp. SA403 enhances potato salt tolerance by reshaping rhizosphere microbiome functions and host responses.

Soil salinization increasingly threatens global food security, and potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), a moderately salt-sensitive crop, is particularly vulnerable to saline soils. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) offer a promising strategy to improve crop performance, yet how PGPR interact with native microorganisms to enhance potato salt tolerance remains poorly understood. In this study, we identified a desert-derived PGPR strain, Ensifer sp. SA403, which substantially enhanced potato performance under high salinity across sterile, non-sterile and field conditions. Physiologically, inoculation with SA403 reduced shoot Na⁺ accumulation and increased the K⁺/Na⁺ ratio; notably, these effects were markedly stronger in non-sterile substrates than under sterile conditions, indicating that SA403-mediated ion homeostasis relies on cooperation with the resident microbiota rather than on the strain acting alone. Metagenomic profiling indicated that SA403 strain reshaped rhizosphere communities, significantly enriching beneficial taxa such as Priestia and Bradyrhizobium, and upregulated functional pathways involved in glutathione and sulfur metabolism. Furthermore, host transcriptomic analyses showed that SA403 modulated plant responses to salt stress, with differentially expressed genes enriched in jasmonic acid signaling, ethanolamine metabolism and amino-acid biosynthesis pathways. Field trials on saline soils confirmed that SA403 significantly increased seedling emergence and tuber weight. Together, our results demonstrate that SA403 functions as a biological mediator that optimizes rhizosphere microecology and coordinates ion balance and host signaling to enhance potato salt tolerance. These findings support the potential of SA403 as a robust PGPR-based tool for sustainable potato production on saline soils.

Rhizosphere↗

PubMed2026

Optimizing eco-engineering pedogenesis of bauxite residues: Synergistic effects of humus and FeSO4/sulfur on microbial community and function.

Eco-engineered pedogenesis represents a promising approach for soil amelioration of bauxite residues (BRs) through exogenous organic matter. However, the role of humus in mediating this process remains poorly understood, significantly impeding the eco-engineering rehabilitation of BRs. In this study, we conducted pot experiments and subsequent microbial analysis to evaluate the individual improvement of humic acid (HA), fulvic acid (FA), and corn straw (SWZ) on the BRs' pedogenesis. High-throughput sequencing analysis revealed that both FA and SWZ were more effective than HA in steering microbial community assembly, as community diversity, dominant taxa enrichment, and species' interaction were all significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the FA/SWZ treatments than in HA treatments. Notably, the combination of FA with FeSO4 specifically enriched halophilic taxa, while FA coupled with sulfur (S) significantly improved the connectivity and complexity of the microbial network, as the average connection degree increasing from 1.008 to 1.113. Hydrolytic enzyme activity assays further indicated that FA, especially when combined with S, was the most effective treatment in restoring microbial function during BR pedogenesis. These findings highlight FA as a critical driver of microbial restructuring and functional recovery in BRs. Moreover, its efficacy can be enhanced by co-amendment with FeSO4 or S. This study provides important theoretical and practical insights for optimizing organic-inorganic amendment strategies to accelerate the eco-engineering pedogenesis of bauxite residues.

Humic Substances↗

PubMed2026

Transformation of antibiotics mediated by iron-bearing minerals: A review.

Iron-bearing minerals are ubiquitous in water, sediments and soil, where their surface chemical properties and redox activity can play an important role in degradation of trace antibiotics. This review systematically summarizes the roles of various iron-bearing minerals in chemical transformation and microbial degradation of antibiotics and reaction mechanisms involved, and refines the critical idea for iron-driven control of antibiotics with trace level in natural environment. Overall, antibiotics removal in the presence of iron-bearing minerals involves combination of adsorption, surface oxidative degradation, photo-induced degradation, Fenton-like reaction and microbial degradation. Adsorption of antibiotics by Fe(III)-minerals involves electrostatic interaction, complexation, H-bonding, π-π interaction and hydrophobic interaction. Adsorbed antibiotics form complexes with Fe(III)-minerals, undergoing electron transfer to generate radical intermediates, subsequently generating final products through hydroxylation, dealkylation, and deamination. Additionally, Fe(III)-minerals can be excited to produce electrons and holes under sunlight and to produce antibiotics-degrading hydroxyl radical through O2 reduction, H2O oxidation and ligand-to-metal charge transfer. Reduced iron minerals can activate oxygen to participate in Fenton-like degradation reactions. Finally, antibiotics are mainly removed by bio-driven Fenton reaction and direct enzyme biodegradation. The presence of iron-bearing minerals can promote antibiotics microbial degradation by providing nutrients for microorganisms or by changing microbial activity and microbial community structure. Existing problems and future research directions are identified. New insights for application of iron-bearing minerals in transformation of antibiotics are proposed. The work aims to suggest new methods and insights for pollution control and remediation of emerging contaminants including trace antibiotics in the natural environment.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

PubMed2026

PGPR inoculation and growth enhancement of crops cultivated in hydroponic systems.

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are ubiquitous rhizosphere microorganisms that promote plant health through various mechanisms. Although the study of PGPR inoculants in soil has been done for ages, their application in hydroponic systems has received relatively limited attention. This review identifies PGPR inoculants that are commonly used in hydroponics, methods of application, and their effects on plant growth and nutrient use efficiency. Literature shows that PGPR inoculants improve plant performance in controlled hydroponic systems through the production of growth-stimulating substances, nitrogen fixation, and improved nutrient acquisition. However, the plant growth responses are highly variable depending on the composition of nutrient solutions, environmental factors, crop and microbe species, and the type of hydroponic system. The review identifies various challenges of PGPR inoculation in hydroponic systems and future research directions to address the current gaps. Generally, the productivity of hydroponic systems can be enhanced through advanced inoculation strategies and the development of suitable carrier materials to improve inoculant survival, viability, and functions. Emphasis should also be placed on designing system-specific microbial consortia and Synthetic communities that are tailored to the unique ecological conditions of hydroponic systems.

Hydroponics↗

PubMed2026

Global Patterns of Net Ecosystem Exchange in peatlands: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Drivers Across Land Use and Environmental Gradients.

Peatlands play an essential role in the global carbon cycle, storing approximately one-third of the world's soil carbon despite covering less than 3% of the land surface. Peatland degradation from anthropogenic activities and climate change can convert peatlands from net carbon sinks to sources by altering carbon cycling. Net Ecosystem Exchange (NEE), the balance between CO2 uptake and emission, is a critical indicator for assessing peatland condition and restoration efforts. We conducted a systematic quantitative literature review to investigate global patterns of NEE in peatlands and identify key environmental and anthropogenic drivers of CO2 flux variability. Annual NEE values from 120 globally distributed sites reported in peer-reviewed literature were analyzed in relation to climatic zone, land use, vegetation type, peatland condition, and water table depth. Our synthesis revealed significant geographic gaps, with peatland NEE studies substantially underrepresented in the Tropics, Africa, and Oceania. Agricultural peatlands emitted significantly more CO2 than sites under natural land uses or peat extraction, while degraded peatlands were significantly greater net CO2 sources than intact and restored systems. Restored peatlands remained net CO2 sources on average, emphasizing the importance of long-term monitoring and adaptive management following restoration interventions. Water table depth significantly affected NEE variability, with CO2 emissions increasing approximately 7.2 gCO2-C m-2yr-1 for every centimeter of water table drawdown. A substantial variability in measurement methods, data processing software, and protocols highlighted the critical need for methodological standardization. Our findings provide evidence-based targets for peatland conservation and restoration monitoring as nature-based climate solutions.

Ecosystem↗

PubMed2026

Quantifying the combined effects of semi-closed terrain and monsoon on PM2.5 and O3 pollution aggregation in the North China Plain.

The North China Plain (NCP) and its surrounding regions represent one of the key priority areas for air pollution control. As anthropogenic emissions decline significantly, the effect of terrain and meteorology on air pollution pattern has become increasingly prominent, particularly given the NCP's unique semi-closed terrain and East Asian monsoon dynamics. However, quantitative characterization of terrain-dominated blocking effects remains unexplored. Here we quantitatively assess the blocking effects of mountains and terrain-coupled meteorological factors on air pollutant dispersion. We find the NCP on the eastern side of the Taihang Mountains showed high PM2.5 and O3 pollution levels, with winter PM2.5 and summer O3 high-value zones showing opposite north-south aggregation patterns. PM2.5 and O3 concentrations were highest in plains, followed by platforms, hills, and finally mountains. Within the 120-km buffer zones of the typical mountains in the NCP and its surrounding regions, PM2.5 and O3 concentrations increased initially with altitude but then decreased markedly above a threshold altitude. Above the threshold altitude, mountain blocking effects became dominant. The effective blocking altitudes of typical mountains in the NCP and its surrounding regions ranged between 22 and 929 m for winter PM2.5 pollution, and between 19 and 1060 m for summer O3 pollution. The Terrain-Wind Close Index indicates that the terrain-coupled East Asian monsoon showed stronger blocking effects on PM2.5 dispersion in southern NCP during winter and on O3 diffusion in northern NCP during summer, matching observed high-pollution zones. This study offers key insights for regional joint air pollution mitigation strategies, as well as regional pollution assessment.

Particulate Matter↗

PubMed2026

Air Pollution and Heat Impacts on Respiratory Morbidity and Mortality Outcomes in Africa: A Systematic Review Towards a Meta-analysis.

PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW: This review synthesised evidence on associations between air pollution and respiratory morbidity in Africa. Following PRISMA guidelines, we systematically searched PubMed, ScienceDirect and Elicit for case-control studies published between 2015 and 2025. RECENT FINDINGS: Thirteen studies from ten African countries reported pollutant levels far exceeding WHO guidelines. Indoor PM₂.₅ in biomass-using homes ranged from 96 to 177 µg/m³, and ambient PM₂.₅ reached 259 µg/m³. Nitrogen oxides were consistently associated with reduced lung function in children, while household air pollution increased risks of under-five mortality and low birthweight. Associations with acute respiratory infections varied across settings. Vulnerability was greatest among young children, those with airway hyperresponsiveness, and households with poor ventilation. Only three studies included temperature, and none examined heat-respiratory interactions. Across African case-control studies, particulate matter and household air pollution remain consistently linked to adverse respiratory outcomes, highlighting urgent needs for cleaner fuels, improved ventilation, and stronger evidence on combined pollution and heat exposures.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Proteomics in environmental pollution research: Advances, challenges, and future directions.

Environmental proteomics has emerged as a powerful approach for elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying pollutant-induced biological effects. Although this field has developed rapidly, the systematic review of recent proteomics applications in environmental pollution research remains limited. This review explored the emerging roles of toxicoproteomics in biomarker discovery and mechanistic elucidation, as well as ecotoxicoproteomics in ecological risk assessment and bioremediation strategies. Here, we review the field, highlighting recent trends such as the integration of proteomics with genomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics to provide a comprehensive view of biological responses to environmental stressors. We further discuss the growing application of artificial intelligence in improving proteomics data interpretation and accelerating biomarker discovery. In addition, recent technological advances in environmental proteomics are highlighted, including next-generation tissue microarray proteomics, nanoscale proteomics, single-cell proteomics, and spatial proteomics. Despite its potential, proteomics faces challenges, such as high operational costs, computational complexity in analysis, and technical limitations in low-abundance protein detection. We propose that the convergence of proteomics with artificial intelligence and multi-omics approaches offers promising solutions to these challenges, enhancing the practical application of proteomics in environmental monitoring and risk assessment.

Proteomics↗

PubMed2026

Pollution characteristics and health risks of PAHs and OPAHs in PM2.5 of an inland basin city in China under the influence of the clean air action plan.

Since the implementation of China's Clean Air Action, remarkable progress has been made in air pollution control, with continuous air quality improvement in Xi'an, a typical inland basin city in the Fenwei Plain. To clarify winter organic aerosol pollution variations and pinpoint targeted control needs under policy regulation, this study investigated PM2.5-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and oxygenated derivatives (OPAHs) in winter Xi'an, focusing on pollution levels, chemical compositions, source contributions, meteorological impacts, regional transport and health risks. Historical comparison showed generally lower wintertime PAH concentrations in Xi'an during the period of China's clean-air actions. PMF results indicated mixed source influences on PAHs and OPAHs, with biomass-burning-related mixed combustion showing the largest contribution. During haze episodes, absolute concentrations of both PAHs and OPAHs increased; the increase was statistically significant for OPAHs but not for parent PAHs, while 4-5 ring PAHs and BcdPQ dominated the PAH and OPAH profiles, respectively. Meteorological variability, particularly synoptic pressure patterns, was strongly associated with pollutant concentrations, and regional pollution was dominated by in-basin accumulation combined with short-range transport from northern Shaanxi industrial zones. Haze periods exhibited higher toxic-equivalent concentrations, with OPAHs, particularly BcdPQ, dominating the toxicity-equivalent burden. Screening-level ILCR estimates generally remained below 10⁻4 but increased during haze episodes, especially for adult and elderly groups. In conclusion, China's clean air actions have coincided with lower wintertime PAH pollution, but stronger control of residential biomass and other solid-fuel combustion, traffic emissions, and OPAH formation remains necessary in the Fenwei Plain.

China↗

PubMed2026

Modelling peak microbial pollution events caused by combined sewer overflows in a source-to-sea system.

Predicting peak microbial pollution events in downstream coastal bathing waters caused by combined sewer overflows (CSOs) is essential for protecting public health. In urban areas, wastewater effluents, CSOs, and surface runoff can contribute to elevated microorganism loads to downstream waters. These pressures are likely to be intensified by growing population density and more frequent heavy rainfalls due to climate change. This study developed a process-based model to simulate Escherichia coli (E. coli) emissions, transport, and fate from the initial sources to coastal beaches. A three-year retrospective simulation (2017-2019) shows that E. coli concentrations in CSO discharges varied widely across the catchment (4.6 - 7.3 (log10 CFU 100 ml-1)). 99th percentile E. coli concentrations (4.0 (log10 CFU 100 ml-1)) at the inland water outlet were dominated by local CSO emissions, whereas 90th percentile E. coli concentrations (3.6 (log10 CFU 100 ml-1)) reflected cumulative upstream contributions from both CSO and effluent emissions. With the simulation accuracy of 89%, the model reliably reproduced the E. coli dynamics on the downstream beach and showed strong performance in representing peak concentrations based on Complementary Cumulative Distribution Function (CCDF) analysis. The process-based model enables quantitative tracking of source contributions and identification of pollution hotspots, providing support for mitigation measures. The study lays down a source-to-sea modelling framework for representing pollution transport across the aquatic continuum and provides a transferable tool for microbial pollution forecasting and climate adaptation planning.

Climate projection↗

PubMed2026

Three-dimensional source apportionment and quantitative characterization of horizontal and vertical transport fluxes of O3 and its precursors in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, China.

Persistent surface ozone (O3) pollution in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region is driven by coupled precursor emissions and multi-scale transport, yet its altitude-dependent transport and source contributions remain insufficiently quantified. Here we integrated the Weather Research and Forecasting and the Comprehensive Air Quality Model with Extensions with the Ozone Source Apportionment Technology and a quantitative transport-flux framework to characterize three-dimensional source apportionment and horizontal/vertical fluxes of O3, Volatile Organic Compounds‌ (VOCs), and Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) across dynamic meteorological scenarios. Simulations showed that VOCs and NOx were dominated by local emissions near the surface (73.61 %-82.18 %), whereas surface O3 was primarily controlled by regional transport, with local contributions of only 11.01 %-13.75 %. Notably, the transport dominance further strengthened with altitude, exceeding 93 % at 1.8 km. Industrial and transportation emissions together contributed more than 75 % of precursor emissions and account for approximately 80 % of O3 formation, while favorable/unfavorable meteorological years modulated long-range transport efficiency and the vertical distribution of contributions. Horizontal flux analysis highlighted three major pathways (Northwest-Southeast, Southeast-Northwest, and Southwest-Northeast), with Shijiazhuang serving as a critical pollutant "sink" across altitude layers. Vertical fluxes revealed an altitude transition near 600 m: net downward transport dominated below 600 m, whereas enhanced summer convection promoted upward transport above 600 m. These results support altitude-dependent, scenario-specific strategies for coordinated regional O3 mitigation in the BTH region.

Ozone↗

PubMed2025

An integrated multiscale air quality modelling framework for industrial park pollution: Linking local emissions to regional transport.

Capturing the spatiotemporal distribution of pollutants in industrial parks remains challenging for regional air quality models because of their coarse resolution (3 km), resulting in uncertainties in local emission quantification. To address this, we developed the Integrated Multiscale Air Quality Modelling System for Industry (IAQMS-Industry), coupling the regional Nested Air Quality Prediction Modelling System (NAQPMS) with a city-scale chemical transport model. This framework integrates point-source locations and Gaussian plume dispersion to simulate particulate matter with a diameter smaller than 2.5 micrometres (PM2.5) at 100 m resolution. Applied to the Beijing Yi Zhuang and Tangshan industrial parks and evaluated against observations. The coupled model achieved a normalized mean bias (NMB) ranging from 3.1 % to 6.2 %, improving upon NAQPMS (-16.9 % to -7.7 %). Spatial analysis revealed that coarse regional grids underestimated the PM2.5 concentrations at industrial sites by smoothing gradients, whereas IAQMS-Industry successfully resolved spatial patterns. Industrial point emissions accounted for 22.9 %-26.4 % of PM2.5 in the coupled model, which was significantly greater than the regional model estimates of 1.6 %-13.7 %. These findings indicate that regional models overestimate pollutant dispersion processes in industrial parks while underestimating local industrial impacts. By explicitly resolving point-source dynamics and linking them to regional transport, IAQMS-Industry provides a robust tool for designing targeted emission controls in industrial cities and balancing local air quality improvements with minimized regional pollution outflow. This study underscores the necessity of multiscale modelling for accurate source apportionment and informed environmental governance in industrial zones.

Air Pollution↗

PubMed2026

Prenatal exposure to indoor PM2.5 and children's cognitive performance at 4 years of age: an observational analysis from the UGAAR randomized controlled trial.

Outdoor fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations during pregnancy are linked to reduced cognitive performance in children. We previously reported that portable HEPA filter air cleaners use during pregnancy improved children's mean full-scale IQ (FSIQ), but no previous studies have evaluated the relationship between indoor PM2.5 during pregnancy and FSIQ in childhood. We conducted an observational analysis using data from the Ulaanbaatar Gestation and Air Pollution Research (UGAAR) randomized controlled trial. Using a previously developed model of weekly indoor PM2.5 concentrations, we estimated the average concentrations in participants' homes over the full pregnancy and in each trimester. When the children were four years old, we measured FSIQ using the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI-IV). We used multiple linear regression to assess the adjusted relationships between interquartile range (IQR) contrasts in indoor PM2.5 during pregnancy and FSIQ among 475 mother-child dyads. An 8.8 μg/m3 increase in indoor PM2.5 concentration over the full pregnancy was associated with a reduction of 1.4 points (95% CI: -3.4, 0.6) in mean FSIQ. The strongest association between PM2.5 concentrations and FSIQ was in the first trimester, when a 19.1 μg/m3 contrast was associated with a 2.8-point reduction (95% CI: -5.7, 0.2) in mean FSIQ. Indoor PM2.5, particularly during early pregnancy, may impair brain development, leading to lower mean FSIQ scores in four-year old children. These results, combined with our previous analysis of HEPA filter air cleaners, indicate that reducing PM2.5 exposure during pregnancy has beneficial effects on children's cognitive performance.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Integrated photoelectrocatalytic reduction and oxidation processes to achieve efficient degradation of fluoxetine in pharmaceutical wastewater.

Fluorinated organic compounds have been frequently detected in aquatic environments, with the widespread use of fluorinated drugs. The existing processes of urban sewage treatment plants are difficult to completely remove these pollutants containing the persistent C-F bonds. In this work, an integrated system of UV-activated sulfite and UV-assisted electrochemical oxidation was innovatively constructed for efficient degradation of fluoxetine. For the UV-activated sulfite unit system, when the sulfite dosage was 0.5 mmol/L and the initial pH was about 10, the defluorination efficiency of 5 mg/L fluoxetine wastewater under nitrogen atmosphere was about 98 %. Subsequently, the UV-assisted electrochemical oxidation unit system was employed to treat the reduced wastewater mentioned above. When the sodium chloride dosage was 25 mmol/L, the initial pH was about 5, and the current density was 30 mA/cm2, the total organic carbon (TOC) removal of the wastewater arrived at 65 %. Active species capture experiments and ESR tests confirmed that hydrated electrons, hydroxyl, and chlorine radicals were the main components for the efficient degradation of fluoxetine. According to the analysis of Fukui function and HPLC-MS, the degradation pathway of pollutants was proposed including defluorination and mineralization. Meanwhile, the toxicity of intermediates was predicted using the ECOSAR program. In addition, the verification test of actual wastewater treatment indicated that the defluorination and TOC removal efficiency of fluorouracil by the integrated system were similar to those for fluoxetine. This work provided a new approach for the efficient degradation of fluorinated organic pollutants in pharmaceutical wastewater.

Fluoxetine↗

PubMed2026

Oxidative potential of fresh vs. O₃-aged PM2.5 across urban and rural sources in China.

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is a major health risk, yet its impacts are still largely assessed using mass concentration, which does not capture toxicity. Recently, oxidative potential (OP) has emerged as a more relevant metric, reflecting the ability of particles to generate reactive oxygen species. A current challenge, especially in China, is understanding how emission sources and ozone (O3) aging affect PM2.5 toxicity, given that O3 is an increasingly important pollutant there. A work by Ma and co-workers published in J. Environ. Sci. (doi.org/10.1016/j.jes.2024.04.023) addressed this by evaluating the OP of fresh and O3-aged PM2.5 from multiple sources in China using the dithiothreitol (DTT) assay. Biomass burning particles exhibited the highest OP, up to 35 times greater than suburban PM2.5, driven by water-soluble organics and transition metals. While O3 aging generally reduced OP, it also induced complex chemical transformations. These findings highlight that PM2.5 toxicity is dynamic and source-dependent, underscoring the need to move beyond mass-based air quality metrics.

Particulate Matter↗