Oligomers from the Synthetic Polymers:Another Potential Iceberg of New Pollutants

Pollution generated by synthetic polymers,particularly plastics,has become a significant global environmental problem.However,when compared to polymer-derived products like microplastics,oligomers have not received the attention they deserve.Oligomers are by-products of polymer production and intermediates of degradation.Despite the industrial advancements leading to an exponential increase in the production of new polymers,a majority of oligomers have remained inadequately researched.While the exposure and toxic effects of polylactic acid oligomers have been documented,the structures and fundamental properties of oligomers derived from most polymers are still poorly understood.This knowledge gap presents challenges in establishing effective analytical methods.Considering the potential of oligomers to act as new pollutants,it is imperative to investigate their environmental behavior,as well as their absorption,distribution,metabolism,excretion,and toxicity(ADMET)properties.This perspective highlights the research gap concerning oligomers.

Distribution and assessment of heavy metals in the surface sediment of Yellow River, China

Large amounts of heavy metals discharged by industrial cities that are located along the middle reach of Yellow River, China have detrimental impacts on both the ecological environment and human health. In this study, fourteen surface sediment samples were taken in the middle reach of the Yellow River. Contents of Zn, Pb, Ni, Cu, Cr, Cd, As were measured, and the pollution status was assessed using three widely used pollution assessment methods, including the single factor index method, Nemerow pollution index method and potential ecological risk index. The concentrations of the studied heavy metals followed the order： Zn 〉 Cr 〉 Cu 〉 Ni 〉 Pb 〉 As 〉 Cd. Nearly 50% of sites had Cu and Cr accumulation. The concentration of Cu at the Yiluo River exceeded the secondary standard value of the Environmental quality standard for soils. Comparison of heavy metal concentrations between this study and other selected rivers indicated that Cu and Cr may be the major pollutants in our case. The single factor index indicated that many samples were at high levels of pollution for Cu and Cd; the Nemerow pollution index indicated that the Yihe River, Luohe River, Yiluo River and Huayuankou were polluted. According to the results of potential ecological risk assessment, Cd in the tributaries of Luo River, Yihe River,and Yiluo River showed high risk toward the ecosystem and human health, Cd in Huanyuankou and Cu in Yiluo River showed a middle level of risk and other samples were at a low level of risk.

Assessment of pollution of potentially harmful elements in soils surrounding a municipal solid waste incinerator, China

We assessed the contamination levels of Mn, Zn, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, As and Hg and the risks posed by these potentially harmful elements in top-soils around a municipal solid waste incinerator （MSWI）. We collected 20 soil samples, with an average pH of 8.1, and another fly ash sample emitted from the MSWI to investigate the concentrations of these elements in soils. We determined the concentrations of these elements by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometer （ICP-OES）, except for Hg, which we measured by AF-610B atomic fluorescence spectrometer （AFS）. We assessed the risks of these elements through the use of geoaccumulation index （/geo）, potential ecological risk index （R/）, hazard quotient （HQi） and cancer risk （Riski）. The results showed that concentrations of potentially harmful elements in soil were influenced by the wind direction, and the concentrations of most elements were higher in the area northwest of the MSWI, compared with the area southeast of the incinerator, with the exception of As; these results were in accordance with those results acquired from our contour maps. According to the I^o values, some soil samples were clearly polluted by Hg emissions. However, the health risk assessment indicated that the concentrations of Hg and other elements in soil did not pose non-carcinogenic risks to the local populations. This was also the case for the carcinogenic risks posed by As Cr and Ni. The carcinogenic risk posed by As was higher in the range 6.49 × 10 -9.58 × 10 -6, but this was still considered to be an acceptable level of risk.

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans and polychlorinated biphenyls in surface soil from the Tibetan Plateau

Concentrations of Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans（PCDD/Fs） and polychlorinated biphenyls（PCBs） in soil samples from Tibetan Plateau were determined. The average concentration of total 2,3,7,8-PCDD/Fs was（2.30 ± 1.02） pg/g, and World Health Organization Toxicity Equivalency（WHO-TEQ） average concentration was（0.013 ± 0.010）pg WHO-TEQ/g. The average concentration of ∑PCBs（7 indicator PCB and 12 dioxin like-PCB congeners） was（16.2 ± 9.25） pg/g, and WHO-TEQ average concentration was 0.043 ±0.049 pg WHO-TEQ/g. Comparing to previous studies in similar environmental conditions,PCDD/Fs and PCBs in this study showed a relatively lower concentration. The altitude dependences of PCDD/Fs and PCBs were also studied. Total organic carbon（TOC） normalized concentrations presented a quadratic relation with the altitudes, and an inflection could be found on the parabola of the total concentrations and some congeners of high concentration.The concentrations decreased with altitudes below about 4500 m above sea level（a.s.l.）, while they increased with altitudes above it. These phenomena indicate that cold condensation of PCDD/Fs and PCBs would happen above 4500 m a.s.l, on the Tibetan Plateau.