Recent progress of covalent organic frameworks membranes:Design,synthesis,and application in water treatment

To date,significant efforts have been devoted to eliminating hazardous components to purify wastewater through the development of various nanomaterials.Covalent organic frameworks(COFs),an important branch of the porous crystalline family,possess the peculiarity of ultrahigh surface area,adjustable pore size,and facile functionality.Exciting studies from design fabrication to potential applications in water treatment by COF-based membranes(COMs)have emerged.This review summarizes various preparation strategies and synthesis mechanisms for COMs,including layer-by-layer stacking,in situ growth,interfacial polymerization,and electrochemical synthesis,and briefly describes the advanced characterization techniques for COMs.Moreover,the application of COMs in heavy metal removal,dye separation,purification of radionuclides,pollutant detection,sea water desalination,and so on,is described and discussed.Finally,the perspectives on future opportunities for designing COMs in water purification have been proposed.

Bidirectional role of synthetic musk tonalide as photosensitizer and activator on amino acids:Formation of sensitizer imine at aqueous chemistry interface of skin

Personal care products(PCPs)inevitably come into contact with the skin in people’s daily life,potentially causing adverse effects on human health.The adverse effects can be exacerbated under UV irradiation but are rarely studied.In this study,to clearly understand the damage of representative PCPs to human skin and their photochemical transformation behaviors,fragrance tonalide(AHTN)was measured in the presence of amino acids as a basic building block of human tissue.The results showed that amino acids could decelerate the photochemical transformation rate of AHTN,increasing the likelihood of AHNT persisting on the skin surface and the health risk to the human being.Further,the interaction between amino acids and AHTN was investigated.AHTN could play bidirectional roles in damaging amino acids:the photosensitizer and reactive activator.As a photosensitizer,the ^(1)O_(2) generated from the AHTN photosensitization was partly employed to oxidative damage amino acids.Furthermore,by combining experiments with quantum chemical computation,the carbonyl group of the activator AHTN was found to be the active site to activate the N-containing group of amino acids.The activation mechanism was the electron transfer between AHTN and amino acids.Imines formed during the photochemical transformation of AHTN with histidine/glycine were the molecular initiating event for potential skin sensitization.This study reported for the first time that skin photosensitizer formation threatens human health during the photochemical transformation of AHTN.

Human-driven global nutrient imbalances increase risks to health

Human-induced inputs of nitrogen(N)and phosphorus(P)into the biosphere have reached unprecedented levels,particularly N,leading to an escalating global anthropogenic N:P ratio.This ratio has emerged as a significant driver of environmental change,impacting organisms,ecosystems,and global food security.However,the implications of this ratio for human health have been largely overlooked and remain uncertain.This article aims to fill this knowledge gap by exploring the potential effects of N:P ratios on both non-infectious and infectious diseases.Preliminary data emphasize the importance of investigating the influence of N:P ratios on human health,suggesting a potential role in the rise of non-infectious diseases,such as cancer,as well as the proliferation of infectious diseases,including Zika and malaria.These findings highlight the urgent need for increased attention from the scientific community and policymakers regarding the complex impacts of the human-induced biospheric N:P ratio.It is crucial to investigate and understand the underlying mechanisms and drivers behind these effects.Furthermore,there is significant potential for improving human health through the manipulation of N:P ratios and the availability of N and P.This applies not only to medical treatments but also to innovative fertilizer management strategies.These avenues present promising opportunities to address the challenges associated with human health in an ever-changing world.

Lignin precursors enhance exolaccase-started humification of bisphenol A to form functional polymers

Humification plays a significant role in converting phenolic pollutants and forming heterogeneous polymers,but few studies have been performed to investigate exolaccase-started humification(ESH).Herein,the influences of lignin precursors(LPs)on exolaccase-induced bisphenol A(BPA)removal and humification were explored.In particular,the architectural features and botanical effects of the formed humification products were also tested.ESH was extremely beneficial in boosting BPA removal in the presence of LPs.Compared with LP-free(58.49%),100%of BPA was eliminated after the reaction with ESH for 72 h.Such a process was controlled by an exolaccasecaused random assembly of radicals,which generated a large number of hydrophobic polymers through nonspecific covalent binding of C–C and/or C–O.These humified polymers were extremely stable at pH 2.0–10.0 and20℃ to 80℃ and displayed unique functions,i.e.,scavenged 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl/2,20-azinobis3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid radicals and exerted antioxidant capacities.More importantly,the functional polymers could act as auxin analogs to increase the germination index(>100%),plant biomass,and salt tolerance of radish seedlings.Our findings disclosed that ESH could not only be optimized to mitigate the ecological risks of phenolic pollutants and sequester organic carbon in environmental bioremediation,but the resulting abundant auxin analogs also contributed to agricultural productivity.

A systematic review of the impacts of exposure to micro-and nano-plastics on human tissue accumulation and health

Micro-and nano-plastics(MNPs)pollution has become a pressing global environmental issue,with growing concerns regarding its impact on human health.However,evidence on the effects of MNPs on human health remains limited.This paper reviews the three routes of human exposure to MNPs,which include ingestion,inhalation,and dermal contact.It further discusses the potential routes of translocation of MNPs in human lungs,intestines,and skin,analyses the potential impact of MNPs on the homeostasis of human organ systems,and provides an outlook on future research priorities for MNPs in human health.There is growing evidence that MNPs are present in human tissues or fluids.Lab studies,including in vivo animal models and in vitro human-derived cell cultures,revealed that MNPs exposure could negatively affect human health.MNPs exposure could cause oxidative stress,cytotoxicity,disruption of internal barriers like the intestinal,the air–blood and the placental barrier,tissue damage,as well as immune homeostasis imbalance,endocrine disruption,and reproductive and developmental toxicity.Limitedly available epidemiological studies suggest that disorders like lung nodules,asthma,and blood thrombus might be caused or exacerbated by MNPs exposure.However,direct evidence for the effects of MNPs on human health is still scarce,and future research in this area is needed to provide quantitative support for assessing the risk of MNPs to human health.

Indoor metabolites and chemicals outperform microbiome in classifying childhood asthma and allergic rhinitis

Indoor microorganisms impact asthma and allergic rhinitis(AR),but the associated microbial taxa often vary extensively due to climate and geographical variations.To provide more consistent environmental assessments,new perspectives on microbial exposure for asthma and AR are needed.Home dust from 97 cases(32 asthma alone,37 AR alone,28 comorbidity)and 52 age-and gender-matched controls in Shanghai,China,were analyzed using high-throughput shotgun metagenomic sequencing and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.Homes of healthy children were enriched with environmental microbes,including Paracoccus,Pseudomonas,and Psychrobacter,and metabolites like keto acids,indoles,pyridines,and flavonoids(astragalin,hesperidin)(False Discovery Rate<0.05).A neural network co-occurrence probability analysis revealed that environmental microorganisms were involved in producing these keto acids,indoles,and pyridines.Conversely,homes of diseased children were enriched with mycotoxins and synthetic chemicals,including herbicides,insecticides,and food/cosmetic additives.Using a random forest model,characteristic metabolites and microorganisms in Shanghai homes were used to classify high and low prevalence of asthma/AR in an independent dataset in Malaysian schools(N=1290).Indoor metabolites achieved an average accuracy of 74.9%and 77.1%in differentiating schools with high and low prevalence of asthma and AR,respectively,whereas indoor microorganisms only achieved 51.0%and 59.5%,respectively.These results suggest that indoor metabolites and chemicals rather than indoor microbiome are potentially superior environmental indicators for childhood asthma and AR.This study extends the traditional risk assessment focusing on allergens or air pollutants in childhood asthma and AR,thereby revealing potential novel intervention strategies for these diseases.

Insights into the enzymatic degradation of DNA expedited by typical perfluoroalkyl acids

Perfluoroalkyl acids(PFAAs)are considered forever chemicals,gaining increasing attention for their hazardous impacts.However,the ecological effects of PFAAs remain unclear.Environmental DNA(eDNA),as the environmental gene pool,is often collected for evaluating the ecotoxicological effects of pollutants.In this study,we found that all PFAAs investigated,including perfluorohexanoic acid,perfluorooctanoic acid,perfluorononanoic acid,and perfluorooctane sulfonate,even at low concentrations(0.02 and 0.05 mg/L),expedited the enzymatic degradation of DNA in a nonlinear dose–effect relationship,with DNA degradation fragment sizes being lower than 1,000 bp and 200 bp after 15 and 30 min of degradation,respectively.This phenomenon was attributed to the binding interaction between PFAAs and AT bases in DNA via groove binding.van der Waals force(especially dispersion force)and hydrogen bonding are the main binding forces.DNA binding with PFAAs led to decreased base stacking and right-handed helicity,resulting in loose DNA structure exposing more digestion sites for degrading enzymes,and accelerating the enzymatic degradation of DNA.The global ecological risk evaluation results indicated that PFAA contamination could cause medium and high molecular ecological risk in 497 samples from 11 contamination-hot countries(such as the USA,Canada,and China).The findings of this study show new insights into the influence of PFAAs on the environmental fates of biomacromolecules and reveal the hidden molecular ecological effects of PFAAs in the environment.

Screening for 26 per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances(PFAS)in German drinking waters with support of residents

The occurrence of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances(PFAS)in water cycles poses a challenge to drinking water quality and safety.In order to counteract the large knowledge gap regarding PFAS in German drinking water,89 drinking water samples from all over Germany were collected with the help of residents and were analyzed for 26 PFAS by high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry(HPLC-MS/MS).The 20 PFAS recently regulated by sum concentration(PFAS_(∑20)),as well as six other PFAS,were quantified by targeted analysis.In all drinking water samples,PFAS_(∑20 )was below the limit of 0.1μg/L,but the sum concentrations ranged widely from below the limit of quantification up to 80.2 ng/L.The sum concentrations(PFASP4)of perfluorohexanesulfonate(PFHxS),perfluorooctanesulfonate(PFOS),perfluorooctanoate(PFOA),and perfluorononanoate of 20 ng/L were exceeded in two samples.The most frequently detected individual substances were PFOS(in 52%of the samples),perfluorobutanesulfonate(52%),perfluorohexanoate(PFHxA)(44%),perfluoropentanoate(43%)and PFHxS(35%).The highest single concentrations were 23.5 ng/L for PFHxS,15.3 ng/L for PFOS,and 10.1 ng/L for PFHxA.No regionally elevated concentrations were identified,but some highly urbanized areas showed elevated levels.Concentrations of substitution PFAS,including 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-2-(heptafluoropropoxy)propanoate and 2,2,3-trifluor-3-[1,1,2,2,3,3-hexafluor-3-(trifluormethoxy)propoxy]-propanoate(anion of ADONA),were very low compared to regulated PFAS.The most frequently detected PFAS were examined for co-occurrences,but no definite correlations could be found.

Well-designed protein amyloid nanofibrils composites as versatile and sustainable materials for aquatic environment remediation:A review

Amyloid nanofibrils(ANFs)are supramolecular polymers originally classified as pathological markers in various human degenerative diseases.However,in recent years,ANFs have garnered greater interest and are regarded as nature-based sustainable biomaterials in environmental science,material engineering,and nanotechnology.On a laboratory scale,ANFs can be produced from food proteins via protein unfolding,misfolding,and hydrolysis.Furthermore,ANFs have specific structural characteristics such as a high aspect ratio,good rigidity,chemical stability,and a controllable sequence.These properties make them a promising functional material in water decontamination research.As a result,the fabrication and application of ANFs and their composites in water purification have recently gained considerable attention.Despite the large amount of literature in this field,there is a lack of systematic review to assess the gap in using ANFs and their composites to remove contaminants from water.This review discusses significant advancements in design techniques as well as the physicochemical properties of ANFs-based composites.We also emphasize the current progress in using ANFs-based composites to remove inorganic,organic,and biological contaminants.The interaction mechanisms between ANFs-based composites and contaminants are also highlighted.Finally,we illustrate the challenges and opportunities associated with the future preparation and application of ANFs-based composites.We anticipate that this review will shed new light on the future design and use of ANFs-based composites.

Advanced porous materials and emerging technologies for radionuclides removal from Fukushima radioactive water

Japan recently announced the plan to discharge over 1.2 million tons of radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean,which contained hazardous radionuclides such as^(60)Co,^(90)Sr,^(125)Sb,^(129)I,^(3)H,^(137)Cs,and^(99)TcO^(4)^(-),etc.The contaminated water will pose an enormous threat to global ecosystems and human health.Developing materials and technologies for efficient radionuclide removal is highly desirable and arduous because of the extreme conditions,including super acidity or alkalinity,high ionic strength,and strong ionizing radiation.Recently,advanced porous material,such as porous POPs,MOFs,COFs,PAFs,etc.,has shown promise of improved separation of radionuclides due to their intrinsic structural advantages.Furthermore,emerging technologies applied to radionuclide removal have also been summarized.In order to better deal with radionuclide contamination,higher requirements for the design of nanomaterials and technologies applied to practical radionuclide removal are proposed.Finally,we call for comprehensive implementation of strategies and strengthened cooperation to mitigate the harm caused by radioactive contamination to oceans,atmosphere,soil,and human health.

Nonmicrobial mechanisms dominate the release of CO_(2)and the decomposition of organic matter during the short-term redox process in paddy soil slurry

Both biotic and abiotic mechanisms play a role in soil CO_(2)emission processes.However,abiotically mediated CO_(2)emission and the role of reactive oxygen species are still poorly understood in paddy soil.This study revealed thatOH promoted CO_(2)emission in paddy soil slurries during short-term oxidation(4 h).OH generation was highly hinged on active Fe(II)content,and theOH contribution to CO_(2)efflux was 10%–33%in topsoil and 40%–77%in deep-soil slurries.Net CO_(2)efflux was higher in topsoil slurries,which contained more dissolved organic carbon(DOC).CO_(2)efflux correlated well with DOC contents,suggesting the critical role of DOC.Microbial mechanisms contributed 9%–45%to CO_(2)production,as estimated byγ-ray sterilization experiments in the short-term reoxidation process.Solid-aqueous separation experiments showed a significant reduction in net CO_(2)efflux across all soil slurries after the removal of the original aqueous phase,indicating that the water phase was the main source of CO_(2)emission(>50%).Besides,C emission was greatly affected by pH fluctuation in acidic soil but not in neutral/alkaline soils.Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry and excitation-emission matrix results indicated that recalcitrant and macromolecular dissolved organic matter(DOM)components were more easily removed or attacked by·OH.The decrease in DOM content during the short-term reoxidation was the combined result of ·OH oxidation,co-precipitation,and soil organic matter release.This study emphasizes the significance of the generally overlooked nonmicrobial mechanisms in promoting CO_(2)emission in the global C cycle,and the critical influence of the aqueous phase on C loss in paddy environments.

Evolution in disparity of PM_(2.5)pollution in China

The spatial disparity of air pollutants is one of the key influential factors for environmental inequality.We quantitatively evaluated the evolution of PM_(2.5)spatial disparity in China during 2013–2020,and investigated the associations between PM_(2.5)spatial disparity and economic indicators.Differences in PM_(2.5)between more-and less-polluted cities declined over time,suggesting decreased absolute disparity.However,the more polluted cities in 2013 remained so in 2017 and 2020,and vice versa,indicating persistent relative disparity.PM_(2.5)pollution levels increased with higher GDP per capita in less-developed areas of China,but such negative effects weakened over time,while economic development tended to promote cleaner air in developed areas of China.Therefore,policies to improve air quality and promote economic development simultaneously are needed in China to reduce the disparity of air pollution and promote all people to enjoy environmental equality.

Man-made reactive oxygen species as green disinfectants

The ongoing pandemics boost the demand for chemical disinfectants,including surface disinfectants and hand sanitizers[1].This is largely driven by increasing public health awareness and hygiene standards in public and private settings[2].The global surface disinfectant market size in 2019 was valued at US$3.4 billion and estimated to experience a 6.0%compound annual growth rate,reaching US$5.42 billion in 2027[3].

Electric vehicle adoption delivers public health and environmental benefits

Large-scale electric vehicle(EV)deployment powered by renewable electricity has the potential to drastically change the environmental impacts of road transportation.The transportation sector is a major contributor to global greenhouse gas(GHG)emissions[1,2],air pollution,and related health impacts[3].Renewable-powered EVs substantially decrease fossil fuel consumption and are a pivotal technology to reduce transportation’s climate burden while also substantially improving air quality and public health.However.

Nanoparticulate pollutants in the environment:Analytical methods,formation,and transformation

The wide application of nanomaterials and plastic products generates a substantial number of nanoparticulate pollutants in the environment.Nanoparticulate pollutants are quite different from their bulk counterparts because of their unique physicochemical properties,which may pose a threat to environmental organisms and human beings.To accurately predict the environmental risks of nanoparticulate pollutants,great efforts have been devoted to developing reliable methods to define their occurrence and track their fate and transformation in the environment.Herein,we summarized representative studies on the preconcentration,separation,formation,and transformation of nanoparticulate pollutants in environmental samples.Finally,some perspectives on future research directions are proposed.

Microbiome sustains forest ecosystem functions across hierarchical scales

Forests are highly productive ecosystems that contribute to biogeochemical cycles of carbon and nitrogen,through which it regulates climate and global change.Forests are also spatially highly heterogeneous ecosystems that comprise a multitude of microbial-mediated reactive interfaces.These are mainly the root-soil interface,litter-soil interface,root-root interface,and plant-atmosphere interface.Each of these interfaces has its own unique characteristics,e.g.,specific drivers that affect the microbial abundance,nutrient availability,microbial community,and the dominance of certain microbial taxa.Here,we review the microbial-mediated reactive interfaces in forests,focusing on interrelation and dynamics of fungi and bacteria on a broad temporal scale with ecosystem processes ranging from short-term events(e.g.,seasonal changes)to long-term stand development suffering a global climate change(e.g.,global warming or nitrogen deposition).We argue that in-depth knowledge of forest microbiology can only be obtained by exploring the complex forest microbiome and its ecosystem functions.Underpinning the basis for individual forest variation would ultimately facilitate the formulation of microbiome-based strategies in the future.

Invasive Spartina alterniflora accelerates the increase in microbial nitrogen fixation over nitrogen removal in coastal wetlands of China

Salt marsh plants play a vital role in mediating nitrogen(N)biogeochemical cycle in estuarine and coastal ecosystems.However,the effects of invasive Spartina alterniflora on N fixation and removal,as well as how these two processes balance to determine the N budget,remain unclear.Here,simultaneous quantifications of N fixation and removal via^(15)N tracing experiment with native Phragmites australis,invasive S.alterniflora,and bare flats as well as corresponding functional gene abundance by qPCR were carried out to explore the response of N dynamics to S.alterniflora invasion.Our results showed that N fixation and removal rates ranged from 0.77±0.08 to 16.12±1.13 nmol/(g·h)and from 1.42±0.14 to 16.35±1.10 nmol/(g·h),respectively,and invasive S.alterniflora generally facilitated the two processes rates.Based on the difference between N removal and fixation rates,net N_(2)fluxes were estimated in the range of-0.39±0.14 to 8.24±2.23 nmol/(g·h).Estimated net N_(2)fluxes in S.alterniflora stands were lower than those in bare flats and P.australis stands,indicating that the increase in N removal caused by S.alterniflora invasion may be more than offset by N fixation process.Random forest analysis revealed that functional microorganisms were the most important factor associated with the corresponding N transformation process.Overall,our results highlight the importance of N fixation in evaluating N budget of estuarine and coastal wetlands,providing valuable insights into the ecological effect of S.alterniflora invasion.

The hidden risk of microplastic-associated pathogens in aquatic environments

Increasing studies of plastisphere have raised public concern about microplastics(MPs)as vectors for pathogens,especially in aquatic environments.However,the extent to which pathogens affect human health through MPs remains unclear,as controversies persist regarding the distinct pathogen colonization on MPs as well as the transmission routes and infection probability of MP-associated pathogens from water to humans.In this review,we critically discuss whether and how pathogens approach humans via MPs,shedding light on the potential health risks involved.Drawing on cutting-edge multidisciplinary research,we show that some MPs may facilitate the growth and long-range transmission of specific pathogens in aquatic environments,ultimately increasing the risk of infection in humans.We identify MP-and pathogen-rich settings,such as wastewater treatment plants,aquaculture farms,and swimming pools,as possible sites for human exposure to MP-associated pathogens.This review emphasizes the need for further research and targeted interventions to better understand and mitigate the potential health risks associated with MP-mediated pathogen transmission.

Carbon-based single-atom catalysts in advanced oxidation reactions for water remediation:From materials to reaction pathways

Single-atom catalysts(SACs)have been widely recognized as state-of-the-art catalysts in environment remediation because of their exceptional performance,100%metal atomic utilization,almost no secondary pollution,and robust structures.Most recently,the activation of persulfate with carbon-based SACs in advanced oxidation processes(AOPs)raises tremendous interest in the degradation of emerging contaminants in wastewater,owning to its efficient and versatile reactive oxidant species(ROS)generation.However,the comprehensive and critical review unraveling the underlying relationship between structures of carbon-based SACs and the corresponding generated ROS is still rare.Herein,we systematically summarize the fundamental understandings and intrinsic mechanisms between single metal atom active sites and produced ROS during AOPs.The types of emerging contaminants are firstly elaborated,presenting the prior pollutants that need to be degraded.Then,the preparation and characterization methods of carbon-based SACs are overviewed.The underlying material structure–ROS type relationship in persulfate-based AOPs is discussed in depth to expound the catalytic mechanisms.Finally,we briefly conclude the current development of carbon-based SACs in AOPs and propose the prospects for rational design and synthesis of carbon-based SACs with on-demand catalytic performances in AOPs in future research.

Recent advances in stimuli-response mechanisms of nano-enabled controlled-release fertilizers and pesticides

Nanotechnology-enabled fertilizers and pesticides,especially those capable of releasing plant nutrients or pesticide active ingredients(AIs)in a controlled manner,can effectively enhance crop nutrition and protection while minimizing the environmental impacts of agricultural activities.Herein,we review the fundamentals and recent advances in nanofertilizers and nanopesticides with controlled-release properties,enabled by nanocarriers responsive to environmental and biological stimuli,including pH change,temperature,light,redox conditions,and the presence of enzymes.For pH-responsive nanocarriers,pH change can induce structural changes or degradation of the nanocarriers or cleave the bonding between nutrients/pesticide AIs and the nanocarriers.Similarly,temperature response typically involves structural changes in nanocarriers,and higher temperatures can accelerate the release by diffusion promoting or bond breaking.Photothermal materials enable responses to infrared light,and photolabile moieties(e.g.,o-nitrobenzyl and azobenzene)are required for achieving ultraviolet light responses.Redox-responsive nanocarriers contain disulfide bonds or ferric iron,whereas enzyme-responsive nanocarriers typically contain the enzyme’s substrate as a building block.For fabricating nanofertilizers,pHresponsive nanocarriers have been well explored,but only a few studies have reported temperature-and enzyme-responsive nanocarriers.In comparison,there have been more reports on nanopesticides,which are responsive to a range of stimuli,including many with dual-or triple-responsiveness.Nano-enabled controlledrelease fertilizers and pesticides show tremendous potential for enhancing the utilization efficiency of nutrients and pesticide AIs.However,to expand their practical applications,future research should focus on optimizing their performance under realistic conditions,lowering costs,and addressing regulatory and public concerns over environmental and safety risks.