Tracing the contamination origins in water sources and identifying the impacts of natural and human processes are essential for ecological safety and public health.However,current analysis approaches are not ideal,as ...Tracing the contamination origins in water sources and identifying the impacts of natural and human processes are essential for ecological safety and public health.However,current analysis approaches are not ideal,as they tend to be laborious,time-consuming,or technically difficult.Disinfection byproducts(DBPs)are a family of well-known secondary pollutants formed by the reactions of chemical disinfectants with DBP precursors during water disinfection treatment.Since DBP precursors have various origins(e.g.,natural,domestic,industrial,and agricultural sources),and since the formation of DBPs from different precursors in the presence of specific disinfectants is distinctive,we argue that DBPs and DBP precursors can serve as alternative indicators to assess the contamination in water sources and identify pollution origins.After providing a retrospective of the origins of DBPs and DBP precursors,as well as the specific formation patterns of DBPs from different precursors,this article presents an overview of the impacts of various natural and anthropogenic factors on DBPs and DBP precursors in drinking water sources.In practice,the DBPs(i.e.,their concentration and speciation)originally present in source water and the DBP precursors determined using DBP formation potential tests—in which water samples are dosed with a stoichiometric excess of specific disinfectants in order to maximize DBP formation under certain reaction conditions—can be considered as alternative metrics.When jointly used with other water quality parameters(e.g.,dissolved organic carbon,dissolved organic nitrogen,fluorescence,and molecular weight distribution)and specific contaminants of emerging concern(e.g.,certain pharmaceuticals and personal care products),DBPs and DBP precursors in drinking water sources can provide a more comprehensive picture of water pollution for better managing water resources and ensuring human health.展开更多
Environmental Impact Assessment Studies (EIA) for four developmental projects were chosen for this study viz-a-viz., oil and gas, river diversion, hydropower and gold mining. The EIA studies for these activities have ...Environmental Impact Assessment Studies (EIA) for four developmental projects were chosen for this study viz-a-viz., oil and gas, river diversion, hydropower and gold mining. The EIA studies for these activities have been conducted in three different ecological regions: the flood region in the former southern Sudan, low rainfall Savannah and desert region. Trees, shrubs and herbaceous species were identified and recorded in each region. Species encountered for the first time, endangered, invasive and increasers were also reported. The EIA studies have produced lists of natural flora in areas which were difficult to access without the EIA missions. During the EIA study for Jonglei Canal project the new mono specific genus Suddia sagitifolia was discovered in the flood region as the only endemic aquatic plant in Sudan. Within the same region, the smallest floating plant in Sudan (Wollfia hyaline) was reported. The critically endangered “Argon Palm” (Medemia argun) was encountered in the Nubian Desert of the Red Sea State during a gold mining EIA study. The Seha (Belpharis persica), not reported to exist in desert conditions, has been found in the Great Desert west of the Nile during an EIA study for Kajbar Hydropower project. The paper calls for the publication of the above findings and highlights the need for further detailed studies in order to enhance knowledge of the Sudanese biodiversity status.展开更多
Smart wearable devices are regarded to be the next prevailing technology product after smartphones and smart homes,and thus there has recently been rapid development in flexible electronic energy storage devices.Among...Smart wearable devices are regarded to be the next prevailing technology product after smartphones and smart homes,and thus there has recently been rapid development in flexible electronic energy storage devices.Among them,flexible solid-state zinc-air batteries have received widespread attention because of their high energy density,good safety,and stability.Efficient bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts are the primary consideration in the development of flexible solid-state zinc-air batteries,and self-supported air cathodes are strong candidates because of their advantages including simplified fabrication process,reduced interfacial resistance,accelerated electron transfer,and good flexibility.This review outlines the research progress in the design and construction of nanoarray bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts.Starting from the configuration and basic principles of zinc-air batteries and the strategies for the design of bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts,a detailed discussion of self-supported air cathodes on carbon and metal substrates and their uses in flexible zinc-air batteries will follow.Finally,the challenges and opportunities in the development of flexible zinc-air batteries will be discussed.展开更多
Artificial intelligence(AI)models have significantly impacted various areas of the atmospheric sciences,reshaping our approach to climate-related challenges.Amid this AI-driven transformation,the foundational role of ...Artificial intelligence(AI)models have significantly impacted various areas of the atmospheric sciences,reshaping our approach to climate-related challenges.Amid this AI-driven transformation,the foundational role of physics in climate science has occasionally been overlooked.Our perspective suggests that the future of climate modeling involves a synergistic partnership between AI and physics,rather than an“either/or”scenario.Scrutinizing controversies around current physical inconsistencies in large AI models,we stress the critical need for detailed dynamic diagnostics and physical constraints.Furthermore,we provide illustrative examples to guide future assessments and constraints for AI models.Regarding AI integration with numerical models,we argue that offline AI parameterization schemes may fall short of achieving global optimality,emphasizing the importance of constructing online schemes.Additionally,we highlight the significance of fostering a community culture and propose the OCR(Open,Comparable,Reproducible)principles.Through a better community culture and a deep integration of physics and AI,we contend that developing a learnable climate model,balancing AI and physics,is an achievable goal.展开更多
Tree-ring width(RW),density,elemental com-position,and stable carbon and oxygen isotope(δ^(13)C,δ^(18)O)are widely used as proxies to assess climate change,ecology,and environmental pollution;however,a specific pret...Tree-ring width(RW),density,elemental com-position,and stable carbon and oxygen isotope(δ^(13)C,δ^(18)O)are widely used as proxies to assess climate change,ecology,and environmental pollution;however,a specific pretreat-ment has been needed for each proxy.Here,we developed a method by which each proxy can be measured in the same sample.First,the sample is polished for ring width meas-urement.After obtaining the ring width data,the sample is cut to form a 1-mm-thick wood plate.The sample is then mounted in a vertical sample holder,and gradually scanned by an X-ray beam.Simultaneously,the count rates of the fluorescent photons of elements(for chemical characteriza-tion)and a radiographic grayscale image(for wood density)are obtained,i.e.the density and the element content are obtained.Then,cellulose is isolated from the 1-mm wood plate by removal of lignin,and hemicellulose.After producing this cellulose plate,cellulose subsamples are separated by knife under the microscope for inter-annual and intra-annual stable carbon and oxygen isotope(δ^(13)C,δ^(18)O)analysis.Based on this method,RW,density,elemental composition,δ^(13)C,and δ^(18)O can be measured from the same sample,which reduces sample amount and treatment time,and is helpful for multi-proxy comparison and combination research.展开更多
This study aims to reveal the spatial structural characteristics of 1,652 Ethnic-Minority Villages(EMV)in China and to analyze the mechanisms driving their spatial heterogeneity.EMV are a special type of settlement sp...This study aims to reveal the spatial structural characteristics of 1,652 Ethnic-Minority Villages(EMV)in China and to analyze the mechanisms driving their spatial heterogeneity.EMV are a special type of settlement space that preserve a large number of historical traces of the ethnic culture of ancient China.They are important carriers of China’s excellent traditional culture and are key to the implementation of rural revitalization strategies.In this study,1652 EMV in China were selected as the research subjects.The Nearest Neighbor Index,kernel density,and spatial autocorrelation index were employed to reveal the spatial structural characteristics of minority villages.Neural network models,spatial lag models,and geographical detectors were used to analyze the formation mechanism of spatial heterogeneity in EMV.The results indicate that:(1)EMV exhibit significant spatial differentiation characterized by“single-core with multiple surrounding sub-centers,”“polarization between east and west,”“decreasing quantity from southwest to east coast to northeast to northwest,”and“large dispersion with small agglomeration.”(2)EMV are mainly distributed in areas rich in intangible cultural heritage,with high vegetation coverage and low altitude,far from central cities,and having limited arable land and an underdeveloped economy and transportation,particularly in shaded or riverbank areas.(3)Distance from the nearest river(X3),distance from central cities(X8),national intangible cultural heritage(X9),and NDVI(X10)were the main driving factors affecting the spatial distribution of EMV,whereas elevation(X1)and GDP(X5)had the weakest influence.As EMV are a relatively unique territorial spatial unit,the identification of their spatial heterogeneity characteristics not only deepens the research content of settlement geography,but also involves the assessment,protection,and development of Minority Villages,which is of great significance for the inheritance and utilization of excellent ethnic cultures in the era.展开更多
An average of eight snowfall events occur each year in the eastern Lesotho Highlands.These snowfall events are typically associated with cut-off low(CoLs)systems and mid-latitude cyclones.However,the moisture sources ...An average of eight snowfall events occur each year in the eastern Lesotho Highlands.These snowfall events are typically associated with cut-off low(CoLs)systems and mid-latitude cyclones.However,the moisture sources of the snowfall are unclassified and unclear.The Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory(HYSPLIT)model,an air mass back trajectory model,has been used to evaluate moisture source waters locally in southern Africa and internationally in China and Europe.This study uses HYSPLIT to determine the source moisture of snow in Lesotho.A list of all 82 snowfall events in Lesotho spanning 2017 to 2022 was compiled using the Snow Report SA Instagram page,including the date and location of snowfall.A 72-hour back trajectory for each snowfall event was initiated for both Afriski and the whole of Lesotho.This amounts to models of moisture source trajectories for 28 and 82 snowfall days,respectively.These air mass pathways are classified according to their frequency per snowfall event,per month in the snow season,per year and for the full period.From this,associated moisture source regions and dominant air mass trajectories were identified.This study reports that the air mass trajectories associated with Afriski and Lesotho as a whole are very similar.The most common pathway of air mass trajectories transporting snow-bearing moisture to Lesotho was an inland trajectory from the northern regions of southern Africa.This pathway makes up 16.6%of all trajectories reported and is associated with the Angola Low,the Congo Air Boundary and the St.Helena High Pressure.展开更多
The sustainability of environmental management initiatives,such as watershed management programs,relies on the presence of effective institutions at the watershed level.However,there needs to be more empirical evidenc...The sustainability of environmental management initiatives,such as watershed management programs,relies on the presence of effective institutions at the watershed level.However,there needs to be more empirical evidence from evaluating the effectiveness of watershed-level institutions.Therefore,this study presents a pioneering effort to evaluate the effectiveness of Nepal’s first watershed conservation committee at the watershed scale,focusing on the case of the Khageri Khola watershed in Central Nepal.The study involved conducting a household survey,key informant interviews,focus group discussions,and field observations to collect and analyze the data.Descriptive analysis,index value calculation,and chi-square statistics were then employed to summarize the results regarding local respondents’perceptions of twelve institutional characteristics,their rationalities,and their association with socio-demographic variables.The results reveal that the watershed conservation committee was perceived as performing well in managing the watershed.Specifically,good interaction,appropriate scale,technical,environmental,social,organizational,and government rationality were perceived as highly effective,with an average index value of less than 0.36.In contrast,clarity of objectives and economic rationality showed moderate effectiveness,with an average index value ranging from 0.36 to 0.65.However,the results suggested that adaptiveness,compliance capacity,and financial rationality merit increased attention,intending to improve their performance.Further,the results showed the association of socio-demographics with respondents’perceptions of various indicators of institutional characteristics and their rationalities.Therefore,the study provides valuable insights for policymakers,researchers,and development practitioners charged with designing sustainable and effective programs and institutions.To enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of watershed management programs,we recommend establishing a policy-guided institutional mechanism at the watershed scale.This mechanism should be based on various institutional characteristics and rationalities and should consider the extant variability in the socio-demographic and topographic characteristics of the watershed.展开更多
Tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium(M.)tuberculosis remains a global public health threat.Over the last few decades,anti-tubercular research mainly focused on mechanisms of identifying by which activated macrophages ...Tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium(M.)tuberculosis remains a global public health threat.Over the last few decades,anti-tubercular research mainly focused on mechanisms of identifying by which activated macrophages can slaughter or the proliferation of M.tuberculosis bacilli prevented in a cell-dependent manner.In this regard,for disease resolution,inflammatory cytokines are very crucial.Here,we demonstrate how macrophages act as the first line of defense against the M.tuberculosis.Studies have revealed a dual role in M.tuberculosis infection played by macrophages.It is worth mentioning that the macrophages are the crucial immune effector and antigen-presenting cells that play the anti-tubercular response,which is the habitat of M.tuberculosis,hence,followed by progressing the disease protecting M.tuberculosis.This dual role can be correlated with the different macrophage polarization statuses,namely,M1 and M2.Herein,we have stated how the several polarization conditions of macrophages are directly linked to the immune responses during host and M.tuberculosis pathogen interactions.We have proposed that macrophage polarization and repolarization are of paramount significance for the anti-tubercular immune response that may involve a sterile cure of the disease.This article summarizes the immune response to M.tuberculosis,the polarization states of macrophages during M.tuberculosis and the repolarization of macrophages by some agents during some diseases including M.tuberculosis,which may be an important factor in the World Health Organization's target to cure tuberculosis by 2035.展开更多
The nutrients from the East China Sea(ECS) through the Tsushima/Korea Strait(TS) strongly impact the eco system of the Japan Sea(JS).The complex origins of the Tsushima Warm Current and the various nutrient sources in...The nutrients from the East China Sea(ECS) through the Tsushima/Korea Strait(TS) strongly impact the eco system of the Japan Sea(JS).The complex origins of the Tsushima Warm Current and the various nutrient sources in the ECS result in complex spatial-temporal variations in nutrients in the TS.Using a physical-biological model with a tracking technique,we studied the effects of nutrient sources from the ECS on the TS.Among all the nutrient sources,the Kuroshio has the highest nutrient concentrations in the TS.Its maximum concentration occurs at the bottom,while those of rivers and atmospheric depo sition occur at the surface,and that of the Taiwan Strait occurs in the middle layer.The nutrient transport through the TS exhibits similar seasonal variations,as does the volume transport.The transport of nutrients from the Kuroshio accounts for more than 85% of the total.The transport of nutrients from the Taiwan Strait is greater during autumn and winter.The transport of dissolved inorganic nitrogen(DIN) from both rivers and atmospheric deposition through the TS peak in August.Nutrient transport cannot be equated with volume transport.The DIN in the less saline zone originates not only from rivers but also from atmospheric deposition and the Kuroshio.The transport of nutrients from the Taiwan Strait is not as significant as its volume transport in the TS.展开更多
Landslide-generated impulsive waves(LGWs)in reservoir areas can seriously threaten waterway safety as well as hu-man life and properties around the two side slopes.The risk reduction and mitigation of such a hazard re...Landslide-generated impulsive waves(LGWs)in reservoir areas can seriously threaten waterway safety as well as hu-man life and properties around the two side slopes.The risk reduction and mitigation of such a hazard require the accurate prediction of near-field wave characteristics,such as wave amplitude and run-up.However,near-field LGW involves complicated fluid-solid interactions.Furthermore,the wave characteristics are closely related to various aspects,including the geometry and physical features of the slide,river,and body of water.However,the empirical or analytical methods used for rough estimation cannot derive accurate results,especially for deformable landslides,due to their significant geometry changes during the sliding process.In this study,the near-field waves generated by deformable landslides were simulated by smoothed particle hydrodynamics(SPH)based on multi-phase flow.The deformable landslides were generalized as a kind of viscous flow by adopting the Herschel-Bulkley-Papanastasiou(HBP)-based nonNewtonian rheology model.The HBP model is capable of producing deformable landslide dynamics even though the high-speed sliding process is involved.In this study,an idealized experiment case originating from Lituya LGW and a practical case of Gongjiafang LGW were reproduced for verification and demonstration.The simulation results of both cases show satisfactory consistency with the experiment/investigation data in terms of landslide movement and near-field impulsive wave characteristics,thus indicating the applicability and accuracy of the proposed method.Finally,the effects of the HBP model’s rheological parameters on the landslide dynamics and near-field wave characteristics are discussed,providing a parameter calibration method along with sug-gestions for further applications.展开更多
The inland saltwater lakes harbor exceptional biodiversity.Here,two new species of solitary sessile peritrich ciliates were isolated from Qinghai Lake,the largest inland saltwater lake in China.Their morphology,ciliat...The inland saltwater lakes harbor exceptional biodiversity.Here,two new species of solitary sessile peritrich ciliates were isolated from Qinghai Lake,the largest inland saltwater lake in China.Their morphology,ciliature,silverline system,and molecular phylogeny were investigated based on live observation,silver staining,and analysis of the small subunit ribosomal DNA(SSU rDNA).Vorticella paraglobosa sp.n.is characterized mainly by its obconical or elongate bell-shaped zooid,C-shaped macronucleus,single ventrally located contractile vacuole,two-rowed infundibular polykinety 3,and 28-38 silverlines between peristome and aboral tro-chal band and 10-15 between aboral trochal band and scopula.Vorticella cotyliformis sp.n.differs from its congeners mainly by its double-layered peristomial lip,cup-shaped zooid,J-shaped macronucleus,single ventrally positioned contractile vacuole,three-rowed infundibular polykinety 3,and 70-85 silverlines between peristome and aboral trochal band and 21-25 between aboral trochal band and scopula.The SSU rDNA sequences of the two new species were obtained,and the subsequent molecular phylogenetic analysis supported their taxonomic classification.展开更多
Visceral leishmaniasis(VL)is a neglected tropical disease,and this review has summarized the current treatment scenario and its prospects.It also highlights alternative approaches used by research groups in India and ...Visceral leishmaniasis(VL)is a neglected tropical disease,and this review has summarized the current treatment scenario and its prospects.It also highlights alternative approaches used by research groups in India and around the world to develop cutting-edge and potent anti-leishmanial treatments.Even though numerous medications could be utilized to treat VL,the limitations of current treatments including their toxicity,cost,route of administration,and duration of doses,have contributed to the emergence of resistance.Combination therapy might be a better option due to its shorter duration,easier route of administration,and ability to extend the lifespan of individual drugs.However,there is a risk of not delivering both the drugs to the target site together,which can be overcome by the liposomal entrapment of those drugs and at a time knock an opportunity to reduce the dosage of amphotericin B if the combination drug provides a synergistic effect with it.Therefore,this review presents a novel strategy to fight against VL by introducing dual drug-loaded liposomes.展开更多
Earthquake-related hydrochemical changes in thermal springs have been widely observed;however,quantitative modeling of the reactive transport process is absent.In the present study,we apply reactive transport simulati...Earthquake-related hydrochemical changes in thermal springs have been widely observed;however,quantitative modeling of the reactive transport process is absent.In the present study,we apply reactive transport simulation to capture the hydrochemical responses in a thermal spring following the Wenchuan Ms 8.0 and Lushan Ms 7.0 earthquakes.We first constrain deep reservoir geothermal fluid compositions and temperature by multicomponent geothermometry,and then a reactive geochemical transport model is constructed to reproduce the hydrochemical evolution process.The results show that the recharge from the shallow aquifer increases gradually until it reaches a peak because of the permeability enhancement caused by the Lushan earthquake,which may be the mechanism to explain the earthquake-related hydrochemical responses.In contrast to the postseismic effect of the Wenchuan earthquake,the chemical evolution can be considered as hydrochemical anomalies related to the Lushan earthquake.This study proves that the efficient simulation of reactive transport processes is useful for investigating earthquake-related signals in hydrochemical time series.展开更多
It is well established that Cretaceous magmatism in the South China Block(SCB)is related to the Paleo-Pacific subduction.However,the starting time and the associated deep crust-mantle processes are still debatable.Maf...It is well established that Cretaceous magmatism in the South China Block(SCB)is related to the Paleo-Pacific subduction.However,the starting time and the associated deep crust-mantle processes are still debatable.Mafic dike swarms carry important information on the deep earth(including mantle)geodynamics and geochemical evolution.In the Jiangnan Orogen(South China).there is no information on whether the Mesozoic magmatic activities in this region are also directly related to the Pacific subduction or not.In this study,we present detailed zircon U-Pb geochronological,wholerock element and Sr-Nd isotope data for Early Cretaceous Tuanshanbei dolerite dikes,and provide new constraints on the condition of the lithospheric mantle and mantle dynamics of the SCB during that time.LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating suggests that this dolerite erupted in the Early Cretaceous(~145 Ma).All samples have alkaline geochemical affinities with K_(2)O+Na_(2)O=3.11-4.04 wt%,K_(2)O/Na_(2)O=0.50-0.72,and Mg^(#)=62.24-65.13.They are enriched in LILE but depleted in HFSE with higher initial^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr ratio(0.706896-0.714743)and lower ε_(Nd)(t)(-2.61 to-1.67).They have high Nb/U,Nb/La,La/Sm and Rb/Sr,and low La/Nb,La/Ta,Ce/Pb,Ba/Rb,Tb/Yb and Gd/Yb ratios.Such geochemical signatures suggest that the fractional crystallization is obvious but crustal contamination play a negligible role during magmatic evolution.Tuanshanbei dolerite were most likely derived from low-degree(2%-5%)partial melting of a phlogopite-bearing mantle material consisted of~85% spinel peridotite and~15% garnet peridotite previously metasomatized by asthenospherederived fluids/melts with minor subduction-derived fluids/melts.Slab-rollback generally lead to the upwelling of the hot asthenosphere.The upwelling of asthenosphere consuming the lithospheric mantle by thermo-mechanical-chemical erosion.The lithospheric mantle may have partially melted due to the heating by the upwelling asthenosphere and lithospheric extension.It is inferred that the Tuanshanbei dolerite might be associated with the initial slab rollback and corresponding lithospheric extension occurred potentially at ca.145 Ma.展开更多
Extensive land use will cause many environmental problems.It is an urgent task to improve land use efficiency and optimize land use patterns.In recent years,due to the flow decrease,the Guanzhong Basin in Shaanxi Prov...Extensive land use will cause many environmental problems.It is an urgent task to improve land use efficiency and optimize land use patterns.In recent years,due to the flow decrease,the Guanzhong Basin in Shaanxi Province is confronted with the problem of insufficient water resources reserve.Based on the Coupled Ground-Water and Surface-Water Flow Model(GSFLOW),this paper evaluates the response of water resources in the basin to changes in land use patterns,optimizes the land use pattern,improves the ecological and economic benefits,and the efficiency of various spatial development,providing a reference for ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin.The research shows that the land use pattern in the Guanzhong Basin should be further optimized.Under the condition of considering ecological and economic development,the percentage change of the optimum area of farmland,forest,grassland,water area,and urban area compared with the current land use area ratio is+2.3,+2.4,-6.1,+0.2,and+1.6,respectively.The economic and ecological value of land increases by14.1%and 3.1%,respectively,and the number of water resources can increase by 2.5%.展开更多
Artisanal gold mining,a labor-intensive and antiquated technique,is a growing industry and the source of income for rural communities all over the world.However,artisanal gold mining has potential negative and long-te...Artisanal gold mining,a labor-intensive and antiquated technique,is a growing industry and the source of income for rural communities all over the world.However,artisanal gold mining has potential negative and long-term effects on economy,environment,and society.This study collected soil samples from 16 sample points including a control point to examine the pollution degrees and spatial distribution of heavy metals,as well as ecological and health risks associated with heavy metal pollution in the Ijero-Ekiti mining site,Nigeria.Geographical Information System(GIS)and remote sensing technologies were used to identify regions with high concentrations of heavy metals and assess the environmental impact of gold mining activities.The results show that the mean heavy metal concentrations of 16 soil pointa are 8.94(±5.97)mg/kg for As,0.18(±0.54)mg/kg for Cd,0.11(±1.06)mg/kg for Co,14.32(±3.43)mg/kg for Cr,6.89(±0.64)mg/kg for Cu,48.92(±11.77)mg/kg for Fe,135.81(±30.75)mg/kg for Mn,5.92(±0.96)mg/kg for Ni,5.72(±1.66)mg/kg for Pb,and 13.94(±1.38)mg/kg for Zn.The study reveals that heavy metal concentration in soils follows the order of Mn>Fe>Cr>Zn>As>Cu>Ni>Pb>Co>Cd.An analysis of soil samples indicates that 3 principal components(PCs)account for 70.008%of the total variance and there are strong positive correlations between various pairs of heavy metals.The total potential ecological risk index(309.599)in the study area is high.Non-carcinogenic risk suggests that there may be long-term health impacts on people who work in the mining areas due to chronic exposure to the environment.Based on the study,the hazard index of carcinogenic health risks associated with heavy metals through ingestion is 520.00×10^(–4).Dermal contact from As and Cr also increases the risk of cancer,with the highest hazard index value of 18.40×10^(–4).The lowest exposure pathway,with the hazard index value of 0.68×10^(–4),indicates that the inhalation of heavy metals has a comparatively low risk of cancer.This study recommends the formulation of policies to monitor the Ijero-Ekiti mining site and other regions in Nigeria where indiscriminate artisanal gold mining activities exist.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(52325001,52170009,and 52091542)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2021YFC3200700)+3 种基金the Program of Shanghai Academic Research Leader,China(21XD1424000)the International Cooperation Project of Shanghai Science and Technology Commission(20230714100)the Key-Area Research and Development Program of Guangdong Province(2020B1111350001)Tongji University Youth 100 Program.
文摘Tracing the contamination origins in water sources and identifying the impacts of natural and human processes are essential for ecological safety and public health.However,current analysis approaches are not ideal,as they tend to be laborious,time-consuming,or technically difficult.Disinfection byproducts(DBPs)are a family of well-known secondary pollutants formed by the reactions of chemical disinfectants with DBP precursors during water disinfection treatment.Since DBP precursors have various origins(e.g.,natural,domestic,industrial,and agricultural sources),and since the formation of DBPs from different precursors in the presence of specific disinfectants is distinctive,we argue that DBPs and DBP precursors can serve as alternative indicators to assess the contamination in water sources and identify pollution origins.After providing a retrospective of the origins of DBPs and DBP precursors,as well as the specific formation patterns of DBPs from different precursors,this article presents an overview of the impacts of various natural and anthropogenic factors on DBPs and DBP precursors in drinking water sources.In practice,the DBPs(i.e.,their concentration and speciation)originally present in source water and the DBP precursors determined using DBP formation potential tests—in which water samples are dosed with a stoichiometric excess of specific disinfectants in order to maximize DBP formation under certain reaction conditions—can be considered as alternative metrics.When jointly used with other water quality parameters(e.g.,dissolved organic carbon,dissolved organic nitrogen,fluorescence,and molecular weight distribution)and specific contaminants of emerging concern(e.g.,certain pharmaceuticals and personal care products),DBPs and DBP precursors in drinking water sources can provide a more comprehensive picture of water pollution for better managing water resources and ensuring human health.
文摘Environmental Impact Assessment Studies (EIA) for four developmental projects were chosen for this study viz-a-viz., oil and gas, river diversion, hydropower and gold mining. The EIA studies for these activities have been conducted in three different ecological regions: the flood region in the former southern Sudan, low rainfall Savannah and desert region. Trees, shrubs and herbaceous species were identified and recorded in each region. Species encountered for the first time, endangered, invasive and increasers were also reported. The EIA studies have produced lists of natural flora in areas which were difficult to access without the EIA missions. During the EIA study for Jonglei Canal project the new mono specific genus Suddia sagitifolia was discovered in the flood region as the only endemic aquatic plant in Sudan. Within the same region, the smallest floating plant in Sudan (Wollfia hyaline) was reported. The critically endangered “Argon Palm” (Medemia argun) was encountered in the Nubian Desert of the Red Sea State during a gold mining EIA study. The Seha (Belpharis persica), not reported to exist in desert conditions, has been found in the Great Desert west of the Nile during an EIA study for Kajbar Hydropower project. The paper calls for the publication of the above findings and highlights the need for further detailed studies in order to enhance knowledge of the Sudanese biodiversity status.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(22072107,21872105)the Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai(23ZR1464800)+1 种基金the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universitiesthe Science&Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality(19DZ2271500)。
文摘Smart wearable devices are regarded to be the next prevailing technology product after smartphones and smart homes,and thus there has recently been rapid development in flexible electronic energy storage devices.Among them,flexible solid-state zinc-air batteries have received widespread attention because of their high energy density,good safety,and stability.Efficient bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts are the primary consideration in the development of flexible solid-state zinc-air batteries,and self-supported air cathodes are strong candidates because of their advantages including simplified fabrication process,reduced interfacial resistance,accelerated electron transfer,and good flexibility.This review outlines the research progress in the design and construction of nanoarray bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts.Starting from the configuration and basic principles of zinc-air batteries and the strategies for the design of bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts,a detailed discussion of self-supported air cathodes on carbon and metal substrates and their uses in flexible zinc-air batteries will follow.Finally,the challenges and opportunities in the development of flexible zinc-air batteries will be discussed.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.42141019 and 42261144687)and STEP(Grant No.2019QZKK0102)supported by the Korea Environmental Industry&Technology Institute(KEITI)through the“Project for developing an observation-based GHG emissions geospatial information map”,funded by the Korea Ministry of Environment(MOE)(Grant No.RS-2023-00232066).
文摘Artificial intelligence(AI)models have significantly impacted various areas of the atmospheric sciences,reshaping our approach to climate-related challenges.Amid this AI-driven transformation,the foundational role of physics in climate science has occasionally been overlooked.Our perspective suggests that the future of climate modeling involves a synergistic partnership between AI and physics,rather than an“either/or”scenario.Scrutinizing controversies around current physical inconsistencies in large AI models,we stress the critical need for detailed dynamic diagnostics and physical constraints.Furthermore,we provide illustrative examples to guide future assessments and constraints for AI models.Regarding AI integration with numerical models,we argue that offline AI parameterization schemes may fall short of achieving global optimality,emphasizing the importance of constructing online schemes.Additionally,we highlight the significance of fostering a community culture and propose the OCR(Open,Comparable,Reproducible)principles.Through a better community culture and a deep integration of physics and AI,we contend that developing a learnable climate model,balancing AI and physics,is an achievable goal.
基金supported the National Natural Science Foundation of China (42022059,41888101)the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences,China (Grant No.XDB26020000)+1 种基金the Key Research Program of the Institute of Geology and Geophysics (CAS Grant IGGCAS-201905)the CAS Youth Interdisciplinary Team (JCTD-2021-05).
文摘Tree-ring width(RW),density,elemental com-position,and stable carbon and oxygen isotope(δ^(13)C,δ^(18)O)are widely used as proxies to assess climate change,ecology,and environmental pollution;however,a specific pretreat-ment has been needed for each proxy.Here,we developed a method by which each proxy can be measured in the same sample.First,the sample is polished for ring width meas-urement.After obtaining the ring width data,the sample is cut to form a 1-mm-thick wood plate.The sample is then mounted in a vertical sample holder,and gradually scanned by an X-ray beam.Simultaneously,the count rates of the fluorescent photons of elements(for chemical characteriza-tion)and a radiographic grayscale image(for wood density)are obtained,i.e.the density and the element content are obtained.Then,cellulose is isolated from the 1-mm wood plate by removal of lignin,and hemicellulose.After producing this cellulose plate,cellulose subsamples are separated by knife under the microscope for inter-annual and intra-annual stable carbon and oxygen isotope(δ^(13)C,δ^(18)O)analysis.Based on this method,RW,density,elemental composition,δ^(13)C,and δ^(18)O can be measured from the same sample,which reduces sample amount and treatment time,and is helpful for multi-proxy comparison and combination research.
文摘This study aims to reveal the spatial structural characteristics of 1,652 Ethnic-Minority Villages(EMV)in China and to analyze the mechanisms driving their spatial heterogeneity.EMV are a special type of settlement space that preserve a large number of historical traces of the ethnic culture of ancient China.They are important carriers of China’s excellent traditional culture and are key to the implementation of rural revitalization strategies.In this study,1652 EMV in China were selected as the research subjects.The Nearest Neighbor Index,kernel density,and spatial autocorrelation index were employed to reveal the spatial structural characteristics of minority villages.Neural network models,spatial lag models,and geographical detectors were used to analyze the formation mechanism of spatial heterogeneity in EMV.The results indicate that:(1)EMV exhibit significant spatial differentiation characterized by“single-core with multiple surrounding sub-centers,”“polarization between east and west,”“decreasing quantity from southwest to east coast to northeast to northwest,”and“large dispersion with small agglomeration.”(2)EMV are mainly distributed in areas rich in intangible cultural heritage,with high vegetation coverage and low altitude,far from central cities,and having limited arable land and an underdeveloped economy and transportation,particularly in shaded or riverbank areas.(3)Distance from the nearest river(X3),distance from central cities(X8),national intangible cultural heritage(X9),and NDVI(X10)were the main driving factors affecting the spatial distribution of EMV,whereas elevation(X1)and GDP(X5)had the weakest influence.As EMV are a relatively unique territorial spatial unit,the identification of their spatial heterogeneity characteristics not only deepens the research content of settlement geography,but also involves the assessment,protection,and development of Minority Villages,which is of great significance for the inheritance and utilization of excellent ethnic cultures in the era.
基金the University of the Witwatersrand Friedel Sellschop Grantthe WitsUCL strategic partnership grant
文摘An average of eight snowfall events occur each year in the eastern Lesotho Highlands.These snowfall events are typically associated with cut-off low(CoLs)systems and mid-latitude cyclones.However,the moisture sources of the snowfall are unclassified and unclear.The Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory(HYSPLIT)model,an air mass back trajectory model,has been used to evaluate moisture source waters locally in southern Africa and internationally in China and Europe.This study uses HYSPLIT to determine the source moisture of snow in Lesotho.A list of all 82 snowfall events in Lesotho spanning 2017 to 2022 was compiled using the Snow Report SA Instagram page,including the date and location of snowfall.A 72-hour back trajectory for each snowfall event was initiated for both Afriski and the whole of Lesotho.This amounts to models of moisture source trajectories for 28 and 82 snowfall days,respectively.These air mass pathways are classified according to their frequency per snowfall event,per month in the snow season,per year and for the full period.From this,associated moisture source regions and dominant air mass trajectories were identified.This study reports that the air mass trajectories associated with Afriski and Lesotho as a whole are very similar.The most common pathway of air mass trajectories transporting snow-bearing moisture to Lesotho was an inland trajectory from the northern regions of southern Africa.This pathway makes up 16.6%of all trajectories reported and is associated with the Angola Low,the Congo Air Boundary and the St.Helena High Pressure.
文摘The sustainability of environmental management initiatives,such as watershed management programs,relies on the presence of effective institutions at the watershed level.However,there needs to be more empirical evidence from evaluating the effectiveness of watershed-level institutions.Therefore,this study presents a pioneering effort to evaluate the effectiveness of Nepal’s first watershed conservation committee at the watershed scale,focusing on the case of the Khageri Khola watershed in Central Nepal.The study involved conducting a household survey,key informant interviews,focus group discussions,and field observations to collect and analyze the data.Descriptive analysis,index value calculation,and chi-square statistics were then employed to summarize the results regarding local respondents’perceptions of twelve institutional characteristics,their rationalities,and their association with socio-demographic variables.The results reveal that the watershed conservation committee was perceived as performing well in managing the watershed.Specifically,good interaction,appropriate scale,technical,environmental,social,organizational,and government rationality were perceived as highly effective,with an average index value of less than 0.36.In contrast,clarity of objectives and economic rationality showed moderate effectiveness,with an average index value ranging from 0.36 to 0.65.However,the results suggested that adaptiveness,compliance capacity,and financial rationality merit increased attention,intending to improve their performance.Further,the results showed the association of socio-demographics with respondents’perceptions of various indicators of institutional characteristics and their rationalities.Therefore,the study provides valuable insights for policymakers,researchers,and development practitioners charged with designing sustainable and effective programs and institutions.To enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of watershed management programs,we recommend establishing a policy-guided institutional mechanism at the watershed scale.This mechanism should be based on various institutional characteristics and rationalities and should consider the extant variability in the socio-demographic and topographic characteristics of the watershed.
文摘Tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium(M.)tuberculosis remains a global public health threat.Over the last few decades,anti-tubercular research mainly focused on mechanisms of identifying by which activated macrophages can slaughter or the proliferation of M.tuberculosis bacilli prevented in a cell-dependent manner.In this regard,for disease resolution,inflammatory cytokines are very crucial.Here,we demonstrate how macrophages act as the first line of defense against the M.tuberculosis.Studies have revealed a dual role in M.tuberculosis infection played by macrophages.It is worth mentioning that the macrophages are the crucial immune effector and antigen-presenting cells that play the anti-tubercular response,which is the habitat of M.tuberculosis,hence,followed by progressing the disease protecting M.tuberculosis.This dual role can be correlated with the different macrophage polarization statuses,namely,M1 and M2.Herein,we have stated how the several polarization conditions of macrophages are directly linked to the immune responses during host and M.tuberculosis pathogen interactions.We have proposed that macrophage polarization and repolarization are of paramount significance for the anti-tubercular immune response that may involve a sterile cure of the disease.This article summarizes the immune response to M.tuberculosis,the polarization states of macrophages during M.tuberculosis and the repolarization of macrophages by some agents during some diseases including M.tuberculosis,which may be an important factor in the World Health Organization's target to cure tuberculosis by 2035.
基金The National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract Nos 42006018, 41876018 and 42176198the Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research [MEXT KAKENHI] under contract No.22H05206the Tianjin Municipal Education Commission Scientific Research Project under contract No.2019KJ219。
文摘The nutrients from the East China Sea(ECS) through the Tsushima/Korea Strait(TS) strongly impact the eco system of the Japan Sea(JS).The complex origins of the Tsushima Warm Current and the various nutrient sources in the ECS result in complex spatial-temporal variations in nutrients in the TS.Using a physical-biological model with a tracking technique,we studied the effects of nutrient sources from the ECS on the TS.Among all the nutrient sources,the Kuroshio has the highest nutrient concentrations in the TS.Its maximum concentration occurs at the bottom,while those of rivers and atmospheric depo sition occur at the surface,and that of the Taiwan Strait occurs in the middle layer.The nutrient transport through the TS exhibits similar seasonal variations,as does the volume transport.The transport of nutrients from the Kuroshio accounts for more than 85% of the total.The transport of nutrients from the Taiwan Strait is greater during autumn and winter.The transport of dissolved inorganic nitrogen(DIN) from both rivers and atmospheric deposition through the TS peak in August.Nutrient transport cannot be equated with volume transport.The DIN in the less saline zone originates not only from rivers but also from atmospheric deposition and the Kuroshio.The transport of nutrients from the Taiwan Strait is not as significant as its volume transport in the TS.
基金support from the National Natural Sciences Foundation of China(Nos.42177159,42077277,41877253)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities,China University of Geosciences(Wuhan)(No.CUG2106304).
文摘Landslide-generated impulsive waves(LGWs)in reservoir areas can seriously threaten waterway safety as well as hu-man life and properties around the two side slopes.The risk reduction and mitigation of such a hazard require the accurate prediction of near-field wave characteristics,such as wave amplitude and run-up.However,near-field LGW involves complicated fluid-solid interactions.Furthermore,the wave characteristics are closely related to various aspects,including the geometry and physical features of the slide,river,and body of water.However,the empirical or analytical methods used for rough estimation cannot derive accurate results,especially for deformable landslides,due to their significant geometry changes during the sliding process.In this study,the near-field waves generated by deformable landslides were simulated by smoothed particle hydrodynamics(SPH)based on multi-phase flow.The deformable landslides were generalized as a kind of viscous flow by adopting the Herschel-Bulkley-Papanastasiou(HBP)-based nonNewtonian rheology model.The HBP model is capable of producing deformable landslide dynamics even though the high-speed sliding process is involved.In this study,an idealized experiment case originating from Lituya LGW and a practical case of Gongjiafang LGW were reproduced for verification and demonstration.The simulation results of both cases show satisfactory consistency with the experiment/investigation data in terms of landslide movement and near-field impulsive wave characteristics,thus indicating the applicability and accuracy of the proposed method.Finally,the effects of the HBP model’s rheological parameters on the landslide dynamics and near-field wave characteristics are discussed,providing a parameter calibration method along with sug-gestions for further applications.
基金Project(42177392)supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaProject(ref:RG 45/2022-2023R)supported by the Research and Development Office of the Education University of Hong Kong,China。
基金supported by the projects of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.42076113,42176145)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(Nos.20720200106,20720200109).
文摘The inland saltwater lakes harbor exceptional biodiversity.Here,two new species of solitary sessile peritrich ciliates were isolated from Qinghai Lake,the largest inland saltwater lake in China.Their morphology,ciliature,silverline system,and molecular phylogeny were investigated based on live observation,silver staining,and analysis of the small subunit ribosomal DNA(SSU rDNA).Vorticella paraglobosa sp.n.is characterized mainly by its obconical or elongate bell-shaped zooid,C-shaped macronucleus,single ventrally located contractile vacuole,two-rowed infundibular polykinety 3,and 28-38 silverlines between peristome and aboral tro-chal band and 10-15 between aboral trochal band and scopula.Vorticella cotyliformis sp.n.differs from its congeners mainly by its double-layered peristomial lip,cup-shaped zooid,J-shaped macronucleus,single ventrally positioned contractile vacuole,three-rowed infundibular polykinety 3,and 70-85 silverlines between peristome and aboral trochal band and 21-25 between aboral trochal band and scopula.The SSU rDNA sequences of the two new species were obtained,and the subsequent molecular phylogenetic analysis supported their taxonomic classification.
基金Project(2019YFC1803601)supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of ChinaProject(42177392)supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China+1 种基金Project(RG 45/2022-2023R)supported by the Research and Development Office,the Education University of Hong Kong,ChinaProject(IRS-42023)supported by the Dean's Research Fund of Education University of Hong Kong,China。
基金SKM gratefully acknowledges the support of Indian Council of Medical Research(ICMR),New Delhi,India(File No:6/9-7(308)/2023-ECD-II)RH acknowledges the SVMCM fellowship,West Bengal.
文摘Visceral leishmaniasis(VL)is a neglected tropical disease,and this review has summarized the current treatment scenario and its prospects.It also highlights alternative approaches used by research groups in India and around the world to develop cutting-edge and potent anti-leishmanial treatments.Even though numerous medications could be utilized to treat VL,the limitations of current treatments including their toxicity,cost,route of administration,and duration of doses,have contributed to the emergence of resistance.Combination therapy might be a better option due to its shorter duration,easier route of administration,and ability to extend the lifespan of individual drugs.However,there is a risk of not delivering both the drugs to the target site together,which can be overcome by the liposomal entrapment of those drugs and at a time knock an opportunity to reduce the dosage of amphotericin B if the combination drug provides a synergistic effect with it.Therefore,this review presents a novel strategy to fight against VL by introducing dual drug-loaded liposomes.
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(Grant No.2023YFC3209700)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.41807194,41902263,41807208).
文摘Earthquake-related hydrochemical changes in thermal springs have been widely observed;however,quantitative modeling of the reactive transport process is absent.In the present study,we apply reactive transport simulation to capture the hydrochemical responses in a thermal spring following the Wenchuan Ms 8.0 and Lushan Ms 7.0 earthquakes.We first constrain deep reservoir geothermal fluid compositions and temperature by multicomponent geothermometry,and then a reactive geochemical transport model is constructed to reproduce the hydrochemical evolution process.The results show that the recharge from the shallow aquifer increases gradually until it reaches a peak because of the permeability enhancement caused by the Lushan earthquake,which may be the mechanism to explain the earthquake-related hydrochemical responses.In contrast to the postseismic effect of the Wenchuan earthquake,the chemical evolution can be considered as hydrochemical anomalies related to the Lushan earthquake.This study proves that the efficient simulation of reactive transport processes is useful for investigating earthquake-related signals in hydrochemical time series.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.42302235,41830211,42272100)Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities,Sun Yat-sen University(Grant No.23ptpy143)。
文摘It is well established that Cretaceous magmatism in the South China Block(SCB)is related to the Paleo-Pacific subduction.However,the starting time and the associated deep crust-mantle processes are still debatable.Mafic dike swarms carry important information on the deep earth(including mantle)geodynamics and geochemical evolution.In the Jiangnan Orogen(South China).there is no information on whether the Mesozoic magmatic activities in this region are also directly related to the Pacific subduction or not.In this study,we present detailed zircon U-Pb geochronological,wholerock element and Sr-Nd isotope data for Early Cretaceous Tuanshanbei dolerite dikes,and provide new constraints on the condition of the lithospheric mantle and mantle dynamics of the SCB during that time.LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating suggests that this dolerite erupted in the Early Cretaceous(~145 Ma).All samples have alkaline geochemical affinities with K_(2)O+Na_(2)O=3.11-4.04 wt%,K_(2)O/Na_(2)O=0.50-0.72,and Mg^(#)=62.24-65.13.They are enriched in LILE but depleted in HFSE with higher initial^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr ratio(0.706896-0.714743)and lower ε_(Nd)(t)(-2.61 to-1.67).They have high Nb/U,Nb/La,La/Sm and Rb/Sr,and low La/Nb,La/Ta,Ce/Pb,Ba/Rb,Tb/Yb and Gd/Yb ratios.Such geochemical signatures suggest that the fractional crystallization is obvious but crustal contamination play a negligible role during magmatic evolution.Tuanshanbei dolerite were most likely derived from low-degree(2%-5%)partial melting of a phlogopite-bearing mantle material consisted of~85% spinel peridotite and~15% garnet peridotite previously metasomatized by asthenospherederived fluids/melts with minor subduction-derived fluids/melts.Slab-rollback generally lead to the upwelling of the hot asthenosphere.The upwelling of asthenosphere consuming the lithospheric mantle by thermo-mechanical-chemical erosion.The lithospheric mantle may have partially melted due to the heating by the upwelling asthenosphere and lithospheric extension.It is inferred that the Tuanshanbei dolerite might be associated with the initial slab rollback and corresponding lithospheric extension occurred potentially at ca.145 Ma.
基金jointly supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(41702280)the projects of the China Geology Survey(DD20221754 and DD20190333)。
文摘Extensive land use will cause many environmental problems.It is an urgent task to improve land use efficiency and optimize land use patterns.In recent years,due to the flow decrease,the Guanzhong Basin in Shaanxi Province is confronted with the problem of insufficient water resources reserve.Based on the Coupled Ground-Water and Surface-Water Flow Model(GSFLOW),this paper evaluates the response of water resources in the basin to changes in land use patterns,optimizes the land use pattern,improves the ecological and economic benefits,and the efficiency of various spatial development,providing a reference for ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin.The research shows that the land use pattern in the Guanzhong Basin should be further optimized.Under the condition of considering ecological and economic development,the percentage change of the optimum area of farmland,forest,grassland,water area,and urban area compared with the current land use area ratio is+2.3,+2.4,-6.1,+0.2,and+1.6,respectively.The economic and ecological value of land increases by14.1%and 3.1%,respectively,and the number of water resources can increase by 2.5%.
文摘Artisanal gold mining,a labor-intensive and antiquated technique,is a growing industry and the source of income for rural communities all over the world.However,artisanal gold mining has potential negative and long-term effects on economy,environment,and society.This study collected soil samples from 16 sample points including a control point to examine the pollution degrees and spatial distribution of heavy metals,as well as ecological and health risks associated with heavy metal pollution in the Ijero-Ekiti mining site,Nigeria.Geographical Information System(GIS)and remote sensing technologies were used to identify regions with high concentrations of heavy metals and assess the environmental impact of gold mining activities.The results show that the mean heavy metal concentrations of 16 soil pointa are 8.94(±5.97)mg/kg for As,0.18(±0.54)mg/kg for Cd,0.11(±1.06)mg/kg for Co,14.32(±3.43)mg/kg for Cr,6.89(±0.64)mg/kg for Cu,48.92(±11.77)mg/kg for Fe,135.81(±30.75)mg/kg for Mn,5.92(±0.96)mg/kg for Ni,5.72(±1.66)mg/kg for Pb,and 13.94(±1.38)mg/kg for Zn.The study reveals that heavy metal concentration in soils follows the order of Mn>Fe>Cr>Zn>As>Cu>Ni>Pb>Co>Cd.An analysis of soil samples indicates that 3 principal components(PCs)account for 70.008%of the total variance and there are strong positive correlations between various pairs of heavy metals.The total potential ecological risk index(309.599)in the study area is high.Non-carcinogenic risk suggests that there may be long-term health impacts on people who work in the mining areas due to chronic exposure to the environment.Based on the study,the hazard index of carcinogenic health risks associated with heavy metals through ingestion is 520.00×10^(–4).Dermal contact from As and Cr also increases the risk of cancer,with the highest hazard index value of 18.40×10^(–4).The lowest exposure pathway,with the hazard index value of 0.68×10^(–4),indicates that the inhalation of heavy metals has a comparatively low risk of cancer.This study recommends the formulation of policies to monitor the Ijero-Ekiti mining site and other regions in Nigeria where indiscriminate artisanal gold mining activities exist.