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Environmental Behavior and Ecological Effects of Emerging Pollutants

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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Science and Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2023) | Viewed by 11374

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Xiaoyun Li

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Guest Editor

School of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, China
Interests: environmental behavior and ecological effects of emerging pollutants; carbonaceous materials; remediation and control of contaminated soil; degradation behavior of microplastics in soil and its ecological effects

Dr. Qin Chen

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Guest Editor

Northwest Land and Resource Research Center, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710119, China
Interests: genetic variability of toxic genes in cyanobacteria, and its environmental effects and biogeographic characteristics; the interaction relationship between rhizosphere microorganisms and plants

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Emerging pollutants, including pharmaceuticals and personal care products, perfluorinated compounds, endocrine disrupters, resistance genes, microplastics, nanomaterials, etc., are a large group of contaminants caused by human activities which have a persistent presence in various environments (e.g., air, water, soil, sediments and ecological receptors) due to their continuous use and discharge. At present, although emerging pollutants have not been clearly defined by laws, regulations or standards in many countries and regions, some new pollutants are gradually showing harm to the ecological environment and public health. However, robust data on their environmental fate and behavior, as well as on threats to ecological and human health, are still lacking. Moreover, the ecotoxicological significance of some emerging micropollutants (e.g., microplastics, perfluorinated compounds, disinfection byproducts of chlorine, COVID-19) remains largely unclear due to a lack of convincing data to determine their risk. Therefore, how to realize the sustainable utilization of environmental resources and the healthy development of economic society and human beings has become a major global issue. More work is needed to focus on the fate, behavior, monitoring, ecological and health risks associated with emerging pollutants.

This Special Issue of the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH) focuses on, but is not limited to, the following:

Source types and their concentrations in different environments (e.g., air, water, soil, sediments and ecological receptors);
Environmental geochemical behaviors including migration, transformation, the toxicity of emerging pollutants driven by human activities and environmental factors;
Remediation strategies and control techniques of emerging pollutants in water, air and soil and sediment;
The ecological and human health risk assessment associated with emerging pollutants;
Innovative and advanced tools and technologies for monitoring, prevention, mitigation, environmental and health pressures, and the risks assessment of emerging pollutants at large regional scales;
Pathogen (including COVID-19) behavior, microbial pollution, risk assessment and control strategies in different environments.

Dr. Xiaoyun Li
Dr. Qin Chen
Guest Editors

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Keywords

emerging contaminants
PPCPs
perfluorinated compounds
resistance genes
microplastics
environmental behaviors
ecological risk
microbial pollution
human health
pollutants removal

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 2912 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Antibacterial Activity of Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG) against Shigella flexneri

by Yini Zhang, Yeyue Zhang, Ruiqing Ma, Wanting Sun and Zheng Ji

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(6), 4676; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20064676 - 07 Mar 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1844

Abstract

Shigella flexneri (S. flexneri), a major intestinal pathogen, is a global public health concern. The biofilms formed by S. flexneri threaten environmental safety, since they could promote the danger of environmental contamination and strengthen the disease-causing properties of bacteria. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is an important catechin in tea, which has a high antibacterial activity. However, its antibacterial mechanism is still unclear. This research aims to quantify the antibacterial function and investigate the possible mechanism of EGCG inhibition of S. flexneri. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of EGCG against planktonic S. flexneri in the investigation was measured to be 400 μg/mL. Besides, SDS-PAGE and field emission scanning electron microscopy showed that EGCG interfered with protein synthesis and changed bacteria morphology. Through controlling the expression of the mdoH gene, EGCG was found to be able to prevent an S. flexneri biofilm extracellular polysaccharide from forming, according to experiments utilizing the real-time PCR test. Additional research revealed that EGCG might stimulate the response of S. flexneri to oxidative stress and prevent bacterial growth. These findings suggest that EGCG, a natural compound, may play a substantial role in S. flexneri growth inhibition. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Behavior and Ecological Effects of Emerging Pollutants)

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15 pages, 3007 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Adaptation of Rhizosphere Microbial Communities to Continuous Exposure to Multiple Residual Antibiotics in Vegetable Farms

by Jincai Qiu, Yongshan Chen, Ying Feng, Xiaofeng Li, Jinghua Xu and Jinping Jiang

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(4), 3137; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20043137 - 10 Feb 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1124

Abstract

The constant application of manure-based fertilizers in vegetable farms leads to antibiotic residue accumulation in soils, which has become a major stressor affecting agroecosystem stability. The present study investigated the adaptation profiles of rhizosphere microbial communities in different vegetable farms to multiple residual antibiotics. Multiple antibiotics, including trimethoprim, sulfonamides, quinolones, tetracyclines, macrolides, lincomycins, and chloramphenicols, were detected in the vegetable farms; the dominant antibiotic (trimethoprim) had a maximum concentration of 36.7 ng/g. Quinolones and tetracyclines were the most prevalent antibiotics in the vegetable farms. The five most abundant phyla in soil samples were Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, Chloroflexi and Firmicutes, while the five most abundant phyla in root samples were Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes and Myxococcota. Macrolides were significantly correlated with microbial community composition changes in soil samples, while sulfonamides were significantly correlated with microbial community composition changes in root samples. Soil properties (total carbon and nitrogen contents and pH) influenced the shifts in microbial communities in rhizosphere soils and roots. This study provides evidence that low residual antibiotic levels in vegetable farms can shift microbial community structures, potentially affecting agroecosystem stability. However, the degree to which the shift occurs could be regulated by environmental factors, such as soil nutrient conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Behavior and Ecological Effects of Emerging Pollutants)

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17 pages, 2863 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Relationship between the Transmission of Different SARS-CoV-2 Strains and Air Quality: A Case Study in China

by Ruiqing Ma, Yeyue Zhang, Yini Zhang, Xi Li and Zheng Ji

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(3), 1943; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20031943 - 20 Jan 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1797

Abstract

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been a global public health concern for almost three years, and the transmission characteristics vary among different virus variants. Previous studies have investigated the relationship between air pollutants and COVID-19 infection caused by the original strain of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). However, it is unclear whether individuals might be more susceptible to COVID-19 due to exposure to air pollutants, with the SARS-CoV-2 mutating faster and faster. This study aimed to explore the relationship between air pollutants and COVID-19 infection caused by three major SARS-CoV-2 strains (the original strain, Delta variant, and Omicron variant) in China. A generalized additive model was applied to investigate the associations of COVID-19 infection with six air pollutants (PM_2.5, PM₁₀, SO₂, CO, NO₂, and O₃). A positive correlation might be indicated between air pollutants (PM_2.5, PM₁₀, and NO₂) and confirmed cases of COVID-19 caused by different SARS-CoV-2 strains. It also suggested that the mutant variants appear to be more closely associated with air pollutants than the original strain. This study could provide valuable insight into control strategies that limit the concentration of air pollutants at lower levels and would better control the spread of COVID-19 even as the virus continues to mutate. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Behavior and Ecological Effects of Emerging Pollutants)

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19 pages, 23686 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Potential Zoning of Construction Land Consolidation in the Loess Plateau Based on the Evolution of Human–Land Relationship

by Minjuan Lv, Zhiting Chen, Lingling Yao, Xiaohu Dang, Peng Li and Xiaoshu Cao

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(22), 14927; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192214927 - 13 Nov 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1295

Abstract

Towns serve as the basic unit of implementation for comprehensive land consolidation and rehabilitation. The utilization of scaling law can provide a new perspective for construction land consolidation. From two perspectives of the town hierarchic system and the growth of a single town, this research applies the Rank-Size Rule and Allometric Scaling Law to analyze the scale structure, hierarchy and allometric scaling evolution relationship of population and construction land in the Loess Plateau at the town scale in 2000, 2010, and 2017. Furthermore, the consolidation potential of construction land is divided into five zones and puts forward recommendations for the comprehensive consolidation of the construction land. The results indicate: (1) The majority of towns have small or medium populations and 62% of the towns in the study show negative population growth. Geographically, the northern part has a smaller population size compared with the southern part. 96% of the towns show an increasing trend in the quantity of construction land, and the south and north parts of the study area have more construction land compared with the center part. The zone of the Valley Plain has the largest population size, and the zone of the Sandy and Desert Area has the largest quantity of construction land. (2) The rank-size distributions of both population and construction land comply with the power-law relation. The population hierarchy has changed from equilibrium to concentration, while the hierarchy of construction land shows an opposite pattern. So, the whole town hierarchic system of the Loess Plateau is gradually tending to the optimal distribution, which is the town hierarchic system gradually forming an ideal sequence structure. (3) The population-construction land relationship obeys the allometric scaling law, and the major allometric type is positive allometry. The human–land relationship tends to be coordinated, and the town system tends to be reasonable. The allometric scaling coefficient is not robust in different geographical areas, especially in Irrigated Agricultural Areas. Furthermore, 90% of the towns have weak coordination of human–land relationships, and 60% of the towns have a relatively faster growth rate of construction land than the relative growth (decline) rate of population. (4) The consolidation potential of construction land is divided into five types. High Consolidation Potential Area concentrates in the Eastern Loess Plateau, while Medium and Low Consolidation Potential Area concentrically distribute in the Western Loess Plateau. The Human–land Coordination Area has a small number and scattered spatial distribution. The land use of towns that are concentrated around prefecture-level cities or with unique resources is not intensive enough. The zoning of construction land consolidation potential based on the results of the allometric scale is in line with reality, and local governments should make use of the characteristics and trends of the town system to formulate planning schemes to promote the integrated development of urban and rural areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Behavior and Ecological Effects of Emerging Pollutants)

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19 pages, 4230 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cooling Effect of Green Space and Water on Urban Heat Island and the Perception of Residents: A Case Study of Xi’an City

by Rong Huang, Mei Yang, Guohua Lin, Xiaoyan Ma, Xuan Wang, Qian Huang and Tian Zhang

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(22), 14880; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192214880 - 12 Nov 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1607

Abstract

The urban heat island (UHI) is a typical environmental problem that affects people’s health and restricts urban development. Understanding the cooling effect of ecological landscapes and residents’ perceptions of the cooling effect can help guide urban planning and mitigate environmental risk. This study analyzed the spatiotemporal evolution of UHI in the central area of Xi’an City in 1999, 2006, 2014, and 2019, and compared the cooling effect of green space and water among 13 urban parks in 2019. Furthermore, we investigated the constraining effect of landscape patterns on UHI and residents’ perceptions. Our results show that the area of moderate temperature region increased significantly in the past 20 years, and the UHI of old urban areas has been reduced. The UHI hot spots generally migrated to the northwest, and a shrinking–transferring–diffusing trend was observed across three periods (1999–2006, 2006–2014, 2014–2019). In addition, the cooling effect of parks increased with the proportion of water area, and the average cooling intensity and cooling amplitude were measured at 3.00 °C and 241.43 m, respectively. It was identified that a larger area, a longer circumference, and a more regular shape were more beneficial in reducing the urban thermal environment. Based on 325 questionnaires, we found that 73.23% of residents believed that the cooling effect of green space and water has become better in recent years, but less-educated people tended to be pessimistic about this. Among the residents, 79.08 and 40.92%, respectively, believed that the area and shape of the ecological landscape had an influence on the cooling effect. The comparison of remote sensing inversion results and questionnaire responses revealed that it is critical to incorporate residents’ perceptions into urban construction planning for heat risk prevention. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Behavior and Ecological Effects of Emerging Pollutants)

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16 pages, 8611 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatial Distribution, Ecological Risk Assessment and Source Analysis of Heavy Metals Pollution in Urban Lake Sediments of Huaihe River Basin

by Dun Wu, Hai Liu, Jian Wu and Xia Gao

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(22), 14653; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192214653 - 08 Nov 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1350

Abstract

Heavy metals in freshwater lake sediments often exist in various chemical forms. However, the investigation and evaluation of heavy-metal elements in the sediments of the study area have not been reported, and there is a lack of objective understanding of the concentration level of heavy-metal elements. Therefore, this study is the first to report the concentrations, sources, and potential ecological risks of heavy metals in the sediments of Chengdong Lake and Chengxi Lake in Huoqiu County, Anhui Province, China. The spatial distribution, pollution characteristics, potential pollution sources, and ecological risks of heavy metals in the sediments of Chengxi Lake and Chengdong Lake of Huoqiu City in the middle section of Huaihe River in Anhui Province, China have not been reported. In this study, the sediment samples of the two Lakes were collected systematically, and the concentrations of heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn) were determined. The potential sources of heavy-metal elements in sediments were quantitatively analyzed according to the principal component analysis–absolute principal component fraction–multiple linear regression (PCA–APCS–MLR) receptor model. Descriptive statistics data showed that the enrichment degree of heavy metals in Chengxi Lake was higher than that in Chengdong Lake. The geo-accumulation index (I_geo) and pollution load index (PLI) indicated that there was moderate pollution for Cu, As, Hg, Ni, and Zn. The calculation results of the potential ecological risk index (E_r) of the two lakes indicated that Cd (E_r_,_max = 92.22, n = 60) and Hg (E_r_,_max = 64.39, n = 60) showed a certain potential ecological risk in a small amount of sediment, while other heavy metals were classified as low risk. The mean sediment quality guideline quotient indicated that there was a moderate degree of potential adverse biological toxicity in lake sediments. Spatially, the seriously polluted contamination zones were the central position of Chengxi Lake and the northeast end of Chengdong Lake. The PCA–APCS–MLR receptor model revealed that Cr, Ni, Cu, and Zn were mainly from natural sources while Cd, As, Hg, and Pb elements were mainly from industrial sources and pesticide sources. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Behavior and Ecological Effects of Emerging Pollutants)

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17 pages, 3008 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of pH-Dependent Homo/Heteronuclear CAHB on Adsorption and Desorption Behaviors of Ionizable Organic Compounds on Carbonaceous Materials

by Xiaoyun Li, Jinlong Zhang, Yaofeng Jin, Yifan Liu, Nana Li, Yue Wang, Cong Du, Zhijing Xue, Nan Zhang and Qin Chen

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(19), 12118; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191912118 - 25 Sep 2022

Viewed by 1568

Abstract

Herein, the adsorption/desorption behaviors of benzoic acid (BA) and phthalic acid (PA) on three functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNTs) at various pH were investigated, and the charge-assisted H-bond (CAHB) was verified by DFT and FTIR analyses to play a key role. The results indicated that the adsorption order of BA and PA on CNTs was different from K_ow of that at pH 2.0, 4.0, and 7.0 caused by the CAHB interaction. The strength of homonuclear CAHB (≥78.96 kJ·mol⁻¹) formed by BA/PA on oxidized CNTs is stronger than that of heteronuclear CAHB formed between BA/PA and amino-functionalized CNTs (≤51.66 kJ·mol⁻¹). Compared with the heteronuclear CAHB (Hysteresis index, HI ≥ 1.47), the stronger homonuclear CAHB leads to clearly desorption hysteresis (HI ≥ 3.51). Additionally, the contribution of homonuclear CAHB (≥52.70%) was also greater than that of heteronuclear CAHB (≤45.79%) at pH 7.0. These conclusions were further confirmed by FTIR and DFT calculation, and the crucial evidence of CAHB formation in FTIR was found. The highlight of this work is the identification of the importance and difference of pH-dependent homonuclear/heteronuclear CAHB on the adsorption and desorption behaviors of ionizable organic compounds on carbonaceous materials, which can provide a deeper understanding for the removal of ionizable organic compounds by designed carbonaceous materials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Behavior and Ecological Effects of Emerging Pollutants)

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