The deep seafloor is the largest reservoir for plastic contamination; yet, it remains unclear whether Carbon introduced through synthetic polymers mig…

Water pollution is a major threat to both human health and the environment. Untreated industrial wastewater is one of the main sources of water contamination. The current study aims to assess the extent of heavy metal contamination in tannery wastewater and its mobility, the associated impacts on groundwater quality and human health in Kasur, Pakistan. A total of 120 samples, including 60 wastewater samples and 60 groundwater samples, were collected and analyzed for heavy metal concentrations (Cu, Pb, Cd, and Cr) as well as physicochemical and biological parameters. Results showed exceptionally high concentrations of heavy metals in tannery wastewater, particularly Cr (154.55 mg L−1). Groundwater exhibited moderate to very high contamination levels due to heavy metals, with the Pollution Load Index (PLI) indicating high pollution in the area. The risk assessment indicated potential carcinogenic risks associated with the consumption of metal-contaminated groundwater, particularly Cr (2.05 × 10–03) and Pb (1.9 × 10–04). Additionally, Hazard Quotient (HQ) values exceeding 1 for Pb, Cd, and Cr indicate a non-carcinogenic risk from groundwater consumption. The study emphasizes that remediation techniques are required to make groundwater safe to drink. It also suggests filtering drinking water and treating wastewater before disposal to mitigate health risks and protect public health.

Accumulation of microplastics (MPs) in sediments threatens wetland ecosystems, yet the impacts of distinct microplastic types on sediment microbial community and biogeochemical cycling remain poorly understood. This study investigates the impacts of conventional polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) MPs, at concentrations of 0%, 1%, and 5%, on microbial community composition and diversity in constructed wetland (CW) sediments. Both PVC and PLA MPs increased microbial α-diversity (Shannon index up to 6.4%) but reduced evenness (Simpson index decreased by 40.3%) and altered β-diversity (p < 0.05). Microplastics decreased the abundance of bacteria while increasing that of archaea and eukaryotes. PVC MPs significantly enriched Acidovorax and Magnetospirillum genera associated with denitrification, while PLA MPs significantly enriched Anaerolinea in denitrification and Clostridium in methanogenesis. Results revealed that 5% microplastic exposure significantly increased the abundance of methanogenic enzymes, particularly under PLA exposure. PVC MPs increased the abundance of denitrification enzymes, while PLA MPs promoted the abundance of amino acid metabolism enzymes. This study offers a novel analysis of the impacts of different microplastic types and concentrations on microbial community composition and diversity in wetland sediments, providing valuable insights into the ecological risks posed by MPs in wetland ecosystems and emphasizing the need for further research on their environmental impacts.

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) are continuously released into marine environments, posing potential threats to coastal ecosystems.…

Microplastics (MPs) have been identified as a global environmental and health threat due to their existence in diverse ecosystems. The level of exposure to these unregulated emerging contaminants defines the potential harm to the environment and public health. Several treatment technologies have been used to remove MPs from wastewater. However, the existing treatment technologies have failed to achieve complete elimination of MPs and require additional energy and cost. This study focused on removing MPs from simulated wastewater using iron chloride (FeCl3) coagulation. Jar test experiments were conducted to determine the removal efficiency of target MPs polyester (PEST) and polypropylene (PP). Zeta potential (ZP), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) techniques were used to investigate the PEST and PP removal mechanism. The removal efficiency for both types of MPs was influenced by various experimental conditions, including pH, dosage of used coagulant, settling time, and stirring speed. The highest removal efficiencies for PEST and PP at the optimum dosage of FeCl3 (4.57 mg/L) and pH (7) were 95 ± 1.10% and 61.50 ± 1.32%, respectively. However, these removal efficiencies slightly declined to 91 ± 1.00% for PEST and 59.50 ± 1.00% for PP when the coagulant dosage was increased to 5 mg/L, which showed that charge inversion occurred at a high dosage. The mechanisms for removing MPs were identified as charge neutralization and adsorption. This was demonstrated by the SEM images that agglomeration and adsorption occurred in the PEST/PP and coagulant system. The ZP changes and elemental confirmation by FTIR spectra further confirmed the formation of new bonds during the interaction between PEST/PP and FeCl3. This study presents a potential solution by providing an effective and efficient technology for MP removal from synthetic wastewater. However, it is of significant importance to replicate this in real-world wastewater problems and further research.

The presence of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) in agricultural soils poses significant ecological risks due to its resistance to biodegradation. Desp…

Agricultural plastics like mulching films may become a major source of microplastic (MP) soil contamination during their degradation and fragmentation…

Exclusive: Luis Vayas Valdivieso says he is quitting for personal and professional reasons after reports of pressure behind the scenes

We need to put humans and the environment before corporate profits, writes Bethanie Carney Almroth Plastics have become a concern at the forefront of public environmental awareness campaigns and in ...

Marine biofouling presents a significant challenge, leading to the development of various antibiofouling solutions. While effective, traditional methods pose environmental risks due to toxic substance...

The re-emission of certain PFAS from the oceans to air via sea spray is comparable to their emissions from other sources to air.

A company will release 45,000 gallons of radioactive water into the Hudson River from a New Jersey nuclear plant that was shut down in 2021. It argues it is perfectly safe, while critics say that it t...