The ionic and nutrient composition of mountain lakes recovering from atmospheric acidification is increasingly influenced by climate change (increasing air temperature and frequency of heavy rainfall events). We investigated the evolution of organic nitrogen (ON), dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and phosphorus (P) concentrations in alpine lakes in the Tatra Mountains (Central Europe) between 1993 and 2023, resulting from changes in climate and the ionic composition of atmospheric deposition. Our results suggest that the decreasing acidity of precipitation and the climatically induced increasing frequency of heavy rainfall events and air temperatures fluctuating around the freezing point have the potential to increase ON concentrations in alpine lakes despite decreasing deposition of inorganic N. The increasing ON involves its allochthonous and autochthonous sources: (1) increased co-export of ON with DOC from soils in dissolved organic matter due to less acidic precipitation and more frequent heavy rainfall events and (2) increased in-lake primary productivity (chlorophyll a) associated with higher P availability. Based on our previous studies, we hypothesize that P availability has increased due to (i) reduced adsorption of phosphate in precipitation to the metal hydroxides in the soil-adsorption complex as a result of increasing pH in precipitation and soil water and (ii) increased P production by weathering due to climate-induced increased mechanical erosion of rocks in unstable scree areas. The extent of these changes was related to the percentage cover of scree areas and meadow soils in the lake catchments. In addition, our results suggest that ON (besides chlorophyll a) may be a more sensitive indicator of increasing productivity of oligotrophic alpine lakes under changing air pollution and climate than generally low P concentrations and their poorly detectable trends.

Detrital and volcanic-detrital rocks from the Ifni Buttonhole and Lakhssas Plateau were analyzed to determine their provenance, compositional maturity, and alteration source. Geochemically, the sediments were classified as arkoses, lithic arenites, grauwackes, sandstones, lithic arenites, and Fe-rich sands, indicating low compositional and mineralogical maturity. A high average SiO2 concentration and low Al2O3 were consistent with a low abundance of shale and clay components. The geochemical signatures of the detrital and volcano-detrital (RDVD) rocks indicate that they have undergone a moderate to low degree of chemical alteration. The CIA study also suggests that the granitic, granodioritic rocks represent the source provenance which, during weathering and transport, supplied the detritus to the supra-crustal units. The major trace element data suggest that these rocks are largely derived from felsic igneous rocks, namely granitoids, with a minor contribution from intermediate sources. The carbonate rocks do not represent a wide variety of facies: dolomitic limestone, calcareous limestone, and calcaro-dolomitic chert. Calcitic and dolomitic samples show a linear increase in SiO2, regardless of their CaO/LOI ratio values, which remain relatively constant. The highest SiO2 contents are observed in the calc-dolomitic chert. Geochemical analysis of RDVD from the Ifni buttonhole determined their origin, maturity, and alteration. Major oxides decreased with higher silica content, indicating quartz control. Samples, formed under semi-arid conditions, show maturity under stable deposition. They suggest a felsic, recycled source, with moderate alteration and zircon enrichment during recycling. In the study area, limestones and dolomites serve as materials applicable in the building sector, suitable for all types of concrete. The Taliwine Formation harbors Lower Cambrian dolomites and limestones, ideal for mosaic aggregates. Described as variable in color, compact, homogeneous, very hard, and resistant to alteration, the plutonic rocks form prominent peaks. They exhibit both subalkaline characteristics in granitoids and an alkaline trend in dolerite dykes. Most samples display minimal alteration, indicating the reliability of their major element compositions for geochemical analyses. These granitoids constitute valuable deposits for ornamental and building rock purposes.

Ultramafic soils are characterized by low productivity due to the deficiency of macroelements and high content of Ni, Cr, and Co. Incorporation of ultramafic soils for agricultural and food production involves the use of fertilizers. Therefore, this study aims to find the soil additive that decreases the metallic elements uptake by plant using Brassica napus as an example. In this study, we evaluate the effect of manure (0.5 g N/kg of soil), humic acids (1 g of Rosahumus/1 dm3 H2O; 44% C), KNO3 (0.13 g K/kg of soil), lime (12.5 g/kg of soil), (NH4)2SO4 (0.15 g N/kg of soil), and Ca(H2PO4)2) (0.07 g P/kg of soil) on the phytoavailability of metallic elements. The effect of soil additives on metallic elements uptake by Brassica napus was studied in a pot experiment executed in triplicates. Statistical analysis was applied to compare the effects of additives in ultramafic soil on plant chemical composition relative to control unfertilized ultramafic soil (one-way ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis test). The study shows that in almost all treatments, metallic elements content (Ni, Cr, Co, Al, Fe, Mn) is higher in roots compared to the aboveground parts of Brassica napus except for (NH4)2SO4, in which the mechanism of Mn accumulation is opposite. The main differences between the treatments are observed for the buffer properties of soil and the accumulation of specific metals by studied plants. The soils with the addition of lime and manure have the highest buffer properties in acidic conditions (4.9-fold and 2.1-fold increase relative to control soil, respectively), whereas the soil with (NH4)2SO4 has the lowest effect (0.8-fold decrease relative to control soil). Also, the addition of manure increases the biomass of aboveground parts of B. napus (3.4-fold increase) and decreases the accumulation of Ni (0.6-fold decrease) compared to plants cultivated in the control soil. On the contrary, the addition of (NH4)2SO4 noticeably increases the accumulation of Ni, Co, Mn, and Al in aboveground parts of B. napus (3.2-fold, 18.2-fold, 11.2-fold, and 1.6-fold, respectively) compared to plant grown in control soil, whereas the humic acids increase the accumulation of Cr in roots (1.6-fold increase). Therefore, this study shows that manure is a promising fertilizer in agricultural practices in ultramafic soil, whereas (NH4)2SO4 and humic acids must not be used in ultramafic areas.

This study investigated the role of ultraviolet (UV) radiation and oxidation in high-density polyethylene microplastics (2-15 μm) and nanoplastics (0.2-9.9 μm) (NMPs) on particle chemistry, morphology, and reactivity with cadmium (Cd). Additionally, toxicity of NMPs alone and with Cd was evaluated using RTgutGC cells, a model of the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) intestine. The role on NMPs on Cd bioaccumulation in RTgutGC cells was also evaluated. Dynamic light scattering indicated that after UV radiation NPs agglomerated size increased from 0.8 to 28 µm, and to 8 µm when Cd was added. Oxidized MPs agglomerated size increased from 11 and 7 to 46 and 27 µm in non-UV- and UV-aged oxidized MPs when adding Cd, respectively. Cd-coated particles exhibited generally significantly higher zeta potential than non-Cd-coated particles, while attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed that the functional chemistry of the particles was oxidized and modified after being exposed to UV radiation. Presence of NMPs resulted in a significant decrease in Cd bioaccumulation in RTgutGC cells (100.5-87.9 ng Cd/mg protein) compared to Cd alone (138.1 ng Cd/mg protein), although this was not quite significant for co-exposures with UV-aged NPs (105.7 ng Cd/mg protein). No toxicity was observed in RTgutGC cells exposed to NMPs alone for 24 h. Moreover, co-exposures with Cd indicated that NMPs reduce the toxicity of Cd. Altogether these results show that UV aging enhances NMP surface reactivity, increasing Cd absorption in solution, which resulted in a reduction in Cd bioavailability and toxicity.

This review explores the complex relationship between social determinants of health and the biology of chronic wounds associated with diabetes mellitus, with an emphasis on racial/ethnic disparities. Chronic wounds pose significant healthcare challenges, often leading to severe complications for millions of people in the United States, and disproportionally affect African American, Hispanic, and Native American individuals. Social determinants of health, including economic stability, access to healthcare, education, and environmental conditions, likely influence stress, weathering, and nutrition, collectively shaping vulnerability to chronic diseases, such as obesity and DM, and an elevated risk of chronic wounds and subsequent lower extremity amputations. Here, we review these issues and discuss the urgent need for further research focusing on understanding the mechanisms underlying racial/ethnic disparities in chronic wounds, particularly social deprivation, weathering, and nutrition, to inform interventions to address these disparities.

Microplastics have attracted global concern. The environmental-weathering processes control their fate, transport, transformation, and toxicity to wildlife and human health, but their impacts on biogeochemical redox processes remain largely unknown. Herein, multiple spectroscopic and electrochemical approaches in concert with wet-chemistry analyses were employed to characterize the redox properties of weathered microplastics. The spectroscopic results indicated that weathering of phenol-formaldehyde resins (PFs) by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) led to a slight decrease in the content of phenol functional groups, accompanied by an increase in semiquinone radicals, quinone, and carboxylic groups. Electrochemical and wet-chemistry quantifications, coupled with microbial-chemical characterizations, demonstrated that the PFs exhibited appreciable electron-donating capacity (0.264-1.15 mmol e- g-1) and electron-accepting capacity (0.120-0.300 mmol e- g-1). Specifically, the phenol groups and semiquinone radicals were responsible for the electron-donating capacity, whereas the quinone groups dominated the electron-accepting capacity. The reversible redox peaks in the cyclic voltammograms and the enhanced electron-donating capacity after accepting electrons from microbial reduction demonstrated the reversibility of the electron-donating and -accepting reactions. More importantly, the electron-donating phenol groups and weathering-induced semiquinone radicals were found to mediate the production of H2O2 from oxygen for arsenite oxidation. In addition to the H2O2-weathered PFs, the ozone-aged PF and polystyrene were also found to have electron-donating and arsenite-oxidation capacity. This study reports important redox properties of microplastics and their effect in mediating contaminant transformation. These findings will help to better understand the fate, transformation, and biogeochemical roles of microplastics on element cycling and contaminant fate.

The interaction between particles and proteins is a key factor determining the toxicity responses of particles. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the interaction between the emerging pollutant polyethylene terephthalate micro/nanoplastics from water bottles with bovine serum albumin. The physicochemical characteristics of micro/nanoplastics were investigated using nuclear magnetic resonance, x-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared, dynamic light scattering, and x-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy after exposure to various concentrations and durations of protein. Furthermore, the impact of protein-treated micro/nanoplastics on biological activities was examined using the mitochondrial activity and membrane integrity of A549 cells and the activity and biofilm production of Staphylococcus aureus. The structural characteristics of micro/nanoplastics revealed an interaction with protein. For instance, the assignment of protein-related new proton signals (e.g., CH2, methylene protons of CH2O), changes in available protons s (e.g., CH and CH3), crystallinity, functional groups, elemental ratios, zeta potentials (-11.3 ± 1.3 to -12.4 ± 1.7 to 25.5 ± 2.3 mV), and particle size (395 ± 76 to 496 ± 60 to 866 ± 82 nm) of micro/nanoplastics were significantly observed after protein treatment. In addition, the loading (0.012-0.027 mM) and releasing (0.008-0.013 mM) of protein also showed similar responses with structural characteristics. Moreover, the cell-based responses were changed regarding the structural and surface characteristics of micro/nanoplastics and the loading efficiencies of protein. For example, insignificant mitochondrial activity (2%-10%) and significant membrane integrity (12%-28%) of A549 cells increased compared with control, and reductions in bacterial activity (5%-40%) in many cases and biofilm production specifically at low dose of all treatment stages (13%-46% reduction) were observed.

Plastic pollution has reached concerning levels globally, with single-use plastic products (SUPs) comprising at least 50% of plastic waste. This study investigates the physical and chemical degradation of frequently used SUPs, including petroleum-based and bio-based plastics, in natural Northern European coastal weather and marine environments over a three-year period from 2019 to 2022. Addressing a critical knowledge gap, this research was based on a hypothesis that real-world ageing studies on SUPs would produce more accurate time- and process-lines for their transformation from macro-to microplastics than are available today based on the modeling studies more frequently used. The study employs optical examination, mechanical testing, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) to determine and relate physical and chemical changes with time. The results indicate that SUPs undergo significantly faster degradation in natural weather than predicted to date. Photooxidation emerges as the primary degradation pathway for all SUPs, emphasizing the role of light in plastic breakdown. Importantly, physical degradation to microplastics in natural environments is not always associated with significant chemical changes such as breaking chemical bonds. Black SUPs exhibit greater resistance to visible light and ultraviolet radiation than equivalent white and transparent examples. In marine environments, SUPs degrade measurably slower than in air, their degradation slowing with increasing distance from the water surface. Our findings indicate the urgent need for strategies that mitigate the impacts of photo-oxidation of SUPs. Such strategies may include a focus on the removal of post-use SUPs from pavements, roads, beaches, and water surfaces where photo-oxidation is faster than underwater and underground. Preferential use of black SUPs over white or transparent should also be considered.

This comprehensive research investigates heavy metal contamination in the rapidly developing town of Jebba in north-central Nigeria, which is essential to the nation\'s economy due to its agro-allied and non-agro-allied businesses. The research focuses on soil samples, collecting and analyzing 137 surface soil samples to assess the presence of 25 distinct metals. After statistical analysis and simple mathematical models are applied to the data, the amounts of harmful metals and their probable causes are revealed. The study identifies geogenic and anthropogenic origins of toxic metals, with some elements exceeding average crustal concentrations. Non-homogeneous metal dispersion is shown in the region by spatial distribution maps. The geo-accumulation index reflects various amounts of contamination, with particular metals posing significant threats to the ecosystem. Additionally, the study compares results with worldwide studies, revealing distinct pollution patterns in Jebba. The research delves into weathering processes, employing chemical indices to quantify the level of soil weathering and uncovering a prominent role of geogenic activities in metal release. Bivariate correlation and principal component analysis indicate links and possibly common sources among heavy metals, emphasizing anthropogenic contributions. In addition, assessments of ecological and medical risks are conducted, indicating possible threats to human wellness and the ecosystem. Children, in particular, are regarded as especially vulnerable to non-carcinogenic health concerns, with various heavy metals posing potential threats through diverse exposure routes. The study emphasizes the need to implement remediation procedures to address the risks to public health and the environment related to metal pollution.