Publications by authors named "Xiang-Zhou Meng"

This study investigates the co-occurrence, seasonal variations and environmental control factors of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and potential toxic heavy metals in groundwater at dyeing industrial sites in Foshan, southern China. Unlike earlier studies that focused on PFASs or heavy metals in the abandoned sites, this study represents the first comprehensive assessment of eight long-operating (>15 years) sites. The results revealed substantial contamination of PFASs and heavy metals, the total PFAS (ΣPFASs) concentrations ranged from 67.

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Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been extensively used in the electroplating globally, yet the source characterization remains inadequately quantified. This study provides a high-resolution characterization of PFAS for the Chinese electroplating industry by combining target and nontarget analysis of samples, including chrome mist suppressants, plating bath solutions, wastewater, and sludge. A total of 91 PFAS homologues, spanning 14 classes, were identified by nontarget analysis.

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Synthetic musks (SMs), widely used in personal care and household products, have been identified as emerging contaminants in aquatic environments. However, large-scale assessment of their terrestrial inputs to coastal oceans and associated environmental implications remain limited. This study firstly conducted a comprehensive, multi-seasonal investigation of SMs in the riverine runoff from major river outlets along the East China Sea coast, as well as in effluents from representative coastal wastewater treatment plants.

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Using sediment cores to reconstruct the contamination history of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is essential for chemical management but poses challenge. Herein, sediment cores, as well as surface water and sediments were taken from two Chinese lakes to investigate the vertical distribution and migration of PFAS. Wind wave, properties of sediment and water, and chemical characters of PFAS were examined to clarify the main factors influencing PFAS migration.

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At trace levels (nanograms to micrograms per liter, ng L - μg L), antibiotics exert stimulatory effects on cyanobacteria, potentially posing a threat to aquatic ecosystems. Here, environmentally relevant concentrations of antibiotics were firstly observed to disrupt the stoichiometry of cyanobacterium Microcystis (i.e.

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Article Synopsis
  • Synthetic musks (SMs) are found in personal care products and can accumulate in estuarine environments, but their distribution factors at a large scale in China are not well understood.
  • A study collected sediment samples from 18 estuaries and analyzed fourteen factors affecting SM distribution, revealing a significant influence from human activities such as population density and economic factors, while also noting a correlation with total organic carbon and water quality.
  • The findings highlight that SMs are widespread in Chinese estuarine sediments and suggest they could serve as indicators for water quality, marking a first step in understanding emerging organic chemicals in these environments.
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  • Compound pollution at industrial sites limits urban growth, particularly due to insufficient understanding of how pollution varies across different areas within light-weight material production hubs.
  • This study analyzed the spatial distribution and ecological risks of toxic elements, volatile organic compounds, and petroleum hydrocarbons in soil and groundwater at an aluminum/copper industrial site, finding significant pollutant clustering and migration patterns.
  • The research highlighted that copper pollution presents severe ecological risks on the surface, while cadmium and mercury in deeper soil layers pose notable hazards, indicating that prolonged industrial activity results in deep pollutant accumulation affecting both soil and groundwater.
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  • Colony formation in Microcystis, a harmful cyanobacterium, is influenced by light availability, with larger colonies becoming less dense and experiencing decreased light penetration.
  • In optimal light conditions (100% transmittance), colony size significantly increased, while under low light (50%-1% transmittance), colony size showed no improvement and resulted in loose cell arrangements with gaps.
  • The study reveals that Microcystis can adapt its internal cell arrangement to minimize self-shading, which is important for understanding and managing harmful algal blooms (cyanoHABs).
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Commercial chemicals, such as synthetic musks, are of global concern, but data on their occurrence and spatial distribution in aquatic environments of large scale are scarce. Two sampling campaigns were conducted in the present study to measure freely dissolved synthetic musks in freshwaters across China using passive samplers, along with biological coexposure at selected sites. Polycyclic musks (PCMs) dominated synthetic musks, with a detection frequency of 95%.

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Neonicotinoids are widely used insecticides that have raised considerable concerns for both environmental and human health. However, there lack of comprehensive evaluation of their accumulation in surface water ecosystems and exposure to various human groups. Additionally, there's a distinct lack of scientific evidence describing the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic impacts of neonicotinoids from surface water.

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Neonicotinoids (NNIs) constitute commonly used pesticides across various regions, however, the lack of research and data on its long-term effects and threshold levels within specific ecosystems have left an important knowledge gap. This study aimed to comprehensively examine NNI concentrations and their potential impacts on human health and aquatic organisms in the region of the Yangtze River Basin (YRB). The study employed datasets on seven commonly applied NNIs across 244 surface water samples collected from 12 distinct geographic sites within the YRB.

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Article Synopsis
  • Phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA) are common chemicals in plastics, leading to widespread human exposure and health risks.
  • Data on exposure and associated risks globally shows concerning daily intake values for both compounds, with phthalates posing a particularly high risk due to their cumulative effects.
  • Despite evidence of their harmful effects, current regulations on these chemicals remain largely outdated, highlighting the need for updated guidelines and caution against using alternative plasticizers without safety assurance.
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The aim of this study was to examine microplastic (size distribution of 0.05-5 mm) occurrence and distribution in drinking water source of XJ River during both flooding and dry periods. Surface water and sediment samples were collected from the CS City section of the river in August and December 2020.

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Environmental pollutants are ubiquitous in our environmental media, resulting in detrimental impacts on both humans and the environment. An evidence-based review, particularly a systematic review and meta-analysis, performs a crucial function in assessing the pollution status of pollutants in environmental media at national and global scales. We selected and thoroughly investigated 76 papers focusing on systematic reviews and meta-analyses of contaminants in environmental media.

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Colonial cyanobacteria have been identified as the primary contributor to the global occurrence of cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cyanoHABs), which are further intensified by the presence of "pseudo-persistent" antibiotics. Nevertheless, the impact of antibiotics on the growth and size of colonial cyanobacteria remains unclear. In this study, the response of cyanobacterium Microcystis to varying doses of antibiotics was assessed (0, 0.

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As traditional per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are phased out, emerging PFAS are being developed and widely used. However, little is known about their properties, including persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity (PBT). Screening for emerging PFAS relies on available chemical inventory databases.

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The implementation of Personal Carbon Trading (PCT) holds promise in facilitating a noteworthy contribution towards the attainment of emissions reduction predicated on consumption patterns and consequently motivating lifestyle modifications. As individual consumption behaviors usually lead to continuous changes in carbon emissions, it is crucial to rethink PCT from a systematic perspective. This review employed a bibliometric analysis of 1423 papers related to PCT, highlighting the key themes of carbon emissions from energy consumption, climate change, and public opinion on policies in the context of PCT.

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Phthalic acid esters (PAEs), a class of typical endocrine disruptors, have received considerable attention due to their widespread applications and adverse effects on biological health. In this study, 30 water samples, along the mainstream of the Yangtze River (YR), were collected from Chongqing (upper stream) to Shanghai (estuary) from May to June in 2019. The total concentrations of 16 targeted PAEs ranged from 0.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study examines the impact of anthropogenic and natural activities on dissolved oxygen (DO) levels in surface water, particularly within a small watershed in the Yangtze River Delta over a 35-year period (1986-2020).
  • - Using advanced statistical methods, the research identifies key factors influencing DO levels and their delayed effects, revealing a decrease in DO until 2008, followed by a gradual recovery until 2020.
  • - The analysis highlights that factors like phosphate fertilizer consumption and GDP significantly affect DO concentration, with phosphate having a lingering impact of about seven years, whereas GDP and other factors show shorter persistence effects.
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In Taipu River, after being transformed from a drainage channel to a drinking water supply river in 1995, heavy metals that have accumulated in sediments have become an environmental issue. Herein, we collected sediments of Taipu River in 2018, 2020, and 2021 and analyzed the distribution of Sb, As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Cr, and Zn to identify their sources. The results revealed that the mean concentrations of heavy metals were above the background values, except for Cr and As.

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Xiangjiang (XJ) is a typical urban inland river that serves as a drinking water source, which may be affected by the currently used organochlorine pesticides (CUOCPs) originating from agricultural activities in the vicinity. On this basis, this study comprehensively explored the occurrence and distribution characteristics of CUOCPs in surface water and sediments under long-term precipitation and subsequent floods. Considering the low concentration of CUOCPs in water, a technique combining high-throughput organic analysis with high-volume solid phase extraction (High-throat/Hi-volume SPE) was introduced for effective analysis of CUCOPs.

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Characterizing the occurrence of organic contaminants (OCs) of environmental health concern in municipal sewage sludges is essential for safe handling and disposal of these abundant materials. This meta-analysis aimed to (i) summarize the extent of studies performed on the chemical composition of sewage sludges from China and the U.S.

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The illegal disposal of industrial sewage sludge has caused serious environmental pollution. To develop identification technology of industrial sewage sludge based on the characteristic fingerprints is a promising method that is helpful to clarify the responsibility of illegal enterprises. In this study, heavy metal profiles of sewage sludge from industries (including printing and dyeing industry and other industries) and municipal sewage treatment plant located in eastern China were determined, and their performance of classification was evaluated by principal component analysis (PCA) and linear discrimination analysis (LDA).

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UV-based water treatment processes have been reported to induce genotoxicity during the treatments of surface water, drinking water and artificial water with natural organic matters (NOMs), causing genotoxicity concerns for the drinking water safety. Nitrogenous disinfection byproducts (N-DBPs) were generally reported to be much more genotoxic than their non-nitrogenous analogues, and might be responsible for the genotoxicity in UV processes. Although nitrate-rich water was getting attention for the possibility of genotoxicity and N-DBPs during UV treatments, the impact mechanism of nitrate on the degradation of NOMs, the formation of N-DBPs and genotoxicity has not been explicated.

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Organophosphate esters (OPEs) are typical industrial additives widely applied in various industrial and household products, but they may pollute drinking water. In the present study, the occurrence of OPEs in drinking water was analyzed. For this purpose, 25 drinking water samples were collected from households in 25 cities in China.

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