As emerging contaminants, the impact of microplastics (MPs) on antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), virulence factors (VFs), and host microbial communities in lakes remains unclear. To address this, we conducted a 28-day incubation experiment using water from Yiquan Lake, employing metagenomic sequencing to investigate the effects of different types of microplastics-polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP), and a mixture (Mix), each at a concentration of 1 item/L-compared to a raw water control (RAW). Results showed significant enrichment of Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes in PE and Mix groups. Genera such as Agrobacterium and Microbacterium increased in PE and PS groups, serving as major hosts of ARGs and VFs. Network analysis revealed positive correlations between Agrobacterium, Escherichia, and ARGs, suggesting horizontal gene transfer may facilitate the spread of resistance and virulence. Two-factor PS formed highly connected yet competitive networks, whereas Mix constructed modular and stable networks. Single-factor PE enhanced microbial connectivity but reduced ARGs connectivity, while Mix increased the modularity of both microbes and ARGs. PE elevated the abundance of ARGs, VFs, and mobile genetic elements, with multidrug resistance and efflux pumps as dominant mechanisms. Additionally, PE downregulated quorum sensing transporter genes while upregulating regulatory factors, significantly promoting RND efflux systems (AcrAB-TolC) to maintain resistome homeostasis. This study highlights the distinct environmental effects of different MPs, underscoring the need to prioritize PE-related risks in aquatic ecosystems. Improved management of plastic waste in and around lakes is recommended to mitigate MP-mediated ARG dissemination and preserve freshwater ecosystem services.

Hydro-sedimentary conditions regulate resource availability and habitat heterogeneity in rivers, representing a key constraint on multitrophic communities. However, the mechanisms by which these conditions shape multitrophic assemblages and mediate their environmental responses remain underexplored. Here, we investigated multitrophic communities along the Yellow River, categorizing sampling sites into reservoir (RAG), low-sediment (LSG), and high-sediment (HSG) regions based on the habitat type and a suspended sediment threshold of 0.15 mg L-1. Basin-wide surveys across two seasons revealed that multitrophic species richness followed the pattern of RAG < LSG < HSG, whereas protozoan and metazoan evenness markedly declined in HSG. Among α-diversity metrics, species richness was best explained by physicochemical and hydrological variables (35.4-94.2%), suggesting its highest sensitivity to environmental filtering. The suspended sediment exhibited a threshold effect on algal and protozoan diversity, enhancing species richness at low concentrations but suppressing it at higher levels. Network analyses revealed higher multitrophic network complexity in LSG and HSG than in RAG, but cross-trophic networks in HSG exhibited the lowest robustness and fewest keystone taxa. Notably, nutrients destabilized the RAG network via diversity-mediated pathways, while intensive land use in HSG impaired stability by altering network complexity. These findings provide mechanistic insights into biodiversity dynamics in sediment-laden rivers and underscore the need to incorporate sediment dynamics into riverine biodiversity conservation frameworks.

Nanoplastics (NPs) are an emerging concern in marine environments due to their persistence and ecological risks. Bromide ions (Br⁻) are recognized as photoreactive drivers in plastic photoaging, yet their influence on NP aggregation and the underlying mechanisms remains largely unexplored. This study investigates the influence of Br⁻ on the aggregation of polystyrene (PS) and polylactic acid (PLA) NPs under UV irradiation. Br⁻ enhances hydroxyl radical production by PS NPs and forms bromine radicals (Br• and Br2•-), which accelerated surface coating degradation, oxidation and bromination in a surface-coating-dependent manner. In NaBr and NaCl/NaBr solution, irradiated PS-NH2 showed a 3-fold increase in aggregation rate due to the removal of amino group, Br-C bonds, and surface adsorbed Br⁻. In contrast, irradiated PS-Plain and PS-COOH exhibited decreased or minor aggregation due to the enrichment of oxygen-containing and Br-C groups that increased surface hydrophilic and electrostatic repulsion. In seawater, all PS NPs exhibited enhanced aggregation after UV aging, with irradiated PS-Plain and PS-COOH rapidly forming microscale aggregates through calcium bridging facilitated by increased carboxyl groups. PLA NPs remained dispersed regardless of UV irradiation and Br⁻, owing to limited photoaging and strong hydrophilic repulsion. By revealing bromide-mediated regulation of NP photoaging and aggregation, this work reshapes current understanding of NP environmental fate and highlights the need to incorporate overlooked halide chemistry into marine NP risk assessments.

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from industrial sources remains a major health concern. However, current emission controls and source apportionment models ignore condensable particulate matter (CPM). Here, we provide the first nationwide quantification of industrial CPM contributions to atmospheric PM2.5 in China through an integrated framework of field measurements, receptor modeling, and chemical transport simulations. Industrial CPM exhibits a chemical profile dominated by sulfate and ammonium, distinct from filterable PM, which creates a risk that its contribution may be misattributed to secondary aerosols in traditional source apportionment. Across industrial sources, CPM mass proportions vary significantly (p < 0.01) for NH4+, NO3-, and Cl-. Based on receptor modeling, CPM contributes a median of 3.6% (95% CI: 0.9%-14.5%) to urban PM2.5 across all four seasons in 2023, in the industrialized cities examined (Shanghai, Xi'an, Hefei, Shijiazhuang). The contribution peaks in winter (9.5%, 95% Monte Carlo-derived intervals: 2.4%-23.1%) due to enhanced gas-to-particle condensation at low temperature in these cities. From 2014 to 2023, the iron and steel sector emerged as the dominant CPM source, with its contribution increasing by up to 31.0% in key regions during winter. This overlooked source appears to substantially compress the apportioned contribution of secondary inorganics (by an estimated 5.6%-16.6%), suggesting that omission of CPM may lead to overestimation of secondary inorganic aerosol in traditional source apportionment. The results underscore the priority control of CPM emissions from industrial sources.

Reservoirs are artificial lakes that act as pivotal sinks for diverse pollutants. However, the environmental behavior and source identification of microplastics (MPs) in deep reservoirs remain poorly understood. In this study, the potential sources of MPs in the Danjiangkou Reservoir were explored using the conditional fragmentation model (CFM), supplemented by dissolved organic matter (DOM) characterization. The average MP abundance in reservoir was 10,476 ± 5594 items/m3. An enhanced pollution load index model based on the SSD-derived predicted no-effect concentration suggested an overall “low risk” status. Source apportionment based on CFM indicated that soil erosion was the main source of MPs, followed by atmospheric deposition. Importantly, MP abundance exhibited a strong positive correlation with exogenous terrestrial humic substances, suggesting that MPs are likely co-transported with terrestrial runoff, thereby supporting the soil input pathway. This study provides vital insights into the environmental fate and transportation of MPs in deep reservoirs.

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) remains the leading cause of premature deaths, despite declining mass concentrations of PM2.5 in the atmosphere. Age-standardized attributable death rates demonstrated divergent trends worldwide over the past decade, indicating that the uniform toxicity assumption underlying current regulations warrants re-examination. In this perspective, we synthesize recent advances in toxicological evaluation, epidemiological research, and modeling studies to advocate for a toxicity-based control as a future promising option. Incomplete combustion sources, especially residential solid fuels and wildfires, exhibit the highest toxicity per unit PM2.5 mass from primary emissions to secondary aging. Integrating source-specific toxicities, high-risk regions (South Asia, Southeast Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, Andean Latin America, and China) show substantially elevated toxicity-adjusted PM2.5 exposure. Low-income populations, which account for around 8.2% of the global population, bear 24.0% of the global cumulative toxicity-adjusted exposure burden, mainly driven by reliance on cheap solid fuels and wildfire emissions. We suggest that prioritizing control of high-toxicity PM2.5 sources in low- and midlow-income regions could complement current mass-based reductions to further mitigate health inequalities. This toxicity-focused framework offers actionable pathways for policymakers and environmental justice scholars, aligning air quality management with climate, equity, and sustainable development goals.

Seed storability is a critical factor influencing the long-term viability of seeds in genebanks. However, evaluating seed storability remains challenging, as current methods such as viability loss curves are time-consuming and require significant seed resources. This study investigated the role of phenotypic and physiological factors in seed storability using 56 japonica rice seed samples with initial germination rates exceeding 90%. Our analysis revealed that phenotypic traits, such as 1000-grain weight, grain width, and length-to-width ratio, did not significantly correlate with seed storability, highlighting the complexity of the relationship between phenotype and storability. Dynamic changes in antioxidant enzyme activities [superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), peroxidase (POD), and glutathione reductase (GR)] were analyzed, and a significant positive correlation was observed between POD activity and seed storability. POD activity remained relatively high in storage-tolerant seeds, whereas it decreased more sharply in storage-sensitive seeds. Gene expression analysis of 11 highly expressed POD genes in seeds further confirmed the relationship between POD enzyme activity and storability, with storage-sensitive seeds showing a greater decline in POD gene expression. A linear regression model constructed using POD activity and initial germination rate showed that POD activity could reliably assess seed storability, with an R2 value of 0.919 for storage-tolerant seeds. Cluster analysis of 28 seed samples validated these findings, establishing a POD activity threshold of 12 000 U/mg protein in unaged seeds imbibed for 48 h as a key indicator for distinguishing storage-tolerant seeds. This study provides valuable insights into the physiological and genetic mechanisms underlying seed storability and offers a promising approach for rapidly assessing seed storability in genebanks. POD activity as a storability indicator in other crops need further investigation.

Understanding how straw and biochar distinctly regulate interconnected phosphorus (P) cycling processes is critical for sustainable P management in calcareous soils. Using a 14-year field experiment in a calcareous soil, the long-term impacts of straw return (SR, 15 t/ha/yr) and two doses of biochar (low: LB, 4.5 t/ha/yr; high: HB, 9 t/ha/yr) on soil P dynamics were compared. Results showed that available P (AP) increased marginally under LB but significantly under SR (30.6 %) and HB (85.2 %). While SR did not alter P adsorption, it stimulated the activity of acid and alkaline phosphatase by 37.5 % and 62.8 %, respectively, enhancing labile organic P mineralization but concurrently promoting stable organic P accumulation. In contrast, HB preferentially enriched inorganic P (contributing 80 % of the total P increase), reduced P adsorption capacity (-43.4 %) via decreased Fe oxide availability and clay content, and minimized vertical leaching. HB also recruited specific bacterial (Sphingomonas) and fungal (Coprinellus, Fusarium) taxa to decompose stable organic P, while conserving labile organic P by suppressing phosphatase activity. The results demonstrate that SR primarily replenishes AP pools through microbial mineralization, whereas HB reduces abiotic P retention and recruits decomposers for recalcitrant P mobilization. These mechanistic insights inform sustainable P resource management strategies for calcareous croplands.

With the growing interest in long-endurance marine energy systems, lead-based reactors have attracted attention for marine nuclear applications due to their inherent safety characteristics and low-pressure operation capability, though technical challenges remain. To reveal the flow and heat transfer characteristics of the horizontal lead-bismuth core under typical translational conditions, based on the numerical simulation method, a numerical model capable of accurately simulating the flow and heat transfer characteristics of lead-bismuth eutectic (LBE) in rod bundle channels under translational conditions is established in this study. The results show that, under sway conditions, shortening the translational period strengthens the additional inertial-force field and produces more evident changes in the secondary-flow structure and relative local heat-transfer response. In contrast, the outlet-averaged temperature, axial mass flow rate, and assembly-averaged convective heat-transfer coefficient remain nearly unchanged under the investigated conditions. There are significant differences in response mechanisms under different translational directions. Surge mainly perturbs the axial momentum balance, resulting in inlet–outlet pressure-drop fluctuations of up to 225.95%, while its influence on the transverse-flow structure and global averaged heat-transfer parameters is limited. Sway produces a more evident modification of the secondary-flow structure and inter-subchannel mixing. Heave has only a weak influence on the global thermal-hydraulic state, although selected narrow-gap regions exhibit comparatively higher local sensitivity to variations in the equivalent gravitational field. The results of this study provide a reference for the thermo-hydraulic assessment of marine lead-based reactors.

Anaerobic microbial dechlorination contributes to natural attenuation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in sediments. However, the influence of competing electron acceptors in iron- and sulfate-rich sediments remains unclear. This study compared the effects of FeOOH (40 mmol/kg slurry, T-Fe) and sulfate (16 mmol/kg slurry, T-S) amendments on PCB dechlorination in Taihu Lake sediment microcosms spiked with a defined PCB mixture (50 mg/kg slurry). An unamended control (T-1) was included. After the 66-week incubation, residual total PCB mass was 4.68% higher in T-Fe and 14.15% higher in T-S than in T-1. Under the tested amendment conditions, sulfate produced stronger and more persistent inhibition of PCB dechlorination than FeOOH in the Taihu Lake sediment microcosms. Ortho-dechlorination was limited in both treatments. Sulfate further suppressed meta- and para-dechlorination and maintained higher dioxin-like toxicity. T-Fe exhibited dechlorination pathways similar to T-1, whereas T-S altered pathways, with congeners bearing two ortho-chlorines on a single ring (PCB 64, 71, 149) remaining largely undechlorinated, and meta-/para-dechlorination of highly chlorinated congeners (PCB 153, 170) hindered. The two electron acceptors reshaped microbial communities along distinct trajectories. Under Fe(III)-reducing conditions, Fe(II) accumulated rapidly during the early incubation, while Chloroflexi increased during the later incubation period. Dehalogenimonas was enriched, and reductive dehalogenase (RDase) genes (ardA, rdh12, pcbA4, and pcbA5) increased by 1-2 orders of magnitude. Under sulfate-reducing conditions, acetate-utilizing Desulfococcus and Desulfobacca outcompeted dechlorinators for carbon sources and electrons. Dehalococcoides enrichment was minimal, and RDase genes increased by only ∼1 order of magnitude. These findings advance the understanding of how competing electron acceptors affect PCB dechlorination rate, extent, and pathway selectivity.

Amidst the global energy transition and the emergence of the data-driven economy, data factor marketisation has become a crucial factor in accelerating the adoption of clean and green energy-a crucial step towards achieving sustainable development goals. This study systematically examines how data factor marketisation influences clean energy uptake and elucidates the underlying mechanisms from an innovation and knowledge perspective. Via implementing rigorous empirical strategies using panel data from China's provincial administrative regions covering the 2012-2022 period, we demonstrate that data factor marketisation notably enhances green and clean energy adoption, and the conclusions remain robust following a series of tests. Mechanism analysis reveals two distinct pathways through which this effect operates wherein data marketisation alleviates the crowding-out effect of conventional energy by reducing fossil energy consumption, establishing structural space for clean energy integration and actively fosters green technological innovation, improving the maturity and costeffectiveness of clean energy technologies and facilitating their widespread deployment. These insights emphasise the influence of data-driven innovation on building knowledge-intensive energy systems. Notably, we identify compelling regional heterogeneity, in which the effect of data marketisation is stronger in regions with lower economic development, a smaller tertiary sector and weaker environmental regulation. This indicates that data factor marketisation most effectively catalyses energy transition where structural optimisation is most urgently needed. By unveiling the dual mechanisms and context-dependent effects of data factor marketisation, this study provides novel theoretical and policy insights into the synergy between digital and green transitions. It constructs a knowledge-based framework for advancing clean energy adoption, particularly in emerging economies, through institutional data market innovation.

Reservoirs are artificial lakes formed by damming water, and the enrichment of pollutants caused by water storage and flood control has become a major ecological problem worldwide. Microplastics enter reservoirs through atmospheric deposition, sewage discharge, and surface runoff and continue to accumulate, not only having a significant impact on reservoir ecosystems but even threatening human health through drinking water and the food chain. To comprehensively understand the status of microplastic pollution in Chinese reservoirs, this study analyzed research articles on microplastic pollution in Chinese reservoirs from 2013 to 2024. This study showed that the average abundance of microplastics in the surface water of Chinese reservoirs was (11 542±15 325) n·m-3 and (1 408.45±2 659.03) n·kg-1 in the sediments. The main types of microplastics were polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene, and the particle size distribution of microplastics showed the trend of higher abundance as the size of the particles got smaller. Reservoir construction has changed the natural hydrological situation of the river, and the different hydrodynamic conditions and water environments of the river during the impoundment period and the flood discharge period have had a significant impact on the horizontal and vertical transport behavior of microplastics. In addition, microplastics are prone to form biofilms in closed water bodies of reservoirs and adsorb various pollutants and organic matter, which not only have an impact on the nutrient cycling of the reservoir system but also cause toxic effects when ingested by plants and animals. Finally, this study puts forward the problems that remain to be solved in the future study of microplastic pollution in reservoirs and envisions the future research directions and focuses of microplastic pollution in reservoirs, with a view to providing scientific references for the ecological risk assessment, pollution prevention, and control of microplastic pollution in China's reservoirs.

While biochar effectively reduces greenhouse gas emissions, the coincident microplastics will alter these benefits. To assess the long-term efficacy of biochar application in reducing emissions amidst microplastic interference, we investigated the interactive effects of polyethylene microplastics (1 • Decadal biochar addition reduced CO2 and N2O emissions by 49

Fungal spores protected by pigment-rich cell walls are highly resistant to traditional chlorine-based disinfectants, often necessitating high doses that generate toxic by-products and residues hazardous to public health. Here, we present an integrated disinfection strategy that combines low-dose ClO2 (8.0 mg L-1) with photocatalysis using silver single-atom-loaded graphitic carbon nitride (Ag1/CN). This synergistic system achieved near-complete inactivation of Aspergillus niger spores at an initial concentration of 106 cells mL-1 in water, while reducing ClO2 usage by 60% compared to chlorination and effectively eliminating detrimental chlorite formation. Furthermore, the system enabled over 95% disinfection efficiency in natural surface water within 60 min. Mechanistic analysis reveals that photogenerated electrons, rather than reactive oxygen species or ClO2 itself, are primarily responsible for spore inactivation. ClO2 pretreatment disrupted the melanin layer, allowing direct contact between Ag1/CN and the cell membrane. Subsequently, photogenerated electrons from Ag1/CN were injected into the cell membrane, disrupting the proton motive force and impairing ATP synthesis, ultimately resulting in energy depletion and cell death. This work presents a clean and efficient disinfection strategy that overcomes key limitations of conventional chlorination and offers a promising solution for controlling resistant fungal contaminants in water treatment applications.

Obtaining water quality criteria (WQC) that align with environmental conditions is essential for protecting aquatic life. However, complexity arises from numerous species across taxonomic groups and various environmental factors in water systems. Machine learning (ML) technology provides potential solutions to address these issues. This study employed artificial neural networks (ANNs) to analyze the applicability of a comprehensive mixed species model influenced by ten water chemistry factors. The Sobol method evaluated sensitivity of these factors to copper toxicity. Results showed the mixed model achieved high predictive accuracy after encoding taxonomic information. Based on sensitivity analysis, a simplified model considering temperature, DOC, DIC, and EC/hardness was proposed considering the commonly used monitoring indicators in practice. Comparisons of WQC results among mixed models based on all factors, simplified factors, and original samples demonstrated that focusing on key influencing factors does not lead to significant fluctuations in WQC outcomes. Finally, ecological risks in China's Yellow and Yangtze Rivers were assessed. Risks in the Yellow River exceeded those in the Yangtze River. For both rivers, dry season risks were substantially higher than rainy season, reflecting seasonal copper content differences and emphasizing environmental factors' significance in WQC derivation. The study provides insights for future WQC research.

Incomplete biomass burning emits complex mixture of gaseous and particulate organic pollutants, yet their chemical speciation and toxicity have not been fully identified. This study profiled the organic fingerprinting primarily emitted from typical incomplete biomass burning through nontargeted analysis and estimated their toxic potencies. Gaseous organics exhibited 2.2-8.9 times higher mass concentrations and 1.8-11.4 times higher toxicity equivalent quantity (TEQ) than those of particulate ones. Intermediate/semi volatile organic compounds (I/SVOCs) dominated both the total mass concentration and TEQ, accounting for 78.9 ± 9.2 % and 78.3 ± 9.3 % in gaseous phase, and 87.2 ± 9.6 % and 89.8 ± 7.2 % in particulate phase, respectively. The high toxicity was attributed to high emission since a strong correlation (r = 0.91, p < 0.0001) was observed between mass concentration and TEQ. In addition, organic markers in particulate phase from biomass burning were screened out, including Apocynin, Vanillin, 9H-Fluoren-9-one, 1(2H)-Acenaphthylenone, 9,10-Anthracenedione, and 7H-Benz[de]anthracen-7-one. These findings emphasize the gaseous I/SVOCs emissions from incomplete biomass burning, and facilitate the construction of an emission framework for improved air quality modeling and emission regulation.

The vertical transport of microplastics (MPs) in freshwater is poorly understood. In this study, the effects of biocalcification on the settling behavior of buoyant MPs in the presence of Microcystis aeruginosa and Ca2+ were investigated via incubation experiments. Here, we show that the formation of biogenic calcite on the surface of MPs resulted in an increase in density and, subsequently, the settling of MPs, with its effect varying significantly with the size and aging of MPs. Specifically, biogenic calcite preferentially facilitated the sinking of smaller MPs compared to larger ones, mainly due to their different adsorption affinities for extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), which provide nucleation sites for calcite. Notably, aging further enhanced this size-dependent settling of MPs, which was primarily attributable to differences in the selective binding of macromolecules in EPS. Compared to the pristine MPs, the aged ones tend to acquire more polar macromolecules from EPS, which resulted in greater complexation interactions between the MPs and Ca2+ and consequently increased biogenic calcite precipitation and enhanced settling of MPs. The findings of this study highlight the importance of biogenic calcite-mediated settling of MPs in freshwater environments.