Rare earth elements (REEs) are a type of frequently reported emerging pollutant that affects plant growth. The harm caused by continuous exposure to low-dose REEs has rarely been studied. Quickly, accurately, and noninvasively monitoring the continuous influence of low-dose REEs on plant growth in situ is key to indicating and warning of its harm to plants and ecosystems. In this study, after continuous exposure to low-dose lanthanum [La(III), a REE] for 14 days, invisible damage occurred in leaf cells, and La accumulated continuously in the soybean plants (leaves > stems > roots > pods > seeds), causing potential human health risks. Two proteins [vitronectin-like protein (VN) and arabinogalactan proteins (AGP)] in leaf cells that bound La(III) were selected as biomarkers, and changes in these two proteins were detected by constructing dual-sensors in living leaf cells after continuous exposure to low-dose La(III) for 14 days. The results showed that the electrochemical outputs from leaf cells-the electron transfer resistance Ret(VN) and Ret(AGP)-were related to the damage indices such as MDA, chlorophyll content, electrolyte leakage, cell vitality, fresh and dry weight of leaves, and leaf area. Using this output, two warning intervals of visible damage were obtained: Ret(VN) was 8.53 %-47.22 %, and Ret(AGP) was 12.75 %-51.31 %. This study successfully demonstrated the real-time in situ detection of plant cell biomarker changes and invisible damage under low-dose La(III) exposure, providing methods for early warning monitoring of plant damage caused by low-dose continuous exposure to REEs.

Termiticides are widely used to protect wooden houses from termites. Dieldrin, chlordane, heptachlor, and chlorpyrifos, which are effective termiticides, have been banned because of their high toxicity. Neonicotinoids, pyrethroids, phenyl pyrazoles, and triazoles have been used as alternatives to termiticides in indoor environments. However, despite numerous studies showing that farm-applied pesticides contaminate house dust, the health risks to humans from indoor termiticides remain unclear. We collected house dust and indoor air samples from 37 and 7 houses, respectively, to investigate the indoor termiticide contamination levels. The minimum margin of exposure to fipronil was 173, indicating that fipronil posed the highest risk among the targeted 28 compounds in indoor environment. The mean concentrations of alternative termiticides in house dust and air samples ranged from 1,126 ng g(- 1) (cyproconazole) to 5,356 ng g(- 1) (MGK-264) in thirty-seven houses and 0.08 ng m(- 3) (acetamiprid) to 34 ng m(- 3) (MGK-264) in seven houses, respectively. These results are comparable to the pesticide concentrations in houses close to farms where pesticides were applied, and are higher than atmospheric pesticide concentrations in oceans. Therefore, houses sprayed with termiticides may be as contaminated as agricultural environments where farmers apply substantial quantities of pesticides. The main route of exposure was air inhalation for fipronil, and both air inhalation and house dust ingestion for triazoles and potentiators. Establishment of regulations and development of decontamination methods are needed for indoor contamination of termiticides. Floor cleaning may be effective to remove termiticides that are ingested mainly through the house dust pathway.

Tree architecture is an important component of forest community dynamics - taller trees with larger crowns often outcompete their neighbors, but they are generally at higher risk of wind-induced damage. Yet, we know little about wind impacts on tree architecture in natural forest settings, especially in complex tropical forests. Here, we use airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR) and 30 yr of forest inventory data in Puerto Rico to ask whether and how chronic winds alter tree architecture. We randomly sampled 124 canopy individuals of four dominant tree species (n = 22-39). For each individual, we measured slenderness (height/stem diameter) and crown area (m2) and evaluated whether exposure to chronic winds impacted architecture after accounting for topography (curvature, elevation, slope, and soil wetness) and neighborhood variables (crowding and previous hurricane damage). We then estimated the mechanical wind vulnerability of trees. Three of four species grew significantly shorter (2-4 m) and had smaller crown areas in sites exposed to chronic winds. A short-lived pioneer species, by contrast, showed no evidence of wind-induced changes. We found that three species' architectural acclimation to chronic winds resulted in reduced vulnerability. Our findings demonstrate that exposure to chronic, nonstorm winds can lead to architectural changes in tropical trees, reducing height and crown areas. La arquitectura de los & aacute;rboles es un componente importante de la din & aacute;mica de la comunidad forestal: los & aacute;rboles m & aacute;s altos con copas m & aacute;s grandes suelen sobrepasar a sus vecinos, pero por lo general corren m & aacute;s riesgo de sufrir da & ntilde;os inducidos por el viento. Sin embargo, es poco lo que se sabe sobre el impacto del viento en la arquitectura de los & aacute;rboles en entornos forestales naturales, sobre todo en bosques tropicales complejos. En este caso, utilizamos LiDAR y 30 a & ntilde;os de datos de campo en Puerto Rico para preguntarnos si los vientos cr & oacute;nicos alteran la arquitectura de los & aacute;rboles. Se tom & oacute; una muestra aleatoria de 124 individuos del dosel de cuatro especies arb & oacute;reas dominantes (n = 22-39). De cada individuo, medimos la esbeltez (altura/di & aacute;metro) y el & aacute;rea de la copa (m2) y evaluamos si la exposici & oacute;n a vientos cr & oacute;nicos influ & iacute;a en la arquitectura teniendo en cuenta la topograf & iacute;a (curvatura, elevaci & oacute;n, pendiente, humedad del suelo) y las variables del vecindario (aglomeraci & oacute;n y da & ntilde;os previos por huracanes). Luego, estimamos la vulnerabilidad mec & aacute;nica de los & aacute;rboles al viento. En los lugares expuestos a vientos cr & oacute;nicos, tres de las cuatro especies crecieron mucho menos (2-4 m) y tuvieron & aacute;reas de copa m & aacute;s peque & ntilde;as. Cecropia schreberiana, en cambio, no mostr & oacute; indicios de cambios inducidos por el viento. La aclimataci & oacute;n arquitect & oacute;nica de tres especies a los vientos cr & oacute;nicos llevaba a una reducci & oacute;n de la vulnerabilidad. Nuestros hallazgos demuestran que la exposici & oacute;n a vientos cr & oacute;nicos puede provocar cambios arquitect & oacute;nicos en los & aacute;rboles tropicales, reduciendo su altura y la superficie de sus copas.

This research explores the innovative resilience and self-healing properties of engineered cementitious composites (ECC) reinforced with shape memory alloy (SMA) fibers, tailored for environments susceptible to saltinduced freeze-thaw damage from deicing salts, seawater, and saline soils. The study examines ECC composites enhanced with varying SMA fiber volumes 0 %, 0.5 %, 0.75 %, and 1 % and three fiber shapes linear, indented, and hook-shaped, with an additional sandblasting surface treatment. Systematic analyses of monotonic and cyclic flexural behavior, as well as self-healing efficacy, were performed across four distinct freeze-thaw cycles (0, 50, 100, and 150) within environments of fresh water and a 3.5 % NaCl solution. Digital Image Correlation (DIC) was employed to precisely monitor the self-healing performance. The results highlight substantial enhancements in SMA-ECC, particularly improved flexural strength by up to 35 %, 30 %, and 17 % for hook, indented, and linear fibers respectively in freshwater. These gains were slightly reduced under saltwater conditions to 32 %, 26 %, and 15 % respectively. Additionally, crack-closure efficiencies in significant self-healing with improvements of 45 %, 38 %, and 27 % for hook, indented, and linear fibers respectively. The Weibull probability distribution model was used to establish the damage evolution equation of the SMA-ECC in two freeze-thaw environments. The results of this study can serve as a reference for the development of freeze-thawresistant designs for SMA-ECC structures in future applications.

The widespread use of plastic agricultural films necessitates a thorough evaluation of environmental risks posed by soil microplastics (MPs). While the intestinal tract is a critical site for MP interactions in soil organisms, current research predominantly focuses on overall physiological responses, overlooking organ-specific toxic mechanisms. To address this gap, we exposed earthworms (Eisenia fetida) to polyethylene (PE) and biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) MPs sourced from agricultural films at an environmentally realistic concentration of 1.0 g/kg. Incorporating natural earthworm mobility, we designed two exposure scenarios: migration from clean to contaminated soil (scenario A) and vice versa (scenario B). Machine learning-driven image analysis and phenotypic profiling revealed that PE induced more severe intestinal lesions than PLA, adversely affecting intestinal immune functions. Furthermore, PE resulted in greater oxidative damage and significantly activated immune proteins such as melanin and antimicrobial peptides through reprograming immune-related gene and protein pathways. Conversely, PLA predominantly disrupted intestinal digestive and absorptive functions, though the gut microbial community partially mitigated damage through structural and compositional adaptation. Compared with scenario A, earthworms in scenario B exhibited reduced tissue damage, enhanced digestive enzyme activity, and upregulated energy-related metabolites and cell proliferation genes, indicating partial recovery from MP-induced intestinal dysfunction. These findings elucidate the distinct toxicity mechanisms of conventional and biodegradable agricultural MPs on soil organisms, while the scenario-based approach advances risk assessment by aligning experimental design with real-world ecological behaviors.

Long-term exposure to Cd through contaminated food can lead to multiple adverse health effects on humans. Although previous studies have covered global food Cd concentrations and dietary Cd exposures across different populations, there are increasing concerns regarding the adequacy of current food Cd safety standards to protect populations from adverse health effects. Moreover, incorporation of Cd relative bioavailability (Cd-RBA) in foods improves the accuracy of health risk assessment. However, factors influencing food Cd-RBA have not been systematically discussed, thereby hindering its application in risk assessment. This review aims to provide an overview of Cd contents in foods, discuss concerns regarding international food Cd concentration standards, explore factors influencing food Cd bioavailability, and highlight the opportunities and challenges in refining differences between dietary Cd intakes and body burdens. Our findings suggest that current safety standards may be insufficient to protect human health, as they primarily focus on kidney damage as the protective endpoint and fail to account for global and regional variations in food consumption patterns and temporal changes in dietary habits over time. Factors such as crop cultivars and food compositions greatly influence food Cd-RBA. To improve the accuracy of Cd health risk assessment, future studies should incorporate food Cd-RBA, sociodemographic characteristics, nutritional status, and incidental Cd exposure. This review highlights new insights into food Cd safety standards and Cd bioavailability, identifies critical knowledge gaps, and offers recommendations for refining health risk assessments. This information is essential to inform future bioavailability investigations, health risk assessment, and safety standard development.

This study investigates the role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in the metabolism of hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) and its ecological effects in contaminated environments. We focused on the symbiotic relationships between Iris pseudacorus L. and AMF (Rhizophagus irregularis) under HBCD exposure. Our results show that HBCD induces oxidative damage, which hinders plant growth. However, AMF significantly enhance the plant's antioxidant defenses, reducing oxidative damage and supporting better growth of I. pseudacorus. HBCD biodegradation patterns showed beta- > gamma- > alpha-HBCD, with AMF playing a key role in stabilizing rhizosphere microbial communities, particularly promoting Proteobacteria and potential bacterial degraders like Aeromonas and Trichococcus, which contributed to HBCD removal. Additionally, AMF appear to upregulate genes such as cypD_E, GST, dehH, dehA, dehM, Em3.8.1.2, and ligB, which are involved in debromination and hydroxylation reactions. This research highlights AMF's potential to enhance the phytoremediation of HBCD, providing valuable insights for environmental remediation strategies.

The earthworm -based vermiremediation facilitated with benign chemicals such as nano zero-valent iron (nZVI) is a promising approach for the remediation of a variety of soil contaminants including cyanotoxins. As the most toxic cyanotoxin, microcystin-LR (MC-LR) enter soil via runoff, irrigated surface water and sewage, and the application of cyanobacterial biofertilizers as part of the sustainable agricultural practice. Earthworms in such remediation systems must sustain the potential risk from both nZVI and MC-LR. In the present study, earthworms (Eisenia fetida) were exposed up to 14 days to MC-LR and nZVI (individually and in mixture), and the toxicity was investigated at both the organismal and metabolic levels, including growth, tissue damage, oxidative stress, metabolic response and gut microbiota. Results showed that co -exposure of MC-LR and nZVI is less potent to earthworms than that of separate exposure. Histological observations in the co -exposure group revealed only minor epidermal brokenness, and KEGG enrichment analysis showed that co -exposure induced earthworms to regulate glutathione biosynthesis for detoxification and reduced adverse effects from MC-LR. The combined use of nZVI promoted the growth and reproduction of soil and earthworm gut bacteria (e.g., Sphingobacterium and Acinetobacter) responsible for the degradation of MC-LR, which might explain the observed antagonism between nZVI and MC-LR in earthworm microcosm. Our study suggests the beneficial use of nZVI to detoxify pollutants in earthworm -based vermiremediation systems where freshwater containing cyanobacterial blooms is frequently used to irrigate soil and supply water for the growth and metabolism of earthworms. (c) 2024 The Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V.

As urbanization and industrialization advance, China faces increasingly severe ecological challenges. The Ecological Protection Redline (EPR) policy is a crucial tool for land use management and ecological protection but requires a comprehensive risk assessment method to address ongoing challenges. This study integrated multiple factors with ecological resilience theory to establish a Hazard-Exposure-Vulnerability-Damage-Final Risk framework, assessing the spatiotemporal dynamics and risks of different EPR types in Qinghai Province over 20 years. Path analysis was further used to reveal relationships between risk stages. Results show increasing hazards and exposure in Water Conservation (WC), Biodiversity Maintenance (BM) and Land Desertification (LD) EPR types, with improved water conservation, stable biodiversity, and controlled desertification vulnerability across regions. Integrated risk results show a downward risk trend in WC type, BM type fluctuated but improved, and an initial increase followed by risk decrease in LD type. Path analysis revealed that damage in WC-type EPR was driven by direct hazard impacts, BM-type EPR by vulnerability, and damage in LD-type EPR by indirect effects of hazard through exposure. This study emphasizes the optimization of EPR policies by reducing external disturbances and enhancing ecosystem resilience, providing policy recommendations and practical experience for ecological protection and sustainable land use management.

Rare earth elements (REEs) are increasingly recognized as significant environmental pollutants due to their environmental persistence, bioaccumulation, and chronic toxicity. This study assessed REEs pollution in soil, water, and vegetables in an ion-adsorption rare earth mining area in Ganzhou, and evaluated the associated health risks to the local population. Results indicated that the REEs content in soil ranged from 168.58 to 1915.68 mg/kg, with an average of 546.71 mg/kg, substantially surpassing the background level for Jiangxi Province (243.4 mg/kg) and the national average (197.3 mg/kg). Vegetables displayed an average REEs content of 23.17 mg/kg in fresh weight, far exceeding the hygiene standard of 0.7 mg/kg. Water samples contained REEs at a concentration of 4.09 mu g/L. The estimated daily intake (EDI) of REEs from vegetables exceeded the threshold for subclinical damage, posing potential health risks, particularly for children and adolescents. Further analysis of the adjusted average daily intake (ADI) and non-carcinogenic risk suggested that while most vegetable consumption remains within safe threshold, the intake of REEs from high-risk vegetables such as pakchoi should be limited. Overall, carcinogenic risks associated with lifetime cancer risk (LCR) model for REEs exposure through vegetables and water were found to be low in this area.