Themed collection Environmental Science: Nano Recent HOT Articles

With the development of nuclear power and the nuclear industry, some uranium-containing wastewater will inevitably be released into the environment, which poses a threat to human health and the environment.

With the development of industrialization, the emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are steadily increasing, posing a significant risk to atmospheric quality and public health.

Both nanozymes (cerium oxide) and natural enzymes can destroy toxic organophosphates (pesticide paraoxon ethyl) using analogous reaction mechanisms.

There are numerous opportunities for nanomaterials and nanotechnology to support circular economy adoption. In this perspective, we present the important role engineered nanomaterials can play in advancing the circularity of bulk composite materials.

Following available approaches included e.g., in existing OECD Test Guidelines and Guidance Documents for the aquatic testing of particulate materials such as nanomaterials and microplastics leads to various challenges to be considered.

This perspective aims to shed light on the transformative potential of sustainable synthesis in guiding the transition towards circular economy conceptions in the nanotechnology domain.

Engineered nanomaterials are increasingly being used in a range of applications; it is important to characterize bacterial response to these novel materials.

This article discusses critical issues and opportunities in nanotechnology environmental, health, and safety (nanoEHS) research from the perspective of many U.S. NEHI agencies.

Diagram of components of controlled- and sustained-release micro/nanocarriers of pesticide: nanomaterials and stimuli-responsive triggers (R stands for different groups).

Polymer nanocarriers are designed to deliver active ingredients in agricultural, food and pharmaceutical applications. It is essential to ensure their safety towards environmental and human health.

An optimum application of NPs can mitigate biotic and abiotic stresses, but overuse can cause phytotoxicity. Research on the use of NPs for plant stress is demonstrating promising benefits.

Nanoplastics (NPs) are chemically reactive following abiotic and biotic weathering processes. These weathered NPs have the potential to facilitate the transformation of legacy contaminants, such as heavy metals.

The buildup of microplastics (MPs)/nanoplastics (NPs) in the aquatic biota has sparked concern owing to their negative consequences on human health and the environment, making it a global issue in recent years.

Photocatalysis is an eco-friendly and cost-effective method to realize the purification of ppb-level NO, and the end-product (nitrate/ammonia) of the photocatalytic NO complete oxidation/reduction reaction can be further recycled.

The review assesses the distribution of quantum dots (QDs) in aquatic ecosystems, summarizes their possible environmental behavior, and presents the toxicological effects of QDs on aquatic organisms.

This review summarizes the key roles of various vacancy defects in PS-AOPs and provides insights into the understanding of vacancy defect in persulfate activation to promote the development of PS-AOPs in water treatments.

Nanobiotechnology has received tremendous attention in recent years owing to its wide range of applications in various fields.

The synthesis method of metal nanoparticles and the form and application of microbial synthesis of metal nanoparticles.

Nano-bio-formulations for insect pest management.

This review provides new insights for the development of nanomaterials with potential immunomodulatory effects in plants towards resistance against biotic and abiotic stresses.

This review summarized the cytotoxic, genotoxic, and carcinogenic effects of Ni-containing NPs on humans, lung cells in vitro, and rodent lungs in vivo, and the underlying mechanisms. Their extra-pulmonary effects were also briefly mentioned.

Carbon nanofibers are a class of lightweight, high-performance composite materials.

Environmental remediation based on peroxomonosulfate- and peroxydisulfate-activation-enabled radical/non-radical oxidation has gained growing interest due to the strong oxidation power, long life of reactive oxygen species, and wide pH adaptability.

This review discusses the characteristics and synthesis methods of Bi-based NPs. It delves into the removal efficiency in wastewater, emphasizing traditional/emerging strategies to enhance the performance, mechanisms, toxicology, and challenges.

Here we made a critical review on nanozyme-involved detection and degradation of environmental pollutants, and the research progress achieved in the last five years was emphatically concluded.

This review provides insights into key molecular events underlying ENMs toxicity under the dermal exposure scenario and the application of computational modeling tools in predicting the fate and toxicity of ENMs in nano-skin interactions.

This review clarifies the translocation of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) in plants, reveals the molecular mechanisms of toxicity regulation, and emphasizes the potential risks of composite systems of NPs.

To achieve a world without hunger, it is imperative to address the inefficiencies within the current agricultural system by adopting innovative and sustainable approaches.

ZIF-based catalysts have great potential for PMS activation in environmental treatment. State of the art and prospects in recent breakthroughs are presented in this review.

This study demonstrates that environmental weathering processes differentially affect the aggregation behavior of nanoplastics, providing important insights into the risk assessment of nanoplastics contamination.

In this study, we explore the potential of graphene oxide (GO) as an additive to alleviate soil salinity.

This study explores the theoretical foundation behind the application of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) for neonicotinoid quantification.

Light-activated UL₃ generates active species (h⁺) to attack DCF in a water environment, realizing efficient clean water purification.

This research represents the first study of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) decomposition using immobilized ZnO nanoparticles by electrophoretic deposition in photocatalysis and photoelectrocatalysis.

In this study, we demonstrate the first successful application of InP quantum dots (QDs) as an environmentally friendly visible light photocatalyst for water treatment.

Fabrication of a dual-barrel platinum ultramicroelectrode allows for the stochastic detection of a single liquid aerosol droplet. The new measurement technique has significant potential for studying the microdroplet|air interface using electrochemistry.

An asymmetrically superwettable Janus membrane utilizes natural resources without CO₂ emission for all-day freshwater harvesting.

Taking advantage of the SERS activity of the embedded Au@SiO₂, the coordination structure of the FeSA site, and its change during the activation of PMS and H₂O₂, is studied with combined in situ SERS and theoretical calculation.

A multifunctional adsorbent with diversified channels and abundant thermal effect sites provides efficient adsorption–desorption diffusion for VOC recycling, which plays a significant role in mitigating VOC emissions and reducing health risks.

This study comprehensively evaluated the health risks of metal-based (nCuO) and bio-based (nCS) nanopesticides on tomato plant growth, soil environment, and non-target organism tadpoles.

Our study reveals that NLRP3 inflammasome activation is a key toxicity pathway for ozone-aged carbon black (CB-O₃). Environmental aging and protein corona formation enhance macrophage uptake, lysosomal rupture, and cathepsin B release.

Nanomaterials exhibit significant advantages in biomedical applications.

The autocatalytic growth and dissolution of hematite by Fe(II)_aq and/or oxalic acid was probed at the single particle scale. Multimodal analyses reveal electron transfer and interfacial reactivity are highly anisotropic and facet-dependent.

The production of sulfur by catalytically reducing SO₂ with CO presents a promising approach for utilizing sulfur oxides found in flue gases.

Formation of colloidal vaterite nanoparticles via mixing groundwater and uranyl.

This study introduces a novel method for visualizing the uptake and accumulation of polystyrene nanoplastics in edible plants using luminous upconverted nanoparticles.

The micro-mechanism of H₂O₂ activation and the selective regulation strategy are the key to the removal of environmental pollutants.

The underlying mechanism that correlates adsorption energy with both the specific volatile organic compound (VOC) category and the carbon chain length on the MoS₂ monolayer is elucidated through DFT calculations.

Diagram of the construction, release, and delivery performance of CLAP@CS/γ-PGA.

This study presents the first evidence of a substantial contribution of soil-borne NPs to biotic silver burden in comparison to aqueous phase NPs observed in the water column.

Schematic representation showing the design and utilization of MOF-based green nanomaterials for enhanced pathogen resistance and pesticide degradation in tomato plants.

Bimetallic doping (Co and Mn) and an appropriate concentration of OVs facilitated interfacial electron transfer processes, enhanced the efficiency of PMS utilization, and thus resulted in excellent catalytic performance for CIP removal.

Wrinkled graphene coatings are engineered to fulfill multiple functions desired for ultrathin gloves that prevent human exposure to chemical toxicants.

The combined synergistic effects of exogenous melatonin (MT) and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) in alleviating cobalt (Co) stress in Brassica napus (ZS 758).

A volcano relationship was found between the catalytic activity of H₂O₂ decomposition and the adsorption energies of reaction intermediates and the p-band center of p-block main-group metal/nitrogen/carbon (PM/N/C) catalysts.

The height and void size of nanosheets on plant leaves directly affect the size optimization of nanomaterials with best anti-leaching ability and fertilizer efficiency.

Metribuzin herbicide nanoformulations effects.

Mechanism of cyclic recuperation of oxygen vacancies in ozone decomposition.

A novel and sustainable method combining mechanical force and species regulation enables a two-step dehydration–rehydration process, achieving full extraction of impurities like P, or heavy metals like Cr, As, Sr, Cd, and Hg from gypsum waste.

The use of nanotechnology to pre-treat crop seeds through seed treatments for enhancing their resistance to abiotic stresses is a promising and sustainable approach.

The presence of humic acid and UV exposure influenced iron-based nanoparticle behaviour and toxicity to a freshwater planaria species.

With the rapid expansion of applications in agriculture, nanotechnology has emerged as an effective alternative for alleviating abiotic stress in plants.

Unveiling the stimulatory effect of silicon nanoparticles on direct regeneration and micro-structural developments in Cadaba trifoliata.

The findings showed that nano-TiO₂ and warming can cause significant impacts on crab's health. Crabs under direct and combined exposures tended to preserve energy. However, under indirect exposure, they tended to use more energy.

BP nanosheets caused minimal death to Bacillus tropicus cells but induced most of them to enter the VBNC state by inhibiting cellular respiration and metabolic activity, which potentially enhanced the antibiotic tolerance.

A simple-to-manufacture and inexpensive biosensor based on a nanostructured copper electrode, mediators and immobilized yeast or bacteria is proposed for determining the biochemical oxygen demand in wastewater.

A multi-technique approach indicated that the target weed species and application mode can determine the control efficacy and uptake of PCL nanoparticles, and the distribution of the metribuzin herbicide in plants, depending on NP–plant interactions.

Nanoplastics (NPs) act as carriers of heavy metals and pose toxicity to aquatic organisms due to their affinity for heavy metals; however, the particular role of NPs in this joint toxicity remains unclear.

The unique Cu⁰/Cu⁺ interface of Cu-MOF74/Cu₂O-350 enhances the adsorption of reaction intermediates and provides more active sites, thereby increasing the faradaic efficiency (FE) of CO₂ reduction to C₂H₄.

Understanding the toxicity and hazard risk of various metal sources is very important and can provide new insights for their risk evaluation in the environment.