Chemosphere

Our medical research library holds 14 studies published in Chemosphere (2006–2023). Each entry links to the study's record on PubMed and, where there is one, to the publisher's page and a free full text. 14 have an abstract, the authors' own summary as PubMed records it: open "Abstract" to read it.

About the journal

• Publisher: Elsevier Science Ltd
• Published: 1972 to the present, England
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0045-6535 (print), 1879-1298 (electronic)
• Its record in the NLM Catalog

2020s

• Mechanochemical remediation of the chlorinated compounds contaminated soil depending on the minerals inside-the most reasonable approach. Z. Yao, X. He, Q. Wang, et al. 2023;313:137449. PubMed · Publisher

  Abstract

  This study explored a possible destruction of hexachlorobenzene (HCB) as example of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) as well as the dechlorination mechanism by directly using minerals in the soil, such as antigorite, talc and olivine. Compared with a stable quartz phase of SiO2, all three Mg silicate minerals demonstrated certain degrading capacity for HCB with different efficiency order as: antigorite > talc > olivine > SiO2 at 2 h of milling time. Interestingly, olivine exhibited a better performance than antigorite at 4 h of milling time, giving destruction percentage of 92.7% over 89.0% even at high concentrated HCB up to 5% added. Raman and ESR characterizations of the ball milled sample with olivine indicated the formation of amorphous carbon and graphitic carbon, and the occurrence of free radicals was observed to play an important role in dechlorination and carbonization of HCB. The first identified effectiveness of directly using Mg silicate minerals, allowed no addition of active chemicals during the ball milling, therefore avoided the concern over extrinsic contaminations on the soil. Olivine was further utilized to deal with actual contaminated soil and showed unique advantages on application prospects.

  Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

• A combined system for asbestos-cement waste degradation by dark fermentation and resulting supernatant valorization in anaerobic digestion. G. Trancone, D. Spasiano, M. Race, et al. 2022;300:134500. PubMed · Publisher

  Abstract

  The use of biological processes for the treatment of asbestos cement waste (ACW) has gained interest in recent years. Nevertheless, this methodology is not yet consolidated because of the incomplete ACW conversion during the biological treatment and the consequent need for further treatments that generally require a high amount of energy and chemicals. In this study, the efficiency of both mesophilic and thermophilic dark fermentation (DF) fed with glucose in fed-batch conditions was assessed for ACW biological treatment. Both thermophilic and mesophilic DF of glucose resulted in a partial conversion of glucose into organic acids that successfully degraded all the asbestos fibers contained in an ACW sample. A hydrogen-rich biogas was produced as well: at the end of the mesophilic DF treatment 0.14 LH2 gglucose-1 were obtained. In addition, the anaerobic digestion (AD) of the DF supernatants led to the production of 0.38 LCH4 gCOD-1.

  Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

• Degradation of asbestos - Reinforced water supply cement pipes after a long-term operation. J. Zavašnik, A. Šestan, S. Škapin. 2022;287(Pt 1):131977. PubMed · Publisher

  Abstract

  Potable water supply system in major countries still uses a large proportion of asbestos-cement (AC) pipes for fresh drinking water delivery. Generally, after installation and initial purging, the AC tubes are believed to self-passivate by calcite scale and bio-film, especially when conveying hard water. However, the overall performance of AC tubes after decades of operation is significantly reduced and is still mainly unknown. In the current research, we investigated the AC water supply tube after 56 years of operation with high-hardness conveyed water. Our results show that asbestos fibres are emitted from degraded AC pipes as a result of wall softening due to calcium leaching from hydrated cementitious materials, resulting in the loss of mechanical stability. Although the water pumped into the system is not considered aggressive, the seasonal variations of water temperature and chemistry results in an interplay of calcite scaling and Ca leaching, the latter being the dominating process. By comparing the experimental observations with the long-term chemistry reports of the water supplied through the pipes, a positive relationship was established between the temperature and quality of the conveyed water with the corrosion and the calcite scale formation, which are dictating the emission of the fibres into the drinking water. In addition to the health risks posed by asbestos, these processes have many adverse effects on drinking water supply, such as pipe malfunction and destruction resulting in water loss, reduction of hydraulic capacity, microbial proliferation, and water quality deterioration, a topic of interest for global water industries process.

  Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

• Efficient separation of Zn(Ⅱ) from Cd(Ⅱ) in sulfate solution by mechanochemically activated serpentine. Z. Li, P. Huang, H. Hu, et al. 2020;258:127275. PubMed · Publisher

  Abstract

  Clay minerals are widely used to treat sewage containing heavy metals such as zinc and cadmium. In this study, the chemical reactivity of natural serpentine was signally improved through mechanochemical activation, achieving the efficient separation of Zn(Ⅱ) and Cd(Ⅱ) ions in a mixed solution. The activated serpentine would release a large amount of Mg2+ and OH- and thereby selectively precipitate Zn(Ⅱ) ions as an uncommon metamorphic zinc mineral, bechererite, in the presence of SO42-. By adjusting the parameters including grinding intensity, reaction temperature, serpentine dosage and salt species, the optimum conditions were determined and a 92% separation rate of Zn(Ⅱ) and Cd(Ⅱ) ions was achieved. The mechanochemical activation of natural clay minerals expresses a great potential for purification of heavy metal contaminated sewage, as well as the simultaneous separation and recovery of multi-metal secondary resources.

  Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

• Enhanced morphological transformation of human lung epithelial cells by continuous exposure to cellulose nanocrystals. E.R. Kisin, N. Yanamala, D. Rodin, et al. 2020;250:126170. PubMed · Publisher · Free full text

  Abstract

  Cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), also known as nanowhiskers, have recently gained much attention due to their biodegradable nature, advantageous chemical and mechanical properties, economic value and renewability thus making them attractive for a wide range of applications. However, before these materials can be considered for potential uses, investigation of their toxicity is prudent. Although CNC exposures are associated with pulmonary inflammation and damage as well as oxidative stress responses and genotoxicity in vivo, studies evaluating cell transformation or tumorigenic potential of CNC's were not previously conducted. In this study, we aimed to assess the neoplastic-like transformation potential of two forms of CNC derived from wood (powder and gel) in human pulmonary epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) in comparison to fibrous tremolite (TF), known to induce lung cancer. Short-term exposure to CNC or TF induced intracellular ROS increase and DNA damage while long-term exposure resulted in neoplastic-like transformation demonstrated by increased cell proliferation, anchorage-independent growth, migration and invasion. The increased proliferative responses were also in-agreement with observed levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Based on the hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA) of the inflammatory cytokine responses, CNC powder was segregated from the control and CNC-gel samples. This suggests that CNC may have the ability to influence neoplastic-like transformation events in pulmonary epithelial cells and that such effects are dependent on the type/form of CNC. Further studies focusing on determining and understanding molecular mechanisms underlying potential CNC cell transformation events and their likelihood to induce tumorigenic effects in vivo are highly warranted.

  Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

2010s

• Indoor release of asbestiform fibers from naturally contaminated water and related health risk. P. Roccaro, F.G.A. Vagliasindi. 2018;202:76-84. PubMed · Publisher

  Abstract

  This study investigates the occurrence of airborne asbestiform fibers released in indoor ambient due to the use of asbestos naturally contaminated water. Some experiments employed a laboratory physical model using an ultrasonic humidifier charged with contaminated groundwater. Other experiments were carried out at full scale to assess the release of asbestiform fibers during showering. Obtained results show that the concentration of the airborne asbestiform fibers released in the bathroom during showering is higher than the limit value set by the European and Italian Regulations, while the concentration of fibers released by the humidifier is much lower. However, it is noteworthy that the use of the humidifier at high exposure time results in similar health risk. Strong correlations were found between the concentration of the airborne asbestiform fibers and a novel surrogate parameter (i.e. the exposure-specific-water-consumption). These correlations can be used to monitor the asbestiform fibers concentration at varying operating conditions and therefore, to control the resulting health risk.

  Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

• Origin and fate of nanoparticles in marine water - Preliminary results. B. Graca, A. Zgrundo, D. Zakrzewska, et al. 2018;206:359-368. PubMed · Publisher

  Abstract

  The number, morphology and elemental composition of nanoparticles (<100 nm) in marine water was investigated using Variable Pressure Scanning Electron Microscopy (VP-SEM) and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Preliminary research conducted in the Baltic Sea showed that the number of nanoparticles in seawater varied from undetectable to 380 (x102) cm-3. Wind mixing and density barriers (thermocline) had a significant impact on the abundance and distribution of nanoparticles in water. Many more nanoparticles (mainly nanofibers) were detected in periods of intensive primary production and thermal stratification of water than at the end of the growing season and during periods of strong wind mixing. Temporal and spatial variability of nanoparticles as well as air mass trajectories indicated that the analysed nanofibers were both autochthonous and allochthonous (atmospheric), while the nanospheres were mainly autochthonous. Chemical composition of most of analysed nanoparticles indicates their autochthonous, natural (biogenic/geogenic) origin. Silica nanofibers (probably the remains of flagellates), nanofibers composed of manganese and iron oxides (probably of microbial origin), and pyrite nanospheres (probable formed in anoxic sediments), were all identified in the samples. Only asbestos nanofibers, which were also detected, are probably allochthonous and anthropogenic.

  Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

• Serpentine endophytic bacterium Pseudomonas azotoformans ASS1 accelerates phytoremediation of soil metals under drought stress. Y. Ma, M. Rajkumar, A. Moreno, et al. 2017;185:75-85. PubMed · Publisher

  Abstract

  This study evaluates the potential of serpentine endophytic bacterium to foster phytoremediation efficiency of Trifolium arvense grown on multi-metal (Cu, Zn and Ni) contaminated soils under drought stress. A drought resistant endophytic bacterial strain ASS1 isolated from the leaves of Alyssum serpyllifolium grown in serpentine soils was identified as Pseudomonas azotoformans based on biochemical tests and partial 16S rRNA gene sequencing. P. azotoformans ASS1 possessed abiotic stress resistance (heavy metals, drought, salinity, antibiotics and extreme temperature) and plant growth promoting (PGP) properties (phosphate solubilization, nitrogen fixation, production of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase, siderophore and ammonia). Inoculation of T. arvense with ASS1 considerably increased the plant biomass and leaf relative water content in both roll towel assay and pot experiments in the absence and presence of drought stress (DS). In the pot experiments, ASS1 greatly enhanced chlorophyll content, catalase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase activities, and proline content (only in the absence of drought) in plant leaves, whereas they decreased the concentrations of malondialdehyde. Irrespective of water stress, ASS1 significantly improved accumulation, total removal, bio-concentration factor and biological accumulation coefficient of metals (Cu, Zn and Ni), while decreased translocation factors of Cu. The effective colonization and survival in the rhizosphere and tissue interior assured improved plant growth and successful metal phytoremediation under DS. These results demonstrate the potential of serpentine endophytic bacterium ASS1 for protecting plants against abiotic stresses and helping plants to thrive in semiarid ecosystems and accelerate phytoremediation process in metal polluted soils.

  Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

• Serpentine soils affect heavy metal tolerance but not genetic diversity in a common Mediterranean ant. F. Frizzi, A. Masoni, M. Çelikkol, et al. 2017;180:326-334. PubMed · Publisher

  Abstract

  Natural habitats with serpentine soils are rich in heavy metal ions, which may significantly affect ecological communities. Exposure to metal pollutants results, for instance, in a reduction of population genetic diversity and a diffused higher tolerance towards heavy metals. In this study, we investigated whether chronic exposure to metals in serpentine soils affect accumulation patterns, tolerance towards metal pollutants, and genetic diversity in ants. In particular, we studied colonies of the common Mediterranean ant, Crematogaster scutellaris, along a contamination gradient consisting of two differently contaminated forests and a reference soil with no geogenic contamination. We first evaluated the metal content in both soil and ants' body. Then, we tested for tolerance towards metal pollutants by evaluating the mortality of ants fed with nickel (Ni) solutions of increasing concentrations. Finally, differences in genetic diversity among ants from different areas were assessed using eight microsatellite loci. Interestingly, a higher tolerance to nickel solutions was found in ants sampled in sites with intermediate levels of heavy metals. This may occur, because ants inhabiting strongly contaminated areas tend to accumulate higher amounts of contaminants. Additional ingestion of toxicants beyond the saturation threshold would lead to death. There was no difference in the genetic diversity among ant colonies sampled in different sites. This was probably the result of queen mediated gene flow during nuptial flights across uncontaminated and contaminated areas of limited geographical extent.

  Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

• Growth of carbon structures on chrysotile surface for organic contaminants removal from wastewater. B.R.S. Lemos, É.A.R. Soares, A.P.C. Teixeira, et al. 2016;159:602-609. PubMed · Publisher

  Abstract

  Amphiphilic magnetic composites were produced based on chrysotile mineral and carbon structures by chemical vapor deposition at different temperatures (600-900 °C) and cobalt as catalyst. The materials were characterized by elemental analysis, X-ray diffraction, vibrating sample magnetometry, adsorption and desorption of N2, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electronic microscopy, and thermal analysis showed an effective growth of carbon structures in all temperatures. It was observed that at 800 and 900 °C, a large amount of carbon structures are formed with fewer defects than at 600 and 700 °C, what contributes to their stability. In addition, the materials present magnetic phases that are important for their application as catalysts and adsorbents. The materials have shown to be very active to remove the oil dispersed in a real sample of emulsified wastewater from biodiesel production and to remove methylene blue by adsorption and oxidation via heterogeneous Fenton mechanism.

  Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

• Stability of mineral fibres in contact with human cell cultures. An in situ μXANES, μXRD and XRF iron mapping study. S. Pollastri, A.F. Gualtieri, R. Vigliaturo, et al. 2016;164:547-557. PubMed · Publisher

  Abstract

  Relevant mineral fibres of social and economic importance (chrysotile UICC, crocidolite UICC and a fibrous erionite from Jersey, Nevada, USA) were put in contact with cultured diploid human non-tumorigenic bronchial epithelial (Beas2B) and pleural transformed mesothelial (MeT5A) cells to test their cytotoxicity. Slides of each sample at different contact times up to 96 h were studied in situ using synchrotron XRF, μ-XRD and μ-XAS (I18 beamline, Diamond Light Source, UK) and TEM investigations. XRF maps of samples treated for 96 h evidenced that iron is still present within the chrysotile and crocidolite fibres and retained at the surface of the erionite fibres, indicating its null to minor mobilization in contact with cell media; this picture was confirmed by the results of XANES pre-edge analyses. μ-XRD and TEM data indicate greater morphological and crystallinity modifications occurring in chrysotile, whereas crocidolite and erionite show to be resistant in the biological environment. The contact of chrysotile with the cell cultures seems to lead to earlier amorphization, interpreted as the first dissolution step of these fibres. The formation of such silica-rich fibre skeleton may prompt the production of HO in synergy with surface iron species and could indicate that chrysotile may be much more reactive and cytotoxic in vitro in the (very) short term whereas the activity of crocidolite and erionite would be much more sluggish but persistent in the long term.

  Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

• Metal toxicity and biodiversity in serpentine soils: application of bioassay tests and microarthropod index. G. Visioli, C. Menta, C. Gardi, et al. 2013;90(3):1267-73. PubMed · Publisher

  Abstract

  Eco-toxicological or bioassay tests have been intensively discussed as tools for the evaluation of soil quality. Tests using soil organisms, including microarthropods and plants, allow direct estimates to be made of important soil characteristics and functions. In this study we compared the results obtained by two in vitro standard bioassays following ISO or OECD guidelines: (i) the short term-chronic phytotoxicity germination and root elongation test using three different plant species Cucumis sativus L. (Cucurbitaceae), Lepidium sativum L. (Brassicaceae), and Medicago sativa L. (Fabaceae) and (ii) the inhibition of reproduction of Folsomia candida (Collembola) by soil pollutants to investigate the toxicity of a serpentine soil present in the Italian Apennines, rich in heavy metals such as Ni, Cr, and Co. In addition, microarthropod communities were characterised to evaluate the effects of metal contents on the soil fauna in natural conditions. Abundances, Acari/Collembola ratio, biodiversity indices and the QBS-ar index were calculated. Our results demonstrate that the two in vitro tests distinguish differences correlated with metal and organic matter contents in four sub-sites within the serpentinite. Soil fauna characterisation, not previously performed on serpentine soils, revealed differences in the most vulnerable and adapted groups of microarthropods to soil among the four sub-sites: the microarthropod community was found to be rich in term of biodiversity in the sub-site characterised by a lower metal content and a higher organic matter content and vegetation.

  Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

2000s

• Monitoring and identification of airborne asbestos in unorganized sectors, India. F.A. Ansari, I. Ahmad, M. Ashquin, et al. 2007;68(4):716-23. PubMed · Publisher

  Abstract

  Rajasthan state in India is credited to cater more than 90% of total production of asbestos in this country, of which around 60% is processed there in unorganized sectors including milling and manufacturing of asbestos-based products. Unorganized asbestos units particularly mills showed unhealthy occupational conditions, therefore industrial hygiene study was carried out focusing on the prevalence of asbestos fibres in air at work zone area of asbestos milling units. Fibre levels were in the range of 2.00-5.09f/cm(3) and 4.07-15.60f/cm(3) in unorganized asbestos mills of Rajasthan located at Beawer and Deogarh districts, respectively. Like asbestos concentration, fibre type and length are also vital factors in the health risk assessment of industrial workers. Phase contrast and polarized light microscopic study of asbestos fibres showed their amphibole nature registering about 90% as tremolite and rest as anthophyllite. Fibre length measured micrometrically were sub-grouped in <10microm, 11-20microm, 21-30microm and >30microm. About 30-40% fibres belonged to sub-group <10microm. It is concluded that unorganized asbestos mills bear poor industrial unhygienic conditions reflected specifically from their manyfold higher fibre concentrations than the Indian and International standards. Poor industrial unhygienic conditions are attributable to obsolete milling technology, lack of pollution control devices and escape from regulatory control.

• A study of silicon carbide synthesis from waste serpentine. T.W. Cheng, C.W. Hsu. 2006;64(3):510-4. PubMed · Publisher

  Abstract

  There are 60000 tons of serpentine wastes produced in year 2004 in Taiwan. This is due to the well-developed joints in the serpentine ore body as well as the stringent requirements of the particle size and chemical composition of serpentine by iron making company. The waste also creates considerable environmental problems. The purpose of this study is reutilization of waste serpentine to produce a high value silica powder after acid leaching. These siliceous microstructure products obtained from serpentine would be responsible for high reactivity and characteristic molecular sieving effect. In this study, the amorphous silica powder was then synthesized to silicon carbide with the C/SiO(2) molar ratio of 3. The experiment results show that silicon carbide can be synthesized in 1550 degrees C. The formed silicon carbide was whisker beta type SiC which can be used as raw materials for industry.

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