Urban parks are an important part of the urban ecological environment. The environmental quality of parks is related to human health. To evaluate sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in ...soils of urban parks and their possible health risks, soil samples from 122 parks in Beijing, China, were collected and analyzed. The total content of 16 PAHs between 0.066 and 6.867 mg/kg. Four-ring PAHs were predominant, followed by 5-ring PAHs, while the fraction of 2-ring PAHs was the lowest. The dominant PAHs sources were found to be coal combustion and oil fuels such as gasoline and diesel. A conditional inference tree (CIT) was used to identify the key influencing factors for PAHs. Traffic emissions was the most important factor, followed by coal consumption, as well as the history and location of the park. Incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) for urban park soil in Beijing were low under normal conditions. The soil PAHs exposure pathway risk for both children and adults decreased in the following order: ingestion > dermal contact > inhalation. The risk from soil in parks to children’s health is slightly higher than that of adults, although the health risk due to exposure to PAHs was not extraordinary. Ecosystem risk was negligible.
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•PAHs concentrations were lower than national soil standards (GB36600-2018).•Vehicular emissions and pyrogenic source were found to be the main sources.•Traffic emission was suggested to be the primary key factor according to CIT.
Traffic emission was the key influencing factor influencing PAHs accumulation in soils of urban parks in Beijing.
Urban parks play an important role in the urban ecosystem and are also used by residents for recreation. The environmental quality of urban park soils might influence human health following long-term ...exposure. To assess potential sources and pollution risks of heavy metal(loid)s in the topsoil of urban parks, we subjected metal concentrations in soil samples from 121 parks in the Beijing urban area to geostatistical analyses, conditional inference tree (CIT) analyses, ecological risk and human health risk assessment. CIT effectively explained the influence of human activity on the spatial variation and accumulation of soil metal(loid)s and identified the contributions of natural and anthropogenic inputs. The main factors influencing the accumulation of heavy metal(loid)s, including urbanization duration, park age, per capita GDP, industrial output, and coal consumption, were evaluated by CIT. Except for Cr and Ni, the average concentrations of the metal(loid)s tested (Cu, Pb, Zn, Hg, As, and Cd) were higher than the background values. In the urban parks, Ni and Cr derived mostly from soil parent materials. Concentrations of Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, As, and Hg were strongly associated with human influences, including industrial, agricultural, and traffic activity. After assessing health and ecological risks, we conclude that heavy metal(loid)s in the soil of Beijing urban parks pose no obvious health risk to humans, and the ecological risk is also low.
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•Urban park’s soil environment qualities in Beijing are good in general.•CIT was used to identify the key influence factors on heavy metals accumulation.•Duration of urbanization is an important factor affecting the accumulation of metal(loid)s.•Health and ecological risks resulted from exposure to soil heavy metal(loid)s are low.
Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, located in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) core region, are the most economically developed regions in China, as well as the areas with serious soil pollution. The ...concentrations, sources, and distributions of heavy metal(loid)s in agricultural soils of the two provinces were studied; positive matrix factorization model (PMF) analysis and kriging interpolation were combined to compare the pollution characteristics of heavy metal(loid)s. The results showed that the degree of accumulation might be more serious in Zhejiang province than in Jiangsu province, especially in terms of Cd, Hg, and Pb. PMF results showed anthropogenic activities were the dominant factors affecting the concentrations of soil heavy metal(loid)s. The contributions of the three sources in Jiangsu province were 40.28% natural and traffic sources, 37.49% agricultural sources, and 22.22% industrial and coal combustion sources. The contributions of the three sources in Zhejiang province were 43.45% agricultural and industrial sources, 32.15% natural sources, and 24.40% industrial sources. The kriging interpolation results of the two provinces showed that the concentrations of As, Cr, and Ni were significantly higher in Jiangsu province than in Zhejiang province; the concentrations of Cu were similar in the two provinces, while other heavy metals had higher concentrations in Zhejiang province. These accumulations of heavy metal(loid)s in agricultural soil in both provinces cannot be ignored. This work will contribute to the development of effective policies aimed at protecting the soil environment from long-term accumulation of heavy metal(loid)s.
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•Heavy metal(loid)s concentrations in agricultural soils of YRD varied greatly.•Heavy metal(loid)s accumulation degree was more serious in Zhejiang Province.•Anthropogenic activities influenced heavy metal(loid)s accumulation in soils.
To investigate the status of organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) in indoor dust in China, published scientific studies were systematically collected and analyzed. The analysis revealed large ...variations among microenvironments, including offices (median: 14.59 μg/g) and e-waste workshops (median: 13.36 μg/g), with high levels of OPFRs contamination. Chlorinated organophosphate ester flame retardants (Cl-OPFRs) were the dominant OPFRs (52–75%) in most indoor dust samples; however, in e-waste workshops, aryl- and alkyl-OPFRs were the most abundant. As an alternative flame retardant to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), OPFRs concentrations have increased in recent years in indoor environments in China. Urban sources are of greatest concern: Shanghai (mean: 13.54 μg/g), Guangzhou (mean: 10.76 μg/g), and Beijing (mean: 9.37 μg/g) have high ΣOPFRs contamination levels in indoor dust. Compared to other countries, the OPFRs concentrations in indoor dust in all studied microenvironments from China (median: 8.81 μg/g) were low. The estimated daily intakes of ΣOPFRs by dust ingestion for adults and children were 2.12 and 11.06 ng/kg/body weight/day (average), respectively. Human exposure to OPFRs through the accidental intake of indoor dust does not pose a direct health risk to the Chinese population. However, indoor dust ingestion is an important route for human exposure to OPFRs.
•OPFRs concentrations increased in indoor environments of China in recent years.•OPFRs concentrations in indoor dust of offices and e-waste workshops were higher.•Cl-OPFRs were the predominant components of OPFRs in indoor dust of China.•Indoor dust ingestion is an important route for human exposure to OPFRs.
The presented article focuses on demonstrating the application of data science and its prospect in China’s agriculture system. Applying machine learning in atmospheric science, data scientists could ...recreate the historical data, building relationships between the available data and the relative predictors. Therefore, inputting the relative variables like climate data, wind, and pollution, scientists could forecast the incoming weather and accurately predict the future yield. Moreover, data science helps farmers detect the soil quality, seeking for feasible ways to improve it. Thus, Data science is of great practical significance to the sustainable development and stable high yield of China’s agricultural system.
The pollution situation of antimony (Sb), beryllium (Be), cobalt (Co), and vanadium (V) is poorly understood, although they are widely used in daily life and production processes. Moreover, threshold ...levels (“soil environmental criteria”, SEC) for these pollutants are lacking in China, which impedes effective soil quality management. This study explored pollution characteristics for park soils in urban area of Beijing, China at first. Then multivariate statistical analysis and machine learning model were used to identify the main sources of pollutants. Additionally, probabilistic health risk and SEC were studied to assess the risks of pollutants and manage soil pollutants. The results revealed that the overall pollution levels of Be, Co, Sb, and V were low, but Be and Sb were enriched to varying degrees. Source apportionment showed that Sb (85.5%) was mainly derived from fuel combustion and industrial legacy, Co (66.7%) and V (82.5%) from natural processes, and Be from the natural background (39.3%) and anthropogenic sources (53.8%). Risk assessment indicated that the pollutants' carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic risks were negligible. Exposure frequency and soil ingestion rate were the most important parameters affecting health risks. The SEC of Be, Co, Sb, and V were 31, 39.7, 41.3, and 348 mg/kg, respectively, all of which are higher than the corresponding soil quality standards in China, indicating that current soil quality standards may be too conservative for urban park land. This study provides a reference for the management of soil pollutants in Beijing's urban parks, and the formulation of soil environmental quality standards.
•Combining receptor model and ML model is a useful source apportionment method.•Soil environmental criteria of antimony, beryllium, cobalt and vanadium were derived.•Fuel combustion and natural sources are the main sources of pollutants in this study.•Noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic risks of Be, Co, Sb and V are negligible.
We present high‐resolution 3D images of the crustal S‐wave velocity structure beneath northeastern Tibet, via ambient noise imaging techniques. The data come from continuous recordings taken in one ...year by a seismic array consisting of 366 broadband stations in the study region. The results show a substantial and pervasive middle crust low‐velocity structure (<3.4 km/s) beneath the plateau region, which partially protrudes northeastward across the West Qinling fault, reflecting channel flow from inside the plateau and material extrusion in the periphery. The growth of the northeastern Tibetan Plateau in the study region is manifested in its northeastward expansion and thickening driven by crustal channel flow, accompanied with upper crust shortening.
Plain Language Summary
The growth mechanisms of the Tibetan Plateau (TP) have been considered controversial for decades. Expansion of the northeastern TP and the interaction with its peripheral area have become of major interest to researchers. In this study, we present a high‐resolution 3D image of the crustal S‐wave velocity structure beneath this area by analyzing the continuous ambient noise data recoded by a dense seismic array via ambient noise imaging techniques. The results show a substantial and pervasive middle crust low‐velocity structure beneath the plateau region, which partially protrudes northeastward across the West Qinling fault, reflecting channel flow from inside the plateau and material extrusion in the periphery. The channel flow slows down gradually with its outward protrusion. The upper and lower crust is decoupled. In addition to the crustal channel flow, upper crust shortening takes part in the growth of the northeastern Tibet.
Key Points
High‐resolution 3D crustal shear‐wave velocity images beneath the northeastern Tibetan margin via ambient noise imaging techniques
Substantial and pervasive middle crustal channel flow is found beneath the northeastern Tibet
The northeastward expansion of the northeastern Tibet is driven by crustal channel flow, accompanied with upper crust shortening
Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) are two incretins that bind to their respective receptors and activate the downstream signaling in various ...tissues and organs. Both GIP and GLP-1 play roles in regulating food intake by stimulating neurons in the brain’s satiety center. They also stimulate insulin secretion in pancreatic β-cells, but their effects on glucagon production in pancreatic α-cells differ, with GIP having a glucagonotropic effect during hypoglycemia and GLP-1 exhibiting glucagonostatic effect during hyperglycemia. Additionally, GIP directly stimulates lipogenesis, while GLP-1 indirectly promotes lipolysis, collectively maintaining healthy adipocytes, reducing ectopic fat distribution, and increasing the production and secretion of adiponectin from adipocytes. Together, these two incretins contribute to metabolic homeostasis, preventing both hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia, mitigating dyslipidemia, and reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases in individuals with type 2 diabetes and obesity. Several GLP-1 and dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonists have been developed to harness these pharmacological effects in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, with some demonstrating robust effectiveness in weight management and prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Elucidating the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms could potentially usher in the development of new generations of incretin mimetics with enhanced efficacy and fewer adverse effects. The treatment guidelines are evolving based on clinical trial outcomes, shaping the management of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases.
The level of concentration of heavy metal (loids) in tobacco-growing soils is detrimental to soil quality. In this study, 256 topsoil samples were collected from Zunyi city to understand the ...concentration, spatial distribution characteristics, sources and health risks of heavy metal (loids) by using mathematical statistics, geostatistical analyst, and conditional inference tree (CIT). The results showed that the average contents of Hg, Pb, Zn, and Cd in tobacco-growing soils were high with 1.7, 1.2, 1.1 and 1 times the background value, respectively. While, Ni, Cr, Cu and As were temporarily within the permissible limits. Concentrations of Hg, Cd, Pb, and Zn in the soils of Wuchuan, Tongzi, Daozhen, and Yuqing were much higher than the other regions due to human activities. According to the CIT, the main nodes were 1) distance from sampling to the main road, 2) organic matter, 3) factories, and 4) soil types. The results indicated that for Pb and Zn, the sources of pollution might be transportation; for Cu, As, and Cd, the sources were utilization of phosphate, tobacco-specific fertilizers, and organic fertilizers; and the sources of Hg were coal combustion and metals smelting. In addition, high background values of heavy metal (loids) in karst landforms were responsible for the accumulation of Cd. With respect to Hazard Quotient and Lifelong Carcinogenic Risk, the exposed individual was unlikely to experience obvious adverse health effect due to the heavy metal (loids) pollution, except Cr, which should be particularly considered in further risk control.
•Soil in karst areas of southern China had high background value of Cd.•Human activities were important external sources of heavy metal (loids) to soil.•Health risks resulted from Cr exposure in soils should be taken into concern.
We collected continuous ambient noise data recorded between 2014 and 2015 at 288 broadband stations. Phase velocity maps of Rayleigh waves are constructed from 2 to 35 s periods. Combining phase ...dispersions at long periods (40, 45, 50, 55, and 60 s) obtained from earthquake data, we construct a three‐dimensional crustal S‐wave velocity (Vs) model with a lateral resolution of ∼20 km beneath the Qilian orogenic belt (QLOB) and its surrounding areas. The velocity structure above 20 km is constrained by faults and agrees well with subblocks. The middle‐lower crustal shear wave velocity in the QLOB is relatively low and has an unevenly distributed low‐velocity zone (LVZ, Vs < 3.4 km/s) at depths of 20–40 km, while that in the Alxa block is normal except for a narrow region protruding through the Longshou Shan. Deformation of the upper and lower crust in the QLOB is decoupled, and the growth of northern Tibet occurs through ductile lower crustal thickening and upper crustal overthrusting. The emergence of the mid‐crust LVZ in the QLOB could be due to high heat flow, more felsic composition of the mid‐lower crust, and especially shear heating. The weak lower crust from the QLOB to the Alxa block through the Longshou Shan is conducive to the expansion of the plateau, and the active front of northern Tibet is north of the Longshou Shan.
Plain Language Summary
The magnificent Tibetan Plateau (TP) was formed by the collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates during the Cenozoic. Although various models of TP uplift have been proposed, the growth and lateral expansion of the northern TP remain uncertain. The Qilian orogenic belt (QLOB), as the young edge of the TP, has become of major interest to researchers. In this study, we obtain a high‐resolution 3‐D image of the crustal S‐wave velocity (Vs) structure in the QLOB and its surrounding areas using continuous ambient noise data recoded by a dense seismic array via an ambient noise imaging technique. The results show that the middle‐lower crustal shear wave velocity in the QLOB is relatively low and has an unevenly distributed low‐velocity zone (Vs < 3.4 km/s) at depths of 20–40 km, while that in the Alxa block is normal except for the narrow region protruding through the Longshou Shan. The results shed new light on the crustal structure in the study area and improve our understanding of the growth of northern Tibet.
Key Points
High‐resolution 3‐D crustal shear wave velocity images beneath the Qilian orogenic belt are obtained via ambient noise imaging
The growth of northern Tibet in the crust occurs through ductile lower crustal thickening and upper crustal overthrusting
The active front of northern Tibet is north of the Longshou Shan
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