Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences

Enhanced photocatalytic removal of tetracycline hydrochloride and Cu2+ by the integrated CoFe2O4/g-C3N4 composite and rotating magnetic field system

The widespread occurrence of antibiotics and heavy metals in aquatic environments poses significant risks to ecosystems and human health, yet conventional treatment methods often suffer from incomplete mineralization and limited removal efficiency. An integrated CoFe 2 O 4 /g-C 3...

Plant litter promotes nitrate–sulfate co-removal in constructed wetlands: DOM dynamics and metagenomic insights into carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur transformations

Plant litter is a low-cost carbon source for constructed wetlands (CWs), but its effectiveness and associated microbial mechanisms in nitrate–sulfate co-contaminated wastewater remains insufficiently understood. This study evaluated cattail and reed litters as in situ carbon sour...

Spatiotemporal Patterns and Driving Factors of Water Self-Purification Capacity in the Source Area of the Western Route of the South-to-North Water Diversion

The water self-purification capacity in the source area of the Western Route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project of China was investigated. This research aimed to promote the coordinated development of water source protection and water diversion benefits. Based on water...

Balancing emission reduction and regulatory burden under inspection limits for diesel fleets

Effectively regulating in-use vehicle emissions requires methods that can identify high-impact emitters within heterogeneous vehicle fleets. This study develops a vehicle-level NOx accounting method based on inspection data, converting measured NOx concentrations into estimated e...

Intensifying compound drought–heatwave events weaken ecosystem water-use efficiency in the Nile River Basin

Climate warming has intensified compound drought–heatwave (CDHW) events worldwide, posing growing threats to ecosystem carbon–water dynamics. However, the impacts of CDHWs on ecosystem water-use efficiency (WUE), particularly event sequencing, drought memory, and climatic heterog...

Light absorption properties and composition of water-soluble brown carbon in North China Plain: implication for an enhancing role of nitrogenous organic compounds

Abstract. Brown carbon (BrC), an efficiently light-absorbing carbonaceous aerosol, exerts significant impacts on the global energy budget and regional climate, attracting growing scientific attention. To advance understanding of the spatial variability of atmospheric BrC and its...

Ultrarobust, Rapidly Recoverable Superhydrophobic Coatings with Self-Similar Micro/Nanostructures and Reinforced Interface for Aluminum Alloy Protection

Abstract In the field of aluminum alloy protection, constructing durable superhydrophobic coatings through a simple strategy is always a great challenge. Here, we report a functional coating with high mechanical robustness and superhydrophobic recoverability, composed of 1H, 1H,...

Wetland restoration enhances ecological quality in urbanizing regions

Abstract Introduction Rapid urbanization and climate change drive widespread wetland degradation, yet it remains unclear whether wetland restoration improves ecological quality (EQ), a composite indicator reflecting vegetation, thermal, hydrological, environmental, and soil condi...

Hydrothermal carbonization process waters: Linking composition with recovery, recirculation, and treatment routes

Hydrothermal carbonization process waters (HTC PWs) contain feedstock-derived carbon, nutrients, dissolved ions, and potentially recoverable organics, but also inhibitory and poorly biodegradable fractions. This review links feedstock composition and HTC conditions to PW composit...

Grassland soil bulk density decreases under grazing exclusion and responds asymmetrically to altered precipitation

Soil structure is a key determinant of grassland health and functioning, with bulk density serving as a widely used proxy. Grazing exclusion is a common restoration practice that often reduces soil bulk density in grasslands by restoring plant productivity and removing livestock...

Coupled fate and cascading risks of PFAS and heavy metals/metalloids along the soil-plant-human continuum: A critical review

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and heavy metals/metalloids frequently co-occur in soils at industrial, e-waste and fire-training sites and in biosolid- or wastewater-affected agricultural systems. Yet their coupled fate and cascading risks along the soil–plant–human c...

Synergistic 1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium Trifluoromethanesulfonate and Sodium Percarbonate Pretreatment for Enhanced Medium-Chain Fatty Acid Recovery from Waste-Activated Sludge: Mechanisms and Microbial Insights

Abstract Medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) offer a sustainable route for valorizing waste-activated sludge (WAS) into higher-value products, yet their bioproduction is constrained by the rigid extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) barrier and inefficient chain elongation (CE). H...

A physics-informed spatiotemporal downscaling model for kilometer-scale hourly humid heat stress indices

High-resolution humid heat stress indices, characterizing the interactive physiological effects of temperature and humidity, are vital for precision heat-health assessment and climate adaptation. However, existing coarse-resolution datasets smooth fine-scale spatial heterogeneity...

Assessing ecosystem service values responses to livelihood transitions in an Arid Mountain–Oasis–Desert system

Balancing ecological conservation and rural livelihoods represents a critical challenge in arid social-ecological systems. Livelihood transitions among agropastoral households strongly influence the area allocated to different land-use types, thereby shaping regional ecosystem se...

Unveiling the new round of trade-in policies in China: an “objectives-tools-targets” analysis framework

Trade-in policies play an important role in advancing sustainable consumption in China, but their sustained effectiveness still faces obstacles. This study constructs a trade-in policy mix analysis framework, which integrates the three dimensions of policy objectives, tools and t...

Spontaneous ChlorineGeneration via Interfacial Oxidationof Chloride by O2 on Acidic Microdroplets

Abstract Reactive chlorine species significantly influence atmospheric chemistry, yet their sources remain inadequately defined. We have discovered a spontaneous formation pathway for substantial molecular chlorine (Cl2) from the oxidation of chloride (Cl–) through interfacial ox...

From raw to cooked: The impact of cooking on bioaccessibility and health risks of toxic elements in leafy vegetables

Environmental policies in China have significantly reduced toxic element fluxes in soil and air, but slower declines in atmospheric toxic element flux have increased its relative contribution to crop contamination. Leafy vegetables, with their large surface area and high capacity...

Multi-Level Characteristics of Consumption-Driven Virtual Water Flows: Sustainability Insights from the Pearl River Delta Urban Agglomeration

Urban agglomerations rely on both direct physical water intake and substantial virtual water embedded in cross-regional traded commodities and services to meet water demand. It is important to analyze the complex virtual water flows in urban agglomerations to advance sustainable...

Spatial-Economic Assessment of Biomass Supply Chains Under Land Fragmentation

Taking Lankao County as a case study, this study extends the established StrawFeed framework by linking NHPI-derived harvest dates to spatially differentiated straw release and seasonal equipment scheduling. Time-series Sentinel-2 observations were used to characterize harvest ti...

Dual-Spatial-Scale Assessment of Watershed Water Yield Responses to Land-Use Change in the Upper Yangtze River Basin

Understanding how land change affects water yield is essential for sustainable land management and water security. However, previous studies often rely on a single model or spatial scale, limiting their ability to capture fine-scale land-surface heterogeneity and basin-integrated...