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Concern over the potential negative ecological effects of steroid hormones from human- and animal-derived wastes has resulted in an increased interest regarding the mobility and persistence of these compounds in the environment. Batch experiments were conducted to examine the simultaneous sorption and dissipation of three reproductive hormones (testosterone, 17beta-estradiol, and 17alpha-ethynyl estradiol) in four midwestern U.S. soils and one freshwater sediment. Sorption isotherms were generated by measuring aqueous concentrations and by extracting the sorbed parent chemical or transformation products (e.g., estrone, androstenedione). Apparent sorption equilibrium is reached within a few hours. Measured sorption isotherms for the three parent chemicals and their principal transformation products were generally linear. Average organic carbon normalized sorption coefficients (K(oc)) resulted in standard deviations of less than 0.2 log units and were consistent with reported aqueous solubilites and octanol-water partition coefficients, indicating hydrophobic partitioning as the dominant sorption mechanism. Large log K(oc) values (approximately 3-4) suggest that leaching from soils will be limited, runoff of soil- and land-applied biosolids are the most likely inputs into surface waters, and that a significant fraction of these compounds will be associated with sediments. Half-lives for hormone dissipation in the aerobic soil and sediment slurries estimated assuming pseudo first-order processes ranged from a few hours to a few days with testosterone having the shortest half-life.

Application of nanomaterials for agriculture is relatively new as compared to their use in biomedical and industrial sectors. In order to promote sustainable nanoagriculture, biocompatible silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been synthesized through green route using kaffir lime leaf extract for use as nanopriming agent for enhancing seed germination of rice aged seeds. Results of various characterization techniques showed the successful formation of AgNPs which were capped with phytochemicals present in the plant extract. Rice aged seeds primed with phytosynthesized AgNPs at 5 and 10 ppm significantly improved germination performance and seedling vigor compared to unprimed control, AgNO3 priming, and conventional hydropriming. Nanopriming could enhance α-amylase activity, resulting in higher soluble sugar content for supporting seedlings growth. Furthermore, nanopriming stimulated the up-regulation of aquaporin genes in germinating seeds. Meanwhile, more ROS production was observed in germinating seeds of nanopriming treatment compared to unprimed control and other priming treatments, suggesting that both ROS and aquaporins play important roles in enhancing seed germination. Different mechanisms underlying nanopriming-induced seed germination were proposed, including creation of nanopores for enhanced water uptake, rebooting ROS/antioxidant systems in seeds, generation of hydroxyl radicals for cell wall loosening, and nanocatalyst for fastening starch hydrolysis.

Soil contamination with heavy metals and organic pollutants has increasingly become a serious global environmental issue in recent years. Considerable efforts have been made to remediate contaminated soils. Biochar has a large surface area, and high capacity to adsorb heavy metals and organic pollutants. Biochar can potentially be used to reduce the bioavailability and leachability of heavy metals and organic pollutants in soils through adsorption and other physicochemical reactions. Biochar is typically an alkaline material which can increase soil pH and contribute to stabilization of heavy metals. Application of biochar for remediation of contaminated soils may provide a new solution to the soil pollution problem. This paper provides an overview on the impact of biochar on the environmental fate and mobility of heavy metals and organic pollutants in contaminated soils and its implication for remediation of contaminated soils. Further research directions are identified to ensure a safe and sustainable use of biochar as a soil amendment for remediation of contaminated soils.

Sulfonylureas are a unique group of herbicides used for controlling a range of weeds and some grasses in a variety of crops and vegetables. They have been extremely popular worldwide because of their low mammalian toxicity, low use rate, and unprecedented herbicidal activity. Knowledge about the fate and behavior of sulfonylurea herbicides in the soil-water environment appears to be of utmost importance for agronomic systems and environmental protection. Because these herbicides are applied at a very low rate, and their mobility is greatly affected by the chemicals' anionic nature in alkaline soils, a thorough understanding of their degradation/hydrolysis processes and mechanisms under aqueous and soil systems is important. This review brings together published information on the hydrolysis of several sulfonylureas in aqueous and soil solutions that includes the effects of pH, temperature, functional relationship between pH vs hydrolysis rate constants, and hydrolysis behavior of sulfonylureas in the presence of minerals. In addition, the transformations of sulfonylureas in soil, under laboratory and field experiments, have been discussed in connection with the compounds' varied structural features, i.e., sulfonylueas that are with or without the pyridinic, pyrimidine, and triazinic ring.

The presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in water and wastewater has recently been reported. According to the updated literature, the stools and masks of the patients diagnosed with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were considered as the primary route of coronavirus transmission into water and wastewater. Most of coronavirus types which attract human (possible for SARS-CoV-2) are often inactivated rapidly in water (i.e., the survival of human coronavirus 229E in water being seven days at 23 °C). However, the survival period of coronavirus in water and wastewater strongly depends on temperature, kinds of wastewater, concentration of suspended solids and organic matter, solution pH, and the dose of disinfectant used. The World Health Organization has claimed that the current disinfection process of drinking water could effectively inactivate most of the bacterial and viral communities present in water, especially SARS-CoV-2 (more sensitive to disinfectant like free chlorine). A recent study confirmed that SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in inflow wastewater (but not detected in outflow one). Although the existence of SARS-CoV-2 in the water influent has been confirmed, an important question is whether it can survive or infect after the disinfection process of drinking water. To date, there is one study confirming that the infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 in water for people was null based on the absence of cytopathic effect (CPE) in infectivity tests. Therefore, further studies should focus on the survival of SARS-CoV-2 in water and wastewater under different operational conditions (i.e., temperature and water matrix) and whether the transmission from COVID-19-contaminated water to human is an emerging concern. Although paper-based devices have been suggested for detecting traces of SARS-CoV-2 in water, the protocols and appropriate devices should be developed soon. Wastewater and sewage workers should follow the procedures for safety precaution against SARS-CoV-2 exposure.

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