Many factors influence the fate of pharmaceutical residues in the soil

Eötvös Loránd University

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A comprehensive Hungarian study has revealed that the behavior of pharmaceutical residues in soil does not depend on a single factor, but is shaped by several interacting processes. The researchers emphasized that, based on their findings, it would be worth revising current practices for assessing soil quality.

Many people have already heard about the problem of pharmaceutical residues in drinking water, but it is perhaps less well known that the medicines we use frequently can also leave traces in the soil. This can pose a serious challenge for agriculture and, in the long run, may also affect human health. But what determines whether these residues remain in place, become bound to soil particles, or move further through the environment?

Pharmaceutical residues such as carbamazepine (an antiepileptic drug), diclofenac (a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory), and the estrogen derivative 17α-ethinylestradiol can enter the environment in various ways — for instance, through treated or untreated wastewater, irrigation, or the application of sewage sludge. Their fate is primarily determined by the factors acting upon them in the soil, which influence their sorption.

The main concern is that, through sorption, these substances can accumulate locally, posing a risk to agricultural crops, as plants may take up the residues together with nutrients — potentially allowing these compounds to enter the food chain.

Researchers from Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) and the HUN-REN network have recently demonstrated what determines whether these compounds bind to soil or become mobilized, and how root exudates, organic matter, and temperature influence these processes.

The first study examined the effect of organic acids produced during root exudation on the sorption of three pharmaceutical residues. The experiments showed that low-molecular-weight organic acids can enhance the sorption of the pharmaceutical residues carbamazepine and diclofenac, leading to their accumulation in the topsoil. This effect is particularly pronounced in soils with low organic matter content, since in organic-rich soils, the high sorption capacity of organic matter would otherwise dominate the sorption dynamics. In contrast, the estrogen derivative showed strong binding to soil particles even in the absence of organic acids.

Because the concentration of organic acids in the rhizosphere changes over time, pharmaceutical residues may remain near plant roots for varying periods — a factor that can ultimately influence how much of these substances enter plants and, in the long run, the food chain.

The second study investigated how temperature affects the behavior of pharmaceutical residues in the rhizosphere. The results revealed that temperature fundamentally determines the energetic relationships between soil and pharmaceutical molecules — that is, whether adsorption (binding) or desorption (release) becomes dominant. While diclofenac exhibited more stable sorption under warmer conditions, the estrogen derivative and lidocaine tended to bind more strongly in cooler soils. The simultaneous presence of multiple pharmaceutical residues further complicated these thermodynamic interactions. The research clearly demonstrated that temperature-dependent thermodynamic equilibrium is one of the key factors governing the environmental fate of pharmaceutical residues.

Building on the previous two studies, the third investigation focused on the temporal dynamics of interactions between soil organic matter transformations and micropollutants. The researchers found that the decomposition of soil organic matter plays a decisive role in determining the persistence and mobility of pharmaceutical residues. According to the results, pharmaceutical molecules behave quite differently at the beginning of the growing season compared to the end, when the composition of soil organic matter has already changed. The study highlights that the environmental risk posed by pharmaceutical residues varies over time; therefore, the state of soil organic matter must always be considered when collecting samples.

Taken together, the results of the three studies paint an important picture: the behavior of pharmaceutical residues in soil is not determined by a single factor, but by multiple interacting processes. Root-derived organic acids can increase sorption within a short time, the decomposition of organic matter reshapes adsorption mechanisms over the course of months, while temperature continuously influences the equilibrium of sorption processes.

This complexity means that environmental risk assessments cannot rely solely on isolated laboratory parameters or single-point measurements. Instead, they require long-term evaluations that account for changing environmental conditions. Only through such an integrated approach can we truly understand the risks that pharmaceutical residues in soil pose to ecosystems — and ultimately, to human health.

 

Main contributors to the research

László Bauer
Doctoral student and lecturer, Department of Environmental and Landscape Geography, Faculty of Science, Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE), member of the Environmental Geography Research Group
Research Assistant, Institute of Geography, HUN-REN Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences, member of the Physical Geography Research Group

Lili Szabó
Lecturer, Department of Environmental and Landscape Geography, Faculty of Science, Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE), member of the Environmental Geography Research Group
Research Fellow, Institute of Geography, HUN-REN Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences, member of the Physical Geography Research Group

Zoltán Szalai
Associate Professor, Department of Environmental and Landscape Geography, Faculty of Science, Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE), head of the Environmental Geography Research Group
Senior Research Fellow and Head of the Physical Geography Research Group, Institute of Geography, HUN-REN Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences
Head of the SEDILAB Laboratory

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Journal

Journal of Environmental Management

DOI

10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.127492 

Article Title

Soil organic matter decomposition as a key driver of pharmaceutical retention

 

New deep learning model enhances roadside air pollutant forecasting accuracy

Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences

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Schematic of the DSTMA-BLSTM multi-task forecasting model

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Credit: QIN Yusheng

A research team led by Prof. LI Xiangxian from the Anhui Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has developed a new deep learning model that significantly enhances both the accuracy and interpretability of roadside air pollutant forecasting.

Their findings were recently published in Environmental Modelling & Software.

Urban road traffic emissions are a major source of air pollution, where pollutant evolution is shaped by complex, nonlinear interactions among meteorology, traffic behavior, and emissions. Traditional models struggle to ensure stable predictions under such variability, and although machine learning has advanced air-quality forecasting, many deep models still lack physical interpretability and fail to capture coupled pollutant dynamics.

In this study, the team developed a novel Dynamic Shared and Task-specific Multi-head Attention Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (DSTMA-BLSTM) model. The framework integrates shared attention layers to extract common temporal patterns across pollutants, while task-specific attention heads capture the unique response characteristics of each pollutant. This architecture enables adaptive decomposition of shared and distinct features across pollutants, effectively enhancing model interpretability and robustness under complex traffic-meteorological coupling conditions.

Experimental validation using real-world roadside monitoring data demonstrated that the proposed DSTMA-BLSTM algorithm achieved high predictive accuracy, with R² values exceeding 0.94 across major pollutants. Compared with conventional LSTM models, it reduced prediction errors by about 30%, showing remarkable stability and generalization capability.

These findings suggest that the DSTMA-BLSTM algorithm holds great promise for traffic emission monitoring, urban air-quality forecasting, and environmental decision support.

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Journal

Environmental Modelling & Software

DOI

10.1016/j.envsoft.2025.106730 

Article Title

DSTMA-BLSTM algorithm for roadside air pollutant time series prediction and sensitivity analysis

 

How a glassy metal-organic frameworks enable fast-charging in lithium-ion battery

Synergistic effect of glassy MOF in enhancing Li-ion desolvation and transport for fast-charging batteries

Science China Press

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Schematic representation of the MOF glass coating in facilitating facile lithium-ion pre-desolvation and accelerating fast lithium-ion transport of Glass@Graphite electrode.

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Credit: ©Science China Press

How do batteries achieve extreme fast charging? While lithium-ion batteries power everything from smartphones to electric vehicles, their widespread adoption is hampered by a critical limitation: slow charging speeds. The bottleneck lies primarily in the graphite anode. During rapid charging, lithium ions struggle to shed their solvent molecules quickly enough—a process known as desolvation—before entering the anode material. This leads to metallic lithium plating and the formation of an unstable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), causing rapid capacity fade and serious safety risks.

Conventional solutions, such as highly concentrated electrolytes or conventional surface coatings, have only offered partial fixes, often at the expense of rate capability, cost, or manufacturing scalability. A material that can simultaneously accelerate ion desolvation and ensure rapid, stable transport to the graphite has remained a major challenge.

A Glassy Nano-Sieve for Faster Ions

Addressing this challenge, a research team led by Professor Zhi Chang from Central South University and Professor Haoshen Zhou from Nanjing University has developed a transformative coating strategy using a glassy metal-organic framework (MOF). "The key was to design a coating that acts sequentially—first as a selective gatekeeper, then as a superhighway for lithium ions," explains Professor Chang. Their work, published in the National Science Review, demonstrates a uniformly coated graphite anode (Glass@Graphite) that enables unprecedented fast-charging performance.

The breakthrough lies in the coating's dynamic evolution. Initially applied as an ultra-thin (~5 nm), continuous glassy layer, it transforms during the first discharge cycle into a unique dual-layer architecture. The outer layer is a rigid, insulating MOF glass with precisely engineered 2.93 Å-wide pores. These sub-nanometer channels act as a molecular sieve, forcibly stripping solvent molecules from the lithium ions (pre-desolvation) and creating a highly concentrated ionic environment that promotes the formation of a robust, LiF-rich SEI.

Simultaneously, an inner layer rich in Li₃P forms in contact with the graphite. "Li₃P is a superb lithium-ion conductor", notes Professor Chang. "This layer acts as an ion accelerator, enabling the partially desolvated, smaller lithium ions to diffuse ultrafast into the graphite bulk." This synergistic design—decoupling the slow desolvation step from the subsequent transport step—is the core innovation.

Unprecedented Performance in Real Batteries

The electrochemical results are striking. In half-cell tests, the Glass@Graphite anode maintained a high capacity of over 250 mAh/g at an ultra-high current of 5C, outperforming bare graphite by more than fivefold. More importantly, in practical full-cells paired with commercial NCM-811 cathodes, the batteries delivered exceptional stability, retaining 88% of their capacity after 1,000 cycles under a demanding 4C fast-charging regime.

To validate real-world applicability, the team fabricated a 2.36 Ah pouch cell. It achieved a high energy density of 283 Wh/kg and maintained over 80% of its capacity after 300 cycles, underscoring the technology's commercial viability. Post-mortem analysis revealed a clean, dendrite-free graphite surface with a stable crystal structure, confirming the coating's effective protection over long-term cycling.

Prospects for Fast-Charging Batteries

This glassy MOF coating strategy provides a definitive solution to the long-standing desolvation-transport trade-off in graphite anodes. The low-temperature, scalable synthesis process makes it highly attractive for industrial adoption. By engineering a smart interface that manages ion flow with nanoscale precision, this work paves a clear and promising path for the development of next-generation lithium-ion batteries capable of both extreme fast charging and long service life.

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Journal

National Science Review

DOI

10.1093/nsr/nwaf349 

Method of Research

Experimental study

 

HKUST launches UN-backed international coordination office for urban climate resilience

Driving global collaboration to combat rising climate threats in cities

Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

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Numerous internationally renowned scientists, government representatives, and industry experts gather for the inauguration ceremony of the Urban-PREDICT International Coordination Office and the Urban Climate Prediction and Resilience Roundtable.

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Credit: HKUST

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) today officially launched the International Coordination Office for Urban-PREDICT, a flagship initiative of the United Nations' World Meteorological Organization (WMO), cementing its position as a global leader in urban climate science. The inauguration ceremony, attended by prominent international scientists, policymakers, and industry experts, was followed by the Urban Climate Prediction and Resilience Roundtable, marking a momentous step in global efforts to address urban climate risks through cutting-edge science and cross-sector collaboration.

A Global Hub for Urban Climate Science

Cities worldwide are facing escalating risks from extreme heat, flooding, storms, and deteriorating air quality. In response, the Urban-PREDICT project—short for Predictions, Risk Assessments, Early Warnings, Data Integration, Inclusive Governance, Community Awareness, and Transformative Actions—has been launched under WMO's World Weather Research Program (WWRP) to help cities better anticipate and manage these growing threats.

Co-led by Prof. Fei CHEN, Associate Head and Professor of the Division of Environment and Sustainability (ENVR) at HKUST, the initiative brings together scientists from six continents to develop the next-generation urban-scale hazard prediction and early warning systems. The newly established International Coordination Office (ICO), housed at the HKUST Atmospheric Research Center, will serve as the project's global hub, coordinating international research, city demonstration projects, and cross-sector partnerships.

As the host institution, HKUST will play a pioneering role in translating research into impact, serving as a bridge between international expertise and real-world city needs. Prof. Alexis LAU, Head of ENVR and Director of the ICO, stated: "The establishment of the ICO at HKUST underscores our research excellence and leadership in sustainability. Hong Kong, with its acute urban challenges such as sudden torrential rain, heat islands, and worsening air quality issues, highlights the urgent need for resilience urban models. Our mission is to transform cutting-edge research into tangible impact: enabling cities to plan smarter, protect lives, and build lasting resilience against climate change."

Prof. Fei Chen outlined the project's technical scope: "Urban-PREDICT is built on four core pillars: high-resolution modelling, AI-driven prediction, effective early-warning communication, and community preparedness. Leveraging HKUST's expertise in AI and climate science, we aim to bridge scientific innovation with societal needs—delivering precise, actionable, and accessible early warnings to those most vulnerable."

Connecting Global Science to Local Solutions

Dr. Estelle de CONING, Chief of the WWRP at WMO, commended the collaboration: "This is a significant leap forward in transforming how cities anticipate and respond to weather impacts—bringing science closer to society. Supported by HKUST's world-class research environment and the ICO in Hong Kong, Urban-PREDICT will strengthen global collaboration in urban weather prediction, enabling cities to better anticipate and manage weather-related risks through integrated research and innovation."

Mr. Arthur LEE, Commissioner for Climate Change of the Environment and Ecology Bureau, HKSAR Government, also remarked, “We are committed to leading the way in climate action and resilience. These efforts require not just governmental action but a collective response from all sectors of society.  The inauguration of the Urban-PREDICT International Coordination Office marks a pivotal step forward in our shared journey toward a sustainable future.”

Roundtable Charts Course from Science to Societal Impact

Serving as a prelude to HKUST's 35th-anniversary celebrations, the Urban Climate Prediction and Resilience Roundtable featured keynote addresses by Prof. Fei Chen and Prof. Soledad FERRARI, Co-Chairs of the Urban-PREDICT Project, who outlined the project's scientific roadmap and its focus on linking climate action with societal impact.

Two high-level panel discussions, moderated by Prof. Alexis Lau and Prof. Christine LOH, Chief Development Strategist at HKUST's Institute for the Environment, engaged a diverse group of experts, including Prof. SHUN Chi-Ming, former Director of the Hong Kong Observatory; scientists from the WMO-WWRP; government officials from the Drainage Services Department and Civil Engineering and Development Department; and representatives from the Hong Kong Red Cross, Business Environment Council, and The Hong Kong Federation of Insurers.

The panels explored science-based early warnings for urban hazards, strategies to protect vulnerable communities, and the critical roles of the insurance and business sectors in building systemic resilience.

With the ICO now officially launched, HKUST and its global partners are poised to translate urban climate science into tangible actions. By integrating ultra-high-resolution weather forecasting, AI, and social-science insights, Urban-PREDICT aims to provide more accurate and actionable information to protect lives, livelihoods, and infrastructure, forging a more resilient future for cities worldwide.