Hu Guai, Wang Zeyu, Xie Yixiang, Lin ZiXia
School of Tourism and Geography, Shaoguan University, Shaoguan, China.
Shenyang Center of Geological Survey, China Geological Survey, Shenyang, China.
PLoS One. 2025 Apr 3;20(4):e0321264. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0321264. eCollection 2025.
Nanoparticles, increasingly recognized by regulators and the public, have become potential pollutants in various media, including water. Water security, a pressing global issue, is exacerbated by industrialization, with industrial wastewater being a significant contributor to water pollution. This study collected nanoparticles from groundwater samples in residential areas surrounding the Mingzhu Industrial Park in Guangdong Province, China. To understand their characteristics as potential pollutants in wastewater and the information they provide, field emission transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to analyze the composition, elemental content, morphology, and crystal structure of the nanoparticles. The nanoparticles originated from three sources: factories, water pipes, and the natural environment. They aggregate and oxidize during transport, ensuring their stability in water. This study elucidates the characteristics and transport patterns of particulate pollutants in groundwater near industrial parks, a prerequisite for assessing the hazards of nano-pollutants in natural environments. Additionally, it provides valuable insights for future discussions on their ecological impacts and advancements in water detection and treatment technologies.
纳米颗粒越来越受到监管机构和公众的认可，已成为包括水在内的各种介质中的潜在污染物。水安全是一个紧迫的全球性问题，工业化加剧了这一问题，工业废水是水污染的一个重要来源。本研究从中国广东省明珠工业园区周边居民区的地下水样本中采集了纳米颗粒。为了了解它们作为废水中潜在污染物的特性以及它们所提供的信息，使用场发射透射电子显微镜（TEM）分析了纳米颗粒的组成、元素含量、形态和晶体结构。这些纳米颗粒有三个来源：工厂、水管和自然环境。它们在运输过程中聚集并氧化，确保了它们在水中的稳定性。本研究阐明了工业园区附近地下水中颗粒污染物的特性和传输模式，这是评估纳米污染物在自然环境中危害的先决条件。此外，它还为未来关于其生态影响以及水检测和处理技术进展的讨论提供了有价值的见解。
