Cyanobacteria blooms are a global aquatic environment problem. In recent years, due to global warming and water eutrophication, the surface cyanobacteria accumulate in a certain area to form cyanobacteria blooms driven by wind. Cyanobacteria blooms change the physical and chemical properties of water and cause pollution. Moreover, cyanobacteria release organic matter, N (nitrogen) and P (phosphorus) into the water during their apoptosis, accelerating the eutrophication of the water, threatening aquatic flora and fauna, and affecting the community structure and abundance of microorganisms in the water. Simultaneously, toxins and carcinogens released from cyanobacteria can be enriched through the food chain/web, endangering human health. This study summarized and analyzed the research of the influence of cyanobacteria blooms on the aquatic environment and human health, which is helpful to understand further the harm of cyanobacteria blooms and provide some reference for a related research of cyanobacteria blooms.

Recently, the pollution of microplastics (MPs) in the global freshwater environment has become increasingly problematic, but there are few studies on the freshwater environment risks of MPs. The present study, therefore, has investigated the single and combined effects of MPs and lead (Pb) on the freshwater algal Microcystis aeruginosa. Results showed that Pb-only (>0.05 mg·L^-1) promoted the growth of algal cells, while MPs-only (1 mg L^-1) resulted in growth inhibition. However, compared with the corresponding concentration of Pb-only groups, the growth of algal cells was promoted in MPs + Pb treatments. MPs-only and Pb-only (0.5 mg L^-1) both reduced the content of photosynthetic pigments and affected algal photosynthesis. The MPs-only treatment and MPs + Pb²⁺ (no pretreatment, 0.5 mg L^-1 Pb²⁺) treatments showed significant cell aggregation. At the same time, MPs-only caused a significant increase in bound extracellular polysaccharides (bEPS), while 0.5 mg L^-1 Pb reduced bEPS. Furthermore, under high Pb stress (0.5 mg L^-1), the effects of combined MPs and Pb on chlorophyll content, antioxidant enzyme activity (peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT)), and damage to algal cells were less compared to individual effects, and the combination of MPs and Pb had a synergistic effect on promoting aggregations of M. aeruginosa. These results demonstrate that single and combined effects of MPs and Pb can induce differential responses in the freshwater algal M. aeruginosa, which can have a significant impact on aquatic ecosystems.

As the protection of the environment gains more public attention in China, a large number of engineering slopes, which are not conducive to the growth of vegetation and are prone to natural disasters caused by constructions, are in urgent need of restoration. Herein, we explain the theoretical basis for the ecological restoration of engineering slopes and introduce the technologies commonly used in this regard, including soil improvement, bioremediation, and ecological slope protection. The benefits and evaluation of the impact of ecological restoration of engineering slopes are also detailed. Finally, we discuss the current problems in ecological restoration and put forward some future research prospects. By summarizing the existing techniques and evaluation systems for ecological restoration, this study provides a reference for its implementation and evaluation, contributing to the long-term, stable, and rapid development of ecological restoration of engineering slopes.