Phototransformation of 2,3-Dibromopropyl-2,4,6-tribromophenyl ether (DPTE) in Natural Waters: Important Roles of Dissolved Organic Matter and Chloride Ion

Binding interactions of halo-benzoic acids, halo-benzenesulfonic acids and halo-phenylboronic acids with human transthyretin

The anionic form-dependent binding interaction of halo-phenolic substances with human transthyretin (hTTR) has been observed previously. This indicates that ionizable compounds should be the primary focus in screening potential hTTR disruptors. Here, the potential binding potency of halo-benzoic acids, halo-benzenesulfonic acids/sulfates and halo-phenylboronic acids with hTTR was determined and analyzed by competitive fluorescence displacement assay integrated with computational methods. The laboratorial results indicated that the three test groups of model compounds exhibited a distinct binding affinity to hTTR. All the tested halo-phenylboronic acids, some of the tested halo-benzoic acids and halo-benzenesulfonic acids/sulfates were shown to be inactive with hTTR. Other halo-benzoic acids and halo-benzenesulfonic acids/sulfates were moderate and/or weak hTTR binders. The binding affinity of halo-benzoic acids and halo-benzenesulfonic acids/sulfates with hTTR was similar. The low distribution ability of the model compounds from water to hTTR may be the reason why they exhibited the binding potency observed with hTTR. By introducing other highly hydrophobic compounds, we observed that the binding affinity between compounds and hTTR increased with increasing molecular hydrophobicity. Those results indicated that the highly hydrophobic halo-benzoic acids and halo-benzenesulfonic acids/sulfates may be high-priority hTTR disruptors. Finally, a binary classification model was constructed employing three predictive variables. The sensitivity (S_n), specificity (S_p), predictive accuracy (Q) values of the training set and validation set were >0.83, indicating that the model had good classification performance. Thus, the binary classification model developed here could be used to distinguish whether a given ionizable compound is a potential hTTR binder or not.

Hydroxyl radical oxidation of cyclic methylsiloxanes D4 ∼ D6 in aqueous phase

Cyclic methylsiloxanes (CMS) were listed as candidates of substances of very high concerns in 2018 by the REACH. These compounds can enter environmental waters, and potentially cause harmful effects to aquatic organisms and human beings. Until now, reaction mechanisms of these pollutants with hydroxyl radicals (HO) in aqueous phase were unknown. In this study, reaction mechanisms of three typical CMS (D4 ∼ D6) with HO in aqueous phase were investigated by employing both UV/H₂O₂ experiments and density functional theoretical calculations. Bimolecular reaction rate constants (k_HO·) of D4 ∼ D6 with HO were determined as k_HO·(D4) = 8k_HO·(D5) = 12k_HO·(D6) = 6.6 × 10⁸ L mol^-1 s^-1. Half-lives of HO oxiding D4 ∼ D6 ranged from 12 to 140 days at [HO] = 10^-15 mol L^-1 in sunlit surface water, and were comparable to (D4, D5) or much shorter (D6) than hydrolytic half-lives. The reactivity to HO decreased with the increasing size of siloxane ring in aqueous phase, in an order totally opposite to that in gaseous phase. Calculation results indicated that HO oxidation of the three CMS proceeded spontaneously through an exothermic H-abstraction process at the first step. Water molecules participated into H-abstraction of CMS and caused energy barrier of D5 higher than that of D4. Thus, H-bonds formed by water molecules were responsible for the reverse reactivity of CMS in aqueous phase. This work provided basic evidences suggesting environmental persistence of CMS in aqueous phase completely different from that in gaseous phase.

Photolysis and photo-induced toxicity of pyraclostrobin to Vibrio fischeri: Pathway and toxic mechanism

Pyraclostrobin is a fungicide used widely across the world. However, its photolysis pathway and toxic mechanism is unclear. In this study, photolysis and photo-induced toxicity of pyraclostrobin to Vibrio fischeri were determined. The results showed that direct photolysis dominated the degradation of pyraclostrobin. Gas Chromatography-Mass spectrometry and quantum chemical calculation revealed that the pyraclostrobin was firstly photo-degraded into Methyl N-phenyl-carbamate and 1-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-hydroxy-1H-pyrzole, synthetic intermediates of pyraclostrobin, then into aniline, benzoquinone and acids. Toxicity assay showed that bioluminescent inhibition rate to V. fischeri fluctuated with radiation/illumination time and the toxicity curve can be classified into three phases (Phase I: 0-10 min, incline; Phase II: 10-60 min, decline; Phase III: 60-120 min, incline). The up-and-down curve indicates the change of parent compound during the photolysis. Simulation of molecular docking showed that the CDOCKER interaction energy of pyraclostrobin (-44.71) lower than other intermediate products (>-30.00), indicating that the parent compound is more toxic than its intermediates. An increased toxicity observed in the toxicity curve was attributed to the generation of benzoquinone with log1/EC₅₀ of 6.73, which can greatly change structure of target luciferase in Vibrio fischeri. In addition, the addition of radical scavengers can inhibit the bioluminescence of the tested solutions, indicating the involvement of radicals in the transformation of intermediates. This paper reveals that one of photochemical transformation products of pyraclostrobin can cause more toxic than its parent compound to bacteria. Environmental risk assessment should consider not only the parent compound, but also its metabolites.

Characterization of Carbonyl Disinfection By-Products During Ozonation, Chlorination, and Chloramination of Dissolved Organic Matters

Carbonyl compounds are an important class of by-products that are generated in disinfection reactions. These chemicals are ingredients contributing to toxicology in the drinking water system, the compositions and structures of which are worthy of attention. In this study, a chemical derivatization method based on simultaneous light/heavy isotope labeling was established for general recognition of carbonyl compounds and carbonyl disinfection by-products (DBPs) as per the humic substance reference standard (Suwannee river fulvic acid II, SRFA) before and after ozonation, chlorination, and chloramination. Decomposition of macromolecular components into polar carbonyl species was observed to be the most prominent pathway in ozone treatment due to the efficient reactivity of ozone with phenols and alkoxy aromatic rings. As a result, alteration of molecular characteristics was noticed. For instance, ozone-induced carbonyl DBPs in the highly oxygenated compound classes (0.67 ≤ O/C ≤ 1.2, 0.6 < H/C ≤ 1.5) possessed higher O/C but contained less oxygen numbers and carbon numbers. Cl/Br-carbonyl-DBPs were identified after chlorination and chloramination, and I-carbonyl-DBPs were found in ozone and chloramine treatments. Several major halogenated carbonyl homologues were further recognized, including halogenated 4-oxobutenoic acid analogues, halogenated 2,5-dioxohex-3-enoic acid analogues, and halogenated 4-cyclopentene-1,3-diones analogues. These findings illustrate the presence of abundant carbonyl DBPs in water disinfection, and hence their impacts on human health deserve further investigation.

Binding specificities of estrogen receptor with perfluorinated compounds: A cross species comparison

BACKGROUND

Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) were reported to result in the endocrine disruption by activating the estrogen receptor (ER) and inducing ER-mediated transcriptions.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the present work was to perform cross-species comparisons on the characteristics of eight PFCs binding to humans ERα and to rats ERα.

METHODS

In the present work, in vivo tests, including serum estradiol level assay and immunohistochemical staining, fluorescence assay and molecular models were applied.

RESULTS

Based on the in vivo experiments, the exposure of PFOA and PFOS to female rats was proved to increase the ERα expression in the terus, suggesting that PFCs may act as estrogenic compounds to activate ERα in vivo. The further fluorescence assay presented that these eight PFCs have stronger binding abilities to human ERα than to rat ERα. In addition, the differences in binding specificities between human ERα and rat ERα were identified in the process of molecular dynamics modeling with the term of helix position and the ability of coregulator recruitment. It can be found that more and stronger charge clamps could form between PFCs with human ERα than with rat ERα. Also, the eight PFCs presented lower binding energies in human ERα systems, which proved that eight PFCs presented much stronger binding abilities with human ERα.

DISCUSSION

In all, it can be concluded that PFCs might be more sensitive to human ERα than to that of rats, which also suggested the greater susceptibility to adverse effects on humans. The present work was a beginning assessment of a cross-species comparison, providing important information on health impacts of PFCs in humans.

Photodegradation of 2-(2-hydroxy-5-methylphenyl)benzotriazole (UV-P) in coastal seawaters: Important role of DOM

Benzotriazole UV stabilizers (BT-UVs) have attracted concerns due to their ubiquitous occurrence in the aquatic environment, and their bioaccumulative and toxic properties. However, little is known about their aquatic environmental degradation behavior. In this study, photodegradation of a representative of BT-UVs, 2-(2-hydroxy-5-methylphenyl)benzotriazole (UV-P), was investigated under simulated sunlight irradiation. Results show that UV-P photodegrades slower under neutral conditions (neutral form) than under acidic or alkaline conditions (cationic and anionic forms). Indirect photodegradation is a dominant elimination pathway of UV-P in coastal seawaters. Dissolved organic matter (DOM) from seawaters accelerate the photodegradation rates mainly through excited triplet DOM (³DOM^⁎), and the roles of singlet oxygen and hydroxyl radical are negligible in the matrixes. DOM from seawaters impacted by mariculture exhibits higher steady-state concentration of ³DOM^⁎ ([³DOM^⁎]) relative to those from pristine seawaters, leading to higher photosensitizing effects on the photodegradation. Halide ions inhibit the DOM-sensitized photodegradation of UV-P by decreasing [³DOM^⁎]. Photodegradation half-lives of UV-P are estimated to range from 24.38 to 49.66 hr in field water bodies of the Yellow River estuary. These results are of importance for assessing environmental fate and risk UV-P in coastal water bodies.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers and novel brominated flame retardants in human milk from the general population in Beijing, China: Occurrence, temporal trends, nursing infants' exposure and risk assessment

The levels of eight polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) congeners, and six novel brominated flame retardants (NBFRs) were determined in human milk collected from Beijing, China in 2014. The tested 111 samples were collected from 37 mothers, and each donor provided one milk sample per month for 3 months after childbirth. Levels of ∑PBDEs (total tri- to deca-BDEs) were in the range of 0.288 to 22.2 ng g^-1 lw (lipid weight). BDE-209, with a median level of 2.2 ng g^-1 lw, was the predominant congener. Decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE), as an NBFR and a substitute for deca-BDE, was found to be the most abundant BFR in all tested human milk (median:5.96 ng g^-1 lw). This result might suggest that the predominantly consumed BFRs in China have changed from PBDEs to PBDE substitutes. Additionally, a comparison to our previous studies conducted in 2005 and 2011 revealed that levels of tri- to hepta-BDEs showed significant reduction from 2005 to 2014, whereas levels of BDE-209 showed no significant variation from 2011 to 2014. Temporal trends of BFR levels over the three months of lactation were also investigated, and no significant changes were found in concentration with time over the three months lactation. For nursing infants up to 6 months old, the median lower bound of daily BFR intakes via human milk ingestion ranged from zero for 2,3-dibromopropyl-2,4,6-tribromophenyl ether (DPTE) and 1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)-ethane (BTBPE) to 18.7 ng kg^-1 bodyweight day^-1 for DBDPE. Although the daily dietary BFR intake for nursing infants was found to be much higher than that for adults, the risk assessment evaluated by the margin of exposure (MOE) approach revealed that dietary BFR intake for nursing infants was unlikely to pose significant health risks.

Trace amounts of fenofibrate acid sensitize the photodegradation of bezafibrate in effluents: Mechanisms, degradation pathways, and toxicity evaluation

Effluent organic matter (EfOM), which is composed of background natural organic matter (NOM), soluble microbial degradation products, and trace amounts of organic pollutants, can play an important role in the photodegradation of emerging pollutants in the effluent. In this study, the impact of organic pollutants, using fenofibrate acid (FNFA) as a representative, on the photodegradation of emerging contaminants, using bezafibrate (BZF) as a representative, in effluents was investigated. It is found that BZF undergo fast degradation in the presence of FNFA although BZF is recalcitrant to degradation under simulated sunlight irradiation. The promotional effect of FNFA is due to the generation of singlet oxygen (¹O₂) and hydrated electrons (e^-_aq). Based on the structures of the identified intermediates, ¹O₂ initiated oxidation and e^-_aq initiated reduction reactions were the main photodegradation pathways of BZF in the effluents. The toxicity of the main photodegradation intermediates for BZF and FNFA was higher than that of the parent compounds, and the acute toxicity increased during simulated sunlight irradiation. The results demonstrated that trace amounts of organic compounds in EfOM can play an important role in sensitizing the photodegradation of some emerging pollutants in the effluent.

Complexation and conformation of lead ion with poly-γ-glutamic acid in soluble state

Complexation of microbial polymer in soluble state could impact the solubility, mobility, and bioavailability of heavy metals in the environment. The complexation of a bacterial exopolymer, poly-γ-glutamic acid (γ-PGA), with Pb²⁺ was studied using the polarographic method and circular dichroism measurement in soluble state. The number of available binding sites was determined based on the Chau’s method and was found to be 0.04, 1.12, 3.56 and 4.51 mmol/(g dry weight of γ-PGA) at pH 3.4, 4.2, 5.0 and 6.2, respectively. Further, the number of binding sites was determined based on the Ruzic’s method and was found to be 3.60 and 4.41 mmol/(g dry weight of γ-PGA) for pH 5.0 and 6.2, respectively. The constant (expressed as log K) values were 5.8 and 6.0 at pH 5.0 and 6.2. Compared to biopolymers secreted by other microorganisms, such as extracellular polymeric substances extraction from activated sludge, γ-PGA was a more efficient Pb²⁺ carrier from pH 5.0 to 6.2. The secondary structure of γ-PGA varied significantly when Pb²⁺ added. Ca²⁺ or Mg²⁺ replace a portion of the adsorbed Pb²⁺. However, the portion of Pb²⁺ involved in changing the γ-PGA conformation was not easily replaced by Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺.

Disparate effects of DOM extracted from coastal seawaters and freshwaters on photodegradation of 2,4-Dihydroxybenzophenone

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) plays an important role in degradation of organic pollutants by photochemically-produced reactive intermediates (RIs), such as excited triplet-states of DOM (³DOM*), singlet oxygen (¹O₂) and hydroxyl radical (·OH). However, it is not clear whether DOM extracted from coastal seawaters (CS-DOM) and DOM derived from freshwaters (FW-DOM) exhibit similar effects on photodegradation of organic micropollutants. Herein, 2,4-dihydroxybenzophenone (BP-1) was adopted as a model compound to probe the effects of different DOM on photodegradation kinetics of organic micropollutants. Results show that the CS-DOM promotes the photodegradation of BP-1 mainly via the pathway involving ³DOM*; while ³DOM*, ¹O₂ and ·OH are responsible for BP-1 photodegradation in the presence of the FW-DOM. Compared with the FW-DOM, the CS-DOM undergoes more photobleaching, and contains less aromatic C=C and C=O functional groups. Although ³DOM* formation quantum yields for the CS-DOM are relatively higher than those for the FW-DOM, the CS-DOM has lower rates of light absorption, leading to lower steady-state RI concentrations for the CS-DOM. BP-1 photodegradation in the presence of the CS-DOM is faster than in the presence of the FW-DOM, due to higher second-order reaction rate constants between BP-1 and CS-³DOM* and fewer antioxidants contained in the CS-DOM.

Photo-transformation of atrazine in aqueous solution in the presence of Fe3+-montmorillonite clay and humic substances

As one of the most troublesome herbicides, the natural behavior of atrazine has drawn great attentions. Currently, most studies investigated the adsorption of atrazine on clay minerals and humic substances (HSs), whereas, the transformation of atrazine catalyzed by clay and HSs was still unknown. In the present study, photo-degradation of atrazine in the presence of Fe³⁺-montmorillonite and Suwannee river fulvic acid (SRFA) in aqueous solution was systematically studied. In the Fe³⁺-montmorillonite system, the hydroxyl radical (OH) induced removal of atrazine was strongly pH-dependent and the reaction rate increased with the decrease of pH. The presence of SRFA suppressed the atrazine degradation by Fe³⁺-montmorillonite at pH 3 but promoted its removal rate in the pH range of 4-6. Our results demonstrated that both OH and singlet oxygen are responsible for the degradation process in the Fe³⁺-montmorillonite/SRFA hybrid system. The degradation of atrazine followed the cleavage of the CN bonds in aliphatic chains of atrazine, and three major products, desethylatrazine, desisopropylatrazine and desethyldesisopropylatrazine were detected. The toxicity assessment showed that the toxicity of the reaction solution significantly decreased after the radical reactions, indicating that the transformation of atrazine on natural clay minerals with/without HSs could be considered as a detoxification pathway, which might be important to evaluate the environmental risk of atrazine in a natural system.

Combined effects of dissolved organic matter, pH, ionic strength and halides on photodegradation of oxytetracycline in simulated estuarine waters

Estuarine waters of variable compositions are sinks for many micropollutants. The varying water properties can impact the photodegradation of organic pollutants. In this study, the combined effects of dissolved organic matter (DOM), pH, ionic strength, and halides on the photodegradation of the model organic pollutant oxytetracycline (OTC) were investigated. Suwannee River natural organic matter (SRNOM) was used as a representative DOM. The results showed that the observed photolysis rate constant (kobs) of OTC increased rapidly upon increase of pH. SRNOM induced a 11.0-17.9% decrease of the kobs for OTC. In the presence of SRNOM, the ionic strength and specific halide effects promote OTC photodegradation with a 39.2-84.2% and 7.1-28.8% increase of the kobs, respectively. The effects of SRNOM, ionic strength and halides on OTC photodegradation are pH-dependent. Direct photolysis half-lives (t1/2) of OTC were estimated in view of the more important role of direct photolysis compared to indirect photolysis. The estimated t1/2 values decreased from 187.4-206.6 d to 34.4-36.6 d as the pH increases in the Yellow River estuarine region. The results of this research demonstrate that the photodegradation rate of OTC increases rapidly in the gradient from river water to marine water in estuarine regions.

Influence of chemical speciation on photochemical transformation of three fluoroquinolones (FQs) in water: Kinetics, mechanism, and toxicity of photolysis products

This study investigated the contribution of direct, indirect, and self-sensitized photolysis to the photochemical fate of three model fluoroquinolones (FQs), i.e., lomefloxacin (LOM), norfloxacin (NOR), and ofloxacin (OFL), and demonstrated the influence of chemical speciation on their photodegradation behavior, a topic that has received relatively little attention. Results suggest that these FQs in water transformed mainly via direct photolysis, while hydroxyl radical played a key role in their indirect and self-sensitized photolysis. Chemical speciation of such zwitterionic compounds significantly affected the kinetics of their phototransformation, with the quantum yields of photodegradation decreased in the order of zwitterionic (FQsH) > anionic (FQs^-) > cationic (FQsH₂⁺). The photodegradation pathways of FQs depended on both their structures and chemical speciation. Defluorination for LOM in C-8 and NOR in C-6 was more significant when they were present in zwitterionic form than in the other forms. Cationic FQs underwent direct piperazinyl ring cleavage, and zwitterionic ones underwent piperazinyl ring oxidation, while the degradation pathway of piperazinyl ring for FQs in anionic form was structure dependent. Decarboxylation for zwitterionic FQs occurred more slowly compared to both cationic and anionic ones, and the FQs bearing electron-donating groups in C-8 position degraded more easily in cationic form than the anionic ones, while the opposite was true for the FQs without such a group in C-8 position. Results of Vibrio fischeri bioluminescence inhibition tests showed the toxicity of zwitterionic NOR and OFL significantly decreased after photodegradation, while the degradation products of LOM exhibited greater toxicity. These findings indicate that chemical speciation of zwitterionic compounds could affect the kinetics and pathways of their photochemical transformation, and thus have important implications on their fate and risk in aquatic environment.