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Boxall ABA, Brooks BW. Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products in the Environment: What Progress Has Been Made in Addressing the Big Research Questions? ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2024; 43:481-487. [PMID: 38329166 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Alistair B A Boxall
- Department of Environment and Geography, University of York, York, United Kingdom
| | - Bryan W Brooks
- Department of Environmental Science, Center for Reservoir and Aquatic Systems Research, Institute of Biomedical Studies, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, USA
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2
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Tremblay LA, Chariton AA, Li MS, Zhang Y, Horiguchi T, Ellis JI. Monitoring the Health of Coastal Environments in the Pacific Region-A Review. TOXICS 2023; 11:277. [PMID: 36977042 PMCID: PMC10059979 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11030277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Coastal areas provide important ecological services to populations accessing, for example, tourism services, fisheries, minerals and petroleum. Coastal zones worldwide are exposed to multiple stressors that threaten the sustainability of receiving environments. Assessing the health of these valuable ecosystems remains a top priority for environmental managers to ensure the key stressor sources are identified and their impacts minimized. The objective of this review was to provide an overview of current coastal environmental monitoring frameworks in the Asia-Pacific region. This large geographical area includes many countries with a range of climate types, population densities and land uses. Traditionally, environmental monitoring frameworks have been based on chemical criteria set against guideline threshold levels. However, regulatory organizations are increasingly promoting the incorporation of biological effects-based data in their decision-making processes. Using a range of examples drawn from across the region, we provide a synthesis of the major approaches currently being applied to examine coastal health in China, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. In addition, we discuss some of the challenges and investigate potential solutions for improving traditional lines of evidence, including the coordination of regional monitoring programs, the implementation of ecosystem-based management and the inclusion of indigenous knowledge and participatory processes in decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis A. Tremblay
- Cawthron Institute, Private Bag 2, Nelson 7042, New Zealand
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Anthony A. Chariton
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Meng-Shuo Li
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science of China, College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science of China, College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Toshihiro Horiguchi
- Ecosystem Impact Research Section, Health and Environmental Risk Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2, Onogawa, Tsukuba 305-8506, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Joanne I. Ellis
- School of Sciences, Waikato University, Tauranga 3240, New Zealand
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Huang L, Zhang Y, Hong Z, Xu X. Influencing factors on ecological efficiency: Based on 11 cities in Zhejiang Province, China. INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT 2023; 19:139-151. [PMID: 35338683 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.4610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Ecological efficiency (eco-efficiency) is the effectiveness of ecological resources in meeting human needs and is a good representation of the quality of a region's development. The traditional concept of improving eco-efficiency refers to maximizing economic benefits by minimizing resource costs and environmental loads. This article argues that the goal of eco-efficiency evaluation is not only to maximize economic benefits but also to achieve high-quality and coordinated development in many aspects so that more people can enjoy the fruits of development. Therefore, in the evaluation system of eco-efficiency, the input indexes take into account the consumption of human, energy resources, and the environmental load caused by them in a region. The output indexes take into account the four dimensions of "economy, innovation, social harmony, and openness." This study first establishes the nonexpected output superefficiency slacks-based measure model under the assumption of variable returns to scale to measure eco-efficiency in 11 cities of Zhejiang Province, China. Second, the spatial and temporal trends of eco-efficiency are studied with the help of the Malmquist index model. Moreover, regression analysis was conducted using the panel Tobit method to discuss the influencing factors of eco-efficiency. Several key results were obtained in this study: (1) The overall eco-efficiency in Zhejiang Province is rising steadily, but there are serious regional imbalances. (2) The improvement of eco-efficiency mainly relied on the scale efficiency from 2008 to 2013, but on pure technical efficiency from 2013 to 2018. (3) The share of tertiary industry, the number of scientific researchers, and the foreign trade dependence positively affect the improvement of eco-efficiency, but highway transportation mileage has a negative impact on the improvement of eco-efficiency. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2023;19:139-151. © 2022 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lizhen Huang
- School of Mathematics and Physics, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- School of Business, Institute of Public Health & Emergency Management, Taizhou University, Taizhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yixiang Zhang
- The University of Waikato Joint Institute at Zhejiang University of City College, Zhejiang University City College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhenjie Hong
- School of Computers and Artificial Intelligence, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xu Xu
- School of Mathematics and Physics, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- School of Business, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
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4
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Liu L, Zhang C. Linking environmental management accounting to green organisational behaviour: The mediating role of green human resource management. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0279568. [PMID: 36576939 PMCID: PMC9797071 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0279568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The China's economy is developing rapidly, and it affects the environment on several levels. Therefore, this study examines the effect of environmental management accounting, green human resource management (HRM), on green organisational behaviour (OB). We collected 383 questionnaires completed by human resource managers and accounting managers in the Chinese hospitality industry. We used a covariance-based structural equation model to test the hypotheses in this study. The empirical evidence shows a positive and significant effect between environmental management accounting (monetary environmental management accounting, and physical environmental management accounting) and green HRM (β = 0.262, p < 0.01, β = 0.378, p< 0.01). Green HRM mediates the influence of environmental management accounting (monetary environmental management accounting, β = 0.059, p < 0.01; physical environmental management accounting, β = 0.084, p< 0.01) on green OB. The analysis confirmed the importance of environmental management accounting (as opposed to green human resource management) in predicting green behaviour and the critical role of green human resource management in connecting environmental management accounting and green OB. Thus, this study extends the literature's perspective on green OB to environmental management accounting and green HRM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liping Liu
- School of Economics and Management, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, Guangxi, China
| | - Chunyu Zhang
- School of Economics and Management, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, Guangxi, China
- * E-mail:
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5
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van Dijk J, Leopold A, Flerlage H, van Wezel A, Seiler T, Enrici M, Bloor MC. The EU Green Deal's ambition for a toxic-free environment: Filling the gap for science-based policymaking. INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT 2021; 17:1105-1113. [PMID: 33860613 PMCID: PMC8596606 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.4429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Around the world, many ambitious environmental conventions and regulations have been implemented over recent decades. Despite this, the environment is still deteriorating. An increase in the volume and diversity of chemicals is one of the main drivers of this deterioration, of which biodiversity loss is a telling indicator. In response to this situation, in October 2020, a chemicals strategy for sustainability (CSS) was published in the EU. The CSS is the first regional framework aiming to address chemical pollution in a holistic manner. The CSS covers the complete lifecycle of a chemical, including the design of better substances and remediation options, to remove chemicals from the environment. The strategy contains terms, such as a "toxic-free environment," for which no clear definition exists, potentially hampering the implementation of the CSS. In this paper, a definition for a "toxic-free environment" is proposed on the basis of a survey and a discussion held at the 2020 SETAC Europe Annual Meeting. In addition, key issues that are absent from the CSS but are considered to be key for the realization of a toxic-free environment are identified. To achieve the policy goals, it is recommended to align the definition of risk across the different chemical legislations, to establish a platform for open data and data sharing, and to increase the utility and use of novel scientific findings in policymaking, through the development of a strong science to regulation feedback mechanism and vice versa. The paper concludes that environmental scientists have the tools to address the key challenges presented in the CSS. However, an extra step is needed by both policymakers and scientists to develop methods, processes and tools, to increase the robustness and transparency of deliberation processes, and the utility of science. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2021;17:1105-1113. © 2021 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanke van Dijk
- Copernicus Institute of Sustainable DevelopmentUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem DynamicsUniversity of AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Annegaaike Leopold
- Calidris Environment BVWarnsveldThe Netherlands
- EGESTA LabUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBritish ColumbiaCanada
| | - Hannah Flerlage
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem DynamicsUniversity of AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Annemarie van Wezel
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem DynamicsUniversity of AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | | | | | - Michelle C. Bloor
- School of Interdisciplinary Studies, University of Glasgow, Dumfries CampusDumfriesScotlandUK
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6
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Chauhan V, Wilkins RC, Beaton D, Sachana M, Delrue N, Yauk C, O’Brien J, Marchetti F, Halappanavar S, Boyd M, Villeneuve D, Barton-Maclaren TS, Meek B, Anghel C, Heghes C, Barber C, Perkins E, Leblanc J, Burtt J, Laakso H, Laurier D, Lazo T, Whelan M, Thomas R, Cool D. Bringing together scientific disciplines for collaborative undertakings: a vision for advancing the adverse outcome pathway framework. Int J Radiat Biol 2021; 97:431-441. [PMID: 33539251 PMCID: PMC10711570 DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2021.1884314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Decades of research to understand the impacts of various types of environmental occupational and medical stressors on human health have produced a vast amount of data across many scientific disciplines. Organizing these data in a meaningful way to support risk assessment has been a significant challenge. To address this and other challenges in modernizing chemical health risk assessment, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) formalized the adverse outcome pathway (AOP) framework, an approach to consolidate knowledge into measurable key events (KEs) at various levels of biological organisation causally linked to disease based on the weight of scientific evidence (http://oe.cd/aops). Currently, AOPs have been considered predominantly in chemical safety but are relevant to radiation. In this context, the Nuclear Energy Agency's (NEA's) High-Level Group on Low Dose Research (HLG-LDR) is working to improve research co-ordination, including radiological research with chemical research, identify synergies between the fields and to avoid duplication of efforts and resource investments. To this end, a virtual workshop was held on 7 and 8 October 2020 with experts from the OECD AOP Programme together with the radiation and chemical research/regulation communities. The workshop was a coordinated effort of Health Canada, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), and the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA). The AOP approach was discussed including key issues to fully embrace its value and catalyze implementation in areas of radiation risk assessment. CONCLUSIONS A joint chemical and radiological expert group was proposed as a means to encourage cooperation between risk assessors and an initial vision was discussed on a path forward. A global survey was suggested as a way to identify priority health outcomes of regulatory interest for AOP development. Multidisciplinary teams are needed to address the challenge of producing the appropriate data for risk assessments. Data management and machine learning tools were highlighted as a way to progress from weight of evidence to computational causal inference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinita Chauhan
- Consumer and Clinical Radiation Protection Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Ruth C. Wilkins
- Consumer and Clinical Radiation Protection Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, Canada
| | | | - Magdalini Sachana
- Environment Health and Safety Division, Environment Directorate, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Paris, France
| | - Nathalie Delrue
- Environment Health and Safety Division, Environment Directorate, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Paris, France
| | - Carole Yauk
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Jason O’Brien
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Francesco Marchetti
- Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Sabina Halappanavar
- Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Michael Boyd
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Air and Radiation, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Daniel Villeneuve
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Duluth, MN, USA
| | | | - Bette Meek
- McLaughlin Centre, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | | | | | | | - Edward Perkins
- US Army Engineer Research and Development Center Jackson, Vicksburg, MS, USA
| | - Julie Leblanc
- Directorate of Environment and Radiation Protection and Assessment, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Julie Burtt
- Directorate of Environment and Radiation Protection and Assessment, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Holly Laakso
- Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, Chalk River, Canada
| | - Dominique Laurier
- Health and Environment Division, Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN), Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Ted Lazo
- Radiological Protection and Human Aspects of Nuclear Safety Division, OECD Nuclear Energy Agency, Paris, France
| | - Maurice Whelan
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, Italy
| | - Russell Thomas
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Donald Cool
- Electric Power Research Institute, Charlotte, NC, USA
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7
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Scarlett KR, Kim S, Lovin LM, Chatterjee S, Scott JT, Brooks BW. Global scanning of cylindrospermopsin: Critical review and analysis of aquatic occurrence, bioaccumulation, toxicity and health hazards. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 738:139807. [PMID: 32585507 PMCID: PMC8204307 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Revised: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Cylindrospermopsin (CYN), a cyanotoxin produced by harmful algal blooms, has been reported worldwide; however, there remains limited understanding of its potential risks to surface water quality. In the present study, we critically reviewed available literature regarding the global occurrence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity of CYN in aquatic systems with a particular focus on freshwater. We subsequently developed environmental exposure distributions (EEDs) for CYN in surface waters and performed probabilistic environmental hazard assessments (PEHAs) using guideline values (GVs). PEHAs were performed by geographic region, type of aquatic system, and matrix. CYN occurrence was prevalent in North America, Europe, and Asia/Pacific, with lakes being the most common system. Many global whole water EEDs exceeded guideline values (GV) previously developed for drinking water (e.g., 0.5 μg L-1) and recreational water (e.g., 1 μg L-1). GV exceedances were higher in the Asia/Pacific region, and in rivers and reservoirs. Rivers in the Asia/Pacific region exceeded the lowest drinking water GV 73.2% of the time. However, lack of standardized protocols used for analyses was alarming, which warrants improvement in future studies. In addition, bioaccumulation of CYN has been reported in mollusks, crustaceans, and fish, but such exposure information remains limited. Though several publications have reported aquatic toxicity of CYN, there is limited chronic aquatic toxicity data, especially for higher trophic level organisms. Most aquatic toxicity studies have not employed standardized experimental designs, failed to analytically verify treatment levels, and did not report purity of CYN used for experiments; therefore, existing data are insufficient to derive water quality guidelines. Considering such elevated exceedances of CYN in global surface waters and limited aquatic bioaccumulation and toxicity data, further aquatic monitoring, environmental fate and mechanistic toxicology studies are warranted to robustly assess and manage water quality risks to public health and the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kendall R Scarlett
- Department of Environmental Science, Center for Reservoir and Aquatic Systems Research, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, USA; Center for Reservoir and Aquatic Systems Research, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, USA
| | - Sujin Kim
- Department of Environmental Science, Center for Reservoir and Aquatic Systems Research, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, USA; Center for Reservoir and Aquatic Systems Research, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, USA
| | - Lea M Lovin
- Department of Environmental Science, Center for Reservoir and Aquatic Systems Research, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, USA; Center for Reservoir and Aquatic Systems Research, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, USA
| | - Saurabh Chatterjee
- Environmental Health and Disease Laboratory, Department Environmental Health Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - J Thad Scott
- Center for Reservoir and Aquatic Systems Research, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, USA; Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, USA
| | - Bryan W Brooks
- Department of Environmental Science, Center for Reservoir and Aquatic Systems Research, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, USA; Center for Reservoir and Aquatic Systems Research, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, USA; Institute of Biomedical Studies, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, USA.
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8
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Leung KM, Yeung KW, You J, Choi K, Zhang X, Smith R, Zhou G, Yung MM, Arias‐Barreiro C, An Y, Burket SR, Dwyer R, Goodkin N, Hii YS, Hoang T, Humphrey C, Iwai CB, Jeong S, Juhel G, Karami A, Kyriazi‐Huber K, Lee K, Lin B, Lu B, Martin P, Nillos MG, Oginawati K, Rathnayake I, Risjani Y, Shoeb M, Tan CH, Tsuchiya MC, Ankley GT, Boxall AB, Rudd MA, Brooks BW. Toward Sustainable Environmental Quality: Priority Research Questions for Asia. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2020; 39:1485-1505. [PMID: 32474951 PMCID: PMC7496081 DOI: 10.1002/etc.4788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Revised: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Environmental and human health challenges are pronounced in Asia, an exceptionally diverse and complex region where influences of global megatrends are extensive and numerous stresses to environmental quality exist. Identifying priorities necessary to engage grand challenges can be facilitated through horizon scanning exercises, and to this end we identified and examined 23 priority research questions needed to advance toward more sustainable environmental quality in Asia, as part of the Global Horizon Scanning Project. Advances in environmental toxicology, environmental chemistry, biological monitoring, and risk-assessment methodologies are necessary to address the adverse impacts of environmental stressors on ecosystem services and biodiversity, with Asia being home to numerous biodiversity hotspots. Intersections of the food-energy-water nexus are profound in Asia; innovative and aggressive technologies are necessary to provide clean water, ensure food safety, and stimulate energy efficiency, while improving ecological integrity and addressing legacy and emerging threats to public health and the environment, particularly with increased aquaculture production. Asia is the largest chemical-producing continent globally. Accordingly, sustainable and green chemistry and engineering present decided opportunities to stimulate innovation and realize a number of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Engaging the priority research questions identified herein will require transdisciplinary coordination through existing and nontraditional partnerships within and among countries and sectors. Answering these questions will not be easy but is necessary to achieve more sustainable environmental quality in Asia. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020;39:1485-1505. © 2020 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth M.Y. Leung
- Swire Institute of Marine Science and School of Biological SciencesUniversity of Hong KongPokfulamHong KongChina
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution and Department of ChemistryCity University of Hong KongKowloonHong KongChina
| | - Katie W.Y. Yeung
- Swire Institute of Marine Science and School of Biological SciencesUniversity of Hong KongPokfulamHong KongChina
| | - Jing You
- School of Environment and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and HealthJinan UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | | | - Xiaowei Zhang
- School of the EnvironmentNanjing UniversityNanjingChina
| | | | - Guang‐Jie Zhou
- Swire Institute of Marine Science and School of Biological SciencesUniversity of Hong KongPokfulamHong KongChina
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Chris Humphrey
- Supervising Scientist BranchCanberraAustralian Capital TerritoryAustralia
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Bin‐Le Lin
- National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and TechnologyTokyoJapan
| | - Ben Lu
- International Copper Association–AsiaShanghaiChina
| | | | - Mae Grace Nillos
- College of Fisheries and Ocean SciencesUniversity of the Philippines VisayasIloilo CityPhilippines
| | | | - I.V.N. Rathnayake
- Department of MicrobiologyFaculty of Science, University of KelaniyaKelaniyaSri Lanka
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Bryan W. Brooks
- School of Environment and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and HealthJinan UniversityGuangzhouChina
- Baylor UniversityWacoTexasUSA
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Steele WB, Kristofco LA, Corrales J, Saari GN, Corcoran EJ, Hill BN, Mills MG, Gallagher E, Kavanagh TJ, Melnikov F, Zimmerman JB, Voutchkova-Kostal A, Anastas PT, Kostal J, Brooks BW. Toward Less Hazardous Industrial Compounds: Coupling Quantum Mechanical Computations, Biomarker Responses, and Behavioral Profiles To Identify Bioactivity of S N2 Electrophiles in Alternative Vertebrate Models. Chem Res Toxicol 2019; 33:367-380. [PMID: 31789507 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.9b00290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Sustainable molecular design of less hazardous chemicals promises to reduce risks to public health and the environment. Computational chemistry modeling coupled with alternative toxicology models (e.g., larval fish) present unique high-throughput opportunities to understand structural characteristics eliciting adverse outcomes. Numerous environmental contaminants with reactive properties can elicit oxidative stress, an important toxicological response associated with diverse adverse outcomes (i.e., cancer, diabetes, neurodegenerative disorders, etc.). We examined a common chemical mechanism (bimolecular nucleophilic substitution (SN2)) associated with oxidative stress using property-based computational modeling coupled with acute (mortality) and sublethal (glutathione, photomotor behavior) responses in the zebrafish (Danio rerio) and the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) models to identify whether relationships exist among biological responses and molecular attributes of industrial chemicals. Following standardized methods, embryonic zebrafish and larval fathead minnows were exposed separately to eight different SN2 compounds for 96 h. Acute and sublethal responses were compared to computationally derived in silico chemical descriptors. Specifically, frontier molecular orbital energies were significantly related to acute LC50 values and photomotor response (PMR) no observed effect concentrations (NOECs) in both fathead minnow and zebrafish. This reactivity index, LC50 values, and PMR NOECs were also significantly related to whole body glutathione (GSH) levels, suggesting that acute and chronic toxicity results from protein adduct formation for SN2 electrophiles. Shared refractory locomotor response patterns among study compounds and two alternative vertebrate models appear informative of electrophilic properties associated with oxidative stress for SN2 chemicals. Electrophilic parameters derived from frontier molecular orbitals were predictive of experimental in vivo acute and sublethal toxicity. These observations provide important implications for identifying and designing less hazardous industrial chemicals with reduced potential to elicit oxidative stress through bimolecular nucleophilic substitution.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Baylor Steele
- Department of Environmental Science , Baylor University , Waco , Texas 76798 , United States.,Institute of Biomedical Studies , Baylor University , Waco , Texas 76798 , United States
| | - Lauren A Kristofco
- Department of Environmental Science , Baylor University , Waco , Texas 76798 , United States
| | - Jone Corrales
- Department of Environmental Science , Baylor University , Waco , Texas 76798 , United States
| | - Gavin N Saari
- Department of Environmental Science , Baylor University , Waco , Texas 76798 , United States
| | - Eric J Corcoran
- George Washington University , Washington , District of Columbia 20052 , United States
| | - Bridgett N Hill
- Department of Environmental Science , Baylor University , Waco , Texas 76798 , United States
| | - Margaret G Mills
- University of Washington , Seattle , Washington 98195 , United States
| | - Evan Gallagher
- University of Washington , Seattle , Washington 98195 , United States
| | | | - Fjodor Melnikov
- Yale University , New Haven , Connecticut 06520 , United States
| | | | | | - Paul T Anastas
- Yale University , New Haven , Connecticut 06520 , United States
| | - Jakub Kostal
- George Washington University , Washington , District of Columbia 20052 , United States
| | - Bryan W Brooks
- Department of Environmental Science , Baylor University , Waco , Texas 76798 , United States.,Institute of Biomedical Studies , Baylor University , Waco , Texas 76798 , United States
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10
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Brooks BW, Gerding JA, Landeen E, Bradley E, Callahan T, Cushing S, Hailu F, Hall N, Hatch T, Jurries S, Kalis MA, Kelly KR, Laco JP, Lemin N, McInnes C, Olsen G, Stratman R, White C, Wille S, Sarisky J. Environmental Health Practice Challenges and Research Needs for U.S. Health Departments. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2019; 127:125001. [PMID: 31799881 PMCID: PMC6957286 DOI: 10.1289/ehp5161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Environmental health (EH) professionals, one of the largest segments of the public health workforce, are responsible for delivery of essential environmental public health services. The challenges facing these professionals and research needs to improve EH practice are not fully understood, but 26% of EH professionals working in health departments of the United States plan to retire in 5 y, while only 6% of public health students are currently pursuing EH concentrations. OBJECTIVES A groundbreaking initiative was recently launched to understand EH practice in health departments of the United States. This commentary article aims to identify priority EH practice challenges and related research needs for health departments. METHODS A horizon scanning approach was conducted in which challenges facing EH professionals were provided by 1,736 respondents working at health departments who responded to a web-based survey fielded in November 2017. Thematic analyses of the responses and determining the frequency at which respondents reported specific issues and opportunities identified primary EH topic areas. These topic areas and related issues informed focus group discussions at an in-person workshop held in Anaheim, California. The purpose of the in-person workshop was to engage each of the topic areas and issues, through facilitated focus groups, leading to the formation of four to five related problem statements for each EH topic. DISCUSSION EH professionals are strategically positioned to diagnose, intervene, and prevent public health threats. Focus group engagement resulted in 29 priority problem statements partitioned among 6 EH topic areas: a) drinking water quality, b) wastewater management, c) healthy homes, d) food safety, e) vectors and public health pests, and f) emerging issues. This commentary article identifies priority challenges and related research needs to catalyze effective delivery of essential environmental public health services for common EH program areas in health departments. An unprecedented initiative to revitalize EH practice with timely and strategic recommendations for student and professional training, nontraditional partnerships, and basic and translational research activities is recommended. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP5161.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan W Brooks
- Environmental Health Science Program, Dept. of Environmental Science, Institute of Biomedical Studies, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, USA
| | - Justin A Gerding
- National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | | | - Eric Bradley
- Scott County Health Department, Davenport, Iowa, USA
| | | | - Stephanie Cushing
- San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Fikru Hailu
- Marion County Public Health Department, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Nancy Hall
- Southern Nevada Health District, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
| | - Timothy Hatch
- Alabama Department of Public Health, Montgomery, Alabama, USA
| | - Sherise Jurries
- Public Health-Idaho North Central District, Lewiston, Idaho, USA
| | - Martin A Kalis
- National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Kaitlyn R Kelly
- Environmental Health Science Program, Dept. of Environmental Science, Institute of Biomedical Studies, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, USA
| | - Joseph P Laco
- National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Niki Lemin
- Franklin County Public Health, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Carol McInnes
- Boulder County Public Health, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Greg Olsen
- City of Evanston Health and Human Services Department, Evanston, Illinois, USA
| | - Robert Stratman
- Maricopa County Environmental Services Department, Chandler, Arizona, USA
| | - Carolyn White
- Kansas City Health Department, Kansas City, Missouri, USA
| | - Steven Wille
- Maricopa County Environmental Services Department, Mesa, Arizona, USA
| | - John Sarisky
- National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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