Chemical pollution: A growing peril and potential catastrophic risk to humanity

Seasonal hot spots of pollution and risks in Western Kenya: A spatial-temporal analysis of almost 800 organic micropollutants

The release of chemicals into the environment presents a significant threat to aquatic ecosystems dependent on the proximity to emission sources and seasonal dynamics of emission and mobilization. While spatial-temporal information on water pollution in Europe is increasing, there are substantial knowledge gaps on seasonal pollution dynamics in tropical countries. Thus, we took Lake Victoria South Basin in western Kenya as a case study to identify spatial and seasonal hot spots of contamination, quantified toxic risks to different groups of organisms, and identified seasonal risk drivers. For this purpose, we analyzed grab water samples from five rivers with agricultural and wastewater treatment plants in their catchment in four different seasons. We used liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) with a target list of 785 organic micropollutants. A total of 307 compounds were detected with concentrations ranging from 0.3 ng/L to 6.6 μg/L. Using a Toxic Unit (TU) approach based on mixture toxicity to standard test organisms, crustaceans were identified as the most affected group followed by algae and fish. For crustaceans, chronic risk thresholds were exceeded in 96 % of all the samples, while 56 % of all samples are expected to be acutely toxic, with the highest risk in February during the dry season. High toxic unit values for algae and fish were recorded in July dry season and May wet season. Diazinon, imidacloprid, clothianidin and pirimiphos-methyl were the major drivers for crustacean toxicity while triclosan and different herbicide mixtures drive risks to algae in dry and wet seasons, respectively. A total of 18 chemicals were found to exceed acute and chronic environmental risk thresholds. With this study, strong spatial-temporal patterns of pollution, risks and risk drivers could be confirmed informing prioritization of monitoring and abatement to enhance water quality and reduce toxic risks.

Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) induced cancer related DNA methylation alterations in human breast cells: A whole genome methylome study

DNA methylation plays a pivotal role in cancer. The ubiquitous contaminant perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) has been epidemiologically associated with breast cancer, and can induce proliferation and malignant transformation of normal human breast epithelial cells (MCF-10A), but the information about its effect on DNA methylation is sparse. The aim of this study was to characterize the whole-genome methylome effects of PFOS in our breast cell model and compare the findings with previously demonstrated DNA methylation alterations in breast tumor tissues. The DNA methylation profile was assessed at single CpG resolution in MCF-10A cells treated with 1 μM PFOS for 72 h by using Enzymatic Methyl sequencing (EM-seq). We found 12,591 differentially methylated CpG-sites and 13,360 differentially methylated 100 bp tiles in the PFOS exposed breast cells. These differentially methylated regions (DMRs) overlapped with 2406 genes of which 494 were long non-coding RNA and 1841 protein coding genes. We identified 339 affected genes that have been shown to display altered DNA methylation in breast cancer tissue and several other genes related to cancer development. This includes hypermethylation of GACAT3, DELEC1, CASC2, LCIIAR, MUC16, SYNE1 and hypomethylation of TTN and KMT2C. DMRs were also found in estrogen receptor genes (ESR1, ESR2, ESRRG, ESRRB, GREB1) and estrogen responsive genes (GPER1, EEIG1, RERG). The gene ontology analysis revealed pathways related to cancer phenotypes such as cell adhesion and growth. These findings improve the understanding of PFOS's potential role in breast cancer and illustrate the value of whole-genome methylome analysis in uncovering mechanisms of chemical effects, identifying biomarker candidates, and strengthening epidemiological associations, potentially impacting risk assessment.

Advancing groundwater quality predictions: Machine learning challenges and solutions

Machine learning (ML) is revolutionizing groundwater quality research by enhancing predictive accuracy and management strategies for contamination. This comprehensive review explores the evolution of ML technologies and their integration into environmental science, assessing 230 papers to understand the advancements and challenges in groundwater quality research. It reveals that a substantial portion of the research neglects critical preprocessing steps, crucial for model accuracy, with 83 % of the studies overlooking this phase. Furthermore, while model optimization is more commonly addressed, being implemented in 65 % of the papers, there is a noticeable gap in model interpretability, with only 15 % of the research providing explanations for model outcomes. Comparative evaluation of ML algorithms and careful selection of evaluation metrics are deemed essential for determining model fitness and reliability. The review underscores the need for interdisciplinary collaboration, methodological rigor, and continuous innovation to advance ML in groundwater management. By addressing these challenges and implementing solutions, the full potential of ML can be harnessed to tackle complex environmental issues and ensure sustainable groundwater management. This comprehensive and critical review paper can serve as a guiding framework to establish minimum standards for developing ML in groundwater quality studies.

Origin, types, and contribution of emerging pollutants to environmental degradation and their remediation by physical and chemical techniques

The growing presence of emerging pollutants (EPs) in aquatic environments, as well as their harmful impacts on the biosphere and humans, has become a global concern. Recent developments and advancements in pharmaceuticals, agricultural practices, industrial activities, and human personal care substances have paved the way for drastic changes in EP concentrations and impacts on the ecosystem. As a result, it is critical to mitigate EP's harmful effects before they jeopardize the ecological equilibrium of the overall ecosystem and the sustainable existence of life on Earth. This review comprehensively documented the types, origins, and remediation strategies of EPs, and underscored the significance of this study in the current context. We briefly stated the major classification of EPs based on their organic and inorganic nature. Furthermore, this review systematically evaluates the occurrence of EPs due to the fast-changing ecological scenarios and their impact on human health. Recent studies have critically discussed the emerging physical and chemical processes for EP removal, highlighting the limitations of conventional remediation technologies. We reviewed and presented the challenges associated with EP remediation and degradation using several methods, including physical and chemical methods, with the application of recent technologies. The EP types and various methods discussed in this review help the researchers understand the nature of present-day EPs and utilize an efficient method of choice for EP removal and management in the future for sustainable life and development activities on the planet.

Miniaturized liquid chromatography in environmental analysis. A review

The greater and more widespread use of chemicals, either from industry or daily use, is leading to an increase in the discharge of these substances into the environment. Some of these are known to be hazardous to humans and the environment and are regulated, but there is a large and increasing number of substances which pose a potential risk even at low concentration and are not controlled. In this context, new techniques and methodologies are being developed to deal with this concern. Miniaturized liquid chromatography (LC) emerges as a greener and more sensitive alternative to conventional LC. Furthermore, advances in instrument miniaturization have made possible the development of portable LC instrumentation which may become a promising tool for in-situ monitoring. This work reviews the environmental applications of miniaturized LC over the last 15 years and discusses the different instrumentation, including off- and on-line pretreatment techniques, chromatographic conditions, and contributions to the environmental knowledge.

A brief review on models for birds exposed to chemicals

"A Who's Who of pesticides is therefore of concern to us all. If we are going to live so intimately with these chemicals eating and drinking them, taking them into the very marrow of our bones - we had better know something about their nature and their power."-Rachel Carson, Silent Spring. In her day, Rachel Carson was right: plant protection products (PPP), like all the other chemical substances that humans increasingly release into the environment without further precaution, are among our worst enemies today (Bruhl and Zaller, 2019; Naidu et al., 2021; Tang et al., 2021; Topping et al., 2020). All compartments of the biosphere, air, soil and water, are potential reservoirs within which all species that live there are impaired. Birds are particularly concerned: PPP are recognized as a factor in the decline of their abundance and diversity predominantly in agricultural landscapes. Due to the restrictions on vertebrates testing, in silico-based approaches are an ideal choice alternative given input data are available. This is where the problem lies as we will illustrate in this paper. We performed an extensive literature search covering a long period of time, a wide diversity of bird species, a large range of chemical substances, and as many model types as possible to encompass all our future need to improve environmental risk assessment of chemicals for birds. In the end, we show that poultry species exposed to pesticides are the most studied at the individual level with physiologically based toxicokinetic models. To go beyond, with more species, more chemical types, over several levels of biological organization, we show that observed data are crucially missing (Gilbert, 2011). As a consequence, improving existing models or developing new ones could be like climbing Everest if no additional data can be gathered, especially on chemical effects and toxicodynamic aspects.

Hybridization in the Anthropocene - how pollution and climate change disrupt mate selection in freshwater fish

Chemical pollutants and/or climate change have the potential to break down reproductive barriers between species and facilitate hybridization. Hybrid zones may arise in response to environmental gradients and secondary contact between formerly allopatric populations, or due to the introduction of non-native species. In freshwater ecosystems, field observations indicate that changes in water quality and chemistry, due to pollution and climate change, are correlated with an increased frequency of hybridization. Physical and chemical disturbances of water quality can alter the sensory environment, thereby affecting chemical and visual communication among fish. Moreover, multiple chemical compounds (e.g. pharmaceuticals, metals, pesticides, and industrial contaminants) may impair fish physiology, potentially affecting phenotypic traits relevant for mate selection (e.g. pheromone production, courtship, and coloration). Although warming waters have led to documented range shifts, and chemical pollution is ubiquitous in freshwater ecosystems, few studies have tested hypotheses about how these stressors may facilitate hybridization and what this means for biodiversity and species conservation. Through a systematic literature review across disciplines (i.e. ecotoxicology and evolutionary biology), we evaluate the biological interactions, toxic mechanisms, and roles of physical and chemical environmental stressors (i.e. chemical pollution and climate change) in disrupting mate preferences and inducing interspecific hybridization in freshwater fish. Our study indicates that climate change-driven changes in water quality and chemical pollution may impact visual and chemical communication crucial for mate choice and thus could facilitate hybridization among fishes in freshwater ecosystems. To inform future studies and conservation management, we emphasize the importance of further research to identify the chemical and physical stressors affecting mate choice, understand the mechanisms behind these interactions, determine the concentrations at which they occur, and assess their impact on individuals, populations, species, and biological diversity in the Anthropocene.

Anthracene-Induced Alterations in Liverwort Architecture In Vitro: Potential for Bioindication of Environmental Pollution

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are widespread globally, primarily due to long-term anthropogenic pollution sources. Since PAHs tend to accumulate in soil sediments, liverwort plants, such as Lunularia cruciata, are susceptible to their adverse effects, making them good models for bioindicators. The aim of this study was to probe the impact of anthracene, a three-ring linear PAH, on the growth parameters of L. cruciata and the relationship established with the internalization of the pollutant throughout the phenology of the plant. Intrinsic plant responses, isolated from external factors, were assessed in vitro. L. cruciata absorbed anthracene from the culture medium, and its bioaccumulation was monitored throughout the entire process, from the gemma germination stage to the development of the adult plant, over a total period of 60 days. Consequently, plants exposed to concentrations higher than 50 μM anthracene, decreased the growth area of the thallus, the biomass and number of tips. Moreover, anthracene also impinged on plant symmetry. This concentration represented the maximum limit of bioaccumulation in the tissues. This study provides the first evidence that architectural variables in liverwort plants are suitable parameters for their use as bioindicators of PAHs.

Graph neural networks-enhanced relation prediction for ecotoxicology (GRAPE)

Exposure to toxic chemicals threatens species and ecosystems. This study introduces a novel approach using Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) to integrate aquatic toxicity data, providing an alternative to complement traditional in vivo ecotoxicity testing. This study pioneers the application of GNN in ecotoxicology by formulating the problem as a relation prediction task. GRAPE's key innovation lies in simultaneously modelling 444 aquatic species and 2826 chemicals within a graph, leveraging relations from existing datasets where informative species and chemical features are augmented to make informed predictions. Extensive evaluations demonstrate the superiority of GRAPE over Logistic Regression (LR) and Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) models, achieving remarkable improvements of up to a 30% increase in recall values. GRAPE consistently outperforms LR and MLP in predicting novel chemicals and new species. In particular, GRAPE showcases substantial enhancements in recall values, with improvements of ≥ 100% for novel chemicals and up to 13% for new species. Specifically, GRAPE correctly predicts the effects of novel chemicals (104 out of 126) and effects on new species (7 out of 8). Moreover, the study highlights the effectiveness of the proposed chemical features and induced network topology through GNN for accurately predicting metallic (74 out of 86) and organic (612 out of 674) chemicals, showcasing the broad applicability and robustness of the GRAPE model in ecotoxicological investigations. The code/data are provided at https://github.com/csiro-robotics/GRAPE.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of environmental contaminant exposure impacts on weight loss and glucose regulation during calorie-restricted diets in preclinical studies: Persistent organic pollutants may impede glycemic control

Epidemiological evidence links chemical exposure with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) risk and prevalence. Chemical exposure may therefore also limit success of weight loss or restoration of glycemic control during calorie restricted diets. Few human studies examine this hypothesis. This systematic review and clustered meta-analysis examines preclinical evidence that exposure to anthropogenic environmental contaminants impedes weight loss and resumption of glycemic control during calorie restriction. Of five eligible papers from 212 unique citations, four used C57BL/6 mice and one used Sprague Dawley rats. In four the animals received high fat diets to induce obesity and impaired glycemic control. All examined persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) 77 exposure did not affect final mass (standardised mean difference (SMD) = -0.35 [-1.09, 0.39]; n = 5 (experiments); n = 3 (papers)), or response to insulin in insulin tolerance tests (SMD = -1.54 [-3.25, 0.16] n = 3 (experiments); n = 2 (papers)), but impaired glucose control in glucose tolerance tests (SMD = -1.30 [-1.96, -0.63]; n = 6 (experiments); n = 3 (papers)). The impaired glycemic control following perfluoro-octane sulphonic acid (PFOS) exposure and enhanced mass loss following dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) exposure have not been replicated. Animal studies thus suggest some chemical groups, especially PCB and PFOS, could impair glucose control management during calorie restriction, similar to conclusions from limited existing clinical studies. We discuss the research that is urgently required to inform weight management services that are now the mainstay prevention initiative for T2DM.

Classification Model of Pesticide Toxicity in Americamysis bahia Based on Quantum Chemical Descriptors

A set of quantum chemical descriptors (molecular polarization, heat capacity, entropy, Mulliken net charge of the most positive hydrogen atom, APT charge of the most negative atom and APT charge of the most positive atom with hydrogen summed into heavy atoms) was successfully used to establish the classification models for the toxicity pLC50 of pesticides in Americamysis bahia. The optimal random forest model (Class Model A) yielded predictive accuracy of 100% (training set of 217 pesticides), 95.8% (test set of 72 pesticides) and 99.0% (total set of 289 pesticides), which were very satisfactory, compared with previous classification models reported for the toxicity of compounds in aquatic organisms. Therefore, it is reasonable to apply the quantum chemical descriptors associated with molecular structural information on molecular bulk, chemical reactivity and weak interactions, to develop classification models for the toxicity pLC50 of pesticides in A. bahia.

Emerging contaminants: A One Health perspective

Environmental pollution is escalating due to rapid global development that often prioritizes human needs over planetary health. Despite global efforts to mitigate legacy pollutants, the continuous introduction of new substances remains a major threat to both people and the planet. In response, global initiatives are focusing on risk assessment and regulation of emerging contaminants, as demonstrated by the ongoing efforts to establish the UN's Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste, and Pollution Prevention. This review identifies the sources and impacts of emerging contaminants on planetary health, emphasizing the importance of adopting a One Health approach. Strategies for monitoring and addressing these pollutants are discussed, underscoring the need for robust and socially equitable environmental policies at both regional and international levels. Urgent actions are needed to transition toward sustainable pollution management practices to safeguard our planet for future generations.

Catalytic Transformation of Carbohydrates into Renewable Organic Chemicals by Revering the Principles of Green Chemistry

Adherence to the principles of green chemistry in a biorefinery setting ensures energy efficiency, reduces the consumption of materials, simplifies reactor design, and rationalizes the process parameters for synthesizing affordable organic chemicals of desired functional efficacy and ingrained sustainability. The green chemistry metrics facilitate assessing the relative merits and demerits of alternative synthetic pathways for the targeted product(s). This work elaborates on how green chemistry has emerged as a transformative framework and inspired innovations toward the catalytic conversion of biomass-derived carbohydrates into fuels, chemicals, and synthetic polymers. Specific discussions have been incorporated on the judicious selection of feedstock, reaction parameters, reagents (stoichiometric or catalytic), and other synthetic auxiliaries to obtain the targeted product(s) in desired selectivity and yield. The prospects of a carbohydrate-centric biorefinery have been emphasized and research avenues have been proposed to eliminate the remaining roadblocks. The analyses presented in this review will steer to developing superior synthetic strategies and processes for envisaging a sustainable bioeconomy centered on biomass-derived carbohydrates.

Aquatic assessment of the chelating ability of Silica-stabilized magnetite nanocomposite to lead nitrate toxicity with emphasis to their impact on hepatorenal, oxidative stress, genotoxicity, histopathological, and bioaccumulation parameters in Oreochromis niloticus and Clarias gariepinus

BACKGROUND

In recent years, anthropogenic activities have released heavy metals and polluted the aquatic environment. This study investigated the ability of the silica-stabilized magnetite (Si-M) nanocomposite materials to dispose of lead nitrate (Pb(NO3)2) toxicity in Nile tilapia and African catfish.

RESULTS

Preliminary toxicity tests were conducted and determined the median lethal concentration (LC50) of lead nitrate (Pb(NO3)2) to Nile tilapia and African catfish to be 5 mg/l. The sublethal concentration, equivalent to 1/20 of the 96-hour LC50 Pb(NO3)2, was selected for our experiment. Fish of each species were divided into four duplicated groups. The first group served as the control negative group, while the second group (Pb group) was exposed to 0.25 mg/l Pb(NO3)2 (1/20 of the 96-hour LC50). The third group (Si-MNPs) was exposed to silica-stabilized magnetite nanoparticles at a concentration of 1 mg/l, and the fourth group (Pb + Si-MNPs) was exposed simultaneously to Pb(NO3)2 and Si-MNPs at the same concentrations as the second and third groups. Throughout the experimental period, no mortalities or abnormal clinical observations were recorded in any of the treated groups, except for melanosis and abnormal nervous behavior observed in some fish in the Pb group. After three weeks of sublethal exposure, we analyzed hepatorenal indices, oxidative stress parameters, and genotoxicity. Values of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), urea, and creatinine were significantly higher in the Pb-intoxicated groups compared to the control and Pb + Si-MNPs groups in both fish species. Oxidative stress parameters showed a significant decrease in reduced glutathione (GSH) concentration, along with a significant increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl content (PCC) concentrations, as well as DNA fragmentation percentage in the Pb group. However, these values were nearly restored to control levels in the Pb + Si-MNPs groups. High lead accumulation was observed in the liver and gills of the Pb group, with the least accumulation in the muscles of tilapia and catfish in the Pb + Si-MNPs group. Histopathological analysis of tissue samples from Pb-exposed groups of tilapia and catfish revealed brain vacuolation, gill fusion, hyperplasia, and marked hepatocellular and renal necrosis, contrasting with Pb + Si-MNP group, which appeared to have an apparently normal tissue structure.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results demonstrate that Si-MNPs are safe and effective aqueous additives in reducing the toxic effects of Pb (NO3)2 on fish tissue through the lead-chelating ability of Si-MNPs in water before being absorbed by fish.

Multi- and transgenerational effects of environmental chemicals on mollusks: An underexplored experimental design in aquatic (eco)toxicological studies

(Eco)toxicological studies frequently evaluate the effects of chemicals in one life stage of organisms, but the use of these outcomes can only partially estimate populational effects. In this regard, multi- and/or transgenerational studies should be performed in order to provide information on contaminant effects in a populational functioning context. The present review aimed to summarize and critically evaluate the current knowledge regarding multi- and/or transgenerational effects of traditional and emerging environmental chemicals on mollusks. Results showed that these kinds of studies were performed in aquatic mollusks (bivalve and gastropod), being Gastropoda the mollusk Class most frequently studied. Additionally, freshwater species and multigenerational studies were more common for this class. For the Bivalvia class, only marine species were evaluated, and transgenerational exposure was more commonly assessed. The effects were reported for 15 species, highlighting the marine bivalves Crassostrea gigas and Saccostrea glomerata, and the freshwater gastropod Lymnaea stagnalis. Multi- and transgenerational effects were described for 8 environmental chemical groups, mainly metals, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals. In general, multi- and transgenerational exposure induced biometric, developmental, and reproductive impairments in mollusks, indicating that environmental chemicals might lead to generational impairments, reduced population growth and reproductive capacity, and decreased fitness. The current study indicated that bivalves and gastropods are suitable organism models to assess the multi- and transgenerational adverse effects induced by traditional and emerging environmental chemicals.

House Sparrows as Sentinels of Childhood Lead Exposure

Our understanding of connections between human and animal health has advanced substantially since the canary was introduced as a sentinel of toxic conditions in coal mines. Nonetheless, the development of wildlife sentinels for monitoring human exposure to toxins has been limited. Here, we capitalized on a three-decade long child blood lead monitoring program to demonstrate that the globally ubiquitous and human commensal house sparrow (Passer domesticus) can be used as a sentinel of human health risks in urban environments impacted by lead mining. We showed that sparrows are a viable proxy for the measurement of blood lead levels in children at a neighborhood scale (0.28 km2). In support of the generalizability of this approach, the blood lead relationship established in our focal mining city enabled us to accurately predict elevated blood lead levels in children from another mining city using only sparrows from the second location. Using lead concentrations and lead isotopic compositions from environmental and biological matrices, we identified shared sources and pathways of lead exposure in sparrows and children, with strong links to contamination from local mining emissions. Our findings showed how human commensal species can be used to identify and predict human health risks over time and space.

Slime molds (Myxomycetes) causing a "disease" in crop plants and cultivated mushrooms

Myxomycetes (plasmodial slime molds) are eukaryotic protist predators that are associated with wood, leaf litter, and soil in forests, where they feed on bacteria, protozoans, and (to a more limited extent) fungi. The health of crop plants is essential because they represent a primary food source for humans. However, when myxomycetes produce numerous fruiting bodies on the stems and leaves of crop plants, which is herein referred to as a myxomycete colonization, this has the potential of interfering with plant photosynthesis, transpiration and respiration by blocking out light and covering stomata. Myxomycetes are not pathogens, but their occurrence on plants can be mistakenly interpreted as some type of infection. However, this phenomenon has been largely ignored. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the taxonomic and economic diversity of the organisms involved in myxomycete colonization. In addition, the various types of myxomycete colonization reported in the literature are described and discussed, a number of images provided, and cultural and chemical prevention and control measures are summarized. The latter should be of significant relevance for local production of crops and plant protective stations. While myxomycetes are not pathogens of crop plants, some species can seriously impact commercially grown mushrooms. Reports of myxomycetes affecting mushrooms are also described in this paper.

Genotoxicological and physiological effects of glyphosate and its metabolite, aminomethylphosphonic acid, on the freshwater invertebrate Lymnaea stagnalis

Aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) is the main metabolite in the degradation of glyphosate, a broad-spectrum herbicide, and it is more toxic and persistent in the environment than the glyphosate itself. Owing to their extensive use, both chemicals pose a serious risk to aquatic ecosystems. Here, we explored the genotoxicological and physiological effects of glyphosate, AMPA, and the mixed solution in the proportion 1:1 in Lymnaea stagnalis, a freshwater gastropod snail. To do this, adult individuals were exposed to increasing nominal concentrations (0.0125, 0.025, 0.050, 0.100, 0.250, 0.500 µg/mL) in all three treatments once a week for four weeks. The genotoxicological effects were estimated as genomic damage, as defined by the number of micronuclei and nuclear buds observed in hemocytes, while the physiological effects were estimated as the effects on somatic growth and egg production. Exposure to glyphosate, AMPA, and the mixed solution caused genomic damage, as measured in increased frequency of micronuclei and nuclear buds and in adverse effects on somatic growth and egg production. Our findings suggest the need for more research into the harmful and synergistic effects of glyphosate and AMPA and of pesticides and their metabolites in general.

Searching for a sustainable solution to increasing chemical pollution

The growing world population and the development of civilization put pressure on the environment. Irreversible climate changes, biodiversity loss, ocean acidification, land and water degradation, and food scarcity took place. Climate changes affect human health through extreme atmospheric phenomena or indirect effects of ecosystem disruption. The intensification of natural disasters increases the risk of technical failures, and the growing production and release of larger quantities and more new chemical compounds, with different hazard potentials, exceeds the environment's adaptability and societies' ability to monitor changes and conduct safety assessments. The article reviews the knowledge and approach to the possibility of reducing the risks and effects of events resulting from chemical pollution. As stated, prevention of further environmental degradation and increased preparedness for natural disasters caused by climate change is critical to public safety and requires contingency plans to continuously adapt to the changing frequency, intensity, and scale of natural disasters.

Profiling population-wide exposure to environmental chemicals: A case study of naphthalene

Long-term exposure to environmental chemicals can detrimentally impact human health, and understanding the relationship between age distribution and levels of external and internal exposure is crucial. Nonetheless, existing methods for assessing population-wide exposure across age groups are limited. To bridge this research gap, we introduced a modeling approach designed to assess both chronic external and internal exposure to chemicals at the population level. The external and internal exposure assessments were quantified in terms of the average daily dose (ADD) and steady-state blood concentration of the environmental chemical, respectively, which were categorized by age and gender groups. The modeling process was presented within a spreadsheet framework, affording users the capability to execute population-wide exposure analyses across a spectrum of chemicals. Our simulation outcomes underscored a salient trend: younger age groups, particularly infants and children, exhibited markedly higher ADD values and blood concentrations of environmental chemicals compared to their older counterparts. This observation is due to the elevated basal metabolic rate per unit of body weight characteristic of younger individuals, coupled with their diminished biotransformation kinetics of xenobiotics within their livers. These factors collectively contribute to increased intake rates of environmental chemicals per unit of body weight through air and food consumption, along with heightened bioaccumulation of these chemicals within their bodies (e.g., blood). Furthermore, we augmented the precision of the external and internal exposure assessment by incorporating the age distribution across the population. The simulation outcomes unveiled that, to estimate the central tendency of the population's exposure levels, employing the baseline value group (age group 21-30) or the surrogate age of 25 serves as a simple yet dependable approach. However, for comprehensive population protection, our recommendation aligns with conducting exposure assessments for the younger age groups (age group 0-11). Future studies should integrate individual-level exposure assessment, analyze vulnerable population groups, and refine population structures within our developed model.

What is driving the global decline of human fertility? Need for a multidisciplinary approach to the underlying mechanisms

An intense period of human population expansion over the past 250 years is about to cease. Total fertility rates are falling dramatically all over the world such that highly industrialized nations, including China and the tiger economies of SE Asia, will see their populations decline significantly in the coming decades. The socioeconomic, geopolitical and environmental ramifications of this change are considerable and invite a multidisciplinary consideration of the underlying mechanisms. In the short-term, socioeconomic factors, particularly urbanization and delayed childbearing are powerful drivers of reduced fertility. In parallel, lifestyle factors such as obesity and the presence of numerous reproductive toxicants in the environment, including air-borne pollutants, nanoplastics and electromagnetic radiation, are seriously compromising reproductive health. In the longer term, it is hypothesized that the reduction in family size that accompanies the demographic transition will decrease selection pressure on high fertility genes leading to a progressive loss of human fecundity. Paradoxically, the uptake of assisted reproductive technologies at scale, may also contribute to such fecundity loss by encouraging the retention of poor fertility genotypes within the population. Since the decline in fertility rate that accompanies the demographic transition appears to be ubiquitous, the public health implications for our species are potentially devastating.

Genomic Insights into Cyanide Biodegradation in the Pseudomonas Genus

Molecular studies about cyanide biodegradation have been mainly focused on the hydrolytic pathways catalyzed by the cyanide dihydratase CynD or the nitrilase NitC. In some Pseudomonas strains, the assimilation of cyanide has been linked to NitC, such as the cyanotrophic model strain Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes CECT 5344, which has been recently reclassified as Pseudomonas oleovorans CECT 5344. In this work, a phylogenomic approach established a more precise taxonomic position of the strain CECT 5344 within the species P. oleovorans. Furthermore, a pan-genomic analysis of P. oleovorans and other species with cyanotrophic strains, such as P. fluorescens and P. monteilii, allowed for the comparison and identification of the cioAB and mqoAB genes involved in cyanide resistance, and the nitC and cynS genes required for the assimilation of cyanide or cyanate, respectively. While cyanide resistance genes presented a high frequency among the analyzed genomes, genes responsible for cyanide or cyanate assimilation were identified in a considerably lower proportion. According to the results obtained in this work, an in silico approach based on a comparative genomic approach can be considered as an agile strategy for the bioprospection of putative cyanotrophic bacteria and for the identification of new genes putatively involved in cyanide biodegradation.

Recent Developments in Porphyrin-Based Metal-Organic Framework Materials for Water Remediation under Visible-Light Irradiation

Access to clean drinking water is a basic requirement, and eliminating pollutants from wastewater is important for saving water ecosystems. The porous structure and surface characteristics of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) can function as a perfect scaffold for removing toxic compounds from wastewater. Porphyrins are promising building blocks for constructing MOFs. Porphyrin-based metal-organic frameworks (P-MOFs) have been fabricated using porphyrin ligands, metal clusters, or ions. These materials can harvest light from a wide region of the solar spectrum, and their framework morphology and physicochemical properties can be controlled by changing their peripheral subunits or metal ions. These porous crystalline materials have generated interest because of their distinctive characteristics, including large permanent porosity, interesting surface morphology, broad conformational diversity, high photostability, and semiconducting nature. This article discusses the recent progress and usefulness of P-MOFs. The fabrication procedures of P-MOFs are discussed, followed by the adsorptive and photocatalytic removal of contaminants from wastewater. The relationships between the geometries of P-MOFs and their light-harvesting and charge-transfer mechanisms for the photocatalytic degradation of pollutants are highlighted. Finally, some future perspectives and obstacles in the photodegradation usage of P-MOFs are discussed, along with feasible research directions to standardize efficient photocatalysts for improved photodegradation for water treatment.

Biomimetic microfluidic chips for toxicity assessment of environmental pollutants

Various types of pollutants widely present in environmental media, including synthetic and natural chemicals, physical pollutants such as radioactive substances, ultraviolet rays, and noise, as well as biological organisms, pose a huge threat to public health. Therefore, it is crucial to accurately and effectively explore the human physiological responses and toxicity mechanisms of pollutants to prevent diseases caused by pollutants. The emerging toxicological testing method biomimetic microfluidic chips (BMCs) exhibit great potential in environmental pollutant toxicity assessment due to their superior biomimetic properties. The BMCs are divided into cell-on-chips and organ-on-chips based on the distinctions in bionic simulation levels. Herein, we first summarize the characteristics, emergence and development history, composition and structure, and application fields of BMCs. Then, with a focus on the toxicity mechanisms of pollutants, we review the applications and advances of the BMCs in the toxicity assessment of physical, chemical, and biological pollutants, respectively, highlighting its potential and development prospects in environmental toxicology testing. Finally, the opportunities and challenges for further use of BMCs are discussed.

Microbial biotechnology and beyond: A roadmap for sustainable development and climate mitigation in the transition from fossil fuels to green chemistry

Our planet, which operates as a closed system, is facing increasing entropy due to human activities such as the overexploitation of natural resources and fossil fuel use. The COP28 in Dubai emphasized the urgency to abandon fossil fuels, recognizing them as the primary cause of human-induced environmental changes, while highlighting the need to transition to renewable energies. We promote the crucial role of microbes for sustaining biogenic cycles to combat climate change and the economic potential of synthetic biology tools for producing diverse non-fossil fuels and chemicals, thus contributing to emission reduction in transport and industry. The shift to 'green chemistry' encounters challenges, derived from the availability of non-food residues and waste (mainly lignocellulosic) as raw material, the construction of cost-effective bioprocessing plants, product recovery from fermentation broths and the utilization of leftover lignin residues for synthesizing new chemicals, aligning with circular economy and sustainable development goals. To meet the Paris Agreement goals, an urgent global shift to low-carbon, renewable sources is imperative, ultimately leading to the cessation of our reliance on fossil fuels.

A review of organophosphonates, their natural and anthropogenic sources, environmental fate and impact on microbial greenhouse gases emissions - Identifying knowledge gaps

Organophosphonates (OPs) are a unique group of natural and synthetic compounds, characterised by the presence of a stable, hard-to-cleave bond between the carbon and phosphorus atoms. OPs exhibit high resistance to abiotic degradation, excellent chelating properties and high biological activity. Despite the huge and increasing scale of OP production and use worldwide, little is known about their transportation and fate in the environment. Available data are dominated by information concerning the most recognised organophosphonate - the herbicide glyphosate - while other OPs have received little attention. In this paper, a comprehensive review of the current state of knowledge about natural and artificial OPs is presented (including glyphosate). Based on the available literature, a number of knowledge gaps have been identified that need to be filled in order to understand the environmental effects of these abundant compounds. Special attention has been given to GHG-related processes, with a particular focus on CH4. This stems from the recent discovery of OP-dependent CH4 production in aqueous environments under aerobic conditions. The process has changed the perception of the biogeochemical cycle of CH4, since it was previously thought that biological methane formation was only possible under anaerobic conditions. However, there is a lack of knowledge on whether OP-associated methane is also formed in soils. Moreover, it remains unclear whether anthropogenic OPs affect the CH4 cycle, a concern of significant importance in the context of the increasing rate of global warming. The literature examined in this review also calls for additional research into the date of OPs in waste and sewage and in their impact on environmental microbiomes.

Environmental management cycles for chemicals and climate change, EMC4 : A new conceptual framework contextualizing climate and chemical risk assessment and management

The environmental management cycles for chemicals and climate change (EMC4 ) is a suggested conceptual framework for integrating climate change aspects into chemical risk management. The interaction of climate change and chemical risk brings together complex systems that are imperfectly understood by science. Making management decisions in this context is therefore difficult and often exacerbated by a lack of data. The consequences of poor decision-making can be significant for both environmental and human health. This article reflects on the ways in which existing chemicals management systems consider climate change and proposes the EMC4 conceptual framework, which is a tool for decision-makers operating at different spatial scales. Also presented are key questions raised by the tool to help the decision-maker identify chemical risks from climate change, management options, and, importantly, the different types of actors that are instrumental in managing that risk. Case studies showing decision-making at different spatial scales are also presented highlighting the conceptual framework's applicability to multiple scales. The United Nations Environment Programme's development of an intergovernmental Science Policy Panel on Chemicals and Waste has presented an opportunity to promote and generate research highlighting the impacts of chemicals and climate change interlinkages. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:433-453. © 2023 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

Designing sustainable circular bioeconomy solutions for the pulse industry: The case of crude pea starch as a substrate for single cell protein production

Valorization of crude pea starch has become a key focus in the pea industry's sustainability pursuit. This study aimed to explore the circularity potential of crude pea starch as a nutrient-dense substrate for the solid-state cultivation of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) Single Cell Protein (SCP). Following the ISO 2006:14040/44 standard, a life cycle assessment (LCA) was performed to ascertain the environmental performance and operational dynamics of baseline and scenario pea starch-based yeast SCP process designs and identify optimal design considerations. Results demonstrated a higher relative contribution to the toxicity categories, with a relatively less contribution to global warming and land use. The distribution and media enrichment processes were identified as the hotspots, contributing about 32-55 % and 40-56 % to global warming and land use, respectively. Generally, train and air freight were more sustainable than lorry freight, respective of mileage and mass. Regarding system alteration, eliminating the media enrichment process could offset about 26 % of land footprint, with a similar trend for most impact categories. Process benchmarking showed up to a 3-fold reduction in global warming impacts relative to soybean meal, and about 71 % offset relative to fishmeal. Consequential LCA showed a general sustainability preference for substituting the aquacultural feeds with pea starch-based SCP, with a stronger emphasis on fishmeal substitution. Overall, these findings highlight the potential of the proposed SCP design as a sustainable upcycling solution with substitutionary potentials for conventional food and feeds, recommending further exploration in value and wealth creation.

Controllable fabrication of well-shaped PMBA@CsPbBr3 nanoparticles for highly sensitive detection of HCl and HBr

We report a facile two-step strategy to construct well-shaped PMBA@CsPbBr3 nanoparticles, with this strategy involving combining in situ adsorption and controlled polymerization. The morphological evolution process and mechanism of formation of the nanoparticles were demonstrated, and the nanoparticles showed high sensitivity to corrosive acid gas. This work has provided an effective approach for fabricating well-structured perovskite-based nanocomposites.

Wastewater Treatment Using Membrane Bioreactor Technologies: Removal of Phenolic Contaminants from Oil and Coal Refineries and Pharmaceutical Industries

Huge amounts of noxious chemicals from coal and petrochemical refineries and pharmaceutical industries are released into water bodies. These chemicals are highly toxic and cause adverse effects on both aquatic and terrestrial life. The removal of hazardous contaminants from industrial effluents is expensive and environmentally driven. The majority of the technologies applied nowadays for the removal of phenols and other contaminants are based on physio-chemical processes such as solvent extraction, chemical precipitation, and adsorption. The removal efficiency of toxic chemicals, especially phenols, is low with these technologies when the concentrations are very low. Furthermore, the major drawbacks of these technologies are the high operation costs and inadequate selectivity. To overcome these limitations, researchers are applying biological and membrane technologies together, which are gaining more attention because of their ease of use, high selectivity, and effectiveness. In the present review, the microbial degradation of phenolics in combination with intensified membrane bioreactors (MBRs) has been discussed. Important factors, including the origin and mode of phenols' biodegradation as well as the characteristics of the membrane bioreactors for the optimal removal of phenolic contaminants from industrial effluents are considered. The modifications of MBRs for the removal of phenols from various wastewater sources have also been addressed in this review article. The economic analysis on the cost and benefits of MBR technology compared with conventional wastewater treatments is discussed extensively.

An urban metabolism framework purpose to assess the dynamics of linear alkylbenzenes (LABs) discharge flows and driving forces at the city level in Guangdong province, China

Linear alkylbenzenes (LABs) are a class of molecular markers derived from anthropogenic activities. A comprehensive understanding of the mechanism that determines their entry into anthroposphere, in terms of magnitude and pathway, is the prerequisite to establish effective mitigation measures. This study develops a methodology framework to analyze the source-sink interactions and driving factors of the direct and indirect LAB discharges from production and living activities in Guangdong Province, China from 2004 to 2017. Results indicated that the total LAB discharges of Guangdong into the environment were averaged at 2.9 kt yr-1, of which 61.9% originated from the Pearl River Delta (PRD) urban agglomeration. An average proportion of 76.0% was discharged into water bodies with the remaining released into land bodied. From 2014 to 2017, the LAB discharges increased by seven times, resulting from the steady increase of urban residential sources, while contribution from industrial sources continuously declined during the studied period. Meanwhile, the discharging hotspots expanded from Guangzhou city to other super-cities around it, including Shenzhen and Dongguan. The other cities exhibited a decreasing trend in discharges as a function of distance from these hotspot cities. The multisectoral sources of LABs differed considerably among cities, and the source contribution of each city changed significantly with progressive urbanization. The factor decomposition analysis indicated that LAB discharges in PRD cities primarily contributed by the pollutant concentration and reflected the treatment structure, while peripheral cities of the PRD mainly contributed by the per capita consumption and pollutant discharge per unit of GDP. Overall, our results provide a scientific database and supports for the regional co-remediation of anthropogenic pollution.

Chemical mixture that targets the epidermal growth factor pathway impairs human trophoblast cell functions

Pregnant women are exposed to complex chemical mixtures, many of which reach the placenta. Some of these chemicals interfere with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activation, a receptor tyrosine kinase that modulates several placenta cell functions. We hypothesized that a mixture of chemicals (Chem-Mix) known to reduce EGFR activation (polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)-126, PCB-153, atrazine, trans-nonachlor, niclosamide, and bisphenol S) would interfere with EGFR-mediated trophoblast cell functions. To test this, we determined the chemicals' EGFR binding ability, EGFR and downstream effectors activation, and trophoblast functions (proliferation, invasion, and endovascular differentiation) known to be regulated by EGFR in extravillous trophoblasts (EVTs). The Chem-Mix competed with EGF for EGFR binding, however only PCB-153, niclosamide, trans-nonachlor, and BPS competed for binding as single chemicals. The effects of the Chem-Mix on EGFR phosphorylation were tested by exposing the placental EVT cell line, HTR-8/SVneo to control (0.1% DMSO), Chem-Mix (1, 10, or 100 ng/ml), EGF (30 ng/ml), or Chem-Mix + EGF. The Chem-Mix - but not the individual chemicals - reduced EGF-mediated EGFR phosphorylation in a dose dependent manner, while no effect was observed in its downstream effectors (AKT and STAT3). None of the individual chemicals affected EVT cell invasion, but the Chem-Mix reduced EVT cell invasion independent of EGF. In support of previous studies that have explored chemicals targeting a specific pathway (estrogen/androgen receptor), current findings indicate that exposure to a chemical mixture that targets the EGFR pathway can result in a greater impact compared to individual chemicals in the context of placental cell functions.

Porphyrin-Based Nanomaterials for the Photocatalytic Remediation of Wastewater: Recent Advances and Perspectives

Self-organized, well-defined porphyrin-based nanostructures with controllable sizes and morphologies are in high demand for the photodegradation of hazardous contaminants under sunlight. From this perspective, this review summarizes the development progress in the fabrication of porphyrin-based nanostructures by changing their synthetic strategies and designs. Porphyrin-based nanostructures can be fabricated using several methods, including ionic self-assembly, metal-ligand coordination, reprecipitation, and surfactant-assisted methods. The synthetic utility of porphyrins permits the organization of porphyrin building blocks into nanostructures, which can remarkably improve their light-harvesting properties and photostability. The tunable functionalization and distinctive structures of porphyrin nanomaterials trigger the junction of the charge-transfer mechanism and facilitate the photodegradation of pollutant dyes. Finally, porphyrin nanomaterials or porphyrin/metal nanohybrids are explored to amplify their photocatalytic efficiency.

Chemical Space Covered by Applicability Domains of Quantitative Structure-Property Relationships and Semiempirical Relationships in Chemical Assessments

A significant number of chemicals registered in national and regional chemical inventories require assessments of their potential "hazard" concerns posed to humans and ecological receptors. This warrants knowledge of their partitioning and reactivity properties, which are often predicted by quantitative structure-property relationships (QSPRs) and other semiempirical relationships. It is imperative to evaluate the applicability domain (AD) of these tools to ensure their suitability for assessment purpose. Here, we investigate the extent to which the ADs of commonly used QSPRs and semiempirical relationships cover seven partitioning and reactivity properties of a chemical "space" comprising 81,000+ organic chemicals registered in regulatory and academic chemical inventories. Our findings show that around or more than half of the chemicals studied are covered by at least one of the commonly used QSPRs. The investigated QSPRs demonstrate adequate AD coverage for organochlorides and organobromines but limited AD coverage for chemicals containing fluorine and phosphorus. These QSPRs exhibit limited AD coverage for atmospheric reactivity, biodegradation, and octanol-air partitioning, particularly for ionizable organic chemicals compared to nonionizable ones, challenging assessments of environmental persistence, bioaccumulation capability, and long-range transport potential. We also find that a predictive tool's AD coverage of chemicals depends on how the AD is defined, for example, by the distance of a predicted chemical from the centroid of the training chemicals or by the presence or absence of structural features.

Potentiation of Adipogenesis by Reactive Oxygen Species Is a Unifying Mechanism in the Proadipogenic Properties of Bisphenol A and Its New Structural Analogues

Aims: Structural analogues of bisphenol A (BPA), including bisphenol S (BPS) and bisphenol F (BPF), are emerging environmental toxicants as their presence in the environment is rising since new regulatory restrictions were placed on BPA-containing infant products. The adipogenesis-enhancing effect of bisphenols may explain the link between human exposure and metabolic disease; however, underlying molecular pathways remain unresolved. Results: Exposure to BPS, BPF, BPA, or reactive oxygen species (ROS) generators enhanced lipid droplet formation and expression of adipogenic markers after induction of differentiation in adipose-derived progenitors isolated from mice. RNAseq analysis in BPS-exposed progenitors revealed modulation in pathways regulating adipogenesis and responses to oxidative stress. ROS were higher in bisphenol-exposed cells, while cotreatment with antioxidants attenuated adipogenesis and abolished the effect of BPS. There was a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential in BPS-exposed cells and mitochondria-derived ROS contributed to the potentiation of adipogenesis by BPS and its analogues. Male mice exposed to BPS during gestation had higher whole-body adiposity, as measured by time domain nuclear magnetic resonance, while postnatal exposure had no impact on adiposity in either sex. Innovation: These findings support existing evidence showing a role for ROS in regulating adipocyte differentiation and are the first to highlight ROS as a unifying mechanism that explains the proadipogenic properties of BPA and its structural analogues. Conclusion: ROS act as signaling molecules in the regulation of adipocyte differentiation and mediate bisphenol-induced potentiation of adipogenesis. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 40, 1-15.

Interpretable machine learning for the identification of estrogen receptor agonists, antagonists, and binders

An abnormal hormonal activity or exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can cause endocrine system malfunction. Among the many interactions EDCs can affect is the disruption of estrogen signalling, which can lead to adverse health effects such as cancer, osteoporosis, neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance, and obesity. Knowing which chemical can act as an EDC is a significant advantage and a practical necessity. New Approach Methodologies (NAM) computational models offer a quick and cost-effective solution for preliminary hazard assessment of chemicals without animal testing. Therefore, a machine learning approach was used to investigate the relationships between estrogen receptor (ER) activity and chemical structure to identify chemicals that can interact with ER. For this purpose, the consolidated in vitro assay data from ToxCast/Tox21 projects was used for developing Random Forest classification models for ER binding, agonists, and antagonists. The overall classification prediction accuracy reaches up to 82%, depending on whether the model predicted agonists, antagonists, or compounds that bind to the active site. Given the imbalance in endocrine disruption data, the derived models are good candidates for deprioritising chemicals and reducing animal testing. The interpretation of theoretical molecular descriptors of the models was consistent with the molecular interactions known in the ligand binding pocket. The estimated class probabilities enabled the analysis of the applicability domain of the developed models and the assessment of the predictions' reliability, followed by the guidelines for interpreting prediction results. The models are openly accessible and useable at QsarDB.org (http://dx.doi.org/10.15152/QDB.259) according to the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) principles.

Assessing emerging and priority micropollutants in sewage sludge: environmental insights and analytical approaches

The application of sewage sludge (SS) in agriculture, as an alternative to manufactured fertilizers, is current practice worldwide. However, as wastewater is collected from households, industries, and hospitals, the resulting sludge could contaminate land with creeping levels of pharmaceuticals, pesticides, heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and microplastics, among others. Thus, the sustainable management of SS requires the development of selective methods for the identification and quantification of pollutants, preventing ecological and/or health risks. This study presents a thorough evaluation of emerging and priority micropollutants in SS, through the lens of environmental insights, by developing and implementing an integrated analytical approach. A quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) extraction method, coupled with gas chromatography and liquid chromatography, was optimized for the determination of 42 organic compounds. These include organophosphorus pesticides, organochlorine pesticides, pyrethroid pesticides, organophosphate ester flame retardants, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, polychlorinated biphenyls, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The optimization of the dispersive-solid phase for clean-up, combined with the optimization of chromatographic parameters, ensured improved sensitivity. Method validation included assessments for recovery, reproducibility, limit of detection (LOD), and limit of quantification (LOQ). Recoveries ranged from 59.5 to 117%, while LODs ranged from 0.00700 to 0.271 µg g-1. Application of the method to seven SS samples from Portuguese wastewater treatment plants revealed the presence of sixteen compounds, including persistent organic pollutants. The quantification of α-endosulfan, an organochlorine pesticide, was consistently observed in all samples, with concentrations ranging from 0.110 to 0.571 µg g-1. Furthermore, the study encompasses the analysis of agronomic parameters, as well as the mineral and metal content in SS samples. The study demonstrates that the levels of heavy metals comply with legal limits. By conducting a comprehensive investigation into the presence of micropollutants in SS, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of the environmental and sustainable implications associated with SS management.

Harnessing water fleas for water reclamation: A nature-based tertiary wastewater treatment technology

Urbanisation, population growth, and climate change have put unprecedented pressure on water resources, leading to a global water crisis and the need for water reuse. However, water reuse is unsafe unless persistent chemical pollutants are removed from reclaimed water. State-of-the-art technologies for the reduction of persistent chemical pollutants in wastewater typically impose high operational and energy costs and potentially generate toxic by-products (e.g., bromate from ozonation). Nature-base solutions are preferred to these technologies for their lower environmental impact. However, so far, bio-based tertiary wastewater treatments have been inefficient for industrial-scale applications. Moreover, they often demand significant financial investment and large infrastructure, undermining sustainability objectives. Here, we present a scalable, low-cost, low-carbon, and retrofittable nature-inspired solution to remove persistent chemical pollutants (pharmaceutical, pesticides and industrial chemicals). We showed Daphnia's removal efficiency of individual chemicals and chemicals from wastewater at laboratory scale ranging between 50 % for PFOS and 90 % for diclofenac. We validated the removal efficiency of diclofenac at prototype scale, showing sustained performance over four weeks in outdoor seminatural conditions. A techno-commercial analysis on the Daphnia-based technology suggested several technical, commercial and sustainability advantages over established and emerging treatments at comparable removal efficiency, benchmarked on available data on individual chemicals. Further testing of the technology is underway in open flow environments holding real wastewater. The technology has the potential to improve the quality of wastewater effluent, meeting requirements to produce water appropriate for reuse in irrigation, industrial application, and household use. By preventing persistent chemicals from entering waterways, this technology has the potential to maximise the shift to clean growth, enabling water reuse, reducing resource depletion and preventing environmental pollution.

Enhanced photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue dye using eco-friendly synthesized rGO@ZnO nanocomposites

Industrial chemical pollutants such as methylene blue (MB) dye are released into the water body and potentially cause harm to the human and aquatic biosphere. Therefore, this study aims to synthesize eco-friendly nanocatalysts, i.e., reduced graphene oxide (rGO), zinc oxide (ZnO), and reduced graphene oxide-zinc oxide (rGO@ZnO) nanocomposites, for efficient photocatalytic degradation of MB dye. A graphite rod was obtained from waste dry cell batteries for the electrochemical exfoliation synthesis of graphene oxide (GO) and rGO. For the eco-friendly synthesis of ZnO and rGO@ZnO nanocatalysts, Croton macrostachyus leaf extract was used as a reducing and capping agent. The synthesized nanocatalysts were characterized using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray. The eco-friendly synthesized rGO, ZnO, and rGO@ZnO nanocatalysts were applied for the photocatalytic degradation of MB dye using direct sunlight irradiation. At optimum parameters, photocatalytic degradation of MB dye efficiency reached up to 66%, 96.5%, and 99.0%, respectively. Furthermore, kinetics of the photodegradation reaction based on rGO, ZnO, and rGO@ZnO nanocatalysts follow pseudo-first-order with a rate constant of 2.16 × 10-3 min-1, 4.97 × 10-3 min-1, and 5.03 × 10-3 min-1, respectively. Lastly, this study promotes a low catalyst load (20 mg) for the efficient photodegradation of MB dye.

Conflicts of Interest in the Assessment of Chemicals, Waste, and Pollution

Pollution by chemicals and waste impacts human and ecosystem health on regional, national, and global scales, resulting, together with climate change and biodiversity loss, in a triple planetary crisis. Consequently, in 2022, countries agreed to establish an intergovernmental science-policy panel (SPP) on chemicals, waste, and pollution prevention, complementary to the existing intergovernmental science-policy bodies on climate change and biodiversity. To ensure the SPP's success, it is imperative to protect it from conflicts of interest (COI). Here, we (i) define and review the implications of COI, and its relevance for the management of chemicals, waste, and pollution; (ii) summarize established tactics to manufacture doubt in favor of vested interests, i.e., to counter scientific evidence and/or to promote misleading narratives favorable to financial interests; and (iii) illustrate these with selected examples. This analysis leads to a review of arguments for and against chemical industry representation in the SPP's work. We further (iv) rebut an assertion voiced by some that the chemical industry should be directly involved in the panel's work because it possesses data on chemicals essential for the panel's activities. Finally, (v) we present steps that should be taken to prevent the detrimental impacts of COI in the work of the SPP. In particular, we propose to include an independent auditor's role in the SPP to ensure that participation and processes follow clear COI rules. Among others, the auditor should evaluate the content of the assessments produced to ensure unbiased representation of information that underpins the SPP's activities.

Recent Advances on Electrochemical Sensors for Detection of Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs)

Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs), a new category of contaminants currently in the limelight, are a major issue of global concern. The pervasive nature of CECs and their harmful effects, such as cancer, reproductive disorders, neurotoxicity, etc., make the situation alarming. The perilous nature of CECs lies in the fact that even very small concentrations of CECs can cause great impacts on living beings. They also have a nature of bioaccumulation. Thus, there is a great need to have efficient sensors for the detection of CECs to ensure a safe living environment. Electrochemical sensors are an efficient platform for CEC detection as they are highly selective, sensitive, stable, reproducible, and prompt, and can detect very low concentrations of the analyte. Major classes of CECs are pharmaceuticals, illicit drugs, personal care products, endocrine disruptors, newly registered pesticides, and disinfection by-products. This review focusses on CECs, including their sources and pathways, health effects caused by them, and electrochemical sensors as reported in the literature under each category for the detection of major CECs.

Global classification models for predicting acute toxicity of chemicals towards Daphnia magna

Molecular descriptors reflecting structural information on hydrophobicity, reactivity, polarizability, hydrogen bond and charged groups, were used to predict the toxicity (pLC50) of chemicals towards Daphnia magna with global quantitative structure-activity/toxicity relationship (QSAR/QSTR) models. A sufficiently large dataset including 1517 chemical toxicity to Daphnia magna was divided into a training set (758 pLC50) and a test set (759 pLC50). By applying random forest algorithm, two classification models, Class Model A and Class Model B were developed, having prediction accuracy, sensitivity and specificity above 85% for Class 1 (with pLC50 ≤ 4.48) and Class 2 (with pLC50 > 4.48). The Class Model A was based on nine molecular descriptors and RF parameters of nodesize = 1, ntree = 80 and mtry = 2, and yielded accuracy of 92.3% (training set), 85.6% (test set) and 88.9% (total data set). Class Model B was based on ten descriptors and parameters, nodesize = 1, ntree = 90 and mtry = 2, produced accuracy of 88.3% (training set), 86.8% (test set) and 87.5% (total data set). The two classification models were satisfactory compared with other classification model reported in the literature, although classification models in this work dealt with more samples. Thus, the two classification models with a larger applicability domain provided efficient tools for assessing chemical aquatic toxicity towards Daphnia magna.

Persistent organic pollutants and trace elements detected in New Zealand fur seals (long-nosed fur seal; Arctocephalus forsteri) from New South Wales, Australia, between 1998 and 2019

Environmental pollution is a growing threat to wildlife health and biodiversity. The relationship between marine mammals and pollutants is, however, complex and as new chemicals are introduced to ecosystems alongside concomitant, interacting threats such as climate change and habitat degradation, the cumulative impact of these stressors to wildlife continues to expand. Understanding the health of wildlife populations requires a holistic approach to identify potential threatening processes. In the context of environmental pollution in little studied wildlife species, it is important to catalogue the current exposome to develop effective biomonitoring programs that can support diagnosis of health impacts and management and mitigation of pollution. In New South Wales, Australia, the New Zealand fur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri) is a resident species experiencing population growth following devastating historic hunting practices. This study presents a retrospective investigation into the exposure of New Zealand fur seals to a range of synthetic organic compounds and essential and non-essential trace elements. Liver tissue from 28 seals were broadly analyzed to assess concentrations of organochlorine and organophosphate pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, and essential and non-essential trace elements. In addition to contributing extensive pollution baseline data for the species, the work explores the influence of sex, age, and body condition on accumulation patterns. Further, based on these findings, it is recommended that a minimum of 11 juvenile male New Zealand fur seals are sampled and analyzed annually in order to maintain a holistic biomonitoring approach for this population.

Sex differences in frailty among older adults

By definition, aging is a natural, gradual and continuous process. On the other hand, frailty reflects the increase in vulnerability to stressors and shortens the time without disease (health span) while longevity refers to the length of life (lifespan). The average life expectancy has significantly increased during the last few decades. A longer lifespan has been accompanied by an increase in frailty and decreased independence in older adults, with major differences existing between men and women. For example, women tend to live longer than men but also experience higher rates of frailty and disability. Sex differences prevent optimization of lifestyle interventions and therapies to effectively prevent frailty. Sex differences in frailty and aging are rooted in a complex interplay between uncontrollable (genetic, epigenetic, physiological), and controllable factors (psychosocial and lifestyle factors). Thus, understanding the underlying causes of sex differences in frailty and aging is essential for developing personalized interventions to promote healthy aging and improve quality of life in older men and women. In this review, we have discussed the key contributors and knowledge gaps related to sex differences in aging and frailty.

Assessing human internal exposure to chemicals at different physical activity levels: A physiologically based kinetic (PBK) model incorporating metabolic equivalent of task (MET)

Physical activity levels have the potential to impact human internal exposure to environmental chemicals. However, the current lack of simple modeling approaches hinders the high-throughput screening of chemical exposure at different physical activity levels. To address this gap, this study proposes a straightforward model for assessing human internal exposure to chemicals. Our approach is based on the physiologically based kinetic (PBK) model and utilizes the metabolic equivalent of task (MET) to characterize internal exposure to chemicals at varying activity levels. To facilitate the application of this model, we have developed an Excel-based operation tool, allowing users to easily modify the MET value and generate simulation results for different physical activity levels. The simulation results demonstrate that as physical activity levels increase, the biotransfer factors (BTFs) of chemicals decrease, suggesting that higher physical activity levels reduce the bioaccumulation potential of chemicals. The intensified physical activity enhances the overall elimination kinetics of chemicals from the human body. However, the simulated concentrations of chemicals in the human body increase with higher physical activity levels, due to the significantly increased external exposure to chemicals, such as through inhalation. Our proposed modeling approach, along with the operational tool, enables high-throughput simulation of human chronic internal exposure to chemicals at different physical activity levels, where the findings can assist in screening chemicals for further health risk assessment. To accomplish this, the model incorporates certain assumptions and utilizes generic model input values. However, due to the intricate nature of the interaction between external and internal exposures at different physical activity levels, validating the simulation through experimental studies becomes challenging and is not performed in this study. For future studies, we recommend incorporating more MET-related physiological input variables, improving energy balance estimates, comprehending external exposure estimates, and conducting cohort studies to enhance and validate the proposed modeling approach.

Research progress and prospect of glomalin-related soil protein in the remediation of slightly contaminated soil

Soil pollution caused by organic pollutants and potentially toxic elements poses a serious threat to sustainable agricultural development, global food security and human health. Therefore, strategies for reducing soil pollution are urgently required. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF)-assisted phytoremediation is widely recognized for its ability to remediate slightly-contaminated soil. Glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP) production by AMF is considered a vital mechanism of AMF-assisted phytoremediation. GRSP is widespread in soils and may contribute to the remediation of slightly contaminated soils. GRSP facilitates stabilization of pollutants in soils by interacting with pollutants owing to its abundant functional groups, recalcitrance, and long turnover time. It also enhances soil bioremediation and phytoremediation by stimulating soil microbial activity, improving soil structure, and providing nutrients for plants. However, research on GRSP is still in its early stages, and studies on contaminated soil remediation are limited. The effectiveness of GRSP in situ remediation remains to be proved. This review summarizes current knowledge regarding the GRSP distribution and its contribution to the remediation of slightly contaminated soils. Additionally, we present strategies to increase the GRSP content in contaminated soils, as well as prospects for future studies on the use of GRSP in contaminated soil remediation. This study focuses on recent developments that aim to improve awareness of the role of GRSP in soil remediation and relevant future directions.

Discussion. Has the human population become a sentinel for the adverse effects of PFAS contamination on wildlife health and endangered species?

Global contamination with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) poses a threat to both human health and the environment, with significant implications for ecological conservation policies. A growing list of peer-reviewed publications indicates that PFAS can harm wildlife health and that the adverse effects associated with PFAS exposure in wildlife are in concordance with human epidemiological studies. The correlation of cross-species data supports a unique perspective that humans can be regarded as a sentinel for PFAS effects in other species. The health harms due to PFAS are potentially most concerning for populations of endangered and threatened species that are simultaneously exposed to PFAS and other toxic pollutants, and also face threats to their survival due to habitat loss, degradation of ecosystems, and over-harvesting. Human epidemiological studies on the PFAS doses associated with health harm present a rich source of information about potential impacts on wildlife health due to PFAS. Our analysis suggests that national and international efforts to restrict the discharges of PFAS into the environment and to clean up PFAS-contaminated sites present an opportunity to protect wildlife from chemical pollution and to advance species conservation worldwide.

Application of CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing in ecotoxicology

Chemicals are widely used and released into the environment, and their degradation, accumulation, migration, and transformation processes in the environment can pose a threat to the ecosystem. The advancement in analytical methods with high-throughput screening of biomolecules has revolutionized the way toxicologists used to explore the effects of chemicals on organisms. CRISPR/Cas is a newly developed tool, widely used in the exploration of basic science and biologically engineered products given its high efficiency and low cost. For example, it can edit target genes efficiently, and save loss of the crop yield caused by environmental pollution as well as gain a better understanding of the toxicity mechanisms from various chemicals. This review briefly introduces the development history of CRISPR/Cas and summarizes the current application of CRISPR/Cas in ecotoxicology, including its application on improving crop yield and drug resistance towards agricultural pollution, antibiotic pollution and other threats. The benefits by applying the CRISPR/Cas9 system in conventional toxicity mechanism studies are fully demonstrated here together with its foreseeable expansions in other area of ecotoxicology. Finally, the prospects and disadvantages of CRISPR/Cas system in the field of ecotoxicology are also discussed.

Removal and detoxification of pentahalogenated phenols using a photocatalytically induced enzymatic process

Poly-halogenated phenols generated from a range of industrial processes can find their way into rivers and ground water. Here we report on a potential treatment for reducing the toxicity of these aqueous pollutants using two highly toxic penta-halogenated phenols (pentachlorophenol (PCP) and pentabromophenol (PBP)) as surrogates. Solutions were passed through a glass column packed with a silica support fused with titanium dioxide (TiO2) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) immobilized on its TiO2/glass surface (HRP-Tglass). TiO2 photocatalysis was activated through irradiation with UVB (320 nm) which in turn activated the HRP. Two operational flow rates (0.5 and 1.25 mL min-1; hydraulic retention times (HRTs) of 20 and 8 min, respectively), tested the effect of retention time on the extent of degradation and reduction in toxicity of the treated effluent. Microtox® was used to measure the toxicity of the substrate and its by-products at both flow rates. At the highest flow rate, dehalogenation was limited (removal of 37 % chlorine and 22 % bromine) and the toxicity of the reaction products increased. At the lowest flow rate, the longer exposure time resulted in approximately 97 % and 96 % transformation of PCP and PBP, respectively, a greater degree of dehalogenation (removal of 65 % chlorine and 70 % bromine) and a substantial decrease in toxicity of the treated solutions. The higher toxicity of effluent from the higher flow rate was attributed to the initial degradation products being more toxic than the substrates. With a longer HRT, these were then further broken down to less toxic products. Additional toxicity tests (Hydra hexactinella (Hydra) and Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cell toxicity were conducted on the effluent from the lowest flow rate. Both were less sensitive than the Microtox test, with Hydra proving more sensitive than CHO. The novelty of this work is the toxicity risk assessment of the products resulting from the use of a spatially separated immobilized enzyme and photooxidation system. The system was robust and showed no decrease in treatment efficacy over 10 h.

Analysis and derivation of the marine water quality criteria of phenol for Korean seas

Marine water quality criteria (WQC) have to be determined prior to the derivation of water quality based effluent limitations (WQBELs) for hazardous and noxious substances (HNS) discharged from marine industrial facilities. In this study, we carried out toxicity tests using ten native marine organisms and analyzed international toxicity data and data tested in this study to derive the WQC of phenol for Korean seas. By converting acute values to chronic ones with ACRs (acute-chronic ratios) of each trophic level according to well-verified method, we derived provisional WQC (0.96 mg/L) of phenol for Korean seas for the first time. The procedure to derive marine WQC and results of this study could provide the essential information for the establishment of national marine WQC and WQBELs for HNS discharged from marine industrial facilities.