Decreased bioavailability of aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) in genetically modified corn with activated carbon or calcium montmorillonite clay inclusion in soil

Using L. minor and C. elegans to assess the ecotoxicity of real-life contaminated soil samples and their remediation by clay- and carbon-based sorbents

Toxic substances, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals, can accumulate in soil, posing a risk to human health and the environment. To reduce the risk of exposure, rapid identification and remediation of potentially hazardous soils is necessary. Adsorption of contaminants by activated carbons and clay materials is commonly utilized to decrease the bioavailability of chemicals in soil and environmental toxicity in vitro, and this study aims to determine their efficacy in real-life soil samples. Two ecotoxicological models (Lemna minor and Caenorhabditis elegans) were used to test residential soil samples, known to contain an average of 5.3, 262, and 9.6 ppm of PAHs, lead, and mercury, for potential toxicity. Toxicity testing of these soils indicated that 86% and 58% of soils caused ≤50% inhibition of growth and survival of L. minor and C. elegans, respectively. Importantly, 3 soil samples caused ≥90% inhibition of growth in both models, and the toxicity was positively correlated with levels of heavy metals. These toxic soil samples were prioritized for remediation using activated carbon and SM-Tyrosine sorbents, which have been shown to immobilize PAHs and heavy metals, respectively. The inclusion of low levels of SM-Tyrosine protected the growth and survival of L. minor and C. elegans by 83% and 78%, respectively from the polluted soil samples while activated carbon offered no significant protection. These results also indicated that heavy metals were the driver of toxicity in the samples. Results from this study demonstrate that adsorption technologies are effective strategies for remediating complex, real-life soil samples contaminated with hazardous pollutants and protecting natural soil and groundwater resources and habitats. The results highlight the applicability of these ecotoxicological models as rapid screening tools for monitoring soil quality and verifying the efficacy of remediation practices.

In vitro and in vivo remediation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances by processed and amended clays and activated carbon in soil

Remediation methods for soil contaminated with poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are needed to prevent their leaching into drinking water sources and to protect living organisms in the surrounding environment. In this study, the efficacy of processed and amended clays and carbons as soil amendments to sequester PFAS and prevent leaching was assessed using PFAS-contaminated soil and validated using sensitive ecotoxicological bioassays. Four different soil matrices including quartz sand, clay loam soil, garden soil, and compost were spiked with 4 PFAS congeners (PFOA, PFOS, GenX, and PFBS) at 0.01-0.2 μg/mL and subjected to a 3-step extraction method to quantify the leachability of PFAS from each matrix. The multistep extraction method showed that PFAS leaching from soil was aligned with the total carbon content in soil, and the recovery was dependent on concentration of the PFAS. To prevent the leaching of PFAS, several sorbents including activated carbon (AC), calcium montmorillonite (CM), acid processed montmorillonite (APM), and organoclays modified with carnitine, choline, and chlorophyll were added to the four soil matrices at 0.5-4 % w/w, and PFAS was extracted using the LEAF method. Total PFAS bioavailability was reduced by 58-97 % by all sorbents in a dose-dependent manner, with AC being the most efficient sorbent with a reduction of 73-97 %. The water leachates and soil were tested for toxicity using an aquatic plant (Lemna minor) and a soil nematode (Caenorhabditis elegans), respectively, to validate the reduction in PFAS bioavailability. Growth parameters in both ecotoxicological models showed a dose-dependent reduction in toxicity with value-added growth promotion from the organoclays due to added nutrients. The kinetic studies at varying time intervals and varying pHs simulating acidic rain, fresh water, and brackish water suggested a stable sorption of PFAS on all sorbents that fit the pseudo-second-order for up to 21 days. Contaminated soil with higher than 0.1 μg/mL PFAS may require reapplication of soil amendments every 21 days. Overall, AC showed the highest sorption percentage of total PFAS from in vitro studies, while organoclays delivered higher protection in ecotoxicological models (in vivo). This study suggests that in situ immobilization with soil amendments can reduce PFAS leachates and their bioavailability to surrounding organisms. A combination of sorbents may facilitate the most effective remediation of complex soil matrices containing mixtures of PFAS and prevent leaching and uptake into plants.

Adsorption and removal of polystyrene nanoplastics from water by green-engineered clays

Human exposure to micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) commonly occurs through the consumption of contaminated drinking water. Among these, polystyrene (PS) is well-characterized and is one of the most abundant MNPs, accounting for 10 % of total plastics. Previous studies have focused on carbonaceous materials to remove MNPs by filtration, but most of the work has involved microplastics since nanoplastics (NPs) are smaller in size and more difficult to measure and remove. To address this need, green-engineered chlorophyll-amended sodium and calcium montmorillonites (SMCH and CMCH) were tested for their ability to bind and detoxify parent and fluorescently labeled PSNP using in vitro, in silico, and in vivo assays. In vitro dosimetry, isothermal analyses, thermodynamics, and adsorption/desorption kinetic models demonstrated 1) high binding capacities (173-190 g/kg), 2) high affinities (103), and 3) chemisorption as suggested by low desorption (≤42 %) and high Gibbs free energy and enthalpy (>|-20| kJ/mol) in the Langmuir and pseudo-second-order models. Computational dynamics simulations for 30 and 40 monomeric units of PSNP depicted that chlorophyll amendments increased the binding percentage and contributed to the sustained binding. Also, 64 % of PSNP bind to both the head and tail of chlorophyll aggregates, rather than the head or tail only. Fluorescent PSNP at 100 nm and 30 nm that were exposed to Hydra vulgaris showed concentration-dependent toxicity at 20-100 µg/mL. Importantly, the inclusion of 0.05-0.3 % CMCH and SMCH significantly (p ≤ 0.01) and dose-dependently reduced PSNP toxicity in morphological changes and feeding rate. The bioassay validated the in vitro and in silico predictions about adsorption efficacy and mechanisms and suggested that CMCH and SMCH are efficacious binders for PSNP in water.

Kinetics of glyphosate and aminomethylphosphonic acid sorption onto montmorillonite clays in soil and their translocation to genetically modified corn

The co-occurrence of glyphosate (GLP) and aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) in contaminated water, soil, sediment and plants is a cause for concern due to potential threats to the ecosystem and human health. A major route of exposure is through contact with contaminated soil and consumption of crops containing GLP and AMPA residues. However, clay-based sorption strategies for mixtures of GLP and AMPA in soil, plants and garden produce have been very limited. In this study, in vitro soil and in vivo genetically modified corn models were used to establish the proof of concept that the inclusion of clay sorbents in contaminated soils will reduce the bioavailability of GLP and AMPA in soils and their adverse effects on plant growth. Effects of chemical concentration (1-10 mg/kg), sorbent dose (0.5%-3% in soil and 0.5%-1% in plants) and duration (up to 28 days) on sorption kinetics were studied. The time course results showed a continuous GLP degradation to AMPA. The inclusion of calcium montmorillonite (CM) and acid processed montmorillonite (APM) clays at all doses significantly and consistently reduced the bioavailability of both chemicals from soils to plant roots and leaves in a dose- and time-dependent manner without detectable dissociation. Plants treated with 0.5% and 1% APM inclusion showed the highest growth rate (p ≤ 0.05) and lowest chemical bioavailability with up to 76% reduction in roots and 57% reduction in leaves. Results indicated that montmorillonite clays could be added as soil supplements to reduce hazardous mixtures of GLP and AMPA in soils and plants.

Effectiveness of biochar as an adsorbent for pesticides: Systematic review and meta-analysis

The use of pesticides is intense in agriculture and has caused contamination in water, air and soil. This fact led to the need to study strategies that can minimize the effects that these pesticides have caused to the environment. In this context, biochar appears, as a type of material that has the ability to remove chemical substances, and because they can be activated with different chemical agents, they are extremely effective in the adsorption of toxic substances. Therefore, the aim of the study was to evaluate the use of biochar as a bioadsorbent for pesticides. This is a systematic review with meta-analysis and meta-regression, as the PRISMA protocol recommendations. Studies from the last 20 years were included, with at least the abstract available and considering preferentially experimental studies. Qualitative studies or studies with high risk of bias, other reviews and duplicates were excluded. The variables analyzed were the presence of factors that prove the effectiveness or not of pesticide adsorption. Studies with a superficial approach or those that do not show positivity or negativity in relation to the outcome were excluded. The search was conducted on the sources: Scopus, Web of Science electronic databases, PubMed (of the US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health) and ScienceDirect (Elsevier). For better investigative determination, the data were searched separately. The descriptors used for the search were the following: Agrochemicals AND Activated Carbon AND Adsorption. Initially, 2431 references were found, from which 14 were selected to compose the meta-analysis review. With the joint analysis of the data, it was possible to verify using the random model (since the studies assess different contexts) that there is a proportion of effectiveness of the intervention of 81% (with a 95% confidence interval), ranging from 75 to 88%, which is represented by the meta-analysis diamond that is the final result of the statistical analysis. Biochar is effective in removing impurities, even including features such as low cost. There is a considerable lack of studies on the topic of pesticide adsorption with the use of biochar. The studies approach a very heterogeneous perspective on the subject, exposing different contexts.

Green-Engineered Barrier Creams with Montmorillonite-Chlorophyll Clays as Adsorbents for Benzene, Toluene, and Xylene

Dermal exposures to hazardous environmental chemicals in water can significantly affect the morphology and integrity of skin structure, leading to enhanced and deeper penetration. Organic solvents, such as benzene, toluene, and xylene (BTX), have been detected in humans following skin exposure. In this study, novel barrier cream formulations (EVB™) engineered with either montmorillonite (CM and SM) or chlorophyll-amended montmorillonite (CMCH and SMCH) clays were tested for their binding efficacy for BTX mixtures in water. The physicochemical properties of all sorbents and barrier creams were characterized and were shown to be suitable for topical application. In vitro adsorption results indicated that EVB-SMCH was the most effective and favorable barrier for BTX, as supported by the high binding percentage (29-59% at 0.05 g and 0.1 g), stable binding at equilibrium, low desorption rates, and high binding affinity. Pseudo-second-order and the Freundlich models best fit the adsorption kinetics and isotherms, and the adsorption was an exothermic reaction. Ecotoxicological models using L. minor and H. vulgaris that were submersed in aqueous culture media showed that the inclusion of 0.05% and 0.2% EVB-SMCH reduced BTX concentration. This result was further supported by the significant and dose-dependent increase in multiple growth endpoints, including plant frond number, surface area, chlorophyll content, growth rate, inhibition rate, and hydra morphology. The in vitro adsorption results and in vivo plant and animal models indicated that green-engineered EVB-SMCH can be used as an effective barrier to bind BTX mixtures and interrupt their diffusion and dermal contact.

Mechanistic modeling indicates rapid glyphosate dissipation and sorption-driven persistence of its metabolite AMPA in soil

Residual concentrations of glyphosate and its main transformation product aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) are often observed in soils. The factors controlling their biodegradation are currently not well understood. We analyzed sorption-limited biodegradation of glyphosate and AMPA in soil with a set of microcosm experiments. A mechanistic model that accounts for equilibrium and kinetic sorption facilitated interpretation of the experimental results. Both compounds showed a biphasic dissipation with an initial fast (up to Days 7-10) and subsequent slower transformation rate, pointing to sorption-limited degradation. Glyphosate transformation was well described by considering only equilibrium sorption. Model simulations suggested that only 0.02-0.13% of total glyphosate was present in the soil solution and thus bioavailable. Glyphosate transformation was rapid in solution (time required for 50 % dissipation of the total initially added chemical [DT₅₀ ] = 3.9 min), and, despite strong equilibrium sorption, total glyphosate in soil dissipated quickly (DT₅₀  = 2.4 d). Aminomethylphosphonic acid dissipation kinetics could only be described when considering both equilibrium and kinetic sorption. In comparison to glyphosate, the model simulations showed that a higher proportion of total AMPA was dissolved and directly bioavailable (0.27-3.32%), but biodegradation of dissolved AMPA was slower (DT₅₀  = 1.9 h). The model-based data interpretation suggests that kinetic sorption strongly reduces AMPA bioavailability, leading to increased AMPA persistence in soil (DT₅₀  = 12 d). Thus, strong sorption combined with rapid degradation points to low risks of glyphosate leaching by vertical transport through soil in the absence of preferential flow. Ecotoxicological effects on soil microorganisms might be reduced. In contrast, AMPA persists, rendering these risks more likely.

Adsorption and detoxification of glyphosate and aminomethylphosphonic acid by montmorillonite clays

The co-occurrence of mixtures of glyphosate (GLP) and aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) in contaminated water, soil, sediment, and plants is a cause for concern due to potential threats to the ecosystem and human health. Major routes of exposure include contact with contaminated water and soil and through consumption of crops containing GLP and AMPA residues. Calcium montmorillonite (CM) and acid-processed montmorillonite (APM) clays were investigated for their ability to tightly sorb and detoxify GLP and AMPA mixtures. In vitro adsorption and desorption isotherms and thermodynamic analysis indicated saturable Langmuir binding of both chemicals with high capacities, affinities, enthalpies, and free energies of sorption and low desorption rates. In silico computational modeling indicated that both GLP and AMPA can be readily absorbed onto clay surfaces through electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonding. The safety and efficacy of the clays were confirmed using well-established living organisms, including an aquatic cnidarian (Hydra vulgaris), a soil nematode (Caenorhabditis elegans), and a floating plant (Lemna minor). Low levels of clay inclusion (0.05% and 0.2%) in the culture medium resulted in increased growth and protection against chemical mixtures based on multiple endpoints. Results indicated that montmorillonite clays may be used to bind mixtures of GLP and AMPA in water, soil, and plants.

Light availability in the cultivation environment and the action of glyphosate on Digitaria insularis: physiological aspects and herbicide root exudation

The root exudation decreases the susceptibility of some species to herbicides, which is still little studied in Digitaria insularis, popularly known as sourgrass, one of the main weeds of annual crops in the world. Thus, we sought to identify whether there is an occurrence of root exudation of glyphosate in D. insularis and the influence of this herbicide on physiological and control parameters of this species when cultivated under different light conditions. The experimental design was 2 x 5, with the first factor represented by environments: full sun and artificial shading. The second factor was represented by doses 0, 370, 740, 1110, and 1480 g ha-1 of glyphosate. The plants grown in shading showed more significant injury in the initial phase. The increase in the glyphosate doses reduced the photochemical efficiency of the photosystem II (ФPSII), electron transport rate (ETR), photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, and water use efficiency of D. insularis regardless of the cultivation environment. The light restriction increased the ФPSII in D. insularis at three days after applying the herbicide (DAH); at 6 DAH, the shaded plants showed a more pronounced reduction in ФPSII. D. insularis did not show root exudation of glyphosate, and shading did not influence this process.

Overview of Environmental and Health Effects Related to Glyphosate Usage

Since the introduction of glyphosate (N-(phosphomethyl) glycine) in 1974, it has been the most used nonselective and broad-spectrum herbicide around the world. The widespread use of glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides is due to their low-cost efficiency in killing weeds, their rapid absorption by plants, and the general mistaken perception of their low toxicity to the environment and living organisms. As a consequence of the intensive use and accumulation of glyphosate and its derivatives on environmental sources, major concerns about the harmful side effects of glyphosate and its metabolites on human, plant, and animal health, and for water and soil quality, are emerging. Glyphosate can reach water bodies by soil leaching, runoff, and sometimes by the direct application of some approved formulations. Moreover, glyphosate can reach nontarget plants by different mechanisms, such as spray application, release through the tissue of treated plants, and dead tissue from weeds. As a consequence of this nontarget exposure, glyphosate residues are being detected in the food chains of diverse products, such as bread, cereal products, wheat, vegetable oil, fruit juice, beer, wine, honey, eggs, and others. The World Health Organization reclassified glyphosate as probably carcinogenic to humans in 2015 by the IARC. Thus, many review articles concerning different glyphosate-related aspects have been published recently. The risks, disagreements, and concerns regarding glyphosate usage have led to a general controversy about whether glyphosate should be banned, restricted, or promoted. Thus, this review article makes an overview of the basis for scientists, regulatory agencies, and the public in general, with consideration to the facts on and recommendations for the future of glyphosate usage.

L-Tryptophan Aqueous Systems at Low Concentrations: Interconnection between Self-Organization, Fluorescent and Physicochemical Properties, and Action on Hydrobionts

As shown by fluorescence monitoring of dissolved organic matter, amino acid L-Trp can be present in natural water. The consequences of the presence of L-Trp at low concentrations in surface water systems are not yet established for hydrobionts. Studying the physicochemical patterns, as well as their relationships to the bioeffects of L-Trp solutions in the low concentration range, can provide new and important information regarding the unknown effects of L-Trp. The self-organization, physicochemical properties, fluorescence, UV absorption, and action of L-Trp solutions on Paramecium caudatum infusoria, Chlorella vulgaris algae were studied in the calculated concentrations range of 1 × 10⁻²⁰–1 × 10⁻² mol/L. The relationship between these phenomena was established using the certified procedures for monitoring the toxicity of natural water and wastewater. It was shown for the first time that aqueous solutions of L-Trp are dispersed systems in which the dispersed phase (nanoassociates) undergoes a rearrangement with dilution, accompanied by coherent changes in the nanoassociates’ parameters and the properties of systems. The non-monotonic concentration dependence of fluorescence intensity (λ_ex at 225 nm, λ_em at 340 nm) is in good agreement with the data on the nanoassociates’ parameters, as well as with both the physicochemical properties of the systems and their bioassay results.

Inclusion of Montmorillonite Clays in Environmental Barrier Formulations to Reduce Skin Exposure to Water-Soluble Chemicals from Polluted Water

Dermal exposures to environmental chemicals can significantly affect the morphology and integrity of skin structure, leading to enhanced and deeper penetration of toxic chemicals. This problem can be magnified during disasters where hazardous water-soluble chemicals are readily mobilized and redistributed in the environment, threatening the health of vulnerable populations at the impacted sites. To address this issue, barrier emulsion formulations (EVB) have been developed consisting of materials that are generally recognized as safe, with the inclusion of medical grade carbon or calcium and sodium montmorillonite clays (CM and SM). In this study, the adsorption efficacy of five highly toxic and commonly occurring contaminants of concern, including important hydrophilic pesticides (glyphosate, acrolein, and paraquat) and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances were characterized. EVB showed properties such as high stability, spreadability, low rupture strength, and neutral pH that were suitable for topical application on the skin. The in vitro adsorption results indicated that EVB and EVB-SM were effective, economically feasible, and favorable barrier formulations for hazardous chemical adsorption, as supported by high binding percentage, low desorption rates for an extended period of time, and high binding affinity. A pseudo-second-order kinetic model was best fitted for the adsorption process and the Freundlich model fit the adsorption isotherms with negative enthalpy values indicating spontaneous reactions that involve physisorption. The study, with varying temperatures and pH, showed that the adsorption reaction was exothermic and persistent. The results indicated that EVB and EVB-SM can be used as effective barriers to block dermal contact from water-soluble toxic pollutants during disasters.

Montmorillonite clay-based sorbents decrease the bioavailability of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from soil and their translocation to plants

Consumption of food and water contaminated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) presents a significant risk for human exposure. There is limited data on high affinity sorbents that can be used to reduce the bioavailability of PFAS from soil and translocation to plants and garden produce. To address this need, montmorillonite clay was amended with the nutrients carnitine and choline to increase the hydrophobicity of the sorbent and the interlayer spacing. In this study, the binding of PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and PFOS (perfluorooctanesulfonic acid) to parent and amended clays was characterized. Isothermal analyses were conducted at pH 7 and ambient temperature to simulate environmentally-relevant conditions. The data for all tested sorbents fit the Langmuir model indicating saturable binding sites with high capacities and affinities under neutral conditions. Amended montmorillonite clays had increased capacities for PFOA and PFOS (0.51-0.71 mol kg^-1) compared to the parent clay (0.37-0.49 mol kg^-1). Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations suggested that hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions at the terminal fluorinated carbon chains of PFAS compounds were major modes of surface interaction. The safety and efficacy of the clays were confirmed in a living organism (Lemna minor), where clays (at 0.1% inclusion) allowed for increased growth compared to PFOA and PFOS controls (p ≤ 0.01). Importantly, soil studies showed that 2% sorbent inclusion could significantly reduce PFAS bioavailability from soil (up to 74%). Studies in plants demonstrated that inclusion of 2% sorbent significantly reduced PFAS residues in cucumber plants (p ≤ 0.05). These results suggest that nutrient-amended clays could be included in soil to decrease PFAS bioavailability and translocation of PFAS to plants.

Application of Edible Montmorillonite Clays for the Adsorption and Detoxification of Microcystin

Exposure to microcystins (MCs) in humans and animals commonly occurs through the consumption of drinking water and food contaminated with cyanobacteria. Although studies have focused on developing water filtration treatments for MCs using activated carbon, dietary sorbents to reduce the bioavailability of MCs from the stomach and intestines have not been reported. To address this need, edible calcium and sodium montmorillonite clays were characterized for their ability to bind MC containing leucine and arginine (MC-LR) under conditions simulating the gastrointestinal tract and compared with a medical-grade activated carbon. Results of in vitro adsorption isotherms and thermodynamics showed that binding plots for MC-LR on montmorillonites fit the Langmuir model with high binding capacity, affinity, Gibbs free energy, and enthalpy. The in silico results from molecular modeling predicted that the major binding mechanisms involved electrostatics and hydrogen bonds, and that interlayers were important binding sites. The safety and detoxification efficacy of the sorbents against MC-LR were validated in a battery of living organisms, including Hydra vulgaris, Lemna minor, and Caenorhabditis elegans. The inclusion of 0.05% and 0.1% montmorillonite clays in hydra media significantly reduced MC-LR toxicity and protected hydra by 60-80%, whereas only slight protection was shown with the heat-collapsed clay. In the Lemna minor assay, montmorillonites significantly enhanced the growth of lemna, as supported by the increase in frond number, surface area, chlorophyll content, and growth rate, as well as the decrease in inhibition rate. Similar results were shown in the C. elegans assay, where montmorillonite clays reduced MC-LR effects on body length and brood size. All 3 bioassays confirmed dose-dependent protection from MC-LR, validated the in vitro and in silico findings, and suggested that edible montmorillonites are safe and efficacious binders for MC-LR. Moreover, their inclusion in diets during algal blooming seasons could protect vulnerable populations of humans and animals.

Combining Experimental Isotherms, Minimalistic Simulations, and a Model to Understand and Predict Chemical Adsorption onto Montmorillonite Clays

An attractive approach to minimize human and animal exposures to toxic environmental contaminants is the use of safe and effective sorbent materials to sequester them. Montmorillonite clays have been shown to tightly bind diverse toxic chemicals. Due to their promise as sorbents to mitigate chemical exposures, it is important to understand their function and rapidly screen and predict optimal clay-chemical combinations for further testing. We derived adsorption free-energy values for a structurally and physicochemically diverse set of toxic chemicals using experimental adsorption isotherms performed in the current and previous studies. We studied the diverse set of chemicals using minimalistic MD simulations and showed that their interaction energies with calcium montmorillonite clays calculated using simulation snapshots in combination with their net charge and their corresponding solvent's dielectric constant can be used as inputs to a minimalistic model to predict adsorption free energies in agreement with experiments. Additionally, experiments and computations were used to reveal structural and physicochemical properties associated with chemicals that can be adsorbed to calcium montmorillonite clay. These properties include positively charged groups, phosphine groups, halide-rich moieties, hydrogen bond donor/acceptors, and large, rigid structures. The combined experimental and computational approaches used in this study highlight the importance and potential applicability of analogous methods to study and design novel advanced sorbent systems in the future, broadening their applicability for environmental contaminants.

Testing the efficacy of broad-acting sorbents for environmental mixtures using isothermal analysis, mammalian cells, and H. vulgaris

The hazards associated with frequent exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), pesticides, Aroclors, plasticizers, and mycotoxins are well established. Adsorption strategies have been proposed for the remediation of soil and water, although few have focused on the mitigation of mixtures. This study tested a hypothesis that broad-acting sorbents can be developed for diverse chemical mixtures. Adsorption of common and hazardous chemicals was characterized using isothermal analysis from Langmuir and Freundlich equations. The most effective sorbents included medical-grade activated carbon (AC), parent montmorillonite clay, acid-processed montmorillonite (APM), and nutrient-amended montmorillonite clays. Next, we tested the ability of broad-acting sorbents to prevent cytotoxicity of class-specific mixtures using 3 mammalian in vitro models (HLF, ESD3, and 3T3 cell lines) and the hydra assay. AC showed the highest efficacy for mitigating pesticides, plasticizers, PAHs, and mycotoxins. Clays, such as APM, were effective against pesticides, Aroclors, and mycotoxins, while amended clays were most effective against plasticizers. Finally, a sorbent mixture was shown to be broadly active. These results are supported by the high correlation coefficients for the Langmuir model with high capacity, affinity, and free energy, as well as the significant protection of cells and hydra (p < 0.05). The protection percentages in 3T3 cells and hydra showed the highest correlation as suggested by both Pearson and Spearman with r = 0.84 and rho = 0.73, respectively (p < 0.0001). Collectively, these studies showed that broad-acting sorbents may be effective in preventing toxic effects of chemical mixtures and provided information on the most effective sorbents based on adsorption isotherms, and in vitro and aquatic organism test methods.

Enhanced adsorption of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) by edible, nutrient-amended montmorillonite clays

Humans and animals are frequently exposed to PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) through drinking water and food; however, no therapeutic sorbent strategies have been developed to mitigate this problem. Montmorillonites amended with the common nutrients, carnitine and choline, were characterized for their ability to bind 4 representative PFAS (PFOA, PFOS, GenX, and PFBS). Adsorption/desorption isothermal analysis showed that PFOA, PFOS (and a mixture of the two) fit the Langmuir model with high binding capacity, affinity and enthalpy at conditions simulating the stomach. A low percentage of desorption occurred at conditions simulating the intestine. The results suggested that hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions, and hydrogen bonding were responsible for sequestering PFAS into clay interlayers. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations suggested the key mode of interaction of PFAS was through fluorinated carbon chains, and confirmed that PFOA and PFOS had enhanced binding to amended clays compared to GenX and PFBS. The safety and efficacy of amended montmorillonite clays were confirmed in Hydra vulgaris, where a mixture of amended sorbents delivered the highest protection against a PFAS mixture. These important results suggest that the inclusion of edible, nutrient-amended clays with optimal affinity, capacity, and enthalpy can be used to decrease the bioavailability of PFAS from contaminated drinking water and diets.

Glyphosate: Uses Other Than in Glyphosate-Resistant Crops, Mode of Action, Degradation in Plants, and Effects on Non-target Plants and Agricultural Microbes

Glyphosate is the most used herbicide globally. It is a unique non-selective herbicide with a mode of action that is ideal for vegetation management in both agricultural and non-agricultural settings. Its use was more than doubled by the introduction of transgenic, glyphosate-resistant (GR) crops. All of its phytotoxic effects are the result of inhibition of only 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS), but inhibition of this single enzyme of the shikimate pathway results in multiple phytotoxicity effects, both upstream and downstream from EPSPS, including loss of plant defenses against pathogens. Degradation of glyphosate in plants and microbes is predominantly by a glyphosate oxidoreductase to produce aminomethylphosphonic acid and glyoxylate and to a lesser extent by a C-P lyase to produce sarcosine and phosphate. Its effects on non-target plant species are generally less than that of many other herbicides, as it is not volatile and is generally sprayed in larger droplet sizes with a relatively low propensity to drift and is inactivated by tight binding to most soils. Some microbes, including fungal plant pathogens, have glyphosate-sensitive EPSPS. Thus, glyphosate can benefit GR crops by its activity on some plant pathogens. On the other hand, glyphosate can adversely affect some microbes that are beneficial to agriculture, such as Bradyrhizobium species, although GR crop yield data indicate that such an effect has been minor. Effects of glyphosate on microbes of agricultural soils are generally minor and transient, with other agricultural practices having much stronger effects.