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Porru S, Esplugues A, Llop S, Delgado-Saborit JM. The effects of heavy metal exposure on brain and gut microbiota: A systematic review of animal studies. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 348:123732. [PMID: 38462196 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
The gut-brain axis is a crucial interface between the central nervous system and the gut microbiota. Recent evidence shows that exposure to environmental contaminants, such as heavy metals, can cause dysbiosis in gut microbiota, which may affect the gut-brain communication, impacting aspects of brain function and behavior. This systematic review of the literature aims to evaluate whether deleterious effects on brain function due to heavy metal exposure could be mediated by changes in the gut microbiota profile. Animal studies involving exposure to heavy metals and a comparison with a control group that evaluated neuropsychological outcomes and/or molecular outcomes along with the analysis of microbiota composition were reviewed. The authors independently assessed studies for inclusion, extracted data and assessed risk of bias using the protocol of Systematic Review Center for Laboratory Animal Experimentation (SYRCLE) for preclinical studies. A search in 3 databases yielded 16 eligible studies focused on lead (n = 10), cadmium (n = 1), mercury (n = 3), manganese (n = 1), and combined exposure of lead and manganese (n = 1). The animal species were rats (n = 7), mice (n = 4), zebrafish (n = 3), carp (n = 1) and fruit fly (n = 1). Heavy metals were found to adversely affect cognitive function, behavior, and neuronal morphology. Moreover, heavy metal exposure was associated with changes in the abundance of specific bacterial phyla, such as Firmicutes and Proteobacteria, which play crucial roles in gut health. In some studies, these alterations were correlated with learning and memory impairments and mood disorders. The interplay of heavy metals, gut microbiota, and brain suggests that heavy metals can induce direct brain alterations and indirect effects through the microbiota, contributing to neurotoxicity and the development of neuropsychological disorders. However, the small number of papers under review makes it difficult to draw definitive conclusions. Further research is warranted to unravel the underlying mechanisms and evaluate the translational implications for human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Porru
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences. Universitat Jaume I, Avenida de Vicent Sos Baynat s/n, 12071, Castellón de la Plana, Spain
| | - Ana Esplugues
- Faculty of Nursing and Podiatry, Universitat de València, C/Menendez Pelayo S/n, 46010, València, Spain; Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de Valencia, Av. Catalunya 21, 46020, València, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3-5. Pabellón 11, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sabrina Llop
- Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de Valencia, Av. Catalunya 21, 46020, València, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3-5. Pabellón 11, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juana María Delgado-Saborit
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences. Universitat Jaume I, Avenida de Vicent Sos Baynat s/n, 12071, Castellón de la Plana, Spain; Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de Valencia, Av. Catalunya 21, 46020, València, Spain.
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Jeong H, Byeon E, Lee JS, Kim HS, Sayed AEDH, Bo J, Wang M, Wang DZ, Park HG, Lee JS. Single and combined effects of increased temperature and methylmercury on different stages of the marine rotifer Brachionus plicatilis. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 466:133448. [PMID: 38244454 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 12/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
Rapid, anthropogenic activity-induced global warming is a severe problem that not only raises water temperatures but also shifts aquatic environments by increasing the bioavailability of heavy metals (HMs), with potentially complicated effects on aquatic organisms, including small aquatic invertebrates. For this paper, we investigated the combined effects of temperature (23 and 28 °C) and methylmercury (MeHg) by measuring physiological changes, bioaccumulation, oxidative stress, antioxidants, and the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway in the marine rotifer Brachionus plicatilis. High temperature and MeHg adversely affected the survival rate, lifespan, and population of rotifers, and bioaccumulation, oxidative stress, and biochemical reactions depended on the developmental stage, with neonates showing higher susceptibility than adults. These findings demonstrate that increased temperature enhances potentially toxic effects from MeHg, and susceptibility differs with the developmental stage. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the combined effects of elevated temperature and MeHg on rotifers. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATION: Methylmercury (MeHg) is a widespread and harmful heavy metal that can induce lethal effects on aquatic organisms in even trace amounts. The toxicity of metals can vary depending on various environmental conditions. In particular, rising temperatures are considered a major factor affecting bioavailability and toxicity by changing the sensitivity of organisms. However, there are few studies on the combinational effects of high temperatures and MeHg on aquatic animals, especially invertebrates. Our research would contribute to understanding the actual responses of aquatic organisms to complex aquatic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haksoo Jeong
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, South Korea
| | - Eunjin Byeon
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, South Korea
| | - Jin-Sol Lee
- School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, South Korea
| | - Hyung Sik Kim
- School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, South Korea
| | - Alaa El-Din H Sayed
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, Assiut 71516, Egypt
| | - Jun Bo
- Laboratory of Marine Biology and Ecology, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Minghua Wang
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems, College of the Environment & Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Da-Zhi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of the Environment & Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Heum Gi Park
- Department of Marine Ecology and Environment, College of Life Sciences, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung 25457, South Korea
| | - Jae-Seong Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, South Korea.
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Huang M, Liu Y, Duan R, Yin J, Cao S. Effects of continuous and pulse lead exposure on the swimming behavior of tadpoles revealed by brain-gut axis analysis. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 465:133267. [PMID: 38150764 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.133267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
Lead (Pb) is present in aquatic environments with a continuous or pulse form due to the regular or irregular discharge of wastewater. These two modes of exposure result in different toxicological effects on aquatic animals. To compare the effects of Pb exposure mode on the swimming behavior of amphibian larvae, this study proposed a combination method to examine the brain-gut axis (gut bacteria, histopathology, metabolomics, and ethology) in order to evaluate the ecotoxic differences in Pelophylax nigromaculatus tadpoles (Gs 21-28) when exposed to continuous (CE100) versus pulse exposure (PE100) of environmental concentrations of Pb (100 μg/L). The results showed that: 1) CE100 significantly decreased the movement distance and swimming activity of the tadpoles compared to PE100 and the control, while there were no significant differences between the control group and PE100. 2) At the phyla level, compared to PE100, CE100 treatment significantly decreased the abundance of Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes and increased the abundance of Fusobacteria in the gut. At the genus level, compared to PE100, CE100 significantly increased the abundance of U114 and decreased the abundance of Anaerorhabdus, Exiguobacterium and Microbacterium. 3) Compared to PE100, CE100 changed the metabolites of the brain-gut axis pathway, such as quinolinic acid, L-valine, L-dopa, L-histidine, urocanic acid, L-threonine, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), L-glutamate (Glu), acetylcholine (Ach), L-tyrosine (Tyr), L-tryptophan (Trp), and levodopa (DOPA). 4) CE100 and PE100 played a repressive role in the histidine metabolism and tyrosine metabolism pathways and played a promoting role in the purine metabolism and pyrimidine metabolism pathways. This study provides a method for evaluating the toxic effects of heavy metal exposure via two different exposure modes (pulse versus continuous) which tadpoles may encounter in the natural environment from a combined study examining the brain-gut axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minyi Huang
- College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Hunan University of Humanities, Science and Technology, Loudi 417000, Hunan, China; Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resource Development, Utilisation and Quality and Safety Control of Hunan Characteristics in Hunan Universities, Loudi 417000, China
| | - Yang Liu
- College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Hunan University of Humanities, Science and Technology, Loudi 417000, Hunan, China
| | - Renyan Duan
- College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Hunan University of Humanities, Science and Technology, Loudi 417000, Hunan, China; Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resource Development, Utilisation and Quality and Safety Control of Hunan Characteristics in Hunan Universities, Loudi 417000, China.
| | - Jiawei Yin
- College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Hunan University of Humanities, Science and Technology, Loudi 417000, Hunan, China
| | - Songle Cao
- College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Hunan University of Humanities, Science and Technology, Loudi 417000, Hunan, China
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Rodríguez-Viso P, Domene A, Vélez D, Devesa V, Zúñiga M, Monedero V. Protective effects of oral administration of lactic acid bacteria strains against methylmercury-induced intestinal toxicity in a murine model. Food Chem Toxicol 2024; 185:114461. [PMID: 38253281 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2024.114461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
The utilization of lactic acid bacteria has been proposed to mitigate the burden of heavy metal exposure through processes probably involving chelation and reduced metal bioaccessibility. We evaluated the effects of daily intake of two strains of lactobacilli (Lactobacillus intestinalis LE1 or Lactobacillus johnsonii LE2) on intestinal toxicity during methylmercury (MeHg) exposure through drinking water (5 mg/L) for two months in mice. MeHg exposure resulted in inflammation and oxidative stress at the colon, as well as an increase in intestinal permeability accompanied by decreased fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFA). The administration of the strains resulted in a differential protective effect that, based on their chelation capacity, supported the existence of additional mechanisms of action besides chelation. Both strains reduced IL-1β levels and oxidative stress, while LE1 lowered TNF-α, diminished MeHg-induced mucus over-secretion triggered by the IL-4/IL-13/STAT6 pathway, reduced intestinal permeability, and ameliorated inflammation and oxidative stress, probably by acting on the Keap1/Nrf2/ARE pathway. Administration of LE1 partially restored SCFA contents, which could be partly responsible for the positive effects of this strain in alleviating MeHg toxicity. These results demonstrate that lactobacilli strains can be useful tools in reducing the intestinal toxicity of MeHg, the main mercurial form conveyed by food.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pilar Rodríguez-Viso
- Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA-CSIC), Agustín Escardino 7, 46980, Paterna, (Valencia), Spain
| | - Adrián Domene
- Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA-CSIC), Agustín Escardino 7, 46980, Paterna, (Valencia), Spain
| | - Dinoraz Vélez
- Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA-CSIC), Agustín Escardino 7, 46980, Paterna, (Valencia), Spain
| | - Vicenta Devesa
- Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA-CSIC), Agustín Escardino 7, 46980, Paterna, (Valencia), Spain
| | - Manuel Zúñiga
- Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA-CSIC), Agustín Escardino 7, 46980, Paterna, (Valencia), Spain
| | - Vicente Monedero
- Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA-CSIC), Agustín Escardino 7, 46980, Paterna, (Valencia), Spain.
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Santiago MSA, Avellar MCW, Perobelli JE. Could the gut microbiota be capable of making individuals more or less susceptible to environmental toxicants? Toxicology 2024; 503:153751. [PMID: 38354972 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2024.153751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Environmental toxicants are chemical substances capable to impair environmental quality and exert adverse effects on humans and other animals. The main routes of exposure to these pollutants are through the respiratory tract, skin, and oral ingestion. When ingested orally, they will encounter trillions of microorganisms that live in a community - the gut microbiota (GM). While pollutants can disrupt the GM balance, GM plays an essential role in the metabolism and bioavailability of these chemical compounds. Under physiological conditions, strategies used by the GM for metabolism and/or excretion of xenobiotics include reductive and hydrolytic transformations, lyase and functional group transfer reactions, and enzyme-mediated functional transformations. Simultaneously, the host performs metabolic processes based mainly on conjugation, oxidation, and hydrolysis reactions. Thus, due to the broad variety of bacterial enzymes present in GM, the repertoire of microbial transformations of chemicals is considered a key component of the machinery involved in the metabolism of pollutants in humans and other mammals. Among pollutants, metals deserve special attention once contamination by metals is a worldwide problem, and their adverse effects can be observed even at very low concentrations due to their toxic properties. In this review, bidirectional interaction between lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury and the host organism and its GM will be discussed given the most recent literature, presenting an analysis of the ability of GM to alter the host organism's susceptibility to the toxic effects of heavy metals, as well as evaluating the extent to which interventions targeting the microbiota could be potential initiatives to mitigate the adverse effects resulting from poisoning by heavy metals. This study is the first to highlight the overlap between some of the bacteria found to be altered by metal exposure and the bacteria that also aid the host organism in the metabolism of these metals. This could be a key factor to determine the beneficial species able to minimize the toxicity of metals in future therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcella S A Santiago
- Laboratory of Experimental Toxicology - LATOEX, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Instituto do Mar, Carvalho de Mendonça, 144, Santos, SP 11070-100, Brazil
| | - Maria Christina W Avellar
- Department of Pharmacology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo - Escola Paulista de Medicina, Três de Maio, 100, São Paulo, SP 04044-020, Brazil
| | - Juliana E Perobelli
- Laboratory of Experimental Toxicology - LATOEX, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Instituto do Mar, Carvalho de Mendonça, 144, Santos, SP 11070-100, Brazil.
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6
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Xie H, Wei C, Wang W, Chen R, Cui L, Wang L, Chen D, Yu YL, Li B, Li YF. Screening the phytotoxicity of micro/nanoplastics through non-targeted metallomics with synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence and deep learning: Taking micro/nano polyethylene terephthalate as an example. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 463:132886. [PMID: 37913659 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) are global pollutants with emerging concerns. Methods to predict and screen their toxicity are crucial. Elemental dyshomeostasis can be used to assess toxicity of environmental pollutants. Non-targeted metallomics, combining synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence (SRXRF) and machine learning, has successfully differentiated cancer patients from healthy individuals. The whole idea of this work is to screen the phytotoxicity of nano polyethylene terephthalate (nPET) and micro polyethylene terephthalate (mPET) through non-targeted metallomics with SRXRF and deep learning algorithms. Firstly, Seed germination, seedling growth, photosynthetic changes, and antioxidant activity were used to evaluate the toxicity of mPET and nPET. It was showed that nPET, at 10 mg/L, was more toxic to rice seedlings, inhibiting growth and impairing chlorophyll content, MDA content, and SOD activity compared to mPET. Then, rice seedling leaves exposed to nPET or mPET was examined with SRXRF, and the SRXRF data was differentiated with deep learning algorithms. It was showed that the one-dimensional convolutional neural network (1D-CNN) model achieved 98.99% accuracy without data preprocessing in screening mPET and nPET exposure. In all, non-targeted metallomics with SRXRF and 1D-CNN can effectively screen the exposure and phytotoxicity of nPET/mPET and potentially other emerging pollutants. Further research is needed to assess the phytotoxicity of different types of MPs/NPs using non-targeted metallomics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongxin Xie
- Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, Liaoning, China; CAS-HKU Joint Laboratory of Metallomics on Health and Environment, & CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, & Beijing Metallomics Facility, & National Consortium for Excellence in Metallomics, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Chaojie Wei
- College of Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Wei Wang
- College of Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China.
| | - Rui Chen
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Occupational Safety and Health, Institute of Urban Safety and Environmental Science, Beijing Academy of Science and Technology, Beijing 100054, China
| | - Liwei Cui
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Liming Wang
- CAS-HKU Joint Laboratory of Metallomics on Health and Environment, & CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, & Beijing Metallomics Facility, & National Consortium for Excellence in Metallomics, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Dongliang Chen
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yong-Liang Yu
- Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, Liaoning, China.
| | - Bai Li
- CAS-HKU Joint Laboratory of Metallomics on Health and Environment, & CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, & Beijing Metallomics Facility, & National Consortium for Excellence in Metallomics, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yu-Feng Li
- CAS-HKU Joint Laboratory of Metallomics on Health and Environment, & CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, & Beijing Metallomics Facility, & National Consortium for Excellence in Metallomics, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
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Chen F, Zhang L, Liu Y, Zhang A, Wang W. Resveratrol alleviates perinatal methylmercury-induced neurobehavioral impairments by modulating the gut microbiota composition and neurotransmitter disturbances. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY 2024; 39:329-340. [PMID: 37713589 DOI: 10.1002/tox.23973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023]
Abstract
Methylmercury (MeHg), a potent neurotoxic substance, causes adverse health outcomes by modulating metabolites through altered gut microbiota patterns. Among the many metabolites, neurotransmitters play a particularly important role in the nervous system and behavior. Resveratrol (RSV) has been investigated as an antiaging, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective agent. The current study evaluated that RSV is protective of neurodevelopmental toxicity induced by MeHg and further explored the underlying mechanisms. Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with 1.2 mg/kg/d of MeHg, and the effects were evaluated after supplementation with RSV (20 mg/kg/d). The results indicated that MeHg had adverse effects on early neurodevelopmental indicators in the experimental group offspring as compared to control pups. Interestingly, RSV significantly improved the MeHg-induced delays in the neurobehavioral reflexes and reduced the total mercury (THg) concentration in the colons of the offspring rats. In agreement, RSV administration improved the gut microbiota diversity and structure by increasing the abundance of probiotics and upregulating the expression of tight junction proteins. It also ameliorated the MeHg-induced abnormalities in the expression profiles of neurotransmitters. Furthermore, eight key bacteria that were strongly linked with the neurotransmitters and neuroreflex parameters were identified. Taken together, these results demonstrate that RSV treatment effectively reduces the occurrence of neurodevelopmental toxicity caused by perinatal MeHg exposure by modulating the intestinal flora and neurotransmitter metabolism. These findings provide a new therapeutic approach for treating MeHg-induced neurotoxicity. The cover image is based on the Research Article Resveratrol alleviates perinatal methylmercury-induced neurobehavioral impairments by modulating the gut microbiota composition and neurotransmitter disturbances by Fang Chen et al., https://doi.org/10.1002/tox.23973.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Chen
- The Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Li Zhang
- The Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Yi Liu
- Guiyang Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Guiyang, China
| | - Aihua Zhang
- The Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Wenjuan Wang
- The Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Endemic and Ethnic Regional Diseases Co-constructed by the Province and Ministry, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
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Dong X, Deng L, Su Y, Han X, Yao S, Wu W, Cao J, Tian L, Bai Y, Wang G, Ren W. Curcumin alleviates traumatic brain injury induced by gas explosion through modulating gut microbiota and suppressing the LPS/TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:1094-1113. [PMID: 38032526 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-30708-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Gas explosions (GE) are a prevalent and widespread cause of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in coal miners. However, the impact and mechanism of curcumin on GE-induced TBI in rats remain unclear. In this study, we simulated GE-induced TBI in rats and administered curcumin orally at a dose of 100 mg/kg every other day for 7 days to modulate the gut microbiota in TBI rats. We employed 16S rRNA sequencing and LC-MS/MS metabolomic analysis to investigate changes in the intestinal flora and its metabolic profile. Additionally, we utilized ELISA, protein assays, and immunohistochemistry to assess neuroinflammatory signaling molecules for validation. In a rat TBI model, GE resulted in weight loss, pathological abnormalities, and cortical hemorrhage. Treatment with curcumin significantly mitigated histological abnormalities and microscopic mitochondrial structural changes in brain tissue. Furthermore, curcumin treatment markedly ameliorated GE-induced brain dysfunction by reducing the levels of several neuroinflammatory signaling molecules, including neuron-specific enolase, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and cryptothermic protein 3. Notably, curcumin reshaped the gut microbiome by enhancing evenness, richness, and composition. Prevotella_9, Alloprevotella, Bacilli, Lactobacillales, Proteobacteria, and Gammaproteobacteria were identified as prominent members of the gut microbiota, increasing the linear discriminant analysis scores and specifically enhancing the abundance of bacteria involved in the nuclear factor (NF)-κB signaling pathway, such as Lachnospiraceae and Roseburia. Additionally, there were substantial alterations in serum metabolites associated with metabolic NF-κB signaling pathways in the model group. Curcumin administration reduced serum lipopolysaccharide levels and downregulated downstream Toll-like receptor (TLR)4/myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MyD88)/NF-κB signaling. Furthermore, curcumin alleviated GE-induced TBI in rats by modulating the gut microbiota and its metabolites. Based on these protective effects, curcumin may exert its influence on the gut microbiota and the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathways to ameliorate GE-induced TBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinwen Dong
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453003, Henan, China
| | - Lvfei Deng
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453003, Henan, China
| | - Yaguang Su
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453003, Henan, China
| | - Xiaofeng Han
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453003, Henan, China
| | - Sanqiao Yao
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453003, Henan, China
| | - Weidong Wu
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453003, Henan, China
| | - Jia Cao
- Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Linqiang Tian
- Institute of Trauma and Orthopedics, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453003, Henan, China
| | - Yichun Bai
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453003, Henan, China
| | - Guizhi Wang
- Department of Pathology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China
| | - Wenjie Ren
- Institutes of Health Central Plains, Xinxiang Medical University, 601 Jinsui Street Xinxiang, Henan, 453003, China.
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9
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Teng M, Zhao X, Zhou L, Yan H, Zhao L, Sun J, Li Y, Zhu W, Wu F. An integrated analysis of the fecal metabolome and metagenome reveals the distinct effects of differentially charged nanoplastics on the gut microbiota-associated metabolites in mice. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 906:167287. [PMID: 37748599 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
Whether nanoplastics with differential charges cause intestinal impairment via distinct mechanisms remains unclear. We investigated the relationship between fecal metabolites and the gut microbiome, and potential biomarkers thereof, in mice following exposure to differentially charged polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs). Metagenomic analysis revealed that exposure to differentially charged PS-NPs resulted in alterations in the abundances of Bilophila_wadsworthia, Helicobacter apodemus, and Helicobacter typhlonius. A total of 237 fecal metabolites were significantly altered in mice that exhibited intestinal impairment, and these included 10 gut microbiota-related fecal metabolites that accurately discriminated impaired intestinal samples from the control. Additionally, the specific gut microbiome-related fecal metabolite-based model approach for the prediction of intestinal impairment in mice had an area under the curve (AUC) of 1.0 in the PS (without charge) group, an AUC of 0.94 in the PS-NH2 (positive charge) group, and an AUC of 0.86 in the PS-COOH (negative charge) group. Thus, the model showed promising evaluable accuracy for the prediction of intestinal impairment induced by nanoplastics in a charge-specific manner. Our study demonstrates that the fecal metabolome of mice with intestinal impairment following exposure to differentially charged nanoplastics is associated with changes in the gut microbiome. The identified biomarkers have potential application for the detection of intestinal impairment after exposure to negative, positive, or noncharged nanomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miaomiao Teng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Xiaoli Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China.
| | - Lingfeng Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Hong Yan
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, USA
| | - Lihui Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Jiaqi Sun
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Yunxia Li
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Wentao Zhu
- Innovation Center of Pesticide Research, Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Fengchang Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China.
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10
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Xie J, Zhou F, Ouyang L, Li Q, Rao S, Su R, Yang S, Li J, Wan X, Yan L, Liu P, Cheng H, Li L, Du G, Feng C, Fan G. Insight into the effect of a heavy metal mixture on neurological damage in rats through combined serum metabolomic and brain proteomic analyses. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 895:165009. [PMID: 37353033 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023]
Abstract
The heavy metals lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg) that cause neurocognitive impairment have been extensively studied. These elements typically do not exist alone in the environment; they are often found with other heavy metals and can enter the body through various routes, thereby impacting health. Our previous research showed that low Pb, Cd, and Hg levels cause neurobehavioral impairments in weaning and adult rats. However, little is known about the biomarkers and mechanisms underlying Pb, Cd, and Hg mixture-induced neurological impairments. A combined analysis of metabolomic and proteomic data may reveal heavy metal-induced alterations in metabolic and protein profiles, thereby improving our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying heavy metal-induced neurological impairments. Therefore, brain tissue and serum samples were collected from rats exposed to a Pb, Cd, and Hg mixture for proteomic and metabolomic analyses, respectively. The analysis revealed 363 differential proteins in the brain and 206 metabolites in serum uniquely altered in the Pb, Cd, and Hg mixture exposure group, compared to those of the control group. The main metabolic impacted pathways were unsaturated fatty acids biosynthesis, linoleic acid metabolism, phenylalanine metabolism, and tryptophan metabolism. We further identified that the levels of arachidonic acid (C20:4 n-3) and, adrenic acid (C22:4 n-3) were elevated and that kynurenic acid (KA) and quinolinic acid (QA) levels and the KA/QA ratio, were decreased in the group exposed to the Pb, Cd, and Hg mixture. A joint analysis of the proteome and metabolome showed that significantly altered proteins such as LPCAT3, SLC7A11, ASCL4, and KYAT1 may participate in the neurological impairments induced by the heavy metal mixture. Overall, we hypothesize that the dysregulation of ferroptosis and kynurenine pathways is associated with neurological damage due to chronic exposure to a heavy metal mixture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Xie
- Department of Occupational Health and Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China; Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China
| | - Fankun Zhou
- Department of Occupational Health and Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China; Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China
| | - Lu Ouyang
- Department of Occupational Health and Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China; Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China
| | - Qi Li
- Department of Occupational Health and Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China; Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China
| | - Shaoqi Rao
- Department of Occupational Health and Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China; Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China
| | - Rui Su
- Department of Occupational Health and Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China; Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China
| | - Shuo Yang
- Department of Occupational Health and Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China; Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China
| | - Jiajun Li
- Department of Occupational Health and Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China; Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China
| | - Xin Wan
- Department of Occupational Health and Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China; Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China
| | - Lingyu Yan
- Department of Occupational Health and Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China; Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China
| | - Peishan Liu
- Department of Occupational Health and Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China; Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China
| | - Hui Cheng
- Department of Occupational Health and Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China; Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China
| | - Lingling Li
- Department of Occupational Health and Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China; Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China
| | - Guihua Du
- Department of Occupational Health and Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China; Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China
| | - Chang Feng
- Department of Occupational Health and Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China; Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China
| | - Guangqin Fan
- Department of Occupational Health and Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China; Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, PR China.
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11
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Rodríguez-Viso P, Domene A, Sánchez A, Vélez D, Monedero V, Devesa V, Zúñiga M. Challenges and strategies for preventing intestinal damage associated to mercury dietary exposure. Toxicology 2023; 494:153580. [PMID: 37328091 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2023.153580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Food represents the major risk factor for exposure to mercury in most human populations. Therefore, passage through the gastrointestinal tract plays a fundamental role in its entry into the organism. Despite the intense research carried out on the toxicity of Hg, the effects at the intestinal level have received increased attention only recently. In this review we first provide a critical appraisal of the recent advances on the toxic effects of Hg at the intestinal epithelium. Next, dietary strategies aimed to diminish Hg bioavailability or modulate the epithelial and microbiota responses will be revised. Food components and additives, including probiotics, will be considered. Finally, limitations of current approaches to tackle this problem and future lines of research will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Adrián Domene
- Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA-CSIC), Paterna, Spain
| | - Alicia Sánchez
- Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA-CSIC), Paterna, Spain
| | - Dinoraz Vélez
- Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA-CSIC), Paterna, Spain
| | - Vicente Monedero
- Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA-CSIC), Paterna, Spain
| | - Vicenta Devesa
- Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA-CSIC), Paterna, Spain
| | - Manuel Zúñiga
- Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA-CSIC), Paterna, Spain.
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12
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Wang W, Chen F, Zhang L, Wen F, Yu Q, Li P, Zhang A. Neurotransmitter disturbances caused by methylmercury exposure: Microbiota-gut-brain interaction. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 873:162358. [PMID: 36822423 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2022] [Revised: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The fetal and early postnatal stages are periods of rapid brain development, during which, methylmercury (MeHg) exposure can cause lasting cognitive impairments. MeHg exposure disrupts neurotransmitter metabolites, which increased susceptibility to neurological responses. However, the neurotoxic mechanism underlying the MeHg-induced disruption of neurotransmitter metabolism requires further exploration. To this end, female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were administered NaCl (control group) or MeHg (0.6 mg/kg, 1.2 mg/kg and 2.4 mg/ kg body weight (bw), where the body weight refers to the dams) during the perinatal period, and then changes in neurotransmitter profiles and the gut microbiota of offspring were detected. The results showed that tryptophan (Trp) and tyrosine (Tyr) pathway neurotransmitter metabolites, including serotonin (5-HT), 5-hydroxy indole acetic acid (5-HIAA), N-acetyl-5-hydroxytryptamin (NAS), Tyr, dopamine (DA) and epinephrine (E), were significantly changed, and the Kynurenine/Tryptophan (Kyn/Trp) ratio was increased in the MeHg-treated groups. Meanwhile, acetylcholine (ACh) and neurotransmitters involved in the amino acid pathway were significantly reduced. Notably, MeHg treatment induced a significant reduction in tight junctions in the colon and hippocampal tissue. Furthermore, fecal microbiota analysis indicated that the diversity and composition characteristics were significantly altered by MeHg exposure. Mediation analysis showed that the gut microbiota mediated the effect of MeHg treatment on the neurotransmitter expression profiles. The present findings shed light on the regulatory role of the gut microbiota in MeHg-disrupted neurotransmitter metabolic pathways and the potential impact of perinatal MeHg treatment on the "cross-talk" between the gut and brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjuan Wang
- The Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Fang Chen
- The Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Li Zhang
- The Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Fuli Wen
- The Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Qing Yu
- The Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Ping Li
- The Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China.
| | - Aihua Zhang
- The Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China.
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13
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Rodríguez-Viso P, Domene A, Vélez D, Devesa V, Monedero V, Zúñiga M. Oral exposure to inorganic mercury or methylmercury elicits distinct pro-inflammatory and pro-oxidant intestinal responses in a mouse model system. Food Chem Toxicol 2023; 177:113801. [PMID: 37137463 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2023.113801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Humans are mainly exposed to mercury (Hg) through contaminated foodstuffs. However, the effects of Hg on the intestinal tract have received little attention. We performed a subchronic exposure to inorganic mercury or methylmercury in mice through drinking water (1, 5 or 10 mg/L for four months) to evaluate their intestinal impact. Histological, biochemical and gene expression analyses showed that both Hg species induced oxidative stress in small intestine and colon, while inflammation was mainly detected in the colon. Increased fecal albumin content indicated a compromised epithelial barrier. Mucus production was possibly also affected, as an increase in Muc2 expression was detected. However, differential effects were detected between both Hg species. Activation of p38 MAPK and increased crypt depth were detected in colon only with MeHg. Minor differences in microbiota composition were detected between unexposed and exposed mice. Although significant differences were detected between both Hg species at 10 mg/L, only the relative abundances of low abundance taxa were affected. Concentrations of microbial-derived short-chain fatty acids were decreased, suggesting an effect on microbial metabolism or increased demand by the intestinal epithelium. Results obtained confirm previous in vitro studies and highlights the intestinal mucosa as an initial target of Hg.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pilar Rodríguez-Viso
- Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA-CSIC), Agustín Escardino 7, 46980, Paterna, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Adrián Domene
- Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA-CSIC), Agustín Escardino 7, 46980, Paterna, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Dinoraz Vélez
- Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA-CSIC), Agustín Escardino 7, 46980, Paterna, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Vicenta Devesa
- Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA-CSIC), Agustín Escardino 7, 46980, Paterna, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Vicente Monedero
- Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA-CSIC), Agustín Escardino 7, 46980, Paterna, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Manuel Zúñiga
- Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA-CSIC), Agustín Escardino 7, 46980, Paterna, Valencia, Spain.
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14
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Rodríguez-Viso P, Domene A, Vélez D, Devesa V, Zúñiga M, Monedero V. Lactic acid bacteria strains reduce in vitro mercury toxicity on the intestinal mucosa. Food Chem Toxicol 2023; 173:113631. [PMID: 36690269 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2023.113631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
A bicameral model consisting of Caco-2 and HT29-MTX intestinal epithelial cells and THP-1-derived macrophages has been used to test the ability of two strains of Lactobacillus to protect from damage caused by mercury. Exposure to 1 mg/ml mercury [Hg(II) or methyl-Hg] for seven days in this model resulted in an inflammatory and pro-oxidant response mainly driven by macrophages. This led to an impairment in the intestinal barrier, defective tight-junctions, increased permeability and mucus hypersecretion. In addition, the wound-healing capacity of the epithelial monolayer was also diminished. However, the presence of heat-killed Lactobacillus intestinalis or Lactobacillus johnsonii cells during Hg exposure reverted these effects, and most of the parameters recovered values similar to control cells. Both lactobacilli showed the capacity to bind Hg(II) and methyl-Hg under the cell culture conditions. This points to Hg sequestration as a likely mechanism that counteracted Hg toxicity. However, differences in the Hg binding capacity and in the effects between both strains suggest that other probiotic-mediated mechanisms may play a role in the alleviation of the damage elicited by Hg. These results show the potential of the bicameral intestinal epithelial model for screening of effective strains for their use in later in vivo studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pilar Rodríguez-Viso
- Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA-CSIC), Agustín Escardino 7, 46980, Paterna, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Adrián Domene
- Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA-CSIC), Agustín Escardino 7, 46980, Paterna, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Dinoraz Vélez
- Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA-CSIC), Agustín Escardino 7, 46980, Paterna, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Vicenta Devesa
- Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA-CSIC), Agustín Escardino 7, 46980, Paterna, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Manuel Zúñiga
- Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA-CSIC), Agustín Escardino 7, 46980, Paterna, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Vicente Monedero
- Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA-CSIC), Agustín Escardino 7, 46980, Paterna, Valencia, Spain.
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15
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Volkart S, Kym U, Braissant O, Delgado-Eckert E, Al-Samir S, Angresius R, Huo Z, Holland-Cunz S, Gros SJ. AQP1 in the Gastrointestinal Tract of Mice: Expression Pattern and Impact of AQP1 Knockout on Colonic Function. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043616. [PMID: 36835026 PMCID: PMC9959819 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Aquaporin 1 (AQP1) is one of thirteen known mammalian aquaporins. Its main function is the transport of water across cell membranes. Lately, a role of AQP has been attributed to other physiological and pathological functions including cell migration and peripheral pain perception. AQP1 has been found in several parts of the enteric nervous system, e.g., in the rat ileum and in the ovine duodenum. Its function in the intestine appears to be multifaceted and is still not completely understood. The aim of the study was to analyze the distribution and localization of AQP1 in the entire intestinal tract of mice. AQP1 expression was correlated with the hypoxic expression profile of the various intestinal segments, intestinal wall thickness and edema, as well as other aspects of colon function including the ability of mice to concentrate stools and their microbiome composition. AQP1 was found in a specific pattern in the serosa, the mucosa, and the enteric nervous system throughout the gastrointestinal tract. The highest amount of AQP1 in the gastrointestinal tract was found in the small intestine. AQP1 expression correlated with the expression profiles of hypoxia-dependent proteins such as HIF-1α and PGK1. Loss of AQP1 through knockout of AQP1 in these mice led to a reduced amount of bacteroidetes and firmicutes but an increased amount of the rest of the phyla, especially deferribacteres, proteobacteria, and verrucomicrobia. Although AQP-KO mice retained gastrointestinal function, distinct changes regarding the anatomy of the intestinal wall including intestinal wall thickness and edema were observed. Loss of AQP1 might interfere with the ability of the mice to concentrate their stool and it is associated with a significantly different composition of the of the bacterial stool microbiome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Volkart
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Children’s Hospital Basel, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Clinical Research, University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Urs Kym
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Children’s Hospital Basel, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Clinical Research, University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Olivier Braissant
- Microcalorimetry Unit, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Edgar Delgado-Eckert
- Computational Physiology and Biostatistics, Department of Biomedical Engineering at University of Basel and University Children’s Hospital Basel, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Samer Al-Samir
- Vegetative Physiologie 4220, Zentrum Physiologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Rebecca Angresius
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Children’s Hospital Basel, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Clinical Research, University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Zihe Huo
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Children’s Hospital Basel, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Clinical Research, University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Stefan Holland-Cunz
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Children’s Hospital Basel, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Clinical Research, University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Stephanie J. Gros
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Children’s Hospital Basel, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
- Correspondence:
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16
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Gut as the target tissue of mercury and the extraintestinal effects. Toxicology 2023; 484:153396. [PMID: 36521575 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2022.153396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is harmful to the environment and human health. The gut plays important roles as the biological, chemical, mechanical, and immune barriers in animals and human beings. It has been known that Hg can be absorbed and methylated/demethylated in the gut, on the other hand, the impacts of Hg to the gut (especially the gut microbiota) is less studied. This review paper summarizes the impacts of inorganic Hg (IHg) and methyl Hg (MeHg) on gut barriers and the extraintestinal effects (damage to other organs such as the liver and brain). Both IHg and MeHg were found to cause intestinal microbial disorders, abnormal metabolites production, tight junction damage, and immune responses in the gut. The damage to the gut also contributed to the extraintestinal effects like the hepatotoxicity by IHg and the neurotoxicity by MeHg. In all, it is proposed that the gut should be considered as an important target tissue of Hg exposure, and the regulation of gut microbiota may have the potential for the prevention and control of the toxicity of Hg.
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17
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Mercurio M, Izzo F, Gatta GD, Salzano L, Lotrecchiano G, Saldutto P, Germinario C, Grifa C, Varricchio E, Carafa A, Di Meo MC, Langella A. May a comprehensive mineralogical study of a jackstone calculus and some other human bladder stones unveil health and environmental implications? ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH 2022; 44:3297-3320. [PMID: 34529244 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-021-01083-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
This paper represents the first result of an active collaboration between the University of Sannio and the San Pio Hospital (Benevento, Italy), started in the 2018, that aims to a detailed mineralogical investigation of urinary stones of patients from Campania region. Herein, selected human bladder stones have been deeply characterized for clinical purposes and environmental biomonitoring, focusing on the importance to evaluate the concentration and distribution of undesired trace elements by means of microscopic techniques in the place of conventional wet chemical analyses. A rare bladder stone with a sea-urchin appearance, known as jackstone calculus, were also investigated (along with bladder stones made of uric acid and brushite) by means a comprehensive analytical approach, including Synchrotron X-ray Diffraction and Simultaneous Thermal Analyses. Main clinical assumptions were inferred according to the morpho-constitutional classification of bladder stones and information about patient's medical history and lifestyle. In most of the analyzed uroliths, undesired trace elements such as copper, cadmium, lead, chromium, mercury and arsenic have been detected and generally attributable to environmental pollution or contaminated food. Simultaneous occurrence of selenium and mercury should denote a methylmercury detoxification process, probably leading to the formation of a very rare HgSe compound known as tiemannite.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Mercurio
- Dipartimento di Scienze E Tecnologie, Università degli Studi del Sannio, Via F. De Sanctis, 82100, Benevento, Italy
| | - F Izzo
- Dipartimento di Scienze E Tecnologie, Università degli Studi del Sannio, Via F. De Sanctis, 82100, Benevento, Italy.
| | - Giacomo Diego Gatta
- Dipartimento Scienze della Terra, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Botticelli 23, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - L Salzano
- UOC Urologia, Azienda Ospedaliera San Pio di Benevento, Via dell'Angelo 82100, Benevento, Italy
| | - G Lotrecchiano
- UOC Urologia, Azienda Ospedaliera San Pio di Benevento, Via dell'Angelo 82100, Benevento, Italy
| | - P Saldutto
- UOC Urologia, Azienda Ospedaliera San Pio di Benevento, Via dell'Angelo 82100, Benevento, Italy
| | - C Germinario
- Dipartimento di Scienze E Tecnologie, Università degli Studi del Sannio, Via F. De Sanctis, 82100, Benevento, Italy
| | - C Grifa
- Dipartimento di Scienze E Tecnologie, Università degli Studi del Sannio, Via F. De Sanctis, 82100, Benevento, Italy
| | - E Varricchio
- Dipartimento di Scienze E Tecnologie, Università degli Studi del Sannio, Via F. De Sanctis, 82100, Benevento, Italy
| | - A Carafa
- Dipartimento di Scienze E Tecnologie, Università degli Studi del Sannio, Via F. De Sanctis, 82100, Benevento, Italy
| | - Maria Chiara Di Meo
- Dipartimento di Scienze E Tecnologie, Università degli Studi del Sannio, Via F. De Sanctis, 82100, Benevento, Italy
| | - A Langella
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, dell'Ambiente e delle Risorse, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Complesso Universitario Di Monte Sant'Angelo, Edificio 10, Via Vicinale Cupa Cintia 21, 80126, Naples, Italy
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18
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Xu S, Wu Y, Chen Y, Lu W, Wang YX, Gao B, Zhang J. Environmental metal exposure, seminal plasma metabolome and semen quality: Evidence from Chinese reproductive-aged men. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 838:155860. [PMID: 35595136 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 05/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Environmental metal exposure has been associated with decreasing semen quality, but the effects of multiple metal exposure on seminal plasma metabolome remain obscure. In this study, semen and repeated urine samples from 551 volunteers were collected in Wuhan City. Heavy metals and trace elements were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer, and seminal plasma metabolomes were acquired using liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis showed more than half of the seminal plasma metals were associated with specific metabolite modules, whereas only a few urine metals presented weak associations, indicating that seminal plasma may be an ideal biological sample for male reproductive biomarker discovery and exposure risk assessment. Seminal plasma zinc (Zn) and selenium (Se) concentrations were significantly associated with 22 metabolites (e.g., glycerophospholipids, acyl-carnitines and amino acid derivatives). Among these metabolites, acyl-carnitines were positively associated with semen quality and sperm concentration. Moreover, acyl-carnitines were associated with both Zn and Se exposure, indicating the potential role of carnitine pathway in their toxicity mechanism. Our findings suggest that seminal plasma metabolome connects Zn and Se exposure and sperm concentrations in Chinese men of reproductive age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Song Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Yaru Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Yujie Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Wenqing Lu
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yi-Xin Wang
- Departments of Nutrition, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Biling Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China.
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19
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Dong X, Yao S, Deng L, Li H, Zhang F, Xu J, Li Z, Zhang L, Jiang J, Wu W. Alterations in the gut microbiota and its metabolic profile of PM 2.5 exposure-induced thyroid dysfunction rats. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 838:156402. [PMID: 35660575 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 04/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/28/2022] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) has drawn more and more interest due to its adverse effects on health. Thyroid has been demonstrated to be the key organ impacted by PM2.5. However, the mechanisms for PM2.5 exposure-induced thyrotoxicity remain unclear. To explore the mechanisms, a rat thyroid injury model was established by exposing rats to PM2.5 via passive pulmonary inhalation. Thyroid hormones and thyroid function proteins were detected. The thyroid function affected by PM2.5 exposure was investigated via metabolomics analysis using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Results showed that PM2.5 exposure induced remarkable alterations in gut microbiome evenness, richness, and composition. Metabolomics profiling revealed that the urine metabolites levels were changed by PM2.5 exposure. The altered gut microbiota and urine metabolites showed significant correlations with thyroid function indicators (total T3, total T4 and thyrotropin hormone, etc.). These metabolites were involved in metabolic pathways including thyroid hormone synthesis, metabolisms of tryptophan, d-Glutamine and D-glutamate, histidine, glutathione, etc. The altered gut microbiota showed significant correlations with urine metabolites (glutathione, citric acid, D-Glutamic acid, kynurenic acid and 5-Aminopentanoic acid, etc.). For example, the taurocholic acid levels positively correlated with the relative abundance of several genera including Elusimicrobium (r = 0.9741, p = 0.000000), Muribaculum (r = 0.9886, p = 0.000000), Candidatus_Obscuribacter (r = 0.8423, p = 0.000585), Eubacterium (r = 0.9237, p = 0.000017), and Parabacteroides (r = 0.8813, p = 0.000150), while it negatively correlated with the relative abundance of Prevotella (r = -0.8070, p = 0.001509). PM2.5 exposure-induced thyrotoxicity led to remarkable alterations both in gut microbiome composition and some metabolites involved in metabolic pathways. The altered intestinal flora and metabolites can in turn influence thyroid function in rats. These findings may provide novel insights regarding perturbations of the gut-thyroid axis as a new mechanism for PM2.5 exposure-induced thyrotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinwen Dong
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province 453003, China.
| | - Sanqiao Yao
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province 453003, China
| | - Lvfei Deng
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province 453003, China
| | - Haibin Li
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province 453003, China
| | - Fengquan Zhang
- Experimental Teaching Center of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province 453003, China
| | - Jie Xu
- Experimental Teaching Center of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province 453003, China
| | - Zhichun Li
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province 453003, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Center for Bioinformatics and Statistical Health Research, School of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province 453003, China
| | - Jing Jiang
- Experimental Teaching Center of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province 453003, China
| | - Weidong Wu
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province 453003, China.
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20
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Rashid S, Shah IA, Supe Tulcan RX, Rashid W, Sillanpaa M. Contamination, exposure, and health risk assessment of Hg in Pakistan: A review. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 301:118995. [PMID: 35189298 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.118995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Mercury is a highly toxic and highly mobile heavy metal. It has been regarded as more toxic than other nonessential and toxic nonradioactive heavy metals. Moreover, it has a high tendency of bioaccumulation and biomagnification in the ecosystem. This study aimed to assess the environmental and health risks related to Hg. Seventy studies related to Hg in environmental media, aquatic biota, and food stuffs across Pakistan were reviewed, and their concentrations were used for ecological and human health risk assessments. High concentrations of Hg were reported in the environment, with maximum concentrations of 72 mg L-1, 144 mg kg-1, 887 mg kg-1, and 49,807 ng m-3 in surface water, surface soil, surface sediments, and urban atmosphere, respectively. The possible non-carcinogenic health risk (hazard quotient) of Hg was assessed in soil, water, and fish. High risks were calculated for seafood and vegetable consumption, while low risks were estimated for soils and groundwater ingestion and exposure. Overall, children showed higher risks than adults. Last, the risk quotient analysis (RQ) revealed significant risks for aquatic species. RQs showed that multiple species, especially those with smaller resilience, could face long-term detrimental impacts. High, medium, and low risks were calculated from 66.66, 16.17, and 16.17% of the reported Hg concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sajid Rashid
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, No. 19 Xinjiekouwai Street, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Izaz Ali Shah
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, No. 19 Xinjiekouwai Street, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Roberto Xavier Supe Tulcan
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Wajid Rashid
- Department of Environmental and Conservation Sciences, University of Swat, 19130, Pakistan.
| | - Mika Sillanpaa
- Department of Chemical Engineering, School of Mining, Metallurgy and Chemical Engineering, University of Johannesburg, P. O. Box 17011, Doornfontein, 2028, South Africa; Chemistry Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia; Department of Applied Physics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia; International Research Centre of Nanotechnology for Himalayan Sustainability, Shoolini University, Solan, 173212, Himachal Pradesh, India
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21
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Zhao Y, Chen C, Feng W, Zhang Z, Xu D, Shi W, Wang S, Li YF. Professor Zhifang Chai: Scientific Contributions and Achievements. CHINESE CHEM LETT 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cclet.2022.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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22
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Bruna N, Galliani E, Oyarzún P, Bravo D, Fuentes F, Pérez-Donoso JM. Biomineralization of lithium nanoparticles by Li-resistant Pseudomonas rodhesiae isolated from the Atacama salt flat. Biol Res 2022; 55:12. [PMID: 35296351 PMCID: PMC8925236 DOI: 10.1186/s40659-022-00382-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The Atacama salt flat is located in northern Chile, at 2300 m above sea level, and has a high concentration of lithium, being one of the main extraction sites in the world. The effect of lithium on microorganism communities inhabiting environments with high concentrations of this metal has been scarcely studied. A few works have studied the microorganisms present in lithium-rich salt flats (Uyuni and Hombre Muerto in Bolivia and Argentina, respectively). Nanocrystals formation through biological mineralization has been described as an alternative for microorganisms living in metal-rich environments to cope with metal ions. However, bacterial lithium biomineralization of lithium nanostructures has not been published to date. In the present work, we studied lithium-rich soils of the Atacama salt flat and reported for the first time the biological synthesis of Li nanoparticles. Results Bacterial communities were evaluated and a high abundance of Cellulomonas, Arcticibacter, Mucilaginibacter, and Pseudomonas were determined. Three lithium resistant strains corresponding to Pseudomonas rodhesiae, Planomicrobium koreense, and Pseudomonas sp. were isolated (MIC > 700 mM). High levels of S2− were detected in the headspace of P. rodhesiae and Pseudomonas sp. cultures exposed to cysteine. Accordingly, biomineralization of lithium sulfide-containing nanomaterials was determined in P. rodhesiae exposed to lithium salts and cysteine. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis of ultrathin sections of P. rodhesiae cells biomineralizing lithium revealed the presence of nanometric materials. Lithium sulfide-containing nanomaterials were purified, and their size and shape determined by dynamic light scattering and TEM. Spherical nanoparticles with an average size < 40 nm and a hydrodynamic size ~ 44.62 nm were determined. Conclusions We characterized the bacterial communities inhabiting Li-rich extreme environments and reported for the first time the biomineralization of Li-containing nanomaterials by Li-resistant bacteria. The biosynthesis method described in this report could be used to recover lithium from waste batteries and thus provide a solution to the accumulation of batteries. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40659-022-00382-6.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Bruna
- BioNanotechnology and Microbiology Laboratory, Center for Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology (CBIB), Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Av. República # 330, Santiago, Chile
| | - E Galliani
- BioNanotechnology and Microbiology Laboratory, Center for Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology (CBIB), Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Av. República # 330, Santiago, Chile
| | - P Oyarzún
- Laboratorio de Análisis de Sólidos, Departamento de Ciencias Químicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - D Bravo
- Laboratorio de Microbiología Oral, Facultad de Odontología, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - F Fuentes
- Escuela de Geología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Mayor, Av. Manuel Montt 367, Santiago, Chile
| | - J M Pérez-Donoso
- BioNanotechnology and Microbiology Laboratory, Center for Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology (CBIB), Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Av. República # 330, Santiago, Chile.
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23
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Huang M, Liu Y, Dong W, Zhao Q, Duan R, Cao X, Wan Y, Yin J, Yi M. Toxicity of Pb continuous and pulse exposure on intestinal anatomy, bacterial diversity, and metabolites of Pelophylax nigromaculatus in pre-hibernation. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 290:133304. [PMID: 34919911 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.133304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Amphibians are often exposed to pulse pollution due to fluctuational inputs of pollutants in water. Traditional ecotoxicology research is mainly performed under constant exposure conditions, which is not consistent with the true environmental pollution. Frogs are sensitive to changes in water pollutants in pre-hibernation. Thus, to understand the toxicity difference to continuous and pulse exposure in environmental concentrations of Pb (100 μg/L), Pelophylax nigromaculatus adults were exposed to short-term treatments (8 days) in pre-hibernation. Individual mortality, intestinal anatomical structure, bacterial diversity, and metabolites were measured in a control group (CON), a Pb continuous treatment group (CEPb) and a Pb pulse treatment group (PEPb). The results showed that PEPb significantly increased individual mortality, compared to the control group and CEPb. PEPb induced pathological changes in the small intestinal tissues, such as mucosal erosion, swollen and distorted villi, large vacuoles, and the proliferation of goblet cells. In addition, PEPb altered the structure and diversity of intestinal bacteria, resulting in an increase in some pathogenic bacteria (e.g. Bacteroides and Ruminococcus) and a decrease in beneficial bacteria (e.g. Cetobacterium and Akkermansia). Both CEPb and PEPb significantly changed intestinal metabolites and metabolic pathways. Moreover, PEPb has a significant effect on the metabolism of amino acids by increasing the content of 5-Aminopentanoic acid, cis-4-Hydroxy-l-proline, Glycocholic acid, l-Alanine, and l-Isoleucine. We concluded that PEPb may lead to intestine impairment of P. nigromaculatus in pre-hibernation by inducing intestinal structural integrity destruction, bacterial imbalance, and metabolic dysfunction, resulting in a significant increase in mortality. The study provides new insights for understanding the intestinal responses of frogs to pulse metal exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minyi Huang
- College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Hunan University of Humanities, Science and Technology, Loudi, 417000, Hunan, China
| | - Yang Liu
- College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Hunan University of Humanities, Science and Technology, Loudi, 417000, Hunan, China
| | - Wenjing Dong
- College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Hunan University of Humanities, Science and Technology, Loudi, 417000, Hunan, China
| | - Qiang Zhao
- College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Hunan University of Humanities, Science and Technology, Loudi, 417000, Hunan, China
| | - Renyan Duan
- College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Hunan University of Humanities, Science and Technology, Loudi, 417000, Hunan, China.
| | - Xiaohong Cao
- College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Hunan University of Humanities, Science and Technology, Loudi, 417000, Hunan, China
| | - Yuyue Wan
- College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Hunan University of Humanities, Science and Technology, Loudi, 417000, Hunan, China
| | - Jiawei Yin
- College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Hunan University of Humanities, Science and Technology, Loudi, 417000, Hunan, China
| | - Minghui Yi
- College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Hunan University of Humanities, Science and Technology, Loudi, 417000, Hunan, China
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24
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Lin X, Zhang W, He L, Xie H, Feng B, Zhu H, Zhao J, Cui L, Li B, Li YF. Understanding the hepatoxicity of inorganic mercury through guts: Perturbance to gut microbiota, alteration of gut-liver axis related metabolites and damage to gut integrity. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2021; 225:112791. [PMID: 34555721 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.112791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) brings adverse effects to the environment and human beings and inorganic mercury (IHg) is a typical hepatic toxin. This work studied the impacts of IHg on gut microbes and metabolome together with its damage to liver and gut in rats through gut microbiome, metabolomics and metallomics. Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were orally exposed to 0.4 μg/mL IHg and sacrificed after 24 h. It was found that IHg perturbed greatly on the gut microbiota, such as increased pathogenic bacteria like G. bacillus. In addition, IHg also changed gut-liver axis related metabolites, which was confirmed by the secretion of a large number of inflammatory factors in both the gut and the liver. The changed gut-liver axis related metabolites correlated well to the changes of gut microbiome. In all, besides the direct deposition in liver of Hg, the perturbance to gut microbiome and alteration of gut-liver axis related metabolites by IHg also contributed to its hepatoxicity, which provides new insights about the hepatoxicity of chemicals. The strategy applied in this work may also be used to understand the hepatoxicity of other chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoying Lin
- Jilin Medical University, Jilin 132013, Jilin, China; CAS-HKU Joint Laboratory of Metallomics on Health and Environment, & CAS Key Laboratory for Biological Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, & Beijing Metallomics Facility, & National Consortium for Excellence in Metallomics, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- CAS-HKU Joint Laboratory of Metallomics on Health and Environment, & CAS Key Laboratory for Biological Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, & Beijing Metallomics Facility, & National Consortium for Excellence in Metallomics, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, Guizhou, China
| | - Lina He
- CAS-HKU Joint Laboratory of Metallomics on Health and Environment, & CAS Key Laboratory for Biological Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, & Beijing Metallomics Facility, & National Consortium for Excellence in Metallomics, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Hongxin Xie
- CAS-HKU Joint Laboratory of Metallomics on Health and Environment, & CAS Key Laboratory for Biological Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, & Beijing Metallomics Facility, & National Consortium for Excellence in Metallomics, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Bo Feng
- Jilin Medical University, Jilin 132013, Jilin, China
| | - Heyun Zhu
- Jilin Medical University, Jilin 132013, Jilin, China
| | - Jiating Zhao
- CAS-HKU Joint Laboratory of Metallomics on Health and Environment, & CAS Key Laboratory for Biological Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, & Beijing Metallomics Facility, & National Consortium for Excellence in Metallomics, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Liwei Cui
- CAS-HKU Joint Laboratory of Metallomics on Health and Environment, & CAS Key Laboratory for Biological Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, & Beijing Metallomics Facility, & National Consortium for Excellence in Metallomics, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Bai Li
- CAS-HKU Joint Laboratory of Metallomics on Health and Environment, & CAS Key Laboratory for Biological Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, & Beijing Metallomics Facility, & National Consortium for Excellence in Metallomics, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yu-Feng Li
- CAS-HKU Joint Laboratory of Metallomics on Health and Environment, & CAS Key Laboratory for Biological Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, & Beijing Metallomics Facility, & National Consortium for Excellence in Metallomics, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
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25
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He L, Xie H, Bai X, Zhao J, Cui L, Zhang J, Li B, Li YF. MALDI-TOF-MS and XAS analysis of complexes formed by metallothionein with mercury and/or selenium. Biometals 2021; 34:1353-1363. [PMID: 34599705 DOI: 10.1007/s10534-021-00346-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is highly toxic while selenium (Se) has been found to antagonize Hg. Both Hg and Se have been found to induce metallothioneins (MTs). In this study, the complexes formed by metallothionein-1 (MT-1) with HgCl2 and/or Na2SeO3 was studied using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) and X-ray absorption spectrometry (XAS). MALDI-TOF-MS and XAS indicated the formation of Hg-S bond or Se-S bond when MT-1 reacted with HgCl2 or Na2SeO3, respectively. The bond lengths of Hg-S and coordination number in MT-Hg are 2.41 ± 0.02 Å and 3.10 and in MT-Se are 2.50 ± 0.03 Å and 2.69. A MT-Se-Hg complex was formed when MT-1 reacted with both HgCl2 and Na2SeO3, in which the neighboring atom of Hg is Se, while the neighboring atoms of Se are S and Hg. Our study is an important step towards a better understanding of the interaction of HgCl2 and/or Na2SeO3 with proteins like MT-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina He
- CAS-HKU Joint Laboratory of Metallomics on Health and Environment, & CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, & Beijing Metallomics Facility, & National Consortium for Excellence in Metallomics, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Hongxin Xie
- CAS-HKU Joint Laboratory of Metallomics on Health and Environment, & CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, & Beijing Metallomics Facility, & National Consortium for Excellence in Metallomics, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xu Bai
- CAS-HKU Joint Laboratory of Metallomics on Health and Environment, & CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, & Beijing Metallomics Facility, & National Consortium for Excellence in Metallomics, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jiating Zhao
- CAS-HKU Joint Laboratory of Metallomics on Health and Environment, & CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, & Beijing Metallomics Facility, & National Consortium for Excellence in Metallomics, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Liwei Cui
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Junfang Zhang
- Guizhou Institute of Environmental Science and Designing, Guiyang, 550081, Guizhou, China.
| | - Bai Li
- CAS-HKU Joint Laboratory of Metallomics on Health and Environment, & CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, & Beijing Metallomics Facility, & National Consortium for Excellence in Metallomics, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yu-Feng Li
- CAS-HKU Joint Laboratory of Metallomics on Health and Environment, & CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, & Beijing Metallomics Facility, & National Consortium for Excellence in Metallomics, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China. .,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
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Chen X, Zheng J, Teng M, Zhang J, Qian L, Duan M, Zhao F, Zhao W, Wang Z, Wang C. Bioaccumulation, Metabolism and the Toxic Effects of Chlorfenapyr in Zebrafish ( Danio rerio). JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2021; 69:8110-8119. [PMID: 34270249 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.1c02301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Chlorfenapyr is widely used as an insecticide/miticide. Tralopyril, the active metabolite of chlorfenapyr, is used as an antifouling biocide in antifouling systems, and negatively affects aquatic environments. However, it is unclear whether tralopyril is a metabolite of chlorfenapyr in aquatic vertebrates, and there is little data on the bioaccumulation and toxicity of chlorfenapyr to aquatic vertebrates. In this study, the bioaccumulation and elimination of chlorfenapyr in zebrafish were assessed, and tralopyril, the active metabolite of chlorfenapyr, was determined. The effects of chronic exposure to chlorfenapyr on zebrafish liver and brain oxidative damage, apoptosis, immune response, and metabolome were investigated. These results showed that chlorfenapyr has a high bioaccumulation in zebrafish, with bioaccumulation factors of 864.6 and 1321.9 after exposure to 1.0 and 10 μg/L chlorfenapyr for 21 days, respectively. Chlorfenapyr at these concentrations also rapidly accumulated in zebrafish, reaching 615.5 and 10336 μg/kg on the second and third days of exposure, respectively. Chlorfenapyr was degraded to tralopyril in zebrafish; therefore, both chlorfenapyr and tralopyril should be considered when evaluating the risk of chlorfenapyr to aquatic organisms. In addition, chronic exposure caused oxidative damage, apoptosis, and immune disorders in zebrafish liver. Chronic exposure also altered the levels of endogenous metabolites in liver and brain. After 9 days of depuration, some indicators of oxidative damage, apoptosis, and immunity returned to normal levels, but the concentration of endogenous metabolites in zebrafish liver was still altered. Overall, these results provide useful information for evaluating the toxicity and environmental fate of chlorfenapyr in aquatic vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangguang Chen
- Innovation Center of Pesticide Research, Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Junyue Zheng
- Innovation Center of Pesticide Research, Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Miaomiao Teng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Innovation Center of Pesticide Research, Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Le Qian
- Innovation Center of Pesticide Research, Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Manman Duan
- Innovation Center of Pesticide Research, Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Feng Zhao
- Innovation Center of Pesticide Research, Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Wentian Zhao
- Innovation Center of Pesticide Research, Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Zhao Wang
- The Institute of Plant Production, Jilin Academy of Agriculture Science, Changchun 130033, China
| | - Chengju Wang
- Innovation Center of Pesticide Research, Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
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27
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Fantozzi L, Guerrieri N, Manca G, Orrù A, Marziali L. An Integrated Investigation of Atmospheric Gaseous Elemental Mercury Transport and Dispersion Around a Chlor-Alkali Plant in the Ossola Valley (Italian Central Alps). TOXICS 2021; 9:172. [PMID: 34357915 PMCID: PMC8309919 DOI: 10.3390/toxics9070172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
We present the first assessment of atmospheric pollution by mercury (Hg) in an industrialized area located in the Ossola Valley (Italian Central Alps), in close proximity to the Toce River. The study area suffers from a level of Hg contamination due to a Hg cell chlor-alkali plant operating from 1915 to the end of 2017. We measured gaseous elemental Hg (GEM) levels by means of a portable Hg analyzer during car surveys between autumn 2018 and summer 2020. Moreover, we assessed the long-term dispersion pattern of atmospheric Hg by analyzing the total Hg concentration in samples of lichens collected in the Ossola Valley. High values of GEM concentrations (1112 ng m-3) up to three orders of magnitude higher than the typical terrestrial background concentration in the northern hemisphere were measured in the proximity of the chlor-alkali plant. Hg concentrations in lichens ranged from 142 ng g-1 at sampling sites located north of the chlor-alkali plant to 624 ng g-1 in lichens collected south of the chlor-alkali plant. A north-south gradient of Hg accumulation in lichens along the Ossola Valley channel was observed, highlighting that the area located south of the chlor-alkali plant is more exposed to the dispersion of Hg emitted into the atmosphere from the industrial site. Long-term studies on Hg emission and dispersion in the Ossola Valley are needed to better assess potential impact on ecosystems and human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Fantozzi
- Water Research Institute-National Research Council (IRSA-CNR), Largo Tonolli 50, I-28922 Verbania Pallanza, Italy; (N.G.); (A.O.)
| | - Nicoletta Guerrieri
- Water Research Institute-National Research Council (IRSA-CNR), Largo Tonolli 50, I-28922 Verbania Pallanza, Italy; (N.G.); (A.O.)
| | - Giovanni Manca
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), I-21027 Ispra, Italy;
| | - Arianna Orrù
- Water Research Institute-National Research Council (IRSA-CNR), Largo Tonolli 50, I-28922 Verbania Pallanza, Italy; (N.G.); (A.O.)
| | - Laura Marziali
- Water Research Institute-National Research Council (IRSA-CNR), Via del Mulino 19, I-20861 Brugherio, Italy;
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