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He C, Stocchino A, He Y, Leung KMY, De Leo F, Yin ZY, Jin YF. Risk assessment of e-waste - Liquid Crystal Monomers re-suspension caused by coastal dredging operations. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 933:173176. [PMID: 38750734 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2024] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
The Pearl River Estuary (PRE), one of the primary e-waste recycling centers in the world, has been suffering from the pollution of Liquid Crystal Monomers (LCMs), critical materials with persistent, bio-accumulative, and toxic substances used in electronic devices. It has been detected in seabed sediment with both high frequency and concentration near PRE - Hong Kong (HK) waters. In the same area, dredging operations with in-situ sediment have been frequently used in the last decades for coastal land reclamation projects. Dredging is known to cause a huge amount of sediment re-suspension into water columns, with potential damage to marine ecosystems and biodiversity. In this study, we proposed a new risk assessment strategy to estimate the secondary pollution due to the re-suspension sediment highly contaminated by LCMs. We formulate a robust and reliable probabilistic approach based on unsupervised machine learning and hydrodynamic and sediment transport numerical simulation. New risk indexes were also proposed to better quantify the impact of contaminated sediments. We applied the methodology to assess the potential impact of dredging operations in the PRE and Hong Kong waters on the local marine ecosystem. The results of the analysis showed how the potentially contaminated areas depended on the dredging locations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang He
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Alessandro Stocchino
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
| | - Yuhe He
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong; School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Kenneth Mei Yee Leung
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong; Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Francesco De Leo
- Department of Civil, Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Genoa, Genova, Italy
| | - Zhen-Yu Yin
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Yin-Fu Jin
- College of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, Guangdong, China
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Liu R, Yang R, Jiang Q, Shao B. Fluorinated liquid-crystal monomers in infant formulas and implication for health risk. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024:124502. [PMID: 38964644 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2024] [Revised: 06/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
Fluorinated liquid-crystal monomers (FLCMs), a new class of potential persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) emerging pollutants, are extensively utilized in the display panel of various electronic devices. These compounds have been found in various environmental matrixes and dietary. Our previous studies have documented their ubiquitous occurrence in high fat foodstuffs. Infants, a vulnerable group, are more susceptible to the impacts of these pollutants compared to adults. Herein, we provided an assessment of the health risks posed by FLCMs to infants, focusing on their exposure through infant formula. The presence of FLCMs was detected in all infant formulas, with median concentration of 16.5 ng/g dry weight (dw) and the 95th percentile concentration of 65.7 ng/g dw. The most prevalent pollutant in these formulas was 2-fluoro-4-[4'-propyl-1,1'-bi(cyclohexyl)-4-yl] phenyl trifluoromethyl ether (FPrBP), with median and a 95th percentile concentration of 12.2ng/g dw and 23.8 ng/g dw, accounting for 55.2% to the total FLCMs. Infants aged 0-6 months had the highest estimated daily intakes (EDIs) of FLCMs, with the EDImedian of 267 ng/kg bw/day. FPrBP and 4-[trans-4-(trans-4-Propylcyclohexyl) cyclohexyl]-1-trifluoromethoxybenzene (PCTB) together made up 83.3% of the total EDIs in median exposure scenario of 0-6 months infant. The highest EDI value was 1.30×103 ng/kg bw/day, 77.1% of which was attributed to a combination of FPrBP, 4''-ethyl-2'-fluoro-4-propyl-1,1':4',1''-terphenyl (EFPT), 2-[4'-[difluoro(3,4,5-trifluoro-2-methyl-phenoxy)methyl]-3',5'-difluoro-[1,1'-biphenyl]-4-yl]-5-ethyl-tetrahydro-pyran (DTMPMDP), 4-[Difluoro-(3,4,5-trifluoro-2-methyl-phenoxy)-methyl]-3,5-difluoro-4'-propyl-1,1-biphenyl (DTMPMDB), 2,3-difluoro-1-methyl-4-[(trans,trans)-4'-pentyl[1,1'-bicyclohexyl]-4-yl]benzene (DMPBB) and PCTB. It's worth noting that FLCMs have higher exposure risk. Based on the threshold of toxicological concern (TTC) method, the EDImedian of FPrBP (183 ng/kg bw/day) and FPCB (3.27 ng/kg bw/day) were beyond their TTC values (2.5 ng/kg bw/day) in 0-6 months infant, implying their prospective health risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Runqing Liu
- School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Diagnostic and Traceability Technologies for Food Poisoning, Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing 100013, China
| | - Runhui Yang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Diagnostic and Traceability Technologies for Food Poisoning, Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing 100013, China
| | - Qian Jiang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Diagnostic and Traceability Technologies for Food Poisoning, Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing 100013, China
| | - Bing Shao
- School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Diagnostic and Traceability Technologies for Food Poisoning, Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing 100013, China; Food Laboratory of Zhongyuan, Luohe 462300, PR China.
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Ge Y, Cui J, Zhang L, Zhang S, Baqar M, Cheng Z. Informal E-waste dismantling activities accelerated the releasing of liquid crystal monomers (LCMs) in Pakistan: Occurrence, distribution, and exposure assessment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 932:172987. [PMID: 38734084 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172987] [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: 02/22/2024] [Revised: 04/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
Liquid crystal monomers (LCMs) are emerging contaminants characterized by their persistence, bioaccumulation potential, and toxicity. They have been observed in several environmental matrices associated with electronic waste (e-waste) dismantling activities, particularly in China. However, there is currently no information on the pollution caused by LCMs in other developing countries, such as Pakistan. In this study, we collected soil samples (n = 59) from e-waste dismantling areas with different functions in Pakistan for quantification analysis of 52 target LCMs. Thirty out of 52 LCMs were detected in the soil samples, with the concentrations ranging from 2.14 to 191 ng/g (median: 16.3 ng/g), suggesting widespread contamination by these emerging contaminants. Fluorinated LCMs (median: 10.4 ng/g, range: 1.27-116 ng/g) were frequently detected and their levels were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than those of non-fluorinated LCMs (median: 6.11 ng/g, range: not detected (ND)-76.7 ng/g). The concentrations and profiles of the observed LCMs in the soil samples from the four functional areas varied. The informal dismantling of e-waste poses a potential exposure risk to adults and infants, with median estimated daily intake (EDI, ng/kg bw/day) values of 0.0420 and 0.1013, respectively. Calculation of the hazard quotient (HQ) suggested that some LCMs (e.g., ETFMBC (1.374) and EDFPB (1.257)) may pose potential health risks to occupational workers and their families. Considering the widespread contamination and risks associated with LCMs, we strongly recommend enhancing e-waste management and regulation in Pakistan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanhui Ge
- School of Environmental Science and Safety Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin 300384, China
| | - Jingren Cui
- School of Environmental Science and Safety Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin 300384, China; MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Lianying Zhang
- School of Environmental Science and Safety Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin 300384, China
| | - Shaohan Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Mujtaba Baqar
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; Sustainable Development Study Centre, Government College University, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
| | - Zhipeng Cheng
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China.
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Feng JJ, Liao JX, Jiang QW, Mo L. Characteristic structures of liquid crystal monomers in EI-MS analysis and the potential application in suspect screening. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 358:142210. [PMID: 38704041 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142210] [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: 02/10/2024] [Revised: 04/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
Liquid crystal monomers (LCMs) are of emerging concern due to their ubiquitous presence in indoor and outdoor environments and their potential negative impacts on human health and ecosystems. Suspect screening approaches have been developed to monitor thousands of LCMs that could enter the environment, but an updated suspect list of LCMs is difficult to maintain given the rapid development of material innovations. To facilitate suspect screening for LCMs, in-silico mass fragmentation model and quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSPR) models were applied to predict electron ionization (EI) mass spectra of LCMs. The in-silico model showed limited predictive power for EI mass spectra, while the QSPR models trained with 437 published mass spectra of LCMs achieved an acceptable absolute error of 12 percentage points in predicting the relative intensity of the molecular ion, but failed to predict the mass-to-charge ratio of the base peak. A total of 41 characteristic structures were identified from an updated suspect list of 1606 LCMs. Multi-phenyl groups form the rigid cores of 85% of LCMs and produce 154 characteristic peaks in EI mass spectra. Monitoring the characteristic structures and fragments of LCMs may help identify new LCMs with the same rigid cores as those in the suspect list.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing-Jing Feng
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Plant Conservation and Restoration Ecology in Karst Terrain, Guangxi Institute of Botany, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guilin, 541006, China.
| | - Jian-Xiong Liao
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Plant Conservation and Restoration Ecology in Karst Terrain, Guangxi Institute of Botany, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guilin, 541006, China
| | - Qian-Wen Jiang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Plant Conservation and Restoration Ecology in Karst Terrain, Guangxi Institute of Botany, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guilin, 541006, China
| | - Ling Mo
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Plant Conservation and Restoration Ecology in Karst Terrain, Guangxi Institute of Botany, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guilin, 541006, China
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Wu J, Li R, Su G. Investigation of the Role of Distances from Liquid Crystal Monomer (LCM) Factories on Distribution of LCMs in Surface Soil Samples. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024:124285. [PMID: 38823544 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
Liquid crystal monomers (LCMs), which are commonly used in electronic device screens, have attracted attention as a potential class of emerging organic pollutants with persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT) properties. This study involved the collection of 54 surface soil samples around one LC industrial park at increasing spatial distances within 1 km, 1-3 km, and 3-5 km from the center of the LC industrial park. Our observations revealed the presence of LCMs in 46 of 54 surface soil samples examined. Of the 39 target LCMs, 36 were identified, comprising 14 non-fluorinated and 22 fluorinated LCMs. Nine LCMs were detected at frequencies exceeding 50%, with 3bcHdFB exhibiting the highest detection frequency of 59% in the soil samples. The total LCM concentrations across the 46 sampling locations varied from 0.0072 to 17.24 ng/g dw, with the highest total concentrations at sampling sites within 1 km of the liquid crystal plant, suggesting that manufacturing processes may be a potential source for LCM release into the environment. Differences were observed in the LCM contamination patterns among the three sampling areas. Additionally, we observed a decrease in the median LCM concentration with increasing distance from the center of the LC industrial park. However, no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) in LCM concentrations were observed across the three distances assessed in this study. This may be owing to the limited variety of target compounds analyzed and the limited number of soil samples. Our results emphasize that further studies on the emissions and pollution characteristics of LCMs during production are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Wu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of Environmental and Biological Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, P. R. China
| | - Rongrong Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of Environmental and Biological Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, P. R. China
| | - Guanyong Su
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of Environmental and Biological Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, P. R. China.
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Li H, Lyu B, Li J, Shi Z. Liquid crystal monomers (LCMs) in indoor residential dust from Beijing, China: occurrence and human exposure. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:29859-29869. [PMID: 38592626 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-33236-7] [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: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Liquid crystal monomers (LCMs) are widely used in electronic devices and emerging as an environmental pollutant, while their occurrence in indoor environments is still less studied. In this study, 32 out of 37 target LCMs were detected in indoor residential dust samples (n = 112) from Beijing, China. Concentrations of Σ32LCMs ranged from 17.8 to 197 ng/g, with a median value of 54.7 ng/g. Fluorinated biphenyls and analogs (FBAs) and cyanobiphenyls and analogs (CBAs), with median concentrations of 22.8 and 15.9 ng/g, respectively, were the main kinds of LCMs. Although 32 LCMs can be detected, four monomers with the highest contamination levels contributed to almost 70% of the total LCMs. Spearman correlation analysis found significant correlations among some monomers, which indicated that they might share similar sources in the residential environment. Estimated daily intakes (EDIs) of LCMs via indoor dust for Beijing residents were calculated, and the results showed that dust ingestion and dermal contact were both main intake pathways to LCMs, and younger people may face higher exposure to LCMs. A comparison to the results of China's total diet study showed that EDIs of LCMs via food consumption might be higher than that via dust intake, while health risks caused by exposure of LCMs for the general population, both through food and dust, were insignificant at present.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Li
- School of Public Health and Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
- NHC Key Lab of Food Safety Risk Assessment, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Food Safety, (No. 2019RU014), China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA), Beijing, 100022, China
| | - Bing Lyu
- NHC Key Lab of Food Safety Risk Assessment, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Food Safety, (No. 2019RU014), China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA), Beijing, 100022, China
| | - Jingguang Li
- NHC Key Lab of Food Safety Risk Assessment, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Food Safety, (No. 2019RU014), China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA), Beijing, 100022, China
| | - Zhixiong Shi
- School of Public Health and Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China.
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Zheng S, Wang J, Luo K, Gu X, Yuan G, Wei M, Yao Y, Zhao Y, Dai J, Zhang K. Comprehensive Characterization of Organic Light-Emitting Materials in Breast Milk by Target and Suspect Screening. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:5103-5116. [PMID: 38445973 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c08961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Organic light-emitting materials (OLEMs) are emerging contaminants in the environment and have been detected in various environment samples. However, limited information is available regarding their contamination within the human body. Here, we developed a novel QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe) method coupled with triple quadrupole/high-resolution mass spectrometry to determine OLEMs in breast milk samples, employing both target and suspect screening strategies. Our analysis uncovered the presence of seven out of the 39 targeted OLEMs in breast milk samples, comprising five liquid crystal monomers and two OLEMs commonly used in organic light-emitting diode displays. The cumulative concentrations of the seven OLEMs in each breast milk sample ranged from ND to 1.67 × 103 ng/g lipid weight, with a mean and median concentration of 78.76 and 0.71 ng/g lipid weight, respectively, which were higher compared to that of typical organic pollutants such as polychlorinated biphenyls and polybrominated diphenyl ethers. We calculated the estimated daily intake (EDI) rates of OLEMs for infants aged 0-12 months, and the mean EDI rates during lactation were estimated to range from 30.37 to 54.89 ng/kg bw/day. Employing a suspect screening approach, we additionally identified 66 potential OLEMs, and two of them, cholesteryl hydrogen phthalate and cholesteryl benzoate, were further confirmed using pure reference standards. These two substances belong to cholesteric liquid crystal materials and raise concerns about potential endocrine-disrupting effects, as indicated by in silico predictive models. Overall, our present study established a robust method for the identification of OLEMs in breast milk samples, shedding light on their presence in the human body. These findings indicate human exposure to OLEMs that should be further investigated, including their health risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuping Zheng
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Jingsheng Wang
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Kai Luo
- Key Laboratory of Environment Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Xiaoxia Gu
- Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Guanxiang Yuan
- Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Meiting Wei
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - Yao Yao
- The Genetics Laboratory, Longgang District Maternity & Child Healthcare Hospital of Shenzhen City, Longgang Maternity and Child Institute, Shantou University Medical College, Shenzhen 518172, Guangdong, China
| | - Yanbin Zhao
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
- Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Jiayin Dai
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Kun Zhang
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
- Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China
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Zhang R, Zhang X, Zhang Q, Li Y, Wang Y, Xu J, Cheng Z, Chen H, Yao Y, Sun H. Heterogeneous Photodegradation Behavior of Liquid Crystal Monomers in Dust: Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship and Product Identification. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:3908-3918. [PMID: 38329000 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c04753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
The heterogeneous photodegradation behavior of liquid crystal monomers (LCMs) in standard dust (standard reference material, SRM 2583) and environmental dust was investigated. The measured photodegradation ratios for 23 LCMs in SRM and environmental dust in 12 h were 11.1 ± 1.8 to 23.2 ± 1.1% and 8.7 ± 0.5 to 24.0 ± 2.8%, respectively. The degradation behavior of different LCM compounds varied depending on their structural properties. A quantitative structure-activity relationship model for predicting the degradation ratio of LCMs in SRM dust was established, which revealed that the molecular descriptors related to molecular polarizability, electronegativity, and molecular mass were closely associated with LCMs' photodegradation. The photodegradation products of the LCM compound 4'-propoxy-4-biphenylcarbonitrile (PBIPHCN) in dust, including •OH oxidation, C-O bond cleavage, and ring-opening products, were identified by nontarget analysis, and the corresponding degradation pathways were suggested. Some of the identified products, such as 4'-hydroxyethoxy-4-biphenylcarbonitrile, showed predicted toxicity (with an oral rat lethal dose of 50%) comparable to that of PBIPHCN. The half-lives of the studied LCMs in SRM dust were estimated at 32.2-82.5 h by fitting an exponential decay curve to the observed photodegradation data. The photodegradation mechanisms of LCMs in dust were revealed for the first time, enhancing the understanding of LCMs' environmental behavior and risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiqi Zhang
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, 38 Tongyan Road, Jinnan District, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Xiao Zhang
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China
| | - Qiuyue Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, 38 Tongyan Road, Jinnan District, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Yongcheng Li
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, 38 Tongyan Road, Jinnan District, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Yu Wang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, 38 Tongyan Road, Jinnan District, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Jiaping Xu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, 38 Tongyan Road, Jinnan District, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Zhipeng Cheng
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, 38 Tongyan Road, Jinnan District, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Hao Chen
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, 38 Tongyan Road, Jinnan District, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Yiming Yao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, 38 Tongyan Road, Jinnan District, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Hongwen Sun
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, 38 Tongyan Road, Jinnan District, Tianjin 300350, China
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He S, He J, Wu F, Zhao Y, Jin X, Martyniuk CJ. In vivo and in silico toxicity assessment of four common liquid crystal monomers to Daphnia magna: Novel endocrine disrupting chemicals in crustaceans? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:168757. [PMID: 38008309 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168757] [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: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/28/2023]
Abstract
Liquid crystal monomers (LCMs) are widely used in liquid crystal displays (LCDs) and are proposed to be a new generation of environmentally persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) substances that are increasingly detected in rivers and seas. However, there is a lack of in vivo data that characterize adverse responses and toxic mechanisms of LCMs on aquatic organisms. The aim of this study was to comprehensively investigate the effect of four typical LCMs on the lethality, growth, molting, and reproductive capacity of Daphnia magna (D. magna), a highly studied aquatic species in environmental toxicology. Whole body and enzymatic biomarkers (i.e., body length, chitobiase, acetylcholinesterase, antioxidant defense) were measured to assess the toxicity of LCMs. The 48 h mortality rate and observations of disrupted thorax development and inhibition of ecdysis indicate that D. magna are sensitive to LCMs exposure. Oxidative stress, impaired neurotransmission, and disruptions in molting were observed in short-term biomarker tests using LCMs. A 21 day exposure of D. magna to LCMs resulted in reduced growth, reproduction, and population intrinsic growth rate. In addition, chitobiase and 20-hydroxyecdysone, enzymes important for the molting process, were altered at 7, 14 and 21 d. This is hypothesized to be related to endocrine imbalance resulting from LCM exposure. Based on molecular docking simulations, there is evidence that LCMs bind directly to ecdysteroid receptors; this may explain the observed endocrine disrupting effects of LCMs. These data support the hypothesis that LCMs are endocrine disrupting chemicals in aquatic species, impacting the process of molting. This may subsequently lead to lower reproduction and unbalanced population dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan He
- College of Geo-exploration Science and Technology, Jilin University, Changchun 130026, China
| | - Jia He
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Urban Hydrological Cycle and Sponge City Technology, College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.
| | - Fengchang Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Yuanhui Zhao
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Vegetation Restoration, School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, Jilin 130117, China
| | - Xiaowei Jin
- China National Environmental Monitoring Centre, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Christopher J Martyniuk
- Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, UF Genetics Institute, Interdisciplinary Program in Biomedical Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
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Zeng L, Wen J, Huang B, Yang Y, Huang Z, Zeng F, Fang H, Du H. Environmental DNA metabarcoding reveals the effect of environmental selection on phytoplankton community structure along a subtropical river. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 243:117708. [PMID: 37993044 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117708] [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: 08/13/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
The Dongjiang River, a major tributary of the Pearl River system that supplies water to more than 40 million people in Guangdong Province and neighboring regions of China, harbors rich biodiversity, including many endemic and endangered species. However, human activities such as urbanization, agriculture, and industrialization have posed serious threats to its water quality and biodiversity. To assess the status and drivers of phytoplankton diversity, which is a key indicator of aquatic ecosystem health, this study used Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding combined with machine learning methods to explore spatial variations in the composition and structure of phytoplankton communities along the Dongjiang River, including its estuary. The results showed that phytoplankton diversity exhibited spatial distribution patterns, with higher community structure similarity and lower network complexity in the upstream than in the downstream regions. Environmental selection was the main mechanism shaping phytoplankton community composition, with natural factors driving the dominance of Pyrrophyta, Ochrophyta, and Cryptophyta in the upstream regions and estuaries. In contrast, the downstream regions was influenced by high concentrations of pollutants, resulting in increased abundance of Cryptophyta. The random forest model identified temperature, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll a, NO2-, and NH4+ as the main factors influencing the primary phytoplankton communities and could be used to predict changes during wet periods. This study provides valuable insights into the factors influencing phytoplankton diversity and community composition in the Dongjiang River, and demonstrates the application value of eDNA metabarcoding technique in large-scale, long-distance river biodiversity monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luping Zeng
- The Key Laboratory of Water and Air Pollution Control of Guangdong Province, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, No. 18 Ruihe Road, Guangzhou, 510530, China
| | - Jing Wen
- The Key Laboratory of Water and Air Pollution Control of Guangdong Province, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, No. 18 Ruihe Road, Guangzhou, 510530, China
| | - Bangjie Huang
- The Key Laboratory of Water and Air Pollution Control of Guangdong Province, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, No. 18 Ruihe Road, Guangzhou, 510530, China
| | - Yang Yang
- Research Center of Hydrobiology, Department of Ecology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Zhiwei Huang
- The Key Laboratory of Water and Air Pollution Control of Guangdong Province, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, No. 18 Ruihe Road, Guangzhou, 510530, China
| | - Fantang Zeng
- The Key Laboratory of Water and Air Pollution Control of Guangdong Province, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, No. 18 Ruihe Road, Guangzhou, 510530, China
| | - Huaiyang Fang
- The Key Laboratory of Water and Air Pollution Control of Guangdong Province, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, No. 18 Ruihe Road, Guangzhou, 510530, China.
| | - Hongwei Du
- The Key Laboratory of Water and Air Pollution Control of Guangdong Province, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, No. 18 Ruihe Road, Guangzhou, 510530, China.
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11
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Huang Y, Ruan Q, Fang S, Duan Y, Zheng J, Xiang Z, Shen Y, Liu S, Ouyang G. Toxicity Assessment of Environmental Liquid Crystal Monomers: A Bacteriological Investigation on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024. [PMID: 38321847 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c08281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
The widespread existence of liquid crystal monomers (LCMs) in various environmental matrices has been demonstrated, yet studies on the toxicological effects of LCMs are considerably scarce and are urgently needed to be conducted to assess the adverse impacts on ecology and human health. Here, we conducted a bacteriological study on two representative human commensal bacteria, Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis), to investigate the effect of LCMs at human-relevant dosage and maximum environmental concentration on growth, metabolome, enzymatic activity, and mRNA expression. Microbial growth results exhibited that the highest inhibition ratio of LCMs on S. epidermidis reached 33.6% in our set concentration range, while the corresponding data on E. coli was only 14.3%. Additionally, LCMs showed more dose-dependent toxicity to S. epidermidis rather than E. coli. A novel in vivo solid-phase microextraction (SPME) fiber was applied to capture the in vivo metabolites of microorganisms. In vivo metabolomic analyses revealed that dysregulated fatty acid metabolism-related products of both bacteria accounted for >50% of the total number of differential substances, and the results also showed the species-specific and concentration-dependent metabolic dysregulation in LCM-exposed bacteria. The determination of enzymatic activity and mRNA relative expression levels related to oxidative stress confirmed our speculation that the adverse effects were related to the oxidative metabolism of fatty acids. This study complements the gaps in toxicity data for LCMs against bacteria and provides a new and important insight regarding metabolic dysregulation induced by environmental LCMs in human commensal bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiquan Huang
- KLGHEI of Environment and Energy Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Measurement and Emergency Test Technology, Institute of Analysis, Guangdong Academy of Sciences (China National Analytical Center Guangzhou), 100 Xianlie Middle Road, Guangzhou 510070, China
| | - Qijun Ruan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Measurement and Emergency Test Technology, Institute of Analysis, Guangdong Academy of Sciences (China National Analytical Center Guangzhou), 100 Xianlie Middle Road, Guangzhou 510070, China
| | - Shuting Fang
- KLGHEI of Environment and Energy Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Measurement and Emergency Test Technology, Institute of Analysis, Guangdong Academy of Sciences (China National Analytical Center Guangzhou), 100 Xianlie Middle Road, Guangzhou 510070, China
| | - Yingming Duan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Measurement and Emergency Test Technology, Institute of Analysis, Guangdong Academy of Sciences (China National Analytical Center Guangzhou), 100 Xianlie Middle Road, Guangzhou 510070, China
| | - Jiating Zheng
- KLGHEI of Environment and Energy Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Measurement and Emergency Test Technology, Institute of Analysis, Guangdong Academy of Sciences (China National Analytical Center Guangzhou), 100 Xianlie Middle Road, Guangzhou 510070, China
| | - Zhangmin Xiang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Measurement and Emergency Test Technology, Institute of Analysis, Guangdong Academy of Sciences (China National Analytical Center Guangzhou), 100 Xianlie Middle Road, Guangzhou 510070, China
| | - Yong Shen
- KLGHEI of Environment and Energy Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Shuqin Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Measurement and Emergency Test Technology, Institute of Analysis, Guangdong Academy of Sciences (China National Analytical Center Guangzhou), 100 Xianlie Middle Road, Guangzhou 510070, China
| | - Gangfeng Ouyang
- KLGHEI of Environment and Energy Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Measurement and Emergency Test Technology, Institute of Analysis, Guangdong Academy of Sciences (China National Analytical Center Guangzhou), 100 Xianlie Middle Road, Guangzhou 510070, China
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12
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Sun J, Rene ER, Tao D, Lu Y, Jin Q, Lam JCH, Leung KMY, He Y. Degradation of organic UV filters in the water environment: A concise review on the mechanism, toxicity, and technologies. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 463:132822. [PMID: 37898090 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132822] [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: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023]
Abstract
Organic ultraviolet filters (OUVFs) have been used globally for the past 20 years. Given that OUVFs can be quickly released from sunscreens applied on human skins, they have been frequently detected in aquatic environments and organisms. Some byproducts of OUVFs might be more recalcitrant and toxic than their parent compounds. To further assess the toxicity and potential risk of OUVFs' byproducts, it is necessary to determine the fate of OUVFs and identify their transformation products. This review summarizes and analyzes pertinent literature and reports in the field of OUVFs research. These published research works majorly focus on the degradation mechanisms of OUVFs in aquatic environments, their intermediates/byproducts, and chlorination reaction. Photodegradation (direct photolysis, self-sensitive photolysis and indirect photolysis) and biodegradation are the main transformation pathways of OUVFs through natural degradation. To remove residual OUVFs' pollutants from aqueous environments, novel physicochemical and biological approaches have been developed in recent years. Advanced oxidation, ultrasound, and bio-based technologies have been proven to eliminate OUVFs from wastewaters. In addition, the disinfection mechanism and the byproducts (DBPs) of various OUVFs in swimming pools are discussed in this review. Besides, knowledge gaps and future research directions in this field of study are also mentioned.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaji Sun
- School of Energy and Environment and State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), 511458 Guangzhou, China
| | - Eldon R Rene
- Department of Water Supply, Sanitation and Environmental Engineering, IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, Westvest 7, P. O. Box 3015, 2611AX Delft, the Netherlands
| | - Danyang Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yichun Lu
- School of Energy and Environment and State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), 511458 Guangzhou, China
| | - Qianqian Jin
- School of Energy and Environment and State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jason Chun-Ho Lam
- School of Energy and Environment and State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), 511458 Guangzhou, China
| | - Kenneth M Y Leung
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yuhe He
- School of Energy and Environment and State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), 511458 Guangzhou, China.
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13
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Sultan MB, Anik AH, Rahman MM. Emerging contaminants and their potential impacts on estuarine ecosystems: Are we aware of it? MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 199:115982. [PMID: 38181468 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115982] [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: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024]
Abstract
Emerging contaminants (ECs) are becoming more prevalent in estuaries and constitute a danger to both human health and ecosystems. These pollutants can infiltrate the ecosystem and spread throughout the food chain. Because of the diversified sources and extensive human activities, estuaries are particularly susceptible to increased pollution levels. A thorough review on recent ECs (platinum group elements, pharmaceuticals and personal care products, pesticides, siloxanes, liquid crystal monomers, cationic surfactant, antibiotic resistance genes, and microplastics) in estuaries, including their incidence, detection levels, and toxic effects, was performed. The inclusion of studies from different regions highlights the global nature of this issue, with each location having its unique set of contaminants. The diverse range of contaminants detected in estuary samples worldwide underscores the intricacy of ECs. A significant drawback is the scarcity of research on the toxic mechanisms of ECs on estuarine organisms, the prospect of unidentified ECs, warrant research scopes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maisha Binte Sultan
- Laboratory of Environmental Health and Ecotoxicology, Department of Environmental Sciences, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka 1342, Bangladesh; Department of Environmental Science, Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP), Dhaka-1216, Bangladesh
| | - Amit Hasan Anik
- Department of Environmental Science, Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP), Dhaka-1216, Bangladesh
| | - Md Mostafizur Rahman
- Laboratory of Environmental Health and Ecotoxicology, Department of Environmental Sciences, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka 1342, Bangladesh; Department of Environmental Science, Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP), Dhaka-1216, Bangladesh; Department of Environmental Sciences, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka 1342, Bangladesh.
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14
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He Y, Kiehbadroudinezhad M, Hosseinzadeh-Bandbafha H, Gupta VK, Peng W, Lam SS, Tabatabaei M, Aghbashlo M. Driving sustainable circular economy in electronics: A comprehensive review on environmental life cycle assessment of e-waste recycling. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 342:123081. [PMID: 38072018 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
E-waste, encompassing discarded materials from outdated electronic equipment, often ends up intermixed with municipal solid waste, leading to improper disposal through burial and incineration. This improper handling releases hazardous substances into water, soil, and air, posing significant risks to ecosystems and human health, ultimately entering the food chain and water supply. Formal e-waste recycling, guided by circular economy models and zero-discharge principles, offers potential solutions to this critical challenge. However, implementing a circular economy for e-waste management due to chemical and energy consumption may cause environmental impacts. Consequently, advanced sustainability assessment tools, such as Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), have been applied to investigate e-waste management strategies. While LCA is a standardized methodology, researchers have employed various routes for environmental assessment of different e-waste management methods. However, to the authors' knowledge, there lacks a comprehensive study focusing on LCA studies to discern the opportunities and limitations of this method in formal e-waste management strategies. Hence, this review aims to survey the existing literature on the LCA of e-waste management under a circular economy, shedding light on the current state of research, identifying research gaps, and proposing future research directions. It first explains various methods of managing e-waste in the circular economy. This review then evaluates and scrutinizes the LCA approach in implementing the circular bioeconomy for e-waste management. Finally, it proposes frameworks and procedures to enhance the applicability of the LCA method to future e-waste management research. The literature on the LCA of e-waste management reveals a wide variation in implementing LCA in formal e-waste management, resulting in diverse results and findings in this field. This paper underscores that LCA can pinpoint the environmental hotspots for various pathways of formal e-waste recycling, particularly focusing on metals. It can help address these concerns and achieve greater sustainability in e-waste recycling, especially in pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical pathways. The recovery of high-value metals is more environmentally justified compared to other metals. However, biometallurgical pathways remain limited in terms of environmental studies. Despite the potential for recycling e-waste into plastic or glass, there is a dearth of robust background in LCA studies within this sector. This review concludes that LCA can offer valuable insights for decision-making and policy processes on e-waste management, promoting environmentally sound e-waste recycling practices. However, the accuracy of LCA results in e-waste recycling, owing to data requirements, subjectivity, impact category weighting, and other factors, remains debatable, emphasizing the need for more uncertainty analysis in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifeng He
- Henan Province International Collaboration Lab of Forest Resources Utilization, School of Forestry, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, China
| | | | | | - Vijai Kumar Gupta
- Centre for Safe and Improved Food, SRUC, Kings Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JG, United Kingdom; Biorefining and Advanced Materials Research Centre, SRUC, Barony Campus, Parkgate, Dumfries DG1 3NE, United Kingdom
| | - Wanxi Peng
- Henan Province Engineering Research Center for Biomass Value-Added Products, School of Forestry, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, China
| | - Su Shiung Lam
- Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE), Institute of Tropical Aquaculture and Fisheries (AKUATROP), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia; Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Yuan Ze University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Meisam Tabatabaei
- Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE), Institute of Tropical Aquaculture and Fisheries (AKUATROP), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia; Department of Biomaterials, Saveetha Dental College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, 600 077, India.
| | - Mortaza Aghbashlo
- Henan Province Engineering Research Center for Biomass Value-Added Products, School of Forestry, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, China; Department of Mechanical Engineering of Agricultural Machinery, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.
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15
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Lin H, Li X, Qin X, Cao Y, Ruan Y, Leung MKH, Leung KMY, Lam PKS, He Y. Particle size-dependent and route-specific exposure to liquid crystal monomers in indoor air: Implications for human health risk estimations. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 908:168328. [PMID: 37926258 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
In indoor environments, liquid crystal monomers (LCMs) released from display devices is a significant concern, necessitating a comprehensive investigation into their distribution behaviors and potential health risks. Herein, we examined various LCMs in educational and workplace air and compared their associated health risks through inhalation and dermal absorption routes. 4-propyl-4'-vinylbicyclohexyl (3VbcH) and 4,4'-bis(4-propylcyclohexyl) biphenyl (b3CHB) with median concentrations of 101 and 1460 pg m-3, were the predominant LCMs in gaseous and particulate phases, respectively. Composition and concentration of LCMs differed substantially between sampling locations due to the discrepancy in the quantity, types, and brands of electronic devices in each location. Three models were further employed to estimate the gas-particle partitioning of LCMs and compared with the measured data. The results indicated that the HB model exhibited the best overall performance, while the LMY model provided a good fit for LCMs with higher log Koa (>12.48). Monte Carlo simulation was used to estimate and compared the probabilistic daily exposure dose and potential health risks. Inhalation exposure of LCMs was significantly greater than the dermal absorption by approximately 1-2 orders of magnitude, implying that it was the primary exposure route of human exposure to airborne LCMs. However, certain LCMs exhibited comparable or higher exposure levels via the dermal absorption route due to the significant overall permeability coefficient. Furthermore, the particle size was discovered to impact the daily exposure dose, contingent on the particle mass-transfer coefficients and accumulation of LCMs on diverse particle sizes. Although the probabilistic non-carcinogenic risks of LCMs were relatively low, their chronic effects on human beings merit further investigations. Overall, this study provides insights into the contamination and potential health risks of LCMs in indoor environments, underscoring the importance of considering particle sizes and all possible exposure pathways in estimating human health risks caused by airborne organic contaminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiju Lin
- School of Energy and Environment and State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Research Centre for the Oceans and Human Health, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518057, China
| | - Xinxing Li
- School of Energy and Environment and State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xian Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yaru Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yuefei Ruan
- Research Centre for the Oceans and Human Health, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518057, China; State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Michael K H Leung
- School of Energy and Environment and State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Kenneth M Y Leung
- Research Centre for the Oceans and Human Health, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518057, China; State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Paul K S Lam
- Research Centre for the Oceans and Human Health, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518057, China; State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Department of Science, School of Science and Technology, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yuhe He
- School of Energy and Environment and State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Research Centre for the Oceans and Human Health, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518057, China.
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16
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Zhu X, Yu Y, Meng W, Huang J, Su G, Zhong Y, Yu X, Sun J, Jin L, Peng P, Zhu L. Aerobic Microbial Transformation of Fluorinated Liquid Crystal Monomer: New Pathways and Mechanism. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:510-521. [PMID: 38100654 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c04256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Fluorinated liquid crystal monomers (FLCMs) have been suggested as emerging contaminants, raising global concern due to their frequent occurrence, potential toxic effects, and endurance capacity in the environment. However, the environmental fate of the FLCMs remains unknown. To fill this knowledge gap, we investigated the aerobic microbial transformation mechanisms of an important FLCM, 4-[difluoro(3,4,5-trifluorophenoxy)methyl]-3, 5-difluoro-4'-propylbiphenyl (DTMDPB), using an enrichment culture termed as BG1. Our findings revealed that 67.5 ± 2.1% of the initially added DTMDPB was transformed in 10 days under optimal conditions. A total of 14 microbial transformation products obtained due to a series of reactions (e.g., reductive defluorination, ether bond cleavage, demethylation, oxidative hydroxylation and aromatic ring opening, sulfonation, glucuronidation, O-methylation, and thiolation) were identified. Consortium BG1 harbored essential genes that could transform DTMDPB, such as dehalogenation-related genes [e.g., glutathione S-transferase gene (GST), 2-haloacid dehalogenase gene (2-HAD), nrdB, nuoC, and nuoD]; hydroxylating-related genes hcaC, ubiH, and COQ7; aromatic ring opening-related genes ligB and catE; and methyltransferase genes ubiE and ubiG. Two DTMDPB-degrading strains were isolated, which are affiliated with the genus Sphingopyxis and Agromyces. This study provides a novel insight into the microbial transformation of FLCMs. The findings of this study have important implications for the development of bioremediation strategies aimed at addressing sites contaminated with FLCMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xifen Zhu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Petrochemical Pollution Processes and Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Petrochemical Technology, Maoming, Guangdong 525000, China
| | - Yuanyuan Yu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Petrochemical Pollution Processes and Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Petrochemical Technology, Maoming, Guangdong 525000, China
| | - Weikun Meng
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of Environmental and Biological Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, PR China
| | - Jiahui Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Petrochemical Pollution Processes and Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Petrochemical Technology, Maoming, Guangdong 525000, China
| | - Guanyong Su
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of Environmental and Biological Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, PR China
| | - Yin Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wushan, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Xiaolong Yu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Petrochemical Pollution Processes and Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Petrochemical Technology, Maoming, Guangdong 525000, China
| | - Jianteng Sun
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Petrochemical Pollution Processes and Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Petrochemical Technology, Maoming, Guangdong 525000, China
| | - Ling Jin
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Department of Health Technology and Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon 999077, Hong Kong
| | - Ping'an Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wushan, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Lizhong Zhu
- Department of Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
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17
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He W, Cui Y, Yang H, Gao J, Zhao Y, Hao N, Li Y, Zhang M. Aquatic toxicity, ecological effects, human exposure pathways and health risk assessment of liquid crystal monomers. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 461:132681. [PMID: 37801980 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132681] [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: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023]
Abstract
Liquid crystal monomers (LCMs), one of the key materials for liquid crystal displays, have been considered as emerging pollutants in recent years. However, the environmental behaviors of LCMs have not yet been well investigated. The toxicity data of 1173 LCMs were calculated by integrated computational simulation methods in this study. It showed that 64.6% LCMs exhibited PBT (persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic) properties. Based on the results, 1173 LCMs were identified as molecules possessing the highest level of acute toxicity to aquatic organisms. Among which, and a human health risk priority control list about LCMs was generated in this study, among which 435 were classified as requiring priority control LCMs. It was confirmed that LCMs could eventually accumulate in the human body along the aquatic food chain or penetrate the bloodstream through the dermis, thereby causing harm to health by identifying the exposure pathways of LCMs in humans. Additionally, the electronegativity of the side chain group of LCMs is the main factor causing toxicity differences; therefore, the LCMs containing halogens presented significant acute and chronic toxic effects. This study provided a more comprehensive understanding of LCMs for the public and scientific strategies for controlling LCMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei He
- MOE Key Laboratory of Resources Environmental Systems Optimization, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Yuhan Cui
- MOE Key Laboratory of Resources Environmental Systems Optimization, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Hao Yang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Resources Environmental Systems Optimization, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Jiaxuan Gao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Resources Environmental Systems Optimization, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Yuanyuan Zhao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Resources Environmental Systems Optimization, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Ning Hao
- College of New Energy and Environment, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
| | - Yu Li
- MOE Key Laboratory of Resources Environmental Systems Optimization, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Meng Zhang
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of All Material Fluxes in River Ecosystems, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; The Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, International Joint Laboratory for Regional Pollution Control, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100871, China.
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18
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Khan NA, López-Maldonado EA, Majumder A, Singh S, Varshney R, López JR, Méndez PF, Ramamurthy PC, Khan MA, Khan AH, Mubarak NM, Amhad W, Shamshuddin SZM, Aljundi IH. A state-of-art-review on emerging contaminants: Environmental chemistry, health effect, and modern treatment methods. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 344:140264. [PMID: 37758081 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140264] [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: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 09/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Pollution problems are increasingly becoming e a priority issue from both scientific and technological points of view. The dispersion and frequency of pollutants in the environment are on the rise, leading to the emergence have been increasing, including of a new class of contaminants that not only impact the environment but also pose risks to people's health. Therefore, developing new methods for identifying and quantifying these pollutants classified as emerging contaminants is imperative. These methods enable regulatory actions that effectively minimize their adverse effects to take steps to regulate and reduce their impact. On the other hand, these new contaminants represent a challenge for current technologies to be adapted to control and remove emerging contaminants and involve innovative, eco-friendly, and sustainable remediation technologies. There is a vast amount of information collected in this review on emerging pollutants, comparing the identification and quantification methods, the technologies applied for their control and remediation, and the policies and regulations necessary for their operation and application. In addition, This review will deal with different aspects of emerging contaminants, their origin, nature, detection, and treatment concerning water and wastewater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadeem A Khan
- Interdisciplinary Research Center for Membranes and Water Security (IRC-MWS), King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Eduardo Alberto López-Maldonado
- Faculty of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Autonomous University of Baja, California, CP 22390, Tijuana, Baja California, México.
| | - Abhradeep Majumder
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, 721302, India
| | - Simranjeet Singh
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Water Research (ICWaR), Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, India
| | - Radhika Varshney
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Water Research (ICWaR), Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, India
| | - J R López
- Facultad de Ciencias Químico-Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa, Av. Las Américas S/N, C.P. 80000, Culiacán, Sinaloa, México
| | - P F Méndez
- Facultad de Ciencias Químico-Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa, Av. Las Américas S/N, C.P. 80000, Culiacán, Sinaloa, México
| | - Praveen C Ramamurthy
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Water Research (ICWaR), Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, India
| | - Mohammad Amir Khan
- Department of Civil Engineering, Galgotias College of Engineering and Technology, Knowledge Park I, Greater Noida, 201310, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Afzal Husain Khan
- Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Jazan University, P.O. Box. 706, Jazan, 45142, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nabisab Mujawar Mubarak
- Petroleum and Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Brunei, Bandar Seri Begawan, BE1410, Brunei Darussalam; Department of Biosciences, Saveetha School of Engineering, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, India.
| | - Waqas Amhad
- Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electonic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610054 China
| | - S Z M Shamshuddin
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, HMS Institute of Technology, Tumakuru, 572104, Karnataka, India
| | - Isam H Aljundi
- Interdisciplinary Research Center for Membranes and Water Security (IRC-MWS), King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia; Chemical Engineering Department, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
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Wang Y, Wang Z, Ruan J, Liu J, She L, Gao K, Guo Y. A simulation study of the decomposition, biotoxicity, and transfer of LCMs in LCD panels after being in contact with sulfuric acid and extraction/stripping agents. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 340:139881. [PMID: 37611772 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139881] [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: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
For indium recycling from LCD panels, the decomposition of 9 commonly used liquid crystal monomers (LCMs) that were in contact with sulfuric acid (i.e., leaching agent) and extraction/stripping agents, has been investigated in the present study. Also their biological toxicity changes and transfer have been studied. The results showed that 7 of the 9 LCMs were decomposed in the sulfuric acid agent, while the reaction time and temperature had no effect on the types of the decomposition products. The maximum decomposition rate was 96% when the concentration of the sulfuric acid was increased to 12 M. The time required for a 100% decomposition of the various LCMs in a 5 M sulfuric acid ranged from 41 h to 150 h. Also, Estimation Programs Interface (EPI) and ECOSAR calculations were used to compare the biotoxicity of the LCMs and the decomposition products. The results from the EPI calculations showed that the biological half-lives of the decomposition products were significantly reduced as compared with the LCMs, from the original highest value of 329.2 days-92.71 days. Furthermore, the ECOSAR calculations showed that the biological toxicity of the decomposition products for aquatic organisms was lower than for the LCMs, but they were still toxic and harmful substances. In addition, the transfer rates of the undecomposed LCMs and decomposition products in different extractants remained above 90%, and reached 100% at most. After stripping with hydrochloric acid, more than 70% of the undecomposed LCMs became enriched in the aqueous solution, while the products were enriched in the extractant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yibo Wang
- Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Science, China
| | | | - Jiuli Ruan
- Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Science, China.
| | - Jingyang Liu
- Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Science, China
| | - Lingling She
- Solid Waste and Chemicals Management Center of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People's Republic of China
| | - Kang Gao
- Southwest Jiaotong University, China
| | - Yuwen Guo
- Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Science, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China.
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20
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Ge J, Du B, Shen M, Feng Z, Zeng L. A review of liquid crystal monomers: Environmental occurrence, degradation, toxicity, and human exposure of an emerging class of E-waste pollutants. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 335:122267. [PMID: 37499966 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122267] [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: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Liquid crystal monomers (LCMs) are a class of organic compounds with diphenyl or dicyclohexane as the skeleton structure, which are widely used in the manufacturing of liquid crystal displays. They are recognized as novel organic compounds with persistence, bioaccumulation, toxicity, and potential for long-range transport. LCMs are inevitably released into the environment throughout the life cycle of electronic products, and their presence has been found in various abiotic matrixes (air, dust, sediment, leachate, soil) and biotic matrixes (aquatic organisms, human serum, and human skin wipe). Given that studies on LCMs are still in their infancy, this review comprehensively summarizes the extensive literature data on LCMs and identifies key knowledge gaps and future research needs. The physicochemical properties, production, and usage of LCMs are described. Their environmental distribution, degradation, toxicity, and human exposure are also discussed based on the available data and results. Existing data show that LCMs have large-scale environmental pollution and may pose potential ecological and health risks, but it is still insufficient to accurately assess their risks due to the lack of knowledge on LCMs in many areas, such as global contamination trend, environmental behavior, toxic effects, and human exposure assessment. We believe that future studies of LCMs need to investigate LCMs pollution on a large geographic scale, explore their sources, behavior, and fate in the environment, and assess their potential health hazards to organisms and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiali Ge
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 511443, China; Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Joint Laboratory of Collaborative Innovation for Environmental Quality, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 511443, China
| | - Bibai Du
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 511443, China; Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Joint Laboratory of Collaborative Innovation for Environmental Quality, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 511443, China
| | - Mingjie Shen
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 511443, China; Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Joint Laboratory of Collaborative Innovation for Environmental Quality, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 511443, China
| | - Zhiqing Feng
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 511443, China; Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Joint Laboratory of Collaborative Innovation for Environmental Quality, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 511443, China
| | - Lixi Zeng
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 511443, China; Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Joint Laboratory of Collaborative Innovation for Environmental Quality, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 511443, China.
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21
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Hou S, Liu Y, Chen T, Zhou D, Zhang M, Li Y, Bai Y, Zheng S, Yang S, Zhang G, Xu H. Tunable Fluorine-Functionalized Scholl-Coupled Microporous Polymer for the Selective Adsorption and Ultrasensitive Analysis of Environmental Liquid-Crystal Monomers. Anal Chem 2023. [PMID: 37433191 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c00182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
Liquid-crystal monomers (LCMs), especially fluorinated biphenyls and analogues (FBAs), are identified to be an emerging generation of persistent organic pollutants. However, there is a dearth of information about their occurrence and distribution in environmental water and lacustrine soil samples. Herein, a series of fluorine-functionalized Scholl-coupled microporous polymers (FSMP-X, X = 1-3) were designed and synthesized for the highly efficient and selective enrichment of FABs. Their hydrophobicity, porosity, chemical stability, and adsorption performance (capacity, rate, and selectivity) were regulated preciously. The best-performing material (FSMP-2) was employed as the on-line fluorous solid-phase extraction (on-line FSPE) adsorbent owing to its high adsorption capacity (313.68 mg g-1), fast adsorption rate (1.05 g h-1), and specific selectivity for FBAs. Notably, an enrichment factor of up to 590.2 was obtained for FSMP-2, outperforming commercial C18 (12.6-fold). Also, the underlying adsorption mechanism was uncovered by density functional theory calculations and experiments. Based on this, a novel and automated on-line FSPE-high-performance liquid chromatography method was developed for ultrasensitive (detection limits: 0.0004-0.0150 ng mL-1) and low matrix effect (73.79-113.3%) determination of LCMs in lake water and lacustrine soils. This study offers new insight into the highly selective quantification of LCMs and the first evidence for their occurrence and distribution in these environmental samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shenghuai Hou
- Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Ying Liu
- Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Tiantian Chen
- Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Dandan Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Manlin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Yan Li
- Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Yuxuan Bai
- Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Shuang Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Shu Yang
- Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Ganbing Zhang
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Hui Xu
- Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
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22
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Jin Q, Yu J, Fan Y, Zhan Y, Tao D, Tang J, He Y. Release Behavior of Liquid Crystal Monomers from Waste Smartphone Screens: Occurrence, Distribution, and Mechanistic Modeling. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023. [PMID: 37369363 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c09602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Liquid crystal display (LCD) screens can release many organic pollutants into the indoor environment, including liquid crystal monomers (LCMs), which have been proposed as a novel class of emerging pollutants. Knowing the release pathways and mechanisms of LCMs from various components of LCD screens is important to accurately assess the LCM release and reveal their environmental transport behavior and fate in the ambient environment. A total of 47, 43, and 33 out of 64 target LCMs were detected in three disassembled parts of waste smartphone screens, including the LCM layer (LL), light guide plate (LGP), and screen protector (SP), respectively. Correlation analysis confirmed LL was the source of LCMs detected in LGP and SP. The emission factors of LCMs from waste screen, SP, and LGP parts were estimated as 2.38 × 10-3, 1.36 × 10-3, and 1.02 × 10-3, respectively. A mechanism model was developed to describe the release behaviors of LCMs from waste screens, where three characteristics parameters of released LCMs, including average mass proportion (AP), predicted subcooled vapor pressures (PL), and octanol-air partitioning coefficients (Koa), involving coexistence of absorption and adsorption mechanisms, could control the diffusion-partitioning. The released LCMs in LGP could reach diffusion-partition equilibrium more quickly than those in SP, indicating that LCM release could be mainly governed through SP diffusions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianqian Jin
- School of Energy and Environment and State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Research Centre for the Oceans and Human Health, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518057, China
| | - Jianxin Yu
- School of Energy and Environment and State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yinzheng Fan
- School of Energy and Environment and State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yuting Zhan
- School of Energy and Environment and State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Danyang Tao
- Department of Chemistry and State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jingchun Tang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Yuhe He
- School of Energy and Environment and State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Research Centre for the Oceans and Human Health, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518057, China
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23
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Long Y, Song L, Shu Y, Li B, Peijnenburg W, Zheng C. Evaluating the spatial and temporal distribution of emerging contaminants in the Pearl River Basin for regulating purposes. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 257:114918. [PMID: 37086620 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.114918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Little information is available on how the types, concentrations, and distribution of chemicals have evolved over the years. The objective of the present study is therefore to review the spatial and temporal distribution profile of emerging contaminants with limited toxicology data in the pearl river basin over the years to build up the emerging contaminants database in this region for risk assessment and regulatory purposes. The result revealed that seven groups of emerging contaminants were abundant in this region, and many emerging contaminants had been detected at much higher concentrations before 2011. Specifically, antibiotics, phenolic compounds, and acidic pharmaceuticals were the most abundant emerging contaminants detected in the aquatic compartment, while phenolic compounds were of the most profound concern in soil. Flame retardants and plastics were the most frequently studied chemicals in organisms. The abundance of the field concentrations and frequencies varied considerably over the years, and currently available data can hardly be used for regulation purposes. It is suggested that watershed management should establish a regular monitoring scheme and comprehensive database to monitor the distribution of emerging contaminants considering the highly condensed population in this region. The priority monitoring list should be formed in consideration of historical abundance, potential toxic effects of emerging contaminants as well as the distribution of heavily polluting industries in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Long
- Shenzhen Institute of Sustainable Development, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China; School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Lan Song
- Shenzhen Institute of Sustainable Development, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China; School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China.
| | - Yaqing Shu
- School of Navigation, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430063, China
| | - Bing Li
- Water Research Center, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Willie Peijnenburg
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands; Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), Leiden University, Leiden RA 2300, the Netherlands
| | - Chunmiao Zheng
- Shenzhen Institute of Sustainable Development, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China; School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
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24
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Yang R, Wang X, Gao Q, Sang C, Zhao Y, Niu Y, Shao B. Dietary Exposure and Health Risk of the Emerging Contaminant Fluorinated Liquid-Crystal Monomers. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:6309-6319. [PMID: 37010985 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c00322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Fluorinated liquid-crystal monomers (FLCMs) widely used in liquid crystal displays are considered to be a new generation of persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic contaminants. They have been widely detected in the environment. However, little is known about their occurrence in food and human dietary exposure until now. Herein, we provided an evaluation of dietary exposure and health risks of FLCMs in the Chinese adult population based on the fifth and sixth total diet studies (TDSs). The detection frequencies of FLCMs in the two surveys were 90.5 and 99.5%, with concentrations ranging from not detected ∼72.6 μg/kg wet weight (ww) and ND ∼74.7 μg/kg ww, respectively. All TDS samples contained the multiresidue of FLCMs. The mean estimated daily intakes (EDIs) of FLCMs were 172.86 and 163.10 ng/kg bw/day in the fifth and sixth TDS, respectively. Meats, vegetables, and cereals contributed the most to the EDI of FLCMs. According to the threshold of toxicological concern (TTC) method, the EDIs of 1-fluoro-4-[2-(4-propylphenyl)ethynyl]benzene (4.56 and 3.26 ng/kg bw/day) and 2-fluoro-4-[4'-propyl-1,1'-bi(cyclohexyl)-4-yl]phenyl trifluoromethyl ether (3.12 and 3.28 ng/kg bw/day) were above their TTC value (2.5 ng/kg bw/day), suggesting their potential health risk. This is the first comprehensive national dietary exposure assessment of FLCMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Runhui Yang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xinyi Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Diagnostic and Traceability Technologies for Food Poisoning, Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing 100013, China
| | - Qun Gao
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Diagnostic and Traceability Technologies for Food Poisoning, Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing 100013, China
| | - Chenhui Sang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Diagnostic and Traceability Technologies for Food Poisoning, Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing 100013, China
| | - Yunfeng Zhao
- NHC Key Laboratory of Food Safety Risk Assessment, China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Yumin Niu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Diagnostic and Traceability Technologies for Food Poisoning, Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing 100013, China
| | - Bing Shao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Diagnostic and Traceability Technologies for Food Poisoning, Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing 100013, China
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Xihua University, Chengdu 610039, China
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25
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Zhang S, Cheng Z, Yang M, Guo Z, Zhao L, Baqar M, Lu Y, Wang L, Sun H. Percutaneous Penetration of Liquid Crystal Monomers (LCMs) by In Vitro Three-Dimensional Human Skin Equivalents: Possible Mechanisms and Implications for Human Dermal Exposure Risks. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:4454-4463. [PMID: 36867107 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c07844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Liquid crystal monomers (LCMs) are indispensable materials in liquid crystal displays, which have been recognized as emerging persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic organic pollutants. Occupational and nonoccupational exposure risk assessment suggested that dermal exposure is the primary exposure route for LCMs. However, the bioavailability and possible mechanisms of dermal exposure to LCMs via skin absorption and penetration remain unclear. Herein, we used EpiKutis 3D-Human Skin Equivalents (3D-HSE) to quantitatively assess the percutaneous penetration of nine LCMs, which were detected in e-waste dismantling workers' hand wipes with high detection frequencies. LCMs with higher log Kow and greater molecular weight (MW) were more difficult to penetrate through the skin. Molecular docking results showed that ABCG2 (an efflux transporter) may be responsible for percutaneous penetration of LCMs. These results suggest that passive diffusion and active efflux transport may be involved in the penetration of LCMs across the skin barrier. Furthermore, the occupational dermal exposure risks evaluated based on the dermal absorption factor suggested the underestimation of the continuous LCMs' health risks via dermal previously.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaohan Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Zhipeng Cheng
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Ming Yang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Zijin Guo
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Leicheng Zhao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Mujtaba Baqar
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Yuan Lu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Lei Wang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Hongwen Sun
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
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26
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Feng JJ, Sun XF, Zeng EY. Predicted health and environmental hazards of liquid crystal materials via quantitative structure-property relationship modeling. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 446:130592. [PMID: 36580781 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130592] [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: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 11/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Liquid crystal materials (LCMs) are considered as emerging contaminants with high persistent and bioaccumulative potentials, but their toxicological effects are not well understood. To address this issue, a list of 1431 LCMs commercially available in the market was established through literature reviews and surveys of LCM suppliers. Toxicological properties of 221 target LCMs were derived from the Classification and Labeling Inventory by the European Chemicals Agency. More than 80 % of target LCMs likely pose adverse effects on human health or aquatic ecosystems. Two quantitative structure-property relationship (QSPR) models developed from the toxicological properties of LCMs achieved approximately 90 % accuracy in external data sets. The probability-based approach was more efficient in defining the applicability domain for the QSPR models than a range- or distance-based approach. The highest accuracy was achieved for chemicals within the probability-based applicability domain. The QSPR models were applied to predict health and environmental hazards of 1210 LCMs that had not been notified to the Classification and Labeling Inventory, and 301 and 94 LCMs were recognized as posing potential hazards to human health and the environment, respectively. The present study highlights the potential detrimental effects of LCMs and offers a specific in silico technique for screening hazardous LCMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing-Jing Feng
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China
| | - Xiang-Fei Sun
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China
| | - Eddy Y Zeng
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China; Research Center of Low Carbon Economy for Guangzhou Region, Key Laboratory of Philosophy and Social Science in Guangdong Province of Community of Life for Man and Nature, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
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27
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Jin Q, Zhan Y, Tao D, Wang T, Khim JS, He Y. Removing emerging e-waste pollutant DTFPB by synchronized oxidation-adsorption Fenton technology. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 445:130587. [PMID: 37055950 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Liquid crystal monomers (LCMs), an emerging group of organic pollutants related to electronic waste, have been frequently detected from various environmental matrices, including landfill leachate. The persistence of LCMs requires robust technology for remediation. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the feasibility, performance and mechanism of the remediation of a typical LCM 4-[difluoro(3,4,5-trifluorophenoxy)methyl]- 3,5-difluoro-4'-propylbiphenyl (DTFPB) via synchronized oxidation-adsorption (SOA) Fenton technology and verify its application in DTFPB-contaminated leachate. The SOA Fenton system could effectively degrade 93.5% of DTFPB and 5.6% of its total organic carbon (TOCDTFPB) by hydroxyl radical oxidation (molar ratio of Fe2+ to H2O2 of 1/4 and pH 2.5-3.0) following a pseudo-first-order model under 0.378 h-1. Additionally, synchronized adsorption of DTFPB and its degradation intermediates by in situ resultant ferric particles via hydrophobic interaction, complexation, and coprecipitation contributed to almost 100% of DTFPB and 33.4% of TOCDTFPB removal. Three possible degradation pathways involving eight products were proposed, and hydrophobic interactions might drive the adsorption process. It was first confirmed that the SOA Fenton system exhibited good performance in eliminating DTFPB and byproducts from landfill leachate. This study provides new insights into the potential of the Fenton process for the treatment of emerging LCMs contamination in wastewater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianqian Jin
- School of Energy and Environment and State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yuting Zhan
- School of Energy and Environment and State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Danyang Tao
- Department of Chemistry and State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Tieyu Wang
- Institute of Marine Sciences, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China
| | - Jong Seong Khim
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences & Research Institute of Oceanography, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Yuhe He
- School of Energy and Environment and State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Research Centre for the Oceans and Human Health, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518057, China.
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Li Y, Zhang T, Cheng Z, Zhang Q, Yang M, Zhao L, Zhang S, Lu Y, Sun H, Wang L. Direct evidence on occurrence of emerging liquid crystal monomers in human serum from E-waste dismantling workers: Implication for intake assessment. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 169:107535. [PMID: 36152360 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Liquid crystal monomers (LCMs) are widely used chemicals and ubiquitous emerging organic pollutants in the environment, some of which have persistent, bio-accumulative, and toxic potentials. Elevated levels of LCMs have been found in the e-waste dismantling associated areas. However, information on their internal exposure bio-monitoring is scarce. For the first time, occurrences of LCMs were observed in the serum samples of occupational workers (n = 85) from an e-waste dismantling area in South China. Twenty-nine LCMs were detected in serum samples of the workers, with a median value of 35.2 ng/mL (range: 7.78-276 ng/mL). Eight noticed LCMs were found to have relatively high detection frequencies ranging from 52.9% to 96.5%. The correlation analysis of individual LCMs indicated potential common applications and similar sources to the LCMs in occupational workers. Fluorinated LCMs were identified as the predominant monomers in the workers. Additionally, the estimated daily intake of the LCMs in the occupational workers was significantly higher than those in residents from the reference areas (p < 0.05, Mann-Whitney U Test, median values: 1.46 ng/kg bw/day versus 0.40 ng/kg bw/day), indicating a substantially higher exposure level to e-waste dismantling workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhe Li
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Tao Zhang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, 135 Xingang West Street, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Zhipeng Cheng
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China.
| | - Qianru Zhang
- Institute of Agriculture Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China.
| | - Ming Yang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Leicheng Zhao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Shaohan Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Yuan Lu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Hongwen Sun
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Lei Wang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
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