Can atrazine loaded nanocapsules reduce the toxic effects of this herbicide on the fish Prochilodus lineatus? A multibiomarker approach

Evaluation of the health impacts and deregulation of signaling pathways in humans induced by microplastics

This review assesses the diverse health risk factors associated with microplastic (MP) exposure and their impact on cellular signaling pathways. MPs induce chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, endocrine disruption, apoptosis, and immune dysregulation. They activate signaling pathways such as NF-κB, MAPK, and Nrf2, exacerbating inflammatory responses, oxidative damage, and hormonal imbalances. Understanding the interplay between MPs and signaling pathways is crucial for elucidating the mechanisms underlying MP-induced health effects. Effective risk assessment and management strategies are essential to mitigate the adverse health impacts of MPs on human populations. This research underscores the urgent need for interdisciplinary collaboration to safeguard human health and environmental sustainability in the face of rising MP pollution. In this paper, we also assess the risk factors caused by the microplastics in the pregnant women and the development of the fetus. This review explores the potential risks and challenges associated with MP exposure in newborn babies. It is quite concerning that microplastic particles were recently found in the placental tissue of newborn children for the first time. Although it is unclear how these tiny particles affect different organs, researchers believe that these tiny particles could potentially carry harmful chemicals or disrupt the developing immune system of the fetus. This review overall focuses on the impact of microplastic disrupting different signaling including reproductive health in humans.

Bioaccumulation and biochemical impact of polyethylene terephthalate microplastics in Cipangopaludina chinensis: Tissue-specific analysis and homeostasis disruption

Microplastics are a novel pollutant that adversely affect freshwater benthic organisms. However, few studies have investigated the mechanism underlying the bioaccumulation and the toxicity of microplastics. In this study, microplastics bioaccumulation of wild Cipangopaludina chinensis in the Songhua River were utilized, and a 28-day aquatic toxicity test was performed to determine the effects of exposure to polyethylene terephthalate (PET), the bioaccumulation of PET, and changes in multiple biomarkers in the muscle, gill, and kidney tissues. The concentration pattern of microplastics was as follows: kidney tissue > muscle tissue > gill tissue. Microplastic ingestion caused AChE inhibition led to significant increases in redox and energy metabolism indicators. Furthermore, the IBR analysis presented a "response-resistance-breakdown" process, indicating that Cipangopaludina chinensis possessed resistance with time (D14 and D21) and concentration (0.10 mg/L and 1.00 mg/L) thresholds. Tissue sensitivity to microplastics was ranked as gill > muscle > kidney, which was the opposite order of microplastic accumulation. These findings implied that less sensitive tissues stored a larger amount of pollutants, suggesting a reduction in tissue sensitivity to microplastics with higher microplastic occurrence rates. This study provides new insights into biological resistance to pollutant stress, warranting further investigation into the underlying mechanisms.

Hesperidin alleviates terbuthylazine-induced ferroptosis via maintenance of mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum membrane integrity in chicken hepatocytes

Terbuthylazine (TBA) is a common triazine herbicide used in agricultural production, which causes toxic damage in multiple tissues. Hesperidin (HSP) is a flavonoid derivative that has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and cytoprotective effects, but its role in reducing toxic damage caused by pesticides is still unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the toxic effect of TBA exposure on chicken hepatocytes and the therapeutic effect of HSP on the TBA-induced hepatotoxicity. Our results demonstrated that HSP could alleviate TBA exposure-induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Interestingly, TBA significantly disrupted the integrity of mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum membrane (MAM), while HSP treatment showed the opposite tendency. In addition, TBA could significantly trigger ferroptosis in liver, and HSP treatment reversed ferroptosis under TBA exposure. These results suggested that HSP could inhibit ER stress and alleviate ferroptosis under TBA exposure via maintaining MAM integrity, which provided a novel strategy to take precautions against TBA toxicity.

Physiological and biochemical characteristics and microbial responses of Medicago sativa (Fabales: Fabaceae) varieties with different resistance to atrazine stress

Atrazine, a commonly employed herbicide for corn production, can leave residues in soil, resulting in photosynthetic toxicity and impeding growth in subsequent alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) crops within alfalfa-corn rotation systems. The molecular regulatory mechanisms by which atrazine affects alfalfa growth and development, particularly its impact on the microbial communities of the alfalfa rhizosphere, are not well understood. This study carried out field experiments to explore the influence of atrazine stress on the biomass, chlorophyll content, antioxidant system, and rhizosphere microbial communities of the atrazine-sensitive alfalfa variety WL-363 and the atrazine-resistant variety JN5010. The results revealed that atrazine significantly reduced WL-363 growth, decreasing plant height by 8.58 cm and root length by 5.42 cm (p < 0.05). Conversely, JN5010 showed minimal reductions, with decreases of 1.96 cm in height and 1.26 cm in root length. Chlorophyll content in WL-363 decreased by 35% under atrazine stress, while in JN5010, it was reduced by only 10%. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation increased by 60% in WL-363, compared to a 20% increase in JN5010 (p < 0.05 for both). Antioxidant enzyme activities, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), were significantly elevated in JN5010 (p < 0.05), suggesting a more robust defense mechanism. Although the predominant bacterial and fungal abundances in rhizosphere soils remained generally unchanged under atrazine stress, specific microbial groups exhibited variable responses. Notably, Promicromonospora abundance declined in WL-363 but increased in JN5010. FAPROTAX functional predictions indicated shifts in the abundance of microorganisms associated with pesticide degradation, resistance, and microbial structure reconstruction under atrazine stress, displaying different patterns between the two varieties. This study provides insights into how atrazine residues affect alfalfa rhizosphere microorganisms and identifies differential microbial responses to atrazine stress, offering valuable reference data for screening and identifying atrazine-degrading bacteria.

Oral Nanoformulations in Cardiovascular Medicine: Advances in Atherosclerosis Treatment

Atherosclerosis (AS) is the formation of atherosclerotic plaques on the walls of the arteries, causing them to narrow. If this occurs in the coronary arteries, the blood vessels may be completely blocked, resulting in myocardial infarction; if it occurs in the blood vessels of the brain, the blood vessels may be blocked, resulting in cerebral infarction, i.e., stroke. Studies have shown that the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis involves the processes of inflammation, lipid infiltration, oxidative stress, and endothelial damage, etc. SIRT, as a key factor regulating the molecular mechanisms of oxidative stress, inflammation, and aging, has an important impact on the pathogenesis of plaque formation, progression, and vulnerability. Statistics show that AS accounts for about 50 per cent of deaths in Western countries. Currently, oral medication is the mainstay of AS treatment, but its development is limited by side effects, low bioavailability and other unfavourable factors. In recent years, with the rapid development of nano-preparations, researchers have combined statins and natural product drugs within nanopreparations to improve their bioavailability. Based on this, this paper summarises the main pathogenesis of AS and also proposes new oral nanoformulations such as liposomes, nanoparticles, nanoemulsions, and nanocapsules to improve their application in the treatment of AS.

Effects of acute hypoxia and reoxygenation on histological structure, antioxidant response, and apoptosis in razor clam Sinonovacula constricta

Hypoxia is one of the major environmental problems limiting the healthy development of intensive aquaculture. Marine benthic shellfish are encountering heightened problems related to hypoxic stress as a result of ongoing human activities and aquaculture operations. Razor clam Sinonovacula constricta, a commercially valuable shellfish, has not yet been reported in studies on physiological changes caused by hypoxia and reoxygenation. To understand the negative effects of hypoxia and reoxygenation on the clams, we set up two low-oxygen concentration groups (DO 2.0 mg/L and DO 0.5 mg/L) and assessed multiple aspects of oxidative damage to their hepatopancreas and gills. After the hypoxic stress, the two tissues of the razor clam suffered varying degrees of damage, including cell degeneration and disruption of mitochondrial cristae. After reoxygenation, the 2.0 mg/L group recovered substantially, but the clams in the 0.5 mg/L group still unrecovered. The activities of antioxidant enzymes (MDA, T-AOC, SOD, GPX, and CAT) in clams were considerably altered by acute hypoxia and reoxygenation. Briefly, there was a growing and then declining trend in MDA, T-AOC, and SOD activities in the hepatopancreas, whereas GPX and CAT activities showed the converse trend. In the hepatopancreas and gills, the level of anti-apoptotic gene Bcl-2 transcripts gradually decreased with the duration of hypoxia and increased following reoxygenation. However, changes in the transcript level of the pro-apoptotic gene Bax were in contrast to that of Bcl-2. The TUNEL assay revealed that hypoxia caused apoptosis. Furthermore, at DO 0.5 mg/L, the degree of apoptosis was more significant than at DO 2.0 mg/L, and hepatopancreatic apoptosis was more severe than gill apoptosis. Collectively, our findings imply that hypoxia induces oxidative stress, histological damage, and apoptosis in razor clams in a concentration-dependent and tissue-specific manner. These consequences serve as a reminder that prolonged recovery periods may be required for razor clams to fully recover from oxidative damage resulting from hypoxia-reoxygenation episodes.

Ecotoxicity studies of two atrazine nanoformulations: From the evaluation of stability in media to the effects on aquatic organisms

In the field of agriculture, nanopesticides have been developed as an alternative to the conventional pesticides, being more efficient for pest control. However, before their widespread application it is essential to evaluate their safe application and no environmental impacts. In this paper, we evaluated the toxicological effects of two kinds of atrazine nanoformulations (ATZ NPs) in different biological models (Raphidocelis subcapitata, Danio rerio, Lemna minor, Artemia salina, Lactuca sativa and Daphnia magna) and compared the results with nanoparticle stability over time and the presence of natural organic matter (NOM). The systems showed different characteristics for Zein (ATZ NPZ) (184 ± 2 nm with a PDI of 0.28 ± 0.04 and zeta potential of (30.4 ± 0.05 mV) and poly(epsilon-caprolactone (ATZ PCL) (192 ± 3 nm, polydispersity (PDI) of 0.28 ± 0.28 and zeta potential of -18.8 ± 1.2 mV) nanoparticles. The results showed that there is a correlation between nanoparticles stability and the presence of NOM in the medium and Environmental Concentrations (EC) values. The stability loss or an increase in nanoparticle size result in low toxicity for R. subcapitata and L. minor. For D. magna and D. rerio, the presence of NOM in the medium reduces the ecotoxic effects for ATZ NPZ nanoparticles, but not for ATZ NPs, showing that the nanoparticles characteristics and their interaction with NOM can modulate toxic effects. Nanoparticle stability throughout the evaluation must be considered and become an integral part of toxicity protocol guidelines for nanopesticides, to ensure test quality and authentic results regarding nanopesticide effects in target and non-target organisms.

Nanotechnology-based pesticides: Environmental fate and ecotoxicity

The imminent increase in global food demand inevitably leads to an increase in agricultural practices, with an emphasis on pesticide applications. Nanotechnology-based pesticides, or nanopesticides, have gained importance as they are more efficient and, in some cases, less toxic than their conventional counterparts. However, concerns about these novel products have arisen as evidence about their (eco)safety is controversial. This review aims to: (1) introduce the currently applied nanotechnology-based pesticides and their mechanisms of toxic action; (2) describe their fate when released into the environment, with an emphasis on aquatic environments; (3) summarize available research on ecotoxicological studies in freshwater non-target organisms through a bibliometric analysis; and (4) identify gaps in knowledge from an ecotoxicological perspective. Our results show that the environmental fate of nanopesticides is poorly studied and depends on both intrinsic and external factors. There is also a need for comparative research into their ecotoxicity between conventional pesticide formulations and their nano-based counterparts. Among the few available studies, most considered fish species as test organisms, compared to algae and invertebrates. Overall, these new materials generate toxic effects on non-target organisms and threaten the integrity of the environment. Therefore, deepening the understanding of their ecotoxicity is crucial.

Assessment of single and combined effects of bisphenol-A and its analogue bisphenol-S on biochemical and histopathological responses of sea cucumber Holothuria poli

Bisphenols (BPs) are among emerging pollutants that have been frequently detected in different compartments of marine ecosystems and elicited great concern due to their potential toxicity to marine organisms. This work aimed to investigate the toxicity of bisphenol A (BPA) and bisphenol S (BPS) on oxidative stress markers, neurotoxicity and histopathological alterations in sea cucumbers (Holothuria poli). The results showed that exposure to 200 μg/L of BPA and BPS produced oxidative stress, neurotoxicity in the digestive tract and respiratory tree, and several types of histopathological lesions in tissues of the respiratory tree of the sea cucumber, posing a health hazard to this aquatic organism. In addition, BPA has greater effects than BPS on the generation of oxidative stress marked by the inductions of catalase (CAT), glutathione S-transferase (GST) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and neurotoxicity shown by the decrease in acetylcholinesterase activity (AChE). The respiratory tree of sea cucumbers might be an appropriate tissue for assessing CAT, MDA and AChE activity levels, which are reliable biomarkers that may be useful in marine biomonitoring studies. Evaluation of histopathological lesions of the respiratory tree suggests that BPA and BPS and their mixture cause various tissue alterations that may be associated with oxidative stress damage and neurotoxicity. In conclusion, this study showed that oxidative stress (CAT and MDA) and neurotoxicity (AChE) markers, as well as respiratory tree lesions, are sensitive biomarkers for the assessment of BPA and BPS toxicity in sea cucumbers.

Atrazine characterization: An update on uses, monitoring, effects, and environmental impact, for the development of regulatory policies in Argentina

Atrazine (ATZ) is the third most widely used herbicide in Argentina (10 000 t year^-1 ) and is approved for sugar cane, flax, corn, sorghum, and tea. An assessment of the ATZ environmental impacts was conducted at the request of the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development of Argentina. A review of 541 national and international technical and scientific reports and a survey among agricultural technicians, applicators, and producers was done. The survey revealed that 94% of ATZ applications are terrestrial and use diversion exists, associated mainly with soybean cultivation. Atrazine was reported at high frequencies (50%-100%) in surface and groundwater, sediments, and soils, sometimes exceeding permitted limits. Several sublethal effects induced by ATZ on invertebrate and vertebrate species were found, sometimes at concentrations lower than those in water quality guidelines (<3 µg L^-1 ) or the environmental concentrations found in Argentina. Available epidemiological or human health studies of local populations are extremely scarce. This assessment also demonstrated that herbicides are ubiquitous in the environment. The investigation highlights the need for further studies assessing the adverse effects of ATZ on local species, ecosystems, and human health. Therefore, the precautionary principle is recommended to promote better application standards and product traceability to reduce volumes entering the environment and to avoid use deviation. In addition, this work concluded that there is a need for reviewing the toxicological classification, establishing buffer zones for ATZ application, introducing specific management guidelines, and expanding local studies of toxicity, ecotoxicity, and human epidemiology for environmental and health risk assessments. This study could also serve as a preliminary risk evaluation for establishing a final regulatory action and for considering ATZ inclusion in Annex III of the Rotterdam Convention. Finally, the requirements to consider its inclusion in Annex A (Elimination) or B (Restriction) of the Stockholm Convention were evaluated and discussed, and information on the potential of long-range transport was the only criterion with no information to consider. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2023;19:684-697. © 2022 SETAC.

A systematic review of the toxic effects of a nanopesticide on non-target organisms: Estimation of protective concentrations using a species sensitivity distribution (SSD) approach - The case of atrazine

Nanopesticides, such as nanoencapsulated atrazine (nATZ), have been studied and developed as eco-friendly alternatives to control weeds in fields, requiring lower doses. This review contains a historical and systematic literature review about the toxicity of nATZ to non-target species. In addition, the study establishes protective concentrations for non-target organisms through a species sensitivity distribution (SSD) approach. Through the systematic search, we identified 3197 publications. Of these, 14 studies addressed "(nano)atrazine's toxicity to non-target organisms". Chronological and geographic data on the publication of articles, characterization of nATZ (type of nanocarrier, size, polydispersity index, zeta potential), experimental design (test species, exposure time, measurements, methodology, tested concentrations), and toxic effects are summarized and discussed. The data indicate that cell and algal models do not show sensitivity to nATZ, while many terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates, aquatic vertebrates, microorganisms, and plants have high sensitivity to nAZT. The SSD results indicated that D. similis is the most sensitive species to nATZ, followed by C. elegans, E. crypticus, and P. subcapitata. However, the limitations in terms of the number of species and endpoints available to elaborate the SSD reflect gaps in knowledge of the effects of nATZ on different ecosystems.

Toxic effects of microplastic (polyethylene) exposure: Bioaccumulation, hematological parameters and antioxidant responses in crucian carp, Carassius carassius

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the toxic effects of polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs) by measuring the bioaccumulation, hematological parameters, and antioxidant responses in crucian carp (Carassius Carassius) exposed to waterborne 22-71 μm PE-MPs. C. carassius (mean weight, 24.0 ± 2.1 g; mean length, 13.1 ± 1.2 cm) were exposed to PE-MPs at concentration of 0, 4, 8, 16, 32, and 64 mg/L for 2 weeks. The accumulation of PE-MPs in each tissue of C. carassius was significantly increased in proportion to the PE-MPs concentration; the highest accumulation was observed in the intestine, followed by the gills and liver. Hematological parameters, plasma components and antioxidants responses were significantly affected by PE-MPs in a concentration-dependent manner. Exposure to ≥32 mg/L PE-MPs induced a significant decrease in red blood cells (RBCs), hemoglobin (Hb) content, and hematocrit values. However, exposure to ≥32 mg/L PE-MPs induced oxidative stress in the liver, gill, and intestine of C. carassius, thereby resulting in a significant increase in the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione S-transferase (GST) and a decrease in glutathione (GSH) levels. The effects of interaction between the PE-MPs and exposure periods showed no significant changes in bioaccumulation, hematological parameters, plasma components and antioxidant responses. These finding indicate that the exposure to ≥32 mg/L PE-MPs could cause a significant accumulation in specific tissues of C. carassius, resulting in changes in hematological parameters, plasma components, and antioxidant responses. However, the interaction between PE-MPs and exposure periods had no significant effects, thereby suggesting the lack of toxicological interactions between PE-MPs and exposure periods in C. carassius.

Accumulation and ecotoxicological effects induced by combined exposure of different sized polyethylene microplastics and oxytetracycline in zebrafish

Microplastics have been widely reported as carriers of antibiotics, yet studies investigating the combined ecotoxicology of microplastics and antibiotics on organisms is limited. In this study, different sized polystyrene plastics and oxytetracycline (OTC) were used to carry out a 30-day single and binary-combined exposure experiment of zebrafish, and the microplastics and OTC accumulation, liver histological alteration, biomarkers and transcriptomic response of zebrafish were evaluated. Our results indicated that 300 nm and 50 nm plastic particles increased the OTC accumulation in liver by 33.8% and 44.5%, respectively. Microplastics and OTC induced severe liver histological damage, and the damage is size-dependent, increasing with the decrease of microplastics sizes. The liver biomarkers indicated a different response pattern in single microplastics exposure and combined with OTC, single or co-exposure of 50 nm nano-plastics and OTC induced intense responses of integrated biomarker response values. The 50 nm nano-plastics, OTC and their combined exposure induced 1330, 2693 and 3965 significantly differentially expressed genes, respectively, in which the steroid biosynthesis pathway was significantly affected by all the three treatments. This study elucidated the size-dependent effects of microplastics and provided detailed data from histopathology to transcriptome profile, enhancing our understanding of the ecotoxicity of microplastics and OTC.

Benzotriazole UV stabilizer-induced genotoxicity in freshwater benthic clams: A survey on apoptosis, oxidative stress, histopathology and transcriptomics

Benzotriazole UV stabilizer-329 (UV-329) is frequently detected in various environmental and biological matrices. However, the toxicity effect on freshwater benthos induced by UV-329 has rarely been described. In this study, genotoxicity, apoptosis, oxidative stress, histopathological alterations, siphoning behavior, and bioaccumulation in the gill and digestive gland of Corbicula fluminea exposed to UV-329 at 10, 100, and 1000 μg/L for 21 days were investigated. Toxicity screening using transcriptomics confirmed that UV-329 preferentially stimulated cellular process-related pathways including gap junctions, apoptosis, phagosomes and necroptosis. The transcript levels of a large number of apoptosis genes were significantly upregulated. This apoptosis mechanism was further confirmed by the fact that UV-329 exposure significantly increased the percentage of apoptotic cells, activated caspase-3, -8, and -9, and affected the antioxidant enzyme activities. Following exposure to 1000 μg/L UV-329, significant histological alterations were reflected in the corrosion of cilia, cellular swelling of epithelial cells in the gills, degeneration of digestive tubules, and necrosis of epithelial cells in the digestive glands. These results may aid in elucidating the toxicity mechanism of UV329 in bivalves and evaluating the hazards of UV-329 in benthic ecosystems.

A review of freshwater benthic clams (Corbicula fluminea): Accumulation capacity, underlying physiological mechanisms and environmental applications

Asian clams (Corbicula fluminea) have been extensively applied in biomonitoring and other environmental fields based on their high enrichment capacity and rapid response to pollutants. This review first summarizes the kinetic process of metals and organic pollutants enriched by C. fluminea and discusses the environmental behavior and application. The accumulation ability of Cu, Zn, and Mn were significantly higher than that of other metals, which were attributed to their high uptake rate constant and low elimination rate constant. The visceral mass was found to be the major burden tissue. However, large knowledge gaps existed regarding the accumulation capacity of C. fluminea for organic pollutants and nanoparticles. Moreover, physiological mechanisms underlying the accumulation of environmental pollutants were proposed. C. fluminea can improve the niche of benthic algae by ingesting pelagic algae, mitigating water eutrophication. It can also remove pathogens and parasites based on the biological assimilation of nonspecific immunity, interrupting disease transmission. The novel insight into the application of C. fluminea in wastewater treatment further broadens the range of pest management strategies and offers the feasibility of blocking the spread of invasive bivalves.

Rapid biodegradation of atrazine by a novel Paenarthrobacter ureafaciens ZY and its effects on soil native microbial community dynamic

An atrazine-utilizing bacterium, designated as ZY, was isolated from agricultural soil and identified as Paenarthrobacter ureafaciens. The P. ureafaciens ZY demonstrated a significant degradation capacity of atrazine, with the degradation efficiency of 12.5 mg L^-1 h^-1 in liquid media (at pH 7, 30°C, and the atrazine level of 100 mg L^-1). The P. ureafaciens ZY contained three atrazine-degrading genes (i.e., trzN, atzB, and atzC) could metabolize atrazine to form cyanuric acid, which showed lower biotoxicity than the parent atrazine as predicted by Ecological Structure Activity Relationships model. A laboratory-scale pot experiment was performed to examine the degradation of atrazine by P. ureafaciens ZY inoculation and investigate its effects on the native microbial communities. The results exhibited that the P. ureafaciens ZY was conductive to the degradation of atrazine, increased the total soil phospholipid fatty acids at the atrazine level of 50, 70, and 100 mg kg^-1. By using high-throughput sequencing analysis, Frateuria, Dyella, Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia were considered as the most important indigenous atrazine-degrading microorganisms due to their relative abundances were positively correlated with the atrazine degradation rate. In addition, P. ureafaciens ZY also increased the abundance of atrazine-degrading genus Streptomyces and Bacillus, indicating that there may be a synergic relationship between them in the process of atrazine degradation. Our work provides a new insight between inoculums and native microorganisms on the degradation of atrazine.

Copaiba Oil-Loaded Polymeric Nanocapsules: Production and In Vitro Biosafety Evaluation on Lung Cells as a Pre-Formulation Step to Produce Phytotherapeutic Medicine

Copaiba oil has been largely used due to its therapeutic properties. Nanocapsules were revealed to be a great nanosystem to carry natural oils due to their ability to improve the bioaccessibility and the bioavailability of lipophilic compounds. The aim of this study was to produce and characterize copaiba oil nanocapsules (CopNc) and to evaluate their hemocompatibility, cytotoxicity, and genotoxicity. Copaiba oil was chemically characterized by GC-MS and FTIR. CopNc was produced using the nanoprecipitation method. The physicochemical stability, toxicity, and biocompatibility of the systems, in vitro, were then evaluated. Β-bisabolene, cis-α-bergamotene, caryophyllene, and caryophyllene oxide were identified as the major copaiba oil components. CopNc showed a particle size of 215 ± 10 nm, a polydispersity index of 0.15 ± 0.01, and a zeta potential of -18 ± 1. These parameters remained unchanged over 30 days at 25 ± 2 °C. The encapsulation efficiency of CopNc was 54 ± 2%. CopNc neither induced hemolysis in erythrocytes, nor cytotoxic and genotoxic in lung cells at the range of concentrations from 50 to 200 μg·mL^-1. In conclusion, CopNc showed suitable stability and physicochemical properties. Moreover, this formulation presented a remarkable safety profile on lung cells. These results may pave the way to further use CopNc for the development of phytotherapeutic medicine intended for pulmonary delivery of copaiba oil.

Nanotechnology in agriculture: Comparison of the toxicity between conventional and nano-based agrochemicals on non-target aquatic species

Increased crop production is necessary to keep up with rising food demand. However, conventional agricultural practices and agrochemicals are unable to sustain further increases without serious risk of adverse environmental consequences. The implementation of nanotechnology in agriculture practices has been increasing in recent years and has shown tremendous potential to boost crop production. The rapid growth in development and use of nano-agrochemicals in agriculture will inevitably result in more chemicals reaching water bodies. Some unique properties of nanoformulations may also alter the toxicity of the AI on aquatic organisms when compared to their conventional counterparts. Results from studies on conventional formulations may not properly represent the toxicity of new nanoformulations in the aquatic environment. As a result, current guidelines derived from conventional formulations may not be suitable to regulate those newly developed nanoformulations. Current knowledge on the toxicity of nano-agrochemicals on aquatic organisms is limited, especially in an ecologically relevant setting. This review complies and analyzes 18 primary studies based on 7 criteria to provide a comprehensive analysis of the available toxicity information of nano-agrochemicals and their conventional counterparts on aquatic organisms. Our analysis demonstrates that the overall toxicity of nano-agrochemicals on non-target aquatic species is significantly lower as compared to conventional counterparts. However, further dividing formulations into three categories (organic, bulk and ionic) shows that some nanoformulations can be more toxic when compared to bulk materials but less toxic as compared to ionic formulations while organic nanopesticides do not show a general trend in overall toxicity. Moreover, our analysis reveals the limitations of current studies and provides recommendations for future toxicity studies to ensure the effective and sustainable application of nano-agrochemicals, which will be beneficial to both the agrochemical industry and regulatory agencies alike.

Nanoplastics and Microplastics May Be Damaging Our Livers

Plastics in the environment can be degraded and even broken into pieces under the action of natural factors, and the degraded products with a particle size of less than 5 mm are called microplastics (MPs). MPs exist in a variety of environmental media that come into contact with the human body. It can enter the body through environmental media and food chains. At present, there are many studies investigating the damage of MPs to marine organisms and mammals. The liver is the largest metabolizing organ and plays an important role in the metabolism of MPs in the body. However, there is no available systematic review on the toxic effects of MPs on the liver. This paper summarizes the adverse effects and mechanisms of MPs on the liver, by searching the literature and highlighting the studies that have been published to date, and provides a scenario for the liver toxicity caused by MPs.

Toxicological impacts of micro(nano)plastics in the benthic environment

Micro(nano)plastics (MNPs) have sparked growing public and scientific concerns as emerging pollutants in recent decades, due to their small size and potential for significant ecological and human health impacts. Understanding the toxicological effects of MNPs on aquatic organisms is of great importance; however, most of the available research on aquatic organisms has focused on the pelagic organisms, and studies on benthic organisms are lacking yet. Being bottom-dwelling creatures, benthos perhaps confronts more extreme pressure from MNPs. Therefore, this review summarizes the current literature on the impacts of MNPs on benthic organisms to reveal their toxicity on the survival, growth, development and reproductive systems. MNPs can accumulate in various tissues of benthos and probably cause tissue-specific damage, resulting in genotoxicity and reproductive toxicity to benthic organisms. And, in severe cases, they may also pass on the adverse effects to the next generations. The complexity of co-exposure to MNPs with other aquatic contaminants is also highlighted. Furthermore, we have comprehensively discussed the internal and external factors affecting the toxicity of MNPs in benthic organisms. Additionally, we also presented the current research gaps and potential future challenges, providing overall background information for a thorough understanding of the toxic effects of MNPs in the benthic aquatic ecosystem.

Hazard Assessment of the Effects of Acute and Chronic Exposure to Permethrin, Copper Hydroxide, Acephate, and Validamycin Nanopesticides on the Physiology of Drosophila: Novel Insights into the Cellular Internalization and Biological Effects

New insights into the interactions between nanopesticides and edible plants are required in order to elucidate their impacts on human health and agriculture. Nanopesticides include formulations consisting of organic/inorganic nanoparticles. Drosophila melanogaster has become a powerful model in genetic research thanks to its genetic similarity to mammals. This project mainly aimed to generate new evidence for the toxic/genotoxic properties of different nanopesticides (a nanoemulsion (permethrin nanopesticides, 20 ± 5 nm), an inorganic nanoparticle as an active ingredient (copper(II) hydroxide [Cu(OH)₂] nanopesticides, 15 ± 6 nm), a polymer-based nanopesticide (acephate nanopesticides, 55 ± 25 nm), and an inorganic nanoparticle associated with an organic active ingredient (validamycin nanopesticides, 1177 ± 220 nm)) and their microparticulate forms (i.e., permethrin, copper(II) sulfate pentahydrate (CuSO₄·5H₂O), acephate, and validamycin) widely used against agricultural pests, while also showing the merits of using Drosophila—a non-target in vivo eukaryotic model organism—in nanogenotoxicology studies. Significant biological effects were noted at the highest doses of permethrin (0.06 and 0.1 mM), permethrin nanopesticides (1 and 2.5 mM), CuSO₄·5H₂O (1 and 5 mM), acephate and acephate nanopesticides (1 and 5 mM, respectively), and validamycin and validamycin nanopesticides (1 and 2.5 mM, respectively). The results demonstrating the toxic/genotoxic potential of these nanopesticides through their impact on cellular internalization and gene expression represent significant contributions to future nanogenotoxicology studies.

Post-emergence herbicidal activity of nanoatrazine against Alternanthera tenella Colla plants compared to other weed species

The encapsulation of atrazine into poly(epsilon-caprolactone) nanocapsules has been shown to improve the efficiency of the herbicide and decrease its environmental impacts. In the current work, we evaluated the efficiency of nanoatrazine in the post-emergence control of Alternanthera tenella Colla plants and performed a meta-analysis to compare the results with studies already published with other weeds. The first experiment was carried out in the field, where we observed that nanoatrazine (at 200 g a. i. ha⁻¹) induced higher inhibition of the maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II (up to 39%) than conventional atrazine at the same concentration. However, nanoencapsulation did not improve the visually-determined weed control by atrazine. To better understand the response of A. tenella plants to nanoatrazine, a second experiment was carried out in a greenhouse with four-leaf stage plants treated with nano and conventional atrazine at 200, 500, 1000, and 2000 g a. i. ha⁻¹. Nanoatrazine showed higher efficiency (up to 33%) than commercial atrazine in inhibiting photosystem II activity at all doses until 48 h after application. Again, weed control and plant dry mass did not differ between formulations. From the meta-analysis, it was observed that A. tenella plants showed a response to nanoatrazine that differs from other target species, as the gain in efficiency resulting from the nanoencapsulation was restricted to the short-term analysis, and did not result in better weed control. These results reinforce that the efficiency of nanoatrazine is dependent on the studied species.

Interaction of Nanoatrazine and Target Organism: Evaluation of Fate and Photosystem II Inhibition in Hydroponically Grown Mustard (Brassica juncea) Plants

Poly(epsilon-caprolactone) nanoparticles are an efficient carrier system for atrazine. However, there is a gap regarding the effects of nanoencapsulation on herbicide-plant interactions. Here, we evaluate the fate and photosystem II inhibition of nano and commercial atrazine in hydroponically grown mustard (Brassica juncea) plants whose roots were exposed to the formulations. In addition, to quantify the endogenous levels of atrazine in plant organs, we measured the inhibition of photosystem II activity by both formulations. Moreover, the fluorescently labeled nanoatrazine was tracked in plant tissues using confocal microscopy. The nanoencapsulation induced greater inhibition of photosystem II activity as well as higher accumulation of atrazine in roots and leaves. The nanoparticles were quickly absorbed by the roots, being detected in the vascular tissues and the leaves. Overall, these results provide insights into the mechanisms involved in the enhanced preemergent herbicidal activity of nanoatrazine against target plants.

Can Vitamin C Supplementation Improve the Antioxidant Capacity of Rhamdia quelen Fish Exposed to Atrazine?

Atrazine (ATZ) is one of the pesticides mostly widely used in Brazil; several studies have shown the toxic effects of this herbicide on aquatic organisms such as fish. Thus, it is absolutely necessary finding alternatives to protect the health of fish, mainly of species commercially important for aquaculture, which may be exposed to atrazine deriving from agricultural runoff. The aim of the current study was to investigate interactions between dietary supplementation with vitamin C (Vit C) antioxidant and exposure to ATZ in Rhamdia quelen fish exposed to this herbicide. R. quelen specimens were divided into four groups: (1) CTRL, (2) VitC, (3) ATZ, (4) ATZ + VitC. Groups 3 and 4 were exposed to ATZ (10 µg L^-1) for 96 h, after 30 days of VitC supplementation (1 g kg^-1). Liver samples were collected for biomarker assays. Group 4 was the only group presenting decreased protein carbonyl content. Non-protein thiol (NPSH) levels were significantly higher in groups VitC, ATZ and ATZ + VitC than in CTRL. Group ATZ + VitC presented significant increase in glutatione-peroxidase (GPx) activity in comparison to the other investigated groups. Ascorbic acid (AA) levels were significantly higher in group VitC and lower in group ATZ. Therefore, interactions between herbicide ATZ and dietary supplementation with Vit C have shown biochemical changes in R. quelen fish. Thus, dietary supplements with adequate amounts of Vit C can be added as antioxidants to the diet of fish bred in aquaculture systems in order to protect them from exposure to ATZ.

Effects of short-term exposure to tralopyril on physiological indexes and endocrine function in turbot (Scophthalmus maximus)

Tralopyril is an emerging marine antifouling agent with potential toxic effects on non-target aquatic organisms. To evaluate the toxicity of tralopyril, to turbot (Scophthalmus maximus), we assessed biomarkers, including oxidative stress, neurotoxicity, and osmotic homeostasis regulation enzymes, after a 7-day exposure to tralopyril (5 μg/L, 15 μg/L, 30 μg/L). Superoxide dismutase activity was significantly decreased at 30 μg/L, and Ca²⁺-Mg²⁺-ATPase activity in the gills was significantly increased at 15 μg/L and 30 μg/L. No statistically significant differences in the responses of acetylcholinesterase and nitric oxide were detected. In addition, 15 μg/L and 30 μg/L tralopyril induced hyperthyroidism, reflected by significantly increased of T3 levels. The expression levels of hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis-related genes were also upregulated. The molecular docking results showed that the thyroid system disruption was not caused by competitive binding to the receptor. In addition, the integrated biomarker response index showed that 15 μg/L tralopyril had the greatest effect on turbot. In general, tralopyril caused oxidative damage, affected energy metabolism, and interfered with the endocrine system. These findings could provide reference data for assessing the ecological risk of tralopyril in marine environments.

Behaviors and biochemical responses of macroinvertebrate Corbicula fluminea to polystyrene microplastics

Microplastic, a well-documented emerging contaminant, is widespread in aquatic environments resulting from the production and fragmentation of large plastics items. The knowledge about the chronic toxic effects and behavioral toxicity of microplastics, particularly on freshwater benthic macroinvertebrates, is limited. In this study, adult Asian clams (Corbicula fluminea) were exposed to gradient microplastic solutions for 42 days to evaluate behavioral toxicity and chronic biotoxicity. The results showed that microplastics caused behavior toxicity, oxidative stress, and tissue damage in high-concentration treatments. Siphoning, breathing, and excretion was significantly inhibited (p < 0.05) at high-concentration treatments, suggesting that high-concentration microplastics induced behavioral toxicity in C. fluminea. Malondialdehyde content, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione reductase activities were significantly enhanced (p < 0.05) and the acetylcholinesterase was significantly inhibited (p < 0.05) throughout the exposure period in high-concentration treatments. Enzymes associated with energy supply were significantly higher at high-concentration microplastics treatments on D7 and D21. However, they recovered to a normal level on D42. The instability of the enzymes indicated that high-concentration microplastics induced oxidative stress and disorder in neurotransmission and energy supply. The gills of C. fluminea in treatments underwent cilia degeneration, which indicated that microplastics caused tissue damage in the gills. The analysis of integrated biomarker response values revealed that high-concentration microplastics led to long-term effects on the health of C. fluminea. In conclusion, continuous exposure to microplastics (10 mg L^-1) would damage physical behavior and the antioxidant system of C. fluminea.

Nano-enabled agrochemicals/materials: Potential human health impact, risk assessment, management strategies and future prospects

Nanotechnology is a rapidly developing technology that will have a significant impact on product development in the next few years. The technology is already being employed in cutting-edge cosmetic and healthcare products. Nanotechnology and nanoparticles have a strong potential for product and process innovation in the food industrial sector. This is already being demonstrated by food product availability made using nanotechnology. Nanotechnologies will have an impact on food security, packaging materials, delivery systems, bioavailability, and new disease detection materials in the food production chain, contributing to the UN Millennium Development Goals targets. Food products using nanoparticles are already gaining traction into the market, with an emphasis on online sales. This means that pre- and post-marketing regulatory frameworks and risk assessments must meet certain standards. There are potential advantages of nanotechnologies for agriculture, consumers and the food industry at large as they are with other new and growing technologies. However, little is understood about the safety implications of applying nanotechnologies to agriculture and incorporating nanoparticles into food. As a result, policymakers and scientists must move quickly, as regulatory systems appear to require change, and scientists should contribute to these adaptations. Their combined efforts should make it easier to reduce health and environmental impacts while also promoting the economic growth of nanotechnologies in the food supply chain. This review highlighted the benefits of a number of nano enabled agrochemicals/materials, the potential health impacts as well as the risk assessment and risk management for nanoparticles in the agriculture and food production chain.

Adverse effects of dietary virgin (nano)microplastics on growth performance, immune response, and resistance to ammonia stress and pathogen challenge in juvenile sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus (Selenka)

It has been well documented that micro- and nanoplastics are emerging pollutants in aquatic environments, and their potential toxic effects has attracted widespread concerns. Here, we evaluated the adverse effects of dietary polystyrene nanoplastics and microplastics (PS-N/MPs) on growth performance, oxidative stress induction, immune response, ammonia detoxification, and bacterial pathogen resistance of sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus. After collection and acclimation, sea cucumbers were randomized into 3 groups (i.e., control, 100 nm PS-NPs and 20 µm PS-MPs at 100 mg kg^-1 diet) for 60-day feeding experiment. Every group contained 360 sea cucumbers which were equally divided into 3 aquaria as biological triplicates. The results showed that the specific growth rate and final weight of the sea cucumbers fed with diets containing PS-N/MPs were significantly lower than those of control group. Dietary virgin PS-N/MPs significantly increased the reactive oxygen species production and malondialdehyde content in coelomic fluid, causing oxidative stress and damage to the growth and development of A. japonicus. During the experiment, 100 nm PS-NPs significantly induced the depletion in cellular and humoral immune parameters. The calculated IBR values based on multi-level biomarkers revealed the size-dependent toxic differences of PS-NPs > PS-MPs. The relative expression levels of GDH and GS mRNA showed first rise and then fall trends after exposure to ammonia, and 100 nm PS-NPs had a more profound impact on suppressing ammonia detoxification compared with 20 µm PS-MPs. Moreover, the expression of Hsp90, Hsp70, CL, TLR, and CASP2 genes were all down-regulated by ammonia exposure. Taken together of IBR results, ammonia stress test and pathogen challenge, we deduced that dietary 100 nm PS-NPs are more potentially hazardous than 20 µm PS-MPs. These findings provide valuable information for understanding the size-dependent toxic effects of PS-N/MPs and early risk warning on marine invertebrates.

The Differences between the Effects of a Nanoformulation and a Conventional Form of Atrazine to Lettuce: Physiological Responses, Defense Mechanisms, and Nutrient Displacement

The rapid development of nanotechnology influences the developments within the agro-sector. An example is provided by the production of nanoenabled pesticides with the intention to optimize the efficiency of the pesticides. At the same time, it is important to collect information on the unintended and unwanted adverse effects of emerging nanopesticides on nontarget plants. Currently, this information is limited. In the present study, we compared the effects of a nanoformulation of atrazine (NPATZ) and the nonencapsulated atrazine formulation (ATZ) on physiological responses, defense mechanisms, and nutrient displacement in lettuce over time with the applied concentrations ranging from 0.3 to 3 mg atrazine per kg soil. Our results revealed that both NPATZ and ATZ induced significant decreases in plant biomass, chlorophyll content, and protein content. Additionally, exposure to NPATZ and ATZ caused oxidative stress to the lettuce plant and significantly elevated the activities of the tested ROS scavenger enzymes in plant tissues. These results indicate that NPATZ and ATZ cause distinct adverse impacts on lettuce plants. When comparing the adverse effects in plants after exposure to NPATZ and ATZ, no obvious differences in plant biomass and chlorophyll content were observed between NPATZ and ATZ treatments at the same exposure concentration regardless of exposure duration. An enhanced efficiency of the active ingredient of the nanopesticide as compared to the conventional formulation was observed after long-term exposure to the high concentration of NPATZ, as it induced higher impacts on plants in terms of the end points of the contents of protein, superoxide anion (O2̇-), and MDA, and the activities of stress-related enzymes as compared to the same concentration of ATZ. Furthermore, exposure to both NPATZ and ATZ disrupted the uptake of mineral nutrients in plants, and the differences in the displacement of nutrients between the NPATZ and ATZ treatments depended on the element type, plant organ, exposure concentration, and time. Overall, the application dose of a nanopesticide should balance their increased herbicidal efficiency with the long-term adverse effects in order to maximize the desired impact while minimizing adverse impacts; only then will we be able to understand the potential impact of nanopesticides on the environment.

Residues of Reduced Herbicides Terbuthylazine, Ametryn, and Atrazine and Toxicology to Maize and the Environment through Salicylic Acid

Terbuthylazine (TBA), ametryn (AME), and atrazine (ATZ) are triazine family herbicides. They are dominantly used in the field of cereal crops like wheat and maize for prevention of upland from annual gramineous and broad-leaved weeds, with attributes of weed efficiency broad spectrum and good market performance. Salicylic acid (SA) is a kind of natural plant growth regulator existing widely in the plant kingdom and participating in many physiological and defense processes. In this study, the effects of SA on the detoxification and degradation of herbicides TBA, AME, and ATZ in maize were investigated. When maize plants were exposed to 6 mg kg^-1 of the triazine herbicides, the growth and chlorophyll concentration were reduced, while the membrane permeability increased. After maize was sprayed with 5 mg kg^-1 SA, the herbicide-induced phytotoxicity was significantly assuaged, with the increased content of chlorophyll and decreased cellular damage in plants. Activities of several biomarker enzymes such as SOD, POD, and GST were repressed in the presence of SA. The concentration of the triazine herbicides in maize and the soil determined by high-performance liquid chromatography was drastically reduced by spraying SA. Using LC/Q-TOF-MS/MS, six metabolites and nine conjugates of AME in maize and soil were characterized. The relative contents of AME metabolites and conjugates in maize with SA were higher than those without SA. These results suggest that SA is able to promote the detoxification and decay of these triazine herbicides in maize and soil.

Foliar absorption and field herbicidal studies of atrazine-loaded polymeric nanoparticles

Nanoparticles loaded with atrazine show weed control efficacy even with lower application doses of the active ingredient. Changes in the mode of action of the herbicide through the nanoformulation are key to understanding the efficiency of post-emergence activity of nanoatrazine. Here, we report the leaf absorption and translocation of nanoatrazine and atrazine employing radiometric techniques and compare their herbicidal effects in greenhouse and field conditions. Compared to the commercial formulation, nanoatrazine showed greater and faster absorption rates in mustard leaves (40% increment in the absorbed herbicide 24 h after application), inducing higher inhibition of photosystem II activity. Assays with fusicoccin-treated leaves indicated that the stomatal uptake of nanoparticles might be involved in the improved activity of nanoatrazine. Nanoencapsulation potentiated the post-emergent herbicidal activity of atrazine and the gain provided by nanoencapsulation was higher in the field compared to greenhouse conditions. Regardless of the dose, nanoatrazine provided two-fold higher weed control in the field compared to commercial atrazine. Thus, the design of this carrier system enables improvements in the performance of the herbicide in the field with less risk of environmental losses of the active ingredients due to faster absorption.

Aquaculture-derived distribution, partitioning, migration, and transformation of atrazine and its metabolites in seawater, sediment, and organisms from a typical semi-closed mariculture bay

Atrazine (ATR) is one of the most commonly used herbicides that could directly impair the growth and health of organisms in mariculture areas and adversely affect human health through the food chain. This study investigated the contaminant occurrence, migration, and transformation of ATR and three of its chlorinated metabolites, namely deethylatrazine (DEA), deisopropylatrazine (DIA), and didealkylatrazine (DDA), in surface seawater, sediment, and aquatic organisms from the Xiangshan Harbor. ATR was detected in all samples, while DIA and DDA were only respectively detected in aquatic and seawater samples. The distribution of ATR and its metabolites presented different patterns depending on the geographic location and showed a higher level in the aquaculture area than that in the non-aquaculture area. The bioaccumulation of ATR in aquaculture organisms showed that benthic organisms, such as Ditrema, and Sinonovacula constricta (Sin), had increased levels. The ecological risks indicated that ATR posed medium or high risks to algae in the water phase of the study area. The microcosm experiment showed that the main fate of ATR in the simulated microenvironment was sedimentation, which followed the first-order kinetic equation. The ATR in the sediment could be enriched 3-5 times in Sin, and its major metabolites were DEA and DIA.

Ecotoxicological and regulatory aspects of environmental sustainability of nanopesticides

Recent years have seen the development of various colloidal formulations of pesticides and other agrochemicals aimed at use in sustainable agriculture. These formulations include inorganic, organic or hybrid particulates, or nanocarriers composed of biodegradable polymers, that can provide a better control of the release of active ingredients. The very small particle sizes and high surface areas of nanopesticides may however also lead to some unintended (eco)toxicological effects due to the way in which they interact with the target and non-target species and the environment. The current level of knowledge on ecotoxicological effects of nanopesticides is scarce, especially in regard to the fate and behaviour of such formulations in the environment. Nanopesticides will however have to cross a stringent regulatory scrutiny before marketing in most countries for health and environmental risks under a range of regulatory frameworks that require pre-market notification, risk assessment and approval, followed by labelling, post-market monitoring and surveillance. This review provides an overview of the key regulatory and ecotoxicological aspects relating to nanopesticides that will need to be considered for environmentally-sustainable use in agriculture.

Acute exposure to the fungicide penconazole affects some biochemical parameters in the crayfish (Astacus leptodactylus Eschscholtz, 1823)

Penconazole is one of the most widely used fungicides all over the world, and since it spreads to large environments, its toxic effects on non-target organisms are of great concern. The toxic effects of penconazole on crayfish (Astacus leptodactylus), which is a bioindicator in freshwater ecosystems and consumed economically, are not known. Therefore, in this study, the purpose was to contribute to the literature on the potential harmful effects of penconazole on a non-target species, Astacus leptodactylus. For this aim, the acute toxicity (96 h) of penconazole was examined. The 96-h LC₅₀ value of penconazole was detected as 18.7 mg L^-1. Four concentrations of penconazole (18.7 mg L^-1, 9.35 mg L^-1, 4.68 mg L^-1, 2.34 mg L^-1) were applied to crayfish for 96 h. The results showed that penconazole had destructive effects on esterase mechanisms by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and carboxylesterase (CaE) activities. Significant increases were observed in all antioxidant parameters (superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione S-transferase (GST), reduced glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA)) in all doses except the lowest concentration (2.34 mg L^-1). All adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activities (Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase, Mg²⁺-ATPase, Ca²⁺-ATPase, total ATPase) had significant dose-related inhibition in both gill and muscle tissues. In summary, our findings show that acute penconazole administration to crayfish causes significant toxic effects on esterase, antioxidative parameters, and metabolic enzymes.

Impacts of nanoplastics on bivalve: Fluorescence tracing of organ accumulation, oxidative stress and damage

The outcomes of this research offer novel insights into the toxic effects of nanoparticles (i.e., nanoplastics or other nanomaterials) on the benthos. Herein, this study aimed to evaluate the accumulation pathway, distribution characteristics and potential biotoxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics in C. fluminea. The results revealed that nanoplastics could accumulate in the mantle through adherence, in the visceral mass through ingestion and in the gill through respiration. The gill, intestine and stomach were the main accumulation organs for nanoplastics. The aggregation of nanoplastics was observed in C. fluminea, which may exacerbate their biotoxicity. Moreover, oxidative stress was observed in the visceral mass, gill and mantle. Liver damage, neurotoxicity and intestinal inflammation were caused by imbalance in the antioxidation system. Analysis of IBR values showed that the visceral mass had a more effective response to oxidative stress than the gill and mantle after exposure to nanoplastics.

An overview of the potential impacts of atrazine in aquatic environments: Perspectives for tailored solutions based on nanotechnology

Atrazine is a pre- and post-emergence herbicide used to control weeds in many crops. It was introduced in the late 1950s, but its use has been controversial because of its high potential for environmental contamination. In agriculture, the implementation of sustainable practices can help in reducing the adverse effects atrazine. This review addresses aspects related to the impacts of atrazine in the environment, with focus on its effects on aquatic species, as well as the potential use of nanoencapsulation to decrease the impacts of atrazine. The application of atrazine leads to its dispersal beyond the immediate area, with possible contamination of soils, sediments, plantations, pastures, public supply reservoirs, groundwater, streams, lakes, rivers, seas, and even glaciers. In aquatic ecosystems, atrazine can alter the biota, consequently interfering in the food chains of many species, including benthic organisms. Nanoformulations loaded with atrazine have been developed as a way to reduce the adverse impacts of this herbicide in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Ecotoxicological bioassays have shown that this nanoformulations can improve the targeted delivery of the active ingredient, resulting in decreased dosages to obtain the same effects as conventional formulations. However, more detailed analyses of the ecotoxicological potential of atrazine-based nanoherbicides need to be performed with representative species of different ecosystems.

Fate of atrazine and its relationship with environmental factors in distinctly different lake sediments associated with hydrophytes

Atrazine contamination is of great concern due to its widespread occurrence in shallow lakes. Here, the distribution and degradation of atrazine in acidic and alkaline lake systems were investigated. Meanwhile, the bacterial communities in different sediments and the effects of environmental factors on atrazine-degrading bacteria were evaluated. In the lake systems without plants, atrazine levels in sediment interstitial water reached peak concentrations on the 4th d. More than 90% of atrazine was then degraded in all sediment interstitial water by day 30. Meanwhile, the degradation rate of atrazine in alkaline sediments was faster than that in acidic sediments. Values of hydroxylated metabolites in the acidic lake sediments tended to be greater. Moreover, the amounts of Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicute, Nitrospinae, Aminicenantes, Ignavibacteriae and Saccharibacteria in acidic Tangxunhu Lake sediments were significantly different from alkaline Honghu Lake sediments, while the amounts of Cyanobacteria and Saccharibacteria in sediments treated with atrazine were significantly greater than those in sediments without atrazine (P < 0.05). Notably, pH was the most relevant environmental factor in the quantitative variation of atrazine-degrading bacteria, including in Clostridium-sensu-stricto, Pseudomonas, Comamonas and Rhodobacter. The Mantel test results indicated that the degradation of atrazine in different sediments was mainly affected by the sediment physicochemical properties rather than by the addition of atrazine and the cultivation of hydrophytes.

Atrazine nanoencapsulation improves pre-emergence herbicidal activity against Bidens pilosa without enhancing long-term residual effect on Glycine max

BACKGROUND

Poly(ϵ-caprolactone) nanocapsules (NC + ATZ) are an efficient carrier system for atrazine and were developed as an alternative to reduce the harmful environmental effects of this herbicide. Here, we analyzed the pre-emergence herbicidal activity of NC + ATZ against Bidens pilosa and evaluated its residual effect on soybean plants after different periods of soil treatment with the formulations.

RESULTS

In contrast to non-nanoatrazine, NC + ATZ treatment led to very high mortality rates of B. pilosa seedlings even after a tenfold dilution, which suggests that atrazine nanoencapsulation improved its pre-emergence herbicidal activity. In a short-term assay (17 days), soil treatment with all atrazine-containing formulations resulted in intense toxicity to soybean plants. NC + ATZ at 200 g ha-1 had the same inhibitory effects on the physiological and growth parameters of soybean plants compared with non-nanoatrazine at 2000 g ha-1 , which suggests that atrazine nanoencapsulation increased the short-term residual effect of the herbicide. In a long-term assay (60 days), a gradual recovery of soybean plants from atrazine phytotoxicity was observed. When comparing the effects of nano- and non-nanoatrazine at the same concentrations, the growth and physiological parameters of soybean plants were mainly affected to the same extent. This indicates that encapsulation of atrazine into poly(ϵ-caprolactone) nanocapsules did not enhance the long-term residual effect of the herbicide on soybean.

CONCLUSION

NC + ATZ could be applied for efficient weed control without additional phytotoxicity to susceptible crops compared with non-nanoatrazine, provided that a safe interval is respected from atrazine application to sowing. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.