Background fish feminization effects in European remote sites

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

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

Diurnal source apportionment of organic and inorganic atmospheric particulate matter at a high-altitude mountain site under summer conditions (Sierra Nevada; Spain)

High-altitude mountain areas are sentinel ecosystems for global environmental changes such as anthropogenic pollution. In this study, we report a source apportionment of particulate material with an aerodynamic diameter smaller than 10 μm (PM10) in a high-altitude site in southern Europe (Sierra Nevada Station; SNS (2500 m a.s.l.)) during summer 2021. The emission sources and atmospheric secondary processes that determine the composition of aerosol particles in Sierra Nevada National Park (Spain) are identified from the concentrations of organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), 12 major inorganic compounds, 18 trace elements and 44 organic molecular tracer compounds in PM10 filter samples collected during day- and nighttime. The multivariate analysis of the joint dataset resolved five main PM10 sources: 1) Saharan dust, 2) advection from the urbanized valley, 3) local combustion, 4) smoke from a fire-event, and 5) aerosol from regional recirculation with high contribution of particles from secondary inorganic and organic aerosol formation processes. PM sources were clearly associated with synoptic meteorological conditions, and day- and nighttime circulation patterns typical of mountainous areas. Although a local pollution source was identified, the contribution of this source to PM10, OC and EC was small. Our results evidence the strong influence of middle- and long-range transport of aerosols, mainly from anthropogenic origin, on the aerosol chemical composition at this remote site.

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products in water streams: Occurrence, detection, and removal by electrochemical advanced oxidation processes

Pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) are part of the emerging contaminants (ECs) in the environment due to their known or suspected adverse effects in aquatic and terrestrial organisms, as well as in human health. Presence of PPCPs in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems has been mainly attributed to the effluents of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Although several PPCPs have been detected in wastewater, their removal from wastewater via biological processes is limited. Removal of PPCPs depends on their chemical structure, concentration, solubility, and technology used to treat the wastewater. Electrochemical Advanced Oxidation Processes (EAOPs) are some of the most sought-after methods for dealing with organic pollutants in water including PPCPs, due to generation of strong oxidants such as •OH, H₂O₂ and O₃^- by using directly or indirectly electrochemical technology. This review is focused on the removal of main PPCPs via EAOPs such as, anodic oxidation, electro-Fenton, photoelectron-Fenton, solar photoelectron-Fenton, photoelectrocatalysis and sonoelectrochemical processes. Although more than 40 PPCPs have been identified through different analytical approaches, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory and antifungal are the main categories of PPCPs detected in different water matrices. Application of EAOPs has been centered in the removal of antibiotics and analgesics of high consumption by using model media, e.g. Na₂SO_4. Photoelectrocatalysis and Electro-Fenton processes have been the most versatile EAOPs applied for PPCPs removal under a wide range of operating conditions and a variety of electrodes. Although EAOPs have gained significant scientific interest due to their effectiveness, low environmental impact, and simplicity, further research about the removal of PPCPs and their by-products under realistic concentrations and media is needed. Moreover, mid-, and long-term experiments that evaluate EAOPs performance will provide knowledge about key parameters that allow these technologies to be scaled and reduce the potential risk of PPCPs in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem.

Contribution of Illicit Drug Use to Pharmaceutical Load in the Environment: A Focus on Sub-Saharan Africa

Illicit drug abuse and addiction are universal issues requiring international cooperation and interdisciplinary and multisectoral solutions. These addictive substances are utilized for recreational purposes worldwide, including in sub-Saharan Africa. On the other hand, conventional wastewater treatment facilities such as waste stabilization ponds lack the design to remove the most recent classes of pollutants such as illicit drug abuse. As a result, effluents from these treatment schemes contaminate the entire ecosystem. Public health officials are concerned about detecting these pollutants at alarming levels in some countries, with potential undesirable effects on aquatic species and increased health hazards through exposure to contaminated waters or recycling treated or untreated effluents in agriculture. Contaminants including illicit substances enter the environment by human excreta following illegal intake, spills, or through direct dumping, such as from clandestine laboratories, when their manufacturer does not follow accepted production processes. These substances, like other pharmaceuticals, have biological activity and range from pseudopersistent to highly persistent compounds; hence, they persist in the environment while causing harm to the ecosystem. The presence of powerful pharmacological agents such as cocaine, morphine, and amphetamine in water as complex combinations can impair aquatic organisms and human health. These compounds can harm human beings and ecosystem health apart from their low environmental levels. Therefore, this article examines the presence and levels of illicit substances in ecological compartments such as wastewater, surface and ground waters in sub-Saharan Africa, and their latent impact on the ecosystem. The information on the occurrences of illicit drugs and their metabolic products in the sub-Saharan Africa environment and their contribution to pharmaceutical load is missing. In this case, it is important to research further the presence, levels, distribution, and environmental risks of exposure to human beings and the entire ecosystem.

Recent Progress on Luminescent Metal-Organic Framework-Involved Hybrid Materials for Rapid Determination of Contaminants in Environment and Food

The high speed of contaminants growth needs the burgeoning of new analytical techniques to keep up with the continuous demand for monitoring and legislation on food safety and environmental pollution control. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are a kind of advanced crystal porous materials with controllable apertures, which are self-assembled by organic ligands and inorganic metal nodes. They have the merits of large specific surface areas, high porosity and the diversity of structures and functions. Latterly, the utilization of metal-organic frameworks has attracted much attention in environmental protection and the food industry. MOFs have exhibited great value as sensing materials for many targets. Among many sensing methods, fluorometric sensing is one of the widely studied methods in the detection of harmful substances in food and environmental samples. Fluorometric detection based on MOFs and its functional materials is currently one of the most key research subjects in the food and environmental fields. It has gradually become a hot research direction to construct the highly sensitive rapid sensors to detect harmful substances in the food matrix based on metal-organic frameworks. In this paper, we introduced the synthesis and detection application characteristics (absorption, fluorescence, etc.) of metal-organic frameworks. We summarized their applications in the MOFs-based fluorometric detection of harmful substances in food and water over the past few years. The harmful substances mainly include heavy metals, organic pollutants and other small molecules, etc. On this basis, the future development and possible application of the MOFs have prospected in this review paper.

Evolutionary Toxicogenomics of the Striped Killifish (Fundulus majalis) in the New Bedford Harbor (Massachusetts, USA)

In this paper, we used a Genotyping-by-Sequencing (GBS) approach to find and genotype more than 4000 genome-wide SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms) from striped killifish exposed to a variety of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and other aromatic pollutants in New Bedford Harbor (NBH, Massachusetts, USA). The aims of this study were to identify the genetic consequences of exposure to aquatic pollutants and detect genes that may be under selection. Low genetic diversity (H_E and π) was found in the site exposed to the highest pollution level, but the pattern of genetic diversity did not match the pollution levels. Extensive connectivity was detected among sampling sites, which suggests that balanced gene flow may explain the lack of genetic variation in response to pollution levels. Tests for selection identified 539 candidate outliers, but many of the candidate outliers were not shared among tests. Differences among test results likely reflect different test assumptions and the complex pollutant mixture. Potentially, selectively important loci are associated with 151 SNPs, and enrichment analysis suggests a likely involvement of these genes with pollutants that occur in NBH. This result suggests that selective processes at genes targeted by pollutants may be occurring, even at a small geographical scale, and may allow the local striped killifish to resist the high pollution levels.

Development of homologous enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays to quantify two forms of vitellogenin in guppy (Poecilia reticulata)

Guppy (Poecilia reticulata) is a promising model organism in toxicological studies, and vitellogenin (Vtg) is a commonly used biomarker for environmental estrogens. Although an ELISA for guppy Vtg has been developed previously, we found that guppy had two forms of Vtgs. In this study, two Vtgs were characterized and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) for each Vtg were developed. Two Vtgs purified from 17β-estradiol (E₂)-exposed guppy were characterized as phospholipoglycoproteins with molecular weights of ~ 520 and ~ 480 kDa, respectively. In SDS-PAGE, one purified Vtg appeared as three major bands of ~ 210, ~ 126, and ~ 102 kDa, and the other revealed a clear band of ~ 68 kDa. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight/time of flight mass spectrometry analysis showed that they were VtgAb and VtgC. Using purified Vtgs and their corresponding antibodies, two sandwich ELISAs with working ranges of 7.8~1000 and 15.6~500 ng/mL were developed. Precision tests showed that intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variations of both ELISAs were below 10%. Parallelism between Vtg standard curves and serial dilutions of whole body homogenate from E₂-exposed guppy confirmed that two ELISAs could quantify guppy Vtgs. Furthermore, two ELISAs were used to measure Vtg inductions in liver, caudal fin and whole body of male guppy exposed to 17a-ethinylestradiol to validate their use for detecting estrogenic effects of exogenous chemicals. These homologous Vtg ELISAs will promote the use of guppy as a model organism to study estrogenic chemicals.

Molecular characterisation of oestrogen receptor ERα and the effects of bisphenol A on its expression during sexual development in the Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus)

The aim of this study was to characterise the molecular structure of the oestrogen receptor ERα and to evaluate the effect of bisphenol A (BPA) on ERα expression during sexual development of the Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus). The ERα cDNA of A. davidianus includes an open reading frame of 1755bp (encoding 584 amino acids), a 219-bp 5' untranslated region (UTR) and a 611-bp 3'UTR. A polyadenylation signal was not found in the 3'UTR. Amino acid sequence analysis showed high homology between ERα of A. davidianus and that of other amphibians, such as Andrias japonicas (99.66% identity) and Rana rugose (81.06% identity). In 3-year-old A. davidianus, highest ERα expression was observed in the liver and gonads. During different developmental stages in A. davidianus (from 1 to 3 years of age), ERα expression in the testes increased gradually. ERα was localised in the epithelial cells of seminiferous lobules and in interstitial cells. ERα-positive cells were more abundant in the interstitial tissue during testicular development. ERα was located in the nucleus of oocytes during ovary development. We found that the sex of 6-month-old A. davidianus larvae could not be distinguished anatomically. The sex ratio did not change after larvae were treated with 10μM BPA for 1 month. However, BPA treatment reduced bodyweight and ERα expression in the gonads in male larvae.

Are we closer to the vision? A proposed framework for incorporating omics into environmental assessments

Environmental science has benefited a great deal from omics-based technologies. High-throughput toxicology has defined adverse outcome pathways (AOPs), prioritized chemicals of concern, and identified novel actions of environmental chemicals. While many of these approaches are conducted under rigorous laboratory conditions, a significant challenge has been the interpretation of omics data in "real-world" exposure scenarios. Clarity in the interpretation of these data limits their use in environmental monitoring programs. In recent years, one overarching objective of many has been to address fundamental questions concerning experimental design and the robustness of data collected under the broad umbrella of environmental genomics. These questions include: (1) the likelihood that molecular profiles return to a predefined baseline level following remediation efforts, (2) how reference site selection in an urban environment influences interpretation of omics data and (3) what is the most appropriate species to monitor in the environment from an omics point of view. In addition, inter-genomics studies have been conducted to assess transcriptome reproducibility in toxicology studies. One lesson learned from inter-genomics studies is that there are core molecular networks that can be identified by multiple laboratories using the same platform. This supports the idea that "omics-networks" defined a priori may be a viable approach moving forward for evaluating environmental impacts over time. Both spatial and temporal variability in ecosystem structure is expected to influence molecular responses to environmental stressors, and it is important to recognize how these variables, as well as individual factor (i.e. sex, age, maturation), may confound interpretation of network responses to chemicals. This mini-review synthesizes the progress made towards adopting these tools into environmental monitoring and identifies future challenges to be addressed, as we move into the next era of high throughput sequencing. A conceptual framework for validating and incorporating molecular networks into environmental monitoring programs is proposed. As AOPs become more defined and their potential in environmental monitoring assessments becomes more recognized, the AOP framework may prove to be the conduit between omics and penultimate ecological responses for environmental risk assessments.

In vitro assessment of sex steroids and related compounds in water and sediments - a critical review

Detection of endocrine disrupting compounds in water and sediment samples has gained much importance since the evidence of their effects was reported in aquatic ecosystems in the 1990s. The aim of this review is to highlight the advances made in the field of in vitro analysis for the detection of hormonally active compounds with estrogenic, androgenic and progestogenic effects in water and sediment samples. In vitro assays have been developed from yeast, mammalian and in a few cases from fish cells. These assays are based either on the hormone-mediated proliferation of sensitive cell lines or on the hormone-mediated expression of reporter genes. In vitro assays in combination with various sample enrichment methods have been used with limits of detection as low as 0.0027 ng L^-1 in water, and 0.0026 ng g^-1 in sediments for estrogenicity, 0.1 ng L^-1 in water, and 0.5 ng g^-1 in sediments for androgenicity, and 5 ng L^-1 in water for progestogenicity expressed as equivalent concentrations of standard reference compounds of 17β-estradiol, dihydrotestosterone and progesterone, respectively. The experimental results and limits of quantification, however, are influenced by the methods of sample collection, preparation, and individual laboratory practices.

Rapid, portable detection of endocrine disrupting chemicals through ligand-nuclear hormone receptor interactions

Recent advances in biosensing technology are enabling rapid and portable detection of nuclear hormone receptor ligand endocrine disrupting chemicals.

Freeze-drying as suitable method to achieve ready-to-use yeast biosensors for androgenic and estrogenic compounds

Recombinant yeast assays (RYAs) have been proved to be a suitable tool for the fast screening of compounds with endocrine disrupting activities. However, ready-to-use versions more accessible to less equipped laboratories and field studies are scarce and far from optimal throughputs. Here, we have applied freeze-drying technology to optimize RYA for the fast assessment of environmental compounds with estrogenic and androgenic potencies. The effects of different cryoprotectants, initial optical density and long-term storage were evaluated. The study included detailed characterization of sensitivity, robustness and reproducibility of the new ready-to-use versions, as well as comparison with the standard assays. Freeze-dried RYAs showed similar dose-responses curves to their homolog standard assays, with Lowest Observed Effect Concentration (LOEC) and Median effective Concentration (EC50) of 1 nM and 7.5 nM for testosterone, and 0.05 nM and 0.5 nM for 17β-estradiol, respectively. Freeze-dried cells stored at 4 °C retained maximum sensitivity up to 2 months, while cells stored at -18 °C showed no decrease in sensitivity throughout the study (10 months). This ready-to-use RYA is easily accessible and may be potentially used for on-site applications.

Feminization and masculinization of western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) observed in rivers impacted by municipal wastewaters

Municipal wastewaters have been known to contain various estrogens and androgens. Little is known about the joint action of these chemicals from wastewaters on fishes in the aquatic environment. The objectives of this study were to investigate the estrogenic and/or androgenic effects in wild mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) of two effluent-impacted rivers in South China by determining morphological changes and hepatic mRNA expression levels of relevant genes such as vitellogenin (Vtg), estrogen receptor (ERα) and androgen receptors (ARα and ARβ), and to assess the linkages of those morphological changes and hepatic mRNA expression levels to the chemical concentrations measured by in vitro bioassays and chemical analysis. The results showed a significant induction of Vtg and ERα mRNA in the livers of the males and a gonopodium-like anal fin in the females collected at the majority of sites. Redundancy analysis and Pearson correlation analysis showed that the chemical concentrations obtained by in vitro bioassays and chemical analysis had significant correlations with some of the endpoints for the estrogenic and/or androgenic effects in mosquitofish. The findings from this study indicate that the estrogens and androgens present in the two rivers could cause the observed estrogenic and androgenic effects in mosquitofish.