Bisphenol A-A Dangerous Pollutant Distorting the Biological Properties of Soil

Metagenomic analysis of soil from landfill site reveals a diverse microbial community involved in plastic degradation

In this study, we have investigated microbial communities structure and function using high throughput amplicon sequencing and whole metagenomic sequencing of DNA extracted from different depths of a plastic-laden landfill site. With diverse taxonomic groups inhabiting the plastic-rich soil, our study demonstrates the remarkable adaptability of microbes to use this new substrate as a carbon source. FTIR spectroscopic analysis of soil indicated degradation of plastic as perceived from the carbonyl index of 0.16, 0.72, and 0.44 at 0.6, 0.9 and 1.2 m depth, respectively. Similarly, water contact angles of 108.7 degree, 99.7 degree, 62.7 degree, and 77.8 degree of plastic pieces collected at 0.3, 0.6, 0.9, and 1.2 m depths respectively showed increased wettability and hydrophilicity of the plastic. Amplicon analysis of 16S and 18 S rRNA revealed a high abundance of several plastic-degrading bacterial groups, including Pseudomonas, Rhizobiales, Micrococcaceae, Chaetomium, Methylocaldum, Micromonosporaceae, Rhodothermaceae and fungi, including Trichoderma, Aspergillus, Candida at 0.9 m. The co-existence of specific microbial groups at different depths of landfill site indicates importance of bacterial and fungal interactions for plastic. Whole metagenome analysis of soil sample at 0.9 m depth revealed a high abundance of genes encoding enzymes that participate in the biodegradation of PVC, polyethylene, PET, and polyurethane. Curation of the pathways related to the degradation of these materials provided a blueprint for plastic biodegradation in this ecosystem. Altogether, our study has highlighted the importance of microbial cooperation for the biodegradation of pollutants. Our metagenome-based investigation supports the current perception that consortia of fungi-bacteria are preferable to axenic cultures for effective bioremediation of the environment.

Bacterial bioremediation as a sustainable strategy for the mitigation of Bisphenol-A

In the era dominated by plastic, the widespread use of plastic in our daily lives has led to a growing accumulation of its degraded byproducts, such as microplastics and plastic additives like Bisphenol A (BPA). BPA is recognized as one of the earliest man-made substances that exhibit endocrine-disrupting properties. It is frequently employed in the manufacturing of epoxy resins, polycarbonates, dental fillings, food storage containers, infant bottles, and water containers. BPA is linked to a range of health issues including obesity, diabetes, chronic respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular diseases, and reproductive abnormalities. This study examines the bacterial bioremediation of the BPA, which is found in many sources and is known for its hazardous effects on the environment. The metabolic pathways for the breakdown of BPA in important bacterial strains were hypothesized based on the observed altered intermediate metabolites during the degradation of BPA. This review discusses the enzymes and genes involved in the bacterial degradation of BPA. The utilization of naturally occurring microorganisms is the most efficient and cost-effective method due to their selectivity of strains, ensuring sustainability.

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Innovative Sorbents in Restoring Enzymatic Activity of Soil Contaminated with Bisphenol A (BPA)

As part of the multifaceted strategies developed to shape the common environmental policy, considerable attention is now being paid to assessing the degree of environmental degradation in soil under xenobiotic pressure. Bisphenol A (BPA) has only been marginally investigated in this ecosystem context. Therefore, research was carried out to determine the biochemical properties of soils contaminated with BPA at two levels of contamination: 500 mg and 1000 mg BPA kg-1 d.m. of soil. Reliable biochemical indicators of soil changes, whose activity was determined in the pot experiment conducted, were used: dehydrogenases, catalase, urease, acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, arylsulfatase, and β-glucosidase. Using the definition of soil health as the ability to promote plant growth, the influence of BPA on the growth and development of Zea mays, a plant used for energy production, was also tested. As well as the biomass of aerial parts and roots, the leaf greenness index (SPAD) of Zea mays was also assessed. A key aspect of the research was to identify those of the six remediating substances-molecular sieve, zeolite, sepiolite, starch, grass compost, and fermented bark-whose use could become common practice in both environmental protection and agriculture. Exposure to BPA revealed the highest sensitivity of dehydrogenases, urease, and acid phosphatase and the lowest sensitivity of alkaline phosphatase and catalase to this phenolic compound. The enzyme response generated a reduction in the biochemical fertility index (BA21) of 64% (500 mg BPA) and 70% (1000 mg BPA kg-1 d.m. of soil). The toxicity of BPA led to a drastic reduction in root biomass and consequently in the aerial parts of Zea mays. Compost and molecular sieve proved to be the most effective in mitigating the negative effect of the xenobiotic on the parameters discussed. The results obtained are the first research step in the search for further substances with bioremediation potential against both soil and plants under BPA pressure.

Bisphenols-A Threat to the Natural Environment

Negative public sentiment built up around bisphenol A (BPA) follows growing awareness of the frequency of this chemical compound in the environment. The increase in air, water, and soil contamination by BPA has also generated the need to replace it with less toxic analogs, such as Bisphenol F (BPF) and Bisphenol S (BPS). However, due to the structural similarity of BPF and BPS to BPA, questions arise about the safety of their usage. The toxicity of BPA, BPF, and BPS towards humans and animals has been fairly well understood. The biodegradability potential of microorganisms towards each of these bisphenols is also widely recognized. However, the scale of their inhibitory pressure on soil microbiomes and soil enzyme activity has not been estimated. These parameters are extremely important in determining soil health, which in turn also influences plant growth and development. Therefore, in this manuscript, knowledge has been expanded and systematized regarding the differences in toxicity between BPA and its two analogs. In the context of the synthetic characterization of the effects of bisphenol permeation into the environment, the toxic impact of BPA, BPF, and BPS on the microbiological and biochemical parameters of soils was traced. The response of cultivated plants to their influence was also analyzed.

Evaluation and Assessment of Trivalent and Hexavalent Chromium on Avena sativa and Soil Enzymes

Chromium (Cr) can exist in several oxidation states, but the two most stable forms-Cr(III) and Cr(VI)-have completely different biochemical characteristics. The aim of the present study was to evaluate how soil contamination with Cr(III) and Cr(VI) in the presence of Na2EDTA affects Avena sativa L. biomass; assess the remediation capacity of Avena sativa L. based on its tolerance index, translocation factor, and chromium accumulation; and investigate how these chromium species affect the soil enzyme activity and physicochemical properties of soil. This study consisted of a pot experiment divided into two groups: non-amended and amended with Na2EDTA. The Cr(III)- and Cr(VI)-contaminated soil samples were prepared in doses of 0, 5, 10, 20, and 40 mg Cr kg-1 d.m. soil. The negative effect of chromium manifested as a decreased biomass of Avena sativa L. (aboveground parts and roots). Cr(VI) proved to be more toxic than Cr(III). The tolerance indices (TI) showed that Avena sativa L. tolerates Cr(III) contamination better than Cr(VI) contamination. The translocation values for Cr(III) were much lower than for Cr(VI). Avena sativa L. proved to be of little use for the phytoextraction of chromium from soil. Dehydrogenases were the enzymes which were the most sensitive to soil contamination with Cr(III) and Cr(VI). Conversely, the catalase level was observed to be the least sensitive. Na2EDTA exacerbated the negative effects of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) on the growth and development of Avena sativa L. and soil enzyme activity.

Toxicity of bisphenol A (BPA) and its derivatives in divers biological models with the assessment of molecular mechanisms of toxicity

The aim of the study was to determine totoxicity of bisphenol A (BPA) and its derivatives (bisphenol S (BPS), bisphenol F (BPF), and tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA)) due to its high accumulation in environment. The performed analysis revealed the toxicity of the BPA, BPF, and BPS against Kurthia gibsoni, Microbacterium sp., and Brevundimonas diminuta as the most sensitive, reaching microbial toxic concentrations in the range of 0.018-0.031 mg ∙ L^-1. Moreover, the genotoxicity assay shows the ability of all tested compounds to increase in the β-galactosidase level at the concentration range 7.81-500 µM (in Escherichia coli, PQ37). In turn, the matbolic activation of tested bishpenols has caused the enhacement of the genotoxicity and cytotoxicity effect. Interestingely, the highest phytotoxicity effect was pointed for BPA and TBBPA at the concentrations of 10 mg ∙ L^-1 and 50 mg ∙ L^-1, which cause the inhibition of root growth by 58% and 45%, respectively (especially for S. alba and S. saccharatum). Furthermore, the cytotoxicity analyses show the ability of BPA, BPS, and TBBPA to significantly decrease the metabolic activity of human keratynoctes in vitro after 24 h of treatment at the micromolar concentrations. Simialry, the impact of the certain bisphenols on proliferation-, apoptosis-, and inflammation-related mRNA expression was shown in tested cell line. Summarizing, the presented results have proved that BPA and its derrivatives are able to show high negative effect on certain living orgnisms such as bacteria, plants, and human cells, which is strict related to pro-apoptotic and genotoxic mechanism of action.

The Usability of Sorbents in Restoring Enzymatic Activity in Soils Polluted with Petroleum-Derived Products

Due to their ability to adsorb or absorb chemical pollutants, including organic compounds, sorbents are increasingly used in the reclamation of soils subjected to their pressure, which results from their high potential in eliminating xenobiotics. The precise optimization of the reclamation process is required, focused primarily on restoring the condition of the soil. This research are essential for seeking materials sufficiently potent to accelerate the remediation process and for expanding knowledge related to biochemical transformations that lead to the neutralization of these pollutants. The goal of this study was to determine and compare the sensitivity of soil enzymes to petroleum-derived products in soil sown with Zea mays, remediated using four sorbents. The study was conducted in a pot experiment, with loamy sand (LS) and sandy loam (SL) polluted with VERVA diesel oil (DO) and VERVA 98 petrol (P). Soil samples were collected from arable lands, and the effects of the tested pollutants were compared with those used as control uncontaminated soil samples in terms of Zea mays biomass and the activity of seven enzymes in the soil. The following sorbents were applied to mitigate DO and P effects on the test plants and enzymatic activity: molecular sieve (M), expanded clay (E), sepiolite (S), and Ikasorb (I). Both DO and P exerted a toxic effect on Zea mays, with DO more strongly disturbing its growth and development and the activities of soil enzymes than P. In sandy clay (SL), P was found to be a significant inhibitor of dehydrogenases (Deh), catalase (Cat), urease (Ure), alkaline phosphatase (Pal), and arylsulfatase (Aryl) activities, while DO stimulated the activity of all enzymes in this soil. The study results suggest that the sorbents tested, mainlya molecular sieve, may be useful in remediating DO-polluted soils, especially when alleviating the effects of these pollutants in soils of lower agronomic value.

The potential roles of carotenoids in enhancing phytoremediation of bisphenol A contaminated soil by promoting plant physiology and modulating rhizobacterial community of tobacco

The widespread occurrence of bisphenol A (BPA), a typical endocrine-disrupting compound, poses potential threat to ecosystem and public health. Carotenoids are essential natural pigments, playing important roles in photosynthesis and antioxidant defense of plants. This study aimed to verify the value of carotenoids in enhancing plant tolerance to BPA stress and improving phytoremediation efficiency of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.), through exogenous application of β-carotene (a typical carotenoid) and endogenous upregulation of carotenoids by overexpression of β-carotene hydroxylase (chyb) gene in tobacco. The results demonstrated that exogenous applied β-carotene alleviated the toxic effects of BPA exposure (100 mg kg^-1) on wild-type (WT) tobacco plants after being cultivated for 40 d, reflecting by the increase of biomass (201.2%), chlorophyll content (27.5%) and the decrease of malondialdehyde (MDA) content (70.7%). Similar with the results of exogenous application of β-carotene, chyb gene overexpressing tobacco showed less phytotoxicity exposed to BPA, through enhancing photosynthetic efficiency (42.1%) and reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) production (18%). Notably, about 94.8% BPA in contaminated soil was removed under the cultivation of transgenic tobacco for 40 d, however, only 82.7% was removed in that of WT tobacco. Moreover, transgenic tobacco is beneficial for the growth of plant roots, thus upregulating the abundance of bacteria contributing to BPA degradation or soil nutrient cycling (e.g., Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Sphingomonas and MND1), which might further help to enhance plant growth and improve BPA removal efficiency in soil. This study extended our understanding of the possible mechanisms of carotenoids-involved alleviation of BPA stress in tobacco, providing a novel strategy to improve phytoremediation efficiency of plants in BPA contaminated soil.

The Impact of Permethrin and Cypermethrin on Plants, Soil Enzyme Activity, and Microbial Communities

Pyrethroids are insecticides most commonly used for insect control to boost agricultural production. The aim of the present research was to determine the effect of permethrin and cypermethrin on cultured and non-cultivated bacteria and fungi and on the activity of soil enzymes, as well as to determine the usefulness of Zea mays in mitigating the adverse effects of the tested pyrethroids on the soil microbiome. The analyses were carried out in the samples of both soil not sown with any plant and soil sown with Zea mays. Permethrin and cypermethrin were found to stimulate the multiplication of cultured organotrophic bacteria (on average by 38.3%) and actinomycetes (on average by 80.2%), and to inhibit fungi growth (on average by 31.7%) and the enzymatic activity of the soil, reducing the soil biochemical fertility index (BA) by 27.7%. They also modified the number of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) of the Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria phyla and the Ascomycota and Basidiomycota phyla. The pressure of permethrin and cypermethrin was tolerated well by the bacteria Sphingomonas (clone 3214512, 1052559, 237613, 1048605) and Bacillus (clone New.ReferenceOTU111, 593219, 578257), and by the fungi Penicillium (SH1533734.08FU, SH1692798.08FU) and Trichocladium (SH1615601.08FU). Both insecticides disturbed the growth and yielding of Zea mays, as a result of which its yield and leaf greenness index decreased. The cultivation of Zea mays had a positive effect on both soil enzymes and soil microorganisms and mitigated the anomalies caused by the tested insecticides in the microbiome and activity of soil enzymes. Permethrin decreased the yield of its aerial parts by 37.9% and its roots by 33.9%, whereas respective decreases caused by cypermethrin reached 16.8% and 4.3%.

Mechanisms of BPA Degradation and Toxicity Resistance in Rhodococcus equi

Bisphenol A (BPA) pollution poses an increasingly serious problem. BPA has been detected in a variety of environmental media and human tissues. Microbial degradation is an effective method of environmental BPA remediation. However, BPA is also biotoxic to microorganisms. In this study, Rhodococcus equi DSSKP-R-001 (R-001) was used to degrade BPA, and the effects of BPA on the growth metabolism, gene expression patterns, and toxicity-resistance mechanisms of Rhodococcus equi were analyzed. The results showed that R-001 degraded 51.2% of 5 mg/L BPA and that 40 mg/L BPA was the maximum BPA concentration tolerated by strain R-001. Cytochrome P450 monooxygenase and multicopper oxidases played key roles in BPA degradation. However, BPA was toxic to strain R-001, exhibiting nonlinear inhibitory effects on the growth and metabolism of this bacterium. R-001 bacterial biomass, total protein content, and ATP content exhibited V-shaped trends as BPA concentration increased. The toxic effects of BPA included the downregulation of R-001 genes related to glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, pentose phosphate metabolism, and glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism. Genes involved in aspects of the BPA-resistance response, such as base excision repair, osmoprotectant transport, iron-complex transport, and some energy metabolisms, were upregulated to mitigate the loss of energy associated with BPA exposure. This study helped to clarify the bacterial mechanisms involved in BPA biodegradation and toxicity resistance, and our results provide a theoretical basis for the application of strain R-001 in BPA pollution treatments.

Phytoremediation potential, antioxidant response, photosynthetic behavior and rhizosphere bacterial community adaptation of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) in a bisphenol A-contaminated soil

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an emerging organic pollutant, widely distributed and frequently detected in soil in recent years. BPA toxicity is a problem that needs to be solved in terms of both human health and agricultural production. Up to now, the toxic effect of BPA and its mechanism of action on plants, as well as the possibility of using plants to remediate BPA-contaminated soil, remain to be explored. In this study, six treatment groups were set up to evaluate the effects of different concentrations of BPA on the germination and growth of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) by medium experiments. Furthermore, the representative indexes of photosynthetic and antioxidant system were determined. Meanwhile, tobacco seedlings were cultivated in soil to further explore the effects of BPA on rhizosphere soil enzyme activity and bacterial community structure with or without 100 mg/kg BPA exposure. The enhancement of BPA removal efficiency from soil by phytoremediation using tobacco plants would also be estimated. Our results showed that high doses of BPA in solid medium remarkably inhibited tobacco seedling growth, and its toxicology effect was positively correlated with BPA concentration, while lower BPA exposure (< 20 mg/L) had little limitation on tobacco growth and induced hormesis effect, which was reflected mainly in the increase of root length. In pot experiments, the reducing of chlorophyll content (36.4%) and net photosynthetic rate (41.2%) meant the inhibition of tobacco photosynthetic process due to high concentration of BPA exposure (100 mg/kg) in soil. The increase of H2O2 and O2- content suggested that BPA could destroy the balance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in plants. However, tobacco plants still presented a high removal efficiency of BPA at the concentration of 100 mg/kg in soil, which could reach to 80% within 30 days. Furthermore, it was indicated that tobacco cultivation changed the structure of rhizosphere soil bacterial communities and the relative abundance of some valuable strains, including Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria and other strains, which might be participated in the BPA removal process. In addition, the tobacco-soil microbial system had the potential to reverse the negative effects caused by BPA through stimulating microorganism associated with soil nutrient cycling. In summary, tobacco is a competitive plant in phytoremediation of BPA-contaminated soil, though the growth of tobacco could be inhibited at high concentration of BPA. Moreover, tobacco might promote the removal efficiency of BPA by regulating the rhizosphere bacteria communities.

Effects of bisphenol A on antioxidation and nitrogen assimilation of maize seedlings roots

Bisphenol A (BPA) is becoming a potential environmental toxicity factor. However, BPA's effect and function mechanism on maize roots remain unknown. Here, we investigated characters of root growth of maize seedlings exposed to BPA for 8 d and without BPA for 3 d, and a series of indicators on reactive oxygen homeostasis and nitrogen assimilation were measured. High-dose BPA(15 and 50 mg·L^-1) suppressed the root growth and caused increased contents of O₂^ˑ-, H₂O₂ and MDA in maize seedling roots. The disturbed ROS homeostasis resulted from the change of antioxidant enzymes, including the increase of APX, GPX, and CAT, and decrease of SOD and POD, and a decrease of antioxidant substance GSH. Meanwhile, High-dose BPA caused a decrease in the soluble protein content, nitrate reductase (NR), glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), and glutamine oxoglutarate aminotransferase (GOGAT) under the BPA processing phase and recovery period. The low-dose BPA（1.5 and 5 mg·L^-1）significantly promoted root growth of maize seedlings and maintained the ROS homeostasis through antioxidant enzyme APX and GPX eliminating redundant ROS. Our results showed that BPA could cause a dual effect on the root growth of maize seedlings, that is, promotion of low-dose and inhibition of high-dose, through ROS homeostasis and nitrogen assimilation in Zea mays.

Mitigation of the Adverse Impact of Copper, Nickel, and Zinc on Soil Microorganisms and Enzymes by Mineral Sorbents

Despite numerous studies on the influence of heavy metals on soil health, the search for effective, eco-friendly, and economically viable remediation substances is far from over. This encouraged us to carry out a study under strictly controlled conditions to test the effects of Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, and Zn²⁺ added to soil in amounts of 150 mg·kg⁻¹ d.m. of soil on the soil microbiome, on the activity of two oxidoreductases and five hydrolases, and on the growth and development of the sunflower Helianthus annunus L. The remediation substances were a molecular sieve, halloysite, sepiolite, expanded clay, zeolite, and biochar. It has been demonstrated that the most severe turbulences in the soil microbiome, its activity, and the growth of Helianthus annunus L. were caused by Ni²⁺, followed by Cu²⁺, and the mildest negative effect was produced by Zn²⁺. The adverse impact of heavy metals on the soil microbiome and its activity was alleviated by the applied sorbents. Their application also contributed to the increased biomass of plants, which is significant for the successful phytoextraction of these metals from soil. Irrespective of which property was analysed, sepiolite can be recommended for the remediation of soil polluted with Ni²⁺ and zeolite—for soil polluted with Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺. Both sorbents mitigated to the highest degree disturbances caused by the tested metals in the soil environment.

The Role of Grass Compost and Zea Mays in Alleviating Toxic Effects of Tetracycline on the Soil Bacteria Community

Given their common use for disease treatment in humans, and particularly in animals, antibiotics pose an exceptionally serious threat to the soil environment. This study aimed to determine the response of soil bacteria and oxidoreductases to a tetracycline (Tc) contamination, and to establish the usability of grass compost (G) and Zea mays (Zm) in mitigating adverse Tc effects on selected microbial properties of the soil. The scope of microbiological analyses included determinations of bacteria with the conventional culture method and new-generation sequencing method (NGS). Activities of soil dehydrogenases and catalase were determined as well. Tc was found to reduce counts of organotrophic bacteria and actinobacteria in the soils as well as the activity of soil oxidoreductases. Soil fertilization with grass compost (G) and Zea mays (Zm) cultivation was found to alleviate the adverse effects of tetracycline on the mentioned group of bacteria and activity of oxidoreductases. The metagenomic analysis demonstrated that the bacteria belonging to Acidiobacteria and Proteobacteria phyla were found to prevail in the soil samples. The study results recommend soil fertilization with G and Zm cultivation as successful measures in the bioremediation of tetracycline-contaminated soils and indicate the usability of the so-called core bacteria in the bioaugmentation of such soils.

Effect of Separate and Combined Toxicity of Bisphenol A and Zinc on the Soil Microbiome

The research objective was established by taking into account common sources of soil contamination with bisphenol A (B) and zinc (Zn2+), as well as the scarcity of data on the effect of metabolic pathways involved in the degradation of organic compounds on the complexation of zinc in soil. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the spectrum of soil homeostasis disorders arising under the pressure of both the separate and combined toxicity of bisphenol A and Zn2+. With a broad pool of indicators, such as indices of the effect of xenobiotics (IFX), humic acid (IFH), plants (IFP), colony development (CD), ecophysiological diversity (EP), the Shannon-Weaver and the Simpson indices, as well as the index of soil biological fertility (BA21), the extent of disturbances was verified on the basis of enzymatic activity, microbiological activity, and structural diversity of the soil microbiome. A holistic character of the study was achieved, having determined the indicators of tolerance (IT) of Sorghum Moench (S) and Panicum virgatum (P), the ratio of the mass of their aerial parts to roots (PR), and the SPAD leaf greenness index. Bisphenol A not only failed to perform a complexing role towards Zn2+, but in combination with this heavy metal, had a particularly negative effect on the soil microbiome and enzymatic activity. The NGS analysis distinguished certain unique genera of bacteria in all objects, representing the phyla Actinobacteriota and Proteobacteria, as well as fungi classified as members of the phyla Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. Sorghum Moench (S) proved to be more sensitive to the xenobiotics than Panicum virgatum (P).

Calorific Value of Festuca rubra Biomass in the Phytostabilization of Soil Contaminated with Nickel, Cobalt and Cadmium Which Disrupt the Microbiological and Biochemical Properties of Soil

The choice of optimal plant species for phytoremediation and organic fertilization plays an important role in stabilizing the functions of soils contaminated with heavy metals. The influence of nickel, cobalt and cadmium on the biomass yield and calorific value of Festuca rubra, heavy metal concentrations in soil and plants and the microbiological, biochemical and physicochemical proprieties of soil were analyzed in a pot experiment. The tolerance index (TI) describing Festuca rubra’s ability to tolerate heavy metals, as well as the translocation (TF), accumulation (AF) and bioaccumulation (BF) factors of heavy metals in Festuca rubra were calculated. The experiment was conducted in two series: In soil fertilized and not fertilized with compost. Nickel and cobalt significantly inhibited the growth and development of Festuca rubra. The experiment demonstrated that this plant species can be grown on soil contaminated with heavy metals. Festuca rubra contained on average 46.05% C, 34.59% O, 5.91% H, 3.49% N, 0.19% S and 9.76% ash. Festuca rubra has a stable calorific value which is not affected by heavy metals; therefore, biomass harvested from heavy metal-polluted soil can be used for energy generation. The calorific value of Festuca rubra ranged from 15.924 to 16.790 MJ kg−1 plant d.m., and the heat of combustion from 17.696 to 18.576 MJ kg−1. It has a stable calorific value which is not affected by heavy metals, therefore biomass harvested from heavy metal-polluted soil can be used for energy generation. Festuca rubra is particularly useful for the phytostabilization of soil contaminated with cadmium and cobalt. Compost minimizes the adverse effects of heavy metal pollution on the microbiological, biochemical and physicochemical properties of soil.

Hair Sample Analysis as a Method of Monitoring Exposure to Bisphenol A in Dogs

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an organic substance widely used in the plastics industry. It penetrates food and environment and, as an endocrine disruptor, has detrimental effects on human organisms. Pet animals, which live in the immediate vicinity of humans, are also exposed to BPA; however, knowledge regarding the exposure of dogs to this substance is extremely scarce. This is the first study in which hair analysis has been used to biomonitor BPA in 30 dogs using liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry techniques. The presence of BPA in concentration levels above the method detection limit (1.25 ng/g) was noted in 93.33% of samples. BPA concentration levels were found to range from 7.05 ng/g to 436 ng/g (mean 81.30 ng/g). Statistically significant differences in BPA concentration levels were found between animals with physiological weight and animals with abnormal weight (skinny and obese). In turn, differences between males and females, as well as between young, middle-aged and old dogs, were not statistically significant. The obtained results have clearly shown that hair analysis is a useful method to evaluate the exposure of dogs to BPA. This study also confirmed that dogs are exposed to BPA to a large extent, and this substance may play a role as a pathological factor in this animal species. However, many aspects connected to the influence of BPA on canine health status are unclear and need further study.