Ecotoxicology最新文献

Potential adverse impacts of residual agricultural chemicals and their by-products in soil are generally overlooked in oviparous reptiles. Herein, eggs of an invasive turtle, Trachemys scripta elegans, were incubated on moist substrate with different levels of a glyphosate formulation (glyphosate-isopropylammonium, Gly-IPA) or glyphosate by-product (aminomethylphosphonic acid, AMPA), and then embryonic development, hatchling functional performance and liver metabolomic profile were investigated to evaluate herbicide residue effects in turtle species. No significant alterations in egg survival and incubation length, as well as hatchling size and locomotor performance were observed after egg exposure. Metabolomic analysis revealed only slight alterations in some liver metabolites, probably reflecting mild metabolic disorders caused by embryonic exposure to Gly-IPA or AMPA in T. scripta elegans. Overall, effect of embryonic exposure to Gly-IPA or AMPA on functional and metabolic performances of turtle hatchings might be relatively weak.

Increased usage of diuron in agriculture has non-target harmful impacts on aquatic life. Diuron toxicity causes endocrine disruption in the liver and kidney of Clarias gariepinus. Fish were exposed to sub-lethal diuron concentrations (0.00, 0.09, 0.17, 0.26, and 0.35 mg/L) for 28 days, and biochemical molecules (total protein, glucose, and cholesterol), biochemical enzymes (aspartate aminotransferase: AST and alanine aminotransferase: ALT), and histopathological sections of the kidney and liver were examined. The results demonstrated that increased diuron concentrations and exposure durations raised levels of total protein, glucose, cholesterol, AST, and ALT, indicating a dose-dependent toxicological impact on metabolic processes. Redundancy analysis demonstrated that cholesterol plays an important role in regulating the enzymatic response to diuron toxicity, although, to a lesser extent, glucose and protein also contributed to physiological adaptations and stress responses in C. gariepinus. Histological examination revealed severe alterations in the liver and kidneys, indicating cellular destruction and loss of structural integrity. This study highlights the importance of constant monitoring of aquatic ecosystems for diuron contamination and the potential ecological risks it poses to fish health.

The intensive use of pesticides in the province of Larache results in soil contamination, which negatively impacts microbial communities and non-target organisms, including key soil species such as earthworms. The present study is the first in the region to combine measurements of environmental concentrations of pesticides with an ecological risk assessment for the Loukkos agroecosystem. Two approaches were used to assess and characterize the potential ecotoxicological risks of the 11 pesticide residues detected: the Risk Quotient (RQ) and the Toxicity-exposure ratio (TER). Fenamiphos and chlorpyrifos ethyl were the most frequently detected pesticides, with concentrations ranging from 0.072-0.229 and 0.010-0.023 mg/kg, respectively. These concentrations are particularly high, especially for fenamiphos. The RQ and TER values revealed high ecological risk and an intolerable level of risk for some pesticides, particularly cypermethrin and fenamiphos, with RQ values reaching up to 26.200 and 46.780, respectively, in certain locations. These two compounds pose potential risks to earthworms. The other molecules exhibited low to moderate risk levels. Overall, the pesticides detected in soil samples showed varying levels of risk to earthworms, mainly attributed to organophosphate compounds.

The evolutionary context of environmental toxicology and chemistry in the Anthropocene is expanded towards a global perspective through three complementary approaches: (i) environmental toxicity as a mechanism to explain selectivity in mass extinctions with the K-Pg event as a case study; (ii) evidence that certain features of embryonic development could be considered biomarkers of adaptation to specific environmental agents of the evolutionary process, e.g. the transition from the anaerobic to the aerobic metabolism in early embryonic stages versus from the anoxic toward the oxic Earth, and (iii) the capacity to build favorable conditions for life by the collaboration of a population of free-living embryos reducing environmental toxicity and its evolutionary implications from an onto-phylogenetic perspective. Focusing on the future, the article highlights the relevance of environmental toxicology and chemistry for sustainability, to understand the characteristics of eventual extraterrestrial life better, and for space colonization initiatives. The acronym EVOTOX is proposed for environmental toxicology and chemistry studies focusing on evolution, past, present, and future.

Lithium (Li) has emerged as a significant environmental pollutant due to its increasing use in electric vehicle batteries, renewable energy storage, and electronics. This study aimed to assess the potential toxic effects of Li exposure (5, 10, and 25 mg/L of Li) over 48 h on lipid peroxidation, fatty acid composition (FA), oxidative status and histopathological alterations in the liver tissue of Oreochromis niloticus (Nile tilapia). Li exposure triggered oxidative stress in the liver of Nile tilapia fish, as demonstrated by increased levels of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), lipid hydroperoxides (LOOH), and malondialdehyde (MDA). This was accompanied by significant biochemical alterations, including elevated activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST), alongside a reduction in reduced glutathione (GSH) levels. Furthermore, exposure to Li led to increased glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity and protein carbonyl (PCO) content, reflecting intensified oxidative damage and protein oxidation. A significant reduction in saturated fatty acids (SFA) was observed, coupled with an increase in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in all Li-treated fish. Notably, there was a substantial rise in n-3 PUFA levels, particularly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6n-3), which correlated with increased activity of Δ4 and Δ5 desaturases. Additionally, levels of n-6 PUFAs, especially arachidonic acid (ARA, C20:4n-6) and its precursor linoleic acid (LA, C18:2n-6), were significantly elevated. Histopathological examination revealed significant tissue damage and abnormalities in the liver, further confirming the biochemical changes observed. These findings suggest that O. niloticus can adapt to Li-induced stress by modulating its lipid metabolism to maintain membrane integrity. This study provides new insights into the mechanisms of Li toxicity and highlights the fatty acid profile as a sensitive and valuable biomarker for environmental risk assessment in aquatic ecosystems.

This study aimed to analyze pesticide residues in the sediments and soils of Fogera District, Ethiopia, to evaluate the risks posed to organisms that dwell in these environments. A total of 7 sediments from rivers, canals and ponds, and 13 soil samples from irrigated farmlands were collected from April to June 2023 using a cross-sectional study design. The samples were collected from 0-8 cm depth in both sediments and soils using scoops and spoons. Analytes were prepared following the buffered procedures, extracted following the Quick, Effective, Cheap, Rugged, and Safe (QuEChERS) method and extracts were analyzed using the triple quad gas chromatography-mass spectrometry technique. Twenty-seven pesticides were identified and quantified both in the sediment and soil samples. More than 85% of the pesticide residues in the sediment and soil samples were organochlorines and organophosphates. The concentrations of the organochlorine and organophosphate pesticides in sediments ranged from ND to 9.94 µg/kg and ND to 12.12 µg/kg, respectively. Similarly, the concentration of the organochlorine and organophosphate pesticides in the soil samples ranged from ND to 13.69 µg/kg and ND to 10.70 µg/kg, respectively. Though the mean concentration difference between the pesticide residues in the sediment and soil samples was insignificant (t (18) = -0.871, p = 0.395), the risks of pesticide residues in sediments to aquatic biota were much higher than those in the soil biota. Of the 27 pesticides detected in sediments, 24 of them pose a higher risk and 1 moderate risk to aquatic biota. The risk quotients of Endrin aldehyde and Endrin ketone in sediments were not calculated due to the lack of endpoint concentrations. In a general case scenario, the risk quotients of the pesticides ranged from 0.80 (Para-methyl) to 21086.43 (Deltamethrin) in sediments and from 0.001 (Malathion) to 17.689 (Profenofos) in soils. The pesticide residues in sediments and soils might pose adverse effects on the biota of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Therefore, a transparent pesticide supply chain and deploying qualified experts to monitor and inspect the types of pesticides in use and the pesticide application practices, detail studies on the level of toxicities of the commonly applied pesticides to the biota of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, and enforcing the pesticide laws are required to reduce the adverse effects of pesticides.