Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2025-11-11DOI: 10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100596
Soha Salah , Päivi Myllynen , Petra Přibylová , Petr Kukučka , Liisa Laatio , Elina Sieppi , Maria Kummu , Saranya Palaniswamy , Khaled Abass
Background
Human exposure to flame retardants, particularly PBDEs, is detectable in maternal plasma and linked to various adverse health outcomes, but the influence of parental lifestyle and diet on these levels remains poorly understood.
Objective
To monitor PBDEs in maternal and cord plasma samples and examine their relationships with parental health determinants - specifically dietary intake, environmental exposure, and lifestyle factors-in a Northern Finland population for the first time.
Methods
Maternal and cord plasma samples from 102 NUGEN cohort pairs were collected during caesarean sections at Oulu University Hospital. Plasma samples were analysed for PBDE congeners (BDE-47, BDE-66, BDE-85, BDE-99, BDE-100, BDE-153, BDE-154, BDE-183, BDE-209), DBDPE, and chlorinated flame retardants (sDP, aDP), with lipid adjustment. Total cord BFRs were calculated as the sum of all congeners quantified in cord plasma, and total maternal BFRs were calculated analogously using maternal plasma.
Results
PBDE congeners with the highest detection frequencies were maternal BDE-28 (42 %), BDE-47 (42 %), BDE-153 (100 %); and cord BDE-28 (50 %), BDE-47 (52 %), BDE-153 (95 %), BDE-154 (33 %). Maternal smoking was inversely associated with cord BDE-28 (−0.80 [−1.50, −0.09]). Higher paternal education was negatively associated with cord BDE-28 (−0.93 [−1.58, −0.27]), BDE-153 (−0.21 [−0.43, −0.005]), and BDE-154 (−4.34 [−8.00, −0.68]). High vegetable intake was inversely associated with cord BDE-154 (−3.99 [−7.76, −0.22]), while high meat intake was positively associated with total cord BFRs (0.42 [0.06, 0.78]), cord BDE-47 (0.67 [0.13, 1.21]), and maternal BDE-47 (0.77 [0.16, 1.37]).
Conclusion
PBDE levels were higher in cord than maternal samples but lower than in other European countries. Findings support maternal-to-child PBDE transfer and reveal associations with lifestyle, diet, and sociodemographic factors, including paternal variables-a notable gap in prior research.
{"title":"Monitoring and assessing the association of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and flame retardants (Dechlorane Plus and DBDPE) with parental lifestyle factors in a mother–child cohort of the Finnish population (NUGEN)","authors":"Soha Salah , Päivi Myllynen , Petra Přibylová , Petr Kukučka , Liisa Laatio , Elina Sieppi , Maria Kummu , Saranya Palaniswamy , Khaled Abass","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100596","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100596","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Human exposure to flame retardants, particularly PBDEs, is detectable in maternal plasma and linked to various adverse health outcomes, but the influence of parental lifestyle and diet on these levels remains poorly understood.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To monitor PBDEs in maternal and cord plasma samples and examine their relationships with parental health determinants - specifically dietary intake, environmental exposure, and lifestyle factors-in a Northern Finland population for the first time.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Maternal and cord plasma samples from 102 NUGEN cohort pairs were collected during caesarean sections at Oulu University Hospital. Plasma samples were analysed for PBDE congeners (BDE-47, BDE-66, BDE-85, BDE-99, BDE-100, BDE-153, BDE-154, BDE-183, BDE-209), DBDPE, and chlorinated flame retardants (sDP, aDP), with lipid adjustment. Total cord BFRs were calculated as the sum of all congeners quantified in cord plasma, and total maternal BFRs were calculated analogously using maternal plasma.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>PBDE congeners with the highest detection frequencies were maternal BDE-28 (42 %), BDE-47 (42 %), BDE-153 (100 %); and cord BDE-28 (50 %), BDE-47 (52 %), BDE-153 (95 %), BDE-154 (33 %). Maternal smoking was inversely associated with cord BDE-28 (−0.80 [−1.50, −0.09]). Higher paternal education was negatively associated with cord BDE-28 (−0.93 [−1.58, −0.27]), BDE-153 (−0.21 [−0.43, −0.005]), and BDE-154 (−4.34 [−8.00, −0.68]). High vegetable intake was inversely associated with cord BDE-154 (−3.99 [−7.76, −0.22]), while high meat intake was positively associated with total cord BFRs (0.42 [0.06, 0.78]), cord BDE-47 (0.67 [0.13, 1.21]), and maternal BDE-47 (0.77 [0.16, 1.37]).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>PBDE levels were higher in cord than maternal samples but lower than in other European countries. Findings support maternal-to-child PBDE transfer and reveal associations with lifestyle, diet, and sociodemographic factors, including paternal variables-a notable gap in prior research.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"12 1","pages":"Article 100596"},"PeriodicalIF":6.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145518824","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100623
Jeffrey Saúl Cedeño-Muñoz , Bryan Jesus Zumarraga-Valencia , Jaime E. Cevallos-Mendoza , Bryan Fernando Rivadeneira-Mendoza , Iris B. Pérez-Almeida , Krishna Kumar Yadav , María Dolores Saquete , Nuria Boluda-Botella , Joan Manuel Rodríguez-Díaz
A hybrid photocatalyst, Mg–Fe-LDH@HC (layered double hydroxide supported on corn-stalk hydrochar), was synthesized via coprecipitation and evaluated for the removal and photodegradation of tetracyclines in water. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the formation of a hydrotalcite-like phase with partial amorphous carbon contribution, while SEM–EDS mapping evidenced a uniform dispersion of Mg–Fe-LDH over the hydrochar surface. The hybrid exhibited an apparent optical bandgap of 1.81 eV, favoring visible-light absorption. Under ultraviolet irradiation and optimized operational conditions (H2O2 = 5.4 μM, pH = 6.0, 25 °C), Mg–Fe-LDH@HC achieved 99.09 % total tetracycline degradation after 120 min. Kinetic fitting followed a pseudo-second-order model (R2 > 0.94), indicating a chemisorption-dominated mechanism coupled with reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Radical scavenging and EDTA inhibition tests demonstrated that photogenerated electrons and •OH radicals were the main oxidative agents, with additional contributions from a heterogeneous Fenton pathway with no evidence of a homogeneous Fenton mechanism. The catalyst retained 91.3 % of its initial efficiency after five reuse cycles, with partial recovery after mild regeneration. Acute toxicity assays using Artemia salina, Daphnia magna, and Raphidocelis subcapitata revealed a 65–80 % reduction in post-treatment toxicity compared to the untreated effluent. These results demonstrate that Mg–Fe-LDH@HC is an efficient, recyclable, and eco-compatible photocatalyst for the degradation of antibiotic contaminants in water systems.
{"title":"Hydrochar supported Mg–Fe layered double hydroxide hybrid for efficient and reusable removal of tetracyclines from water","authors":"Jeffrey Saúl Cedeño-Muñoz , Bryan Jesus Zumarraga-Valencia , Jaime E. Cevallos-Mendoza , Bryan Fernando Rivadeneira-Mendoza , Iris B. Pérez-Almeida , Krishna Kumar Yadav , María Dolores Saquete , Nuria Boluda-Botella , Joan Manuel Rodríguez-Díaz","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100623","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100623","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A hybrid photocatalyst, Mg–Fe-LDH@HC (layered double hydroxide supported on corn-stalk hydrochar), was synthesized via coprecipitation and evaluated for the removal and photodegradation of tetracyclines in water. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the formation of a hydrotalcite-like phase with partial amorphous carbon contribution, while SEM–EDS mapping evidenced a uniform dispersion of Mg–Fe-LDH over the hydrochar surface. The hybrid exhibited an apparent optical bandgap of 1.81 eV, favoring visible-light absorption. Under ultraviolet irradiation and optimized operational conditions (H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> = 5.4 μM, pH = 6.0, 25 °C), Mg–Fe-LDH@HC achieved 99.09 % total tetracycline degradation after 120 min. Kinetic fitting followed a pseudo-second-order model (R<sup>2</sup> > 0.94), indicating a chemisorption-dominated mechanism coupled with reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Radical scavenging and EDTA inhibition tests demonstrated that photogenerated electrons and •OH radicals were the main oxidative agents, with additional contributions from a heterogeneous Fenton pathway with no evidence of a homogeneous Fenton mechanism. The catalyst retained 91.3 % of its initial efficiency after five reuse cycles, with partial recovery after mild regeneration. Acute toxicity assays using <em>Artemia salina</em>, <em>Daphnia magna</em>, and <em>Raphidocelis subcapitata</em> revealed a 65–80 % reduction in post-treatment toxicity compared to the untreated effluent. These results demonstrate that Mg–Fe-LDH@HC is an efficient, recyclable, and eco-compatible photocatalyst for the degradation of antibiotic contaminants in water systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"12 1","pages":"Article 100623"},"PeriodicalIF":6.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145920688","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.emcon.2026.100624
Jiamei Zhang , Yuyang Zhu , Yu Wang , Xing Chen , Guolian Li , Gege Cai , Fazhi Xie , Youqiang Sun
Antibiotics have been a global concern because of their widespread occurrence and adverse effects on aquatic environments, particularly in large-scale river basins. However, their environmental fate in the Yangtze River Basin remains underexplored. In the present study, we investigated 31 antibiotics in surface water throughout the Yangtze River Basin, the largest river system in China and Asia. The total antibiotic concentrations ranged from 142.05 to 345.57 ng/L, with fluoroquinolones (FQs) predominating and accounting for 75.68 % of the total concentration. Higher antibiotic concentrations were observed in the midstream and downstream regions, particularly in the three major economic zones of the Yangtze River Basin, likely driven by rapid economic development and urbanization. Agricultural and livestock farming intensity, along with nitrogen and phosphorus levels, has significant positive effects on antibiotic concentrations. Antibiotic concentrations showed negative correlations with microbial diversity and community composition, suggesting potential links to shifts in microbial community structure. Analysis using the Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) model identified four major sources of antibiotic pollution: livestock waste (31.30 %), aquaculture runoff (24.89 %), hospital discharges (21.95 %), and sewage treatment effluents (21.86 %). We also employed four machine learning (ML) models to relate antibiotic concentrations to explanatory variables, enabling prediction of their distribution across the Yangtze River Basin. The Random Forest model demonstrated superior performance in predicting the concentrations of FQs and tetracyclines (TCs), with R2 values of 0.75 and 0.74, respectively. The results of this study provide new insights into the transport behavior and prediction of antibiotic concentrations in large river basins.
{"title":"Distribution, driving factors and prediction of antibiotics in Asia's largest River Basin: Comprehensive insights of Yangtze River Basin, China","authors":"Jiamei Zhang , Yuyang Zhu , Yu Wang , Xing Chen , Guolian Li , Gege Cai , Fazhi Xie , Youqiang Sun","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2026.100624","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2026.100624","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Antibiotics have been a global concern because of their widespread occurrence and adverse effects on aquatic environments, particularly in large-scale river basins. However, their environmental fate in the Yangtze River Basin remains underexplored. In the present study, we investigated 31 antibiotics in surface water throughout the Yangtze River Basin, the largest river system in China and Asia. The total antibiotic concentrations ranged from 142.05 to 345.57 ng/L, with fluoroquinolones (FQs) predominating and accounting for 75.68 % of the total concentration. Higher antibiotic concentrations were observed in the midstream and downstream regions, particularly in the three major economic zones of the Yangtze River Basin, likely driven by rapid economic development and urbanization. Agricultural and livestock farming intensity, along with nitrogen and phosphorus levels, has significant positive effects on antibiotic concentrations. Antibiotic concentrations showed negative correlations with microbial diversity and community composition, suggesting potential links to shifts in microbial community structure. Analysis using the Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) model identified four major sources of antibiotic pollution: livestock waste (31.30 %), aquaculture runoff (24.89 %), hospital discharges (21.95 %), and sewage treatment effluents (21.86 %). We also employed four machine learning (ML) models to relate antibiotic concentrations to explanatory variables, enabling prediction of their distribution across the Yangtze River Basin. The Random Forest model demonstrated superior performance in predicting the concentrations of FQs and tetracyclines (TCs), with R<sup>2</sup> values of 0.75 and 0.74, respectively. The results of this study provide new insights into the transport behavior and prediction of antibiotic concentrations in large river basins.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"12 1","pages":"Article 100624"},"PeriodicalIF":6.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145920704","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2025-11-06DOI: 10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100595
Francesco Molinari , Gianluca Antonio Franco , Francesca Inferrera , Nicla Tranchida , Ylenia Marino , Davide Di Paola
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), including perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), are highly persistent contaminants of global concern due to their accumulation in aquatic ecosystems and potential to disrupt fish health. Despite extensive environmental detection, mechanistic understanding of their cellular impacts in ecologically relevant models remains limited. Here, we investigated cytotoxic and oxidative stress responses to PFOS and PFOA in two rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) cell lines: RTg-2 (gonadal) and RTgill-W1 (gill epithelial), representing sensitive reproductive and respiratory tissues. A 24-h exposure to increasing concentrations (0–30 mg/L) significantly reduced cell viability, elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS), and disrupted antioxidant defenses. While superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione reductase (GR) were upregulated, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) were suppressed, coinciding with glutathione (GSH) depletion and lipid peroxidation. Apoptosis was triggered through both intrinsic and extrinsic pathways, as shown by activation of caspase-3, -8, and -9. Importantly, PFOS and PFOA also stimulated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling, with phosphorylation of ERK and p38, linking oxidative stress to downstream cell death signaling. By integrating oxidative, apoptotic, and signaling endpoints, this study provides novel mechanistic evidence of how PFOS and PFOA compromise vital fish cell types, highlighting their ecological hazard and reinforcing concerns over their persistence in aquatic environments.
{"title":"Cellular responses to PFOS and PFOA in rainbow trout cell lines: Implications for aquatic ecotoxicology","authors":"Francesco Molinari , Gianluca Antonio Franco , Francesca Inferrera , Nicla Tranchida , Ylenia Marino , Davide Di Paola","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100595","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100595","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), including perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), are highly persistent contaminants of global concern due to their accumulation in aquatic ecosystems and potential to disrupt fish health. Despite extensive environmental detection, mechanistic understanding of their cellular impacts in ecologically relevant models remains limited. Here, we investigated cytotoxic and oxidative stress responses to PFOS and PFOA in two rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) cell lines: RTg-2 (gonadal) and RTgill-W1 (gill epithelial), representing sensitive reproductive and respiratory tissues. A 24-h exposure to increasing concentrations (0–30 mg/L) significantly reduced cell viability, elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS), and disrupted antioxidant defenses. While superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione reductase (GR) were upregulated, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) were suppressed, coinciding with glutathione (GSH) depletion and lipid peroxidation. Apoptosis was triggered through both intrinsic and extrinsic pathways, as shown by activation of caspase-3, -8, and -9. Importantly, PFOS and PFOA also stimulated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling, with phosphorylation of ERK and p38, linking oxidative stress to downstream cell death signaling. By integrating oxidative, apoptotic, and signaling endpoints, this study provides novel mechanistic evidence of how PFOS and PFOA compromise vital fish cell types, highlighting their ecological hazard and reinforcing concerns over their persistence in aquatic environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"12 1","pages":"Article 100595"},"PeriodicalIF":6.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145570238","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2025-12-15DOI: 10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100612
Yutian Miao , Linlin Zhang , Jianwen Huang , Jinglong Li , Zikang He , Zhihong Li , Jun Qin , Tianji Lin , Yijian Yang , Sili Jiang , Li Bu , Jie Shi , Yan Wu , Di Cui , Bo Zhou , Yuling Chen , Zhoubin Zhang , Xiqing Li , Jianfa Gao
Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has been used for the monitoring of substance consumption for more than a decade. It enhanced the understanding of temporal and spatial variations of substance consumption in the population which is useful for the development of public health strategies. However, the limited number of samples analysed compromised the representativeness and statistical power of patterns observed in previous studies. This study analysed 23 antibiotics in wastewater samples collected weekly from 18 treatment plants across Guangzhou for a year. Results indicated that 10 antibiotics were quantified in more than half of the samples collected. Concentration ranged from several ng/L to several μg/L for different analytes. Some antibiotics had higher consumption in the urban population than in the suburban population except sulfapyridine, sulfamethazine and trimethoprim. Lincomycin, sulfadiazine had large intra-city variations with much higher mass loads in certain WWTPs. Sulfamethoxazole had higher consumption in cooler months, while clindamycin and clarithromycin had lower consumption during the same period. Bi-monthly sampling of the 8 largest WWTPs or one sample per season from the 12 largest WWTPs can achieve a relatively accurate estimation of annual consumption with a restricted budget. Suburban catchments have a limited impact on the overall annual consumption in the whole city, but should be considered for health equity. By integrating the routine WBE monitoring results and prescription/sales statistics, better management of antibiotic consumption can be achieved.
{"title":"High temporal-spatial resolution profiling of antibiotic consumption in Guangzhou revealed by wastewater-based epidemiology and evaluation of uncertainties for different sampling strategies","authors":"Yutian Miao , Linlin Zhang , Jianwen Huang , Jinglong Li , Zikang He , Zhihong Li , Jun Qin , Tianji Lin , Yijian Yang , Sili Jiang , Li Bu , Jie Shi , Yan Wu , Di Cui , Bo Zhou , Yuling Chen , Zhoubin Zhang , Xiqing Li , Jianfa Gao","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100612","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100612","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has been used for the monitoring of substance consumption for more than a decade. It enhanced the understanding of temporal and spatial variations of substance consumption in the population which is useful for the development of public health strategies. However, the limited number of samples analysed compromised the representativeness and statistical power of patterns observed in previous studies. This study analysed 23 antibiotics in wastewater samples collected weekly from 18 treatment plants across Guangzhou for a year. Results indicated that 10 antibiotics were quantified in more than half of the samples collected. Concentration ranged from several ng/L to several μg/L for different analytes. Some antibiotics had higher consumption in the urban population than in the suburban population except sulfapyridine, sulfamethazine and trimethoprim. Lincomycin, sulfadiazine had large intra-city variations with much higher mass loads in certain WWTPs. Sulfamethoxazole had higher consumption in cooler months, while clindamycin and clarithromycin had lower consumption during the same period. Bi-monthly sampling of the 8 largest WWTPs or one sample per season from the 12 largest WWTPs can achieve a relatively accurate estimation of annual consumption with a restricted budget. Suburban catchments have a limited impact on the overall annual consumption in the whole city, but should be considered for health equity. By integrating the routine WBE monitoring results and prescription/sales statistics, better management of antibiotic consumption can be achieved.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"12 1","pages":"Article 100612"},"PeriodicalIF":6.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145836834","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2025-12-23DOI: 10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100620
Zsolt Csenki , Illés Bock , Levente Horváth , Artur Stepniak , Béla Fiser , Adam Buczkowski , Gergő Tóth , Dávid Csabai , Dávid Hesszenberger , Anikó Lajtai , Sándor Kunsági-Máté , Melinda Kovács , István Szabó , Balázs Kriszt , Tibor Bartók , Miklós Poór
Acyl derivatives of the mycotoxin fumonisin B1 (FB1) occur in naturally infected grains and can be formed during certain food processing steps and/or as in vivo metabolites of the parent mycotoxin. The toxicity of N-acyl-FB1 metabolites is considerably higher compared to FB1; however, their toxic impacts and molecular interactions are barely characterized. To get a better insight into the structure-related and time-dependent toxic actions of acyl-FB1 derivatives, the effects of N-palmitoyl-, N-oleoyl-, N-linoleoyl-, 5-O-palmitoyl-, 5-O-oleoyl-, and 5-O-linoleoyl-FB1 were examined on zebrafish embryos. Furthermore, the interactions of these metabolites with human serum albumin (HSA) were investigated using fluorescence spectroscopy, isothermal titration calorimetry, and ultrafiltration. Our results underline the high in vivo toxicity of N-acyl-FB1 derivatives (LC50 = 4–18 μM; 120 h), followed by 5-O-acyl-FB1 (LC50 = 22–38 μM; 120 h) metabolites then FB1. Depending on the fatty acid component, the toxic potency and the time-dependent impacts showed large variations. N-palmitoyl-FB1 proved to be the most toxic derivative, causing high mortality at low micromolar levels even after 24 h exposure. Acyl-FB1 metabolites bind to HSA with high affinity (logK = 5.4–6.4), most of them occupy more binding sites on the protein. Interestingly, fatty acids, N-acyl-FB1 and 5-O-acyl-FB1 derivatives exerted different modulatory effects on the albumin binding of Site I and/or Site II markers examined. Our data demonstrate the similarities and differences regarding the toxic actions and the albumin binding properties of certain N-acyl- and 5-O-acyl-FB1 derivatives, and draw the attention to these barely examined mycotoxin metabolites.
真菌毒素伏马菌素B1 （FB1）的酰基衍生物存在于自然感染的谷物中，可在某些食品加工步骤中形成和/或作为母体真菌毒素的体内代谢物。n -酰基-FB1代谢物的毒性明显高于FB1；然而，它们的毒性影响和分子相互作用几乎没有表征。为了更好地了解酰基fb1衍生物的结构相关和时间依赖性毒性作用，研究了n -棕榈酰-、n -油基-、n -亚油基-、5- o -棕榈酰-、5- o -油基-和5- o -亚油基- fb1对斑马鱼胚胎的影响。此外，利用荧光光谱法、等温滴定量热法和超滤法研究了这些代谢物与人血清白蛋白的相互作用。我们的研究结果表明，n -酰基-FB1衍生物（LC50 = 4-18 μM; 120 h）的体内毒性较高，其次是5- o -酰基-FB1 （LC50 = 22-38 μM; 120 h）代谢物，然后是FB1。根据脂肪酸成分的不同，毒性效力和时间依赖性影响表现出很大的差异。n -棕榈酰fb1被证明是毒性最大的衍生物，即使在暴露24小时后，在低微摩尔浓度下也会导致高死亡率。酰基- fb1代谢物与HSA的结合具有高亲和力（logK = 5.4-6.4），大部分在蛋白上占据较多的结合位点。有趣的是，脂肪酸、n -酰基- fb1和5- o -酰基- fb1衍生物对Site I和/或Site II标记物的白蛋白结合具有不同的调节作用。我们的数据显示了某些n -酰基和5- o -酰基- fb1衍生物在毒性作用和白蛋白结合特性方面的异同，并引起了人们对这些几乎没有被检查过的霉菌毒素代谢物的关注。
{"title":"Toxic effects of palmitoyl-, oleoyl-, and linoleoyl-fumonisin B1 derivatives on zebrafish embryos and their interactions with serum albumin","authors":"Zsolt Csenki , Illés Bock , Levente Horváth , Artur Stepniak , Béla Fiser , Adam Buczkowski , Gergő Tóth , Dávid Csabai , Dávid Hesszenberger , Anikó Lajtai , Sándor Kunsági-Máté , Melinda Kovács , István Szabó , Balázs Kriszt , Tibor Bartók , Miklós Poór","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100620","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100620","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Acyl derivatives of the mycotoxin fumonisin B1 (FB1) occur in naturally infected grains and can be formed during certain food processing steps and/or as <em>in vivo</em> metabolites of the parent mycotoxin. The toxicity of <em>N</em>-acyl-FB1 metabolites is considerably higher compared to FB1; however, their toxic impacts and molecular interactions are barely characterized. To get a better insight into the structure-related and time-dependent toxic actions of acyl-FB1 derivatives, the effects of <em>N</em>-palmitoyl-, <em>N</em>-oleoyl-, <em>N</em>-linoleoyl-, 5-<em>O</em>-palmitoyl-, 5-<em>O</em>-oleoyl-, and 5-<em>O</em>-linoleoyl-FB1 were examined on zebrafish embryos. Furthermore, the interactions of these metabolites with human serum albumin (HSA) were investigated using fluorescence spectroscopy, isothermal titration calorimetry, and ultrafiltration. Our results underline the high <em>in vivo</em> toxicity of <em>N</em>-acyl-FB1 derivatives (LC<sub>50</sub> = 4–18 μM; 120 h), followed by 5-<em>O</em>-acyl-FB1 (LC<sub>50</sub> = 22–38 μM; 120 h) metabolites then FB1. Depending on the fatty acid component, the toxic potency and the time-dependent impacts showed large variations. <em>N</em>-palmitoyl-FB1 proved to be the most toxic derivative, causing high mortality at low micromolar levels even after 24 h exposure. Acyl-FB1 metabolites bind to HSA with high affinity (log<em>K</em> = 5.4–6.4), most of them occupy more binding sites on the protein. Interestingly, fatty acids, <em>N</em>-acyl-FB1 and 5-<em>O</em>-acyl-FB1 derivatives exerted different modulatory effects on the albumin binding of Site I and/or Site II markers examined. Our data demonstrate the similarities and differences regarding the toxic actions and the albumin binding properties of certain <em>N</em>-acyl- and 5-<em>O</em>-acyl-FB1 derivatives, and draw the attention to these barely examined mycotoxin metabolites.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"12 1","pages":"Article 100620"},"PeriodicalIF":6.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145879982","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2025-12-08DOI: 10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100611
Shuqin Tang , Ning Zhang , Hongli Tan , Da Chen
Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are widely used in cleaning and disinfectant products, and their extensive use since the COVID-19 pandemic has raised increasing concerns about the potential health effects. However, exposure to QACs in different indoor environments remains insufficiently characterized. In this study, 18 QACs were determined in house dust (n = 45) and automotive cabin air filter (ACAF) dust (n = 50) from South China. The median ∑QAC concentrations were 6968 and 7982 ng/g in house and ACAF dust, respectively. Alkyltrimethylammonium compounds (ATMACs) predominated, comprising 51.5% in house dust and 65.0% in ACAF dust, with median concentrations of 3298 and 5600 ng/g, respectively. Dwelling factors did not significantly affect QAC concentrations in house dust, whereas in ACAF dust, benzyldimethyldecylammonium chloride (C10-BAC) decreased with mileage, and C10-BAC and benzyldimethyloctylammonium chloride (C8-BAC) varied with vehicle manufacturers. Toddlers exhibited higher estimated daily intakes of QAC (median: 124 ng/kg bw/day) than adults (4.02 ng/kg bw/day) under high exposure scenarios. Although the estimated health risks of QACs in this study were relatively low, ACAF dust showed comparable ∑QAC concentrations with house dust and demonstrated its value as a passive sampling matrix for assessing long-term accumulation and human exposure in vehicle environments.
{"title":"Quaternary ammonium compounds in house and automotive cabin air filter dust from South China: Occurrence and exposure insights","authors":"Shuqin Tang , Ning Zhang , Hongli Tan , Da Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100611","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100611","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are widely used in cleaning and disinfectant products, and their extensive use since the COVID-19 pandemic has raised increasing concerns about the potential health effects. However, exposure to QACs in different indoor environments remains insufficiently characterized. In this study, 18 QACs were determined in house dust (n = 45) and automotive cabin air filter (ACAF) dust (n = 50) from South China. The median ∑QAC concentrations were 6968 and 7982 ng/g in house and ACAF dust, respectively. Alkyltrimethylammonium compounds (ATMACs) predominated, comprising 51.5% in house dust and 65.0% in ACAF dust, with median concentrations of 3298 and 5600 ng/g, respectively. Dwelling factors did not significantly affect QAC concentrations in house dust, whereas in ACAF dust, benzyldimethyldecylammonium chloride (C10-BAC) decreased with mileage, and C10-BAC and benzyldimethyloctylammonium chloride (C8-BAC) varied with vehicle manufacturers. Toddlers exhibited higher estimated daily intakes of QAC (median: 124 ng/kg bw/day) than adults (4.02 ng/kg bw/day) under high exposure scenarios. Although the estimated health risks of QACs in this study were relatively low, ACAF dust showed comparable ∑QAC concentrations with house dust and demonstrated its value as a passive sampling matrix for assessing long-term accumulation and human exposure in vehicle environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"12 1","pages":"Article 100611"},"PeriodicalIF":6.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145880555","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Disposable face masks (DFMs), predominantly made of polypropylene, have been widely used during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, raising concerns about their environmental toxicity. This study examined the phytotoxic effects of DFMs subjected to ultraviolet (UV) irradiation to simulate solar exposure, with dark conditions serving as controls. Leachates were extracted by immersing the samples in deionized water and tested on Vigna radiata (mung bean) to evaluate physiological and biochemical responses, including root length, vigour index, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and antioxidant enzyme levels. UV-weathered DFM leachates (UV ML) exhibited a time-dependent increase in toxicity, reaching 34 %, while non-weathered leachates (non-UV ML) showed no adverse effects. Subsequent analyses focused on UV ML and their interaction with tetracycline (TET), a persistent antibiotic in agricultural soils. Material characterisation using FT-IR, Raman spectroscopy, and FE-SEM revealed extensive polymer degradation and microfiber fragmentation, and the leachate with microfiber sizes ranging from 10 μm to 3 mm was observed using an optical microscope. LC-MS confirmed a 26 % adsorption of TET onto UV ML and identified diverse phthalate groups, while ICP-MS detected trace metals. Co-exposure to UV ML and TET induced synergistic toxicity, elevating oxidative stress by 32 % and impairing metabolic enzyme activities. The novelty of this study lies in its integrative approach to simulating environmental weathering, characterizing leachate–antibiotic interactions, and evaluating combined phytotoxicity using Vigna radiata as a bioindicator. These findings highlight the compounded environmental risks posed by DFMs as vectors for pharmaceutical pollutants, emphasizing the urgent need for sustainable waste management strategies to mitigate long-term ecological consequences in agroecosystems.
{"title":"Microplastics in the disposable face mask leachates act as vectors of antibiotic toxicity: Toxicological insights in Vigna radiata","authors":"Abisha Christy Christudoss, Deepa Priya Villalan, Dhivya Viswanathan, Sanjana Agarwal, Swasti Tyagi, Anurag Goel, Mehak Rustagi, Amitava Mukherjee","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100616","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100616","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Disposable face masks (DFMs), predominantly made of polypropylene, have been widely used during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, raising concerns about their environmental toxicity. This study examined the phytotoxic effects of DFMs subjected to ultraviolet (UV) irradiation to simulate solar exposure, with dark conditions serving as controls. Leachates were extracted by immersing the samples in deionized water and tested on <em>Vigna radiata</em> (mung bean) to evaluate physiological and biochemical responses, including root length, vigour index, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and antioxidant enzyme levels. UV-weathered DFM leachates (UV ML) exhibited a time-dependent increase in toxicity, reaching 34 %, while non-weathered leachates (non-UV ML) showed no adverse effects. Subsequent analyses focused on UV ML and their interaction with tetracycline (TET), a persistent antibiotic in agricultural soils. Material characterisation using FT-IR, Raman spectroscopy, and FE-SEM revealed extensive polymer degradation and microfiber fragmentation, and the leachate with microfiber sizes ranging from 10 μm to 3 mm was observed using an optical microscope. LC-MS confirmed a 26 % adsorption of TET onto UV ML and identified diverse phthalate groups, while ICP-MS detected trace metals. Co-exposure to UV ML and TET induced synergistic toxicity, elevating oxidative stress by 32 % and impairing metabolic enzyme activities. The novelty of this study lies in its integrative approach to simulating environmental weathering, characterizing leachate–antibiotic interactions, and evaluating combined phytotoxicity using <em>Vigna radiata</em> as a bioindicator. These findings highlight the compounded environmental risks posed by DFMs as vectors for pharmaceutical pollutants, emphasizing the urgent need for sustainable waste management strategies to mitigate long-term ecological consequences in agroecosystems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"12 1","pages":"Article 100616"},"PeriodicalIF":6.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145786505","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2025-12-30DOI: 10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100622
Zhihan Liu , Bo Yang , Kunlong Hui , Tingqiao Yu , Ying Yuan , Wenbing Tan
The soil environment plays an indispensable role in maintaining ecosystem stability and supporting agricultural productivity. Due to the widespread use and improper disposal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), their accumulation in soils has become increasingly severe, thereby aggravating soil pollution. PPCPs are characterized by high mobility, strong biological toxicity, and persistence in the environment. They primarily enter the soil environment through sewage irrigation, manure application, and landfill, thereby posing potential risks to soil ecosystems and human health. To mitigate this emerging form of pollution, researchers have explored various physical, chemical, and biological remediation techniques for soils contaminated with PPCPs. However, owing to the complexity of soil matrices and the heterogeneity of pollutant properties, most of these techniques remain confined to laboratory studies or small-scale pilot trials. Based on this comprehensive review, this paper outlines the future development trends in the remediation of PPCP-contaminated soil, identifies critical scientific gaps and engineering bottlenecks, and proposes strategies for achieving efficient and sustainable remediation.
{"title":"Research progress and prospects of soil remediation technologies for PPCPs pollution","authors":"Zhihan Liu , Bo Yang , Kunlong Hui , Tingqiao Yu , Ying Yuan , Wenbing Tan","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100622","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100622","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The soil environment plays an indispensable role in maintaining ecosystem stability and supporting agricultural productivity. Due to the widespread use and improper disposal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), their accumulation in soils has become increasingly severe, thereby aggravating soil pollution. PPCPs are characterized by high mobility, strong biological toxicity, and persistence in the environment. They primarily enter the soil environment through sewage irrigation, manure application, and landfill, thereby posing potential risks to soil ecosystems and human health. To mitigate this emerging form of pollution, researchers have explored various physical, chemical, and biological remediation techniques for soils contaminated with PPCPs. However, owing to the complexity of soil matrices and the heterogeneity of pollutant properties, most of these techniques remain confined to laboratory studies or small-scale pilot trials. Based on this comprehensive review, this paper outlines the future development trends in the remediation of PPCP-contaminated soil, identifies critical scientific gaps and engineering bottlenecks, and proposes strategies for achieving efficient and sustainable remediation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"12 1","pages":"Article 100622"},"PeriodicalIF":6.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145920687","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2025-12-15DOI: 10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100613
Meng-Meng Lei , Xiao-Yun Gu , Zhi-Wei Gan , Xin-Yu Liu , Dan Luo , Xin-Tong Ye , Xu-Yang Lu , Chen Liu
Antiparasitic drugs are widely-used in livestock and human parasitic disease control, however, current research lacks solid evidence on their presence and environmental impact, particularly in the high-altitude pastoral areas of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. This study investigated occurrence and distribution of 17 target compounds in the Lhasa River, Xizang, China. The results showed that antiparasitic drugs were 80 %–100 % detected in both river water and sediments (except morantel (MOR) and pyrantel (PYR) in wet season), and benzimidazoles and macrocylic lactones constituted the major groups. The total concentrations reached up to 280.00 ng L−1 in surface water and 662.19 ng g−1 in sediments, respectively, with detection rates and average concentrations relatively higher than existing reports. The concentrations for both water and sediments in wet season were significantly higher than that in dry season (p < 0.01) and spatial distribution followed a trend of downstream > upstream > midstream, being closely related to land use, grazing and population distribution in the watershed. The livestock feces from summer grazing served as the primary non-point source of contamination in the upstream, while combined sources of agriculture and domestic sewage contributed to the highest levels in the downstream. Antiparasitic drugs are easily adsorbed and their water-sediment partition was mainly correlated with sediment organic carbon (R2 = 0.84). Exposure of most compounds to water flea is at high risk in wet season, with macrocylic lactones posing the highest toxicity. This study provided fundamental data on antiparasitic drugs presence in riverine environment of typical pastoral areas and gained insights for future control strategies.
抗寄生虫药物广泛应用于家畜和人类寄生虫病的防治，但目前的研究缺乏可靠的证据证明其存在及其对环境的影响，特别是在青藏高原高海拔牧区。研究了17种目标化合物在西藏拉萨河流域的发生和分布。结果表明：河流水体和沉积物中抗寄生虫药物的检出率均为80% ~ 100%（除湿季的莫兰特尔（MOR）和吡喃特尔（PYR）外），以苯并咪唑类和大环内酯类为主；地表水和沉积物中总浓度分别高达280.00 ng L−1和662.19 ng g−1，检出率和平均浓度均高于已有报道。丰水期水和沉积物浓度均显著高于枯水期（p < 0.01），空间分布呈“下游+上游+中游”趋势，与流域土地利用、放牧和人口分布密切相关。上游非点源污染以夏季放牧牲畜粪便为主，下游污染以农业和生活污水为主。抗寄生虫药物易吸附，其水沙分配主要与沉积物有机碳相关（R2 = 0.84）。大多数化合物在潮湿季节暴露于水蚤的风险较高，其中大环内酯具有最高的毒性。本研究为典型牧区河流环境中抗寄生虫药物的存在提供了基础数据，并为今后的防治策略提供了参考。
{"title":"Occurrence and ecological risk of antiparasitic drugs in the Lhasa River on Qinghai-Xizang Plateau","authors":"Meng-Meng Lei , Xiao-Yun Gu , Zhi-Wei Gan , Xin-Yu Liu , Dan Luo , Xin-Tong Ye , Xu-Yang Lu , Chen Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100613","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100613","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Antiparasitic drugs are widely-used in livestock and human parasitic disease control, however, current research lacks solid evidence on their presence and environmental impact, particularly in the high-altitude pastoral areas of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. This study investigated occurrence and distribution of 17 target compounds in the Lhasa River, Xizang, China. The results showed that antiparasitic drugs were 80 %–100 % detected in both river water and sediments (except morantel (MOR) and pyrantel (PYR) in wet season), and benzimidazoles and macrocylic lactones constituted the major groups. The total concentrations reached up to 280.00 ng L<sup>−1</sup> in surface water and 662.19 ng g<sup>−1</sup> in sediments, respectively, with detection rates and average concentrations relatively higher than existing reports. The concentrations for both water and sediments in wet season were significantly higher than that in dry season (p < 0.01) and spatial distribution followed a trend of downstream > upstream > midstream, being closely related to land use, grazing and population distribution in the watershed. The livestock feces from summer grazing served as the primary non-point source of contamination in the upstream, while combined sources of agriculture and domestic sewage contributed to the highest levels in the downstream. Antiparasitic drugs are easily adsorbed and their water-sediment partition was mainly correlated with sediment organic carbon (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.84). Exposure of most compounds to water flea is at high risk in wet season, with macrocylic lactones posing the highest toxicity. This study provided fundamental data on antiparasitic drugs presence in riverine environment of typical pastoral areas and gained insights for future control strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11539,"journal":{"name":"Emerging Contaminants","volume":"12 1","pages":"Article 100613"},"PeriodicalIF":6.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145786504","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
扫码关注我们
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：
京公网安备 11010802042870号