Emerging Contaminants最新文献

A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted, aiming to establish a scientifically grounded understanding of trichloroethylene (TCE)-induced hepatotoxicity. Relevant studies published prior to February 29, 2024 were meticulously searched. The standardized mean difference (SMD) was employed to assess the correlation between the control group and the TCE exposure group, while heterogeneity was quantified using the I² index. After a thorough screening and exclusion process, a total of 57 articles met the eligibility criteria. Important parameters pertaining to liver health, such as ALT, AST, TNF-α, IL-1β, and others, were analyzed, resulting in the identification of 40 parameters related to liver injury. The results revealed that GLB, ALP, CYP2E1, GR, IL-6 (mRNA), and TGF-β (mRNA) did not exhibit statistically significant differences (P > 0.05). However, high heterogeneity was observed in indicators other than F4/80, EGR1 (mRNA), and MDA-protein adducts (P < 0.1, I2 > 50%). Notably, TCE exposure significantly increased the activity of ALT, AST, LDH, as well as the expression levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, TNFR1, IL-6, P65, P-P65, F4/80, IFN-γ, iNOS, C3a, TNF-α (mRNA), IL-1β (mRNA), IL-6R (mRNA), GP130 (mRNA), EGR1 (mRNA), CCL2 (mRNA), CCL5 (mRNA), iNOS (mRNA), liver coefficient, MDA, anti-dsDNA, MDA protein adduct, anti-MDA protein adduct antibody, and ANA. Conversely, TCE exposure decreased the activities of CAT, GPx, SOD, as well as the expression levels of Nrf2, TP, ALB, and GSH. Additionally, this study provided a comprehensive review of the two mechanisms underlying liver injury following TCE exposure. In conclusion, our findings furnish compelling evidence that TCE exposure induces liver injury, as manifested by alterations in various physiological indicators, including cytokines and oxidative stress-related markers, among others.

Hydrogels have various potential applications due to their unique characteristics and recently, hydrogels have been utilized as adsorbents in wastewater treatment because of their ability to remove contaminants from water. Constructing strong hydrogels with high adsorption capabilities is crucial for effective wastewater treatment. Scientists and researchers are working to improve the properties of hydrogels by incorporating inorganic elements into polymer networks, which further reduces the costs as well as simplifies their preparation. Natural polymers like starch and alginate are widespread due to their economic and biological advantages, such as biodegradability, biocompatibility, reduced toxicity, environmental friendliness, and low cost. The adsorption of pollutants onto hydrogels as well as their use as antimicrobial agents has garnered significant attention. This review paper summarizes the latest studies on using hydrogels as adsorbents to remove endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and other emerging pollutants from water environments along with their use as antimicrobial agents. In the first step, different classes of hydrogels and different characterization techniques have been discussed. Next antimicrobial potential of hydrogels is elaborated to understand how these hydrogels can be a potential candidate for such activities. While discussing the adsorption application of hydrogels, different isothermal, kinetics and thermodynamics models have been discussed to highlight the mechanism and nature of forces involved in adsorption of pollutants. Further different simulations such as DFT and MD have been discussed to get more holistic understanding of pollutants adsorption onto hydrogels. A limited number of studies have utilized other techniques such as Monte Carlo simulations and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) so it is important to explore a variety of computational methods to gain a comprehensive understanding of the adsorption process onto hydrogels.

Organophosphate esters (OPEs) are used primarily as flame-retardants and plasticizers. OPEs are commonly detected in various environmental matrices, food and drinking water, and their metabolites are frequently found and quantified in urine. Potential adverse impacts on human health, including carcinogenicity, neurotoxicity, developmental and reproductive toxicity have been well documented. Urinary concentration of OPE metabolites can vary in the same individual, depending on the sampling time, thus introducing significant uncertainty in exposure assessment. The current study focusses on the assessment of short term temporal variability in adult men and women residing in Canada's Capital Region. Fifteen OPE metabolites were analyzed in 562 daily urine samples, collected every three days for five weeks from 11 volunteers. Sample extraction procedure was performed on an automated SPE and extracts analyzed using UPLC-MS/MS. In spot urine samples as well as first morning void (FMV), the detection frequency was greater than 50% for bis (2-chloroethyl) hydrogen phosphate (BCEP), bis (1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (BCIPP), bis (1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (BDCIPP), diphenyl phosphate (DPHP) and bis(2,4-ditert-butylphenyl) hydrogen phosphate (B2,4DtBPP). Significant difference was observed in males and females for BCEP and BCIPP. Intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) for creatinine corrected data for the spot urine samples ranged from 0.37 to 0.69. Good reproducibility was observed for creatinine corrected DPHP and BCIPP in both spot urine and FMV samples. More variation was observed between study participants in the spot urine samples when compared to the FMV samples. However, when considering diurnal difference there was a considerable inter-day variation in the FMV samples compared to the spot samples. The strength of the study is that the participants belonged to the same geographical location and working in the same facility, hence spatial variability did not influence the outcome of the results.

This investigation delves into the extraction dynamics of 22 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances from PFAS contaminated firefighting materials. Two distinct test sets were executed: one contrasting a commercial product with water following an elaborate decontamination procedure, and the other assessing seven washing agents on materials from firefighting installations, with one agent examined at 22 °C and 50 °C. A general tendency for improved desorption at the higher temperature was observed. Furthermore, a discernible influence of the cleaning agent's pH on the extraction of specific PFAS species was observed, elucidating the role of chemical environment in the extraction process. PFAS rebound was studied for a period of up to 157 days, this unveiled a gradual escalation in PFAS₂₂ levels, indicative of a protracted desorption mechanism. Intriguingly, PFAS with abbreviated carbon chains (C4–C6) exhibit superior desorption efficiency compared to their elongated congeners, suggesting a chain-length-dependent decontamination potential. A comparative scrutiny between a commercially available cleaning product, featuring multiple washing and flushing steps, and a water-only treatment regimen underscores the potential efficacy of the former. This exhaustive investigation furnishes nuanced insights into PFAS extraction complexities, offering a foundation for informed decontamination strategies.

The ecotoxicity of tellurium (Te) compounds (oxide and nitrate) is assessed by changing the biological properties of soils of contrasting properties: Haplic Chernozem (Loamic), Eutric Cambisol, and Eutric Arenosol. Soil stability was assessed by the most sensitive and informative biological indicators: microbiological (total number of bacteria), biochemical (catalase and dehydrogenase activity), and phytotoxic (changes in the length of wheat roots and shoots). Te contamination was simulated at concentrations of 0.5, 1, 3, 10, and 30 possible permissible concentrations (PPC). It has been established that already at minimum concentrations of Te (0.5 and 1 PPC), the biological indicators of soils decrease. As a rule, a direct relationship between Te concentration and the degree of deterioration of the studied soil properties was observed. Te nitrate showed higher ecotoxicity than oxide. A stronger negative effect of Te contamination was manifested 10 and 30 days after contamination. After 90 days, the restoration of the biological properties of the soils was observed. Haplic Chernozem (Loamic) showed greater resistance to Te contamination than Haplic Cambisols Eutric and Eutric Arenosol. The obtained results can be used to predict environmental risks from soil contamination with Te and to develop maximum permissible concentrations of Te in soils of contrasting properties.

Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs) are human-made chemicals that remain unregulated. The continuous detection of CECs in aquatic ecosystems, due to their incomplete removal, emphasizes the importance of understanding their fate and impact on the environment and human health. The detrimental effects of CECs on marine eukaryotes are well documented in multiple studies. However, their impact on marine bacteria and their biodegradation by these organisms are not well understood. In this study, two marine bacteria, Priestia sp. 35 ODPABA G14 and Rhodococcus sp. 23 AHTN G14, previously isolated from submarine sediments, were used. These two strains were tested for their resistance as well as their capacity to degrade different classes of hydrophobic and hydrophilic CECs, including synthetic musks, UV filters, pesticides and pharmaceuticals. Both strains showed high resistance to all of the hydrophobic tested CECs even up to 500 mg L⁻¹. Only Ketoprofen was toxic to bacterial cells, particularly to Rhodococcus sp. starting at concentration as low as 4 mg L⁻¹. Furthermore, Priestia sp. and Rhodococcus sp. strains exhibited high biodegradation potential, especially for hydrophobic compounds. Although this may not apply to all pollutants, the data presented in this study suggest a positive correlation between marine bacterial resistance to CECs and their high biodegradation potentials.

Metformin is among the most prescribed pharmaceuticals in many countries, and as a result has shown up in biosolids derived from municipal wastewater treatment that are destined for land application. In humans taking metformin, the effects include reduced glucose uptake in the intestine, a reduction in gluconeogenesis, increased oxidation of fatty acids, and reduced fatty acid synthesis. The effects of metformin on soil-dwelling organisms are not well understood. This study tested the effects of metformin exposure (0, 10, 40, 160, 640 μg g⁻¹) on the earthworm (E. fetida) at four time points (6 h, 2 d, 7 d, and 14 d) using GC-MS to reveal sub-lethal effects and elucidate potential modes of action for metformin. There were no mortalities observed, and earthworms exposed to the highest concentrations (160 and 640 μg g⁻¹) gained weight relative to the control on days 7 and 14. Significant reductions on day 7 were observed for glucose and malic acid (consistent with a reduction in gluconeogenesis), and for palmitic and margaric acid (consistent with increased oxidation and reduced synthesis of fatty acids). Lactic acid ranked first and second among canonicals 1 and 2 respectively and led to significant differences in discriminant scores across concentration and time. Metabolite levels increased to equal or greater than the control on day 14, likely caused by reduced exposure as metformin is reported to be readily transformed by microorganisms under aerobic conditions. The observations were consistent with the known effects of metformin in humans, and suggests that a similar mode of action exists in earthworms.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitous in the environment but sources are not well defined for temporal and spatial aspects within an urban environment, and especially for an arid urban environment subject to seasonal short term high-intensity precipitation events. A focused diel sampling was conducted in the summer of 2021 to assess the temporal and spatial variability of PFAS in the Rio Grande near Albuquerque, New Mexico and showed an order of magnitude increase of PFAS as it flows through the Albuquerque urban area. Discrete samples were collected at two different locations on the Rio Grande in addition to wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent that discharges directly to the Rio Grande between the sampling locations. Short-term high-intensity precipitation events occurred during the study period and mobilized PFAS from urban runoff. Dissolved organic matter composed of tryptophan-like organic substances and refined fuel and fuel byproducts, characteristic of an urban signature, were also related to the precipitation events. The PFAS in discharge from the WWTP was consistent over a 24-h period with slight differences in some compounds. Wastewater presence on the Rio Grande downstream of the WWTP was evidenced by a gadolinium anomaly as well as increases in several other trace elements, total dissolved nitrogen, and fluorescence indicators, in addition to PFAS. PFAS varied depending on source contribution, where urban runoff was associated with PFOA, PFOS, and PFBA, whereas PFHxA and PFPeA were associated with wastewater effluent. In addition, passive polar organic chemical integrative samplers (POCIS) using hydrophilic-lipid balance (HLB) sorption media were deployed for a month at two locations on the Rio Grande to assess longer term PFAS concentrations. The POCIS results show some compounds (PFPeA and PFHpA) were greater than the average concentration from discrete samples, whereas other compounds (PFHxA, PFOA, PFDA, and PFNA) were lower in the POCIS, and PFOS was very similar between the two. The POCIS did not detect PFBA, which may be related to the HLB media not performing well for short chain PFAS compounds. The results show promise for integrative samplers utilizing sorbent media. More detailed investigation of the spatial and temporal variability of water chemistry on the Rio Grande as it flows through Albuquerque could provide information applicable to urban areas worldwide.

A total of twenty-three psychiatric pharmaceuticals and illicit drugs were analyzed in tap water covering seven basins in Eastern China. The residual concentrations of these substances were detected up to 22.4 ng L^-1. Among the substances, benzodiazepines were more often detected with higher median concentrations than those of illicit drugs. Generally, the higher residual levels of psychoactive substances were detected in the upstream of the basins compared with the downstream. For example, the concentrations of diazepam, temazepam, and oxazepam in the downstream were much higher than those in the upstream in OJ. Among the basins, YH was the most polluted region. Exposure assessment indicated the median exposure doses of diazepam and temazepam were from 85 to 99 and 3.5–4.1 pg kg^-1 bw d^-1 in the basins, respectively. Benchmark quotient for the nine detected substances was calculated in each basin with the range from 0.0001 to 0.0389, indicating low risk in the tap water for human health under current concentrations.

The prevalence of organophosphate pesticides in aquatic environments raises severe concerns on a global scale. Chlorpyrifos, an insecticide, is included in a class of organophosphate pesticides. It is widely used on agricultural lands to control pests in cotton, fruit, and vegetables. The acute toxicity of chlorpyrifos is still dangerous to all aquatic living organisms. Then the treatment of water contaminated with chlorpyrifos is an important aspect. The recent decade has witnessed adsorption technology emerging as an advanced organophosphate pesticide wastewater treatment with great potential and a grand blueprint, in which the specific surface area and active sites of the adsorbent are considered to be the two most important characteristics largely impacting the adsorption performance. In this study, a CS-MgO/Zeolite composite was prepared by the microbial method as an effective adsorbent for the removal of chlorpyrifos from an aqueous solution. The adsorbent's properties were carefully characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The refinement of experimental conditions, encompassing variations in adsorbent dosage, contact time, and chlorpyrifos concentration at five discrete levels, was systematically undertaken through the utilization of a composite central design rooted in response surface methodology. The solution pH played a key role in chlorpyrifos removal, and a pH of 7.0 was selected according to its high adsorption ability. The highest removal (80.9%) of chlorpyrifos by CS-MgO/Zeolite was obtained at an optimum pH of 7, a contact time of 40 min, an adsorbent dosage of 0.4 g/L, and a chlorpyrifos concentration of 5 mg/L⁻¹. The adsorption results were highly fitted with the Freundlich adsorption isotherm model, and the maximum adsorption was 83.3 mg/g. Kinetic studies indicate that the removal of chlorpyrifos followed the pseudo-second-order model of adsorption (0.994). The thermodynamic parameters indicate the spontaneous and endothermic nature of chlorpyrifos sorption on CS-MgO/Zeolite sorbent. The results revealed that introducing chitosan could improve the adsorption capacity and rate effectively even though it sacrificed part of the specific surface areas of the MgO/Zeolite, indicating that active sites might play a dominant role during chlorpyrifos adsorption. The fabricated CS-MgO/Zeolite adsorbent nanocomposite displayed high reusability based on the elution and simultaneous regeneration ability. Therefore, as a cheap green nanocomposite adsorbent with high adsorption performance for chlorpyrifos, the CS-MgO/Zeolite nanocomposite adsorbent is expected to become one of the best candidate materials for chlorpyrifos removal aqueous solutions.