Environmental Toxicology最新文献

Pharmaceutical pollution is a global concern due to its pervasive impact on water quality, affecting diverse ecosystems. Despite this fact, contamination within UNESCO heritage natural sites remains understudied. To address this gap, our study focused on assessing pharmaceutical pollution in Pruhonice Park, screening water samples for 98 pharmaceuticals across nine different sites throughout the Park during all four seasons, using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis. Our findings identified the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent upstream of the Park boundaries and a tributary from an adjacent village as the primary sources of pollution. Concentrations of 20 pharmaceuticals were above the limit of detection, with gabapentin, metformin, caffeine, diclofenac, and carbamazepine among the most prevalent, reaching concentrations up to 2120 ng/L. Seasonal variations were substantial, with significantly lower concentrations detected in winter and spring. Risk quotients for more than half of detected analytes indicated high predicted risk for the aquatic environment in at least one sampling site, with carbamazepine and diclofenac exceeding the extreme risk threshold. Despite high upstream contamination, the outflow from the Park exhibits a significant reduction in pollution as compared to the inflow. Our results suggest that the combination of physical, chemical and biological processes can contribute to the reduction of human-derived contaminants within the biodiverse UNESCO natural park. To enhance these natural attenuation mechanisms, our findings highlight the need for targeted policy measures, including stricter discharge regulations, improved wastewater management, and systematic monitoring programs implemented by governmental authorities.

Fumonisin B1 (FB1), a mycotoxin commonly found in contaminated food and feed, has been increasingly implicated in neurotoxicity, although its mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study investigates the neurotoxic potential of FB1 in human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells, both undifferentiated and RA-differentiated, and evaluates the protective effect of bromelain, a natural proteolytic enzyme with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Cells were exposed to 50 μM FB1 for 24 h, with or without co-treatment with bromelain (10 or 50 μg/mL). FB1 significantly reduced cell viability and triggered reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, mitochondrial membrane depolarization, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory cytokine release (IL-6 and TNF-α), and apoptosis, particularly in differentiated cells. Bromelain co-treatment attenuated these effects in a dose-dependent manner, preserving mitochondrial function, reducing oxidative and inflammatory markers, and lowering apoptotic cell death. These findings emphasize the neurotoxic risk posed by FB1 and highlight bromelain as a promising multi-target protective agent. Identifying effective countermeasures against environmental neurotoxins is crucial for public health and disease prevention.

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), a perfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS), is characterized by a long, fluorinated carbon chain which makes it ideal for oil- and water-repellent products but detrimental for the environment, where it persists and accumulates in organisms. PFOS has been detected in coastal ecosystems, but information on impacts to estuarine fish health and survival is lacking. In addition, potential rising temperatures due to climate change may alter organism physiology and bioavailability of chemical contaminants. This study examines the effects of PFOS on two species of fish found in Southeastern United States estuaries, the recreationally important red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) and the standard toxicity test species sheepshead minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus), under two different temperatures (20°C and 30°C). The combined stress of PFOS exposure at the higher temperature yielded significantly greater chemical uptake and mortality in both species compared to PFOS at 20°C. The enhanced effect of temperature on PFOS mortality was greatest for C. variegatus. The combined stress of PFOS exposure and elevated temperature caused the greatest change in gene expression in C. variegatus relative to the individual stressors. Similarly, routine metabolic rates for S. ocellatus were significantly higher when exposed to the combined stress of PFOS exposure and elevated temperature. The results indicate that elevated temperature and PFOS act together to exacerbate toxicity in these estuarine fish. Sublethal responses to PFOS and temperature observed in this study could have long-term repercussions for fisheries. This study demonstrates the importance of expanding species used in ecological risk assessments and creating applicable results for wild species.

Bisphenol A (BPA), its structural analogs, and phthalates are synthetic chemicals widely used, with documented endocrine-disrupting activity. This study aimed to develop and validate a selective multiresidue analytical method for the simultaneous determination of BPA, 10 bisphenol analogs, and six phthalates in PET-bottled mineral water. To our knowledge, this is the first report assessing the co-occurrence of these contaminants in bottled mineral water in Brazil. Six commercial bottled water brands were sampled under two storage conditions: ambient temperature and solar exposure. Solid-phase extraction (SPE) was applied before GC-MS analysis. Among the 17 target analytes, BPA, BPF, BPS, and DIOP were detected in quantifiable concentrations. BPF and DIOP were found in all samples, with maximum concentrations of 7.92 and 3.85 μg L^-1, respectively. BPA and BPS were detected in specific brands only after sunlight exposure, reaching up to 7.10 and 9.08 μg L^-1, respectively. Despite concentrations being below current international regulatory limits, health risk assessment revealed that the estimated daily intake (EDI) of BPF and BPS resulted in safety factors (SF) below 1 for both adults and children, indicating a potential health concern. Estrogen equivalency (EEQ) values associated with BPA, BPF, BPS, and DIOP ranged from 0.5 to 13 ng E₂/L, exceeding effect-based trigger values proposed for estrogenic activity in bottled mineral water. The results suggest that even BPA-free labeled packaging may pose a risk due to the presence of its analogs and highlight the need for expanded regulatory oversight and routine monitoring of endocrine-disrupting compounds in bottled water.

Humans are continuously exposed to a complex mixture of chemicals. While the composition of these mixtures is perpetually changing, most of the risk evaluation is based upon single-component studies. Because both lead (Pb) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are ubiquitous chemicals, we investigated whether the environmentally relevant mixture of these chemicals has any effects on thyroid homeostasis and are these changes are dose dependent. Doses of 0.1, 0.5, and 1 mg Pb/kg/day and 0.25, 0.5, and 1 mg PCBs/kg/day were administered to male albino Wistar rats using a 3 × 3 dose design for 28 days. At the end of the mixture treatment period, the measurements of the serum levels of thyroid hormones and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were performed. In the thyroid gland tissue, oxidative stress parameters were analyzed. The obtained results were used to create the dose-response models in PROAST. An increase in the level of free thyroxine (FT4), total and free triiodothyronine, TSH, total oxidative status (TOS), and sulfhydryl groups was documented. In contrast, a significant decrease in relative thyroid weight (TW) and total antioxidative status (TAS) was observed, while the significant differences in total thyroxine, rat body weight, and albumin serum levels were not confirmed between the control and the exposed groups. The most sensitive parameter was the decrease in the TAS in thyroid gland tissue, while the benchmark dose's lower confidence limit (BMDL) calculated for the FT4 parameter can be used as a reference point. The presented study and available literature suggest that Pb and PCBs in the mixture can act through their toxicological mechanisms on different levels of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid gland axis, including the disruption of oxidative-antioxidative status.

Given the inevitability of human and animal exposure to acrylamide, there is increasing concern regarding its potential health risks. While a number of molecular mechanisms have been proposed, the complexity of acrylamide toxicological pathways and interactions remains incompletely characterized. In this study, we employed a transcriptomic approach to investigate the transcriptional responses of Drosophila melanogaster following exposure to acrylamide (100 mg/kg). Our analysis identified 634 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), with 362 upregulated and 272 downregulated. Functional analysis revealed these DEGs are enriched in pathways related to reproduction, detoxification, cellular and metabolic processes, signaling, synaptic formation and organization. Notably, acrylamide exposure upregulated the expression of tau and beta-amyloid protein precursor-like genes, both implicated in Alzheimer's disease pathology. An aversive memory test further demonstrated that acrylamide impaired the short-term memory of treated flies. Additionally, acrylamide-induced toxicity altered the expression of nine long terminal repeat retrotransposons, belonging to the gypsy and pao superfamilies. By exploring the potential role of transposable element activity in acrylamide-mediated toxicity, this study provides novel insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying its effects. Collectively, these findings offer a more comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms and pathways associated with the toxic action and detoxification of acrylamide in D. melanogaster.

Particulate matter (PM) contains various components, among which heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are considered the main toxic component. Serbia, a middle-income country in Southeast Europe, faces PM pollution in several towns. This study aimed to assess the carcinogenic health risk of exposure to B[a]P, a representative PAH, in Belgrade for adults and children during heating and non-heating seasons, using deterministic and probabilistic approaches for the 2018-2022 period. Average PM₁₀ levels ranged between 32.6 and 45.3 μg/m³, and B[a]P levels between 1.4 and 3.7 ng/m³. The PM₁₀ annual limit (40 μg/m³) was exceeded at five of fourteen stations, while the B[a]P annual limit (1 ng/m³) was exceeded at all considered monitoring stations. Risk assessment using both approaches resulted in Total Cancer Risk (TCR) values below the USEPA safe limit (1.0E-04) for both populations and seasons. Deterministic TCR values exceeded the 95th percentile (P95) of the probabilistic risk distribution, which represents the reasonable maximum exposure level according to USEPA. The highest TCR was obtained for adults during the heating season using both deterministic (5.63E-05) and probabilistic approach (1.60E-05, P95). Our results indicate that the probabilistic approach provides a more accurate representation of overall risk, leading to better risk management decisions, while the deterministic approach is more conservative due to reliance on average parameter values. Although the carcinogenic risk of B[a]P in Belgrade was acceptable, other PM compounds and exposure pathways should be considered simultaneously to achieve a more accurate health risk assessment.

Over the past decades, the growth in human population and economic activities has led to an increase in maritime traffic. This rise puts additional pressure on marine environments, vessel fuel spills being considered to have a major impact on the ecosystem. In this study we conducted the micronucleus (MN) test on 48 limpets of the genus Patella between June and July 2024, from four marinas of the Asturias coast (SW Bay of Biscay) with different traffic volumes, water metal contents (As, Cd, Hg and Pb), and use of fuel types as determined from a survey to ship owners. We also conducted an experiment exposing limpets to recreational boat contaminants (petrol, diesel, and ecological soap) for 5 days, then analyzing MN and other nuclear abnormalities (NAs). Results revealed that limpets exposed to petrol exhibited the highest MN count, and the highest proportion of MN (over all the NA), followed by those exposed to diesel. The group treated with ecological soap did not differ significantly from the untreated control. Limpets from the biggest Gijón marina exhibited the highest MN count and the highest As concentration. In regression analysis, the level of MN and other NAs in limpets sampled from the marinas was explained directly by the city size, and by the sum of stressors including the proportion of boats using petrol. The proportion of MN over total abnormalities was correlated with the number of moorings. These results support the contribution of recreational boating to cytogenotoxicity in local communities of marine fauna, likely from fuel spills.

This study investigated the immunomodulatory effects of PFOS and glyphosate (GLY), both individually and in combination, on the whole blood of three ruminant species (cow, goats, and sheep) exposed ex vivo to environmentally relevant concentrations. The research focused on key biomarkers of oxidative stress (MDA), inflammation (myeloperoxidase activity, nitrite production), and immune function (TNFα and IL-6 cytokine production, both at baseline and following LPS stimulation). Results indicated species-specific differences in oxidative stress response, with sheep and goats showing higher MDA levels under combined PFOS and GLY exposure. Furthermore, co-exposure exacerbated inflammatory responses (MDA activity and NO2- production) in LPS-stimulated sheep and goats. Critically, a synergistic effect of PFOS and GLY co-exposure significantly increased both TNFα and IL-6 production across all species, even without LPS stimulation, suggesting a heightened pro-inflammatory state. These findings raise concerns about the potential of these contaminants to disrupt immune homeostasis in grazing animals, impacting their health, productivity, and disease resistance, and potentially posing risks to human health through food chain contamination. The study highlights the need for further research to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms and assess the long-term effects of chronic exposure to these contaminants on animal health and potential human health risks.

Mancozeb is one of the most widely used agricultural fungicides, exhibiting strong efficacy against a broad spectrum of phytopathogenic fungi. However, its widespread application comes at the cost of environmental contamination. Here, we show the effects of Inga vera leaf litter contamination with Mancozeb on life-history traits of Aedes aegypti, focusing on larval mortality, adult wing size, and wing asymmetry. To evaluate the interactive effects of Mancozeb and I. vera leaf litter, we tested four treatments prepared from 14-day leachates of I. vera leaves: Control, 0.3, 15, and 40 μg.L^-1 Mancozeb (n = 10 per treatment). Our results revealed that higher Mancozeb concentrations were associated with decreased larval mortality, larger adult body size, and no significant changes in wing asymmetry. These results suggest that the suppression of fungal decomposers and pathogens by Mancozeb preserves organic matter and increases nutrient availability in breeding sites, indirectly enhancing mosquito survival and development. The ecological benefits conferred by Mancozeb on Ae. aegypti populations may, in turn, elevate the transmission risk of vector-borne diseases. By investigating these parameters, we provide insights into how agricultural fungicide contamination in mosquito breeding sites may influence Ae. aegypti population dynamics and vector competence in both rural areas and urban centers adjacent to agricultural zones.