Toxics最新文献

Mesoplastics are emerging environmental pollutants that can pose a threat to the environment. Researching mesoplastics is crucial as they bridge the gap between macroplastics and microplastics by determining their role in plastic fragmentation and pathways, as well as their ecological impact. Investigating mesoplastic sources will help develop targeted policies and mitigation strategies to address plastic pollution. These pollutants are found across aquatic, terrestrial, and agricultural ecosystems. Unlike microplastics, mesoplastics are reviewed in the scientific literature. This paper focuses on existing published research on mesoplastics, determining the trends and synthesizing key findings related to mesoplastic pollution. Research primarily focused on marine and freshwater ecosystems, with surface water and beach sediments being the most studied compartments. Mesoplastics research often offers baseline data, with increased publications from 2014 to 2024, particularly in East Asia. However, certain ecosystems and regions remain underrepresented. Also, mesoplastics can disrupt ecosystems by degrading biodiversity, contaminating soils and waters, and affecting food chains. Mesoplastics can also become vectors for additives and pathogenic microorganisms, highlighting their environmental risks. Various factors influence mesoplastics' prevalence, including anthropogenic and non-anthropogenic activities. With this, future research should expand into less-studied ecosystems and regions, explore mesoplastic interactions with pollutants and organisms, and promote public awareness, education, and policy measures to reduce plastic use and mitigate pollution globally.

This study assessed and compared the postmortem concentrations of 6-monoacetylmorphine [6-MAM] and 6-acetylcodeine [6-AC], morphine, and codeine in various tissues and fluids from 52 postmortem cases related to heroin use. Samples were received at the Poison Control and Forensic Chemistry Center in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and analyzed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Descriptive and inferential statistics, including median, range, variability, and outliers, were used for analysis. The results showed significant variability in heroin and metabolite concentrations across different fluids and tissues. Tissue specimens were analyzed in 38 cases (73%), with 50% of cases exhibiting putrefaction. Blood and tissue samples were available in 39 cases, highlighting the need for alternative specimens in challenging cases. Notably, heroin metabolites were detected in unique matrices, such as nasal swabs, bladder tissues, lung tissues, and small intestine tissues, underscoring the potential of these samples in forensic investigations, especially when traditional bodily fluids are unavailable or compromised. These findings suggest that environmental factors, timing of substance use, and postmortem changes influence substance distribution, emphasizing the need to consider the location of death when interpreting toxicological results for accurate forensic analysis. This study provides valuable insights into the distribution, correlation, and significance of heroin and its metabolites in postmortem samples, aiding the confirmation of heroin overdose. These findings contribute to the limited data on postmortem cases in the Middle East and North Africa, particularly Saudi Arabia, supporting efforts to curb drug abuse in this region. This knowledge can inform public health strategies and forensic practices, ultimately aiding efforts to address and mitigate drug abuse.

As novel pollutants, flame retardants (FRs) are prone to accumulating in soil and might increase human health risks. It is advisable to emphasize the biomagnification of FRs within the terrestrial food chain, particularly concerning mammals occupying higher trophic levels. Exposure to soil particles laden with FRs may result in numerous health complications. These findings offer significant insights into FR pollutant profiles, tracing origins and recognizing health risks associated with soil samples. Reports have revealed that exposure to FRs can pose serious health risks, including neurodevelopmental impairments, endocrine system disruption, and an increased likelihood of cancer. Nanomaterials, with their high surface area and flexible properties, possess the ability to utilize light for catalytic reactions. This unique capability allows them to effectively degrade harmful contaminants, such as FRs, in soil. Additionally, biological degradation, driven by microorganisms, offers a sustainable method for breaking down these pollutants, providing an eco-friendly approach to soil remediation. These approaches, combined with optimum remediation strategies, hold great potential for effectively addressing soil contamination in the future. Further research should prioritize several key areas, including ecological behavior, contaminant monitoring, biological metabolomics, toxicity evaluation, and ecological impact assessment.

In the context of critical water quality issues, there is a pressing need for more pragmatic approaches to water research. Adsorbent biomass, derived from abundant and effective natural sources, holds considerable promise as a solution. E. crassipes, a type of plant biomass, has emerged as a particularly promising material due to its high adsorption capacity. When combined with iron chloride, this capacity is significantly enhanced, and the addition of EDTA is essential for the reuse of treated water. The economic viability of this material in water treatment has been thoroughly evaluated, and the project was developed with the aim of building treatment systems using E. crassipes biomass in conjunction with iron chloride. The development process involved the creation of a special material composed of 85% dried and ground E. crassipes and 15% iron chloride. The process was scaled up with the most effective biomass for treatment and subsequent elutions with EDTA. The outlet conditions, the quantity of pollutant removed, and the treated volume were established, and subsequently the extraparticle diffusion constant Kf, the intraparticle diffusion constant, and the characteristic isotherm were determined. The identification of the intraparticle diffusion model, Ks, was made possible by the results of the model, which indicated the specific route for the construction of a pilot-scale treatment system. The pilot-scale prototype was constructed using 1000 g of EC (2) of biomass (850 g of E. crassipes and 150 g of chloride of iron). The prototype developed in the present investigation could be used to treat effluents contaminated with heavy metals, especially chromium, and is an advanced environmental research project that contributes to the improvement of water quality.

Micro(nano)plastics (MNPs) pose a significant threat to both ecological environments and human health. This review systematically examines the developmental toxicity of MNPs in mammals, with a particular focus on the impact of maternal and paternal exposure on offspring. Evidence indicates that MNPs can cross placental barriers, inducing abnormal development of embryos, fetuses, and placentas. This disruption leads to a range of adverse outcomes, including neurodevelopmental abnormalities, behavioral disorders, reproductive system damage, etc., in offspring. Through a comprehensive analysis of the existing literature, this review aims to provide a foundation for future research on the developmental toxicity of MNPs and highlight the urgent need for action to mitigate the detrimental effects of MNPs on human health and ecosystem integrity.

Thyroid hormones (THs) play a crucial role in various biological functions, including metabolism, cell growth, and nervous system development, and any alteration involving the structure of the thyroid gland and TH secretion may result in thyroid disease. Growing evidence suggests that phthalate plasticizers, which are commonly used in a wide range of products (e.g., food packaging materials, children's toys, cosmetics, medical devices), can impact thyroid function, primarily affecting serum levels of THs and TH-related gene expression. Like phthalate compounds, recently introduced alternative plasticizers can leach from their source material into the environment, particularly into foods, although so far only a very limited number of studies have investigated their thyroid toxicity. This review aimed at summarizing the current knowledge on the role of phthalate and non-phthalate plasticizers in thyroid dysfunction and disease, describing the major biological mechanisms underlying this relationship. We will also focus on the food industry as one of the main players for the massive spread of such compounds in the human body, in turn conveyed by edible compounds. Given the increasing worldwide use of plasticizers and the essential role of THs in humans, novel strategies should be envisaged to reduce this burden on the thyroid and, in general, on human health.

The concentrations and spreading of eight synthetic and two natural progestins (PGs) were investigated in surface waters from ten sites at the Douro River Estuary. Samples were filtrated and subjected to solid-phase extraction (SPE) to isolate and concentrate the target PGs. The extracts were cleaned by silica cartridges and analyzed by LC-MS/MS. The finding of biologically relevant amounts of gonanes (22.3 ± 2.7 ng/L), progesterone derivatives (12.2 ± 0.5 ng/L), drospirenone (4.1 ± 0.8 ng/L), and natural PGs (9.4 ± 0.9 ng/L) support the possibility of these compounds acting as endocrine disruptors. Despite the absence of significant differences amongst sampling sites and seasons, the principal component analysis (PCA) and the linear discriminant analysis (LDA) approaches reveal that spring and summer have different patterns of PG distribution compared to autumn and winter. The assessment of risk coefficients (RQs) and the potential concentrations of synthetic progestins in fish blood sustains that all tested compounds pose a significant risk to local biota (RQs > 1). Additionally, three progestins-norethindrone, norethindrone acetate, and medroxyprogesterone acetate-should reach human-equivalent therapeutic levels in fish plasma. Overall, the current data show PGs' presence and potential impacts in one of the most important estuaries of the Iberian Peninsula.

Acrylamide (ACR) and its metabolite glycidamide (GLY) are contaminants with known toxic effects, especially in reproductive systems. However, the mechanisms underlying their embryotoxic effects remain inadequately understood. In the current study, we investigated the effects of ACR and GLY exposure on oocyte and embryo developmental competence, focusing on DNA damage, apoptosis, autophagy, and epigenetic regulation. Oocytes were exposed to varying concentrations of ACR and GLY during in vitro maturation. The results demonstrated that both ACR and GLY significantly reduced cleavage and blastocyst developmental rates in a dose-dependent manner. Consequently, treated oocytes exhibited actin organization disruption, increased DNA damage, and heightened apoptosis compared to the control. Autophagy-related markers, including LC3A, LC3B, and ATG7, were significantly elevated in the treatment groups. Moreover, both ACR and GLY compounds altered the expression of the epigenetic and MAPK signaling pathway regulators, such as DPPA3, EZH1, EZH2, EED, DUSP1, and ASK1. These disruptions collectively impaired embryonic development. This study underscores the adverse effects of ACR and GLY on reproductive health, driven by oxidative stress, genotoxicity, dysregulated autophagy, and epigenetic alterations.

This study aims to examine the relationship between meteorological factors, specifically temperature, solar radiation, and ozone concentration levels. Levels of surface ozone were monitored (O₃) in Chonburi, Thailand (located at 3.2017° N, 101.2524° E), from January 2010 to December 2020. Thailand's coastal tropical environment provided a unique setting for the study. The study revealed a distinctive seasonal trend in ozone levels, with the highest concentrations occurring during the winter and the lowest in the rainy season, on average. The increase of O₃ in the summer was primarily attributed to intense ground-level solar radiation and higher temperatures of around 30-35 °C, enhancing O₃ concentrations ranging from 200 to 1400. During the winter, there is an increased elimination of the O₃ concentration by higher levels of NO₂. The study also examined the relationship between ozone levels and various meteorological factors to identify which had the most significant impact on ozone formation. The analysis showed that the ozone concentration has a strong negative correlation with relative humidity but is positively correlated with solar radiation, temperature, and wind speed.

Phthalates are widely used plasticizers that can leach from consumer products and pose potential health risks, particularly to infants whose developing systems are vulnerable to environmental toxicants. While various exposure pathways have been identified, the contribution of dermal absorption from disposable diapers remains inadequately characterized. This study recruited 66 infants from Guangzhou, a representative city in southern China. Paired disposable diaper and urine samples were collected from each participant. Six phthalates in the diapers and nine metabolites in the urine were quantitatively analyzed. The predominant phthalate detected in the diapers was bis-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP, with a median concentration of 1670 ng/g, range: 678-5200 ng/g), followed by di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP, 948 ng/g, range: 189-5980 ng/g), di-iso-butyl phthalate (DiBP, 333 ng/g, range: 16.1-4910 ng/g), and diethyl phthalate (DEP, 252 ng/g, range: 116-3350 ng/g). In urine, metabolites of DEHP (mEHP, mEHHP, and mEOHP) were the most abundant (87.1 ng/mL), followed by mnBP (metabolites of DnBP, 44.6 ng/mL), mEP (metabolites of DEP, 33.7 ng/mL), and miBP (metabolites of DiBP, 13.9 ng/mL). A positive correlation was observed between DnBP levels in diapers and mnBP levels in urine (r = 0.259, p = 0.035). Additionally, several urinary metabolites (miBP, mnBP, and mEP) were positively associated with a biomarker of DNA oxidative damage, 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (r = 0.265-0.316, p < 0.01). The estimated daily uptake of DEP, DiBP, DnBP, and DEHP through dermal absorption from diapers accounted for 44.9%, 19.5%, 15.1%, and 7.76% of total exposure to these phthalates, respectively. These findings suggest that dermal absorption from diapers is a significant exposure pathway for infants. Given that both the amount of exposure and the contribution of dermal uptake are higher in younger infants, further attention is warranted to understand the potential effects of transdermal phthalate exposure on infant growth and development.