Toxics最新文献

The journal retracts the article "Biosynthesized Iron Oxide Nanoparticles from Petroselinum crispum Leaf Extract Mitigate Lead-Acetate-Induced Anemia in Male Albino Rats: Hematological, Biochemical and Histopathological Features" [...].

Using plants to restore soils subjected to salinization and polychemic pollution can be an effective way to return agricultural land to circulation and obtain safe products. In this study, experiments were conducted with oats and lupine to evaluate their ability to purify soils contaminated with copper (II) and nickel (II) ions, carbonate and sulfate anions and oil and their combinations. The biological activity of the soil, phytotoxicity, and hydrocarbon content, as well as plant growth and biochemical parameters in polluted soil, were studied. The enzymes most sensitive to soil contamination were catalase, urease, and phosphatase. Copper ions inhibited oat root growth by 45.7% and lupine by 46.6%. Oil and its mixtures with other pollutants inhibited shoot growth by up to 50.3% in oats and up to 28.6% in lupine. The content of malonic dialdehyde increased in oats when exposed to copper, while in lupines, it increased 2.9-fold when exposed to oil. Flavonoids in oats increased with metal contamination (by 9-16.7%), while in lupines with oil (by 8.6%). Chlorophyll fluctuations were less pronounced in oats than in lupine. Despite the stress experienced by plants due to soil pollution, the degradation rate of petroleum hydrocarbons under oat and lupine crops was 33-46%. In general, oats and lupine are promising for the phytoremediation of complexly polluted and saline soils.

Phthalate esters (PAEs), ubiquitous plastic additives, have emerged as persistent contaminants in aquatic ecosystems, yet their propagation from molecular initiating events to ecosystem-level collapse remains poorly integrated. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the source-to-sink dynamics of PAEs, revealing a critical paradox in their bioaccumulation patterns: unlike classical persistent organic pollutants, high molecular weight PAEs exhibit distinct trophic dilution rather than biomagnification along food webs, driven by metabolic biotransformation in higher trophic organisms. Despite this dilution, PAEs trigger a bottom-up toxicity cascade. Driven by molecular initiating events, PAEs induce a range of adverse effects at the individual level, including immunotoxicity, neurotoxicity, endocrine disruption, metabolic dysfunction, and trans-trophic oxidative stress. Crucially, prolonged exposure drives epigenetic reprogramming, which reduces reproductive output, thereby threatening long-term population recruitment. These individual and population deficits could escalate into higher ecological consequences, specifically by diminishing benthic biological control over phytoplankton, dampening energy transfer efficiency, and simplifying community structure, thereby posing a potential threat to primary productivity and aquatic ecosystem sustainability. Despite recent advances, critical knowledge gaps remain, particularly regarding their cascading impacts on ecosystem services, as well as synergistic interactions between PAEs and other contaminants. In order to validate laboratory results with actual ecological risk assessments, future research should incorporate multi-scale models and quantitative adverse outcome Pathways as well as their synergistic interactions between PAEs and other contaminants, and advanced in vitro systems such as organoids. Resolving these issues is essential to reducing the risks that PAEs pose to aquatic environments.

To address the worsening environmental pollution caused by the large-scale release of tetracycline (TC) into the environment, this study developed an advanced oxidation system utilizing ultraviolet (UV)-activated peroxyacetic acid (PAA) for the removal of TC. The results showed that the UV/PAA system exhibited markedly enhanced performance compared to individual treatments. Under identical conditions (1.0 mM PAA, 400 W UV irradiation), the TC removal rates by PAA alone and UV irradiation alone were 25.80% and 55.05%, respectively. In contrast, the combined UV/PAA system achieved a significantly higher degradation efficiency of 79.77%, which was 3.09 times and 1.45 times higher than that of PAA and UV processes alone. This superior performance is attributed to the generation of highly reactive species within the system. The degradation process followed pseudo-first-order kinetics. An increase in TC concentration led to a decrease in degradation efficiency, whereas elevating the PAA dosage or light intensity increased the concentration of radicals in the system, thereby enhancing removal performance. Overall degradation efficiency was slightly higher under alkaline conditions compared to acidic conditions, while neutral conditions resulted in slower degradation rates. Among coexisting anions, HCO₃^- and H₂PO₄^- inhibited TC degradation, SO₄^2- and Cl^- exhibited negligible effects, and NO₃^- promoted the degradation of TC. Radical quenching experiments confirmed that hydroxyl radicals (·OH) were the dominant reactive species, working together with superoxide anion radicals (O₂·^-) and singlet oxygen (¹O₂) to drive TC degradation in the UV-activated PAA system. Experiments conducted in real water matrices demonstrated that the system could effectively degrade TC in ultrapure water, tap water, and campus lake water, highlighting its strong environmental adaptability. These findings provide both technical support and a theoretical foundation for the treatment of antibiotic pollutants.

Dysregulated lipid metabolism is increasingly implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), yet the role of lipid transporters in cigarette smoke (CS)-induced chronic pulmonary inflammation remains unclear. Phosphatidylinositol transfer protein β (PITPβ) is a key regulator of phospholipid transport and phosphatidylinositol (PI) homeostasis. This study aims to investigate the expression of PITPβ in a COPD model induced by cigarette smoke extract (CSE) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and to elucidate whether its upregulation is regulated by the epidermal growth factor receptor/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (EGFR/ERK) signaling pathway. This study established an in vivo model through combined CS and LPS exposure and an in vitro model through combined CSE and LPS treatment. In the rat model, significant pathological changes characteristic of COPD were observed, accompanied by marked upregulation of PITPβ, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) expression. In human alveolar epithelial A549 cells, combined CSE and LPS treatment not only upregulated PITPβ, TNF-α, and IL-6 expression but also enhanced the phosphorylation levels of EGFR and ERK. Inhibition or silencing of ERK reduces PITPβ expression and downregulates TNF-α and IL-6 levels, whereas overexpression of ERK produces the opposite effect. Silencing EGFR reduces ERK phosphorylation while simultaneously inhibiting PITPβ, TNF-α, and IL-6 expression. Furthermore, combining EGFR silencing with ERK inhibition further decreases PITPβ expression. These findings indicate that CSE combined with LPS induces PITPβ upregulation in chronic pulmonary inflammation, with the EGFR/ERK signaling pathway at least partially mediating this process. This suggests that PITPβ may serve as a potential therapeutic target for COPD.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a significant health issue among ageing men, with ongoing research focused on elucidating its underlying mechanisms and improving experimental models. Testosterone Propionate (TP) is the first line of choice for the induction of BPH in experimental rodent models. However, TP's controlled status as a Schedule III drug in the United States and a Class C drug in the UK presents challenges in obtaining TP for experimental use, giving preference to the sulpiride model since it is easily obtained as an alternative for the induction and study of BPH. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple electronic databases, including PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science. The primary PubMed search strategy included combinations of Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and free-text terms: ("Benign prostatic hyperplasia induction" OR "and rodent models'') AND ("Testosterone Propionate model") AND ("sulpiride model"). Studies were included if they induced BPH (using testosterone or sulpiride models). Titles and abstracts were screened for relevance; eligible articles underwent full-text review, with data extracted thematically. No formal risk-of-bias scoring was used due to the narrative approach; instead, studies were appraised by design, rigor, plausibility, and evidence. This study reviewed published and publicly available data, so no ethical approval was required. Although both TP and sulpiride induce BPH via various mechanisms, this review provides a comparative analysis of these two commonly utilised models for studying BPH. In the TP approach, castrated rodents receive daily subcutaneous injections for 4 weeks, resulting in dihydrotestosterone (DHT)-mediated epithelial hyperplasia predominantly affecting the ventral prostate lobes. Conversely, the sulpiride model is non-invasive, employs intact animals treated with sulpiride, and induces hyperprolactinemia-mediated BPH via interactions with androgen and oestrogen receptor pathways that stimulate prostatic stromal and epithelial proliferation, particularly in the lateral and dorsal lobes, representing an alternative method. We also highlight the strengths and limitations of TP and sulpiride in replicating clinical symptoms and examine the toxicological effects of sulpiride on the kidney, testis, liver, and brain. We recommend the sulpiride model for the induction and studying of BPH, as it is readily accessible and closely mimics the pathogenesis of BPH in humans, unlike the TP model, which requires castration.

We investigated benzene variability in an urban environment using an interpretable, setting-based artificial intelligence framework. A seven-year dataset (2017-2023) of hourly pollutant concentrations (benzene, NO₂, SO₂, CO, O₃) measured in Zagreb (Croatia) was analyzed, as were meteorological variables. Multiple-ensemble decision tree models were developed, with hyperparameters optimized using metaheuristic algorithms. The best-performing model, Extra Trees optimized by the Sine Cosine Algorithm, achieved an R² of 0.87. Model interpretation employed Shapley additive explanations (SHAP), followed by PaCMAP embedding and HDBSCAN clustering to identify coherent environmental settings. Seven settings (C0-C6) and one residual group were identified, representing pollution-enhancing, suppressing, and transitional regimes. Two settings dominated benzene extremes. C6 reflected winter stagnation, characterized by strong combustion influence (CO contribution of 11.9%), shallow boundary layers (~290 m), weak winds, and high humidity. C4 represented a synoptic stability regime with enhanced heat fluxes and diminished after the COVID-19 period, consistent with altered anthropogenic activity. Low-benzene settings (C0, C1, C3) were associated with stronger mixing and higher oxidizing capacity, while transitional settings (C2, C5) reflected moderate conditions. Overall, the results show that a small number of environmental settings governed the benzene extremes, providing a transferable and interpretable framework for air quality assessment and policy support.

Chlorinated paraffins (CPs) are persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic. In marine environments, most studies have focused on short-chain CPs (SCCPs) in animals, while medium-and long-chain CPs (MCCPs and LCCPs) in plants have been neglected. In this study, samples collected from kelp mariculture zones in different seasons were analyzed for the CPs' contamination characteristics and spatiotemporal distributions in seawater and contamination profiles, bioaccumulation behavior, and dietary exposure risks in kelp. In seawater, the total concentration ranges of SCCPs, MCCPs, and LCCPs were 25.44-245.75, 8.24-27.19, and not detected at 3.26 ng/L, respectively. Spatially, the CP concentrations were influenced by industrial discharge, riverine inputs, and dilution effects, and were significantly higher in nearshore water than in offshore areas (p < 0.05). The concentrations were significantly higher in February than in May, which was attributed to emissions from winter heating and reduced vessel activity during a fishing moratorium. In kelp, the total concentration ranges of SCCPs, MCCPs, and LCCPs were 5.4-210.9, 0.007-0.87, and 0.0-4.45 ng/g wet weight, respectively. Kelp exhibited significant growth-stage-dependent bioaccumulation of CPs, with higher CP concentrations and bioaccumulation factors in its tender stage (February) than during its mature stage (May). Congener analysis revealed similar composition patterns between seawater and kelp. According to a dietary risk assessment (hazard quotient < 0.01), the potential health risks associated with kelp consumption are low.

Acrylate-based self-polishing copolymer antifouling paint particles (SPC-APPs) are persistent micropollutants that act as carriers for biocidal heavy metals, posing significant ecological hazards to aquatic ecosystems. Despite their toxicity, the occurrence, characterization, and metal-leaching risks of SPC-APPs in estuarine environments remain largely understudied. This study investigated the contamination characteristics of SPC-APPs in surface sediments from the Yangtze River Estuary, a hotspot of shipping activity. A multi-technique analytical protocol was employed, combining density separation with scanning electron microscopy-energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) to characterize the morphology, quantify particle abundance, and assess the correlation between SPC-APPs and sedimentary heavy metals. SPC-APPs were ubiquitously detected across all sampling sites, with abundances ranging from (0.82 ± 0.15) × 10³ to (3.65 ± 0.42) × 10³ particles g^-1 dry sediment. A distinct distribution property (South Branch > North Branch > offshore shoal) was identified, primarily driven by shipping density and hydrodynamic sorting. Morphologically, particles exhibited irregular, abraded surfaces, with EDS confirming Cu (1.76~5.63 wt%) and Zn (0.27~3.65 wt%) as major metallic components. Py-GC/MS analysis identified specific mass fragments (m/z 41, 69, 87) as diagnostic markers. Strong positive correlations were observed between SPC-APP abundance and sediment Cu (r = 0.82, p < 0.01) and Zn (r = 0.76, p < 0.01) concentrations, indicating that these particles are a primary source of metal contamination. Ecological risk assessment based on sediment quality benchmarks showed that Cu in the South Branch reached 82~91% of the probable effect concentration (PEC), highlighting potential risks to benthic organisms. This study provides critical baseline data on the distribution and speciation of SPC-APPs, underscoring their role as vectors for toxic metals and the need for targeted pollution control in high-shipping-intensity estuarine regions.