Toxics最新文献

Conventional cigarette smoke and electronic cigarette vapor contain toxic compounds that may impair immune function, particularly in the spleen. This study evaluated histopathological changes in the spleen in male white rats (Rattus norvegicus, n = 32) divided into four groups: control, conventional-cigarette smoke (CCS), electronic cigarette vapor (ECS), and transitional cigarette smoke (TCS). The TCS group was sequentially exposed to CCS for 15 days followed by ECS for 15 days, with twice-daily exposure. Spleen tissues were analyzed semi-quantitatively using ImageJ and statistically using the Kruskal-Wallis test after Shapiro-Wilk normality testing. Comparisons among the four groups showed significant differences in necrosis (p = 0.025) and vascular degeneration (p = 0.027). In contrast, hemosiderin, congestion, stretching, and vacuolization parameters did not show statistically significant differences among groups (p > 0.05). These findings suggest that switching from conventional cigarettes to e-cigarettes does not protect against splenic damage and may exacerbate immune dysfunction due to cumulative toxic exposure.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of synthetic chemicals used in daily life and industrial production. Due to their widespread use, these compounds are frequently detected in environmental samples. Many studies have shown that PFAS pose a significant threat to both ecological environments and human health, leading to widespread public concern. This study developed and optimized an analytical method for the detection of 32 common PFAS compounds in chemical additives and environmental samples, including oil displacement agents, groundwater and soil, utilizing High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Quadrupole-Orbitrap High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS) technology. Applications in an eastern Chinese oilfield revealed significant PFAS accumulation, with ∑PFAS concentrations in groundwater and soil at the well site ranging from 212.29 to 262.80 ng/L and from 23.70 to 71.65 ng/g, respectively, exceeding background levels by 10-fold. The oil displacement agents used in oilfields are one of the important sources of PFAS, particularly p-perfluorous nonenoxybenzenesulfonate (OBS), a perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) substitute. Soil analysis indicated greater mobility of short-chain PFAS, while long-chain compounds adsorbed more readily to surface layers. Molecular docking and quantitative structure-property relationship (QSPR) modeling suggest that the bioaccumulation potential of OBS is high and comparable to that of PFOS. Zebrafish embryo assays demonstrated that OBS induced significant concentration-dependent cardiac developmental toxicity, including pericardial edema and apoptosis, showing 1.5-2.4 times greater toxicity than PFOS across multiple endpoints. These findings reveal OBS as a pervasive contaminant with elevated environmental and health risks, necessitating urgent re-evaluation of its use as a PFOS substitute.

Currently, water pollution is one of the major global environmental sustainability and public health issues that requires efficient and viable remediation technologies, as existing decontamination methods face limitations. In this sense, this review aims to highlight the potential of multifunctional aerogel-based magnetic nanocomposites as a novel strategy for water decontamination by integrating magnetic nanostructures into aerogel matrices that promote high adsorption capacity, selective catalysis, and facile magnetic recovery. In this regard, providing a comprehensive analysis of their functional design, contaminant-removal mechanisms, and multifunctional performance is crucial for developing and optimizing a system capable of addressing complex pollutants through multiple mechanisms (e.g., adsorption, photocatalysis, and reductive pathways). However, ecotoxicological evaluations focus on the potential for nanoparticles to leach, induce oxidative stress, and cause aquatic toxicity, supporting the development of strategies that comply with safety principles. Additionally, this review examines the aerogels' capabilities for regeneration, operational stability, and scalability across repeated-use cycles, as well as their potential for real-world wastewater applications. Moreover, future directions for these aerogels include the development of smart, stimuli-responsive aerogels, machine-learning-based modeling, and the use of green synthesis approaches to enable sustainable water remediation strategies.

In vitro bioaccessibility tests are used to estimate the release of contaminants from environmental samples during simulated digestion, making them available for intestinal absorption. In most cases, the samples are fine-grained materials with varying chemical, physical, and mineralogical properties, but it is not always clear how these properties influence the bioaccessibility of elements. The present study focusses on the bioaccessibility of lead (Pb) and arsenic (As) in mining waste and mining-affected soils. From the literature, data from mining waste and mining-affected soil samples were used to investigate the relation between chemical (element composition, pH, organic carbon content), physical (grain size distribution), and mineralogical properties of the samples and the gastric and intestinal bioaccessibility of Pb and As. Mean gastric As bioaccessibility was significantly lower in acidic samples than neutral and alkaline samples. A significant difference was also found between As and Pb bioaccessibility in mining residues and mining-affected soil samples. Overall, total Pb an As concentrations and pH were the most significant predictors of Pb and As bioaccessibility. Due to the lack of (quantitative) mineralogical data in many papers, it was not possible to make precise predictions of As and Pb bioaccessibility based on mineralogical sample composition. Despite the challenging nature of quantitative mineralogical characterization, it can contribute to a more precise estimation of the bioavailability of Pb and As in mining waste. Given their significant impact on the bioavailability of metal(loid)s, pH and the (quantitative) mineralogical sample composition should be more systematically determined and reported.

This study explored the efficacy, residue dynamics, and dietary risks of sulfoxaflor and flupyradifurone in Cudrania tricuspidata. Following two applications, residue levels of sulfoxaflor and flupyradifurone decreased from 0.254 to 0.012 mg/kg and 0.732 to 0.016 mg/kg, respectively, over a period of 22 days. The half-lives (t_1/2) in fruits and leaves ranged from 7.0 to 13.6 days. LC-MS/MS analysis showed recovery rates of 79.8-94.9% and RSD < 8.5%. Both pesticides effectively controlled hemipteran pests, reducing aphid and spotted lanternfly populations by >90%. Acute and chronic dietary risk assessments indicated acute hazard index (aHI) and chronic hazard quotient (HQ) values remarkably < 1, suggesting a negligible health risk. According to these results, sulfoxaflor and flupyradifurone have recently been registered as pesticides for C. tricuspidata against hemipteran pests, with a recommended pre-harvest interval of 7 days, as projected residue levels (0.078-5.213 mg/kg) were below established maximum residue limits (MRLs). These findings indicate a low dietary risk associated with sulfoxaflor and flupyradifurone in C. tricuspidata when applied according to the evaluated application rates and pre-harvest interval.

Arsenic (As) contamination in paddy soils poses a serious risk to rice safety and human health. To mitigate this issue, we developed a low-temperature, partially pyrolyzed Fe/Mn/Mg-modified biochar (FMM-BC) and evaluated its performance and mechanisms for remediating As-contaminated soil through a pakchoi-rice rotation pot experiment, aiming to reduce As accumulation in rice grains and pakchoi. The results indicated that FMM-BC application altered soil physicochemical properties and As speciation, reducing both water-soluble and bioavailable As and promoting its transformation from exchangeable to more stable organic-bound and residual fractions. Compared with the control, FMM-BC application reduced arsenic content in rice stems, leaves, and brown rice to 1.94 mg∙kg^-1, 5.24 mg∙kg^-1, and 1.21 mg∙kg^-1, respectively. In contrast, unmodified biochar (BC) increased As bioavailability and plant uptake, underscoring the importance of Fe/Mn/Mg modification. FMM-BC also enhanced the translocation of Fe, Mn, and Mg within rice plants, thereby modifying internal As transport dynamics and suppressing its accumulation in aboveground tissues. Under FMM-BC treatment, arsenic content in pakchoi stems and leaves decreased to 1.19 mg∙kg^-1 (vs. 1.96 mg∙kg^-1 in the control), and brown rice declined to 0.27 mg∙kg^-1 (vs. 1.49 mg∙kg^-1 in the control)-well below the national food safety threshold (0.35 mg∙kg^-1). These findings demonstrate that FMM-BC effectively stabilizes As in contaminated soils and reduces its transfer to edible plant parts, with Fe/Mn/Mg playing a key role in enhancing As immobilization and limiting its mobility within the soil-plant system.

Acrylamide is a heat-induced food contaminant that can be formed through the Maillard reaction between reducing sugars and asparagine in carbohydrate-rich foods. It is recognized as having carcinogenic, neurotoxic, and reproductive risks, prompting global regulatory and research attention. This review synthesizes recent advances (2013-2025) in understanding acrylamide's formation mechanisms, detection methods, mitigation strategies, and health implications. Analytical innovations such as LC-MS/MS have enabled detection at trace levels (≤10 µg/kg), supporting process optimization and compliance monitoring. Effective mitigation strategies combine cooking adjustments, ingredient reformulation, and novel technologies, including vacuum frying, ohmic heating, and predictive modeling, which can achieve up to a 70% reduction in certain food categories. Dietary polyphenols and fibers also hold promise, lowering acrylamide formation and bioavailability through carbonyl trapping and enhanced detoxification. However, significant gaps remain in bioavailability assessment, analysis of metabolic fate (glycidamide conversion), and standardized global monitoring. This review emphasizes that a sustainable reduction in dietary acrylamide requires a multidisciplinary framework integrating mechanistic modeling, green processing, regulatory oversight, and consumer education. Bridging science, industry, and policy is essential to ensure safer food systems and minimize long-term public health risks.

Laboratory and field investigations were used to assess the toxicity of leachate from a closed sanitary landfill on benthic macroinvertebrates in coldwater trout streams located near a landfill in southeastern Minnesota, USA. Field-collected invertebrates were exposed to a range of concentrations (0-100%) of leachate during a series of 24 h and 7-day laboratory toxicity tests. Benthic macroinvertebrates also were collected from two stream sites on either side of the landfill and at a third site downstream to assess potential pollution exposure of the stream communities. Ten different taxa exposed to 100% leachate for 24 h exhibited survival ranging from 0 to 100%, with survivorship not correlated to published invertebrate pollution tolerance values. More extensive 24 h tests with the least tolerant Brachycentrus caddisfly larvae found 100% mortality at leachate concentrations > 70%, with the first mortalities observed after 3 h. Brachycentrus had 100% survival at leachate concentrations < 40%. During 7-day tests, Brachycentrus had 100% survival at all leachate concentrations of 40% and lower, but all Brachycentrus died after 2 days at concentrations of 60% and higher. Instream benthic communities, averaging 12 to 17 different taxa at the various stream sites, were rated from good to excellent based on biotic index values, with intolerant taxa present at all three stream sites. Landfill leachate has not impacted the benthic invertebrate communities in streams nearby, but leachate at higher concentrations has the potential to be toxic to a variety of local taxa.

Background: Microplastics (MPs; <5 mm) are pervasive contaminants that can compromise freshwater wetland integrity and wildlife health, yet field evidence from inland systems and non-invasive biomonitoring remains limited. To address this gap, we provide a non-invasive, feces-based baseline for a key wintering waterbird in an inland soda-lake wetland of Türkiye, supported by polymer confirmation. Methods: We evaluated MP occurrence in fecal deposits of the Greylag Goose (Anser anser), a key wintering waterbird at Lake Erçek (Eastern Anatolia, Türkiye), using non-invasive sampling across five periods (October 2024-February 2025). We collected 400 fecal deposits and pooled them into five time-specific composite samples. Accordingly, temporal comparisons are presented descriptively at the composite (period) level rather than as individual-level statistical inference and quantified suspected MPs by type, shape, size, and color; a representative subset (>300 µm; ~20%) was polymer-confirmed by FT-IR, and particle surfaces were examined by SEM-EDX. Results: In total, 959 suspected MP items were recovered, corresponding to an estimated 1.75-2.85 items per fecal deposit (composite-derived; mean 2.40). MP counts peaked in late autumn-early winter (Time 2-Time 3) and declined toward late winter (Time 5). Fibers predominated (37.22%), followed by fragments (30.55%) and pellets (18.77%); the most frequent size class was 100-300 µm (30.25%), and white/transparent particles were most common (38.52%). FT-IR identified polystyrene, polyethylene, and polyvinyl chloride, while SEM-EDX indicated weathered polymeric surfaces. Conclusions: These findings provide baseline evidence of MP exposure in an inland wetland waterbird and support feces-based monitoring for comparative assessments.

The composition of air pollutants in industrial complexes differs from that of general urban areas, often containing more hazardous substances that pose significant health risks to both workers and residents nearby. In this study, PM_2.5 and its 29 chemical components (eight ions, two carbon species, and 19 trace elements) were measured and analyzed at five monitoring sites adjacent to the Yeosu and Gwangyang industrial complexes from August 2020 to December 2024. Chemical characterization and source identification were conducted. The average PM_2.5 concentration was 18.63 ± 9.71 μg/m³, with notably higher levels observed during winter and spring. A low correlation (R = 0.56) between elemental carbon (EC) and organic carbon (OC) suggests a dominance of secondary aerosols. The charge balance analysis of [NH₄⁺] with [SO₄^2-], [NO₃^-], and [Cl^-] showed slopes below the 1:1 line, indicating that NH₄⁺ is capable of neutralizing these anions. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) identified eight contributing sources-biomass burning (10.4%), sea salt (11.8%), suspended particles (7.1%), industrial sources (4.6%), Asian dust (5.2%), steel industry (21.8%), secondary nitrate (16.4%), and secondary sulfate (22.7%). These findings provide valuable insights for the development of targeted mitigation strategies and the establishment of effective emission control policies in industrial regions.