Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-27DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.119935
Lei Han , Guy Smagghe , Yi Yu , Chun Liu , Tingcai Cheng
Insects are foundational to ecosystem stability, biodiversity, and essential services such as pollination and nutrient cycling. However, global declines in insect biomass highlight the urgent need to characterize emerging ecological stressors. Microplastics (MPs), a pollutant of global concern, have recently been recognized as potential disruptors of terrestrial ecosystems, yet their interactions with insect biology remain poorly resolved. Using a PRISMA-based systematic review, the present study provides the first integrative synthesis of insect-MP dynamics, emphasizing exposure pathways, toxicological mechanisms, and ecological implications. Evidence indicates that MPs not only infiltrate insect habitats through pervasive anthropogenic inputs but are also actively processed by insects, which fragment macroplastics into secondary MPs, which are representing an overlooked amplification pathway of plastic pollution. Accumulation of MPs within insect tissues is increasingly associated with oxidative stress, inflammation, and disruptions in digestion, neural function, and reproduction. Furthermore, MPs serve as vectors for co-contaminants, amplifying composite toxicological risks. By consolidating mechanistic and empirical findings, the present review identifies critical data gaps and proposes directions for developing predictive models and risk assessment frameworks tailored to terrestrial invertebrates. Recognizing insects as both receptors and transformers of MPs reframes current paradigms of pollution fate and effect, advancing the scientific basis for assessing emerging stressors in terrestrial ecosystems.
{"title":"Insects at the crossroads of microplastics pollution: Mechanistic insights, ecological risks, and research frontiers","authors":"Lei Han , Guy Smagghe , Yi Yu , Chun Liu , Tingcai Cheng","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.119935","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.119935","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Insects are foundational to ecosystem stability, biodiversity, and essential services such as pollination and nutrient cycling. However, global declines in insect biomass highlight the urgent need to characterize emerging ecological stressors. Microplastics (MPs), a pollutant of global concern, have recently been recognized as potential disruptors of terrestrial ecosystems, yet their interactions with insect biology remain poorly resolved. Using a PRISMA-based systematic review, the present study provides the first integrative synthesis of insect-MP dynamics, emphasizing exposure pathways, toxicological mechanisms, and ecological implications. Evidence indicates that MPs not only infiltrate insect habitats through pervasive anthropogenic inputs but are also actively processed by insects, which fragment macroplastics into secondary MPs, which are representing an overlooked amplification pathway of plastic pollution. Accumulation of MPs within insect tissues is increasingly associated with oxidative stress, inflammation, and disruptions in digestion, neural function, and reproduction. Furthermore, MPs serve as vectors for co-contaminants, amplifying composite toxicological risks. By consolidating mechanistic and empirical findings, the present review identifies critical data gaps and proposes directions for developing predictive models and risk assessment frameworks tailored to terrestrial invertebrates. Recognizing insects as both receptors and transformers of MPs reframes current paradigms of pollution fate and effect, advancing the scientific basis for assessing emerging stressors in terrestrial ecosystems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":303,"journal":{"name":"Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety","volume":"312 ","pages":"Article 119935"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147321005","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The application of herbicides is considered crucial for ensuring high and stable agricultural productivity. As one of the most widely used herbicide categories, phenylurea herbicides (PUHs) effectively prevent weed-induced damage to crops and have been extensively employed in contemporary agricultural practices. However, it cannot be overlooked that the extensive use of PUHs may lead to unintended long-term detrimental effects on the environment due to their multiple sources and persistent residues in ecological systems, particularly in soil and water, thereby posing a potential threat to human health. Therefore, given the metabolic complexity of PUHs in ecological environments and their presence at trace-level and dynamic concentrations, it has become imperative to develop efficient sample pretreatment techniques and analytical detection methodologies for complex environmental matrices. Herein, pretreatment methods for the extraction, enrichment, and preconcentration of PUHs as well as the strategies for their screening, identification, and quantitation developed in the past 5–10 years have been reviewed. Furthermore, recent advancements in various methodologies are summarized, with the characteristics and advantages of each approach included. Future perspectives regarding pretreatment and detection techniques for PUHs are also discussed, aiming to provide valuable references for monitoring hazardous substances in the environment.
{"title":"Emerging techniques for the extraction and determination of phenylurea herbicides in the environment","authors":"Yi-xin Zhang , Yuan Zhang , Mei-di Wang , Wen-hao Shao , Hong-xu Zhou , Xue-song Feng , Han-shu Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.119863","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.119863","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The application of herbicides is considered crucial for ensuring high and stable agricultural productivity. As one of the most widely used herbicide categories, phenylurea herbicides (PUHs) effectively prevent weed-induced damage to crops and have been extensively employed in contemporary agricultural practices. However, it cannot be overlooked that the extensive use of PUHs may lead to unintended long-term detrimental effects on the environment due to their multiple sources and persistent residues in ecological systems, particularly in soil and water, thereby posing a potential threat to human health. Therefore, given the metabolic complexity of PUHs in ecological environments and their presence at trace-level and dynamic concentrations, it has become imperative to develop efficient sample pretreatment techniques and analytical detection methodologies for complex environmental matrices. Herein, pretreatment methods for the extraction, enrichment, and preconcentration of PUHs as well as the strategies for their screening, identification, and quantitation developed in the past 5–10 years have been reviewed. Furthermore, recent advancements in various methodologies are summarized, with the characteristics and advantages of each approach included. Future perspectives regarding pretreatment and detection techniques for PUHs are also discussed, aiming to provide valuable references for monitoring hazardous substances in the environment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":303,"journal":{"name":"Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety","volume":"312 ","pages":"Article 119863"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147281223","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-23DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.119909
Nour El Houda Keddari , Xiaotong Jian , Qing Wang , Manthar Ali Mallah , Qiao Zhang , Xiaojun Ma , Feifei Feng
Insulin resistance significantly contributes to diabetes; it can be influenced not only by lifestyle but also by environmental contaminants. Emerging evidence suggests that perchlorate, nitrate, and thiocyanate—widely dispersed sodium/iodide symporter (NIS)-inhibiting pollutants— might influence insulin resistance; however, their direct associations remain insufficiently investigated. Using NHANES data, this study investigated whether urinary levels of these chemicals correlate with insulin resistance, addressing a critical gap in understanding environmental contributors to diabetes risk. We analyzed 2011–2020 NHANES data from 3047 U.S. adults (≥20 years). Insulin resistance was assessed via HOMA-IR, with values > 2.6 being used to define insulin resistance. Weighted multivariable regression models showed that the highest tertile of perchlorate exposure demonstrated positive associations with HOMA-IR (β=0.13, [95 % CI: 0.03, 0.23]) and insulin resistance (OR=1.96, [95 % CI: 1.20, 3.22]) in fully adjusted models. (RCS) Analyses revealed an inverted U-shaped nonlinear dose–response relationship between nitrate exposure and both HOMA-IR and insulin resistance. Stratified analyses identified pronounced effects among obese individuals (BMI≥30 kg/m²), with perchlorate showing the strongest association (HOMA-IR β=0.45, [95 % CI: 0.31, 0.59]; insulin resistance OR=3.47, [95 % CI: 1.93, 6.23]). Similar patterns emerged for those with large waist circumference (≥100 cm). Weighted quantile sum regression indicated a significant positive trend mixture effect (HOMA-IR β=0.06, [95 % CI: 0.02, 0.12]), with perchlorate contributing most substantially (weight=0.74). However, BKMR further captured the complex joint effects of the chemical mixture, demonstrating component-specific and nonlinear exposure–response relationships, with perchlorate emerging as the primary contributor to the mixture-related metabolic effects. In conclusion, this study identified a positive association between higher perchlorate exposure and insulin resistance, with obesity markedly potentiating this association, underscoring the need to consider environmental chemical exposures in diabetes prevention strategies.
{"title":"Individual and co-exposure to perchlorate, nitrate, and thiocyanate and insulin resistance in the U.S population: A dominant role of perchlorate","authors":"Nour El Houda Keddari , Xiaotong Jian , Qing Wang , Manthar Ali Mallah , Qiao Zhang , Xiaojun Ma , Feifei Feng","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.119909","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.119909","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Insulin resistance significantly contributes to diabetes; it can be influenced not only by lifestyle but also by environmental contaminants. Emerging evidence suggests that perchlorate, nitrate, and thiocyanate—widely dispersed sodium/iodide symporter (NIS)-inhibiting pollutants— might influence insulin resistance; however, their direct associations remain insufficiently investigated. Using NHANES data, this study investigated whether urinary levels of these chemicals correlate with insulin resistance, addressing a critical gap in understanding environmental contributors to diabetes risk. We analyzed 2011–2020 NHANES data from 3047 U.S. adults (≥20 years). Insulin resistance was assessed via HOMA-IR, with values > 2.6 being used to define insulin resistance. Weighted multivariable regression models showed that the highest tertile of perchlorate exposure demonstrated positive associations with HOMA-IR (β=0.13, [95 % CI: 0.03, 0.23]) and insulin resistance (OR=1.96, [95 % CI: 1.20, 3.22]) in fully adjusted models. (RCS) Analyses revealed an inverted U-shaped nonlinear dose–response relationship between nitrate exposure and both HOMA-IR and insulin resistance. Stratified analyses identified pronounced effects among obese individuals (BMI≥30 kg/m²), with perchlorate showing the strongest association (HOMA-IR β=0.45, [95 % CI: 0.31, 0.59]; insulin resistance OR=3.47, [95 % CI: 1.93, 6.23]). Similar patterns emerged for those with large waist circumference (≥100 cm). Weighted quantile sum regression indicated a significant positive trend mixture effect (HOMA-IR β=0.06, [95 % CI: 0.02, 0.12]), with perchlorate contributing most substantially (weight=0.74). However, BKMR further captured the complex joint effects of the chemical mixture, demonstrating component-specific and nonlinear exposure–response relationships, with perchlorate emerging as the primary contributor to the mixture-related metabolic effects. In conclusion, this study identified a positive association between higher perchlorate exposure and insulin resistance, with obesity markedly potentiating this association, underscoring the need to consider environmental chemical exposures in diabetes prevention strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":303,"journal":{"name":"Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety","volume":"312 ","pages":"Article 119909"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147281397","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-23DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.119928
Yinhan Li , Ying Wang , Ying Ma , Weichieh Yang , Guangxia Yu , Huangyuan Li , Weidong Cong , Siying Wu , Hong Hu
Artificial light at night (ALAN) has been classified as a significant environmental endocrine disruptor. Excessive exposure to ALAN has associated with an increased risk of depression. With the extensive use of high-density blue light LED screens, the risk of blue light exposure at night has increased. Animal studies have suggested a close relationship between blue light and depression, but the research on human population is limited. The mechanisms linking blue light to depression require in-depth investigation. We investigated whether nighttime artificial blue light exposure (NABLE) serves as a potential independent risk factor for depression and explored its underlying molecular mechanisms. A case-control study demonstrated that prolonged nighttime device use (> 4 h), high blue-light display patterns, and the use of nightlights during sleep were significantly associated with depressive symptoms in adolescents. This association was independent of demographic and sleep-related factors. Machine learning analyses confirmed these exposures as key predictors of depression. Our previous experimental work demonstrated that blue light exposure during sleep (BLS) induced depression-like behaviors in rodents. Building upon this, we have now reported that BLS elevates lactic acid levels in the lateral habenula (LHb), which upregulates the RNA demethylase ALKBH5 and modifies N6-methyladenosine (m6A) level. This cascade disrupts neuronal plasticity and induces depression-like phenotypes. Further validating the mechanism, LHb-specific ALKBH5 knockdown reduced both behavioral and synaptic abnormalities, while peripheral blood samples from adolescents with high NABLE exposure exhibited increased Alkbh5 expression. In conclusion, our findings indicate that NABLE is significantly associated with adolescent depression. The identified lactic acid-ALKBH5-m6A axis correlates environmental light exposure with neuroplasticity and mood regulation. These findings provide mechanistic insight into environmentally light-associated depression and highlight the significance of managing nocturnal blue light exposure as a potential preventive strategy for adolescent mental health.
{"title":"Role of lactic acid-mediated ALKBH5 in depression induced by blue light exposure at night","authors":"Yinhan Li , Ying Wang , Ying Ma , Weichieh Yang , Guangxia Yu , Huangyuan Li , Weidong Cong , Siying Wu , Hong Hu","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.119928","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.119928","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Artificial light at night (ALAN) has been classified as a significant environmental endocrine disruptor. Excessive exposure to ALAN has associated with an increased risk of depression. With the extensive use of high-density blue light LED screens, the risk of blue light exposure at night has increased. Animal studies have suggested a close relationship between blue light and depression, but the research on human population is limited. The mechanisms linking blue light to depression require in-depth investigation. We investigated whether nighttime artificial blue light exposure (NABLE) serves as a potential independent risk factor for depression and explored its underlying molecular mechanisms. A case-control study demonstrated that prolonged nighttime device use (> 4 h), high blue-light display patterns, and the use of nightlights during sleep were significantly associated with depressive symptoms in adolescents. This association was independent of demographic and sleep-related factors. Machine learning analyses confirmed these exposures as key predictors of depression. Our previous experimental work demonstrated that blue light exposure during sleep (BLS) induced depression-like behaviors in rodents. Building upon this, we have now reported that BLS elevates lactic acid levels in the lateral habenula (LHb), which upregulates the RNA demethylase ALKBH5 and modifies N<sup>6</sup>-methyladenosine (m<sup>6</sup>A) level. This cascade disrupts neuronal plasticity and induces depression-like phenotypes. Further validating the mechanism, LHb-specific ALKBH5 knockdown reduced both behavioral and synaptic abnormalities, while peripheral blood samples from adolescents with high NABLE exposure exhibited increased <em>Alkbh5</em> expression. In conclusion, our findings indicate that NABLE is significantly associated with adolescent depression. The identified lactic acid-ALKBH5-m<sup>6</sup>A axis correlates environmental light exposure with neuroplasticity and mood regulation. These findings provide mechanistic insight into environmentally light-associated depression and highlight the significance of managing nocturnal blue light exposure as a potential preventive strategy for adolescent mental health.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":303,"journal":{"name":"Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety","volume":"312 ","pages":"Article 119928"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147281355","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-24DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.119918
Miao Zheng , Di Sun , Xinru Lin , Xinyao Liu , Shengxue Wang , Bo Gao , Yang Wang , Yuzhong Gao
With the increasingly serious water pollution, effectively removing heavy metal ions and drug residues from wastewater has become a key issue in environmental protection. A 3D network Fe-MIL/magnetic P-doped biochar material (Fe-MIL/Fe-PBC) has been constructed through the strategies of simultaneous heteroatom doping and morphology modulation, magnetization modification, charge modulation and confined recombination to achieve the co-adsorption of drug residues and anionic heavy metals within the pH range of 3–12. Therefore, in real water samples (pH 6–9), Fe-MIL/Fe-PBC can achieve good co-adsorption. The Fe-MIL/Fe-PBC showed excellent adsorption ability for As(V) (AsO43-) and meloxicam (MLX) in the single and binary systems (single: qAs=250.00 mg g−1, qMLX=352.58 mg g−1; binary: qAs=303.03 mg g−1, qMLX=400.00 mg g−1). This is mainly due to the inert activation effect as well as the additional active sites brought by P doping and MIL recombination to the BC-based materials, aided by the charge regulation of the magnetic components. The sponge-packed column filled with Fe-MIL/Fe-PBC demonstrates the ability to continuously remove MLX (195 B.V.) and As(V) (85 B.V.) from water. Fe-MIL/Fe-PBC possesses strong water treatment capabilities and high resistance to interference. Furthermore, the removal efficiency of MLX and As for Fe-MIL/Fe-PBC in 7 cycles was both above 80 %, proving that the material has favorable reusability. The outcomes of the experiment and the characterization findings mutually validate one another, offering robust support for the hypothesized adsorption mechanism. In conclusion, the Fe-MIL/Fe-PBC exhibits extensive application potential in the realm of environmental remediation.
{"title":"Hexagonal bipyramidal Fe-MIL confined grown on network magnetic P-doped biochar: Efficient co-adsorption of As(V) and meloxicam","authors":"Miao Zheng , Di Sun , Xinru Lin , Xinyao Liu , Shengxue Wang , Bo Gao , Yang Wang , Yuzhong Gao","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.119918","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.119918","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>With the increasingly serious water pollution, effectively removing heavy metal ions and drug residues from wastewater has become a key issue in environmental protection. A 3D network Fe-MIL/magnetic P-doped biochar material (Fe-MIL/Fe-PBC) has been constructed through the strategies of simultaneous heteroatom doping and morphology modulation, magnetization modification, charge modulation and confined recombination to achieve the co-adsorption of drug residues and anionic heavy metals within the pH range of 3–12. Therefore, in real water samples (pH 6–9), Fe-MIL/Fe-PBC can achieve good co-adsorption. The Fe-MIL/Fe-PBC showed excellent adsorption ability for As(V) (AsO<sub>4</sub><sup>3-</sup>) and meloxicam (MLX) in the single and binary systems (single: q<sub>As</sub>=250.00 mg g<sup>−1</sup>, q<sub>MLX</sub>=352.58 mg g<sup>−1</sup>; binary: q<sub>As</sub>=303.03 mg g<sup>−1</sup>, q<sub>MLX</sub>=400.00 mg g<sup>−1</sup>). This is mainly due to the inert activation effect as well as the additional active sites brought by P doping and MIL recombination to the BC-based materials, aided by the charge regulation of the magnetic components. The sponge-packed column filled with Fe-MIL/Fe-PBC demonstrates the ability to continuously remove MLX (195 B.V.) and As(V) (85 B.V.) from water. Fe-MIL/Fe-PBC possesses strong water treatment capabilities and high resistance to interference. Furthermore, the removal efficiency of MLX and As for Fe-MIL/Fe-PBC in 7 cycles was both above 80 %, proving that the material has favorable reusability. The outcomes of the experiment and the characterization findings mutually validate one another, offering robust support for the hypothesized adsorption mechanism. In conclusion, the Fe-MIL/Fe-PBC exhibits extensive application potential in the realm of environmental remediation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":303,"journal":{"name":"Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety","volume":"312 ","pages":"Article 119918"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147300564","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-23DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.119860
Muhammad Atif Irshad , Ali Irfan , Aqil Inam , Uzma Zulfiqar , Sami A. Al-Hussain , Khawar Sultan , Afzal Hussain , Aamal A. Al-Mutairi , Rab Nawaz , Magdi E.A. Zaki
Agricultural productivity is seriously threatened by environmental stresses, including both biotic and abiotic factors. The consumption of wheat (Triticum aestivum) as a staple crop is associated with increased risks to human health due to contamination with cadmium (Cd) and fungal infections caused by Ustilago tritici. The current study investigates the influence of the cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO2 NPs) combined with wheat husk biochar (BC) on T. aestivum for the antifungal activity cultivated on cadmium (Cd) contaminated soil. To determine the efficacy of CeO2 NPs alone and in combination with BC against the fungal attack of Ustilago tritici under the cadmium (Cd)-contaminated soil, which harms wheat crop yields worldwide. The investigation was carried out during the wheat growing season, using T. aestivum grown in the natural field condition. Cerium oxide NPs were foliar sprayed twice on wheat plants at three given levels: NPs 0 (0 mg L−1), NPs 50 (50 mg L−1), and NPs 100 (100 mg L−1), with BC used at 0 %, 0.5 %, 1.0 %, and 1.5 %, respectively, into the soil before seed sowing. The results of the current study indicated that 1.5 % BC along with 100 mg L−1 CeO2 NPs had a synergistic effect on wheat growth, increasing the height from 98 cm to 140 cm along with an increase in spike length from 8 cm to 18 cm and achieving a combined grain and straw yield of 8 tons ha−1. There was a remarkable increase in photosynthetic rate (7.4), transpiration rate (1.5), and stomatal conductance (1.4) together with an increase in chlorophyll a (2.5 mg g−1 FW) and chlorophyll b (2.65 mg g−1 FW) contents. The activities of antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase increased whereas the advanced oxidative stress markers electrolyte leakage (EL), malondialdehyde (MDA), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels dropped substantially. Moreover, the disease severity index was reduced from 75 % logged in the control to as low as 28 % for the combined treatment, portraying an increase in resistance to stress. Hence, this combined treatment has strong anti-fungal potential on U. tritici under the Cd-contaminated conditions, making it a promising technique for mitigating environmental illnesses and agricultural losses throughout the world.
{"title":"Synergistics effect of novel nano biochar on wheat growth, yield and antifungal response under cadmium contaminated soil: A field study","authors":"Muhammad Atif Irshad , Ali Irfan , Aqil Inam , Uzma Zulfiqar , Sami A. Al-Hussain , Khawar Sultan , Afzal Hussain , Aamal A. Al-Mutairi , Rab Nawaz , Magdi E.A. Zaki","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.119860","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.119860","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Agricultural productivity is seriously threatened by environmental stresses, including both biotic and abiotic factors. The consumption of wheat (<em>Triticum aestivum</em>) as a staple crop is associated with increased risks to human health due to contamination with cadmium (Cd) and fungal infections caused by <em>Ustilago tritici</em>. The current study investigates the influence of the cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO<sub>2</sub> NPs) combined with wheat husk biochar (BC) on <em>T. aestivum</em> for the antifungal activity cultivated on cadmium (Cd) contaminated soil. To determine the efficacy of CeO<sub>2</sub> NPs alone and in combination with BC against the fungal attack of <em>Ustilago tritici</em> under the cadmium (Cd)-contaminated soil, which harms wheat crop yields worldwide. The investigation was carried out during the wheat growing season, using <em>T. aestivum</em> grown in the natural field condition. Cerium oxide NPs were foliar sprayed twice on wheat plants at three given levels: NPs 0 (0 mg L<sup>−1</sup>), NPs 50 (50 mg L<sup>−1</sup>), and NPs 100 (100 mg L<sup>−1</sup>), with BC used at 0 %, 0.5 %, 1.0 %, and 1.5 %, respectively, into the soil before seed sowing. The results of the current study indicated that 1.5 % BC along with 100 mg L<sup>−1</sup> CeO<sub>2</sub> NPs had a synergistic effect on wheat growth, increasing the height from 98 cm to 140 cm along with an increase in spike length from 8 cm to 18 cm and achieving a combined grain and straw yield of 8 tons ha<sup>−1</sup>. There was a remarkable increase in photosynthetic rate (7.4), transpiration rate (1.5), and stomatal conductance (1.4) together with an increase in chlorophyll a (2.5 mg g<sup>−1</sup> FW) and chlorophyll b (2.65 mg g<sup>−1</sup> FW) contents. The activities of antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase increased whereas the advanced oxidative stress markers electrolyte leakage (EL), malondialdehyde (MDA), and hydrogen peroxide (H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>) levels dropped substantially. Moreover, the disease severity index was reduced from 75 % logged in the control to as low as 28 % for the combined treatment, portraying an increase in resistance to stress. Hence, this combined treatment has strong anti-fungal potential on <em>U. tritici</em> under the Cd-contaminated conditions, making it a promising technique for mitigating environmental illnesses and agricultural losses throughout the world.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":303,"journal":{"name":"Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety","volume":"312 ","pages":"Article 119860"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147281482","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Personal care products (PCPs) are widely used for external applications on the body, and their increased consumption has raised concerns about their potential environmental impact, particularly in aquatic ecosystems. Evaluating the aquatic ecotoxicity of PCPs is essential, but the process is a long and difficult task. Thus, it is crucial to employ tools for rapid screening. The quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) approach can leverage existing data to identify potentially hazardous PCPs quickly. This study uses QSAR models to assess the aquatic ecotoxicity of 159 PCPs across three organisms’ algae, crustaceans, and fish providing a broader ecological perspective than traditional methods, which typically focus on a single organism. A QSAR model was implemented using CORAL software, which utilizes the SMILES format to predict aquatic toxicity. However, traditional SMILES do not incorporate experimental context, limiting prediction accuracy. To address this, the Quasi-SMILES method extends the traditional SMILES notation by incorporating experimental conditions related to three key organisms of the aquatic trophic level algae (Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata), crustacean (Daphnia magna), and fish (Pimephales promelas) thus enabling more accurate predictions of chemical behavior under diverse environmental conditions. Using random data splitting and multiple objective functions, 40 models were developed based on the Monte Carlo method. The model that combined the Ideal Correlation Index (IIC) and the Correlation Intensity Index (CII) as dual objective functions achieved the best predictive performance for split 4, with = 0.7396, = 0.7757, and = 0.7509 for validation set highlighting the effectiveness of multi-objective optimization strategies.
{"title":"A global Quasi-SMILES model based on the Monte Carlo algorithm for assessing the multi-organism aquatic ecotoxicity of personal care products","authors":"Samira Salarzaei , Fereshteh Shiri , Shahin Ahmadi","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.119948","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.119948","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Personal care products (PCPs) are widely used for external applications on the body, and their increased consumption has raised concerns about their potential environmental impact, particularly in aquatic ecosystems. Evaluating the aquatic ecotoxicity of PCPs is essential, but the process is a long and difficult task. Thus, it is crucial to employ tools for rapid screening. The quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) approach can leverage existing data to identify potentially hazardous PCPs quickly. This study uses QSAR models to assess the aquatic ecotoxicity of 159 PCPs across three organisms’ algae, crustaceans, and fish providing a broader ecological perspective than traditional methods, which typically focus on a single organism. A QSAR model was implemented using CORAL software, which utilizes the SMILES format to predict aquatic toxicity. However, traditional SMILES do not incorporate experimental context, limiting prediction accuracy. To address this, the Quasi-SMILES method extends the traditional SMILES notation by incorporating experimental conditions related to three key organisms of the aquatic trophic level algae (Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata), crustacean (Daphnia magna), and fish (Pimephales promelas) thus enabling more accurate predictions of chemical behavior under diverse environmental conditions. Using random data splitting and multiple objective functions, 40 models were developed based on the Monte Carlo method. The model that combined the Ideal Correlation Index (IIC) and the Correlation Intensity Index (CII) as dual objective functions achieved the best predictive performance for split 4, with <span><math><msubsup><mrow><mi>r</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>m</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow></msubsup></math></span> = 0.7396, <span><math><msup><mrow><mi>R</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow></msup></math></span>= 0.7757, and <span><math><msup><mrow><mi>Q</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow></msup></math></span> = 0.7509 for validation set highlighting the effectiveness of multi-objective optimization strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":303,"journal":{"name":"Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety","volume":"312 ","pages":"Article 119948"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147315841","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-28DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.119915
Danqiong Huang , Jiali Chen , Mingyu Luo , Ting Sun , Zhangli Hu , Sulin Lou , Hui Li
Heavy metals are toxic to living organisms even at trace levels and persist in the environment due to their non-degradability. Understanding the mechanisms of heavy metal response and adaptation is therefore crucial. As a key stress defense system, the chloroplast Clp protease complex plays a central role in degrading damaged proteins within chloroplasts. This study characterized the molecular responses of the Clp complex to nickel (Ni) and cadmium (Cd) stress in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, revealing significant upregulation of CrClpP5 specifically under Ni stress. Subsequently, a CrClpP5-overexpressing transgenic strain (OE-CrClpP5) was generated to investigate its role in Ni stress regulation. Phenotypic analysis demonstrated that OE-CrClpP5 cells exhibited significantly higher Ni tolerance than wild-type (WT) controls, evidenced by enhanced chlorophyll retention, increased biomass accumulation, and elevated antioxidant enzyme activities. Ultrastructural examination revealed the presence of autophagosome-like structures in unstressed OE-CrClpP5 cells. Furthermore, the up-regulated expression pattern of autophagy-related genes in OE-CrClpP5 confirmed the activation of autophagy, indicating that chloroplast CrClpP5 overexpression activates cytoplasmic ATG pathway associated with autophagy formation. These findings elucidate a novel mechanism of chloroplast-protease-mediated autophagy activation for heavy metal stress mitigation and provide a theoretical foundation for developing microalgae-based bioremediation technologies for heavy metal pollution.
{"title":"Autophagy-like induction by the overexpression of the chloroplast protease subunit CrClpP5 increases nickel tolerance in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii","authors":"Danqiong Huang , Jiali Chen , Mingyu Luo , Ting Sun , Zhangli Hu , Sulin Lou , Hui Li","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.119915","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.119915","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Heavy metals are toxic to living organisms even at trace levels and persist in the environment due to their non-degradability. Understanding the mechanisms of heavy metal response and adaptation is therefore crucial. As a key stress defense system, the chloroplast Clp protease complex plays a central role in degrading damaged proteins within chloroplasts. This study characterized the molecular responses of the Clp complex to nickel (Ni) and cadmium (Cd) stress in <em>Chlamydomonas reinhardtii</em>, revealing significant upregulation of <em>CrClpP5</em> specifically under Ni stress. Subsequently, a <em>CrClpP5</em>-overexpressing transgenic strain (OE-CrClpP5) was generated to investigate its role in Ni stress regulation. Phenotypic analysis demonstrated that OE-CrClpP5 cells exhibited significantly higher Ni tolerance than wild-type (WT) controls, evidenced by enhanced chlorophyll retention, increased biomass accumulation, and elevated antioxidant enzyme activities. Ultrastructural examination revealed the presence of autophagosome-like structures in unstressed OE-CrClpP5 cells. Furthermore, the up-regulated expression pattern of autophagy-related genes in OE-CrClpP5 confirmed the activation of autophagy, indicating that chloroplast <em>CrClpP5</em> overexpression activates cytoplasmic ATG pathway associated with autophagy formation. These findings elucidate a novel mechanism of chloroplast-protease-mediated autophagy activation for heavy metal stress mitigation and provide a theoretical foundation for developing microalgae-based bioremediation technologies for heavy metal pollution.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":303,"journal":{"name":"Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety","volume":"312 ","pages":"Article 119915"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147324249","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-27DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.119919
Natalia Lisiecka , Anna Wyrwicka-Drewniak , Przemysław Bernat , Anna Parus , Paolo Roccaro , Tomáš Cajthaml , Łukasz Chrzanowski
Microplastics (MPs), increasingly prevalent in agricultural soils, represent an overlooked factor influencing the environmental behavior of xenobiotics and their phytotoxic effects. The present work examines interactions between aged polyethylene microplastics (MP PE), herbicide, and antibiotic under controlled hydroponic conditions using Brassica napus L. as a model plant. It highlights how MP PE influence the bioavailability and toxicity of tetracycline, a glyphosate-based ionic liquid with a surfactant cation, and humic acids.
Despite the absence of tissue penetration, MP PE adhered to roots and triggered measurable stress responses, including ∼30 % reductions in chlorophylls and > 20 % decreases in carotenoids, along with shifts in antioxidant enzyme activities - catalase (CAT) reduced by 40 %, ascorbate peroxidase (APx) by 70 %, while peroxidase (POx) increased by 20 %. Co-exposure with herbicide or antibiotic intensified these adverse effects.
MP PE demonstrated compound-specific sorption capacity, reducing freely dissolved tetracycline and surfactant cation concentrations by ∼20 %, whereas the glyphosate anion showed marginal affinity. MP PE alone did not significantly alter parameters such as proline content or glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity. While individual xenobiotics exhibited clear toxicity, partial mitigation occurred when sorbed onto MP PE, indicating bioavailability-dependent effects. However, this attenuation was not consistent across endpoints, emphasizing the dual role of MPs as environmental stressors and modulators.
Integrating sorption data with physiological and biochemical responses, the results provide evidence that aged microplastics reshape plant exposure to agrochemicals. These findings underscore the need to include MPs in risk assessments to accurately evaluate contaminant behavior and crop health in MP-impacted agroecosystems.
{"title":"Aged polyethylene microplastics modulate herbicide and antibiotic bioavailability and plant responses: A case study with glyphosate and tetracycline","authors":"Natalia Lisiecka , Anna Wyrwicka-Drewniak , Przemysław Bernat , Anna Parus , Paolo Roccaro , Tomáš Cajthaml , Łukasz Chrzanowski","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.119919","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.119919","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Microplastics (MPs), increasingly prevalent in agricultural soils, represent an overlooked factor influencing the environmental behavior of xenobiotics and their phytotoxic effects. The present work examines interactions between aged polyethylene microplastics (MP PE), herbicide, and antibiotic under controlled hydroponic conditions using <em>Brassica napus</em> L. as a model plant. It highlights how MP PE influence the bioavailability and toxicity of tetracycline, a glyphosate-based ionic liquid with a surfactant cation, and humic acids.</div><div>Despite the absence of tissue penetration, MP PE adhered to roots and triggered measurable stress responses, including ∼30 % reductions in chlorophylls and > 20 % decreases in carotenoids, along with shifts in antioxidant enzyme activities - catalase (CAT) reduced by 40 %, ascorbate peroxidase (APx) by 70 %, while peroxidase (POx) increased by 20 %. Co-exposure with herbicide or antibiotic intensified these adverse effects.</div><div>MP PE demonstrated compound-specific sorption capacity, reducing freely dissolved tetracycline and surfactant cation concentrations by ∼20 %, whereas the glyphosate anion showed marginal affinity. MP PE alone did not significantly alter parameters such as proline content or glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity. While individual xenobiotics exhibited clear toxicity, partial mitigation occurred when sorbed onto MP PE, indicating bioavailability-dependent effects. However, this attenuation was not consistent across endpoints, emphasizing the dual role of MPs as environmental stressors and modulators.</div><div>Integrating sorption data with physiological and biochemical responses, the results provide evidence that aged microplastics reshape plant exposure to agrochemicals. These findings underscore the need to include MPs in risk assessments to accurately evaluate contaminant behavior and crop health in MP-impacted agroecosystems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":303,"journal":{"name":"Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety","volume":"312 ","pages":"Article 119919"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147321167","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Liquid crystal monomers (LCMs), as core components of liquid crystal displays (LCDs), are emerging as environmental materials due to their widespread use and potential for human and ecological exposure. Even as inquiries pertaining to the environmental and health risks of LCMs are progressing, their direct toxic effects on human organs and ecosystems persist in being inadequately comprehended. The present research underscores the hazards entailed by prolonged LCMs exposure, with specific reference to skin cells and animal models, under daily exposure magnitudes. This study reveals that long-term LCMs exposure disrupts mitochondrial function in skin cells, triggers inflammatory pathways (TNF signaling), and downregulates critical proteins (PLOD2, DDIT4) and metabolites (ATP, glutathione), indicating oxidative stress and cellular dysfunction. In vivo experiments further demonstrate histopathological damage in mouse skin, including disordered skin appendages and adipose disorganization, highlighting LCMs' hazardous potential. Multi-omics analysis links LCMs exposure to diseases such as lung cancer and Alzheimer’s, while untargeted metabolomics identifies β-alanylleucine downregulation as a promising biomarker for LCM-induced toxicity. Given LCD e-waste growth, improper disposal releases LCMs, risking ecosystem bioaccumulation. These findings underscore the need for stricter regulation of LCMs throughout their lifecycle-from production to waste management-to mitigate ecological and health risks, with β-alanylleucine serving as a potential monitoring tool for environmental contamination.
{"title":"Skin toxicity of liquid crystal monomers (LCMs): Mitochondrial dysfunction and metabolic dysregulation revealed by integrated multi-omics analysis","authors":"Chenxin Dongye , Shanshan Wang , Xiangrong Chen , Changjie Li , Yanfang Zhao , T.-W. Dominic Chan , Rabah Boukherroub , Xiangfeng Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.119953","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.119953","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Liquid crystal monomers (LCMs), as core components of liquid crystal displays (LCDs), are emerging as environmental materials due to their widespread use and potential for human and ecological exposure. Even as inquiries pertaining to the environmental and health risks of LCMs are progressing, their direct toxic effects on human organs and ecosystems persist in being inadequately comprehended. The present research underscores the hazards entailed by prolonged LCMs exposure, with specific reference to skin cells and animal models, under daily exposure magnitudes. This study reveals that long-term LCMs exposure disrupts mitochondrial function in skin cells, triggers inflammatory pathways (TNF signaling), and downregulates critical proteins (PLOD2, DDIT4) and metabolites (ATP, glutathione), indicating oxidative stress and cellular dysfunction. In vivo experiments further demonstrate histopathological damage in mouse skin, including disordered skin appendages and adipose disorganization, highlighting LCMs' hazardous potential. Multi-omics analysis links LCMs exposure to diseases such as lung cancer and Alzheimer’s, while untargeted metabolomics identifies <em>β</em>-alanylleucine downregulation as a promising biomarker for LCM-induced toxicity. Given LCD e-waste growth, improper disposal releases LCMs, risking ecosystem bioaccumulation. These findings underscore the need for stricter regulation of LCMs throughout their lifecycle-from production to waste management-to mitigate ecological and health risks, with <em>β</em>-alanylleucine serving as a potential monitoring tool for environmental contamination.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":303,"journal":{"name":"Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety","volume":"312 ","pages":"Article 119953"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147321041","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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