Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety最新文献_第4页

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and cardiovascular disease: A mechanistic and epidemiological synthesis 全氟和多氟烷基物质与心血管疾病：机理和流行病学综合

IF 6.1 2区环境科学与生态学 Q1 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety

Pub Date : 2026-03-15 Epub Date: 2026-03-14 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.119901

Xiaoxi Yang , Xuemei Li , Xingqiang Li , Hongyan Zhang , Ce Wang , Xinyue Chen

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are globally persistent pollutants increasingly implicated in adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Although research on PFAS toxicity has expanded rapidly, existing literature remains fragmented, with limited integration across exposure science, epidemiological evidence, molecular mechanisms, and mitigation strategies. Current reviews typically provide broad summaries of PFAS toxicity but seldom focus specifically on cardiovascular disease (CVD) or the mechanistic pathways underlying PFAS-induced cardiovascular injury. Moreover, the rapid emergence of short-chain and replacement PFAS introduces additional uncertainty regarding their cardiovascular relevance. To address these gaps, this review provides a comprehensive and mechanistically focused synthesis of PFAS exposure and CVD. A literature search through November 2025 identified eligible epidemiological, clinical, and experimental studies evaluating PFAS, including legacy compounds (Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA)) and emerging PFAS, and their associations with hypertension, blood pressure variation, vascular dysfunction, atherosclerosis, arrhythmias, cardiac injury, and cardiovascular mortality. Studies using serum or plasma biomarkers, drinking-water contamination records, cord blood measurements, and advanced mixture-modeling approaches were included. Extracted evidence encompassed exposure assessment, cardiovascular endpoints, mechanistic pathways, and potential therapeutic or risk-mitigating strategies. Across studies, PFAS exposure was consistently associated with modest but meaningful increases in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, higher risks of hypertension and gestational hypertensive disorders, impaired endothelial function, greater carotid intima-media thickness, and increased CVD incidence and mortality. Mechanistic evidence converges on several key pathways, including endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress, inflammation, renin–angiotensin system activation, epithelial sodium channel upregulation, dyslipidemia, and placental vascular impairment linked to developmental programming. Vulnerable populations, including women, individuals with metabolic disorders, and those with impaired kidney function, exhibit heightened susceptibility. By integrating evidence across exposure science, epidemiology, mechanistic toxicology, and emerging intervention research, this review advances current understanding of PFAS-related cardiovascular toxicity and supports informed public health policy, clinical risk assessment, and regulatory decision-making.

全氟烷基和多氟烷基物质（PFAS）是全球持久性污染物，与心血管不良后果的关系日益密切。尽管对PFAS毒性的研究迅速扩大，但现有文献仍然零散，暴露科学、流行病学证据、分子机制和缓解策略之间的整合有限。目前的综述通常提供了PFAS毒性的广泛总结，但很少特别关注心血管疾病（CVD）或PFAS诱导心血管损伤的机制途径。此外，短链和替代PFAS的迅速出现给它们与心血管的相关性带来了额外的不确定性。为了解决这些空白，本综述提供了PFAS暴露和CVD的全面和机械集中的综合。截至2025年11月的文献检索确定了评估PFAS的合格流行病学、临床和实验研究，包括传统化合物（全氟辛酸（PFOA）、全氟辛烷磺酸（PFOS）、全氟己烷磺酸（PFHxS）和全氟壬酸（PFNA））和新出现的PFAS，以及它们与高血压、血压变化、血管功能障碍、动脉粥样硬化、心律失常、心脏损伤和心血管死亡率的关系。包括使用血清或血浆生物标志物、饮用水污染记录、脐带血测量和先进的混合建模方法的研究。提取的证据包括暴露评估、心血管终点、机制途径和潜在的治疗或风险缓解策略。在所有研究中，PFAS暴露始终与收缩压和舒张压的适度但有意义的升高、高血压和妊娠高血压疾病的高风险、内皮功能受损、颈动脉内膜-中膜厚度增大、CVD发病率和死亡率增加相关。机制证据集中在几个关键途径上，包括内皮功能障碍、氧化应激、炎症、肾素-血管紧张素系统激活、上皮钠通道上调、血脂异常和与发育程序相关的胎盘血管损伤。易感人群，包括妇女、代谢紊乱者和肾功能受损者，表现出更高的易感性。通过整合暴露科学、流行病学、机制毒理学和新兴干预研究的证据，本综述推进了目前对pfas相关心血管毒性的理解，并支持知情的公共卫生政策、临床风险评估和监管决策。

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引用次数: 0

A One Health framework integrating teratogenic risk and ecological assessment in freshwaters 整合淡水致畸风险和生态评估的“同一个健康”框架

IF 6.1 2区环境科学与生态学 Q1 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety

Pub Date : 2026-03-15 Epub Date: 2026-03-14 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.120015

Giulia Cesarini , Massimiliano Scalici , Marco Colasanti , Federica Spani

Freshwater ecosystems face mixture-dominated pressures that often elude conventional monitoring. We assessed eight rivers in Latium (Central Italy) to jointly evaluate ecological status and teratogenic risk within a One Health perspective. We combined in-situ physico-chemical measurements and elemental profiling by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS; including the rare-earth tracer gadolinium) with two biological lines of evidence: benthic diatom assemblages to derive the Intercalibration Common Metric Index (ICMi) and screen teratological valves, and the Hydra vulgaris regeneration assay summarized as the Teratogenic Risk Index (TRI), with behavioural endpoints. Environmental conditions were heterogeneous, with eutrophication and high organic load at some sites. ICMi classified Almone and Arrone as Poor, Marta and Sacco as Good, and Mignone, Aniene, Tevere and Ninfa as High. TRI indicated Very High teratogenic risk at Almone; High at Marta, Sacco and Tevere; Low at Arrone, Mignone and Aniene; and No risk at Ninfa. Diatom teratologies were detected at all sites and peaked at Tevere. ICMi showed a negative association with gadolinium (r = -0.76, p < 0.05), whereas TRI and ICMi were not correlated. These results demonstrate that ecological status and teratogenic hazard need not converge. TRI captured organism-level developmental and neuro-functional impairment at low doses and in complex mixtures, even where ICMi was Good/High. Integrating organism- and community-level indicators with targeted chemistry offers a sensitive, cost-effective framework to flag hotspots, prioritize monitoring of emerging contaminants, and support risk management under the Water Framework Directive.

淡水生态系统面临着以混合物为主的压力，而传统的监测方法往往无法做到这一点。我们评估了拉蒂姆（意大利中部）的八条河流，以“同一个健康”视角共同评估生态状况和致畸风险。我们通过电感耦合等离子体质谱（ICP-MS，包括稀土示踪剂钆）将现场物理化学测量和元素谱分析与两个生物证据线结合起来：底栖硅藻组合，得出了Intercalibration Common Metric Index （ICMi）和筛选致畸风险，以及水螅再生试验，总结为致畸风险指数（TRI），具有行为终点。环境条件不均匀，部分站点富营养化，有机负荷高。ICMi将Almone和arone分类为“差”，Marta和Sacco分类为“好”，Mignone, Aniene， Tevere和Ninfa分类为“高”。TRI提示Almone有极高致畸风险；在玛尔塔、萨科和提维尔高中；洛在阿罗内、米尼奥内和阿涅内；在尼法没有风险。在所有地点均检测到硅藻致畸，并在Tevere达到峰值。ICMi与钆呈负相关（r = -0.76,p <； 0.05），而TRI与ICMi不相关。这些结果表明，生态状况和致畸危害不需要趋同。在低剂量和复杂混合物中，即使在ICMi为好/高的情况下，TRI也捕获了生物体水平的发育和神经功能损伤。将生物和社区层面的指标与目标化学结合起来，提供了一个敏感的、具有成本效益的框架，可以标记热点，优先监测新出现的污染物，并支持水框架指令下的风险管理。

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引用次数: 0

Repeated inhalation exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics induced sustained pulmonary injury and fibrosis in mice 反复吸入聚苯乙烯纳米塑料可诱导小鼠持续肺损伤和纤维化

IF 6.1 2区环境科学与生态学 Q1 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety

Pub Date : 2026-03-15 Epub Date: 2026-03-12 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.120007

Zhiyang Han , Luan Wang , Xiang Li , Yumeng Dai , Xinyu Guan , Zhencheng Su , Xu Li , Xiujuan Wang , Tiegang Li , Mingkai Xu

Atmospheric nanoplastics represent an emerging environmental health concern, as their small size and physicochemical properties facilitate unintentional inhalation. However, their pulmonary toxicity under repeated exposure and following exposure cessation remains poorly understood. Here, polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) with different particle sizes (25, 100, and 500 nm) were intratracheally instilled into C57BL/6 mice at doses of 1 and 5 mg/kg body weight, three times per week for four weeks (exposure period, EXP), followed by a two-week post-exposure period (PEP). A ddH₂O-treated group was included as the control. PS-NPs accumulated extensively in the lungs and translocated to the heart, liver, spleen, and kidneys. Notably, inhaled nanoplastics sustained in lung tissue after PEP. Exposure to PS-NPs disrupted the alveolar epithelial barrier, induced inflammation, and oxidative stress in lung tissue, altered lung function, led to pulmonary fibrosis, and reduced peripheral white blood cell counts. These toxic effects were particle size-dependent, with smaller particles inducing greater toxicity. Moreover, adverse effects sustained during PEP, indicating that PS-NPs–induced injury was not readily reversible in the short term. Furthermore, our results suggest that macrophage polarization is involved in the progression of PS-NPs–induced pulmonary fibrosis. These findings demonstrate that repeated inhalation exposure to PS-NPs can induce sustained pulmonary injury, with incomplete recovery observed during PEP, highlighting potential respiratory health concerns associated with airborne nanoplastics.

大气纳米塑料代表了一个新兴的环境健康问题，因为它们的小尺寸和物理化学性质便于无意吸入。然而，它们在反复暴露和停止暴露后的肺毒性仍然知之甚少。本研究将不同粒径（25、100和500 nm）的聚苯乙烯纳米塑料（PS-NPs）以1和5 mg/kg体重的剂量经气管注入C57BL/6小鼠，每周3次，持续4周（暴露期，EXP），然后进行两周的暴露后期（PEP）。以ddH₂处理组为对照组。PS-NPs在肺部广泛积聚，并转移到心脏、肝脏、脾脏和肾脏。值得注意的是，PEP后吸入的纳米塑料在肺组织中持续存在。暴露于PS-NPs破坏肺泡上皮屏障，诱导肺组织炎症和氧化应激，改变肺功能，导致肺纤维化，降低外周血白细胞计数。这些毒性作用与颗粒大小有关，颗粒越小毒性越大。此外，PEP期间的不良反应持续存在，表明ps - nps诱导的损伤在短期内不易逆转。此外，我们的研究结果表明巨噬细胞极化参与了ps - nps诱导的肺纤维化的进展。这些研究结果表明，反复吸入PS-NPs可诱导持续肺损伤，PEP期间观察到不完全恢复，突出了与空气传播纳米塑料相关的潜在呼吸健康问题。

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引用次数: 0

Heat priming protects oyster gills from subsequent lethal heat stress: Histopathology and apoptosis evidence in Crassostrea angulata 热启动保护牡蛎鳃免受随后的致死热应激：角长牡蛎的组织病理学和细胞凋亡证据

IF 6.1 2区环境科学与生态学 Q1 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety

Pub Date : 2026-03-15 Epub Date: 2026-03-13 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.120026

Wenxin Chen , Ziqiang Han , Qingxiang Xu , Yikun He , Sang Van Vu , Tong Li , Huayong Que

Acquired thermotolerance (heat priming) enables organisms to withstand lethal heat stress after prior sublethal exposure. While documented in bivalves through survival analyses, histological mechanisms in gills—their primary environmental interface—remain unclear. This study investigated heat priming effects on Crassostrea angulata gills using four experimental groups: control, sublethal, priming (sublethal + lethal), and lethal. Histopathology (HE staining and SEM) and apoptosis (TUNEL) were analyzed under varying thermal regimes. Lethal stress induced more than 20% gill shrinkage (vs. control) with elevated mucus cell counts, while SEM revealed exacerbated filament breakage and ciliary loss. Priming pretreatment significantly reduced filament contraction and mitigated structural damage. TUNEL-positive cell density peaked in the lethal group, showing an eightfold increase over priming at 48 h, whereas priming and sublethal groups exhibited comparable level. These findings indicate that heat priming synergistically alleviates both mechanical damage (gill shrinkage/filament disruption) and TUNEL-detected cell-death signals during subsequent lethal stress. The study establishes a tissue-level foundation for understanding acquired thermotolerance in oysters.

获得性热耐受性（热启动）使生物体在先前的亚致死暴露后能够承受致命的热应激。虽然通过生存分析记录了双壳类动物，但鳃的组织学机制（它们的主要环境界面）仍不清楚。本研究采用对照组、亚致死组、热启动（亚致死+致死）组和致死组研究热启动对角长牡蛎鳃的影响。在不同的热环境下分析组织病理学（HE染色和SEM）和细胞凋亡（TUNEL）。致死应激诱导超过20%的鳃收缩（与对照组相比），粘液细胞计数升高，而扫描电镜显示纤维断裂和纤毛丢失加剧。预处理显著减少纤维收缩和减轻结构损伤。tunel阳性细胞密度在致死组达到峰值，在48 h时比启动组增加了8倍，而启动组和亚致死组表现出相当的水平。这些发现表明，在随后的致死应激中，热启动协同缓解了机械损伤（鳃收缩/细丝断裂）和tunel检测到的细胞死亡信号。该研究为理解牡蛎获得性耐热性奠定了组织水平的基础。

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引用次数: 0

Survival over growth: Accelerated bursa of Fabricius development enhances immune resilience in heavy metal-exposed tree sparrows 生存高于生长：法氏囊的加速发育增强了重金属暴露的树麻雀的免疫弹性

IF 6.1 2区环境科学与生态学 Q1 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety

Pub Date : 2026-03-15 Epub Date: 2026-03-12 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.120004

Yue Shen, Zhaocun Lin, Yuquan Miao, Ming Zhang, Wenya Zhang, Yingmei Zhang

The bursa of Fabricius (BF), a regressive lymphoid organ unique to avian species, plays a pivotal role in early immune defense post-hatching: it not only mediates innate immune responses but also provides a microenvironment necessary for B-cell maturation, thereby playing an indispensable role in the development and functional maturation of the avian adaptive immune system. Life history theory predicts energy allocation trade-offs in response to environmental challenges, which often suppresses costly processes like immunity to prioritize survival. This study investigated effects of long-term environmental heavy metal pollution on these trade-offs and BF development in the tree sparrow (Passer montanus). Contrary to the paradigm of stress-induced immunosuppression, we found that despite significant impairments in body condition and growth rate, nestlings from a polluted site exhibited enhanced BF development. This was demonstrated through three key phenotypic adaptations: (1) an increased BF coefficient, (2) accelerated follicular development and histological maturation, and (3) increased B-lymphocyte density and migration to the spleen. Nestlings from a polluted site also displayed enhanced innate immunity and antioxidant defenses. An Integrated Biological Response (IBR) model suggested a strategic energy reallocation where investment in growth was suppressed to prioritize immune organ development and function. These findings provide a novel perspective on adaptive life-history strategies, demonstrating that birds can prioritize immune resilience to persist in contaminated environments at a cost to somatic development.

法氏囊（bursa of Fabricius， BF）是鸟类特有的退行性淋巴器官，在孵化后的早期免疫防御中起着关键作用：它不仅介导先天免疫应答，还提供b细胞成熟所需的微环境，因此在鸟类适应性免疫系统的发育和功能成熟中起着不可或缺的作用。生命史理论预测了能量分配的权衡，以应对环境挑战，这通常会抑制昂贵的过程，如优先考虑生存的免疫力。本研究探讨了长期环境重金属污染对树雀（Passer montanus）这些权衡和BF发育的影响。与应激诱导免疫抑制的范式相反，我们发现，尽管受到污染的雏鸟身体状况和生长速度明显受损，但来自污染地点的雏鸟表现出增强的BF发育。这通过三个关键的表型适应来证明：(1)BF系数增加，(2)卵泡发育和组织学成熟加速，(3)b淋巴细胞密度增加和向脾脏迁移。来自污染地区的雏鸟也表现出增强的先天免疫和抗氧化防御能力。综合生物反应（IBR）模型表明，在抑制生长投资以优先考虑免疫器官发育和功能的战略能量重新分配中。这些发现为适应性生活史策略提供了一个新的视角，表明鸟类可以优先考虑免疫弹性，以维持在污染环境中，以牺牲体细胞发育为代价。

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引用次数: 0

Interactive effects of cadmium stress and freeze–thaw cycles on Secale cereale L.: Protective role of exogenous betaine 镉胁迫与冻融循环对黑麦的交互作用：外源甜菜碱的保护作用

IF 6.1 2区环境科学与生态学 Q1 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety

Pub Date : 2026-03-15 Epub Date: 2026-03-12 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.120003

Shoujat Ali , Guozhang Bao , Khalid Bashir , Jinke Hu , Kainowycliffe Yano , Cunxin Fan

Cadmium (Cd) and the freeze-thaw cycle (FTC) are serious concerns worldwide, and plants at high altitudes are particularly vulnerable to these stresses. This study aims to evaluate the role of Betaine (B) in increasing Secale cereale L. tolerance to FTC and Cd stress. In this study, Secale cereale L. was chosen as a model to investigate the effect of B application on seedlings exposed to FTC and Cd stress. Photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic parameters were measured. An integrated biomarker response (IBR) model and molecular docking were also used for a comprehensive assessment. The results showed that Cd and FTC significantly elevated malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutamate decarboxylase (GAD), nonprotein thiol (NPT), phytochelatins (PCs), and reduced glutathione (GSH) activities. Combined stress resulted in significant increases of 9.42%, 10.7%, and 4.6% in GAD, H2O2, and NPT, respectively, and increases of 2.5% and 16.1% in PCs and MDA activities, respectively. FTC and Cd adversely affected photosynthetic parameters, causing decreases of 19.4%, 58.2%, and 56.3% in water use efficiency (WUE), transpiration rate (Tr), and photosynthetic rate (Pn), respectively, while intercellular CO₂ concentration (Ci) increased by 61.7%. With exogenous B application, antioxidant enzyme activities were elevated, while MDA, H₂O₂, and relative conductivity (RC) were reduced. These results suggest that B is a capable agent for mitigating abiotic stress in cold-exposed and Cd-contaminated environments. The outcomes provide essential insights for future research on ecology, environmental pollution, and management strategies to enhance plant resilience.

镉（Cd）和冻融循环（FTC）是世界范围内严重关注的问题，高海拔地区的植物特别容易受到这些胁迫。本研究旨在评价甜菜碱(B)在提高黑麦对FTC和Cd胁迫的耐受性中的作用。本研究以黑麦为研究对象，研究了施用B对FTC和Cd胁迫下黑麦幼苗的影响。测定了光合和非光合参数。综合生物标志物反应（IBR）模型和分子对接也被用于综合评估。结果表明，Cd和FTC显著提高了丙二醛（MDA）、过氧化氢（H2O2）、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶（APX）、谷氨酸脱羧酶（GAD）、非蛋白硫醇（NPT）、植物螯合素（PCs）和还原性谷胱甘肽（GSH）活性。复合胁迫导致GAD、H2O2和NPT活性分别显著升高9.42%、10.7%和4.6%，pc和MDA活性分别显著升高2.5%和16.1%。FTC和Cd对光合参数有不利影响，水分利用效率（WUE）、蒸腾速率（Tr）和光合速率（Pn）分别下降19.4%、58.2%和56.3%，细胞间CO₂浓度（Ci）增加61.7%。施用外源B后，抗氧化酶活性升高，MDA、H2O2和相对电导率（RC）降低。这些结果表明，B是一种能够减轻冷暴露和cd污染环境中的非生物胁迫的制剂。这些研究结果为未来生态学、环境污染和提高植物恢复力的管理策略的研究提供了重要的见解。

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引用次数: 0

Glycine alleviates the intestinal epithelial barrier damage induced by imidacloprid via promoting metabolic detoxification 甘氨酸通过促进代谢解毒来减轻吡虫啉引起的肠上皮屏障损伤

IF 6.1 2区环境科学与生态学 Q1 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety

Pub Date : 2026-03-15 Epub Date: 2026-03-12 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.120002

Weilong Cheng , Yanbo Wang , Yixuan Li , Guoping Zhao

Imidacloprid, a neonicotinoid pesticide that was reported to induce intestinal damage at low doses, necessitating effective intervention strategies. As a common component in food, glycine (GLY) has the capacity to alleviate intestinal damage. However, whether it can relieve the damage caused by imidacloprid leave to be clarified. This study investigated the protective effects of GLY (2% and 5%) against imidacloprid induced (0.06 mg/kg bw/day) intestinal injury in male Wistar rats. GLY supplementation attenuated intestinal permeability and enhanced the expression of tight junction proteins. Further, the pregnane X receptor-myosin light chain 2 signaling pathway that mediating imidacloprid-induced intestinal toxicity was also found repaired. GLY intervention increased the enzyme activities of cytochrome P450 3A4 and glutathione-S-transferase, which were responding for phase I and phase Ⅱ imidacloprid metabolism. Meanwhile, reduced levels of imidacloprid and its phase I metabolites, as well as increased phase Ⅱ detoxifying glutathione conjugates, both suggesting the protective role of GLY intervention through enhancing imidacloprid detoxification metabolism. Importantly, the amino acid signaling pathway related fecal metabolic profiles and microbiota composition in imidacloprid treated rats were also modulated and improved by GLY. Totally, our findings demonstrated the protective effect of GLY on intestinal damage caused by imidacloprid exposure, which provided ideas for preventing and controlling the toxicity of food contaminants.

吡虫啉是一种新烟碱类农药，据报道低剂量会引起肠道损伤，需要有效的干预策略。甘氨酸是食品中常见的一种成分，具有减轻肠道损伤的作用。然而，它是否能减轻吡虫啉造成的损害还有待澄清。本研究探讨了GLY（2%和5%）对吡虫啉（0.06 mg/kg bw/day）诱导的雄性Wistar大鼠肠道损伤的保护作用。添加GLY可降低肠道通透性，增强紧密连接蛋白的表达。此外，介导吡虫啉诱导肠道毒性的妊娠X受体-肌球蛋白轻链2信号通路也被修复。GLY干预增加了细胞色素P450 3A4和谷胱甘肽s -转移酶的活性，它们对I期和Ⅱ期吡虫啉代谢有反应。同时，吡虫啉及其I期代谢物水平降低，Ⅱ解毒谷胱甘肽偶联物水平升高，提示GLY干预通过增强吡虫啉解毒代谢发挥保护作用。重要的是，吡虫啉处理大鼠的氨基酸信号通路相关的粪便代谢谱和微生物群组成也被GLY调节和改善。综上所述，我们的研究结果证明了GLY对吡虫啉暴露引起的肠道损伤的保护作用，为预防和控制食物污染物的毒性提供了思路。

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引用次数: 0

Resolving the trade-off between heavy metal Cd, Pb, and Ni detoxification and Fe/Zn hemeostasis: MsNAS7 –mediated orchestration of metals sequestration and partitioning in tobacco 解决重金属Cd、Pb和Ni解毒与Fe/Zn血液平衡之间的权衡：MsNAS7介导的烟草金属固存和分配的协调

IF 6.1 2区环境科学与生态学 Q1 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety

Pub Date : 2026-03-15 Epub Date: 2026-03-12 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.120005

Yu-zhe Yang , Ying-Yang , Li-ting Zhang , Meng-Han Chang , Jing-xuan Zhu , Jing-Yun Gao , Shi-Chen Dong , Liang Si , Yong-Jun Shu , Yan-min Wang , Chang-hong Guo , Ying-dong Bi , Dong-Lin Guo

Nicotianamine synthase (NAS) genes play a crucial role in transport and the distribution of metals within plants. Despite their importance, the role of NAS genes in the selective transport of essential and toxic metal elements remains inadequately understood. In this study, we identified an iron-excess-induced NAS gene, MsNAS7, from alfalfa. Overexpression of MsNAS7 enhanced tolerance of tobacco to excessive Fe. The expression of MsNAS7 was significantly induced by cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and nickel (Ni) in alfalfa roots, while only significantly induced by Pb in alfalfa shoots. Heteroexpression of MsNAS7 in recombinant yeast resultied in a 1.87-fold increased in nicotianamine (NA) content and heightened sensitivity to Cd, Pb, and Ni stress. In tobacco, overexpression of MsNAS7 led to a 1.27-fold increase in NA content, improved tolerance to Cd, Pb, and Ni, and mitigated growth inhibition and oxidative damage. Furthermore, MsNAS7 enhanced the absorption of Cd, Pb, and Ni from the soil to plant by 1.90-, 2.57-, and 1.98-fold, respectively, while reduced the transport rates of these metals from root to shoot by 0.32, 0.49, and 0.32 times, respectively. Under both normal condition and Cd, Pb, and Ni stress, MsNAS7 facilitated increased iron (Fe) absorption (1.45–2.72 times) and zinc (Zn) absorption (1.15–4.56 times) in plants. Additionally, the MsNAS7 promoter demonstrated the ability to interact with the metal-responsive transcription factor MsMYB. This study elucidates the dual function of MsNAS7 in the uptake and transport of metals as well as toxic heavy metals detoxify, offering novel insights into the role of NAS genes.

烟胺合成酶基因在金属在植物体内的运输和分布中起着至关重要的作用。尽管它们很重要，但NAS基因在必需和有毒金属元素的选择性运输中的作用仍然没有得到充分的了解。在这项研究中，我们从苜蓿中鉴定了一个铁过量诱导的NAS基因MsNAS7。MsNAS7的过表达增强了烟草对过量铁的耐受性。镉（Cd）、铅（Pb）和镍（Ni）在苜蓿根中显著诱导MsNAS7的表达，而铅（Pb）仅在苜蓿芽中显著诱导MsNAS7的表达。MsNAS7在重组酵母中的异表达使烟胺（NA）含量增加1.87倍，对Cd、Pb和Ni胁迫的敏感性提高。在烟草中，MsNAS7过表达导致NA含量增加1.27倍，提高了对Cd、Pb和Ni的耐受性，减轻了生长抑制和氧化损伤。此外，MsNAS7使土壤对Cd、Pb和Ni的吸收分别提高了1.90倍、2.57倍和1.98倍，使这些金属从根到地上部的转运速率分别降低了0.32倍、0.49倍和0.32倍。在正常条件下和Cd、Pb、Ni胁迫下，MsNAS7均促进植物对铁（Fe）和锌（Zn）的吸收分别增加1.45 ~ 2.72倍和1.15 ~ 4.56倍。此外，MsNAS7启动子显示出与金属反应转录因子MsMYB相互作用的能力。本研究阐明了MsNAS7在金属摄取和运输以及有毒重金属解毒中的双重功能，为NAS基因的作用提供了新的见解。

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引用次数: 0

Histopathological analysis of mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis after foodborne exposure to three sizes of polystyrene nanoplastics: Relevance of confounding factors 食源性暴露于三种尺寸聚苯乙烯纳米塑料后贻贝的组织病理学分析：混杂因素的相关性

IF 6.1 2区环境科学与生态学 Q1 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety

Pub Date : 2026-03-15 Epub Date: 2026-03-13 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.119976

Tania Ramírez , Nagore González-Soto , Tamer Hafez , Marisa Sárria Pereira de Passos , Eider Bilbao , Amaia Orbea , Douglas Gilliland , Miguel-Ángel Serra-Beltrán , Miren P. Cajaraville

Given the widespread occurrence of polystyrene (PS) micro- and nanoplastics in the marine environment, it is important to determine their potential adverse effects on representative sentinel marine species as mussels. Foodborne exposure is more environmentally realistic than waterborne exposure in mussels, but it has received less attention. The aim of this work was to assess the histopathological effects of foodborne exposure to PS nanoplastics (NPs) of different sizes on marine mussels, focusing on inflammatory reactions involving hemocytes, since microplastics (MPs) and NPs have been reported to produce inflammatory responses. Mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis were dietarily exposed through algae Isochrysis galbana to PS NPs of 50, 200 and 1000 nm at nominal low (LD) (10^3 NPs/mL) and high concentrations (HD) (10^8 NPs/mL for 50 and 200 nm NPs and10^6 NPs/mL for 1000 nm NPs). Exposures took place for seven days in duplicate and two independent experiments were carried out per NP (E1 and E4 for 50 nm, E2 and E5 for 200 nm and E3 and E6 for 1000 nm PS NPs). All experiments were developed during three weeks in September-October (E1-E2, E3-E4 and E5-E6) to minimize the influence of confounding factors on studied parameters. High prevalences of hemocytic infiltration, fibrosis and atrophy and necrosis of the digestive tubule epithelium (DE) were detected in the marine mussels’ digestive glands. In the gonad, prevalences of the different alterations were generally lower than in the digestive gland. Overall, the GLMM showed that stage of gametogenic development and the presence of parasites were significant confounding factors that influenced atrophy and necrosis of DE, oocyte atresia and hemocytic infiltration in the connective tissue of the gonad. Thus, it does not appear that these responses can be used as biomarkers of NP exposure in mussels, at least at the nominal concentrations tested and in a short-term exposure, since other factors such as reproductive stage and parasitosis affect these responses too. It remains to be determined whether longer term exposures could result in more severe histopathological alterations, independent of the physiological condition of mussels. Further work is required on environmentally realistic NPs that might pose additional risks compared to pristine ones.

鉴于聚苯乙烯（PS）微塑料和纳米塑料在海洋环境中的广泛存在，确定它们对贻贝等代表性海洋哨兵物种的潜在不利影响非常重要。食源性暴露比水生暴露在贻贝中的环境更现实，但它受到的关注较少。这项工作的目的是评估食源性暴露于不同大小的PS纳米塑料（NPs）对海洋贻贝的组织病理学影响，重点关注涉及血细胞的炎症反应，因为有报道称微塑料（MPs）和NPs会产生炎症反应。通过galbana藻类等裂解法，将贻贝（Mytilus galloprovincialis）暴露于50、200和1000 nm的名义低浓度（LD）（10^3 NPs/mL）和高浓度（HD）（50和200 nm NPs为10^8 NPs/mL， 1000 nm NPs为10^6 NPs/mL）的PS NPs中。每个NP进行两次独立实验（E1和E4为50 nm， E2和E5为200 nm， E3和E6为1000 nm），重复暴露7天。所有试验均在9 - 10月（E1-E2、E3-E4和E5-E6）的3周内进行，以尽量减少混杂因素对研究参数的影响。在贻贝的消化腺中发现了大量的血细胞浸润、纤维化和消化小管上皮（DE）的萎缩和坏死。在性腺中，不同改变的患病率普遍低于消化腺。总体而言，GLMM显示配子体发育阶段和寄生虫的存在是影响DE萎缩和坏死、卵母细胞闭锁和性腺结缔组织血细胞浸润的重要混杂因素。因此，这些反应似乎不能作为贻贝NP暴露的生物标志物，至少在名义浓度测试和短期暴露下，因为生殖阶段和寄生虫病等其他因素也会影响这些反应。与贻贝的生理状况无关，长期暴露是否会导致更严重的组织病理学改变仍有待确定。需要进一步研究具有环境现实意义的核废料，因为与原始核废料相比，这些核废料可能构成额外的风险。

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引用次数: 0

Microplastic biodegradation and environmental safety: From microbial mechanisms to engineered systems and circular bio-based implementation 微塑料生物降解和环境安全：从微生物机制到工程系统和循环生物基实施

IF 6.1 2区环境科学与生态学 Q1 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety

Pub Date : 2026-03-15 Epub Date: 2026-03-14 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.120016

Haixin Jiao , Rania Al-Tohamy , Min Xiong , Michael Schagerl , Thomas Reinthaler , Majid Al-Zahrani , Jianzhong Sun , Sameh S. Ali

Microplastics, defined as synthetic polymer particles smaller than 5 mm, have become pervasive environmental contaminants across aquatic, terrestrial, and atmospheric systems. Their chemical stability, hydrophobicity, and resistance to natural attenuation limit the effectiveness of conventional physical and chemical removal technologies. Microbial and enzymatic approaches have therefore emerged as promising strategies for microplastic transformation and controlled degradation, although complete mineralization is not consistently achieved. Degradation outcomes vary widely depending on polymer structure, environmental conditions, and microbial community dynamics, and incomplete depolymerization may generate intermediate products with distinct ecological implications. This review provides a mechanistically integrated analysis of microplastic biodegradation, explicitly distinguishing surface modification, depolymerization, biotransformation, and complete mineralization. Abiotic preconditioning processes, enzyme–polymer interactions, kinetic constraints in real environmental matrices, and the functional roles of single strains, microbial consortia, and genetically engineered systems are examined. Particular attention is given to environmental safety considerations, including degradation byproducts, additive release, horizontal gene transfer risks, and biosafety containment strategies. The feasibility of integrating microbial degradation into circular bio-based recycling frameworks is critically assessed through translational strategies, pilot-scale considerations, and life cycle perspectives. Although advances in enzyme engineering and synthetic biology have significantly improved depolymerization efficiency under controlled conditions, scalability, regulatory compliance, and ecosystem-level risk assessment remain central challenges. Bridging mechanistic insight with environmental realism and regulatory preparedness is essential to ensure that biodegradation strategies reduce environmental burden without redistributing ecological risk.

微塑料被定义为小于5 毫米的合成聚合物颗粒，已成为水生、陆地和大气系统中普遍存在的环境污染物。它们的化学稳定性、疏水性和抗自然衰减性限制了传统物理和化学去除技术的有效性。因此，微生物和酶的方法已经成为微塑性转化和控制降解的有希望的策略，尽管完全矿化并不一致。降解结果因聚合物结构、环境条件和微生物群落动态而有很大差异，不完全解聚可能产生具有不同生态意义的中间产物。本文综述了微塑料生物降解的机理综合分析，明确区分了表面改性、解聚、生物转化和完全矿化。非生物预处理过程，酶-聚合物的相互作用，在真实的环境基质动力学约束，和单一菌株的功能作用，微生物联合体，和基因工程系统进行了检查。特别注意环境安全方面的考虑，包括降解副产物、添加剂释放、水平基因转移风险和生物安全控制战略。将微生物降解整合到循环生物基回收框架的可行性通过转化策略、中试规模考虑和生命周期观点进行了严格评估。尽管酶工程和合成生物学的进步显著提高了受控条件下的解聚效率，但可扩展性、法规遵从性和生态系统级风险评估仍然是核心挑战。要确保生物降解战略在不重新分配生态风险的情况下减轻环境负担，就必须将机制洞察力与环境现实主义和监管准备联系起来。

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引用次数: 0