Pub Date : 2026-01-24DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2026.110099
Shinji Ozaki, Elizabeth A. Barnett, Heather Carter, Jacqueline S. Chaplow, Sheonaidh Charman, Megan Galloway, M. Glória Pereira, Elaine Potter, Anthony W. Sainsbury, Tammy Shadbolt, Elizabeth A. Sharp, Graeme Shaw, Darren Sleep, Lee A. Walker, Suzane M. Qassim
Second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) are recognised as an effective tool for rodent pest control. However, the use of SGARs enhances their exposure of non-target species and can cause lethal and sublethal effects on these species, including free-living raptors. Although certain liver SGAR residue concentrations from laboratory experimental studies have been considered as conventional thresholds, determining the threshold values for free-living predatory birds remains a challenge. In this study, we estimated the toxicity threshold values for liver SGAR residues associated with lethal SGAR poisoning (i.e., mortality by coagulopathy due to SGAR contamination), using a probabilistic modelling approach with data of red kites (Milvus milvus) and common buzzards (Buteo buteo) from Great Britain, United Kingdom. We also assessed factors influencing the relationship between lethal SGAR poisoning and liver SGAR concentrations.
{"title":"Probabilistic approach reveals the toxicity threshold values of free-living raptors in Great Britain, United Kingdom, for the lethal effect of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides","authors":"Shinji Ozaki, Elizabeth A. Barnett, Heather Carter, Jacqueline S. Chaplow, Sheonaidh Charman, Megan Galloway, M. Glória Pereira, Elaine Potter, Anthony W. Sainsbury, Tammy Shadbolt, Elizabeth A. Sharp, Graeme Shaw, Darren Sleep, Lee A. Walker, Suzane M. Qassim","doi":"10.1016/j.envint.2026.110099","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2026.110099","url":null,"abstract":"Second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) are recognised as an effective tool for rodent pest control. However, the use of SGARs enhances their exposure of non-target species and can cause lethal and sublethal effects on these species, including free-living raptors. Although certain liver SGAR residue concentrations from laboratory experimental studies have been considered as conventional thresholds, determining the threshold values for free-living predatory birds remains a challenge. In this study, we estimated the toxicity threshold values for liver SGAR residues associated with lethal SGAR poisoning (i.e., mortality by coagulopathy due to SGAR contamination), using a probabilistic modelling approach with data of red kites (<ce:italic>Milvus milvus</ce:italic>) and common buzzards (<ce:italic>Buteo buteo</ce:italic>) from Great Britain, United Kingdom. We also assessed factors influencing the relationship between lethal SGAR poisoning and liver SGAR concentrations.","PeriodicalId":308,"journal":{"name":"Environment International","volume":"16 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":11.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146048281","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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}
Several epidemiological studies have reported an association between the onset and severity of coronavirus disease 2019 and exposure to particulate matter (PM). However, the detailed molecular mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we evaluated variations in the expression and function of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2), the entry molecules of SARS-CoV-2, when type II alveolar epithelial cells were exposed to titanium dioxide particles (TiO2), diesel exhaust particles (DEP), and Asian sand dust (ASD). The results showed that TiO2 exposure increased the expression and activity of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 on the exposed cells, while ASD exposure only increased the activity of TMPRSS2. Furthermore, we found that serine protease inhibitors such as nafamostat can regulate TMPRSS2 activity promoted by PM exposure. Our results provide experimental evidence that exposure to PM with specific properties may enhance intracellular entry of SARS-CoV-2.
{"title":"Variations in the expression and function of SARS-CoV-2 entry molecules induced by exposure to nano- and microparticles","authors":"Raga Ishikawa , Issei Omori , Tomoya Sagawa , Akiko Honda , Hirohisa Takano","doi":"10.1016/j.envint.2026.110094","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envint.2026.110094","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Several epidemiological studies have reported an association between the onset and severity of coronavirus disease 2019 and exposure to particulate matter (PM). However, the detailed molecular mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we evaluated variations in the expression and function of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2), the entry molecules of SARS-CoV-2, when type II alveolar epithelial cells were exposed to titanium dioxide particles (TiO<sub>2</sub>), diesel exhaust particles (DEP), and Asian sand dust (ASD). The results showed that TiO<sub>2</sub> exposure increased the expression and activity of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 on the exposed cells, while ASD exposure only increased the activity of TMPRSS2. Furthermore, we found that serine protease inhibitors such as nafamostat can regulate TMPRSS2 activity promoted by PM exposure. Our results provide experimental evidence that exposure to PM with specific properties may enhance intracellular entry of SARS-CoV-2.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":308,"journal":{"name":"Environment International","volume":"208 ","pages":"Article 110094"},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146033726","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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 : 2026-01-22DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2026.110092
Jeanne Bozec, Delphine Rousseau-Ralliard, Nicolas Jovanovic, Marion Ouidir, Louise Angrand, Donya Popping, Sophie Calderari, Michèle Dahirel, Natalie Fournier, Gwendoline Morin, Louise Lemarie, Christophe Richard, Valérie Gelin, Véronique Gayrard, Claire Philippat, Anne Couturier-Tarrade
Pregnant women from the general population are exposed daily to chemicals that can affect offspring’s health. The current study aimed to evaluate the effects of a mixture of chemicals on maternal and fetal health in the rabbit model, which was defined based on associations between urinary concentrations of chemicals in pregnant women from the SEPAGES cohort and offspring outcomes.From the SEPAGES cohort data, a mixture including 3 phenols, 1 paraben and four phthalates was established and used in a rabbit model. Female rabbits were exposed orally from preconception to 28 days post-conception (dpc) to this mixture (PPP exposed group, PPP) or excipient (control group, C) daily at the doses, estimated from the maximum urinary concentrations observed in the cohort. Maternal and fetoplacental phenotype were characterized.Maternal glucose concentration decreased significantly in the PPP group, before mating. At 21 dpc, ultrasound monitoring showed that fetal body length and abdominal perimeter were increased in PPP group compared to C group. At 28 dpc, heart to bodyweight ratio was increased in PPP females compared to C females. At this stage, fetal blood biochemistry showed a decrease in insulin levels, while triglycerides and total protein increased, mostly in PPP males compared to controls.Exposure to a PPP mixture defined from a human mother–child cohort impacted rabbit maternal phenotype and affected fetal health in a sex-specific manner, suggesting that this mixture could induce fetal malprogramming with long-term effects.
{"title":"Maternal preconception and gestational exposure to a mixture of short half-life food chemicals altered fetoplacental development in a rabbit model, based on a French mother-child cohort","authors":"Jeanne Bozec, Delphine Rousseau-Ralliard, Nicolas Jovanovic, Marion Ouidir, Louise Angrand, Donya Popping, Sophie Calderari, Michèle Dahirel, Natalie Fournier, Gwendoline Morin, Louise Lemarie, Christophe Richard, Valérie Gelin, Véronique Gayrard, Claire Philippat, Anne Couturier-Tarrade","doi":"10.1016/j.envint.2026.110092","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2026.110092","url":null,"abstract":"Pregnant women from the general population are exposed daily to chemicals that can affect offspring’s health. The current study aimed to evaluate the effects of a mixture of chemicals on maternal and fetal health in the rabbit model, which was defined based on associations between urinary concentrations of chemicals in pregnant women from the SEPAGES cohort and offspring outcomes.From the SEPAGES cohort data, a mixture including 3 phenols, 1 paraben and four phthalates was established and used in a rabbit model. Female rabbits were exposed orally from preconception to 28 days post-conception (dpc) to this mixture (PPP exposed group, PPP) or excipient (control group, C) daily at the doses, estimated from the maximum urinary concentrations observed in the cohort. Maternal and fetoplacental phenotype were characterized.Maternal glucose concentration decreased significantly in the PPP group, before mating. At 21 dpc, ultrasound monitoring showed that fetal body length and abdominal perimeter were increased in PPP group compared to C group. At 28 dpc, heart to bodyweight ratio was increased in PPP females compared to C females. At this stage, fetal blood biochemistry showed a decrease in insulin levels, while triglycerides and total protein increased, mostly in PPP males compared to controls.Exposure to a PPP mixture defined from a human mother–child cohort impacted rabbit maternal phenotype and affected fetal health in a sex-specific manner, suggesting that this mixture could induce fetal malprogramming with long-term effects.","PeriodicalId":308,"journal":{"name":"Environment International","volume":"08 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":11.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146014684","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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}
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, notably perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), are persistent environmental contaminants with increasing evidence of metabolic toxicity. However, their effects on glucose homeostasis and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the metabolic consequences of PFOA, PFOS and co-exposure in male C57BL/6 mice for 28 days. Physiological indicators, including fasting blood glucose and hepatic glycogen, were evaluated, followed by transcriptomic, metabolomic, and molecular docking analyses. We found that PFOA and PFOS co-exposure significantly induced hypoglycemia and reduced hepatic glycogen content. Transcriptomic and metabolomic profiling revealed enriched pathways related to glucose metabolism, with the AMPK signaling pathway identified as a central mediator. Notably, PFOA and co-exposure upregulated glycolytic and fatty acid oxidation genes, while suppressing glycogen synthesis regulators. Molecular docking further indicated that both PFOA and PFOS could bind to adiponectin receptors (AdipoR1/2), potentially disrupting normal receptor-mediated AMPK activation. Together, these findings establish an AdipoR1/2–AMPK-mediated mechanism for PFAS-induced glucose metabolic disruption, particularly under PFOA or co-exposure. We provide the integrated physiological and mechanistic evidence linking PFAS exposure to AMPK-dependent hypoglycemia, highlighting the need for metabolic health risk assessments of PFAS mixtures in the environment
{"title":"PFOA and co-exposure with PFOS induce AMPK-dependent hypoglycemia in mice: integrated evidence from physiology, multi-omics, and molecular docking","authors":"Chang Jiajun, Xu Xiaojuan, Chen Shiyan, Yan Xiaoli, Zhao Yan, Zhang Junfang, Zhu Zhiliang, Yin Daqiang, Qiu Yanling","doi":"10.1016/j.envint.2026.110076","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2026.110076","url":null,"abstract":"Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, notably perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), are persistent environmental contaminants with increasing evidence of metabolic toxicity. However, their effects on glucose homeostasis and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the metabolic consequences of PFOA, PFOS and co-exposure in male C57BL/6 mice for 28 days. Physiological indicators, including fasting blood glucose and hepatic glycogen, were evaluated, followed by transcriptomic, metabolomic, and molecular docking analyses. We found that PFOA and PFOS co-exposure significantly induced hypoglycemia and reduced hepatic glycogen content. Transcriptomic and metabolomic profiling revealed enriched pathways related to glucose metabolism, with the AMPK signaling pathway identified as a central mediator. Notably, PFOA and co-exposure upregulated glycolytic and fatty acid oxidation genes, while suppressing glycogen synthesis regulators. Molecular docking further indicated that both PFOA and PFOS could bind to adiponectin receptors (AdipoR1/2), potentially disrupting normal receptor-mediated AMPK activation. Together, these findings establish an AdipoR1/2–AMPK-mediated mechanism for PFAS-induced glucose metabolic disruption, particularly under PFOA or co-exposure. We provide the integrated physiological and mechanistic evidence linking PFAS exposure to AMPK-dependent hypoglycemia, highlighting the need for metabolic health risk assessments of PFAS mixtures in the environment","PeriodicalId":308,"journal":{"name":"Environment International","volume":"1 1","pages":"110076"},"PeriodicalIF":11.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146044762","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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 : 2026-01-21DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2026.110089
Litang Qin , Sihui Hao , Lu Rong , Lei Wang , Chuanjiang Zeng , Yan Tian , Yanpeng Liang , Honghu Zeng , Ning Huang , Lingyun Mo
The widespread use of fungicides has raised significant concerns regarding their ecotoxicological risks. However, most existing studies are limited to single compounds, species, or endpoints. This study developed interpretable machine learning models to assess the toxicity of fungicides across soil and aquatic organisms, incorporating 30 mechanistic biomarkers (9 for soil organisms and 21 for aquatic organisms). Using 21 algorithms, 672 classification models were constructed. Gradient Boosting and Tree-based methods outperformed other approaches, achieving Receiver Operating Characteristic − Area Under the Curve values of 0.990–1.000 (training) and 0.861–1.000 (testing). Internal validation (leave-one-out cross-validation, repeated 5-fold validation, and bootstrap resampling) and external validation (independent test set) collectively confirmed the model’s robust predictive capability and strong generalization performance. SHapley Additive exPlanations analysis identified malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) as the most influential biomarkers. An early-risk warning tool with a graphical user interface was developed using MDA and ROS for rapid risk assessment. This study establishes a mechanism-driven framework that leverages machine learning and key biomarkers to not only advance the predictive assessment of fungicide ecological risks but also provide a scientific basis for proactive early risk warning and targeted management.
杀菌剂的广泛使用引起了人们对其生态毒理学风险的重大关注。然而，大多数现有的研究仅限于单一化合物、物种或终点。本研究开发了可解释的机器学习模型来评估杀菌剂对土壤和水生生物的毒性，纳入了30种机械生物标志物（9种用于土壤生物，21种用于水生生物）。采用21种算法，构建了672个分类模型。梯度增强和基于树的方法优于其他方法，获得了0.990-1.000（训练）和0.861-1.000（测试）的Receiver Operating Characteristic−Area Under Curve值。内部验证（留一交叉验证、重复5倍验证和自举重采样）和外部验证（独立测试集）共同证实了模型的鲁棒预测能力和强大的泛化性能。SHapley添加剂解释分析发现丙二醛（MDA）和活性氧（ROS）是最具影响力的生物标志物。利用MDA和ROS开发了具有图形用户界面的早期风险预警工具，用于快速风险评估。本研究建立了一个机制驱动的框架，利用机器学习和关键生物标志物，不仅可以推进杀菌剂生态风险的预测评估，还可以为主动早期风险预警和针对性管理提供科学依据。
{"title":"Machine learning assessment of fungicide ecotoxicity using multi-species biomarkers and an early risk warning system","authors":"Litang Qin , Sihui Hao , Lu Rong , Lei Wang , Chuanjiang Zeng , Yan Tian , Yanpeng Liang , Honghu Zeng , Ning Huang , Lingyun Mo","doi":"10.1016/j.envint.2026.110089","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envint.2026.110089","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The widespread use of fungicides has raised significant concerns regarding their ecotoxicological risks. However, most existing studies are limited to single compounds, species, or endpoints. This study developed interpretable machine learning models to assess the toxicity of fungicides across soil and aquatic organisms, incorporating 30 mechanistic biomarkers (9 for soil organisms and 21 for aquatic organisms). Using 21 algorithms, 672 classification models were constructed. Gradient Boosting and Tree-based methods outperformed other approaches, achieving Receiver Operating Characteristic − Area Under the Curve values of 0.990–1.000 (training) and 0.861–1.000 (testing). Internal validation (leave-one-out cross-validation, repeated 5-fold validation, and bootstrap resampling) and external validation (independent test set) collectively confirmed the model’s robust predictive capability and strong generalization performance. SHapley Additive exPlanations analysis identified malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) as the most influential biomarkers. An early-risk warning tool with a graphical user interface was developed using MDA and ROS for rapid risk assessment. This study establishes a mechanism-driven framework that leverages machine learning and key biomarkers to not only advance the predictive assessment of fungicide ecological risks but also provide a scientific basis for proactive early risk warning and targeted management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":308,"journal":{"name":"Environment International","volume":"208 ","pages":"Article 110089"},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146034194","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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 : 2026-01-21DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2026.110088
Chan Chai , Yongzhen Peng , Jialin Li , Xiyao Li , Hui Wang , Liang Zhang
The partial denitrification-anammox (PDA) process holds promise for nitrogen removal in acrylic fiber wastewater (AFW), yet its application stability is challenged by the sensitivity of anammox bacteria. This study applied a gradient-driven microbial remodeling strategy to the partial denitrification-anammox (PDA) granule process, incrementally increasing the acrylic fiber wastewater (AFW) influent ratio (30%, 60%, 100% v/v) to steer microbial adjustments. The engineered PDA granules achieved 90.4% ± 2.4% total nitrogen removal with more than 85% via the anammox pathway, under a carbon-to-nitrogen ratio of 1.5 and a hydraulic retention time of 10.7h. A critical outcome was the establishment of a highly robust partial denitrification (PD), consistently maintaining a nitrite accumulation ratio of over 70% to ensure sufficient nitrite substrate for anammox. Furthermore, the production of protein-rich extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) increased markedly through positive microbe responses, enhancing the granular integrity and stability. Crucially, an adaptively self-organized, stratified granule architecture emerged: Thauera (52.6%) in the outer layer drove the PD process and EPS formation, creating a spatially sheltered core where Candidatus Brocadia (1.6%) thrived. This work demonstrates that leveraging the inherent AFW inhibition as a gradient-driven force is a viable strategy to remodel microbial structure and function, securing the efficient anammox performance, which provides valuable insights for sustainable nitrogen management in recalcitrant wastewater.
{"title":"Efficient nitrogen removal from acrylic fiber wastewater achieved by the partial denitrification-anammox granule process through gradient-driven microbial remodeling","authors":"Chan Chai , Yongzhen Peng , Jialin Li , Xiyao Li , Hui Wang , Liang Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.envint.2026.110088","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envint.2026.110088","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The partial denitrification-anammox (PDA) process holds promise for nitrogen removal in acrylic fiber wastewater (AFW), yet its application stability is challenged by the sensitivity of anammox bacteria. This study applied a gradient-driven microbial remodeling strategy to the partial denitrification-anammox (PDA) granule process, incrementally increasing the acrylic fiber wastewater (AFW) influent ratio (30%, 60%, 100% v/v) to steer microbial adjustments. The engineered PDA granules achieved 90.4% ± 2.4% total nitrogen removal with more than 85% via the anammox pathway, under a carbon-to-nitrogen ratio of 1.5 and a hydraulic retention time of 10.7h. A critical outcome was the establishment of a highly robust partial denitrification (PD), consistently maintaining a nitrite accumulation ratio of over 70% to ensure sufficient nitrite substrate for anammox. Furthermore, the production of protein-rich extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) increased markedly through positive microbe responses, enhancing the granular integrity and stability. Crucially, an adaptively self-organized, stratified granule architecture emerged: Thauera (52.6%) in the outer layer drove the PD process and EPS formation, creating a spatially sheltered core where Candidatus Brocadia (1.6%) thrived. This work demonstrates that leveraging the inherent AFW inhibition as a gradient-driven force is a viable strategy to remodel microbial structure and function, securing the efficient anammox performance, which provides valuable insights for sustainable nitrogen management in recalcitrant wastewater.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":308,"journal":{"name":"Environment International","volume":"208 ","pages":"Article 110088"},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146014686","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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 : 2026-01-21DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2026.110080
Santosh Lamichhane , Samira Salihovic , Tim Sinioja , Suvi M. Virtanen , Tommi Vatanen , Matej Orešič , Mikael Knip , Tuulia Hyötyläinen
Emerging evidence suggests that environmental contaminants can influence both human metabolism and gut microbiota composition. However, the specific effects of prenatal exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) on host–microbiome metabolic interactions remain incompletely understood. In this study, we investigated associations between prenatal exposure to POPs, including organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and growth, metabolic profiles, and gut microbiota composition in infants at three months of age. Prenatal POP exposure was strongly associated with alterations in the infant metabolome, particularly affecting lipid metabolism and microbiota-derived metabolites. Among the POPs examined, PCBs showed the most pronounced influence on both metabolic profiles and gut microbial composition. The most affected metabolic pathways included fatty acid metabolism, bile acid transformation, and steroid hormone biosynthesis. Furthermore, prenatal POP exposure significantly altered the composition of the gut microbiome. PCB exposure was linked to reduced Bifidobacterium bifidum and Lactobacillus paragasseri, and increased Erysipelatoclostridium ramosum, along with disruptions in bile acid and amino acid metabolism. These findings suggest that early-life exposure to POPs can disrupt host–microbiome metabolic interactions, potentially through perturbation of lipid- and amino acid–related pathways.
{"title":"Prenatal exposure to persistent organic pollutants modulates the metabolism and gut microbiota of the offspring","authors":"Santosh Lamichhane , Samira Salihovic , Tim Sinioja , Suvi M. Virtanen , Tommi Vatanen , Matej Orešič , Mikael Knip , Tuulia Hyötyläinen","doi":"10.1016/j.envint.2026.110080","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envint.2026.110080","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Emerging evidence suggests that environmental contaminants can influence both human metabolism and gut microbiota composition. However, the specific effects of prenatal exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) on host–microbiome metabolic interactions remain incompletely understood. In this study, we investigated associations between prenatal exposure to POPs, including organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and growth, metabolic profiles, and gut microbiota composition in infants at three months of age. Prenatal POP exposure was strongly associated with alterations in the infant metabolome, particularly affecting lipid metabolism and microbiota-derived metabolites. Among the POPs examined, PCBs showed the most pronounced influence on both metabolic profiles and gut microbial composition. The most affected metabolic pathways included fatty acid metabolism, bile acid transformation, and steroid hormone biosynthesis. Furthermore, prenatal POP exposure significantly altered the composition of the gut microbiome. PCB exposure was linked to reduced <em>Bifidobacterium bifidum</em> and <em>Lactobacillus paragasseri,</em> and increased <em>Erysipelatoclostridium ramosum</em>, along with disruptions in bile acid and amino acid metabolism. These findings suggest that early-life exposure to POPs can disrupt host–microbiome metabolic interactions, potentially through perturbation of lipid- and amino acid–related pathways.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":308,"journal":{"name":"Environment International","volume":"208 ","pages":"Article 110080"},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146014687","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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 : 2026-01-21DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2026.110063
Jiahao Liu , Xin Shen , Yinqiang Fan , Haibing Yu , Ning Wei , Yinlian Yao , Yue Zhao , Jichang Han , Hua Jin
Pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs), emerging pollutants, may cause chronic inflammatory and metabolic diseases by inducing metabolic disorders. To explore the underlying mechanisms, this study used network toxicology and molecular docking, focusing on four representative diseases: digestive system diseases, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and Parkinson’s disease. By integrating data from GeneCards, OMIM, and STRING databases, we found 255, 132, 128, and 117 intersection targets between PPCPs and these diseases respectively. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks highlighted core hubs like BCL2, IL1B, and PTGS2. Molecular docking showed strong binding affinities (e.g., IL1ß: –22.18 kcal/mol; CASP3: –23.23 kcal/mol). GO/KEGG analyses revealed PPCPs disrupt shared pathways, such as the AGE − RAGE signaling in digestive diseases and RA, PI3K-Akt-mediated insulin resistance in NAFLD, and neuroinflammation via PTGS2 inhibition in Parkinson’s. Notably, 90 % of top hub genes (e.g., STAT3, AKT1) overlapped across diseases, forming an “inflammation-apoptosis” axis. Our findings suggest PPCPs may exert toxicity through cross-organ interactions via conserved molecular networks, offering insights for environmental risk assessment and cross-disease therapeutic strategy development.
{"title":"Exploring the mechanism of PPCPs on human digestive system-related chronic inflammatory diseases based on network toxicology and molecular docking","authors":"Jiahao Liu , Xin Shen , Yinqiang Fan , Haibing Yu , Ning Wei , Yinlian Yao , Yue Zhao , Jichang Han , Hua Jin","doi":"10.1016/j.envint.2026.110063","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envint.2026.110063","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs), emerging pollutants, may cause chronic inflammatory and metabolic diseases by inducing metabolic disorders. To explore the underlying mechanisms, this study used network toxicology and molecular docking, focusing on four representative diseases: digestive system diseases, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and Parkinson’s disease. By integrating data from GeneCards, OMIM, and STRING databases, we found 255, 132, 128, and 117 intersection targets between PPCPs and these diseases respectively. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks highlighted core hubs like BCL2, IL1B, and PTGS2. Molecular docking showed strong binding affinities (e.g., IL1ß: –22.18 kcal/mol; CASP3: –23.23 kcal/mol). GO/KEGG analyses revealed PPCPs disrupt shared pathways, such as the AGE − RAGE signaling in digestive diseases and RA, PI3K-Akt-mediated insulin resistance in NAFLD, and neuroinflammation via PTGS2 inhibition in Parkinson’s. Notably, 90 % of top hub genes (e.g., STAT3, AKT1) overlapped across diseases, forming an “inflammation-apoptosis” axis. Our findings suggest PPCPs may exert toxicity through cross-organ interactions via conserved molecular networks, offering insights for environmental risk assessment and cross-disease therapeutic strategy development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":308,"journal":{"name":"Environment International","volume":"208 ","pages":"Article 110063"},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146014713","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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 : 2026-01-21DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2026.110098
Ren Kong , Meng Li , Zihan Zhang , Qian Sun , Chunsheng Liu
Rice consumption constitutes a primary pathway for non-occupational pesticide exposure globally. However, systematic characterizations linking multi-regional residue profiles with mechanism-informed toxicity prioritization remain insufficient. Here, we applied an integrated “residue–exposure–mechanism” framework to analyze 98 pesticides across 306 rice samples, comprising 234 from China and 72 from major international producers. Forty-four pesticides were detected across rice samples, including 32 insecticides, 9 fungicides, and 3 herbicides. All samples contained detectable residues, with total concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 242.28 μg/kg dry weight. Insecticides dominated pesticide profiles, while the fungicide carbendazim was nearly ubiquitous. Pronounced spatial heterogeneity in pesticide contamination was observed across surveyed countries, as Pakistan exhibited the highest overall pesticide burden while Russia displayed the lowest. The residues within China followed a “east/south higher, west/north lower” gradient. The maximum total hazard quotient occurred in sample from Myanmar, followed by Pakistan and India, and the dietary risks were primarily driven by lambda-cyhalothrin, profenofos and chlorpyrifos. By integrating exposure metrics with ToxCast in vitro bioactivity and ADME evidence, we identified 20 priority pesticides exhibiting multi-organ bioactivity signatures. Overall, this study provides a comprehensive multi-region examination of pesticide residues in rice and offers a mechanism-informed screening strategy to guide pollutant prioritization and risk management.
{"title":"Pesticide residues in rice across regions and nations: Contamination profiles, dietary health risks, and mechanism-informed prioritization","authors":"Ren Kong , Meng Li , Zihan Zhang , Qian Sun , Chunsheng Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.envint.2026.110098","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envint.2026.110098","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Rice consumption constitutes a primary pathway for non-occupational pesticide exposure globally. However, systematic characterizations linking multi-regional residue profiles with mechanism-informed toxicity prioritization remain insufficient. Here, we applied an integrated “residue–exposure–mechanism” framework to analyze 98 pesticides across 306 rice samples, comprising 234 from China and 72 from major international producers. Forty-four pesticides were detected across rice samples, including 32 insecticides, 9 fungicides, and 3 herbicides. All samples contained detectable residues, with total concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 242.28 μg/kg dry weight. Insecticides dominated pesticide profiles, while the fungicide carbendazim was nearly ubiquitous. Pronounced spatial heterogeneity in pesticide contamination was observed across surveyed countries, as Pakistan exhibited the highest overall pesticide burden while Russia displayed the lowest. The residues within China followed a “east/south higher, west/north lower” gradient. The maximum total hazard quotient occurred in sample from Myanmar, followed by Pakistan and India, and the dietary risks were primarily driven by lambda-cyhalothrin, profenofos and chlorpyrifos. By integrating exposure metrics with ToxCast <em>in vitro</em> bioactivity and ADME evidence, we identified 20 priority pesticides exhibiting multi-organ bioactivity signatures. Overall, this study provides a comprehensive multi-region examination of pesticide residues in rice and offers a mechanism-informed screening strategy to guide pollutant prioritization and risk management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":308,"journal":{"name":"Environment International","volume":"208 ","pages":"Article 110098"},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146036412","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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 : 2026-01-20DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2026.110087
Marisol Arellano , Lisa M. Barnhill , Aaron M. Kim , Kazi Md Mahmudul Hasan , Sharon Li , Kimberly C. Paul , Chao Peng , Beate Ritz , Jeff M. Bronstein
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by aggregation and transmission of alpha-synuclein (α-syn) protein and loss of dopaminergic neurons. The etiology of PD is multifactorial, involving both genetic and environmental factors. Pesticide exposure has been associated with PD, and with thousands of registered pesticides in the United States, it is still unclear which of these chemically and structurally diverse pesticides confer this association. The population-based case-control Parkinson’s, Environment, and Gene (PEG) study based in the California Central Valley, an agricultural hub servicing much of the nation, offers a promising opportunity to investigate this relationship and identify likely environmental risk factors contributing to PD risk.
In this study, 62 pesticides with reported agricultural use in the Central Valley were independently evaluated in 2 cell-based assays testing for pesticides that promote α-syn transmission and alter autophagy. To further stratify and prioritize pesticide candidates, pesticides that were positive in the 2 cell-based screens (double hits) were filtered through a newly described pesticide-wide association analysis to agnostically identify relevant real-world exposures. Using these selection criteria, 6 pesticides were identified as triple hits and were tested for dopaminergic neurotoxicity in an in vivo zebrafish (ZF) model. Of these 6 pesticides, 4 pesticides contributed to aminergic neuron loss in ZF larvae. The majority of the pesticides identified in our screens have not previously been implicated as risk factors for PD but should be considered in future studies.
{"title":"Identification of pesticides associated with an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease using a multi-screen approach","authors":"Marisol Arellano , Lisa M. Barnhill , Aaron M. Kim , Kazi Md Mahmudul Hasan , Sharon Li , Kimberly C. Paul , Chao Peng , Beate Ritz , Jeff M. Bronstein","doi":"10.1016/j.envint.2026.110087","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envint.2026.110087","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by aggregation and transmission of alpha-synuclein (α-syn) protein and loss of dopaminergic neurons. The etiology of PD is multifactorial, involving both genetic and environmental factors. Pesticide exposure has been associated with PD, and with thousands of registered pesticides in the United States, it is still unclear which of these chemically and structurally diverse pesticides confer this association. The population-based case-control Parkinson’s, Environment, and Gene (PEG) study based in the California Central Valley, an agricultural hub servicing much of the nation, offers a promising opportunity to investigate this relationship and identify likely environmental risk factors contributing to PD risk.</div><div>In this study, 62 pesticides with reported agricultural use in the Central Valley were independently evaluated in 2 cell-based assays testing for pesticides that promote α-syn transmission and alter autophagy. To further stratify and prioritize pesticide candidates, pesticides that were positive in the 2 cell-based screens (double hits) were filtered through a newly described pesticide-wide association analysis to agnostically identify relevant real-world exposures. Using these selection criteria, 6 pesticides were identified as triple hits and were tested for dopaminergic neurotoxicity in an <em>in vivo</em> zebrafish (ZF) model. Of these 6 pesticides, 4 pesticides contributed to aminergic neuron loss in ZF larvae. The majority of the pesticides identified in our screens have not previously been implicated as risk factors for PD but should be considered in future studies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":308,"journal":{"name":"Environment International","volume":"208 ","pages":"Article 110087"},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146036473","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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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