Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology最新文献

Torreón, located in central-northern Mexico, is a semiarid, dusty city affected by particulate matter and lead (Pb) pollution. This pollution is largely driven by the Met-Mex Peñoles smelting and refining complex (operating since 1901), one of the largest Ag–Cd–Pb–Zn facilities in the world, as well as historical leaded gasoline combustion (1920s–1997). In this study, we focus on atmospheric dry and lead deposition measurements in the urban area in Torreón. Atmospheric dry deposits (ADD) were collected under typical climatic conditions between January and May in 2015 and 2017. Atmospheric dry deposition fluxes (ADDF, g m² d⁻¹) and Pb dry deposition fluxes (Pb-DDF, mg m² d⁻¹) were quantified using high-resolution magnetic sector mass spectrometry. ADDF ranged from 1.0 to 1.7 g m² d⁻¹ near the smelter stack during windy periods to below 0.1 g m⁻² d⁻¹ at more distant locations (> 3 km) during clean days. Corresponding Pb-DDF varied from < 0.1 to 0.82–1.16 mg m² d⁻¹. Two dust storm events in April 2017, typical of the region, caused ADDF and Pb-loads to increase by 82 times and 67 times, respectively, compared to days with good air quality. ADDF and Pb-DDF decreased with distance from the smelting complex, with the highest concentrations found within 1 km to the west and east of the smelter, along the Sierra de las Noas hill. This hill acts as a physical barrier, restricting the dispersion of metal-rich particles, thus exacerbating urban pollution. Metal-rich particles from legacy smelter operations and leaded gasoline remain in Torreón’s urban environment.

Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), metals, and metalloids were analysed in liver of 42 Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) and 28 common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) from South Australia (SA). Dolphins sampled between 1993 and 2015 (20 T. aduncus) were screened for eleven PFAS, while those sampled between 2021 and 2023 (22 T. aduncus and 28 D. delphis) were analysed for twenty-nine PFAS, and eighteen metals and metalloids. Twenty-one PFAS were identified overall, with PFOS comprising ~ 80% of ∑PFAS. Average ∑PFAS concentrations were similar among T. aduncus and D. delphis during 2021–2023. ∑PFAS was significantly higher in Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary (ADS) T. aduncus (0.4–5.2 compared to < 2.7 mg/kg ww elsewhere). A decreasing trend in ∑PFAS, primarily driven by PFOS, was observed over time. A preliminary risk assessment based on tentative critical concentrations and hazard quotients indicated a reduced potential risk of adverse effects from PFOS exposure over time. Reductions may be due to regulatory efforts. ADS T. aduncus also exhibited significantly higher lead (0.13–1.9 mg/kg dw) and tin (0.15–1.1 mg/kg dw). In other SA regions, a low Selenium: Mercury ratio in 50% of T. aduncus, alongside Hg concentrations up to 2350 mg/kg dw, highlights a toxicity concern. This study is unique in being the first in Australia to report changes in hepatic PFAS in dolphins over time. It underscores the importance of contaminant load reassessments to understand bioaccumulation. Findings will help to understand contaminant threats to human, wildlife, and environmental health.

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Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are priority pollutants in drinking and environmental waters. Their mutagenic/carcinogenic potential and ng·L^− 1 limits demand methods that are both sensitive and practical. We report a rapid, solvent-sparing workflow coupling stir-bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) to HPLC with fluorescence detection (FLD) for simultaneous determination of six PAHs (fluoranthene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene, benzo[ghi]perylene, indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene) in drinking water, groundwater, and surface water. SBSE conditions were optimized, and isocratic RP-HPLC achieved baseline resolution within a 26-min cycle using ~ 39 mL solvent (~ 20 samples day − 1). Validation under ISO/IEC 17,025 showed linear calibration (r ≥ 0.99941), limits of detection of 0.4–1.8 ng·L^− 1, and matrix-verified LOQs of 1.5–10.9 ng·L^− 1. Trueness and precision met predefined criteria across matrices (recoveries 63.3–109.9%; within-laboratory reproducibility ≤ 25% RSD), with expanded uncertainties U(k = 2) ≤ 47.1%. Performance satisfies EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184 requirements for benzo[a]pyrene and the regulated PAH sum. By attaining sub-10 ng·L^− 1 LOQs with FLD alone and documenting a complete uncertainty budget, this procedure offers a cost-effective alternative to LC–MS/MS for routine compliance and surveillance. The validated SBSE–HPLC–FLD protocol is fit-for-purpose for regulatory laboratories and environmental services requiring sensitive, robust, and scalable PAH determination across diverse water matrices.

This study investigated the acute and subchronic toxicity of copper on Northwestern Salamander (Ambystoma gracile) larvae under varying water hardness conditions. Acute exposure experiments demonstrated that larvae in soft water had lower LC50 values than those in moderately hard water, with LC50 values of 33.16 µg/L and 1383 µg/L, respectively. Subchronic exposure to copper resulted in delayed development, reduced survival, and growth inhibition, with a 35-day LC50 of 28.97 µg/L. Gene expression analysis was conducted for the acute copper exposures and revealed a significant increase in metallothionein 1 (mt1), a protein indicative of metal detoxification response in most vertebrates. However, expression levels of thyroid hormone receptor genes (thra, thrb) were unchanged. Additionally, there was no impact on the expression of an estrogen receptor (esr1α) and a deiodinase (dio1) gene. Comparisons with previous studies on anuran species highlighted both similarities and differences in copper sensitivity and developmental responses depending on the anuran species. This variation underscores the importance of species-specific studies in understanding the broader ecological impact of copper pollution on amphibians. Finally, this research provides critical data on a representative caudate amphibian species, a taxa that is typically not included in ecological risk assessments due to lack of toxicity data.

Wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents represent the main source of pharmaceuticals and illicit drugs (PIDs) in river systems in the U.S. Moreover, pharmaceuticals and illicit drugs (PIDs) contamination due to unsheltered homelessness, as is characterized by tents or sleeping bags along rivers and other waterways, could be another pressuring factor, but it has been scarcely studied. This study investigated the occurrence of PIDs in effluent and unsheltered homelessness-impacted sites in river systems in the U.S. In addition, potential ecological risks posed by selected pharmaceuticals to aquatic ecosystems were assessed based on risk quotients (RQs). Analyses were performed using Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). Several PIDs were found to be ubiquitous in the effluent-impacted sites (e.g. lidocaine, metoprolol tartrate, diclofenac acid and methamphetamine). Results also showed that PIDs contamination is ubiquitous in unsheltered homelessness-impacted sites. For example, the methamphetamine concentrations in Santa Cruz River ranged from 83.5 to 450 ng L⁻¹. Antibiotics (6.94–626 ng L⁻¹) were also detected in higher concentrations in Santa Cruz River. Pharmaceuticals except sulfamethoxazole were detected at concentrations far below Predicted-no effect concentration (PNEC) values across all effluent and unsheltered homelessness-impacted river systems, indicating negligible (low) or moderate ecological risks to algae and crustaceans. However, relying solely on single-compound risk assessment might underestimate cumulative ecological risk.

Halogenated flame retardants (HFRs) are chemical additives used in many household and commercial products. Due to their persistence, long-range transport, bioaccumulative potential, and toxicity, several HFRs were listed for elimination or restrictions under the international Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (SC-POPs). To understand how levels of HFRs in the environment have changed since being listed under the SC-POPs, herring gull (Larus argentatus) eggs were collected from 17 colonies across Canada (Laurentian Great Lakes, Niagara and St. Lawrence rivers, and Atlantic and Arctic regions) from 2008–2023. Eggs were analyzed for SC-POPs-listed HFRs; total-α-hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD), Σpolybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs; sum concentration of 11 tri- to hepta-BDE congeners), BDE-209, and ΣDechlorane Plus (DP; sum concentration of syn- and anti-isomers). Overall, no significant temporal changes in concentrations of the four target classes of HFRs were found for most comparisons across colonies (75%, 51/68). Significant declines were found for 13% of class-colony comparisons while BDE-209 concentrations increased significantly at one colony. Evidence of a significant influence of the SC-POPs on concentrations was equivocal, with 6% of trends declining with the year of nomination, year of listing, or before the year of nomination, and 4% of trends showing increases. Despite more than a decade of regulation for some of these compounds, herring gulls continue to be exposed to HFRs, presumably from sources such as stockpiles, discarded products, or re-release from environmental reservoirs. Continued multi-site monitoring of HFRs is required to fully assess the effectiveness of regulations that may take several decades to show consistent evidence of reduced exposure in gulls.

The contamination of soils in the urban area of Zagreb with potentially toxic elements (PTEs) was assessed by predicting their mobility and evaluating the risk to the environment and human health. Sequential extraction was performed using the optimized BCR (Community Bureau of Reference) method. The enrichment factor (EF) was calculated to assess soil contamination. The mobility risk assessment was performed using the risk assessment code (RAC) and the modified risk assessment code (mRAC). In the mobile fraction, Ca, Sr, and Mg are only weakly bound by carbonate compounds, while the other elements are strongly bound to the soils. Mn, Pb, Ba, and Cd are bound to oxides, and the least mobile elements such as Al, As, Co, Fe, Zn, K, Na, Ni, Cr, Sb, Cu and Li occurred mainly in the residual fraction. High extraction efficiency (above 40%) for Pb, Cd, and Cu was obtained when 0.43 M HNO₃ was used for extraction, and this acid is recommended for analyzing the geochemical reactivity of PTEs. The increased content of Ni, Cu, Cr, and As is accompanied by a high EF, indicating the existence of anthropogenic sources of these elements. The hazard index (HI) for adults and children is < 1.0, indicating that these PTEs have no significant non-carcinogenic effects on the human body. The cancer risk (CR) for children is highest for Ni, Cr and As and for adults for Ni. The Monte Carlo simulations show that Cd and As are the most important risk factors in the soils studied.

Environmental pollution, particularly from endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), poses a significant threat to living beings. Despite extensive research in humans, studies on companion animals like cats remain limited. This work aimed to investigate the exposure of owned male and female cats to EDCs and the residue levels in their reproductive organs. Reproductive tissues (50 ovaries, 50 uteruses, and 50 testicles) from cats presented for sterilization were analyzed for residues of organochlorinated pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The method was validated following international standards. DDTs were the most commonly appointed contaminants, particularly in cats exposed to cigarette smoke and meat-based diets. PAHs were the second most prevalent, with higher concentrations in female reproductive organs compared to male testicles. PCBs were primarily found in testicles, potentially linked to higher meat consumption among male cats. PBDEs were the least frequently detected and only in testicles, at low concentrations. Notably, DDT concentrations were higher in ovaries than in uteruses from the same animals. These findings suggest that indoor cats are vulnerable to EDC exposure, with diet and environmental tobacco smoke as potential sources. Owners should minimize such exposures to safeguard both pet and human health. Given the shared environments and exposure risks between humans and cats, the study highlights the relevance of a One Health perspective.