Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology最新文献

Glaciers represent unique and threatened ecosystems, which have accumulated and continue receiving diverse, potentially toxic, and environmental contaminants released by past and ongoing anthropic activities. The accelerated ablation and retreat of glaciers due to climate warming can consequently alter the fate of contaminants trapped within their ice or on their surface, leading to increased contaminant release through meltwaters. Thus, the monitoring of glacier contaminants is crucial for assessing the potential risk for proglacial ecosystems. The present study aimed at investigating the presence and distribution of organic and inorganic contaminants in supraglacial debris from sixteen Italian glaciers. The levels of organohalogen compounds, specifically organochlorine (i.e., DDT homologues, HCH isomers, HCB, and PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (i.e., PBDEs), and trace elements (i.e., Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sr, Ti, Va, and Zn) were investigated in the debris collected from fifteen Alpine glaciers and the only existing Apenninic glacieret. The supraglacial debris of all glaciers contained measurable concentrations of trace elements, while organohalogen compounds were detected at measurable concentrations only in certain glaciers. Fe (mean ± standard deviation: 22,781.46 ± 10,849.73 mg/Kg dry weight), Al (10,417.71 ± 6,019.36 mg/Kg d.w.), and Mn (312.52 ± 167.78 d.w.) were the predominant trace elements, but measurable concentrations of toxic metals such as Cd (0.23 ± 0.31 d.w.), Hg (0.16 ± 0.12 d.w.), and Pb (84.32 ± 110.04 d.w.) were detected in the debris of all glaciers. The DDT homologues (mean ± standard deviation: 0.006 ± 0.009 mg/Kg d.w.), PCBs (0.003 ± 0.004 d.w.), and HCB (0.0009 ± 0.0005 d.w.) were measured in less than the 75% of investigated glaciers, while HCH isomers and PBDEs were never measured. Overall, a wide variability in the levels of all the investigated contaminants was observed among glaciers, suggesting that their origin could depend on atmospheric transport but also local sources of contamination.

In this study, a rapid visualization method was developed to simultaneously evaluate the on-going performance of routine analysis and ensure that the concentration of multiple pesticides in food samples with high water content complies with Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs). In order to accomplish this, we used a bubble chart known as Fast Risk Estimation and Analysis. In this chart, each pesticide is represented by a bubble. By looking at its color, position on the graph, and the size of the bubble, you can quickly determine whether it meets the requirements for relative standard deviation (RSD), recovery, Index of Quality for Residues, and matrix effect. Onion and pepper were chosen as commodity group with high water content. A single matrix-matched calibration using pepper was performed to analyze all these products. The risk visualization allows simultaneous checking of on-going validation and quality control parameters as recovery between 60 and 140% of the spike samples analyzed at the same time, such as the historical RSD (value and alarm if is upper at 20%). At the same time, the bubble chart monitoring other parameters such as the exceeding of the MRL in the analyzed samples, the complex definition of the residue in different pesticides or inconsistencies such as limits of quantification higher than the MRL could be quickly identified.

The St. Johns River (SJR) is an ecologically and economically important estuarine river system undergoing extensive anthropogenic change. In this study, water quality parameters (dissolved oxygen, temperature, salinity, pH, hardness, alkalinity, ammonia–N, nitrate–N, and nitrite–N) and a suite of metals (cadmium, copper, lead, nickel, silver, and zinc) were measured in water samples collected from eight sites in the lower SJR from 2019 to 2022. This project was continued from previous work that documented these parameters in the river from 2017 to 2019. Aquatic communities such as phytoplankton can be indicative of river health; therefore, phytoplankton were also collected from each site, and the diatom component was identified. The total number of taxa in each sample ranged from 60 to 190, with 25 taxa accounting for the majority (64%). Similar to water quality, seasonal fluctuations in phytoplankton abundance and diversity were observed, with an increased relative abundance of Skeletonema costatum and Skeletonema subsalsum in times of lowered diversity. Furthermore, decreased phytoplankton diversity correlated with increased metal concentrations in the lower SJR. Multivariate analyses highlighted significant interactions among phytoplankton diversity and water quality variables. Significant parameters affecting phytoplankton biodiversity included salinity, pH, temperature, copper hazard quotient, and the nickel hazard quotient. This study provides new information about the impact of human disturbance on biotic communities and the complexity in predicting population changes.

The escalating concentrations of emerging contaminants in water systems and the possible environmental threats they emphasize the necessity for more sophisticated methods in the evaluation of water quality. Traditional bioassays raise ethical concerns, require intricate procedures, entail significant expenses, and only allow for endpoint measurements. The using of nitrifying bacteria in bioassays has resulted in increased sensitivity to a wide range of toxic substances, making them valuable for the identification of water pollution. This study introduces a novel nitrifying bacteria bioassay kit for detecting heavy metal contaminants in water. This bioassay is specifically designed for expedited analysis of oxygen consumption. This technique enables the identification of a range of toxic metals. Optimization studies indicated that 100 mg ammonia NH₄⁺–N/L, and 1 mL acclimated culture were the ideal conditions facilitating the necessary volume of gas consumption for sensitive data generation. Determined EC₅₀ values of the selected toxic metals were: chromium (Cr⁶⁺), 0.51 mg/L; silver (Ag⁺), 2.90 mg/L; copper (Cu²⁺), 2.90 mg/L; nickel (Ni²⁺), 3.60 mg/L; arsenic (As³⁺), 4.10 mg/L; cadmium (Cd²⁺), 5.56 mg/L; mercury (Hg²⁺), 8.06 mg/L; and lead (Pb²⁺), 19.3 mg/L. Metagenomics analysis found key species in the research included Nitrosomonas eutropha, Nitrosomonas oligotropha, Nitrosomonas europaea, Nitrobacter vulgaris, Nitrobacter winogradskyi, Nitrospira moscoviensis and Nitrospira lenta. In addition, this bioassay is ideal for field screening and real-time monitoring due to its simplicity and reliability. This bioassay provides a precise, economical, and effective substitute for more intricate and ethically problematic techniques, enhancing the effectiveness of water quality monitoring programs.

Neonicotinoids are insecticides that are used globally and can persist in soil and surface water, posing a threat to ecosystems. In this study, we exposed the invasive freshwater amphipod Dikerogammarus villosus to environmentally relevant and relatively high concentrations of thiacloprid, a widely used agricultural neonicotinoid active ingredient and its commercial form Calypso® for two days. The acute effects were investigated at the behavioral (immobility time) and biochemical [glutathione S-transferase (GST) and acetylcholine esterase (AChE) activity] levels. Calypso® concentrations of 10 µg/l and 100 µg/l a significantly increased the immobility time, while thiacloprid exerted such an effect only at 100 µg/l. The GST enzyme activity did not change in the thiacloprid-treated groups; however, the 10 µg/l and 100 µg/l Calypso® concentrations significantly increased the GST activity. All Calypso® concentrations significantly decreased AChE activity until the highest Calypso® concentration was reached, and an interesting outcome was the ‘U-shaped dynamics’ of AChE activity. In contrast, thiacloprid had no significant blocking effect on AChE activity at any of the concentrations tested. Neonicotinoid insecticides are neurotoxins that selectively target nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the insect central nervous system. However, their widespread use has a growing impact on nontarget animals. This study confirms the risk of neonicotinoids to aquatic invertebrates by providing evidence that neonicotinoids can also affect both behavioral and biochemical processes in D. villosus.

Long-term fire retardants are employed to combat and control wildfires by altering the way fuels burn, and they continue to decrease fire intensity after water in the retardant solution has evaporated. After application, fire retardants may persist on dry stream beds or in riparian habitats before precipitation events flush the retardant into intermittent streams. We exposed juvenile (30–60 days post swim-up) rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) to fire retardants weathered for 7–56 days on different substrates (duff, gravel, high organic content soil, and low organic content soil) under static conditions for 96 h to evaluate the potential toxicity of two current-use long-term fire-retardant (LC95A-R and MVP-Fx) products. Trout mortality was greater in LC95A-R treatments compared to MVP-Fx due to higher concentrations of LC95A-R in the applied product than MVP-Fx at the same application rate. Underlying substrate affected fire-retardant toxicity, with 31% higher average mortality for products applied to duff and gravel compared to soil. Differences in mortality across substrates and products after weathering may be attributed to differences in the mix ratio of applied product and interactions of product chemistries with underlying substrate. These interactions resulted in elevated ionic concentrations of the overlying water in duff and gravel treatments. Trout mortality decreased 15% for products weathered 56 days compared to 7 days. Our results suggest that long-term fire retardants may persist in the environment and that underlying substrate may alter the toxicity of these products upon entrance into an intermittent stream.

The aquatic environment has been contaminated by pyrethroids and triazole pesticide applications, which pose serious health risks to the aquatic ecosystem and human beings. Therefore, the current study aims to evaluate water quality parameters, fungal diversity, and distribution of snails and aquatic plants of certain Egyptian water courses contaminated with pyrethroids and triazole pesticides. Seasonal samples were taken throughout 2021 from different water courses at Giza Governorate and Tanta (Gharbeya Governorate). Qualitative and quantitative surveys showed significant differences in water physical parameters between the two investigated governorates. Deltamethrin, permethrin, Es-fenvalerate, and lambada-cyhalothrin showed the highest pyrethroids concentrations, while tebuconazole, tetraconazole, and difenoconazole were the highest triazole concentrations. Fungal diversity displayed 21 molecularly identified fungal species related to four fungal genera: Aspergillus, Fusarium, Penicillium, and Trichoderma. Penicillium sp. and Aspergillus niger were the most frequent species. Snail diversity recorded 10 and 9 species in Giza and Tanta, respectively. Physa acuta was the most abundant snail. Ten species of aquatic plants were observed in Giza, while six species were observed in Tanta. Specifically, Eichhornia crassipes and Lemna gibba were the dominant species in the two governorates, with the relative abundance (39 and 22%) in Giza and (27 and 23%) in Tanta, respectively. Water quality parameters and seasonal variations could control fungal diversity, snails, and aquatic plant distribution. Different relations between pesticides and biological communities may reflect the ability/inability of certain snails and fungi species to commensalism with pesticide concentrations. Continuous pesticide monitoring is essential for life below water and aligns with SDG14.

This study investigates the contamination status and dispersion of 11 potentially toxic elements by exploring the potential mechanistic pathways by analyzing 60 samples (coal, ash, topsoil, and subsoil) from and around the coal-based brick kilns by neutron activation analysis. The mean_n=10 concentrations (μg g⁻¹) of scandium (Sc: 3.85), zinc (Zn: 79.21), Antimony (Sb: 4.06), and cesium (Cs: 4.81) in coal samples and manganese (Mn: 488), antimony (Sb: 10.9), and cesium (Cs: 20.3) in ash samples were 2.8–4.3 times and 1.1–2.5 times higher than world average values, respectively. In soil samples, average_n=40 abundances (μg g⁻¹) of chromium (Cr: 109), zinc (Zn: 144), arsenic (As: 8.98), rubidium (Rb: 113), antimony (Sb: 2.29), and cesium (Cs: 14.3) are 1.1–5.7 times higher than the crustal values. Additionally, geo-environmental indices showed that cesium (Cs) and chromium (Cr) had undergone severe modification relative to the crustal value, and the corresponding soil samples were moderately contaminated. The positive matrix factorization (PMF) model reveals that aerodynamic transportation contributes 22% to the elemental transportation of manganese, titanium, and iron throughout the soil profile in distant soil. In comparison, hydrodynamic transportation contributes 25% for As, Zn, and Sc in both topsoil and subsoil in the nearby soil. However, the combined process of bio-geo-accumulation, hydrodynamic leaching, and aerodynamic convection mechanisms contributes 53% of the dispersion and distribution of cesium (Cs), cobalt (Co), rubidium (Rb), and chromium (Cr) in the ambient pedosphere around the brick kilns which local geology, soil properties, solubility, and weathering can further influence. Our research findings contribute to advancing scientific approaches for investigating soil contamination, including the mechanistic pathways of potentially toxic elements and the risks associated with brick kilns.

The widespread use of incense in indoor environments, particularly in cultural and religious practices, poses significant health risks due to particulate matter (PM) emissions. This study examines the chemical composition, particle morphology, and deposition dynamics of PM from four types of incense: Cup dhoop, Cone dhoop, Natural Incense Powder, and Agarbatti. Advanced analytical techniques, including SEM, FTIR, ICP-MS, and CAM, were employed to characterize particles, focusing on their size, elemental makeup, and surface properties. Particle sizes ranged from 12.02 µm to 422.3 nm, with lenses showing higher concentrations than filters. Elements such as sodium (300 µg/m³) and mercury (1.99 µg/m³) were prominent in lenses, while arsenic (6.2 µg/m³) and cadmium (0.19 µg/m³) were dominant in filters. Neurotoxins like aluminum, lead, and mercury highlighted potential risks, including oxidative stress and systemic toxicity. Deposition modeling revealed age-related differences, with children (8 years) experiencing higher pulmonary deposition (16.8% for Cup dhoop), while adults (21 years) showed greater head region deposition (37.6% for Agarbatti). Hydrophobic particles in filters (contact angle 119.2°) contrasted with hydrophilic particles in lenses (69.8°), increasing ocular exposure risks. Cone dhoop exhibited the highest cancer risk, affecting 5 in 100,000 individuals, emphasizing its hazardous nature. FTIR identified microplastics like polypropylene and polyvinyl chloride, known to adsorb and transport heavy metals, compounding health risks. These findings highlight the critical health impacts of incense emissions, particularly for children, and underscore the urgent need for stricter regulations, improved ventilation, and public awareness to mitigate exposure.

Graphical Abstract

Freshwater salinization is increasing globally through seawater intrusion, road de-icing, and changes in anthropogenic land uses. Concurrently, freshwaters are browning with the rise in dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations, while water pH is falling. Elevations in external major ion concentrations (Na⁺ or Ca²⁺) and low pH, independently disturb osmoregulatory homeostasis in freshwater organisms. Several studies have demonstrated that DOC often mitigates osmoregulatory stress responses to acidic pH. However, the interactive effects of these three water quality parameters together have been relatively understudied. Transepithelial potential (TEP), the electrical gradient across the gills between the animal and the external water, can be used as an index of osmoregulatory stress. We investigated whether DOC and exposure to elevated major ions interact with TEP responses at circumneutral and low environmental pH in the freshwater rainbow trout. Two natural DOCs, one allochthonous and the other autochthonous, were used. To aid interpretation, three model compounds of known chemical structure were also employed (tannic acid, sodium dodecyl sulfate, bovine serum albumin), based on the criteria that they structurally resemble or functionally behave like certain chemical moieties of humic or fulvic acids, major components of DOC. The Multi-Ion Toxicity Model predicts that a disturbance in absolute TEP is indicative of salt toxicity; however, recent studies have shown that ΔTEP (the change in TEP relative to the baseline) may be more predictive. Our data followed a pattern that could be described by the Michaelis–Menten equation. Therefore, considering Michaelis–Menten constants (Km and ΔTEP_max), absolute TEP and ΔTEP, we used a weight of evidence approach to predict how DOC and pH will influence Na⁺ or Ca²⁺ toxicity. We conclude that key chemical moieties of DOC will likely play pH-dependent roles in both Na⁺ and Ca²⁺ toxicity.

Graphical Abstract