Pub Date : 2025-11-01Epub Date: 2024-11-19DOI: 10.1016/j.hazl.2024.100136
R.K. Dash , K. Kumar , S.P. Shukla , S. Kumar , S. Kumar H , S. Karmakar , T. Paul
Triclosan (TCS) is a widely used biocide found in medicinal, household, and personal care products, frequently detected in various environmental matrices, posing significant threats to microbial communities and overall ecosystem functioning. This study evaluates the in vivo and in vitro effects of triclosan (TCS) on phosphate-solubilising bacteria (PSB) in mangrove ecosystems. Two experimental approaches were employed: a microcosm (in vivo) study and a laboratory (in vitro) analysis. Five isolated PSB strains—Sphingomonas paucimobilis, Rhizobium radiobacter, Serratia ficaria, Klebsiella oxytoca, and Klebsiella pneumoniae—were selected from the mangrove ecosystem for investigation. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) results revealed that Klebsiella pneumoniae exhibited the highest resistance to TCS among the tested strains. In vivo experiments demonstrated a significant reduction in soil-available phosphorus and enzymatic activities, including acid and alkaline phosphatase, dehydrogenase, and fluorescein diacetate (FDA) activity, in TCS-exposed samples throughout the exposure period. In vitro results showed that phosphate solubilisation decreased significantly with increasing TCS concentrations in all strains except Klebsiella pneumoniae. Overall, TCS effectively inhibited the growth of PSB in mangrove ecosystems. This study is the first to report the impact of TCS on PSB in mangroves and provides valuable data for future research on microbial communities in such environments.
{"title":"Effect of triclosan on phosphate solubilising bacteria in mangrove ecosystem: In-vitro and In-vivo","authors":"R.K. Dash , K. Kumar , S.P. Shukla , S. Kumar , S. Kumar H , S. Karmakar , T. Paul","doi":"10.1016/j.hazl.2024.100136","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hazl.2024.100136","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Triclosan (TCS) is a widely used biocide found in medicinal, household, and personal care products, frequently detected in various environmental matrices, posing significant threats to microbial communities and overall ecosystem functioning. This study evaluates the <em>in vivo</em> and <em>in vitro</em> effects of triclosan (TCS) on phosphate-solubilising bacteria (PSB) in mangrove ecosystems. Two experimental approaches were employed: a microcosm (<em>in vivo</em>) study and a laboratory (in vitro) analysis. Five isolated PSB strains—<em>Sphingomonas paucimobilis</em>, <em>Rhizobium radiobacter</em>, <em>Serratia ficaria</em>, <em>Klebsiella oxytoca</em>, and <em>Klebsiella pneumoniae</em>—were selected from the mangrove ecosystem for investigation. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) results revealed that <em>Klebsiella pneumoniae</em> exhibited the highest resistance to TCS among the tested strains. <em>In vivo</em> experiments demonstrated a significant reduction in soil-available phosphorus and enzymatic activities, including acid and alkaline phosphatase, dehydrogenase, and fluorescein diacetate (FDA) activity, in TCS-exposed samples throughout the exposure period. <em>In vitro</em> results showed that phosphate solubilisation decreased significantly with increasing TCS concentrations in all strains except <em>Klebsiella pneumoniae</em>. Overall, TCS effectively inhibited the growth of PSB in mangrove ecosystems. This study is the first to report the impact of TCS on PSB in mangroves and provides valuable data for future research on microbial communities in such environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":93463,"journal":{"name":"Journal of hazardous materials letters","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 100136"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142748804","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-01Epub Date: 2025-06-20DOI: 10.1016/j.hazl.2025.100156
Hallie Webb , Stephen Rosansky , Samer Mohamad Al-Dirani , Kavitha Dasu , Christopher G. Scheitlin , Jeff Davis , Leonardo Chiques
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have become a top environmental concern for the military due to the prevalence of PFAS contamination from aqueous film-forming-foams (AFFFs) used to suppress fires in emergencies and training exercises. Supercritical water oxidation (SCWO) has emerged as a promising technology for the removal and destruction of PFAS in aqueous media. This project used the SCWO-based PFAS Annihilator® at Peterson Space Force Base to treat unconcentrated, 50 %, and 79 % concentrated PFAS-contaminated water onsite and demonstrate the efficacy of the technology. This study analyzed target PFAS, total organofluorine, and non-PFAS contaminants removed by the SCWO system. Here, 94.3 % of target PFAS in the unconcentrated influent, 99.2 % in the 50 % concentrated influent, and 99.7 % in the 79 % concentrated influent were destroyed, while removing > 95.5 % of total organofluorine, with limited byproducts in the aqueous and vapor effluent. The mass balance achieved 52–102 % fluoride recovery across the three concentrations. A novel cost assessment demonstrates improved economic efficiency with increasing influent concentration, suggesting that SCWO can efficiently remove and destroy PFAS from contaminated water to levels below regulatory requirements, solidifying itself as an innovative solution to PFAS contamination.
{"title":"PFAS destruction using supercritical water oxidation (SCWO) at Peterson Space Force Base","authors":"Hallie Webb , Stephen Rosansky , Samer Mohamad Al-Dirani , Kavitha Dasu , Christopher G. Scheitlin , Jeff Davis , Leonardo Chiques","doi":"10.1016/j.hazl.2025.100156","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hazl.2025.100156","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have become a top environmental concern for the military due to the prevalence of PFAS contamination from aqueous film-forming-foams (AFFFs) used to suppress fires in emergencies and training exercises. Supercritical water oxidation (SCWO) has emerged as a promising technology for the removal and destruction of PFAS in aqueous media. This project used the SCWO-based PFAS Annihilator® at Peterson Space Force Base to treat unconcentrated, 50 %, and 79 % concentrated PFAS-contaminated water onsite and demonstrate the efficacy of the technology. This study analyzed target PFAS, total organofluorine, and non-PFAS contaminants removed by the SCWO system. Here, 94.3 % of target PFAS in the unconcentrated influent, 99.2 % in the 50 % concentrated influent, and 99.7 % in the 79 % concentrated influent were destroyed, while removing > 95.5 % of total organofluorine, with limited byproducts in the aqueous and vapor effluent. The mass balance achieved 52–102 % fluoride recovery across the three concentrations. A novel cost assessment demonstrates improved economic efficiency with increasing influent concentration, suggesting that SCWO can efficiently remove and destroy PFAS from contaminated water to levels below regulatory requirements, solidifying itself as an innovative solution to PFAS contamination.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":93463,"journal":{"name":"Journal of hazardous materials letters","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 100156"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144549017","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-01Epub Date: 2025-07-24DOI: 10.1016/j.hazl.2025.100160
James Chen, Ruby Zhang, Maciej Podlesny, Tyler Smith, Chao Shi, Jian Li
In response to the growing shift from graphite to silicon in Li-ion battery anodes, we propose a novel low-carbon pyrometallurgical recycling method that uses silicon as the reducing agent. Silicon was chosen as the reductant because, as the emerging high-capacity anode material, it not only integrates seamlessly with next-generation battery chemistries but also offers a substantially lower carbon footprint than conventional carbon-based reducing agents. The thermodynamics and reaction mechanism between LiCoO2 and Si are investigated using differential thermal and thermogravimetric analyses. The reaction products are characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. When heated to 1500 °C, LiCoO2 undergoes simultaneous decomposition and melting, reacting with Si to produce cobalt spheres. Through a laser-enabled recycling process for only 30 s with a laser power of 2 kW, LiCoO2 is reduced via silicothermic reaction to a Co–Si alloy with only a small amount of slag (Li2SiO3 and Li2Co(SiO4)). This successful use of silicon paves the way for a cleaner, more sustainable battery recycling strategy.
{"title":"A laser-enabled low carbon emission pyrometallurgical approach to recycle Li-ion batteries via silicothermic reductions","authors":"James Chen, Ruby Zhang, Maciej Podlesny, Tyler Smith, Chao Shi, Jian Li","doi":"10.1016/j.hazl.2025.100160","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hazl.2025.100160","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In response to the growing shift from graphite to silicon in Li-ion battery anodes, we propose a novel low-carbon pyrometallurgical recycling method that uses silicon as the reducing agent. Silicon was chosen as the reductant because, as the emerging high-capacity anode material, it not only integrates seamlessly with next-generation battery chemistries but also offers a substantially lower carbon footprint than conventional carbon-based reducing agents. The thermodynamics and reaction mechanism between LiCoO<sub>2</sub> and Si are investigated using differential thermal and thermogravimetric analyses. The reaction products are characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. When heated to 1500 °C, LiCoO<sub>2</sub> undergoes simultaneous decomposition and melting, reacting with Si to produce cobalt spheres. Through a laser-enabled recycling process for only 30 s with a laser power of 2 kW, LiCoO<sub>2</sub> is reduced via silicothermic reaction to a Co–Si alloy with only a small amount of slag (Li<sub>2</sub>SiO<sub>3</sub> and Li<sub>2</sub>Co(SiO<sub>4</sub>)). This successful use of silicon paves the way for a cleaner, more sustainable battery recycling strategy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":93463,"journal":{"name":"Journal of hazardous materials letters","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 100160"},"PeriodicalIF":8.1,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144842184","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-01Epub Date: 2025-09-21DOI: 10.1016/j.hazl.2025.100164
Lisa Lowe, Jamie Leonard, Sanjay Mohanty
Chewing gums typically contain plant-based or synthetic plastic polymers to improve their texture and flavor retention. These polymer fragments or microplastics can be released into the environment when disposed of improperly or ingested while chewing gums. Yet, how many microplastics a person may ingest while chewing gums is unknown. Analyzing microplastics released into saliva from 5 natural and 5 synthetic chewing gums, we found that each gram of chewing gum could release up to 637 microplastics, and 94 % of microplastics were released within the first 8 min of chewing. Surprisingly, synthetic chewing gum released a similar (p > 0.8) number of microplastics as natural or plant-based chewing gums. Microplastics released from the chewing gums were predominantly small, with a median size of 45.4 µm. Both of the chewing gum types released four types of plastic polymers—polyolefins, polyterephthalates (PET), polyacrylamides, and polystyrenes,— among which polyolefins were the most abundant. The result reveals that chewing gum consumption, irrespective of the type of chewing gums, could result in direct ingestion of microplastics.
{"title":"Ingestion of microplastics during chewing gum consumption","authors":"Lisa Lowe, Jamie Leonard, Sanjay Mohanty","doi":"10.1016/j.hazl.2025.100164","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hazl.2025.100164","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Chewing gums typically contain plant-based or synthetic plastic polymers to improve their texture and flavor retention. These polymer fragments or microplastics can be released into the environment when disposed of improperly or ingested while chewing gums. Yet, how many microplastics a person may ingest while chewing gums is unknown. Analyzing microplastics released into saliva from 5 natural and 5 synthetic chewing gums, we found that each gram of chewing gum could release up to 637 microplastics, and 94 % of microplastics were released within the first 8 min of chewing. Surprisingly, synthetic chewing gum released a similar (p > 0.8) number of microplastics as natural or plant-based chewing gums. Microplastics released from the chewing gums were predominantly small, with a median size of 45.4 µm. Both of the chewing gum types released four types of plastic polymers—polyolefins, polyterephthalates (PET), polyacrylamides, and polystyrenes,— among which polyolefins were the most abundant. The result reveals that chewing gum consumption, irrespective of the type of chewing gums, could result in direct ingestion of microplastics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":93463,"journal":{"name":"Journal of hazardous materials letters","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 100164"},"PeriodicalIF":8.1,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145157419","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-01Epub Date: 2024-12-28DOI: 10.1016/j.hazl.2024.100139
Emma Rowan , Anne Leung , Katie O’Rourke , Xiaofei Yin , Lorraine Brennan , Konstantinos Grintzalis
Conventional methods for water monitoring are insufficient to capture the impacts of pollution because of their sensitivity limits, while they also fail to provide mechanistic insight regarding the actions of pollutants. On the other hand, New Approach Methodologies are more and more introduced as supplementary tools that provide sensitive metrics for pollution assessment. In this context, freshwater sentinel species commonly known as water fleas were used to assess the impact of a pharmaceutical mixture. The pharmaceutical cocktail comprised of representatives of commonly encountered pharmaceuticals and specifically diclofenac, metformin, gabapentin, amoxicillin, trimethoprim, and erythromycin. Combining toxicity, phenotypic and molecular endpoints, results showed differences in mortality, feeding, key enzyme activities and metabolic perturbations, thus supporting a distinct pattern in physiological responses of daphnids that could be used to monitor and predict pollution early.
{"title":"New Approach Methodologies: Physiological responses of daphnids to pharmaceutical mixtures","authors":"Emma Rowan , Anne Leung , Katie O’Rourke , Xiaofei Yin , Lorraine Brennan , Konstantinos Grintzalis","doi":"10.1016/j.hazl.2024.100139","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hazl.2024.100139","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Conventional methods for water monitoring are insufficient to capture the impacts of pollution because of their sensitivity limits, while they also fail to provide mechanistic insight regarding the actions of pollutants. On the other hand, New Approach Methodologies are more and more introduced as supplementary tools that provide sensitive metrics for pollution assessment. In this context, freshwater sentinel species commonly known as water fleas were used to assess the impact of a pharmaceutical mixture. The pharmaceutical cocktail comprised of representatives of commonly encountered pharmaceuticals and specifically diclofenac, metformin, gabapentin, amoxicillin, trimethoprim, and erythromycin. Combining toxicity, phenotypic and molecular endpoints, results showed differences in mortality, feeding, key enzyme activities and metabolic perturbations, thus supporting a distinct pattern in physiological responses of daphnids that could be used to monitor and predict pollution early.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":93463,"journal":{"name":"Journal of hazardous materials letters","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 100139"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143169643","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-01Epub Date: 2025-11-06DOI: 10.1016/j.hazl.2025.100169
Divina Navarro , Ben Hoffmann , Wenchao Lu , Karl Bowles , Jason Kirby
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent contaminants that pose risks to ecological and human health. Soil stabilisation using sorbents such as granular activated carbon (GAC) can reduce PFAS mobility and bioavailability. Previous studies have focused on plants and earthworms, but bioavailability in species relevant to arid and semi-arid environments remains poorly understood. This study examined the effectiveness of GAC in reducing PFAS bioavailability to tropical fire ants (Solenopsis geminata). Two PFAS-contaminated soils were amended with 1 % or 5 % (w/w) GAC, incubated, then subjected to 5-day and 2-month ant exposure trials. Results showed that GAC reduced leachable ∑29PFAS by 73–100 %, with greater reductions at later post-treatment leaching assessments and at 5 % GAC. PFAS exposure in untreated soils impaired ant colony growth, whereas GAC addition mitigated these effects and reduced PFAS concentrations in ants by < 97 %, with the greatest reductions observed in the sandy soil, consistent with leaching results. Non-target PFAS detected in ants collected from untreated soils were not detected in ants from GAC-treated soils, indicating GAC's broad sorption performance. Risk quotients calculated suggest that GAC can substantially lower potential risk to mammals and birds that feed on ants. Overall, findings underscore the value of soil stabilisation strategies, especially in ecosystems where invertebrates influence contaminant exposure.
{"title":"Granular activated carbon reduces PFAS bioavailability and protects ant colony growth in soil","authors":"Divina Navarro , Ben Hoffmann , Wenchao Lu , Karl Bowles , Jason Kirby","doi":"10.1016/j.hazl.2025.100169","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hazl.2025.100169","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent contaminants that pose risks to ecological and human health. Soil stabilisation using sorbents such as granular activated carbon (GAC) can reduce PFAS mobility and bioavailability. Previous studies have focused on plants and earthworms, but bioavailability in species relevant to arid and semi-arid environments remains poorly understood. This study examined the effectiveness of GAC in reducing PFAS bioavailability to tropical fire ants (<em>Solenopsis geminata</em>). Two PFAS-contaminated soils were amended with 1 % or 5 % (w/w) GAC, incubated, then subjected to 5-day and 2-month ant exposure trials. Results showed that GAC reduced leachable ∑<sub>29</sub>PFAS by 73–100 %, with greater reductions at later post-treatment leaching assessments and at 5 % GAC. PFAS exposure in untreated soils impaired ant colony growth, whereas GAC addition mitigated these effects and reduced PFAS concentrations in ants by < 97 %, with the greatest reductions observed in the sandy soil, consistent with leaching results. Non-target PFAS detected in ants collected from untreated soils were not detected in ants from GAC-treated soils, indicating GAC's broad sorption performance. Risk quotients calculated suggest that GAC can substantially lower potential risk to mammals and birds that feed on ants. Overall, findings underscore the value of soil stabilisation strategies, especially in ecosystems where invertebrates influence contaminant exposure.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":93463,"journal":{"name":"Journal of hazardous materials letters","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 100169"},"PeriodicalIF":8.1,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145570981","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-01Epub Date: 2025-04-08DOI: 10.1016/j.hazl.2025.100150
Macy Hannan , Fatih Evrendilek , Daniel Leclair , Manisha Choudhary , Kenneth Mensah , Christoph Aeppli , Arjun K. Venkatesan , Onur G. Apul
On August 19, 2024, 5,500 L of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)-based aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) spilled into the watershed near Brunswick Executive Airport in Maine, USA. This study investigates the immediate impact of the largest PFAS spill in the state's history on nearby aquatic ecosystems. Over 11 days, PFAS were sampled from nine surface waters, detecting 18 PFAS, predominantly perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS). A significant reduction in PFAS levels occurred within days due to clean-up efforts and natural attenuation (e.g., dilution, adsorption, and aerosolization), in addition to downstream transport. Kruskal-Wallis and Steel-Dwass tests revealed significant spatial variability in PFAS, with PFOS, perfluorohexanesulfonic acid, and perfluoroalkyloctanoic acid remaining elevated near the spill but declined by 99.9 % at the Harpswell Cove estuary 3.2 km south of the spill. The rapid PFAS spread poses risks to the downstream environments. This study provides insights into post-spill PFAS dynamics and highlights the urgency of minimizing PFAS-based AFFF use and spills, and further research into long-term ecosystem and human health risks associated with PFAS contamination.
Synopsis
The aftermath of a major AFFF spill was analyzed to provide insights into immediate spatiotemporal distribution of PFAS.
{"title":"Aftermath of a major firefighting foam spill in Brunswick, Maine: Spatiotemporal dynamics of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in the downstream surface waters","authors":"Macy Hannan , Fatih Evrendilek , Daniel Leclair , Manisha Choudhary , Kenneth Mensah , Christoph Aeppli , Arjun K. Venkatesan , Onur G. Apul","doi":"10.1016/j.hazl.2025.100150","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hazl.2025.100150","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>On August 19, 2024, 5,500 L of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)-based aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) spilled into the watershed near Brunswick Executive Airport in Maine, USA. This study investigates the immediate impact of the largest PFAS spill in the state's history on nearby aquatic ecosystems. Over 11 days, PFAS were sampled from nine surface waters, detecting 18 PFAS, predominantly perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS). A significant reduction in PFAS levels occurred within days due to clean-up efforts and natural attenuation (<em>e.g.</em>, dilution, adsorption, and aerosolization), in addition to downstream transport. Kruskal-Wallis and Steel-Dwass tests revealed significant spatial variability in PFAS, with PFOS, perfluorohexanesulfonic acid, and perfluoroalkyloctanoic acid remaining elevated near the spill but declined by 99.9 % at the Harpswell Cove estuary 3.2 km south of the spill. The rapid PFAS spread poses risks to the downstream environments. This study provides insights into post-spill PFAS dynamics and highlights the urgency of minimizing PFAS-based AFFF use and spills, and further research into long-term ecosystem and human health risks associated with PFAS contamination.</div></div><div><h3>Synopsis</h3><div>The aftermath of a major AFFF spill was analyzed to provide insights into immediate spatiotemporal distribution of PFAS.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":93463,"journal":{"name":"Journal of hazardous materials letters","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 100150"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143816821","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The effects of copper (Cu) and cadmium (Cd) accumulation on growth and development of Scopelophila cataractae (Mitt.) Broth., Pottiaceae, were investigated over 24 weeks. Moss samples were grown on modified hydroponic medium supplemented with Cu and Cd. Cu markedly promoted the transition from chloronema to caulonema and showed a significantly higher proportion (95.5 %) at 800 µM CuSO₄. The greatest bud and gametophore formation was observed in the 400 µM CuSO₄ treatment, with 130 buds per 25 mm². In contrast, Cd restricted filaments to the chloronema stage, reduced average chloroplast numbers per cell (from 75 to 34.5 under 800 µM CdCl₂), and induced large vacuolar vesicles, reflecting cellular stress. Relative growth rates were 7.1, 10.7 and 16.2 mg g⁻¹d⁻¹ for 800 µM CuSO₄, 800 µM CdCl₂ and control, respectively, indicating strong growth inhibition by heavy metals at high accumulation. Co-exposure of low Cu with Cd increased Cd accumulation (2188–16,027 mg kg⁻¹) and mitigated Cd toxicity. High metal accumulation (>1000 mg kg⁻¹ for Cd, >10,000 mg kg⁻¹ for Cu), protonemal growth and development were generally suppressed. These findings highlight the adaptive strategies of S. cataractae in coping with heavy metal stress and its potential as a bioindicator for metal-contaminated environments.
{"title":"Copper and cadmium toxicity affecting in vitro growth and Scopelophila cataractae development","authors":"Narin Printarakul , Napaporn Paennoi , Weeradej Meeinkuirt","doi":"10.1016/j.hazl.2025.100167","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hazl.2025.100167","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The effects of copper (Cu) and cadmium (Cd) accumulation on growth and development of <em>Scopelophila cataractae</em> (Mitt.) Broth., Pottiaceae, were investigated over 24 weeks. Moss samples were grown on modified hydroponic medium supplemented with Cu and Cd. Cu markedly promoted the transition from chloronema to caulonema and showed a significantly higher proportion (95.5 %) at 800 µM CuSO₄. The greatest bud and gametophore formation was observed in the 400 µM CuSO₄ treatment, with 130 buds per 25 mm². In contrast, Cd restricted filaments to the chloronema stage, reduced average chloroplast numbers per cell (from 75 to 34.5 under 800 µM CdCl₂), and induced large vacuolar vesicles, reflecting cellular stress. Relative growth rates were 7.1, 10.7 and 16.2 mg g⁻¹d⁻¹ for 800 µM CuSO₄, 800 µM CdCl₂ and control, respectively, indicating strong growth inhibition by heavy metals at high accumulation. Co-exposure of low Cu with Cd increased Cd accumulation (2188–16,027 mg kg⁻¹) and mitigated Cd toxicity. High metal accumulation (>1000 mg kg⁻¹ for Cd, >10,000 mg kg⁻¹ for Cu), protonemal growth and development were generally suppressed. These findings highlight the adaptive strategies of <em>S. cataractae</em> in coping with heavy metal stress and its potential as a bioindicator for metal-contaminated environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":93463,"journal":{"name":"Journal of hazardous materials letters","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 100167"},"PeriodicalIF":8.1,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145415319","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-01Epub Date: 2025-07-22DOI: 10.1016/j.hazl.2025.100159
Kshitija Shah , Vijaya Pandey , Himadri Bose , Yun Hao , Rohan Ghosh Choudhuri , Allison Connolly , Hilary Wyner , Elizabeth Deyett , Kent Sorenson , James A. Wohlschlegel , Shaily Mahendra
The differential expression of molecular markers identified in response to environmental contaminants offer insights into early-stage resilience pathways that may support biological remediation approaches. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are chemically stable, persistent environmental pollutants, which are associated with multiple adverse health effects. While fungi possess oxidative enzymes with potential for PFAS biotransformation, the molecular basis of their tolerance and response remains poorly understood. This study investigated the proteomic response of Phanerochaete chrysosporium to 10 mg/L PFOA and an environmentally relevant concentration of a PFAS mixture. Although no measurable PFAS degradation was observed over a 25-day exposure period, significant differential protein expression of key stress-response proteins such as cytochrome P450s, glutathione S-transferases, heat shock proteins, peroxidases, and ABC transporters were noted, in both intra- and extracellular fractions. Functional enrichment revealed the activation of pathways related to posttranslational modification, protein turnover, membrane efflux mechanisms, catabolism, and signal transduction. Proteomic profiles were shaped more closely by exposure duration and localization than by compound identity. These findings highlight the early-stage adaptations and signaling mechanisms of wood-decaying fungi under PFAS stress, which precede observable chemical breakdown, and offer critical insights into fungal responses that may be leveraged for future monitoring and bioremediation strategies.
{"title":"Fungal proteomic response to PFAS mixtures: Defense or offense?","authors":"Kshitija Shah , Vijaya Pandey , Himadri Bose , Yun Hao , Rohan Ghosh Choudhuri , Allison Connolly , Hilary Wyner , Elizabeth Deyett , Kent Sorenson , James A. Wohlschlegel , Shaily Mahendra","doi":"10.1016/j.hazl.2025.100159","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hazl.2025.100159","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The differential expression of molecular markers identified in response to environmental contaminants offer insights into early-stage resilience pathways that may support biological remediation approaches. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are chemically stable, persistent environmental pollutants, which are associated with multiple adverse health effects. While fungi possess oxidative enzymes with potential for PFAS biotransformation, the molecular basis of their tolerance and response remains poorly understood. This study investigated the proteomic response of <em>Phanerochaete chrysosporium</em> to 10 mg/L PFOA and an environmentally relevant concentration of a PFAS mixture. Although no measurable PFAS degradation was observed over a 25-day exposure period, significant differential protein expression of key stress-response proteins such as cytochrome P450s, glutathione S-transferases, heat shock proteins, peroxidases, and ABC transporters were noted, in both intra- and extracellular fractions. Functional enrichment revealed the activation of pathways related to posttranslational modification, protein turnover, membrane efflux mechanisms, catabolism, and signal transduction. Proteomic profiles were shaped more closely by exposure duration and localization than by compound identity. These findings highlight the early-stage adaptations and signaling mechanisms of wood-decaying fungi under PFAS stress, which precede observable chemical breakdown, and offer critical insights into fungal responses that may be leveraged for future monitoring and bioremediation strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":93463,"journal":{"name":"Journal of hazardous materials letters","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 100159"},"PeriodicalIF":8.1,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144724694","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-01Epub Date: 2025-08-07DOI: 10.1016/j.hazl.2025.100162
Jonathan Navarro Ramos , Lara Dronjak , Sofian Kanan , Md Maruf Mortula , Joshua S. Wallace , Fatin Samara , Ning Dai , Diana S. Aga
Climate change is associated with the intensification of weather patterns, including extreme weather events of historically arid regions such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE). On April 16–17, 2024, the UAE experienced a severe storm with unusually heavy precipitation, which resulted in widespread urban flooding, contaminated floodwaters, and the potential for cross-contamination in water distribution systems. Ten floodwater samples from around the American University of Sharjah, UAE, were analyzed for the presence of emerging contaminants (e.g., tire-derived chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products (PPCPs)) and selected metals. Tire-derived chemicals were detected at varying concentrations: N-(1,3-Dimethylbutyl)-N′-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (6PPD) (<detection limit - 26 ng/L), 6PPD-quinone (20–270 ng/L), 1,3-diphenylguanidine (DPG) (490–14,340 ng/L), and hexa(methoxymethyl)melamine (HMMM) (70–15,800 ng/L). Four PPCPs (caffeine, cotinine, acetaminophen, and lidocaine) were detected at lower concentrations (42–779 ng/L, 6–179 ng/L, 4–196 ng/L, and 1–7 ng/L, respectively). Significantly higher amounts of all tire-derived chemicals and PPCPs were observed in samples from outside the campus. Metals were also detected: aluminum (92–218 µg/L), iron (49–349 µg/L), potassium (160–3860 µg/L), manganese (3 µg/L), and barium (1–7 µg/L). Correlation analysis revealed a strong positive correlation between 6PPD-quinone and HMMM (r = 0.893, p = 0.000507), and among acetaminophen, caffeine, cotinine, and lidocaine (r = 0.501–0.980, and p < 0.05), suggesting shared sources stemming from high vehicular activity and raw wastewater overflow. These findings emphasize the need for arid regions to implement targeted stormwater management and monitoring strategies during extreme weather events to address floodwater-driven mobilization of environmental contaminants.
{"title":"Emerging contaminants in stormwater: Tire-derived chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and heavy metals detected in a United Arab Emirates extreme weather event","authors":"Jonathan Navarro Ramos , Lara Dronjak , Sofian Kanan , Md Maruf Mortula , Joshua S. Wallace , Fatin Samara , Ning Dai , Diana S. Aga","doi":"10.1016/j.hazl.2025.100162","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hazl.2025.100162","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Climate change is associated with the intensification of weather patterns, including extreme weather events of historically arid regions such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE). On April 16–17, 2024, the UAE experienced a severe storm with unusually heavy precipitation, which resulted in widespread urban flooding, contaminated floodwaters, and the potential for cross-contamination in water distribution systems. Ten floodwater samples from around the American University of Sharjah, UAE, were analyzed for the presence of emerging contaminants (e.g., tire-derived chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products (PPCPs)) and selected metals. Tire-derived chemicals were detected at varying concentrations: N-(1,3-Dimethylbutyl)-N′-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (6PPD) (<detection limit - 26 ng/L), 6PPD-quinone (20–270 ng/L), 1,3-diphenylguanidine (DPG) (490–14,340 ng/L), and hexa(methoxymethyl)melamine (HMMM) (70–15,800 ng/L). Four PPCPs (caffeine, cotinine, acetaminophen, and lidocaine) were detected at lower concentrations (42–779 ng/L, 6–179 ng/L, 4–196 ng/L, and 1–7 ng/L, respectively). Significantly higher amounts of all tire-derived chemicals and PPCPs were observed in samples from outside the campus. Metals were also detected: aluminum (92–218 µg/L), iron (49–349 µg/L), potassium (160–3860 µg/L), manganese (3 µg/L), and barium (1–7 µg/L). Correlation analysis revealed a strong positive correlation between 6PPD-quinone and HMMM (r = 0.893, p = 0.000507), and among acetaminophen, caffeine, cotinine, and lidocaine (r = 0.501–0.980, and p < 0.05), suggesting shared sources stemming from high vehicular activity and raw wastewater overflow. These findings emphasize the need for arid regions to implement targeted stormwater management and monitoring strategies during extreme weather events to address floodwater-driven mobilization of environmental contaminants.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":93463,"journal":{"name":"Journal of hazardous materials letters","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 100162"},"PeriodicalIF":8.1,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144813908","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}