Removal of particulate matter and dissolved organic matter from sedimentation sludge water during pre-sedimentation process: Performances and mechanisms.

Sedimentation sludge water (SSW), a prominent constituent of wastewater from drinking water treatment plants, has received limited attention in terms of its treatment and utilization likely due to the perceived difficulties associated with managing SSW sludge. This study comprehensively evaluated the water quality of SSW by comparing it to a well-documented wastewater (filter backwash water (FBW)). Furthermore, it investigated the pollutant variations in the SSW during pre-sedimentation process, probed the underlying reaction mechanism, and explored the feasibility of employing a pilot-scale coagulation-sedimentation process for SSW treatment. The levels of most water quality parameters were generally comparable between SSW and FBW. During the pre-sedimentation of SSW, significant removal of turbidity, bacterial counts, and dissolved organic matter (DOM) was observed. The characterization of DOM components, molecular weight distributions, and optical properties revealed that the macromolecular proteinaceous biopolymers and humic acids were preferentially removed. The characterization of particulates indicated that high surface energy, zeta potential, and bridging/adsorption/sedimentation/coagulation capacities in aluminum residuals of SSW, underscoring its potential as a coagulant and promoting the generation and sedimentation of inorganic-organic complexes. The coagulation-sedimentation process could effectively remove pollutants from low-turbidity SSW ([turbidity]0 < 15 NTU). These findings provide valuable insights into the water quality dynamics of SSW during the pre-sedimentation process, facilitating the development of SSW quality management and enhancing its reuse rate.

Occurrence of phthalate esters in the yellow and Yangtze rivers of china: Risk assessment and source apportionment.

Phthalate esters (PAEs), recognized as endocrine disruptors, are released into the environment during usage, thereby exerting adverse ecological effects. This study investigates the occurrence, sources, and risk assessment of PAEs in surface water obtained from 36 sampling points within the Yellow River and Yangtze River basins. The total concentration of PAEs in the Yellow River spans from 124.5 to 836.5 ng/L, with Dimethyl phthalate (DMP) (75.4 ± 102.7 ng/L) and Diisobutyl phthalate (DiBP) (263.4 ± 103.1 ng/L) emerging as the predominant types. Concentrations exhibit a pattern of upstream (512.9 ± 202.1 ng/L) > midstream (344.5 ± 135.3 ng/L) > downstream (177.8 ± 46.7 ng/L). In the Yangtze River, the total concentration ranges from 81.9 to 441.6 ng/L, with DMP (46.1 ± 23.4 ng/L), Diethyl phthalate (DEP) (93.3 ± 45.2 ng/L), and DiBP (174.2 ± 67.6 ng/L) as the primary components. Concentration levels follow a midstream (324.8 ± 107.3 ng/L) > upstream (200.8 ± 51.8 ng/L) > downstream (165.8 ± 71.6 ng/L) pattern. Attention should be directed towards the moderate ecological risks of DiBP in the upstream of HH, and both the upstream and midstream of CJ need consideration for the moderate ecological risks associated with Di-n-octyl phthalate (DNOP). Conversely, in other regions, the associated risk with PAEs is either low or negligible. The main source of PAEs in Yellow River is attributed to the release of construction land, while in the Yangtze River Basin, it stems from the accumulation of pollutants in lakes and forests discharged into the river. These findings are instrumental for pinpointing sources of PAEs pollution and formulating control strategies in the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers, providing valuable insights for global PAEs research in other major rivers.

Revealing the impact of sample enrichment method on concentration and cytotoxicity of volatile disinfection byproducts in drinking water: A quantitative study for liquid-liquid extraction.

Liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) combined with the N2 blow-down method is a promising tool for bioanalysis of drinking water. However, detailed information on which disinfection byproduct (DBP) classes are retained in LLE extracts is currently unavailable. In this study, the recovery of seven classes of volatile DBPs and total adsorbable organic halogens (TOX) during the LLE method, combined with three common N2 blow-down methods, for bioanalysis in real tap water was analyzed at a 2-L scale, along with their corresponding cytotoxicity. The total concentration of seven classes of volatile DBPs in drinking water in Suzhou ranged from 64.6 to 83.0 µg/L, with the majority contributed by trihalomethanes (THMs: 59.9 µg/L), haloaldehydes (HALs: 5.4 µg/L), haloacetamides (HAMs: 3.4 µg/L), and haloacetonitriles (HANs: 3.2 µg/L). During the LLE - N2 blow-down process for bioanalysis, about 69-85 % of targeted volatile DBPs and 64-75 % of TOX were lost, respectively. Seven classes of volatile DBPs accounted for 52.8-64.3 % and 23.8-61.3 % of TOX in tap water and LLE - N2 blow-down samples, respectively, suggesting that targeted aliphatic DBPs are the key contributors to TOX. Furthermore, although LLE - solvent exchange had a better recovery performance than other N2 blow-down methods, the recoveries of volatile DBPs using this method were still not ideal. For example, HALs and HAMs had a slightly better recovery (>50 %), while most volatile DBPs had a poor recovery, including iodo-trihalomethanes (I-THMs, 0 %), haloketones (28 %), THMs (26 %), halonitromethanes (33 %), and HANs (38 %). During LLE - solvent exchange, 31 % and 36 % of targeted DBPs and TOX, respectively, in real tap water can be retained, which shows better performance than non-ionic macroporous copolymers (XAD). More importantly, the water volume required in this method for cytotoxicity analysis is 2 L, which greatly reduces the burden of water sample collection, transport, and pre-treatment compared to XAD (which typically requires 5 or 10 L). In general, this paper reveals the fate of volatile DBPs during LLE - N2 blow-down and indicates that LLE - solvent exchange is a good substitute for the XAD method in bioanalysis.

Quenching residual H2O2 from UV/H2O2 with granular activated carbon: A significant impact of bicarbonate.

UV/H2O2 has been used as an advanced oxidation process to remove organic micropollutants from drinking water. It is essential to quench residual H2O2 to prevent increased chlorine demand during chlorination/chloramination and within distribution systems. Granular activated carbon (GAC) filter can quench the residual oxidant and eliminate some of the dissolved organic matter. However, knowledge on the kinetics and governing factors of GAC quenching of residual H2O2 from UV/H2O2 and the mechanism underlying the enhancement of the process by HCO3- is limited. Therefore, this study aimed to analyse the kinetics and influential factors, particularly the significant impact of bicarbonate (HCO3-). H2O2 decomposition by GAC followed first-order kinetics, and the rate constants normalised by the GAC dosage (kn) were steady (1.6 × 10-3 L g-1 min-1) with variations in the GAC dosage and initial H2O2 concentration. Alkaline conditions favour H2O2 quenching. The content of basic groups exhibited a stronger correlation with the efficiency of GAC in quenching H2O2 than did the acidic groups， with their specific kn values being 8.9 and 2.4 min-1 M-1, respectively. The presence of chloride, sulfate, nitrate, and dissolved organic matter inhibited H2O2 quenching, while HCO3- promoted it. The interfacial hydroxyl radical (HO•) zones were visualised on the GAC surface, and HCO3- addition increased the HO• concentration. HCO3- increased the concentration of persistent free radicals (PFRs) on the GAC surface, which mainly contributed to HO• generation. A significant enhancement of HCO3- on H2O2 quenching by GAC was also verified in real water. This study revealed the synergistic mechanism of HCO3- and GAC on H2O2 quenching and presents the potential applications of residual H2O2 in the H2O2-based oxidation processes.

Reproductive toxicity of PFOA, PFOS and their substitutes: A review based on epidemiological and toxicological evidence.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have already drawn a lot of attention for their accumulation and reproductive toxicity in organisms. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanoic sulfonate (PFOS), two representative PFAS, are toxic to humans and animals. Due to their widespread use in environmental media with multiple toxicities, PFOA and PFOS have been banned in numerous countries, and many substitutes have been produced to meet market requirements. Unfortunately, most alternatives to PFOA and PFOS have proven to be cumulative and highly toxic. Of the reported multiple organ toxicities, reproductive toxicity deserves special attention. It has been confirmed through epidemiological studies that PFOS and PFOA are not only associated with reduced testosterone levels in humans, but also with an association with damage to the integrity of the blood testicular barrier. In addition, for women, PFOA and PFOS are correlated with abnormal sex hormone levels, and increase the risk of infertility and abnormal menstrual cycle. Nevertheless, there is controversial evidence on the epidemiological relationship that exists between PFOA and PFOS as well as sperm quality and reproductive hormones, while the evidence from animal studies is relatively consistent. Based on the published papers, the potential toxicity mechanisms for PFOA, PFOS and their substitutes were reviewed. For males, PFOA and PFOS may produce reproductive toxicity in the following five ways: (1) Apoptosis and autophagy in spermatogenic cells; (2) Apoptosis and differentiation disorders of Leydig cells; (3) Oxidative stress in sperm and disturbance of Ca2+ channels in sperm membrane; (4) Degradation of delicate intercellular junctions between Sertoli cells; (5) Activation of brain nuclei and shift of hypothalamic metabolome. For females, PFOA and PFOS may produce reproductive toxicity in the following five ways: (1) Damage to oocytes through oxidative stress; (2) Inhibition of corpus luteum function; (3) Inhibition of steroid hormone synthesis; (4) Damage to follicles by affecting gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC); (5) Inhibition of placental function. Besides, PFAS substitutes show similar reproductive toxicity with PFOA and PFOS, and are even more toxic to the placenta. Finally, based on the existing knowledge, future developments and direction of efforts in this field are suggested.

Adsorption, boiling or membrane filtration for disinfection by-product removal: How to make our drinking water safer?

Disinfection by-products (DBPs) generated in drinking water have become a global concern due to their potential harm to human health. Nevertheless, there are few studies about different point-of-use water treatments in household drinking water. The study aims to compare the effectiveness of three point-of-use water treatments: adsorption, boiling, and membrane filtration. The experimental results showed that the initial average concentration of volatile DBPs and non-volatile DBPs for tap water were 63.71 µg/L and 6.33 µg/L. The removal efficiency of DBPs for adsorption which were 75.6 % (the filter volumes from 0 L to 20 L) and 45.4 % (the filter volumes from 20 L to 50 L) during the service life of the filter element (50 L). Boiling had a high removal efficiency for volatile DBPs like trihalomethanes (THMs), haloacetaldehydes (HALs), haloacetonitriles (HANs), and haloketones (HKs) (90.5 %, 100 %, 100 %, and 100 %, respectively). However, boiling had a low removal efficiency which was 15 % in removing non-volatile DBPs like haloacetic acids (HAAs). Membrane filtration had a middle removal efficiency for THMs, HAAs, HALs, HKs, and HANs (45.3 %, 75.2 %, 46.5 %, 47.6 %, and 100 %, respectively). Through analysis of the correlation between dissolved organic matter (DOM) removal efficacy and DBP removal efficiency, it was found that the strongest correlation was observed between UV254 and DBP removal efficiency. Boiling showed a lower estimated cytotoxicity of DBPs compared to adsorption and membrane filtration. Cancer risk assessment of DBPs was below the specified risk range for three point-of-use water treatments. This study provides a reference for choosing point-of-use water treatments in household drinking water.

Accelerated degradation of micro-pollutant by combined UV and chlorine dioxide: Unexpected inhibition of chlorite formation.

UV/chlorine dioxide (ClO2) process can be intentionally or accidently conducted and is potentially effective in micro-pollutants degradation. UV irradiation can promote ClO2 decay and subsequently result in the formation of reactive radicals. Hence, the co-exposure of ClO2 and UV exhibited a synergetic effect on metribuzin (MET) degradation. The MET degradation was promoted by UV/ClO2 with a rate of 0.089 min-1 at pH 7.5, which was around 2.4 folds the total of rates caused by single ClO2 (0.004 min-1) and single UV (0.033 min-1). Reactive radicals mainly HO• and reactive chlorine species were involved in the acceleration effect, and contributed to 59%-67% of the total degradation rate of MET during UV/ClO2 under pHs 5.5-7.5. Among them, HO• was the predominant contributor and the contribution rate gradually rose under higher pH. Chlorite (ClO2-) and chlorate (ClO3-) formation has been the major concern of ClO2 oxidation. However, a comparison of their formation during UV/ClO2 and ClO2 oxidation is rarely reported. Herein, during MET degradation by ClO2, only ClO2- was identified with the highest amount of 1.17 mg L-1. Conversely, during MET degradation by UV/ClO2, only ClO3- was identified with the highest amount of 0.68 mg L-1, showing an upward trend with prolonging treatment time. Furthermore, organic halogenated DBPs formation after 24 h post-chlorination with UV/ClO2 and ClO2 pre-treatments was comparatively evaluated. Organic DBPs formation after post-chlorination was higher with UV/ClO2 pre-treatment compared to ClO2 pre-treatment. The overall concentration of DBPs produced with 30 min UV/ClO2 pre-treatment was about 4.5 times that with 1min UV/ClO2 pre-treatment. This study provided useful reference for the application of UV/ClO2 in micro-pollutants degradation.

Ethanol-diluted turbidimetry method for rapid and accurate quantification of low-density microplastics in synthetic samples.

Retention and transport behaviours of microplastics (MPs) and their associated pollutants in porous media are of great concern. The homogeneity of the studied MPs in artificially controlled lab-scale studies makes rapid and accurate MP quantification feasible. In this study, an economical ethanol-diluted turbidimetry method for polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) MPs was developed. With ethanol dilution, the MP dispersion system exhibited an excellent suspension performance. Strong linear relationships were observed between MP concentrations and turbidities in both low (<1.3 mg L-1) and high (<170 mg L-1) MP concentration ranges. Solution density and MP agglomeration governed the MP suspension performance. For low surface tension and high molecular mass, the addition of ethanol decreased the contact angles of PP-MPs with solutions from 81.73 to 15.5°, and consequently improved the MP suspension performance. The suspension system was optimised to an ethanol/water (v/v) ratio of 3:2 and 4:1 for PP- and PE-MPs, when the slopes of standard curves were determined to be 1.252 and 0.471 with the recovery of 100.54 ± 3.09% and 103.19 ± 1.66%, and the limit of detection and quantification values of 0.025 and 0.082 mg L-1, and 0.060 and 0.201 mg L-1, respectively. Solution pH, salinity, and dissolved organic matter in the selected range induced acceptable fluctuations in the MP recovery and matrix effect values. The Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) energy barriers were calculated to be > 20 kT, indicating excellent tolerance to the solution matrix. Additionally, applications in real water samples were validated to demonstrate the potential of the developed method.

Formation and transformation of pre-chlorination-formed disinfection byproducts in drinking water treatment process.

As pre-chlorination is increasingly adopted in drinking water treatment plant (DWTP), an attractive question emerged: how the disinfection by-products that formed during pre-chlorination (preformed DBPs) would be transformed in the drinking water treatment process? This study investigated the DBP formation kinetics and molecular characteristics in chlorinated source water, DBP transformation and removal in practical DWTP. It was found that the formation of trihalomethanes (THMs) followed pseudo first-order kinetic model and the intensified Br- exposure facilitated the transformation of TCM into TBM. As Br- concentration shifted from 0.5 mg L-1 to 2.0 mg L-1, the predicted maximum yield of TBM was doubled to 53.7 µg L-1 with the increase of formation rate constant (k-value) from 0.249 h-1 to 0.336 h-1. Besides known DBPs, the molecular-scale investigation unveiled that the preformed unknown Cl-DBPs were a cluster of unsaturated aromatic DBPs ((DBE-O)/Cwa = 0.16, AImod, wa = 0.36) with high H/C (H/Cwa = 1.25). Pre-ozonation exhibited a preferential removal pattern towards condensed aromatic preformed Cl-DBPs with high H/C (AImod ≥ 0.67, H/C > 1.2 and O/C < 0.3). However, the removal of Cl-DBPs in coagulation-clarification process was limited with 56 more unknown Cl-DBP formulas identified. O3-biological activated carbon process exhibited effective removal of preformed DBPs featured with low MW (carbon number ≤ 13), high unsaturation (DBE ≥ 7), condensed aromaticity (AImod ≥ 0.67), and higher H/C (H/C > 1.6). When the pre-chlorination process is adopted, the removal of preformed DBPs during the conventional treatment process is limited, while advanced treatment process can effectively remove these preformed DBPs.

Transformation of Algal Toxins during the Oxidation/Disinfection Processes of Drinking Water: From Structure to Toxicity.

With the increase of algal blooms worldwide, drinking water resources are threatened by the release of various algal toxins, which can be hepatotoxic, cytotoxic, or neurotoxic. Because of their ubiquitous occurrence in global waters and incomplete removal in conventional drinking water treatment, oxidation/disinfection processes have become promising alternative treatment options to destroy both the structures and toxicity of algal toxins. This Review first summarizes the occurrence and regulation of algal toxins in source water and drinking water. Then, the transformation kinetics, disinfection byproducts (DBPs)/transformation products (TPs), pathways, and toxicity of algal toxins in water oxidation/disinfection processes, including treatment by ozonation, chlorination, chloramination, ultraviolet-based advanced oxidation process, and permanganate, are reviewed. For most algal toxins, hydroxyl radicals (HO•) exhibit the highest oxidation rate, followed by ozone and free chlorine. Under practical applications, ozone and chlorine can degrade most algal toxins to meet water quality standards. However, the transformation of the parent structures of algal toxins by oxidation/disinfection processes does not guarantee a reduction in toxicity, and the formation of toxic TPs should also be considered, especially during chlorination. Notably, the toxicity variation of algal toxins is associated with the chemical moiety responsible for toxicity (e.g., Adda moiety in microcystin-LR and uracil moiety in cylindrospermopsin). Moreover, the formation of known halogenated DBPs after chlorination indicates that toxicity in drinking water may shift from toxicity contributed by algal toxins to toxicity contributed by DBPs. To achieve the simultaneous toxicity reduction of algal toxins and their TPs, optimized oxidation/disinfection processes are warranted in future research, not only for meeting water quality standards but also for effective reduction of toxicity of algal toxins.

Unravelling High-Molecular-Weight DBP Toxicity Drivers in Chlorinated and Chloraminated Drinking Water: Effect-Directed Analysis of Molecular Weight Fractions.

As disinfection byproducts (DBPs) are ubiquitous sources of chemical exposure in disinfected drinking water, identifying unknown DBPs, especially unknown drivers of toxicity, is one of the major challenges in the safe supply of drinking water. While >700 low-molecular-weight DBPs have been identified, the molecular composition of high-molecular-weight DBPs remains poorly understood. Moreover, due to the absence of chemical standards for most DBPs, it is difficult to assess toxicity contributions for new DBPs identified. Based on effect-directed analysis, this study combined predictive cytotoxicity and quantitative genotoxicity analyses and Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (21 T FT-ICR-MS) identification to resolve molecular weight fractions that induce toxicity in chloraminated and chlorinated drinking waters, along with the molecular composition of these DBP drivers. Fractionation using ultrafiltration membranes allowed the investigation of <1 kD, 1-3 kD, 3-5 kD, and >5 kD molecular weight fractions. Thiol reactivity based predictive cytotoxicity and single-cell gel electrophoresis based genotoxicity assays revealed that the <1 kD fraction for both chloraminated and chlorinated waters exhibited the highest levels of predictive cytotoxicity and direct genotoxicity. The <1 kD target fraction was used for subsequent molecular composition identification. Ultrahigh-resolution MS identified singly charged species (as evidenced by the 1 Da spacing in 13C isotopologues), including 3599 chlorine-containing DBPs in the <1 kD fraction with the empirical formulas CHOCl, CHOCl2, and CHOCl3, with a relative abundance order of CHOCl > CHOCl2 ≫ CHOCl3. Interestingly, more high-molecular-weight CHOCl1-3 DBPs were identified in the chloraminated vs chlorinated waters. This may be due to slower reactions of NH2Cl. Most of the DBPs formed in chloraminated waters were composed of high-molecular-weight Cl-DBPs (up to 1 kD) rather than known low-molecular-weight DBPs. Moreover, with the increase of chlorine number in the high-molecular-weight DBPs detected, the O/C ratio exhibited an increasing trend, while the modified aromaticity index (AImod) showed an opposite trend. In drinking water treatment processes, the removal of natural organic matter fractions with high O/C ratio and high AImod value should be strengthened to minimize the formation of known and unknown DBPs.

Simple and Sensitive Method for Synchronous Quantification of Regulated and Unregulated Priority Disinfection Byproducts in Drinking Water.

Due to their elevated concentrations in drinking water, compared to other emerging environmental contaminants, disinfection byproducts (DBPs) have become a global concern. To address this, we have created a simple and sensitive method for simultaneously measuring 9 classes of DBPs. Haloacetic acids (HAAs) and iodo-acetic acids (IAAs) are determined using silylation derivatization, replacing diazomethane or acidic methanol derivatization with a more environmentally friendly and simpler treatment process that also offers greater sensitivity. Mono-/di-haloacetaldehydes (mono-/di-HALs) are directly analyzed without derivatization, along with trihalomethanes (THMs), iodo-THMs, haloketones, haloacetonitriles, haloacetamides, and halonitromethanes. Of the 50 DBPs studied, recoveries for most were 70-130%, LOQs for most were 0.01-0.05 µg/L, and relative standard deviations were <30%. We subsequently applied this method to 13 home tap water samples. Total concentrations of 9 classes of DBPs were 39.6-79.2 µg/L, in which unregulated priority DBPs contributed 42% of total DBP concentrations and 97% of total calculated cytotoxicity, highlighting the importance of monitoring their presence in drinking water. Br-DBPs were the dominant contributors to total DBPs (54%) and total calculated cytotoxicity (92%). Nitrogenous DBPs contributed 25% of total DBPs while inducing 57% of total calculated cytotoxicity. HALs were the most important toxicity drivers (40%), particularly four mono-/di-HALs, which induced 28% of total calculated cytotoxicity. This simple and sensitive method allows the synchronous analysis of 9 classes of regulated and unregulated priority DBPs and overcomes the weaknesses of some other methods especially for HAAs/IAAs and mono-/di-HALs, providing a useful tool for research on regulated and unregulated priority DBPs.

Priority screening of contaminants of emerging concern in drinking water sources of eastern China: Assessing risks based on exposure-activity ratios (EARs).

Increasing and widely detected contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) pose a threat to drinking water safety. Compared with traditional methods, the exposure-activity ratio (EAR) method based on the ToxCast database may have unique advantages in risk assessment of drinking water sources because it provides massive multi-target high-throughput screening toxicity effect data assessment for chemicals with missing traditional toxicity data. In this study, 112 CECs at 52 sampling sites in drinking water sources in Zhejiang Province of eastern China were investigated. Based on EARs and occurrence, priority chemicals were identified as difenoconazole (priority level 1), dimethomorph (priority level 2), acetochlor, caffeine, carbamazepine, carbendazim, paclobutrazol and pyrimethanil (priority level 3). Different from single observable biological effect in traditional methods, a variety of observable biological effects caused by high-risk targets were explored through adverse outcomes pathways (AOPs), revealing ecological risks as well as human health risks, for example, hepatocellular adenomas and carcinomas. Furthermore, the difference between the maximum EAR for a given chemical in a sample (EARmax) and the toxicity quotient (TQ) in priority screening of CECs was compared. The results show that screening priority CECs based on the EAR method is acceptable and more sensitive, suggesting the difference between in vitro and in vivo toxic effects and the necessity of incorporating the harm degree of biological effects into the EAR method to screen priority chemicals in the future.

Enzalutamide and olaparib synergistically suppress castration-resistant prostate cancer progression by promoting apoptosis through inhibiting nonhomologous end joining pathway.

Recent studies revealed the relationship among homologous recombination repair (HRR), androgen receptor (AR), and poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase (PARP); however, the synergy between anti-androgen enzalutamide (ENZ) and PARP inhibitor olaparib (OLA) remains unclear. Here, we showed that the synergistic effect of ENZ and OLA significantly reduced proliferation and induced apoptosis in AR-positive prostate cancer cell lines. Next-generation sequencing followed by Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses revealed the significant effects of ENZ plus OLA on nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) and apoptosis pathways. ENZ combined with OLA synergistically inhibited the NHEJ pathway by repressing DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs) and X-ray repair cross complementing 4 (XRCC4). Moreover, our data showed that ENZ could enhance the response of prostate cancer cells to the combination therapy by reversing the anti-apoptotic effect of OLA through the downregulation of anti-apoptotic gene insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor ( IGF1R ) and the upregulation of pro-apoptotic gene death-associated protein kinase 1 ( DAPK1 ). Collectively, our results suggested that ENZ combined with OLA can promote prostate cancer cell apoptosis by multiple pathways other than inducing HRR defects, providing evidence for the combined use of ENZ and OLA in prostate cancer regardless of HRR gene mutation status.

Perfluorinated compound correlation between human serum and drinking water: Is drinking water a significant contributor?

Perfluorinated compounds (PFASs) are a new artificial chemical. Due to its substantial toxicity and complex degradation in the natural environment, monitoring PFASs has become a hot issue for many researchers. Currently, the relationship between the concentration of PFASs in serum and the concentration of PFASs in drinking water is unclear. This paper aims to study the concentration levels of PFASs in drinking water and residents' serum in a city in northern China and the relationship between them. The results show that the concentration of PFASs in drinking water is low, and the average concentrations of perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) were 2.57 ± 0.69 ng/L and 0.30 ng/L, respectively, which were lower than the limits specified in China's newly introduced Standards for drinking water quality (GB 5749-2022). In the serum of residents, PFOA and PFOS were the two PFASs with the highest concentration. Spearman correlation analysis showed that perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) and PFOS concentrations were positively correlated with age, and PFHxS, PFOA, PFNA, and PFOS varied with sex. At the same time, the correlation analysis also showed no correlation between PFAS in drinking water and serum, indicating that drinking water was not the main factor causing the physical burden of PFAS in residents. The HI method was used to assess the health risks of PFASs to human beings. The risk entropy of all PFASs for human hepatotoxicity and reproductive toxicity is below 1.

Overlooked Iodo-Disinfection Byproduct Formation When Cooking Pasta with Iodized Table Salt.

Iodized table salt provides iodide that is essential for health. However, during cooking, we found that chloramine residuals in tap water can react with iodide in table salt and organic matter in pasta to form iodinated disinfection byproducts (I-DBPs). While naturally occurring iodide in source waters is known to react with chloramine and dissolved organic carbon (e.g., humic acid) during the treatment of drinking water, this is the first study to investigate I-DBP formation from cooking real food with iodized table salt and chloraminated tap water. Matrix effects from the pasta posed an analytical challenge, necessitating the development of a new method for sensitive and reproducible measurements. The optimized method utilized sample cleanup with Captiva EMR-Lipid sorbent, extraction with ethyl acetate, standard addition calibration, and analysis using gas chromatography (GC)-mass spectrometry (MS)/MS. Using this method, seven I-DBPs, including six iodo-trihalomethanes (I-THMs) and iodoacetonitrile, were detected when iodized table salt was used to cook pasta, while no I-DBPs were formed with Kosher or Himalayan salts. Total I-THM levels of 11.1 ng/g in pasta combined with cooking water were measured, with triiodomethane and chlorodiiodomethane dominant, at 6.7 and 1.3 ng/g, respectively. Calculated cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of I-THMs for the pasta with cooking water were 126- and 18-fold, respectively, compared to the corresponding chloraminated tap water. However, when the cooked pasta was separated (strained) from the pasta water, chlorodiiodomethane was the dominant I-THM, and lower levels of total I-THMs (retaining 30% of the I-THMs) and calculated toxicity were observed. This study highlights an overlooked source of exposure to toxic I-DBPs. At the same time, the formation of I-DBPs can be avoided by boiling the pasta without a lid and adding iodized salt after cooking.

Trigred motif 36 regulates neuroendocrine differentiation of prostate cancer via HK2 ubiquitination and GPx4 deficiency.

Neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC), the most lethal subtype of castration-resistant prostate cancer (PCa), may evolve from the neuroendocrine differentiation (NED) of PCa cells. However, the molecular mechanism that triggers NED is unknown. Trigred motif 36 (TRIM36), a member of the TRIM protein family, exhibits oncogenic or anti-oncogenic roles in various cancers. We have previously reported that TRIM36 is highly expressed to inhibit the invasion and proliferation of PCa. In the present study, we first found that TRIM36 was lowly expressed in NEPC and its overexpression suppressed the NED of PCa. Next, based on proteomic analysis, we found that TRIM36 inhibited the glycolysis pathway through suppressing hexokinase 2 (HK2), a crucial glycolytic enzyme catalyzing the conversion of glucose to glucose-6-phosphate. TRIM36 specifically bound to HK2 through lysine 48 (lys48)-mediated ubiquitination of HK2. Moreover, TRIM36-mediated ubiquitination degradation of HK2 downregulated the level of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPx4), a process that contributed to ferroptosis. In conclusion, TRIM36 can inhibit glycolysis via lys48-mediated HK2 ubiquitination to reduce GPX4 expression and activate ferroptosis, thereby inhibiting the NED in PCa. Targeting TRIM36 might be a promising approach to retard NED and treat NEPC.

Interactions between H2O2 and dissolved organic matter during granular activated carbon-based residual H2O2 quenching from the upstream UV/H2O2 process.

Granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration can be employed to synchronously quench residual H2O2 from the upstream UV/H2O2 process and further degrade dissolved organic matter (DOM). In this study, rapid small-scale column tests (RSSCTs) were performed to clarify the mechanisms underlying the interactions between H2O2 and DOM during the GAC-based H2O2 quenching process. It was observed that GAC can catalytically decompose H2O2, with a long-lasting high efficiency (>80% for approximately 50,000 empty-bed volumes). DOM inhibited GAC-based H2O2 quenching via a pore-blocking effect, especially at high concentrations (10 mg/L), with the adsorbed DOM molecules being oxidized by the continuously generated ·OH; this further deteriorated the H2O2 quenching efficiency. In batch experiments, H2O2 could enhance DOM adsorption by GAC; however, in RSSCTs, it deteriorated DOM removal. This observation could be attributed to the different ·OH exposure in these two systems. It was also observed that aging with H2O2 and DOM altered the morphology, specific surface area, pore volume, and the surface functional groups of GAC, owing to the oxidation effect of H2O2 and ·OH on the GAC surface as well as the effect of DOM. Additionally, the changes in the content of persistent free radicals in the GAC samples were insignificant following different aging processes. This work contributes to enhancing understanding regarding the UV/H2O2-GAC filtration scheme, and promoting the application in drinking water treatment.

[Occurrence and Health Risk Assessment of Multiple Pesticides in Drinking Water Sources of Southeast China].

To elucidate the pollution characteristics and ecological risks of pesticide micro-pollutants in typical drinking water sources in Southeast China, the detection frequency, detection concentration, and risk quotient of each pesticide for three different trophic levels of organisms (green algae, daphnia, and fish) were analyzed for a total of 55 commonly used pesticides in 19 categories, including benzimidazoles, amides, triazoles, and organophosphates, in seven reservoirs in Southeast China. Among the 55 pesticides analyzed, two pesticides (carbendazim and acetochlor) had a detection frequency of 100%, and 12 pesticides had a detection frequency of 80% or more. The highest detection concentration was found for carbendazim (77.7 ng·L-1), followed by that of acetochlor (51.6 ng·L-1). The results of the risk assessment showed that most of the pesticides were at low risk in the target areas. For the three organisms, acetochlor was the risk-dominant pesticide for green algae, whereas carbendazim was the risk-dominant pesticide for fish and daphnia.

FOXA1 in prostate cancer.

Most prostate cancers initially respond to androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). With the long-term application of ADT, localized prostate cancer will progress to castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), metastatic CRPC (mCRPC), and neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC), and the transcriptional network shifted. Forkhead box protein A1 (FOXA1) may play a key role in this process through multiple mechanisms. To better understand the role of FOXA1 in prostate cancer, we review the interplay among FOXA1-targeted genes, modulators of FOXA1, and FOXA1 with a particular emphasis on androgen receptor (AR) function. Furthermore, we discuss the distinct role of FOXA1 mutations in prostate cancer and clinical significance of FOXA1. We summarize possible regulation pathways of FOXA1 in different stages of prostate cancer. We focus on links between FOXA1 and AR, which may play different roles in various types of prostate cancer. Finally, we discuss FOXA1 mutation and its clinical significance in prostate cancer. FOXA1 regulates the development of prostate cancer through various pathways, and it could be a biomarker for mCRPC and NEPC. Future efforts need to focus on mechanisms underlying mutation of FOXA1 in advanced prostate cancer. We believe that FOXA1 would be a prognostic marker and therapeutic target in prostate cancer.