Unlocking the potential of Eichhornia crassipes for wastewater treatment: phytoremediation of aquatic pollutants, a strategy for advancing Sustainable Development Goal-06 clean water.

The 2030 Agenda, established in 2015, contains seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aimed at addressing global challenges. SDG-06, focused on clean water, drives the increase in basic sanitation coverage, the management of wastewater discharges, and water quality. Wastewater treatment could contribute to achieving 11 of the 17 SDGs. For this purpose, phytoremediation is a low-cost and adaptable alternative to the reduction and control of aquatic pollutants. The objective of this study is to highlight the role of macrophytes in the removal and degradation of these compounds, focusing on Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms, commonly known as water hyacinth. The reported values indicate that this plant has a removal capacity of over 70% for metals such as copper, aluminum, lead, mercury, cadmium, and metalloids such as arsenic. Additionally, it significantly improves water quality parameters such as turbidity, suspended solids, pH, dissolved oxygen, and color. It also reduces the presence of phosphates, and nitrogen compounds to values below 50%. It also plays a significant role in the removal of organic contaminants such as pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and dyes. This study describes several valuable by-products from the biomass of the water hyacinth, including animal and fish feed, energy generation (such as briquettes), ethanol, biogas, and composting. According to the analysis carried out, E. crassipes has a great capacity for phytoremediation, which makes it a viable solution for wastewater management, with great potential for water ecosystem restoration.

Studies of Endocrine Disruptors: Nonylphenol and Isomers in Biological Models.

Certain emerging pollutants are among the most widely used chemicals globally, causing widespread concern in relation to their use in products devoted to cleaniness and asepsis. Nonylphenol ethoxylate (NPEOn) is one such contaminant, along with its degradation product, nonylphenol, an active ingredient presents in nonionic surfactants used as herbicides, cosmetics, paints, plastics, disinfectants, and detergents. These chemicals and their metabolites are commonly found in environmental matrices. Nonylphenol and NPEOn, used, are particularly concerning, given their role as endocrine disruptors chemical and possible neurotoxic effects recorded in several biological models, primarily aquatic organisms. Limiting and detecting these compounds remain of paramount importance. The objective of the present review was to evaluate the toxic effects of nonylphenol and NPEOn in different biological models. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:1439-1450. © 2023 SETAC.

The aqueous extract of Fridericia chica grown in northern Colombia ameliorates toxicity induced by Tergitol on Caenorhabditis elegans.

The aqueous extract of fallen leaves from Fridericia chica (Bonpl.) L.G. Lohmann is utilized as a remedy in communities at northern Colombia. Traditional uses include wound healing, gastrointestinal inflammation, leukemia and psoriasis, among others. The aims of this research were to evaluate the potential of the aqueous extract of fallen leaves of F. chica (AEFchica) to inhibit ethoxylated nonylphenol (Tergitol)-induced toxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans; and to identify its main components. The pharmacological properties of AEFchica was evaluated using a Tergitol-induced toxicity model in Caenorhabditis elegans. Lethality, locomotion, reproduction, and DAF-16 nuclear translocation were quantified. The chemical composition of AEFchica was carried out using ultra-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. AEFchica induced very little lethality on C. elegans (5.6%) even at high concentrations (10,000 µg/mL). The extract had no effect on locomotion impairing induced by ethoxylated nonylphenol. However, AEFchica (1000 µg/mL) abrogated Tergitol-induced mortality, recovering up to 53.3% of the nematodes from lethality induced by 10 mM Tergitol. Similarly, it also blocked Tergitol-dependent reproduction inhibition (82.1% recovery), as well as DAF-16 nuclear translocation (>95%), suggesting a prominent role on oxidative stress control. The chemical analysis indicated the presence of a great variety of molecules with known antioxidant, metabolic and immune modulator properties, such as hydroxylated methoxy flavones, N-methyl-1-deoxynojirimycin, and rehmaionoside A. In short, the aqueous extract of F. chica protects C. elegans from the deleterious effects of Tergitol on lethality, reproduction and oxidative stress involving DAF-16-mediated pathway. This extract is a promising source of bioactive phytochemicals for multi-target pharmacological purposes.

Intergenerational toxicity of nonylphenol ethoxylate (NP-9) in Caenorhabditis elegans.

The ethoxylated isomers of nonylphenol (NPEs, NP-9) are one of the main active ingredients present in nonionic surfactants employed as herbicides, cosmetics, paints, plastics, disinfectants and detergents. These chemicals and their metabolites are commonly found in environmental matrices. The aim of this work was to evaluate the intergenerational toxicity of NP-9 in Caenorhabditis elegans. The lethality, length, width, locomotion and lifespan were investigated in the larval stage L4 of the wild strain N2. Transgenic green fluorescent protein (GFP) strains were employed to estimate changes in relative gene expression. RT-qPCR was utilized to measure mRNA expression for neurotoxicity-related genes (unc-30, unc-25, dop-3, dat-1, mgl-1, and eat-4). Data were obtained from parent worms (P0) and the first generation (F1). Lethality of the nematode was concentration-dependent, with 48 h-LC50 values of 3215 and 1983 µM in P0 and F1, respectively. Non-lethal concentrations of NP-9 reduced locomotion. Lifespan was also decreased by the xenobiotic, but the negative effect was greater in P0 than in F1. Non-monotonic concentration-response curves were observed for body length and width in both generations. The gene expression profile in P0 was different from that registered in F1, although the expression of sod-4, hsp-70, gpx-6 and mtl-2 increased with the surfactant concentration in both generations. None of the tested genes followed a classical concentration-neurotoxicity relationship. In P0, dopamine presented an inverted-U curve, while GABA and glutamate displayed a bimodal type. However, in F1, inverted U-shaped curves were revealed for these genes. In summary, NP-9 induced intergenerational responses in C. elegans through mechanisms involving ROS, and alterations of the GABA, glutamate, and dopamine pathways.

Toxicity of nonylphenol and nonylphenol ethoxylate on Caenorhabditis elegans.

Among the most used chemicals in the world are nonionic surfactants. One of these environmental pollutants is nonylphenol ethoxylate (NP-9), also known as Tergitol, and its degradation product, nonylphenol (NP). The objective of this work was to determine the toxicity of NP and NP-9 in Caenorhabditis elegans. Wild-type L4 larvae were exposed to different concentrations of the surfactants to measure functional endpoints. Mutant strains were employed to promote the activation of toxicity signaling pathways related to mtl-2, gst-1, gpx-4, gpx-6, sod-4, hsp-70 and hsp-4. Additionally, stress response was also assessed using a daf-16::GFP transgenic strain. The lethality was concentration dependent, with 24-h LC50 of 122 µM and 3215 µM for NP and NP-9, respectively. Both compounds inhibited nematode growth, although NP was more potent; and at non-lethal concentrations, nematode locomotion was reduced. The increase in the expression of tested genes was significant at 10 µM for NP-9 and 0.001 µM for NP, implying a likely role for the activation of oxidative and cellular stress, as well as metabolism pathways. With the exception of glutathione peroxidase, which has a bimodal concentration-response curve for NP, typical of endocrine disruption, the other curves for this xenobiotic in the strains evaluated were almost flat for most concentrations, until reaching 50-100 µM, where the effect peaked. NP and NP-9 induced the activation and nuclear translocation of DAF-16, suggesting that transcription of stress-response genes may be mediated by the insulin/IGF-1 signaling pathway. In contrast, NP-9 induced a concentration-dependent response for the sod-4 and hsp-4 mutants, with greater fluorescence induction than NP at similar levels. In short, NP and NP-9 affect the physiology of C. elegans and modulate gene expression related to ROS production, cellular stress and metabolism of xenobiotics.

Fitoperifiton composition and structure of the middle and lower basin of the river Cesar, Cesar Department-Colombia / Composición y estructura fitoperifitica de la cuenca media y baja del río Cesar, departamento Cesar-Colombia

ABSTRACT Objective. The composition and structure of Fitoperifiton the middle and lower basin of the Cesar River and its relationship to the physical and chemical variables were characterized. Materials and methods. Sampling was conducted between February to September 2011. Samples available natural substrates (rocks, sediment and plant debris) were collected, physical and chemical variables in situ and in vivo were measured. Results. 110 Morphospecies classes represented in 9 and 22 orders were found, the Bacillariophyceae had the highest density with 48% (45 species), Cyanophyceae with 35% (18 species), followed by Fragilariophyceae with 7% (9 species), Chlorophyceae 2 % (11 species), Euglenophyceae with 2% (5 species) and Trebouxiophyceae Coscinodiscophyceae with 4% and 1% (respectively 4 and 3 species) and finally with Ulvophyceae 0.00005% (1 species). The most representative Anabaena sp.1 Morphospecies (136.70 Cel/cm2), Oscillatoria Vaucher (129.80 Cel/cm2) and Oscillatoria sp.1 (90.20 Cel/cm2). an analysis of principal components (ACP) where segmentation of some sections of the Cesar River and fitoperifiton was observed to characterize the stations for their peculiarities was made excessive growth of species in areas where they are wastewater discharges high were observed organic matter such as blue-green algae. Conclusions. The Cyanophyceae were negatively associated with oxygen according to the ACC. It was evident that the sector Puente Salguero is characterized by high concentration of organic phosphorus, plus the Fitoperifiton the Cesar River, identified this sector as the most critical point of organic contamination of the system and its influence stations downstream.

RESUMEN Objetivo. Se caracterizó la composición y estructura del Fitoperifiton de la cuenca media y baja del río Cesar y su relación con las variables físicas y químicas. Materiales y métodos. Los muestreos se realizaron entre febrero-septiembre de 2011. Se recolectaron muestras de sustratos naturales disponibles (rocas, sedimento y restos vegetales), se midieron variables físicas y químicas In situ e In vivo. Resultados. Se encontraron 110 morfoespecies representadas en 9 clases y 22 órdenes, las Bacillariophyceae presentaron la mayor densidad con un 48% (45 especies), Cyanophyceae con 35% (18 especies), seguida de Fragilariophyceae con 7% (9 especies), Chlorophyceae con 2% (11 especies), Euglenophyceae con 2% (5 especies), Coscinodiscophyceae y Trebouxiophyceae con 4% y 1% (4 y 3 especies respectivamente) y por ultimo Ulvophyceae con 0.00005% (1 especie). Las morfoespecies más representativas Anabaena sp.1 (136.70 Cel/cm2), Oscillatoria vaucher (129.80 Cel/cm2) y Oscillatoria sp.1 (90.20 Cel/cm2). Se realizó un análisis de Componentes Principales (ACP) donde se observó una sectorización de algunos tramos del río Cesar y del fitoperifiton, para caracterizar las estaciones por sus particularidades se observaron crecimiento excesivos de especies en zonas donde se encuentran vertimientos de aguas residuales con alto contenido de materia orgánica como las algas verde-azules. Conclusiones. Las Cyanophyceae se asociaron negativamente con el oxígeno según el ACC. Se evidencio que el sector de Puente Salguero es caracterizado por alta concentración de fósforo orgánico, además el Fitoperifiton del río Cesar, identifico este sector como el punto más crítico de contaminación orgánica del sistema y sus influencia estaciones río abajo.