Neonicotinoid insecticides in a large-scale agricultural basin system-Use, emission, transportation, and their contributions to the ecological risks in the Pearl River Basin, China.

Neonicotinoid pollution has increased rapidly and globally in recent years, posing significant risks to agricultural areas. Quantifying use and emission, transport and fate of these contaminants, and risks is critical for proper management of neonicotinoids in river basin. This study elucidates use and emissions of neonicotinoid pesticides in a typical large-scale agriculture basin of China, the Pearl River Basin, as well as the resulting agricultural non-point source pollution and related ecological risks using market surveys, data analysis, and the Soil and Water Assessment Tool. Neonicotinoid use in the basin was estimated at 1361 t in 2019, of which 83.1 % was used in agriculture. After application, approximately 99.1 t neonicotinoids were transported to the Pearl River, accounting for 7.2 % of the total applied. Estimated aquatic concentrations of neonicotinoids showed three seasonal peaks. Several distinct groups of neonicotinoid chemicals can be observed in the Pearl River, as estimated by the model. An estimated 3.9 % of the neonicotinoids used were transported to the South China Sea. Based on the present risk assessment result, several neonicotinoids posed risks to aquatic organism. Therefore, the use of alternative products and/or reduced use is deemed necessary. This study provides novel insights into the fate and ecological risks of neonicotinoid insecticides in large-scale watersheds, and underscores the need for greater efficiency of use and extensive environmental monitoring.

Environmental emissions and pollution characteristics of mosquitocides for the control of dengue fever in a typical urban area.

Mosquitocides are frequently used to control the spread of dengue fever in tropical and sub-tropic urban regions worldwide, resulting in their discharge into the environment via rainfall runoff, causing adverse effects on ecological health. This study quantitatively evaluated mosquitocide emissions and environmental pollution in a typical urban district in China affected by the dengue fever epidemic, using a method combining market surveys, monitoring campaigns and SWMM (storm water management model) modelling tools. During the assessment period, the total mosquitocide usage in the urban district reached 6334 kg, with an estimated load of 56.55 g entering the receiving environment via rainfall runoff, 91.04 % of which occurred in the rainy season. Monitoring results indicated that the initial 0.5-1 h was the main period of mosquitocide wash off into the receiving water. Environmental mosquitocide pollution levels were found to be affected by the mosquitocide type and the time interval between mosquitocide application and precipitation events. The measured environmental concentrations of mosquitocides in this study were generally higher than those areas unaffected by the dengue fever epidemic. The modelled mosquitocide concentrations were in accordance with monitoring results. The finding of this study are important for assessing the environmental impact of dengue fever control activities, while also providing valuable baseline data for the effective environmental management of mosquitocides.

Antibiotic pollution in lakes in China: Emission estimation and fate modeling using a temperature-dependent multimedia model.

The high use of antibiotics worldwide has poses a serious threat to both human and environmental health. Lakes are served as reservoirs for antibiotics, however, there is a lack of information available on antibiotics emissions and the subsequent pollution. Here, the emission and fate of 34 frequently detected antibiotics were studied in 226 Chinese lakes, via the built emission estimation method and a temperature-dependent multimedia lake model. It has been estimated that totally 5711 tons antibiotic were discharged into the lakes of China in 2019. Antibiotics emissions are due to human activities, with 3800-fold higher emissions in the Eastern China than that in Western China. The antibiotic fate in lakes has been successfully modelled by simulating the lake stratification, freeze-melt cycles and the stable condition throughout the year. Both stratification and freeze-melt cycles can lead to increased antibiotic concentrations in lake water. Deep-water lakes were shown to serve as a highly effective natural storage medium for antibiotics. The reliability of the model was confirmed by published measured concentrations and Monte Carlo method. This is the first study to comprehensively investigate the antibiotic fate in lakes of China, providing valuable guidance for the remediation of contaminated lakes.

Hypothetical scenarios estimating and simulating the fate of antibiotics: Implications for antibiotic environmental pollution caused by manure application.

The application of animal manure containing antibiotic residues as an organic fertilizer to farmlands, poses a major threat to the health of river basin ecosystems. Waste treatment processes can help reduce antibiotic pollution levels in river basins following manure application, but the overall influence of these processes remains unclear. This study evaluates the impact of manure treatment methods on the emission and subsequent river pollution caused by 14 frequently detected antibiotics in a typical pig breeding area in China, by using hypothetical scenarios method. Three scenarios were constructed based on possible fate pathways of antibiotics, representing in 47.0, 55.3, and 81.6 ton·yr-1 antibiotic emissions into the river basin. The soil and water assessment tool (SWAT) model successfully simulated the transport of antibiotics from farmland to surface water, with calibration and verification performed using hydrological station monthly data over 8 consecutive years. Field measured concentrations also verified the reliability of the model and were used to determine the most realistic scenario. In basins applied with manure, environmental antibiotic pollution is most affected by the wastewater treatment process and manure applied patterns, followed by changes in streamflow. The antibiotic pollution in manure applied areas showed significant spatial and temporal differences, resulting from the different manure application patterns. The simulated total outflow of antibiotics in the river basin accounted for 18.1% of the inflow, with the loss of target antibiotics by degradation, volatilization and sedimentation deposition in the river basin being 0.23, 0.01 and 33.2 ton·yr-1, respectively. This study can help to clarify the environmental fate of antibiotics in the basin following manure application, provide guidance for policy makers and help to design the effective corrective interventions for reducing the environmental pollution.

Technical Overview of Orbitrap High Resolution Mass Spectrometry and Its Application to the Detection of Small Molecules in Food (Update Since 2012).

Food safety and quality issues are becoming increasingly important and attract much attention, requiring the development of better analytical platforms. For example, high-resolution (especially Orbitrap) mass spectrometry simultaneously offers versatile functions such as targeted/non-targeted screening while providing qualitative and quantitative information on an almost unlimited number of analytes to facilitate routine analysis and even allows for official surveillance in the food field. This review covers the current state of Orbitrap mass spectrometry (OMS) usage in food analysis based on research reported in 2012-2019, particularly highlighting the technical aspects of OMS application and the achievement of OMS-based screening and quantitative analysis in the food field. The gained insights enhance our understanding of state-of-the-art high-resolution mass spectrometry and highlight the challenges and directions of future research.

[Construction of Continuous Dynamic Model for River Networks and Its Application in Simulation of Spatiotemporal Migration of Typical Biocides].

Biocides are widely added to personal care products and enter the environment through sewage treatment plant (STP) discharge, which affects ecological health. This paper evaluated the pollution characteristics of triclosan and triclocarban in a river network during the COVID-19 epidemic. Moreover, a continuous dynamic river network model coupling a one-dimensional hydrodynamic model and four-level fugacity model was established to address the temporal and spatial heterogeneity of pollutants in the river network migration process; then, this model was applied to evaluate two biocides in the Shima River Basin. The model passed calibration and in-field concentration verification tests and yielded satisfactory simulation results. The results of the study showed that the concentration of biocides in the river network during the new crown epidemic was twice that of the non-epidemic period. The concentration of triclosan and triclocarban in the river channel first increased and then decreased with the increase of the river migration distance after STP discharge. The time variation characteristics of the concentrations were affected by the river flow. The biocide concentration in the river network of the low flow upstream area first increased and then decreased, gradually stabilizing in about 20 h. The pollution concentration in the high flow downstream area was increased, and the concentration did not stabilize at 24 h. These results indicate the necessity of evaluating the temporal and spatial characteristics of migration of typical biocides in the river network by stages and time on the premise of distinguishing the flow.

How much do human and livestock actually contribute to steroids emission and surface water pollution from past to the future: A global research.

A comprehensive global inventory of past, present, and future steroid emissions was firstly developed based on the global 5' × 5' grids relevant data available. From 1970 to 2070, the growth rate of the annual global steroid emission was relatively stable around 10%. At present (in 2015), the global steroid emissions was 18,270 t, with 17% contributed by humans. Almost one-third of total animal emissions have been occurring in India and Brazil. India also had the highest value of human steroid emissions. Regions with highest steroid emissions were concentrated between 10° ~ 35° N and 70° ~ 90° E. The increase of sewage treatment rates can effectively reduce the total quantity of steroids entering the environment, especially for some developing countries. But the "technology bonus" from sewage treatment process will be exhausted until to 2030. Meanwhile, global surface water pollution was predicted based on steroid emissions into water compartment and on the digital river network with annual river discharge. The modelling results show that steroids are widely distributed across the globe, with concentrations mostly below 100 ng/L. However, if no proper treatment measures for animal excretions, in another 100 years, the range of the surface water contaminated by steroids will increase by 1.2 times. The Nile River resulted as the most polluted among the eight world's longest and famous rivers during the whole period investigated. Various measured concentrations worldwide validated our modelling result. The global steroid emission inventory and surface water pollution from past to the future will stand as an important data and knowledge base for the management of pollution from different types of steroids at global and regional level.

An accurate, rapid, and sensitive method for simultaneous determination of four typical heterocyclic amines in roasted pork patties: Application in the study of inhibitory effects of astaxanthin.

Heterocyclic aromatic amines, as a group of mutagenic and carcinogenic compounds, have gained worldwide concern. In this study, an accurate, rapid, and sensitive confirmation and quantification method of four major heterocyclic aromatic amines in roasted pork was developed based on Q-Orbitrap along with Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe extraction. The limit of detections and limit of quantitations were found to be 0.2-1.2 µg/kg and 0.6-3.5 µg/kg, respectively, revealing the high sensitivity of this method. Obtained results showed recoveries ranging from 78.1 to 97.4%, depending on the different heterocyclic aromatic amines and spiked levels. Precision was in the range of 2.6-4.5% for four heterocyclic aromatic amines at different levels. In addition, the developed method had been applied to investigate the inhibitory effects of astaxanthin on the above-mentioned heterocyclic aromatic amines in roasted pork. The amount of astaxanthin with the best inhibitory effects was 7.5 mg (0.0375%), which led to significant reduction in heterocyclic aromatic amines levels over 50%.

Emission and fate of antibiotics in the Dongjiang River Basin, China: Implication for antibiotic resistance risk.

Antibiotics used for human and veterinary purposes are released into the environment, resulting in potential adverse effects, including the development and spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria. Here we investigated the dynamic fate of 36 antibiotics in a large river basin Dongjiang in South China, and discussed their potential antibiotic resistance selection risk. Based on the usage, excretion rate, wastewater treatment rate, human population and animal numbers the emissions of 36 frequently detected antibiotics were estimated for the Dongjiang River Basin. The total usage of the 36 antibiotics in the basin was 623.4 tons, which included 37% for human use and the rest for veterinary purposes. After being metabolized and partially treated, the amount of antibiotics excreted and released into the environment decreased to 267.6 tons. By allocating the high-precision antibiotic discharge inventory to 42 sewage plants and 17 livestock farms, an improved GREAT-ER (Geography referenced Regional Exposure Assessment Tool for European Rivers) model for the Dongjiang River Basin, with a well calibration river flow network based on the SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool), was established to simulate the dynamic fate of 36 antibiotics. The simulation results showed that antibiotics contaminated >50% of the river sections. The modelled concentrations in water were almost within an order of magnitude of the measured concentrations. Antibiotic contamination in the dry season was obviously higher than that in the wet season. The concentrations of the antibiotics were always higher at the discharge zones and lower reaches of the river basin than the other reaches. The antibiotic resistance risk assessment showed that 23 out of the 36 antibiotics (nearly 65%) could pose high risks in the river basin. For those river reaches with high risks, the risk levels could mostly be reduced to low risk levels with a certain distance (15 km) from the pollution source. Therefore, more attention should be paid to those impact zones in term of antibiotic resistance.

Pharmacokinetics and Tissue Distribution of Alnustone in Rats after Intravenous Administration by Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry.

Alnustone, a nonphenolic diarylheptanoid, first isolated from Alnus pendula (Betulaceae), has recently received a great deal of attention due to its various beneficial pharmacological effects. However, its pharmacokinetic profile in vivo remains unclear. The purpose of this study is to establish a fast and sensitive quantification method of alnustone using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and evaluate the pharmacokinetic and tissue distribution profiles of alnustone in rats. The sample was precipitated with acetonitrile with 0.5% formic acid and separated on BEH C18 Column. The mobile phase was composed of 0.1% formic acid in water and methanol at a flow rate of 0.3 mL/min. Alnustone and the internal standard (caffeine) were quantitatively monitored with precursor-to-product ion transitions of m/z 262.9→105.2 and m/z 195.2→138.0, respectively. The calibration curve for alnustone was linear from 1 to 2000 ng/mL. The intra- and inter-day assay precision (RSD) ranged from 1.1-9.0 % to 3.3-8.6%, respectively and the intra- and inter-day assay accuracy (RE) was between -8.2-9.7% and -10.3-9.9%, respectively. The validated method was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic studies of alnustone in rats. After single-dose intravenous administration of alnustone (5 mg/kg), the mean peak plasma concentration (Cmax) value was 7066.36 ± 820.62 ng/mL, and the mean area under the concentration-time curve (AUC0-t) value was 6009.79 ± 567.30 ng/mL∙h. Our results demonstrated that the residence time of alnustone in vivo was not long and it eliminated quickly from the rat plasma. Meanwhile, the drug is mainly distributed in tissues with large blood flow, and the lung and liver might be the target organs for alnustone efficacy. The study will provide information for further application of alnustone.

MiR-376a promotion of proliferation and metastases in ovarian cancer: Potential role as a biomarker.

AIMS: Ovarian cancer is the fifth most deadly cancer in women, and is usually diagnosed too late. Exploring specific and sensitive biomarkers will be helpful to early detection and will improve the survival rates of ovarian cancer patients. MAIN METHODS: Realtime PCR was used to detect the expression of miR-376a. Wound healing and transwell assays were used to examined the migration and invasion abilities of ovarian cancer cells. Tumor xenograft experiments were employed to test the in vivo malignancy of ovarian cancer cells. Western Blotting and luciferase report assays were conducted for the target genes analysis. KEY FINDINGS: Using a cohort of 32 cases of ovarian cancer and 10 cases of healthy control samples, we found that miR-376 expression is increased in ovarian cancer tissues. The serum level of miR-376a is significantly higher in ovarian cancer patients and is associated with the clinical stages of ovarian cancer. Over expression of miR-376a stimulated the proliferation, migration, and invasion of ovarian cancer cells, while inhibition of miR-376a expression blocked the proliferation, migration, and invasion. Data from nude mice further demonstrated the stimulatory role of miR-376a in ovarian cancer progression. Mechanically, miR-376a played its role by targeting KLF15 and Caspase-8. SIGNIFICANCE: Our findings enrich the knowledge of miR-376a in ovarian cancer formation and progression, providing a possibility of using miR-376a as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for ovarian cancer.

Women with Recurrent Miscarriage Have Decreased Expression of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3-1α-Hydroxylase by the Fetal-Maternal Interface.

BACKGROUND: Effects of vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy have been associated with some adverse pregnancy outcomes. The 25-hydroxyvitamin D3-1α-hydroxylase (CYP27B1) is integral to the vitamin D metabolic pathway. The enzyme catalyzes localized conversion of pro-hormone 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 to active 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. Our aim was to investigate the expression of CYP27B1 at the fetal-maternal interface in the first trimester pregnancy and to determine whether CYP27B1 was associated with recurrent miscarriage (RM). METHODS: Expressions of CYP27B1 mRNA and protein in villi and decidua from 20 women undergoing primary miscarriage, 20 women with RM and 20 women with normal pregnancy were evaluated by western blot, and quantitative real-time PCR. The co-localization of CYP27B1 and certain cytokines including IL-10, IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-2 expression were examined using immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy. RESULTS: Women with RM had a significantly lower expression of CYP27B1 mRNA and protein in villous and decidual tissues compared with the normal pregnant women (P = 0.000 in villus, P = 0.002 in decidua for mRNA; P = 0.036 in villus, P = 0.007 in decidua for protein.). Compared with the normal pregnancy, immunostaining for CYP27B1 was significantly decreased in villous trophoblasts and decidual glandular epithelial cells in RM women. No significant differences in the localization of CYP27B1, IL-10, IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-2 expression were identified between the normal pregnant and RM women. CONCLUSIONS: Women with RM have a lower level of CYP27B1 expression in chorionic villi and decidua compared with normal pregnant women, suggesting that reduced CYP27B1 expression may be associated with RM. The consistent localization of CYP27B1 and IL-10, IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-2 expression in villous and decidual tissues suggests the importance of the local production of 1,25(OH)2D3 at the fetal-maternal interface to regulate cytokine responses.