Selected Fungicides as Potential EDC Estrogenic Micropollutants in the Environment.

An increasing level of pesticide exposition is being observed as a result of the consumption of large amounts of fruits, vegetables and grain products, which are key components of the vegetarian diet. Fungicides have been classified as endocrine-disrupting compounds, but their mechanisms of action have not yet been clarified. The effect of boscalid (B), cyprodinil (C) and iprodione (I) combined with Tamoxifen (T) and 17ß-estradiol (E2) on cell viability, cell proliferation, reporter gene expression, ROS content, the cell membrane's function, cell morphology and antioxidant enzymes gene expression in MCF-7 and T47D-KBluc cell lines were investigated. The cell lines were chosen due to their response to 17ß -estradiol. The selected fungicides are commonly used in Poland to protect crops against fungi. Our results revealed that the studied fungicides caused significant increases in cell viability and proliferation, and estrogenic activity was present in all studied compounds depending on their concentrations. Oxidative stress activated uncontrolled cancer cell proliferation by inducing ROS production and by inhibiting antioxidant defense. Our findings verify that the studied fungicides could possibly exhibit endocrine-disrupting properties and exposure should be avoided.

Fast and simple procedure for fractionation of zinc in soil using an ultrasound probe and FAAS detection. Validation of the analytical method and evaluation of the uncertainty budget.

A new fast method for determination of mobile zinc fractions in soil is proposed in this work. The three-stage modified BCR procedure used for fractionation of zinc in soil was accelerated by using ultrasounds. The working parameters of an ultrasound probe, a power and a time of sonication, were optimized in order to acquire the content of analyte in soil extracts obtained by ultrasound-assisted sequential extraction (USE) consistent with that obtained by conventional modified Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) procedure. The content of zinc in extracts was determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The developed USE procedure allowed for shortening the total extraction time from 48 h to 27 min in comparison to conventional modified BCR procedure. The method was fully validated, and the uncertainty budget was evaluated. The trueness and reproducibility of the developed method was confirmed by analysis of certified reference material of lake sediment BCR-701. The applicability of the procedure for fast, low costs and reliable determination of mobile zinc fraction in soil, which may be useful for assessing of anthropogenic impacts on natural resources and environmental monitoring purposes, was proved by analysis of different types of soil collected from Podlaskie Province (Poland).

Ultrasound assisted extraction for determination of mobile fractions of copper in soil.

BACKGROUND: For evaluation of the mobility of metals present in soil various approaches based on sequential extraction procedures (Tessier's, BCR or modified BCR) have been proposed, but they are very laborious and time-consuming. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to develop a new fast extraction procedure for the determination of mobile fractions of copper in soil. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The samples of soil that vary in terms of physicochemical properties and certified reference material (BCR-701) were used in this study. The three-stage modified BCR procedure used for fractionation of copper in soil was accelerated by ultrasound irradiation using an ultrasonic probe. The content of copper in soil extracts was determined by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS). RESULTS: The extraction conditions for separation of mobile fractions of copper from soil with the use of ultrasonic probe were optimized. The working parameters of the probe were as follows: the power was 15 W for all fractions while the sonication time was 7 min, 10 min and 6 min for fraction I, fraction II and fraction III, respectively. The developed procedure was validated; linearity of calibration graphs, limit of detection and limit of quantification, accuracy and repeatability of the procedure were evaluated. The content of copper in fraction I-III in soil samples collected from Podlaskie Voivodeship was at the level of 0.09-1.92 mg x kg(-1), whereas its pseudo-total content was in the range 2.75-9.75 mg x kg(-1). CONCLUSIONS; The developed ultrasound assisted sequential extraction procedure allowed for shortening the total extraction time from 48 h to 27 minutes in comparison to conventional modified BCR procedure. The studied soil contains a low pool of copper bioavailable to plants because a sum of mobile fractions (FI-FIII) represents only 22-46% of its pseudo-total content.

Determination of the Effect of Wastewater on the Biological Activity of Mixtures of Fluoxetine and Its Metabolite Norfluoxetine with Nalidixic and Caffeic Acids with Use of E. coli Microbial Bioindicator Strains.

In the present work, the conducted research concerned the determination of the toxicity and oxidative stress generation of the antidepressant fluoxetine (FLU), its metabolite nor-fluoxetine (Nor-FLU), the antibiotic nalidixic acid (NA), caffeic acid (CA) and their mixtures in three different environments: microbial medium (MM), raw wastewaters (RW) and treated wastewaters (TW). We evaluated the following parameters: E. coli cell viability, toxicity and protein damage, sodA promoter induction and ROS generation. It was found that FLU, Nor-FLU, NA, CA and their mixtures are toxic and they have the potency to generate oxidative stress in E. coli strains. We also detected that the wastewater, in comparison to the microbial medium, had an influence on the toxic activity and oxidative stress synthesis of the tested chemicals and their mixtures. Regardless of the environment under study, the strongest toxic activity and oxidative stress generation were detected after bacterial incubation with NA at a concentration of 1 mg/dm3 and the mixture of FLU (1 mg/dm3) with Nor-FLU (0.1 mg/dm3) and with NA (0.1 mg/dm3). The ROS synthesis and sodA promoter induction suggest that, in the case of the examined compounds and their mixtures, oxidative stress is the mechanism of toxicity. The analysis of the types of interactions among the substances constituting the mixtures in the wastewater revealed synergism, potentiation and antagonism.

Protective effect of plant compounds in pesticides toxicity.

Introduction: The relationship between pesticide exposure and the occurrence of many chronic diseases, including cancer, is confirmed by literature data. Methods: In this review, through the analysis of more than 70 papers, we explore an increase in oxidative stress level caused by exposure to environmental pollutants and the protective effects of plant-origin antioxidants. Results and discussion: One of the molecular mechanisms, by which pesticides affect living organisms is the induction of oxidative stress. However, recently many plant-based dietary ingredients with antioxidant properties have been considered as a chemopreventive substances due to their ability to remove free radicals. Such a food component must meet several conditions: eliminate free radicals, be easily absorbed and function at an appropriate physiological level. Its main function is to maintain the redox balance and minimize the cellular damage caused by ROS. Therefore, it should be active in aqueous solutions and membrane domains. These properties are characteristic for phenolic compounds and selected plant hormones. Phenolic compounds have proven antioxidant properties, while increasing number of compounds from the group of plant hormones with a very diverse chemical structure turn out to act as antioxidants, being potential food ingredients that can eliminate negative effects of pesticides.

Inanimate Surfaces as a Source of Hospital Infections Caused by Fungi, Bacteria and Viruses with Particular Emphasis on SARS-CoV-2.

The carriers of nosocomial infections are the hands of medical personnel and inanimate surfaces. Both hands and surfaces may be contaminated as a result of contact with the patient, their body fluids, and touching contaminated surfaces in the patient's surroundings. Visually clean inanimate surfaces are an important source of pathogens. Microorganisms have properties thanks to which they can survive in unfavorable conditions, from a few days to several months. Bacteria, viruses and fungi are able to transmit from inanimate surfaces to the skin of the patient and the medical staff. These pathogens include SARS-CoV-2, which can survive on various types of inanimate surfaces, being a potential source of infection. By following the recommendations related to washing and disinfecting hands and surfaces, and using appropriate washing and disinfecting agents with a broad biocidal spectrum, high material compatibility and the shortest duration of action, we contribute to breaking the chain of nosocomial infections.

Alternated biodegradation of naphthalene (NAP), acenaphthylene (ACY) and acenaphthene (ACE) in an aerobic granular sludge reactor (GSBR).

The paper presents quantitative changes of selected 2- and 3-ring PAHs after process phases of GSBR reactor. The studies have been carried out for 264 cycles of GSBR reactor, during which concentration of naphthalene was increased in the range of 3.00-710.00 µg/L, acenaphthylene 1.00-160.00 µg/L, acenaphthene 3.00-440.00 µg/L. GSBR operating cycle consisted of filling (30 min), mixing (90 min), aeration (540 min), sedimentation (10 min), decanting (30 min) and downtime (20 min) phases. Activated sludge dry mass concentration was 4.00 kg/m3. Conducted studies showed that in GSBR reactor naphthalene was degraded with the highest intensity. Results of the statistical analysis confirmed that naphthalene concentrations were statistically significantly different (α = 0.05) after each individual GSBR process phase, while in case of acenaphthene and acenaphthylene, the differences were observed only between mixing and aeration phases. Additionally, equations estimating concentrations of PAHs in treated wastewater were developed. Selected activated sludge technological parameters (sludge volume index, sludge and hydraulic retention time) and concentration of PAHs were used for equations. The R2 coefficients of equations were above 0.99, which indicates a good adjustment of estimation to observed values.

An ultrasound-assisted procedure for fast screening of mobile fractions of Cd, Pb and Ni in soil. Insight into method optimization and validation.

A fast ultrasound-assisted sequential extraction (UASE) procedure for the determination of cadmium, lead and nickel fractions in soil was developed and fully validated. The working parameters of an ultrasound probe were optimized by comparing the content of metals in soil extracts obtained by the UASE procedure with that obtained by the conventional (with the aid of a vertical rotor) modified Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) procedure. The content of metals in soil fractions was determined by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. The total time of extraction of metals from soil was shorten from 48 h to 27 min (total sonication time). The trueness of the developed method was confirmed by analysis of the certified reference material BCR-701. In order to indicate critical points of the developed UASE method, uncertainties of fractionation results were calculated and compared with those calculated for conventional modified BCR procedure. The method usefulness was tested for the determination of metal fractions in different types of soil collected in the Podlasie Province (Poland). The proposed procedure could be used for fast screening of mobile fractions of several heavy metals in soil.