Multispecies and multibiomarker assessment of fish health from Iguaçu River reservoir, Southern Brazil.

This study investigated the impact of micropollutants on fish health from Segredo hydroelectric reservoir (HRS) along the Iguaçu River, Southern Brazil, contaminated by urban, industrial, and agricultural activities. This is the first comprehensive study assessment in the river after the severe drought in the 2020s in three fish species from different trophic levels Astyanax spp. (water column depth/omnivorous), Hypostomus commersoni (demersal/herbivorous), and Pimelodus maculatus (demersal/omnivorous). Animals, water, and sediment samples were collected from three distinct sites within the reservoir: Floresta (upstream), Iratim (middle), and Station (downstream). The chemical analysis revealed elevated concentrations of metals (Al, Cu, Fe) and the metalloid As in water, or Cu, Zn, and As in sediment, surpassing Brazilian regulatory limits, while the organic pollutants as DDT, PAHs, PCBs, and PBDEs were found under the Brazilian regulatory limits. The metal bioaccumulation was higher in gills with no significant differences among sites. The species Astyanax spp. and H. commersoni displayed variations in hepatosomatic index (HSI) and P. maculatus in the condition factor index (K) between sites, while adverse effects due to micropollutants bioaccumulation were observed by biochemical, genotoxic, and histopathological biomarkers. The principal component analysis and integrated biomarker response highlighted the upstream site Floresta as particularly inhospitable for biota, with distinctions based on trophic level. Consequently, this multifaceted approach, encompassing both fish biomarkers and chemical analyses, furnishes valuable insights into the potential toxic repercussions of micropollutant exposure. These findings offer crucial data for guiding management and conservation endeavors in the Iguaçu River.

Spatial distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water and sediment in the Ganga River: source diagnostics and health risk assessment on dietary exposure through a common carp fish Labeo rohita.

We evaluated spatial distribution and source apportionment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in water and sediments at four selected sites of the Ganga River. Also, we measured PAHs in muscle tissues of Rohu (Labeo rohita), the most common edible carp fish of the Ganga River and potential human health risk was addressed. Total concentration of PAHs (∑PAHs) in water was highest at Manika Site (1470.5 ng/L) followed by Knuj (630.0 ng/L) and lowest at Adpr (219.0 ng/L). A similar trend was observed for sediments with highest concentration of ∑PAHs at Manika (461.8 ng/g) and lowest at Adpr Site (94.59 ng/g). Among PAHs, phenanthrene (Phe) showed highest concentration in both water and sediment. Of the eight major carcinogenic contributors (∑PAH8C), Indeno (1,2,3-C,D) pyrene (InP) did appear the most dominant component accounting for 42% to this group at Manika Site. Isomer ratios indicated vehicular emission and biomass combustion as major sources of PAHs. The ∑PAHs concentrations in fish tissue ranged from 117.8 to 758.0 ng/g (fresh weight basis) where low molecular weight PAHs assumed predominance (above 80%). The risk level in fish tissues appeared highest at Manika Site and site-wise differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05). The ILCR (> 10-4) indicated carcinogenic risk in adults and children associated with BaP and DBahA at Manika Site and with BaP at Knuj Site. Overall, the concentrations exceeding permissible limit, carcinogenic potential and BaP equivalent all indicated carcinogenic risks associated with some individual PAHs. This merits attention because the Ganga River is a reservoir of fisheries.

Assessment of parent and alkyl -PAHs in surface sediments of Iranian mangroves on the northern coast of the Persian Gulf: Spatial accumulation distribution, influence factors, and ecotoxicological risks.

Spatial patterns, potential origins, and ecotoxicological risk of alkylated (APAH) -and parent -(PPAH) polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were studied in mangrove surface sediments along the northern coasts of the Persian Gulf, Iran. The mean total concentrations (ngg-1dw) ∑32PAH, ∑PPAHs and ∑APAHs in sediments were 3482 (1689-61228), 2642 (1109-4849), and 840 (478-1273), respectively. The spatial variability was similar among these PAH groups, with the highest levels occurring in Nayband National Marine Park (NNMP). Physicochemical environmental factors, such as sediment grain size, and total organic carbon (TOC) contents, are significant factors of PAH distribution. These findings suggest that PAH pollution level is moderate-to-high, supporting the current view that mangrove ecosystems are under intensive anthropogenic impacts, such as petrochemical, oil and gas loads, port activities, and urbanization. Non-parametric multidimensional scaling (NPMDS) ordination demonstrated that NNMP mangrove is the critical site exhibiting high loading of PAH pollutants. Here, for the first time in this region, Soil quality guidelines (SQGs), Toxic equivalency quotient (TEQ), Mutagenic equivalency quotient (MEQ), and composition indices comprising Mean maximum permissible concentration quotient (m-MPC-Q), and Mean effect range median quotient (m-ERM-Q) methods were used to have a comprehensive risk assessment for PAH compounds and confirmed medium-to-high ecological risks of PAHs in the study area, particularly in the western part of the Gulf, highlighting the industrial impacts on the environment.

Presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and persistent organochlorine pollutants in human Milk: Evaluating their levels, association with Total antioxidant capacity, and risk assessment.

Breastfeeding provides numerous health benefits for both infants and mothers, promoting optimal growth and development while offering protection against various illnesses and diseases. This study investigated the levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), organochlorine pesticides (OCP) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in human milk sampled in Zadar (Croatia). The primary objectives were twofold: firstly, to evaluate the individual impact of each compound on the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) value, and secondly, to assess associated health risks. Notably, this study presents pioneering and preliminary insights into PAH levels in Croatian human milk, contributing to the limited research on PAH in breast milk worldwide. PCB and OCP levels in Croatian human milk were found to be relatively lower compared to worldwide data. Conversely, PAH levels were comparatively higher, albeit with lower detection frequencies. A negative correlation was established between organic contaminant levels and antioxidative capacity, suggesting a potential link between higher antioxidative potential and lower organic contaminant levels. Diagnostic ratio pointed towards traffic emissions as the primary source of the detected PAH. The presence of PAH suggests potential health risk, underscoring the need for further in-depth investigation.

Organic contamination and multi-biomarker assessment in watersheds of the southern Brazil: an integrated approach using fish from the Astyanax genus.

We aimed to examine the responses of pollution biomarkers in feral fish from Astyanax genus collected at three hydrographic regions in southern Brazil and the capacity of these tools to differentiate between various levels of contamination. To achieve this, levels of organochlorine pesticides (liver), as well as the biomarkers AChE (muscle and brain), TBARS (liver), and EROD (liver) were assessed. Collections were conducted in four municipalities (Alegrete, Caraá, Lavras, and Santa Vitória) during 1 year, encompassing winter and summer. Fish from Alegrete were the most contaminated overall, but animals sampled in Caraá, and Lavras also displayed elevated levels of current-use pesticides. Elevated levels of endosulfans, DDTs, HCHs, and current-use pesticides were accompanied by elevated levels of TBARS in the liver. Conversely, fish from Santa Vitória exhibited the highest levels of PAHs, accompanied by elevated levels of EROD in the liver and reduced levels of AChE in muscle and brain. TBARS proved to be a reliable biomarker for assessing impacts arising from pesticide accumulation, while EROD and AChE served as valuable indicators of impacts resulting from PAHs accumulation. Ultimately, the results obtained in this study demonstrate the reliable use of the proposed biomarkers for tracking biological impacts stemming from aquatic pollution using feral Astyanax as biomonitoring species.

Probing the occurrence, sources and cancer risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in PM2.5 in a humid metropolitan city in China.

Fifty-two consecutive PM2.5 samples from December 2021 to February 2022 (the whole winter) were collected in the center of Chongqing, a humid metropolitan city in China. These samples were analysed for the 16 USEPA priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (16 PAHs) to explore their composition and sources, and to assess their cancer risks to humans. The total concentrations of the 16 PAHs (ng m-3) ranged from 16.45 to 174.15, with an average of 59.35 ± 21.45. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) indicated that traffic emissions were the major source (42.4%), followed by coal combustion/industrial emission (31.3%) and petroleum leakage/evaporation (26.3%). The contribution from traffic emission to the 16 PAHs increased from 40.0% in the non-episode days to as high as 46.2% in the air quality episode during the sampling period. The population attributable fraction (PAF) indicates that when the unit relative risk (URR) is 4.49, the number of lung cancer cases per million individuals under PAH exposure is 27 for adults and 38 for seniors, respectively. It was 5 for adults and 7 for seniors, when the URR is 1.3. The average incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) for children, adolescents, adults and seniors was 0.25 × 10-6, 0.23 × 10-6, 0.71 × 10-6, and 1.26 × 10-6, respectively. The results of these two models complemented each other well, and both implied acceptable PAH exposure levels. Individual genetic susceptibility and exposure time were identified as the most sensitive parameters. The selection and use of parameters in risk assessment should be further deepened in subsequent studies to enhance the reliability of the assessment results.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their halogenated derivatives in soil from Yellow River Delta: Distribution, source apportionment, and risk assessment.

The distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and halogenated PAHs (HPAHs) in surface soils from the petroleum industrial area of the Yellow River Delta (YRD) in China were investigated. The total concentrations of 16 PAHs ranged from 19.6 to 1560 ng/g, while 22 HPAHs ranged from 2.44 to 14.9 ng/g. Moreover, a high degree of spatial distribution heterogeneity was observed for both PAHs and HPAHs, which is likely attributed to the distinct industrial activities in studied area. The combustion of biomass and petroleum were identified as primary sources of soil PAHs and HPAHs in the YRD. Furthermore, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, and benzo[g,h,i]perylene exhibited high ecological risks (with risk quotients of 1.47, 1.44, and 1.02, respectively) in specific sites within the YRD. Considering the high toxicity of HPAHs and their potential joint environmental effects with PAHs, continuous attention should be directed towards the environmental risks associated with both PAHs and HPAHs.

Lagging pollution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the rebuilt e-waste site: From the perspective of characteristics, sources, and risk assessment.

Little information is known regarding how the lagged pollution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) influenced the environment and human health after an e-waste dismantling site was rebuilt. This study investigated the characteristics, sources, and risk assessment of PAHs in a rebuilt e-waste site and its surrounding farmland by analyzing the samples of soil, dust, water, and vegetable. Concentrations of PAHs in soil, vegetable and water in the rebuilt site were relatively higher than in its surrounding farmland. The concentrations in surface soils, soil columns, dust, vegetables, and water varied from 55.4 to 3990 ng g-1, 1.65 to 5060 ng g-1, 2190 to 2420 ng g-1, 2670 to 10,300 ng g-1, and 46.8 to 110 µg L-1 in the e-waste site, respectively. On the farmland, PAH concentrations in surface soils, vegetables, and water ranged from 41.5 to 2760 ng g-1, 506 to 7640 ng g-1, and 56.6 to 89.2 µg L-1, respectively. A higher proportion of high-molecular-weight PAHs (HMW-PAHs) appeared in all multimedia compared with low-molecular-weight PAHs (LMW-PAHs). Diagnostic ratio together with positive matrix factorization (PMF) revealed that vehicle emission was the primary source in this area, and the activity of e-waste disposal was another important source in the rebuilt e-waste site. Based on the deterministic health risks, people working in the reconstructed e-waste site were exposed to low risks, whereas the residents living near the surrounding farmland were exposed to low risk. Sensitivity analyses indicated that exposure frequency and PAH concentrations were the main factors that influenced exposure risk. This study provides valuable insight into the comprehension of the lagging pollution effects of PAH on the environment and human health after the e-waste site was rebuilt.

Urinary Metabolites of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons of Rural Population in Northwestern China: Oxidative Stress and Health Risk Assessment.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure is suspected to be linked to oxidative damage. Herein, ten PAH human exposure biomarkers [hydroxylated PAH metabolites (OH-PAHs)] and five oxidative stress biomarkers (OSBs) were detected in urine samples collected from participants living in a rural area (n = 181) in Northwestern China. The median molar concentration of ΣOH-PAHs in urine was 47.0 pmol mL-1. The 2-hydroxynaphthalene (2-OHNap; median: 2.21 ng mL-1) was the dominant OH-PAH. The risk assessment of PAH exposure found that hazard index (HI) values were <1, indicating that the PAH exposure of rural people in Jingyuan would not generate significant cumulative risks. Smokers (median: 0.033) obtained higher HI values than nonsmokers (median: 0.015, p < 0.01), suggesting that smokers face a higher health risk from PAH exposure than nonsmokers. Pearson correlation and multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that ΣOH-PAH concentrations were significant factors in increasing the oxidative damage to deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) (8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine, 8-OHdG), ribonucleic acid (RNA) (8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine, 8-oxoGua), and protein (o, o'-dityrosine, diY) (p < 0.05). Among all PAH metabolites, only 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHPyr) could positively affect the expression of all five OSBs (p < 0.05), suggesting that urinary 1-OHPyr might be a reliable biomarker for PAH exposure and a useful indicator for assessing the impacts of PAH exposure on oxidative stress. This study is focused on the relation between PAH exposure and oxidative damage and lays a foundation for the study of the health effect mechanism of PAHs.

Distribution, levels, sources and risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the bottom sediments of a Mediterranean river under multiple anthropopressures (Soummam River), Algeria.

The Soummam River, a vital watercourse in Algeria is threatened by anthropogenic activities despite its protected wetland status. This study is the first to assess sediment pollution in the Soummam River, examining levels, compositions, sources of 16 PAHs and their effects on the environment and human health. Analysis employing Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and molecular diagnostic ratios pointed to petrogenic sources, likely stemming from petroleum leaks originating from aging pipeline and vehicles, as well as pyrogenic sources arising from vehicle exhaust and biomass combustion. Environmental and health risks were assessed through risk quotients (RQ), Sediments Quality Guidelines (SQG) and Total Lifetime Cancer Risk (TLCR). Ecological risk was found to range from moderate to high, with anticipated biological impacts, while cancer risk was deemed low. Toxicity assessment, measured by TEQ, revealed that the majority of monitoring stations exceeded safe levels. Consequently, urgent action by local authorities is warranted to implement ecosystem rehabilitation measures.

Assessment of anthropogenic pollution in Guanabara Bay (SE Brazil) through biogeochemical data and stable isotope mixing models.

This work intends to identify pollution sources along the margins of Guanabara Bay (GB; SE Brazil) through a multiproxy approach and Bayesian stable isotopic mixture model (BSIMM). For this purpose, 33 surface sediment samples were collected and analyzed for granulometry, geochemistry (heavy metals, total organic carbon-TOC, stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen-δ13C and δ15N, Rock-Eval pyrolysis parameters-REPP), and physicochemical parameters. Metal concentrations (E) dissolved in water (EW), adsorbed by organic matter (EOM) and by Mn hydroxides (EMn), and total extracted concentrations (ET) were analyzed. Sampling was conducted in 2018 after an oil spill from Reduc Oil Refinery. Potential Ecological risk index (PERI), based on metals, classified 85% of the analyzed stations as having moderate to considerable ecological risk. The metals with the potential to cause the highest ecological risk were CdW, CdOM, PbOM, and HgOM. The combination of BSIMM and REPP data was an effective proxy for oil spill detection by indicating the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Relatively high TOC contents suggested that the analyzed stations are eutrophicated environments. BSIMM discriminated three groups of stations with different sources of organic matter (OM), endorsing the result previously shown by the cluster analysis: (A) Niterói region, Botafogo marina, Glória marina, Fiscal and Fundão islands with diffuse sources of OM, including marine phytoplankton and material of continental origin from highly polluted rivers and domestic sewage; (B) region near Fundão and Governador islands and Mangue Channel outlet with OM (≃70%) supplied by highly polluted streams and a small contribution of PAHs; (C) Duque de Caxias and Botafogo-Urca inlet with significant contributions of PAHs, materials from C-3 plants and rivers polluted by urban sewage. Results of linear regressions in conjunction with BSIMM indicate that HgMn and PbOM mainly affect Group A's stations. Although the eastern margin of GB (Niterói; Group A) showed greater oceanic interaction than the other groups, it presented substantial concentrations of metals, potentially harmful (i.e., Hg and Pb) to marine biota and human health.

Migration patterns and health risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic compounds in typical coal fire source.

The Wuda coal fire in Inner Mongolia, China, is a global catastrophic event. It emits a huge volume of organic pollutants, including polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs), which are widely concerning due to their physiological toxicity and environmental persistence. However, there is no systematic study on the enrichment and migration patterns of PACs emitted from coal fires. Here, we compared samples from coal fire sponges and surrounding soil, and analyzed 47 PACs using GC × GC-TOFMS. Data analysis showed that the average content of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (16PAHs) in the coal fire sponge was 15400.65 ng/g, which is about 4.2 times higher than that in the surrounding soil. Meanwhile, 31 PACs were detected at levels far exceeding those of 16PAHs. The distribution pattern of PACs showed that coal fire sources are more likely to produce and store 16PAHs while surrounding soils are more likely to be enriched with PAH derivatives. The cancer risk assessment revealed a significant cancer risk in both the coal fires and the surrounding soil. The formation mechanism of oxygenated PAHs was also explored, and it was found that coal fires emit 16PAHs and alkylated PAHs, which oxidize to form oxygenated PAHs during migration to surrounding soils. The value of naphthaldehyde/alkylated naphthalene (< 2) can be referenced as characteristic markers of coal fire pollution. This provides a new perspective on the sources of PACs in the current environment.

Optimization and uncertainty assessment of a gas chromatography coupled to Orbitrap mass spectrometry method to determine organic contaminants in blood: A case study of an endangered seabird.

Birds are excellent bioindicators of environmental pollution, and blood provides information on contaminant exposure, although its analysis is challenging because of the low volumes that can be sampled. The objective of the present study was to optimize and validate a miniaturized and functional extraction and analytical method based on gas chromatography coupled to Orbitrap mass spectrometry (GCOrbitrap-MS) for the trace analysis of contaminants in avian blood. Studied compounds included 25 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), 6 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), 8 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and 15 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Four extraction and clean-up conditions were optimized and compared in terms of efficiency, accuracy, and uncertainty assessment. Extraction with hexane:dichloromethane and miniaturized Florisil pipette clean-up was the most adequate considering precision and accuracy, time, and costs, and was thereafter used to analyse 20 blood samples of a pelagic seabird, namely the Bermuda petrel (Pterodroma cahow). This species, endemic to the Northwest Atlantic, is among the most endangered seabirds of the region that in the '60 faced a decrease in the breeding success likely linked to a consistent exposure to dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT). Indeed, p,p'-DDE, the main DDT metabolite, was detected in all samples and ranged bewteen 1.13 and 6.87 ng/g wet weight. Other ubiquitous compounds were PCBs (ranging from 0.13 to 6.76 ng/g ww), hexachlorobenzene, and mirex, while PAHs were sporadically detected at low concentrations, and PBDEs were not present. Overall, the extraction method herein proposed allowed analysing very small blood volumes (∼ 100 µL), thus respecting ethical principles prioritising the application of less-invasive sampling protocols, fundamental when studying threatened avian species.

Preliminary study on the enhanced bioremediation of PAH-contaminated soil in Beijing and assessment of remediation effects based on toxicity tests.

In this study, we focused on soil contaminated by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) at typical coking-polluted sites in Beijing, conducted research on enhanced PAH bioremediation and methods to evaluate remediation effects based on toxicity testing, and examined changes in pollutant concentrations during ozone preoxidation coupled with biodegradation in test soil samples. The toxicity of mixed PAHs in soil was directly evaluated using the Ames test, and the correlation between mixed PAH mutagenicity and benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) toxicity was investigated in an effort to establish a carcinogenic risk assessment model based on biological toxicity tests to evaluate remediation effects on PAH-contaminated soil. This study provides a theoretical and methodological foundation for evaluating the effect of bioremediation on PAH-contaminated soil at industrially contaminated sites. The results revealed that the removal rate of PAHs after 5 min of O3 preoxidation and 4 weeks of soil reaction with saponin surfactants and medium was 83.22%. The soil PAH extract obtained after remediation had a positive effect on the TA98 strain at a dose of 2000 µg·dish-1, and the carcinogenic risk based on the Ames toxicity test was 8.98 times greater than that calculated by conventional carcinogenic PAH toxicity parameters. The total carcinogenic risk of the remediated soil samples was approximately one order of magnitude less than that of the original soil samples.

[Pollution Characteristics and Risk Assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Soils of Guangzhou].

In order to comprehensively study the pollution characteristics of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons （PAHs） in soils of Guangzhou， 222 topsoil samples were collected and analyzed. The ecological risk of soil PAHs pollution was evaluated using the effect interval low/median method （ERL/ERM） and the （BaP） toxicity equivalent method， and the health risk of soil PAHs pollution was evaluated using the lifelong cancer risk increment model. The source of PAHs was analyzed using the characteristic compound ratio method and PMF model. The results indicated that： the content of surface soil （∑16PAHs） in Guangzhou was 38-11 115 µg·kg-1， with an average of 526 µg·kg-1， and 16 types of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon monomers showed strong variation. There was a certain degree of ecological risk of PAHs in Guangzhou， and there was already a significant ecological risk of PAHs pollution in individual sampling points， which were generally in a state of mild pollution. Based on the results of the health risk assessment， the contribution rates of total cancer risk in both adults and children were presented as follows： skin contact > ingestion of soil > respiratory intake. The health risk of children was greater than that of adults， and the overall health risk was within an acceptable range. Source analysis showed that the main sources of soil PAHs in Guangzhou were coal （37.1%）； diesel （32%）； coking （17.3%）； and mixed sources of traffic emissions， biomass combustion， and petrochemical product volatilization （13.6%）. The overall source of soil PAHs belonged to mixed sources. The research results have enriched our understanding of the pollution status of PAHs in the surface soil of Guangzhou and are helpful in promoting soil pollution prevention and control actions.

Source analysis and health risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) in total suspended particulate matter (TSP) from Bengbu, China.

The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations in total suspended particulate matter (TSP) samples collected from October, 2021 to September, 2022 were analyzed to clarify the pollution characteristics and sources of 16 PAHs in the atmospheric TSP in Bengbu City. The ρ(PAHs) concentrations ranged from 1.71 to 43.85 ng/m3 and higher concentrations were detected in winter, followed by spring, autumn, and summer. The positive matrix factorization analysis revealed that, in spring and summer, PAH pollution was caused mainly by industrial emissions, gasoline and diesel fuel combustion, whereas in autumn and winter, it was coal, biomass and natural gas combustion. The cluster and potential source factor analyses showed that long-range transport was a significant factor. During spring, autumn, and winter, the northern and northwestern regions had a significant impact, whereas the coastal area south of Bengbu had the greatest influence in summer. The health risk assessment revealed that the annual total carcinogenic equivalent concentration values for PAHs varied from 0.0159 to 7.437 ng/m3, which was classified as moderate. Furthermore, the annual incremental lifetime cancer risk values ranged from 1.431 × 10-4 to 3.671 × 10-3 for adults and from 6.823 × 10-5 to 1.749 × 10-3 for children, which were higher than the standard.

Concentrations, Sources and Health Risk Assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Chinese Herbal Medicines.

The determination and evaluation of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in seven Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) were conducted through a rapid and straightforward extraction and purification method, coupled with GC-MS. A sample-based solid-phase extraction (SPE) pretreatment technique, incorporating isotopic internal standards, was employed for detecting various medicinal parts of CHMs. The assay exhibited linearity within the range of 5 to 500 ng/mL, with linear coefficients (R2) for PAHs exceeding 0.999. The recoveries of spiked standards ranged from 63.37% to 133.12%, with relative standard deviations (RSDs) ranging from 0.75% to 14.54%. The total PAH content varied from 176.906 to 1414.087 µg/kg. Among the 16 PAHs, phenanthrene (Phe) was consistently detected at the highest levels (47.045-168.640 µg/kg). Characteristic ratio analysis indicated that oil, coal, and biomass combustion were the primary sources of PAHs in CHMs. The health risk associated with CHMs was assessed using the lifetime carcinogenic risk approach, revealing potential health risks from the consumption of honeysuckle, while the health risks of consuming Lycium chinense berries were deemed negligible. For the other five CHMs (glycyrrhizae, Coix lacryma, ginseng, lotus seed, seed of Sterculia lychnophora), the health risk from consumption fell within acceptable ranges. Furthermore, sensitivity analyses utilizing Monte Carlo exposure assessment methods identified PAH levels in CHMs as health risk sensitizers. It is crucial to recognize that the consumption of herbal medicines is not a continuous process but entails potential health risks. Hence, the monitoring and risk assessment of PAH residues in CHMs demand careful attention.

Evidence of economic development revealed in centennial scale sedimentary records of organic pollutants in Huguangyan Marr Lake.

Sedimentary records of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and phthalates could reflect energy consumption and industrial production adjustment. However, there is limited knowledge about their effects on variations of PAH and phthalate compositions in the sediment core. The PAH and phthalate sedimentary records in Huguangyan Maar Lake in Guangdong, China were constructed, and random forest models were adopted to quantify the associated impact factors. Sums of sixteen PAH (∑16 PAH) and seven phthalate (∑7 PAE) concentrations in the sediment ranged from 28.8 to 1110 and 246-4290 µg/kg dry weight in 1900-2020. Proportions of 5-6 ring PAHs to the ∑16 PAHs increased from 32.0 %-40.7 % in 1900-2020 with increased coal and petroleum consumption, especially after 1980. However, those of 2-3 ring PAHs decreased from 30.7 % to 23.6 % due to the biomass substitution with natural gas. The proportions of bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate to the ∑7 PAEs decreased from 52.3 %-29.1 % in 1900-2020, while those of di-isobutyl phthalate increased (13.7 % to 42.3 %). The shift from traditional plasticizers to non-phthalates drove this transformation, though the primary plastic production is increasing. Our findings underscore the effectiveness of optimizing energy structures and updating chemical products in reducing organic pollution in aquatic environments.

Dermal absorption of high molecular weight parent and alkylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from manufactured gas plant soils using in vitro assessment.

An enhanced in vitro human dermal bioavailability method was developed to measure the release of twenty parent and seven alkylated high molecular weight (HMW) polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from contaminated soils collected from five former manufactured Gas Plants (MGP) in England. GC-MS/MS was used to quantify HMW PAHs in soil, Strat-M artificial membrane representing skin, and synthetic receptor solution (RS) representing systemic circulation at 1-h, 10-h, and 24-h timesteps. Fluoranthene and pyrene exhibited the highest fluxes from soils to membrane (ranging from 9.5 - 281 ng/cm2/h) and soil to RS (

Spatial distribution, environmental behavior, and health risk assessment of PAHs in soils at prototype coking plants in Shanxi, China: Stable carbon isotope and molecular composition analyses.

To investigate the environmental behavior of and carcinogenic risk posed by 16 priority-controlled polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), soil samples and air samples from the coke oven top were collected in two prototype coking plants (named PF and JD). The PF soils contained more PAHs than the JD soils because the PF plant employed the side-charging technique and had a lower coke oven height. The soils from both plants contained enough PAHs to pose a carcinogenic risk, and this risk was higher in the PF plant. Data were collected on the source characteristic spectrum of stable carbon isotopic composition (δ13C) of PAHs emitted from the coke oven top (δ13C values of -36.02‰ to -32.05‰ for gaseous PAHs and -34.09‰ to -25.28‰ for particulate PAHs), and these data fill a research gap and may be referenced for isotopic-technology-based source apportionment. Diagnostic ratios and isotopic technology revealed that the coking plant soils were mainly influenced by the coking process, followed by vehicle exhaust; the soils near the boundary of each plant were slightly affected by C3 plant burning. For most PAHs [excluding fluoranthene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, indeno(1,2,3-c,d)pyrene, and dibenzo(a,h)anthracene], the dominant migration process was the net volatilization of PAHs from soil to air. In the PF plant, 13C was depleted in gaseous PAHs during volatilization.