Regulation of Cecal Microbiota and Improvement of Blood Lipids Using Walnut Non-Dairy Creamer in High-Fat Mice: Replacing Traditional Non-Dairy Creamer.

Non-dairy creamer is a class of microencapsulated powdered fats and oils that are widely used in the food industry. However, the oils used in it are hydrogenated vegetable oils, which contain large amounts of saturated fatty acids and are extremely harmful to the human body. This study investigated the effects of replacing hydrogenated vegetable oil with walnut oil to prepare walnut non-dairy creamer on lipid levels and intestinal microorganisms in mice. The results show that low-dose walnut non-dairy creamer significantly decreased the contents of TC and TG in serum and increased the content of HDL-C (p < 0.01). The contents of MDA, ALT, and AST were significantly decreased, while the content of SOD was increased (p < 0.01). The abundance of Firmicutes in the walnut non-dairy creamer group decreased, and the abundance of Bacteroidetes/Firmicutes (B/F) increased, which significantly increased the richness of Lactobacillus and Oscillospira (p < 0.01). Allobaculum richness was significantly decreased (p < 0.01). In conclusion, a low dose of walnut non-dairy creamer can effectively promote the metabolism of blood lipids in vivo, alleviate oxidative stress injury and lipid accumulation damage to mouse hepatocytes, and ameliorate the adverse effects of a high-fat diet on the intestinal microbiota of mice. This study provides a theoretical basis for the replacement of traditional non-dairy creamer and the research and development of walnut deep processing.

Pesticide usage practices and the exposure risk to pollinators: A case study in the North China Plain.

Due to the frequent pesticide applications, bees are suffered from pesticide exposure risks via consumption and direct contact with sprayed drifts. However, if pesticides are misused and the potential exposure risk to bees based on realistic pesticide application data are still little reported. In this study, pesticide application patterns in wheat-maize rotation system, vegetable and apple producing areas, was studied by interviewing farmers in Quzhou County, the North China Plain. The pesticide use status was evaluated by the recommended and actual applied dose and risk quotient (RQ) based Bee-REX model was used to assess the exposure risks of pesticide to bees based on the collected pesticide application data. The results showed that over half (52 %) of farmers in selected sites misused pesticides and orchard owners were frequently misused pesticides. Positive correlations were found between pesticide usage performance and farmers' specialized training experience. Pesticides applied in orchards have caused higher exposure risks to bees with the mean of RQs exceed 120 and 1880 via acute contact and dietary routes, respectively. Pesticide misuse significantly elevates the exposure risk to bees that the mean RQ under misuse scenarios was 5.8 times than that of correct use. Abamectin, fipronil and neonicotinoids contributed most to the pesticide exposure risk to bees. The main findings of this study imply that more sustainable pest and pollinator management strategies, including the moratorium high-risk insecticides and providing diverse flower resources and habitats, are highly needed. Additionally, measures such as implementing farmer educating and training programs should also be put on the agenda.

Accumulation of potentially toxic elements in agricultural soil and scenario analysis of cadmium inputs by fertilization: A case study in Quzhou county.

Fertilizer application has greatly increased crop yield, however impurities in mineral or organic fertilizers, such as heavy metals, are being added to agricultural soils, which would pose a high risk for soil and crop production. 115 soil samples were collected from Quzhou, a typical agricultural county in the North China Plain, to investigate the total content of cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and chromium (Cr) in soils. The contamination levels and source apportionment of studied elements were explored by the pollution indices, multivariate statistical approaches and geostatistical analysis. The ranges of Cd, As, Pb, Ni, Cu, Zn and Cr were between 0.08 and 0.35, 5.34-15.9, 7.34-38.9, 12.9-61.3, 7.80-27.0, 31.4-154, and 17.0-50.5 mg/kg and with the mean values 0.16, 9.20, 16.0, 24.7, 17.6, 61.1, and 29.5 mg/kg, respectively. The studied area was slightly polluted mainly by Cd, and higher pollution was found in soils under vegetable crops. The application of mineral phosphate fertilizer and livestock manure were the main source of Cd and Zn, and other elements (As, Pb, Ni and Cu) might originate from soil parent materials. Scenario analyses were performed using the R programming language, based on the cadmium contents in mineral phosphate fertilizers and livestock manures. The results showed that the long-term application of phosphate fertilizers would lead to some Cd enrichment in soil without risk of substantial pollution. Compared to pure mineral fertilizers, the long-term application of blended fertilizers (30% livestock manures and 70% phosphate fertilizers) or livestock manures would incur a higher Cd pollution risk within a short period, with a maximum probability of Cd risk of 55.21%. Mitigation measurements and scientific agronomic practices should be developed to minimize the risk of potential toxic elements in agricultural soil.

Regulation of Sacha Inchi protein on fecal metabolism and intestinal microorganisms in mice.

Introduction: With the increasing demand for protein utilization, exploring new protein resources has become a research hotspot. Sacha Inchi Protein (SIP) is a high-quality plant protein extracted from Sacha Inchi meal. This study aimed to investigate the impact of SIP on mouse metabolomics and gut microbiota diversity and explore the underlying pathways responsible for its health benefits. Methods: In this study, the structural composition of SIP was investigated, and the effects of SIP on fecal metabolomics and intestinal microorganisms in mice were explored by LC-MS metabolomics technology analysis and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Results: The results showed that SIP was rich in amino acids, with the highest Manuscript Click here to view linked References content of arginine, which accounted for 22.98% of the total amino acid content; the potential fecal metabolites of mice in the SIP group involved lipid metabolism, sphingolipid metabolism, arginine biosynthesis, and amino acid metabolism; SIP altered the microbial composition of the cecum in mice, decreased the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes value, and It decreased the abundance of the harmful intestinal bacteria Actinobacteriota and Desulfobacterota, and increased the abundance of the beneficial intestinal bacteria Faecalibaculum, Dubosiella. Discussion: In conclusion, SIP is a high-quality plant protein with great potential for development in lipid-lowering, intestinal health, and mental illness, providing valuable clues for further research on its health-promoting mechanisms.

Exposure risk to rural Residents: Insights into particulate and gas phase pesticides in the Indoor-Outdoor nexus.

Rural residents are exposed to both particulate and gaseous pesticides in the indoor-outdoor nexus in their daily routine. However, previous personal exposure assessment mostly focuses on single aspects of the exposure, such as indoor or gaseous exposure, leading to severe cognition bias to evaluate the exposure risks. In this study, residential dust and silicone wristbands (including stationary and personal wearing ones) were used to screen pesticides in different phases and unfold the hidden characteristics of personal exposure via indoor-outdoor nexus in intensive agricultural area. Mento-Carlo Simulation was performed to assess the probabilistic exposure risk by transforming adsorbed pesticides from wristbands into air concentration, which explores a new approach to integrate particulate (dust) and gaseous (silicone wristbands) pesticide exposures in indoor and outdoor environment. The results showed that particulate pesticides were more concentrated in indoor, whereas significantly higher concentrations were detected in stationary outdoor wristbands (p < 0.05). Carbendazim and chlorpyrifos were the most frequently detected pesticides in dust and stationary wristbands. Higher pesticide concentration was found in personal wristbands worn by farmers, with the maximum value of 2048 ng g-1 for difenoconazole. Based on the probabilistic risk assessment, around 7.1 % of farmers and 2.6 % of bystanders in local populations were potentially suffering from chronic health issues. One third of pesticide exposures originated mainly from occupational sources while the rest derived from remoting dissipation. Unexpectedly, 43 % of bystanders suffered the same levels of exposure as farmers under the co-existence of occupational and non-occupational exposures. Differed compositions of pesticides were found between environmental samples and personal pesticide exposure patterns, highlighting the need for holistic personal exposure measurements.

Physical and Chemical Properties, Flavor and Organoleptic Characteristics of a Walnut and Purple Rice Fermented Plant Drink.

In recent years, green and healthy foods have attracted much attention. Plant-based foods have become an alternative to animal-derived foods. In this study, we used walnut and purple rice as the primary raw materials to produce a fermented plant drink. The process included boiling, mixing, grinding, inoculation, fermentation, and sterilization. We then analyzed the similarities and differences between the resulting walnut and purple rice fermented plant drink and an unfermented walnut and purple rice plant drink, as well as dairy-based yoghurt, in terms of physical chemistry, flavor, and sensory characteristics. We also examined the similarities and differences between the walnut and purple rice fermented plant drink and room-temperature yoghurt. The study results revealed that the walnut and purple rice fermented plant drink exhibited greater viscosity than the walnut and purple rice unfermented plant drink and room-temperature yoghurt. Additionally, the former displayed enhanced stability and recovery ability. Notably, distinguishable differences were observed between the three samples in terms of the presence of unknown volatiles and the umami signal, as indicated by electronic nose/tongue and GC-IMS analyses. The umami flavor of the walnut and purple rice fermented plant drink surpasses that of room-temperature yoghurt, while its taste is less salty than that of the walnut and purple rice plant drink. Despite possessing a weaker aroma than dairy-based yogurt, it is more potent than the walnut and purple rice plant drink. Additionally, its relative abundance of olefins, ketones, and alcohols enhances its unique flavor profile, surpassing both other options. Based on sensory analysis, it can be deduced that walnut and purple rice fermented plant drink has the highest overall acceptance rate.

Effects of neonicotinoid residues on non-target soil animals: A case study of meta-analysis.

Neonicotinoids (NEOs) are currently the fastest-growing and most widely used insecticide class worldwide. Increasing evidence suggests that long-term NEO residues in the environment have toxic effects on non-target soil animals. However, few studies have conducted surveys on the effects of NEOs on soil animals, and only few have focused on global systematic reviews or meta-analysis to quantify the effects of NEOs on soil animals. Here, we present a meta-analysis of 2940 observations from 113 field and laboratory studies that investigated the effects of NEOs (at concentrations of 0.001-78,600.000 mg/kg) on different soil animals across five indicators (i.e., survival, growth, behavior, reproduction, and biochemical biomarkers). Furthermore, we quantify the effects of NEOs on different species of soil animals. Results show that NEOs inhibit the survival, growth rate, behavior, and reproduction of soil animals, and alter biochemical biomarkers. Both the survival rate and longevity of individuals decreased by 100 % with NEO residues. The mean values of juvenile survival, cocoon number, and egg hatchability were reduced by 97 %, 100 %, and 84 %, respectively. Both individual and cocoon weights were reduced by 82 %, while the growth rate decreased by 88 % with NEO residues. Our meta-analysis confirms that NEOs pose significant negative impacts on soil animals.

Abundance, characteristics and risk assessment of microplastics in aquatic sediments: A comparative study in the Yellow River and Yellow Sea.

The occurrence of microplastics (MPs) in aquatic ecosystems has become an increasingly serious threat to public health. Marine sediments are considered the final recipients of all microplastic pollution from inland rivers, however, whether and how the MPs differ in these two ecosystems remains poorly known due to the divergent MPs detection methods employed in previous studies. Here, we investigated the abundance, size, and types of MPs in sediment samples from the Yellow River and Yellow Sea using laser direct infrared (LDIR), and assessed their ecological risks. The abundance of MPs in the Yellow Sea is 2.9 times higher than that in the Yellow River, with an average abundance of 54813.2 ± 19355.9 and 18780.2 ± 9951.8 particles·kg-1 (dry sediment), respectively. Notably, the predominant polymer types in both sediment environments were silicone, fluororubber, and polypropylene (PP). MPs with sizes < 100 µm accounted for > 90 % of the total MPs number. Risk assessment demonstrated all the sediment environments exhibited high ecological risks. The dominance of small MPs highlighted the importance of using a method with high resolution to delineate the truthful status of MP pollution.

Ecological risk assessment of pesticides on soil biota: An integrated field-modelling approach.

Pesticide residues in soils can cause negative impacts on soil health as well as soil biota. However, research related to the toxicity and exposure risks of pesticides to soil biota are scarce, especially in the North China Plain (NCP) where pesticides are intensively applied. In this study, the occurrence and distribution of 15 commonly used pesticides in 41 fields in Quzhou county in the NCP were determined during the growing season in 2020. The ecological risks of pesticides to the soil biota, including earthworms, enchytraeids, springtails, mites and nitrogen mineralization microorganisms, were assessed using toxicity exposure ratios (TERs) and risk quotient (RQ) methods. Based on pesticide detection rates and RQs, pesticide hazards were ranked using the Hasse diagram. The results showed that pesticides were concentrated in the 0-2 cm soil depth. Chlorantraniliprole was the most frequently detected pesticide with a detection rate of 37%, while the highest concentration of 1.85 mg kg-1 was found for carbendazim in apple orchards. Chlorpyrifos, carbendazim and imidacloprid posed a chronic exposure risk to E. fetida, F. candida and E. crypticus with the TERs exceeding the trigger value. Pesticide mixtures posed ecological risks to soil biota in 70% of the investigated sites. 47.5% of samples were ranked as high-risk, with the maximum RQ exceeding 490. According to the Hasse diagram, abamectin, tebuconazole, chlorantraniliprole and chlorpyrifos were ranked as the most hazardous pesticides for soil biota in the study region, indicating that alternative methods of pest management need to be considered. Therefore, practical risk mitigation solutions are recommended, in which the use of hazardous pesticides would be replaced with low-risk pesticides with similar functions from the Hasse diagram, or with biopesticides.

High abundance of microplastics in groundwater in Jiaodong Peninsula, China.

The occurrence of microplastics (MPs, <5 mm) in drinking water has aroused extensive concerns, whereas our understanding of their presence in groundwater, a major source of drinking water, is still limited. The present study investigated the occurrence of microplastics in groundwater sampled from five sites in Jiaodong Peninsula, China. The abundance, type, and size of MPs in the groundwater samples were determined by Laser Direct Infrared following a well-established and quality-controlled analytical route. Notably, MPs were detected in groundwater across all five sampling sites, with high abundances ranging from 87 to 6832 particles/L and an average abundance of 2103 particles/L. The variation of the abundance of MPs was correlated to the distances between sampling sites and anthropogenic activities, which suggested significant impacts of aboveground industry and agriculture on the abundance of MPs in groundwater. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyurethane (PU) were the dominant polymer types detected in all groundwater samples. The MPs with a size smaller than 100 µm were found to account for >90% of the total MPs detected in four sampling sites, which was likely associated with their migratory routes through surface water runoff and infiltration into the groundwater settings. The results of this study suggest the importance of counting small MPs when determining their abundances in groundwater or their abundances would be considerably underestimated. The present study for the first time demonstrated the occurrence of MPs in groundwater in China, which improves our understanding of the MPs distribution and raises concerns about groundwater safety in terms of MPs pollution.

Pesticide screening and health risk assessment of residential dust in a rural region of the North China Plain.

Pesticides that have accumulated in arable soil could be easily transported by wind erosion, thereby potentially threating air quality and human health in surrounding areas. The risks this poses to farmers exposed to pesticide-associated dust is still unknown, especially in rural areas of China. In this study, we screened pesticide residues in dust (indoor and outdoor) collected from the homes and yards of pesticide sprayers (21 participants) and farm workers (14 participants) living in Quzhou County located in the North China Plain to assess health risks by exposed to pesticide-contaminated dust. The results showed that multiple pesticide residues were detected in the dust samples and more than 90% of the samples contained over 10 pesticide residues. The maximum detected number of residues was 23, out of the 25 pesticides currently used in the farming area. There was a wide range of pesticide concentrations with the geometric mean values measuring between 0.03 and 0.86 mg kg-1. More residues and higher concentrations of pesticides were detected in indoor dust compared to outdoor dust. Over the monitoring period, the pesticide application has not caused significant pesticide accumulation in dust. The measured concentrations of carbendazim, dimethomorph, dimethomorph and pendimethalin paired indoor-outdoor dust samples were significantly correlated (p < 0.05). The health risks were assessed using the hazard index (HI) and highest HI was found for children under indoor exposure (HI = 0.82). In addition, based on the survey and statistics, pesticide preparation in the home was significantly correlated with the pesticide indoor exposure level. Therefore, farmers should take measures, such as preparing pesticides outside of the house or in the open fields with protection, in order to avoid the exposure risk of pesticides associated with dust.

[Heavy Metal Contents in Animal Manure in China and the Related Soil Accumulation Risks].

The environmental risks posed by heavy metals (HMs) in animal manure are increasing because of the use of trace metals as additives in feedstuffs. Manure samples were collected, and published literature was reviewed in this study to systematically analyze the HMs content in animal manure and compare the results to different sources of animal manures. Results show that the distribution of HMs content in animal manure was skewed. The ranges were between not detected (ND)-147 mg·kg-1 for Cd, ND-1919 mg·kg-1 for Pb, 0.003-2278 mg·kg-1 for Cr, ND-978 mg·kg-1 for As, ND-103 mg·kg-1 for Hg, ND-1747 mg·kg-1 for Cu, ND-11547 mg·kg-1 for Zn, and 1.22-1140 mg·kg-1 for Ni. The means (medians) of those elements were 2.31(0.72) mg·kg-1, 13.5(8.96) mg·kg-1, 36.3(12.0) mg·kg-1, 14.0(3.52) mg·kg-1, 0.97(0.07) mg·kg-1, 282(115) mg·kg-1, 656(366) mg·kg-1, and 21.8 (13.1) mg·kg-1 for Cd, Pb, Cr, As, Hg, Cu, Zn, and Ni, respectively. Means were significantly higher (1-13 times) than the medians. According to maximum limits of Cd, Pb, Cr, As, and Hg for organic fertilizers NY 525-2012, about 12.3% (for Cd), 2.58% (for Pb), 2.76% (for Cr), 20.6% (for As), and 3.69% (for Hg) of the data were above the limits. According to the composting regulations of Germany, about 53.9% (for Cu), 45.7% (for Zn), and 0.59% (for Ni) exceeded the maximum limits. The heavy metal contents in animal manure of different regions differs significantly. As and Cd contents in animal manure in the Shandong Province tend to be higher with their average values at 1.7 times and 10.1 times of the mean contents for national scale, respectively; the heavy metal contents in eastern China tend to be higher. Cd and As contents in animal manure tend to be higher in Northeast and Eastern China, while Cu and Zn contents were higher in Eastern and South China. After comparing HMs content in different sources of manures, we found that Cd, As, Hg, Cu, Zn, and Ni mean contents in pig manure were 1.0-3.0 times, 1.8-6.8 times, 1.1-15.8 times, 4.9-17.5 times, 2.7-12.0 times, and 1.7-2.1 times that of cattle manure, sheep manure, and poultry manure. The Pb content in poultry manure was the highest, with the mean being 2.8, 2.5, and 2.2 times higher than pig manure, cattle manure, and sheep manure, respectively. When recycling animal manure into the crop field, the accumulation rates for Cd were under 0.02 mg·(kg·a)-1 in over 90% of the circumstances and the accumulation rates for Pb were all below 0.15 mg·(kg·a)-1. When applying poultry manure, Cr in soil is easily accumulated with the maximum accumulation rate of 0.28 mg·(kg·a)-1.