Emission characteristics and probabilistic health risk of volatile organic compounds from leather sofa.

Furniture is identified as a vital volatile organic compound (VOC) emission source in the indoor environment. Leather has become the most common raw and auxiliary fabric material for upholstered furniture, particularly with extensive consumption in sofas, due to its abundant resources and efficient functions. Despite being widely traded across the world, little research has been conducted on the VOCs released by leather materials and their health risk assessment in the indoor environment. Accordingly, this study investigated the VOC emissions of leather with different grades and the health risk of the inhalation exposure. Based on the ultra-fast gas phase electronic nose (EN) and GC-FID/Qtof, the substantial emissions of aliphatic aldehyde ketones (Aks), particularly hexanal, appear to be the cause of off-flavor in medium and low grade (MG and LG) sofa leathers. The health risk assessment indicated that leather materials barely pose non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic effects to residents. Given the abundance of VOC sources and the accumulation of health risks in the indoor environment, more stringent specifications concerning qualitative and quantitative content should be extended to provide VOC treatment basic for the manufacturing industry and obtain better indoor air quality.

Early warning of Aspergillus contamination in maize by gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry.

Introduction: As one of the main grain crops in China, maize is highly susceptible to Aspergillus infection during processing, storage and transportation due to high moisture at harvest, which results in the loss of quality. The aim of this study is to explore the early warning marker molecules when Aspergillus infects maize kernels. Methods: Firstly, strains MA and MB were isolated from moldy maize and identified by morphological characterization and 18S rRNA gene sequence analysis to be Aspergillus flavus (A. flavus) and Aspergillus niger (A. niger). Next, fresh maize was moldy by contaminated with strains MA and MB. The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during the contamination process of two fungal strains were analyzed by gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS). A total of 31 VOCs were detected in maize contaminated with strain MA, a total of 32 VOCs were detected in maize contaminated with strain MB, including confirmed monomers and dimers. Finally, heat maps and principal component analysis (PCA) showed that VOCs produced in different growth stages of Aspergillus had great differences. Combined with the results of GC-IMS, total fungal colony counts and fungal spores, it was concluded that the Aspergillus-contaminated maize was in the early stage of mold at 18 h. Results: Therefore, the characteristic VOCs butan-2-one, ethyl acetate-D, Benzaldehyde, and pentan-2-one produced by maize at 18 h of storage can be used as early mildew biomarkers of Aspergillus infection in maize. Discussion: This study provided effective marker molecules for the development of an early warning and monitoring system for the degree of maize mildew in granaries.

Health Risks of Asphalt Emission: State-of-the-Art Advances and Research Gaps.

Asphalt-related emissions pose significant health risks due to the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that affect both workers in construction and the general public. Even at low concentrations, certain VOCs are highly toxic, with some of their metabolic byproducts, such as epoxides, known to cause DNA damage, oxidative stress, and other genetic alterations. The health implications are particularly concerning given that these emissions are persistent, and exposure can occur over prolonged periods, especially in urban areas where asphalt is prevalent. However, despite growing awareness, there remain significant gaps in our understanding of the long-term effects of chronic, low-level exposure to asphalt VOCs. Research to date has largely focused on acute exposure effects, particularly in occupational settings, leaving much unknown about the broader impact on the general public, especially vulnerable groups like children and the elderly. Moreover, the complex interactions between asphalt-derived VOCs and other environmental pollutants are not well understood, further complicating our understanding of their cumulative health impact. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the current research landscape, starting with a discussion of the health risks associated with asphalt VOCs, supported by key findings from recent studies. It then explores the latest technological advancements in VOC detection, characterization, and monitoring, and identifies critical gaps in existing research.

Identifying effects of volatile organic compounds exposure on kidney stone prevalence in U.S. adults: a cross-sectional analysis of NHANES 2007-2020.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to comprehensively investigate the relationship between blood volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and kidney stone prevalence for U.S. adults. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 10,052 participants from the 2007-2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were included. Multivariate logistic regression model was employed to investigate the association between 9 blood VOCs and kidney stones. We explored the dose-response relationship between blood VOCs and kidney stones using restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis. Additionally, weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression model was performed to assess the overall association of 9 blood VOCs with kidney stones. Finally, subgroup analyses were conducted to identify the findings in different populations at high prevalence. RESULTS: Logistic regression analysis and dose-response risk curves revealed that blood benzene (aOR = 1.308, 95% CI: 1.118-1.530, P = 0.001), blood ethylbenzene (aOR = 1.280, 95% CI: 1.054-1.554, P = 0.013), blood m-/p-xylene (aOR = 1.187, 95% CI: 1.008-1.398, P = 0.040), blood 2,5-dimethylfuran (aOR = 1.319, 95% CI: 1.135-1.533, P < 0.001) and blood furan (aOR = 1.698, 95% CI: 1.305-2.209, P < 0.001) were positively associated with the prevalence of kidney stones. WQS regression analysis revealed that exposure to mixed blood VOCs was positively correlated with kidney stone prevalence (OR = 1.34, 95% CI: 1.14-1.57), with furans carrying the greatest weight. Subgroup analyses suggested that kidney stones were more susceptible to the effects of blood VOCs in young and middle-aged, female, overweight and obese, non-hypertensive, and non-diabetic populations. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the results indicated that high VOC exposure was positively and independently associated with kidney stones in U.S. adults. This finding highlighted the need for public health strategies to reduce VOC exposure and its role in kidney stone prevention and treatment.

Prealighting and Postalighting Volatile Organic Compounds Emitted by Rice Influence the Behavior of Scirpophaga incertulas.

Yellow stem borer (YSB), Scirpophaga incertulas, is a major rice pest causing significant yield losses worldwide. We investigated how volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released by the rice variety TN1, both before and after infestation, as well as by its companion weeds, Echinochloa colona and Echinochloa crus-galli, influence the behavior of YSB in host selection, recognition, and establishment. Olfactometry bioassays showed that uninfested TN1 plant VOCs attracted YSB more than those from YSB-infested rice plants and weeds. Changes in the VOC profile of TN1 during 24-48 h post-YSB infestation revealed that these postalighting compounds may deter YSB oviposition. Xylene, cymene, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro naphthalene, dodecanol, and tetradecanol could be possible YSB attractants based on metabolomics, olfactometry, and GC-EAD studies. This work illuminates rice plant-YSB chemical interactions and VOCs dynamic function in attraction and defense processes. These findings provide a foundation for developing VOC-based pest management strategies to mitigate yield losses in rice farming.

Cracking the plant VOC sensing code and its practical applications.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are essential airborne mediators of interactions between plants. These plant-plant interactions require sophisticated VOC-sensing mechanisms that enable plants to regulate their defenses against pests. However, these interactions are not limited to specific plants or even conspecifics, and can function in very flexible interactions between plants. Sensing and responding to VOCs in plants is finely controlled by their uptake and transport systems as well as by cellular signaling via, for example, chromatin remodeling system-based transcriptional regulation for defense gene activation. Based on the accumulated knowledge about the interactions between plants and their major VOCs, companion plants and biostimulants are being developed for practical applications in agricultural and horticultural pest control, providing a sustainable alternative to harmful chemicals.

Breath Analysis via Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) in Chronic Coronary Syndrome (CCS): A Proof-of-Concept Study.

Background: This proof-of-concept study aimed to assess the diagnostic potential of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in profiling volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from exhaled breath as a diagnostic tool for the chronic coronary syndrome (CCS). Methods: Exhaled air was collected from patients undergoing invasive coronary angiography (ICA), with all samples obtained prior to ICA. Post hoc, patients were divided into groups based on coronary lesion severity and indications for revascularization. VOCs in the breath samples were analyzed using GC-MS. Results: This study included 23 patients, of whom 11 did not require myocardial revascularization and 12 did. GC-MS analysis successfully classified 10 of the 11 patients without the need for revascularization (sensitivity of 91%), and 7 of the 12 patients required revascularization (specificity 58%). In subgroup analysis, GC-MS demonstrated 100% sensitivity in identifying patients with significant coronary lesions requiring intervention when the cohort was divided into three groups. A total of 36 VOCs, including acetone, ethanol, and phenol, were identified as distinguishing markers between patient groups. Conclusions: Patients with CCS exhibited a unique fingerprint of exhaled breath, which was detectable with GC-MS. These findings suggest that GC-MS analysis could be a reliable and non-invasive diagnostic tool for CCS. Further studies with larger cohorts are necessary to validate these results and explore the potential integration of VOC analysis into clinical practice.

Seasonal dynamics in leaf litter decomposing microbial communities in temperate forests: a whole-genome- sequencing-based study.

Leaf litter decomposition, a crucial component of the global carbon cycle, relies on the pivotal role played by microorganisms. However, despite their ecological importance, leaf-litter-decomposing microorganism taxonomic and functional diversity needs additional study. This study explores the taxonomic composition, dynamics, and functional role of microbial communities that decompose leaf litter of forest-forming tree species in two ecologically unique regions of Europe. Twenty-nine microbial metagenomes isolated from the leaf litter of eight forest-forming species of woody plants were investigated by Illumina technology using read- and assembly-based approaches of sequences analysis. The taxonomic structure of the microbial community varies depending on the stage of litter decomposition; however, the community's core is formed by Pseudomonas, Sphingomonas, Stenotrophomonas, and Pedobacter genera of Bacteria and by Aureobasidium, Penicillium, Venturia genera of Fungi. A comparative analysis of the taxonomic structure and composition of the microbial communities revealed that in both regions, seasonal changes in structure take place; however, there is no clear pattern in its dynamics. Functional gene analysis of MAGs revealed numerous metabolic profiles associated with leaf litter degradation. This highlights the diverse metabolic capabilities of microbial communities and their implications for ecosystem processes, including the production of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during organic matter decomposition. This study provides important advances in understanding of ecosystem processes and the carbon cycle, underscoring the need to unravel the intricacies of microbial communities within these contexts.

Cell-type specific localization and biological activity of the volatiles from the endemic species Chaerophyllum coloratum L.

MAIN CONCLUSION: New findings are presented for Chaerophyllum coloratum L. on the volatile composition of the essential oil, based on data of hydrosol and fresh plant material, light and electron microscopy of leaves, and cytotoxic and antiviral activity. The widespread Apiaceae family includes many well-known and economically important plants that are cultivated as food or spices. Many produce essential oils and are generally a source of secondary metabolites and compounds that have numerous applications in daily life. In this study, the chemical composition of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), ultrastructure and biological activity of the Mediterranean endemic species Cheaerophyllum coloratum L. are investigated, as literature data for this plant species are generally very scarce. The essential oil and hydrosol were extracted from the air-dried leaves by hydrodistillation and the chemical composition of both extracts was analysed by GC-MS in conjunction with headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) of VOCs from the hydrosol and the fresh plant material. In the composition of the essential oil, the oxygenated sesquiterpenes spathulenol and caryophyllene oxide were the most abundant components. In the fresh plant material, non-oxygenated sesquiterpenes dominated, with ß-caryophyllene and germacrene D being the main components. The hydrosol was dominated by monoterpenes, with the oxygenated monoterpene p-cymen-8-ol being the most abundant. Light and electron micrographs of the leaf of C. coloratum show secretory structures, and we hypothesize that glandular leaf trichomes, secretory epidermal cells and secretory canals are involved in the production of volatiles and their secretion on the leaf surface. Since the biological potential of C. coloratum is poorly investigated, we tested its cytotoxic activity on cancer and healthy cell lines and its antiviral activity on plants infected with tobacco mosiac virus (TMV). Our results dealing with the composition, ultrastructure and biological activity show that C. coloratum represent a hidden valuable plant species with a potential for future research.

Microbiota diversity of three Brazilian native fishes during ice and frozen storage.

This study aimed to assess the bacterial microbiota involved in the spoilage of pacu (Piaractus mesopotamics), patinga (female Piaractus mesopotamics x male Piaractus brachypomus), and tambacu (female Colossoma macropomum × male Piaractus mesopotamics) during ice and frozen storage. Changes in the microbiota of three fish species (N = 22) during storage were studied through 16S rRNA amplicon-based sequencing and correlated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and metabolites assessed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Storage conditions (time and temperature) affected the microbiota diversity in all fish samples. Fish microbiota comprised mainly of Pseudomonas sp., Brochothrix sp., Acinetobacter sp., Bacillus sp., Lactiplantibacillus sp., Kocuria sp., and Enterococcus sp. The relative abundance of Kocuria, P. fragi, L. plantarum, Enterococcus, and Acinetobacter was positively correlated with the metabolic pathways of ether lipid metabolism while B. thermosphacta and P. fragi were correlated with metabolic pathways involved in amino acid metabolism. P. fragi was the most prevalent spoilage bacteria in both storage conditions (ice and frozen), followed by B. thermosphacta. Moreover, the relative abundance of identified Bacillus strains in fish samples stored in ice was positively correlated with the production of VOCs (1-hexanol, nonanal, octenol, and 2-ethyl-1-hexanol) associated with off-flavors. 1H NMR analysis confirmed that amino acids, acetic acid, and ATP degradation products increase over (ice) storage, and therefore considered chemical spoilage index of fish fillets.

The effect of terroir on volatilome fingerprinting and qualitative attributes of non-irrigated grapes reveals differences on glycosylated aroma compounds.

BACKGROUND: 'Xynisteri' is considered as the reference white grape cultivar in Cyprus with remarkable adaptation to adverse edaphoclimatic conditions and appreciable oenological properties that renders it as an appropriate cultivar for studies within a global context due to climate change. To this aim, two distinct non-irrigated plots with different climatic conditions, soil properties and levels of rainfall were selected; Koilani [KO, altitude 800 m, 76% calcium carbonate (CaCO3) content, pH 7.97, average temperature: 16.5 °C, rainfall: 229 mm] and Kyperounda (KY, altitude 1200 m, CaCO3-free soil, pH 6.47, average temperature: 14.9 °C, rainfall: 658 mm). An array of physiological, biochemical and qualitative indices during successive developmental stages (BBCH 75-89) were determined. During the advanced on-vine developmental stages (BBCH 85-89), the aromatic profile of grapes was assessed with the employment of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Such analysis was complemented with non-destructive chemometric analyses. RESULTS: Berry ripening process substantially differed on the examined plots; BBCH 89 stage reached at 267 and 303 Julian days for KO and KY, respectively. Results indicated that berry weight, soluble solids content (SSC) and α-amino nitrogen were higher in KO than in KY, with exception made for ammonium nitrogen content. A total of 75 compounds, including aliphatic alcohols, benzenic compounds, phenols, vanillins, monoterpenes and C13-norisoprenoids were identified and quantified. The variations of mesoclimatic conditions affected the volatile organic compound (VOC) profiles at the fully-ripe stage, showing a considerable rise in glycosylated aroma compounds, especially monoterpenes and benzenic compounds. In particular, the higher amount of glycosylated aroma compounds were obtained in KY berries up to mid-ripe, whereas KO showed higher glycosylated aroma compounds at fully-ripe stage. Results reported herein indicate that aroma profile of 'Xynisteri' grapes varied substantially in the examined terroirs. Interestingly, the limited rainfall in KΟ non-irrigated vine did not compromise qualitative and aromatic properties of berries. CONCLUSIONS: The present study aimed at dissecting the impact of terroir on bush-trained, non-irrigated grapevines of a cultivar appropriate for extreme climate change scenarios. The volatilome fingerprint was highly variable among the examined plots; such results can be further exploited at vinification level towards production of single vineyard premium end products. © 2024 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

High-quality identification of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) originating from breath.

INTRODUCTION: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can arise from underlying metabolism and are detectable in exhaled breath, therefore offer a promising route to non-invasive diagnostics. Robust, precise, and repeatable breath measurement platforms able to identify VOCs in breath distinguishable from background contaminants are needed for the confident discovery of breath-based biomarkers. OBJECTIVES: To build a reliable breath collection and analysis method that can produce a comprehensive list of known VOCs in the breath of a heterogeneous human population. METHODS: The analysis cohort consisted of 90 pairs of breath and background samples collected from a heterogenous population. Owlstone Medical's Breath Biopsy® OMNI® platform, consisting of sample collection, TD-GC-MS analysis and feature extraction was utilized. VOCs were determined to be "on-breath" if they met at least one of three pre-defined metrics compared to paired background samples. On-breath VOCs were identified via comparison against purified chemical standards, using retention indexing and high-resolution accurate mass spectral matching. RESULTS: 1471 VOCs were present in > 80% of samples (breath and background), and 585 were on-breath by at least one metric. Of these, 148 have been identified covering a broad range of chemical classes. CONCLUSIONS: A robust breath collection and relative-quantitative analysis method has been developed, producing a list of 148 on-breath VOCs, identified using purified chemical standards in a heterogenous population. Providing confirmed VOC identities that are genuinely breath-borne will facilitate future biomarker discovery and subsequent biomarker validation in clinical studies. Additionally, this list of VOCs can be used to facilitate cross-study data comparisons for improved standardization.

Biocontrol activity and potential mechanism of Bacillus cereus G5 against Meloidogyne graminicola.

Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) are highly destructive pests that cause significant yield losses annually. Biological control of nematodes has emerged as a potential alternative in sustainable agriculture. In this study, we originally isolated Bacillus cereus G5 from the rhizosphere soil of rice (Oryza sativa). Treatment with the fermentation supernatant of G5 in vitro demonstrated high toxicity to second-stage juveniles (J2) of Meloidogyne graminicola and remarkably inhibited egg hatching. Moreover, G5 steadily colonized rhizosphere soil and rice seedlings, and exhibited excellent biocontrol efficacy against M. graminicola under greenhouse conditions. Notably, the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by G5 displayed high fumigant activity against M. graminicola. The G5 VOCs efficiently reduced the gall index and nematode population in rice roots, while also promoting rice growth in double-layered pot tests. Additionally, the expression of defense genes involved in the salicylic acid (OsNPR1, OsWRKY45, OsPAL1), jasmonic acid (OsJaMYB, OsAOS2) and ethylene (OsACS1) signalling pathways was significantly upregulated in rice seedlings treated with G5 VOCs. This suggests that G5 VOCs contribute to eliciting plant defense responses. Furthermore, we identified 14 major VOCs produced by G5 using solid-phase micro-extraction gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (SPEM-GC-MS). Notably, allomatrine, morantel, 1-octen-3-ol and 3-methyl-2-butanol displayed strong contact nematicidal activity. Among these, only 1-octen-3-ol demonstrated fumigant activity against J2s of M. graminicola, with an LC50 value of 758.95 mg/L at 24 h. Overall, these results indicated that the B. cereus G5 and its synthetic VOCs possess high potential as biocontrol agents for managing root-knot nematodes.

Environmental and economic impact analysis of levying VOCs environmental protection tax in China.

China is one of the largest volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitters worldwide. The emission levels of and harm caused by VOCs have attracted much attention. China has implemented multiple policies for VOCs prevention and control but lacks economic control measures for VOCs In this study, the input-output (IO) price model was used to simulate and analyze the emission reduction and economic effects resulting from the imposition of a VOCs environmental protection tax (EPT) in 31 provinces in China. The results show that, first, the collection of a VOCs-EPT can achieve not only VOCs emission reductions but also the synergistic emission reductions of other major pollutants. Second, the collection of a VOCs-EPT could have a negative impact on the macroeconomy, i.e., the greater the tax scope and the higher the tax rate are, the greater the negative economic impact. Third, differences in the level of economic development, the structure of pollution emissions and the stringency of tax policies among regions would cause the emission reduction effect and related negative economic impact to vary across regions. Finally, the collection of a VOCs-EPT could have heterogeneous impacts on various industries, as high-emission industries would suffer greater negative impacts. Therefore, each region should set tax rates that match its provincial economic and environmental development levels. Furthermore, a VOCs-EPT can be levied on key industries, and reasonable preferential tax policies can be formulated to reduce negative macroeconomic benefits.

Intercomparison of measured and modelled photochemical ozone production rates: Suggestion of chemistry hypothesis regarding unmeasured VOCs.

Ozone (O3) pollution is a severe environmental problem in China. The incomplete understanding of atmospheric photochemical reaction mechanisms prevents us from accurately understanding the chemistry of O3 production. Here, we used an improved dual-channel reaction chamber technique to measure net photochemical O3 production rate (P(O3)net) directly in Dongguan, a typical industrial city in China. The maximum P(O3)net was 46.3 ppbv h-1 during the observation period, which is at a relatively high level compared to previous observations under different environment worldwide. We employed an observation-based box model coupled with the state-of-the-art atmospheric chemical mechanism (MCM v3.3.1) to investigate the chemistry of O3 production. Under the base scenario, the modelling underestimates P(O3)net by ~30 %. Additionally considering HO2 uptake by ambient aerosols, inorganic deposition, and Cl chemistry only caused a small change (< 13 %) in the simulation of P(O3)net. Further analysis indicates that unmeasured reactive volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as oxygenated VOCs and branched alkenes are potential contributors to the underestimation of P(O3)net. This study underscores the underestimation of P(O3)net in conventional atmospheric modelling setups, providing a crucial scientific foundation for further investigation aimed at promoting our understanding of photochemical O3 formation.

Yolk-Shell Hierarchical Pore Au@MOF Nanostructures: Efficient Gas Capture and Enrichment for Advanced Breath Analysis.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) offers a promising, cost-effective alternative for the rapid, sensitive, and quantitative analysis of potential biomarkers in exhaled gases, which is crucial for early disease diagnosis. However, a major challenge in SERS is the effective detection of gaseous analytes, primarily due to difficulties in enriching and capturing them within the substrate's "hotspot" regions. This study introduces an advanced gas sensor combining mesoporous gold (MesoAu) and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), exhibiting high sensitivity and rapid detection capabilities. The MesoAu provides abundant active sites and interconnected mesopores, facilitating the diffusion of analytes for detection. A ZIF-8 shell enveloping MesoAu further enriches target molecules, significantly enhancing sensitivity. A proof-of-concept experiment demonstrated a detection limit of 0.32 ppb for gaseous benzaldehyde, indicating promising prospects for the rapid diagnosis of early stage lung cancer. This research also pioneers a novel approach for constructing hierarchical plasmonic nanostructures with immense potential in gas sensing.

Large-Scale Computational Screening-Aided Development of High-Performance Adsorbent for Simultaneous Capture of Aromatic Volatile Organic Compounds.

The development of an efficient adsorbent for the simultaneous capture of large amounts of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene isomers (BTEX) is an important and challenging issue. Here, through a stepwise screening of 10,142 metal-organic framework (MOF) structures from the computation-ready, experimental (CoRE) MOF database, 65 MOFs are proposed as promising adsorbent candidates for BTEX capture by considering the structures with accessible pore sizes for BTEX adsorption, sufficient hydrophobicity, high benzene selectivity (>0.2), and large total BTEX uptake (>3 mmol/g). Among the top-performing MOFs in terms of the BTEXmatrix (total BTEX uptake × benzene selectivity), EGUELUY01 was synthesized, and it exhibited large uptakes (≈5 mmol/g) for all BTEX components at concentrations of 1200-1500 ppm, which are superior to the BTEX uptake of the benchmark adsorbent, activated carbon. Moreover, some structure-property relationships required for BTEX adsorbents are provided through the obtained large-scale simulation data and machine learning analysis. The determined relationships will be useful for the future development of efficient BTEX adsorbents.

Divergence of Phyllosphere Microbial Community Assemblies and Components of Volatile Organic Compounds between the Invasive Sphagneticola trilobata, the Native Sphagneticola calendulacea and Their Hybrids, and Its Implications for Invasiveness.

Closely-related plant groups with distinct microbiomes, chemistries and ecological characteristics represent tractable models to explore mechanisms shaping species spread, competitive dynamics and community assembly at the interface of native and introduced ranges. We investigated phyllosphere microbial communities, volatile organic compound (VOC) compositions, and potential interactions among introduced S. trilobata, native S. calendulacea and their hybrid in South China. S. trilobata exhibited higher α diversity but significantly different community composition compared to the native and hybrid groups. However, S. calendulacea and the hybrid shared certain microbial taxa, suggesting potential gene flow or co-existence. The potent antimicrobial VOC profile of S. trilobata, including unique compounds like p-cymene (13.33%), likely contributes to its invasion success. The hybrid's intermediate microbial and VOC profiles suggest possible consequences for species distribution, genetic exchange, and community assembly in heterogeneous environments. This hybrid deserves further study as both an opportunity for and threat to diversity maintenance. These differentiating yet connected plant groups provide insight into ecological and evolutionary dynamics shaping microbiome structure, species co-occurrence and competitive outcomes during biological exchange and habitat transformation. An interdisciplinary approach combining chemical and microbial ecology may reveal mechanisms underlying community stability and change, informing management of species spread in a globalized world.

Tear Fluid as a Matrix for Biomonitoring Environmental and Chemical Exposures.

PURPOSE: Exposures to hazardous chemicals have been linked to many detrimental health effects and it is therefore critical to have effective biomonitoring methods to better evaluate key environmental exposures that increase the risk of chronic disease and death. Traditional biomonitoring utilizing blood and urine is limited due to the specialized skills and invasiveness of collecting these fluid samples. This systematic review focuses on tear fluid, which is largely under-researched, as a promising complementary matrix to the traditional fluids used for biomonitoring. The objective is to evaluate the practicability of using human tear fluid for biomonitoring environmental exposures, highlighting potential pitfalls and opportunities. RECENT FINDING: Tear fluid biomonitoring represents a promising method for assessing exposures because it can be collected with minimal invasiveness and tears contain exposure markers from both the external and internal environments. Tear fluid uniquely interfaces with the external environment at the air-tear interface, providing a surface for airborne chemicals to diffuse into the ocular environment and interact with biomolecules. Tear fluid also contains molecules from the internal environment that have travelled from the blood to tears by crossing the blood-tear barrier. This review demonstrates that tear fluid can be used to identify hazardous chemicals from the external environment and differentiate exposure groups.

Characteristics and Source Apportionment of Volatile Organic Compounds in a Coastal Industrial Area: A Case Study in the Yangtze River Delta of China.

In recent years, the coastal area in East China has experienced elevated volatile organic compounds (VOCs) levels during specific periods. VOCs have become one of the major atmospheric pollutants in these areas. In this study, 64 compounds including alkanes, alkenes, halohydrocarbons, aromatics, and oxygenated VOCs (OVOCs) were obtained by the TO-15 method through a 12-month campaign in industrial, urban and suburban areas in the Yangtze River Delta of China. The overall trends of total VOC (TVOC) concentrations at eight sampling sites were as follows: winter > autumn > spring > summer. The proportion of VOC categories was various at industrial sites, while OVOCs and halohydrocarbons had high proportions at urban sites and suburban sites, respectively. Coating, vehicle emission, petrochemical source, industrial source, and gasoline volatilization were identified as the major VOC emission sources by the positive matrix factorization model. Petrochemical and coating sources were the prime VOC sources at industrial sites. Aromatics contributed the most ozone formation potential at industrial sites, while OVOCs provided the main contributions at both urban and suburban sites during four seasons. According to the health risk assessment, a high probability of non-carcinogenic risk existed at three industrial sites. Special attention should be given to certain VOCs, such as acrolein and 1,2-dibromoethane in industrial areas.