The impact of endocrine-disrupting chemicals on stem cells: Mechanisms and implications for human health.

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are compounds, either natural or man-made, that interfere with the normal functioning of the endocrine system. There is increasing evidence that exposure to EDCs can have profound adverse effects on reproduction, metabolic disorders, neurological alterations, and increased risk of hormone-dependent cancer. Stem cells (SCs) are integral to these pathological processes, and it is therefore crucial to understand how EDCs may influence SC functionality. This review examines the literature on different types of EDCs and their effects on various types of SCs, including embryonic, adult, and cancer SCs. Possible molecular mechanisms through which EDCs may influence the phenotype of SCs are also evaluated. Finally, the possible implications of these effects on human health are discussed. The available literature demonstrates that EDCs can influence the biology of SCs in a variety of ways, including by altering hormonal pathways, DNA damage, epigenetic changes, reactive oxygen species production and alterations in the gene expression patterns. These disruptions may lead to a variety of cell fates and diseases later in adulthood including increased risk of endocrine disorders, obesity, infertility, reproductive abnormalities, and cancer. Therefore, the review emphasizes the importance of raising broader awareness regarding the intricate impact of EDCs on human health.

Pharmaceuticals in biota: The impact of wastewater treatment plant effluents on fish in Australia.

Globally, pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) are detected in surface waters receiving wastewater, yet their presence in biota, remain largely understudied. To address this, we conducted a study that measured 46 PPCPs in spot water samples and fish caught up- and downstream from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Victoria, Australia. We sampled 15 sites located along four waterways following a 3-site design: WWTP-discharge('hotspot'), 'upstream'(∼2 km) and 'downstream'(∼2 km). Spot water and fish were also sampled at reference sites >100 km from WWTP discharge (n = 3). Additionally, spot water samples were taken from WWTP effluent outflows (n = 3). From each locality, we analysed 3-12 fish (n = 131 total). In waterways, passive samplers (POCIS; ∼28d, n = 19 PPCPs) were also deployed. Individual fish (axial muscle) and water were analysed with LC-MS-MS. We found that PPCP concentrations in environmental surface water ranged from<0.02-0.97 µg/L. In WWTP effluent, the range was <0.02-1.4 µg/L. Of the 46 PPCPs analysed, 12 were detected in spot water samples and five in fish. In water, the highest concentration detected was for antidepressant venlafaxine (3 µg/L). The most frequently detected PPCPs: venlafaxine (54.9%), metoprolol (41.2%), propranolol (29.4%), carbamazepine (29.4%), caffeine (17.6%) and sulfamethoxazole (17.6%). Out of 131 fish analysed, 35 fish had detectable levels of PPCPs in the muscle tissue. The highest muscle concentrations were: venlafaxine (150 µg/kg, redfin perch), and sertraline (100 µg/kg, eel). Bioaccumulation factors ranged from 104 to 341L/kg for venlafaxine in redfins, 21-1,260L/kg for carbamazepine in redfins and eels, and 367-3,333L/kg for sertraline in eels. Based on our human health risk calculations for venlafaxine, carbamazepine, sertraline, triclosan, and caffeine, consumption of fish does not pose a significant risk to human health. Despite this, most of the detected PPCPs in surface waters exceeded 10 ng/L trigger value, which has led to further investigations by EPA. Our study highlights the need for using multiple lines of evidence for estimating risks of PPCPs.

Human skin absorption of three plasticizers: Diisononyl-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylate (DINCH), di(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate (DEHTP), and di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate (DEHA).

Alternative plasticizers such as diisononyl-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylate (DINCH), di(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate (DEHTP), and di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate (DEHA) are progressively replacing phthalates in many consumer and professional products because of adverse effects on reproduction associated with some phthalates. Human exposures to these phthalate substitutes can occur through ingestion, skin absorption and inhalation. Skin uptake can lead to greater concentration at the target organs compared to ingestion because the skin exposure route bypasses the first-pass effect. Skin absorption studies are almost absent for these alternative plasticizers. We therefore wanted first, to characterize skin absorption of a mixture containing DINCH, DEHA and DEHTP in vitro using a flow-through diffusion cell system with ex vivo human skin, quantifying their respective monoester metabolites (mono-isononyl-cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate (MINCH), mono-2-ethylhexyl adipate (MEHA), mono-2-ethylhexyl terephthalate (MEHTP), respectively); second, to validate these results by exposing five human volunteers to this mixture on their forearm and quantifying the corresponding urinary metabolites (including the monoesters and their oxidation products). Our study showed that two of these alternative plasticizers, DEHTP and DINCH, did not permeate skin showing as quantifiable metabolite levels in vitro and only traces of DEHA were quantified as its monoester metabolite, MEHA. Permeation coefficient (Kp) 0.06 and 55.8*10-7 cm/h for neat and emulsified DEHA, respectively, while the permeation rate (J) remained low for both (0.005 and 0.001 µg/cm2/h, respectively). Participants exposed to a mixture of these three plasticizers did not have noteworthy urinary concentrations of their respective metabolites after 24 hours post-application. However, the alternative plasticizer mixture was completely absorbed after six hours post-application on the forearms of the human volunteers, and the urinary elimination curves showed a slight increase after 24 hours post-application. Further studies on skin absorption of these substances should follow the urinary elimination kinetics of these metabolites more than 24 hours post-application. We also recommend quantifying the parent compounds in the in vitro diffusion experiments.

An Umbrella Review of Meta-Analyses Evaluating Associations between Human Health and Exposure to Major Classes of Plastic-Associated Chemicals.

Background: Epidemiological research investigating the impact of exposure to plastics, and plastic-associated chemicals, on human health is critical, especially given exponentially increasing plastic production. In parallel with increasing production, academic research has also increased exponentially both in terms of the primary literature and ensuing systematic reviews with meta-analysis. However, there are few overviews that capture a broad range of chemical classes to present a state of play regarding impacts on human health. Methods: We undertook an umbrella review to review the systematic reviews with meta-analyses. Given the complex composition of plastic and the large number of identified plastic-associated chemicals, it was not possible to capture all chemicals that may be present in, and migrate from, plastic materials. We therefore focussed on a defined set of key exposures related to plastics. These were microplastics, due to their ubiquity and potential for human exposure, and the polymers that form the matrix of consumer plastics. We also included plasticisers and flame retardants as the two classes of functional additive with the highest concentration ranges in plastic. In addition, we included bisphenols and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as two other major plastic-associated chemicals with significant known exposure through food contact materials. Epistemonikos and PubMed were searched for systematic reviews with meta-analyses, meta-analyses, and pooled analyses evaluating the association of plastic polymers, particles (microplastics) or any of the selected groups of high-volume plastic-associated chemicals above, measured directly in human biospecimens, with human health outcomes. Results: Fifty-two systematic reviews were included, with data contributing 759 meta-analyses. Most meta-analyses (78%) were from reviews of moderate methodological quality. Across all the publications retrieved, only a limited number of plastic-associated chemicals within each of the groups searched had been evaluated in relevant meta-analyses, and there were no meta-analyses evaluating polymers, nor microplastics. Synthesised estimates of the effects of plastic-associated chemical exposure were identified for the following health outcome categories in humans: birth, child and adult reproductive, endocrine, child neurodevelopment, nutritional, circulatory, respiratory, skin-related and cancers. Bisphenol A (BPA) is associated with decreased anoclitoral distance in infants, type 2 diabetes (T2D) in adults, insulin resistance in children and adults, polycystic ovary syndrome, obesity and hypertension in children and adults and cardiovascular disease (CVD); other bisphenols have not been evaluated. Phthalates, the only plasticisers identified, are associated with spontaneous pregnancy loss, decreased anogenital distance in boys, insulin resistance in children and adults, with additional associations between certain phthalates and decreased birth weight, T2D in adults, precocious puberty in girls, reduced sperm quality, endometriosis, adverse cognitive development and intelligence quotient (IQ) loss, adverse fine motor and psychomotor development and elevated blood pressure in children and asthma in children and adults. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) but not other flame retardants, and some PFAS were identified and are all associated with decreased birth weight. In general populations, PCBs are associated with T2D in adults and endometriosis, bronchitis in infants, CVD, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and breast cancer. In PCB-poisoned populations, exposure is associated with overall mortality, mortality from hepatic disease (men), CVD (men and women) and several cancers. PBDEs are adversely associated with children's cognitive development and IQ loss. PBDEs and certain PFAS are associated with changes in thyroid function. PFAS exposure is associated with increased body mass index (BMI) and overweight in children, attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) in girls and allergic rhinitis. Potential protective associations were found, namely abnormal pubertal timing in boys being less common with higher phthalate exposure, increased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) with exposure to mono(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP) and reduced incidence of chronic lymphocytic lymphoma (a subtype of NHL) with PCB exposure. Conclusions: Exposure to plastic-associated chemicals is associated with adverse outcomes across a wide range of human health domains, and every plastic-associated chemical group is associated with at least one adverse health outcome. Large gaps remain for many plastic-associated chemicals. Recommendations: For research, we recommend that efforts are harmonised globally to pool resources and extend beyond the chemicals included in this umbrella review. Priorities for primary research, with ensuing systematic reviews, could include micro- and nanoplastics as well as emerging plastic-associated chemicals of concern such as bisphenol analogues and replacement plasticisers and flame retardants. With respect to chemical regulation, we propose that safety for plastic-associated chemicals in humans cannot be assumed at market entry. We therefore recommend that improved independent, systematic hazard testing for all plastic-associated chemicals is undertaken before market release of products. In addition because of the limitations of laboratory-based testing for predicting harm from plastic in humans, independent and systematic post-market bio-monitoring and epidemiological studies are essential to detect potential unforeseen harms.

Associations of urinary biomarkers of phthalates, phenols, parabens, and organophosphate esters with glycemic traits in pregnancy: The Healthy Start Study.

BACKGROUND: Certain endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are widespread in consumer products and may alter glucose metabolism. However, the impact of EDC exposures on glucose and insulin regulation during pregnancy is incompletely understood, despite potential adverse consequences for maternal and infant health. We estimated associations between 37 urinary biomarkers of EDCs and glucose-insulin traits among pregnant women. METHODS: Seventeen phthalate or phthalate substitute metabolites, six environmental phenols, four parabens, and ten organophosphate ester metabolites were quantified in mid-pregnancy urine from 298 participants in the Healthy Start Study. Fasting blood glucose, insulin, and hemoglobin A1c were assessed concurrently, and Homeostasis Model Assessment 2-Insulin Resistance (HOMA2-IR) was calculated. Gestational diabetes diagnoses and screening results were obtained from medical records for a subset of participants. We estimated associations between each EDC and outcome separately using linear and robust Poisson regression models and analyzed EDC mixture effects. RESULTS: The EDC mixture was positively associated with glucose, insulin, and HOMA2-IR, although overall associations were attenuated after adjustment for maternal BMI. Two mixture approaches identified di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) metabolites as top contributors to the mixture's positive associations. In single-pollutant models, DEHP metabolites were positively associated with fasting glucose, fasting insulin, and HOMA2-IR even after adjustment for maternal BMI. For example, each interquartile range increase in log2-transformed mono(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate was associated with 2.4 mg/dL (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.1, 3.6) higher fasting glucose, 11.8% (95%CI: 3.6, 20.5) higher fasting insulin, and 12.3% (95%CI: 4.2, 21.1) higher HOMA2-IR. Few EDCs were associated with hemoglobin A1c or with a combined outcome of impaired glucose tolerance or gestational diabetes. DISCUSSION: Exposures to phthalates and particularly DEHP during pregnancy are associated with altered glucose-insulin regulation. Disruptions in maternal glucose metabolism during pregnancy may contribute to adverse pregnancy outcomes including gestational diabetes and fetal macrosomia, and associated long-term consequences for maternal and child health.

The bench to community initiative: community-based participatory research model for translating research discoveries into community solutions.

Community-based participatory research (CBPR) is an effective methodology for translating research findings from academia to community interventions. The Bench to Community Initiative (BCI), a CBPR program, builds on prior research to engage stakeholders across multiple disciplines with the goal of disseminating interventions to reduce breast cancer disparities and improve quality of life of Black communities. Methods: The BCI program was established to understand sociocultural determinants of personal care product use, evaluate the biological impact of endocrine disrupting chemicals, and develop community interventions. The three pillars of the program include research, outreach and engagement as well as advocacy activities. The research pillar of the BCI includes development of multidisciplinary partnerships to understand the sociocultural and biological determinants of harmful chemical (e.g., endocrine disrupting chemicals) exposures from personal care products and to implement community interventions. The outreach and engagement pillar includes education and translation of research into behavioral practice. The research conducted through the initiative provides the foundation for advocacy engagement with applicable community-based organizations. Essential to the mission of the BCI is the participation of community members and trainees from underrepresented backgrounds who are affected by breast cancer disparities. Results: Two behavioral interventions will be developed building on prior research on environmental exposures with the focus on personal care products including findings from the BCI. In person and virtual education activities include tabling at community events with do-it-yourself product demonstrations, Salon Conversations-a virtual platform used to bring awareness, education, and pilot behavior change interventions, biennial symposiums, and social media engagement. BCI's community advisory board members support activities across the three pillars, while trainees participate in personal and professional activities that enhance their skills in research translation. Discussion: This paper highlights the three pillars of the BCI, lessons learned, testimonies from community advisory board members and trainees on the impact of the initiative, as well as BCI's mission driven approaches to achieving health equity.

Inhalation Toxicity Screening of Consumer Products Chemicals using OECD Test Guideline Data-based Machine Learning Models.

This study aimed to screen the inhalation toxicity of chemicals found in consumer products such as air fresheners, fragrances, and anti-fogging agents submitted to K-REACH using machine learning models. We manually curated inhalation toxicity data based on OECD test guideline 403 (Acute inhalation), 412 (Sub-acute inhalation), and 413 (Sub-chronic inhalation) for 1709 chemicals from the OECD eChemPortal database. Machine learning models were trained using ten algorithms, along with four molecular fingerprints (MACCS, Morgan, Topo, RDKit) and molecular descriptors, achieving F1 scores ranging from 51 % to 91 % in test dataset. Leveraging the high-performing models, we conducted a virtual screening of chemicals, initially applying them to data-rich chemicals generally used in occupational settings to determine the prediction uncertainty. Results showed high sensitivity (75 %) but low specificity (23 %), suggesting that our models can contribute to conservative screening of chemicals. Subsequently, we applied the models to consumer product chemicals, identifying 79 as of high concern. Most of the prioritized chemicals lacked GHS classifications related to inhalation toxicity, even though they were predicted to be used in many consumer products. This study highlights a potential regulatory blind spot concerning the inhalation risk of consumer product chemicals while also indicating the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) models to aid in prioritizing chemicals at the screening level.

Pesticide-induced transgenerational alterations of genome-wide DNA methylation patterns in the pancreas of Xenopus tropicalis correlate with metabolic phenotypes.

The unsustainable use of manmade chemicals poses significant threats to biodiversity and human health. Emerging evidence highlights the potential of certain chemicals to cause transgenerational impacts on metabolic health. Here, we investigate male transmitted epigenetic transgenerational effects of the anti-androgenic herbicide linuron in the pancreas of Xenopus tropicalis frogs, and their association with metabolic phenotypes. Reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS) was used to assess genome-wide DNA methylation patterns in the pancreas of adult male F2 generation ancestrally exposed to environmentally relevant linuron levels (44 ± 4.7 µg/L). We identified 1117 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) distributed across the X. tropicalis genome, revealing potential regulatory mechanisms underlying metabolic disturbances. DMRs were identified in genes crucial for pancreatic function, including calcium signalling (clstn2, cacna1d and cadps2), genes associated with type 2 diabetes (tcf7l2 and adcy5) and a biomarker for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (plec). Correlation analysis revealed associations between DNA methylation levels in these genes and metabolic phenotypes, indicating epigenetic regulation of glucose metabolism. Moreover, differential methylation in genes related to histone modifications suggests alterations in the epigenetic machinery. These findings underscore the long-term consequences of environmental contamination on pancreatic function and raise concerns about the health risks associated with transgenerational effects of pesticides.

High value-added chemical production through anaerobic codigestion of corn straw with a microbial consortium, cow manure and cow digestion solution.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the codigestion of corn straw (CS) with cow manure (CM), cow digestion solution (CD), and a strain consortium (SC) for enhanced volatile fatty acid (VFA) production. The aims of this study were to develop a sustainable technique to increase VFA yields, examine how combining microbial reagents with CS affects VFA production by functional microorganisms, and assess the feasibility of improving microbial diversity through codigestion. METHODS: Batch experiments evaluated VFA production dynamics and microbial community changes with different combinations of CS substrates with CM, CD, and SC. Analytical methods included measuring VFAs by GC, ammonia and COD by standard methods and microbial community analysis by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. RESULTS: Codigesting CS with the microbial consortium yielded initial volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations ranging from 0.6-1.0 g/L, which were greater than those of the other combinations (0.05-0.3 g/L). Including CM and CD further increased VFA production to 1.0-2.0 g/L, with the highest value of 2.0 g/L occurring when all four substrates were codigested. Significant ammonium reduction (194-241 mg/L to 29-37 mg/L) and COD reduction (3310-5250 mg/L to 730-1210 mg/L) were observed. Codigestion with CM and CD had greater Shannon diversity indices (3.19-3.24) than did codigestion with the other consortia (2.26). Firmicutes dominated (96.5-99.6%), with Clostridiales playing key roles in organic matter breakdown. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated the feasibility of improving VFA yields and harnessing microbial diversity through anaerobic codigestion of lignocellulosic and animal waste streams. Codigestion substantially enhanced VFA production, which was dominated by butyrate, reduced ammonium and COD, and enriched fiber-degrading and fermentative bacteria. These findings can help optimize codigestion for sustainable waste management and high-value chemical production.

Cytotoxicity by endocrine disruptors through effects on ER Ca2+ transporters, aberrations in Ca2+ signalling pathways and ER stress.

Concerns regarding man-made organic chemicals pervading our ecosystem and having adverse and detrimental effects upon organisms, including man, have now been studied for several decades. Since the 1970s, some environmental pollutants were identified as having endocrine disrupting affects. These endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC) were initially shown to have estrogenic or anti-estrogenic properties and some were also shown to bind to a variety of hormone receptors. However, since the 1990s it has also been identified that many of these EDC additionally, have the ability of causing abnormal alterations in Ca2+ signalling pathways (also commonly involved in hormone signalling), leading to exaggerated elevations in cytosolic [Ca2+] levels, that is known to cause activation of a number of cell death pathways. The major emphasis of this review is to present a personal perspective of the evidence for some types of EDC, specifically alkylphenols and brominated flame retardants (BFRs), causing direct effects on Ca2+ transporters (mainly the SERCA Ca2+ ATPases), culminating in acute cytotoxicity and cell death. Evidence is also presented to indicate that this Ca2+ATPase inhibition, which leads to abnormally elevated cytosolic [Ca2+], as well as a decreased luminal ER [Ca2+], which triggers the ER stress response, are both involved in acute cytotoxicity.

The effect of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in follicular fluid: The insights from oocyte to fertilization.

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) exhibited the detriment in female reproductive health. Our objective was to investigate the individual and mixture effects of EDCs present in follicular fluid, the environment in which oocytes grow and develop, on early reproductive outcomes. We recruited 188 women seeking reproduction examination from the Study of Exposure and Reproductive Health (SEARCH) cohort between December 2020 and November 2021. We assessed the concentrations of 7 categories of 64 EDCs in follicular fluid, and measured early reproductive outcomes, including retrieved oocytes, mature oocytes, normal fertilized oocytes, and high-quality embryos. In this study Monomethyl phthalate (MMP) (2.17 ng/ml) were the compounds found in the highest median concentrations in follicular fluid. After adjusting for multiple testing, multivariate regression showed that multiple EDCs were significantly negatively associated with early assisted reproduction outcomes. For example, MMP showed a significant negative correlation with the number of high quality embryos (ß: -0.1, 95 % CI: -0.15, -0.04). Specifically, eight types of EDCs were significantly negatively associated with four early assisted reproductive outcomes (ß range: -0.2 âˆ¼ -0.03). In the mixed exposure model, we found that mixtures of EDC were significantly negatively correlated with all four outcomes. In the quantile g-computation (QGCOMP) model, for each interquartile range increase in the concentration of EDC mixtures, the number of oocytes retrieved, mature oocytes, normally fertilized oocytes, and high-quality embryos decreased by 0.46, 0.52, 0.77, and 1.2, respectively. Moreover, we identified that phthalates (PAEs) predominantly contributed to the negative effects. Future research should validate our findings.

Trend of soil salinization in Africa and implications for agro-chemical use in semi-arid croplands.

Soil salinization is a gradual degradation process that begins as a minor problem and grows to become a significant economic loss if no control action is taken. It progressively alters the soil environment which eventually negatively affects plants and organism that were not originally adapted for saline conditions. Soil salinization arises from diverse sources such as side-effects of long-term use of agro-chemicals, saline parent rocks, periodic inundation of soil with saline water, etc. In Africa, soil salinization has not been adequately documented particularly in the croplands. The objective of this study was to identify trends of cropland salinization in Africa and how its relationship with long-term land use practices affected the soil environment. The study analysed soil salinization between 1965 and 2020 using measured electrical conductivity (EC), spatial modelling with environmental covariates, and national statistics on cropland expansion and application of mineral fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides. The results showed increasing trends of EC in Africa due to climatic and land use drivers. Increasing trends of EC, which evidenced salinization, was found in 31 million hectares of topsoils and 18 million hectares of subsoils. About 2 million hectares of croplands were depicted with salinization and >25 million hectares at the risk of salinization in the arid and semi-arid areas. The study also found statistical relationships between semi-arid cropland salinization and trends of agro-chemical use and cropland sizes. There were significant (p < 0.001) positive correlations between semi-arid cropland salinization and trends of cropland expansion and applied nitrogenous fertilizers. It found that increasing trend of applied mineral nitrogenous fertilizers could double the odds of salinization in semi-arid croplands while cropland expansion could increase the odds of semi-arid cropland salinization by >10 %. These findings present ground-breaking baseline information for future works on sustainable land-use practices that can control cropland soil salinization in Africa.

Precipitation contributes to alleviating pollution of rubber-derived chemicals in receiving watersheds: Combining confluent stormwater runoff from different functional areas.

The release of rubber-derived chemicals (RDCs) in road surface runoff has received significant attention. Urban surface runoff is often the confluence of stormwater runoff from specific areas. However, the impact of precipitation on RDCs contamination in confluent stormwater runoff and receiving watersheds remains poorly understood. Herein, we investigated the profiles of RDCs and their transformation products in confluent stormwater runoff and receiving rivers affected by precipitation events. The results showed that 34 RDCs are ubiquitously present in confluent stormwater runoff and surface water, with mean concentrations of 1.03-2749 and 0.28-436 ng/L, respectively. The most dominant target compounds in each category were N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (6PPD), 6PPD-quinone, 2-benzothiazolol, and 1,3-diphenylguanidine. Total RDCs concentrations in confluent stormwater runoff decreased spatially from industrial areas to business districts to college towns. A significant decrease in RDCs levels in surface water after rainfall was observed (P < 0.01), indicating that precipitation contributes to alleviating RDCs pollution in receiving watersheds. To our knowledge, this is the first report of N,N'-ditolyl-p-phenylenediamine quinone (DTPD-Q) levels in surface waters in China. The annual mass load of ∑RDCs reached 72,818 kg/y in confluent stormwater runoff, while 38,799 kg/y in surface water. The monitoring of confluent stormwater runoff is an efficient measure for predicting contamination loads from RDCs in rivers. Risk assessment suggested that most RDCs posed at least medium risks to aquatic organisms, especially 6PPD-quinone. The findings help to understand the environmental fate and risks of RDCs in the confluent stormwater runoff and receiving environments after precipitation events.

A data-driven approach to identifying PFAS water sampling priorities in Colorado, United States.

BACKGROUND: Per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a class of environmentally and biologically persistent chemicals, have been used across many industries since the middle of the 20th century. Some PFAS have been linked to adverse health effects. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to incorporate known and potential PFAS sources, physical characteristics of the environment, and existing PFAS water sampling results into a PFAS risk prediction map that may be used to develop a PFAS water sampling prioritization plan for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). METHODS: We used random forest classification to develop a predictive surface of potential groundwater contamination from two PFAS, perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA). The model predicted PFAS risk at locations without sampling data into one of three risk categories after being "trained" with existing PFAS water sampling data. We used prediction results, variable importance ranking, and population characteristics to develop recommendations for sampling prioritization. RESULTS: Sensitivity and precision ranged from 58% to 90% in the final models, depending on the risk category. The model and prioritization approach identified private wells in specific census blocks, as well as schools, mobile home parks, and public water systems that rely on groundwater as priority sampling locations. We also identified data gaps including areas of the state with limited sampling and potential source types that need further investigation. IMPACT STATEMENT: This work uses random forest classification to predict the risk of groundwater contamination from two per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) across the state of Colorado, United States. We developed the prediction model using data on known and potential PFAS sources and physical characteristics of the environment, and "trained" the model using existing PFAS water sampling results. This data-driven approach identifies opportunities for PFAS water sampling prioritization as well as information gaps that, if filled, could improve model predictions. This work provides decision-makers information to effectively use limited resources towards protection of populations most susceptible to the impacts of PFAS exposure.

Exploring industrial lignocellulosic waste: Sources, types, and potential as high-value molecules.

Lignocellulosic biomass has a promising role in a circular bioeconomy and may be used to produce valuable molecules for green chemistry. Lignocellulosic biomass, such as food waste, agricultural waste, wood, paper or cardboard, corresponded to 15.7% of all waste produced in Europe in 2020, and has a high potential as a secondary raw material for industrial processes. This review first presents industrial lignocellulosic waste sources, in terms of their composition, quantities and types of lignocellulosic residues. Secondly, the possible high added-value chemicals obtained from transformation of lignocellulosic waste are detailed, as well as their potential for applications in the food industry, biomedical, energy or chemistry sectors, including as sources of polyphenols, enzymes, bioplastic precursors or biofuels. In a third part, various available transformation treatments, such as physical treatments with ultrasound or heat, chemical treatments with acids or bases, and biological treatments with enzymes or microorganisms, are presented. The last part discusses the perspectives of the use of lignocellulosic waste and the fact that decreasing the cost of transformation is one of the major issues for improving the use of lignocellulosic biomass in a circular economy and green chemistry approach, since it is currently often more expensive than petroleum-based counterparts.

Identifying long-term health risks associated with environmental chemical incidents.

In recent years, there has been a notable surge in environmental incidents, including wildfires and chemical releases. Responses to such events have primarily focused on addressing acute and immediate impacts. However, potential long-term health risks have been overlooked. Our proposed framework first advocates for the holistic identification of contaminants, prioritizing persistent organic contaminants determined through both knowledge-based and non-targeted and targeted analysis. We suggest integrating environmental monitoring and modeling approaches to assess the extent and composition of contamination caused by these chemicals. To facilitate swift assessments, we advocate the development of streamlined chemical analysis techniques and dedicated technologies for in situ monitoring of persistent organic chemicals. In addition, we provide an overview of both traditional and state-of-the-art approaches to risk assessment and introduce a three-tier risk assessment framework for evaluating the long-term health risks associated with environmental incidents. We emphasize the importance of in situ soil remediation and coordinated recovery efforts, including effective communication, evacuation, and cleaning plans for affected spaces, which are pivotal for facilitating recovery from environmental incidents. This comprehensive approach fortifies preparedness and recovery strategies, providing a robust framework for managing future environmental crises.

Differences in impact on disease or lung injury depending on the physicochemical characteristics of harmful chemicals in the PAH model.

The number of individuals with underlying medical conditions has been increasing steadily. These individuals are relatively vulnerable to harmful external factors. But it has not been proven that the effects of hazardous chemicals may differ depending on their physicochemical properties. This study determines the toxic effects of two chemicals with high indoor exposure risk and different physicochemical properties on an underlying disease model. A pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) model was constructed by a single subcutaneous injection of monocrotaline (MCT; 60 mg/kg) into Sprague-Dawley rats. After three weeks, formaldehyde (FA; 2.5 mg/kg) and polyhexamethylene guanidine (PHMG; 0.05 mg/kg) were administered once via intratracheal instillation, and rats were necropsied one week later. Exposure to FA and PHMG affected organ weight and the Fulton and toxicity indices in rats induced with PAH. FA promoted bronchial injury and aggravated PAH, while PHMG only induced alveolar injury. Additionally, the differentially expressed genes were altered following exposure to FA and PHMG, as were the associated diseases (cardiovascular disease and pulmonary fibrosis, respectively). In conclusion, inhaled chemicals with different physicochemical properties can cause damage to organs, such as the lungs and heart, and can aggravate underlying diseases. This study elucidates indoor inhaled exposure-induced toxicities and alerts patients with pre-existing diseases to the harmful chemicals.

ExpoNano: A Strategy Based on Hyper-Cross-Linked Polymers Achieves Urinary Exposome Assessment for Biomonitoring.

Urinary analysis of exogenous and endogenous molecules constitutes an efficient, noninvasive approach to evaluate human health status. However, the exposome characterization of urinary molecules remains extremely challenging with current techniques. Herein, we develop an ExpoNano strategy based on hyper-cross-linked polymers (HCPs) to achieve ultrahigh-throughput measurement of exo/endogenous molecules in urine. The strategy includes a simple trapping-detrapping procedure (15 min) with HCPs in enzymatically treated urine, followed by mass spectrometer determination. Molecules that can be determined by ExpoNano have a wide range of molecular weight (75-837 Da) and Log Kow (octanol-water partition coefficient; -9.86 to 10.56). The HCPs can be repeatedly used five times without decreasing the trapping efficiency. Application of ExpoNano in a biomonitoring study revealed a total of 63 environmental chemicals detected in >50% of the urine pools collected from Chinese adults living in 13 cities, with a median concentration of 0.026-47 ng/mL, while nontargeted analysis detected an additional 243 exogenous molecules. Targeted and nontargeted analysis also detected 926 endogenous molecules in pooled urine. Collectively, the ExpoNano strategy demonstrates unique advantages over traditional urine analysis approaches, including a wide range of analytes, satisfactory trapping efficiency, high simplicity and reusability, and extremely reduced time demand and financial cost.

Distribution, trophic magnification and risk of trace metals and perfluoroalkyl acids in marine organisms from Haizhou Bay.

Haizhou Bay, a semi-enclosed key aquaculture area in East China, has had relatively limited research focused on trace metals and perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in its biota. This study characterized the distribution, biomagnification and health risks of selected trace metals and PFAAs in various marine organisms from Haizhou Bay. Among the species examined, zinc (Zn) was the most prevalent metal, followed by copper (Cu) and chromium (Cr), whereas cadmium (Cd), total mercury (THg), and methylmercury (MeHg) contents were relatively low. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) was the most abundant PFAA, followed by perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). The calculated trophic magnification factors (TMFs) were above one for Cr, THg, MeHg, and all PFAAs except perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) and perfluorotetradecanoic acid (PFTeDA). Across animal groups, gastropods exhibited relatively low levels of THg, MeHg, and perfluorosulfonic acids (∑PFSAs). By comparison, fish generally had lower levels of Cd and Cu compared to other animal groups, and demersal fish had significantly higher MeHg compared to gastropods. Certain organisms, such as cephalopods and shrimps, were found to pose potential health risks due to elevated levels of Cd, while levels of other studied metals, PFOS and PFOA generally appeared to be within safe limits for human consumption. Further research is needed to assess the sources and impacts of these and other contaminants.

Ancestral lineages of dietary exposure to an endocrine disrupting chemical drive distinct forms of transgenerational subfertility in an insect model.

Across the globe, many species of insects are facing population decline. This is largely driven by anthropogenic changes to the environment, including the widespread exposure of invertebrates to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), which impair fertility. To test whether generations of Drosophila melanogaster born from parents exposed to a common dietary EDC, equol, could recover reproductive function, we quantified the reproductive capacity of the two subsequent generations. Using a novel suite of flow cytometry assays to assess sperm functionality in real time, we find that sperm function is compromised across three generations, even after non-exposed in individuals contribute to the breeding population. Though the sex ratio alters in response to EDC exposure, favouring the survival of female offspring, most lineages with ancestral EDC exposure exhibit persistent subfertility in both the male and female. Male offspring with ancestral EDC exposure present with reduced fertility and dysfunctional spermatozoa, whereby spermatozoa are metabolically stressed, lack DNA integrity and present with permanent epigenetic alterations. Across generations, male and female offspring demonstrate distinct patterns of reproductive characteristics, depending upon the specific lineage of EDC exposure. Our results illustrate how dietary EDCs present in agricultural plants could promote transgenerational subfertility and contribute to declining insect populations.