Evaluation of hepatotoxicity induced by 2-ethylhexyldiphenyl phosphate based on transcriptomics and its potential metabolism pathway in human hepatocytes.

Increasing use of organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs) has aroused great concern to their uncertain environment risk, especially to human health risk. In our study, hepatotoxicity screening of six aryl-OPFRs, potential hepatotoxicity mechanism of 2-ethylhexyldiphenyl phosphate (EHDPP) using RNA-sequencing and its metabolites were investigated in human hepatocytes (L02). The toxicity results demonstrated that EHDPP should be prioritized for further research with the highest toxicity. Further RNA-seq results through GO and KEGG enrichment analysis indicated that exposure to 10 mg/L of EHDPP significantly affected energy homeostasis, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, apoptosis, cell cycle, and inflammation response in cells. The top 12 hub genes were validated by RT-qPCR and conformed to be mainly related to glycolysis and ER stress, followed by cell cycle and inflammation response. Western blot, apoptosis detection, glycolysis stress test, and cell cycle analysis were further performed to verify the above main pathways. Additionally, it was found in the metabolism experiment that detoxification of EHDPP by phase I and phase II metabolism in cells wasn't significant until 48 h with a metabolic rate of 6.12%. EHDPP was stable and still dominated the induction of toxicity. Overall, this study provided valuable information regarding the toxicity and potential metabolism pathway of EHDPP.

Ultrathin S-doped graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets for enhanced sulpiride degradation via visible-light-assisted peroxydisulfate activation: Performance and mechanism.

The wide use and distribution of sulpiride (SP) has caused potential threats to the water environment and human health. In this study, ultrathin S-doped graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets (US-CN) was successfully synthesized and characterized, and its SP removal efficiency was evaluated under various conditions via the visible-light-assisted peroxydisulfate (PDS) activation method. The degradation pathways and mechanism were also discussed through quenching experiments, density functional theory (DFT) calculations, and intermediate products detection. After sulfur doping and ultrasonic treatment, graphitic carbon nitride (CN) possessed an ultra-thin and porous structure, which facilitated the electronic distribution and more photocurrent, thus resulting in the excellent stability and removal efficiency for SP via PDS activation upon visible light irradiation. The singlet oxygen (1O2) generated by the US-CN/PDS/VL system played a significant role in SP degradation. Based on the bonds of electron-rich atoms fracturing and the SO2 extrusion, the SP degradation pathway was proposed. This work provides a useful information for the SP photocatalytic degradation via PDS activation.

Advanced treatment of landfill leachate membrane concentrates: performance comparison, biosafety and toxic residue analysis.

With the improvement of people's consciousness about health, more attention has been paid to the biosafety of effluent reaching conventional discharge standard. In this contribution, removal efficiency of chemical oxygen demand (COD), acute toxicity, genotoxicity and estrogenicity in landfill leachate membrane concentrates (MCs) among UV-Fenton, Fenton and activated carbon adsorption process were compared. Daphnia magna acute toxicity assay, comet assay, cytokinesis-block micronucleus and E-screen assay were performed to assess whether the effluent reaching the main parameters of Chinese Discharge Standard (GB 16889-2008) still had toxic residues. Under the conditions that COD of effluents treated by the three processes were up to the discharge standard, no obvious toxic residue was found in the effluent of UV-Fenton treatment, but effluent from Fenton or activated carbon adsorption process showed genotoxicity or estrogenicity to some extent. Dynamic analysis of UV-Fenton degradation process for estrogen simulation solutions was also conducted, and the formation of intermediates was detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Toxic residues might be caused by the lack of treatment duration and the formation of more toxic intermediates. UV-Fenton was found to be efficient for the treatment of MCs. Biosafety should be concerned when a new wastewater discharge standard is being established.