An industrial warehouse illegally storing a large quantity of unknown chemical and industrial waste ignited in an urban area in Melbourne, Australia. The multiday fire required firefighters to use large amounts of fluorine-free foam that carried contaminated firewater runoff into an adjacent freshwater creek. In this study, the occurrence and fate of 42 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) was determined from triplicate surface water samples (n = 45) from five locations (upstream, point-source, downstream; 8 km) over three sampling campaigns from 2018 to 2020. Out of the 42 target PFASs, perfluorocarboxylates (PFCAs: C4–C14), perfluoroalkane sulfonates (PFSAs: C4–C10), and perfluoroalkyl acid precursors (e.g. 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate (6:2 FTSA)) were ubiquitously detected in surface waters (concentration ranges: <0.7–3000 ng/L). A significant difference in ΣPFAS concentration was observed at the point-source (mean 5500 ng/L; 95% CI: 4800, 6300) relative to upstream sites (mean 100 ng/L; 95% CI: 90, 110; p ≤ 0.001). The point-source ΣPFAS concentration decreased from 5500 ± 1200 ng/L to 960 ± 42 ng/L (−83%) after two months and to 430 ± 15 ng/L (−98%) two years later. 6:2 FTSA and perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) dominated in surface water, representing on average 31% and 20% of the ΣPFAS, respectively. Emerging PFASs including a cyclic perfluoroalkanesulfonate (PFECHS) and a C4 perfluoroalkane sulfonamide (FBSA) were repeatedly present in surface water (concentration ranges <0.3–77 ng/L). According to the updated Australian PFAS guidelines for ecological conservation, the water samples collected at the time of monitoring may have posed a short-term risk to aquatic organisms in regard to PFOS levels. These results illustrate that acute high dose exposure to PFASs can result from industrial fires at sites storing or stockpiling PFAS-based waste products. Continued monitoring will be crucial to evaluate potential long-term risk to wildlife in the region.

The neonicotinoid insecticide acetamiprid is widely applied for pest control in agriculture production, and its exposure often results in adverse effects on a non-target insect, Bombyx mori. However, only few studies have investigated the effects of exposure to sublethal doses of neonicotinoid insecticides on gut microbiota and susceptibility to pathogenic bacteria. In this study, we aimed to explore the possible mechanisms underlying the acetamiprid-induced compositional changes in gut microbiota of silkworm and reduced host resistance against detrimental microbes. This study indicated that sublethal dose of acetamiprid activated the dual oxidase-reactive oxygen species (Duox-ROS) system and induced ROS accumulation, leading to dysregulation of intestinal immune signaling pathways. The evenness and structure of bacterial community were altered. Moreover, after 96 h of exposure to sublethal dose of acetamiprid, several bacteria, such as Pseudomonas sp (Biotype A, DOP-1a, XW34) and Staphylococcus sp (RCB1054, RCB314, X302), invaded the silkworm hemolymph. The survival rate and bodyweight of the acetamiprid treated silkworm larvae inoculated with Enterobacter cloacae (E. cloacae) were significantly lower than the acetamiprid treatment group, suggesting that acetamiprid reduced silkworm resistance against pathogens. These findings indicated that acetamiprid disturbed gut microbial homeostasis of Bombyx mori, resulting in changes in gut microbial community and susceptibility to detrimental microbes.

Air pollution represents one of the major concerns worldwide, fueled by the increasing urbanization and related PM production worsening air quality in open air as well as in confined environments. In the present work, exposure to atmospheric metal pollution was investigated in 20 paired indoor (I)-outdoor (O) sites located in two urban areas of Italy and Belgium, by chemical (ICP-MS) and magnetic (saturation isothermal remanent magnetization, SIRM) analyses of Hypnum cupressiforme moss exposed in bags. After 12 weeks, the elemental profiles of the moss material exposed in the two countries largely overlapped, except for some elements which specifically accumulated in Belgium (Ag, As, Cd, Mo, Pb and Sb) and in Italy (Ca, Mg, Co, Cr, Sr, Ti and U). Element concentrations were higher in moss exposed outdoors, with the Italian sites mostly showing a terrigenous footprint, and the Belgian sites mostly affected by elements of environmental concern (e.g., As, Pb, Sb). The Indoor/Outdoor ratios (mostly lower than 0.75) indicated indoor pollution as strongly affected by outdoor pollution, although specific elements could be of indoor origin or magnified in indoor environments (e.g., Al, Ag, Cd and Co). In line with the chemical analysis, the SIRM signal was significantly higher in outdoor than indoor moss material. A positive, significant correlation was observed between SIRM and several accumulated elements indicating SIRM analysis as a powerful tool to predict the level of metal pollution. Moss bags were confirmed as a useful and versatile tool to highlight metal contamination even in confined environments, an essential prerogative in the perspective of the evaluation of the total exposure risk for humans to these pollutants.

In modern society the night sky is lit up not only by the moon but also by artificial light devices. Both of these light sources can have a major impact on wildlife physiology and behaviour. For example, a number of bird species were found to sleep several hours less under full moon compared to new moon and a similar sleep-suppressing effect has been reported for artificial light at night (ALAN). Cloud cover at night can modulate the light levels perceived by wildlife, yet, in opposite directions for ALAN and moon. While clouds will block moon light, it may reflect and amplify ALAN levels and increases the night glow in urbanized areas. As a consequence, cloud cover may also modulate the sleep-suppressing effects of moon and ALAN in different directions. In this study we therefore measured sleep in barnacle geese (Branta leucopsis) under semi-natural conditions in relation to moon phase, ALAN and cloud cover. Our analysis shows that, during new moon nights stronger cloud cover was indeed associated with increased ALAN levels at our study site. In contrast, light levels during full moon nights were fairly constant, presumably because of moonlight on clear nights or because of reflected artificial light on cloudy nights. Importantly, cloud cover caused an estimated 24.8% reduction in the amount of night-time NREM sleep from nights with medium to full cloud cover, particularly during new moon when sleep was unaffected by moon light. In conclusion, our findings suggest that cloud cover can, in a rather dramatic way, amplify the immediate effects of ALAN on wildlife. Sleep appears to be highly sensitive to ALAN and may therefore be a good indicator of its biological effects.

The spatial distributions, possible sources of C₉–C₁₇ chlorinated paraffins (CPs), and the ecological risks posed in mangrove sediment in Dongzhai Harbor (Hainan Island, China) were investigated. Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography combined with electron capture negative ionization mass spectrometry was used to determine 50 C₉–C₁₇ CP congener groups. The concentrations of C₉-CPs, short-chain CPs (SCCPs), and medium-chain CPs (MCCPs) in the mangrove sediment samples were 8.28–79.7, 89.2–931, and 58.8–834 ng g⁻¹ dry weight, respectively. The CPs concentrations in the mangrove sediment samples were moderate compared with those found in other regions worldwide. The spatial distributions and congener patterns of the CPs indicated that the CP concentrations were mainly controlled by local emissions and that wastewater discharged from livestock and shrimp breeding facilities and domestic sewage were the main sources of CPs in mangrove sediment in Dongzhai Harbor. C₁₀Cl₆–₇ and C₁₄Cl₇–₈ were the dominant SCCP and MCCP congener groups, respectively. The MCCP concentrations and total organic carbon contents significantly correlated (R² = 0.607, P < 0.05). Hierarchical cluster analysis and principal component analysis indicated that the SCCP and MCCP congeners were from different commercial CP formulations and sources. Risk assessments suggested that SCCPs and MCCPs in mangrove sediment in Dongzhai Harbor do not currently pose marked risks to sediment-dwelling organisms.

In this study, 24 surface water samples were collected from Dongting Lake, China, in the wet and dry seasons, then the concentrations, composition profiles and spatio-seasonal variations of nine organophosphate triesters (OPEs) and five organophosphate diesters (Di-OPs) were determined. Significantly higher total OPE concentrations (∑OPEs) were observed in the wet season (49.5–148 ng L⁻¹) than in the dry season (5.00–45.7 ng L⁻¹) suggesting higher input via tributaries discharge as well as wet deposition in the studied region. Whereas lower levels of TnBP and (triphenyl phosphate (TPHP) in wet season reflected their possible degradation under solar irradiation. Comparable levels of total Di-OPs (∑Di-OPs) were found in the wet season (3.41–13.9 ng L⁻¹) and dry season (1.01–12.3 ng L⁻¹). Tri(2-chloroethyl) phosphate and tris(2-chloroisopropyl) phosphate were the main OPE components, while diphenyl phosphate, di-n-butyl phosphate and bis(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate were the main Di-OP components. High levels of OPEs and Di-OPs were found in Datong Lake suggesting possible local emissions potentially related to fishery activity in the land-locked lake. Samples at river mouths to the lake also have higher levels of target OPEs and Di-OPs, the results disclosed obvious discharges from tributaries in Hunan Province. Negligible non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks were determined based on the measured concentrations in source waters. A limited ecological risk aquatic organisms in the Dongting Lake was identified, with most risk from TPHP.

Organophosphate esters (OPEs) pose increasing concerns for their widespread distribution in soil environments and potential threat to human health. In this study, we investigated the occurrence and associated risks of seven OPEs in surface soils and the potential influence of human activities on soil OPE contamination in a heavily urbanized region of the Yangtze River Delta in Eastern China. All target OPEs were detected in the soil samples (100% of samples) reflecting their widespread distribution in the study region. The total OPE concentration (the sum of the seven OPEs) ranged from 162.7 to 986.0 ng/g on a dry weight basis, with a mean value of 469.3 ± 178.6 ng/g. Tris (2-butoxyethyl) phosphate was the main compound, accounting for 67–78% of the total OPE concentration. Ecological risk assessment showed that tris(2-chloroisopropyl) phosphate, tris(2,3-dichloropropyl) phosphate, tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate, and tris(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate posed a medium potential risk to terrestrial biota (0.1 < risk quotient <1). The human exposure estimation showed insignificant risks to local population. Redundancy analysis revealed that the individual and total OPE contaminations were positively correlated with human activity parameters. The total OPE concentrations were positively correlated to population density (R² = 0.38, P < 0.001), and urban land use percentage (R² = 0.39, P < 0.001), while negatively correlated to forest land use percentage (R² = 0.59, P < 0.001), suggesting a significant contribution of human disturbance to OPE pollution. These results can facilitate OPE contamination control and promote sustainable soil management in urbanized and industrialized regions.

Aquatic hyphomycetes (AHs), a group of saprotrophic fungi adapted to submerged leaf litter, play key functional roles in stream ecosystems as decomposers and food source for higher trophic levels. Fungicides, controlling fungal pathogens, target evolutionary conserved molecular processes in fungi and contaminate streams via their use in agricultural and urban landscapes. Thus fungicides pose a risk to AHs and the functions they provide. To investigate the impacts of fungicide exposure on the composition and functioning of AH communities, we exposed four AH species in monocultures and mixed cultures to increasing fungicide concentrations (0, 5, 50, 500, and 2500 μg/L). We assessed the biomass of each species via quantitative real-time PCR. Moreover, leaf decomposition was investigated. In monocultures, none of the species was affected at environmentally relevant fungicide levels (5 and 50 μg/L). The two most tolerant species were able to colonize and decompose leaves even at very high fungicide levels (≥500 μg/L), although less efficiently. In mixed cultures, changes in leaf decomposition reflected the response pattern of the species most tolerant in monocultures. Accordingly, the decomposition process may be safeguarded by tolerant species in combination with functional redundancy. In all fungicide treatments, however, sensitive species were displaced and interactions between fungi changed from complementarity to competition. As AH community composition determines leaves’ nutritional quality for consumers, the data suggest that fungicide exposures rather induce bottom-up effects in food webs than impairments in leaf decomposition.

This study aimed at elucidating the long-term efficiency of soil remediation where chemical stabilization of arsenic (As) contaminated soil using zerovalent iron (Fe) amendments was applied. A combination of chemical extraction and extended X-Ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy technique was applied on soils collected from five laboratory and field experiments in Sweden and France. All soils were treated with 1 wt% of zerovalent Fe grit 2–15 years prior to the sampling. The results indicate that all studied soils, despite the elapsed time since their amendment with Fe grit, had substantial amounts of ferrihydrite and/or lepidocrocite. These metastable and the most reactive Fe (oxyhydr)oxides (mainly ferrihydrite) were still present in substantial amounts even in the soil that was treated 15 years prior to the sampling and contributed most to the As immobilisation in the amended soils. This increases confidence in the long-term efficiency of As immobilisation using zerovalent Fe amendments. Both applied methods, sequential extraction and EXAFS, were in line for most of the samples in terms of their ability to highlight As immobilisation by poorly crystalline Fe phases.

Surfactants, after use, enter the environment through diffuse and point sources such as irrigation with treated and non-treated waste water and urban and industrial wastewater discharges. For the group of non-ionic synthetic surfactant alcohol ethoxylates (AEOs), most of the available information is restricted to the levels and fate in aquatic systems, whereas current knowledge of their behavior in soils is very limited. Here we characterize the behavior of different homologs (C12–C18) and ethoxymers (EO3, EO6, and EO8) of the AEOs through batch experiments and under unsaturated flow conditions during infiltration experiments. Experiments used two different agricultural soils from a region irrigated with reclaimed water (Guadalete River basin, SW Spain). In parallel, water flow and chemical transport were modelled using the HYDRUS-1D software package, calibrated using the infiltration experimental data. Estimates of water flow and reactive transport of all surfactants were in good agreement between infiltration experiments and simulations. The sorption process followed a Freundlich isotherm for most of the target compounds. A systematic comparison between sorption data obtained from batch and infiltration experiments revealed that the sorption coefficient (Kd) was generally lower in infiltration experiments, performed under environmental flow conditions, than in batch experiments in the absence of flow, whereas the exponent (β) did not show significant differences. For the low clay and organic carbon content of the soils used, no clear dependence of Kd on them was observed. Our work thus highlights the need to use reactive transport parameterization inferred under realistic conditions to assess the risk associated with alcohol ethoxylates in subsurface environments.