Contamination of roxarsone has been recognized as a potential environmental hazard. In this study, Eisenia fetida samples were collected after roxarsone exposures to analyze their intestinal epithelium ultrastructure, expression levels of stress-related genes, and proteomics. Our results showed that mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum in roxarsone-treated earthworms demonstrated variety of damages. Furthermore, 149 proteins were displayed in 2-DE, and 36 of them were identified by MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS. Those identified proteins are involved in several important processes including cell immunity, cell stress responses, and cell genetic behaviors. Our study demonstrates the toxicity responses of earthworms toward arsenic-based animal drug roxarsone with practical usefulness and demonstrates a proteomic profile change that may be critical for the roxarsone stress survival mechanisms of E. fetida. Graphical Abstract Inspiration of this referred to the form of Fig. 4 in the article “Proteomic analysis of a high aluminum tolerant yeast Rhodotorula taiwanensis RS1 in response to aluminum stress” of Chao, W et al.

This papers deals with direct measurements of dry deposition flux of total acidifying N species (gaseous HNO₃ and particulate NO₃ ⁻) and theoretically by parameterization method to vegetation (leaf surfaces) over a semiarid region in India. Annual average experimental dry deposition of NO₃ ⁻ to leaf of Cassia is 0.65 ± 0.61 mg m⁻² day⁻¹. Ambient concentrations of HNO₃ vapor and particulate NO₃ ⁻ are 1.53 and 1.24 μg m⁻³, respectively. Theoretically obtained dry deposition velocity of HNO₃ and NO₃ ⁻ are 0.74 cm s⁻¹ for both while calculated dry deposition flux of total NO₃ ⁻ is found to be 1.3 ± 0.33 mg m⁻² day⁻¹. The measured dry deposition flux of NO₃ ⁻ to Cassia leaf is in the range of theoretically obtained flux. The annual input of N as nitrate is 3.8 mmol m⁻² year⁻¹ which is lower than the other forest site in China which is probably because of low pollution than China.

The linking of various environmental chemicals exposure to neurodegenerative disorders is current. This study was undertaken to elucidate the toxic effects and the underlying biochemical mechanism of leachate obtained from Elewi Odo municipal battery recycling site (EOMABRL) using key markers of neuronal damage in rat via an oral route. Analysis of the concentrations of heavy metals showed that lead, cadmium, nickel, chromium, manganese, and iron were higher than the acceptable limits set by the regulatory authority—the World Health Organization. Whereas, copper, zinc, and cobalt were lower than permissible limits. EOMABRL was administered at 0, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 % concentrations to adult male rats for 60 days. An in vitro study was also carried out in the cerebellum to assess cholinesterase biochemistry assays. Following exposure, brain was collected to determine the antioxidant status. EOMABRL administration significantly increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities, and a sequential decrease in reduced glutathione (GSH) level with a concomitant increase in the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and malondialdehyde (MDA) level was observed, when compared with the control. The treated rat had a significant (P < 0.05) increase in the activities of acetycholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE). Taken together, these findings conclude that some possible mechanisms by which EOMABRL elicits neuronal disorder in male rat could be through the activation of AChE and BuChE and induction of oxidative stress with necrosis of neuronal cells.

Ammonia is a common toxicant in aquatic systems; this substance has become a critical threat to fish, especially in early life stages. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of unionized ammonia (NH₃-N: 0, 0.068, 0.138, 0.206, 0.275, 0.343, 0.412, and 0.481 mg L⁻¹) on fertilized eggs and larvae of obscure puffer Takifugu obscurus, a fish species with potential economic value. Results showed that hatch time was significantly retarded and hatch rate was significantly decreased as NH₃-N concentrations increased; newly hatched larvae exhibited high rate of abnormalities and low viability. The survival rate of larvae also decreased significantly as NH₃-N concentrations increased; larvae could tolerate NH₃-N to a less extent than embryos. NH₃-N also caused a significant decrease in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase activities but not in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels of larvae. Two-way ANOVA indicated that there was a statistically significant interaction between NH₃-N concentrations and exposure times on SOD activity but not on Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase activity. Such responses indicated that an increase in ammonia concentration in surface water may negatively affect the early development of T. obscurus and thus likely impair population recruitment and persistence of this fish species.

To understand the boundary layer characteristics and pathways of aerosol–cloud interaction, an Integrated Ground Observational Campaign, concurrent with Cloud Aerosol Interaction and Precipitation Enhancement Experiment, was conducted by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune, under Ministry of Earth Sciences at Mahabubnagar (a rural environment, which is ~100 km away from an urban city Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh), during the period of July–November 2011. Collected samples of PM₂.₅and PM₁₀were analyzed for water-soluble ionic species along with organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC). During study period, the average mass concentrations of PM₂.₅and PM₁₀were about 50(±10) and 69(±14) μg m⁻³, respectively, which are significantly higher than the prescribed Indian National Ambient Air Quality Standards values. The chemical species such as sum of anions and cations from measured chemical constituents were contributed to be 31.27 and 38.49 % in PM₂.₅and 6.35 and 5.65 % to the PM₁₀, whereas carbonaceous species contributed ~17.3 and 20.47 % for OC and ~3.0 and 3.10 % for EC, respectively. The average ratio of PM₂.₅/PM₁₀during study period was ~0.73(±0.2), indicating that the dominance of fine size particles. Carbonaceous analysis results showed that the average concentration of OC was 14 and 8.7 μg m⁻³, while EC was 2.1 and 1.5 μg m⁻³for PM₁₀and PM₂.₅, respectively. The ratios between OC and EC were estimated, which were 6.6 and 5.7 for PM₁₀and PM₂.₅, suggesting the presence of secondary organic aerosol. Total carbonaceous aerosol accounts 23 % of PM₁₀in which the contribution of OC is 20 % and EC is 3 %, while 20 % of PM₂.₅mass in which the contribution of OC is 17 % and EC is 3 %. Out of the total aerosols mass, water-soluble constituents contributed an average of 45 % in PM₁₀and 38 % in PM₂.₅including about 39 % anions and 6 % cations in PM₁₀, while 31 % anions and 7 % cations in PM₂.₅aerosol mass collectively at study site.

The future growing demand of fossil fuels likely will lead to an increased deployment of liquefied natural gas terminals. However, some concerns exist about their possible effects on the marine environment and biota. Such plants showed to cause the production of foam, as occurred at the still operative terminal of Porto Viro (northern Adriatic Sea). Here, we present results from two microcosm experiments focused on the effects of such foam on microbially mediated degradation processes and its consequent incorporation within the pelagic food web. Such material could be considered as a heterogeneous matrix of both living and non-living organic matter, which constitutes an important substrate for exoenzymes as suggested by the faster hydrolytic rates measured in the treatment microcosms. In the second experiment, a quite immediate and efficient carbon transfer to planktonic biomass through prokaryotic incorporation and consequent predation by heterotrophic flagellates was highlighted. Although no negative effect was evidenced on the overall microbes’ growth and foam-derived C seemed to be easily reworked and transferred to higher trophic levels, an important reduction in biodiversity was evidenced for microalgae. Among them, mixotrophic organisms seemed to be favoured suggesting that the addition of foam could cause a modification of the microbial community structure.

The trace element selenium has an essential role for human health. It is involved in redox center functions, and it is related to the immune system response. Legumes are among the main suppliers of selenium into the human food chain. Not only Se concentration as such but also more the chemical species of Se is of higher importance for successful Se supply to the human diet and its bioavailability. The current study was focused on the investigation of the Se species present in chickpea plants exposed to 0, 10, 25, 50, and 100 μM selenite in short- and long-term treatment studies. The linear increase of total Se concentration could be linked to the increased concentrations of Se exposure. The selenium species (SeMet, SeCys, selenite, selenate, GPx) detected in varying concentrations in shoots and roots depend on the exposure’s concentration and duration. The investigation showed that chickpea can accumulate Se in favorable concentrations and its transformation to bioavailable Se species may have positive impacts on human health and aid to implement Se into the diet.

Due to the high volume of crude oil released by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the salt marshes along the gulf coast were contaminated with crude oil. Biodegradation of crude oil in salt marshes is primarily limited by oxygen availability due to the high organic carbon content of the soil, high flux rate of S²⁻, and saturated conditions. Chlorate, nitrate, and perchlorate were evaluated for use as electron acceptors in comparison to oxygen by comparing oil transformation and mineralization in mesocosms consisting of oiled salt marsh sediment from an area impacted by the BP Horizon oil spill. Mineralization rates were determined by measuring CO₂ production and δ ¹³C of the produced CO₂ and compared to transformation evaluated by measuring the alkane/hopane ratios over a 4-month period. Total alkane/hopane ratios decreased (~55–70 %) for all treatments in the following relative order: aerated ≈ chlorate > nitrate > perchlorate. Total CO₂ produced was similar between treatments ranging from 550–700 mg CO₂-C. The δ ¹³C-CO₂ values generally ranged between the indigenous carbon and oil values (−17 and −27 ‰, respectively). Oil mineralization was greatest for the aerated treatments and least for the perchlorate amended. Our results indicate that chlorate has a similar potential as oxygen to support oil mineralization in contaminated salt marshes, but nitrate and perchlorate were less effective. The use of chlorate as a means to promote oil mineralization in situ may be a promising means to remediate contaminated salt marshes while preventing unwanted secondary impacts related to nutrient management as in the case of nitrate amendments.

Irrigation with wastewater is a promising option to improve crop yields and to reduce pressure on freshwater sources. However, heavy metal concentrations in wastewater may cause health concerns. A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted in order to determine cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) concentrations in sandy soil and plant tissues of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). A 2 × 2 × 4 × 2 factorial treatment arrangement was utilized. Two water sources, fresh (FW) or treated wastewater (TWW), at two salinity levels (1 and 3 dS m⁻¹) containing different levels of Cd and Zn were used. Samples were collected after a 90-day growth period. It was observed that the growth of both plants was depressed at the highest metal level (L3). Metal accumulation in plant parts increased with the increase of metal concentration and salinity in irrigation water. At low salinity, water source was the main factor which controlled metal accumulation, whereas, at high salinity, chloride appeared to be the principal factor controlling metal uptake regardless of water source. Metal translocation from roots to shoots increased in TWW-irrigated plants, even in the controls. Tomatoes accumulated Cd up to and above critical levels safe for human consumption, even though Cd concentration in irrigation water did not exceed the current recommended values. Therefore, food production in sandy soils may well pose a health hazard when irrigated with TWW containing heavy metals. Complexation with dissolved organic compounds (DOC) in TWW may be to be the principal factor responsible for increased metal uptake and transfer at low salinity, thereby increasing the risk of heavy metal contamination of food and forage crops.

Technological, agricultural, and medical advances have improved the lifestyle of humankind. However, these advances have caused new problems that affect the environment and future generations. Emerging contaminants display properties such as low degradation potential and environmental persistence. In addition, most contaminants are lipophilic, which culminates in high bioaccumulation. The disposal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products into the environment underlies microbial and bacterial resistance. Plasticizers change several characteristics of industrialized materials, such as flexibility, but they are potentially carcinogenic and disrupt the endocrine system. Pesticides prevent the propagation of numerous kinds of pests; nevertheless, they exert neurotoxic and mutagenic effects, and they impact the environment negatively. Addition of flame retardants to a number of materials prevents flame propagation; however, after their release into the environment, these chemicals may bioaccumulate in organisms and disrupt the endocrine system, too. Surfactants can change the surface and interfacial properties of liquids, but their presence in the environment can interfere with countless enzymes and can even impair the endocrine system of various organisms and induce the feminization of species. Hence, gaining knowledge about emerging contaminants is increasingly important to minimize future damage and enable proper monitoring of each class of compounds in the environment which will help to improve legislation on this matter.