Few studies have investigated the effect of personal PM₂.₅ and PM₁ exposures on heart rate variability (HRV) for a community-based population, especially in Asia. This study evaluates the effects of personal PM₂.₅ and PM₁ exposure on HRV during two seasons for 35 healthy adults living in an urban community in Taiwan. The low-cost sensing (LCS) devices were used to monitor the PM levels and HRV, respectively, for two consecutive days. The mean PM₂.₅ and PM₁ concentrations were 13.7 ± 11.4 and 12.7 ± 10.5 μg/m³ (mean ± standard deviation), respectively. Incense burning was the source that contributed most to the PM₂.₅ and PM₁ concentrations, around 9.2 μg/m³, while environmental tobacco smoke exposure had the greatest impacts on HRV indices, being associated with the highest decrease of 20.2% for high-frequency power (HF). The results indicate that an increase in PM₂.₅ concentrations of one interquartile range (8.7 μg/m³) was associated with a change of −1.92% in HF and 1.60% in ratio of LF to HF power (LF/HF). Impacts on HRV for PM₁ were similar to those for PM₂.₅. An increase in PM₁ concentrations of one interquartile range (8.7 μg/m³) was associated with a change of −0.645% in SDNN, −1.82% in HF and 1.54% in LF/HF. Stronger immediate and lag effects of PM₂.₅ exposure on HRV were observed in overweight/obese subjects (body mass index (BMI) ≥24 kg/m²) compared to the normal-weight group (BMI <24 kg/m²). These results indicate that even low-level PM concentrations can still cause changes in HRV, especially for the overweight/obese population.

Gabapentin-lactam (GBP-L) is a transformation product (TP) of gabapentin (GBP), a widely used anti-epileptic pharmaceutical. Due to its high persistence, GBP-L has been frequently detected in the surface water. However, the effects of GBP-L on aquatic organisms have not been thoroughly investigated. In the present study, zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos as a model organism were used to study the impacts of GBP-L in terms of embryos LC₅₀, spontaneous movement at 24 hpf (hours post fertilization), heartbeat rates at 48 hpf, and body length at 72 hpf, with the concentrations of GBP-L down to 0.01 μg/L, covering its environmental concentrations. Various biomarkers from nervous, antioxidant and immune systems of zebrafish larvae were analyzed, including acetylcholinesterase, acetylcholine, dopamine, gamma-aminobutyric acid, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione S-transferase, C reactive protein, and lysozyme, to assess its toxicity on these systems. RT-qPCR was then used to further verify the results and explain the toxicological mechanism at the gene level. The results demonstrated that GBP-L is much more toxic than its parent compound, and could lead to adverse impacts on the aquatic organisms even at every low concentrations.

Sessile benthic organisms are considered good bioindicators for monitoring environmental quality of coastal ecosystems. However, these environments are impacted by new pollutants such as microplastics (MPs), where there is limited information about organisms that can be used as reliable bioindicators of these emerging contaminants. We evaluated MP concentrations in three compartments: surface sediment, water and in three marine sponge species (Haliclona implexiformis, Halichondria melanadocia and Amorphinopsis atlantica), to determine whether these organisms accumulate MPs and reflect their possible sources. Results showed MPs in all three compartments. Average concentrations ranged from 1861 to 3456 items kg⁻¹ of dry weight in marine sponges, 130 to 287 items L⁻¹ in water and 6 to 11 items kg⁻¹ in sediment. The maximum MP concentration was in the sponge A. atlantica, which registered 5000 items kg⁻¹ of dry weight, in water was 670 items L⁻¹ and in sediment was 28 items kg⁻¹, these values were found in the disturbed study area. The three sponge species exhibited MP bioaccumulation and showed significant differences between disturbed and pristine sites (F = 11.2, p < 0.05), suggesting their use as bioindicators of MP.

This work demonstrated the development of nanofiber templated metal oxide nanocomposites by hydrothermal and calcination methods for photocatalytic degradation using Congo red (CR) as model pollutant. Herein, we developed PAN/CuO–ZnO nanocomposites by the electrospinning technique followed by heat treatment process i.e hydrothermal and calcination. The obtained nanofibrous composites were characterized by various analytical techniques such as X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermogravimetric analysis (TG), High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Photoluminescence (PL) and UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) studies. The results demostrated that the nanocomposites obtained through calcination possess better optical response with robust electronic structures. This is due to the better charge separation of excited electron-hole pairs of p-n heterostructured PAN/CuO–ZnO hybrid nanocomposites. The photocatalytic efficiency is found to be 98% and 93% for nanocomposites obtained through calcination and hydrothermal methods respectively. The reusability studies confirmed the stability and viability of multiple utilizations of photocatalysts. Furthermore, the photocatalytic mechanism corroborated the photocatalytic properties of the integrated facile nanofibrous-metallic (PAN/CuO–ZnO) composites and hence can be implemented in water remediation effectively.

The general population is continuously exposed to phthalates via various consumer products. Epidemiological research relating phthalate exposure to thyroid function during non-developmental periods is limited. This study aimed to investigate the associations between specific serum phthalate metabolites and indicators of thyroid function in adults. We measured 10 serum phthalate metabolites and thyroid hormones – total triiodothyronine (TT3), free thyroxine (FT4) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) – in a subsample of 207 adults from the GraMo cohort. This subsample was made up of men and women (in equal proportions) of middle age (49 ± 17 years) and from Southern Spain (province of Granada). Data on age, sex, body mass index, residence area, tobacco use, alcohol consumption and attained education were obtained from a questionnaire. Phthalate metabolites were log-transformed and categorized into tertiles. Cross-sectional associations of each metabolite with thyroid hormones were analyzed using multivariable-adjusted linear regression models. The mixture effect of metabolite phthalates was assessed using weighted quantile sum regression. After multivariable-adjustment, the following phthalate metabolites were significantly associated with TT3 in a dose-response manner: MMP (β = 0.90: 95% confidence interval 0.68,1.12), MEP (β = 0.67: 0.44, 0.90), MiBP (β = 0.49: 0.21, 0.77), MiDP (β = 0.27: 0.03, 0.52), MBzP (β = 0.51: 0.28, 0.73), MEHP (β = −0.59: −0.82, −0.35) and MiNP (β = -0.43: −0.71, −0.14), when comparing highest vs. lowest exposed. The sum of all metabolites was also linked to FT4 levels. No significant associations were observed for TSH except for MiNP. Although phthalate metabolites with different molecular weight showed opposite associations, overall metabolite concentrations seem to associate with increased TT3 and FT4 serum levels. The cross-sectional nature of this analysis limits causal inference.

Sediment remediation in eutrophic aquatic ecosystems is imperative, but effective ecological measures are scarce. A pilot-scale trial investigated sediment remediation by the addition of Tubifex tubifex. The results showed that the addition of T. tubifex accelerated sediment organic matter (OM) and nitrogen (N) loss, with averages of 7.7% and 75.1% increased loss (IL) compared to treatments without T. tubifex in the 60-day experiment, respectively. The percentages of the increased in water to the IL in sediment were only 0.6%, 0.21%, 2.1% and 6.3% for NH₄⁺-N, NOₓ⁻-N, TN and COD, respectively, at the end of the experiment. The absolute abundances of the nitrifying genes AOA and AOB; the denitrifying genes napA, nirS, nirK, cnorB and nosZ; and the anaerobic ammonia oxidation gene anammox increased 2.3- to 11.0-fold with the addition of T. tubifex. Therefore, the addition of T. tubifex is an effective strategy for sediment remediation by accelerating OM and N loss in sediment without substantially increasing the water N concentration.

Pollutants in wastewater and exhaust gas bring out serious concerns to public health and the environment. Biochar can be developed as a sustainable adsorbent originating from abundant bio-wastes, such as agricultural waste, forestry residue, food waste and human waste. Here we highlight the state-of-the-art research progress on pyrochar and hydrochar for the sorption of pollutants (heavy metal, organics, gas, etc) in wastewater and exhaust gases. The adsorption performance of pyrochar and hydrochar are compared and discussed in-depth, including preparation procedures (carbonization and activation), sorption possible mechanisms, and physiochemical properties. Challenges and perspective for designing efficient and environmental benign biochar-based adsorbents are finally addressed.

Graphene (GR) and graphene oxide (GO) are widely being used as promising candidates for biomedical applications, as well as for bio-sensing, drug delivery, and anticancer therapy. However, their undesirable side effects make it necessary to assess further the toxicity and safety of using these materials. The main objective of the current study was to investigate the toxicities of GR and GO in predicted environmental relevant concentrations in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio), particularly on their behaviors, and conducted biochemical assays to elucidate the possible mechanism that underlies their toxicities. Zebrafish was chronically (∼14 days) exposed to two different doses of GR (0.1 and 0.5 ppm) or GO (0.1 and 1 ppm). At 14 ± 1 days, a battery of behavioral tests was conducted, followed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) test on the following day to inspect the alterations in antioxidant activity, oxidative stress, and neurotransmitters in the treated zebrafish brain. An alteration in predator avoidance behavior was observed in all treated groups, while GR-treated fish exhibited abnormal exploratory behavior. Furthermore, altered locomotor activity was displayed by most of the treated groups, except for the high concentration of the GR group. From the ELISA results, we discovered a high concentration of GR exposure significantly decreased several neurotransmitters and cortisol levels. Meanwhile, elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) were displayed by the group treated with low and high doses of GR and GO, respectively. These significant changes would possibly affect zebrafish behaviors and might suggest the potential toxicity from GR and GO exposures. To sum up, the present study presented new evidence for the effects of GR and GO in zebrafish behavioral dysregulation. We hope these assessments can contribute to our understanding of graphene and graphene oxide biosafety.

The hazardous effects of herbicides are well known; however, their effects on the reproductive system remain unclear. In this study, we demonstrated the anti-proliferative effects of dinitramine (DN) on immature murine testicular cell lines (Leydig and Sertoli cells) mediated via endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced calcium dysregulation in the cytosol and mitochondria. The results demonstrated that the viability and proliferation of DN-treated TM3 and TM4 cells decreased significantly, even in the spheroid state. DN induced the apoptosis of TM3 and TM4 cells and decreased the expression of genes related to cell cycle progression. Treatment with DN increased the cytosolic and intramitochondrial levels of calcium by activating ER stress signals. DN activated the Erk/P38/Jnk Mapk pathway and inactivated the Pi3k/Akt pathway in murine testicular cells. Co-treatment with 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB) mitigated DN-induced calcium upregulation in both testicular cell lines. Although 2-APB did not antagonize the anti-proliferative effect of DN in TM3 cells, treatment with 2-APB and 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid restored the proliferation of DN-treated TM4 cells.