Biospectroscopy is an emerging inter-disciplinary field that exploits the application of sensor technologies [e.g., Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy] to lend novel insights into biological questions. Methods involved are relatively non-destructive so samples can subsequently be analysed by more conventional approaches, facilitating deeper mechanistic insights. Fingerprint spectra are derived and these consist of wavenumber–absorbance intensities; within a typical biological experiment, a complex dataset is quickly generated. Biological samples range from biofluids to cytology to tissues derived from human or sentinel sources, and analyses can be carried out ex vivo or in situ in living tissue. A reference range of a designated normal state can be derived; anything outside this is potentially atypical and discriminating chemical entities identified. Computational approaches allow one to minimize within-category confounding factors. Because of ease of sample preparation, low-cost and high-throughput capability, biospectroscopy approaches herald a new greener means of environmental health monitoring in urban environments.

Ciprofloxacin (CFX) and ofloxacin (OFX) are two of the most often used fluoroquinolone antibiotics, and their residues are found in large amounts in various aquatic settings. However, the toxicity tests of CFX using eukaryotic organisms such as Daphnia magna are inadequate, and the test result of OFX is currently unknown. Therefore, the chronic toxicity test for D. magna was performed during 42 days under exposure to CFX and OFX concentrations of 50, 500, and 5000 μg L⁻¹. All exposure conditions did not cause mortality for D. magna. CFX exposure at 500 μg L⁻¹ resulted in an earlier oogenesis date and increased brood size in the second birth. The Poisson-based generalized linear mixed-effects model revealed that the reduction of fertility was statistically significant for the CFX and OFX exposures at 5000 μg L⁻¹. On the other hand, the production of dead eggs as offspring degradation was also found significantly as maternal D. magna exposed to antibiotics at 5000 μg L⁻¹. In addition, following long-term exposure to antibiotics, maternal adaptation to antibiotics was established for offspring deterioration and fertility. However, the OFX exposure showed that the fertility-suppressed effects continued for a longer period than the CFX exposure. Although no rational explanation has yet been given for the more substantial effect of OFX on reducing fertility than CFX, molecular cell biology and symbiotic microbial flora derived from previous studies could explain our ecotoxicological results. This study is the first report for the OFX chronic toxicities on D. magna by comparing it to the toxicity of CFX. Our study contributes to guiding the future impact assessment of fluoroquinolone antibiotic pollution on ecosystems, including the need for new statistical methods in ecotoxicological studies.

Marine biofouling is a serious environmental problem worldwide. As an effort to find environmental friendly antifoulants, indole derivatives were determined for their activities to inhibit the growth of bacteria and diatom. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of indole derivatives against bacteria were very low, especially for 6-chloroindole. It was proved that 6-chloroindole obviously inhibited the growth of bacteria, interfered with the formation of bacterial biofilm, destroyed bacterial cell morphology and also inhibited the growth of diatom Cylindrotheca sp. as well. By using noninvasive micro-test technique (NMT), 6-chloroindole triggered algal cellular Ca2+ efflux. The highest value was 72.03pmolcm−2s−1, 10.6 times of the control group. The present studies indicated that indole derivatives might have the potential to be new antifouling agents because of their excellent antibacterial and anti-algal activities. At the same time, Ca2+ efflux might be one of the mechanisms that indole derivatives inhibited the growth of diatom.

The feasibility of cyanobacteria removal from freshwater by a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) process is investigated. Seven commercial and environmental cyanobacteria strains, as well as real algae-laden water, were tested. The removal of the cyanobacteria was evaluated by analyzing the changes in chlorophyll a content, total organic carbon (TOC) concentration, and cell morphology. Nearly total removal of chlorophyll a was achieved within 20 min, while the TOC analysis exhibited an increase-decrease-increase trend in 60 min of treatment, likely due to the oxidation of intracellular and intercellular materials. Observation under light microscopy revealed the disruption of intracellular and intercellular structures within 5 min of DBD treatment and thus supported the TOC analysis. Increasing the salinity of the medium from 0 to 5 parts per thousand (ppt) improved treatment efficiency, where similar level of chlorophyll a removal (around 93 %) was achieved in only half the treatment time. Application of DBD on real algae-laden water from a fish farm yielded higher treatment efficiency than in synthetic medium, indicating the promising application of DBD as a means to control cyanobacteria bloom in fresh and estuary water bodies.

Human papillomavirus genotypes (HPVs) have been confirmed to be the major cause of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) that remains to be one of the most common women cancers around the world. It seems other risk factors have synergistic effects on cervical cancer occurrence including smoking, dietary pattern, sexual behavior, ethnicity, epigenetics, and environmental hazardous materials. Our study characterized the potential cancerous role of lead (Pb) as a common toxic environmental pollutant agent on CIN outcomes. Lead concentration was quantified using an atomic absorption spectrometer in liquid-based cytology specimens of 40 CIN-HPV positive subjects, 50 HPV infected non-cancerous cases, and 43 non-HPV infected/non-cancerous women. Pb concentration was 5.5 (4.7–6.4) μg/dL, 4.7 (4.2–8.7) μg/dL, and 4.7 (4.5–5.4) μg/dL in the CIN-HPV positive group, HPV infected non-cancerous cases, and non-HPV infected/non-cancerous group, respectively. The results showed higher Pb concentration is associated with higher risk for cervical malignancy in comparison with non-HPV infected/non-cancerous subjects, after controlling for age effect (aOR = 4.55, 95% CI: 1.55–15.07, P < 0.01). Our finding suggested a direct significant association between Pb accumulation and CIN existence. The consequences need to be further validated by including more relevant risk factors and controlling the confounders for better understating of Pb impact from outdoor air pollution on cervical cancer progression.

Pseudomonas sp. CTN-4 degrades chlorothalonil (CTN) but not acetamiprid (AAP), and Pigmentiphaga sp. strain AAP-1 degrades AAP but not CTN. A functional strain, AC, was constructed through protoplast fusion of two parental strains (Pseudomonas sp. CTN-4 and Pigmentiphaga sp. strain AAP-1) in order to simultaneously improve the degradation efficiency of AAP and CTN. Fusant-AC with eight transfers on plates containing two antibiotics and CTN was obtained. For the purpose of identifying and confirming the genetic relationship between fusant-AC and its parents, randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) analysis were performed. In toto, RAPD fingerprint analysis produced 194 clear bands with 9 primers, which not only had bands in common with strains CTN-4 and AAP-1, but also had its own novel fusant-specific bands. The genetic similarity indices between fusant-AC and parental strains CTN-4 and AAP-1 were 0.40 and 0.69, respectively. The result of SEM indicated that the cell morphology of fusant-AC differed from both its parents. The fusant strain AC possesses a strong capability for AAP and CTN degradation. At AAP concentration (50–300 mg L⁻¹), the degradation was achieved within 5 h. At the initial dose of 50 and 100 mg L⁻¹ CTN, the percentages reached 96 and 91 % over a 36-h incubation period. The present study indicates that the protoplast-fusion technique may have possible applications in environmental pollution control.

This study evaluated the oxidation of toluene (TOL) by persulfate (PS) in aqueous solution in the presence of a Fe₃O₄-carbon black (CB) composite oxidant system generating sulfate radicals. The cytotoxic activity and oxidative stress generated by these materials were investigated in rat liver Clone 9 cells. The effects of various operating parameters including the pH and concentrations of PS, Fe₃O₄-CB, and TOL were evaluated to optimize the oxidation process. The results showed that Fe₃O₄-CB/PS achieved effective removal of TOL under acidic conditions. The TOL degradation efficiency was strongly pH-dependent, where pH 3.0 > 6.0 > 9.0. Additionally, the viability of Clone 9 cells exposed to 0–400 μg/mL Fe₃O₄-CB indicated that this material showed low cytotoxicity. A dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate assay performed to evaluate the generation of reactive oxygen species indicated that Fe₃O₄ showed relatively lower toxicity than CB in these cells. Therefore, the cytotoxicity of CB may involve the induction of oxidative stress and physical changes in cell morphology.

Nanoparticles (NPs) are very small particles present in a wide range of materials. There is a dearth of knowledge regarding their potential secondary effects on the health of living organisms and the environment. Increasing research attention, however, has been directed toward determining the effects on humans exposed to NPs in the environment. Although the majority of studies focus on adult animals or populations, embryos of various species are considered more susceptible to environmental effects and pollutants. Hence, research studies dealing mainly with the impacts of NPs on embryogenesis have emerged recently, as this has become a major concern. Chicken embryos occupy a special place among animal models used in toxicity and developmental investigations and have also contributed significantly to the fields of genetics, virology, immunology, cell biology, and cancer. Their rapid development and easy accessibility for experimental observance and manipulation are just a few of the advantages that have made them the vertebrate model of choice for more than two millennia. The early stages of chicken embryogenesis, which are characterized by rapid embryonic growth, provide a sensitive model for studying the possible toxic effects on organ development, body weight, and oxidative stress. The objective of this review was to evaluate the toxicity of various types of carbon black nanomaterials administered at the beginning of embryogenesis in a chicken embryo model. In addition, the effects of diamond and graphene NPs and carbon nanotubes are reviewed.

Generation of secondary sludge is a major concern of textile dye removal by coagulation process. Combinatorial coagulation-biodegradation treatment system has been found efficient in degradation of coagulated textile dye sludge. Moringa oleifera seed powder (700 mg L⁻¹) was able to coagulate textile dyestuff from real textile wastewater with 98 % color removal. Novel consortium-BBA was found to decolorize coagulated dye sludge. Parameters that significantly affect coagulation process were optimized using response surface methodology. The bench-scale stirred tank reactor (50-L capacity) designed with optimized parameters for coagulation process could efficiently remove 98, 89, 78, and 67 % of American Dye Manufacturer’s Institute (ADMI) in four repetitive cycles, respectively. Solid-state fermentation composting reactor designed to treat coagulated dye sludge showed 96 % removal of dye within 10 days. Coagulation of dyes from textile wastewater and degradation of coagulated dye sludge were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. Cell morphology assay, comet assay, and phytotoxicity confirmed the formation of less toxic products after coagulation and degradation mechanism.