Breast cancer is the most frequent tumor in women worldwide, although well-established risk factors account for 53%–55% of cases. Therefore, other risk factors, including environmental exposures, may explain the remaining variation. Our objective was to assess the relationship between risk of breast cancer and residential proximity to industries, according to categories of industrial groups and specific pollutants released, in the context of a population-based multicase-control study of incident cancer carried out in Spain (MCC-Spain). Using the current residence of cases and controls, this study was restricted to small administrative divisions, including both breast cancer cases (452) and controls (1511) in the 10 geographical areas recruiting breast cancer cases. Distances were calculated from the respective woman's residences to the 116 industries located in the study area. We used logistic regression to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) for categories of distance (between 1 km and 3 km) to industrial plants, adjusting for matching variables and other confounders. Excess risk (OR; 95%CI) of breast cancer was found near industries overall (1.30; 1.00–1.69 at 3 km), particularly organic chemical industry (2.12; 1.20–3.76 at 2.5 km), food/beverage sector (1.87; 1.26–2.78 at 3 km), ceramic (4.71; 1.62–13.66 at 1.5 km), surface treatment with organic solvents (2.00; 1.23–3.24 at 3 km), and surface treatment of plastic and metals (1.51; 1.06–2.14 at 3 km). By pollutants, the excess risk (OR; 95%CI) was detected near industries releasing pesticides (2.09; 1.14–3.82 at 2 km), and dichloromethane (2.09; 1.28–3.40 at 3 km). Our results suggest a possible increased risk of breast cancer in women living near specific industrial plants and support the need for more detailed exposure assessment of certain agents released by these plants.

Passive air samplers (PAS) were evaluated for measuring indoor concentrations of phthalates, novel brominated flame retardants (N-BFRs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and organophosphate esters (OPEs). Sampling rates were obtained from a 50-day calibration study for two newly introduced PAS, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) or silicone rubber PAS (one with and one without a coating of styrene divinyl benzene co-polymer, XAD) and the commonly used polyurethane foam (PUF) PAS. Average sampling rates normalized to PAS surface area were 1.5 ± 1.1 m³ day⁻¹ dm⁻² for both unsheltered PDMS and XAD-PDMS, and 0.90 m³ ± 0.6 day⁻¹dm⁻² for partially sheltered PUF. These values were derived based on the compound-specific sampling rates measured here and in the literature for the PAS tested, to reasonably account for site-specific variability of sampling rates.PDMS and PUF were co-deployed for three weeks in 51 homes located in Ottawa and Toronto, Canada. Duplicate PUF and PDMS samplers gave concentrations within 10% of each other. PDMS and PUF-derived air concentrations were not statistically different for gas-phase compounds. PUF had a higher detection of particle-phase compounds such as some OPEs. Phthalate and OPE air concentrations were ∼100 times higher than those of N-BFRs and PBDEs. Concentrations were not systematically related to PM₁₀, temperature or relative humidity.We conclude that both PAS provide replicable estimates of indoor concentrations of these targeted semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) over a three-week deployment period. However, PUF is advantageous for collecting a wider range of compounds including those in the particle phase.

A method was proposed to evaluate comprehensive effects of pHs and total metal concentration (TMC) variation for metal speciation human health risk in groundwater. The method used for the health assessment considered comprehensive and mutative effects caused by oral ingestion of groundwater based on human health risk assessment model and MINTEQ simulation. The results demonstrated that the dissolution rate of Ni2+ was affected by pH and Ni total concentration (total-Ni). With the increase of pH, the Ni2+ dissolved rate was smaller in the higher total-Ni at same pH. Ni2+ was dominant components contributed to health risk in groundwater. With the increase of pH in various total-Ni, HINi keep constant at first, and then decreased gradually. The HINi values of Ni speciation above acceptable level only in high total-Ni with alkaline conditions. The obtained results to verify that metals speciation were determined in health risk, and variation factors (pH and metal total concentration) played important role in risk estimation. These results provide basic information of heavy metal pollution control as well as remediation management.

Plastic pollution is a major global concern with several million microplastic particles entering every day freshwater ecosystems via wastewater discharge. Microplastic particles stimulate biofilm formation (plastisphere) throughout the water column and have the potential to affect microbial community structure if they accumulate in pelagic waters, especially enhancing the proliferation of biohazardous bacteria. To test this scenario, we simulated the inflow of treated wastewater into a temperate lake using a continuous culture system with a gradient of concentration of microplastic particles. We followed the effect of microplastics on the microbial community structure and on the occurrence of integrase 1 (int1), a marker associated with mobile genetic elements known as a proxy for anthropogenic effects on the spread of antimicrobial resistance genes. The abundance of int1 increased in the plastisphere with increasing microplastic particle concentration, but not in the water surrounding the microplastic particles. Likewise, the microbial community on microplastic was more similar to the original wastewater community with increasing microplastic concentrations. Our results show that microplastic particles indeed promote persistence of typical indicators of microbial anthropogenic pollution in natural waters, and substantiate that their removal from treated wastewater should be prioritised.

The occurrence of five groups of semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) (total of ∼120 distinct chemicals) was investigated in senior care facilities in the United States and in Portugal. Indoor settled dust samples were collected from fourteen facilities, and the concentrations of organophosphate esters (OPEs), brominated flame retardants (BFRs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were measured in these samples. Overall, OPEs, PAHs, and BFRs were the most abundant, and OCPs and PCBs were the least abundant SVOC groups in dust collected from both U.S. and Portuguese facilities. ∑OPE, ∑PAH, and ∑BFR concentrations were significantly higher in U.S. facilities than those in Portuguese facilities (P < 0.001), while ∑OCP and ∑PCB concentrations were not different between the two countries (P < 0.05). The samples were collected from three different microenvironments, including bedrooms, living rooms, and corridors. ∑OPE, ∑PAH, and ∑BFR concentrations were up to five times higher in corridors compared to bedrooms and living rooms. ∑OCP and ∑PCB concentrations were overall higher in bedrooms and in living rooms and lower in corridors.

There is increasing evidence that toxicant exposure can alter DNA methylation profile, one of the main epigenetic mechanisms, particularly during embryogenesis when DNA methylation patterns are being established. In order to investigate the effects of the antibacterial agent Triclosan on DNA methylation and its correlation with gene expression, zebrafish embryos were exposed during 7 days post-fertilization (starting at maximum 8-cells stage) to 50 and 100 μg/l, two conditions for which increased sensitivity and acclimation have been respectively reported. Although global DNA methylation was not significantly affected, a total of 171 differentially methylated fragments were identified by Reduced Representation Bisulfite Sequencing. The majority of these fragments were found between the two exposed groups, reflecting dose-dependant specific responses. Gene ontology analysis revealed that pathways involved in TGF-β signaling were enriched in larvae exposed to 50 μg/l, while de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis functions were overrepresented in fish exposed to 100 μg/l. In addition, gene expression analysis revealed a positive correlation between mRNA levels and DNA methylation patterns in introns, together with significant alterations of the transcription of genes involved in nervous system development, transcriptional factors and histone methyltransferases. Overall this work provides evidence that Triclosan alters DNA methylation in zebrafish exposed during embryogenesis as well as related genes expression and proposes concentration specific modes of action. Further studies will investigate the possible long-term consequences of these alterations, i.e. latent defects associated with developmental exposure and transgenerational effects, and the possible implications in terms of fitness and adaptation to environmental pollutants.

During chlorine disinfection process, reactions between the disinfectant and 17β-estradiol (E2) lead to the formation of halogenated disinfection byproducts (DBPs) which can be a risk to both ecosystem and human health. The degradation and transformation products of E2 in sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) disinfection processes of different water samples were investigated. The reaction kinetics research showed that the degradation rates of E2 were considerably dependent on the initial pH value and the types of water samples. In fresh water, synthetic marine aquaculture water and seawater, the reaction rate constant was 0.133 min−1, 2.067 min−1 and 2.592 min−1, respectively. The reasons for the above phenomena may be due to the different concentrations of bromide ions (Br−) in these three water samples which could promote the reaction between NaClO and E2. Furthermore, Br− could also cause the formation of brominated DBPs (Br-DBPs). The main DBPs, reaction centers and conceivable reaction pathways were explored. Seven halogenated DBPs have been observed including three chlorinated DBPs (Cl-DBPs) and four Br-DBPs. The active sites of E2 were found to be the pentabasic cyclic ring and the ortho position of the phenol moiety as well as C9-C10 position. The identified Cl/Br-DBPs were also confirmed in actual marine aquaculture water from a shrimp pond. The comparison of bio-concentration factors (BCF) values based on calculation of EPI-suite showed that the toxicities of the Br-DBPs were stronger than that of their chloride analogues. The absorbable organic halogens (AOX) analysis also suggested that the DBPs produced in the marine aquaculture water were more toxic than that in the fresh water system.

The effect of ambient air pollution exposure on childhood hypertension has emerged as a concern in China, and previous studies suggested pet ownership is associated with lower blood pressure (BP). However, limited information exists on the interactive effects pet ownership and air pollution exposure has on hypertension. We investigated the interactions between exposure to pet ownership and air pollutants on hypertension in Chinese children. 9354 students in twenty-four elementary and middle schools (aged 5–17 years) in Northeastern China were evaluated during 2012–2013. Four-year average concentrations of particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter of ≤10 μm (PM10), SO2, NO2, and O3, were collected in the 24 districts from 2009 to 2012. Hypertension was defined as average diastolic or systolic BP (three time measurements) in the 95th percentile or higher based on height, age, and sex. To examine effects, two-level regression analysis was used, controlling covariates. Consistent interactions between exposure to pet and air pollutants were observed. Compared to children exposed to pet, those not exposed exhibited consistently stronger effects of air pollution. The highest odds ratios (ORs) per 30.6 μg/m3 increase in PM10 were 1.79 (95%confidence interval [95%CI]: 1.29–2.50) in children without current pet exposure compared to 1.24 (95%CI: 0.85–1.82) in children with current pet exposure. As for BP, only O3 had an interaction for all exposure to pet ownership types, and showed lower BP in children exposed to pet. The increases in mean diastolic BP per 46.3 μg/m3 increase in O3 were 0.60 mmHg (95%CI: 0.21, 0.48) in children without pet exposure in utero compared with 0.34 mmHg (95%CI: 0.21, 0.48) in their counterparts. When stratified by age, pet exposure was more protective among younger children. In conclusion, in this large population-based cohort, pet ownership is associated with smaller associations between air pollution and hypertension in children, suggesting pet ownership reduces susceptibility to the health effects of pollutants.

This study reports the development of a multi-residue method for determining 48 compounds of emerging concern (CEC) including three diclofenac transformation products (TP) in Slovenian wastewater (WW) and surface water (SW). For solid-phase extraction (SPE), Oasis™ Prime cartridges were favoured over Oasis HLB™. The validated method was then applied to 43 SW and 52 WW samples collected at nine locations. Ten bisphenols in WW and 14 bisphenols in SW were traced in Europe for the first time. Among all of the 48 targeted CEC, 21 were >LOQ in the influents and 20 in the effluents. One diclofenac TP was also quantified in WWs (3.04–78.1 ng L⁻¹) for the first time. As expected, based on mass loads in the wastewater treatment plant influents, caffeine is consumed in high amounts (105,000 mg day⁻¹ 1000 inhab.⁻¹) in Slovenia, while active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) are consumed in lower amounts compared to other European countries. Removal was lower in winter in the case of four bisphenols (17–78%), one preservative (36%) and four APIs (-14–91%), but remained constant for caffeine, one API, two UV-filters and three preservatives (all >85.5%). Overall, a constructed wetland showed the lowest (0–80%) and most inconsistent removal efficiencies (SD > 40% for some CECs) of CECs including caffeine, two UV-filters, two preservatives and two APIs compared to other treatment technologies. The method was also able to quantify Bisphenol S in SW (<36.2 ng L⁻¹). Environmental risk was assessed via risk quotients (RQs) based on WW and SW data. Two UV-filters (oxybenzone and dioxybenzone), estrone and triclosan, despite their low abundance posed a medium to high environmental risk with RQs between 0.282 (for HM-BP) and 15.5 (for E1).

Compacted clay is widely used as capillary barriers in landfill final cover system. Recently, biochar amended clay (BAC) has been proposed as a sustainable alternative cover material. However, the effects of biochar on saturated hydraulic conductivity (kₛₐₜ) of clay with high degree of compaction is not yet understood. The present study aims to investigate the effects of biochar on kₛₐₜ of compacted kaolin clay. Soil specimens were prepared by amending kaolin clay with biochar derived from peanut-shell at 0, 5 and 20% (w/w). The kₛₐₜ of soil specimens was measured using a flexible water permeameter. The effects of biochar on the microstructure of the compacted clay was also investigated using MIP. Adding 5% and 20% of biochar increased the kₛₐₜ of compacted kaolin clay from 1.2 × 10⁻⁹ to 2.1 × 10⁻⁹ and 1.3 × 10⁻⁸ ms⁻¹, respectively. The increase in kₛₐₜ of clay was due to the shift in pore size distribution of compacted biochar-amended clay (BAC). MIP results revealed that adding 20% of biochar shifted the dominant pore diameter of clay from 0.01–0.1 μm (meso– and macropores) to 0.1–4 μm (macropores). Results reported in this communication revealed that biochar application increased the kₛₐₜ of compacted clay, and the increment was positively correlated to the biochar percentage.