Most legacy mines contributed to contamination of the environment before and after cessation of mining. Contamination from waste rock, slag and tailings can introduce large concentrations of metals and metalloids to the surface soil and downstream sediments. Since ants are able to accumulate metals in their bodies, we investigated the possibility of using the elemental compositions of ants as indicators of metals at legacy mines developed on ores rich in copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As), silver (Ag) and lead (Pb). Our results showed the concentrations of manganese (Mn) and Cu in ants were not significantly different between mine and reference samples and only Zn was significantly different between contaminated and reference areas. Crematogaster spp. and Notoncus spp. from reference areas accumulated larger concentrations of metals in their bodies compared to ants from the mine. Ants accumulated metals in different parts of their bodies. The abdomen was the main site for accumulation of Mn, iron (Fe) and Zn. Mandibles were only associated with accumulation of Zn. Copper and Pb showed no area of preferential accumulation and traces were detected in the whole body of the ants. Ants from five genera had similar regions for metal accumulation. The exoskeleton did not contribute to accumulation of metals; instead all metals were stored in internal organs. Not all genera were suitable for use as indicators; only Iridomyrmex spp. and Ochetellus spp. accumulated larger amount of metals in mine samples compared to reference samples.

Glyphosate is globally a widely used herbicide, yet there is little information on their toxicity to marine fishes. Java medaka, a small tropical fish native to coastal areas in several Southeast Asian countries, is viewed as a suitable candidate for toxicity test and thus was used for this study. Java medaka adults were cultured in the laboratory and the fertilized eggs of the F2 generation were exposed to different concentrations of glyphosate-based herbicide (100, 200, 300, 400 and 500ppm) until they hatched. The survival and hatching rates of the embryos, changes in the heart rate and morphological impairments were recorded. Generally, survival and hatching percentage decreased as glyphosate concentration increased. Absence of pectoral fin(s) and cornea, permanently bent tail, irregular shaped abdomen, and cell disruption in the fin, head and abdomen are among the common teratogenic effects observed. Furthermore, risk factor also increased with the increased in glyphosate concentrations.

The regional climate has significantly warmed with erratically declining annual rainfall and intensified downpour within a narrower span of monsoon months, which led to an increased trophic state (≈algae) in most inland waters. Freshwater clupeids vitally control the aquatic food chain by grazing on algae. Despite increasing food availability, IUCN Red List® revealed 16 freshwater clupeids with a decreasing population trend. We investigated one such species’ reproductive dependencies, Gudusia chapra (Indian river shad), in the lower Gangetic drainage (India) under a mixed context of climate change and overfishing. Monthly rainfall (≥ 60–100 mm) and water temperature (≥ 31–32 °C) are key breeding cues for females. The regional climate seems inclined to fulfill these through the significant part of the breeding season, and indeed the species has maintained consistent breeding phenology over 20 years. Other breeding thresholds relevant to fishing include size at first maturity (≥ 6.8 cm; reduced by ~ 25–36%) and pre-spawning girth (Girthₛₚₐwₙ₅₀ ≥ 7 cm; first record). Girthₛₚₐwₙ₅₀ is a proxy of the minimum mesh size requirement of fishing nets to allow safe passage of “gravid” females (+ 22% bulged abdomen) and breed. The operational fishing nets (3–10 cm mesh) probably have been indulged in indiscriminative fishing of gravid females for generations. Under a favorably changing climate and food availability, existing evidence suggests a fishery-induced evolution in regional females (to circumvent such mesh sizes) through earlier maturation/puberty at smaller sizes. It could be an early warning sign of population collapse (smaller females → lessening fecundity → fewer offspring). Overfishing seemed to be a bigger threat than climate change.

The giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, is an important species for Bangladesh’s national economy, aquatic biodiversity, and employment opportunities; furthermore, human health risk associated to consumption of this species has become a crucial issue. Eight trace metals (Pb, Cr, Ni, Cd, Fe, Cu, Zn, and Mn) in different body parts of M. rosenbergii (U/10 as large and U/12 and U/15 as medium size), and water collected from farm and wild sources along with the human health risks were assessed in this study. Except Cd, all trace metals exceeded the maximum permissible limits proposed by different authorities. Elevated levels of Pb, Cr, Fe, Cu, Zn, and Mn were found in the wild-caught prawn, whereas Ni and Cd were higher in farmed prawn. A higher trace metal contamination was recorded from the cephalothorax part than the abdomen of both sized prawns. However, trace metal concentrations between two sizes of prawns were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). The estimated daily intakes (EDI) values were higher than the recommended and/or tolerable daily intake for Pb and Cr. Moreover, the target hazard quotient (THQ) values were > 1 for Pb, Cd, Cu, and Zn, elucidating non-carcinogenic risks to the consumers. In addition, the target cancer risk (TR) values of Pb and Ni were high and exceeded the acceptable guideline of 10⁻⁶, explicating the possibility of carcinogenic risks. Therefore, the study concludes that the consumption of the studied prawn species contaminated with elevated levels of toxic metals is associated with higher degree of potential health risks.

Exposure of pregnant women to radiofrequency (RF) devices raises questions on their possible health consequences for their progeny. We examined the hazard threshold of gestational RF on the progeny’s glial homeostasis, sensory-motor gating, emotionality, and novelty seeking and tested whether maternal immune activation would increase RF toxicity. Pregnant dams were daily restrained with loop antennas adjoining the abdomen (fetus body specific absorption rates (SAR): 0, 0.7, or 2.6 W/kg) and received three lipopolysaccharide (LPS) intra-peritoneal injections (0 or 80 μg/kg). Scores in the prepulse startle inhibition, fear conditioning, open field, and elevated plus maze were assessed at adolescence and adulthood. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and interleukines-1β (ILs) were quantified. LPS induced a SAR-dependent reduction of the prepulse startle inhibition in adults. Activity in the open field was reduced at 2.6 W/kg at adolescence. GFAP and ILs, emotional memory, and anxiety-related behaviors were not modified. These data support the hypothesis that maternal immune activation increased the developmental RF exposure-induced long-term neurobiological impairments. These data support the fact that fetuses who receive combined environmental exposures with RF need special attention for protection.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) are suspected to be associated with breast cancer risk, but the results are controversial. This study was performed to evaluate the associations between adipose tissue PCB, DDT, and DDE concentrations and breast cancer risk. Two hundred and nine pathologically diagnosed breast cancer cases and 165 controls were recruited from three local hospitals in Shantou city, China, from 2014 to 2016. Concentrations of 7 PCB congeners, p,p′-DDT, and p,p′-DDE were measured in adipose tissues obtained from the breast for cases and the breast/abdomen for controls during surgery. Clinicopathologic information and demographic characteristics were collected from medical records. PCBs, p,p′-DDT, and p,p′-DDE concentrations in adipose tissues were compared between cases and controls. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the risk of breast cancer by PCBs, p,p′-DDT, and p,p′-DDE concentrations in adipose tissues. Breast cancer cases have relatively higher menarche age, higher breastfeeding and postmenopausal proportion than controls. Levels of PCB-52, PCB-101, PCB-118, PCB-138, PCB-153, PCB-180, total PCBs (∑PCBs), and p,p′-DDE were relatively higher in breast cancer cases than controls. Breast cancer risk was increased in the third tertile of PCB-101, PCB-118, PCB-138, PCB-153, PCB-180, ∑PCBs, and p,p′-DDE as compared with the first tertile in both adjusted and unadjusted logistic regression models (odds ratios [ORs] were from 1.58 to 7.88); and increased linearly across categories of PCB-118 and p,p′-DDE in unadjusted model, and PCB-118 and PCB-153 in the adjusted model with trend (all P < 0.01). While breast cancer risk was declined in the second tertile of PCB-28, PCB-52, and PCB-101 in both unadjusted and adjusted models, also second tertile of p,p′-DDT and third tertile of PCB-28 in the adjusted models. This study suggests associations between the exposure of PCBs, p,p′-DDT, and p,p′-DDE and breast cancer risk. Based on adjusted models, PCB-118, PCB-138, PCB-153, PCB-180, ∑PCBs, and p,p′-DDE exposures increase breast cancer risk at current exposure levels, despite existing inconsistent even inverse results in PCB-28, PCB-52, PCB-101, and p,p′-DDT. More epidemiological studies are still needed to verify these findings in different populations.

The discharge of textile effluents into the environment without appropriate treatment poses a serious threat for the aquatic organisms. The present study was undertaken to investigate biochemical response of crayfish Astacus leptodactylus exposed to textile wastewater (TW) treated by indigenous white rot fungus Coriolus versicolor. Glutathione S-transferase (GST), cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1), and acetylcholinesterase (AchE) levels in hepatopancreas and abdomen tissues of crayfish exposed to untreated, treated, and diluted rates (1/10) in both TW during 24 and 96 h were tested. Physiochemical parameters (electrical conductivity (EC), chemical oxygen demand (COD), pH, and total dissolved solid (TDS)) of TW were determined before and after treatment. Physiochemical parameters of TW decreased after treatment. The GST activity and AchE were generally increased, but CYP1A1 activity was decreased in hepatopancreas tissue of crayfish exposed to different kinds of untreated TW. After treatment by indigenous white rot fungus (C. versicolor), GST and CYP1A1 activities were returned to control values, while AchE activities were increasing further. In this study, only GST and CYP1A1 activities of A. leptodactylus confirmed the efficiency of TW treatment with C. versicolor.