Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a common plasticizer, which is known to be an environmental endocrine-disrupting chemical that can jeopardize the male reproductive system. Prepuberal exposure to DEHP leads to steroidogenesis disorders. However, the specific mechanism remains ambiguous. Therefore, Sprague Dawley (SD) rats underwent prepuberal DEHP exposure at a dose of 500 mg/kg per day through gavage. Additionally, the resulting testicular injury was evaluated to confirm the disturbed steroidogenesis. Changes in testicular histology, significant reduction of serum testosterone (P < 0.01) and luteinizing hormone (P < 0.001), and significantly decreased expressions of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (P < 0.01) and 3-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (P < 0.05) were found in DEHP-treated rats. DEHP exposure resulted in obvious intestinal damage and oxidative stress imbalance, primarily in the jejunum. Both the activation of the nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway and alterations of microbiota profiles were observed in all three gut specimens, but were most notable in the jejunum. We hypothesize that the gut-microbiota-testis axis, which is mediated by the activation of the Nrf2 antioxidant pathway, could be involved in the dysfunction of prepuberal steroidogenesis induced by DEHP.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the water quality data in the Minas Gerais portion of the Doce River basin in order to analyze the current monitoring network by identifying the main variables to be maintained in the network, their possible sources of pollution, and the best sampling frequency. Multivariate statistical techniques (factor analysis/principal components analysis, FA/PCA and cluster analysis, CA) complemented by the analysis of violation of the framing classes were used for this purpose. Water quality variables common to 64 monitoring sites were analyzed for the base period from 2010 to 2017. The water quality variables were analyzed considering the different monitoring campaigns: (a) partial campaigns; (b) total campaigns; and (c) monthly campaigns. It was identified from the FA/PCA results, that, when the partial campaign data were analyzed, the variables selected represent the high susceptibility that the basin presents to erosion and the release of domestic effluents in its water bodies. When the data of total campaigns were evaluated, representative variables of the contamination by heavy metals from industrial and mining activities were included. Therefore, the analysis of violation of the framing classes made possible to identify five critical variables: thermotolerant coliforms, dissolved iron, total phosphorus, and total manganese, which reinforced the results obtained in FA/PCA. Based on the results of the analyses, it was recommended to include variables associated with heavy metal contamination in the partial campaigns, prioritizing the dissolved iron and total manganese, as well as total chloride sampling only for the total campaigns. The evaluated data from the monthly campaigns, the CA showed that although the quarterly monitoring frequency is satisfactory, the monthly monitoring is more appropriate for the monitoring of water quality in the Minas Gerais portion of the Doce River basin.

As eco-compensation is considered an effective economic instrument for controlling the industrial water pollution in transboundary basin, this study aims to explore a transboundary eco-compensation mechanism for Songhua River Basin that is one of the seven major drainage basins in China. Using a panel dataset of eleven cities in this basin tracked from 1992 to 2016, we empirically examined the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis by analyzing the relationship between economic development and industrial water pollution. Then, we developed two econometric models to quantify the wastewater discharge allowance and eco-compensation of investigated cities, respectively. The results specifically reveal the inverted U-curve effects of GRP (gross regional product) on industrial wastewater discharge, which displays an evidence of EKC in the field of transboundary water pollution in China. Moreover, our results verify the polluter pays principle that polluter should be responsible for its pollution behavior through paying of eco-compensation. Our results further interpret that the emissions trading program can help protect the ecosystem by allowing the wastewater discharge allowance to trading market.

For the first time, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) released data on hemoglobin adducts of formaldehyde (HCHO) in public domain for US children aged 6–11 years, adolescents aged 12–19 years, and adults aged > = 20 years for 2015–2016. This study was undertaken to evaluate the associations between concentrations of HCHO in whole blood and smoking, exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), and self-reported diagnoses of cancers and asthma. Adult smokers were found to have higher adjusted concentrations of HCHO than nonsmokers (127.7 vs. 125.1 pmol/g Hb, p = 0.02). Exposure to ETS was not found to affect the adjusted concentrations of HCHO. No associations were observed between HCHO concentrations and self-reported diagnosis of “ever” cancer as well as self-reported presence of asthma at the time of participation in NHANES. HCHO concentrations were not found to differ across genders and racial/ethnic groups for children and adolescents. Among adults, non-Hispanic blacks (120.0 pmol/g Hb) had lower adjusted concentrations (p < = 0.01) of HCHO than non-Hispanic whites (128.8 pmol/g Hb), Mexican Americans (129.4 pmol/g Hb), other Hispanics (130.3 pmol/g Hb), and non-Hispanic Asians (127.9 pmol/g Hb). In conclusion, self-reported diagnoses of cancer and asthma were not found to be associated with observed concentrations of HCHO in whole blood.

In this study, a practical and excellent method was used to determine the famoxadone and cymoxanil via high-performance liquid chromatography equipped utilizing ultraviolet detector lamp (HPLC-UV) for investigating the dissipation behavior and residue distribution of famoxadone and cymoxanil in cucumber and soil ecosystem. The limit of quantification (LOQS) of famoxadone and cymoxanil in cucumber were 0.50, 1.00, 2.00 and 0.05, 0.50, 1.00 mg kg⁻¹ in soil, respectively. The limit of detection (LODS) of both famoxadone and cymoxanil were 8.0 ng. The average recoveries (n = 5) of the fungicide ranged from 84.10 to 108.02% with the relative standard deviations (RSDs) typically < 9.23%. The fungicide was applied to cucumber and soil at the range of doses (275.6–413.4 g a.i.ha⁻¹) three or four times. The half-lives of famoxadone and cymoxanil in cucumber and soil were 1.34–16.12 days, which followed the first-order chemical reaction kinetics equation Cₜ = C₀ × e⁻ᵏᵗ. The residues of famoxadone and cymoxanil in cucumber at the pre-harvest interval (PHI, 3 days) were below 8.0 × 10⁻⁸ g and 8.0 × 10⁻⁹ g, respectively. Overall, this study evaluated the food safety and the environmental fate of famoxadone and cymoxanil in cucumber and soil ecosystem. In addition, this study would promote the series of work on the pesticide exposure assessment of these fungicides as well.

Exposure to organophosphate pesticides (OP) has been associated with the inhibition of cholinesterase enzymatic activity, such as butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE). Changes in BuChE activity have been associated with obesity, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, and metabolic syndrome. However, few studies have evaluated the effects of pesticides on both BuChE and lipid parameters. The aim of this study was to evaluate lipid parameters in urban sprayers and their association with BuChE activity. An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in workers exposed to pesticides. The pesticide exposures were evaluated by the measurement of urinary dialkylphosphates. BuChE activity was determined spectrophotometrically in serum, and biochemical parameters were determined at a certified laboratory. Information regarding general characteristics, lifestyle, and other aspects was obtained from a structured questionnaire. The results showed variations in glucose, cholesterol, albumin, atherogenic index, creatinine, LDL, VLDL, triglycerides, and total lipids according to the level of exposure to pesticides in individuals with overweight and obesity. Furthermore, positive correlations between BuChE activity and lipid parameters were observed; these effects were associated with the body mass index. More studies are needed in human population to better elucidate the role of BuChE in lipid metabolism.

The reaeration coefficient (Kₐ₂₀) is one of the main indicators of dissolved O₂ movement to and from aquatic systems via the atmosphere. Direct gas tracer measurements, physical models, and models of O₂ dynamics have been used for Kₐ₂₀ estimation, especially in temperate aquatic ecosystems, with fewer examples in their tropical counterparts. Here we investigate a less commonly employed soluble floating probe (SFP) method, based on the dissolution rate of a soluble solid (VS₂₀) as an auxiliary variable for Kₐ₂₀ estimation. Our objectives were to test the SFP method for estimating Kₐ₂₀, validate such estimates through the traditional gas tracer method, and develop empirical models for Kₐ₂₀ prediction using VS₂₀ and additional physical variables. Five reaches (with lengths from 20 to 250 m) of four tropical headwater streams were selected, and their main physical, hydrological, and hydraulic variables were measured in eight sampling periods. The gas tracer (using NaCl and SF₆ tracers) and the SFP (spherical format made with oxalic acid dihydrate) methods were carried out in each reach. The Kₐ₂₀ values ​​ranged from 16.94 to 373.79 days⁻ ¹ and the VS₂₀ ranged from 0.079 to 0.778 mm min⁻ ¹. We observed a significant linear relationship between Kₐ₂₀ and VS₂₀. The best model (R² = 0.78) combined the variables depth, Froude number, and VS₂₀. Our study highlighted that models developed for temperate aquatic systems can underestimate Kₐ₂₀ in tropical streams, bringing uncertainties for modeling metabolic rates, self-depuration capacity, or any other processes that depend on reaeration.

Photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) has been described as an advanced technology to remove toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and airborne microorganisms from indoor air environments. This technique is economic, stable, safe, and capable to remove a wide variety of organic contaminants under UV irradiation. This study presents a case study on the effect of a fabricated filter in the removal of toluene at 26 mg/L and disinfection of ambient air under a given operating condition. The principal goals of this study were to synthesize Ag nanoparticles/TiO₂ filter for the first time via the deposition of Ag nanoparticles on a commercial immobilized TiO₂ tissue sheet by impregnation technique and to investigate the performance of this prepared Ag/TiO₂ tissue based filter system for toluene removal as well as to remove airborne microorganisms from indoor air. The results illustrated that under the experimental conditions, Ag/TiO₂-based filter was able to disinfect well the microorganisms. The performance of Ag/TiO₂ filter shows two different stages; the first one is a slight adsorption phase in dark with approximately 15% of toluene removal within 60 min. The second stage is a photooxidation phase under UV irradiation in which the toluene removal efficiency was significantly enhanced with extension of the operational time and reached 97% during this stage. Additionally, the Ag/TiO₂ filter has a higher disinfection capacity of airborne microorganisms that completely removed to reach 100% after 300 min of application. This filter could be practically introduced as an effective system in industrial, hospital, and home applications for air purification. Graphical abstract

This paper investigated the spatial effects of two types of technological progress, namely renewable energy technology patents (RET patents) and energy conservation and emission reduction technology patents (ECERT patents), on carbon intensity of 30 provinces in China. Based on the 2005–2017 provincial panel dataset of China, this paper used the spatial Durbin model to analyze the spatial dependence and the spillover effects of surrounding provinces. The results first proved the existence of the spatial correlation in the carbon intensity across different provinces in China. Second, we found that the energy conservation and emission reduction technological progress can effectively reduce the province’s own carbon intensity; however, this role is not significantly reflected by the progress in renewable energy technologies. Nonetheless, both types of technological progress have negative indirect and total effects on carbon intensity, thereby indicating that, geographically, they have technology diffusion effects. At the same time, the results demonstrated that technology patents play a negative role in carbon intensity. Third, by taking the interaction item between energy consumption and renewable energy technology patents into consideration, it was observed that the progress in renewable energy technologies can reduce the carbon intensity, owing to its role in optimizing the energy consumption structure of the province, but increase the carbon intensity of the surrounding provinces. Finally, based on the abovementioned findings, this paper put forward corresponding policy proposals.

Disposal of industrial effluents (especially the textile industry) into the drains without prior treatment is a common practice that affects aquatic life and pollutes the soil and groundwater quality. Textile effluents contain organic and inorganic pollutants in terms of high pH, suspended and dissolved solids, chemical oxygen demand, heavy metals, and many other contaminants. Therefore, it is obligatory to dispose off wastewater according to environmental standards. The present study is planned to determine textile wastewater characteristics and recommend efficient and economical treatment options. Wastewater samples from three different industries were collected and analyzed. Nine different treatments using different dosages of alum, activated carbon, and their mixture were used to investigate treatment performance. Analysis of variance and correlation was used to optimize the results. A highly significant correlation was found among the treatments ranging from 92 to 100% for observed parameters. pH, chemical oxygen demand, and total suspended solids were removed significantly. A combination of alum and activated carbon found to be the most efficient treatment. Based on the highly significant results among different parameters, a combined wastewater treatment plant is recommended for a cluster of industrial units.