Nonylphenol (NP) and octylphenol (OP) are priority environmental contaminants that have a potential role as endocrine disruptors. They can be biomagnified in the food chain and pose an estrogenic health risk to human health. A 28-day oral toxicity study was performed to observe the impact of single and combined exposure to NP and OP on 5-HT transporter (SERT) as well as 5-HT₂A receptor. Results showed that the 5-HT levels in rat plasma increased with exposure to middle-dose and high-dose NP, to high-dose OP, and to low, middle, and high doses of combined NP and OP (P < 0.05), while the 5-HT levels in rat platelets increased when exposed to NP/OP or combined NP and OP of middle or high dose (P < 0.05). The expression levels of SERT in rat platelets decreased when exposed to high-dose NP/OP or high dose of combined NP and OP (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the expression levels of 5-HT₂A in rat platelets decreased when exposed to high-dose NP/OP as well as combined NP and OP (P < 0.05). These findings suggested that exposure to NP and OP could influence the metabolic network of 5-hydroxytryptamine via transportation and receptor binding pathways.

Applications of cadmium (Cd) and salinity-containing manures contribute to Cd pollution and salinization in greenhouse soils. In this study, chicken manure polluted with Cd (5.6 mg/kg) was mildly electrokinetically treated (0.25 V/cm) for 48 h with intermittent replacement of catholyte with 20 mM acetic acid solution to remove Cd and salinity for application without need of post-treatment in greenhouse soil. The electrokinetic treatment created pH conditions mainly ranging from 5.0 to 8.0 within the manure for minimizing re-precipitation of desorbed Cd and evaporative loss of ammonium. However, without manure pre-acidification, electrokinetic treatment resulted in negligible removal of total Cd but 61.7% of increase in the small fraction of exchangeable Cd, due to poor desorption but enhanced formation of exchangeable Cd. In contrast, manure pre-acidification with 20 mM acetic acid favored Cd desorption, leading to electrokinetic removal of exchangeable, carbonate-bound, and total Cd by 32.2%, 34.5%, and 14.5%, respectively. Mild electrokinetic treatment of manure with and without pre-acidification resulted in similar removal of salinity (72.3% and 68.0%), similar pH condition (7.2 and 7.4), and basically same evaporative loss of ammonium (14.6% and 14.2%). Overall, the mild electrokinetic treatment considerably lowered the risk of Cd and the salinity from the pre-acidified manure for improved applicability in greenhouse soil, and more studies are needed to enhance the performance of electrokinetic Cd removal from manure.

Here, we aim to determine the distribution, ecological risk and sources of heavy metals and metalloids in the surface sediments of the Xiangjiang River, Hunan Province, China. Sixty-four surface sediment samples were collected in 16 sites of the Xiangjiang River, and the concentrations of ten heavy metals and metalloids (Mn, Zn, Cr, V, Pb, Cu, As, Ni, Co, and Cd) in the sediment samples were investigated using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) and an atomic fluorescence spectrophotometer (AFS), respectively. The results showed that the mean concentrations of the ten heavy metals and metalloids in the sediment samples followed the order Mn > Zn > Cr > V > Pb > Cu > As ≈ Ni >Co > Cd. The geoaccumulation index (I gₑₒ), enrichment factor (EF), modified degree of contamination (mCd), and potential ecological risk index (RI) revealed that Cd, followed by Pb, Zn, and Cu, caused severely contaminated and posed very highly potential ecological risk in the Xiangjiang River, especially in Shuikoushan of Hengyang, Xiawan of Zhuzhou, and Yijiawan of Xiangtan. The Pearson’s correlation coefficient (PCC) analysis, principal component analysis (PCA), and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) indicated that the ten heavy metals and metalloids in the sampling sediments of the Xiangjiang River were classified into three groups: (1) Cd, Pb, Zn, and Cu which possibly originated from Shuikoushan, Xiawan, and Yijiawan clustering Pb–Zn mining and smelting industries; (2) Co, V, Ni, Cr, and Al from natural resources; and (3) Mn and As. Therefore, our results suggest that anthropogenic activities, especially mining and smelting, have caused severe contamination of Cd, Pb, Zn, and Cu and posed very high potential ecological risk in the Xiangjiang River.

Fluoride contamination is one of the most alarming issues for those countries that depend on groundwater drinking water supply. A careful examination of the hydrogeochemical conditions and routine monitoring of fluoride level are therefore quintessential. Estimation of natural background level (NBL) of fluoride becomes significant information for assessing the current and future contamination episodes. Vellore District in Tamil Nadu is a hard rock terrain known for its F-rich groundwater. In this study, we attempted to form a benchmark for fluoride using hydrochemical pre-selection (based on TDS and NO₃) and cumulative probability plots (CPP). Principle components analysis is (PCA) applied to evaluate the corresponding factor grouping of the total of 68 samples, which is later mapped using geostatistical tool in ArcGIS. From the CPP, we derived the NBL of F as 0.75 mg/L. This value is compared with the observed concentration in each sample and they were spatially plotted based on the NBL. Resultant plot suggests that W-NW part of the study area has exceeded and E-EW regions are below the NBL of F. Spatial variation of the factor scores also supported this observation. Grounding an NBL and extending it to other parts of the potential contaminated aquifers are highly recommended for better understanding and management of the water supply systems.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons contain two or more fused benzene rings that are considered as cosmo-pollutants ubiquitously found in the environment. The identification and monitoring of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are of great interests for rapid and on-site detection. Therefore, many analytical and biological techniques have been proposed for the qualitative and quantitative assessments of PAHs. Non-biological analytical techniques such as infrared, Raman, and fluorescence spectroscopies are commonly exploited as non-destructive techniques while gas chromatography (GC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with multiple detectors are extensively employed for the separation and detection of an analyte. Even though spectroscopy and chromatography are more accurate, convenient, and feasible techniques, often, these methods are expensive and sophisticated which require high maintenance cost. On the other hand, biological approaches, i.e., immunoassay, PCR, and microarray, offer comprehensive high-throughput specificity and sensitivity for a similar analyte. Biosensor- and immunoassay-mediated detections of PAHs have opened up new avenues in terms of low cost, rapid determination, and higher sensitivity. In this review, we have discussed the strengths and limitations of biological and analytical techniques that were explored for precise evaluation and were trusted at both the legislation and research levels.

The increasing role of chemistry in industrial production and its direct and indirect impacts in everyday life create the need for continuous search and efficiency improvement of new methods for decomposition/removal of different classes of waterborne anthropogenic pollutants. This review paper addresses a highly promising class of water treatment solutions, aimed at tackling the pressing problem of emerging contaminants in natural and drinking waters and wastewater discharges. Radiation processing, a technology originating from radiation chemistry studies, has shown encouraging results in the treatment of (mainly) organic water pollution. Radiation (“high energy”) processing is an additive-free technology using short-lived reactive species formed by the radiolysis of water, both oxidative and reducing, to carry out decomposition of organic pollutants. The paper illustrates the basic principles of radiolytic treatment of organic pollutants in water and wastewaters and specifically of one of its most practical implementations (electron beam processing). Application examples, highlighting the technology’s strong points and operational conditions are described, and a discussion on the possible future of this technology follows.

The present study investigated the performance of an integrated system, combining the sequential use of microalgae (MA) and vertical flow constructed wetland (VFCW) for the treatment of wastewaters produced at a university campus. Ecotoxicity and phytotoxicity assays were performed using respectively Daphnia magna and Lactuca sativa, whereas the genotoxicity of the wastewaters was assessed by using D. magna and Allium cepa. The results revealed that the major environmental impacts of the studied wastewaters are associated with the high eutrophication potential, due to high N-NH₃ (68.8 ± 25.7 mg L⁻¹), total P (7.71 ± 2.5 mg L⁻¹), and BOD₅ (526.4 ± 177 mg L⁻¹) values, pathogenic load, and genototoxicity (p < 0.0001). The results also showed that the integrated system (MA + VFCW) was not able to satisfactory reduce the total p values (only 4%). Nevertheless, the MA + VFCW system achieved very promising results for the nitrogen removal, with emphasis on N-NH₃ removal (100%) and the highest BOD₅ removal (57%). Neither the raw wastewaters nor the treated wastewaters were phytotoxic. The integrated system completely eliminated the ecotoxicity (100%) and genotoxicity (n.s.) of the raw wastewater and showed decontamination potential. Thus, the integrated system emerges as an innovative environmental technology and, with minor adjustments, might be efficiently used in large scale and eventually replace conventional wastewater treatment systems.

Aflatoxin is among the natural toxins that cause serious side effects on living things. Diosmin is also one of the compounds with broad pharmacological effects. In this study, the effects on the oxidant/antioxidant system of 50 mg/kg body weight/day dose of diosmin, aflatoxin (500 μg/kg body weight/day), and combined aflatoxin (500 μg/kg body weight/day) plus diosmin (50 mg/kg body weight/day) given to the stomach via catheter female adult Wistar Albino rats is examined. Forty rats were used in the experiment, and these animals were randomly allocated to four equal groups. The test phase lasted 21 days, and blood samples and tissue (liver and kidney) samples were taken after this period was over. Some biochemical parameters (glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, uric acid, lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, total protein, albumin) and levels of malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, and 4-hydroxynonenal and activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase were analyzed in the samples. The aflatoxin administered over the period indicated a significant increase in levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), and 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) in all tissues and blood samples. Therewithal, the activity of antioxidant enzymes showed a change in the decreasing direction. Biochemical parameters of the group in which aflatoxin were administered alone changed unfavorably. Parallel effects were also observed in the histopathological findings of this group. The results showed that aflatoxin changed antioxidant/oxidant balance in favor of oxidant and eventually led to lipid peroxidation. Diosmin administration to aflatoxin-treated animals resulted in positive changes in antioxidant enzyme activities while the levels of MDA, NO, and 4-HNE were reduced in all tissues and blood samples examined. Diosmin alleviates the oxidative stress caused by aflatoxin. Similar improvement was observed in biochemical parameters of this group as well as in liver and kidney histopathology. No significant change was observed in the group treated with diosmin alone in terms of the parameters examined and histologic findings. As a result, diosmin may be included in compounds that can be used as a therapeutic and prophylactic agent in the event of the formation of aflatoxin exposure and poisoning in animals.

Some water fleas such as Daphnia galeata and Bosmina longirostris are difficult to culture and use in ecotoxicity testing since they can easily become entrapped at the surface film. Cetyl alcohol was the most prevalent chemical used to prevent the entrapment of water fleas in previous studies. However, cetyl alcohol possesses a number of disadvantages including its toxicity and water insolubility. This study presents a novel method for preventing surface film entrapment of the water flea D. galeata and B. longirostris acute testing. We examined the applicability of saponin extracts from Quillaja saponaria, natural surfactants commonly extracted from plants. Its application of saponin extracts was tested by ecotoxicity testing of heavy metals. Based on the acute test results for heavy metals, a concentration of 1.0 mg/L of saponins was determined as suitable for preventing surface film entrapment of D. galeata and B. longirostris with negligible adverse effects. This study proposes a novel method for preventing surface film entrapment of D. galeata and B. longirostris through the application saponins and could be valuable to make them suitable test species in ecotoxicity testing.

A lipid peroxidation product, malondialdehyde (MDA), was studied in Vardar chub (Squalius vardarensis Karaman) as an indicator of oxidative stress, using native fish from three rivers in northern Macedonia: the mining-impacted Zletovska and Kriva rivers and the agriculturally impacted Bregalnica River. MDA concentrations were measured in the intestine in the spring and autumn of 2012 and in the gills in autumn. The aims of the study were to establish the type of contamination which provokes a more pronounced MDA increase, as well as the organ which more reliably reflects the occurrence of oxidative stress. MDA levels in the intestine in spring amounted to 3.29–155.8 nmol g⁻¹ and in autumn to 4.85–111.1 nmol g⁻¹, whereas MDA concentrations in the gills in autumn were 7.69–147.5 nmol g⁻¹. Stronger influence of organic contamination on development of oxidative stress was observed in both organs, as seen from higher median MDA concentrations in autumn in fish from the highly pesticide-contaminated Bregalnica River (gills 78.4 nmol g⁻¹; intestine 23.5 nmol g⁻¹) compared to the highly metal-contaminated Zletovska River (gills 15.9 nmol g⁻¹; intestine 17.4 nmol g⁻¹). The response of the gills to contamination was twice stronger than that of the intestine. The majority of fish from the pesticide-polluted river had increased MDA in the gills, in contrast to only sporadically increased MDA in the intestine. Our results indicated that development of oxidative stress strongly depends on the selected fish organ and that the gills seem to be a better choice for monitoring oxidative stress than the intestine, due to their continuous and direct exposure to polluted river water.