Endotoxemia is mainly caused by translocation of bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) into the bloodstream. This in turn enhances systemic inflammation and inappropriate production of reactive oxygen species, leading to oxidative injury of vital internal organs and other dangerous effects that can be life-threatening. Here, we evaluated/compared the modulatory effects of consuming two different doses (2% and 4% of the diet) of brown seaweeds (Sargassum latifolium) for 40 consecutive days on thermo-respiratory response, inflammation, and oxidative stress in Barki male sheep (Ovis aries) challenged twice with bacterial LPS (1.25 μg/kg body weight, injected intravenously on days 28 and 35 of the experimental period). The results showed that the diet containing Sargassum latifolium (especially at 4%) modulated significantly (P < 0.05–0.001) the increase in the thermo-respiratory response (skin and rectal temperatures, and respiration rate) and the obtained systemic inflammation (blood leukocytosis, the elevation in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and the increase in serum proinflammatory cytokines and heat shock protein-70 concentrations) in the LPS-challenged sheep. In addition, it improved significantly (P < 0.001, especially at 4%) the total antioxidant capacity of the blood of LPS-challenged sheep by increasing the catalase and superoxide dismutase activities. Moreover, it decreased the blood markers of tissue damage (malondialdehyde concentration and the activities of alanine aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase) in the LPS-challenged sheep. In conclusion, the diet containing 4% Sargassum latifolium may have potential impact in protecting the ruminant livestock from the serious effects of endotoxemia through improving the animals’ antioxidant defense system and regulating their inflammatory and thermo-respiratory responses.

Enteric viruses, generally found in sewage, are recognized as the main cause of waterborne and foodborne public health outbreaks. Among leading enteric viruses, the Rotavirus A (RVA) detection in wastewater appeared to be a novel approach to monitor the emergence of these viruses in some countries where the viral gastroenteritis surveillance is almost absent such as in Tunisia. The RVA detection and quantification in an industrial sewage purification plant of Charguia I (Tunis, Tunisia) were achieved to evaluate the performance of activated sludge procedures coupled to a macrofiltration monolamp ultraviolet irradiation type C (UV-C₂₅₄) disinfection reactor. This UV-C₂₅₄ system was preceded by a fiberglass cartridge filter system with an average porosity of 45 μm to clarify the water and thus increase its UV transmittance. A total of 140 composite sewage samples was collected from this line of treatment and analyzed for RVA detection. The detection and the viral load quantification of RVA were performed using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The virological results showed in general that RVA were detected at high frequency of 98% (137/140). In fact, the RVA detection rates at the exit of the two studied wastewater treatment were about 100% at the exit of the activated sludge procedure. It means that all wastewater sampled at this last step of treatment was positive for RVA detection. On the other hand, 92.5% of the wastewater samples taken at the exit of the monolamp UV-C₂₅₄ reactor were positive for the RVA. However, the RVA quantification results expressed as viral load showed a significant reduction in the means of RVA viral loads at the exit of the biological activated sludge procedure and the tertiary UV-C₂₅₄ treatment, showing in general an improved treated wastewater virological quality. Therefore, the RVA load removal rates recorded at the two successive stages of treatment, the activated sludge and the UV-C₂₅₄ treatment, were around 85% and 73%, respectively, as compared to the one with 100% registered for the raw wastewater. In addition, good physical-chemical and bacteriological qualities of the treated sewage were found at the exit of the two considered wastewater treatment procedures. The present investigation represents the first Tunisian environmental report showing the good effectiveness and performance of the biological and the tertiary treatments for RVA removal. Therefore, an improved and an optimized tertiary disinfection treatment was needed since it could be a good means for getting better viral water quality and for minimizing the transmission and dissemination of human infectious viral diseases.

The main goal of this research is to evaluate the contributions of Green Chemistry as a potential tool to drive the transition to circularity. For this, we have carried out a bibliographic study, analyzing those documents, process, or experiences that dealt jointly with the Green Chemistry aspects related to circularity such circular economy, industrial ecology, and closed loop. Findings show that few authors have treated that disciplines together in the last 10 years. Based on an analysis of academic literature, common strategies (design, raw materials, life cycle assessment, processes, normative, new business, and collaboration), specific experiences (catalyst, biobased products or methods, recycling, and reusing), and difficulties to overcome (metrics, transdisciplinary research, unawareness, and competitiveness) have been identified. Finally, different kind of measures, as behind such joint metrics, informal open spaces, closer the industry, education, standards and label are proposed to facilitate the development of Green Chemistry, circular economy, industrial ecology, and closed loop with the ultimate goal of improving sustainable development.From the evidences found, we finally conclude that it is possible to use Green Chemistry and its principles as a tool to drive the transition to circularity, being the development of open spaces for exchange information between different actors from academia, governments and regulatory actors, business and industrial sectors, with the aim of promoting disruptive advances in sustainability.

Phthalates are synthetic chemicals, widely used as plasticizers due to their flexibility in plastics. Human populations may be exposed to phthalates through direct contact or environmental contamination. Most studies have focused on the effects of phthalates on the reproductive tract and have classified these compounds as endocrine disruptors. In this study, we aimed to investigate the possible oxidative damage induced by di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) in the mouse testis and to evaluate the regulatory effects of alpha-lipoic acid (LA). For this purpose, forty male mice were divided into four experimental groups. Group I received normal saline (2 mL/kg; p.o.) and corn oil (5 mL/kg; p.o.) as the control group, group II received DEHP (2 g/kg; p.o.), group III received DEHP and LA (20 mg/kg; p.o.), and group IV was treated with LA alone; treatments continued for 2 weeks. The glutathione level (GSH), as well as glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) activities, was determined in mice. In addition, serum concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were measured. Nitric oxide (NO) level, malondialdehyde (MDA) level, sperm characteristics, and histological changes of the testes were also evaluated. The results showed that 2 g/kg of DEHP could significantly decrease the sperm motility. Based on our findings, DEHP significantly reduced the production and count of sperms; these toxic effects were associated with alterations in the serum hormone levels. In the DEHP group, a significant reduction was reported in the serum testosterone, FSH, and LH levels. LA improved DEHP-induced changes in hormonal levels and sperm index. According to our findings, treatment with DEHP triggered histopathological changes and oxidative stress, which were normalized by LA pretreatment. In conclusion, DEHP disrupts the testicular function in rats, at least partly through induction of oxidative stress. On the other hand, LA exhibits potential protective effects on testicular toxicity induced by DEHP.

This study investigated the causal linkage between environmental pollution by carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions and net foreign direct investment (FDI), along with some other variables, namely economic growth by real per capita income and trade openness, using balanced annual data of 17 countries from Asia for the period from 1980 to 2014. Panel cointegration tests confirm the long-run association among the variables. After checking the panel data for stationarity properties, the method panel fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) is implemented. The FMOLS estimates on CO₂ emission model reveal that inward FDI has a significantly positive impact on environmental pollution, supporting the pollution haven hypothesis (PHH). Likewise, FDI model results imply that CO₂ emissions represent environmental pollution; economic growth and trade openness are the pivotal determinants of FDI. Panel causality results suggest bidirectional linkages between CO₂ emissions and inward FDI. Empirical findings suggest that economic policy reforms are required to channelise foreign capital inflows to a more environmentally healthy direction. The governments of Asian countries should chalk out policies on FDI inflows and the environment in order to achieve sustainable economic growth and development.

Soil heavy metal pollution, especially lead (Pb) and arsenic (As), is a global issue that requires urgent attention. In the present study, phosphate-modified ferric-based material (PFM) was used to remedy Pb and As co-contaminated soil. The remediation potential of PFM on Pb and As co-contaminated soil was studied by static culture experiments, and the effect on maize (Zea mays L.) seedling growth was studied using pot experiments. The results showed that the bioavailability of Pb and As in the soil and their accumulation in the seedlings were reduced when PFM was added to the soil. At 2–6 wt% PFM, the remediation rates of Pb and As reached 57%–82% and 62%–76%, respectively, and their accumulation in the seedlings decreased by 27.8%–68% and 55.6%–70%. The optimal amount of PFM was 4 wt% of the soil. There was a linear correlation between the amount of DTPA-extractable Pb or NaHCO₃-extractable As in the soil and the amount of Pb or As accumulated by the seedlings. The correlation coefficients of Pb and As reached 0.7690–0.8166 and 0.9982–0.9779. Seedling growth was also promoted. Compared with the controls, the seedling emergence rate increased by 1.4%–4%, plant height increased by 4.1%–12.4%, plant weight increased by 29.6%–37%, and the root length increased by 5%–52%. In summary, PFM offers an environmentally friendly approach with excellent potential for the remediation of Pb and As co-contaminated soil.

Anthropogenic effluent dissolved organic matter (DOM) plays an important role in coastal zone pollution. The objectives of the present study were to characterize the fluorescence signal of anthropogenic effluent DOM from wastewater treatment plant and to evaluate the effect of solar irradiation on the fluorescence signal in the coastal zone. Solar irradiation experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect photochemical degradation using excitation–emission matrix (EEM) method combined with parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC). Results showed high fluorescence of DOM before irradiation and the intensity tends to decrease after 4th and 15th day of irradiation. Rapid photochemical degradation of humic-like fluorophores and appearance of a post-irradiance dominant anthropogenic effluent DOM fluorophores were also observed after irradiation. Our experiments showed a sharp reduction in fluorescence intensity which occurred after 4th day of solar irradiation and the fluorescence signal did not disappeared after 15th day indicating the formation of a specific signal due to solar irradiation. PARAFAC model divided the bulk EEM spectra into three individual fluorescent components with C1 “terrestrial humic-like” and C2 “humic-like of longer wavelength” and C3 is a noisy component with two emission maxima. Multilinear regression of PARAFAC components contribution with mixing composition was most suitable according to the equation C*i = Aᵂᵂᵢ,₀ + Aᵂᵂᵢ,₁.fSW + Aᵂᵂᵢ,₂.fRW, where C*ᵢ is the normalized contribution of PARAFAC component number i in a given irradiation day; Aᵂᵂᵢ,₀, Aᵂᵂᵢ,₁, Aᵂᵂᵢ,₂ are the multilinear regression coefficients and contain implicitly the effect of fWW; and WW, SW, and RW are treated wastewater, sea water, and river water respectively. The values of Aᵂᵂᵢ,₀, Aᵂᵂᵢ,₁, and Aᵂᵂᵢ,₂ fitted second-order kinetics with irradiation process with kinetic constant of 9.68, − 987.35, and − 977.67 respectively for C1 equation and the same trend for C2 and no values for C3 due to its noisy character indicating the rapid degradation with increase of fSW and fRW and the predominance of the residual fluorescence coming from fWW which is the content fraction of anthropogenic effluent DOM because Aᵂᵂᵢ,₀ was 100 times less sensitive to photobleaching. A suitable model for predicting the fluorescence EEMs as a function of mixing composition was developed.

Radiation-induced degradation of chlorobenzene was conducted at 0.1, 0.4, 0.5, 0.7, and 1.0 mmol/dm³ concentrations in aerated environment and at 1.0 mmol/dm³ in oxygen-free and N₂O-saturated solutions. The results demonstrated that the elimination of chloride is important when the solution is oxygen free, because the [Formula: see text] attacks at the ipso position of the chloro group produces hydrochloric acid. The degradation was affected to a large extent by the concentration and to a lesser extent by the presence or absence of oxygen in the solutions which were irradiated. Thereby, the degradation occurred faster in the solutions with air and without oxygen and more slowly in the saturated solution with N₂O. Some by-products were identified using an HPLC-UV-mass system. In addition, it was found that there is a linear correlation between the ln C/C₀ and the dose, indicating that the radiolytic degradation followed pseudo-first-order reaction kinetics. The radiolytic oxidation was followed by the chemical oxygen demand (COD) test. The COD decreases when the solute concentration increases. The COD results were for a 0.47 mmol/dm³ of 5.94 mg O₂ dm⁻³ kGy⁻¹ and for 0.09 mmol/dm³ of 7.45 mg O₂ dm⁻³ kGy⁻¹.

Cypermethrin, a pyrethroid insecticide, may cause several adverse effects including nephrotoxicity. Curcumin is a nutraceutical with many pharmacological effects including nephroprotective effects. But its effective clinical use is limited due to poor bioavailability, physicochemical instability, low bioactive absorption, quick metabolization, less penetration, and targeting efficacy. To resolve these issues, curcumin is incorporated in chitosan nanoparticles. The focus of the study was to prepare and characterize curcumin loaded chitosan nanoparticles and evaluate their nephroprotective activity in a cypermethrin induced renal toxicity. The curcumin loaded chitosan nanoparticles were prepared by using solvent displacement method and characterized by particle size, zeta potential, polydispersity index, entrapment efficiency, and FTIR. The prepared formulation was stable and lies within nanometer range (264.8 nm), and possessed high drug loading capacity (84.64%). Cypermethrin (24 mg/kg body weight) and Curcumin loaded chitosan nanoparticles (15 mg/kg and 30 mg/kg body weight) were orally administered to 20 rabbits (4 groups) for 28 days. It was found that cypermethrin significantly increased the serum levels of creatinine, urea, and BUN and decreased glutathione S-transferase and superoxide dismutase. Co-administration of curcumin loaded chitosan nanoparticles provided pronounced beneficial effects against cypermethrin-induced biochemical alterations and oxidative damage in the kidneys of rabbits. 30 mg/kg body weight of curcumin loaded chitosan nanoparticles have better nephroprotective effects as compared to 15 mg/kg body weight.

Increasing knowledge of nitrate removal using denitrifying bioreactors has illustrated the usefulness of this management practice for treating discharge water from agricultural land uses. The objective of this study was to assess the viability of almond shell, chopped carob, olive bone, and citrus woodchip as carbon media for denitrification of brine with high nitrate load (EC ≈ 20 dS m⁻¹, NO₃⁻-N concentration ≈ 65–80 mg NO₃⁻-N L⁻¹) in bioreactors. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first test of denitrifying brine using organic wastes as the carbon substrate, and the first use of these carbon media for that purpose. Nitrate removal efficiency and efficiency:cost ratio were considered. The results indicated that the best removal efficiency and cheapest cost were provided by citrus woodchip (3.02 ± 0.15 mg NO₃⁻-N m⁻³ d⁻¹) at a cost of ≈ 6€ m⁻³, followed by almond shell (1.54 ± 0.20 mg NO₃⁻-N m⁻³ d⁻¹) at a cost of ≈ 19€ m⁻³. Chopped carob and olive bone showed negligible nitrate removal in the brine; chopped carob generated acidic leachate with extremely high dissolved organic carbon, and olive bone resulted in a highly saline leachate. Of the four media tested, the results of this study indicated that citrus woodchip was the most suitable media for denitrification of the brine.