The present study evaluated the interactive effects of global change and heavy metals on the growth and development of three soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] cultivars and the consequences on yield and food safety. Soybean cultivars (Alim 3.14 from Argentina, and ES Mentor and Sigalia, from Germany) were grown until maturity in heavy metals polluted soils from the Rhine Valley, Germany, at two CO₂ concentrations (400 and 550 ppm) and heat stress (HS) episodes (9 days with 10 °C higher than maximum regular temperature) during the critical growth period in controlled environmental chambers. Different morpho-physiological parameters, heavy metal concentration in aerial organs, seed quality parameters, and toxicological index were recorded. The results showed that no morphological differences were observed related to CO₂. Moreover, Alim 3.14 showed the highest yield under control conditions, but it was more sensitive to climatic conditions than the German cultivars, especially to heat stress which strongly reduces the biomass of the fruits. Heavy metals concentration in soil exceeds the legislation limits for agricultural soils for Cd and Pb, with 1.6 and 487 mg kg⁻¹ respectively. In all cultivars, soybeans accumulated Cd in its aerial organs, and it could be translocated to fruits. Cd concentration in seeds ranged between 0.6 and 2.4 mg kg⁻¹, which exceed legislation limits and with toxicological risk to potential Chinese consumers. Pb levels were lower than Cd in seeds (0.03–0.17 mg kg⁻¹), and the accumulation were concentrated in the vegetative organs, with 93% of the Pb incorporated. Moreover, pods accumulated 11 times more Pb than seeds, which suggests that they act as a barrier to the passage of Pb to their offspring. These results evidence that soybean can easily translocate Cd, but not Pb, to reproductive organs. No regular patterns were observed in relation to climatic influence on heavy metal uptake.

The dispersion of microplastics (MPs) in coastal and marine environments and their potential harmful effects on organisms and ecosystems makes MPs pollution an emerging problem that has gained increasing attention from the scientific community. Despite the recent increase in the number of studies on MPs presence in different marine environments, investigations in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) are still relatively limited. This review presents the spatial distribution (where) and the methods applied (how) in assessing MPs contamination on LAC sandy beaches, identifying the challenges to be faced in advancing the understanding of this emerging contaminant. Most of the 39 papers reviewed were published between 2020 and 2021 (51%) and conducted on Brazilian beaches (43%). The LAC investigations apply spot sampling (69%) on shoreline stretches between 10 and 1000 km (59%). These works used inconsistent sampling methods, incomparable techniques for MPs extraction from sediments, and different measurement units to report their data. The MPs presence on LAC beaches is not negligible, as it varies significantly in its distribution and concentration (0–2457 MP/dw kg and 0–5458 MP/m²). Its highest accumulation is on ocean island beaches; however, there are still large stretches of coastline (Cuba, Venezuela, Argentina) with no data on MPs presence and a small number of studies exploring these contaminants' temporal variability. The lack of standardization in the studies’ methodologies, particularly their measurement units, hinders their quantitative comparison and our ability to establish baseline values regarding MPs abundance on LAC beaches. In this sense, future works should direct efforts towards the spatial and temporal expansion of their sampling, as well as protocol standardization to facilitate result comparability on MPs on LAC sandy beaches.

Metal pollution is a great concern worldwide and the development of new technologies for more sustainable extraction methods as well as for the remediation of polluted sites is essential. Extremophilic microorganisms are attractive for this purpose since they have poly-resistance mechanisms which make them versatile. In this work, we sampled an acidic river and a hot spring of Caviahue-Copahue volcanic environment. The indigenous microbial communities were exposed to five heavy metals (Cd, Co, Cu, Ni and Zn) in batch-cultures favouring different metabolisms of biotechnological interest. Remarkably, high tolerance values were reached in all the cultures, even though most of the metals studied were not present in the environmental sample. Particularly, outstanding tolerances were exhibited by acidophiles, which grew at concentrations as high as 400 mM of Zn and Ni. High-throughput amplicon sequencing of 16S rRNA gene was used to study the indigenous communities and the resistant consortia. We took three approaches for the analysis: phylotypes, OTUs and amplicon sequence variants (ASVs). Interestingly, similar conclusions were drawn in all three cases. Analysing the phylogenetic structure and functional potential of the adapted consortia, we found that the strongest selection was exerted by the culture media. Notably, there was a poor correlation between alpha diversity and metal stress; furthermore, metal stress did not seem to harm the functional potential of the consortia. All these results reveal a great adaptability and versatility. At the end, 25 metal-resistant extremophilic consortia with potential uses in bioremediation, bioleaching or biomonitoring processes were obtained.

In this study, we evaluated the distribution of up to forty-three antibiotics and 4 metabolites residues in different environmental compartments of an urban river receiving both diffuse and point sources of pollution. This is the first study to assess the fate of different antibiotic families in water, biofilms and sediments simultaneously under a real urban river scenario. Solid phase extraction, bead-beating disruption and pressurized liquid extraction were applied for sample preparation of water, biofilm and sediment respectively, followed by the quantification of target antibiotics by UPLC-ESI-MS/MS. Twelve antibiotics belonging to eight chemical families were detected in Suquía River samples (67% positive samples). Sites downstream the WWTP discharge were the most polluted ones. Concentrations of positive samples ranged 0.003-0.29 µg L⁻¹ in water (max. cephalexin), 2-652 µg kg⁻¹d.w. in biofilm (max. ciprofloxacin) and 2-34 µg kg⁻¹d.w. in sediment (max. ofloxacin). Fluoroquinolones, macrolides and trimethoprim were the most frequently detected antibiotics in the three compartments. However cephalexin was the prevalent antibiotic in water. Antibiotics exhibited preference for their accumulation from water into biofilms rather than in sediments (bioaccumulation factors > 1,000 L kg⁻¹d.w. in biofilms, while pseudo-partition coefficients in sediments < 1,000 L kg⁻¹d.w.). Downstream the WWTP there was an association of antibiotics levels in biofilms with ash-free dry weight, opposite to chlorophyll-a (indicative of heterotrophic communities). Cephalexin and clarithromycin in river water were found to pose high risk for the aquatic ecosystem, while ciprofloxacin presented high risk for development of antimicrobial resistance. This study contributes to the understanding of the fate and distribution of antibiotic pollution in urban rivers, reveals biofilm accumulation as an important environmental fate, and calls for attention to government authorities to manage identified highly risk antibiotics.

Elevated toxins in soybeans extensively threaten Asian residents and over one billion vegetarians worldwide. An integrated dataset of toxic trace metal(loid)s especially cadmium (Cd) analysis in soybean grain samples (n = 5217) from 12 countries/regions of origin was compiled for risk analysis. Worldwide grain Cd averaged 0.093 mg kg⁻¹, but mean values varied 16-fold between regions, with South China (0.32 mg kg⁻¹) > Argentina (0.15 mg kg⁻¹) = German (0.13 mg kg⁻¹) > Japan (0.11 mg kg⁻¹) > the United States (0.064 mg kg⁻¹) > Central-North China (0.020–0.60 mg kg⁻¹) ≥ Iran (0.042 mg kg⁻¹) = Brazil (0.023 mg kg⁻¹) = South Korea (0.020 mg kg⁻¹). Regression analysis suggested widespread contamination and acidic soil features significantly contributed the elevated food Cd contamination worldwide. Arsenic (As) and lead (Pb) are also of concern because excessive levels were often observed in grains. Given that soil Cd bioavailability is generally low in alkaline pH ranges, the feasibility of producing safe food from contaminated land was investigated by greenhouse experiments with one low-Cd soybean cultivar grown on 20 contaminated calcareous soils. Equilibrium-based approaches i.e., 0.01 M CaCl₂ and in-situ porewater extractions, and diffusion-based diffusive gradients in thin-films technique were used to determine the plant-available fractions of soil metal(loid)s to explain the bioaccumulation variation. The results suggested that soybean grains bioaccumulated mean 0.76 mg Cd kg⁻¹, ranging from 0.16 to 2.1 mg kg⁻¹, whereas As and Pb bioaccumulation was low. Cadmium accumulation was closely correlated with plant-available Cd fractions especially the 0.01 M CaCl₂-extractable Cd, but negatively correlated with soil pH. Even in the alkaline pH range, a slight decrease of soil pH would increase grain Cd significantly. Study region and those arable lands that have similar soil conditions are not recommended for growing soybean unless novel remediation strategies are developed.

A severe air quality degradation event occurred in the Santiago Metropolitan Area (SMA), Chile, in June 2014. Meteorological and air quality measurements from 11 stations in the area as well as numerical simulations using the Weather and Research Forecasting (WRF) model were used to explain the main reasons for the occurrence of elevated particulate matter (PM) concentrations. The conditions were characterized with formation of a coastal low in central Chile between the southeastern anticyclone and a high-pressure system over Argentina. At a local scale, these conditions generated a depression at the base of the inversion layer, an increase in the vertical thermal stability, lower humidity and low-wind conditions, which were conducive to a decrease in pollutant dispersion and insufficient ventilation of the polluted air. Measurements and simulations using the WRF model revealed a vertical structure of the boundary layer during these stagnant conditions and provided a basis for a trajectory analysis. The back-trajectory calculation showed that the transport of air parcels was contained in the valley during the highest concentrations. The analysis also enabled the definition of the threshold values of a simple indicator of air pollution (ventilation coefficient, VC), which confirmed the evolution of the episode and divided the observed daily concentrations into two groups, with one including values above the limits prescribed by the national air quality standards (NAQS) and the other including values below these limits. For the SMA, the daily PM concentrations above the NASQ limits were associated with an overall mean threshold value of VC below 500 m² s⁻¹ (for PM₂.₅) and 300 m² s⁻¹ (for PM₁₀). To apply the VC analysis to other pollutants and different geographic locations, different threshold values should be evaluated.

In the Pampas, public concern has strongly risen because of the intensive use of glyphosate for weed control and fallow associated with biotech crops. The present study was aimed to evaluate the occurrence and concentration of the herbicide and its main metabolite (AMPA) in soil and other environmental compartments of the mentioned agroecosystem, including groundwater, in relation to real-world agricultural management practices in the region. Occurrence was almost ubiquitous in solid matrices (83–100%) with maximum concentrations among the higher reported in the world (soil: 8105 and 38939; sediment: 3294 and 7219; suspended particulate matter (SPM): 584 and 475 μg/kg of glyphosate and AMPA). Lower detection frequency was observed in surface water (27–55%) with maximum concentrations in whole water of 1.80 and 1.90 μg/L of glyphosate and AMPA, indicating that SPM analysis would be more sensitive for detection in the aquatic ecosystem. No detectable concentrations of glyphosate or AMPA were observed in groundwater. Glyphosate soil concentrations were better correlated with the total cumulative dose and total number of applications than the last spraying event dose, and an increment of 1 mg glyphosate/kg soil every 5 spraying events was estimated. Findings allow to infer that, under current practices, application rates are higher than dissipation rates. Hence, glyphosate and AMPA should be considered “pseudo-persistent” pollutants and a revisions of management procedures, monitoring programs, and ecological risk for soil and sediments should be also recommended.

Wildlife lead exposure is an increasing conservation threat that is being widely investigated. However, for some areas of the world (e.g., South America) and certain species, research on this subject is still scarce or only local information is available. We analyzed the extent and intensity of lead exposure for a widely distributed threatened species, the Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus). We conducted the study at two different scales: 1) sampling of birds received for rehabilitation or necropsy in Argentina, and 2) bibliographic review and extensive survey considering exposure event for the species' distribution in South America. Wild condors from Argentina (n = 76) presented high lead levels consistent with both recent and previous exposure (up to 104 μg/dL blood level, mean 15.47 ± 21.21 μg/dL and up to 148.20 ppm bone level, mean 23.08 ± 31.39 ppm). In contrast, captive bred individuals -not exposed to lead contamination- had much lower lead levels (mean blood level 5.63 ± 3.08 μg/dL, and mean bone level 2.76 ± 3.06 ppm). Condors were exposed to lead throughout their entire range in continental Argentina, which represents almost sixty percent (>4000 km) of their geographical distribution. We also present evidence of lead exposure events in Chile, Ecuador, and Peru. Lead poisoning is a widespread major conservation threat for the Andean Condor, and probably other sympatric carnivores from South America. The high number and wide range of Andean Condors with lead values complement the results for the California Condor and other scavengers in North America suggesting lead poisoning is a continental threat. Urgent actions are needed to reduce this poison in the wild.

Epidemiological investigations regarding temperature influence on human health have focused on mortality rather than morbidity. In addition, most information comes from developed countries despite the increasing evidence that climate change will have devastating impacts on disadvantaged populations living in developing countries. In the present study, we assessed the impact of daily temperature range on upper and lower respiratory infections in Cordoba, Argentina, and explored the effect modification of socio-economic factors and influence of airborne particles We found that temperature range is a strong risk factor for admissions due to both upper and lower respiratory infections, particularly in elderly individuals, and that these effects are more pronounced in sub-populations with low education level or in poor living conditions. These results indicate that socio-economic factors are strong modifiers of the association between temperature variability and respiratory morbidity, thus they should be considered in risk assessments.

A detailed investigation was conducted into the concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) associated with PM10 particles collected during 2012 in an urban area in Cordoba, Argentina. Their composition was studied and the lifetime lung cancer risk resulting from exposure to total and individual PAHs was estimated. Samples of PM10 were collected daily on fiber glass filters with PAHs being extracted with methylene chloride and analyzed by HPLC. Mean PAH concentrations were higher during autumn and winter. In contrast, during warm months, high ambient temperature and wind speed contributed to a decrease in the PAH ambient concentrations. The PAH levels found in the present study were within the range of those reported in other polluted urban areas. However risk factors calculated for exposure to individual and cumulative PAHs exceeded the carcinogenic benchmark level of 1 × 10−6 early in childhood, implying that these PAH concentrations represent a serious risk to public health.