Exposure to phthalates is reported to be associated with increased incidence of microalbuminuria and low-grade albuminuria in children and adolescents. However, this phenomenon of phthalate-related nephrotoxicity is unknown in adults.Urine samples of 1663 adults from the 2012 Shanghai Food Consumption Survey (SHFCS) were measured for 10 metabolites of 6 phthalates and for renal function parameters. Their associations were explored by linear and logistic regression models.Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that all three renal function parameters (albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR), β2-microglobulin (B2M), and N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase (NAG)) are positively associated with six metabolites, including mono-benzylphthalate (MBzP), mono-2-ethylhexylphthalate (MEHP), mono-2-ethyl-5-oxohexyphthalate (MEOHP), mono-2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexylphthalate (MEHHP), mono-2-ethyl-5-carboxypentylphthalate (MECPP), and mono-2-carboxymethyl-hexyl phthalate (MCMHP) (P < 0.05). Logistic analysis showed that the prevalence of hyperALBuria, hyperB2Muria, hyperNAGuria, or potentially impaired renal function (PIRF) were positively associated with urinary levels of MBzP, MEOHP, and MECPP, respectively (P < 0.05). Co-exposure to identified risk metabolites monoethylphthalate (MEP), MBzP, MEHP, MEOHP, MECPP, MEHHP, and MCMHP increased the risk of having impaired renal function.Certain metabolites of phthalates, including bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and benzyle butyl phthalate (BBzP), were associated with impaired renal function in Shanghai adults.

The negative health effects of water pollution remain a major source of morbidity and mortality in China. The Chinese government is making great efforts to strengthen water environment treatment; however, no studies have evaluated the effects of water treatment on human health by water pollution in China. This study evaluated the association between water pollution and health outcomes, and determined the extent to which environmental regulations on water pollution may lead to health benefits. Data were extracted from the 2011 and 2013 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Random effects model and random effects Logit model were applied to study the relationship between health and water pollution, while a Mediator model was used to estimate the effects of environmental water treatment on health outcomes by the intensity of water pollution. Unsurprisingly, water pollution was negatively associated with health outcomes, and the common pollutants in industrial wastewater had differential impacts on health outcomes. The effects were stronger for low-income respondents. Water environment treatment led to improved health outcomes among Chinese people. Reduced water pollution mediated the associations between water environment treatment and health outcomes. The results of this study offer compelling evidence to support treatment of water pollution in China.

The widespread use of rare earth elements (REEs) in numerous sectors have resulted in their release into the environment. Existing knowledge about the effects of REEs were acquired mainly based on toxicity tests with aquatic organisms and a fixed exposure time, Here, the dynamic accumulation and toxicity of REEs (La, Ce, and Gd) in soil organism Enchytraeus crypticus were determined and modeled by a first-order one-compartment model and a time-toxicity logistic model, respectively. Generally, the accumulation and toxicity of REEs were both exposure level- and time-dependent. The overall uptake rate constants were 2.97, 2.48, and 2.38 L kg⁻¹d⁻¹ for La, Ce, and Gd, respectively. The corresponding elimination rate constants were 0.99, 0.78, and 0.56 d⁻¹, respectively. The worms exhibited faster uptake and elimination ability for light REEs (La and Ce) than for heavy REEs (Gd). For all three REEs, the LC50 values based on exposure concentrations decreased with time and reached ultimate values after approximately 10 d exposure. The estimated ultimate LC50 values (LC50∞) were 279, 334, and 358 mg L⁻¹ for Ce, Gd, and La, respectively. When expressed as body concentration, the LC50ᵢₙₜₑᵣ value was almost constant with time, demonstrating that internal body concentration could be a better indicator of dynamic toxicity of REEs than external dose. This study highlights that specific REE and exposure time should be taken into account in accurately assessing risk of REEs.

The persistence and toxicity of second generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) in animal tissues make these compounds dangerous by biomagnification in predatory species. Here we studied the levels of SGARs in non-target species of wildlife and the environmental factors that influence such exposure. Liver samples of terrestrial vertebrates (n = 244) found dead between 2007 and 2016 in the region of Aragón (NE Spain) were analysed. The presence of SGARs was statistically analysed with binary or ordinal logistic models to study the effect of habitat characteristics including human population density, percentage of urban surface, livestock densities and surface of different types of crops. SGARs residues were detected in 83 (34%) of the animals and levels >200 ng/g were found in common raven (67%), red fox (50%), red kite (38%), Eurasian eagle-owl (25%), stone marten (23%), Eurasian buzzard (17%), northern marsh harrier (17%), and Eurasian badger (14%). The spatial analysis revealed that the presence of SGARs residues in wildlife was more associated with the use of these products as biocides in urban areas and cattle farms rather than as plant protection products in agricultural fields. This information permits to identify potential habitats where SGARs may pose a risk for predatory birds and mammals.

This study aimed to investigate the relationships between environmental exposure to metals/metalloids and semen quality, sperm apoptosis and DNA integrity using the metal/metalloids levels in seminal plasma as biomarkers. We determined 18 metals/metalloids in seminal plasma using an inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry among 746 men recruited from a reproductive medicine center. Associations of these metals/metalloids with semen quality (n = 746), sperm apoptosis (n = 331) and DNA integrity (n = 404) were evaluated using multivariate linear and logistic regression models. After accounting for multiple comparisons and confounders, seminal plasma arsenic (As) quartiles were negatively associated with progressive and total sperm motility using multivariable linear regression analysis, which were in accordance with the trends for increased odds ratios (ORs) for below-reference semen quality parameters in the logistic models. We also found inverse correlations between cadmium (Cd) quartiles and progressive and total sperm motility, whereas positive correlations between zinc (Zn) quartiles and sperm concentration, between copper (Cu) and As quartiles and the percentage of tail DNA, between As and selenium (Se) quartiles and tail extent and tail distributed moment, and between tin (Sn) categories and the percentage of necrotic spermatozoa (all Ptrend<0.05). These relationships remained after the simultaneous consideration of various elements. Our results indicate that environmental exposure to As, Cd, Cu, Se and Sn may impair male reproductive health, whereas Zn may be beneficial to sperm concentration.

Functional redundancy is a useful tool for determining functional compensation and for reducing “signal to noise” ratios of full-species datasets in community-based monitoring programs. The functional redundancy of marine periphytic ciliate communities during the colonization process in coastal waters of the Yellow Sea, China, was analyzed using a peeling procedure (BVSTEP). Four response units (RUs) with trophic-functional equivalents were identified from the full 77-species dataset. These RUs, which comprised four, seven, six and six species respectively, represented a clear variation in trophic-functional structures across the levels of functional redundancy. RU1 was dominated by bacterivores, RU2 and RU3 first by bacterivores then by algivores, and RU4 first by non-selectives and bacterivores then by algivores. The colonization process and growth curve of each RU were significantly well-fitted to the MacArthur-Wilson and logistic models, respectively. These results suggest that RUs can be used as changeable trophic-functional equivalents for bioassessment in marine ecosystems.

The freshwater climbing perch, Anabas testudineus, is an economically and nutritionally valuable food fish. This study explores the various reproductive contents (size at sexual maturity, reproductive period and fecundity) of A. testudineus in the Gajner Beel concerning the eco-climatic variabilities and suggests sustainable management policies. A total of 709 individuals were randomly collected from January to December 2019 among 371 females that were sorted out for this study. Total length (TL) ranged from 7.50 to 16.40 cm. Based on the maximum length (Lₘₐₓ), TL vs. gonadosomatic index (GSI), TL-standard length (SL) regression and logistic model, the size at sexual maturity (Lₘ) was 10.00 cm, 10.40 cm, 11.00 cm and 11.50 cm, respectively. The spawning season was May to August and peaked in June–July. The Fulton’s condition (KF) was suggested as the best condition factor (p < 0.0001), and relative weight (WR) showed no significant difference from 100 for females (p = 0.143). Fecundity was ranged from 9459 to 35,915. A significant relationship was observed between GSI and temperature (p = 0.0016), dissolved oxygen (DO) (p < 0.0001), pH (p < 0.0001), alkalinity (p < 0.001) and climatic parameters (air temperature, p < 0.001 and rainfall, p < 0.001). The data series of 48 years (1971–2019) revealed that the rise of average air temperature by 0.029 °C and the reduction of rainfall by 2.96 mm per year might shift the spawning season of A. testudineus 15–20 later. Therefore, this study will be helpful for the sustainable management and conservation of the wild stocks of A. testudineus in the Gajner Beel and adjoining ecosystems.

Hunger and food insecurity remained some of the serious challenges facing our world in present time with great concerns from Sub-Saharan Africa especially countries like Nigeria. This study investigates food insecurity (FI), health and environment-related factors, and agricultural commercialization among smallholder farm households. This study was conducted in Southwestern Nigeria utilizing cross-sectional survey data from 352 farm households and employed multi-stage sampling procedure. The household FI levels was determined using food insecurity access scale (HFIAS), crop commercialization index (CCI) was used to compute each household’s CCI (four levels), while ordered logit model was used to analyse factors influencing FI. Health and environment-related factors’ access were assessed across each FI category. The results indicated that about 13% of cassava farm households are non-participant in the marketing of their produce. The findings revealed that less than 20%, 30%. and 40% of households in all four FI categories had access to piped water, improved toilet facilities, and electricity respectively. The ordered logit regression analysis indicated that age, gender, education level, farm experience, nonfarm income, and ownership of motorcycle significantly influencing FI in the study areas. Therefore, this study stressed the implementation of policy actions capable of promoting rural infrastructure development that will lead to increased agricultural production, marketing, and improved quality of life of rural dwellers.

Organophosphate esters (OPEs) are used widely as flame retardants and plasticizers. However, the associations between OPEs metabolites and sleep outcomes (sleep disorder and trouble sleeping) remain unknown. Data utilized in this cross-sectional study was from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013–2014, including 1393 adults aged ≥ 20 years. We conducted weighted logistic regression and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models to analyze the associations between OPEs metabolites and sleep outcomes. We included data from 2011 to 2012 cycle in our sensitivity analysis to explore the association further. Logistic regression model presented a significant positive association between diphenyl phosphate (DPHP) and sleep disorder in all participants (odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for the second quartile was 2.46 (1.85, 3.28)). We observed positive associations between OPEs metabolites and sleep outcomes in males. Among females, no significant association was observed in the logistic model. BKMR presented that dibutyl phosphate (DBUP) was the relatively important exposure. There was a positive association between OPEs metabolites mixture and trouble sleeping. Univariable exposure–response functions demonstrated U-shaped associations between DBUP and sleep outcomes, while bis(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (BCEP) was associated with sleep disorder negatively in females. No substantial changes appeared in the results after including the data from 2011 to 2012 cycle. This current study indicated that OPEs metabolites might be associated with sleep disorder and trouble sleeping, and the associations seemed to be sex-dependent.

Anaerobic digestion (AD) of walnut shells (WS) results in only a limited biomethane yield because of their high fibre content, which ultimately represents an essentially nonbiodegradable lignocellulosic biomass. In the present study, thermal (i.e. 50–250 °C), alkaline (i.e. 1–5% w/w NaOH) and combined alkaline-thermal (i.e. 4% w/w NaOH + 150 °C thermal) pretreatment methods have been applied to increase the anaerobic biodegradation of WS. The highest biomethane yields of 159.9 ± 6.8 mL CH₄.g VS–¹ and 169.8 ± 6.8 mL CH₄.g VS⁻¹ were achieved after pretreatment at both 250 °C and with 4% NaOH. After combined NaOH-thermal pretreatments, the AD process showed the largest total VFA concentration (i.e. 1280.1 mg Hac L–¹) but a relatively high lag phase (i.e. 3.90 days) compared to thermal and NaOH pretreatments alone, from which the highest biomethane yield (i.e. 192.4 ± 8.2 mL CH₄.g VS⁻¹) was achieved at the end of the AD process. The highest biomethane yield from the combined NaOH-thermal pretreated WS was corroborated by the corresponding highest SCOD/TCOD ratio (i.e. 0.37 ± 0.02) and the highest lignocellulosic fibre removal (i.e. 41.1 ± 2.7% cellulose, 35.6 ± 1.8% hemicellulose, and 58.7 ± 3.2% lignin). The cumulative biomethane yields were further simulated via a modified Gompertz model. This study provides a promising strategy in the sense that the biomethane yield of WS containing large amounts of lignin can be significantly increased via thermal, NaOH, and combined NaOH-thermal pretreatment methods.