Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) analysis is usually applied in pollution assessment by checking for toxic or harmful volatile compounds in air, water and soil samples. In this study, exogenous VOCs and their derivatives, metabolized by cells, were valued into specific body fluids. In particular, the VOC profiles of blood, urine and human semen samples collected from young men living in two high pollution areas in Italy, i.e. Land of Fires and Valley of Sacco River, were fingerprinted. The analysis is based on Headspace Solid Phase MicroExtraction (HS-SPME) followed by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometric detection (GC-MS). The volatile composition of the three body fluids showed that some VOCs are in common between blood, urine and human semen samples, whereas others are present only in a body fluid. Some compounds, as well as also some chemical classes show a higher affinity for a specific body fluid. Statistical analysis allowed to discriminate the two contaminated areas and identify those compounds which significantly contribute to the two areas classification. Some of these compounds are toxic and found prevalently in Valley of Sacco River samples, correspondingly to sperm analysis results for young men living in this zona worse than those living in Land of Fires.

The present study is a literature-based analysis investigating occurrence and the possible consequences of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in marine protected areas (MPAs) of Latin America and Caribbean. The approach using overlapping of georeferenced MPA polygons with data compiled from peer-reviewed literature, published during the last 15 years, showed 341 records of PAH in 9 countries. PAH was reported to occur within the boundaries of 36 MPAs located in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Nicaragua and Uruguay. According to quality guidelines, low to moderate impacts are expected in MPAs categorized in different management classes. Considering sediment samples, 13% of the records presented concentrations enough to cause occasional toxicity. Such level of risk was also seen in Ramsar sites and in Amazonian MPAs. In addition, based on concentrations reported in biota, occasional deleterious effects on organisms from Biosphere Reserves might occur. Diagnostic ratios pointed out petrogenic and pyrolytic processes as PAH predominant sources, and were mainly attributed to the proximity to ports, industries and urban areas. MPAs located in the vicinity of impact-generating areas may be under threat and require government attention and action, mainly through implementation of contamination monitoring programs.

Contamination of waters and soils with microplastics (MPs) is an emerging environmental issue worldwide. MPs constitute a cocktail of various additives and polymers besides adsorbing toxic heavy metals from the environment. This co-occurrence of MPs with heavy metals poses a threat to the health of organisms and is poorly understood. Ingestion of MPs contaminated with heavy metals may also result in subsequent transfer of heavy metals up in the food chain. MPs surfaces play a crucial role in the adsorption of heavy metals. Aged/biofouled MPs facilitate greater adsorption of metals and certain microplastic (MP) polymers adsorb some metals more specifically. External factors involved in the process of adsorption/accumulation of heavy metals are the solution pH, salinity, and the concentration of relevant heavy metals in the media. Desorption greatly depends upon pH of the external solution. This is more concerning as the guts/digestive systems of organisms have low pH which could enhance the desorption of toxic metals and making them accumulate in their bodies. The aim of this article is to discuss the abundance, distribution, adsorption, and desorption behavior of MPs for heavy metals, and their combined toxic effects on flora and fauna based on the limited research on this topic in the literature. There is an overarching need to understand the interactions of MPs with heavy metals in different ecosystems so that the extent of ecotoxic effects they pose could be assessed which would help in the environmental regulation of these pollutants.

People use a particulate respirator in order to reduce exposure to ambient fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅). Acute exposure to PM₂.₅ is known to increase blood pressure. However, systematic reviews or meta-analyses on blood pressure-related benefits of using a particulate respirator is lacking. Therefore, we reviewed randomized crossover intervention studies on blood pressure-related effects of particulate matter respirator use. We conducted a literature review of articles found on Embase, Medline, and Cochrane library on August 31, 2020. The study outcomes were systolic and diastolic blood pressure and mean arterial pressure. A random-effect model was used in the meta-analysis. Subgroup analyses, based on age (adult < 60 years, elderly ≥ 60 years), personal PM₂.₅ exposure levels (High: ≥ 25 μg/m³, Low: < 25 μg/m³), and types of monitoring methods (ambulatory and resting blood pressure) were conducted. We identified 297 references, and seven studies were included in our systematic review. None of the studies used a sham respirator as control and complete allocation concealment and blinding were impossible. The use of a particulate respirator was associated with a −1.23 mmHg (95% confidence interval (CI): −2.53, 0.07) change in systolic blood pressure and a −1.57 mmHg (95% CI: −3.85, 0.71) change in mean arterial pressure. There were significant heterogeneities and possibilities for publication bias. The subgroup analyses revealed that studies involving elderly individuals, those conducted in high PM₂.₅ personal exposure, and those in which resting blood pressure was monitored demonstrated a larger decrease in blood pressure resulting from respirator use. Further intervention studies with a large sample size and subjects with diverse characteristics and different personal PM₂.₅ levels may add the evidence to current literature.

Mercury (Hg), as a global pollutant, its contamination has been documented in environmental compartments of the Himalayan region. However, little research exists regarding to Hg accumulation in terrestrial wildlife, as well as its driving factors. In this study, surface soil and small mammals were collected in the Lebu Valley, East Himalayas of China, in order to measure the uptake of the long-distance transported Hg along an elevational gradient approximately from 2300 to 5000 m a.s.l. The soil Hg concentrations were measured and predicted mostly by vegetation type as well as soil organic matter, while the Hg in hair of small mammals (Muridae and Cricetidae) showed deeply influenced by soil Hg. Notably, combined with the field survey data, soil and hair Hg were both enhanced in low and mid-elevations, which overlapped the distribution ranges of a majority of mammals. Overall, this indicates that Hg contamination in low- and mid-elevations poses a potential threat to the top predators that consuming small mammals directly or indirectly. Furthermore, our data advances the understanding of Hg dynamics in remote, high mountain ecosystems and provides baseline data for biomonitoring for reduction of Hg emission globally.

Exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) is ubiquitous. EDC exposure, especially during critical periods of development like the prenatal window, may interfere with the body’s endocrine system, which can affect growth and developmental outcomes such as puberty. Most studies have examined one EDC at a time in relation to disease; however, humans are exposed to many EDCs. By studying mixtures, the human experience can be more closely replicated. We investigated the association of prenatal exposure to persistent EDCs (poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs)) as mixtures with early menarche among female offspring in a nested case-control study within the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) recruited in the United Kingdom in 1991–1992. Concentrations of 52 EDCs were quantified in maternal serum samples collected during pregnancy. Daughter’s age at menarche was ascertained through mailed questionnaires sent annually. We used repeated holdout weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) to examine the association between prenatal exposure to multiple EDCs and early menarche (<11.5 (n = 218) vs. ≥11.5 years (n = 230)) for each chemical class separately (PFAS, PCBs, and OCPs) and for all three classes combined. Models adjusted for maternal age at menarche, maternal education, parity, pre-pregnancy body mass index, maternal age, prenatal smoking, and gestational week at sample collection. Mixture models showed null associations between prenatal exposure to EDC mixtures and early menarche. Using WQS regression, the odds ratio for early menarche for a one-decile increase in chemical concentrations for all three classes combined was 0.89 (95% CI: 0.76, 1.05); using BKMR, the odds ratio when all exposures were at the 60th percentile compared to the median was 0.98 (95% CI: 0.91, 1.05). Results suggest the overall effect of prenatal exposure to persistent EDC mixtures is not associated with early menarche.

As humans are present in Antarctica only for scientific and tourism-related purposes, it is often described as a pristine region. However, studies have identified measurable levels of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), such as organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), in the Antarctic region. These are highly toxic anthropogenic compounds with tendency to travel long distances and reach remote environments, where they can bioaccumulate in the biota. Penguins are exposed to POPs mainly through their diet, which they partially eliminate via feathers. Species of the genus Pygoscelis occur around Antarctic continent and its surrounding regions, and can act as indicators of contaminants that reach the continent. Here, we report OCP and PCB levels in feathers of male and female penguins of P. adeliae, P. antarcticus and P. papua from King George Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. Interspecific, sex- and body-size-related differences were investigated in the contamination profiles of PCBs and OCPs. Feather samples were collected from adult penguins (n = 41). Quantification of compounds was performed by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The three Pygoscelis species presented similar contamination profiles, with higher concentrations of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (∑DDT; 1.56–3.82 ng g⁻¹ dw), lighter PCB congeners (∑PCB: 11.81–18.65 ng g⁻¹ dw) and HCB (hexachlorobenzene: 1.65–4.06 ng g⁻¹ dw). Amongst the three penguin species, P. antarcticus had lower and P. papua higher concentrations of most of the compounds identified. We found interspecific differences in POPs accumulation as well as sex differences in POP concentrations. Our data indicate a small but significant positive correlation between body size and the concentrations of some compounds. Despite the overall low concentrations found, this study increases knowledge of the occurrence of POPs in Antarctic penguins, thereby reinforcing concerns that Antarctica, although remote and perceived to be protected, is not free from the impact of anthropogenic pollutants.

Exposure to crude oil during spill events causes a variety of pathologic effects in birds, including oxidative injury to erythrocytes, which is characterized in some species by the formation of Heinz bodies and subsequent anemia. However, not all species appear to develop Heinz bodies or anemia when exposed to oil, and there are limited controlled experiments that use both light and electron microscopy to evaluate structural changes within erythrocytes following oil exposure. In this study, we orally dosed zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) with 3.3 or 10 mL/kg of artificially weathered Deepwater Horizon crude oil or 10 mL/kg of peanut oil (vehicle control) daily for 15 days. We found that birds receiving the highest dosage experienced a significant increase in reticulocyte percentage, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, and liver mass, as well as inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract and lymphocyte proliferation in the spleen. However, we found no evidence of Heinz body formation based on both light and transmission electron microscopy. Although there was a tendency for packed cell volume and hemoglobin to decrease in birds from the high dose group compared to control and low dose groups, the changes were not statistically significant. Our results indicate that additional experimental dosing studies are needed to understand factors (e.g., dose- and species-specific sensitivity) and confounding variables (e.g., dispersants) that contribute to the presence and severity of anemia resulting from oil exposure in birds.

Excessive copper (Cu) in contaminated soil and groundwater has attracted continuous attentions due to the bioaccumulation and durability. In this study, the feasibility of remediation of heavy metal pollution in soil and groundwater was investigated using hydroxyapatite/calcium silicate hydrate (HAP/C–S–H) recovered from phosphorus-rich wastewater in farmland. The results show that the pH has a strong effect on copper removal from Cu-contaminated groundwater but the impact of ion strength on the removal is weak. In general, high pH and low ion strength give better results in copper removal. Kinetic and isotherm data from the study fit well with Pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm model, respectively. The maximum adsorption capacity of HAP/C–S–H (138 mg/g) was higher than that of C–S–H (90.3 mg/g) when pH value, temperature, and ionic strength were 5, 308 K, and 0.01 M, respectively. Thermodynamics results indicate that Cu removal is a spontaneous and endothermic process. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results show that the mechanism of copper removal involves physical adsorption, chemical precipitation and ion exchange. For the remediation of Cu-contaminated soil, 76.3% of leachable copper was immobilized by HAP/C–S–H after 28 d. Acid soluble Cu, the main contributor to biotoxicity, decreased significantly while reducible and residual Cu increased. After immobilization, the acid neutralization capacity of the soil increased and the dissolution of copper was substantially reduced in near-neutral pH. It can be concluded that HAP/C–S–H is an effective, low-cost and eco-friendly reagent for in-situ remediation of heavy metal polluted soil and groundwater.

Antibiotic proliferation in the environment and their persistent nature is an issue of global concern as they induce antibiotic resistance threatening both human health and the ecosystem. Antibiotics have therefore been categorized as emerging pollutants. Fluoroquinolone (FQs) antibiotics are an emerging class of contaminants that are used extensively in human and veterinary medicine. The recalcitrant nature of fluoroquinolones has led to their presence in wastewater, effluents and water bodies. Even at a low concentration, FQs can stimulate antibacterial resistance. The main sources of FQ contamination include waste from pharmaceutical manufacturing industries, hospitals and households that ultimately reaches the wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). The conventional WWTPs are unable to completely remove FQs due to their chemical stability. Therefore, the development and implementation of more efficient, economical, convenient treatment and removal technologies are needed to adequately address the issue. This review provides an overview of the technologies available for the removal of fluoroquinolone antibiotics from wastewater including adsorptive removal, advanced oxidation processes, removal using non-carbon based nanomaterials, microbial degradation and enzymatic degradation. Each treatment technology is discussed on its merits and limitations and a comparative view is presented on the choice of an advanced treatment process for future studies and implementation. A discussion on the commercialization potential and eco-friendliness of each technology is also included in the review. The importance of metabolite identification and their residual toxicity determination has been emphasized. The last section of the review provides an overview of the policy interventions and regulatory frameworks that aid in retrofitting antibiotics as a central key focus contaminant and thereby defining the discharge limits for antibiotics and establishing safe manufacturing practices.