In this study, the water quality of the Marreco River in the municipality of Toledo, PR, Brazil was investigated as part of a monitoring program. Conventional water pollution parameters (pH, turbidity, conductivity, COD, DO, ammonia, and total phosphorus) and metal elements were analyzed. Acute toxicity bioassays were conducted by the bacterial bioluminescence method, using the indicator Vibrio fischeri to evaluate the toxic effect of the contaminants. Principal components analysis (PCA) and Pearson’s correlation were applied to assess the statistical correlation between the physicochemical parameters and metals in the water samples. There is strong evidence, supported by Pearson and PCA analyses, of the presence of elevated levels of K and Ca associated with anthropogenic activities installed in the river basin.

The impact of nanoparticles on fish health is still a matter of debate, since nanotechnology is quite recent. In this study, freshwater benthonic juvenile fish Prochilodus lineatus were exposed through water to three concentrations of TiO₂ (0.1, 1, and 10 μg l⁻¹) and ZnO (7, 70, and 700 μg l⁻¹) nanoparticles, as well as to a mixture of both (TiO₂ 1 μg l⁻¹ + ZnO 70 μg l⁻¹) for 5 and 30 days. Nanoparticle characterization revealed an increase of aggregate size in the function of concentration, but suspensions were generally stable. Fish mortality was high at subchronic exposure to 70 and 700 μg l⁻¹ of ZnO. Nanoparticle exposure led to decreased acetylcholinesterase activity either in the muscle or in the brain, depending on particle composition (muscle—TiO₂ 10 μg l⁻¹; brain—ZnO 7 and 700 μg l⁻¹), and protein oxidative damage increased in the brain (ZnO 70 μg l⁻¹) and gills (ZnO 70 μg l⁻¹ and mixture) but not in the liver. Exposed fish had more frequent alterations in the liver (necrosis, vascular congestion, leukocyte infiltration, and basophilic foci) and gills (hyperplasia and epithelial damages, e.g., epithelial disorganization and epithelial loss) than the control fish. Thus, predicted concentrations of TiO₂ and ZnO nanoparticles caused detectable effects on P. lineatus that may have important consequences to fish health. But, these effects are much more subtle than those usually reported in the scientific literature for high concentrations or doses of metal nanoparticles.

The Tula River watershed is a water flow system that runs from the State of Mexico to the south-central part of Hidalgo State in Mexico that includes the Mezquital Valley which was originally a semiarid zone and now is an important agricultural region. We studied the River Tula watershed regarding biological, chemical, and physical parameters, describing the zooplankton species list, and the levels of five metals: arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc, in sediments, elutriates, water column, and bioaccumulation in tilapia (Oreochromis nilotica), and some zooplanktonic species using atomic absorption. Arsenic, cadmium, and lead are present in the water column in small concentrations of different reservoirs of the Tula River watershed. Concentration of these three metals in elutriates and sediments are higher than levels in water column. The effects of the presence of these three metals in the water column, elutriates, and sediments include the following: (a) Levels of lead in muscles of tilapia make this species unsafe for human consumption, and (b) arsenic, cadmium, and lead are bioaccumulated in several zooplanktonic species. We discuss these results in the context of (a) bioaccumulation through trophic levels and (b) international and Mexican national standards regarding safe levels of contaminants in fish tissues for human consumption.

Scorpionfish (Scorpaena porcus) is a demersal fish species commercially important for its of which meat is tough and delicious. The aim of this study was to determine heavy metal (Al, Cu, Ni, As, Cd, Hg, Pb, U) concentrations in this fish species which is traditionally consumed in the Black Sea Area and, to compare the concentrations of various toxic elements in different organs of the fish specimens (muscle, liver, gill, and skin). Within this scope, the mineralization was performed using microwave digestion system. Thirty-two scorpionfish caught from Sinop Inland Port during 2010 were analyzed. The heavy metal concentrations were determined with the method of inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS). Verification of the method was demonstrated by analysis of standard reference material (NRCC-TORT-2 lobster hepatopancreas). After evaluation of the results, it was determined that the highest heavy metal accumulation was generally found in the liver. The maximum aluminum level and the minimum uranium level were found in the analyzed tissues. In terms of heavy metals, Al, Cu, Cd, and Hg showed a statistically significant difference between tissues (p < 0.05). It was determined that heavy metal concentrations obtained from the muscle tissues did not exceed the national and international recommended limits; and also it was found that daily intake amounts did not exceed tolerable daily intake amounts. Furthermore, in THQ based risk evaluation, the value 1 which is crucial for children and adults was not surpassed. In terms of public health, it was found out that there was not any risk in consumption of scorpionfish in the study area.

A new combined difenoconazole and fluxapyroxad fungicide formulation, as an 11.7 % suspension concentrate (SC), has been introduced as part of a resistance management strategy. The dissipation of difenoconazole and fluxapyroxad applied to apples and the residues remaining in the apples were determined. The 11.7 % SC was sprayed onto apple trees and soil in Beijing, Shandong, and Anhui provinces, China, at an application rate of 118 g a.i. ha⁻¹, then the dissipation of difenoconazole and fluxapyroxad was monitored. The residual difenoconazole and fluxapyroxad concentrations were determined by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. The difenoconazole half-lives in apples and soil were 6.2–9.5 and 21.0–27.7 days, respectively. The fluxapyroxad half-lives in apples and soil were 9.4–12.6 and 10.3–36.5 days, respectively. Difenoconazole and fluxapyroxad residues in apples and soil after the 11.7 % SC had been sprayed twice and three times, with 10 days between applications, at 78 and 118 g a.i. ha⁻¹ were measured. Representative apple and soil samples were collected after the last treatment, at preharvest intervals of 14, 21, and 28 days. The difenoconazole residue concentrations in apples and soil were 0.002–0.052 and 0.002–0.298 mg kg⁻¹, respectively. The fluxapyroxad residue concentrations in apples and soil were 0.002–0.093 and 0.008–1.219 mg kg⁻¹, respectively. The difenoconazole and fluxapyroxad residue concentrations in apples were lower than the maximum residue limits (0.5 and 0.8 mg kg⁻¹, respectively). An application rate of 78 g a.i. ha⁻¹ is therefore recommended to ensure that treated apples can be considered safe for humans to consume.

A biogeochemical investigation was carried out on Origanum majorana grown on limestone substrate in Greece. Possible health risks from consumption of dried herbs and infusions were assessed. Macronutrients and essential and toxic metals were determined in the leaves of O. majorana plants and in their soil substrates. Toxic metals were measured in the herbal infusions. Macroelements were found generally in low concentrations for normally developing plants, except for Ca. The ratios N/P and N/K were found lower than the optimum range for normal growth, while the values of K/(Ca + Mg) ratio prevent the development of grass tetany. Manganese and arsenic were enriched in distinct samples. O. majorana plants can be used as indicators for soil environmental assessment. They can also be applied in phytoremediation methods in metal-polluted soils. Hazard indices were far below 1. Carcinogenic risks were found to be within the acceptable range. No health risk is anticipated by the consumption of the specific plants investigated in the present study.

Excess nitrogen loading has contributed to the impairment of major watersheds across North Carolina. Onsite wastewater systems (OWS) are a potential source of nitrogen to water resources, but more research is needed to determine their actual contributions, especially in the Piedmont region of the state. The objective of this study was to determine the total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) treatment efficiency of four OWS in clayey soils of the North Carolina Piedmont. Two OWS were conventional style, and two were single-pass sand filters. The four volunteered sites with OWS were instrumented with piezometers (27 total) for groundwater collection and analyses. Piezometers were installed within 1.5 m of each OWS and downgradient from the conventional OWS. Septic tank effluent, groundwater from the piezometers, sand filter effluent, and adjacent surface waters were sampled bimonthly (five times) during 2015. Samples were analyzed for TDN, NO₃ ⁻-N, NH₄ ⁺-N, chloride, dissolved organic carbon, and physical and chemical parameters on each sampling event. Groundwater samples collected 35 m downgradient from the two conventional OWSs had TDN concentrations and masses, on average, of 98 and 70 %, respectively, lower than septic tank effluent. Isotopic analysis of the natural abundance of δ¹⁵N and δ¹⁸O in NO₃ ⁻ in groundwater collected at the conventional OWS sites suggests that denitrification was a mass removal mechanism. The sand filter OWS reduced TDN concentrations by an average of 80 % and mass loading by 50 % prior to discharge to surface waters. Nitrogen management regulations in nutrient-sensitive watersheds should consider the contributions from OWS, especially direct discharge systems like sand filters. Improvements in the TDN treatment efficiency of direct discharge OWS would result in immediate surface water quality improvements.

This study primarily focused on the performance of 1,1,1-trichloroethane (1,1,1-TCA) and trichloroethylene (TCE) degradation involving redox reactions in zeolite-supported nanozerovalent iron composite (Z-nZVI)-catalyzed sodium percarbonate (SPC) system in aqueous solution with five different chelating agents (CAs) including oxalic acid (OA), citric acid monohydrate (CAM), glutamic acid (GA), ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), and L-ascorbic acid (ASC). The experimental results showed that the addition of OA achieved almost 100 % degradation of 1,1,1-TCA and TCE. The addition of CAM and GA also significantly increased the contaminant degradation, while excessive addition of them inhibited the degradation. In contrast, EDTA and ASC showed negative impacts on 1,1,1-TCA and TCE degradation, which might be due to the strong reactivity with iron and OH● scavenging characteristics. The efficiency with CA addition on 1,1,1-TCA and TCE degradation decreased in the order of OA > CAM > GA > no CAs > EDTA > ASC. The extensive investigations using probe compound tests and scavenger tests revealed that both contaminants degraded primarily by OH● and O₂ –● in chelated Z-nZVI-catalyzed SPC system. The significant improvement in 1,1,1-TCA and TCE degradation efficiency was accredited due to the (i) increase in concentration of Fe²⁺ and (ii) continuous generation of OH● radicals and maintenance of its quantity, ensuring more stability in the aqueous solution. Finally, the complete mineralization of 1,1,1-TCA and TCE in the OA-chelated, Z-nZVI-catalyzed SPC system was confirmed without any chlorinated intermediate by-products detected, demonstrating a great potential of this technique in the application of groundwater remediation. Graphical Abstract Schematic representation of the reactive oxygen species in the chelated Z-nZVI-catalyzed percarbonate system for the degradation of 1,1,1-TCA and TCE

A risk assessment for freshwater and marine ecosystems is presented for 48 pharmaceutical compounds, belonging to 16 therapeutic classes, and prescribed in northwestern France. Ecotoxicity data were obtained on two freshwater organisms, i.e., crustacean Daphnia magna and the green algae Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, and on two marine organisms, i.e., the crustacean Artemia salina and the diatom Skeletonema marinoi. Measured environmental concentrations (MEC), in the Orne River and sea off Merville-Franceville in the Basse-Normandie region, were compared to the predicted environmental concentrations (PEC). Predicted no-effect concentrations (PNEC) were derived from acute data for each compound. Then, a risk assessment for each compound and the mixture was performed by calculating risk quotients (RQ as PEC or MEC/PNEC ratio). Results showed that no immediate acute toxicities were expected even if some compounds displayed strong toxicities at very low concentrations. Antibiotics, antidepressants, and antifungals would deserve attention because of their high or median ecological risk suspected on marine and freshwater ecosystems. Marine ecosystems would be more sensitive to pharmaceutical residues.

Particle deposition in the human lungs is mainly influenced by the fluid dynamics and the particle properties, such as the size and the deposition mechanisms. A three-dimensional gas particle flow model to predict particle deposition and flow patterns in four generations of the human lung, located in the bronchial region, is presented in this paper. Four breathing conditions (sleep, resting, moderate activity, and intense activity) were simulated, using the commercial code ANSYS Fluent® version 14.5. The particle diameter was varied from 1 to 10 μm. The results showed that deposition in each of the three bifurcations was not uniform and should be analyzed separately based on particle diameter. The influence of gravitational settling and Brownian diffusion on particle deposition was also investigated and quantified. The greater difference in the deposition between cases considering these physical mechanisms and not considering it occurred in situations involving lower velocity, showing a value of 172 % for gravitational settling mechanism and a difference of 11 % for Brownian diffusion. Furthermore, it was observed that the total deposition increased with the Reynolds and Stokes numbers, suggesting that exercise practices should be avoided in situations with high levels of suspended particulate matter.