1H-HRMAS NMR-based metabolomics was used to better understand the toxic effects on maize root tips of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), namely lindane (γHCH) and chlordecone (CLD). Maize seedlings were exposed to 2.5 μM γHCH (mimicking basic environmental contaminations) for 7 days and compared to 2.5 μM CLD and 25 μM γHCH for 7 days (mimicking hot spot contaminations). The 1H-HRMAS NMR-based metabolomic profiles provided details of the changes in carbohydrates, amino acids, tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle intermediates and fatty acids with a significant separation between the control and OCP-exposed root tips. First of all, alterations in the balance between glycolysis/gluconeogenesis were observed with sucrose depletion and with dose-dependent fluctuations in glucose content. Secondly, observations indicated that OCPs might inactivate the TCA cycle, with sizeable succinate and fumarate depletion. Thirdly, disturbances in the amino acid composition (GABA, glutamine/glutamate, asparagine, isoleucine) reflected a new distribution of internal nitrogen compounds under OCP stress. Finally, OCP exposure caused an increase in fatty acid content, concomitant with a marked rise in oxidized fatty acids which could indicate failures in cell integrity and vitality. Moreover, the accumulation of asparagine and oxidized fatty acids with the induction of LOX3 transcription levels under OCP exposure highlighted an induction of protein and lipid catabolism. The overall data indicated that the effect of OCPs on primary metabolism could have broader physiological consequences on root development. Therefore, 1H-HRMAS NMR metabolomics is a sensitive tool for understanding molecular disturbances under OCP exposure and can be used to perform a rapid assessment of phytotoxicity.

Low-molecular-weight dicarboxylic acids, which are important components of secondary organic aerosols, have been extensively studied in recent years. Many studies have focused on ground-level observations and literature reports on the vertical distribution of the organic aerosols within the urban boundary layer are limited. In this study, the vertical profiles of dicarboxylic acids and related organic compounds (DCRCs) in PM₂.₅ were investigated at altitudinal levels (ground level and 488 m above the ground level) at the Canton Tower in Guangzhou, southern China, to elucidate their primary sources and secondary formation processes. The concentrations of DCRCs at ground level were generally higher than those at 488 m. Oxalic acid (C₂) was the most abundant species, followed by succinic acid (C₄) and malonic acid (C₃) at both heights. The higher ratio of DCRCs-bound carbon to organic carbon (i.e., DCRCs-C/OC) at 488 m (4.8 ± 1.2%) relative to that at ground level (2.7 ± 0.5%) indicated a higher degree of aerosol aging at 488 m. The abundance of C₂ was increased and the conversion of C₄ to C₃ was enhanced due to the photochemical oxidation of its homologues during long-range transport periods. The increase in C₂ was associated with in-cloud processes during pollution periods. Principal component analysis showed that DCRCs were mainly derived from atmospheric secondary processing and biomass burning was also an important source of long-chain carboxylic acids during autumn in Guangzhou. Our results illustrate that secondary processing and biomass burning play prominent roles in controlling the abundance of DCRCs. Furthermore, DCRCs are affected by air masses from regional areas, oxidation of their precursors via vertical transport and in-cloud processes.

Biological sulfate removal is challenging in cold climates due to the slower metabolism of mesophilic bacteria; however, cold conditions also offer the possibility to isolate bacteria that have adapted to low temperatures. The present research focused on the cold acclimation and characterization of sulfate-reducing bacterial (SRB) consortia enriched from an Arctic sediment sample from northern Finland. Based on 16S rDNA analysis, the most common sulfate-reducing bacterium in all enriched consortia was Desulfobulbus, which belongs to the δ-Proteobacteria. The majority of the cultivated consortia were able to reduce sulfate at temperatures as low as 6 °C with succinic acid as a carbon source. The sulfate reduction rates at 6 °C varied from 13 to 42 mg/L/d. The cultivation medium used in this research was a Postgate medium supplemented with lactate, ethanol or succinic acid. The obtained consortia were able to grow with lactate and succinic acid but surprisingly not with ethanol. Enriched SRB consortia are useful for the biological treatment of sulfate-containing industrial wastewaters in cold conditions.

Propamocarb (PM) is a widely used fungicide with property of affecting fatty acid and phospholipid biosynthesis in funguses. In this study, we explored its effects on mice gut microbiota and metabolism by exposing mice to 3, 30, and 300 mg/L PM through drinking water for a duration of 28 days. We observed that the transcription of hepatic genes related to regulate lipid metabolism were perturbed by PM exposure. The microbiota in the cecal contents and feces changed during or after PM exposure at phylum or genus levels. 16S rRNA gene sequencing for the cecal content revealed shifted in overall microbial structure after PM exposure, and operational taxonomic unit (OTU) analysis indicated that 32.2% of OTUs changed by 300 mg/mL PM exposure for 28 days. In addition, based on 1H NMR analysis,a total of 20 fecal metabolites mainly including succinate, short chain fatty acids, bile acids and trimethylamine were found to be significantly influenced by exposure to 300 mg/L PM.,. These metabolites were tightly correlated to host metabolism. Our findings indicated that high doses of PM exposure could disturb mice metabolism through, or partly through, altering the gut microbiota and microbial metabolites.

¹H NMR-based metabolomics was used to examine the response of the earthworm Eisenia fetida after exposure to sub-lethal concentrations of phenanthrene over time. Earthworms were exposed to 0.025 mg/cm² of phenanthrene (1/64th of the LC₅₀) via contact tests over four days. Earthworm tissues were extracted using a mixture of chloroform, methanol and water, resulting in polar and non-polar fractions that were analyzed by ¹H NMR after one, two, three and four days. NMR-based metabolomic analyses revealed heightened E. fetida responses with longer phenanthrene exposure times. Amino acids alanine and glutamate, the sugar maltose, the lipids cholesterol and phosphatidylcholine emerged as potential indicators of phenanthrene exposure. The conversion of succinate to fumarate in the Krebs cycle was also interrupted by phenanthrene. Therefore, this study shows that NMR-based metabolomics is a powerful tool for elucidating time-dependent relationships in addition to the mode of toxicity of phenanthrene in earthworm exposure studies.

Triazophos, as a lipophilic organophosphate pesticide, displays higher bioaccumulation in the gonads of shellfish. To study the reproductive toxicity of triazophos, we applied metabolomics to characterize the gender-specific metabolic responses in mussel Perna viridis exposed to triazophos. Metabolites were differently altered by triazophos in ovaries of mussel at different concentrations and time intervals, while basically similar metabolic response patterns were observed in male mussels at the two tested concentrations after exposure for 24 and 48h. The significant changes of metabolites in ovaries of mussel exhibited the disturbances in energy metabolism and osmotic regulation, while in male samples triazophos only affected the energy metabolism. Moreover, glycine, sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, ethanol, aspartate, etc. exhibited consistent variation tendency in both male and female individuals. While the changes of homarine, betaine, taurine, hypotaurine, malonate, β-alanine, succinate, and choline showed obviously gender-specific responses. Overall, this study confirmed the gender-specific responses in gonad of P. viridis to triazophos exposure.

In this study, the physiology of symbiotic ‘peacock-tail’ shrimp Ancylocaris brevicarpalis and its host ‘Haddon's carpet’ sea anemone Stichodactyla haddoni were tested under lowered pH (7.7) and control (8.1) conditions. The biochemical responses such as digestive enzyme (AP), organic acids (lactate and succinate), oxidative damages (MDA), antioxidants metabolites/enzymes (ASC, GSH, SOD, CAT, APX, GPX, GR, POX, and PHOX), and detoxification enzyme (GST) were measured. The AP showed insignificantly reduced values in both the organisms in lowered pH conditions compared to control indicating the effect of abiotic stress. The hierarchical clustering analysis indicated low MDA in sea anemone can be explained by higher POX, APX, GR, ASC, and GSH levels compared to shrimps. However, the detoxification enzyme GST showed less activity in sea anemones compared to shrimps. The results suggest that A. brevicarpalis and sea anemone S. haddoni may have deleterious effects when exposed to short-term acidification stress.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are widely detected in coastal wetlands but their remediation is still difficult. In this study, different carbon sources, namely formate, acetate, pyruvate, lactate, succinate, methanol and ethanol, were added to mangrove sediments contaminated with BDE-47, a common PBDE congener, to enhance its degradation. After 2-month incubation, all carbon addition significantly enhanced degradation percentages. The residual BDE-47 percentage significantly correlated with the abundance of total bacteria and Dehalococcoides spp. The addition of methanol, acetate and succinate also achieved significantly higher degradation rates and shorter half-lives than sediments without carbon amendment at the end of 5-month incubation, although degradation percentages were comparable between sediments with and without extra carbon. The degradation pathway based on the profiles of degradation products was also similar among treatments. The results indicated the stimulatory effect of extra carbon sources on BDE-47 degradation in contaminated sediments was carbon- and time-specific.

Coastal hypoxia affects the survival, behavior, and reproduction of individual local marine organisms, and the abundance, biomass, and biodiversity of coastal ecosystems. In this study, we investigated the chronic effects of hypoxia on the metabolomics in the gills of Ruditapes (R.) philippinarum. The results indicated significant alterations in the metabolite profiles in the gills of the hypoxia-treated clams, in comparison with those maintained under normoxia. The levels of betaine, taurine, glycine, isoleucine, and alanine were significantly reduced, suggesting a disturbance of osmotic balance associated with hypoxia. Meanwhile, metabolites involved in energy metabolism, such as alanine and succinate, were also affected. Dramatic histopathological changes were observed in the gills and hepatopancreases of R. philippinarum grown in hypoxic waters, demonstrating tissue damages apparently caused by long-term exposure to hypoxia. Our findings suggest that hypoxia significantly affects the physiology of R. philippinarum, even at a sub-lethal level, and impedes health of the clams.

Ionic liquids (ILs) are solvents composed of ions, containing a large asymmetric cation with an anion. With increasing and widespread applications, the toxic effects of ILs have been considerable in recent years. This study explained the effects of the new functional ionic liquids [N₄₄₄₄] bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfonyl succinate (AOT) on rice seedling and the growth of rhizobacteria. The rice seeds pretreated by [N₄₄₄₄] AOT revealed that it exhibited a significant negative impact on rice seedlings. The inhibition of rice growth increased with increasing concentration. When the concentration of [N₄₄₄₄] AOT increased to 0.25 and 0.5 mL L⁻¹, the germination potential decreased by 40.0% and 86.3%, respectively, compared with the control. The germination potential and germination rate of rice were reduced, and the stress effect of ionic liquid on the root parts was higher than the aerial parts. The biomass of rice seedlings was decreased by 34.8 to 91.2%. Iodinic propane staining showed that by increasing concentration, the root cell cytomembrane damage level was increased and also changed the cell shapes, especially under 0.25 mg L⁻¹ concentration stress. However, rhizobacteria of rice showed strong [N₄₄₄₄] AOT-resistant characteristics when the concentration was reached to 120 mg L⁻¹. The ILs even more promoted the growth of Enterobacter sp. NP1142 and Pantoea sp. BR23. It was indicated that IL [N₄₄₄₄] AOT can be degraded easily by rhizobacteria to eliminate the eco-risk of ILs.