Previous studies have indicated that outdoor light at night (LAN) is associated with a higher prevalence of overweight or obesity in adults. However, the association of LAN levels with overweight or obesity in children is still unknown. This study utilized data from the Seven Northeastern Cities study, which included 47,990 school-aged children and adolescents (ages 6–18 years). Outdoor LAN levels were measured using satellite imaging data. Weight and height were used to calculate age-sex-specific body mass index (BMI) Z-scores based on the World Health Organization (WHO) growth standards. Overweight status and obesity were defined using the Chinese standard. Information regarding socioeconomic status, sleep-related characteristics, and obesogenic factors were obtained using a questionnaire. A generalized linear mixed model examined the associations of outdoor LAN levels (in quartiles) with the outcomes of interest. Compared to children in the lowest quartile of outdoor LAN levels, children exposed to higher outdoor LAN levels had larger BMI Z-scores and higher odds of being overweight (including obesity) or obese, with the largest estimates in the third quartile [BMI Z-score: β = 0.26, 95% CI: 0.18–0.33; overweight (including obesity): OR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.25–1.56; obesity: OR = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.29–1.65]. There was a significant sex difference (Pᵢₙₜₑᵣₐcₜᵢₒₙ<0.001) in the association of outdoor LAN levels with BMI Z-scores, and the association was stronger in males. Results remained robust following multiple sensitivity analyses and the adjustment of sleep-related characteristics, obesogenic factors, and environmental exposures. Our findings suggest that higher outdoor LAN levels are associated with larger BMI Z-scores and greater odds of overweight (including obesity) and obesity in school-aged children and adolescents. Further, the association between outdoor LAN levels and BMI Z-scores is stronger in males. Future studies with exposure assessments that consider both outdoor and indoor LAN exposures are needed.

As alternatives to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) and hexafluoropropylene oxide trimer acid (HFPO-TA) have raised concerns of their potential health risks. Human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell was employed as an in vitro model to investigate the molecular targets and the adverse effects of HFPOs in stem cells in concentrations range starting at human relevant levels. Unsupervised transcriptomic analysis identified 1794 and 1429 DEGs affected by HFPO-TA and HFPO-DA, respectively. Cell cycle-associated biological processes were commonly altered by both chemicals. 18 and 35 KEGG pathways were enriched in HFPO-TA and HFPO-DA treatment group, respectively, among which multiple pathways were related to cancer and pluripotency. Few genes in PPAR signalling pathway were disturbed by HFPOs suggesting the involvement of PPAR-independent toxic mechanism. HFPO-TA promoted cell proliferation with significance at 1 μM mRNA levels of CDK and MYC were down-regulated by HFPOs, suggesting the negative feedback regulation to the abnormal cell proliferation. Decreased expression of CD44 protein, and ENG and THY1 mRNA levels demonstrated HFPOs-caused changes of hBMSCs phenotype. The osteogenic differentiation was also inhibited by HFPOs with reduced formation of calcium deposition. Furthermore, gene and protein expression of core pluripotency regulators NANOG was enhanced by HFPO-TA. The present study provides human relevant mechanistic evidence for health risk assessment of HFPOs, prioritizing comprehensive carcinogenicity assessment of this type of PFOA alternatives.

In situ remediation technology applied aims to not only decrease cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) uptake by rice but also improve soil health and rice quality in contaminated paddy soils. Here the effects of a combined amendment, consisting of limestone, iron powder, silicon fertilizer, and calcium-magnesium-phosphate fertilizer, with three application rates (0, 450, and 900 g m⁻²) on soil health, rice root system, and brown rice quality were compared in moderately versus highly Cd and As co-contaminated paddy fields. After the amendment application, soil pH, cation exchange capacity, four kinds of soil enzyme activities increased (sucrase, urease, acid phosphatase, and catalase), and concentrations of leached Cd/As decreased, as measured by the DTPA (diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid) and TCLP (toxicity characteristic leaching procedure). Changes in the above soil indicators promoted soil health. In both fields, the dithionite-citrate-bicarbonate (DCB)-Fe and DCB-Mn concentration in iron plaque increased and root length became longer. Changes in the above root system indicators reduced the root system's absorption of Cd and As but increased that of nutrients. Under 900 g m⁻² treatment, the Cd concentration in brown rice of two sites decreased by 55.8% and 28.9%, likewise inorganic As (iAs) decreased by 50.0% and 21.1%, whereas essential amino acids increased by 20.4% and 20.0%, respectively. Furthermore, the Cd and iAs concentrations in brown rice were <0.2 mg kg⁻¹ (maximum contaminant level of Cd and iAs in the Chinese National Food Safety Standards GB2762-2017 for brown rice) under the 900 g m⁻² in the moderately contaminated field. These results suggest the combined amendment can improve soil health and brown rice quality in the moderately and highly Cd- and As-co-contaminated paddy soils, offering potential eco-friendly and efficient remediation material for applications in such polluted paddy soils.

A new bacterium, Rhodococcus sp. S2-17, which could completely degrade an emerging organic pollutant, benzophenone-3 (BP-3), was isolated from contaminated sediment through an enrichment procedure, and its BP-3 catabolic pathway and genes were identified through metabolic intermediate and transcriptomic analyses and biochemical and genetic studies. Metabolic intermediate analysis suggested that strain S2-17 may degrade BP-3 using a catabolic pathway progressing via the intermediates BP-1, 2,4,5-trihydroxy-benzophenone, 3-hydroxy-4-benzoyl-2,4-hexadienedioic acid, 4-benzoyl-3-oxoadipic acid, 3-oxoadipic acid, and benzoic acid. A putative BP-3 catabolic gene cluster including cytochrome P450, flavin-dependent oxidoreductase, hydroxyquinol 1,2-dioxygenase, maleylacetate reductase, and α/β hydrolase genes was identified through genomic and transcriptomic analyses. Genes encoding the cytochrome P450 complex that demethylates BP-3 to BP-1 were functionally verified through protein expression, and the functions of the other genes were also verified through knockout mutant construction and intermediate analysis. This study suggested that strain S2-17 might have acquired the ability to catabolize BP-3 by recruiting the cytochrome P450 complex and α/β hydrolase, which hydrolyzes 4-benzoyl-3-oxoadipic acid to benzoic acid and 3-oxoadipic acid, genes, providing insights into the recruitment of genes of for the catabolism of emerging organic pollutants.

The experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of Cadmium (Cd) on growth performance, blood biochemical parameters, oxidative stress, hepatocyte apoptosis and autophagy of weaned piglets. A total of 12 healthy weaned piglets were randomly assigned to the control and the Cd group, which were fed with a basal diet and the basal diet supplemented with 15 ± 0.242 mg/kg CdCl₂ for 30 d, respectively. Our results demonstrated that Cd significantly decreased final body weight, average daily feed intake (ADFI), average daily gain (ADG) and increased feed-to-gain (F/G) ratio (P < 0.05). For blood biochemical parameters, Cd treatment significantly decreased the red blood cell (RBC), hemoglobin (HGB), hematocrit (HCT), total protein, albumin, copper content and iron content (P < 0.05). In addition, liver injury was observed in the Cd-exposed group. Our results also demonstrated that Cd exposure contributed to the production of ROS, activated the AMPK/PPAR-γ/NF-κB pathway (increasing the expressions of P-AMPK/AMPK, NF-κB, I-κB-β, COX-2, and iNOS, decreasing the expressions of PPAR-γ and I-κB-α), finally induced autophagy (increasing the expressions of Beclin-1, the ratio of LC3-II/LC3-I and p62), and apoptosis (increasing the expressions of Bax, Bak, Caspase-9, and Caspase-3, decreasing the expression of Bcl-2). Overall, these findings revealed the vital role of AMPK/PPAR-γ/NF-κB pathway in Cd-induced liver apoptosis and autophagy, which provided deeper insights into a better understanding of Cd-induced hepatotoxicity.

Chlorinated and brominated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (Cl/Br-PAHs) are persistent organic pollutants with potential carcinogenic toxicities that are even higher than those of their parent PAH congeners. Current knowledge of Cl/Br-PAH sources and emission characteristics is lacking. Electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmaking is a potential source for Cl/Br-PAHs, considering that preheating of raw materials before they enter the EAF could produce suitable conditions for Cl/Br-PAHs formation. In this field study, we identified EAFs as an important source of Cl/Br-PAHs and clarified their emission concentrations, fingerprints by gas chromatography coupled with high-resolution magnetic mass spectrometry. Potential formation mechanisms of Cl/Br-PAHs were also proposed. The mass concentration ranges for Σ₁₈Cl-PAHs and Σ₁₈Br-PAHs in stack gas were 25.85–4191 ng Nm⁻³ and 1.02–341 ng Nm⁻³, respectively. The variation of concentration indicated that the steel scrap composition greatly affected the production of Cl/Br-PAHs. The congener ratios including 6-chlorobenzo [a]pyrene/3-chlorofluoranthene and 1-chloroanthracene/1-chloropyrene could be used to estimate the influence of industrial sources on Cl-PAH occurrences in the air. Ring structure growth was the dominant formation pathway for Cl/Br-PAHs, distinctly different from dioxin formation mechanisms dominated by precursor dimerization and chlorination.

The frequent occurrence of microcystins (MCs) has caused a series of water security issues worldwide. Although MC pollution in natural waters of China has been reported, a systematic analysis of the risk of MCs in Chinese lakes and reservoirs is still lacking. In this study, the distribution, trend, and risk of MCs in Chinese lakes and reservoirs were comprehensively revealed through meta-analysis for the first time. The results showed that MC pollution occurrence in numerous lakes and reservoirs have been reported, with MC pollution being distributed in the waters of 15 provinces in China. For lakes, the maximum mean total MC (TMC) and dissolved MC (DMC) concentrations occurred in Lake Dianchi (23.06 μg/L) and Lake Taihu (1.00 μg/L), respectively. For reservoirs, the maximum mean TMC and DMC concentrations were detected in Guanting (4.31 μg/L) and Yanghe reservoirs (0.98 μg/L), respectively. The TMC concentrations in lakes were significantly higher than those in the reservoirs (p < 0.05), but no difference was observed in the DMC between the two water bodies (p > 0.05). Correlation analysis showed that the total phosphorus concentrations, pH, transparency, chlorophyll a, and dissolved oxygen were significantly related to the DMC in lakes and reservoirs. The ecological risks of DMC in Chinese lakes and reservoirs were generally at low levels, but high or moderate ecological risks of TMC had occurred in several waters, which were not negligible. Direct drinking water and consumption of aquatic products in several MC-polluted lakes and reservoirs may pose human health risks. This study systematically analyzed the pollution and risk of MCs in lakes and reservoirs nationwide in China and pointed out the need for further MC research and management in waters.

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are almost the only place where plastic fragments are artificially removed, resulting in mass accumulation of nanoplastics (NPs). In this research, four different concentrations (0 mg/L, 0.1 mg/L, 1 mg/L, 10 mg/L) of polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) were used to investigate the cell damage and nitrogen inhibition of activated sludge, exposed in a self-assembled SBR reactor for 30 days. Intracellular reactive oxides (ROS) and extracellular lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) increased with the rise of exposure concentration, and morphological analysis disclosed the creases, collapse, and even rupture of cell membranes. However, exposure damage (PS-NPs ≤ 1 mg/L) appeared to be reversible, attributed to that extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) secretion can thicken the three protective layers outside the membrane. PS-NPs did not disrupt the EPS chemical structure, but increased humic acid content. Prolonged exposure time (from 15 to 30 days) was directly related to the nitrogen inhibition. Due to the habitat changes under PS-NPs exposure, abundance and diversity of microorganisms in the original activated sludge decreased significantly, and the dominant phylum was occupied by Patescibacteria (PS-NPs = 10 mg/L). Changes in enzyme activities of AMO, NR, NIR, and NOR with exposure concentration may explain the conversion of nitrogen in SBR. This research broadens our horizons to understand the response mechanism of activated sludge bacteria to PS-NPs exposure individually and collectively.

Chlorinated paraffins (CPs) are industrial chemicals produced in large quantities. Short-chain CPs (SCCPs) were classified as persistent organic pollutants under the Stockholm Convention in 2017. Medium-chain CPs (MCCPs) became candidate persistent organic pollutants in 2021. CPs are now ubiquitously found in the environment. Honey bees can be exposed to CPs during foraging, and this exposure subsequently results in the contamination of honey and other bee products along with colony food production and storage. Here, SCCP and MCCP concentrations in honey collected from Chinese apiaries in 2015 and 2021 were determined. Total CP concentrations in honey from 2021 to 2015 were comparable, but the ratio of MCCPs/SCCPs was higher in 2021 than in 2015. SCCP and MCCP congener group profiles in all honey samples were similar and dominated by C₁₀–₁₁Cl₆–₇ and C₁₄Cl₆–₇, respectively. MCCP concentrations were also higher than SCCP concentrations in bees, pollen, and wax but not in bee bread, which were all collected in 2021. The order of average CP concentrations was determined as wax > bee > pollen > bee bread > honey. Poor relationships were found between SCCP concentrations in honey and other samples, but a relationship between MCCP concentrations in honey and other samples was observed. Migration tests of CPs in plastic bottles showed essentially no migration into honey during storage. The risks to humans from CPs in honey are low.

Anthropogenic aquatic noise is recognised as an environmental pollutant with the potential to negatively affect marine organisms. Seismic surveys, used to explore subseafloor oil reserves, are a common source of aquatic noise that have garnered attention due to their intense low frequency inputs and their frequent spatial overlap with coastal fisheries. Commercially important Southern Rock Lobster (Jasus edwardsii) adults have previously shown sensitivity to signals from a single seismic air gun. Here, the sensitivity of J. edwardsii juveniles and puerulus to the signals of a full-scale seismic survey were evaluated to determine if early developmental stages were affected similarly to adults, and the range of impact. To quantify impact, lobster mortality rates, dorsoventral righting reflex and progression through moult cycle were evaluated following exposure. Exposure did not result in mortality in either developmental stage, however, air gun signals caused righting impairment to at least 500 m in lobsters sampled immediately following exposure, as had previously been reported in adults with corresponding sensory system damage following exposure. Impairment resulting from close range (0 m) exposure appeared to be persistent, as previously reported in adults, whereas juveniles exposed at a more distant range (500 m) showed recovery, indicating that exposure at a range of 500 m may not cause lasting impairment to righting. Intermoult duration was (time between moults) significantly increased in juveniles exposed at 0 m from the source, indicating the potential for slowed development, growth, and physiological stress. These results demonstrate that exposure to seismic air gun signals have the potential to negatively impact early life history stages of Southern Rock Lobsters. The similarity of both the impacts and the sound exposure levels observed here compared to previous exposure using a single air gun offer validation for the approach, which opens the potential for accessible field-based experimental work into the impact of seismic surveys on marine invertebrates.