Global climate change (GCC) significantly affects aquatic ecosystems. Continual use of pyrethroid insecticides results in contamination of these ecosystems and concurrent GCC raises the potential for synergistic effects. Resistance to pyrethroids has been documented in Hyalella azteca, a common epibenthic amphipod and model organism. Resistant H. azteca can bioconcentrate elevated amounts of pyrethroids and represent a threat to consumers via trophic transfer. In the present study, a predator of H. azteca, the inland silverside (Menidia beryllina), was used to examine the impacts of GCC on pyrethroid bioaccumulation via trophic transfer from resistant prey organisms. M. beryllina were fed ¹⁴C-permethrin dosed pyrethroid-resistant H. azteca for 14 days at three salinities (6, 13 and 20 practical salinity units (PSU)) and two temperatures (18 and 23 °C). Fish were analyzed for total body residues, percent parent compound and percent metabolites. Gene expression in liver and brain tissue were evaluated to assess whether dietary bioaccumulation of permethrin would impact detoxification processes, metabolism, and general stress responses. M. beryllina bioaccumulated significant amounts of permethrin across all treatments, ranging from 39 to 557 ng g⁻¹ lipid. No statistically significant effect of temperature was found on total bioaccumulation. Salinity had a significant effect on total bioaccumulation, owing to greater bioaccumulation at 6 PSU compared to 13 and 20 PSU, which may be due to alterations to xenobiotic elimination. Permethrin bioaccumulation and the interaction with temperature and salinity elicited significant transcriptional responses in genes relating to detoxification, growth, development, and immune response. Given the increased prevalence of pesticide-resistant aquatic invertebrates, GCC-induced alterations to temperature and salinity, and the predicted increase in pesticide usage, these findings suggest trophic transfer may play an important role in pesticide bioaccumulation and effects in predatory fish.

Microorganisms can degrade petroleum hydrocarbons, providing the advantages of low cost and few side effects towards ecosystems. Here, we evaluated the mechanisms of microbial degradation of marine petroleum hydrocarbon using metagenomics and metatranscriptomics approaches in order to provide new insight into microbial degradation of petroleum hydrocarbon. Seawater samples were collected at a depth of ∼8 m from an area near a drilling platform in the Bohai Bay and metagenomic sequencing was used to evaluate the functional potential of these marine microbial communities. Metatranscriptomic sequencing, fluorescence in-situ hybridization experiments, and flow cytometry were also performed on the microbial communities of samples subjected to 12 different culture conditions. The data were also subjected to Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) and co-transcription data visualization to evaluate co-transcription of gene functions. Metagenomic sequencing indicated the presence of numerous genes that were related to petroleum hydrocarbon metabolism. Further, the high co-transcription of genes in multiple pathways, indicated that groups of genes were synergistically transcribed to metabolize petroleum hydrocarbons. Metatranscriptomics also showed that microbial metabolism was highly active in the enrichments and that the transcription of a large number of prokaryotic replication and repair genes were significantly up-regulated including those encoding for the type VI secretion system (T6SS) protein, DNA polymerase I, thymidine phosphorylase, mevalonate kinase, and two-component systems. Concomitantly, the transcription of ribosomal genes involved in translation and photosynthetic genes involved in energy metabolism were down-regulated. Overall, oil and oxygen presence can increase the oil-degradation rates and related genes’ transcription. Lot different metabolisms are co-regulated to exploit nutrients derived from the metabolism of petroleum hydrocarbons. Our analysis of metagenomic, metatranscriptomic and degradation data in this study show that a widespread gene spectrum involved in oil-degradation and the cooperation among genes is of great importance.

Bacillus coagulans is regarded as a clean, safe and helpful probiotic additive in the production of livestock and poultry breeds. Some studies have also shown that Bacillus coagulans can adsorb heavy metals in water, even in the gut of animals. However, whether Bacillus coagulans feeding influences antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) abundance in the gut of lead-exposed laying hens is unknown. To better apply such probiotics in the breeding industry, the present study employed Bacillus coagulans R11 and laying hens in model experiments to test ARG changes in the cecum of laying hens under lead exposure and B. coagulans R11 feeding. The results showed that there was the trend for ARG abundance decreasing in feeding B. coagulans R11 without lead exposure to laying hens in the cecum; however, feeding B. coagulans R11 to laying hens exposed to lead obviously increased the abundances of aminoglycoside and chloramphenicol ARGs. Further experiment found that hydroquinone, dodecanedioic acid, gibberellin A14, alpha-solanine, jasmonic acid and chitin were involved in the abundances of ARGs in the cecum, in addition the abundances of these compounds were also significantly enhanced by lead exposure or combination effects of lead and B. coagulans R11. As a result, the ARG hazards increased with feeding B. coagulans R11 to laying hens exposed to lead, and the key compounds which influenced by the combination effects of lead and B. coagulans R11 might influence the ARGs abundance.

An enantioselective method for quantifying amphetamine-type chiral illicit drugs (CIDs) in wastewater and surface water was developed, validated, and applied to samples from a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) and its effluent-receiving river in Beijing, China. Water samples were subjected to solid-phase extraction (SPE) and then quantified via liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. The enantioseparation of CIDs was performed with a CHIRALPAK CBH column. Chromatographic parameters, including mobile phase composition and flow rates, were tested to identify the satisfactory enantiomeric resolution. The SPE method was optimized by evaluating variables, including SPE cartridge types, extraction solvents, and solvent volumes. The Oasis HLB sorbent showed good performance with recoveries exceeding 60% and matrix effects ranging from −19.6% to 26.6% for most target enantiomers, except for norephedrine (NE), in three different aquatic matrixes. The established method was superior to previously reported methods and had a low limit of detection, low limit of quantification, and short runtime (<45 min). The repeatability and reproducibility of the method reached 19.1% and 17.8%, respectively. The method was successfully utilized to monitor the daily variations in CIDs in the influent, effluent, and effluent-receiving river of a WWTP in Beijing over 1 week. The common occurrence of 1 R,2 S-(−)-ephedrine (1 R,2 S-(−)-EPH), 1 S,2 S-(+)-pseudoephedrine (1 S,2 S-(+)-PEPH), R-(−)-methamphetamine (METH), and S-(+)-METH in wastewater samples was observed. Ephedrines (1 R,2 S-(−)-EPH and 1 S,2 S-(+)-PEPH) were the most abundant CIDs in the influent, effluent, upstream, and downstream samples with concentrations of 725.8 ± 181.2 ng/L, 22.9 ± 4.9 ng/L, 12.96 ± 0.79 ng/L, and 11.6 ± 6.7 ng/L, respectively. METH was detectable in most water samples and was present in excess in S-enantiomer form in the influent and in R-enantiomer form in the effluent and surface water. R-(−)-MDMA was detected at a concentration of up to 2.4 ng/L in the influent. The metabolites norketamine (NK), amphetamine(AMP), MDA, and NE were not detected in water samples given the low concentration of their parent drugs.

Artificial light at night (ALAN) is increasing at a high rate across the globe and can cause shifts in animal phenology due to the alteration of perceived photoperiod. Birds in particular may be highly impacted due to their use of extra-retinal photoreceptors, as well as the use of photoperiodic cues to time life events such as reproduction, moult, and migration. For the first time, we used light-logging geolocators to determine the amount of ALAN experienced by long-distance migratory songbirds (purple martin; Progne subis) while at their overwintering sites in South America to measure its potential relationship with spring migration timing. Almost a third of birds (48/155; 31%) were subjected to at least one night with ALAN over 30 days prior to spring migration. Birds that experienced the highest number of nights (10+) with artificial light departed for spring migration on average 8 days earlier and arrived 8 days earlier at their breeding sites compared to those that experienced no artificial light. Early spring migration timing due to pre-migration ALAN experienced at overwintering sites could lead to mistiming with environmental conditions and insect abundance on the migratory route and at breeding sites, potentially impacting survival and/or reproductive success. Such effects would be particularly detrimental to species already exhibiting steep population declines such as purple martins and other migratory aerial insectivores.

An integrated model of VOCs emission/sorption from/on dry building materials with a general boundary condition, variable air exchange rate and inlet concentration is developed. An analytical solution is obtained by using the generalized integral transform technique. Good agreements are obtained between the present model and the experimental data. The effects of environmental conditions on the emission are investigated. The emission from two surfaces can increase the concentration of hexanal in the air and decrease the initial emission rate at x=δ with the increase in mass transfer coefficient at x=0. Periodical inlet concentration can lead to the periodic variation of materials between a source and a sink. Ventilation can keep the concentration in the air at a low level and help to decrease the concentration of hexanal in materials. The present model is capable of simulating indoor air quality due to the VOCs emission and sorption.

Tributyltin (TBT), a bioaccumulative and persistent environmental pollutant, has been proposed as a metabolism disruptor and obesogen through targeting peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) receptor pathway. However, it remains unknown whether this biological effect occurs in macrophage, a cell type which cooperates closely with hepatocytes and adipocytes to regulate lipid metabolism. This study for the first time investigated the effect of TBT on PPARγ pathway in macrophages. Our results indicated that nanomolar levels of TBT was able to strongly activate PPARγ in human macrophages. TBT treatment also markedly increased the intracellular lipid accumulation, and enhanced the expression of lipid metabolism-related genes in macrophages, while these effects were all significantly down-regulated in PPARγ-deficient macrophages, confirming the involvement of PPARγ in TBT-induced lipogenesis. Next, a mouse model that C57BL/6 mice were orally exposed to TBT with the doses (250 and 500 μg/kg body weight) lower than NOAEL (no observed adverse effect level) was used to further investigate the in vivo mechanisms. And the in vivo results were consistent with cellular assays, confirming the induction of PPARγ and the increased expression of lipogenesis-regulating and lipid metabolism-related genes by TBT in vivo. In conclusion, this study not only provided the first evidence that TBT stimulated lipogenesis, activated PPARγ and related genes in human macrophages, but also provided insight into the mechanism of TBT-induced metabolism disturbance and obesity through targeting PPARγ via both in vitro cellular assays and in vivo animal models.

Biodegradation is responsible for most contaminant removal in plumes of organic compounds and is fastest at the plume fringe where microbial cell numbers and activity are highest. As the plume migrates from the source, groundwater containing the contaminants and planktonic microbial community encounters uncontaminated substrata on which an attached community subsequently develops. While attached microbial communities are important for biodegradation, the time needed for their establishment, their relationship with the planktonic community and the processes controlling their development are not well understood. We compare the dynamics of development of attached microbial communities on sterile substrata in the field and laboratory microcosms, sampled simultaneously at intervals over two years. We show that attached microbial cell numbers increased rapidly and stabilised after similar periods of incubation (∼100 days) in both field and microcosm experiments. These timescales were similar even though variation in the contaminant source evident in the field was absent in microcosm studies, implying that this period was an emergent property of the attached microbial community. 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that attached and planktonic communities differed markedly, with many attached organisms strongly preferring attachment. Successional processes were evident, both in community diversity indices and from community network analysis. Community development was governed by both deterministic and stochastic processes and was related to the predilection of community members for different lifestyles and the geochemical environment.

China has effectively reduced the fine particulate (PM₂.₅) pollution from 2015 to 2020. Ozone pollution and related health impacts have become severe contemporaneously. The coordinated control of PM₂.₅ and ozone is becoming a new issue for China's air pollution control. This study quantitatively assessed the health impacts attributed to PM₂.₅ and ozone pollution in 338 Chinese cities from 2015 to 2020 and estimated the possible health benefits from achieving dual concentration targets during 2021–2025. Results show PM₂.₅ caused a total health impact of 2.45 × 10⁷ disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in 2020. All-cause and respiratory ozone-related health impact in 2020 was 1.04 × 10⁷ DALYs and 1.56 × 10⁶ DALYs. Between 2015 and 2020, the PM₂.₅-related health impacts decreased by 14.97%, while those ozone-related increased by 94.61% and 96.54% for all-cause and respiratory. Cities in the North China Plain have suffered higher health impacts attributable to PM₂.₅ and ozone pollution, indicating that the two-pollutant coordinated control is primarily needed. By achieving aggressive concentration target (decreasing 10%) between 2020 and 2025, China will reduce the PM₂.₅-related health impacts in 338 cities by 1.56 × 10⁶ DALYs (improving 6.37%). By achieving general target (decreasing 10% or within the Interim target-1 of World Health Organization), the PM₂.₅-related health benefit will be 7.98 × 10⁵ DALYs (improving 3.25%). The deteriorating ozone health risks will also be improved. Controlling air pollution in large cities and regional center cities can achieve remarkable health benefits. Due to the inter-region, inter-province, and inter-city difference of health impacts, targeted and differentiated pollution prevention and control need to be implemented.

A few studies on volatile organic compound (VOC) emission inventories in coal resource-based cities have been reported, and previous emission inventories lacked verification. Herein, using Yangquan as a case study, emission factor (EF) method and “(tracer ratio) TR - positive matrix factorization (PMF)” combined method based on atmospheric data were used to establish and verify the VOC emission inventory in coal resource-based cities, respectively. The total VOC emissions in Yangquan were 9283.2 t [-40.0%, 62.1%] in 2018, with industrial processes being the major contributors. Alkanes (35.8%), aromatics (25.0%), and alkenes (19.8%) were the main compounds in the emission inventory. The verification results for both species emission and source structure were in agreement, indicating the accuracy of VOC emission inventory based on EF method to a certain extent. However, for some species (ethane, propane, benzene, and acetylene), the EF method indicated emissions lower than those obtained from the TR results. Furthermore, the summer-time emission contribution from fossil fuel combustion indicated by the EF method (23.4%) was lower than that obtained from the PMF results (38.4%). Overall, these discrepancies could be attributed to the absence of a coal gangue source in the EF method. The verification results determined the accuracy of the VOC emission inventory and identified existing problems in the estimation of the VOC emission inventory in coal resource-based cities. In particular, not accounting for the coal gangue emissions may result in an underestimation of VOC emissions in coal resource-based cities. Thus, coal gangue emissions should be considered in future research.