The growing use of graphene-based nanomaterials (GBNs) for various applications increases the probability of their environmental releases and calls for a systematic assessment of their potential impacts on soil invertebrates that serve as an important link along terrestrial food chains. Here, we investigated the response of earthworms (Eisenia fetida) to three types of multi-layer graphenes (MLGs) (G1, G2 and G3 with 12–15 layers) with variable morphology (lateral sizes: 7.4 ± 0.3, 6.4 ± 0.1 and 2.8 ± 0.1 μm; thicknesses: 5.0 ± 0.1, 4.2 ± 0.1 and 4.0 ± 0.2 nm, respectively) and hydrophobicity ((O + N)/C ratios: 0.029, 0.044 and 0.075; contact angles: 122.8, 118.8 and 115.1°, respectively). Exposure to these materials was conducted for 28 days (except for 48-h avoidance test) separately in potting or farm soil at 0.2% and 1% by weight. Earthworms avoided both soils when amended with 1% of the smaller and more hydrophilic MLGs (G2 and G3), leading to a decreased trend in worm cocoon formation. The smallest and most hydrophilic MLG (G3), which was easier to assimilate, also significantly inhibited the viability (20.2–56.0%) and mitochondrial membrane potential (32.0–48.5%) of worm coelomocytes in both soils. In contrast, oxidative damage (indicated by lipid peroxides) was more pronounced upon exposure to more hydrophobic and larger graphenic materials (G1 and G2), which were attributed to facilitated adhesion to and disruption of worm membranes. These findings highlight the importance of MLG morphology and hydrophobicity in their potential toxicity and mode of action, as well as ecological risks associated with incidental and accidental releases.

The remediation of cadmium (Cd) contaminated soil has become a global problem due to its toxicity to living organisms. In this study, earthworm (Eisenia fetida) alone or combined with EDTA or bean dregs were used for Cd removal from soils. The total and available Cd in soils, soil physicochemical and biological (soil enzyme) properties, Cd accumulation in the earthworm and its antioxidant responses towards Cd, were determined during the 35 days of soil incubation experiment. Our results showed that earthworms were capable of removing Cd from soils, and the remediation process was accelerated by both EDTA and bean dregs. By translocation of Cd from soils, the content of Cd in earthworm steadily increased with the exposure time to 8.11, 12.80, and 9.26 mg kg⁻¹ on day 35 for T2 (earthworm alone), T3 (EDTA enhancement), and T4 (bean dregs enhancement), respectively. Consequently, a great reduction in the Cd contents in soils was achieved in T3 (36.53%) and T4 (30.8%) compared with T2 (28.95%). The concentrations of water/DTPA extractable Cd were also reduced, indicating the low Cd mobility after amendment. Finally, the soil became more fertile and active after wermi-remediation. The soil pH, EC, NO₃⁻-N, available P, and K contents increased, while soil SOM, DOC, and NH₄⁺-N contents were decreased. There were higher soil enzyme activities (including acid phosphatase activity, β-glucosidase activity, and urease activity) among treatments with earthworms. Additionally, the operational taxonomic units (OTUs) increased by 100–150 units, and the higher chao1 and Shannon indexes indicated the enhanced microbial community after wermi-remediation, especially among treatment with EDTA and bean dregs. Therefore, we concluded that earthworms, alone or combined with EDTA and bean dregs, are feasible for the remediation of Cd-contaminated soil.

Ny-Ålesund has been significantly impacted by anthropogenic activities (e.g. coal mining, scientific research, tourist shipping) over the past 100 years. However, the studies of potential toxic elements (PTEs) contamination in Ny-Ålesund currently mainly focus on surface soil or surface fjord sediments, and little is known about the history and status of PTEs contamination over the past 100 years. In this study, we collected a palaeo-notch sediment profile YN, analyzed the contents of six typical PTEs (Cu, Pb, Cd, Hg, As, Se) in the sediments, and assessed the historical pollution status in Ny-Ålesund using the pollution load index, geo-accumulation index and enrichment factor. The results showed that the contents of PTEs over the past 100 years increased rapidly compared with those during the interval of 9400-100 BP. In addition, Pb, Cd and Hg showed a clear signal of enrichment and were the main polluters among the PTEs analyzed. The contamination was likely linked to gas-oil powered generators, coal mining, research station, tourist shipping and long-range transport of pollutants.

The present investigation represents a new approach useful to evaluate the general population risk correlated with environmental exposure to air dispersed inorganic fibers. The used method is based on the evaluation of the respirable inorganic fibers both air dispersed in a big city and contained in lungs of the general population following their respiration. Moreover, these data allow to identify the sources of dispersion (anthropogenic or natural) in air of the inorganic fibers and therefore to apply strategies to improve air quality. To describe this approach, we investigated air samples from a big city in NW Italy and lung inorganic burden of people here lived. This paper reports the data of the airborne inorganic fibers detected in two sampling campaign (2014 and 2016), in 24 districts of Torino (Piemonte - NW Italy), and in some autoptic lungs of general population lived here. The airborne fibers (collected on mixed-cellulose esters membrane) were characterized by SEMEDS. The identified inorganic fiber species were assigned to 5 classes, one of these including 2 types of asbestos. These last are grouped as tremolite/actinolite asbestos. They are dispersed from natural sources (i.e. certain kinds of rocks outcropping in the city surrounding areas). In no-one of the 24 districts of Torino their concentration highlighted a situation of asbestos pollution in place.A correlation with inorganic fibers (collected on mixed-cellulose esters membrane and characterized by SEM-EDS) detected in lung tissue samples of 10 subjects lived in Torino all their life and without professional exposure to asbestos were attempted. The only types of fibers identified as asbestos are tremolite/actinolite asbestos, and they match those detected in air sampling. The number of fibers per 1 g of tissue dry weight is lower than the quantities reported as indicative of significant asbestos exposure. We observed interesting gender differences.

The aim of this study was to assess the soil contamination caused by potentially toxic elements (Al, As, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Se, V, and Zn) using various indices and the associated risk of human health for adults and children in selected soils from Germany (Calcic Luvisols, Tidalic Fluvisols, Haplic Gleysols, and Eutric Fluvisols) and Egypt (Haplic Calcisols, Sodic Fluvisols, and Eutric Fluvisols). Soil contamination degree has been assessed using indices such as contamination factor (CF), pollution load index (PLI), geo-accumulation index (Igₑₒ), and enrichment factor. We also assessed the health risk for children and for male and female adults. Chromium, Cu, As, Mo, Ni, Se, and Zn in the German Fluvisols had high CF of >6, while in the Egyptian Fluvisols Se, Mo, As, and Al revealed a high CF. The PLI (1.1–5.2) was higher than unity in most soils (except for Tidalic Fluvisols), while the most important contributor was Se, followed by Mo and As in the Egyptian Fluvisols, and by Cr, Cu, and Zn in the German Fluvisols. The median value of hazard index (HI) for children in the studied soils indicated an elevated health risk (higher than one), especially in the German Fluvisols (HI = 4.0–29.0) and in the Egyptian Fluvisols (HI = 2.2–5.2). For adults, median HIs in all soils were lower than unity for both males and females. The key contributor to HI was As in the whole soil profiles, accounting for about 59% of the total HIs in all three person groupings. Our findings show that in the studied multi-element contaminated soils the risk for children’s health is higher than for adults; while mainly As (and Al, Cr, Cu, and Fe) contributed significantly to soil-derived health risk.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a highly pervasive chemical in consumer products with its ascribed endocrine-disrupting properties. Several studies have shown the cytotoxic, genotoxic, and carcinogenic property of BPA over a multitude of tissues. Although BPA exposure has earlier been implicated in female infertility, the underlying molecular mechanisms explaining the toxicity of BPA in the ovary remains less understood. In the present study, a plausible correlation between redox balance or inflammatory signaling and reproductive fitness upon BPA exposure has been examined in zebrafish (Danio rerio) ovary. Congruent with significant alteration of major antioxidant enzymes (SOD1, SOD2, catalase, GPx1α, GSTα1) at the transcript level, 30 d BPA exposure at environmentally relevant concentrations (1, 10 and 100 μg L⁻¹) promotes ovarian ROS/RNS synthesis, lipid peroxidation but attenuates catalase activity indicating elevated stress response. BPA promotes a sharp increase in ovarian p38 MAPK, NF-κB phosphorylation (activation), inducible nitric oxide synthase (Nos2a), and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-1β) expression, the reliable markers for inflammatory response. Congruent to an increased number of atretic follicles, BPA-exposed zebrafish ovary reveals elevated Bax/Bcl2 ratio, activation of caspase-8, -3 and DNA breakdown suggesting heightened cell death. Importantly, significant alteration in nuclear estrogen receptor (ER) transcripts (esr1, esr2a, and esr2b) and proteins (ERα, ERβ), gonadotropin receptors, and markers associated with steroidogenesis and growth factor gene expression in BPA-exposed ovary correlates well with impaired ovarian functions and maturational response. Collectively, elevated oxidative/nitrosative stress-mediated inflammatory response and altered ER expression can influence ovarian health and reproductive fitness in organisms exposed to BPA environment.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are widely used in consumer products due to their antibacterial property; however, their potential toxicity and release into the environment raises concern. Based on the limited understanding of AgNPs aggregation behavior, this study aimed to investigate the toxicity of uncoated (uc-AgNP) and coated with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP-AgNP), at low concentrations (0.5–100 ng/mL), under dark and visible-light exposure, using a plant test system. We exposed Allium cepa seeds to both types of AgNPs for 4–5 days to evaluate several toxicity endpoints. AgNPs did not cause acute toxicity (i.e., inhibition of seed germination and root development), but caused genotoxicity and biochemical alterations in oxidative stress parameters (lipid peroxidation) and activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and catalase) in light and dark conditions. However, the light exposure decreased the rate of chromosomal aberration and micronuclei up to 5.60x in uc-AgNP and 2.01x in PVP-AgNP, and 2.69x in uc-AgNP and 3.70x in PVP-AgNP, respectively. Thus, light exposure reduced the overall genotoxicity of these AgNPs. In addition, mitotic index alterations and morphoanatomical changes in meristematic cells were observed only in the dark condition at the highest concentrations, demonstrating that light also reduces AgNPs cytotoxicity. The light-dependent aggregation of AgNPs may have reduced toxicity by reducing the uptake of these NPs by the cells. Our findings demonstrate that AgNPs can be genotoxic, cytotoxic and induce morphoanatomical and biochemical changes in A. cepa roots even at low concentrations, and that visible-light alters their aggregation state, and decreases their toxicity. We suggest that visible light can be an alternative treatment to remediate AgNP residues, minimizing their toxicity and environmental risks.

Microplastics have attracted much attention in recent years because they are able to interact with other pollutants including pesticides, with implications for the potential risks to biota. However, the sorption behavior of pesticides on microplastics, especially on biodegradable microplastics which are promising alternatives to conventional polymers, has been insufficiently studied. In this study, triadimefon and difenoconazole were selected as model triazole fungicides, and their sorption behavior on a typical biodegradable microplastics (PBS: polybutylene succinate) and two conventional polyethylene (PE) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) microplastics was investigated with batch experiments in an aqueous solution. PBS presented the highest sorption capacity for triadimefon (104.2 ± 4.8 μg g⁻¹) and difenoconazole (192.8 ± 2.3 μg g⁻¹), which was 1.8- and 1.3-fold that on PE and 4.4- and 7.4-fold that of PVC, respectively. The results of sorption kinetic and isotherm modeling were better fit by a pseudo-second order model and linear model, respectively. More importantly, the effects of environmental factors (pH, salinity and dissolved organic matter) on the sorption behavior were investigated. Fungicide sorption on PBS was generally not affected by salinity, pH or dissolved organic matter. However, in contrast, salinity and dissolved organic matter both significantly decreased sorption on PE and PVC. The results showed that not only the sorption capacities of biodegradable microplastics but also their responses to environmental factors are quite different from those of conventional microplastics. This finding highlights the importance of the role played by biodegradable microplastics in the accumulation and transportation of organic pollutants.

The industrial and agricultural activities based on phosphorous can increase the F content in the surrounding area, causing a widespread adverse effect on the organisms. However, the current information on the superposed health risk posed by the multi-exposure to the F contamination in an area jointly affected by agricultural and industrial activities (DA) is limited. Herein, the F distribution in multi-environmental media and the exposure risk to humans by ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact pathways are studied in an DA. The content of soil water-soluble fluorine (WF) was higher in the DA than in the area individually affected by agricultural activities (SA). This indicated a superposed contribution of the industrial and agricultural activities to increase the F toxicity in the soil. The correlation of the soil pH and the organic matter content with the soil WF concentration in DA suggested an inter-relationship between the soil physicochemical properties and the toxicity of F in the soil by industrial and agricultural activities. Irrigation water was not a major anthropogenic source of the cropland soil F. The large variation in F concentration in the crops (101.8–195.6%) might have originated from the discrepancies in the soil F content and air F concentration. The air F pollution (0.6–1.6 μg dm⁻² d⁻¹) in the area particularly influenced by intensive industrial activities should be important. The exposure of residents to F was mainly from the ingestion of F-enriched crops. The higher exposure of adults to F than that of children could be attributed to more industrial and agricultural outdoor activities, larger exposure area of the skin, and more daily ingestion of F-enriched food by adults. Overall, present insights into the distribution of and the multi-exposure to F may be beneficial for decreasing the adverse F effects on the residents in DAs worldwide.

Fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅) concentrations exhibit distinct spatiotemporal heterogeneity, mainly due to the natural environment and human activities. Yunnan Province of China was selected as the research area, and a real-time measured PM₂.₅ concentration dataset was acquired from 41 monitoring stations in 16 major cities from February 2013 to December 2018. Aerosol optical depth (AOD) products from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and data on four meteorological variables from 2000 to 2018 were employed. A novel hybrid model was constructed to estimate the historical missing PM₂.₅ values from 2000 to 2012, calculate the missing PM₂.₅ concentrations from 2012 to 2014 in some major cities, and analyze the driving factors of the PM₂.₅ concentration changes and causes of key pollution events in Yunnan Province over the past 19 years. The temporal analysis results indicate that the annual mean PM₂.₅ concentration in Yunnan Province exhibited three stages: continuous stability, a rapid increase and a rapid decrease. The year 2013 was an important breakpoint in the trend of the concentration change. The spatial analysis results reveal that the annual mean PM₂.₅ concentration in the north was lower than that in the south, and there was a significant difference between the east and the west. In addition, springtime biomass burning in Southeast Asia was found to be the main cause of PM₂.₅ pollution in Yunnan Province in spring.