Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have the ability to inhibit normal hormonal levels and may exert an array of inimical consequences in human health. These toxins have special adverse effects in women. This review summarizes recent literature reporting on endocrine-disrupting chemicals, specifically the effects induced by parabens from personal care products and cosmetics, and bisphenol A (BPA) found in food containers, with association to adverse effects on women’s health. Finally, the review provides recommendation on utilizing such EDCs to better meet the needs of consumers, while avoiding these chemical modifiers.

Bombyx mori L. (B. mori) were exposed to cadmium chloride (CdCl₂) incorporated in an artificial diet (0, 6.25, 12.5, 25, and 50 mg kg⁻¹) throughout the larval stage. Changes in malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) contents and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), as well as their corresponding messenger RNA (mRNA) levels in the testes of the fifth instar larvae were evaluated. Additionally, spermatozoon deformation in the testes was examined. Upon Cd treatment, the MDA content in the testes was significantly increased in a concentration-dependent manner. Cd-exposed larvae had increased levels of glutathione. Pearson’s correlation analysis revealed that SOD and CAT activities were positively correlated (R ² = 0.605, P = 0.017). The changing trends in the mRNA levels of these enzymes were not always consistent with those of enzymatic activities. Alterations in GSH-Px activities and mRNA levels were positively correlated (R ² = 0.771, P < 0.01). Morphological analysis revealed that Cd deformed and affected the maturation of spermatozoa. Our results collectively support a relationship between Cd and alterations in the levels of antioxidant enzymes in B. mori testes.

This study presents a complementary approach for the evaluation of water quality in a river basin by employing active and passive sampling. Thirty-eight hydrophilic organic compounds (HpOCs) (organohalogen herbicides, organophosphorous pesticides, carbamate, triazine, urea, pharmaceuticals, phenols, and industrial chemicals) were studied in grab water samples and in passive samplers POCIS collected along Strymonas River, Northern Greece, at three sampling campaigns during the year 2013. Almost all the target compounds were detected at the periods of high rainfall intensity and/or low flow rate. The most frequently detected compounds were aminocarb, carbaryl, chlorfenviphos, chloropropham, 2,4-D, diflubenzuron, diuron, isoproturon, metolachlor, and salicylic acid. Bisphenol A and nonylphenol were also occasionally detected. The use of POCIS allowed the detection of more micropollutants than active sampling. Low discrepancy between the concentrations obtained from both samplings was observed, at least for compounds with >50 % detection frequency; thus, POCIS could be a valuable tool for the selection and monitoring of the most relevant HpOCs in the river basin. Results showed relatively low risk from the presence of HpOCs; however, the potential risk associated with micropollutants such as carbaryl, dinoseb, diuron, fenthion, isoproturon, metolachlor, nonylphenol, and salicylic acid should not be neglected.

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.

Flow cytometry was applied to assess the microbiological impact of treated sewage effluent discharge into a small brook carrying surface runoff water. Increases in dissolved organic carbon and soluble reactive phosphorous were accompanied by increases in counts of intact bacteria by up to eightfold. Effluent ingress furthermore resulted in a pronounced shift of bacterial clusters. Whereas brook water upstream of the discharge point was characterised by a bacterial cluster with low nucleic acid (LNA) content, downstream water showed a shift to bacteria with high nucleic acid (HNA) content. Changes in the LNA/HNA ratio were largely maintained along the course of the brook. Results suggest that the LNA/HNA ratio can under certain conditions serve as an indicator of anthropogenic nutrient impact. Measuring impact on this low trophic level might be more sensitive and straightforward than measuring macroindicators. More evidence will however be required to assess the usefulness of LNA/HNA measurements to assess the ecological nutrient status of natural waters and the impact of nutrient pollution.

The Sharm El-Sheikh area is one of the most attractive touristic resorts in Egypt and in the world in general. The Sharm El-Shiekh area is located at the arid region of the South Sinai Peninsula, Egypt. Water desalination is considered the main freshwater supply for hotels and resorts. Scarcity of rainfall during the last decades, high pumping rates, disposal of reject brine water back into the aquifer, and seawater intrusion have resulted in the degradation of groundwater quality in the main aquifer. Water chemistry, stable isotopes, Seawater Mixing Index (SWMI), and factorial analyses were utilized to determine the main recharge and salinization sources as well as to estimate the mixing ratios between different end members affecting groundwater salinity in the aquifer. The groundwater of the Miocene aquifer is classified into two groups: group I represents 10 % of the total samples, has a moderately high saline groundwater, and is mostly affected by seawater intrusion. Group II represents 90 % of the total samples and has a high groundwater salinity due to the anthropological impact of the reject brine saline water deeper into the Miocene aquifer. The main groundwater recharge comes from the western watershed mountain and the elevated plateau while the seawater and reject brine are considering the main sources for groundwater salinization. The mixing ratios between groundwater recharge, seawater, and reject brine water were calculated using water chemistry and isotopes. The calculated mixing ratios of group I range between 25 and 84 % recharge groundwater to 75 and 16 % seawater, respectively, in groundwater located close to the western watershed mountain indicating further extension of seawater intrusion. However, the mixing percentages of group II range between 21 and 88 % reject brine water to 79 and 12 % seawater, respectively, in groundwater located close to the desalination plants. The outcomes and conclusion of this study highlight the importance of groundwater management to limit further groundwater deterioration of the Miocene groundwater aquifer and limit seawater intrusion along the coast.

This study aims to produce and apply a biosurfactant from Gordonia westfalica GY40 for enhancing fuel oil solubilization and degradation in seawater. The immobilization of G. westfalica GY40 cells on chitosan flakes increased biosurfactant yield, and we achieved a biosurfactant concentration as high as 1.85 g L⁻¹ when using 2 % soybean oil as the carbon source. The critical micelle dilution (CMD) value of cell-free broth was 25 % and the lowest surface tension was 35 mN m⁻¹. The cell-free broth was able to solubilize and disperse fuel oil, at efficiencies corresponding to biosurfactant concentrations and CMD values. The surface activity of cell-free broth was stable under wide ranges of salinity, temperature, and pH. For the oil degradation test, cell-free broth at 0.5× CMD was added along with polyurethane foam-immobilized Gordonia sp. JC11, an efficient oil-degrading bacterial inoculum, to fuel oil spiked seawater. The system removed 81 % of 1 g L⁻¹ fuel oil in nutrient seawater medium within 6 days. When tested with three seawater samples collected along the Thai coastal area, the addition of both biosurfactant and immobilized Gordonia sp. JC11 was able to remove 60–70 % of 1 g L⁻¹ fuel oil, while the natural attenuation (control) removed only 26–35 % of fuel oil. The application of cell-free broth reduced the extraction and purification steps. In addition, the simple production of G. westfalica GY40 biosurfactant and Gordonia sp. JC11 inoculum suggested that they are suitable for cleaning-up oil spills in seawater.

This study investigates removal of total nitrogen (TN) in moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) supported with high-density polyethylene for biofilm formation and ibuprofen (IBU) as a carbon source. At first, the microorganisms have been acclimated for 45 days. In the optimum condition, TN removal of more than 80 % was reached. Optimization results of simultaneous removal of IBU and TN showed that the obtained removal efficiencies for IBU and TN are close together and the correlation coefficients have high values. The obtained results show that MBBR bioreactor could remove 72.03 % IBU and 81.1 % TN at 145.15 h and TN concentration of 156.37 mg/L. Biodegradation constant (k bᵢₒₗ) values were varying from 0.4 to 0.009 L/g biomass.d, which represents that IBU is a hard biodegradable or persistent substance. This study demonstrated that the proposed MBBR is highly effective for the simultaneous removal of IBU and TN in wastewater.

Traffic-based pollution causes accumulation of some elements in plant tissues and damages anatomical and physiological processes of plants. Nutrient use proficiency and litter decomposition are two basic processes of nutrient dynamics. This study aimed to determine the effects of traffic-based pollution on N and P use proficiency and litter decomposition in Malus domestica Borkh. (Rosaceae) which is a commonly cultivated fruit tree worldwide. The study was carried out in Amasya, Turkey, where the apple is the symbol of the city. Leaf samples were collected from apple trees at 0-, 100-, and 200-meter distances from the highway. N, P, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn concentrations were measured in the collected samples. All of the element concentrations varied according to the distance from the road. Traffic-based heavy metal pollution increased N and P use proficiency. It may be said that M. domestica reabsorb more N and P from senescent leaves due to the high heavy metal concentrations in their leaves. The decomposition rate was highest at 0 m and lowest at 100 m. The variations in the remaining dry weight, mass loss (%), and k value due to traffic-based pollution were not statistically significant. A significant negative relationship was determined between the initial N concentration and the litter decomposition rate. It was thought that this negative relationship resulted from recalcitrant condensation products that are formed by lignin and N.