Search

Bisphenol A (BPA), a well-known endocrine-disrupting chemical, is ubiquitously present in the aquatic environment. Its impacts at the population level on three-spined sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus) have been studied in artificial streams with low-dose BPA concentrations. The causes explaining the observed effects remained unclear. Here, we used an individual-based model coupled to a Dynamic Energy Budget model to (i) assess the potential of modelling to predict impacts at the population level using individual level laboratory ecotoxicological endpoints and (ii) provide insight on the mechanisms of BPA toxicity in these mesocosms. To do that, both direct and indirect effects of BPA on three-spined sticklebacks were incorporated in the model. Indeed, direct BPA effects on fish have been identified based on literature data whereas indirect effects on sticklebacks have been taken into account using sampling data of their prey from the exposed artificial streams. Results of the modelling showed that direct BPA effects on fish (impacts on gonad formation, growth, male reproductive behavior, eggs and larvae survival) mainly explained the three-spined stickleback population structure in the mesocosms, but indirect effects were not negligible. Hence, this study showed the potential of modelling in risk assessment to predict the impacts on fish population viability from behavioral and physiological effects measured on organisms. Unlabelled Image • A DEB-IBM to study the BPA effects on sticklebacks at the population level • Direct and indirect effects of BPA on fish were modelled. • Simulations were compared to population observations made in a mesocosm experiment. • Assessment of the model predictive capacity for chemical risk assessment [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existence of anthropogenic contaminants (ACs) in different environmental matrices is a serious and unresolved concern. For instance, ACs from different sectors, such as industrial, agricultural, and pharmaceutical, are found in water bodies with considerable endocrine disruptors potency and can damage the biotic components of the environment. The continuous ACs exposure can cause cellular toxicity, apoptosis, genotoxicity, and alterations in sex ratios in human beings. Whereas, aquatic organisms show bioaccumulation, trophic chains, and biomagnification of ACs through different entry route. These problems have been found in many countries around the globe, making them a worldwide concern. ACs have been found in different environmental matrices, such as water reservoirs for human consumption, wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs), groundwaters, surface waters, rivers, and seas, which demonstrate their free movement within the environment in an uncontrolled manner. This work provides a detailed overview of ACs occurrence in water bodies along with their toxicological effect on living organisms. The literature data reported between 2017 and 2018 is compiled following inclusion-exclusion criteria, and the obtained information was mapped as per type and source of ACs. The most important ACs are pharmaceuticals (diclofenac, ibuprofen, naproxen, ofloxacin, acetaminophen, progesterone ranitidine, and testosterone), agricultural products or pesticides (atrazine, carbendazim, fipronil), narcotics and illegal drugs (amphetamines, cocaine, and benzoylecgonine), food industry derivatives (bisphenol A, and caffeine), and personal care products (triclosan, and other related surfactants). Considering this threatening issue, robust detection and removal strategies must be considered in the design of WWTPs and DWTPs. Unlabelled Image • Data of global occurrence of ACs in water resources from 2017 to 2018 was mapped. • Adverse effects of ACs on living organisms in polluted environments were analyzed. • ACs occurrence in drinking water reservoirs and bottled water was discussed. • Challenges and perspectives of ACs occurrence within water bodies are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a known endocrine disruptor that poses concerning environmental and human-health related issues and ecological risks. It has been largely used as an intermediate in the manufacture of epoxy resins and polycarbonate plastics. Traces of BPA can reach into the environment through inadequate or inefficient removal during wastewater treatment, uncontrolled landfill leachates, and leaching out from the discarded BPA-based materials. Several physicochemical treatment methods including adsorption, Fenton, ozonation, electrochemical and photochemical degradation, and membrane filtration, have been applied for BPA elimination. However, these methods are not adequate for large-scale treatment due to some inherent limitations. Benefiting from high catalytic efficiency and specificity, enzyme-based bio-catalytic degradation strategies are considered quite meaningful alternative for efficient and effective BPA removal from different routes. Among various oxidoreductases, i.e., laccases exhibited a superior potential for the remediation of BPA-containing wastewater. Enzymatic oxidation of BPA can be boosted by using various natural or synthetic redox mediators. Immobilized enzymes can expand their applicability to continuous bioprocessing and facilitates process intensification. Therefore, optimized formulations of insolubilized biocatalysts are of strategic interest in the environmental biotechnology. In this review, recent research studies dealing with BPA removal by the laccase-catalyzed system are presented. At first, the presence of BPA in the ecosystem, sources, exposure, and its impact on the living organisms and human beings is summarized. Then, we highlighted the use of crude as well as immobilized laccases for the degradation of BPA. In addition to toxicity and estrogenicity removal studies, the unresolved challenges, concluding remarks, and possible future direction is proposed in this important research area. It is palpable from the literature reviewed that free as well as immobilized forms of laccases have displayed noteworthy potential for BPA removal from wastewater. Unlabelled Image • Mitigation of bisphenol A (BPA) using laccase-based bio-catalytic cues is reviewed. • Source and occurrence of BPA in the environment are described. • Environmental and human-health related risks of BPA are discussed. • Laccase-immobilized micro- and nano-4catalytic cues are robust bioremediation tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in the environmental water poses a serious threat which requires strong practical solutions. The existing activated carbon-based adsorbents exhibit a number of limitations hindering for their use in adsorption in an aquatic environment. In this work, a controlled technique was used to make a protected Core-Shell structure Activated Carbon (CSAC) material with a smaller size (0.82 cm), thinner shell thickness (0.083 cm) and high mechanical strength (2.41 MPa). The experimental results demonstrated that the sizes of shell precursors used for preparing the ceramic shell had a pronounced influence on the produced material. The shell was prepared by using a mixture of kaolinite (400 mesh) and coal fly ash (100 mesh). The pellet activated carbon core was synthesized by a pelletizing method using powder activated carbon (92%) mixed with the binder (8%) from cassava splinters. The kinetic study evidenced that the performance of the material fitted better for pseudo-second-order kinetic and the intraparticle diffusion. Furthermore, the maximum amount of Bisphenol A (BPA) adsorption by CSAC fitting to Langmuir model was 28.5 mg g−1. The BPA adsorption by CSAC was an endothermic process. Therefore, this material could be applied in the remediation of various aquatic EDCs. Unlabelled Image • The core-shell structure activated carbon was successfully optimized. • CSAC applied on adsorbing of BPA from aqueous solutions. • The Shell generated from small particles size of KL-400 showed a better protection of AC core. • The adsorption of BPA on CSAC depends on both physical and chemical interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of bisphenol A (BPA) in manufacturing of plastics is being gradually replaced by presumably safer analogues such as bisphenol S (BPS), bisphenol F (BPF) and bisphenol AF (BPAF). Despite their widespread occurrence in the environment, there is a knowledge gap in their toxicological profiles. We investigated cytotoxic/genotoxic effects as well as changes in the expression of selected genes involved in the xenobiotic metabolism, response to oxidative stress and DNA damage upon exposure to BPs and their mixtures in human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells. BPS and BPF slightly decreased the viability of HepG2 cells, while BPAF was the most cytotoxic compound tested. BPA, BPF and BPAF induced the formation of DNA double strand breaks determined with γH2AX assay, while BPS was inactive (5–20 μg/mL). All four BPs up-regulated the expression of CYP1A1 and UGT1A1 , while BPS up-regulated and BPAF down-regulated also the expression of GST1A. Only BPA up-regulated oxidative stress responsive gene GCLC , while BPAF up-regulated the expression of CDKN1A and GADD45a. At concentrations relevant for human exposure (ng/mL range) BPA and its analogues as individual compounds and in mixtures did not exert genotoxic activity, whereas BPA and BPAF as well as the mixtures up-regulated the expressions of CYP1A1 and UGT1A1. Unlabelled Image • BPF and BPAF showed higher cytotoxic/genotoxic potential than BPA in HepG2 cells. • BPS showed the lowest cytotoxic/genotoxic potential compared to BPA. • At low environmentally relevant concentrations, BPs did not induce DNA damage. • At combined exposure, BPs induced additive effects in the expression of specific genes. • Not all BPA analogues present safer replacement for BPA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an abundant environmental contaminant and studies have shown the presence of BPA in the urine of over 90% of population tested in Canada and USA. In addition to its reported harmful effects, there is concern for its transgenerational effects. For a compound to induce transgenerational effect, an epigenetic mark should be mitotically and meiotically stable without reprogramming in primordial germ cells and post fertilization embryos. In the present study, female zebrafish were treated with an environmental dose (20 μg/L) of BPA and then crossed with untreated males. To assess epigenetic effects, transcript levels of several genes involved in female reproduction were measured in adult and in 24 hpf embryos up to F3 generation. Exposure to BPA affected adult female fertility up to F2 generation. In F0, F1 and F2 ovaries transcript levels for several genes involved in reproduction, including esr, star, lhcgr and fshr were affected. To investigate epigenetic mechanisms of gene expression modulation, we studied promoter DNA methylation. Among genes involved in gonadal differentiation, amh transcript level was reduced in 24 hpf embryos, up to the F3 generation. Variation in amh transcript level was associated with hyper-methylation of its promoter and changes in H3K4me3/H3K27me3 enrichment, coherent with gene silencing. The findings provide evidence for transgenerational effects of BPA in zebrafish and demonstrate that amh is susceptible to stable epigenetic alterations. Transgenerational effects of BPA on female reproductive physiology. Unlabelled Image • BPA's effects show a transgenerational transmission via maternal route. • Transgenerational transmission involves both histone modification and DNA methylation. • Amh hypermethylation shows a stable transmission throughout generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Bismuth oxyiodide (BiOI) is a narrow band gap semiconductor which can be driven by visible irradiation. In order to efficiently separate photo-generated carriers and utilization of visible light, a facile solvothermal approach was used to synthesize a novel AgI loading BiOI 3D hierarchical composite (AgI-BiOI). The AgI-BiOI with Ag and Bi molar ratio of 1:8 (AgI-BiOI (1–8)) showed great enhancement for photocatalytic degradation of bisphenol A (BPA) with pseudo-first degradation rate constant about 3.7 or 14.5 times than that of pristine BiOI or AgI under simulated solar light. This synergistic enhancement for BPA degradation on AgI-BiOI(1–8) is mainly ascribed to enhancing the light absorption intensity and accelerating photo-generated carriers separation due to the formation of AgI-BiOI heterojunction. Free radical quenching experiments proved that positive holes (h+) and superoxide (O 2 •−) radicals were dominantly responsible for the degradation of BPA rather than singlet oxygen (1O 2) or hydroxyl radicals (•OH). The AgI-BiOI(1–8) hardly showed any ecotoxicity to C. elegans through lethal experiments. The luminance bacteria acute toxicity of degradation intermediates of BPA increased before 30 min then reduced significantly with reaction. The good durability and environmental-friendly characteristics make AgI-BiOI(1–8) catalyst to be a good solar light-driven candidate. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Novel hierarchical AgI-BiOI microsphere was synthesized via solvothermal method. • 1.25% AgI loading BiOI (AgI-BiOI(1–8)) greatly enhanced photodegradation of BPA. • Photogenerated h+ and O 2 •− radicals are mainly responsible for BPA degradation. • The eco-toxicity of AgI-BiOI(1–8) and intermediates of BPA were evaluated. • The photocatalytic mechanism of AgI loading BiOI heterojuncture was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Biotransformation of many organic micropollutants (OMPs) in sewage treatment plants is incomplete leading to their release into the environment. Recent findings suggest that thermodynamic aspects of the reaction as chemical equilibrium limit biotransformation, while kinetic parameters have a lower influence. Reversibility of enzymatic reactions might result in a chemical equilibrium between the OMP and the transformation product, thus impeding a total removal of the compound. To the best of our knowledge, no study has focused on proving the reversible action of enzymes towards OMPs so far. Therefore, we aimed at demonstrating this hypothesis through in vitro assays with bisphenol A (BPA) in the presence of kinase enzymes, namely acetate kinase and hexokinase, which are key enzymes in anaerobic processes. Results suggest that BPA is phosphorylated by acetate kinase and hexokinase in the presence of ATP (adenosine 5-triphosphate), but when the concentration of this co-substrate decreases and the enzymes loss their activity, the backward reaction occurs, revealing a reversible biotransformation mechanism. This information is particularly relevant to address new removal strategies, which up to now were mainly focused on modifying the kinetic parameters of the reaction. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • The causes behind the incomplete biotransformation of micropollutants remain unknown. • Reversibility of enzymatic reactions was investigated in vitro assays. • Bisphenol A might be phosphorylated by kinase enzymes in anaerobic processes. • Acetate kinase and hexokinase transform bisphenol A in a reversible way. • Reversible reactions might lead to an equilibrium impeding a total biotransformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The phycoremediation of coastal water contaminated with bisphenol A (BPA) by Ulva prolifera (U. prolifera) during green tide blooming was investigated. The results demonstrated that BPA could be removed rapidly in the presence of U. prolifera. >94.3% of BPA was removed by live U. prolifera while <2.5% of BPA was removed by dead biomass. The accumulation of BPA in U. prolifera was confirmed by laser confocal scanning microscopy (LCSM). Uptake experiments under different conditions showed that the removal efficiency of BPA by U. prolifera had positive relationships with light, nutrient and temperature while the salinity had no effect. A linear relationship existed between the removal efficiency and the BPA initial concentration when the BPA initial concentration increased from 50 to1000 μg L−1, indicating the high tolerance of the green-tidal algae to the toxic effect of BPA. High BPA removal efficiency (>94%) was achieved at the environmental relevant concentrations of BPA. The field investigation indicated that the BPA concentration in the coastal water in the green tide blooming area was much lower than that in the adjacent coastal water without green tide. The contribution of the green-tidal algae in the removal of BPA in the coastal waters was remarkable due to the high BPA removal efficiency, and high biomass & huge covered area of the U. prolifera during the outbreak of green tide. These findings demonstrate a new important phycoremediation process for coastal water containing typical endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) during the green tide blooming. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • New phycoremediation of coastal water with BPA occurred during green tide bloom. • >94% of BPA was removed by the green-tidal algae U. prolifera. • BPA removal efficiency has positive relationship with light, nutrient and temperature. • High removal efficiency (>94%) was achieved at environmental relevant concentrations. • BPA concentration in green tide bloom area was much lower than that in adjacent area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In the last years, an increasing number of studies reported that food pollution represents a significant route of exposure to environmental toxicants, able to cause mild to severe food illnesses and health problems, including hormonal and metabolic diseases. Pollutants can accumulate in organisms and biomagnify along the food web, finally targeting top consumers causing health and economic problems. In this study, adults of gilthead sea bream, Sparus aurata , were fed with diets contaminated with Bisphenol A (BPA) (4 and 4000 μg BPA kg−1 bw day−1) and Di-isononyl phthalate (DiNP) (15 and 1500 μg DiNP kg−1 bw day−1), to evaluate the effects of the contamination on the muscle macromolecular composition and alterations of its texture. The analysis conducted in the muscle using infrared microspectroscopy, molecular biology and biochemical assays, showed, in fish fed BPA contaminated diets, a decrease of unsaturated lipids and an increase of triglycerides and saturated alkyl chains. Conversely, in fish fed DiNP, a decrease of lipid content, caused by a reduction of both saturated and unsaturated chains and triglycerides was measured. Protein content was decreased by both xenobiotics evidencing a novel macromolecular target affected by these environmental contaminants. In addition, in all treated groups, proteins resulted more phosphorylated than in controls. Calpain and cathepsin levels, orchestrating protein turnover, were deregulated by both xenobiotics, evidencing alterations of muscle composition and texture. In conclusion, the results obtained suggest the ability of BPA and DiNP to modify the muscle macromolecular building, advising this tissue as a target of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) and providing a set of biomarkers as possible monitoring endpoints to develop novel OEDC test guidelines. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • BPA and DiNP in the diet affect skeletal muscle macromolecular building. • BPA and DiNP in the diet affect seabream muscle nutritional properties. • Dietary BPA and DiNP administration increases skeletal muscle proteolytic system activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Bisphenol A (BPA) has been identified as one of the endocrine disrupting chemicals. However, the issue that BPA widely exists in various environments has puzzled people for decades. To develop highly efficient, easy separation, recyclable and reusable materials for BPA degradation in water, laccase-loaded magnetic nanoflowers (MNFs) were prepared by attaching amino-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles onto the laccase-inorganic hybrid nanoflowers. Characterization results showed that MNFs were spherical, porous and hierarchical structure with an average diameter of 15 μm to which magnetic nanoparticles was successfully attached through electrostatic force. MNFs exhibited excellent catalytic activity on BPA degradation under room temperature in the presence of ABTS. Under optimized conditions, MNFs reached 100% BPA degradation for only 5 min. In addition, it still retained over 92% of its initial activity after 60 days of storage at 4 °C, indicating that its thermal and storage stabilities have been improved. When the MNFs was recycled and reused 5 cycles, only 5% decrease in degradation efficiency of BPA was observed. These results suggest that MNFs possess great efficiency and reusability in the treatment of aqueous solution containing BPA and is a novel promising material. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Laccase-loaded magnetic nanoflowers (MNFs) were successfully prepared. • The thermal stability and storage stability of MNFs were enhanced. • Under optimized conditions, MNFs reached 100% BPA degradation within only 5 min. • Degradation efficiency of MNFs for BPA decreased only 5% after reused 5 cycles. • MNFs were easily separated from reaction solution by an external magnetic field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The coexistence of organic toxicants and nanoparticles in the environment influences pollutant bioavailability and toxicity. Using chronic co-exposure to an adult zebrafish model, this study investigated the transfer kinetics and transgenerational effects of bisphenol A (BPA) and titanium dioxide nanoparticles (n-TiO 2) exposure in F1 offspring. When single and combined exposure to BPA (0, 2, and 20 μg/L) and n-TiO 2 (100 μg/L) were compared, combined exposure was found to reciprocally facilitate bioaccumulation in adult fish while enhancing maternal transfer to offspring. Thyroid endocrine disruption and developmental neurotoxicity were observed in larval offspring by parental exposure to BPA alone or in combination with n-TiO 2. Exposure to 20 μg/L BPA significantly decreased the thyroxine (T4) concentration in adult plasma, leading to less transfer into the eggs. The presence of 20 μg/L BPA with n-TiO 2 further decreased the level of T4 compared to BPA exposure alone. Additionally, offspring larvae derived from exposed parents exhibited lethargic swimming behavior. Overall, this study examined the interactions of BPA and n-TiO 2 with regard to their bioaccumulation, maternal transfer, and developmental effects, which highlighted that co-exposure dynamics are important and need to be considered for accurate environmental risk assessment. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Chronic co-exposure to BPA and nano-TiO 2 to a zebrafish model was conducted. • Co-exposure increased bioaccumulation and transfer of BPA and n-TiO 2 to offspring. • Thyroid hormones were further decreased by co-exposure in F0 and F1 generations. • Developmental neurotoxicity was observed in offspring larvae from exposed parents. • Antagonistic and synergistic interactions depended on the BPA concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A ZnFe 2 O 4 -TiO 2 nanocomposite combining p-type ZnFe 2 O 4 and n-type TiO 2 was successfully fabricated. The ZnFe 2 O 4 -TiO 2 nanocomposite greatly enhanced the bisphenol A (BPA) photodegradation under visible light irradiation at 465 ± 40 nm. Loading TiO 2 with 1 wt% of ZnFe 2 O 4 produced high photocurrent and low charge transfer resistance. The photodegradation rate of BPA by ZnFe 2 O 4 -TiO 2 , which was highly dependent on the water chemistry including pH, anions, and humic acid, was 20.8–21.4 times higher than that of commercial TiO 2 photocatalysts. Chloride and sulfate ions enhanced BPA photodegradation mostly due to the production of more radical species; whereas nitrate, dihydrogen phosphate, and bicarbonate ions decreased the photodegradation rate of BPA due to the scavenge of hydroxyl radicals. The photoactivity and recyclability of ZnFe 2 O 4 -TiO 2 in lake water was also assessed. A near complete BPA removal from lake water was observed under visible light irradiation. Furthermore, >90% of photocatalytic activity toward BPA degradation was achieved in 5 cycles of continuous addition of BPA to the lake water. The BPA degradation intermediates were identified by HPLC/MS/MS and possible reaction pathways were proposed. Results clearly demonstrate the excellent visible-light-sensitive photocatalytic degradation of BPA over ZnFe 2 O 4 -TiO 2 composite which has a great application potential for the decomposition of emerging contaminants in impaired waters. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • TiO 2 doped with 1.0-wt% ZnFe 2 O 4 exhibited the highest visible-light BPA photodegradation. • The k obs of BPA photodegradation followed the order: pH 9.0 > pH 7.0 > pH 5.0 > pH 3.0 > pH 11.0. • Cl− and SO 4 2− enhance and humic acid inhibits BPA degradation over ZnFe 2 O 4 -TiO 2. • Near complete BPA removal (>90%) in lake water was observed under visible light irradiation • BPA degradation over ZnFe 2 O 4 -TiO 2 in lake water was high for at least five continuous cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laccase has been applied extensively as a biocatalyst to remove different organic pollutants. This study characterized a spore-laccase from the bisphenol A (BPA)-degrading strain Bacillus sp. GZB. The spore-laccase was encoded with 513 amino acids, containing spore coat protein A (CotA). It showed optimal activity at 70 °C and pH = 7.2 in presence of 2, 6-dimethoxyphenol. At 60 °C, optimal activity was also seen at pH = 3.0 and pH = 6.8 with 2, 2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) and syringaldazine, respectively. The spore-laccase was stable at high temperature, at acidic to alkaline pH values, and in the presence of different organic solvents. Spore-laccase activity was increased by introducing Cu 2+ , Mg 2+ , and Na + , but was strongly inhibited by Fe 2+ , Ag + , l -cysteine, dithiothreitol, and NaN 3 . The cotA gene was cloned and expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3); the purified protein was estimated as having a molecular weight of ~63 kDa. Different synthetic dyes and BPA were effectively decolorized or degraded both by the spore laccase and recombinant laccase. When BPA oxidation was catalyzed using laccase, there was an initial formation of phenoxy radicals and further oxidation or C C bond cleavage of the radicals produced different organic acids. Detailed reaction pathways were developed based on nine identified intermediates. The acute toxicity decreased gradually during BPA degradation by laccase. This study is the first report about a genus of Bacillus that can produce a highly active and stable laccase to degrade BPA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a worldwide, widespread pollutant with estrogen mimicking and hormone-like properties. To date, some target biomolecules associated with BPA toxicity have been confirmed. The limited information has not clarified the related metabolism at the pathway and network levels. To this end, metabolic and proteomic approaches were performed to reveal the synthesis of phospholipids and proteins and the metabolic network during the BPA degradation process. The results showed that the degradation efficiency of 1 μM of BPA by 1 g L −1 of Bacillus thuringiensis was up to 85% after 24 h. During this process, BPA significantly changed the membrane permeability; altered sporulation, amino acid and protein expression, and carbon, purine, pyrimidine and fatty acid metabolism; enhanced C14:0, C16:1ω7, C18:2ω6, C18:1ω9t and C18:0 synthesis; and increased the trans/cis ratio of C18:1ω9t/C18:1ω9c. It also depressed the spore DNA stability of B. thuringiensis . Among the 14 upregulated and 7 down-regulated proteins, SasP-1 could be a biomarker to reflect BPA-triggered spore DNA impairment. TpiA, RpoA, GlnA and InfA could be phosphorylated at the active sites of serine and tyrosine. The findings presented novel insights into the interaction among BPA stress, BPA degradation, phospholipid synthesis and protein expression at the network and phylogenetic levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are known to disrupt normal metabolism and can influence the incidence of obesity in animals and humans. EDCs can exert adverse effects at low concentrations, often in a non-monotonic dose-related fashion. Among EDCs, Bisphenol A (BPA) is extensively used in the production of polycarbonate plastic, and is among the most abundant contaminants in the world. Diethylene glycol dibenzoate (DGB), an approved alternative to phthalates in the production of plastic and latex products, however, is less abundant and its effects are almost completely unknown. The aim of this study is to provide information on the hepatic effects of BPA and DGB on lipid metabolism, and investigate possible links between these contaminants and the increased incidence of obesity. In the present study, we exposed zebrafish to three different BPA doses (5; 10; 20 μg/L) and five different doses of DGB (0.01; 0.1; 1; 10; 100 μg/L) for a period of 21 days, and investigated transcript levels for genes involved in lipid metabolism as well as measuring liver content of phosphates, lipids and proteins. The results demonstrate disruptive effects of BPA and DGB on lipid metabolism in a non-monotonic dose-related fashion. The lowest dose of BPA increased the storage of triglycerides and promoted fatty acid synthesis, while the highest concentration promoted de novo lipogenesis and cholesterologenesis. Exposure to DGB was also found to affect lipid metabolism leading to increased lipid production and mobilization in a non-monotonic dose-related fashion. Analysis of BPA and DGB by FT-IR revealed that exposure to both compounds lead to changes in the biochemical composition of liver. The findings provide a support for the hypothesis that BPA and DGB may be among the environmental contaminants with obesogenic property. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bisphenol A (BPA), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), and tributyltin (TBT) are emerging endocrine disruptors (EDCs) with still poorly defined mechanisms of toxicity and metabolic effects in aquatic organisms. We used an untargeted liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) metabolomic approach to study the effects of sub-lethal doses of these three EDCs on the metabolic profiles of zebrafish embryos exposed from 48 to 120 hpf (hours post fertilization). Advanced chemometric data analysis methods were used to reveal effects on the subjacent regulatory pathways. EDC treatments induced changes in concentrations of about 50 metabolites for TBT and BPA, and of 25 metabolites for PFOS. The analysis of the corresponding metabolic changes suggested the presence of similar underlying zebrafish responses to BPA, TBT and PFOS affecting the metabolism of glycerophospholipids, amino acids, purines and 2-oxocarboxylic acids. We related the changes in glycerophospholipid metabolism to alterations in absorption of the yolk sack, the main source of nutrients (including lipids) for the developing embryo, linking the molecular markers with adverse phenotypic effects. We propose a general mode of action for all three chemical compounds, probably related to their already described interaction with the PPAR/RXR complex, combined with specific effects on different signaling pathways resulting in particular alterations in the zebrafish embryos metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine disruptor compound that is continuously released into the environment and is barely degraded in wastewater treatment plants. A previous study showed that free Pleurotus ostreatus laccase is efficient in degrading BPA producing less toxic metabolites. In the present study, this laccase was successfully immobilized onto MANAE-agarose, improving its efficiency in degrading BPA and its thermal and storage stabilities. In addition to this, the immobilized enzyme retained >90% of its initial capability to degrade BPA after 15 cycles of reuse . P. ostreatus laccase immobilized onto MANAE-agarose could be an economical alternative for large scale degradation of BPA in aqueous systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemicals showing structural or functional similarity to bisphenol A (BPA), commonly called BPA analogues, have recently drawn scientific attention due to their common industrial and commercial application as a substitute for BPA. In the European Union, the use of BPA has been severely restricted by law due to its endocrine disrupting properties. Unfortunately, it seems that all BPA analogues show comparable biological activity, including hormonal disruption, toxicity and genotoxicity. Until now, the knowledge about human exposure to BPA analogues is scarce, mainly due to the lack of the data concerning their occurrence in human derived biological samples. This study presents the development of an analytical method for determination of trace levels of eleven BPA analogues in human blood serum samples. The method involves fast and simple liquid-liquid extraction, using low sample and solvent volumes. Chromatographic separation of analytes was optimized using one-factor-at-a-time approach (mobile phase composition, gradient shape, chromatographic column selection, separation temperature, etc.). The method allows for effective separation of the analytes, even in the case of configurational isomers (bisphenol M and bisphenol P). The calibration curves for all analytes were linear in the range tested. The limits of detection and quantitation were in the range of 0.0079 ÷ 0.039 ng/mL and 0.024 ÷ 0.12 ng/mL respectively. Compound-dependent recovery values were in the rage of 88 ÷ 138%. Matrix effects were mitigated with the help of matrix-matched calibration curves prepared for every batch of samples. Results obtained after the analysis of 245 real human blood serum samples indicate that human beings are exposed to different BPA analogues, that are present in the environment and in common, daily use products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laboratory tests were conducted with five endocrine disruptors (bishenol A, triclosan. nonylphenol, nonylphenol monoethoxylate and nonylphenol diethoxylate) under different redox conditions (aerobic, anoxic, anaerobic and sulfate-reducing conditions) to assess abiotic and biotic degradation in a river water/sediment system. The river water sample was collected from Spercheios River while the sediment was collected from the banks of a tributary of the river at the point where the discharge point of a wastewater treatment plant is located. To describe quantitatively elimination kinetics of the target compounds, pseudo first-order kinetics were adopted. According to the results from the microcosms studies, it can be stated that the substances are eliminated from the aqueous phase with relatively high rates under aerobic conditions due to both sorption and biotransformation processes. However, when reduced oxygen conditions were established in the microcosms incubations, biotransformation decreased, indicating the almost complete cease of the EDCs microbial degradation, while substances' sorption onto sediments showed no significant differences. All compounds were found to be biodegradable under aerobic conditions, and the low to high order of the calculated dissipation rate constants was 0.064 ± 0.004 d −1 (TCS) → 0.067 ± 0.006 d −1 (NP) →0.076 ± 0.009 d −1 (NP2EO) → 0.081 ± 0.007 d −1 (NP1EO) → 0.103 ± 0.011 d −1 (BPA). Finally, regarding the biotransformation experiments, the elimination of the compounds limited in the absence of oxygen as compared to aerobic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bisphenol A (BPA) exposure during the perinatal and postnatal periods increases the susceptibility to disease over the life cycle. However, information on the BPA delivered to fetuses or infants via the placenta and breastfeeding is limited. We determined the BPA exposure levels in various bodily fluids and tissues of pregnant women and described fetus and infant exposures to BPA based on associations and BPA ratios in mother–neonate paired samples. Maternal serum, urine, placenta, breast milk, cord serum, and neonatal urine samples were collected from 318 mother–neonate pairs at six university hospitals in Korea. BPA levels were detected using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. The ratios of the BPA levels in the other sample types to the levels in maternal serum were calculated. BPA was detected in 79.5–100% of the maternal and fetal samples. The median BPA concentration in the samples decreased in the order of neonatal urine (4.75 ng/mL), maternal urine (2.86 ng/mL), cord serum (1.71 ng/mL), maternal serum (1.56 ng/mL), breast milk (0.74 ng/mL), and the placenta (0.53 ng/g). We estimated the ratios of BPA levels in the other sample types to those in maternal serum. The median (95th percentile) cord serum-to-maternal serum ratio was 1.12 (15.2) for 160 mother–fetal pairs, in which BPA was detected in both samples. The placenta-, maternal urine-, neonatal urine-, and breast milk-to-maternal serum ratios were 0.28 (5.31), 1.79 (29.9), 1.98 (28.2), and 0.51 (10.5), respectively. In addition, the median (95th percentile) cord serum-to-placenta ratio was 4.03 (45.8), and the neonatal urine-to-cord serum ratio was 1.95 (25.6). The 95th percentile values were 14–20-fold greater than the medians. Urine contained the highest BPA concentrations, followed by serum, breast milk, and the placenta. The variations of BPA ratio show individual differences in the amounts of BPA delivered from mother to fetus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an important industrial raw material that is widely applied in daily products. BPA is also an endocrine-disrupting chemical that may adversely affect humans. This review thoroughly collected data on BPA concentration in human urine and determined main influencing factors. The average BPA intake of humans across six continents or the average value worldwide was calculated based on a simple model. Results showed that the average BPA intake was ranked from high to low as follows: Oceania, Asia, Europe, and North America in the child population and Oceania, Europe, Asia, and North America in the adult population. The annual trend of the average BPA intake was similar between the adult and child populations. The BPA intake in the two populations evidently decreased from 2000 to 2008 and then slightly increased from 2008 to 2011. The BPA intake in the child population started to decrease again from 2011, whereas the corresponding intake in the adult population continued to increase. The distinct difference likely contributed to the wide prohibition of the use of BPA in food-related products for children in many countries since 2009; the bans effectively decreased the total BPA exposure in the child population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies suggest universal fetal exposure to Bisphenol A (BPA) and its association with the adverse birth outcomes. Estimation of the fetal plasma BPA concentration from the maternal plasma BPA would be highly useful to predict its associated risk to this specific population. The objective of current work is to develop a pregnancy–physiologically based pharmacokinetic (P-PBPK) model to predict the toxicokinetic profile of BPA in the fetus during gestational growth, and to evaluate the developed model using biomonitoring data obtained from different pregnancy cohort studies. To achieve this objective, first, the adult PBPK model was developed and validated with the human BPA toxicokinetic data. This validated human PBPK model was extended to develop a P-PBPK model, which included the physiological changes during pregnancy and the fetus sub-model. The developed model would be able to predict the BPA pharmacokinetics (PKs) in both mother and fetus. Transplacental BPA kinetics parameters for this study were taken from the previous pregnant mice study. Both oral and dermal exposure routes were included into the model to simulate total BPA internal exposure. The impact of conjugation and deconjugation of the BPA and its metabolites on fetal PKs was investigated. The developed P-PBPK model was evaluated against the observed BPA concentrations in cord blood, fetus liver and amniotic fluid considering maternal blood concentration as an exposure source. A range of maternal exposure dose for the oral and dermal routes was estimated, so that simulation concentration matched the observed highest and lowest mother plasma concentration in different cohorts' studies. The developed model could be used to address the concerns regarding possible adverse health effects in the fetus being exposed to BPA and might be useful in identifying critical windows of exposure during pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A systematic study has been carried out to assess the contamination of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in five highly urbanized coastal cities spanning from temperate to subtropical environments along the coastline of China. In each of these cities, species of native mussels ( Mytilus galloprovincialis , M. coruscus or Perna viridis ) were deployed alongside with semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) for one month at a reference site and a polluted site. The level of 4-nonylphenol (4-NP), bisphenol A (BPA), 17β-estradiol (E2) and 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2) in SPMDs and transplanted mussels were determined and compared. The concentration of EDCs in mussels from polluted sites of Qingdao and Shenzhen ranged from 99.4 ± 9.40 to 326.1 ± 3.16 ng/g dry wt. for 4-NP, Dalian and Shanghai from 170.3 ± 4.00 to 437.2 ± 36.8 ng/g dry wt. for BPA, Dalian and Shenzhen from 82.9 ± 3.03 to 315.6 ± 6.50 ng/g dry wt. for E2, and Shenzhen and Shanghai from 124.5 ± 3.25 to 204.5 ± 9.26 ng/g dry wt. for EE2, respectively. These results demonstrate that concentrations of EDCs in mussels along the coastline of China are substantially higher than levels reported in mussels and seafood elsewhere. Despite high levels of EDCs and per capita seafood consumption in China, analysis indicated that 4-NP and BPA intake from mussels at polluted sites per se are still below the Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI). In contrast, the daily intake of E2 and EE2 (6.5 and 5.5 μg/person/day, respectively) from mussel consumption exceeded the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) established by the WHO, USA and Australia by large margins, suggesting significant public health risks. A strong correlation was found between EDC concentrations in SPMDs and transplanted mussels, and the advantages of using mussels and SPMDs for monitoring EDCs in the aquatic environment are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a substitute of bisphenol A (BPA), bisphenol S (BPS) has been applied in consumer products present in our daily lives. With a similar chemical structure as BPA, BPS has also been demonstrated as an exogenous endocrine disrupting chemical. Compared with a large number of studies on BPA, investigation on BPS has remained limited. In this study, we reviewed the literature of BPS mainly published during 2010–2017, including its environmental distributions, toxicities, and human exposure. The data demonstrated that BPS is now ubiquitous in the environment and found worldwide, but generally with concentration levels lower than BPA in various environment media, including water, sediment, sludge, indoor dust and air, consumer products, and human urine. However, we found that the concentration levels of BPS in aquatic environments, especially water samples, were almost comparable or equal to that of BPA. Our summary also indicated that process speed of substituting BPA with BPS in consumer products in the U.S. was relatively faster than other countries. In addition, we summarized the toxicities of exposure to BPS both in vivo and in vitro experiments. The current data supports that exposure to BPS may have adverse effects on reproductive systems, endocrine systems, and nervous systems in animals and humans, and may trigger oxidative stress. The occurrence of BPS was frequently reported in human urine, but rarely in other human samples. The current research indicates that food is the dominant source for human exposure to BPS, and the contribution of personal care product usage is low. The occurrence of BPS and their metabolites in the human body and the guidelines for BPS exposure merit further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to evaluate the effects of Bisphenol-A (BPA) exposure on fetal/child growth from the fetal period to 72 months after birth. The MOCEH study is a prospective birth cohort study in Korea. A total of 788 mother-child pairs in the third trimester and 366 pairs in the neonatal period who completed BPA assessment and fetal/children growth outcomes were included. BPA assessments were conducted twice in the third trimester using maternal urines and the neonatal period using neonatal urines. Fetal femur length was measured with ultrasound, and estimated-fetal-weight was calculated. Child growth outcomes including three z-scores for age-specific length, weight-for-length (WFL) and weight were calculated. Analysis was performed according to infant sex and maternal glutathione transferases (GSTs) polymorphisms. When maternal urinary BPA concentration in the third trimester increased by 1 log-transformed unit of BPA/Cr, the third trimester femur length decreased 0.03(0.01) cm in the whole and 0.06(0.02) cm in the GSTM1/GSTT1 either null group. Then, maternal urinary BPA levels and birth outcomes were positively correlated. When the prenatal BPA concentration is increased by 1 log-transformed unit of BPA/Cr, the z-score for weight at birth increased 0.05(0.02) in whole and 0.06(0.03) in boys and the z-score for WFL at birth increased 0.05(0.02) in whole and 0.07(0.03) in girls. In linear mixed models, significant positive effects of the neonatal urinary BPA were found on WFL over the 72 months period. When the neonatal BPA concentration is increased by 1 log-transformed unit of BPA concentration, the z-score for weight through 6–72 months increased 0.09(0.03) in whole and 0.12(0.05) in girls. Our study suggests BPA exposure is negatively associated with intrauterine linear growth, but has a positive association with volume growth during childhood. Furthermore, intrauterine growth was affected by maternal GSTs polymorphism, and child growth was affected by sex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transgenerational effects of environmental pollutants on humans and animals are complex. Thus, we used zebrafish to evaluate the effects of parental whole-life cycle exposure to bisphenol A and its analogs (bisphenol S and F) on offspring innate immunity. At adulthood, offspring were examined with/without continued chemicals treatment until 72 h post-fertilization (hpf). To measure offspring immune function, larvae at 72 hpf were expose for 24 h with/without the viral mimic polyinosinic-cytidylic acid (Poly I:C) or the bacterial mimic Pam3Cys-Ser-Lys4 (PAM3CSK4). Data show modified immunity in offspring. Specifically, lysozyme activity was significantly induced in F1 larvae and respiratory burst response and oxidative defense genes were inhibited. Genes of the innate immune system including Toll-like receptors and their downstream molecules and inflammatory cytokines were significantly down-regulated, whereas matrix metalloproteinases were up-regulated in larvae. In addition, recombination-activating genes in the immature adaptive immune system were significantly reduced. Thus, immune defense is diminished by exposing parental generations of zebrafish to environmentally relevant concentration of bisphenols and this suggests that fish chronically exposed to bisphenols in the wild may be vulnerable to pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastic particles have been proven to be abundant in the aquatic environment, raising concerns about their potential toxic effects. In the present study, we determined the bioaccumulation potential of bisphenol A (BPA) in adult zebrafish ( Danio rerio ) in the absence and presence of nano-sized plastic particles (nanoplastics, NPPs). Results show that BPA can accumulate in the viscera, gill, head and muscle of zebrafish with 85, 43, 20, and 3 μg/g ww after 1 d exposure. NPPs were also found to accumulate in different tissues of the fish. Relative equilibrium was reached after 1 d exposure in different tissues with 39 to 636 mg/kg ww . Co-exposure of NPPs and BPA led to a 2.2 and 2.6-fold significant increment of BPA uptake in the head and viscera, if compared with BPA alone treatment after 3 d exposure. As such, we further investigated several neurotoxic biomarker alterations in the fish head. It was found that either BPA or NPPs can cause myelin basic protein (MBP)/gene up-regulation in the central nervous system (CNS); meanwhile, both contaminants exhibited significant inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, which is a well-known representative biomarker for neurotoxicity. Moreover, for the co-exposure treatment, biomarkers of myeline and tubulin protein/gene expressions, dopamine content, and the mRNA expression of mesencephalic astrocyte derived neurotrophic factor (MANF) were all significantly up-regulated, suggesting that an enhanced neurotoxic effects in both CNS and dopaminergic system occurred. However, AChE activity was no more inhibited in the co-exposure treatment, which implies that solely AChE measurement may not be sufficient to identify neurotoxic effects in the cholinergic system. Overall, the present study demonstrates that the presence of NPPs can increase BPA bioavailability and cause neurotoxicity in adult zebrafish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenolic compounds are among the endocrine disruptors which are widely used in daily life products. Studies in laboratory animals showed reproductive and developmental effects. In spite of widespread exposure to phenols, only few studies examined their effects on human development. This study was designed to investigate the relationship between antenatal phenol exposure and birth outcomes in a Chinese obstetric population. Four hundred ninety-six mother-infant pairs recruited from the Laizhou Wan prospective birth cohort in northern China between 2010 and 2013 were included in the study. We measured two phenol metabolites in maternal urine at delivery and examined their associations with birth outcomes including birth weight, crown–heel length, head circumference, gestational age, and ponderal index. Median levels of bisphenol A (BPA) and triclosan (TCS) in urine were 1.07 and 0.50 μg/g creatinine, respectively. After adjusting for confounders, a 10-fold increase in BPA levels was associated with a 0.63 cm [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.25 to 1.01] increase in birth length among boys, but not among girls. No associations were found between TCS levels and any birth outcomes. The positive association of prenatal low-level BPA exposures with anthropometric measures observed among boys, suggests gender differences in the response to antenatal phenol exposure. Given the variability in urinary phenol levels reported during pregnancy, our findings based on levels of the target biomarkers in a single urine sample need to be confirmed in additional studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prenatal exposure to phenols, phthalates (PAEs), and organophosphate (OP) pesticides may increase the risk of abnormal birth outcomes. However, many previous studies have examined exposure to a limited number of chemical classes or exposure profiles limited to a specific stage of pregnancy. This study aims to characterize the concurrent exposure scenario throughout pregnancy by simultaneously monitoring internal doses of several endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs), including 2 phenols (nonylphenol (NP) and bisphenol A (BPA)), 9 PAEs, and 6 OP pesticide metabolites and to assess the relationships between concurrent exposure to EDCs and infant birth weight, length, and head and chest circumference. One hundred and sixty two women provided three spot urine samples at approximately 11 and 26 weeks gestation and at delivery. We applied multivariable linear regression and ridge regression models to estimate the effects of separate and correlated exposures. Multivariable linear regression models revealed that women with short birth-length infants had significantly higher urinary second-trimester NP levels (50th percentile, 5.03 μg/g creatinine) (β = − 0.47 cm; 95% CI = − 0.93 to − 0.01). Similarly significant relationships were observed between second-trimester mono-methyl phthalate (MMP) exposure and short birth length, second-trimester ΣPAEs and short birth length, second-trimester ΣPAEs exposure and reduced head and chest circumference, second-trimester diethylphosphate (DEP) exposure and reduced birth weight and length, and second-trimester ΣDEPs exposure and short birth length. Women with urinary BPA above the 75th percentile or ΣPAEs levels above the 50th percentile in the third trimester had infants with significantly reduced head circumference. These observations suggest that the second trimester may be the critical stage of susceptibility for fetal development. In ridge regression models, for which women with fewer measures for exposure to NP, BPA, MMP, ΣPAEs, DEP and ΣDEPs simultaneously were available, no relationships were found with infant size at birth. Additional studies with larger sample sizes are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Phenolic compounds such as bisphenol A (BPA), nonylphenol (NP), and octylphenol (OP) are known as endocrine-disrupting compounds and are commonly used. Their impacts on the neurodevelopment of children are inconclusive. The current study aims to investigate the association between umbilical cord blood levels of BPA, NP, OP and neurodevelopmental outcomes at 2 and 7 years of age. Methods The study was based on the Taiwan Birth Panel Study, a prospective birth cohort. We collected cord blood plasma to measure phenolic compound levels using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. In the follow-up, 208 mother-child pairs with 2-year-old children and 148 mother-child pairs with 7-year-old children were recruited in this study. We used the Comprehensive Developmental Inventory for Infants and Toddlers (CDIIT) and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-IV) for neurodevelopmental assessments at 2 and 7 years of age, respectively. Multiple linear regressions were used for statistical analysis. Results The detection rates of BPA, NP, and OP were 55.9%, 77.6%, and 68.3%, respectively. In this study, the median BPA, NP, and OP levels in 2-year-olds were 3.3, 72.6, and 3.3 (ng/ml), respectively. However, the median levels of BPA, NP, and OP were 3.2, 49.3, and 6.6 (ng/ml), respectively. The levels of phenolic compounds were log 10 -transformed for statistical analysis. Gender stratification was performed. In the WISC-IV neurocognitive assessment, we found both a significant negative association and a trend between cord blood plasma BPA levels and full-scale IQ (p for trend < 0.01), the verbal comprehension index (p for trend < 0.01), and the perceptual reasoning index (p for trend < 0.01) in the study population. After stratification by sex, significant associations were found in full-scale IQ (p for trend = 0.03) and the verbal comprehension (p for trend < 0.01) index in boys. In girls, prenatal BPA exposure had adverse effects on full-scale IQ (p for trend = 0.02), perceptual reasoning index (p for trend < 0.01), and working memory index (p for trend = 0.02). None of the developmental quotients (DQs) of the CDIIT analysis were significantly associated with phenolic compound levels in cord blood based on continuous or categorical measures. Conclusion Prenatal exposure to BPA affects neurocognitive development, and this effect differs between 7-year-old boys and girls. More studies are needed to elucidate the relationship between phenolic compound exposure in utero and children's neurobehavioral development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]