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• OS-P formed more amorphous charcoal-like graphite microcrystalline structure at 600℃. • The pyrolysis treatment could make the speciation of heavy metals more stabilized. • The environmental risks and ecological safety of OS-P are controllable. • OS-P can be considered as agricultural sludge. Solid-phase residues from pyrolysis of oily wastes (OS) are widely used due to their rich pore structure and strong adsorption capacity. In this study, pyrolysis residues (OS-P) were obtained from the pyrolysis treatment of four typical OS in Karamay, Xinjiang. The results indicate that the crystalline substances in OS-P mainly were SiO 2 , BaSO 4 , and graphite. The heavy metals of OS-P were higher than that of OS in the following order: Zn > Cu > Ni > Cr > Pb > Cd. The results of the improvement of Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) sequential extraction showed that the proportion of Cu, Ni and Cr in OS1-P in the residual fraction was higher than that of the other three OS. The residual fraction of Cu, Ni, and Cr in OS1-P increased from 16.0 %, 30.0 %, and 11.0 % to 66.1 %, 81.9 %, and 89.2 %, respectively. After pyrolysis treatment, the leaching concentration of heavy metals in the residue was reduced. Referring to the requirements for heavy metal control limits (GB 4284–2018), all heavy metals in OS-P showed low risk. Their potential ecological risk indices were 4.11, 3.13, 4.87 and 5.35, respectively, indicating that the potential ecological hazards of heavy metals from OS-P were slight. There was no significant effect on the histopathological changes of kidney, lung, liver, ovary and testis of mice, showing that the rational use of OS-P in production will not produce toxic effects on target animals. Based on risk assessment and safety evaluation, the application of OS-P is controllable, safe and reliable for resource utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While diverse strains of low-pathogenicity avian influenza have circulated in wild birds for a long period of time, there has previously been little pathology in wild birds, ducks have been the primary and largely asymptomatic wild reservoir, and spillover into mammals has been limited and rare. In recent years, a high-pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) virus has emerged on the global scene and shifted the previously established dogmas for influenza infection. High-pathogenicity avian influenza has expanded into wildlife in unprecedented numbers and species diversity, with unmatched disease severity for influenza in wildlife. As the disease ecology of influenza has shifted with this new variant, significant efforts are underway to understand disease course, pathology, and species susceptibility. Here we focus primarily on the impact that HPAl has had in wild mammals while framing these novel spillovers within the context of significantly expanding disease in avian species and geography. The clinical and pathology presentations of HPAl in these atypical hosts are discussed, as well as prognosis and risk for continued spillover. The companion Currents in One Health by Runstadler and Puryear, AJVR, May 2024, provides further context on viral reservoirs and possible routes of direct or environmental transmission and risk assessment of viral variants that are emerging within wildlife. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction industry strives for sustainable solutions to tackle environmental challenges and optimize resource use. One such focus area is the management of industrial byproducts and waste materials, including fugitive dust control through wheel washers. While wheel washers play a pivotal role in dust management, they generate a challenging byproduct known as wheel washer sludge (WWS). The disposal of WWS is complicated due to its composition and potential hazards. Recent research explores reusing WWS in construction materials, particularly in repair mortar, aiming for sustainability and circular economy principles. This study investigates the incorporation of WWS into repair mortar formulations, evaluating mechanical properties, durability, and environmental implications. Results show that WWS enhances workability but prolongs setting time. Mechanical strength tests reveal improvements with WWS addition, especially when pretreated. Water absorption rates decrease with pretreated WWS, indicating enhanced durability. Chemical attack tests demonstrate resistance to carbonation and chloride penetration, especially with modified WWS. Freeze–thaw tests reveal improved resistance with WWS addition, particularly modified. Microstructure analysis confirms hydration products and denser matrices with WWS inclusion. Environmental hazard analysis shows WWS contains no harmful heavy metals, indicating its suitability for use in repairs. Overall, this study highlights the technical feasibility and environmental benefits of incorporating WWS into repair mortar, contributing to sustainable construction practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pesticide use in agricultural landscapes creates environmental contamination that is heterogenous in space and time. Mobile organisms, such as bees, are exposed to multiple contamination sources when visiting patches that vary in the amount, timing and toxicity of pesticides used. Yet, environmental risk assessments (ERA) typically fail to consider this heterogeneity, in part because of the complexities of estimating exposure to different pesticides, and subsequent risk at organism‐relevant scales.We use pesticide assays of 269 bee‐collected pollen samples to understand the spatiotemporal variability of risk across a network of 41 field sites in southern Sweden. Observed bee pesticide risk is calculated based on compound‐specific residue quantifications in pollen and standardized toxicity data. We then compare the ability of three classes of landscape‐scale variables to predict this risk: (1) landscape composition and configuration metrics, (2) landscape load based on national pesticide use data and (3) predictions from a newly developed bee pesticide exposure model.Based on use data, 10 crops account for 81% of the total risk. We detected 49 pesticide compounds in bee‐collected pollen. Although herbicides and fungicides constitute the bulk of detected pesticides, both in frequency and amount quantified, unsurprisingly, insecticides contribute the most to risk.Landscape composition and configuration metrics did not predict observed pesticide risk, and interactions with bee species indicate taxa‐dependency in predictions. Landscape load predicted observed risk consistently between taxa. Risk estimates from our exposure model were strongly predictive but only when considering realized risk (i.e., risk estimates based on prior pesticide use information).Synthesis and applications. Predicting pesticide risk based on landscape patterns could enable landscape‐scale ERA. However, simple metrics of landscape pattern, such as proportion of agricultural land, are not sufficient. We found that risk observed in bee‐collected pollen was best predicted when integrating spatialized pesticide use in the pesticide exposure model, underscoring the importance of such data for research, monitoring and mitigation. Further, we propose a guidance framework for future landscape ecotoxicological risk analyses that clarifies data needs relative to risk prediction goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of untargeted lipidomics approaches in ecotoxicology has emerged as a strategy to enhance the comprehensiveness of environmental risk assessment. Although current toxicity tests with soil microarthropods focus on species performance, that is, growth, reproduction, and survival, understanding the mechanisms of toxicity across all levels of biological organization, from molecule to community is essential for informed decision‐making. Our study focused on the impacts of sublethal concentrations of the insecticide teflubenzuron on the springtail Folsomia candida. Untargeted lipidomics was applied to link changes in growth, reproduction, and the overall stress response with lipid profile changes over various exposure durations. The accumulation of teflubenzuron in organisms exposed to the highest test concentration (0.035 mg a.s. kg–1 soil dry wt) significantly impacted reproductive output without compromising growth. The results suggested a resource allocation shift from reproduction to size maintenance. This hypothesis was supported by lipid shifts on day 7, at which point reductions in triacylglycerol and diacylglycerol content corresponded with decreased offspring production on day 21. The hypermetabolism of fatty acids and N‐acylethanolamines on days 2 and 7 of exposure indicated oxidative stress and inflammation in the animals in response to teflubenzuron bioaccumulation, as measured using high‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Overall, the changes in lipid profiles in comparison with phenotypic adverse outcomes highlight the potential of lipid analysis as an early‐warning tool for reproductive disturbances caused by pesticides in F. candida. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:1149–1160. © 2024 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contamination of groundwater by herbicides depends on their mobility in soil, which is related to the organic carbon to water partition coefficient, KOC. Because the log KOC values of widely used sulfonylurea herbicides do not correlate with easily accessible log P estimations, multivariate image analysis (MIA) descriptors were employed to build structure-property models to classify these compounds according to their soil sorption capability. In addition, a deeper analysis based on MIA contour maps of PLS regression coefficients and variable importance in projection scores was performed to obtain insight into the chemical features responsible for the log KOC behavior. A multiple linear regression model obtained from selected descriptors demonstrated high predictability (r2 = 0.95, q2 = 0.84, and r2pred = 0.71) and also provided chemical insight into the log KOC values. It has been found that triazine rather than pyrimidine derivatives are less prone to leach out, but substituents attached to the sulfonyl group play an important role in modulating the log KOC values. Consequently, useful guidance for environmental risk assessment is provided for the development of new sulfonylurea herbicides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Steroid hormones (SHs) have received widespread attention in recent years. However, current studies of SHs have primarily focused on estrogenic substances, with androgen‐related studies being quite limited. We optimized the solid‐phase extraction (SPE) pretreatment method, as well as the enzymolysis conditions of five androgens (androstenedione, boldenone, methandienone, nandrolone, and testosterone), to simultaneously determine their concentrations in the effluent from wastewater treatment plants and surface water samples. Then we evaluated the ecological risks of the five androgens in the effluent and Pearl River basin of Guangzhou (PR China) using the risk quotient method. The recovery rates of the targets were 90% to 99% in water samples when digested with β‐glucosidase for 90 min before solid‐phase extraction, extracted with a Poly‐Sery HLB column, and washed with 15% methanol aqueous solution and 2% ammonia. The established instrument's limit of detection was between 0.02 and 0.39 μg/L, and the limit of quantification was between 0.05 and 1.29 μg/L. Androstenedione, boldenone, methandienone, nandrolone, and testosterone were detected in all samples from the 2018 and 2022 wastewater influent and the 2018 surface water, with concentrations of 3.06 × 101 ng/L to 1.33 × 103 ng/L, 1.03–8.15 × 102 ng/L, and 0.93 × 101 ng/L to 5.50 × 102 ng/L, respectively. The ecological risks of androgens in wastewater influent and surface water were medium to high and low to medium, respectively. Moreover, the biotoxicity of androgens was predicted by the Ecological Structure Activity Relationships model, with methandienone and androstenedione having the highest and lowest acute and chronic toxicities, respectively. These results suggest that the risk of environmental androgens should not be ignored and that further research should be carried out. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:915–925. © 2023 SETAC [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intensification in agriculture affects many insect species, including butterflies. Insect‐resistant crops, such as Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) maize, which produces a toxin active against Lepidoptera, are an alternative to insecticide sprays. Genetically modified crops are regulated in most countries and require an environmental risk assessment. In the European Union, such assessments include the use of simulation models to predict the effects on nontarget Lepidoptera (NTL). To support the assessment of protected NTL, we extended an individual‐based, stochastic, spatially explicit mathematical model (LepiX) to include a wider range of exposure scenarios, a species‐sensitivity distribution, and an option for repeated exposure of individuals. We applied the model to transgenic maize DAS‐1507, which expresses a high concentration of Bt toxin in pollen that may be consumed by NTL larvae on their host plants nearby. Even in the most conservative scenario without repeated exposure, mortality estimates for highly sensitive species ranged from 41% to 6% at distances of 10–1000 m from the nearest maize field. Repeated exposure can cause additional mortality and thus is relevant for the overall risk assessment. Uncertainties in both exposure and ecotoxicity estimates strongly influenced the predicted mortalities. Care should be taken to include these uncertainties in the model scenarios used for decision‐making. In accordance with other modeling results, our simulations demonstrated that mean mortality may not be safe for protected species. With its high pollen expression, DAS‐1507 maize may pose risks to sensitive and protected butterfly and moth species that may be difficult to manage. High expression of Bt toxin in pollen is unnecessary for controlling target pests. Consequently, we suggest that Bt maize with high pollen expression not be cultivated in regions where protected butterflies are to be conserved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Risk assessment of food and environmental contaminants is faced by substantial data gaps and novel strategies are needed to support science-based regulatory actions. The Alternaria mycotoxins alternariol (AOH) and altertoxin II (ATXII) have garnered attention for their possible genotoxic effects. Nevertheless, data currently available are rather scattered, hindering a comprehensive hazard characterization. This study combined in vitro / in silico approaches to elucidate the potential of AOH and ATXII to induce double-strand breaks (DSBs) in HepG2 cells. Furthermore, it examines the impact of co-exposure to AOH and the DSB-inducing drug doxorubicin (Doxo) on γH2AX expression. AOH slightly increased γH2AX expression, whereas ATXII did not elicit this response. Interestingly, AOH suppressed Doxo-induced γH2AX expression, despite evidence of increased DNA damage in the comet assay. Building on these observations, AOH was postulated to inhibit γH2AX-forming kinases. Along this line, in silico analysis supported AOH potential interaction with the ATP-binding sites of these kinases and immunofluorescence experiments showed decreased intracellular phosphorylation events. Similarly, in silico results suggested that ATXII might also interact with these kinases. This study emphasizes the importance of understanding the implications of AOH-induced γH2AX expression inhibition on DNA repair processes and underscores the need for caution when interpreting γH2AX assay results. • Alternariol causes modest γH2AX increase in HepG2 cells. • Altertoxin II doesn´t trigger γH2AX formation in HepG2 cells. • Alternariol suppresses doxorubicin-induced γH2AX expression. • Alternariol inhibits γH2AX-forming kinases.. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientific question: With the new individual- and activity-based approaches to simulating exposure to air pollutants, exposure models must now provide synthetic populations that realistically reflect the demographic profiles of individuals in an urban territory. Demographic profiles condition the behavior of individuals in urban space (activities, mobility) and determine the resulting risks of exposure and environmental inequalities. In this context, there is a strong need to determine the relevance of the population modeling methods to reproduce the combinations of socio-demographic parameters in a population from the existing databases. The difficulty of accessing complete, high-resolution databases indeed proves to be very limiting for the ambitions of the different approaches. Objective: This work proposes to evaluate the potential of a statistical approach for the numerical modeling of synthetic populations, at the scale of dwellings and including the representation of coherent socio-demographic profiles. The approach is based on and validated against the existing open databases. The ambition is to be able to build upon such synthetic populations to produce a comprehensive assessment of the risk of environmental exposure that can be cross-referenced with lifestyles, indicators of social, professional or demographic category, and even health vulnerability data. Method: The approach implemented here is based on the use of conditional probabilities to model the socio-demographic properties of individuals, via the deployment of a Monte Carlo Markov Chain (MCMC) simulation. Households are assigned to housing according to income and house price classes. The resulting population generation model was tested in the Paris region (Ile de France) for the year 2010, and applied to a population of almost 12 million individuals. The approach is based on the use of census and survey databases. Results: Validation, carried out by comparison with regional census data, shows that the model accurately reproduces the demographic attributes of individuals (age, gender, professional category, income) as well as their combination, at both regional and sub-municipal levels. Notably, population distribution at the scale of the model buildings remains consistent with observed data patterns. Conclusions and relevance: The outcomes of this work demonstrate the ability of our approach to create, from public data, a coherent synthetic population with broad socio-demographic profiles. They give confidence for the use of this approach in an activity-based air quality exposure study, and thus for exploring the interrelations between social determinants and environmental risks. The non-specific nature of this work allows us to consider its extension to broader demographic profiles, including health indicators, and to different study regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanobiomaterials (NBMs) have tremendous potential applications including in cancer diagnosis and treatment. However, the health and environmental effects of NBMs must be thoroughly assessed to ensure safety. Fe3O4 (magnetite) nanoparticles coated with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) were one of the focus NBMs within the EU project BIORIMA. Fe3O4 PEG-PLGA has been proposed to be used as a contrast agent in magnetic resonance imaging for the identification of solid tumors and has revealed low cytotoxicity in several cell lines. However, the effects of Fe3O4 PEG-PLGA have not been assessed in terrestrial environments, the eventual final sink of most materials. In the present study, the effects of Fe3O4 PEG-PLGA and its precursor, (un-coated) Fe3O4 NMs, were assessed in soil model invertebrates Enchytraeus crypticus (Oligochaeta) and Folsomia candida (Collembola). The endpoints were survival, reproduction, and size, based on the standard OECD test (28 days) and its extension (56 days). The results showed no toxicity for any of the endpoints evaluated, indicating that the NBM Fe3O4 PEG-PLGA poses no unacceptable risk to the terrestrial environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organophosphate ester flame retardants (OPFRs) are ubiquitous organic pollutants in the environment and present an important preoccupation due to their potential toxicity to humans and biota. They can be found in various sources, including consumer products, building materials, transportation industry, electronic devices, textiles and clothing, and recycling and waste management. This paper presents the first survey of its kind in Romania, investigating the composition, distribution, possible sources, and environmental risks of OPFRs in five wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and the rivers receiving their effluents. Samples from WWTPs and surface waters were collected and subjected to extraction processes to determine the OPFRs using liquid chromatography with mass spectrometric detection. All the target OPFRs were found in all the matrices, with the average concentrations ranging from 0.6 to 1422 ng/L in wastewater, 0.88 to 1851 ng/g dry weight (d.w.) in sewage sludge, and 0.73 to 1036 ng/L in surface waters. The dominant compound in all the cases was tri(2-chloroisopropyl) phosphate (TCPP). This study observed that the wastewater treatment process was inefficient, with removal efficiencies below 50% for all five WWTPs. The environmental risk assessment indicated that almost all the targeted OPFRs pose a low risk, while TDCPP, TCPP, and TMPP could pose a moderate risk to certain aquatic species. These findings provide valuable information for international pollution research and enable the development of pollution control strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2012, 20 key questions related to hazard and exposure assessment and environmental and health risks of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in the natural environment were identified. A decade later, this article examines the current level of knowledge around one of the lowest‐ranking questions at that time, number 19: "Can nonanimal testing methods be developed that will provide equivalent or better hazard data compared with current in vivo methods?" The inclusion of alternative methods that replace, reduce, or refine animal testing within the regulatory context of risk and hazard assessment of chemicals generally faces many hurdles, although this varies both by organism (human‐centric vs. other), sector, and geographical region or country. Focusing on the past 10 years, only works that might reasonably be considered to contribute to advancements in the field of aquatic environmental risk assessment are highlighted. Particular attention is paid to methods of contemporary interest and importance, representing progress in (1) the development of methods which provide equivalent or better data compared with current in vivo methods such as bioaccumulation, (2) weight of evidence, or (3) ‐omic‐based applications. Evolution and convergence of these risk assessment areas offer the basis for fundamental frameshifts in how data are collated and used for the protection of taxa across the breadth of the aquatic environment. Looking to the future, we are at a tipping point, with a need for a global and inclusive approach to establish consensus. Bringing together these methods (both new and old) for regulatory assessment and decision‐making will require a concerted effort and orchestration. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:559–574. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientific interest in the use of environmental microbiomes for risk assessment is rapidly growing, as exemplified by various EFSA opinions. In the absence of official regulatory guidelines on how to integrate environmental microbiomes in risk assessment, the aims of this report are therefore to determine whether microbiome studies can be used for such purposes, and to propose a roadmap for the integration of environmental microbiomes in risk assessments under EFSA's remit. The report identifies the current gaps (in terms of knowledge and from a technical point of view) and barriers that might delay the implementation of the methods, and offers recommendations for standardised (multi‐)omics techniques for risk assessment purposes. Our main findings identified five priorities: (i) defining the core microbiome (what it encompasses and what it is made of, including the identification of bioindicators) to assess the impact of any type of disturbance; (ii) standardising methodologies and protocols, from sampling to interpretation, to guarantee comparability of analyses; (iii) developing tools to facilitate interpretation; (iv) collecting microbiome‐based data in shared, curated and maintained databases; and (v) setting up a European Network of Microbiome Laboratories to reach an agreement on how to standardise microbiome studies, to facilitate interactions between researchers and access to data or samples, and to actively include multiple stakeholders in discussions involving environmental microbiomes and risk assessment. There are both short‐ and longer‐term priorities, all of which highlight the need to mobilise concurrently different agencies or institutions, as well as environmental microbiome research. The roadmap also points out the need for capacity building and training, for acceptance of this emerging technology, and communication issues. These recommendations will hopefully contribute to the elaboration of widely accepted guidelines in the regulatory framework EFSA is dealing with. This publication is linked to the following EFSA Supporting Publications article: https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2903/sp.efsa.2024.EN-8597/full [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On 24 July 2020, the EFSA conclusion on the peer review of the pesticide risk assessment of the active substance captan drawn in the context of the renewal of approval of the active substance captan conducted in accordance with Commission Implementing Regulation (EC) No 844/2012 was approved. In December 2023, the European Commission asked EFSA to provide a statement on its view as regards the RMS's revised environmental risk assessment concerning some uses in pome fruits and cherries and the potential impact of the recent new classification recommended by RAC on the toxicological reference values of captan stated in the EFSA Conclusion. The current statement contains the conclusions of the considerations related to the environmental revised risk assessment performed by the RMS, Austria, and to the new classification proposed by RAC on the toxicological reference values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The release of novel genetically modified (GM) virus applications into the environment for agricultural, veterinary, and nature-conservation purposes poses a number of significant challenges for risk assessors and regulatory authorities. Continuous efforts to scan the horizon for emerging applications are needed to gain an overview of new GM virus applications. In addition, appropriate approaches for risk assessment and management have to be developed. These approaches need to address pertinent challenges, in particular with regard to the environmental release of GM virus applications with a high probability for transmission and spreading, including transboundary movements and a high potential to result in adverse environmental effects. However, the current preparedness at the EU and international level to assess such GM virus application is limited. This study addresses some of the challenges associated with the current situation, firstly, by conducting a horizon scan to identify emerging GM virus applications with relevance for the environment. Secondly, outstanding issues regarding the environmental risk assessment (ERA) of GM virus applications are identified based on an evaluation of case study examples. Specifically, the limited scientific information available for the ERA of some applications and the lack of detailed and appropriate guidance for ERA are discussed. Furthermore, considerations are provided for future work that is needed to establish adequate risk assessment and management approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable urban transformation has become a mantra for Chinese cities. While most studies focus on sustainable urbanization in megacities, the far larger number of medium-sized cities is understudied, although the latter face more severe urban problems. This article develops a framework for examining policy change in sustainable urban development initiated at the central level and reactions, tensions, and implementation issues emerging at the local level. It focuses on an in-depth case study of the challenges in realizing a transition from quantity-oriented pro-growth policies to sustainable quality-oriented ones in a medium-sized Chinese city. We find that there is evidence of changes in long-term values and goals toward sustainability at the levels of both central and local government, but also great inconsistency between goals on paper and policy implementation in practice. Sustainability in urban development is much harder to realize as local officials see urban development as a major means to maintain local economic growth, which can be separated from other issues in ecological preservation. The article concludes with a roadmap for future studies focusing on medium-sized cities, especially indicating how narratives on sustainable urban development hide from view financial and environmental risks generated by the actual implementation of the dominant aggressive urban pro-growth model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extrapolation of effects from controlled standard laboratory tests to real environmental conditions is a major challenge facing ecological risk assessment (ERA) of chemicals. Toxicokinetic–toxicodynamic (TKTD) models, such as those based on dynamic energy budget (DEB) theory, can play an important role in filling this gap. Through the years, different practical TKTD models have been derived from DEB theory, ranging from the full "standard" DEB animal model to simplified "DEBtox" models. It is currently unclear what impact a different level of model complexity can have on the regulatory risk assessment. In the present study, we compare the performance of two DEB–TKTD models with different levels of complexity, focusing on model calibration on standard test data and on forward predictions for untested time‐variable exposure profiles. The first model is based on the standard DEB model with primary parameters, whereas the second is a reduced version with compound parameters, based on DEBkiss. After harmonization of the modeling choices, we demonstrate that these two models can achieve very similar performances both in the calibration step and in the forward prediction step. With the data presented in the present study, selection of the most suitable TKTD model for ERA therefore cannot be based alone on goodness‐of‐fit or on the precision of model predictions (within current ERA procedures for pesticides) but would likely be based on the trade‐off between ease of use and model flexibility. We also stress the importance of modeling choices, such as how to fill gaps in the information content of experimental toxicity data and how to accommodate differences in growth and reproduction between different data sets for the same chemical–species combination. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:440–449. © 2023 ibacon GmbH. Bayer AG and The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cigarette butts (CBs) are the most common type of beach litter worldwide and contain a complex mixture of chemicals. Given the recent interest in this emerging problem, it is important to assess the toxicity of CB leachates to a range of species from different regions, sensitivities, and ecological traits. We evaluated the waterborne toxicity of smoked CB to tropical invertebrates. Leachates were prepared in the laboratory and characterized for trace elements (Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, and Pb), ammonia nitrogen, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Then a set of toxicity tests with marine invertebrates was performed as follows: the brine shrimp Artemia sp. (nontoxic); the amphipod Tiburonella viscana (median lethal concentration [LC50] of 0.038 CB/L); the tanaid Monokalliapseudes schubarti (LC50 of 0.126 CB/L); the copepods Tisbe biminiensis (median effect concentration [EC50] of 0.038 CB/L) and Nitokra sp. (EC50 of 0.009 CB/L); pluteus stage larvae of the sea urchin Echinometra lucunter (EC50 of 0.152 CB/L); the sand dollar Mellita quinquiesperforata (EC50 of 0.054 CB/L); and D‐stage larvae of the mussel Perna perna (EC50 of 0.005 CB/L). The predicted no‐effect concentration was estimated using species sensitivity distribution, producing a 5th percentile hazard concentration of 0.015 CB/L. This preliminary threshold allowed us to estimate the potential impact of a single CB to 67 L of seawater via leaching, contributing to the advancement of knowledge regarding the contamination, toxicity, and ecological risks of cigarette waste. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:374–384. © 2023 SETAC [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanistic effect modeling is a promising tool to improve the ecological realism of environmental risk assessment. An open question for the mechanistic modeling of metal toxicity is whether the same physiological mode of action (PMoA) could be assumed for closely related species. The implications of various modeling choices, such as the use of parameter point estimates and assumption of simplistic toxicodynamic models, are largely unexplored. We conducted life‐table experiments with Daphnia longispina, Daphnia magna, and Daphnia pulex exposed to the single metals Cu, Ni, and Zn, and calibrated toxicokinetic–toxicodynamic (TKTD) models based on dynamic energy budget theory. We developed TKTD models with single and combined PMoAs to compare their goodness‐of‐fit and predicted population‐level sensitivity. We identified the PMoA reproduction efficiency as most probable in all species for Ni and Zn, but not for Cu, and found that combined‐PMoA models predicted higher population‐level sensitivity than single‐PMoA models, which was related to the predicted individual‐level sensitivity, rather than to mechanistic differences between models. Using point estimates of parameters, instead of sampling from the probability distributions of parameters, could also lead to differences in the predicted population‐level sensitivity. According to model predictions, apical chronic endpoints (cumulative reproduction, survival) are conservative for single‐metal population effects across metals and species. We conclude that the assumption of an identical PMoA for different species of Daphnia could be justified for Ni and Zn, but not for Cu. Single‐PMoA models are more appropriate than combined‐PMoA models from a model selection perspective, but propagation of the associated uncertainty should be considered. More accurate predictions of effects at low concentrations may nevertheless motivate the use of combined‐PMoA models. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:338–358. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquatic invertebrates play a pivotal role in (eco)toxicological assessments because they offer ethical, cost‐effective and repeatable testing options. Additionally, their significance in the food chain and their ability to represent diverse aquatic ecosystems make them valuable subjects for (eco)toxicological studies. To ensure consistency and comparability across studies, international (eco)toxicology guidelines have been used to establish standardised methods and protocols for data collection, analysis and interpretation. However, the current standardised protocols primarily focus on a limited number of aquatic invertebrate species, mainly from Arthropoda, Mollusca and Annelida. These protocols are suitable for basic toxicity screening, effectively assessing the immediate and severe effects of toxic substances on organisms. For more comprehensive and ecologically relevant assessments, particularly those addressing long‐term effects and ecosystem‐wide impacts, we recommended the use of a broader diversity of species, since the present choice of taxa exacerbates the limited scope of basic ecotoxicological studies. This review provides a comprehensive overview of (eco)toxicological studies, focusing on major aquatic invertebrate taxa and how they are used to assess the impact of chemicals in diverse aquatic environments. The present work supports the use of a broad‐taxa approach in basic environmental assessments, as it better represents the natural populations inhabiting various ecosystems. Advances in omics and other biochemical and computational techniques make the broad‐taxa approach more feasible, enabling mechanistic studies on non‐model organisms. By combining these approaches with in vitro techniques together with the broad‐taxa approach, researchers can gain insights into less‐explored impacts of pollution, such as changes in population diversity, the development of tolerance and transgenerational inheritance of pollution responses, the impact on organism phenotypic plasticity, biological invasion outcomes, social behaviour changes, metabolome changes, regeneration phenomena, disease susceptibility and tissue pathologies. This review also emphasises the need for harmonised data‐reporting standards and minimum annotation checklists to ensure that research results are findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable (FAIR), maximising the use and reusability of data. The ultimate goal is to encourage integrated and holistic problem‐focused collaboration between diverse scientific disciplines, international standardisation organisations and decision‐making bodies, with a focus on transdisciplinary knowledge co‐production for the One‐Health approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The migration mechanisms, sources, and environmental risks of 29 legacy and emerging perfluorinated and polyfluoroalkyl species present in an oxidation pond (Ya'Er Lake) were investigated for treating sewage based on the analysis of their occurrence and distribution. The concentration of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in pond area was between 0.30 and 63.2 ng/g dw (dry weight), with the overall average concentration of 8.00 ng/g dw. Notably, the PFAS concentrations in the surface sediments near the sewage outlet in Pond-1 (50.2 ng/g dw) and Pond-5 (average 15.1 ng/g dw) were 1–2 orders of magnitude higher than those in other areas. In general, the legacy PFAS, i.e., perfluorooctane sulfonic acid was considered to be the major pollutant in the polluted area, on average, accounting for 73.0% of the total concentration of PFAS pollutants. By evaluating the regional distribution of different PFAS homologs, the short-chain PFAS pollutants with lower K ow were found to migrate farther in both horizontal and vertical directions. The sewage outlets in Pond-1 and Pond-5 are the main pollution sources in polluted area and the emerging PFAS pollutants in Pond-5 have replaced the legacy PFAS pollutants as the main pollutants. Based on positive matrix factorization analysis, three main industrial sources of PFAS pollutants in the study area were identified: protective coating, fire-fighting, and food packaging sources. Moreover, the environmental risk assessment results showed that most study areas exhibited medium environmental risk (0.01 ≤ Risk quotient (RQ) < 1), indicating that the ecological environment risks in this area need further attention. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to the continuous growth of farming activities, pesticides, a class of toxic and harmful chemicals, are widely present in the environment and thus pose a potential risk to the ecosystem and human health via biomagnification. Therefore, it is significant to conduct a more comprehensive environmental risk assessment towards pesticides in the context of green sustainable chemistry. This study collected the ecotoxicity data of hundreds of pesticides to develop four easily understandable, transferable and reproducible 2D descriptor-based quantitative structure-toxicity relationship (QSTR) models for evaluating the acute toxicity towards Colinus virginianus, Oncorhynchus mykiss, Daphnia magna, and Rat, respectively. According to the strict OECD guidelines, four individual QSTR models were obtained with excellent goodness-of-fit, robustness and predictivity. Moreover, four acceptable interspecies quantitative structure toxicity–toxicity relationship (iQSTTR) models were also developed with good statistical parameters. Applicability domain (AD) analysis indicates that the developed models have a wide application range and reliable predictive ability. Mechanistic explanation reveals that the electronegativity, lipophilicity and molecular bulk can obviously enhance the toxicity of pesticides, whereas the hydrophilic and polar features are shown to reduce the toxicity. Importantly, we predicted the toxicity of many untested pesticides in the comprehensive database for the first time using the developed models and provided the priority ranking list for the toxicity of untested pesticides. In conclusion, the established QSTR and iQSTTR models can be used for the ecotoxicological risk assessment, toxicity data gap filling and regulatory decision of pesticides, as well as aiding the design of new "green" pesticide products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) have tremendous potential to generate technological benefits in numerous sectors, uncertainty on the risks of ENMs for human health and the environment may impede the advancement of novel materials. Traditionally, the risks of ENMs can be evaluated by experimental methods such as environmental field monitoring and animal-based toxicity testing. However, it is time-consuming, expensive, and impractical to evaluate the risk of the increasingly large number of ENMs with the experimental methods. On the contrary, with the advancement of artificial intelligence and machine learning, in silico methods have recently received more attention in the risk assessment of ENMs. This review discusses the key progress of computational nanotoxicology models for assessing the risks of ENMs, including material flow analysis models, multimedia environmental models, physiologically based toxicokinetics models, quantitative nanostructure–activity relationships, and meta-analysis. Several challenges are identified and a perspective is provided regarding how the challenges can be addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stability issues can significantly increase the risk of hybrid microgrids (HMGs), particularly during island mode operation. The dynamic performance of the system can induce constraints and stability margins that may elevate the loss of load probability. This paper presents a new stability‐oriented risk assessment model that bridges the conventional reliability models, stability, and system risk. The proposed model ensures the risk of the system by considering the redesign or reconfiguration of HMGs to address stability issues. First, the interlinking converters (ICs) DC‐link voltage stability is analysed to determine the acceptable power flow margins in rectifying and inversion mode. Next, the new general risk assessment model is introduced. The results show that the stability margin significantly increases the risk of the HMG, particularly when considering the aging of converters. The study also examines the impact of various load characteristics and ICs with different numbers but the same total size. In some cases, the risk is acceptable for the desired loads, or it can be reduced to an admissible level by reconfiguring the ICs. Finally, the paper demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed model in the optimal design of HMGs, aiming to guarantee the system's risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ship recycling process is one of the most dangerous works performed in marine environments for not only human health but also marine environment and ecology due to the nature of the work. The process contains various hazards such as asbestos, heavy metal residues, pollutants, etc. for the marine environment. The aim of this paper is to systematically analyze ship recycling hazards and reveal potential consequences to the marine environment. To achieve this purpose, a holistic risk assessment incorporating failure mode effect critical analysis (FMECA) and Dempster–Shafer (D–S) evidence theory is adopted. Whilst the FMECA presents a systematic assessment of potential hazards and their consequences, the D–S evidence theory is capable of managing epistemic uncertainty in the assessment of risk parameters. The findings show that H6 (heavy metal residues) and H8 (toxins) have the highest RPN (risk priority number) which requires utmost attention for a sustainable ship recycling process in the maritime environment. The outcomes of the research provide valuable insight to maritime environment researchers, safety inspectors, and health safety environment and quality (HSEQ) managers for minimizing environmental hazards and enhance safety associated with the ship recycling process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The EU Cosmetic Products Regulation requires neither environmental data nor environmental risk assessment for individual ingredients or finished cosmetic products. Instead, it relies on REACH to address environmental risks linked to cosmetic ingredients, including preservatives. We investigated how the environmental risks of cosmetic preservatives are managed by REACH. We identified preservatives of environmental concern and examined if any of these had been selected for Substance Evaluation, proposed for or identified as an SVHC, required authorization or were proposed for, or subject to, restriction under REACH. More than half of the preservatives approved under the Cosmetic Product Regulation, 70 of 137, were identified as being of environmental concern according to the criteria set in this study. Some of the approved preservatives were no longer produced or used in the EU due to their hazardous properties. However, they remained approved and may still enter the EU via the imported products. Our results also indicate that the environmental aspects of cosmetic ingredients, including preservatives, are not efficiently managed by REACH. Besides the known issues in REACH, we identified additional areas in the interface between REACH, CLP and the Cosmetic Products Regulation that call for improvement. Here, we provide practical suggestions in line with the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability. If implemented, these measures would strengthen the protection of the environment from hazardous cosmetic ingredients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Banggai Karst Area of the Islands of Central Sulawesi Province is dominated by the appearance of the Karst Ecosystem, which covers 97% of the total area, so it is very vulnerable to pathogenic bacterial contamination. This type of research is an observational study with a Cross-Sectional design with an Environmental Health Risk Assessment (EHRA) approach method to assess or forecast the amount of human health risk caused by exposure to environmental hazards. Quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) determines or predicts the human health risk caused by exposure to environmental hazards from pathogenic bacterial contamination. In this study, we collected 230 human samples and four samples of springs as a source of community drinking water, namely Paisu Lalomo Spring in South Buko District, Paisu Taabak in Liang District, Paisu Olulan in North Bulagi District and Paisu Sinangkal North Tinangkung District. The examination results on four springs as a source of community drinking water contained one sample with the highest probability of infection (Pinf) of 3.92 x10-4, namely Coliform bacteria in Paisu Lalomo springs. Furthermore, the annual chance of infection (Pinf / year), the highest pathogenic bacteria, was also found in Paisu Lalomo spring samples, namely in coliform bacteria with the same value (Pinf / year) = 1.32×10-1. However, examination of other bacteria also showed that all positive springs contained coliform bacteria and Enterococcus exceeding the specified limit (1x10-4). Risk management is needed to control risk factors that can cause health problems due to consuming and utilizing springs as a source of drinking water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bees are essential pollinators of many crops and wild plants, and pesticide exposure is one of the key environmental stressors affecting their health in anthropogenically modified landscapes. Until recently, almost all information on routes and impacts of pesticide exposure came from honey bees, at least partially because they were the only model species required for environmental risk assessments (ERAs) for insect pollinators. Recently, there has been a surge in research activity focusing on pesticide exposure and effects for non-Apis bees, including other social bees (bumble bees and stingless bees) and solitary bees. These taxa vary substantially from honey bees and one another in several important ecological traits, including spatial and temporal activity patterns, foraging and nesting requirements, and degree of sociality. In this article, we review the current evidence base about pesticide exposure pathways and the consequences of exposure for non-Apis bees. We find that the insights into non-Apis bee pesticide exposure and resulting impacts across biological organizations, landscapes, mixtures, and multiple stressors are still in their infancy. The good news is that there are many promising approaches that could be used to advance our understanding, with priority given to informing exposure pathways, extrapolating effects, and determining how well our current insights (limited to very few species and mostly neonicotinoid insecticides under unrealistic conditions) can be generalized to the diversity of species and lifestyles in the global bee community. We conclude that future research to expand our knowledge would also be beneficial for ERAs and wider policy decisions concerning pollinator conservation and pesticide regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metconazole is one of the widely‐used chiral triazole fungicides in controlling wheat leaf rust, powdery mildew, Fusarium head blight with high efficacy, and so forth. In the current work, the effects of chiral stationary phases, alcoholic modifiers, and column temperature on the chiral separation of metconazole were discussed in detail. Amylose tris(3,5‐dimethylphenylcarbamate)‐coated chiral stationary phase exhibited much stronger chiral recognition ability toward metconazole stereoisomers in the CO2/ethanol mixture as compared to the others. Then, a two‐step semi‐preparative separation of metconazole was performed through supercritical fluid chromatography and high‐performance liquid chromatography, and the enantiomeric excess values of four stereoisomers were achieved over 98%. Moreover, the enantioselective cytotoxicity of cis‐metconazole against HepG2 cells has been investigated, and the order of the cell proliferation toxicity against HepG2 cells was (1R, 5S)‐metconazole > (1S, 5R)‐metconazole > the mixture. Briefly, this study would provide valuable information in the preparative separation of optically pure metconazole products through chromatographic techniques and their environmental risk assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate spatial estimation of extremes is an increasingly important topic in environmental research and risk assessment. Conditional bias (CB)-penalized kriging (CBPK) improves such estimation by minimizing linearly weighted sum of error variance and variance of Type-II error. However, CBPK requires skillful prescription of the weight for the CB penalty which is a significant challenge in practice. In this paper, we describe an extension of CBPK, referred to herein as adaptive conditional bias-penalized kriging (ACBPK), which objectively prescribes the weight for improved estimation of extremes without deteriorating performance in the unconditional mean squared error sense. For comparative evaluation in the real world, cross validation experiments were carried out for precipitation estimation using hourly rain gauge data in the Arkansas-Red River Basin (AB), central Texas (TX) and southeastern US (SE) areas. The results show that CB is detected for about 26, 24 and 25% of all data points in the AB, TX and SE cases, respectively, and that, given detection of CB, ACBPK reduces root mean square error of hourly precipitation exceeding 12.7 mm by 15, 21 and 9% and hourly precipitation exceeding 25.4 mm by 14, 26 and 10% relative to ordinary kriging (OK) for the AB, TX and SE cases, respectively. The overall findings indicate that, if accurate spatial estimation in the tails of the distribution is important or accurate modeling of spatiotemporally-varying correlation structure is a challenge, ACBPK should be favored over OK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of persistent and widespread environmental pollutants that represent a high concern for human health. They have been shown to be associated with several important physiological processes such as lipid metabolism and the immune system. Consequently, PFAS are suspected to play a role in cardiometabolic disease development. However, the evidence regarding associations between PFAS and overt cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes remains limited and inconsistent. To address this, we conducted a review of the epidemiological evidence. A deeper understanding of potential underlying molecular mechanisms may help to explain inconsistencies in epidemiological findings. Thus, to gain more mechanistic insight, we also summarized evidence from omics and laboratory studies into an adverse outcome pathway framework. Our observations indicate the potential for associations of PFAS with multiple molecular pathways that could have opposite associations with disease risk, which could be further modified by mixture composition, lifestyle factors or genetic polymorphisms. This identifies the need for exposome studies considering mixture effects, the use of multi‐omics data to gain insight in relevant pathways and the integration of epidemiological and laboratory studies to enhance mechanistic understanding and causal inference. Improved comprehension is essential for environmental health risk assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of phenylcapsaicin (aXiphen®) as a zootechnical additive (functional group: physiological condition stabilisers) in feed for chickens for fattening. The additive under assessment, phenylcapsaicin, is safe for chickens for fattening up to the maximum proposed use level of 15 mg/kg complete feed. A margin of safety could not be established. Phenylcapsaicin is not genotoxic. The reference point for phenylcapsaicin derived from a 90‐day repeated dose oral toxicity study in rats is 37.2 mg/kg body weight (bw) per day, the lowest of the model averaged BMDL20 values for alanine aminotransferase increase in plasma. The metabolic similarity in the laboratory animals and the target species was not demonstrated and the identity of the marker residue could not be established. In the absence of such data, the safety for the consumers could not be evaluated. The inhalation exposure of phenylcapsaicin (as liquid) for the user was considered unlikely. The FEEDAP Panel considered the additive irritant to the eyes but not to the skin and it is not a dermal sensitiser. In the absence of appropriate data, the environmental risk assessment for phenylcapsaicin could not be performed. It is unlikely that phenylcapsaicin bioaccumulates in the environment and the risk of secondary poisoning is considered low. The FEEDAP Panel could not conclude on the efficacy of the additive in chickens for fattening at the proposed conditions of use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Alkaline fly ash creates a false appearance of reaching the standard during landfill. • The risk of alkaline fly ash during the process of landfill was underestimated. • Leaching of heavy metals from alkaline fly ash poses risks to human health. • Enhancing impermeability curbs fly ash hazards effectively. In this study, we simulated the actual landfill disposal process using accelerated carbonization experiments, based on the leaching characteristics of heavy metals from "alkaline" fly ash, and used the LandSim–HELP coupling model to assess the environmental risk of the leaching. The results showed that the leaching data of "alkaline" fly ash before carbonization showed the illusion of admission to landfill with only a small amount of chemical addition or even without curing/stabilization. The leached concentrations of Zn and Cd from "alkaline" fly ash after carbonation were significantly higher. The risk assessment of the leakage of heavy metals in the case of a single artificial composite liner system showed that the exposure concentrations of Pb, Zn, and Cd in samples exceeded Standard for groundwater quality (GB/T 14848–2017) the Class III permissible limits after carbonation; exposure risk for Cd was exceeded in all samples. However, although the use of a double-layer artificial composite liner to improve the level of impermeability effectively reduced the risk of Cd leaching, so that none of the non-carcinogenic risks exceeded the standard, the carcinogenic risk of Cd in the carbonized samples exceeded the factor of 1.1–4.5 of the acceptable hazard quotient, and the contamination characteristics of the alkaline fly ash still need to be kept in view. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional power systems only contain a single energy type, namely, electrical energy, and involve no interaction with other networks with different energy types, such as gas networks and heat networks. With the rapid development of the Energy Internet, the coupling between various energy types has become increasingly tight, making traditional risk assessment methods no longer suitable for multi-energy microgrids. To this end, this paper proposes a microgrid risk assessment method that considers the impact of multiple interconnected networks with different energy types. First, respectively from the equipment and system levels, a risk transfer integrated energy conversion model is built, depicting the output of equipment under risk conditions and describing the process of risk transfer using energy coupling equipment in the microgrid. Thereafter, from the perspective of the energy flow distribution and considering the microgrid grid energy flow characteristics, a microgrid energy flow distribution model is built, based on which a microgrid risk analysis model that simulates the microgrid risk propagation mechanism is established by introducing risk factors that characterize equipment risk statuses. In addition, based on the system structure and the operational characteristics, a microgrid-oriented risk assessment process is designed. Finally, a numerical simulation confirms that considering the impact of multiple different energy networks to the power side in the risk assessment is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal Power Plant generates FGD gypsum as by-product during coal combustion. This study evaluates the characterization (spectroscopic and elemental), potentially toxic elements (PTEs) distribution, and environmental risk assessment of FGD gypsum for safe and sustainable use in agriculture. The XRD and SEM analysis confirmed the dominance of crystalline CaSO4·2H2O in FGD gypsum. The order of concentrations of PTEs in FGD gypsum was Fe > Al > Mn > Zn > Ni > Co. The residual fraction was the dominant pool, sharing 80–90% of the total PTEs. The heavy metals (HMs) were below the toxic range in the leachates. The Co, Ni, Al, Fe Mn, Zn had low (< 10%) risk assessment code and the ecotoxicity was in the range of 0.0–7.46%. The contamination factor was also low (0.0–0.16) at the normal recommended doses of FGD gypsum application for sodicity reclamation. The enrichment factor was in the order of Al < Mn < Co < Zn < Ni. Mn [enrichment factor (Ef) 1.2–2.0] and Co (Ef 1.7–2.8) showed negligible enrichment of metals, whereas Ni (Ef 4.3–5.2) and Zn (Ef 4.5–5.6) reported moderate accumulation in soil. The application of FGD gypsum @ 10 t ha−1 for sodicity reclamation will develop a geo-accumulation index below the critical values indicating its safe and sustainable use to achieve land degradation neutrality (LDN) and UN's Sustainable Development Goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A low probability of oil pollution of coasts from two main potential sources located in the waters of Kaliningrad Region (Russian Federation) in the Baltic Sea is shown based on the results of modelling using Seatrack Web (SMHI, HELCOM). The most threatened areas of the coastal zone and coast, in the middle part of the Curonian Spit - UNESCO World Heritage site, as well as the distal part of the Vistula Spit and on the entire western coast of the Sambia Peninsula, were identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distribution and characteristics of the results of accidents in oil pumping and hydrocarbon transportation systems by degrees of severity are given in separate categories. A new methodical approach was proposed for the evaluation of the ecological and economic ri sk factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

These studies focused on the quantitative assessment of the surface displacement velocities and rates and their natural and man-made controlling factors as the potential risks along the seismically active 70 km section of buried oil and gas pipeline in Azerbaijan using Persistent Scatterer Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (PS-InSAR) and Small Baseline Subset (SBAS-InSAR) remote sensing analysis. The diverse spatial distribution and variation of ground movement processes along pipelines demonstrated that general geological and geotechnical understanding of the study area is not sufficient to find and mitigate all the critical sites of subsidence and uplifts for the pipeline operators. This means that both techniques outlined in this paper provide a significant improvement for ground deformation monitoring or can significantly contribute to the assessment of geohazards and preventative countermeasures along petroleum and gas pipelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Suez Gulf is the most critical commerce corridor connecting the Middle East to the rest of the world due to its unique geographic location. Furthermore, it has an economic significance as a fishing and touristic area. These maritime activities have a detrimental effect on marine environments and are responsible for transmitting several harmful substances into the ocean. Therefore, assessing the degree of metal contamination in water and sediments at selected locations along the Suez Gulf from Port Tawfiq to Ras-Gharib is the main objective of this study. According to annual averages, an ecological risk assessment based on seawater quality standards in China and NOAA criteria indicated that these heavy metals did not pollute the Gulf water. Conversely, during the winter, the spatial fluctuations of eight heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Cd, Co, Zn, and Cu) in sediment samples were assessed. Several indicators, including the contamination factor (Cf), pollution load index (PLI), and geo-accumulation index (Igeo), were used to evaluate the level of contamination in the Gulf sediments. The results showed that the two biggest ecological threats were lead and mercury. Additionally, the levels of contamination varied from somewhat contaminated to very contaminated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Approaches integrating interdisciplinary perspectives are necessary to address current and future health and environmental challenges. Many policy initiatives have embraced more holistic approaches to tackle these challenges, e.g., the One Health concept, the Farm to Fork (F2F), Biodiversity and Chemical strategies within the European Green Deal and the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Insect pollinators are an excellent example of the One Health concept and have gained renewed focus through the EU Pollinator Initiative. Insect pollinators are essential for healthy diets by providing pollination services and maintaining biodiversity and healthy ecosystem functions. For this reason, they are part of the Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA) of chemicals, such as plant protection products (PPPs). However, an ERA of PPPs can align with and embrace these more holistic concepts and strategies by evolving towards a systems‐based approach that recognises the diversity and the important role played by insect pollinators (e.g., pollination services for food security), as well as the variety of habitats and contexts they live in with their multiple stressors, and where PPPs may be used. A roadmap has been developed to determine the steps and actions needed to progress ERA methodologies and tools for insect pollinators. This roadmap is based on a review of the latest scientific knowledge, determining key areas for development to advance ERA, and identifying expertise and networks needed to foster progressive dialogue and public acceptance. The roadmap proposes several actions to generate the necessary knowledge to advance methodologies and tools within the current ERA framework, initially for chemical PPPs but extendable to other regulated chemicals. In addition, it outlines the actions needed to build the framework and the collaborative activities required to realise the transition to a systems‐based ERA for insect pollinators by 2030. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditionally applied methodology in environmental risk assessment (ERA) has fallen out of step with technological advancements and regulatory requirements, challenging effectiveness and accuracy of the assessments. Extensive efforts have been focused towards a transition to a more data‐driven and mechanistically‐based next generation risk assessment. Metabolomics can produce detailed and comprehensive molecular insight into affected biochemical processes. Combining metabolomics with environmental toxicology can help to understand the mechanisms and/or modes of action underlying toxicity of environmental pollutants and inform adverse outcome pathways, as well as facilitate identification of biomarkers to quantify effects and/or exposure. This Technical Report describes the activities and work performed within the frame of the European Food Risk Assessment Fellowship Programme (EU‐FORA), implemented at the section 'Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology' at the Department of Environmental Science at Aarhus University in Denmark with synergies to an ongoing H2020 RIA project 'EndocRine Guideline Optimisation' (ERGO). In accordance with the 'training by doing' principles of the EU‐FORA, the fellowship project combined the exploration of the status of scientific discussion on methodology in ERA through literature study with hands‐on training, using the metabolomics analysis pipeline established at Aarhus University. For the hands‐on training, an amphibian metamorphosis assay (OECD test no.231) was used as a proof‐of‐concept toxicometabolomics study case. Both a targeted biomarker – and an untargeted metabolomics approach was applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metal(loid)s (HMs) in soils near mining sites often cause serious environmental and health issues. Accurately assessing soil HM risks and identifying priority pollutants are crucial for improving risk control efficiency with limited management costs and resources. Traditional deterministic assessments may yield biased results due to the imprecision and ambiguity of environmental data and assessment processes. To compensate for the deficiencies of deterministic assessment, a comprehensive probabilistic-fuzzy model was developed based on fuzzy theory, probability methods, the soil contamination risk (SCR) index, and a human health risk (HR) assessment framework. According to this model, the soil HM risk status in a typical mining area in China was evaluated. The results indicated that Cd and Cu significantly violated the relevant environmental guidelines and were considered priority metals for environmental risk (ER). Notably, Cd's hazard predominantly manifested in a solid potential ecological risk (PER), whereas Cu's environmental impact primarily manifested as a soil contamination risk (SCR). From the perspective of HR, soil HMs already pose a considerable threat to human health, with children facing greater HRs than adults. As was identified as a priority element for HRs, with carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks reaching unacceptable levels. Regarding general risk (GR), Cd and Cu ranked in the first gradient and As in the second gradient. Overall, the accumulation of soil HMs—especially Cd, Cu, and As—in the study area has posed a significant threat to the ecosystem and human health. The risks of other HMs (Pb, Zn, Cr, and Ni) are relatively low, but the superimposed risks of multiple HMs should not be ignored. The probabilistic–fuzzy model reduces the uncertainty of risk assessment, and the model integrates the environmental and health risks of HMs, providing more comprehensive risk information. The assessment results can serve as a reference for managers to develop targeted control strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) impaired the digestive systems of Metaphire guillelmi. • BBP induced oxidative damage and neurotoxicity in Metaphire guillelmi. • Molecular docking showed that BBP could change protein structures. • BBP affected Metaphire guillelmi at a low concentration (10 mg kg−1). Agricultural films are extensively utilized in high-intensity agriculture, with China's annual usage reaching 1.5 million tons. Unfortunately, the recovery rate is less than 60%, leading to an inevitable accumulation of plastic mulch in agricultural soils. This accumulation primarily introduces butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) into soil ecosystems, whose specific effects remain largely unclear, thereby posing potential risks. The present study focuses on the exposure impact of BBP on earthworms, Metaphire guillelmi , a commonly found endogenic earthworm within real farmland, as it provides insight into the direct interaction between biota gut health and contaminants. Specifically, we studied the biomarkers related to oxidative stress, the digestive system, and neurotoxicity within the gut of Metaphire guillelmi , and the integrated biological response (IBR) index was utilized to track these markers at different timeframes after BBP exposures. Our findings indicate that BBP exposures lead to oxidative damage, digestive system inhibition, and neurotoxicity, with IBR indexes of 14.6 and 17.3 on the 14th and 28th days, respectively. Further, the underlying mechanisms at a molecular level through molecular docking were investigated. The results showed that the most unstable interaction was with the Na+K+-ATPase (binding energy: −2.25 kcal−1), while BBP displayed stable bonds with superoxide dismutase and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine via hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interaction. These interactions resulted in changes in protein conformation and their normal physiological functions, offering new insights into the molecular mechanism underlying enzymatic activity changes. This study has significant implications for the prediction of toxicity, environmental risk assessment, and the establishment of regulations related to BBP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After more than a decade of studying the ecotoxicity of graphene oxide nanomaterials (nGOs), it has been concluded that there is limited information available regarding the environmental risk of graphene-based materials. Since existing ecotoxicological studies of nanomaterials have produced contradictory results, it is recommended that case-by-case studies should be conducted to evaluate their effects. This can be carried out by employing several methods, testing species from different trophic levels, and conducting community studies. Our goal was to evaluate the toxicity effects of two GOs (AF 96/97 and PM 995) derived from different graphite precursors on various test organisms from diverse trophic levels (bacteria, protozoa, a freshwater microbial community, plants, and invertebrate animals) in aquatic environments. We compared the effects of both nGO types and estimated the predicted no-effect environmental concentration (PNEC) values to determine their potential environmental risk. Our findings demonstrated the need for a complex ecotoxicity toolkit since the ecotoxicity results varied based on the test organism, the selected endpoints, and the test method used. Additionally, we found that toxicity effects were dependent on the concentration and characteristics of the specific nGO type used, as well as the exposure time. We estimated the PNEC values for GO AF 96/97 and GO PM 995 in the aquatic compartment to be 8 ng/L and 4 ng/L, respectively. Even after applying the worst-case scenario approach, the tested nGOs pose no environmental risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Per‐ and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) are a group of thousands of ubiquitously applied persistent industrial chemicals. The field of PFAS environmental research is developing rapidly, but suffers from substantial biases toward specific compounds, environmental compartments, and organisms. The aim of our study was therefore to highlight current developments and to identify knowledge gaps and subsequent research needs that would contribute to a comprehensive environmental risk assessment for PFAS. To this end, we consulted the open literature and databases and found that knowledge of the environmental fate of PFAS is based on the analysis of <1% of the compounds categorized as PFAS. Moreover, soils and suspended particulate matter remain largely understudied. The bioavailability, bioaccumulation, and food web transfer studies of PFAS also focus on a very limited number of compounds and are biased toward aquatic biota, predominantly fish, and less frequently aquatic invertebrates and macrophytes. The available ecotoxicity data revealed that only a few PFAS have been well studied for their environmental hazards, and that PFAS ecotoxicity data are also strongly biased toward aquatic organisms. Ecotoxicity studies in the terrestrial environment are needed, as well as chronic, multigenerational, and community ecotoxicity research, in light of the persistency and bioaccumulation of PFAS. Finally, we identified an urgent need to unravel the relationships among sorption, bioaccumulation, and ecotoxicity on the one hand and molecular descriptors of PFAS chemical structures and physicochemical properties on the other, to allow predictions of exposure, bioaccumulation, and toxicity. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:2302–2316. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widespread use of nanomaterials in daily life has led to increased concern about their potential neurotoxicity. Therefore, it is particularly important to establish a simple and reproducible assessment system. Representative nanomaterials, including cobalt nanoparticles (CoNPs), titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2-NPs), and multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), were compared in terms of their neurotoxicity and underlying mechanisms. In 0, 25, 50, and 75 μg/ml of these nanomaterials, the survival, locomotion behaviors, acetylcholinesterase (AchE) activity, reactive oxygen species production, and glutathione-S transferase 4 (Gst-4) activation in wildtype and transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) were evaluated. All nanomaterials induced an imbalance in oxidative stress, decreased the ratio of survival, impaired locomotion behaviors, as well as reduced the activity of AchE in C. elegans. Interestingly, CoNPs and MWCNTs activated Gst-4 , but not TiO2-NPs. The reactive oxygen species scavenger, N-acetyl- l -cysteine, alleviated oxidative stress and Gst-4 upregulation upon exposure to CoNPs and MWCNTs, and rescued the locomotion behaviors. MWCNTs caused the most severe damage, followed by CoNPs and TiO2-NPs. Furthermore, oxidative stress and subsequent activation of Gst-4 were involved in nanomaterials-induced neurotoxicity. Our study provides a comprehensive comparison of the neurotoxicity and mechanisms of typical nanomaterials, which could serve as a model for hazard assessment of environmental pollutants using C. elegans as an experimental model system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposed and un-remediated metal(loid)-bearing mine tailings are susceptible to wind and water erosion that disperses toxic elements into the surrounding environment. Compost-assisted phytostabilization has been successfully applied to legacy tailings as an inexpensive, eco-friendly, and sustainable landscape rehabilitation that provides vegetative cover and subsurface scaffolding to inhibit offsite transport of contaminant laden particles. The possibility of augmented metal(loid) mobility from subsurface redox reactions driven by irrigation and organic amendments is known and arsenic (As) is of particular concern because of its high affinity for adsorption to reducible ferric (oxyhydr)oxide surface sites. However, the biogeochemical transformation of As in mine tailings during multiple redox oscillations has not yet been addressed. In the present study, a redox-stat reactor was used to control oscillations between 7 d oxic and 7 d anoxic half-cycles over a three-month period in mine tailings with and without amendment of compost-derived organic matter (OM) solution. Aqueous and solid phase analyses during and after redox oscillations by mass spectrometry and synchrotron X-ray absorption spectroscopy revealed that soluble OM addition stimulated pyrite oxidation, which resulted in accelerated acidification and increased aqueous sulfate activity. Soluble OM in the reactor solution significantly increased mobilization of As under anoxic half-cycles primarily through reductive dissolution of ferrihydrite. Microbially-mediated As reduction was also observed in compost treatments, which increased partitioning to the aqueous phase due to the lower affinity of As(III) for complexation on ferric surface sites, e.g. ferrihydrite. Oxic half-cycles showed As repartitioned to the solid phase concurrent with precipitation of ferrihydrite and jarosite. Multiple redox oscillations increased the crystallinity of Fe minerals in the Treatment reactors with compost solution due to the reductive dissolution of ferrihydrite and precipitation of jarosite. The release of As from tailings gradually decreased after repeated redox oscillations. The high sulfate, ferrous iron, and hydronium activity promoted the precipitation of jarosite, which sequestered arsenic. Our results indicated that redox oscillations under compost-assisted phytostabilization can promote As release that diminishes over time, which should inform remediation assessment and environmental risk assessment of mine site compost-assisted phytostabilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A standard pollution model was modified to predict low-altitude PM dispersion. • Cross-validated modifications reduced overprediction of PM by factors of 7 to 70. • The modified model was applied for environmental risk assessment. Monitoring and modeling of airborne particulate matter (PM) from low-altitude sources is becoming an important regulatory target as the adverse health consequences of PM become better understood. However, application of models not specifically designed for simulation of PM from low-altitude emissions may bias predictions. To address this problem, we describe the modification and validation of an air dispersion model for the simulation of low-altitude PM dispersion from a typical cotton ginning facility. We found that the regulatory recommended model (AERMOD) overestimated pollutant concentrations by factors of 64.7, 6.97 and 7.44 on average for PM 2.5 , PM 10 , and TSP, respectively. Pollutant concentrations were negatively correlated with height (p < 0.05), distance from source (p < 0.05) and standard deviation of wind direction (p < 0.001), and positively correlated with average wind speed (p < 0.001). Based on these results, we developed dispersion correction factors for AERMOD and cross-validated the revised model against independent observations, reducing overestimation factors to 3.75, 1.52 and 1.44 for PM 2.5 , PM 10 and TSP, respectively. Further reductions in model error may be obtained from use of additional observations and refinement of dispersive correction factors. More generally, the correction permits the validated adjustment and application of pre-existing models for risk assessment and development of remediation techniques. The same approach may also be applied to improve simulations of other air pollutants and environmental conditions of concern. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]