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An attractive approach to minimize human and animal exposures to toxic environmental contaminants is the use of safe and effective sorbent materials to sequester them. Montmorillonite clays have been shown to tightly bind diverse toxic chemicals. Due to their promise as sorbents to mitigate chemical exposures, it is important to understand their function and rapidly screen and predict optimal clay–chemical combinations for further testing. We derived adsorption free-energy values for a structurally and physicochemically diverse set of toxic chemicals using experimental adsorption isotherms performed in the current and previous studies. We studied the diverse set of chemicals using minimalistic MD simulations and showed that their interaction energies with calcium montmorillonite clays calculated using simulation snapshots in combination with their net charge and their corresponding solvent’s dielectric constant can be used as inputs to a minimalistic model to predict adsorption free energies in agreement with experiments. Additionally, experiments and computations were used to reveal structural and physicochemical properties associated with chemicals that can be adsorbed to calcium montmorillonite clay. These properties include positively charged groups, phosphine groups, halide-rich moieties, hydrogen bond donor/acceptors, and large, rigid structures. The combined experimental and computational approaches used in this study highlight the importance and potential applicability of analogous methods to study and design novel advanced sorbent systems in the future, broadening their applicability for environmental contaminants.

Widespread use of pesticides has resulted in the accumulation of pesticide residues in the environment due to their persistence and stability. To reduce potential exposures, we have developed broad-acting clay-based sorbents that can be included in the diet as enterosorbents to reduce the bioavailability and toxicity of chemicals. In the present study, parent and acid-processed calcium montmorillonite clays (CM and APM, respectively) were used to determine their potential as sorbents of the organochlorine insecticide dieldrin. We used adsorption isotherms, thermodynamics, and dosimetry studies to determine the capacities and affinities of the clays, the enthalpies of the binding reactions, and potential doses of sorbent that could protect against high exposures. Adsorption isotherms for APM fit a Langmuir model with high enthalpy (suggesting chemisorption) and high capacity (Qmax value = 0.45 mol kg-1 ), indicating tight binding of dieldrin. Cultures of Hydra vulgaris were used to determine the ability of sorbents to protect a living organism from dieldrin toxicity. The inclusion of acid-processed clays resulted in the highest reduction of dieldrin toxicity (70%) in the hydra. Further work indicated that both CM and APM can significantly reduce the bioavailability of dieldrin from soil (p ≤ 0.01). These results suggest that APM (and similar clays) can be effective sorbents of dieldrin and may be included in the diet and/or soil to protect against environmental exposures. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020;39:517-525. © 2019 SETAC.

Aflatoxin contamination of diets results in disease and death in humans and animals. The objective of the present paper was to review the development of innovative enterosorption strategies for the detoxification of aflatoxins. NovaSil clay (NS) has been shown to decrease exposures to aflatoxins and prevent aflatoxicosis in a variety of animals when included in their diets. Results have shown that NS clay binds aflatoxins with high affinity and high capacity in the gastrointestinal tract, resulting in a notable reduction in the bioavailability of these toxins without interfering with the utilization of vitamins and other micronutrients. This strategy is already being utilized as a potential remedy for acute aflatoxicosis in animals, and as a sustainable intervention via diet. Animal and human studies have confirmed the apparent safety of NS and refined NS clay (with uniform particle size). Studies in Ghanaians at high risk of aflatoxicosis have indicated that NS (at a dose level of 0.25% w/w) is effective at decreasing biomarkers of aflatoxin exposure and does not interfere with levels of serum vitamins A and E, or iron or zinc. A new spinoff of this strategy is the development and use of broad-acting sorbents for the mitigation of environmental chemicals and microbes during natural disasters and emergencies. In summary, enterosorption strategies/therapies based on NS clay are promising for the management of aflatoxins and as sustainable public health interventions. The NS clay remedy is novel, inexpensive, and easily disseminated.

Humans and animals are frequently exposed to PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) through drinking water and food; however, no therapeutic sorbent strategies have been developed to mitigate this problem. Montmorillonites amended with the common nutrients, carnitine and choline, were characterized for their ability to bind 4 representative PFAS (PFOA, PFOS, GenX, and PFBS). Adsorption/desorption isothermal analysis showed that PFOA, PFOS (and a mixture of the two) fit the Langmuir model with high binding capacity, affinity and enthalpy at conditions simulating the stomach. A low percentage of desorption occurred at conditions simulating the intestine. The results suggested that hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions, and hydrogen bonding were responsible for sequestering PFAS into clay interlayers. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations suggested the key mode of interaction of PFAS was through fluorinated carbon chains, and confirmed that PFOA and PFOS had enhanced binding to amended clays compared to GenX and PFBS. The safety and efficacy of amended montmorillonite clays were confirmed in Hydra vulgaris, where a mixture of amended sorbents delivered the highest protection against a PFAS mixture. These important results suggest that the inclusion of edible, nutrient-amended clays with optimal affinity, capacity, and enthalpy can be used to decrease the bioavailability of PFAS from contaminated drinking water and diets.

Montmorillonite clays could be promising sorbents to mitigate toxic compound exposures. Bisphenols A (BPA) and S (BPS) as well as phthalates, dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), are ubiquitous environmental contaminants linked to adverse health effects. Here, we combined computational and experimental methods to investigate the ability of montmorillonite clays to sorb these compounds. Molecular dynamics simulations predicted that parent, unamended, clay has higher binding propensity for BPA and BPS than for DBP and DEHP; carnitine-amended clay improved BPA and BPS binding, through carnitine simultaneously anchoring to the clay through its quaternary ammonium cation and forming hydrogen bonds with BPA and BPS. Experimental isothermal analysis confirmed that carnitine-amended clay has enhanced BPA binding capacity, affinity and enthalpy. Our studies demonstrate how computational and experimental methods, combined, can characterize clay binding and sorption of toxic compounds, paving the way for future investigation of clays to reduce BPA and BPS exposure.

People and animals can be unintentionally exposed to complex mixtures of hazardous chemicals that can threaten the safety of food and water supplies following natural and man-made disasters and emergencies. Our research has focused on the development of broad-acting adsorbents that will tightly bind environmental contaminants in the gastrointestinal tract and decrease their bioavailability to humans and animals during these events. In this study, benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) and aldicarb were used as representative chemicals due to their high toxicity and extensive distribution in the environment. Both chemicals have been commonly detected in water and sediments in the US, and their distribution and concentrations can be enhanced during disasters. To address this problem, we have amended and functionalized montmorillonite clays with the nutrients, L-carnitine and choline to enhance their attraction for lipophilic toxins, such as BaP and aldicarb. Based on equilibrium isothermal analyses, we have demonstrated a significantly increased binding capacity (Qmax) and affinity (Kd) for BaP and aldicarb compared to the parent clay. Adsorption isotherms also showed that talc bound strongly to BaP with the highest Qmax, which was twice that of activated carbon. Additionally, cultures of adult hydra with a metabolism activation package were used as an in vivo toxicity indicator to confirm the ability of test adsorbents to protect against toxicity at low inclusion levels. We anticipate that the optimal adsorbents developed can be delivered in food and flavored water, or administered by sachet or capsule during emergencies and disasters to decrease human and animals exposures to environmental toxins.

The widespread use of pesticides has resulted in detectable residues throughout the environment, sometimes at concentrations well above regulatory limits. Therefore, the development of safe, effective, field-practical, and economically feasible strategies to mitigate the effects of pesticides is warranted. Glyphosate is an organophosphorus herbicide that is degraded to aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA), a toxic and persistent metabolite that can accumulate in soil and sediment and translocate to plants. In this study, we investigated the binding efficacy of activated carbon (AC) and calcium montmorillonite (CM) clay to decrease AMPA bioavailability from soil and AMPA translocation to plants. Adsorption isotherms and thermodynamic studies on AC and CM were conducted and showed tight binding (enthalpy values >-20 kJ/mol) for AMPA with high capacities (0.25 mol/kg and 0.38 mol/kg, respectively), based on derivations from the Langmuir model. A hydra assay was utilized to indicate toxicity of AMPA and the inclusion of 1% AC and CM both resulted in 90% protection of the hydra (**p ≤ 0.01). Further studies in glyphosate-contaminated soil showed that AC and CM significantly reduced AMPA bioavailability by 53% and 44%, respectively. Results in genetically modified (GM) corn showed a conversion of glyphosate to AMPA in roots and sprouts over a 10-day exposure duration. Inclusion of AC and CM reduced AMPA residues in roots and sprouts by 47%–61%. These studies collectively indicate that AC and CM are effective sorbents for AMPA and could be used to reduce AMPA bioavailability from soil and AMPA residues in GM corn plants.

Consumption of food and water contaminated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) presents a significant risk for human exposure. There is limited data on high affinity sorbents that can be used to reduce the bioavailability of PFAS from soil and translocation to plants and garden produce. To address this need, montmorillonite clay was amended with the nutrients carnitine and choline to increase the hydrophobicity of the sorbent and the interlayer spacing. In this study, the binding of PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and PFOS (perfluorooctanesulfonic acid) to parent and amended clays was characterized. Isothermal analyses were conducted at pH 7 and ambient temperature (to simulate environmentally-relevant conditions). The data for all tested sorbents fit the Langmuir model indicating saturable binding sites with high capacities and affinities under neutral conditions. Amended montmorillonite clays had increased capacities for PFOA and PFOS (0.51 – 0.71 mol kg(−1)) compared to the parent clay (0.37 – 0.49 mol kg(−1)). Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations suggested that hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions at the terminal fluorinated carbon chains of PFAS compounds were major modes of surface interaction. The safety and efficacy of the clays were confirmed in a living organism (Lemna minor), where clays (at 0.1% inclusion) allowed for increased growth compared to PFOA and PFOS controls (p ≤ 0.01). Importantly, soil studies showed that 2% sorbent inclusion could significantly reduce PFAS bioavailability from soil (up to 74%). Studies in plants demonstrated that inclusion of 2% sorbent significantly reduced PFAS residues in cucumber plants (p ≤ 0.05). These results suggest that nutrient-amended clays could be included in soil to decrease PFAS bioavailability and translocation of PFAS to plants.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been detected as prevalent environmental contaminants in water, food and biota. Previous studies in vitro have shown that a variety of sorbent materials, including carbon, can sorb PCBs; however, PCB sorbents that can be added to food or drinking water to decrease toxin bioavailability in humans and animals have not been reported. To address this problem, we have developed broad-acting and highly effective sorbents for PCBs using montmorillonite clays reported to be safe for consumption in animals and humans. In this study, calcium montmorillonite clays were acid processed (APMs) and the interactions of six PCB congeners (PCB 77, 126, 153, 157, 154 and 155) on the surfaces of APMs were characterized. Computational models and isothermal analyses were used to derive surface capacities and affinities, delineate mechanisms and predict the thermodynamics of sorption. To confirm the safety and predict the efficacy of APMs against individual PCBs and common mixtures (Aroclors 1254 and 1260), we have also used a living organism (Hydra vulgaris) that is sensitive to toxins. APMs significantly protected hydra against the toxicity of PCBs and Aroclors. This finding was supported by studies showing tight binding; high capacity, affinity, and enthalpy; and a low therapeutic dose.

Humans and animals can be exposed to mixtures of chemicals from food and water, especially during disasters such as extended droughts, hurricanes and floods. Drought stress facilitates the occurrence of mycotoxins such as aflatoxins B(1) (AfB(1)) and zearalenone (ZEN), while hurricanes and floods can mobilize toxic soil and sediments containing important pesticides (such as glyphosate). To address this problem in food, feed and water, we developed broad-acting, clay-based enterosorbents that can reduce toxin exposures when included in the diet. In this study, we processed sodium and calcium montmorillonite clays with high concentrations of sulfuric acid to increase surface areas and porosities, and conducted equilibrium isothermal analyses and dosimetry studies to derive binding parameters and gain insight into: (1) surface capacities and affinities, (2) potential mechanisms of sorption, (3) thermodynamics (enthalpy) of toxin/surface interactions and (4) estimated dose of sorbent required to maintain toxin threshold limits. We have also used a toxin-sensitive living organism (Hydra vulgaris) to predict the safety and efficacy of newly developed sorbents. Our results indicated that acid processed montmorillonites were effective sorbents for AfB(1), ZEN and glyphosate, with high capacity and tight binding, and effectively protected hydra against individual toxins, as well as mixtures of mycotoxins.