Search

A third of 1990-1 Gulf-deployed personnel developed drug/chemical-induced multisymptom illness, Gulf War illness (GWI). Veterans with GWI (VGWI) report increased drug/exposure adverse effects (AEs). Using previously collected data from a case-control study, we evaluated whether the fraction of exposures that engendered AEs (AE Propensity) is increased in VGWI (it was); whether AE Propensity is related to self-rated chemical sensitivity (it did); and whether specific exposures predicted AE Propensity (they did). Pesticides and radiation exposure were significant predictors, with copper significantly protective-in the total sample (adjusted for GWI-status) and separately in VGWI and controls, on multivariable regression. Mitochondrial impairment and oxidative stress (OS) underlie AEs from many exposures irrespective of nominal specific mechanism. We hypothesize that mitochondrial toxicity and interrelated OS from pesticides and radiation position people on the steep part of the curve of mitochondrial impairment and OS versus symptom/biological disruption, amplifying impact of new exposures. Copper, meanwhile, is involved in critical OS detoxification processes.

The core–shell structured CoFe2O4@N-GQDs@CeO2 nanocomposites were successfully synthesized via hydrothermal and co-precipitation methods, where CeO2 was uniformly dispersed on the outer shell layer with the assistance of nitrogen doped graphene quantum dots (N-GQDs). Due to its high oxygen absorption capacity and oxidase-like activity, the CoFe2O4@N-GQDs@CeO2 could catalyze the oxidation of the colorless substrate 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) into the blue product oxTMB in the absence of H2O2. Electron spin resonance (ESR) revealed that the superoxide radical (˙O2−) and hydroxyl radical (˙OH) were the primary catalysts responsible for oxidase-like activity. At the same time, hydroquinone (HQ) reduced oxTMB, resulting in a transition from blue to colorless. Building on this reaction, a colorimetric method was established to detect HQ in the range of 0.25–60 μM, with a detection limit as low as 0.168 μM. This method was successfully applied to real water samples, and the recovery rate was between 98.57% and 103.78%. These primary results demonstrate that the CoFe2O4@N-GQDs@CeO2 has excellent potential in the field of environmental chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sumanene is a buckybowl molecule that is continuously attracting the attention of the scientific community because of its unique geometrical and physicochemical properties. This Minireview systematically summarizes advances and considerations regarding the applied supramolecular chemistry of sumanene. This work highlights the major fields in which potential or real applications of sumanene molecule have been reported to date, such as the design of sumanene‐containing functional supramolecular materials and architectures, sumanene‐based drug‐delivery systems, or sumanene‐tethered ion‐selective molecular receptors. An assessment of the current status in the applied supramolecular chemistry of sumanene is provided, together with an emphasis on the key advances being made. Discussion on those milestones that are still to be achieved within this emerging field is also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a tribute to the late Professor Ashok K. Prasad from the University of Delhi in India. The authors express their gratitude for Professor Prasad's contributions to the field of chemistry and highlight his expertise and impact on his students and the scientific community. The document serves as a dedication to Professor Prasad's legacy and his significant role in advancing chemistry in India. [Extracted from the article]

Hyalella azteca is an epibenthic crustacean used in ecotoxicology, but there are challenges associated with standard methods using reproduction as an endpoint. A novel, 28‐day reproduction toxicity test method for H. azteca was created to address these issues by initiating tests with sexually mature amphipods to eliminate the confounding effects of growth, using a sex ratio of seven females to three males to reduce reproductive variability, and conducting tests in water‐only conditions to make recovery of juveniles easier and expand testing capabilities to water‐soluble compounds. In the present study, we evaluated the 28‐day novel method by comparing it with the 42‐day standard test method in duplicate and parallel water‐only, static‐renewal exposures to sublethal concentrations of imidacloprid (0.5–8 µg/L). Both methods showed similar effects on survival, with survival approaching 50% in the highest test concentration (8 µg/L). However, the 42‐day median effect concentrations (EC50s) for growth were more sensitive in the standard method (1.5–3.2 µg/L) compared with the 28‐day EC50s generated by the novel method (>8 µg/L). Reproduction endpoints (juveniles/female) produced similar EC50s between methods, but the data were less variable in novel tests (smaller coefficients of variation); therefore, fewer replicates would be required to detect effects on reproduction compared with the standard method. In addition, novel tests generated 28 days of reproduction data compared with 14 days using standard tests and allowed survival and growth of sexes to be assessed independently. Thus, the novel method shows promise to improve the use of reproduction as an endpoint in water‐only toxicity tests with H. azteca. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:723–735. © 2024 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsenic can accumulate in freshwater biota, sometimes reaching potentially harmful levels. However, the toxicity of arsenic strongly depends on which arsenic species are present. Although organic species are considered less harmful than inorganic ones, they have not been extensively studied in freshwater environments, and drivers of variation in arsenic speciation among sites and taxa remain unclear. We assessed concentrations of two organic arsenic species, arsenobetaine (AsB) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), in fish and invertebrates from three lakes near Sudbury, Ontario, Canada—a region with widespread mining impacts. Both AsB and DMA were detected in most samples (n = 212), varying across a wide range of concentrations (<0.001–30.144 and <0.006–5.262 mg/kg dry wt, respectively). The lake with the most severe mining impacts typically had the highest concentrations (designated by square brackets []) of AsB and DMA. In contrast, the percentage of total arsenic made up by AsB (%AsB) and DMA (%DMA) did not vary significantly between lakes. Arsenic speciation in fish muscle varied with fish size, selenium concentrations, and trophic elevation (inferred from nitrogen stable isotope ratios δ15N), but relationships with dietary carbon source (inferred from carbon stable isotope ratios δ13C) were more varied. Within all three lake food webs, [AsB] and [DMA] typically underwent biodilution, decreasing with trophic elevation (i.e., δ15N). Although the aforementioned factors explained some variation in arsenic speciation, there remains considerable unexplained variation. Further studies on arsenic speciation in freshwater biota should target a wider diversity of taxa to better understand drivers of variation in arsenic speciation. In addition, research emphasizing the percentage of inorganic arsenic and other organic arsenic species is needed to improve environmental and human health risk assessments. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:833–846. © 2024 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of biosolids to agricultural land has been identified as a major pathway of microplastic (MP) pollution to the environment. Very little research, however, has been done on the MP content of biosolids within Canada. Fifteen biosolid samples from different treatment processes (liquid, dewatered, pelletized, and alkali‐stabilized) were collected from 11 sources across southern Ontario to quantify and characterize the MP load within them. All samples exhibited MP concentrations ranging from 188 200 (±24 161) to 512 000 (±28 571) MPs/kg dry weight and from 4122 (±231) to 453 746 (±38 194) MPs/kg wet weight. Field amendment of these biosolids can introduce up to 3.73 × 106 to 4.12 × 108 MP/ha of agricultural soil. There was no significant difference in the MP concentrations of liquid, dewatered, and pelletized samples; but a reduction in MP content was observed in alkali‐stabilized biosolids. Fragments composed 57.6% of the MPs identified, while 36.7% were fibers. In addition, MPs showed an exponential increase in abundance with decreasing size. Characterization of MPs confirmed that polyester was the most abundant, while polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide, polyacrylamide, and polyurethane were present across the majority of biosolid samples. The results of the present study provide an estimate of the potential extent of MP contamination to agricultural fields through the amendment of biosolids. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:793–806. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding species differences in sensitivity to toxicants is a critical issue in ecotoxicology. We recently established that double‐crested cormorant (DCCO) embryos are more sensitive than Japanese quail (JQ) to the developmental effects of ethinylestradiol (EE2). We explored how this difference in sensitivity between species is reflected at a transcriptomic level. The EE2 was dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide and injected into the air cell of eggs prior to incubation at nominal concentrations of 0, 3.33, and 33.3 µg/g egg weight. At midincubation (JQ 9 days; DCCO 16 days), livers were collected from five embryos/treatment group for RNA sequencing. Data were processed and analyzed using EcoOmicsAnalyst and ExpressAnalyst. The EE2 exposure dysregulated 238 and 1,987 genes in JQ and DCCO, respectively, with 78 genes in common between the two species. These included classic biomarkers of estrogen exposure such as vitellogenin and apovitellenin. We also report DCCO‐specific dysregulation of Phase I/II enzyme‐coding genes and species‐specific transcriptional ontogeny of vitellogenin‐2. Twelve Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways and two EcoToxModules were dysregulated in common in both species including the peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor (PPAR) signaling pathway and fatty acid metabolism. Similar to previously reported differences at the organismal level, DCCO were more responsive to EE2 exposure than JQ at the gene expression level. Our description of differences in transcriptional responses to EE2 in early life stage birds may contribute to a better understanding of the molecular basis for species differences. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:772–783. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban freshwater ecosystems receive a wide array of organic pollutants through wastewater‐treatment plant (WWTP) discharges and agricultural runoff. Evaluating the fate and effects of antibiotics and pesticides can be a challenging task, especially the effects on freshwater vertebrates because of their abilities to metabolize and excrete these chemicals and because of their high mobility and escape behavior when exposed to stressful environmental conditions. In the present study, 37 wild gudgeons (Gobio gobio) were caged for a period of up to 20 days, upstream and downstream of a WWTP effluent discharge in the Orge River (a tributary of the Seine River, France). Levels of pesticides and antibiotics in fish muscles were monitored weekly and compared with environmental contamination (water and sediments). Our results highlighted a slight bioaccumulation of pesticides in the gudgeon muscles at the downstream site after 20 days of exposure. Concerning antibiotics, ofloxacin was the most detected compound in fish muscles (85% of occurrence) and ranged from undetectable to 8 ng g–1 dry weight. Antibiotic levels in fish muscle were not higher at the downstream site and did not increase with exposure duration, despite high levels in the water (up to 29 times greater than upstream). Potential ecotoxicological effects were also evaluated: Body condition did not differ between the caging location and exposure time. Three oxidative status markers in the fish livers showed significant shifts after 14 days of caging. Our results suggest a high clearance rate of antibiotics and, to a lesser extent, of pesticides in wild gudgeons, which could be explained by changes in xenobiotic metabolism with pollutant exposure. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:701–711. © 2023 SETAC [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is growing worldwide recognition of the threat posed by persistent organic pollutants (POPs) to wildlife populations. We aimed to measure exposure levels to POPs in a Southern Hemisphere aquatic waterbird species, the nomadic gray teal (Anas gracilis), which is found across Australia. We collected wings from 39 ducks harvested by recreational hunters at two sites (one coastal, one inland) in Victoria, southeastern Australia, in 2021. We examined three groups of POPs: nine congeners of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), 13 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), and 12 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The PCBs, OCPs, and PAHs were detected at quantifiable levels in 13%, 72%, and 100% of birds, respectively. Of the congeners we tested for in PCBs, OCPs, and PAHs, 33%, 38%, and 100% were detected at quantifiable levels, respectively. The highest levels of exposure to POPs that we found were to the PAH benzo[b]fluoranthene, occurring at a concentration range of 1.78 to 161.05 ng/g wet weight. There were some trends detected relating to differences between geographical sites, with higher levels of several PAHs at the coastal versus inland site. There were several strong, positive associations among PAHs found. We discuss potential sources for the POPs detected, including industrial and agricultural sources, and the likely role of large‐scale forest fires in PAH levels. Our results confirm that while Australian waterbirds are exposed to a variety of POPs, exposure levels are currently relatively low. Additional future investigations are required to further characterize POPs within Australian waterbird species. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:736–747. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbiota comprise the bulk of life's diversity, yet we know little about how populations of microbes accumulate adaptive diversity across natural landscapes. Adaptation to stressful soil conditions in plants provides seminal examples of adaptation in response to natural selection via allelic substitution. For microbes symbiotic with plants however, horizontal gene transfer allows for adaptation via gene gain and loss, which could generate fundamentally different evolutionary dynamics. We use comparative genomics and genetics to elucidate the evolutionary mechanisms of adaptation to physiologically stressful serpentine soils in rhizobial bacteria in western North American grasslands. In vitro experiments demonstrate that the presence of a locus of major effect, the nre operon, is necessary and sufficient to confer adaptation to nickel, a heavy metal enriched to toxic levels in serpentine soil, and a major axis of environmental soil chemistry vari-ation. We find discordance between inferred evolutionary histories of the core genome and nreAXY genes, which often reside in putative genomic islands. This suggests that the evolutionary history of this adaptive variant is marked by frequent losses, and/or gains via horizontal acquisition across divergent rhizobium clades. However, different nre alleles confer distinct levels of nickel resistance, suggesting allelic substitution could also play a role in rhizobium adaptation to serpentine soil. These results illustrate that the interplay between evolution via gene gain and loss and evolution via allelic substitution may underlie adaptation in wild soil microbiota. Both processes are important to consider for understanding adaptive diversity in microbes and improving stress-adapted microbial inocula for human use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a one‐step photochemical method for the preparation of CdS/Poly(MMA‐co‐MAA) composite photocatalyst, based on the concept of simultaneous photocatalytic polymerization of organic monomers during UV‐light induced formation of CdS. The preparation is carried out in an aqueous solution of Na2S2O3, CdSO4, methyl methacrylate (MMA) and methacrylic acid (MAA), under a UV lamp. The continuously formed CdS particles with photocatalytic activity act the role of initiator to directly initiate the copolymerization of MMA and MAA, resulting in the in situ formation of the composite and full contact of the CdS particles with the oxygen‐containing groups in the polymer. Taking the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue as a case study, the composite exhibited significantly higher activity under simulated solar light compared to the pure CdS. By analysis on various data, the enhanced photocatalytic activity is attributed to the enhanced visible light absorption, and especially the high electron‐hole separation efficiency caused by the electrostatic interaction between photogenerated holes and carbonyl oxygen atoms with negatively charged features. Furthermore, the composite displays excellent sunlight activity and recyclability, suggesting its potential for practical applications. Such a one‐step construction strategy relying only on photo‐energy is green, low‐cost and promising in obtaining high‐performance semiconductor/polymer composite photocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron, mostly as Fe2+ or Fe3+ bound in oxides, is the second most common element in the Earth's crust after aluminium. Salts of the d-block metal are cheap and commercially available and have already been used in organic chemistry in many preparative examples for the C–H functionalization of different classes of starting materials. The literature revealed that like copper or cerium, iron can undergo ligand-to-metal charge transfer processes. Different (anionic) ligands of different sizes can be added in various stoichiometries to commercial Fe(II)/Fe(III) salts leading to a unique orientation of the ligands around the metal centre. The resulting complexes are often coloured and can be excited by UV or visible light initiating a metal–ligand bond homolysis in which the metal part gets reduced, and the ligand loses one electron to form highly reactive radical species that can abstract hydrogen atoms or in the case of halide radicals add to double or triple bonds in a suitable substrate. In most of the literature-known procedures, the photoreaction proceeds in organic (polar protic/aprotic) solvents and the reaction medium hardly competes against the ligands (such as alcoholates or halides) for free coordination sites on the metal centre. However, in pure water, unlike other solvents (polar-protic or polar-aprotic), the iron cations get fully solvated and result in aquo-complexes due to the exclusive attachment of water molecules to a metal species, such as in sulphate, nitrate, and perchlorate salts. They possess a general stoichiometry of [M(H2O)n]z+ and have been known for a long time in inorganic and environmental chemistry showing unique and useful characteristics that will be exemplified in this review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Service-learning represents an innovative pedagogy that integrates academic learning with community service to address environmental issues based on experiential learning principles. This innovative pedagogy enhances higher education learning out-comes by fostering active engagement, real-world context, interdisciplinary insight, skills development, and civic engagement among students. The merging of service-learning contributes to a profound understanding of the subject matter, its practical applications, and personal and professional growth. This paper provides an overview of the implementation of service-learning in the STEM field, with a primary focus on the decade-long involvement of the Faculty of Chemistry and Technology in environmental protection projects. Through collaboration with the non-governmental organisation Sunce and partners from the University of Split, this initiative, led by environmental experts, has introduced a novel approach to higher education, facilitating knowledge expansion, skill improvement, and expertise development for both students and academic staff. The impact has been substantial, with the University of Split attaining the 21st position globally on the “World Universities with Real Impact” list for ethics in 2021, largely attributable to these service-learning projects. Service-learning has been integrated into the SEA-EU initiative, furthering its development at the University of Split, and establishing it as a pioneer in this field. Institutionalising service-learning in higher education requires the establishment of dedicated courses, integration into existing programmes, and the allocation of resources for academic staff, community partners, and students. Successful implementation requires a collaborative, iterative process involving careful planning, preparation, and assessment, ensuring that students benefit from meaningful opportunities to apply course content to real-world challenges while positively impacting the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document discusses the application of photocatalysts in environmental chemistry, specifically in the removal of contaminants from wastewater and the production of renewable energy. The use of titanium dioxide (TiO2) as a photocatalyst is highlighted, along with its limitations such as high recombination rate and the need for UV radiation. The document presents various approaches to overcome these limitations, including doping TiO2 with different materials, coupling it with other semiconductors, and creating heterojunctions. The document also includes studies on the use of other photocatalysts such as ZnO, copper sulfides, and ilmenite. Additionally, it explores the use of photocatalysis for water disinfection and the inactivation of microorganisms. Overall, this Special Issue provides a comprehensive overview of the field of photocatalysis and the advanced techniques used to enhance catalyst efficiency. [Extracted from the article]

Hydroxyl radical (•OH) detection is pivotal in medicine, biochemistry and environmental chemistry. Yet, electrochemical method–specific detection is challenging because of hydroxyl radicals' high reactivity and short half-life. In this study, we aimed to modify the electrode surface with a specific recognition probe for •OH. To achieve this, we conducted a one-step hydrothermal process to fabricate a CoZnMOF bimetallic organic framework directly onto conductive graphite paper (Gp). Subsequently, we introduced salicylic acid (SA) and methylene blue (MB), which easily penetrated the pores of CoZnMOF. By selectively capturing •OH by SA and leveraging the electrochemical signal generated by the reaction product, we successfully developed an electrochemical sensor Gp/CoZnMOF/SA + MB. The prepared sensor exhibited a good linear relationship with •OH concentrations ranging from 1.25 to 1200 nM, with a detection limit of 0.2 nM. Additionally, the sensor demonstrated excellent reproducibility and accuracy due to the incorporation of an internal reference. It exhibited remarkable selectivity for •OH detection, unaffected by other electrochemically active substances. The establishment of this sensor provides a way to construct MOF-modified sensors for the selective detection of other reactive oxygen species (ROS), offering a valuable experimental basis for ROS-related disease research and environmental safety investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In teaching electrochemistry, it is of primary importance to make students always aware of the relations between electrochemistry and all the non-electrochemical topics, which are taught. The vast majority of students will not specialise in electrochemistry, but they all can very much benefit from the basics and concepts of electrochemistry. This paper is aimed to give suggestions how the teaching of electrochemistry can easily be interrelated to topics of inorganic, organic, analytical, environmental chemistry, biochemistry and biotechnology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the impact of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) on the environment and the need for further research in this area. It acknowledges the concerns raised about the potential effects of PPCPs on public health, biodiversity, and ecosystems. The article highlights the progress made in understanding the occurrence, fate, effects, and risks of PPCPs in the environment since the late 1990s. However, it also emphasizes the gaps in knowledge and the need for broader research in terms of geographical areas, chemicals, species, and life stages. The article suggests various strategies to manage the risks associated with PPCPs, including reducing pharmaceutical use, green chemistry, and improved waste management. It concludes by calling for a more systematic approach to generate necessary data and for stronger policy implementation to address the issue of PPCPs in the environment. [Extracted from the article]

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) are an indispensable component of a healthy society. However, they are well‐established environmental contaminants, and many can elicit biological disruption in exposed organisms. It is now a decade since the landmark review covering the top 20 questions on PPCPs in the environment (Boxall et al., 2012). In the present study we discuss key research priorities for the next 10 years with a focus on how regions where PPCPs pose the greatest risk to environmental and human health, either now or in the future, can be identified. Specifically, we discuss why this problem is of importance and review our current understanding of PPCPs in the aquatic environment. Foci include PPCP occurrence and what drives their environmental emission as well as our ability to both quantify and model their distribution. We highlight critical areas for future research including the involvement of citizen science for environmental monitoring and using modeling techniques to bridge the gap between research capacity and needs. Because prioritization of regions in need of environmental monitoring is needed to assess future/current risks, we also propose four criteria with which this may be achieved. By applying these criteria to available monitoring data, we narrow the focus on where monitoring efforts for PPCPs are most urgent. Specifically, we highlight 19 cities across Africa, Central America, the Caribbean, and Asia as priorities for future environmental monitoring and risk characterization and define four priority research questions for the next 10 years. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:575–588. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study reviews options for reducing harm from pharmaceuticals that are known to cause adverse impacts by their presence in the environment. It reviews recent global and European Union policy development, which could go further in recognizing and addressing the issue in a global context. It considers green chemistry, which can help clean up production processes but holds only long‐term promise for creating "green" alternatives. It explores the potential of health promotion and disease prevention, which can contribute significantly to a reduction of the disease burden and thus the need for medicines, both for infectious and for noncommunicable disease. Eco‐directed sustainable prescribing practices are reviewed, which have been adopted successfully to reduce the use of harmful pharmaceuticals. We note recent developments in medicines optimization and precision medicine, which hold promise for improving patient outcomes, saving costs, and reducing pharmaceutical use, through individually tailored prescribing whereby the patient codecides their therapy. Waste prevention through reuse or redistribution is beginning to find public support and "take‐back" waste disposal schemes set up via extended producer responsibility systems have achieved high returns. Finally, the paper summarizes preferred advanced wastewater technologies, including innovative low‐cost, low‐energy options. In summary, although end‐of‐pipe options have a role to play, particularly for highly concentrated wastewaters, solutions further up the medicinal chain and disease prevention interventions, informed by a broad view of health and health care, are needed to pursue a much greater potential reduction of pharmaceuticals in the environment than can be achieved by end‐of‐pipe solutions alone. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:653–663. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How can data on the occurrence of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in the environment and the quality of ecosystems exposed to PPCPs be used to determine whether current regulatory risk assessment schemes are effective? This is one of 20 "big questions" concerning PPCPs in the environment posed in a landmark review paper in 2012. Ten years later, we review the developments around this question, focusing on the first P in PPCPs, that is, pharmaceuticals, or more specifically the active ingredients included in them (active pharmaceutical ingredients, APIs). We illustrate how extensive data on both the occurrence of APIs and the ecotoxicological sensitivity of aquatic species to them can be used in a retrospective risk assessment. In the Netherlands, current regulatory risk assessment schemes offer insufficient protection against direct ecotoxicological effects from APIs: the toxic pressure exerted by the 39 APIs included in our study exceeds the policy‐related protective threshold of 0.05 (the "95%‐protection level") in at least 13% of sampled surface waters. In general, anti‐inflammatory and antirheumatic products (e.g., diclofenac, ibuprofen) contributed most to the overall toxic pressure, followed by sex hormones and modulators of the genital system (e.g., ethinylestradiol) and psychoanaleptics (e.g., caffeine). We formulated three open questions for future research. The first relates to improving the availability and accessibility of good‐quality ecotoxicity data on pharmaceuticals for the global scientific, regulatory, and general public. The second relates to the adaptation of regulatory risk assessment frameworks for developing regions of the world. The third relates to the integration of effect‐based and ecological approaches into regulatory risk assessment practice. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:611–622. © 2022 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extent to which chemicals bioaccumulate in aquatic and terrestrial organisms represents a fundamental consideration for chemicals management efforts intended to protect public health and the environment from pollution and waste. Many chemicals, including most pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), are ionizable across environmentally relevant pH gradients, which can affect their fate in aquatic and terrestrial systems. Existing mathematical models describe the accumulation of neutral organic chemicals and weak acids and bases in both fish and plants. Further model development is hampered, however, by a lack of mechanistic insights for PPCPs that are predominantly or permanently ionized. Targeted experiments across environmentally realistic conditions are needed to address the following questions: (1) What are the partitioning and sorption behaviors of strongly ionizing chemicals among species? (2) How does membrane permeability of ions influence bioaccumulation of PPCPs? (3) To what extent are salts and associated complexes with PPCPs influencing bioaccumulation? (4) How do biotransformation and other elimination processes vary within and among species? (5) Are bioaccumulation modeling efforts currently focused on chemicals and species with key data gaps and risk profiles? Answering these questions promises to address key sources of uncertainty for bioaccumulation modeling of ionizable PPCPs and related contaminants. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:502–512. © 2022 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of pharmaceuticals in the environment, especially the aquatic environment, has received a lot of attention in the last 20 plus years. Despite that attention, the two most important questions regarding pharmaceuticals in the environment still cannot be answered. It is not possible to put the threat posed by pharmaceuticals into perspective with the many other threats (stressors) facing aquatic organisms, such as low flows due to over‐abstraction of water, inhibited passage of migratory species due to dams and weirs, diseases, algal blooms causing low oxygen levels and releasing toxins, eutrophication, climate change, and so on. Nor is it possible to identify which pharmaceuticals are of concern and which are not. Not only can these key questions not be answered presently, they have received extremely little attention, despite being identified 10 years ago as the two most important questions to answer. That situation must change if resources and expertise are to be effectively used to protect the environment. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:589–594. © 2022 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The predominant sources of collagen for cosmetic purposes were traditionally derived from bovine and porcine products, such as bones, tendons, and connective tissues. However, these sources are gradually declining in popularity due to their restricted availability, religious constraints, and disease-related concerns. Consequently, there is an urgent necessity to explore alternative sustainable collagen sources. Marine species offer a promising and sustainable supply for alternative collagen sources due to lower risk of disease transmission, freedom from religious restrictions, biocompatibility, lower molecular weight, lower production costs, and simpler absorption by the human body. This study objective highlights to explore potential collagen sources from marine resources (fishes, poriferans, mollusks, crustaceans, echinoderms, and coelenterates) for cosmetic applications. A variety of marine collagen sources with different extraction techniques will be compared. The study finds that fish by-products, particularly skins and bones, are becoming a very encouraging sustainable collagen source contrasted with other alternatives. They exhibit a significant collagen content, comprising up to 61.26 % of their dry weight under acid-soluble collagen (ASC) extraction method. Fish skin and bone-derived collagen is mostly composed of type I collagen and has been proven to possess notable capabilities as an antioxidant, antiaging, and skin-whitening agent. Therefore, the utilization of marine collagen as a key ingredient in cosmetics promotes responsible sourcing, encourages eco-friendly practices, and fosters a circular economy by making the most of underutilized marine materials.

The definitions of toxicology, environmental toxicology, environmental chemistry, environmental risk, and ecotoxicology are closely related and sometimes used as synonyms, whereas One Health is a more recent, complementary concept. This contribution examines the origins of the usages of these terms, explores their interchangeability (whether appropriate or not), and proposes some paths to better define each. The usage of these terms is evolving, and current research and paradigms are progressing toward the integration of broader, more integrative perspectives, such as the One Health approach. One Health is a holistic approach that helps link and integrate work on environmental and human health impacts. Definitions and research should not necessarily strive to segregate human vs. environmentally focused work, and most of the problems are complex and interconnected. Future research endeavors and funding programs must better reflect the multidisciplinary nature of environmental toxicology, and more broadly, One Health research and environmental research must recognize the interrelationships of human health, environmental health, ecotoxicology, and a multitude of geochemical, microbiological, and ecological processes.

Background: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are heat and stain resisting chemicals. They are persistent, bioaccumulating and spread ubiquitously. Many hotspots where humans are exposed to high levels of PFAS have been reported. A few small observational studies in humans suggest that treatment with an Anion Exchange Resin (AER) decreases serum PFAS. This first clinical controlled crossover study aimed to assess whether AER decreases perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) in highly exposed adults. Methods: An open label 1:1 randomized treatment sequence crossover study with allocation to oral AER (cholestyramine 4 g three times daily) or observation for 12 weeks was conducted among citizens from a PFAS hotspot. Main inclusion criteria was serum PFOS > 21 ng/mL. Primary endpoint was change in serum PFOS levels between treatment and observational period. Results: In total, 45 participants were included with a mean age of 50 years (SD 13). Serum PFOS baseline median was 191 ng/mL (IQR: 129–229) and decreased with a mean of 115 ng/mL (95 % CI: 89–140) on treatment, and 4.3 ng/mL in observation period corresponding to a decrease of 60 % (95 % CI: 53–67; p

Summary: Clarifying the accumulation and decomposition of soil organic carbon (SOC) is crucial for comprehending carbon cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. SOC enrichment and decomposition lead to the fractionation of stable carbon isotopes, a complex process influenced by various factors, including microbes. However, this fractionation process during early soil formation and the role of microorganisms remain poorly explored. This study investigated the relative composition of stable carbon isotopes (δ13C) of recently formed biological soil crusts (BSCs) on stabilized sand dunes in the Tengger Desert, Northern China. A notable increase in δ13C was observed during early BSC development, likely driven by cyanobacteria’s direct fixation of CO2. Yet, δ13C values of BSCs gradually declined, approaching those of soils under native vegetation, probably linked to microbial succession within the BSCs. This finding highlights the potential microbial influence on early soil carbon turnover and underscores the effectiveness of isotope tracers for studying this process.

Deferiprone, generally, is considered an important chelating agent for Fe3+ overload. From a literature data analysis, a lack of information on the interaction of this molecule toward a series of metal cations emerged, inducing to fill out the topic. The complexing ability of deferiprone toward Ca2+, Mg2+, Cd2+ and Pb2+ was studied by potentiometry and 1H NMR spectroscopy, in KCl aqueous solutions at different ionic strength values (0.1 ≤ I/mol dm−3 ≤ 1.0) and T = 298.15 K. The same speciation model featured by the ML, ML2, ML3 and ML(OH) (M = metal and L = deferiprone or DFP) species was obtained for Cd2+ and Pb2+; the formation constants calculated at infinite dilution are: logTβ = 7.23±0.02, 12.47±0.03, 16.70±0.04, and −2.53±0.04, respectively for Cd2+ and 9.91±0.01, 15.99±0.02, 19.93±0.05 and 0.99±0.02 for Pb2+. Only two species, namely ML and ML2, were determined for Ca2+ and Mg2+, whose formation constants at infinite dilution are respectively: 3.72±0.01 and 6.50±0.02, for the first one, 5.31±0.01 and 9.58±0.01, for the second. The ligand sequestering ability and affinity toward M2+ were evaluated by determining the pL0.5 and pM parameters at different pHs and ionic strengths. The results suggest that deferiprone has the best complexing and sequestering ability toward Pb2+, followed by Cd2+, Mg2+ and Ca2+, respectively. 1H NMR studies confirmed the DFP affinity for Cd2+ and Pb2+, and in combination with DFT calculations showed that metal cations are bound to the hydroxo-oxo moiety of the pyridinone ring. The data reported in this study provide information on the possible employment of a small molecule like deferiprone, as a chelating and sequestering agent for Pb2+ accumulation or overload from environmental and biological matrices.

This document is a special issue of the International Journal of Molecular Sciences that focuses on the analysis and applications of mass spectra in biochemistry. It discusses the definitions of analytical chemistry and how it applies to mass spectrometry, highlighting the use of soft ionization methods as the gold standard in analytical practice. The document explores advancements in high-resolution mass analyzers and their impact on various research fields. It also mentions the importance of isotopomers in fields like medicine, ecology, geology, and forensic anthropology. The article concludes by discussing the diverse applications of mass spectrometry, including direct analysis, imaging techniques, monitoring chemical reactions, and determining kinetics and thermodynamics of chemicals. The text also mentions the use of computational quantum chemistry methods and other instrumental techniques for studying molecular structures. The Special Issue aims to provide innovative developments in mass spectrometry for researchers in different disciplines. [Extracted from the article]

The problem of plastic waste in the environment calls for the development of new polymeric materials designed specifically for easy recycling at the end of their life cycle. Herein, a green polymer system comprising a series of necklace‐shaped polydimethylsiloxanes bearing anthracene dimer units is developed. The polymers have low environmental impact and are easily recycled. Further, their flexibility and glass transition temperatures are easy to control. These necklace‐shaped inorganic polymers are synthesized by photopolymerizing (dimerizing) anthracene‐terminated oligo‐dimethylsiloxane monomers. A key achievement of the present work is the successful chemical recovery of the monomers from the polymers through thermal depolymerization, enabling monomer–polymer recycling. By applying equilibrium polymerization with base catalysts, monomers with a controlled distributed chain length are synthesized from monomers with a constant chain length. The necklace‐shaped polymers synthesized from these randomized monomers have amorphous structures and readily form transparent films. It is possible to modulate the thermal and mechanical properties of the polymers by controlling the average chain length of the polydimethylsiloxane between the anthracene dimers. This investigation presents a method for the synthesis and cyclic utilization of polymer materials with a wide range of applications, including plastics and elastomers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document provides concise and factual information about the synthesis and characterization of various compounds derived from biphenyl. The compounds were synthesized using different methods and techniques, such as flow reactors and microreactors. The yields and melting points of the synthesized compounds were reported, and their spectroscopic data matched values reported in the literature. The authors acknowledge the support and encouragement of the Director of the CSIR-IICT, and additional supporting information for the article is available online. [Extracted from the article]

Pesticides employed worldwide for crop protection easily reach aquatic systems, which act as the main reservoirs, and become a risk factor for aquatic fauna. Fipronil is a broad‐spectrum insecticide acting on the insect nervous system; however, other effects and systems unrelated to this mechanism could be affected in non‐target organisms. Thus, the present study aimed to assess the impact of fipronil on the suborganismal response (gene expression and enzymatic activity) of Chironomus riparius larvae as a model organism in ecotoxicology. To this end, short‐term toxicity tests were carried out with fourth‐instar larvae exposed to 0.001, 0.01, and 0.1 µg L−1 of fipronil for 24 and 96 h. Messenger RNA levels of 42 genes related to diverse metabolic pathways were analyzed by real‐time polymerase chain reaction, complemented with catalase (CAT), glutathione S‐transferase (GST), and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities. Few effects were observed at 24 h; however, after longer exposure (96 h), genes involved in the endocrine, detoxification, stress, and immune response pathways were altered. Moreover, fipronil at 96 h increased CAT and GST activity at 0.01 µg L−1 and AChE at the highest concentrations. The results demonstrate that even low environmentally relevant fipronil concentrations can modulate the molecular response of several cellular pathways in C. riparius after short‐term exposure. These results bring new information about the underlying response of fipronil and its mode of action on a key aquatic invertebrate. Despite no effects on mortality, strong modulation at the suborganismal level emphasizes the advantage of biomarkers as early damage responses and the harmful impact of this pesticide on freshwater organisms. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:405–417. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zooplankton are a conduit of energy from autotrophic phytoplankton to higher trophic levels, and they can be a primary point of entry of microplastics into the aquatic food chain. Investigating how zooplankton communities are affected by microplastic pollution is thus a key step toward understanding ecosystem‐level effects of these global and ubiquitous contaminants. Although the number of studies investigating the biological effects of microplastics has grown exponentially in the last decade, the majority have used controlled laboratory experiments to quantify the impacts of microplastics on individual species. Given that all organisms live in multispecies communities in nature, we used an outdoor 1130‐L mesocosm experiment to investigate the effects of microplastic exposure on natural assemblages of zooplankton. We endeavored to simulate an environmentally relevant exposure scenario by manually creating approximately 270 000 0.015 × 1– to 1.5–mm polyester fibers and inoculating mesocosms with zero, low (10 particles/L), and high (50 particles/L) concentrations. We recorded zooplankton abundance and community composition three times throughout the 12‐week study. We found no effect of microplastics on zooplankton abundance, Shannon diversity, or Pielou's evenness. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling plots also revealed no effects of microplastics on zooplankton community composition. Our study provides a necessary and realistic baseline on which future studies can build. Because numerous other stressors faced by zooplankton (e.g., food limitation, eutrophication, warming temperatures, pesticides) are likely to exacerbate the effects of microplastics, we caution against concluding that polyester microfibers will always have no effect on zooplankton communities. Instead, we encourage future studies to investigate the triple threats of habitat degradation, climate warming, and microplastic pollution on zooplankton community health. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:418–428. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic copper (Cu) bioavailability models have been successfully implemented in European risk assessment frameworks and compliance evaluations. However, they were developed almost two decades ago, which calls for an update. In the study, we present updated chronic Cu bioavailability models for invertebrates and algae. They consider recent ecotoxicity data sets and use the more recent speciation model Windermere Humic Aqueous Model (WHAM) VII and an optimized model structure (i.e., a generalized bioavailability model [gBAM]). Contrary to the classic biotic ligand model, a gBAM models the effect of pH on Cu2+ toxicity via a log‐linear relationship parametrized through the pH slope SpH. The recalibrated SpH parameters are −0.208 for invertebrates (Daphnia magna, two clones) and −0.975 for algae (Raphidocelis subcapitata and Chlorella vulgaris). The updated models predict 80% to 100% of the observed effect levels for eight different species within a factor of 2. The only exception was one of the two data sets considering subchronic 7‐day mortality to Hyalella azteca: the prediction performance of the updated invertebrate model at pH ≥ 8.3 was poor because the effect of pH on Cu2+ toxicity appeared to be dependent on the pH itself (with a steeper pH slope compared with the updated invertebrate model at pH ≥ 8.1). The prediction performance of the updated Cu bioavailability models was similar to or better than that of the models used for regulatory application in Europe until now, with one exception (i.e., H. azteca). Together with the recently published fish bioavailability model, the models developed in the present study constitute a complete, updated, and consistent bioavailability model set. Overall, the updated chronic Cu bioavailability model set is robust and can be used in regulatory applications. The updated bioavailability model set is currently used under the European Union Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals framework regulation to guide the safe use of Cu. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:450–467. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. [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]

This document is a list of scientists and engineers who reviewed manuscripts for the journal Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry between November 1, 2022, and October 31, 2023. The list includes individuals from various countries and institutions who volunteered their time to provide feedback and analysis on the manuscripts. The journal expresses gratitude for their contributions and encourages other scientists to participate in the peer-review process. This list can be a valuable resource for library patrons conducting research on specific topics in environmental science and can provide a starting point for further exploration of the field. [Extracted from the article]

Nontarget effects from mosquito control operations are possible in habitats adjacent to areas targeted by ultra‐low‐volume (ULV) sprays of permethrin for adult mosquito control. We assessed the risks of permethrin exposure to butterflies, particularly the imperiled Klot's skipper, when exposed to ground‐based ULV sprays. Samples of larval host plant leaves (sawgrass) were collected in June (in mosquito season) and January (outside mosquito season) of 2015 from sawgrass marsh habitats of the National Key Deer Wildlife Refuge (Big Pine Key, FL, USA) and analyzed for permethrin. Permethrin detection was higher in June (detected on 70% of samples) than in January (30%), and concentrations were significantly higher in June (geomean = 2.1 ng/g, median = 2.4) relative to January (0.4 ng/g, median = 0.2). Dietary risk for 4th to 5th‐instar larvae was low based on the measured residues. The AGricultural DISPersal model (Ver. 8.26) was used to estimate permethrin residues on sawgrass following ULV sprays (deposited residues) to estimate immediate postspray risk. Estimated deposited residues (33–543 ng/g) were much higher than measured residues, which leads to a higher risk likelihood for butterfly larvae immediately after ULV sprays. The difference between estimated and measured residues, and between the two risk estimations, reflects uncertainty in risk estimates based on the measured residues. Research on modeling deposited pesticide residues following ground‐based ULV spray is limited. More research on estimating deposited pesticide residues from truck‐mounted ULV sprayers could help reduce uncertainty in the risk predictions for nontarget insects like butterflies. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:267–278. Published 2023. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Only a fraction of the total number of per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are monitored on a routine basis using targeted chemical analyses. We report on an approach toward identifying bioactive substances in environmental samples using effect‐directed analysis by combining toxicity testing, targeted chemical analyses, and suspect screening. PFAS compete with the thyroid hormone thyroxin (T4) for binding to its distributor protein transthyretin (TTR). Therefore, a TTR‐binding bioassay was used to prioritize unknown features for chemical identification in a PFAS‐contaminated sediment sample collected downstream of a factory producing PFAS‐coated paper. First, the TTR‐binding potencies of 31 analytical PFAS standards were determined. Potencies varied between PFAS depending on carbon chain length, functional group, and, for precursors to perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids (PFSA), the size or number of atoms in the group(s) attached to the nitrogen. The most potent PFAS were the seven‐ and eight‐carbon PFSA, perfluoroheptane sulfonic acid (PFHpS) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), and the eight‐carbon perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acid (PFCA), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which showed approximately four‐ and five‐times weaker potencies, respectively, compared with the native ligand T4. For some of the other PFAS tested, TTR‐binding potencies were weak or not observed at all. For the environmental sediment sample, not all of the bioactivity observed in the TTR‐binding assay could be assigned to the PFAS quantified using targeted chemical analyses. Therefore, suspect screening was applied to the retention times corresponding to observed TTR binding, and five candidates were identified. Targeted analyses showed that the sediment was dominated by the di‐substituted phosphate ester of N‐ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamido ethanol (SAmPAP diester), whereas it was not bioactive in the assay. SAmPAP diester has the potential for (bio)transformation into smaller PFAS, including PFOS. Therefore, when it comes to TTR binding, the hazard associated with this substance is likely through (bio)transformation into more potent transformation products. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:245–258. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We can describe current contingency of supramolecular chemistry as "post-halogen bonding", with clear reference to the success of the σ-hole model and the halogen bond concepts. This phase is characterized by a strong push towards a new nomenclature for non-covalent interactions, a group-by-group one focusing on the electrophile. As such nomenclature increasingly meets IUPAC endorsement, its proposers report resistances to such ideas, especially in the inorganic and coordination chemistry communities. The whole issue has been generating considerable debate in the last decade. Herein we fully embrace such discussion in the hope of involving a larger share of the relevant communities. Alternative descriptions are here reevaluated, novel views reconnected with older ones, and it is ultimately questioned whether the introduction of such a nomenclature and its subtending ideas would be beneficial. The themes of appreciation of general trends in chemistry, of counterintuitive interactions, of positioning of novel nomenclature with respect to existing ones, and of the extension of group-by-group naming from main block to d-block elements – as key and currently unresolved issues – are discussed. Equivalent, alternative and arguably more comprehensive descriptions are tentatively given, in the hope to overcome controversies together in the pursuit of higher rewards: a comprehensive shared view of supramolecular forces and a common language to express it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides an overview of the field of environmental analytical chemistry and its significance in monitoring and analyzing pollutants in the environment. It emphasizes the importance of developing new analytical methods to achieve these goals. The article discusses several studies published in the journal Molecules, covering topics such as e-cigarettes, air pollution, soil contamination, and the impact of human activities on ecosystems. These studies utilize various analytical methods to assess the presence and effects of pollutants in different environmental samples. The text also highlights the contributions to a Special Issue on Environmental Analytical Chemistry, which include the analysis of pollutants in e-cigarettes, the development of analytical methods for pharmaceuticals in soil, the synthesis of biomass adsorbents for removing heavy metals from oil-rich regions, and the evaluation of chemical and microbiological contamination in sports centers. The authors stress the importance of environmental protection and the ongoing need for research and analysis of pollutants. They invite readers to contribute to the Special Issue and highlight the success of the previous issue. [Extracted from the article]

Current work presents a detailed study on the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (70 ± 5 nm) functionalized with 4-mercaptobenzoic acid and their interaction with divalent ions (Cu2+, Fe2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Pb2+, Mn2+, Zn2+, Sn2+). The study reveals the morphological changes in the nanoparticles due to interaction with Cu2+, resulting in the formation of larger nanoparticle aggregates. The UV-Vis spectra of the pristine and aggregated nanoparticles are also discussed, providing insights into the changes in their optical properties. These nanoparticles are used to detect divalent ions using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy with a detection limit of 2.5 × 10–7 M for Cu2+ and also show a linear response within the 10–3 to 10–7 M concentration range. High selectivity for Cu2+, Fe2+, Co2+, Mn2+, and Pb2+ was also detected. The findings of this study could have significant implications in the field of nanomaterials and environmental chemistry, particularly in the detection and removal of heavy metal ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the growing emphasis on green chemistry and the ecological environment, researchers are increasingly paying attention to greening materials through the use of carbon-based solid acids. The diverse characteristics of carbon-based solid acids can be produced through different preparation conditions and modification methods. This paper presents a comprehensive summary of the current research progress on carbon-based solid acids, encompassing common carbonization methods, such as one-step, two-step, hydrothermal, and template methods. The composition of carbon source material may be the main factor affecting its carbonization method and carbonization temperature. Additionally, acidification types including sulfonating agent, phosphoric acid, heteropoly acid, and nitric acid are explored. Furthermore, the functions of carbon-based solid acids in esterification, hydrolysis, condensation, and alkylation are thoroughly analyzed. This study concludes by addressing the existing drawbacks and outlining potential future development prospects for carbon-based solid acids in the context of their important role in sustainable chemistry and environmental preservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new possibility to perform operando X‐ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) in the laboratory expands the potential field of applications towards a broad research community. These applications are multidisciplinary at heart and benefit from joint expertise from different fields, most importantly chemistry, physics, geology, and instrumentation. Hence, a development of collaboration networks that combine skills and knowhow from different fields is highly beneficial in this endeavor. As operando laboratory‐based XAS constitutes a highly interesting, advanced, and powerful characterization technique, we provide in this article practical guidelines for newcomers in the field, who would like to employ it. Here, we will describe ten important steps towards a successful operando laboratory‐based XAS experiment, which are not only useful for the catalysis community, but for a much wider audience from other research fields, such as environmental chemistry as well as battery and fuel cell research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is growing concern about the prevalence and impact of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs). The environmental monitoring of CECs has, however, been limited in low‐ and middle‐income countries due to the lack of advanced analytical instrumentation locally. In the present study we employed a nontargeted and suspect screening workflow via liquid chromatography coupled with high‐resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) to identify known and unknown pollutants in the Glen Valley wastewater treatment plant, Botswana, complemented by analysis of groundwater samples. The present study represents the first HRMS analysis of CECs in water samples obtained in Botswana. Suspect screening of 5942 compounds qualitatively identified 28 compounds, including 26 pharmaceuticals and two illicit drugs (2‐ethylmethcathinone and 11‐nor‐9‐carboxy‐Δ9‐tetrahydrocannabinol). Nontargeted analysis tentatively identified the presence of 34 more compounds including (5ξ)‐12,13‐dihydroxypodocarpa‐8,11,13‐trien‐7‐one, 12‐aminododecanoic acid, atenolol acid, brilliant blue, cyclo leucylprolyl, decanophenone, DL‐carnitine, N,N′‐dicyclohexylurea, N4‐acetylsulfamethoxazole, NP‐003672, and 24 polyethylene glycol polymers. The highest number of detections were in influent wastewater (26 CECs) followed by effluent wastewater (10 CECs) and, lastly, groundwater (4 CECs). Seventeen CECs detected in the influent water were not detected in the effluent waters, suggesting reduced emissions due to wastewater treatment. Two antiretroviral compounds (abacavir and tenofovir) were detected in the influent and effluent sources. This suggests that wastewater treatment plants are a major pathway of chemical pollution to the environment in Botswana and will help inform prioritization efforts for monitoring and remediation that is protective of these key ecosystems. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:52–61. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ceriodaphnia dubia is a standardized test organism for regulatory toxicity testing of surface waters and commercial chemicals because of its simplicity to culture and responsiveness to toxicants. For testing convenience, C. dubia is often cultured for extended periods in the laboratory with little knowledge of the impact on subsequent generations. Extended laboratory rearing could impact how they respond to stressors and decrease the accuracy of test results. The present study investigated if C. dubia cultured for an extended period were representative of three recently collected field populations by comparing their culturing characteristics and sensitivities to toxicants. For culturing characteristics, the field cultures were more challenging because they had shorter body lengths, fewer neonates, and higher mortality rates than the laboratory culture. Comparative chronic toxicity tests with sodium chloride and the neonicotinoid insecticide thiamethoxam indicated that the laboratory and field organisms did not differ much in their toxicological responses but did differ in the variability of responses (percentage of coefficient of variation). The differences between the laboratory and field cultures found in the present study highlight the challenges of addressing discrepancies between laboratory and field applications in existing standardized methodologies. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:159–169. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A prior multigenerational perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) exposure investigation in zebrafish reported adverse effects at 0.734 µg/L, among the lowest aquatic effect levels for PFOS reported to date. The present three‐generation PFOS exposure quantified survival, growth, reproduction, and vitellogenin (VTG; egg yolk protein) responses in zebrafish, incorporating experimental design and procedural improvements relative to the earlier study. Exposures targeting 0.1, 0.6, 3.2, 20, and 100 µg/L in parental (P) and first filial (F1) generations lasted for 180 days post fertilization (dpf) and the second filial generation (F2) through 16 dpf. Survival decreased significantly in P and F2 generation exposures, but not in F1, at the highest PFOS treatment (100 µg/L nominal, 94–205 µg/L, measured). Significant adverse effects on body weight and length were infrequent, of low magnitude, and occurred predominantly at the highest exposure treatment. Finally, PFOS had no significant effects on P or F1 egg production and survival or whole‐body VTG levels in P or F1 male fish. Overall, the predominance and magnitude of adverse PFOS effects at <1 µg/L reported in prior research were largely nonrepeatable in the present study. In contrast, the present study indicated a threshold for ecologically relevant adverse effects in zebrafish at 117 µg/L (SE 8 µg/L, n = 10) for survival and 47 µg/L (SE 11 µg/L, n = 19) for all statistically significant negative effects observed. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:115–131. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) are among the aquatic species most sensitive to perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). Environmental regulatory agencies and researchers use effect benchmarks from laboratory zebrafish PFOS toxicity studies in PFOS‐spiked water to calculate PFOS aquatic life criteria. Threshold values as low as 0.7 µg/L (identified in an early, limited scope study) have been used in criteria derivation and site‐specific aquatic ecological risk assessments. The present study reviews PFOS effects benchmarks for lethality, growth, and reproduction endpoints from more than 20 zebrafish toxicity studies, including a recent multigenerational study conducted by the United States Army Corps of Engineers Engineer Research & Development Center. Our review of 12 key studies examining long‐term, chronic exposures (including multigenerational exposures of 300 days or more) indicated that 0.7 µg/L should not be used as a conservative screening threshold given that effects could not be repeated at this concentration by the recent enhanced multigenerational study. Based on this finding and multiple chronic sublethal studies on PFOS in zebrafish, chronic effects on lethality, growth, and reproduction occur at concentrations two orders of magnitude higher than 0.7 µg/L. Overall, the present review indicates a no‐effect screening level of 31 µg/L and a low‐effect screening level of 96 µg/L should be used to develop PFOS aquatic life criteria and to inform site‐specific ecological risk assessments that are charged with evaluating risks to freshwater fish. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:7–18. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bioaccumulation behavior, including the uptake, internal distribution, depuration, and biotransformation rates, of three widely used linear methyl‐siloxanes was investigated in rainbow trout. Dietary uptake efficiencies of octamethyltrisiloxane (L3), decamethyltetrasiloxane (L4), and dodecamethylpentasiloxane (L5) were 15% (3.3% standard error [SE]), 8.6% (1.4% SE), and 15% (1.8% SE), respectively, and for L3 and L4 were well below those of nonmetabolizable reference chemicals with similar octanol–water partition coefficients, suggesting significant intestinal biotransformation of L3 and L4. Somatic biotransformation rate constants were 0.024 (0.003 SE) day–1 for L3 and 0.0045 (0.0053 SE) day–1 for L4 and could not be determined for L5. Lipid‐normalized biomagnification factors for L3, L4, and L5 were 0.24 (0.02 SE), 0.24 (0.01 SE), and 0.62 (0.05 SE) kg‐lipid kg‐lipid–1, respectively. Bioconcentration factors standardized to a 5% lipid content fish for water in Canadian oligotrophic lakes with a dissolved organic carbon content of 7.1 mg L–1 were 2787 (354 SE) for L3, 2689 (312 SE) for L4, and 1705 (418 SE) L kg‐wet weight–1, respectively, and 3085 (392 SE) for L3, 4227 (490 SE) for L4, and 3831 (938 SE) L kg‐wet weight–1 in water with a dissolved organic carbon content of 2.0 mg L–1. A comparison of 238 bioaccumulation profiles for 166 different chemicals shows that the bioaccumulation profiles for L3, L4, and L5 are vastly different from those of other very hydrophobic compounds found in the environment. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:42–51. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]