Minimal changes in microbial abundances and diversity over 7 years of emplacement for modules of compacted bentonite exposed to natural groundwater.

The multi-national Materials Corrosion Test (MaCoTe), being conducted at the Grimsel Test Site in Switzerland, assesses the stability of bentonite as it may be utilized within deep geological repositories (DGRs), which are proposed for the safe, long-term disposal of used nuclear fuel. This experiment provides an opportunity for long-term assessments of changes in microbial communities associated with compacted subsurface bentonite samples exposed to a natural groundwater. Leveraging samples from MaCoTe, herein, we report temporal data for the abundance and community composition of microorganisms associated with compacted bentonite samples emplaced over 7 years under subsurface conditions.

Azithromycin and Ciprofloxacin Can Promote Antibiotic Resistance in Biosolids and Biosolids-Amended Soils.

Spread of biosolids-borne antibiotic resistance is a growing public and environmental health concern. Herein, we conducted incubation experiments involving biosolids, which are byproducts of sewage treatment processes, and biosolids-amended soil. Quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (RT-qPCR) was employed to assess responses of select antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and mobile elements to environmentally relevant concentrations of two biosolids-borne antibiotics, azithromycin (AZ) and ciprofloxacin (CIP).

Conjugation of Di--butyl Phthalate Metabolites in and Potential Deconjugation in Human Microsomes.

Plasticizers, due to the widespread use of plastics, occur ubiquitously in the environment. The reuse of waste resources (e.g.

Metabolism of mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate in Arabidopsis thaliana: Exploration of metabolic pathways by deuterium labeling.

Mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) is the primary monoester transformation product of the commonly used plasticizer, di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), and has been frequently detected in various environmental compartments (e.g., soil, biosolids, plants).

Risk assessment of biosolids-borne ciprofloxacin and azithromycin.

Ciprofloxacin (CIP) and azithromycin (AZ) are commonly prescribed antibiotics for various infections in humans and are frequently detected in biosolids. Ecological and human health risks from biosolids-borne CIP and AZ are not well understood, but necessary for formulating policies on safe use and management of biosolids. A tiered integrated risk assessment (IRA), based on the World Health Organization (WHO) framework and the USEPA Part 503 Biosolids Rule, was conducted to assess human and ecological health risks from biosolids-borne CIP and AZ.

Plant toxicity and accumulation of biosolids-borne ciprofloxacin and azithromycin.

Trace organic chemicals (TOrCs) in land applied biosolids can cause phytotoxicities and contaminate human and animal food chains. Information on phytotoxicity and phytoaccumulation of environmentally relevant concentrations of two antibiotic TOrCs, ciprofloxacin (CIP) and azithromycin (AZ), from biosolids-amended soils is limited. Greenhouse studies were conducted to assess the plant toxicity and accumulation of a range of environmentally relevant concentrations of biosolids-borne CIP and AZ in biosolids-amended soils.

Retention-release of ciprofloxacin and azithromycin in biosolids and biosolids-amended soils.

Ciprofloxacin (CIP) and azithromycin (AZ) are commonly prescribed antibiotics, often found at elevated concentrations in treated sewage sludge (biosolids), and could pose human and ecological risks when land applied. Limited retention-release data preclude assessing potential risks from the target antibiotics in biosolids and biosolids-amended soils. The present work assessed sorption-desorption of CIP and AZ in biosolids and biosolids-amended soils using the "traditional" batch equilibration method.

Bioavailability of biosolids-borne ciprofloxacin and azithromycin to terrestrial organisms: Microbial toxicity and earthworm responses.

Information on bioavailability of two antibiotic TOrCs, ciprofloxacin (CIP) and azithromycin (AZ), to terrestrial organisms is severely limited, especially in the biosolids context. Responses of two terrestrial organisms, earthworms and microbes, to a range of environmentally relevant concentrations of biosolids-borne CIP and AZ were assessed in laboratory incubation studies involving H-labeled compounds. Earthworm assessments were based on the Earthworm Sub-chronic Toxicity Test (OCSPP 850.

Endocrine-disrupting compounds in reclaimed water and residential ponds and exposure potential for dislodgeable residues in turf irrigated with reclaimed water.

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) occur in reclaimed water (RW), which may serve as an exposure source for humans. The presence of EDCs in RW used to irrigate turf and in nearby water-retention ponds was determined. In addition, the total dislodgeable mass of each EDC was determined after irrigation (using RW) to simulate exposure of a 3-year-child playing in turf grass recently irrigated with RW.