Multi-omic responses of fish exposed to complex chemical mixtures in the Shenandoah River watershed.

To evaluate relationships between different anthropogenic impacts, contaminant occurrence, and fish health, we conducted in situ fish exposures across the Shenandoah River watershed at five sites with different land use. Exposure water was analyzed for over 500 chemical constituents, and organismal, metabolomic, and transcriptomic endpoints were measured in fathead minnows. Adverse reproductive outcomes were observed in fish exposed in the upper watershed at both wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent- and agriculture-impacted sites, including decreased gonadosomatic index and altered secondary sex characteristics.

B,N-decorated carbocatalyst based on Fe-MOF/BN as an efficient peroxymonosulfate activator for bisphenol A degradation.

A novel B,N-decorated carbocatalyst (Fe@BPC-XBN) for peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation was prepared by a simple pyrolysis method using the iron-based metal organic frameworks (Fe-MOF), boric acid and boron nitride (BN) as precursors. Fe@BPC-20BN removed 93.3% of bisphenol A (BPA) in 90 min compared to 64.

Residues of Cardiovascular and Lipid-Lowering Drugs Pose a Risk to the Aquatic Ecosystem despite a High Wastewater Treatment Ratio in the Megacity Shanghai, China.

The residues of pharmaceuticals in surface waters of megacities and ecotoxicological implications are of particular concern. In this study, we combined field investigations and model simulations to explore the contamination of cardiovascular and lipid-lowering drugs, one group of the most prescribed medications globally, in surface waters of a typical megacity, Shanghai, with a high wastewater treatment ratio (≈96%). Among 26 target substances, 19 drugs were detected with aqueous concentrations ranging from 0.

A review of atmospheric microplastics pollution: In-depth sighting of sources, analytical methods, physiognomies, transport and risks.

Micro-sized plastics were first examined for atmospheric environment in 2016. From then on, they have been detected in both indoor and outdoor atmospheric samples, with indoor environments demonstrated as containing a big proportion of these particles. The sparse distribution of these particles, is attributed to their swift and long distance transportation that is mainly eased by their tiny size (1 μm to 5 mm) and low density.

Untargeted Lipidomics for Determining Cellular and Subcellular Responses in Zebrafish () Liver Cells Following Exposure to Complex Mixtures in U.S. Streams.

Surface waters often contain a variety of chemical contaminants potentially capable of producing adverse outcomes in both humans and wildlife due to impacts from industrial, urban, and agricultural activity. Here, we report the results of a zebrafish liver (ZFL) cell-based lipidomics approach to assess the potential ecotoxicological effects of complex contaminant mixtures using water collected from eight impacted streams across the United States mainland and Puerto Rico. We initially characterized the ZFL lipidome using high resolution mass spectrometry, resulting in the annotation of 508 lipid species covering 27 classes.

A Polymer-Based Matrix for Effective SALDI Analysis of Lipids.

Surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization (SALDI) has become an attractive branch of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) and has been successfully applied for the detection of small molecules due to the lack of the interference of matrix. Herein, the low-cost and highly accessible polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) was modified using a facile alkali treatment and investigated as a SALDI matrix. The modified PVDF has a strong optical absorption and can be applied as a dual-mode substrate for both SALDI MS and SALDI imaging analysis.

Determination of estrogens and estrogen mimics by solid-phase extraction with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

An analytical method has been developed and validated for the determination of six estrogens and estrogen mimics, namely estriol (E3), bisphenol A (BPA), 17β-estradiol (E2), estrone (E1), ethynyl estradiol (EE2) and dienestrol (DIE), with frequent occurrence in the natural environment. Solid phase extraction coupled with liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (SPE-LC-MS/MS) using electrospray ionization (ESI) in a negative mode was applied to concentration, identification, and quantification of estrogens and estrogen mimics. The SPE conditions were optimized as the selection of C18 as cartridges and MeOH as an eluent, and the control of solution pH at 9.

Cell-Based Metabolomics for Untargeted Screening and Prioritization of Vertebrate-Active Stressors in Streams Across the United States.

The U.S. Geological Survey and the U.

Assessing the impact of wastewater treatment plant effluent on downstream drinking water-source quality using a zebrafish (Danio Rerio) liver cell-based metabolomics approach.

Cell-based metabolomics was used in a proof-of-concept fashion to investigate the biological effects of contaminants as they traveled from a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) discharge to a drinking water treatment plant (DWTP) intake in a surface-water usage cycle. Zebrafish liver (ZFL) cells were exposed to water samples collected along a surface-water flowpath, where a WWTP was located ∼14.5 km upstream of a DWTP.

Diastereoisomer-Specific Biotransformation of Hexabromocyclododecanes by a Mixed Culture Containing Strain 195.

Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) stereoisomers may exhibit substantial differences in physicochemical, biological, and toxicological properties. However, there remains a lack of knowledge about stereoisomer-specific toxicity, metabolism, and environmental fate of HBCD. In this study, the biotransformation of (±)α-, (±)β-, and (±)γ-HBCD contained in technical HBCD by a mixed culture containing the organohalide-respiring bacterium strain 195 was investigated.

Analysis of airborne microbial communities using 16S ribosomal RNA: Potential bias due to air sampling stress.

A limited number of studies have been conducted to analyze ribosomal RNA (rRNA, present in the ribosome) in bioaerosol samples to identify currently or potentially active airborne microbes, although its genomic counterpart, the rRNA gene (on the chromosome) has been frequently targeted for airborne microbial community analysis. A knowledge gap still exists regarding whether the bioaerosol rRNA abundances are affected by the bioaerosol collection process. We investigated the effect of air sampling stress on the measurement and characterization of 16S rRNA for bioaerosols in the laboratory and field experiments using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and high-throughput sequencing techniques.

Development of a dual-internal-reference technique to improve accuracy when determining bacterial 16S rRNA:16S rRNA gene ratio with application to Escherichia coli liquid and aerosol samples.

Accurate enumeration of rRNA content in microbial cells, e.g. by using the 16S rRNA:16S rRNA gene ratio, is critical to properly understand its relationship to microbial activities.

Reductive dechlorination of 1,2,3,7,8-pentachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and Aroclor 1260, 1254 and 1242 by a mixed culture containing Dehalococcoides mccartyi strain 195.

A mixed culture containing Dehalococcoides mccartyi strain 195 dechlorinated 1,2,3,7,8-pentachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD) and selected polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners in Aroclors 1260, 1254 and 1242. 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD was dechlorinated to 1,3,7-trichlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (1,3,7-TrCDD) and/or 1,3,8-TrCDD via 1,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (1,3,7,8-TeCDD), a pathway that excludes the production of the toxic congener 2,3,7,8-TeCDD. Dechlorination rate and extent was greatly enhanced by the addition of 1,2,3,4-tetrachlorobenzene (1,2,3,4-TeCB) as an alternate halogenated substrate and/or incubation temperature increase from 25 °C to 35 °C.

Release of free DNA by membrane-impaired bacterial aerosols due to aerosolization and air sampling.

We report here that stress experienced by bacteria due to aerosolization and air sampling can result in severe membrane impairment, leading to the release of DNA as free molecules. Escherichia coli and Bacillus atrophaeus bacteria were aerosolized and then either collected directly into liquid or collected using other collection media and then transferred into liquid. The amount of DNA released was quantified as the cell membrane damage index (ID), i.

Nanomaterial inhalation exposure from nanotechnology-based cosmetic powders: a quantitative assessment.

In this study we quantified exposures to airborne particles ranging from 14 nm to 20 µm due to the use of nanotechnology-based cosmetic powders. Three nanotechnology-based and three regular cosmetic powders were realistically applied to a mannequin's face while measuring the concentration and size distribution of inhaled aerosol particles. Using these data we calculated that the highest inhaled particle mass was in the coarse aerosol fraction (2.

Potential for inhalation exposure to engineered nanoparticles from nanotechnology-based cosmetic powders.

Background: The market of nanotechnology-based consumer products is rapidly expanding, and the lack of scientific evidence describing the accompanying exposure and health risks stalls the discussion regarding its guidance and regulation.

Objectives: We investigated the potential for human contact and inhalation exposure to nanomaterials when using nanotechnology-based cosmetic powders and compare them with analogous products not marketed as nanotechnology based.

Methods: We characterized the products using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and laser diffraction spectroscopy and found nanoparticles in five of six tested products.

Identification of retinoic acid receptor agonists in sewage treatment plants.

Retinoic acid receptor (RAR) agonists are speculated to be one possible cause for the widely observed frog deformities in North America, although little is known about the specific RAR agonists in aquatic environments. We identified the specific RAR egonists in sewage treatment plants (STPs) and receiving rivers using an RAR yeast two-hybrid bioassay. Water samples were extracted by solid-phase extract cartridges, which were successively eluted by hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol for bioassay.

Malformations of the endangered Chinese sturgeon, Acipenser sinensis, and its causal agent.

The anadromous Chinese sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis) is endangered and listed among the first class of protected animals in China. The possible causes for the decline of this species are the effects of synthetic chemicals, and loss of critical habitat. Chinese sturgeon in the Yangtze River have accumulated triphenyltin (TPT) to 31-128 ng/g wet weigh (ww) in liver, which is greater than the concentrations of tributyltin (<1.

Occurrence and fate of organotins in a waterworks in north China.

This paper first reports the occurrence and fate of monobutyltin, dibutyltin, tributyltin, monophenyltin, diphenyltin and triphenyltin in drinking water from north China. The sum of the six organotins in raw water and drinking water ranged from 33.3 to 476.

Reproductive inhibition and transgenerational toxicity of triphenyltin on medaka (Oiyzias latipes) at environmentally relevant levels.

An increasing number of studies have reported unexpectedly high body burdens of triphenyltin (TPT) in wild fishes around the world. To assess the effects of TPT on fish, we exposed pairs of medaka (Oryzias latipes) to different levels of TPT for 5 weeks, and the reproduction responses and transgenerational effects were studied. The results demonstrated that TPT exposure markedly suppressed the spawning frequency, spawned egg number, egg quality and gonad development, and induced teratogenesis, such as hemorrhaging, eye defects, morphological malformation and conjoined twins, less hatchability, and swim-up failure in the F1 generation, thereby resulting in a significant decrease in the capacity to produce viable offspring (p < 0.

Levels, tissue distribution, and age-related accumulation of synthetic musk fragrances in Chinese sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis): comparison to organochlorines.

Chinese sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis) was listed as a Grade I protected animal in China in 1989, and the observed intersexual phenomenon and sex ratio deviation have suggested that chemicals have posed a risk as environment pollutants. This study analyzed seven musk fragrances in liver, muscle, heart, gonad, stomach, intestines, adipose, gill, pancreas, kidney, gallbladder, and roe from 13 female Chinese sturgeons, and the toxicokinetic behavior of musks were studied and compared with some organochlorines. Of the seven musks, HHCB, AHTN, and musk xylene were detected, and the highest concentrations were observed in adipose tissue: from 33.

Trophic magnification of triphenyltin in a marine food web of Bohai Bay, North China: comparison to tributyltin.

Organotins, especially tributyltin (TBT) and triphenyltin (TPT), are of particular concern due to their ubiquity in the aquatic environment and theirtoxicityto aquatic organisms. This study reports field studies on trophic magnification factors (TMF) of TBT and TPT in a marine food web. TBT, TPT, and their metabolites in plankton, five benthic invertebrate species, and six fish species collected from Bohai Bay, North China were determined, and it was found that the concentrations of TPT in marine fish were unexpectedly higherthan those of TBT.