Triphenyl Phosphate Alters Methyltransferase Expression and Induces Genome-Wide Aberrant DNA Methylation in Zebrafish Larvae.

Emerging environmental contaminants, organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs), pose significant threats to ecosystems and human health. Despite numerous studies reporting the toxic effects of OPFRs, research on their epigenetic alterations remains limited. In this study, we investigated the effects of exposure to 2-ethylhexyl diphenyl phosphate (EHDPP), tricresyl phosphate (TMPP), and triphenyl phosphate (TPHP) on DNA methylation patterns during zebrafish embryonic development.

Exposure to benzotriazoles and benzothiazoles in Czech male population and its associations with biomarkers of liver function, serum lipids and oxidative stress.

Introduction: Benzotriazoles and benzothiazoles (BTs) are high-production volume chemicals as well as widely distributed emerging pollutants with potential health risk. However, information about human exposure to BTs and associated health outcomes is limited.

Objective: We aimed to characterise exposure to BTs among Czech men, including possible occupational exposure among firefighters, its predictors, and its associations with liver function, serum lipids and oxidative stress.

Proposals of guidance values for surface contamination by antineoplastic drugs based on long term monitoring in Czech and Slovak hospitals and pharmacies.

Introduction: The exposures to hazardous antineoplastic drugs (AD) represent serious risks for health care personnel but the exposure limits are not commonly established because of the no-threshold effects (genotoxic action, carcinogenicity) of many ADs. In this study, we discussed and derived practically applicable technical guidance values (TGV) suitable for management of AD risks.

Methods: The long-term monitoring of surface contamination by eight ADs was performed in pharmacies and hospitals in the Czech Republic and Slovak Republic in 2008-2021; in total 2,223 unique samples were collected repeatedly in 48 facilities.

Rapid extraction and analysis of oxidative stress and DNA damage biomarker 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in urine: Application to a study with pregnant women.

Oxidative stress is an important toxicity and genotoxicity mechanism of many chronic adverse health outcomes. This study developed a sensitive extraction method for urine matrix (based on lyophilization, without the need for pre-cleaning by solid phase extraction), coupled to LC-MS/MS analysis of the biomarker 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG). The methodology was validated in urine samples from a cohort of Spanish pregnant women collected during the first, second and third trimester of pregnancy, and urine samples collected within 24 h after delivery (n = 85).

Cyanobacteria, cyanotoxins and lipopolysaccharides in aerosols from inland freshwater bodies and their effects on human bronchial cells.

Components of cyanobacterial water blooms were quantified in aerosols above agitated water surfaces of five freshwater bodies. The thoracic and respirable aerosol fraction (0.1-10 µm) was sampled using a high-volume sampler.

Effects of pesticide exposure on oxidative stress and DNA methylation urinary biomarkers in Czech adults and children from the CELSPAC-SPECIMEn cohort.

Current-use pesticide (CUP) exposure occurs mainly through diet and environmental application in both agricultural and urban settings. While pesticide exposure has been associated with many adverse health outcomes, the intermediary molecular mechanisms are still not completely elucidated. Among others, their roles in epigenetics (DNA methylation) and DNA damage due to oxidative stress are presumed.

The Origin of Teratogenic Retinoids in Cyanobacteria.

Although information about the occurrence and distribution of retinoids in the environment is scarce, cyanobacterial water blooms have been identified as a significant source of these small molecules. Despite the confirmed presence of retinoids in the freshwater blooms dominated by cyanobacteria and their described teratogenic effects, reliable identification of retinoid producers and the mechanism of their biosynthesis is missing. In this study, the cultures of several taxonomically diverse species of axenic cyanobacteria were confirmed as significant producers of retinoid-like compounds.

Biodegradable Nanohybrid Materials as Candidates for Self-Sanitizing Filters Aimed at Protection from SARS-CoV-2 in Public Areas.

The COVID-19 pandemic has raised the problem of efficient, low-cost materials enabling the effective protection of people from viruses transmitted through the air or via surfaces. Nanofibers can be a great candidate for efficient air filtration due to their structure, although they cannot protect from viruses. In this work, we prepared a wide range of nanofibrous biodegradable samples containing Ag (up to 0.

Effect of Low Molecular Weight Oxidized Materials and Nitrogen Groups on Adhesive Joints of Polypropylene Treated by a Cold Atmospheric Plasma Jet.

Polypropylene is a typical representative of synthetic polymers that, for many applications including adhesive joints, requires an increase in wettability and chemical surface reactivity. Plasma processing offers efficient methods for such surface modifications. A particular disadvantage of the plasma jets can be the small plasma area.

Electrospun Biodegradable Nanofibers Coated Homogenously by Cu Magnetron Sputtering Exhibit Fast Ion Release. Computational and Experimental Study.

Copper-coated nanofibrous materials are desirable for catalysis, electrochemistry, sensing, and biomedical use. The preparation of copper or copper-coated nanofibers can be pretty challenging, requiring many chemical steps that we eliminated in our robust approach, where for the first time, Cu was deposited by magnetron sputtering onto temperature-sensitive polymer nanofibers. For the first time, the large-scale modeling of PCL films irradiation by molecular dynamics simulation was performed and allowed to predict the ions penetration depth and tune the deposition conditions.

Levels and risks of surface contamination by thirteen antineoplastic drugs in the Czech and Slovak hospitals and pharmacies.

The consumption of hazardous antineoplastic drugs (ADs) used in anticancer chemotherapies is steadily increasing representing thus risks to both human health and the environment. Hospitals may serve as a contamination source, and pharmacists preparing the antineoplastic drugs (ADs) as well as nurses administering chemotherapy and caring for oncology patients are among the healthcare professionals being highly exposed. Here, we present the results of systematic monitoring (2018-2020) of surface contamination by 13 ADs in the pharmacies and hospitals in the Czech Republic (CZ; large-scale monitoring, 20 workplaces) and Slovak Republic (SK; pilot study at 4 workplaces).

Occurrence of cylindrospermopsin, anatoxin-a and their homologs in the southern Czech Republic - Taxonomical, analytical, and molecular approaches.

Water bloom-forming cyanobacteria have a severe impact on freshwater quality. Although some cyanobacterial toxins such as microcystins have been studied extensively, other toxins like anatoxin-a (ATX) and their structural analogs - as well as cyanobacterial taxa producing these toxins remain to be explored in detail. The present study investigated levels of ATX, CYN and their homologs along with the occurrence of anaC and cyrJ genes in water blooms in 16 sites in the Czech Republic that were pre-selected concerning the presence of potential toxin producers.

Pesticide mixture toxicity assessment through in situ and laboratory approaches using embryo-larval stages of the pacific oyster (Magallana gigas).

Worsened state of oysters in French Arcachon Bay, demand an investigation of possible causes. This study evaluated the effects of an environmentally relevant mixture of five common pesticides on the early-life stages of the Pacific oyster (Magallana gigas). Laboratory assays with artificial mixture and in situ transplantation were complementarily used to investigate a series of sublethal endpoints.

Comparison of imidacloprid, propiconazole, and nanopropiconazole effects on the development, behavior, and gene expression biomarkers of the Pacific oyster (Magallana gigas).

Coastal areas are final recipients of various contaminants including pesticides. The effects of pesticides on non-target organisms are often unclear, especially at environmentally relevant concentrations. This study investigated the impacts of insecticide imidacloprid (IMI) and fungicide propiconazole (PRO), some of the most detected pesticides in the Arcachon Bay in France.

The efficiency of antineoplastic drug contamination removal by widely used disinfectants-laboratory and hospital studies.

Objective: Antineoplastic drugs (ADs) pose risks to healthcare staff. Surface disinfectants are used in hospitals to prevent microbial contamination but the efficiency of disinfectants to degrade ADs is not known. We studied nine disinfectants on ten ADs in the standardized laboratory and realistic in situ hospital conditions.

Behaviour of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells on Amine Plasma-Coated Materials with Various Chemical Structures and Morphologies.

Amine-coated biodegradable materials based on synthetic polymers have a great potential for tissue remodeling and regeneration because of their excellent processability and bioactivity. In the present study, we have investigated the influence of various chemical compositions of amine plasma polymer (PP) coatings and the influence of the substrate morphology, represented by polystyrene culture dishes and polycaprolactone nanofibers (PCL NFs), on the behavior of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Although all amine-PP coatings improved the initial adhesion of VSMCs, 7-day long cultivation revealed a clear preference for the coating containing about 15 at.

Neurobehavioral effects of cyanobacterial biomass field extracts on zebrafish embryos and potential role of retinoids.

Cyanobacteria are known for their ability to produce and release mixtures of up to thousands of compounds into the environment. Recently, the production of novel metabolites, retinoids, was reported for some cyanobacterial species along with teratogenic effects of samples containing these compounds. Retinoids are natural endogenous substances derived from vitamin A that play a crucial role in early vertebrate development.

Cyanobacterial lipopeptides puwainaphycins and minutissamides induce disruptive and pro-inflammatory processes in Caco-2 human intestinal barrier model.

Puwainaphycins (PUW) and minutissamides (MIN) are cyanobacterial lipopeptides found in various cyanobacterial species. The first possible target of human exposure to them is intestinal epithelium but effect of PUW/MIN on enterocytes is not known at all. Using differentiated Caco-2 cells, PUW F was found to be cytotoxic from 5 µM concentration based on lactate dehydrogenase release assay and total protein concentration.

Environmentally relevant mixture of S-metolachlor and its two metabolites affects thyroid metabolism in zebrafish embryos.

Herbicides and their metabolites are often detected in water bodies where they may cause adverse effects to non-target organisms. Their effects at environmentally relevant concentrations are often unclear, especially concerning mixtures of pesticides. This study thus investigated the impacts of one of the most used herbicides: S-metolachlor and its two metabolites, metolachlor oxanilic acid (MOA) and metolachlor ethanesulfonic acid (MESA) on the development of zebrafish embryos (Danio rerio).

Field cyanobacterial blooms producing retinoid compounds cause teratogenicity in zebrafish embryos.

Cyanobacteria routinely release potentially harmful bioactive compounds into the aquatic environment. Several recent studies suggested a potential link between the teratogenicity of effects caused by cyanobacteria and production of retinoids. To investigate this relationship, we analysed the teratogenicity of field-collected cyanobacterial bloom samples by means of an in vivo zebrafish embryo test, an in vitro reporter gene bioassay and by the chemical analysis of retinoids.

The effects of nano-sized PbO on biomarkers of membrane disruption and DNA damage in a sub-chronic inhalation study on mice.

Although the production of engineered nanoparticles increases our knowledge of toxicity and mechanisms of bioactivity during relevant exposures is lacking. In the present study mice were exposed to PbO nanoparticles (PbONP; 192.5 µg/m; 1.

Acute and (sub)chronic toxicity of the neonicotinoid imidacloprid on Chironomus riparius.

Impacts of neonicotinoids on non-target insects, including aquatic species, may significantly influence ecosystem structure and functioning. The present study investigated the sensitivity of Chironomus riparius to imidacloprid exposures during 24-h, 10- and 28-days by assessing larval survival, growth, emergence and oxidative stress-related parameters. C.

Toxicity of clomazone and its formulations to zebrafish embryos (Danio rerio).

Herbicides are the most widely used group of pesticides but after reaching water bodies they are able to cause adverse effects on non-target organisms. Different formulations using the same active ingredient are frequently available, which raises the issue of potential influence of different formulation types on herbicide toxicity. The present study evaluated the toxicity and teratogenic effects of the active ingredient clomazone and its two formulations (Rampa EC and GAT Cenit 36 CS, both containing 360g a.

A Collaborative Evaluation of LC-MS/MS Based Methods for BMAA Analysis: Soluble Bound BMAA Found to Be an Important Fraction.

Exposure to β-N-methylamino-l-alanine (BMAA) might be linked to the incidence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Analytical chemistry plays a crucial role in determining human BMAA exposure and the associated health risk, but the performance of various analytical methods currently employed is rarely compared. A CYANOCOST initiated workshop was organized aimed at training scientists in BMAA analysis, creating mutual understanding and paving the way towards interlaboratory comparison exercises.