Accurate prediction of pollution and health risks of iodinated X-ray contrast media in Taihu Lake with machine learning and revealing key environmental factors.

Iodinated X-ray contrast media (ICM) are commonly detected at considerable concentrations in aquatic environments. The long-term pollution trends in ICM at the whole lake/river scale have not yet been investigated; therefore, the risks associated with ICM and the influences of environmental factors remain understudied. Herein, the occurrence and distribution of ICM in the surface water of Taihu Lake were comprehensively investigated.

Insight into the adsorption behaviors and bioaccessibility of three altered microplastics through three types of advanced oxidation processes.

Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) can significantly alter the structural properties, environmental behaviors and human exposure level of microplastics in aquatic environments. Three typical microplastics (Polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS)) and three AOPs (Heat-KSO (PDS), UV-HO, UV-peracetic acid (PAA)) were adopted to simulate the process when microplastics exposed to the sewage disposal system. 2-Nitrofluorene (2-NFlu) adsorption experiments found the equilibrium time decreased to 24 hours and the capacity increased up to 610 μg g, which means the adsorption efficiency has been greatly improved.

Insights into adsorption mechanisms of nitro polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on common microplastic particles: Experimental studies and modeling.

Nitro polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (NPAHs) and microplastics (MPs) are emerging contaminants that pose a threat to the aquatic ecosystem. Knowledge of the NPAHs and MPs interaction will help the understanding of their fate and risks in natural environment. Here, the adsorption behavior and mechanism of typical NPAHs on microplastics were investigated.

Evaluating the adsorption performance of Tenax TA® in different containers: An isolation tool to study the bioaccessibility of nitro-PAHs in spiked soil.

The improved in vitro gastrointestinal simulation methods, with the addition of the adsorption sink, are considered as a promising tool for predicting the bioaccessibility of contaminants. However, the problem associated with the recovery of the adsorption sink from the complex matrix needs more understand. Although previous studies tried to solve this shortcoming by using the containers (a vessel to hold the adsorption sink), there is no systematic comparison study on the impact of containers on bioaccessibility till now, especially for nitro-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (nitro-PAHs).

Combined effects of polyethylene and organic contaminant on zebrafish (Danio rerio): Accumulation of 9-Nitroanthracene, biomarkers and intestinal microbiota.

Microplastics, as emerging pollutant, are predicted to act as carriers for organic pollutants, but the carrier role and bio-toxic effects with other pollutants in environments are poorly acknowledged. In this study, both the single and combined effects of polyethylene (PE, 10 and 40 mg/L) with the particle size of 100-150 μm and 9-Nitroanthracene (9-NAnt, 5 and 500 μg/L) on zebrafish (Danio rerio) had been investigated. The results illustrated that PE could be as 9-NAnt carrier to enter into zebrafish body, but significantly reduced the bioaccumulation of 9-NAnt, due to the occurrence of adsorption interactions between the simultaneous presence of both PE and 9-NAnt.

An Epigenetic Pathway Regulates Sensitivity of Breast Cancer Cells to HER2 Inhibition via FOXO/c-Myc Axis.

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is upregulated in a subset of human breast cancers. However, the cancer cells often quickly develop an adaptive response to HER2 kinase inhibitors. We found that an epigenetic pathway involving MLL2 is crucial for growth of HER2(+) cells and MLL2 reduces sensitivity of the cancer cells to a HER2 inhibitor, lapatinib.