Combined effects and potential mechanisms of phthalate metabolites on serum sex hormones among reproductive-aged women: An integrated epidemiology and computational toxicology study.

The reproductive age is a crucial stage for women to bear offspring. However, reproductive-aged women are simultaneously exposed to various phthalates, which may pose a threat to their reproductive health. This study employed generalized linear regression and weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression to explore the associations between monoesters of phthalates (MPAEs) and sex hormones in 913 reproductive-aged women in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Association between plant microbiota and cadmium uptake under the influence of microplastics with different particle sizes.

Plant microbiota are an important factor impacting plant cadmium (Cd) uptake. However, little is known about how plant microbiota affects the Cd uptake by plants under the influence of microplastics (MPs) with different particle sizes. In this study, bacterial structure and assembly in the rhizosphere and endosphere in pakchoi were analyzed by amplicon sequencing of 16S rRNA genes under the influence of different particle sizes of polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) combined with Cd treatments.

Exploration the interaction of cadmium and copper toxic effects in pakchoi (Brassica chinensis L) roots through combinatorial transcriptomic and weighted gene co-expression network analysis.

The interaction between cadmium(Cd) and copper(Cu) during combined pollution can lead to more complex toxic effects on humans and plants.However, there is still a lack of sufficient understanding regarding the types of interactions at the plant molecular level and the response strategies of plants to combined pollution. To assess this, we investigated the phenotypic and transcriptomic patterns of pakchoi (Brassica chinensis L) roots in response to individual and combined pollution of Cd and Cu.

Warming Leads to Changes in Soil Organic Carbon Molecules Due to Decreased Mineral Protection.

Climate change affects the content and composition of soil organic carbon (SOC). However, warming-induced changes in the SOC compounds remain unknown. Using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, molecular mixing models, and Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry, we analyzed the variations and relationships in molecular compounds in Mollisol with 10-56 g C kg soil by translocating soils under six climate regimes.

Single and mixture toxicity of cadmium and copper to swim bladder in early life stages of Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes).

Toxicity observed in aquatic ecosystems often cannot be explained by the action of a single pollutant. Likewise, evaluation standards formulated by a single effect cannot truly reflect the environmental quality requirements. The study of mixtures is needed to provide environmental relevance and knowledge of combined toxicity.

Co-exposure to UV-aged microplastics and cadmium induces intestinal toxicity and metabolic responses in earthworms.

Aged microplastics (MPs) alter the interaction with heavy metals due to changes in surface properties. However, the combined toxicological effects of aged MPs on heavy metals in soil remain poorly understood. In this study, earthworms were employed as model animals to investigate the effects of aged MPs on the biotoxicity of cadmium (Cd) by simulating the exposure patterns of original and UV-aged MPs (polylactic acid (PLA) and polyethylene (PE)) with Cd.

Effects of waste milk feeding on rumen fermentation and bacterial community of pre-weaned and post-weaned dairy calves.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of waste milk with antibiotic residue on rumen fermentation and rumen bacterial composition of dairy calves during pre-weaned and post-weaned periods. A total of 24 Holstein male calves (43.4 ± 0.

Monitoring spatiotemporal characteristics of land-use carbon emissions and their driving mechanisms in the Yellow River Delta: A grid-scale analysis.

Comprehensive and accurate grasp of land-use carbon emissions (LCE) level and its driving mechanism is key to success in China's pursuit of low-carbon development, and it is also the scientific basis for the formulation and implementation of regional carbon emissions strategies. Based on fossil fuel carbon emissions raster data (published by the Open-Data Inventory for Anthropogenic Carbon dioxide (ODIAC) platform) and land use data, this manuscript selects the Yellow River Delta as the study area and uses an improved LCE measurement model, exploratory spatial data analysis, multiscale geographical weighting regression (MGWR), and other models to explore the spatiotemporal heterogeneity and driving mechanisms of LCE at the grid level. The results showed the following: ① The total amount of LCE in the study area continued to increase from 2000 to 2019, the growth rate decreased, but the peak of LCE had not yet been reached.

The effect of carbonization temperature on the capacity and mechanisms of Cd(II)-Pb(II) mix-ions adsorption by wood ear mushroom sticks derived biochar.

Heavy metals often coexist in contaminated environmental media, and competition between heavy metals for adsorption sites influences the absorption capacity of biochar. In this study, the adsorption mechanism of pyrolytically modified wood ear mushroom sticks (250, 450, and 650 °C) as a new bio-adsorbent for single-ion and mixed-ion solutions Cd and Pb Biochar adsorption experiments showed that the adsorption abilities of Cd and Pb increased with increasing WMBC (wood ear mushroom sticks biochar) pyrolysis temperature. According to the Langmuir model, the maximum adsorption capacity of Cd and Pbincreased with higher pyrolysis temperature, being 29.

In situ 13CO2 labeling reveals that alpine treeline trees allocate less photoassimilates to roots compared with low-elevation trees.

Carbon (C) allocation plays a crucial role for survival and growth of alpine treeline trees, however it is still poorly understood. Using in situ 13CO2 labeling, we investigated the leaf photosynthesis and the allocation of 13C labeled photoassimilates in various tissues (leaves, twigs and fine roots) in treeline trees and low-elevation trees. Non-structural carbohydrate concentrations were also determined.

High stability and metabolic capacity of bacterial community promote the rapid reduction of easily decomposing carbon in soil.

Irreversible climate change alters the decomposition and sequestration of soil carbon (C). However, the stability of C components in soils with different initial organic matter contents and its relationship with the response of major decomposers to climate warming are still unclear. In this study, we translocated Mollisols with a gradient of organic matter (OM) contents (2%-9%) from in situ cold region to five warmer climatic regions to simulate climate change.

Exposure of childbearing-aged female to phthalates through the use of personal care products in China: An assessment of absorption via dermal and its risk characterization.

Phthalates (PAEs) are widely used in personal care products (PCPs) and skin care packaging materials. Through national representative sampling, 328 childbearing-aged females in China were investigated by questionnaire, whose contact factors for 30 cosmetic products were collected. According to the daily exposure method and adverse cumulative effects of PAE exposure on female reproduction, we derived the ERα, ERβ binding, and AR anti-androgenic effects.

Potential health risks of metals in skin care products used by Chinese consumers aged 19-29 years.

Metal contamination of skin care products that occurs during their production poses potential health risks, which are of increasing concern, to consumers. Here, we collected 570 responses to an online survey to analyze the usage pattern of skin care products across China. Then a total of 30 commonly used skin care products with various prices and applications were purchased.

Microbial metabolism and necromass mediated fertilization effect on soil organic carbon after long-term community incubation in different climates.

Understanding the effects of changing climate and long-term human activities on soil organic carbon (SOC) and the mediating roles of microorganisms is critical to maintain soil C stability in agricultural ecosystem. Here, we took samples from a long-term soil transplantation experiment, in which large transects of Mollisol soil in a cold temperate region were translocated to warm temperate and mid-subtropical regions to simulate different climate conditions, with a fertilization treatment on top. This study aimed to understand fertilization effect on SOC and the role of soil microorganisms featured after long-term community incubation in warm climates.

Exposure of street sweepers to cadmium, lead, and arsenic in dust based on variable exposure duration in zinc smelting district, Northeast China.

Street dust is an important contributor to heavy metal exposure in street sweepers. In this work, the levels of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and arsenic (As) in street dust were evaluated, and the corresponding health implications for street sweepers in the smelting district of Huludao city northeast China were assessed. The contributions of dietary sources and dust to total metal exposure in street sweepers were compared.

A semi-analytical algorithm for deriving the particle size distribution slope of turbid inland water based on OLCI data: A case study in Lake Hongze.

The particle size distribution (PSD) slope (ξ) can indicate the predominant particle size, material composition, and inherent optical properties (IOPs) of inland waters. However, few semi-analytical methods have been proposed for deriving ξ from the surface remote sensing reflectance due to the variable optical state of inland waters. A semi-analytical algorithm was developed for inland waters having a wide range of turbidity and ξ in this study.

Organism body size structures the soil microbial and nematode community assembly at a continental and global scale.

Body size is a key life-history trait that influences community assembly by affecting how ecological processes operate at the organism level. However, the extent to which the relative influences of ecological processes mediate the assembly of differentially sized soil organisms is still unknown. Here, we investigate the community assembly of differentially sized soil microorganisms and microfauna using a continental-scale sampling effort combined with a global-scale meta-analysis.

Physiological and genetic effects of cadmium and copper mixtures on carrot under greenhouse cultivation.

The exposure to combinations of heavy metals can affect the genes of vegetables and heavy metals would accumulate in vegetables and thereby indirectly affecting human health. Exploring the links between genetic changes and phenotypic changes of carrot under the combined pollution of Cd and Cu is of great significance for studying the mechanism of heavy metal pollution. Therefore, this study examined the effects of mixtures of cadmium (Cd) and copper (Cu) on physiological measures (malondialdehyde (MDA), proline, and antioxidant enzyme) and expression of growth-related genes (gibberellin gene, carotene gene, and glycogene) in carrot under greenhouse cultivation.

The Critical Role of Tryptophan in the Antimicrobial Activity and Cell Toxicity of the Duck Antimicrobial Peptide DCATH.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have attracted more attention for their potential candidates for new antibiotic drugs. As a novel identified cathelicidin AMP from duck, dCATH owns broad-spectrum antimicrobial activities but with a noticeable toxicity. To explore dCATH-derived AMPs with reduced cell toxicity and improved cell selectivity, a series of truncated and tryptophan-replaced peptides of dCATH were designed.

Mercury concentration and fatty acid composition in muscle tissue of marine fish species harvested from Liaodong Gulf: An intelligence quotient and coronary heart disease risk assessment.

Marine fish species are an important source of biologically valuable proteins, fats, fat-soluble vitamins, and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, but they are also susceptible to pollutants. Mercury is liable to bioamplify in the aquatic food chain, and the health risks posed by methylmercury (MeHg) could undermine the benefits of eating fish, so risk-benefit assessments are needed for those fish species regularly consumed. The purpose of this study was to analyze the concentrations of mercury and characteristics of fatty acids in marine fish harvested from Liaodong Gulf, China, so as to better understand the risk-benefit effects of marine fish consumption.

Health risk assessment of heavy metals in street dust around a zinc smelting plant in China based on bioavailability and bioaccessibility.

In order to investigate pollution level, chemical speciation and health risk of exposure to heavy metals in street dust from smelting district, we carried the following studies: (a). the differences in the morphology of street dust in smelting and non-smelting districts using a scanning electron microscope; (b). the chemical speciation and bioavailability of heavy metals in <100 μm and <63 μm particles near a smelting district using a modified three-stage BCR sequential extraction procedure and in vitro digestion test, respectively; (c).

Non-Structural Carbohydrate Storage Strategy Explains the Spatial Distribution of Treeline Species.

Environmental factors that drive carbon storage are often used as an explanation for alpine treeline formation. However, different tree species respond differently to environmental changes, which challenges our understanding of treeline formation and shifts. Therefore, we selected and , the two treeline species naturally occurring in Changbai Mountain in China, and measured the concentration of non-structural carbohydrates (NSC), soluble sugars and starch in one-year-old leaves, shoots, stems and fine roots at different elevations.

Metallic elements in human hair from residents in smelting districts in northeast China: Environmental factors and differences in ingestion media.

The health of residents in Huludao City is affected by the emissions of heavy metals from smelting, diet and atmospheric precipitation. This study investigated the concentrations of Hg, Cd, Pb, Cu and Zn in scalp hair samples from 259 residents of different ages and genders from five districts in Huludao City and examined the main factors for heavy metal exposure. Cd and Pb concentrations in hair samples exceeded the normal concentration ranges for human hair (Cd < 0.