Insights into the uptake, translocation, and accumulation dynamics of cyantraniliprole and thiamethoxam seed coating pesticides in maize plants.

Seed coating with pesticides is used extensively for the protection of both seeds and plants against pests. In this study, the uptake and transport of seed-coating pesticides (insecticides), including cyantraniliprole (CYN) and thiamethoxam (THX), were investigated. The translocation of these pesticides from the soil to the plant and their accumulation in different plant parts were also calculated. After sowing the seeds with seed coating pesticides, soil and plant samples were taken across the study area. These samples were extracted and analyzed in liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). CYN and THX were used in maize plants for the first time to observe soil degradation kinetics, and CYN showed a higher half-life than THX in soil. Both pesticides have been taken up by the corn maize plant and transferred and accumulated to the upper parts of the plant. Although the THX concentration was between 2.240 and 0.003 mg/kg in the root, between 3.360 and 0.085 mg/kg in the stem, it was between 0.277 and 3.980 mg/kg in the leaf, whereas CYN was detected at higher concentrations. The concentration of CYN was 1.472 mg/ kg and 0.079 mg/kg in the roots and stems of the maize plant, respectively. However, the bioconcentration factor (BCF) indicates the soil-to-plant accumulation of CYN from 28 to 34.6 and that of 12.5 to 4567.1 for THX on different sampling days. The translocation factor (TFstem) represents the ratio of pesticides absorbed from the stem and transported to the roots. For CYN, TFstem ranges from 3.6 to 20.5, while for THX, it varies between 1.5 and 26.8, indicating a higher translocation rate for THX. The ratio of leaf to root concentration are 3.6 to 20.5 for CYN and 1.8 to 87.7 for THX, demonstrating effective translocation for both pesticides. The TF values for both pesticides are above 1, signifying successful root-to-stem-to-leaf movement. Notably, THX exhibits a notably higher transport rate compared to CYN.

Aquatic toxicity, bioaccumulation potential, and human estrogen/androgen activity of three oxo-Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier (oxo-LOHC) systems.

The Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier (LOHC) technology offers a technically attractive way for hydrogen storage. If LOHC systems were to fully replace liquid fossil fuels, they would need to be handled at the multi-million tonne scale. To date, LOHC systems on the market based on toluene or benzyltoluene still offer potential for improvements. Thus, it is of great interest to investigate potential LOHCs that promise better performance and environmental/human hazard profiles. In this context, we investigated the acute aquatic toxicity of oxygen-containing LOHC (oxo-LOHC) systems. Toxic Ratio (TR) values of oxo-LOHC compounds classify them baseline toxicants (0.1 < TR < 10). Additionally, the mixture toxicity test conducted with D. magna suggests that the overall toxicity of a benzophenone-based system can be accurately predicted using a concentration addition model. The estimation of bioconcentration factors (BCF) through the use of the membrane-water partition coefficient indicates that oxo-LOHCs are unlikely to be bioaccumulative (BCF < 2000). None of the oxo-LOHC compounds exhibited hormonal disrupting activities at the tested concentration of 2 mg/L in yeast-based reporter gene assays. Therefore, the oxo-LOHC systems seem to pose a low level of hazard and deserve more attention in ongoing studies searching for the best hydrogen storage technologies.

Biomonitoring with the Use of the Herbal Plant Taraxacum officinale as a Source of Information on Environmental Contamination.

The aim of this study was to assess the level of contamination of the common dandelion-Taraxacum officinale-with selected metals (Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb) and to demonstrate that this plant can be used in passive biomonitoring of industrial sites. Two sample transects (the first was near a forest, an area potentially uncontaminated by analytes [A], while the second ran near a steel mill, a contaminated area [B]), each about 1.5 km long, located in Ozimek, Opole Province, Poland, were used in this study. Metals in plant and soil samples were determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Based on the analysis of the obtained results to determine the concentration of metals, plants at site A were more contaminated with Mn (240 mg/kg d.m.) and those at site B with Fe (635 mg/kg d.m.). Mean Pb values (8.39 mg/kg d.m.) were higher at the industrial site (B) and statistically significant at the forest site (A), together with Mn and Fe at the p < 0.001 level. The BCF values for T. officinale showed that Cu (0.473) and Zn (0.785) accumulated to an average degree on both transects. This shows that dandelion is heavily loaded with these metals. Both dandelion and soil samples showed the highest concentrations of Mn, Fe, and Zn, especially in the polluted area B, which is the result of pollution not only from the smelter (dust from electric arc furnaces in steel smelting, extraction installations in production halls transmitting pollutants into the air from molding sand, or waste from molding and core masses dumped on the heap and blown by the wind from the landfill) but also from the high anthropopressure caused by human activity-for example, heating processes or road transport. Our results confirmed that Taraxacum officinale can be successfully used as a herbal plant in passive biomonitoring to assess the quality of the environment, but it must be collected from uncontaminated areas if we want to use it like a medicinal plant.

Evaluation of the EMA log kow trigger for fish BCF testing based on data for several human pharmaceuticals.

In the European Medicines Agency (EMA) "Guideline for Environmental Risk Assessment of Medicinal Products for Human Use," a fish bioconcentration factor (BCF) study is triggered in Phase I for pharmaceuticals having log Kow >4.5, to support Persistence, Bioaccumulation and Toxicity (PBT) screening, and in Phase II to assess secondary poisoning and bioaccumulation ('B') potential when log Kow ≥3. The standard sampling schedule outlined in OECD Test Guideline 305 (TG305) may require assessment of approximately 200 fish following exposure to low- and high-test concentrations and a negative control. We report experimental log Kow and BCF values for 64 human pharmaceuticals that were used to evaluate the current BCF testing trigger of log Kow ≥3, and whether a single BCF exposure concentration allows accurate classification of bioaccumulation potential. Our data support raising the BCF testing trigger to log Kow ≥4, and use of a single test concentration. The resulting reduction in the use of fish is consistent with the 3 R s principle and did not adversely affect classification accuracy. An assessment of potential risk of secondary poisoning was also conducted for three drugs classified as either B or vB, and no risks were identified.

Selected detrimental and essential elements in fruiting bodies of culinary and toxic medicinal macroscopic fungi growing in the Bohemian Forest, the Czech Republic.

Selected wild-growing edible fungi (Boletus edulis, Neoboletus luridiformis, Cantharellus cibarius, Macrolepiota procera, Amanita rubescens, Russula virescens, Lycoperdon perlatum, and Flammulina velutipes) along with the poisonous medicinal species Amanita muscaria were collected from five sites in the Bohemian Forest, the Czech Republic and analyzed regarding the contents of 19 elements (Ag, Al, As, Be, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Li, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Rb, Se, Tl, and Zn) in their fruiting bodies. The contents of the elements as well as bioconcentration factors (ratios of the element content in dry matter of the mushroom to the content in the soil; BCF) were significantly species dependent. In general, the analysis revealed the most intensive accumulation of Cd, Rb, Ag, Cu, Se, and Zn in the studied mushrooms. B. edulis accumulated Ag, Se, Cd, Rb, Cu, and Zn with average BCF of 31, 25, 18, 13, 3.9, and 2.6, respectively. On the other hand, A. rubescens accumulated Cd, Rb, Ag, Cu, Zn, and As (BCF of 41, 27, 4.8, 3.3, 2.1, and 1.4). The data concerning the detrimental elements in sporocarps of edible mushrooms indicate no negative effect on human health if the fungi are consumed occasionally or as a delicacy.

Assessment, distribution, and ecological risk of contaminants of emerging concern in a surface water-sediment-fish system impacted by wastewater.

The presence of contaminants of emerging concern in aquatic ecosystems represents an ever-increasing environmental problem. Aquatic biota is exposed to these contaminants, which can be absorbed and distributed to their organs. This study focused on the assessment, distribution, and ecological risk of 32 CECs in a Spanish river impacted by effluents from a wastewater treatment plant, analyzing the organs and plasma of common carp. Environmental concentrations in water and sediment were examined at sites upstream and downstream of the wastewater treatment plant. The two downstream sites showed 15 times higher total concentrations (12.4 µg L-1 and 30.1 µg L-1) than the two upstream sites (2.08 µg L-1 and 1.66 µg L-1). Half of the CECs were detected in fish organs, with amantadine having the highest concentrations in the kidney (158 ng g-1 w.w.) and liver (93 ng g-1 w.w.), followed by terbutryn, diazepam, and bisphenol F in the brain (50.2, 3.82 and 1.18 ng g-1 w.w.). The experimental bioaccumulation factors per organ were compared with the bioconcentration factors predicted by a physiologically based pharmacokinetic model, obtaining differences of one to two logarithmic units for most compounds. Risk quotients indicated a low risk for 38 % of the contaminants. However, caffeine and terbutryn showed an elevated risk for fish. The mixed risk quotient revealed a medium risk for most of the samples in the three environmental compartments: surface water, sediment, and fish.

Uptake of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from PAH-contaminated soils to carrots and Chinese cabbages under the greenhouse and field conditions.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with the properties of structural stability, semi-volatility, and hydrophobicity are toxic and persistent in environments; thus, their transport and fate in agroecosystems is essential for reducing PAH accumulation in the edible parts of crops. Here, we cultivated cabbages (Brassica pekinensis L.) and carrots (Daucus carota L.) in PAH-contaminated soils under the greenhouse and field conditions. After harvesting, we observed a 9.5-46% reduction in soil ∑PAH concentrations. There were 37% of bioconcentration factors (BCFbs) > 1 and 93% of translocation factors (TFab) > 1, while low-molecular-weight (LMW) PAHs had higher BCFbs than high-molecular-weight (HMW) PAHs. The PAH concentrations showed significant and positive correlations among soils, the belowground parts, and the aboveground parts. The toxicity equivalent concentration (TEQBaP) followed the order of cabbage (greenhouse) > cabbage (field) > carrot (greenhouse) > carrot (field), suggesting potentially higher health risks in cabbage relative to carrot and vegetables under the greenhouse relative to field condition. Our study suggested growing carrots under field conditions as a management strategy for reducing the risks of vegetables grown in PAH-contaminated soils.

Dieldrin accumulation, distribution in plant parts and phytoextraction potential for several plant species and Cucurbita pepo varieties.

Dieldrin, an organochlorine pesticide (OCP) widely used for crop protection in the second half of the 20th century till the 70's, is worldwide still present in arable soils. It can be transferred to crops, notably cucurbits, depending on plant species and cultivars. Finding strategies to decrease OCP bioavailability in soil is therefore a main concern. Phytomanagement strategies could provide (i) ready-to-use short term solution for maintaining the production of edible plant parts with dieldrin concentrations below the Maximum Residue Limits (MRL) and (ii) long-term solution for dieldrin phytoextraction reducing progressively its bioavailability in the soil. This field study aimed at determining dieldrin accumulation capacities and allocation pattern in 17 non-Cucurbitaceae species and 10 Cucurbita pepo varieties, and assessing the dieldrin phytoextraction potential of these plant species when grown to maturity in a historically dieldrin-contaminated soil. Out of the non-Cucurbitaceae species, vetiver was the only one able to accumulate significant amounts of dieldrin, which mainly remained in its roots. All C. pepo varieties were able to uptake and translocate high dieldrin amounts into the shoots, leading to the highest phytoextraction potential. Despite the intraspecific variability in dieldrin concentration in zucchini plant parts, mainly in the reproductive organs, the phytoextraction capacity for shoots and fruits was high for all tested varieties (147 to 275 µg dieldrin plant-1, corresponding to 5.6 % of the n-heptane extractable soil dieldrin), even for the one with low fruit dieldrin concentration. Both food safety and phytoextraction could be achieved by selecting productive zucchini varieties displaying low dieldrin concentration in fruits and high one in shoots.

Accumulation of Atmospheric PAHs in White Mustard - Can the Seeds Be Affected?

Traffic-related particulate matter emissions have been considerably reduced due to stringent regulations in Europe. However, emission of diesel-powered vehicles still poses a significant environmental threat, affecting rural ecosystems and agriculture. Several studies have reported that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), a group of potentially toxic organic compounds, can accumulate in crops and vegetables. In our study, white mustard (Sinapis alba L.) plants were experimentally treated with an extract of diesel exhaust. PAH concentrations were measured in the different plant compartments (stems, leaves and seeds), bioconcentration factors (BCFs) were also calculated. Significant accumulation was measured in the leaves and seeds, stems showed lower accumulation potential. All plant matrices showed high tendency to accumulate higher molecular weight PAHs, BCF was the highest in the 6-ring group. The fact that considerable accumulation was experienced in the seeds might show the risk of cultivating crops nearby roads highly impacted by traffic-related emissions.

Effect of fertilization on the accumulation and health risk for heavy metals in native Andean potatoes in the highlands of Perú.

Soil infertility is a global problem, amendments such as organic fertilizers and mineral fertilizers are used to improve crop yields. However, these fertilizers contain heavy metals as well as essential mineral elements. The objective of the study was to determine the effect of organic and inorganic fertilizer on the accumulation and health risk of heavy metals in tubers. The plants were cultivated at an altitude of 3970 m using four treatments (poultry manure, alpaca manure, island guano and inorganic fertilizer) and a control group. Soil contamination levels and the degree of metal accumulation in the tubers were also determined. As a result, it was found that the use of inorganic fertilizer and poultry manure increased the values of Cu and Zn in soils, exceeding the recommended standards. The accumulation of heavy metals in potato tubers did not exceed the maximum recommended limits with the exception of Pb, which exceeded the limit allowed by the FAO/WHO (0.1 mg kg-1). Poultry manure contributed to the highest accumulation of Zn, Cu and Pb in tubers with 11.62±1.30, 3.48±0.20 and 0.12 ±0.02 mg kg-1 respectively. The transfer of metals from the soil to the tubers was less than 1. Individual and total non-carcinogenic risk values were less than 1, indicating a safe level of consumption for children and adults. The cancer risk was found to be within an acceptable range. However, poultry manure and inorganic fertilizer treatments had the highest total cancer risk values in both age groups, suggesting a long-term carcinogenic risk.

Enhancing remediation efficiency of hyperaccumulators through earthworm addition: Evidence from a pot study on cadmium-contaminated soil.

Soil cadmium (Cd) contamination is an urgent environmental problem, which endangers human health through the food chain. Bioremediation attracted extensive attention around the world due to the high cost-efficiency. However, the remediation efficiency of different plant and earthworm species of soil Cd pollution is still unclear, it is thus of great significance to explore the combined effects of different remediation plants and earthworm species to improve the bioremediation capacity. In the present study, we consequently selected three species of Cd hyperaccumulator plants (vetiver, P. vittata and S. emarginatum) and three species of earthworms (E. fetida P1, E. fetida P2, and P. guillelmi) to compare the differences in Cd accumulation among various earthworm-plant combinations. Results indicated that the changes of soil pH and SOM in plant-animal combined application induced the higher soil Cd removal efficiency. The Cd removal efficiency showed highest in combination groups P. vittata-E. fetida P2 and P. vittata-P. guillelmi. Meanwhile, the improvements of biomass of plants and animals also were consistent with the increasing of Cd concentration in both plants and earthworms after combined application. It showed that the Cd concentrations in P. vittata were the highest while the TFs of Cd in S. emarginatum displays significantly more than that in others. In conclusion, the recommended combined system of earthworm-plant (P. vittata-E. fetida P2 and P. vittata-P. guillelmi) to provide reference for soil Cd bioremediation system in practice.

Antibiotics Uptake from Soil and Translocation in the Plants - Meta-analysis.

Antibiotics reach agricultural soils via fertilization with manure and biosolids as well as irrigation withwastewater and have the potential to be taken up by growing crops. The fate of antibiotics in terms of uptakefrom soil to plants, as well as translocation from root to leaves, is determined by a combination of antibiotic'sphysio-chemical (e.g. speciation, lipophilicity), soil (e.g. organic carbon content, pH) and plant (e.g.transpiration rates) characteristics. In this meta-analysis, a literature search was executed to obtain an overview of antibiotic uptake to plants, with an aim to identify uptake and translocation patterns of different antibiotic classes. Overall, we found that higher uptake of tetracyclines to plant leaves was observed compared to sulfonamides. Differences were also observed in translocation within the plants, where tetracyclines were found in roots and leaves with close to equal concentrations, while the sulfonamides represented a tendency to accumulate to the root fraction. The antibiotic's characteristics have a high influence on their fate, for example, the high water-solubility and uncharged speciation in typical agricultural soil pH ranges likely induces tetracycline uptake from soil and translocation in plant. Despite the advances in knowledge over the past decade, our meta-analysis indicated that the available research is focused on a limited number of analytes and antibiotic classes. Furthermore, fastgrowing plant species (e.g. spinach, lettuce, and radish) are overly represented in studies compared to crop species with higher significance for human food sources (e.g. corn, wheat, and potato), requiring more attention in future research.

Levels of rare earth elements on three abandoned mining sites of bauxite in southern Italy: A comparison between TXRF and ICP-MS.

The essential utilization of rare earth elements (REEs) for the production of several electronic devices is making the demand for them being increased all the time. This extensive use of these elements has also increased concern about human and environmental health. Previous studies have shown that REE levels are higher in environmental samples near mining sites, and they are highly possible to be transferred to biota. In this study, REE levels were determined in environmental samples collected from three abandoned mining sites of bauxite (Gargano, Otranto, and Spinazzola) in the region of Puglia, Southern Italy. The samples were digested and analyzed by two different techniques, Total X-Ray Fluorescence (TXRF) and Inductively Coupled Plasma - Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS) to investigate which technique is the most suitable for analysis of the REE content in samples from abandoned mining sites of bauxite. Only 6 REEs could be detected by TXRF, while all REEs were detected in all the samples by ICP-MS. Spinazzola is the richest site and Ce the most abundant REE in all three regions. REE levels are correlated between the soil and biota samples in many cases, although the calculation of the bioconcentration factor showed that REEs are not bioaccumulative. ICP-MS seems to be a more suitable technique for analysis of the whole REE content in environmental samples from abandoned mining sites of bauxite.

Inventing hyperaccumulator plants: improving practice in phytoextraction research and terminology.

Toxic metals and metalloids, especially from anthropogenic sources, now pollute substantial areas of our planet. Phytoextraction is a proven technology with the potential to reduce metal/metalloid pollution, and where financially viable, recover valuable metals ('phytomining'). Toward these aims, there has been a surge of publications over the last two decades. While important progress is being made, ongoing propagation of poor practice, and the resultant drain from funding sources, is hindering this promising research area. This includes mis-ascribing hyperaccumulator species, hydroponics with extremely high dose levels, misuse of Bioconcentration Factors, use of food or biomass crops with low accumulation for phytoextraction, the phenomenon of 'template papers' in which a known hyperaccumulator for element X is dosed with element Y, or a common weed species dosed with any variety of elements to make it 'hyperaccumulate'. Here we highlight these misconceptions with the hope that this will help to: (i) disseminate accurate definitions for in planta metal accumulation; (ii) quash the propagation of poor practice by limiting the inflation of unnecessary publications via the practice of 'template paper' writing; (iii) be used by journal editors and reviewers to validate their reasoning to authors; and (iv) contribute to faster progress in delivering this technology to in-the-field practitioners.

In this note, we highlight some common misconceptions with the hope that this will help to disseminate accurate definitions for hyperaccumulation, promote the appropriate use of hydroponics, and limit template paper writing.

Removal of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) from aqueous solution by water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes): Uptake, accumulation, and translocation.

Although Eichhornia crassipes, commonly known as water hyacinth, has been widely used in wastewater treatment, further investigations are still needed to explore the removal efficiency of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) from the aqueous environment using this floating aquatic plant. In this study, a hydroponic experiment was conducted to assess accumulation, bioconcentration factors (BCFs), translocation factors (TFs), and removal rates of eight PFAAs by water hyacinth. The obtained results indicated that all PFAAs, including five perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) with chain lengths C4-C8 and three perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids (PFSAs) with C4, C6, and C8, were readily accumulated in water hyacinth. Throughout the duration of the experiment, there was a noticeable increase in PFAA concentrations and BCF values for different plant parts. For the root, PFAAs with more carbon numbers showed a higher uptake than the shorter homologues, with PFSAs being more readily accumulated compared to PFCAs with the same carbon number in the molecules. In contrast, the levels of long-chain PFAAs were comparatively lower than those of short-chain substances in the stem and leaf. Notably, PFAAs with less carbon numbers, like PFPeA, PFBA, and PFBS, showed a remarkable translocation from the root to the stem and leaf with TFs >1. For the whole plant, no significant correlation was found between BCFs and organic carbon-water partition coefficients (Koc), octanol-water partition coefficients (Kow), membrane-water distribution coefficients (Dmw), or protein-water distribution coefficients (Dpw). The removal rates of PFAAs ranged from 40.3 to 63.5 % throughout the three weeks of the experiment while the removal efficiencies varied from 48.9 % for PFHxS to 82.6 % for PFPeA in the last week.

Assessment of heavy metals accumulation by vegetables irrigated with different stages of textile wastewater for evaluation of food and health risk.

Wastewater irrigation for vegetable cultivation is greatly concerned about the presence of toxic metals in irrigated soil and vegetables which causes possible threats to human health. This study aimed to ascertain the accumulation of heavy metals (HMs) in edible parts of vegetables irrigated with different stages of textile dyeing wastewater (TDW). Bio-concentration factor (BCF), Estimated daily intake (EDI), and target hazard quotient (THQ) were computed to estimate human health risks and speculate the hazard index (HI) of adults and children with the consumption of HMs contaminated vegetables at recommended doses. Five vegetables (red amaranth, Indian spinach, cauliflower, tomato, and radish) in a pot experiment were irrigated with groundwater (T1) and seven stages of TDW (T2∼T8) following a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Among the TDW stages, T8, T7, T4, and T5 exhibited elevated BCF, EDI, THQ, and HI due to a rising trend in the accumulation of Pb, Cd, Cr, and Ni heavy metals in the edible portion of the red amaranth, followed by radish, Indian spinach, cauliflower, and tomato. The general patterns of heavy metal (HM) accumulation, regarded as vital nutrients for plants, were detected in the following sequence: Zn > Mn/Cu > Fe. Conversely, toxic metals were found to be Cd/Cr > Ni > Pb, regardless of the type of vegetables. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) identified T8, T7, and T4 of TDW as the primary contributors to the accumulation of heavy metals in the vegetables examined. Furthermore, the analysis of the heavy metals revealed that the BCF, THQ, and HI values for all studied metals were below 1, except for Pb. This suggests that the present consumption rates of different leafy and non-leafy vegetables, whether consumed individually or together, provide a low risk in terms of heavy metal exposure. Nevertheless, the consumption of T8, T7, and T4 irrigated vegetables, specifically Indian spinach alone or in combination with red amaranth and radish, by both adults and children, at the recommended rate, was found to pose potential health risks. On the other hand, T2, T3, and T6 irrigated vegetables were deemed safe for consumption. These findings indicated that the practice of irrigating the vegetables with T8, T7, and T4 stages of TDW has resulted in a significant buildup of heavy metals in the soils and edible parts of vegetables which are posing health risks to adults and children. Hence, it is imperative to discharge the T8, T7, and T4 stages of TDW after ETP to prevent the contamination of vegetables and mitigate potential health risks.

Bioaccumulation of microplastics in the edible tissues of fish collected from urban lakes of Bangladesh: a potential exposure to public health.

Microplastic (MP) pollution is an emerging environmental problem, due to its universal dispersion. In the present study, we determined the MP pollution in water, sediment, and fish samples of three different urban lakes of Bangladesh to assess the bioaccumulation of MPs from the lake environment to fish's edible (flesh) and inedible tissue (gut), ecological risk and consequent human exposure to MPs by fish consumption. A total of forty-three fishes were collected from Jahangirnagar Co-Operative Housing Society (JCHS), Dhanmondi Lake (DL), and Saturia Thana Lake (MST). The average MP concentration in sediment and water of the lakes is 7588 ± 4353 MPs/kg dry weights; 142 ± 22 MPs/L, respectively. MPs were identified in the edible (2.8-20.2 MPs/g) and inedible (2.27-20.93 MPs/g) tissue of all fish species. The highest number of MPs was observed in the flesh of Labeo bata of the JCHS Lake and in the gut of Catla catla of DL. The most dominant shape of MPs was fiber and fragment, 0.1-0.4 mm was the dominant size range, and blue, purple, and transparent were the dominant colors. The presence of six polymer types was revealed by FT-IR analysis, which were polystyrene, polypropylene, nitrile, ethylene vinyl acetate, high-density polyethylene, and nylon. The concentration of MPs in fish is found to increase with the increment in body weight. The bioconcentration factor (BCF) analysis reveals that among all the fish species, Labeo bata and Oreochromis mossambicus accumulate the highest number of MPs from the lake environment. The pollution load index of MPs indicates that the sampling sites were within hazard levels III-IV. Estimated annual intake reveals that humans will be exposed to the highest number of MPs if they consume the flesh of Labeo bata of DL and JCHS Lake.

Comparison of metals in eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) and the environment across the North Pacific Ocean: Environmental processes drive source delivery.

Seagrass beds play a critical role in biodiversity maintenance, serving as nursery habitats for fisheries, and aiding in carbon and sediment sequestration in the ecosystem. These habitats receive dissolved and particulate material inputs, like nutrients and heavy metals, affecting both plant health and the ecosystem. Eelgrass (Zostera marina L.), sediments, and water were randomly collected at twenty sites along the temperate North Pacific coasts of Asia and North America to assess heavy metals concentrations (Cr, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb). This aimed to understand heavy metal distribution and accumulation patterns in eelgrass tissues, revealing crucial factors influencing metal accumulation. The sampling included various areas, from pristine marine reserves to human-influenced zones, covering industrial, agricultural, and aquaculture regions, enabling a thorough analysis. This study's uniqueness lies in comparing heavy metal distributions in eelgrass tissues with sediments, uncovering unique accumulation patterns. Aboveground eelgrass tissues mainly accumulated Cd, Zn, and Cu, while belowground tissues stored Cr and Pb. Aboveground eelgrass tissues proved reliable in indicating Cd and Pb concentrations in sediments. However, the correlation between Cu, Zn, and Cr in eelgrass tissues and environmental concentrations seemed less direct, requiring further investigation into factors affecting metal accumulation in seagrass. Human activities are probable major contributors to heavy metal presence in Asian marine environments, whereas oceanographic processes serve as primary metal sources in North American Pacific estuaries. Critical discoveries emphasize the necessity for ongoing research on phytotoxic thresholds and in-depth studies on the complex connections between seagrass physiology and environmental metal concentrations. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for evaluating the broader impact of heavy metal pollution on coastal ecosystems and developing effective conservation measures.

The bioaccumulation and biotransformation of tetrabromobisphenol A bis (allyl ether) in common carp (Cyprinus carpio).

Tetrabromobisphenol A bis (allyl ether) (TBBPA-BAE) is an extensively used brominated flame retardant, which has raised considerable concern because of its neurotoxic and endocrine disruption effects on aquatic organisms. However, previous studies mainly focused on the parent compound before modification, tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), and little information is available about the bioconcentration and biotransformation of TBBPA derivatives in fish. In this study, we investigated the tissue-specific uptake, elimination kinetic, and biotransformation of TBBPA-BAE in common carp (Cyprinus carpio). The fish were exposed to TBBPA-BAE at environmentally relevant concentrations (20 µg·L-1) for 28 days, followed by 14 days of depuration. The results showed TBBPA-BAE could rapidly accumulate in common carp. Among the seven tissues studied, the highest concentrations of TBBPA-BAE were observed in the liver (6.00 µg·g-1 wet weight [ww]) on day 24, while the longest residence time was observed in the kidney (t1/2 values of 18.7 days). Biotransformation of TBBPA-BAE was documented in the in vivo experiments, and 14 different phase I and phase II metabolites were identified in the liver. These findings suggest the biotransformation products of TBBPA-BAE should be considered for a comprehensive risk evaluation.

Comparative assessment of two biodegradable chelants, S,S-ethylenediamine disuccinic acid and nitrilotriacetic acid, in facilitating Cd remediation by lesser swine cress (Coronopus didymus, Brassicaceae).

Chemically assisted phytoremediation is suggested as an effective approach to amplify the metal-remediating potential of hyperaccumulators. The current study assessed the efficiency of two biodegradable chelants (S,S-ethylenediamine disuccinic acid, EDDS; nitrilotriacetic acid, NTA) in enhancing the remediation of Cd by Coronopus didymus (Brassicaceae). C. didymus growing in Cd-contaminated soil (35-175 mg kg-1 soil) showed increased growth and biomass due to the hormesis effect, and chelant supplementation further increased growth, biomass, and Cd accumulation. A significant interaction with chelants and different Cd concentrations was observed, except for Cd content in roots and Cd content in leaves, which exhibited a non-significant interaction with chelant addition. The effect of the NTA amendment on the root dry biomass and shoot dry biomass was more pronounced than EDDS at all the Cd treatments. Upon addition of EDDS and NTA, bio-concentration factor values were enhanced by ~184-205 and ~ 199-208, respectively. The tolerance index of root and shoot increased over the control upon the addition of chelants, with NTA being better than EDDS. With chelant supplementation, bio-accumulation coefficient values were in the order Cd35 + NTA (~163%) > Cd105 + NTA (~137%) > Cd35 + EDDS (~89%) > Cd175 + NTA (~85%) > Cd105 + EDDS (~62%) > Cd175 + EDDS (~40%). The translocation factor correlated positively (r ≥ 0.8) with tolerance index and Cd accumulation in different plant parts. The study demonstrated that chelant supplementation enhanced Cd-remediation efficiency in C. didymus as depicted by improved plant growth and metal accumulation, and NTA was more effective than EDDS in reclaiming Cd.