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Chemosphere 2022 Jun 24:135291. Epub 2022 Jun 24.

Tecnologico de Monterrey, School of Engineering and Science, Monterrey, 64849, Mexico. Electronic address:

Many environmental pollutants caused by uncontrolled urbanization and rapid industrial growth have provoked serious concerns worldwide. These pollutants, including toxic metals, dyes, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, volatile organic compounds, and petroleum hydrocarbons, unenviably compromise the water quality and manifest a severe menace to aquatic entities and human beings. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to acquaint bio-nanocomposites with the capability to remove and decontaminate this extensive range of emerging pollutants. Read More

Front Plant Sci 2022 9;13:874723. Epub 2022 Jun 9.

Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, The University of Haripur, Haripur, Pakistan.

Heavy metal toxicity reduces the growth and development of crop plants growing in metal-contaminated regions. Disposal of industrial waste in agricultural areas has negative effects on the physiochemical activities of plants. This research aimed to examine the fulvic acid (FA)-mediated efficacy of L. Read More

Biotechnol Rep (Amst) 2022 Sep 9;35:e00747. Epub 2022 Jun 9.

Environmental Science Program, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, PO. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar.

Crude oil contamination introduces multiple threats to human health and the environment, most of which are from toxic heavy metals. Heavy metals cause significant threats because of their persistence, toxicity, and bio-accumulation. Biomineralization, performed through many microbial processes, can lead to the immobilization of heavy metals in formed minerals. Read More

J Proteins Proteom 2022 Jun 20:1-15. Epub 2022 Jun 20.

Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Edo State University, Uzairue, Auchi, Edo State Nigeria.

Metal pollution of water and soil ecosystems has been linked to stress and/or toxicity in plants, thus affecting the quality and productivity of food crops. This condition has further aggravated the essential food demand caused by the increase in the human population. Reports from previous studies have shown that correcting the noxiousness due to metal stress tolerance, requires several modes of action in the systemic, tissue, cellular, physiological, biochemical, and molecular levels in food crops which might be apparent in terms of enhanced productivity. Read More

J Complement Integr Med 2022 Jun 24. Epub 2022 Jun 24.

Hygia Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Lucknow, India.

Heavy metals are known to be carcinogenic, mutagenic, and teratogenic. Some heavy metals are necessary while present in the growing medium in moderate concentrations known to be essential heavy metals as they required for the body functioning as a nutrient. But there are some unwanted metals and are also toxic to the environment and create a harmful impact on the body, which termed to be non-essential heavy metals. Read More

Front Biosci (Landmark Ed) 2022 Jun;27(6):186

School of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Engineering, Yibin University, 644000 Yibin, Sichuan, China.

Background: Tomato is an important part of daily food, rich source of multitude nutrients, suitable candidate for bio-pharmaceutical production due to berry size and has numerous health benefits. Transcriptional regulation of metalloregulatory heat shock protein-70 family plays pivotal role in plants tolerance against abiotic stress factors including salinity, heat, cold, drought and trace metal elements such as cadmium (Cd2+).

Methods: Here, we provide comprehensive report on identification of family genes in tomato () and their expression in tomato qPCR analysis under broad range of trace metal elements. Read More

Sensors (Basel) 2022 Jun 17;22(12). Epub 2022 Jun 17.

Department of Chemistry "Giacomo Ciamician", Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy.

The development of predictive sensing tools able to provide rapid information on the different bioactivities of a sample is of pivotal importance, not only to monitor environmental toxicants, but also to understand their mechanisms of action on diverse molecular pathways. This mechanistic understanding is highly important for the characterization of toxicological hazards, and for the risk assessment of chemicals and environmental samples such as surface waters and effluents. Prompted by this need, we developed and optimized a straightforward bioluminescent multiplexed assay which enables the measurement of four bioactivities, selected for their relevance from a toxicological perspective, in bioluminescent microtissues. Read More

Sensors (Basel) 2022 Jun 8;22(12). Epub 2022 Jun 8.

Nantes Université, ONIRIS, CNRS, GEPEA, UMR 6144, 85000 La Roche-sur-Yon, France.

Water quality monitoring requires a rapid and sensitive method that can detect multiple hazardous pollutants at trace levels. This study aims to develop a new generation of biosensors using a low-cost fiber-optic Raman device. An automatic measurement system was thus conceived, built and successfully tested with toxic substances of three different types: antibiotics, heavy metals and herbicides. Read More

Sensors (Basel) 2022 Jun 8;22(12). Epub 2022 Jun 8.

Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Institute of Analytical Chemistry, Slovak University of Technology, Radlinského 9, 812 37 Bratislava, Slovakia.

Triclosan (TCS) is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent widely used in personal care, healthcare, and clinical practice. One of the most important aspects of toxicological profiling of compounds is their interaction with DNA. In human cells, TCS causes a significant reduction in DNA methylation. Read More

Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022 Jun 16;19(12). Epub 2022 Jun 16.

Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medicine University, Kaohsiung City 807, Taiwan.

Exposure to heavy metals could lead to adverse health effects by oxidative reactions or inflammation. Some essential elements are known as reactors of anti-inflammatory enzymes or coenzymes. The relationship between tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and heavy metal exposures was reported. Read More

Genes (Basel) 2022 May 26;13(6). Epub 2022 May 26.

Institute of Pomology and Olericulture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China.

Cadmium (Cd) accumulation in lettuce causes a large amount of yield loss during industry. Although many studies report that exogenous melatonin helps to alleviate the Cd stress of lettuce, the molecular mechanism for how plant tissue responds to Cd treatment is unclear. Herein, we applied both PacBio and Illumina techniques for Italian lettuce under different designed treatments of Cd and melatonin, aiming to reveal the potential molecular pathway of the response to Cd stress as well as the how the pre-application of exogenous melatonin affect this process. Read More

Cells 2022 Jun 17;11(12). Epub 2022 Jun 17.

Germplasm Bank of Wild Species, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China.

Protein post-translational modification (PTM) is an efficient biological mechanism to regulate protein structure and function, but its role in plant responses to heavy metal stress is poorly understood. The present study performed quantitative succinyl-proteome profiling using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis to explore the potential roles of lysine succinylation modification in turnip seedlings in response to cadmium (Cd) stress (20 μM) under hydroponic conditions over a short time period (0-8 h). A total of 547 succinylated sites on 256 proteins were identified in the shoots of turnip seedlings. Read More

Biomolecules 2022 Jun 7;12(6). Epub 2022 Jun 7.

Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, Campus of Gualtar, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.

Plastics are a group of synthetic materials made of organic polymers and some additives with special characteristics. Plastics have become part of our daily life due to their many applications and uses. However, inappropriately managed plastic waste has raised concern regarding their ecotoxicological and human health risks in the long term. Read More

J Hazard Mater 2022 Aug 9;436:129320. Epub 2022 Jun 9.

Institute of Solid State Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui 230031, China; State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui 230031, China. Electronic address:

Serious toxicity for organisms from pesticide glyphosate (Gly) residues to the ecosystem and human health has become a consensus. Rapid and selective detection of glyphosate, especially using a simple and portable instrument, is highly desired. In this work, we develop a novel enzyme-free rapid and visual ratiometric fluorescence sensor for selectively quantitative detecting glyphosate by integrating the designed blue carbon nanodots (CDs) and gold nanoclusters (Au NCs). Read More

J Hazard Mater 2022 Aug 3;436:129289. Epub 2022 Jun 3.

Department of Atmospheric Sciences, School of Earth Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China. Electronic address:

Atmospheric lead (Pb) pollution has attracted long-term and widespread concerns due to its high toxicity. The definite source identification of atmospheric Pb is the key step to mitigate this pollution. Here, we first report an overlooked source of atmospheric nanosized Pb particles using transmission electron microscopy and bulk sample analyses, finding that residential honeycomb briquette combustion emits large numbers of nanosized Pb-rich particles. Read More

J Hazard Mater 2022 Aug 3;436:129285. Epub 2022 Jun 3.

Université de Bordeaux, 146, rue Léo Saignat, Bordeaux F-33076, France; Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, EPHE, UMR EPOC 5805, Place du Dr Peyneau, Arcachon F-33120, France. Electronic address:

New Caledonia is particularly affected by nickel open pit mining activities because of the presence of ultramafic soils rich in metals. The particles dispersed by atmospheric transport and soil erosion during the excavation of nickel end up by deposition or leaching in rivers where they may be bioaccumulated by organisms living downstream the mines. Despite alarming freshwater metals concentrations, no study investigated the level of their bioaccumulation in eels, and if high bioaccumulation levels occur, the potential consequences on their health. Read More

J Hazard Mater 2022 Aug 27;436:129242. Epub 2022 May 27.

School of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China; Joint laboratory of Northeast Agricultural University and Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces (NEAU-MPICI), Harbin 150030, China. Electronic address:

Biochar (BC) is a biomass material that has a wide range of applications on the remediating heavy metals. In this experiment, we prepared BC (300 ºC, 500 ºC, and 700 ºC) and applied them to adsorb lead ions (Pb) to simulate BC treatment of Pb-contaminated soil. The retention capacity of BC for heavy metals was altered by means of bacterial culture, and the heavy metals released by BC can have toxicological effects on bacteria. Read More

J Hazard Mater 2022 Aug 27;436:129238. Epub 2022 May 27.

University of Wuppertal, School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Institute of Foundation Engineering, Water, and Waste-Management, Laboratory of Soil, and Groundwater-Management, Pauluskirchstraße 7, 42285 Wuppertal, Germany. Electronic address:

Arsenic (As) redox-induced mobilisation and speciation in polluted gold mine sites in tropical climates largely remains unknown. Here, we investigated the impact of changes in soil redox potential (E) (-54 mV to +429 mV) on mobilisation of As and its dominant species in an abandoned spoil (total As = 4283 mg/kg) using an automated biogeochemical microcosm set-up. Arsenic mobilisation increased (85-137 mg/L) at moderately reducing conditions (-54 mV to + 200 mV)), while its reduced (6-35 mg/L) under oxic conditions (+200 to +400 mV). Read More

J Hazard Mater 2022 Aug 26;436:129232. Epub 2022 May 26.

Department of Analytical Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, Chodźki 4a, 20-093, Lublin, Poland. Electronic address:

Copper stress in the presence of exogenous methyl jasmonate and Serratia plymuthica in a complete trifactorial design with copper (0, 50 µM), methyl jasmonate (0, 1, 10 µM) and Serratia plymuthica (without and with inoculation) was studied on the physiological parameters of Phaseolus coccineus. Copper application reduced biomass and allantoin content, but increased chlorophyll and carotenoids contents as well as catalase and peroxidases activities. Jasmonate did not modify biomass and organic acids levels under copper treatment, but additional inoculation elevated biomass and content of tartrate, malate and succinate. Read More

J Hazard Mater 2022 08 20;436:129145. Epub 2022 May 20.

Department of Botany, GDC Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir 192301, India.

Although beneficial metalloid silicon (Si) has been proven to reduce the toxicity of several heavy metals, there is a lack of understanding regarding Si potential function in mitigating phytotoxicity induced by vanadium (V). In this study, effect of Si (1.5 mM) on growth, biomass production, V uptake, reactive oxygen species (ROS), methylglyoxal (MG) formation, selected antioxidants enzymes activities, glyoxalase enzymes under V stress (35 mg L) was investigated in hydroponic experiment. Read More

J Hazard Mater 2022 05 17;430:128506. Epub 2022 Feb 17.

Key Laboratory of Pollution Process and Environmental Criteria of Ministry of Education and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, PR China. Electronic address:

Metal pollution is a worldwide concern and may pose risks to aquatic organisms, communities, and ecosystems. The toxic effects of metals at the organism level are relatively clear. However, their impacts at the community level are still poorly understood, especially with concurred eutrophication in surface water. Read More

J Hazard Mater 2022 05 16;430:128493. Epub 2022 Feb 16.

Beijing Key Laboratory for special melting and preparation of high-end metal materials, Beijing 100083, China; University of Science and Technology Beijing, School of Automation and Electrical Engineering, Beijing 100083, China.

This study comprehensively investigated arsenic's enrichment, distribution, and characteristics in tailings. XRD and SEM-EDS characterized the phase and morphology of tailings from various smelting processes. At the same time, the embedding characteristics of arsenic in the ore phase were analyzed by EPMA. Read More

J Hazard Mater 2022 05 15;430:128489. Epub 2022 Feb 15.

Key Laboratory of Mollisols Agroecology, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Science, Changchun 130102, China; College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; CAS Engineering Laboratory for Eco-agriculture in Water Source of Liaoheyuan, Chinese Academy of Science, Changchun 130102, China. Electronic address:

The accumulation of heavy metals in soil, especially cadmium (Cd), may influence the tolerance of crops to other abiotic stress, such as low temperature. In this study, the low temperature tolerance of abscisic acid (ABA)-deficient mutant (Az34) barley and its wild-type (WT) irrigated with Cd solution (1 g L) was tested. It was found that Cd aggravated the destruction of chloroplast ultrastructure and disturbed the ion homeostasis under low temperature. Read More

J Hazard Mater 2022 05 4;430:128403. Epub 2022 Feb 4.

State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Sources and Control of Air Pollution Complex, Beijing 100084, China.

Mercury pollution has attracted worldwide attention due to its toxicity, bioaccumulation and persistence. Cement clinker production is the top emitter of atmospheric mercury in China and the emissions from raw mill systems account for about 85% of all emissions. However, the mercury emission characteristics and mechanisms as a function of time during an operation cycle are still unclear. Read More

Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 2022 Jun 24. Epub 2022 Jun 24.

Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Hakim Sabzevari University, 379 post box, Sabzevar, 9617916487, Khorasan Razavi, Iran.

In the present study, lead, zinc and copper concentrations in the feathers of Common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus), Eurasian magpie (Pica pica), Common buzzard (Buteo buteo), Crested lark (Galerida cristata), Eurasian hoopoe (Upupa epops), Little owl (Athene noctua), Long-eared owl (Asio otus), Eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo bubo) and Long-legged buzzard (Buteo rufinus) from Sabzevar and Neghab, Khorasan Razavi of Iran were measured. Almost all of the specimens were obtained from birds that had collided with vehicles or were unable to fly. There were no significant differences in metal concentrations between adult and juvenile, diurnal and nocturnal raptors and species with different diets. Read More

Sci Rep 2022 Jun 23;12(1):10620. Epub 2022 Jun 23.

Plant Bioenergetics and Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Botany, Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur, Rajasthan, 313001, India.

The objective of the present investigation was to understand the efficacy of chlorophyll fluorescence analysis and to identify the specific photosynthetic parameters for early and rapid detection of Cu-induced HM-stress in plants. Aquatic angiosperm Lemna minor was exposed to various concentrations (0-40 µM) of Cu. We observed that the F/F (Efficiency of the water-splitting complex on the donor side of PSII), quantum yield for electron transport, and quantum yield of primary photochemistry were decreased however, dissipated quantum yield was increased with Cu concentration. Read More

Environ Pollut 2022 Jun 20;308:119663. Epub 2022 Jun 20.

College of Marine Life Science, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China; Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China. Electronic address:

Microplastics could be grazed by marine organisms and possibly transferred to higher trophic levels along the microbial loop. Due to their size and capacity to concentrate heavy metals that trigger joint toxic effects, microplastics (MPs) have already become a severe threat to marine organisms. The detrimental effects of MPs on large marine organisms have been studied, but the combined toxicity of MPs and cadmium (Cd) on protozoan ciliates remains unclear. Read More

Toxics 2022 Jun 20;10(6). Epub 2022 Jun 20.

Environmental Pollution and Remediation Research Group, Department of Chemical Engineering, Mangosuthu University of Technology, Durban 4031, South Africa.

Poor and inadequate sanitation systems have been considered not only a human health issue, but also an environmental threat that instigates climate change. Nine heavy metals-arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn)-were evaluated in influent and effluent water samples from four wastewater treatment plants in the Durban metropolis, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The results indicate that the mean concentrations of all the heavy metals in the influent samples ranged from 0. Read More

Toxics 2022 Jun 8;10(6). Epub 2022 Jun 8.

Laboratory of Experimental and Environmental Pathology-LIM05, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 01246-000, Brazil.

Nowadays, a large amount and variety of plastic is being produced and consumed by human beings on an enormous scale. Microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPLs) have become ubiquitous since they can be found in many ecosystem components. Plastic particles can be found in soil, water, and air. Read More

Biosensors (Basel) 2022 Jun 15;12(6). Epub 2022 Jun 15.

Industry 4.0 Convergence Bionics Engineering, Pukyong National University, Busan 48513, Korea.

To date, a large number of photosensitizers (PS) have introduced heavy atoms to improve the ISC process and O generation. However, they often show low efficiency in hypoxic conditions, aggregate states, and turn-off PDT in the dark. Besides that, the toxicity of heavy metals is also concerned. Read More