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Wu S, Li SX, Qiu J, Zhao HM, Li YW, Feng NX, Liu BL, Cai QY, Xiang L, Mo CH, Li QX. Accurate Prediction of Rat Acute Oral Toxicity and Reference Dose for Thousands of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Derivatives Based on Chemometric QSAR and Machine Learning. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024. [PMID: 39137267 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c03966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/15/2024]
Abstract
Acute oral toxicity is currently not available for most polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), especially their derivatives, because it is cost-prohibitive to experimentally determine all of them. Here, quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models using machine learning (ML) for predicting the toxicity of PAH derivatives were developed, based on oral toxicity data points of 788 individual substances of rats. Both the individual ML algorithm gradient boosting regression trees (GBRT) and the stacking ML algorithm (extreme gradient boosting + GBRT + random forest regression) provided the best prediction results with satisfactory determination coefficients for both cross-validation and the test set. It was found that those PAH derivatives with fewer polar hydrogens, more large-sized atoms, more branches, and lower polarizability have higher toxicity. Software based on the optimal ML-QSAR model was successfully developed to expand the application potential of the developed model, obtaining reliable prediction of pLD50 values and reference doses for 6893 external PAH derivatives. Among these chemicals, 472 were identified as moderately or highly toxic; 10 out of them had clear environment detection or use records. The findings provide valuable insights into the toxicity of PAHs and their derivatives, offering a standard platform for effectively evaluating chemical toxicity using ML-QSAR models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Wu
- Guangdong Provincial Research Center for Environment Pollution Control and Remediation Materials, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Shi-Xin Li
- Guangdong Provincial Research Center for Environment Pollution Control and Remediation Materials, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Jing Qiu
- Guangdong Provincial Research Center for Environment Pollution Control and Remediation Materials, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Hai-Ming Zhao
- Guangdong Provincial Research Center for Environment Pollution Control and Remediation Materials, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Yan-Wen Li
- Guangdong Provincial Research Center for Environment Pollution Control and Remediation Materials, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Nai-Xian Feng
- Guangdong Provincial Research Center for Environment Pollution Control and Remediation Materials, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Bai-Lin Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Research Center for Environment Pollution Control and Remediation Materials, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Quan-Ying Cai
- Guangdong Provincial Research Center for Environment Pollution Control and Remediation Materials, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Lei Xiang
- Guangdong Provincial Research Center for Environment Pollution Control and Remediation Materials, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Ce-Hui Mo
- Guangdong Provincial Research Center for Environment Pollution Control and Remediation Materials, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Qing X Li
- Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii, 96822, United States
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Sarma H, Gogoi B, Guan CY, Yu CP. Nitro-PAHs: Occurrences, ecological consequences, and remediation strategies for environmental restoration. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 356:141795. [PMID: 38548078 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 12/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (nitro-PAHs) are persistent pollutants that have been introduced into the environment as a result of human activities. They are produced when PAHs undergo oxidation and are highly resistant to degradation, resulting in prolonged exposure and significant health risks for wildlife and humans. Nitro-PAHs' potential to induce cancer and mutations has raised concerns about their harmful effects. Furthermore, their ability to accumulate in the food chain seriously threatens the ecosystem and human health. Moreover, nitro-PAHs can disrupt the normal functioning of the endocrine system, leading to reproductive and developmental problems in humans and other organisms. Reducing nitro-PAHs in the environment through source management, physical removal, and chemical treatment is essential to mitigate the associated environmental and human health risks. Recent studies have focused on improving nitro-PAHs' phytoremediation by incorporating microorganisms and biostimulants. Microbes can break down nitro-PAHs into less harmful substances, while biostimulants can enhance plant growth and metabolic activity. By combining these elements, the effectiveness of phytoremediation for nitro-PAHs can be increased. This study aimed to investigate the impact of introducing microbial and biostimulant agents on the phytoremediation process for nitro-PAHs and identify potential solutions for addressing the environmental risks associated with these pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hemen Sarma
- Bioremediation Technology Research Group, Department of Botany, Bodoland University, Rangalikhata, Deborgaon, Kokrajhar (BTR), Assam, 783370, India.
| | - Bhoirob Gogoi
- Bioremediation Technology Research Group, Department of Botany, Bodoland University, Rangalikhata, Deborgaon, Kokrajhar (BTR), Assam, 783370, India
| | - Chung-Yu Guan
- Department of Environmental Engineering, National Ilan University, Yilan, 260, Taiwan
| | - Chang-Ping Yu
- Graduate Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Taiwan University. B.S., Civil Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taiwan
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Qin G, Su C, Qiao X, Liang R, Jiang Y, Li F. Distribution and transfer rules of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soil-wheat ecosystems in China. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2023; 195:1446. [PMID: 37946068 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-12078-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
The translocation and accumulation patterns of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the soil-crop system have important implications for the fate of PAHs and human health. This study summarized the concentrations of 16 priority PAHs in the soils and various parts of mature winter wheat in China, sourced from a screening of previous literature in English and Chinese databases. The study analyzes the distribution characteristics, transfer patterns, and human health risks of PAHs in sites studied in Shaanxi, Henan, and Shandong provinces. The results showed that the concentrations of Σ16 PAHs in the rhizosphere soil of wheat ranged from 10.30 to 893.68 ng/g, in descending order of Shaanxi > Henan > average > Shandong. In sites with mild to moderate contamination (200 < Σ16 PAHs < 600 ng/g; i.e., Henan and Shaanxi), the concentration of Σ16 PAHs in the roots was higher than that in the stems or the grains, while in contamination-free sites (Σ16 PAHs < 200 ng/g; i.e., Shandong), the highest concentration of Σ16 PAHs was found in the stems. Generally, the concentrations of PAHs increased in the order of roots-stems-grains. The predominant PAHs in each part of wheat were 2- or 3-ring compounds, with five- or six-ring PAHs being more prevalent in wheat from Shanghe, Shandong. The bioaccumulation factors of different wheat parts from Shaanxi and Henan were consistently smaller than 1, and low- and medium-ring (2-4 rings) PAHs had bigger bioconcentration factors than high-ring (5-6 rings) PAHs. However, the accumulation of PAHs in the aboveground parts of wheat was larger than that in the underground parts of the Shandong sites. The linear regression relationship between the octanol-water partition coefficient and root concentration factor (RCF) of PAHs reflected that low and medium-ring PAHs were more easily absorbed by wheat roots than high-ring PAHs in Shaanxi and Henan. Our assessment of the health risks of oral wheat intake in adults and children by the incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) model found a potential carcinogenic risk for both age groups in each province, with higher risks in adults than in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guanyu Qin
- College of Environmental & Resource Sciences, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China
| | - Chao Su
- Institute of Loess Plateau, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China.
| | - Xuedong Qiao
- Institute of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China
| | - Ruoyu Liang
- School of Biosciences, The University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, UK
| | - Yuchi Jiang
- Graduate Institute of Interpretation and Translation, Shanghai International Studies University, Shanghai, 200083, China
| | - Feitong Li
- Graduate Institute of Interpretation and Translation, Shanghai International Studies University, Shanghai, 200083, China
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Mackiewicz-Walec E, Krzebietke SJ, Borowik A, Klasa A. The Effect of Spring Barley Fertilization on the Content of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Microbial Counts and Enzymatic Activity in Soil. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:3796. [PMID: 36900816 PMCID: PMC10001663 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20053796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Soil-dwelling microorganisms play an important role in the environment by decomposing organic matter, degrading toxic compounds and participating in the nutrient cycle. The microbiological properties of soil are determined mainly by the soil pH, granulometric composition, temperature and organic carbon content. In agricultural soils, these parameters are modified by agronomic operations, in particular fertilization. Soil enzymes participate in nutrient cycling and they are regarded as sensitive indicators of microbial activity and changes in the soil environment. The aim of the present study was to determine whether PAH content in soil is associated with the microbial activity and biochemical properties of soil during the growing season of spring barley treated with manure and mineral fertilizers. Soil samples for analysis were collected on four dates in 2015 from a long-term field experiment established in 1986 in Bałcyny near Ostróda (Poland). The total content of PAHs was lowest in August (194.8 µg kg-1) and highest in May (484.6 µg kg-1), whereas the concentrations of heavier weight PAHs was highest in September (158.3 µg kg-1). The study demonstrated that weather conditions and microbial activity induced considerable seasonal variations in PAHs content. Manure increased the content of organic carbon and total nitrogen, the abundance of organotrophic, ammonifying and nitrogen-fixing bacteria, actinobacteria and fungi and enhanced the activity of soil enzymes, including dehydrogenases, catalase, urease, acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewa Mackiewicz-Walec
- Department of Agrotechnology and Agribusiness, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Sławomir Józef Krzebietke
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Agata Borowik
- Department of Soil Science and Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-727 Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Andrzej Klasa
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
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Krzebietke S, Daszykowski M, Czarnik-Matusewicz H, Stanimirova I, Pieszczek L, Sienkiewicz S, Wierzbowska J. Monitoring the concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb, Ni, Cr, Zn, Mn and Fe in cultivated Haplic Luvisol soils using near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy and chemometrics. Talanta 2023; 251:123749. [DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2022.123749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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Krzebietke SJ, Mackiewicz-Walec E, Sienkiewicz S, Wierzbowska J, Załuski D, Borowik A. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Soil at Different Depths under a Long-Term Experiment Depending on Fertilization. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph191610460. [PMID: 36012095 PMCID: PMC9408199 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191610460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess the effect of long-term fertilization with manure and mineral fertilizers on the content and distribution of selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)-the content of a sum of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, light and heavy PAHs in two soil layers (0-30 cm and 30-60 cm). The material for the study was composed of soil samples collected from the sixth rotation in a long-term, controlled field experiment, conducted in Bałcyny since 1986. The content of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons was determined on a gas chromatographer coupled with an FID detector. In order to evaluate the significance of differences between the mean effects on the tested characteristics, a non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test for two independent samples was applied. A higher content of the sum (16) of PAHs was found in the 0-30 cm than in the 30-60 cm soil layer. The research results also demonstrated a higher content of the sum of light PAHs in the 30-60 cm than in the 0-30 cm soil layer. The content of heavy PAHs, in turn, was significantly higher in the upper than in the deeper soil layer. This dependence appeared in both the soil fertilized with manure and soil nourished only with mineral fertilizers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sławomir Józef Krzebietke
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
- Correspondence:
| | - Ewa Mackiewicz-Walec
- Department of Agrotechnology and Agribusiness, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Stanisław Sienkiewicz
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Jadwiga Wierzbowska
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Dariusz Załuski
- Department of Genetics, Plant Breeding and Biofeedstock Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-724, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Agata Borowik
- Department of Soil Science and Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
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Abstract
Pipeline spills and pollution of the environment by crude oil pose a threat to natural resources, especially soil and water. One such incident occurred on 25 September 2018 in the area of Budrovac (Croatia; 46°00′14.6″ N 17°04′16.8″ E) on agricultural land as a pipeline spill. Bioremediation of the contaminated soil was carried out with organic pollutants using an environmentally safe absorbent Spill-Sorb (Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss) and a mineral fertilizer—nitrogen. The experiment was conducted in the greenhouse of the Faculty of Agriculture, Croatia, during a six-month (October 2018–April 2019) study. Samples of agricultural soils contaminated with total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were taken after the rupture of the local gas condensate pipeline. The experiment was conducted in five treatments in triplicate: I-control (clean soil); II-100% contaminated soil + organic absorbent + nitrogen; III-100% contaminated soil + organic absorbent; IV-50% clean soil + 50% contaminated soil + organic absorbent + nitrogen; and V-50% clean soil + 50% contaminated soil + organic absorbent. The soil properties studied were pH, organic matter content, carbon and nitrogen content and ratio, and changes in the concentration of potential organic contaminants—TPHs and individual PAHs. The results demonstrated that the mixture of organic absorbent and nitrogen efficiently removed organic pollutants from the contaminated soil within six months. However, the application of Spill-Sorb alone was more effective for the degradation of hydrocarbons. The effectiveness of the absorbent studied was dependent on the concentration of organic pollutants and nitrogen application.
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Validation of a Method Scope Extension for the Analysis of POPs in Soil and Verification in Organic and Conventional Farms of the Canary Islands. TOXICS 2021; 9:toxics9050101. [PMID: 34063303 PMCID: PMC8147449 DOI: 10.3390/toxics9050101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are among the most relevant and dangerous contaminants in soil, from where they can be transferred to crops. Additionally, livestock animals may inadvertently consume relatively high amounts of soil attached to the roots of the vegetables while grazing, leading to indirect exposure to humans. Therefore, periodic monitoring of soils is crucial; thus, simple, robust, and powerful methods are needed. In this study, we have tested and validated an easy QuEChERS-based method for the extraction of 49 POPs (8 PBDEs, 12 OCPs, 11 PAHs, and 18 PCBs) in soils and their analysis by GC-MS/MS. The method was validated in terms of linearity, precision, and accuracy, and a matrix effect study was performed. The limits of detection (LOD) were established between 0.048 and 3.125 ng g−1 and the limits of quantification (LOQ) were between 0.5 and 20 ng g−1, except for naphthalene (50 ng g−1). Then, to verify the applicability of the validated method, we applied it to a series of 81 soil samples from farms dedicated to mixed vegetable cultivation and vineyards in the Canary Islands, both from two modes of production (organic vs. conventional) where residues of OCPs, PCBs, and PAHs were found.
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